#He doesn't give you any chance to speak with Tenth

[fuk0]

5927. call me. ;)

—Hey, what's your problem? All questions to Tenth are solved by me.

—Ngh... Gokudera-kun, be more polite....

[taesanrot]

[moved on] fwb!taesan x f!reader | 0.7k words shorter drabble inspired by the song moved on by laundry day!

my heart is saying things my mind just cannot speak ... i don't know what is wrong with me

taesan was an avoidant. he was good at ignoring things, pushing away the elephant in the room and pretending he doesn't care, that it couldn't bother him any less. he was good at ignoring the way your glances at him grew longer and fonder. he was even better at ignoring the way your doe eyes and soft hair made his heart race and stomach turn.

i'm clinging onto you just like i cannot breathe ... i don't know what is wrong with me

he knew it hurt you and he hated himself for it. you two had agreed to keep things between the two of you casual, seeking comfort in each others' touch in the late hours of the weekend and barely speaking the days in between. at the time it started, taesan's fleeting presence filled you up, bringing you out of the emotional trenches school had sent you into.

maybе I'm the problem saying this is alright ... am i coming on too strong?

that was your first mistake -- you should've known you were setting yourself up for failure right then and there. letting the raven haired boy light up your day with a simple stroke of his hand against your cheek; your heart never stood a chance against the curse of time.

please make sure you call, just to say it's alright ... am i waking you all night?

as the days passed, it was taesan who became the reason you ached on late nights. staring at your still unread message, you wondered why things were like this. the boy's actions twisted your mind in ways he'd never know. at times like this your mind flashed back to the way he was after the sun had set, when it was just the two of you in your own world.

we get together but things might just be better if we moved on

the way his warm lips felt against your neck, the way his fingers burned into your skin, it was all imprinted on your mind. the moments you two shared felt so intimate, and they replayed in your mind over and over like a broken record.

turning around under your heavy blanket for the tenth time that night, you screwed your eyes shut as more and more memories invaded your mind and dreams.

the two of you had been watching a movie, your head laying on his chest and his hand rubbing your shoulder softly. eyes trained on your laptop, you almost missed taesan’s face in your peripheral vision, peeking over at you. he had a habit of doing this — you always assumed he was simply checking if you were awake. you always stayed silent, just smiling and blinking delicately at him.

“i’m awake, san” you don’t know what made you blurt out defensively, but taesan shook his head softly at your words.

“i know, i was just looking at you.” your stomach still turns at the thought of the smile he was adorning as those words fell from his pretty lips.

his fond smile only looked wicked to you now, his words singing your skin and burning your resolve. how could he say all of that without feeling a single thing? you thought to yourself bitterly.

am i giving you up? ... changing seasons, can't believe it now i'm leaving you

sometimes taesan too thought he was insane. it stung to think about the sweet things he'd said or done to you -- it scared him how he meant it all completely. the boy didn't know what was wrong with him, why he couldn't just let the two of you be happy and togehter. he felt like a speed bump in the road, stubbornly and selfishly guarding his heart at the expense of your fragile mind.

hindsight is 20/20, and sitting alone in his cold and you-less bed, taesan knows what he should've done and said to you, what was staring him in the face this whole time. he was utterly in love with you and he didn't even realize.

bitterly, he pulls his phone out of his pocket and reads over your last text to him again.

[2:47 a.m]

y/n: i can't keep doing this anymore. i'm sorry, let's stop seeing each other.

you have been blocked by this number!

[wanderingblindly]

i can only agree with the other anon, your prompt fills are giving me LIFE <3 and if you have the time, could we maybe get a landoscar + 22 or 31 pls? have a lovely evening!

YOU THOUGHT YOU COULD GET RID OF ME!!! YOU REALLY THOUGHT!! UNFORTUNATELY FOR YOUR ALL I CAN'T WORK ON ANY OF MY WIPS BECAUSE MY BRAIN IS IN HELL!!! anyways here's landoscar for "a kiss after a small rejection", looooooosely inspired by Hungary 2024! prompt list here :))

What Can I Say?

The lift is deathly silent, almost like it's frozen. If he couldn't feel it moving under his feet, if he wasn't intently watching the numbers tick upwards towards their end, he would think it was the universe punishing him further – giving him more chances to fail at biting his tongue.

Oscar's standing next to him so stilly that, similarly, Lando wonders if he's turned to stone.

He doesn't even know what to say to him. Clearly he's meant to say something if Oscar chose to sneak into the same lift, if he waited in hospitality for so long that the bulk of the crowd had died down.

The lift ticks by the fifth floor.

He's meant to say congratulations, probably. Definitely. He's definitely meant to say congratulations, meant to drown out the caustic words building on the back of his tongue. It's not that he doesn't want to, but it's hard. Not because it came at the expense of Lando's win – he can get his own wins, those not handed to him by strategy and team orders. But it's the fact that it came after his own public lambasting, a public verbal crucifixion as the team drove nail after nail into his bleeding wrists.

How is he meant to say congratulations when it was written in his own blood?

Oscar doesn't even know that it was, not really. He didn't hear each strike of the hammer unto iron, like it's some tightly kept secret between Lando, the team, and every single fan. But not Oscar.

It hangs in the stagnant air between them: a secret the other doesn't know exists and the looming feeling that they'd both simultaneously played the villain and the victim.

They pass the tenth.

"You could come to mine," Oscar finally mumbles, voice so quiet that Lando nearly misses it. It's not quite an invitation, definitely not a question. Certainly it's not a declaration of want, of desire. It's something more fragile than that.

"I'm not sure that's a good idea," Lando says; from the corner of his eye, he sees Oscar move – leaning against the wall like speaking took it out of him.

"Oh."

"It's not…" Lando trails off, finally giving up with a sigh; he joins Oscar against the wall, both of them still staring at the ticking numbers. It's a countdown to something.

"A good idea." Oscar repeats for him, tone harsh in it's neutrality.

"What do you really want?"

Oscar crosses his ankles. He uncrosses his ankles. "I dunno, just to like…" He rubs his hand across his face, the way that makes his delicate skin turn pink. "Go back to normal."

Part of Lando's glad that it's not just him, that he isn't alone in the feeling that the air has gone too thin.

"It will," He says, finally turning to look at Oscar – his eyes are a little red, blinking like he's trying to keep more unsavory emotions at bay. "But not right now."

"I won't apologize," Oscar answers, though Lando never asked. He never asked because he never expected it, because he – honestly – never needed it. He doesn't need Oscar's apology just like he doesn't need Oscar's forgiveness, because, at the end of the day, they knew this was a risk.

And it was a risk they took, last year in in Singapore.

"Me neither." Lando says.

The lift hits fifteen. Lando's on twenty, Oscar somewhere above.

"I'll see you tomorrow, yeah?" Lando continues, standing back up and straightening out his polo. Oscar follows him like a shadow, hands shoved in his pockets.

"We'll be ok." He, again, answers something Lando hadn't asked – something Lando knows.

