#I like to think they were close when they were young and then gradually drifted apart until they met in the rescue corps again :)

[kitdreamzing]

And they were childhood friends!!!

HC that they were clingy to each other while younger, which the habit never went away as they got older :^)

[cosmicflw3rr]

things we’ve never said.

dominik mysterio x fem!reader

summary: you and dom have been friends for as long as you can remember, but when he begins to distance himself from you, everything falls apart. will you crumble under the weight of it all and confess your true feelings to him?

A/N: I could not come up with a good title for thiss.. 😭 also this is my first time ever writing on here so lmk how you guys feel about itt.

you and dom have been close friends since you were young. growing up with parents in the WWE, you and him would hang out whenever your parents brought you to work.

throughout the years the two of you remained close, the both of you following in your parents footsteps and becoming wwe wrestlers. you and him becoming inseparable, since you got drafted to raw.

even though he was in the judgment day, and you were making a name for yourself, you always found a way to support and be there for each other.

as time passed, it hit you that dom was gradually drifting from you. the post-show hangouts you both used to have were replaced by solo nights in your hotel room, binging your favorite show.

and you traded in your late-night waffle house trips for early morning trips to the hotel gym, trying to clear your mind.

while the friendship you shared with dom started to fade, his connection with rhea only grew stronger, leaving you to deal with your thoughts.

you could feel yourself fading into the background, witnessing all the moments that once belonged to you and dom now being shared with her instead.

avoiding both of them had become your new routine, yet there was only so much you could do when your job meant crossing paths every week, making escape almost impossible.

but you held your own. there were times you’d run into dominik but you’d just ignore him and pretend you didn’t hear him.

you were doing your best to try and move on from the situation, but your attempts at ignoring reality only caused you pain.

when your paths would cross it was like your entire body was consumed in pain as you watched them be happy together even if it was just for a second.

you could try and hold yourself together all you want, but it felt like your heart was ripping apart every time you saw them.

you had been sitting backstage waiting for your time to go out to the ring, you had a match against becky lynch. you were just waiting for rhea to get done with her call out promo.

the air in the ring was tense from their ongoing feud, full of sharp words and taunts. you felt a twinge of nerves, not just for the match but because dom was always rhea's shadow, and tonight was no exception.

glancing at the screen, you saw rhea laying down her final words, with dom looming behind her like a puppy.

your leg instinctively started bouncing up and down, dreading the inevitable awkwardness that came with being anywhere near dom. It was just one of those things that made you wish you were anywhere else.

rhea's theme hit, and she strutted out of the ring, her and dom making their way backstage slowly, nibbling on your lip to find some calm. someone sat down in the seat next to you, but you were too wrapped up in your own head to notice.

a moment passed, then a familiar voice cut through, "hey, you okay?" you glanced over to find liv, a good friend of yours, looking at you with concern. you pulled yourself together and offered a small, convincing-enough smile.

“oh- yeah, I'm good," you responded, as much as you liked to think you had a good poker face you didn’t. and liv saw right through you.

"if its about the match don’t worry, you’ll kill it." she said slowly, a touch of uncertainty in her tone. "but something tells me that's not it."

releasing a breath you hadn't noticed you were holding, you asked with a hint of humor, "Is it that obvious?" liv was clued in on everything; you two had become closer ever since you and dom stopped talking. she had become your ride-or-die.

she just shrugged and said, "no, I just know things." as you rolled your eyes with a smile. right then, a crew member gave the five-minute warning. you rose to get moving, but liv called out to you. "y/n/n."

turning to face her, "everything's gonna be okay." you gave her a soft smile and sent a playful kiss her way before heading to the curtains.

as you approached, rhea slipped through them holding her title over her shoulder without a glance your way. but when dom passed by, his gaze found yours.

In that quick moment, your heart skipped a beat, time seemed to stop, stretching the seconds out endlessly. a series of unspoken questions and unresolved issues hovered in the space between you two. that look between you two spoke more than words ever could.

it was the first direct eye contact you'd made with him in weeks. and just like that, it was over, the moment ending as quickly as it had arrived.

he passed by, his gaze leaving you and locking on rhea, and that strange, churning sensation in your belly returned. It was puzzling, a feeling you couldn't quite name.

suddenly, your theme rung out. you took a breath placing yourself in your confident persona, you’d walked out to the ramp beaming that confident grin with your arms wide, you soaked up the the cheers of the crowd washing over you like a wave.

you found yourself forgetting about everything, right now it wasn’t about you. it was about your fans. and one thing you weren’t going to do was let your personal life interfere with your job.

strutting down the ramp, you exchanged grins and nods with the fans, their excitement mirroring your own. slipping between the ropes, you blew the audience a kiss before sauntering to your designated corner.

crouching, anticipation tingling through you, you waited for the signal.

ding! ding! ding!

The bell's ringing sent your heart racing—it was go time. you and becky lunged at each other, each fighting for control, neither of you letting up.

becky dashed toward the ropes, bouncing off with momentum, but you were ready and landed a superkick right to her face. she stumbled backward, and you quickly went for the your finisher, a ripcord flatliner. as soon as becky’s body hit the mat you pushed her shoulders down and went for the cover.

1! 2! 3!

your music echoed throughout the arena, signaling the end of the match. shifting off becky, you settled onto your knees, a cocky grin spreading across your face as you swept your hair back, basking in the applause. a quick swipe of your tongue over your teeth, and you rose to your feet, ready to soak it all in.

the referee walked up next to you, lifting your right hand high, the crowd's cheers roaring louder. when your hand eventually lowered, you took a moment to look around at the cheering fans before making your exit backstage.

as the curtain fell behind you, liv was there, her voice lilting with enthusiasm. "you did amazing!" she chirped, the melody of her praise ringing in your ears.

you grin was wide, a mix of relief lighting up your face. "thanks," you replied with a shrug. "how about grabbing drinks later?" you asked.

liv's expression was priceless, her mouth agape before she shot you a look that screamed, 'Is that even a question?'

"hell yea we should. want me to invite sam and nat?" she bounced back, her enthusiasm infectious.

you gave a nod, the exhaustion of the night seeping into your voice. "I don’t mind.” you admitted, feeling exhausted. “I just really need a drink." you admitted.

liv wrapped you in a comforting hug, her hand soothing your back. "you've earned it," she whispered, pulling away only to hold your gaze. "i have to shoot a backstage promo now, so I'll catch you tonight, okay?"

with a nod, you exchanged goodbyes, each heading your separate ways. as you walked through the arena backstage to get to the locker room, the post-match adrenaline still coursing through your veins.

turning a corner you suddenly bumped into someone. you looked up to see dom, your heart picked up its pace. the two of you looking at each other, after a moment of no words and eye contact you had to get out of there.

you managed a strained smile, thoughts whirling as you sought an escape. "sorry," you mumbled, already sidestepping away.

but dom's hand clasped your forearm, halting you. you glanced from his eyes to where he touched you. his hold was gentle, yet insistent, something you hadn’t felt in a while. It almost felt foreign to you. "wait, we need to talk," he said firmly, his gaze digging deep for an answer you weren't prepared to give.

the air thickened with his words, an unspoken acknowledgment that whatever was going on between the two of you couldn’t be ignored forever

your expression hardened, as you withdrew your arm from his grasp. "not now dominik," you told him, abandoning the nickname you usually used when talking to him.

dom's face was a picture of tension, his jaw clenched tight. "then when?" he pressed, his words hitting you hard. "when's the right time gonna be? why have you been avoiding me?" you could hear the sincerity in his voice, the raw need for an answer lingering in the air.

the words hit you like a hurricane, leaving you momentarily frozen, brows knitted together. "don't pretend you care now," you spat out, the words sharper than intended, as you finally faced your tangled emotions head-on.

dom looked taken aback. "what are you talking about?" he retorted, his guard up.

"you've been distant for weeks, but obviously, you didn't notice because you're too wrapped up with rhea, right?"

"that's not true, I—"

your heart pounding as you locked eyes with dom. "no—I've been there for you through everything, and now you just push me away for them, for her," you said, the hurt in your voice unmistakable.

dom looked taken aback, his own anger subsiding as he realized the depth of your pain. "push you away? that's not what I'm trying to do," he protested, but you cut him off.

"but it’s exactly what you did! god I-" you looked away from him as your eyes filled with tears. you bit your lip hoping to stop. you didn’t feel like crying in front of him.

the tears overwhelmed you, there were far to much that you couldn’t hide it. as you blinked the tears escaped, you hastily wiped them. you looked at him. “you pushed me away and it hurt-“ you told him your voice breaking.

“y/n/n-” dom’s features softened, you looked around trying to avoid looking at his eyes.

"and I hate feeling this way, and I wish I didn’t care but I do. because I'm in love with you, dom. I have been for so long." your words hung heavy in the air, and your eyes welled up, the tears you'd fought to keep at bay now tracing hot paths down your cheeks. "this sort of thing was never meant to happen," you said your voice breaking, a sob catching in your throat.

dom's anger dissolved and his arms were around you in an instant. "hey, hey, don't cry, I hate it when you cry." your arms instinctively wrapped around him, as your tears fell silently.

the hug was a deep, tight one, like he was holding you as if you were the only thing keeping him standing. no words were spoken, but the tension in your body melted away as you leaned into him, his mere presence calming your racing heart.

the hug seemed to stretch on forever, dom's hand gently threading through your hair as you rested your head against his chest, tears falling silently.

eventually, he drew back, cupping your cheeks as he met your gaze with tenderness, brushing away your tears and moving your hair out of your face gently. he missed you. so god damn much.

"I—y/n/n..." dom's voice wavered as he looked into your eyes, his emotions laid bare for you to see.

after a moment of silence, he spoke softly. "i've been wanting to tell you... but was so afraid of losing you and messing things up. i just..."

"i..." he spoke up again but stopped himself mid-sentence. "i've been avoiding you... because of the way i feel. and i thought if i tried to hide it and put some distance between us, it would go away."

his eyes bore into yours, making sure you were taking in everything he was saying. "i was wrong." your heart seemed to stop, leaving you momentarily speechless as you struggled to find the right words.

"i'm in love with you," he said.

his words hung in the air, lingering in the space between the two of you. he continued, “i was an idiot, and i thought if i kept us away, i could just make these feelings go away. but when i finally had some time to actually think... i realized i've loved you all along, and I'm done pretending like we can just be friends."

"i've never looked at anyone else the way I look at you, y/n/n." he murmured, his touch gentle against your cheek. "being with you just feels so natural. i can't hide how i feel anymore. please," his voice quivered, the words barely making their way out, "let me make things right."

dom's hand gently cradled your jaw, tilting his head as he gazed into your eyes. "can I..." he started, his voice trailing off.

you nodded, your eyes flickering between his and his eyes and his lips. "yes."

his lips met yours in a tender kiss, the embrace deepening as you both became lost in the moment.

it was a moment you had yearned for, and as your hearts raced and time seemed to stand still, it felt like a dream come true.

dom pulled back after a moment, his lips trailing away from yours. you could tell he was still processing the moment, his breaths coming in quick and shallow spurts as he tried to regain his composure.

“i’ve been wanting to do that for so long,” his eyes studying you as he took in every detail.

you smiled softly, feeling a warmth spread through your chest at his words. "me too." you admitted,

dom's eyes lit up at your confession, a grin spreading across his face. Without another word, he leaned in to capture your lips in another kiss, this one more confident and eager than the last. you melted into his embrace, feeling happiness wash over you.

dom rested his forehead against yours. "i don't want to wait any longer," he whispered, his voice filled with sincerity. "I want to be with you, in every way possible."

your smile widened, every moment, every obstacle, had led you to this point, and in that moment, it all felt worth it. "that's all I've ever wanted too," you replied, your voice filled with emotion.

dom smiled and engulfed you in a warm hug, lifting you off the ground and twirling you around. your joyful squeal filled the air as he gently set you down, peppering kisses on your lips that made you smile. "let's grab some food, I'm starving," he suggested.

"of course you are," you teased, playfully rolling your eyes at his mock-offended expression. he shook his head, then wrapped his arm around your shoulder as the two of you started walking.

the two of you reached catering, you noticed liv and natalya at a table and subtly intertwined your hands with dom's. "um, i'll catch up with you in a sec?" you said, releasing his hand to approach the table.

taking a seat, liv and natalya exchanged knowing glances as they looked at you with anticipation. "hey, girlie," natalya greeted with a playful smirk. "i'm ready for those drinks tonight!" she added, with a little shimmy that made liv burst into laughter.

as the excitement filled the air, you hesitated before breaking the news. "about that..." the two women turned their heads to look at you, their expressions shifting to curiosity. "sooo, how about we rain check on the drinks tonight?" you suggested, catching liv's curious gaze as you awaited their response.

"why?" she inquired, prompting you to glance back at dom, who was already heading towards the table. bracing yourself, you sat back as he casually draped his arm over your chair.

turning your attention from him to liv and natalya, who looked utterly shocked, you nervously chuckled. "yeah," you admitted.

"i told you!" liv exclaimed loudly, laughing and sharing a glance with natalya. confusion lingered as you and dom exchanged looks before refocusing on the two women in front of you. natalya shook her head, putting her head in her hands. "I told you," she muttered.

liv sprang up, doing a little dance with a bright smile on her face. "did you guys bet on us?" you asked, a hint of amusement in your voice.

liv stopped her dance, still beaming. "nope, just might've challenged natalya on when you two would make up," she revealed.

you rolled your eyes, laughing. "of course you did." you guys began talking about the upcoming pay-per-view event. focused in the conversation, you felt a sudden warmth as dom's hand found yours under the table.

glancing down at your intertwined hands resting on his lap, you couldn't help but smile at the sweet gesture. despite the subtle display of affection, you decided to refocus on listening to liv and natalya.

this is exactly where you wanted to be.

[goldfades]

❄️ Jack Hughes ”no matter where I go, all these roads lead me to what I once called a home”

Congrats btw! 😁

✮ 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐢 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐠𝐨 𝐚𝐧𝐲𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐢 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭, 𝐚𝐧𝐲𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐢 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭, 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐡𝐨𝐦𝐞 / 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐚𝐢𝐦 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐲 ��𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭, 𝐠𝐨 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐛𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐬 𝐦𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐛𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐬 | jack hughes

♡ ─ word count | 4.4k

♡ ─ summary | jack, driven by his ambitions, realizes too late that he has taken his relationship with you for granted. as he achieves success, the bitterness of his lonely successes intensifies, highlighting the irreplaceable hole left by the genuine connection he lost.

♡ ─ warnings | unedited, angst!!! fighting, nothing else i think??

♡ ─ taglist | @dancerbailey3 @valluvsu @daisysnhl @dasiysthings @iminlovewithtz11 @literatureluster @lvrzegras @lxvleyzoe

♡ ─ ev's notes | this ask was a part of my 600 celly BUT i was feeling angsty so i wrote it. hope y'all enjoyed!! also, requests are open for now! always open to respectful criticisms :)

As the clock struck midnight on your fourth anniversary, you sensed a subtle shift in the air, a quiet shake that seemed to resonate within the core of your relationship with Jack. The two of you had been inseparable since your teenage years, navigating the trials of adolescence and embracing the joys of young love. Yet, as the months passed, a distance began to emerge, casting shadows over the once close connection you shared.

You noticed it first in the subtle changes – the diminishing frequency of his texts, the laughter less genuine, and the gradual shift in focus from your shared world to individual pursuits. The I-love-yous that used to flow effortlessly now hung in the air, unanswered or replaced by a strained silence.

You found yourself grappling with a growing sense of unease, a gnawing suspicion that whispered of changes you were not prepared to face. The shared dreams and aspirations that once bound you together now seemed to drift into the background, overshadowed by Jack's newfound focus on career ambitions and personal goals.

You weren't angry that Jack put his career first, no, if anything you'd pushed him to make sure his dreams were achieved. It was the fact that somehow, everything else became more important than your relationship. Making money and going out seemed like the only thing that mattered; everything that you two had talked about when you were younger had became less and less important to him. Was it a lie? They couldn't have been, he promised.

In quiet moments of reflection, you found yourself remembering the vows exchanged during late-night conversations when the world felt like it belonged solely to the two of you. Jack's assurances that success wouldn't change him, that love would remain the foundation of your connection, echoed through your mind like a haunting song. Yet, as the days passed, those promises started to feel like distant echoes, fading away in his ambitions.

You had always envisioned a future where success and love walked hand in hand, where the pursuit of dreams strengthened the bond between you. But, it seemed that Jack's definition of success had turned into a solitary journey, one that left little room for the shared dreams you both had once held dear.

The weekends that were once reserved for lazy strolls in the park or movie nights now transformed into a whirlwind of social events, networking dinners, and late-night games. As Jack's career flourished, the time he dedicated to building a life together dwindled, leaving you grappling with a sense of isolation within the relationship.

You couldn't help but question whether the promises he made were now casualties of his success. Did the allure of wealth and a thriving social life overshadow the simplicity and authenticity of your love? The echoes of those once-heartfelt promises grew fainter, drowned out by the noise of his career and the allure of a lifestyle that seemed to prioritize everything but the intimacy and connection you once shared.

The nights you spent cuddled up on the couch, lost in conversations that stretched until dawn, became replaced by solitary moments of insecurity. You wondered if you had done something wrong, if there was a fault in your stars that you failed to recognize. Were you not enough? Were the dreams you shared no longer worth pursuing together?

The once deep connection that felt like an unbreakable bond now seemed like a fragile thread, ready to snap under the weight of unanswered questions. In those quiet moments, you found yourself replaying old conversations, searching for the missed cues or overlooked signs that may have forewarned you of this impending shift. Was there something you missed?

You longed for the days when love was enough, when the simplicity of being together was worth more than any fleeting moment of fame and success. The questions that lingered in your mind echoed in the silent spaces between you and Jack, becoming an unspoken barrier that seemed hopeless.

In those moments of doubt, you couldn't help but wonder if there was a way to bridge the growing gap, to reclaim the dreams that once felt so attainable. The beginning of the end hung in the air, and you found yourself at a crossroads, torn between holding onto the fading echoes of promises or facing the reality that the love you once knew was slipping away.

The clock on the wall ticked away the seconds, the sound echoing through the quiet living room as she sat on the couch, glancing anxiously at her watch. Hockey practice was supposed to end hours ago, but Jack was still out there on the rink, lost in his own world. The apartment felt empty, the only source of light was the soft glow of a lamp casting long shadows across the room.

You absentmindedly twirled a strand of your hair, glancing at the clock again. The frustration and exhaustion etched on your face were undeniable. The late-night practices had transformed from an occasional occurrence to a regular part of your lives, leaving your with a sense of loneliness that permeated the air.

The door creaked open, and Jack stumbled in, clad in his hockey gear, a tired look on his face. His gaze met yours, and for a moment, there was a flicker of guilt before it quickly masked itself with a tired smile.

"Hey," he said, his voice heavy with exhaustion. "Sorry, practice ran late again."

