#Key word PAST !! /pos

[tippenfunkaport]

something something, visited by three spirits that push you to reinvent yourself

and meanwhile, the three mother-type figures in Adora's life were all key to her to figuring out what she really wanted and who she wanted to be but literally...

Light Hope "died" trying to right a wrong from the PAST

Queen Angella died trying to preserve Adora's PRESENT

and Shadow Weaver died to give Adora a chance at a FUTURE

[thatonegaybrit]

; not to brag but

; I'm totally so excited HAGAYSVAUSVSY !! AHHH !! :D today is a good dayyy wahhhh

[giuseppe-yuki]

swim

daniel ricciardo x raccoon shapeshifter!reader

w.c.: 2.1k

warnings: none :) (reader lowkey bullies danny though)

part of my shapeshifting!reader series

summary: you find ways to keep cool in the paddock

picture credits from tumblr :)

there were no words to explain the feeling you felt right now. your mind was fuzzy, your arms and legs goo. you groan as another wave of heat spreads across you. 

you were talking about the weather in monaco, of course. this time of the year, the temperature was hitting record highs. you were left a sweaty mess every time you stepped an inch outside. to battle the heat, you frequented trips to the pool, often dragging your boyfriend along with you.  

unfortunately, the sunscreen on your bare skin right now did you no justice as the harsh sun’s uv rays pierced straight through the sun protection and gave you sensitive, itchy skin. adjusting the sun umbrella above you, you took another sip of the cold lemonade that danny freshly squeezed minutes ago. 

“good?” he asks, peering at you through his sunnies from his spot on a sun lounger. 

you flash a thankful smile at him. “yep, thank you baby! it tastes so good in this monaco heat,” you reply. the lingering taste of the sour citrus mixed with just the right amount of sugar cools you off as much as the cold pool water does. he nods once, satisfied with your answer. 

once you finish your drink, you set the glass aside and pick yourself up from your own sun lounger, and cannonball into the pool, purposefully soaking danny in the process. when you kick back onto the surface, you see your poor boyfriend sopping wet, dangling his moist phone out in front of him with two fingers. 

“hey!” he protests, trying to dry off his phone as quickly as possible. “you are so dead when i catch you!”

you squeal as daniel tosses his now-dry phone off to the side and yanks off his muscle shirt before jumping in after you.

the rest of the evening is spent with danny chasing you around the pool with a pool noodle, trying to bonk you in the head, while you try to drown him (unsuccessfully) by climbing onto his shoulders. 

by the time the sun touches the line of ocean in the distance, creating a hazy orange glow over everything, you are both exhausted. daniel helps you push together the padded sun loungers into a makeshift bed, and the two of you simultaneously sprawl yourselves horizontally over the soft cushions. the weather starts to feel nice, with a little breeze cooling your sunburnt skin. you lie there in comfortable silence, a hand playing with danny’s curls, legs tangled together. it was moments like these that you were grateful for. no stress, no intrusive paparazzi, and no work stuff. just you, danny, and the quiet gurgles of the pool suction cleaner. 

there was no escaping the demanding world of f1 for long. like clockwork, you were back again the in paddock the next day, decked out in enchanté merch. like the day before, it was an insane temperature that you were sure allowed you to cook an egg on the pavement. you practically dragged danny past the paparazzi and screaming fans to get to the ac-conditioned driver’s room.

you weave through several vcarb employees on the way to the driver’s room, and almost fall trying to shove the door open in the haste to get inside.

“be careful!” danny chastises. “i don’t want you to fall.” reaching around you, he softly opens the door and pushes it open. 

you press a quick kiss to his stubbled cheek and chirp a quick “thank you!” before racing inside. 

before he can even set down his keys and his phone on the desk inside the room, you had already cracked open a cold red-bull from his fridge and stretched yourself out on the sofa.

“it’s not even that hot,” he laughs.

“yes it is!” you shoot back, sitting up from the couch. “it’s not fair you’re from australia where it’s always a billion degrees in the summer, so you’re used to it.” wiping a few drops of sweat from your heat-reddened face, you collapse back into your original position. 

he rolls his eyes.

“you know what,” you continue, taking a sip of cold red bull, “i should totally shave my entire head right now. i bet that would make me way less sweatier!”

daniel whips around from where he picked up his phone a second ago, eyes wide. “baby, you are not shaving your hair. we both know you will most likely regret it the second the last hair leaves its hair follicle.” he pauses a moment, stifling a laugh. “also, i can’t promise i won’t laugh when you show up in the paddock completely bald. not to mention, i haven’t seen a hairless raccoon before!”

it’s now your turn to roll your eyes. “okay, danny, what do you suggest i do to battle the heat then?” you scoff. “should i…stroll around in a bikini?”

you watch as your boyfriends eyes widen in shock. “ha, i bet you would like that!” you tease.

“absolutely not!” he retorts. “you in a bikini is a sight only i should be able to see.”

to that statement, you let out a giggle. 

before you can respond, a knock sounds on the door and daniel’s manager sticks his head in. he greets you with a quick wave before turning to your boyfriend. 

“hey, just want to let you know that laurent is calling a team meeting in around two hours. i just wanted to let you know early so you can set an alarm or something. you better be there!” 

to you, he instructs, “make sure danny gets to the meeting. last time he was late twenty minutes late and laurent was pissed!”

“aye, aye, captain!” you exclaim, giving him a mock salute. 

he nods tersely, and shuts the door after himself.

fifteen minutes later, you find yourself padding out of daniel’s driver’s room in your raccoon form. it’s easier for you to hide in a little patch of shade when it gets too hot than if you were a regular human, you reason. like when you were entering, you weave through the vcarb employees, but this time through their legs. some of them stop to give you a few pats, since they are all used to you always scurrying around their feet. daniel shoots a few of them a wink and finger guns as he follows you out of the vcarb hospitality.

as soon as your paws touch the scorching pavement outside, you immediately know something is wrong- it’s way too hot for you to walk with no paw pad protection outside. 

sensing your hesitation, danny kneels down, looking at you concerningly.

“you okay?” he asks. he touches the ground with the pads of his fingers experimentally, testing the temperature. within seconds, he retracts his hand with a yelp. “wow, the pavement sure is hot!” he states, shaking his hand to cool it off. you sit in the frame of the vcarb hospitality doorway, looking up at danny with your sad raccoon eyes. there’s no hesitation before you scoops you up into his arms. he supports your hind legs with one of his hands and loops his other arm around your body, keeping you feeling safe in his arms. 

“alright, now to red bull,” he declares. (he always found himself going to annoy max when he had free time)

unfortunately, the red bull motorhome was all the way on the other end of the paddock from vcarb. as your boyfriend walked, he kept getting distracted by fans wanting autographs. like the kind man he was, he of course stopped and signed everything before continuing on. after being stopped by the sixth fan in the span of ten minutes, you weren’t even halfway across the paddock yet. you squirm in his hands, feeling a little uncomfortable by the sun beating down on you and your thick fur. daniel takes notice, and immediately pulls out a tiny tub of frozen grapes out of absolutely nowhere. you jerk back in surprise, because what kind of guy carries around a random tub of frozen grapes?

he laughs at your reaction before pulling the lid open and handing you a grape. you lick his hand as a thank-you and grab the grape with both paws. immediately, you shove it into your mouth. it’s cold, crunchy, and perfectly delicious. reaching out, you make grabby-paws, gesturing for more. your satisfying purring attracts the attention of some teenage fans nearby. they run, squealing, overjoyed to find not only daniel ricciardo, but also a cute raccoon.

“can we feed your raccoon some grapes too?” they ask hopefully.

you give danny a small nod with your furry head and he hands them several grapes. one of the girls hands you the frozen fruit as a boy pets your head. after a few grapes, they pose for a photo with you (they make danny take the photo), and leave shortly after. 

“huh,” daniel notes. “it seemed that they were here more for you than for me!” 

you flash him a smile with your canines out. 

once you arrive at the redbull hospitality, danny lets you down. while he asks one of the engineers for the location of max, you pad around the eating area. snatching a piece of corn-on-the cob from catering, you settle down underneath one of the tables to eat your stolen snack. 

your boyfriend pulls you out from under the table a few minutes later, ignoring your pissed-off hissing for dragging you away from your corn. 

“we gotta go back to my driver’s room,” he says exasperatedly, giving you a few calming pats on your back. “you can have your corn later. anyways, max is apparently in his drivers room ‘playing with his pet cat’ or whatever that means. i didn’t even see him bring a cat into the paddock!” without another word, he picks you up and starts heading to the exit.

you chitter, expressing your annoyance. you probably had to introduce him to max’s shapeshifter girlfriend later.

before he can leave the red bull hospitality, you wriggle in his arms, conveying your distaste for going out into the sun again. frowning slightly, he turns around before setting you back on the ground. you scamper as far as you can into the motorhome, away from the doorway leading you to the blazing outside. making sure danny is following you, only stopping when you reach some stairs. both of you climb up the stairs to find another seating area. to your surprise, yuki lays on one of the cushioned couches, a grey bunny in his arms. he waves to daniel and raises his eyebrow at you walking around near your boyfriend's feet, but doesn’t stop hand-feeding the bunny watermelon cubes. you spare the animal a suspicious glance before inching yourself towards a second set of stairs at the end of the seating area. 

when you reach the top of the stairs, you find yourself again in the heat. blinking your eyes to adjust from the sudden brightness, you realize that in front of you lies a big pool with a red bull logo on the bottom. it’s surprisingly empty. behind you, danny steps into the top level of the red bull hospitality too. you turn around and blink at him innocently. he realizes your intent a second too late. 

you sprint straight towards the pool and jump in headfirst. the cool water feels so nice against your overheated body. 

danny sprints over to the edge of the pool, looking extremely aghast. 

“oh my god, baby! get out of the pool right now! i’m not sure they’re allowing people to swim in there right now, much less a raccoon!”

you intentionally pretend not to hear him, paddling in little circles around the middle of the pool. 

suddenly, you hear a person clear their throat from the stairs. you look away from danny, who was currently circling the pool trying to find the best way to fish you out. 

in front of you stands geri halliwell-horner, dressed in a modest white dress. 

“i don’t see a problem with your girlfriend swimming in the pool, and i’m sure christian agrees with me!” she says, smiling. 

you both gape at her, mouths open. not only were you blessed by the presence of ginger spice herself, but she also knew your secret shapeshifting ability? that was wild.

you chatter appreciatively at geri, and swim over to the edge of the pool. 

“geri!” your boyfriend says sheepishly. “thank you for clarifying. i just wanted to make sure it was okay to be in the pool, but my girlfriend-” he shoots you a glare- “decided it was a good idea to just jump in!”

making sure daniel was distracted explaining himself to christian’s wife, you climbed onto to a the sofa before jump-kicking your unsuspecting boyfriend straight into the redbull pool. 

he surfaces a second later at the edge, gasping, to your taunting raccoon squeals and geri’s surprised laughter. 

“great!” he grumbles. “i’m cooled off now, but how am i going to explain to the laurent and the rest of the engineers why i’m sopping wet?”

taglist: @ilivbullyingjeongin @ale-522 @formula1-motogpfan @aceyalonso @my0hmary

@mbappebby @madkohi @rakshatos @heartsforleclerc @papaya-twinks

[layraket]

THERE WAS AN UPDATE SLEEPING? WHATS THAT??

first of all we start with this beautiful shot

god thats some cool architecture i have no words clapping

Wind is so ready to kick that lizard's ass i love him

this confirms the fact that theyre in the same place but in a different era (also i swear im convinced that this place takes place at least no far from Hyrule's era, the statue behind Legend and the corridors inside are almost the same as in Zelda1 and 2)

that was the worst joke i have heard today good job rulie lots of kudos /lh

the boys entering a place where they could find the most dangerous shit in all Hyrule, and then there's my girl who is having the best lunch ever

when i first read this i almost spit all my water on my phone cuz. Wars my man these people are like. crazy with dungeon crawl. you can't say that and expect a normal reaction.

their expressions are gold no notes

TIME'S SIDE EYE LMAO

Sky looking concerned, and Wars with the most "i dont know what is everyones problem but alright" face i love him

In a war there's no time to explore or search for things that can be useful, or even search for clues, less with the fact that youre leading an army. There was no puzzle, no mistery to solve or objects that needed to be obtained, just plain fight and confrontation, not leaving space for investigation or even a good rest in town

They have a point, without exploring they wouldn't have the arsenal that they carry; powerful items that can kill a whole army of monsters, a gift left by the hero before them to help, shinies. All that is really useful when you want to save the whole kingdom

lets not forget all the weapons that you can get on HW, there are some that are like, crazy powerful, and the materials get from the enemies are also really helpful

guys i think youre the only crazy people who love to enter a random place full of monsters and maybe a demon lord or smth

OK THIS IS THE PANNEL WHERE I WANTED TO TALK A LITTLE ABT

This reminds me of this short comic where Wild was almost grabbed by a wallmaster, do this takes place some time before this scene?? or just from another time?? I find possible the first option cuz Wild looks more wary the whole update, like if he already found out what will happends if he puts his guard down

Also the fact that the closest thing that he had as a dungeon were the Divine Beast and the shrines, which both of them lacked a lot of things that were usually in the clasic zelda's dungeons, like keys, mini bosses, special object and pots.

Hyrule my guy you dont. have to scare him like that. i hate these things too but calm down.

fucking gremlin /pos

taking this as an opportunity to talk about how Legend's behaviour has been seen changed in the past updates, he's more relaxed and playful, taking a moment to just have fun and prank the rest of the chain

this reminds me

here is left clear that he's still young, maybe not even on his twenties, and now after that stressfull time with Twi being on the verge of death it makes sense that he feels the need of just, goof around to cope after all that

Yes he's the most experienced, yes is maybe the most powerful of them, but he's still a young boy who was dragged to all this, he deserves to have some fun

happy guy :)

and then we have Time, he looks like Not Having A Good Time™

Messy hair Warriors <3

also i know we all put Sky as one of the adults, but cmon he's a little shit as much as the rest, thats why he finds funny Legend's joke

Wild my man you good? like im genuinely asking at this point, it is weird seeing him so serious

god thats such a cool design of a skulltula, its so scary 10/10

Wild has never seen in his life a spider of this size, so it makes sense him just, straight up getting surprised by that thing

OUGHH I FELT THAT

Sky being right-handed looks like a problem in this closed space, soon or later it would make some troubles

Legend no offence but did you see the little accident they had right there. like. that really hurts if you ask me.

Okay Time is really at his limit here, the past days has been hell for him with the stress of almost loosing the one that he might see as his son, and seeing all the boys just playing around is not helping. Theyre all heroes, they should take this danger seriously if they want to stop all danger.

He wants to protect the ones that he cares for, even if he has to snap for it.

Here he might be planning to team up with Twi and Wind? The youngest seems to have gained his attention as his second successor. He will make anything it takes to not let all of them get hurt, and with everything he means it

Just wait when he learns that Legend is also his successor, automatically adopted

NOW MY FAV PARTS WITHOUT COMMENTARY!!!

SOMEHOW I GOT THE IMAGE LIMIT???? I DIDNT THOUGHT THAT IT WAS POSSIBLE ON WEB

anyways have confused warriors as the last one pls aprecciate him

tumblr pls let me eat the art i beg you

art credits as always towards @linkeduniverse! always feeling blessed with all this fantastic work!

[zikariogirl]

‘ 𝐛𝐚𝐛𝐲𝐝𝐨𝐥𝐥 ‘ — 𝐣𝐚𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐚𝐧-𝐬𝐞𝐨𝐤

𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐨𝐧𝐞, 𝐏𝐀𝐑𝐓 𝐓𝐖𝐎, 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐞,

𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐠: ‘𝐛𝐚𝐛𝐲𝐝𝐨𝐥𝐥’ 𝐛𝐲 𝐚𝐫𝐢 𝐚𝐛𝐝𝐮𝐥

summary ┆ working at wusang was a dream come true for you. you had great friendships there and even began to develop feelings for a certain intern. but things started to change — big reveals left you shocked, and instead of running away you felt yourself become more captivated by him. . . and he seems to notice you as well. nothing in this world really matters to jang han-seok, but you? he will burn the whole world for you.

key: bold = english

warnings┆swearing, violence, the usual crazy things involving han-seok

You were inside the bathroom, trying to control your breathing and calming yourself down before you had to face Joon-woo.

Or actually — Jang Han-seok. Joon-woo was never his name.

You looked like a mess as you examined yourself in the mirror. You were crying for the past ten minutes and could not stop. Your make up was ruined and your eyes were starting to get puffy, your hair was also disheveled from all the times you were running your hands through it. This definitely felt worse compared to when Han-seok was talking to you about his crush.

The sound of the door opening made you whirl your head, your eyes landing on Ms. Choi who seemed unimpressed when she checked you over. “Are you done sulking?”

You wiped the tears away with a paper towel, feeling embarrassed that she caught you like this. “Just five more minutes.”

You knew she wanted to say a snarky comment, but for some odd reason, she held back. She had a look of displeasure — making it well known that she would much rather do something else than babysit you in a bathroom. You expected her to leave but much to your surprise she stayed, and you wondered why. A part of you wonders if Han-seok sent her to check up on you, but the other half doubts he even cares anymore.

Once you successfully collected yourself and fixed your look, you followed Ms. Choi out of the bathroom, the unsettling feeling of dread making its return to you. Han-seok was standing by Mr. Han and the ex-Chairman, Han-seo, while speaking about a situation, but the moment his eyes landed on you he was quick to shut up and order everyone to leave.

Oh god you did not want to be left alone with him.

“Why did you walk out like that?” He frowned while reaching for your hand, but you instantly flinched away, making his frown deepen. “What’s going on?”

“You’re really asking me that? After what just happened back in the conference room?”

He genuinely seemed surprised. “Wait, did that upset you? Really?”