"I know," Lando agrees, voice soft. Before the doors can open, pulling them apart to go ask what ifs into the dark of their hotel rooms, Lando leans towards Oscar. "Soon." Gently, so gentle it may as well have never happened, Lando presses his lips to Oscar's – as if sealing a promise, a deal.

Oscar doesn't move, just takes what Lando gives him and offers lightly closed eyes in return – as if he wishes it could be more.

They separate just before the door opens.

Lando leaves without a goodnight.

[quietwingsinthesky]

(I’m so sorry, I lied, it was not the last question)

Now that we have confirmation the master bites, does each incarnation bite the same? Or do some bite just to draw blood? Does Missy bite differently before/after The Cell? Is Lucy Saxon covered in bites or no? Does the Doctor always wake up after being subdued by the Master bruised and bleeding?

Thank you so much for indulging me, could I be 🦷 anon?

i think they must!

first. first. we must imagine. professor yana who has always had this urge buried in the back of his head, enough to know it's there but never so much as to act on it. oh, until ten is within reach and praising his accomplishments and... what if ten bites first. gets excited, gets ahead of himself, needs to get the energy out somehow and nips yana before turning away to keep working on things. think about professor yana feeling something Incredibly Important fall into place that he still doesn't understand. (and the drums rising in tempo, so loud he can't hear the doctor speak for a few moments.)

saxon is a guy who loves twisting shit around. this time lord trust exercise becomes a display of control, something he can push onto the doctor so long as he has him on the valiant. and lucy, well, she's his to mark as he pleases. (she may have liked it at first. he's never satisfied. he always bites harder, bites deeper, draws blood. at a certain point, any chance to say no disappeared, if they ever existed, and she's not sure anymore they did. she's not sure.) but even he can't escape his nature, only contort it to try and make it serve him. saxon and ten in the junkyard, bowed against each other, and his teeth go into the doctor's throat when the doctor tells him the drums are real. holding on so so tight. (in a way ten likes too much. in a way the master doesn't because he only ever needed to bite quick and hard before to cause damage.)

saxon on the colony ship who turns the biting back into mockery again, turning it on twelve, nipping him and never letting the doctor get too close. biting missy harder. is that punishment or an attempt to remind her what she is, what she cannot escape being. both, maybe.

missy bites like a bird that wants to peck out your eyes. twelve finds that out first when he figures out who she is, when she trades kisses for canines. clara finds out... many many many times, because clara is very biteable and missy has very little self-control during the time the doctor's keeping clara around.

it's an exercise in the vault. can this ritual be one they can perform without hurting each other. or at least, without hurting each other more than they mean to. it doesn't matter how she does it, though. it never seems to be gentle enough, trusting enough, mean enough that she is trying. at least she gets to keep his bruises for herself in the meantime. little presents to keep her sane in solitary.

the spymaster doesn't ever get to bite thirteen. and if asked, he'd say he wouldn't, that besides, she's not even really a time lord so it probably has never meant to her what it does to him. or worse, if she's where the instinct comes from, he won't give it to her, won't offer her a comfort from where she came from in the form of himself.

but the spymaster is a liar. of course he tries to bite her. she's the doctor. of course he wants to bite her. she's too fast for him. the closest he'll ever get is when she snaps her teeth against his skin, and neither of them are sure if she meant to kill him when she did. (he could have. easily. she's paralyzed in the matrix. he could have taken that. it would've been such an easy echo of what they've been before, of him overpowering the tenth doctor's body on the valiant and forcing his teeth into him. and. he doesn't. not while she's trapped.

i mean, what's the point if she can't fight back?)

(roberts!master can bite eight all over. as a treat.)

[shiningwonderland]

Otoya Ittoki (Repeat)

Translator: Raz (Twitter: agnadance)

Editor: Mae (Twitter: itoshikimaegirl)

QA: Rei (Twitter: wolfe_raine)

True Love Ending — Musica that Transcends Love

The moment that Otoya-kun starts singing, the crowd goes wild.

Everyone's moving their bodies to the beat, clapping their hands, and having a great time.

I feel the core of my body heating up and my adrenaline pumping, so much so that I feel like I'm going to start moving at any moment.

That's the kind of song he's singing. Everyone in the hall beams with delight.

There were some performers who were breathtakingly good at singing. There were other songs where the audience would be so moved that tears would fall from their eyes. At other times, the whole audience would stand up in applause.

Everyone's giving it their all because we're all aiming to debut. The audience can feel that intense passion. 

But Otoya-kun… He's the only one who's not trying to put on airs. He's singing from the heart. 

In turn, the audience has livened up and are smiling. 

Of course, we'll be expelled and chased out of the entertainment industry if we don't pass.

But… That doesn't matter.

Otoya-kun is enjoying singing. He's thoroughly entertaining the audience.

Once he finishes singing, cries ring out and there's a roar of applause.

Otoya Ittoki: Thanks, everybody!

Otoya-kun answers with a bright smile, earning him another cheer from the audience.

Otoya Ittoki: Haruka! Come on, let's go! I want to hear the results together!

Even though he has just finished singing, Otoya-kun runs backstage to me and reaches out his hand.

Haruka Nanami: Yeah!

Without hesitation, I take his hand and run to the stage with Otoya-kun.

While waiting at the corner of the stage, we hear that the last person has finished singing.

We quietly wait for the announcement.

The winner of the graduation audition is decided by a group of nine judges, including the principal, and votes from the audience.

The nine judges can give up to ten points each.

The audience votes for the student they believe had the best performance. The student who receives the most votes from the audience gets 10 points, the student with the second most gets nine points, so and so forth until tenth place.

Then the person with the most points total wins. The winner becomes a new idol in the Shining Agency whose next goal will be to become the top idol.

For the students who don't get first place, any student who scores over 85 points can join Shining Agency.

Also, there are employees from other agencies who have come to watch the audition…

For example, even if there are students who don't get into Shining Agency, there's a chance they can be recruited into a different agency.

However, in our case, if we don't win, we can't debut at all.

I'm so nervous waiting that I feel like I'm going to faint from my heart pounding out of my chest….

The warmth from Otoya-kun's hand holding mine gives me strength.

Shining Saotome: The winner of this year's graduation audition is��

As he speaks, he surveys everyone in front of him.

Oh please, please let us win!

We grip each others' hands tightly and pray.

Shining Saotome: Otoya Ittoki!

Otoya Ittoki: YEEEAAAH!!! We did it, Haruka! We won!

Haruka Nanami: Yes! We… we won!

Ringo Tsukimiya: Congratulations! I was so moved by how good the song was. Your song was bright and open just like you, Oto-kun!

Ringo Tsukimiya: I felt warm from the bottom of my heart  and I wanted to support the love between you two. I could feel how much you love her right here in my chest.

Ringo Tsukimiya: For some reason, when I was listening to your song, I recalled my first crush. My love for her was so bittersweet.

Ringo Tsukimiya: But I couldn't stop feeling so excited! That feeling of pure love revived in me and I felt my chest getting hot.

