#Ooc; navigating noise

[obxsummer]

leave me again ii // rafe cameron

pairing: rafe cameron x routledge!reader (she/her), ex!jj maybank x reader

summary: you left the cut with nowhere to go. it’s rafe cameron that finds you and shows you the life you deserved to live

warnings: sorry jj lovers, that man does not get our girl back so sad jj and probably ooc rafe but i love it when that man is soft

navigation || part one

--

Six months.

It had been six months since any of the Pogues had seen you. No social media, no sight of you around town, no letters. Nothing.

The past six months left you to do a lot of reevaluations. You’d walked aimlessly after the group had left for the dive with nothing but your backpack and phone, no destination in mind. Until you found one.

“Lost or something?”

“Fuck off, Rafe,” Your response was instant as you continued to walk without sparing him a look. The car shifted into a different gear, you guessed by the noise, before Rafe was hopping out to approach you.

“Are you okay?” When you didn’t answer, he moved in closer and grabbed your shoulder before turning you to face him. “Hey, hey. What’s wrong?”

You stared at him with the knowledge that you probably looked like a mess with the tear streaks across your cheeks. While Rafe had a lot of issues with your friends and brother, he usually stayed clear of you. Whether that was because you were close with Sarah, or what, you didn't know.

Twisting your fingers together, you dropped your gaze as tears started to build again. “You ever watch someone you love choose someone else over you, every single time?”

The question felt like a punch in the gut to Rafe. He had. His whole life he watched his dad choose Sarah. Watched his mom choose another family over him. Watched Wheezie choose another sibling over him.

“Get in, I’ve got somewhere to take you.”

Six months ago, you hopped in Rafe Cameron’s Range Rover and left The Cut behind. You didn’t question the decision, knowing you’d worry about everyone else before taking care of yourself, and that clearly didn’t work in the past. You felt horribly guilty about leaving John B with no indication whether you were okay or not, but you knew if one of them found out, JJ would be busting down the door to Rafe’s bedroom before you had a chance to say no. 

While you weren’t sure what the original intentions had been, Rafe was so different with you after bringing you back to his new house. One he’d bought after selling Tannyhill, free from the haunting of his father and the screams that echoed off the walls, he had turned it into a safe space for himself and anyone he invited in.

Things blossomed quickly and you realized the Rafe in front of you was not the bully, coke-head addict you’d once known. He was such a gentle person, and so much more attentive to you than JJ had ever been. Whether it was making you breakfast in bed before you left for the day, or prepping a warm (actually warm, like hot water you’d hadn’t had in forever) candle lit bath, or popping an expensive bottle of wine just for you to taste, he was there in ways nobody had been. You were his girl, his only girl, and you never once had to question that.

Rafe had even invited you to sit in on his investment meetings and he was slowly pulling your name into his business so you’d have a professional background to grow into. You were steadily becoming an educated little couple in his home, something he was so proud and grateful for. He had someone to lean on for advice and give him fresh eyes on new projects with no judgment or fear of anger. The two of you soaked up your bubble of peace for as long as you could before shit hit the fan. 

Little did you know, on the other side of the island with your brother, there had been absolutely no peace. John B and JJ barely spoke, everything ending in an argument when they did. Pope was sick of playing mediator, and Kie had more of less shut down out of guilt. Sarah was still searching for you, but you’d gone ghost. Cleo was treading lightly with the knowledge that everything would explode eventually. 

So, they did what they could, and dove into treasure hunting. When JJ pulled the amulet out of his pocket in the back of the Twinkie, John B’s emotions were mixed. Sure, he was stoked that he’d found the object the group was looking for, but he wished you were here. It was your birthday, and John B was inches away from losing his shit without you.

“Dude, are you okay?” Pope asked as the group stood in the office area of the house, trying to find more information on the amulet’s inscription.

John B tossed the heavy object on the desk in frustration. “No, I’m not okay! We can find decades old treasure like it’s the easiest thing ever, but we can’t find jack shit about my sister? That’s bullshit, Pope. And you know it.”

Pope knew things would be sensitive today. Even JJ woke up grouchy, which John B told him was deserved since he caused your absence in the first place. The lack of your presence weighed heavy on the group, so Pope suggested going to visit one of your favorite beach spots. 

Little did he know what he was getting himself into.

--

“Rafe!” The house was filled with your laughter as Rafe twirled you in the kitchen lighting, your favorite song playing from the interactive speaker on the counter. The two of you had spent the day together, visiting the country club for lunch before Rafe took you shopping for something to wear tonight.

“C’mon, sweetheart. Lemme love on you, it’s your birthday” He mumbled as he pressed soft kisses into your neck, hands squeezing your hips teasingly. The soft fabric of the dress he’d picked out covered your frame, the color matching your skin perfectly. 

You hummed in content, fingers holding his biceps tightly as if your knees would give out any second. “You loved on me a lot this morning.”

“Can’t help it.” Rafe’s thumb traced your bottom lip before he kissed you softly. “You make it so easy.”

The two of you got lost in each other for a few more moments, soaking up the quiet as the orange sunset started casting through the windows. Today had been the best day you’d had in so long and you were so grateful of Rafe for giving you so much patience and love.

It had taken time for you to adjust to this kind of life. You walked in here with three outfits to your name, a busted cell phone, and a stuffed animal John B won you at the town festival as kids. And Rafe embraced every bit of it, let you keep your Pogue pieces while building you a life around it that was filled with items you needed but would never ask for, all while loving you so gently.

You climbed out of his car (technically the one he’d bought you but you refused to acknowledge that), and stepped down into the soft sand below. This was your spot, the spot you came to whenever you needed to clear your head or take a moment alone. You’d shared it with Rafe shortly after everything changed, and now, it was a shared spot that you both considered special.

Rafe moved around the car to grab your hand and guide you toward the area he had organized for the two of you. A small white table had been set up with your favorite snacks and two glasses of wine, surrounded by the fluffiest blanket and pillows you’d seen. 

“Did you do this?” You squeezed his hand tighter, tears in your eyes at how sweet and thoughtful the gesture was. Your jaw dropped as the two of you walked closer; everything was thought out down to the tiny forks you loved so much being there to pick up the appetizers. 

“Course I did, baby.” Rafe kissed your temple softly and grabbed one of the glasses to hand to you before taking hold of his own. You clinked your glass against his, leaning up on your tiptoes to kiss him deeply in appreciation.

And then everything went to shit.

“What the fuck?”

Rafe’s hand tightened against your lower back, both of you looking over to see the handful of figures standing a few feet away. Your heart went to your throat went you made eye contact with your brother, whose hand was wrapped in Sarah’s. JJ stood behind him along with Kiara, Pope, and Cleo, all of them looking at you expectantly.

“Shit,” You whispered and took a step back from Rafe, eyes meeting his in dread. His expression had hardened at the sight of JJ, all the anger rushing back when he thought about how you’d been treated in the relationship, how unfair everything had been. You clocked the frustration in his gaze and placed your fingers on his cheek to redirect his focus back to you. “Don’t. I’ll handle it.”

Rafe’s jaw ticked but he didn’t argue as you slipped your wine glass back into his hand and left his side to approach the group standing in front of you. You weren’t even worried about JJ or Kie, you were worried about John B more than anything.

“Hi,” The greeting was so quiet you almost didn’t hear yourself. How do you talk to people you disappeared on six months ago?

John B’s only response was to pull you into the tightest hug he had ever given. You stumbled with the force of his body colliding with you before regaining your balance and returning the embrace. 

“You’re okay,” He repeated the words to himself as if convincing his mind that they were true before stepping back and holding your cheeks in his hands. The smile on his face was huge, and you were so so confused. “Holy shit.”

“Hi,” You laughed quietly, placing your hands on top of his. “I’m so sorry.”

John B shook his head, his thumb brushing the random tear from your cheek. “Don’t be sorry. I told you to take a break, yeah? And you did.”

You glanced back to where Rafe was surprisingly conversing with Sarah with no anger in sight. The pit in your stomach slowly disappeared as you took them in and turned your attention back to John B. “I um… there’s a lot to catch you up on, and I want to tell you. I wanna tell you all of it, JB, but-”

“And I wanna hear it,” He reassured softly. “But someone put a lot of effort into your night and I don’t wanna steal any of it.”

You were so goddamn grateful for your brother. Pulling John B into another hug, you spared the look over his shoulder to see Kiara stomping away from the beach. You tried to keep a smirk off your face but it definitely made its way through. 

Stepping back from John B, you shared hugs with Cleo and Pope, promising that you would see them soon before you were face to face with the reason you made it here in the first place. JJ looked rough. His hair was chaotic, arms thinner than you remembered, and he just looked tired.

“I don’t want your apology,” You spoke as he opened his mouth. “And it looks like you have a girlfriend to go find anyway.”

“She’s not my girlfriend,” JJ replied quickly as he stared at you. “Not anymore.”

You pulled your lips in and shrugged. “Okay. I’ll see you around, JJ.”

He reached a hand out toward you when you moved to walk away. You paused just out of his reach and looked back. “For what it’s worth, I am sorry.”

You nodded. “I know. I should be thanking you actually, because if you had said it back to me that day, I wouldn’t have found something so much better.”

And with that, you walked away from JJ and the empty promises he had always given, walked away straight into the arms of someone who would give you the world and more, if you just so much as asked.

--

navigation 

[eatmyheartoutjpg]

sevika navigating her soft side as she unexpectedly falls for the younger reader who works at the last drop... maybe has her gambling buddies help her out

𓇻 𝗕𝗔𝗥𝗧𝗘𝗡𝗗𝗘𝗥 ˢᵉᵛⁱᵏᵃ ˣ ᵍⁿ ʳᵉᵃᵈᵉʳ

𝙎𝙪𝙢𝙢𝙖𝙧𝙮 ;; Shortfic. Rom. Sevika realizes you, a bartender at the Last Drop, has been the center of her attention recently. 𝘼/𝙉 ;; This may be a bit ooc, but shhh, close your eyes. I hope you enjoy! This may not seem soft for Sevika, but imo it's a vibe of a more intimate moment mixed with her tranquility.

11.30.24 Masterlist

The Last Drop was always alive with noise, chaos, and the faint tang of smoke and spilled spirits. Sevika loved it that way—a place where distractions reigned supreme, where she could disappear into the comfort of her gambling table and the camaraderie of her rough-edged crew (they aren't real friends of course).

But lately, something—or rather, someone—had begun to chip away at the hardened shell she so carefully maintained.

You.

The bartender at The Last Drop.

It started innocently enough. You were always there, a constant fixture behind the counter with quick hands, a sharp tongue, and a sly grin. You never flinched under the weight of the rowdy crowd, nor under Sevika’s often pointed gaze. If anything, you seemed to revel in the chaos, moving through it with ease, wielding a wit and charm that even she couldn’t help but notice.

At first, she brushed it off. You were a bartender, after all—it was your job to make the patrons feel welcome, to crack jokes, and pour drinks without spilling a drop. But then there were the nights where her drink would already be waiting when she arrived, the knowing look in your eyes when you slid it across the counter with a barely contained smirk.

“You’re predictable, Sevika,” you teased one evening, wiping the counter as she took her seat. “Or maybe I’m just that good at reading people.”

She scoffed, leaning back in her chair. “Don’t flatter yourself.”

But the way her lips twitched, betraying a smirk, didn’t escape your notice. You knew how to play this game, and Sevika didn’t yet realize how much you enjoyed it.

Her gambling buddies, rough and rowdy as they were, started to pick up on it before she did. Sevika had always been a force at the table—quick to fold when the odds weren’t in her favor, ruthless when they were. But recently, she’d been... distracted.

“You gonna bet, or just stare at the bar all night?” one of her companions teased, nudging her with an elbow.

Sevika’s scowl was instant and fierce. “Shut up and deal.”

But it was true—her eyes had been straying more and more to you. Watching the way you laughed at someone’s joke, the way your hands moved deftly as you poured another drink. It was infuriating, really, how much space you were starting to take up in her mind.

And then there were the moments that hit closer to home. Like the night she’d lost big at the table, her mood sour as she leaned back in her chair, arms crossed. You’d caught her eye from across the room and, without a word, placed her favorite drink in front of her.

“On the house,” you said, your tone light but your gaze steady. “Figured you could use a win tonight.”

It was such a small gesture, but it hit harder than it should have. Sevika didn’t know what to say, so she grunted something unintelligible and downed the drink in one go. The warmth that spread through her chest had nothing to do with the alcohol.

It was one of her gambling buddies who finally called her out on it.

“You like them,” they said bluntly, shuffling the deck as Sevika raised an eyebrow.

“What are you talking about?”

“The bartender. You’ve been soft for them for weeks. Hell, I think they know it too. Probably why they keep handing you those fancy drinks when you’re down.”

“Shut up,” she snapped, though the heat rising to her face was undeniable.

“Hey, no shame in it. They’ve got a good head on their shoulders. Probably good for you, too. Balance out all that grumpiness. That's how I'm with my lady, y'know?”

Sevika groaned, dragging a hand down her face. It wasn’t like her to get caught up in feelings—let alone feelings for someone who had no business being in her orbit.

But the thought of you—your wit, your charm, the way you seemed to see right through her—was impossible to shake.

The turning point came one late night, long after most of the patrons had left. Sevika lingered at the bar, nursing a drink as you wiped down the counter. The usual banter was absent, replaced by a silence that felt heavier than it should have.

“You don’t have to stick around, you know,” you said finally, breaking the quiet. “Bar’s closed.”

“I know,” she said, her voice low.

"Silco got you on a tough job tonight?"

She didn't respond, focusing on the condensation of her drink.

You only hummed before pausing, setting down your cloth as you leaned on the counter, meeting her gaze head-on. “Alright, what’s on your mind?”

For once, Sevika didn’t deflect. She held your gaze, her fingers tightening around her glass subtely.

“You’re different,” she said after a long pause. “I don’t know what it is about you, but you’re in my head.”

You blinked, taken aback by the honesty in her tone. Then, a slow smile spread across your face. “Well, that’s one way to admit you like me,” you teased, though there was warmth in your voice.

Sevika groaned, but the tension in her shoulders eased. “You’re insufferable,” she muttered.

“And yet, here you are.”

Sevika couldn’t argue with that. Maybe, just maybe, letting her guard down wasn’t the worst thing in the world—especially if it meant more nights like this with you.

ˢᵉᵛᵉⁿ

[sun4ki]

“So young and pretty, it’s too bad they passed”

- In my room _ By insane clown posse

Aeon of light!Gn Reader X various Hsr women hcs

Characters (Ruan Mei, Kafka, Robin, Himeko, Black Swan, Natasha)

Gn Reader being forgotten Aeon of Light, keeping their distance around any human life as they wandering peacefully around the universe. Having great and powerful strength, only to be degraded by other, stronger Aeons. They hid their identity but that would soon change as these women found Gn reader and took them in...

Warnings: slight ooc? MEN OR HOMOPHOBIC DNI

Author's note: first fic post like actually :p hope you like this! I'm open to criticism and improvement! Sorry for bad English, its not my first language and im dyslexic :(

Ruan mei

The scientist who found you wandering all alone in the secluded zone, the poor Aeon got lost and ended up in the Herta space Station..

Lucky for you, That was the day Ruan Mei visited. You explored the Secluded area, seeing a lot of these critters around.

feeling curious you picked up one of them, only to hear mechanical noises of a door being opened behind you. You turned around seeing the Scientist who created these critters herself. . .

“How interesting . . “ the scientist spoke to herself in a monotone manner

Eventually Ruan Mei soon took you in, doing some simple experiments for her study.

“Hold still , this would be less painful if you stop with the unnecessary movement .”

You could only sit and watch idly as the scientist takes some blood sample from you for her research on an extraordinary being like you

Kafka

Kafka found you during one of her missions, She took you in, saying how it was “destiny’s plan”, how both of you were destined to meet eventually. . .

Elio had already told her it was part of her “script” meeting with you and bringing you with. . .

The stellaron hunter knew you could be a great addition to their team— I mean just imagine a powerful yet forgotten Aeon of Light in the stellaron hunters team ?! Not to mention you would also be a great sparring partner

“You’re pretty strong Y’know ?

Great for me to test my skills on without you dying ~ “

Jokes aside Kafka is actually very gentle and caring about you, aware of the fact you don’t know a lot about how humanity lived (considering you kept your distance around them), she would teach you how to blend in and live a life like the rest . . .

Robin

By the time you got to Penacony, you were immediately drawn to this ethereal singing . . .

When you saw Robin for the first time, you were mesmerized by her beauty as she sang. . . Her looks reminded you one of an Angel, a beautiful one, you couldn’t take your eyes off her

The two of you became fast friends, Robin would guide you around Penacony, she was like your tour guide, showing you around the dreamscape.

Robin was actually very supportive about your whole Aeon of Light thing, and just like Kafka, she would often accompany you and teach the ways to live like the rest

her brother Sunday doesn’t actually approve of you though , he’s suspicious of you and Robin’s relationship but ether way Robin would ensure you he means good

“Don’t mind my brother . .

He’s just concerned about me . .”

Himeko

Himeko found you in one of express’s trailblazer missions right after they left penacony, Himeko took it upon herself to take care of you, aware of the fact you still felt unsure about the rest of the members

The navigator would often let you sleep in her cabin, accompanying you as you would always feel comfortable in her embrace . .

It’s not a surprise you would avoid any contact with the other members of the train. . Either way, when the others set out for another expedition, you would stay behind with Himeko, making sure Himeko is protected and safe at all costs . . .

Maybe because you’re close or maybe because she reminds you of a certain someone in The past you can’t quite identify. . (Doing this cuz i miss murata himeko)

“You’re clingy sometimes you know..?

Who knew the Aeon of Light could act like a clingy love sick puppy at times ?”

Black swan

When you enter penacony, you haven’t seen black swan just yet. . She would be keeping an eye on you from a distance before actually revealing who she is . . (She gives me stalker vibes idk)

She finds you intriguing . . She would observe how you behave for a few days or so and by the looks at it- you clearly don’t know how to act properly around others let alone socialize . .

That’s when the Memokeeper decided to step out of her “bird hide” enough with watching you like a delicate bird unaware of her keen eyes

“What’s an interesting being like you wandering all alone in this dreamscape ?”

Black swan would look into your memories aswell . . Witnessing your past . . Aswell as the memories of being degraded by other Aeons and being forced to live in the shadows of the universe to be left and forgotten. .

“What a poor birdie you are . .” The woman would whisper

“Don’t worry dear ~ I’ll make sure to take care of you ”

Natasha

As soon as you got to Belobog, you were immediately sent to the underground. . .

Let’s just say the guards gave you a not so “friendly” Welcome, which lead to fighting- a lot of fighting-

The fight eventually forced you to be sent to the underground

Natasha was the first to find you, you met her while she was doing some errands . . . Seeing that Natasha was actually kind and gentle with you, you stayed by her side, helping her in the clinic and with the kids

Eventually, Natasha introduced you to the other wildfire members, you started helping in the underground, being a big help in taking care of the people there, like the underground’s guardian.

you would help with the wildfire’s fights, often getting all bruised up since you force yourself to not use your full power.. but whenever you do, atleast you have your trusty doctor to patch you back up

“Just be careful next time okay sweetie?” She would often tell you

Little side note: i was actually supposed to add acheron and stelle lmfao but i got busy and keep forgetting to write their part haha, i will add them though if any of you want a part two. You can also recommend other characters to add ^^

[sherewrytes]

↳ Toji Fushiguro x f! black reader

REBLOGS HELP ENGAGEMENT

summary. You were always told by your family to stay out of trouble, get your degree, get a good job, and live a good life. Simple rules to follow. You somehow caught the eye of probably the most problematic person in your university but why did it intrigue you to find out more about him.

Toji Zenin/Fushiguro saw you for the first time strolling past him and his friends in front of the university's library. Something about you drew him in. He never saw someone like you before, focused, poised and dedicated to their degree. Always in the library or hanging out with friends, not really partying much. He wondered when curiosity would get the better of him to approach you, but he knew the life he lived would be too problematic for someone as sweet as you.

genre: heavy angst, modern au, 18+, explicit smut, dark romance,

Mafia Au, street racer au, dark romance au

character lookbook

fic warnings. ooc, profanity, mental health issues, toxic relationships, cheating, explicit smut, drug use, mentions of depression + more to be updated as story progresses.

Please read with proper discretion. this is a work of fiction. all characters are written to portray roles that are necessary to the plot and are in no way a reflection of their canon counterparts.

READ AT YOUR OWN DISCRETION

Taglist: (you can comment to be added)

@sparkling-obsidian @queendessi24 @masterofthepp @thedondiva45 @laitifly @burpzz @prettypink-princesss

Chapter: Lost in da sauce

The following week was a blur of deadlines and classes for Y/n, her mind constantly drifting back to Toji and the cryptic words his uncle had said. She hadn’t seen Toji since that night at the shop, though she hadn’t been actively avoiding him either. He was an enigma, a tangle of contradictions she couldn’t quite unravel. And now, the small world she had been so carefully navigating—architecture projects, hanging out with Mei Mei and Shoko, balancing her coursework—felt too small to contain the storm of thoughts whirling in her mind.

It was late one evening, long after her last class, when she found herself once again outside the mechanic shop. The dim glow of the street lamps cast long shadows over the alleyways, the faint sounds of cars rushing by in the distance. She wasn't sure why she came—maybe part of her wanted answers, or maybe she just wanted to see him.

She stepped inside the shop, the familiar smell of grease and metal flooding her senses. It was quiet, too quiet for a place usually bustling with noise. The silence felt heavy, as though it carried the weight of secrets that were never meant to be spoken aloud.

"Y/n," Toji's voice cut through the stillness, pulling her from her thoughts.

She turned to see him standing by one of the cars he was working on, a lit cigarette between his lips, his tattoos catching the flickering light. His eyes, dark and unreadable, flicked over her, and she felt that familiar pull—dangerous, magnetic, and impossible to resist.

"You shouldn’t be here," Toji said, his voice low but not unkind. He flicked the ash from his cigarette, watching her with a careful intensity that made her stomach flip.

