#I’m just. so tired. of getting rejections from jobs I know I’d kick ass at and need in order to get anywhere in my field

[agaricandmoss]

It is Thursday and I am having my fourth job hunt related breakdown of the week

[ragingbookdragon]

I’m Only A Crack In This Castle Of Glass (Hardly Anything Else I Need To Be) PT. 7

Batfamily x Batsis Story

Word Count: 2.1K Warnings: Explicit Language, Angst

Author’s Note: Anyone order a part seven? Cause I got a part seven for y'all. Enjoy! -Thorne

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Ever since the meeting that night, she’d gotten more letters from her family than she’d ever received in twenty-one years. Not that she decided to read them. The first line from Dick’s letter was, ”I never wanted you to leave because of me. If only I’d known…”. She couldn’t keep reading, and she wasn’t sure if it were from guilt, sadness, or anger, but there was something there that she didn’t want to face.

It didn’t stop there though. They kept coming even if she tacked a return to sender on it and sent it back. She’d even labeled one and written, ”Stop writing me.” but that didn’t stop them. Wally texted her every other night on top of the letters and she wanted to strangle him through the phone.

She knew though, that if she could keep holding out for three more months, she’d be home free. Wherever home was at this point. Every city she kept thinking about had some type of vigilante and there was nothing that didn’t; eventually she decided on Coast City. Somewhere warm and sunny, and as far from Gotham and Central as possible.

Of course that little voice in the back of her head just kept telling her to talk to them, but she was going to be as stubborn against it as possible—but time was dwindling, and so was her resolve.

***

“Ophelia, have you seen the extra bag of espresso beans? I can’t remember where you put them the other week.” She waited for a response. “Ophelia?” she turned and frowned. “Why did I accept the manager’s position when I can’t even round up my workers?”

She walked out of the storage and wiped her hands on the rag at her waist. “Ophelia?” A giggle sounded at the counter and when she walked out, her eyes went wide at the sight.

Jason was leaning against the counter with that smile he used to use on the models at the galas. He smiled at Ophelia. “Tell me, what do you make better, the cappuccinos or lattes?”

“Well, I make a —”

“She makes a mean ‘get in the back and find my espresso beans’,” she grunted and both of them jumped.

“Melisandre!” Ophelia stuttered, pale cheeks flushing pink. “I thought you were in the back.”

“I was. Think you can go find the coffee beans you put away?” She shot Ophelia a stare that screamed ‘scram’ and the girl nodded, hurrying to the storage room.

“Aww, why’d you run the cutie off, Melisandre?” Jason queried. “I was going to ask her out on—”

“Can I talk to you?” she interrupted, voice barely containing her seething rage. “Outside.”

Jason shrugged and shoved his hands in his jean pockets. “Sure, but be careful, people might get suspicious.”

She grunted and walked outside, listening to him follow and when the door shut, she turned around and hissed, “What the fuck are you doing here?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. I was just getting coffee.”

“Oh, don’t play dumb with me, Jason. We both know that’s a load of bullshit.”

His eyes narrowed and he noted, “You’ve really gotten comfortable using foul language. You know that, (Y/N)?”

She glared at him. “What. Do. You. Want.”

“You won’t answer our letters,” he shrugged. “Didn’t have a lot of options to talk.”

“And showing up at my job is the better option?” she griped.

“It was that or your house, (Y/N). Take your pick but you can’t have both.”

“Well, maybe my silence is supposed to be the answer to those letters. Did you think about that?”

“I did,” he nodded. “But after the third letter being rejected, I decided to go big or go home.”

(Y/N) growled. “Go home.”

Jason smirked. “No.”

“I’m not fucking joking here, Jason. I don’t want you coming here. Ever.”

“Frankly my dear, I don’t give a damn,” he retorted then stepped forward and grabbed her wrist. “You don’t wanna talk willingly, fine. I’ll make you talk to me. And if I have to show up here every day, I will.”

“No, you won’t.”

Jason cocked a brow and tightened his grip. “You wanna bet? Because I’m not Dick and I’m sure as hell not Bruce. I don’t have a day job to get to.” He smirked. “I can do this all day.”

(Y/N) bit the inside of her cheek and thought for a moment then sighed and yanked her arm away. “Fine. Come to my apartment after five. We’ll talk there.”

“Thank—”

“Don’t thank me yet,” she interrupted coldly. “I’m agreeing for one meeting and then you fuck off back to Gotham City and leave me the hell alone for good.” She spun on her heel and started back for the door when his voice reached her, tired and pained.

“Do you really hate all of us? Do you really hate us like you make yourself think you do?”

(Y/N)’s feet felt like lead and she stopped, gazing at the glass door. “I don’t know, Jason.”

“Then let me help.”

“You can find the apartment on your own. I know you’re good at looking for homes.” She slipped in the café door, leaving him standing there shocked and hurt.

***

Sure enough, a minute after five o’clock, her doorbell rang and she called, “It’s open.” The door opened and shut, and she looked up from the little kitchenette, watching the way Jason walked into her apartment, gazing around the empty living room.

“Shit, do you live in a home or a prison cell?”

(Y/N) grunted. “Nice quip. Come up with that by yourself?”

He wandered into the kitchen, leaning back against the counter as she prepared dinner. “What’re you making?”

“Chicken marsala,” she replied. “You’re here to talk. Start talking.”

“Are you going to be a bitch like you were the other night or can I ask about life in Central the last three years?” she shot him a glare, warning him, but he paid it no mind. “You going to school?”

(Y/N) nodded. “I go to Central City Community College. Take classes all week at different times.”

“What are you studying?” he asked.

“For now, general studies, but I’m minoring in political science.”

“Planning on a four year after you graduate?”

She shrugged. “Maybe. Maybe not.” Her hands stalled for a moment. “I don’t have the money for a big school to get a bachelors.” Shaking her head, she chopped up the vegetables. “Figure if I can get a job in the area, I can scrounge up enough to start the process though.”

“Might take years,” Jason noted, and she nodded.

“Yeah, hard work usually does.” (Y/N) glanced at him. “What’s Cassandra like?”

He blinked, evidently not expecting that, though he recovered and smiled. “She’s great honestly. Kicks ass better than anyone I know.”

“Even Batman?”

Jason huffed a laugh. “I’m sure she could wipe the floor with each of us if she decided to not hold back. Her mom’s Lady Shiva and her dad’s David Cain.”

“I don’t know who they are but I’m assuming from the tone that they’re not exactly the best parents in the world.”

“No…they’re not.” He agreed. “David didn’t teach Cass how to speak so she’s been mute all her life.”

“I’ve heard the few interviews she’s given,” (Y/N) replied. “She’s very eloquent when she does.”

“Shakespeare’s influence. And probably Emily Dickinson.” He smiled. “I leave her a lot of books to read so I can be her favorite.”

She snorted. “Yeah, that sounds like you.” Sliding the cast iron skillet into the oven, she sat at the crappy metal dining table, Jason taking the seat on the other side. (Y/N) scratched at the table. “Does Bruce like her?” she questioned lowly, and he nodded.

“Loves her like she’s his own.” He her with cautious eyes. “Just like he loves you.” Jason watched the emotion flash across her face, quick as lighting, a deep sorrow, then she was humming.

“Well, that’s good then.” She cleared her throat and looked at the clock. “How’ve you been? I hear a lot about Outlaws.”

Jason chuckled. “Yeah, that’s my band of renegades. Me, Roy Harper, and Koriand’r.”

“Remind me, those were Speedy and Starfire, right?”

He snorted. “Arsenal and Starfire. But yeah, close enough.”

(Y/N) got up and pulled two glasses from the cabinet before going to the refrigerator and getting the lemonade. She poured them both glasses and sat back down. “How’d you manage to wrangle two of the Titans into your posse?”

“Kori willingly tagged along, and Roy won’t leave me alone,” he griped, sipping his lemonade.

“Mmm…and how does Dick feel about you stealing two of his exes?”

Jason choked on his drink, spilling it on the table and down his chin. “That’s not—” he coughed. “That’s not what that is.”

“Uh huh, sure it’s not.”

“It isn’t,” he glowered.

“Riiiiiiight,” she drawled out with a grin, then took a sip and set her glass back down. “Figured you’d get Cass along with you. she seems like she’d be fit for Outlaws.”

He shook his head. “Nah, she’d be better off with Tim and his Young Justice weirdos.”

“She non-lethal?”

“Mhm.”

They dwindled into silence until the timer went off on the oven and she pulled the skillet out and set two plates on the table. “You’re gonna feed me?” he asked as she handed him a fork.

(Y/N) scoffed. “Duh. I’m a bitch, but I’m a bitch with manners.” She smiled sweetly. “But you have to leave afterwards.”

“Mmm…can I crash on your couch?”

“No.”

“Please?”

“No.”

He shrugged. “Figured I’d try anyways.”

They ate in silence, occasionally speaking about their lives the last three years, and when the food was all gone and the lemonade drunk, he sighed and reclined in the chair.

“What?” (Y/N) questioned and he shrugged.

“Dunno…I’d like to do this again soon.” His teal eyes found hers. “It’s been too long since we were together.”

“Tread carefully,” she murmured, looking at the wall and he sighed.

“Sis, talk to me,” he begged. “Even if it’s just to tell me how much you hate me, just talk to me.” She didn’t respond and he sighed again, standing from the table. “Thanks for dinner.”

“…I hate that you all put Gotham and every civilian before our family.” Jason stopped dead in his tracks and turned, gazing at her, though she didn’t tear her eyes from the wall. “I hate that the only time I felt like anyone paid any attention to me was when we were at galas and even then, the attention was just for show. It didn’t matter because all anyone wanted to do was get the hell out of the manor and go on patrol. It didn’t matter because I wasn’t like any of you. I wasn’t a part of the real family.”

Tears gathered in her eyes. “I hate that I spent more nights sitting in a dark and silent manor than spending them with my family. I hate that I never had a normal family growing up where we’d go for ice-cream after school and attend school performances. I hate that I got stuck with a bunch of siblings hellbent on giving every piece of themselves to the world and they couldn’t take one night off to have a family night to save their lives. To at least pretend to be normal.”

(Y/N) finally took her eyes from the wall and he felt his heart tighten as the tears slipped down her cheeks and she breathed, “I hate that I was born Bruce Wayne’s biological daughter and I’d give anything and everything I have to be someone else’s daughter and sister.”

Jason’s mouth felt dry, and he didn’t have single thing to say to her and she whispered, “Is that what you wanted to hear, Jason?” she blinked. “Because that’s what I feel every morning I wake up.”

“I’m sorry,” he murmured, and she cleared her throat, wiping her cheeks.

“Yeah well, I’m three years passed sorry.” (Y/N) nodded to the front door. “You should leave now.”

Jason nodded but his feet didn’t move. For a moment, he couldn’t move them, then he sucked in a breath and started edging back to the door. When he neared the door, he pulled it open and paused, looking back at her. “(Y/N)?” she didn’t answer but he said it anyway. “I love you. More than you’ve ever known.” He sighed and stepped out, closing it behind him.

(Y/N) buried her face in her hands and sobbed alone at the dinner table.

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Tags!: @itsnottilly @cloudyskylines @starflyer-104 @iwillstaywiththemforever @justine-en @weirdgirlfromtx @notsostraightweeb @candlestudy @willowoo @peterxwade24 @the-atlantic-french-fry @bad-bouquet-of-emotions @vvipgot7be @pure-princess-97 @atomicsoulhumanspy @foreverthefloor @natatawa-ako @impactshawol @bethabear12 @adazzlingsakura @kimhanbiin @thatanonymouschocolate @mischief-writter-24-7 @lostinwonderland314 @elz-zalarrr @lady-of-the-abyss @peqchynero @d3m0n8ch1ld @goldenguki @fallen-wolf22 @battlenix

[darkacademicfrom2021]

The Dark Team (part 11)

<<Previous part Masterlist   Next part>>

Warnings: Cookies and idiots. You might get diabetes.

N/A: I'm on a family trip right now so I'm being a little unactive but I'll do my best to be still updating on here. Thank you so much to everyone who reads and comments, you truly make me want to write twice as much.

The Dark Team: (Taglist: @lucywrites02, @louieboo87, @the-departed-potato, @jesuswasnotawhiteman, @idontknow296, @beksib, @spythoschei, @geekwritersworld, @whatafuckingdumbass, @mysticunicorn7 @shadowolf993 @toe-vind-ek-jou @joscelyn02, @t00-pi )

“Are you sure that’s how you should be sending those?”. His nosy ass telling you how to do your job in your midgardian electronics was just amazing, truly. “It would be faster for them if you send it with that link instead of…”.

“Listen, Mischief”, you interrupted his unnecessary corrections “I don’t tell you how to levitate, what about you don’t tell me how to do this?”.

“I don’t levitate”.

“Not the point. This is my deal. Besides, since when and how do you know how to handle midgardian tech?”.

“I… I’m bored”.

“Do I look like an entertainment to you right now?”.

“What do you mean right now? Are you planning on entertaining me later?”.

“I will choke you if you keep doing that”.

“Do you promise?”.

"Yes, my dear".

"Can't wait, then", he smirked. You rolled your eyes, about to answer something snappy, but the work was more important at the moment.

Your phone beeped, pulling you out of the very one sided discussion. You went back to your work in silence, getting your full focus and concentration on it. If it weren’t for Loki, you would’ve already done a thousand more other things. But, as a bug on the lenses, he was stuck to your side. It seemed like you were babysitting him.

Peter was staring at the roof from the couch. A pile of homework laid by his side, untouched, and his unlocked phone seemed to be waiting for him to make a call he didn’t want to. Loki observed him, unsure if it was a good idea to ask. You looked at his uncertainty from over your shoulder, and watched him finally give up on the idea of socially interacting with the kid, sitting down by your side on the big, big (and, exaggeratingly pointing out, big; yet he sat in the nearest chair from you) table.

The compound certainly was a boring place when uninhabited, and the sun was already teasing with coming down, making the common room’s lights turn brighter and warmer. Maybe it was automatic, maybe it was Friday. You couldn’t care less, for you were too distracted by Loki’s gaze on your work.

“Loki, for fuck’s sake, would you stop staring, my dearest?”, you asked, imitating his tone of voice, hoping it’d make it less aggressive and a bit more fun. He rolled his eyes and smirked, understanding your intentions. You sounded as tired of him as you were.

“I’m...”.

“Bored, I know. What about you go entertain Pete? He looks equally, if not more, bored as you. And you’re interfering with my work, which I do not appreciate very much”.

“How am I supposed to entertain him? I’m not a clown”, he argued, slightly offended but just wanting to make time and conversation. You sighed.

“Then why do you act like one?”.

“What is that supposed to mean? Is that a midgardian insult I’m not aware of, pancake?”.

“Stop calling me that, it’s not derogative”.

“It wasn’t intended to be deroga…”.

“I’d kill for some pancakes”, interrupted Peter, trying to pull you two out of your quarrels. “Or something sweet”.

“Oh, the kid got peckish. This is perfect; you can go get him something sweet and leave my workspace alone”, you said, patting his back with an exhausted grin.

He rolled his eyes, but walked down to the kitchen looking for whatever could satiate Peter. There wasn’t anything. One would think that a billionaire would have the fridge full of chocolates, wouldn’t you?, he thought, exhausted by the idea of having to actually leave the compound to get him something. Last time he tried to buy something in Midgard, he accidentally paid three salaries to the workers in the name of Stark. He was so embarrassed, he said it was on purpose and called it an act of mischief. But it was, in fact, pure and raw unawareness of midgardian’s use of money.

“What about we bake something, Mr. Loki?”, proposed Peter, with a flaming interest in seeing what those magic hands could do with food. You chuckled, pretty sure they could do nothing; he had been a prince for over a thousand years, when could he have learnt to bake by himself?

Loki lowered his gaze, confronted with both thoughts of his companions, and their respective expectations. Truth was, you were right. But he couldn't disappoint the kid like that, he had to at least try. Peter's eyes shone brighter than ever, and you wondered if Loki was actually enjoying his company. They looked fine. And, finally, you had some space to work without distractions.

“In normal circumstances I’d reject you, spider boy, but since y/n seems to be about to hang me by the neck on the tip of the tower, might as well do this”, he said, stealing a glance at you and smirking.

“It’s an honor you decide to spend your last moments baking with me, Mr. Loki”.

“Sure, let’s go, child”.

“I’m not a child”.

“Alright”.

And just like that, they left the working area and moved to the kitchen. Both rooms were connected by a huge glassless window and a counter, so you were able to peep in and make sure they didn’t actually burn down the compound (which was the only rule Tony had) and work peacefully at the same time.

After what seemed like an eternity, they still couldn’t accept they were failing miserably, and kept stirring the mix in a bowl. Flour formed clouds around them as Peter sneezed it away, and Loki’s hair had some cream on his (now not so) impeccable hair. Peter laughed at Loki’s commentary and poor baking skills, and Loki playfully mocked how his stickiness wasn’t helpful at all.

“Have you ever baked before, Mr. Loki?”.

“I haven’t but I’ve seen people bake, I figured I could imitate them”.

“Your mum, right? I used to bake with my aunt May a lot, but just now I realize maybe she was doing everything and I was eating the dough by her side”.

“That sounds more like it”, he chuckled. The mixing bowl trembled in his hand as he got distracted by the flying eggs coming at him, and it slipped out of him, smashing near half the mix onto the floor. “Oh, fuck”.

“It’s fine, we can use the one that’s left!”.

“Your positiveness astonishes me, spider boy”.

“Spider man”.

“Right, apologies”.

“We have already put in the flour, the sugar, the eggs, the milk… What else is in the recipe?”.

“I’m trying to remember, let me see”, he closed his eyes and muttered to himself “they used cinnamon, I think. And maybe butter? Yes, and chocolate chips”.

“Who?”.

“Ah, this recipe isn’t my mum’s. She didn’t bake either, you know, Queens don’t get their hands dirty” he laughed. “It was my companion’s”, he spat and suddenly realized what he had said. He lowered his head and sighed.

“Your companion?”, asked Peter. “As in partner? A spouse?”.

“Not spouse, just… you know, I’m just realizing I shouldn’t be talking to you about it”, he brushed it off, absolutely regretting it. Because Peter, unlike any other person, lacked filters.

So he would ask and ask and not realize where to stop. And at that point you could say Peter had become some sort of a weakness in Loki’s roughness. Peter was the softest, purest and better intentioned person he had ever met (or at least that’s how he saw him; of course, Loki had never seen him in action, fighting crime), and Loki was incapable of actually denying things to him. It didn’t matter how much Peter insisted on not being seen as a child, Loki was a thousand years older.

“No, please do. Now you’ve caught my attention”, he insisted, trying to clean some of the dough from the floor. Loki sighed, watching how the kid begged him to tell him more from his feet. “Please, Mr. Loki, I swear I won’t tell”.

“Well, my lover was the one who used to cook for us”, he explained as if he was telling someone else’s story. He clearly was trying to disengage his own emotions in order to tell them out loud. “And they’d usually bake some kick-ass cinnamon cookies”.

Peter had to grab the counter to steady himself from laughter, and you couldn’t help to snort at the conversation you were indiscreetly eavesdropping. Loki smiled.

“Then we have to replicate them, if they’re so kick-ass to make you say a midgardian expression”.

“We must, but I can’t remember quite well the next steps. It’s all sort of a blur now”.

“Can’t we ask them?”.

“No”, he said quickly. The air tensed, and untensed as fast as he realized. He especified again, trying to sound less affected by it “we can’t”.

“Oh”, Peter sounded so disappointed, Loki’s heart broke a little. “Are they dead?”.

“Oh my God, Pete, you can’t just ask…”, you intervened, trying to save Loki from further discomfort.

“It’s okay, they’re… well, they’re gone”, he said with a soft voice, raising his eyebrows as who tries to explain to a little kid why their fish is upside down, leaving to the imagination the typical trace of sadness that would follow. His eyes focused on the mixing bowl, reminiscing another time, another way. Eyes of someone who tries his best to never forget the little details from someone who’s not here anymore, because memories are all he has left. He immediately snapped out of his thoughts and tried to play it cool. “But guess who’s not gone? This dough on the floor. Let’s clean it up, kid”.

“Gone as in dead?”, insisted Peter, who had a very poor self control. You would’ve grabbed your face with eight hands if you could.

“Peter, don’t…”.

“Yes, they’re dead. Inside a coffin, rotting, getting eaten by worms. You know”, said Loki, this time jokingly, trying to scare off Peter. But it didn’t work, since Peter just kept asking about it. Loki was already too tired of having to take his brain yet again to places he didn’t want them to be.

“I’m really sorry, Mr. Loki. Must be very painful”. The empathy in his eyes gave Loki the hint that he was not only being sincere, but curious about Loki's life. Interested, engaged. Not just morbidly curious, but wanting to get to know him better. Unfortunately, Loki couldn’t allow that. He would have to get the mission done, not make any friends, and go back to Asgard as alone as he came. It was the deal, the price he had to pay, the invisible handcuffs, the imaginary rope tying around his neck. Tightly, tightly, tighter.

“It’s alright, it was long ago”.

“Was they Asgardian, like you?”.

“I’m not actually Asgardian. I was raised there, but I’m from Jotunheim”.

Loki managed to move the conversation further than his lover (which he regretted highly to have brought the subject in the first place), and Peter got more and more interested in confirming how many of his mythology stories were true or not. The kitchen was the warmest place in the whole compound, and something started to smell like burnt sugar.

“So you did actually make Sif, Thor’s wife, bald? And did he make you go get her a wig in Svárthelfeim?”, he asked at the speed of light, and Loki laughed.

“Lady Sif’s not actually Thor’s betrothed. And no, I didn’t make her bald”, he said, and then muttered “she just happened to have a very low quality shampoo”.

“Ah, the cookies!”, Peter turned off the stove and took them out carefully, as to not get burned (again).

Loki peeped through the window to check on you. Your head, laying tiredly over your hands, seemed to be about to give up on you out of exhaustion. You haven’t slept properly since the mission started, and you couldn’t get your head off work for a moment. He approached you from behind and left a fresh cup of coffee and a couple of warm cookies by your side. You smiled at him gently and thanked him. If it wasn’t him you were talking about, you could’ve swore he blushed.

You have gotten so tranquil after one simple gesture, you hoped to get all your nerves down before going to sleep. Maybe it wasn’t that bad to have been stuck with them in the compound. They seemed to be having a good time, and Loki had nothing on his mind more than to have a rest after such hectic days.

“How long until you finish there?”, he asked with a low voice, a raspy, almost groany voice, that made you want to shut your computer down and throw it out of the window. You didn’t, instead, you checked your clock.

“Very soon, I’ll join you guys in a bit”.

[gwynrielendgame]

Gwynriel headcanon

I just want a best friends to lovers arc for these precious babies

"Good try slow poke." Azriel mutters after disarming Gwyn for what felt like the 100th time tonight.

"Dammit." Gwyn reached down to grab her fallen dagger once more. Azriel had been kicking her ass all night, but she could hardly be mad when her dagger skills were already improving.

