#Or are freed but left to suffer

[summertimemusician]

Sleep Deprived Linked Universe Au concept that I think could be neat, everything is the same but the Chain or a Chain Member (Wild, Sky or otherwise) is like the Sky Children/Moths in Sky Children of the Light. Or where we drop one of the children of light or a moth with the Chain as a substitute for therapy which I really think they could use.

Or secondary Sleep Deprived LoZ/LU Au concept: everything is the same, but either one of the Chain members is like the Vessels in HK, or we straight up drop the Pure Vessel in BOTW when Link/Wild emerges from his 100 year power nap (goodness I wish that were me) after having his brain scrambled like an omelette and they and Link unwittingly imprint on each other and adopt one another as found family, which helps them deal with their respective traumas, bonus points if Wolfie/Twilight/TP Link is also there and unwittingly part of the found family, and if it bleeds over into LU the Chain has to suddenly cope with the fact this eldritch bug being from another world entirely meant to be a vessel for a maddened deity basically adopted one o their own as a sibling. Could also somehow throw Ghost or Hornet in there later on.

I will not elaborate further.

[dirt-str1der]

Quivering and hooking my fingers into my mouth and biting down hard on them sobbing because the anime

[alastor-simp]

Demonic Savior - Demon Alastor x Human Female Reader

❥Summary- Who knew that the deer you helped was actually a demon?

❥Tags: Demon Alastor, Human Reader, Caution: Not For Minors, Trigger Warning, Abuse, Child Abuse, Abusive Parents, Deer Form Alastor, Curse Words, Angst + Comfort

❥Notes: Haven't wrote a story like this so I wanted to give it a try. I understand this story might be a bit traumatic for readers who went through something similar, so please skip it this story bothers you. This is 3K words, lets go

❥Credit: Divider from @cafekitsune

❥Warnings: TRIGGER WARNING!!!!!! NOT FOR MINORS!!!!!!!!!

✪In The Forest✪

"Pant....pant....pant." Holding a hand to your chest, you attempted to calm down after running away from your so-called home. It was never home to you, more like hell, as you had to suffer through everything your parents inflicted on you. Your mom would never feed you, locking you in your room, and whenever you had the chance to leave your prison, your drunk dad would beat you mercilessly, shouting swears at you. It was just plain luck that the time you ran away from your father, the door was left unlocked, letting you escape out into the woods, "GET BACK HERE YOU FUCKING BRAT!!!" screeched from inside the house, as you sped away as fast as you could, limping slightly from the beatings. You took a rest behind a large tree, trying to catch your breath and also soothe your aching body as the more you tried to run, the worse the pain got. There was no sound of footsteps anywhere, letting you know that you were safe for now, but you knew that your father was searching for you, ready to beat you again for disobeying him. Wincing, you slowly got up from the ground, moving slowly to avoid stepping on any branches that would alert anyone nearby.

A few minutes went by and you slowly came across a small river. Oh finally, some fresh water. Getting on your knees, your hands scooped some water, bringing it to your mouth to drink. The river was able to reflect back at you, allowing you to see yourself. One of your eyes was swollen from being punched, cheeks sunken from being starved and your lip was bleeding. It was a surprised that your face still remained the same, even after all the beatings that were inflicted on you. "Rustle..Rustle." A soft sound was heard from a large bush, causing you to jump up in fright. You were waiting for the figure of your father, to come out, but nothing appeared. The sounds continued, earning your curiosity.

Moving closer to the sound, you peeked behind a bush and let out a gasp. A large deer appeared in front of you, its fur a dark crimson red and its antlers black as coal. It was on the ground, hoof caught in a bear trap. It noticed your presence, dark red eyes staring back at you, gazing into your soul. Moving slowly as not to startle it, you sat next to the deer, letting it know you were not a threat. Drawing your eyes to the trapped leg, you placed your hands on the jaws, "I'm gonna try to open this okay?" Using the strength you could muster, the jaws of the trap slowly inched open bit by bit, allowing the deer to pull it out. Once you saw that the deer had freed its foot, you push the trap slowly together, so it wouldn't snap on your hand, setting it on the ground once you had closed it. The deer's foot was bleeding heavily, having been punctured by the sharpness of the trap.

Moving away from the deer, you went back to the river and picked up some water with your hands, carrying it over back to the deer. The water helped removed some of the blood that was on the leg and would help reduce the chance of infection a bit. Grabbing your shirt, you ripped a piece of cloth off, using it as bandage for the cut, to prevent it from bleeding more. Having tied it on, you look at your work, making sure it was all set before setting the foot down. Looking back at the deer, you gave it a smile, "There you go, that should help with the bleeding. Just hope you are able to walk." The deer had remained surprisingly calm when you were helping it, which was quite strange, but you were just glad it didn't run away or else that wound would have gotten infected. The crimson deer, moved its legs, standing up to his full height, apparently able to move on the wounded hoof. It moved slowly, its head coming closer to yours, giving your face a sniff. Its tongue had come out and licked your lip, cleaning the blood that was dripping from it. "Haha I'll take that as a thank you." Giggling at the sensation, your hand raised and rubbed the deer's cheek, which made its ears twitch. "Never seen a red deer before. Quite beautiful."

The moment was ruined when you heard a loud yell, "Y/N!!! YOU BETTER GET YOUR ASS BACK HERE OR SO HELP ME GOD I WILL KILL YOU!!!" Jumping at the scream, you realized your dad was close. Looking back at the deer, you motioned your hand for it to leave, not wanting your dad to catch it and possibly kill it, "Go now!! Run!" The deer didn't think twice and bolted away, disappearing into the bushes. Hearing more rustling from behind you, you turned seeing your father, face red from anger and the alcohol, as he was holding a beer bottle in his hand. "FOUND YOU, YOU LITTLE BITCH!" He rushed towards you, the end of the bottle smashing against your head, causing it to break. "AHH!!", Grasping your head, there was a wet sensation appearing on your hand, making you pull back, seeing blood. A hand had grabbed your hair, body being lifted a bit off the ground, as you saw the hatred filled eyes of your father glaring down at you "YOU THINK YOU CAN RUN AWAY FROM ME?!? I'LL BEAT THE LIVING SHIT OUT OF YOU, SO YOU CAN NEVER ESCAPE AGAIN!!" He pulled, dragging your body back to the house, your hell. "N-No! Let go!!" Your cries were left unheard, as the rough grip form your fathers hand on your hair continued to yank, dragging you, body scraping against the grassy surface. As you were being pulled away, a pair of glowing eyes appeared from far out of the forest, before they vanished.

✪Next Day✪

Groaning in pain, your hands were motioning left and right in soapy liquid, washing the dishes. This was the continuation of your punishment for trying to escape. Your mom caught wind of your escape attempt and joined in on the beating with your father. When you woke up, body still on the cold floor, your mother came from the kitchen, pointing her finger and yelling at you to do the dishes, since it's your duty to do all the chores and not hers. The tormentors that were your parents, were lazying about on the couch, watching TV as you continued to watch the dishes. It hurt....it hurt so much you could barely stand. Tears were running down your face, drops landing into the soapy water. Using one of your soap covered hands, you tried to wipe the tears from your face, however doing that caused the glass in your other hand to drop to the floor, shattering into a million pieces. The sound alerted both of your parents, the both of them darting off the couch and into the kitchen, faces fueled with anger and malice. "YOU LITTLE SHIT! WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?! The roaring voice from your dad made you yelp in fear, raising your hands up for some sort of protection. "I-I dropped a glass! I-I'm sorry!" You prayed for mercy, hoping that they would only yell and degrade you. "You're sorry?" The cold tone from your mom, made you shiver, tears still running down your cheeks. "You don't look very sorry. Honey, I believe its time for some proper punishment." The evil smile on her face, made your stomach drop. No..No..NO..NO!!!

Your legs sprung to life, darting from the kitchen, trying to reach the hallway that led to your room. Your dad was quicker, his fist connecting with your face, causing you to fall to the floor, groaning from the pain. Your hands grabbed at your bruised cheek, crying loudly. Your dad stood above you, veins bursting from his face. His body got on top of yours, hands grasping your throat, squeezing. The air you were breathing was caught off, making you panic. You tried to push the hands from your neck, but his grip wouldn't budge, squeezing much tighter at your struggling. Your mouth couldn't utter a sound, faint gasping trying to get some air. Why? Why was this happening to you? Why must the two of these individuals, not even parents, monsters, must torment you so? Black spots popped in your vision, growing more and more weak, as the pressure on your throat continued. "Someone.....anyone.....please....h-help..me", your mind screamed, vision growing more and more hazy.

"Knock..knock..knock" Loud knocking came from the front door. Your dad locked eyes with it in confusion, turning his head to your mom, wondering who the hell it was. His hands had loosen slightly, allowing some air to enter through your mouth, but just barely. The knocking presumed, which got on your mom's nerve as you heard her curse, walking past the both of you to answer it. The ringing in your ears was making it impossible to hear what was going, but you heard the sound of the door slamming shut, and the sounds of footsteps approaching, your moms probably. A gush of wind was felt from behind, and through the ringing in your ears, you heard a voice, "I…….in..yo….daughter," it was broken, but it sounded like static?

✪Alastors POV✪

The door to this humble estate opened, revealing a small petite woman on the other side, wearing a scowl on her face. "Greetings, madam. Apologies for the sudden intrusion, but I acquire your daughter. Is the little darling here by chance?" Bowing a bit, I locked eyes with the miss, who seemed displeased at my arrival. "We aren't interested in what your trying to sell buddy. Take a hike-SLAM!" The door slammed in my face, hmph how rude. Molding into the shadows, my body manifested into the house, appearing in front of the supposed father-figure and the person who I was seeking, "I decided to let myself in, as I did say, I acquire your daughter." The poor darling was laying on the ground, face horribly bruised and neck laced with finger marks. Smile straining at the sight, my eyes locked onto the male on top of her. He soon stood up, walking towards me, attempting to be intimidating. How foolish.

"HEY! WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE COMING INTO OUR HOUSE LIKE THAT?! BEAT IT ASSHOLE!!" The man screamed, whiffs of alcohol emanating from his breath. The mother had came around me, crossing her arms as she stood next to her husband, eyes cold, "I don't know how you got in here, but I prefer you leave now before I call the police." As if a measly man dressed in a suit with a gun and badge could harm me. Summoning my staff, I gave it a twirl, before placing it down on the ground. "Now now, all I want is your daughter, who is laying on the floor, next to you." The both of them, looked at each other before returning back to me with smirks. "You want this pathetic waste of space right here?" The man raised his leg, striking the lady with a kick, sending her flying, body hitting the side wall. Her body remained limp, but she was awake enough to let out a groan of pain, grip on my staff tightening. “I implore you not to do that again."

The so-called man wore a smirk, raising his foot again to strike, "Whatcha gonna do about-" He never finished his sentence as the shadows I called stopped his kick, before lifting him up in the air and throwing him down the hall like a ragdoll. "AHHHHHH!" He was able to let out one good scream before his head hit the wall, knocking him out. "I believe I recalled saying,nøŧ ŧø đø ŧħȺŧ ȺǥȺɨn." The air grew heavy, as the dark shadows flooded the walls and floors, glaring at both the mother and father. My antlers grew to massive lengths, and slits changing into radio dials, revealing my true demon form. The mother's face was shocked, collapsing onto the ground with tears in her eyes, "M-monster!" She cried out, as her body shivered with fear. "ĦȺĦȺ-ĦØØ, Mønsŧɇɍ? Ɏøᵾ Ⱥɍɇ sȺđłɏ mɨsŧȺꝁɇn, mɨss. Ɨ Ⱥm Ⱥ đɇmøn, Ŧħɇ ɌȺđɨø Đɇmøn." Bending down, I leaned closer, enjoying the fearful expression coming from the mother. It didn't take long before her eyes rolled back and she fainted from the fear, "Ħmm, ħøw đᵾłł. UsᵾȺłłɏ ŧħɇɏ sȼɍɇȺm fɨɍsŧ ƀɇføɍɇ ᵽȺssɨnǥ øᵾŧ." Returning my attention back to the one I seek, her body floated in the air with my powers, as she floated into my arms, carrying her bridal style. She weighed almost nothing, the poor thing, body lacking any source of fullness, bony from head to toe. She had awoken a bit, moving her head softly to look at me, pupils glazed, "H-h-help." The voice she let out was so soft, before her head collapsed, landing against my chest. Leaning closer, I nuzzled against her head softly, "Not to worry, my dear, I will offer my assistance." My eyes locked on to the two bodies on the ground, smile growing.

✪Your POV✪

"Mmmmm...ughhhhh." Letting out a groan, you opened your eyes slightly, vision blurry. Your neck felt very sore, moving your hand up slowly to rub at it. Something was wrapped around your body, making it hard for you to move. Vision clearing a bit, your eyes gazed up to see trees hovering above you, fireflies flying around. Huh? You blinked again, feeling like it was your imagination. The more you blinked, you realized this was real. Moving slowly with a groan, your head looked down to see that you were on a bed, wrapped in a soft blanket. It took you a minute to realize this wasn't your bed, the sheets looked expensive and the covers were crimson red. Your eyes darted out to ponder where you were. Half of the room was a forest, reminding you of the one near your house, but on the other half, it was attached to a regular room, walls decorated with stag heads, glowing fireplace with green flames, a tall bookcase and a desk where a big cathedral radio was. "This can't be real. I'm dreaming." Pinching your arm, you waited for this all to disappear, expecting the area around you to transform into your real bedroom. Nothing changed once you did that, realizing that this was reality, and you were in a two dimensional room, having no idea where in the hell you were.

