#I’m indulging in all the cuddles and red hood fics

[ghost-bxrd]

I was in the MIDDLE of reading fanfictions where Jason is holding Tim and being a good big brother and saving him from danger. Now how am I supposed to deal with my family?!

Omg I’m so sorry you had to experience that. Being deprived of Jason cuddling Tim? That’s—- I don’t even want to imagine it. 😭

But!!! AO3 IS BACK AGAIN!!! The nightmare is over

[jaeminzie]

warm | l.dh

↳ lee donghyuck x gender neutral!reader

synopsis: the sunshine remains warm even in the cold, dark night.

genre: comfort flufff *cries*

word count: 1,433

taglist: @leoveandlust

a/n: this was super self indulgent omg... idk man... seeing hyuck drive in that teaser got me acting some type of way, why must he be so fine,, all seriousness, i’m proud of this ! go listen to the song below bc it’s v cute and matches w/ the fic !

‘warm (feat. mia)’ by dre’es

pink and orange hues paint the sky above you and your boyfriend in the moving vehicle. one of his hands on steering the wheel while the other is intertwined with yours, resting on your lap. it’s a beautiful day out. cruising in donghyuck’s red convertible that he boasts over almost as much as he brags about you to his friends.

the cool breeze of the beach hits your faces causing the exposure of your foreheads and squinting of your eyes. salt tinted smells fill your nostrils.

your boyfriend reaches over to raise the volume, the vibrations now intensifying. donghyuck squeezes your hand before rubbing his thumb against the skin softly, while his other hand taps against the wheel to the beat of the music. your feet tap to the music as well.

the view surrounding you is serene. calm waves that glisten underneath the sunset’s glow to your right. the love of your life enjoying the ride, smiling and singing along to the music with crinkles forming around his eyes, to your left. the lack of stars in the polluted sky are all found in donghyuck’s pure eyes.

“enjoying the view?” the boy yells over the loud music.

“sure am,” you yell back. “you always look good.”

donghyuck drops his head briefly as he laughs at your comment. “you don’t have to remind me, sweetheart.” he squeezes your hand again and sends you a wink.

you fail to bite a smile back so instead, you turn your direction to the ocean, paying close attention to the way waves crash against each other softly and sparkle as they reach farther up on the sand. your ears listen to the music closely, fully savoring it and the emotions it makes you feel.

complete tranquility is achieved in this moment. actually, any moment with donghyuck helps you feel peace despite his usual antics that he pulls (though, you secretly enjoy them).

“are we almost there?” you whine, dragging out the last word.

“yes,” donghyuck mocks your tone, tilting his head toward your direction. “gosh, always so impatient.” you only respond with a chuckle to his statement — he isn’t wrong but you wouldn’t dare to admit it.

you begin to frown since the sight of the water becomes smaller as donghyuck drives up a hill. it wasn’t long until he parked the car near the edge. he lowers down the music, “stay here.”

donghyuck quickly gets out of the car, shuffling his way around to your side and opens the door for you. the act makes your cheeks heat up profusely. he reaches over to undo your seatbelt, the scent of his vanilla body wash replaces the hint of salt water in the air. donghyuck stays put even after he’s done unbuckling your seat belt, keeping his face at a close proximity to yours.

so close that his warm breath reaches your lips; you have a clear view of his moles that form star constellations that are almost as beautiful as his love; you can see the way his eyes glisten the same way as did the waves. the boy’s hands grab a hold of your waist. softly, he placed a small kiss on your cheek before pulling you out the car with him.

a small gasp leaves you when you're met with a better view of the ocean. “like it?” donghyuck inquires behind you, leaning against the hood of his car while his hands caress every part of your body he could reach — your back, shoulders, waist, hips, and stomach — before slithering his arms around your waist and pulling you closer.

“it’s gorgeous,” you speak softly.

he giggles into your neck, breath tickling you but you don’t move away. “not as gorgeous as y-“

“oh my god, don’t say stuff like that!” you smack his hands that are resting on your stomach, laughing.

donghyuck’s spine straightens, complaining, “and why not?”

you shake your head, “so cheesy.”

laughter erupts out of him, he comes back to resting his chin on your right shoulder. “you don’t love me,” he pouts against your neck while simultaneously poking your sides. “all i do and say are ‘cheesy’ stuff.”

you hum, “i guess you’re lucky i love you so much that i let it slide. most of the time.”

“let’s try to aim for all of the time,” he shoots you a wide smile and wiggles his eyebrows when you turn your head to look at him in ‘annoyance’ (but truly, it was truly out of fondness).

silence takes over between you both after your soft giggles and bickering come to a halt. the distant sounds of the waves and insects cricketing fill your ears. the night becomes near, the sun slowly disappears as the bright moon begins to rise into appearance.

your boyfriend begins to hum melodies, causing vibrations to rumble against your neck, and placing soft kisses on your skin in between different melodies. he mumbles sweet nothings into your ear as you two sway left to right, still attached to each other and seeming not to let go any time soon as donghyuck’s hold on you hasn’t loosened nor do you want it to.

donghyuck turns you around to face him. he smiles at the sight of you and how stunning you look standing in front of him with stars in your eyes and a soft smile he loves to see you wear. your arms reach up to wrap around his neck.

silently, you move closer to his face to kiss the mole on his right cheek, and the other near his nose, and the other sitting on his cheekbone, and lowering down to reach another mole, and even lower as your reach the ones just below his prominent jawline, then kissing the one on his adam’s apple which bobs up and down slightly. you move your head up and press your cheek against his to turn his face to the side so you can reach the last mole you need to kiss which is placed right on his jaw.

you pull away and he faces you again, still with the same smile he’s been wearing since you’ve started the drive here. he pecks your lips. “i’m so in love with you.” he mumbles against them, lips brushing against each other and your different flavors of chapstick combining.

“and as am i.” you lean closer to enclose the tiny gap between you two, finally taking in the fullness and velvet feeling of his heart-shaped lips.

the kiss remains smooth and slow. donghyuck’s fingers play with the waistband of your pants before slipping his hand underneath your shirt to cop a feel of your back that he loves to kiss right before bed and seconds after waking up in an effort to get you out of your slumber before he feels lonely. his hands remain on your mid-back, thumbs covered in cold metal rings move up and down causing shivers to run down your spine.

heads move side to side to deepen the blissful kiss. donghyuck kisses you harder and stays put to prolong the sensation before barely pulling away as your lips still touch each other.

words don’t need to be exchanged to know how much you both appreciate and love one another. the looks on your faces say it all. how donghyuck’s eyes have never left you since you’ve got here and the way they admire you and only you as if there isn’t a beautiful sea behind you. how you take your time focusing on every crevice and mark on each feature on the boy’s face as if you don’t see him enough already.

how painfully obvious you two are. you wouldn’t be able to hide the admiration you have toward the boy staring at you even if you tried your hardest to.

being in love with donghyuck gave ‘warmth’ a new feeling. it’s defined with how safe and secure you are with just his presence in the same room as you, how he manages to make every negative feeling dissipate with one stupid joke, how he can make you forget about your problems and worries the second he pulls you in for a cuddle, and so much more.

you move your head to rest on his shoulder, snuggling into his neck, and he tightens his hold around you. he continues his humming as he begins to sway your bodies softly again. donghyuck’s hand still rubbing your back, making you feel absolute serenity in his arms — feeling drowsier as time passes. the sunshine remains warm even in the cold, dark night.

[xachery-apollo]

Who's Who?

This is super self-indulgent fic. I just really like the idea of everybody getting along. Also confused Thomas makes me smile. A big thank you to @corvidlogic for beta-ing this fic.

Words: 1311

"It's okay Joan. You and Tayln get some rest. We can film later," Thomas says.

"Thank you. I'm sorry we both got sick right now. See you soon," they say and then hang up.

"Are they okay?" Roman pops up.

"AH. Hi, Roman. Yes, uhm, Tayln and Joan are sick. We aren't gonna be able to film for a little while," Thomas sighs.

“Do you want to hang out with us today then Thomas?” Roman asks. “Why not, let's go!.” They sink into the mindscape.

Thomas looks up and sees three people in the common room. There is someone in a fuzzy pink sweater and an adorable flower crown draped over a chair reading a book. 'I guess that’s Patton', Thomas thinks. On the floor in front of the couch is a punk? His black jean jacket has patches all over it. His black ripped jeans are tucked into combat boots with, are those chains?! He has a tattoo of something on his neck. He has piercings? 'Is that what I’d look like as a punk?', Thomas wonders. His hair is long and has a white stripe in it. 'Is this Remus?'

Someone is braiding his hair. Their(?) light hair has fallen in front of most of their face. They are wearing a NASA sweatshirt that is much too big for their slight frame and some gray leggings. They look up to see who has sunk in and their eyes widen and they let out a squeak at the sight of Thomas. They pull the hood over their head and stare at the ground. The other two quickly look up. The sweatered side looks shocked but slowly smiles at him. The punk looks at him confused but then smirks.

“Hello Thomas. How are you today?” he asks, a teasing lilt in his voice.

“What are yo--”

“Shut up Ro this is gonna be the most fun I’ve had in awhile.” Roman looks confused for a second but then starts to snicker.

“What’s funny about this?” the flower-crowned side asks.

“Thomas doesn’t know how we act outside of videos. He doesn’t know who you guys are. And I’m guessing our resident punk wants Thomas to guess.” Roman explains.

The flower-crowned side, 'who might not be Patton?', begins to giggle and covers his mouth.

“So who do you think we are?” the punk asks, cocking an eyebrow.

“Well,” Thomas begins, ”I think that you are Patton.” He points at the still giggling side. He begins to giggle even more. And shakes his head. The others chuckle a bit.

“And I think that you are Remus.” He points to the punk. Everyone gets a laugh out of that.

“I’m sure my boyfriend would be flattered that you confused me for him,” he says with a smirk.

“What? Boyfriend?” Thomas asks, startled. At the punk’s subtly hurt look he says, “It’s fine! I just was surprised. I didn’t realize that any of you would date, but it’s fine,” Thomas says with a soft smile.

“Thank you,“ he says softly.

“And I’m not sure who you are,” he says to the side in the hoodie.

“You don’t want to meet me,” they say, their voice cracking.

Roman rushes to them and envelops them in a hug. “Honeybee no. You are amazing and I’m sure that Thomas wants to meet you. The real you,” he says with a sweet smile.

“And if he won’t accept you I will fight him.” The sweatered side says.

'How is this not Patton,' Thomas thinks.

“You're one of my sides. You’re part of me. I’d really like to meet you,” Thomas says softly.

They whisper something to Roman and he chuckles. They step towards Thomas. They flip the hood off and look at Thomas. A splattering of scales, that are reminiscent of freckles, covers half their face. Thomas softly gasps. They brush their hair behind their ears.

“My name is Delilah and I represent your Self-Preservation and Deceit. She/her pronouns please.” they--, no she says softly.

“Nice to meet you Delilah,” Thomas says, a smile creeping onto his face. He opens his arms for a hug and she throws herself into his arms.

“I know that I haven’t always listened to you or agreed with your ideas but I do care about you. I do need to put myself first sometimes. You are an important part of me.”

She pushes herself away enough to look into his eyes.

“Thank you,” she whispers.

“You still haven’t figured out who we are, have you?” she asks, her lips turned up in a smile.

“I honestly have no idea,” he mumbles.

She detangles herself from Thomas and throws herself onto the flower-crowned side.

“Ow--”

“I need cuddles.”

“Get off of me you--

“You know you love me.”

“I--”

“I guess I do,” he grumbles.

“Can you please tell me who you are I’m dumb and my brain is trash,” Thomas grumbles.

“I’m trash,” someone says from the kitchen.

Thomas’ eyes flick to this new side. He is wearing a bright red t-shirt that has a crown on it and a blue beanie. He has a small mustache that marks him as Remus.

“Re-Remus?” Thomas asks, becoming more and more confused.

“Hey Thomathy, Hi Big Bro. Sorry for borrowing your shirt, I haven’t done laundry yet and my others have paint on them. Vee, Dee.” He nods to each as he speaks. He kisses the punk on the forehead, “Hi Lo.”

“What?!” Thomas asks.

“Aw you runned the game Cephy,” Logan says sweetly.

“Sorry Starlight,” He responds.

“So, let me get this straight-”

“Good luck with that,” several people mutter.

“Logan is a punk and is dating Remus, who actually gets along with Roman and isn’t nearly as chaotic as I thought. Deceit is a super sweet and adorable girl. Virgil is soft? And acts kinda like Patton?”

“That is essentially correct, yes.” Logan says.

“I can be chaotic!” Remus stomps up to him.

Roman moves behind Remus and places his hand on his shoulders. Only now does Thomas realize Roman is taller than him while Remus is shorter than him.

“Em, you are a little puffball most of the time. Virge is more chaotic than you. Only when you try to not be chaotic are you chaotic.” Roman explains.

“I-- You’re right. Fine.” Remus pouts.

Remus’ eyes light up and he turns to his brother and whispers something. Roman smirks and puts his hands around his mouth and shouts, ”Patton!! Can you come down please?”

There are a few thumps from upstairs and a voice yells down, “What the fuck do you need I’m busy! Oh my God what did you break?!”

Thomas’ shocked face causes the group to break down into laughter.

Through laughter Roman manages to yell, “Someone is visiting and wants to talk to you!”

“Is it Remy? Because I’m still mad at him!” Patton says while coming down the stairs. He is wearing his blue polo. He locks eyes with Thomas and blushes bright red. The others start to laugh again, hard.