"Maybe I shouldn’t," she replied, stepping closer. "But I’m here anyway."

Toji’s lips quirked into a faint smile, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes. He took another drag from his cigarette, exhaling slowly before setting it aside. "You’re looking for something. What is it?"

Y/n hesitated, the questions swirling in her mind bubbling to the surface. "I don’t know… answers? About you, about what you’re involved in."

He stiffened slightly at her words, and for a moment, she thought he wouldn’t answer. But then he sighed, running a hand through his hair, the faint scent of smoke lingering in the air between them.

"It’s complicated," he finally said, his voice rougher than usual. "You don’t need to get involved in this."

"I’m already involved, aren’t I?" Y/n shot back, her frustration bubbling over. "You can’t just kiss me and then act like I’m not going to ask questions, Toji. I’m not stupid."

Toji’s jaw tightened, but he didn’t respond immediately. Instead, he moved toward her, his presence filling the space between them. He reached out, his hand brushing against her cheek, and despite her anger, she felt herself leaning into the warmth of his touch.

"You don’t understand, Y/n," he said softly, his thumb grazing her skin. "There’s a lot going on. Things that you’re better off not knowing. If you dig too deep, you won’t like what you find."

"Try me," she whispered, searching his face for any sign that he might let her in.

For a moment, the mask he always wore seemed to falter, something raw and vulnerable flashing in his eyes. But just as quickly as it appeared, it was gone, replaced by the familiar stoic expression she had come to know.

"It’s not that simple," he muttered, stepping back, his hand falling away from her. He turned back to the car, as though using it as a shield to distance himself from her questions.

Y/n watched him for a moment, her heart aching with frustration. "So that’s it? You’re just going to shut me out?"

Toji didn’t look at her, his hands busy with the engine, but his voice carried an edge of finality. "It’s for your own good."

The words stung, and for a brief moment, Y/n considered storming out, letting the door slam behind her and walking away from whatever this was. But then she thought back to the way he had looked at her that night, the way his touch had lingered just a little too long, and the way his kiss had spoken of more than just lust. There was something deeper there, something he wasn’t saying.

"Toji," she said, her voice softer now, "I don’t need you to protect me. I just need you to be honest with me."

Toji stopped working, his hands resting on the car as he finally turned to face her. His eyes, dark and intense, locked onto hers, and for a moment, it felt like the world had narrowed to just the two of them.

"You don’t know what you’re asking for, Y/n," he murmured, stepping closer to her once again. His presence was overwhelming, a mix of danger and something she couldn’t quite name.

"Then tell me," she urged, her voice barely above a whisper. "Let me understand."

Toji sighed, reaching into his pocket for another cigarette, lighting it with a flick of his lighter. He took a slow drag, exhaling the smoke before meeting her gaze again.

"My family," he began slowly, "they're not what you think. The Zenin name… it carries weight. My uncle… the one you met… he's involved in things that are better left unsaid."

Y/n’s heart skipped a beat, the puzzle pieces slowly starting to click into place. She had always suspected something was off, with the way Toji moved, the quiet conversations, the subtle tension in the air whenever his uncle was mentioned. But hearing it out loud was different.

"You’re part of it, aren’t you?" she asked, her voice trembling slightly.

Toji’s silence was all the confirmation she needed.

"It’s not by choice," he said quietly. "But it’s my responsibility now."

Y/n felt the weight of his words settle over her. This wasn’t just about some family business—it was about power, control, and danger. And yet, despite the growing sense of unease, she couldn’t walk away.

"And me?" she asked softly, meeting his gaze. "Where do I fit in all of this?"

Toji stepped closer, his hand once again finding its way to her cheek, his thumb brushing gently against her skin. "You don’t," he said, his voice low. "And I’m trying to keep it that way."

Sukuna had been leaning against the wall, his sharp eyes scanning the room when he noticed Toji and Y/n standing close, lost in their own world. He smirked and nudged Gojo, who had been joking around nearby. "Look at that," Sukuna murmured under his breath, motioning toward the pair.

Gojo, ever the playful spirit, grinned mischievously as he watched Toji with Y/n. "Aww, how cute," he teased. But then something shifted in his gaze when he noticed a familiar figure out of the corner of his eye—the unmistakable presence of Toji’s uncle, looming in the background, watching intently.

Without hesitation, Gojo strolled over to Toji, giving him a light tap on the shoulder. His usual carefree tone was replaced with a more serious one as he spoke in code, something only Toji would understand. "Your uncle’s eyes are on you, bro. You know better."

The moment Gojo’s words sank in, Toji’s expression changed. His face hardened, the warmth and easy demeanor he had with Y/n disappearing almost instantly. He turned to her, his eyes colder than she had ever seen them before. The sudden shift made her stomach twist in confusion and discomfort.

“Toji, what’s going on?” Y/n asked, her voice small, unsure of what just happened.

Toji didn’t answer. His gaze lingered on her for a second too long, as if fighting some inner battle, but then he turned his back on her without another word. Mumbling something to Gojo under his breath, he walked away, his broad frame retreating toward his uncle, leaving Y/n standing there, stunned and hurt by the sudden coldness.

Gojo sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. He glanced at Y/n, his usual playful demeanor returning, though there was a hint of sadness in his eyes. "Don’t take it personally. He’s got a lot on his plate," Gojo said, stepping closer to her.

Y/n’s brows furrowed, trying to make sense of what had just happened. "But why did he—"

"Come on," Gojo interrupted gently, his usual grin appearing on his face. "Let me drop you back home. Toji's… dealing with things." He reached out a hand to her, his easygoing nature trying to soften the blow of Toji’s sudden departure.

Y/n hesitated, her mind racing with questions, but she nodded, not wanting to be left alone in the strange atmosphere that had developed in the shop. As they walked toward Gojo’s car, Y/n glanced back once more, catching a glimpse of Toji standing beside his uncle, his back turned to her. Her heart ached, the warmth and connection they had shared moments ago now replaced with a chilling distance she couldn’t understand.

But as his lips ghosted over hers, and the heat between them flared once more, Y/n knew that keeping her out was the last thing he wanted to do. Y/n jumped into Gojo’s car, slamming the door with more force than she intended. Her mind was swirling with emotions—confusion, frustration, hurt—but most of all, she was angry. Toji’s sudden change in demeanor felt like a slap in the face, and the cryptic way everyone around him acted didn’t help.

As Gojo started the engine, Y/n couldn’t hold it in any longer. "What the hell was that, Gojo?" she demanded, her voice sharp and cutting through the tension. "You’ve gotta tell me what’s going on with Toji. What’s his deal? One minute he’s fine, the next, he’s acting like I’m nobody!"

Gojo kept his eyes on the road, his usual light-hearted nature fading into something more serious. "Y/n… it’s not my place to say," he replied, his voice lower than usual.

"Not your place?" she snapped. "You can’t be serious. I just watched him walk away from me like I’m nothing. And you’re telling me you’re not gonna give me anything?"

He sighed but didn’t take his eyes off the road. "Even if it were my place, you’re not part of that world. None of this is your business."

Y/n blinked, shocked by his bluntness. "Excuse me?" she said, her voice rising with disbelief. "Not my business? Are you seriously telling me that after everything I’ve seen—after everything you’ve let me be around—that I’m just supposed to sit here and pretend it’s not happening?"

Gojo finally glanced her way, his normally bright eyes dimmed with a seriousness she hadn’t seen before. "Yeah. That’s exactly what I’m saying."

Y/n’s anger flared even more at his calm response. "What the hell is wrong with you guys? Your whole crew acts like this—like you're in some secret world, and I’m just supposed to be okay with being left in the dark! I’m not stupid, Gojo. I see the tattoos, the scars, the whispers when Toji’s uncle shows up. You’re all playing some dangerous game, and I’m tired of being on the outside, acting like I don’t notice."

Gojo remained silent, his hands gripping the steering wheel a little tighter as she continued tearing into him. "Toji’s like two different people, and you all enable it. Sukuna, Geto, you—they’re all part of this mess, aren’t they? And now you’re telling me to stay out of it like I’m just some… some extra who doesn’t matter!"

Y/n stopped, breathing hard, her chest heaving with the weight of everything she had been holding in. The car’s engine hummed in the silence that followed. For a moment, Gojo said nothing, just staring at the road ahead.

Finally, he let out a slow breath, glancing at her briefly before turning back to the road. "You done?"

Y/n blinked, caught off guard by the question. "What?" she asked, her tone still sharp.

"I said, are you done?" Gojo repeated, his voice calm, almost too calm. He didn’t seem phased by her outburst, didn’t flinch at her words. It was as if her anger had bounced off him, leaving no impact.

She stared at him, her frustration growing. "You’re seriously not going to say anything?"

Gojo let out a dry laugh, shaking his head slightly. "What do you want me to say, Y/n? That you’re right? That Toji’s life is messed up? That we’re all involved in some shit you can’t even begin to understand? You already know that. But you still think you can just dive into this world and everything’s gonna make sense? It’s not that simple."

She scoffed, crossing her arms, her body rigid in the passenger seat. "Then make it simple for me. Explain something, anything."

Gojo’s jaw tightened for a second. "Here’s the thing, Y/n," he said, his tone a little sharper now. "Toji’s got a lot going on—stuff that’s been building long before you came around. He’s got responsibilities, ones that come with a price. You walking into that? You wouldn’t survive it."

Her eyes narrowed, his words stoking the fire inside her even more. "I can handle myself. I don’t need you to protect me."

Gojo’s lips curled into a small, almost sad smile. "That’s what you think. But trust me, Toji’s world… it’ll swallow you whole. And once you’re in, there’s no getting out." He glanced at her again. "So yeah, maybe it’s best you stay on the outside."

Y/n’s hands clenched into fists in her lap, the weight of his words settling in, but they didn’t quiet the storm inside her. She couldn’t shake the feeling that something more was happening, something that involved Toji on a deeper level. She wasn’t just going to accept his sudden coldness, or this brush-off from Gojo.

"So, what?" she finally asked, her voice calmer but no less firm. "I’m just supposed to forget about tonight? About what happened with Toji?"

Gojo didn’t answer right away, the silence between them thick with unspoken truths. After a long pause, he pulled up in front of her apartment building. The car stopped, and he turned to her, his eyes softer now but still serious.

"I’m telling you, Y/n, let this one go. Toji’s got his own demons to fight. You can’t save him from them."

Without another word, Gojo unlocked the doors. Y/n stared at him for a moment, her heart heavy with frustration and confusion. She knew there was more to the story, more that she wasn’t being told. But for now, she had no choice but to leave it where it was.

Reluctantly, she opened the door and stepped out, glancing back at Gojo one last time before closing the door behind her. As the car pulled away, disappearing down the street, Y/n stood there, feeling more lost than ever.

What the hell had she just gotten herself into?

Before Gojo could fully pull away, Y/n, fueled by anger and frustration, called out to him. "Gojo, wait." He stopped the car and looked over, raising an eyebrow.

"Give Toji a message for me," she said, her voice shaking with a mixture of hurt and resolve. "Tell him to just forget about me. I’m no longer interested."

Gojo’s expression shifted, his usual easygoing nature momentarily replaced by something more serious. He turned off the car engine, took a deep breath, and got out, rounding the car until he was standing in front of her. His gaze softened slightly as he leaned against the car, arms crossed. "Y/n, chill."

"Chill?" Y/n’s voice shot up as she stared at him in disbelief. "What the hell are you on? Are you serious right now?" Her eyes blazed, her patience worn thin. "Are you on crack or something?"

Gojo scoffed, a small smirk playing on his lips. "Nah, that shit ain't my thing." He held up his hands in mock surrender. "But I’m serious, you need to cool down. I get it, you’re pissed. Toji messed up, and this whole thing sucks, but saying you're 'no longer interested'?" He shook his head. "You don’t mean that."

Y/n crossed her arms, her jaw tightening. "I do. I’m tired of being left in the dark, tired of all the games, tired of you guys acting like I’m just some outsider who doesn’t deserve to know what’s going on. If he wants to treat me like I don’t matter, then fine. I’ll walk away."

Gojo sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Look, I can’t pretend to know everything that’s going on in Toji’s head. He’s a mess right now, I’ll give you that. But walking away? You sure that’s what you want?" His voice softened, his blue eyes searching hers for a sign that maybe she didn’t really mean it.

Y/n bit her lip, looking away for a moment. A part of her wanted to take it back, to hold onto the Toji she thought she knew, the one she felt drawn to despite everything. But then she remembered how cold he had been, how distant and dismissive. Her heart ached, but her pride refused to let her crumble.

"I’m sure," she finally said, though her voice faltered just slightly. "He made his choice, and now I’m making mine."

Gojo studied her for a moment, his smirk gone, replaced by something more genuine. "Alright," he said, nodding. "I’ll tell him, but don’t be surprised if he doesn’t take it well." He tilted his head, giving her a small smile. "Toji doesn’t exactly do well with people walking away."

Y/n huffed. "Well, he should’ve thought about that before treating me like nothing."

Gojo stood up straight, walking back around to the driver’s side. "Noted," he said as he got back in the car. "But just so you know… Toji’s not the type to forget. So don’t be too shocked if he comes knocking anyway."

With that, he revved the engine and shot her one last look, a knowing glint in his eyes. "Take care, Y/n."

And then he was gone, leaving her standing on the sidewalk, heart pounding, thoughts racing. Part of her wanted to believe that walking away was the right choice, that cutting ties with Toji Zenin would give her the peace she craved.

But deep down, she knew—Toji was far from done with her. And she wasn’t sure if she was ready to let him go either.

Gojo headed back to the shop, his usual carefree demeanor slightly more subdued. As he stepped inside, he was greeted by the sight of Sukuna pacing back and forth, his face twisted in frustration. Toji, meanwhile, sat in the corner, an air of fury radiating from him as he eyed Geto. His expression was a mixture of anger and annoyance, his jaw clenched so tightly that it looked like it might crack.

Gojo raised an eyebrow, mumbling under his breath, “His uncle at it again, huh?”

Sukuna shot him a glare but said nothing, continuing his agitated pacing. Gojo, not wanting to deal with Sukuna’s temper, walked over to Toji, who was nursing a busted lip. Toji had a joint hanging loosely from his lips, smoke curling lazily around his head as he wiped the blood from his mouth with the back of his hand.

The sight of him, beaten and bruised, sent a ripple of tension through Gojo. He knew Toji’s temper, knew how dangerous he could be when pushed to his limit. And from the look on his face, he was teetering dangerously close to that edge.

Gojo hesitated, glancing at the watch on his hand. He debated whether he should tell Toji what Y/n had said earlier, but seeing the state his friend was in, he quickly decided against it. The last thing Toji needed was another reason to spiral.

But as if fate had a cruel sense of timing, Toji’s phone buzzed on the table next to him. He picked it up and glanced at the screen, his eyes narrowing immediately.

It was a text from Y/n.

"I know Gojo’s too much of a punk to tell you what I said,so you better ask him"

Gojo watched as Toji’s expression darkened further, the tension in the room becoming almost unbearable. Toji’s hands tightened around the phone, his knuckles white as he read the message. His lips curled into a dangerous sneer, and without taking his eyes off the screen, he growled, "Tell me exactly what she said, Satoru."

Gojo, caught off guard, froze for a moment. “Huh?” He knew what Toji was referring to, but hoped playing dumb might defuse the situation.

Toji’s gaze flicked up to Gojo, his eyes cold and filled with a quiet fury. “Don’t play with me right now,” he said, his voice low and threatening. “Tell me what Y/n said.”

Gojo sighed, rubbing the back of his neck as he weighed his options. Toji wasn’t going to let this go. He might as well rip off the bandage. "She, uh, told me to give you a message. Said she’s done. Doesn’t want anything to do with you anymore." He hesitated, then added, "She told me to tell you to stay the fuck away from her."

The room went dead silent. Sukuna stopped pacing, and even Geto, who had been lounging nearby, straightened up, sensing the shift in the atmosphere.

Toji’s expression hardened further, his eyes like shards of ice as he stared at the text on his phone. Slowly, he set the phone down, leaning back in his chair. His jaw worked as he bit down on the joint, smoke swirling around his head in a thick cloud.

"Stay the fuck away from her, huh?" Toji muttered to himself, his voice barely audible. He let out a humorless laugh, shaking his head. “Like that’s gonna happen.”

Gojo winced, knowing this was far from over. He could see the storm brewing in Toji’s eyes, the dangerous mix of rage and obsession that was simmering just beneath the surface. Y/n’s message hadn’t deterred him—it had only made things worse.

Toji took another drag from his joint, the smoke curling lazily as he exhaled. He stood up slowly, wiping the blood from his lip again, and glanced over at Sukuna and Geto. "We’re not done," he said, his voice cold and emotionless.

Gojo knew that look. It was the look of a man who had already made up his mind. Toji wasn’t about to let Y/n slip away—not without a fight.

And when Toji decided to fight for something, he never lost.

Gojo watched in silence as Toji stood up from the chair, his entire body taut with tension. He wasn’t moving in a rush, but there was something ominous in his slow, deliberate movements. He could feel the weight of what was coming; whatever Toji had planned next wasn’t going to end well for anyone. Especially Y/n.

Sukuna stopped pacing and turned to look at Toji, an eyebrow raised. "What’s the plan?" Sukuna asked, his voice casual, but there was an edge to it, like he was bracing himself for Toji's inevitable outburst.

Toji flicked his gaze toward Sukuna, his expression unreadable. "Same plan as always," he said, voice low. "Business first. Then I’ll deal with her."

Gojo swallowed, knowing better than to push further but couldn't help but feel unsettled. "And what does ‘deal with her’ mean?" Gojo asked, despite himself, hoping to at least gauge just how far gone Toji was.

Toji turned to face him fully, a cold smile playing on his lips. "It means I’ll remind her that no one walks away from me. Especially not someone like her."

Gojo’s blood ran cold at the calm way Toji said it, as if Y/n was just another problem to be solved. He wasn’t used to seeing Toji this far into his own head, consumed by the need to control something—or in this case, someone.

Sukuna leaned back against the wall, crossing his arms. "You sure that’s a good idea, Toji?" he asked, his voice still laid-back, but his eyes sharp. "She already wants out. You think pushing her is gonna do you any favors?"

Toji’s jaw ticked, but his voice remained steady. "She thinks she can run. She thinks that by telling me to stay away, it’s over. But she doesn’t know me. Not yet."

Gojo could see Sukuna shift, glancing at Geto, who remained silent on the other side of the room. The tension was thick enough to cut with a knife.

Toji’s gaze flicked back to Gojo, as if daring him to say something. But Gojo remained silent. There was nothing he could say that would sway Toji in this state. He was a man with a singular focus—Y/n.

Toji picked up his phone, staring at Y/n’s text one last time before locking the screen. "She’ll come around," he muttered, almost to himself. "She just doesn’t know it yet."

Gojo sighed heavily, running a hand through his hair. "Look, man, maybe you should chill for a bit, y’know? She’s pissed, sure, but pushing her—"

Toji cut him off with a sharp look. "I don’t care if she’s pissed, Satoru. She’s mine. She’s always been mine. She just needs to be reminded."

Sukuna finally spoke up, his voice calm but firm. "This isn’t about reminding her, Toji. It’s about control. And you’re losing it."

Toji's eyes flashed dangerously, but before he could respond, Sukuna held up a hand. "I’m not saying you let her go. But you gotta be smart about this. What’s the point in claiming her if she hates your guts? You want her, right? So stop scaring her off."

For a moment, it seemed like Sukuna’s words had gotten through, but then Toji shook his head, his expression hardening once more. "She’s not going anywhere."

Gojo let out a frustrated breath, but it was clear the conversation was over. Toji had made up his mind, and there was no reasoning with him when he got like this.

A sudden buzzing noise filled the room, and Gojo realized it was Toji’s phone. He checked the screen, his eyes narrowing as he read another message from Y/n:

"Don't even think about showing your face near me again Zenin. I swear"

Gojo felt the room shift, the weight of Y/n’s words hanging in the air like a dark cloud. Toji’s face was unreadable as he stared at the screen, but the tension in his body was unmistakable.

Without a word, Toji stood up, his phone still in his hand. He didn’t look at anyone as he moved toward the door, his movements quick and decisive.

"Toji, wait—" Gojo called after him, but Toji didn’t stop. He was already gone, out the door before anyone could say another word.

Sukuna let out a low whistle. "This is gonna get ugly."

Geto, who had remained silent through the entire exchange, finally spoke up. "It already is."

Gojo slumped back against the wall, running a hand over his face. He knew what was coming. He knew Toji wasn’t going to let this go, not without a fight. And Y/n… she had no idea what kind of storm was about to hit her.

"You think we should stop him?" Gojo asked, though he already knew the answer.

Sukuna shrugged, a dark smile tugging at his lips. "We can’t stop him. Not when it comes to her."

Geto nodded in agreement. "Toji’s already too far gone. The best we can do is pick up the pieces when it all blows up."

Gojo sighed. "Yeah… I just hope there’s something left to pick up."

Toji stormed toward his custom black 1979 Dodge Charger, a dark cloud of rage hanging over him like a thunderstorm ready to burst. The world around him faded as his focus narrowed, every muscle in his body tense and ready for a fight. But just as he reached the driver’s door, a gunshot rang out, echoing in the air with a sharp crack that made his heart leap.

Expecting pain, Toji braced himself, but instead, he felt the rush of air as the bullet missed him, striking the tire of his car instead. He scoffed, disbelief and fury igniting inside him as he turned, glaring at his uncle Naobito, who stood there with a smug grin plastered across his face.

“Oops, I missed,” Naobito mocked, his eyes glinting with sadistic amusement. “Next time, I’ll aim for Y/n.”

Toji’s blood ran cold, his entire body going rigid with rage. The mere thought of his uncle threatening Y/n was enough to snap the last fraying thread of his restraint. He couldn’t let this man get to her. Not now, not ever.

He shot Sukuna a quick glance, then tossed his car keys at him without a second thought. “fix the flat on this,” he growled, knowing Sukuna would have it sorted by the time he was back at the shop. His focus was already shifting toward Gojo, who stood nearby, a look of surprise and concern on his face.

