#One is death metaphorically poetically or some fancy way of putting it

[doodle-empress66]

Basically these 2 are the embodiment of giving a reality check.

Reminder: most people dont notice but they are not the villains of the movie. Just an antagonistic force against the protagonist that push him forward yet eventually both earning mutual respect.

This 2 are the real villains.

[gothamcityangst]

How would react Killer Croc, Penguin, Harley Quinn, Catwoman, Scarecrow and Riddler if they facing Death ? And I don't mean it metaphorically or rhetorically or poetically or theoretically or any other fancy way. The Death. Straight, up.💀

The PIBTLW reference put the biggest smile on my face you have no idea. Also, you have no idea how nice it is to get an ask like this. Brownie points to you, my dude.

tw: Death

Killer Croc

Croc fights to the death. He's had to fight for his life since he was born and he isn't going to die now. Not to some weirdo in a black cape. (At least not the other weirdo in the black cape.)

When he realizes that it's Death he fights with everything that he's got only for him to feel the cold steel of his blade. Normally blades have a tougher time cutting through his leather-like skin. He's shocked when the last thing he feels is it cutting him down to the bone.

Penguin

If it was a public fight he'd try to outsmart death. If they're in private he bargains with Death. He tries to say he'll change his ways, he'll bribe death with whatever he can. He doesn't want to die. It's really pathetic truth be told.

It's all for nothing and Penguin would accept it in his last moments.

Scarecrow

Honestly, he'd think it's a hallucination at first. He's used to seeing different forms of death due to his fear toxin so he just thinks it's another variation of it. Normally the phantom blades pass through him and then they dissipate.

Only this blade cuts him, right across his throat.

Then he wakes up in the afterlife and realizes it wasn't in his mind. It was real. He yells as loud as he can about what an outrage this is. How dare Death presume.

After all, he is a god too. A god of fear and gods cannot die.

Catwoman

Catwoman also fights for her life. She probably makes some jokes about having 9 lives but after realizing Death's strength she figures out he's the real deal and not some new crazed villain.

Out of all of the rogues, she's the most likely to actually try talking with Death and I think Death would stop fighting and be straight with her.

"There's nothing I can do, Gato. Now if you'll come with me."

That being said I do think Selina would try running as far as she could but after a certain point, she'd know it's time and would go willingly. Why waste her precious time fighting the inevitable?

Harley Quinn

Harley also thinks it's a hallucination but she can't help but notice how real this one feels. When she realizes there's a real threat she fights him with everything in her arsenal. Mallets, guns, baseball bats the works.

Death isn't having any of it and would end up taking her life quickly.

Once Harley figures out they're the real death she goes into a kinda fangirl mode. After all, she's a huge fan of his work. She'd try to befriend death in the afterlife. Like an annoying puppy that won't stop following Death around.

After about a week death would probably have half a mind to bring her back to life just to get her to stop.

Riddler

He doesn't lose. He can't lose, even to death. He won't allow it. Eddie will go down kicking and screaming. He can try fighting off death as much as he'd like. He'd research Lazarus Pits, and life equations but Death would catch him before he'd see any of those plans come to fruition.

He would never beg but he would have the ego to think he could outsmart and trick death. He is very surprised when Death doesn't fall for any of his flatteries or deceptions.

When he dies he's worried not that he'll go to hell, but that he'll have to see his family again.

[eurosong]

ESC 2019 grand final ranking

Afternoon, folks! I have many finals day traditions, and another of them is to share my ranking of the 26 Eurovision songs that made it into the grand final on Saturday. Was a hard one to do given that a huge bulk of my favourites got knocked out in the semis, but as usual I will try to give a positive as well as a negative for each song nonetheless. The songs are presented in their running order, with their rank out of the 26 finalists for me in brackets thereäfter.

Malta (4) + Full of energy, a very non-linear song that contains many musical surprises. Lyrically, it’s one of the most clever and playful of the year. I love the colourful metaphors playing on the concept of chameleon, and the “GIVE ME X I’M A Y” is the lyrical meme of the year. - The chorus is divisive and I can understand why, as it’s rather repetitive. Albania (2) + How could they put this queen on in the death slot? One of the most moving songs of the night, performed with style, power and grace. Sparsely poetic lyrics about something deeply meaningful. No need for theatrics - the song speaks for itself. - Though I find it a positive, maybe it does need a bit more staging though to carry across the message of the song more clearly.

