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notepadsandtealeaves · 3 years ago

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The Karasuno Boys || Love You Like I Do Former First Years Edition

MINORS/AGELESS BLOGS DO NOT INTERACT || 18+ ONLY ||

|| ao3 version | series m.list | hq tag | other m.lists | main blog ||

|| Characters: K. Tsukishima | S. Hinata | T. Yamaguchi | T. Kageyama

Can we just take a moment to appreciate the ways these boys love on you?

↠ Inspired in part by @screamin-abt-haikyuu’s post. I wrote something for Best Boy and the rest of the third years only to find that I had a lot of feelings about everyone else too and so here we are lol…

↠ Requested By: Literally no one, I just woke up with an urge lol… ↠ Reader Gender: Neutral ↠ Content Type: SFW that’s full of fluffy affection ((but my blog’s 18+ so if minors want to consume my sfw stuff while still respecting my wishes of them staying out of this space, they can head over to my AO3)) ↠ Chronology: Post time skip ↠ CWs/TWs: Lots of self-doubt and self-deprecation in Tsukki’s section from the man himself. Also some v. mild angst due to ghosting, but it all works out in the end, I promise! ↠ There are also mentions of past bullying and the lingering effects thereof in Yams’ section. ↠ Other than that we’ve got Hinata being a crackhead (affectionate), Kags being Kags (also affectionate), and also Yams being a hella supportive cutie that’s legit willing to fite for you (super-ultra affectionate). Also Kei Tsukishima is his own gd warning (begrudgingly affectionate) lmao… ↠ Also no betas—we die like grammatically incorrect men here. ↠ Total WC: ~11.9k

Alternative title: Relationship Origin Stories, or Tangents are a Girl’s Best Friend.

Second verse, same as the first.

We got more character analyses, with me looking into how you would even end up with half of these boys because chile. They’re difficult little beans that do not make loving (or writing) them easy. Tsukki’s esp. got outta hand since (based on what I’ve seen of him so far) the type of man I see him growing into isn’t all that easy to get close to. ((But still—it’s ten words past the 4k mark, like?? !!! I really need to learn some chill))

As stated in my previous installment, I’m anime only—halfway through season 4 now tho frankly I am still absolutely shook over the fact that season 3 was based around a singular game, how in the actual fuck… Anyways, what I’m trying to say is that if anyone’s OOC or anything’s inaccurate/not in line with canon that’s why.

Kei Tsukishima will always make sure that you feel smart. || WC: 4k~

Last warning for that self-doubt/self-deprecation, as well as the ghosting-induced angst that I mentioned.

((Also, I have, no lie, written one shots shorter than this HC, smh…))

↠ Potentially unpopular opinion time: You cannot pay this man to be unkind to his s/o.

↠ Don’t bother with trying to change my mind because I do not accept criticism.

↠ He may give everyone else a lot of shit, but you’re his baby, his love, his whole damn world. He honestly views you as a part of himself, so to pull you down in any way would be to hurt his own heart.

↠ Tbh that’s how he knew he was down bad, when he couldn’t bring himself to get at you, even when you would do things that made him want to put his head through a wall lmao.

↠ ((…character analysis/relationship origin story time? Character analysis/relationship origin story time.))

↠ Okay, so he’s not really the type for instant attraction, love at first sight type deals.

Like yes, he can find you physically attractive from jump, but that’s all it’ll be because finding someone aesthetically pleasing is a far cry from wanting to cultivate a romantic relationship with them.

With Kei, he has to be drawn to you on all levels before he will ever consider something more than a friendship. And heck, even just being friends with this man can be hard given how selective, not to mention distant, he can be.

I really do believe that his prickly disposition largely stems from the insecurities that he still harbors even as an adult. He’s a far cry from the boy he was back when he was attending Karasuno, but shit like that doesn’t just disappear overnight, yanno?

He’s still coming into his own as a man, and the process has been… messy to say the least, especially when it comes to relationships of any sort. He still has a tendency to feel inadequate, not least of all because of his less-than-stellar interpersonal skills.

↠ He’s v. self-aware about the areas in which he’s lacking.

He knows that his tendency to arrogance and antagonistic behavior lacks mass appeal, but at this point he’s been like this for so long that he honestly isn’t even sure who or what he’d be if he exorcised those parts of himself completely. What’s more it’s his most effective defense mechanism.

After all, the only way anyone or anything can ever really hurt you is if you allow ‘em access to your heart.

And his heart is a truly tender thing, with layers upon layers of snark and feigned disinterest keeping it well out reach of anything that would mar it.

On the surface it seems as if he doesn’t care about much of anything when in actuality he has a tendency to care too much and he knows it; this is why he doesn’t allow himself to become too involved with people/things, and certainly not attached them.

By his estimation, having to navigate the internal hellscape that’s always left behind whenever he’s inevitably let down isn’t at all worth anything that may be gained. A cynical outlook to be sure, but no one’s ever accused him of being anything other than a realist.

((…that shit with his brother really left its mark, huh?))

↠ There are only a handful of people who he can call friend in truth; dude’s got more ‘associates’ than anything, and tbh he could do without like 90% of those.

What’s more, the people within this already minuscule number are winnowed even further if you’re talking about those he trusts completely.

This wall that he has erected around himself also serves as a test of sorts, though very few are ever able to pass it, if they can even be bothered to try.

Most don’t care to look beyond the persona that he projects, and he thinks that to be fair enough, all things considered. If the tables were turned he’d hardly think such a stubborn, snarky individual to be worth the effort either.

And yet he cannot help but to hope that there’s somebody out there who’ll actually want to make the climb and push pass all of his various (and somewhat vicious) layers of defense until they’re able to see him in truth.

Since he’s gotten older he’s taken steps to try to make the journey less perilous, but by his own reckoning, there isn’t much about him to recommend as a friend let alone a partner.

And even with all the effort he’s put into toning down the more antagonistic qualities of his personality over the years, he still knows that he can be more abrasive than what most find palpable, but dammit he’s trying—what more can be asked of him?

↠ While he’s far from being the worst person he knows, he’s well aware of the fact that he’s not everybody’s cup of tea. This leads to an annoyingly contradicting dichotomy within him, where he wants people to want him, but when they show any interest in getting to know him he’s instantly suspicious of their motivations.

The inferiority complex that he’s still yet to shake never fails to rear its ugly head whenever someone tries to get close to him. Perceiving himself as he does, he always ends up assuming that the person has an ulterior motive.

Do they want what little prestige he can provide? Or maybe they’re using him to get to one of his more popular (and far better liked) teammates/friends? Do they want a tutor or a carpool buddy or something equally annoying? It has to be something along those lines because he just cannot see himself as having any worth outside of what he can potentially provide.

↠ So when you come along with your soft smiles and genuine interest and open hands, and seamlessly make a place for yourself in his life, well…

I wouldn’t call him shook per say as he’s more confused than anything. Yeah, confused, but with like a mildly hostile edge lol. He—as well as the observing world at large—cannot figure out why you stick around him.

In the beginning he questions you about this a lot; that you constantly give him non-answers doesn’t help matters.

It’s not as if you’re trying to be annoying (well most of the time, anyway), but rather because you honestly cannot say what it was that drew you to the towering blond in the first place.

Maybe it was the way he seemed to be perpetually smirking, like he was in on a joke that you were not yet privy to.

Or maybe it was the confidence that he exuded as he moved throughout his day, shoulders back and pretty face at once impassive and slightly putout, as if pursuing higher education were a chore that was forced upon him.

Though rarely heard the husk of his laugh or the more often seen judge-y arch of his brow were also alluring in their own ways, and thusly good candidates.

But there was also the flash of something solemn and aching that you’d sometimes see buried within the gold of his eyes. There and gone in the span of a blink, it called out to some part of you that ached similarly, steadily drawing you into his orbit until you were a part of it, ever circling around him like a newly captured satellite and forever changing the landscape of his personal sky.

↠ There’s just something about Kei Tsukishima—something beautiful and special and wonderful—that just does it for you. If you’re prone to romance you might say your connection is kismet, but never having been one given to fatalism he doesn’t view it this way at all.

At first you’re just a person that he made the mistake of acknowledging once and now he can’t seem to get rid of you. What’s really wild tho is that after a while he doesn’t want to get rid of you.

Initially he lets you stick around out of an admittedly malicious curiosity. If you think you’re gonna get something from him—be that help, clout, or one of his friend’s numbers—then you’re in for a very rude awakening.

But ofc you never ask for anything like that. In fact the only thing you ever seem to want from him is him. Just his time and company, and nothing more.

↠ Even when he’s at his prickliest you stick around, giving him as good as you get and never hesitating to tell him when he’s gone too far.

Verbal sparring quickly becomes a hallmark of your acquaintanceship and honestly he finds it refreshing. It’s so nice to be able to go back and forth with someone without them taking offense to the least little thing.

((You really do have to have some thick skin if you’re gonna be friends with this guy, imo; even when he likes you he’s still a smart-mouthed little shit, that’s just the way he’s built.))

No matter how much time you’ve spent together up to this point he still refuses to call you anything more than an acquaintance because you haven’t earned a more substantial title–

Yet.

He can definitely feel it looming on the horizon like some great and inescapable inevitability. Naturally he bucks against this, but with every day that passes and you’re still there he just… starts to accept it with a wary sort of resignation lmao. (Like boy. Just let someone care about you, ffs…)

↠ But even with all of your persistence and consistence of personality, and how well you get on because of it, he’s still waiting for the other shoe to drop.

He’s totally convinced that you’re just biding your time, but if you want to play the long game that’s more than fine by him. Tearing you down will be all the sweeter the closer you think you are to your ultimate goal.

He could, and probably should, be doing something better with his time, but the part of him that enjoys riling people up won’t allow for him to bow out of this silent battle. It’s a level of petty that he hasn’t engaged in in a long while (and one that he wishes he was beyond, honestly) but it’s also the only reasonable explanation.

Yeah, that has to be it because the alternative is him actually enjoying your company (the horror *rolls eyes hard*).

And Kei Tsukishima does not enjoy people’s company, he endures it–

–and yet you’re not proving to be nearly the burden you should.

↠ I picture Tsukki to be a very inward looking person, so the minute he actually acknowledges that there’s some sort of feelings there he takes the time to sit down and examines them.

He goes into things hoping—praying—that at most he’ll come out with a new friend and not a gd crush, but… lmfao.

Cue silent panicking because wtf, he did not ask for this and he cannot return it because he lost the goddamn receipt.

↠ Ngl, he ends up ghosting you hardcore in an attempt to purge you from his system. It’s a total communications blackout and a nearly perfect physical one too.

If you got classes together he’ll purposefully slip in at the last minute and take a seat as far away from you as possible, only to be the first one out the door when the professor dismisses you (and with those long ass legs of his ain’t no way you’re catching up lol).

He’ll completely tear his whole schedule apart just to stay away from you, and if it’s unavoidable he’ll just straight out ignore you.

It’s like you’re less than air to him, and if not for the annoyed (and mildly terrified) look he deigns to toss your way whenever you approach him you’ll actually think you’re invisible to him.

This goes on for the better part of a week before you finally give up on things altogether. He clearly doesn’t want you around, he won’t even so much as grunt in your general direction, let alone tell you what’s wrong, so as far as you can tell there’s no way to fix things.

His complete rejection cuts straight into the heart of you, but there’s nothing for it, it seems.

↠Ofc he notices your absence immediately—and how could he not, when the brightest object in his sky suddenly blinks out of existence?—but the relief he thought he’d feel is just as absent.

His feelings for you are scary and gangly and hard to manage, oftentimes leaving him mentally fatigued if he thinks on them too long (and he’s literally always thinking about them—about you), but not having you near hollows him out in a way that he never thought possible.

He soon realizes that the echoing ache that comes with the distinct lack of you in his day-to-day is a pain that he cannot bear indefinitely, but thanks to his actions he very well may have to.

But that’s just the cynic in him talking, he’s sure. You’re not so unforgiving of a person that you wouldn’t grant him a second chance, should he prove worthy of one, but… He’s never been great with these kinds of situations.

He wishes he could say that he doesn’t know what to do, but that’d be a boldfaced lie. He knows that he needs to apologize for being such a dick, to grovel at your feet and lay the whole of his heart bear and hope that even if you don’t return his feelings that you’ll at least understand them—understand him—and allow him a second chance at being a part of your life.

He doesn’t even care in what capacity you want him there, he just knows that he’s not whole when you’re not near.

↠ Unfortunately for him these revelations do little for him on their own.

Cue Hell Week 2: The Electric Boogaloo.

This poor, emotionally repressed boy is totally beside himself. Apologies aren’t really something he does as he’s always been more of the ‘acts of service’ type when it comes to such matters. He much prefers to gift the wronged party something that shows he’s sorry so that he doesn’t have to actually say it.

He’s not overly fond of admitting when he’s fucked up, but he knows that you deserve at least that much after the shit he pulled.

But at the same time he doesn’t know how to approach you, doesn’t even know if you want to hear what he has to say. You’ve dropped him just as completely as he’d done to you, and it makes him ache all the more to know that the inadequacy and pain that’s rolling around in chest and gut both has to be similar to what he made you feel back at the start of all of this—tho he’s sure that it was worse for you since you didn’t know why he’d done it–

And gdi he’s really fucked up, hasn’t he? Majorly so…

↠ About three days into this mess you start to notice the wear-and-tear, but much like him you don’t know if he’ll accept any sort of offerings of help.

But by the fifth day, when he’s looking so worn and broken with his dark circles and weary slouch and sad, sad eyes that makes you ache to see, you decide that you don’t really care.

You were friends once, would still be if you had your way, so you have to at least try. If he rejects you this time you vow to leave things along once and for all, but if not…

Thing’s will never be the way there were before, but if there’s even the slightest chance that you can make things better then you’re definitely gonna take it.

↠ You end up swinging by his place that night, and though he’s clearly surprised to see you he doesn’t hesitate to let you in. Taking a page from his book, you don’t bother with pleasantries, choosing instead to get right into things.

The conversation that follows is… messy to say the absolute least.

Lots of feelings, lots of angry outbursts because on his part he doesn’t know what to do with said feelings while you’re also still hurting as well, but eventually everything is dragged out into the open.

When you finally find out why he acted the way that he did you honestly want to slap him upside the head—probably would if he didn’t look like death warmed over at the moment.

A crush is not a valid reason to ghost someone like that, except it kinda is now that you better understand how he ticks.

He still isn’t sure if he can sustain a relationship with you at this point, but he would at least like to be a better friend to you, if you’re willing to give him a second chance, which you are.

↠ If you didn’t have romantic feelings for him before, you certainly will once he gets done lol. Dude starts unconsciously courting you, and it’s just so sweet?

He’s always got a drink waiting for you before your earliest class/shift/whatever it is that gets you up at such ungodly hours (which is hella weird since you know for a fact that he doesn’t have to be up for at least another hour himself), is always the first to offer you his jacket whenever you look the least bit cold, and he makes an effort to walk with you whenever he can (which is more often than his schedule really should allow for).

He texts you more, invites you to hang out whenever you’re both free, and is way nicer than you remember him being.

When you used to have your little back and forths before The Ghost-ening (he really hates when you call it that, but it’s also accurate so he doesn’t really think he has the right to ask you to stop lol) there was always a possibility of him going too far in the wrong direction, but now he seems to be taking special care to avoid prodding at any sensitive topics.

And when he feels the need to reprimand you he’s far more understanding than he would otherwise be.

Ofc none of this is to say that he doesn’t still get at you because, well, it’s Tsukki, but where his words always used to have a slight edge to them before, now they’re more teasing than anything—one could even call it flirty.

It’s a big departure from his usual M.O., but you can’t say you’re opposed.

↠ The pair of you are basically dating without dating for months, and when you jokingly point this out to him he just kinda shrugs and says that you should probably go ahead and make it official. He doesn’t like the way the barista at your usual haunt keeps eyeing you anyway.

You’re actually at said café on this fateful day, and the barista in question just so happens to be working which is really fortunate–

For Kei, that is.

He makes direct, piercing eye contact with this poor, unfortunate soul as he stakes his claim with kisses pressed from your palm to your wrist, flashing them his signature smirk-n-brow quirk combo when he finally pulls away.

The whole scene leaves you rolling your eyes even as you feel your skin heating from how flustered the sudden display of affection has left you.

He’s so petty, and when you tell him as much he doesn’t even try to deny it because “–you kinda love me for it, yeah?”

↠ ((Annnnnd—end scene lmao))

↠ Despite what his demeanor would lead one to think, the boy’s ‘bout as whipped as a meringue. What’s more he’s low-key proud of it.

And why shouldn’t he be? He’s got an amazing partner and you in turn have him—you’ve both scored big, and the haters can die jealous lol.

Besides, you’re just as wrapped around his finger as he is yours, so it’s not as if loving you has left him at a deficit; if anything you’ve improved both him and his life in ways that he didn’t even know he needed.

↠ God help anyone who has anything to say about your relationship, his resulting drastic shift in personality (that’s you-specific, naturally), or oh dear lord—you.

Generally prying/teasing comments will garner one of his usual cuttingly snarky replies, but if they bring you specifically into the mix…

He’s p. sure that you can’t actually murder someone with your words, but there’s a first time for everything and he’s certainly not above trying lmao.

But this is all only tangentially related so let’s move on. ((she says as if the last 3.4k+ words weren’t a big ass digression))

↠ When he’s dealing with you he transforms all of the insults that he would usually dole out into compliments. But this isn’t to say that he’s the type to praise you endlessly like Sho or Noya; he’s more like Kags in that he just states things as facts.

You’d be wise to never voice that particular observation tho—him being like Kageyama, that is—unless you like dealing with nearly 6 and a half feet of pouty blocker.

He’s not nearly so lanky as he was back in high school, and he’ll use the whole of his new bulk to squish you into an apology lmao.

But he is like his former teammate, at least in this small way, and he needs to accept it. Like Kags he’ll just say things in a tone that brokers no argument, and if you didn’t believe it before you certainly will once he’s done with you.

And he’s a persistent fucker too, so if you insist on being stubborn he’ll go heads up with your insecurities and self-doubt until you finally see yourself the way he does—the way you always should have.

He’s got first-hand experience with lacking confidence, and he never wants to see his love hurting in any capacity, but especially that soul sucking way that low self-esteem has about itself.

↠ One of the things he’s esp. big on is making sure that you know just how smart you really are.

Intelligence comes in many forms, but sadly only the academic variant seems to get any consistent recognition and praise.

Yes, it’s v. cool and useful to be classically smart, and he most certainly adores you if you are, but he also appreciates the mastery of skills, hobbies, etc.

It doesn’t matter if you’re the second coming of Einstein, a literal pogchamp, or can speak flower fluently—he’s gonna make sure that you and the world as a whole know how adept you are.

That said he’s not really the type to brag on you to per se as he prefers to let your accomplishments speak for themselves majority of the time. Like he’ll make mention of it then leave others to fawn over you as well they should.

Still, if he thinks you’re not getting your due, or worst yet—someone’s trying to take credit for you hard work—he’ll rectify that ish with the quickness.

“Really? That was your doing? Hm. You hardly seem capable of such a thing, to be completely honest. My sweetheart, on the other hand, could accomplish that easily. Already has, actually. In fact this feat that you’re trying to take credit for—yeah, that was all them. It’s pretty sad, if you ask me, leeching off of other people’s hard work like that, but I suppose that somebody as sorry as you would never get any recognition otherwise.”

↠ All said with that little smirk that leaves the masses wanting to pop him one (not that they’d ever be foolish enough to try because look at him—stature aside, you know how dead his eyes can get lol—and you wanting to kiss him stupid. I swear, it really isn’t fair how well he wears the whole ‘cocky bastard’ look 😩

↠ Tsukki’s love… it just is. Like the air that flows through your lungs or the sun that warms your skin, it’s something so intrinsic to your life that once you’ve got it, you’ll never be able to imagine living without it.

Shoyo Hinata will always make sure that you feel motivated. || WC: ~2.4k

↠ Shoyo Hinata certainly lives up to his name because baby boy is actual human sunshine.

↠ …he’s also an unwitting agent for chaos, but we love him in spite of—or maybe even because of—it.

↠ But for all of his energy and occasional dumbassery, he’s quite observant, a thing that serves him well in many facets of his life.

He picks up the smallest details about a person and stores them away.

Everything from habits, likes and dislikes, hopes and fears, and all other manner of sundry—he just hordes these details away like a fucking secret squirrel.

And the weirdest part is that he doesn’t even know that he’s doing it, it’s all subconscious.

It can be a little… disconcerting to say the least.

Luckily for us all he uses his powers for good, always choosing to uplift others whether he actually knows them or not.

Even when he’s scolding people it still ends up being inspirational.

↠ And speaking of his habit of talking to random people because he apparently never grasped the concept of ‘stranger danger’–

↠ Dude’s a social butterfly, making friends with folk whether they want it or not, and more importantly maintaining said friendships.

I mean anyone who can count people like Kenma Kozume and Tobio Kageyama as close friends for as long as Hinata has really must be dedicated to the cause is all I’m saying lmao.

He takes every one of his relationships, be them platonic or romantic, v. seriously, always making sure to do his best by all parties involved.

Honestly that’s the reason the two of you have lasted this long.

↠ People always talk about Kageyama and his one-track mind for all things volleyball like Shoyo Hinata’s not right there with him.

This is the absolute mad lad that low-key abandoned his team in favor of infiltrating a training program that he was not invited to, all with the sole purpose of improving and widening his skill set.

And he cannot even say that he did this without a second thought because this little shit actually sat down and weighed the costs, albeit v. briefly, and ended up following a line of reasoning made no logical sense, imo, but… this is Hinata so that’s about par the course.

Aside from volleyball-related strategizing, he’s always been more of a ‘shoot first, ask questions later—maybe’ type.

↠ He throws himself headlong into things more often than not, and while it can seem like a rather reckless trait—because, well, in many cases it is—it’s also very admirable in a way, I think.

He’s not afraid of risk or failure, seeing both as things to be conquered; he doesn’t let anything keep him down for long, is always willing to dust himself off and go at things again and again and again until he finally finds a way through.

He also isn’t one to wait for life to happen for him. If there are no opportunities readily available to him he makes his own—thus him following Tsukki over to Shiratorizawa lmao.

He basically said “Fuck it, Imma do the thing”, because he believed that the potential reward was worth the risk, fallout and consequences be damned.

And that’s saying nothing of the fact that he would’ve followed Kags to the All-Japan YTC if he didn’t have to worry about potentially being arrested.

↠ Dude’s got the biggest himbo/crackhead energy and he’s not afraid to use it to further his goals—that’s it, that’s what I’m trying to establish here.

That dogged determination to always be the best is a double edge sword, but he’s learned to wield it with a deft precision over the years.

It’s one of the things that drew you to him, actually (because lbr, he wears ‘feral and driven’ damn well), and in the time since it has become an essential part of your relationship.

He loves the game, and no doubt about it, but he’s in love with you, so if he gives a hundred percent to volleyball then he can only ever do the same, if not better—always better—by you.

↠ He’s a natural hypeman who has a particular love for making his boo feel like they’re perpetually on top of the gd world, so he’s p. much gassing you up 24/7, and yet somehow it never feels fake or forced?

It’s such a big part of who he is as a person as well as your relationship’s dynamic that, I dunno—it just works.

Add to that his natural cataloging of people and it’s no surprise that he’s always the first person to know when your mood’s starting to deteriorate.

Even the smallest, most inconsequential change in your usual behavior will raise his antenna, which will in turn activate his ‘Cheer My Baby Up!!’ protocols lol.

Ofc he understands that some days you’re just not with it, and that’s okay! Not every day can be a great day, unfortunately, but dammit if he won’t try to make each one as good as possible for you both.

This usually comes in the form of him doing little things for you to make things easier, and lots of reminders of how much he adores, admires, and respects you.

Still, sometimes compliments and encouragement just don’t hit the way they should, this he knows. Sometimes life just takes it out of you, dulling the sparks in your eyes to mere glimmers that can barely be seen.

Whenever he notices that happening his reaction’s immediate, and a little… over the top, lbr.

↠ Inspiration’s flame going out? Oh his watch?? Oh hell to the no, we don’t do that here.

So congratulations, you now have your own personal cheerleader/motivational speaker lmao. Not that he wasn’t already filling those roles before, mind you, but now he’s going at it ten times as hard.

Idk how he does it, but he always manages to say the right thing at the right time. Stuff that would no doubt feel hella corny and-or disingenuous coming from someone else always sound perfect when it falls from his smiling lips.

And he’s always so sincere with it too. Like you know it’s not just empty flattery and fluff—he really does think you’re more than capable of accomplishing your tasks and reaching your goals, and if you want and-or need it, he’s definitely more than willing to help you every step of the way.

V. much the type to sit down with you and make a game plan if you’re feeling lost. As I said before, he’s generally more of a doer than a thinker, but as he’s gotten older he’s learned the value of at least having a general outline of what needs doing.

This is definitely something he learned from Suga, btw. In fact he’s picked up more than a few of the former VC’s more responsible habits…

…and some of his more questionable ones too (second coming of the memelord, gods help them all).

Grant it, if left to his own devices said plans will look like an actual game plan more befitting a locker room huddle, and that’s if you’re lucky. If you’re not think the Underpants Gnomes business model lol.

But! That’s why you’re here, yeah? I’m sure that between the two of you you’ll be able to come up with something a bit more comprehensive, and if not… Well you tried and therefore no one should criticize you.

↠ But if it’s just good ol’ fashion verbal motivation that you need then he’s most certainly got you!

He’ll remind you of how amazing/talented/brilliant you are at every turn, even going so far as to have a queue of encouraging texts scheduled and at the ready if he can’t be there to say it all to you in person for whatever reason.

((Such a good, precious baby, omg… ;n;))

↠ He has definitely recorded videos of him literally cheering you on.

In one such video he maaay or may not have been wearing an actual cheerleader uniform, complete with a cute lil pleated skirt that did an amazing job of highlighting how ridiculously shapely his legs are. He would’ve gone with the male variant, but that was all they had at the store, so yeah lmao.

