#Featuring my new son who has been sitting on top of me as emotional support

[corviddrawsstuff]

don’t get me wrong I had so much fun at the ren fair and can’t wait to go again tomorrow but unfortunately I have been unable to move from this position since the moment I got home

[loveofafangirl]

Unexpected

[Baron Zemo Masterlist] [Marvel Masterlist]

Pairing: Baron Zemo x Fem!Reader/You

Synopsis: Life with Zemo had been going well until you got some unexpected news that you worried would destroy everything. *Angst + Fluff/Comfort*

Rating/Warnings: General; mentions of previous character death

Word Count: ~1,150

Author’s Note: Thank you for all the support and love these past few days. I’ve loved writing Zemo and am so grateful to all of you who have interacted with my posts. I can’t thank you enough.

You look down, overwhelmed with emotion with what you see. You had convinced yourself that you didn’t want this—you didn’t need it—being with him was enough. But now, with your eyes glued to the test in your hands, you want this more than you could have ever imagined. 

Your smile is dulled by the tears silently cascading down your features. You didn't know how to tell him.

He loved you and the life you built together. He loved children. He doted and spoiled every child that had crossed your paths in the time you had been with him; but, he didn't want one of his own.

The loss of his son had broken a part of him that he couldn't move on from. He loved you, and he loved children, but the idea of being a father again wasn't something he could bear. The pain that crossed his face any time the two of you had discussed it was more than you could ever hope to understand. He had suffered the most significant loss a person could—the loss of a child. The world is too dangerous, he would say. You understood what he meant and the concerns he had. 

For days you try and fail to work up the courage to tell him. Every time you got close, you found an excuse to keep your secret. As long as he didn't know, you could still be happy. As long as he didn't know, you wouldn't cause him any undue pain.

One day, it becomes too much. The feelings you had attempted to bottle up reach their pressure point. Tears begin streaming, and you can't stop them. 

"I'm sorry." The words barely slip from your lips as you run off to the bedroom, hoping he won't follow you, even though you know better than that. You bury your face in the pillow as you try to muffle your cries.

"Y/N?" The bed shifts as he takes a seat beside you. He tenderly strokes your back, whispering softly to you.

His gentle, worried touch pushes you over. Sobbing, your body shakes uncontrollably. 

"Liebling, come." He gently lifts your head. His loving eyes fill with concern as he guides you into his arms. 

You want to resist because you know what you have to do, but you don't have the strength to fight it. You fall into his chest, hiding your tears. The safety of his arms around you gives you a flicker of confidence as you work up the nerve to say what you've been avoiding for the past week.

"Whatever this is, we will get through it," he offers, stroking your hair.

 You shake your head. "I don't know how it happened. We had been so careful." Your words are choppy through your sobs. 

"Tell me what has you this troubled." His warm hands rub your back. "There is nothing you must fear with me. You know the worst of who I was, and you chose to see the good. No matter what has happened, it changes nothing. I love you." 

You pull back enough to meet his gaze. "I'm pregnant." Your confession breaks in your raw throat. You wince, trying again. "I'm pregnant, Helm." 

You feel his body grow rigid at your words. His arms fall away from you, leaving you with only your fears. Your hands instinctively cradle your stomach, holding on to the part of him you have left. 

His normally warm brown eyes are distant, his face unreadable with conflicting emotions. 

The two of you sit in silence for what feels like an eternity until you can't take it another second. "Please! Say something," you plead. "Anything."

Your voice pulls him back. "Is this true? Are you certain?"

You nod, tears falling quietly. "I had my doctor verify the results," you answer weakly. 

His eyes close as he nods in understanding. 

"I don't want to lose the baby," you admit with as much strength as you can muster. "I know I said I didn't need this, but now that it's here, I want this. I want this for us."

His hand reaches for yours as his eyes open once more. There was still pain, but there was something new there, too—a flicker of light.

Neither of you has words to articulate the depth of all the emotions flooding through you. 

He leans forward, resting his forehead on yours. His free hand brushes away the tears, although new ones replace them almost immediately. He kisses you sweetly. His thumb caresses your cheek as he keeps you close.

You lean into his touch, needing to hear him say that it was going to be okay.

Instead of the words you were waiting to hear, he slides to his knees, his face parallel with your yet unchanged stomach. He gently lifts your top and peppers your skin with the softest kisses you could imagine.

You hear his quiet cries and know how much conflict there is in him. He leans against you and whispers a silent prayer. You can't hear the words but understand the sentiment.

Your fingers weave through his hair, hoping to bring him some comfort. You weren't even a parent yet, and the thought of losing your child was too much to imagine. You know you could never understand the weight of his loss and how terrifying the thought of suffering that loss a second time must be.

His head rests in your lap as he holds your hand, letting the unexpected news sink in.

Your own tears quiet to a trickle as your focus shifts from your worries to him.

"I feared this moment," he begins, looking up at you. His eyes are swollen with tears of his own. "I did not think I could stand the idea of being a father again." You tense as his voice wavers, but he continues. "This news—" He nods willing himself to continue. "I love you, y/n. And our child will know nothing but love."

You inhale deeply, letting your worries fade at his words. The stress in your body evaporates, and you feel you can breathe for the first time in days.

His eyes glisten with tears, but for the first time, you see the joy behind them.

You sniffle back your tears. "I love you, too."

He envelops you into his arms, keeping you safe as the two of you let your newfound joy wash over you.

The future may be uncertain, but as long as you had each other, you knew you would get through it. There was nothing either of you wouldn't do to protect your child. Neither of you could have anticipated how much healing and love that child would bring to your life or how this unexpected news could bring you closer than before.

Perma(til the end of the line): @the-soot-sprite​​; @fandomxreaders

Zemo tags: @montypythonsholysnail​​ ; @killsandthrills​​ ; @noavengers​​ ; ​

Please let me know if you would like to be added or removed from my tag list. I truly appreciate your support!

[aomineavenue]

Summary: Six years ago, L/N Y/N wouldn’t exactly say that she loves her life. It had always been problematic but her best friend, Miya Atsumu, since she was eight when she moved to Hyōgo, has always been there for her, and she wouldn’t change it for the world. However, things would always fall apart for her ever since, so she should have expected of such. Running away from her problems seemed like the easiest route to take at the time, so what happens when the past comes barging back into her life demanding answers? Will she be able to confront her demons?

Pairings: Miya Atsumu x f!Reader

Genre: Angst, ANGST I LOVE ANGST, a lil bit of fluff here and there.

Warnings: Language, etc.

Disclaimer: I do not own any characters except for the reader and my ideas. I do not claim any images used for content in this fic, everything goes out to their respective creators unless it is mentioned that it is mine.

Status: completed. | series masterlist

↩ at peace | dearest daddy

mia speaks!: 

okay, wow. So it took awhile for us to get here and I apologize for that but we’re finally done with Homesick, wew. It’s been a challenge but I’m so happy and grateful for all the positivity you guys have been sharing with me. Also, thank you so much for your patience. 

It’s been an emotional ride but we’re finally done. There may be a few short stories after this chapter but no promises. Hopefully I get the chance to though, I do want to be able to. But for now, if you guys have any requests for imagines/scenarios with this series, don’t be afraid to send them over!

Also, big thanks to @oii-sugasan​ and @sunshinesero​ for beta-reading this for me! I apologize if this chapter is any way lacking compared to the first nine chapters, it’s been awhile since I wrote anything so I hope this was a great way to end this series. 

I love you guys so much, I’m so glad to be (sorta) back. I hope you guys enjoy this!

Time was a funny and fickle thing. Sometimes there was never enough of it, and other times it stretched out endlessly. It had been seven months since your life had once again made drastic changes. It often surprised you how time flew by so fast.

Seven months since your two precious boys had been introduced to the man that they now call their father. And well, seven months since you had been reunited with the love of your life. Sure, it had ups and downs, it wasn’t bound to be perfect since the two of you were your own person. It was inevitable for such different personalities to clash, it didn’t help when there were two children present, one of them being as handful as their own father.

Atsumu had shown that he was a doting father, despite only being a part of their lives for less than a year, he had put his new family as his top priority, wanting to make up for lost time. He would instantly drop anything and everything, sometimes even volleyball when he could for times when his family needed him. Not that his new family had been a burden since then, his sons and of course you, have been nothing but loving and supportive. Showing up to games to cheer him on and the twins attending his training to either join or just watch their father and new favorite uncles.

It had been a rollercoaster ride since it was officially announced that Atsumu was off the market and that he actually had sons. Some fans were supportive, believing the news and claiming that both the young twins were striking replicas of the volleyball player. And of course, there were fans that were against it, raging how you were nothing more than a money-grabbing harlot and that you had probably lied to Atsumu about the twins being his.

They were quickly shut down, of course, by not just fans but various people close to the volleyball setter who defended you without you even asking for it. You weren’t going to lie, that particular month filled with venomous words thrown your direction stressed you out but it was mostly because of your motherly instincts, wanting to keep your sons away from such unnecessary drama. You and Atsumu had decided to ignore the majority of the vile comments but seeing you so emotionally exhausted had only fueled the already tiny flame in Atsumu. He was quick to announce that he would no longer tolerate any form of slander towards his family and would handle things legally if anyone were to step out of line.

And by the next few weeks, the hate simmered and the stress that had engulfed you and Atsumu in its grip had vanished. All that was left that made you both worry was Atsuhiro’s health.

Fortunately, Atsuhiro’s sickness didn’t grow worse as time passed by since his first transfusion. If anything, the boy was healthier and it was very much evident in his features. The healthy glow returned to his skin, he was smiling more and had shown his usual energetic-self like before he had fallen ill. Atsumu on the other hand, much to Atsuhiro’s dismay, had started becoming such an overprotective father. It took a lot of begging from Atsuhiko for their father to spend the day outside of the protective bubble of your apartment.

It took time and patience from everyone’s side to get this far, and for Atsumu, (and of course, you) he didn’t mind it one bit. He had grown more mature, despite his twin brother’s disagreements, he not only took care of himself more but he had become a role model to his sons.

Not only that, but as his relationship with his sons grew stronger, the love the two of you had for each other only seemed to intensify as well. Sure, the two of you had ups and downs back then in your friendship but it was as if time and distance hadn’t kept the two of you apart. If anything, it was as if it made your bond stronger. Two best friends, reuniting and finally expressing their true desires, it was easy for the two of you to fall into a comfortable routine.

“Where are the boys of the hour? I’ve been wanting to see how good Hiko looks in my jersey!”

Bokuto interrupts your thoughts for a brief second before you return your focus to your duties of cutting up the vegetables in the kitchen. You can’t help but chuckle at the sour expression that graces Atsumu’s expression as he fills a tray of refreshments on one of the island counters. “Don’t remind me, Bo-kun.”

“You’re just jealous that your sons didn’t want to wear your jersey," he teases, a playful grin on his lips as he lifts himself off of the ground by his hands to sit on the counter.

The scowl on Atsumu's face only deepens at the reminder, "Get off the counter, Bo-kun. Don't be rude. Why don't you actually start to help and give out these refreshments to the guests?"

You watch in amusement as the two exchange their usual banter around the kitchen of your home in Hyogo. It was decided a week ago after Atsuhiro's second transfusion was a success, that the twins would celebrate their birthday back at Hyogo instead of having the guests cramp up in your small apartment in Kanagawa.

It was also then decided by your sons what theme they would be having for their birthday. It was traditional for the twins to have their birthdays themed depending on their current interest. Lately, since the two were very fixated on volleyball due to their new favorite uncles and of course, their father, it was decided that they would be having a volleyball themed birthday where the guests were required to wear their favorite player's jersey.

For a minute, your new friend Bokuto had been rather excited upon hearing the idea.

"So show up with our own jerseys? Great!"

And as for Atsumu, he was excited at the prospect of seeing his own sons wearing his jersey. That is, until his sons destroyed such dreams.

"Are the two of you really sure?" you hear Atsumu's voice echoing from the twins' bedroom throughout the walls of the apartment as you stepped inside, shutting the door behind you as you ventured further into the comforts of your home. “Like really? Those are your choices?”

You grew curious as you slipped out of your shoes and let your hair loose from its tight bun, wincing slightly from your tugging. There was a tinge of whininess dripping from Atsumu’s voice that you couldn’t help but wonder what the three of them were talking about. It wasn’t unusual for Atsumu to be around when you had to work on days where the boys came home from school or when they didn’t have school.

At most times, when Atsumu didn't have training, he would be the one taking care of the boys instead of your mother or Osamu. Majority of his free time away from volleyball was spent with his sons, wanting to make up for the time he had lost. And there wasn't a day where the young twins wouldn't ask about their father and if he was going to visit. It was as if they were scared one of them would disappear, wanting to spend the entirety of their lives together.

"Maybe we can go with superheroes this year!" Atsumu's voice grew louder as you reached the door to the room where they occupied. Leaning against the door's frame, your eyes land on the back of Atsumu's head as he's seated on the carpeted floor facing the twins who were playing with their action figures. A small grin curling upon your lips at the sight of Atsumu’s slightly dishevelled bleached hair.

Atsuhiro, who seems to have the ability to sense your presence, looks up from his toys and in an instant, his eyes widen happily. He was about to greet you but you quickly pressed your index finger against your lips to signal the little boy not to announce your presence just yet, wanting to see Atsuhiko and Atsumu's interaction. The smart little boy that he is, nods and returns to his toys.

"But daddy," Atsuhiko protests, his focus still on the action figures in his hands, "We did superheroes last year! I wanna wear Uncle Bo's jersey!"

You fight the urge to burst out into a fit of giggles as soon as you catch a glimpse of Atsumu slumping his shoulders dejectedly. Now you understand as to why he had his moppy voice on. "But don't you want to wear daddy's jersey for your birthday?"

"But daddy," Atsuhiko lets out a sigh, looking up at his father with a look that meant the little boy wasn't up for any arguments on the matter, "Uncle Bo is the best! So I wanna wear his jersey!"

You could have sworn you heard Atsumu whine, suddenly wishing you had decided to film this from the start. "But it will make daddy really happy if you wear his jersey!"

Atsuhiko shakes his head as he continues to play with his action figures, "But I want Uncle Bo and I to match!"

Atsumu sighs in defeat before turning his attention over to Atsuhiro, looking hopeful. "What about you, Hiro? Would you wear daddy's jersey?"

"No, daddy. I wanna wear Kageyama-san's jersey," he nods with a proud smile, "Wanna be just like him! He's so good!"

"But daddy's just as good a setter as Tobio-kun!" Atsumu cries out, throwing his hands up in the air, "betrayed by my own children. 'Samu isn't going to let me live this down."

This time, you let your presence be known by finally releasing a bubble of laughter. Atsuhiko instantly drops his action figures and rushes over with a happy squeal. Atsumu pivots his body, looking up at you with such a pitiful gaze as he juts his lower lips out ot a pout, "I want new children."

Needless to say, Atsumu had been pouty ever since and has been dreading today due to the reason that every single one of his friends had found out about it. He had tried a handful of times to change their minds, unfortunately, the young twins won't budge.

“It’s not my fault your kids like me better than you,” he huffs, folding his arms across his chest, “I am an ordinary ace after all!”

A scowl graces on Atsumu’s features which causes the other occupants in the room to chuckle in amusement. It wasn’t as if Atsumu didn’t like the idea of his sons becoming close to his teammates, but lately, it was getting harder for the setter to share. “Get your own children!”

“Ah, about that...” Bokuto trails off with a nervous chuckle which causes everyone to fall silent and look at him in curiosity, “I actually will be getting my own child soon, I think.”

“You think?” you ask with an arched brow, “You can’t just think you’re having a child, Bokuto-san.”

Atsumu interjects, “And aren’t you in love with that best friend of yours? What happened to never being with anyone else but her?”

He waves his hand in the air dismissively with a frown etched on his lips, “Well, I can’t exactly be with her when she just got married.”

“You are so getting your ear torn off by the management when this news gets out,” Atsumu snickers, which he earns a smack to his shoulder from you. “Ow!”

You narrow your gaze at your boyfriend, completely unamused with his behavior. “Don't be dramatic, I didn't hit you that hard!" Letting out a huff as you wipe your hands on the apron you were wearing, "You aren’t helping Bokuto, ‘Tsumu.”

His lips curl up to a cheeky grin at the sight of your expression. He leans forward to nuzzle his nose against your cheek, your cheeks growing warm from the public display of affection. His heart swells from your reaction to his gesture, murmuring teasingly, “Sorry, darling.”

“Please, don’t make me barf.” Osamu interrupts with his features scrunched up in distaste from the interaction between you and his brother.

Atsumu sticks his tongue out at his brother who returns the gesture with a shake of his head. His arm snakes around your waist to pull you closer to his side as he returns his attention over to his teammate, “Well, is the woman making you marry her?”

“Making you pay for child support?” Osamu quickly adds.

Atsumu quips with a chuckle, “Threatening to expose your sins?”

You interrupt the two with a glare towards them, “Stop ganging up on him!”

Bokuto lets out a laugh as he begins helping your mother set up the desserts onto one of the trays to bring outside to the guests, “Nothing like that, she’s pretty chill and we’ve gotten pretty close lately. So we’re going to co-parent.”

“That’s very mature of you, Bokuto-kun.” your mother compliments him with a smile before patting his back.

He feels his cheeks grow warm from the compliment, his heart swelling with pride. “Thank you.”

“Maybe you’ll end up falling for her anyway,” Osamu teases with a smirk playing on his lips, leaning against one of the kitchen counters.

He shakes his head at the idea as his brows knit together, “Jess and I won’t fall in love.”

“Jess?” Atsumu blinks at the familiar name before his eyes widens at the realization, releasing his grip from your waist, “Jess, that journalist that you showed around town when she first visited Japan?”

Bokuto nods with a smile gracing his features, “Yeah, she’s pretty cool.”

“Maybe you’ll learn to love her in your own way through your child,” you suggest with a shrug of your shoulders as you began untying the apron you were wearing upon realizing what time it was.

Atsumu shakes his head and responds before Bokuto could utter a single word, “No, no. That’s impossible. Bo-kun’s heart belongs to his best friend.”

“Stop teasing him,” you scold your boyfriend with a shake of your head, handing over the apron you successfully took off, “make yourself useful and help out here in the kitchen,"

"Bu—"

Cutting him off with a stern glare as you lift a tray from one of the kitchen counters and handing it over to Bokuto, a small smile gracing your lips, "Don't mind him, Bo. Can you bring these to the backyard and help out if anyone else needs help? I think Reiji needs a hand setting up the bouncy castle,"

Retrieving the tray from your hands, his eyes lighting up from the excitement, "bouncy castle, you say?"

"That's for the kids, Bo-kun." Atsumu scoffs but soon lets his lips form into a pout when he had been ignored, turning his attention over to you once Bokuto slips out of the kitchen, "Where are you going?"

"I'm going to check on the boys to see if they're ready for their big entrance," you muse with an amused grin. Of course, you knew what your sons had prepared for the big entrance that they insisted. Atsumu had pestered both you and the young twins since he had heard of their plan but as your sons refused to budge, you had feigned clueless, claiming that your sons had opted it to be a surprise.

Little did Atsumu know that you had helped your sons pull off such an idea.

"I don't get why they have to have a big entrance," he sighs, brows furrowing as he racks through his thoughts on what the surprise could be. It didn't help that he was both curious and excited at what his sons might pull off.

Osamu lets out a snort, rolling his eyes at his twin brother as a smirk curls upon his lips, "What do you mean? They're your kids."

"What does that even mean?" Atsumu scowls as he slips on the apron you had handed over, walking over to where your mother was situated to take over what you were doing.

You shake your head at the two bickering older twins and shoot a look of sympathy towards your mother that was going to be left with them in the kitchen before she waves you off. Your heart was swelling from happiness at how natural everything felt, despite the silly banter thrown around. It was home.

As you step into your childhood living room, you're hit with a nostalgic wave from the memories surrounding the whole area. Though it may be a mixture of good and bad memories, since you had come to terms that you were no longer running away from your past, you only feel comfort. You made your way through your childhood home over to the bedroom that had been renovated to the liking of your twin boys.

The mere thought of your boys growing to love the place where you had grown up yourself was enough to bring a smile to your face. You press your knuckles against the wooden door to signal your presence by knocking on it repeatedly, “Are you two ready?” you ask, your voice probably muffled on the other side. Your fingers wrap around the handle of the door and as you were about to twist and push it open, the door instantly snaps back shut with a loud thud. “Can’t-”

“No, mommy!” Atsuhiko screeched causing you to blink from both the surprised force and tone. Pressing your palms and ear against the door to hear what the commotion was all about, you frown upon hearing only their shuffling feet, “What are you two doing? Guests have arrived and your party will be starting soon,”

“We’re almost ready, mommy!” Atsuhiro assures you from the other side.

A chuckle escapes your lips at their antics as you decide to not interfere any further, “Alright you two, just be sure to be out in a few. You don’t want your daddy to come fetch you. It’ll ruin the surprise.”

“Okay mommy!” you heard Atsuhiko yell out, their excited muffled voices purely obvious from the other side that you couldn’t help but smile.

On the other hand, back in the kitchen, the father of your twins was having his own little dilemma back in the kitchen. It wasn’t as if he was uncomfortable being around your mother, but it was more like he felt he was still lacking.

