#Rolling him around in my head. Spinning him like a ramen cup in a microwave

[pianokantzart]

Guys I hope you're ready for this to become a Knuckles blog the millisecond the 26th rolls around

[burntmcnuggies]

My Sweet Love

Dabi x Sweet Reader

Request: Hey!💗Сan I, please, have a girlfriend for Dabi who likes sweets? Candy, cakes, berries, stuff like that. And she always leaves some sweets for Dabi, because she knows that he will come to her apartment, even if she is not at home. And basically she leaves quite a lot of food for him. Thank you💗

warnings: none, just a fluffy story with a bit of angst at the end inspired by the latest manga chapters! Also my apologies for making it a bit angsty, I was in a mood haha

Word Count: 2.8K

There they were again.

The endless amount of sweets stacked upon the kitchen table for the flame-quirked villain.

Why you left so many sweets out for him was beyond his own comprehension. He couldn't even understand why you weren't a human cupcake by now with how many sweets you’d been leaving him lately. He's seen those videos you’ve shown him of 'is it cake?' and sadly watched people stab each other with forks or some other stupid shit. He's warned you before that if you ever approached him with a fork, he would burn you to a crisp. A sigh escaped his soft and wrinkly lips once he noticed there wasn't any real food around for him. The ebony-haired villain approached the pile of sweets for him, carefully picking up the small little note beside it, cringing at the silly nickname he loved but hated at the same time.

'Hey dabeebee! I left you some sweets because you are the sweetest thing in my life! :3 I know you'll probably complain looking for real food, I have hidden all of it outside just for you! If you want soba I left a pot out on the stove for you to use and put some water in it.

I love you so much dabeebee! <3

~(Y/N) : )

"Cheesy little shit..." He mumbled, searching around for some cheap booze. Of course, you had none in your possession, judging by you were only 21 and an innocent cautious adult. He sighed and finally stumbled upon a pack of instant ramen, forgetting the pot for soba on the stove deeming it too much work. He put it in the microwave and heated it up, watching the little plastic cup spin around. He took it out and slurped the noodles in the cup, savoring the flavor in his mouth. The heated food made his whole body slump in relaxation. Working for the league was tiring, and he’d lazily complained multiple times to you about it. He’d groan Shigaraki was being a spoiled little child, and get angry when he was forced to work with Geten. Ever since he came to you after their first battle, he had despised the ice-user.

Winter was when he became the most sensitive. Emotionally.

For whatever reason the villain would come visit you more often in the winter, struggling to concentrate whenever he was with you. It was like his mind was somewhere else, somewhere that made him sad. Hot cocoa always cheered him up in the slightest, something warm to melt the ice slowly starting to grow around his heart. Every time he saw you though, it all melted already, your soft voice and gentle touches taking away his pain. You were too sweet. “Stupid idiot...” He mumbled and finished his little cup of instant ramen. He strolled lazily up the stairs, a blank look on his face as he approached the door to your room. He stopped in front of the door and looked inside, pleased with the sight of you sleeping peacefully, unaware of his presence.

He stared at blankly, not a single thought running through his head as he began to shed his blemished jacket, letting it fall to the floor. Next came his shirt, pulling it over his head to reveal more of the scarred flesh everyone always claimed to be disgusting. He easily removed his boots and pants, only left in his boxers. Pulling the covers back slightly, he eased himself into bed beside you, turquoise eyes burning holes into your slumbering form. His hand reached out towards your face, gently caressing it with what little was left of his humanity instead of scarred dead skin. “I hate you.” He whispered, not even bothering to speak the words he knew you already knew. A smile graced your lips feeling his touch, instantly knowing it was your lover due to the warmth radiating off of him.

His unspoken words lingered in the air as he pulled you closer towards him, refusing to let you go.

‘I hate you, because I love you so much.’

——

When you woke up and found Dabi in your bed, you couldn’t help but smile ear to ear seeing your handsome boyfriend snuggled against you. He barely got any good sleep, so you wanted him to sleep as long as he could. He was a light sleeper, like extremely light. He briefly mentioned something in his past always kept him alert and on edge, having problems with insomnia and pain. You weren’t stupid. You knew the aspect of Dabi’s powerful quirk, and how much spreads through his body when he over uses his terrifying flames. Carefully easing yourself out of bed, kissing his head very very softly, you tip-toed down to the kitchen to see if Dabi had eaten any of your little experiments.

They were all sadly still there.

“Damnit! If he doesn’t eat something then I won’t know what to get him for his birthday... it’s in a couple days...” You announced to yourself, sighing heavily. It was true, putting the candy out was to get Dabi to reveal what kind of candy he liked, or flavor of cake, anything to give you the slightest hint on what he would enjoy! That was why you hid the food, you were hoping he would settle and eat what he wanted to. That wasn’t the case. “Tonight I’ll put some cake slices out and label them... maybe then! Maybe then he’ll choose one!” A sweet smile spread across your lips, putting all the candy away and putting all the normal food back. All the while unaware of a pair of ears that had been listening the whole time.

——

Dabi left early that morning, going off to do some villainous work before he approached your house in the middle of the night. It was around at least 2am when he arrived. His body ached, skin burning and smoking. Today had been especially rough, but the cool air that gently blew against his hot skin made him feel better. But the aching in his heart made him feel all the more hot with rage and anger. His memories plagued his mind briefly before he remembered what laid waiting for him at your house. That’s right. It was his birthday in a couple days. And the extremeness of your efforts was to figure out once and for all what his favorite sweet was. He just wasn’t a fan of sweets and preferred spicy foods.

“That idiot. Always such a hassle. Possibly worse than that crusty bastard.” He mumbled to himself, rubbing his scarred up neck gently. He didn’t understand himself how he could love someone who’s blood was probably 100% sugar and had a personality sweeter than that. He found your spare key easily, slipping the key into the lock and letting himself inside. As per usual, there were sweets on the table, cake to be exact. There were 5 different slices laid out, each labeled. He approached the neatly cut slices, bright pink flowery post it notes under them.

Vanilla! :D

Chocolate! :D

Red Velvet! :D

Lemon! :D

Cheesecake! :D

‘Good morning Dabeebee! :3

I’m sure it’s like past 1am or 2 or something, so good morning! I hope your day was okay <3 I missed you! I didn’t hide the food this time because you still found it last time! >:( But please try these cake slices! I made them all myself! I loooooove you! >///<

~(Y/N) :)

The dark haired villain rolled his eyes, sighing heavily as he shrugged off his heavy navy coat. He hung it up lazily so he wouldn’t make a mess or wake you and crossed his arms staring at the slices. His turquoise eyes observed each slice, lips set in a firm line as he thought about the textures and icing. His calloused hands grabbed onto the metal of a fork, hoping it wouldn’t melt at the heat his body was still emitting from his hard “work” of the day. A bite of each would be sure to satisfy you right? He dove the fork into the first slice, chocolate, and carefully placed the spongy sweet into his mouth. He recoiled. ‘It’s too sweet.’

As Dabi continued trying the sweets, the vanilla/yellow cake was probably his favorite, but he still didn’t want a cake. He didn’t really want anything for his birthday. Well, maybe to be dead, but that seemed unrealistic now. He sat down on the couch, mind now becoming hazy and foggy with depressing thoughts. His hands clasped together, blunt nails slowly digging into the top parts of his hands that weren’t scarred. The stables began to burn, almost like the first time they were in. His hands grew shaky, eyes blankly staring at the ground in a horrific daze. He didn’t even notice the way his breathing had turned unstable. The scars increased in heat, even though there were no more flames there to hurt him. His hazy eyes cast upwards and his whole entire world almost shattered.

The villain shot up and punched the TV in front of him as hard as he could, beating the screen senseless, panicking as he tried to rid his brain of the reflection that glared back at him. The mere sight and thought of red flames coming near him made his stomach sick with anxiety and fear, especially in the safety of your home. His eyes began to burn with tears, but sadly his tear ducts burned almost with his sanity a long time ago. His fists became bloody and bruised, body becoming numb to the sound of his name being called loudly. As soon as a hand made contact with his arm, he jerked around and swung at whatever had touched him, fearing the worst. That was when his heart shattered, eyes wide in fear once he realized he had just knocked you down to the floor.

“(Y/N)? Ah, shit.” He quickly kneeled down beside you and raised his shaky hands, scared to even touch you. There was a large mark on the side of your cheek, tears already built up in your eyes. Dabi’s chest heaved in and out heavily, eyes burning hard as blood leaked from under his stapled skin. Choked and held in sobs racked through his body like thunder. It hurt so much, it hurt that he couldn’t cry, it hurt to have a constant reminder of his past, reminders of his failure, and it hurt to know that he was unwanted and incapable of being loved by another human being. People saw him as a monster, a freak with no heart.

“You’ve failed me as a son, it’d been better if you weren’t even born.”

He let out a loud cry for help, even though the words never came from his mouth, the simple scream of pain was enough to convey his silent plea. His heart, his eyes, his skin, his stomach, his head, his chest, his lungs, everything hurt, a pain he couldn’t handle by himself. “FUCK!!” He shouted, blood dripping onto the floor with the crack of his broken voice. His whole body recoiled and flinched once he felt your soft hands gently caressing his scarred forearm. Why weren’t you leaving? Why weren’t you yelling at him? Why didn’t you hit him back? Why did you take his small abuse so quietly just like he did? Why were you just silently comforting him in the smallest way? “(Y/N)-“

“Shh, it’s okay now Dabi.” He flinched at your voice, firm yet soft, unwavering, no fear or disgust present at all. Just a loving tone for your significant other. Your hands gently pushed his forearms away from him, and you pulled him Into a tight hug, head buried into his neck. “There’s no need to cry, or fear anything... I’m here, Dabi... it’s okay... I’ve got you, honey.” His eyes widened at your sugary words, comforting him even though he’d just hit you. He inhaled your scent, shaking hands slowly resting against your back, squeezing you close with blood still dripping from his scarred cheeks. “Shh... there, there sweetheart, I’ve got you, and I’m never going to let you go okay...? I love you, Dabeebee.”

Love.

Such a big word you throw around so carelessly with him. Hearing such words always made him feel warm and happy inside. Something he missed out on, and had never experienced until he met you. Your poor excuse to cheer him up worked only a little, when he mumbled out an insult. “You’re so fuckin’ stupid you know that? I’m honestly shocked you’re still alive and I haven’t incinerated you yet...” His meaningless insults warmed your heart, your Dabi was slowly coming back. You ignored the harsh stinging of your cheek and focused solely on Dabi, and making him feel better. His breathing was slowly calming down, sniffling and wiping the blood that leaked from his abused burnt up tear ducts. “Do you feel better, Dabeebee?”