“What the f--, why--, I mean, uhm, Hi Thomas!” Patton stutters out.

"Joan and Tayln are sick so we can't film today and I was gonna hang out with you guys?"

"Okay," Patton sighs.

"In the mindscape Patton is less happy pappy Patton and more tired dad that is sick of his kids," Roman comments.

"Well I'd like to get to know all of you better," Thomas says with a smile.

"Movie Night!" Remus shouts.

"I'll get snacks," Delilah says, already walking towards the kitchen.

"I'll give you a hand," Patton says, trailing behind her.

Remus grabs Thomas' arm and drags him to the couch. He then begins to argue movie choice with his brother. As Thomas sits there, he loses himself in the chaos of this new world. But he's excited to learn everything about it.

Taglist:

@the-crazed-bunny

@mostlikelytokillyouwithaspoon

@nonexistant-trash

@mikalya12

Ask to be tagged in future fics. 😊

[crows-murder]

What was the first fandom and/or pairing that you wrote fic for?

Do you participate in any writing events or challenges throughout the year? If so, what do you like about them?

Do you write fics from start or finish, or jump around?

Do you outline before you start writing? If so, how far do you stray from that outline?

What is the perfect environment for you to write in?

Which part of writing do you struggle with most?

dialogue, exposition, or plot the most?

If you could only write angst, fluff, or smut for the rest of your life, which would it be?

Is there a trope you haven’t written yet but really want to?

Is there a trope you wouldn’t write if it was the last trope on earth?

What is your most underrated fic?

What fic are you most proud of?

What is a line/scene you’re really proud of? Give us the DVD commentary for that scene.

Who is the easiest/hardest character for you to write about? Why?

What’s your favorite minor character you’ve written?

What is the one fic that got away?

Have you cried while writing a fic?

If you had to remix one of your own fics, which would it be and how would you remix it?

Tell us an idea for a longfic you want to write in the future. (sorry for sending so many i really wanna know)

(no don’t worry it’s perfectly okay! i had fun answering all of them 😊)

1. what was the first fandom and/or pairing that you wrote fic for?

ah. okay, so the first fandom i wrote and published for was Voltron, though i will never give away what the pairing was. i was 14 and it was on Wattpad, the rest is forbidden knowledge

2.do you participate in any writing events or challenges throughout the year? if so, what do you like about them?

i recently participated in a few events and challenges, and honestly, they were a lot of fun! i’d have to say that what i like about them is that i get to get out of my comfort zone and push my limits. 

3. do you write fics from start or finish, or jump around?

well. uh, no. 

sometimes i do write whole fics in one sitting,  but usually it takes me a day or two, and i have more than one WIP doc open because my brain needs to switch fics when it gets bored, so to speak. i just need to jump around to avoid losing interest in a story

4. do you outline before you start writing? if so, how far do you stray from that outline?

if it’s a multi-chapter fic, then yes. if i don’t have a clear ending or goal, then the story can and will drag on and on and on lol. sometimes i’ll stray from my outline, since it’s not really a strict set of directions for me to follow, more of something to guide me. very often, my story won’t exactly resemble my outline.

5. what is the perfect environment for you to write in?

late at night with a steaming cup of tea or coffee, or just an energy drink, wrapped in my fuzzy blanket with instrumental music playing. 

7. Which part of writing do you struggle with most?

writing

/hj. idk i guess i’d have to say finding the right word when i forget it. or another super annoying thing is that sometimes i have the perfect word in french, and i need to find a good translation for it, but the english version of the word just doesn’t feel the same as the original. that’s very annoying lol.

10.  do you enjoy dialogue, exposition, or plot the most?

dialogue. i tend to stray from the plot and i always struggle with exposition, but i absolutely love writing dialogue. 

11. if you could only write angst, fluff, or smut for the rest of your life, which would it be?

angst. no questions. i need to hurt my characters because i love them.

12. is there a trope you haven’t written yet but really want to?

enemies to lovers. i don’t have any actual WIPs with that specific trope, but i do really want to write it one day lol.

13. is there a trope you wouldn’t write if it was the last trope on earth?

alpha/beta/omega. i fully support my writer friends who write it, but sadly i will never write it. it bothers me a little too much rip. i’d rather never write again than write it. 

16. what is your most underrated fic?

um. personally, i think that this fic from my urban fantasy AU was really not popular lol. i kinda see why, since its pure fluff and from an AU that is a personal indulgence lol

17. what fic are you most proud of?

okay this Jayroy fic from my bad things happen bingo is definitely one of the ones i’m very proud of. idk, i just like it? i can’t explain why i’m proud of it, but i am.

18. what is a line/scene you’re really proud of? Give us the DVD commentary for that scene.

i decided to cheat a little and i’ll be using a line from a WIP instead. and the commentary’s gonna be written bc i can 

It was a mission report. Bruce had told him it was fine if he finished it tomorrow.

Tim could finish it tonight. (tim you absolute walnut SLEEP)

He was perfectly capable of doing what Bruce asked him. (not when you’re sleep deprived, idiot) He wasn’t Dick. he certainly wasn’t Jason. But he could still work diligently and without mistake. He could be better. (aw bby you dumb idiot child you dont need to be better)

Tim stared at the person standing in the hallway, eyes narrowed and mug in one hand. He knew for a fact that it took longer than twenty-seven hours of no sleep to start hallucinating. (I BANISH YOU TO SLEEP JAIL YOU UNRULY GREMLIN)

But that was the only reason Tim could fathom the Red Hood standing in the kitchen of Titans Tower at half-past three in the morning. (and that’s valid. i too would think i’d be hallucinating lmao)

Red Hood approached Tim slowly. “You have a lot of nerve wearing that uniform.” (jason please LET. THAT. GO.)

Tim glanced down at his rumpled gray shirt and flannel pajama bottoms. (i laughed writing this. i laughed a lot) 

He should be more alarmed that the Red Hood clearly knew he was Robin without the mask, but Tim was too tired and he was going to have to push that freak-out to the next day. (me doing homework at 4am like)

19. who is the easiest/hardest character for you to write about? why?

this time i’ll go with the type of characters. the easiest character for me to write is definitely the one character i relate to the most/ my comfort character because of course, i know them more than any other character and to some level understand their character. the hardest character to write is probably one i don’t really know or one who doesn’t have a lot of character development or there isn’t much info about them. i’ll still write them, but i’ll be making up a lot of stuff lol.

20. what’s your favorite minor character you’ve written?

hmm. i haven’t written many side characters, but i did love writing Dana Winters. she’s very cool and i like her a lot.

21. what is the one fic that got away?

it might just be me but im struggling a bit with what this could mean, so i’m going to assume it means that one fic that didn’t go where i expected it to (if that’s not what you meant, feel free to send me an ask correcting me lol)

so i’d have to say its the second part of this 2 chapter fic i wrote because a lot of people were asking for more cuddles in the first part. i was not expecting writing another fic specifically for fluff, but here we are.

22. have you cried while writing a fic?

definitely during that one major character death fic i wrote. i wrote the aftermath of the character’s death and i was crying while writing it lmao.

i was crying so much writing the ending for this

23. if you had to remix one of your own fics, which would it be and how would you remix it?

i wrote a sort of road trip birdflash au that i wouldn’t mind seeing as a remix

30. tell us an idea for a longfic you want to write in the future.

i’m actually writing a longfic right now. i don’t even know where i got the idea from, but it’s basically a batfam no capes AU where they all practice magic instead and it’s set in 1927.

here’s the ask game! send me an ask! (or more than one, i don’t mind)

[pocket-full-of-wonder]

Title: Warmth Summary: Shouyou was okay, he was, but all that changed. Fever and tension high, Tobio looks after his very sick partner.

(Queerplatonic KageHina, hurt/comfort, sickfic, like literally just 11k of self-indulgent sickfic, LOTS of cuddles/snuggles, soft comforts, heavy on the comfort, fever, worried Kageyama, no angst here y’all just hurt/comfort sick-fic style)

(((Warning(s): hospital (temporarily), emetophobia)))

Read on AO3

Tobio has never seen Shouyou sick before.

Shouyou and Tobio have been living together for about a month now, splitting the rent in a small apartment in a small downtown neighborhood. They work separate jobs, play volleyball with the locals and are trying to figure out university, taking some classes here and there on the side in preparation for entrance exams and whatever else the colleges will throw at them. They’ve had plenty of ups and downs with each other, especially since officially becoming partners—in-court in high school, and now off the court as working adults.

In hindsight, their relationship had always been there, though they hadn’t put actual thought into it until now. It’d been such a mutual part of them that living together just seemed… right.

And, also in hindsight, it’s weird that he’s never seen Shouyou sick before considering how long they’ve known each other. There were times in high school where Shouyou had called out because of a head cold and Tobio or someone else on the team would bring him his homework, but he always bounced back within a day or two. And he’s been trying to be better with taking care of himself lately, too, trying to get a decent amount of sleep every night and making sure he eats and hydrates enough throughout the day. He’s still gotten head colds here and there but it’s never been a big deal. He barely has to take sick days.

This time is different.

Shouyou has been sick for the past several days now, and running a fever at that. It isn’t… that high? Or, Tobio doesn’t think it’s high enough for him to be panicking, but he’s still concerned. And Shouyou hasn’t been able to stomach anything, either, or stay on his feet for more than a few minutes at a time. The better part of the week has had him in bed, feverish and miserable and quiet. Shouyou is never quiet. That concerns him, too.

Tobio goes to work the first day or two, because he expects Shouyou to be up and at ‘em by the time he gets home, but, no, he stays in bed. His fever doesn’t go down. And it’s by day three that Tobio finally calls in sick and stays home to take care of him.

He’d like to say it gets better from there, but it didn’t. On the night of day four, Tobio’s concern finally turns into something more akin to panic.

"You're dehydrated, I know you are," Tobio says, holding out a small glass of water. He keeps the room dim; the last thing he wants to do is disturb Shouyou’s headache. "You've gotta keep something in your system if you wanna get better."

Shouyou moans and shivers, drawing the blankets further around himself. Tobio’s stomach twists a little. “No,” he murmurs, shaking his head. “If I drink it now I'm just gonna throw it up.”

Tobio bites his lip. “You don't know that.”

“I do. Trust me.”

Tobio wants to argue, but if the past few days are anything to go by, he’s absolutely right. He settles the glass on the bedside table to try again later and sits down on the edge of the bed.

“Do you need anything?” he asks. “Is there something I can get you, or…?”

Shouyou shakes his head, but stops short. “It’s… it’s really hot…”

“We’re trying to sweat your fever out,” Tobio says curtly, but not without sympathy, and he draws the blankets further around Shouyou’s trembling shoulders. “You just feel overheated because of your fever.”

“I know,” Shouyou mumbles, curling in tighter on himself. “S-Still sucks, though.”

Tobio sighs again. He really wishes he could do more, but knows by now that, when it comes to stuff like this, all he can really offer is comfort.

“Alright,” Tobio says, shaking his head, “scoot over.”

Shouyou does, and Tobio slips underneath the blankets with him. It isn’t the first time they’ve shared a bed. It’s sort of become a nightly thing for the two of them. Shouyou wastes no time curling against Tobio's side, and Tobio lets him, wrapping his arms around Shouyou's shoulders even while Shouyou's uncomfortably warm forehead digs into his collar.

He sighs again, but it quickly turns into a hiss when his fingers brush the back of Shouyou's neck. "You're burning up..."

"Y’hands are j’s cold," Shouyou slurs, eyes closed. "Temperature's always messed up..."

"My hands aren’t cold," Tobio corrects sharply, settling his palm over Shouyou's temple. "Which means you’re really burning up."

Shouyou hums, unconcerned. "M'kay..."

Tobio runs his fingers through Shouyou's sweat-damp curls. "You know what I should do?"

"... Dunno...?"

"I should take you to the ER. I should’ve taken you to the ER yesterday.”

"No, this is fine," Shouyou murmurs, snuggling closer while Tobio strokes his hair. "I don't need a hospital."

"You do if you're dehydrated."

"M'not dehydrated."

"You’ve been sick for days, Shouyou." The words sink in for him, and he bites his lip. "I really should take you in. They could set up an IV, they could help you."

"M'fine. I'll get better on my own.”

“You haven’t been getting better on your own.”

“I will. M'just tired right now."

Tobio sighs again, and he knows it won't be the last time. "If you still have a fever tomorrow," he opts, "then can I take you in? Just so they can check and make sure you're okay?"

Shouyou must pick up on the concern in his voice, because he nods. "M'kay," he agrees. "M'tired of being sick..."

"Yeah, me too," Tobio agrees, brushing Shouyou's hair off his burning forehead. "Sorry."

"S'okay… you're doing everything you can. Thank y’."

"You're welcome." Tobio smooths back his hair and shuts his eyes. "Try to get some sleep. We'll see how you feel tomorrow."

Shouyou nods, and moments later, he's sound asleep. After monitoring him for a little while longer, Tobio follows in suit.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

They don’t even make it to morning. It’s barely an hour later that Shouyou is choking bile into the bedside trash can, and Tobio can’t take it any longer.

“Okay.” He keeps his voice controlled, because stress makes Shouyou sicker and he cannot put him through anything else. “Okay, okay, Shou, we’re going to the ER.”

Shouyou coughs into the trash can without protesting, which might be one of the most worrying things about this. Tobio gives him a tight, to-be-continued hug with a promise that he’ll be back and swings himself out of bed, making record time as he snatches up everything they need. He starts with the most important things, running to and fro, frantically skimming his mind for where he put his damn wallet and the house keys. He ends up with Shouyou’s set of keys and only sees it first because Shouyou has a cute little dog bobblehead attached to it.