Despite him knowing that your mother and you hadn’t had the greatest relationship when your father passed away, he still wanted to be someone your mother would approve of. He didn’t know whether your mother knew the whole story of the relationship between the two of you but being away from you and your sons during most of their childhood was enough to make him worry. The mere idea of his sons looking up to him sent his heart soaring, but of course, he also wanted your mother to feel secure enough for him to be together with you and the twins.

“I’ll bring out these sliced up fruits outside,” Osamu cuts the clear tension surrounding the kitchen. Atsumu resists the urge to glare at his twin for leaving him behind with your mother, knowing full well that his brother knows his current insecurities. A small smirk graces Osamu’s features but not the obvious one that would make your mother notice.

Atsumu watches his twin slip out of the kitchen with a tray full of food for the guests before flickering his gaze over to your mother situated at the other side of the room, making final touches to the cupcakes. “Is there anything else that I can do?”

Without looking up, a smile etches on your mother’s face. “No, it’s fine. We’re just about done with everything.”

“It looks good,” he states with a nod of his head, not really knowing what to say.

Placing the piping bag to the side, your mother lifts her head up to look towards the direction of Atsumu and wipes her hands on the apron she’s currently wearing, “You know you can always start calling me mom.”

The mere sentence made Atsumu want to leap in excitement, but at the same time he was nervous, a sudden fear of messing things up engulfing him. “I don’t want to overste-”

“Oh please,” your mother waves her hand in the air with a light chuckle, “I’ve known you since you were eight. We’re practically family. So you might as well call me mom.”

Atsumu couldn’t help but let the corners of his mouth tug up to a wide smile, “Alright, mom.”

“I’m really happy that the two of you decided to work things out,” your mother spoke with a smile as she delicately places the cupcakes on the cupcake stand.”

His feet shuffled across the room to help your mother stack the cupcakes onto the stand, “We had to for the kids anyway.”

Your mother hums in thought for a second before responding, “I think the kids were just the push the two of you needed. If anything, I’ve always thought the two of you would always end up together since the two of you always leaned on each other for anything.”

He nods his head slowly, leaning against the counter as he feels his heart swell with happiness. “I guess you’re right, mom. I did lean on her majority of the time when we were growing up. I guess I still am now. I just wish I could make her happy.”

“Don’t worry, you do. Before she left Hyogo, I know for a fact that she was miserable in this house after her dad had passed. You were the only one giving her a reason to move forward,” your mother spoke, sadness dripping from her voice.

A sigh escapes Atsumu’s lips as his features scrunch up to something that resembles pain. “I was also the reason why she left. I may be even the biggest reason why she left.”

Your mother extends an arm out and places a hand on Atsumu’s arm, trying her best to give assurance and comfort, “You weren’t the only reason behind that. I don’t know if she’s told you, but I had neglected her. I’m not proud of it and apologies are probably never enough for forgiveness. I was barely a mother when my husband had passed. I was almost an empty shell and instead of being a moth-”

“Mom,” Atsumu cuts her off and grabs hold of her hand in his own, “Don’t blame yourself. She loves you very much. It’s all in the past. We’ll be able to move forward, we already are.”

The two were interrupted with Osamu’s arrival, knocking by the kitchen’s door frame to announce his return. A smile etched on his lips at the scene before him, “Hey, Y/N wants everyone in the living room. Apparently the boys are ready to make their big entrance.”

Your mother excuses herself as soon as she removes the apron tied around her, excitement clearly evident in her features. Atsumu knew it well, despite the relationship that you had been slowly rebuilding with your mother, she was just as excited as him to have the twins into her life. She has equally doted on, if not more, on the twins ever since and well, Atsumu wouldn’t have it any other way.

Atsumu knew for a fact that you adored the time you’ve been sharing with your mother. As long as you were happy, nothing else mattered.

Osamu gives him a pat on the back, arching a brow in curiosity as they make their way out of the kitchen, “Everything alright?”

Atsumu gives him a nod, giving him the largest grin that he could muster. “Yeah, definitely.”

“You look disgusting,” Osamu jokes, pretending to shudder which causes Atsumu to give him a shove as they step into the living room where most of the guests have already gathered.

“Hey ‘tsumu!” Bokuto calls out from next to you as soon as Atsumu comes into view. “Hurry up! I’m excited to see Hiko in my jersey!”

Atsumu rolls his eyes as he approaches, grumbling to himself. As soon as he reaches your side, he places a quick kiss to your temple before snaking an arm around your waist to pull you closer. “Yeah, yeah. You have to stop rubbing it in. We get it.”

You couldn’t help but let a laugh escape your lips as you lean yourself into Atsumu’s warmth, “Oh come on now you two, focus on the big entrance will you?”

Bokuto just snickers from the side while Atsumu sends him a glare. If you were to describe the two of them, they were practically acting like petty children but you know those two will eventually switch attitudes as soon as your twins step out to make their entrance.

You flicker your gaze over to Osamu who was situated a few steps ahead from your little group, trying his best to act natural with his phone up. The two of you had discussed prior to the party that he would be the one to film the whole thing going on. Your little boys had practically begged their uncle to film their big entrance but mostly, what you hoped Osamu to capture was Atsumu’s reaction.

A part of you expects that he would be a grinning mess at the sight of his kids but also, you’re also hoping he’d be speechless from all the teasing his kids put him through of having to wear someone else’s jersey.

“What’s taking them so long?” Atsumu asks, tilting his head slightly hoping to meet your eyes as his fingers play with the hem of your shirt.

As you were about to answer him, the familiar voices of your two boys echo throughout the room from the top of the stairs. You didn’t even have to look to know about their surprise since you know very well of what they had planned. Well, obviously, you had helped them out with picking up the jerseys that they were going to wear.

However, you had wanted to capture Atsumu’s reaction to your boys with your own two eyes instead of just watching it from a video. And honestly speaking, you didn’t think you’d fall in love with this man any more than you already do but here you are.

Just the mere sight of his features scrunching up to a look of awe was enough for your heart to swell. It looked as if he was close to tears as watches the twins descend the stairs with the prodest smiles they could muster.

You pry yourself away from his side as soon as the twins approach Atsumu, knowing full well what was going to happen as they had practiced what they were going to say. Flickering your gaze over to Atsuhiko and Atsuhiro, seeing them in Atsumu’s high school volleyball jersey made your own eyes water despite the fact that you were the ones who had gotten them the uniform a week ago.

“Wh-What are you guys wearing?” Atsumu almost chokes out his words, “What happened to the jerseys that we bought that you said you were going to wear?”

Atsuhiko throws his arms out in the air, smiling widely. “We changed daddy!”

“We wanna wear your jersey daddy,” Atushiro nods his head enthusiastically, lifting his hand up to grip onto Atsumu’s shirt.

Atsuhiko wraps his arms around Atsumu’s waist, “‘cause you’re our favorite volleyball player daddy!”

The scene itself was enough for everyone to watch in awe, a few of the guests that were invited had their own phones up to capture the moment with smiles on their faces, the others were almost practically in tears themselves, and well there was also Bokuto by the side with his pouty self at the realization that neither of his nephews were wearing his jersey like he thought they would. Atsumu on the other hand, had eventually dropped down to his knees and wrapped his arms around his two boys, burying his face in between them as he let out his own tears stream down his face from the overwhelming joy that coursed through him.

Yes, this is your family.

This is your home.

You stare out the window from the kitchen of your childhood home, a smile on your face at the beautiful afternoon of your backyard full with people you adore and have missed so much. 

The party was still in full swing despite the sun about to set, the laughter from the guests and a few children present rang in the air. Happiness had engulfed your heart and honestly, you had trouble believing it yourself but here you were. 

You wouldn’t trade this for anything. 

An arm snakes around your waist from behind and you would have been startled if you hadn’t felt Atsumu’s presence a minute ago. Despite not having seen each other in years, everything about him was still familiar. Sure, there were a few things about him that you didn’t know but that didn’t mean that he still wasn’t your Atsumu that you’ve grown to love. 

“Thank you,” he whispers as he nuzzles his nose into your hair, a smile playing on his lips. 

You place your hands atop of his and lean yourself back into his warmth, your brows furrowing in confusion. “What are you thanking me for?” 

“For everything,” he lets out a sigh, causing a shiver to run down your spine from the heat radiating from his breath close to your ear, “For giving me two amazing boys and for existing yourself.” 

Pivoting your body around so that you were facing Atsumu, your hands settling on his chest as you look up at him with your lips curling up to an assuring smile, “Thank you.” 

“And what for?” Atsumu questions, matching your own smile with his own as his hands cup your face. He lowers his head slowly, nudging your nose with his own as the pads of his thumbs brush delicately against your skin. 

Heat spreads across your cheeks at his gestures, feeling shy yourself but despite that, the majority of what you felt was only comfort in being in his arms. “For loving me as much as I love you.” 

He hums in response, placing a quick kiss to your lips. “No, I probably do love you more. More than you can imagine.” 

Before you could respond, he places his lips back firmly on yours and your eyelids flutter shut as if on instinct. The hands of yours that were resting on his chest eventually found their way around his torso to pull him close. Tilting your head to the side, the kiss itself deepens as he runs his fingers through your hair. 

It just felt so natural being with him.

Before the kiss could grow more heated however, a loud yell from outside had interrupted the both of you causing you to pull away much to both of your dismay. Your heads turn towards the direction of the commotion, the bouncy castle coming into view.

Or rather, the depleting bouncy castle with Bokuto and Hinata coming out hastily in laughter. 

You shake your head at the scene, a bubble of laughter leaving your lips before turning your head back over to look at the man before you. Just when you had decided to pull back and return to your duties of being a mother, he wraps his arms back around your waist to pull you back against him. Another laugh escapes your lips as you playfully slap his chest, “What now? We have a party going on, we have to entertain our gue-” 

“Move in with me,” he interrupts, his features showing nothing but seriousness. 

You meet his sincere gaze with your own and your heart makes a leap out of joy. There was only one answer you could possibly give. 

“Yes.”

[melzula]

Come What May

third and final installment of the Fire Lilies series

pairing: Zuko x Princess!reader

warnings: fluff, angst, some mean Zuko, forbidden lovers au

notes: thank you all for the love & support you’ve given this series. although it’s over, if you still have any questions or are curious about what happens to Zuko and the Princess along the way feel free to ask me and I’ll be happy to elaborate! enjoy!

summary: you put your trust in Zuko and agree to run away with him. But have you made the right choice?

part one | part two

“I’ve been challenged to an Agni Kai.”

“I’m engaged.”

The two of you stare at each other stunned, eyes wide and stomachs immediately filling with dread.

“What?” Zuko breathes quietly. His voice is barley above a whisper and he refuses to make eye contact with you, but you don’t miss the way his body begins to tremble with emotion.

“With my father gone and my mother growing older I need someone to provide and take care of me,” you explain weakly with guilt present upon your features. “I’ve been given away to the son of my father’s most trusted advisor.”

Zuko’s eyes widen in horror as you carefully tug the collar of your coat away from your neck to reveal your betrothal necklace. The jewelry rests daintily against your skin, the carved stone almost shimmering underneath the light that reflects across the ice that surrounds you, and it takes every fiber of his being to restrain himself from ripping the thing right off of you. You were meant to be his fiancé, his wife, and yet here you were claiming to be the promised bride of a boy who wasn’t Zuko. A part of him felt sick, and though he knew it was beyond your control he couldn’t help but feel betrayed.

“Tell me you’re not going to marry him,” Zuko demands, his voice calm and unwavering despite his aggravated state.

“Zuko...”

“Tell me you’re not,” he urges you now as he grasps at your forearms and pulls you closer to him. If you didn’t know any better you’d assume he was furious by the way he was holding you, but in reality he was just desperate and afraid. “Y/n, tell me.”

“It’s not that easy,” you try to reason, “it wasn’t my choice.”

“Exactly, it wasn’t your choice! So don’t marry him!” Zuko insists firmly.

“If I don’t marry him I risk bringing dishonor to my family and to my people. I’m the Princess, Zu. Even if I tried to say no it wouldn’t matter. Becoming a wife to a member of our tribe is part of my duty as Princess. I’m so sorry.”

Your heart aches for Zuko as he slowly removes himself from you, and both of you choose to ignore the handprints that have been charred into the fabric of your coat from where he had once grabbed you. He was good at controlling his temper around you, but his temperature was a completely different story; it was a wonder that he hadn’t somehow burnt you yet.

“What about your Agni Kai?” You press gently, taking one of his hands in both of yours before bringing it close to your chest and over your heart. A small sigh accompanied by a breath of fire escapes Zuko at the action and warms your cool cheeks.

”One of the war generals at the council threatened your life,” Zuko explains dully. You squeeze his hand tightly in response. “I spoke out of turn in your defense, and now I’ll have to duel him. I know I can take him, but what I can’t take is someone who isn’t me being able to call themselves your husband.”

“I’ll always be yours, Zuko.” He says nothing as you wind your arms around his torso and nuzzle your face against his chest, but he can’t help himself from returning your embrace and holding you impossibly tight against him.

“Then run away with me,” he says. A small gasp escapes you as you pull away to look up at him with wide eyes.

“Run away?”

“Yes, run away. As soon as the Agni Kai is over and I win, I’ll come get you and we can leave. We’ll go wherever you’d like, it doesn’t matter as long as we’re together. Please, Princess.”

“I... I’ve heard Ba Sing Se is the place people go to get a fresh start,” you reply with an uneasy smile. Zuko rewards you with a gentle kiss to your forehead.

“We’ll leave in three days. Meet me by the docks at midnight and bring only what you need,” he instructs before gently cupping your face in his hands. “We’re going to be so happy together, y/n.”

You smile as he pulls you in for a passionate kiss, but you can’t help the uneasiness that stirs in the pit of your stomach. The thought of running away with Zuko is exhilarating, yet something in the back of your mind is begging you not to go, warning you that things will not be as you planned them to be. But your body succumbs to the sensation of Zuko’s lips against your own, and before you can stop it you find yourself sinking further and further into his warmth.

~~~

It’s not easy having to turn your back on your people and leave the only life you’ve ever known behind, but the journey that lies ahead of you is enough to convince you that leaving the Southern Water Tribe behind is for the best. You’d never be happy in a marriage with someone you didn’t love, and you’d forever resent your parents and your people from keeping you tied down to one place forever. You would be happy with Zuko, there’d be many new sights to see and so many new experiences to have. It was for the best.

You arrive at the docks by midnight per Zuko’s instructions, a backpack full of what little belongings you could bring along with you resting upon your shoulders. This is most likely the last time you’ll ever see the South Pole again and a sense of bitter sweetness washes over you as you take one final look at your home. When the sun rises your mother will find the note you’ve left behind and Princess y/n of the Southern Water Tribe will be no more.

A ship slowly emerges from the distance, the Fire Nation emblem displayed proudly for all to see, and nervous excitement tingles through your body as you prepare to leave your home once and for all.

The Zuko that descends from the ramp of the ship to greet you is not the same Zuko you had seen just a few days ago. The boy before you now has completely transformed both physically and emotionally. The long hair you loved to comb your hands through so much is gone with only a ponytail of hair remaining at the back of his head. You try not to stare at the patch tied securely around his head and over his left eye in fear of upsetting your boyfriend, but he doesn’t even bother to explain it.

When he approaches you it is with purpose, a seriousness and sense of formality that had never been there before- not when it came to you. There’s a coldness to him that frightens you, but you do your best not to show it. Something is wrong, you know this, your superstitions had warned you so, but until you find out what it is you will do your best to act as if everything is fine. You offer him a smile that doesn’t reach your eyes, and Zuko doesn’t meet your gaze.

You watch with bated breath as he reaches out and tugs your collar down to reveal the betrothal necklace around your neck.

“Why are you still wearing this?”

“I was in a rush and forgot to take it off,” you explain quickly. Zuko stares at you for only a moment before quickly emitting a heat from his palm so great it melts the carved stone of your necklace right off. The choker that held the stone falls limply from your neck and onto the snow below you. You’re bewildered by such a harsh action from the boy who had always treated you with the utmost care and respect. A part of you wanted to turn around and run back home to your mother, but you knew there had to be a reason for Zuko’s sudden change, and so you stay.

“Let’s go,” Zuko says gruffly, taking your bag from your shoulders in one hand and holding your hand in the other as he guides you up the ramp and onto the ship.

He stands beside you with an arm around your waist as the ship pulls away from the docks and out into the open sea. Your home grows smaller and smaller until you’re no longer able to see it, and then it is just you and Zuko together in silence.

“You’re going to be happy with me,” he says quietly, but the statement does nothing to ease your nerves. “It’s late, you need your rest. I’ll escort you to your quarters.”

You say nothing as he guides you to the ship’s deck below, only glancing once at the moon before you before the night sky is replaced with a steel roof over your head.

~~~

Zuko doesn’t tell you much about the Agni Kai; you’ve learned it’s best not to bring it up. But from the vague answers he’s given you along with the tiny details his Uncle has let slip out, you find out that Zuko had not won the challenge and was now an outsider of sorts to the Fire Nation. But that shouldn’t matter now considering you both had wanted to run away, right?

You have separate quarters on the ship, but you always find yourself winding up in Zuko’s bed. Homesickness hits you more often than you had presumed, and Zuko is the only warmth you find in your new life abroad. You hope that will change once you settle down in Ba Sing Se. The thought always bring a sense of comfort to you- the idea of starting over, settling in a new home, eventually getting married, and having children are images that keep you sane on the moving metal death trap.

When you wake you find that the spot beside you in bed is empty and cold, proof that Zuko has been gone for a long while now. With a sigh you force yourself up and ready yourself for the day ahead. If your calculations aren’t off and if you read the map correctly, you should be arriving in the east end of Earth Kingdom some time today.

However, when you ascend onto the top deck you find that you are nowhere near Earth Kingdom territory at all. The air is still frigid from the cold, and you’re regretting not bringing a coat up with you to wear.

It is Iroh who notices your trembling form first, immediately sitting you down at his tea table and calling for one of the crew members nearby to fetch you a blanket.

“Zuko, the poor Princess is freezing,” Iroh states whilst pouring you a nice, warm cup of tea. “Please forgive my nephew for his lack of hospitality.“

You only give the General a weak smile in response as you quietly sip your tea. A warm blanket wraps itself around your shoulders accompanied by a chaste kiss to your cheek.

“Why is it so cold?” You frown, glancing up at Zuko who stands before you. “I thought we’d be near the Earth Kingdom by now.”

Iroh guilty looks away from the two of you and quietly excuses himself in order to give you privacy. Zuko is silent for a long while.

“We’re not going to the Earth Kingdom,” he replies bluntly.

“But what about Ba Sing Se?”

“I have to tie up a few loose ends before we can settle down together. But don’t be sad, Princess. I’m sure you’ll like where we’re going instead.”

It’s then that you truly notice your surroundings, the familiar gray skies and calm ocean waters, the frigid temperatures. You’re going back home.

“The South Pole? But that can’t be!” You exclaim. “I just ran away and now you’re taking me back?”

“We’re not going there for you,” Zuko responds harshly. “They have something that I want.”

“I don’t understand...” you frown, rising from your seat at the table to meet Zuko’s fiery gaze.

“I wouldn’t expect you to,” he mutters, brushing past you in order to stand along the railing of the ship.

“Zuko, if we go back there’s a chance my people will try to take me away from you. They’ll blame you for my disappearance, returning would be nothing but trouble. What could the South Pole possibly have to make you go back?!”

You love Zuko with all of your heart, you really do. But if you had known the severity of the situation you’d find yourself in once you decided to run away with him, you would have listened to the voice at the back of your head that begged you not to go. But now, as the banished prince turns back to meet your eyes, you realize that it’s much too late.

“Your people are hiding the Avatar.”

| tags: @titaniafire @dekahg @emberislandplayers @kikaninchen-2 @multi-fandomstan @eridanuswave @royahllty @lozzybowe @izzieserra @melacholy @music-geek19 @thia-aep @thyunnamed @kittenthekat1234567890 @haylaansmi @nataliahaslosthershit @coldlilheart |

[mirisss]

Acting Like I Don’t when I Do

Thank you for the request! I tried not to make it too angsty but the beginning part is a bit angsty but it gets better the further in you come, I hope so at least. 

Requests are open!

This became much much longer than I anticipated haha, but I hope you’ll like it. 

Guest appearances of: TBZ’s Sunwoo, Ateez’s Jongho, SKZ’s Han, SKZ’s Seungmin & SF9’s Chani (Kind of Onewe’s Dongmyeong but only mentions of him). Also with me saying some are aspiring and others aren’t doesn’t mean that one is better than the other, I just mean that some of them have done more things in the story. I love all these people so I’m not saying someone else isn’t as talented as the others. I choose that (y/n) is aspiring to be a singer, rapper and actress for the story to make sense. So, If you want her to something else. ie, not a rapper/singer but a singer and dancer or rapper and dancer then just add in that she’s a dancer as well but she has to be a singer, rapper and actress. 