The door to the room bursted open, and in came a man dressed to the nines in a red suit, holding a microphone stand. Bright crimson eyes locked onto yours, and his smile was stretched to the max on his face, "Ahh awake now, are we?". He took long strides to the bed you laid on, smiling down at you, as you continued to observe him. He was tall, which made him a bit intimidating, but your eyes scanned him all over trying to figure out who and what he was. "Who-what?" It felt almost impossible to talk, as you were still trying to piece together what was going on. The person in front of you, noticed your confusion, letting out a chuckle that was mixed with static. "Haha, I suspected you must be terribly dumbstruck about your current situation. First things first, I will introduce myself. My name is Alastor. Pleasure to be meeting you again." He bowed, while he gripped one of your hands, placing a soft kiss on it, making you jump a bit. "Ummm...nice to meet you. Do you mind telling me where I am?" You noticed the little puffs of hair on his head move after you said that, wait are those ears? "Ah yes, We are currently in the fine establishment of the Hazbin Hotel, run by the Princess of Hell herself. The room we are in right now is my own private quarters." He leaned back to his full height, extending his hands out like he was giving a performance for a big show.

Did he just say Hell? How on god's green earth could you be in hell? Placing your hands on your neck, you rubbed at the sore sensation, as your memory flickered, trying to recall what happened. "Am I dead?" The man in front of you, leaned his head back, letting out a loud chortle, "HA! No! You are not dead, my dear. Just made a simple portal between the living world and Hell to bring you here." Okayyyyyyyyy, that answered your question a bit, but it was still mind-baffling that you were here, in Hell. Feeling a bit awkward that you didn't introduce yourself, you smiled softly a bit at him, "Sorry I'm Y/N. Nice to meet y......wait, you said again, have the both of us met before?" There was no way you have met him before, as you would remember a well-dressed deer man. The microphone stand he was holding disappeared, moving slowly to take a seat on the bed where you laid, lips turning into a tender smile, "Oh my, don't tell me you have forgotten? You treated the horrible wound that was afflicted on my leg by that horrible trap. I also must thank you for the compliment, not many have referred to me as beautiful before."

All the memories started flooding back, remembering the deer you had saved and treated, until your father dragged you away. "You were that deer?" Alastor's ears twitched in amusement, chuckling softly, "Correct, my dear. It is hard to come across good venison in hell, so I often times travel to the human world to hunt. My deer form draws less eyes towards me then this one," He announced, gesturing to himself, as he was explaining. "Is your wound okay?" You asked, concerned eyes gazing down to his foot. His eyes widen for a bit, not expecting you to ask him that, seeing as how stunned you before, you still had the courtesy to ask about his well-being, "It's perfectly alright now my deer, no need to stress. Your handiwork helped control a lot of the bleeding." His hand waved in the air, as the static crackled in his voice.

The pain on your neck was bothering you more, placing both hands on it to alleviate some of the pain. Flashbacks of your father began to play in your mind, recalling the hateful eyes from both him and your mother as he continued to strangle you to death. Sobbing, the tears began to flood your cheeks, alerting the demon next to you. "Oh no! There is no need to cry, my dear. You are safe from them now, they will never hurt you again. I made sure of it," His voice was soft, hands placing themselves on your cheeks, wiping away at the tears. His hands were warm, making you lean a bit into the touch. He made sure of it? What did he mean by that. Alastor was able decipher the question you wanted to ask him, just by reading your face, "I am known as the Radio Demon, most powerful overlord in all of hell. Those who have wrong me or provoked my rage will have their screams broadcasted all throughout hell. I slaughtered your parents in the living world, and found them in hell as sinners, granting them a second death by my hands. Their pitiful screams for mercy were just broadcasted a little while ago, thank Satan, you were still asleep." He said all of this like it was the most causal thing in the world, while your mouth opened wide like a fish.

"YOU KILLED THEM!?!" Finding the energy to move, you jumped out of the bed, standing a good feet away from the bed. Alastor tilted his head, confused at your reaction, "Well yes, Was that not what you wanted? To be saved?" He got you there, as you recalled wanting what was happening to you to stop, but not resulting in the death of your parents. "They were horrible people, but I didn't them to die. I just.....I wanted to leave and never go back, away from them forever." You wanted to roll into a ball, wrapping your arms around yourself, feeling super overwhelmed over everything.

✪Alastors POV✪

Oh dear, this is only stressing out the poor darling more. My past sins have driven me numb to any form of guilt, but I have forgotten it's not the same for others. Removing myself from the bed, I stood in front of the little human, hooking their chin softly to gaze up at me. "If you feel responsible for what has happened to them, don't. They were going to kill you either way, even if you had left, they would have found a way to find you. They are the cause of their own undoing, not you." The tears still remained in her eyes, but she seemed slightly calmer now. "Why? Why did you save me?" She whimpered out, making my heart ache a bit. Chuckling to myself, my hands squished her cheeks, she was simply adorable. "Simply returning the favor, my dear. You helped me and I returned it in kind." Her eyes continued to gaze into mine, before they dropped to the ground. Suddenly, her arms wrapped around my waist, pulling me into a hug.

The sudden act made me stiffen, being unfamiliar with acts like this. "Thank you....for saving me." The muffled voice against my chest made me relax, returning the hug back, with one hand on her waist, and the other petting her soft hair. I allowed this to go on for a few more minutes before pulling back, "Ahem, I believe its time to head to the lobby. I'm sure the residents will be delighted in meeting you." The little darling in front of me tilted her head, appearing confused, "Residents?" Her cute acts made me shake with laughter, as I poke her nose softly, "Yes! Residents! We are in a hotel after-all." With a wave of my hand, my microphone appeared, allowing me to twirl it with my fingers, before setting it down, I extended my arm out, waiting for her to take a hold, "Come along, darling! Best not to keep them waiting!" There was a bit of hesitation that flashed on her face for a second before it was replaced with a kind soft smile, as her arm hooked around mine. "Lovely! Now! Let us head on down!" The both of us strode over to the door, leaving my humble quarters, as we headed to lobby, where dear Charlie and the others resided, ready for them to meet our new addition to the hotel.

-END-

Sinners:

@alastorsgoldie @91062854-ka , @delectableworm , @iiotic

@cookiekyo , @demoarah , @danveration , @beebsbea ,

@veethewriter , @forbidden-sunlight , @pinkcrystal44 , @luujjvi ,

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, @aconstructofamind @angiiiiiiiiie

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, @alastor-the-radio-demons-blog , @twistedvanillacoffee

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@doorknobhater ,

[imhereforthelesbianstuff]

I know we already talked about this a lot (like, a lot) but I just have a little more to say about the jail scene. Mostly because of all the "Vi didn't care about Jinx" and all the "in the middle of a war, they're having sex"

Sort way to say it, using Vi's words: just shut the fuck up.

Using my own words, first of all, Vi didn't know what's Jinx gonna do. As far as she knew, Jinx could have been run away without her, being plotting a new attack against Piltover, or reunited with Sevika. All Vi knew was that she went to rescue her little sister, and that sister punched her (in the same spot Cait did, seriusly, people should stop hitting her there), and left her alone in a cell.

She went behind the back of the woman she loves just to save Jinx of being executed or imprisioned for life. And after that (in her own eyes) betrayal to Cait, Jinx left without her.

And then, Caitlyn is there, and Vi thought she's gonna hate her, for choosing Jinx again, even when Jinx didn't want to be chosen. Vi thought she'd lost, not only her sister, also Caitlyn after all. Just look at her.

But no. Cait is there to say, that she knew, she knew Vi would do this, and that's ok. It's just how Vi is. After all, the Vi who freed Jinx, is the same Vi who became an enforcer for Caitlyn. Vi just can't let the people she loves suffer, if she can do something about it. Cait needed that support and Jinx needed to be free. Both time ended with Vi being punched and let behind. But this time, Caitlyn is there to ease that guilt and pain. She knew Vi was gonna do this, and she helped, because she loves and accept Vi, even when she doesn't understand her.

And no, you can't tell that's was just a Cait's plan to fuck Vi. She did that because she loves her, and didn't expect nothing in return. Just look at her face when she's telling Vi she knew, and a few seconds later, when she stops to tell Vi about her rebound (not so predictable after all, right Cait?), totally different expresions.

And of course Vi kissed her, for the fisrt time in her life, somebody is there just for her, somebody came to support her, not in the other way. So it was pure instinct, visceral, raw feeling. Vi fucking loves her, and Cait just did something no one did for her before. Be there, understand her. How could she not kiss her? Not let herself go in the feeling?

And yes, there's a war, they may die, why wait? They been longing this for so long, and now, both need to feel eacht other, to touch eacht other, to love and hold eacht other. Again, raw emotion.

Maybe she chooses wrong everytime, but this time, she didn't lost everyone. Cait is there, for, and with her.

And I also read some people saying Cait is looking at Vi like a womanizer, Am I the only one seeing just tender in her eyes? Love? Like "this is the woman I love and I would never change her again for nothing" She's looking at Vi with such love.

Sorry for rambling, I don't really have anyone to talk to about Arcane 😬

[goldenmorningglory]

realised that edwin forgave simon before he left which freed simon and death came for him. edwin, who will never really be free of hell's shadow, who is out on technicalities and luck, freed the guy who put him there.

and it's just. simon whose insecurity and fear made him lash out on edwin, who stayed in hell with a punishment that may not have tormented him as much as edwin's, but who was there for all the while. who never really thought of leaving. whose salvation was edwin's words. who was punished and justly deserved to move on.

and there's edwin who despite having done nothing to deserve hell, lands up there on a technicality that makes him endure 70 years of, well, hell. whose first act after escaping it is to extend the kindness of companionship to another boy he knows will die like him. who never expected said boy to actually stick with him. who isn't really free of the fear of hell. who will never be sure his afterlife isn't hell because the bureaucracy of afterlife refuses to acknowledge their mistake or the unfairness of his death.

who despite it all, finds it in himself to understand and immediate apologise to simon, the one who inadvertently sentenced him to this. who knows simon must have endured suffering of his own and so extends his heartfelt solidarity. who knows that simon's feelings for him must have been his personal hell even before he died. who understands and forgives. and thus sets his killer free.

just. like with every individual character arc in the show I hope the goodness of his actions comes back to edwin. edwin who remains kind and good, no, makes the active effort to be kind and good. who may think he's doing all of that to gain brownie points and not get hell, as if he'd ever done anything to deserve it in the first place, but that's not the case. because he didn't have to be kind to simon. he didn't have to say he's sorry or say that simon's feelings were wrong. but he did. because he is kind and good. technically destined to hell or not.

[zeravmeta]

i think a particularly fascinating wrinkle to post amnesia doctor and civilight eterna theresa's dynamic is that for all intents and purposes, the original doctor did die.

because who else is truly left to continue the legacy of their original civilization? doctor explicitly says kal'tsit doesn't even have the full context on the creation of originum, and even if she did kal'tsit has already long chosen terra over their original civilization. pre amnesia doctor was complicit in theresas murder specifically because they were the last one left, they were burdened by the guilt of duty in ensuring that the thousands of years and billions of lives worth of effort didn't go up in smoke. And yet it did. It will.

it was theresa's revenge, after all. her little terrible trick, a final small revenge against the person who wished it didn't have to end this way. the doctor took her life, so she took theirs. 'fate' should not exist, after all. it was her fate to bear the suffering of the sarkaz, and it was the doctors fate to bear the mission of their original civilization. So, she freed them, and destroyed their fate.

Just in the same way the doctor once again freed theresa from her 'fate', able to finally pass on with the countless sarkaz before her, no longer trapped by originum. post amnesia doctor doesnt really know theresa except for the first and last conversation they had in the assimilated originum universe, but in their encounter it's incredibly clear that theresa, even though she so clearly missed them, also knows that post amnesia doctor... isnt the same person.

The original doctor already said goodbye. They faced theresa in that room where she was assassinated, filled with something far too heavy to be called guilt, and stood before her waiting to die. And even though theresa didn't physically kill them, she fractured their mind and took their memories, she took away the burden of their fate as the last survivor of their kind. She banished the evil spirit haunted by the eons of experience and sacrifice and left behind only a purified soul, nothing but a trustworthy fool who fights for the people they love.

memories can be what endures long after a person is gone, but it is the experiences themselves which shape the individual. doctor has no memories, and civilight eterna theresa only inherited all of hers. neither of them had the experiences which shaped their past selves, neither of them are really the same person as those whom everyone around them looked towards, because they can only really grow as people from there.

Their original selves died a long time ago, holding each others hands in that faraway field, and all that's left are the shadows of themselves who can grow into something new. babel's voyage had long ended, but rhodes island will continue. The Evil Spirit of Babel and The King of Sarkaz are long gone, but the Doctor and Civilight Eterna are still here.

the me who is not me and the you who is not you... it didn't work out for our original selves, but even if we are not those people, we are products of their love. it is not by 'fate' that we are here, it is love.