Before he could process anything further, Toji snatched Gojo's car keys from his hand and hopped into the driver’s seat of the Mazda RX-8. The engine roared to life, drowning out the chaos behind him as he slammed the accelerator, peeling away from the shop with a screech of tires.

The adrenaline coursed through him as he sped through the streets, his mind racing just as fast as the car. He needed to get to Y/n, to make sure she was safe from the threat that loomed over her like a dark shadow. The thought of Naobito’s words replayed in his mind, stoking the flames of his anger. There was no way he’d let his uncle have power over his life or Y/n’s.

As he drove, the city lights blurred past him, neon signs flickering like stars in the night. Toji felt the pull of the streets, the rush of street racing calling to him, but he pushed it aside for now. There was only one thing on his mind—Y/n.

He navigated through the bustling streets, weaving between cars and taking sharp turns, his heart pounding with urgency. The closer he got to her apartment, the more determined he became. She deserved to know the truth, to understand the danger that surrounded him.

Pulling into her building’s lot, he parked hastily, adrenaline still coursing through his veins. He jumped out of the car and sprinted towards the entrance, his mind racing with thoughts of how to protect her. He’d face his uncle and the mafia if it meant keeping Y/n safe.

Rage ignited within Toji, burning hot and fierce. He turned to glare at his uncle, but before he could react, Sukuna stepped forward, his expression serious. “Let’s go, Toji. We need to get you out of here.”

Ignoring the concern in Sukuna’s eyes, Toji scoffed, tossing his car keys toward him. “I’m not running from this.” With renewed determination, he snatched Gojo's car keys from his pocket and revved the engine, the powerful growl of the engine matching the storm brewing inside him. He was already on his way to Y/n’s, and nothing would stop him.

He had no intention of sharing his truth—his mafia ties, the chaos that surrounded him—no way was he letting her in on that world. He couldn’t let her slip away, not now that he’d finally found the courage to approach her, to pursue something real. Even if it meant telling half-truths, he’d play whatever game he had to.

When he arrived at Y/n's door, he took a deep breath, steeling himself for her reaction. He knocked, the sound echoing in the quiet night. A moment later, the door swung open, and there she stood—her fiery spirit radiating from her, eyes filled with anger.

“Didn’t Gojo tell you I don’t want you?” she snapped, arms crossed defiantly over her chest. “I texted you! I’m done. I mean, we weren’t ever anything, but I’m not doing whatever the fuck this is, Zenin.”

Toji felt a sharp pain in his chest at her words. “Y/n, just hear me out,” he began, trying to keep his voice steady. He stepped closer, determined to break through her defenses. “I know what you heard, but I’m not here for the drama. I just want to talk.”

“Talk?” She scoffed, her voice dripping with disbelief. “You think you can just show up here after the way you've been acting and expect me to listen? You think I’m going to let you pull me into whatever mess you have going on?”

Toji swallowed hard, sensing the wall she’d built between them. “It’s not like that. I just—I need you to know that I didn’t come here to hurt you. I know things are complicated, but I want to figure it out. I want to understand you, and—”

Y/n cut him off, shaking her head. “Understand me? You don’t even know me, Toji! All you know is how to act tough and make threats. You think you can just walk into my life and say you want to understand? You’re part of something I don’t want to be involved in.”

Toji's heart sank as he looked into her eyes, and he could see the resolve in them. He could feel the distance between them growing, and with every word she threw at him, he realized how deep the chasm had become. “I’m not asking you to be part of anything,” he insisted, frustration creeping into his voice. “I just want you to let me in.”

She hesitated for a moment, and in that pause, he felt a flicker of hope. Maybe he could break through, maybe she would give him a chance. But then her expression hardened again, and the hope faded.

“You don’t get it, do you? You’re not safe for me, Toji. You think you can just come in here, smile, and pretend everything is okay? You can’t just erase the fact that you’re tangled up in sum fuck shit you won't even tell me about.”

Toji’s chest tightened, and he took a step closer, lowering his voice to a softer tone. “I know I have things to sort out, but I swear I’m trying to change. I don’t want that life. I want something real. With you.”

Y/n’s eyes searched his face, her expression wavering. He could see the conflict within her, the part that was drawn to him despite the warnings. But just as quickly, her resolve returned. “You need to leave, Toji. I can’t do this.”

Toji felt like the ground had shifted beneath him, leaving him unsteady. “I can’t just walk away. Not now. Not after getting close to you.”

The intensity of his words hung in the air, but Y/n remained unmoved, shaking her head slowly.

“Then you’re making a mistake,” she replied softly, her voice barely above a whisper. “This is your choice. You can either keep running toward that life, or you can turn around and leave it behind. But I can’t be part of your chaos.”

Toji clenched his fists, his heart pounding with a mix of anger and desperation. He had fought too hard to let this slip away. “I’m not asking you to join me in the chaos,” he said, his voice fierce. “I’m asking you to trust me. Just give me a chance.”

But Y/n stood firm, the door blocking the world behind her. “Trust is earned, Toji. You’ve got a long way to go.”

With that, she closed the door, leaving him outside, staring at the closed barrier between them. Each word she’d spoken echoed in his mind, and for the first time, he understood the weight of the choices he’d made.

As he turned away, a storm of emotions surged within him. He couldn’t lose her, not when he was finally ready to fight for what mattered. But if he was going to keep her in his life, he knew he had to confront the darkness and break free from the chains binding him to his past.

Toji made a silent vow to himself: he would not give up. He would prove to her that he was more than just the sum of his mistakes.

Toji leaned against Y/n's door, his resolve hardening as he pulled out his phone to check for notifications. A message from his younger brother, Megumi, popped up on the screen, and Toji's heart sank at the words that flashed before him: Dad knows about you and Y/n.

He scoffed under his breath, muttering, “There is no ‘me and Y/n.’” then texted the same.

Megumi responded almost instantly with a laughing emoji: Keep telling yourself that when everyone can see otherwise.

Toji’s stomach twisted at the thought of his family’s involvement in his life, particularly his father’s disapproval. He had worked hard to carve out a space for himself away from their expectations, and he refused to let them dictate this part of his life, especially when it came to Y/n.

With a heavy sigh, he knocked on her door again, feeling a mix of frustration and desperation. When Y/n opened it, her expression was a mixture of irritation and surprise. “Toji, please leave,” she said firmly, but he couldn’t bring himself to walk away. Not now.

“No.” The word came out sharper than he intended, but he pushed past her, stepping into her apartment. His breath caught as he took in the sight before him. The space was stunning—filled with carefully curated furniture and art pieces that screamed her passion for interior design and architecture. Sunlight poured through the large windows, illuminating the vibrant colors and textures that reflected her Caribbean roots.

He’d seen her talent in passing, but being here, surrounded by her work, ignited a newfound admiration within him. This was a world where she thrived, and he felt a pang of longing to be part of it.

“Get out, Zenin,” Y/n raised her voice, her patience clearly wearing thin.

Toji’s heart raced as he stepped closer, instinctively reaching out to grab her wrist. Before she could protest, he pulled her to him, letting her fall into his lap as he sank down onto her plush couch. He felt the heat radiating off her body, and the scent of her shampoo—a sweet, floral aroma—filled his senses.

“Y/n, I’m sorry,” he murmured, his voice softer now, almost vulnerable. He could feel the tension between them, electric and thick. He had no idea how to fix this or where to begin, but he knew he couldn’t let her push him away.

She looked up at him, her brow furrowed in disbelief. “Sorry for what? For barging into my home uninvited? For pretending like everything is fine when it’s clearly not?”

“For everything,” he said, his voice low and sincere. “I know I messed up. I didn’t mean to make things complicated. I just—I don’t want to lose you.”

Y/n stiffened, her expression wavering between anger and something softer. “You’re not going to lose me by ignoring the reality of your life, Toji. You’re tangled up in something dangerous. You can’t just pull me in and expect it to be easy.”

“I don’t want you to be part of that,” he replied, his grip tightening around her waist instinctively. “But I need you to understand that I’m trying to change. I’m trying to be someone you can rely on.”

“Change?” she scoffed, shaking her head. “You think a few sweet words will erase everything you’ve done? You think I can just forget who you are?”

Toji stared at her, the intensity in her gaze making his chest ache. “No, I don’t expect you to forget. But I want a chance to show you I’m more than what everyone thinks I am. I’m not just ‘Toji Zenin, the bad boy.’ I want to be something different. I want to be with you.”

Y/n’s breath hitched, and for a brief moment, he thought he saw the walls she’d built around her begin to crack. “And what if I can’t trust you?” she challenged, her voice trembling slightly. “What if this is all just some game to you?”

“It’s not a game,” he insisted, desperation creeping into his tone. “I’m not trying to play with your feelings. I came here because I want you, Y/n. You’re not just another girl to me.”

She opened her mouth to respond, but before she could speak, he leaned closer, his lips almost brushing against her ear. “Just give me a chance. Let me prove it.”

For a moment, the world around them faded away, and all he could focus on was her. The way her heart raced beneath his touch, the way her breath quickened. He could sense her hesitation, but in the depths of her eyes, he saw something else—a flicker of hope, a hint of longing that mirrored his own.

“Okay,” she finally whispered, almost breathless. “But you have to promise me one thing.”

“What?” he asked, leaning back slightly to look into her eyes.

“Don’t lie to me,” she said firmly. “Be honest about everything. No more secrets. I can’t do this if I don’t know the truth.”

Toji nodded, the weight of her request settling on his shoulders. “I promise,” he vowed, feeling a surge of determination. “No more secrets.”

As the moment hung between them, he felt a spark of something real igniting in the air. He had a long way to go, but he would fight for this, for her. Whatever it took.

Toji knew he had just lied to Y/n, and the weight of it settled heavily in his gut. He wanted to protect her, to keep her away from the darkness that loomed over his life, but he also felt the suffocating grip of the truth closing in around him. He couldn’t let her get caught up in the chaos of the Zenin family, the secrets that tangled like a web around him. Not when he was finally starting to feel something real for her.

Taking a deep breath, he closed his eyes for a moment, trying to steady himself. The scent of her lingered in the air, intoxicating and sweet. He leaned closer, his heart racing as he took in the warmth of her body against his. “What scent is this?” he asked, his voice low and slightly husky.

“Hot Florals by Bath and Body Works,” Y/n replied, a hint of shyness creeping into her tone as she felt the intensity of his gaze on her.

He inhaled deeper, allowing the fragrance to envelop him. “You smell so good, Y/n,” he murmured, his voice a rasp that sent a shiver down her spine. There was a spark in her eyes, one that he hadn’t noticed before, and it ignited something primal within him. The way she responded to his words made his heart race, and he found himself leaning even closer, his lips nearly brushing against her neck.

Y/n swallowed hard, her breath hitching as she felt the heat radiating off him. “Toji…” she started, but the words faltered as he pressed his face deeper into her scent, intoxicated by the floral notes mixed with something uniquely hers.

“Tell me you feel this,” he whispered, his lips hovering just above her skin, teasingly close but not crossing the line. “Tell me you feel what’s happening between us.”

“I—I don’t know,” she stammered, her voice barely above a whisper. “This is all so sudden…”

He could feel the tension building, thick and heavy like a storm brewing in the air. Toji’s instincts kicked in, and he wanted to push forward, to claim this moment with her and make her understand just how much she meant to him. “I don’t want to rush you, but I can’t pretend like I don’t want you,” he confessed, pulling back slightly to meet her gaze. “You make me feel things I’ve never felt before.”

Y/n looked at him, her expression a mixture of confusion and longing. “You’re not just saying that, are you?”

“No,” he said firmly, feeling a surge of protectiveness wash over him. “I mean it. But I can’t let you in on all the details of my life—not yet. Not until I can keep you safe.”

Her brows furrowed as she processed his words. “Safe? From what, Toji?”

“From my world,” he replied, his voice dropping to a murmur. “It’s not a place for you. I’ll do whatever it takes to keep you away from that side of me. You deserve better than that.”

“Better than you?” she challenged, her tone incredulous. “You think you’re not worth it because of your family?”

“I’m trying to protect you, Y/n,” he insisted, his grip tightening around her waist as he pulled her closer again. “I want you to be happy, and that means keeping you away from the shit I’m tied to.”

Y/n searched his eyes, looking for the truth beneath the surface. “But you can’t just keep me in the dark either. If we’re going to do this, I need to know who you really are.”

Toji sighed, torn between wanting to share everything and fearing what that would mean for her. “I just wish things were different. I wish I could show you the real me without the shadows.”

“I don’t want you to hide,” she said softly, her expression softening. “But I also won’t settle for half-truths.”

He nodded, the determination surging within him. “Then let’s start fresh. I’ll tell you what I can, and you can decide if you still want to be around me. But promise me you’ll be careful.”

“Careful?” she scoffed lightly, her eyes sparkling with defiance. “I can handle myself, Zenin. But I appreciate the concern.”

Toji chuckled softly, his mood lifting slightly. “You’re stubborn.”

“Only when I need to be,” she retorted, her lips curling into a smile. The moment felt lighter, the tension beginning to ease as they settled into a more comfortable rhythm.

As he looked into her eyes, he felt a sense of hope building. He might be lying to her about some things, but there was one truth he couldn’t deny: he wanted her in his life, regardless of the risks. And he would do everything in his power to keep her safe, even if that meant facing the demons of his past head-on.

“Okay, then,” he said, breaking the moment with a playful grin. “Let’s take it one step at a time. How about you tell me more about your design projects, and I’ll share a bit about my—less glamorous—life?”

Y/n smiled back, the warmth between them rekindling as she launched into a passionate explanation of her latest design concept. For the first time, Toji felt a flicker of hope that maybe, just maybe, they could make this work. Toji smiled, feeling the warmth of Y/n’s body against his. Her laughter rang sweetly in his ears, a sound he could easily become addicted to. He couldn’t help but revel in the way she ran her fingers through his hair, igniting a spark of affection in his chest.

“Your hands are magic,” he murmured, tilting his head slightly to savor the sensation. But then her expression shifted, and he felt the weight of her gaze as she studied his face.

“What happened to your face?” she asked, concern knitting her brow.

Toji’s mind flashed back to the earlier confrontation with his uncle, the fight that had left its mark. He could still feel the sting of the words exchanged and the blow to his pride. He forced a smile, shrugging nonchalantly. “Oh, that? Just a little roughhousing with Sukuna at the shop. He was giving me a hard time for being mean to you earlier,” he lied smoothly, hoping the casual tone would deflect any further probing.

“Roughhousing?” she repeated skeptically, her eyes narrowing slightly as if she could see through his facade. “You look like you went ten rounds with a boxer.”

“It’s nothing,” he insisted, leaning back slightly to brush it off. “Sukuna and I can get a bit competitive, that’s all.” He flashed her a playful grin, hoping to lighten the mood. “You should’ve seen the other guy,” he added, trying to inject humor into the situation.

Y/n arched an eyebrow, clearly not buying it. “You know I can tell when you’re lying, right?” she challenged, crossing her arms in front of her. “You can’t just shrug it off. I care about you, Toji.”

His heart thudded at her words, the sincerity in her tone making him feel both elated and terrified. “I appreciate that, but seriously, it’s really not a big deal,” he said, his voice softening. “I just… I don’t want you to worry about me.”

“But I can’t help it,” she replied, her gaze unwavering. “If we’re going to do this—whatever this is—I need to know you’re okay. I want to be there for you, not just some passing interest.”

Toji’s chest tightened at her words. He wanted to let her in, to share everything—the good, the bad, and the ugly—but he couldn’t bring himself to drag her into his messy life. Not when she looked at him like he was something precious, something worth protecting.

“I’ll be okay, I promise,” he said finally, his voice earnest. “I’m tougher than I look.”

Y/n huffed a little laugh, her worry softening. “I can see that. But just know, I’m not going anywhere. If you ever need to talk—about anything—I’m here. Even if it means hearing about your roughhousing antics with Sukuna.”

Toji felt a wave of warmth wash over him at her words. “You really mean that?” he asked, his heart swelling.

“Of course I do,” she replied, her smile brightening the room. “I’m not easily scared off, Zenin. Trust me.”

“Good,” he said, wrapping his arms around her tighter as he pulled her closer. “Because I might need you more than you realize.”

As they settled into a comfortable silence, Toji felt a mix of emotions swirling within him—gratitude, affection, and a lingering sense of dread about what the future held. But with Y/n by his side, he felt a flicker of hope. Maybe he could find a way to balance his chaotic life with the growing connection they shared.

Y/n shifted slightly, resting her head against his shoulder. “So, how’s your day going aside from the ‘roughhousing’?”

Toji chuckled softly, “Honestly? It’s gotten a lot better now that I'm here with you.”

She grinned up at him, her eyes sparkling. “Flattery will get you everywhere, you know.”

“Good to know,” he said, leaning down to press a gentle kiss to her forehead. “Because I plan to use it all on you.”

As the laughter faded, they both settled into a comfortable silence, each lost in thought but feeling the warmth of the moment. For the first time in a long while, Toji felt like maybe—just maybe—he could let someone in and still keep them safe from the storms brewing in his life.

Toji found himself lost in Y/n’s eyes, the depth of them pulling him in, making him feel more vulnerable than he ever intended. He wasn’t used to this—letting his guard down. But something about Y/n disarmed him, made him feel like he could be himself, even if he wasn’t sure what that meant anymore.

Y/n smiled, noticing his gaze lingering longer than usual. “Why are you staring at me like that?” she asked, her voice soft, teasing, but curious.

Toji snapped out of his thoughts, smirking in an attempt to mask the whirlwind of emotions running through his mind. He cleared his throat and leaned in slightly. “Because you look good,” he replied smoothly, his deep voice carrying a hint of playful mischief. “That’s why.”

Y/n’s cheeks flushed a bit, but she laughed and lightly smacked his chest. “Yeah, okay, Mr. Smooth Talker.”

Toji was about to respond, but his phone buzzed in his pocket, breaking the moment. He subtly pulled it out, glancing at the message from Gojo:

"Swinging by Y/n’s to pick up my car and drop off yours. But heads up—your uncle’s asking about you and Y/n. Try to keep her out of shit."

Toji’s jaw tightened slightly as he skimmed the message. His shoulders tensed, and an involuntary wave of protectiveness surged through him. His uncle had a way of complicating things, and the last thing he wanted was for Y/n to get caught up in the dangerous world he was part of. She didn’t deserve that. She didn’t even know the half of it.

Y/n noticed the shift in his demeanor. “Everything okay?” she asked, her tone laced with concern.

Toji quickly pocketed his phone, forcing a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “Yeah, it’s nothing,” he lied. “Just Gojo being an idiot as usual.” He chuckled, trying to brush it off.

But Y/n wasn’t so easily fooled. She tilted her head, studying him like she always did when something felt off. “You sure? You just tensed up like you’re about to fight someone.”

Toji grinned, trying to play it cool. “I’m always ready to fight someone,” he joked, wrapping an arm around her waist and pulling her closer to distract her. “But seriously, don’t worry about it. It’s just some car stuff.”

She gave him a skeptical look but decided not to push further, resting her head on his chest. Toji took a deep breath, trying to focus on the moment instead of the chaos that always seemed to lurk around the corner. But the truth weighed heavy on him—his uncle’s interest in Y/n was a threat he couldn’t ignore.

His phone buzzed again, and this time, Toji silenced it without looking. Right now, his priority was Y/n. Keeping her out of the mess he was in had to be his focus, even if it meant lying to her, pushing her away, or hiding parts of his life. But how long could he keep up the charade?

“Hey,” Y/n’s voice broke through his thoughts. “If there’s ever anything you need to tell me, you know you can, right? I’m not going anywhere.”

Toji felt a pang of guilt but covered it with another charming smile. “I know, Y/n. Trust me, I’ll keep you in the loop.”

He didn’t know how long he could keep that promise.

Toji released yn to head downstairs saying "I'll be back shortly, gotta go downstairs. Satoru and i need to sort something out real quick. With that said, he went downstairs.

Toji leaned against Gojo’s car, his arms crossed over his chest as he stared off into the distance, still trying to shake off the tense feeling from earlier. Gojo handed him his own keys back, glancing at him with an unspoken question in his eyes. "Naobito really got his eye on you, huh?"

Toji grunted, avoiding the topic. "Always. But I got it handled." He wasn’t about to let Gojo see how deep the stress went. The last thing he needed was for Y/n to get caught up in that.

Just then, Mei Mei and Shoko pulled up, both stepping out of the car like they owned the world. Mei Mei, with her usual confident smirk, noticed Toji first and immediately burst into laughter. "Well, well, well. Toji Zenin at Y/n’s place. And here I thought she kept her life private," she teased, her voice dripping with amusement.

Toji didn't acknowledge her comment, his focus still on the ground as he exchanged his car keys with Gojo. Gojo, however, couldn't resist groaning as Mei Mei’s sharp eyes fell on him next. She winked playfully. "And look who it is. Gojo Satoru, always lingering around. You know, Gojo, maybe one day—"

"Mei Mei, please. Stop," Gojo cut her off with a groan, already anticipating where she was going with this.

She raised an eyebrow, thoroughly entertained. "Hmmm, how about…?" she trailed off, leaning closer as if she had another snarky comment ready to drop.

Gojo threw his hands up, stopping her in her tracks. "No more talks about my dad, Mei Mei. Seriously."

Mei Mei laughed, shaking her head, clearly enjoying Gojo's discomfort. "Relax, Satoru. I’m just messing with you."

With that, she and Shoko strolled toward the building, leaving Gojo shaking his head in disbelief. Toji, still leaning against his car, finally spoke up, his voice low. "She’s gonna cause you trouble one of these days."

Gojo smirked, running a hand through his hair. "She already does, but hey, keeps life interesting."

As the two stood there in silence for a moment, Gojo studied Toji carefully, noticing the tension still present in his body. "You sure about Y/n, man? I mean… all this stuff with your uncle. She's bound to get caught up in it eventually."