He stuffs everything into a backpack, along with enough t-shirts and sweatpants to last them a few days (just in case), and then he shoves his shoes on his feet and takes his haul back into the bedroom. Shouyou is where he left him, only now he’s hugging a pillow to his chest and his eyes are red and watery. Partially from exertion and partially from what Tobio can only imagine (but really doesn’t want to) is stress and fear and exhaustion.

He sits by Shouyou’s side, careful not to rock the bed. “Hey, dumbass,” he whispers, gently tucking some of his sweaty hair behind his ear. “We need to get ready to go.”

“I don’t want to be sick in the hospital,” Shouyou croaks, squeezing the pillow tighter and burying his face into it. “I’m s-supposed to have work soon, I can’t be in the hospital, Tobio, I can’t—”  

“They’re going to get you feeling better, Shou,” Tobio soothes, at a loss for what else to say. Shouyou has never been this sick before. He winds an arm around Shouyou’s shoulders and tugs him up against his side. Shouyou curls his knees in close and lets go of the pillow to cling to him instead, arms around his waist and blistering forehead digging into Tobio’s side. Tobio blanches (that fever is way too high, god, it’s way too high) and ignores the sick feeling in his stomach. “You’ve been sick for too long, I don’t know what to do anymore.”

“Y-You’re doing a great job,” Shouyou whimpers, but curls impossibly closer anyway which basically tells Tobio all he needs to know about how Shouyou’s feeling right now. “You aren’t doing anything wr-wrong, Tobio…”

“I know, I know. Shh.” Tobio strokes back his hair for a moment before settling his hand on his forehead. He’s really burning up… “I know, dumbass, I know. But I’ve reached the end of what I can do alone, okay? I need to get you to someone who can make you feel better.”

Shouyou chokes on what sounds like a sob and buries his face in Tobio’s side. “Y-You’ll stay with me, right?” he rasps, voice pleading and scared. “U-Unless you don’t want to—”

“Stupid.” Tobio flicks him on the temple. “Someone has to look after your dumb ass. I can’t think of anywhere else I’d rather be.”

Shouyou relaxes a little, and Tobio untangles them and gets to his feet again, this time coming back with Shouyou's favorite hoodie. He helps Shouyou sit up and put it on, feeding overheated, sweaty limbs through the sleeves and trying not to dwell on just how limp he is, how Shouyou tries helping but is too weak to. Tobio straightens the collar, pulls the hood away from his face and gives Shouyou a tight but gentle hug afterwards. Shouyou sinks into it, and Tobio rubs his back when he sobs.

He gets his own jacket on next and slings the backpack over his shoulder. After helping Shouyou with socks and shoes and tugging a face mask over his face, he clicks out the lights and they’re ready to go.

"I called us an Uber, they'll be here any second," Tobio informs, phone still in hand. He sinks down beside Shouyou and immediately threads his fingers through his hair. Shouyou trembles violently and leans into the touch. "Do you want me to carry you?"

Shouyou shakes his head and folds himself into Tobio's side again, grasping fistfuls of his jacket. "N-No, I can walk," he manages. "M-Maybe just… st-steady me, if I need it."

Tobio strokes his hair and nods. "Okay. Tell me if you change your mind."

Shouyou nods against him, around the same time Tobio's phone goes off. Tobio swipes it up and reads.

"Our ride is here," he says, ignoring the anxious butterflies in the pit of his gut. Usually they'd take the train but getting Shouyou down to the station like this would be next to impossible. And he doesn't want Shouyou to be embarrassed by too much attention on the train, either. "C'mon, Shou, let's go.”

He takes Shouyou by the forearms and gently, gently hauls him to his feet. Shouyou staggers on unstable footing and Tobio catches him, curling an arm around his shoulders and pressing him close.

“Easy, easy, I have you, stupid. It’s okay.”

"S-Sorry," Shouyou whimpers, trying and failing to straighten himself up. "Headrush. I-I’ll be okay in a second.”

Tobio swallows and bites the inside of his cheek.  "It's okay. Let me help you, okay? I'm not going to let you fall."

Shouyou nods and they head out together, Tobio keeping him pressed into his side and Shouyou clutching at his jacket weakly. Shouyou seems so small like this. Tobio tries not to dwell on it. He can think about it after Shouyou’s gotten help.

The Uber driver is kind, though worried at Shouyou's state. Tobio explains what's going on in the briefest way he can and the driver nods, opening the door for Tobio before climbing back into the driver’s seat. Tobio tosses the backpack inside and takes Shouyou’s hand. Shouyou’s eyes are glassy, and he doesn’t look like he’s actually seeing much of anything. Tobio doesn’t trust his coordination. He squeezes his fingers.

“Do you think you can stand by yourself for one second?” Tobio asks, trying not to think about how warm and clammy Shouyou’s hand is. Shouyou nods, rubbing his eyes with his knuckles, and Tobio tightens his grip on his hand again and climbs in the backseat first. He tosses the backpack onto the floor to free up the seat and holds his arms out to Shouyou. He gives his hand a gentle tug. “Careful, don’t hit your head.”

Shouyou practically falls into the vehicle with a strangled, startled yelp, but Tobio was ready for it, and he catches Shouyou with one arm curved around his shoulders and the other in the crook of his knees.

“Careful, dumbass,” Tobio says, wrapping his arms around him and holding him steady. Nothing happened, but Shouyou is breathing hard enough to scare him again. He strokes the side of his face, ignoring the heat there. “I said I’m here to help if you need me, remember? Take it easy.”

Shouyou apologizes weakly, eyes glazed over and tear-filled and Tobio just, doesn’t have it in him to be upset. He gives him a brief but tight hug. After making sure his hands, arms, and feet are tucked safely in the seat beside him, he pulls the door shut, gets their seatbelts snapped and hollers to the driver that they’re ready to go. The driver speeds down the road and Tobio holds Shouyou close, letting him bury his face against his neck while he breathes hard. Tobio doesn’t think he’s ever seen or heard Shouyou breathe like this, not even after an intense volleyball game or after they raced until their lungs burned and their feet were blistered.

It scares him.

“It’s gonna be okay. You’re fine,” he whispers, half to Shouyou and half to himself. He runs his fingers through his hair, hoping the action is even just a little bit soothing.  “It’s okay. I’m here.”

Shouyou muffles a noise into his jacket, knees digging into Tobio’s side. Tobio presses his forehead into Shouyou’s damp hair.  

“I love you, too, it’ll be okay.”  

Their driver is pushing the speed limit, just a little. Tobio has it in his mind to thank him, give him a good rating. But it’s a thought so far in the back of his mind that it might not be attainable so long as Shouyou is in this state.

The car pulls up in front of the ER, and Tobio thanks the driver if a bit haphazardly, taking Shouyou by the shoulder and shaking him. Shouyou murmurs incoherently.

“We’re here, Shou, come on,” Tobio says, unbuckling their seatbelts. Shouyou won’t sit up straight. “We have to go, come on. They’ll be able to help you, I promise.”

The driver opens the door for them, and Tobio decides screw it and pulls Shouyou into his arms, securing his hold before hauling them both out of the vehicle. Shouyou murmurs something Tobio can’t make out before he curls into his chest and clutches at his collar. Tobio hates how light he is. He’s never been this light before, he’s not supposed to be this light. It shouldn’t be this easy to carry him.

“Thank you,” Tobio says to the driver when he thinks about it.

The driver nods. “Best of luck to the two of you.”

Tobio nods, ducks his head in a short bow and speeds off toward the entrance. He hears but doesn’t acknowledge the departure of the car behind them. Shouyou’s skin is far beyond burning, hair sweaty and breath fogged against Tobio’s neck. He hopes it isn’t as bad as it seems. He doesn’t know what he’d do if it’s as bad as it seems.

The automatic doors open for him and he sprints inside, immediately slammed by the scent of antiseptic and an atmosphere of fear and forced professionalism. Tobio wants to yell at someone to take Shouyou, to help him and to help him now, because he needs help now, but starting a riot isn’t going to help.

In his arms, Shouyou squirms weakly. “I c’n walk, Tobio…”

Tobio doesn’t want to put him down, but he understands. There are already a lot of eyes on them, and Shouyou has never been one to like too much attention when they’re off the court. Tobio nods reluctantly and sets Shouyou on his feet. He’s unsteady, and when he tips into Tobio’s side, Tobio is ready to catch him.

“Take it easy,” he says, any trace of anger or annoyance completely gone. He doesn’t know when or even if it’ll ever be back. “Come on, let’s get signed in.”

He moves on autopilot with Shouyou leaned against him, and they wait in line for the receptionist. There are two people in front of them; a mother holding her sobbing daughter, who’s holding an arm twisted beyond what it should be; and ahead of them is a man, limping horribly, with bloody bandages around his knee. Tobio keeps Shouyou’s gaze distracted elsewhere and is half tempted to cover his eyes for him.

When it’s their turn, the receptionist is kind and helpful, but efficient and professional. Tobio explains the ups and downs of what’s been going on: his fever never broke, it’s been down, but it keeps getting higher, he hasn’t been able to stomach anything the past few days, no, he doesn’t have any allergies that we know of, we haven’t been out of the country recently, yes, he’s otherwise healthy, and they’re taken back by another nurse clad in blues and whites to take Shouyou’s vitals.

The thermometer says 39.4. Tobio knows that isn’t good, but doesn’t panic this time because they’re in a hospital and there are doctors who can help him. He sits beside Shouyou on the bench and lets him lean into his shoulder while the tests are run and Shouyou pliantly sits and lets it happen. Blood pressure, pulse, height, weight. Tobio wishes they would get on with it because he doesn’t see how knowing how tall Shouyou is will help them make him better.

“Is this correct?”

The nurse shows Tobio a bracelet: Hinata Shouyou, followed by a combination of numbers and terms he doesn’t understand. But he nods, because that’s Shouyou’s name and it’s spelled correctly, and the nurse secures the bracelet around Shouyou’s sweaty wrist. His hand falls into his lap as soon as the nurse lets go. Tobio grasps his fingers, and Shouyou squeezes back weakly.

“We’ll have you sit up front for a bit,” the nurse says sternly, typing things into a computer. She’s not nearly as kind as the receptionist, seems a bit fed up with her job, and Tobio’s on edge enough to snap at her but doesn’t because it’s one in the morning and he can’t put Shouyou through any more stress. “It won’t be long before we call you back. Here.”

She reaches around and hands him a plastic container, and he hopes to whatever gods are listening that Shouyou doesn’t feel sick enough to need it. He nods and decides not to thank her because with Shouyou as sick as he is, he does not appreciate her attitude.

He helps Shouyou up and back into the main part of the ER, with Shouyou more dead-weight than ever before. There aren’t many people here, which he guesses fits the ungodly hour, so it’s easy to find a small, out of the way bench where they can sit and Shouyou can have some quiet.

“Here,” Tobio says, taking Shouyou by the forearms and guiding him down onto the bench. He doesn’t let go until he knows Shouyou won’t topple over. “We good?”

Shouyou nods with a small hum that sounds more pained than anything; Tobio drops into the space beside him; and Shouyou wastes no time tipping to rest his upper body in Tobio’s lap.  Tobio pets his hair, leaving the plastic bin on the floor and settling an arm around Shouyou’s stomach, gently stroking his side. Shouyou’s hoodie is sweat-damp in places now, and every bit of exposed skin is hot to the touch and a combination of pasty white and sickly flushed.

Tobio swipes his thumb back and forth across Shouyou’s hairline, gentle.  “You holding up okay?”

“Th-Think so,” Shouyou murmurs, though he pulls his knees up against himself. “Wanna sleep.”

“You can sleep,” Tobio says. “It might help you feel a little better.”

Shouyou shakes his head. “Don’t wanna sleep here.”

Tobio smiles a smile that he only ever gives to Shouyou, only it’s softer than it’s ever been before and in the end, he just feels sad. He keeps carding his fingers through his hair. “Just close your eyes, then. I’ll hold you.”

Shouyou breathes a shaky thank you and Tobio leans over him in what he can only call an awkward-hug-situation, where he can’t properly hug Shouyou but he still wants Shouyou to know that he’s there and there’s nowhere else he’d rather be. Shouyou squeezes Tobio’s knee, and Tobio catches his hand and squeezes back.

Every time a nurse comes in to call on someone, Tobio is ready to haul up and carry Shouyou after them, but they don’t call Shouyou’s name. Several others are called back; the woman and her daughter with the broken arm, the man with the bleeding knee, another man with a bleeding, crooked ankle who came in after Tobio and Shouyou, and even this one bizarre case where someone came in so angry that he almost attacked the receptionist and had to be physically restrained by security.

Tobio kept his hand over Shouyou’s ear during that, glad they were out of the way enough to not be in the line of fire. He really, really doesn’t want to be here, and more than ever wants to take Shouyou home and let him get better there. He curses his helplessness and almost damn wishes he’d become a doctor himself, if just so he could make sure Shouyou was okay a hundred percent of the time and never have to come to places like this.

Someone else comes in and is immediately taken back by the doctors. Shouyou’s chills become so violent and scary that Tobio gives up his own jacket and settles it over Shouyou like a blanket. Tobio understands that Shouyou isn’t dying and that there are people in this building worse off, but the protective partner in him wants them to prioritize him. Or at the very least tell Tobio how much longer it’ll be before they’re seen.