"Let's go again." Gwyn moved into her defensive stance while Azriel rolled his eyes.

"Come on let's take a break." Even he was beginning to feel tired, so he could only imagine how she felt. He held his dagger loosely in his hand as he stood across from her in the training ring.

"You wanna take a break?" Gwyn's eyebrows shot up. "Wanna talk about why you look so sad? Honestly it's starting to make me sad just looking at you."

Azriel narrowed his his eyes while sizing up the tall redhead. She was more perceptive than he originally gave her credit for.

"You looked sad before I even got here. Do you want to talk about it?" He said in a pointed voice. As if he had beat her. She only laughed.

"You already know why I'm sad. I believe you got to witness the end of it." Her tone was teasing, but the subject matter made Azriel tense up. She wasn't one to discuss their very first meeting. He had been glad about that too. He had never been able to forget what he witnessed that night. Her joke was just a reminder of what she had suffered. Maybe that was the reason Azriel confided in her when he refused to confide in anyone else. To even the playing field between them. So that she knew some of his secrets when he seemed to know all of hers.

"Mor."

"What?" She tilted her head obviously caught off guard by what he said. She plopped down at the edge of the training ring and took a large gulp of water. He decided to follow her lead and sit next to her.

"I'm sad because of Mor. And you could probably group Elain into why I'm sad too." He didn't want to say anymore but could feel inevitable questions coming. A wry smile tugged at Gwyn's lips.

"You certainly have a type." That statement had Azriel grinning. He shook his head a little while chuckling.

"I have no idea what you're talking about. Mor and Elain look nothing alike." Azriel stood by this statement. While they were both beautiful, they didn't look similar. Mor was tall and curvy while Elain was relatively thin. Not to mention their personalities were polar opposites.

"Ridiculously beautiful yet emotionally unavailable is your type, Az." It was the first time she had called him by his nickname and it had his lips tugging in a smile. His shadows reached out towards Gwyn, but he quickly reeled them back in. Azriel took a second to process what she said though. Was that his type? Evidence would prove so.

"I don't seek out emotionally unavailable women." He defended himself. Perhaps he sought out ridiculously beautiful women and they just happened to always be emotionally unavailable.

"Are you saying Mor was not engaged to be married when you met her? Or that Elain doesn't have a mate that you know about?" The teasing tone Gwyn used softened the blow from the truth. Perhaps he did look for women he knew would never go for him. "Despite that, I think Elain would ignore her mate for you, so why do you continue to fawn after her while simultaneously doing nothing?" Gwyn nudged his shoulder as she said this. She was flipping her dagger through her hands, going through different handling maneuvers.

"You sure have a lot of opinions on my love life for someone who has never been in a relationship." He says in the same teasing tone. It was no surprise to anyone that she wasn't ready for a relationship. That didn't mean he couldn't give her shit for it.

"I know why I want to be single. Have you figured out why you remain single despite the fact that you could have Elain if you truly wanted her?" He rolls his eyes at her. She was the biggest busybody out of all of them. His shadows had never been so calm before though. They were dancing excitedly around him, yet they eased up on the pressuring feeling they normally gave him.

"Shut up." He didn't put much emphasis behind it. He continued to watch the dagger that flowed through her hands.

"You think you don't deserve them." It wasn't a question. They both knew it to be true. Perhaps Gwyn felt the same way which is why she never entered into any relationships. They were more alike than they gave themselves credit. Azriel just shrugged to her response. What could he say to that?

"Okay I'm going to compliment you, but only because your eyes look so sad that I'm worried you might start crying any second." He burst out with laughter after she said that. She was too much. "If I could give you the world on a platter, I would do it in a heartbeat. You are one of the greatest men I have had the pleasure of meeting. You saved me and I can never repay you for that. But I want you to be happy. And if Mor or Elain would make you happy, then I think it's worth the rejection to talk to them about it. And you do deserve them just by the way." She sent him a small, genuine smile that had his chest clenching in a way he didn't understand. It also had his shadows reaching out for her again, but he slammed them back into place.

"Mor was tortured and Elain...well Elain is Elain. They deserve someone that is sweet, and loving, and I can't be that for them. I'm the high lord's spy master for fucks sake."

"If you don't like the job, then quit. Rhys will understand." It was a reasonable solution to the problem Az presented. But not one he was willing to take.

"That's the problem. I do like the job." He was waiting for the look of surprise or disgust from Gwyn. Neither came. Her face was neutral, contemplative as if she was waiting for him to say more. He wouldn't though. He had already told her more than anyone else. He felt relief when Gwyn responded in another teasing tone.

"Well that's not hard to figure out why, now is it?" His eyebrows lifted up high. He paused to hear her conspiracy. She let out a huge sigh before continuing. "It's your way of re-enacting what happened to you as a kid right? Except this time you're in control. I doubt you get excited when you hear screams of pain or you would have finished what the Hybern soldiers started in Sangravah. You're feeling relief that it isn't you anymore." She shrugged as if what she said was obvious. Azriel frowned. He had never thought too hard on it. Never wanted to think too hard on it. Afraid of what he would find if he looked too hard. He turned completely so that he could study Gwyn's face. It was set in that neutral look once more as if to prove to him she wasn't judging.

"What if I told you, you were wrong. That I do enjoy the pain I inflict on our prisoners?" He was curious how far her empathy would extend. She gave him a curious look back. She paused as if hesitant to say what she wants. He guessed that they both were spilling more secrets than they were typically comfortable with.

"I'd call bullshit." She paused once again. Finally looking nervous. "Sometimes I want to go to a random pub and find a random man and let him take me home. For obvious reasons I will not be doing that. But I want to for the control. To know that the next person who has me in such a way was because I decided for that to be the case and no other reason. You want control because you never had that before. Same as me. " Azriel gave her a soft look. They were scarily similar. Gwyn put her hand on top of his and squeezed. He didn't know what else to say so he squeezed back. He finally let his shadows curl out and wrap around her wrist too. To help provide the comfort that his words wouldn't be able to. Gwyn sent him one final smile before standing.

"Breaks over. Now show me how I can disarm you." Azriel started laughing. She never gives up.

[shinysobi]

i came in from the outside, burnt out from the joyride (ii)

this was born out of a conversation with @akinosakiya, so all credits go to her >.<

chapter 1 | chapter 2 | coming soon

ao3

(A/N: so... i am extremely sorry for not updating,,, uni and life has been generally kicking my ass pretty horribly (im in my final semester lol) and while i am not generally very happy with this chapter, it is important because it sets up a lot of things in the future yeeet)

word count: 4955

Attorney Park wishes her good luck as she leaves for the courthouse the next day, and Sol can’t help but feel as though he was laughing at her for some reason, and frantically checks for food stuck in her teeth on the way to the courthouse. There isn’t any, so she’s left to wonder exactly what the hell he meant when he had sent her off with a very cryptic “see you soon, Kang Sol.”

“What did he even mean?” she mutters to herself, calling her sister, “Ah, Byeol, remember to go to your academy today, all right?”

“Okay, eonni,” her sister replies, “you’re at the courthouse, aren’t you?”

“Hmm, I have a case to win,” she replies, and Byeol wishes her good luck before the call goes silent, and she allows herself a rare moment of self-reflection, taking in the image of the Courthouse. It’s imposing, but she curiously feels at home here, in the middle of the city where the noise of the cars is so loud, she can’t hear the person next to her sometimes. There’s something magical about the courthouse, and she isn’t romanticising it, but the idea of fighting for justice, no matter how imperfect, it fills her with pride, even more so when she knows that what she is doing is for good.

Not to say that there aren’t any downsides to it, either. She gets threats almost on the daily, from disgruntled clients and from people who want her to take the case, even though she knows it would be an affront to her dignity. The Dean’s voice floats into her ear, reciting the Attorneys-at-act law that allows her to reject a case if she wants to. Right. It does not feel like an insult to her now like it had done then, the act, because she chose to take this case on, and yet, here she is, standing in front of the courthouse, wearing her nicest clothes (Yeseul had raised an eyebrow, but she was too tired to pay any attention to her) and dreading her turn to go inside.

“Eonni!” a voice calls out, and it’s Yeseul, dressed for a case, “how long do you have before you have to go in?” Sol doesn’t need to check her watch to tell the time that is left, ten minutes on the dot, and she’s waiting for her client to come through, still in police custody, something which she had failed to stop, “are you staring off into space again?”

She recovers quickly, “no, I was just waiting for the defendant to be brought here by the police.” She turns to Yeseul, who’s evidently not had much sleep, “why are you here in my case? Didn’t you wrap one up today?”

“Ah, I did,” Yeseul smiles, taking a hold of Sol’s arm, “but I’m here now, aren’t I? I thought you would need some support, you know, since you—”

She doesn’t complete the sentence. She doesn’t need to. Sol smiles at her, loops their arms together, and says, “do you want to have coffee?”

Yeseul grins, “I’d love to.”

—

No matter how many times she’s walked in here, and no matter how much the courthouse makes her feel at ease, there’s still a part of her that is anxious when she stands in front of it, hoping that she might be able to provide adequate justice to the person she was defending. It throws her off sometimes, the court of law. But she can always find her way back to it, and perhaps this is why she loves it, loves being able to defend people from being betrayed by the same system that they had put so much trust in, betrayed, just like she had been. It’s as though the law is apologising to her, albeit in its own, slightly twisted way.

The defendant, Je Sang-Hee, sits at her designated position, looking at her, and Sol draws herself up to her full height, careful to not catch anyone’s eye on the other side of the courthouse. Its oddly suffocating, the courthouse today, the air thick with a sort of anticipation that she doesn’t really want to address. Yeseul squeezes her arm, whispering, “you’ll do good, eonni,” and all of a sudden, she’s standing there, alone, with only her wits there for help. Shit. I wish I had had gotten drunk last night. At least this would have been hazier.

She approaches the bench, the defendant sitting silently, and tries to reassure her, “don’t worry, we’ll clear your name, all right?” she’s met with silence, as Sang-Hee only nods, her eyes welling with unshed tears. It’s heart-breaking, the way Sang-Hee has accepted her punishment, accepted that she would be going to prison anyway, so, nothing really matters. Sol doesn’t want that for her. She doesn’t want that for anyone, not even the worst of criminals. Sure, she may not be defending them in the court of law, but everyone should benefit from the assumption of innocence. She may not be the one speaking up for them, but she does wish that people have the opportunity to prove themselves innocent.

There aren’t many people in attendance in the courthouse today, which is a blessing, but she also has to deal with pesky reporters stationed outside, who seemed to have taken an interest in the woman accused of attempted murder, despite having really, no evidence against her. It was funny, how people jumped to conclusions, just because of the person’s backgrounds, or due to a particular defamatory article that may have been published about them online. Sang-Hee had had one published about her, filled with lies so vile that Sol couldn’t even read through it once.

“Sang-Hee ssi,” She says, approaching the defendant’s bench, “how are you feeling today?”

Je Sang-Hee looks at her, eyes still shining with tears, and lowers her gaze. She can’t even speak. Sol is angry, of course, but even more than the anger that simmers inside of her, is frustration, for not being able to protect her client, frustration at being unable to be the person there for the victim.

“Eonni,” Yeseul’s voice drags her out of her little reverie, “eonni, I think Joon-hwi oppa is here now.”

Sol squints at the younger girl, “who told you that?”

Yeseul holds up her phone, “Bok-gi is going to be here too, so he texted me. The two of them are going to come along, him and Jiho. Jiho should be here by now, but he hasn’t texted yet.”

Sol just—stares at Yeseul for a moment, trying to understand the volley of information that had just been thrown at her, in a manner not unlike that of Professor Yang, the man who, Sol recollects with regret, had heard about this whole mess from Sol B, but had not once offered to help. She didn’t need his help, though. It’s just that he could have offered to help her, and it would have been nice.

“Eonni,” Yeseul says, warning evident in her voice, “he’s here.”

What she doesn’t say, but Sol knows, is the sentence, don’t worry, I’m here for you. I’ll be here for you. She didn’t need it, per se, but it felt nice to know that at least one person had her back in this courthouse. Bok-gi was of course, on her side too, but she knew he wouldn’t sacrifice Joon-Hwi. Not now, anyway.

“You have your back to the Prosecutor’s bench,” Yeseul elbows her lightly, and she realises that yes, she has indeed been standing with her back towards the Prosecution’s bench all this while, and most importantly, there was someone behind her.

“Attorney Kang,” She knows that voice, has heard it in her head for years now, but Kang Sol finds herself unable to lift her gaze from the linoleum floor as she grasps the warm hand that was now being offered to her, “nice to meet you, finally.”

There’s a teasing lilt to the last word, a certain edge to the syllable that she knows all too well, having been subjected to it for hours on end, in classes, in the copy room, in the café, even in her mind. It’s from a voice she knows all too well, someone she had wronged.

Courage, Kang Sol.

“Hello, Prosecutor Han,” she looks up, extending one hand to the man in front of her, and—

She didn’t have any expectations of how she would meet Han Joon-Hwi after so many years, but in the deeper recesses of her mind, she had a thought; of his eyes widening at seeing her face for the first time in so many years, her falling in love with him all over again. She had thought of looking—no, not just looking, looking at him, for the first time in so many years, after that one fateful day when she ignored the words of her heat and went running far away from him, perhaps falling in love all over again.

Instead—she feels nothing. Perhaps a pang of guilt somewhere in the recesses of her mind, but when she looks into the eyes of Han Joon-Hwi, her best friend, the person she had fallen in love with, Kang Sol doesn’t see anyone but a weathered prosecutor, the boy who had called out her name on graduation day in Hankuk Law school long gone. Even though he looks not a day older, even though his eyes still crinkle in the same way when he smiles, and his hand still holds the same weight when he takes her hand for a handshake, but she can’t find the boy she was in love with anymore.

“Attorney Kang,” he grins, and his voice is the same, teasing when he looks at her, smiles at her, but he is her opponent, she has to defeat him today. This isn’t preparing for mock trials and judicial competitions, where they only played at being lawyers and prosecutors, this is real life. Je Sang-Hee’s life depends upon her, Kang Sol, winning this case. Against him, Han Joon-Hwi.

“Noona, nice to see you again,” Bok-gi pushes forward, giving her a warm hug, which does its job to dissipate all errant thoughts of a boy whose smile had haunted her in her dreams, “I’ll be watching today, my law firm asked me to—”

“Don’t worry about that,” she assures him, “you can take all the notes you want.” He’s still looking at her, she realises when she lets go of Bok-gi, Han Joon-Hwi is still staring at me. Do I have something in my teeth? “Good luck today, Prosecutor Han.”

He grins at her then, dimpled smile making her heart skip a beat, and says, “I don’t need luck, Attorney Kang,” before sauntering off to his seat.

Kang Sol clenches her jaw. Asshole.

--

He wasn’t sure how it would be—their meeting for the first time, but Joon isn’t going to say he’s dissatisfied with it. sure, she’s grown up now—she isn’t Kang Sol A anymore, she goes by just Kang Sol, and he doesn’t have the pesky tag of second-round judicial passer hanging around his neck anymore.

She had stared him down, and to no surprise, he still found her beautiful. Sure, he had always thought that there was a sort of magnetic aura around Sol, something that commanded the attention of an entire room when she walked in. She looked the same as she had looked, five years ago, when he had tried to confess to her, and she had rejected him. Sol hadn’t told him that she was rejecting him, at least not explicitly; Han Joon-Hwi was a man who could take a hint, especially if it ran away from him while he was in the middle of his confession. Really, Kang Sol. You made me chase you all the way to this courtroom.

A hand slams down on his desk, and Seo Jiho’s irritated voice tells him, “If you’re going to stare, at least do it properly.”

He sputters, suddenly thankful that his co-prosecutor was running late, as he stood up to stare at his ex-roommate, who was porting a very uncharacteristic grin, “what do you mean by that? I wasn’t staring.”

“Sure, you weren’t,” Jiho says, and even Bok-gi sniggers at him, “you were just looking in the general direction of Sol noona, so much so that everyone in the room thinks that the two of you are either dating, or that you want to kill her. Personally, I prefer the latter.”

He doesn’t say anything, just grumbles under his breath, and Jiho presses on, “did you prepare well for this case? You do realise that your evidence is weak, do you?”

“Ah, of course, hyung knows it,” Bok-gi steps in to intervene, and Joon-Hwi thinks for a moment that yes, Bok-gi was always one of the better ones, and then he opens his mouth again, “he’s just ignoring all the things he said before entering the courthouse, and proving to all of us how much of a hypocrite he is.”

Joon glares at Bok-gi, who is giggling at him now, and turns to look at the judge’s bench a pout on his face. Sure, he had proclaimed in the car that he would “not be looking at her, nope”, and the fact that it had taken him exactly three minutes to break that promise was bit laughable, but his friends didn’t have to rub it into his face.

“I don’t understand,” Bok-gi asks, “why are you still hung up on her? You basically took this case just so you could meet her again, and even though the two of you haven’t talked in years, you still talk about her, you still ask about her when you get the chance, so what is going on?”

Joon-Hwi doesn’t answer. He knows what is going on, why he has been so intent on meeting Kang Sol, even after so long, but he doesn’t want to—no, he can’t tell Bok-gi that. He feels a pang of guilt whenever he even thinks of telling Bok-gi the actual reason behind him running after Sol, even though she had made it abundantly clear that she didn’t want to have anything to do with him.

He wonders, sometimes.

His co-prosecutor arrives in the courtroom, almost gliding over the floor to take their seat, and he can see Kang Sol shrink back a little, obviously intimidated. He doesn’t hide his smile anymore, not that he needs to either. She didn’t have to get flustered over his co-prosecutor entering the damn courtroom. She’s never done that, at least from what Bok-gi and Yebeom have told him; even Jiho had pitched in with his own comments sometimes, knowing exactly how much it pissed him off, but he still did it. Every time he met Bok-gi or he met Yeseul, he would ask about her, waiting for them to respond with “oh, she’s doing okay, oppa” and “I met her a few weeks ago, she was fine, hyung” and they move on after that, but he can’t.

They don’t possibly expect him to move on from her, do they?

“All rise,” the bailiff announces, and he dutifully stands up, watching out of the corner of his eye as Sol gently helps the defendant to rise up alongside her, before being seated again. She still did that little thing when she looked around the entire courtroom for people watching her, he thinks to herself. She’s still the same Sol. No, she’s different now. We both are. We both are different, but there’s still things about her that remind me of the times we spent in Hankuk.

“Prosecutor Han,” the judge tells him, and he stands up quickly to his feet, “begin.”

“Thank you, Your Honour,” He says, walking out to the defendant’s bench, “defendant Je Sang-Hee, you were indicted on charges of attempted murder, following an attack on your fiancé, Seo Changmin, on the fourteenth of November, two weeks prior to your indictment.”

“Yes, I was,” she begins, “but I didn’t do anything to—”

“I’ll be the one asking questions here,” he cuts her off with a dismissive wave of his hand, and out of the corner of his eye, he can see Sol draw an almost-imperceptible breath, shaking her head at him. She isn’t flustered. He’s very sure she isn’t flustered, because the two of them have been on opposite sides of each other, time and time again, “could you confirm that Seo Changmin suffered injuries because of you?”

She stares at him, defiant, and replies, “he did not suffer injuries because of me, I found him and I called the police, I’ve told you this.”

“Yes, you have,” Joon walks to the front of the witness’ bench, “but your whereabouts were also unknown that night, until that fateful moment when you actually found your fiancé, and proceeded to assault him. Is that right?”

She looks at him, scowling. He’s hit a nerve, apparently. They had been harping on that aspect for far too long than what was necessary, Joon had noticed when he had been preparing. He couldn’t go that way when he questioned her, because he knows Sol has prepared for it.

So, he changes his track of questioning, “Ms Sang-Hee, would I be wrong in assuming that Mr Changmin had visited you five times over the three days prior to the accident?”

She stares at him, “he is my fiancé. Or he was, before the accident happened. It wasn’t unusual for him to visit me multiple times in a single day.”

He stops, “and yet, when the police asked you about the reason of his visits, you chose to remain silent, evading the question—”

“Objection,” Sol says calmly, standing up from her seat, “the prosecution cannot ask leading questions.”

“Sustained,” the judge replies smoothly, even before Joon-Hwi has a chance to respond, “Prosecutor Han, you cannot possibly expect me to accept this in the courthouse.”

He nods his head, slightly irritated, now that she has taken his advantage away, “moving on, Ms. Sang-Hee, when you found Seo Changmin unconscious, why did you not call for an ambulance? You waited ten minutes to call an ambulance, which most people would argue, looks strange, does it not?”

She doesn’t back down an inch. Good. He hadn’t thought she would either. They didn’t have enough evidence to show that she was guilty, her indictment based primarily on circumstantial evidence that even the most punishment-happy of all judges would find difficulty agreeing with. But they had had her indicted, and now they were here, trying to get her a sentence that would be as heavy as possible. Sol had been right. He didn’t have to worry about the defendant, not as a prosecutor. He just had to punish people to the full extent of the law.

“I tried to wake him up multiple times, but he didn’t respond,” Sang-Hee responds, staring at the judge, “I didn’t think it was out of the ordinary, since he had always had a drinking problem, but when he didn’t respond to me calling his name in the morning, that was when I grew worried.”

She looks at him once, then back to her lawyer, Sol, who looked as though she wanted to strangle him. good. This means I’m winning, and turns back to him, “it was like him to come back drunk, so drunk that he could barely remember where he was, and his friends would drop him off at my house, with apologies, but he would repeat his behaviour. I wasn’t too worried when he didn’t respond to my calls at night, but by morning, he would usually be awake and demanding breakfast. That was when I started to get anxious.”

“Anxious? Not worried?” he asks, curiosity spiked by her peculiar choice of words, “were you anxious that he was actually dead? Or were you anxious that your—”

“he’s my fiancé, of course I would be anxious if he was not responding to my calls,” Sang-Hee stares at him, “you must not have dated a lot if you think I wouldn’t have been worried about my fiancé.”

A wave of laughter runs through the court, and he can feel the tips of his ears turn red. Even the judge cracks a smile, and he can see both Bok-gi and Jiho sniggering. They’re never going to let me live this one down, “so, you called the police then, who found your fiancé almost dead from a drug overdose.”

“Yes,” she looks at her hands, fingers intertwined, “they told me he had taken it about four hours before I called them.”

Ah, there it is. He knew it would come to this, he had known there was no way to win this case after all, even if he really did want to win. There were things he couldn’t do after all, despite being what they called a ‘star prosecutor’. “No more questions.”

The smile on Sol’s face is enough to tell him that he’s lost this case. Oddly enough, he doesn’t feel disappointed, even as his partner shoots dirty looks at him, a clear violation of courtroom conduct, but he can’t bring himself to care, fixated on the way she looks while cross-examinating the defendant, the way she turns to the judge and says “no more questions, your Honour.” It’s a far cry from the Sol he remembers at law school, the one who would have him act as prosecutor whenever she went up in a mock trial, even if he had been assigned the role of prosecutor, going up against her. She always asked him to help her practise, and like the fool that he was, he always helped her. Even now, as he stands there, watching her, it’s almost as though he is back at Hankuk; almost, but not quite.