At Entertainment High tremendous students are gathering around to begin their first year, some have come for their second, third or fourth year. Some of the newbies include: Sohn Eric, aspiring rapper and actor. Son Dongju, or Xion as he likes to be called, aspiring singer and actor. Kim Sunwoo, rapper and aspiring singer. Choi Jongho, singer. Han Jisung, rapper and aspiring singer. Kang Chanhee, or Chani, Actor and aspiring rapper as well as dancer. Kim Seungmin, singer and aspiring dancer. Lastly, (y/n) (l/n), aspiring singer, rapper and actress. These 8 along with some unnamed extras are to be in the same class together, why though? Some are singers, some are dancers, others are rappers. Well the school decided to put these students in the same class as they were the best of the best among the newbies so why not have them all in one class? Some would think that (y/n) would be shy being the only girl in the class but she felt pretty comfortable as she had Sunwoo and Seungmin, two of her childhood friends in the class. Sunwoo was the person who taught (y/n) how to rap and Seungmin’s been a great supporter for her learning how to sing and developing within everything. Anytime that she wanted to give up Seungmin would talk with her and say that if she gives up then she’ll never have the chance to succeed but if she tries and fails then she should try harder because she’s talented. So while Seungmin took a pedagogical approach and tried to encourage her she had Sunwoo who took a more emotional approach by screaming and making a scene but (y/n) needed them both to get where she is now. Being one of the best. 

(y/n)’s POV

As (y/n) and the “Kim twins”, as I sometimes called Seungmin and Sunwoo, walked into the classroom we saw the other four students. I first saw a boy with blonde roots and blue tops, ombre styled hair. He was talking energetically with another boy, the ombre haired boy seems fun. He’s cute as well. The second person I found an interest in, was a pretty boy sitting in the back looking out of the window. He had blue-gray, slightly washed out, dyed hair and the thing that caught my interest was the jacket full of Disney princesses on it. A denim jacket. One might think that it looked stupid but I thought it was really cool. He must like Disney, and especially their princesses. He had delicate, calm facial features, but then he smiled as he saw something outside through the window and I  almost thought she saw an angel. I hoped that I would have the possibility to befriend everyone in the class but especially these two as they caught my attention. I noticed that Seungmin found another guy to talk with while I had been looking around, or rather looking at the two cute(and hot) guys, but Sunwoo was still standing by my side looking a little uncertain. “Woo, what’s wrong?” “You know I’m awkward with new people” “Well, I also know that if I asked you to challenge any of them in a rap battle you wouldn’t hesitate to do it and you would dominate the stage. I thought we had worked on this? Just be you, besides you have Seungmin and I. We’re right here” “But that’s different. When I’m on stage, I’m this cool rapper that fears nothing but now I’m supposed to be me. And just Sunwoo, is very awkward with people until I know them” “Okay, okay. You win. Now, who would you like to talk with? I can go with you and also get to know some of our classmates” “See the guy with the blue hair tops, I saw at the last rap battle I went to 3 weeks ago. So, I’m guessing he’s a rapper. I’d like to start with him, I think. But if you wanna talk with someone else then we can go talk with that person” “The guy with the ombre style hair is fine with me. Now let’s get to know his name so we don’t need to call him: ombre style hair” Sunwoo and I began walking up to the guy with ombre hair and the guy he was talking with. 

Eric’s POV

As I was talking with Han about the rap battle we went to 3 weeks ago and how awesome it was I noticed that three new people had entered the classroom. Holy shit is that Kim Sunwoo?!? He’s like one of the coolest rappers ever, he’s in this class?!? He was with another guy, but I didn’t recognize him. He might be a vocalist? Or maybe he’s a dancer? Or an actor? But with them was also a girl, a really cute girl with (h/l) (h/c) and she’s just… Beautiful, pretty, cute, hot, everything you can be. I went back to my conversation with Han as he was talking about this new song he was working on. After a while I looked back towards the girl, I noticed her looking around the class but she was staring at Xion… Why did she make such, I don’t know, heart eyes at him? I mean yeah the guy’s cute and nice but, hey, I’m hot and cute. The guy I didn’t know had left their little group and was now talking with Jongho, making me think even more that he’s a vocalist. The only ones not talking to anyone were: Sunwoo, the girl, Chani and Xion. Chani was a nice guy, another rapper like myself but he’s also an amazing dancer. I saw his audition and I thought I was at a concert or something, he’s good. Really good. Oh, Sunwoo and the girl are walking towards me. I should say hi, but in a cool way. Charm her. Yes, okay. Charming, cool but nice. I can do that. I think I can do that. Okay here they come, breathe. 

(y/n)’s POV

“Hey, yo. Eric’s the name. No! Or yes but no! I uh eh-” “Hahaha. Well, nice to meet ya Eric if that’s the name. Hehe, the name’s (y/l) (y/n) and this is Kim Sunwoo, my best friend” He’s cute and funny, just like I imagined. Eric, it suits him. I don’t know why, it just does. “Sorry about that, I’m usually better at introducing myself. I’m Eric and this is Han, we’re both rappers. I'm thinking of also picking up dancing, while Han is taking vocalization as well as rapping. What are you guys majoring in?” So Sunwoo was correct, he had seen this guy at the rap battle and he was indeed a rapper. “I’m majoring in vocalization, rapping and acting. It’s a lot but I just love it all. hahaha” “And I’m majoring in rapping and singing” ''Nice! Then we’ll get to know each other and we can be best friends!” Maybe I should add loud to the list of things he is as well, hehe. “Ya! Seungmin, come over here” I half screamed to get his attention. If Eric wants to be friends then he’s gonna have to be friends with Seungmin as well, because Seungmin, Sunwoo and I we’re a package deal. “Hey, (y/n) you don’t need to scream. I’m not deaf” “Yeah yeah yeah, now get over here and bring your new friend with you” He walked over to where Sunwoo and I were now and brought the red headed guy with him. “Eric, Han, this is Seungmin. Seungmin, these are Eric and Han, our new friends. Now who’s your new friend?” “Nice to meet you! This is Jongho. Jongho, this is (y/n) and this is Sunwoo. My best friends” “Hey everyone, I’m Jongho” We made some small talk and got to know each other. But I couldn’t let go of the thought that we were excluding the other two guys in the classroom. That cute blue haired guy and another guy who looked quite familiar for some reason, maybe I saw him at my audition? I don’t know. 

Xion’s POV

I was the first person who arrived in the classroom. I missed having Dongmyeong with me as we usually did all of these things together. But we choose different schools so now I’m alone. I’m a little scared. I sat there for a while just playing on my phone before two other guys came in, one with ombre styled hair - white at the roots, blue at the tops. And another guy with brown hair. They barely noticed me, they each gave a little wave and one of those greeting nods that some people do. They sat down in the front while I sat in the back. I was too shy to go talk with them so there I sat, watching people come into the classroom and sit down. Some spoke to each other other’s said nothing. After a while, a group of 3 people came into the classroom. 2 guys and 1 girl. They all had a quick look around the classroom. The girl was much slower than the tallest guy with braces, that could be seen as he smiled. Her gaze stayed on the guy with ombre hair. She was cute. I looked away and my gaze fell on a guy 4 seats in front of me, he had red hair. Dyed,probably. The guy with braces that came in with the girl had walked up to him and started a conversation. The girl and another guy with red hair, most likely dyed, had now walked over to the ombre haired guy. I think I know his name but I’ve forgotten. Maybe Erren? Earl? Evan? Eli? Erin? No? I think it began with an E, but I’m not sure anymore. Wait, the guy with the girl. Is he Kim Sunwoo? Like the famous high school rapper. I’m not a rapper but my friends have been talking about him and showing me some videos. I actually think that’s him. And the other red haired guy might be Choi Jongho. He’s a great singer who has participated in a couple of competitions. I think the guy half sleeping on his desk might be Kang Chanhee, or Chani, he’s an actor if I’m not mistaken. But I have no idea who the girl is, the braces guy or the guy sitting with the ombre haired dude. Damn, I wanna go up and talk to someone but I’m scared. Why did I decide to wear my Disney denim jacket today? Why does the world hate me? 

“Ya! Seungmin, come over here”  “Hey, (y/n) you don’t need to scream. I’m not deaf” “Yeah yeah yeah, now get over here and bring your new friend with you” 

The girl and the braces guy, that I now know is called Seungmin, suddenly screamed which frightened me a little. (y/n). So that’s her name. Pretty, just like her. Now that her group has grown with some people, only Chani (if it’s really him) and I are left without anyone to talk to. Should I go over there? Maybe? Yes? No? AHHH! Thoughts just make up your mind!! Chani didn’t seem to really mind being on his own but I sure do. Dongmyeong, I curse you for choosing another school and leaving me alone. 

(y/n)’s POV

“Hey guys, I think we should try inviting those two into our group. They look a bit lonely right now and it feels mean to leave them out” I hoped no one would be against befriending the last two as well of the seven guys who were present. “Of course. Let’s go, I’ll take the raven haired guy if you speak to the blue haired one!” Eric stood up immediately and half ran over to the guy partly laying on his desk. I walked over to the guy sitting all the way in the back, he must be shy. “Hey, I’m (y/n). My friends and I began talking to some of the others and we wanted to ask if you wanted to come over and talk with us too? Cause you look nice, but a little lonely” I gave him a kind smile as I stood in front of his desk. He smiled back at me and once again I felt my heart skip a beat or two. He really looks like an angel when he smiles. “Hi. I’m Dongju but you can call me Xion. And I would like to come hang with you guys, if that’s okay?” So he is shy. “Of course, let’s go! They’d love to meet you and I want to get to know you as well. I also have to add, I love your jacket. It’s so cool. The details, the fact that it’s Disney! OMG, I love Disney” I could see how something was lifted off his shoulders as I said that. He must have been nervous over wearing a ‘quirky’ jacket on his first day. “Thanks! I really like Disney too. I was so worried, I didn’t think about which jacket I took this morning and when I realized I was already sitting here so it would be too late to change” “Well, no matter what anyone else says. I love it!” We walked from his desk up to where Eric and Han had been sitting alone just a few minutes ago, but now they had been joined by everyone else in the classroom including the raven haired guy who had been half asleep 3 minutes ago. “Hey guys! I’m (y/n). This is Xion. Xion, this is Sunwoo, Seungmin, Eric, Han, Jongho and could it be Kang Chani?” I now realized why the raven haired guy looked familiar. He was Kang Chani, quite a famous child actor. He has been in the industry for a couple years now and he’s really good. I wonder what else he could be majoring in? Vocalization? I guess I’ll find out. “Hey, yeah. My name is Kang Chanhee, but please, call me Chani” “Nice to meet you, Xion!” I also found something out about Eric during these 20 minutes or so that I’ve known him. He’s very social, he’s extremely extroverted but he’s also very nice. And good looking. No! Dumb brain, stupid brain. That might be true but not what we were supposed to focus on. A couple more minutes passed as the eight of us were talking about random things and getting to know each other. Right before the teacher arrived a couple other students walked in, but these ones we almost missed as we were so caught up in our own little group that we might as well have been the only ones there. The teacher introduced the program and explained that not everyone was majoring in the same subjects in this class but we were a mix of the best. We would all be working together for some things and separately for others. I was a little worried about this at first, Seungmin wouldn’t struggle as he was a bit more extroverted but Sunwoo wouldn’t do well on his own. He’s far too introverted when he doesn’t have a close friend with him. But, I think he’ll be fine. He should have Eric with him in his rap course, if not also myself, Chani and Han. In singing he’ll probably have Jongho, Xion, Seungmin, Han and myself. He shouldn’t have a lesson without any of us being there.  After introductions and being assigned a seat in the classroom we were done for the day. Real courses and so on would begin the next day. I was assigned a seat between Eric and Xion, Eric to my left and Xion to my right. We were sitting in the front, with the row I was sitting in being the middle one. Sunwoo sat beside Chani and was talking away about different rap verses and flows. Seungmin was sitting with Han and Jongho, joking around and singing some riffs. I could get used to this. This school and these friends. 

Some time passed by and the group got closer. We help each other out with everything and have many classes together. I have to admit though, I was expecting Chani to be a part of the acting major but that Eric and Xion were as well did surprise me. But I was happy as well, of course. I get to spend even more time with the two guys I find attractive. No one can replace the Kim twins but maybe Eric and Xion can come quite close to the relationship I have with the Kim twins. We have a big project coming up that both excites me and terrifies me. It’s a love story, both a beautiful happy one but also a tragedy at the same time. I’m pretty sure I’ll get the female protagonist role. The thing that terrifies me though is that both Eric and Xion are auditioning for the male protagonist, which they are not alone to do, but either way the bad thing is… There are like 5 kiss scenes in this drama. 5. 5 freaking kiss scenes. And if Eric or Xion gets that role, I will kiss that one of them a bunch of times. Actually, auditions are happening right now and soon it’s my turn to go audition for my role. However, I’m freaking out a little, or completely. I hate this day! The Kim twins couldn’t come as Seungmin is out doing a street performance project and Sunwoo is participating along with Han in some team rap battle competition. Xion was supposed to be doing the street performance with Seungmin and Eric going with Sunwoo and Han to the rap competition but because of the audition for the play neither of them could go. I was scheduled for the audition from the start because I had my street performance last week and I have a rap thing next week, so I most likely will do the rap battle with Eric as it is a team competition. I think Xion might be going alone to do the street performance unless Sunwoo and or Han are going as well. Well, I got side tracked with this but back to my panic attack over here in the theatre room.  I am freaking out over the idea of possibly kissing Eric or Xion or anyone else. And now I don’t have the Kim twins to support me, to make me think rationally or well at least make me stop panicking. Holy shit - I don’t remember my lines. Come on me. I know these lines, I’ve practiced them for the last month. I swear I recite them in my sleep, I know them but now I can’t even think of a single word I’m supposed to say. 

Eric & Xion’s POVS (they both think the same thing) 

(y/n) doesn’t seem to be doing so good over there. I should head over and talk to her so she’ll calm down. Damn, I really hope I’ll get the lead role and that she’ll get the lead so we can play against each other in a romantic play. Hanging out with her and the others during these weeks has been amazing. She’s amazing. I’m pretty sure I have a crush on her, but I think Eric/Xion does too unfortunately. I’m just hoping she likes me and not him. 

(y/n)’s POV 

I see Eric and Xion walking in my direction. Both coming from different parts of the backstage area. I’m not sure if they have seen each other or if they are even walking to me. They could just be walking in my direction but with another destination in mind than what I am thinking. I try to take a breath and calm down but it’s difficult when it feels like my heart is beating a thousand beats a second while also feeling like it ain’t beating at all. 

“Hey, are you okay?” Xion. “Yo, (y/n). Why are you so nervous? You know you’re gonna do great because you are amazing at acting!” Eric. All of a sudden it feels like I can breathe, my heart is calming down and not trying to beat it’s way through my ribcage or whatever. “Hey guys. I’m not okay but I’m okay. I just panic because I don’t have my somewhat dysfunctional  support system with me because they are busy with their own lives” “But it’s okay, you know we’re here and we can be your somewhat dysfunctional support system or maybe a functional one” Eric answered as he lightly joked and laughed. As Eric said that and laughed I felt yet another piece of my anxiety let go of its hold on me and leave. Xion comfortingly placed a hand on shoulder, lightly caressing it in a calming manner. “It’s just that I have never auditioned for a big role without them. They have always been here and the three of us balance each other quite well even though most people see us as a walking catastrophe. It’s just not the same without them” “I get what you mean. I used to always have my twin brother with me, he’s the extroverted one of us but when we applied to colleges we ended up choosing different ones. That first day in school a couple of weeks ago was one of, if not the first, times I made friends without him. I was terrified and nothing was as it should have been but then you came and spoke with me. You invited me and I will always be grateful for that. Sometimes change is good, thanks to you guys I have learnt to open up and be more extroverted and I made some pretty good friends,” “Same thing for me. I’ve always been very open and extroverted but most people think I’m too much. They can’t keep up with my energy so I usually have to pretend to be someone I’m not to keep my energy under control to then let it out through rapping but with you guys I can be me. I’ve learnt that it’s okay to be myself and not caring about what others think. Change can be good even if it’s scary,” Eric took one of my hands and caressed it with his thumb as he spoke. These boys, god they’re making me fall even more for them. “Thank you guys. I needed this. I uh-” “(y/n) (l/n), you’re turn to enter the stage” “Uh, okay. I’m coming. Thank you guys, really. I’ll see you two in a while, unless we see each other before it’s your turns then break a leg” I gave each of them a quick hug before I hurried over to the stage area and began my audition. 

The three of us did not have time to catch up on how things went that same day. After hours of waiting and working hard we were all exhausted and headed home to sleep. I think my audition went well, now all I can do is wait for the judges to make their decisions on who gets which role. Two days passed from audition day until I met up with Eric and Xion again. Of course we immediately asked the others how their audition went and if anyone had heard anything yet. No one had heard anything yet regarding the roles but Eric had managed to overhear someone saying something about the production team thinking of changing the play that they were supposed to do. Which could mean new auditions unless they have chosen some people that they believe can play any role. We all felt that them changing the play right now would be weird, very weird. But apparently it worked out in our favor. They rewrote a part of the play so that there are two male leads who will be played by Xion and Eric, one female lead played by me and finally a quite important role: the best friend of the female lead played by Chanhee who was relieved he didn’t get a douchebag guy role, again. Chanhee might seem like a scary dude at first glance but he’s actually a sweet dude, he was a great help to me as I tried to deal with learning how to act like I’m in love Xion and not Eric but then through half the play all of a sudden I’m in love with Eric but not with Xion. Do you know how hard it is to act like I don’t when I do but at the same time trying to act like I do without letting them know I actually do love them? Anyway, Chani’s been helping me learn the balance of letting out my actual feelings and acting out the fake ones. 

I also got to spend a lot of quality time with Eric and Xion, goofing around and just having a good time. I learnt during one rehearsal that Eric loves hugs just as much as he loves fried chicken. I also learnt that Xion is a “hitter” when he laughs, but hanging out with them like this and getting to know them is great. I couldn’t ask for more. Maybe it’s okay for me to feel something for both of them because we are still friends, if it becomes more in the future then I’ll have to handle it then. For now, I’m just happy to be their friend. Laughing with them and experiencing the life of a high school student was enough for now. I rather have this than not having them at all. Another thing that was changed in the play was the kiss scenes. Apparently, the school board thought it was “inappropriate” for a high school play so the kiss scenes were changed to hugs and two kisses on the cheek. So I have one scene where I have to kiss Xion on the cheek and another where I kiss Eric on the cheek. I mean I guess it’s not as stressful as kissing someone on the lips but still come on when you like someone, just being close to them can be a problem. AND I’M SUPPOSED TO KISS THEM ON THE CHEEK?!?!?! HOW?!?! 

“Okay, Chani. I need to talk to you. But you have to promise me that this conversation will never be spoken of to anyone else. Okay? It stays between us, only us. I’m not even telling the Kim twins, my childhood best friends. This is top secret, okay?” I was in a closed room practicing a scene with Chani when we decided to take a break and I saw my chance at asking him for some advice. “Okay. What is it?” He looked tired before but now he was more alert and awake, he was intrigued. “Okay. So, I think I might kinda like Xion and Eric as more than just friends but I know it’s not convenient and it’s complicated but I don’t know how I’m supposed to handle doing this with them. I thought I could handle it but turns out I panic any time we even talk about practicing those scenes and I come up with some lame excuse to get out of there and I just don’t know what to do. I’m trying to use your advice about finding the balance between my real feelings and those I’m just acting out but it’s not working with this” As I was talking Chani was nodding his head and humming to show that he was listening. “Okay. so you kinda have a crush on them and you’re trying to figure out how to manage getting through the play and the rehearsals without messing something up, correct?” “Yes, that’s right” “Well, it’s a complicated situation. But my advice is that if it’s too hard to do it as you then be Aliana and instead of thinking of them as them think of them as their characters. Imagine that it’s not the real you doing it but it’s your characters. It might make it easier if it doesn’t feel like you’re the one doing these things. I usually do this if I have a scene where I have to something that I’m uncomfortable with but the character I’m playing is not so then I just imagine that I really am him” “Thank you, that might actually work because until now I’ve always thought of it being them and me just being us and not thinking of us as out characters. Thank you Chani, you’re the best!” “No problem. I’m glad you wanted to trust me with your secret. I promise I won’t tell anyone about it. Now, go practice because otherwise the play is not going to be good and I refuse to be a part of a bad play” “Hahah okay okay I will! Again, thank you” We said goodbye and then I texted the group chat I had with Eric and Xion where I wrote that I wanted to meet them in the stage hall in 15 minutes. They both answered with a simple ‘OK!’. 