Another person comes in and is immediately taken back by the doctors. Shouyou trembles and, every so often, lets out a small, dry sob. The first time it happened, Tobio thought he was gagging and scrambled for the bin—but no, Shouyou is just stressed and sick and anxious and exhausted and frustrated, enough to break down.

Tobio really, really wishes the doctors would hurry up, and the only reason why he doesn’t bounce his leg is because Shouyou is pillowed in his lap, finally still, and he will not mess this up.

Except it’s right along that line of thought that Shouyou squirms unexpectedly and sits up, so quickly that he almost bonks his head into Tobio’s.

“Whoa, hey, hey.” Tobio steadies him by the shoulder when he sways in his seat. He looks even worse than before, ashen in the face and eyes carrying a sort of haze like fogged glass. “What’s wrong?”

“I—” Shouyou cuts himself off with something that is a gag this time, and Tobio makes the right call snatching up the bin and shoving it under his chin. He doesn’t necessarily throw up, because there’s nothing there left for him to bring up, but he does heave and choke for a while, and all Tobio can do is brace him through it.

“It’s okay, Shou, shh. It’s okay,” Tobio whispers, rubbing his hand from Shouyou’s elbow to shoulder in gentle but consistent movements. “It’s okay, breathe. Try to breathe. It’s okay.”

“Wh-Why does this keep happening?” Shouyou gasps, voice nothing more than a croaky shamble of what it should be. He sounds desperate, and his sobs aren’t dry anymore. “I-It hurts, wh-what’s wrong with me—?”

The fit is over, so Tobio sets the bin on the floor and pulls Shouyou into his arms, tucking his head under his chin and cupping the back of his head.

“Your body’s just under a lot of stress right now,” Tobio says. “It’s trying to make you better, it just doesn’t know what it’s doing. That’s why we’re here, Shou, so the doctors can help your body help you.”

“Wh-Why’s’it taking so long?” Shouyou hasn’t asked the question yet, even though they’ve been here for a good long while. He’s been patient, trying so hard to be patient and not to complain but he’s at a breaking point, and he’s just. He’s sick, he’s tired, and Tobio really, really wishes he had a good answer.

“I. I don’t know.”

Shouyou’s breath hitches. “T-Tobio—”

“No, no, it’s okay,” Tobio asserts quickly, running his hand up and down Shouyou’s back through his hoodie. “Don’t panic, dumbass. Your body’s already freaking out on you, you don’t need to give it another reason to screw you over. Just… breathe.”  

Shouyou drags in a shuddering breath.

The automatic doors open, a new patient comes in and is taken back immediately by doctors. Tobio wants to scream.

He loses track of time. It could be twenty minutes, it could be several hours. His phone clock says 2:36. It feels like they’ve been here forever. Shouyou is having a harder time getting and staying comfortable now, constantly twisting and squirming and asking Tobio when the doctors are going to see him. He spends most of his time with his upper body in Tobio’s lap, and Tobio spends all of his time coming up with new ways to try and ease some of the pain.

It’s 3:24 when Tobio finally decides enough is enough. He’s just about to have Shouyou sit up when Shouyou beats him to it, shooting into an upright position much like last time. Only something is noticeably different. He looks like a deer in the headlights. A very tired, very delirious deer in the headlights.

“What’s wrong?” Tobio steadies him again, hand on his shoulder. “You need to throw up again?”

“I-I…” Shouyou swallows thickly, and it almost has Tobio reaching for the bin. “I don’t… I don’t think so? I just… I-I feel really bad, l-like…”

Tobio studies him, gripping his shoulder. “Bad like how?”

“I… I don’t know, I just—”

His voice trails off, his eyes roll back in his head, and he pitches forward like a broken doll.

“Shouyou—!”

Tobio’s knees slam into the tile floor and his arms take Shouyou’s limp, unmoving form. His heart pounds so hard that it taints the edges of his vision black. Shouyou’s head is a dead weight in his arm and his chest heaves with every gasped, panted breath.

“Shou?” Tobio touches his face, brushing his hair away from his face once, twice, again. “Shou, can you hear me? Shou?” He pats his cheek. His skin is too warm, everything about Shouyou is too warm. And too still. “Shou, Shou, come on, stupid, come on—”

Shouyou’s face is slack, eyes closed, cheeks a horrid, flushed shade of red. He doesn’t wake up. Something in Tobio’s heart snaps.

“Someone help me!” he shouts, numb to the sound of his own voice. “Help him, please—!”  

Footsteps hail the arrival of doctors and nurses, everyone talking at once and touching Shouyou’s face and wrists and neck. Tobio clings to him, and only just holds back the urge to break down.

“What’s wrong with him?” he asks, blubbering and hysterical. “Wh-Why won’t he wake up?”

He isn’t answered. Everyone’s talking too fast and too much, using terms he’s never heard before and doesn’t care to listen to. Someone puts a hand on his shoulder and says they’re going to help Shouyou. Another team of nurses comes running toward them, wheeling a stretcher.

Tobio holds Shouyou closer and whispers, “I-It’s going to be okay, okay? They’re going to help you, they’re gonna help you, I—” Shouyou’s face is slack, eyes closed, unresponsive, and his skin is an ashen pale gray that makes Tobio want to throw up. Tobio cradles him close, touching his face, smoothing back his hair. “I’m here, I’ll be here with you, it’s okay, sh-shit, please be okay, please—”

He has to be physically dragged away from Shouyou while the doctors load him onto the stretcher and take off with him down the hall. A nurse beckons to him, a silent permission that Tobio doesn’t need because he’s following them one way or another, and he tears after the stretcher down long hallways and into one room after the next, test after test, with the feeling of Shouyou’s raging fever permanently seared into his skin.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Shouyou wakes up slowly, feeling marginally okay if just a little bit tipsy. He’d definitely take ‘a little tipsy’ over how he felt before. The only words he can use to describe how he felt before are agonized and scared.

He’s thinking about Tobio before he realizes he can think again, and that horrible haze isn’t in the forefront of his mind anymore. He cracks his eyes open slowly, wincing at the harsh overhead lights and hoping he never has to see them again. The beeping machines and cool wires against his skin says it all. They’re still in the hospital.

Or, at least, he is. He doesn’t know where Tobio is and he’s too scared of being disappointed to ask.

“Shou?”

Except.

Shouyou blinks up at a familiar silhouette, a welcoming shadow beneath the starkly white and too, too bright overheads. Shouyou wants to smile, but he’s too sore and too tired and he still feels too sick to muster the energy.

So instead he rasps out a weak, “Tobio?” and hopes Tobio understands.

He does. Tobio beams, but his eyes are sad and there are tears on his cheeks.

“Hey, h-hey.” Tobio’s voice trembles in a way it’d never trembled before, and his hand shakes equally hard when he touches Shouyou’s cheek and brushes his hair out of his face. “Hey, dumbass, hey. There you are.” He draws a shuddering breath, ducks his head for a long moment and squeezes Shouyou’s hand. “God, oh my god, Shou—”

He hugs him, snaking his arms between Shouyou’s shoulders and the bed and burying his face into Shouyou’s neck. It happens so fast that Shouyou struggles to keep up with it, but Tobio’s weight, while heavy and breath-restrictive, is something he can be absolutely sure of. He brings his arms up weakly and wraps them around Tobio’s back, turning his face into Tobio’s hair. He breathes.

“Hey yourself,” Shouyou wheezes.

Tobio responds by burrowing closer, and Shouyou shuts his eyes and lets himself focus on Tobio’s breath, his heartbeat, his warmth. It’s nice.

Shouyou bonks the sides of their heads together gently. “I missed you.”

Tobio chortles breathlessly. “I didn’t leave, dumbass.”

“I know. But I feel like I haven’t seen you in forever.”

“Me, too. I...” He inhales. “I’m glad you’re okay. I don’t know what I’d do if you weren’t okay.”

Shouyou hums softly. “But I am okay.”

“Yeah.” Tobio doesn’t hesitate. He nods against Shouyou’s neck. “Yeah, you’re okay. You’re okay.”

Shouyou runs a shaky hand through Tobio’s hair.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Tobio asks the doctor if it was pneumonia (which, Shouyou said it wasn’t, but an anxious, sleep-deprived Tobio is an unreasonable Tobio) and the doctor assures him that, no, it wasn’t pneumonia, just a very bad, very tenacious flu virus.

Apparently Shouyou’s family has a history of low immune system and anemia, which could explain why the virus did such a number on him. The doctors are waiting for his fever to break and for him to build some strength back, and then he can go home.

“How long do you think it’ll be?” Tobio asks, standing with the doctor while Shouyou dozes. “His fever’s gone down…”

The doctor’s smile is kind and understanding. “I can’t imagine more than a week,” he says. “We do want to make sure we’ve given his immune system the pick-up it needs to be able to fight this off. But, you’re right, his fever isn’t concerning anymore, though we do want to keep an eye on it. He’s got a strong will, I’m sure you’ll be able to take him home in no time.”

Tobio nods. He wants to take Shouyou home now, and get bundled up on the couch with tea and ramen and make fun of cheesy game shows until they fall asleep on each other.

And that will happen, just. Not as soon as Tobio wants it to happen.

“Thank you,” he says, bowing low. Once he’s straightened out of it, he continues with, “I appreciate all you’re doing. And your honesty.”

“Of course.” The doctor nods shortly, smiles one last time and leaves the two of them alone. Tobio draws a breath and returns to Shouyou’s bedside, sitting down beside him and stretching out his legs.

Shouyou taps him on the knee. Tobio turns his head and smiles, reaching down to brush his hair away from his eyes.

“Welcome back to the land of the living, dumbass.”

“You too,” Shouyou says, still tapping his knee. He peers up at him. “You look tired.”

Tobio exhales sharply through his nose. “Well, duh. We’re both exhausted.”

Shouyou hums and pauses, thinking. He continues to tap Tobio’s knee absentmindedly; it’s a little habit he picked up about a year ago, tapping Tobio’s arm or hand or knee or leg whenever they’re sitting together. It’s something Tobio is used to and familiar with now, so much so that feeling it brings on immense comfort and reassurance.

“Do you know what would make me happy?” Shouyou asks.

“What?”

“If you went home and took a shower and a nap.”

“You know what would make me happy?” Tobio catches his hand and squeezes it. “If you got better.”

“I’m getting better,” Shouyou says, blinking up at him lazily. “You going home and taking care of yourself for a while isn’t going to change that.”

“I know,” Tobio assures, “but—” He searches himself a moment, looking for something worth the argument. “I just… don’t like the thought of you being here by yourself.”

“Aww.” Shouyou scoots closer, resting his head on Tobio’s thigh. “You’re sweet. But, it just means I’ll be extra happy to see you when you get back. You’ll be able to get some proper sleep, too—don’t give me that look, I know you haven’t been sleeping. And you’ll be able to grab some more clean clothes. I know we’re running out of them.”

Tobio bites his lip, raking his fingers across Shouyou’s scalp gently. That visceral something in his chest, when Shouyou collapsed in the ER lobby… he’s never going to forget that feeling, much less when it’s so fresh in his mind.

“I don’t know…”

“I’ll be okay here, Tobio,” Shouyou says, smiling this time. “When you get back we can watch dumb cooking shows and cuddle.”

“We can watch dumb cooking shows and cuddle now.”

“No, you smell bad. Go take a shower.”

Tobio snorts. “Like you smell any better.”

“I have an excuse, okay.”

“Anything can be an excuse if you try hard enough.”

Shouyou shoves him, and it takes Tobio aback, how weak it is. Either Shouyou really doesn’t mean it or he really doesn’t feel well.

“Okay but seriously,” Shouyou says, “I’d really like it if you went home and took a shower, and it’s not because you smell bad. You’ve been here for a while, right? It won’t hurt you to just run home for a little while, get some sleep and take a shower. That sorta stuff.”

Tobio swallows. “I just… I don’t know, Shou. I’m worried about you.”

“I know, I know you are. But, Tobes, I’m worried about you, too. You’ve taken such good care of me, and I’m being taken care of here, too, so I want you to take care of yourself now.”

‘Selfless’ isn’t necessarily a word that describes Shouyou, but he does have a special heart for other people, especially the people he loves. Tobio is reluctant for obvious, understandable reasons, but Shouyou’s okay. Or at least he’s close to being okay. The doctors are here to help him if he needs someone, and it’s not like Tobio won’t be coming back. He probably won’t be gone for more than an hour. Maybe half an hour if he hussles.

And, he’d be lying if he said a shower didn’t sound really nice right about now.

Tobio heaves a sigh and, judging by that little glint in Shouyou’s eyes, he knows what that means. “Alright, I’m letting you win for once,” Tobio says. “But just this one time, got it? You have to earn every other victory.”

Shouyou cackles. “Alright, alright, yeah.”

Tobio rolls his eyes and Shouyou moves off him so he can stand up. Shouyou curls into the pillows and Tobio tucks the blankets up and around his shoulders. The somewhat rougher texture reminds him to grab a throw blanket from home; if Shouyou’s going to be stuck in the hospital for a while, he at least deserves to be comfortable.

Tobio smooths the blanket over him. “You’re sure you’ll be okay here?” he asks, just in case.

“Positive,” Shouyou says, nodding. “I’m just gonna sleep, honestly. I won’t even know you’re gone.”

“Good, good.” Tobio presses his hand to his forehead. He’s still warm, but it’s nothing compared to what it used to be. “Alright. Sleep well, alright? I’ll try and be back before you wake up.”