“You’re ridiculous,” you let out a dry laugh as you shook your head. “I don’t know what to say or where to begin. Was any of it even real to you? Our friendship? The great times we had working together and going out as friends? Did any of that matter to you?”

“Of course it mattered, and it still will,” he was quick to answer, a serious expression falling on his features. “______, just because I’m Han-seok and not Joon-woo does not mean I don’t care about you. You’re still really important to me.”

“You don’t have to lie to me okay? It’s fine if you don–”

“I’m not lying to you,” he was quick to interrupt you before he pulled you in for a hug. “You mean a lot to me. I’m sorry if it feels like I was leading you on by lying about my identity. I had to keep it a secret. Mr. Han and Ms. Choi had to find out by default because they’re working with me, but you? I wanted you to know as well. I didn’t want to hide it forever.

“And Mr. Han was pissing me off lately too, especially when he fucking disrespected you. He wouldn’t listen to me as Joon-woo, but now? I have power over him. No one, especially him, will ever disrespect you again. I hate watching people treat you like shit, it pisses me off.”

You swallowed at his words and sudden protectiveness, not even knowing where to begin. You were for sure not going to bring up the possibility of him liking you since you had zero courage to do so. His words sounded genuine, and it also fell down to the question of, what will he achieve if he continued to lie to you? It’s not like you’re someone important within the business.

Unless… he wants you to grab intel on the Jipuragi Law Firm since you tend to hang around there sometimes.

At the thought of that, you simply pushed him away and held your head low. “Give me time to process this.”

“_____–”

“Please… Han-seok.” The name felt so foreign to your tongue.

He let out a sigh. “Fine, but at least let me drive you home.”

And you let him, but the drive was only full of silence. Neither of you said a word and all you could do was stare out the window, not even bothering to look in his direction. He did try to talk to you at times but you never answered him, so eventually, he gave up and left you alone. The moment he pulled up in front of your apartment, you quickly rushed out of his car without looking back or saying goodbye.

You just needed time, and that’s what you gave yourself.

You didn’t want to lay off work but when Mr. Han offered to magically give you some vacation time, you didn’t hesitate in accepting it. You also distanced yourself from Cha-young since a part of you felt a bit guilty not telling her about Han-seok. But you also didn’t tell Han-seok that Cha-young and Vincenzo were on to him, so in the end, it was a win-win situation for both parties.

You did some self-healing for two weeks — ignoring texts and phone calls and only checking your phone every once a while. You were currently watching a documentary in your living room while wearing sweats and a sports bra when the sound of a knock made you freeze. Who the hell is visiting you? You wrapped your blanket around your body and ran towards the door, slowly opening it.

“Are you okay?!” Cha-young wasted no time in storming in and cupping your face. “I know you said you needed distance but you’ve been acting weird. What happened? I know something must’ve happened. Wait, was it Joon-woo? What did he do now?!”

Your heart fell at the mention of him. “I really don’t want to talk about it.”

You were thankful she didn’t push, instead, she pulled out a pint of your favorite ice cream from a grocery bag you didn’t realize she was carrying. “Ice cream and chill?”

“Oh my god I love you.”

It was refreshing having her around again, and maybe that’s all you needed this whole time. Some quality time with a good friend to get your mind off of things. You two continued to watch the show while eating your ice cream and Cha-young decided to order take-out as well, making you ten times happier. There was a knock on the door and you immediately stood up — hungry for some food — but your eyes widened when they fell on Han-seok’s figure.

“Hey I just–”

SLAM.

Where was your blanket at? You frantically searched for it while Cha-young stood up with a confused expression on her face. The moment she opened the door and completely ignored your protests, you simply wanted to die since you were still not covered up.

“Oh! Cha-young, hi!” Han-seok waved at her with a smile before moving his eyes towards your direction. It’s like he finally took in your appearance of wearing sweats and a sports bra and he immediately turned around, apologizing profusely. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I am sorry.”

“Hold up!” You screamed and felt relief when you spotted your blanket and didn’t hesitate in wrapping it around your upper body. “Okay, you can come in.”

Han-seok nodded his head and began to step backwards into your apartment, but was stopped by Cha-young as she grabbed his collar and pulled him towards her. “Why are you here? HM?”

He blinked at her. “I was worried about _____ and wanted to see if she wanted some gimbap,” he explained while holding up a bag.

You do love some gimbap.

Cha-young continued to inspect him. “Why didn’t you check up on her earlier?”

“Because she wanted to be left alone.”

“So what? What if she needed help?”

“And where were you as well?”

Cha-young squinted her eyes at him while scrunching her nose. “Fair point,” she let him go before checking her watch when it pinged. “That stupid Vincenzo,” she quietly mumbled and hurriedly grabbed all of her belongings. “I have to go, I’m sorry. You and Joon-woo can enjoy the take-out. Bye!”

And with that she was gone. Han-seok turned to look at you as he placed the gimbap down. “Why was she here?”

His question made you feel defensive. “She came to cheer me up, same thing you’re doing right now.”

He only hummed in response as he plopped himself down on your couch. “Have you been okay?”

You didn’t answer him. You didn’t want him knowing that being apart from him has slowly been eating you alive, but you also wanted the feeling of satisfaction of seeing Han-seok’s reaction to you actually doing fine. But yet, you were quiet and unmoving, standing in the middle of the room as you began to space out. You heard him stand up and instead of walking away from him, you continued to stay in place while he placed his hands on your arms.

“Are you okay?”

“No.”

You didn’t mean to answer so quick, but you once again felt vulnerable under his gaze and presence. His features showed concern and a bit of sadness as he overlooked you quickly before letting out a deep sigh.

“Do you still think I don’t care about you?”

You didn’t respond, which lead to him tilting your chin up to look at him. “There’s only one person in this world that I truly care about, and it’s you. Your friendship means everything to me. You’ve been nothing but nice to me, even when the rest of the world treated me like shit as Joon-woo. You were so kind, caring, and always had my back. I know I lied about who I was and I’m sorry,” he grabbed your hands and gave them a light squeeze. “Just please, if you can’t forgive me now, then let me prove it to you. Let me show you that you are my number one favorite person.”

You were still feeling hesitant in trusting him, and all you could do was squint your eyes. “I hope you know I’m not going to serve as some spy for you and grab intel from the Jipuragi Law Firm.”

He chuckled. “I didn’t expect you to.”

You thought over his words, and the logical side of you was trying to warn you that trusting him was a bad idea. He was not a good person — seeing how Babel has Wusang covering up their illegal schemes. You should’ve turned around and cut off all communication with him, but the look he was giving you and the way he held onto your hands made you second guess yourself. Should you take the risk? Maybe he’s genuine and does care for you.

Either way, you decided to see where your friendship would lead to as you forgave him; something that made his face brighten with excitement.

And you did not regret it.

Because next thing you knew, you were back to working as his personal assistant. Although Han-seok displayed the same characteristics as his former persona, Joon-woo, he also held a more authoritative tone now — which was extremely attractive. Of course he only acted like that with the small group that knew of his real identity. He was still Lawyer Jang Joon-woo to the public but Chairman Jang Han-seok to you, Mr. Han, and Ms. Choi.

The two of you began to hang out more frequently, whether it was at his apartment or in public. It felt more… genuine now. Han-seok was more open towards you and it felt like something shifted between you two — unless if you were imagining it. As the days passed by, you both grew closer and closer, but you also noticed that you’ve been growing a bit distant with Cha-young as well. It fell on you both. She was busy getting as much information as she could with her case against Babel while you were too indulged in assisting Han-seok and growing more closer to him. The thought of losing Cha-young left a small pang in your chest.

And it was definitely going to hurt seeing her again today in court.

Today was the re-trial and you sat next to Mr. Han while Han-seok and Ms. Choi handled the case. Much to everyone’s surprise, Vincenzo showed up as a surprise witness, but what really settled the case was the fiasco between Director Gil and his wife. It was something straight out of a drama, and you watched in shock — your mouth hanging open — as the chaos unfolded in front of you.

You caught sight of Cha-young and she shot you a thumbs up, but all you could do was stare at her with wide eyes, especially when you felt Han-seok’s gaze on you.

After that horrific loss of a trial, you followed Han-seok outside with Mr. Han and Ms. Choi. His jaw was clenched and you could tell he was livid by the expression on his face as he hopped inside the driver’s seat.

“Get in.”

He didn’t have to repeat himself as the three of you scurried inside the car, with you riding shot gun. The moment Mr. Han shut the car door, Han-seok drove off at a high rate of speed, making your eyes widen in fear when you took notice of him going faster. He was swerving through cars without a care as he gripped the steering wheel.

“Do you know how much Babel will lose today?” He questioned your two superiors in the back. “Seven hundred-sixty million dollars! AH!”

His screaming made you flinch and your body began to shake as you tightly clutched onto the seatbelt.

“I’m already past two-hundred kilometers per hour. Should we jump over there to see what happens?”

“P-Please don’t.”

But Han-seok brushed off Mr. Han as he swerved the car again, causing all of you to move to the right.

“H-Han-seok please slow down,” you begged while you shut your eyes in fear. Thankfully, he seemed to have listened since you felt the car slow down just a tad bit, but he was still driving pretty recklessly and fast. You kept your eyes shut for the rest of the drive, not bothering to open them, but when you felt the car jerk a certain way before coming to a stop, you slowly opened them.

Confusion filled you when you realized you were no longer in the city but in what appears to be an industrial dirt field. You heard the sound of one of the doors in the back opening but Han-seok’s sudden loud voice made you jump.

“Stay! In! The car!”

“Uh uh, stay stay! Okay okay, I got it,” Hr. Han quickly closed the door behind him.

Han-seok turned to look at you with an evil look in his eyes. “Get out.”

You didn’t even want to question him as you hurriedly scampered out of the car and followed him back to the trunk.

“Boss? Boss?” Mr. Han called out as he rolled down the window. “Uhh, I will do my best, okay?”

The moment Han-seok pulled out a golf club, your eyes widened as you placed a hand on his arm. “No wait, what are you doing?”

“You’ll see.”

He brushed you off as he began to walk towards the car, when he suddenly began to hit the front windshield with so much force. You hid behind the car out of fear, not wanting to get in the way or possibly piss him off more. When he was done, he tossed the club away and opened the door from Mr. Han’s side.

“Get out.”

You didn’t know what to think. This was a whole new side of him you’ve never seen. Sure he’s become a little hostile and bossy since you found out about his true identity, but this? This was on a whole other crazy level.

“Am I dreaming? I’ve never lost twice in a row in my life. Ever,” he scoffed before turning around to face all of you. “This isn’t real. What is this, huh?”

Mr. Han was the first to respond. “Well it’s, um, well I’m… I’m so sorry. Um, it never occurred to me that they would bring Director Gil’s wife to testify against him. It’s never happened.”

“I underestimated them,” Ms. Choi was quick to interrupt, “and that gave them the element of surprise.”

“You would have been able to figure it out, if your methods weren’t so old-fashioned,” he glared at her while tossing the gloves at her chest. “You guys have zero creativity. It’s depressing. It really is.”

“We know,” Mr. Han agreed.

“It needs to change.”

“Yes,” he was quick to respond again. “Uh, I’ll put up a new committee in charge of creativity together.”

All Han-seok could do was chuckle at his words. “Are you kidding me? Creativity is something you’re born with and that bastard Cassano has too much of it!”

“About him, do you have any information about Mr. Cassano?” Ms. Choi questioned.

“He has a spotless record,” you spoke out without thinking, causing the three of them to look in your direction. “Too spotless for me in my opinion.”

Why are you talking? Shut up!

“Why do you say that?” Han-seok questioned.

All of their eyes on you was making you a bit nervous, and all you could do in response was shrug and look away, not wanting to put more input in the situation. You tuned out the group for a bit as they continued to discuss a solution but your thoughts were interrupted when Han-seok asked you to call for two cars: one for the two of you and one for Ms. Choi and Mr. Han.

They both apologized for the final time before getting inside one of the cars, and your eyes followed Han-seok as he opened up the passenger door for you.

“Are you going to drive like a maniac?” You questioned.

He sighed. “I had a long day. I’m not in the mood for this. Please get in.”

You did as he asked, not wanting to upset him any more than he already is. You were still a bit shocked at his sudden outburst from earlier, which made you avoid any form of eye contact when he got inside the car and began to drive off.

“I was thinking we could pick up something to eat and head back to my place. Sound okay?”

You silently nodded in response while keeping your gaze on the window, praying that he wouldn’t press on the gas like he did earlier. Han-seok, though, took notice of your silence and he was very much aware why you were acting like that, he wasn’t an idiot. Talking to you won’t do, so instead, he held your hand. The action caught you by surprise and you turned to look in his direction, but he seemed too focused on the road. It was a small but sweet gesture, something that told you he truly means no harm — to you at least. You squeezed his hand in return and remained quiet for the rest of the ride, only speaking when it came down to grabbing your order.

The two of you made it to his apartment in no time and just before you could sit down to eat, you felt him twirl you around so you could face him.

“I’m sorry,” he immediately apologized. “For being all manic like that. I can’t control my temper at times and you’re the last person who I want to put in harms way. If you’re afraid that I’ll hurt you… god I won’t. I could never do that.” He pulled you in for a hug as he held you close and buried his face in your neck. “I’m sorry babydoll.”

There was that nickname again. The same nickname that sends your heart into a frenzy.

You wrapped your arms around his neck while closing your eyes. “It’s fine… I can get used to it but your sudden outburst just caught me off guard.”

“Are you afraid of me?”

Were you afraid of him? Maybe a little. The rational side of you is telling you to run away and never look back, but your heart? Its telling you to stay. He may act vile towards his subordinates and brother, but he shows a more caring side to you. He’s never raised his voice at you once. He hasn’t bossed you around or demanded your assistance in anything. He’s been pretty calm and sweet, something you doubt anyone else has seen.

So the question stands again, are you afraid of him?

“No, I’m not,” you softly responded, and you could’ve sworn you felt him let out a deep sigh of relief. He pulled back just a bit so he could see you, and his eyes were fixated on your face for a good while. Neither of you dared to move, and without realizing, you both were slowly leaning in for a kiss.

Until his phone began to ring.

“Motherfucker,” his voice was low and dangerous as he hesitantly pulled away. “Let me take this.”

You watched him disappear into another room to take the call, but you were still trying to process what just happened. If it wasn’t for that phone call… you would’ve kissed. Your lips on his, his lips on yours. Kissing him. You were going to kiss Han-seok.

Cue your small inner celebratory dance.

Out of sheer coincidence, you felt your phone ping at an incoming text.

‘We’re going out for drinks tonight! Pleaseeee say you’ll come with us.’ You read Cha-young’s text, a small feeling of guilt overcoming you when you replied back, declining her offer. She was your best friend. The two of you were like sisters. You felt like a horrible person for choosing Han-seok over her, but at the same time, the selfishness within you told you that it’s okay. This is by far the closest you’ve gotten with Han-seok, and your almost kiss replayed once again in your head. Your cheeks were beginning to hurt from all the smiling you were doing, but you couldn’t help it.

Not wanting to leave Cha-young hanging without an explanation, you texted her and explained that Han-seok wanted to have a movie night. She understood, but demanded that next time she wants to do something, she has dibs on you. You couldn’t help but chuckle at her comment.

You felt your body jolt in surprise as you nearly dropped your phone when a pair of arms hugged you from behind.

“What’s so funny?” Han-seok’s breath fanned your ear.

He’s so close. Your heart was hammering inside your chest at your close proximity, and the way he was holding you was sending your mind in a haywire.

You quickly composed yourself as you tried not to stutter when you spoke. “Nothing really, just Cha-young wanting to hang out.”

He hummed at your response before pulling away. “Well, if you want to hang out with her, go ahead. I actually have to meet with my brother to talk about something.”

Your shoulders sagged in defeat when he walked away. Every time you feel like you two are heading somewhere, there’s always some type of barrier that puts itself between you both. You couldn’t help but feel frustrated at him. You turned Cha-young, your best friend, away to spend time with him but he wouldn’t do the same for you?

Not that he’s obligated to; he’s not even your boyfriend.

Its like Han-seok sensed that you were upset, because one moment he was across the room and then the next he was standing by your side, his hands rubbing your shoulders as he softly smiled at you. “We’ll get to hang out next time, I promise okay?” He didn’t even give you a chance to reply before you felt his lips press themselves against your temple.

It wasn’t a big kiss, nor was it mouth to mouth, but that small little gesture almost made your knees buckle completely.

—

“And then, he kissed me.”

“What?!”

Okay, that was an over exaggeration. “No! Okay… he did kiss me but he left a small kiss against my head.”

You were currently out for drinks with the Jipuragi Law Firm gang, who drank and talked with you about your very complicated relationship with Han-seok — or Joon-woo. You, of course, left out the crucial details of him being the true mastermind behind Babel, but also made sure to include every little interaction that would serve as proof that maybe there was something going on between you and Han-seok.

“That’s still something! And you’re saying that moron hasn’t asked you out yet?” Cha-young tossed her napkin against the table with a frown. “Ahh, I swear I’m going to kill him.”

“In my years of dating, since you know I’m very popular…” Mr. Nam proceeded to shoot a wink and flick his hair to the side, “…the guys are supposed to make the first move, and then…WAH!”

Both you and Cha-young flinched.

“You jump into action and conquer the woman you desire.”

“But what if he wants to take things slow?” You questioned.

“Then he’s a poor excuse of a man,” he replied with a pitiful look.

You rubbed your face in frustration, not enjoying the advice that Mr. Nam was giving. Your face felt a bit warm from all the drinking you’ve been doing and you were beginning to feel a bit tipsy, but still sober enough to remember this entire conversation. Before you knew it, you turned your body to face Vincenzo, who was doing everything in his will to avoid the three of you.

“Vincenzo, can I ask you something?”

“No.”

“Great,” you slapped your hands together while tilting your head. “Let’s say Cha-young kisses your head.”