Ringo Tsukimiya: You're such an odd couple. I'm not saying that out of spite, mind you, you two are a great match. Your refreshing attitude came through the song!

Ringo Tsukimiya: Get along and do your best forever and ever, okay?

Haruka Nanami: Yes!

Shining Saotome: You pass for now! Ahh, your song was full of heart!

Shining Saotome: This song was meant to be first place! You're one impressive guy, but this is where the real challenge begins.

The principal pats Otoya-kun on the back.

Otoya Ittoki: Yeah, I know!

Shining Saotome: Come to my office later. I need to speak with you.

He whispers in Otoya-kun's ear, then returns to center stage to begin his speech to conclude the ceremony. 

Shining Saotome: Occupied!

Haruka Nanami: Excuse me.

Otoya Ittoki: Excuse me!

Shining Saotome: To start things off, congratulations on your victory!

Shining Saotome: Everyone in the hall could agree that MISTER Ittoki's song was fantastic, BUT you couldn't have achieved that alone.

Shining Saotome: MISS Nanami, you were able to bring out MISTER Ittoki's full potential because you composed the song! You are a great pair!

Haruka Nanami: T-thank you.

Shining Saotome: BUT it's still too soon to relax. This is where things start getting tough.

Otoya Ittoki: You're not going to tell us to break up again, are you?

Shining Saotome: … No need to worry, I won't say that ever again. I'm sure that you two won't end up going down the same path I did…

Ah, the principal is talking normally again…

Otoya Ittoki: I knew it. Something happened to you, huh?

Shining Saotome: Yes, but it was far in the past.

Otoya Ittoki: Will you tell us?

Shining Saotome: Okay, I'll tell you… Before I debuted, there was a woman I loved, and she loved me back.

Shining Saotome: But… when it was decided that I would officially debut, my agency told me that I needed to put my personal affairs in order.

Shining Saotome: An idol is not only meant to be looked up by people, they are also meant to fuel people's dreams. Most importantly, they must be every fan's lover. You understand that, right?

Otoya Ittoki: Yeah, I get it.

Shining Saotome: Yes… You can't exist just for one person. That restriction was much stronger back in the day.

The principal looks far off into the distance, as if his heart is far in the past.

Shining Saotome: I worried about what to do, and ended up choosing my dream over my lover.

Shining Saotome: At the time, I was engrossed in my songs, the heat of the spotlight, my connection with the audience… I just couldn't let go after getting a taste of it.

Shining Saotome: My heart fluttered every time someone would praise my music. I kept thinking how I wanted more and more people to listen to my songs. 

Shining Saotome: That's when I realized… she noticed too.

Haruka Nanami: What happened to her?

Shining Saotome: When she recognized that I chose my dream over her, she disappeared. I don't know where she is now.

Haruka Nanami: Oh no…

Shining Saotome: My debut song "Ai yue ni…" is about my feelings for her.

Shining Saotome: The composer was credited to be me, but she was the one who wrote it. She gave the song to me.

Shining Saotome: It was born from weaving our love together. The song was the miracle of love.

Otoya Ittoki: Is… that so… That seems like us…

Haruka Nanami: Yes…

Shining Saotome: I didn't want my students to go through the same pain I did.

Shining Saotome: When you are stuck between your dream and your love, you will suffer. No matter which one you pick, the only thing waiting for you is hell.

Otoya Ittoki: Hell…? That's how much pain you went through?

Shining Saotome: Yes… After she left, I tried to forget her by drowning myself in work.

Shining Saotome: But I couldn't fill in the hole that opened up in my heart and my heart still yearns for her.

Otoya Ittoki: Then why don't you search for her?! There's no one to stop you from loving her now!

Shining Saotome: Even now, I'm still looking for her, but there's only a slim chance that she's still alive. Fifteen years ago, she was in a plane crash…

Otoya Ittoki: Fifteen… years ago?

Otoya-kun whispers in shock.

Shining Saotome: There is some hope because her body was never found, but…

Shining Saotome: There's a very low chance she survived.

Otoya Ittoki: …

Shining Saotome: Why didn't I choose her that time? If I chose her, maybe she would've never ended up in that accident.

Shining Saotome: I kept regretting and regretting, and I'm still regretting my decisions even now. 

Shining Saotome: I don't want you two to suffer like me. Love creates dreams, but dreams obstruct love.

Shining Saotome: If that's the case, then one shouldn't love in the first place. You might as well not allow love until the situation permits it. 

Shining Saotome: I thought that I should prohibit love to prevent any blunders caused by young naivety like what I did in the past. 

Shining Saotome: But instead, you two faced that hell head on.

Otoya Ittoki: Yeah, it was no big deal.

Shining Saotome: Foolish little boy! But anyway, you did well.

Shining Saotome: No matter what trials I put you through, you defeated them all! … So that's why I wanted to gamble on you. 

Shining Saotome: If I had the guts to attain both my dream and love, then the result may have been different.

Shining Saotome: I realized for the first time, seeing you two, that there aren't just two choices–there are actually three.

Shining Saotome: It's not about choosing your dream or love, it's about winning them both. That choice existed from the beginning.

Shining Saotome: If you manage to overcome all of that and achieve happiness, I'll take away the rule that forbids romance.

The principal grins. 

Haruka Nanami: Principal…

Otoya Ittoki: It's a promise, old man.

Shining Saotome: HA HA HA! You better keep your promise!

Ah, he's back. It's the usual principal again.

Shining Saotome: AND this is a farewell gift from me!

The principal gives us an envelope.

Otoya Ittoki: What's this?

Shining Saotome: HA HA HA! It's a travel ticket!

Haruka Nanami: Travel…?

Shining Saotome: Once spring vacation is over, you're going to go on production.

Shining Saotome: Once you're a professional, you'll be too busy to go on trips. So…

Shining Saotome: You should enjoy your spring vacation while it lasts!

Haruka Nanami: Thank you!

Otoya Ittoki: Thanks, old man!

Shining Saotome: HA HA HA~! It's the springtime of life!

Shining Saotome: I think you two will be able to achieve the dream that I couldn't.

Shining Saotome: Achieve happiness and take hold of your dreams and your love! Understand?!

Otoya Ittoki: Yeah!

Haruka Nanami: Yes!

We depart for our trip the day after graduation.

In the early morning, the train is empty. There's no one in the car but us.

Otoya Ittoki: This train is so nostalgic!

Haruka Nanami: Ah, that time… You really saved me that morning before the entrance ceremony. Thank you very much!

Haruka Nanami: If you didn't save me then, I have no idea what would've happened…

Otoya Ittoki: I was so worried about you because you were acting strangely. I didn't imagine you were going through that.

Haruka Nanami: … But that was how we met.

Otoya Ittoki: No, that's not how we met.

Haruka Nanami: Huh…?

When did we first meet then?

Otoya Ittoki: Ohh, you probably don't know this, but I met you during the entrance exam.

Haruka Nanami: The entrance exam?