In the stage hall

“HEY (Y/N), is something wrong?” Eric.  “Are you okay?” Xion. “Yeah, I’m okay, don't worry. I just needed to talk with you guys. I know that I haven’t been the easiest person to work with on this as I have run away half the time. I just had a hard time separating reality from the acting, so it felt weird to do all this with you guys because I forgot how to distance myself from the stage and let my character forward so I couldn’t handle it and that’s why I kinda ran away all the time” “That’s alright, I’m glad you told us. I’m also struggling a bit with this, I thought it would be easier having my closest friends to play against but turns out it was way harder than I anticipated” Xion took my right in his left hand and gave it a light reassuring squeeze as he told me, and Eric, of his own concerns. “Why didn’t you say anything earlier? It’s weird for us all, but we’re not alone doing this we’re doing it together stupid. You don’t need to carry everything on your own. I overestimated how confident I actually am, at first I thought it would be super easy but now I realized that I’m actually terrified of doing this. The kisses, the love confessions, the rejections, the fights and especially doing it with you guys. I’m afraid of thinking of it as reality. As if that’s the way we will end up,” Eric fidgeted with his hands in front of him, during the months I’ve known him I think this is the first time I’ve seen him look kind of scared and the first time I’ve heard him speak so seriously. “I know. I forgot about the fact that you are indeed going through the same thing as me. I should have told you guys earlier but I was scared, I was confused I think. How about we just do this? We go up there and own the stage and once it’s over we go back to being us, no problems in sight for the closest future at least. We go back to being the chaotic treo that we have been for the past months and why don’t we just stay like that for a while? Before we think about having a future like the plot of the play? We don’t have to end up like that, because that’s not who we are. We are Eric, Xion and (Y/n). Let’s write our own story, the way we want it” “That sounds nice. Let’s celebrate with the others when the week of performances is over. Let’s eat dinner and maybe go for some karaoke?” “That sounds like a good plan, (y/n) and Eric. I’m in. Let’s write our story and it will begin with a celebratory dinner along with our friend group” 

I think we all somewhat knew what everyone felt but we like being friends, we don’t wanna lose that so why make things complicated. We are not acting like we don’t even if we do but at the same time we’re not exactly acting on our feelings either. More so, we keep them passive but alive and we wait so see what the future has in store for us. For now, we’re just going to be us. No worries for love, fights and rejections. We’re doing good just the way we are now. We’re writing our own story and it’s not a tragedy, it’s not one where all our hearts are broken. No. This is the story of how we stay friends, for all our lives. Through the ups and the downs, we are there as friends when we find others to fall in love with. They will always be special to me and I think my heart is always going to flutter when I’m with them but I would rather have them as my friends forever, than have one of them as my boyfriend for a moment and then lose them both. It’s been years and we’re all still friends, we have weekly meetups for dinners with everyone and we are all happy. We are friends just like in High School, my closest friends will always be and still are the Kim twins and the Sohn Twins. The Kims are like my brothers and the Sohns are my very special and precious friends. We choose permanent friendship and happiness over temporary love and I would do that same choice again if I had to. Because I love them and I don’t want to lose them.

[alj4890]

Hi you are awesome! Got an ask. What do you think will happen if the gang found out that Barthelemy along the others involved was behind Queen Eleanor's deat, just after days of him threatening to take the Princess and be a regent?I want to know Liam's POV on it.

Aww!!! Thank you ☺Honestly, I think Liam would have figured it out when he realized the goblet was from both Godfrey and Barthelemy. He was the one to devote his free time to secretly study the effects of poisons and ways it could be administered. Once the group found his mother's secret room, I think it would have all come together in his mind. For your request though, I will try and show Liam's reaction if he discovered the connection after Barthelemy's threat. Plus, I think this is one circumstance where he wouldn't want to involve the others. To be able to capture his mother's murderer would be something he would want to do himself with the help of his king's guards.

@gkittylove99 @darley1101 @krsnlove @kingliam2019 @texaskitten30 @yourmajesty09 @mom2000aggie @ofpixelsandscribbles @twinkleallnight @lodberg @twinkleallnight @amandablink @neotericthemis @mm2305

Masterlist

Subversion

"I've got you." Liam gently took his wife's trembling form into his arms.

The nightmares were getting out of hand.

Ever since Maxwell's father had threatened to take their daughter from them, Riley's nerves were shot. She tried so hard to put on a brave face during the day, but when night came across the land, she fell apart.

Tears slipped down her cheeks as she held fast to Liam. Her breaths hitched at the thought of Barthelemy Beaumont winning in the end.

"How did he get so many of the court on his side?" She whispered. "After all we've done for them!"

Liam rested his cheek on top of her head. "I don't know."

"He's been gone for what...fifteen, twenty years or so?" She grumbled. "We saved the country from Justin. We secured the throne with Eleanor's birth." Her anger began to overcome her fear. "And these traitors do this to us?!"

"The court serves its on purposes." He explained. "They always have. It is rare to find a truly selfless noble amongst the group."

Riley left his arms to reach for a tissue on her nightstand. "I saw how selfish they could be during your bride search."

She blew her nose softly before a frown firmed her lips. "I mean, the whole reason Bertrand wanted me to win you was so House Beaumont could be restored, reputation wise. He said he also wanted to see us happy, but now I doubt it."

Liam listened quietly as she went through her nightly rants of those that had betrayed them. She then went into a litany of how ridiculous it was that they had to travel with a one year old to their homes in the hopes of swaying their fickle minds back in their favor.

Before long, she had worn herself out and began to doze off. He held her until he felt her slow deep breaths. Easing his arms away, he crept out of their bedroom.

As had been his nightly ritual for the past year, he first went to the nursery.

His lips curved over his one year old daughter's tendency to cocoon herself in her blankets. Eleanor's head and that of the purple stuffed bunny she loved to sleep with were the only things visible.

He tenderly brushed her hair from her forehead as he gazed upon his most prized possession. His inner resolve hardened with the vow that nothing would ever take her from him and Riley.

On his way out of the nursery, he paused to pet Chance. The sweet corgi seemed to almost understand that something was going on and that he needed to guard the little princess. Lady Luck and their puppies were curled up at the foot of the toddler bed, being the next line of defense if Chance failed.

Liam quietly closed the door and continued downstairs. He nodded briefly to the guards that were stationed at various points along the halls and staircase. None seemed surprised by their king up at such a late hour.

Why should they, when he had been doing this for a year now?

Liam met Bastien in his study. The older man handed him a steaming cup of coffee, before sitting down across from him.

The workspace between them was covered with pictures, reports, and test results.

"Anything new?" Liam asked.

"I received this from one of my underground informants." Bastien handed over a set of photographs. "And I uncovered this report through the help of the queen mother. We came across this while going through your late father's personal files."

Liam's lips firmed into a thin line as he flipped through the old photographs. Barthelemy had made a wide variety of friends during his supposed' "coma".

"Is that...?" Liam handed the picture over.

"It is, sir." Bastien reached across the table for another set of photographs. "Lord Barthelemy along with Godfrey had been developing close ties with both the Nevarkis family and those that raised the leader of The Sons of the Earth."

"I see." Liam tapped his fingers against his mug. "So our initial theory was correct. Godfrey didn't act alone when my mother was poisoned."

"In all honesty sir, I never thought he had the stomach for such an act." Bastien frowned over the picture of the late Queen Eleanor that also showed Jackson Walker in the background. "Of the two friends of your father, I suspected Barthelemy."

Liam looked up. "You did?"

Bastien shrugged. "I was the junior agent when the first attack on your mother failed. Jackson told me only what was relevant." His eyes narrowed in memory. "He said it was for her protection that I wasn't told more. Now I think he and your mother were hoping to not put anyone else at risk with what they were uncovering."

Liam focused once more on the last picture his mother had taken. It was the very ball in which she received the poisoned golden goblet. He felt that familiar breath aching pain in his heart. She had missed so much of his life. His growing up, his marriage, his child.

He wanted to destroy the men responsible for this. He wanted vengeance for his mother and all the lives affected by her death.

He wanted them to suffer as he had. As his late father had.

They deserved it. They deserved so much more agony than a mere prison sentence or swift death could give.

He knew it was wrong, but he hoped Barthelemy resisted being captured. Then the king's guards could use other methods to apprehend him.

Godfrey's capture had not given him the satisfaction that Liam needed. Something had always felt off when he thought of the fastidious former Duke of Karlington. He just couldn't believe the man had acted alone.

"I believe we have enough evidence with this last report." Bastien handed him another sheet of paper. "Queen Amalas sent this along with her regards."

Liam read through the many sheets.

This was it. This was the final nail to Barthelemy Beaumont's coffin.

Liam stood up. "Prepare the guards. We are going to Ramsford immediately."

*****************

Duchy Ramsford, at the first blush of dawn...

"We have every inch surrounded, sir." Bastien whispered.

"Good." Liam squared his shoulders. He tried to itch his side, but encountered nothing but the Kevlar vest his guards insisted he wear. "Let's go."

The pair, flanked by four more guards walked up to the front door and banged on it.

A sleepy servant appeared, perplexed to see the king standing on the steps.

Liam and Bastien pushed past him, stating they were there for kingdom business, and began to climb the stairs.

Their footsteps were silent as they checked each room they came to.

Having finally come to the family wing of the manor, they opened the door to the room where the culprit slept.

Before the old man had a chance to come fully awake, he was handcuffed and shoved out into the hallway.

"What is the meaning of this?" Barthelemy yelled. "How dare you come into my room in such a manner?"

Bertrand and Savannah rushed out, only to stop in surprise at the sight before them.

"Barthelemy Beaumont." Liam's voice held a sinister edge. "For crimes against the royal family and Cordonia, I hereby sentence you to death."

"What?" Barthelemy dropped his easy going mien he had maintained since he first reappeared.

Something more dark and evil took over his features. "You do not have the power to do that, King Liam. You gave the Council those rights. Now that you're family is under attack, you think getting rid of me will stop them from taking the princess away?" He snorted in derision. "Even if you find a way to kill me, others will make certain neither you nor that pitiful excuse for a queen ever see Princess Eleanor again."

"I do not think any noble will fight my decision once they see your list of crimes Liam's blue eyes blazed with fury.

He began to approach the man who had formulated the plan to kill his mother. The man who had blackmailed numerous nobles so that they were forced to support him. The very man trying once more to destroy his family and take the crown from him.

Barthelemy snarled at him "You know nothing of my supporters." His chin lifted in triumph. "There are many outside of Cordonia who would love to see me take the throne as Prince Regent."

Liam's slow, deliberate steps caused Barthelemy to shrink back. He stumbled over his own feet as he was backed into a corner.

His eyes were wild as he looked for anyone who might possibly be on his side.

"Bertrand! As the Duke of Ramsford, you must stop him before he--"

His son shook his head. "House Ramsford has always stood behind King Liam and Queen Riley." He felt Savannah's hand slip into his to help him through this. "Anyone, be them blood relation or friend, who does not will become an enemy of this duchy."

Barthelemy began to spew insults upon his son. His hatred and disgust was then directed to both of his progeny having failed him in every possible way.

Bertrand didn't flinch or even appear to hear the diatribe directed towards him. He instead reported his own investigation into his father's activities.

"Forgive me, your majesty." His voice was hoarse with emotion. "I had to make it look like I had truly turned against you and our queen to make my father more open about his plans. I have all the information you might need for what he intended to do to take the princess away in my bedroom's safe."

"Traitor!" Barthelemy struggled anew against his handcuffs and the guards holding him. "How dare you betray your own blood--"

Liam punched him, knocking out the old man with an uppercut. A blessed silence followed his drop.

Bertrand stared dispassionately upon his father's crumpled form, then turned on his heel, leading Bastien to the safe.

Liam took long, deep breaths to calm himself down. The urge to continue to beat the man at his feet was strong.

He remembered every tear shed in the dark over his mother. Every need for a hug from her. Every holiday memory without her. Every single worry and secret he had longed to share with her.

He then thought of the miserable years he and Riley would have had without their daughter. Every single moment without her sweet smile. Missing each milestone. Being denied the right to even speak to her. No hugs. No kisses for skinned knees or bad dreams. No playtime. No chance of checking on her during the night.

He never knew he could hate a man as much as he did Barthelemy Beaumont.

How had such a man fathered two of Cordonia's most loyal noblemen?

Liam realized he should be grateful for the late Annabelle Beaumont and her sweetness overshadowing all that this man tried to teach them.

It would have hurt even more so, if Maxwell and Bertrand had betrayed him.

"Your majesty?"

Liam lifted his eyes and took the folder filled with all Bertrand had uncovered. It was enough to put his father away for multiple life sentences.

"Sir, I hope..." Bertrand's shoulders drooped. "Do you think Riley will understand why I did what I did?"

"I do." Liam placed a grateful hand on his shoulder. "Thank you, for this and for your continued loyalty."

Bertrand bowed his head, unable to speak from his own relief that it was at last over.

The guards dragged a still unconscious Barthelemy down the stairs and into the back of an armored truck.

Liam and Bastien followed close behind.

The king took a deep breath of the early morning's crisp air. The sun beginning to shine reminded him that this was indeed a new day...one in which he could return to his family victorious, knowing they were once more safe.

[hey-hamlet]

BNHA FIC PROMPTS

A collection of all of the fic ideas from that ask game, as of now. I’ll throw in new ones if i get any and when I remember. Feel free to use any of them, I’d love a link if you did!

with hands to the sky, I beg (what will save us?)

Izuku is a god who asks to be reborn as a human to try and help. He is warned he can’t return to being a god and will join the mortal realm, ever reincarnated. He agrees.

Izuku is a child with faint memories of a life he never lived, who knows too much about the world but not enough about the people around him. He’s not listed as having a quirk but he’s never gotten sick, never been hurt. He scares the other children and the adults don’t like his precocious nature. Inko loves her little miracle.

 My Soul is Like a Supernova

Things happen around Izuku. Always have. Everything from earthquakes and villain attacks to miraculous healing and lottery wins. He’s always attracted big events like this - as if even the universe can see how important he is and it warps itself around him.

He sees this as perfectly normal. 1A is begining to notice a stressful pattern.

This one regret of mine

Character study of Inko and how she deeply regrets so many things she’s done in her life, from her husband, to giving up on her carrier, to telling Izuku he couldn’t be a hero and then letting him keep going to UA.

But no matter what she’d never regret her son.

Of souls and lost causes

A good ol’ Izuku sees dead people AU, focused more on his younger years when he’d wander around the city helping as many spirits as he could, only to return home at the end of the day exhausted and dirty to an increasingly worried mother who believed the doctor when he said seeing ghosts as a quirk would be impossible.

my life.your choice

Underground heroics AU (i dont think ive ever posted that au huh): Izuku is the well-known son of japan’s immortal emperor, All for One. Born quirkless, he’s been emotionally abused but violently protected his whole life by his father, his mother killed before his eyes for trying to take him away. He’s never been able to make a choice for himself save for his bodyguard - his childhood friend, Bakugo Katsuki.

Katsuki made a pledge to protect him when they were in kindergarten and he’ll be damned if he breaks it now. And if it takes the two of them joining the resistance, meeting a vigilante by the name of All Might thought long dead and Izuku receiving a near-mythical quirk? Well, that just makes it more exciting, doesn’t it?

I forgot that you existed

Izuku gets hit with a quirk that not only makes people forget him, it prevents them from seeing him as well - all but erasing him from reality for everyone he knows. He can still interact with things but all it manages to do is just UA shut down under fear of villain infiltration. They find Izuku 18 hours later when the quirk wears off - a motion tracking gun trained on his forehead.

certain uncertainties

No one can predict the quirks trapped in One for All or when they’ll show up. Anthology fic of Izuku discovering each of them, some being rather helpful, and at least one piece of merch being sent into a low orbit.

Sometimes goodbye is a second chance

Set in the same universe I wrote console reset in; during the two heroes movie: they never defeat Nine and he slaughters the whole island and his class, leaving Izuku till last. He comes back at the start of their first day on the island and doggedly makes friends with every islander he can because while it hurt seeming them die, it hurt even more knowing he’d never even learnt most of their names.

They win this time the first time they meet him, even if it’s a marathon fight of 8 hours with him and Bakugo doggedly wearing him down. No one dies. Izuku thinks it’s worth dying as many times as he has to to keep the people he loves smiling.

The immortality of the heroic spirit

One of the quirks in One for All is determination: if you have something you desperately want to do, you can’t die - no matter how much blood you lose or home many pieces your body is crushed into - you’ll just heal back to where you were before you died. All Might and Aizawa find this out to horrifying effect during a brutal villain fight they are stuck watching on the news with the rest of a terrified UA.

In hindsight this makes a lot of sense to Izuku. Aizawa wants to scream. All Might has coughed up more blood than is probably healthy and all of 1A bruised hands from where they were clutching each other’s when it got too tense.

Shine on you invincible legacy

Izuku becomes a top 10 hero before hes even out of high school, hitting No.2 the second he graduates and taking No.1 from Hawks literally the next time the ranking is counted. 1A will not stop throwing him parties each time he moves up in the ranking, even if in 3rd year it was every other week. All Might comes to ever one of them.

Shake the Dirt from Your Shoes

Izuku will be a hero and no one will stop him - an AU a fair bit like the beginning of canon except Izuku fights back, remains unending optimistic and maybe engages in a light bit of technically legal vigilantism, accidentally befriending a vast array of heroes and a student or two.

To his horror, they recognise him out of costume as soon as he speaks to them, resulting in a very eventful first day at UA.

do you feel with a heart of steel

Original Sin AU, young Izuku finding feeling emotions difficult and not knowing why. He finds a dying animal on the way home and sits with it, patting it until it passes away. He doesn’t think he feels anything, but his cheeks feel wet.

all you want is milk and honey

Villains have been trying to use Izuku his entire life, much to his annoyance and confusion (I wonder who in his family might make him known to villains? hm). He’s gotten very good at being intimidating, even as a child.

When he gets kidnapped with Bakugo on a primary school field trip he decides to hell with it and breaks out all the stops. Turns out villains don’t tend to want a 10-year-old who can describe in great detail how they would hang you with your own intestines.

Bakugo decides that fuck Izuku being quirkless, he’s kind of amazing.

Even the stars

Izuku dies young and no one but the stars cry for him. They bring him back, but his body is cold and he has a nova burning where his heart should be. A four-year-old who has known death and walked among the stars is a terrifying thing. His skin has a shimmer to it, his eyes look like planets with no visible pupil, and he knows far too much.

The stars still speak to him, and they see everything.

bitter dreams and optimistic nightmares

Bakugo and Izuku grow up good friends, until Izuku is taken by villains age 9.

Bakugo’s determined to be a hero to save Izuku, even if it hurts to be at UA without him.

Izuku hates hurting people but he’s determined to make the most of his horrible situation by leaking information to heroes whenever he can. He’s given to All for One to serve as a lab hand to the doctor when All for One finds out this rag tag outpost of his had been hiding a valuable resource.

They meet at the USJ.

Mind Games for Two Shinsou and Izuku are both gen ed students in the same class, but with Shinsou stubbornly refusing to make friends and Izuku being the vice president they are almost strangers. UA has a no quirkless students policy and Shinsou has accidentally discovered that he student in his class with an analysis quirk, doesn’t, actually, have one. Izuku is aware Shinsou knows. They both want to get into the hero course but are under the impression there is only one spot.

It’s tense.

The Melody Stuck in My Soul

Izuku has an empathy/emotional control quirk that hears other’s emotions like music. He uses this both to read people, to defend himself, and, because hes Izuku, to ramp up his adrenaline/motivation/anger to kick ass. He and Bakugo are friends because baby Bakugo was lowkey impressed Izuku managed to weaponize his tears.

Advantage of the musical element: it gives him something concrete to latch on to and change, and it was very easy to work out which emotions were which. Also he has his own theme song, even if he’s the only one who can hear it.

Disadvantage: He cant turn it off. The stronger the emotion the ‘louder’ the music (it doesn’t cover up natural sounds because its not technically there, you get me?)

Error 404, childhood not found

A Hero’s Son AU, snapshot’s of Izuku’s childhood with No.1 Hero All for One as his abusive father.

Age 4 when his quirk never comes in and All for One abandons all pretences of loving him. Age 6 when he realises his son is intelligent and has a use as a lab assistant for the doctor. Age 8 when Bakugo first realises something is wrong. Age 9 when his father is almost killed by the No.1 villain All Might. Age 9 when he’s made to work in the labs with the doctor.

Age 14 when he meets All Might. Age 15 when he makes it into UA.

Darkness Growing (The Light Ever Smaller)

Villains take over Japan after the current arc, leaving all heroes and students that don’t switch sides on the run. 1A is instantly separated with a few of them  being killed, most of the living students with Aizawa and Izuku and Bakugo by themselves, both too stubborn to leave the other.

Aizawa is desperately trying to get to Izuku and Bakugo in an attempt to keep them safe, while the two of them are avoiding Aizawa to keep the rest of their class safe(er), all while avoiding the villains, turncoat heroes and police out to get them. Public support is spotty at best with anyone found ‘harboring a criminal’ given the same punishment as the hero.

Lost soul of last hope

The first wielder has been Izuku’s imaginary friend since he can remember. He’s not very imaginary.

Featuring Izuku with the world’s strangest older brother, Inko coming to the realisation her son can see a ghost, but only one ghost and no one will believe them, Izuku’s quirk being listed as Inko’s because the first wielder can help him fake it, and Izuku wondering why first looks so much like that picture of his father on his mother’s bedside table.

The kids the system failed

100% The 1A run aways au with 1A, Aizawa and Mic being runaways kids of various ages that band together to stay alive and maybe do a little vigilante work on the side.

Izuku has All for One and uses it like you’d expect a traumatised kid to - cautiously at first but when he gets the hang of it there are suddenly no more criminals with quirks in their area, and it looks suspiciously like Uraraka can fly.

Just a second to soon? For the Fic thing?

Aizawa struggles and gets knocked out just before Shigaraki lunges at Tsuyu. She and Izuku are left horribly injured by his quirk with massive facial scarring, and in Tsuyu’s case, the loss of an eye.

Daze

An illusion/fear quirk makes his teachers look like villains and convinces him he’s in danger. They try and stop him without hurting him but it’s difficult considering Izuku is convinced he’s protecting his friends, considering he can only see them broken and bloodied with villains he thought were locked away loaming over them.

Even as Aizawa cuts out his quirk Izuku still tries to shield his friends, snarling ferally.

Morning Glories and Forget-me-nots

A memory quirk of unknown duration hits Izuku, leaving him remembering none of his life. 1A starts to fall apart without one of their pillar’s.

hopeless but not broken

The Long Con au where Izuku asks All Might if he could be a hero without a quirk - he’s really asking if he can stop pretending to be a villain, if he’s worth anything without the quirks he’s been given, if he’s worth something as himself rather than the limited use he can provide. He doesn’t know how to say all of that, so he just asks if he could be a hero.