“Take your time,” Shouyou says, smiling gently. He’s already nodding off, eyelids heavy and stubborn, so Tobio squeezes his hand one more time before heading out.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Tobio hadn’t realized how exhausted he was until he unlocks the door and steps into the apartment. The place is eerily quiet without Shouyou’s light and warmth, and he used to like the silence, but ever since meeting and knowing Shouyou, noise had become his normal in the best sense possible. Silence used to mean peace and tranquility, but now, silence means an absence. Silence means an emptiness. Silence means Tobio is alone and he would do anything to have Shouyou in his arms.

He locks the door behind him and takes a long, cold shower. He hopes it’ll wake him up some, maybe give him a pick-me-up so he can leave and see Shouyou again, but he’d promised Shouyou that he would take a break. And while Tobio might not necessarily care about a break, he does care about Shouyou, and he did promise him.

So Tobio takes a shower, gets dressed, changes out the bedding and flops facedown onto it, breathing deeply. His body must take it as a go-ahead to shut down, because even though his mind is telling him ten minutes, ten minutes and then I’ll leave, his body has already decided what it wants, and he sleeps soundly and deeply through every alarm he’d set.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

“Wow,” Shouyou says, beaming at him, “I didn’t think you’d actually listen to me.”

“Wasn’t planning on it at first,” Tobio says, dropping the backpack off on the nearest seat as he crosses the room. “But you had a point. So.”

“Of course I did!” Shouyou says, still smiling stupidly. He’s actually sitting up now, with pillows propped between his back and the headboard. “I’m glad, you look a lot more like yourself now.”

“So do you,” Tobio says, sitting down beside him on the bed. Shouyou scoots over to give him more room and they sit parallel to each other, shoulders touching. Tobio tucks Shouyou’s hair behind his ear again. “I haven’t seen you smile in weeks.”

“It’s been like, one week,” Shouyou says, still grinning. “You’re just a drama queen. Drama Queen of the Court.”

Tobio snorts, knocking his head into Shouyou’s shoulder and leaving it there. “Dumbass.”

“Jerk.”

“I love you.”

“I love you, too. Softie.” Shouyou ruffles his hair. “Oh!  You promised dumb cooking shows and cuddles.”

“I did.”

“Wanna?”

“Definitely.”

It doesn’t take very long to get situated. Tobio covers them with a throw blanket he brought from home, and Shouyou wastes no time at all snuggling into his side, though still mindful of the IV and monitoring wires. Tobio isn’t sure the doctors especially want him sharing a bed with Shouyou, and they did bring him a stretcher which lies empty on the other side of the room, but they haven’t told him he can’t, and until they do (and maybe even after they do), he’ll be here.

The cooking show is one of those competition types where all the competitors have a dramatic bake-off with lots of sabotaging, self-sufficiency and sobbing involved. It isn’t really something to watch as much as it something to have going on in the background. His main focus is really on Shouyou, whether it’s watching Shouyou cry with his favorite contestant after their tragic defeat, watching Shouyou laugh at failed attempts from his least favorite contestants, reminding him not to fist-bump so high that the IV stand rattles, or otherwise holding him close and stroking his head. Shouyou might not be entirely well yet, but he’s more like himself now.

Night falls soon after. The nurses come back and double-check Shouyou’s vitals, almost ignoring Tobio’s presence entirely. They don’t tell him to leave, though, or that he has to sleep on the cot. Maybe they’re scared of him, who knows. The nurses file out and in comes the doctor, who tells them that Shouyou’s recovery is going well enough for him to be discharged within the next couple of days, granted he doesn’t throw up anymore and his fever doesn’t rise.

“We’re still monitoring everything,” the doctor says, “but we are hopeful.” That isn’t all he says, but it’s the most important thing Tobio latches onto. Hopeful. That’s good. And a few days is a lot shorter than an entire week, and that’s good too.

The doctor leaves them to sleep, turning off the light on his way out upon their request. They go back to watching the cooking show, and Shouyou is so close to Tobio that he’s practically on top of him, curled against him as a warm, familiar weight, and Tobio is happy. He feels Shouyou’s forehead again, and he still has a fever, but he’s okay, now. As long as Shouyou is happy and okay, then Tobio is happy and okay, too.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Sweltering agony wakes Shouyou in the middle of the night. His stomach is twisted, coiled like trapped vipers, and it feels empty but he still wants to throw up. The haze is back in the forefront of his mind. He isn’t aware of very many things, just that he hurts, it’s too hot, stop, please stop, and Tobio has him in his arms.

Shouyou opens his eyes. It’s just as dark as it was when they were closed. Tobio’s chest rises and falls against him, steadying and sure and Shouyou tries focusing on it, he tries setting his mind on Tobio’s breath and his heartbeat and the feeling of his arms around him, and he tries to breathe, too, but he can’t. His throat is thick, stuck in a way that makes him wish he could cough but he can’t, he wants to cry but he can’t, and the only thing he seems able to do is burn.

 The last thing he wants to do is wake Tobio up—Tobio’s been so worried about him, so tirelessly looking after him with abandon, leaving no regard left for his own health. He talks a good talk, plays a good game but Shouyou knows how anxious he’s been, how anxious he is, and how much stress all of this has caused. He can see it in his eyes, feel it in his touch, hear it in his breathing. Tobio is tired, he’s stressed, he’s anxious, he’s exhausted and Shouyou doesn't want to add to that. He doesn’t want to make it any worse than it already is.

But he hasn’t felt this bad—he’s never felt this bad before, not once. Nothing’s ever hurt this much, nothing’s ever scorched this much, he feels like he’s trapped on the inside of a burning building with his chest and stomach pinned with rubble and he just—he just wants it to stop—

“Tobio?” He hates the sound of his own voice, hates how loud it is and how pathetic and he hates that he keeps putting Tobio through this but he doesn’t know what else to do. “T-Tobio.” Carefully, half-hoping Tobio won’t wake up, he pokes him hard in the shoulder. His toes curl. “Tobio.”

Tobio shifts and stirs, and Shouyou withdraws his hand and wishes he could curl up small enough and tight enough to never be seen again.

“Yeah, yeah, I’m up, what’s—” His hand on Shouyou’s head stills. A palm presses into his forehead. Shouyou sobs dryly. “Shit.”

“I’m sorry,” Shouyou whimpers. Tobio is scrambling for something, clutching him against his chest. “I’m sorry, I’m so s-sorry—”

“Shit, shit, shit—” Tobio’s voice is frantic, and he jams the call nurse button four times, rapidly. “Don’t apologize, don’t— shit, how did it get this bad?—It’s okay, Shou, it’s not your fault— god, please, don’t apologize—”

The way Tobio is clutching him isn’t reassuring, it’s desperate, like he’s out at sea and clinging to a liferaft. He’s never been good at handling emotional distress, nevermind Shouyou’s and his own. Shouyou wishes he could reassure him but he’s too busy trying to keep his own composure as best as he can. They were supposed to be going home the next couple of days, and now—

“Shit, where the hell is the doctor—”

“I’m sorry,” Shouyou sobs. Tobio stills. “I-I ruined—”

“You ruined a whole damn lot of nothing,” Tobio hisses, holding him securely against his chest. Shouyou wants him to let go. He wants him to hold tighter.  “Don’t you dare apologize, dumbass, don’t you dare.”

Shouyou knows Tobio isn’t angry at him, just angry at the situation. But considering how much of ‘him’ is in the situation, it doesn’t make him feel any better. He chokes, and the tears finally spill forth and there’s no holding them back. Tobio runs his hand up and down his back, squeezing his shoulders, holding him close. Nothing helps.

An unsuspecting nurse pokes her head in, and the white stripe of light from the cracked door is enough to blind him. Tobio shouts at her. She leaves without closing the door and Shouyou can hear her pounding, retreating footsteps, amplified like bombs.

A moment passes. Or maybe several moments do.

The room explodes in a crescendo of noise, color, and an atmosphere crushing enough to still his breathing. The only thing that goes through his head is he hopes they don’t make Tobio leave. He isn’t—he isn’t dying or anything (right?) so they shouldn’t have to, he just—please, don’t make him go—

Too much is happening around him. There are hands on him, instruments on him, questions thrown at him that he can barely answer and immediately forgets what they were afterwards. Everything is just— haze, it’s nothing, it’s noise and hurt and unfamiliar, unwanted touches and he just wants to go home, they were supposed to go home—

“Shou, you need to calm down, you’re breathing too hard,” Tobio says, voice quiet and scared. “They’re gonna have to sedate you if you don’t calm down, it’s okay—”

Shouyou chokes a sob. “W-We were supposed to g-go—”

“I know.” Tobio hugs him tight, pressing his forehead against the top of Shouyou’s. “Shit, damn it, I know, I know. But I need you to not think about that right now. Come on, dumbass, not thinking is what you do best, don’t go changing that now.”

Shouyou gasps out a shaky, teary giggle, and it’s one of the most reassuring things Tobio has said all day. He’s sure the doctors are glaring at him for it but he knows Tobio, and he knows what he’s trying to do. And he appreciates it.

Tobio’s hold becomes less desperate and more gentle, more like himself, more like how they are on casual days spent lazing about the house. When Tobio speaks, his voice is soft. Almost uncharacteristically soft. And Shouyou clings to every word.

“I know you’re disappointed, and scared, and I am too, but we’ll deal with this together, alright? Just like we always do. Nothing’s changed. Shhh. Breathe. It’s going to be okay.”

Shouyou still feels like he’s burning up, like there are coiled, knotted springs in his chest and stomach and his sight is still blurred with tears, but, he can breathe now. Just a little. Just a little more than he used to. Tobio’s hand runs up and down his back. The doctors and nurses around them fade out and Shouyou focuses on Tobio’s presence. It helps.

“As long as we’re together?” Shouyou croaks, and hopes his voice is audible enough.

It is. Tobio holds him close. “We’re invincible.”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The episode can be narrowed down into Shouyou having  an allergic reaction to the medication they put him on. Tobio just about bites the doctor’s head off. It’s nobody’s fault; Shouyou’s never had to be hospitalized like this before, he’s never had these medications before, there was no way to know before now and they luckily caught it before it got worse, but still. Tobio is very clearly upset and no amount of apologies make that better.

Shouyou’s still too weak and out of it to keep him from chewing out the doctor, but Tobio still ends up apologizing (to both of them) when the adrenaline has worn off. Since it was just the medication and not a full-blown relapse, there’s still a chance of them going home on time granted nothing of this sort happens again (which, hopefully it won’t, because Tobio may in fact kill somebody).

“Idiots, I can’t believe that happened.”

“It’s not their fault, Tobio. You know that.”

Tobio heaves a groan that says, yes, he absolutely does know that but is pissed enough to ignore it. He’s been noticeably upset ever since Shouyou regained coherency. Upset and overprotective.

Which is understandable. Shouyou isn’t nearly as intimidating as Tobio, but he’d do the same thing, feel the same way. He doesn’t really want to think about Tobio ever being in a position like the one Shouyou was in so he abandons that train of thought almost as soon as he boards it.

He listens to Tobio’s heartbeat instead, and  Tobio rests his cheek on the top of his head.

“You feeling any better?”

“Little bit,” Shouyou says, and sighs. “I… I guess I’m still just kind of. Sad.”

“Yeah.” Tobio nods. “Yeah, me too. I’m sorry I yelled at you before. I was just— god, I don’t know what happened, I just—”

“I get it, it’s okay,” Shouyou says, and proves his point by pressing in closer. He can still smell the shampoo Tobio washed his hair with yesterday (it was just yesterday, it feels like ages ago), and he finds comfort in its familiarity. “I’m not mad at you, and I knew you weren’t mad at me. We’re okay.”

Tobio exhales longly and doesn’t say anything else, but Shouyou knows he understands. Shouyou absentmindedly taps Tobio’s forearm.

“Do you wanna sleep?” he asks.

Tobio exhales again, sharper this time. “Dumbass, I should be asking you that question.”

“I beat you to it. Loser.”  

If he’d been feeling any better, Tobio definitely would have pushed him off the bed. “I wouldn’t say no to sleeping.”

“Then you should. I’ll wake you up again if I need you.”

“You sure?” Tobio’s voice is uncertain, but Shouyou can hear how tired he is. He nods.

“I’m not going anywhere, don’t worry.”

Tobio rolls his eyes. “That’s not what I’m worried about, dumbass.”

“Then you can sleep without any trouble.”

“Dumbass.”

“Seriously, I would feel better if you slept.”

Tobio sighs, and it’s resigned enough for Shouyou to know that he took it to heart. “Alright, alright. I’ll sleep. Wake me up if I crush you on accident, okay?”

“You won’t, but alright.”

Tobio leans into the headboard and shuts his eyes, and just moments later his breathing evens out, and he’s asleep. Shouyou isn’t surprised one bit. He taps at Tobio’s forearm for a bit afterwards, thinking gentle, non-committal thoughts, and then before long he’s dropping off, too.

The rest of the hospital stay is… fairly straightforward. Shouyou can’t convince Tobio to leave again (which, understandable, but infuriating all the same), and they spend most of their time watching crappy cooking competitions and romcoms and whatever else the TV has going that’s worth even making fun of. They find a baking channel—food without the competition—and the cakes absolutely baffle them. Neither of them really understand how baking works, much less stuff like cake and icing and frosting and layers and cream fillings. It’s mesmerizing. So that takes up another good chunk of their time.