She forced a smile, but the weariness in her eyes spoke volumes. "It's fine," she replied, her tone carrying a weight of unspoken words. "I made some food, it's in the microwave if you want some."

"Already ate with the boys," he replied before he disappeared into the bathroom, you sank deeper into the cushions, grappling with the frustration of being left alone, night after night.

As the sound of the running shower echoed through the apartment, you sat there, feeling the weight of the unshared meal and the emptiness that seemed to seep into the spaces between you and Jack. The promise of a home-cooked dinner, prepared with love, now felt like a futile attempt to bridge the growing gap in your relationship.

When Jack emerged from the bathroom, the scent of soap and exhaustion lingered in the air. He joined you on the couch, the distance between you both more pronounced than ever.

He settled in, scrolling absentmindedly through his phone. The flickering light illuminated his tired face, the blue glow reflecting in his eyes that were once filled with the spark of shared dreams. You glanced at the clock; it was late, too late for meaningful conversation.

"Long day," he mumbled, his attention still on the screen.

You two sat in silence for a few moments before you decided to speak up again, another attempt to bridge the gap between you two.

"Jack," you began, the uncertainty in your voice cutting through the quiet of the room. He looked up from his phone, meeting your eyes with a distant acknowledgment.

"I was thinking about our future, you know?" The words hung in the air, a tentative attempt to navigate a conversation that felt more fragile than ever.

He sighed, the weariness evident in the lines that etched his face. "Yeah, me too. It's just... work's demanding right now. I'm on the brink of something big, and I need to give it my all."

The acknowledgment of his ambitions stung, a reminder that the dreams you once shared were now taking divergent paths. "I get that, Jack. I've always supported your goals, but it feels like we're moving in different directions lately. What about that family we'd always wanted, the two boys and the girl-"

"What about family, Y/N? We have time, We're 22 for God's sake, just be patient with me." Frustration dripped from his voice as he snapped, sighing as he watched all the patience drain from your face. He looked back at you, guilt overtaking his emotions. "I know it's been tough, especially with the late nights and practices. But this is temporary. Once I make it, we can have everything we ever talked about."

Everything you ever talked about. The phrase echoed in your mind, a stark contrast to the reality of unshared dinners, missed moments, and fading dreams. Did he even remember your dreams together anymore? "Jack, it's not just about the late nights. It's about us, about the life we planned together. I miss the simplicity of what we had."

He nodded, a reluctant admission of the truth. "I miss it too, but we need to make sacrifices for the life we want. This is just part of the journey."

You were tired as you looked forward, to the TV. "Okay, Jack." The conversation lingered in the air, unresolved and heavy.

The room fell into a heavy silence, the weight of unspoken words settling between you and Jack. The glow of the television cast shadows on the walls, a stark reminder of the distance that had grown within the space you once shared.

──

The restaurant hummed with the clinking of cutlery and the murmur of conversations. The atmosphere should have been celebratory after Jack's successful game, but as you sat across from him at a dimly lit table, there was an undeniable tension in the air.

Throughout the meal, Jack's attention seemed divided. He was engaged in animated discussions with teammates who joined the celebration, and you found yourself fading into the background. Attempting to bring a sense of intimacy, you reached for his hand, a silent plea for a connection in the midst of the crowd.

However, when one of his teammates approached the table to congratulate him, Jack subtly withdrew his hand to shake theirs. The gesture was small, but the impact reverberated through you like a shockwave.

As the teammate left, you couldn't ignore the awkwardness that settled between you and Jack. The distance had become palpable, and the celebratory atmosphere of the restaurant only accentuated the loneliness you felt.

The walk back to the car was quiet and dormant, you felt almost nauseous after. The silence between you and Jack was broken only by the distant sounds of the city. You stole glances at him, hoping to find a trace of the connection you once shared. However, his gaze seemed distant, lost in thoughts that remained unspoken.

As you approached the car, the silence became unbearable. The unlocking of the car door punctuated the stillness, and you both settled into the seats, the physical proximity doing little to bridge the emotional chasm that had formed.

The car hummed softly as you drove back from Jack's hockey game. You stole glances at Jack, his profile bathed in the soft glow of passing streetlights. His eyes remained fixed on the road ahead, distant and unyielding. The connection you once shared, the easy banter and shared laughter, felt like a distant memory. The gap had widened, and you couldn't shake the sinking feeling that something big had shifted.

"I just don't understand, Jack," you finally broke the silence, the words hesitant but charged with emotion.

He sighed, his gaze still fixed on the road. "Understand what, Y/N?"

Your name sounded bitter coming from his mouth, hearing it felt like a curse. Your name used to sound sweet, like something special - now, it sounded like something else.

"I don't understand why it feels like we're falling apart," you admitted, the weight of the unspoken tension finding a voice. "I don't understand why every moment between us seems strained, like we're living in two different worlds. It doesn't feel like us anymore."

Jack's shoulders tensed, his grip on the steering wheel tightening. The city lights cast shadows on his face, emphasizing the lines that etched the weariness of unresolved issues.

"We're just going through a rough patch," he replied, his voice carrying an edge and it almost sounded like he was trying to convince himself that, too.

"But how long is this 'rough patch' going to last, Jack?" The bitterness crept into your voice, fueled by the frustration of being kept in the dark. "I feel like I'm losing you, and I don't even know why."

He remained silent, the distance between you growing with each passing second. Your hands fidgeted in your lap, the tension in the car becoming unbearable. "We used to talk about everything, Jack. Now it feels like you're shutting me out."

He finally turned to look at you, his eyes carrying a mixture of guilt and defensiveness. "I'm dealing with a lot right now, Y/N. It's not about shutting you out."

"But it feels that way," you countered, the rawness of your emotions laid bare. "I want to be there for you, but I can't if you don't let me in."

His knuckles tightened on the steering wheel, and frustration etched lines on his forehead. "You just don't get it, do you? This is my career, my life. I'm trying to make something of myself, and you're making it harder."

The words hung in the air, a declaration that cut through the silence like a sharp blade. The breaking point was reached, and a surge of anger replaced the hurt in your chest.

"Making it harder? Jack, I'm not your enemy. I'm your partner," you retorted, your voice rising. "I've supported you every step of the way, I've put you first for the last three years, Jack, I pushed everything aside to come move to Jersey with you."

"I never asked you to do that, Y/N." Jack replied, his frustration palpable.

"That's not the point!" you shot back, your emotions breaking through the dam of restraint. You couldn't believe that was the only thing he got from everything you'd just said. "I did it because I believed in us. I believed in you. But now it feels like you're pushing me away, shutting me out, and I can't take it anymore."

"You're not understanding, Y/N," Jack's tone grew sharper, defensive walls rising. "I'm under so much pressure, and I need space. I can't have you constantly questioning me, doubting everything I do."

His words cut deep, and you felt a sense of betrayal mingled with the anger. "I'm not doubting you, Jack. I'm doubting us. I'm doubting whether we can survive if you keep shutting me out like this."

He turned away, gripping the steering wheel tightly. "I want a future, Y/N. I want success. Is that so wrong?"

"It's not wrong, Jack, but success shouldn't come at the cost of our relationship," you argued, desperation seeping into your voice. "I want a future too, but not at the expense of us falling apart."

He scoffed, the bitterness in his tone cutting through. "You knew what you signed up for when we started this relationship. I can't just drop everything now."

"Jack, relationships require effort from both sides," you insisted, your frustration reaching its peak. "You're so focused on your career that you're neglecting what's right in front of you."

"I'm neglecting what's right in front of me? Y/N, I'm working hard for us," he argued, the bitterness in his voice unabated. "I'm trying to build a future, a life where you don't have to worry about anything."

"But what about the life we're living now?" you pleaded, your voice breaking through the tension. "What about the love and connection we used to have? Is that not worth fighting for anymore?"

Silence lingered, the car speeding through the night, the city lights outside casting a surreal glow. The breaking point had led to a stark realization — you were both standing at a crossroads, and the choices made in this moment would shape the fate of your relationship.

"Jack, it's not just about the future. It's about us, about what we have now," you spoke softly, the vulnerability in your voice revealing the depth of your emotions. "I miss the way we used to be, the laughter, the shared dreams. It feels like we're losing all of that."

He remained silent, his grip on the steering wheel tight. As you neared home, the heaviness in the air grew more pronounced. The choices you both faced were stark — to continue down divergent paths, the breaking point had set the stage for a decision, and as the car rolled to a stop, the echoes of unmet needs and fading dreams reverberated in the silence that enveloped you both.

The engine cut off, and Jack finally turned to look at you. His eyes, once filled with love, now reflected the weight of the unspoken resentment. The air inside the car felt dense with the unmet expectations.

"Y/N," he began, his voice heavy. "I think we need to be honest with ourselves. We're not the same people we were when we started this journey. Our dreams, they've pulled us in different directions."

The breaking point had reached its culmination, and the truth hung in the air like a heavy fog. You looked at Jack, the person you had shared so much love with, and saw a stranger in the dim glow of the car's interior staring back at you.

"I never wanted it to come to this," he continued, a hint of regret in his eyes. "But we can't keep holding onto what used to be. It's not fair to either of us."

Tears welled up in your eyes as you nodded, the pain of parting etched on both your faces. The car door opened, and as you stepped out into the cool night air, the echoes of what once was lingered in the spaces between you. The breaking point had led to an ending, a decision made in the quiet aftermath of a car ride that had shifted the course of your relationship.

──

Months had passed since the break up, and Jack found himself navigating the post-Y/N world with attempts to move on. Tonight, he found himself at a bar with his friends, the dimmed lights and lively atmosphere attempting to drown the lingering echoes of Y/N and everything she was.

His friends, aware of his struggle, were determined to lift his spirits. "Come on, Jack, look around. There are plenty of beautiful girls here! Who wouldn't wanna sleep with the Jack Hughes?" One of them encouraged, gesturing towards the crowd.

Jack halfheartedly smiled, appreciating their efforts to pull him out of his slump. He scanned the room, the laughter and chatter of the bar patrons surrounding him. Amidst the sea of faces, one caught his eye — a girl who, from a distance, bore a resemblance to Y/N.

His friends nudged him, teasingly urging him to approach her. "There you go, Jack! She's cute, right?"

He hesitated, his gaze fixed on the girl who seemed to share a fleeting resemblance to someone he once held close, someone who had been his world. The internal struggle between moving on and clinging to the past played out in his conflicted expression.

But as he approached, the girl looked up, and for a moment, Jack's heart skipped a beat. The resemblance was uncanny — the same captivating eyes, a similar smile. In that instant, he felt a pang of nostalgia, a cruel reminder of what he had lost.

The girl, oblivious to the emotional turmoil within Jack, smiled politely. Jack stammered, the weight of the past and the allure of familiarity colliding. His friends exchanged knowing glances, realizing that even in a sea of faces, some connections were indelible. As Jack struggled to respond, his gaze lingered on the girl who momentarily embodied a resemblance to the one he couldn't forget.

"Hey, can I get you something to drink?" Jack said, feigning confidence.

"Sure, I'll have a vodka soda."

As he headed to the bar, Jack's friends continued their subtle exchange of knowing glances. They could see the conflict in their friend's eyes, torn between the past and the present.

As he returned with the drinks, Jack decided to engage in conversation, attempting to momentarily escape the weight of his thoughts. They found a more secluded spot, away from the lively crowd, and Jack tried to muster a genuine smile.

"Cheers," he said, lifting his glass. The clink of glasses filled the air, but in the echo.

As they teased back and forth, Jack decided to flirt, something he'd done a million times in the last couple of months, trying to move on. The girl reciprocated, and for a brief moment, the bar seemed like a place where past and present could coexist.

"You know," she said, casually swirling the drink in her hand, "I've never met someone as driven as you, someone so focused on their own success. It's impressive, but I wonder if you've ever stopped to enjoy the simpler things in life. I bet it's hard, with your work and stuff..."

Jack's smile faltered, and his eyes widened in surprise. Her words hung in the air, and for a moment, Jack was transported back to the countless times Y/N had gently urged him to appreciate the present and to find joy in the little things.

In that instant, the weight of realization hit him. It wasn't about a specific detail, but rather the essence of what he had lost. Y/N had brought balance to his life, grounding him in the beauty of everyday moments. The girl's words echoed Y/N's sentiments, and it dawned on Jack how much he had taken her for granted.

Excusing himself, Jack left the girl confused. He quickly said his goodbyes to his friends, walking back to his friends. The attempt to recreate the banter, the flirtation – it all felt like a hollow pursuit compared to the real connection he had with Y/N.

Outside the bar, the cool night air wrapped around him, and Jack took a moment to collect his thoughts. The city lights flickered in the distance, a stark contrast to the clarity that was slowly settling within him. Determined to address the growing void within him, Jack made his way back to the apartment he once shared with Y/N. The familiar surroundings seemed different now, carrying the echoes of both joy and the regret of what he had lost.

Upon entering, the silence enveloped him, a stark contrast to the happy memories that used to fill these walls. The photographs on the wall, the shared belongings, all gone now. The home now felt sterile and cold, it didn't feel like home anymore.

Jack sank onto the couch, his mind replaying the moments he had shared with Y/N. The laughter, the late-night talks, the dreams they had woven together – they all flooded back, bringing with them a profound longing.

Unable to shake the weight of regret, Jack decided to confront the reality he had been avoiding. He picked up his phone and dialed Y/N's number, the familiar digits carrying the hope of rebuilding what he had carelessly let crumble.

"Hey, it's me," Jack began, the words carrying a vulnerability he had long suppressed. "I've been doing a lot of thinking, and I need to talk to you. Can we meet?"

Y/N's response was a mixture of surprise and caution, "Jack, it's been months. What's there to talk about now?"

Jack took a deep breath, ready to lay bare his feelings. "I realized how much I took you for granted, Y/N. The success, the pursuit of my dreams – they meant nothing without you. I miss us, I miss the simplicity and authenticity we had. Can we meet, please?"

Y/N's hesitant silence on the other end spoke volumes, and Jack felt his heart sink. After what seemed like an eternity, she finally responded with a gentle but firm, "Jack, I appreciate your honesty, but I've moved on. Meeting now wouldn't change anything."

His chest tightened with the weight of her words, and the reality of the consequences hit him. Jack had taken a chance on something genuine and beautiful and let it slip away. The simplicity and authenticity he once shared with Y/N were now fragments of a past he couldn't reclaim.

"I understand," he said, his voice betraying a sense of defeat. "I just wanted you to know how sorry I am, and that I've learned from my mistakes."

Y/N's response was soft, "Jack, take this as a lesson for your future. I hope you find the happiness you're searching for."

The call ended, leaving Jack with a hollow ache. The apartment, once filled with shared dreams, now felt emptier than ever. The essence of what he had lost lingered in the air, a constant reminder of the genuine connection he had taken for granted.

Anger took over his body and he couldn't help but slam his hands on the coffee table, it felt like the whole apartment shook. Breathing heavily, Jack paced around the room, the weight of his realization settling in. The photographs on the wall seemed to mock him, frozen moments that he couldn't ever relive. The essence of what he could've had with Y/N now haunted him, a ghost of the love he had taken for granted.

He glanced around the apartment, each corner holding memories of shared laughter, whispered promises, and the warmth of their love. It was a stark contrast to the emptiness that surrounded him now.

Sinking onto the couch, Jack let out a heavy sigh. The world he could've had with Y/N played out in his mind like a bittersweet movie, each scene a reminder of what he had lost. Regret clawed at him, and Jack couldn't shake the image of Y/N moving forward without him. The authenticity he craved, the simplicity he missed – it was all embodied in the love he had taken for granted.

As Jack sat alone in the quiet apartment, the taste of success, once sweet on his tongue, now felt bitter. The achievements that he had relentlessly pursued seemed hollow without Y/N by his side to share in the joy.

The awards and accomplishments, once the pinnacle of his aspirations, now felt like mere tokens in a life that lacked the authenticity he had once shared with Y/N. The world he had built for himself seemed colorless without her to share in the colorful moments of success.

In the solitude of the apartment, Jack realized that the pursuit of success had come at a cost – the cost of a genuine, irreplaceable connection. The bitterness of this realization was palpable, a reminder that the sweetest victories were the ones shared with someone you loved. And no matter where he went, all those roads led him to what I once called his home, his everything.

It was a bitter truth that Jack couldn't escape, and as he reflected on the choices that had led him to this lonely moment, he understood that success, without the taste of shared happiness, was empty. In the silence, he grappled with the emptiness that accompanied the absence of the one person who had made every success worthwhile.

-> make sure to check out my navigation or masterlist if you enjoyed! any interaction is greatly appreciated! <-

thank you for reading all the way through, as always ♡

[humanoidtyphoons]

thinking about kagami, in light of hearing kuroko’s sad and tragic backstory, says: you didn’t need to ramble on like that, everything was pretty obvious, the only actual surprise was akashi having a second personality.

he’s… actually not wrong? (he didn’t have to say it like that tho!!!!)

it’s true. it’s obvious from the current relationship that the gom have, how they act now, how kuroko talks about them. that yeah, them drifting apart and losing passion for the game… it’s pretty obvious that’s what happened. the way kuroko wants to make basketball enjoyable again… also includes his gom teammates. none of what happened is a surprise

except for akashi having an alter ego

bc we’ve not really seen a lot of akashi in s1&2. but clearly there’s something about him, if the gom are deferring to him still.

so how could you predict a second personality? that it took over when he was close to losing to murasakibara?

but still, there’s something really satisfying about witnessing everything play out, even if you know what’s to happen. they were bright and talented, with potential and enthusiasm, and then they’re unstoppable, unbeatable, and… the repercussions are devastating. it stops being about fun, it’s all about winning. they stop turning up to practice, the camaraderie is gone. they go to matches, but it’s hollow and meaningless bc victory is assured. and they all decide to go to different schools, to see who is the best.

kuroko seeing seirin play basketball with their heart on their sleeve. they didn’t win but they had fun! so yeah, ofc he’d go to seirin.

but. seeing them that young and sweet, before the dissolution, it still feels tragic that it happened to them, and i feel for them. bc while it’s not a plot twist, just… mundane and gradual and predictable, it’s still… so sad that they turned out this way.

like they’re the heart of the show! so yeah! maximum impact!

but then… yeah kagami did know most of that anyway!!! he’s played against them!!! that’s obvious!!!! even a meathead like him can figure that out!!!

but. kuroko. i enjoyed the ramble!!! i am happy hearing your story!!!

[weirdkpopgirl]

I Think It's Love | Renjun Fic #1

Title: I Think It's Love

Genre: Fluff with slight angst

Warnings: subtle mentions of reader being insecure in the beginning

Word Count: 1496k

Author's Note: Uh, am I crazy for posting at such a crazy hour (it's almost 1 am a the time I'm posting this), considering the fact I have two finals literally tomorrow? Most likely yes. But that's what anxiety does to you lol. Also, I'm just a sucker for romance, and I think Renjun embodies that really well. So I hope you guys like this. Thank you for reading ^ - ^

Also, the title was somewhat inspired by Taemin's song. I also apologize if this is poorly edited.