“What a stupid question to ask.” He mumbled and pulled away, composing himself briefly before he stared at you longingly. His beautiful turquoise eyes linger to your cheek stained red and he felt his heart break all over again. “Fuck, I’m... fuck I’m sorry... I’m so sorry, (Y/N).” Now that was a rare sight to see, the Dabi apologizing to you? The man who swore to take out the super human society, the man who taunts heroes and kills, apologizing to you? A lowly civilian with a mediocre quirk not good enough to be recognized by society. “This isn’t like you, Dabi... what’s wrong my love? Does it have something to do with your birthday?” He didn’t reply, turquoise eyes just staring down at the floor with a dull gleam. It answered your question as you continued. “I’m sorry... you should’ve told me.”

“Shut up you sweet-loving psycho. It happens every year... this year’s just especially worse.” The villain lowly mumbled as he embraced you. The house was silent for a moment, the only sound that could be heard was the wind rustling outside and the heater turning back and forth. He finally spoke up after his racing heart had calmed. “...I promise, I’ll tell you everything one day. Now isn’t the right time.” That sent a small pang to your heart, after 2 years of dating and he still didn’t open up to you about his past. But god did you still love him with all of your heart. He slowly pulled his blood soaked face away from you, touching the streaks of irony red that flowed from his patchy purple scars. The next thing you knew his eyes were locked with yours, staring intently as if you were the only thing in the world to him. “Just know I won’t let anyone hurt you. I’ll burn them alive and see them in hell to kick their ass again. You’re... the first person to ever see me this vulnerable. Be lucky.”

You smiled. “That’s my Dabi...” Once your lips locked gently with his, the night faded away. Dabi held you tightly in his arms, not wanting to let you go, not wanting to let you slip through his fingers. His heart was still eating him alive at what he had done to you. He had never loved anyone more than he loved you. No one else would’ve accepted him, stayed with him, appreciated his company, love the way he looked even though he hated himself, and loved him for who he was. You didn’t see the evil in his heart, only the pain and rage that wouldn’t stop surfacing.

He hated doing this to you.

The city was in a panic, all evacuated from the Dangerous parts that villains had raided. Dabi had made sure you were somewhere where no one could hurt you. He’d told you to visit your parents a bit farther in Japan, promising he’d return. Of course your protested with a pout, you always did. He loved that too, always wanting to spend time with him. The inky black drops of dye fell off his naturally red hair stained white. His turquoise eyes burned with rage and excitement as he stared down at the man who’d ruined his life. He thought back to you, how you were witnessing his confession, his pain in the television, learning his identity. It hurt to not be there to comfort you, but he needed to do this. He was just happy he’d told you before he ended everything. To finally have closure in his heart.

His staples burned again, blood slowly falling from his scared skin.

*static*

“Now that you all know the truth...” His eyes locked with the camera. “I love you (Y/N). My Sweet Lover.” A pure loving smile. “Ill see you again.”

*static*

[cloudytamaki]

so, this is how the summer ends • k.denki

⤷ genre: fluff, angst - quirkless au, everyone’s 21, set in LA

⤷ warnings: mentions of sex/implied sex, mildly suggestive, alcohol

⤷ summary: a casual drunk hookup between two young strangers became something ... more than sex.

a warm breeze blows a curl of hair from your forehead and you exhale, corners of your lips lifting into a small smile. it’s almost the end of august; the leaves on the trees are becoming orange and the warm summer winds are cooling down.

the end of an era, and the start of another.

you subconsciously turn your head and look beside you, almost wishing for someone to be there. he isn’t – the cushion of the porch swing is empty. the small smile slips off your lips and your brows furrow; you close your eyes as if the sight’s painful, turning back to watch the trees and sun.

you can’t help the tingling heat that begins to spread through your nose; the promise of tears yet to come.

your mind drifts back to the start of your summer – june 14.

the neighborhood nightclub music is loud, likely booming throughout the area and annoying the neighbors.

but the old neighbors don’t seem to matter as much as the glass of alcohol in your hands and the prickling heat in the back of your skull. there’s a lazy smile sitting upon your lips as you survey the club, taking sips of your drink every few seconds.

ah — there’s your friend, out twerking on the dance floor, getting cheered on by men who are whooping and waving their fists in the air. you cross your legs, the thought of shaking your ass in front of many men seeming unappealing to you.

“hey! can i get another, please?” a golden blonde stranger is suddenly beside you, left arm on the bar counter, a wide grin on his face as sweat runs down his temples.

the bartender sighs, slides him a filled cup, then goes back to cleaning the other glasses with a towel. the energetic looking guy plops down onto a stool beside you, nice white teeth catching the light.

“hey, why aren’t you out dancing?”

your lips flatten into a thin line as you turn to him, “don’t feel like it. it’s nice sitting over here and watching, though.”

“i guess.” he furrows his eyebrows in thought, lips scrunching a bit, “you come here alone?”

“nope.” you sigh, taking a bigger sip this time. “i had a friend come with me, we’d had a few drinks before she’d gone off to the dance floor.” you tiredly gesture towards the crowd, “so yeah. what about you, where’s your friends? you look like you should be over there partying rather than talking to me.”

“they’re all over the club.” he scratches the back of his neck sheepishly, “some of them didn’t come, others’re just.. around.”

“that makes sense.” another sip and you turn away from the blinding lights, “parties are fun for me, just not when i’m the center of attention.”

“i get that,” he chuckles, takes a sip of his own drink, “i know a guy exactly like that. 8:30 pm bedtime, 6:30 wake up.”

“are you serious? 8:30? i go to bed around 12.”

“yeah, i know right? he’s super strict on it too, we all make fun of him.”

“damn, that sounds fun.” you exhale before taking a bigger sip, the burn of the alcohol stinging a trail down your throat. “you have a name?”

he laughs at that, running a hand through his golden tufts, “denki kaminari, pleased to meet you, madam.” he jokingly places a kiss against your fingers and you let out a squeal of surprise, laughing as you pull your hands away from him.

“(y/n) (l/n), pleased to meet you too, denki kaminari.” you nod at him, drinking the last of your empty glass.

you both ask the bartender for more, and when you both stumble on your words in fear of interrupting each other, you decide to go against each other in a drinking challenge – five shot glasses filled with the second strongest liquor on the shelf.

you manage to down four glasses, determination the only thing keeping you going at this point; your cheeks are hot from the alcohol, brain fuzzy, surroundings beginning to blur every few seconds.

“y-you good?” denki doesn’t look all that good either. shit, he looks terrible – happy, but terrible nonetheless. five empty glasses are at his side and his golden eyes are focused on you.

“yeah, i’m fine.. round two?” you give him a challenging smile and he pouts, pushing out his lower lip as he asks the clearly tired bartender for more, once again.

you crack your knuckles and take a deep breath, picking up the first shot glass as you look at denki, nodding at the same time. you bring it to your lips and suck all the liquid down, almost feeling its burn in your spine when it goes down your throat.

another shot glass, then another – before you know it, you’re swaying on your feet like an idiot, brain spinning, muscles loose. you glance towards denki and you wonder why you’d let yourselves get so inebriated.

“damn, that was fun!” he’s slurring on his words and you bring a hand to your head, sighing.

“jesus christ, i need to sit down.” you both stagger towards a staircase, not caring about how idiotic you look while doing so.

you’re about to pop the dreaded question—how’re we getting home?—when he speaks instead, tilting his head back with a yawn-sigh.

“i’m horny.”

and that’s when you really notice something about him; his jawline is sharp and young, his lips pink and parted, his skin flushed from the drinks, his golden eyes piercing.

you find yourself saying something you’d never imagined would leave your lips, “i can help with that.”

“really? you?” he turns his head towards you and points to you almost accusingly.

you shrug, “i think it was the drinks, but yeah, me. don’t wanna pass up a good offer.”

he seems to think about it while you take a quick look at your phone. “11:48 pm – you stay horny or not, your choice.”

“okay.” denki does some jazz hands and you roll your eyes, “sure. i think there’s some upstairs rooms over here.” you both stand and turn, ascending up the stairs, deciding to walk into a decent looking room.

“so ...” you stand there awkwardly, surroundings spinning but you manage to look over to denki, who’s equally confused. “you said you were horny.”

“and you said you could fix that.” the both of you are standing there, looking at each other, not fully knowing what to do, so you decide to get the ball rolling.

walking over to him, you begin to plant kisses along his jaw and down his neck. he lets out a small whine when you pull away, but you’re feeling more confident when you look at him again.

“kiss me.”

you almost laugh at your confidence that night; you started off sitting alone with a cup of alcohol, not even planning to get drunk – where the fuck did that even come from?

a cooler breeze hits your skin this time, carrying the scent of nearby cooking. smells like some sort of pie, you guess, rubbing your hands over your thighs in remembrance of that drunken hookup. deciding to go inside, you slide off the porch swing, walking over to the back door, twisting the knob and heading inside.

the elevator comes surprisingly fast when you push the button; stepping in, you punch in the number five and wait as you’re lifted above all the other floors.

you take out your keys and step out of the elevator when it dings, walking down the hall to your door, inserting the keys and walking inside.

it’s cold, as expected.

sighing, you toss your keys onto the counter and open the cabinets, rooting around for some food. you come out with a packaged ramen cup; you open it and fill it up with water, then pop it into the microwave.

you lean against the stove as you wait; two minutes and the microwave beeps, you take out your hot food and grab a spoon, walking over to the kitchen table, switching on a light.

you eat alone, in silence.

“oh shit!” you practically throw yourself out of the twin-sized bed; your bare ass is on the cold floor and you’re frantically gathering as much of the sheet as possible, pulling it against your naked chest.

from the other side of the mattress, there’s a girlish scream and a head of golden blonde hair pops up, amber eyes wide with surprise and panic.

“who are you?” your hand comes up to your forehead to ease the pounding in the back of your head. “wait.” something clicks and some tension leaves your shoulders as you point at him, “aren’t you that kid from last night?”

“i’m 21, thank you very much.” he scoffs in disbelief, “how do you not remember me? you were literally moaning my—”

“okay!” you cut him off quickly, cheeks warming up in embarrassment as your brows furrow, “i ... drank too much.”

“same here.” he stands up, unintentionally putting himself on display, “where are we? i can’t remember going—”

“denki!” you practically scream, shielding your eyes, “please put some damn pants on!”