They run a crap ton of tests on Shouyou, though, especially the first couple of days. They want to make sure it was actually an allergic reaction to the medicine and not something else, which leads to a lot of tests that bring back Tobio’s anxiety and leads to Shouyou having little to no energy for the rest of the day. The tests aren’t strenuous, but they take time, and he’s been sick and exhausted and dizzy for so long now that it’s taking a toll on him to bounce back.

Tobio’s presence is soothing, though. Tobio might not always be soothing in his speech and he’s abrasive, especially towards the doctor and nurses, but just his being here is enough to make Shouyou believe everything is going to be okay. He waits until Shouyou is sleeping before grabbing food down at the cafeteria and is always back before Shouyou wakes up. The situation still sucks, but it doesn’t suck as much as it would if Shouyou were alone in this place.

He doesn’t know what he’d do if he were alone.

Days pass. Shouyou gradually regains his strength. The night his fever breaks has Tobio celebrating, with a smile bigger than Shouyou has seen from him in a while. Shouyou doesn’t feel very celebratory, and he’s sweaty and gross and tired and the absence of the fever brought what felt like a whole new wave of tiredness, but it means they’re one step closer to home. Tobio holds him close that night, just like all other nights, and ignores every protest Shouyou has about his being disgusting.

“I’m gonna make you smell gross,” Shouyou complains, though he’d be lying if he said he doesn’t love Tobio’s arms around him, cradling him while his head spins and the world tips. And he’d be lying if he says he wants Tobio to let him go. “M’all nasty… n’ gross...”

“No, you’re getting better,” is Tobio’s argument, as he holds him securely and rocks them back and forth. “You’re getting better, Shou. I don’t know about you, but that’s the best news I’ve heard in months.”

Shouyou smiles weakly and headbutts Tobio’s chest. Tobio strokes his side and pets his damp hair.

Beneath the exertion and bone-deep tiredness, they’re happy.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The day they head home is a victorious one. Shouyou declines the nurse's wheelchair because he feels well enough to walk out on his own, and he must look like he feels well enough to walk on his own, too, because neither Tobio nor the nurse put up an argument. Shouyou definitely feels like his old self, and Tobio even said that he looks like his old self, which is even better. The morning they’re told he can be discharged, he’s bubbly and cheerful, thanking every nurse and doctor he comes across whether or not they helped him in particular. By the afternoon, Tobio and Shouyou have filed the discharge papers, and they’re clear to go.

Tobio phones another Uber to come pick them up, and it just so happens to be the same Uber who took them here in the first place. The Uber is ecstatic and expresses how happy he is that they're alright and well, and once they’re in the backseat with seatbelts snapped, they’re homeward bound.

They haven’t traveled for long when Shouyou catches Tobio staring at his visitor bracelet and leans over, hooking his chin on his shoulder. “Whatcha doin’?”

Tobio keeps looking at his bracelet. “Wondering how hard it’d be to chew through this damn thing.”

Shouyou laughs softly. “We’ll be home in five minutes, dummy,” he says, “you can wait for a pair of scissors.” He looks down at his own bracelet, too, with his name and case number (and now, the medication he had a reaction to. It has a funny name that he can’t pronounce). It’d be nice to have it off.

The Uber drops them off in front of their apartment, and Shouyou thanks him brightly, once again declines Tobio’s offer to help (“I’m fine, see!” he insists, and almost trips on his way out of the door. Tobio shrieks at him), and they thank the driver a final time before heading inside.

“You’re like a dog waiting to go to the dog park,” Tobio says, sorting through his keyring. Shouyou rocks and bounces beside him. “You’re gonna overexert yourself, dumbass. Chill.”

“Okay, I will,” Shouyou says, and promptly doesn’t. He feels a little dizzy and tired, which the doctors said was normal, but that doesn’t make him any less excited. They’re finally home.

Tobio swings the door inward and turns to him. “Your Majesty.” He bows mockingly, gesturing inside.

Shouyou flops a curstie and bounds inwards. He doesn’t make it past the genkan before he has to stop and take it in.

It’s just like it’s always been. Cheap couch, coffee table, busted TV set that barely works. The air is a bit stale because neither of them have been here in a little under a week, but Shouyou hardly pays that mind. They’re here now. It won’t be stale and quiet for much longer.

He hears Tobio follow behind him, pulling the door shut.  Shouyou takes a long, deep breath. It smells like it always smelled, familiar and comforting and, well. Home.

"Home sweet home," he says.

Tobio nods, slinging the backpack onto one of the dining chairs. They’ll unpack it later. "Home sweet home,” he breathes, and Shouyou spins around to smile at him. Tobio smiles back.

And that’s really the bulk of what Shouyou gets to do, because the next thing he knows he’s being guided by Tobio down the hall and into the bedroom, where he’s sat on the bed and told to stay. It happens so suddenly and so quickly that he forgets he doesn’t want to go to sleep until after Tobio is turning away.

“Tobio, I told you, I’m fine,” Shouyou says, “you don’t have to worry about me. If I feel faint I’ll just lay down again.”

Tobio is having none of it. “No, you won’t,” he says, tossing the blanket over him and tucking it around his shoulders. “You’ll push yourself until you wind up hospitalized again. Dumbass.”

“I learned my lesson before!” Shouyou protests, sitting up again. “You look more dead on your feet than I do. I’ll heat up the soup and you can sleep for a bit.”

“No.”

“Tobioooo.”

“It literally takes five minutes.”

“Exactly! Which is why you shouldn’t have a problem with me doing it!”

“Nope, sorry.” He takes Shouyou by the shoulder and urges him to lay down again, which Shouyou does, though reluctantly. “It won’t take long. Try and get some rest until then, alright?”

Shouyou sighs, but words can only take him so far when it comes to Tobio. He doesn’t usually listen as far as his own well-being is concerned. “Fine,” he says. “Just hurry up.”

Tobio bonks their foreheads together gently and leaves the door cracked on his way out. Shouyou stares up at the ceiling for a while.

"Idiot," he murmurs.

He waits exactly five minutes before swinging himself out of bed, bundling a blanket in his arms and pattering quietly down the hall and into the living room. He knows exactly what he's going to find.

And, he's right. Tobio is on the couch with his head pillowed by his arms, fast asleep with his phone blinking on a downwards timer of 10 minutes.

Shouyou smiles softly and rolls his eyes. "Dummy," he whispers, spreading the blanket over him and bending down until he can press their foreheads together. "Stupid dummy."

Tobio sleeps on. Shouyou terminates the alarm, leaves the phone silenced on the table and heads into the kitchen. He can make the soup in Tobio's stead.

And, making the soup is the easy part. He swings himself through their kitchen, singing loudly to himself with the knowledge that it'd take a metal concert to wake Tobio now. He isn't the best at cooking but heating up the soup is easy enough (though he does bring it to a rolling boil by accident).

The harder part comes after the soup is finished, because he doesn't want it to get cold, but he also doesn't want to wake Tobio when he's sleeping like this. He hasn't slept this soundly probably since Shouyou first took ill. He needs it.

So.

Shouyou ultimately decides to put a lid on the pot and leave it while Tobio rests. Worst comes to worst he'll have to reheat it.

He's feeling marginally more lightheaded now, though, and sleeping is a lot more appealing than eating. He makes his way back into the living room, where Tobio is now curled on his side, and he wastes no time lying on the couch with him, draping an arm around his shoulders. Tobio immediately hugs him and yanks him close, so suddenly that it draws a yelp from Shouyou.

But he smiles, and runs his fingers through Tobio's hair.

"Stupid dummy," he repeats fondly. "What am I supposed to do with you, huh?"

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

When Tobio wakes up, it’s dark as all hell and they’re still on the couch. He doesn’t quite register the ‘they’re’ part of that for much longer.

Shouyou is on top of him, curled into his chest with his knees digging into the back of the couch, fingers clutching fistfulls of Tobio’s t-shirt. There’s a blanket twisted and bunched in awkward places around them, uncomfortable and not doing its job, but Tobio finds he doesn’t care enough to do anything about it. His phone is on the coffee table. He reaches for it. All his alarms were silenced.

He heaves a sigh, but a knowing sigh, not a frustrated one. “I was going to sleep after I made the soup.”

“I made the soup,” Shouyou murmurs without hesitation. “And now we’re both sleeping. So. We both win.”

“We didn’t eat anything.”

“We can eat later. Midnight-snack style.”

Tobio squints at the clock. “It is midnight.”

“Two in the morning snack, then.”

Tobio sighs again but he doesn’t have any objections to give on the matter, not really. He’d be lying if he said he wasn’t comfortable this way. Comfortable even with the blanket twisted around and underneath him, with Shouyou’s weight on his chest, with Shouyou’s elbows and ankles digging into him. Just being home with Shouyou is all the comfort he needs.

He breathes in a long breath. Shouyou still smells like hospital and antiseptic and—well, like someone who’s been sick in the hospital for a week, but there’s still some of Shouyou buried beneath all of it. His hoodie is clean and smells like their laundry detergent. And a shower or two later, the gross hospital stench will be gone. Things will be normal.

“Thank you for taking care of me,” Shouyou murmurs, sounding close to sleep again. “I know these past two weeks have been really hard for you. Thank you.”

“Of course.” Tobio holds his head to his chest and pets his hair again. “Thank you for holding on. You were so damn strong, you know? That was scary as all hell, but you did really, really good. Brave, stupid dumbass. God, I love you.”

Shouyou laughs gently, and it’s one of the most wonderful sounds Tobio has ever heard. “I love you, too.”

They’ve been saying that a lot to each other. It isn’t usually something they make a habit of, just because neither of them are good with words and it’s easier to share their affection with a look, or a smile, or a touch. But the verbal confirmation is a comfort, too. Like being wrapped in a warm blanket, handed a mug of hot cocoa and told everything is going to be okay.

And they are okay. They sleep, they wake up around 2am and eat soup, they sleep again, they watch TV, they rest, they take it easy, and they’re okay. As long as they have each other, there’s nothing they can’t overcome.

[the-resurrection-3d]

So anyway I edited my fic masterlist to procrastinate. This is only the Eddsworld portion, divided up by ship. The very end has my multi-ship collections, so if you want ficlets of X ship, check those. Includes nsfw links. I’ll keep this post updated!

Gen 

melty future - it’s hard out here for a lost time traveler and a bunch of mutant freaks  | rated T | 1.5k | Tags - 3-sentence fic collection, found family 

tasteless - tom takes a demon to Denny’s | rated T |  2.3k | tags - fantasy / CB AU, underage drinking, brief eye horror, arson 

thank god I’m pretty (in bits and pieces) - when Matt is fourteen, his aunt tells him the world is going to end. | “finished”, 6k | Tags - misgendering, gender fantasy AU, minor character death 

we buffer, we suffer - edd and Tord try and write a reader-insert fanfic about their favorite OC, Clownius Thundercock | rated M | 1.2k | tags - cock slapping, tentacles, rescue, breast fucking, bukkake, characters writing fanfiction 

sunshine sparkle -  matt wonders what it would be like, living someplace other than a gremlins’ den | rated T | .6k | tags - background polyworld, matt gets irl cyberbullied 

went for the kiss and got the bite - tord and Matt spend the last hours of Christmas together, and maybe set a guy on fire in the process. | rated T | 1.2k |  tags - implied drug use, zombie AU

TomTord

bezoar -“Fine, whatever, but if he pukes on me I’m putting all your heads on pikes.” Instead of his giant robot, Tord gets the flu, and Tom tries to get even | rated T | 1.2k | Tags - sick fic, canon divergent, post The End, vomiting | FFN mirror | Wattpad mirror 

Dumb / I stole my dad’s fic and made it tomtord because I like giving him a stroke - fuck you, dad you suck  | rated M | .3k 

Only God Forgives - what a lovely, useful idiot | rated E | 1.2k | Tags – A/B/O, Cervix Penetration, Vaginal Sex, Hurt/Comfort, Angst

orange  | rated M | .5k | tags – gentle sex, fluff, cockwarming

 EddTord

and everything you say gives me a real bad feeling – five times Edd lost Tord and the one time he found him again. (tonight, I am pleased to announce a comedy in six parts) | wip, 7.5k | Tags – canon divergence, high school AU, zombeh AU, creatures and monsters AU, green leader AU, post-canon, alternate timelines, pining, one-sided relationship, hurt/comfort, angst with a happy ending | FFN mirror 

crush - “i’m gonna get Matt to burn that,” Edd says...Tord runs his fingers gently over Garfield’s face, the white thought bubble asking, Why me?, before he simply says, “You wouldn’t. You think my pain is too funny.” | rated E | 1.7k | tags - omegaverse, cannibalism, vaginal sex, weird biology, metafic, mild gore 

peter pan syndrome- edd asks, what do you want to be when you grow up? it sounds better than so where the fuck have you been? and I dreamt an even uglier version of you made me eat lead. | rated T | 1.3k | tags - minimalism, drugs mention, sexual humor, morning after, reminiscing | FFN mirror, Wattpad mirror 

nobody - he didn’t buy that old cloning machine for nothing | rated E | 1.5k | tags - exhibitionism, referenced TomMatt, oral sex, fingering, over-stimulation 

show me your blood - "see, we have all worked very hard to put value down on paper, and I am not going to dishonor our efforts by never stealing from another man.I said yes to the world and I have never been told no since.” | rated T | 7.3k | tags - established relationship, time travel, green leader au, hurt no comfort 

The Pinnacle of Romance – “I just wanted to have a romantic evening” | rated M  | Tags – gun kink/play, power play, roughhousing, reunions, porn with feelings | FFN mirror  

werewolf heart - this is the part Green Leader finds easy | rated G | .6k | tags - implied brainwashing, noncon kissing 