Cue him choking on his drink.

“What would you think the kiss meant?”

He placed his bottle down while turning to look at you. “I would think she’s insane.”

Cha-young scoffed. “Don’t get ahead of yourself. I would never kiss you.”

“This is just an example!” You closed your eyes and held your hands up, silencing them both rather quickly. “What would you think the kiss meant?”

Vincenzo shifted uncomfortably in his seat as he avoided eye contact with you. “I don’t know. I’m not good at reading people when it comes to relationships.”

You call bullshit. This man was not ugly at all and you could’ve sworn he’s had his fair share of relationships with a lot of women. He seems like the type to just date for fun, and then move on to the next girl that’s in line. Unless…

“Wait,” you slightly leaned in. “Have you ever been in a relationship?”

The poor man looked so offended as he sat up. “Of course I have! I’ve been in… a lot of relationships.”

“Oh. My. God,” both you and Cha-young said in unison. The poor man had zero time to react as you jumped out of your seat and hugged him while cradling his head.

“You sad soul. You’ve never dated. You haven’t had the time to blossom into a flower.”

“What are you—”

“Ha! I knew it!” Cha-young laughed as she held a victorious smirk on her face. “You’re a sad, sad man.”

Mr. Nam looked hesitant on what to say, so instead he continued to drink, but you and Cha-young were cherishing this moment together in teasing the fearless Italian lawyer — who was attempting to get out of your hold. You continued to rock back and forth while questioning the hell out of him that you didn’t even notice the presence behind you.

“What’s happening here?”

Han-seok’s voice made you freeze, giving Vincenzo the opportunity to break free from your hold. He shot you a glare and went around the table to sit next to Mr. Nam, who was watching intently. Cha-young was the first to speak as she stood up and pointed a finger at Han-seok.

“You!” She twirled her finger while squinting her eyes.

“Me?” Han-seok pointed at himself with wide eyes. “Why do you look angry boss woman?”

Oh god Cha-young please don’t say anything.

“Because you’re insufferable… for said reasons,” Cha-young saw your pleading look, making you feel thankful that she didn’t spill anything to him. “But why are you here?”

“Oh, I’m here to pick up _______.”

“You are?” You turned to look at him with confusion. Wasn’t he supposed to be having a special meeting with Han-seo? He’s the one that told you to hang out with Cha-young since he was going to be busy, but now he’s available?

Cha-young shook her head as she grabbed your arm and pulled you towards her. “Sorry Joon-woo, but she’s ours for the night.”

Joon-woo. It was so weird hearing someone call him that again. You’ve gotten so used to his real name that Joon-woo feels like it’s someone from the past.

“Ahh, no,” he chuckled with a grin as he grabbed your hand and pulled you towards him. “We originally had a movie night planned.”

“Hm yes but,” Cha-young pulled you back towards her. “You cancelled, so she came here.”

“Plans change.” He pulled you back.

“Too bad, so sad.” Pull.

“Why are you so mean to me?” Pull. “You already drank with her.”

“What are your intentions with her?” Mr. Nam interrupted from the back as he slurred through his words.

Oh no, he’s drunk.

“Are you the ‘let’s sleep together and forget about it’ type of guy or the ‘I’ll do anything for you’ kind of guy.”

“What?” Han-seok’s eyes slightly widened as your face flushed in embarrassment. Vincenzo slowly turned his body away as he took a sip from his bottle while Cha-young look mortified at her colleague’s words.

“Sheee’s a wonderful woman,” Mr. Nam pointed at you with a grin. “A very special one. I know because in my experience–”

“Shut up, you don’t have any experience,” you hissed out, but it was useless since he continued to speak.

“–from dating multiple women, the nice ones like her are the ones you hold on to.”

“Hm, really?” Han-seok hummed.

“Yesss,” Mr. Nam pursed his lips. “Now make sure to always use protection–”

You quickly broke free from Cha-young’s hold and grabbed a rag from a nearby table, hurling it towards Mr. Nam who only groaned in response when it smacked him right in the face. This was beyond embarrassing and you prayed that the earth would somehow swallow you up and take you away from everyone.

After clearing your throat and shooting the group an embarrassing smile, you pulled out a few bucks and placed it on the table. “These are for my drinks. Thank you for inviting me.”

“No,” Cha-young whined with a pout. “Don’t leave me with them.”

“Oh, you can come with us. Remember, we’re the three besties,” Han-seok smiled down at her while placing a finger against his cheek.

It was so odd seeing him act like… this. Like Joon-woo. Now that you know the truth behind his identity, it’s shocking to witness how quick he is in changing his persona back to the silly intern. He’s such a good actor.

Instead of taking him in on his offer, Cha-young frowned with a pout. “On second thought, I’m staying.”

But her eyes told you enough: she was doing this for you. You mouthed a ‘thank you’ to her and said goodbye to Vincenzo and Mr. Nam — who was crying on the Italian lawyer’s shoulder. After getting inside the SUV and driving off, you sat there in absolute silence, not knowing what to say. You felt both awkward and embarrassed as you pondered over the fact that Han-seok heard all of that come out of Mr. Nam’s mouth.

His silence spoke a lot as well, and that scared you.

“Are you okay?” You decided to speak up since you couldn’t bear another second of the quiet atmosphere.

Instead of replying, he turned into an empty parking lot that overlooked a pond. He reached to unbuckle his seatbelt before glancing over in your direction. “Come on.”

You were a bit confused but didn’t question him as you proceeded to follow him out of the truck. His eyes were trained on the body of water that sat a couple of yards away from you. “I want you to be honest with me.”

Your hands felt sweaty as you anticipated the question that he was about to hurl at you. His whole demeanor changed, and it’s almost similar to how he acts whenever he’s with Ms. Choi and Mr. Han — impassive and dangerous — but there was something else resting on his features that you couldn’t quite put a finger on it.

“How long have you liked me?”

You felt your breathing hitch at his question, not knowing how to respond. Even though you both have been subtly getting closer and almost kissed as well, neither of you were verbally open about your feelings towards each other. You’re not good with words, especially if it involves you confessing your feelings to someone you like. Maybe it’s the fact that rejection is still a possibility in your end, but you’d much rather show him than say anything.

“I… I don’t–”

“I never thought I would feel such a disgusting emotion like love.” He cut you off and was still avoiding eye contact with you. “The moment I first met you… I have no idea but something about you drew me in. You were a nobody, just an outcast to everyone at Wusang. But,” he raised a finger in the air before turning to point at you, “you weren’t an outcast in my eyes.

You remained silent as he continued to speak.

“You looked so pretty everyday, and every day that passed by I would grow excited to see you. There was this one time where I remember feeling so pathetic for liking you because it was a sign of weakness. I told myself to stop being weak and ignore you, but the next day I found out from Cha-young that one of our worthless lawyers made you cry.”

“Lawyer Kim,” you whispered.

“Yes, Lawyer Kim. Ahh, I wanted to kill him for making you cry, but then I heard he apologized to you and bought you coffee. That still wasn’t enough so I had him fired.”

His words left you stunned. You vividly remember everyone questioning what happened to Lawyer Kim, and most of you assumed that he simply quit. But Han-seok fired him because he made you cry?

“I personally still think I should’ve killed him. Making a big fuss over cold coffee? Such a pathetic excuse of a human being. After that day, I realized that I was absolutely screwed because I was crushing on you hard. I vowed to hurt anyone else who dares to make you cry.”

Your heart started to pound as he took a step closer to you. His eyes met your own with such intensity.

“Y-You don’t have to do that. I can take care of myself.”

“As long as you have me, you don’t have to, babydoll.”

His arm snaked around your waist as he pulled your body towards him, and his other hand came up to tilt your chin. His thumb gently grazed your lower lip, making you feel the tension in your body, but also demanding for more.

“You’re so beautiful,” the roughness in his voice just about sent you over the edge, because without thinking, you cupped his face with both hands and pulled him down towards you, connecting your lips in a desperate kiss.

He responded almost instantly — sharing the same amount of want and need. It didn’t matter if he was a psychopath who’s in charge of a corrupted company or knowing that he was his own type of evil. As fucked up as it was, you were head over heels for him. It was a sick and twisted type of love; something you simply didn’t care for. You had every right to desire this, to experience what it’s like to be in love with someone, to have that person be your own purpose. In all of your years, you’ve never felt this type of happiness, and it is something you don’t plan to let go — ever. Being with Han-seok was not going to be easy, and him having a target on his head means that sooner or later, you will as well. That is something you’ve come to accept, because no one will ever separate you from him.

You won’t allow it.

No one else in this entire world will make you happy like he does. No one else will burn the entire world for you, but deep down, you know Han-seok will, and you’ll do the same just for him.

You breathlessly pulled away, your noses still touching as your lips continued to graze each other from the close proximity. Neither of you dared to let the other go. Upon looking up into his eyes, they were darkened with desire, and he gave you zero time to react as he pulled you in for another deep, passionate kiss.

Ever since then, Han-seok refuses to let you out of his sight. You were already following him around in the first place, since you were his “assistant”, but now he makes sure to bring you everywhere. It’s mostly due with the fact that it gives you both some privacy, so you’re able to sneak a few make out sessions away from the group — not that Han-seok cared at all — but you weren’t too comfortable sharing some PDA in front of your superiors.

You’ve also been helping him de-stress from this whole situation regarding Babel and the Jipuragi Law Firm. The whole situation has been growing more problematic and frustrating for everyone involved, especially after the catastrophic incident involving Shinkwang Bank and Cha-young’s speech in front of the reporters, causing two major banks to turn their heads away in helping invest Babel.

Both you and Han-seok were currently out eating some chicken as you listened in on the meeting that was arranged with Namdongbu office. Your heart sank for Han-seo since he was being cornered by both Mr. Hwang and Mr. Seo.

“I will stay humble and do my best. I appreciate your help,” you heard Han-seo say.

“Don’t do your best. That makes me uncomfortable,” a male voice retorted back.

You angrily chewed on a fry as you continued to listen. “What’s up with these geezers? They don’t know their place,” you huffed out.

Han-seok nodded his head in agreement. “They’ll soon learn who they’re messing with.”

“They sure do run their mouth a lot for a bunch of nobodies,” you mumbled.

You heard Han-seok chuckle at your comment, amusement played in his eyes as he looked at you. “Babydoll, I love it when we see eye to eye.”

No matter how many times he calls you that, it still makes your heart skip a beat. The two of you were finishing up your meals just as the meeting with the prosecutors and Han-seo was coming to an end, but something gleamed in Han-seok’s eyes, something you couldn’t quite decipher.

“Baby?”

“Come on babydoll,” he helped you up. “We’re going to the after party.”

“After party? Shouldn’t we go and change into proper attire?”

He pecked your lips. “Nope. What we’re wearing is perfectly fine. Although, I do have to make a quick stop and grab a hockey mask and stick.”

“What for?”

“Oh, you’ll see.”

You weren’t dumb, you knew he had something up his sleeve, but you were genuinely confused on what that plan was. Throughout the whole drive, Han-seok refused to let you know what was going on, and you were beginning to grow wary when you pulled up into a container unit port.

“Um, Han-seok, what are we doing here?”

“Shh,” he hushed you while slipping on the helmet. “Just follow behind me.”

You were too afraid to even question him, so you hesitantly nodded and followed behind. The two of you made your way towards the storage container, and the closer you got, the more audible the voices inside became.

“…Seung-hyuk, untie me now! Do it now!”

“Gosh, be quiet, will you? Why are you such crybabies?”

Han-seok opened the door to the container, causing it to loudly creak, making everyone aware of his presence. He walked in like a predator ready to hunt for his prey, the hockey stick emitting a loud sound as he ran it against the container’s wall. Everyone — except for the two men tied down to the chairs — seemed shocked to see you both.

“And who the hell is this?”

It all happened so fast. In one swift movement, Han-seok swung the hockey stick, hitting Mr. Hwang straight on the side of his head. Your hands flew to your mouth as you began to shake in horror, the scream that you wanted to let out seemed to have lodged itself in your throat. Han-seok began to repeatedly hit his body, causing blood to splatter everywhere — including on you. You began to hyperventilate while your vision grew a bit blurry, and if it wasn’t for Han-seo catching you, you would’ve most likely fainted while hitting the ground.

This was something straight out of a horror movie. The prosecutor’s mangled body laid motionless, blood was spurring everywhere, and you couldn’t seem to look away. You were in shock.

You clutched the closest thing to you, which was Han-seo’s coat, as you sat on the ground — horrified — while he squatted behind you. Mr. Seo crawled towards Han-seo, his words inaudible to your ears, while your eyes focused on the dead body that laid in front of you.

“Is he dead? I guess he is,” Han-seok changed his voice to a higher pitch before walking over to Mr. Seo.

Please stop. Stop, stop, stop.

You wanted to say it, but couldn’t.

Your eyes slowly followed your crazed boyfriend, a sense of panic hitting you when he placed the hockey stick against Mr. Seo’s throat. “I won’t kill you first. Who do you think is next? Your son in Italy who is terrible at football!”

Mr. Seo frantically looked at Han-seo. “Sir! I was too arrogant! Please forgive me. I was wrong! Sir, you have my respect! I’m begging you. Please!”

You shut your eyes the moment he started to bow and hit his head against the floor, but Han-seo yelling back made you flinch and cover your ears.

You began to hiccup as your breathing quickened. You wanted to be as far away from here as possible. The smell of iron was hitting your nostrils and it took everything in you to not gag and throw up. The second you felt someone grabbing your hand, you flinched away and backed up. Your terrified eyes met with Han-seok’s dark ones, and just when he was about to reach down for you again, you smacked his hand away. That threw him off, and you gave him no chance to respond before you felt yourself standing up and making a run for it.

You didn’t get far since your body was still in shock, sending you flying down against the pavement outside. You were trembling as you cried out, trying to comprehend what just happened and why. You knew Han-seok was capable of doing terrible things, and you were an idiot for assuming that he wouldn’t go as far in getting his own hands dirty. He has no trouble sending others to do his dirty work for him, so of course he’ll take matters into his own hands if needed.

A pair of hands grabbed your shoulders and you instinctively began to swing at the person. “Don’t touch me!”

“_______ its me! Please,” Mr. Han pleaded.

He looked equally as terrified.

“Mr. Jang wants to say a few words.”

You wanted to be anywhere else but close to Han-seok right now. “Mr. Han I don’t–”

“We don’t have much of a choice. Sorry.”

He practically dragged you towards the rest of the group; but did keep a fair distance from Han-seok, who was humming a tune as he cleaned the hockey stick.

“You should have given us a heads-up,” Han-seo was the first to speak.

“Surprise!” Han-seok exclaimed in a sing-song voice, his eyes meeting yours briefly, but you were quick to look away as you hid behind Mr. Han.

“With all due respect, sir,” Mr. Han began, “this could be a huge problem later on.”

“Nothing’s a problem for me as long as I don’t feel like shit,” Han-seok replied in a dull tone before hopping off from the machine. “I’ll change things to the way it once was starting today. And I’ll show them what they’re up against.”

“I’ll do as you say, sir,” Ms. Choi was the first to speak up.

“I’ll do my best, too!” There goes your shield since Mr. Han stepped up.

You refused to look at him right now, you still felt nauseous and uneasy after what you just witnessed. Maybe you’re just being a wuss or you’re not strong enough, but seeing someone getting brutally murdered by your boyfriend is not something a lot of people tend to witness or experience. You were in a tight spot and you didn’t know where this would put you. Your feelings for Han-seok are still there, but, you were genuinely scared of him right now. What if he snaps and hurts you? What if he deems you useless and gets rid of you? So many thoughts were going through your mind right now.

Whatever small meeting you guys had was over, and you stood frozen when you took notice of everyone else departing, leaving you and Han-seok behind. He made no move towards you, instead, he tossed the hockey stick away and wiped his hands clean with a rag.

“Babydoll, I’m not going to hurt you.”

You remained silent.

He sighed and took a step towards you, but you took one back, making him clench his jaw.

“______.”

“You killed him,” your voice was barely above a whisper, but Han-seok was still able to hear you loud and clear.

“Yes baby, I do like–”

“You killed him.”

You don’t know why you were repeating yourself, but you were and couldn’t stop. The feeling of Han-seok’s hands on your face made you scream and push him away, but he held you close as he refused to let you go.

“Babydoll, stop.”

“Please don’t hurt me,” you pleaded with tears running down your cheeks.

You didn’t know, but for him, seeing you like this hurt. He felt hopeless when it came down in helping you since you were obviously not wanting any of his comfort. He knew this was going to be a shock to you, but he didn’t expect for you to shut yourself down from him. Maybe he should’ve thought this out more thoroughly, but he can’t help it at times, especially when it involves him taking matters into his own hands due to incompetent prosecutors. Hearing the whole conversation over the phone made him livid, and Han-seok felt pure joy seeing how pathetic and apologetic Mr. Seo became once he feared for his life.

You on other hand were a different story — one he has to figure out right now.

Han-seok made sure his hands were clean of blood before he tried touching you. He felt you tense underneath his touch, but was relieved when you didn’t try to push him away.

“_______, trust me when I say I will never hurt you. I will never let anything or anyone hurt you.”

You still refused to look at him, but you didn’t fight him when he pulled you in for a hug.

“Babydoll, I’m fucked up, and this isn’t my first rodeo in killing someone. Next time, I won’t make you come, so you can stay back in my apartment and wait for me to arrive. All I ask is that you won’t push me away,” he tilted your chin up as he deeply looked into your eyes, “I love you, _____.”

There it is. The three words that you’ve been waiting to hear from him for months. He loves you. This psychopath actually loves you. Looking back at all of your encounters in the past, you can understand now that he’s true about his feelings. Like the time he defended you against Mr. Han back when he was Joon-woo. When he made you get out of the car before he smashed the window aggressively as Ms. Choi and Mr. Han sat inside. When he fired Lawyer Kim for making you cry. Every little thing added up.