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ

Every so often, Renjun’s eyes drifted to the black and white clock on the back wall of the rehearsal room. Usually, he was so focused on memorizing their choreography, especially when new moves came into play. But today, his mind kept wandering to something else. Even his members noticed the boy was more distracted than usual.

“Hyung, you’ve been checking the clock for the past half hour,” Jisung nudged the male, looking slightly concerned.

Mark was next to speak out. “Yeah, what’s up with you man?”

Renjun hesitated for a moment, unsure of whether he should answer honestly. But he was never one to beat around the bush.

“(Y/n) gets off of work soon, and I was thinking about going to see her,” He confided.

The Dreamie’s ears perked up at the mention of a girl’s name. “(Y/n)? You mean the café girl?” Chenle asked incredulously. 

Renjun felt a flush of embarrassment rise to his cheeks and the urge to hit the younger boy for talking in such a loud tone. Of course, the other boys were quick to ask more questions.

“Oh?” Haechan’s eyebrows raised at his friend. “Does our Renjun-i have a little crush?”

The young singer groaned as Jaemin and Jeno chuckled in the background. He shot them an icy glare.

“It’s not like that,” He protested half-heartedly. Of course, he was only lying for the sake of his pride.

Over the past couple of months, Renjun spent more and more time with you. When you guys first met, you had been so timid. The first few times he stopped by the café, you had been so hesitant to engage with him. You could only offer a passive greeting before asking what he’d like to order. He picked up on how your gaze remained fixated on the touchscreen cash register, almost as if you were afraid you would break if you made direct eye contact with him. 

Other customers might get annoyed with such a meek person. But Renjun was rather drawn to your reserved nature. He was so used to being around his members who were quite loud and boisterous. You, on the other hand, acted in complete contrast, exuding a mysterious aura that intrigued him.

So gradually, Renjun put in more effort to be friendly to you when he came to order his regular coffee. He started with polite questions, asking how your day was. From there, he would occasionally compliment your hairstyle or the cute sweaters you always wore.

Eventually, Renjun could feel you warming up to him. Initially, he just saw you as a younger sister he felt oddly protective of. But he began to feel different as he got to know you more. Your shared interests in food and music, as well as your life values, revealed a lot to him about who you were as a person. Renjun concluded it was the first time you opened up to him when he officially fell for you. 

He had caught you on one of your bad days and offered a listening ear. You were a bit reluctant to be vulnerable to someone, especially a guy. But Renjun’s encouragement allowed him to learn about your deep-seated insecurities. Despite how weak you felt after practically spilling your life story, all Renjun could think of was how strong you were. Later, when you admitted that you had a hard time getting close to people, Renjun felt a sense of satisfaction. He knew that he earned a special place in your life, and it only confirmed his feelings for you.

“Are you sure?” Jeno questioned, snapping the boy from his daze. Renjun let out a sigh and glanced back at the clock. He realized he had been lost in thought for longer than intended.

“Okay, maybe it’s more than just that,” He huffed, wiping the sweat from his forehead with a towel before gathering his things. “But I really need to get going now, so don’t wait for me.” 

Renjun left the dance studio and made his way to the café he’s grown fond of. A small smile stretched on his lips when he spotted her mopping the floors through the windows.

You internally grumbled when the ringing sound from the door set off. 

“Sorry, we’re closed—” You started to say in the politest tone possible. Until you glanced up to see a boy wearing a light denim jacket over a plain white tee and dark pants. The black cap covered his currently silver hair, but you could still recognize it.

“Are you really going to turn away a customer?” He joked from the doorway.

You chuckled, “What are you doing here?”

“I actually finished up my schedule earlier today, so I thought I should walk you home,” Renjun said, trying to sound nonchalant as he scratched the back of his head. “It’s not safe to be alone at night, you know.”

Honestly, you were quite touched by his gesture. But you tried not to make it too obvious. “Thanks, Renjun. That’s so sweet of you.”

You quickly put away the mop and closed the shop so that you could walk out together. The two casually took turns listening to the other talk about their busy days of work and school. It felt refreshing, to have someone to vent to after a long day.

“Have you eaten yet?” You asked as you arrived at your apartment. It seemed rude not to offer him to come inside after he had been so kind to walk you home.

Renjun was already reading your mind when he shook his head no. That was how he found himself being led into your home, so you could make a late dinner for the both of you.

He watched in amazement as you prepared tteokbokki from scratch, carefully measuring and mixing the ingredients. He was used to making the pre-cooked one the guys would get from the store. But seeing you skillfully create this dish on your own, left him quite impressed.

You had to stifle a laugh when a low growl echoed from the boy’s stomach. Since you were close to being done, you beckoned him over to taste.

“Here, try this for me,” She instructed, raising the chopsticks to his mouth.

Renjun tried not to blush as he let you feed him. He chewed slowly, taking in the flavors from the spicy sauce and the softness of the rice cake. But he couldn’t help but think of the thoughtfulness behind your actions. Immediately sparks lit up, and his heart was pounding like a drum. 

Meanwhile, you nervously anticipated his reaction. “What do you think?”

“I think…” He began to reply, feeling jittery as his eyes locked with hers. “I think I’m in love with you.”

Then, before she could properly process what he said, Renjun leaned in to close the gap between them. Her eyes doubled in size when his soft lips came into contact with hers in a tender kiss. Just as she was about to respond, he pulled away with an almost petrified look.

“Oh my gosh, (Y/n)-ah…I’m so sorry,” He stepped back to apologize, running a hand through his hair in distress. “I don’t know what I was thinking. I should’ve asked fir—”

Afraid he’d continue his awkward rambling, you took it upon yourself to cut him off. You bravely pulled him by the collar of his jacket so your lips could meet once again. Though he was taken aback by your actions, Renjun instinctively closed his eyes and surrendered to the kiss. It felt so natural to cradle your face in his hands, while your fingers gently pressed against his back. The taste of each other’s lips and the warmth of his touch were overwhelming. Renjun couldn’t hold himself back from deepening the kiss.

Neither of you realized how much you had wanted this until it happened. Moments later, you pulled away gasping for air but with shaky smiles on your faces.

“So I take it you feel the same?” He asked, still breathing heavily.

Seeing the endearment in his eyes made you want to cry and laugh all at once. But for the sake of maintaining your sanity, you nodded shyly.

“I think I’m in love with you too, Huang Renjun.”

Those words were all he needed to hear for a wave of relief to finally wash over him. He pulled you into a tight embrace, thanking you for reciprocating his feelings. You could feel the thudding of his heart against your chest, as he held you close.

You spent the rest of the night together, eating tteokbokki and exchanging shy banter about this new step in your relationship. As the night wore on the both of them just knew that this was just the beginning of something beautiful and exciting.

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ

[roxannarambles]

Title: Wings of a Butterfly, Eye of the Tiger (Part 3)

Ship: Nemona x Juliana (Julinemo/Terajules)

Summary: Nemona and Juliana just can’t resist returning to Area Zero once more. They find new places to explore, new pokemon to discover, and a new things to learn … about pokemon battling, but also about each other. (Sequel to Picnic in Paradise)

Chapters: Part 1 Part 2

Tags: Slowburn, Romance, Friendship, Crushes, Action/Adventure, Pokemon Battles, Fakemon

The cave you were in seemed a lot quieter than the rest of the cave system, probably because there weren’t pokemon everywhere you turned. You could hear the occasional drip of water and the distant cry of a pokemon from somewhere, but that was about it. It felt exciting and a little eerie. Hellcat set the pace, creeping forward into the dim cavern, and you both followed close behind. 

For about five minutes, your walk was uneventful. You passed by tera crystals that were growing from the ceiling and dripping water like stalactites, and followed the cave in a gradual downward slope deeper into the earth. Then you began to encounter pokemon again; only some Glimmets and Glimmora at first, until the pathway you’d been following led to a larger chamber, and then some Paradox Pokemon began to show up once more. It was nowhere near their usual numbers, though. As you passed by a Great Tusk plodding through the cave, you commented,

“It’s interesting there’s fewer pokemon back here. I wonder why. I guess because we’re so far in?”

Nemona agreed,

“Yeah, probably. Life’s a lot scarcer the deeper you go into caves or the deeper you go into the oceans.”

“Yeah, that’s true. That’s because there’s less food available, right?”

She nodded.

“Basically. I mean, most food chains have plant life at the bottom, and when there’s no sunlight, well, there’s no plants. There’s pokemon with a mineral-based diet like Carbink or Sabeleye of course, so they can live really deep in caves. But most pokemon eat other plants or animals.”

You gazed around the cave you were traversing.

“Seems like there’s no plants at all though, how do any of these guys eat?”

Nemona hummed,

“Well, there’s a few ways. Some pokemon species don’t live in caves full-time, they just roost in them or raise young there. They leave the caves at some point to eat. I think a lot of the pokemon we’ve seen probably do that since we see ‘em on the surface. Annnd, sometimes resources get washed into caves. Like those waterfalls that dump directly into here? Probably a lot of plants and fish in there. Also poop! Bacteria break it down and bug types can eat the bacteria and bigger stuff eat the bugs . . .”

You looked at her as she trailed off. She added on sheepishly,

“Sorry. Didn’t mean to ramble.”

“No, I was just thinking you really know your stuff!”

She laughed.

“Well, I’ve done a lot of reading, and I’ve listened to Jacq’s lectures for longer than you have. Gotta work hard if you wanna understand pokemon! But I’m sure you’ll pick it all up too.”

You noticed a small pod of Scream Tails ahead of you, floating in the air like weird pink balloons. When they noticed you, they turned to glare with big yellow eyes and hissed. Hellcat hissed in return at them. 

“Let’s leave ‘em alone, Hellcat,” Nemona said, trying to guide the tiger away. The fact that Paradox Pokemon seemed to all have such aggressive dispositions certainly didn’t make exploring any easier. The pod of Scream Tails broke apart, floating their separate ways, apparently unnerved by Hellcat. However, one of them remained, an especially large one.

Now that you were looking closer at it, though, it wasn’t just larger; it also seemed to have longer hair. Instead of a tuft of hair on top of the head leading into a single long ponytail, it had three of them, the tails obscuring most of its face and covering its eyes. Its ears were longer, too, more like a rabbit’s. 

“Umm, Nemona–”

“Yeah, I see it, what is that?? Is that just a Scream Tail or . . .”

The pink pokemon drifted closer, causing Hellcat to bristle and growl. 

The wild pokemon also growled– the sound much deeper than you’d expect from a pink puffball. When it did, it showed its long, sharp fangs, much bigger than a Scream Tail’s. You nervously said,

“I think the answer is definitely ‘or.’”

Nemona enthused,

“Oh man, we found something good already? We’re so lucky!”

A soft pink glow began to surround the wild pokemon, the ‘tails’ drifting upwards at the same time, revealing the huge yellow eyes beneath, pulsing with dangerous energy.

“N-nemona . . .”

“Oh right, sorry. Hellcat, Dire Claw!”

Hellcat leapt into the air, striking a vicious blow before the pokemon could use its Psychic. The pokemon took massive damage and seemed to slowly deflate like a balloon, giving a strangled cry. Nemona praised,

“Great shot, Hellcat!”

You had a pokeball handy, so you gave it a toss, seeing if the pokemon was weak enough to catch already. It clicked with no problems.

“Great shot for you too, Jules!”

“Thanks.”

You both decided to immediately send the pokemon back out so you could heal it up and inspect it more. Hellcat watched over it in case it tried to misbehave.

Leaning against the wall of the cave as she studied the floating creature, Nemona asked,

“So we agree it’s gotta be an evolved form of Scream Tail, yeah?”

You nodded.

“Probably. It’s funny this is the first we’ve seen of it though, considering Scream Tails are everywhere.”

“Well, Jigglypuff can’t evolve unless they have a Moon Stone.”

“Oh, yeah. I forgot about that. So you think these are the same?”

“Seems like there’s a good chance. Oh, and maybe there are Moon Stones deep in these caves! And that’s why we’re seeing these guys here but not elsewhere.”

“Hmm. I guess we could always try to test it on one of our own Scream Tails sometime.”

“Good idea! We’ll definitely try that out sometime.”

You spent a couple minutes instructing the new pokemon, trying to check out its movepool and abilities. It showed you Psychic and Dazzling Gleam, nothing too unexpected. 

Eventually Nemona said in an eager tone,

“You know, if it’s a new pokemon species, we’ll get to name it. Since we discovered it and all. That’s how it works, right?”

You smiled at the idea, but pointed out,

“IF it’s a new species. It’s possible Sada might have known about it already, especially if she thought to evolve a Scream Tail.”

“Aw, c’mon Jules, let a girl dream!”

You laughed.

“Okay, okay. What do you wanna call it, then?”

“Ummm . . . hmm. Well . . . I guess the name should be kinda similar since it’s an evolution . . .”

You watched the weird pink creature for a bit before suggesting,

“Maybe like, Screech Tail? Or Tails, I guess, it has three of ‘em.”

She shrugged,

“Works for me!”

You held up your pokeball and recalled the new pokemon. You answered,

“Great. At the very least, it should come in handy when we’re catching Roaring Moon.”

Nemona grinned.

“Good thinking. Okay, Hellcat, onward! To adventure!”

You both continued along the path with enthusiasm, despite the general gloomy atmosphere of the dim cavern. The trail led you deeper and deeper into the earth, growing steep and awkward to traverse before long. The ground was also slick with damp and slime; you fumbled your footing more than once, and Nemona had to catch you one of the times before you could fall on your face.

“You okay, Jules?”

She had an arm wrapped firmly around your side, her amber eyes full of concern as she gazed down into your own eyes.

You swallowed.

“Y-yeah! Fine. Thanks. It’s u-uh, it’s slippery.”

You were full of brilliant observations, as usual. Nemona let go and made sure you were steady before turning and agreeing,

“Yeah, it is getting kinda bad, plus it’s a bit dark . . . oh, I know.”

She pulled her Rotom phone out, hitting a few settings. The phone’s light switched on and it floated in the air, just above her head. 

“There we go! Should be safer now.”

You looked at the phone, surprised.

“I didn’t know they could do that.”

“Yep! If there’s one thing I hear a lot about it’s all the dang features on these phones, I can show you all the other features sometime if you want,” she chuckled. You were too distracted noticing Nemona had apparently swapped her plain black phone case out to an orange one with little pictures of Pawmi and oranges. It was very cute. 

She continued,

“Anyway, careful through this part, there’s sort of a step here.”

You made it past the steep bit just fine, but not too further along, you felt a bit off-balance again, wobbling, and started to wonder if your feet were intentionally betraying you. You swore this wasn’t on purpose–

Nemona asked,

“Whoa, is the ground moving?”

You paused, realizing it wasn’t just you; the ground really was trembling slightly. You answered,

“I think so . . .”

 As soon as you’d finished speaking, it seemed to stop, though.

“Hm.”

You both continued on, curious and cautious. It had been a while since you’d run into another pokemon, but you spotted a Brute Bonnet trundling along up ahead. Hellcat bristled at it.

The ground began to tremble again, this time accompanied by a distant rumbling sound.

“Er . . .”

The Brute Bonnet moved faster, hobbling as quickly as it could on its stubby little legs, wanting to get the heck out of there. Water fell from the ceiling in big droplets. Hellcat shook its head, flicking the water off.

“Is it an earthquake?” you asked, trying to keep the anxiety from edging into your voice. This wasn’t the best place to be during an earthquake. Nemona answered,

“I dunno, maybe? But it hasn’t . . .”

The rumbling sound came again, this time much closer. In fact, it sounded as though it was echoing through the cave itself. You quickly realized the rythmic thumping wasn’t an earthquake at all.

They were footsteps. Approaching footsteps.

“Nemona–”

Nemona squared her shoulders, calling,

“Hellcat, get ready!”

You reached for your pokeballs, ready to back her up if need be, and the pair of you waited to face whatever was coming. The vibrations rattled some smaller stalactites loose from the ceiling, the crystals dropping and splintering, and the rumbling drew closer and closer. Further ahead in the gloom of the cave, you could see small bits of yellow flashing, lights flickering along the floor of the cave in little electric ripples. 

And then you could make the creature out: just a dark figure at first, charging through the cave in your direction, although fortunately it wasn’t especially fast, just very noisy as it lumbered along. As it got closer you had the time to take note of some basic details. It was running on all fours, it was dark red with sooty black paws and legs, and it had zigzagging black stripes down its back. Its long black tail was held aloft and tipped in a jagged yellow spike in the shape of a lightning bolt; its ears were pointed and long, and it had a big spike protruding from its forehead, as well as a big ruff of spiky yellow fur around its neck. As it moved, its paws thumped heavily along the ground, leaving little ripples of electricity in its wake.

You exchanged a quick glance with Nemona.

“Is that a Raichu?” you asked, knowing it wasn’t one, but it bore a passing resemblance to one. A really big, spiky, angry one, anyway. 

“Maybe an ancient Raichu? Hellcat, get ready to use Thorn Fang!”

The tiger crouched, baring its fangs, ready for the foe lumbering towards it. The ancient Raichu gave a cry, the sound more akin to rolling thunder than the high-pitched noise from a usual Raichu. You could see its beady black eyes now as it approached, and the sharp little fangs protruding from its mouth. The ruff around its neck seemed to be charging up with energy, a dangerous yellow-orange flickering of power between the pieces of spiky fur. Something about it struck you as sort of odd, but you didn’t put it together fast enough.

Nemona, however, did. Her eyes widening, she called,

“Hellcat, wait!”

Her hand quickly moved to her belt and she spent a half-second choosing a ball, then snatched it up, throwing it. Her Great Tusk materialized right in front of Hellcat, just in time for the ancient Raichu to charge into it with an earth-shuddering crash. Electricity and flames were thrown off from the impact, crackling in the air, but Great Tusk’s body shielded you, Nemona and Hellcat from any crossfire. 

“Great Tusk, use Close Combat!”

The mammoth swung its trunk, smacking its foe across the face, then reared up, kicking at it with its hefty feet. The ancient Raichu gave a guttural cry, staggering backwards before standing up on two legs, its tail lashing back and forth, beady eyes glaring. Energy started to build around its ruff again, and you got a better look at why it seemed so strange. The yellow-orange ripples of energy flowed between the spines of fur in serpentine squiggles, and it was hard to tell if it was electricity or fire– or possibly both, as seemed to be the case. 

“Great Tusk, Knock Off!”

You silently noted that Nemona was intentionally holding back with her attacks, probably with the aim of wanting to capture this pokemon. Great Tusk whacked its foe once again with its trunk. The ancient Raichu recovered from the hit and then rushed forward, butting hard into Great Tusk with the horn on its head, sending out another mighty sputter of flames and electricity. 

“Knock Off, again!”

When Great Tusk brought its trunk down once more, it knocked its foe clean off its feet, dropping it back down to all fours. The ancient Raichu gave a rumbling cry, sounding tired. 