((I very much believe that dude’s more than secure enough in his everything to rock a skirt if he so chooses, but anyway…))

He also maaay or may not have roped the other MSBY guys into his shenanigans as well—not that Bo or Tsumu really needed much convincing tbh lol. It’s any reason to make a scene with those two, plus neither of them were willing to concede the title of Best Legs* without a fight, so they definitely donned the uniform as well, and lucky you, you get to help judge them later.

…that was sarcasm, they’re all sensitive wittle cwybabies, it was nearly 30 solid minutes of hell lmao. God, they’re so embarrassing (affectionate).

Barnes, Thomas, and Inunaki didn’t put on the whole getup, but they did wave pom-poms as they said a few kind words. Meian gave you a thumbs-up and an enthusiastic “I know you can do it!”, and Sakusa…

Well when the camera panned to him he just stared blankly for a beat before telling you to “Do better.�� To this day you still aren’t sure if it was meant to be his brand of encouragement or if he was telling you to pick a better partner lmfao…

↠ But if words and vids just aren’t cutting it Shoyo isn’t above bribing you after a fashion.

Food and other various gifts can and will be provided upon completion of your task and not a moment sooner.

He maybe soft for you, but he doesn’t think that he could say with any truth that he loves you if he facilitates your slacking, so don’t expect him to bend on this.

And if that doesn’t work he’ll propose a little bet. Given his drive to win, everything and always, he sees these as being the ultimate of motivators, and with prizes like impromptu date nights, massages, and the like he’s not wrong.

Ofc these are all things that you get as often as your schedules will allow for, but still—it’s nice to have a light at the end of the tunnel, yanno?

↠ Regardless of what finally motivates you, he’s gonna give you the biggest, tightest hug ever once you’re done.

“See honey? You made it through just like I knew you would! I’m so proud of you!!”

↠ Said between a flurry of kisses being peppered over the whole of your face and neck.

↠ He’s gonna drown you in his affections, anchoring you in the tempest that his adoration with the weight of his love.

↠ And Sho’s love—well, it’s certainly a lot, but it’s never too much.

|| Bonus: *Concerning the title of Best Legs

↠ Kay, so, initially the three of them are content with just having their partners judge the impromptu contest, but someone (probably, no definitely Sakusa) makes a comment about how that won’t work.

At best it’ll end up as a draw, at worst an argument if someone’s s/o decides to vote for anyone but their man.

They all go full surprised Pikachu before realizing that that makes a lot of sense, actually.

Tho Sakusa had been hoping that’d be the end of things he was sadly mistaken, and when he looks back on it he’ll realize that what follows is p. much his fault. Like at least 70% his doing.

↠ They need more judges, and their teammates are right there.

Aside from their partners (and the people who run and-or follow those weirdly specific stan accounts), who else has really seen their legs up close? Who else knows what they’re capable of? Really, it’s only natural that the other guys get in on this.

Said teammates are too used to their particular brand of foolishness to be anything but amused, so they go along with it with little fuss.

What’s more they take their commission seriously as anything less will end with them being there far longer than what anyone would want lol.

↠ And so, with the judges’ panel now fully staffed, the boys get to work.

Tsumu already has the perfect catwalk playlist complied on Spotify, and literally nobody is surprised by this.

Cue them all strutting their stuff to the bass boosted beats. And they can’t just walk and pose like normal because that would be too much like right.

There are high kicks, bad attempts at twerking because why tf not, and a display of flexibility from Bokuto that leaves you questioning everything you thought you knew about human anatomy.

At one point they all form a can-can line and Sho almost hyper extends his leg when he tries to kick as high as his taller teammates.

There would be so much blackmail footage if these idiots had the least bit of shame, but ofc they don’t, so…

↠ There’s also a fair bit of arguing, naturally.

It starts off good-natured enough, but towards the end they legit start to get heated and that’s when the captain (who honestly should be getting hazard pay or at least overtime for this) calls for the vote.

With 13 people in total (because they really wanted to vote for themselves, ig) a tie shouldn’t be possible, but Sakusa recuses himself from this bit of foolishness fairly early on (way to cause a problem and then take away the solution there buddy lmfao).

This leaves poor Meian to be the deciding vote. Not wanting to deal with a pair of pouting idiots, he decides to make things even by voting for Atsumu (who’s beyond scandalized that he doesn’t have a sweeping victory; mans really thought that you and Bo’s s/o were gonna vote for him from the very start lmaooo).

P. much everyone knows why he does it, tho Tsumu will never admit to getting a pity vote, and god help anyone who ever mentions it—which is all of them at every given opportunity because literally none of them are scared of him lmao.

↠ What they don’t know, however, is that the good captain is positive that he has the best legs and ass out of the whole of the team and honestly? He ain’t wrong, lol…

Tadashi Yamaguchi will always make sure that you feel heard. || WC: 2.7k~

One last CW for talks of childhood bullying and the effects there of. It’s a common theme throughout the whole of the HC, but the bulk of it will be marked with a ‼ (2 in total) if you would rather skip it.

↠ To be perfectly honest, Tadashi’s one of those characters that I didn’t really think about all that much until this HC forced me to, and ya know what? I actually kinda like him a lot!

He’s just such a good lil bean—well when he isn’t being a little co-signing shit, anyways.

Suffice it to say I have a lot of Thoughts™ about the state of his and Tsukki’s relationship. Big, blonde meanie is corrupting my child with his snark lmao.

That, ofc, is overstatement. Tadashi is his own person, this I know, but it must be said that their dynamic isn’t always the healthiest; I don’t really fault either of them for that tho.

They’re both still young at the start of things, and they’ve each got their share of issues and are just looking to make it through.

As they get older and grow, both emotionally and mentally, I like to think that things stabilize into something more sustainable/healthy. It’s already started happening in-show actually.

I really think that little confrontation they had during the Tokyo Expedition Arc was a big turning point for them as individuals as well as friends, but that’s a HC for another day.

↠ All that said, his tendency to be follower really is his worst/most self-stifling trait.

I have to assume that since he goes on to be captain during his third year that he comes into his own after a fashion—in fact I’m already seeing shades of change in him on the show, and I’m living for it—but for a long time he relied on others to buoy him.

Again, nothing necessarily wrong with that when it’s done from time to time, but in his case it was far too great a factor in his life for some years there.

I think this is the real reason Tsukishima is always telling him to stop bragging on him. Aside from the fact that it probably does occasionally genuinely annoy/fluster him, he truly cares about his friend and wants him to not only recognize his own accomplishments, but to take pride in them.

But really that’s hard to do when people have been intent on beating you down (both figuratively and literally) from your youngest years.

‼ We all know how cruel and cunning kids can be. Bullies are always able to find the weakest link, and a sweet thing like Tadashi would’ve made for a prime target.

God only knows how long they were getting at him before Tsukki came along, but honestly the bulk of the damage had already been done by then.

All that ‘sticks and stones’ ish is pure and utter fuckery. Words do hurt, badly, especially when they’re aimed at the same tender spots time and again.

And while it’s easy to throw around even more empty platitudes about time’s effect on wounds, in reality that’s just more filler—a nicer way of telling a person to get over it ASAP so that the rest of the world doesn’t have to be inconvenienced by said person’s unprocessed trauma.

‼ Though it does in fact have the capacity to heal, the ever advancing force that is time can just as easily be a destructive one.

If things are left unchecked it’ll run roughshod over past hurts, allowing the poison left behind to spread throughout a person’s system and fester.

I believe that this is what happened with Tadashi. He internalized a lot of what was said about him and it settled heavy in his psyche, growing and metastasizing until there wasn’t much room left for things like self-confidence.

↠ But despite how helpless and useless he so often felt, there was a little flame in him that refused to be snuffed out completely.

I truly believe that being around Kei, aka someone who gives off such a strong ‘never had a fuck to give in the first place’ vibe helped to fan said flame. It certainly thickened his skin if nothing else, maybe even put a bit of steel in his spine.

After a while he was able to shrug off most people’s barbs, which isn’t to say that shit didn’t hurt, but at least he wasn’t holding it as close to his heart as before.

↠ But even without Tsukki’s influence he’d always been so much stronger than he ever knew. Even with as down as he would get on himself, he never gave up the fight completely.

Finally having someone at his back/by his side gave him the time and room he needed to find his footing, and once he did that persistent little flicker that he’d been harboring turned into something more substantial.

He stopped being content with being a spectator of his own damn life and stepped into the role of MC. He was still a timid little thing, sure, but he was determined to be more than what everyone said he was.

That’s what drove him to join his middle school’s VBC, and the rest is history as they say.

↠ He certainly seems to become a bit of a go-getter as the years go by.

Dude actually shows a surprising amount of initiative (i.e. his going to Shimada to learn how to float serve, giving Tsukki the business during the training camp, becoming captain, etc.) all things considered, and his determination is more than admirable.

He knows he may not be the most gifted member of the team, but he doesn’t let that stop him from wanting to stand out and do his own thing. He’s always doing his best and giving it his all, and that’s just so *chef’s kiss* Great, awesome, excellent, we love to see it, truly.

I can definitely see that determination as being a major draw for his partner as all that passion and drive is kinda very much so hot, yeah? Especially when put up against his usual sweet and cheery persona, like… That contrast is everything, tbh.

((There’s just something about Soft Boys™ getting that slightly feral gleam in their eye as they come all the way outta pocket and go in hard—stop it, for once I don’t mean it like that ya heathens lmao—that just makes my brain short-circuit))

↠ The confidence that he has now as a young man is a hard earned thing, and it grows a bit more every day. And, much like him, it’s rather gentle in nature. He doesn’t feel the need to be brash or arrogant with it, he’s too grounded in himself for that.

That self-assurance translates over into your relationship as well. Despite what some may think, I don’t see him as being an insecure or jealous partner.

He’s not one for rushing into romantic relationships, so if you’re together the level of trust and respect is too high for that type of foolishness.

↠ That said, he’s not one to shy away from the limelight either.

You can see this at several points throughout S4 especially, with his constantly mentioning how he’d love to be interviewed/hoping that it’ll happen.

There used to be a time when massive amounts of attention would stress him out since it was hardly ever good attention, but once that balance starts to shift he actually finds that he doesn’t mind being a focal point—in fact he kinda likes it.

Admittedly it’s still a bit nerve-wracking, but at the same time he enjoys the rush, if that makes sense? It’s the same feeling he gets when he’s up to serve, that spike of endorphin-laced adrenaline that shoots through him at the whistle’s shrill cry.

And in the same way that he centers himself when he’s on the court, he finds his cool and does his thing when it’s time to speak. It certainly is something to see, esp. given how damn personable he naturally is.

He knows what it’s like to be made to feel awkward in your own skin so he always makes sure to put those around him at ease as best he can.

↠ ((…ya know, I always say that I don’t have a type but it seems as if I do, personality-wise anyways. Asahi, Daichi, Suga, and Tadashi all kinda have the same vibe when it comes to making sure that people feel comfortable, even if they go about facilitating that in different ways. But this is way off topic so let’s move on!))

↠ The man that he is now is leagues away from the timid boy that he once was. It has taken him so long to get to the point where he feels as if his voice actually has weight, and now that he’s arrived he’ll be damned if he allows anyone to take it away from him again in any capacity.

But even with as much as he’s grown he still remembers what it feels like to have your voice go ignored.

For so long nobody ever took him seriously, but then Tsukki came along and while their relationship certainly provided him with certain advantages, being heard wasn’t necessarily one of them.

Now this isn’t to say that it was his friend was purposefully stifling his voice, quite the opposite actually. Kei would often push him to stand up for himself, only stepping in when he saw that the other boy either wouldn’t, or the bullies weren’t taking the hint—both things that were far too common for far too long.

This eventually led to people hearing Tadashi after a fashion, but only because they were afraid of Tsukki’s not-so-silent wrath.

That’s demoralizing af, so it’s no surprise that after a while he got fed up and began to push back.

↠ As he’s gotten older he’s made sure that his voice carries its own weight.

He strives to be respected on his own merits, and wonder of wonders it’s actually happening!

He’s still low-key surprised, but really he shouldn’t be. All that drive and passion that I talked about earlier really shines through, garnering a certain level of respect and even admiration amongst his peers as well as outsiders.

↠ He’s more than willing to fight for you voice just as hard as he fought for his own—harder even, given the fact that he knows full well how difficult finding it can be.

The process he went through was a bit more brute force than what he would’ve liked which is why he makes double sure to be a lot more gentle with you.

Tadashi’s very big on encouragement. He’s always prompting you to speak up (figuratively as well as and literally if you’re a low talker like me lol) and speak out.

He’ll never allow for anyone—your cute little self included—to make you feel as if your voice lacks worth in any capacity, so expect heaps of verbal reassurance. He’s always telling you how much he loves hearing whatever it is you have to say, and always ready to hear more.

In that same vein he’s an excellent listener.

It doesn’t matter if you’re talking about something as heavy as your political beliefs or something as minor as why you prefer one brand of hand soap over another—your views and opinions will always be of great importance to him and he’s gonna make sure that you know it.

↠ I know I literally just said it in the last point, but Imma say it one more time for the people in the back: Tadashi Yamaguchi is the World’s Best Listener!

He will let you go on indefinitely about any topic, actively listening all the while. You won’t just get a bunch of filler words and noncommittal noises from this man, no sir; he asks questions, makes comments, adds on to what you say…

He will literally have whole ass conversations with you about the most random and-or mundane things that last for hours—like there are nights where y’all have legit talked until sunup and honestly would’ve kept going if your bodies allowed for it.

And if chatting the night away with your lover isn’t one of the best feelings in the world idk wft is.

And your rambling never bothers him, btw. Like never ever. It doesn’t matter what it is you’ve hyper-fixated on, he genuinely enjoys listening to you talk about literally anything and everything at any and all times.

↠ But there’s more to the process of finding one’s voice than just having those closest to you listening. There’s a whole wide world out there and Tadashi is gonna make sure that everyone in it hears what you have to say.

That said he absolutely will not stand for someone speaking over you. That shit pisses him off so bad because:

1. The audacity.

And 2. How dare you disregard his lovely partner like that??

Will legit be ready to throw hands, but that poise that I talked about before (as well as the fact that baby boy knows he’s not much of a fighter lol) will see him instead interrupting the offender with just as little regard as they’d shown you.

He can do nasty-nice real well, so he’ll make a comment about how they clearly must not have heard you speaking because they’d never be so rude as to speak over you otherwise, right?

He’ll give them a pointed look then as he waits for an apology—which if the person has any sense of decorum about themselves they’ll definitely give whether they actually want to or not—before turning his attention back to you with one of those heart-stopping smiles as he encourages you to continue.

↠ Things follow along the same line if someone tries to take credit for your idea/joke/etc.

Dude’s spent way too much time around Tsukishima because his response is almost identical to the blond’s, sass and all lmao.

He knows he should probably be more worried about potentially getting his ass beat, but this level of disrespect warrants him coming a bit more out of pocket, he thinks.

Luckily most people aren’t willing to risk jail time for bring fists to an argument, so he’s not been laid out yet, but if looks could kill he’d be donion rings lmao.

Or maybe not given the fact that he’s survived Daichi’s patented Look™, as well as glares from the likes of Kageyama and Tsukki.

↠ But back to you.

↠ If you’re more on the meek and mild side and have a hard time speaking up in front of others, he’ll still (gently) encourage you to try more often than not.

He knows how scary that can be tho, so he won’t push you too hard, but he also wants you to be at your best.

Even though talking to large groups (or small ones or even individuals) can be low-key terrifying, it’s something that you have to get used to to a certain degree, yanno?

But don’t worry because this precious boy will legit hold your hand through the whole thing if you want/need him to.

He does not care what people think, couldn’t care less about anything they have to say about it (which had better not be much unless they want to get verbally eviscerated because as I’ve established, I picture him as the type to get feral af when it comes to his s/o lmao).

However, if you’re ever in a headspace where you just cannot do the thing for whatever reason he’s more than willing to step up and speak for you. Definitely the type to order for you at a restaurant, talk to the customer service people, etc. Stuff like that has never really bothered him much, so it’s all good. But that’s only tangentially related, so let’s move on.

↠ Whenever you actually do push past yourself to say your piece he goes full-on heart eyes, like… He knows how far you’ve come/how much effort you’ve put into things and his heart is just so full it feels like its gonna burst–

“I knew you could do it, love! I’m so very proud of you, you did so good!!”

↠ I don’t see him as being super big on extreme levels of PDA, but you’re definitely gonna get the breath smooched out of you so long as it’s even remotely feasible/appropriate for him to do so. He’s just so full up on his affections for you in that moment and it’s all gotta go somewhere, ya know?

↠ And Tadashi’s affections—his love, for you and you alone—runs so much deeper than either of you will ever truly know if only because he’s yet to find its end.

Tobio Kageyama will always make sure that you feel confident. || WC: 2.7k~

↠ Kags is, as we all well know, a man of few words when it comes to most things.

If it’s something that’s actually able to capture his interest in full, however, he can and will go on about it for hours, deconstructing it down to its most minuscule parts and analyzing the hell out of it until he understands it in its entirety.

For nearly the whole of his life volleyball held the honor of being that which he was most passionate about, but then you happened to him.

And that’s how he describes it, btw. You happened to him—in the best, most beautiful way possible.

↠ Before you came along he wasn’t really one for romantic entanglements. But despite what some may think it was never a matter of him not wanting a relationship, quite the opposite actually.

His brusque mannerisms and intimidating appearance has always belied the soft heart that he keeps tucked well away from the outside world.

Only those closest to him have ever had the distinct pleasure and honor of seeing the well of love and care that he harbors, and even they don’t know its depths in full.

The few attempts at relationships he had prior to meeting you always ended in what he perceived to be a rather abrupt manner, but to his partners was a long time coming.

The common reason cited for their leaving was his continued emotional distance or his hectic schedule which often created led to a literal distancing—tho in most cases it was usually both.

↠ Now the former he could understand and even agree with. Even now he knows that he’s not the most… conventional partner, all things considered.

His bluntness can be overly abrasive at times—hell, communicating in general is a thing that he continues to struggle with to this day.

He still has problems with getting what’s in his head to come out of his mouth in a way that not only makes sense to other people, but doesn’t upset them in one way or another.

And discussing feelings, be them his own or those of others, always trips him up. He’s able to empathize, but knowing when and how to show his concern is something he’s yet to get a good grasp on.

His efforts are usually rather clumsy thanks to his stilted delivery. Most times he just defaults to an awkward back pat and a few generic words, a combination that leaves most recipients with the impression that he doesn’t actually care, but rather is just going through the motions.

↠ But he does care—so, so much—he just doesn’t know how to express it.

He’s so emotionally repressed, tho tbh I don’t really know why that is. Like… is there a canonical reason that comes up later in the series? Or is that just the way he’s wired?

Either way, he takes steps over the years to become a better communicator, and he had honestly thought that he was getting better at things, but three failed relationships say otherwise.

It really gets next to him because he’d been actually trying so damn hard to make things work. He wanted to be good to them, but it’s p. difficult to hold a relationship together when you don’t really know who you yourself are.

He was still so young then, still growing into and learning himself—a process that’s messy for even the most well-adjusted among us, never mind someone as stunted as Kageyama.

So yeah, he can totally understand the whole ‘cold and distant’ thing, because he knows that he came off that way more often than not, and it wasn’t always due to miscommunication.

He also knows that he can be an outright bastard when he wants to (and even when he doesn’t) so, yeah—fair enough.

↠ But as far as his schedule/work ethic’s concerned—well, he’d been v. clear about his personal hierarchy from the start of things, making sure that his partner always knew where they stood in relation to his goals and drive.

A calculated, and somewhat cold move, but no one could ever say that they went into things blind.

But just because he said it doesn’t mean that it was the move, yanno? Like you can’t just tell someone in so many words that they’ll never be at the top of your list of priorities and have it be okay.

Still, he did it and they went for it anyway, so…

But knowing something in theory and living it in practice are two different beasts, so it was really only ever a matter of time before things went south.

↠ In the end they were both at fault in a way; them for thinking that they could change Tobio and-or expecting him to be something he was not, and him for not being able to balance the professional with the personal.

What’s worse is that even after being made aware of this particular shortcoming he wasn’t entirely sure if he could, or if he even wanted to rectify his behavior.

After all, volleyball’s his first love, his dream, his passion, the sum total of his aspirations… His ultimate finish line has always been his being the greatest setter the game has ever seen and there’s little he won’t do or sacrifice to bring about that end.

↠ But despite the harshest of his feelings, he would’ve been lying if he said that each failed attempt didn’t chip away at him.

Tobio Kageyama has always been a man that does not suffer failure gracefully.

Had he been even just a year younger at the time of his last break-up he would have unloaded on them in a most explosive fashion—he certainly had the previous two times, and to call those break-ups messy or even volatile would be an extreme practice in understatement—but what little social grace he had managed to accumulate in the interim saw him internalizing everything instead.

For a good bit after that he gets pretty down on himself, so much so that he resigns himself to eternal bachelorhood. It’s not like he’ll ever be able to give a partner what they’ll want and certainly not what they’ll deserve or need anyway, so really his staying single is the fairest solution to all parties involved, or not involved as the case would be.

He carries on like this for the better part of a year, throwing himself into volleyball with even more vigor than before, working himself to the point of exhaustion day after day so that he won’t have time to think about all of his many emotional/romantic shortcomings.

Naturally it works after a fashion—his routine is lethal and oftentimes leaves him too wrecked to do much more than the bare necessities once he crawls home—but it’s little more than a holding pattern. He’s stuck dead center in his misery and he doesn’t have the first clue as to how to dig himself out.

↠ It isn’t until he has a talk with Ennoshita of all people that he starts to get into a better headspace.

His former captain just happens to run into Kags several years after the setter graduates and he instantly notices that something is off about the guy.

For as long as he’s known him there’s been v. little that can legitimately upset Kageyama that isn’t volleyball (or Hinata) related, and as far as he knows he was doing more than well in that department (with volleyball that is, tho his friendship with the hyperactive hitter is as strong as ever). That means that whatever it is that’s eating away at him has to be big.

It really bothers him, seeing the usually unflappable setter so out of sorts, so he does what any good friend would do and invites him to lunch.

He honestly isn’t actually expecting to get much of anything out of the younger man when he asks him what’s up, but…

The phrase ‘word vomit’ comes to mind.

Kags absolutely spews all of his worries and doubts onto Ennoshita, and to this day he cannot say what possessed him to do so. He hasn’t even told Hinata the full story and that dweeb’s not only his best friend, but nosy as all hell.

He had resolved to keep all of this to himself, and yet here he is, eyes stinging with barely contained tears as he tells the whole of his romantic life’s story to a guy that he hasn’t talked to in over five years.

The reply that he gets is surprisingly succinct when compared to the deluge he had released, and it hits him in a way that he isn’t expecting.

“It seems as if you need a perspective shift. None of this is… ideal but constantly focusing on everything you did wrong won’t get you anywhere. All you can really do now is learn from your mistakes. Take this as an opportunity to grow into the type of partner—the type of person—that you want to be and go from there.”

((Ugh, we love a king who’s not only good with his words, but also has common sense!!))

Ennoshita’s advice isn’t groundbreaking by any means, but Tobio finds a distinct sort of beauty amongst the simplicity. What’s more it’s a concept that he’s already familiar with, tho he hadn’t thought to apply it outside of the court.

After all, a failure is only a failure in truth if you refuse to learn from it.

↠ So while all of those failed relationships may have taken their toll, they do help to make him into a better man in the long run—one that is ready, willing, and able to love you (and be loved) the way you both need and deserve.

↠ With you he’s found a happy medium, tho to those outside of your relationship it probably still looks skewed, but that’s only because it is.

You’re the first and only person he’s ever been willing to put before volleyball, but in turn you’re very careful to never take advantage of your privileged position. You understand and respect his drive, and that goes a long way in helping to facilitate your relationship’s success.

You give him leave to invest as much time as he needs into honing his craft, but the reason you feel comfortable in doing so is because you know that he’s determined to make you a priority.

Your date nights may not be as frequent as you’d like, but that’s because he’s always careful to plan them for days when he knows he can give you his undivided attention—and to date he’s yet to cancel a single one.

↠ But what your relationship lacks in quality time is more than made up for in a myriad of other ways, both little and big.

Kags has taken the time to learn you completely—from your favorite meal, to what songs never fail to get you to dancing, to the distinct way your sleep-laden body curls around him at night.

He takes all of this acquired knowledge and uses it to make your life as convenient as possible while he’s away.

You never run out of anything, ever. It just does not happen. Your groceries? Delivered just as you’re thinking about making a store run. Your car? Always gassed up.

Your Spotify and Steam accounts always stay topped up, you’ve got a grip of gift cards to your favorite spots, and you may or may not have a body pillow that he’s infused with his signature scent.

((Just imagine this precious bby spooning the fuck outta said pillow over the course of a week for, and I quote, “maximum scent infusion”, like akdjawnhfa… Boy. Stop being so damn cute, please.))

If he can do it for you he absolutely will. Several people have told him this makes him, at the very least, simp-adjacent, but–

↠ It is not humanly possible for him to give less of a fuck about what anyone has to say about your relationship lmao…

↠ Meaning as much as you do to him, he just doesn’t understand how you cannot always perceive just how amazing you truly are, like???

Have you met yourself?

You’re just so… you. That’s really the highest compliment he can give because as far as he’s concerned you’re everything.

He wouldn’t be nearly so taken with you if you were anything less than the beautiful, brilliant, wonderful, kind, patient, and loving person that you are.

He may not always know why you’re feeling a certain way, but he certainly senses the change. He’s very sensitive to your moods, and over time he gets better at not only reading them but responding accordingly.

…sadly this doesn’t really transfer to those outside of his core group, so yanno, RIP to like 99.99% of the human population lmao.