Czechia (9) + Earwormy, upbeat song with retro flourishes. Would have made a great show starter. - Once again, problematic lyrics from Czechia. A song about listening into other folk having sex, wtf m8?

Germany (15) + The song has a really nice build - the verse and bridge are powerful, have good lyrics and make me expect a lot. - The chorus is a cliché let down. The girls are still two soloists as opposed to a group and often are rather screechy.

Russia (20) + I like that Sergej went in a rather different direction musically, with something more orchestral and qualitative musically. Coming back with another “b*p” would have been a much lazier move. - All rather melodramatic. Songs like these should move folk but I feel completely impassive. The clunky lyrics don’t help.

Denmark (14) + It’s nice to hear Danish again after two decades of the Danes dodging their national language for so long. - The sweetness becomes overbearing tweeness over time. I’m a little sad this got in over more substantive songs in its semi. Nordic bloc vote is strong. San Marino (25) + Serhat is a nice guy and the song has a nice message. - The fact this bizarre throwback, performed atonally, got in over Portugal and Hungary will haunt me to the end of days. Macedonia (18) + It’s nice to have Macedonia in the final again - they’d been done wrong for so long. It’s a classy composition. - It’s also rather dated and the lyrics come across as some Hallmark card factory produced lines.

Sweden (13) + It’s a catchy song. The Mamas supply the charisma where JH lacks. - Very repetitive song. Not very soulful, strange for a gospel-influenced song. Slovenia (6) + Musically, one of the more interesting songs of the year. Minimalist, intimate, some very nice turns of phrase in the lyrics. - Their attitude towards the press and fans as a cumbersome extra getting in the way of promoting their song leaves a very bad taste in the mouth. After they insulted the journalist, I regretted giving them votes.

Cyprus (21) + I like what I’ve seen of Tamta over the past few weeks. She cares about the fans, other artists (getting mad at Conan’s elimination) and has a lot of character. - The song is a pretty lame attempt to ride Fuego’s wave, even if I can tolerate it more than I did 2018′s song.

Netherlands (10) + The circularity of Eurovision. After folk predicted this year would definitely be won by a banger, it’s not bad at all to see a downbeat song as the most fancied to win, especially one written by the performer. - Doesn’t move me at all, and I am moved by several other songs in this year’s 41. Repetitive structure and overuse of a head voice that for me is not very good. The song will forever be associated in my mind with being made to feel like a complete idiot by a number of people for not finding it magnificent.

Greece (5) + Catchy, anthemic and I love the strange timbre of her voice. - The lyrics are non sequitur clichés and the staging is all a little odd. Israel (24) + This song choice will protect Ireland’s record of number of wins on home soil. - His syrupy yet maudlin voice matched with the bizarre, overwrought lyrics make the world lose all its colours for 3 minutes for me.

Norway (19) + It’s a happy, super-catchy tune and nice to see Sami representation - It’s a bizarre pot pourri that feels messy. The type of bizarre song that holds advances in ESC’s reputation back.

UK (16) + Michael Rice is an unbelievably nice guy with a good voice and I could not begrudge his success. The first thirty seconds are really effective. - Then it gets reallly repetitive and very X factor winners’ single.

Iceland (11) + I like the retro techno musical æsthetic. I also like the amount of effort they’re putting into side projects like “Iceland Music News” to build their mythos. It’s good to have representation of other styles in the final. - They were extremely aloof to their fans in Madrid. I know it’s part of the act, but it still comes across as dickish. The staging is very ott.

Estonia (12) + Victor is such a nice guy and he was one of the most reflective people after the semi final, vowing to step it up. The song has grown on me a bit. - It’s still Poundland Avicii with some very dodgy, not so high “high” notes.

Belarus (7) + Yes, in the end I’m gunna like it. Zena showed a charisma and professionalism beyond her years and brought the track alive. - It’s still way too repetitive, and the staging is the most bizarre string of non-sequiturs.

Azerbaijan (8) + Azerbaijan’s second best track after Skeletons for me. I love the ethnic elements and the atypical lyrical subject. Çingiz’ voice is also low key impressive. - That staging tho. How were people in the press room so impressed? So cheesy and chintzy.