“sorry.” you hear some movement and rustling before the sound of a zipper, “there. what about you? you’re naked too.”

“i know, give me a minute...” you look around and locate your underwear and jeans. you slip them on, clasping your bra and throwing on your shirt.

you stand up, face to face with denki; his neck is spotted with love bites, his hair tousled, cheeks a light pink. “we.. should probably get going.” you grab your dying phone and check the time, “oh my god, it’s 10:15, i’m late for work.”

“you work on saturdays?” your relax at the question, exhaling in relief.

“no, not on saturdays. i thought it was friday or something.” you laugh but a stab of pain shoots from your head all the way through your body.

“how much did we drink last night?” you turn to the golden blonde, who sighs as he opens the door.

“i have no idea, i was gonna ask you. but we drank something strong.”

“i’m surprised we didn’t puke.” you both walk down the staircase, surprised to find that the club’s empty; pretty sunrays peek through the windows and dust floats in the air around you.

“well, i didn’t, but you did.” denki’s hand is at the back of his neck and he turns away from you in embarrassment, shuddering.

you cringe at what he’s insinuating, closing your eyes for a brief second. “um.. i’m sorry.”

“it’s fine,” he feels kind of weird asking, “where are you going?”

“well, i was planning on heading to my apartment, which you don’t typically do with a one-night stand, but i guess i can make an exception for you.”

“i’m getting special treatment? i’m flattered.”

you roll your eyes as you open the door, squinting when the sun hits your face, “it’s the least i can do in exchange for the fun last night.”

denki bursts out into laughter, wiping faux tears from his eyes while you stand there, watching him. when his laughs finally slow down and he’s standing upright again, you elbow him in the ribs.

“looks like we’re gonna be walking a few blocks. we’d better hurry before it gets hot.”

“you don’t have a car?”

a glare from you is enough of an answer for him.

you throw the empty cup into the garbage, the spoon into the sink. you walk into your bedroom and water your plants on the windowsill, wishing that night would come fast.

it’s only 6:52 pm, and the sun sets at 7:30. before, time never felt so slow – probably because you had someone to spend it with. 

your lips pull into a frown and you place the green watering can back on the windowsill, huffing out a sigh. when had you gotten so damn lonely?

the second week of knowing denki and you’re holding onto his hand tightly as you walk through the dark field, ignoring his protests of ‘it’s dark!’ and ‘what if there’s wolves out here?!’

“calm down already! look, we’re almost there!” you point ahead and he shrieks.

“but there’s no light! seriously, we’re gonna get eaten by wolves or maybe even hawks!”

“jesus christ, denki. there’s no wolves out here, and hawks can’t grab us.” you aren’t fully sure about the wolves, but it’s just a white lie.. that he doesn’t need to know.

“are you sure?”

you stop, turning to him, looking him directly in the eyes. “come on, have some faith in me.”

denki slowly nods, visibly relaxing. you keep walking; it’s silent for the next few minutes, and eventually you finally come to a stop in an area where you can perfectly see the moon.

“why’d we stop?”

he stands before you, watching curiously as you grab a branch and wink at him.

“just watch.”

slowly, you sweep the branch over the grass, and fireflies rise in the air around you. a faint buzz fills the air as they float around you both; you sit down beside him.

denki’s eyes are half-wide in appreciation, lips parted. he turns his head to you, voice much calmer than it was earlier. “it looks.. magical.”

he was right, it did look quite magical that night. you check the time on your phone, 7:05 pm – just a little longer, you can make it.

placing the phone on your chest, you sigh as you close your eyes, letting your mind wander again.

“uhh, i don’t know about this...” this time you’re the one who’s hesitant to do something with him, worry consuming your mind as you sit on the side wall of the apartment.

“come on, you can do it! just glide.” denki excitedly holds a hand out to you and you pull your bottom lip between your teeth in worry, but you reluctantly nod and grab it.

his hand’s warm and soft when he pulls you up onto your feet, flashing you his all too familiar grin. “you’ll be fine, i’ve got you.”

your skin warms at his words and you decide that rollerskating with him is worth the effort. “okay.. so you just go forwards and gently push off each time?”

“pretty much, look.” he demonstrates proudly, you give him some applause before copying his exact movements, and surprisingly, you don’t fall.

“there you go! okay, come on, i wanna show you somewhere cool i found earlier!” he grabs your hand and skates forward so quickly you panic, unable to do anything else but glide with him.

“oh my god, don’t go so fast! you’re gonna run into a streetpole!”

“no, i won’t, i’ll be fine! come on, i think you’ll like the boba place i found!”

you open your eyes, checking your phone again – 7:32, just in time for the sunset. you get off your bed and start to walk out of your room, but a red gleam catches your eye – you turn to see the red rollerskates you wore with denki.

ignoring the pang in your heart, you grab a jacket and head out of your apartment, locking the door behind you before heading into the elevator.

you’re heading to the highest floor; up there, you’ll be able to get to the roof.

after punching in number eight, you lean against the wall, looking at your hands. a ding alerts you that you’ve arrived; you step out of the elevator and open the door at the end of the hall, walking up the small metal staircase – finally, you’re here.

you don’t make any moves to sit; that’s something new. instead, you stand on the roof, hands in your pockets as you watch the swirling plethora of colors dissolve into darkness in front of you.

“how long have you been living here?” denki shakes his head, droplets of water hitting your skin and you release a small laugh, stepping away from him.

“about four years or so.. it’s nice, isn’t it?”

“yeah, it is. it’s.. always awake, you know?”

“oh yeah,” you chuckle, understanding what he means about the city, “always. there’re cars going at 3 in the morning all the time. so many places are open to eat, it’s nice they cater to people’s late night cravings.”

“true.” he looks up at the leafy branches in thought, “i like citylife. it’s kinda boring if everything’s slow paced and sleepy.”

the rippling lake water catches the sunlight, glittering in the late afternoon sun. the field’s light green and grassy, all flat except for the few lone apple trees that dot its surface.

“sometimes you have to step away from the city to really enjoy nature.” you stand up and grab a red apple off a lower branch, taking a bite and offering it to him.

“they’re sweet, y’know.”

denki gives a huff, “i know what apples taste like.” he bites into the fruit, humming at its taste. he hands it back to you and you take another bite, savoring the fresh, crisp taste.

you sit down beside him, tilting your head back to look up at the different branches above you. your hair’s still damp from the swimming, your skin dewy with droplets of water.

“should we go back in?” you question, looking out towards the lake.

“only if we’re skinny dipping.”

“it’s.. light out. you’re supposed to go in the dark.”

“so?” denki grabs your hand and brings you up, “come on, it’ll be fun!”

you lay back with a sigh, arms crossed behind your head as you stare up at the cloudy night sky, unable to see any constellations due to the clouds and city light.

the moon peeks out from behind the clouds, almost shy to reveal its full light.

a rush of sadness fills your chest and you move your feet, not wanting to remember the particularly painful memory made right here.

“you’ve been silent all night, denki. what’s up with you?” his hand finds yours and gives it a squeeze.

“i’m sorry.”

“for what?”

“for not telling you something i should’ve told you sooner.. i’m heading back to japan tomorrow.”

you don’t respond but your heartbeat quickens as you look up at the sky. “why are you going to japan, denki?”

“because.. i live there. i come here every summer from the beginning of june to the end of july with some friends.”

“so you won’t be able to...” your voice fades in realization.

“we can call and text! we both have phones, right?” he’s trying to be cheery.

“it’s not the same,” you say, voice suddenly strained, “you’re.. what, sixteen hours ahead of me? it wouldn’t work, it’d be inconvenient for both of us.”

“here, i have an idea. give me your phone.” he hands you his, which is open to the ‘create a new contact’ page; you do the same, now sitting up.

you type in your phone number and a small note, then hand it back to him.

denki seems quite invested in his typing; it takes him a few good minutes before he’s finished. “don’t open the note ‘til i’m gone, okay?”

it seems you’d never opened it. why not? you take out your phone to open it, reliving your last memory.

“call me, okay?” denki’s grinning again, giving you a tight hug before getting on the plane. you’re wondering why he’s so happy – it’s a facade, of course. smiling always fends off the tears, right?

when he’s about to pull away, he realizes how you’re not letting go, head buried in his neck. “denki, be safe. don’t forget anything on the plane, okay?” your voice is light and you’re trying to joke with him, but he can sense that unsteadiness.

he hugs you tighter, tears forming in his eyes. “i love you.”

a weak sob escapes your lips and the tears start rushing out of your eyes. “i love you too, please be careful.”

you hadn’t spoken to him since that morning – three weeks ago. why hadn’t you stayed in touch?

the note opens and you immediately read it, tears welling up in your eyes.

‘to y/n, the most amazing girl i’ve ever met.. i’ve enjoyed it all, from the most awkward morning of my life to the first time i’ve ever gone up on a roof with someone. it’s been really fun, i’m going to miss this. i get it if you don’t wanna stay in touch; it’s too painful sometimes, you know? but aside from our adventures, i’ve really enjoyed bonding with you as a person. you’re funny, sarcastic, and all around amazing. i love you - see you next summer.’

he was right in his message; it is too painful to stay in touch sometimes. you exit the contacts list, wiping at your eyes and smearing your makeup as you open the messaging app, beginning to type out a message,

hey, i miss you.

taglist // @sobaluvr​ @bbytamaki​ 

[lunnanunna]

Worry

STRAY KIDS Extra Member AU

Summary: [Requested] The stress from all that’s happened became too much, and Ollie passes out.

Warnings: slight swearing, slight mentions of past abuse

Taglist: @hyunmijung​ @galacticstxrdust​ @giant-puppy-yunho​ @kimonmars​ @soobinssmile​

A/N: This came out much longer than I had planned, but whatever. This was also supposed to be a birthday post, but it’s barely mentioned. And this was supposed to be angst, but I’m not the best at writing angst, so I don’t know if this meets the requirements. Hopefully you all like it though!

Requests are open! Please let me know what you think. 

Ollie walked into the kitchen to look for something to eat. She already had it planned that she was going to refill her coffee, but she wanted, or more like needed, to eat something. She was pretty sure the last time she ate was breakfast yesterday, and it was now late afternoon.

Ollie wasn’t the type to skip meals, but recently she hadn’t been that hungry. She was actually frustrated with herself because she had no reason not to feel hungry. It was all over.