Toji’s jaw clenched at Gojo’s words, but he didn’t respond. Instead, he pushed off from the car and handed Gojo his keys. "I’ll handle it. Just keep her out of anything she doesn’t need to know."

Gojo shrugged. "Alright, man. Just don’t let it blow up in your face."

As Toji turned to head back toward Y/n’s apartment, he spotted Mei Mei and Shoko talking and laughing outside her door. He sighed. Great, more people knowing where she lives.

Before heading back up, Toji glanced at Gojo. "Watch my back with Uncle. And if he asks—"

"Yeah, yeah," Gojo interrupted, waving him off. "I'll cover for you. Just try not to make it worse."

Toji grunted in acknowledgment, then started making his way back inside, bracing himself for whatever trouble Mei Mei might stir up next. All the while, he couldn't stop thinking about how complicated things were getting with Y/n—and how much he needed to protect her, even if it meant keeping her in the dark.

Gojo casually reached into Toji's glove compartment, pulling out a small baggie filled with neatly rolled joints. "C'mon, smoke one with me," he said, twirling a joint between his fingers as he smirked. "Because," he nodded toward the apartment complex with a grin, "Y/n’s gonna be busy with Shoko and Ms. Eat-A-Man’s Money up there."

Toji exhaled through his nose, his irritation palpable, but he accepted the joint from Gojo. Leaning against the car, he lit it up and took a long drag, trying to shake off the stress of the night. As the smoke filled his lungs, his mind momentarily calmed, though he knew it wouldn’t last.

"You know," Gojo began, lighting up his own joint, "you’re walking a thin line here. Y/n’s got no idea who you really are, what you’re tied to. And your uncle…" Gojo trailed off, side-eyeing Toji, "he’s gonna find a way to drag her into it."

Toji flicked the ash off his joint, his eyes narrowing. "She won’t be dragged into anything. Not if I can help it."

Gojo chuckled darkly, taking a puff. "Toji, you can’t control everything. And Y/n… she’s not stupid. She’s already asking questions."

Toji clenched his jaw but didn’t respond immediately, staring off into the distance, smoke swirling around him. He thought of Y/n upstairs, probably laughing with Shoko and Mei Mei, blissfully unaware of the world he was tangled in. The lies, the danger—all of it was piling up, and he wasn’t sure how much longer he could keep her shielded from the truth.

"I'll figure it out," Toji finally said, his voice low, almost to himself.

Gojo shrugged, taking another hit. "If you say so, man. Just don’t let it all blow up in your face when the truth comes knocking." He blew out a thick cloud of smoke, letting the silence settle between them as they passed the joint back and forth.

Upstairs, they could hear faint laughter, likely Y/n and the girls. Gojo smirked, shaking his head. "She’s already neck-deep in this, and she doesn’t even know it. That’s the dangerous part."

Toji clenched his teeth. It was true. Y/n was becoming more important to him than he’d planned, and with his uncle breathing down his neck, the walls were closing in faster than he could maneuver around them.

“I can handle my uncle,” Toji muttered, but the doubt was creeping in, and he hated it.

Gojo raised a brow, his lips curling into a lazy smile. "Sure you can. But what happens when Y/n’s the one standing in his crosshairs? You ready for that?"

Toji didn't respond immediately. Instead, he took another deep drag from the joint, letting the smoke burn away the unease in his chest, if only for a moment. His thoughts swirled with what-ifs and worst-case scenarios, but the one thing he couldn’t deny was that he wasn’t about to let anyone—especially his uncle—hurt Y/n.

"That’s not gonna happen," he finally said, his voice gruff. "I’ll keep her out of it."

Gojo didn’t look convinced, but he didn’t push further. "We’ll see, Zenin. We’ll see."

As they smoked in silence, the weight of their words lingered in the air, along with the very real possibility that things were about to spiral out of control.

Toji felt his phone buzz in his pocket, and as he pulled it out, he noticed a message from Shui Kong, his long-time best friend who was rarely in the country.

Shui Kong: Yo, where you at? Got some news to fill you in on. It’s important.

Toji sighed, rubbing the back of his neck as he read the text. Just what he needed—more complications. He looked over at Gojo, who leaned in closer, squinting at the screen as if he could decipher the entire conversation just by reading the text.

"What's up? Is it about Y/n?" Gojo asked, his tone casual, but Toji could hear the underlying curiosity in his voice.

Toji shook his head, dismissing the question. "Nah, it's Shui. He’s back in town, and he says he has news."

Gojo smirked, a glimmer of mischief in his eyes. "You know that never bodes well, right? What if he’s bringing back more trouble? You already have enough on your plate."

"Yeah, well, I can’t exactly ignore him. We’ve been through too much together," Toji replied, feeling the weight of his friend’s sudden return looming over him. There was a lot of unfinished business between them, especially after everything that had gone down before Shui left.

Gojo leaned back against the car, arms crossed, his expression turning serious. "Just be careful. You know how things get when he’s around. And if it has anything to do with your family or that mafia mess…" he trailed off, leaving the implications hanging in the air.

Toji bit his lip, torn between wanting to answer Shui and not wanting to draw more trouble into his already chaotic life. After a moment, he decided to reply.

Toji: I’m at the shop. What’s the news?

He pressed send and glanced back at Gojo, who was still watching him with an amused expression. "You think he’ll drop another bomb on you? Maybe tell you he’s running for president or something?"

Toji rolled his eyes, trying to shake off the anxious feeling in his gut. "I just want to get through this night without any more surprises."

Before Gojo could respond, Toji's phone buzzed again with a reply from Shui.

Shui Kong: I’m coming by. Got some intel on your uncle and the Zenin business. You’ll want to hear this.

Toji’s heart sank. He exchanged a worried glance with Gojo, who raised an eyebrow, clearly reading between the lines. "You sure this is a good idea?"

"Guess we’ll find out," Toji muttered, a sense of dread settling in. He couldn't shake the feeling that whatever news Shui had would change everything.

Just as he was about to respond, Gojo's phone buzzed. He pulled it out, his brow furrowing. "It’s Y/n. She wants to know if you’re okay. Seems like she's worried."

Toji felt a warmth spread in his chest at her concern but quickly masked it with indifference. "Just tell her I’m fine. I’ll talk to her later."

Gojo shrugged, smirking again. "You know, you could be a little more honest with her. Maybe she wouldn’t feel the need to check up on you if you didn’t have that whole mysterious bad boy vibe going on."

Toji shot him a glare. "Shut up, Gojo."

But inside, the comment lingered. Maybe he was playing too many cards close to his chest, especially with Y/n. As he thought about her, another text from Shui came in.

Shui Kong: People are starting to talk about you and Y/n, you better tread carefully, my friend.

Toji's fingers tightened around his phone, annoyance flashing across his face. "What the hell does that mean?"

Gojo chuckled, already guessing the answer. "Looks like you’re not the only one who sees how deep you’re in with her. Just don’t get her caught up in your family drama."

Toji opened his mouth to retort but decided against it. Instead, he glanced back at the apartment, his mind racing with thoughts of Y/n and how far he was willing to go to keep her safe. The storm brewing on the horizon felt closer than ever, and he was stuck right in the middle of it.

"Let’s just get through tonight," he said finally, his resolve hardening. "Then we’ll figure out what to do next."

Toji took another pull from the joint trying to clear his head. He knew lying to yn would only bite him in the ass later but he would deal with that when it comes. hopefully it doesn't cause him to lose her.

Toji sighed, running a hand through his hair as he said, "Lemme go tell Y/n I gotta go." He turned to head back upstairs, but Gojo, ever the shadow, locked his car and walked behind him.

"Where are you going?" Toji asked, exasperated.

"Obviously, I'm not gonna miss you acting unusual in front of Y/n. I need proof for the group chat, you know this," Gojo shot back, a smirk on his face.

Toji scoffed but didn't argue. He marched back to Y/n's apartment, Gojo trailing behind him, probably buzzing with the prospect of a good story.

When he knocked on the door, he heard Shoko shout from the other side, "It's open!"

Toji pushed the door open and stepped inside, only to be greeted by a scene he hadn’t expected. The room was filled with a haze of smoke, and he could see Shoko and Mei Mei lounging on the couch, a blunt circulating between them. Y/n sat cross-legged on the floor, her back to him, laughing at something they were saying.

Toji's eyes widened as he took in Y/n’s outfit—a pair of burnt orange silk shorts and a cropped shirt of the same color, accentuating her figure perfectly. Her ombre-dyed faux locs were styled in double puffs, giving her an effortlessly chic look that made his heart race.

Gojo’s eyes darted between Toji’s expression and the scene unfolding in front of him, silently judging the sudden shift in energy.

Mei Mei was the first to speak, a playful glint in her eye. "Told you he'd come back upstairs, Y/n."

Toji’s gaze landed squarely on Y/n, trying to control the feral reaction that threatened to bubble to the surface. The sight of her looking so carefree, so vibrant, ignited a possessiveness in him that he struggled to suppress. He had never seen her like this, so relaxed and unguarded, and it stirred something deep inside him.

"Hey, Toji!" Y/n turned to him, her smile brightening the room. But her cheerful demeanor only made his internal conflict stronger. "What’s up?"

"Uh, I just came to say I have to head out for a bit," Toji managed to reply, his voice sounding rougher than he intended. He couldn't shake the feeling of wanting to pull her close and protect her from whatever chaos lay ahead.

"Where are you off to?" she asked, tilting her head, her curiosity piqued.

"Just...some business. I'll be back later," he said, keeping his tone casual, though he could feel the tension building.

Shoko exchanged a glance with Mei Mei, then chimed in, "You know, Y/n, we were just discussing how you should join us for a little relaxation session. What do you say? A girls’ night with a side of Toji drama?"

Toji shot a glance at Gojo, who looked ready to burst from holding in laughter. "Yeah, I don’t think that’s a good idea right now," he said, his voice low, trying to keep the atmosphere light despite the storm brewing inside him.

Y/n’s brow furrowed slightly, sensing his unease. "What do you mean? You’re not coming back for the fun?"

"Just… got stuff to handle, you know?" Toji said, brushing it off. But he couldn’t help feeling a pang of regret at the thought of leaving her in the midst of this laid-back gathering.

Mei Mei leaned forward, a teasing smile playing on her lips. "Come on, Toji. Live a little. You’re always so serious. Maybe just this once, you could join us."

"Yeah, let loose for once, Zenin," Gojo added, folding his arms as he leaned against the doorframe. "You might actually enjoy it."

Toji clenched his jaw, the weight of their words pressing down on him. He was torn between the temptation to stay and the urgency of the situation that awaited him outside.

Y/n looked up at him, her expression softening. "You can hang out for a bit, right? Just until things settle down?"

Toji's resolve wavered. He wanted nothing more than to enjoy this moment with her, but he could feel the pressures of his life creeping in, threatening to overshadow the blissful time they could share.

With a reluctant sigh, he finally relented. "Alright, just for a little while."

As he settled down on the floor next to Y/n, he felt the tension ease slightly, even if it was only temporary. But deep down, he knew this wasn’t just a fun night with friends; it was a delicate balancing act that could tip at any moment. And he had to be ready for whatever was coming next.

Previous Next

[jenchan-writingmultis]

Twisted Wonderland Boys x Fem Reader in their respective Fairytales (Series)

(Riddle Part two) ─────❅─────

Content Warning: This Fic will be tagged as 16+ since it is a bit suggestive along with mentions of Gorey themes (Azul), it’s very vague. I haven’t finished Book 6 and Book 7 because I’m stuck in Tartarus, but they’re not done here yet. Riddle (Suggestive Themes), Leona (Cussing, Blood mention), Azul (Obsession, Manipulation, Potential Cannibalism? (He eats merpeople who are turned into Polyps). The reason for potential OOC was cause I mixed both the classic Villains with the personality of our beloved boys

Due to the Tumblr Limit, Each one will be divided unfortunately, hopefully it's an easy navigation for all of you!

─────❅─────

First Batch would be: Riddle, Leona, Azul Second Batch would be: Kalim, Idia, Malleus

List of Villains interconnecting with each character:

Riddle = Queen of Hearts

Leona = Scar

Azul = Ursula Riddle Part one

─────❅───── Riddle:

He didn't even notice that his knights kept a close eye on every exchange between you two, although short, there lingers a feeling of longing, especially on your part, the way you looked at their queen definitely wasn’t normal; but Riddle wasn’t normal either, he was too lenient on you. You spilled his favorite tea accidentally, he didn’t get mad, instead, he sighed and had another one made while you apologized profusely to him while patting his shirt with a napkin, the knights were sure they saw their majesty blush!

“I’m telling you man! He’s acting weird!” Ace complained, hugging his pillow while his whole body ached, Riddle went way too harsh on their training, and it got him to run another 20 laps after their usual 10 laps just because he saw him idly chatting with Deuce!

“You’re not wrong, whenever they’re around he seems to be more chill than usual” Deuce said, crossing his arms while he flopped on his bed, his body screamed to slumber but his mind was awake. “Do you think your highness might be…” his thought wandered, snapping out when Ace laughed, “you think he’s smitten?” he finished the sentence, silence filled the room with Deuce’s head working overtime, he placed his hands on the back of his head while he looked at the ceiling, “I think he is”

Unfortunately, during those moments, Riddle was walking around doing rounds on each dorm room, usually this was Cater’s job, but he couldn’t stop his mind from wandering to you; thinking about you is distracting and he despised it. So, he decided to have Cater rest early, while he does the rounds himself. The moment he reached Deuce and Ace’s room, he was going to open the door till he heard the murmurs behind it, opening it up, the two still continued, Deuce stopping first stiffening up while Ace babbled his life away, not noticing that the guy that they were gossiping about was behind him.

“You should’ve seen how he stared at them when they were eating Trey’s pastries! It’s like he wanted to smoochy smooch the life out of them!”  Ace laughed, creating smooching noises, not realizing that Deuce was trying his best to signal Ace to stop”

“Oh?” the moment Riddle spoke; a chill ran through Ace’s spine. “Deuce should have seen how I stared at them when they were eating Trey’s pasties as if I wanted to smoochy smooch them?” he questioned, a vein popping on his head as fire burnt on his hand, lighting up the crooked bedroom.

“Sir- “

During that night, Ace was fortunate that he didn’t die, and only was forced to run another 50 laps and do 100 pushups till morning.

Now the reason why Riddle didn’t have Ace killed was the fact that what he said made sense; he was indeed smitten by you, drawn by a unknown force that attracted him to you, he didn’t know what it is, but it felt as if he knew you and he loved you In another world, maybe in your world he did loved you. That’s just a theory though.

While eating with him, the queen put his tea down, the sweet taste of chamomile tea lingered in his tongue, you were getting used to the comfort of the kingdom, although you still want to go back, you were still around your friends, and your boyfriend, who started treating you much better than before, even if you didn’t make any effort to tear down his walls once again.

“I have a question for you” he glanced at you, your etiquette felt familiar as well, the way you hold your tea, the way you carry yourself, it was similar to how he does it, 

“Ask away” You resumed eating your fill.

“is it possible that you might have known me in your world?”

Freezing up, you accidentally choked on some of your food, causing you to go on a coughing fit, Riddle gave you his napkin as you unconsciously took it, tapping your lips as your coughing subsided.

“Yeah…” you said, glancing down, the tablecloth looked pretty right now. “What’s my relationship with you?” he pushed, causing you to get flustered more, you didn’t answer which got him pissed, standing up he grabbed your chin, forcing you to look at him, it wasn’t a rough touch, but it did get you to finally look at him once again. “I won’t let you go till you answer me” he threatened, it sounded bad, but you only loved the attention he was giving you.

“Why do you ask?” pushing his buttons huh? You certainly were bold trying that on the queen of hearts, however, instead of getting mad he chuckled.

He answered though, pressing his fingers on your cheeks “Being around you has caused me to be distracted,” he noticed you looking away from him again, almost pinching your cheeks, he got your eyes back into his. “I always end up thinking about you, feeling a sense of familiarity, do you think I wouldn’t find a solution on this?”

Seriously, when he’s rough like this, it makes your heart flutter; giving up you grabbed his wrist, pushing it away from your cheeks. “You were my spouse” you confessed, placing your hands on your cheeks, rubbing them to ease up the sudden soreness; realizing that the word “Boyfriend” might not exist in this time.

Riddle’s face went beet red, just like how he is when he is angry but this time, it was all over his face all the way to his arms, he looked adorable like that.

“Spouse?! You’re my spouse?!” he asked rather forcibly, trying to confirm it for the second time as you nodded.

When he calmed down, he sat down on his chair, pushing his hair back while he slumped on his chair “Why didn’t you tell me this in the first place?” you fixed your position on your chair while playing with your fingers. “I don’t think you would have believed me, Your Highness” he raised his hand, effectively cutting you off as he sat up straight as well.

“From now on, you will call me Riddle, or whatever nickname you think of” a privilege that only you have, how lucky you are.

“You accept it?” you asked, surprised how fast he took in the information, you were thinking of a few more resistances and doubts on your part, but Riddle only stared at you, face unreadable. “It explained everything I felt clearly, I am smitten for you”

The way he worded it caused you to snort, making him jolt in surprise, glaring at you as he felt his cheeks heat up again, “Why are you laughing! Am I wrong?” he asked, wanting to shut you up. “I’m sorry, it's just” you continued to stifle a laugh. “It’s funny when you say smitten, like some old man” Honestly, he should have put his unique magic around your neck, but it was useless on a quirkless person like you.

Although he should have minded the fact you just insulted him; seeing you smile like that, he guessed sacrificing his dignity was fine just so he gets to see you smile, it made him lose all the embarrassment and anger towards you.

Leona's Part

[hello-gloomy]

Giant Woman

Rodimus Prime x Female!Human!Reader

(Slight Lost Light crew x reader)

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Description: An exploration mission gone wrong causes you to test out a new weapon to help your captains out of a tight spot. Chaos ensues.

Warnings: Slightly OOC, Crack taken seriously, Mild violence, slight horniness at the end (my bad).

A/N: I haven't read all of Lost Light or MTMTE. I did read Echo Garden and their Wiki pages, so that'll have to be good enough.

Words: 1,046

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Megatron navigated the dimly lit passages, his silver frame holding the weight of the injured Rodimus slung across his shoulder. Suddenly, a crash rumbled through the underground tunnels, shaking the ground beneath their feet. Dust and debris fell from the ceiling above, and they stopped moving to look up at the giant hole above them. A massive hand reached down and grabbed one of the hostiles as it started screaming in fear while the others began shooting at the hand. There was more thumping and noises above them.

"That's not good," Rodimus joked nervously. He hissed in pain when they started walking again. The screaming behind them suddenly stopped, and a flash of air blew past them. While they continued walking, Rodimus glanced behind them and saw the hand reaching toward them.

"Oh shit." Megatron turned while still walking to look at what made his co-captain panic. "Can't we go any faster?!" He tried to limp faster to keep up better with Megatron, who increased his pace. The hand behind them was about to snatch them when Rodimus started screaming. It finally grabbed them and shot back out the way it came and through the hole. They were back at the surface; they heard screaming and shots being fired. The hand holding kept them shrouded and dark; they were shifted and pressed against something slightly soft, covered in armor and fabric, which let off a slight blue glow. Megatron leaned against the wall and heard a beating noise; the wall rose and fell slightly while it moved. Suddenly, they picked up in speed, and they were squeezed a bit tighter. A light showered over them, and they were set near the landed Lost Light; Rodimus dropped to the ground, relieved and tired, while Megatron looked back to see who had saved them. His optics widened in disbelief at the sight in front of him; it was you, mass-displaced and huge compared to them; you practically on par with the Lost Light. Your mask went back into place, and you ran back to the hostiles approaching the ship and kicked them as far as you could, scooping others up and throwing them while blocking laser blasts.

Megatron shook himself from the surprise and limped Rodimus back onto the ship. A confused Swerve and Velocity rounded the corner to ask what was happening. The hangar door closed, and they all turned around to look. You walked in, and your mask snapped off with a hiss and a shake of your hair. You stopped right next to the group, everyone speechless at the sight of you the exact size of them.

"I'll take him to the med bay, Megs." Megatron lets go, and you scoop Rodimus into a princess carry and strut off with him in your arms.

"Holy Primus," Swerve said while watching you fade down the halls.

" I gotta tell Anode!" She sped off down the hallway giddly. Megatron sighed and walked off as well, much too tired to care.

Your wall down to Med Bay is quiet. Rodimus hasn't said a word, staring in awe at you while holding on to your neck, his head resting against your soft chest, listening to your heartbeat. You look down at him and slow your walk a bit. "You so quiet, Roddy." You tease him gently, but he only gives you a nod and a quiet 'Mhmm.' You enter the med bay and plop him down on a berth. Ratchet doesn't turn around to look at the two of you; he finally stops and starts to lecture.

"Can't you bots try to be caref-Oh, my Primus!?" He looked at you and dropped the instrument he was using, shocked to be face-to-face with you. "Hey, Ratchet, did you look at- Holy Shit!" First Aid walked and stopped in surprise at you as well. You're trying not to laugh at this point, finding the whole ordeal hilarious. You snap them out of their trance and ask them to fix their captain's leg. While working, all three of them steal glances at you, checking the stats on your armor. Brainstorm suddenly bursts in the room.

"IT WORKED!" His smile was huge and practically glowing with pride. You started laughing at his excitement and let him poke at the armor for a little bit, taking notes for him while he prattled on in eagerness. It should wear off in a few hours. Let me know if anything feels off at all, " he said after checking everything out. You gave him a nod, and he walked out, muttering about the suit's statistics. You smile and wave your hand, and the medics finish up on Rodimus's leg. They check the rest of him before giving him a clean bill of health; you help him stand up, and he virtually smooshes himself against your body, almost rubbing you like a cat. You laugh a bit before Megatron and Ultra Magnus walk in. Megatron waves his hand in your direction with a pointed look at Magnus.