Hmm, I can't remember.

Otoya Ittoki: Yeah, it was a snowy day. I was so worried because I'm not that smart. I was about to give up.

Saotome Academy has a day for auditions for the practical exam, as well as a paper entrance exam.

I went to go take the exams but the snow piled up from the day before, so it was difficult to reach the exam site.

Otoya Ittoki: You were on the slope right in front of me, Haruka. You were clumsy back then, too!

Otoya Ittoki: You tripped on the snow and slipped back down the slope, but you weren't discouraged.

Otoya Ittoki: You kept trying and trying. Every time you took a step, you would trip on the snow and slip back down, and yet you still kept attempting to climb the snowy path.

S-so he saw me that time… I remember now that I kept sliding back over and over, and would end up stuck in the snow. 

I finally arrived at the Saotome Academy after a great struggle, but… Wow, I'm so embarrassed now!

Otoya Ittoki: I was inspired after watching you! Normally, I would go help immediately, but for some reason I kept watching.

Otoya Ittoki: As I cheered you on in my heart, you finally managed to make it up the slope by yourself.

Otoya Ittoki: I was so happy for you and felt so encouraged! Then that day, somehow, my worries cleared up and I managed to pass the test with flying colors! It's all thanks to you.

Otoya Ittoki: Usually, I'm completely hopeless with tests, but that time, I felt enlightened!

Haruka Nanami: No, I didn't do anything… That's all you, Otoya-kun!

Otoya Ittoki: No, you did! If you weren't there, I probably would've failed. I'd always wanted to meet you again, and that day…

Otoya Ittoki: I saw you board the train wearing the Saotome Academy uniform. I kept watching you, wanting to talk to you, but then that guy started groping you.

Otoya Ittoki: That's when I thought I had to save you! After that, I was so glad to find out that you were in my class!

Otoya Ittoki: You even became my partner! I was so lucky!

Haruka Nanami: Is… that so?

Otoya Ittoki: Yeah, it's kind of an embarrassing story. I assumed you didn't know all of this, so I kept it a secret…

Otoya Ittoki: I think I fell in love with you the first moment I saw you. Of course, I love you even now!

He briefly pecks me on the cheek.

Haruka Nanami: U-um, we're on the train, so…

Otoya Ittoki: Yeah, I know. I wouldn't do this if there were people around, but… we're the only ones here!

Haruka Nanami: N-no, you can't. Someone might see us through the window… This is too embarrassing…

Otoya Ittoki: Ahhh! I want to hug you so bad! But… it's okay, I won't do that.

Otoya Ittoki: Once we reach our destination, I'll give you all the hugs, okay?

He cracks a smile.

"Okay"? What is he going to do to me once we arrive???

Otoya Ittoki: The sea at night is extraordinary… It blends into the sky, making it seem that it's part of the stars.

He whispers to himself as he gazes at the dark ocean.

Haruka Nanami: Yes, but… if I look at it too long, I become scared that my heart may be swallowed by the night…

Otoya Ittoki: I get it, but… the night doesn't last forever.

Otoya-kun gazes at me gently.

Otoya Ittoki: Dawn will cut through the darkness of the night and shine through. The heart is no different.

Otoya Ittoki: You light up my darkness and give me hope, Haruka.

He speaks to me in a melancholy, mature voice…

It's on the border of boy and man–as if teetering on the edge of adulthood.

Before me stands a youth with a mature expression. 

Haruka Nanami: I… I'm not a light at all. I'm weak and fearful…

Haruka Nanami: Even now, I'm a coward who's afraid of melting into the darkness…

Otoya-kun pulls me in by my shoulder.

Otoya Ittoki: I won't give you up to the darkness. If you're scared, I'll be your light…

He confidently reassures me and gently kisses me on the cheek.

His arm around my shoulder is warm–his touch alone comforts me.

I feel like as long as he's with me, there's nothing I'm afraid of.

Otoya Ittoki: If you're going to melt, melt into me…

He hugs me from behind, just like he did back in May… but his embrace is much stronger and warmer than that time.

Haruka Nanami: Ah…

Otoya Ittoki: I won't let you go. If we melt together, we'll become one of the stars in the night sky.

He whispers into my ear and buries his face into my shoulder.

Haruka Nanami: I believe one day you'll become a star… a famous star.

Haruka Nanami: You'll surely become a renowned star with your singing that is second to none.

Otoya Ittoki: Yeah… I'll become a star… I want you to be by my side when that time comes.

He grabs my shoulders and turns me towards him.

Otoya Ittoki: But… only you… only your music can make me shine, Haruka.

Enveloped in Otoya-kun's tenderness, I gently close my eyes.

He softly kisses my eyelids.

Otoya Ittoki: Don't close your eyes… Always look at me… Don't look at anything else.

Haruka Nanami: … Yes.

Otoya Ittoki: Only look at me from now on… Nn.

Haruka Nanami: Nn…

My heartbeat melts into the sound of the waves and plays a unique rhythm. The music is endlessly overflowing from my heart. 

Otoya-kun is the same. He sings into my ear as he embraces me.

I sing along with him. The warmth of his arms wrapped around me is comforting as well, but…

We are melting into the music, which feels so much better–a moment of time I'll cherish.

Otoya Ittoki: I feel so strange… Music keeps overflowing from me when I'm with you.

Otoya Ittoki: The best way for me to convey how much I love you is not through words or kisses, but with my singing, isn't it?

Haruka Nanami: Yes, I think so.

Otoya Ittoki: We're connected by song… by our music. Let's keep singing together forever, just the two of us.

Once we become professionals, we may not be able to spend such a peaceful time together anymore.

There are so many obstacles we have to overcome.

But I believe as long as we're together–as long as Otoya-kun is with me–we can solve anything!

I LOVE YOU!

Thank you for playing.

Fin.

[sionisjaune]

journalist lewis au (seb/lewis)

There's a new journalist in the press room. He raises his pen elegantly and waits for Tom Clarkson to call on him, and when it's his turn to speak, he announces his name but not who he's working for.

"For Sebastian," he says. "Are you aware that a one hour trip in a private jet accounts for two tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions? That's anywhere from five to fourteen times more pollution per passenger than flying commercial."

Seb is comfortable behind the drivers' podium, half-drunk on champagne and victory. He leans into the microphone.

"Ah, but you haven't seen my jet," he says. "There is free alcohol and if you ask nicely a very comfortable bed in the back."

"What's free if the cost is the air our children breathe?" the journalist says.

Seb fiddles with the damp collar of his racesuit. His skin is sticky underneath. He says, "I don't have children. Still in free practice." Everyone laughs.

-

"Who was that guy?" Seb jokes with Britta over dinner, a platter of pasta between them and the remains of a charcuterie board strewn to the side. He had a funny look--a torn-up denim jacket and a thick diamond stud in each ear, shoes that belong on a basketball court rather than the bland carpet in the press room.

Later, nearly passed out in his hotel room, Seb receives a link to a Wikipedia article from Britta.