“Court adjourned for the day, and will convene for the next trial on—” Joon can feel himself growing more and more antsy, as the judge announces the date for the next trial, and that Sang-Hee can be released from Judicial custody, especially since her health had been failing due to the stress of the trial and asthma, from which she had suffered since she was young.

He hurries out of the courthouse, only to be cornered by Jiho and Bok-gi at the entrance, Bok-gi with a large grin on his face and Jiho with his trademark expressionless look, although he knows both of them were going to tease him about this, possibly till he died and perhaps even then, they would find a way to sneak it into his eulogy.

Strangely, he didn’t mind it at all.

“Hyung, where are you going?” Bok-gi asks, even as Joon desperately tries to catch a glimpse of Sol through the now-closing courtroom doors, “shouldn’t you be preparing for the next date?”

He looks at Bok-gi for a second, eyes widening, “what are you talking about?”

Bok-Gi’s smile gets wider, if that’s possible, “really? What were you thinking about, hyung? I was talking about the next court date.”

Joon-Hwi huffs, “I was thinking about the same thing, Min Bok-Gi; now, if you will—”

Jiho opens his mouth to say something, but Joon barrels past the two of them, running down the stone steps and to the driveway, where his car was parked, and, presumably, Sol’s too. She’s walking faster now, and he has to run to keep up with her. Her ponytail bobs as she takes quick steps, in a hurry to get away from the courthouse complex. He doesn’t blame her at all.

“Sunbae!” he calls out, loud enough to catch the attention of quite a few people, “Sunbae!”

That catches her attention all right, and she stops in her tracks, turning to him, an irritated expression on her face. It doesn���t stay for long, however, fading just as quickly as it came, “so, you’re still sticking with that name, Han Joon-Hwi?”

He grins, “of course. It wouldn’t be me and you, if I didn’t call you Sunbae, Sunbae.”

She stares at him, with an expression he can’t quite place. “I thought we didn’t have that sort of a relationship anymore, Prosecutor Han.”

And, there it is. He can’t deny it and say that it doesn’t hurt to be treated by Sol this way, but he’s nothing if not tenacious, so he pushes on, “you did good today, in there.”

She doesn’t say anything, simply nods her head, before replying with a curt, “good job today, Prosecutor Han.” Of course, she would say that; he doesn’t want to admit it, but it sort of feels like she had slapped him full across the face. Who am I kidding, if she had done that, it would have perhaps hurt less. He feels like a fool, standing in the middle of the road, calling out her name, and a years-old nickname that she didn’t like, and one that he felt only held significance for him.

What they had not had was closure; or at least for him, it was that, the absence of a final answer to his unasked question, something between them still hanging in the air. She could ignore it, live on with her life, but he cannot. There should have been closure, he’s told himself time and time again, or was I just too unimportant for her to even give a damn. It isn’t true, he knows, Sol wouldn’t do that to him, or to anyone else for that matter, but on some nights, it becomes impossible. He doesn’t blame her either; he blames his own self for the loss of his closest friend. If only he hadn’t been stubborn enough to ask her out on the day of graduation. He should have waited a little bit more.

But then, should he have waited?

“Sol!” he calls out again, jogging lightly to keep up with her steps, “Sol! Wait up for a minute—”

He’s interrupted, Sol turning abruptly to meet him halfway, which results in him having to backtrack, “what do you want now?”

He smiles brightly, “how about Pyongyang naengmyeon? I know a place nearby that’s good.”

She stares at him, like she can’t really figure out his deal. He holds up his hands, “look, all I’m asking for is a meal. No strings attached.”

Surprisingly, she nods once, turning on her heel, “lead the way, Prosecutor Han.”

--

I should not be doing this.

Her phone buzzes, and it’s Yeseul. You should not be doing this, the text reads, and Sol has to gather all her willpower to not scream in the middle of the street, I know, I fucking know, I shouldn’t be doing this with him right now, going for lunch when there’s—no, I just cannot do it.

She thinks it would be good, for her to have one lunch with him, to get him out of her system, Yeseul’s wisdom about not having lunch with someone who is technically her opponent in the court be damned. She just needs to have lunch with him once, and then she can stop feeling this way.

The restaurant is small, but bright light filters in through the large windows as they take a seat at one of the empty tables. There are a lot of them, she thinks, looking around, just after the lunchtime rush, or the restaurant wasn’t a very good one. Either way, she was supposed to be having a meal with Han Joon-Hwi right now, and as Sol takes a seat, she realises she had been vastly unprepared for this meeting.

He doesn’t look like the Joon she knew back in Hankuk, that is certain, but he doesn’t look like what her imagination had unhelpfully supplied her with either. He looks every inch the prosecutor, with dark circles underneath his eyes and that slouching posture she supposes every prosecutor has, as though he had been carrying the weight of the whole world. It’s sad, somehow.

“Are you going to order?”

“Hm?” She turns her gaze, and sure enough, he’s looking at her just like he had done all those years ago, when she had a stupid letter attached to her name like a real-life suffix that followed one around, and he used to lean over tables and grin all up in her face and mock her by saying Sunbae. It’s—uncomfortable. She didn’t think she would revert to her university self so easily, but with him, it feels like second nature, “You said Pyongyang naengmyeon, so we should get Pyongyang naengmyeon.”

“All right,” he teases, but it’s light, the kind of tone one would use with a co-worker, which strikes her as somehow offensive (am I not more important than a co-worker?) and she spots a glint of something else in his eyes, but shakes her head free of the thought, just as he says, “so, how is work?”

She rolls her eyes, “I don’t think you asked me to lunch after all these years just to talk to me about work, Han Joon-Hwi.”

He smiles, “right, I didn’t, two orders of beef bone soup, please.”

She stares at him, “it’s summer,” and turns back to the ahjumma, “two orders of Pyongyang naengmyeon, please.”

He just shakes his head, looking at her in that funny way, and asks, “so, do you remember, or do you not?”

What is he even asking me about? “No, I don’t,” she replies, pouring out water for the both of them, “what are you even talking about?”

He shakes his head at her again, “never mind. Let’s eat.”

She can’t help but feel as though she had just missed something important, at least by the look on his face. Or maybe that’s the naengmyeon talking.

[shiny-procrastinates]

(re)Watching Magia Record S1 - part 7

part 6 here

Hello everyone and welcome back to this quasi-watchalong of Magia Record season 1! Last time, Iroha met a magical girl mercenary called Felicia, and the two ended up caught in the Rumor of the Lucky Owl Water. When our girls went to erase it, a cult group of weirdos called The Wings of the Magius stood in their way and got Felicia to join them promising the extinction of all witches.

Who are these weirdos? What are they up to protecting the Rumors? Is what they promised Felicia true? Et cetera, et cetera. Let's just go to the episode to find out already.

Puella Magi Madoka Magica Side Story: Magia Record S1 episode 7

O-oh... what a way to start an episode, huh.

We get a look into what led to Felicia becoming a magical girl and, like most magical girl backstories, it's tragic. This is the reason why Felicia's obsessed with destroying all witches.

Continuing from the previous episode, Felicia was taken to a subterranean waterway, that might be their hideout. Wait, didn't Kaede say something about a rumor of a giant underground empire some time back? She might've been right after all hahaha

After walking a while, Felicia is met by Tsukasa and Tsukuyo Amane, two of the, uh, generals I guess I could say, of The Wings of the Magius.

The weirdo twins explain that their organization's objective is fulfilling the wishes of the Magius, whose objective is the salvation of all magical girls. See, so they are the ones behind the salvation propaganda.

The twins say their objective cannot be completed without the eradication of witches, which... well, is not a lie. Without the witchfication, there would be no witches. It's all fine until there, but then they're also protecting Rumors, who kidnap people, so... yeah.

...uh, hey, Kyoko? What are you doing here?

Back to Iroha's group, Iroha is worried about just letting Felicia go like that, to which Yachiyo answers it's fine because she planted a GPS on her... sasuga, Yachiyo. Why in the heck did you have that?

"Am I being tracked too...?”

Yachiyo says this much is normal (no it's not), since she didn't trust Felicia to begin with, but Iroha just feels bad knowing Felicia's circumstances.

The trio heads towards Felicia's position and find the entrance to the waterway. Waiting for them there was...

Chibi Kyuubei. For as adorable as he is, he manages to look even more suspicious than the original. And he only shows up when there's a rumor around, too! I don't trust him.

Back at the underground waterway, Kyoko and Felicia are having a little chat. According to her, Kyoko only just ran into them too. She says that as long as she has Grief Seeds, food and a place to sleep, the rest doesn't matter, but she also seems to be aware that the WoM are fishy. Felicia agrees uneasily, but hearing that they might be behind the witches gathering in Kamihama seems to already have put doubts in her mind.

The two have a meeting with the Amane twins inside the Rumor's barrier.

The twins explain the logic behind the Lucky Owl Water once again, and Kyoko says this

There it is! This series' core. Funny hearing that from Kyoko, since I think she doesn't even know how right she is yet.

Kyoko rejects the Water and lays out her terms: as long as she can keep gathering Grief Seeds, she's fine with anything. However, the twins affirm that those are not necessary in Kamihama. Normally, I'd say these two are bonkers, but... well, we saw what happened to Iroha and Kaede. These two must know about that too. At this moment, a black feather comes in and interrupts their little show.

Iroha's group was making their way through the waterway when the Amane twins block their way and, together with them, Kyoko and Felicia.

The Amane twins tell Iroha to do what they say if she doesn't want to be swallowed by bad luck and Iroha asks them why would they create that Rumor, to which the twins once more say it's for the sake of the Magius and their salvation. See, cult.

Yachiyo cuts to the chase and confirms they're here to battle, and the twins pull out something strange on them.

So, yeah. There's pocket monsters, and now we have pocket witches too, apparently.

The twins called a witch upon our girls, which, according to them, they are controlling with magic. As the girls begin fighting against their familiars, Yachiyo asks the twins if they have any idea of what exactly they're doing. Tsukasa apologizes, but affirms that witches will be gone if they can realize their plans. The twins (literally) pull the rug on Yachiyo and Tsuruno and chase after them, leaving the (weak) Iroha to Kyoko and Felicia.

Iroha gets whacked by the familiars and Felicia comes in to help. Iroha then once again dashes in her direction and they do a connect. Upon further thought, I think Iroha's assist is a booster in a more literal sense, since it turned Felicia's hammer into a rocket-hammer. My theory is that it's the same propulsion magic that makes her crossbow work.

Felicia's hammer causes a quake and one of the twins asks what's going on. Well, what did you think would happen if you released a witch in front of someone who notoriously goes berserk when they see witches? The twins might not be very smart.

Damn, I missed a number.

Kyoko bounces too. She wasn't very convinced with the twins' vague talk of "salvation".

After transforming, Kyoko does her good act of the day, busting a hole in the barrier and telling Iroha to go on ahead. Iroha hesitates to leave her friends behind but obeys when Yachiyo tells her to go.

With Kyoko guarding her back Iroha manages to make it out of the witch's p*kéball and into the Rumor's barrier. Like it's said, out of the frying pan into the fire. Oh and there's 7-6. I'm really missing numbers left and right today.

No Iroha, don't go chase the Kyuubei towards the light...! Just kidding. Iroha gets out of the tunnel and finds the Rumor's main body. She confirms with her tutorial mascot if she only has to break that, readies her crossbow and... gets swarmed by owls. C'mon Iroha, did you really think it'd be that easy?

While Iroha's busy sucking at battles, Felicia's not having a better time with her reckless style either. Kyoko saves her ass and tells her she's not winning like that.

This whole sequence is just great in terms of animation, shame I can't really screenshot that T-T

As someone on a similar spot, Kyoko gives Felicia some advice, telling her she's a magical girl for her own sake; that's how it should be when she's betting her own life.

The two cooperate on destroying the witches, with Felicia bonking the whole barrier to smithereens. Nice job, rocket-hammer!

The girls go back to the waterway and the twins' Soul Gem is quite drained. Tsuruno tells them to stop already, but these two weirdos say that's just what they wanted.

Saying that they'll be able to show that Kamihama is a place of salvation, the two do the same thing Iroha and Kaede had done.

Uhhh... if the salvation that the Magius is preaching is spewing out a witch from your body, that's already super fishy. There's no way there's no downside to this. This is Madoka we are talking about... right...?

While Yachiyo's group learns a shocking and disturbing truth, Iroha's busy getting her ass kicked. Poor Iroha

and oh god, I don't think anyone would ever catch this number if they weren't pausing as much as I am to write this.

Iroha keeps getting wrecked by the owls, miraculously escaping unscathed thanks to the Lucky Owl Water. As the numbers keep counting down, Iroha starts questioning what happened to her back in the Seance Shrine. Uh, Iroha, is this really the best time to be introspecting?

No matter how many times I see it, this scene still creeps me out.

While Iroha gets another round of spawning a witch, Yachiyo's group fight the twins', to no avail. Back to Iroha...

Oh no the witch talks now? Eek... oh, wait wait is this still Iroha's voice?

Not that the first thing it said is wrong, but Yachiyo's words really remained in a negative manner, huh? First in the Seance Shrine and now this. Iroha, don't go getting yourself killed trying to become stronger, ok?

A-at least it's a bit cuter now... if you can call a witch that... rather, why did it change?

Iroha's thing makes short work of the Rumor and the Chibi Kyuubei peaces out. As if it wasn't suspicous enough, it turns into freaking water. Goddammit Chibi Kyuubei.

Iroha just lies there tired.

Uhh... yeah, sure, if you count an eldritch abomination coming out of you as part of yourself, then yeah you did.

Like last time, Iroha's Soul Gem is pristine clean now.

Back to the twins, thanks to the floating water falling they realize that the Rumor's been defeated , then start panicking.

"Someone", whose voice we're already familiar with, comes in to check on the situation and the twins apologize for their failure.

Whelp, this is awkward. Hello there, Mifuyu. So you joined a cult.

Tsuruno gets really emotional. She runs up and hugs Mifuyu. who stops the Black Feathers from attacking her. Tsuruno's really glad that she's back and says they'll have to make a "Welcome Back Party" at her family's restaurant, but Mifuyu says she's not going back, because she's part of the cult The Wings of the Magius now. (couldn't they choose a shorter name for their group? Geez)

Mifuyu shifts her attention to Yachiyo and says she's happy that they went even to Seance Shrine to search for her; Yachiyo says it's thanks to the Kamihama Rumor Files (the notebook Yachiyo carries around) that she left behind.

Yachiyo asks but Mifuyu implies she's the one that was left behind.

Mifuyu invites Yachiyo to join the cult but Yachiyo, obviously, can't agree with their methods. She questions if Mifuyu hadn't resolved herself as a magical girl but Mifuyu, like we saw in the flashback, really wants to be saved. Yachiyo's the only one who's strong like that.

Yachiyo says she'll stop her by force if she has to and they prepare to battle again, but Mifuyu uses her magic and has her group leave.

Iroha's group leave the underground waterway (seems Kyoko has gone her way already too). Felicia tries to leave too and says she has nowhere to go back to when Iroha stops her and asks, so Iroha tells her to come over to her place.

Felicia says she doesn't have to do that for her, but Iroha says she's doing this for herself, that she needs Felicia's strenght. Felicia argues that Iroha will get in trouble again if she's around and all the girls chip in saying they'll help her learn to hold herself back. (I'm not sure what this far framing is doing but I do like how it lets us see the body expression of all the girls at once.)

Huh, weird, why is the screen so blurry? I can't type like this...

Iroha apologizes for what they said and insists on having Felicia over, even if just for the day. Yachiyo comes in and tells them to stay over at her place instead.

*sobs* so beautiful ;-; I wish I knew the name of the ost track here it's really pretty too.

It really is Kyoko, it really is.

At Yachiyo's place, Iroha's on the phone with her parents while the others wait for her to eat. It seems like her parents finally decided on where she's going to be moving to, and whatever they said was a surprise.

There goes the last number! The Rumor's gone so this has to be purely for the sake of finishing the countdown, but I have long given up on trying to find the ones I'm missing in this episode.

And there's the title card. Don't leave the episode yet, though, as there's still an after credits scene.

To absolutely no one's surprise besides Iroha's, the place her parents decided on is Mikadzuki Villa, Yachiyo's place. Now, I did say that last number must be purely illustrative, but I'm inclined to agree with Iroha here on it being thanks to the Lucky Owl Water since there is no other way I can rationalize Iroha's parents, from overseas, managing to find the phone number of Mikadzuki Villa, that's not even doing boarding anymore, calling while Yachiyo's around to respond, making an agreement to let Iroha live there, and Yachiyo not even telling Iroha her parents called. So yeah, I say it was the Lucky Owl Water.

Felicia comes with Tsuruno and reveals she's also been living in Yachiyo's place. She's happy she'll be freed from living alone with Yachiyo and her "nagging" and Yachiyo tells her to clean up; Iroha says she's glad to see them getting along.

“When did I turn into a mom?“

That's a new type of bishie sparkles alright. Can all models do this? Is it like some special ability like Gabs' censor light rays? We'll never know.

After the various types of ad, now we have spam too. Magia Record is actually warning us about the dangers of the internet.

...In all seriousness though, that's some mysterious text. How do they, whoever "they" are, know that Iroha's a magical girl? And most of all, how do they have her number? Guess this is going to be the mystery for the next episode. (Also, I never noticed this before but you can hear a veeeery quiet chime when the messages come in. Nice detail!).

- x -

Aaaand with that, we have concluded episode 7! This one also ran on longer than I expected and, surprisingly, managed to surpass the number of screenshots of all others at about 43 images. sugoi

I couldn't catch all the numbers this time, but the ones I did were: 13-12 with Iroha on the bridge; 10-9 when Kyoko "betrays" the WoM; 7-6 when Iroha finds the Rumor; 6 through 1 happen while Iroha's fighting the Rumor and the last 1-0 was in Yachiyo's magazine. With that, I'm missing 12-11; 11-10; 9-8 and 8-7, which I have no idea where they are. Oh well.

I realized partway through that it kinda seems like I'm dissing Iroha every chance I get, but I assure you I don't hate her. In fact, she's my favorite character! This is coming purely from a place of affection, and a bit of frustration at what the anime did to her character, so don't mind me, it's aaall good.

With that out of the way, this was episode 7! We are now over halfway through, with a buckload of mysteries and barely any progress being made towards finding Iroha's younger sister. Poor Ui, if you even existed. Tomorrow, we'll be watching episode 8, so I hope you'll read me again then. Have a great morning/afternoon/evening and see you later!

[dimitrescus-bitch]

Battle of the Brands (Becky Lynch x Reader)

As a young child, you had always wanted to work for the WWE. You had worked your ass off to try and earn a spot on any of their brands, but they kept rejecting you. Eventually, you got tired of it and quit trying with them. Just as you began to lose interest in WWE, AEW approached you and offered you a contract. They also let you keep traveling for just a little bit longer so you could get a proper send off in some of your favorite indie venues. A couple of years after signing with AEW, you found yourself becoming the face of their women’s division. The comparisons that the public made about you were always to WWE’s women’s divison face, Becky Lynch. You couldn’t do an interview or an online Q&A without hearing or seeing Becky’s name.

“You look frustrated,” Kris said as she put an arm around your shoulders. You leaned into the blonde woman’s touch and sighed. Kris was your best friend and the two of you were working on getting a story line passed that would pair the two of you together. AEW had been looking for a way to push their women’s division, but they didn’t really know where to start. So, you had decided that you’d help them with that.

“I just want to see my girlfriend. Of all the places where I’d get to see her, this should be it!” you exclaimed and Kris ran her fingers over your scalp. “Thank you, I needed that.”

“Let’s walk around a bit. I think I saw somebody dressed up as you getting a picture with Charlotte Flair,” Kris said with a chuckle. Before you had gotten your AEW contract, you had managed to start a feud with Charlotte Flair online. That eventually led to some words exchanged between you and the McMahon family that ultimately led to you never getting your WWE contract.

“You know I don’t doubt she could actually kick my ass,” you said and Kris gave you a look. “If you let her within 20 feet of me.”

“Try 30,” Kris said and the two of you walked around the wrestling convention. There was a fee to see Becky, but you managed to get Carmella to give you her room number and the specific hotel she was staying at. You got called back to do a panel about women in wrestling and they sat you next to Becky for that one.

“Y/r/n,” Becky said shortly. You stuck your hand out and she firmly shook it. It was obvious that she squeezed hard for the camera, but you just laughed it off. The two of you took your seats and fans snapped as many pictures of the two of you as possible. You knew that if they were aware you were dating Becky, they would lose their shit.

“The tension,” Kris joked and you slapped her shoulder. “Hi Becky.”

“Hi,” Becky replied, staying in character. She gave you a bit of side eye and once people were comfortable with questions, they started to get a bit more interesting.

“Will we ever see a Battle of the Brands with AEW and WWE?” You glanced over at Becky and smirked before you answered.

“I would love to, but I hear everybody’s pretty fragile at WWE,” you teased and Becky’s jaw clenched. Charlotte seemed to sit up a bit straighter at your answer and Kris got into defense mode at the same time.

“Trust me, the only person that’ll be hurting when we face each is gonna be you,” Becky said and you rolled your eyes at her threat. “Also, what makes you think you could beat me? Didn’t you lose your title opportunity a month ago? The last time you wrestled right?”

“I’m going to become the first WWE Champion not on the WWE roster, just you fucking wait,” you said and the entire panel was derailed from there. After it was all said and done, you managed to sneak away with Becky.

“We’re going to lose our jobs,” Becky said and you shrugged it off.

“No, I just boosted both of our companies. Also, low fucking blow babe,” you said and Becky sighed heavily.

“I know, I’m sorry. I didn’t know if I should have said it, but then I did. Vince asked me to push the tension of everything, but I didn’t think about what I was saying when I said it. Are you mad at me?” Becky asked sincerely. You shook your head and she pressed a soft kiss to your lips. “Meet me in my hotel tonight. Maybe you could stay all night.”

“Maybe I will,” you said with a little smile. Becky gave you a goodbye kiss and then she left you to go explore the rest of the convention. You had a million texts, missed calls, and emails from higher ups at the company about what you had just pushed in front of at least a thousand people.

[artificialqueens]

Lemon's Misadventures in Dating, Chapter 3 (Lemon x Everyone) - Mermelada

A/N Hi everyone, I’ve been sitting on this chapter for a wee while but couldn’t quite get it right, so I hope this will do! Lots of love to you all!

As soon as Lemon had arrived home after her date with Kyne – at 9 o’clock the following morning – she flopped onto her bed and checked her phone. She opened the app to be greeted with a number of new messages.