“Bad timing to say it, baby?”

“No,” you shook your head as you shakily reached up to rub his cheek. “I.. I..”

“Shh,” he wiped away some of your tears as he kissed your forehead. “You don’t have to say it back, babydoll. You tell me when the time is right.”

You wanted to say it so bad, but you just couldn’t. Maybe its because you’re still trying to process everything that just happened — instead — you brought his face down to meet yours in a soft kiss, the two of you embracing each other underneath the moonlight, in your blood stained clothes.

[thehusbandoden]

Dabi (26)

Key: angst -💔; fluff -🤍; comfort -❤️‍🩹; angst to fluff -🧡; crack -💜; slight angst -🩵

Fanfictions:

The Endlessly Cracking Dam 🤍❤️‍🩹💔 (requested)

The man called "Dabi" was one of the Imperial Army's best men. Everyone loved him- or did they? Fake smiles and suspicions kept Dabi on his toes, always hiding his face and past. Well, until that darned Hun knocked off his helmet. Zhu Bo, Dabi's all time tormenter, claimed that he was "cursed" and urged their captain to kick him out. But- Dabi just won that battle! Everyone loves him! They wouldn't kick him out... would they? But atlas people are cruel and heartless. Just because of Dabi's patched up face he was kicked out, leaving him and his horse; Mazu, to find there way to the one and only person Dabi could confine in; y/n l/n. | Words: 5,700+ \\ fem reader \\ posted: 11/15/2023

Drabbles/One shots

Lonesome Nights ❤️‍🩹🤍🧡

Dabi's been on a mission for months. You've missed him to the point of nights filled with sobs. Dabi comes home, and feels so guilty about your depression, and tries to make it better. | 1,128 words

The Beauty 🤍

On his way to burn down an agency, Dabi runs into a girl around his age that is exactly his type. (You ;3) | 227 words

Love 🤍💔

Dabi and you have a talk. Dabi, the love of your life is finally able to call your relationship love. | 344 words

Won't let go 💔 (angst ending)

You and Dabi get into a nasty argument filled with insults thrown, piercing one another like venomous daggers. After you leave for some fresh air, you're attacked by another villain, injuring you severely. | 1,823 words

The Twins 🤍🩵(💜)?

While escaping from some heroes, you find an abandoned set of two year old twins. Instantly falling in love, you couldn't help but take them to the hideout, where you surprise your loving husband (Dabi) with the new addition of your tiny family.

Alternative ending for "Cold" (Shigaraki x reader) 🤍🩵

You choose Dabi over Shigaraki.

A Day Off 🤍💜

Dabi Touya gets your kids ready for school so you can rest. You then proceed to have you time once you drop your 4 year old at Uncle Shoto's.

Cry Baby 💜🤍

Wanting a week off with your man, you intentionally get the sickness Dabi has been whining about for over a week now. After a few days you then realize that he's complaining about the slight headache and sore throat you've had for over two weeks. | posted: 9/22/23 | 371 words

That's a New Feeling 🧡❤️‍🩹

You and Dabi get into an argument. | 1,545 words \\ posted: 11/18/2023

Burnt 💔

You gave the love of your life too many chances already. But this time? He crossed a line.. a line that should have never been crossed. | 1,234 words \\ posted: 01/03/2024

More Than Life Itself 🤍❤️‍🩹 -Alternative Ending to Burnt

You wake up from the horrid nightmare. | words 1,099 \\ posted: 01/10/2024

Dinner and Banter 🤍

Dinner, banter, and cuddles with your favorite villain <3 | 532 words \\ female reader \\ posted: 02/05/2024

Never ❤️❤️‍🩹 (request)

Your beloved hubby comforts you when he comes home to find you overthinking <3 \\ 277 words \\ fem reader \\ posted: 02/27/24

Tomorrow

Dabi comes home exhausted and injured, leaving you to tend to his wounds. \\ 405 words \\ fem reader \\ posted: 05/31/24

Headcannons/Scenarios

MHA boys react to you torturing an Endeavor plushie 🤍💜

Simply that my friends. Enjoy the chaos.

How they react to you going to therapy for past abuse 🤍❤️‍🩹 (request)

Self explanatory<3

You flinch during an argument 💔🧡❤️‍🩹

Self explanatory<3 | 963 words

Undercover pro hero reader 🤍 (request)

Self explanatory<3 | 722 words | posted: 9/3/23

You sing "Soft Kitty" to him when he's sick 🤍❤️‍🩹 (request)

Self explanatory<3 | posted: 9/4/23

Comforting their exhausted s/o 🤍🩵 (request)

Self explanatory<3 | posted: 9/27/23

Reader with an ed *platonic* 🤍❤️‍🩹 (request)

Self explanatory<3 | 693 words \\ gn reader \\ posted: 9/28/23

Comforting Claustrophobia Reader 🤍❤️‍🩹 (request)

Self explanatory<3 | 518 words \\ posted: 11/27/23

Liking the Same Heroine as Shoto 🤍 (requested)

Self explanatory<3 | 711 words \\ posted: 12/19/2023 \\ two different endings \\ requested

Couch Surfing Reader 🤍❤️‍🩹 (requested)

Self explanatory<3 | 251 words \\ posted: 01/25/2024 \\ requested

He Doesn't Realize How Much he Needs You Until You're Gone

Self explanatory<3 | 2,424 words \\ posted: 06/06/24

And more yet to come! <3

Masterlist | Requesting Rules

Comments, Requests, and Reblogs are always appreciated<33

Last added to: 06/06/2024

Do not copy, repost, nor plagiarize my work. Ask before you translate or use my work in any way, minus reblogging.

[book--brackets]

Summaries under the cut

Lisel & Po by Lauren Oliver

Liesl lives in a tiny attic bedroom, locked away by her cruel stepmother. Her only friends are the shadows and the mice,until one night a ghost appears from the darkness. It is Po, who comes from the Other Side. Both Liesl and Po are lonely, but together they are less alone.

That same night, an alchemist's apprentice, Will, bungles an important delivery. He accidentally switches a box containing the most powerful magic in the world with one containing something decidedly less remarkable.

Will's mistake has tremendous consequences for Liesl and Po, and it draws the three of them together on an extraordinary journey.

Red Planet by Robert A. Heinlein

Jim Marlow and his strange-looking Martian friend Willis were allowed to travel only so far. But one day Willis unwittingly tuned into a treacherous plot that threatened all the colonists on Mars, and it set Jim off on a terrfying adventure that could save--or destroy--them all!

The Secret Seven by Enid Blyton

It's their very first adventure and the Secret Seven super-sleuths are already on the trail of a mystery! The gang are dressed in disguise, following a lead to a spooky old house in the snow...

Adam of the Road by Elizabeth Janet Gray

"A road's a kind of holy thing," said Roger the Minstrel to his son, Adam. "That's why it's a good work to keep a road in repair, like giving alms to the poor or tending the sick. It's open to the sun and wind and rain. It brings all kinds of people and all parts of England together. And it's home to a minstrel, even though he may happen to be sleeping in a castle."

And Adam, though only eleven, was to remember his father's words when his beloved dog, Nick, was stolen and Roger had disappeared and he found himself traveling alone along these same great roads, searching the fairs and market towns for his father and his dog.

The Squire's Tales by Gerald Morris

Life for the young orphan Terence has been peaceful, living with Trevisant, the old Hermit in a quiet, isolated wood.

That is, until the day a strange green sprite leads him to Gawain, King Arthur's nephew, who is on his way to Camelot hoping to be knighted. Trevisant can see the future and knows that Terence must leave to serve as Gawain's squire. From that moment on, Terence's life is filled with heart-stopping adventure as he helps damsels-in-distress, fights battles with devious men, and protects King Arthur from his many enemies.

Along the way, Terence is amazed at his skills and new-found magical abilities. Were these a gift from his unknown parents? As Gawain continues his quest for knighthood, Terence searches for answers to the riddles in his own past.

The Seventh Tower by Garth Nix

Tal has lived his whole life in darkness. He has never left his home, a mysterious castle of seven towers. He does not see the threat that will tear apart his family and his world. But Tal cannot stay safe forever. When danger strikes, he must desperately climb the Red Tower to steal a Sunstone. He reaches the top... ...and then he falls into a strange and unknown world of warriors, ice ships, and hidden magic. There Tal makes an enemy who will save his life and holds the key to his future.

The Children of Green Knowe by Lucy M. Boston

There are three children: Toby, who rides the majestic horse Feste; his mischievous little sister, Linnet; and their brother, Alexander, who plays the flute. The children warmly welcome Tolly to Green Knowe... even though they've been dead for centuries.

But that's how everything is at Green Knowe. The ancient manor hides as many stories as it does dusty old rooms.

And the master of the house is great-grandmother Oldknow, whose storytelling mixes present and past with the oldest magic in the world.

Sweet Valley High by Francine Pascal

Elizabeth and Jessica Wakefield are identical twins at Sweet Valley High. They're both popular, smart, and gorgeous, but that's where the similarity ends. Elizabeth is friendly, outgoing, and sincere—nothing like her snobbish and conniving twin. Jessica gets what she wants—at school, with friends, and especially with boys.

This time, Jessica has set her sights on Todd Wilkins, the handsome star of the basketball team—the one boy that Elizabeth really likes. Elizabeth doesn't want to lose him, but what Jessica wants, Jessica usually gets ... even if it ends up hurting her sister.

City Spies by James Ponti

Sara Martinez is a hacker. She recently broke into the New York City foster care system to expose her foster parents as cheats and lawbreakers. However, instead of being hailed as a hero, Sara finds herself facing years in a juvenile detention facility and banned from using computers for the same stretch of time. Enter Mother, a British spy who not only gets Sara released from jail but also offers her a chance to make a home for herself within a secret MI6 agency.

Operating out of a base in Scotland, the City Spies are five kids from various parts of the world. When they’re not attending the local boarding school, they’re honing their unique skills, such as sleight of hand, breaking and entering, observation, and explosives. All of these allow them to go places in the world of espionage where adults can’t.

Before she knows what she’s doing, Sarah is heading to Paris for an international youth summit, hacking into a rival school’s computer to prevent them from winning a million euros, dangling thirty feet off the side of a building, and trying to stop a villain…all while navigating the complex dynamics of her new team.

No one said saving the world was easy…

Carrie's War by Nina Bawden

Albert, Carrie and young Nick are war-time evacuees whose lives get so tangled up with the people they've come to live among that the war and their real families seem to belong to another world. Carrie and Nick are billeted in Wales with old Mr Evans, who is so mean and cold, and his timid mouse of a sister, Lou, who suddenly starts having secrets.

Their friend Albert is luckier, living in Druid's Bottom with warm-hearted Hepzibah Green and the strange Mister Johnny, who can talk to animals but not to human beings. Carrie and Nick visit him there whenever they can for Hepzibah makes life exciting and enticing with her stories and delicious cooking. Gradually they begin to feel more at ease in their war-time home, but then, in trying to heal the rift between Mr Evans and his estranged sister, and save Druid's Bottom, Carrie does a terrible thing which is to haunt her for years to come.

[waitmyturtles]

GMMTV 2024 Part 2, let's go

I've had my MULTIPLE cawfees and I'm watching the GMMTV Part 2 trailers. @my-rose-tinted-glasses, this one's for you!

TL;DR what I'm excited for: Ossan's Love with trepidation; Revamp: The Undead, I'm first in line; The Ex-Morning with open arms; Us, once we have a better sense of the screenplay; Sweet Tooth, Good Dentist, drop it like it's hot, Mark; Thame-Po, boys look gewd

****

1) Ossan's Love: THE KEY WORDS BEING "INSPIRED BY"

If I take away the inclination to do any sort of comparisons to the Japanese version whatsoever ("INSPIRED BY"), I'm thrilled that EarthMix get to do romcom. Earth at this level of baka is utterly unbelievable to me, you are too smokin' hot, boy, but try to bring it, because if you do, and it's a success, then I'll be fucking really impressed.

2) Leap Day: Looks scary. Gun!

3) The Heart Killers: ...

Man. Man! First in muscle shirts and an earring, kisses pushed up against walls, etc. Where have we seen this before. Lemme guess, they all get together in the end. I would like to force myself to be excited about this somehow, Jojo on 10 Things, but. I haven't been there with JoongDunk yet, either, so actually, they seemed kinda refreshing against the FK vibes, ha. Anyway, this reignited my OF burnout, which I'm honestly trying to ignore as I get close to re-watching The Eclipse for my Old GMMTV Challenge project. @my-rose-tinted-glasses, my trust issues switch is flipped to "on."

(Get Jojo away from ships, please. He had Tay kissing Joss and Mild in the same year AFTER Dark Blue Kiss. He fucking doesn't need to use ships.)

4) Friendshit Forever: no subs, seems intense, the gals are smokin', NEW AND BOUN?! Hate to say it, but even without knowing what this is exactly about, I'm intrigued? My Boun! New and Boun!

5) Perfect 10 Liners: They're letting New Siwaj do 30 episodes, folks. I have no predictions on this one, y'all will have to tell me if it's good. Perth is back with New Siwaj directing after 2018's Love By Chance. If they give Chimon a little comedy, I'll be happy. I asked for Junior again, but maybe I wasn't expecting him to go to school, but I will admit I like JuniorMark together, and if they get to helm 10 episodes as the center stars, then good for them! Maybe that'll be the bit of this series that I watch.

6) Us: I believe in this screenplay more than how 23.5 is working out. I think Fon Kanittha needs more stuff on her plate to play around with to make a great show. This trailer was great. I'm watching My Precious the Series now (after having watched the movie this past weekend, which I was disappointed by -- the series is MUCH better, and going better than 23.5), and I'm seeing that Fon does stuff very well, background community building that gives us macro- and micro-level understandings of her characters. If those levels are Sing Harit, I'm here for it, that was an unexpected appearance, but if he's recalling the strength he brought to Todd in Not Me, then I'm a happy camper.

7) Hide and Sis: I love Piploy. Wednesday Club was a total holiday trash watch for me last year, but I loved her a lot. Looks like they're promoting this as a multi-generational show with known older actors, the approach of which I like. Everyone hates each other and maybe tries to kill each other; Keeping Up With the Thai Kardashians, maybe? Surprise, Gawin's a cop. Chimon as murderer, I'll support that.

8) Thame-Po: This looks cute. I'll consider a pre-order! Separately, I happen to adore cute Lego from LYKN, so good on those dudes for getting a show, and I like that William is pushing his boundaries outside of music.

9) Break-Up Service: I am happy that Off has gotten this kind of sneaky love romcom (?) role.

10) Revamp: The Undead: I'm here for it. I'm so happy for BounPrem. I'm happy to see some strong support dudes in Kay and Mark in this project. I haven't watched My Only 12%, so I don't know from Santa, but I know a lot of friends love him. I am totally seated. GMMTV is really the BL Machine, huh, absorbing this project.

11) Sweet Tooth, Good Dentist: Do not get me wrong, I am very excited about this; I am just wondering if Baby Ohm needs a little workshopping to get more diversity in his expressions. But I am very excited, Mark looks SO DOWN and ready to lead. View! Jimmy! I'm good with this.

12) The Dark Dice: High School Squid Game, I can't

13) The Ex-Morning: I gotta admit. This kind of moment is one of the reasons why I'm so happy doing the OGMMTVC. The big-ass smile I had on my face seeing KristSingto again, even though I really wasn't the biggest fan of SOTUS -- I've done a whole accountability turn on Krist after seeing him in Be My Favorite, and I appreciate that this show will go meta on the KristSingto background. It fucking sucks that Shadow sucked, because Singto is such a good actor, just seems like his scripts are here and there lately, but anyway. Aof Noppharnach writing this? Last Twilight ended cringe, but I'm still an Aof girlie, so I am 100% excited for this.

14) Scarlet Heart Thailand: That wasn't really a trailer, but considering the reputation the base story has in Asia and globally, I like, business-wise, what this means for GMMTV, a historical that will have appeal to multiple generations. I understand the original novel for this, Bu Bu Jing Xin, isn't translated into English, and that's a bummer, because it seems like this Thai version, which has already been dramatized in China and Korea, is based squarely on the novel. Fuck Win. These were the kinds of shows I loved as a kid when I watched Asian shows with my folks, so I have to admit that I'm intrigued, but I would have liked to see a meatier trailer.

That's it!

[bunnytalksf1]

Norris' championship hopes don't rest on beating Verstappen. They rest on beating Leclerc.

Buzzy headline to catch attention, it's hyperbole. Bear with me, and read the whole thing.

After Monza qualifying, its becoming more and more clear that McLaren is fastest. They're still playing the underdog gimmick up a lot during race weekends, but:

The most important thing is that Red Bull is clearly much slower. They've lost out in the development race compared to McLaren and Mercedes, and Verstappen starts P7 for the Italian GP compared to Norris' pole. If the positions stay as they are (unlikely, but I digress), the points difference whittles down to fifty, with eight races left. Norris genuinely has a shot at the championship, should he consistently perform, and the Red Bull continues to underperform in the next few races (they're unlikely to be strong at Singapore, which is definitely a worry).

But Norris has underperformed at key moments. He has yet to keep the lead of a race past turn one when he starts on pole. Despite being lauded as a dominant victory last week, I struggle to get behind him because the ONLY reason Norris won that race by such a margin was the Red Bull being slow and difficult to deal with. Verstappen is inhuman, but like every driver, performing miracles is out of reach.

So, Leclerc. Even his harshest critics and journalists who tend to undermine him had to sit up and take notice last week at Zandvoort as he fended off Piastri for a P3 finish, and Ferrari delivered a successful undercut on Russell. On Saturday, he said a podium would be a miracle: on Sunday, he delivered it. Sainz, too, was fast in race trim, and finished P5, ahead of Perez in the other RBR and Russell in the Mercedes. Helmut Marko praised Leclerc for fending off Piastri for them so Verstappen didn't lose P2.