All Might says no. And Izuku basically decides right then that the only way he’ll ever be able to help people is by being a mole for the heroes like he’s been since he was 10 - that he isn’t worth anything because he’s quirkless and to be considered just as valuable as the people around him are he needs to give his life and more.

He shows up to the bar crying because of All Might and Shigaraki moves his murder plot forward a few months.

Sunflowers and Summer Gardens

All Might starts a garden on campus and 1A like to help. He uses it as a nice place to chill and as physical therapy. He likes to give the different classes bunches of flowers when they sprout.

For Dos and For Donts

Izuku runs into some of his old bullies when out with some of his friends. Uraraka, Iida, Todoroki, Shinsou and Asui intimidate the fuck out of them, and Izuku realises hes not scared of them any more. Then they get frozen yoghurt!

your mistakes, my unbecoming

Aizawa assigns a project on quirk related issues, Izuku ends up with quirkless discrimination, Aizawa assumes his discomfort is just him being upset he doesn’t get to talk about quirks. He doesn’t realise his mistake until he finds Izuku dissociating on the roof.

one and one into the vast

Original Sin AU, All for One and Izuku seeing the vestiges together. One for All sees his brother for the first time and Izuku learns a lot about the voice in his head.

All for One has a mini-crisis about his not son learning he’s a horrific villain, especially considering he has the power to cast his soul out at any time, killing him at will. Izuku doesn’t kill him. He admits its probably not right of him to let AfO remain considering the things he’s done, but All for One is a part of him now and it would be like killing a friend.

All for One quietly decides to hold off on the villainy until all of 1A is dead, for Izuku’s sake.

between the stars of our souls

Izuku and All Might are old gods who keep getting reborn into human forms with their memories regained when they turn 4. Normally finding each other takes a while, and their last reincarnation they never found each other, so this time he resolves to make himself as easy to find as possible, all while saving as many people as he can.

Izuku, aged 4, memories fresh in his head, makes it his mission to get into contact with the man he knows is his father/mentor’s reincarnation. All Might’s agency was not expecting a 4 year old to repeatedly try breaking in to their office, and they especially weren’t expecting him to be so good at it.

you really should have thought this through

Different (and ill-advised) attempts at special moves or team up combo moves. Featuring:

Izuku managing to break Kirishima’s nose.

Uraraka sending Bakugo so high he broke the sound barrier coming back down to earth.

Kaminari and Shouto managing to electrify ice.

Izuku, Todoroki and Bakugo levelling a whole suburb (at least it was condemned???)

I'll Break Anything You Give Me

Different times Izuku desperately tried to repair his relationship with Izuku over the years and the one time Bakugo fully grasps how much he fucked up and reaches out his hand to try to fix it for the first time. Probably includes a lot of screaming, Bakugo learning how to say sorry, a field trip and them having a conversation on Aldera’s roof.

Sinking

One for All kind of possesses Izuku during a quiet night at the dorms. One for All, made of 8 people, 7 of which are dead and had their last experiences in life be rather painful and violent, breaks down, Izuku alone not enough to drown them out. They lash out at anyone who tries to touch them, their quirks tearing Izuku’s body apart.

All Might’s vestige reaches out a hand to Izuku to keep his mind from being torn apart as 1A set about both trying to protect Izuku and get Aizawa who was off campus on patrol.

Feat. Bakugo and All Might being the only people with any idea about what’s going on and getting more and more stressed each second that passes. Iida, Uraraka and Todoroki being good heroes and even better friends. Blood King deciding he’s never watching 1A for Aizawa again, and Aizawa deciding he’s never leaving 1A alone ever again.

A Long Way From Home

Shirakumo wakes up in Kurogiri’s body in Tartarus with only shadowed memories of his time as a villain. He’s scared and alone and he just wants to see his friends again, even if he’s scared they hate him because at least that’s something he knows.

Too Far Gone

The other side AU, it comes out Izuku is a villain with (knockoff) All for One and he has a showdown with Mirio. He and Izuku trained together under All Might and Mirio tries to plead with him but Izuku has to basically tell him to go to hell to not ruin his placet as crown prince of the underworld.

Of course, he’s not only doing this to save people, he’s also doing it with All Might’s blessing - taking over from All Might himself serving as a villain after he killed All for One to prevent a power vacuum.

Doesn’t mean that his friends in 1A know that.

Snowy hills and sunlit peaks

Probably an AU about All Might being a mountain spirit with a little shrine that Izuku is the only one who visits - Izuku gets in trouble and All Might manifests himself, saves him, and tells everyone to keep their hands off his human son.

Wilting

Izuku gets sick and he tries to hide it because he’s scared its something serious but he just gets worse and worse. His friends are the ones who eventually step in and comfort him.

I’d probably write two endings with one being a bad end and the other a good end.

My wish came true without me realising 

Izuku wakes up one morning, comes downstairs and just starts crying. Everyone panics and he reassures them they are happy tears and that he's just glad to be here. They all call him sappy and give him a hug. Later in the day he and Bakugo chat and Izuku reveals he never even expected to live this long, let alone become a hero. Bakugo grumbles that he’s too stubborn to die, and not to get too cocky. Izuku promises he wont.

[middleinthenight21]

With the heart in his hands

Credits and dedicated to @deep-in-mind67  Thank you for your art and Malik! I hope you like it and @ravenfan1242 so beautiful and kind. 

Stay safe and fight for justice. 

He had heard stories about fatherhood, men looking with love at their children, feeling that they had gained a precious treasure, could change their lives forever. They promised that they would protect them, it was like a roar inside, something beautiful and unexpected and they would never be the same again. It marked a before and after.

Damian never had that. His mother was a murderer, a cold-eyed woman who was used to every day being a struggle. A part of him assumed that she had loved him in a twisted and dominant way. She loved him the same way you treat a valuable object, she worried when he strayed from the path they had carved out for his life, and his grandfather was a man who put himself in a high position, always forcing him to look up and disguising his dominance and control under discourses on belonging and devotion. Damian thought it was the best he had and if he ever faced the world it would be for Ra's Al Ghul, they both left him at some point in his childhood. Then, his father came, who is someone who dedicated his life to a city consumed by crime and corruption, lived in an eternal search for justice that consumed everything around him, including his own family. thought it was the best he had and if he ever faced the world it would be for Ra's Al Ghul, they both left him at some point in his childhood. Then, his father came, who is someone who dedicated his life to a city consumed by crime and corruption, lived in an eternal search for justice that consumed everything around him, including his own family. Bruce Wayne watches him with love and earns his appreciation, but he will never be his top priority, just as he was not for Talia and Ra’s Al Ghul.

He has never complained about his life. Complaining and lamenting is for the weak, and Damian Wayne would never be either, but he wants to have better references for his son, so he could hold him in his arms without feeling like an idiot.

Damian can maneuver all the weapons in the world, assemble and destroy any object using only his intellect, but his three-week-old baby was different.

He had been gone for two weeks. Just over five days after the birth of his son, as he had to train the new killers for the league, which involved intensive preparation before the new recruits joined the League of the Assassins and he trusted no one but himself, but that had separated him from his family. Two weeks might not be long, yet it was long enough for his son not to recognize him.

Damian knew it, but Raven insisted there were other reasons why he cried when he got close. Still amazed at her ability to do her homework and tend to their son, Raven is caring and dedicated, in a way that makes him envy her and wonder what would have happened if she stayed instead of attending to her duties as head of the League of Assassins.

Looking out the window, the snow falls, and that morning in the Himalayas the wind sounds like the roar of an angry leopard. Damian had had a quiet night. Since it was Raven who took care of the baby by letting him sleep after he appeared last night acknowledging his tiredness, secretly thanking her, since he would not know how to recognize the requests of his son.

He is sitting on the bed drinking tea with a slice of lemon and brown sugar, it is a family drink, but the situation is different. He would be missing fingers to count the times he has had tea looking at the landscape with Raven at his side. They would simply lean against each other in silence, he would be full of secrets and confessions. He had never felt that way with another person, but the space between the two now a new person fills it.

Titus sleeps near the fireplace. Alfred the cat who had been adopted a few months ago was lying a few meters from them, curled up with green eyes fixed on the couple and the baby, as if watching them.

The room is warm, the fireplace is lit with a low fire and looks like an island of warmth in the middle of winter. There is an intricately patterned rug in gold tones that they had chosen together a few years ago, and the bed was comfortable with no exorbitant luxuries. Different from what the Demon Head would be thought to have, but this room in Nanda Parbat was a corner of privacy; no one would disturb them here. There are little memories imprinted on these four walls, secret moments and reminiscent of the engagement ring that they keep in a drawer that they never used. They don't need it, they don't have to wait for white dresses, bouquets and altars.

I don't want a ceremony. Raven had confessed after his proposal and had felt the disappointment and pain hit her face as if a bucket of cold water had been thrown at her refusal. My father played the ceremonies with my mother and ended in evil. I don't need a ceremony, protocol and jewelry, just ... need you, Damian Wayne.

Damian had understood her, her reasons were clear and for a person like Raven with a tragic past involving rituals and ceremonies it was easy to understand her rejection of marriage, it was not a refusal to be together. It was at that moment when the lights were off, her eyes were illuminated by the faint moonlight that appeared from the window and he analyzed the features of his girlfriend and realized that they did not require names or labels. The curtains rose and the room was dark as night lit up, like a new dawn and he swore no one would make him feel this way.

Peril of hope, resonates in his head, but it is only the name of a poem, since this is very real and he would share his entire life with her. It is not an illusion, it is not a promise that was taken by a glow that would change the world, this is their future. They could be two stars that orbit around each other, finding some point in their lives.

There are more hopeless futures.

Damian had lived his entire life with third-party plans for his life. Promising that they would bring out the best for him and put out all his thoughts of having an everyday life. He accepted it and raised his head, like a winner, but everything that surrounded Raven was soft and his life was imprinted with small moments in which he was surprised of himself, of the words that come out of his mouth when they are talking and of the actions that he dedicates. He had become accustomed to being with Raven, now he needs to learn to take care of their child.

Damian wants to be a better father.

"You know I'm empathetic, right?"

Observes his girlfriend. His eyes are fixed on his son, the baby is lying on the bed, on top of a small cloth in a pastel tone and he is amazed at how small he is. He is wearing bluish clothes, a miniature hat that drops dark strands like the tar, his skin is of a golden tone very similar to his; He would like to see aspects of Raven, but he looks a lot like him.

It is puzzling.

Looking at his son leaves him stunned. He can't take his eyes off each time he meets him and wonders how he could conceive of something so beautiful, innocent and pure; It makes him feel like a dirty person when he touches him, because he has taken lives. His life was full of authoritarian figures, how could he be what he deserves?

"I can feel your emotions, Damian Wayne," Raven reminds him. She leans towards the baby; he watches him move his little hands. Squeezes her little finger, holding on as if his life depended on it, and it seems like such an alien scene, he feels like a spy. She makes it look so easy. "It's not easy for me either", she whispers, and Damian is surprised. "Some days I think I won't be able to, that I'm not enough for someone who watches me with so much love and devotion and a person like me doesn't deserve a family" Raven adjusts her clothes. Even if he doesn't need her and the baby moans, but he is silent when he hears her voice and watches her with his eyes wide open, as if something about his mother's face had surprised him greatly "but I have him".

He remains silent.

"I was born with a purpose. It would be a door to destroy worlds. There was no other future for me, and my mother sometimes observed me as a stranger realizing my powers… You know my relationship with my father" She looked away. The baby grimaced and clenched his hands into two perfect fists as if the mention of his maternal grandfather would displease him. She ran her fingers over his palms, relaxing her son's hands, just like she did when she thought he needed to relax. "I feared for many things, but not for this. Not from Malik. "

The name echoed in his head and its meaning could not fit better, his son could be the king of their hearts. Damian had inadvertently given him a part of his heart ever since he learned of his existence.

Raven strokes Malik's small foot covered in a woolen sock "You're afraid".

He crossed his arms. One part yelled at him that this was not the case, but it was no use arguing because it is the truth.

Instinctively he moved to be by her side as if to demonstrate with actions that this was not the case, but it was useless because as soon as his son saw him, he began to complain and his mouth twisted into a grimace that threatened to cry.

He was about to get up and leave, in order not to disturb his baby. All his theories about what he considered a stranger were confirmed, but Raven stopped him with a glance and he remained in his place on the bed as if supported by a rope on the edge of the precipice.

He clenched his fists on the blanket covering the bed and watched as she carried Malik who was crying. The boy twisted in her arms and continued to complain, but now he was silent because he was being breastfed.

Alfred the cat yawns and turns his back on them, falling into a deep sleep.

Damian grimaces, wants to be more helpful and not just sit around not knowing what to do. He brushes her hair away so that she could breastfeed more comfortably. Stroking her shoulders with a massage, and Raven sighs intently at her son when he decides he's had enough.

Malik is looking at him now.

"Hold him" He almost protested, but by then she had already put him in his arms.

His eyes fell on Malik, the baby was looking at him with a frown and he wonders how someone so small can do such a thing. His eyebrows are black and thick, it seems that he was analyzing him, checking if they had a similarity or not.

He's light, barely weighs in his arms, and let’s Raven guide his hands holding his head and back. His hands are big compared to his baby, he was full of calluses and he is afraid to break him from the pressure, he seems fragile and is so small ...

"Just relax".

He lets out a breath, and she abandons him completely, but is looking at him.

Malik is still frowning. For the first time in weeks they look into each other's eyes. His son has green eyes with purple specks, as if two jewels had fused inside his iris and he is giving it different meanings, he invents theories and processes.

This is a different kind of love, one that almost filled his eyes with tears and would travel the world if this being asked him, but he also feels impure, not worthy of his son.

He doesn't deserve it.

"He looks like you," Damian says, wanting to break the order of his thoughts. He concentrates on his slightly bluish hair, it catches the light and turns it into a bluish glow, he wants to think that something so beautiful belongs to Raven and not to him. "He has your features."

She lets out a snort that sounds like tongue-in-cheek laughter, gently runs a hand down the baby's chubby cheek and he tries to capture his fingers to hold on to them.

"You are kidding, right?" Damian does not stop observing the face of his son, but he is listening to her. Trying to find places that belonged to Raven, the shape of the eyes, the subtly upturned nose and the way she clung to someone. "He looks like you", Raven leans closer and leans her head against his shoulder. "Malik has your features and expressions, he frowns just like you, he clenches his fingers into a fist when he feels threatened, he usually growls when he is irritated. He is serious and he has your temperament", she enumerates" Someone help us", she jokes.

Damian smiles to himself, tries to find everything she had said about their baby.

He has his eyes, the elongated shape marked by the lashes is his. Damian recognizes the tan tone of his skin, the eyebrows widened in the middle and he almost seems to see traits of his father that have touched Malik. See’s how his lips twist into a grimace, he has a small mouth and with each babble a dimple is marked on his right cheek.

Raven has no dimples.

How can someone like him make something so beautiful?

"This is our life now." She kisses him on the chin, he almost leans towards the touch of her lips and wonders how he has been able to deprive himself of this for two weeks, he would never have enough. "We can do it" He smiles at her. "Even if we are wrong, we always try to make the best of each other".

His mouth drops open as he watches Malik yawn and close his eyes in his arms preparing to sleep. He fights against unconsciousness as if he doesn't want to miss this moment and almost rolls his eyes with grace to see how he insists on staying awake.

"You have to sleep" he whispers to him. His voice is in a tone that he never hoped to ever use, different from the voices of the authority figures who had ruled his life, it is charged with sweetness and brotherly love. He guides one of his fingers towards his small hands, he clings to his index finger and is strong "You must have had a long day".

Raven smiles placing a kiss on his shoulder.

"A tired day for a three-week-old baby."

He rolls his eyes, prefers to focus on his son who opens his eyes every time they are talking and babbles, as if he wants to participate in the conversation.

"You have to go to sleep, Malik."

The baby closes his eyes, allowing himself to be overcome by sleep, a thread of saliva comes out of his mouth and he smiles. Raven wipes the saliva with a piece of cloth and is laughing.

"I can't believe he has that about you, too."

"What?"

"You also drool when you sleep. Don't worry, I haven't told anyone. "

 "Intelligent" he murmurs.

He gathers his son in his arms, he sleeps with his head resting against his shoulder and feels his breath against his neck. It reminds of someone.

"You do this."

Raven raises an eyebrow as she folds Malik's clothes down onto a piece of furniture. "What?" She asks absentmindedly.

He clears his throat "You hide your head on my neck when we are sleeping, Malik does the same".

A smile appears on Raven's lips and she feels that she is complete.

In his past he never imagined that he would have a partner. That he would be willing to wait for her and give in, fight against the whole world for Raven. He always thought that love is an idea in collective thought, it was a deal, that if he were with someone it would be to get resources or benefits of any kind. He thought that if he had children it would be so that his bloodline would remain.

Here he is years later wanting to share his life with someone beyond contracts. Wanting to burn formalities in front of institutions and authorities, accepting this force of gravity in the form of a person that she was, holding his son in his arms vowing to protect him and would do anything to keep a smile on his child's lips like a deity promise.

"We've had so many wounds and scars," Raven whispers. Their eyes are fixed on Malik and both join their hands, intertwining their fingers. "Sometimes I feel like I will open my eyes and it will be a disaster again."

Damian says nothing but understands her. He feels the same way.

He watches his son, who is sleeping, hiding his face in his neck. His breathing is the flapping of the wings of a bird. He is so small and fragile, his chest rises and he does think that in his life he has performed acts that he has never thought about doing much more now, he leans forward and places a kiss on his forehead. Presses his lips on his forehead, feels how he relaxes in his gesture and finds himself smiling.

Maybe he would live his whole life thinking he didn't deserve this, but he's willing to explore that kind of love that couldn't hurt and makes him feel like a better person. One who would build a family and swears he won't see the same thing that marked him, in his infancy. His Malik, his child in his arms, paints his future in green and purple, just like his eyes.

Raven leans in, sighs against his shoulder and wishes she was nowhere else but here.

[live-laugh-lenney]

REQUEST- Yo this might be kinda odd but could u do some angst with will and maybe like he has another seizure or something and ends up in the hospital and the reader has to stay with him,,, so it would kinda end up as fluff anyway :) ok thanks

Hi, hello!

My first Will request on this new blog - thank you so much for coming here and sending it in, lovely! Fingers crossed that this hits well and more ideas and requests come in because this is a new venture that I’m pretty excited about and I hope it does well.

Enjoy! x

YN didn’t hate a lot of things.

She disliked a lot of things and kept a mental list of anything and everything that had become a pet peeve of hers during the course of her life, especially as she endured adult life with the rollercoaster of ups and downs, but she never found herself at a point where she hated anything. Hatred was a strong word for her vocabulary and she didn’t use it lightly, never chucked it around whenever she voiced an opinion of something and she rarely used it in a jokey term... she needed a reason to hate something, or someone, and there had never been anything that tipped her over the edge. 

But when it came to hospitals, with the linoleum floor and the smell of anti-bacterial hand-wash and the ominous silences that were filled with distant wails and cries and the intense sirens screaming from the ambulances arriving out front, then she would happily say she hated the place without a personal reason needed. They scared her (and she could probably thank her mother for that - the woman was obsessed with hospital dramas and all things doctor-related), they made her feel worried and nervous and all she could find herself doing is panicking if any one of her friends or family had checked into one or had been close enough to spend a night in there, let alone an hour. 

So finding herself in the Royal London Hospital, closing in on midnight on a Friday night, was not where she had planned to be at the end of her day. 

She’d known for the entirety of the week that Will was having a lad’s night out with his friends from university because it’s all he spoke about, every minute of the day. Their breakfast, lunch and dinner conversations were full of him chatting about what their plans were and how he couldn’t wait to see them after so long of being apart, how he couldn’t wait to introduce her to them as the girl who he was completely and utterly loved up with and how he was eager for them to share stories to prove to her he wasn’t such a bad bloke in his teen years and that she’d definitely had fawned and swooned for him if they’d known one another back then. She definitely would have, thanks to his mum for sharing the ever-so delightful puberty spurt he had growing up, but she wasn’t going to tell him that. She’d known they were going for a drink, for a meal and that they were off to see the film in the cinema that he’d been desperate to watch for weeks (one that he wanted to watch with her but had been turned away once she saw the rather ominous, rather horror-fulled title poster for it).

What she didn’t know was that the scenes in the movie were triggering to someone like Will, who couldn’t handle insane amounts of blood and gore happening all at one, and that her easy-breezy day would soon end with her panic-stricken mind driving her crazy.

“Come sit over here,” Will croaked from his position on the bed, his hand holding a plastic cup of water whilst his other patted the empty space beside his hip, “please? You’re too far away. You look lonely over there.”

“I’m not talking to you, William,” YN grumbled, barely looking up from her phone as the screen kept her face illuminated; she was no doubt texting their friends to keep them updated because, even thought they insisted they’d wait, they’d been escorted home due to not being immediate family. “I’m angry with you. Let me be angry with you.”

“Can’t be too angry. You’re sat in the hospital with me,” he said.