[08:48] Hope you got home safe baby, please try not to fall in love with me now xx

The first one she read, from Kyne, made her chuckle, she’d actually had a really, REALLY good time last night. It turned out that there was actually a very easy way to get the girl to stop talking. Kyne had every reason to be cocky, and Lemon hadn’t been made to feel so good for a very long time. She had even managed to go a couple of hours without thinking of her. Speaking of her, they still hadn’t matched, which was definitely for the best, as Lemon didn’t think she could stand the inescapable mutual awkwardness if they did. But then did that mean that Juice had swiped left on her? Deciding to stop the mental tennis before it got out of hand, she pulled up the bottom message on her list, from yesterday.

[16:04] Bonjour hi, Miss Lemon! Tu parles français? Or am I needing to practice my English? :-) 

Rita. From her profile, she looked every bit the no-shit-taking dom top with a major mommy’s little girl kink, but her message was kind of sweet. The fact she had even bothered to check what language Lemon spoke was cute, she supposed, but she crossed her fingers that Rita had an edge and wasn’t all politeness and niceties. Now that Lemon had had her first taste of Tinder hook-ups, she was ready to dive in with no fear. Well maybe just a tiny bit of fear. She quickly typed out a reply, partly assisted by the internet, and sent it off.

[09:09] I’m assuming you don’t count ‘voulez-vous coucher avec moi’ as proper French 😉

Is it completely cliché and unoriginal? Yes. Has Rita probably already received hundreds of messages saying the same thing? Yes. But I’m tired and still feeling fucked out, so it’ll do. If she likes me, she’ll bite. Hopefully for real, soon…

Following on, she finally had a reply from Kiara.

[19:20] Hi girlie! I am SO sorry for replying so late, I have been working all day and all night this week ☹️ but seeing your profile made me feel better 🙂 how are you??

Double-checking quickly in case she’d missed something important, she realised that the girl’s profile didn’t say what she did as a job, so that seemed like a good place to start.

[09:13] Don’t worry at all, hon! But I’m glad I can help 😉 I’m doing okay thanks, and u? What do you do for work? x

Is a kiss on the end too forward or too friendly, she pondered, trying to remember if she’d done the same for Rita and Kyne before her. It’s done now, I’ll soon find out, I guess!

[23:56] You’re named after the wrong fruit, because you’re definitely a fineapple

The third message was from Boa, who she must have matched with during the night. She loved it. She wanted it on a cross-stitch, framed above her bed. She’d definitely made the right choice with this girl. Now, how to match her at her own game… 

[09:15] You udderly impressed me with that one!

As soon as it had sent, Lemon was hit with a massive wave of self-doubt: what if Boa didn’t get the pun and just thought she was weird? She’d always thought she was quite funny, but what if that was all a lie? There was still time to rectify it.

[09:15] Because of the cow costume, get it?

[09:15] It’s so cute!!!

[09:16] You seem really fun 😀

[09:16] And it helps that your hot

[09:16] You’re^ 

Shit shit shitting shit, that is way overboard for a reply. What the fuck have I done? Oh dear lord, well Boa, it was nice knowing ya! I don’t blame you for blocking me and running to the hills!

Some more general swiping ensued as Lemon awaited some replies, she started aimlessly swiping again through the single ladies of Ontario.

Scarlett, 29

Within 10 miles

Hmm, she looks like she has a bit of filler in those lips but she still looks hot, I like her tattoos, and HOLY SHIT SHE’S EATING FIRE fuck yeah, okay Scarlett! I’ll take that!

Ilona, 25

Within 10 miles

Okay I love her make-up, I love her style… all her photos are selfies, does that mean she has no friends? Don’t be silly, Lem, my camera roll is full of selfies and I’m just fine. I think. Hey, Ilona!

Starzy, 38

Within 10 miles

Oh wow, she’s hot. Her bio literally says, “Call me mother”. That has to be the hottest thing I have ever read, yes please!

After a few more likes and dislikes, Kiara’s name lit up at the top of her screen. Not wanting to seem too keen, she waited a monumental thirty seconds before checking the message.

[09:22] I work on a movie set, but nothing glamorous, I help with hair and makeup. It pays my rent 🙂 I am pretty tired today but I have a deadline soon so I have to keep writing ☹️ where do you work? x

Just as she was thinking of the best way to word her current, work-less situation, a reply also came in from Rita, which Lemon accidentally clicked on sooner than she meant to, completely blowing her cool façade.

[09:25] I’ve never heard that one before…

Lemon’s heart sank at the thought of her impending rejection, but a new message arrived seconds later.

[09:25] At least look up how to say it less formally, I’m not that old!!!!

Smiling at the thought of Rita not automatically hating her – not outright rejecting her – Lemon started to type a reply, but stopped when a third message appeared.

[09:26] Mais si je dis oui, es-tu vraiment libre ce soir? ;-)

Somehow, the more Lemon stared at the words, the less sense they made. She now severely regretted passing her time in French class admiring Madame Benet’s assortment of leopard-print clothing, rather than actually learning. But there was a winky face at the end, which made her heart race, even without understanding the rest of it. Highlighting the text and taking it straight to Google, she couldn’t help but bite her lip as she got Rita’s point.

[09:30] Wee wee, madame 💛 give me a place and a time xx

As much as she may have been looking forward to a good night’s sleep tonight, she still felt the swarm of butterflies flap around her tummy at the thought of Rita’s hands on her, telling her she was a good girl… Don’t get carried away yet, dummy, save it for tonight! I need a cold shower if I’m going to survive the next few hours. Before jumping into action mode, though, the first thing Lemon needed was a nap.

Rousing awake a few hours later, she padded downstairs to make herself a sandwich and a tea, continuously checking her phone with the hope tha Rita had replied. Met with silence, she then took her time to shower, deep conditioning her golden blonde hair and shaving everywhere she could, so she could at least feel better prepared than she had yesterday. Not that a grown-up adult lady like Rita would mind, of course, but it’s all part of getting in the zone, Lemon hummed to herself as she let the water wash away any anxiety she might have had about tonight. 

She already knew what underwear she would wear: her favourite black bra with a light furry trim around the cup, and a lacy black thong. She was so sure that Rita was on the same page about how the night would end, she felt like she didn’t have to worry too much about what went over it, opting for indigo skinny jeans and a beige polo-neck. By the time she had finished her makeup, it was almost 5pm, and she still didn’t know the plan. Sitting up on her bed, contemplating how she would explain to her parents that she was spending the night out again, she once again opened the app, hoping that Rita hadn’t backed down. With still no reply, she couldn’t help the frustration which bubbled inside her, she didn’t spend so long stretching to shave the backs of her thighs for nothing! Even more discouraging was the lack of reply from Kiara… until she looked at the last message sent, and realised that she’d unwittingly left the poor girl on read.

Shit, I thought I’d replied already! That explains it… now how to explain that I’m a dancer who doesn’t dance anymore and has moved back in with my parents with no ambition to find anything else anytime soon?

[16:58] You’re a busy lady! What do you study? 😊

[16:59] I’m a dancer, currently hopping from audition to audition, hoping somebody likes me enough!

The reality was that Lemon hadn’t attended any auditions for over a month. She had tried to throw herself into her work after the break-up, but had soon realised that with a broken heart came an enormous lack of drive. She told the contemporary company she was a member of that she needed a break, and they told her to not bother coming back. So here she was, hoping that one day she’d once again wake up with a flame inside of her. Luckily, Kiara didn’t push her to expand on anything just yet.

[17:04] So a bit like Tinder then! Don’t worry, I’m sure lots of people will like you enough… in dance and Tinder!

[17:05] I study film and theatre, it’s fun 🙂 but a lot of essays to write in English which takes me forever lol

[17:06] That makes me sound like an idiot!! I promise I’m not, just Québéquoise!! 

[17:06] Are you from Toronto? 🙂

Well at least if tonight doesn’t go ahead, I’ve still got a French option for the future, she sighed, running her fingers through her hair as she thought of an answer. 

[17:08] Haha, I believe you 😉 my dad is from Portugal, but I think there are 2 year olds who speak better Portuguese than I do 🥺 

[17:08] That sounds super interesting! Your job on the side must help a bit then?

[17:08] And I am, Toronto gal born and bred! How long have you lived here?

Just as she was about to put her phone down for the evening and fall into another nap, the message she’d been waiting for finally arrived, and Lemon found herself scrambling to read it.

[17:09] Sorry, lovely Lemon, work was kicking my ass all day. Does Mado’s at 8pm work for you? X

Lemon couldn’t resist one final reply, cementing her intentions.

[17:10] Sounds great, I’m sure I can help that ass feel better 😘 see you soon!! 💛💛

A/N It’s me again, your friendly neighbourhood translator!

“Voulez-vous coucher avec moi ce soir?” - Do you want to sleep with me tonight?

“Mais si je dis oui, es-tu vraiment libre ce soir?” - But if I say yes, are you really free tonight?

[tysonrunningfox]

Toothless: Return to the Black Pony of Second Chances: Part 7

This is fast but also I am practicing. 

Ao3

I didn’t expect Astrid to actually come find me the next time she has to go into town. 

Honestly, I expected her to pretend that we never ran into each other in the barn.  And she basically did, barring the fact that she now critiques how I pet Toothless at least once a day. 

I picked his feet.  He didn’t like it at all, and I wish I’d spent longer practicing with Stormfly.  I’d risk going into Stormfly’s stall when Astrid isn’t there, except I already feel endangered by the fact I’m aware of her summer school status.  I guess Fishlegs is still alive, but also, he’s been on chicken coop duty for the last three mornings, so I don’t want to trade. 

Anyway, I didn’t expect an invitation to town when Astrid found me after morning chores. 

She looks the best and the scariest that any teenage girl has ever looked with mud smudged under her jaw and in her hair.  I don’t think I’ve ever seen her clean, or not since church lunches a decade ago, because by the time I’m up she’s already halfway through her pre-morning set of chores.  Seeing her clean would be like seeing Heather without dark makeup and chipped nail polish.  Maybe mud and cow poop is just the Wyoming version. 

I don’t expect Heather to text and I don’t know how to feel about that.  I don’t really want her to when Astrid might get nosy again. 

“Ok, can I trust you to drop the stack of orders in the back at the post office?”  She looks up abruptly, opening the truck door and climbing halfway out before I can even attempt to answer.  There are muddy handprints on the back of her thighs and hay sticking out of her back pocket and I look away at the stack of envelopes in the backseat.  

“Do I look like I’m six?”  

“You act like it,” she counts a stack of money in the envelope she pulled the list out of, frowning a tight frown that would make me feel bad for her if she weren’t always on my ass.  “Meet me in Gobber’s store when you’re done.”  

“You trust me to cross the street all by myself, it’s an honor, Master Hofferson—”

“And don’t talk to anyone in there,” she cuts across me without looking, “we need them to like us in case we need any favors.”  

“I’m glad you reminded me because I was going to ask each and every individual about their cows.”  

She shakes her head and walks off without saying anything else and I hate that more than anything.  I’m pretty sure only one person has ever been done with me before and that was my mom when she drove me to the airport because she couldn’t handle me anymore, but that took a hard-fought decade.  Astrid’s past that point in less than three weeks, her steps smooth and unaffected as she opens the door to Gobber’s store, picking up a basket inside.  

I do what she says and go to the post office, dropping the stack of bills and packages on the counter and waiting for the man behind it to check each one for proper postage.  

“Stoick’s boy, right?”  He asks, checking an address like it’s his job and not someone else’s problem.  

“Uh, yeah.”  

“Heard you were back for the summer,” he looks up and grins slightly, “you don’t happen to remember me, do you?  I babysat you once, you were barely knee high.”  

“I…sorry, I don’t,” I look back at Gobber’s store, hoping Astrid is coming out after efficiently getting everything we need and giving me an excuse to exit this conversation.  

I miss anonymity.  Already.  I miss notoriety being a choice even more.  Here everyone stares because I’m Stoick’s son and because they all remember the accident and because I’m new in town and that practically makes me a bigger tourist attraction than the world’s biggest cow turd or whatever passes for interesting around here.  I could drop my pants on the side of the road and if anyone was around to see it they’d just pass it off on the city ruining me, when really it’s an almost insufferable lack of self control only made worse by the fact Astrid sees me as a responsibility to keep busy and out of trouble.  And the fact is that when everything is boring, trouble is obvious.  

“Bucket,” he taps the side of his head and it clangs like skulls don’t, “old army nickname, you might remember that at least.”  

“Oh yeah,” I lie, because the only thing worse than people acting like my leg doesn’t make me different is acting like I should feel the same, “I bet I got a kick out of that.”  

“All the kids do,” he finally drops the packages in a bin behind the counter, “I’ll let your father know if he gets anything else in, maybe I’ll see you again when you come to pick it up.”  

“Yeah, sure.  Maybe.”  I feel like I’m supposed to say goodbye because it doesn’t matter what I do, it all feels rude in some way.  Like I’m in a minefield of backcountry etiquette laser triggers and tripping one means one of those bored, withering looks from Astrid.  And probably an assignment to clean the next most disgusting poop to what she already made me clean.  

“See you around!”  Bucket does wave and I sort of raise my hand as I’m opening the door and stumbling out into the wind-blown parking lot.  

There’s an honest to god tumbleweed against the tire of the truck and I sigh, opening the door to Gobber’s store and flinching at the loud bell that jingles and announces me.  Astrid and two guys I don’t recognize all look over and she’s the first to look away.  One of the guys is younger and behind the counter, leaning on his elbows like he needs to see Astrid’s list.  The other is older and the first person I’ve seen wearing anything but filthy jeans since I crossed the state border.  It’s just slacks and a button up shirt and tie, but it stands out as much as the fact that he’s the kind of attractive that only appears in proximity to girls as hot as Astrid.  

That’s how it always was with Heather, at least, the zone ten feet around her in all directions instantaneously populated with GQ rejects and aspiring young actors or influencers or whatever other title inspires a guy to wake up and do a thousand crunches.  

Astrid glares at me as I approach and I almost want to warn them both, like yes, she’s unreasonably pretty, but at what cost?  Don’t they realize they’d have to deal with her personality too?  And that she snoops and bosses and if you’re ever randomly, instantaneously better than her at something she seethes about it for literal weeks.  

“I mean, normally, shipping on that would be an extra twenty bucks to get it here by Friday, but I think I can take that off as a discount,” the kid behind the counter types something into the geriatric computer and it whirs ominously, “for you, especially.”  

The man in the tie looks irritated.  

“Thanks Gustav,” Astrid flips through her list, apparently clueless and not even looking at me as I walk up to stand next to her, “did you get the mail sent?”  

“Yep, Bucket clanged his head for me and everything.”  

“Mr. Haddock’s son, right?”  The man who is even more clearly not a boy when he opens his mouth and literally talks in a British accent like this all isn’t already ridiculous holds his hand out and I shake it, trying not to wince at that unnecessarily bruising grip.  “I heard you were coming back to town.  I’m Eret.”  

“Back to town?  It doesn’t quite sound like you’re from town.”  

“He’s with the bank,” Astrid says flatly, setting her list on the counter and looking back at me, “and you actually saw Bucket put the envelopes in the bin?  He didn’t just leave them on the counter?”

“I think I know how to mail things.”  It feels oddly like being chastised by my dad in front of people, and more than that, people who apparently don’t like me just for standing reasonably close to Astrid and talking to her.  

“You’re lucky to have Astrid watching out,” Eret, the mysteriously well-dressed British banker man who is honestly reading like a glitch in the Wyoming matrix, says like he wants nothing more than for Astrid to break that unusually bland even for her expression.  “I don’t know how anything would get done without her around.”  

“It wouldn’t,” the guy behind the counter, Gustav, apparently, agrees, giving me a similar glare.  “She practically keeps inventory around here.”  

I feel vaguely like taking off my once white sock and waving it like a flag of surrender.  

“That’s because you don’t,” Astrid rolls her eyes and she’s either mean to everyone or literally so clueless I shouldn’t be mad for her telling everyone that Heather is my girlfriend because maybe she actually thinks that.  

It’s a little weird to see, honestly, because I’ve seen Heather surrounded by hopeful guys dozens if not hundreds of times and she always knows.  She always looks at them differently and ends up with something from the experience, like a date or a free meal or tickets to something impossible.  But Astrid is just standing there, her usual angry, uptight self, like she doesn’t realize what’s going on at all.  

It might be halfway endearing, like all that hard-working self-sacrifice is actually the result of nothing going to her head, if it weren’t for the fact that it’s practically impossible.  She has to know, she has to have some sort of opinion about it.  

Either that or she’s literally incapable of any opinion but annoyance and unattainable expectations.  

“So, ah…” Eret pauses and looks at me like he’s just remembering I’m unfortunately still here.  I know that face too, the one where he’s trying to tell if I’m just incomprehensibly lucky or if I’m following Astrid around like a lost little duckling.  

The answer is neither, and I almost want to tell them that.  I am merely a referee and witness who will probably be on their side at the trial.  

“Hiccup.”  

“Hiccup, right, how long will you be around?”  

“Hopefully just the summer.”  I try to sound bored.  I succeed.  Astrid digs into her pocket for the stack of bills my dad gave her and counts them carefully.  

“That’s what I said, now I’ve been here a year,” he says like he’s claiming some sort of badge over me and I take a step away from Astrid, like proximity is enough to re-state the disinterest my expression obviously isn’t yelling loud enough.  

“I’ve been here fifteen,” Gustav says smugly, counting Astrid’s stack of twenties, “and you’re a little short.  Sorry.”  

“Here,” she reaches over the counter and pulls a pack of socks out of one of the paper bags, “how’s that?”  

“I can just delete the socks from the inventory, you know, it’s not like anyone counts it around here.”  Gustav looks worried, for a second, glaring at Eret about something other than standing too close to probably the only girl who’s going to come in here today.  

“Like I’m going to let you get away with that,” Astrid scoffs, and I don’t think I’ve heard her closer to joking.  It’s not close, by any means, but it’s better.  Less wooden and bossy and proper and it makes me uncomfortable how much it shocks me.  

“True,” Gustav sighs, “five dollars and twenty-five cents is your change.”  

“Thank you,” Astrid puts it right back into the envelope from my dad instead of pocketing it, like five dollars or a pack of socks matter in the long run and I don’t know the last time I’ve felt more out of place, which is really saying something.  “I’m sure I’ll be back like…tomorrow, with how much we run out of things.”  

“I’m not working again until Thursday, if you could like…wait,” Gustav smiles.  I feel for the kid, because at fifteen I sort of was him, thinking Heather would turn around and look if I was there reliably enough.  

And I don’t know Astrid, not in any of the ways that matter, but I also know that giant, attractive, misplaced, well-dressed Brits almost always take precedence over kids willing to steal socks or gum or banana rum shooters from the corner store.  

“Right,” Astrid picks up one of the bags and practically drops it into my arms before I’m ready and picks up the other two herself, “we have to get back, the last couple of cows should be calving any minute and I left Ruffnut all alone with them.”  

“Sounds serious,” Eret moves like he’s going to open the door for her,  but she kicks it open before he can, rolling her eyes when I barely slip through before it closes.  

She buckles the jug of orange juice into the backseat so that it doesn’t fall on the bumpy road and I’m surprised that I know that, that something weird and pastoral and every day is sticking into my mind.  The same way that I know the name of three or four different brushes that all look almost the same and I know how to check Toothless’s gums for how hydrated he is.  

Maybe this is how someone comes here for the summer and ends up staying longer.  

Astrid is buckling her seatbelt when Eret comes back out of the store and practically jogs to her side of the car.  She frowns before rolling down the window, and maybe there’s something to the absolutely, untouchably frigid act because he sticks that package of socks through.  

“Here.”  

“What are you doing?”  

“They were seven dollars, just take them, it’s the least I can do.”  He says it like there’s some veiled importance, like in his year of study he’s learned that packages of calf-length women’s athletic socks are important to Wyoming mating rituals.  Astrid crosses her arms.  

“I’m not a charity case.”  She turns the key in the ignition and jams the truck into reverse like she’s actually going to peel out of the parking lot and take his arm with her.  And as much as I’m inherently uncomfortable in this situation, I’m more uncomfortable being an accomplice to a crazy person literally running someone’s anachronistic, dress shoe clad foot over, so I hold out my hand.  

“I know where her dresser is.”  

He frowns.  He tosses them to me anyway and I actually manage to catch them.  He lingers for a second longer while she refuses to look at him and then pats the side of the truck before walking away.  

“That took longer than it was supposed to,” she rolls up her window as soon as she’s back on the road, turning the radio up a few clicks like attacking me with some ridiculous song about stomping in a corn field is going to keep me from asking questions.  

“That’s what happens when you stop to flirt for fifteen minutes.”  

“What?”  She looks at me, half confused and half her normal accusatory.  

“Come on, even you aren’t that clueless,” I toss the package of socks into the backseat with everything else, “Mr. Statutory and ‘I’ll embezzle for you especially’ Gustav.”  

“Embezzle?”  She frowns, turning too fast onto a dirt road and spewing dust up behind us.  It’s the same sort of confidence she has with Stormfly, like she’s not actually doing anything dangerous because she’s done exactly this so many times that the boundaries are more like brick walls to her.  I don’t think I’ve done anything that repetitively ever and no wonder she’s insane.  “Gustav’s just a kid, and the only kid who would let Gobber hire him instead of making more money on a ranch somewhere.”  

“Because he wants to talk to you, obviously,” I don’t know why I’m doing this, it feels more like advice than an argument, so I turn it back around, “just like the attractive British guy who, of course, would only brave the tiny square of this state that’s directly next to you.”  

“Eret works for the bank.”  

“Yeah, and you have so much banking business to take care of, right, that’s why he’s buying you socks, to win responsibility for your assets.”  

She grits her teeth, signaling again even though there’s no one around and turning left onto another dirt road I don’t think I’ve been on.  

“You really shouldn’t talk about things you don’t understand.”  

“Yeah, and I really appreciate you telling everyone I have a girlfriend that I don’t.”  

“You’re still on that?”  She scoffs, “I said I was sorry.”  

“And it felt so authentic, really.  I’ll be the bigger person and not tell everyone that you’re practically sharing expenses with Mr. Statutory—”

“Stop calling him that, he’s like twenty-three or something,” she glares at him, “you sound crazy.  He’s just someone I know because he works at the bank that has all of the loans for land around here.”  

“Because teenagers know so many bankers.”  

“Why do you care so much?”  She turns again, past the first fence line I recognize as Haddock property.  “Don’t you have anything better to do than worry about who I talk to in town?”  

“Not really.  There’s literally nothing else to do, I don’t get why no one else understands that.”  

“There’s plenty to do, did you forget that you’re the only one who can touch a dangerous horse that’s taking up food and resources?  That’s something to fix, right there, something no one else can even bother you about.”  

“Right, because I know so much about training horses.”  

“You could ask,” she scoffs, “I’m sure someone taught you to do that at some point.”  

I almost blurt out that I’ve never really needed to but that’s a bad idea when there are no witnesses and she’s already mad at me.  

“Who would I ask?”  