Leclerc has been quietly delivering these performances all season, though. A one-stop in Suzuka. P2 in Australia, moving up through the pack. The podium in Austria and in Zandvoort, against the odds. P4 in Bahrain, with a one-hundred degree brake imbalance. His stellar win in Monaco. He's been hampered by the Ferrari's struggles in qualifying and a blip in Saturday performances in the early season. So why do I bring him up in the title fight when Norris' target is Verstappen, and Leclerc sits in P3?

Well. Leclerc proved last weekend that he has the ability to take on a McLaren, and come out on top, with tactical driving designed to make his opponent burn through his tyres. He's smart, a good qualifier, good at tyre management, and overall clean. And he's in a car that, at least in today's qualifying, was within two tenths of the McLaren. Two tenths, in Leclerc's own words, is a close enough margin for him to deliver something special. The Monza upgrade package has improved the balance, and next up is Baku, then Singapore, two tracks Ferrari historically has performed well at.

But it's not just Leclerc: if the closest margins are between McLaren, Mercedes and Ferarri, with RBR slightly on the backfoot, in the next few races, Norris will not just have to contend with Verstappen. He'll have to contend with Leclerc, Sainz, Hamilton and Russell, who are all incredibly capable and want to win just as badly, and have proved their worth this season at different races, with some incredible performances and consistency from all of them. They might not be directly in the title fight, but they still have the ability to take points from Norris by performing better, if the margins in race pace and qualifying are similar enough. This isn't even mentioning his teammate, who has ben firm about not wanting to step aside and gift Norris wins for the sake of the drivers' championship, given the large points difference at this stage.

Norris is also worse at delivering under pressure than all these drivers, at least in key moments. They are now becoming key chess pieces in the game here, with the ability to, alongside Verstappen himself, take key points off Norris and limit his ability to close the gap to the leader of the championship. To close the gap without a VER DNF, he needs to score BIG points totals for the rest of the season: realistically, he cannot be off the podium, and he needs to be P1 or 2 as much as possible.

So, if you're watching eagerly for the outcome of this championship, don't get tunnel vision. Keep an eye on Leclerc, Piastri, Hamilton. They might become more important than we realise, if the cars are close enough.

[mariacallous]

WARSAW, Poland — In the heart of the former Warsaw Ghetto, where Jews were killed and their neighborhood razed during World War II, a Jewish community has never recovered — but a museum has for a decade drawn visitors to learn about their history.

The Polin Museum is marking 10 years since opening its exhibition about the 1,000-year history of Polish Jews. In that lifespan, it rose to fame as one of the world’s leading Jewish museums and a symbol of Poland’s long-deferred recognition of its extinguished Jewish past.

But it also faced down challenges from a government ruled by Poland’s right-wing nationalist Law and Justice party, which sought to remove museum leaders seen as too critical of government policies or unwilling to conform with nationalist versions of history. Law and Justice was overturned by a centrist coalition last year.

During a weekend of anniversary programming in late September, which included a gala, a symphony orchestra concert and curatorial tours, nearly 10,000 people passed through the museum, a modernist building designed by the Finnish firm Lahdelma & Mahlamäki.

Special guests ranged from government officials and museum founders and donors to influential members of Poland’s small Jewish community, including Polish Chief Rabbi Michael Schudrich and Marian Turski, a 98-year-old historian and Holocaust survivor who presides over the museum council.

The hoopla surrounding Polin’s 10-year anniversary reflects its impact on Poland, a society that only in recent decades has confronted the history of its Jewish community and the 3 million Polish Jews who were killed there under the Nazis. The museum’s name draws from a story about Jews who fled persecution in Western Europe and arrived in Poland during the Middle Ages. According to legend, they heard birds singing “Po-lin,” a transliteration of the Hebrew words for both “rest here” and “Poland.”

Before Germany invaded Poland in 1939, it was one of the most diverse countries in Europe. Jews made up 10% of the total population and a majority in many towns. Warsaw was home to more than 350,000 Jews — about 30% of the city.

After the Nazis killed most of Poland’s Jews, the country came under decades of communist rule. Soviet authorities suppressed Jewish religious and cultural life and folded the Holocaust into an ideological narrative about the Soviets’ total victory over the Nazis — relegating Polish-Jewish history to what scholars call “the communist freezer.” Only in the early 1990s, after the fall of communism, did the idea of the Polin Museum first come into being.

Over 20 years and more than $100 million later, with the help of wealthy American donors and the Polish government, the Polin Museum opened its core exhibit in October 2014.

“For 50 years, people didn’t learn anything about what Polish Jews were about — including Polish Jews,” Schudrich told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency. “What’s really happened since 1989 is people beginning to learn, and the key pivotal place for that education to take place is here.”

The ambition of Polin was distinct from the memorials at Poland’s slew of concentration camps and Nazi killing centers: This place called itself a “museum of life.”

Only one of the eight multimedia galleries is dedicated to the Holocaust. The rest follow a millennium of Jewish life in Poland, from the first appearance of Jews in the 10th century to the development of Jewish towns; life under Poland’s partition between Russia, Prussia and Austria; waves of pogroms; the birth of modern Jewish social, political and religious movements; and a period of newfound freedoms after World War I, in the Second Polish Republic, all before the devastation wrought by the Holocaust.

A final gallery also traces the post-war years, when a small number of Jews remained in Poland. After a government-sponsored antisemitic campaign in 1968 purged thousands of Jews from the country, only about 10,000 remained. This gallery also looks at a renewed curiosity about Jewish history since the 1990s, which has given rise to festivals of Jewish culture across Poland, many of them organized by non-Jews.

Dariusz Stola, a historian at the Polish Academy of Sciences and the museum’s first director, said that Polin arrived at the perfect time — when interest in the Jewish heritage of Poland was surging at home and interest in the Polish heritage of Jews was surging abroad. (About 70% of the world’s Jews have roots in Poland, according to Barbara Kirshenblatt-Gimblett, a professor emerita of New York University and chief curator of Polin’s core exhibit.)

Today the museum has been visited more than 5 million times, with about half of its visitors from Poland and half from other countries. Its collection of accolades includes the European Museum Academy Award and the European Union’s Europa Nostra Award.

“The Polin Museum was an outcome of the opening of Polish society after 1989, of democracy, of certain liberal principles — such as the idea that people are different and we should live together — but it also contributed to these developments,” Stola told JTA.

But the past 10 years have also brought challenges for people who work in education about Poland’s Jewish history. Between 2015 and 2023, a nationalist-conservative government made controlling history a central part of its platform, promising to revive Poland’s pride in its past and eradicate a so-called “pedagogy of shame” — which meant stifling discussions about Polish people who killed Jews or cooperated with the Nazi regime.

In 2018, the country passed a law that outlawed accusing Poland or the Polish people of complicity in the Holocaust. Although its penalty has changed — lawmakers downgraded it from a crime punishable with three years in prison to a civil offense — the law remains in effect today.

Stola was among the casualties of the eight-year government, which accused him of “politicizing” the Polin Museum after an exhibition that documented Poland’s antisemitic campaign of 1968. Stola was pushed out as the director in 2019, despite winning a competition to extend his tenure.

Still, Stola believes that Polin has triumphed in educating the Polish public about the Jewish history in their midst. He pointed out that even those who oppose the museum’s contents have been forced to contend with them.

“There was a moment a couple of years ago, when a group of antisemites made a little campaign online: ‘This is Poland, not Polin,’” Stola said in his remarks at the 10-year anniversary gala. “I’m pretty sure they had never heard the name ‘Polin’ before we opened this museum, so they also learned something.”

For Jews in Poland and abroad, Polin presented an opportunity to learn about Polish-Jewish heritage beyond the most-remembered story of death and destruction. At the Auschwitz memorial in Oświęcim, a regular parade of Jewish students, tourists and officials leaves dizzy with despair — but Polin sought to inspire other feelings, too.

“Many of our Jews in Poland today didn’t even grow up knowing they were Jewish, so one of the challenges is for people to learn about their history — and also have a great sense of being proud,” said Schudrich. “This is a place where someone who has Jewish roots can come and learn, wow, look what my ancestors have created.”

That offering has made the museum some high-profile friends in the United States. The actor Jesse Eisenberg spoke remotely at the gala about visiting Poland to shoot his new film “A Real Pain,” about two cousins who travel there to learn about their grandmother’s Holocaust story, based on his own roots in the country.

Eisenberg joked that when he arrived for filming last year, he was annoyed to see the Polin Museum built on a site he remembered being empty during his first trip to uncover his family history.

“I was initially frustrated because it conflicted with my image of that set from 2008, but when I went in the museum, I was just overwhelmed,” said Eisenberg, who has applied for Polish citizenship. “I cannot wait to go back.”

Kirshenblatt-Gimblett, the chief curator, said Polin rose from a demand to understand what vanished from Poland together with most of its Jews. Unlike many other Holocaust museums in Europe, Polin’s founding was not based on a collection of Jewish relics and remains — but on their absence.

“This museum is built on the rubble of the ghetto, on the rubble of the pre-war Jewish neighborhood,” Kirshenblatt-Gimblett, professor emerita at New York University,  said at the gala. “That is for me a very powerful symbol, because we began without a collection. We’ve now formed a collection — we have over 19,000 objects — but our greatest asset wasn’t a collection. Our greatest asset was the powerful story of the largest Jewish community in the world.”

[em-writes-stuff]

presumed dead

day 23 of @febuwhump

supervillain, hero, villain, and medic

1887 words

warnings: captivity, cursing, stress positions, implied past torture/abuse

~

Supervillain leans against the wall, arms crossed in front of her chest. She rolls her eyes and kicks off the wall, walking toward Hero. 

His head hangs low to his chest, if not for the rope tied around his stomach, he would be slumped over. His legs and arms are bound to the chair, keeping him from moving. 

Supervillain grabs a fistful of his hair and pulls his head back, forcing him to look up at her. His eyes open and he yelps in pain. 

“What the hell?” He shouts, trying to free himself from his bindings. Supervillain pulls down harder on his hair, pulling his attention to her. He stills and smiles, “Oh, it’s just you.” 

She lets go of his hair and takes a step back. “You know why you’re here.” 

“Oh, I thought you’d gotten over him!” Hero says, slouching forward slightly. “Tell me it’s not about Villain.” 

“You need to pay for what you did to him,” she says, anger dripping like venom from her voice. 

Hero chuckles and looks at her, his head tilted. “Don’t you mean what I’ve been doing to him?” 

Supervillain’s face falls, she takes a step back and shakes her head. “What are you talking about?” 

“Oh my god, you didn’t know.” Hero says. “How could you have known? I mean, I told you I was going to kill him. I told you I had killed him. I even sent you a fucking finger in the mail. But I thought somehow you knew.” 

He laughs and runs his tongue along his teeth. Supervillain shakes her head, “You-” she exhales sharply. “What? You didn’t-” 

Hero cuts her off, throwing his head back laughing. “I didn’t kill him!” he extends his neck as far as it goes and whispers. “He’s been with me the whole fucking time. And boy, can he scream.” 

Supervillain sniffs and swallows the sobs swelling in her throat. “Where is he?” 

“There’s an abandoned building…just off the highway about a mile and a half from here,” Hero says with a smile. “If you hurry, you might make it before…well, you’ll see.” 

Supervillain runs out of the room, slamming the door behind her. She looks at the map tacked up on the wall and finds the building Hero was talking about. 

She runs to the kitchen and grabs the first-aid kit out from under the sink and runs outside. She dials a number on her phone as she turns the key in her car. 

“Hello?” the voice on the other end says. 

“Medic?” she asks, voice shaking. She pulls out of the driveway and turns onto the highway. 

“Supervillain?” 

“I need you. Um…Villain needs you.” 

There’s a moment of silence and Medic shuffles around, sending static through the line. “Villain’s dead, Supervillain. Remember?” 

She shakes her head, “No, he’s not. I thought- I thought he was but…just. Please meet me at my place. Please. I- this is important to me.” 

She waits, silently begging them to say something. 

Medic takes a deep breath, exhaling heavily. “I’ll be there as soon as I can.” 

“Please hurry.” she begs, hanging up and stepping out of her car. 

The warehouse stands in front of her, boarded up. She runs around to the back of the building and peels a board off from the siding. She ducks inside and bites her bottom lip. 

The air is musty with a tinge of iron floating around. Light filters in through holes in the roof, illuminating the dust in the air. A gas mask sits on a table, mostly clear of dust. 

It catches Supervillain’s eye and she walks up to it, covering her mouth with the collar of her shirt. Behind the table, there are dozens of pictures tacked up on the wall. 

They’re all of Villain in different positions, each more painful looking than the last. 

In each picture, his body is contorted, ropes tied around his legs and arms, holding them in impossible positions. Bile rises in her throat. 

She holds a fist to her mouth and swallows thickly, turning from the pictures. 

In one corner of the building, she sees a lumpy mattress. She hurries over to it and sees Villain’s hair poking out from under a blanket. It’s longer, matted, and caked in blood and dirt, but it’s Villain’s hair. 

She looks up and blinks, trying to fight the tears threatening to run down her cheeks. 

A whimper pulls her attention and she drops to her knees. “Villain?” 

She takes the blanket off of him and gasps. 

His right leg is tied to itself, calf flush with his hamstring. His left foot is tied to his right thigh and his knee is secured against his chest with a bow, making it so that he’s lying with his back curled. His right arm is locked under the bend in his right leg, wrist tied to a rope around his neck. His left arm is tucked under his back, knuckles against his spine. 

“Villain, it’s me, it’s Supervillain. I’m gonna get you untied.” 

“No,” he shakes his head weakly and points at something with his right hand. “Loo…”

She searches for what he’s pointing at and freezes when she sees it. 

A bag of sand is spilling onto the ground, slowly loosening a rope tied to another bag, significantly lighter than the emptying bag. If the smaller bag falls onto the pressure plate underneath it, it’ll trigger a gun trained on Villain. 

Supervillain stands up and grabs the rope right above the small bag of sand. She cuts the rope with her dagger and sets it on the ground. She turns the gun away from Villain and goes back over to him. 

“Ok, I took care of it, let’s get you out of here, yeah?” she nods to herself and falls to her knees, unsure of where to start. 

Villain makes a pained sound, “Left arm. Start…with my left.” 

She nods and gently coaxes his arm out from under him. The blood rushes back into his arm, turning it pink. Villain mutters and sucks air in through his teeth. 

“What next?” she asks. 

“Other arm,” he says, gasping. 

She cuts the rope connecting his arm to the rope around his neck and sets it on the mattress at his side. She works her dagger blade under the rope around his neck and starts to saw away at it, forcing herself to ignore the bruises along his neck and collarbones. She unties the bow keeping his knee against his chest. 

He falls back, head hitting a thinner spot in the mattress. He moans in pain and turns his head away from Supervillain. 

“I’m sorry,” she whispers. “I should’ve-”

“I’m fine,” he interrupts. “Just get me out of here.” 

She cuts the rope keeping his foot flat against his right thigh and his leg flops onto the mattress, blood flooding to the areas that the rope was. 

Finally, she cuts the rope binding his right leg together. Villain breathes sharply and shakes his head, trying to keep the leg from moving. 

“What are you doing?” 

All he can manage is, “Hurts.” 

“We have to go, Villain. Sidekick has to know Hero’s missing by now." She pulls him up and he tries to stand next to her, but collapses. 

“I’m sorry,” he says, tears welling in his eyes. “I- I can’t stand.” 

She shakes her head and loops an arm around his waist. “Totally fine, I’ll help you.” 

He whimpers and tries to stand up, but as soon as he puts weight on his foot, he falls again. 

“Ok,” Supervillain says, thinking. “I’ll just carry you.” 

He nods and she puts an arm at the middle of his back and the back of his knees. She lifts him and carries him to where she came in at. 

She looks at the hole she made, then at Villain, and back at the hole. “Any ideas?” 

Villain nods and squeezes his eyes shut. “Put me down…” he exhales shakily and opens his eyes. “Then go through, and drag me out.” 

“Right.” Supervillain says. She nods once and…does nothing. 

“Supervillain.” Villain says. “Hurry please.” 

“Right.” she says again. 

This time, she squats and puts Villain on the ground close to the exit. She ducks through the hole and reaches for Villain’s hands. He flinches and pulls his hands away from her. 

“Sorry.” He rushes. He puts his hands back where they were and lets her grab his wrists. 

She drags him through the hole and picks him back up, holding him close against her. He curls against her, face buried against her shirt. 

“Ok,” she says, stopping. “I’m going to put you in the backseat and drive home. Alright?” 

All he can manage is a nod. 

On the ride back to Supervillain’s house, Villain slowly stretches his arms and legs, letting the muscles get used to moving again. His eyes stay closed, the bright light of the sun unfamiliar to him after the months he’d spent in the warehouse. 

The familiar bumps in Supervillain’s driveway alert him that they’re almost done driving and he sits up slowly. Supervillain opens his car door and holds her hand out to him. He takes it and she pulls him out of the car, looping her arm around his waist to keep him upright. Medic’s car is in the driveway, door open. 

They jump up from their spot on the porch and rush over to Villain’s side. They fuss over him, checking him over for any serious wounds before pulling away. 

Supervillain unlocks the door and pushes inside, forgetting about her guest. 

Hero cranes his neck to look at who’s at the door. He smiles when he hears three sets of shoes. 

“Aren’t you going to check on me?” He asks, voice booming through the house. “I assume you haven’t forgotten about me.” 

Villain freezes, recognizing the voice instantly. His entire body tenses and he shakes his head. “No.” he stumbles back and his back hits the door. “No, what-what’s he doing here?” 

Supervillain urges him forward, “You don’t have to worry about him, he’s tied up in the hallway. Just…get to the couch so Medic can look over you and I’ll deal with him.” 

She drags him to the couch and sits him down, “I’ll be right back.” 