“Now’s our chance!” Nemona yelled, reaching for an empty pokeball from her bag. She took aim and threw it.

However, the wild pokemon was not intent on cooperating. It dodged the pokeball, then turned tail and began to run. Nemona shouted,

“Wh-uh?! It’s running? Oh no you don’t, get back here!”

Nemona quickly recalled her Great Tusk and then took off after the pokemon. It was stomping away at a pretty good pace, but Nemona was fast.

“N-nemona, wait!”

You and Hellcat chased after her. Of course, Hellcat outpaced you very quickly and then you were alone, splashing through puddles and slipping over rocks in the dim cavern, trying to keep up. You turned a bend in the path and saw the fleeing pokemon was rushing towards a round hole in the cave wall, which was encrusted in tera crystal. When it reached the hole, it got up on two legs and then jumped through, vanishing from sight.

“Hey! You’re not escaping that easily!” Nemona yelled, charging after it and jumping into the hole without hesitation, like an absolute madwoman. You could hear a startled yelp from her before she vanished from sight. You cried,

“Nemona!”

Hellcat had stopped at the hole, hesitant, but you couldn’t afford to hesitate when Nemona could be in danger. You reached the hole in the wall, finding it was a tunnel coated entirely in smooth rainbow crystal, dripping in water. You hopped up and climbed in, calling,

“Nemona?”

You tried standing, but almost immediately you felt yourself slipping on the wet crystal. Your shoes gave way and you landed on your butt– and then, to your horror, felt yourself sliding through the tunnel. You yelped and tried to stick your arms out to brace yourself, but your slide was way too rapid, and you went shooting through the tunnel on your back like some kind of terrifying water slide. You gave a prolonged shriek as the slide swooped you down in a huge drop, then swooped up again and twisted around and around. The world was spinning in sparkling rainbows, completely disorienting you.

After one final drop and swoop upwards, you felt yourself flung free from the slide, which mercifully spat you out at a speed and distance that was relatively gentle.

You landed on your stomach, colliding with something soft. 

“Ooof,” the something grunted, giving you a pretty good idea of what you’d probably landed on. You pushed your torso up with your elbows and met with Nemona’s wide, honey-amber eyes, your faces hardly more than a breath apart.

“Gkkk,” you said, the blood rushing to your face so fast you could hear it roaring in your ears. Nemona giggled. You could feel the giggle ripple through her chest and vibrate your own. 

“Hi,” she chirped. You tried to remember how your vocal chords worked. Nemona’s brows quirked up higher in amusement while you struggled, which was frankly making it worse.

“Hhhhiiii,” you finally uttered, proud to get the syllables out. You were briefly lost in the details of Nemona’s eyes, realizing her streaks of golden amber had flecks of tangerine in them. Gosh you were close. Have you ever been this close to her before? You were pretty sure you hadn’t.

“You, um, you need a minute?”

You blinked at her question, confused. The bridge of her nose and cheeks pinkened a little, highlighting her freckles all the more. Her voice was light and playful when she continued,

“‘Cause I don’t exactly mind resting here with you, but we should proooobably get up before that pokemon gets away . . .”

Your brain finally caught up with what she was saying and you squeaked, scrambling to get off your poor friend. It was an entirely graceless affair, but you finally righted yourself and helped Nemona climb to her feet as well, stammering out an excuse to her.

“S-s-sorry, I-I– ummm– I was, uh, a bit dizzy from the slip-n-slide?”

It wasn’t exactly wrong. She laughed,

“Yeah, that was a pretty wild ride, wasn’t it? I was thinking of going again–”

An awful noise interrupted her, shrieky and shrill, coming from the crystal-lined tunnel. The both of you managed to get out of the way before a bright green tiger was expelled from the slide, splatting onto the ground. Its claws were all stuck out and its fur was all frizzed up, its eyes gone huge. Nemona’s Rotom phone went shooting through the slide next, smacking lightly into Hellcat and causing the tiger to jump. The tiger grumbled and shook itself off, looking incredibly disturbed and disgusted with its experience.

“Oh, Hellcat! Aaw, you came down here for me? Are you okay?”

You watched Nemona try to comfort the tiger, feeling grateful for the distraction. Maybe your face would stop burning in like an hour. Nggh. Hellcat still refused to let Nemona actually pet it, and it withdrew to lick itself and sulk, but at least it wasn’t growling at her or anything, so it was honestly progress. Nemona seemed to recognize this fact, telling the pokemon,

“Okay, you need your space, I’ll let you recover from the scary slide. I’m sooo proud of you though Hellcat.”

She moved back over to you, looking you over carefully and asking,

“And how ‘bout you? Still dizzy or anything?”

You glanced away bashfully under her scrutiny, murmuring,

“N-no, I’m good now, I think.”

She nodded and grabbed her backpack off the ground, answering brightly,

“Great! Let’s go find that pokemon before it gets away then!”

She took off before you could respond or even think about mentioning that running ahead and leaping blindly into tunnels was maybe a bad idea. Exasperated, you shouted after her,

“Nemona!!” 

Once again you gave chase, following her down the rocky corridor. At least it wasn’t too dark in this part of the cave– if anything, it seemed even brighter, probably due to a larger number of glowing tera crystals. You were grateful when you caught up to Nemona not too far along the path ahead, having apparently cornered the weary Raichu lookalike. Honestly it was impressive how fast she’d tracked it down. She had her Great Tusk out again, but she was busy digging through her bag. When she noticed your approach, she called,

“Oh, Jules, I found them! Come quick!”

You hurried to join her, and she said,

“I’m so glad it didn’t slip away, that would have sucked. Ugh, do you know where your empty balls are, mine kinda rolled around in the chaos–”

“Got you covered,” you answered, grabbing a Dusk Ball from your bag and chucking it at the ancient Raichu. The pokemon resisted and popped out of the ball, but after a few more, the ball finally clicked shut. Nemona cheered and went to pick up the pokeball off the ground, while you tried to catch your breath and get your heartrate back under control. Chasing after Nemona was definitely an experience. 

After grabbing the ball, Nemona rushed to you with an excited gleam in her eyes, asking,

“Do you know what this means, Juliana?”

You looked at her, trying to think. After a bit you said,

“Uhmmm, that I probably should have brought more Dusk Balls with me?”

She laughed.

“Well, that too, yeah, but also, Hellcat wasn’t the only new pokemon in Area Zero! There’s more to find down here, I bet a bunch more if we keep going!”

“You think so?”

“Yeah, we’ve already found three species, there’s bound to be more, right? And none of them were mentioned in the Scarlet Book at all, or any of Sada’s notes we happened to read.”

You nodded thoughtfully.

“That’s true . . .”

Nemona pressed the Dusk Ball into your hands, gushing,

“Which means we might be the first trainers in existence to have seen and captured these pokemon!!”

You weren’t entirely convinced you two were the first, since it was always possible Sada had records about them you simply hadn’t noticed. However, it was also equally possible you were the first, and Nemona’s excitement was terribly infectious. You broke into a grin, admitting,

“That is a pretty awesome thought.”

“I know, right?? It’s so cool, I–” She squeezed her hands into excited fists and gave a giddy little giggle, then impulsively grabbed you and hugged tight, your cheeks smooshed together as she exclaimed,

“I’m so glad we got to discover them together!!”

Your skin rippled pleasantly in icy-hot goosebumps, but she released you before your brain had the chance to shut down entirely, which was probably for the best. Then she looked a little self-conscious, saying, 

“Sorry. Got a little excited there, heh.”

You hastened to reassure her.

“No, you– you have every reason to be! It is cool, I think I just have a habit of being afraid to hope for things I really want. But if we really are the first . . . that’s incredible. Like, it’s not just finding a new species, it’s finding an ancient, otherwise extinct species. Which is just nuts. And it’s honestly totally possible, since the Time Machine was transporting pokemon completely on autopilot until we finally shut it down.”

She nodded with enthusiasum. 

“Yeah, exactly! Okay, I’m glad you get it, I woulda felt weird to be the only one this psyched.”

You smiled and looked down at the pokeball in your hands.

“It’s definitely not just you. Plus, not to get too hopeful but I um, I think maybe this ancient Raichu might be pretty special? Was it just me or did it look like this guy was using electricity and fire at the same time? I dunno if that’s even possible, can pokemon moves be, like, dual-type?”

Nemona nodded again.

“I did notice that. Well, I noticed something funny at any rate. I always thought it was impossible, at school they always told us moves can only be one type. But . . . who knows? We’re in uncharted territory here, so I feel like anything’s possible, you know?”

You thought about that for a bit, rolling the pokeball in your hands. It was incredibly tempting to let the pokemon out and study it to try and learn more right then and there, because it intrigued you so much. But you also wanted to keep exploring the cave, and you knew Nemona would want to, too.

You looked at her.

“Guess we’ll find out more when we battle each other later, huh?”

She grinned.

“I like the way you think.”

You heard a quiet little chirp and glanced up, noticing Hellcat had caught back up to the two of you. Funny, you hadn’t noticed the pokemon make that kind of noise before; it seemed to be some kind of greeting. The tiger’s ears were perked and it looked at you both attentively. Nemona greeted,

“Hi Hellcat! You all dried off and ready for more exploring?”

The tiger made another quiet chirp, as if responding.

“I think they’re starting to like you, Nemona.”

“Really?” She sounded hopeful.

“Yeah. They don’t even try to bite you any more!”

She chuckled.

“Well, I guess it’s something.”

You took the opportunity to finally look around at the cave you’d ended up in, since you hadn’t really had the chance to yet in all the rush. The space was relatively narrow and cramped compared to other parts of the cave, but it was packed full of tera crystals glowing from all sides. The ground was sloped downward, the cave ahead leading ever deeper into the earth. 

“How far down do you think that tunnel brought us?”

Nemona was busy quickly re-sorting the empty pokeballs in her bag. She answered,

“No clue.”

You took a glance at your Rotom phone, but as expected, there was no service down here. Obviously. It was a good thing the caves you’d been following so far were generally one-way and not some confusing mazes, or else you’d be worried about getting lost. Getting back up that water slide tunnel would be a bit of a pain on the return trip, but you felt confident Scarlet could carry you guys up if need be.

Turning your focus back to the path ahead, you asked,

“How much deeper do you think it goes?”

Nemona zipped her bag up and slung it back over her shoulder. She smirked,

“No clue. Only one way to find out.”

You couldn’t argue with that logic. As you both began to walk again, you started to tell her,

“So, I was gonna mention, maybe next time when there’s a pokemon or a mysterious tunnel leading somewhere, you could–”

Nemona suddenly stopped, staring ahead intently.

“Wait, did you hear that?”

You frowned.

“Hear what?”

There was a very distant noise echoing in the cave, a low chattery kind of sound that could have been a pokemon cry. 

“Geez. You know, your hearing’s scary good.”

“That’s a pokemon! C’mon, let’s go see!”

Nemona started to run, but you lurched forward and grabbed her wrist before she could get away.

“Wait, wait, this is exactly what I’m talking about, Nemona!”

She turned to you, blinking.

“What?”

“You can’t just . . .” You hesitated and sighed, starting again,

“Well, you can, but I’d prefer it if you didn’t just run ahead every time there’s something going on. I get that you’re excited, but you might be charging right into danger! I was really worried when you jumped into that tunnel blindly, that could have ended up pretty badly if it had spit us out from a bit higher up!”

Nemona looked at you a moment, then slumped a little, looking guilty.

“Sorry, Jules . . . I wasn’t trying to worry you. Or, uh, do anything risky. I guess I just was really focused on not letting the pokemon get away . . .”

You smiled gently and said,

“I understand. You don’t have to feel bad about it, I just want to make sure you’re safe, you know? And also, well . . . I’d rather face things together on this adventure. We’re a team, after all.” You suddenly felt a little unsure after saying it outloud and added, “Uhm, I mean, we are, right?”

Nemona studied you a moment, a soft smile forming on her face. Then she reached out and took your hand. 

Her voice was clear and certain when she answered,

“You’re right. I’ll remember from now on.”

You returned her smile, relieved.

“O-okay! Then, um . . . let’s go see what that noise was.”

“Yeah!”

You both forged ahead, following a path that continued downward and grew more cramped the more you traveled. At several points it was necessary to squeeze past some large rocks blocking the way; it appeared as though there had been some partial cave-ins at some point in the past. It was an unnerving reminder that you were indeed beneath an enormous amount of earth and rock that could crush you like a bug if something cataclysmic occurred. Thankfully Nemona’s excitement for adventure was an easy distraction, keeping you from dwelling on such thoughts for long. Besides, your curiosity overrode the nervousness you felt. The path seemed to meander down into the earth forever, and for a long time, there was not much to see but rock, dirt and tera crystals. There was nary a wild pokemon in sight, but you kept going anyway.

Then, with very little fanfare, the tunnel you’d been following emerged into a massive space, the ceiling towering above you like an enormous vault of crystal, the path soon leading to a narrow catwalk. On either side of the catwalk was a sheer drop, the ground so far below that it was impossible to even see exactly where it ended. Huge columns of crystal jutted up from the pits, growing at random angles, like the world’s prettiest death trap. For a good thirty seconds you and Nemona just stared silently in awe, taking it all in, eyes wide. 

“I don’t know how Area Zero manages to keep getting more and more impressive,” Nemona finally said, her voice hushed, almost as if she were worried that speaking too loud would disturb the peace here. You were gazing down into the pit. 

“How does it just keep going down? I bet you’d fall into the Earth’s core if you fell down there.”

Nemona gave a nervous chuckle, taking your hand again.

“Let’s not test that theory. We’ll just take the path nice and slow, okay?”

“Yeah. That sounds good.”

Hellcat moved ahead of you both, not intimidated by the enormous drop. It quickly crossed over the catwalk, reaching a broader area beyond. You and Nemona took your time, mindful of your steps so that you wouldn’t go tripping into the blackness. The air that rose up from the pit was cool and pleasant-smelling, like musty, damp earth. When you reached the other side of the catwalk, you found Hellcat was slinking about, ears perked and nose sniffing the air. It lowered into a crouch and began to stalk forward. Nemona muttered to you,

“I think they found something.”

You both carefully followed after the tiger. Hellcat was approaching a large patch of crystals that were sprouting from the ground. The crystals grew in long and thin columns, almost resembling some kind of plant from the way they were growing, like an aloe vera or some other succulent. You couldn’t see why Hellcat found it so interesting, but as you drew closer you noticed a quiet little chattering noise emanating from the crystals. It sounded a bit like the noise Nemona had noticed earlier, in fact. Perhaps you’d finally caught up to it. 

The cry sounded vaguely familiar to you, and you were busy trying to figure out what it reminded you of when you finally caught sight of some movement: a slithering black shape, coiled among the crystals. Hellcat’s eyes narrowed to slits and it looked as though it was preparing to spring. You glanced to Nemona; it seemed she saw no reason to interfere, since Hellcat was basically doing all the work in tracking down the pokemon. You both watched and waited.

Hellcat lunged, striking at the mysterious pokemon with its claws, but the tiger’s paws impacted hard with a crystal instead of a pokemon. There was a harsh cry, raspy and aggressive, and the serpentine black shape reared upwards, a vivid, glowing stripe of orange suddenly lighting up along the length of its body; there was a flash of teeth and glaring eyes as the body swayed, and you realized the pokemon was being reflected over and over in the array of tera crystals, making it extremely difficult to tell where it actually was. 

“Uh-oh. Um, any guesses, Nemona?”

The wild pokemon hissed, and you could see a purple tongue flicking around curved, black teeth. From all the reflections, you honestly couldn’t tell how many heads the snake had, because at the moment it seemed like you were staring at a very angry hydra. 

“Uuhm, I . . . there! I think. Hellcat, Dire Claw, there!”

Hellcat lashed out where Nemona pointed, but once again was foiled by the fakes, cracking a crystal instead of hitting a pokemon. Despite that fact, the snake didn’t take kindly to the attempted attack. It opened its mouth and spat a fireball. Hellcat tried to dodge but was partly singed by the attack, and it gave an angry shriek in response. 

“Oh man. Another fire type? This just isn’t your day, Hellcat, I’m sorry,” Nemona said, looking guilty about the hit Hellcat had taken.

“Don’t worry, Nemona, I have an idea,” you said, quickly checking through your pokeballs for the right one. 

“Got it, partner. Let’s back off for now, Hellcat, let Juliana handle this one.”

You grabbed up the ball you needed from your bag and tossed it. The purple form of your Gengar took shape. The ghost looked around at the situation, curious, and then turned his eyes to you.

“Gengar! There’s some sort of . . . uhh, something in that patch of crystals. I want you to use Dazzling Gleam!”

Gengar grinned and nodded, then turned to face his foe. Nine different heads hissed at Gengar, but the ghost was not easily intimidated. He floated forward, a small light starting to build as he charged his attack. 

“Cover your eyes, Nemona!”

Gengar unleashed his move, a brilliant white light flashing, reflecting in the crystals dozens and dozens of times; you could see the incredible brightness even behind your closed eyes. The wild pokemon’s cry was loud and grating, and you got the feeling Gengar had hit it hard.

When you opened your eyes, you saw the snake spew a stream of fire in retaliation, engulfing Gengar in flames. The ghost grunted, looking charred and wounded, but stuck it out. You ordered,

“Again Gengar, Dazzling Gleam!”

Your pokemon unleashed another sparkling attack, his foe crying out in pain once more. The snake uncoiled from the tera crystal it was wrapped around and began to slither out of the patch of crystals, perhaps starting to think the better of its hiding place. As its head peeked out, you could see it much better: it had a long, toothy snout and a pair of narrow, purple eyes. The stripe of orange that ran along its body continued up back its neck and onto its head, splitting into a pattern with several prongs on the top of its head. The shape almost made it look as though it were a glowing, orange crown. 

The orange crown began to glow brighter and brighter, a sphere of orange energy forming there. The pokemon flicked its head upwards, shooting the ball of energy up into the air over your heads. Your eyes widened. You’d seen this move enough times to recognize it by now.

“Draco Meteor?! Gengar, watch out!” The orange ball of energy exploded, creating a volley of meteors that began to rain down. Neither you or Nemona had expected such a move, so Gengar wasn’t the only one trying to dodge; Hellcat, you and Nemona all scrambled to get out of the path of the meteors as well. You slipped on the ground in your haste, managing to catch yourself before crashing down too painfully. You grunted and twisted around to quickly assess the others– thankfully, it seemed there weren’t any casualties. You yelled,

“Gengar, Dazzling Gleam, one more time!”

Gengar sprang ahead, the flashes of pure fairy energy overwhelming his opponent. Despite how exhausted the snake was by now, it still managed to spit a fireball in return. Gengar trembled and then fainted, and you called,

“That’s okay Gengar, you did great!”

You returned Gengar to his ball, quickly trying to assess if the wild pokemon was catchable by now– it probably was. You reached for your bag, only to realize it had slipped off while you’d been dodging meteors. Aw, nuts. You glanced up when you heard the snake hiss again. It was slithering towards you.