JYP had pressed charges against Jisoo, a restraining order was made, she was healing properly, (Though migraines were becoming a new norm), and yet nothing seemed appetizing. Her stomach churned whenever she even thought of eating. She didn’t even want to think about all the food that the boys would prepare for her birthday tomorrow.

So she was going to force something down her throat whether she liked it or not. Except, she didn’t know what to eat, and coffee was the only thing that seemed remotely good at the moment.

She looked through the cabinets and just decided on a cup of ramen, not wanting to go full out on a meal and then throw it away later. Filling the cup with water, she placed it in the microwave. As she waited for it to be done, she moved around the kitchen, cleaning dirty plates, throwing out old food, and just organizing anything out of place. (Cleaning was one way to relieve stress.)

A slight throbbing made itself present in her chest as she moved a big bag of rice to another corner of the kitchen. She grumbled in frustration, at the fact that something as simple as that was hard for her to do now. Ollie had always lived a fit life, proud of how much she could bench and endure, but with these injuries, she could barely do anything without feeling pain, and then one of the boys coming in to help her.

She groaned as not only the pain in her chest flared, but another migraine was surfacing. Ollie screwed her eyes shut, hands on her knees, and waited for the pain to pass. 

After a few seconds it lessened, but it was still there. Opening her eyes, she had to brace herself against the counter as she felt everything spin. (Yeah that definitely wasn’t good.)

“Olls, what are you doing?” Ollie opened her eyes at the English (She was pretty sure it was English.) Looking up she saw Chan standing a few feet away. Quickly, she stood up and smiled at him, ignoring the throbbing and the spinning.

“Oh I was cleaning a bit, while I waited for my food,” Ollie answered, pointing at the microwave that still had a few seconds left.

Chan furrowed his eyebrows, chewing on the inside of his cheek. Ollie could feel the annoyance coming off him in waves. “We can clean. I already told you that. You’re supposed to be resting,” he said, switching back to Korean.

Ollie rolled her eyes, moving over to grab her ramen as the microwave went off. “It’s fine. I wasn’t doing much,” Ollie said, trying to hide her own annoyance. This was why she hated being injured. She hated pity and always needing help.

“No. It’s not,” Chan ground out. Ollie turned to look at him, eyebrow raised at his tone. She was met with a now angry looking Chan, arms folded over his chest.

“Excuse me?” Ollie asked, crossing her own arms. She was too tired for this shit. “I’m not liking that tone.”

“Well as your leader I can use it, seeing as you blatantly go against my wishes to just stay on the couch and heal,” he said, voice never wavering. Ollie could tell that it was the stress talking, but she was starting to lose her patience.

“I understand that you’re my leader, but you’re also my dongsaeng. So I need you to lose that attitude,” Ollie said in a low and even voice. She watched as Chan seemed to hesitate a bit, and waited for him to say something else. When he didn’t, she turned back to her ramen.

“I just wish you’d actually tried to relax and heal. Why is it so hard for you to let us help you?” he said, starting off soft, but his voice raised in frustration.

Ollie let out a breath, hands holding onto the counter. She tried counting to ten, but honestly, she just didn’t care anymore. “Because!” she raised her voice, whipping around to face him, “Because your ‘wishes’ involve me sitting in bed or on that damn couch for hours on end while you all go about your day. Do you know how frustrating that is?!” Ollie shouted. She watched Chan take a step back in surprise. Ollie rarely got angry.

“Chan, I’m fine, okay? I’m healing fine. The whole stalker thing is over. I want things to go back to normal. And for me, that’s cleaning, that’s being able to go out with you guys, but you, none of you, will let me!” Ollie’s chest was rising and falling heavily. She had her fist closed tight as she tried to calm herself. The spinning was getting worse.

“I’m not some porcelain doll. I can take care of myself. Please,” she whispered the last part, eyes glued to the ground. Her eyes were beginning to water. She just wanted things to go back to how they were.

“What’s going on?” Ollie looked up to see Minho walking into the kitchen with the rest of the boys trailing in from different parts of the dorm. She wasn’t surprised to see them, seeing as she and Chan (Mostly her) were having a shouting match.

“Nothing,” she snapped, turning back to her food. She immediately regretted it. This was turning into a shit show, and she was to blame.

She heard Chan left out a sigh. “Listen, I’m sorry. I have no idea what you’ve been through or what you’re going through now, but I’m just worried. We’re worried. What happened to you was scary and we couldn’t do anything about it,” he said, and Ollie could tell that he was trying to calm himself.

He began to talk again, but it sounded muffled. Like she was under water. The spinning was getting worse, and the light throbbing in her head, spiked up, sending her vision completely white. Suddenly, breathing became harder to do. Her breaths were short and shallow, and coming too fast.

Ollie could hear someone calling out to her, but she didn’t know who. Though it didn’t matter, as she felt her knees buckle and then everything went black.

~ Ollie groaned as she opened her eyes. She squinted at the blinding white lights that only ever meant one thing. She was in the hospital.

“Shit,” she grumbled, her voice hoarse.

“Noona?” Ollie slowly turned, her head still throbbing, but less than before, and saw Jisung standing by her bed. He looked worried, and Ollie hated it. She hated that she was the reason.

“I’m fine, Sungie,” Ollie said, holding her hand out. Jisung wasted no time in grabbing it.

“You scared us,” he said, sounding like he was trying to hold back his tears.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered. Ollie once again, wished that this would all be over. Jisung ducked his head, squeezing her hand, as tears dropped and landed on it.

She looked away, her heart clenching with each of his sniffles. That’s when she noticed that it wasn’t just them two in the room. Chan stood off in the corner, seemingly avoiding Ollie’s gaze.

“Hey, Ji? Could I get some time with Channie?” Ollie asked looking at Jisung then back at Chan who had looked up at the question.

Jisung nodded, wiping his tears. He placed a kiss on her head then started to walk away. He stopped by Chan. “I swear if you start something again, I don’t care if you’re older and my leader,” he threatened. Chan lowered his eyes.

“Han Jisung!” Ollie called out. She folded her arms over her chest, raising a brow at him. “Go,” she said, pointing at the door. The last thing she wanted was for anyone to be mad at Chan. It was Ollie’s fault anyway. She needed to get over herself and actually listen to him.

Jisung left the room, and Ollie patted a spot next to her thigh. Chan didn’t move, he  just stared at the spot. “Seriously? Just get your ass over here,” she said, patting the spot again, but a bit harder this time.

Chan moved an inch, then stopped, but finally walked over. His movements were slow and cautious, like any sudden movement might set her off. She rolled her eyes at him.

The raven haired girl sat up herself, wincing a bit at the pain in both her head and chest, and placed another pillow behind her to give her support. Chan sat down, hands folded in his lap. Ollie thought that he looked like a little kid about to be scolded by his teacher.

“I’m sorry, Chan,” Ollie said when she saw that he wasn’t going to speak up.

The leader looked up, eyes wide. “What? No! Why the hell would you be apologizing? I was the one who-” Chan began to protest, but Ollie covered his mouth with her hand.

“I swear to whatever gods are listening, I’ll kill if you say that you’re the reason I’m in here,” Ollie glared at him. He looked at her eyes wide with fear. She slowly removed her hand. “Now let's try this again, but without you blaming yourself.” Ollie sat back, folding her arms over her chest.

“So what, are you taking the blame?” he asked her, almost challenging.

“Well I mean, yeah,” Ollie said, turning her head to face the window. The moon was out, but that was all she could see, as Seoul’s nightlife was beginning.

“Yeah, no. That’s not how this works. You’re not taking the blame. I- I yelled at you. I- That’s not what a leader should do. Olls, when you dropped, God, so did my heart,” Chan said, words spilling. He moved his hands around as he spoke, running them through his hair and tugging.

Ollie watched as her leader showed a part of him that many rarely saw. The stress of the comeback, of preparing an album, of checking in on all the members, and then Ollie being the special case that she was, took up a whole portion of his worry just for herself. He was breaking at the seams.

“No. Stop that,” Chan said, pointing at Ollie.

Ollie looked at him, confused. “Stop what?” she asked, tilting her head slightly.

“You’re blaming yourself again. For this. For-for everything. Ollie, none of what happened is your fault. My stress, and yes I know you know about my stress levels, are normal for someone in my position. It's my job as leader to look after and worry about my members. My family,” Chan said, he looked up at Ollie, who had been watching him. He reached for her hands and held them.

“I’m the eldest, though. I’m supposed to be the one you lean on,” Ollie whispered, looking at their laced hands.

“We’re supposed to lean on each other, Noona. We’re a team,” Chan said.

“I know. And I know that you’re doing what’s right, but Channie, you need to know that some people can’t be coddled. I can def be cuddled, but not coddled. Okay?” Ollie smiled when she saw a small smile appear on his lips.

“I know. It’s just as a leader, I felt helpless with everything that happened, so I guess I wanted to make up for it by making sure that you were- I don’t know.” His shoulders sagged.

“Safe? Chan I trust you and the boys to keep me safe. And yeah, maybe I could do a better job at taking care of myself. I probably shouldn’t have moved that bag of rice,” Ollie shrugged and Chan rolled his eyes at her as if to say ‘Oh, really, now?’  “Shut up,” Ollie chuckled, “But I’ve been going stir crazy, okay? I needed to do something, seeing as no one would let me leave the dorms.”

“Okay, so I guess keeping you under house arrest wasn’t the best move,” Chan chuckled, scratching the back of his neck.

“Yeah, maybe,” Ollie said, scrunching her nose and laughing.

“I just don’t want you to get hurt anymore.”

Ollie smiled at him, holding her arms open. Chan seemed hesitant as he began to move, but he found himself in Ollie’s arms, his head tucked under her chin.

“I promise to be careful, okay? And I’ll come to you. Always,” Ollie said, placing a kiss on the crown of his head.

“I promise not to be so controlling,” Chan said, squeezing her hand.

“Deal,” Ollie said, chuckling.

“So what’s my diagnosis?” Ollie asked, after a beat of silence.

“You smacked your head when you dropped. Luckily, it wasn’t hard enough to affect your concussion, but the doctors want to keep you overnight just in case,” Chan said, and Ollie nodded. She figured as much, seeing as her head was still throbbing.

“Also the stress and lack of sleep and food, is what caused you to pass out. Now I know you’re not one to skip meals, so I’m guessing that had to do with the stress, but the boys and I will be making sure you eat properly,” he continued. Ollie stayed quiet. She hated this idea, but knew that it would help, at least until she could actually muster up an appetite.

“Thank you,” she whispered, snuggling into his hair. He hummed and closed his eyes, burying his face into her side. The two fell into a comfortable silence, then after a few minutes Chan spoke up again.