Villain breathes rapidly, barely keeping upright. “Don’t- don’t let him…”

“I won’t. I promise.” Supervillain interrupts. She disappears into the hallway. 

Medic kneels in front of Villain, unzipping their go-bag on the floor next to them. 

“Hey,” they say, tapping his knee. “Deep breaths. Calm down, you need to trust Supervillain.” 

Villain inhales shakily and nods, he exhales and pulls his legs to his chest. Medic does a quick once-over of him and wraps a blanket around his shoulders. 

“You’re going to be alright, but it’ll take time. Your muscles are…” 

“I’ve been tied up for five months, I’ve known they’re atrophied. As long as I’ll get better.” he says, pulling the blanket tighter around himself. 

They nod, “You’ll have to work hard, and may never get back how you were before, but you’ll be alright.” 

Villain sniffles and tears fall down his cheeks. He wipes them away with the blanket and curls more into himself. Medic zips their bag back up and sits next to him, arm slung over his shoulders. 

[unjorts]

i am absolutely gnawing at the bars of my enclosure rn. on my cr c3 catch-up and i just finished ep 91 and 92 im LOSING IT !!!! that was so good but also ?? ???? crown keepers ???? my beloveds ?????? hello ?????????

if (key word: if) the crown keepers survive this i hope they meet with the bells hells :) i just think they're neat :)

idk fearne meeting morrighan who has a past intertwined/linked to morrigan the fatesticher ? i wanna get into /that/ fun little plot point. and the hells meeting opal ?? dorym reunion ?? better yet, the chetney-dorian reunion ?? ugh i can't wait,, it's gonna be a mess. i love these two adventuring parties with my entire heart. doomed-by-the-narrative groups are so ,, mwah. chefs kiss.

anyway speaking of doomed-by-the-narrative,, god that whole scene with fcg's sacrifice actually kinda fucked me up a lil. like,, i was already spoiled by twt notifs (through no one's fault but my own i completely forgot to mute them lmao) but BOY OH BOY DID IT NOT LESSEN THE EMOTIONAL IMPACT AT ALL. if anything it made the entire catch-up worse /pos

(the part in the shattered teeth where they were talking to jirana :( they were gonna have another therapy session :( AND FRIDA OH GOD :(((( love letters :( )

and you're telling me i have to wait?? until friday???? criminal offense, honestly. (i know they say thursday but ahaha asian moment)

[bug-decal-kissing]

Hey friends!

That Won't Fly With The Boss, by just_a_somebody, was updated today, with 12/? Chapters released! It has a rating of Teen And Up Audiences and No Archive Warnings Apply, with additional tags "ProhibitedWish, Hurt/Comfort, Angst, Headcanon, might've given him trauma, please just hear me out - Freeform, what if scarab had wings like scarab beetles are supposed to?, key word had, My first fic, Be nice to me, Post-Canon, and they were ROOMMATES, this can probably be considered as scarab having ptsd, PTSD, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Enemies to Lovers, Developing Relationship, Fic within a Fic, They both need therapy, This is going to be a long fic, it’s the journey that matters, but I swear I have an ending in mind, Orbo can fuck off, Implied/Referenced Character Death, Past Character Death, Canonical Character Death"

You can read it here:

THEY'RE GOING ON A DATE YESSSSSSS FALLS TO THE GROUND/pos PEACE AND LOVE ON PLANET EARTH THEY LIKE-LIKE EACH OTHER !! I'm so excited for them to both start going 'uh oh what have I done' in a very flustered way >:]c/pos I like when they're STUPID and also IN LOVE <333

[collectivecloseness]

What’s More Important

Kurt Kunkle x reader

(Summary: Kurt’s fans can be toxic bullies half the time, and when it becomes too much for you and you pull away from his content, Kurt doesn’t understand. He especially doesn’t understand why the two of you have to argue. Notes: reuploaded from my ao3. Arguing, hurt/comfort, angst. F!reader. 10.4k.)

“Kurt please, I don’t wanna talk about this again.” You begged your boyfriend, you’d practically been pleading the entire ride home from work. And here you were, on the staircase to your apartment, still squandering with Kurt as you tried desperately for him to put the camera down.

“Y/n this is good content!” Kurt tried to get you to realise, his camera was mostly on his face, had been since he’d parked his car outside your building, but he was still capturing everything audio wise like a soldier. It wasn’t always to his benefit though.

“What? Us fighting?”

“We’re not fighting.” Kurt told you, a tired look coming across his face along with a concerned furrow of his brows.

You tried to pacify him. You knew he hated fighting, especially from what he’d told you about his parents, and the last time you’d raised his voice near him, even though it was to the asshole over his shoulder who was making a very rude gesture at him, he’d frozen in place and had to have your arm around his shoulders the whole mute way home to avoid any tears slipping.

You sighed, more tired than he was, he was always so energetic for his ‘fans’. Ever since the video of your first kiss took off. It was also the start of your problems. The start of people nitpicking at your every move. “I know we’re not sweetheart, but can you please, for the umpteenth time, turn that stupid camera off?”

You knew he wouldn’t. And the defiant protective grip of his phone just made a bubble of anger fuel in your chest. He gave a long worried look to his machine, to his fans, ‘what would his fans think?’ you mocked his thoughts. Sometimes you could get really sick of his antics, he was just so... stubborn!

“Fine.” You jolted your keys in your door, Kurt tapping twice on his screen to flip his camera to your front door, you were surprised he hadn’t accidentally doxxed you yet. “No cameras in my home though.” With that you closed the door on his surprised face, just leaning against your wall for support as you rubbed your fists achingly into your eyes. In the dark myriad of shapes and colours all you saw were those comments though. Instagram, youtube, tiktok, twitch you name it. On every platform people had called out how annoying, or ugly, or stupid, or unfunny, or just downright pathetic you were. And whether they were comments left on moments long past, or live bleating words to the public as you walked into a restaurant with your boyfriend and his device, not ever did Kurt really tell his fans to shut the fuck up.

Sure he’d bitten back a little. At your first really crude comment, he’d raised his hand a little to the camera, before bouncing it back on his steering wheel. “H-hey guys th-not cool. This-we’re a place of love here.”

The most you’d ever gotten was a “please tone it down respectfully in the chat.” Or a grumble of how he’d have to get mods some time soon as he turned left. And sure you didn’t expect him to just turn on his entire fan base, but not once had he yelled at them that they were crossing a line, or that they were wrong.

Worst of all it seemed he’d begun calling them out less and less. Not that you wanted the attention of course, and you knew Kurt had a knack of getting it, when he wanted to (which was usually most of the time) and sometimes even when he didn’t, you’d had to practically ban Kurt from his YouTube account one day when he kept responding to someone who you had to convince him was a troll just trying to rile him up. But Kurt had seemed to have gotten used to the ‘ocassional’ badmouthing of you. Not you though. He was constantly in the internet’s eye, and you’d been in his content less and less, not even posting yourself really any more, so maybe he didn’t see it as much, but you thought the amount of hate you got was drowning, and ever constant. Not that he seemed to notice. You banged the back of your head against your wall. Or care.

“Y/n? Please let me in? My-the stream’s over okay?”

You sucked the air harshly through your teeth, twisting to grip your hand against the doorknob. “I swear to God if there’s a camera in my face when I open this door.” But luckily there wasn’t. Just Kurt, stuffing his phone back into a green jacket pocket, and shrugging into his shoulders defensively. “Can I come in now?” His sad gamer boy eyes met yours and you knew he didn’t want you to kick him out. Kick him away.

You nodded satisfied. Moving back to allow your boyfriend into your apartment, both of you quickly heading to your room where you usually hung out. Neither of you sat though.

“Chat missed you today.” Kurt mumbled, pivoting unsurely on his feet.

“Oh really?” You remarked, trying to hide a scoff and sound as if you were actually interested. You highly doubted that. Kurt didn’t seem to pick anything up anyhow.

“Yeah. They kept asking ‘where’s your girlfriend?’ and ‘we wanna see y/n’ before I picked you up.” Kurt nodded, finally looking at you again since he’d been allowed inside. “How was work baby?” He stepped forward with the tired look you gave in response, loosely hanging his arms around your shoulders before pressing a sweet kiss to the top of your head.

You nudged your temple to his chest, sighing as you held onto his hip and held him back. “It just sucked Kurt.” You nuzzled into him a bit more and felt him kissing you again “I’ve had a bit of a shitty day.” You didn’t feel like adding on top of that that his livestream was part of the reason it was so shitty, not when he was here to make it better now.

Kurt removed his head at that, peering down at you with that lulled smile. “I have a-know what will cheer you up!” You couldn’t help but smile back, still in his embrace. You’d been hoping the two of you could do something again!! You’d both been busy, with Kurts spree, and your work, and Kurts filming, and you trying to avoid his filming.

You moved out of his arms but only to hold his hand, and he looked down at it, the apples of his cheeks blossoming. “I’ve got a new prank set up! And, well, I know you know it’s a prank n-now, but you don’t know what it is so-“

“Oh my god, Kurt.” For once you thought he had something in mind to do with you that wasn’t just a scene to be recorded. You shook his hand in yours, in an annoyed desperation, before seeing his irritated face. So you dropped him. “Can we not have one moment that’s ruled by your stupid social media?”

A terse silence followed that sentence. Both of you were standing further apart now, but neither of you moved, just looking each other in the eye as if you were waiting for tension to fill the room before speaking.

“It’s not stupid.” Kurt prodded first.

You bit back a grunt, some weird sound being made instead. “Yeah well can we just have a moment alone? Please?” Your eyes widened vulnerably towards his, taking one step closer. “Or we can like go to the movies or something! Or hang out with some of my friends?” You would genuinely be so happy to just relax and do any of that. Even have Kurt offer something!

“Your friends?” Kurt scoffed with an amused smile. “Your friends don’t even like me!” His snapping matched the ticked off expression he wore instead now.

“They do too!” You fought back.

“They never post me on their socials!” Kurt offered, seeing that as irrefutable proof. He knew people sometimes didn’t like him. He didn’t always know why, especially when he really tried. He didn’t think your friends were being very sneaky about it however. He knew what he knew. Most people were rude to him. Not you though.

“Kurt it’s because you constantly badger them about it!” You whined honestly. You wouldn’t go so far as to say it was embarrassing, you loved Kurt for who he was, but you at least wish he got the vibes, or toned it down a little sometimes. “Maybe they’d want to if you just cooled it!”

Kurt just looked at you. His expression was overtly unreadable. Although you could trick yourself into thinking his nostrils were flaring just a little more than before. Sometimes it freaked you out that when someone argued with Kurt, he’d just stand there with such a neutral look, when you knew he must be feeling a whole lot of something in there. Somehow, and you never thought it’d be true, but someone like Kurt hiding their anger made him seem more scary than if he was yelling, not that you’d ever seen him properly do that either. You probably would’ve got a better look at him, considering how deadly silent Kurt was being as he urged you to continue, if you hadn’t wiped your hands down your face in stress. “Or maybe they’d want to if they didn’t know your fan base was so toxic.”

“That’s because you’re telling them that!” Kurt moped, in a louder voice than usual.

“Are you saying I’m lying!?” You asked. Did he really not think that? By this point?! That you were just exaggerating all this for attention?

“No but!- Ughhhh- I justmmmmm... Why are we fighting!?” Kurt finally ended his sentence. Taking a long, shaky breath, before his eyes grew softer on yours. “I don’t wanna fight with you y/n.”

“I don’t either!” Your voice hadn’t quite gone down back to a normal volume, you took a second to breathe and make it so. Your eyes were stinging but there were no tears. Yet. “I don’t, I love you Kurt.”

Kurt’s heart flipped. He always needed you to say that. Especially after your first fight. The word ‘fight’ made it feel like someone was punching his head even thinking it, when to do with you. He sniffed, saying “I love you too” quietly back.

You were unsure about hugging him first. Scared of him pulling away, of the fact that he seemed to confirm over and over again for you, that he cared about his audience more than he ever could about you. Although part of you, that part of you that was melting under his gaze right now, still didn’t want to believe that. “I don’t wanna fight either.” You lamented truthfully. “But please, can we be normal?”

“I am normal!”

You cringed immediately. You knew that was a sensitive point for him, and even though that wasn’t your intention, to call him abnormal, you’d kind of forgotten in the heat of the moment about that word, during this maybe over, but still extant, fight. You apologised quickly but calmly. “Of course that isn’t what I meant.”

Kurt nodded. He knew it.

But now neither of you knew what to say. Both still heated, both hurt but not letting the other know all too well. And letting Kurts mind wander when emotional like this was not good for anyone. “Bet you let your friends post you on their socials...”

“Oh my god Kurt. This again? I thought it was bad enough I had to put up with you spree streaming me?” You fully scoffed at this point, in disbelief this argument was still going on.

“Pu- put up with?” Kurt asked accusingly. Then he shook his head, as he changed his mind. “Y/n I just wanna post some pics with my girlfriend! Isn’t that the most normal thing in the world?” You hadn’t even let him upload a picture of the two of you in a month. On any platform! You didn’t even let him take pics of you anymore at all. Yesterday throwing a pillow at him until he deleted the one of you eating Chinese on his lap, because you thought he’d post it.

He missed having pictures of you on his phone...

“Not when the comments are all telling you how horrible your girlfriend is!” You were getting angry about it again, you could feel how hot your skin was getting but this time your anger was around Kurt. You’d told him about it before, and he always said something along the lines of “nah, you’re perfect babe. From head to toe.” But he’d never actually done enough to be productive about it. Not when he was too busy trying to be productive on his channels.

“It’s like you don’t even exist y/n!” Kurt aired his hands up and down your body, slapping a hand to his head with a deep breath. “Because you’re never online anymore! You’re not even documented by me!”

“That’s bullshit.” You rolled your head and Kurt grunted under his muffled lip sucking. “Stop making me sound like a future serial killer victim! I don’t need to be ‘documented’ for everyone to see Kurt.” That just made Kurt huff loudly, groaning to himself. It felt as if the stress was pounding at his head from the inside, harming him to come out. “It’s like we’re not even together!”

Now that fucking hurt. That twisted the knife inside your chest, and made it feel like it was falling to the pit of your stomach.

You couldn’t even think of a response. But your body, in trying to protect your brain, overtook that problem for you, as you gave your boyfriend a very flippant, but appalled, “fuck off!”

“No you! Do so!!” Kurt turned away from you, grumbling to himself as you just let your heart pound away. He spun around quick enough though.

“You don’t understand me!”

“I try to Kurt! I’ve always tried!”

“NO! Nobody does!” Kurt took a shaky sigh as he tried to control his volume. You noticed first that his fists were shaking, but soon realised it was his entire body, sleeves and torso hidden by his green jacket.

“I’m getting bullied online now y/n.” His eyes met yours again and you did feel bad for him, even though all half his fans seemed to do was bully him no matter what he did. “Everyone’s calling me an incel vi-loser a-again. They’re saying that I made you up-o-or that you-“ he took a deep breath “y-we broke up.”

You didn’t like that he was being hurt by trolls, even if his harassment from them and his familiarity with it was different than yours, but you were still angry though. With a heavy sigh, you rubbed your arm to your elbow. “Just ignore them.” You spoke lowly.

“What, like you do?”

You looked to Kurt at that. You couldn’t tell if he was being spiteful or mocking you, or genuinely trying to tell you something. But it didn’t matter. Kurt didn’t get it, he couldn’t. He was actually good enough. And he didn’t give a shit about you. You knew that well enough now. And with all your wasted time and love on him, with the love you still fully had for him and it hurt to keep, you finally saw red. Kurt didn’t care about you, he wasn’t trying to prove it with the trolls when they didn’t like you, and maybe he never had cared about you. Maybe you were as dumb as they all said, and maybe that’s why he never defended you.

“Well if that’s all you want, a girlfriend who you can post on your socials, and do couple challenges with, then maybe we shouldn’t be together!”

Kurts heart sunk to his stomach.

“You clearly don’t love me you just want a girlfriend to post! A trophy.”

“That’s not TRUE!!!” Kurt yelled, crying now. His throat sounded raw as he screamed, and you were sure the sobbing he was now heartily doing was just making it feel worse. Kurt couldn’t help but just stand there, eyes red and puffy and leaking, snot dripping out of his pink nose, fringe itching at his eyes, as he scratched at it with his sleeve and choked on sobs and spit, whining loudly. He was like a lost child, unsure what to do next, but so full of emotions right now. You knew he didn’t know how to handle them best most days, and he was sensitive. His emotional immaturity wasn’t helping with this though, to you it ensured that he really wouldn’t be able to get what you were going through right now. Sometimes he listened but he had this glassy look in his eyes like he didn’t understand. You couldn’t really see his eyes now because he had them screwed shut as he was murmuring sobs to the ceiling.

“I don’t want someone to post I waNT YOU!!!!!”

Kurt yelled the last word with anger. You froze.

But even so, it had made you freeze for a different reason.

You weren’t scared of Kurt. His whole body shuddered with breaths as he stood with hunched shoulders, towering over you looking taller than he ever had done before. Remembering how strong he actually was under his normal goofy look, when his hands would grasp your biceps when you asked him to take control in the bedroom. But the way he screamed that just made you realise the truth. His truth. Your truth.

Oh God. You were so wrong.

Kurt was still crying his fucking eyes out. He was bawling to your roof, blue shirt covered in wet tear patches, sleeve slick with spit, as his throat coughed out cries, hands twitching at his sides where his arms limply hung, as if he had no idea whether to reach out to you, hug himself, or hit his head, as you’d sadly seen him do a couple of times. He was sad, and confused, angry, grief-stricken, and so so scared.

Those assholes had gotten to you way more than they bargained. It’d gotten to you, and gotten to your relationship. Gotten to Kurt.

And that’s something you never wanted to happen. At first you were trying to protect him, but maybe you should have let him protect you.