“Nemo–”

“Got you covered!” she responded immediately, throwing a pokeball. The ball hit its target and shook twice, then the snake popped out again, still hissing. She yelled,

“Don’t be stubborn, get in there!” 

The second ball she tossed successfully captured, causing you to sigh in relief. 

“Thanks, Nemona.”

“Yeah, of course! Great job handling that, by the way– Dazzling Gleam was such a great idea.”

She picked the pokeball up and tried to hand it to you, but you shook your head.

“Keep it, I took the last two.”

“You sure?”

“Yep.”

“Okay! Heheh, this is gonna be so fun to use. I’m guessing it’s Fire/Dragon? I’ve never seen anything use Draco Meteor other than dragon types before, so that’s my best guess.”

You nodded.

“Yeah, seems a good bet to me. It really surprised me, though.”

“I know, right? But then again, you never know with pokemon. Especially these Paradox Pokemon, they seem to have a lot of surprises.”

That certainly was the truth. You surveyed the damage caused by the Draco Meteor. A number of impact craters in the ground but nothing too serious– no catastrophic cave-ins or anything. You were glad none of you had been struck by the attack, though. 

“Guess we should make sure to really be on our toes from now on, huh?”

She answered, “Yeah, for sure.” Then, with an excited gleam in her eyes, she turned to you and added, 

“But what I tell ya, Jules? We’re already on our third new pokemon, I knew we’d keep finding more!” 

You laughed,

“You were right. At this rate we’re gonna be able to write a sequel to the Scarlet Book.”

It was just a joke, but Nemona looked thrilled with the idea.

“Oooh, that’d be so cool! Well, La Primera would have to be okay with releasing information about Area Zero to the public first, I guess . . .”

“And that’s assuming she doesn’t kill us if we tell her that we keep coming down here.”

“Oh come on, she wouldn’t kill us! She wouldn’t be that mad . . . would she?” Nemona looked suddenly uncertain. You shrugged.

“I dunno, you know her better than I do.”

Nemona seemed to consider for a few moments, then said,

“Um, let’s keep exploring!” You didn’t have a problem with leaving thoughts of punishment for another time– you were already down here, and you were going to enjoy it to the fullest while you could. You and Nemona continued onward, mindful to check any patches of crystals from now on in case they contained any surprises. However, nothing else unexpected seemed to be lurking. There seemed to be very few pokemon in general at these depths, in fact. You passed by a few docile Carbink, then walked a path that wasn’t as narrow as earlier, but was close enough to the dizzying drop that you both continued to be careful and take your time. 

Eventually you met with another tunnel, covered in smooth tera crystal and leading ever-deeper into the earth. This one was different, though, as it was blocked by a very large collection of crystals. The crystals that composed the roadblock seemed to be denser and more opaque than the usual tera crystals. 

“Can you squeeze by?” Nemona asked, trying to see if she could wedge herself between the crystals and the tunnel. You attempted to do so on the other side, but the crystals had grown far too close, almost sealing off the tunnel entirely.

“Nah. We’ll have to use Scarlet.”

You both backed off and sent out Koraidon, then ordered a Rock Smash. Scarlet gave the crystal a good thwack with his tail, but the crystals remained solid. 

“Try again, Scarlet!”

He hit it again, but to no effect. Several more attempts, each time with increasing intensity, also ended in failure. Scarlet backed off and licked at his bruised tail, giving a little whine.

“You okay, Scarlet? Hmmph. I don’t think this crystal is gonna budge. Don’t worry, boy, I won’t make you keep trying.”

You returned him to his ball. Nemona crossed her arms, complaining,

“Well this stinks! I wonder why this crystal is so much tougher than the other ones?”

You shrugged.

“It’s pretty big. Maybe it’s older and thicker? At any rate, this might be the end of the line for us.”

She sighed sadly.

“Yeah. It’s starting to look like it.”

Your hand was still resting against the large crystal when a familiar sound echoed within the cavern: a loud, feral roar. Your eyes widened, and you both quickly turned.

Floating high in the air above the pit was a pokemon with crescent-moon shaped wings tipped in a row of feathers. Its forearms had long, sharp talons and its armored head had spiky tufts of feathers and crocodilian jaws. A pair of yellow eyes peered down at you from above.

“Roaring Moon?” Nemona whispered. You nodded silently.

That wasn’t the strangest part, though. The Roaring Moon was Terastallized, which in itself was not unusual. But it wasn’t like any Terastallization you’d ever seen. The pokemon’s body was glittering in an entire rainbow of colors, and its Tera Jewel was . . . more of a Tera crown, studded with a whole slew of shimmering hexagonal gemstones.

Hellcat bristled and growled at the pokemon while you and Nemon exchanged a look, dumbfounded.

The dragon gave another roar.

[the-insomniac-emporium]

Hi I am so enthralled by your mia, ethan and reader dream. Is it possible to know more?

<3<3<3

okay okay okay so- there's not much left of the dream itself that I didn't already go over, at least nothing substantial (in other words basically all that's left would be actually writing it out). it ended right around the time Miranda showed up, I think? honestly at this point the dream and my own daydreaming are blurring together. legit woke up from and went "actually. can we keep going" lmao

anyway, here's some more snippets/ideas/whatnot:

Rose technically didn't show up in the dream, she was just mentioned, so I'm still figuring out how old she should be for the fic. I'm tempted to make her a bit over a year old just so I can use my nephew for reference in terms of what milestones she's hit, but that's a little too close to the end of RE8 for my tastes. I want at least a bit of time to have passed, so she's probably somewhere between 2 and 5?

Speaking of RE8: everybody lived, nobody died. In my mind Mia worked out a deal with Miranda where they worked together to revive Eva + ensure Ethan wouldn't die from the mold. Mia is still working with Miranda, albeit she doesn't love doing so, mainly to make sure they can get support if Rose's health changes as she gets older. The reader has zero idea of any of this.

Mia and Ethan don't do a great job of hiding the fact that their situation is odd, somewhat intentionally, but they keep a very tight lid on the specifics. This leads to the reader coming up with a lot of theories/excuses. The #1 theory is that the Winters are essentially in the international version of Witness Protection, and that's why they moved out to the middle of nowhere Romania with a young child, why Mia is so secretive about her job, and why all of the "babysitters" seem like total badasses. Which is technically pretty close to the truth, lmao

Ethan is initially worried that the reader might be one of Miranda's followers, or be involved with the BSAA in some fashion. But nope! They're a totally normal person, living in a small town even after all of their childhood friends moved away, kind of drifting from job to job. Only point of interest is that they are somewhat aware of the Village, in the same way that most locals know to stay away. This provides a point of tension when Ethan unintentionally makes them think that Mia's work involves the Village

The first time Miranda shows up is also right around the time the romance vibes start up. Reader got a bit too drunk after the girl they were seeing turned out to be lying about some stuff (claimed she'd be staying in town for a while, despite knowing she intended to leave as soon as her work was finished + knowing that the reader wanted something more long term), the Winters go to drive them home only to realize they actually have no idea where Reader lives, so the Reader ends up crashing in their guest room. The three have some nice conversation before Reader falls asleep.

When they wake up, it turns out there was a snowstorm overnight, so Mia can't go to work, and Reader can't go home. Despite this... Miranda shows up, refusing to give a proper explanation for how she got through the storm. She's wary of Reader, claiming to just be protective of her god-daughter, when really she's trying to remind the Winters that they have good reasons for being so isolated.

Miranda's arrival starts the gradual introduction of other Village characters, although only a couple make physical appearances (mainly Lady D's daughters). There's a running joke that they're considered part of the family but no one can agree on how any of them are supposedly related to Rose. Like, are the Dimitrescu daughters her cousins or her aunts?

Ethan reportedly played flag football in college. Mia is insanely good at playing darts. They knew each other before Ethan came out, and Mia was his #1 supporter, the two of them got together around the same time he went on T.

They've gone back and forth on how open their relationship is, not due to disagreement but rather agreeing that at certain points they wanted to focus on each other (like when they were trying for Rose). Ethan implies that he thinks Mia and Miranda had a fling at some point but he's honestly not sure. They're not actively looking for either hookups or a third partner, but they both admit they're growing rather fond of Reader. Mia's flirting is sort of testing the waters, with Ethan slowly joining in. Neither of them want to outright make a move or suggest anything because, well, Reader is the first friend they've made out here and they don't want to mess that up.

(In contrast, Reader is only stopping themselves from making a move because they're worried that the Winters will eventually leave Romania... and leave them, by extension.)

Since this was my dream, and also because it's how I normally write things, the reader is going to be gender-neutral, and probably coded as non-binary.

[dearweirdme]

honestly one major example that showed me how deeply jungkook loves jimin (it's up to you to define what type of love is it) is how he acted after the rainy day fight. we don't know what exactly was said between them but we know jk fucked up bad enough that jimin ended up telling him "i won't concern myself with you anymore. you're on your own" and left. it affected jk BAD to the point he was sobbing and even said him and jimin cried together and fixed it all on the same day. the fact that he also chose to call jimin out of all the members when he got lost even though they had just fought and one would think jimin would be the least likely member to pick up his calls, yet he still did. he picked up and he waited for jk in the rain for an hour. jk couldn't lose jimin so he apologized on the same day even though his ego was hurt during the fight according to him. he swallowed his ego and called jimin because jimin matters more to him.

and if we compare that to how taekook dealt with their drifting period, (speculations and theories aside idc about anything other than what the members themselves say and show. and change was evident in taekook's dynamic if you were in the fandom at the time) jk and tae's friendship was gradually changing (not necessarily negatively they were just growing apart) yet neither of them tried to stop the change or stop themselves from drifting further. they just let it happen until tae decided that he wanted things to go back to normal and had that conversation with jk. the fact that they both let it happen shows me that they weren't as emotionally invested in their bond as people like to assume they were. there wasn't a need to save things from deteriorating. they were changing from being inseparable besties to being just regular friends with different besties and they were content with that. while jk couldn't bare the thought of him and jimin drifting and had to fix things immediately. it says a lot about all of their priorities as individuals and whom they cherish.

Hi anon!

Personally, I think everyone is making way too much out of that fight.

Basically what it comes across as to me is that the guys were stressed out, Jk was stressed out and started talking to his hyungs in a way they felt disrespectful, Jimin lashed out at him and said some things that hurt Jk, Jk got upset and walked around feeling sorry eventually and wanted to make up with jimin.. and they did.

When you’re working closely like they have, and you also live together, and you’re all young… fights are going to happen. I think they had many fights probably, we just only know of a few. When people are stressed out and mad, they say things they don’t mean, and that’s what happened here.

Funny how I’m not allowed my interpretation of Tae and Jk, yet you come here and use words like ‘Jk couldn’t lose Jimin’. Nowhere is it implied that Jk was afraid of that. He knew even during that fight he wouldn’t lose Jimin. Fights happen all the time, you don’t lose people over mundane fights normally.. especially those you are very close with. Ofcourse Jimin matters more to him than winning some stupid fight, good grief.. way to dramatize anon.

Priorities are going to someone’s performance when you are about to release an album yourself… and think about this anon… because that is not what Jimin and Jk have been like.

[morningsunandnightsky]

Touch of love | Na Jaemin

slice of life au

pairing: Jaemin x reader

warnings: none

word count: 850

genre: fluff

sypnopsis: It wasn't love at first sight exactly, but it was familiarity. Something like oh, hello, it's you. It's going to be you.

Taglist: @gangsta-dragon @thelilyshope @donkey-hyuck

An: A very short one just to get back into writing, please let me know what you think. Hope you enjoy!

As the train stops, the weary expressions of the passengers in line become visible.  A few of them board. While others go sit down for the following one. You see a woman carrying a gorgeous cat with emerald eyes. A little girl approaches her and asks if she can pet it. The older woman happily nods as she crouches down next to her. You smile for the first time all day when you see how delighted the young girl is.

The conductor scans the area to ensure that everyone who wished to board has done so. All other sounds suddenly get drowned out by the rumbling of an approaching train. 

You then notice a tall man running from the opposite side of the railway station. You see him trying to get the conductor’s attention, but he doesn’t hear him. The moment you are ready to touch the window to let him know, the light bursts through the clouds and temporarily blinds you. 

The man was gone when you opened your eyes again, and by the time you could see clearly, the doors had already closed. You feel a sense of defeat because you couldn’t do anything to help. He may have been in going to an important meeting or making a visit to see someone because they were leaving. You know how it feels to miss your train and have to wait for the next, even if he was just heading home. The thought of being able to help but having not done anything stays in the back of your mind the whole time. 

You gaze at the endless landscape for a while. With the rumbling of the train in the distance, it is rather relaxing. It provides you with a chance to unwind after a long day. When the conductor asks for your ticket, you are just about to drift off. You pull it out of your bag as you sit up straight. He gives you a nod before moving on to the next person.

While looking around you notice that only one other seat is taken. You clearly saw people board earlier, which makes you think, "Did I really fall asleep earlier?"

Your gaze is drawn to the unfamiliar person seated across from you. Jaemin is using a pencil to jot something down on a sheet of paper. You're not really sure whether he's writing or sketching because you can't see what's on the paper.  

His hand glides across the paper smoothly and effortlessly. Holding the pencil with long, slightly angled fingers. His face is being bathed in the golden beams of the setting sun. On his cheekbones, you can make out the shadow of his long eyelashes. thereby softening his angelic appearance. His eyes become as soft and luxurious as flower petals under the sun. He appeared like a real piece of art to you, and you wish you could take a picture of him. 

Before locking those same brown eyes with yours that you were enjoying just a moment earlier, you notice a smile starting to appear on his face. You hastily turn your attention to your shoes out of fear of being caught staring. But that spilt second of eye contact is enough to make you blush.

You return to observing the passing scenery, but every so often you get the impression that he is keeping an eye on you. However, when you quickly glance over, you notice that he is still working.  

You reason that since you are so tired, it must all be in your head. 

The conductor's voice reaches your ears once more, as he announces your arrival at the following stop. The train then gradually slows down and stops. In the corner of your eye, you catch Jaemin gathering his belongings and standing up. You turn your head to face him as he gets closer.  

He hands you the piece of paper and says, "Thanks for earlier and please accept this.” 

He gives you one final smile before leaving. You unfold the paper and see a drawing of yourself smiling brightly while you look outside. You notice that he has written something in the bottom corner. 

“There is no sunrise or sunset that could compare to your eyes when you smile. -Jaemin” 

After reading that, you stifle a little gasp and swiftly look to check whether he has already departed. He is already looking at you when you finally spot him through the crowd. 

You simply return the same look, unsure of what to do. not even for a split second letting go of his gaze. Though it's too late now because the train has already resumed its motion before you even realised it, you wish you had spoken to him while you still had the chance.

Because maybe your paths were supposed to cross and he wasn't just another stranger passing by...

But you could never have communicated as much with words as you do with your eyes right at this moment. Both of your eyes hold a million unspoken words of curiosity, gratitude, and perhaps a touch of love. 

[seraphdreams]

❦ 𝐎𝐂𝐓𝐎𝐁𝐄𝐑 𝟐𝟐 — 𝐁𝐄𝐑𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐋𝐃𝐓 𝐇𝐎𝐎𝐕𝐄𝐑.

synopsis - it’s his first night with his new puppy, what a needy thing she is—she can’t seem to fall asleep.

contains - fem!reader, dubcon-ish, slight somnophilia, cumplay, thigh fucking, and pussy job. 18+ mdni.

word count - 1.3k

puptober masterlist

“bert?”

you whisper, looking through the gap of the room door that led you to the bed of the slumbering man who seemed to be titanic in size. the layout of his apartment is unfamiliar to you and with it being your first night in a new place, you just can’t seem to shake off the uneasy feeling that overcomes you as you try to lay in your customized bed and drift off to sleep.

you await an answer from him before faintly calling his name out once more. when you get no response, you take it upon yourself to step into the space, lightly treading your feet across the deep brown hardwood flooring and onto the empty side of his bed. you pause for a brief instant, taking in the gentle sounds of his sonorous snores and the indistinct heaving of his chest.

“b-bert?” you ask again, this time tapping on his bare shoulder in a feeble attempt to rouse him out of his sleep. a low grumble is heard as he stirs, shifting his position under the covers and inadvertently turning to face you, gradually fluttering his eyes somewhat open at the sugared resonance of your voice. you finally come into his view; sitting on your knees, scantily clad in only a t-shirt and panties with an undetectable pout on your lips.

“hm?” he questions groggily, closing his eyes as he wraps his arms around your waist, laying his head on your lap in his half-awake state. “can’t sleep.” you softly lament, looking down at the tranquil display of your new boyfriend. to be frank, you didn’t know what to think of him. he was a skittish and mild mannered young man who decided to take you under his care and provide you a better life than your previous. in a sense, he was kind of like your owner—with benefits.

“is that right?” he queries, trying to shake off the evident sleepiness in his tone. he lifts his head up and unlatches from your frame, slowly sitting up until the duvet covers reveal his serendipitously lean torso. “i-i mean, you could always, um, sleep here—if that makes you feel more comfortable.” he rubs the back of his neck as he stammers out the words, growing meeker as he nears the end of his sentence.

he’s cute, beyond all doubt, having an intimidating exterior and docile interior. it makes him all the more solicitous and easy to be around.

“okay.” you respond, pulling the cover over your body and letting your head hit the plush pillows. you turned your body away from him in hopes that you don’t come off as too intimate and much to your surprise after the short-lived rustling he makes, he presses his body against yours, spooning your frame as he rests his head atop yours.

it’s an innocent gesture, one that he didn’t think about too carefully because instead of easing his mind to sleep, he unintentionally revved it up, his face flushing a bright pink in realization.

you’re so warm.

now was not the time for him to be thinking about the way your backside curved against him or how he could feel the way you fortuitously wiggled your hips right over his crotch, instead he tried focusing his attention on falling back into slumber but the soft murmurs you elicit only have him doing the opposite. he was more so hoping that you couldn’t feel the way his heart pattered—or the way blood rushed to his indurating cock.

it was your thighs. your bare thighs pressed together and radiating the perfect kind of heat; the kind of heat he wanted to slip his cock right into. he couldn’t tell if you were asleep or not and he most certainly didn’t want to wake you up but the strain of his dick against his sweats needed to be relieved expeditiously, and he didn’t want to cause you discomfort by positioning himself the opposing way.

sure, you wouldn’t mind, would you? you are a puppy after all, isn’t it your goal to please? if he’d somehow wake you up, you wouldn’t be too upset, right?

his mind races through excuses to come up with as he pulls down his sweats just enough to have his lengthy cock springing free. “please forgive me.” he whispers, to no one in particular. he spreads the oozing precum from his tip, down his shaft, as he aligns it with the part of your thighs. he uses the remaining precum to lubricate the area, hoping the unexpected warmth doesn’t startle you too much.

his head immediately spins as he sinks into you, the sensation of your sumptuous thighs squeezing against the tip causing him to suppress a low groan. “j-just the tip, i promise.” he says, again, to no one in particular.

your breathing is steady, and it makes him conclusively begin to thrust, starting off slow and keeping his promise of stimulating just the head.