France (26) + It’s sounding a bit more interesting than at Destination Eurovision, with a tiny bit of drama added with that stronger instrumentation. - It’s a masturbatory ode to self, and bringing in people to act like human props to make it look like a song of empowering people when for me it’s just a song about me me me doesn’t cut the cheddar.

Italy (1) + I love everything about this song with all my heart and soul. Please god let it be a surprise winner. In what bleak universe do we live in, where this winning would be a surprise?! Unforgettable music and an emotive punch to the heart in both the sublime lyrics and the clever orchestration. - I can’t say anything against it. I tried, believe me.

Serbia (3) + Bringing Serbia back to doing what they do best. Such a classy, emotive ballad performed by one of THE voices of the evening. - They could have done with making it a little

Switzerland (23) + Luca’s got a catchy song and the staging is very slick. - He radiates a smug energy for me whilst singing this. These Fuego-inspired tracks are not my cup of tea.

Australia (22) + Inspired by important personal experiences, its lyrics are sincere and the zeééééèèèero is an earworm - shame it’s not sung as much in the live version. - Led to believe they’d go with a classier staging, instead it’s even more extra and kitsch than in Australia. This slid down my ranking a lot, as I liked the song more in the studio version and the way folk have exploded in favour of it just because of this staging makes me like it a lot less.

Spain (17) + Cheerful, infectious, party stuff. - In the end, it leaves you with the hangover from such a party with its vacuousness.

[its-love-u-asshole]

Twelve Hours [Ch. 3]

Pairings: Kuroo Tetsurou/Tsukishima Kei

Summary: Kuroo Tetsurou has dealt with a lot since he was eighteen, each year bringing the same depressing challenges on the same depressing night. He expects this time to be no different, but the universe is trying desperately to prove him wrong in the most bizarre ways imaginable. So screw it, Kuroo’s only choice is to buckle in and hope he doesn’t die. Easy enough. And hey, with some new allies at his side, maybe he has a chance. Who knows? At least Kuroo is sure of one thing in life when it comes to March 15th, and he stands by this unwritten law, no matter what happens:

If you try to kill pizza delivery boys on Purge Night, you’re irrevocably a bitch.

Rating: T

Tags: Purge AU, mentions of violence but nothing graphic or too bad, no character deaths here okay, this is borderline crack and idk what I was thinking, first meetings, other characters, shenanigans and just…a lot of fun (it seems angsty but its not)

Note: Woohoo I remembered to post this today lol. I’m excited for this chapter and the next because the plot is really starting to pick up, so I hope you all enjoy! Thanks to @emeraldwaves for reading this over!

AO3

The first thing Kuroo noticed about Tsukishima's home was the sheer number of books he had. The walls were lined with towering shelves, volumes upon volumes staring Kuroo down. Some were flimsy with unreadable spines, while others sparkled with an untouched gleam. He wondered how many of these the blond had actually read, or if maybe he could borrow a few sometime.

However, the books were pretty much the only personalized aspect of the home. No pictures on the walls, no posters, nothing but frames with generic stock photos of fancy cars placed in them. It didn't fit Tsukishima's vibe at all, and Kuroo squinted at the unfitting splashes of color as he peered around the home. He was satisfied to find a disorganized and impressive collection of DVDs though. Guess he's not a robot...

Not that Kuroo expected that.

"Your curiosity is burning holes in the wall," Tsukishima's voice floated from the kitchen, and Kuroo was greeted with a sight much too casual for such a grim day. Tsukishima sat atop the counter, despite the barstools nearby, munching on his second piece of pizza.

Kuroo laughed, sheepish at the thought of being watched. Where were his manners? His mother had raised him better...

"Sorry, but, I kinda don't get it," Kuroo said, gesturing to the second floor. By his count, the home had at least three bedrooms, probably spacious too. Hell, the living room was the size of his apartment. The kitchen shined from a fresh polishing, adorned with granite countertops and all the latest kitchen appliances.

It was a family's dream home. Anyone's dream home. So...

"You don't get why I'm here alone," Tsukishima stated, picking at a piece of burnt crust with his finely trimmed nails. Kuroo winced. There went any hopes for manners...