“I’ll help you.”  It’s less of an offer and more of an order, “I have an old saddle you can use.”  

“Ok, fine.”  I shrug and look out the window at those two warped trees by my dad’s dingy, wind-blown house.  

“Don’t tell anyone I talked to Eret,” her voice is a little softer, a little more unsure, “Ruffnut’s all about him, I don’t want to deal with that today.”  

00000

I grew up hearing about how beautiful baby animals are. 

And yes, the cow that I helped um…retrieve from the rear of a groaning cow is cute after the cow licked all of the…stuff off of it, but it didn’t seem beautiful, necessarily.  Useful, maybe.  Important. 

More important than handing out flyers outside of a meat-packing plant or avoiding chicken nuggets, but not beautiful. 

Functional. 

Gratifying, especially when Astrid left me alone with it for a second to check the other cow.  Like she might trust me.  Like proving that I can in fact give stacks of letters to a person actually did start to establish some base layer of trust. 

Of course, that all proved false the next morning after mucking stalls when she announced it was time to start training Toothless.

“Do you know if he’s green-broke?”  She asks, hanging the pitchfork back on the wall and wiping her palms on her jeans, seemingly unaware of the hay in her hair. 

“He’s…black.”  I say, pointing through his stall bars. 

“No, is he—green-broke means that he’s comfortable with a saddle.”  She clarifies, already a bit annoyed with me, and honestly it’s more familiar than her being halfway trusting, so I’ll take it. 

I shrug, “I wouldn’t know.” 

She takes a frustrated, determined step towards his stall and Toothless’s nostrils flare, whites of his eyes showing as he tosses his head. 

It seems like Astrid can’t think when she’s standing still. 

I get it, in a way that I think it might be the only glimmer of a thing that we have in common, and she shoves her hands into muddy pockets, looking at me like she hates that she’s depending on me for the concept of a landline. 

A landline she probably doesn’t believe in because what wire survives the wind howling outside. 

“Why are you helping me?”  I ask, the question that’s been on my mind boiling over like the milk Ruffnut didn’t buckle in yesterday when she volunteered to fall on the flirting with Gustav sword. 

It catches Astrid off guard and she sputters for a second before taking a step back from Toothless’s stall, and shrugging. 

“You’ve been…surprisingly non-whiny.”  She shrugs, gesturing pointedly at my arms, sunburned and peeling slightly where they peek out from under the sleeves of my torn H&M flannel that’s rolled halfway up my forearms.  “All things considered.” 

“All things?” 

“For a city kid, you’re surprisingly useful.”  It’s more backhand than compliment, but I don’t hate it, necessarily. 

It’s honest. 

There’s no commentary about potential or effort or how I’m wasting either. 

“Useful.”  I echo the word that’s never been applied to me before. 

“You can’t tell if a horse is green-broke or not but…that’s not your fault.”  She pulls the insult like it’s heavy for her and she expects me to help her heft it and maybe the frosty, general inaccessible thing has its charm, because right now it’s like she’s gesturing to a hay rope that I might even be allowed to access if I weren’t so scrawny. 

“It’s the city’s fault, I know.  Can’t fight the corruption of places being open past 8pm with biceps like these.”  I flex. 

She blinks at me, exhausted, and I don’t know why I suddenly realize that she always has been.  She’s all dark circles and scowl, all slightly too skinny angles in her cheeks, like I always felt when my mom insisted on a stricter than usual vegan kick with no more cooking lessons than she’d had previously. 

“Come on, you can learn on Stormfly.”  She waves me after her, purposeful again, boots clunking heavy on the barn floor as she takes Stormfly’s halter off of its hook.  “We’ll deal with Toothless when you know some of what you’re doing.” 

She says the name with the same tone that her eyes had when she acknowledged my arms and my jeans and my general unacceptability.  Like she accepts it, despite initial reservations. 

Acceptance.  Yet another word I don’t know I’ve had directly applied. 

It’s heavy, like the saddle she promptly plops into my arms.  Which I drop. 

She doesn’t laugh and it feels like an assignment. 

[thepurplebutterflythings]

Damsel in Distress (Part 2) - Jason Todd

Gif: Dxnninja on Tenor

Word Count: 2.6K

Paring: Jason Todd (Titans) x (f)Reader

Summary: Y/N gets closer with Robin and Jason, not realising the connection between the two of them.

Warnings: N/A

A/N: This is a little series I am doing about Jason Todd in Titans. I don’t know Comic!Jason very well so I’m taking all of this from the show, and at the moment he hasn’t been in very often, so please forgive any mischaracterizations.

 Damsel in Distress Part 1 | Masterlist | Damsel in Distress Part 3

________________________________________________________________

It was all against Jason’s better judgement, talking to Y/N about Friday. He didn’t want to give her any hint that it was himself who saved her that night, not only that but he didn’t want to upset her by reminding her or forcing her to relive that night, but every time he looked at Y/N all that was in his mind was when he held her in his arms to comfort her and how distressed she was – he just had to make sure everything was alright with her, and then he’d go back to normal he told himself. That seemingly all went out the window the moment he was within a metre of her. Suddenly Jason became overwhelmed and his heart jumped in his chest when looking at her.

“Hey,” he said quietly when he found her in the library. Her back was to him and her nose was buried in the textbook they were using for their assignment. Y/N sat upright at the sound of his voice and for a second he panicked, thinking she recognised it as the voice of Robin, but those concerns vanished when she turned around and gave him a small smile.

“Hey.”

“I saw the footage from Friday, about you being saved by Batman and Robin,” he said, “It’s viral, trending number one on Twitter.” He told her. The moment he said it, Jason felt like a complete idiot. Why wouldn’t she know that? It was about her.

“Yeah.”

“I’m sorry that happened to you, Y/N.” He said. All Jason wanted to do in that moment was hug her and pull her close to him like he did as Robin, to tell her that he knew how upset and scared she was and that he would do anything to stop her feeling like that.

“It’s okay, Dad is making sure the guy never sees the outside world again,” Y/N told him.

“I would too if that was my kid.”

“And people are finally listening that those like Batman and Robin are actually needed in the world.”

“But it shouldn’t be at your expense,” Jason shook his head, “How are you?”

“I’m good.” Y/N nodded, “I was lucky that Robin was in the area.”

“No, Y/N,” Jason said, “How are you? I mean it.”

Y/N sighed and leaned back in her seat as she looked around. Had he pushed the line? Was she catching on to the fact that he was Robin? He should have listened to Bruce and kept his distance, but Jason was never one for listening to the rules. Anyway, Y/N was always someone he couldn’t help but look at, even if she never noticed. Jason always sat a few rows behind her in Physics to watch her. He glanced at her laughing with her friends. Heck, even the night of the party he stayed closer to that area hoping to catch a glance of her leaving with her friends, only to come across something else, something he wanted to kill a man for. Jason acted distant and offish around her at first because he was nervous, which he didn’t like, but Y/N was from the Y/L/N’s, what chance did he have with a girl like that? So he thought it better to cut his losses, yet that night he let his guard down a little and now he was hooked. Hearing her say how lucky she was with Robin being in the area made him shudder. What if he hadn’t been in the area? Jason thought after he watched her go into her building that night. He didn’t dare continue that thought as he knew he’d break into where that man was being held and finish the job that Y/N stopped him from.

“I feel like everyone, except my parents, keep asking me about Batman and Robin,” Y/N said, “and not about me, and how I am. Not in a vain way, but I just want one person to pause and say ‘I’m glad you’re okay, Y/N’, but not a single person outside of my family has said that to me.”

“Well, I hope you know I’m not just saying this, but…” Jason took the seat next to her. “I am so glad that you are okay.” He placed a hand on her upper arm and gave it a gentle squeeze.

“Thank you, Jason,” Y/N smiled, placing her hand on top of his.

“If you wanna talk, about anything, don’t hesitate,” he offered.

“Okay, who are you and what have you done with the Jason Todd, I know?”

“You don’t know me, Ivory Tower,” Jason teased.

“And you don’t know me,” Y/N smiled back.

“I hope to change that.”

So much for going back to normal.

 _____________________________________________________________

It was near on a week from that Friday night and Y/N had spent that past week doing her work and listening to her parents on the phone saying their daughter would not be giving any interviews about the incident, and it was her right to reject them.

Y/N sat in the chair on her balcony connected to her bedroom and stared out over Gotham. For the first time in a week, Y/N had peace and quiet. Now that she was alone, Y/N found herself feeling drained and so tired, but she didn’t want to sleep, because when she woke up, she’d have to deal with the questions and phone calls again. So she stayed up. According to her phone, it was about half past one in the morning.

“Everything alright?” called a voice from above her. Y/N stood up and looked at her roof. Robin was crouching on the edge of the building’s roof with a grin.

“Hey,” Y/N said.

“Hey yourself, Damsel,” Robin sat on the edge now, leaning back on his hands, “now, are you gonna answer my question?” Y/N nodded, “everything alright?”

“It’s been weird.”

“Yeah, I saw the video,” Robin said. Y/N leaned against the railings of the balcony and looked up at Robin. “I am quite dashing in action, aren’t I?” He winked and Y/N started laughing with her head shaking in disbelief, “come on, you know I make girls swoon. You nearly crumbled to your knees that night.”

“Yeah, had nothing to do with the gun pressed against my back, it was all those grins you flashed,” Y/N teased, “nearly dropped my panties too.”

Robin burst out laughing and hopped down to the balcony, stepping towards Y/N. He was grinning the whole time. It was that charming, boyish grin that made Y/N blush and look to the ground. Why the hell was she acting like this? She couldn’t really be developing a crush on a guy whose real name she didn’t even know, could she? No. That would be stupid, ridiculous, totally crazy. Robin placed his hands either side of Y/N on the railings and looked her in the eye. Yep, she was getting a crush on Robin.

“Would you have invited me up under different circumstances?” He wasn’t invading her space, he wasn’t making her uncomfortable and he wasn’t propositioning her. It was just a guy asking a girl ‘if it wasn’t this if it was just me and just you, no secret identity, no crime, would you have liked me?’

“I think I would’ve,” Y/N nodded. Robin smiled and pulled back, taking the other chair on the balcony and gesturing for Y/N to do the same. Y/N sat down and pulled her legs to her chest, resting her cheek on her knees and looked at Robin.

“What?” He asked.

“Do you check in on all the girls you rescue?”

“Just you,” Robin admitted, “not everyone I rescue goes viral on Twitter.”

Y/N nodded and smiled tightly as she thought the reason Robin solely came to check on her regarding the aftermath of their encounter. It made her feel a little stupid. Here she was hoping Robin had just come by to see her, but that was a foolish notion really.

“Oh.”

“But I also wanted to see you.”

“Oh!”

“I enjoyed chatting with you,” Robin stated, “you’re interesting.”

Y/N blushed again and looked down to hide the redness of her cheeks, but Robin caught it and grinned widely. Robin thought she was interesting, Y/N couldn’t help but find herself smiling gleefully. Y/N looked back at Robin.

“You’re not too bad yourself.”

“Thanks,” he chuckled, “I heard that your family is taking the guy to court.”

“Dad doesn’t want any girl to get hurt.”

“I get that.”

“People are starting to listen a little bit more, about why you and Batman and others like you are needed… to an extent at least,” Y/N explained, “hopefully they won’t be harassing you that much.”

“Public has never been a problem,” Robin told her, “not to toot my own horn, but I know that people like me are kinda celebrities. The police though, that's a different thing altogether.”

“Is it bad?”

“They kick my ass every night,” Robin lowered the collar of his suit down to reveal a large bruise on his collarbone. Y/N leaned over to his seat and gently placed her fingers on the bruise. Robin winced a little at the contact.

“Sorry!”

“It’s alright, Damsel,” Robin assured her. Y/N then stroked the bruise carefully and Robin relaxed a little at her touch, almost sighing. “It’s not the worst I’ve gotten,” he said. Y/N then looked up at him.

“What is?”

“That’s more of a fourth date conversation, Damsel,” Robin chuckled, leaning back and putting his collar back up. Y/N smiled and fiddled with her fingers.

“So…” Y/N scratched just underneath her ear and cocked her head to the side, “you wanna see me again?”

“If you don’t object.”

“I’d really like that,” Y/N nodded.

Robin smiled and stood up. He just stared at Y/N for a moment, taking her all in. Y/N wasn’t wearing any makeup, but that didn’t bother her. When they first met, she had mascara streaks down her face. Her clothes were a pair of jogging bottoms, a deep navy blue and most likely her older brothers which got mixed up with hers in the wash based on how baggy and unflattering they were. Her top of just a long-sleeved top with horizontal stripes decorating it, grey and black stripes. She wore large white fluffy socks.

“I’d really like that too,” he said, “I gotta go, but I’ll come by again soon, yeah?”

“Yeah,” Y/N smiled and nodded. She watched as Robin climbed back up to her roof and then run and leap onto the next building. When she saw him jump, Y/N inadvertently let out a small yelp. Robin heard and turned round to give her a thumbs up, assuring her everything was alright, then he waved goodbye. Y/N waved back and watched him run off into the night.

 __________________________________________________________

“Morning, Y/N,” Jason Todd plopped into the seat next to Y/N and smiled at her on the following Monday.

“Morning, Jason,” Y/N nodded in response.

Jason seemed to have grown fonder of Y/N and had been very nice to her, and Y/N in response had been a lot nicer back. They were friendly to each other and got along quite well. He came and spoke with her in the library and she would sit with him in classes now, and when not in the university building, the pair would be texting.

“Have you heard about the Gala for the Gotham City Police Department next month?”

“Yeah, I’m being forced into going.” Y/N said with a roll of the eye. She hated the Gala’s she had to attend, they were always stuffy and she had to wear horribly uncomfortable dresses, but she went anyway because it was part of her responsibility as a member of the Y/L/N family. “You?”

“Likewise,” Jason nodded, seeming just as despondent of the idea as Y/N did. “Maybe we can make the best of a less than appealing idea,” he offered.

“And do what?”

“I’m thinking we stand together, drink and then we bitch to each other about the people there. What’d you say?”

Y/N looked at Jason. He gave her a large grin and his eyes sparkled with the prospects about what could happen with them hanging at the Gala. Y/N started thinking too. She kinda liked the idea of hanging with Jason the whole night.

“Yeah. Sounds fun, or at least bearable.”

“Oh, you wound me, Da- Darling.” Jason chuckled, “I’m lovely company for a night. There are many who can vouch for me.”

“Are these P.G. evenings, Todd, or 18?”

“Mixture. But I never disappoint.”

“Oh my god!” Y/N laughed.

“You’ve got a nice laugh,” Jason told her, “I like hearing it.”

“Is that why you joke so much with me?”

“That,” he nodded, “and you have a good sense of humour. Why you hanging with me then?” He asked. Y/N frowned in confusion, “come on, I told you I like your humour, why’d you like being around me? Or am I a pity case for the Y/N Y/L/N?” He teased.

“You’re easy on the eyes,” Y/N grinned.

“Oh, so I’m not a pity case, just a nice piece of eye candy for you.”

“Exactly!” Y/N poked him with her pen, “I mean, you’re alright at talking too, I guess,” It was her turn to tease now and Jason laughed, throwing his head back before looking at her intensely.

“Let me know what colour dress your wearing and I’ll get a matching tie,” he told her.

“It’s a Gala, not a prom.”

“We’re going to be standing around and bitching about everyone – this is the closest thing to prom we’ll get at our age.”

“Wanna get me a corsage too?”

“Don’t tempt me.”

 __________________________________________________________

Y/N knew Robin would be dropping by her building that night by the little gift he left on her balcony the night before. The night before every visit, Robin would place a red feather on her balcony as a calling card, so he wouldn’t be unexpected. Every time Robin visited, Y/N would get two cans of coke out from the fridge and a snack, tonight it was Oreos.

“How can you have Oreos without milk?” Robin asked as he opened his can.

“I just don’t like it with milk,” Y/N shrugged.

“I knew you were too good to be true, there had to be something wrong with you,” Robin sat down with a shaking head but still took one of the cookies.

“I don’t see you rejecting them though.”

“It’s free food from a pretty girl, I’m not stupid.”

“Pretty?”

“Drop dead gorgeous.”

“I just need to learn how to love Milk and Oreos, huh?”

“Then you’ll be the complete package,” Robin spoke with a mouth full of Oreos. There had been a question in Y/N’s mind since Robin first started visiting her, one which she had to ask.

“What does Batman say to you dropping in like this?” She asked. Robin became awkward and rigid, “come on, one of us had to bring it up eventually.”

“He doesn’t know,” Robin explained, “even vigilantes have nights off.”

“And this is what you do with yours?”

“Can’t think of anything better,” he shrugged, “food, drink, good company, conversation and an incredible view.”

Y/N nodded and looked over her balcony taking in the view. It was a view of all of Gotham, and from this viewpoint, you could trick yourself into thinking that there was no bad in Gotham, that it was a lovely safe city. But it wasn’t.

“It is a lovely view.”

“I’m not talking about the city,” Robin said. She heard him stand and place his can down, then Robin walked over, his chest against her back, placing his arms on the railing either side of her. “City is nothing compared to the view I’ve got,” he whispered in her ear. Y/N blushed and tucked her hair behind her ear. Robin then placed a kiss on her cheek before hugging her close to him. “This alright?”

“This is perfect,” Y/N sighed, leaning back into him.

[bards-witcher]

Okay so are you okay with writing the boys as female? Cuz a female Ohm is... Extremely hot 😉 If that's not your thing, that's fine! If it isn't, then maybe some bunny hybrid Ohm? And whatever ship you want?? Maybe some hybrid adoption center thing??(as fucked up as that is-(boy if you aren't accepting requests Imma feel REAL dumb.))

So I kinda mixed the 2 ideas together, not gonna lie I’m kinda iffy about it but I hope you enjoy it anyway. I’d be happy to do more fem!Ohm in the future because I’m currently living for @jhanyaiartist  flip au and @jessantom663 drawings.

Plus I’m like always taking requests so just shoot me an ask any time :D

Also, I made it Ohmtoonz because I’m a basic bitch, hope you don’t mind :) but I’m happy to do other pairings as well :D

[Ohm POV]

It had been almost two years since she’d first joined a hybrid adoption agency and ten months since she’d last been taken home by someone. When she’d first joined she’d had hope that she may finally find a home and someone who cared for her, but that was far from the case.

The first person who had adopted her was kind at first, it didn’t take long for her to warm up to him and he seemed almost smitten with her, eager to take her out and show her off to his friends and surprising her with gifts when he returned from work. It wasn’t long, however, before he turned sour, although hybrids weren’t common they could live life like any other person, and when she’d asked to find a job he’d quickly shut her down.

It wasn’t long before he got bored of her, tired of her desire for a normal life when all he wanted was someone who cooked for him and who would look pretty on his arm. He’d claimed that they were going out to the beach that day, that he was going to treat her as it was somewhere that she’d never been before. However, whatever hope she’d had was quashed when instead she was taken back to the adoption agency, the guy claiming she was faulty before leaving without a backward glance.

Despite this she still had hope, hope that there was someone out there for her. For the next few months, the process was much the same as the first. Someone would come and charm her, sweep her off her feet, however, they all had the same ideals, that she was good for little else but cleaning and fucking.

The last person to adopt her had tried to sell her into a hybrid sex ring, she’d kicked and cried and pleaded but it didn’t deter them. Her saving grace had been the cops breaking down the door to the auction room and during the panic, she was able to slip away from her captors and were met with more cops and other hybrids who were to be sold.

From that day on she swore that she could trust no one but herself, that she’d swear off of finding anyone, that she was damaged goods, and would try to convince the agency to help her find a job.

Originally they didn’t take too well to her choice, but after 2 months of completely rejecting the people who wanted to adopt her, they reluctantly helped her to find her first job. It wasn’t much, a part-time barista job just down the street, but it was something, and it’s all she needed.

However, she was quick to realize that the people at her job were little different than those who had tried to adopt her. She’d finish most shifts with a new number from those who were determined enough to try their luck, despite her refusal they’d show up at a couple of her shifts to try and convince her, however, they all gave pretty soon when they finally understood that she wasn’t interested.

It was a Thursday morning and it was her turn to open up the small coffee shop, she didn’t mind the early hours too much, it was easy work and she enjoyed watching the small city come to life. It was with a surprise then that someone entered the shop, he was tall and from the brief glance, she got she could tell he worked out. She put on her best smile as he slowly approached the counter, looking at the large blackboard above them.

“Anything I can help you with sir?”

The man looked stunned for a moment before smiling back at her “um, yeah. How much you charge for a large coffee?” It was easy to pick up the southern twang in his voice which almost sounded like thick molasses, her smile turned more genuine as she answered.

“Black?” The man nodded, allowing her to continue “$2.50, but for you, I’ll make it $2” The taller man smiled down at her, as if studying her for a moment, his appreciative gaze that swept over her body didn’t go unnoticed.

“$2.50’ll be fine, thanks. My old coffee place tryna charge me $4 for a damn coffee, sure as hell wasn’t staying there”

Without another word she got to work, it was an easy enough order and it wasn’t long before she handed him his drink “$2 please” she smiled up at him, noticing him quickly avert his gaze when she’d caught him staring.

“Here, I’ll feel guilty if I don’t pay the full price” With that he handed her over the money at full price, but she was quick to slide the 50-cent coin back to him.

“Call it an incentive for you to come back again” The man took the coin and dropped it into the tip jar before taking a sip of his drink, in the quiet of the shop she could make out the small moan he made.

“Fuck this is a nice ass cup of coffee” She couldn’t help but giggle at the man’s outburst, noticing the small smile he shot her way as if pleased by her response.

“Only the best for our customer’s sir”

“Call me Luke”

“So, can we expect to see you again soon Luke?” She looked up at him through her lashes, she wasn’t above the occasional flirting in order to get tips and to get people to come back.

“You can be damned sure, and not just for the coffee” With that he threw a wink before putting a few more coins into the jar and leaving the shop.

It wasn’t the first time that she’d flirted towards customers, and it wouldn’t be the last, however, something about him stuck with her and in the quiet hours during her shift that day she couldn’t stop her mind wandering to him.

For the next few weeks Luke had been coming into the coffee shop more and more often, he never gave a reason except that the coffee was too damn good, but her co-workers had told her that he’d ask for her whenever he came in.

Most of the time they’d have a short conversation as his drink was made, often just about what they were doing that day and other mundane stuff like the weather. He’d then leave a generous tip in the jar and throw her a wink before leaving.

It was another early morning shift, and she couldn’t hide her excitement at the chance of seeing Luke, her talks with the southerner were often the highlight of her day before she had to return to her room at the agency, not that Luke knew that of course.

However, today he hadn’t shown up, she tried to hide her disappointment as she waited the last ten minutes of her shift, her co-worker tried his best to get a smile out of her, but nothing had worked. 

When her shift was finished she returned her apron to the back room, said her goodbyes and headed out of the shop, only to have a tall figure run straight into her. Before she could tell him to watch it she looked up to see Luke staring down at her, face red and sweat on his brow, taking heaving breaths as he moved back to give her room.