“god.” he mumbles under his breath, trying to conceal the numerous groans that threaten to slip out when he senses the way your thighs are wrapped around the bulbous head of his cock. somehow, you’re just admirably tight, creating the most pleasurable pings of ecstasy surge through his already sensitive tip.

it’s not until he notices the way you fidget, softly crooning at the heat torrenting in your core, that he realizes you were awake the whole time. he tries to halt his movements but it’s like his own body is failing on him as he chases the feeling even more, too caught up in the sensation of your body to even notice how he’s slipped more than only the tip past your thighs.

you can’t help but get aroused at his seemingly perverse actions, it causes you to stifle a whine as you push your panties to the side and grind over his length that’s now slipping between your folds. he takes notice of the change in circumstance, following his cloudy mind and taking ahold of your hips to buck faster. “y-you feel so good, so wet.” he calmly stutters out, squeezing his eyes shut as he overcomes with bliss.

the tip of his cock continuously nudges against your sensitive clit, increasing the amount of pleasure that pools through you. “ah, slow down.” you manage to whimper through stifled and shallow breaths. in all honesty, you had no intention of wanting him to stop, it was quite attractive to you the way he’d lose himself in the smallest feelings of euphoria. you curl yourself against him tighter, angling your hips in a way that would allow him to prod at your clit more accurately.

you could tell by the way you both were faltering in your desperate movements that you’re mere seconds away from cumming. the grip on your waist is even more secure as he leans down to press kisses by your earlobe, in contrast to the unintentionally fast and hard pace he set.

“wanna cum in this princess cunt, c-can i? please?” he whispers, a lilt of desperation evident in his tone. you’re too caught up in the pleasure that you just nod your head absentmindedly, shocked when you feel the insertion of the tip of his cock in your cunt. the feeling of him stretching you out for the first time is enough to have your walls clenching around him and edging you to an orgasm, one that he uses to his advantage as the fluttering of your cunt provided perfect leeway for him to thrust once, twice, and a third before coating your insides with his seed.

you both collectively take the time to come down from your highs before he slowly pulls the softening length of his cock from your walls, watching the string of cum oozing from your core leak past your thighs. you only whine and grasps the sheets beneath you as he does so, ogling at the excessive amount of thick cum while he uses the tip to spread it over your folds.

“i think you look really pretty like this, a pretty mess.”

tags - @kiryoh @1252291 @adalz

– all rights reserved © seraphdreams 2021. do not repost, change, copy, republish, read, translate, or recommend my work on tumblr or any other platforms without prior permission. feedback is widely appreciated!

[blood-injections]

This is part 1. Part 2

I have a scrapped killjoy au that I got about five chapters in before I rewrote and the plot changed and I’ve been sitting on what to do with those chapters, cause they’re still good writing and a great idea for something, they just we’re going nowhere. Maybe I’ll make them into a one shot or something. The rewritten version changed the beginning and reused some of the stuff and that’s a fic in my drafts that I’m slowly but surely working on. It’ll be out at some point, maybe when I have time to write this Christmas break.

Anyway the scrapped au was called My Way Home Is Through You, it was about dealing with loss and grief and regret and hope and the joy of being reunited with something you thought you lost forever. Fun Ghoul was ghosted in a clap gone wrong and as I wrote in the first chapter:

Every killjoy knows they’ll be lucky to live to twenty-five, but this was still too soon. They had been through so many fights together over the past few years, even worse ones than the one they had had today- so how had this firefight been the one to take someone? How can everything be perfectly fine, everyone on their feet and all alive and then all of a sudden-

So they have to learn to deal with loss, Party Poison has to learn to live with the absence of the killjoy who was in pretty much every sense their soulmate. They ask, “How do we do this without him?” Jet Star says, “We keep running, keep loving and keep fighting.” And Poison thinks How do I do this without him?

Weeks go by before it happens for the first time. Poison sees Ghoul’s ghost. The three remaining killjoys are out on patrol when Poison hears a whisper on the wind, echoing in a tone so familiar it clenches their heart. He looked to the horizon and saw it, the shadow out in the wavering sand, the outline of a familiar figure. They run towards it but their arms close around nothing but air, the figure vanished, nothing but a mirage.

From then on the encounters started happening more often, Poison would hear that voice in their ear or head or they’d see that figure in front of them or they’d have violent dreams, reliving the moment they lost Fun Ghoul over and over again, listening to the words keep running escape his bloody lips on repeat. It’s what he said as he bled out onto the sand and the killjoys listened, running from his glassy eyes and the pursuing enemies.

The encounters gradually get more corporal, Poison swears they feel Ghouls lips on their forehead when he appears one evening, whispering killjoys never die to them in the darkness of the diner. The nightmares start blending with old memories of Poisons life, memories from when the brothers first escaped to the desert, memories from when they met Ghoul, memories of the stories Doctor D would tell the four of them, huddled around a campfire outside the radio shack.

Poison knew what they were, Hallucinations. Visions sent by their unending grief to torture them. Jet and Kobra do their best to support them, Kobra held them though each torturous night like they were little kids again but Poison knows that between their own grief and helping Poison though their screaming nightmares and heaving sobs whenever they see Ghouls ghost, it’s taking a real toll on the other two killjoys.

But one particular night, after two months of agony, one of Poison’s twisted dreams played them one of the old fireside memories and as I wrote:

There was an interesting dream. A sort of flashback to days when he was younger, when he and Kobra had only just escaped to the zones and were taken in by Jet Star and Doctor Death Defying, when they hadn't even met Fun Ghoul yet. It would be a few months more before they ran into the teenager that was drifting thorough the zones and somehow stirring up trouble wherever he went. But then the scrappy young Fun Ghoul had stumbled upon Poison and the others and wormed his way into their hearts, from that point becoming the fabulous four was inevitable.

But Doctor Death Defying would tell them all about the zones and the myths within them and on this particular night he remembered, he was telling them about the Phoenix Witch and about some of the beliefs surrounding her.

"Theres energy that flows through this static." Doctor Death spoke. "Energy that connects everything and everyone, something that will speak to you if you choose to listen and that will listen to you should you need it's guidance. The Phoenix Witch guides the souls of the departed to the afterlife but it's said she'll guide any lost soul, even a living one. If you allow her to, the Phoenix Witch will speak to you and guide your way when you need her." He told them, bathed in the light of a campfire outside his radio shack.

"We killjoys are one with the desert." He'd say and Ghoul's spector appeared, just staring at Poison and sitting by the campfire with the rest if them as if he had been in that memory.

As the dream ended and Poison woke up with a start. He didn't expect to see the hallucination still right there, now leaning over him.

Ghoul pressed a kiss to Poison's forehead and he swore he could feel it. "Killjoys never die" The entity said smoothly, then Ghoul's eyebrows furrowed and his voice became more his as he uttered his next words.

"My way home is through you."

That was the final straw for Party Poison, they needed to get out immediately. They needed air, they had to get out and drive too fast and feel the wind in their hair and fucking shoot at something, so that's what they did. They left before Jet could protest or Kobra could pester them to let him come along to 'have their back' and Poison wouldn't have been able to say no to their brother. They needed to be alone so, they left quickly.

They couldn't stop thinking about the dream, about the memory, about the ghost of Ghoul's words. He didn't mean to head in any specific direction but ended up at Doctor Death Defying's anyway.

"Fuck." He muttered, it seemed he'd have to voice his fears that he hadn't even accepted yet.

Show Pony greets him and soon enough, hes sat down with Doctor D, trying to figure out how to unravel the mess that is his mind. Doctor D asks them how they're doing and as I wrote:

Poison looked down, digging in the sand with the heel of his boot. "It's been really hard. It's been four months, it still feels like it was yesterday. I keep expecting to wake up next to him or see him walk into the diner but I never do." He confided, squinting his eyes as they grew closer to watering. His hand fell to the holster on his thigh, fingertips hovering over the handle of the old green gun he had kept.

"The others are still affected too, they don't say much but they don't smile like they used to, we're all flying half mast. The diner, it's so quiet now without him. When we'd go out a couple months ago, fighting like usual, we'd keep slipping up and having close calls, Jet's shoulder was grazed when he forgot he didn't have him to cover his flank." He explained. "So, we haven't been going out as much. Staying in and just fighting locally when we're needed."

And then they finally voice the doubts, the fears that have been stirring ever since they saw that first mirage.

"But there's- theres something else that's been going on." Poison finally said after a moment of silence had passed. "And recently I've been.. doubting it all. Wondering if- what if he isn't really dead? If he isn't then I- I left him there to die." He choked. This was the first time he had voiced any of this.

"I ran away like a coward while he bled out. Even if we barely stood a chance- what if there was a chance we could saved him? What if we left him there and- and now they have him."

Doctor D tries to let them down gently, saying he knows what it's like but that he remembers getting the news. That Fun Ghoul is gone, that he sacrificed himself so the rest of them could escape. That he couldn't survive a wound like that. But Poisons spiralling now, they stand up and start pacing.

"I know but- they got his body- who knows what technology they have. I know he's with the Witch and I- I've been seeing his fucking ghost." He said frantically.

"D, the last two months I've been having these hallucinations and these dreams and he keeps fucking telling me things, this morning I woke up and he was right in front of me and I swear I felt it when he touched me. He told me 'my way home is through you' and I just-"

He took a deep breath and stopped pacing, Doctor Death was watching him freak out with wide eyes.

"I remember the stories you'd tell us of the Witch and of the energy that connects us to eachother and the desert and all that hippie shit and I never really believed the deeper parts if it, but I know you do and I know Ghoul did more than me. You'd say how she guides lost souls and that if we need help that she could guide us too if we listen and what if what I'm seeing isn't just psychosis- what if it's actually him, connecting to me from wherever he's being held?"

He finished, sitting back down and wiping his face. "I know this is the craziest thing I've ever said, but even if it turns out it's just a case of moon madness- I don't care. I just need to know for sure."

They dont expect Doctor D to say "You're right." after the long silence that followed their tangent. He says he dies believe in the witch and he says, "If you really think what you've been seeing could actually be him reaching out, then I'll help you try to connect as well." And he asks what the hallucinations and dreams have been like. They conclude that it really does seem like Ghoul is haunting Poison and that the thing's he's saying are connected.

"If he's out there, his way home is through you, that was the truth."

Poison sniffed, quickly wiping his nose on a sleeve. "How?" He choked. "How can I bring him home?"

And then we get a scene out of ttlotfk comic, the one where Cherri's teaching the girl how to aim and hit a target, explaining that mystical energy. Except now it's Doctor D, telling Poison how to see.

"You'll start to see movement- like heatwaves in the air- auras bleeding into natural electricity. The unseen is all around us. If you were to fire a gun, the blast can ride those waves and make it a perfect shot every time. You can ride those waves too, you could see all the way to Bat City from here- and that's how you can try and connect to Fun Ghoul.

"It can be very overwhelming, but if he's out there your mind should connect to his. Just focus, see the waves, then think of him. Feel his energy surround you, his soul- connect to it and you'll be taken to it, you'll combine with it. Maybe he can show you where he is."

It was like nothing Poison had ever experienced before. The static, the airwaves, they could see it all, the energy that surrounded them.

"It's just like you said." He breathed, trying to focus on Ghoul, on the memory of him, on his voice and his laugh and his being that would always be inside of Poison even if it turned out he really was dead.

He wasn't sure if it was working but something was definitely happening and across the desert, behind buildings and barriers- a pair of dull emerald eyes snapped open.

[roci-wolf]

— DEATHLY HOLIDAY

lee know x fem!reader,

1st person perspective

genre: fantasy!au, fluff, spooky season themed

word count: 3,7k

warnings: VERY mild descriptions of missing body parts, mentions of death

A/N: To be fair, this whole piece is silly. But I just feel the need to specify that this is almost one year old. I wrote it as a uni assignment back in december and my professor actually liked it?? Although I know it's quite cartoonish, but this work is one of my favourites. I had a lot of fun writing it back then and it will always remain close to my heart. I know it ends abruptly, but as I said, being an assignment, I had to restrict myself. I did try rewriting it several times, but I gradually came to the conclusion that I just cannot do it: this is how it's supposed to be, so I'm leaving it like that. I know the events take place during Christmas time, but I felt like the whole vibe goes better with the spooky season so here we are. Hope you'll enojoy reading it as much as I did writing it!

Visiting the world of the dead on Christmas day isn’t quite the surprise someone would wish to wake up to, right? Well, people are different. And I am also not the type to wish for sweets or some expensive phone. Okay, maybe I do have those on my wish list, any teenager does, but they’re not on the top of it.

Who, in their right mind, would want to visit the world of the dead? Actually, what is the world of the dead?

I know, there’s a lot of stuff to unfold here. Let me introduce you to the unluckiest person on Earth and her pathetic story. No sugar-coating here.

When I was young, around seven years old, my parents suddenly died in a car accident. Or at least that’s what my sweet aunt told me on the 24th of December, right before Christmas. Yes, at seven years old I woke up on Christmas day with no parents and no presents. At eighteen years old I woke up in the Underworld. It’s starting to make a little sense, doesn’t it?

My whole life I lived in denial, thinking that my parents did not die and that my aunt was lying to me, because they had some big surprise waiting for me. Well, pretending to be dead isn’t the best way to cover up a surprise, but I tend to be very creative. With each day and year passing I became more and more desperate, until I reached that age where all hope dissipates into thin air and you realize you’ve lived all your teenage years like a regretful idiot. Bullied at school for living with my old, poor aunt, having no friends, breaking an ankle and having to give up on dance lessons, things seemed to go for the worse as I continued to grow up.

But that tiny spark of hope from my chest never actually disappeared. I fooled myself for too long to just let it go so easily. So of course, when a half-dead boy told me he knows a way for me to actually confirm if my parents are dead or not, I believed him. Friendly advice, never do that. Never trust random people that show up in your bedroom in the evening after you just came back from school. Especially if that someone is half-dead. And looks like a handsome young man in his twenties.

I can justify myself. I had a really bad day and I was on the brink of losing my sanity. So, no, I wasn’t in my right mind when I said yes to the totally not suspicious offer of helping this guy get an approval to reside in The Between as an official citizen and in exchange getting help to find my parents in The Underworld. I was dumb. I know.

As I discovered from this guy named Minho, The Between is a world designated for those lost souls that weren’t granted the honor of drifting peacefully into The Underworld for various reasons. Either they committed serious sins and didn’t repay enough for them or the reaper who had to guide them just wasn’t in the mood. Even dead beings have changing moods, as it seems.

There were some cases where souls were granted one last chance and it was their choice what to do with it. Either take it and repay your sins in order to sleep for eternity in peace or just ignore it and live in The Between as a half-dead person. Not alive, but not quite dead either. Just... existing. And this was the case for my new friend as well.

Trusting him was a very rash idea, especially after I heard everything about how the afterlife works. But if he really was entirely suspicious, he wouldn’t have told me everything, right? Of course, I didn’t have the affirmation that he spilled all the beans, but considering the state I was in at that time, no one has the right to judge the way I chose to do things.

“So”, the voice of the young man who brought me here resounded into my ears, bringing me back to the present. “How long do you plan to stare at the wall like you want to burn this whole place down? Is that wall a portal to your mental journal or something?”

I turned my head to look at him with gritted teeth. As much as he annoyed me, I needed his help. And we made a promise. And I dislike breaking promises.

"You're exceptionally rude for a dead person".

"Technically, I am not entirely dead."

"But you are entirely unbearable."

He scoffed, turning his head to the other side. The problem was, there was nothing interesting there. Just another plain wall with a faded poster on it. I wouldn't expect more from an elevator that brings you to the afterlife. One day you're just chilling, drinking your coffee on the terrace of your house and the next day you discover some people can summon elevators to Hell. There are many mysteries in this world.

"We're here", his voice sounded thankful, like he couldn't wait to get out of that elevator.

I also couldn't bear to stand there any longer. The Christmas carols were making the whole situation even eerier and it made my insides hurt. Was it fear? Anger? Confusion? Maybe a mix of all of them at once. As I was standing there, in the large elevator that was descending to The Between, I realized just how weird the cycle of life is. We just randomly appear into existence without being questioned beforehand if we actually want to be here, then we crawl through life pretending we enjoy it, and then… and then we go back into nothingness. Or that's what I thought until a few days ago when I first met Minho, a soul who wasn't allowed to reside either on Earth or in The Underworld. He didn’t show it at first, but he was lonely and he was very desperate. And that must mean that life — if I could call it that — in The Underworld and in The Between wasn’t that scary.

“Can you tell me what exactly am I supposed to do in order to make that... uh...”

“Reaper.”

“Right... how do I convince that reaper to give you permission to reside in The Between?”

He turned around, hands in his pockets and expressionless. Minho didn’t seem that old, but from the way he was dressed, in cloth trousers and a silk shirt, he most likely died long ago. He wasn’t wearing many accessories, but his golden wristwatch was another detail that could betray his age. Even if he roamed the Earth for so long, he just refused to adapt to the changes of everyday life. Not that he was allowed to do it, anyway.

Before descending into The Between, Minho didn’t give me many details regarding how a mortal person could get entangled in the affairs of the dead and get out with a positive result, so I was kind of confused. He assured me many times that I was the secret key he had been looking for all along. I doubted it all at first, naturally, but I felt like it had something to do with my parents. Since no one had told me anything about them, I was suspicious. My old grandaunt wouldn’t go into detail every time I would ask her about my parents, like I was forbidden from learning the past of the people who brought me into this world. And Minho was the first person, even if dead, that was willing to help me. It actually looked like he knew something I didn’t, which made me even more curious and suspicious. Plus, if there was ever the possibility of me not coming back to the world of the living, it’s not like I was leaving much behind.

“You’ll paint.”

“I will paint?”

“Yes”, he waited for me to reach him. He wasn’t that tall, but it was hard to keep up with his pace. “I thought mortals still call it that nowadays? Or is the process of you filling a canvas with color not called painting anymore? I’m pretty sure I’ve seen a lot of drawings in your room.”

“I know you’re half ghost or whatever, but that doesn’t give you the permission to rummage in a stranger's room.” I said, trying to catch his eyes. He wasn’t even sparing me a glance, as if I wasn’t that important to be given the honor.

“I didn’t have to. You are not the most organized person I know.”

I waved my hand aimlessly, trying to remove his mischievous remarks.

“I just cannot understand what a reaper could do with a painting. Do you have art expositions in the world of the dead?”

“You’d be surprised.”

“Wow”, I said, shaking my head. “The Underworld and The Between seem much more ordinary than I thought.”

“I wouldn’t say so”, he finally took a hand out of his pocket to check his watch. “Time here passes differently than on Earth. Day and night are the same thing, there’s no sky and everyone has a job they have to complete according to how much they accomplished in the living world.”