"Huh," Magnus says quietly, "Hi Megs, Hi Mags!" Megatron walks right back out, and Magnus stands momentarily before speaking. "Just ensure the two of you finish your battle reports on time." He turns and leaves; following Ultra Magnus's and Megatron's steps, you walk back to your and Rodimus's shared Berthroom. The door to the room shuts behind you, and you set your Sparkmate on the berth, taking a seat beside him. He quietly watches you, taking in all your features. He can see much closer now that you are the same size as him. You gently rub his spoiler while he takes you in. He looks up, and his optics meet your eyes, currently blue to match the chemicals running in your suit that helped you change your size. He grabs one of your hands, and his other servo caresses your face affectionately; you lean in and kiss him, closing your eyes and wrapping your arms. You let go, get up to lock the door, and dim the lights, sauntering over to him in the most seductive way possible.

"We got a few hours before this wears off. Want to try something fun?" You whisper to him while pushing him down on the berth, hovering over him.

"Primus, yes."

[riverlikethelake]

A Long Way Home pt.2

Ao'nung x Omatikayan!Fem!Reader 

Summary – You meet Ao'nung at the cluster of rocks, unexpectedly you find yourself wanting to be around him more, but that proves difficult when your family seems to disagree with your growing connection.

Contains: Mentions of death, mature language, complex parental relationships, heavy development on platonic/family relationships, fluff, OOC Neteyam, reader wants to make everyone happy :(

Word count: 4k

I was up absurdly late to finish this, so please forgive any grammar or spelling mistakes :)

Part 1 …. Part 3 Part 4 Part 5

You made sure to stay out of the middle of the cuddle pile, wanting to avoid getting caught sneaking out. It was dark out but the luminescence of coral under you was enough to help you navigate, you kept your head low as a few villagers were still out and about.   

As you approached the rock, you looked around but didn’t see him. He must have a harder time sneaking out at the Olo’eyktan’s son you reasoned. You sat on the edge of the rock and noticed a flower a few feet away, lying where you were sitting earlier. You reached over to grab it, twirling it between your fingers, admiring the layers of petals and the stamen that swirled and glowed.    

You were too focused on the flower to notice the eyes watching you from only so far. He was almost fully submerged save for his eyes up, intending to stay hidden. He watched as you examined the flower, holding it at different angles, lips parted and slowly forming a smile. It was purple with a pink undertone, a much lighter shade spotted across the petals.   

If you were this intrigued by a mere flower like that, he wondered what you’d look like with a bouquet or one from farther into the island, his mind already noting a few he thinks you’d like.   

After a few minutes you laid on your back, holding the flower above your face, still admiring it but now less interested. You lowered the flower to your lips, now in favor of looking at the stars. You started to wonder where he was when you heard a noise that reminded you of Neytiri’s calls, you immediately sat up and started to look around.   

You heard the noise again and a smirk appeared on your face, so he was playing this game huh? You stood up and made your own call as you walked into the water mounting your ilu, you waited for a moment and heard it again with your ears perked, it was fainter, but you could pinpoint the direction it was coming from.    

Quietly your ilu swam in the direction, keeping you above water. It became a rhythm, two short calls from him then one longer call from you. Even with the bioluminescence, you had to completely rely on the sound of his voice to navigate, never being able to see more than a few feet ahead of you.   

 You must have swum through the entire reef, almost to the other side of the island before he had turned around, you arrived back to the rock you started from, except he was standing in the middle this time.    

He walked closer and helped you unmount, he kept hold of your hand and stood closely, looking at you with his signature sly grin.    

“That was amusing but not enough to make it up to me” you said playfully. He only leaned in closer, “Oh is that so?” he humored you.   

You hadn’t realized his hand was behind his back until he moved it, revealing a flower like the one before, except it was a deep blue. “It's beautiful” you murmured; he smiled nodding in agreement.   

You went to take the flower, “It reminded me of you” he whispered, you paused, fingers touching his right at the stem.   

You looked up at him trying to decipher what he meant by that, your fears washed away when you saw the softness in his gaze, completely absorbed in your eyes and face. You held eye contact with each other, the only sound being the movement of waves and each other's breathing.    

You were about to speak when a voice interrupted you, “Y/n?” You jumped to see Neteyam on his Ilu a few feet away, he narrowed his eyes at the two of you. “Where have you been?”   

Panicking, you hid the flower behind you, but you're unsure if you did it in time. “I couldn’t sleep” you offered, he stared at you unconvinced. “Ao’nung found me wandering around and said that this was the spot he goes to” you explained awkwardly. “... the waves crashing against the terraces is relaxing”  

He looked to Ao’nung who nodded stiffly. He took a deep breath. “Come on, if mom and dad wake up, they’ll be worried”    

You nodded and turned to Ao’nung wishing him a goodnight, you stood for a moment and as you turned to leave, he whispered. “I’ll finish making it up to you tomorrow”   

You try to hide your smile as you mount your Ilu and start making your way back to the village.    

“I don’t want you around him anymore” Neteyam said, breaking the silence.   

“That’s going to be hard considering he’s teaching us how to live here”    

“I'm serious Y/n... I don’t want to have to babysit you.” He warned   

You rolled your eyes. “That seems unnecessary, I thought we were twins?”   

“I’m still older than you” He moved forward and pulled in front of you stopping, “I’m just worried about you Y/n.” he explained earnestly.   

Of course he was. Being protective was always in his nature, and with everything that’s happened with Kiri and Lo’ak it’s no surprise it's come to a head.   

After a moment, you nodded and moved forward so you were side by side again. He smiled and placed his hand on your arm, nudging you in a comforting manner.  He led you back into the Marui quietly so as not wake mom or dad, as you both carefully laid back down with the family, he placed himself so that you were on the inside.   

You internally rolled your eyes, but when Tuk rolled over, throwing her arm over your ribcage you turned on your side to cuddle her, Neteyam placing his hand on your shoulder and forehead between your shoulder blades. Even though you were still upset at Neteyam for ruining your moment with Ao’nung, you couldn’t help but smile as you drifted to sleep.  

-  

Despite agreeing to stay away from Ao’nung, Neteyam still practically stuck to your side the entire day, always finding a reason to drag you away when Ao’nung lingered near you for too long, you always shot him an apologetic look as you moved away.  

You had expected this type of behavior from Lo’ak, but you thought Neteyam would atleast try to be more lenient about it. Though, the more you thought about it, it made sense, Lo’ak had always protected you more on a physical level, while Neteyam did so in an emotional and mental way.   

It pained you to have to basically ignore Ao’nung, but you hadn’t even known him all that long, and if ignoring him for a little while brought your brother’s worries to a rest, you reasoned it wouldn’t be that bad.  

You spent most of your day tending to your siblings.  

You teased Lo’ak after he lost control of his Ilu while passing by Tsireya, who was dancing on the walkways with a bunch of younger children. You raced each other around the reef, seeing who could do the more impressive moves.  

You snuck up behind Tuk, picked her up and mimicked body slamming her into the water, throwing her into a fit of giggles before she started splashing and throwing wet sand at you. You’d bring her onto the docks, carrying her in your arms, then throw her into the water.  

You spent most of your day like that, riding around with Tuk, diving deep into the reef to watch Kiri do her in-sync thing she always does with the nature around her.  

That’s how you ended up in a cavern with her, as she told you about how she felt different, how she could hear Eywa’s heartbeat. Her connection to the great mother had always been strong, and while you couldn’t understand, you could listen, and you knew what it was like to feel different.  

She leaned her head on your shoulder as you talked about different things, missing the forest and spider, life here at the cove, your siblings, she even teased you about Ao’nung when you brought up Lo’ak and Tsireya. You denied that anything was going on, but it was hard to fool Kiri.  

You don’t know how the conversation started but you told her a bit about how you never really felt like a sully, that Jake and Neytiri didn’t see you as their child, sometimes you felt like you were just someone tagging along.  

“Mom loves you a lot, even if you don’t see it.” Kiri began, “When they decided to leave and you went for a fly, she was so worried about whether you’d come or not” now it was your turn to be resting your head on her shoulder.  

“After telling grandma about the plan, she waited by the opening until she saw you coming back” She continued. “And dad was a mess whenever you were sick” She chuckled. “Always asking for updates on you, asking grandma and I if there were any remedies we could think of.”  

You two talked for a while longer, you hadn’t really had a moment with her since you arrived at the cove, so it was nice. After a while you started yawning and she insisted you go back, you hadn’t realized how dark it was until you resurfaced.  

Soon after, Ao’nung and Lo’ak approached you both. “Where were you two?” Lo’ak demanded.  

“We couldn’t find you and started to worry.” Ao’nung added.  

“We’re ok, we were just talking and lost track of time” Kiri pacified Lo’ak, but Ao’nung moved closer.  

“Where were you two?” he questioned, you pointed out the cavern under water and he frowned.   

“What's wrong?”  

He rubbed the back of his neck, “I was going to take you there ...” he said mumbling the last part, you couldn’t understand but didn’t have the chance to ask him to repeat himself.  

“Y/n! Kiri!” Tsireya called out, swimming towards you. “Where were you? Neteyam has been worried sick”   

You assured her everything was fine, and you all headed back to the beach, meeting up with Neteyam on the way who was relieved that you both were fine. 

“Y/n you act stupid in the forest as is, you shouldn't be acting stupid here.” You heard Kiri laugh and you glared at her before sticking your tounge out to Neteyam. 

- 

The next few days were more or less the same, swimming lessons and spending time with your siblings, but it became increasingly obvious that Ao’nung was starting to realize that it wasn’t just a coincidence that one of your brothers was always by your side or close by, preventing him from having a moment to talk to you.  

Thankfully he didn’t press it, but he was always stealing glances at you and leaving flowers in places he knew you’d find them. You wanted to talk to him so badly, but you had to bide your time, Jake’s pressure on Neteyam hadn’t let up much and until it did you weren’t about to stress him even more.  

Turns out patience was the key. Neteyam was caught up in arguing with Lo’ak about something, you weren’t trying to sneak away, you just didn’t want to listen to their fighting anymore and there was a particular part of the reef that was especially calming.   

You found yourself swimming close to the surface, gliding through the water and simply enjoying being there. You were watching everything this time, the view from above just as enchanting as up close.  

Out of the corner of your eye you saw Ao’nung swimming close to the floor, he turned to face once he was directly in your line of sight. He smiled at you; you could make that out even from so far. You dove down closer, he didn’t move until you were several feet away, swimming forward and up. You were now at the same level but a good distance still between you.  

You don’t know why you were able to follow him so in sync, but you started swimming around each other, your movements in the water much more graceful than before. It felt like a dance, a connection you didn’t realize you missed, only taking your eyes off each other for only a few seconds each time.   

He watched as you twirled, hair wrapping around you, arms moving in a way that seamlessly carried you through the water. Slowly you inched closer, he resisted reaching out to you when you were in range, letting the nature of the dance bring you together.   

Butterflies fluttered in your stomach as you were now face to face with him, unconsciously you raised your hand, he followed and intertwined your fingers. A soft smile on his lips, he pulled you upwards to the surface.  

“Forest girl has been ignoring me huh?” He teased.  

You scrunched your nose, “No, you’ve seen how Neteyam has been trailing me” you defended. “This is the once chance I've been able to have with you” you lowered yourself so only your eyes up were above the water.  

He chuckled and pulled you up with the hand he was still holding. “Is there a reason forest boy has been so protective?”  

Sheepishly, you nodded. “He got onto me after he found us that night...” you averted your eyes. “He’s worried and doesn’t want me to be around you.”  

He frowned. “Why? Does he think I'll hurt you?”  

“Well, you haven’t exactly done anything to make him not think that...” you said, cocking your head forward.  

His gaze softened. “Is there anything I can do to make it right?”   

You saw out of the corner of your eye your siblings and Tsireya approaching. “This will pass over, for now just ...respect his wishes” you didn’t like saying it but there wasn’t much of a choice.  

He got closer “And what if I don’t want to?” His voice was at a whisper, but it was firm, sending a shiver down your spine.  

You stared for a moment, you glanced back to the group before him again, a smirk forming on your lips. “Then I guess we’ll have to get them off our backs” You called for your ilu, nodding for him to do the same. “Rocks. Tonight.”  

You mounted and glared at him, he furrowed his brows, “Why are you so insistent on being an ass?” you yelled loud enough for them to hear.  

You watched as he caught on. “Yeah well, you’re a piece of work yourself forest girl”  

You turned your back on him and started for the group. “Yeah yeah I'm the problem here.” You could see the confused expressions on your siblings' faces, Tsireya looking especially concerned as you got closer to them.  

“You think you’re so smart, but you're just a forest girl thrashing around in the water” He didn’t play mad, he had to be a jerk.  

“Skxawng!” you bit back  

“I think I was wrong before, I guess there is a freak in the family.” He spits  

“Muntxa hu pa'li nang!” You pretend to be offended, seething through your teeth. By now you were right in front of the group, they all had different expressions, Kiri and Lo’ak were in disbelief and Neteyam looked as if he was about to rip Ao’nung’s head off. “No wonder Tsireya was chosen to lead the clan instead of you!”  

He hissed at you, you hissed back harsher and promptly swam away, him going in the opposite direction. You had to dive underwater to keep yourself from laughing.  

-  

Ao’nung didn’t quite know what to do next, so he just hung out with Rotxo until his sister came storming up to him.  

“Ao’nung you Skxawng!” She flicked his forehead. “Why would you do that?”  

He rubbed the patch she flicked and ignored her question. “I’m surprised the brothers didn’t come after me.”  

“They almost did, it took forever for Kiri and I to convince them that being by Y/n’s side would be more comforting that beating you up.” she explained exasperated.  

He couldn’t tell her the truth, it would make their entire charade pointless, so he just shrugged.  

“What do you think you are doing brother? I thought you liked her but here you are insulting her!” She continued to ream him, he would have walked away by now, but he figured it wouldn’t be worth the risk of running into one of your brothers, or even your father if he has caught word...   

So, he stood there, getting berated by his sister. He knew she meant well, and it warmed his heart to know she cared so much about you.  

On the other side of the village, you sat in the Marui pretending to sulk as Neteyam and Lo’ak tried to comfort you, how Kiri and Tsireya talked them into this you don’t know. Their attempts were endearing, but it was hard to stay in character and not laugh.   

Neteyam and Lo’ak weren’t good at consoling in general, but it was still nice to have their comforting and loving words.   

You didn’t say much, just that it was you who caused the fight (technically not a lie) and you didn’t want to talk to him for a while. It took you a minute, but you convinced your siblings to not hold a grudge against him, that this was between you two and you also said a lot of shitty things.  

You also convinced them to not tell Jake and Neytiri, you didn’t need another pair of eyes on you and Ao-nung, especially not with how strict they were.  

It was now pretty late, Neteyam had gone to sleep a while ago which gave you the opportunity to continue his necklace, mostly everyone was settled down except for Jake. Ideally you wanted everyone to be asleep, but you didn’t want to keep Ao’nung waiting long, so you placed the necklace down, muttering something about not going to be able to sleep and left.  

As you got in the water it dawned on you that you hadn’t exactly given Ao’nung any real directions, you bit your lip, mentally chastising yourself, which led to you wondering if he would even come, if maybe you went too far with your comments earlier... you had to stop overthinking.  

Taking a deep breath, you continued on to the intended meeting place, a breath of relief coming out when you saw him sitting on the edge. Like he could sense your arrival, he turned his head to look at you, standing up to meet you in the middle.  

“Took you long enough” he said, taking your hand and leading you back over to where he was sitting.   

“I’m sorry, my dad was awake, and I was trying to wait for him to go to sleep” You whined, he chuckled at your pouting.  

“It’s ok, just actually give me a time next time” he teased, you could feel your cheeks burn. Changing the subject, you asked if there was another cave, he was willing to show you since Kiri stole his thunder.  

He chuckled but shook his head. “Tell me about the forest.” That caught you off guard. “I want to know more about you” he took your hand, your fingertips resting in his palm as he observed them. “You’ve been here for weeks, and all we’ve done is swim around the reef and argue, tell me about you.” He looked up, locking eyes with you.  

Butterflies in your stomach was an understatement.   

“The forest was...” You thought, looking out at the reef trying to grasp the right words. “Mighty and serene” a smile grew on your lips. “Everything was one, one pulsing life you could feel beneath your feet. We slept in hammocks high above ground, running across branches larger than the roots your homes are built into.” You nudge him with your elbow, he only rolled his eyes.  

“When I tamed my ikran, we fell from the cliff before I could make the connection, and all I remember thinking is how beautiful the world below me was.” You recalled the memory fondly, but Ao’nung had a deeply troubled look on his face, causing you to burst out laughing.  

“You almost die and all you do is enjoy the view??” he asked in disbelief. “You really are your brothers’ sister...”  

“How could I not? I mean of course I was panicking but I got it under control” you defended with a grin “Of course Norm and Max absolutely threw a fit when they found out” you snickered. 

Ao’nung frowned a bit, and you realized that aside from stories (and technically Jake) the Meykayina didn’t know much about humans, and the scientists didn’t have Na’vi passing names. “They’re the humans who helped raise me” You explained, but internally faced palmed because that wouldn’t make it any better, humans are demons to Na’vi. 

He only looked more confused, “Why? Were your parents too busy with three other kids?” he smirked. 

You chuckled before you found yourself growing anxious, it wasn’t kept a secret that you weren’t a sully, but you also weren’t keen on announcing it. 

“I actually never met my parents” you say casually, not wanting to ruin the mood, but you saw Ao’nung’s face fall. “They were close to the scientists, and yeah Jake and Neytiri did have a lot on their plate,” You joked. “They were gone by the time I was a few months old, so Norm and Max took me in.”  

It wasn’t hard to talk about, it was sad, but you didn’t know your parents at all. Unlike Kiri, you had no way to remember your mother, you didn’t even really know about her until a few years ago when Jake mentioned her difficult pregnancy being the cause of your human body being frail. 

“So, why’d you come with the Sullys?” he asked, you thought for a moment, you couldn’t tell him about you being human before, so you decided to change the story a bit. 

“I got into an accident and almost died when I was young, it freaked them out and they got worried that they were putting me at a disadvantage, Jake and Neytiri agreed to raise me from then on since I was older.” You sat back staring into the night sky. “Plus, I was always inseparable from them, coming was a decision they left up to me.” 

He wrapped his hand around the one he was holding, “I’m glad you decided to come” he smiled. 

You grinned, a blush rising on your cheeks. “Yeah, I bet you are.” 

That earned you a rough shove into the water. 

- 

You tried not to stay out too long but when you saw Jake standing outside the Marui when you returned, you cringed hard. You avoided eye contact as you got back on the walkway, before you could say anything he placed a hand on your shoulder and gestured for you to sit on the edge with him. 

“I heard about what happened today” he said, you held your breath. Tuk... “And I know it must be hard, but I think it’s for the best.” 

You pursed your lips, not sure how to respond. 

“Right now, we need to stick together as a family” You resisted the urge to ask if that included spider.... “Sullys stick together, I need you to show them that.” You knew what he was trying to say, if you didn’t know better you would have thought Neteyam told him. 

Jake meant well; you knew that. He had always been just as protective as your brothers. You nodded and he pulled you in for a hug, you felt guilty about not telling your family the truth, but it was the only way to take their worry off you without sacrificing your friendship with Ao’nung. You let yourself relax in his arms; he smiled as he picked you up to bring you to bed like you were a child again. 

You were the last to wake up in the morning, your family wanting to give you some extra peace and time for yourself. You took your time getting up, thinking about last night, everything about it. 

It made you feel sluggish, swearing to stop staying out so late as it seemed to cause all the stressful conversations. 

As you were about to walk out of the Marui, you saw a flower lying right in the entrance. A shy grin spread across your face, heat rushing to your cheeks. 

Maybe staying out late was worth it... 

[taifenggg]

Helloooo, I have a request (you can ignore it if you want!), how about a scenario like the one in the song "Why'd you only call me when you're high?" from Arctic Monkeys? I was listening to it and it came to my mind 🤭🤭(Obey Me! characters ; little smut please ♡)

Content Warning(s): NSFW, swearing lol, mentions of being drunk,, slightly ooc characters? :/

Character(s): GN!Reader(no pronouns mentioned)

Authors Notes: hi there, idk if i did this request justice but i tried my best! you didnt specify which characters youd like so i took the liberty of choosing them, hope thats alright ^^

nsfw under the cut! minors dni or i will block you :)

Reminder to abide by my guidelines for NSFW content tysm :]

Guidelines for NSFW Content [ ◇ ]

drabble under the cut!

It's fairly obvious how much he loves you.

He's completely and utterly infatuated with you. Even now, as he collapses onto his bed, not completely drunk but slightly tipsy and buzzed. Thoughts of you occupy his mind. You are all he thinks about, even in his hazy stupor.

Even as he's leaning against pillows stacked neatly on his bed, desperately fisting his cock into his hand, wishing it was your hand instead of his. His moans come out breathy, his chest rising and falling as he pants out your name. His bangs cling to his face, and despite everything he does he struggles to keep his noises down. There's no doubt in his mind that at any second, someone could burst through the door and see just what he was up to, but somehow he couldn't bring himself to care.

"Fuck MC-" he whines keeling over slightly as he edges himself, on the brink of his release, but purposefully slowing down. He can see your face, your smile, the way your lips quirk up into a smirk. His mind wanders and he envisions you, between his legs, smiling up at him oh so innocently as you jack him off. He shudders at the thought, feeling heat rush to his face.

More I get through the gears Incapable of makin' alright decisions And havin' bad ideas

He shouldn't be thinking about you like this, and he would be lying to himself if he claimed he didn't feel guilty over getting off to the fantasy of you helping him out. But he's in too deep. You're like quicksand, the more he struggles, the more you draw him in.

"Shit-!" he gasps out, his body shuddering as he releases messily all over his stomach. His hands still as he catches his breath, the post-nut clarity starting to catch up to him, seemingly sobering him up. He groans softly as he presses his hands to his face, his cheeks seemingly burning even more.

After some debating with himself, he picks up his phone, swiping to your contact, shooting you a quick text.

'MC, I know it's late but I really need to see you right now. It's urgent.'

He tosses his phone over to the side, groaning softly as he leans back more against his bed, waiting for your response. Thankfully, he doesn't have to wait too long. A notification from his phone startles him as he scrambles to clean himself up as best as he can before reaching over and unlocking his phone, seeing a new text message from you.