[konigsblog]

PLS CORRUPT PASTOR SIMON N’ DEMON KÖNIG WITH CHRISTIAN READER 🙏‼️

(btw love ur writing, orla! i love everything that comes from ur big, wrinkly brain! much love! 🪻💜)

(thank you for your sweet words, my dearest ! (*⁠´⁠ω⁠｀⁠*⁠))

corrupt-pastor simon who summons the demon that haunts your every waking moment. :( 🪽

tw: religious themes, non-con/dub-con, demons, christian-reader. MDNI 18+

simon has sickening desires, ones that leave him ashamed as a pastor. instead of praying in an attempt to be forgiven for his sins, he summons a demon that haunts you, that leaves you on edge and fearful to sleep every night. you fear falling asleep, worrying you'll be too vulnerable and weak against the large and threatening demon that sits at the end of your bed, that corrupts your mind.

in fact, you're left without a choice but to go to your pastor and plead with him for help and forgiveness for your lust. simon feels his hard dick throb at the sight of your desperation, how pathetic you look with tears rolling down your sensitive cheeks, not aware of the demon standing behind you with a cruel and violent smirk on his face. you can't see him, but you can feel him — he causes your skin to crawl and tears to well in your glossy eyes, as simon tells you to give yourself up, to show how desperate you are for this demon to stop fucking you every night.

simon convinces you to show him how badly you want to be freed from this torture and hell, by coercing you into bending over, and allowing him to have his way with you. you're convinced that simon will help you, as he forces you to read verses from the bible, telling you how well you're doing the entire time. simon's grip on your hair achingly tight as he thrusts and ruts against your tight asshole, your walls pulsing around his girthy cock and tears rolling down your cheeks.

you sob quietly, forced to read bible verses in the hope that you'll be saved from this agony and pain. and it works — for a while, at least. simon tells you that it's in your best interest to submit to him, that this is a test to see how resilient you truly are.

you're forced to endure the suffering of könig's presence and abuse nearly every night. he tells you, through demonic and guttural growls, to turn against the lord, corrupting your mind as he chants satanic phrases against your ear, your body limp and weak as you weep out pitifully, corrupting your mind into giving into könig... :(

[mutable-manifestation]

Ghost Chirps AU Part 5

Part 1 & 2

Part 3

Part 4

***

While “Jason” (i.e. Alfred with an empty jet that Jason will meet up with later in order to “arrive” in Amity) hops a private jet, Red Hood is busy searching the Fenton home from top to bottom.

The local police move slowly, and by the time they arrive Jack and Maddie Fenton are both tied up and disarmed in their living room under heavy guard.

They hadn’t been restrained immediately, Batman talking him into giving them a chance to implicate themselves first.

Hood let him take the lead, but he didn’t even get a chance to ask a question, being cut off at the first indication he might want to talk about their “work.” Less than 60 seconds in, and the pair had outright confessed to violating the meta protection acts - and in tedious detail.

The questioning didn’t suffer any from them being tied up.

Far from the mulish silence or crocodile-tear laden denial of most criminals, they instead doubled down, insisting that nothing they had done was illegal, then jumping to the assumption that they were “possessed” - and boy had it been a nasty surprise when the whole house came alive trying to attack them with a quick verbal command.

Well, trying to attack Hood. And only him, for some reason.

One laser also freed the Fentons, who turned out to have even more weapons built into their suits. 

Somehow. 

Despite them being skintight.

That had been a pain, but Red Robin was able to hack the system using one of the couples’ own devices while Hood dodged - and kept the stray fire away from the others - leaving everyone else to recapture the pair. A blessedly simple task once they found out the lasers would splash harmlessly off of their armor (save for a gross film of green goop left wherever they grazed).

They take turns knocking each unconscious to change them in order to properly disarm them - Batman and Nightwing taking Jack first, followed by Orphan and Spoiler dealing with Maddie. 

The only non-weapon laden clothing they own turns out to be pajamas. 

This is around when the police show up, looking hesitant.

They, too, cite the “Anti-Ecto Acts.”

Oracle had debriefed them on the supposed Acts and “Ghost Investigation Ward” on their short drive over. Both were utterly bogus - the Acts had never even been proposed, let alone been approved as law, and the so-called “GIW” had no ties to the government.

The Fentons had been furious and denied the information intensely when told, but the cops mostly just looked relieved.

Apparently there’d been a lot of property damage by the GIW and Fentons both that had supposedly been dismissed under the Acts as “necessary in the pursuit of ecto-scum.”

For the Fentons, half of this damage was in the form of broken fire hydrants, cracked sidewalks, and totaled cars - they’d never been good drivers, before, the cops disclosed, but they’d become even more negligent since the ghosts began appearing, to the point they had to have a news segment warning when they would be on the road.

The lack of fatalities thus far had been nothing short of a miracle, they claimed.

“Of course there haven’t been any fatalities!” Mrs Fenton defends. “Our work is to protect people from those things, not make more! Officers, listen to reason-” Hood snorts disdainfully -”The Red Hood is clearly a ghost! All our systems targeted him the moment they came online - and they only target ecto-entities. He’s clearly taken these heroes under his sway - why else would they be working with a murderer!? You have to do something before he starts up his killing here in Amity!”

The officers look at him a bit hesitantly, but Batman is unmoved and gives the cover story Hood had outlined back in the alley.

Any concerns the locals have are quickly assuaged.

But for the whole explanation, Jason is trying not to shake even as he falls apart in place.

Their little website called them ghost-hunters, making it pretty clear what “ecto-entities” meant. 

Their system supposedly only targets ecto-entities.

The system had only targeted him.

The system only targets ghosts.

Jason had died.

A lot of his family members had died, too, granted. 

But Jason was the only one who seemed to come back wrong - anger sticking in his throat and never quite fading, an inclination towards violence even when he wasn’t angry well beyond what he’d ever felt before, and a sea of other emotions (that he would never acknowledge aloud) and triggers for those emotions that he always struggled to make heads or tails of.

He doesn’t have the meta gene. He knows that. He knew that.

He just assumed that the test missed it, because he knows he doesn’t know magic - the All Blades being the only exception - and he couldn’t think of another explanation at the time.

But he came back wrong.

And as he stands there, he wonders if he came back at all, mind on Solomon Grundy.

Wonders if he isn’t just some ghost, wandering around possessing his own corpse.

He jolts, as the thought strikes him: what about Danny?

If he’s a ghost and chirping is a ghost thing then what about his KID!?

Absently, he notes that Bruce has started interrogating the cops on what they meant by “ghost attacks.” 

He ignores the discussion, hustling for the door in the kitchen down to the lab.

He slams and locks the door behind him - in Red Robin’s face - as he descends, making a b-line for the computer he’d seen when the Fentons had dragged them all down there to start bragging about their crimes.

The only thing Oracle could get out of the whole building was things that were openly available online; direct connections were impossible.

Opening up the screen, he gets to cracking.

Going for the surface level files first, it turns out he doesn’t even need so much as a password to find what he wants.

One of the video game sub-files has an unrelated file in it: ghost notes.

There are plenty of other notes, of course, but he’d only been skimming to start, looking for anything hidden.

The Fenton parents were too open to bother, of course, with plenty of more obvious files strewn haphazardly across the home screen, but it’s always better to check. That there is a hidden file means it was likely made by either Danny or Jazz.

And it’s a treasure trove.

Sub-files for rogues, allies, conditional allies, and “halfas” were what greeted him.

The last being the only term he didn’t recognize, he clicked.

6 files: Clones, Danny, Dani, Dan, Vlad, and Red Hood.

He clicks his own file.

What greets him is a picture of himself 4 days ago, looking just to the left of the lens in an alley that he distinctly remembers searching for the kid in.

Just below is text.

~~~

??? Name: Red Hood

Species: probably a halfa

Status: Nnnneutral? I think? I know, I know, heads in bags. But Valerie tries to kill me all the time! And we’re allies sometimes! Hood- uh- looked for me? Okay I guess I can’t really judge this yet but please read the first met section before you judge please you guys?

First met: Aug 17, 2005, was in Gotham to bother Batman, stopped to think a bit on some fire escape - decide on the first prank yknow - but then my ghost sense went off. It felt like a halfa so I thought “oh cool, must be Dani” so I chirped, but then Red Hood - who was chasing some guy down an alley at the time - froze and looked around. I dropped visibility and chirped again and yeah, he definitely heard it. Humans can’t so he’s definitely a halfa - no glow so he can’t be a full ghost and it felt nothing like an overshadowing. 

Ended up following Hood around the rest of week - forgot to prank Batman, damn - and playing hide-and-seek with the chirps. It was really funny. But he very obviously doesn’t know he’s a halfa. But the guy is, like, scary levels of smart, so I’m sure he’ll figure it out on his own now that the chirp thing made it clear that something is up. Hopefully.

I figure I can go back in winter break - he should have it figured out and let his emotions process enough by then to at least hear me out when I explain the AEA and GIW and everything, then it won’t matter so much if he can, like, track me by voice or something if I talk since we’ll have MAD by then.

Despite his reputation, the people living in his haunt seem to love the guy. I can see why. On top of the whole smart he’s actually really nice to people he’s not shooting in the knees (which only even happened one time in the week I was there? It was actually pretty relaxing - most quiet week I’ve had since the portal opened THANK YOU TUCKER for hacking the portal hatch to be inoperable for a week). 

Where was I? Oh yeah, he’s actually surprisingly nice to people? So like, I think he’ll probably hear me out if I go back and be polite? I hope. Hate to leave the guy in the dark and him end up on the GIWs dissection table for “lots and lots of painful experiments.”

Not that those guys could even catch the Box Ghost. But uh, Hood doesn’t seem to have powers either? Or if he does he doesn’t know about them I don’t think - he only used the chirp the whole time I was their - not even to cheat with moving around.

Seriously. That guy's acrobatics could make Freakshow’s contortionist green - er, red??? - with envy. Actually wait, aren’t contortionists and acrobats different things?

SAM NOTE: help^?

Powers: 

?

~~~

Jason leans back, breathing deeply.

“Not a full ghost,” “not 'overshadowed'” - a term that sounds likke some kind of cousin to possesision - “definitely a halfa,” “humans can’t hear chirps.”

Halfa. 

Half. 

Ghost. 

Half Ghost.

It should sound absurd - you can’t be half alive and half dead.

But Jason has seen the Lazarus pits, has met Solomon Grundy, has met aliens and bullshit magic and can pull magical swords out of his own damn chest.

Half alive. Half dead.

Hopefully not just a fancy way to say possessing his own corpse.

He doesn’t have time to deal with every file - he’ll “confiscate” one of their USBs with a copy of everything for himself before leaving the rest to Batman & co, of course, minus the halfa files (a small part of him wants to shove his condition in Bruce’s face and demand he kill the clown again even though he knows it’s a futile hope, but the rest - the same part that snapped and denied and refused to say he was a meta less that a day ago now - cannot stomach the thought of even more rejection. Of a Bruce that believes he’s a monster. Of a Bruce that mourns him even while he’s right there. Or at least, more than he already does.) - but while the files copy he take the time to look at Danny’s.

The image has two people, Danny Fenton on one side and a version of the kid in a black hazmat suit with white hair, tanned skin, and painfully familiar green eyes. And floating.

~~~

Human Name: Danny Fenton

Ghost Name: Danny Phantom

Species: Halfa (half-human, half ghost)