MattTord 

interlude to a guiltless exile - matt looks into those haunting eyes – silver pools without white, only large cuts of black. Shark’s eyes. Looking for too long makes Matt feel like when he’s dreaming and the tide’s pulling the earth out from under his feet. “How long can you survive out of water?” | rated T | 1.5k | tags - mermaid AU, fluff and hurt/comfort

TomMatt

mortals sipping nectar at five cents a glass - tom needs help relaxing, and Matt is happy to indulge him... | rated M | 1.1k | tags - experimental style, implied alcoholism, massages, fluff, angst with a happy ending, non-graphic smut, background polyworld | Wattpad mirror 

EddTomTord

survivors - “the premise is that this doctor gets stranded on an island and eventually has to start cutting off his own legs and stuff for food” | rated T  | .5k | Tags – sexual humor, zombeh AU, references to drugs, references to cannibalism, pov second person

EddMattTomTord

always said I'd be famous (guess that I lied) - sssh, it's okay baby, he soothes, petting Tom's hair; I have a dick big enough for all of us. Matt snorts, hides his grin behind his hand. Tord inspects his nails. Before Tom can chip in (holding onto him tight enough so he can't move his arm back for a good gut punch), Edd snaps at Matt, Just read the damn story. | rated T | 1.1k | tags - pillow and blanket forts, reading aloud, mild sexual content, fluff without plot

birthday cake - "you ungrateful —" Matt goes in for the side of Edd's stomach, the kill zone. "It's my birthday and I'm not only giving you head but a piece of modern. art.—" a few quick cuts of his hand to frame his face "—to commemorate the occasion." | rated M | .9k | tags - oral sex, foursome - m/m/m/m, shyness, hand jobs 

[insert neutral milk hotel quote] - matt gets fucked ; a direct sequel to ‘stupid fucking bullshit’ | rated E | 2.8k | tags - gangbang, oral sex, metafiction, monster tom, bottom matt, dirty talk, subdrop, over-stimulation, trans male character 

Paultryck

but I am home - maybe in this story the wolf doesn’t have to die | rated M | wip, 2k | Tags - subdrop, aftercare, nightmares, hurt/comfort, implied pet play, self harm mention, rape mention, red riding hood AU, bookstore AU

damnatio memoriae - shakespeare was wrong; most of us are not players. |  rated T | 1.2k | tags - one-sided attraction, army life, public execution, first person pov 

daze - "and then they fucked." - William Shakespeare | rated E | .3k | tags - vaginal fingering, multiple orgasms, porn without plot, triple drabble 

our love gorges - while Red Leader and his unlucky human friend negotiate over dinner, Paul and Patryck are left to their own devices | Paultryck, background PaulTordtryck | finished, 10.4k | Tags – fantasy AU, bdsm, scratching, comfort sex, dom/sub, aftercare, mild blood, burnplay, blow jobs, outdoor sex, unhealthy coping mechanisms, suicidal thoughts, body horror, control issues, praise kink, consensual but not safe or sane, dead dove: do not eat

soft boy hours - let’s be young for a while | rated M | 1.6k | Tags - massage, frottage, fluff and smut, foreplay, post-canon | FFN mirror 

 PaulTord

the ren and stimpy show - on today’s episode: Tord has very strange fantasies | rated T | 1k | Tags - domestic fluff, post-canon, sexual humor, minimalism | FFN mirror 

lain with holy wars - do you want kids? | rated T | .6k | tags - post-canon, implied child abuse / domestic violence, fluff, light angst 

Paul/Everyone

some fuckin stupid bullshit just read the tags and get off my balls - I reach into hat labeled “story ideas.” It says, “Everyone gangbangs Paul.” Again? Hat falls and spills. They all say, “Everyone gangbangs Paul.” | PaulEdd, Paultryck, PaulTord, TordPauPat, PaulTom, PaulMatt, MattTom | rated E | 2.5k | Tags - gangbang, ruined orgasm, anal sex, blow jobs, handjobs, creampie, bondage, dom/sub undertones

Tordtryck

A.T. Field - “show me where you wanna be touched.” It’s disgusting | Tordtryck, background Paultryck | rated E | 1.3k | Tags - vaginal fingering, angst, implied character death, implied traitor AU, unhealthy relationships, consensual but not safe or sane 

TordPauPat

a real crowd pleaser - there are a lot of advantages to fucking your boss. | rated E | 1.3k | Tags - threesome- M/M/M, blow jobs, dom/sub, bondage, orgasm denial 

presented without context - who’s going to tell their fuckbuddy they probably caused their parents’ divorce as they’re getting blown? Never mind, Tord would. | rated E | 1.5k | Tags - threesome, praise kink, spitroasting, dom/sub

violence – you’ve made this place unbecoming. Do I have to stay? | rated G | .6k | Tags – sharing a bed, cuddling and snuggling, hurt/comfort, minimalism fluff | FFN mirror 

Multi-Ship

clowns, all of you clowns - You fall asleep with his arm clutched to your chest. Various eddsworld ficlets/scraps from the last year | EddTord, TomTord, EddTom, Paultryck, TordPaultryck, Tordtryck | wip, 9.3k | Tags - high school AU, zombies AU, fantasy AU, hurt/comfort, humor, fluff. First chapter is the table of contents. | FFN mirror for chapter 18 [TomTord], FFN mirror for chapter 24 [EddTord], FFN mirror of chapter 20 [Gen, Rejects] 

warped tour - dreamwidth doesn’t have any Eddsworld presence so I’ve declared the 3-Sentence Fic-A-Thon free real estate. First prompt: Tordtryck, there was a hidden message in their miserable Christmas presents | Tordtryck, MattTom, Edd & Matt & Tom & Tord, Tomatoredd & Scribble Tom | finished, 1k | Tags - 3 Sentence Fiction, college AU, bookstore AU, sexual humor, angst and humor, post-apocalypse, zombies | FFN mirror of Rejects parts 

[aliensforleaders]

Electric River - Part Three

Pairing: Rami Malek x OC

Warnings: Swearing, mentions of violence and injury, very subtle mentions of mental abuse, kissing, cuddles, and fluff yay! told you to bear with me lol

A/N: I absolutely love this story and I’ve fallen in love with these characters. This truly is the best thing (in my opinion) that I’ve written in a very long time. I love all of you that are reading this and thank you!! Enjoy!

*to find other parts of this story, search the tag ‘electric river fic’

Five Years Ago-

Vic sat at her desk, starring at the clock. Time seemed to stand still when she watched it. Mrs. West stood at the front of the class droning on and on about American government and Vic couldn’t be less interested.

The girl next to her leaned over and mumbled, “Ten bucks says she’s a Republican.”

Vic chuckled, “Oh what gave it away? The hard on she had while talking about Bush or the fact that she mentioned the second amendment forty-three times?”

The girl fell back into her chair, laughing a little too loudly.

Mrs. West stopped in the middle of her sentence and looked directly at the two.

“Is the Constitution really that funny, Ms. Ward?”

Alex was about to reply, but Vic jumped in, answering for her. 

“Oh only when you explain it, Mrs. West.” Vic grinned and winked at her.

“Great then you and Ms. Ward can continue to laugh about it in detention.” she walked over to her desk and wrote something down, continuing with her lecture.

“Damn. Well I’m Alex by the way.” the girl mumbled to Vic.

“Oh okay I thought I was going to have to refer to you as Ms. Ward for the rest of the day. I’m Vic. It’s short for Victoria, but we don’t talk about it.”

“Amen.” Alex replied with a smirk and began drumming her pencil on her desk.

They both slouched against their chairs the rest of the period until the bell finally rang. The two girls walked up to Mrs. West’s desk and she gave them a condescending look.

“You girls really should pay attention. This is going to be important some day.”

“You know you are right, Mrs. West. I’ll remember that when I’m writing my first hit single about peace, unity, and the poison of war.” Vic replied, her chin raised up slightly.

“The next Bob Dylan?” Alex said, sounding very amused.

Mrs. West shook her head and handed them both a slip of paper.

“Go see Mr. Johnson in G4.”

Vic saluted dramatically and stood up straight, “Yes ma’am. After you Ms. Ward!” she stepped aside and gestured towards the door for Alex to leave first, who was holding in her laughter. 

They left the class room and irrupted in laughter.

“Dude I have never seen someone talk to a teacher like that. You’re kind of incredible.” Alex beamed at her.

“So they tell me, my dear.” Vic walked tall even though she wasn't and held her head high, a look in her eye as if she knew something no one else did.

Alex watched her in amazement. How could she be so fearless? Alex had always felt like nothing and no one, but standing next to Vic she felt as though nothing could touch her. 

“Hey you mentioned writing music. Do you?” Alex inquired.

“Oh yes. All the time.” Vic replied, still looking forward.

“Well could I see it sometime? Maybe I could write a tune for it?” Alex sounded excited.

Vic looked over at her, studying her face.

“You mean you play?”

“Well yeah, I play guitar. Not great, but I get by y’know.”

Vic smiled looking forward again.

“Yeah I’ll show you when we get to detention.”

Alex felt like something was happening here and it was good. A sort of foreign feeling for her. Vic’s presence was intoxicating and the best part was she knew it. People seemed to categorize her as arrogant or cocky, but there was something special about her and the difference between Vic and other special people was that she knew it. If you look at her eyes long enough you could see it.

Present Day-

Rami walked down the hall towards the cafeteria. He had left Vic in the chair next to Alex, and told her he was going to get them some coffee. When he came back a while later Vic was curled up in the chair, her arm outstretched so she could hold Alex’s hand and she was asleep.

He left her coffee on the bedside table and decided to go find Audrey and check on her. He followed the signs around the hospital leading him to Radiology. He asked the nurse at the Radiology desk where he could find Audrey Simmons and she told him that Audrey had been moved to the second floor in room 223.

He found the elevator and went to the second floor, again, following the signs to her room. When he got to it, he knocked on the door and a male voice called, “Come in.”

Rami opened the door and Audrey was propped up against a pillow, a cast on her arm and a few small bandages on her face. James was sat in the chair next to her.

“Hey guys. Are you doing okay, Audrey?” Rami asked, sitting in the chair opposite James.

She sighed, “I mean I’ve been better. Where’s Vic? Did you see Alex?”

“Yeah we did. Vic isn’t doing well with all of it. She collapsed on the ground when she saw her. I left to go get coffee and when I came back she was asleep holding Alex’s hand.”

Audrey and James shared a knowing glance.

“I really don’t know what I should do.” Rami starred down at his shoes.

“Vic and Alex are very close. They always have been. They love each other a lot in a very different way than normal. It’s almost like they are connected. Like twins.” James explained.

“Rami, you just have to be there for her. She will pull through and so will Alex. They will fight for it, conscious or not. They are like that.” Audrey rubbed her eyes with the hand that wasn’t in a cast.

“Yeah.” he replied absentmindedly.

“She tried to save me.” Audrey said abruptly.

James and Rami looked at each other and then back to Audrey.

“She saw the truck coming before I did. She pushed me back with her arm and leaned over me. It’s why she got hurt worse. To save me.” Audrey zoned out.

James grabbed her arm gently, pulling her out of her trance. “Hey. She’s going to be okay.”

She smiled at him sadly.

Well do either of you need anything? Food? Coffee?” Rami offered, trying to be helpful.

“No I think we are okay.” Audrey replied.

“I’m going to stay here tonight with Audrey so I’ll go grab clothes and all that later. Thank you though, man.” James thanked him.

Rami stood and walked towards the door, “Of course. I have my phone on me, so if you should need anything give me a call. We are upstairs in ICU.”

“Will do.” Audrey answered. “Oh and Rami.”

“Yeah?”

“Just please let Vic know I’m okay and that I love them both.”

Rami smiled softly. “I will.” he turned and left, heading back to Alex’s room.

———

When he got back to the room, Vic was awake holding her coffee to her chest with both hands wrapped around it. She looked up to Rami as he entered and he could see that her eyes were puffy and red.

“Hi.” she said weakly.

“Hi, babe.” he went over to the chair and pulled her onto his lap, stroking her hair. “How are you doing?”

“Not good. I don’t really know what I’m supposed to do now.”

“Have hope. I know that probably feels wrong, but you are so good at it. You are always looking towards a brighter future. Just keep doing that. Alex is strong she won’t let this take her away.”

Vic sighed. “We can’t stay here can we?”

“No we can’t. We can come back first thing tomorrow though. I went and saw Audrey.”

Vic lifted her head from his chest. “How is she?”

“She’s alright. She has a broken arm and some scratches, but she’ll be okay.”

“Thank God.” Vic whispered.

“James is with her too.”

“Good. I’m glad he can be with her right now.” Vic cuddled up to him again.

They sat in silence for a moment. She felt so small and fragile which was the polar opposite of her normal state. She always stood tall with her chin up and the proudest walk, always a hint of a smile on her lips. She always had something witty to say, but now she was hurting and if she needed him to, he would move mountains for her, he wouldn’t hesitate.

“Thank you.” Vic said quietly.

“No need. I’ll always be here when you need me.”

“I love you.”

“I love you, too.”

———

The drive home was quiet except for the pattering of rain on the hood of the car. Vic held onto Rami’s hand tight as she watched the headlights pass by. Every once in a while Rami would squeeze her hand so she knew he was still paying attention to her, and she squeezed back letting him know she appreciated it.