Don’t get me wrong, he’s always polite enough, but he’s still prone to miscommunications that often lead to misconceptions of him as a person. Outsiders still think him cold and single minded to the point of obsession, but he hasn’t been that type of person in years.

But I’m getting off track (as usual), so let’s refocus.

↠ If your confidence ever takes a hit for whatever reason expect him to rectify that ish in short order.

Looping back around back to what I said at the very start, Kags is prone to reticence when it comes to most things. The two biggest exceptions to this are you and volleyball, in that order.

Ngl, he kinda really does go full simp when he gets to talking about you to his friends/family. You know that low-key crackhead energy that he’d get when he and Hinata used to strategize together way back when? Yeah, it’s kinda like that, but he’s talking about how much he adores you instead of plays and shit.

He won’t even realize how animated he’s becoming, too focused on telling an anecdote about one of your recent endeavors. And it’s so weird for them to see him so jazzed, but it’s also really sweet and endearing and so very wholesome to witness.

But gods help them all if anyone dares to comment on it, be it teasing or not. He’s either gonna go nuclear or clam up, there is no in between.

“They really are amazing, the best thing that’s ever happened to me, really. I don’t know what I’d do without them and I hope I never have to find out.”

*Cue a chorus of aww’s that kinda makes him want to forcibly eject his soul from his body*

But despite his best efforts he’s never been able to achieve that so he settles for disassociating instead lmfao.

Has definitely threatened—and then promptly tried to—throat punch Tanaka when he was getting at him for mooning over you. The only thing that saved the former ace was Daichi’s swole ass and his quick reaction time.

Meanwhile the ex-captain is low-key regretting this little reunion, and given that this is the sixth fight he’s stopped between half as many people in less than an hour who can blame him?

And then, just when things have finally calmed some Suga says “That escalated quickly” and now everybody’s trying to keep Dai from strangling the man that is supposed to be his best friend lmao…

↠ But again, I digress.

↠ As happy as he is to sing your praises he’s not one to release a deluge of words when it comes to heavier matters like this. Rather he speaks frankly and with that absolute conviction that he has about himself.

He always sounds so damned assured as he reminds you of who you are simply because, as far as he’s concerned, he’s just spitting facts.

The words are delivered with such confidence that you’ll be hard pressed to argue with him, but if you’re insistent on being down on yourself then honey, you’ve got a big storm coming.

The intensity that he usually reserves for those on the opposite side of the net is turned on you, albeit it in the most loving way possible.

He will not rest until you’re full up on self-confidence and all the assurance that your frame can contain.

↠ Kageyama’s love is the reassurance of a calloused palm pressed flush against your own, one that you know will never fall away no matter what.

© notepadsandtealeaves, 2021 || Please do not repost, translate, or otherwise alter or distribute my works without my express permission. And for the love of god keep it away from Youtube and TikTok lol…

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binniesthighs · 4 years ago

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hi hi cuties and thigh enthusiasts!! just about a day ago my lil blog full of hornies and changbin thirst reached 1,500 and i am just jaflkjasd :’) since then haha

ah ah this post is already so cheesy hehe but i wanted to say thank you so very much from the bottom of my heart for following me along with my journey with this blog! after having the hobby of writing for the greater part of my life, i’m so immensely thankful that i started this blog and hopefully took ya all on some of the crazy adventures i keep locked up in my head hehe

having this blog has been such a wonderful experience, from learning about myself as a writer, exploring the many, many hornies that i’ve got, and most of all, meeting all of the freakin’ fantastic individuals in this community! ~thank you to each and every one of you for being the sweetest, loveliest, most hilarious and welcoming people i could ever wish to meet and have the honor of getting to know and write for!~

to celebrate, i wanted to make a lil list n’ love letter to my lovely pals for ya to check out! there is fkn CRAZY talent on this list and i highly recommend that ya check out everyone and their masterlists!

to my moots~ GAH I LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH my whole experience here on smutblr has been made absolutely amazing by you all! GOSH hehe i am full of so much love for you all your brains are seggsy as hell and i’m always rooting for you!! thank you so much for being my friends <3

to my readers~ my loves, thank you, as a writer, to bee seen and heard fulfills every word i write and every lil idea i scribble down. wherever ya are in the world, thank you for taking the time to read my pieces and for sending me love. you are my reason!!

to my anons~ thank you my darlings for all of your kindness, screams in my inbox, every song rec, hard thought and word of encouragement. my lil anon family i love you and appreciate you all so much! thank you for reaching out to me and makin’ a lil home on my account! it means the world to me! <3

to my bunch of (ro)ses~ thank you so much for hyping me with each of my updates, for showing up in my notifs and being overall frickin’ angels! thank you so much for reading as always and i hope that ya like what’s to come!

~hehe i wanted to write ya all lil messages too! while they just scratch the surface, please know that i love ya all to the moon and back!! 🥰~

🌹Writers🌹

@aliceu ~ alice, hehe here’s to all the times that we would ramble about fantasy aus and bounce ideas off eachother, thank you so much for being my go-to and my muse at times! your works are literally magical my love!

@bearseungmin ~ hehe dawn i think that you might be one of my oldest moots on this list! ever since i started out here in this lil corner on the internet, you have been the most supportive, sweet individual there is to me and I can’t say thank you enough! i’m also like, highkey obsessed with everything you write hehehe

@binniesbrat ~ oh my gosh té , hehe lol i will bring this up over and over again bc i’m just so ah ah it makes me melt but fun fact hehe back when i was babybinniesthighs, té reached out to me, and made me felt like i belonged--i literally lysm! your hornies are fantastic my dear, we are so lucky to have you here!

@bruh-changbin ~ dear sky, while we’ve only talked a little in asks, i wanted to express how very dear you are to me! hehe when i update and you hype me up it literally makes my whole frickin’ day! you keep me going! not to mention that your writing is *chef’s kiss* teehee

@bubblelixie ~ ah! kc! we’ve also been moots for a good while, i think back when i was babybinniesthighs too! hehe your overwhelming love and support of me makes my heart frickin’ swell and seeing you in my notifs and my asks with hornies makes me feel so dang fuzzy! you are quite literally one of the most adorable cuties on here! your writing also just *knocks me out* OOF

@chaangbin ~ ours is quite the story dear hazel bean...meaning....i was like, the biggest, nerdiest fangirl of your work for quite some time and very very shy to tell you that it was me ahhhhh haha well here i am ooP your writing is so beautiful and human and immersive in so many ways! i’m crazy lucky to be moots and friends with ya! omg if i say more i will literally embarrass the heck out of myself hahahhaha

@decembermoonskz ~ beautiful izzy, you are such, and i mean such an inspiration to me. the way that you write is so gorgeous and i feel as if i’m in every scene. the way that you create worlds and place your readers in them is frickin’ insane! hehe i love obsessing with ya over chan any day and night! keep goin’!

@dom--minnie ~ len, when i think of comfort, i really think of you. the way that i feel so safe with ya is like, insane. even when we first started chattin’ i just knew that we had an amazin’ thing coming hehe. from horny rambles to literally just talkin’ bout life, i am absurdly lucky to have met you here! you literally deserve everything wonderful in life and i love ya so much!

@etherealeeknow ~ gah gen, my dear, the way that you checked up with me over my lil break just huhuhu thank you so much for being such a lovely and caring person towards me and everyone else whom you meet! you are so precious and i hope ya never forget that!

@fight-me-m8 ~ darling and sweet rosetta, FRICK literally when i think of you oh my gosh i get the fuzzies, i’m so happy that we met and that i was able to witness the beginnings of your account! you have so so much love to give and i will fight you and give you more love back. bb i’m so happy to have you as a moot!

@film-in-my-soul ~ alex! hehe while our friendship is still in the bb stages, i wanted to throw some love your way too!! i’m so hyped to write with you in the future and talk even more! i love how fast we clicked when we started talking about BLs AHA darlin’ you are so sweet and i can’t wait to get to know ya more!

@formidxble ~ kim oh my god, you are a frickin’ force. when you entered this community a lil bit ago, and then made it your own, sharing with us your beautiful brain and lovely kindness, i swear the world must’ve taken a breath or something LOL you always astonish me with your works and i’m literally so excited for what the future holds for you!

@hanflix ~ i think that i speak for so many of us here that rue, you are truly an inspiration. back when i was starting out and even now, reading your works feels like such a treat and i try to savor them all up! as a writer, i look up to you so much and as a wonderful, humble and hardworking person i look up to you as well!! thank you so much for welcoming me when i was babybinniesthighs ilsym!

@hongnanglen-arina ~ arina my fuckin’ love oh my god if i could fly to where you are i frickin’ would!! i really think that the universe did a lil somethin’ somethin’ allowing us to meet. i feel so comfortable with you talkin’ about anything and everything especially hornies they are fkn’ unbridled. i can’t count how many times you’ve made me topple with laugher at like 3am. i’m so happy to have you in my life!

@hyunsluvv ~ kathy istg you are one of the sweetest people i have had the pleasure of meeting on this lil corner of the internet! the care and love that you give to each of your anons, moots and in your work is truly astounding. i remember when you were just starting out i knew that big things were in store for you, and they still are! hehe

@imagineinnie ~ el, you are literally an angel if i have ever met one. it means the whole world to me when i see your dms, and the way that you check up on me and so many others goes to show the utter kindness and selflessness that you exhibit. cutie, thank you so much for always cheering me on and being such a light in this community!!

@instachans ~ kenny, although we’ve just met, i’m already so excited for our friendship to come! you are such an angel and have so much love to give, i’m so thankful that you slide into my asks hehe the future holds such amazing things for you!

@itsapapisongo ~ javi, my dear, there’s just somethin’ about us that flows like frickin’ water. i feel like there’s the people that you meet in life that you kind of just click with, and i’m immensely grateful that i’ve met you. your love, support, hornies and lethal timing with gifs keeps me smiling. you are an astonishing writer and i feel so lucky to be here with you!

@jisungsplatforms ~ sweet ina hehe i’m so glad that ya slid into my asks the day that you did! your vibes are so sweet and peaceful and i feel as if you and your account are such a safe place! i love, love sharing hornies with you over our boys! there is so much ahead for you my dear and i can’t wait!!!

@mochinnie ~ omg i’ve totally said this before so many times, but i am so, so wowed by your work isa and they stick with me for like days after i read your pieces! i am so utterly inspired by you! i love your blog’s aesthetic and how you are always truthfully yourself i admire this so much! when i was starting out your works kept me goin’! thank you so much for this hehe

@mzmezzler ~ ryan you literally deserve the whole world! not to mention that you are doing god’s work writing sub!skz! sweets, each of your pieces are so wonderful and imaginative and your lil memes and thoughts are so cute! please always keep doing you!!

@ohmysparkle ~ sparkle: oh my gosh where can i start??? you are one fkn’ badass sparklin’ cat and my freakin’ role model. every day i am so astonished over how well spoken, wise, and reasonable you are while also being off the walls unapologetically yourself. my dear plz always shout with me about sub!hyunjin teehee

@seungmoomin ~ nia big sexy brain!! holy shit the fkn talent in this bus? astronomical! nia i am absoluately WEAK over your writings and highkey you as a person over all! i swear, your blog is a gold mine and your personality is so wonderful i can’t put it into words LOL there’s no one quite like you and i can’t even count how many times you’ve got me dying laughing here ily!!

@yourdaddychan ~ LUNA my queen of capitalization and screaming in dms, you add a spice to my life that i didn’t know was missing. talking to you in every format is fkn fantastic and lights up my day no matter how gloomy its been. i really feel like this is your world and i’m just livin’ in it LOL I LOVE YEW

🌹Readers🌹

@introjoonie ~ mai, this account would literally not be in existence if not for you, and it’s provided me with such happiness over these few months! thank you so much for encouraging me to let my hornies to the wind, and for listening to all my rambles about it since. thank you so much for being a lovely best friend, cheerleader and person. i’ll be seeing you soon!

@jeonglixie, @lechanters, @inlovewithasa, @pixxie-lixxie ~ my loves there is something so, so beautiful about each and every one of you, i cannot thank you enough for reading my works and for being so overwhelmingly supportive and kind with your feedback time and again. i’m so blessed to have such wonderful readers such as you! my time here on tumblr has been made by you and so many others of my unbelievably sweet readers!

@lovesfaith ~ ahh tumblr is being rude not letting me tag ya but sweets i just wanted to thank you so much for your kindness too! i adore talking with ya about astrology n’ just life and the way that you read me like a book is CRAZY haha thank you for being you Bambi!

@meow-minho ~ marine, every time that i see you on tumblr i am so thankful for your grace, and just lovely welcoming vibes. i am so thankful to have such a lovely person as you in my life and i can’t express how much me (and i’m sure so many other writers on here) appreciate your feedback. thank you so much!

@synnocence ~ wonderful cee, since first meeting you i feel like i’ve had the pleasure of getting to know such a wonderful human and equally amazin’ fellow bin stan! i can’t thank you enough for how much you’ve helped me grow my bin collection! dm-ing with you is always such a joy and you deserve the frickin’ world my friend!!

once again, thank you so much for poppin by and giving me a read, an ask, a dm or simply just sending bin pics my way hehe

i hope to write much more in the future and to lash out with all the hornies that i’ve got! i can’t wait to share more with you all! thank you so much for being my motivation, as well as seggsy ass cuties who i am so lucky to share this space with!!

have you thought about changbin’s thighs today yet? well...now you have 😉

#binniesthighs #uglycries #milestone hehe #Ro loves you so! much!#thank yo so much!!!

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bitletsanddrabbles · 4 years ago

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Phyllis Baxter Doesn’t Give A Fuck, and That’s Marvelous!

I’ve mentioned a couple of times that I’m reading (well, have read by this point) “The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck.” No, I’m not censoring the title – the cover has a stylized ink blot where the U goes. It’s the only self help book I’ve ever read and the only one I’m ever likely to read because honestly? It’s really good. No, seriously. It’s not the smart ass nihilism you might expect from the title (in fact, it warns away from that). It’s just very down to Earth and grounding and it explains so much! Why there are wildly successful people who feel like failures! Why, no matter how much you avoid drama, you still aren’t happy! Where these mind sets came from!

….Why Phyllis Baxter is the most mentally healthy person in Downton Abbey!

No. No, really. The entire second half of the book, I had scenes from Downton going through my head, dominated by Raquel Cassidy and her freakishly beautiful eyes! (Seriously, how does anyone get eyes that pretty? Can not even!)

So since I haven’t done overly much character meta in awhile, let’s look at this a bit!

The main thing about Phyllis that stands out, that’s always stood out, that just stands out more and is easier to put into words having read the book* is that she takes responsibility for her life. The obvious example here is her insistence on owning her part in the jewelry heist rather than letting people foist the blame off on Peter Coyle, but it goes beyond that. That is something she takes responsibility for that is also her fault, but she manages, somehow, without a book telling her, to recognize that ‘responsibility’ and ‘fault’ are two difference concepts; that accepting responsibility is not the same as blaming herself; and to apply that to all aspects of her life. A better example is the Bateses getting their noses out of joint when Thomas summoned the police to talk to her. That was not her fault. The fact she was confused when she was told they wanted to talk to her should have made it pretty darn obvious to anyone that she hadn’t done the summoning. The Bateses missed that, or were just so rattled they overlooked it, or whatever, and got pissed. That was also not her fault. But it was still a thing that was happening to her, it was a part of her life, and she took responsibility for figuring out what to do about it, and she did a really good job. I mean, she could have just sat there insisting that it was Thomas’s fault for writing the letter and the Bateses’ fault for not trusting her or questioning things and that it wasn’t her fault, therefore they were responsible for fixing it. She didn’t. She sat down and solved the damn problem. The fact that life had left Thomas Barrow with a mental health level that can be reasonably classed as ‘stage four emotional cancer’ was likewise not her fault, but again, it was something she had to deal with. It was part of her life. She could easily have followed the lead of most the staff and simply let Thomas happen, but she’s way to responsible for that. She knows that’s not going to fix any problem for anyone, and she knows that while she can’t solve Thomas’s problems for him, he can’t solve them himself without a butt load of support.

She doesn’t give a fuck if the problem is her fault, she’s still going to deal with it!

Next point is that while she might tremble at the thought of public ridicule, she is not afraid of failure. Before we even meet her, she’s already failed all over the place. She failed to recognize Peter Coyle as a toxic pos. As a result, she failed at keeping her job. Once she got out of prison (which she actually seemed to succeed at, ironically), she failed at getting a new job until Thomas came along. She failed at making a deal with Thomas. She succeeded at getting out of the deal, but she failed at keeping Thomas’s trust. She failed at keeping Cora’s trust. She repeatedly failed at winning Thomas’s trust back. Heck, her aforementioned attempts to regain the trust of the Bateses failed! Not once did she let those failures stop her. Each time she took responsibility for her life and it’s problems and she tried again until, eventually, she succeeded. She won back Cora’s trust and got to keep her job. She needed Molesley’s help to repair relations with the Bateses, because you can’t always do everything yourself, but she managed. Eventually she managed to rebuild that bridge with Thomas that had been hit with napalm (before the invention of napalm! These guys are impressive!). She succeeds because she’s failed, learned from those failures, and is not afraid to fail again. It’s a straight up inspiration to anyone.

She doesn’t give a fuck if she fails, she’s gonna try anyway!

I can’t speak specifically to her core values, other than to say the seem to be pretty solid ones, because the specifics of those are very personal and very internal. She clearly values supporting people and has learned to value honesty, but that’s as far as we can go there. However, she’s also okay being average. That’s huge. She’s okay being not terribly special. She is special, of course, and she likes being appreciated, but the extremest need to be the best-and-most-loved or the worst-and-most-pitied is not her. She does not see simply living her life, known to a few close people, and then being forgotten after she dies as the ultimate failure. This frees her of most jealousy issues because she’s not focused on what she doesn’t have. It’s brilliant.

She doesn’t give a fuck if she’s special, she’s got a life to live!

(Thomas and Edith both fail spectacularly at this one, which isn’t surprising, considering their respective lives. I mean, if they were masters of this, I’d kinda be bashing their characterization as hyper unrealistic.)

And finally, while she has been repeatedly victimized she (like a lot of true victims who get help and get out), does not go in for what the book terms Victimhood Chic, that lovely entitled view that says everything that makes you unhappy is oppression and you have the moral right to be offended by it. She doesn’t make trouble so she can have the moral high ground for a few seconds. She doesn’t dogmatically insist that she’s right and everyone else is wrong. She allows others their circumstances and view points. She tries to understand those view points rather than just insisting that other people have to try and see hers. She allows herself to move on and find new, healthier relationships with new, less toxic people rather than holding the world up to the standard of Peter Coyle.

She doesn’t give a fuck about moral superiority, there are better emotional highs than being pissed off 24/7! Like sitting on the beach listening to that nice guy you work with tell you about the book he’s reading!

She’s still not perfect, of course. She has her flaws. Everyone does. She can still be timid and get herself into less than healthy relationships. But damned if she isn’t also a hell of a role model.

* Honestly a lot of what it told me is things I already knew, it just helped to clarify them, give clear ways to talk about them, and give some suggestions on how to combat them. Not ‘fix’ them – that is too easy a word and there are no easy solutions in this thing. Combat.

#downton abbey #phyllis baxter #character meta #self help #strong characters #mental health

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charmingyong · 4 years ago

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Make a Wish, Girl

Genre: genie!Taeyong x reader, angst, fluff

Warnings: swear words, suggestive near the end

Plot: After your life had fallen apart, you were blessed by an unexpected surprise. A genie who granted you three wishes.

Word count: 1.8k

A/N: Inspired by genie Taeyong in Make a Wish. Wrote this in one go, edited and posted without a second thought. I can’t let myself spend hours staring at this when I have bigger works that need my attention.

- ❀ -

You were sitting on the sofa of your apartment, hands linked with one another and feet tapping on the floor, eyes fixed on a box sitting on the coffee table in front of you. A box perfectly wrapped with golden gift wrap and ribbon tied in a beautiful bow.

It had been mysteriously there when you first walked out of your bedroom, never once touching it. You had weighed your options, whether to open it right then and there or call the police for investigation. The smarter move would have been the latter. But with the recent heartbreaking events in your life, it made sense to you to just take the risk and open it.

With a heavy heart full of curiosity, you got onto your knees, coming down to eye level with the box and tugged the ribbon gently. You could tell that the money put into the wrapping was no joke. When the bow had become undone, you carefully ripped the gift wrap. You noticed that the box came with a lid and so you lifted it, revealing white with diamond sparkle glitter tissue papers. One by one, you picked them out until you came across a golden magic lamp. A lamp that resembled to the genie lamp from Aladdin.

It was bizarre why such an item came in a gift box and was inside your home out of the blue.

You picked the lamp up, inspecting the classic vintage design of the magical oil lamp, wondering if it really was a genie lamp. There was only one way to know.

Clearing the coffee table with your arm, you let the remnants of the gift-wrapping fall to the ground and gently put down the lamp. With a deep breath in, you rubbed the lamp, your heartbeat picking up.

Poof!

Fog appeared in front of you, a silhouette in the midst of it. After the fog began to disappear, your jaw dropped to the ground. Before your eyes was the most beautiful, ethereal being that you had ever laid your eyes on.

He chuckled at your expression. "Girl, you might want to close your mouth before a fly goes in."

Dumbfounded, you did as he said. "Who are you?"

He smirked. "Who else do you think? I'm the one and only magnificent genie, Taeyong."

Taeyong... Nice name, you thought.

"Why are you here?" you asked him. You were surprised to have a genie delivered into your place without prior notice. And who on earth even broke in without you realizing?

"According to my sources, you need some healing, don't you?"

How the fuck did he know?

He laughed at your bewildered face. "It's a secret. But I can help you."

"How?"

He held up three fingers. "Make three wishes that you want to come true. I can make absolutely anything happen. You only have today before you never see me again."

Your breath hitched. Three wishes. Only today.

"Can you really make anything happen?" Hope built up in you as you knew right away two wishes to ask Taeyong.

He smiled a sincere one, sending butterflies to your stomach.

"Anything. Your wish is my command."

You wanted to get revenge on your boyfriend of two years, or should you say ex. He recently came clean to you, telling you that he fell in love with another girl. As much as you appreciated the truth, it wounded your heart that he hid it for three months.

You figured something was up but only thought it was his stressful work. His texts had become vague and straight to the point, no time for love exchanges. He refused to see you, always complaining that he had family gatherings, or his work was holding him back from having free time to spend with you. It pained you that you loved him without an ounce of doubt, and this was what he did to your trust. By cheating on you.

The breakup had taken a toll on your life. You weren't as bright and productive at work and so your boss fired you when you failed to meet the month-end deadlines. You felt pathetic. First your boyfriend broke up with you, and then your boss kicked you out of work.

But with a genie named Taeyong in front of you, your mind was set to make the stabbing pain stop in your heart and put your life back together.

“My first wish is to get revenge on my ex,” you said. You didn’t know how to though, and never thought about it before Taeyong showed up.

“Easy. I expected that.” He grabbed your hand and walked out of your place.

You walked down the street, your hand still in his. His bony hands felt surprisingly warm, making a faint blush rise up to your cheeks. He guided you to the nearest coffee shop, holding the door open for you to go in first.

Upon entering, your eyes immediately found your ex sitting at a table across a girl you assumed was his ‘new love,’ chatting happily without a care of what was happening outside of their bubble. It stung your heart bad to see him so happy with another girl like the way he first was with you.

You pulled yourself out of the miserable thoughts when Taeyong confidently walked through the shop, pulling you along. All the girls and boys in the vicinity stopped what they were doing and gawked at the drop-dead gorgeous being that they were blessed to see.

He stopped right beside the couple, eyeing your ex with a stoic expression. You wished you could figure out what was on Taeyong’s mind. Next, he shifted his gaze to the new girlfriend, giving her a dazzling smile. He let go of your hand and bent down to her eye level, crossing his arms on the table.

“Hey gorgeous,” Taeyong greeting softly at her.

Your ex finally noticed you and gave you a questioning look, but you didn’t respond. You had no idea what Taeyong was trying to accomplish from this. Heck, you didn’t even know how Taeyong knew where your ex was.

“H-Hi,” she stuttered, stunned by the existence of such a beautiful creature before her. And called her gorgeous. At this point everyone in the shop had their eyes on Taeyong, some swooning and some curious.

“Don’t you think you’re a lot more worth than how this one treated you?” he asked, nodding his head in your ex’s direction.

“W-What do you m-mean?”

“If I use the married life analogy... then like a mistress? It’s a shame, I must say,” he shook his head with feigned disappointment.

Something geared inside her. Anger. At your ex. You didn’t know if she felt this on her own or Taeyong had hypnotized her. And what she did next made you feel good.

She grabbed her iced drink, removed the lid, and splashed it on your ex, shocking him for her to have done such a humiliating action in public. You heard a collection of oh and wows from the audience, displeasure masking their faces at your ex.

“Don’t you dare call me again!” she screamed and stormed out.

“What the hell, dude!” Your ex faced Taeyong with fume coming out of his ears.

“He’s right!” Someone from the crowd spoke up. “How dare you cheat on your wife?”

Taeyong clarified. “Not wife, but girlfriend. And then he left Y/N crying alone.”

Woah, how did Taeyong know your name? You didn’t recall telling him. Oh right, he had his sources. But who the fuck were these sources?

“What the- You’re such an asshole!” Everyone in the shop began yelling profanities at your ex, cuing you and Taeyong to leave without anyone realizing.

He really was using magic.

After walking around the block out of the coffee shop’s view, he asked, “How do you feel?”

You had to admit. As much as your heart was still hurting, the commotion earlier made you feel a lot better. “Pretty good. He’s probably going to be scarred now.”

“He should be. This should teach him a lesson. Have him think a thousand times before looking at another girl,” he smirked.

“Thank you, Taeyong.”

“My pleasure, sweetheart.”

Your heart skipped a beat at the nickname.

“What’s your second wish?”

You had your second one ready. “My second wish is to get a job. I got fired from a desk job and I never really found any satisfaction from it either. It’d be fun to work somewhere... more creative.”