~~~

It’s the section after that that makes Jason’s breath catch in his throat.

~~~

Death: The Portal Accident

So like, there was no audio (thank GOD I do not want to hear myself screaming) so. Details: When the portal didn’t work when they plugged it in mom and dad left for fudge, Jazz went to try and talk them into a more realistic career choice than ghosts. Sam and Tucker came over and Sam dared me to climb in and check it out - it was broken anyway so no harm. Except it wasn’t broken, just that my parents put the on button inside. Which I caught myself on when I tripped on a wire.

Anyway, electrocution! 

(T - Danny for the love of god be more serious, the cheerful tone is creepy)

(D - Hey! I’m the one who died! Shouldn’t I at least get to write my own epitaph)

(S - …Danny this is not an epitaph. You don’t even HAVE a grave)

(D - wow way to rub it in Sam)

(T - yeah Sam)

(S - ugh! Whatever, just stop with the chatting in official files)

(T - “official”)

(S - Tucker.)

(T - shutting up now)

Electrocution! I got zapped to death, but the ectoplasm from the portal was also opening up on top of me and a lot got bonded to me I guess (S - probably because of the electricity with how you ended up with some of Vortex' powers for a little while) at the same time said electricity was reviving me? - probably getting my heart beating again or something, I was a little busy screaming to pay attention (T - yeah okay we're going to Nasty Burger after this. And playing Doomed) - not that it would’ve mattered without the ghostification preventing me from melting me all the way to death.

Status: Me!

Powers:

Chirps! (ghost echolocation of some kind! humans can't hear em - halfas can, of course, in either form)

Form Change (really Sam? This barely counts)

Human form

Ghost form (no need to breathe)

Flight (last clock speed 210mph) (T - and climbing. Dang dude)

Invisibility (S - don’t forget shareable.) (Shareable. sigh)

Intangibility (Shareable)

Ecto Rays (eyes & hands) (T - and butt) (D - dude! I’m deleting that. Tucker why can't I delete it. TUCKER) (T - bow down in awe of my ksill) (S - ksill) (D - ksill) (T - yeah okay it’s permanent now) (D - aw man!)

Ghost Sense (S - why do we never test your range?) (D - no need? They always make themselves obvious or are being sneaky specifically to annoy me so *shrug*) (S - I still think we should test it)

Power Absorption (that time with Vortex’s weather powers)

Cryokinesis (Wayyyyy to much ice. NOT testing max output on that) (T - yeah frozen city was enough, let’s not cause an ice age. Tech needs some cool but too much is still bad and I just upgraded Patricia)

Ghostly Wail (cone of destruction, very exhausting - always at max output. Not to be used)

GHOST FORM ONLY (but really just never)

Cartoon Body (D - what???) (S - Freakshow literally turned you into a puddle and you just turned back and were fine. I don’t know what else to call that) (D - okay fair. but:)

GHOST FORM ONLY

Physical Enhancement (better strength, speed, stamina, durability, reflexes, balance, etc much better than human) (T - why does this look like dnd knockoff stats haha)

GHOST FORM ONLY (S - obviously mr last place in PE)

Resistances (pretty solid on the overshadowing, avoided being taken in by Ember until targeted, didn’t get turned to stone during the Medusa thing) (S - which was pure luck! Be careful!)

Ecto Electricity (ghost stinger, but I really don’t think this counts Sam. I mean I just. Make my ecto zappy. But it’s still just ecto) (S - so is your ICE and you don’t just call that "just cold ecto") (D - fine, but it feels overly specific) (S - maybe writing it all down will make you stop. Forgetting. POWERS!) (D - come on Sam that was a lucky hit! I was distracted! And it turned out fine!) (S - Fenton…) (D - oop okay doing fire now)

Ecto Fire (made Dash’s shoes melty that one time by make the ecto hot) (T - really needs more testing)

Tech possession (chasing Technus into computers, not very tested)

Ghost form only, i guess?

Overshadowing (control people, copy their voice, invade dreams - the control one erases the person’s memory so they don’t know they were overshadowed just lost time. I hate Walker. SO much) (T - rip Danny’s reputation, you’ll be missed)

Probably ghost form only

Duplication (T - That’s optimistic) (D - I’M WORKING ON IT OKAY!?) (S - pretty sure it just falls under cartoon body until you can actually separate) (D - :( betrayal)

Probably ghost form only

More? (D - ugh I hope not) (T - hey don’t say that, maybe you’ll get a power to make the JL give a crap about Amity) (D - honestly I’m getting pretty close to letting Boxy loose in Gotham) (S - Danny, don’t stoop to their level!) (D - it's only box ghost!) (T - I mean he has a point)

~~~

Jason changes his mind, seeing the commentary, and deletes the entire hidden file from the computer as soon as his copy is made. He can go over everything and bring any important info to Bruce separately, the bat’s can just chew on the parents’ files for now.

Once the original files are thoroughly and irretrievably removed he pockets his shiny new USB, makes a second one with all the official files, and heads back up and out - carelessly brushing past a thoroughly irate Red Robin with a pair of firemen and broken jaws of life. And not a scratch on the door; impressive - just in time to get Oracle’s text that he’s got 2 hours and 16 minutes to be at the location on his HUD so he can “arrive” to Amity.

And a fresh set of civilian clothes will be waiting in the plane, Alfred as reliable as ever.

“Files,” he says, tossing the safe USB to Batman and interrupting his interrogation of the police officer.

He catches it effortlessly of course, but the officer stops paying attention to him to jolt at Hood’s reappearance - even outside of Gotham his reputation is fierce.

“I sent a copy to myself. I’ll review them and give you an overview, but other than that consider this the end of my involvement in this little shitshow,” he says, continuing smoothly to the door. “I’m heading back to Gotham.”

Now, he has a little over two hours before Jason Todd needs to arrive in Amity Park. He only needs to lay hands on a laptop that he can isolate from Babs’ influence and he should be able to review the Halfa files in full before he "lands" - after he figures out just why the kid has a grudge against the JL.

[sashi-ya]

𝚈𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚐𝚒𝚏𝚝 𝚒𝚜 𝚞𝚗𝚍𝚎𝚛 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚝𝚊𝚋𝚕𝚎, 𝙳𝚛. 𝙸𝚜𝚑𝚒𝚍𝚊 𝚄𝚛𝚢𝚞 uryu's birthday drabble ⋆ mdni nsfw +18 ⋆ semi public, oral

ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ happy birthday, Ishida-kun! 𓂃⋆.˚

The rug material sucks; why does this thing have to be here? it carves into your knees; it’s starting to itch. Ah, but the sweet caress on your head coming from Dr. Ishida’s hand makes it everything better.

You shouldn’t make much noise; in fact, you shouldn’t be hiding underneath his desk… why the hell these doctors had to visit his office right now?

His hardness is noticeable, it protrudes from his pants. Your hand slides up, slowly, in complete silence. You shouldn’t do this, or else you are gonna make Dr. Uryuu blush.

But you can’t help it; you went there with a single purpose… celebrate the Dr’s birthday. And nothing, nor nobody will stop you from doing so. If he got “very busy” enough to go back home later than expected, then his surprise must be received in here.

You nuzzle on his thigh, inhaling the scent of his neat trousers. Everything so clean, so perfectly ironed… fabric you wish to stain, to shrivel, to ruin. A kiss on his leg, only makes his pants tent bigger… “Ah, are you getting excited Dr. Ishida?”

Uryuu starts bouncing his leg, as he fights to stay serious while a bunch of med interns yap about the cases they’ve been assigned. His hand, that hangs down the desk, tries to sign you to stop in a desperate attempt for you not to continue with the following step of this sexual torture; reaching his sex, that’s been almost freed, as you were lowering his zipper right before they arrived.

Wet, completely dampened in precum, is how you found his boxer briefs. Poor man, what have he done to suffer this faith?! “Let me fix it for you, Dr. Ishida…”

“Very well; that should do for the day, why don’t you all take some time off? Patients have been all -ngh-. Excuse me…” Uryu gets interrupted by your lips finally surrounding his sex; he tries to cover it up with a cough but there is no way he could cover the blush on his usually pale cheeks.

“Are you ok, Dr. Ishida?” an intern, who happens to be one of those annoying females that surrounds your man on a daily basis, asks. She decides to stay, even if the rest have already left the office.

You focus your tongue on his tip; “tell her how good you are feeling, Ishida-kun, come on!”

“AH- yes. Sorry! I’m just tired!” Uryu excuses himself once more, fixing his glasses, getting closer to his desk, trying to normalize his breathing.

“Oh! Can I do something for you, Dr. Ishida?” she insists, and you suck harder. Adding now your hand around his shaft.

Uryuu takes a deep breath; he knows this could go two possible ways, one he resists or cums right in front of a subordinate. The you stopping doesn’t enter the equation, in fact is the only thing that won’t change but rather increase…

“No, I am married man” he finally snaps, feeling the smirk on your lips forming around his dick.

“I- no- I’m sorry…” the girl whispers, leaving soon the office. Uryuu finally looks down; you are enjoying this more than anyone else perhaps.

“Stop. Stand Up. Turn around” he commands, hitting the desk. And you know he will finish the job you started.

“Yes, Dr. Ishida. Claim your birthday gift ~” you obey.

[tourettesdog]

DP x DC prompt where, somehow, Danny winds up in a thermos. Somehow, that thermos winds up locked away in one of the Justice League's vaults.

The energy that radiates off of it is powerful-- dangerous, dark, twisted, and dead. The magic users that interact with the thermos deem it unsafe to handle. They store it away, until they can better understand what they are handling-- but later never really comes.

It just sits, collecting dust, and the world outside moves on.

Years later, following in her original's footsteps, Dani becomes a hero. It's been years now since Danny disappeared and she's given up hope of ever finding him. The portal was shut down when the ghosts became too much to handle in Danny's absence. Amity has been quieter than it ever was, somehow feeling deader without the ghosts that used to haunt it so frequently.

Dani moves on-- all of Team Phantom does, with nothing left to anchor them to Amity Park. Even the Fenton parents shy away from it all, for once setting down their work, a little too late to fix what they missed.

Dani winds up on the Justice League. She doesn't talk much about Danny, if at all. It's easier to focus on the now, which Dani's always been good at. It's easier to keep moving forward than it is to think about what all she's suffered and lost.

Even without the Fenton portal, however, the ghosts of the Zone make themselves heard again. A large natural portal opens in Gotham and Dani finds herself the best equipped for the job. She never saw much use in explaining ghost weapons to the League before, always a little worried that it would endanger herself, but now the threat demands more firepower than she can give by herself.

Dani talks about the sort of weapons they used to use on the ghosts, recounting the Fenton thermos and how useful it was for capturing ghosts.

Someone remembers a thermos. Someone pulls it from the vault, and Dani takes it with shaking hands. It's the first time she's held one in years.

There's a familiar energy coursing through it and Dani feels like she might be sick.

She feels relief and anger in equal measure when Danny is at last freed from the thermos.

[vivwritesfics]

This is for frat lando and max

So it's like a part two of the tutor one and you go back to the frat house to help lando but he's out and your left with max, max makes 'his little mouse' do all kind of things until lando walks into them during the act. Lando is obviously a bit pissed off... You make up the rest honey!!

Smutty and angsty 😻

I did a part two already but i loooove this so alternate part two!!

warnings: smut, oral (male!receiving)

Trying to work at Lando's desk was damn near impossible. She was supposed to be helping him with his essays, supposed to be helping him find relevant references and put a plan together so that he could write it.

But every five minutes he was tipping her face towards him and stealing a kiss, trying to pull her into his lap. Her face was hot as she tried to turn his attention back to their work. But nothing worked, nothing got his attention off of her.

Until his phone went off. Lando pulled his phone from his pocket and swiped his finger across the screen, answering it. He stood from his chair and walked out of the room.

A sigh left her lips as she looked down at her notebook. There were a few references written down and a basic plan, not enough for him to get on with his work. She should have left the house then and there, should have left him to suffer through his studies alone. But she couldn't.

The door opened. "Can we actually get on with it now?" She asked as she wrote down the important things about the source of information he was going to be using.

"Get on with what, little mouse?"

That wasn't Lando.

A gasp left her lips as she stood and turned to face Lando's frat brother. He was slightly older and just as gorgeous as Lando. "Sorry," she said and swallowed. "I thought you were Lando."

"I know, little mouse," he said and strode over to her. "I'm not Lando. I'm better."

His fingers were gentle under her chin as he tipped her face towards him, made her look up at him. She met his gaze, but she was trembling. Max's thumb touched her bottom lip, pulled it down slightly. But then his thumb was in her mouth, pressing down on her tongue.

"I think you know what I want you to do."

She made an assumption and sucked his thumb, swirled her tongue around it. Max hummed in satisfaction and placed his other hand on her shoulder. He kept his tongue in her mouth as he pushed her to her knees.

Max freed himself from his trousers. She didn't need telling what to do as she moved from his thumb to his cock. Her tongue swirled around his tip, just as it had his thumb before she took him as deep as she could. His tip nudged the back of her throat, but she didn't gag.

"You look so pretty, little mouse," he whispered, his hand on her head. The way he pushed in just a little more was so gentle, but tears gathered in the corner of her eyes and rolled down her cheeks.

When Max told her to sit there and keep her mouth around him, she did. She sat on her knees as Max withdrew his dick from between her lips, so her lips were just around his tip. But then he pushed back in.

The way he fucked her face was so damn gentle. He sped up as he closed his eyes and released a guttural groan. "Fuck, little mouse," he mumbled as her fingers wrapped around his base.

Gripping her hair, Max pulled away from her. She chased after him, tried to keep him in her mouth, but Max kept her where she was, spilled on her shirt.

Still holding her hair, Max took a minute to catch his breath. He pulled his phone from his pocket, opening the camera app as the door behind him opened. He ignored it, snapped a picture of her with his ejaculate on her shirt.

"What the fuck?"

Still trying to catch her breath, she looked past him, looked at Lando. Embarrassment flooded her and she tried to hide herself behind Max, but he stepped out of the way, revealing her. "Thank you, little mouse," he said and petted her head, an attempt to humiliate her before he left the room.

He met Lando's eye before he disappeared out of the room.

[littlebittyhollowbugs]

I will never love any interpretation of Ghost, Hollow and Hornet more than I love the interpretation of them being ultimately good, fighting for peace for everyone around them, caring deeply for Hallownest (or what remains of Hallownest at least) and caring deeply for each other and peace for their family at last.

I love kind Ghost.

Ghost who goes out of the way to gift flowers to lonely bugs.

Ghost who will rescue Zote whenever given the opportunity, without thanks or any form of reward.

Ghost who rescues grubs because they are trapped and crying to be freed.

Ghost who despite having limited ability of expression, will find some way to convey appreciation for others. (Sitting beside them. Listening to them talk or sing. Bowing out of respect.)

Ghost who is excited when in the company of good friends.

Ghost who spares the life of the nailsmith.

Ghost who mourns the loss of those fallen.