“Happy birthday, Ollie.” Said girl looked up at the clock on the wall and saw that it was midnight. It was now her birthday.

She chuckled. “How do you always manage to be the first one to wish me happy birthday each year, Chris?” Ollie felt him shrug, as he laughed. “Thank you,” she said, tightening her hold on him.

Ollie’s Masterlist

[vannahfanfics]

Of Comfort and Cup Noodles

Category: Hurt and Comfort 

Fandom: My Hero Academia

Characters: Ochako Uraraka, Fumikage Tokoyami

Requested By: generic-goblin (Tumblr)

Hey, everybody! Here’s another story for @bnhabookclub​’s Bingo Event for the prompt “Bad News”! Enjoy~

Ochako hummed happily to herself as she watched the cup of instant ramen slowly spin in the microwave. Her brown eyes focused on the bubbling water slipping out of the lid to roll in steaming droplets down the patterned plastic side. Her mouth watered as her mind danced with visions of soft noodles, hearty vegetables, and tender meat. She’d scored some high-scale ramen at a supermarket sale, so Ochako vibrated with excitement, simply dying to taste the fancy noodles from which she was typically barred. She watched the seconds tick down with mounting excitement. Before the microwave even had a chance to beep with the finished countdown, she popped the machine open. 

“Oh my Goooooood,” she exhaled exultantly as the aroma of cooked ramen wafted up her nose. Her eyelashes fluttered with ecstasy just smelling it, so naturally, her tastebuds tingled in rapt anticipation. Using a dishtowel to transport the hot cup, she scurried over to her small table and set the cup down. Wielding her chopsticks in one hand, she slowly peeled the lid back and watched with dilated pupils as hot steam billowed from within. The noodles looked simply perfect bobbing in the light brown broth, and a thick slice of chicken surrounded by green onions, spinach, and carrots practically screamed at her to be eaten. Laughing almost maniacally with exaltation, she plucked the meat from the broth, which dripped deliciously from its off-white surface. Ochako blew on it briefly before slipping it into her mouth. With a delighted, muffled squeal, she melted against the floor, having achieved nirvana with just one bite. 

“Soooo gooooood,” she groaned blissfully. The ramen was seasoned to perfection, and the healthy blend of vegetables only added to the delectable taste. She flopped back up and began digging into the ramen with gusto, savoring each swathe of noodles with airy giggles before inhaling some more. She was so enraptured with her meal that she didn’t notice that her phone was ringing until she almost missed the call. 

“Hello? Hello?” she cried into the phone as she hurriedly picked it up, her voice slightly distorted from the noodles still shoved into her mouth. She quickly swallowed, beaming when her mother voiced greeting on the other end of the line. “Oh, hi, Mom! What’s up?” she asked and pushed the ramen aside to hold conversation properly. They made pleasant small talk, but there was a particular strain in her mother’s voice that had Ochako’s nerves buzzing suspiciously. When her mother abruptly sighed, Ochako inquired, “Mom? Is everything all right?” Silence hummed in the other end of the line for several seconds. 

“I don’t know, ‘Chako,” her mother finally admitted in a small voice. Unnerved, Ochako tucked her legs under herself and narrowed her eyes. 

“What is it?” 

“Your father… His company lost a really, really big building deal.” Ochako gasped, and her hand flew to her mouth in shock. Her mother’s voice shook tremulously as she struggled not to cry, but Ochako could practically hear the fat tears rolling down her cheeks. “He’s been working so hard to score this contract for three months… But the investors went with someone else. It’s already so difficult finding projects in the winter,” her mother lamented woefully. “This was our only shot. I don’t know what we’re going to do, Ochako. The bills are mounting up, and I just… I just…” Her mother trailed off into bitter sobs. 

“Mom, it’ll be okay,” Ochako offered weakly. She wanted to help her mother, but the fear crept up, spilling a dreadful cold feeling through every inch of her body. “You know… It always is,” she continued lamely. Ochako struggled to offer encouragement to the weeping woman, but every forced reassurance fell pitifully short. After about five minutes of weak consoling, her mother quietly thanked Ochako for listening and assured her not to worry about her parents’ financial struggles. By this time, her body had gone painfully numb. Ochako couldn’t even feel her limb moving as she slowly lowered her cell phone to the table. She stared down at the half-finished bowl of ramen, and her belly twisted with nausea. 

Guilt swept through her like a tidal wave. Sure, she’d gotten the ramen on sale, but she’d still splurged and spent an extra dollar or two on the package. How could she be so selfish when her parents were literally struggling to make ends meet? Shameful tears burned in the corners of her eyes; as they slipped down her cheeks, they felt like lava, searing marks into her skin. She pushed the cup away, no longer able to bear the thought of finishing it. She had no right.

Ochako pressed her face into her palms as sobs gripped her body. “Oh, Mama… Oh, Papa… I’m so sorry!” she cried petulantly. In her anguish, she didn’t think to quiet her crying, and instead wailed openly. Mina’s room was down the hall, and the bubbly pink girl frequently spent her evenings in the first-floor common area, so by all rights, Ochako thought no one would hear her sobbing. 

That’s why the light, timid knock at her dorm room door nearly startled her out of her skin. 

“Uraraka?” The wood muffled the voice, making it difficult for her to hear who exactly it was, but it sounded like one of the boys. “Uraraka, are you… okay? I heard… I heard you crying.” Ochako shakily stood up and swiped at her face, trying to conceal the evidence of her misery. 

“I-I’m coming!” she cried, stumbling over herself to get to the door. In her clumsiness, she banged her shin against the corner of the table. She swallowed a pained squeal and stood there for a second to let the burning pain subside. “J-just a second!” she called, her voice now several octaves higher, as she slowly limped to the door. She tossed her hair from her face as she opened it, forcing a bright, fake grin on her face. “Oh, hey, Tokoyami!” she cheerfully greeted the feathered boy standing at her door. 

Fumikage inspected her critically. 

“Uh… Are you okay?” Fumikage asked suspiciously. Ochako’s cheesy grin didn’t falter as she leaned casually against the door frame, mentally cursing as her shin flared with pain once more. 

“I-I, of course, why wouldn’t I be okay?” she asked with a nervous chuckle. Fumikage’s red eyes looked her up and down, drinking in her very disheveled appearance. 

“Uh-huh…” he droned disbelievingly. “Well, I was just at Shoji’s room,” he explained while pointing over his shoulder, “and when I was heading to the stairs, I heard you crying… pretty loud…” 

“Are you sure it’s not Mina? She’s been soooooo stressed about the upcoming winter finals.” 

“Mina’s downstairs.” 

“Ummm, someone’s television could be on…” 

“Please stop lying to me, Uraraka. I’d rather you just tell me that you don’t want to talk about it.” Ochako’s plastic smile fell from her face immediately to crash at her feet like porcelain, making her nerves prickle up her legs. Fumikage’s eyes had taken on an irritatedly concerned aura, and it felt like those ruby irises bored straight into her soul. Ochako’s bottom lip wobbled as she stared at him culpably.

I do want to talk about it, she realized sadly. With a troubled sigh, she stepped aside and tiredly gestured for Fumikage to enter. He hesitated a second, jerking as he debated stepping over the threshold, before stiffly walking into the room. Ochako swung the door closed and then walked over to her bed, where she slumped onto it like a bag of lard. 

Fumikage leaned against the wall opposite her and crossed his arms, capturing her in an intense but not judgemental gaze. “So, what happened?” Ochako played with her fingers for a minute before answering. 

“My parents are having money problems…” she admitted in a tiny voice. “My dad works in construction, and he just lost a huge contract that would’ve floated them through the winter. It’s hard to get work during the winter season because the cold makes construction work difficult… They were really relying on this contract, and now, my mom isn’t sure they’ll be able to make their bills.” Her lips trembled as she slid her teary gaze to the now lukewarm cup of gourmet ramen on her table. “And here I am… splurging my allowance on stupid gourmet ramen while my parents are struggling,” she moped with a sob and buried her face into her hands. “I’m so selfish and greedy!” she wailed. 

“Uraraka!” Fumikage cried, and she could hear him stumble forward by the sounds of his unsteady footsteps over the wood floor. Ochako peered through her fingers to find him standing in front of her, hands fluttering around her form but too nervous to actually touch her. Eventually, he grabbed her wrists to gently lower her hands from her face and rest them in her lap. Muted, Ochako allowed the boy to manipulate her body like a puppet, finding a strange comfort in his guiding movements. Fumikage exhaled deeply and sank onto the bed beside her, pressing himself slightly against her in a soothing fashion. “Uraraka… You aren’t selfish or greedy.” 

The girl cast another remorseful glance at the cup ramen on the table. Before she could voice opposition, Fumikage gently grabbed her chin and turned her face back to him. A blush crept into her cheeks as his fingers slowly fell from her face in a gentle caress. “You’re not. Your parents’ troubles aren’t your fault, and so you don’t need to punish yourself with guilt over some ramen.” Hearing it out loud solidified how absurd her feelings were, making her snivel. She shifted nervously and looked down at her lap. 

“You’re right… How silly of me…” 

“It’s not silly,” he objected with a kind smile. When Ochako looked up at him, he turned nervous and twiddled his fingers. “I-I mean, it’s not uncommon to feel bad and shoulder the burdens of your parents…” he explained quickly. “But I’m sure they don’t want you to do that. I’m sure they’d much rather you be smiling and enjoying yourself,” he said with another look into her face. Ochako blinked, surprised by the wisdom of his advice, and then smiled warmly. 

“Yeah… You’re right. Thank you,” Ochako said. She genuinely felt a lot better, and she rose from the bed to stretch her arms over her head. “I feel loooooads better!” she crowed. Tokoyami jumped at her sudden outburst, but then chuckled and stood up beside her. 

“I’m relieved.” 

“You’re so kind for coming to check on me, Tokoyami,” Ochako beamed, clasping her hands behind her back and smiling radiantly at him. Fumikage flushed and nervously shifted his feet with shy mumbles. When he mentioned something about excusing himself, Ochako grabbed the hem of his shirt. “No, no! Please stay. If you’re not doing anything else, of course,” she asked with a flutter of her eyelashes. If his face wasn’t covered in dark black feathers, she was sure his face would be beet-red. “I’ve got another packet of that gourmet ramen. We can share it.” 

“What? No, Ochako, I couldn’t-” he began to stammer, but in that moment, Dark Shadow sprang out of him with a delighted squeal. 