“Good, I still caught you.”

“My shifts over Luke”

“Have a drink with me? Please?” She wanted to say no, to follow the rules she’d set herself all those months ago, but with Luke looking down at her, soft eyes pleading at her she couldn’t refuse, especially when it was evident that he’d run here.

She nodded, Luke, smiling in response before he lay a gentle hand on her waist and led her back into the coffee shop. Before they could even think of ordering coffee her co-worker pushed a tray towards them with two coffees and a slice of cake. They thanked him as Luke grabbed the tray and led them to a table in a corner out of the way of prying eyes.

“Thank you… For having a drink with me” Luke smiled at her and she smiled back at him, both staring at each other as they tried to ignore the underlying feeling of something between them, before both taking a sip of their drinks.

It was then that Luke picked up the fork that was alongside their cake, taking a large chunk of it before shoveling it into his mouth, she had to hide her laugh when his face started to turn even redder when he noticed her disapproving look.

“Don’t go eating all of that I want some too” Luke handed her the fork and she took a bite of the cake, dragging the fork out of her mouth as she looked up at Luke, noticing the way that he was staring at her lips.

They then started talking about their days, how Luke had been delayed at the bank and then the market, how he was going out to a party tonight to celebrate his friends’ new club opening.

“Do you wanna to come with?” She was shocked for a moment, surprised that he’d even offer and as much as she wanted to go the agency’s strict 11pm curfew meant that she couldn’t.

“I have plans tonight, sorry” She offered him a curt smile, feeling instantly guilty when he saw the brief flash of hurt cross Lukes’ face.

“Nah it’s cool, just an idea” She could tell he was upset, so in an attempt cheer him up she started to flick her ears around to a rhythm that didn’t exist, happy when she saw Luke laugh a little at her antics. “One thing I’ve always wanted to know is, do you have a tail?”

She blushed as she looked away from his piercing gaze “I might do”

“Can I see it?” She hesitated at his request, in the past, her owners had tried to cover up her hybrid features as much as possible, her tail she could somewhat get away with, but it was near impossible to try and hide her ears. The fact that Luke wanted to see it made her blush even more.

Without a word she stood from her seat and turned around, lowering her jeans slightly until her white fluffy tail was sticking out. She waited to hear what Luke was going to say, half expecting to hear laughter or taunts, what she didn’t expect was to feel a gentle hand touch the ends of the fur covering it. 

She shook her tail a little, laughing when she felt Lukes’ hand draw away but when he got the courage to touch it again she moved her tail into his hold, letting him have free reign over one of her most sensitive parts. Eventually, she moved away and sat back down, using her ears to cover her face somewhat from Lukes intense stare.

“I have something for you” She watched as Luke reached into his pocket and pulled out a small box, laying it down on the table between them for her to open. “I saw it when I was out today and thought of you, so…yeah”

She gingerly leaned forward and opened the box, it was a small silver outline of a rabbit on a simple necklace chain. She took it out of the box to have a closer look, it was beautiful in its simplicity and she had no words to offer Luke but ‘Thank you’.

“I know it’s not much but I –“

“It’s beautiful Luke, I honestly don’t know what to say” She unfastened the clasp and went to try and put it around her neck before Luke interjected.

“Let me” She brought her hands back in front of her, waiting for Luke to move around the table behind her before passing the necklace to him. He gently pushed her hair to one side as he reached around her neck, fingers gently tracing around her neck before clasping the two sides together, causing a shiver to travel up her spine.

She looked down at the small rabbit now around her neck, shivering again when Luke moved her hair back in place before she turned to face him, placing a gentle kiss on his cheek.

“Thank you, Luke” They smiled at each other, getting lost in each other’s eyes, she was so lost in them that she barely registered him lightly grazing his fingers up and down her arm.

They stayed like that, too distracted in one another that her co-worker coming round the corner caused them to break apart, a smug smile on his face as he took the now empty cups.

“I-I should go. It’s getting late. Thank you again.. for the necklace. It really is beautiful. Have fun tonight” With a final smile and wave she got up and headed for the door, however she was stopped by Luke grabbing her elbow.

“Let me walk you home”

“No, you don’t have to do that” As much as she liked Luke there was no way she was going to let him find out where she lived, how she lived.

“I’d feel a lot better knowing you got home safe and sound”

“No, it’s fine really, besides you need to get ready for tonight. I’ll see you tomorrow yeah?” When Luke nodded she gave one last smile before leaving the coffee shop, quickly walking the short distance back home and making her way straight to her room.

She was quick to strip herself of her clothes, eager to get into the shower to clear her thoughts when a knock was heard on her door.

“Ryan? You in there?” rolling her eyes she put on her dressing gown and opened her door to see the matron of the house looking down at her. “You’re late back from work”

“It got busy” The glance the older women shot at her necklace as well as her pursed lips showed that she knew it was a lie, but as no rules were broken she couldn’t chastise her.

“As per usual, your offers” she rolled her eyes again as she accepted several folders from the women.

“I don’t know why you bother, you know my answer already” she didn’t spare any of them a glance before tossing them into the growing pile in her bin she kept beside her door for this purpose.

“You know you’re going to have to leave eventually. Either pick someone soon, or I will.” She stood there dumbfounded as the matron turned to walk away, there was no way that this should be allowed and the thought of what could happen to hear made a pit settle in her stomach. “By the way we have a viewer coming in tonight and he wants to see everybody. That includes you, so make sure you look nice”

She slammed the door to her room closed, fighting back tears as she entered the shower, letting out gentle sobs as she slowly started to wash herself. It was only when she felt the chain under her fingers that she managed to gain some semblance of control.

Luke. Luke who had come to the coffee shop any and every day to find out her shifts, who was more than happy to keep her company in the early hours, who had run to the shop in the hopes that he’d catch her. The man who despite having only known her a few weeks, was the one person who actually knew her.

Maybe if she told him, let him know where she lived, that he’d take her in, look after her in the way nobody here did. She turned the water off as she weighed the pros and cons in her mind, unconsciously going through the motions of getting ready as her thoughts weighed heavier on her mind. 

Before she knew it there was a knock on her door with the command to get downstairs, with a final look in the mirror, touching the chain that already meant so much to her, she started to make the slow preamble downstairs.

Everybody was already there waiting when she finally got there, the matron tapping her foot impatiently before dragging her to her spot in line. She gave the usual talk, be good, don’t speak until spoken to and all that other bullshit.

She played with her fingernails as the doorbell rang, the matron quickly rushing to the door and offering all the kindness and warmth a mother should show as she guided the viewer in. She didn’t look up as the matron started to introduce him to the first hybrids, only when she heard the older woman start to sputter and shout did she look, only to met with the scene of Luke striding towards her.

She could only stare as Luke stopped in front of her, offering her a small smile as his hands came up to rub at her shoulders before moving up her neck and then finally to cup her face, holding her in his gaze, not that she could look away anyway.

“C’mon, I’m getting you outta here” She raised her left hand to grab his wrist, rubbing her thumb against it and she could feel his pulse racing, or maybe it was hers.

“Luke, are you-“

“Yes. Yes, I’m sure. I want nothin’ more than for you to come home with me” she gave a small nod, trying to blink away the tears in her eyes as Luke smiled back down at her. “C’mon then”

He pulled away from her, grabbing the hand that was holding his wrist as he walked them out, ignoring the calls and threats from the matron and the cheers from the other hybrids.

As soon as she got into the car Luke was quick to get them out of there, loosely holding her hand as he navigated his way through the streets to his house.

It wasn’t long before he parked on the side of the road, with the engine shut off there was nothing but deafening quiet between them.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” She could tell Luke was hurt, but despite this, she stood by her choice

“You didn’t need to know”

“Bullshit Ryan, everyone knows that place is a shithole, you could’ve told me, I could’ve-“

“You don’t understand. My kind are… rare, being there, despite everything is better than being stolen and sold to the highest bidder. So yeah it’s a shithole but it’s the best I got”

“I’m sorry, I-“

“Don’t worry about it”

“Why not get adopted then?” She scoffed at Lukes’ words, he’d said it himself, the place was a shithole, it was only fitting that the people who went there were shitholes too.

“My track record of owners isn’t the best to say the least”

“Then why’d you come with me?” 

She turned so that she was facing Luke, seeing nothing but kindness and hope shone back at her “You’re different. You’ve cared more for me than anyone else ever has” She let out a small chuckle, looking down at the space between them “I know it’s cliché bu-“

Before she could finish her sentence Luke grabbed her chin, lifting her face up so that she was facing him again. He paused for a moment, looking down at her lips before slowly moving closer forwards. He gave her ample time to pull away from the kiss he was offering, but instead, she closed the difference between them and connected their lips. It was short and sweet, nothing more than a peck on the lips but nevertheless, they were both breathless when they pulled apart.

“C’mon lets get inside” They were quick to get out of the car, she followed him up the pathway to his house, stepping through the doorway when he held it open for her. She followed him to the kitchen where he pulled out a couple of beers, opening them both before offering one to her.

She took it gratefully, drinking down half the bottle before putting it on the countertop, noticing Luke looking at her with an amused glint in his eye. “I’ve got a spare room made up for you if you want” She could tell that Luke was nervous, if not for the hand he rubbed at the back of his neck it was the way he refused to look at her.

“Oh, I just thought that-“

“Look, whatever we are, I’m happy, but we won’t do anything until we’re both ready” He’d taken both of her hands in his and was rubbing small circles into them with this thumbs as he spoke

She looked up at Luke, using his hands for balance as she stood up on her tiptoes to kiss him again. This one was different than the first, she tried to convey all her appreciation, love and hope she had for the man in front of her when they pulled apart it was only for them to catch another breath before they kissed again. 

Eventually, Lukes’ arms wrapped around her waist and she felt herself get lifted up and onto the counter, his hands wandering up and down her back until one hand settled onto her tail and she had to stifle her moan at his touch.

“Luke” She held herself close to him, unwilling to let go in case it all disappeared in front of him, and by the way, Luke held her he felt the same.

“Shhh, I’ll look after you. I’ll always look after you”

[ralfstrashcan]

3x13 Reaction / Commentary

Yeah I'm aware, stop judging X___X

I feel the need to point this out. Apparently it's common practice for the Praetor to just, kill off their more troublesome charges. Interesting. But Jordan has a different work ethic which is a) apparently not usual for praetors and b) something at least Nick attributes to his past and not, idk, common decency. Just how savage is the Praetor exactly?? (Also let me add this to the list of things why 3x15 makes no sense at all.)

Okay, so they found another mundane dead by Heidi's hand...... why exactly don't they call the Shadowhunters? Aren't they obliged to? I mean?

True, but it sure as hell is her responsibility how she handles them. But we established already that she has a serious perception problem and always sees herself as the victim.

I mean, prime example, if she could have made that smooth exit through the vent where the werewolves couldn't follow, why didn't she just do that from the start instead of attacking Nick? Because she wants to cause trouble and not just “live her life in peace” as she's pretending to.

More like, he didn't have the guts to face Alec like that. Also does that mean he draped Izzy on the couch like that in that cliché sleeping pose with one hand under the head? At least he took off her boots like a sane person.

“I'm just drained.”

Haha it seems Alec isn't the only Lightwood sibling with a shitty sense of humor.

“I don't have the same preexisting condition.” “You mean my addiction?”

No, Izzy, he obviously means your fashion sense, keep up. Seriously, who wrote that stupid ass line of dialogue.

I found it pretty hilarious that Simon, Clary's literally oldest and bestest friend since kindergarten, feels the need to apologize to Izzy for taking up so much time with his Clary-reunion and blocking the path for her. The Clizzy Energy is Strong.

“Hmmmm hot hot hot Clary, please show me more.”

MY THOUGHTS EXACTLY HAHAHAHA PERFECT

Also, Morningstar.... didn't Val name his dumbass tanker ship in S1/S2 Morningstar? Guy really has it with name repetitions, first Jonathan 1 and 2, now Morningstar Ship and Morningstar Sword... I bet he named all his stuffed teddys Mr Snuffels 1, Mr Snuffels 2, Mr Snuffels 3.....

The way he delivers this line me might've as well said “Please cut out the emotional disgusting bullshit my skin is crawling already from this I can't take any more mushiness PLEASE GO AWAY.” Gotta love Alec.

MAGNUS RAGE PUNCHING THE KEYBOARD IS THE MOST RELATABLE THING I HAVE EVER SEEN

Magnus opening up about missing his magic MY HEART OH MY GOD

(Sidenote though: No wonder he got frustrated with the pretentious Shadowhunter Technology, I mean, look at it. There are only runes. Runes may be called runes, but they don't actually make up an alphabet. Why the heck is there a flexibility rune on the screen? It makes no sense.)

This whole scene (and Izzy's lipstick lol) is absolutely perfect. I love everything about it, especially Magnus and especially Izzy. I'd be really surprised if Magnus didn't find a way to get her that weird root thingy anyway, because he surely doesn't buy the “feeling a lot better now” line.

(Edit: Now thinking about it I realized two things, a) she probably didn't take him up on his offer to go to another warlock because she felt like that was unnecessarily rubbing in that he can't do it himself anymore* and b) with that line she probably meant she feels lighter already for sharing what happened and just <3<3<3<3<3)

*The only think that would have made this scene more perfect is if Izzy hadn't skimmed over his magic comment without acknowledging it in any way. Though with this thought in mind, that she rejected his offer to spare his feelings, I find myself placated.

Also I love how Magnus pretends he's going to look for pen and paper when really he's running straight to Alec to tell him all about this (and to prevent a repetition of 2x09 form happening.... and now I made myself sad again).

#effortless (Also reminds me of that post about fire message mechanics that I still owe a certain someone. Where is the time.)

HAHAHAHA

???????????? How do they know that? More importantly, does Alec know? Will he hear through the Shadow World grapevine??? So many questions.

I mean, I have sympathy for her. But like, she's too smart for me to buy that she genuinely can't see any other course of action. She just does this because it's the least effort for her, not because she's truly clueless what alternatives are there for here (aka not running around, killing mundanes, starting a fight with everyone). She just thrives on chaos.

Also “Wolves don't just attack without cause. Not in New York” ? Seems like all Institute except the NY one do a shit job since supposedly keeping peace between the Downworld factions is part of their responsibility. Yes, I am still salty about 3x15. (Also, if anyone's confused by this weird foreshadowing, I wrote notes for this reaction post while watching 3x13 when it first aired, but only got to finish it now after 3x19 aired and I can't keep my chronology-screwing bitterness to myself while finishing up the post. But mostly these are my thoughts from then.)

Yeah something tells me she's not gonna be totally uninvolved in that.

This and the fact that Russel wants to stop Bat from even leaving the Jade Wolf are the final proofs that all the werewolves actually live at the Jade Wolf and pile up in a giant snuggle pile in the kitchen at night. This is further cemented by the fact that Luke and Maia claim to have flats of their own but we never actually see them. Clearly they're both dirty liars that just wanted to mislead.

*late Jocelyn's late friend Eliot #rude #whatever

.......why the hell would Elias code that shit in Circle short hand? So other Circle members, who Jocelyn was hiding from, could easily open that super important safe? So smart! Also, correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't Luke in the Circle as well? Shouldn't he be able to read that, too?

1) Eliot is such a loser and a showoff for ostentatiously writing that J in Jocelyn 2) His hint is seriously “Don't open with brute force.” Wtf kind of hint is that man are you even real.

I'm sorry, okay, but everytime I see / hear Bellicosi I think Maxi-Cosi XD

*glares at 3x15* Will I ever tire of raging about that episode? Unlikely.

Why.....? Since he didn't have any problem 100% blaming Raphael for everything Heidi did (not unjustified, but I'm just saying he's suddenly changed his mind). I mean, if he'd said she's dangerous to him and his family that would've been another matter.

These are all runes that I don't remember seeing on the Shadowhunters' Wiki Rune Page. Please tell me more.

Jace: “Clary, you've been going nonstop since you came back. You need to take a minute.”

lol if only Jace would implement the same advice himself.

“Wow I suddeny remember I had a life before I was 10.”

German Dubbing: Yeah, the ones Consul Penhallow categorically ignored. Honestly. Who dubbs this shit. Wtf.

Listen I love everything about this scene. (Fun Fact: In the German Dubbing she says vampire addiction, not venom addiction lol as if she was addicted to vampires XD)

Alec Lightwood, best brother of the year. Btw he's been holding that title since birth. I also don't think Alec would ever judge Izzy for her addiction / look at her as if she's weak, so the fact that she thinks that says a lot about how the addiction affected her self-image.

Too bad Alec forgets this for the next few episodes and acts like a total tool in that Clave Investigation Thing, smh.

Good to know.

Haha that was witty.

Oooooh why don't they ask another warlock then? For example one who's actually always the smartest person in the room?? Who's also willing to work on this??? Just a thought tho, don't let me interrupt the Maruke Bonding. No, you know what? I hate the shipname Maruke, it's shit, so I'm calling it Luryse as it should have been called. Then again, when am I even gonna talk about that pairing? We shall see.

“Outrageous, just because people around me keep turning up dead! It's ridiculous, really, that they'd think I could have something to do with that. It's as if they're not aware this is a TV show and supporting characters die because *Moriarty Voice* THAT'S WHAT PEOPLE DO!”

“That what the kids call it these days when they get kicked out on their ass?” She literally says “From one exiled to another” so she clearly realized he's full of shit.

“And that's why in two episodes Imma get myself arrested by behaving like a dumbass and then chill in prison as if it's my greatest accomplishment.” Honestly Luke, so many No-s. I can't even.

“Wow I can't believe I have to see this Luryse bs up close.” Hah, now I used the right shipname and can move the f on from bashing that pairing. Sorry about that. I'm sleep deprived. That always makes me extra salty.

“When you're alpha you need to make the pack your first priority. Your personal life needs to take a back seat. And mine never did.” I applaud Luke for admitting he was a shit alpha because he didn't proritize the pack. Hindsight is 20/20.

Wow Luke so helpful <3<3<3 Just like I know and love you.

I also love how nobody questions that Heidi bit that mundane and then chilledly made a phone call at the scene of her Accords-violating crime. How frakking convenient.

But their runes aren't on the same side. Sloppy work. Also, if the illustrator obviouly takes artistic liberties, then the rune missing on the second pic doesn't have to mean anything. Maybe they just forgot to draw it. Then again this isn't even the most flimsy conclusion-making I've wittnessed on this show so I'll let it slide.

lol Jace and Jonathan are basically playing tug of war with Clary: Jonathan burning himself, Jace activating her healing rune XD

Ooooh brainless S1 Clary, how I have not missed you. Srsly now? Carve it out? That didn't work for Simon so why should it now? lol she should ask the seelie queen if she has some handy floor mosaic thingy in her courtyard to help with that.

In his defense, he moved.

It's not gonna work is what it is. Srsly how dumb are they? Why the hell does she think something so powerful can just be carved out?? Wtf.

Woooow they're using a rune removing device, color me impressed. I really thought they'd just put a scalpel to it. So, at least points for trying.

Uuuuh get some morphin, try again. I mean. But anyway.

*break up

......didn't she just break up with him because pack reasons? Where is that not a Shadow World Reason? Please explain. (Also choosing an unflattering screen cap of Simon because he annoys me? Absolutely. I am petty like that.) The easy way Simon accepts their break up really makes me wonder. If Maia hadn't said anything, would he have broken up with her? Since apparently things “changed” and they could “both” “feel” it. Honestly. He literally calls her his girlfriend at the start of the scene as if to draw attention to how ridiculous this is.

You know what, I don't even have the energy to rage about this. Their relationship was so great, they were so supportive of each other, they had great chemistry, great communication, they always stood by each other. And just because Sizzy has to be endgame there were suddenly weird-ass tension between them for no real reason – none that 3A Saia wouldn't have worked through like pros anyway – just so this break up wouldn't come out of absolutely nowhere. It's shit treatment of both their characters and their relationship and I'm just so exasperated with it all. (Also not the way to endear me to Sizzy. But at this point I feel like a broken record.)

Discount? It was free. Which I'm still finding super hard to believe by the way, that a werewolf establishment would just give out free food to vampires who don't even work there. But what do I know, right, I mean it's not like they just mentioned a few minutes ago how werewolves and vampires hate each other? Right?? Hahaha.

Wow. This actually takes the time to highlight that this break up wasn't as amicable as Simon thought. Maybe he thought that they were breaking up for human reasons, but Maia clearly feels she threw her relationship away for the pack and it's hard for her. And Simon's tirade wasn't really encouraging her to let him know that. I really appreciate that detail.

Other things I want to say: 1) I didn't like that Maia just flat out broke up with him. She should have informed him that she was going to step up for the pack and would have to prioritize that over their relationship and then leave it up to him if he wants to put up with that or not. By breaking up she made the choice for him. Her course of action is ic, I'm not critizising that, but from like, a personal stand point I don't like it. 2) Foreshadowing: Since her whole pack gets slaughtered, if that would have been the only reason to break up with Simon she coulda just gotten back together with him lol. Haha sorry I'm trash. I know.

Wow he's really dumb. He knows Heidi's brand of crazy and still he doesn't realize this was a trap. He said himself that Heidi must have done something for the Preator to be after her, and when the Praetor tells him she's been leaving copses left and right he...... takes this as his cue to ally himself with Heidi??? Wtf?????? Does he not believe what Jordan said? Again, he suspected something like that himself and since the Praetor are playing at being the Downworlder Police they wouldn't just make something like that up with no proof. The heck. I don't get you, Boss Vampire Guy.

Also, thumbs down for the Praetor, if they'd just told them their source was Heidi herself (on the phone) this could have been prevented. But, ugh. With how things are I can at least kinda buy that no working communication between vampire clan and Praetor exists.

Still, if the Praetor wants to be accepted as some kind of Shadow World Institution they should really work on their manners.

.................................................

I I don-- I can't. *sigh* I can't believe I just had to watch this with my own two eyes. Have they not been trained for a case like this? A fellow shadowhunter injured in the field? That activating the healing rune should be the first thing you do? Before lovingly prying information from the dying person?? I mean, if that's not Plot Convenience then I don't know what is. Sure, he needs to give them a snippet of info, but not too much. But please, please, couldn't writers have found a way for this that didn't make them look like the stupidest of idiots in the entire frikkin world?! Wtf. WTF. I can't believe it.

Uuuuuuh how did she know how to turn those things if all she had to work with was Don't use brute force?? Do I have to understand that?

“You brought coffee, after all.”

Look she's so ashamed she even turned away from the screen haha. Also it's so refreshing to see grown ass people approach a relationship like idiotic teens. (Yeah, that was sarcastic.)

“And right now I wanna do you.” Hahahaha sorry, too good to pass up, you can bet your ass imma turn this into a dumb comic XD

“I love you, Clary. And I'll love you until I die. And if there's a life after this I'll love you then, too.”

Okay, I wanted to roll my eyes at their love confession, but what Jace said was actually really sweet <3

Alec: All our people were accounted for at the time of the murder. Izzy: We think it was a Clave hit.