Ghost who eventually remembers their past, remembers being abandoned by their sibling, and still chooses to fight, to do everything that it takes, to free the hollow knight. To put an end to their suffering. To take Hollow's place, or to die.

There is no reward for this. There is nothing to gain. Ultimately Ghost is willing to suffer forever or to die in order to give others peace.

Ghost makes many many mistakes, and can make selfish or reckless decisions, but ultimately, Ghost is forgiving and loving.

I love Hollow who genuinely wants the people of Hallownest to be at peace. (Ironically just wanting that alone made it impossible for Hollow to grant them that peace.

But still, Hollow wants that.)

Hollow who loves Hallownest. Who loves their father and who loves his kingdom.

Hollow who is relentless in protecting it. Who would suffer for over a hundred years protecting whatever there is that can possibly be saved.

Hollow who has had the radiance influencing it all that time. The radiance who hates the king, who hates his people. Who tried to convince it to hate them to.

Hollow who loves them regardless.

Who feels empathy for everyone. Who understands their suffering more than anyone and wants nothing more than for them to have peace.

Hollow who, after finally being freed, chooses to live a kind life. To be understanding and gentle.

Who has every right to be bitter and angry and closed off, but who, after finally receiving the opportunity to live, to actually live, chooses to find everything good left in the world that they fought so hard for.

Hollow who learns to love openly and to no longer be afraid.

Hollow who is eventually excited to be able to express love in small ways.

Hollow is stalwart and just. But kind.

Hornet who, despite everything that she went through, despite losing so much, nearly everything, continues to stand and to fight for life because it still matters to her.

Hornet who fights to honor those that she lost, especially her mother.

Hornet who is hesitant to be hopeful, but is hopeful anyway.

Hornet who is hesitant to form any friendships out of fear that she will lose them, But who longs for friendship, for family..

Hornet who is proud of her siblings, who loves them despite not wanting to, who feels guilt knowing that the fate of the kingdom must rely on them.

Hornet who will rush in to assist her siblings in their final battle, knowing that she may very well die.

Hornet who, after given the opportunity to be with her siblings again, wants nothing more than to help them heal. For them all to heal.

Hornet who loves and is loved in return.

Ghost and Hollow who love, and are loved in return.

A little broken family that understands each other, understands that nothing that happened to any of them was fair, and who forgive each other, who love each other because after all this time..

They finally can.

Not one of them is without their (sometimes severe) flaws. Not one of them isn't damaged after everything that has happened.

And still they choose love.

This quote by Mary Shelley captures my interpretations of the siblings perfectly.~

"Life, although it may only be an accumulation of anguish, is dear to me, and I will defend it”

[that-angry-noldo]

"You have been to Nargothrond," Finrod says. "Tell me what is left of it."

"Nothing," Finarfin says. "It is all beneath the sea."

"But it went whole; tell me what was left of it before."

"Nothing; it was ruined as Beleriand fell, its ceilings collapsing, its columns breaking, its hallways drowning in the water of the rivers."

"But you had freed it during your war; tell me what you saw."

"Nothing; its beauty gone, its air poisoned, its floors litterred by bodies of elves and orcs alike. Its riches stolen or made foul, its walls charred, its squares and parks soaked in blood."

"Alright," Finros says, quietly. "Tell me what you heard, then."

Finarfin looks at him. "A ghost," he says. "An echo. Its song still breathing in its stones, as a breath of a warrior long-suffering, succumbing to the wound. But it has been beautiful, and its ruin the more unjust for it. It has been song of light, of promise; it has been song that still held, song of memory, song of faith. It has been you, whispering to me in stone. And when we left, I heard your last breath, free at last, and the stones died; and I grieved."

"The stone remembers; the stone never forgets."

"Quite right."

"Let's get some tea."

Finarfin rises, and helps Finrod do the same.

"I have always grieved," Finarfin says, "that I have not seen its glory; that I only came there to bring it death."

"I will paint it for you, then," Finrod says. "I will paint it for you, and breathe song into it again; for I have always grieved that you saw not it live, too."

[urdepressedslut]

Lovesick

♡ Pairing: tfatws!Bucky Barnes x Fem!Reader, Platonic!Sam Wilson x Fem!Reader

♡ Summary: Bucky is so in love with you it hurts, and he doesn’t know if he can keep his feelings locked away from you anymore.

♡ Warnings: light angst, hints to past suicide attempt, mentions of imprisonment, fluff, bucky being oblivious and adorable

“You’re staring again… Kinda creepy.” Sam mutters to Bucky, snapping him from his thoughts. Which were all of you of course.

Bucky glanced to Sam, smiling with red cheeks at being caught gazing upon you. But he couldn’t help himself. He was so in love with you, it hurt. He was lovesick, his thoughts consumed longing for you. The lack of emotionally and physically connecting with you eating away at him.

Sam smirked at Bucky getting lost in his thoughts again, glancing from him to you with a knowing look. Bucky wasn’t one to express how he felt, but he’d confessed, and Sam knew he was falling apart.

You had come from a rough past, growing and adapting slower than most. You were kept trapped away from any human interaction for five years, which resulted in you becoming a whole different person.

Fact was you didn’t remember who you were before, you had remembered the basics, your name, parents. But that was about it. You felt like you had started over in life, but along with a fresh start you had issues that lingered.

You had been given a second chance at life some would say, but it was a life that would be tainted, haunted with ghosts from your previous one. So was it really a fresh start?

You didn’t know.

You met Sam and Bucky soon after you’d been freed of isolation. They were shocked to find out you had used to be a well respected agent, before everything happened. Feeling terrible that all your training, hard work was thrown away, now having to start all over again. Some was muscle memory, an instinct that never left you. But you found yourself re-training with the two. You found yourself healing slowly in the company of them. Of course you’d grown attached, and so did they. The three of you stuck together, a deep bond having formed.

While you and Sam had more of a sibling bond, there was something extensive about you and Bucky. He was able to empathize with you, knowing full well how badly you’d suffered, and that was something you’d grown to appreciate. Having someone able to relate, was reliving in a weird way, made you feel less alone.

Bucky had immediately liked you, admiring your strength, finding your kindness infectious. You were a rare pure soul, that didn’t deserve the suffering you’d endured. At first glance he was protective, his mother-like instinct kicking in at the sight of your skittish form.

Months had gone by, and you were doing much better. You were still a little slow, and you became overwhelmed quicker. You were to be treated with a little more care than most. Nevertheless, Sam and Bucky were proud of how far you’ve come.

“You should tell her.” Sam startled Bucky from his thoughts once again, looking over at him with a hesitant expression.

“I don’t know man… I don’t wanna pressure her. She’s been doing so well, I don’t wanna jump the gun and freak her out.” Bucky rambled on, anxiety clouding his mind.

“You aren’t going to freak her out, she loves you Buck. I can tell.” Sam assured him, no teasing tone lingering.

“You can’t know that. Have you talked to her?” Bucky wondered.

“No, but it’s hard not to think otherwise with the way she looks at you.” Sam pointed out.

“How— how does she look at me?” Bucky pushed, not believing he could be that oblivious.

Sam on the other hand, thought he was completely oblivious.

“Seriously Buck? Are you missing your eyes too?” Sam asked incredulously, “She looks at you like you’re her whole world.”

Bucky thought back to the days he’d caught you glancing at him and Sam.

“She looks at you like that too.” Bucky argued.

“It’s different… I’m like a big brother she’s never had,” Sam stated, “Then you… It’s different.”

Bucky took in Sam’s words, and he couldn’t deny that yes, you and Bucky had an amazing friendship. But he was afraid that’s all it was. His chest ached at the thought that you wouldn’t want to be something more with him.

Bucky was about to respond, when Sam interrupted him, grabbing him by his shoulder.

“Your girl is looking this way.” Sam told him, motioning his head to you.

Bucky glanced to you, his eyes meeting with yours. You were holding his gaze, your eyes warm and glowing. It’s like he had never seen it before, but now that he was gazing into your orbs, he felt like your eyes were saying a million words. It was giving him hope, that you might feel the same way.

Bucky excused himself from Sam, heading towards you. Getting closer he was careful not to interrupt the little girl talking with you, the sight making Bucky watch with fondness.

“My friend is being mean to me!” The little girl whined, crossing her arms with a huff.

“Oh, well that’s not okay. Where’s your friend?” You asked, ready to scold a kid for being rude to this sweet girl.

“She’s standing right next to you.” The little girl said as if it was obvious.

Your eyes widened slightly in horror, and glanced to either side of you, furrowing your brows in confusion when you saw no one.

“She is?” You asked her, receiving a nod, “Uh… I don’t see her.”

The little girl started laughing and you faked a smile, scratching the back of your neck.

“No one can see her, she’s invisible.” She told you with a wide grin.

You understood immediately what she was saying, and felt embarrassed that you hadn’t caught on. You weren’t used to hanging around kids, and you weren’t really good at talking to them.

“Of course, how could I forget?” You asked the girl playfully, trying to will your cheeks back to normal color.

Luckily for you, the little girl’s attention span had her running away to a group of kids, leaving you alone with your thoughts. Why did that interaction stress you out so much?

Bucky’s face hurt from how much he was smiling, but he couldn’t help it watching you talk with the little girl. Something about seeing you with kids had his stomach full of butterflies. You made him feel like a nervous school boy with a crush.

“Hey doll, making some friends?” Bucky teased you, and you met his gaze, smiling warmly at him.

“I think so, the kids are adorable.” You told him, the kids even though they were difficult sometimes, they were precious.

“You seem good with kids.” Bucky acknowledged.

“Oh not at all, I was actually very nervous. I feel like I talk to kids like they’re dumb sometimes… And I don’t mean it— Of course not, I just don’t have like any experience with kids.” You rambled on, while Bucky thought you were adorable.

“Well, don’t beat yourself up about it. You’re better with kids then I am.” He admitted, though the kids he’d seen today had taking a liking to him, which warmed his heart.

It was quiet for a moment, the two of you taking in each other’s company. Then you thought of a random question.

“Have you ever wanted kids of your own?” You asked him, your question taking him by surprise.

Bucky hadn’t always thought of the idea, but he found his mind wandering towards the idea more, ever since he’d gotten close with you. Though he assumed it was impossible, maybe back in the 40’s. But after everything that had happened with HYDRA, he wasn’t sure if his body was physically able to.

“Never really thought about it.” He lied, “You?”

“I’ve never really gave it much thought either, but it would be cool to have a mini-me running around.” You admitted, though the overall idea of kids terrified you.

Bucky smiled at the idea of a miniature you, the idea warming his heart.

“Uh, so actually… I wanted to talk to you doll.” Bucky started, scratching the back of his neck nervously.

“We are talking Buck.” You said with a giggle, the sound giving Bucky butterflies.

“No no,” He chuckled, “I mean about something kinda serious. Something that I need to get off my chest.”

Your eyebrows furrowed at the word serious, watching his playful expression slowly fade.

“Oh? Is everything okay?” You asked him, growing concerned.

“Don’t worry, everything’s fine. I just wanna talk.” He assured you, calming you with his genuine expression. "Come on, let's go on Sam's boat."

Bucky grabbed your hand, helping you stand. The two of you walked onto the boat.

You immediately started fiddling around with the helm of the boat, pretending to be at sea. Bucky watched with heart eyes, leaning against the doorway.

“You know…” He started, getting your attention, “I’m super proud of you. For how far you’ve come.”

You smiled at his praise.

“Wouldn’t be here without you.” You told him truthfully, he was your rock. Sam too of course. But Bucky was special.

“I’m always gonna be here to help ya, but you gotta give yourself some credit.” He stated.

“I do…” You started to argue.

“(Y/n)…”

“No I do,” You trailed off, getting serious all of a sudden, “But sometimes I think back when things were pretty bad and… Well you were there. I really do mean it— I wouldn’t be here without you.”

Bucky immediately knew what you were talking about, and he cursed his mind for remembering the haunting image so vividly. You had been at a very low point in your recovery, and you tried taking yourself out of this world. His world. His hands clinging onto your crimson covered wrists was an eye opener, that he didn’t want to live in a world where you didn’t exist. The very thought horrifying him to his core, his body frozen with dread.

“I’m sorry, I don’t mean to bring it up I just—”

“No no, don’t apologize doll,” His voice wavered, “Just hate that you ever felt that way is all.”

Despite rehashing over rough memories, you couldn’t help your chest from feeling warm, seeing Bucky care so much about you, had you feeling fuzzy. He had been so protective over you since that day, and some would call it overbearing, but you found yourself feeling safe. You knew Bucky would stop anyone from even blowing a breath of air your way if that meant you’d be in danger.

Bucky recognized that warm glow in your eyes again, as you gazed into his. He took a deep breath, seeing as this was his best chance.

“(Y/n), I like you… A lot.“ He rushed out, and you were still smiling, no shock shown on your face.

“I like you a lot too Buck.” You shot back, stepping away from the helm and closer to him.

“You— Really?” He wondered if this was all his imagination.

Sam was right? Psh, no way.

“Really Buck. I’m not good at expressing emotions— feelings, or any of that stuff. But I do know that I always want to be with you, I always want you around, even if we aren’t talking to each other. Just knowing you’re near is enough.” You confessed, hoping that what you said made sense.