'I heard you went drinking and got kind of wasted, you should probably rest.'

He grimaces slightly before responding back to you.

'Please.'

He watches as your three dots jump up and down for a bit, and he imagines you formulating your response. And sure enough, you respond.

You said you gotta be up in the morning Gonna have an early night .... Why'd you only ever phone me when you're high?

Another pause.

'Fine, I'm coming over now.'

After all, who were you to deny your favorite boy, especially when he's especially needy for you?

MAMMON, Leviathan, ASMODEUS, Beelzebub, Simeon, Solomon

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[thefaithfulnightwriter]

Dracontine - Chapter Three

[^ the gif above i found on Pinterest so rights go to rightful owner ^]

❝ She is very rare. She is what you call a Dracontine. Meaning she belongs to a dragon. But in her case, she does not belong to one but three. ❞

Summary - In which a young female hides who she truly is from everyone and stays to herself. Keeping to her chores as a servant. Staying hidden was her main task while taking care of her three dragon eggs that were bound to her. But many things change when she has to stay Under the Mountain with many others. What she didn't expect was that she would meet her mate. Who happened to be the powerful High Lord of Night Court. Then soon later on she would find she has another powerful mate. The Spymaster of Night Court who was a Shadowsinger. She soon finds herself having to break out of her shell with the help of her mates and their family. Along with finding out how to navigate two bonds with two powerful mates. Also, while taking the title as Dracontine. Being she is the one who belongs to not one but three dragons. All while trying to survive a war.

Pairing - Rhysand x Female!Oc/Mc/Reader x Azriel

Universe - pre acotar - acowar [it may go into an au after acowar not sure yet though]

Series Warnings - DRAGONS (yes that is a warning lol), Gore, Death, Characters may be a bit OOC, Mature Themes, Semi Smut, Violence, Language, Mention of Past Abuse, War, Things Will Be Changed, Fluff, Angst, Some Sensitive Subjects, Mating Bonds, Poly. Relationship MxFxM (Side Note - Rhysand & Azriel are in a relationship or are mates to my Mc they will not be together), More Will Be Added If Needed. (Please do not read if these are triggers)

Disclaimer - I do not own the series ACOTAR - ACOWAR. I do own certain characters, and I own my mc. I do own somethings that are made up. And i own my writing and whatnot you get where im going and what i am saying lol.

Authors note - hi hi i hope you all are doing well and i hope you enjoying this fic as much as i enjoy writing it. oh and I just wanted to let you know that there are two more spots left for the taglists. other than that i hope to hear what you think so far of Dracontine lol bybbyyee.

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As Rhysand winnowed them both to wherever. Anna felt the familiar darkness engulf them. Leading Anna to close her eyes. When the feeling of winnowing diminished, she opened her eyes. Which revealed a huge living area. Looking around she was met with a vast room. It seemed to be ten times bigger than her small room in the servant quarters. What caught her attention though were the colors. The room was filled with little colors of the Night Court here and there. Anna figured that it must be his living area where he stayed Under the Mountain.

But her attention was soon taken away from the large room. The clicking noise and clicking sounds a little distance away. A sound of glass clicking together. Turning she was met with Rhysand walking over to stand next to two female fae servants that were walking into the room. They were twins. They were carrying trays of what seemed to be tea. Anna was quick to walk to them seeing if they needed help. Remembering them to be Nuala and Cerridwen servants of the Night Court. Having seen them in passing mainly. But the three would always say soft hellos to each other and send small smiles to one another. When seeing each other around.

The twins were quick to decline her offer to help and sent her warm smiles. As they set up a place in the living area for Rhysand and Anna to sit and speak. Both were curious about the servant that their High Lord was so interested in. Over time both have been keeping an eye on Anna from afar. Reporting back to Rhysand like he had asked of them and would inform him about Anna. Not telling anyone other than Rhysand what they had found out about her.

Both having found out and knew how Anna was having a hard time with rumors and what not. They knew she was hiding something but didn't know what. They don't know if it was bad or good. But they had a feeling it wasn't bad. They had told their High Lord their feelings. Which Rhysand took into consideration.

The two thought Anna was interesting. They wanted and would have befriended Anna. But they decided not. Not yet anyways. They didn't want Anna to think they were just befriending her because of their High Lord. They wanted it to come naturally and wanted their friendship to be genuine. So they were waiting for the right time to befriend her. Which they hoped it would be soon. Seeing that their High Lord was now about to speak to her. They were soon done setting up everything.

"Thank you Nuala and Cerridwen. That is all for the night. You may go to your quarters and rest," Rhysand dismissed them with a small tired smile. The two bowed their heads to him then sent both him and Anna a smile before leaving. As they left Rhysand walked to the long couch and sat down sinking into the soft cushions with a heavy sigh. As he placed Anna's bag down beside him gently on the ground.

While he did so Anna watched with worry and curiosity. She was curious about the High Lord of Night Court. Having heard many things about him from the servants that gossip. She didn't want to believe it though. He didn't seem like the man from the rumors. She knew of some of the things he had done. But looking at him now. Really looking at him now. Seeing that he seemed to let down a mask. He just seemed to be... tired, sad, and lonely. But there were many more emotions upon his face that Anna couldn't read. As she looked at him now through her lashes. But she shook those thoughts away.

Because she was still waiting. Waiting for the words to come out of his mouth. Waiting for the rejection. Yes, she didn't believe the rumors about him. But she still was convinced he didn't want her. She thought, what High Lord would want a servant for a mate. As Anna thought this Rhysand looked at her and she was quick to look down at her feet again. Looking at her led to Rhysand sighing again seeing her in such a state.

"Annamarie, will you come sit with me please," Rhysand asked her softly. Anna was shocked to hear such gentleness from him. But with hesitance Anna shuffled on her feet and soon made her way to sit next to him. Keeping a distance from him. She still couldn't bring herself to look at him. Because she knew the rejection was coming soon. So she sat there waiting once again. As she kept her head down fiddled with the fabric of her dress.

As she was looking down Rhysand was sitting there with his gaze upon her. His gaze was intense as he took her in. He thought she was the most beautiful fae he has ever seen. He couldn't take his eyes off her. The way her light brown skin glowed under the soft light. He could see a few small freckles that littered the skin upon her face. He wanted to trace and connect them like constellations.

He was then taking in the way her dark chocolate curly hair cascaded down her back falling to her lower waist. He wanted to run his fingers through her long hair and twirl a curl around his finger. But as he took in her hair he stopped at her ear that was revealed peeking through her hair. It was pointed but rather long. Longer than your average fae. Reaching out his hand he slowly went to push her hair away. He wanted to see her fully. But he stopped seeing her flinch away from his touch. But he soon sighed hearing what she said next.

"Please g - get it over w - with. and let me have m - my bag back. P - please I - I won't tell anyone," Anna stumbled over her words. Still not looking at him as more tears began to fall again down her chubby cheeks. Anna was quick to wipe them away roughly with her sleeves. Causing her cheeks to become red. Which caused Rhysand to grab her wrist. He didn't want her to hurt herself.

"Darling, what do you mean 'get it over with'?" Rhysand asked with a tilt of his head. As he looked into her dark eyes. He was wondering what she meant by 'get it over with'. He was also wondering why this bag was so important to her. But that thought washed away when he heard a soft painful sigh escape her lips. He watched as she let her head fall in defeat.

Then it came to him which led him to let out a hard breath. She thought he was going to reject her. Reject their bond. Which he wouldn't dream of. He has waited so long for her, for his mate. It broke his heart that she thought he was going to reject her. After biting his lower lip, he sighed again.

Before slowly shuffling closer to her on the sofa. Diminishing the space between them little by little. He could hear her heartbeat fast as he did. Which led to a small smile to grow upon his lips. As he gently took her chin between his fingers and made her look up at him. As soon as their eyes met he spoke firmly but gently.

"I'm not going to reject you Annamarie. You're my mate. The one the Mother tethered me to. I'm not letting you go. I'm never letting you go. Not after I've waited more than a half of a millennium for you. My darling Anna. My Mate," Rhysand reassured her, resting his forehead against hers as he spoke.

Hearing his words caused Anna to breathe a sigh of relief. Listening to him and what he had to say caused a sense of ease to wash over her. Seeing her calm led Rhysand to smile. But he wanted nothing more but to wrap his arms around her. Making up his mind he hesitantly began to wrap his arm around the curve of her waist. Pulling her closer to him. Hoping she wouldn't pull away from him.

Anna was tense at first but soon felt herself relax in her mates arms. She soon allowed herself to fall deeper into his strong arms. Resting her head against his chest listening to his heartbeat that was slightly quick. Hearing it caused her to close her eyes with a smile as she listened. Rhysand had a smile upon his lips.

Until dark thoughts started to tumble into his mind. Did she even want him as a mate? Did she want him after all he's done? Will she walk away when he told her of all he's been through these years? What would she do if he told her about Amarantha's cruel treatment towards him? What was he going to do if his mate truly didn't want him?

Maybe there would be a time where she just didn't want him because of everything he's done. That this was just a one time thing and after she left she wouldn't want anything to do with him.

Thinking this caused Rhysand's breathing to become heavier. Which led Anna to lean back in his hold and look up at him. She had a curious look upon her face as she asked him if he was okay. But he didn't respond, he just looked away from her with a shake of his head. He was trying not to let the tears fall. As his mind was flooded with his own dark thoughts. Anna wanted so badly to reach out to him. But she didn't want to overwhelm him. So she waited patiently. It was moments later when Rhysand whispered with such sadness.

"Do you even want me as your mate Anna? I understand if you don't. I mean I've done terrible things while here. You probably think I'm a monster. Just - ," Rhysand asked her before he began to ramble. Then he started to come to the sense that she wouldn't want him.

He was so stuck in his dark thoughts that he started to pull away from her as he spoke. But he was stopped when Anna grabbed his hand. Causing him to flinch. Anna saw this and sighed sadly. She didn't expect him to have such thoughts. And she didn't like it. She wanted to reassure him. But she didn't know what to do to comfort him.

So she looked around trying to think of what to do. Until a thought came to her mind. Still keeping a hold of his hand she shuffled back and laid down. Pulling him with her to lay on top of her. Rhysand was hesitant but did so. He was tense at first much like her. But he soon felt himself go slack into her arms. As he laid his head on her chest. He soon felt her caress his ebony hair gently between her delicate fingers. She then whispered to him. As she wrapped her arms around him pull him closer to her.

"As you said to me I'll never let you go. As long as you'll have me I'll always be here for you Rhysand," Anna promised him. As she kissed the top of his head. Hearing Rhysand mumble 'I'll always want you'. This caused Anna to giggle as she ran her fingers through his hair softly and over his back. She could now see him. She could see him, not the High Lord of Night Court. But she could see Rhysand. She smiled realizing this and was happy that he was being himself with her. Not having what seemed like a mask over him with her. Like she knew many of the other High Lords had adopted while being Under the Mountain.

The two mates had smiles on their lips as they laid in each other's arms. Laying there both allowed a peaceful silence to wash over them. As they enjoyed each other's presence. Both stuck in thought. While in each others embrace. Anna thought about what she was going to do now with a mate by her side. She then thought how was she going to tell him about her being the next Dracontine. Rhysand was thinking of what he was going to do to keep his mate safe while Under the Mountain.

But then another thought soon came to Rhysand again. He looked down to the ground, finding that Anna's bag was still there. He was wondering why it was so important to her. He didn't want to pry. But he wanted to ask her about it. If he was going to keep it in his room. For safekeeping, and so there was no redo of what happened tonight. He wanted to know why it was so important to her.

So with curiosity he sat up as he had his gaze upon the bag. Anna sat up as well but leaned her back against the arm of the sofa. Looking at him with wonder. Wondering what he was doing. Until he reached down a hand and went to grab the brown clothed bag that seemed to be spelled.

Anna sighed and bit her lower lips nervously seeing what he was reaching for. Her eyes stayed on his hand and her bag that held her three dragon eggs. Rhysand saw this and was more curious than ever.

Anna wanted so desperately to take the bag away from him. But she wanted to try and trust him. He was her mate after all. Anna knew she would have to explain everything to him. With her being the next Dracontine. He needed to know what she was. He was her mate. He had the right to know. Being it could be dangerous for him. She also didn't want to start their relationship as mates off with lies and distrust. She was still hesitant to tell him though. Her attention was taken from the bag and his hand when Rhysand spoke.

"Anna darling, what is in this bag exactly?" Rhysand questioned her. As he looked at the bag then at her. Putting the bag on his lap. Hearing his question caused Anna to sigh again. Looking away from him, placing her eyes on the wall behind him. Before dropping her gaze on the bag.

She wanted to tell him. But didn't know where to start nor how to tell him.That was when a thought came to her mind... her mark. Her hand soon reached up to her chest thinking of her mark that was covered by her high collared dress.

The burnt skin on her chest. The burn mark of a dragon flying took up her chest. That was her dragon mark she obtained when finding her dragon eggs and touching them. Then she thought of her ears that she hid with her ears. Then her small fangs that no one seemed to notice because she barely smiled widely showing her teeth.

All the physical signs signifying she was the next Dracontine. So she thought why not show him all these things first. Then see his reaction. Then go on from there. She thought that was the easiest way to do it. At that moment she wondered what he thought of dragons. Which led her lips to rise in a small smile as she looked up.

Looking up at him and into his violet eyes they looked to be sparkling with stars under the light. She was debating if she really wanted to show him. When she saw his reassuring smile she knew she would share her secret with him. With her mate.

Seeing her gaze upon him Rhysand sent her a reassuring smile and watched her. He could tell that she was having trouble telling him. So he sat back and crossed his arms and waited patiently with a small smile.

That is until he saw her reach up and place a hand on her chest with a sigh and a thoughtful look. He watched as she looked at him then reached up and started to unbutton the top of her dress. This caused him to tilt his head with wonder. Curious about what she was doing. Anna then stopped once the top of her dress was unbutton and held the dress in place.

Hiding the mark as she looked at him once again. All she saw was wonder and reassurance in his eyes. Which led her to nod before letting go and allowing the front of her dress to fall. Then she pushed the dress away and revealed her dragon mark.

Rhysand was clueless as to what she was doing. That is until he saw it... the burn mark on her chest. He was suddenly filled with anger. Thinking someone had hurt his mate. That is until he saw the full mark and what the image was. He then watched as she pulled her dark curly hair back revealing her longer pointed ears. Then finally he watched as she smiled widely. She then pointed to her teeth revealing her small fangs.

This led Rhysand to put all the pieces of the puzzle that was Anna together. His eyes grew large and his mouth dropped as he gasped loudly. As he looked at Anna with fascination and awe.

"You're a descendant of Cade. You're a Dracontine aren't you?" He questioned, as he reached out his large hand to her mark. He was going to touch it but stopped his hand mid air. Not wanting to over step.

But Anna smiled and reached for his hand. Placing it gently on her chest, on her dragon mark. Her heart seemed to beat a little faster. As a shiver ran down her spine feeling his hand on her mark. It was as if the fire within her was burning bright for the first time in a while. It was more intense now that she had her mate touch her mark... touching her.

Rhysand smiled as he heard and felt her heart quicken. But also because he could feel the heat seeming to come off the mark, off of her. He listened when she spoke but still looked at the mark with awe. As he rubbed his thumb over the mark. Enjoying the warmth radiating off his mate.

"It seems many may know about my great grandfather Cade. I'm not surprised. He is great," Anna sighed with a faint smile. Looking down at Rhysand's hand that she held close to her chest. As she thought about her grandfather Cade and Crimson. It has been a few weeks since she's seen them in her dreams. Which worried her a little. Being that he had been the only constant family figure in her life now. Even though he was dead and she only saw him in her dreams. He was still there for her. It made her miss her family even more. Rhysand could see her mood dim. Which he was quick to reach and take a hold of her hands. He was going to console her when he realized something.

"You speak as if you know him. As if he's alive. I thought he had died a long time ago," Rhysand said with curiosity. This caused Anna to look up at him. Realizing what she said.

"He did die a very long time ago. Long before you and I were even born I'm guessing. But I do know him. The Mother allows him to come to me in my dreams. He and Crimson have been in my dreams throughout my life," Anna explained with a smile. This led Rhysand to look at her in shock and fascination that the Mother would allow such a thing. That is until he wondered who Crimson was. Then it hit him. He realized who it was.

"Crimson was his dragon right?"

"Yes she is. How do you know about him? I understand my Lady knowing of him seeing that she has a fascination with dragons. And being she knows the history of Autumn Court. But you, I'm surprised. How do you know of him?" Anna asked him with her nose scrunched up with wonder. Which led Rhysand to chuckle thinking she was adorable. Before he answered her.

"I know of him from my father. I needed to know the history of Night Court. He also wanted me to know about Cade being a Dracontine. He wanted me to know of him, so if there were more. Cade had explained a few things to my father about being a Dracontine. Which he told me. Cade was also willing to make an alliance with my father. If my father allowed him, his dragon, and family take refuge in Night Court. I heard before he could reach Night Court there was an attack and he didn't make it along with his dragon. His dragon having died when Cade had taken his last breath. And also I may or may not have a fascination with dragons too," Rhysand informed as his cheeks began to warm. Hearing his last comment caused Anna to giggle. Before she noticed her bag start to slip from his lap. She was quick to catch it though.

"Hm well you may want to be careful with my bag. It was a gift from my Lady when she found out about my dragon eggs. The bag is spelled so that only I can open it. It holds my three dragon eggs right now," Anna was quick to tell. This caused Rhysand to look at the bag in awe. He then carefully handed it to Anna. This caused Anna to giggle again.

"Wait, the Lady of Autumn Court knows about you being a Dracontine, and hasn't told anyone?" Rhysand asked, sitting up straight worried about his mate's safety. Anna smiled at his protectiveness. Before waving him off with a giggle.

"We made a bargain with each other. I'll never talk about certain things she has told me, and she'll never tell anyone about me being a Dracontine. I shouldn't be telling anyone this. I have to stay hidden for as long as I can. The only reason my Lady knows is because she was there when I disappeared to find my dragon eggs and I found myself back with her after I found them. That night she gave me this bag and spelled it so only I can open it, no one else. We then made our bargain that night. But I'm telling you this because you're my mate. Since both of us aren't rejecting the bond, I don't want to start off with lies or keeping things from each other, " Anna informed him. This caused Rhysand to sigh in relief. Anna giggled again while she hugged her bag to her chest. Hearing what she said though caused Rhysand to look at her with a smile as he nodded his head agreeing with her.

After that the two were soon spending the rest of the night together. Talking and getting to know one another. Laughing and telling each other stories of their families. At one point Rhysand told Anna about Velaris. He figures that she told him her biggest secret that he would tell her his. She was also his mate so he wouldn't keep that from her. Which amazed Anna when Rhysand showed her Velaris in her mind what it was like. While Anna told him more about dragons. Things he never knew. Both listened to each other very closely and stored the information in their mind.

When the sun started to rise the next day Rhysand had made her a promise. He would keep Anna's three dragon eggs that were still in the bag safe. Also he wouldn't tell anyone about her being a Dracontine. While Anna promised to not tell anyone about Velaris. Which led Anna and him having matching inked marks appear on the inside of their wrist of a dragon and stars. Which led Anna to smile and hug him.

But as time dwindled down, they had to leave their safe haven. Their moods seemed to dim. Because they knew once they leave their haven they would have to go back to their harsh reality. Back to the reality that they were still stuck in a horrible place. They were stuck Under the Mountain. They didn't know if they were lucky to have found each other now. But all they knew was they now had each other. Realizing this caused Anna to keep her arms around his waist. Not wanting to let him go. While Rhysand kept his arms around her shoulders. Keeping her close to him. The two didn't want to leave each other. Not when they just found one another.

"You know we'll have to keep this a secret right my darling Annamarie. We can't tell anyone about us being mates. Not while Amarantha rules. I don't want anything to happen to you. I don't know what I'll do if something were to happen to you. She'll use you to get to me. She'll do horrible things to you if she finds out. And I don't want that," Rhysand whispered after he kissed the top of her head. Rest his chin atop of her head.

"Well should I - I convert to Night Court then. So t - that we can be closer o - or -," Anna stumbled over her words. She was starting to become upset at the thought of not being near her mate after she just found him. But before she could ramble she was cut off by Rhysand shaking his head.

"No. I'm sorry Anna but that will raise suspicion. Though it pains me to not be able to scream that you're my beautiful mate at the top of my lungs. To not be able to have you by my side. Just go about your day like you usually do. When night comes I will find you and come to you as much as I can. Okay my little flame," Rhysand sighed with sadness. It truly hurt him not being able to have her by his side. Now having the bond between them unveiled. Anna exhaled and nodded agreeing with him. She truly did not like this. But she knew it was for the best.

The two knew it was going to be hard because of the pull of the mating bond. But they knew they had to keep it hidden that they were mates. Rhysand wanted to protect her as much as he could. While Anna wanted to do the same for him. So they stayed in each other's arms. Until the last possible second.

Until Rhysand winnowed them back to Anna's now clean room. Before Rhysand left, he placed a long firm kiss against Anna's head. Then took her bag gently that held her three dragon eggs from her that were hanging from her shoulder. Promising again that he'll keep them safe and that he'll bring them back to her.

Anna smiled sadly before sending him a small wave before slowly and softly shutting the door behind her. The night she smiled but had tears in her eyes that fell down her soft cheeks. She was happy that she found her mate ecstatic even. But she was sad that she had to be away from him during this horrifying time. During the time of Amarantha's ruling. She just hoped that it would end her ruling so she could be with her mate. So, she could be with Rhysand freely.