But they were kind of breaking a lot of rules already. Why not cut the crap?

"Uh, is the rest of your family...hiding?" Kuroo asked. And if so, why weren't you?

"I live here by myself, no one's hiding, no one's out of town. It's just me." Tsukishima took a bite of his pizza, staring resolutely at the dark wood floor.

Kuroo wondered if he should change the topic. It wasn't his business to pry, and if Tsukishima wasn't going to willingly offer up more information then--

"My parents and brother used to live here, but they moved away when the Purge started," Tsukishima said, shrugging. Noting Kuroo’s intense stare, Tsukishima squinted, debating on how many personal facts to give away. In the end, he must’ve decided he didn’t care. "I think mom and dad still live in Japan, but my brother and I don't talk to them anymore. Things...went sour."

Oh.

Kuroo didn't have anything to say to that, for fear that he'd end up word vomiting questions at the blond. He'd always been a bit of a gossip, unable to resist knowing every little thing he could. This felt calmer somehow, less urgent. His curiosity was still present, but he figured Tsukishima would give him the answers on his own.

Kuroo could play it cool, one small question at a time.

"It's a beautiful house," Kuroo told him, chuckling at the way Tsukishima frowned to himself. Or maybe not. Homes were only as good as the memories made in them. "What about your brother?"

Caught off guard by the mundane question, Tsukishima sat up, finally blessing Kuroo with a glimpse of those bewitching eyes. Much better.

Hopefully Kuroo hadn't stepped on a landmine.

"...Europe," Tsukishima answered after a beat of silence, his shoulders relaxing. Kuroo took the opportunity to cross the gap, taking a seat in one of the barstools next to where Tsukishima perched. "There's a good hospital there he likes, and his wife is there. Since he's in a wheelchair now, he needs all the peace he can get."

"I'm sorry to hear that," Kuroo said, biting his tongue.

"Don't be," Tsukishima said, his smile soft, directed in the distance. "He's happy there. No more Purge, no more problems."

"Ah, I love that song!" Kuroo exclaimed, helping himself to pizza. After all, he'd risked his life to deliver it. He was entitled to a slice.

Plus, it helped to keep his mouth shut. Tsukishima rolled his eyes, but the smile didn't fade, and they ate in comfortable silence.

Kuroo kept looking around the house, his enthusiasm falling from seeing the bare walls, the lack of possessions. If Tsukishima's family no longer lived here, the rooms must've been empty too...

The poetic, nerdy side of him wanted to make some metaphor to the Purge, but he didn't have it in him. When the night was over, maybe he'd come back and help Tsukishima paint a wall or two.

Also to nag him, because wow.

"I don't care what you say, living in this huge house all alone makes you the biggest target," Kuroo said, gesturing wildly to the large space. Tsukishima's rottweilers raised their heads at the sound, before deciding they didn't care enough to rise from their beds. "How are you not dead yet?"

"I told you, I'm prepared." Tsukishima waved his hand at nothing in particular, not at all quelling Kuroo's anxiety. "Not just the dogs, or the metal detector. There's cameras, there's weapons...and other things I’m not going to disclose to a stranger. Relax. Besides, it's a wasteland out here, nothing has happened since year one."

Huh, that was interesting. But Kuroo supposed rich people would try anything once.

"Oh? What makes you think it won't happen again," Kuroo said, chewing on his second slice. He glanced around the home suspiciously, wondering where Tsukishima hid the weapons. Surely, there must be some downstairs in the event of an attack.

Tsukishima went quiet, and the silence settled in the air like lead, weighing it down. Kuroo turned back to see the blond staring at him impassively, but with eyes that screamed a thousand words. "Because the perpetrators are gone. I told you, my parents moved away, didn't I?"

It made Kuroo nearly choke from swallowing too fast, the chill of the words shocking him into newfound sorrow.

Guess avoiding landmines wasn't his forte in the end.

"I'm, I didn't mean--"

"I know, I don't mind," Tsukishima said, carrying on like nothing was wrong. Worrisome. But Kuroo knew better than to trust Tsukishima’s facade, because that was a play straight out of his own book. "It happened a long time ago. We're safe now."

Kuroo didn't know if he was referring to themselves or Tsukishima and his brother, but either way, he accepted it.