Oh couldn't have been one of the millions of Shadowhunters from another Institute? No, I'm sure Alec checked that on their neat little Shadowhunter Intranet, that all other Shadowhunters all over the workd were accounted for as well. Honestly.

Also, Maryse says “By the angel,” but in the German Dubbing she says “What the angel” which makes it seem as if Shadowhunters curse by replacing dirty words with “angel” and just... what the angel XD

Why the hell are they all so obsessed with Latin? Ugh. Exhausting hobby.

Btw lol, please rewatch that scene, the background music is weirdly reminiscent of the Stranger Things Theme hahahaha. (Also omg I'm peeking into the German dubbing and it doesn't even make SENSE hahaha what the shit.)

LOL that's like the soulmate trope but in painful XD basically the creepy incest edition XD But honestly can we appreciate what a nice hand Jonathan has with a knife and with his left hand?? Prodigy.

This is it, the final proof that they actually all live at the Jade Wolf hahahha.

...................................? Why the f is she happy to see Jordan? Last time they saw each other she clearly stated she hated him?? Do I need to understand?? Oh right. In the books Maia and Jordan get back together. Right. Stupid, why am I even surprised by this??

Wtf isn't he the clan leader? Why the hell is he acting so submissively to Heidi all of a sudden? Literally half a day ago he threw her out of his clan, knowing his place. And now he's like a puppet on her strings. Wtf. But I guess that happens when you treat characters as plot devices. They get inconsistent even if they only have two scenes. *sigh*

Awwww would you look at that, werewolves and vampires fighting with fists like mundanes. (Okay some of them had like, daggers, but where are the fangs and the claws? Honestly.)

Okay I did her injustice in my trailer reaction since this is a vamp and a legitimate fight situation.

Wow that actually surprised me. But Jordan also dies in the books so, oops. Just didn't think they'd skip the getting together.

WOW that really surprised me. I thought Maia would challenge him and they'd have an epic fight to the death or something. (Also wtf Griffin guy, what's with that creeper face.)

To be honest I find it hard to believe that Maia acts like this. Scared out of her mind, yeah sure. But she acts helpless, and she's never been that. When she got that pipe thing I thought she'd use it as a stake. Using it to block the door is smart, too, but why didn't she get another to have a stake? Her whole posture, uselessly hangig over Jordan screams damsel in distress and I don't like it at all.

Edit: I had certain fears how this plotline would be developed in 3x14 which thankfully didn't come true, but my conflicted opinion on this ending scene remains.

Anyway let’s take a moment and appreciate Maia’s Killer Boots.

BTW watched the 3x14 trailer and just.... what. Why the f would Magnus ask Lorenzo of all people for help? He can't be trusted. As if he wouldn't use that opportunity to break Magnus even further! WTF! Where's Catarina? Oh, let me guess, another Drunk Doctor Conference *epic eyeroll*

[my-one-love-is-music]

Be My Player 2? Ch. 26

Sorry for the delay in posting, y'all. This chapter has been ready for a few days, but I didn't have a chance to post it over the weekend.

Also on AO3!

“Keith!”

He looked up and found Hunk barreling towards him. Keith grinned and accepted the hug from his friend. “Hey,” he said.

“It’s been so long since we’ve gotten to hang out.”

“I know,” Keith sighed. “I was hoping to spend more time with you guys over break, but…”

“Nah, don’t worry about it. Pidge and I had our own stuff going on, too. We went and visited our families and I’m sure you spent some more time with Shiro,” he said with a smirk.

Keith flushed and tugged at the edges of his beanie, his breath fogging in front of him in the cold air. “Yeah…”

They pushed through the doors of their academic building and Keith sighed happily at the warmth.

“What’s that look for?” Hunk asked, pulled him from his thoughts.

“What?” Keith asked.

“That smile,” he said. “You look happy about something.”

Keith bit his lip and stuffed his hands in his pockets despite being out of the cold.

“Keithhhhhh?” Hunk asked, elbowing him in the arm.

“Shiro and I…”

“Yeah?”

“We told each other that we love each other.”

Hunk gasped and grinned. He pulled Keith into a rough hug. “That’s amazing! I’m so happy for you guys!”

Keith grinned and nodded. “I know. Never thought I’d see the day.”

“This is huge, man. Pidge is going to be so excited.”

“I’m going to be so excited about what?”

They turned and found Pidge grinning behind them. She pulled her hat off her head and shook out her hair.

“I saw you guys and thought I’d stop by and catch up before class,” she said, walking over to them. “Had to sprint across the quad to make it, but what’s it really matter anyway, right? So what’s up?”

“Keith and Shiro said their ‘I love yous,’” Hunk explained.

“That’s great!” she exclaimed, looking up at Keith. “And perfect since you’ll be seeing him again over spring break,” she added with a smirk.

“I know,” he said. “I’m really looking forward to it.”

“You’re going to have to buy plane tickets soon though, aren’t you?” she asked.

Keith nodded. “Yeah, I should probably take care of that this weekend. Amidst the new round of shifts and homework that I’m going to get this week.” He sighed.  

“But it’s your last semester. Just remember that,” Hunk said, patting him on the back. “We can have stressed, job hunting parties where we order pizza and do drunk job applications.”

Keith chuckled. “That doesn’t sound too bad.”

“You can invite the boyfriend, too,” Pidge added. “He can join us over Skype.”

“Sure,” Keith said. “When are you guys free next? We should get started on this as soon as possible.”

Hunk hummed. “Are you good for Friday in two weeks? We could do then.”

Keith furrowed his brow, trying to think over his schedule. “I need to double-cheek my schedule, but I think I should be okay. Once we get our schedules worked out, I can ask Shiro. He should be good for whenever we decide to do it.”

“Cool,” Pidge said with a grin. “We’re all in charge of bringing a bottle of the strongest stuff you want. You can go for whisky, vodka, tequila, I don’t care which. And then we’ll split the cost of the pizza. Keith you can crash on the couch after.”

Keith nodded. “If the night goes how I think it’s going to go, I’m going to need it.”

“Great!” Pidge said. “I gotta get to class. I’ll see you guys later.”

“See you,” Hunk and Keith said. They waved her off as she hurried down the hallway. Keith and Hunk turned to the stairwell and started climbing. When they reached the second floor, Hunk broke off and Keith continued to the third floor where his class was.

Keith pulled out his phone, weaving expertly around other people in the hallway as he approached his classroom. He typed out a quick message to Shiro, smile pulling at his lips even though he hadn’t sent it yet.

Keith: So…in a couple weeks Pidge and Hunk and I are planning to have a night in where we get drunk and submit job applications and wanted to know if you wanted to join us?

He pushed open the door to his classroom and made for his seat in the back. Shiro’s reply came before he managed to sit down.

Shiro: How exactly am I supposed to join you? Fly up there? I wouldn’t mind taking a vacation after the first two weeks of classes.

Keith rolled his eyes.

Keith: You’re not allowed to skip class and come up here. I’m talking about over Skype. We Skype you in while we work on applications.

Shiro: Ahhh, I see. Use the power of technology so it actually seems like I’m there.

Keith: Shut up, Shiro

Shiro: Love you, too, babe

Keith bit his lip, his stomach flipping happily at the words. It still didn’t seem real. And he never got tired of saying it or hearing the sentiment from Shiro. They loved each other, and it was the best thing he could ever ask for.

Shiro: I might see if Lance and Allura want to join in. We could have our party here and your party there.

Keith: Sure. The point is to get drunk and apply for jobs so Hunk and Pidge wouldn’t mind. We already wanted to have you there so it’s no problem. And I’m sure it will be a lot more fun for you so you’re not alone in your apartment.

Shiro: What time should I tell them?

Keith: We’re not sure on the exact details yet. I need to check my work schedule so we’re going to finalize the rest later

Shiro: You should just take the night off so we can definitely make it for then

Keith: Can’t. Gotta make the money. Keith: I need it for when I come see you

Shiro: Only another two months Shiro: God, I can’t wait until I get to see you again.

Keith: Me too.

The door to the classroom was pulled open and Keith looked up to find his professor striding inside.

Keith: Talk later. Prof’s here which means class.

Shiro: Have fun!

Keith grinned and tucked his phone away, pulling out his books.

~~

Keith stared at his computer. He was in his living room with his feet propped up on the coffee table. He’d gone through to update his resume and knew he had all the right information on it, but it still didn’t feel good enough. And he hadn’t even started applying for jobs yet. Now more than ever, he wished that a job could fall from the sky and land in his lap. It would save him a lot of stress and the rejection he knew was coming.

He sighed and ran a hand down his face. “Whatever. I can worry more about this later.”

He checked the time and saw that it was getting late. He saved his resume and closed out of the document, grabbing his textbook from the coffee table. He leaned back and flipped open to the page of his assigned reading.

If he wasn’t careful, he was going to end up getting behind on his reading and schoolwork and that’s something he couldn’t afford to do. Not when he had work and job applications on the line. He’d come this far and worked his ass off, he wasn’t going to start failing classes when he was almost finished with school.

Keith sat forward, planting his feet on the floor. He rubbed at his eyes to try and clear away his exhaustion and focus on the words in front of him. School was most important, and he couldn’t let it slip, no matter what else he was worried about.

~~

Keith yawned, covering his mouth with his hand.

“Someone looks tired.”

He looked up from the drink he was preparing and saw Kayla had slipped behind the counter without him noticing. He smiled.

“Yeah,” he sighed. “Getting back into school has hit hard and I’m trying to balance everything.”

She nodded. “Yeah, I can understand. I’ve got a load of credits this semester and I don’t think any of my professors are going to be taking things easy.”

Keith chuckled. “Yeah. Not to mention job applications.”

“Job applications?” she asked. “Are you leaving?”

“It’s my last semester so I’m going to need a real person job.”

“Oooh,” she said. “I didn’t realize you were getting ready to graduate.”

“Yeah, I’m trying not to stress too much, but I can already feel the pressure of needing to have a job lined up when I graduate.”

“Where are you looking?” she asked as she pulled out a bottle from under the counter.

Keith shrugged. “I haven’t thought about it too much. I guess I’d go somewhere down south. I want to work with a space program, but I’m not sure how easy it would be to get on with NASA.”

Kayla whistled. “Surely there are other groups down there though.”

“A few, I think,” Keith said.

“Well, I’m sure you’ll find something,” she said.

“Yeah…”

Keith stared down at his hands as he worked, keeping mostly to himself.

“You know,” Kayla said, pulling him from his thoughts. “If you needed help with the applications or finding jobs, I wouldn’t mind helping.”

Keith swallowed, grabbing the drink ticket from the server before they could even set it down. “Thanks, but I can handle it. I’m getting together with my friends in a couple weeks and we’re going to do a lot of work on applications and resumes.”

“Oh,” she said behind him. “Well if you need any help, I don’t mind, and it’ll be good experience for when I have to do it later…” she trailed of with a tight laugh.

“Yeah,” Keith said, expertly mixing the drink for the order. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

He set it on the tray with the ticket and dumped his mixers into the sink to clean.

“I can do that,” Kayla said, holding out a hand.

“Don’t worry about it. I got it, it’s fine,” Keith said, keeping his head down. He checked a sigh and was ready to kick himself. He wasn’t trying to sound like an asshole, but the turn in the conversation had made him uncomfortable and he really wanted to pull out his phone and call Shiro. He sighed and closed his eyes, slowing his movements so he didn’t splash water over the side of the sink.

He only had a few more months to go before they were going to be together again. It wasn’t that long, and they’d have plenty of fun next weekend doing job applications and getting drunk. He looked over his shoulder and saw Kayla leaning against the counter further away from him. Her arms were crossed over her chest and she was staring off to the side.

Keith almost wanted to apologize. He rinsed off his mixers and started drying them.

“Look,” he said, catching Kayla’s attention. She glanced over at him before looking away. “Sorry if I was kind of harsh, I just...I just don’t really the need the extra help is all.”

“I think I should be the one apologizing,” Kayla said. “I shouldn’t have been so pushy.”

Keith shrugged and started putting the mixer pieces away.

“I just thought it might be kind of fun to hang out outside of work.”

“Don’t take it personally,” Keith said, “but I don’t have much time to hang out with my own friends outside of work, let alone anyone else. Most of the time I actually do see them is when we run into each other on campus between classes.”

Kayla nodded. A server walked by and set down a new ticket. Kayla got to it before Keith could and he watched her work, noticing the droop to her shoulders, but if she was already making a second attempt so soon after asking him out the first time, something inside of him knew that this wouldn’t be the last time.

~~

Keith shivered when he stepped inside his apartment. The warmth was a nice change from the freezing temperatures outside and he brushed the snow from his beanie and his jacket. Now that they were in the midst of winter, he knew it wasn’t going to be long before the inches started to accumulate, and he’d have to wade through snow to get to class and work. He toed out of his boots and left them in the entryway. He winced at how much salt and slush he was going to end up dragging inside when the weather really got bad.

He pulled out his phone and sent off a quick message to Shiro.

Keith: I’m so tired. Zzzzz I’m ready for spring break

He tossed his jacket over the back of his desk chair and set the beanie on his desk. He sighed, and landed heavily on the edge of his bad, falling back onto the mattress as sleep tugged at him. His phone vibrated, and he rolled onto his side even though his legs were still hanging over the edge of the bed.

Shiro: I’m ready for you to be here, too. I was gonna ask if you wanted to watch a show or maybe play a round of Voltron tonight, but that’s probably a hard no, isn’t it?

Keith: You have no idea. Getting back into school has been kicking my ass. Not to mention this girl at work….

Shiro: You wanna talk about it?

Keith: She’s just…she’s apparently not one to give up.

Shiro: Isn’t that a good thing?

Keith: When it comes to work? Yes. When it comes to trying to get me to go on a date with her? Hell no.

Shiro: Oh

Keith: Yeah, I told her I was seeing someone, but apparently that’s not enough. Little does she know that I have the hottest boyfriend ever waiting for me in Florida.

Shiro: Keithhhhhh

Keith grinned and chuckled.

Keith: What’s wrong, baby? Are you getting flustered?

Instead of getting a new text message, his phone started ringing. Keith grinned and answered.

“Hello?”

“You’re so mean,” Shiro groaned.

“Am I not allowed to use pet names with you now?” he asked with a laugh. His stress and exhaustion were starting to lighten slightly. He imagined that if Shiro was there with him, his responsibilities wouldn’t seem half as bad as they were.

“No…” he grumbled, sounding like he was burying his face in the pillow.

“Come on, bayyyy-beeee,” Keith cooed.

He heard a muffled noise come over the line and smiled. He closed his eyes and imagined what Shiro looked like. He imagined his cheeks were bright red and he had the bottom half of his face hidden behind a pillow while he held the phone up to his other ear.

God, he missed that man.

“Anyway,” he continued after the silence stretched between them. “How is school for you? You’re probably not having as rough a time as I am.”

“It’s not too bad,” Shiro said, voice light. Keith could see him rolling onto his back to stare up at the ceiling and smiled. “Most of the professors I have this semester have been ones I’ve had before which means less scrutiny when it comes to my arm.”

“Wait…” Keith said. “Do professors give you shit over your prosthetic?” he asked, sitting up.

“Well…I wouldn’t say they give me shit exactly…but they always kind of stare at it during the first few classes until they get used to seeing it. Sometimes they don’t even stop then,” he muttered.

Keith felt anger coil in his gut and frowned. He fell back on his bed with a huff. “When I come down there you should introduce me to anyone who’s giving you shit and I’ll kick their asses.”

“Keith, you don’t need to-“

“I’m serious, Shiro. I’ll fight them on the street. The cowards,” he growled.

Shiro laughed. “Okay, Keith,” he said, softly.

Keith huffed, his anger draining out of him. “Hey,” he said. “If I don’t have too much homework over the weekend, do you feel like gaming or watching a movie or show on Saturday? It would be pretty late, and I know it hasn’t been that long since our last one, but…”

“Sure,” Shiro said. “I’d like that. And next time we’ll have a split party where we get drunk and do job applications,” he said with a snicker.

“Ugh,” he groaned. “Don’t remind me.”

“It’ll be okay. You’re cute and smart, and companies would be stupid not to hire you. Isn’t that right, baby?”

Keith smiled and bit his lip. “We’ll have to wait and see, I guess.”

He yawned and placed a hand over his mouth.

“You should get to bed,” Shiro said. “Don’t want you to fall asleep in class and it’s getting pretty late over there.”

“Yeah, you’re probably right,” Keith said, rubbing his eye. “I’ll talk to you later, okay?”

“Sure thing. Don’t work too hard and don’t stress too much.”

Keith breathed a laugh. “Okay. Love you, Shiro.”

“I love you, too, Keith,” Shiro said, voice soft.

Keith bit his lip and pulled his phone from his ear, ending the call. He sighed and stood from his bed, grabbing his pajamas so he could change in the bathroom before bed. His dreams were probably going to be filled with images and memories of Shiro again, but he couldn’t really complain when it was just as good as reality. Even if they were separated for the moment.

If you enjoy my work, please reblog or consider buying me a ko-fi!

[youcancallmeelle]

Hungry Eyes... Part 13: Sweet Pea X Original Character

The countdown had officially begun, it was only 10 weeks to go until my due date and every single moment seemed to be flying by before our eyes.

I’d also been given the all clear to deliver her naturally, my iron levels had risen to a normal level and I couldn’t be happier.

We were scheduled to have our last midwife appointment in a months time, to check she was in the correct position and to also check her size again.

We’d started to prepare, building and constructing most of the main baby items we’d need ready first.

“This can’t be right.” Sweet Pea grumbled, holding up two seperate pieces of the crib and frowning at the instructions.

I had to bite the insides of my cheek as I held back my laughter, choosing to continue folding the freshly washed, small, pink clothes on the couch.

“How you getting on?” I feigned curiosity, still watching him as he struggled.

“Rosie, I swear none of this makes sense.” He told me, kneeling on the floor with all different parts of wood and multiple sizes of screws.

“Maybe you’re just reading the wrong bit.” I suggested, pursing my lips as I ran my fingers over a petite onesie.

“Fuck this, I’m getting Fangs.” He complained, standing up and running his hands through his hair in frustration.

“Like Fangs is gonna be any use.” I snickered, he shot me a look.

“No help, no opinion.” He warned, dissappearing outside to head to Fangs trailer.

It was still surreal to me that we’d be potentially welcoming our baby in just over two months time; that was if she arrived on time and I didn’t go overdue.

As I awaited the return of the boys, I began to put some of her tiny clothes away in the drawers we had spare, filling them up neatly.

I caressed a navy, polka dot dress that Sweet Pea had picked out when we were shopping for baby supplies online; unable to believe that she’d probably be too small to wear it when she first arrived.

I’d began to feel very maternal and I’d also began to nest, I was constantly cleaning and changing things in the trailer which drove Sweets crazy because he’d come home every other day to a different layout.

When the boys came back to finish building the crib together, making it a team effort; I decided to have a sleep. I’d found that I’d become tired very quickly, my sleep was disturbed heavily at night and Sweets would lay with me until I managed to drift back off.

That night my eyes wandered to the newly assembled cot that was pressed against the wall near my side of the bed, the white wood created a stark contrast against our grey walls. I hadn’t put the sheets in it yet, wanting them to be fresh for her arrival. But we’d been unable to resist hanging her mobile over it though, the soft, pink flamingos brightened up the whole room.

“I can’t believe that’s only gonna be empty for a few more months.” I told him while I continued to rub cocoa butter into the skin of my baby bump after my bath, overjoyed that I’d managed to avoid stretch marks up to this point.

“It’s weird seeing it there, let alone knowing she’ll be in it soon enough.” Sweet Pea chuckled from the space at the end of the bed, hanging up some clothes that he’d worn to the Whyte Wyrm tonight.

“Good job of building it, by the way.” I teased, biting my lip to stop me from laughing as I thought back over his and Fangs cussing.

“Shut it, you.” He ordered, narrowing his eyes as he shut the closet and advanced me in just his tight boxers.

He took the pot of cocoa butter from me and got some in his own hands, taking ahold of my leg to rub some of it into my freshly shaved skin.

“That feels so good.” I breathed, reaching behind me to grab a pillow to rest my head on as he continued to work the body butter into my skin and massage my leg.

“It’s the least I could do, really.” He joked, beginning to work on my other leg.

“I swear the minute she’s out, I’m going on birth control so we don’t have anymore mishaps for a long time.”

“Because that’s worked so well for us before.”

“Yep, it’s definitely your sense of humour that keeps me around.” I mumbled sarcastically, twirling a piece of my hair around my finger.

“And my huge dick.” I gasped at his blunt words, jutting my leg out and gently kicking him in the thigh. “Watch your aim or there won’t be any need for you to go on birth control.” He added, grabbing my foot.

“You’re disgusting.”

“Maybe, but you love me.” He teased, crawling up the bed to lie next to me.

“Debatable.”

“Don’t say that, I’ve given you a child and you’re unsure if you love me?” He mocked, balancing on his side.

“You’re a nightmare to put up with whereas she’s worth everything I’ve had to endure this pregnancy, I just can’t wait to meet her now.”

“Regret not having that 4D scan?” Sweet Pea asked, resting his cheek in his palm as his other hand ghosted over my bump.

I thought about it for a moment, my Mom had offered to pay for us to have one of those fancy 4D scans but I’d kindly rejected her offer because I thought it’d spoil the surprise of meeting our daughter for the first time.

“Not really.” I finalised, tilting my head. “What do you think she’s gonna look like?”

“Honestly? I think she’s gonna be the spitting image of you, she’s gonna be so beautiful.” Sweet Pea articulated, his eyes focused on my stomach that was still bare due to my tank top being shoved under my boobs from applying the cocoa butter.

“You’re a real sweetheart.” I told him, reaching out to cup his smooth jaw in my hand.

“Only for you, you’ll always be my only weakness and this little one.”

“Mmm if that’s the case, can you get me a freeze pop? A cherry one.” I grinned cheekily while adjusting my cardigan and lifting up to lean against the headboard, he huffed at my response.

In all fairness though, he did get off the bed and go to the kitchen to get me a frozen popsicle, also getting one for himself.

The sweetness didn’t last long though because once he’d returned with the freezing cold treat, he shoved it between my thighs which made me let out a screech and hit his bicep.

“You’re an ass! Why couldn’t you have just given it to me nicely like any other boyfriend?” I complained, rubbing the skin of my thighs to warm them up while he continued to roar with laughter while enjoying his popsicle.

“Man, that was brilliant.”

I glared at him as I bit the plastic wrapper off the cherry flavoured treat, placing it in my mouth.

After a few minutes of us both flicking through our phones, checking social media and finishing our popsicles I felt the baby begin to move.

“She’s awake.” I giggled, looking down and watching the slight movements caused by our daughter shifting around.

Sweets dumped his phone on his nightstand, leaning forward to press his lips to my tummy.