───── Dracontine tag-list ─────

blackgirlmagicforever

krowiathemythologynerd

serxndipity-ipity-blog

hjgdhghoe

cleverzonkwombatsludge

eerievixen

1account2blogs

bravo-delta-eccho

[barefoothighlander]

spillways - panic

-simon 'ghost' riley x fem!reader

-warnings: mentions of ptsd, angst, bit ooc!ghost

-word count: 1.5k

-summary: after a year of working loosely alongside the 141, you are deployed on your first ground mission. trying to navigate having to work with a team and your lieutenant who seems set on getting a rise out of you.

next chapter fic masterlist

a/n: alright so I'm planning on making this a slow burn, we'll see how long that lasts, I'm trying so hard to be normal about ghost but at the same time I can't so, here you go. :)

I wonder to myself, 

could life ever be sane again?

You thrust yourself awake, alarm bells ringing in your head, something was wrong, something felt off. Faced with the darkness of your bedroom you shift your weight to glance around, nothing out of place, no noises aside from the occasional car alarm, but the buzzing, the buzzing was loud. Your head filled with the buzzing that seemed to have no end and no beginning, turning over you see the time, 3:44 am, staring back at you with that obnoxious, bright red gleam, sighing to yourself 2 hours of sleep isn’t so bad. 

Raising yourself from the bed you’re met with a cold breeze shit, the window was open, striding towards the wall to close it with a loud thud, you hated this apartment, it was old, nothing worked, and the floors creaked under any sort of movement, it didn’t feel like home. You manage the strength to walk to the kitchen and turn on a lamp, growing accustomed to residing in low light, rarely did you ever have your space fully illuminated. You pour yourself a cup of coffee and begin your day, you didn’t have much to do around the apartment considering the only thing on your agenda was to show up to base for deployment, but you still had 4 hours to kill. You occupied yourself with meaningless tasks, tidying the living space even though it had barely anything in it, you had bought the apartment 3 years ago but spent less than 9 months actually living there, it was simply a means of habitat between deployments. Truthfully you don’t know what to do with yourself if you aren’t off in some desert, or mountain range on a mission.

Finally, the clock read 7:15, you figured you had waited an adequate amount of time pacing around the apartment, so you got dressed in some casual clothes that were appropriate for any form of the tactical situation, grabbed your bag and left for the base. You made the drive often enough that it felt like your brain was on autopilot, muscle memory telling you where to turn and when. But you were right, something was off, the buzzing in your head was persistent, and your thoughts ran rampant, usually, you were halfway decent at getting your mind to quiet down, focusing it on whatever task you were assigned, but without some sort of obstacle, you found anxiety begin to bubble in your stomach. You weren’t nervous, not for a standard op, you had run through missions like this a handful of times, and you knew what to expect, what you needed to do, this was something else. Were you nervous to work directly with the 141? You had been assigned a posting with them for a little over a year now, but you never worked with them, only ever as the eye in the sky, providing aid only when deemed necessary, this time you would be on the ground with them, working with them, surviving with them.

Your thoughts occupied your time, and when you reached the base you felt like you had only been driving for 5 minutes. 7:47, enough time to sneak in, you weren’t close with the team, not like how they were with each other, they often invited you to the local pub after a successful mission but you always declined, giving them some excuse along the lines of you being too tired to stay out, most of the time they wouldn’t argue, but you could always feel a gaze staring daggers at the back of your head when you decided to not spend time with them. They meant well, you could tell, but you weren’t looking for another person to ask about your history, or why you joined the force, and you certainly weren’t looking for any sympathy, reducing yourself to a life of seclusion outside deployment.

You made your way to the briefing room, stunned to see that almost everyone was already there, everyone except one person, the only other person who found any sort of comfort in the shadows alongside you, the Ghost. Price waited another few minutes while the guys entertained themselves, recalling a few drunken stories they found amusing, Soap explaining to Gaz why he’s banned from 6 separate pubs in Manchester alone. At 7:56 you saw the door open, and the unmistakable mask breeze in, he was hard to miss, tall and broad, but quiet, always quiet. He found his place near the back of the room, settling himself to lean against a desk.

Turning your attention to Price, trying to focus on the information he was presenting, something about a cartel, and illegal weapons trading in Mexico. You couldn’t focus, not with the buzzing in your head, you tried your best, Ghost noticing the way you constantly adjusted your stance to try to hear Price better. Finally, the brief ended, and you could barely remember a thing the Captain had said aside from “meet at the heli deck 1600 hours.” Inching forward to grab a folder from the table so you could actually study what the assignment was, you felt a strong hand grab your elbow. Glancing up, Ghost was there, invading your space.

“You alright Sargeant?”

“Fine Leuitenent, why?”

“You seem agitated or something” He releases his grip on your elbow as he feels your muscles tense.

“Just tired, didn’t sleep well”

“I know the feeling, go rest, you have time” is all he says, and then he leaves.

You stop for a minute, fiddling with the edges of the folder in your hands, the buzzing is gone is all you can think, as you turn around to catch a glimpse of him, but he’s gone. 

For the first time today, your thoughts are clear, no alarm bells, no buzzing, there’s clarity, and you don’t know why. You chalk it up to the difference in humidity, or atmosphere around the base. But even in the clarity, you can’t sleep, you tried, laying down on your cot for nearly an hour, trying to will your body to rest, but it was useless, it’s hard to rest when you’re always in survival mode. Instead, you decide to take your efforts to the gym on base, choosing to put your thoughts to some use and beat the hell out of a punching bag.

Your knuckles are sore, your legs are cramping up, and you can begin to taste iron in your mouth, but none of these stop you. You continue your assault on the oversized bag of sand, forcing every ounce of energy into your punches and kicks.

“Thought I told you to rest” You didn’t hear him come in, but now, standing directly behind you, he’s hard to miss.

You keep facing away from him, centring the bag in front of you. “Couldn’t, thought my time was better spent here”

“You defied a superior's orders then?”

“A suggestion and an order are different Leuitenent”

“You always talk back? Tsk, that’s bad manners love” he asks, raising his arm to settle the bag in front of you, almost commanding your attention.

You turn to face him, finding his body much closer than you thought, you crane your neck to look into his eyes, they’re shrouded in black paint, his face concealed by the skull. 

“You don’t intimidate me, sir”

“Why not, every other bloke on this base is terrified of me,” he says leaning down a little, enough so that you can feel the warmth of his breath over your cheek.

You press your lips to his covered ear, making sure he hears you loud and clear.

“I see right through the mask,” you say, as you pull yourself back to stare into his dark eyes, and for a moment, you swear you see the telltale signs of a smile from the crinkles that form beside his eyes.

“I’ll see you on deck Sargeant” is all he says, striding away from you and down the hallway.

You stand there, breathless, you’ve never spoken to anyone that way, let alone a superior officer, but you won’t let him scare you, at the end of the day he’s just another man, made of flesh and bone, he bleeds the same colour as the rest of them.

You return to your shacks to rinse off whatever sweat you worked up. Stepping out and checking the time, 3:30, shit, how long was I in the shower for. Quickly gathering your necessary equipment for travel you make your way to the deck, only to be greeted by the loud whirring of helicopter blades, and the booming laughter of one Soap Mactavish.

“Ye ready for some fun lass?” Soap asks placing a firm hand on your shoulder.

Before you get the chance to respond Ghost once again appears out of nowhere.

“No time to waste, get packed in”

Soap glances at you but your eyes are set firm on the Leuitenent, while little feelings of anger begin to form in your chest. Removing his hand from your shoulder, Soap steps into the heli and seats himself next to some of the other guys. You situate yourself near the back of the carrier, far enough that no one would attempt to make conversation with you. To your dismay, Ghost plants himself directly next to you, close enough that your knees are forced to touch. You’re willing him to move, and he doesn’t spare a glance in your direction. 

This is gonna be a long ride.

[a-aexotic]

pairing. rafe cameron x fem!reader requested? yes no

warnings. mentions of weed, alcohol, fighting, normal obx stuff, ooc!rafe

summary. rafe cameron is your friend (and soon to be more than friend), so you decide to make him hang out with your friends and brother so they can warm up to each other.

➜ missing out on updates? ❪ navigation. masterlist. taglist. ❫

The lights of the party were blinding and noise was very loud, you could hear the music from a block away. This was how most Kooks on OBX spend their weekends; with their friends, drinking.

Y/N and Sarah had convinced the Pogues to come to this Kook party. Usually they'd prefer to spend their night at the Chateau or at the Wreck but tonight, Sarah wanted to switch it up.

She hadn't been to a Kook party since she'd gotten with John B and she missed it. Sure bonfire parties were fine but they weren't Kook parties, not even close.

Today was one of Sarah's old friend's birthday and it was on Figure 8. It was a lot of convincing from Sarah and Y/N but the Pogues finally accepted.

"God, it's so loud!" Pope had shouted to JJ and Y/N. It'd only been two hours and the Pogues had already gotten separated. Kie and Sarah had disappeared and they're pretty sure John B went back to the car.

"Yeah, but that's kind of the point!" Y/N replied, shouting. Her, JJ and Pope eventually got outside and JJ took a dramatic inhale of fresh air. You and Pope rolled your eyes.

"Oh my gosh, I thought I was going to suffocate in there."

"You're fine." You patted JJ's back. He sighed and nodded, "I need a drink."

"Yeah, same" Pope added. "But I don't wanna go back in there, it's going to take us like an hour with all the people."

"You guys are so dramatic." You rolled your eyes playfully. "I'll take one for the team cus I really need a drink too. I'll be right back."

You started walking back into the swarm of crowds in the house, navigating your way to the drinks. You suddenly bumped a hard chest and you looked up to see Rafe Cameron.

If it was any other Pogue, they'd just scowl and walk away. But you knew Rafe very well, though. Better than most Pogues, or even Kooks in that matter.

He smiled at the sight of you. "Y/N!" He shouted over the booming music.

"Hey, Rafe!"

He leaned down so he could hear you better. He couldn't hear you over the loud music. "You haven't texted me in a bit, I was afraid you'd found someone else."

He was your friend and your dealer. You'd hooked up a couple times but that didn't really affect either of you until Rafe accidentally admitted he had a crush on you while smoking with you. Ever since then, things have gotten more complicated with the both of you, especially with feelings.

"'Course not, Rafe. You're the best dealer on this island." You noted as he smiled down at you.

"Oh, you flatter me Y/N." He let out a small laugh. "Where are your little... friends? I saw Sarah and I just assumed the rest of your group was here."

You tensed up at the mention of the Pogues. Rafe and the Pogues don't have a good history and you knew if they found out where exact their weed comes from, they wouldn't be too happy. Especially your brother, John B.

Rafe had become a little more open to being friends with Pogues after you so he's thought about maybe being nicer to the Pogues... for you.

"They're outside, um. I'm just getting some drinks for them."

Rafe nodded. "I can, uh help if you want me to."

You weren't sure about how this would end but maybe this would be the start of a friendship between Rafe and the Pogues - or at least they could be civil with one another, you'd be fine with that.

You knew you couldn't date Rafe without the approval of the Pogues (especially John B) so this was a good start to introducing them to the idea. "Sure."

You and Rafe took the drinks outside and as soon as JJ saw Rafe, he went up to him with an angry expression. "What the hell are you doing, Cameron?"

"Nothin just helping Y/N with your drinks." Rafe said simply. JJ was close Rafe, almost nose to nose. Rafe was trying his best not to throw the drinks in his face and punch him.

"JJ." You said sternly. "He's just.. helping, okay?"

"Are you sure he didn't try and poison us?" Pope finally spoke up as he glared at Rafe.

You rolled your eyes. "Yes, Pope. I saw him pour the drinks."

"Yes. And I'm going to drink with you guys, too." Rafe looked over at you for assurance and you nodded. That's what the two of you had agreed on.

JJ noticed the small interaction and he grabbed the drink from Rafe's hand and walked away towards the chair. Pope followed along as well.

"No one's thrown a punch yet, that's a good start." You mumbled to Rafe as he let out a small laugh. You followed them and had taken a seat directly in front of Pope and JJ.

You handed Pope his drink as JJ drank of his quietly, thinking. Awkward silence filled the group as you all drank from your cups, everyone studying the each other.

"This is good beer..." Rafe muttered as you nodded.

"Yeah, I'll have to ask Kelsey where she got it from." You responded as JJ groaned inwardly.

Pope and JJ exchanged a look. "Does John B know about your sudden friendship with Rafe?"

You glared at JJ. "That doesn't matter, I don't have to tell John B anything."

There was sudden silence as JJ looked behind you with a smirk, leaning back into his chair. You and Rafe turned around to see John B and Kie standing over you, scowls on their faces.

"Tell me what?" John B questioned as he looked directly at you, ignoring Rafe at the time being.

You cleared your throat. "That uh..." You paused to look over at Rafe. "I'm friends with Rafe."

"Friends?" Kie looked over at the proximity of both of you. You hadn't even noticed how close Rafe was to you; your legs were touching.

John B then look over at Rafe. "You're with friends with my sister?"

Rafe nodded.

"You're suddenly friends with my sister after publically hating on Pogues since, I don't even know." John B was starting to get angry. "Y/N, I don't know how you can't see it. It's obvious he wants something from you."

"Like what?" You countered, furrowing your eyebrows.

"I don't Y/N, what do you think?" John B exhaled angrily. "What is Rafe Cameron notorious for?"

"Weed?" You sighed. "Why would-"

"No, Y/N. He uses women, that's what." John B turned his head to Rafe, grimacing. You hadn't even thought of that. The idea hadn't crossed your mind because Rafe had never made an attempt to even touch you. It merely talking, nothing else.

Rafe was baffled at John B's accusation. "Me and Y/N are just friends."

"Oh, you want us to believe that shit?" JJ suddenly spoke up, pointing at your touching legs. Rafe instantly moved his leg.

Rafe got up and scoffed angrily. John B moved closer to Rafe and got in his face. "You ever talk to her again, I'll kill you, alright?"

He laughed bitterly at that. "Oh, like you stand a chance."

John B quickly pushed Rafe making him stumble. You scoffed at that, quickly going to Rafe's side. Kie went to John B, crossing her arms.

"John B, you can't just-"

He cut you off, "Yes I can, I'm your older brother-"

"Oh, you really gonna pull that card, John B? Seriously?!"

"Well, he is, Y/N." Pope chimed in.

"You all going to take John B's side?"

It was silent for a couple seconds and you scoffed at that, laughing bitterly. "Of course you all would. Do you even consider me a friend? Do you only see me as John B's irresponsible little sister?"

Rafe put his hand on your shoulder, making John B and JJ exchange looks. "I don't wanna cause problem between you and John B, alright? I'll just see you later."

Rafe had walked away before you could say anything. You were just left with the Pogues, the air thicker than it was before.

"God, you're never gonna let me be happy." You walked off as well, John B wanted to go after you but Kie put her hand on his shoulder.

"Give her time, alright?"

John B nodded at thar before taking a seat, sighing as he thought of what the hell he was going to do with you and Rafe Cameron.

[autisticlalna]

okay. full episode analysis coming later because i have so, so much to say about that one clip, but:

so. Dominion references. that's the big thing. we got two of them back-to-back in a very hard to ignore way if you're familiar with season 2.

but it's not just been Dominion. that's been what we're all excited about, obviously, but there's been some other stuff blending in.

after all, we have Viking surviving the apocalypse and talking about how he has experience working with tnt bombers-- something said ooc, maybe, but he has been working with them on both Hardcore and Twitch SMP, and died on TSMP because of getting caught in the explosions.

there's also the moment earlier in the trial where M1G starts ripping into Milkman for what he did on Pleasantcraft. again, line between ooc and in-character is blurry here, but either way Viking recognized what M1G was getting at. (Viking also cut out the part where it got called into question if that should count as testimony against Milkman seeing as it happened on another server and Elffe said "let's get multiversal". god, literally everything elffe did in the trial was great)

but, speaking of multiversal, i'm going to bring up something i've been calling "multiversal bleed" for lack of a better term. sometimes the lines dividing the Vikings are... wiggly. history likes to repeat and mirror itself (as shown in the trial), but some stuff slips in regardless of reality echoing itself. this is the obligatory part of the post where i pull up the TSMP transcripts.

because, for some reason, this specific line from tViking sticks in my head:

Viking: [cat beckoning noises] Frickin’ cat, like the cat I had one time. C’mon.

the reason this is filed under multiversal bleed is because Viking had a cat in Gilded Hardcore. (Also in Dominion, but Cranberry is better remembered.) tViking also could've had a cat during the gap of time between his arrival in TSMP's world and tRuby's, but either way the reaction was "wait, Gilded?"

there's also an equally brief example in the solo Skyblock series, where Wanderer recognizes Avid despite neither of them having crossed paths on-camera before... or those specific versions, anyway. again, Gilded Hardcore.

multiversal bleed is kinda a consequence of mcyt in general when you have multiple series running with different iterations of your character. there's bound to be crossovers and quick jokes and the like. but, considering that Viking's lore has been steadily building up to his status as a universal constant, it's more on the table as "something with canon repercussions".

going off of what moxijunk has suggested before, Summertime might be having heavy bleed from other versions of himself. he's still a separate entity from dViking, or Hardcore, or tViking, but when things get a little too familiar, memories that aren't his start to spill through. it seems to be what's happening to Cherryby, after all.

there is another route, though. on some level, we know the Vikings are aware of each other... maybe. again, most of my evidence is going to be from Twitch SMP, seeing as that went deeper into the overall storyline that's been building since the introduction of V.P. as a concept.

Navigator, local Viking that knows about the multiverse and is very involved in keeping it on-rails, told Sapphire at one point:

Navigator: You won’t tell me anything. And none of the others seem to know… or know even he exists.

and Sapphire later brought up:

Sapphire: Well. I am me as much as this one… is nothing. Hm. Y’know? Me, myself, and I… always work together. We’ve always have. Just as all Vikings. And… Navigator: So you work together… Sapphire: Even to an extent, VP, back before… Well. He didn’t, anymore.

...so there's some level of communication going on between the Vikings. Navigator keeping himself hidden from tViking probably has more to do with "tViking being an unknown and dangerous variable" rather than "Vikings aren't supposed to interfere with each other". maybe. basically anything with Navigator involved is vague, though.

and then, of course:

Viking: So for me, [laughs] I may not build these things myself, but I wake up and they’re done, and I know it’s me, because me wants to help me. Vikings help Viking. That’s how it works.

Vikings help Viking.

this hinges on Summertime being aware, either consciously or subconsciously, of his other selves.

in a TSMP stream i don't have a clip of at the moment he did swap places with tViking / Navigator, but there was no meeting of the Vikings and we don't know if he understood what was happening or if he even remembers it. most of the evidence here is from Navigator, who is an outlier and probably should not be counted, and tViking, who has been voted "most possessable Viking" since near the start of TSMP's storyline.

good lord this post got long. i'm going to go get coffee. draw your own conclusions because i forgot mine

[sherewrytes]

𝔹𝕣𝕠𝕜𝕖𝕟 ℙ𝕚𝕖𝕔𝕖𝕤, ℝ𝕪𝕠𝕞𝕖𝕟 𝕊𝕦𝕜𝕦𝕟𝕒

↳ Sukuna x f! black reader

Summary: After the death of his grandfather, Sukuna Ryomen is left to shoulder the weight of his family, caring for his younger brothers, Yuuji and Choso. As he withdraws into grief, his relationship with Y/N, his girlfriend of a year, begins to crumble. When Y/N discovers the truth about his grandfather’s passing during a heated argument, it leads to a painful breakup. Now, both are navigating life apart, but Sukuna’s heart aches for Y/N. Determined to win her back, he must confront his pain and find a way to break through the walls he’s built. Can he rekindle their love, or is it too late?

contents: heavy angst, modern au, 18+, smut, dark romance, drug use, talks of depression and similar topics. (a lil )

fic warnings. ooc, profanity, mental health issues, toxic relationships, cheating, explicit smut, serious drug use, mentions of depression + more to be updated as story progresses.

Please read with proper discretion. this is a work of fiction. all characters are written to portray roles that are necessary to the plot and are in no way a reflection of their canon counterparts.

Prologue

The house felt like a stranger’s home, filled with mourners who spoke in hushed voices as if afraid of disturbing the thick silence. Sukuna leaned against the wall, arms crossed, trying to ignore the wave of people who kept approaching him with sympathy, with empty condolences. They looked at him like he was someone to be pitied, or worse, something fragile. He’d never been either of those things—not until now.

His hands itched for a cigarette, something to bring the haze back, to blunt the sharp edge of grief and guilt cutting into him. But he stayed put, his gaze fixed on the floor as he reminded himself he couldn’t just slip out for a smoke, not here. Not now. His grandfather had all but raised him, yet this crowd wasn’t even here for him—they were here for Jin.

His brother had been his shadow, his accomplice, his anchor, the one who joined him in almost every reckless, stupid decision he’d ever made. If Sukuna dragged him into drinking or sneaking out, Jin never complained, just laughed and told him not to get them killed. And somehow, Jin was the one who’d ended up gone, lost in a freak accident on the one night Sukuna had stayed behind.

That was the worst of it, the feeling that ate away at him in the silence. He’d been the reckless one—the tattoos, the parties, the habits that marked him as the screw-up. And Jin had been the one who’d taken a fall. The one night Sukuna decided to play it safe, Jin had left without him and hadn’t come back.

Sukuna clenched his jaw, tuning out the murmurs and wandering glances as people shared anecdotes about Jin. They didn’t know him. Not like he had.

Then, a voice caught his ear. “... made people feel like they belonged,” the speaker was saying. Sukuna turned his head, almost annoyed, expecting another recycled memory from someone who hardly knew Jin at all. But then he saw her.

She was standing by the window, just out of reach of the crowd, listening to one of Jin’s friends with an expression that wasn’t pity, but something softer. Reflective. The dim light softened her features, giving her an almost ethereal look, like she was a piece of calm carved out of the chaos around her.

For reasons he couldn’t explain, Sukuna felt himself drawn to her. Maybe it was the lack of judgment in her expression, the way she seemed out of place, too. He found himself moving toward her, the noise of the crowd fading as he approached. When he stopped beside her, she looked up at him, her eyes widening slightly in recognition.

“You must be Sukuna,” she said, her voice gentle, without a hint of pity. “I’m Y/N. I was friends with Jin… from university.”

“Yeah,” Sukuna replied, his voice rough. He didn’t know what else to say, so he just nodded, trying to keep his expression guarded.