And anyways, it wasn't his turn to ask a question now.

"No offense, but I never expected you to be delivering pizzas on Purge night," Tsukishima said a minute later, not sorry at all. "You were top of the class. At the start, anyways. I expected you to be a lawyer or an accountant. Although, your hair kinda ruins the image."

Oh, so you've got jokes now.

Kuroo poked Tsukishima's thigh enough to make him jump. Little shit. "Hey, this hair is a winner. And I've got time. I'm trying to make a little extra money is all."

He didn't go into his crippling doubts and unrealized dreams, or the fact that the year in question was the last time he'd been top of the class ever, but the blond didn’t have to know that.

"You must be desperate then," Tsukishima said with a smug smile, though it was ruined by the red stain of pizza sauce. It was less desperation and more...something Kuroo wouldn't think about, mostly because he wasn't 100% sure.

"Says the one who would try to fend off an attack by themselves," Kuroo shot back. "Well, and with the boys over there."

The rottweilers 'boofed' at the attention, but otherwise, they stayed put. At least they'd probably defend their master to the end.

"You don't know anything about how I purge." Tsukishima hopped off the counter, disposing of his trash in one of the bins. Kuroo followed suit, but didn't take his eyes off the blond. The subject was...a dicey one, but...

"You purge?"

Just the inquiry itself made Kuroo sick. He wanted to like Tsukishima, already did, but...Kuroo hated the Purge, hated anyone who thought it was okay. It brought nothing but strife and death, and he didn't care if people were working out excess energy or desires, they were part of the issue. Kuroo never purged willingly unless it was self-defense.

He watched Tsukishima as he walked over to one of the shitty car paintings, his nose scrunching up at the gaudy orange color. Yeah, same.

"Once, only once," Tsukishima said after an eternity. His voice was barely audible despite the emptiness of the home, but Kuroo was determined to hear every word. "I don't...I didn't want to. I wouldn't do it again."

Tsukishima turned away, facing the wall, but Kuroo could hear the guilt, saw how his shoulders tensed up. The relief was back, along with the new need to comfort the blond in any way, shape, or form.

"The first year?" Kuroo asked, assuming. After all...if that was when his parents...yeah.

Tsukishima shook his head. "Year two."

And well, Kuroo could tell the conversation was over after that.

--

They ended up watching Jeopardy reruns, and for the first time in a while, Kuroo felt smart.

"I don't understand how you possibly know this much about chemistry and math formulas," Tsukishima said, digging a spoon into a tub of ice cream. Kuroo noticed the other hadn't stopped eating the whole time he'd been there. Maybe it was a nervous tick...a Purge ritual, in his own way.

But yeah, Kuroo was kicking ass.

"Guess my brain remembers more than I thought," he said triumphantly. "You smashed the romantic literature category too, so I had to fight back."

Now all the books made so much sense...

"Also," Kuroo began, eyeing Tsukishima with fake suspicion. "Should I be concerned about how well you answered the 'you call that a knife' category?"

And he at last managed to get a full, genuine laugh out of Tsukishima. Much better than the gunshots and explosions outside.

"I told you, I'm prepared," Tsukishima said with a hum, scooping at the last bite of cookie dough ice cream. Kuroo followed the way his lips pressed against the spoon, suddenly craving the sweetness himself.

A few seconds passed however, and Tsukishima's neutral frown had returned, bleak as ever. It didn't matter what they did, Kuroo could tell the guilt from earlier had remained in Tsukishima's mind, as well as the reminder that it was the worst night of the year. Kuroo may not have known anything about Tsukishima’s own experience with it, but he wanted to help.

Even if it meant bringing up things he wanted to forget.

Ironically enough, the new category on screen was 'live long.'

Ha. He could dream.

"You know, it's okay if you've hurt people," Kuroo said. "I think we all have. Don't get me wrong, I hate the Purge, but sometimes you can't avoid it."

He let the words sit in the air, hoping they didn't anger Tsukishima. Kuroo wasn't trying to baby him or anything, it was how he truly felt about the situation. It pissed him off, but it wasn't totally useless advice.

This might've been too much for two strangers. We're not exactly strangers though, right?

Kuroo didn't want to be.

A few seconds later, he heard Tsukishima exhale, as if he hadn't breathed in hours. "I know. I don't regret what I did. More that I had to do it at all."