He cocked his head to the side. “Anywhere in particular?”

You hummed, thinking of an idea. “Maybe floral designing? I really love flowers.”

He smiled warmly at you. “Let’s go then.”

Taeyong had found you the job at the closest flower shop from your apartment. You were mind-blown at how he was able to fulfill your two wishes so fast, leaving you to think of what your last should be. You suggested heading back to your place while thinking of the third wish.

And then you thought of the perfect one. The one your heart needed the most at that moment.

“Taeyong, you said you can make any wish of mine come true, right?”

“Yes, sweetheart. Anything.”

“Then my third wish is to heal. Please help me stop feeling the pain in my heart. Everything that happened today is something I wouldn’t have ever done myself and I feel better about those things. But the pain is still there in my heart. Maybe I’m scared to fall in love. Before you leave, can you help me stop... hurting?”

It made him sad whenever he witnessed good people suffering, and he was willing to do anything to make them feel better. Make you feel better. “I’ll do everything in my power to heal you. Is there a specific way you have in mind, sweetheart?”

You did. The butterfly feelings still lingered inside you and you’d by lying if his beautiful features equipped with a warm personality didn’t burn something inside you. “My bedroom?” you asked quietly, worried what his reaction was going to be.

The biggest smile broke onto his face. “Like I said, your wish is my command.”

- ❀ -

“Okay, who’s next for Taeyong hyung?” Doyoung shouted from his workspace at his team.

Jaehyun raised his arm, looking at his monitor of another girl’s biodata. “Someone named Joy.”

#nct #taeyong #lee taeyong #nct taeyong #taeyong x reader #taeyong scenarios #taeyong imagines #taeyong oneshot #taeyong fluff #taeyong angst #taeyong fanfic #taeyong fanfiction #nct scenarios #nct imagines #charm

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zhowongli · 4 years ago

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hello! i started a new thread because the other one (+ this one) got really long, so sorry! but i guess this is my love letters to you guys because you’ve made my tumblr experience so, so much better && i’m grateful for all of you guys + all of my mutuals and followers!!

first of all, @himawari-senpaii thank you so so much for your kind words! meggi, i love your sunflower motif because it suits you so well! sunflowers make me smile whenever i see them, and it really brings me so much joy to see you on my dash/notifs. your tags are always so fun and sweet. thank you for tagging me in this 🥺

@animoozies connie, where do i even start? you were my very, very first tumblr mutual on this account! i’m so thankful you reached out to me before, and you’re still checking up on me even now. words can’t describe how much i adore you + how appreciative of you! when i see you on my dash with your stories, i always end up cackling because you’re so fun. idk how you do it working all those hours + going to nursing school, but you is a mf boss ass queen!!

@hoekaashi ash, my queen!! my tag for you is my day is blessed because ash ✨exists✨ because that’s honestly how i feel about you. i am truly blessed with your kindness, your humor, your friendship, you. thank you for always keeping me company through our struggles in pharmacy school! you are one of the realest people i know, and i feel so honored that you always send me random kenma pics & fics you think i’d like 🥺

@kanao annette, the other half of my soul, my whole heart, my literal soul sister. you are one of the biggest blessings i’ve received this year, and i honestly don’t know where i would be without you listening to my dumb shit and supporting me through all my mess LOL. thank you for validating me all the time, even if it’s just stupid stuff like enabling me to buy all the random stuff that i’ve been thinking about LMAO. i love how we are always ✨speaking✨ and ✨manifesting✨ good things in our futures together. i literally feel like i can talk about any and everything with you, and i love that about us 🥺 i am manifesting that beach vacation 2021 for us, okay!!! 💖

@sapphitedreams leo, my cutest menace in the kitchen 💖 thank you for reaching out to me when i was too shy to reach out to you uuuu. you’re such a chaotic calm in my life, and i love your energy. i am constantly in awe with how adorable, supportive, and creative you are! even though you bully me sometimes and only make things for characters’ birthdays, you are so so talented and it floors me every time i see your creations because they are so amazing idk how they’re real. i hope you are able to get some rest even if you have to work during your break (& i hope you don’t accidentally fall during work anymore smh HAHAH)!

@onefortyninecm danielle!! my love!! i know i mention this before, but i am always so so inspired by you. you’re so tiny, but you have such a big heart and soul. you’re so beautiful inside and out + your humor is god tier. i’m so glad you were the very first person i’ve ever commissioned from (& spiraled me into comissioning indulgent kenma art HAHAHA), and i’m still amazed by your talent and kindness every time you post something new omg. i still can’t believe you DREW ON YOUR PHONE what the heck!! you’re so talented it’s crazy HAHA. i’m always thinking fondly of you + dandy wedding in a pumpkin patch 2021, okay thanks.

@p-irozhki rissa!! i am so blessed with all the gifs you create and all your content on my dash! whenever i think of you, i think about all the smol icons you use because to me, you = cuteness = i wanna hug you so much!!! i think i already said it, but i’m always so thankful when you read all my self-indulgent fanfics and leave kind comments on them 😭 thank you for culturing me about mangoes HAHAHA. there’s never a bad time with you, and i’m thankful we got to meet this year!

@hoshino-a lena lena! you actually have so much bde that i am in constant awe by you. you are such a baddie & i have this like clear imagine in my head of you with crisp and clean vibes + the skies from your pfp on discord, hehe. i love you and all your brain rots about your exes. at this point, every time i see semi, my first thought is “ah it’s lena’s ex” and whenever i hear some sad song, i would be like “omg it’s lena ab her ex semi eita” LMFAOIOAGJDLA. i love talking to you because your energy is just immaculate + i just love your presence 💖 also please get some sleep because do you even sleep 😭

@myelocin nic!! you’ve painted my world in so many iridescent shade so life, i can’t even begin to describe how much you mean to me. you works are just so beautiful so imagine how much i shrieked when i saw you followed me LMFAOOADIGDALJ i love that your blog is your safe space because it has become a place of comfort for me as well (and i’m going to miss you so much when you leave 😭😭). your makki brain rot is so strong, and sometimes i think about makki and you making dinner and teasing each other and throwing flour at each other or something idk. this is nic’s world now and we are all living in it tbh.

@tsu-kiss nina!! you are someone i find such comfort in. i’m not really sure if that even makes sense LOL. but your blog and you are a source of comfort for me. in my head, you have such an older sister vibe even though i’m older than you LMAOOADGHDAKJ. i hope life is treating you well because you deserve all the best!! seeing you thrive makes my heart so full 🥺 i love you so much!!

@souheii lisa!! i kid you not, the first time you dropped an ask in my ask box, my heart skipped a beat because you told me you love me and i love you and you are so cute and i cri!!!! i know we don’t talk often, but every time i see you on my dash or in my notifs or when we do talk, it’s like a little shot of serotonin every time :”) thank you for being such a lovely human being mrs. iwaizumi hajime, 27, althetic trainer😭

@ultkags cas!! my first child 💖 i know you’re on a hiatus right now because school really, really sucks BUT you are seriously one of my biggest blessings. you are literally my ray of sunshine because every time i talk to you, i gain so much warmth and energy from you. every time i see your edits, it absolutely AMAZES me because i literally don’t know how i am able to see all your edits FOR FREE?? all your thoughts behind the composition and symbolism for each piece is CRAZY. please remember that i’m always your biggest fan + i love you so so much. please take care and remember to drink water and get some rest!! your grandma is always here to send you love + forehead kisses because this grandma can’t bake :(

@u-make-my-heart-tsumtsum ree!! hi, i know we’ve only started talking recently but i love how open and warm you are. our love was so strong that even tumblr tried to stop us 😭 conversations with you are always so easy and lovely, and you are just such a cool person!? i love reading all your thoughts (& i can’t wait to dive into your masterlist after school ends because we live for fluffy tsumu content 😭). i’m not sure why you even follow me, but i adore you so much!!

@neonghxst el, where do i even begin!! you are such a lovely person, and i literally have no other words to say because you always leave me speechless. your writing is so so gorgeous, and you are so so beautiful. i love reading all your stories because they truly leave an everlasting impact on me, and i love reading your interactions + just seeing you on my dash. you are so thoughtful, and you take care of everyone around you so well. i hope that you are also giving yourself the same treatment because you deserve all the best as well! remember to drink water in between your coffees and get some rest as you go into your final 2 weeks of the semester!!

@und3lla maliha! hi love! i know we haven’t spoken much or in a while, but i really do always think of you randomly. you were one of the first mutuals i made && you are such a sweet soul. i love how every time we talk, it really fills me up with happiness. thank you for just being such a lovely person && you truly are one of the softest people i’ve met. thank you <3

@deadontheinsidebut angel, my dumb ham, my queen, my hoe (heaven on earth), my everything. i know you are also on a semi-hiatus right now because everything that’s going on, but i hope you are properly taking care of yourself >:( i’m always here to remind you to drink some water in between your coffees and teas and to GET SOME REST. you are so so driven, and i really admire how open and friendly you are. you truly are your namesake because you are literally an angel, and i always feel so blessed to be in your presence (even if you bully me sometimes for being a boomer 😔). words can’t describe how much i love you and care about you && i hope that you are able to find what you’re looking for during your break! 💖

@rumprich ananya! hello! i am so thankful to see you and all your content on my dash. you have so much creativity, and all your edits are so aesthetically pleasing to look at? like it’s so light + pretty!! i’m so so grateful that we are mutuals somehow because ahhh i really don’t deserve you. you are so adorable, and i truly am blessed to see your presence!

@yuki-souma vee! i know we only started talking very very recently, but you are so much fun to talk to! i love how diverse our conversations are, and i love that we have similar favorites, and even when we don’t, it’s always a fun conversation that i look forward to! i love how open and inviting you are, and i’m really grateful that we are mutuals + i love and appreciate you so so much!

@owlywrites owly! hello! you are seriously one of the most supportive souls i’ve met on this website. your kindness and drive to learn always leaves me speechless because you’re so amazing. thank you for being so kind to me, and i hope you extend that same kindness to yourself! don’t be so hard on yourself and remember to take breaks and take care too. you are such a beautiful soul, and i hope you’ll remember that i’m always here to support you!!

@graphicstills-in-motion hi arianne! thank you so so much for always being so kind to me. i don’t know what i did in life to deserve you, but i must have done something right to have someone so kind like you in my life! thank you for being such a sweet soul + always boosting everyone around you up. your kindness is definitely contagious! i love seeing your edits and reading our conversations because there are always so many thoughts put in. thank you <3

@applepienation justine! thank you so much for always checking in on me whenever i post random shit on my dash. i really do appreciate you and all that you do for not just me, but also for everyone around you. you are such a ray of sunshine, and i’m so thankful that you’re in my life! i know uni is crazy for you right now, but i hope you’re still taking time to take care of yourself! sending you lots of love and positive energy!!

@touyax drake! hi love. i absolutely LIVE for your tags LMAOOADJGALD. they are literally my thoughts but you just typed them out HAHAH. i’m so thankful that i get to see your beautiful content on my dash, and i’m always in awe by all your edits! thank you for always being such a fun person + never leaving me feeling like a fool whenever i post ask games LOL. i love and appreciate you so much! 💖

@kagehjna ilayda! my kagehina supplier 🥺🥺 i love seeing your presence on my dash because you truly post all the best things! you are such a lovely person + i love reading your tags HAHA. you are truly a joy and we will definitely have matching kagehina icons one day okay 😭😭 12/7 is finally here/coming SO I AM SO EXCITED FOR YOU!!! thank you for always blessing me <3

@sadaharus hi mei! you are literally the definition of softness to me. all your content and edits are just so soft and beautiful, and i love seeing everything you post. you are my main gintama supplier HAHA. i really appreciate how kind you are + how you’re always so sweet to me. 🥺 i know it’s kinda funny how i started following you because of a random ask game, but i’m so so glad i did because i always feel so thankful you’re here!

@fake-charliebrown charlie! my little sprout babie!! i have so much admiration for you because you have so so much talent! your style is so distinctive, and i love that!! it’s so soft + vibey, and i’m honestly so so amazed by it all. not to mention, you have the best haikyuu thoughts! thank you for sharing all of that with me! i’m thankful for you, thank you <3

@itachihaa ay! my froggy princess 🥺 thank you for always being so kind to me + having the patience to deal with how slow i am to responding!! i’m really appreciative of you always because you make/have so much beautiful content and you are so so sweet as well!? and the way you call me miss starlight 🥺 that makes me so soft like!! uuu i love you.

@stardust-make-a-wish star! you are so so adorable!! i LOVE reading your tags because they make me feel so fuzzy and soft but also relatable HAHA. your presence is such a joy + thank you for always interacting with me even though i just spam random stuff LMAO. i love how thoughtful your answers are + how much you love cake/sweets (very suiting because you are so sweet 🥺). thank you for being interested in me even though i am the one asking you questions!

@karasu-hoes daisy! hello! i have so much admiration for you because you have so much creativity and kindness! like your events are so cool and unique + your writing is so beautiful! i love reading your feral thoughts + all your work. i also really love reading your witching hours!!! thank you for blessing me with you 🥺 you are always so kind + i love how much you care about your friends and the people around you. i hope you’re taking care while renewing your teaching certifications! 💖

@frailuta nico! hello love! i know we haven’t really spoken before, but i just want to know i love you so much. you make the most beautiful gifs + i truly am in awe every time you post something. life is tough sometimes, but you are tougher! sending so so much love and positive energy to you + please remember to take care! <3

to all my mutuals and followers: thank you so so much for sticking with me and my mess of a blog. i honestly don’t really contribute much to anything, but i’m so thankful you guys are still here! thank you, thank you, thank you! i love and appreciate all of you guys + my ask box/messages are always open if you want/need someone to talk to 💖 thinking fondly of everyone today + so much love to you guys mwah mwah!

#text #this got really long but #i am really truly thankful for everyone of you #i have so so much love for you guys #sending all my love and positive energy to you guys #i'm so sorry sometimes i'm really slow at responding but #i really do think of you guys!!#love you all mwah mwah

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davidmann95 · 4 years ago

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So RWBY/Justice League is apparently a crossover that's actually going to happen. Of the little we know right now, how do you think that's going to pan out?

Anonymous said: Those questions about Superman and Batman in RWBY seem prescient, because I'm hearing that an official crossover is in the works

Anonymous said: Um, so there's a legit Justice League/RWBY crossover coming

Anonymous said: So, that official DC/RWBY crossover, huh?

Anonymous said: So, how about that DC/RWBY cross, eh?

Anonymous said: No more speculating how Superman would fit into RWBY when DC themselves are providing their own answer XD

The immediate thing that leaps out beyond the Kingdom Hearts* level of utterly out of nowhere berserk this premise is: while the RWBY comic had a couple minor sequel hooks, and I don’t know how it did in its original digital chapters or in trade, as a monthly periodical it was selling poorly enough that DC didn’t bother to print its last physical issue after the return from the Coronavirus shutdown, and while I thought it was great a lot of fans complained about its art and characterization throughout. I hoped for that sequel, sure, but I wasn’t expecting the book to be regarded internally as anything but a sales failure, nevermind not only continuing it but tripling down in the most extreme and bizarrely specific way possible that’s neither intuitive (unless you have special interests like me) nor surface-level ridiculous enough like Batman/Elmer Fudd that people will buy it just to see how it works. I don’t understand why this comic is happening when no one but me wanted this.

(* The Kingdom Hearts comparison is apt because they were similarly close to the top of things I’d love to see cross over with the DCU that would obviously never, ever happen because that’s too precise and random a combination of my interests. Even if this is legally possible where that isn’t, that would still be conceptually simpler.)

I was asked a couple times in the past about how Superman or Batman could make sense in RWBY’s setting, and it turns out I was closer with the latter than the former - that rather than a dimension-hopping traditional crossover, this is reverse-engineering what the assorted members of the League would look like if they had always been part of Remnant ala JLA/Planetary, some of the old DC/Marvel crossovers, or the more recent Batman/The Shadow. Which actually fits really well with the series regularly evoking assorted fairy tales and mythologies with their characters; this bunch is just one more set to be added. Though that raises several more thoughts and questions:

* The solicit refers to them as Clark Kent, Bruce Wayne, and Diana Prince, but will they actually be referred to as such in the story, and will people comment on them not fitting with the color-based naming conventions of that world? Or will they be renamed and evoke their sources purely through iconography, ala Ruby not literally being Little Red Riding Hood?

* How much will the origins of the assorted characters be changed? Batman, Cyborg, and Aquaman would all make perfect sense within the ‘rules’ of the setting with few major alterations, but will Superman still be from Krypton and Green Lantern a space ranger, or will they simply be ordinary humans with thematically reminiscent backstories and Semblances/weapons that evoke the classic powers? I think the latter could work, but I imagine the former is more likely (even if Bennett might keep it vague on some of the details to preserve the aura of mystique and avoid changing the shape of the world too radically) simply because everyone’s surely aware that fans would complain about being ‘ripped off’ for getting the characters ‘in name only’ otherwise.

* Speaking of changes to fit the setting, between being a Faunus and the apparent low-tech traditional armor look of his suit, is Bruce Wayne in here not operating from a position of wealth? You’d just think as a given the Wayne family would be easily plopped in as business rivals to the Schnees and Alfred would be on a first name basis with Klein, but it seems Bennett might have something very different in mind. Also, little disappointing he simply has a katana rather than those collapsible batarangs that turn into swords that Ellis always gave him which would fit perfectly here. And, as so many have already asked: how miserable is he every second of every day in a world where everything is also a gun. At least this isn’t a universe where anyone’s gonna think he’s irresponsible for training teenage sidekicks.

* And if we’re going into individual characters: RWBY Barry Allen is adorable, what the hell. He just looks so dopey and hapless, I sure hope he doesn’t ever have to die to stop the Anti-Monitor. We’re definitely getting a meeting with Harriet that retcons in that he’s the other person with a speed Semblance she mentioned running into, and if he’s tapping into the Speed Force then the jokes that that’s what Harriet does are probably gonna become at least a little bit canon.

* Are the Themyscirans magic, given all magic has a very important common root in this world?

* I don’t think there’s a dud redesign in the bunch? These are all really inspired in their own ways, which is good because unlikely as it seems this is I believe the first time we’ve really gotten any sort of official interpretation of “here’s what the DCU would look like as a Shonen”. Go ahead and say the hell with it and make it Earth 28, I’ve thought before making that an anime Earth would fit with the map.

(By Ag_Nonsuch)

* Bunch of obvious ways these characters can play off of each other: Ruby is paralleled with Wonder Woman on the cover, and I’m curious how Bennett will play that, but she makes most sense next to Flash, a super-fast fan made good, or Superman, a character she so deeply if unintentionally evokes on so many levels I felt I had to make clear when describing her that I didn’t solely appreciate her as a psuedo-Superman analogue. Weiss makes sense up against Batman either as a wealthy heir or a Faunus who’s likely faced his share of pain from the Schees who either way are cold perfectionists defined by inner pain stemming from their families, or Wonder Woman/Aquaman as fellow ‘royalty’. Yang is paralleled with Superman on the cover and that makes sense with the two country bruisers with issues regarding their lost parents, though she’d also make sense with Aquaman as the ‘temperamental’ members a lot of the time of their respective teams, or Cyborg as they both deal with their relationships with their bodies after requiring prosthesis. And Blake pretty much has her pick: like Superman she uses an article of clothing to ‘pass’ and shares the commitment to justice, she and Batman are dark children of privilege (or not in this case, though in this world they’re both Faunus), she and Wonder Woman both left the island homes where their people were safe to try and make the rest of the world better, she and Aquaman are both Faunus royalty, and Green Lantern is about overcoming great fear and in Jessica Cruz’s case specifically about the guilt of running away.

* Will this be entirely flashbacks to the pre-series/Beacon years, or will those be flashbacks set from a ‘present’, and if so when? What happened between the siege of Haven and the train setting off for Argus is the most loosely-defined period in the story and is right on the heels of the end of the original RWBY mini, so I’d imagine it fitting here. And given they apparently join together “to take on a force unlike anything they've seen before” rather than purely the character work of that previous book, what might that be?

* Hey, superhero comics/superpowers as an idea already exist in this universe, will that come up?

* If we can get one single scene in this and it’s going with a “yes they’re still aliens and magic and whatnot” premise I want Clark, who hasn’t thought of being Superman yet and therefore is still at least somewhat hiding his powers, being wracked with guilt over not pursuing becoming a Huntsman and therefore not being there at the Fall of Beacon. Which is a ridiculous thing to take the blame for, but of course he would, he’s Clark, culminating in trying to apologize to JNR for Pyrrha dying he feels in part because he was a coward (when they don’t even have the faintest concept for why he would think he should have been there or could have done anything).

* Once all’s said and done, how is their presence in the world justified as not being a factor in the series proper? It’s simple if they’re ‘ordinary’ analogues who can go off to quietly have adventures elsewhere, but if not then some of them either have to be shuffled off stage or presumably left with their stories incomplete, with a little afterward of “and they went on to be the greatest heroes of all...later, after the scope of team RWBY’s main adventures so that we never have to directly address them again” to avoid them becoming unavoidable major factors in the war against Salem.

In the end, will it be DC’s best comic? No, though I imagine one of their better ones this year. Will it be among the ones I look forward to most each month? Right up there with Yang and Reis’s Batman/Superman baby, this is a miracle freak of fate and I’m gonna appreciate the universe bending over backwards to make entertainment for me and me alone while it lasts. Given I finally checked out RWBY in the first place because I was curious about Bennett’s original comic, this is a heck of a full-circle moment.

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xiaonesis · 4 years ago

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Thank You For 2020!

I’m not very good at things like these to be honest. Weaving a high-fantasy story and putting into words my honest feelings of thanks and gratitude to people are two entirely different things, and the latter is infinitely more difficult.

But I hope that, as simple as the words may be, each and everyone of you will feel my heartfelt gratitude and appreciation, and know that I rarely say things like these and when I do, I can only mean them.

@knightofameris I cannot start this off without first thanking you. You helped and supported me with so many things, from teaching me how to use Tumblr and giving me the tool I needed to making banners, to always, always and constantly keeping me up with your words, presence (online lmao) and heck, provided me with more than one meal and I am not ashamed to say it! Thank you so much for being my friend. You are too good for this world and I truly wish you will have a great 2021, and that all the good things you deserve will come to you this year.

@buddh-art Bro, mah bruder. The Bokuto to my Kuroo. Bruh, I don’t know how life would be like this year if I went through 2020 without ever knowing you. Like, who the heck thought we would get on this well, to the point we have a damned brotherhood contract! HAHAHA Thank you soul-brother, for the nights (well, your mornings) of countless laughter and joy, and for keeping me company when I draw even though half of the time, it is just me pressing Ctrl+Z. Here’s to more bronenigans this year with you, on discord, on tumblr, and on Genshin!

@sovtwords My brightest star! I don’t even know what I can say to you that you don’t already know since we talk almost every single night since...I don’t know! I know it hasn’t been that long, but it also felt like forever ahahaha I still remember clearly that one morning, seeing your comment on GWS at 5am, and how happy it made me. Thank you always for your understanding and love, and for listening to me gush about Genshin non-stop hahahaha Let’s both work hard this year to FINALLY FINISH THAT TOKYO DRIFT AU FIC AND OUR OWN RESPECTIVE STORIES AND FINALLY PLAY A GAME TOGETHER THAT WE KEEP SAYING WE WILL DO BUT NEVER GET TO! FJKHDSBHF

@xavestory Omg Xave, I don’t even know what to say haha your artwork is always so inspiring to see, and your name precedes you! I knew your name long before I came across your art, and I was immediately taken in and blown away- and then to have you looking at my art??? Renesis.exe has timed out. Thank youuuu for being so encouraging with my art, everytime I hear from you I feel like my soul just goes UwU I haven’t drawn in years before I started again late last year, and you and your art were definitely one of the motivating factors for me to try harder, and I hope to keep that up this year!

@writeiolite fbhdshjf IT HASNT BEEN THAT LONG BUT WTH I FEEL LIKE WE’VE BEEN CHATTING NON-STOP ABOUT GENSHIN FOR A WHILE HAHAHAHA I remember you used to just be that person on Mudae that I really wanted to avoid cause I can never be as fast as you (HNGGGGNNNN) and then it turned to us talking nonstop about Genshin and even playing it together hahaha thank you for always being your kind self to everyone, and for playing with me <33 I’m SO sorry that I ascended my world so soon after our world levels matched BFSHJB BUT WE CAN STILL PLAY TOGETHER WHENEVER YOU ONLY NEED TO PING ME AND I WOULD GET OUT OF BED TO PLAY JUST FOR YOU!

@yanderexbabydoll I can never thank you enough, nor forget, your guidance and support when I wrote my first 18+ fic ahahaha it’s a daunting topic to start on, especially for me who still felt a tad uncomfortable writing mature works, needless to say talking about it, but you were so open and understanding, answering my questions and insecurities so patiently. The day I found out you read GWS- man, I swear my neighbors still hate me for the way I screamed that evening ahahaha We haven’t talked in a while but I hope this year we will have more opportunities to catch up <3

@sawamooora Bees. Atsubee. Really, I should just end this note here like this because the word bees sums it best for us HAHA Thank you for being such a whirlwind ride, always storming into my discord and turning everything upside down and then leaving just as fast as literal wind; I absolutely love it. I don’t think I would have gotten into the entire Atsubee, Beenarizaki and Bee Supremacy without you, and what a shame that would have been. Thank you for being you, which is just a literal bundle of clownery, sunshine and joy to everyone who interacts with you. Everytime I chat with you I have a giant grin on my face and I cannot explain it- it’s as mysterious as the hold the bees have on us.