His eyes stared at the top her head, full of hope that she’d look up and see just how fragile and soft and desperate he was for some loving, some affection, after the terrifying moment of a seizure, mid-film and in a room filled with avid horror fans who would most likely laugh in the face of emergency. He could see the knots that had formed in her hair after the drive from Canary Wharf to RLH, tendrils falling down the sides of her face as loose hairs fell from the messy ponytail she’d chucked her hair up into, her nails bitten and hang-nails bleeding from where she’d bitten and chewed out of pure anxiety. He recognised the black hoodie drowning her upper body and the grey joggers, that would usually be tucked into the bottom drawer of his wardrobe because they were too small for him, rolled up at her ankles. Except she didn’t look up and continued tapping her thumbs against her phone, no doubt moving onto his mum to explain just how much of a fool her son was.

“Please come and sit with me, babe.”

Silence fell through the room.

It was achingly silent, with the distant chatter coming from the nurses passing outside the room and the monitor beeping beside him at a consistent speed, and he hated it. That was the one thing he hated; her silent treatment after he’d done something stupid enough to put him in danger - and he got that plenty of times.

“I’m sorry, okay? It wasn’t my fault but I’m sorry,” he said softly, head rolling back against the pillow behind his shoulders. He felt water slosh from the side of the cup, dampening the white sheet covering him from his hips to his toes, eyes closing to shield his vision from the bright lights above him. “I didn’t know it was going to be that bad. If I’d have known, I wouldn’t have suggested we go and watch it.”

“You could have had an idea,” she scoffed, thumb pressing the lock button on her phone. She looked at him but not like he wanted her to. Her eyes were full of all kinds of emotions; anger, sadness, frustration, tiredness, happiness. All running mad behind her drooping eyes. “You knew it was a horror film by the poster. By the title. For God sake, Will. You must have had some idea.”

“It was a stupid idea,” he sighed, “the trailer never showed the gruesome parts. I though it was going to be a safe one.” 

He brought his head up and looked in her direction when the heaviest scoff left her throat, rough and scratchy and almost tear-filled, hands braced on her knees as she pushed up and stood to her feet, tugging on the sleeves of the hoodie to cover her hands. He thought she was going home, and he wouldn’t have blamed her (he didn’t want her to either so he was desperate, pleading with his eyes, for her feet to move in his direction), but her bag stayed put and her feet took her just where he wanted her to go. Her features rigid, set hard upon her face, but eyes so soft and full of upset. 

“A stupid idea, for sure,” she frowned, close enough to push a fist into his calf, “you’re an idiot.”

“I know.”

“A massive idiot. You’re going to put me in here one day because you’re such a massive idiot,” she hissed, although her actions seemed to mock her tone of voice as she perched herself down beside him and squeezed his hand, “say it so I know you understand.”

He smirked, “I’m a massive idiot and I don’t deserve to have someone as lovely and supportive as you in my life. You look after me and I-”

“Alright, shut up now,” she rolled her eyes and laced her fingers through his, taking his water from him and placing it beside the jug, “don’t scare me like this ever again. I mean it.” xx

[kenmas-grease]

hey there!! uhh kinda emergency request but no pressure, take all the time you need and if you're uncomfy w/ writing it I completely understand :) I was wondering if you could do some comfort hc w/ terushima, oikawa, and bokuto for an insecure reader who's like chubby/medium sized. I've been having the hardest time with my insecurities and body confidence sooo yeah wbdjkejewj anywhooo I hope you're having a lovely day/night and taking care of yourself ʕ ᵔᴥᵔ ʔ

Ofc, love! 

~y/n with insecurities~

Featuring: Terushima, Oikawa, and Bokuto.

Warnings: issues with body image, insecurities

Genre: comfort/fluff

a/n- gender neutral

~

Terushima

Terushima Yūji is a very observant man.

He noticed the way that you would avert your eyes to the ground whenever going outside, avoiding the eyes of bystanders.

He noticed the way you would slowly distance yourself away from everyone.

He noticed the way you always tug at your shirt and pants.

He often knew if you had been feeling off and he noticed it now.

You two had a tradition on Saturdays to watch anime, sitting side by side on your bedroom wall.

Today was Saturday and you could feel the heat of his presence pressed firmly on your left side.

As the screen flashed to the opening credits, he turned towards you.

“Baby, what’s been on your mind lately?”

Your heart plummeted to your toes. This is the one topic you didn’t want to touch on today. Not when you are spending quality time.

“I...Can we just watch the show? We can talk about this later.”

“Princess, I’m always here for you.”

He took your hand in his and intertwined his fingers with yours, bringing your hand to his lips.

He pressed a kiss into your knuckles and kept your hands intertwined in yours.

As the episode came to an end, he started rubbing little circles into your hand with his thumb, and warmly smiled on you.

“I don’t want to force you into anything you’re not comfortable with. Take it at your own pace.”

“But it might be stupid.” You look down.

“Your emotions are valid. They will never be stupid in my eyes.”

That made you sigh and lid your eyelids.

Your hands were clammery as they gripped his.

He was there, right at hands reach. Offering his full support.

You opened your eyes and saw him warmly smile, the smile even reaching his eyes.

“Well I…..I don’t feel good about…..” you poured your heart out. He listened to you with such tentative eyes and ears. 

He would constantly squeeze your intertwined arms and at the end of your explanation he tugged you forward to place a kiss on your forehead.

“I love you so so much, baby, you’re the single most precious being to me. Is there anything I can do right now to help you feel better? A cuddle session?” he asked you.

“Just be there for me, please, and some cuddling sounds great right now.”

He laid down with you and started stroking your cheek.

He would whisper from time to time, “you’re so beautiful.” while he would pull you even closer. 

“Get up.” He suddenly spoke up.

Your eyes shot open at his seriousness.

He would always be spontaneous, always doing little surprises here and there.

You both awkwardly shuffled off the bed and went to your living room, where there was a vast, open space.

“Now, take both of my hands and lean back a tad bit.” he looks at you.

You do as you are told and when you lean back, he pulls you close, putting a hand on your hip and one holding your hand.

He starts leading the dance.

“Teru, we have no music on.” you point out as you cling to him.

He giggled as he started to hum a soft tune.

The rumble of his chest shot vibrations through you.

You just closed your eyes and reminisced in the slow movement of both your bodies.

~

Oikawa

The ground was covered in pink petals.

You look at Oikawa’s hand intertwined with yours.

You had a rough day at school, you two both had.

You two were sitting on a hill with cherry blossom trees all around you. It had been so peaceful, but you were feeling anxious.

“-Y/n, right?” He looked at you expectantly.

“I… I didn’t get that.” You looked at his face.

He picked up on your anxious face right away.

“Baby, what’s wrong.”

“Nothing.” you whisper.

“Look at me.” He squeezed your hand.

You slowly look at him through your eyelashes.

He always had a tendency to bite his lip whenever worried.

“Are you down?” 

You looked down and frowned.

A petal landed next to your hand.

“Yes…...I’m sorry” You whisper.

“Baby, there is nothing to be sorry about.” he squeezed your hand.

“But what if there is?” 

He looked at you with a questioning look.

He always would quirk his head to the side, looking absolutely confused.

“Those girls at school, am I as pretty as them?” You finally answer after a while.

Your chest was tight, you could feel your ragged breaths rack your body.

“Huh?” he deadpanned, “Baby, they don’t even stand a chance.”

Your eyes well up with unshed tears.

“But...I” You look down at yourself.

You weren’t like those fit girls, you told yourself.

“Listen to me, please. I love you for who you are, you understand me? Everything about you is a blessing on this earth. I don’t care if there are girls flocking me. I’ll always want you and only you. You are so beautiful.”

His eyes only shined in sincerity. He was so adamant that your chest ached.

You looked down and stared at your intertwined fingers hard.

“I’ll always be here beside you.”

You smile a little.

“Do you want to climb trees?” He blurted out.

“Why?”

“So I can go on top and tell everyone how beautiful you are.”

~

Bokuto

“Am I enough?” Your voice shakes.

Light poured out the open window and enveloped your skin.

Bokuto was sitting on the couch, typing away at the computer.

You had seen him work on a project for what seems like days now and he barely had time for you two to talk.

His eyes snapped to you.

You could see worry, guilt and sadness flash through them. They were so beautiful yet devastating.

As he began to close his laptop, you could see him frown.

“Love?” he bagan walking towards you.

“I’m…..sorry. Nevermind.” You try to retreat, but you’re stopped by a hand caressing your upper arm.

Bokuto was right there next to you with the same heartbreaking frown.

You opened your mouth but closed it right after, without any words coming to mind.

“I’m so sorry y/n, For whatever I did that makes you question yourself like that.” He started to trail both his hands up until they were cupping your cheeks.

You could see his eyes becoming a little glossy.

He would always cry when you said something like that, or when he felt you think badly about yourself.

It just broke him that you couldn’t see yourself as he saw you- this amazing person who came into his life at the perfect moment.

“Y/n you are enough. You are so perfect, that it aches. That day when you said yes to going out with me, I was over the moon.”

He kept on running his thumbs over your cheeks as you had your arms plastered by your side, fidgeting with your pant legs.

“You were there for me when even my friends refused to be. You were there to support me even though you had your hands full with your own problems. I’m really sorry if I made you feel like that. Was it the project?”

You shake your head, “I’m just a little insecure.”

“Aw baby” He whispered and brang you closer, looping his hands around your neck.

He smelled of mildew and lilacs, the softener he always used.

“I have a little surprise that I was working on other than my project. That’s why I was so absent.”

You untangled yourself from him with eyes blown wide.

“I just need you to sit right here for half an hour.” He picked up his keys and was out the front of the door.

You sat there, patiently waiting as you looked out the window at the landscape.

It was sunny outside, not a single cloud to be seen.

The same weather when he asked you out.

Keys jingled and Bokuto appeared.

He was exactly the same but he was holding something behind his back.

“Bo?” you question with squinted eyes.

You froze as you heard a little meow.

He has a cat. Behind his back.

“No you did not.”

“Yes I did.” He sheepishly smiled.

“No way.”

He brang out a box. It had holes in it and you could see little orange paws trying to claw out.

You carefully opened the box to see an orange tabby looking at you.

“This is why we barely had any time together?” You ask.

“Yes, I had to fill out some tenacious adoption paperwork.”

Your eyes well up with tears as you hugged the kitten close to your chest.

“I love you.” You let the words roll out of your mouth.

Bokuto immediately discarded the box and leaned down.

Closing the space between you two, his lips were on yours as he gave you a quick peck.

“What should we name our son?” He smiled down at the new family member.

~

Hey, I’m sorry this is so late!! My DMs are ALWAYS OPEN for u and anyone.

I luv u bbs!

[fletchphoenix]

Everything You’ll Never See Again

Chapter 11 is here - sorry it’s short, I just wanted to get through this chapter ASAP (You’ll see why when you read it) and..yeah. Thank you for the support - I love y’all loads, and onwards with the chapter!

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

Hugo stood in the kitchen, preparing drinks for all of them as Varian and Ulla sat in the living room catching up. A billion questions flooded his head. How did she know they were here? Did she know Hugo was Donella’s….kind of, sort of son? Why was she coming back now? Varian had said that she left when he was younger and didn’t come back, so why did she suddenly show up now? It didn't make any logical sense - surely Varian must’ve known that. As excited as the boy was to see her again, he had to admit there’s gotta be an ulterior motive for his mother coming back. It had to be selfish, after all that’s the kind of woman Ulla was according to Donella.

  He didn’t know Ulla personally, however Donella had told him many stories about her. About how they were friends when they were younger, and used to do a lot of research into alchemy and chemistry along with engineering, and how they were the perfect team. They had worked together in harmony, Hugo having read the few salvaged ones that Ulla hadn’t stolen when she’d left. He was fascinated by the sheer brilliance behind the words they wrote - each one seemed to be meticulously planned without a word being out of place. It was honestly perfect in his eyes how it just flowed so naturally from word to word and made so much sense despite using lengthy, scientific words throughout. He was in awe, however...as soon as Donella saw him with them, she’d immediately taken them and ripped them up right in front of his face as he stood in shock. That was the first time he’d ever seen any emotion on her face - and it was one of his worst memories. Seeing the usually stoic woman with such heartbreak in her eyes at even the sight of her old partner’s handwriting...it hurt. Soon after, she’d told him the story of her and Ulla.

  “We were teenagers when we met, only new in the field and trying to establish ourselves.” she began, her gaze on her hands looking distant. “I suppose it was natural that we’d drifted together - with her eccentricity and my seriousness..we made for a force to be reckoned with. Our research was incomparable! We’d done so much together and..well, of course she’d met that man, Quirin and soon got married and pregnant. Suddenly, she never had time to dedicate herself to our studies, it always being her and her family at the top of her priorities. I should have seen it coming, she was always the weaker one when it came to love and romance.” she let out a sigh, and Hugo shuffled closer to her in silence.

  “We had an argument - a large dispute. It wasn’t...we both said many things we regretted and..we parted ways for a while, me going to my research and her working alone. However, one night, I made a big revelation. I knew I couldn’t do it alone so I called her. We got back in touch and decided to pursue it. One night, she’d figured it out. She tried to steal all of our papers - mostly my hard work. She threw a test tube at me. I assume it was meant to scare me, but she miscalculated and..” she gestured to the gnarled scar on her cheek, it twisting disgustingly from her chin to just below her lip. “She caught my face and, when she saw what she’d done...she just ran. Ran far far away and I haven’t seen her since” 

  Hugo silently stirred the coffee, the teaspoon boiling hot at this point as he looked back on how broken his..mother figure was. It was the most emotion she’d ever permitted herself to show him, all of it truly reflecting how betrayed she’d felt. Why did Ulla have to be Varian’s mother? It just wasn’t fair at all how the universe gave him everything he ever wanted and then ruined it by making Varian’s mother the one person his mother despised. It really was just spitting back in his face, huh? He let out a frustrated sigh and picked up the mugs, leaving the room and heading towards the sitting room silently. 

  Donella wasn’t gonna like this.

  Varian sat beside his mother, listening to her ramble on and on and on about the different things she’d done since she’d left him and his father. He didn’t absorb the information, only staring at her face in wonder and confusion. “That’s...that’s great and all, Mother, but...how did you find me?” He questioned, interrupting...whatever adventure she’d been telling him about the whole time. She looked at him and tilted her head slightly, a smile on her face.

  “Oh! Me and your father kept in touch - well. Kind of. I went over to his yesterday and asked where you lived. I just..had to see you again. It’s been far too long since I’ve seen my baby boy. And look how much you’ve grown up..it’s honestly fascinating…!” she exclaimed, pulling him into another tight hug. “Also, who's that boy you live with? He seems nice!” 

  “Oh, his name is-” He smiled as, speak of the devil, Hugo strutted into the room and placed the coffee cups on his face, however..something felt off. His shoulders seemed stiffer than usual, his eyebrows furrowed in a way that made him look...almost conflicted. What was he conflicted about? What wasn’t Hugo telling him? “This is my boyfriend, Hugo.” He explained, a smile on his face as Ulla once again extended her hand, Hugo glaring at it and turning away.

  “Charmed. Goggles, I’m heading out. I’ll see you later.” he muttered, turning on his heel and heading towards the door. He didn’t understand..why was his boyfriend so distant? Had he done something wrong? He took a second to glance over at his mom, her eyes narrowed and returning Hugo’s previous glare, as if trying to put a name to a face. But that was impossible. They couldn’t have met each other before...right? As soon as that though crossed his mind, Hugo left the bedroom, grabbed his keys and essentially ran out of the front door, giving his boyfriend no chance to say goodbye or..anything. What was going on with that boy? 

  Immediately, Ulla grabbed her son’s hands and pulled him closer to her. “Varian. I know this is very forward but...you need to break up with that boy. Now.” She declared, Varian moving away in shock and staring at her. Break up..with Hugo? Really? She’d just waltzed back into his life and was trying to command him already? Did she really think that was normal? “I know what you’re thinking...but that boy? His mother is the woman who forced me to leave Corona until it was safe for me to return.”

  Varian paused. “What..? What do you mean?” 

  “His mother- well, motherly figure...is Donella. At least I think so from the fact that he has her old jacket. Aka the woman who I used to conduct my research with. We had gotten far on our projects together, however...she wanted to sell our creations to some..very very bad people. She had threatened me so..for our safety, I took the research notes and ran as far away as I could. I wished I could have come back for you, but with her around..it was too risky. And I’m sure your boyfriend knew, judging by the way he looked at me. I’m...very sorry.” 

  Varian sat in a shocked silence. Hugo. Hugo was working for the woman who took his mother away from him, and he knew the whole time. He knew that Donella was bad, and yet he still worked for her. His head hurt. He thought Hugo was good - that he loved him and would tell him anything..his fist slowly clenched at his side. He’d been betrayed once, it sure as hell wasn’t going to happen again. 

  It was time for him and Hugo to have a talk.

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

 “WHAT?!” Donella’s usually tight and toneless voice boomed in anger, loud enough that Hugo thought she’d caused the very foundations of the building to shake. His eyebrows furrowed and the hands that had been in his pockets curled into fists in an attempt to calm him down, nails digging in causing painful little spikes. Her usual perfect hair wouldn’t stay in her ponytail, strands sticking out wildly with the older woman making no attempt to fix it whatsoever. She was like a shell of the woman she was only a few minutes prior - shock and discontent plastered over her features at Hugo’s news of Ulla’s return. “I forbid you from seeing that boy. Ulla is trouble and her offspring will be too.” she concluded without a second’s thought, walking away and leaving Hugo with a dumbfounded look on his face.

  “I-what? No! Mo-Donella, I can’t just break up with Varian! I love him!” he called out, following her down the darkened hallway, knowing full well their argument was bouncing off the steel walls of the warehouse. He didn’t care though - she couldn’t just keep him away from Varian because of some grudge she had! That wasn’t fair on them! He loved that boy with all his heart and soul..Donella could never change that no matter how hard she tried! 

  “I don’t care if you love him or not, Hugo. I am your m-” she stopped herself, her feet stilling. “I am your boss and you WILL do what I say or you’re going to have to leave! It's me or the boy!” she yelled, continuing to walk. Surely the boy would get the message- a bang sounded on the floor. She turned to see her jacket in a pile on the floor, Hugo glaring at her with defiant eyes. 

  “Then I choose him.” Hugo stated, clear as day. The..he was leaving her? She watched him walk down the hall, her feet stuck to the floor as she tried to get over the shock to her system. Her own son- well...student was leaving her for some stupid boy - Ulla’s son no less! It was a sickening thought, making her double over, until she finally concluded. “He’ll be back.” She muttered to herself as she continued her trek down the hall, though a part deep deep down inside of her silently prayed that he wouldn’t. That he would find happiness and love with Varian. It’s what the boy deserved. She just hoped the other boy didn’t hate him for her actions..

  Hugo sprinted home, throwing open the door. “Varian, hey- I have something I need to-” he paused when he saw Varian, standing with a glare on his face and his arms folded. He looked murderous, blue eyes filled with the utmost contempt for Hugo. He’d never seen that look on the boy before...and it made him freeze up in fear. Had he always looked that terrifying?

  “You’re working for the woman that took my mother away from me. And you knew this whole time. Didn’t you?” Oh god. His voice sounded so spiteful, all his love for Hugo turned into hatred in just a few hours. He should’ve told him, but how could he have even entertained the idea that Ulla would show up out of nowhere? “Answer me.”

  “Varian I-I didn’t mean to-”

  “You did! OH MY GOD, HUGO! You have no idea how much I prayed for my mother to be lying to me about that, but she wasn’t! I-Get out! I never want to see you again!” Varian yelled, tears flowing freely down his cheeks as he clenched his fists at his sides. Hugo wanted nothing more than to pull the boy into his arms, comfort him and tell him how truly sorry he was...but he guessed that wasn’t a possibility anymore. He felt his heart shatter as he looked at the boy for longer. Surely he didn’t mean that..

  He slowly reached his hand out to the younger, a frown on his features. “Varian..”

  Varian slapped it away and screamed at him. “WE’RE DONE! DON’T YOU UNDERSTAND THAT? YOU RUINED MY LIFE SO-SO JUST GET THE HELL OUT! NOW!” And with that, Hugo felt his heart break for good, a million pieces shattering on the floor as tears started to well in his eyes, before he quickly turned away and ran. 

  NO. No this can’t be happening. This CAN'T BE HAPPENING!- He couldn’t lose Varian! He was-he was the only thing he had left! He ran as fast as he could through the rain, feeling it soak through the T-shirt and trousers he was wearing before he finally turned into the warehouse. He stared at Donella, tears building before running forward and wrapping his arms around her, letting out the emotions he’d pent up for so long...crying freely into the shirt of the older woman.

  Donella merely petted his hair and sunk to the floor, hugging him for the first time ever. She couldn’t bear to see him like this - she’d prayed this wouldn’t happen to him. That he wouldn’t get his heart broken so young..but he did. She sighed and muttered to him. “It’s going to be okay, son..don’t worry.” She whispered to him, holding him close. 

  Ulla was going to pay for this.

[gwenore]

The Cursed book. Chapter 16.

Chapter 16: Belle speaks with the man possessed by the demon. 

Summary: When Belle finds a strange book in an abandoned library she has no idea what hell it would unleash upon the small town.

---

All the way through making themselves ready for dinner Belle had not seen any sign of the demon. She had asked Rum about it, he told her that the demon was still there, just… quiet.

Belle was not certain what that meant, but… it honestly didn’t sound good…

At least while he was there she knew he wasn’t causing trouble anywhere else… though Rum again assured her that the demon was still possessing him.

He felt it… deep in his bones was the words he used.

Again… Belle could not even begin to imagine.

At least he got to take a shower, even though he didn’t have any new clothes to dress himself in.