Yeah, if that wasn't a mood. Kuroo could've done so much more with his life if he'd just been free of this stupid holiday. It forced him into corners and boxes, ones he'd rather not inhabit. He understood. Regardless, he couldn't shake the intensity of Tsukishima's secret, if it could be called that...

So, he did what he did best. He asked.

"What did you do? If you don't mind me asking," Kuroo said, voice dropping to a whisper. Oof, alright, coulda done that better. It made him sound like he would cut and run at any moment.

Sensing their master's tension, Tsukishima's dogs hopped onto the couch, nuzzling them both. Kuroo needed to look into a therapy dog himself. Tsukishima smiled as he massaged one of the dogs’ heads, mulling over his answer while Kuroo tried to remember how to breathe.

"Nothing like murder, sorry to disappoint you," Tsukishima revealed. Disappoint? That's the biggest relief in the world. The air blew out of him, and Tsukishima snorted, but fuck it, Kuroo didn't have time to be embarrassed.

"I robbed someone. Someones. And it was a lot of money," Tsukishima said. "My brother needed surgery, I needed a way to get away from mom and dad. Back then, it made sense. Now I'm not sure, but it's done."

It was like he’d read it from a book or something, emotion detached, but Kuroo figured that was another form of coping. Tsukishima glared at the television, burying his face in the nearest pillow. He huddled in on himself, the sign of reservation and hesitance. Not used to sharing then huh...

Kuroo guessed he was the same. No one really talked about the Purge. The last time he'd brought it up had been.... he couldn't remember.

Wow.

Sighing to himself, Kuroo smiled, because there didn't seem to be a proper expression for such a feeling. But Tsukishima, who didn't give off the most open of vibes, had opened up to him. So, he was happy. As happy as he could be.

"Thank you," Kuroo said, smile growing at the sudden shock on Tsukishima's face. The blond turned so fast it had probably hurt his neck. "For telling me I mean! I don't think you should feel bad though, at least you did it for the right reasons. That's more than most can say."

Seriously...

Not that most others would care. Kuroo allowed himself to indulge in the small fantasy he'd created in Tsukishima's home though. That it was a normal, quiet night, and they were just hanging out. The weight of his weapons blurred the illusion a bit, but it would have to do.

Tsukishima stared at him, eyes glimmering, until he slowly nodded and turned away.

Kuroo watched the reflection of the bright blue Jeopardy screen bounce off the contours of Tsukishima's face as he sat, the cogs in his mind clearly working.

Tsukishima never seemed to stop thinking. Kuroo knew firsthand how it was as much a curse as a blessing.

But eventually, Tsukishima must've reached a conclusion. And oh, what a conclusion it was.

"You're kind of a disaster," the blond said a moment later, and Kuroo laughed so loud it concerned him. If a murderer had been in the house, they'd have been found in no time.

Well then. Here I was, trying to be nice....

"Oh? Never heard it said that easily before," Kuroo said, in between breathless gasps. "I was only trying to help."

"I wasn't finished," Tsukishima said, but his smirk told Kuroo the pause had been deliberate. Bringing his legs down from his chest, Tsukishima turned towards Kuroo, inviting, and Kuroo mirrored him. "You're a disaster, but..."

Kuroo arched a brow, intrigued by the light blush on Tsukishima's face that the television's glow couldn't hide.

Tsukishima sighed. "I guess, I wish I had talked to you sooner."

It took a moment for Kuroo to understand, but when he did, he felt the guilt creep up again. This time he wouldn't forget Tsukishima.

Yeah, me too.

And with any luck, he'd leave a good impression.

Smiling at each other, the moment seemed too perfect. Like some missing piece, Kuroo had at last reconnected with someone he didn't know he'd lost track of. It stumped him, but he felt like pieces remained missing, like he'd overlooked some things. They both had.

They could figure it out another time. For now, Kuroo wanted to sit in this moment, and pretend he didn't ever have to leave.

But, such was wishful thinking.

A crash rattled the whole house, breaking the moment like glass, and the alarms in his head began to sound like war sirens. Tsukishima reacted instantly, no time for shock. They were off the couch just like that, and Tsukishima's dogs were peeling off in the direction of the crash.