Lewis Hamilton, twenty-six and hailing from Stevenage, a town Seb has never heard of, is a Pulitzer winning journalist.

Seb almost laughs, between the white walls of his hotel room. Journalism must really be dead if Hamilton is slumming it trackside. You can sell silly season rumours for petty cash, but there's nothing to bust wide open. If Hamilton is chasing a prize-winning story, he won't find it at a Grand Prix.

-

The next race, Hamilton is absent. Seb inquires about it later, and nobody knows because nobody cares. He takes the question to Britta, and she uses her superior intellect to furnish Seb with an answer. Lewis Hamilton has been banned from all Formula 1 media activities because he asks impertinent questions.

-

Hey. I got your number from a source I'd rather not reveal, but I was hoping you could help me get into the press conference Thursday.

A text from an unknown number floats to the top of Seb's notifications.

It's Lewis Hamilton by the way.

Seb texts back. Britta's going to have his balls.

I'll see what I can do.

-

It's years later. Domenicali hates Lewis, but Seb sneaks him into the paddock every weekend. Lewis wanders between the garages taking down names and politely requesting interviews.

Lewis is a deceptively vicious reporter. There's no off the record with him—his mind is a tape recorder, and he never forgets an incriminating detail.

Seb knows he’s working on something big. It’s terrifying.

-

They're in Seb's room, a glittery suite that overlooks the Marina Bay Ferris wheel, and Seb has to ask. He has to, because Lewis won't say anything, but he's been intimating that he has the kind of story that could raze the earth and topple grand, old institutions.

"If you love racing," Seb says, "then why do you attack it?" He doesn't say: I would give this rotten sport anything, no matter how morally compromising. He doesn't say: This is my life.

"Look at me," Lewis says. Seb does. Lewis is sitting on the edge of Seb's bed, and gentle, spidery crow's feet sprout from the corners of his eyes. "Do you think I ever had a shot to make it here? Did you know I was the fastest kid by a tenth at any track, and there wasn't a single manager who ever spoke to me and my dad?"

"It's hard," Seb says. "For myself, it was hard. If Michael hadn't championed me--"

"No," Lewis says, firmly. "I need you to understand that there wasn't a chance. Not for me, and not for the other kids like me, watching Senna race on TV and desperately wanting to be him. I'm doing this for those kids, Seb. You ever wonder why half the guys on the grid are so fucking accident-prone? It's because talent is only half of it. It's money and politics and brand recognition." Lewis is breathing hard. Seb drinks in the fervour bubbling out of Lewis like he's starving for it. "I'm going to tear this whole thing down and plaster the truth on every cover in New York."

Seb can't take it anymore. His body falls towards Lewis, and the kiss is messy, unplanned and unanticipated. Lewis pulls back wetly.

"That was inappropriate," Lewis says. He slides off the bed and collects his coat from the back of the chair. The braids that Lewis habitually tucks behind his ears have fallen forwards over his cheeks. He tucks them neatly again, and his hand hovers over the door handle.

"I thought you respected me more than that," Lewis says, all clipped English syllables. "Call my assistant if you have something I can use."

[fanficforge]

Kakashi The Bride Thief : Part 2

Rated: T

Warnings: Sexy Dress (?)

Pairing: Third Person Female Reader Insert

Notes: Part 1 found here!

Part 3 has been requested, read here!

The following morning was brought by a pounding at the door. When Kakashi opened it, his sleepy eyes were at its sleepiest. "Hm?"

A loud, gruff voice broke the peace. "Do you intend to marry my daughter?! Do you?! Because your meddling cost us everything!"

"What?"

_____ hurried to the door. "Papa calm down please!"

The man nearly had a heart attack at the sight of her before he directed his anger back to Kakashi. "You no good shinobi piece of shit! Sleeping with my daughter on the night of her marital passage!"

"He didn't do anything!" She tried to pacify but it helped little.

"Don't defend him! He's nothing but an arrogant bastard just like his father! He doesn't care about you or this village."

For Kakashi, time stopped. It... had been a long time since someone used his father as an insult against him and he felt his spirit suddenly drift back into that place of being five years old and seeing people spit curses to his father's grave. No one was there for him then, or... well, he didn't let anyone be.

Suddenly he came to at the sound of her heated voice.

"Do not speak ill about any Hatake and especially not in my presence!" Her eyes which had been sparkling last night were all flames now. "Forget my name until you apologize to him." She closed the door and tried to ignore the concerned look Kakashi was giving her.

He shook his head. "You shouldn't have done that. I'm used to-"

"Well I'm not. And I don't want to be."