Maybe you should’ve believed just how much he loved you. Because you loved him, that much. And you knew looking at him the way he was in front of you, there was not an ounce of this spree driver who didn’t fucking worship you.

“Oh... Kurt.” Your voice sounded so small. You didn’t mean to sound so small. After what felt like hours without touch between you two, you reached out your hand, to hold him.

Kurt flinched back. And your heart fucking shattered.

He cried again, eyeing your hand with such a mix of emotions as he stayed in that leant position. Just whimpering more before his body forced a choke out of him as he stared at it.

You knew he wasn’t scared of you. And you knew he wasn’t mad. You knew it. He was just so nervous. You’d make sure he knew to never worry about the two of you holding each other again.

You moved between that space quickly and threw your arms around him, crying so loud it matched his, as he hugged you back before your chests had even pressed together. You gripped his back like you were going to fall through the floor at any second without him. And he clutched your waist as if you’d run away from him any time now. You just held onto your Kurt, and let him know you were his back, as you let him completely engross you.

Kurt, now he’d finally gotten you back into his arms, just held you tight. So much it hurt.

“Please don’t leave me. Pl-oh... please please please don’t aba-leave me. Ca-y-you can’t. You have to stay with me. Please. Please don’t go away y/n...”

“K-Kurt...” you tried gently to push at his chest. He was firm. “You’re kinda hurting me.”

It was genuinely as if he didn’t hear you. Kurt only buried his trembling head into your shoulder, tears, snot, spit and all. “Don’t-you c-can’t-I can’t do-no-y-you stay-you-“ he blabbered, every muscle in his body squeezing you tighter “Please.”

That last one was a broken whisper, his voice didn’t even speak the latter half of the syllable, and you couldn’t bear the thought of Kurt feeling as broken as his plea sounded. You hugged him back as tight as you could, squeezing his middle until your tummy’s applied so much pressure it made you feel sick, or maybe it was the thought of losing Kurt. You could feel his teeth against your neck as he opened his mouth to choke and splutter, crying instead of speaking as he meant to. A few wracked sobs needing to escape his chest before he could even talk. “I need you.”

You opened up, honestly. “I need you too Kurt.”

”ohh...” A tiny muffled whimper escaped him at that, nuzzling into your neck as if he could tuck himself away inside you, as if he couldn’t get close enough. You couldn’t tell if he was trying to comfort himself, or you. “I love you so so much.” You promised him yet again.

Kurt reared his head back, finally not squeezing painfully, but definitely nowhere near letting you go. Eyes squinting as if it was painful to open them, but desperate to see your figure, as he flitted his brown and reddening orbs up and down your features. Hands rubbing up and down your back. “I- mmmh... I love y-y-you too, y/n.”

“Kurt I love you-“

Kurt interrupted you, still dazed “Mmmmfhso much...” His eyes were glued stickily shut by tears, fatigued looking, head retaking its domain over your neck. He was almost purring into it, as Kurt stayed safe in his little dreamland, nuzzling into the crook of your neck and your shoulders, where it was safe, and warm, and dark, and he could still smell you.

But with all this snuggling and search through your skin, you had to push back his head, because his slightly greasy hair was tickling you too much. You simply held your palm to his temple as you removed him just a couple of inches, gently flicking his fringe away with your soothing fingers, knowing he always liked when you touched his hair. “And I promise I’m not going to leave.”

Fog began to lift from Kurts eyes, as he finally was able to take in your face, you, with him, and he saw you were crying too. With a lick of his lips, ridding them of the salty taste he was quickly gaining, more tears fell down his cheeks silently and quickly at those words.

He needed to hear them every second of every day. He wanted to replay them over and over. He kissed you right there and then, begging you “please” as he slotted his warm lips against yours with a wet noise, breathing messily into your mouth “say it again.” He needed to devour your words.

“I-mmfh!” He barely let you speak, too busy trying to suck on your upper lip, but he stopped his tongue from entering as he turned down the strength of his kiss, only softly brushing against your warmth instead of attacking it with need, even though his movements had been pretty slow, lips still touching yours but spacing back a little, to hear you talk. “I promise I’m never going to leave you Kurt my love.”

Kurt kissed you more. His lips hard and bruising again against yours, but teeth nibbling so delicately at your plump flesh, tongue bracing your mouth as he tasted every inch of you, fingers digging almost painfully into your skull as he pressed your face closer and closer to him, until his cheek was like sandpaper against your nose.

“Kur’?”

Kurt just whined into you, even though you didn’t have enough room to finish his name. He nipped only lovingly at your tongue, saliva generously swapping from him to you as he sloppily kissed with louder and louder sounds. He needed every sense filled with your kisses. Your love. Wanting all of your senses filled with him too.

“Kurt-“ you finally were able to pull him off you with a touch to his soft tummy, hand slipping just under his shirt, and you pulled back with a thick trail of spit between your lips. One Kurt sweetly pecked off. His lower face red raw, and covered in spit. It seemed he’d forgotten you’d pulled away for a reason though, because once his eyes were on your lips again, he was leaning back in with a need like a dying man for water.

You gently scratched at the skin of his belly, putting the hand that was on his lower back to his chest and Kurts eyes met yours as if the wires in his head were connecting yet again. It was like you could see his brain reworking through his eyes. Luckily he nodded and you sighed, with the newfound ability to breathe again the way Kurt was drinking you. You didn’t think you had long though before he was pressed against your face once more. You always knew Kurt was needy, and right now his hands were itching against your lower back, he spoke of how badly they tingled when he got like that. “Kurt let’s just talk for a second first? Please?”

“About what?” Kurts eyes widened as he took a step back, but instinctively drew your body closer at the same time. You could hear the fear in his voice and quickly finished your sentence, soothingly rubbing patterns up his skin and shirt. “I just wanna make sure you know I’m not mad. I wanna talk about why I was upset... so we can work things out, before the kissing and stuff. Can we just talk for a second first? It would really make me feel good Kurtie.”

Knowing you weren’t mad at him, and you weren’t going to leave, Kurt hummed, which you knew from your time with him was his tired but ‘yes’ sound. The praise helped him a little too. He gently led you to your bed, surprising you that he was the first to move, as he stroked your hand lovingly in his while he took you. Letting you sit down first before he sat on your lap. Clearly needing to remain close.

You couldn’t help but bite a smile at this. Kurt was so goddamned adorable and he hardly ever knew it. You swore once to tell him every time he was so, and you couldn’t believe you’d nearly broken that promise by going. Knowing it wasn’t exactly the time, you simply sweetly pressed a kiss to his mess of hair, enjoying the pleased but surprised gasp/groan that you got from him, as he settled in happily playing with your fingers. You let him keep your hands, as he rested his cheek to your heartbeat, now wanting to just know, like earlier, why you were so upset.

You held onto him dearly. Kurt had quickly swept up your entire life and become your everything. You didn’t know if it was entirely healthy, but you had Kurt, and he had you, and it was more than you’d ever had before. Someone who actually wanted you- Kurt brought your hands to his face and inhaled deeply- maybe even needed you, despite what certain commenters may have said, or made you feel. And you needed him just as much. Remembering those harsh words though caused you to shuffle your legs in unease, a cue for once, not unnoticed by Kurt, as he wiggled his butt slightly, back.

Your thumb tapped Kurts knuckle in thought, as you sighed. Trying to think of a way you could speak without hurting yourself more, and that would help Kurt understand, especially in such a fragile state the both of you were in. “It’s hard to start talking, just gimme a moment.” Is what you ended up with. And you nosed his temple at his patience, letting him know with a smile “you always help make me feel better. A minute with you and I’ll be ready sweetheart. I’m sorry it’s taken this long.” ‘And that we had to go such an awful way about it’ you thought. The memory of your fight only just passed making your chest tighten. You hated the things you said now knowing how confused he must’ve been when you said them to him. You held onto Kurt more closely, understanding his reaction earlier.

“How do I make the sadness go away y/n?”

Your urge to settle and coo over him immediately swamped you, but you tried to bite back any pouting or worried looks, heart aching over his innocently asked question. You swept your hands over Kurts hair mollifyingly, moving it out of his face as you tried to make him look at you while stroking him. “Why? Do you still feel sad baby?” Your other thumb rubbed his shoulder gently, head angled to look down at your boyfriend with careful gentle eyes.

Kurt shook his head, nestling hismelf into your shoulder more, but it was easier to look up into your eyes this way. “No. Your sadness.”

Your heart froze at this, in fact you felt your whole body constrict in the most minute way, lips tight as a noise, as if once a possible word, caught in your throat. Before your chest quickly reverted back to it’s normal exhausted pace of tonight. Hugging his shoulders closer as your urge to protect the love of your life only grew stronger. The reality of how much you loved Kurt, and realising once again, but more than ever before, how much Kurt loved you, in his very Kurt way, washed over you, and you gently rocked Kurt in your arms as your body tried to calm itself, pressing many tender kisses to his hair as you tried to hide the flooding of your eyes.

Kurt just sat there open eyed, as he paid extra attention to your comforting kisses, and kept playing with your warm fingers.

How could he make that sadness leave you alone?

“Kurt- I...”

Kurt wiggled more so he was looking directly at you now. He wanted to understand.

“It’s just... I don’t think I can take it anymore Kurt...” You looked up at him finally revealing that core truth. And you burst into tears as soon as the words left you mouth. Your hand came shakily up to your lips as you sobbed, as if your body hated what you were saying. Kurt only held you warmly, tucking your hair behind your shoulder so he could see your lips more, so he could see you talking. His fingertips graced your wrist, as if to pull it away from your face, but you guessed he decided against it, instead rubbing the back of his hand gently against your own, encouraging you to drop it whenever you were ready.

You took in a deep breath as you fell into his touch, wiping away the tears down yoru face once before placing your hands onto your knees again. And since Kurt was in your lap, it was easy for him to reach around and grab them, not playing with them this time, but simply cupping them in his own.

“E-Everyone’s so mean to me. And I know that sounds stupid but it’s true, it really does hurt after a while.” You felt embarrassed, but Kurt was just looking at you openly, with those big dumb loveable eyes. You couldn’t help but kiss them, his eyelids at least, and the way he squirmed and giggled at the light touch even made you smile during your confession. At least before a larger sniff overtook your features. “But, like, every single post, no matter what, for literally months now, there’s been so many comments, so many people, just hating me. Saying every single thing that’s- that’s wrong with me.”

“There’s nothing wrong with you y/n.” Kurt quickly interrupted.

It almost surprised you how surely he spoke. And that unwavering look in his eyes was confident, which you hardly ever saw your boyfriend. Your rapid blinking matched your heartbeat. “Y-yeah. Thank you. Thank you Kurt.” You rested one hand on his forearm, closing your eyes in tranquility as he pressed his warm cheek to the side of your head. “Well anyway, it was just really, really, getting to me I suppose. Especially when...”

You cringed, hating that you started that sentence, looking to to Kurt almost as if to see if he’d heard it. But Kurt simply nudged himself against you once, urging you to continue.

You took a shaky breath, part of you still angry, still confused and upset at his actions, part of you hating what you were gonna do to him next. “When you wouldn’t even defend me Kurt.”

You felt Kurt suddenly stiffen in his hold. He didn’t let go, but it wasn’t excatly comfortable either. You wriggled a little, more so because your skin felt bad rather than his grasp. “I’m sorry I shouldn’t-“

“Y/n, tell me. Please.”

You couldn’t meet his eyes. Looking down into your mixed laps meekly. But his voice sounded earnest, if not strained. You whined, it hurt your chest, it made you feel like you were going to be sick, even if Kurt had, lightly, taken back up his petting of you. “You just wouldn’t say anything! Ever! No matter what people said you didn’t- you didn’t ban them! You didn’t ask nicely for them to quit it, you didn’t yell at them.” You spluttered a messy laugh “Jesus! I thought you might’ve even made a viral video with a stupid clickbaity title to get everyone to stop harassing your girlfriend! At least that’d get on the tea podcasts!” You couldn’t tell if you were panting or hyperventilating, but you didn’t care. ”You didn’t care Kurt. Or at least, that’s how it felt. You would causally say a thing or two if I brought it up, maybe. But you never told them... you never told me, that they were wrong.”

The silence was killing you. You were sure realistically it’d only been a couple of seconds, but it felt like forever since you’d spoken, and nothing. Swallowing that sick taste in your throat you looked up, to see a panicked expression on Kurt’s face so vivid if almost made you feel panicky.

“I’m sorry!” He squeaked.

You bit back your sadness as Kurt held onto you in a vice like grip, apologising under his ragged breath, which definitely wasn’t helped by the way his chest squeezed against yours. “I-I’m-I’m-‘m mmmmm! ‘M so sorry y/n. So so so sorry baby. Sorry sorrysorry!!!” You wanted to tell him it was fine, but a sob wracked through your chest even without accompanying tears, reaching up to stroke the backs of your fingers against his cheek as Kurt was furiously and terrifiedly smashing kisses to your head where he could reach. Pecking generously all over your fingers once they reached his skin, taking the tip of your longest and wrapping his lips around it in a sweet kiss, whining uncomfortably when he let go.

“I jus-just! Because you- I don’t know!!” You tried to shift your legs to hold him with them but Kurt was clinging onto you in such a teddy bear hug you decided to rub your head agaisnt his soft shirt instead, hoping the movement would let his brain catch up that you were leaning into him, you were embracing him. Not running.

You weren’t sure if it worked, but Kurt continued.

“I just. I thou-assumed that you’d know they were lying. For attention.”

You perked your ears at that, Kurt shifting so uncomfortably, even on your lap.

“Because you’re smart. So much smarter than me. I thought you’d just know they were making it all up. That you saw yourself the way I did.”

Your heart thumped. How did Kurt see you?

He nosed behind your ear, whining softly as he tucked himself away there. “And you’re so much braver than me too. I thought th-you wouldn’t even c-care what thos-they said.” He nuzzled behind the top of your ear, pulling back a little as you heard a small stuttered bretah. “I mean, you’re still b-brave. All those things. Ju-! Just not what they said! You’re all the good things.”

He kissed your jugular, such a vulnerable part of your body, and it all lit up at the touch of his lips. “You’re all the good things in the world. In my world.”

Kurt wasn’t always good with words. But that was the most beautiful thing you’d ever heard from someone about yourself.

Your hand swept to his heart, fingertips gently grazing over his chest as Kurt watched you, calming now as he just assessed you, taking in the way you touched him. Just happy to look, and feel. Even when you took your hand away, he was content, because you kissed that area of flesh over his heart, while looking right at him, and Kurt swore he could’ve become yours forever right then and there, if he hadn’t already been.

“Thank you Kurt. That really means a lot to hear from you.” You smiled. “It means a lot you’re trying to talk to me about all this.” Him using his words was just really helping you in this moment. And even if Kurt’s forte wasn’t words of affirmation, he’d try and be good at anything for you.

“Rea-I mean, I’m glad to hear it b-sweetheart. You-You really are my everything, ya know?” He kissed your hair sweetly again, subtly drinking in your scent as he pressed his lips against your hair, always loving the feel of it around his lower face. Or anywhere. Unsuccessfully hiding his smile, not that he’d really want to, as you stroked over his chest again, smiling that smile he always usually tried to bring out. “And you can talk about anything you want with me. Honest babe.”

Kurts strength almost surprised you as once he’d clambered away, he literally lifted your entire cross legged figure from the bottom, gently readjusting you in his lap, just so he could fiddle around and touch you more. And it really did touch you.

“Thank you sweetheart. Those assholes just really got to me huh?”

Kurt nodded, following your every word. You stroked his cheek like he was a soft little baby, before the anger of what those basement dwellers just caused rose up in your chest again, and you had to move your eyes to the wall to let out a cathartic grunt. “Especially when like, it was live and I just had to sit there and take it, or be called worse things if I fought back an-“ You cut yourself off there, moving back to look at Kurt now.

He shifted his head, nodding once. “Go on. It’s okay. I’m right here baby.” His almost stern posture turned caring in his last sentence, rubbing your hand on top of his arm.

You shrunk into Kurts jacket. “I was worried you’d lose some of your fans if I let out some... particularly, harsh comebacks.”

Kurts laugh caught you off guard. You didn’t really think it seemed appropriate, until Kurts versions of events started to make sense as he asked “Yeah? Can I hear some of em?” You chuckled back then. “Especially if they’re Bobby related!” You squealed as his hands came to tickle at your waist, trying to fight him off breathlessly as he held you on his lap with just his legs, only able to fight off his wiggling fingers when he’d gotten a few good laughs out of you.

“Yeah yeah-“ you slapped down his left hand again as you saw it aiming for your hip, relishing in his cooing giggles as he laid you agaisnt his chest once more, not showing his teeth anymore but smiling still as you continued.

“And like, God, it just sucked when dono’s would say things about me out loud in public. I mean, the stares I got.” You looked up at him, to see if he remembered what you were talking about.

He bit the inside of his cheek in thought, it reminded you of a squirrel. “Yeah, I mean I’d stay up like, literally pulling my hair out, on nights you weren’t there because I didn’t know if I should turn off donos in public or if people would stop donating if I did.”

This surprised you a little. You knew Kurt could get very easily overstimulated by stress, especially if it was about his influencer career, but it hurt you to know he was hurting just as much when he was alone. You gave his hair a couple of soft strokes, but Kurt seemed too busy thinking. “Although, I’m glad we still haven’t gotten someo-some idiot, donating to call out a fake bomb threat, like that guy we saw last month.”

“Oh yeahhhh.” You hit his arm in remeberence. Jesus the amount of brain cells some of Kurts fans, at least on his twitch, seemed to have, you were surprised they hadn’t done anything at stupid as that yet. Although it made your heart swell with pride to hear Kurt indirectly call at least his fans that deserved it ‘idiots’, even if it was behind closed doors.