@chunhua-s HNGGG you’re always sending in GWS music recommendation and I love it so much haha Thank you always for your support for GWS, and also, I just love all the tag games you always tag me in hahaha I can’t get to all of them some times but I remember clearly there was a time where I wanted to do more of those but was too shy to ask people to tag me and lo and behold, you swooped in and answered my prayers HAHA I really hope this year we will be able to interact more <3

@tencofish @moondriplets @gothelle @essentlai @thatlofiguy @animemess @skiyoomii @keiijiis @justatinysaltymbb @butyfigers @veryrawknees Madao, Luca, Kels, TIA, Sodium Possum, studio,dasom, Yeon, Jess, Asta, Mau, Riah, Beef Burger (J), ThatGoldfish, Wardi, Jaz, Ember, and allllll the others on my discord server who do not have Tumblr or do not want it named. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING YOU, BEING PART OF MY DISCORD AND FOR BEING MY FRIEND! Everyday, the first and last things I see are the messages on the server and I just- I’m literally crying right now as I type this but I don’t know how I could have survived 2020 without all of you. I live alone in a foreign country away from family, further isolated from others due to Covid and I imagine last year would have been extremely dark without you all. Thank you for brightening my everyday.

Alright, Tumblr might start to cap my tag numbers soon but let me at least end this by saying a final thank you to EVERYONE who follows me here and on AO3, and who read my work. Each and everyone of your presence, feedback, and encouragement for my writing keeps me going, and I truly mean it when I say that GWS would not have gotten where it has without you all, nor will my other non-GWS fics. Though my updates has been slower, I will continue to work hard this year to show you more of the world of Hyquile, and other works <3

Happy New Year everyone!! 明けましておめでとうございます！

今年もよろしくお願いします！！！！

#lots of thank yous #but each and every one of it is well deserved and meaningful #i really cannot stress how much you all mean to me #happy new year!!#renesis posts #2021 #moots #and everyone

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dc41896 · 4 years ago

Text

POV

So I’ve been wanting to write something based on the song pov by Ariana Grande and then a certain someone decided to attack my heart strings yet again playing the piano so this is an idea I thought of lol. Also this is a sequel to Between the Lines.

Pairing: Chris EvansxBlack Reader

⚠️: None, all fluff! (Well maybe a teensy amount of sad times because of the lyrics)

“There she is,” Chris smiles entering the small make shift studio holding two steaming mugs. Joining your bundled form on the grey loveseat, he hands one to you before sweetly kissing your cheek and moving your legs to stretch across his lap. “So how’s my two-time Grammy nominated superstar doing?”

That’s pretty much all he called you now, besides his usual baby and honey, ever since the list of nominations were announced a couple months ago. Every time the words left his mouth, you found yourself giddily smiling and feeling as if you were in a dream you were bound to wake up from any moment.

Like other artists, winning a Grammy was always one of your ultimate goals and now that there was a possibility you could take home not one but two, you felt immense pride and excitement that your hard work was paying off. This excitement soon turned into stress though with the added preparations you needed to complete as the big day quickly approached. Since you were also performing, you and your team had been busy thinking of what the perfect song choice would be as well as concepts that would match.

So far everything was perfect until your pianist had an unfortunate accident requiring him to have surgery on his wrist. Now you were even more stressed wondering if there were any other people you knew that could fill in.

“A little overwhelmed honestly,” you sigh placing your phone down before noticing what exactly was in your mug. “How did you know I was craving cocoa?”

“Well knowing how stressed you’ve been lately, I figured you’d want some since that’s when you crave it most.”

“Aww thank you baby,” you smile leaning over to wipe his mini chocolate mustache before kissing his lips.

“Still looking for a piano player?”

“Yea but with it coming up so soon, we might just have to do the backup song which isn’t entirely a bad thing, but then I’d have to think of a totally new concept, outfit, then we have to rehearse, I’d have to tell the producers at the show we changed it-,”

“Hey let’s take a break from that okay?,” he speaks trying to calm your rambling and very apparent nerves. Taking your hand, he pulls you closer to sit on his lap guiding your head to fall on his shoulder. “I know things aren’t going how you want, but everything will work out. You’re gonna have an amazing performance that people are gonna talk about for the rest of the year, and no matter what, me, your family, friends, and fans will be so proud of you.” Bringing your hand to his lips, he peppers kisses along your knuckles and fingertips making you smile as you snuggle closer to his neck.

“Thank you.”

“No problem, you know I’m always here.”

Soothingly rubbing circles in your back the way you loved for him to do, you nearly let the vibrations from his humming lull you to sleep before an idea makes you sit up, staring at him now confused.

“Honey? You okay?”

“Yea...yea I just thought of something. What about you?”

“What about me?”

“You play piano for me! I mean you know the song you’ve heard it plenty of times, heck you even helped with the melody. Then that way nothing has to get changed!,” you excitedly answer holding onto his shoulders.

“Yea all of that is true, and I’d love to help but are you sure? Y/N that’s your night, I don’t want anybody trying to say I’m somehow tied into your success when that’s not true.”

“Chris, you and I both know people are gonna talk no matter what, and as long as I’m with you sadly someone’s gonna think that and try to spread it everywhere. But I don’t care what anyone says, and you shouldn’t either,” you smile moving your hands to rest on his partially bearded cheeks. “Like you said it’s my night and sharing it with the man I love will make it even more special. Especially if he’ll be right beside me the whole time.”

“Whether I was physically on that stage with you or not, you know I’m always beside you.”

Closing the gap between you, his lips capture yours in a quick yet passionate exchange before he rests his forehead against yours.

“Now if you win, does that mean my name goes on it too? I mean as you said I helped with the melody and I am providing my services,” he states as you both laugh holding onto each other.

“I don’t know about the name inscription, but we can work that out later,” you answer.

———

“Alright five minutes guys!,” Gina announces fluffing your curls one last time. Noticing your infamous lip bite as your knee rapidly bounces, Chris places both hands on your knee quickly kissing your cheek before being swatted away by your best friend giving you a much needed laugh. “Hey relax, no smudging the makeup until after they say cut.”

“Two minutes!,” a voice yells as you try your best to breathe.

“You got this alright? You’re gonna do great!” Giving you a quick hug, she disappears behind the cameras and soon you hear the cheery presenter in your ear as she begins introducing your performance.

“Alright now I’m not trying to be biased, but this next performer is one of my favorites! She’s been killing it this year with the release of her highly anticipated debut album which led to her two Grammy noms tonight. Performing from her personal studio, here’s Y/N.”

The piano softly plays in the background as the camera focuses on you perched on a wooden bar stool. Pulling the sleeves of your pullover sweater over your hands, you take a quick deep breath as your cue to start approaches.

It's like you got superpowers

Turn my minutes into hours

You got more than 20/20, babe

Made of glass, the way you see through me

You know me better than I do

Can't seem to keep nothing from you

How you touch my soul from the outside

Permeate my ego and my pride

I wanna love me

The way that you love me

Ooh, for all of my pretty and all of my ugly too

I'd love to see me from your point of view

I wanna trust me

The way that you trust me

Ooh, 'cause nobody ever loved me like you do

I'd love to see me from your point of view

Glancing over at Chris in his backwards cap, grey tank, and sweats a small smile forms on your lips watching his fingers delicately press against each key. He could feel your eyes as he looked up with a smile himself winking at you and making you innocently giggle.

I'm gеtting used to receiving

Still gеtting good at not leaving

I'ma love you even though I'm scared

Learnin' to be grateful for myself

You love my lips 'cause they say the

Things we've always been afraid of

I can feel it startin' to subside

Learnin' to believe in what is mine

I wanna love me

The way that you love me

Ooh, for all of my pretty and all of my ugly too

I'd love to see me from your point of view

I wanna trust me

The way that you trust me

Ooh, 'cause nobody ever loved me like you do

I'd love to see me from your point of view

Standing from your seat, you slowly make your way beside him on the bench resting your head on his shoulder while the camera pans around to catch your cute exchange.

I couldn't believe it or see it for myself

Know I be impatient

But now I'm out here, fallin', fallin'

Frozen, slowly thawing, got me right

I won't keep you waitin', waitin'

All my baggage fadin' safely

And if my eyes deceive me

Won't let them stray too far away

I wanna love me

The way that you love me

Ooh, for all of my pretty and all of my ugly too

I'd love to see me from your point of view

I wanna trust me, ooh

The way that you trust me, baby

'Cause nobody ever loved me like you do

I'd love to see me from your point of view

As he plays his last few notes, your arms gently wrap around his bicep and your chin rests on his shoulder before you peck the corner of his mouth. His lips twitch into that adorable smile you love so much after mouthing “I love you” and all those around cheer with claps and whistles.

“You did amazing honey,” he whispers cupping your cheek with his warm hand.

“Thank you, and you too Mozart.”

“Nope, we’re not making that a thing. We both know I literally could never,” he replies making you both laugh before being startled by Gina’s squeals.

“Girl you won best new artist!”

“Wait what?”

“You won! They just told me so you can go ahead and make your acceptance speech! They’ll play it when the category comes up.”

You have to be nudged by a chuckling Chris being in such a state of shock. Oh course you hoped and wished you’d win, but you didn’t expect it to actually happen. Returning to your barstool, you try to collect yourself as the signal is given that the camera was rolling.

“Wow, um hi everybody! I honestly didn’t think this would happen,” you nervously laugh. “Um first off thank you mom and dad for your support even though I was probably really annoying singing all over the house all hours of the day. Thank you to the fans, of course, for your support as well from streaming to buying my music and all the other ways you guys have been so amazing to me. I may not be able to respond to every single post, tweet, or DM but I see you guys and from the bottom of my heart I truly thank every single one of you. My friends and my team, I love y’all so much and appreciate all that you guys do to help and keep me sane.”

“And to the one who inspired the song that helped me get this award,” you sigh peering past the camera to see a glossy eyed Chris leaning against the wall. “Thank you for being exactly what I need when I need it, whether it’s a cuddle buddy, a partner in crime for late night food runs, or a friend to remind me to love myself when I’m doing the opposite. I love you and I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life with you.”

Rotating the silver band on your ring finger, you hold up your hand with a shy smile to reveal a sparkling princess cut diamond making everyone around beam with excitement, and surely those who would be watching at home.

Taglist: @fumbling-fanfics @honeychicanawrites @honeychicana @lady-olive-oil @themyscxiras @melinda-january @lovelymari4 @maxcullen @literaturefeen @damnitaa @curlyhairclub @plokyu23 @fullofmelaninsarcasmandepression @nunubug99 @felicity-x0 @ellixthea @jojolu @jnk-812 @brwn-sgr @captainsamwlsn @wildfirecracker @nina-sj @iammyownlover @chaneajoyyy @scoop93535 @secretmysteriousperson

If anybody wants to be tagged, has asked to be tagged but don’t see your name, only want to be tagged for certain people I write for, or no longer wish to be tagged just let me know🤓!

#chrisxblackreader #chrisxwoc #chrisxreader #chris evans

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askaceattorney · 3 years ago

Text

Dear Anonymous,

I appreciate all the thanks and appreciation, but, uh...no need to pile it on so heavy. X }

As a rule, I don’t make friends with strangers on the internet, at least until I get to know them (fool me once, as they say), but I’m always happy to chat with anyone who shares my interests, whether it be video games, art, video game art, etc. I do have a Discord, which I’ll share privately with anyone wants to chat with me there, but that’s as far as my online communication goes with people I don’t know. I’m also “nobodyuknow,” so please don’t be disappointed if it turns out I’m not as cool as you thought. X )

Thanks for following my art blog, by the way! I know it’s not as interesting as a video game ask blog, so any attention I get there is always appreciated. Art’s a lot of fun, but also a lot of work.

And to everyone who shares your sentiment:

I’M GONNA MISS YOU, TOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

And I hope things work out for the best for all of you as well.

Dear Anonymous,

Co-Mod: It’s been my pleasure.

And I’ll gladly repeat myself by saying that it was only made possible by fun-loving letter-writers like you. I’m glad I could help to make things enjoyable while I was here, and hope to be able to do the same wherever I end up going next (both on the worldwide web and in the real world), so thanks a bunch for the well wishes!

A belated Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you as well, and to everyone reading this. Heck, I’ll settle for a non-miserable year this point.

Dear gumshoe-letty-fan,

Co-Mod: I’m not too familiar with that anime, so let me just do some quick research...

Confirmed. They’re definitely related, at the very least.

(Video in Letter -- Disturbing Image Warning)

Dear Anonymous,

Co-Mod: .........................

(Source)

Mod Edgeworth: Remember when Adult Swim actually had good adult animated content? Good times. Good times.

Dear Anonymous,

Mod Edgeworth: By the time we get at least two or three new mods. So far, I only have one new mod I’m getting in and someone else we are still interviewing at the moment.

I will introduce the first mod by the 18th of January.

(Picture in Letter)

Dear Anonymous,

Co-Mod:

Now, that's a sight for any Ace Attorney fan’s sore eyes.

I especially love how the similar characters from the Chronicles and non-Chronicles games are on symmetrically opposite sides of the picture (ex. Gant and Stronghart, Auchi and Payne, Edgeworth and Kazuma, etc.), and how there are so many subtle things going on at once, like in a Where’s Waldo? picture -- Missile running off with a Blue Badger doll in his mouth, Soseki’s cat playing with Espella’s, Larry getting smacked in the face, and probably a lot more I haven’t noticed yet. Beautiful!

One question I have, though -- how did Maya holding Susato’s hand not cause a rift in the time-space continuum?

Mod Edgeworth: I like how Phoenix and Ryunosuke are reflecting off of each other, including the cast from their own story. It’s like it’s subtly hinting who the character types are without giving it away and I love it!

Why do I get the feeling Edgeworth got some inspiration from Kazuma?

Dear Anonymous,

Co-Mod: Don’t worry, we will. Forget, that is.

Mod Edgeworth: Just like how everyone forgot Halloween was the day Tobias Gregson died.

(Referenced Letter)

Mod Edgeworth: Fixed it!

(Link in Letter)

Dear Anonymous,

Mod Justice:

Superior to ours? I think not.

If we take a look at the first post ever made on our AskBlog... we can see that it dates back to July 15th, 2011...

...while the other blog’s first post was only created on December 26th of this year.

Tell me, how can our AskBlog - one that has been around for over ten years and counting - be “inferior” to yours...

...when it hasn’t even been around for two full days?!

Furthermore, there are other points to consider on why your logic is flawed.

If you would please, Co-Mod and Mod Edgeworth?

Mod Edgeworth:

Huh? Oh um...

..... yeah, this one looks new that focuses on asks and reblogs.

....

Also, I don’t see why I should care what blog is or isn’t superior to ours. There are a plethora of ask blogs on Tumblr. Ours just happens to be one of the oldest ones that grew over a period of time. We’ve gotta start somewhere, don’t we?

Let’s not make this into a competition. If it’s a new blog, then let them be.

Co-Mod: I, uh...didn’t realize there was a competition going on here. What’s the score so far?

In all seriousness, I wish that blog success, but I hope they’ll remember to keep it about Ace Attorney and its fun characters. That strategy always seemed to work out the best for us.

Dear Anonymous,

Co-Mod: Thanks a bunch! I know that feeling, by the way. Awesome people are hard to find these days, but they’re out there, and I often get the urge to let one of them know it when I find them. That’s one of the upsides of the worldwide web, I suppose.

Mod Edgeworth: Thank you very much. You are too kind.

-The Mods

#Anonymous #gumshoe letty fan #Mod Post #Co Mod #Mod Edgeworth #Mod Justice

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theatresweetheart · 5 years ago

Text

A Little Misunderstanding

This was for the Secret Sanders 2019 event run by @secret-sanders-sized. The lovely person I got for this fun event was the amazing @i-will-physically-fight-you!!

Prompt: “Good news: Logan's shrink ray works. Bad News: Logan accidentally shrunk himself in the process. ??? News: He has been mistaken as a fellow “Borrower” by Patton, a tiny humanoid being who apparently has been living in his walls all this time.”

Warnings: Fear, shrinking, non-descriptive injury, incredibly brief Remus mention, incredibly brief Deceit mention (Dorian), misunderstanding, negative self talk.

Pairing: Platonic Logicality

Word Count: 8674 words

A/n: I really didn’t mean for this to get nearly as long as it did. I just started writing and then got inspired and then it got longer. However, this was a super fun write and I loved participating in the Secret Santa event this year.

Merry Christmas everyone!

+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+

As it was, there were two different outlooks on Logan’s current predicament and, thankfully, he had already been able to gather sufficient data.

Even if his original plan had backfired horribly.

Truthfully, he could focus on the negative side effects of this mess. However, on the other hand, there were quite a few positive outlooks to this as well. Not to mention the fascinating discoveries he had already made and the incredible advancement of technology in a shrink ray that actually worked.

So with that in mind, Logan had already good news; his machine worked.

Bad news, perhaps, was that it seemed to work a little too well and Logan had accidentally managed to use it on himself.‌‌ (Not that he hadn’t thought about it. Just not instantly. He had wanted to test it before using it on something alive and sentient—just in case it had side effects.)

This accident had rendered him helpless in his own home as he gazed from his new vantage point up toward the table where his creation laid. Unassuming and harmless unless there was someone behind it. Thankfully he had thought ahead, and when he’s actually capable of getting back up there, he had added a switch that would reverse the ray’s affects just in case something like this happened.

(That and he had an overly curious friend that liked to touch his things—even if they were clearly labelled.)

It was a good thing said friend was busy today, so Logan had little worry about his accomplice making his presence known in the meantime.

And then, there was the news that Logan had yet to classify.

At the moment, there was a tiny humanoid creature standing worriedly over him—perhaps saying “tiny” at the moment would be false, as how it seemed, the both of them were currently of the same stature. The only time this creature would be considered tiny was when Logan was at his normal height, which was all the time save for now.

Worried brown eyes blinked at him, watching him through spectacles that seemed as if they had been meticulously handmade. Perfected frames made from wire that had been bent and forced into a shape resembling Logan’s own glasses.

It was rather fascinating.

To see such a level of craftsmanship when dealing with supplies that you only had on hand.

The humanoid being had a bag slung around his shoulder and a fishing line that had a hook connected to the end of it wrapped around his torso. More things that seemed to aid in survival, at least from what Logan could guess and gather.

“Gosh, you must have taken quite the fall!” The other said, dropping down to his knees and sliding his bag over his shoulder. He leaned a bit further into Logan’s personal space, eagerly wanting to help but being far too close for Logan’s comfort. “Did you fall from the counter?”

Well, not technically. However, it seemed as though he would need to come up with a story that would be believable. If he was able to get some help from a creature that presumably lived at this height, then he would do what was necessary. It would be painfully obvious in little time just how unprepared Logan was to be this size, so any help would be appreciated.

Unfortunately he hadn’t had enough time to really think about a story that would be believable. He’d hardly been this size for less than twenty minutes and Logan hadn’t known that a being this small existed in the first place.

The creature’s hands were fluttering to and fro, as if he didn’t know what to do with them. It seemed as though he wanted to make sure Logan was physically unharmed since he was hypothesizing that Logan had slipped from the counter and landed on his back on the floor.

The care seemed to be genuine, however.

Logan floundered for something to say back. He pushed himself up onto his elbows, his eyes flickering between the height of the counter and the being knelt beside him—who was still uncomfortably close. “Yes,”‌ he agreed finally, meeting the other’s eyes and watching as they widened slightly.

“You must be sore then,” he said, letting his hands rest on his knees, even though his fingers still twitched slightly. “Where does it hurt?”

It doesn’t. Logan wanted to say it outright but thought better of it. If he were to say it didn’t hurt, then the creature would probably be led to suspicions. And, to be fair, his right shoulder did sting a little.

The injury itself was from a fall he had taken a couple years back and he had ended up spraining his shoulder. It hadn’t ever really healed correctly, so Logan would feel the pain flare up every once in a while. It didn’t happen all that often anymore and he had come to learn to live with it anyhow.

It also wasn’t Earth shattering pain as one would expect, especially not if one had just fallen from such a treacherous height.

“My shoulder’s just a bit stiff, but it really is not a problem,”‌ Logan assured him, rolling it back to test it. He winced, but schooled the pained expression professionally after a minute. “Nothing I‌ can’t handle on my own.”

“Oh.” The other relented, a bit of a somber expression wiping the concerned one away. If Logan didn’t know better, he would say that he looked a bit let-down. Of course, Logan did know better… didn’t he? “Well. If you’re sure, who am I‌ to argue! I‌ should get back on my way then, anyhow. Gotta finish my borrowings for the day before the human comes back, you know?”

He said ‘human’ as if he wasn’t one. Which only brought more questions forward, such as what was he? Why was here? How long had he been here without Logan knowing? And, because of this, Logan belatedly realized he had made an incredible discovery right here.

A creature that he had never heard of before. Clearly a sentient bipedal mammal that looked, acted and talked exactly like a human. He was just a fair bit smaller. A species that remained inconspicuous to mankind and he was swiftly losing his chance to learn more.

Logan quickly sat up a bit further as the other slid his bag back over his shoulder, sat back on his haunches—almost looking like he wanted to say something before thinking better of it—and then pushed himself into a stand. His hands fidgeted in front of him for a second, before he took a step back.

“It was a pleasure to meet you, really!”‌ He said, offering a smile, before turning and calling over his shoulder. “I’ll, uh, I’ll see you around then.”

He needed to gather more data. He couldn’t let this chance slip through his fingers. He had to do something. Logan knew he could play up the pain in his shoulder, though, granted he was no actor.

Quickly making up his mind, Logan went with his latter plan.

Leaning back again on his right arm, he winced once more but instead let the emotion play out. “On second thought,”‌ he said, stopping the humanoid being in his tracks, wired spectacles turning and meeting his own eyes once more, “a little help would be appreciated. If it is not too much of a bother.”

He watched the other’s features light up almost instantly at the request.

Immediately Logan was being overwhelmed once more as the creature was suddenly excitedly talking a mile a minute. “Oh!‌ I would be more than happy to help!” He said, clasping his hands and practically bouncing back over to where Logan still sat. “It’s not a bother at all!‌ And I haven’t seen another borrower in what seems like absolute ages, so it’d actually be really nice to have some company again. And really, between you and me, I’d never leave one of my own in need.”

Borrower, Logan filed that information away, already beginning to take mental notes.

“Oh my goodness, look at me fussing over you and I‌ haven’t even introduced myself. Heck, we’re still practically strangers!”‌ His smile stayed bright and shining, practically exuding with warmth. He then stuck a hand out and Logan reeled back slightly from the surprise of it, not to mention how enthusiastic he seemed to be. “I’m Patton!‌ You are?”

Collecting himself enough, and shaking the surprise off with a practiced ease, he shook the borrower’s hand. “Logan.”

Patton took his hand back after a moment, his excitement never seemed to flicker. “It’s a pleasure, Logan. See?‌ Now we're not strangers!‌ Now, let’s get you off the ground before the human gets back, wouldn’t want to be caught now would we?”

Based on how Patton was talking about humans, there seemed to be an amount of fear associated with Logan’s own kind. “I‌ suppose not.” He lifted himself off the ground, and stood just a little taller than Patton did. “Though, I‌ am curious. What is all the fuss about being seen by a— a human?”

It was odd referring to his kind in the third person, as if he was talking about something other worldly, but whatever was believable he guessed.

“Hmm?” The other hummed, quirking a brow while turning on his heels and heading towards the kitchen counter. Logan was quick to fall into pace with the borrower. “Oh, well, humans are gigantic. They grab and they never let go and really, once you’re taken captive you’re never seen or heard from again. Every borrower knows that.”

“Of course, forgive my…forgetful nature.”

Patton didn’t seem to believe it at first. The quizzical look in his eyes as he side glanced Logan said it loud as bells. For a moment, Logan was half afraid that Patton knew. However, he shrugged and turned his attention upward. “You must be Wild then,”‌ he said an afterthought. “Right?”

Stunned at the revelation that there more of the same creature, he nodded in agreement. Perhaps if he feigned ignorance when it came to the dangers of mankind, he could gather more information on how the race of “borrowers” saw mankind.

Obviously so far, it was not a positive perception.

“Exactly,”‌ he agreed, watching as Patton came to stand still and staring upward toward the counter-top. “So, I‌ am rather rusty when it comes to, well, anything really.”

“Well, good thing I‌ bumped into you then!”‌ Patton’s bright demeanor returned swiftly. “I‌ can help you get your bearings and help you with that pesky shoulder of yours, before you get on your way!”

Before Logan could even say another thing, Patton had slipped the hook and rope from around his torso, swung it a wide circle a couple times and threw it up toward the top of the counter. A small clicking sound caught his attention before the hook came tumbling back down. Logan flinched away, worried slightly for his safety but Patton remained unfazed and instead smoothly caught the hook by the hilt and quickly tried again.

After the third attempt, it finally stuck and he watched as Patton tugged on the line to test it’s weight.

“Third times the charm,”‌ he chirped with a toothy grin, before wrapping his hand into the fishing wire and heaving himself upward with what seemed like no effort at all. There had been absolutely no hesitation. It was obvious this was something Patton did on the daily as it took him little to no time to reach the top.

Logan blinked when Patton was peering down at him from so far above.

“Whatcha waiting for?” He called down.

“I am afraid I’m not as swift as you are when it comes to climbing anything of such scale,”‌ Logan admitted.

His eyes locked on the fishing line in front of him, the thin rope was deceptively strong.

The last time Logan had done something even remotely like this was when his friend had insistently begged—and then inevitably dragged—him to come to the rock wall at his University. However, they had been harnessed and spotted. This, this was nothing like what he was used to. A free handed climb was not Logan’s specialty, nor was he remotely interested in trying something of the like.

“Isn’t there an— easier way up?”‌

One that didn’t completely rely on Logan not slipping and actually break something? That and his shoulder was already messed up enough, surely Patton would understand him not being able to make the climb anyhow. When he only got a confused look in response, he decided to prod at the fact his shoulder was screwed up.

“My shoulder hasn’t exactly healed in the past two minutes,”‌ Logan reminded.

“Oh shoot, of course it hasn’t!” Patton disappeared over the edge of the counter. There was some shuffling and before long he was peering back over, just as the fishing line was being drawn up and out of sight. “There’s an outlet just a couple paces away from you. It should be a bit loose around the two left screws. When you get in the passageway there, wait for me and I can meet you down there in a few seconds! We can still get to my place from there.”