“Ramen! Ramen!” the shadowy spirit demanded insistently. Ochako giggled and patted the bird-like spirit’s head, then proceeded to prepare two more packets of the ramen for them. Fumikage flapped anxiously around her as she filled the two noodle cups with water. 

“O-Ochako, you spent money on that… I simply couldn’t!” he protested. Ochako ignored him as she popped the first one into the microwave. 

“Nonsense,” she said while starting the timer. She looked over her shoulder at him with a sweet smile. “You helped me deal with my bad news. Besides, a meal is always better when you have someone to share with!” Fumikage blinked at her, then resigned himself to the situation with an amused smile. 

“Yeah. You’re right. Thanks.” Ochako hummed happily, and together, they watched the ramen cup spin slowly around the microwave- but they were too absorbed in trading smiles to count down the seconds.

Enjoy this oneshot? Feel free to peruse my Table of Contents!

Tag List: @deliathedork​ @sadistiks​ @wesparklebitch​ @simplybakugou​

[mortaljin]

Two Shadows of a Broken Promise | Chapter One

Word Count: 3.9k Warnings: Mentions of violence, weapons, death, drugs, and other gang related things || Warnings will be added as necessary. Genre: Angst and Romance. Potential for future smut || Mafia!Au | Friends-to-Lovers!Au | Enemies-to-Lovers!Au Pairing: Kim Taehyung x Fem!Reader || Side pairings will be added as necessary.

Summary: The crevices that shadows cling to between—and in the corners of—buildings are not something that you fear. Neither you nor Kim Taehyung had any fear of the dangers lurking in the night. Still, you promised to walk away. But five years is a long time to remain aware of a broken promise to a man who could very well be in the shadows himself. 

Masterlist | Prologue | One |

© VISUAL SHOCK

Your POV

Even though the deep, burgundy curtains—that covered every window—made the room look like it was no later than dawn, the light shining around the edges proved otherwise.

Polished, manicured nails drilled into the keyboard of a laptop that was barely illuminated; the soft sound of a whirl coming from the underside of the device said that it was time to give it a good dusting.

note to self, you typed on the laptop’s note function, give hoseok laptop for checks and repairs

The obnoxious yellow color of the “sticky notes” application made your heavy head feel even worse. You scoffed, glancing at the clock to find there was over an hour before it was acceptable to take another round of painkillers. So, instead, you changed the note color to a softer purple and reopened the document that you were working on—before your mind took another detour.

Displayed on the screen in front of you was a list of schedules. It contained all the times, locations, and persons of every transactions that were set to occur in the next seventy-two hours. It contained your schedule along with the schedules of all those in the near vicinity.

The Jades were new: a small group of novices that only knew how to use their mouths, not their fists. This group only dabbles in dealing—usually drugs, rarely weapons.

The Umbra were fucking annoying, to say the least. You seethed momentarily as you highlighted their slots on the list. Crooks. All of them, you thought.

None of the other names on the list gave much need for concern. The Marks, even the slimy Fangs, were all to be easily consolidated in the next 72 hours. None required much man power to takeout.

The tasks at hand seemed easy, save for the a little question mark with only one slot filled in.

A soft, aggravated sigh left your mouth when you realized you were required to interact with other people today. No amount of hiding in your office would prevent your duties from being fulfilled. Your chair swiveled to the side as you reached over to press a button under your desk. It took a moment of struggling to find it but once you found that button, and a lovely voice filled your ears, you felt the slightest rush of relief come over you.

Slightest.

“I need you in my office in ten minutes. Please bring ramen.”

The chuckle, and what was no doubt a potentially sarcastic remark, on the other line was cut off by white noise as your finger left the button. You laid your head against your desk and closed your eyes for a few seconds…

*BZZZ*

With eyes shooting open at the sound of the office door unlocking, your hand flew to the handgun under your desk. Rapid reflexes had the gun aimed at the person walking through the threshold before the door fully opened.

“Top Ramen, seriousl—fuck!” The black-haired man’s chiding was cut off by the near heart attack he received from your paranoia.

You lowered your gun and switched the safety back on, “what the fuck, Jin?”

He lowered his hand from his chest and straightened himself up. “I could ask you the same thing, you demon.”

Jin placed a steaming cup of microwaved ramen in front of you, forcing you to cringe when you remembered the task you set out for him.

“I forgot I asked you to come up,” you murmured under your breath.

“That was ten minutes ago,” he said, point blank.

“I fell asleep, okay? I’m just—” There was a little bit of poison in your rhetorical question and although Jin didn’t even flinch, the guilt hit you nonetheless.

Sighing, you beckoned him over to you. It took him little to no effort to pull you from the chair enough to slide under you and bring you into his lap. You couldn’t avoid the breathing in the scent of his aftershave and cologne.

“Talk to me, baby girl. What’s going on?”

The corners of your lips perked upwards, and you sighed into his shoulder for a moment.

“Can’t sleep,” you mumbled into the soft fabric of his shirt. “I don’t know why, but I can’t sleep lately,” you said as you lifted your head.

“You haven’t held any meetings lately,” Jin inquired, “do you want me to get the resident doctor?”

You shook your head in reply, and managed to turn the desk chair back towards the computer. “No, it’s okay.”

You stood up and straightened yourself up to let Jin know that the snuggling was over. When you could practically feel him rolling his eyes behind you, you tapped your nails along your desk to get his attention.

“There are a few things on the agenda in the next 72 hours that I want to address, Seokjin.”

He hummed in response.

He leaned in closer to you, and it was hard to concentrate with his warm breath sending shivers down your spine.

“Firstly, the Umbra are a big fucking problem. Their boss was caught in the middle of some sex and abuse scandals.”

“Right. Them and that politician—oh what’s his name?” Jin paused for moment, trying to remember the biggest news in the city right now. “Whatever. They were involved with some trafficking chains.”

You nodded, eyes darting back to the list. “I want you to send people to figure out which members were involved and also, wipe them the fuck out. Get that slimy politician too, if you can.

“Besides them, no one else is a problem right now. If we can get the Jades under our control, we may benefit; they’re good at negotiating for a group that only deals drugs.”

“Do you want me to—”

A task dawned on you, causing you to interrupt Jin. “Wait. Put that at the bottom of the list of to-dos. They’re not a threat right now.”

“Right.”

“I want these guys,” you jabbed a solitary finger against the line that held the Fangs, “to be consolidated. A few of them are trying to branch out and make their own deals, but under our name. They either lump themselves back together, or break off from me. And if they do the latter—”  

“We take them out.”

You smiled, proud that he follows directions so well—even when unspoken.

“As far as the Marks go, I just want them gone. They’re annoying and too stupid to stay out of trouble, I want them gone from the Golden Rose name. Let them know soon that we will not be offering extended services any longer.”

“Will they still receive the protection of the Golden Rose on Four Seasons grounds?”

You thought for a second on the circumstances. If you excommunicate the Marks from your business, then they will likely retaliate. But if they retaliate on Four Seasons grounds, the grounds of the city’s peace zones, then they forfeit as much as their life.

“Why not. If they fuck up its on them.”

He hummed in obedience, “is there anything else I can do for you, your highness?”

“Don’t mock me, Kim Seokjin.”

“Ah,” he cried as he feigned a blow to his heart, “you wound me with your lack of faith in me. I was merely using the correct honorifics.”

Holding back a giggle, you gave him the most serious glare you could give. But failed. “You’re the worst second in command the mafia has ever seen.”

You expected another dramatic act of betrayal, but your laughter died down as he moved from your side to spin your chair facing him. The sound coming from the palms of his hands landing roughly against the edge of your desk found their way into your ears.

His gaze ran up your neck, slowly, taking in every inch of you from the top of your breasts to your lips.

“You weren’t calling me the worst last night when we were tangled in your sheets.” The warmth of his breath near your ear travelled to your core, and you almost buckled under his dominance.

“Ah-ahh,” you moaned as he nipped at your earlobe. His lips traveled along your cheek until they captured yours in a heated kiss.

You entertained him for a moment before pulling away.

“We have w-work to do, Jin.”

He whined but pulled away, leaving you flustered and almost out of breath.

“You’re no fun when you act like a boss.”

“Jin, I am the boss. May I remind you that this is my empire?”

He rolled his eyes, and waved you off, “yeah, yeah. I’ll call the teams together and tell them what we’re doing in the next few days. Will I see you this evening?”

You opened your mouth to speak when a ping came from your computer. Swirling around, you read a notification that had a long time coming.

Event coming up in one week: Meet with Kim Taehyung.

You choked down a grimace and moved your eyes to the left to read over your list one last time.

“I’ll let you know, Jin.”

He stood there for a moment, waiting to see if there was anything else for you to say.

“Also, I need some intel sent to the north side of the city. I’m sure you’ve heard the rumors of that new mastermind running around up there.”

Jin left the office tight lipped and obedient.

Your ramen had chilled, almost too much to be good anymore. But, you were hungry and you scarfed it down nonetheless. Between bites, you continued thinking about meeting with Taehyung. Many months had gone by without so much as a thought about the lanky teenager that was too good for the world, and even more months had passed since you last saw him.

It had been a year after graduating high school that you told Kim Taehyung you were going to college. In all reality you were on your way to building a mafia empire. Still, when it became harder and harder to see your friend, the excuse was at least believable.

What a joke, Y/N.

You couldn’t keep your promise to walk away from this life, but you could keep your promise to meet up with him at your old spot.

Sighing, you penned in an unmovable opening in your schedule for a week from today.

Taehyung’s POV

The air seemed to grow cold as Taehyung walked down the metal steps leading towards the bottom of the warehouse. An echo bounced off the walls with each click of the black, polished heels as he reached the next step. He placed both hands on the railing and leaned forward as he stopped on the landing; a handful of rings made his presence known as they collided with the bars.

There was a brief lapse in the hum of chatter below when the multitude of people looked up to him. He scanned his eyes across the floor of the warehouse, observing his men as they unpackaged, checked, tested, and repackaged.

This warehouse contained his pride and joy—prides and joys. ­In this hidden building, all of his creations could come to life. For four years he was hidden away in different hotel rooms—tinkering, toying, testing—under the allowance of an old colleague. For four years he learned, he dealed, and he stepped up.

Until finally, for the past year he has begun to make a name for himself. Drugs were dealt, and guns were created and sold to all parts of the country. Sure, there were probably more ethical means to achieving his goal, but the shadows were the life he knew best.

His prideful smirk fell from his face as he decided to make the rounds and inspect this batch of minion’s handiwork.