“Do you know why I am the way that I am?” Vic broke the silence, speaking softly and keeping her eyes out the window.

He glanced over at her and then back to the road.

“What do you mean?” he questioned, wondering where this was going.

“Why I walk around like I own the place? Why I speak as if nothing bothers me and always with the utmost confidence?”

“No I don’t. Why?” he indulged her.

“It’s because I had to. People have tried to take those things from me all my life. My self esteem, my confidence, my dreams, the things that I love. Only one person has ever succeeded, but it didn’t take hold for very long. My dad. He tried. He had me believing that I was nothing and that I would always need him. I didn’t want him to have those things, so I took them back. I won. He lost. The hole he dug for me…he was the one that fell into it. Once I took those things back I put them on a glowing pedestal for everyone to see. Look everyone. Look at what I took back. I promised myself I would never hide them because I fought so hard for them. That’s why I act like nothing can hurt me. I’ve already won my war. Now the rest is just the victory lap.” Vic chuckled softly at the last part.

Rami starred at the road, a tear forming in his eye. He pulled over on the shoulder and turned towards Vic.

“Vic, look at me.”

She looked over at him, looking more vulnerable and shy than ever.

“When I first saw you at that show…I felt like I was witnessing some sort of historical event. I had never seen anyone have the look in their eyes that you do on a daily basis. It’s incredible. I’m sorry that this had to come from something so awful, but I am so proud of you, Vic. I’m so fucking proud to stand by your side and watch you walk through fire completely unharmed because you reject the notion. You are so full of life and light and, God, you make me feel so lucky just to know you let alone love you. And I do so much. I love you.” 

Rami expressed this to her with such passion and now they were both sitting on the side of the road, in the rain, crying in her car. She hadn’t shared a moment like this with anyone since Alex.

“I love you too. I’m scared that I’m going to lose Alex.”

“I know, baby. But I need you to do what you do so well and hold your head up and keep walking. I’ll walk with you. Everything is going to be okay.”

She wiped her eyes and Rami leaned over the center console, pressing a loving kiss to her lips that lasted as long as he felt she needed. He pulled away, their noses still touching.

“I’m going to get you home now and make us some warm comforting food. We are going to watch some mindless tv and then we will curl up and go to bed, okay?”

“Okay.”

He kissed her forehead, and got back on the road heading towards her apartment.

———

When they got home, Vic went to change and Rami started to cook. He was going to make her favorite, mac and cheese.

Vic went to her bedroom and sat on the edge of her bed, taking a deep breath.

“C’mon, love. You can get through this.” she told herself out loud. She made it a habit to talk to herself often when she went through things that were stressful. She also made sure it was always positive.

She went to her closet and put on a hoodie and some leggings. She could smell what Rami was cooking and smiled, knowing he was making her favorite.

She walked out to the living room and sat on the couch, pulling her legs to her chest. She leaned her head against the back of the couch and watched Rami cook, admiring the way he would hold his hands up and wiggle his fingers when he couldn’t find a utensil or a bowl.

“Okay it’s done!” he said in a sing-song voice.

She giggled as he came over with two bowls, handing her one and setting his on the coffee table.

“Alright so what are we going to watch now?” Vic asked him.

“Umm how about The Voice? I think there are new episodes.”

“Oh darling don’t make me laugh. If I have to watch any more clones get famous I’m going to scream and quit my job.” she stated bluntly, sounding much more herself.

Rami laughed loudly. “Well alright then your majesty. What are we watching then?”

“Mmm…how about that baking show with all the cute British people? It’s lovely when they help each other.”

He shook his head, still laughing at her. He put on the show and they finished their food together. Vic pulled a blanket over them and curled up against Rami’s side. He held her tight and smiled to himself. It felt as if everything just might get better.

[lurkinglurkerwholurks]

treat yo’self

Updated as of 12/24/2024

I genuinely love promoting other writers’ works, because they’re freaking awesome, but today? Today I’m gonna hype myself. Because I can.

It’s a long holiday weekend for those of us in the US. Maybe you want to indulge. Maybe you have family you want to avoid. Maybe you have no plans and are looking for a way to fill the time. Maybe you’re on retail or restaurant duty and need a pocket of escape. Maybe you’re not in the US and just want some standard weekend fun.

Let me present to you ✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*My Fics*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧

Marvel Fic

The only way I can reconcile Steve’s choice in Endgame. Bucky POV set just after CATWS.

Morgan and Peter talk, post-Endgame, pre-FFH

Voicemails from Tony to Peter, from 2018-2023

DC Fic

Freaky Friday: BatFam Edition

Mind the tags on this little Dick and Damian fic

Dick really needs his dad and Bruce delivers

For once, the author writes a fic about Dev and he’s not the whumpee (except emotionally)

Post-League Bruce is back in Gotham with a new mission (and Alfred is there to catch him)

Dick needs a rescue

Dick trying to be a good big brother to Jason

Clark is freaking out and needs Bruce to tell him it’s okay

An unexpected reunion in the family

A long-anticipated death in the family

Selina and Bruce’s wedding

How the first three BatKids learned to deal with nightmares

Recovery is a journey and Jason’s path has speed bumps. Good thing Tim is a good brother!

Tim gets hit with fear toxin, Jason is there to rescue him, and it does not go well

Something Very Bad happens and Superman needs a minute to process

EVEN MORE self-indulgent Jason and Bruce

Family is messy sometimes, ft. Jason, Tim, and Cass

Something is wrong with Bruce, but no one knows what

Dev has a VERY bad night

Bruce and Tim at two different points in their relationship

Cassandra sickfic, ft. the best dad

The BatFam as seen by Jim Gordon

TFW you watch Tenet for the first time and have SuperBros emotions

VERY self-indulgent Bruce and Jason fluff

Jason has a bad night. Tim is there to help

Tim is sick and not-exactly-friendly Red Hood is kinder than expected

I use Jason Todd to make everyone cry (including myself)

Sadboy Tim Drake takes care of a very sick Jason

Damian is kidnapped. Dick has a bad time.

Dev has a Very Bad Night (good thing he has a Bruce)

Dick and Jason are stranded on a desert island. There’s magic(?) and lots of regret

New butler-dad Alfred has taken a fright

The light of my life is given his due love and affection (aka I nearly kill Dev and the Fam takes it poorly)

Jason Paranormal AU

Filling in the gaps of what might have happened (relationally speaking) immediately after Bruce comes back from the “dead”

Hand holding. Lots of hand holding by Bruce and for Bruce.

Bruce is hurt and Damian is worried and it’s very sweet

Absolutely unjustifiable fluff in which Dick goes to camp

The rules of surviving as a Rogue in Gotham, as explained by Oswald Cobblepot (ft. BAMF Alfred Pennyworth)

Alfred is sick and Bruce is worried and I drown you in fluff.

I fix a gap in the “Bruce Wayne lost in time” storyline. With knuckle kisses.

Bruce gets a call about his kid, has a slight heart attack.

Totally plotless GoodDad!Bruce fluff with cuddles, kisses, and sweet pet names

Tim is afraid of being forgotten.

Dick and Jason try to be brothers. Twice.

Jason gets a cat. Or rather, a cat gets a Jason.

Jason, Bruce, and the stars above.

Dick is a bad patient but so are the rest of the family.

Bruce Wayne adopts each of his children.

Bruce Wayne has depression.

Damian&Dick whump from Damian’s (pt 1) and Tim’s (pt 2) POV.

Jason&Bruce hurt/comfort, centering around Ethiopia and post-reunion.

Pure BatKids fluff from Clark Kent’s POV.

What I call my Sad, Sad Tim Drake fic (for all you middle children out there.)

A Stranger Things/Batman crossover that literally no one expected or asked for

Damian&Jason coming to an understanding as wary siblings

Pre-Robin Tim is a nervous lil bean with bad timing

I spit on the idea of Ric but have the Fam react to the haircut

Jason learns about something that happened while he was dead and it’s traumatic for everyone (including me)

A selection of Jason’s Christmases, from Catherine to post-Ethiopia

Alfred goes on vacation and NewDad!Bruce has a sort-of emergency

New-to-Gotham Damian and Dick start to understand each other

Canonically, Tim’s mom died on Christmas Eve, so here’s a look at that

5+1 of the times Jason saved his siblings and the time they saved him

Bruce Wayne adds one last child to his hoard

Tim, Jason, and Bruce are offered the chance to go back in time and stop Jason’s death from happening. With a catch.

If Bruce had reacted to Jason’s return the way he should have screw you DC

Dick gets the flu and it’s bad but Bruce is there

Time travel shenanigans where Bruce finally gets to hold one of his children as a baby

My ongoing fic where Bruce gets deaged and his children experience him at different points in his life

Damian and Cass go on an unplanned hike

My Whumptober 2019 fic prompts, which include:

Jason&Bruce deal with some of the practical emotional fallout from the fact that Jason is canonically a serial killer

Jason races to save a sibling as a bomb counts down

The sibling’s POV for the above fic, plus a resolution

Bruce really loves his butler dad, okay? Like a lot.

Home invasion fic starring audreycritter’s Dr. Dev, plus Bruce

Clark deals with a Bruce emergency and is partially based off that one post that upset people 😁 (also part of SuperBros, below)

Post-Ethiopia Bruce panics over Tim, then panics over panicking because he doesn’t want to father

Follow-up of the above, where Bruce is still panicking

Cass is, as one commenter put it, a BAMF (but also loves her family very much)

Robin!Dick and Uncle Clark have a sleepover but Clark is still a clueless 20-something bachelor who has no idea how to Adult

BatFam Week 2018 prompts, which include:

Dick/Babs whump, open-ended

Jason&Bruce are buried alive and it’s as traumatic as you might think

AU where tiny Jason refuses to stay with Bruce for Reasons

Time travel shenanigans with BrandNew!Batman Bruce

Tim&Dick hurt/comfort set during Bruce’s “death”

100% BatFam family night fluff

My ongoing collection of Bruce&Clark Superbros fic, which include:

Clark is so powerful it freaks Bruce out, set during Robin!Dick years

Clark catches a cold and Bruce is definitively the Dad Friend of the JLA

Clark deals with a Bruce emergency and is partially based off that one post that upset people 😁 (also part of Whumptober, above)

Bruce has a nightmare and Clark appears (and Clark’s POV)

Clark and Bruce are dying, but at least they’re together

Clark has the hiccups then uh-oh, things get serious (plus Bruce’s POV of the same series of events)

My ongoing collection of Tumblr prompt fic, which include (listed by chapter):

Pukey Jason, mama-henning Dick

Dick gives CPR to a sibling

Damian has a flashback, Tim gets the brunt of it

Tim and Jason, post-fear toxin

Jason and Dick work themselves to exhaustion with expected consequences

Tim and Damian get kidnapped

Sniffly Jason, mama-henning Dick

Steph and Duke bond

Tim, Cass, and Damian have a movie day

A brief scene with Robin!Jason and Bruce

Tim and RedHood!Jason have a heart-to-heart

Dick is laid up but he has a nice time with Cass and Tim regardless

Damian is ill but tries to sneak out on patrol anyways

Damian taking care of Bruce for the first time

“Get help” but with the Fam instead of Thor and Loki

Duke wiggles his eyebrows for Reasons

A very tired Tim

Alfred is loved (Alfred is mortal)

Jason needs attention

Violence as a love language, ft. Damian and Jason

My ongoing collection of headcanon/fic mishmashes, which include (listed by chapter):

Four Dick Grayson headcanons (traveling, sleepwalking, an unshakeable truth, and not a cop)

Four Jason Todd headcanons (self-love, squicks, Dick, kiddos)

Four Cassandra Cain headcanons (crying, singing, family, favorite superhero)

Four Wally&Dick headcanons (Batman, favorite story, sit still, Enrique)

Four Damian Wayne headcanons (hugging, jumpscare, anger, #1 bros)

Four more Jason Todd headcanons (glasses, patrol games, Robin, kitty cat)

Four Tim Drake headcanons (noise, nails, crying, Bruce)

Four Clark Kent headcanons (Kryptonian, scruff, plan, Dick)

Three more Tim Drake headcanons (school, sleep, home)

Four Alfred Pennyworth headcanons (cards, bingo, the end, ripped)

Jason and zombies

Damian’s eyebrow

Can Bruce cook?

Is Damian a vegetarian?

My worst BatFam head canon of all time

BatFam voices

Jason Todd and the local library

Dick and Jason’s relationship as adults

Tim’s role at Wayne Enterprises

Jason’s tattoos

Jason, Damian, and Talia

Damian’s taste in music

Alfred’s initial reaction to Damian

The truth about Jason and Catherine

Steph’s place in the BatFam

Damian’s feelings regarding Selina Kyle

Dick and Tim’s relationship before the other kids arrived

Bruce’s favorite child

How Tim really feels about Jack leaving on so many trips

BatFam weird takes

Bruce sharing memories of his parents with his kids

How the BatFam hugs

A word on Dick and Bruce’s relationship

Mental health medication

Each BatKid’s favorite song from Six: The Musical

Four more Jason Todd headcanons (Cass, the bet, Bruce, naming)

Cassandra’s fears and phobias

What flusters Bruce

Dick, Bruce, and their tickle spots

Tim’s humiliating memories

What makes Dick cry

Alfred’s grudges and vendettas

Dick’s emotional/moral weak spots

A what-if/AU for Dick

Alfred’s vices

Damian’s habits

Things Tim will never admit

Damian’s bad habits

BROTP: Bruce & Clark

BROTP: Cass & Steph

BROTP: Tim & Steph