It was the demon who always dealt with that kind of stuff he told her.

Belle nodded her head softly, that seemed more than reasonable, as much as any of this could be called anything akin to reasonable.

It was… insane of course… what else could she use to describe the situation than insane.

But she chose to keep those comments to herself. No doubt the man knew better than anyone just how insane this entire thing was…

However the more she observed him the more she noted how different him and the demon were.

The demon was… confident… in charge.

The man… he was nothing of those things. In fact at this point he seemed even uncertain about how he should move his body… as if that control could be taken away at any moment.

Showed how little the demon had let him be in control…

Rum wasn’t even used to moving his own body without the demon taking control.

Again… she just felt so sorry for him. He deserved so much more than the hand that the world had dealt him.

Watching him she made a promise right then.

That she would be there for him and support him in any way that she could. It was almost certain that she could not end the possession… not without killing both him and his son and setting the demon free to…

Well… Belle didn’t know what it would do.

From what she had seen the demon was held back by the mortal form of the man so… if it was freed from that.

Would it end the world?

Why hadn’t it?

It was clear it was not bound to Rum… or it certainly didn’t seem like it. It possessed him because… well… in its own twisted way it loved him, just as it claimed to love her.

Of course it wasn’t love, but simply a perversion.

Perhaps that was all that a demon was able to feel when it came to a human emotion such as love?

Belle was sitting on the couch as she waited for Rum to be ready. She was dressed in her favorite blue dress which had a lace blue pattern over the top of it and a pair of her black high heels.

She supposed that she could only hope that tonight's activities would not involve running…

One never knew with the demon after all…

Belle perked her head up as the door was opened behind her and Rum came walking out his graying hair still a bit damp.

He still looked rather uncertain as he twinned his fingers gently.

“Uh… thank you for letting me borrow the shower…” he then said. She simply gave him a gentle smile.

“No problem, sounded like you were in need of one…”

“The shower is quite the wonderful convenience of the modern age. Trust me when I say… not everything was better before…” Rum said with a soft sigh.

“I can believe it…” Belle hesitated a bit.

“You… you have seen quite a lot haven’t you?” she then asked, cocking her head.

“I suppose I have… a consequence of being as old as I am, also… the demon of course. It afforded us quite a lot of… luxury I suppose. Able to go everywhere… see the world… it is exciting… until you have seen everything. Do it enough and… it loses its meaning,” Rum explained.

“But yes… I have seen some marvelous things… and some horrible things… not all created by the demon either…” he went on to explain.

“I can only imagine… literally…” Belle sighed. “Haven’t seen too much other than Storybrooke since I moved here… but… suppose that is a silly thing to complain about, especially…”

“No please…” Rum stopped her from going on, taking a step closer.

“It is… it is nice hearing about such… human concerns. In some sense… I hardly feel human anymore… I certainly would not even know how to begin to connect with humanity… or anything of the sort… I am… I am not sure what I am anymore. Sure at one point I was human, but…” he swallowed as he tried to find the words for what he wanted to say next.

“It has been so long since I have connected with anything human. Each time we were out of the book the demon was always the one in control and I could but watch as it…”

Again his voice faded out as he cast a look down at the floor. “Well… you can imagine.”

Belle nodded her head. “Well… you are in control now… so if… if there is anything human that you want to do… or… well that sounds silly, but…”

A soft smile emerged on Rum’s lips as he gave her a soft nod.

“Thank you…” he bowed his head towards her. “I really do appreciate that, it means a lot more than you think.”

“Perhaps after dinner… when we have time you can tell me of some of the things that you have seen? Not the… not the bad stuff, we do not need to be dwelling on that… but… the good things… the exciting things…?” Belle then continued as she looked towards him, part of her hair flowing over her arms slightly as she leaned over the back of her couch.

Rum nodded his head.

“I’d like that… I’d like that very much. Also… you can tell me of things you have seen or experienced,” he walked a couple of steps over to her.

“That won’t be a long conversation…” Belle let out a slight chuckle. “I have not done very much. Honestly, I spent most of my time reading books… which… I do quite enjoy it, some would say I enjoy them a bit too much…” she then admitted. It was something which had always followed her. That love she had for books.

And some would say… that was the reason she was in the trouble that she was in right now.

Rum shrugged his shoulders.

“Well… for a lot of my time I spent it actually in a book so… suppose that is not that different.”

There was a lighthearted tone to his voice which made Belle laugh out loud because… in some sense… it was true.

“That… that is so…” she laughed as she nodded.

Rum chuckled too.

“So… how was it… inside the book?” Belle asked, having to admit that she had been curious about that for the longest time.

“It is hard to explain… it is a different world I think… but… places that aren’t… real. You can visit other such worlds… but it is as if you are stuck in a dream. You see it… experience it… but it fades, and while you remember it vaguely… it is as if the memory is constantly moving away from your ability to recall it,” he tried his best to have it make sense… even though it clearly did not make sense to him.

Belle continued to listen.

“So… it is a dream in there?” she asked.

“I suppose that is the best way to describe it… but it isn’t me who is dreaming.”

“Is it the demon’s dreams?” Belle asked.

“No… it can’t dream. It at least was a new experience to it when I fell asleep the first time after it possessed me,” Rum now sat himself down on the couch for a while.

“So… you are the first person it has ever possessed…” Belle cocked her head.

“First who was alive at least. The demon does enjoy making… puppets out of people… suppose I was lucky that was never my fate…” Rum whispered mostly to himself. Once again Belle leaned against his arm, knowing that this man was starved of closeness. More so than any human ever should ever have to be.

Rum let out a soft sigh, having to admit that he was feeling so comforted to feel another human’s warmth so close to him.

And she shared that so effortlessly. As if such kindness came second nature to her.

After all he had done…

She claimed it was the demon, but… had he not a similar desire towards her? That she would love him?

Perhaps he had truly gone insane at this point.

How could she love him?

Even without the demon he knew that he did not have much to offer her. He had… nothing really except for the demon.

Before the demon he was…

No one…

Would have died in some filthy hovel in a place long forgotten by history… his son taken before even him.

As cruel as the demon was… the world didn’t tend to be much nicer.

But she… she was kind… kinder than anyone had ever been to him…

She was also brave. So brave in dealing with the demon, doing her best to stand between him and the utter destruction that it would bring upon her friends and other people that she cared for.

So was it any wonder that he had come to adore her?

He let out a soft breath as he just gently allowed himself to feel her soft hair against his cheek.

Belle pondered a bit as she stared out in the room as a scary realization dawned upon her.

“Um… Rum…?” she then asked.

“Hm…?”

“I came to think of something… if I choose to go with the demon to… somewhere else… some other realm… perhaps something like the book… do you think I could keep it from harming people?”

Rum blinked his eyes slightly as he glanced down at her.

“Don’t…” he whispered.

“I am asking… if I go… if I do as it wants… will Storybrooke be safe…?” Belle asked again, this time, moving her way so that she could look him directly in the eyes.

Rum did not answer, breathing softly. “You do not know what you are asking…” he whispered softly.

“Answer me! If I go with the demon… wherever he wants… will my friends… my town… be safe?”

Belle stared into Rums eyes and she observed how his features shifted, turning from that soft mournful gaze into a truly manic grin, those dark eyes gleaming as they stared into her blue ones.

“Of course.”  

[glenngaylord]

OUTFEST 2020 FILM REVIEWS:  The Rest Of The Fest

As the curtain closes on another Outfest, this one presented under extremely unusual circumstances, I sit in awe of the filmmakers and of the staff who put together not only a great group of films, but managed to creatively bring them to its audience online and at drive-in screenings.  Typically, you find yourself having to choose one film over several others, but with this new format, you have a great chance of seeing everything you want.  In past years, I found myself lucky if I saw 15 films.  This year I saw 23 features and 4 shorts programs out of the 160 on the schedule.  

As it’s impossible to get full reviews submitted for everything while the festival is still chugging along, I wanted to write capsules of the remaining films not covered at TheQueerReview.com .  Please visit the website for all the other reviews I wrote as well as those by my colleagues.

THE OBITUARY OF TUNDE JOHNSON ★★★★★

Melding a Groundhog Day-style concept with police violence against black people, this stunning film could not be more prescient and emotionally overpowering.  A black gay teenager relives his moment of murder over and over again, with slight shifts in the narrative taking us to someplace unexpected and earned.  Director Ali LeRoi directs his first feature as if he’s been doing it all of his life and has interpreted Stanley Kalu’s ingenious script with a great cinematic approach.  Gorgeously framed, beautifully acted, written, and directed, this is one of the most powerful films of 2020.

TWO EYES ★★★★★

I can’t form sentences here so I’m gonna vomit out words:  Instant classic. Glorious. Set over three centuries seamlessly melding a triptych of stories about gender identity.  I’m a blubbering mess.  Fantastic and very funny last line.  Travis Fine is a very gifted filmmaker who screams love child of Terrence Malick and Kelly Reichardt.  Heartbreaking. Inspiring. Unforgettable.  Montana is so beautiful.  Barstow is not.  A perfect film for anyone who wants to find their place in the world. I wouldn’t complain if TUNDE and TWO EYES both received Best Picture Oscar nominations.  

DRAMARAMA  ★★★★

Theater nerds rule in this incredibly endearing, early 90s set film about a group of high schoolers discovering themselves in one night at a ridiculous Murder Mystery-themed party.  Hilarious script, vivid and wonderful performances, and the opposite of a “Coming Out” movie in the best possible way.  Jonathan Wysocki has given us The Breakfast Club for air-kissing, mid-Atlantic accented freaks and geeks. 

CICADA ★★★★

What happens when a traumatized, bisexual man who has more sex partners than any standard montage can contain slows things down to concentrate on one kind but also traumatized young man?  This elliptically told film has a fun, flirty side but carries its heaviness with great ease.  A terrific feature debut for director/writer/editor/lead actor Matthew Fifer. 

THE STRONG ONES (LOS FUERTES) ★★★★

From Chile comes this sexy, moving story of two men at cross purposes who form a beautiful bond.  Set against some stunning scenery and mining the chemistry between its two leads for everything it has, I am half-jokingly calling it Brokeback Andes.  It’s so much more than that trite, hackneyed comparison.  

MONSOON ★★★1/2

Director Hong Khaou’s followup to Lilting sets its sights on modern day Vietnam as Henry Golding’s character visits to find a suitable place to distribute his mother’s ashes.  It’s a terrific mediation on a gay man finding a sense of belonging in a place he’s never been and Golding proves himself to be a subtle, compelling actor.  Perhaps a little too quiet and reflective, the film makes up for what it lacks in narrative drive with its awe-inspiring cinematography and immersive qualities.  

P.S. BURN THIS LETTER PLEASE ★★★★1/2

What an unexpected surprise.  Michael Seligman and Jennifer  Tiexiera’s documentary about a treasure trove of letters dating back to the 1950s brings us into the world of drag queens from almost 70 years ago.  With many of its subjects not only alive but in fine form telling their stories and the dishiest voiceover readings ever to grace a film, I was not only thoroughly entertained, but I didn’t expect to weep like Laura Dern at the end.  Oh, this is so so so so good. 

MINYAN ★★★★

Eric Steel’s feature debut has its own unique tone and a star making performance by Samuel H. Levine, a spitting image of a young Al Pacino/Sylvester Stallone hybrid.  With its 1980s Jewish Brighton Beach backdrop, this powerful yet subtle film about a young man coming to terms with his sexuality as well as his place within his religion, it’s a stunning debut.  Ron Rifkin is stellar as Levine’s charming grandfather and Alex Hurt (William Hurt’s son) has his father’s intensity.  Fantastic, lived-in production design which feels like its decade without resorting to the usual candy colored tropes and a evocative score makes this a memorable experience.  Reminiscent at times of On The Waterfront, this film puts a fresh new spin on a coming of age tale and finds so many moving moments from first sex to an elderly gay couple hiding in plain sight.  A must-see. 

SHIVA BABY ★★★★

Writer/Director Emma Seligman must have studied Rosemary’s Baby quite a bit with this angsty story set mostly at a memorial service.  Rachel Sennott is fantastic as a young lesbian who moves from one cringe-worthy moment to the next in an attempt to avoid as much conflict as possible.  The great supporting cast includes Polly Draper, Fred Melamed, Dianna Agron, Molly Gordon, and Jackie Hoffman, all note perfect.  Less a comedy and more of an emotional horror story, Seligman knows how to make the best of a cramped space and throw up an endless variety of obstacles.  You just want Sennott’s Danielle to get her goddamned bagel with lox and cream cheese, but the fates have something else, something better, in store. 

COWBOYS ★★★★

Steve Zahn gives a career best performance in this moving story of a father with mental health issues and his trans son escaping into the Montana wilderness.  Sasha Knight makes an impressive debut as Zahn’s son and Jillian Bell expertly walks that fine line between villain and empathetic character.  Its comparisons to Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid are not coincidental.  Not perfect by any stretch, it may feel fairly conventional, but it’s tackling a vibrant subject matter.  Extra points for giving Ann Dowd a role where we don’t hiss at her. 

BREAKING FAST ★★★

Solid romcom with a Muslim backdrop, this very tight, deceptively simple script provides just the right amount of sparks between its charming leads, Haaz Sleiman and Michael Cassidy.  While structurally not breaking new ground, the entry point into a world we don’t see enough of on screen coupled with food porn for days makes this a fun, funny, goes down easy delight.

ASK ANY BUDDY ★★★1/2

Q: Daddy!  Daddy!  What were the 70s like down at the Piers in NYC?   A: Oh shut up and watch this movie.  

An experimental collage of vintage gay porn and archival footage from the disco, pre-AIDS heyday gives this film a mesmerizing, museum installation quality.  While technically without a story, you feel like you’ve gone on a journey nonetheless.  Would pair well with William Friedkin’s Cruising. 

DRY WIND ★★★1/2

Slow cinema meets voyeuristic gay porn in this one of a kind Brazilian exploration an arid small town, a workers’ union crisis, and a man obsessed with the Tom Of Finland drawing come to life who motors into his life.  Overlong and a little too obtuse as it goes along, it’s worth watching this Alice In Wonderland takes a quaalude, gets a very hairy back, and has a lot of sex in the dirt. 

NO HARD FEELINGS ★★★★

This year’s Teddy Award Winner at the Berlin Film Festival, Faraz Shariat’s film uses its backdrop of a refugee camp in Germany to tell the story of Iranians and Irani-Germans searching for a better life.  Its three leads bring a spark and youthful energy to a story with devastating undercurrents.  A wrenching glimpse into the emotional effects an oppressive culture has on its people, yet told with a driving pulse. 

LILY TOMLIN: THE FILM BEHIND THE SHOW ★★★

A look behind the scenes as Lily Tomlin and wife Jane Wagner workshop their legendary 1980s Broadway show, The Search For Signs Of Intelligent Life In The Universe.  It’s great to see these two at the top of their game and get a glimpse of their creative process, but this documentary is almost devoid of incident and feels more like a sweet gift to the fans than a fully realized film. 

SHORTS: WHAT A BOY NEEDS ★★★1/2

A mixed bag here of people searching for excitement, I found a couple of gems here nonetheless.  Not to take away from the shorts I don’t mention, I want to single out two exceptional films. Ruben Navarro’s Of Hearts And Castles looks great, has a beautiful vibe, and shows us a lovely connection forming right before our eyes.  Kiko’s Saints proves highly original as we follow a female Japanese artist on assignment in France become obsessed with a gay couple who have a lot of sex on the beach.  Combining animation with fairly explicit sex, I loved seeing the male gaze from a female perspective. 

THE CAPOTE TAPES ★★1/2

I love Truman Capote. I grew up at a time when smart authors found themselves on talk shows and were treated like superstars.  I’ve read his books and always have been in awe of his ability to be himself.  Featuring never-before-heard tapes of Capote’s friends being interviewed by George Plimpton, unfortunately, I don’t think this repetitive documentary gave me anything all that new.  It’s still touching at times and for the uninitiated, this is a great overview of his life, but I was watching the clock. 

OUT LOUD ★★★1/2

A moving look at the Trans Chorus of Los Angeles as they prepare for their first public performance.  With its ticking clock storyline, director Gail Willumsen expertly interweaves storylines of its founder and members.  As such, you really learn what’s a stake and what it means to them.  I was lucky enough to see the chorus perform David Bowie’s Ziggy Stardust a few years ago and basked in the power of its mere existence…and was also ridiculously entertained. 

TWILIGHT’S KISS (SUK SUK)  ★★★1/2

This quiet charmer form Hong Kong shows us something we almost never get to see on film - two elderly gay men meeting and falling in love.  The fact that both have been married to women doesn’t stop them from exploring their feelings.  A little to gentle by half, I still was in awe of this rarity.

[gone4neow]

MIGHTY | ⓅⒸⓎ

c h a p t e r t w o

- park chanyeol x oc

- mulan rewrite [very loosely inspired by the disney version]

- warnings : cursing, dark themes, extreme violence

- work count : 2,814

previous chapter or next chapter

——————————————————————————

Eunyeong shot up in bed the next morning when she heard a loud knock come from the front of the house. Quickly, she rolled out of bed and dressed herself before slipping out into the main quarter of the house. Her parents had just opened their bedroom door when she slid the entrance door open for their visitor. There stood her uncle. His hands fidgeted nervously as he looked down at her. It couldn't be, she thought to herself. There was no way her uncle would allow her to come back to the farm so soon, so why was he standing on her porch this early in the morning? Instead of addressing her, he looked over her shoulder and found his brother's eyes. Even with the dim lighting of the fresh morning, Eunyeong could see worry in her uncle's facial features.

"Everyone's expected to gather at the village's center by the time the sun rises completely," her uncle announced. Eunyeong looked over her shoulder to get a good look at her father's expression. Was something happening that she was unaware of? Before she could ask her uncle, he had already turned and walked off. She watched as he retreated further and further away from the house.

"So soon?" She heard her mother ask quietly from behind her. Eunyeong turned to look at her parents. Her father was leaning on her mother for stability to stand. There was not a doubt that his leg was hurting him at this point. Time and time again she had tried to get the village's only doctor to give the man some crutches, but crutches were a rarity in a small area like the one they lived in.

The eyes of her father averted from the floor and found Eunyeong's, which were a splitting image of his own. A few seconds of silence passed before the man released a small, exhausted sigh. His daughter analyzed his expression, looking for any clue that would explain what was happening.

"Eunyeong, you should get ready. We will head out in a moment and there will be officials there," her mother told her. Without another word, the woman and her husband turned and retreated back into their bedroom to get ready to go. Eunyeong lingered in the doorway of their home. A cool breeze made itself welcome in the home, brushing against the skin of the young woman as she stood as stiff as a statue. The word 'officials' echoed through her mind as if haunting her. It never meant anything good when the king sent officials to visit.

When the small family arrived to the busy village center, their eyes were alert and their hearts were pounding. Eunyeong was used to the villagers and their judgmental glares, but she was surprised to see most of them hardly paid any attention to her with her father next to her. Their eyes held admiration instead of resentment. It made her skin burn with anger at the way everyone refused to respect her when they were ready to drop at his feet with praise falling absentmindedly from their lips. Of course her father deserved such recognition, but she knew that if she had been born a son then the town would be fawning over her, too.

Eunyeong held onto her father's arm in an attempt to support him as he walked. His head was held high, despite the embarrassment he felt at his disability. Pain shot up his body as he forced himself to put weight on his leg to try to hide his obvious limp. All of these people looked to him as a hero, and yet he saw himself as a weak man who could barely even walk.

The sun eventually found itself settled in the sky. It was already warm out, but that could have been due to the large crowd gathered around the group of officials who stood in the center of town. Eunyeong's eyes widened at the sight of soldiers accompanying an important looking man who was sitting on top of a horse adorned with gold. In all her life she had never seen someone wear gold, especially not a horse. Curiosity ate away at her and she had to control her tongue so that she would not ask her father what was going on. The chatter around her suggested that everyone else was just as lost as she was. All the noise around her died down immediately after one of the soldiers called out for their attention.

"I see on your faces expressions of confusion. You're lost as to why officials are here, yes?" The man began, humming as he paused and let his eyes scan over his audience. "Our country is prepared to embark a new chapter in our history. The world as we know it has been threatened by terrorists who have invaded our home."

The man paused as the crowd began to grow angsty. They spoke in hushed mumbles to one another. Eunyeong couldn't help but tense at the man's announcement. War? Terrorists? In her country? She bit her tongue to stop from scoffing out in disbelief.

"I know you must be angry. I can feel it in the air. We are all desperate to cling onto normalcy. To do so, we must fight. Blood will have to be spilled onto our hands to protect our country from corruption. A war must take place!" The man continued after a moment. His voice grew louder with each word and by the time he took another pause his voice echoed across the entire village. The crowd roared with passion. Hands lifted into the air, punching at the sky as if celebrating victory before the fought had even been won.

"I have been sent here directly by our king, though we all wish it was under better circumstances. Today I am here to grant you a place in this war. We must stand together as one to behead our enemy before it's too late. It is your civic duty to sacrifice your life to save our country. Help me, my friends, in defeating the monster that threatens the lives out of wives and children!"

After a few minutes of watching as the crowd cheered with a newfound bloodlust, the man began to call out names. Eunyeong recognized more than half of the names. Fathers, sons, and even grandfathers walked up to the man to receive their scrolls. They clutched their official documentation of enlistment for war tightly in their hands as they retreated back into the crowd to stand with their families. At first her mind was blank and all she could do was stare at the officials ahead of her as chaos erupted around her. That was before the man called out her father's name. That was before she realized her father would have to go to war because he had no son to go in his place.