I raised my head while he was talking and I let out a shocked gasp. He was right. The sky was just plain blackness. No moon, no stars, nothing. But it also didn’t look like a ceiling. It was just an eternity of darkness.

“I thought good people would have a better view in the afterlife.”

“The sky looks different to everyone. Since you’re not dead yet, you don’t see anything at all.”

“Oh... Then what do you see?”

He stopped and I almost hit my head on his shoulder. He took me by surprise by turning his head and looking me in the eyes. I felt a shiver down my spine. His eyes were blue, the darkest shade I’ve ever seen in a person’s eyes. He smiled, but it didn’t look honest at all.

“I don’t see anything either”, he said. “Since I’m only half dead.”

“That’s sad.”

“Not really. Once you’re made an official resident, The Between is said to be much better, anyway.”

I didn’t answer because I was trying to scan my surroundings. The elevator, which Minho called unironically Hellevator, brought us to a completely deserted place. I feel like this way of coming into The Between wasn’t something legal, because me and Minho stepped into a weird looking alley. The air was very humid; it smelled like rotten flesh.

There was noise not so far away.

He raised his hand with his palm up.

“I don’t think dancing in a stinky alley in the afterlife is a very wise idea.”

“That’s not it, idiot”, he shot me a deathly glare. “I’m asking you to hold on to me. It’s going to get crowded.”

“Oh, what a gentleman. When were you born, in the 19th century?”

“I don’t plan on giving you history lectures”, Minho took my hand against my will, but he held it gently. His brown locks were blocking his eyes, but the dark blue in them sent shivers through my body nonetheless. I knew he was doing his best on keeping his composure while talking to me and the fact that he was succeeding made my fear decrease by a degree. Whatever he had done when he had been alive, he didn’t seem like a bad person.

“I’m pretty sure your life was so boring, the reaper just wanted to make the afterlife more interesting for you by giving you a hard time”, I followed in his quick steps making sure not to trip on my own legs. “He seems the type to be into anything that proves to be entertaining, since you said a painting could convince him to change his mind.”

“I’ll make sure to make the rest of your life as interesting as it can be after we get out of here”, he squeezed my hand, but his good manners didn’t allow him to do it too hard.

“I can’t wait.”

Christmas is such a powerful holiday that it can follow you even after you die. Talk about being eternal.

As Minho warned me, we reached a crowded boulevard. There were dead souls everywhere, taking the form of their physical bodies from the moment they died, so the view that greeted me was not something an eight year old child would like to see when he goes caroling. I saw men with no hands, a woman with only one eye, burned faces and many other atrocities I’m not really inclined to describe. But that wasn’t what made the atmosphere so sinister, but the fact that those last souls were singing. Christmas carols were present not only in the Hellevator, but also on the streets of The Between. Small kids that had had the misfortune of dying young were wearing Santa hats bought from ghostly stores that were also decorated. Transparent figures were passing through me, screaming the lyrics of what I recognized as Wham!’s Last Christmas, but very distorted, almost sounding like the soundtrack of a horror movie. I moved closer to Minho unconsciously, hoping that his body could hide my presence, but my physical, breathing and full of life body was too obvious in the crowd of dead souls, so they were staring right at me.

When I asked Minho how it was possible that Christmas was present even here, he told me that some dead souls were holding on so much to their beliefs that the afterlife didn't succeed in stripping them of these childish traditions. Even though it was all meaningless now, since The Between was only a place where souls were just fooling themselves.

I held my eyes partially closed for the rest of the expedition through ghosts. I chose to keep the little drop of innocence left in me unblemished.

Minho let go of my hand once we arrived at a huge building. It looked a lot like the British parliament building, but much smaller. I realized I was staring at it too much when I sensed Minho’s presence was missing. He was already climbing up the stairs.

There weren’t any guards there, which I found quite suspicious, but I reminded myself I was in a world where the citizens weren’t either dead or alive and there wasn’t much a guard could threaten trespassers with.

That childish thought of mine was immediately erased when I caught up with Minho and a huge shadow covered us both. I didn’t scream, although I really felt the need to, but instead I covered my mouth and stood rooted to the spot, paralyzed. That huge shadow was created by a creature I didn’t really think I would ever meet, even though I’d already seen things nobody has.

Minho was not surprised by the slightest. He was still standing in front of the big mahogany doors, hands in his pockets, unfazed. For a moment I wondered how many times he found himself helplessly in front of these doors, trying again and again to gain something that seemed so unreacheable for him.

My line of thought was caught off when the impolite gargoyle decided to land messily beside Minho.

“I think this is the third century I’m telling you to just give it up”, the stone figure spoke up. I looked at it, blinking, then I moved my gaze on Minho. The boy just brushed the comment off with his hand, clicking his tongue.

“And I thought we became best friends in the meantime. You really disappointed me today.”

“I don’t befriend sinners”, the gargoyle’s expression didn’t move an inch, not even his mouth, but the annoyance in his tone was too obvious.

“That’s a pity, since this place is filled with them”, Minho extended his arms as if to prove his point.

“Not my problem. Move past.”

“You see, this is why you’re so grumpy all the time. You should really make some friends.”

“I don’t need friends. The word of my master is enough.”

“Yeah, whatever”, Minho turned to me.

The careless, defiant attitude he showed me on the day I first met him came back, but it seemed to be controlled by desperation this time. Or I was probably seeing it now because I was aware of his situation.

“I have a present for that master of yours.”

The gargoyle’s head tilted almost imperceptibly.

“That’s a new one. What could a sinner like you bring here and please my master?”

That was the moment I knew something was not right. Minho didn’t move his gaze from my eyes, staring right into them. His blue irises pierced my being, as if reading my every thought, my every fear, all my dark secrets and insecurities even my own conscience didn’t know about. And then the corner of his mouth rose in a sly grin.

“His daughter.”

Flashback to that paragraph where I said to never trust a handsome half dead young man in his twenties. He doesn’t even need to be half dead, actually, that’s just an unfortunate bonus that I got as a Christmas present.

“This wasn’t on our contract.”

“We do not have a contract.”

“It’s an imaginary contract. It’s stored in my mind, and there’s even your signature on it too!”, I refrained myself from speaking too loudly, because the room me and Minho got sent was too big and every little sound was echoing perfectly.

“You’re crazier than the ghost that sells Christmas hats on the boulevard”, he looked at me with one eyebrow up, as if contemplating if I was actually the person he needed for his case.

“At least I’m not a liar.”

“I never lied to you.”

“But I don’t remember this piece of information either”, I crossed my arms, hiding the fear that was slowly creeping into my being. Trying to act tough can do the trick most of the time. “I am pretty sure my dad was not a Reaper.”

Minho ruffled his brown locks with one hand, then looked at me with his dark blue gaze.

“He’s not. But humans can become Reapers after they die. Remember how I told you that every soul is given a task after they die according to how they lived on Earth? Souls can be given the task to guide others into the judgment court, which is in this building. But no, the Reaper that judged me isn’t your father.”

“Then what the hell do I have to do with this whole situation?”

He looked down at his feet.

“You’ll have to paint a portrait. A self portrait, to be exact.”

“What, he fell in love with me or something? Are Reapers allowed to do that?”

“As much as I would love to suitably answer to your sarcastic remarks, this is not the right time”, he made a few steps until he was right in front of me. There was no scent coming from his body and his eyes seemed glossier than usual. “When I told you that you’re the person I’ve been looking for all this time, I wasn’t lying. That Reaper had a daughter when he was still alive, but she died before her twentieth birthday, which was coincidentally on Christmas. He commited suicide after that, which lead him here. Killing himself was a grave sin, so he was given the task of guiding and analyzing other souls' lives as a punishment. He’s reminded everyday of the two lives that he lost.”

“That’s…”

I couldn’t continue, because I wasn’t even capable of finding the right words. The cruelty of the cycle of life seemed even more real.

“But… isn’t his daughter here?”

He shook his head.

“No. She died of an illness, but she had been a good person in her short period of breathing. She went to The Underworld, and he is stuck here.”

“Wow”, I managed to whisper, still processing the information.

“Yeah. And you’re what I need because.. You look exactly like her. Some souls from The Underworld can be reborn, and you’re now the new possessor of her soul.”

I blinked. And blinked again.

“No.”

“Yes.”

“Wow.”

“Mhm.”

Minho patted me on the back gently and left the room without a word. When we were tossed here, the painting materials were already prepared. I looked at them with my mind lost in a thick fog and I sat in front of the tall easel.

The portrait was done earlier than I expected. The brush fell from my numb hand with a small thud. I tried to recreate what I see daily in the mirror as accurately as possible. I’d never done a self portrait until that day, but I did unexpectedly well.

A knock made me startle and come back into reality.

“I’m… I’m done.”

The door opened and Minho came in with a curious look on his face.

“Can I see it?” he tried hiding the excitement in his tone, but the corners of his mouth were slightly raised, which made him look like a happy cat.

I encouraged him with a wave of my hand. He walked confidently to me and he looked at the painting expectantly.

“It looks exactly like her”, he whispered, looking dazed. I found his sparkling eyes a little odd, but I didn’t give it much thought.

“I’ll go give it to him. You did an amazing job.”

“Thanks.”

He looked at me gently, an expression I never expected from him. It made his features seem softer.

“I’ll ask about your parents as well. He most certainly knows what happened to them.”

He sighed, making a short pause.

“Thank you. Really, I kind of forced you into this and your reward isn’t enough for what you had to go through.”

I shook my head, feeling too tired to think too much. Everything was just too overwhelming.

“It’s fine

“I’ll send you a letter in a few days with the information I managed to gather.”

“Thanks.”

Minho looked at me once more with a big grin on his face.

“What?”

“You know, I never told you what was the sin that brought me in this situation.”

“You don’t need to tell me.”

“I tried to revive a dead soul before it reached The Underworld.”

I raised my head, all the haziness that dominated me a second ago dissipating into thin air.

“And she looked exactly like you.”

[futurebellyache]

Who should Digest you?

I think I'm tired of the endless grind of work. Any preds following me interested in giving me someplace soft to rest? I’m all yours.

Aaaand post. You finalize your Facebook message as you lean back in your chair. Work had drained you, and some people at work are just absolutely miserable. Fucking Cathy.

Ending up in some cute or sexy person's gut sounded wonderful. You had a couple of ideas, but you were a tad interested to see who volunteered…

The first comment came in mere minutes after posting.

Stephanie Simmerset

OMG BRO IVE WANTED THIS MY WHOLE LIFE! PLEASE LET ME EAT YOU. IT WOULD MEAN THE WORLD TO ME <3

You aren't at all surprised to see your little sister, Stephanie, jumping at this opportunity.

She had always been your cute little sister, and you'd spoiled her rotten. And perhaps because of that, she'd grown quite affectionate to you. At first it was cute stuff like 'marrying big bro', but eventually, it turned vorish and she'd pestered you about being her 18th birthday present. How wonderful having her brother be her first meal would be.

You thankfully weren't able to attend and had been avoiding her these last few months. But… spoiling her one last time and helping stretch out her gut doesn't sound like a terrible way to go. The idea of replacing the baby fat she’d lost in the last several years makes you feel a bit odd…

Stephanie was a bit of a scatterbrained blonde, forgetful but in a way that made her quite endearing. She’d grown a lot over the years, now reaching you in height. Though her curves were still quite petite. She wasn’t exactly a trained pred, and hadn’t gotten the chance to mold her T&A into the bombshell you expect from predators.

You'd taken it as the desire of a young girl to be like the voracious adults, but now she was old enough where you think she could actually swallow you down. Perhaps you could help her take this important step to adulthood. An untrained pred was barely different from a prey in the eyes of a hungry predator. You’d be keeping her safe by letting her digest you. Plus the slight taboo of your sister appeals to your perverted side…

You hear your phone ding, must be another comment. The second is… you can't help but let out an immense sigh.

Cathy Bingleheart

Hah! Always knew you were a prey slut. If you want a real gut to mess you up, mine would LOVE to put you in your place.

Fucking Cathy.

You'd had to follow her to be friendly since your company was so small. You had grown to despise her. She was a fake blonde with a fairly chubby gut. One you bet she'd just gotten from her shitty diet and lack of exercise. There’s no way she could actually entice somebody inside of her, though physically she didn’t seem weak.

But… she was rather stacked. Her tits were massive, like volleyballs that pushed out farther than her gut. And her ass would definitely smother you. If she ate you, you'd be lost in that sea of fat. Probably with those interns who all 'suddenly quit' last year. Likely trusted her a bit more than they should have.

There's some masochistic desire inside you that's tempted to allow her to have your way for you. No matter how frustrating the idea is.

While you argue with your inner submissive demon, another ding and another comment.

Jennifer Gammy

I see you've finally decided to become a meal. You know I'd always be willing to accommodate you. I'd make sure you went out happy. My belly always has room for somebody like you.

Her words linger on your mind and remind you of back when you'd dated her. This was Jennifer, or Jen as most people called her. She was a very tall, slightly chubby woman with long red hair. She was a tad plump all over, a very soft-looking girl. You can still feel her gentle warmth around you when you close your eyes.

You'd actually been in the same friend circle for a while and gradually drifted closer, until finally dating. And then you learned just how kinky she was. She would tie you up in her lap and idly play games with you in her lap, holding the controller at your crotch, licking your feet, roleplay of her cheating with some dude and eating them to hide them (the dude wasn't aware it was roleplay), even temporarily holding you in her gut. Sometimes even for hours, and in public.

You'd absolutely still be with her if you could, but she'd suddenly realized she could no longer see you as anything but food. And dating food was ridiculous. So you broke up. After everything you'd been through, you'd become a flustered mess just talking to her. So after it all, you'd kind of drifted apart.

But now you could meet again. Though, this time you really would be food… You can't help but wonder how much she meant those words. How exactly would she treat you if you willingly gave yourself to her?

While you reminisce, your phone beeps again. You flip it open and see the face of the cutest boy you know.

Addison JustAddison

If you're just THROWING yourself away. Let me have you. I promise, it'll be as wonderful as that night we spent together. I even have some fun stuff we could try, since dieing doesn't matter ;)

And don't worry, I'll make sure to flush your ass

It was Addison… You couldn’t quite believe it. He was always dressed as a girl, and was a one night thing you'd had years ago. He had absolutely dominated you. He is the only person who has managed to knock you unconscious through sheer pleasure. You can't even remember how many times you'd cum that one night alone. He’d adored making you struggle beneath him, feeling himself inside you. Honestly, you can still feel him cumming inside you, in a way. Or perhaps that’s just your mind playing tricks…

And he hadn't left you anything to find him again. He'd ruined you and left. Until now, almost as if he had been waiting. He must have been keeping tabs on you, perhaps if something like this had happened. The account in question was unfamiliar, perhaps having been modified to reveal his hand. What a mysterious boy…

You remember that feeling of being bound to the bed, the taste of his cock on your lips, and what he said he’d do to you the next day. Idly threats to swallow you hole and add you to him… and you were definitely attracted to him. He was thin, but soft. Specifically in the belly and bum. Just enough tummy fat to show that he’d eaten his fair share of people. His pink, shoulder-length hair bounced around and helped accentuate his strange mannerisms. He was always a bit… extra. One of the incredibly fun things about him.

You ignored any of the other comments. These choices were good enough to pick from, and you didn’t wanna spend too long dwelling on it. Last thing you’d want is to upset them by getting cold feet. But which person deserved to have you? Two of them meant something in your life, but the other two would put you in your place. One was an absolute bitch, and the other just wants your body squirming for them.

You open your phone once more and thumb to a private chat you had with a number of people. All of whom were interested in taking a vorish plunge themselves, but hadn’t for various reasons.

Hey guys, which of these girls (and guy) do you think I should let eat me?

Feel free to comment below who you would to consume you. Highest points will be picked for the continuation. Extra points if you tell why.

[glowingbadger]

First “I love you” with Dima, Claude, Ashe, Sylvain, Yuri, and Felix pls? 🥰🥰🥰

Awwww cute cute cute~

FE3H Love Confessions x GN Reader

SFW ~ fluff ~

Dimitri: He's not able to withstand holding in his feelings for very long. The moment he realizes that he's fallen for you (likely needing to be prodded by Ingrid and Sylvain to fully understand it himself), he finds he's completely unable to compose himself around you. He stammers and blushes his way through the most mundane interactions. Finally, it all comes rushing out of him one day. He's been so strange lately that you make a point to visit him in his quarters to privately sort out whatever's going on. But the more you question him, the more he attempts to draw inward, until finally he blurts out, "It's- it's because I am in love with you-" he says it with a look of desperation in his eye, "I'm sorry, I simply cannot bear to keep it from you any longer." Of course, it's so like him to see his own feelings for you as something that would cause you distress- has this foolish man even considered that you could feel every bit as strongly about him? When you tell him as much, he's speechless, and pulls you close with his arms so tight around you that you struggle to breathe.

Claude: He's definitely the type to initiate a bit of a flirtation, perhaps even courting you for some time before busting out the "L word." Claude is open and flippant about signs of affection; he'll unabashedly flatter you about everything- the shine in your eyes, your adorable laugh, dimples, freckles- anything and everything unique about you. Still, he takes so long to make any sort of serious statement of his feelings that you may start to wonder if this whole... thing that you have going on is a mere diversion for him. But Claude knows the moment he realizes he's well and truly fallen for you that he needs to tell you in a way that will make the truth of his intentions clear- no jokes, no cool lines, only the rare and honest truth. To that end, one night he invites you on a stroll around the grounds surrounding the Monastery, eventually leading you to a hill where you can see the sunset to the West- but he turns you to face Eastward beside him, "As soon as we're able, I was hoping... well, that you'd come to Almyra with me," he turns to you and brings one of your hands to his lips, "I love you, Y/N. I want you to see more of where I come from."

Ashe: Ashe knew he was in love with you VERY early on. What caused it to really hit him and take root in his mind though, was a moment when he happened to be re-reading an old knight's tale, and suddenly, the romance between the lead characters feels completely different. Grand gestures and self-sacrifice for the other's sake don't feel nearly as fantastical or exaggerated as they had when he was young. Now, they feel... entirely understandable. He could see himself easily giving any and everything to keep you safe, going to any grandiose lengths to ensure your happiness. But Ashe holds onto this feeling for some time, careful not to ever pressure or overwhelm you- until he eventually finds that same book once more and lends it to you, saying he hopes you like it as much as he did, and to be sure to let him know your thoughts. And once you do read through the tale, you reach the passage where the brave Knight performs a bold soliloquy declaring his love for his fair maiden- but what catches your eye here is a note in Ashe's familiar handwriting: I've struggled to find the words to tell you my feelings for so long, but then I realized that this tale illustrates how dearly I care for you more than anything I could think of. I love you, Y/N, and I swear to protect and cherish you for all of my life.