By the look on Bucky’s face, you assumed you said just the right thing.

“Doll, I’m crazy about you. You’ve got me wrapped around your tiny little finger, I’m yours.” He told you, wrapping his arms around your waist and pulling you to his chest.

“Buck?” You whispered, cupping his face with your small hands, feeling him lean into your touch.

“Yes doll?” He whispered back, looking at you like you were his entire world.

Well, because you were.

“I think I love you.” You told him shyly, your cheeks reddening.

Bucky’s heart nearly gave out at your words, but he couldn’t help the overwhelming rush of joy that your confession had given him.

“I think I love you too doll.”

A/N: my ideas come to me at the most random times, this one came to me a couple days ago while I was eating cereal 🥴🤷🏻‍♀️

[jinnie-ret]

anti-hero

poly bang chan x hero!lee felix x villain!reader | superhero au

genre: superhero au, fluff, angst

content warnings: implied past bullying, implied anxiety, it's fluffy as well though I promise

word count: 3.6k

summary: their paths were destined to meet one way or another. it just so happens it all goes down in a way chan least expected.

header by @writingforstraykids thanks for making this my love!!

for @miuracha I hope you enjoy my lovely :)

this was part of the make miu smile event which you can find here

MAIN MASTERLIST

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

The villain of the city, it was fun for you until it wasn't. You yearned to wreak havoc upon those who always judged you, made you feel like a monster, to those who managed to pierce your heart with their disgusting words that had been thrown at you with such ease. That, was your origin story. Maybe in another life you'd be living in a small cottage outside the busy day to day life of a place which was filled with cars, buildings, noise, and more cars. You wouldn't have to fret over public appearances, despite your masked form, the 'Shadow' that haunted Seoul. You wouldn't have to pretend anymore to fight against your lover, the hero who had made everyone feel safe again, feel safe just because you purely existed.

Lee Felix. A ball of sunshine. No, literally, he could blind any foes with his bright, burning orbs, torching their skin, destroying their vision, with indefinite permanence. The 'Blaze' that could never be outshined by anybody.

Oddly enough, such darkness and lightness coexisting meant that the two of you were bound to meet, bound to fight, bound to be fated together.

┊ ➶ ｡˚ 　　°

News reporters from several different channels were immediately sent out in their vans once they caught word of another fight between Shadow and Blaze happening in the center of the city. And soon enough they were met with quite a rewarding sight for their careers.

Shadow was sprinting as fast as possible, slipping into dark alleyways and cursing Blaze in her mind when he managed to invade her spots and shine light from his scarred hands in order to 'catch' her.

Not long ago, she had trapped some men in a bubble of darkness before she sweeped the streets and did the same to a woman around her age. Of course, citizens of Seoul were terrified, hoping not to face that same choking, suffering and horrifying feeling of being unable to move and left to hear all of their own thoughts. Her darkness was one that nobody would want to experience.

Enter Blaze, here to save the day. Per usual, he threw on his big smile and reassured scared crowds of people that they were safe when he was there, a slight sadness in his voice that went undetected.

There to capture the chase across the city, were helicopters filming from above, the whirring of the vehicles making Shadow smirk from beneath her black veil. What an amazing show they were creating. She skidded round the corner, her shoes leaving tracks of obsidian. Small pieces of tarmac flew up, scraping the backs of her legs. Blaze was only a few feet behind her. He was running at the speed of light, perks of the job. Keeping up the act, Blaze had freed the trembling victims of Shadow's wrath, and directed emergency services towards them. They'd be fine, in all due course.

Shadow panted as she came to a hault, finding herself in a dead end of the road, construction equipment and barriers up, stopping her in her path.

"End this now, Shadow," Blaze righteously spoke, projecting his voice so that everyone could hear him.

"End what? It's such a lovely day, is it not, my dear ray of sunshine?" Shadow cackled, dark storm clouds threatening to cloak the city in its grey, velvety blanket of gloom.

"You've caused enough chaos around here!" Blaze boomed in his deep voice, cutting through the clouds and letting spires from the sun creep through and soothe the dull of the city.

"Not quite," Shadow smirked, before moving her hands round in circular motions.

She summoned decaying vines, uprooting the concrete nature of man made civilisation, and introducing it to the lives that inhabited it. There were screams of terror as people got wrapped tightly, like they were being swallowed up by the grip of a cobra's coil. Fallen. Shaking.

"Not this again, she said she wouldn't do this anymore," Blaze sighed, before boosting his form up from the ground and propelling small flames towards the vines, breaking them apart and releasing more and more people from their encaged nightmares.

"Oldest trick in the book, sweetie," Shadow grinned widely, a black tongue sticking out past her lips as she teased the villain once more.

Oh how he wished she wouldn't tease him so much, but she knew he could handle it, he supposed, and he knew she'd be able to handle the actions he was about to take.

"Shadow!" Felix projected his voice once more, "you have terrorised this city one too many times!"

And with that, he blasted her a few streets away, making sure she had wrapped herself up in her elusive, shimmering cloak before he did so.

Screams of joys and cheers erupted around the city, people gathering around Blaze and praising him before he saluted them and vanished before their very eyes. He found where Shadow was immediately, hidden around an abandoned street where they knew nobody would see them. Or so it seemed.

"Y/Nnie, you ok love?" Felix approached the dark spot quickly, a grin appearing on his face when he saw the exhausted smile of his lover.

"That was quite the show," Y/N applauded her boyfriend before they embraced for a moment, her cloak slightly slipping off of her shoulders.

"You're telling me that? You trapped more people than normal in those dark bubbles, making me work harder you are," Felix chuckled and poked her cheek.

"Gotta switch it up?" Y/N shrugged, relishing the physical contact she had with Felix, appreciating his presence. It soothed something inside of her, made her calm.

"Who was it this time?" Felix prompted, wanting to know why she had trapped those certain people. Y/N always had a reason for these things, despite what the public view was. No one would believe that the villain thought carefully about who she targeted, why would they? They saw her as a reckless heathen who didn't belong anywhere.

"Well first, there was this group of perverted guys creeping on some teenage girls," Y/N began, her fingers stroking delicately over Felix's hands. He watched her explain with full attention.

"Mm, fair, ok, and what about that girl, she was like the same age as you, I swear," Felix wondered.

"Oh, her, ugh," Y/N rolled her eyes.

"You know her, love?" Felix tilted her chin up so she'd look up at him.

"Stacey Arnold, locked me in the cleaning cupboard at high school..." Y/N trailed off with a sigh. Black smoke lifted from her her hands covered in the same colour as she reflected on those torturous years.

"And...?" Felix rose an eyebrow, subtly switching the grips of their hands so that he could eradicate the air of her stygian darkness.

"Why does there have to be an and?" Y/N grumbled, still hesitant sometimes to reveal what had happened in her past. Hesitant to reveal what made her feel like a shameful being, a monster on the hill.

"There always is," Felix sang lowly, pressing his forehead against hers.

"She cut off a chunk of my hair," Y/N grumbled, kicking some stones.

"Oh no I love your hair," Felix pouted, pulling away to touch her hair and admire it.

"I'm starting to think my hair is so dry because of the heat from your hands when you're grabbing it," Y/N joked, teasing Felix about when he'd get all hot and bothered, like now, even when he was blushing.

"Wanna test that theory?" Felix leaned closer, brushing his lips against hers in the beginning of a much needed make out session.

Unbeknownst to them, was a man only slightly older than them, traipsing the streets of Seoul after the huge fight that had happened.

┊ ➶ ｡˚ 　　°

Enter, Chan. He had been walking with a blue notepad in hand, pen balancing on his ear which held the weight of his clear lens glasses. Fluffy brown hair sat atop his head, a frown formed on his face as he began to think would a story of his ever get published?

Well, now he had a story alright, the city's superhero Blaze and Villain, Shadow, caught in a steamy situation.

That is, if his boss would ever believe it. He hadn't progressed as far in his career as he would have liked to, always being undermined as an apprentice despite his allegiance to the Seoul Life company for six years. Six years and he was miserable. The newspaper wasn't very popular anyways, the only way they'd catch attention would be with a controversial headline, one that sparked distasteful rumours. Well, at least he had one that would be telling the truth this time. He just hoped and prayed it would get accepted. His other articles hadn't been before.

"No, Chan, no one cares about these supposed musical injustices of artists having no rights over their own music!" his boss slammed down the typed out copy of Chan's story down on his desk in the head office. Deep wrinkles set on the man's forehead.

"People care! I care!" Chan insisted, a look of desperation on his face.

"I'm scrapping it, you need some sort of better story," his boss leant back in his chair, rolling his eyes.

"No, sir! Please don't! I really think it could-"

"Watch this, and learn," his boss's voice pierced through his apprentice's words, as he he promptly fed the shredder beside him with Chan's hard work.

"I'm sorry," Chan looked down, feeling guilty that he once again had not created a successful report for the company. He didn't even know why they kept him around anymore, probably just to collect the coffees and do the printing.

But upon this day, he headed to the top floor of the building and knocked excitedly on his boss's door.

"Yes? What is it?!" his boss called out, seemingly in a good mood until he saw Chan and frowned.

"I got you your coffee. And I've got an amazing story to go with it," Chan was firm with his words, determination and adrenaline coursing through his veins.

"This better be good..."

"Another fight just happened with Blaze and Shadow-"

"I know this Chan, that's why I sent out the competent writers of this company to go and report," his boss sighed, sipping his coffee and hissing when it was still too hot on his tongue.

"Well I bet they didn't see the arch enemies of the city making out in a back alley," Chan grinned, raising his eyebrows up.

"Out of all the things I have heard..." his boss pinched the bridge of his nose.

"It's true! Look I managed to grab a photo!" Chan pulled out his phone and showed evidence, causing his boss's eyes to widen.

"Well I never... I tell you what boy, we'll publish this, if you can get this story done in 1 hour we'll send it out straight away! We'll publish it online before the other companies can even think about speculating this sort of story. I think you could have us earning some good money here!" his boss, for the first time ever, smiled in front of him. And that was all the motivation Chan needed, all the motivation he needed to prove himself.

It had been 2 days since the article had been published. 2 days, since chaos erupted. Online, hateful comments were sent Chan's way, claiming he was some sick fantasist who conjured up some fictional idea that two prominent figures, although one of them very hated, were engaging in such interactions.

He felt like his life was over. And the company did nothing to defend his name, despite the fact that his boss had been so enthusiastic about the idea and what profit and benefits would come from it. Sure, they caught a lot of attention, but not the right kind. So much so, that they publicly fired Chan, and stated that he was no longer working with them.

For the first time since the publication, Chan dared to venture into the city for a bite to eat, a treat to ease his stress. It seemed, it was only more stressful for him than he could have imagined. It wasn't so bad at first, but then people started recognising him and soon enough he was swarmed in a vicious crowd of people hurling insults at him.

"You sicko!"

"This man thought he could make us read a fanfiction?!"

"What a disgrace to our country!"

"Blaze would never do that!"

"Get him!"

He was spiraling, wishing that the ground would swallow him up, or that he could go back to before he made that article and live the dull normal life he lived before. Anything better than all of this attention on him.

"Stop... stop... I'm sorry... I wasn't lying... please..." Chan cried. He begged. He needed saving.

Good thing this city has a hero.

Before he knew it, he was encompassed by a warm soothing light, blaze, you could say. He squeezed his eyes tightly shut. Then peace and quiet. His heartbeat that was racing slowed down, and all he could hear was the deep rumbling of someone's voice trying to calm him, and the sizzling of food frying in a pan. It smelt delicious. Perhaps this would be the bite to eat he had attempted to get.

"It's ok, hey, you're safe, don't worry, no one will know where you are, I've got you," the deep voice soothed Chan out of his trance, warm hands cradling his face and he opened his eyes to see a handsome, freckled man in front of him.

Holy shit. It was Blaze. It was Blaze that saved him?!

"Take a seat, I know, it's shocking, I'll sign your autograph later, yeah?" Blaze giggled, sitting Chan down on a creaky sofa, and wrapping him in a black blanket.

"Stop being so cocky, Felix!" a female voice called out from behind him, echoing across the room in the direction of where that divine smell was coming from.

"Give me a moment," 'Blaze', or Felix, whispered to Chan, stroking his hair gently before comically marching away. "Hey! It's not my fault people get starstruck around me!"

"Yeah, yeah! Just give the poor man some food, he's shaken up," Shadow laughed.

Wow. Her laugh was much different to when he had heard her before. It was sweet even. Who would have thought...

"Right, umm, sorry, here, eat up!" Felix fumbled over his words before handing Chan a steaming plate of ramen.

"Ow!" Chan sucked air through his teeth, wincing at how hot it was.

"Shit! Sorry! I forget how you normies are with hot things," Felix rushed, "here, use the blanket to cover the sides, won't be so hot that way."

And that's what Chan did. He used the dark blanket that had been wrapped around him to cover the bowl from scalding his hands, and took a bite of the ramen, doing a happy little wiggle at the taste.

"Told you my ramen was the best," Shadow smirked, arms folded as she leant against the wall in front of Chan, boasting at her lover.

"Never said it was bad," Felix shook his head, before turning to grab a plate of his own.