She winced at the sound. Her father could predict her every move. Just as she went to step forward with intentions of protesting, his hand reach out and grabbed her shoulder. Their eyes met for a brief second before the man shook his head sternly and began to push past her. Her hands balled into fists as she watched her father limp up to the officials. They greeted him without smiles on their faces. Their eyes scanned him from head to toe. With a clenched jaw, she watched as her father received his scroll. As he turned to make his way back to his wife and daughter, the officials shared an amused glance with one another as they snickered. The sight of the men laughing at her father made her want to march right up to them and give them a piece of her mind, but she knew her father wouldn't approve of such behavior. So, she analyzed the features of their faces and promised herself that if she ever came across them again she wouldn't forget this day.

The rest of the day for the small family was tense. Eunyeong's mother had locked herself away in her bedroom as soon as they returned home. The younger woman tried her best to ignore the sobs coming from the room, but it was hard to pretend they weren't echoing throughout the entire house. Her father sat silently in the kitchen. Her eyes flickered over to his distant expression ever so often as she prepared dinner for the evening. Everyone in the house knew what the man's enlistment meant, including him. Eunyeong's hands trembled as she tried not to focus on the fact that her father was silently preparing himself for death. There were few things in life that she feared, but this day had made her realized she was mortified of losing her father.

The man didn't meet her eyes as she placed his food down onto the table in front of him. In fact, she wasn't sure if he had noticed her presence at all. The woman swallowed her nerves and tried her best to wear a brave face for the man. Coming to terms with death was hard enough, but having to watch your loved ones struggle to come to terms with your death was torturous. So, she blinked away her tears and allowed a small smile to form on her face as she sat down next to the man.

"Dad," she called out lightly. When this didn't catch his attention, she reach out and gently pushed on his shoulder. Slowly, his eyes fluttered as if he had just woken up from a deep slumber. He met her eyes this time. He took in her expression and sighed softly. His hand reach up and landed on the top of her head.

"You're being so brave for me," he spoke quietly, his voice full of admiration. Eunyeong looked away from him, afraid she would crumble under the weight of his stare. She nodded down at the food she had prepared for him.

"I made your favorite," she announced lightly. His hand disappeared from the top of her head. It sat in his lap for a short moment. He tried to ignore the way it shook with emotion, but he couldn't hide it from his daughter. She let her hand find his and squeezed it assuringly.

"Eat up," she instructed. "I'll take mom's to her."

Their hands disconnected as she stood from the floor. Her father watched her closely as she picked up her mother's food and walked away. When she was out of sight, he looked back down at his own food and took a deep breath. He had lived a long life. He had served his country well, married a wonderful wife, and had a child he couldn't be more proud of. Death did not scare him and he knew his family would manage without him. Eunyeong always made sure everything was taken care of so he had no worries. Though, he couldn't help but wonder why he still felt so unsettled. His stomach twisted into knots and he felt as if something far worse than death was on the way.

That night a harsh thunderstorm rolled into the village. The rain pounded against the roof of their home with such intensity that the sound echoed through ever corner of the room. Eunyeong knew that the farm would be havoc come tomorrow morning, but tonight she was on a mission and because of that she was grateful for the violent rain. Her footsteps were inaudible as she made her way out of her room. She didn't bother to slide her door back shut as she silently stepped towards her parents' shared room. A burst of lightning shook the house as she slid the door open. For a brief few seconds she could see her parents wrapped up against one another, clutching onto one another as if they would never see each other again. Still, they slept. Eunyeong sighed with relief.

At the center of the wall adjacent to her sleeping parents was a wooden table. On top of it sat a chest that her father had shown her several times during her childhood. She could recall the pride in his voice as he explained how it had been given to him by his father, who had fought a war just as he had. Inside there were family heirlooms and a sword - the same sword that both her father and grandfather had used to fight in battle. She walked over to the chest quietly, lifted the lid, and released a shaky breath at the sight of the sword. It reflect the moon's glow as if it were flaunting it's beauty for the whole world to see. For a moment she forgot that it had been used to take the lives of men. At first she was hesitant to touch it, afraid that it would end her own life if she did so.

With one glance over her shoulder at her sleeping parents, she realized that she had no other options. So, her hand reach into the box and wrapped around the sword tightly. It felt heavy in her grasp. Her eyes scanned over the weapon for a few seconds as if in disbelief of its existence. Perhaps it wasn't its existence alone, but the fact that it was sitting so soundly in her hands at that moment. She shook her head to rid her mind of those thoughts and reach into the chest a second time. This time she dug out her father's old military uniform. Unlike most soldiers', her father's had been preserved for the most part. There were a few tatters here and there accompanied by stains that could never be completely erased. Aside from those few flaws, the stitching still held strong - only now history was woven into the material.

A clap of thunder rang throughout the house. The loud noise was enough to bring Eunyeong back to reality. She turned slowly to take a final look at the two people who had raised her. She drew in a deep breath, blinked away the tears in her eyes, and muttered a silent goodbye before she crept out of the room. The sound of heavy rain gave her something to focus on aside from her thoughts as she got dressed in her room. Her hands worked slowly as she wrapped medical bandages around her upper torso. It wasn't that she had much to hide in the first place, but she was paranoid that her feminine features would give her identity away no matter how small. Once she felt her breasts were hidden, she cautiously threw on her father's uniform. On her father the material fit perfectly but on her it was loose. Praying that it wouldn't be too obvious, she turned her attention to her hair. It took a few minutes for her to gather her dark locks in a perfect ball. Growing up she had seen her father wear a similar hairstyle several times when he was attending official duty. His hair had always been so long and glowing - she had always hoped hers would grow to be just a beautiful.

When she finished dressing, she sat completely still with her legs tucked neatly underneath her. The sun would rise soon and she would have to go. For the first time in her life, she would be completely own her own. What she was attempting to do with be risking not only her life, but her entire family's as well. Perhaps she was selfish, but her heart was burning with a passion that she could not ignore. All these years she had tried to provide for her family. Though she hadn't failed in doing so, it never felt like enough. Compared to everything her father had done for her family, sacrificing her life for his felt like a small task. Her head was bowed as she prayed one last prayer. The rain had not let up any by the time she was fully ready to leave, but she knew a journey in the rain was nothing compared to what she was about to get herself into. She rose to her feet, placed her father's sword in its sheath that hung around her hip, and slipped out into the early morning.

It was still dark out, but the sound of the roosters on the farm could be heard even over the pounding rain which meant the sun wasn't too far behind. Eunyeong ignored the way her feet splashed against the muddy earth beneath her. She ignored the cold of the rain that attacked her exposed skin without mercy. She ignored the pain that lingered in her heart as she grew farther and farther away from her childhood home. There was no going back now. She would take her father's place in the war or she would die trying.

—————————————————————————— a / n : hi! i know everyone is probably wondering where chanyeol comes in, but he will be coming very soon so please bare with me. this is eunyeong’s story more so than just a cheesy, romantic fanfic and i really want to make sure her story is told completely. hope everyone enjoys this chapter! xx 

[missholoska]

At long last, it’s the goats’ time to shine ✨🐐

(For anyone unfamiliar with my Swap content, see the character sheets for Papyrus & Sans, Undyne & Alphys, and more about Underswap MH here!)

Before the usual further rambles under the cut I want to properly explain one little detail in Asgore’s info box: Asriel being his nephew. I didn’t change this just for the sake of it! It has to do with everyone's roles and actions making sense to me and keeping certain details intact, and I'll talk about it more in Asriel's character sheet but here's the shortest way I can explain it:

Basically Asriel being alive in Underswap and still being Toriel and Asgore's son without any of them aging doesn't really make sense to me, and physical distance doesn't seem enough reason for none of them to have aged a day in 100 years, as Boss Monsters should. I've also seen (and liked) some Swap takes where Asriel instead has only a distant relation to the Dreemurrs or even none at all, but speaking purely for my Underswap it just feels kinda sad for him to have nothing to do with them.

So my middle ground for both of these points is Swap MH Asriel is their nephew instead, allowing him to have a close family bond with both Dandelion and Orchid without any of them aging, and lets him be separate enough to live his own life in Snowdin in UT Monster Kid's role. His parents are dead and about as relevant as MK’s biological parents, which is uh. not at all, but that’s just how it's gotta be.

As I've often said with Underswap MH, I don't mind if this doesn't appeal to everyone! I know it might be odd even with thought-out reasons for it, but in the end I'm still just doing what I want with my version.

anyway on with the enormous amount of extra info for these two:

Because they have no biological children (and to be clear, it's not that they can't have kids, they just didn't), Dandelion and Orchid are physically younger than their UT counterparts. Personally I don't think they were that old when they gained their Boss Monster immortality and I headcanon UT Asriel as 10 when he died, so I see UT Toriel and Asgore as being physically around their late 30s and early 40s respectively.

It took a while to figure out why Orchid would ever kill the six humans because it always felt out of character for a Swap Toriel who retains some of UT Toriel's personality. I can't see her killing anyone voluntarily at first, but UT Toriel is able to kill UT Frisk accidentally, so likewise killing the first human to fall after Swap Frisk was not intentional. She still tried to reason with every human who faced her, but being unable to convince them to stay in the Underground in peace and already having blood on her hands, was resigned to her duty.

On Dandelion's side of events, he still has UT Asgore's traits of being prone to anger in grief and somewhat cowardly about his duty, hence him still calling the declaration of war on humanity but then backing out on it. Feeling like he'd betrayed the memory of their children and knowing he'd hurt Orchid emotionally, he exiled himself to Ruins, assuming that in his absence she would call the war off again.

Orchid's reason for not using a human soul to cross the barrier (i.e. exactly what UT Toriel calls Asgore out on) is that taking the first child's life traumatised her on top of her grief in not wanting to follow the doomed footsteps of her adoptive children. As she's still Toriel she still considered doing exactly that, but wasn't emotionally capable of it and is very aware of her hypocrisy.

...basically if you think the eternal fandom slapfights over whether Toriel is just as bad as Asgore or either of them did nothing wrong are a mess, it's definitely even more complicated in Underswap MH. They both made wrong decisions in grief, but in the end both deserve mercy too.

Orchid's throne room, rather than being covered by a bed of golden flowers, features the same black tree seen in front of UT Toriel's home, with red leaves covering the floor (meanwhile the Ruins has no red leaves). Her throne sits directly in front of the tree and the room is darker, and the original game's room of coffins in New Home is nonexistent as Orchid buried the fallen humans in the throne room to show them what respect she could.

Instead of trying to destroy the Ruins' exit like UT Toriel, Dandelion leads Chara there when they ask to leave and tells them the monsters on the other side will try to kill them. He apologises and says it is his fault for that, and the least he can do is give them the choice to stay with him in safety or prove that they can survive out there, and as mentioned above they can always change their mind and come back.

Dandelion could hypothetically still do the orange/blue eye-flashing attack UT Asgore does, but doesn't because he's the tutorial boss. In Orchid's battle, the orb of her sceptre flashes orange or blue before she attacks with flames of the same colours (she'd also destroy the mercy button with a column of fire).

I spent too much time thinking about whether Orchid should still speak without contractions like UT Toriel, because speech styles are mostly swapped but it's such a Toriel thing, so... I decided her natural thoughts/spoken words still lack contractions, but she forces herself to use them fairly often to try and keep up with modern speech. Meanwhile Dandelion mostly speaks without contractions, but occasionally some slip out.

Given that I'm a Bigtime Soriel Shipper™ it's probably worth mentioning that the role equivalent of UT Sans and Toriel's friendship between Noodle and Dandelion remains platonic, primarily due to Noodle being aromantic. But Dandelion is panromantic and Noodle would definitely be his wingman if anyone took his fancy, and their bond is incredibly important to them both! They basically have one of those friendships where sometimes you just make small talk and chat about mutual interests, and sometimes you both unload your entire life's emotional baggage and support each other's mental health.

and yes because I have to give a mention to my beloved Swap Soriel: Neptune initially has no intention of telling Orchid about his feelings for her because he doesn't want to make their friendship awkward, but he ends up blurting out how much she means to him when she's feeling especially bad some time in post-pacifist. As mentioned above she doesn't feel the same at first and their friendship continues (no man has ever been as genuinely happy to be friendzoned as Neptune), but she begins to return his feelings before too long. There's actually so much more depth to their friendship I'd love to share immediately, but trust me it'll be much better in comic form ;v;

I've forgotten the flower meanings of dandelions I read while I was looking up yellow/gold flowers to name Asgore after, but most of the reason I chose that for him is because I see Asgore as part lion and he is very fine and dandy. As for Toriel, apparently purple orchids represent things like royalty, respect and dignity which sounded fitting!

I swear I absolutely will not let my current pattern of procrastinating on the next character sheets for a whole entire year continue, I want to get the last three done much quicker!! Chara and Asriel will be next :D

[gotmeringinghellsbells]

The Best Dad You Could Be

Fandom: My Hero Academia

Characters: Izuku Midoriya, Shoto Todoroki/Midoriya, Yamato Todoroki (Oc)

A/N: This fanfiction contains an oc for my next generation au and a little back story. Yamato is the only son of Yaoyorozu, and eldest of Todoroki. He loves both of his parents, and the two stay friends even after their divorce. There is no hate to ships on this blog.... well.... Mineta is another story.  

Description: Shoto has always had doubts about being a parent since his son was born. As he grew, he didn’t have much time to dwell on the possibilities of being a bad parent. But as life settled down he began to think more about it and asks his husband if he’s doing it right. Deku, only able to compare Shoto to All Might, gets an idea . He needs to show a little more emotion around the babe. 

_

When Shoto Todoroki found out he was going to be a father, joy was the least of his emotions. He was terrified. It wasn’t the failing marriage he was in, or the partner he had, but the fear of being a good father. He feared being…. his father. 

For about a year him and Momo cared for their son together before deciding it would be best to go separate ways. It wasn’t until he left that he realized she was a key balance in his confidence. Her fear, her insecurities of being a mother, of working with a child lead Shoto to be the best father he could be! However, he didn’t know where to go, and Yamato wanting to be with him more than Momo made it even harder!

]He refused to go back to his father with Hawks and Toya there, let alone Endeavor. His mother had her own studio apartment, but…. As heartless as it sounded, Shoto didn’t want his mother alone with his baby. He loved her to pieces but Yamato had more features that resembled his father than Shoto did. 

Between that and him waking up his mother every hour with crying, Shoto just couldn’t do it! Iida was busy with his career taking off, Urakara was busy too. Deku was the only one not under an agency but…. Shoto didn’t want to bother anyone. From Momo’s fear, from Shoto’s situational confidence, Yamato wanted his daddy; which made this all so much harder. 

Momo’s parents didn’t exactly want to take in their former son-in-law either. They would have let their daughter stay with them until she could get back on her feet, but Shoto gave the house to her. From his kind act…. He was now screwed over. 

It turned out showing up at the Midoriya’s was the best choice he could have made as they were quick to take him in. The living space was small but he’d make due with what he could and wouldn’t complain. The hardest part was trying to keep everything from his boss…. his father. Endeavor planned to retire, and for Shoto to take over he had to work under him. 

The poor guy was exhausted, sleeping through baby cries and waking the house. More than once he’d woken up form All Might or Inko trying to calm his small babe as he lay in bed, leaching the heat off of Midoriya. He’d apologize and quickly try to take over before being pushed back down into bed. The two cared for the poor guy, Inko being able to relate to his situation. He was trying so hard to parent, to be the best dad he could while working his way out of his current living situation.  

But it was one cold, winter night that would change all of that for him. Once more he’d slept through Yamato’s crying, but this time neither older adult came to the babe’s aid. Midoriya woke, not being able to sleep too much as it was. He climbed out of bed and picked up his crying roommate before sitting back on the bed and just…. Soothing him. He was talking to him, trying to lul him back to sleep after he’d calmed. 

Midoriya found him to be the cutest little thing, so goofy and particular. He would ponder what Yamato’s quirk would be, which parent he’d look like more as he aged. It was just fun thoughts to have after a day of intense work. When Shoto woke to see the other coddling his son, he felt it in his heart. Resting a head on Midroiya’s shoulder after failing to retrieve his son from the older, Shoto finally felt secure again for the first time in a while. 

They took off as a family, money was coming in, they had their first place until they saved enough for a final home. They were a family. But…. unlike Momo, Izuku was confident; to an extent, he’d have small bursts of panic that Shoto had to fix but he was still someone Yamato felt secure with. Something Shoto still didn’t feel sometimes, like today.

He lay in bed, relaxing on his day off, just watching as his now two-year-old told his hand and bend each finger. He was truly curious about how things worked, it was adorable. His chubby little face would scrunch up, a small pout would be present, and his brows would furrow more and more as he tested new things. “What are you learning today, hm? You now how fingers bend.” Momo said she’d do this to her too, whenever she had him. 

“Yeah but it’s a new day, something may have changed,” a new voice hummed out with a yawn. Deku rolled over to curl into his husband’s back as the tot ignored them in the name of discovery. “Oh? Is that true? Excuse me Yamo,” the father teased before poking the little one with his free hand. Yamato looked up before looking slowly to the finger that touched him and pushing it away. He didn't like to talk much during his new discoveries, otherwise Shoto would have gotten a talking to. 

The father laughed before sighing. He didn’t like to talk insecurities in front of the child but…. He couldn’t always get away from him to release his emotions. “Zuku.” Deku hummed as he held his heater and cooler closer. “I’m…. doing this right, right?” Deku scrunched up his face a bit before sleepily popping up on the smaller’s shoulder. "Doing what right?” Shoto motioned to his baby who was now trying to get his hand to act like a spider. 

“I mean…. Yeah. You put him before everything, you always take time to make sure he knows right from wrong, you do all the right parenting things.” The step father tried to think. He didn’t have someone to really compare Shoto too. As much as All Might was a distant dad figure to him (even if he was his step father now), from interviews you couldn’t tell how one would parent. 

But there was something that always assured Izuku he was safe, that things ould be okay. “I mean…. You don’t show that much emotion around him.” He really didn’t. Momo did, Jiro did, Izuku did, almost everyone but Shoto did; yet little Yamato followed his father’s example most of the time and was just…. blank faced. “Is that so?” The green bean nodded, hair tickling his husband’s bared neck. 

“Ihahzuku,” the now second pro hero giggled. “ Mmm…. see? You need to smile more, Yamato agrees.” Shoto looked forward to his babe that was now grinning ear to ear. “Dada ticklish?” The babe looked so happy it squeezed at Shoto’s heart. Crap. “Izuku, don’t you eve- pfff! MMmmmmmm!” The male tried to resist the feeling on his stomach, squirming around as he was held closer. 

“Comeon Sho-kun, Yamo wants to see your smile! You wanted to improve your parenting. Step one is smiling more!” Poor man was trapped between his worst tickle monsters, one already attacking. “Zhahahahauku!” Shoto let loose, his son’s laughter joining his as he scooted forward to try and help.

He tried tickling Shoto’s nose, earning more high pitched giggles as the man tried to turn his face away. “That’s it Yamo! We gotta save dada from the sad villain!” The boy squealed adorably as he tried to move on to the cheeks. The cute look of determination and attempt to gain a reaction gained the reaction alone as Deku stopped. He was so cute!

“That’s it, your doing it kiddo! Your saving dada!” Shoto snorted before shoving at Midoriya as his baby giggled and started to tickle under Shoto’s chin. The surenamed Todoroki giggled, whining softly as the spot wasn’t all that ticklish. “Why are you shoving me villain? The little hero is defeating you,” Deku giggled before tickling Shoto’s stomach again. The male screamed softly before dissolving into giggles. 

He turned to roll into his husband, earning a pout from the baby. It tickled too much and Shoto wasn’t about to keep squirming around like a fish out of the water; it was a little embarrassing and he could accidently hit his baby as he flailed. “Izuku,” he squealed as he jumped up slightly from the other’s chest, hands squeezing at his lower back. “Chahahut thahaht out! Sthahhaaop thahah- eek!” 

Yamato was forgotten as the green haired male rolled on top of his husband, totally wrecking him. Scratching at his ribs, under his arms, down his hips, his chest. He stayed on the upper body, teasing and smiling as he worked. Shoto screamed and shrieked with laughter, something his son had never heard before. But rather than fuss or get upset from the exclusion…. Yamato just observed. He watched what his step father or papa was doing.

He watched his hands, how the fingers would bend on different areas of the torso and imitated it. He took silent note of his father’s reactions given the areas his papa tickled. “Izhzhzhhahahauku!” Deku laughed, coming back to reality as he quickly stopped and started trying to soothe the other, apologizing repeatedly. The number two hero panted softly before a movement caught his eye. Yamato moved closer before leaning between his dad’s, a hand on Shoto’s shoulder for support. 

“Yamo, what are you doing little soba?” The kid hadn’t been teritorial before but Shoto wasn’t sure what he was doing, until a hand found his chest. “Pff! Yhahahahmato!’ Shoto covered his face as he giggled, Izuku catching the laughing child as he nearly fell forward from Shoto’s action. “We did it bud!” Deku lifted his step son up in victory before kissing his chubby cheek. “We did it! Dada is free!” Yamato squealed with absolute delight as he held Deku and lifted a matching arm in victory. 

Shoto sighed as he watched them through his fingers, they were too much. A smile same to his face; maybe he should show a bit more emotion.