It didn't take much organization after that. There was no time for any other thought except survival. He exchanged a look with Tsukishima, and the blond nodded, wasting no time in pulling up the floorboards below them.

Oh, so that's where he hid them. Clever.

He'd admire later.

He took the machete handed to him, his mind racing with escape routes and strategies. He wondered what the best course of action was, if people could be waiting outside, how fast they could get to his car, everything.

Tsukishima's choice of weapon managed to break him out of his Terminator Mode™ because what the fuck is that?

"Is that a fucking flamethrower? That's not an authorized weapon," Kuroo sputtered, earning him a scathing glare as Tsukishima picked up the heavy artillery with ease.

Tsukishima paused, giving Kuroo a look that was equal parts hot and infuriating. "What are you a boy scout now? If I'm trying not to die, I'm going to use whatever the fuck I want."

"That violates so many laws."

"This whole night violates laws, like my right to living," Tsukishima said, standing up and marching in the direction of the crash, no signs of escaping. And uh....yeah, Kuroo couldn't argue with that. He followed Tsukishima, watching his back, and despite the tension he could hear the blond's irritated mumbling.

"The first night in over four years...coming into my damn house...it's the shittiest house on the block..."

If Kuroo had not been in full battle mode, he might've found it cute, but they had more pressing matters.

Like the huge hole where one of Tsukishima's bay windows used to be.

"Oh shit," Kuroo said, his footsteps slowing as they entered the room. He moved to face the hallway, in the event someone had already snuck in, which was more than likely considering the new entrance. The window, which had taken up a good half of the wall, had been obliterated, leaving chunks of glass littered around the hardwood, and on the grass outside. From where they stood, Kuroo could see the rest of the cul-de-sac, leaving them completely exposed. Fuck.

Okay, so he took back what he’d said about the flamethrower.

"That was bullet proof glass...how," Tsukishima mumbled, eyeing the shards on the floor with disbelief. It was then they both noticed the tire marks leading into the home, the black streaks staining the floor.

Not car proof though.

The fact someone was crazy enough to ram the side of the house with a car made Kuroo all the more worried. They were committed. Kuroo didn't dare walk outside to see if a car was there though, he wasn't that stupid.

The room had been barren aside from some dusty boxes, the remnants of what used to be a formal family dining room.

As if reading Kuroo's mind, Tsukishima huffed humorlessly. "At least this room's not important."

"We should get to my car," Kuroo whispered, and Tsukishima thankfully agreed. As equipped as they were, a fight wasn't preferred. Regardless of if no one had gotten inside, now anyone could. There were nine hours left in the Purge, and Kuroo didn't want to tempt fate.

"Let's go," Tsukishima said, forgoing any shoes as the reality of their situation set in.

If only they'd left right away.

"Wait," Tsukishima said, eyes darting down the hallway. "Where are my dogs?"

They both froze, listening for any barks or the patter of paws on wood. Nothing. In fact, with horror, they both realized they hadn’t heard anything in several minutes.

Silence meant death on a night like tonight.

Oh no.

"Don't worry," a voice said, coming from the direction of the garage just around the corner. And in that brief second, Kuroo knew they'd lost. He caught Tsukishima’s frustrated expression as the blond closed his eyes, cursing their foolishness.

"I took care of them for you," the voice continued, and Tsukishima stepped in front of Kuroo with trembling shoulders. Not from fear, but pure, limitless anger.

He may have hated this house, but goddammit, it was still his house. The notion became crystal clear to Kuroo, given how Tsukishima was prepared to take the first shot.

The garage door opened, and they both tightened their holds on the weapons. They were exposed from three angles now. The garage, the front of the house, and the side. Kuroo only hoped no one had snuck into the living room. The garage, and his car along with it, were now non-options. It would take a miracle now, or in less naive terms, it would probably take Tsukishima's damn flamethrower.

Kuroo definitely took back what he said earlier.

Either way, his chances of making it out alive now were slim, but hey? The night hadn't been as awful as he would've thought.

If anything, Kuroo was glad Tsukishima didn't have to face this alone, that he'd decided to stay.

He needed more time to come to terms with the rest of his regrets, but he wasn't given that luxury, because the next thing he knew, a group of masked men flooded the hallway, guns armed and ready.