As he turned to continue down the stairs to the floor of the warehouse, Kim Taehyung’s phone pinged with the sound of a notification. The phone’s bright, white screen illuminated his worn face against the dimmer, yellow light of the warehouse. It caused him to shut his eyes and recoil a little before he had the opportunity to turn the brightness down.

The experience made him look around at his surroundings and make a mental note:

Maybe we can afford to keep this place a little brighter.

Looking at his phone again, he saw a reminder in his calendar waiting for confirmation.

Meet with Y/N L/N in: One week.

The reminder made him smile, and almost prompted him to reminisce. But, he knew that he had much to do today. He pressed the ‘remind me later’ button and shoved the phone back in his pocket.

He glanced up in time to see his warehouse supervisor, and second-in-command, rushing up the stairs to meet him.

“Ah, good evening sir,” the man huffed, face full of concern.

Taehyung patted him on the shoulder and guided him back down the stairs. “It’s good to see you, I haven’t been down here in a while, have I?” He gestured with his hand to the different lines, “lets walk while we talk, I want to inspect the progress. After you, Jimin.”

The men made their way down the stairs and started for the far end of the warehouse towards a production line. This warehouse is barren of machinery, and instead is made of a large multitude of workers with nothing but their tools and their tables.

“The men have successfully finished creating the first batch of those hybrid guns you blueprinted for us. Many were surprised at how easily it was to make, yet how powerful your idea came to be.”

Taehyung only smirked at Jimin’s compliment, “who would have known those two years in engineering would have rendered me capable of weapon building.”

They continued down the line of tables, overhearing many men bantering and laughing as they assembled the different pieces. Taehyung smiled to himself to know that the people under him aren’t as miserable as he used to be.

When the pair reached the last table of assembly, Taehyung noticed a lone man and an overflow of pieces spread around him. With a closer glance, it dawned on him that it was the newest recruit, a kid barely out of high school. Jimin gave a low scoff, before leaving his bosses side to promptly scold the man.

“Of all the days for you to fucking fall behind, you had to pull this shit the day that the boss arrived? You little—”

Taehyung had heard enough, and stepped between Jimin and the amateur. “Jimin, that’s quite enough.”

“Sorry boss, but I don’t think this kid is worth a damn. He needs to be taught a lesson for not rising up to the standards.”

Kim Taehyung does not like to have to repeat himself, and Jimin’s rebuttal of his boss’s intervention hit a nerve somewhere. It was not hard to tower over a man like Jimin, whose small stature made him a great reconnaissance leader, and neither was it hard to impose authority over him.

“Need I remind you, Park, that I was once a kid too. And now I am your boss. Think of that the next time you want to bully a kid for falling behind. He could one day be the boss of his own mafia, one that could crush you. Get out of here and send Jungkook my way.”

Jimin was clearly not pleased to be sent away in front of not only a young member, but a new one as well. Out of fear of bigger repercussions, Jimin turned on his heal and walked up the stairs towards Jungkook surveillance cave.

“I’m sorry for his harsh words.” Taheyung spoke directly to the young man was Jimin had walked out of sight. “I don’t know what came over him.”

“N-no, I’m the one who should be sorry, s-sir.”

Taehyung hummed, choosing to ignore the young man’s tremble as a result of his proximity. Instead, he observed the table’s appalling mess. There was only one gun assembled, and poorly done at that.

“Can I ask why you are the only person left? With your entire days’ worth of work left on the table?”

He gulped, glancing an eye at his progress, or lack thereof. “I’ve never seen a gun before, sir. And I… no one else bothered to help me and I had a hard time of reading the blueprints and I—”

The boy’s rambling was cut off by his boss’s stern hand being raised to prompt his silence.

“Why are you here? Forgive me for not remembering, but why did seek us out?”

His shoulders slumped forward a little, and he hung his head. Shaking it a little, he murmured his sentence but only a few words could be made out: “mom,” and “sick,” and “money.”

Taehyung nodded, but didn’t let the hurt in his heart at the boy’s words make him soften. He simply picked up the blueprint off the table, and the poorly assembled model, and brought to the empty table behind him.

“One of the first things about assembling based on a blueprint is knowing what the blueprint means,” he began to explain to the boy.

Once he did this, he took the gun apart and laid the pieces out. Taehyung told the boy to get all the pieces for another, and those too were brought to the table. Taking the twenty minutes out of his evening to teach the kid how to build the gun was nothing if it meant he could make the profit off it.

That’s what he told himself, anyway: that he was teaching the kid to make the profit off the cheap labor, not because he didn’t want the kid to get in with the actual wrong crowd.

He watched the kid dissemble and reassemble the gun multiple times before he approved.

“Do what you can for the next hour and a half, and then get outta here. I’ll have someone finish the rest.”

The kid stammered out a ‘thank you’ and all but somersaulted back in place.

Taehyung made the assumption that the rest of the workers would be fine, Jimin can supervise otherwise. So, instead of finishing his rounds, he too made his way to Jungkook’s cave.

His phone dinged again, this time because of a message from Jungkook himself:

Boss, you might want to come here for a second.

Once he was right outside the door, he received a second:

Not an emergency, but probably important.

Taehyung knocked briefly before making his way into the room. Monitors on every wall, and wires lining the floor, welcomed him into Jungkook’s area. It was clean, it was organized, but quite frankly Taehyung knew nothing about what went on.

He was a businessman and Jungkook was the security guard—that has way more training in killing people than expected. But he did his job, cleaned up when necessary, and kept to himself. Taehyung knew little about Jungkook, only enough to trust him and to have his loyalty.

“Hey boss, I need you to come look at this. A camera picked up some guy snooping around the entrance.”

“Of course, there was someone around the entrance,” Taehyung replied with a sigh, “the warehouse front is a convenience store for crying out loud.”

Jungkook just shook his head and pressed some buttons; the video zoomed in a bit.

“No, this guy looked right into the camera—see here!—no one should know it’s there. What if its—”

“Kook,” Taehyung warned, “Are you sure you’re not being paranoid?”

He sighed, relenting. “Perhaps, but I’m going to look into the matter regardless. Rumor has it that the Golden Rose have caught wind of your little business.”

The last thing Taehyung needed was an invitation to the Golden Rose.

The only thing that Taehyung could do in response is pinch the bridge of his nose. He let go after a brief moment to rewatch the surveillance cameras. The man in the video looked nothing more than a tourist, with the gaudy shirt and hat. But his face looked worn, too worn for a man that young. The look in his eyes when the man looked into the camera hit Taehyung somewhere, and the tourist get-up only grew more suspicious.

“Go ahead and keep an eye out for ‘em. It’s not uncommon for people to send their recons out in streetwear.”

Jungkook nodded at the order, pressing a few more buttons in response to it. “If someone seems suspicious, I’ll have someone tail them until they get where they’re going. They’ll keep quiet if they found anything about us.”

“No blood, not yet. Find another way; either scare them or bribe them. But I don’t want to be a part of another war.”

“Roger that.”

As Taehyung walked away, his head was swimming with convoluted thoughts. Something about his evening felt terribly off after speaking with Jungkook, and he couldn’t get the man on the surveillance out of his head.

I don’t have time to deal with this, this week. He groaned at the thought of cleaning up his trail in a week; cleaning up his trail before it was time to see you.

“If only she knew,” he whispered under his breath as he took the stairs to the left to lead him to the car that was waiting for him. Taehyung scoffed at himself and decided to start planning how to hide all this from you.

Once he left the warehouse—which had only seemed to grow dimmer, dustier, and duller. There wasn’t much for him to do for the rest of the evening, so he decided to make a phone call.

He listened to the phone ring—once, twice—as he climbed into the sleek black car. Immediately the divider between the front and the back went up, and he had the privacy of silence to himself.

“Hello? Yes, Miss Moon, there is a list of things for you to take care of. Yes, go ahead—” He paused for her to reach a writing tool, given that it was after her office hours. The shuffling of what was likely her purse could be heard in the background. “Okay? Firstly, I need you to block off the entire day exactly a week from now. What do you mean I have a meeting that morning?”

He sighed, aggravated at the inconvenience. “Fine, but nothing after that meeting is over, got it? Next, I need you to have brighter lights for the warehouse ordered. No, don’t install them just yet. It’s too dim in there, and I don’t think we need the cover of darkness right now.

“Finally, I need you to include an extra payment in this month’s billing statements. Yes, the new kid. Take it out of mine, I can survive without the valet for a month. Oh, and also?”

Taehyung paused; the car rounded a corner towards one of his residences in the city.

“I’m feeling a bit restless, do send someone up to entertain me this evening.”

With that, the line clicked off and his driver stopped at the foot of a sky-high, classy building.

[averyonelovesjack]

baby sister ~ zach herron

requested: yes

Do a Zach imagine!

summary: on a trip to visit her older brother jack, y/n and her boyfriend struggle with a decision on how to tell him. 

warning(s): cursing, angry jack, mention of sex (briefly), hella long

word count: 2715

A smile peered on my face as my feet lifted off the ground, launching my body forward onto the curly haired boy I’d missed more than anyone could imagine. My ears filled with the soft laughter of my brother who held me tightly, spinning around in a circle.

More pressure was applied to my tiny feet as Jack set me down and grabbed my bag from next to me. Most people would argue that they could carry their own bag, but honestly i just took a four hour flight out here to see him before the holidays, this bitch can grab my luggage. Jack’s car was going to be a good bit away, i know that, but there were conversations to be had in that time. We’d been away from each other since before summer, during his graduation. Despite anytime that Jack would come home, I’d be out of town or busy.

Jack smiled over at me, “i still can’t believe mom let you take a flight by yourself”

i playfully rolled my eyes, “you do understand that i’m sixteen right? i know you’re not good with birthdays, but come on”

he nudged me, “that’s pretty young! and i sometimes know your birthday”

a scoff escaped my mouth, “i get that i’m your least favorite sister, but damn. that hurt”

“there’s a lot to choose from,”Jack joked, shrugging, “not all four of you can be my favorite”

i used my two hands, turning and pushing him so that he was further away from me, “you’re supposed to disagree!”

he laughed, “i’m kidding”

i rolled my eyes, “no you’re not”

“yeah, you’re right. i’m not”

The door to the house opened and the smell of burning food filled my nose, realizing that it would probably be like this for a while. I looked over to see Daniel taking a very steamy cup of ramen out of the microwave. knowing these idiots, someone must have forgotten to take it out or put it for much longer than the timer says and then it was destroyed.