His gaze softened ever so slightly. "Thank you."

~~~

It had been three days since Kakashi had ruined her "martial-passage" and he should have spoken to her at least after her father knelt on the floor to apologize to him, but he didn't. Kakashi didn't know why but he just felt himself naturally avoiding her whereas before, now that he thought of it, the opposite had been true.

Tonight though, he'd kinda forgotten it was Guy's birthday in all the madness but he was lucky that the man had the decency to exclaim it in one way or another throughout the day to remind him.

The party was held at Guy's favorite bar and Kakashi stepped inside, hoping to say "hi" and "bye" but that quickly became not the case the moment the burly man threw an arm around him. "Heeeeey rival."

Great. Guy had already started drinking. This was gonna be a while.

"Happy birthday Guy." Kakashi said.

"Ready for another challenge?" He grinned but Kakashi simply shrugged him off, literally. "Not tonight, thanks."

"What? Afraid I'll embarrass you in front of your girlfriend?" Guy grinned, wiggling his impossibly thick eyebrows.

Kakashi's usually stoic eye widened half a centimeter. Which was actually quite a lot for Kakashi. "Is _____ here?"

"Funny how you already know who I'm talking about." Guy said after downing another drink.

Kakashi turned around and saw _____ at the bar wearing a dangerously slinky dress. Her leg dangled out of the slit and out the side of the barstool, her back exposed down close to her butt. He couldn't even see her front yet and already he felt like he was going to have a heart attack.

What is wrong with me? Did I drink something bad?

Then he noticed the man next to her. Jiro.

"Yeah and that's when I realized that this whole tradition is so old fashioned. I mean, who needs it. Right baby?" Jiro said with a laugh. "Drink another shot for me will ya?" He said to her.

Seeing as she clearly didn't want to take the shot, Kakashi took the chance to casually order a drink at the bar and feign surprise when he noticed her. "Oh. Hi _____."

She blinked a few times like a flutter of butterflies before she smiled. "Kakashi! I haven't seen you in a bit. How are you?"

"Been fine, thanks." He said, then smoothly took the shot for her while Jiro was busy explaining his reasoning for the tenth time to someone else.

She giggled then leaned towards him, her body language absolutely directed all towards him. Her boobs were nicely squished together and her face was positively glowing.

Now that he saw how she looked from the front he suddenly felt like his own mask was suffocating him. He needed air. Now.

"I'll be right back." He said then walked out, leaving her with a tilted head of confusion.

Once outside away from any people he ripped his mask down so he could catch his breath. "Damn it. What's wrong with me?"

"Kakashi?"

Quick as a flash his mask was back on without a frame in-between for her to see him. The woman who took his breath away walked up to him. "Is everything alright?"

He kept ignoring that annoying drum of his heart. I want her. I want her as mine. Over and over again. But the shot he drank wasn't helping.

He hadn't responded for a while.

"You're breathing heavy." She said with concern then placed two fingers on his pulse on his neck. "And your heart's racing. Come on, let's go to my clinic and get you checked out." She tugged on his arm.

"No. I'm fine." He managed to say and he wanted to believe it himself. "Just leave me alone."

He didn't mean for it to come out so harsh but the words hit her all the same and he could see it on her face.

No. I'm better than who I was as a kid. Stop it.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean it like that. It's just, I don't want you fussing over nothing."

Her smile came back and he felt a little swell of pride from that. "But that's kind of my job." She chuckled, stepping closer.

He stepped back.

"Kakashi!"

"It's nothing."

"Mmhm. You've said the same with three broken ribs. Come here." She stepped forward, he stepped back.

She huffed and folded her arms under her chest. His eye darted where it oughtn't and he quickly reigned himself in again before she could notice. "Well, if you're fine then why don't you come back to the party? Save me from Jiro." She winked.

"Isn't he your husband again or something?"

She shrugged. "Doesn't mean I like him."

"Is there anyone you do like?"

What am I saying?

"Um..." He seemed to have stumped her then but finally she answered. "Maybe."

"You're not sure?"

"Well. I am but I don't know if he likes me too."

"I see."

It was quiet for a few moments but just as Kakashi was about to speak she interrupted. "And don't ask who it is."

"I-I wasn't." He stuttered with a shy laugh while he nervously soothed the back of his neck.

Since when do I do that?

Her eyes were dilated again. Did he do something she liked? She moved forward with a subtle smile and looked up at him. "Don't leave me there all alone."

"All alone? What about everyone else?"

"They can't replace you."

Their fingertips touched and he felt himself getting lightheaded again. "Well. That's true." He said, using arrogance to hide how shaky his hands wanted to be if he'd let them. "Just give me a moment."

She nodded then slipped away back into the party. Once she was gone he ripped his mask back down and breathed in the fresh air. "What kind of jutsu is this?" He wondered under his breath. His senses kicked in before she could poke her head out to see if he was really coming. Thus, he was ready, mask on, and hands in his pockets casually walking back into the party.

[just-an-enby-lemon]

✨️ 10 characthers, 10 fandoms, 10 tags ✨️

I was tagged by @nikosaurushex, thank you soo much, this was very fun : )

1. Alphonse Elric - Fullmetal Alchemist

Look at this baby!! He is such a good boi, he is the most inocent, sweet, giant baby boy to ever exist!! He deserves everything in this word and more. I love him soo much.

2. Akira Ono - Hi Score Girl

Another baby who deserves every good thing in the word. She chooses her game characthers based in wich one is less played with! She cares soo much about everyone. I really love her. Also I love how even though she doesn't speak she is still understood and very expressive and no one thinks less of her for it. Ono is the best.

3. Blitzen - Magnus Chase and The Gods Of Asgard || Riordanverse

To choose only one Riordanverse characther was really painfull. But if I didn't, I would had dedicated half of this thread to different riordanverse sagas. So instead I choose the one of my favorite characthers that does not recieve as much love as he should. Fashion Dwarf Dad is amazing!! We need to talk more about him. His sass, his criativity, how he never gave up, how loyal he is... I could compliment him forever. Even his mommy issues are great. I love him. Fashion Dwarf Dad is the best!

4. Clare Devlin - Derry Girls

I identify soo much with this anxiety ball, she cares about everything and everyone to the point of being a problem and I really want to hug this wee useless lesbian soo bad. She is my ficcional little sister and my favorite characther in a show where all characthers are amazing.

5. Sunny Baudelaire- A Series of Unfortunate Events (both bookerverse and seriesverse)

While it was hard to choose only one Snicketverse characther to put here my choice was made by too words: badass baby. Sunny is amazing, she is a force of nature and if she can already do soo much as literal infant I'm sure adult Sunny will just conquer the wolrd. This girl can do annything!! And I'll support anything she does.

6. Edward Nygma (Riddler) - Adam West Batman.

I promissed myself I would not put a Riddler in this list. It lasted like twenty seconds most. Ed is my problem child and I love him.

I choose Adam West Batman's Riddler because I'm also a Gorshin fan and I will hype this man acting anytime I get the chance. He is soo good.

(Since I promissed I would use only one Riddler, because otherwise this list would only be Riddlers, I will give Batman Unburied Riddler a small footnote here, because aaaaaaa reasons)

7. Frida - Hilda

Okay maybe is because I'm indecisive, but that was such a hard choice. I wanted to add a Hilda characther but they are all soo good. So I chose my girl Frida, cause she is great. I love all the episodes that focus on her and her jorney to became a Witch is very good.

8. Eda Clawthorne - The Owl House

I'm a very huuge Eda stan. I once got a chance to choose any fictional characther to do a college presentation (an psychological analysis) on and I choose Eda. She is great. I love her soo much. Chaotic Mon is the best.

9. Sakura Kinomoto - Cardcaptors Sakura

The ninith characther in this list was a complicated choice. TBH, this was my tenth choice, but I putted the ninith one at ten because they have no image.