A passageway inside the walls?‌ What an odd place to call home.

Logan nodded, his eyes drifting over to the outlet on the wall. “Alright,”‌ he called back up in a final affirmation.

Turning to the side and heading over, it took far longer than it would have if he were of normal height. As he laid his hands over the smooth grooves of the outlet cover, Logan was surprised to find that the thing was loose enough as it was. All he had to do was shimmy it a little to the right and he had created a space wide enough for him to squeeze through.

For a second, Logan turned to glance over his shoulder. The shrunken human looked up to the counter where the machine sat, unassuming and out of harm's way. He’d get back to it in a day or two. There was nothing wrong with spending a little time getting to understand the quirky borrower that was so willingly taking him into his home.

Logan would have to do something for him as a thank you gift.

It was only logical, of course, to want to repay someone for their hospitality and generosity.

Shaking the thought from his head, especially with how absurd this entire situation was, he pulled himself inside. Stepping over the thick electrical wires, he fit the cover back into place and was welcomed with a dusty darkness. He scanned the inside of the walls, intrigued at the absolute detail of everything that would go entirely unnoticed to the average eye. Being at such a small scale gave you a keen eye for detail.

His attention shifted when he heard footsteps from just to the left of him. Before long, a shape emerged from the total darkness and came into the slightly less dark darkness.

“Great to see you could make it,” Patton said, meeting his eyes as best to his ability. “Sorry about that whole climbing thing. Totally forgot about your shoulder for a hot minute.”‌

Logan offered a shrug. “No harm done.”

“Well, with that out of the way, let’s get home! That way I can actually help you. That’s where all my supplies are, you know,” Patton chattered at him, brushing by the taller man and heading down the opposite way he had come from. Logan was prompt to follow, not wanting to lose his only guide in the darkness and twisting passages. “That and I‌ actually have light there as well. Not that the kitchen didn’t have light, but we can’t risk helping you right out in the open.”

Easily keeping up with Patton’s pace, Logan was able to ask a few more of his questions. “Are humans really as bad as you’re making them out to be?”

“Well, of course they are.”‌

“You are not…overreacting on the entire thing? How are you so sure that a human would not be willing to help aid in your survival?”

“Logan, you seem like a nice guy but you’re also Wild,”‌ Patton said, taking a sharp left. “Out there you don’t survive off of humans. You can live off of nature and all you really have to worry about are animals. I‌ wouldn’t think some animals would be all that interested in something as small as we are, but cats—” He shuddered involuntarily, “—just stay away from cats.”

“I’m not entirely sure what my status as a Wild, as you put it, has anything to do with this.”

“Well, if you don’t come in contact with humans,”‌ Patton continued as if it were the most obvious thing in the world, “you don’t have to worry about them. You don’t rely on them for anything.”

Logan hummed in response. “If you’re so terrified of humans, why not move out and live in the wild?”

Patton laughed. A gentle sound, but one that said more than just mirth. “I wish it were that easy, I really do.”

What did that mean?

Patton then put a hand out, stopping Logan in his tracks and just in time. Not another footstep in front of them was a steep drop downward.

“I hope you’re not afraid of heights,” Patton teased, sending a smile in Logan’s direction before taking his first step into the dark.

Logan could just make out the shadow of a nail protruding from the left hand wall. As his eyes got used to the constant darkness, he could see an entire pathway leading up. There had to be about fifteen steps in the staircase like creation and if one were to misstep, it would be a deadly fall.

Heights had never been an issue before now and while Logan wasn’t afraid of them, this almost reminded him from the incident before. It was like free handing another thing. His heart stammered as he watched Patton do it with a memorized and practiced ease.

Once again, Logan found himself falling behind. He moved to the wall and placed a hand firmly against it, feeling nerves welling without his permission.

“Nervous?” Patton’s voice came from somewhere in front and a little above him.

“That statement wouldn’t be…incorrect,”‌ Logan mused.

“Don’t worry, it’s probably just as easy as human stairs. You just have to get into the rhythm of it,”‌ the borrower explained, trying to ease his worry. “And, hey, I’m right here and I won’t let you fall.”

Slightly reassured, Logan stepped onto the first nail and his hand pressed firmer to the wall as if looking for a handhold on the smooth wood.

Okay. One step after the next.

“I presume there’s no way around this?”‌

Patton laughed. The sound was warmer this time. It sounded like an actual laugh and not a halfhearted chuckle. “Not this time, I’m afraid.”

“That is what I‌ was afraid of.”

Okay. One breath after the next.

It took a while, and with some unsteady steps and two almost slips, but Logan was at the top in little under ten minutes. It wasn’t one of his proudest moments, but he had come out of it alive so it couldn’t have been that bad at all.

“See?‌ That wasn’t too hard!”

And just like that, Patton was off once more. It took a few more minutes of walking through winding corridors and hopping up onto one slightly more elevated platform (that was far easier than climbing over a stairway made of nails) and they were headed down a skinnier passage.

Not lower, but just thin enough that nothing but a borrower would be able to sneak through. It was almost as if Patton had chosen this place to make his home for that very reason. It hadn’t really occurred to Logan, but there were probably a lot more things out there that could injure a borrower—other than humans, as they were thought to be the primary threat. It seemed as if it wasn’t just cats that were worrisome when you were this small. It was everything.

And that was a startling realization.

“You’ll have to excuse the state of my home,”‌ Patton told him sheepishly, a shy grin on his features as he nudged the door open. A door that was made by an old credit card. Not one that Logan recognized.

The house itself was dark as Logan stepped inside, his eyes scanning around as if trying to make out what he was looking at. He couldn’t really see a mess, so he didn’t understand why Patton was apologizing.

Before he could even voice his thoughts, a small clicking sound of a door closing followed by another softer click caught him by surprise and all of a sudden a warm yellow light filtered into the room. He blinked spots from his eyes and suddenly Logan was looking at the interior of a home lovingly made from hand. The light itself being shone via a single Christmas light hanging just above the kitchen table like a chandelier.

“Oh.”

“Hmm?” Patton turned at the quiet sound, slipping his bag over his head and hanging it on a nail protruding from the wall, bent into the shape of a coat hook. “Something wrong?”

“No, nothing,” Logan hadn’t even realized he had made the sound of astonishment until Patton had said something. “Just that— this is all fascinating. Did you wire this all by hand?”

The interior was astounding to look at, truly. The small home closely resembled that of his own, or perhaps anyone’s house for that matter. It was becoming clearer by the minute that Patton was just as human as he was, just smaller.

He could talk, think, react…It was all just rather startling.

How had a race like this remain unheard of for so long?

Were humans really so oblivious that borrowers could live off of them and not even notice they were sustaining a complete society of creatures?

Looking around the room, it seemed to be filled with little things that Logan wouldn’t have noticed had gone missing in the first place. That being said as well, Patton probably didn’t only take things from his own apartment and instead would scour the entire building.

Logan was left to assuming that taking things from a single person could be dangerous, especially if they started to notice things disappearing periodically.

“Oh, uh, yeah!”‌ Patton said, toeing off his shoes at the door before slipping his jacket over his shoulders and hanging that up next to his bag. “I‌ can’t really call an electrician. Did it all by hand. I did have some help though, but it mostly just runs on this pack of batteries.” Patton patted the slightly transparent battery container, which had two different wires stuck out from the top of it and were hidden somewhere within the walls of the home to hide them from sight. “It’s nothing too groundbreaking though.”

“Falsehood,” Logan said before he had realized it. It was the second thing he had said without thinking about it, but he was getting to see a completely independent world that laid right under humanity’s nose. And yet, even with all of this intricacy of maintaining life, there was no inkling that borrowers even existed. “Whether you did this by yourself or not is irrelevant.‌ The fact that you were able to mimic a human-styled electrical design is an incredible feat.”

Patton blinked. Almost unsure of how to respond to such a kind compliment. It…was a compliment, right?

But he broke out into a wider smile nonetheless. “Thank you.” He then shifted the conversation, not sure how else to keep it going from there. “Well come now, get comfortable. Make yourself at home, I have plenty of room! I’ll get some supplies and help you fix up that shoulder of yours.”

Logan knew there wouldn’t be much Patton could actually do for his shoulder since it was an old injury anyway, but he was getting the chance to talk to a creature that shouldn’t be able to physically exists and, yet, here he was being proven very wrong.

So, he could let Patton bandage his shoulder and do what he believed was necessary as long as he got the answers he hoped for.

When the borrower returned from a room further down the hall with an armful of what looked like bandages and tape, Logan was beckoned forward and motioned to take a seat on the chair at the table. His eyes drifted around the home further and it was cozy. The warm yellow light made it feel comfier than it probably was, and he couldn’t help but feel astonished. Everything here had to have been handmade or stumbled upon by pure chance.

After a moment though, Logan’s attention drifted back to Patton as the borrower’s hands had suddenly appeared on his right shoulder, feeling around the tendons carefully. He pressed down, but not enough to cause too much discomfort. He then paused. “Shoot,” he murmured.

“Whatever is the matter?”

“I didn’t ask permission to touch you.”‌ Logan blinked, surprised that Patton had even brought that up. Logan had thought it had been sort of unmentioned at this point. Sort of like a silent agreement. That and he wasn’t uncomfortable. He did have a friend that liked to hug him out of nowhere, so two hands on his shoulder wasn’t something Logan was particularly worried about. “Can I?”

“I‌ thought that was already previously agreed upon.”‌ Logan voiced himself and Patton relented, his hands pressing back into his shoulder blade.

“It’s more of a comfort thing for myself too,”‌ he explained. “It’s…nice to hear vocal permission, instead of just banking on the hope that it’s okay. I know that permission is really important for some people, while others can be really lenient with it.”‌

Logan carefully phrased his next question. “Do you know people that prefer to be asked?”

“Mhmm,” Patton hummed, moving to stand in front of Logan. “This is going to sound...weird, but you’re going to need to take your shirt off. It’s easier to feel the damage from there.” He seemed to consider something before quickly adding on, “though if you’re not comfortable with that, I‌ can work around it!”

“That’s alright,” Logan assured him, though it was a bit odd. He complied by pulling his shirt over his head and settling it over his lap.

With no hesitation this time around, Patton’s hands smoothed over his shoulder once more and the borrower hummed again. “I‌ knew a whole family of borrowers. They moved in about five years ago and moved out about a year later.”

“How come?” Logan winced as the other pressed a bit too harshly into his pained area by accident.

Patton mumbled a soft apology before pulling back and reaching for the bandages. “The family had twins, Roman and Remus, that liked to get into a lot of mischief. Bless their hearts, but the kiddos managed to continuously cause mayhem everywhere they went. There was one night the two had managed to tip over an entire thing of flour and tracked it absolutely everywhere. Virgil said they’d nearly given him and Dorian a heart attack when they came back covered head to toe in all this white powder.”

So, that’s what had really happened when Logan had come back from work, only to find flour spilled in every crack and crevice. He had seen the little footprints, but they had looked more like paw prints than footprints. It now also made far more sense on why those tiny footprints had led directly to one of the loose tiles on his counter-top.

It was strange to find the truth of the accident had been tiny children messing around and accidentally spilling it, but this whole situation was still so surreal that Logan was just about ready to believe anything he was being told.

To a point, of course. He wasn’t naive.

But had the family really been so terrified for their safety that they had fled? The idea almost made him feel queasy.

Were humans really as terrible as borrowers were taught?‌ Certainly, there had to be some exceptions right? Logan, himself, didn’t believe he’d be all that awful if he were to stumble across a creature of such an incredible size. Especially not if one of those creatures were a child.

Logan leaned back a bit more, lifting his arm slightly in response to Patton gently tugging on his elbow. “That was the only reason they left? That single accident?”

“You have to understand that an accident like that could have gotten the entire family caught,” Patton reminded him softly, beginning to wrap the gauze around the affected area. “With two kids that like to run around and play pretend, all the while shouting and giggling, not to mention how much the twins fought; let’s just say that Dorian realized very quickly that living in an apartment building so close to humans was not the right place for their little family.”

“I see.”

“Yup. Moved all five of them out as soon as possible.” Patton wrapped the bandage around Logan’s shoulder a couple more times before using his teeth and ripping it off. He set the roll aside and grabbed the tape, tearing a piece off and then tearing that single piece in half. Logan belatedly noticed that that one piece of tape possibly could have covered his entire chest.

“All five of them?”

“Mhmm. Dorian was the oldest, he’s actually just a couple years younger than I‌ am. Then there was Virgil, then Thomas and the twins were the littlest brothers of the bunch, but goodness, they’d have to be, what, 13 now?”

Logan was almost curious enough to ask Patton how old he actually was, since he didn’t look much older than Logan himself, but refrained. Asking someone their age was considered a rude question anyhow, but there was the lingering question in the back of his mind that wondered if borrowers were some sort of mythical creature that had either a longer—or even a shorter—lifespan than humans.

He decided to direct the conversation in a different direction for now, assured that he would still get the chance to ask his questions.

“Since they moved out,” Logan moved his arm to test the hold of the bandages and tape before moving his eyes back to Patton, “are you the only one in the entire building?”

“It seems that way,”‌ he agreed, before holding Logan’s arm still. “Stop moving it, I’m not done just yet.” He relaxed his hold once Logan quit squirming. “Besides, it’s not like I‌ haven’t been alone before, so it isn’t that big of a deal.”

The borrower then moved to stand behind him once more and pressed his hands down firm enough to feel comfortable, but not enough to hurt. Then, he began to massage at the slightly swollen muscle.

“I‌ do suppose it’s better that way, though,‌”‌ he said after a heartbeat of quiet. “If any of the Steelgates had been caught, they would have had someone to miss them, you know. Me?‌‌ Well. I‌ guess no one would really notice.”

It was such a sad thought, but Patton had said it so casually that Logan had nearly startled.

“It’s alright though,” he continued before Logan had gathered the wits to say something back to him. To refute it. “At least if I were to be found and caught, none of the humans in this building would be able to find any more borrowers—assuming you’re not sticking around after I‌ getcha all patched up.”

Logan shook his head. “I wasn’t exactly planning on it, no. Living so close to humans is not my area of expertise.”

“I‌ can’t blame you for wanting to get back to the wild,”‌ Patton said, his voice lowering slightly. Logan wasn’t good at reading emotions, but this didn’t take a professional to read those signals. This mood change was obvious and immediate. “It must be so much nicer out there. Not having to be constantly worried about mouse traps and cats. Heck, even humans probably.”

The more Logan heard, the more it sounded like humans were a borrower’s natural predator if they were to get their hands on them.‌ It made sense, logically, that a creature of this stature wouldn’t be able to escape from a human being that was so obviously superior to it. Maybe not intelligence wise, but in strength, size and dexterity.

Logan cleared his throat as the silence seemed to rage on longer than he was comfortable with. He was curious though, since Patton didn’t seem to recognize him. “Do you…know the human in the apartment here?”

“No.”‌ The response was cutthroat, concise and to-the-point. “I avoid him mostly, if we’re being honest. A human with all that science-y stuff in their apartment can only mean bad news for borrowers. I try not to go into his apartment too often. Only if it’s really absolutely necessary.”

“Oh.” Logan almost felt…hurt by that statement. Which was stupid and irrational. He had barely known Patton for two hours and yet here he was, feeling somewhat awful. Did he really exude such a cold exterior? For most people he was fine with that, but he guessed from a borrower’s perspective it would only make him seem heartless, cold and analytical. “I see.”

He had to take a moment to recollect his thoughts, fiddling with his glasses for half a second before righting them.

“Do you think he’s really all that bad?”

“Well— no,”‌ the other softened, his hands lessening their pressure on his back before removing themselves from his skin entirely. Logan felt something in his chest warm at that, but only for a moment. “I‌ like to try and see the good in everyone, you know? But sometimes, he makes it a bit…difficult. I don’t think he’s inherently bad, but I‌ don’t know if I’d be able to trust him.‌ Especially not with all those beakers and scalpels and such.‌ Who knows what would happen if he got his hands on someone like you and me.” Patton fiddled with his hands, before pulling up the other chair and sitting. He pushed his glasses further up his nose idly. “But…no, to answer your question. I don’t think he’s bad. Just– morbidly curious.”

“Hmm.”‌ Logan nodded to himself, taking the fact that Patton was now sitting in front of him as a sign that he could put his shirt back on. As he did that, he was careful not to upset any of the carefully placed bandages and was actually surprised to not find any tightness in his shoulder. None.

Deciding that now was as good a time as ever to change the subject—especially with how downtrodden Patton looked—he rolled his shoulder as a test. Nothing. “Can I ask what you did to my shoulder?”

Patton instantly looked distressed at that. “Oh no, did I‌ make it worse?”

“No, no,”‌ Logan was quick to reassure him, “if anything, I think you may have made it better.”

“Really?”‌ He looked genuinely surprised.

“Really.” Logan rolled his shoulder once more, but felt the slightest twinge. “It was an old injury I‌ managed to acquire a couple years back but I‌ can hardly feel it now. Where did you learn to do that?”

“Oh! Um, just from the Steelgates.” Patton raised a hand to rub the back of his neck sheepishly. “Dorian and Virgil learned it somehow and they taught it to me. I’ve taken quite a few falls myself, so I learned how to ease that pain. Makes borrowing easier if you’re not constantly hunched over in agony.”

“Understandable,”‌ Logan relented. “Nevertheless, it is very impressive.”

“Awe, it was nothing,”‌ Patton shrugged it off, directing his gaze elsewhere though the gentle grin on his features said that Logan’s compliment had been taken to heart. “That’s what friends are for, right?”

Logan’s heart stammered for a moment.

Truth be told—and a surprise to probably literally no one—Logan didn’t have many friends. He had acquaintances, coworkers that he got along with, but no one that he was close enough to really consider a friend.

It was…nice.

“Yes,”‌ he agreed, a small grin twitching at the corners of his own mouth, “I suppose that is what friends are for.”

An odd friendship, no doubt. But a friendship.

“I really cannot thank you enough for all of your assistance,”‌ Logan said as the two made their way down the corridor back toward his apartment.

He had said he had left a few things in the apartment that he would need to collect before they parted ways, however, Logan had a bit of a…different plan in mind.

Patton shrugged it off, giving Logan a humble grin as he looked over his shoulder briefly. “It’s not a problem!‌ And hey, if you ever find yourself back in the complex, my house is open to you.”

In reality, he did feel a bit bad that he hadn’t exactly told Patton the truth just yet. But it wasn’t like he was holding out on it for too much longer. He just had to make sure Patton didn’t react too badly once he learned the truth. Especially when it came down to how the borrower viewed him.

Well, not him specifically of course, but his kind.

The thought was a bit sour and it didn’t sit well with him, but he wasn’t going to let that rule his thoughts.

However, instead of following the same path, Patton had taken a few different twists and turns and, much to Logan’s relief, they hadn’t had to cross any more nail bridges or climb anything that needed a hook and a rope.

He had mentioned that since he had supposedly taken a tumble off of the table, that’s where all of his belongings were. Which wasn’t entirely untrue.

Logan’s things did reside on the counter.

Before long, Patton was stepping over a cacophony of electrical wires and Logan was following suit. The borrower held up a hand for a moment, biting into his lower lip as he peered around through the small holes in the socket. After a few seconds of deliberate silence the coast was deemed clear—of course, since the owner of the apartment was currently stood behind him—and soon the other managed to jostle the outlet from it’s socket and slipped through the small opening it had created.

As soon as Logan had stepped out and righted himself, his gaze was directed onto the interior of his own kitchen. He straightened out his shirt, adjusting his glasses before really taking in the sight before him. A look of astonishment crossed his features as he reveled in the fact that his shrink ray had worked in the first place. Not to mention because it had worked, Logan had been introduced to a whole new secret society of tiny humanoid bipedal creatures that survived wholly on their dependence of humankind and taking things that humans wouldn’t miss.

“It’s pretty scary, isn’t it?”‌ Patton said to the side of him, crossing his hands in front of him. He had obviously mistaken the look on Logan’s face. “You’ve…never actually seen a human before, have you?”

“No,”‌ Logan said, inching a bit closer to the edge of the counter, before turning around and looking upward. Seeing the scale of his cupboards and such. He was still entirely taken by the sights. He would have to try out his machine more often now.

“You’re pretty lucky then,”‌ Patton hummed, following him slightly before his attention shifted to the ray sitting harmlessly to the side of them. He seemed to consider it uneasily, not liking the look of it, but turned his attention back to the other supposed borrower. “And I really hope you never have to.”

Logan understood that Patton was wary and that was good of him, especially in a world where everything seemed to outmatch him. However, everything was coming down to this point and he had to make a decision. He could tell Patton the truth and risk the borrower fleeing, or he could wait until Patton showed himself out and then turn himself back to normal.

However, while the second option was admittedly more attractive, Logan could only keep the whole charade up for so long.

And maybe, just maybe, he could prove to Patton that not all of humanity were mindless monsters that would just grab with the intention to keep. If everything worked out according to plan, there would be no worry of Patton packing his things and leaving the complex altogether.

“They must be terrifying from your stature,”‌ Logan mused then, his eyes scanning over the ray that sat harmlessly next to them. The thing itself towered over him, just as everything else in his kitchen did, and he paused. Considering his next words carefully, he turned to face Patton head on. “Do you trust me?”

The sentence was obviously startling as the other blinked at him, brown eyes surprised and suddenly cautious. “Well, yeah,”‌ he relented after a moment. It was true because there was trust in the relationship but a lot of it came from how neither had done anything to prove that trust to be faulty. “Why?”

Logan flexed his hands, unsure of how to phrase it without it coming off as alarming. “Then I‌ need you to stand there,” he said finally, watching Patton’s confused expression morph into a slightly more concerned one. Even more so when his hands tightened on the straps of his bag. “I am asking a lot of you and I‌ will not take offense if any of this is startling and you feel the need to leave.”

The more Logan spoke, the more nervous he seemed to be making his accomplice. “What are you talking about?”

Logan took a moment, gauging his expression and considering whether or not he should say what he was about to. After a moment, he decided that he might as well get it over with. “Patton, I’m not what you think I am.”‌

Patton laughed nervously, taking a slight step backward. “What?”

Knowing that just saying it wouldn’t be taken seriously, Logan turned to look over his shoulder eyeing the ray that sat behind him. He turned on his heel and went right over to it. The thing itself was taller than he had ever thought possible and pushed the button he knew would reverse the entire mess he had gotten himself into.

He could feel Patton’s gaze watching his every move, carefully aware and astute. Logan had noticed that the other was incredibly vigilant. Even if he didn’t always let it on. Patton could notice small shifts in one’s features or dips in the atmosphere of a room.

He was incredibly intelligent and knew a lot more than he seemed to let on.

After adjusting some more of the settings on the machine itself, Logan stepped back and stood in front of it. The silence was tense, but filled with the low humming of the ray coming back online and beginning to work just as it had before.

After a second more, there was a flash of bright white light and Logan prepared himself as best as he could for it, but the change was still weird and odd and rather staggering. Going from one size to a completely different one was not a feeling he would ever get used to, but perhaps he could find a way to make it a little less uncomfortable.

However, as he blinked his eyes open and adjusted his glasses that had gone askew, Logan was looking up at the kitchen counter once again, but from a normal size while sitting slightly disoriented on the floor.

He shook off the wave of nausea as he pushed himself up onto his knees and made it so that he was eye-level with the counter and the borrower in turn, whom of which—to put it kindly—looked shaken.

Logan could read the expression on Patton’s face easily. ‌It was a mix of terror and betrayal. As this was not a secret that would be easy to swallow or wrap one’s mind around. As the whole act of shrinking and growing oneself should be scientifically impossible. And yet, here they were with yet another captivating anomaly.

Patton shook his head, unbelieving of what he was seeing right in front of him. “I, um…”

“Take a breath Patton,”‌ Logan instructed, but not unkindly. “I’m not going to hurt you.”

Instead, he was greeted with another shake of the head. It seemed as though his words had gone right over the borrower’s head. He was obviously in shock.

“Y-you’re a—”

“A human, yes,”‌ Logan stated, his tone remaining calm, soft and collected.

“I…I said all those things,” he stammered out, almost looking horrified at the information he had revealed without truly realizing it. His hands tightened on the strap of his bag. “And you…you know—and I…”

“Easy.” Logan would remain the calm one in this situation if that is what the other needed, which it obviously was. “Do you really think I‌ would use any of that against you?”

The borrower’s hands were shaking.‌ Actually, if Logan looked closer, his entire body was trembling.

Patton was petrified.

It set an uneasy feeling in his chest, knowing that his very presence was causing this amount of distress. So, trying to alleviate some of it, Logan lowered himself down further so he was below Patton’s eye-level. Perhaps it would have been better to have admitted to his human nature before now, but it was too late for that and now he had to deal with the backlash of such a thoughtless decision.

“You can trust me,” Logan said, his voice was firm but calm. A reassurance that he hoped was working. With the panic overriding probably everything in Patton’s being, he supposed it may be difficult to get a positive reaction. “I‌ will not touch you without your permission, I promise.”

Patton eyed him warily, his hands still snapped shut on the strap of his bag. Logan did notice that the borrower’s eyes kept darting around as well, trying to figure out a safe escape route without alerting him to the silent idea. Not that he faulted Patton for wanting to find a way out of this situation, but he supposed it was better handled now and explain himself, rather than to have Patton run off believing the worst.

Even if it hurt, inexplicably, to have Patton staring up at himself the way he was.

“I–I’m sorry,”‌ Patton stammered out, ducking his head as if waiting for something.

“I‌ assure you there is no reason to apologize.”‌ Though, Logan was a bit baffled by what Patton meant. When the borrower kept his head down, Logan understood. The talk they had about the human that lived in this apartment, the one with all the science-y stuff, as Patton had put it. “I‌ am very much not upset by that at all.”

“But I— I‌ said…”

Logan raised a hand to stop him, only acutely aware that that was the wrong movement a few seconds too late. He quickly put it back in his lap, trying to remedy his thoughtless action. “I‌ know what you said Patton, and I‌ harbour no ill will towards it. In fact, your statement earlier was rather accurate and one cannot argue with the facts.”