This was oddly domestic, Chan thought. No one would ever really think about the hero and the villain of the city cooking together, or having this playful, teasing bickering. It was sweet, endearing, and he longed to have that.

"Hey is that my cloak?!" Shadow put her hands on her hips, glaring at Chan and therefore sending shivers down his spine.

"Felix... Ummm, B-blaze gave it to me... I think... I'm not sure... It was all a blur to be honest... I-"

"Y/N, leave him alone. The poor guy was just calming down and now you've gone and freaked him out," Felix tutted, making Y/N realise her mistake and she dropped her intimidating look.

"Sorry... Hmm, well, I guess I'll let you get away with it, you're pretty cute," Y/N shrugged it off, making Felix smirk at her knowingly.

"Uhh, thanks? Umm thank you for the food! It's really nice! And, umm, thank you for, umm, saving me," Chan rushed out his words, making sure his appreciation was hung in the air for the couple in front of him to see.

"That's ok, Mr Journalist," Felix grinned back, taking a bite of his own lunch.

"Ah so this is the one who tried to expose us, hmm?" Y/N's face lit up in recognition.

"Ah yeah, that's me. I'm sorry, I just wanted to get a good story out," Chan rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly before pushing his glasses up.

"It's fine, and to be fair, I can't even get mad at you, at least you were truthful," Y/N nodded in understanding.

She really had a much warmer heart than Chan could have ever anticipated. She was being so kind to him, so was Felix. He didn't expect it, and so, he put that down to the reason why tears welled up in his gorgeous brown eyes.

"Hey, it's ok, really, don't get upset," Felix put down his food to stroke Chan's back.

"It's just... things will never be normal again, everyone hates me," Chan sniffled.

At that moment, Felix glanced at Y/N to help out.

"Oh sure, I'll help, I can relate," Y/N nodded, hyping herself up to comfort Chan as she sat on his other side and took his hand in hers.

"I-i don't know what to do," Chan's voice cracked

"You can stay with us. No-one will be able to seek you out, ok? And soon you'll be able to return to normal everyday living, people will forget about it, I'm sure. You've got us now, ok?" Y/N spoke softly, hushing Chan's cries.

"Really? I-i can stay here?" he was astonished at the idea but he had no other choice. Plus, they had been so welcoming so far.

"You can. I mean it. As long as you don't spill food on my cape again," Y/N wrinkled her nose and rubbed away at the mark.

"Oh sorry! Umm, well, please, I'd like that," Chan nodded, and Felix wrapped an arm around him to offer further comfort.

"We've got you," Felix spread warmth around Chan's body, creating this fuzzy, happy feeling.

┊ ➶ ｡˚ 　　°

1 year later, and Chan was still living with the couple. But things had changed, quite massively. Not long after he had began living with them he noticed many different things, ever so observant as a past journalist. The lingering hands, the kisses on the head when they thought he had fallen asleep, the invitations to cuddle them in their bed.

When he confronted them about it, after gathering the courage to, both Felix and Y/N were very frank about their feelings, despite the latter being slightly embarrassed that she had been caught out in her tender actions. After all, Y/N had quite the reputation to be cold and unloving, but Chan knew that very day be met her, that she was the complete opposite. And to him, Felix was different from his heroic persona too. Sure, he had his arrogant moments, but it was only ever said in a joking tone, and that warmth that he had seen in news broadcast footage, translated emotionally too. They were his support. His lifeline. And he'd be ever so thankful that he found them. They even helped him find his new hobby, one he was excited to make money about.

"We're back!" Felix and Y/N called out as they entered the apartment, both of them panting. From staging another fight scene, not anything else, you pervs.

"In here!" Chan yelled out happily, sat in front of his computer.

"Hard at work I see," Y/N kissed him on the forehead, resting her own head on his shoulder to snoop at what he had been working on this time.

"Wow, you've written quite the story there, love," Felix stroked Chan's hair as he squinted his eyes to see what was on the screen.

"Yeah, well, someone paid me ₩200,000 for a commission! Insane I know!" Chan breathed out a laugh, happy that his new job could bring money into their home together.

"What's it about this time?" Felix queried with genuine curiosity.

"Well, ok, so they wanted me to write an imagine where Blaze and Shadow were best friends at school but got separated after moving different countries. So it's got this friends to lovers, reunited trope going on," Chan danced in his seat happily as he explained to his boyfriend and girlfriend about what he was writing.

"You and your fanfiction, ey?" Y/N laughed fondly, rubbing Chan's arms.

"Well, if you can't beat them join them," Chan laughed back, "plus it's fun writing these made up scenarios, especially when people want to insert themselves into the story. I know I've got the real thing. I'm so lucky," he rambled on.

"Yeah, and soppy," Y/N pulled his chair away from the computer.

"Hey! I like the compliments, tell me more!" Felix sat on Chan's lap, dragging Y/N on top of him awkwardly as they shared giggles, stories and kisses about how their days had gone.

It certainly wasn't how Chan expected his life to go. But he wouldn't exchange it for anything now that he got a taste of love, and pure compassion.

Felix was the light that shone down upon him and saved him that very day. And Y/N was the shadow that was always there for him, no matter what. It made sense didn't it? After all, such darkness and lightness coexisting meant that there had to be a third in between the two, otherwise one would feel lonely without the other.

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

tagged: @skz-streamer @kiraisastay @hannahhbahng @kpopmenace143 @sakufilms @kai-lee08 @arloo00 @dunno-wut-to-do @splat00z @cheesemonky @his-angell @turtledove824 @2minstan @royal-shinigami @yangbbokari @skzoologist @crabrangoongirl25 @lixie-phoria

[acerathia]

novae || Xiao

Summary:

nova: a star that ejects some of its material in the form of a cloud and becomes more luminous in the process

The souls filled with karma find relief under the touch of your skin. Yet, you've never tried to cleanse anyone, not since you've gained your freedom. Until the one you're indebted to asks you to help a certain Adeptus. And who are you to refuse?

Wordcount: 4.6k

Read on AO3

Pairing:

Xiao / Reader

Tags/CW:

reader is an adeptus, implied to be an electro user, flashbacks to the archon war, slight deception by healing xiao, slowly falling in love, giving him flowers, making him food, confessions, both love and others, indirectly though, promises to stay

Note:

I lack human contact waow,,, sorry for the repost, accidentally deleted it whoops

Everything hurt, soreness laying a thick coat over your very being. You’re barely able to feel your fingertips, only the tingling at their base assures you of their continued existence. Tongue darting you, you lick at your chapped lips, trying to ignore the dryness in the cavity of your mouth itself. But even your tongue feels barren, your attempt futile. Your skin feels like it’s going to crack the moment you dare to move, so you lay still, wishing for a mere drop of water to fall upon you, to let you relish in its spirit of life. This feeling of helplessness makes you wish you were dead. Yes, death. Something to truly free you from your suffering. Yet, your own body shackles you in your immortality; left with no choice but to let yourself rot without any perceptible changes. The rot only you can feel, the rot only you can accept and take. A blessing turned curse. Like any old fairy tale. But you doubt that you’re going to have a happy end. Not with the ravage happening outside.

At least that’s what you think it might happen outside, stuck in the darkness, a cave with no escape. A prisoner only used for your essence only to be tossed aside once your use has expired, but never freed, never let go. Being in the palm of their hands feels like the cold ground underneath you. Unwelcoming, hard, a chill to your bones, and a constant ache.

You barely remember how much time you have spent in this prison, shadows swallowing everything you could use to discern the passing of the passages of time. You barely remember the first days of your stay; filled with fights, heat, resistance. You barely remember, but your body certainly does, clamping up at the mere roughness of someone, at every instance someone raises their voice, no matter the reason.

Suddenly, some dust flutters down, freed from the ceiling far above, only to get inhaled by your lungs. A cough wracks your body, and with every contraction it feels like a piece of you is going to splinter and break away. The tiny vibrations, once not perceptible and instantly there, are shaking you to the core. And you knew what’s going to happen shortly, what they’re going to do to you once again. With every visit you are left with more pain, with more nightmares, with less life. Yet, this is the only way for you to survive, even if involuntarily. As long as you were of use to them, they weren’t likely to get into the mood to rid themselves of you. Not that they cared about your existence beyond what you could offer them. As long as you pleased them. And never do they offer you anything in return, leaving you hollowed, cracking yet filled with vitality beyond what you desire.

The trembling grows into a rumble, the ground shaking as rock scrapes against rock. They’re here. And they’re going to give you their pain, the alienations they’re suffering from, pushing them into you to get rid of all their own suffering. And you can’t help but be curious why. What is going on outside your isolated cave for them to come back on the brink of their eternal sleep?

You turn your head slightly towards the opening of the cave, even if the spraying light might blind you, might warm you, you try to take a peek outside, as you do every single time with no avail. But this time, this time you’re facing something much brighter, a different figure towering over the entrance. His eyes are glowing a bright ember. And suddenly, a feeling of safety envelops you.

*-*

Sunshine warms your skin, flooding your sight underneath your eyelids with a bright peach orange. A groan escapes you, as you try to shut your eyes even tighter, but the effort of ridding yourself of the light is simply not worth it. So, you slowly open your eyes again, only to be greeted by the almost red leaves swaying with the breeze. Some of the leaves freed themselves, slowly traveling down towards you. And you stretch out your arm to catch one, yet, despite its close proximity, you miss your chance, and the leaf continues on its journey, only to be joined by the wind.

With a silent thud, you let your arm fall back down. With your eyelids fluttering, leaving your vision blurry and unfocused, you simply watch the intricate dance of the wind, only visible by the twirls of the leaves around it. There’s no need for you to move, no reason at all. Your motivation to go around your day to day life does not exist. Even if you have responsibilities, ones which do not matter in times of peace, reducing their importance to nothing but ashes of the past. Being made an adeptus amounts to nothing after all. And you’re not someone who desires to sniff out the affairs of others, to simply have something to do. Just doing nothing is enough for you, being free to do so is enough for you. That’s your mindset; as long as you’re free, nothing truly matters.

That’s at least what you’re trying to tell yourself. But the moment a rich voice, one all-too familiar, sounds from underneath the tree you're sitting on, you immediately jolted into an upright position, your eyes scanning the table down below. Your first thought is that you might be experiencing some kind of hallucination, but then you remember that you would have noticed any influence on your mind and body. Still, you can’t believe your eyes. It’s almost like a memory came to life. Amber eyes, a brown ponytail, and the same tea he’s always sipping on.

A chuckle. “Good morning, my dear. May I inquire why you have been neglecting your responsibilities?”

Startled, you want to immediately jump down and to make sure that everything before you is real, but you feel a weird coldness on your face and you lead your fingers to your cheeks. Wetness. One sticking to the corners of your eyes, almost dry tracks running down your skin; and your eyes flicker. Have you been crying? There’s no reason for you to cry.

You furrow your eyebrows as you scrub the remnants of whatever happened in your sleep away. Glancing back down, Rex Lapis is still there, waiting for your answer with incredible patience, one that should be unaccustomed to you, his rage and short temper something you got acquainted with the moment you first met him.

Yet, you’re thankful for his patience as you finally make your way down to him, taking a seat on the other side of the table. And then you rest your head on your palm, elbows on the table, body leaning dangerously to the side.

“Good morning, Rex Lapis. Well, I’ve gotten used to not following any responsibilities, you see, not a bit of motivation in my bones. Surely you must understand that, Sir.” Your eyes flutter and stay heavy lidded, even if your heart is beating much too loud in your head.

This is Morax, Rex Lapis. The One who Strikes Deals. And you reckon you have a certain deal with him, even if he never was one to ensure your part to be fulfilled. Now he comes to collect.

A sip of tea. A moment of silence. You peeking at him from between your eyelashes. His cup returns to the small plate with a clink similar to a bell, making you shiver.

“Well, I suppose I do. Yet, a broken contract has consequences, and you are very well aware of that, yes?”

His gaze upon you is soft, a glint akin to the warm sunshine, nothing like the blazing fire that once occupied his mind. You swallow, pulling your shoulders closer to your ears. Morax doesn’t need any answer, he simply continues.

“Then, you shall go to Wangshu Inn. Once you have arrived you will know what to do.”

Immediately, you straighten up, nodding your head, only to bow before him the moment you’re back on your feet. Your heart is still beating, yet your worries ease at his soft voice, not a hint of malice to be felt. Rather, it almost seemed like Rex Lapis is plotting something and he’s only planning to watch you from afar.

But that’s okay, as long as you don’t land in another cave, darkness swallowing you whole, or be abandoned by the one who saved you, you will gladly accept anything he asks of you, anything he obeys you to do. As long as you can stay by his side, content and accepted.

With light steps you begin to jump down the mountain, following the flow of the water towards Jueyun Karst, only to continue following a path between mountain ridges, leading you over water and towards open plains. You’re thankful for the open view, as you are able to discern Wangshu Inn in the distance, keeping your feet onto the path leading up to it.

Arriving at the small island, you take a moment to simply stare, admiring the height and the life bustling around this small place. Only after a while do you continue your travel, climbing towards the inn in a couple of small jumps.

The reception is almost equally filled with noise as the ground below, yet you fail to see the actual reason Morax has sent you to this place. But you can’t return without anything. So, you continue exploring the space, peeking into the hot kitchen, the smell of freshness mixing with spice, discovering the guest rooms, until you uncover the terrasse, one empty of the crowd down below.