So I had a lot of characthers and only one space. I swear I changed the characther like five times but in the end Sakura won. This anime was very important to me when I was little, all brazilian dubbed episodes of the first season in good quality were on YouTube at the time (and you could illigaly dowload the rest). This girl made me feel wonder in a way I can't describe, she still does. She makes my hearth warm.

10. Tamika Flyn - Welcome to Nightvale

I love everyone in Nightvale, all citzens of that weird little city and specially Cecil and the faceless old woman. But I choose Tamika because she was a child revolutionary, a monster slayer and a bookworm and she grow to be a concilwoman and to be there trying and suceeding in making a difference. Tamika is amazing and to listen to her grow was great and people should really talk more about Tamika!

No need to do the challenge, but here is my friendly fun tag: @sillymanwithocs, @lesbian-in-leather, @pharoahkittylover, @the-goodfellow-bard, @dreamerinasmallworld, @fatgumsupremacy, @selenophilenova, @decadentturkeycashroad, @sevenseasofthigh, @i-hate-liking-batman

[honeypwark]

[ Fan Favorite ]

↳ Sixteen era

↳ Lily becomes a member of Twice. JYP critiques and compliments her. She didn't practice a speech.

m.list

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧

(x)

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧

Lily stands with her hands behind her back. Despite winning the audience votes and being in Major for the final mission, she's still fairly certain she won't debut. With trainees like Nayeon and Dahyun in Minor, she doesn't hold out much hope for maintaining her position in Major.

The eliminated members, Momo, Chaeyeon, Eunsuh, and Jiwon, stand offstage. Standing alongside Lily in Major are Jihyo, Somi, Minyoung, Sana, Chaeyoung, and Mina. In Minor, Jeongyeon, Nayeon, Dahyun, Tzuyu, and Chaeryoung.

JYP announces Nayeon as the first member of Twice. Nayeon walks down the steps and makes her way to the center of the stage, unable to control her smile as she gives a short speech.

"Please open the envelope and announce who will be eliminated."

Nayeon shakily picks the first envelope and opens it slowly. Her expression drops as she reads the name and she closes the envelope. She sets it back on the table and swallows, eyes downtrodden.

She steps to the side but can't look up at the girls standing in Major as she speaks, "Please come out, Lily."

Lily breathes out and nods. That makes sense.

The audience's reaction upon hearing her name surprises her. It seems like the entire audience is shouting in protest as she walks down the steps and over to Nayeon. Nayeon opens her arms to her as she meets her on the center of the stage.

"I'm sorry," she mumbles in Lily's ear.

"It's okay, unnie," the younger girl assures her, "It's not your fault."

They break apart and face the audience.

"JYP, please make your comments," the MC says.

"Lily," JYP says.

Lily nods.

"In the first mission, you thoroughly surprised and impressed me," he says.

Lily smiles softly, remembering watching his reactions to her jokes.

"You proved you have the personality to be a star," he continues, "However, your Korean is what knocked you out of Major until the second to last mission. You have struggled with Korean throughout the show, which is to be expected as you have only lived in Korea for less than four months. You excel in dance and vocals but often fumble over Korean lyrics. Nonetheless, your Korean skills are impressive for someone who has had very limited time speaking it. Thank you for your hard work."

Lily bows and thanks JYP.

He continues on to compliment Nayeon. Nayeon and Lily switch sides of the stage and Lily feels a weight off her shoulders upon taking her place between Jeongyeon and Dahyun. At least she doesn't have to internally stress about being eliminated for too long.

The next switch is between Jeongyeon and Somi. Then, Dahyun and Minyoung. JYP denying any further lineup changes sets the seven members in stone: Jihyo, Nayeon, Jeongyeon, Dahyun, Sana, Chaeyoung, and Mina.

"But," JYP speaks over the shouts of excitement and protest from the audience, "The seven members will stay, but to complete Twice, I want to add three more members."

Lily furrows her brows at that. Who would he add? The seven confirmed members are a solid team, they're all exceptionally talented.

"One member is chosen purely by the audience and viewer votes," JYP says. "That member is Tzuyu."

After Tzuyu gives a speech, JYP announces the second of the three final members to be Momo, who JYP says the group needs because of her amazing performance and dance skills. Lily smiles and couldn't agree more. Momo has always been kind to Lily and helped her when she was lacking in dancing.

Momo is crying as she makes her way onstage, where she is greeted by the eight other members in a hug. The MC calls a commercial break after Momo speaks and JYP comments but before the announcement of the tenth and final member.

Lily does the math in her head. With the two new additions, Chaeryoung, Chaeyeon, Jiwon, and Eunsuh are the remaining candidates for the tenth member. Lily would have to guess that JYP would pick Chaeryoung.

The break ends and the nine members are lined up, back on the major side.

"The final member of Twice is someone that the team desperately needs," JYP says. "That person is Lily."

Lily looks up in shock.

Surprise paints her face, eyes wide and mouth slightly agape. She'd been so positive it wouldn't be her chosen, especially after being switched out of Major. She can't even seem to move her feet she's so in shock.

Somi pushes her forward gently and she slightly stumbles down the steps to walk to the center of the stage. The screams are deafening as she makes her way there. She'd been aware that she was a fan favorite but had figured her lacking in Korean would prohibit her from debuting, regardless.

Yet here she is, standing center stage and the audience screams for her, mind completely blank on what to say. Luckily, she doesn't have to worry about it as the MC speaks.

"The last member of Twice is Lily!" the MC says. "With this, ten members have made Twice. Please give a warm applause."

Without being asked to, the members start walking toward Lily as she stands stunned on center stage. Nayeon runs forward and wraps her arms around Lily.

"I'm so sorry, Lily! I took your place when I didn't even need to!"

"Unnie, it's okay," she says, too shocked to string more than a few Korean words together at a time.

The other eight members join Lily and Nayeon onstage.

"Lily, what are your thoughts on becoming a member of Twice?" the MC prompts.

"Uh," she says, mind drawing a blank on how to say anything in Korean. "I haven't- I didn't practice what to say if I was chosen, sorry."

The audience laughs.

Nayeon holds Lily's hand and squeezes it in support, "Um, okay. Thank you? Because I'm pretty sure the only reason I was chosen is because you guys like me, so thanks. Um, yeah. Thank you."

Lily keeps her reaction to being chosen short so she has less of a chance of messing up her words. The audience still cheers for her just as much.

The MC attempts to speak over the yelling, "This will be the team to debut."

Lily looks around her at the girls that have been chosen, still in shock. Jeongyeon, Chaeyoung, Dahyun, Mina, Sana, Nayeon, Tzuyu, Jihyo, and Momo are all lined up on either side of her.

"Please tell us why you chose Lily," the MC requests.

"Lily, your Korean is one of the only things that keeps you from being an almost perfect idol," JYP says. "Twice needs you. In every group you'd been in during the show, you've kept everyone's mood up. You are an energizer and mood maker and someone the audience has adored since the first episode. Even during the show, your Korean has improved tremendously. During this final mission, you truly sounded like a native Korean speaker."

Lily's face splits into a grin. The crowd cheers and aws.

"It would be a terrible mistake on my part not to let you debut in this group. I believe you will quickly become proficient in Korean with your dedication and work ethic. Congratulations."

Lily bows deeply, "I'll work hard!"

[evilpixiea]

Imagine a soulmate AU where your partners name is written on you. Bruce researched Clark Kent extensively when his name appears . Doesn't understand why his soulmate is supposed to be some shy country bumpkin. Disregards it and focuses on the mission. Clark is immensely disappointed that his sm is supposed to be a high society airhead.Still, he has a childlike faith in sm and tries to get assigned to galas where he can meet him. Maybe he worries about the strange injuries and scars on Bruce.