The borrower shuffled nervously on his feet, eyes still flicking around to make sure that he did have some sort of way to get away if things did go south. Logan could guarantee that if Patton decided to make a break for it, he wouldn’t grab for him—as that would shatter any and all chance of getting Patton to trust him.

Patton bit his lower lip, trying to weigh the pros and cons of this situation. An easy con, the human knew about him. The pro to that, however, it was Logan. Someone he had talked to and gotten to know fairly well. While everything in him was screaming that he should duck and run, it almost didn’t feel right. He tried to still his shaking hands as he dug further into the strap, looking up and meeting Logan’s eyes finally. “R-really?”

Logan offered a single nod in affirmation. “Really.”

Well, while he was still very scared—and with good reason!—Patton found himself wanting to understand, more than anything. “Then why did you…?”

“Use the shrink ray on myself?” Logan chuckled slightly when he got a nod, finding the situation almost comical as he recalled the event. “I‌ can assure you that it was not deliberate. My finger slipped on the trigger, if you must know. And while it was not an intentional usage, I‌ cannot say that I‌ am disappointed with the results it yielded.”

Such terminology seemed to make Patton almost more nervous and Logan belatedly realized that his vocabulary could make him seem intimidating, even to other humans.

“That said, I mean such in the way that I got to meet you.”‌

Logan was not one for sentiment, that much was very apparent, but for the short time that Logan had known Patton, the other seemed to be incredibly sentimental. Kind, understanding, if a bit melancholy at times. Patton was an absolutely fascinating bipedal mammal that should not be able to exist, but that was not the only fascinating thing about him. What Logan also found intriguing was just how delightful and considerate he had been with a complete stranger. Patton was sensitive, so much so to the point that it almost baffled the human. How someone could be so giving and genuine with a person they had never met before, it was almost unheard of.

Such a gentle statement had seemed to have startled Patton, but it didn’t take long before a tentative grin broke across his features. Logan was surprised to see the borrower take a few steps toward him. “You really mean that?”

The statement was so hopeful and warm, Logan couldn’t help but a let a small grin alight his own features. “If I did not mean it, I‌ wouldn’t have said it.”

Patton had been alone for a long time, at least that’s what Logan had gathered from his chat with him. Like this, he supposed one could remain in the building and live in safety and he could continue to learn more about borrowers as a whole. Only, of course, if Patton was willing to share such information with him.

“I‌ am curious, however, does me being human taint our friendship?” Logan completely understood if it did, but Patton almost looked hurt at the statement.

Logan was simply stating the facts, not trying to be inconsiderate to one’s feelings.

“Of course not!” The vehemence behind Patton’s voice was surprising, to put it lightly. “I— I‌ admit that this surprise scared me. And I’m still kinda scared, I’m not gonna lie, but you said you wouldn’t do anything to me and you haven’t yet even though you’ve had plenty of time.” He was almost rambling to himself at this point, before shaking it off and meeting Logan’s eyes again. “So, no. To answer your question, you being human does not taint our friendship.”

Logan felt warmth bloom in his chest at the reassurance and he found his smile becoming more genuine.

It was hard to say if one had been able to befriend a borrower before (which did have it’s possibilities) and just didn’t document it, but knowing this secret felt sacred. And looking down at Patton, who was no longer anxiously clinging to the strap of his bag but instead looked more comfortable, said far more than Logan would be able to fathom.

If someone as inviting and warm as Patton could like him, then maybe Logan was doing something right after all.

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snakeboistan · 4 years ago

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HAPPY BIRTHDAY SHIOTA NAGISA

Thank you, Nagisa, for showing me that being kind and gentle doesn’t mean that you’re weak and also that the parts about you that you hate can be turned into your greatest weapon. You have been a role model for me for the past four years and I strive to be as wise and caring as you. Keep doing what you’re doing, you adorable little assassin, we’re all so very proud of you. 😍😊

Yes, I know that Nagisa’s birthday is during Summer break but shhhhh

(25 unread messages)

Akabane Karma: Hey there Nagi :) HAPPY BIRTHDAY BLUEBERRY! I can’t believe you are officially older than me. But don’t get your hopes up, just because you’re my elder, doesn’t mean that I will start listening to you. Just to show you how awesome I am, I decided to stay up late so that I can text you exactly at 00:00. But for real, I hope you have an awesome day and I promise to beat up anyone that ruins it for you ;) Nagisa, you are honestly the most amazing person I’ve ever met and you’re seriously like such a sweet and kind and honest and good person and I have no idea how someone as nice and forgiving as you ended up befriending someone as crazy and violent as me. You’re the only person who's never been scared of me and even though you hate violence you still stood by me and never tried to change me and you liked me for me. No one’s ever liked me without expecting me to change and I’ve never felt as comfortable being myself with someone as I have with you. Can’t wait to see you at school today - I got you a present. No I won’t tell you what it is and yes, you’ll definitely love it. See you soon.

Sugino Tomohito: Happy Birthday Nagisa! Hope that you have fun today! I just want to tell you that you are the best best friend that I could ever ask for and I am truly grateful for everything that you have done for me. When I first got kicked down to 3-E and was forced to leave the baseball club, I thought that it was all over but you came along and was the first person to actually sit down and listen to me and you offered to practice baseball with me and honestly, that really made my day. Dude, you are like this amazing blue ball of kindness and like seriously you are brilliant but you don’t nearly give yourself enough credit. I don’t know where you get your low self esteem from or what it is that makes you think that you are worth so little but I promise to remind you that you are cared for every single day until your next birthday and for the rest of your life. Okay, that probably sounded super weird but it’s early and my brain is like 60% baseball memes at this point. At first I hated losing my baseball friends and getting sent to this abandoned building on top of a death mountain but meeting you has made me realise that our crazy assassination classroom™ is the best thing that’s ever happened to me. From the day I’ve met you, you’ve been nothing but loyal and caring. You are the person I can talk and rant to and you’ll never judge me and you always know how to make you smile. And honestly, you are worth 1000 baseball teams. Don’t let your mother get you down. See you in class! Oh, BTW, my little brother says Hi.

Kayano Kaede: HIIIIII NAGISA! HOPE YOU HAVE A HAPPY BIRTHDAY FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART! I got you a gift and I hope you like it and no it’s not pudding but you will be getting some cake from that cafe we visited over the weekend. It’s not easy being the new girl and ever since I’ve joined the class, you’ve been nothing but an awesome best friend and you have always been by my side since the day we decided to have matching hairstyles (which might I say looks so much better on you than it does on me - UNFAIR!) I hope the rest of the year is filled with pudding and happiness and sweets and smiles and everything else you love

Nakamura Rio: Happy birthday to our resident blueberry cinnamon roll! Have a wonderful day ‘Gisa. I’m sure you will when you see what I have in store for you ;). You are seriously the most mature, innocent, pure little bean I have ever met - and definitely the most fun person to play pranks on! Dont worry, as the birthday boy, you shall spend 24 hours completely prank free. Yes, yes I know, I’m the best classmate ever. Dont need to tell me something I already know, sweetie. See you later, my fellow English lover!

Maehara Hiroto: Yo, dude, Happy Birthday! Hope you have fun and enjoy what we’ve got in store for you (no hints!). Like seriously you are legit the most awesome person ever cause you’re so sweet and innocent and can turn into this super awesome secret badass whenever you want to. Youre like the class therapist/medic/person we can always rely on and you never complain when we drive you crazy (cause I know that we do). I’m super proud of you man. Never change Nagisa. See you at school. (BTW - We still up for karaoke next week?)

Isogai Yuuma: Happy birthday Nagisa! Hope you have a wonderful day! I can’t wait to see you in class later. When my siblings found out that it was your birthday, they insisted that they make you a card.You are an irreplaceable member of our class and I’m so happy that you are part of it. Seriously, if it wasn’t for you and your ability to calm people down and talk people out of doing whatever crazy idea they came up with, I’m pretty sure I would’ve lost my mind. You’re always smiling and always participate in class without complaining and you always see the best in everyone. Keep on doing what you do Nagisa, the world could use more people like you. ( Oh and come to the cafe later, I got an iced bun on the house for you)

Fuwa Yuzuki: AAAAAHHHHH HAPPY BIRTHDAY NAGISA! CONGRATULATIONS ON SUCCESSFULLY SURVIVING THIS LONG ON EARTH! OOHH IM SUPER EXCITED FOR YOU TO SEE WHAT I’VE GOT YOU! Thank you for always going along with and listening to my crazy anime/manga rants even when you have no idea whats going on. It’s so much fun hanging out with you cause youre chill and youre always up for anything and apart from Takabayshi you’re the person in the class that get my references the most. Youre an amazing main protagonist and you deserve all of the screentime and lines you get - heck even your own spin-off show. For someone who loves heroes so much, youre doing an amazing job of being one yourself. Youre the best Watson a Sherlock like me could ever ask for and a really good friend for this manga obsessed Otaku! Love you and see you later!

Kataoka Megu: Happy Birthday Nagisa. I hope that you enjoy the rest of the day. As someone whose job is to watch over our … interesting class, having you around makes everyone else bearable. I’m sure that if you aren’t here to keep the peace I would’ve murdered Okajima months ago. You have always been really respectful and kind and I appreciate having someone as hard-working and loyal as you in my class. I always enjoy having our talks about equal rights and you have always been like a little brother to me (honestly, I prefer you over my actual older brother). See you later and please continue to stay the way you are.

Okano Hinata: Hey there Nagisa. Happy Birthday! How’s it going, little dude! Hope you enjoy yourself and have lots of fun today. Thank you for being one of the only boys that I can actually stand. You are such an amazing person to have in the class and you’re amazing at being someone that we can all come to when we’re upset. Plus you let us brush your amazing godly hair (seriously I’m jealous at how nice it is). If any main campus kids try to ruin this special day - come to me and I’ll sort them right out :)

Kurahashi Hinano: HAPPY BIRTHDAY NAGISA! I HOPE YOU HAVE LOTS AND LOTS AND LOTS OF FUN TODAY AND EVERY SINGLE DAY OF YOUR LIFE! CAN’T WAIT TO SEE YOU SO THAT I CAN GIVE YOU YOUR PRESENT IN PERSON AND THE BIGGEST BIRTHDAY HUG EVER! YOU ARE AN AMAZING PERSON AND I (AND EVERYONE ELSE) LOVE YOU SOO MUCH OKAY I HAVE TO GO NOW BUT BYEEEE

Kimura Masayoshi: Hey Nagisa! Happy Birthday! Can’t wait to see you at school!

Mimura Kouki: Happy Birthday Nagisa :) wish you the best :)

Yada Touka: Happy Birthday Nagisa! I hope you have a fun-filled day! You are a really sweet and nice person and I enjoy hanging around with you - especially when you join us girls on our girl trips to the mall. You’re like a little brother to me and I always feel comfortable when I’m with you. Love you and hope you have a nice day <3

Takabayashi Koutarou: Happy Birthday Nagisa. I hope that you enjoy yourself.

Hayami Rinka: Happy Birthday Nagisa

Okajima Taiga: Happy Birthday Nagisa. You are such an incredible person to have in the class. And thank you for always saving me from the girls when they get mad at me. Hope you have fun. I was going to give you some really cool magazines but when the girls figured it out they slapped me and said that they’d tie me up in the middle of the mountain and leave me there if I did so I’m just gonna give you something else that I made (with Sugaya’s help). I’ll show you it at school - I hope you like it.

Kanzaki Yukiko: Happy Birthday Nagisa. I hope you have a nice day and thank you for being such a good and reliable friend. See you at school.

Yoshida Taisei: Happy Birthday Nagisa! I’m so sorry for the grenade incident earlier and I am so happy Koro-Sensei saved you. Also like you are one tough guy, you know that right? Cause what happened with Takaoka, man you couldve beaten any of us up with your eyes closed any time. Stay awesome dude. See you at the mountain

Hara Sumire: Happy Birthday Nagisa. I’ve made some sushi just for you. I hope you like it. As your official unofficial mother, I hope you have fun today and I can’t wait to see you later.

Sugaya Sosuke: Happy Birthday Nagisa. Thank you for being around and seeing the good in all of us even when we don’t see it ourselves. You always know how to inspire us and you are going to be an awesome grown up when you’re older. You always appreciate everyone and you know exactly how to pick us up when we’re down. I hope you like your present (you’ll get it later)

Okuda Manami: Happy Birthday Nagisa! I hope you have a wonderful day today. I just want to say thank you for being my friend and always encouraging me and helping me. You always know how to cheer me up and include me. See you at school.

Chiba Ryuunosuke: Happy Birthday Nagisa

Hazama Kirara: Happy Birthday fellow literature lover. I really enjoy talking about gothic literature with you - your analysis of themes and context is always very insightful and interesting and I enjoy spending time with you. If you ever need to escape, you can always come to me. PS - my offer to curse your mother is still up.

Muramatsu Takuya: Happy Birthday Nagisa. Hope you have fun. I made you some ramen (don’t worry its not my dad’s recipe so you’ll be good)

Terasaka Ryouma: Sup Shiota, Happy Birthday. I just want to say that I’m really sorry for being an a**hole and treating you like a jerk - especially forcing you to wear that grenade at the beginning of the year. You’re really good at assassination and you’ve got some serious moves. I dont really know what to say but you can always hang out with my gang whenever you want.

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shorkbrian · 4 years ago

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INBOX

SO! I know I hoard asks. It’s a bad habit. Reasons?

I like to go look at them when I’m sad because they cheer me up.

I don’t want anyone to get annoyed that my blog is clogged up with asks, it’s a fear of mine that someone will think I'm annoying.

BUTT! My inbox is so cluttered right now, It’s hard for me to find certain requests. I saw someone else do an mass ask answering like this, and I LEARNED that if I tag it, I can look that tag up on my blog!

ALSO PSA you can also comment on my pics or message me to talk!!!!! I will never turn anyone away!!! I love you all!

ANOTHER PSA - if you want to not have to see this in the future, pls block the tag “shorkbrian answers a lot of asks”

Lets get ready to rumble!!!!!!!

These are in no particular order! Know that if you don’t see an ask you sent, it’s because I plan on writing something for it, probably like a lil Drabble cause those are my favorite (can you tell?)

Hello! My pronouns are They/Them or He/Him! I want to like give u a big ole hug for this question, You’re super sweet!

OOP Okay listen I’ve had a couple dreams with very unsavory happenings and each one is awful and so so scary. I hope your dream didn’t make you feel icky or anything dude. I Lub u, stay safe.

I am speechless. This is.... wow man. This is an amazing, positive review of my work and I feel so blessed and honored that you took the time to message me. I LOVE LOVE LOVE reading what people think of my work, and this one made me just like. I am like so blessed dude. Speechless (in the best way possible)

AHHHHH Thank you!!!! Look at those emojis!!!! SO bright and colorful and fun!!!!

As a fellow Hornee person that is dumb, I would like to say...... Why stop at a chefs kiss? are you afraid to kiss me on the mouth, homie? For future reference, I like tongue. (asdaslhjkah sorry I’m stupid but Thank you for these kind words!!!! What nice descriptors man, I’m like wilting under the praise its too much!)

Yes, reader is NOT going to have a fun time. Thanks for reading! I appreciate your support so so so much!!

Hey, listen! Requests are “closed” so I can have time to catch up without getting overwhelmed. If one or two slip in, they won’t get deleted :)

Bro, I recently talked to a friend with a similar experience. I’m so sorry for the things you’ve had to deal with, it sounds awful. The world is big and scary and VERY loud, and you are so amazing for navigating it. Bakugou would give you insane cuddles to help u feel better, remember dat okie?

Maybe! I’m getting around to things babey, it might take a hot second. But I will try!

Thank you! I try babey I try lol. I Lub u by the way thank u for msging me

I accept this wisdom. Thank you for sharing. I pray for a time when I will be able to use it.

You nailed it. I want this on my tombstone pls and thank u.

omg omg thank youuuuuuuu!!!!! Honestly, I think Izuku is still so so so shy, even when it comes to doing stuff with his darling. ugh his poor darling. Ur right tho, no one would ever believe that Izuku was doing bad stuff. But once again!!! Thank YOU for reading and taking the time to send me an ask!!!! Warms my heart

wait wait okay I LOVE LOVE LOVE Kirishima I am his BIGGEST simp and this compliment? SENT ME TO OUTER SPACE. I squealed so hard I got like liftoff and I made it out of the atmosphere. This is the BEST thing EVER Thank you SO much my heart is POURING out love Grimm I would DIE for u no cap

idk? Personally, I hate being touched so I probably would politely be like “Pls dont ahah” but I would hit him with paper airplanes with cute little notes inside.

I wish I wish with all my heart that I could turn into a small person tonight. Like, I'm crying. I am 6′0 and built like a refrigerator aint nobody able to manhandle me... *sobs in big man syndrome* I will continue to feed u tho bc it is a GIANT fantasy of mine to be manhandled and tossed around. lets goooooo

I don’t want to be a religion, can we start a cult? I’ll be the sacrifice.

bonk bonk bonk bonk bonk bonk TOO LATE (Also thank ant the comment abc my humor! Inspires me and tbh enables me)

no U

“hey google?”

“What can I help you with today?”

“Why do I have the SWEEEEEEETEST followers ever? How did this happen? They make me blush I can’t handle it”

I have a SIMP???????? Come off anon u and I are going to talk and then passionately kiss. (not rlly but I do Lub you, thank you for the kind and gentle words)

bonk bonk bonk bonk (Also this was sent to me on a Sunday? I live in America bruv)

Pls don’t I almost peed my pants I was snorting at 2am and trying my hardest not to disturb my cat it was very hard (Repeat I almost PEED my PANST U HEATHEN)

wait stop stop u always give me such amazing comments skid I want to give u a candle made with wax and tears of love. You are so sweet. Pls never hesitate to reach out for a chat I luv u okei

BLACK HEART ANON I’m dedicating everything in my will to u, hope you know that. Okay, but seriously - I get being afraid of people. I don’t think you’re being hypocritical, I think you’re being kind and selfless and reaching out a helping hand to a loser like me. Black heart emojis low-key always make me think of you now and it fills my heart with warmth. Thank you for existing dude,

What have I said about the chefs kiss? Kiss me on the mouth u cowards. Do it.

Also this ask made me SAWFT I want to gibe u like idk a candy heart necklace to show how SOFT and Ugh demonstrate my LUB

I am glad I found YOU!!! Not everyone bothers to comment or interact or send me nice asks. They make my day man. You rock!

YYaaaayyyyaa!!! I’m cool with all the canon characters of BNHA except for Bakubro. I adore his fanon personification, but just how he acts in the show..... that aint it chief. I totally get u

TYSM!!!! Heart heart!! Aizawa has the potential to be so creepy and awful, he’s super interesting to try and write for! I’m glad you like my content, and thank you for telling me such!!!!!!!! LUB U

GRIMMM STAWWWWWWP I’m like on the verge of like melting into a PUDDLE of goopy admiration how the heck do u even know my blog ur so cool and I still can’t believe I can like.... talk to you. Ur rad dude.

BLACK HEARTTTTTTT You are never invading my privacy. Your asks are two that I hold very near and dear to my heart. I reread them over and over and they help when I’m having sucky days. Pls pls pls recognize that you’re an amazing person and you lift up my spirits and you are genuinely awesome. I love u Black Heart

I LOVE Kiri, have I mentioned? He’s my fav. And yes!!! I am VERY open to ideas!!!! Love pretty much everything and anything that comes my way!!! thank u for sending me an ask dude, means a lot :)

Sensitive anon, my dear dear friend if ur reading this know that I adore talking with u and I like hearing about ur day and You are so sweet and you make the world a better place by being in it

WE SIMP...... TOGETHER!!!!

Another beautiful baby that I always see interacting with me!!! I love you so so much and Each time your name pops up in my motifs I get so excited to see what you say!!! I’ve been holding onto this ask FOREVER because the little picture is SO CUTE and it makes me softer than melted butter man.

Okay, we’ve done it lads! I love each and every one of you!!!!!!!

#shorkbrian answers a lot of asks #love all of you #so so so much #you all make my day

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writer-and-artist27 · 4 years ago

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Weight in Chocolate

Note: Inspired by Dig Two Graves, my memories of family talking amongst each other, and recent talks with Lang ( @langwrites ). Happy birthday, beloved friend. I hope you spend your day loved and cared for because you deserve it. You and Os helped me become a better person, and I can’t thank you enough for continuing to grace me with your presence. This is the least I can do.

I’ll just drop this song here before going on with the story. Short but sweet, I think. Takes place in S&S and beta’d by Os — the original Beta — before posting. Consider this “part 1″ of your present.

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

Weekly meetings had become a common occurrence by the time the children had turned into teenagers. The former Uesegi Tomoe would not have even allowed herself the time to rest on her quest for revenge, but the killers of her family were gone from this world.

In Tomoe’s place, Gekkō Miyako smiled and opened the door once three gentle raps sounded against the wood. In the doorway, Hoshino Hikari beamed back, a picnic basket of barely concealed sweets hanging from her right wrist as she waved with her left hand. Muffins?

“You have certainly outdone yourself yet again, Hikari-chan,” Miyako said softly, stepping to the side for her friend to walk through the doorway. “Have you been working with Tomoko-chan?”

“She’s been reading a lot of recipe books,” Hikari said instead of a direct answer, slipping off her geta sandals while ducking her head in a quick greeting. “And I have to be there to make sure she doesn’t overdo it.”

“As you should,” Miyako agreed politely, raising her hands in a friendly offering. Hikari glanced at her open palms once before her smile widened, proceeding to drop the picnic basket into Miyako’s grip. “Tomoko-chan is quite a handful.”

“Responsible children are all handfuls, Miyako-chan,” Hikari corrected, eyebrows quirked upwards on her head in mirth as she slipped on a pair of guest slippers. “But that’s what these meetings are for, right?”

Miyako rolled her eyes in return. “I will prepare the tea. May I ask for your assistance?”

“Of course!”

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

Miyako did her best to not roll her eyes again once Hikari was “discretely” pushing the basket of sweets in her direction from across the dining table while mid-sip of her tea. “Hikari, I will partake in them eventually.”

“That doesn’t mean I’m not looking forward to your reaction!” Hikari blurted out past her teacup, the excitement in her voice betraying her “nonchalant” facade. Any other time and then Hikari might have spit out her tea. Miyako was internally grateful she did not have to dodge the tea splatter this time. “It’s the first time in a while that I got to present you something before Tomoko-chan could!”

Miyako made a small note to herself not to get onto Hikari’s competitive side. That part of her was certainly something her daughter did not inherit, and it may have been for the best considering how the other children could get in their training. “I was not aware you were so excited.”

“Oh, we both know that’s a lie,” Hikari said cheerily.

Miyako gave her the point for that. “So.” She lowered her own teacup. “Is there anything else you wanted to say?”

The enthusiasm on Hikari’s face died a little for confusion. “Is there a reason I need just for seeing a friend?”

Once again, Miyako gave her the point. “That is fair,” she said mildly, tilting her head. “But I still believe that you have something else to say.” The faint flare that was Hikari’s chakra was flickering, after all.

Hikari’s face contorted for a moment as she slowly blinked at Miyako, matching the flame in her chest. Her eyebrows furrowed against her forehead as she proceeded to rest her chin in the palm of her right hand, closing her eyes in thought. Her ponytail swished behind her neck, then she said, “Hey, I had no other excuse to come by and visit. I just wanted to see you!” Hikari seemed particularly indignant about the last part if her voice and narrowed blue eyes were any indication.

Miyako took a moment to realize that surprise was starting to flood her veins. “…At least you are being honest about it,” she admitted after a moment, averting her gaze from Hikari’s face out of habit. “I still have yet to be used to this.”

“Then get used to it!” Hikari seemed happier at Miyako admitting as much, the smile returning to her face. It took another moment for Hikari to pause and let the smile drop for a thoughtful expression. “Though, now that you do mention it—”

“Yes?”

Hikari pushed the basket of sweets towards Miyako again, and Miyako leveled a questioning stare in return. “Just look and see for yourself, will you?”

Eyebrows quirked, Miyako erred on caution, slowly reaching over to the basket and lifting the cloth keeping the baked pastries hidden from view. As expected, muffins were nestled in the space, but the surprise was laid out in how the muffins were arranged.

Thank you, the chocolate chips embedded in the muffins spelled out.

Miyako blinked. She glanced between the muffins and Hikari, moving her head back and forth between the two before catching herself. “Hikari, this is—”

“Remember how Tomoko-chan was making an ‘Appreciate Kei Day’?” Hikari said in lieu of an answer, waving a single pointer finger in the air. “I just took some notes from her and made these for you.”

Miyako blinked again, rapidly this time. “Hikari-chan…”

“We’ve known each other for quite a while thanks to our kids,” Hikari filled in for Miyako’s silence, gently tapping the table with her free hand. “But I kept feeling like I never had the chance to say thank you for your company, Miyako-chan. Especially after all the times we’ve hung out like this.”

“You do not have to, Hikari,” Miyako interrupted, biting the inside of her cheek. “I chose to spend this time with you.”

“And it’s because of that I’m grateful to have you!” Hikari blurted out in that moment, stopping whatever train of thought Miyako had in mind. It took a moment for an embarrassed flush to cover her cheeks and Hikari then glanced away, rubbing the back of her neck. “I-I’m not good at being as open as Tomoko-chan is, and I know we don’t know that much about each other outside our dorks for husbands and housework. Heck, I still need to memorize the date of your birthday!” Miyako wasn’t expecting to hear that part, but still waited for Hikari to look up. Hikari kept her gaze focused on the tea in front of them instead. Whether she knew about Miyako’s inner thoughts was another matter entirely. “But…”

“But?” Miyako humored gently.