“I think she’s running out of room.” He told me, I nodded in agreement as I felt her shove a foot into my ribs at the sound of his voice.

“Talk to her.” I encouraged, he quirked an eyebrow at my request.

“And say what?”

“I don’t know, anything.”

He thought hard for a minute, resting his chin on my thigh while I ran my fingers through his luscious hair lovingly.

“I promise that I’m going to make sure you grow up with everything we never had, you won’t miss out on anything.” He spoke, the baby moved at the depth of his voice and he felt her against his hand.

It was heartbreaking that he’d promised her that, it was sad that the only Grandparent she’d have would be my Mom, there was no family on Sweets side except his estranged Mother and Aunt that we never heard from.

It was still incredibly raw; the hole that my Father had left gaped when he chose to abandon me fourteen years ago, I don’t think it’d ever heal fully.

I knew that Sweets would be the best Dad out there, he’d stepped up and I didn’t realise he’d have the inclination to do so; family meant everything to him and now he’d started his own, he’d do anything to protect us.

“I don’t care if you wanna play football or do ballet, I’ll be there. When you go to Kindergarten, I’ll take you and pick you up everyday.” He whispered to her, she continued to squirm and wriggle at the sound of his voice.

“You’ll be the hottest Dad on the playground.”

[av-ryan]

TEXTS; AV & RONAN

JULY

Ronan Ryan

How do you feel about arcade games and singing animatronic birds?

AV Ryan

Sounds like heaven, why?

Ronan Ryan

There's a couple places here I want to check out. Somewhere called Tropicz, and then a Mr. Cheezies?

AV Ryan

Sounds sublime, I'm in. I'm not gonna lie tho, Mr. Cheezies sounds like a broke Chuck E Cheese.

Ronan Ryan

That's exactly what it is actually

I'm not sure there's anywhere else with an arcade here though

AV Ryan

Hey, I'm not complaining, can't be be worse than the actual Chuck E Cheese we used to go to back home

Ronan Ryan

Exactly!

I'm excited to see how many games I can destroy you at

AV Ryan

I guess there's only one way to find out

Ronan Ryan

I guess so. You busy tomorrow yet?

AV Ryan

You ask that like I have a life.

I'm not busy and we should definitely hang.

Ronan Ryan

Just making sure. Let's go tomorrow then! Maybe hit up a bar while we're out?

AV Ryan

You sure you’ll survive someone else making our drinks?

Ronan Ryan

It's for a job application

AV Ryan

Well you can apply, I’m going to drink.

Ronan Ryan

Sounds good! You need a DD anyway

What do you think of the place so far?

AV Ryan

I mean I’m not allergic to walking, The beds are nice? And the campus isn’t bad? What about you?

Ronan Ryan

If you want to walk, we can walk

that's fine. It's okay. It's weird being out of Texas but I'm surviving.

AV Ryan

Yeah let’s walk, it’s nice outside. I don’t you just love summer? We need to get you past surviving and into thriving ASAP.

Ronan Ryan

Cool, walking it is then. Summer's alright, I'm excited for it to cool down though. The beach is so fucking nice though. There's a stretch of it on campus.

I'll get there, AV. But thanks for caring.

AV Ryan

I haven't been yet, but I'll take your word for it.

Well we look out for each other right?

Ronan Ryan

Always.

AV Ryan

See you later for dinner. Don't forget my cigarettes.

Ronan Ryan

[ loved this ]

Ronan Ryan

I'm gonna need you to come remove the gum from my bed frame.

AV Ryan

I didn't fucking do it.

Ronan Ryan

I'm not blaming you for Simon's actions but he was in my room last night because you triggered him out AV.

AV Ryan

That's fair. Fuck. It's been sitting there all night?

Ronan Ryan

It has.

it's gross

AV Ryan

I guess I'll come now to take it off. And raid your pantry since I know you went shopping yesterday

Ronan Ryan

Fine but don't touch my soda bread.

Let me get my roommate to open the door, I'm not in right now.

I really should just give you a key.

AV Ryan

Fine I won't take all of your soda bread. Okay, cool. But yeah, you really should just give me one.

Ronan Ryan

We'll see

excited for later?

AV Ryan

What's later?

Ronan Ryan

Ouchhh.

I'll direct your attention to the top of the thread.

AV Ryan

I know, I'm just fucking with you. Hell yeah I'm excited!

Ronan Ryan

I know

Me too. I wonder if they'll let us on stage with the birds.

AV Ryan

I'd love to see them try and stop us.

Ronan Ryan

Let's do it

AV Ryan

Fuck yeah. So how was Sloan & Co last night, did I fuck up?

Ronan Ryan

Sloan & Co

Uh, it was fine. I think. Aside from the gum. Simon insisted on sleeping on the floor but when Sloan fronted they actually got in bed.

AV Ryan

I should copyright that shit.

Okay cool. Sierra cussed me out this morning first thing

Ronan Ryan

Fuck

I'm glad I slept through that. She made me coffee

AV Ryan

As long as Sloan's not actually mad at me, I think I'm good.

Ronan Ryan

I think you're good, don't worry about it.

You just wanted everyone together.

AV Ryan

See? I knew you fucking got it.

Ronan Ryan

I did, yeah. From now on we'll just keep family activities to things everyone wants to do, to avoid a repeat.

AV Ryan

That's cool with me. I was not feeling the strip club anyway. In retrospect - fuck them strippers.

Ronan Ryan

Lmao. Still pissed about the alien conversation?

AV Ryan

It might still be a touchy subject but I’m 83% over it

Ronan Ryan

Aliens 10000% exist.

There's no way they don't.

AV Ryan

I just wanted to talk, I don’t care if they agree or not. But like I said I’m over it. 91% now

Ronan Ryan

That's fair. Cool you're over it though. It was fun debating it

AV Ryan

I’ll be at 100% by the time we go out later.

Ronan Ryan

Cool, sounds good. Thanks for getting the gum off for me.

AV Ryan

Yeah no problem.

Ronan Ryan

Did you know there are people that actually want to be benchpressed?

AV Ryan

Is this a trick question?

Ronan Ryan

No, I didn't know that was a thing

AV Ryan

People especially love it when it's from a person in uniform

Ronan Ryan

Oh, okay. That's strange. Anyway, ready to head out?

AV Ryan

Why does someone want you to benchpress them?

Yep. I'm ready.

Ronan Ryan

I don't think they want me to do it specifically.

They just mentioned asking someone before and getting turned down

AV Ryan

Well mentioning it randomly is kind of weird.

Ronan Ryan

Feeling okay today, AV?

AV Ryan

I’m amazing today. You?

Ronan Ryan

I'm great

had a little bit of a headache earlier but the gym and some painkillers helped that.

AV Ryan

Last night was super chill Roe

Ronan Ryan

It was a nice time! I enjoyed it.

We should do it again

AV Ryan

Mr. Cheezies? Not so much, Tropicz hell yea! Those birds are my jam!

Ronan Ryan

Not a fan?

The birds were so cool. It's so stupid they don't let you on stage. I wanted a picture

AV Ryan

Next time we jump on stage we need to take a picture right quick, before they’re able to tell us to get down

Yeah I’m good on the Cheezies

Ronan Ryan

Absolutely. We'll do that next time.

I'm hoping the Flag is somewhere I'll be comfortable working though, and with better quality top shelf

AV Ryan

Fuck yeah. We’ll find out tonight, right?

Ronan Ryan

Yes! I'm excited

I'll sneak you free drinks and everything.

AV Ryan

You ain’t gonna get any complaints from me

Ronan Ryan

I know

all the more reason to come by right?

AV Ryan

If my codependence wasn’t enough? Yessir!

Ronan Ryan

That's fair

AV Ryan

It’s just been so long since I’ve been around everyone. I didn’t realize how much I miss you guys.

Ronan Ryan

I missed you too, and I know the others did too. If you need to talk or anything I'm h We're all together again now though, and that's what matters.

AV Ryan

That's all that matters.

Ronan Ryan

Hey, AV. How are you?

AV Ryan

(shrug emoji) you?

Ronan Ryan

Shoulder hurts a little but otherwise I'm good

AV Ryan

Sunburnt?

Ronan Ryan

Yes

Which is beyond me.

AV Ryan

Oh come on, you knew that was gonna happen.

Ronan Ryan

I thought two layers would be enough

I'll just wear a shirt next time

AV Ryan

Or stay in the shade

Ronan Ryan

I'd rather get a sunburn

The beach is meant for swimming

AV Ryan

You’re just a glutton for punishment are you?

Ronan Ryan

I guess you could say that

AV Ryan

Especially doing this perfect match thing. Though I’m not gonna lie, I was going to do it but forgot

Ronan Ryan

Listen, I ran five miles this morning

I'm so nervous

You should have done it

AV Ryan

Well you literally get to him pick your partner right? At least there is not gonna be any surprises right?

I bet the run was gorgeous as fuck though

Ronan Ryan

It's more rejecting and/or being rejected

It was, it was right at sunrise

AV Ryan

Oh that’s easy, if someone rejects you I’ll just kick their ass. And if someone gives you grief for rejecting them, I’ll just kick their ass. It’s as simple as that.

Ronan Ryan

Thanks, AV. I'd kick someone's ass for you too.

AV Ryan

Oh I fucking know you would. It’s a good thing I taught you how to fight

Ronan Ryan

It is. Easily one of my favorite memories.

AV Ryan

You've got a mean right hook

Ronan Ryan

We should get together in a boxing ring together sometime

AV Ryan

I've been off my game, but I can still kick your ass

Ronan Ryan

I've been on my game, and I'm very sure you can't.

AV Ryan

We could always make it interesting

Ronan Ryan

What are you proposing?

AV Ryan

A bet for the winner of a boxing match

Ronan Ryan

Alright, I'm in. What's the bet?

AV Ryan

Winner gets to choose the other's phone lockscreen for a month

Ronan Ryan

Deal! I'll go ahead and start looking.

When do you want to do this?

AV Ryan

I don't have shit to do so whenever

Ronan Ryan

Let's do it today, before that barbecue thing. We can use the ice water for any bruises.

AV Ryan

I heard there's a whole ass boxing ring somewhere on campus, let's do it there

Ronan Ryan

There is, it's in the gym.

You're on.

AV Ryan

Fantastic

Ronan Ryan

[ backdated ] Hey, AV! Is it cool if I give Miriam your number? She wants it.

AV Ryan

Your roommate? Yeah, I don't care

Ronan Ryan

Yup. Cool.

Ronan Ryan | 🔵

Sea Kayaking is scary

the entire time I was doing it, I kept planning an escape in case it turned over.

But anyway, how was your day?

AV Ryan

But it was also a good time? Productive. But now I’m tired but at least I took care of my VA things and hopefully my benefits start rolling in again, then I won’t have to keep asking you for money. How was your day?

Ronan Ryan | 🔵

Yeah! It was a lot of fun.

I give you a hard time, but I don't mind AV.

I stocked up on cool ranch doritos too, so help yourself.

It was good. One of those match things hit me up.

AV Ryan

You had me at cool ranch Doritos, thanks Roe Yeah? How’d it go?

Ronan Ryan | 🔵

You're welcome. How do you feel about the school so far?

It went okay. He seems nice.

AV Ryan

I don’t think my opinion has really changed since we first got here like the rooms are fine and the food is fine. I guess we’ll see how classes go once they start… you?

Ronan Ryan | 🔵

No worries. I just wanted to make sure you're good. Mine's still the same too.

AV Ryan

I’m supposed to be having dinner with someone later this week. She’s someone I knew in Hawaii. Think you can help me make something?

Ronan Ryan | 🔵

Yeah, of course. Always. Does she have any allergies? Or is there something you had in mind to make?

AV Ryan

To be honest I don’t know and I kind of don’t want to ask? Let’s just like go with the safe options no seafood, no nuts, yada yada yada

Ronan Ryan | 🔴

Alright

I got you. When do you need it by?

AV Ryan

Tomorrow, I think.

Ronan Ryan | 🔴

No problem

AV Ryan

Thanks, Roe

Ronan Ryan | 🔴

[ loved this ]

Ronan Ryan | 🔴

Do you want to come over for a movie later? Just us?

AV Ryan

Sure, what movie?

Ronan Ryan | 🔴

Um, maybe a comedy? Step Brothers?

AV Ryan

Yeah alright. You good?

Ronan Ryan | 🔴

I'm doing great. Are you?

AV Ryan

Not great, but fine

Ronan Ryan | 🔴

Do you need to talk? We can skip the movie? I'm here for you, AV. We all are.

Ronan Ryan | 🔴

croc poptarts.jpg

I wonder if these actually exist

AV Ryan

The flavor looks awful

Ronan Ryan | 🔴It does

good thing it's fake!

Along with a lot of other grosser flavors.

AV Ryan

It's funny as hell though

Ronan Ryan | 🔴

It is. There was another one called Swamp with Shrek on it.

AV Ryan

I fucking love Shrek

Ronan Ryan | 🔴

I haven't seen Shrek in forever

AV Ryan

We should watch that next time.

Ronan Ryan | 🔴

We should, definitely! Which movie is your favorite?

AV Ryan

Besides Love Actually? Probably Speed. That’s a classic

Ronan Ryan | 🔴

No like, which Shrek movie?

AV Ryan

Oh. The first one, definitely

Ronan Ryan | 🔴

Good to know about Speed though. I haven't seen it, so maybe that's something else we could watch too.

AV Ryan

Sandra Bullock and Keanu Reeves before their careers really took off. It’s amazing.

AUGUST

Ronan Ryan | 🔴

Hey, AV. Want to go out together again, when I'm not working? I kind of miss the birds, strangely enough.

AV Ryan

Yeah whenever, you know me always free

Ronan Ryan | 🔴

Cool. Did you see the new list of locations too? There's a Texas food truck

AV Ryan

Oh no I didn’t hear that. It’s like Brahma heard and answered my prayers

Ronan Ryan | 🔴

It's down at the beach, but it's going to be on campus every Friday!

AV Ryan

Well see if they serve authentic Mexican food too

Ronan Ryan | 🔴

Hey, they might. Want to go check it out with me tomorrow?

AV Ryan

[backdated] Yeah, I’m down

[eridade]

Carpool

a/n: hi! This is my first au and I am a little nervous. To sum up, two things: 1st, I'm not English and I may have lots of things wrong, from grammar to lack of vocubulary. 2nd, I don't know were this story is going but don't let the first paragraph scare you please. I hope you enjoy this! (The rest of the members will come up sooner or later, don't worry) Oh and when I use this that represents your thoughts or if single words, just emphasis.

......

You were horny. That was it and you knew. But somehow you couldn't just let your hair down at a random party and kiss the fuck out of some fuckboy. You weren't confortable enough.

You sighed and took your notebook to write your latest wet dream. According to your notes you were having those kind of dreams more often each time. You thought you were going crazy.

It had been three months since your boyfriend had broken up with you. But it was a long distance relationship, so it felt like a whole year of abstinence and you were craving kisses all around your body. You obviously needed some action.

Shaking your head out of another fantasy you got up and headed to the kitchen to have breakfast. To top your shitty situation you just had moved from your hometown to live on your own and you felt lonely as fuck. College was going to be hard.

At least you knew someone from there: your friend Katherine. You two had met in highschool and you became flesh and bone. That was why she had decided to leave her perfect life behind in order to take care of you. You were just a grown up brat.

"High mom" you said nervously when she appeared in front of your eyes. She was shorter than you, with the cutest little nose in the world and the nurturing soul of an experienced mother.

She smiled at your greeting "Hi cutie, ready for first day of school?". She also loved playing along with you. You quitted your not-so-good facade and hugged her seeking her mom magic.

She stroked your hair in the way she knew you liked. You didn't have to tell her how hard all of that was for you for her to understand it. God, she was so fucking perfect. You were so lucky.

"I'm sure you'll do great" Katherine said calmly while facing you "and before you can regret moving here, you'll be surrounded by friends having fun".

You wanted to believe that so hard, but you knew people always rejected you as soon as they saw you.

You watched her go, terrified for being all by yourself again.

___________________

Apparently you actually needed your mom in the light of you getting lost two minutes after you realized you had classes to attempt to. "Why am I like this?" you groaned giving up on yourself.

"Don't beat yourself too much about it" said an unknown voice behind you. You turned around to face a brown-eyed lad with beautiful silky black hair. Not now you told your crotch, stop thinking about his hair and ask him for help or SOMETHING. Why were you like that?

"Are you Y/N?" he asked. You almost chocked. "How do you know me? Who are you?" you began to panic after realizing that murderers could be hot too.

He laughed. He just laughed. Stop this. You watched him laugh while stepping back just in case.

"Aren't you supposed to be at your English lesson?" said he, still laughing. "They told me to find you, you were at the presentation but as you didn't make your way to the class, we just thought..." "That I got lost". He nodded with a grin still in his face.

"Thank you so much for finding me. Was it hard?"

"Not at all. I saw you before and assumed the path you may have followed."

Fuck, he's an intellectual. A hot intellectual.

He smiled at you and turned on his heels expecting you to follow him. Cocky fuckboy you thought to yourself. But as he turned around to face you, you were aware of how wrong you were.

"Is that what you think? Isn't that too rude for a lost girl on her first day of college?" he said, his smile never reaching his eyes.

"Well it would be, but I didn't mean to say that out loud, so you should just forget about that" you said trying to sound cool. Which you didn't.

"Is this your way to make friends?" he asked, lifting one of his eyebrows.

You sighed. Why were you so silly to say something like that or even to think that. He was just some boy helping you.

At that moment he just shrugged and continued walking.

Well I'm actually fucked.

You didn't say anything until you arrived at your class. Before he could open the door you spoke.

"What's your name by the way?" God, your voice came out like a caw. Good job, Y/N.

He looked at you, holding your gaze for a second before answering. "Jungkook" his voice was sharp.

He entered the classroom. You wanted to kick yourself for that.

________________________

A whole term had passed since that accident and you have been blaming yourself for that every-fucking-day.

Katherine, as always, had a lot of new friends, who weren't a fan of you though. And you just fucked every opportunity you've had since then. Sometimes you were too shy, sometimes you couldn't keep your mouth shut.

That led you to do lots of team projects on your own, watching your partners have fun.

"Are you thinking about a hot guy, pizza or me?" wondered Katherine as she hugged you from behind "I'm going to guess... Me".

"I wish you were all I can think about" you said in pout. After a few minutes you started to mumble something.

"I know I'm not a party gyal, but right now I think I need to..." you stopped when you saw your friend looking at you widening her eyes as you spoke. She loved partying, but as you were married to your bed, you didn't go out with her as much as she would want; and being the soft mom she was, Katherine would never pressure you to do something you don't want to. That's why she was freaking out when you told her that.

You two decided to go to one of Katherine's friend's party. He said it was going to be chill, not too much people there, so Katherine thought it was perfect for you.

You decided to wear a black knitted overall with light make up, some mascara, brows and nude lips.

You looked... Nice. You smiled at your reflection.

_________________

At first the party was going great. Not too many people, just drinking some beer, people noticing you. That part was great.

But as hours passed and more drunk people were screaming and dancing like it was the end of the world around you, you began feeling more and more unconfortable.

It was midnight when you decided to quit, too lonely and sober to stand all of that. You texted Katherine, telling her not to worry about you and have fun the rest of the night. I'm sure she's already having lots of fun you thought as you remember her talking to a hot girl before kissing her.

When you were at the front door, leaving, someone pushed you and you fell on your face against the hard porch floor.

"Aaaauch" you moaned, trying to get up. You felt dizzy with your hearbeat pounding now on your left cheek.

"Oh god, I'm so sorry. I wanted to leave so fast that I ran into you by mistake".

You turned around, but you already knew whose voice was that. Jungkook was staring at you with a worried expression.

"Well, I'm out now, so you may want to get your ass back there as fas as you can" you whispered bitterly.

He frowned at your answer. "Why would I do that?"

At this point you were a little drunk, hurt and tired so you just let all your thoughts out "you seem to hate me"

"I don't hate you and I've never had" now it was you who frowned "and again, why would I do that?"

"You've been avoiding me"

"In order to give you space! Remember who didn't like who when we met? I thought you didn't want to have anything to do with me"

Well, that escalated quickly.

You were just about to answer him when he grabbed you by your wrist and pulled you out of the porch

"We are clearly alterated and I think some quiety could help", he looked at you then, "would you mind having this conversation inside my car? It's parked right there". You just nodded trying to keep up with his speed. Damned tall boys.

You both entered the vehicle and grinned when the loud music turned into a murmur.

"First of all" he cleared his throat "I'm really sorry for that" he pointed his own cheek "and I want to clear out that I never intended to hurt you". He nodded at himself, satisfied with his own speech.

"Secondly" he went on before you could say a thing "I still can't believe that you would think that I hate you. Have you ever heard of politeness? I'd never want to bother you, so yeah, I avoided you".

That actually makes sense. Fuck.

You shook your head, trying to focus on your words.

"I'm sorry I may have thought those things. I owe you an explanation. Agh... I never intended calling you a cocky fuckboy either" he looked at you, surprised by your accuracy "it's not that I thought you were, but the fact that I was scared of you being one" you spoke slowly trying not to stutter.

You stare at each other.

"You may have seen that I'm always alone, I wasn't insulting each person from our class to end up like that. It's just... People don't like me, and I jumped to that conclusion in order to protect myself. I'm sorry but it's just the way I am".

Wow, that was a speech. Damned beer.

"I've noticed, yeah"

Was that an answer? You began to panic. Why did I have to open up like that? Stupid stupid stupid stup...

"I understand it now, but it still hurts to be mistaken for some kind of heartbreaker fuckboy or whatever" he frowned but he looked so cute pouting about not being a fuckboy that you just couldn't hold your laugh.

At first he was surprised but eventually he started to laugh too.

"I think we are just too dumb for each other" you said.

He smiled at you. Oh fuck, stop being so beautiful, I'm trying to be your friend.

As if he had read your thoughts he threw a little glance at your lips before looking at your eyes, blushing.

Well, this is strange. If he wasn't just that cute and nice maybe he may have liked me but obviously he is, so stop this, body.

Your mind went blanck the second he leaned on you, softly, closing the distance of your lips.

Okay, this is stupid Y/N, he is going to kiss you and you just can't stay like this, petrified. Move, girl, move.

Listening to your head you caressed his lips against yours, very carefully.

You broke the kiss to look at his eyes and he looked shook.

What did I do wrong? You bit your lip nervously.

It was then when you were aware of his hand on your shoulder.

You looked back at him questioning what was happening in silence.

"Y-you had a s-spider on your shoulder" his last word almost inaudible.

You began to punch yourself in your head, but he quickly changed his look.

"Wait Y/N" he placed his hands on your shoulders "before you say or think something: it wasn't ridiculous to think that I was going to kiss you" you began to panic even more "and it was a great kiss. Please, believe me"

Hm.

"Please, Y/N"

Hmm.

"I beg you, believe me, please" he said, whispering.

His lips caressing yours.

Well, there it goes all de liquids I may have ingested in... my whole life.