As a rule, I don’t like soulmate AUs. I don’t like destiny, I don’t like insta-love, I don’t like any of those tropes because they (for me) take away all the best parts out of a romantic story. There is no tension, no risk, and no sacrifice if everyone is made to match.

However, I kinda like this idea.

Perhaps it’s because Bruce said “sorry soulmate, I have bigger fish to fry” and decided not to seek Clark out in favour of becoming Batman. That suggests a level of agency and independence that is normally not present in destiny driven stories. It also suggests there is a chance soulmates might not end up together which gives us the all important ingredient; risk.

Without risk there is no reward. Or, more actuality when it comes to storytelling, the reward becomes a given which means there is no tension. Eg, if the there is nothing stopping the hero from getting what they want, and no danger of them losing what they want, then there is no story.

But there is a story here.

And if I was telling it, I would tell it like this…

Bruce’s signature appears on Clark’s forearm when he’s fourteen years old. At the time there was no internet, especially not in a small town in rural Kansas. He doesn’t know who Bruce Wayne was… he just knows he was the man he was destined to marry.

Around the same time Clark’s signature appears on Bruce, under his left arm, over his rib-cage. Unlike Clark Bruce has resources and uses them… and finds several Clark J. Kents scattered across the globe. It takes him longer than he would like to admit but he does eventually conclude that the man who’s name was on his body is the red faced farmboy who had won a ‘strangest looking pumpkin contest’ in the Kansas City Fair Day… news which had made headlines in his hometown, Smallville.

Bruce isn’t particularly pleased by this information but ultimately decides destiny marks aren’t important. After all, Alfred had never found his mate and being destined to be together hadn’t stopped his parents from being gunned down three days before their tenth anniversary. Whoever this Clark J. Kent was, Bruce was perfectly content never to know him.

Ten years later, Bruce is Batman and has recently reemerged after an extended absence from public life. He is also very quickly making a name for himself as a fairly vapid playboy. Clark is working to the Daily Planet and is both thrilled and horrified when he hears the news.

He’s spent the last five years contacting every Bruce Wayne on the planet but so far hadn’t found any who knew who he was when he told them his name. He couldn’t believe this Bruce was really the one made for him… but he can’t not know either.

He manages to convince Perry to let him cover a Wayne Foundation Gala and goes to Gotham, both wishing this was his Bruce he was about to meet… and wishing it wasn’t.

When he sees Bruce laughing and drunkenly flirting with the bartender he takes the opportunity to use his xray vision to scan his body through his clothes. Sure enough, there is his name, written down Bruce’s side.

But all around his name there are big black bruises and at one place it looked like he’d been stitched back together.

How would a rich socialite get so badly hurt? Had he been in an accident. No. There were scars as well. Some years old by the look of them.

Horrified, Clark approaches.

“Mr Wayne?”

“Yes?” Bruce’s eyes fall to the badge and then roll back into his head. “Oh God. No more reporters. Please, have mercy. I have answered so many questions today already.”

Clark thrusts his hand towards him. “My name’s Clark Kent.”

Bruce’s smile vanishes… as does his drunken demeanour. He looks at the ID badge again and this time takes a moment to read the name. “Ah. I see…”

“I think you know why I came.”

Bruce’s eyes move back up to look at him and then, all at once, becomes the drunken grinning playboy again. “To ask me where I bought my tie?”

“No. You’re my soulmate.”

Bruce’s concurrent looks of confusion, shock, and then pity were so convincing that if Clark hadn’t already seen his signature on the man’s side he would have been convinced.

“I am sorry Mr… eh… Kent. Bruce Wayne is a very common…”

“No! I know it’s you!” At first Clark is angry that this man - his soulmate - would lie to him… then he remembers the bruises. Perhaps Bruce is being abused by someone and is scared to talk to him? Why else would he lie to him like that?

He grabs him by the hand and pulls him through the party to a quiet corner away from the crowds. Bruce seems uncomfortable but doesn’t resist him.

“Look. I know it’s you. I know you’re mine…”

Bruce makes an unhappy sound but doesn’t otherwise protest.

“…I also know someone is hurting you. That’s okay. You don’t need to be afraid. I can help you.”

He’d expected Bruce to look confused or maybe relived. He hadn’t expected the look of anger and contempt that flashed across the man’s face. “And how do you know this?”

“I… well I saw my mark… and the bruises…”

The anger was brighter now, as was his contempt. “Where? Where did you see this?”

“Here. Just…” This was his soulmate, right? He could be honest with his soulmate. “I looked through your clothes.”

“You looked through…?” Bruce trails off as Clark opens the first two buttons of his shirt and shows him the Superman shield. The man’s eyes flash and the anger leaves to be replaced by a new look… calculating. Without saying a word Bruce looks back at his face and studies him.

Clark can see the moment when he recognised Superman.

“I can keep you safe,” he promises. “Whoever is hurting you…”

“That is my business.”

He’s stunned. “But… Bruce, we’re soulmates.”

“I am not interested in a soulmate, least of all one who looks at me naked before we’ve even met.”

“I’m sorry. It wasn’t about… that. I just wanted to make sure you were my Bruce.”

“I’m not.”

“Yes you…”

“No. I’m not your anything. Now get the hell out of my party, Superman.”

Clark’s hurt. More than hurt, he’s angry. He feels like he’s been betrayed by the person he’s been dreaming about and looking for for almost a decade. He leaves Gotham and writes a scathing article about the gala.

After a week he calms down, realises how intrusive he was, and writes Bruce a long apology letter. He is, after all, his soulmate. They have to figure this out somehow.

But Bruce never responds to him.

He manages to convince Perry to send him to another Wayne Foundation event only to find his name scratched off the door list.

He flies to the rooftops and decides to wait until Bruce leaves but is interrupted by Batman - holy shit that guy is real - who tells Clark to get out of his city.

Clark flies to the manor the next day but Bruce’s butler told him to leave even after Clark showed the man the name written across his forearm.

That’s when Clark gives up. Clearly Bruce wants nothing to do with him. Just because they had their names written on each other didn’t mean they would get a happy ending. Heck, lots of people never even found their soulmate.

In the following months he starts having a relationship with Lois only to have that fall apart when her soulmate shows up out of the blue having read her name in the newspaper. Clark had never felt so pettily jealous before than when he watched them kiss with wild excited passion in the middle of the office moments after showing each other their mate marks.

He starts spending more time as Superman and even starts doing missions with other heroes. Flash, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern and even Batman. In fact, as the months went on especially Batman. He wasn’t sure what it was but Batman was both incredibly secretive and incredibly… interested in him. It was nice to have someone who was interested in him even if it was probably just his powers (and weaknesses) Batman was interested in.

Truth be told, he was interested in Batman too. He was smart, incredibly skilled, and had a brutally dry sense of humour. He also had a laugh, a low rumbley sort of laugh, that might just be the most beautiful sound Clark had ever heard.

They become friends, in their own weird way. Then they became close friends. Then one day…

“Superman?”

“Hm? What’s up?”

“Do you know who I am?”

“As in your secret identity? No. But, wait, no. You don’t need to tell me. You don’t know my secret identity so it’s only fair…”

“You’re Clark J. Kent.”

Clark stares at him. “I… how did you…?”

“You told me.”

“I told you? When did I tell you? I don’t even introduce myself with my middle initial.”

“No, but you sign your name that way.”

“My signature. Where the hell did you see my sign…” he trails off… and realises who he’s speaking to. “Bruce?”

Batman pushes back his cowl. Doesn’t say a word.

“Oh… I… I didn’t… the bruises… it all…”

“You really didn’t know it was me?”

“No.”

“Then why were you spending so much time with me?”

“I don’t know. I suppose I… I just like… you.”