“…I didn’t have the greatest life before I met Judai,” Hikari confessed, her head ducked and facing the tablecloth. “Not a lot of friends. I usually stayed in my room a lot. But you, Miyako-chan,” Hikari then looked up from her tea cup to smile, tears welling up in the corners of her bright blue eyes. “You’re one of the first and greatest friends I could’ve ever asked for.”

Miyako opened her mouth, covering it with her fingertips for the smallest moment once she belatedly found out there were no words on her tongue to speak with.

“I know, I know.” Hikari waved a hand in the air as if to dispel any awkward tension in the room, unperturbed by Miyako’s silence. “That was cheesy as all heck, but I mean it. Even if I don’t know a lot about you—” Miyako froze at that part, tasting iron in the back of her mouth, “—I feel like I don’t need to. Being around you is good enough for me.”

Miyako felt herself relax before she knew she was doing it. She then reached over to place a hand on Hikari’s shoulder, squeezing with all the gratitude she could muster. “Thank you,” she said sincerely.

“You’re welcome.” Hikari beamed back, apparently not minding the single tear that streamed down her right cheek. With a shaky chuckle, she then wiped at her eyes. Miyako waited for Hikari to compose herself. Once Hikari’s chakra flickered, pearly white teeth peeked out past her lips as she smiled again. “E-Enough about me. Can you just try one of those muffins already, Miyako-chan? I’m starting to sweat from the anticipation.”

Miyako decided not to mention the “sweat’s” identity as tears still dotted the corners of Hikari’s eyes, opting to shake her head with a fond shrug. “I doubt that last part, but alright.” She let go of her friend’s shoulder to take a muffin in hand, taking off the wrapper before bringing it close for a bite.

Sweet.

“Thank you for being here, Miyako-chan,” Hikari said once Miyako finished chewing. “I hope the muffins tell you that more than me getting teary over it.”

Miyako felt herself smile back. “Thank you, Hikari-chan,” she repeated back, inclining her head. “The muffin was delicious.”

Hikari wrung her hands together in sheer relief, laughing softly. “Good. Th-That’s good.”

Everyone had skeletons in their closets, but Miyako already knew she did not feel the need to share when the world outside was bright enough as is.

#writing #birthday gift #hoshino hikari #miyako gekko #tomoe uesegi #long post #langwrites #birthday gift for Lang #the sea and stars

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chroniccombustion · 5 years ago

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Things I’ll Never Say

From “And a Week is All I Need (To Fall in Love With You)“, part of @souyoweek2020

Genre: romance, mutual pining, dorks in love, M/M Rated: K+ Characters: Souji Seta (Yu Narukami), Hanamura Yosuke, Tatsumi Kanji, brief Dojima Nanako cameo Warnings: mild language Status: drabble collection, incomplete

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(song the title is from)

Day 2: Yosuke’s Birthday or Sunny

“Kanji...” he whispers, voice hoarse and cracking slightly at the end. “The other day, when you came over... was there a stack of colored envelopes on my desk?”

Confused silence greets him for a moment. Then, “Uh.... I think so? Pretty sure I remember seein' it.” He paused. “Why? Did I leave it there or somethin'? I swear I thought I grabbed it with the rest of the gifts...”

Souji's heart goes plummeting through his feet. “You... grabbed that one, too...?”

“This everything, Senpai?”

Souji looks up from where he's busy tucking a birthday card into a burnt-orange envelope – one that he folded extra-special just for this purpose. Grey eyes scan over the pile of other cards and small packages resting on his desk, taking stock of everything to make sure it's all there. After a moment he nods. “It should be, yeah.”

He stands from his spot behind the low work table and takes a moment to smile quietly down at the envelope in his hands before turning a wider smile towards the person standing across the room. “Thanks again, Kanji,” he says warmly, and the way the taller boy blushes faintly isn't lost on him. It's cute, Souji thinks, and maybe in another timeline where he wasn't already hopelessly in love with someone else, he might very well have been able to return the crush he knows his friend has on him. But that's neither here nor there, and as it stands Souji knows all too well how it feels to have his affections go unreturned. Even if he's much better at hiding them than Kanji is.

The punk mumbles something Souji can't quite make out but thinks might be a, “don't gotta thank me.”

He laughs quietly, gently. “I mean it,” he says, “there's no way I'd be able to hide all this where Yosuke wouldn't find it somehow; my room, ah...” He glances around with a soft chuckle, waving a hand at the open space. “I don't really have a lot of extra storage.”

Kanji looks like he's about to reply – probably to wave off Souji's thanks again – but anything he might have said is interrupted by a sweet voice calling from downstairs. “Onii-chan!” The sound of small footsteps padding down the hallway precedes a gentle knock at the door. “Onii-chan? Are you home?”

Souji chuckles, affectionate and soft, and calls, “I'm home. Come on in.”

Nanako needs no further invitation. The door swings open and a pigtailed head peeks in, brown eyes bright. “Onii-chan, Daddy says he's coming home tonight! Will you help me make dinner? Oh!” she gasps, pure delight spreading over her face as she spots kanji near the desk. “Hello!” She looks over at a still-smiling Souji, then back to Kanji, and practically beams. “Are you staying for dinner, too?”

“Would you like to?” Souji asks, quieter than his exuberant little sister but no less genuine. It's been a while since anyone other than Yosuke has been over in the evenings, and Souji finds he wouldn't mind at all if his rough-around-the-edges underclassman stayed and let Souji feed him. After all, Kanji agreed to hiding the pile of birthday gifts so Yosuke doesn't go snooping through his partner's room for them (though Souji is still a little irritated as to just why he knows Yosuke won't be poking around at Kanji's house to look for gifts). At the very least, he'd like to do something to show Kanji his thanks, since the blond doesn't seem inclined to let him say it.

But Kanji has gone from blushing to an odd shade of purple, fingers scratching as the back of his own hair as he ducks his head to the side and down. Souji at first interprets this as 'cuteness overload', because honestly, who does Nanako not have that effect on? But no. Rather than mutter about how adorable Nanako is like he usually does, Souji hears Kanji instead mutter something unintelligible – with the only discernible words being “Dojima” and “staring at me.” And oh. Well. Souji is disappointed, yes, but he does understand; if his uncle weren't coming home then Kanji likely would have agreed, but there is still an awkwardness between the pair of them, mostly out of yet-unbroken habit. So Souji just gives his friend a knowing smile and says, “You need to get home, don't you?” When Kanji looks up at him, Souji nods in gentle understanding. “Your mom?” he adds, giving the other boy an out that won't alert Nanako.

Kanji's eyes widen for a moment as he catches on, then straightens. “Y-yeah!” he says a bit too loud and a bit too quick. “I mean! My ma's probably waitin' on me.”

Nanako visibly deflates and Kanji looks like he's ready to combust, so once again, Souji steps in. “It's alright,” he says at them both as he reaches down to ruffle Nanako's hair. “Another night this week, maybe?” He quirks a stormy-grey brow, lips twitching upwards in a tiny smirk. “I'll bring leftovers for lunch tomorrow, too; you should come sit with me.”

And oh, if Kanji's face doesn't simultaneously light up and flush a bright, dusty red at that. “Ah heck yeah!” he manages to crow past his blush, and it's absolutely great. Souji has to bite back a triumphant smile because he will feed his friend in thanks for his help whether it be tonight or tomorrow. He'll make extra food later on if he has to, just to have enough to bring to school.

In the end, without really looking, Kanji hurriedly shovels the stack of gifts and cards into the paper sack Souji had brought out for him to use, and Souji and Nanako walk him to the front door to see him out. Kanji loiters for an extra five minutes while Nanako hugs him tightly, and Souji thanks Kanji again where he knows his friend can't really dispute the sentiment with Nanako there to back her brother up. Kanji is a good friend, and Souji almost feels bad about the taller boy's crush, what with Souji's constant need to make sure everyone around him is happy, but even if Souji can't return his kohai's affections he sure as hell can let him know he's appreciated. So with Kanji still sporting a blush and Nanako finally letting him go so he can escape, Souji says a last goodbye to the soft-hearted punk, watching him head up the road for a few moments to make sure he'll be alright heading home.

It's not until several days later that he realizes something is horribly amiss.

---

Souji's crush on his best friend started early. If asked, he wouldn't be able to put his finger on an exact date or pick out an exact event that sparked it. It just... happened. Yosuke was his partner, a new friend that Souji had hoped he'd be able to keep, but it was nothing deeper than platonic affection - until it was.

Without warning it had crept up on him, until Souji found he couldn't remember a time when he wasn't in love with the friendly brunette. Yosuke was charming, funny, kind, and despite his flaws (the least of which being the boy's uncanny ability to lodge his own foot in his mouth at the worst of times), Souji had never met another person besides Nanako that he'd clicked with so well.

Which was why it had been getting harder and harder for him to keep his feelings to himself. Back when he'd been living in the city, well before his parents had sent him to Inaba and then given in to his begging to let him stay for his final year of high school, Souji had kept a journal. Every time he'd had an emotion, a thought, a welling-up of something inside him that screamed to be let out but had no safe outlet for him to do so, Souji would sit down at his desk and pour out everything he couldn't say onto the paper. He'd filled up the entire journal within the span of a year.

So he'd started another. And then another. And then he'd moved to Inaba and quickly filled up the last half of that third journal with his secret worry over the murder cases. He'd filled another, thinner journal after that one, too, until he'd run out of both paper and fear and anger and stress to fill it with. He'd thought he was done.

But then he'd fallen in love with Yosuke.

He'd tried starting yet another journal, just to dedicate to how much he was pining (yes, pining, he could admit it to himself, at least) over the best friend he'd ever had. But after he'd finally found the perfect one, cover bright with colors like summer, he'd sat down to touch his pen to the first page and... nothing. For the first time in his life, Souji hadn't been able to put his emotions into words.

For several weeks he would try and start all over again, thinking maybe if he gave himself enough time to think more about what he wanted to say then the words would come easier. He'd get maybe a sentence or two in, reread it, and then grow frustrated with himself for yet another failed attempt. His breakthrough finally came while working on some translations for one of his part time jobs – a letter, written from a high school student to a foreign girl her family had hosted as part of an exchange program. In her letter she'd anxiously confessed her feelings, hopeful they could meet again someday. By the time he went to bed Souji had every word of the letter burned permanently into his brain, and the moment he was free from school the next day he had gone straight to the shopping district and bought himself a pretty, pastel orange stack of stationary, sunflowers drawn in delicate lines across the bottom of each page.

Writing had suddenly become much easier after that. In the form of a letter, where Souji could pretend he was talking directly to the object of his affections rather than just about, he found that he could burn through nearly a dozen pages front and back in a little under a weekend. He'd had to make two more trips to the shop to get more packs of stationary because, while pretty and perfect for inspiring words of love and hopeless devotion, the flowers on the paper were hand-drawn and so there just weren't that many sheets in the package. At some point, Souji had just given in and bought three packs at once to save himself another venture into town.

The stack of letters grew; some were short, filled with simple things like, “you smiled at me today during lunch and I nearly forgot how to breathe,” and some where longer, detailing the way the setting sun had shone behind them at the riverbank and“made you look ethereal.” As he finished them, one by one, Souji would tuck them safely away in one of his homemade envelopes – all in sunset colors and tied together in a bundle with red string. The bundle stayed on his desk, off to the side where it wouldn't be in the way but still close enough that he could reach for it to add another record of his secret love.

Which is why, three days after Kanji had left with the pile of gifts, on the evening of Yosuke's birthday, when Souji goes to write out an entire day's worth of ache and longing and reaches for the bundle of letters so he can add the newly finished one to the rest only to find it missing, he abruptly has a heart attack.

He has a second one twenty minutes later as he stands in the middle of his now gutted bedroom with absolutely no sign of them anywhere. Books and folders lay scattered from where they'd been yanked from his desk and tossed out of the way onto the futon, only for the futon to also be pulled aside and dumped haphazardly across the work table. He'd gone so far as to (quietly) pull both the couch and the desk away from the walls to see if somehow his heart on paper had been lodged between them and the furniture – all to no avail.

He stares at his ransacked surroundings, wracking his brain to try and think of any other place they could be. They wouldn't be downstairs anywhere; neither Nanako nor Dojima have any reason or desire to go through his things. They wouldn't be in his school bag, either, because Souji would sooner walk straight into the Samegawa and let it drown him than take something so dangerous and valuable anywhere near where Yosuke could happen upon it. In fact, Souji had made it a point in times past to hide the letters behind his textbooks on the desk whenever Yosuke came over, and even though Yosuke had spent plenty of time digging around for Souji's “stash,” he'd steered well clear of the study materials. No, there's no place else in the house or out of it that the bundle could be.

No place else except one.

Souji's hands are shaking so badly that he's already almost dropped the phone twice before he manages to scroll through his contacts and successfully locate the name that he prays to every single god imaginable will tell him he's wrong.

“Yo, Senpai, what's up?”

“Kanji...” he whispers, voice hoarse and cracking slightly at the end. “The other day, when you came over... was there a stack of colored envelopes on my desk?”

Confused silence greets him for a moment. Then, “Uh.... I think so? Pretty sure I remember seein' it.” He pauses. “Why? Did I leave it there or somethin'? I swear I thought I grabbed it with the rest of the gifts...”

Souji's heart goes plummeting through his feet. “You... grabbed that one, too...?”

(Nonononono, this wasn't happening, this couldn't be happening!)

Kanji hums on the other end of the speaker. “I mean, I thought I did. I didn't check the bag after I got it home, though... Is somethin' wrong, Senpai?”

Souji hears his own voice, hears himself saying, “N... no. No, nothing's wrong. Thanks, Kanji,” but he can't actually feel the words leaving his mouth. His arm falls limp against his side then, and his fingers act on muscle memory, flipping the phone closed and hanging up the call.

Okay. Okay okay okay, he thinks, trying to keep himself grounded long enough to sort through his own head. The situation is grim, yes, but not hopeless. Yosuke's birthday celebration had been earlier that evening; school had eaten up the first half of the day and both Teddie and Yukiko were on a limited time frame due to work at Junes and the inn, respectively, so there hadn't been much time to do anything other than grab an early dinner together at Aiya's. It had given Kanji and Rise time to run back home and retrieve the bag of gifts and the batch of artisan cupcakes the pop idle had special-ordered in from a shop in Okina and picked up the day before.

The Team had piled into a little corner in the restaurant, laughing and eating and wishing their friend a happy birthday until it was time for Yukiko and Teddie to leave, with Chie offering to escort her girlfriend home. Up until that point, though, they'd all been so busy that Yosuke had forgotten to open any of his presents. And so, not wanting to open anything without the whole group there for him to thank, he'd decided to just take the sack home with him for the time being, with everyone agreeing to meet up at Souji's place the next day after school for Birthday Dinner Round 2.

So. The bad news: Yosuke more than likely has Souji's stack of love letters that were never meant to see the light of day. Alright. Yes. That is utterly goddamn terrifying.

The good news, however, is that he hadn't opened them before, and probably won't open them until they all get together tomorrow. There is still a chance that Souji could get them back without incident – either by waiting until Yosuke is distracted and sneaking the letters back out of the sack of presents, or by telling Yosuke the partial truth, that Kanji had grabbed something by mistake and could I have those back, please, Partner? Yosuke didn't have to know what they were; Souji could simply say that they were letters from his parents from over the years of them being away while Souji stayed either alone or with other people.

Only... Shit. Yosuke already knows that Souji's parents don't actually write to him. Maybe he could say they were from years ago and he was keeping them for sentimentality's sake and putting them in pretty new envelopes. Or! He could say it's stuff he wrote to them but never sent, because that was marginally closer to the truth, wasn't it? But all of that could be a last resort if he isn't able to just steal the letters back and---!

Someone is calling him.

Souji's careening train of thought comes to a screeching halt as his phone begins to vibrate in his hand, the quiet chirping of his ringtone now like a shout into his ears.

He winches, both from the noise and from the whiplash of being sucked back out of his own head, and, on reflex, he brings the offending piece of technology up to his face to look at the screen.

And then immediately jerks back in panic and chucks his phone across the room where it lands on the futon now decorating his work table.

“Oh god no...”

Yosuke is calling him.

Yosuke is calling him and Souji has no plan of action and no way of knowing if he's already too late to stop the tidal wave of destruction that may or may not be headed his way, and ohhhhh he's hyperventilating now, isn't he? Yes. Yes, he most certainly is.

The chirping finally stops just as Souji's vision starts to haze over with white, leaving his ears ringing with its echos for a good few seconds in the sudden quiet of the room. He can hear his own breathing, the thumping of his pulse through his temples and his neck, but with the silence now hanging heavy over his shoulders he finds himself more grounded than he'd been just moments ago. He sighs, shaking out his arms to try and release some of the tension that's been curling tightly in his limbs, and as the quiet stretches on, he feels his hammering heartbeat begin to slow once more.

It takes him ten minutes to feel like a human again. Still jittery but no longer feeling as if he's going to go blind from lack of oxygen, Souji sighs and starts over towards where his phone rests halfway off his displaced futon, leaning down to check and see if it's intact. It's a mistake; no sooner than he's bent over enough to pick up the phone, there comes a muffled scraping sound, like something moving out on the roof. It's followed by a quiet 'thump' and then the sharp, 'tap-tap-tap!' of knuckles against a pane of glass.

Souji lets out a yelp of surprise – the single most undignified, ungraceful sound he's ever made in his life – and whirls around to stare at the closed curtain like he thinks it might somehow come alive. Without even having to see, Souji already knows exactly who has just climbed up the side of the house.

He bites his lip, tasting the barest hint of salt and blood. Please just go away...

Sadly, it seems that whatever deities might have once been on his side are now ignoring him, because in that beat and a half of silent fear there comes another knock at his window. “Souji!” calls a voice from outside. Right outside, as if the speaker is perched just beyond the window, with only the glass and the curtain to separate them both.

The voice – the all-too-familiar voice – comes again, a little louder and less patient this time. “Hey! Partner, I know you're in there, I can see your lights on. I just heard you!” There is a muffled grunt and a sound like something shifting and Souji still can't seem to move. Three more knocks against the glass.

“Bro, I am stupid and reckless as hell, you know I'll just keep getting louder until Dojima wakes up if I have to.”

And both from his tone and the way the knocking and the whispers seem to get steadily louder, Souji doesn't doubt him for a moment. To be frank, Souji isn't entirely sure his uncle and cousin haven't heard all the commotion already – and he knows that the longer he continues to avoid the other boy, the more suspicious he's making himself look. Damned if he does, damned if he doesn't.

So he gives in. Best to get it over with and accept his fate. Maybe there will still be a way to salvage the situation – or at the very least keep it from escalating. He isn't confident in either choice.

It's just as Yosuke makes one last whisper-shout of, “Dude, let me in!” that Souji finally unsticks himself from the floor and yanks the curtain aside to reveal – yep, just like he'd thought – a rather irritated-looking Yosuke kneeling unsteadily on the slanted overhang covering the front door. With a solemn kind of dread, Souji unlocks the window and slides it open, reaching out to grab his friend by the arm and yank him inside before he can make any more noise.

“Finally!” Yosuke says, once he's landed, still in a harsh pseudo-whisper as he's standing up from his hunch. He glares up at Souji, mouth turned down in a pout, but oddly, there doesn't seem to be any heat behind it all. In fact, as Souji stares, tense and frozen and trying impossibly hard to not give in to his fight-or-flight instincts, he could almost say that Yosuke looks... nervous?

Well of course, he argues to himself, he's probably afraid of you now.

Maybe Souji can play dumb and claim he doesn't know what's going on – or maybe he can dive out the window himself and make a break for the train station. If he's quick enough he might be able to catch the last train of the night.

“The hell happened to your room?” Yosuke mumbles, looking around, and Souji fakes a smile as best he can, though even through his numbing anxiety he can feel how strained it is. “Yosuke,” he tries, nearly tripping over his best friend's name. The smile twitches as he tries to keep it in place. “What're you do--”

He grinds to a halt as the boy he's been in love with for the better part of a year pins him with another sharp amber glare and reaches into his hoodie pocket to pull out the very thing Souji was hoping his partner would never see. He swallows, mouth and throat and tongue all suddenly very dry.

“...I can explain...”

Yosuke fixes him with an unreadable look. He stares at Souji for a moment that stretches painfully on, eyes searching Souji's no doubt devastated face. Eventually he lets out a long exhale though his nose.

“I'm guessing I wasn't supposed to see these?” he says, holding up the stack of yellow-orange-pink envelopes, loosely tied back together with their red string – though it isn't really a question. When Souji doesn't answer, Yosuke nods to himself as if deciding something. He pulls the letters back towards his chest and holds them... almost reverently, looking down at them with a soft sort of expression that Souji has never seen him wear before.

Yosuke turns the letters over in his hands. “I didn't know what they were at first; there wasn't a name or note or anything, so I didn't know who they were from and I thought maybe they'd wound up in the bag by mistake cuz, ya know...” Amber eyes glance back up and for a moment the bridge of his nose is dusted a faint pink. He rolls his wrist, waving his hand in lieu of words. The gesture is entirely unhelpful. “They just...” he starts again, huffing. “They didn't look like the rest of the stuff in the bag? So I thought, this should be okay to open, right? Just the top one? And I was just gonna check and see what these were in case someone was missing something and I figured if they were a gift then I could save the rest for tomorrow, but, uhm...”

And here Yosuke trails off, looking back up at Souji with such a searching look, and Souji has no idea how to read him right now. He just stands there, chest aching as his heart batters the inside of his sternum and the edges of his vision tint grey from where he's neglected proper breathing. This is it, this is where he loses his partner, the best friend he's ever had. Souji could have been content loving Yosuke from afar; maybe not happy, exactly, but content. It wouldn't have destroyed their friendship that way, and Souji could have let himself pretend, every so often when he was alone in the dead of night, that Yosuke loved him back. But now all of that is gone.

And Souji feels his heart beginning to crack.

“I'm sorry...” he whispers, voice thin and brittle. He doesn't know what else to say.

There is another long moment of silence. Souji is expecting a rebuke, something biting and defensive or disgusted, perhaps, but it never comes. Instead, Yosuke's expression seems to twist into something confused and almost hurt.

Yosuke clears his throat awkwardly.“Sorry for...?” he asks, stretching it out as like he's trying to prompt Souji to elaborate. He doesn't say anything for a bit, just waiting, watching his partner's face as if trying to read him.

“I read all of them, you know,” he says at length. His grip on the letters tightens. “Twice.” He glances back down at the sunset-colored envelopes and brushes a thumb across the edge of the topmost one. “And I thought, if this was a joke then it was a shitty one.” An anxious fingernail picks at the red string. He huffs. “But if it wasn't and you meant it, then...” A swallow. “It was probably the best birthday present I've ever gotten...” He looks up then, and the glimmering, guarded hope hidden in the lines of his face is enough to shove all the remaining air from Souji's lungs.

Because there is no way he could possibly be this lucky.

Taking a deep, deep breath in, Yosuke squares his shoulders, lifts his chin, and steps forwards until he's less than half a foot away from Souji's face, close enough that Souji can feel the other boy's rapid breathing in faint bursts against his own skin – and suddenly his heart is fluttering for an entirely different reason.

Face red, Yosuke stares directly into Souji's eyes and quietly says, “Did you mean it?”

And Souji breathes a quiet, honest, “Yes.”

Yosuke's eyes widen. “...Yes?” he repeats, like he can't quite believe it.

Souji nods. “Every word.”

And then Yosuke's fingers are fisted into the collar of Souji's shirt, pulling him down to crash their mouths together in a messy, awkward kiss. The angle is a little off, their lips not quite meeting they way that they should, and Souji has no idea what he's doing with his hands as he hesitantly brings them up to rest one on Yosuke's arm and the other on his hip.

It's perfect.

They part a few seconds later, Souji's face and neck and ears burning just as hot as Yosuke's look, but neither make any move to step away.

Yosuke's mouth twitches up at one corner in a sheepish smile. “Sorry,” he mumbles, “I wanted to do that before I lost my nerve.”

Souji laughs – not a real one, just a puff of disbelieving breath – and returns the almost-smile as something warm blooms inside his chest. “I love you,” he whispers, and never in his life could he have imagined just how good it feels to finally say it aloud, free of the fear of hatred and rejection.

Yosuke ducks his head as the blush burns further up his ears. The shy, bright grin spreading across his face, however, is beautiful.

“...Love you, too, Partner.”

Beaming, Souji can't help but wrap his arms around his friend and pull him into a hug, burying his face in the soft brown hair at Yosuke's temple. He doesn't cry, but he can feel his shoulders shaking; he doesn't have the focus to tell if it's from relief or something else. “Never thought I'd hear you say that,” he admits quietly, feeling safer with his face hidden from Yosuke's view.

The other boy brings his own arms up to encircle Souji's ribs, giving his back a gentle pat with the hand not still holding the stack of letters. “Yeah, well,” he says, and there is a bewildered chuckle in his voice. “I never thought you were secretly writing me love letters, but here we are.”

Oh!

Souji pulls back from the hug as a thought hits him. He tries not to give in to the little noise of unhappiness Yosuke makes as Souji steps away, having to actively will his feet to take him over to the desk instead of back into his friend's arms. Luckily it's not far, nor does his purpose for being there last more than a moment or two as he snatches up the letter he'd written earlier, now the only one left that Yosuke hasn't yet read. He pivots on the ball of his foot, turning his final step towards the desk into a single fluid motion that carries him back to Yosuke, and holds the creamsicle-orange envelope out for the other boy to take. He smiles, giddy and shy. “Happy birthday, Yosuke.”

Yosuke smiles to match his own, honey-brown eyes warm as he gently takes the letter from Souji's hand and places it on top of the bundle still in his grip, tucking a thumb into the envelope's unsealed flap. “It is, yeah.” He leans in to close the distance between them once again and stretches up until he can touch his lips to Souji's in a chaste, sweet kiss. “Got everything I wanted.”

(Souji brings Kanji a homemade lunch every day for a month.)

#fanfic #persona 4 #souyoweek2020 #fanfiction #souyo #souji seta #yu narukami #yosuke hanamura #Kanji Tatsumi

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