There was a pause, and he braced himself for the usual sympathy, the same rehearsed words he’d heard all night. But Y/N didn’t say anything. She just looked at him with a quiet understanding, as though she could see past the walls he’d put up.

“He… talked about you sometimes,” she said after a moment. “Said you were… the real troublemaker between the two of you. I never believed him, honestly.”

A bitter smile tugged at his lips. “He wasn’t lying. Jin… he was the cautious one. Always reined me in before I got too far over the edge.” He paused, then added, his voice barely a whisper, “Until he didn’t.”

Y/N’s gaze softened, her eyes flickering with something like recognition. “It wasn’t your fault,” she said quietly, as if sensing the guilt he carried, the weight that no one else had acknowledged.

Sukuna felt something inside him crack, just a little. He hadn’t realized how much he needed someone to say those words, even if he wasn’t sure he believed them. He swallowed hard, glancing away as he tried to gather himself. “Yeah, well… I’ve heard that, but it doesn’t change anything, does it?”

“No,” she replied, her voice gentle yet steady. “But it doesn’t have to define everything either.”

They stood in silence for a moment, and Sukuna found himself strangely comforted by her presence. She wasn’t trying to fix him, wasn’t trying to smooth over the rough edges of his grief. She was just there, a quiet presence that understood, and that was enough.

Y/N offered him a small, sad smile. “I don’t know if this helps at all, but Jin… he never judged you for being who you are. He liked you because of it, actually. Said it made things interesting.”

Sukuna gave a small, bitter laugh. “Sounds like him.”

For the first time that night, he felt a flicker of warmth cut through the cold emptiness. Her words gave him a glimpse of the Jin he’d known—the brother who had always seen him for what he was, without the disappointment or disapproval that others had.

As the night wore on, he found himself lingering by her side, grateful for her quiet companionship. They didn’t speak much, but she stayed with him, a silent anchor in the storm raging within him. And when she finally said her goodbyes, slipping her number into his hand with a reassuring squeeze, Sukuna held onto it like a lifeline.

It was only when she was gone that he realized the weight on his chest felt just a little lighter.

The night pressed on, each minute stretching longer than the last, but the crowd finally thinned, leaving only a few stragglers murmuring by the doorway. Sukuna moved mechanically, guiding Yuuji and Choso through the last of the conversations, nodding where he had to, until the house was empty.

As he closed the door and leaned against it, Sukuna felt the silence crash over him—a tidal wave of emptiness in the space Jin used to fill. He glanced over to the couch, where Yuuji had finally fallen asleep, his fists curled into the fabric like he was hanging on for dear life. Choso sat in a nearby chair, his head back, eyes closed, his face still showing traces of disbelief. Sukuna knew that feeling all too well.

The apartment felt hollow, like a body without a heartbeat. He looked around, half-expecting Jin to come strolling out of his room, laughing off the somber atmosphere and snapping Sukuna out of this nightmare. But the room stayed quiet, with only the occasional sound of Yuuji’s slow, steady breathing.

As he made his way toward his bedroom, he unfolded the small slip of paper in his hand. Y/N’s handwriting was neat, almost elegant, the letters curling smoothly across the page. Her phone number stared back at him, a stark reminder of the quiet moments they’d shared in the chaos of the night.

He didn’t know why, but he felt drawn to her in a way he hadn’t felt with anyone before. She was different from the usual people in his life—she hadn’t tried to mask his grief or tell him how to feel. She’d just been there, and somehow, that had made the impossible weight of loss a bit more bearable.

Sukuna sank onto the edge of his bed, staring down at the paper. It was late, too late to be calling anyone, especially someone he’d just met. But the silence pressed in on him, thick and unyielding, making it hard to breathe. Before he could think too much about it, he pulled out his phone and typed in her number, hesitating only a moment before hitting the call button.

The phone rang once, twice. He almost hung up, cursing himself for the impulsive decision. But then, on the third ring, her voice came through, warm and soft, like she’d been expecting his call.

“Hello?” she answered, a hint of sleepiness in her tone.

“It’s… it’s Sukuna,” he said, his voice rough, barely above a whisper. He wasn’t sure what he was looking for, but hearing her voice eased some of the tension in his chest.

“Sukuna,” she replied, and he could hear the surprise in her voice, though she covered it quickly. “Is everything… okay?”

He wanted to say yes, to brush it off as some momentary lapse in judgment, but the words wouldn’t come. Instead, he found himself sinking further into the quiet of her voice, the way she spoke his name like she understood without needing an explanation.

“Yeah. I just… I didn’t feel like being alone, I guess.” He hated how weak it sounded, hated the way his voice cracked, but she didn’t say anything to make it worse.

“I get it,” she said simply. “It’s okay to feel that way.”

The silence on the line wasn’t uncomfortable. In fact, it felt almost comforting. They stayed like that for a few moments, neither of them speaking, but both feeling the quiet connection that had sparked between them.

Finally, she broke the silence, her voice soft. “I know it’s late, but… if you ever need to talk, or even just sit in silence with someone… I’m here.”

He didn’t know how to respond to that. People had offered condolences, apologies, support, but this was different. She wasn’t offering to fix him, just to be there, to share in the silence if that’s what he needed.

“Thanks,” he managed, feeling a strange warmth spread through his chest. “I… I appreciate it.”

They talked for a few more minutes, the conversation drifting between quiet pauses and brief exchanges, and for the first time in what felt like forever, Sukuna felt a sliver of peace. By the time he hung up, the emptiness didn’t feel so crushing, and the dark room felt a little less lonely.

That night, he fell asleep with her number clutched in his hand, her voice lingering in his mind, a quiet promise that he wasn’t alone.

Next

[atsukoseigyoku]

(((Atsuko's backstory because I actually need to write this shit down. Will be long! Warnings; Paedophilia, murder, child abuse, underage marriage/smoking/drinking/drug use, please let me know if I missed any. Btw this whole thing will be ooc)))

Atsuko is originally from England, her Father owned a mechanical business and her mother was an arms dealer. She doesn't remember much about her parents but Atsuko did remember the galas and business deals she was brought to.

When she was seven, her parents took her to Japan; she didn't know it at the time but Atsuko was being trafficked because of her quirk*. The plane crashed due to a navigation era and her parents were left unconscious. Atsuko, being a little kid at the time, didn't late attention to the safety brief and so she thought the oxygen masks were killing he parents. In a moment of pure panic she took the masks off of them and was about to yelll for help; she heard a loud noise, grabbed her mother's phone and ran away.

After hours of running from the crash site, Atsuko found a city. Atsuko didn't understand much but she eventually figured out she fucke up when her parents weren't with her. She looked around to find a new name; Her eyes flicked to an advert for an anime about a magic school and Atsuko took the name of the main character. Akko stole the name Shigaraki from a local news station, reporting on a Shigaraki.

While she was in the city, a man by the name Riku Kaja took her in. Riku was an underground broker who loved young girls. He had previously killed his wife and daughter in a drunken rage. Riku took Atsuko from the streets and gave her shelter for a while. Her time with him was horrible; her trained her to kill, by the time she was eight he wanted to marry her. Kaja's favorite thing to do was get Atsuko drunk/high and try fuck her. She locked herself in her room whenever she felt a little tipsy after the third time it happened. He encouraged her to smoke and self harm and threatened to kill or torture her if she messed up.

Atsuko was twelve years old when she finally figured out how to use her mother's broken phone. She found deals and bids on herself, how they were distantly related to All For One and how her father exploited his employees. She stole Kaja's pistol and ran away that night.

For two years Akko stole to survive. She lived in the roof of a school, abandoned buildings and old shops. Her mother's phone was the only source of communication but Atsuko couldn't understand why it wouldn't work. She had no hope for the world and was about to end it all when she saw Hawkssave somebody. Atsuko was shocked that a person could do that! She began obsessively watching Hawks, following his social media, following him on his patrols. Atsuko wanted his attention.

She reached out to him (as well as some UA students) and tried getting better. It worked and now she's safe with her hero. Sometimes, the urges to kill, to smoke or to hurt herself resurface. Nine times out of ten, Atsuko gives in to thoese urges and she hates herself for it.

*Her quirk is Lovely Luck; if she loves someone and their in a 5,000ft range, they get good luck. This can be anything from getting something for free or winning a fight

[boxer-boi]

((OOC Lorepost!))

Bailey Hanami is a half-Inazuman, half-Fontainian little boy with inhuman features who grew up in Fontaine. Due to his freakish appearance without any known cause, (most likely a past genetic trait that resurfaced in him), Bailey was abandoned on the streets as a very small child. He found himself wandering Fontaine’s lusher meadows, forests and mountain areas for food and for a comfortable living space, and made connections with many wild creatures, meka and things of those sorts. But more often than anything, he found himself drawn to the sea. The lightly salted scent of the water was soothing to his sensitive sense of smell and the waves crashing could always relax him with ease. The webbing on the paws he had for feet helped him swim with efficiency. He started to figure life out on his own, never knowing the love of parents, but never yearning for it either. He never felt that anything was missing or out of place. He was a beast of the forest, not to be tamed or trifled with.

The boy had developed Schizotypal Personality Disorder and had little awareness of how his actions affected other people due to his little exposure to them. So you can imagine his whirlwind of emotions when he stumbles upon the Court of Fontaine, bustling with people and bright lights and noises and colors and- oh god it’s way too much at once. He finds solace in a few of the quiet corners and back alleys, and starts to memorize their locations, navigating the quieter parts of the city at night and mapping out his hangout spots. The court of Fontaine also meant food. Good food, too. He loved hanging around bakeries and taking whatever they didn’t sell that day so that he could have a little feast for himself. In fact, this had become a tradition of his at Café Lutece. (Just don’t feed him anything with chocolate. It’ll quite literally kill him.)

He discovered art, and started using it to express himself. Unfortunately what he considered art, others considered ‘vandalism.’ He didn’t really care for the definition of this word. It was just something else to add to his steadily growing vocabulary. This landed him very promptly in the Fortress of Meropide on a light sentence. He couldn’t even begin to defend himself with his broken speech and warped understanding of the law. Luckily for him, Sigewinne and Wriothesely made for great teachers. (With the occasional visit from Monsieur Neuvillette.) He learned how to speak, read, write, proper kickboxing techniques and things like geography and math. The Duke soon found himself becoming attached to this little boy like a son, it was a bit disappointing to him when Bailey’s sentence was finally up. Not to worry though, he ended up landing himself in prison MANY more times…

This is where he caught sight of Freminet and became enamored by the nervous energy he emanated, just something about him. He started going out of his way to see the boy, even if they never spoke. He was very very slow to realize his feelings, mostly because he had no clue what they were. But now that he’s aware, he’ll start trying to pursue them. Slowly, of course.

[bobabees]

Part 1: “Oh! I Think That I Found Myself A Cheerleader!”

A/N: i don’t want to risk losing all my work so KDJKSNS—this will be split into multiple parts for each character i plan to write for! i hope you all like it!!

Summary: it’s been a month since the arrival of the cheerleader, and there have been a flurry of emotions and discussions amongst the other survivors ever since. the cheerleader, despite their quite deadly circumstances, tries to adjust into this new environment and to cheer and support their fellow survivors to the best of their ability!

CW: mentions of gore, might be a little ooc, i’m not sure KEBDNNS o(╥﹏╥)o

Genre: slight angst + fluff

Anne Lester x GN Cheerleader Survivor

Word Count: 2,328 words

“Y/N!—be careful,” Anne had let out a soft laughed as she watched them flinch at the sounds of the cipher before quickly readjusting their stance and narrowing their eyes at the keys, “at the rate you’re going, you’ll get us caught. Remember, don’t rush.” She lightly instructed as her eyes followed the way their fingers reluctantly pressed into the keys, the slow yet harsh clicking against the cipher as the dials turned, the electrical pole that looked over them shook with each movement.

“I’m sorry I just—it can be a lil’ tough sometimes,” They gave a sheepish smile, looking up at Anne who, in response, pointed a gaze back down at the cipher, as if gesturing them to focus. “Tryna get used to ‘em and all,” They huffed a bit, causing the toy merchant to let out another laugh as she tried to decode the cipher with them. “I wanna go fast and get this over with but—I also don’t wanna screw up and make some noise and have Antonio come after us—what a mess that’ll be.” They groaned, their right eye twitched ever so slightly at the memory of him chasing after them earlier. “I barely escaped if it weren’t for Ganji—man, he’s really good with that bat, y’know? I’m pretty sure he’s saved me like—a hundred times! And I’ve only been here for a month!” They exasperated “A month, and I can’t get the hang of this kiting thing-“

“You’ll get used to it, trust me, it’s easier over time.”

“For you!” They blurted out with a grin as they adjusted one of the spinning dials and hit the cipher, “I mean, you’re a complete natural at that, honestly, sometimes I think you’re totally cheating.” They joked lightly as they glanced at the open spaces, checking if Antonio was anywhere near them.

“You flatter me, Y/N,” Anne shook her head in response, her lips twitching upwards in a slightly prideful smile “But I’m not as good as you think, there are others much better at kiting than I,” Her last words faltered when she heard a sharp laugh from them, feeling them nudge their elbow against her arm clumsily as an attempt to focus on both the cipher and her. “Y/N!”

“Oh, don’t be like that! You’re incredible with this stuff—Sure, there’s loads of good kiters n’ all, but between you and me?” They comically leaned their head closer to Anne, an excited whisper slipping through their proud grin, “I’d say you’re one of the best! I mean, come on! Have you seen the way you kite?” They questioned, Anne knitting here eyebrows in response, she never saw it as anything special—what she said was true, at least, she believed it was—there were much better kiters than her.

But before she could even question their words, they continued on with their ramble “The way you move, quickly navigating through each and every path—how you take full advantage of your surroundings—oh, and how you ready your catapult so quickly and launch into the air? And hold yourself up for that long?” They breathed out, stars practically shimmering in their eyes, unable to take notice of the way Anne’s cheeks began to turn a pale pink. “That takes a whole lotta skill, seriously, and you put in a lot of effort in what you do! Anyone can tell! You literally kited the Will Brothers!—the Will Brothers!—for like—15 minutes total!” They nearly shivered at their words, shaking their head at the memory of their first time encountering the Will Brothers, as fascinating as their skills were, which of course they complimented, they would be lying if they said they hadn’t been scared out of their wits. “I mean, how can you not be considered one of the best?” They chortled, their eyes glued on the set of keys instead of the increasingly flustered woman next to them.

It wasn’t until the cipher shook violently for a moment and sparked, did they flinch and finally tore their gaze away from the cipher and taking notice of Anne who had similarly flinched by the sudden spark. “Oh jeez—I’m sorry, I wasn’t-“

“No no, it’s fine—it was my fault, actually,” Anne cleared her throat, cheeks now a rosy pink as she shifted her gaze to one of the openings, catching a glimpse of the abnormally tall hunter glance their direction and begin to make his way. “I think you should go, I’ll finish this one.”

“Are you sure? I-I didn’t say anything wrong, did I?” They stammered slightly, hand reaching out to place a comforting grip on her wrist but had pulled away immediately when Anne’s eyes swiftly took notice of their movements, but soon settled on them, softening at their words. “Anne?”

“No, you didn’t say anything wrong—I just—Antonio’s close,” Anne muttered as she began to decode, finishing up the last few bits, as she said she would. Chuckling the moment they began to whip their head around frantically to see the hunter before tensing the moment they saw him nearing their location. “Please, don’t worry, I’ll be fine. You, on the other hand, need to go off and do another cipher, I believe Emil is decoding just west from here.” Anne recalled.

They fidgeted in place slightly, a nervous smile plastered on their face as they looked back at Antonio, cringing under eerie smile before turning to Anne, who had a more comforting smile. “Well—if you say so! You know way more than me so—“ they fumbled with their words as they gave a more optimistic grin “I mean you can handle yourself just fine, you’re that cool after all! And—well, you’re really experienced—with this stuff!-“ They rambled a bit, somehow sounding as if they were very much reassuring themselves instead of simply complimenting the toy merchant. “Just—holler my name if you need me, okay? I’ve got your back!” They beamed as they placed a hand on her shoulder, a gentle squeeze given as they moved away, “I believe in you!! You got this right in the bag!” They waved before running off quickly. “Take care!”

“I will!” She called out, a flustered grin on her face forming as she popped the ciphered and gave Antonio a challenging glare—she didn’t know what went over her, to challenge a hunter when he was this close—was it because of their encouraging words? Their ramble that came from pure adoration? Either way, she felt a fire in her chest, one that didn’t dim before the presence of the hunter but rather, fuelled her mind and energy as she sprinted off to steer him away from the cipher they had gone to.

-

‘I’m not going to make it!—‘ Anne gritted her teeth, her eyes wincing in pain as stray tears slipped down her cheeks, hair sticking to her forehead that was coated sweat, her hand clutching to her side, feeling the warmth blossom with each step she took, sinking into her clothes and making the side of her corset a much darker shade of red. She could hear the ominous humming and tugging of strings that followed, a sharp noise piercing the tense air as a crimson note formed in front of her, followed by an amused laugh.

Her breathing hitched as she turned a harsh left into the dilapidated church, stumbling in her steps as she heard his shoes clicking quickly behind her. The toy merchant eyeing an unused pallet and made her way to it, a quiet whimper leaving her lips as she had passed through out, ducking to avoid Antonio’s bow before pulling down the pallet in front of him, deterring his movements and making him curse in response. Taking this opportunity, she had quickly wobbled her way to the front left side of the church and vaulting over the window before turning a right.

“The exit gate is opened!” Anne gasped, hearing their voice familiar echo through the air like a melody one would simply hear walking by the sidewalk, a sense of relief knowing they would be able to make it out as she began to make her way towards the exit gate. She could hear Antonio curse under his breath as he struggled to vault over the window with his tall stature before continuing his pursuit.

It felt like an eternity, constantly crisscrossing past the walls and vaults, using the unbroken and unused pallets available, which weren’t many—and having close calls with Antonio’s bow or his music notes. She was nearing exhaustion, the thought of just collapsing and letting him drag her to a rocket chair began to sound much more pleasant as time went on. However—something stopped her as she caught a glimpse of them waiting anxiously by the exit gate through the gaps of the walls.

The moment their eyes had locked into each other, she watched as they hollered her name “Anne!-“

“What are you still doing here?! Go!—We’ll still win!” She choked out as she vaulted once more, her heart beating faster as Antonio’s bow sharply brushed against her forearm, he had missed her by an inch. Frustration bubbling in her chest when she noticed they hadn’t moved from their spot, “Y/N, just go!-“

“I’m not leaving you! I don’t care if we’ll win, it’s not right!” They retorted, restraining themselves from running to her as their right leg quivered under their weight, the clumsily wrapped wound burning as they took a step forward. “Your catapult! You have one left, right?”

“I won’t make it!-“

“You will! I know you will!—please!” They pleaded, their eyes sparkling with the same determination and firmness that shone when they had rambled on about her earlier in the match. “I know you can do it! You can! It’s the last stretch, you can do it! You’re Anne Lester!” They cheered, their throat aching but they had ignored it, too focused on the scene before them with Anne creating some distance. “Come on! You got this! I know you do!”

Anne cursed under her breath, her heart pounding, and it was no longer because of Antonio who trailed behind her, but because of their words. She risked a glance back, seeing him break down a pallet that had been in his way, quickly, she pulled out her catapult and placed it on the ground, preparing it before reluctantly becoming aware of her wound at her side and her increasing exhaustion. Their words echoed in their mind as she took a firm step on her catapult before launching herself in the air, a frustrated ‘no!’ came from Antonio as he stretched bow out, the strings cutting her ankle as she stretched her wooden wings in the air, a quiet cry leaving her as her ankle stung.

The cold air flooding through her wounds and sinking into her as she held an iron grip on the handle, blood staining the soft pastel colours as she watched them cheer loudly. “Yes!—yes yes yes! Go Anne! You can do this! Just a little bit more!” They hollered, a weak smile gracing her face as she slowly glided over the walls. Maybe she was going to make it—she was close—so close—she felt her fingers slipping from the handle gradually, panicked eyes glancing at what was happening before looking back at them, who similarly began to realise what was about to happen. “J-Just hang on a bit longer! I know you can!—just—“ They stopped, seeing the oncoming musical note before moving quickly to their right, hissing at the burning sensation on their leg.

“Y/N, just go!-“

“No! I’m waiting for you! Now, come on!” They yelled back, hearing Antonio grow closer, anxiously glancing at both the hunter and Anne, who was thankfully closer to the ground. Just a bit more!—Just a few more seconds! They could hear the laboured gasps from Anne—until finally, her hands had given in to the weight and pressure and had let go of the handle.

“Anne!-“ They shrieked before rushing over, stretching their arms and ignoring the pain as they caught Anne in their arms. Stumbling back, their body threatening to give in and let them fall due to the sudden weight thrown on them, their leg screaming a bright red as their shoes dug into the dirt. “You’re okay! You did it—!!“ they blurted out as their arms tightened around her waist, feeling her frame lean against them heavily as she groaned in response. They forced themselves through the pain, adjusting their grip on Anne quickly to carry her in a bridal style before running to the exit gate, sparing a glance back at Antonio who was startled by the wooden wings that collapsed in front of him and felt the wind blow it in his direction, watching him swat it away harshly in annoyance.

“Good match, Antonio! See you later!” Normally, they would have given a more sincere compliment to Antonio by now before leaving the match, just like they had done with the previous hunters—but their attention was more onto Anne, who struggled to stay awake. They unconsciously held her tighter as they let out a heave, “You did amazing—seriously! I’m so proud of you—I told you, you’re one of the best!—“ they blurted out, attempting to distract Anne from her pain before feeling Anne’s arm weakly pat their shoulder. “It’s okay! We—We’ll go to Emily and have you patched up, okay? I got you—I got your back-“

The gesture, which was mistaken as a sign to hurry up, was filled with nothing but gratefulness and returning adoration to the cheerleader, an exhausted yet jubilant smile formed on her lips as she found herself slowly agreeing to their words of praise.

Maybe she was one of the best, after all.