Sylvain: He doesn't realize his own feelings for quite some time. You'd gotten close to him as friends gradually over time, convincing yourself that you were guarding your heart as carefully as one should around such a notorious flirt. And yet, the mutual attraction and affection grow underneath the surface, despite you both. For a time, he's always by your side, even turning down invitations to tea or dancing in town in favor of spending time with you. Then, he very suddenly starts to grow distant- he spends less and less time with you, and eventually seems to be actively avoiding you in favor of other 'pleasurable company.' You put on a brave face for a little while, but eventually, his cold behavior is too conspicuous to ignore. Surprisingly, you find him alone at the training grounds. The moment he sees you though, he puts on a careful smile and assures you he was just finishing up. As he passes you, you grab onto his sleeve and bluntly ask him why he's acting this way. Naturally, he tries to deflect at first, but things quickly escalate until you've raised you voice, demanding to know what's going on, until he finally faces you and says, "I'm in love with you, okay?? And I'm only going to end up hurting you- so just let me do what's best for you and leave you alone!"

Yuri: Falling for you is something that surprises him more than anything, and causes him to have to rethink a lot about how he'd pictured the rest of his life. The whole of the Abyss seems brighter when you're around, and he comes up with excuses to keep you near time and time again. He's of course every bit as flirty with you as he is with anyone else. In fact, he's careful to make sure that's the case. He won't risk his feelings getting out of hand, or letting slip any information outside of his control. But it becomes harder and harder every day to keep what he feels for you inside, and it's the smallest things that hint at his true feelings- the unusual softness in his voice when he speaks to you, how he goes out of his way to seek out opportunities to touch you. And then, one night he comes back to his quarters quite late from a "meeting"- and the sight of you waiting there for him, clearly worried and relieved to see him back safe- it's too much for his heart to contain. He leans close and places a feather-light kiss to your lips, then murmurs, "I love you, Y/N. I'll always make it home if you're here to welcome me."

Felix: Oh this poor boy. It's going to take something dramatic to get him to confess, and it's likely he doesn't even realize how he feels for you until he hears himself say it. If anything, he's irritated by the way his heart lurches when he sees you, the way his mind strays towards you the moment he fails to keep himself busy. It's an infuriating distraction, and his impulse is to stifle it as much as possible. But then, you're injured or sick one day, and something in him just snaps. He demands to be let into the infirmary to check on you, and he's by your side in an instant. He's so obvious that everyone else clearly knows how he feels for you already, and when it's clear your condition is by no means life threatening, he's left to watch over you alone for a time. Felix wears his concern plainly on his face as he scolds you for not being more careful and not taking care of yourself. That night, as you drift to sleep on your cot, you distantly hear him say, "I won't let anything happen to you ever again. I... I love you... I need you to be okay..."

[21burritoseavey]

Hey love!

Hope you’re doing good.

I have cute idea where y/n is having a bad day then she goes to Daniel house and she ask Christian where is Daniel he tells her he is in the studio and Daniel was live on ig but y/n thought he playing piano and recording himself so she sat on his lap , he panicked because they were still a secret and he wanted his relationship private.

I hope that’s not to crazy

Hey! I’m doing great and I hope you are too. thanks for requesting!

Secret Relationship (d.s)

a/n: k just pretend that the background of that photo is the studio lol. I will most likely do a little pt.2 for another request I got:) if you want other scenarios or anything let me know cos this was fun lol. enjoy!

It was fair to say Y/n was having a bad day. The morning rose and fell as quickly as the leaves fell from the autumn trees outside, but once it was time for the sun to descend, the hours couldn’t have inched past any slower, crawling in one by one as she worked quietly behind the wooden desk after school.

It was 4:56pm when she glimpsed over at her lock screen to realise, she had an hour left before the library would close for the day. The school building was quiet at that hour. Most people were revelling in the joys and relief the weekend had graciously brought and only the janitor was seen wiping down the windows in the distance.

She could barely keep her eyes open as she wrote down the last of her notes. Her fingers ached after scrolling through the pages...and documents...and slides on her laptop and her brain went practically numb from all the letters and numbers she’d stared at. The unsteady pile of books beside her was not helping either. All those thoughts of work had her craving her boyfriend’s presence. She just wanted one of Daniel’s hugs at that point. The warmth of his strong arms wrapped around her and the comforting beating of his tender heart right against her ear. Every aspect of Daniel’s affection was practically engrained in her mind. The thought of being with him squirmed in the back of her mind, tugging at her heartstrings until she finally sighed and closed her books. She tucked her belongings into her backpack and made her way out of the library - after giving the quiet librarian a wave - and across the campus.

Y/n found herself standing behind the Seavey’s front door. She knocked a couple times and heard the door handle rattle after a moment. Christian slowly came into view as the door creaked open.

Y/n cracked a gentle smile. “Hey, Y/n,” Christian moved to the side to let her walk through. “How’re you doing?”

“I’m okay, thanks for asking.” She replied. “And you?”

Christian noticed how Y/n’s shoulders slumped as she walked and the subtle frown playing at her lips, but he kept his thoughts to himself. “I’m great, just finished a self-tape.” He sat on the couch nearby.

“That’s great.” Y/n yawned. She’d come over to the Seavey’s house many times before so making herself comfortable was never an issue. Her blanket was tossed in the corner of the sofa, and she reached an arm to pull it towards her. Christian chuckled lightly as she plunked herself down and closed her eyes. The quiet of the home allowed her to enjoy some well-deserved rest. Only some, because in minutes Kobe was scampering down the hall and jumping into Y/n’s arms.

“Oh my God!” Y/n lifted herself up again and pet the excited dog as he licked her. She turned towards Christian again with Kobe shuffling further into her chest. “Is Daniel home?”

Christian looked up from his phone. “Yeah, in the studio.”

Y/n sent him a quiet ‘thank you’ before she was jumping out of her seat and rushing outside, across the patio. Kobe was quick at her heels.

Y/n had slowed down once she reached the door. She pressed her ear against the cold surface and listened in. The faint sounds of Daniel’s piano playing had sailed along the studio and seeped through the small gaps of the door, dancing with the steady breeze.

The soft, bell-like melodies emitting from the piano had smeared an unmistakable grin on Y/n’s face and she let her hands twist the doorknob quietly to not send Daniel out of his playing. She could sense his happiness from a mile away and today was no different. He was doing the very thing he loved after all.

The heart fluttering sight of him in an oversized, grey hoodie had her shoulders untensing and her face softening. “Hi,” She greeted. She trudged over and rested her palms on his shoulders from behind. His phone leaned against the music rack, with comments and questions gradually moving upwards beside little floating hearts. The live Instagram broadcast on his phone remained totally invisible to the young, tired girl. Daniel was hardly able to utter a warning before she draped her legs across his thighs to sit on his lap.

He couldn’t contain his nervous giggles as she hung her arms over his shoulders, “Hey, b-...Y/n.”

“Hi,” Y/n replied. She nestled her head into his chest and even clutched Daniel’s arms to rest around her waist. The Instagram live played on as the young couple rested together on the bench. Daniel kept his arms wrapped tightly around his girlfriend despite his heart’s intense beating.

He looked towards his phone screen again. “She’s just giving me a hug.” He reassured the viewers the best he could. He knew no one was buying it though. The comments were brimming with heart-eye emojis or excited comments in all caps.

Daniel peered down at his girlfriend, tucked comfortably and unbothered in his arms. “Just a really long hug.” He nodded towards the screen again.

Y/n went out like a light. She was perfectly content cradled in her boyfriend’s loving embrace, already drifting into a peaceful drea-

“Y/n.” A sweat broke over Daniel’s forehead. He snatched sneaky glances towards his phone before trying again, “Y/n!” He whispered sharply through the warm toned room.

“What?” Y/n mumbled quietly. She rubbed her eyes to spread her consciousness further.

“People are watching.” Daniel jerked his head towards the phone screen in front of them.

Y/n snapped her head to look at his phone propped up against the music stand. “Oh! Ri-right.” She shifted off Daniel’s lap quickly. He tried to wear a smile for the audience in his phone that were very much engrossed in the situation. Y/n dropped her gaze to the floor and picked at her nails. “I’m just...” She flung her arm to gesture towards the door, “gonna go.” Y/n’s nervous words were barely heard through the room and Daniel’s expression faltered as he watched her stride off for the living room without a second glance.

He felt terrible. He fought the urge to run after her and make sure she was okay, merely spinning back around to face the screen. “Okay,” he said breathily, pressing the keys harshly to produce a muddled mess of notes. He didn’t feel like playing anymore.

---

Daniel dragged his feet out of the studio towards the living room. He noticed Y/n sitting on the couch during the rest of his livestream and desperately wanted to make sure she was okay. Outside, the sunset bloomed beautifully, setting the sky ablaze with soft colours as Kobe played quietly on the patio. He ran towards the main house as Daniel slid open the door.

Y/n gave him a quick upward glimpse before lowering her eyes again. But then she looked up again, noticing his usual soothing smile replaced with a long frown. “You okay?” She asked softly.

Daniel fell back onto the sofa with a deep huff before glancing at her. “No. I’m sorry you had to leave like that.”

Y/n chuckled, “It’s okay.” She shuffled closer to him. Her body was angled slightly towards his and she dragged an arm to rest across his shoulders. Daniel moved to rest in between her crossed legs, and he rested his head on her chest. “We both want our relationship to be private, so...it’s okay.” Y/n consoled with a giggle. “I think your fans are suspicious now though.” She let a smirk tug at the corner of her lips. Daniel raised his eyes to meet her sparkly eyes.

“Oh, they’re definitely suspicious now.” Daniel took her hand away from his shoulder and entwined their fingers in a loose grip to kiss her knuckles. He cupped her face with his other hand and kissed her lips strongly. Y/n sighed pleasantly into it, finally feeling that relief she’d been waiting for all day. That reassuring affection that pulled her into a wave of warmth and comfort. They silently enjoyed the love that danced through their bodies and in between them for a few long moments.

Daniel pulled back and intertwined their fingers again. “It won’t be like this forever, Y/n.”

taglist: @chilling-seavey @randomlimelightxxx @marthagryffindor @hackerXavery 

join my taglist!

[plush-rabbit]

Late Night Talks

Request: Hey! I hope you’re well sweetheart! I have a request, so I’m the youngest of my family (unfortunately) and a lot of the time I’m unheard and dismissed because of this, ngl I don’t have the best relationship with my family so it’s hard to connect with them, or talk to them. I kinda feel like white noise ya know? So Compress, Twice, and Dabi are my closest comfort characters. So how about them suddenly seeing the reader (probably late at night) talk about the things they enjoy with just stars in their eyes. It’s a harsh comparison to how they act during the day, it’s still them, but it’s just more raw.

🙇‍♀️

thank ya babes

A/N: I hope that you like this, I’m not sure what the harsh comparison was supposed to be but Im guessing it was supposed to be more reserved? (also babes, feel free to gush here, i love talking to yall)

-

Bubaigawara Jin:

Jin’s need for interaction and want for friendship makes him the perfect partner to talk to. He loves talking to you, his legs bouncing and hands flapping as he mentions something that he likes. Sitting beside you, he does most of the talking, how energy out matched and while he does talk, he also looks to you for commentary, wanting to remember that he isn’t alone. There are rare instances when you two are alone that you’ll talk more. The roles will be reversed and you’re talking about anything and everything, smiling at him and for the moment when your eyes lock, he feels the weight on his shoulders lift.

It’s not uncommon to find the villian and you in a single room together at night, often the words will travel the halls and you have to muffle your laughter. This night is one of those- he’s in your room at night, resting beside you as you talk about this new thing that you’re into. You’re eager, shifting in your seat, a bowl of popcorn nearing the end of the bowl, kernels accidentally grabbed at. You’ve grown so excited, your words tripping over each other as you try to find a way to make yourself comfortable all while he stares at you. You’re processing the words fast, trying to tell the story in a cohesive way but with your excitement you are unable to. You look at him with wide eyes and a grin that can nearly blind him.

You’re different at night. He’s unsure whether because your mind has grown groggy with sleep or if it’s because the likelihood of someone interrupting the both of you has lowered, but you’re different. You’re much more prone to touch- you reach for him and you playfully push at his shoulder, your tongue stuck between your teeth as you give him a coy grin. Perhaps it's due to you being so touchy, that he grows bolder with his movements, grabbing your hand and playing with it as you continue to speak, the bite to his words softening whenever you tease at him.

If it were up to him, he would listen to you for hours on end, locking the door and making sure that you two could just talk until time ran out. But, he knows that that’s impossible, so he lays down on your bed, his head resting on his palm as his elbow digs into your pillow. You’re much different to him when the dim lighting is all that illuminates the room, your hair holding a soft glow, the features on your face almost softer and he’s unsure whether it’s exhaustion that grips at him or something else, but he wants to stay awake, he wants to listen to you every night. You mean a great deal to him and he wants to hear you speak, will take every word and keep the important ones so he knows what you like and what to do.

Despite being tired, he wants to continue talking to you, hearing you talk but the night continues to go on, the sky turning a softer shade of blue, and your words are starting to drift. Jin will take over at that point, laying beside you, talking as you start to drift. He mentions things that you said, making a point to mention that you were the one who came up with that observation and talk about how that really stuck out to him. You voice continues, your words growing softer and your gaze on him now barely peeking between your lashes and yet, he is unable to tell you to go to sleep. It’s selfish of him, but he wants to hear you talk until you’re whispering your words into a single breath. The next day, when you can barely keep your eyes up and you’re talking to him, he’ll have an inside joke, your grin widening as you take joy that he listened to you. Under the table, his knee nudges against yours, his smile ever growing when you return the gesture.

Dabi:

Dabi enjoys hearing you talk- it’s soothing for him, something where he’s able to rest his head on your lap and have you play with his hair as he listens to you gush about whatever it is that you like. However, while he does so, he realizes that he has a habit of falling asleep on your lap. It isn’t because you’re boring, you’re just nice to listen to. Laying with you and hearing you talk is one of the few times where he’s at peace, safe in your arms and touched gently. However, he’s noticed the implications of it, noticing that you don’t talk as much as you did. His piercings are warm as they press against his palms, his eyes half-lidded as he tries to figure out a way to make it up to you or to show you that he does actually care for what you have to say.

Unable to sleep, he arises from his bed, walking towards the living area trying to find some sort of sleeping aid. Instead of sleeping aids, he finds you curled up on the couch, the screen of your phone lighting across your face. You give him a smile as a greeting, your focus returning to your show. He can see heavy bags under your eyes- you’re forcing yourself to stay awake. The couch is soft under him, his arms spread as he turns his gaze over to your show. Without a word, you align your phone to make sure that he’s watching it, your words are whispered as you explain the plot and the characters but as you continue to do so, your words excite and your volume raises gradually.

The night is somewhat young and as far as he knows, there’s no mission that he has tomorrow. He has to fix his past mistakes and he wants to hear you talk. He pushes more, asking about the relationships between the characters and even wanting you to restart the series from the first episode- if you want to, of course. When you do so, he makes himself comfortable on the couch, stealing your blanket and laying down, offering for you to sit close to him in a much more relaxed manner. He covers the both of you with the blanket, his arm stretched behind your back and hand resting on your shoulder.

In between episodes, you start to muse once more, ranging from the metaphors to your favorite lines, and to the designs that you like. Your legs bounce, shaking as you try to contain your excitement despite it being written all over you. He gives you his full attention, nodding his head along as you ramble. Your words are rapid, your expression focused entirely on him and he wonders if you’ve always been hiding all this excitement. You’re much more animated, moving your hands and arms, shifting as you speak and there’s a certain tone to your voice that makes him unable to look away.

Every word of yours is coated in sugar and honey, and he clings to it, nodding along and looking at you with half-lidded eyes, unable to wipe the soft smile off of his face. The show is forgotten, your phone now showing him pictures from different stills and you’re much more relaxed, leaning against him, your head pressed against his side. You have a wide smile, your eyes shining with stars as when you look up to smile at him, he returns it as all air escapes his lungs. Once Dabi can properly think, he enters the conversation, offering more than soft hums and words of interest. At night, he can see your smile, the way that you look at him with wide eyes, the giddiness in your voice is enough to wake up from his growing slumber. He could fall asleep listening to you, but he doesn't want to miss how you look when it’s just you and him.

Sako Atsuhiro:

Atsuhiro adores hearing you talk. He’s rather eccentric, always wanting for the spotlight to be on him, but when you talk, he doesn’t mind being the one entranced by you. He wants to hear you talk, to see the light in your eyes. Yet, he can tell you’re holding yourself back- you play with your hands, tug at the ends of your hair, and laugh nervously as you apologize, telling him that you didn’t mean to talk for so long. While it’s true that you might talk over people, he knows it’s because of how excited you are, willing to share whatever is on your mind before the thought fades.

It’s a late night for him, phantom pains that make it unable for him to sleep and even with the medication acting as a placebo, he’s unable to truly find peace. He finds you in the kitchen, mumbling to yourself as you prepare a late night snack. He knocks against the wooden wall in an attempt to announce himself before startling you but you still jump, turning around with wide eyes and a parted mouth, before relaxing once you take notice that it’s just him. When you ask why he’s up so late, he gestures to his arm, making a strained face as his hand clamps around the residual limb, the pain sharp as it shoots up into his shoulder. He asks what you were muttering about and when you turn your head, your lips pulled into a straight line as you’re clearly flustered at having been caught, he laughs, telling you to tell him- to get his mind off of the pain.

You start off slow, mumbling between words and telling him about a new thing that you like. Your words increasingly start to grow with confidence, your eyes on him as you share your late night snack. He listens to you, nodding along and saving the best piece of the snack for you, his chewing trying to be quiet so as to not interrupt your words. While he also wants to start to talk about one of his hobbies, he much rather listen to you. When you do take a bite, he asks his questions, encouraging you to continue talking, his arm resting against the table and he leans towards you, eager to grasp at every word that leaves past your mouth.

Stars are in your eyes, your tone softer and you go to hold his hand, your thumb, index and middle finger hooking over his middle and ring finger, your eyes wide and smile whimsical as you talk. Under the bare light of the kitchen, you’re softer, your eyes shadowed and your touch gentle as you begin to toy with his hand. You’re passionate about what you talk, and he wonders if when you look so eager, and so full of life, if it’s only something that you show to whoever catches you at night, to someone who can glimpse a version of you so real that he’s almost at a loss for breath.

Sleep gnaws at him, but he is unwilling to do so. His pain is gone, replaced with a dull ache that he knows he can sleep off, but he has stars in his eyes as he listens to you talk. Your voice is soothing, your laugh like a lullaby that only pulls him in further to you. His hand is warm, hispalm tickled by your nails and the snack now lays forgotten on the plate. He almost feels bad for wasting food, but he doesn’t have the will to pull his hand away and finish the food that you prepared. Every word that you speak only makes Atsuhiro want to smile, to lay on his bed and think about you and how you spoke to him. You talk, and he’d do anything to keep your voice memorized, to stay awake long when you've fallen asleep just to remember how your voice lilts when you start to get excited or how it drops during a serious part as if you were telling him a secret.