You sighed, collapsing against him, not expecting Kurt to just accept your weight, and willingly lay down, so you were basically laying vertically on his lap. Not that either of you minded. You wiggled around a little, stretching your legs on his and settling you head on his chest, happiness sinking into you own as you let him play with your hair. Positions like this, with you, were always Kurts happy place.

“I dunno.” You sighed, stretching, and Kurt thought you looked like Luna or Dozier when they were pups doing that, in either case, it was cute. “I guess all the negativity just really got to me. I mean I know you’re the professional”- you didn’t miss the way Kurts chest puffed up beneath you at that word- “you’ve been doing it for ten years. But I’m just not used to it I guess. Even though I missed spending time with you, at least if I stayed away from all social media, yours and my own, I didn’t have to see any more insecurities I hadn’t figured out on my own yet.”

“Y-you have nothing to w-to be i-insecure about y/n.” Kurt bent rather awkwardly to kiss your head, but the peck was sweet, stroking through your hair till you clsoed your eyes, cheek smushed against his shirt.

“You’re amazing. Ju-s-beautiful. Way smarter than me.”

“Stop itttt.” You warned with a quick swat to his chest, not liking when he talked down on hismelf like that. Even if that was what you were kind of doing right now. Kurt took your hand and kissed it.

“Drop dead gorgeous, my lil Kurtie.” He nuzzled into your hand, teasing you with the nickname.

You giggled “Yeah, yeah, thank you beautiful boy.”

Kurt giggled back in response, always eating up your praise. Similar to how he was mouthing at your ear like a baby with a toothing toy. You flicked him off of you before he could drool more, enjoying his laughter even if he had tried to swallow you whole. It did cause you a snort of a laugh. But you still had hurt simmering in you just a little.

It mostly came out when you weren’t looking at Kurt again. Just like it did once you’d wiped your ear clean, and were left with your bedroom walls, and a bubbling sigh. “I wish some of those dicks would just drop dead.”

“So do I y/n.”

You nodded, leaning back into his warmth again with a sigh. Kurt, no matter how he was, or other people thought he was, always made you feel safe.

“You’re just... you’re not-you’re so much more than my-those assholes say.” Kurt kissed your hand again, because he could feel you smelling his shirt and it made his entire body feel all fuzzy, like it sometimes did with you. “A-A-And you know, I know I’m not, like, the best, with words.” You kissed his chest and Kurts hand felt like it was vibrating in yours, not physically, just from the fuzzy feeling swelling. “But I don’t think what any of them have said is true.”

You rested your chin gently on his collarbone, even adoring the way he peered down at you from this angle. “You really don’t?” It was what you’d needed to hear, just once. You should’ve just asked him sooner.

“No. ‘f course not. And, I love you y/n. You know that babe. But I’ll say it again. I love you.” He sat up on his elbows then, jaw dropping into a puppet like smile as he dramatically rolled his head. “I love you!”

You attempted to sit up yourself, bracing his hips as you chortled. “You’re so goofy.” Hands leaving him when you gained more balance on your midsection.

“You’re never ever getting away from me!” Kurt lunged at you with a fake roar, smile still wide as you squealed, being wrapped into his hug and pulled impossibly closer on his lap as he kissed you all over, even if it was mostly on your clothes as you were wearing a jacket, he just kissed you harder there. Paying special attention to your face and exposed skin as you shrieked, screaming more as Kurt roared to press a large open mouthed kiss that was more of a fake bite to your neck, his knees coming to hold your arms in place so his hands could tickle you once more.

You tried to turn your head and break free of his hold as you laughed like you couldn’t breathe, only causing an “Oh nooo you don’t gorgeous!” as he suckered you in with kisses, his hands reaching your back now as he stroked up and down your shoulder blades. Once his lips had finally met yours, slowing down and just pulling you in like that, his only focus on kissing you. And you were both all smiles as you did so.

There was just a moment or so where Kurt held you. Your back was to his chest so neither of you could see the others faces, but feeling Kurts warm chest puff beneath yours with every breath, even if occasionally one was shaky, was enough to calm you just a little. Both of you had remained silent, and the tranquility had let you both relive the biggest fight the two of you had ever had just minutes ago. One where you almost yelled at Kurt to leave your life forever, to quit your relationship. With a small gasp your thoughts abandoned you as you felt Kurts lips against your neck, not kissing or sucking, or smiling, just moving slowly as he drawled out his first few words.

“You yelled at me.”

They shattered your stupid heart.

You turned to him, trying not to let the panic show in your features, but regret was still clearly smacked in there. “I know. I know baby, I’m so sorry.”

You held Kurt’s flushed face in your hands, just slightly pressing agaisnt his cheeks. And that’s when his burning eyes started to trickle with tears again. “An-“ he gulped “And I yelled at you too?” He looked right into your eyes and he just broke.

Emotions were running very high today.

“Ohhhh it’s okay sweetheart. It’s alright.” You promised, holding his cheeks so lovingly as you wiped away any tears that dared to leak. “All in the past now huh?” You hummed. Kurt nodded in your safe hold. “And we’ll try not to yell again, right?”

“Right.” Kurt placed his hands on your face now, but in a more secure hold. His hands itched at you, and you could tell that tingly feeling had reached his fingers again, the way he spread them restlessly over and over against your cheekbones. He spoke desperately “I won’t yell at you again, I promise y/n.”

“I know, me neither Kurtie.” You nodded, smiling as his head slowly followed along, lips puffed slightly with tears, in your hold. You knew it wasn’t as simple as that, but right now it really felt like it. It felt like you’d never want to yell at your sweet boyfriend again. And you knew it was just what Kurt needed to hear right now. You stroked over his features dotingly.

“Scared me.”

Kurts small voice almost shot you into a daze of panic. But it was said so... helplessly, defeatedly, you almost didn’t hear the murmur. You let Kurt’s face go and he dropped yours, licking his lips as if he was happy when you went to hold his hands, even if they were tucked away in his sleeves.

“What? By yelling sweatpea?” You asked unsure.

Kurt shook his head. “Scar-was scared.” He quickly corrected himself. Shaking his head for a different reason that time, itching at his sore eyes with his dampened sleeve as he tried to keep his mind straight. “I was scared, you were gonna l-le-leave m-me. Y-You asked-“ he shuddered a breath “you were gonna ask me to go away...”

You melted. Emotionally and physically, falling the upper half of your body into his lap as it felt like your heart dropped further and further like an anchor. Deciding to wrap your arms around his middle when you were there, you leant your tear stained cheek against his soft tummy, looking up at him with a frown. “Kurt, I’m so sorry.”

Kurt sniffed an “it’s okay” before you could continue. It just made you hold him closer, not missing the soft whine that escaped him when you did so, or the fact his warm hand had slipped down the back of your shirt near your neck to trace patterns with his chewed fingernails.

“No it’s not. I never ever, want you to go Kurt.

Kurt hiccuped, and you made sure to look him in the eye so you knew he really belived you, gingerly taking his wrist and using his own sleeve to fondly wipe a small stream of snot escaping his nose. Kurt gave a small laugh, wiping at his nose with a sniff, before thoughtfully rolling his sleeves up to his elbow to continue his mapping of your face with his fingers. They were tapping at the plump of your lips when you continued.

“I didn’t want you to leave then and I certainly don’t now. I’ll never, ever send you away Kurt I promise. Not unless you ask me to. And even then I think you’ll have a pretty hard time buddy.” That was meant to make him laugh a little again, even accompanying it with the tiniest of jabs to his hips. But this time Kurt didn’t laugh. His eyes stayed trained on the small area of your skin he could see from where his hand made space underneath your top, even if your hair fawned over some of it. But a few seconds later he was looking into your eyes, and the seriousness of it almost made you jump in his lap.

“I don’t want you to be scared of me.”

Out of all his emotional statements today that one had shocked you the most. “Why would I ever be scared of you?” You asked concerned, gently rubbing circles into his thigh at such a question. You always wanted to know what was going on his his little mind. Even sometimes still he wouldn’t tell you.

Instead of answering, or at least not yet, Kurt did make you jump this time, although you tried to hide it for Kurt’s sake, by quickly moving his arms and picking you up, shifting you so you were sitting, upright in his lap again, but so he could go into your chest.

With an unsure look to your bedroom wall, you ran your hand through Kurt’s hair in the way you knew he liked it. But seemingly Kurt wasn’t tucked away with you enough, as he bent as far as he could so he could try and hide himself against your tummy. Now it was your turn to coo, and swipe his hair from his face so you could see his expressions better. “Kurt I promise you one thing, you could never scare me.”

Kurt didn’t respond to that. You’d at least expected a nod. But you understood. This must all be hard for him, he was clearly bouncing from range to range of emotions which he already struggled dealing with, and with this being your biggest argument yet... you could understand Kurt.

And in doing so. You decided to try and change the subject. “Hey.” You said smoothly, nudging your boyfriend with your elbow. “So about what you said earlier.”

Kurt panicked a little, but when he saw your smile and slightly raised eyebrows, he assumed he was alright. “Uh. What part?”

You took in a leisurely sigh as you pet him. “The bit about me being, oh I dunno, all the good things in the world, in your world?” You wondered if you’d grow a bigger ego hanging around Kurt this much.

He nodded this time. “Yeah, baby?” He kissed you treasuringly.

“So do you mean to say, that, I’m all the good things in Kurtsworld?”

Kurt blinked rapidly, as a smirk grew on your face. Kurt hadn’t even thought of that. And you could tell.

He blinked some more, before an equal smile started to form. He didn’t let you take it in for long though before he surprise attacked you with kisses, rolling on top of you in your bed, with one long final smack of his lips, nodding affirmatively. “Yes. Yes you are.”

You giggled, reaching up for his face and pulling him closer as you were able to kiss him like normal now. No desperate need for either to not run off, no massive act to show how much you yearned for each other. You just both allowed yourself to be in love.

And it was heavenly. Kurt finally relaxed. Enough so he could manage his thoughts again, thinking up his own little ideas as you were happy to just lie there and let him run a finger up and down your arm slowly, jabbing him in the hip when he came too close to your pit. Kurt only laughed when you did so, he could tickle you later, for now he was contented to just be at peace with you. And for a running a mile a minute kind of guy, that tranquility was almost rare for the two of you.

“You know, I don’t care about documenting you, or whatever bull crap.” Kurt spoke up, finger tracing over your smooth skin. “Not if it means los-not ha-having you.” His hands clutched at your top lightly. “I need you y/n.” Before slowly loosening his grip. “You don’t have to be a collaborator y’know?”

It made you smile way he said it. The way he showed his love and ideas and the way he was looking at just a piece of you, just your arm, right in this moment.

“And I don’t wanna tell fans off just for some stupid drama channels. I’ll make a video. I’ll make more if they don’t stop.” Kurt looked to you now, gripping your chin. Your smile stayed planted. “But I’m gonna do it for you y/n. So you know that they’re just stupid, baby. That you’re not what you think everyone thinks, and definitely not what I think.”

The seriousness in his face made you melt with reassurance, nodding in thanks under his grasp, only let go as you moved in to kiss him again. When you pulled back, he was wearing a funnier look, twisted lips and needy, but open, eyes.

“Just... maybe a couple of pictures on my Instagram, a-and my stories?”

You only nodded, listening to him. You could swing that.

“And you don’t have to do any v-videos with me, maybe you could just... pop into my live sometimes to say hi. That would be nice.” Kurt licked his lips as he waited for your answer, but truth be told, you loved watching the man talk. And talk he could do, for days. So you compromised, much like he was asking you to do, by humming. “Go on.

Kurt seemed to understand this was good, and he trusted you. He shimmied a little on top of you in his excitement to share. “A-And just like one or t-two clips of you in my vlogs, even if it’s behind the scenes stuff, l-like” he looked at you and you were smiling wide, which only encouraged a small cheeky, happy, smile from him “like you holding my hand down the street, or walking in my room.” You didn’t miss the blush Kurt still got when talking about this stuff. “Maybe just like a scene of me taking you on a date to the park or something. I could find some dogs for you to play with. That’d be cute I think. I mean, I think you’d like that part.”

“Actually,” you shuffled a little closer to him, pressing your hands to his chest but not to push him away, in fact, you were pulling him in by his tee, smoothing your fingers up his torso, not missing the little gulp his throat from even your more loving touches. “I think I’d like it better being a bit more active in your content. Versus just background stuff I can’t control as much, does that make sense?”

Kurt nodded his head eagerly, you could almost see him drooling you were sure. Oh and there it was at the corner of his lips. He was lucky he was so cute. And at how bright his eyes were at your mention of being with him in something he loved so much, you couldn’t help but laugh into the next kiss you shared with him, only giggling louder as Kurt laughed too. Humming as you both ate up each other’s cackles in what you could only think of a just such a happy kiss.

So you would be in posts with ‘him and his girlfriend around the town’, and also the casual pictures of just you he’d upload because one side of his accounts was just him worshipping you. Pictures you hadn’t even realised he’d taken, as someone was talking to you about your hat in the park, or of you simply laying your feet on him watching tv, all captioned with quotes like ‘stream break with my girl, isn’t she the best?’ You didn’t even know about one of his undercover fan accounts that was just a shrine to you.

Nor all the pictures of you sleeping, but they were just for him.

Even the pictures you’d upload to your Instagram got overwhelming amounts of love, from your and Kurt’s fans. As well as from your irl, and new internet, friends.

And while he wouldn’t stream him picking you up from work, which he excitedly realised meant he got kisses as soon as he saw you again in the day, you would go home and try your hand at a level for his new gaming video that he was stuck on, even if it was just him trying to prove to some of his more shitheaded fans how difficult the level was.

Even if he didn’t directly say “shitheaded fans” he would call individuals out when necessary. He didn’t want to do it every time he caught a glimmer of something, because he understood overkill after you thoroughly explained it before your first stream together in months, and he didn’t want to embarrass you. But after a few call outs, even using their users, in his first stream, negative comments about you dwindled significantly.

They’d never stop completely, but you knew that. Your favourite time was beating the final boss in the new triple A game Kurt had even been allowed early access to, high fiving your boyfriend so hard you saw him wince even as he cheered, and wtaching Kurt turn to his camera and yell “See?! See how fucking awesome my girlfriend is!?! Beat that punks!” And you had to say you adored the way he called them punks. And your celebratory kiss and cuddle afterwards ended up trending on Twitter because everyone ate it up as shipper fuel. The number one edit was by a person who’d aptly changed their username to “GamerGirlY/n96”.

You even got more involved in behind the scenes stuff. Kurt would be performing a sketch (with dialogue you’d ‘edited’ for him) and at the end he’d bow, taking his wig off like a hat before throwing it at the camera, actually hitting it, as he told his viewers “Thank you to the lovely y/n for buying me that wig grocery shopping for us this week!” You didn’t miss that he was trying to insert the fact you’d both end up buying groceries for each other most times, but you also adored that he so clumsily wanted to share that. Especially as he continued his short thank you credits with a slightly out of breath “Guys, I love her so much.” to his fans.

And with even helping him with his audience when you weren’t in front of the camera, you still got praise, which was now much much more common that criticism.

And as Kurt hid himself into your cheek, too red and flushed and giggling, as you hid into his hair, the both of you snuggled close together under the covers to read the comments on your recent viral tiktok, which were all “wow, Kurt’s gf laughing behind the camera is sooooo cute!”

[viking369]

If You Take Political Scientists’ Words For It...

...you deserve whatever you get. And it won't be pretty.

First, as a preliminary matter, there ain't nuthin' scientific about politics. Having been in politics since 1968, working on campaigns, running campaigns, running for office, holding office, I have some degree of knowledge here. The only time science comes anywhere near politics is when people like Dan Jones use statistics to create horrifically biased polls and then pretend the results are honest.

Onward. Political scientists will define away all meaning from anything (And this goes double for France-based political scientists. Or just about any France-based "intellectual". Exhibit 1: French Post-Modernism. Summary judgment granted.).

Ekaterina Schulmann isn't France-based (She's in Kazakhstan right now having fled Russia due to her opposition to the invasion of Ukraine.), but the lecture I caught was at Science Po, so I can only assume she tailored it for a French audience. She's generally a fine scholar, but gods was she off on a key point in this one. She was drawing a distinction between authoritarian and totalitarian regimes, which is actually a good thing to do. She noted that authoritarian regimes aren't much on Grand Visions of the Future because they are focused on present preservation of power. Totalitarian regimes on the other hand are all about Grand Visions of the Future, and they use the Grand Vision to control the citizenry and justify any atrocity.

So far, so good. Then she argued Putin's regime has to be characterized as authoritarian because it has no Grand Vision. Ahem. She fails, miserably, to take into account that the right wing Grand Vision of the Future is overwhelmingly a return to some glorious and fictitious Golden Past. "Remember when We had things the way We wanted them? Before They showed up and wrecked everything? We need to rid Ourselves of Them so We can return to that paradise!"

This is exactly what Putin has created in Russia. And to connect the dots, it's exactly what the Dominionists, through the GQP, are working diligently to create here.

[ao3feed-danganronpa]

Overstepping

read it on the AO3 at https://ift.tt/TO6vlDB

by axedintheheart

Kokichi Ouma steals a Love Key.

Words: 7630, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English

Fandoms: New Dangan Ronpa V3: Everyone's New Semester of Killing

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Categories: M/M

Characters: Oma Kokichi, Shinguji Korekiyo

Relationships: Oma Kokichi/Shinguji Korekiyo

Additional Tags: Oneshot, Angst, Hurt/Comfort, Past Sexual Abuse, Implied Childhood Sexual Abuse, kiyo's having a rough time, also canon is stupid and completely wrong about him so here <3, I am emotionally beating him against a brick wall it's fine don't worry about it, He/Him and They/Them Pronouns for Shinguji Korekiyo, Oma Kokichi Being Oma Kokichi, but like /pos, Canon Compliant, (I guess?) - Freeform, Panic Attacks, Trauma

read it on the AO3 at https://ift.tt/TO6vlDB