There are no signs forbidding entrance, and nothing to stop you from stepping closer to the railing. The soft breeze caresses your face and you breathe out.

But before you could release any tension properly, you feel a shiver down your spine and you spin towards the source. The source of the pressure you’re all-too-well acquainted with; one of hatred and pain. Your breath catches in your lungs, phantom cracks ripping through your joints.

Only to face another, not a human but an adeptus, and something more. Teal frames his soft features, making the gold in his eye pierce through your being. You swallow. An illuminated beast stands in front of you, one taking the form of a human. And this can only make him one thing: A Yaksha.

You know him, or rather, you know of him. The last of his kind, the Conqueror of Demons, and equally haunted by them. Despite his calm appearance and the small frown on his face, he is dripping with karmic debt, and you realize why Rex Lapis has sent you to this place, to the Conqueror of Demons.

And you ought to be angry, to be scared to go through everything once again, to be hurt. Of being sapped of life and filled with evilness only to get thrown away like a puppet without strings. The bitter taste sneaks down your throat, a memory now non-existent.

“You, what do you seek in this place?” his voice brings you back to your current situation.

The words are rough, guarded, yet his voice has a soft quality, akin to silk against your skin, and you blink a couple of times, imagining him calling you by your name, in another tone. You almost forget to answer, but his sheer presence and its fluidity, easy to go as it came, reminded you once again of what you had to do.

You take a step closer, a slight bow to show your respects towards the Conqueror of Demons, and you introduce yourself, sharing your name with another with a name of the same origin. You wait, but nothing happens, he doesn’t tell you to hide away. So, you continue, straightening yourself to meet him eye to eye; only to notice the sparkle in his eyes as the soft glow of the sinking sun stows itself in them.

“I’m honored to meet you, Conqueror of Demons. Rex Lapis has sent me to this place, presumably to stay by your side for some time.”

His frown deepens at your words, and his body turns away the slightest bit, as if his senses are telling him to refuse and be done with it. But his mind seems to be aware of the person standing behind you, pushing you towards him with a plan bigger than any of you. Two adepti with a debt towards the generosity personified; yet it can never be enough to pay the price of life, of freedom.

Despite his reluctance, you begin to notice how your mere presence is alleviating his burden. That means that his senses and mind might be at odds with each other, yet his body is experiencing relief with you by his side. You don’t know how to feel about it, about manipulating his burden against him, even if unintentionally.

You don’t get enough time to properly stew with the possible consequences of your actions, but at the end of this, you had no real choice, did you? Who are you to defy orders from your savior? Using your abilities on a stranger, as renowned he might be, is something you have to take upon yourself to relieve your own debt.

A huff. “Fine, if Rex Lapis has told you to accompany me, then you shall do so, but stay out of my way,” he warns you, before disappearing with the next flow of wind.

The tips of your fingers crackle as small bits of electricity jump between them. A sigh; a stretch of fingers and joints. He might have thought this move would throw you off his tracks, yet he seems to have forgotten that despite your lacking, you still are an adeptus. So, it doesn’t take long for you to discover his prints of zapping electricity, flowing with each move, each thought. A system so similar to everyone else, yet different in the way it exists, processes, responds; one you’re bound to know like you know yourself.

With his position in mind, you begin your journey towards him, your speed not up to par to his when he’s one with the wind, yet consistent enough to catch up to him eventually. The open plains make traveling easier, too.

Easier to see, as you discover plums of darkness hovering over a certain area, only to vanish as something cuts through them. Picking up your speed, you hurry towards the battleground of the lost and the grudges. Yet, despite being there, you could not act, could not help, your body not owning any techniques to fight. All you could do is wait, wait and pick up the pain and pieces.

The shadows vanish and leave only the ickiness of being haunted by the past behind, with the bitter taste of a promise to return. You step towards the only living being in between all these nightmares from another era, shoulders slumped and breath heaving.

You want to call out to him, but it doesn’t feel right to use his name or to use his title, so you just– “It’s me…”

Licking your lips, taking a breath, waiting and waiting and waiting, but he doesn’t refuse your presence, and you step closer slowly, softly, ignoring the stickiness around you, focusing on him and his unfocused gaze upon your silhouette.

Carefully, you put your arms around him, helping him walk towards another space, free from the tarnished souls seeking to taint in return. With your support he sits under the shade of a tree, back against the trunk, heavy and uneven.

You murmur a quick apology, as you settle in front of him, almost too close, to let your fingertips come into contact with his shoulders. A breath, in sync. Buzzing, in your veins, and slowly you notice the tension release in his body as the pain leaves him. A hiss, too silent to be heard, as the karmic debt, his unending burden, and pain, seep into your bones, creaking and whistling. A familiar sensation. A sensation too familiar it seems, because your body starts doing its job, breaking everything down, crumbling it into nothing, leaving you with a phantom of an ache.

After you have taken what you could, you slump to the side, laying down onto the soft grass, and the breeze reminds you of your place, and despite the tension and the spasms filling your body, you smile.

Glancing towards the Conqueror of Demons, you notice that his body has sunk in itself, muscles finally releasing the tension of suffering. And for a moment you both stay laying like this, side by side, one digesting and ridding yourself of the pain, the other relishing in the newly acquired freedom.

Maybe this is the starting point of his trust towards you, lending him a hand when needed the most, but that doesn’t matter, as another moment has a place in your heart, in his heart, too.

Since that first fight, you have been trailing behind him, staying on the sidelines as he fights the anger and hatred left behind, waiting for the end so you can patch him up, using your own abilities to heal whatever injuries he might have sustained. All while slowly cleansing him of his karmic debt with each touch, each skin to skin, with each bit of distance closed.

Sometimes you greet him with some stuff you have collected as you wandered around. Showing him glittering shells and shiny, smooth gemstones. There is even a moment, when you have collected flowers, climbing and singing to get your hands on them, to hand a bouquet to him after his fighting and healing session is over.

“This is for you, Conqueror of Demons!” you grin as you hold them towards him, excited to see his reaction to yet another present.

And your arms slack, the flowers sink, at the sight of his frown, one you hadn’t seen since your first encounter. You press your lips together, trying to think what you had done wrong this time, opposed to every other surprise.

“It’s Xiao,” he tells you, voice soft, careful, guarded in some way, yet desperate for something, something more.

And you smile. “Yes! This is for you, Xiao!”

A slight blush spreads over his cheeks, dusting him in a lovely shade of a late afternoon sun, and the Conque– no, Xiao takes them with slow movements, tips of fingers touching and tingling, mindful of the delicateness of the flowers, aware of the too-soft connection, one with no real reason but to simply, touch.

Feeling the heat spreading over your skin, you grab a single flower, pulling your fingers away in the process. You look at the flower, a Qingxin and you slowly twirl it. Glancing back at Xiao, his own eyes are focused on the small bouquet in his hands. So, you make use of the little distraction and lean forward to tuck the flower into his hair, secured by his ears.

Of course, he has noticed you move and your eyes meet, faces close, your fingertips grazing his cheeks, and you’re grateful gravity pulls you back into a sitting position the moment you feel yourself freeze. Still, you give him a smile, even with the warmth covering your skin and his intense gaze.

The moment didn’t last long, as a cold feeling rained on your senses, alarming you of yet another gathering of negativity. And Xiao isn’t one to forgo his responsibilities for mere companionship, even if his eyes linger as he makes his way towards the next fight in this unending chain. Despite that, you promise to continue to stay behind him, to support him with steadiness.

The sun sets and rises in a continuous flow, and since that day you started trailing less and accompanying more, instead of simply seeing his back, you began to look to the side towards him. The time together has forged something special, yet, there continues to be distance between your fingertips, even as you walk side by side. Distance which feels wider than the Chasm itself, as your desire to touch him, to be close to him grows with every kind gesture Xiao shows you. But, you continue to deny your own feelings, deny whatever is sparking between you and him.

Until you’re sitting in front of a fire, making food as you wait for him to return. The adepti do not need sustenance, yet you indulge yourself with delicacies, not keen on staying without for no reason. Additionally, a little whisper has reached your ears, telling you of his favorite food, one even Xiao takes delight in, and for some reason you feel the desperate need to make Almond Tofu for him, so you do.

The recipe was provided by Verr Goldet when you subtly asked her about possible foods in your last visit. Since then you have been slowly collecting the necessary ingredients to make it happen. Though the process has been a little more difficult than you had anticipated, and above what you might expect of your own abilities, you finally drizzle some syrup over the bowl as a last touch.

The meal between your hands and only the shine of the fire, you look upon your creation with pride and excitement. And soon, Xiao comes back, taking a seat by your side without hesitation. Immediately, your body reacts, putting one hand on his shoulder, looking for injuries in his own little network of electricity, while sapping another portion of his karmic debt. Luckily, this fight has left him unscathed, so there isn’t a lot for you to do.

Giddiness overtakes you, because you pull out the prepared meal and push it towards him without any words. Without hesitation, Xiao accepts what you give him, his hand covering yours, holding the bowl between you, his gloves warm against your skin; and this is the touch you have been longing for for some time.

You watch him as he realizes what the meal entails and he looks up from the Almond Tofu towards you, eyes wide and filled with surprise and something oh-so soft. Especially with the way the flames of the fire caress his features, making his eyes revering and gentle. His jaw works, and the words escape him as he continues to simply look at you, to let his eyes linger over every feature of yours.

And you realize something. Something you have denied yourself, denied him. But before you could truly voice your heart, your soul, promising him your everything, he has the right to know the truth.

So, you make sure the meal is properly in his hands before you pull yours carefully, reluctantly out of his soft grip. You open your mouth, only to close it, words escaping, your heart heavy. There’s no foreshadowing how he might react, how badly what you have done, have been doing, could affect whatever has been budding between you.

Xiao… There’s something I need to tell you…” you start, wrangling with the right words, wanting to tell him the truth, yet not hurt him more than he has been hurt already.

He simply tilts his head, waiting for you to continue your confession, an almost hopeful glint in his eyes, the meal yet untouched.

“I– I’m sorry, but, well, you see, Rex Lapis has sent me to you, you already know, but… there’s a reason. How– uhm, how do I say it… I’ve been by your side to cleanse your karmic debt, using the powers bestowed upon me… That’s– That’s why you have been feeling at peace by my side…” Your fingers writhe on your lap, your eyes avoiding direct eye contact, barely able to even look in his direction.

And all you can hear is a thunk of ceramic against rock. And all you can feel is the empty air, cold and nothing more. He has left without a word. Without telling you what his thoughts are, what he’s feeling about what you have done.

You slump into yourself, arms wrapping against your torso as you face your own knees. He’s gone because you have hurt him. You have hurt him and you have never realized that there’s another kind of pain, one squeezing the breath out of you, making your heart ache and your eyes burn; one that can be given and received at the same time.

The moon sinks and the sun greets you, and you don’t move from your spot. There’s no place for you to go. There’s no reason for you to continue following him if Xiao doesn’t even want your presence, your company anymore, and you cannot return to Mount Aocang just like that. So, you stay and wait, stay and wait. And for the first time in your time of being free, you feel restless at the lack of connection, of actions, of companionship.

During this time of waiting, you continue to stay in the same location, never straying too far from the initial fireplace, in hopes of him coming back to… to do anything, to talk, to confront you, to get angry, anything. So, you stay and wait, stay and wait.

When the sun is at its highest, you do seek some shade underneath the next tree big enough to provide you with some relief. You close your eyes, trying to plan your time, to fill it with meaninglessness to avoid any stray thoughts from getting to you. The breeze caresses your cheeks, and you open your eyes, expectations gone and yet growing.

A presence by your side. An all-too familiar pressure, much more soft, cared for than the first time. And when you tilt your head towards the source, your eyes meet illuminated golden eyes, the sun putting a halo in them, while the remnants of the wind play with teal strands of hair.

You gasp his name, breath clogging your throat and you have to swallow a couple of times, words refusing to form coherency in your mind.

Xiao lets his eyes wander over your face once again, familiarizing himself with a sight he had missed dearly during your time apart. Then, his fingers brush over yours, but instead of that being the end of the contact, he slowly begins to interlock his with yours, watching your reaction with his heightened focus. And you let him, feeling your breath growing shorter, your neck hotter at the intensity of his gaze upon you.

He murmurs your name. “During this time apart, I realized it’s too late to sever our connection… My heart– I mean, I will protect you as you protected me, as long as you stay by my side…”

His words touch something deep in you, vibrating in your chest, rattling you awake, bursting in you and overflowing your veins with warmth and comfort. A smile sneaks onto your lips.

“I will never leave your side as long as you allow me to,” you answer him, aware that there’s much more to say, much more to confess. But you’re both aware of each other's feelings, and you will take each step hand in hand.

A small smile graces his face, making him glow despite the shadows cast upon your faces. And as if it’s the usual thing to do, Xiao sinks into you, letting his head rest on your lap as the tension flows out. Your hands subconsciously start caressing his hair and you simply enjoy his presence, giving you peace.

The sun sets with your bodies and minds close, with the promise of staying together, of holding each other’s hands, of growing this love between you with each minute, with each word, with each gesture. And you promise him once again to stay by his side, as long as he stays by yours.