Jack set his keys on the table, yelling through the house, “WE’RE BACK”

I heard a few footsteps and then I was immediately tackled by a blond boy. Giggles left my mouth as Corbyn nearly knocked my over, hugging me tightly. A few more boys appeared from around the corner, each taking their turn to hug me, Zach’s being the shortest. Despite a normal length hug not being suspicious, we didn’t like to take chances. Our eyes glanced towards each other, but then away.

Jack had my bags in his arms, walking away from the large group of guys, “i’m gonna put your bags in my room”

i nodded my head at him, continuing to socialize with the four boys i hadn’t seen in so long. It was nice, chatting with all of them about what we’ve each been up to. Primarily what i’ve done recently, since their recent events can easily be found on the internet.

Jack playfully rolled his eyes as I stepped away from the living room that the two of us sat in to go answer my phone out by the pool. It wasn’t necessarily important, but it was a friend and it was an excuse to talk to Zach. I quickly answered Lila’s call and as soon as i hung up, i felt two arms grip my waist.

I was surprised, but I knew he was coming. My body jumped, but an adorable laugh left Zach’s lips, giving me comfort as I turn around. One of his arms stayed on my waist as the other lifted up, pushing my hair out of my face and landing on my cheek as his lips touched my own softly. A blush appeared on my cheeks as I kissed him back, taking in the taste of the flesh i’d missed for all too long.

When we separated, i looked up at him with a smile, “i’ve missed you”

“i’ve missed you too” He brought my body close to his, wrapping me in his warmth for longer than before as if to make up for what happened when i first arrived, “i hate having you so far away”

i nodded my head, “it truly sucks”

“and i hate having to share you,” Zach admits, “i just want everyone to understand that i miss you the most”

i laughed a little bit, “i wish we could tell them, zach. you know i do”

“i know,” he let out a breath, “it just sucks keeping the most important thing in my life from everyone”

i nodded, “it’s too risky. i want to tell everyone too, trust me”

“no one can do anything about us wanting to be together, y/n” Zach tried to convince me but fear of what could come rushed my mind.

“it’s jack we’re talking about,” i remind, “as much as i want to trust that he wants the best for me, i don’t want to ruin or wreck any relationship you have with him”

“i’m dating his little sister,” Zach told me as if i didn’t already know, “how would that ruin our relationship?” 

i sighed, looking away, “i don’t know. if we– like maybe one day if we were to break up and-” 

“why would we break up?” Zach was defensive now, hurt by what i’d suggested.

“i don’t know,” i sighed, “i don’t want to, ever, but you never know” 

“baby, we’re not breaking up, right?” 

“no, of course not! and i don’t want to” i tell him, “i just don’t know what to do about this whole jack situation” 

“my relationship with him is separate from my relationship with you,” Zach informs me.

“i know,” i sigh, “just give me some time to think this over” 

Zach nodded his head, slipping his fingers onto my cheek and feeding me a small and beautiful smile, “i love you” 

“i love you too” i wrapped my arms around his body, taking in the scent that i could never get enough of.

I sat on the counter top of the bathroom, Zach standing in front of me as the door was lightly closed. Despite the pretty wide chance of someone walking in, it seemed less suspicious than the two of us being locked in one of the bathrooms together.

My eyes dazed into his as we talked about anything and everything. His smile lit up my world, making everything about the day seem amazing, even the boring times. The way his laugh filled my ears made me want to crumble beneath him.

His lips came closer to mine, nearly touching my own before the door opened and he quickly pulled away.

Jack looked highly confused, but within the .5 seconds of silence, his confusion turned to anger and rage, “what the fuck is going on?”

i was quick to spit out a few senseless words, “zach was just- my contact,” i realized this didn’t make sense and jack gave me a look and some time to continue on and make some sense of the words i’d blurted out, “he was just checking to make sure my contact was still in my eye”

“why wouldn’t you know if your contact was in your eye?” Jack glared, crossing his arms over his chest, “and why can’t you just check your case to see if it’s in there?”

“she might have dropped it,” Zach went along with what i was saying.

“might’ve dropped it?” Jack didn’t believe a single thing we were saying.

“yes,” i blurt more words, “i couldn’t tell if it was still on my finger and then i had a hand cramp”

jack took in every bullshit lie i said, thinking about it for a second. for a split second i thought he was gonna believe me until fury filled his eyes, “you don’t even wear contacts! you hate touching your eyes!”

this was true. he’d caught the fact that i was completely lying about wearing contacts and he knew me too well. i quickly came up with the reason he wouldn’t know about my completely fake affiliation with contacts, “we’ve been apart for a long time. i got over my fear”

He rolled his eyes, “you’ve literally been wearing your glasses all day! you can’t even deny that”

my jaw dropped at the fact that our lie had come to an end and i didn’t have any ideas on how to save it, “well i–,” i started, “we–”

Jack realized that there was no way for me to explain the close proximity of Zach to my face and quickly turned to shove Zach, his fingers digging into my boyfriend’s shoulders and forcing the younger boy against the wall. a squeal escaped my pleading lips as jack spit words at Zach, “what the fuck were doing with your face so close to my baby sister’s?”

zach hadn’t any idea of what to say, “jack! stop!” i squealed at my older brother, but it was ignored.

“fucking answer me!” Jack’s fingers pushed Zach back against the wall as zach tried to move off of it. another squeal left my mouth as i tried to yell at my protective older brother who didn’t seem to understand what was happening.

“hey, calm down,” Zach tried but my brother only grew closer to him. Although i couldn’t see his face, i knew jack was getting angrier by the second.

“what the fuck were you doing with my baby sister?” Jack questioned him and I heard footsteps running closer to us as my squeals and stops grew louder, “you have a fucking voice, answer me!”

The three other boys living in this house came in, Jonah immediately stepping between jack and zach, pulling jack back and away from him as zach quickly walked away from my raging older brother and back towards me.

i got down from the counter, stepping in front of my boyfriend and staring at jack, “i’m not your fucking baby sister”

Jack’s eyes turned from rage to sadness in the matter of two seconds after processing what i’d told him.

“it’s not your job to protect me,” I continued, feeling the need to go on with my argument against my brother, “i’m my own goddamn person and i’ll do what i fucking please. you can’t keep me in this little box like i’m four years old jack. newsflash, i turned sixteen months ago. i know you weren’t there, but trust me, it happened”

It was silent as i scoffed and walked out of the bathroom, trying to find some place safe for me to be alone, but it seemed like being in someone else’s house gave me no option. everyone had a room and i couldn’t find a spot to just sit.

instead of staying in this poisoned house, i went out the back door. LA was cold at night, but my anger kept me warm as i walked as far away from the house as possible, sitting down on the ledge that overlooked the city. it was quiet, other than the sounds of cars driving down the street and fireflies looking for mates. 

a cool draft tickled my shoulders, making me shiver as i felt the presence of someone next to me. despite my usual fear of someone murdering me, i felt safe in the fact that it was one of the two people i’d have liked it to be. 

a short breath left his mouth as i continued to stare out at the pretty city lights at night, not daring make eye contact, “can you at least look at me?” 

jack’s voice cracked and i felt my heart shatter. i didn’t know what to say, but i figured it’d be easier than looking at him, “what for?” it was a cold reply, but nonetheless he deserved it, “you gonna push me too?” 

a soft and sad scoff left my brother’s lips, “i don’t care what you tell me or how old you are, you will always be my baby sister” 

“you’re two years older than me, jack,” i say, “you don’t even remember me as a baby” 

“that’s not the point,” he paused, “the point is that i don’t care that you’ve turned sixteen because you will always be my baby sister. you have to live with the fact that i won’t like it when you get boyfriends, it doesn’t matter how old you are” 

“and you have to live with the fact that you don’t get to protect me from everything in the world,” i finally looked up at him, “maybe i’ll always be your baby sister, but i am sixteen, despite you choosing not to abide by it. i’m going to act my age. i’ll get boyfriends and i’ll have sex and i’ll make mistakes because that’s how a person is created. if you want me to be the best person i can be, and to live up to my potential, then you need to stop protecting me from the world. i am very much aware of the damages that could do to me, but if i don’t make mistakes i’ll never learn” 

“i don’t want to watch you make mistakes, y/n” Jack told me, “i want to protect you from making them. what you make a mistake that’s too big for you to handle?”

“we’re given the things we can handle,” i stare at my older brother, “the strongest soldiers get the toughest battles. i will find a way to handle what i need to” 

jack looked back at me, “so are you and zach a thing?” 

i sighed, letting out a deep breath, “yeah, zach is my boyfriend” 

“how long did you keep it from me?” he questions and i suck in a deep breath.

“maybe six months?” i estimate and his eyes sadden.

“you really didn’t trust me to keep it?” i didn’t answer, “did anyone else know?” 

“mom, sydnie, and ava,” i tell him, “i wanted to tell Isla, but you and her have this bond and i had a feeling she’d tell you” 

he laughed a little bit at what i’d said about isla, “at least i’m not the last one to find out” 

“i guess that’s true” i say, “i didn’t tell dad either. i figured that i should probably tell you first to prepare myself for what he’d have to say” 

“oh shit, i’m not even the worst of your problems” 

“i don’t see what the big deal is,” I admit to him, dangling my legs, “sydnie’s had boyfriends, she has one right now. and you two have still got ava and isla to protect from boys” 

he sighs, “how long do you think we’ve got with single ava?” 

i giggled, “not long. she’s thirteen and already prettier than me. i give it six months, a year tops” 

“shut up!” jack nudged me, “you know that’s not true” 

“yeah yeah,” i rock and then look at him with a small smile, “now i love this sib moment, but can i go see my boyfriend and make sure you haven’t scared the shit out of him enough to break up with me?” 

“go getchya man” Jack smiled widely at me and stood up, helping me up as i ran towards the house, opening the door and leaving it for jack as i searched around for zach. 

I found him sitting on his bed in his room, his head in his hands. the boys were all sitting in the room too, but watching tv and trying not to bother him. i looked into the room and then moved in front of him quickly, sitting down next to him.

he looked up as the bed sank and the smile on my face gave him a bit of hope as he wrapped his arms around me. i heard a few awes as i hugged him back, falling over onto the bed. 

“ok ok, i don’t care that you’re dating but please, no pda around me” Jack walked into the room, cringing.

i stared at jack and then turned around, planting a kiss on zach’s lips, making his cheeks turn red.

“i swear to god she just likes to bother me” Jack gave up, sitting down on Jonah’s bed as the boys laughed.