#So I'm feeling better if anyone was concerned.

[azrielbrainrot]

The Sweetest Dream

Pairing: Azriel x F!Reader

Warnings: pure fluff, not proofread

Word Count: 0,9K

Notes: Writing little drabbles to help with writer's block. This is prompt #15 on this list.

Everyone in the house is asleep as you sit by the fireplace, sipping your tea, lost in visions of hazel eyes and gentle smiles, the same ones that wouldn't let sleep find you tonight.

“Can't sleep either?”

The sound makes you jump on the sofa, too distracted to realize someone had walked into the sitting room. Your heart calms as soon as you turn to find Azriel standing close to the doorway, cringing softly when you notice the guilty look in his eyes. You shouldn't have expected anything else from the Spymaster, walking around silently out of habit.

“I didn't mean to scare you,” he murmurs, hiding his hands behind his back and bringing his wings close to his body. Trying to make himself look smaller perhaps? As if that was possible.

“You didn't, Az,” you rush to assure him, “I just didn't expect anyone else to still be awake at this hour.”

Azriel hums and walks closer to you, the faint light coming from the fireplace making him look even more ethereal than usual as it hits his carved body so beautifully. Warmth spreads to your cheeks as his shadows give way and you notice he was only wearing loose pajama pants, it seems he really had been trying to sleep before coming downstairs. The thought makes you tug at the hem of your nightgown, remembering you were in the same position as him.

“You didn't answer me,” he speaks up again as he takes a seat next to you on the sofa.

“Right,” you clear your throat, pushing away any impertinent thoughts. “I can't seem to fall asleep, no.”

“Did something happen?”

His concern for you is exceedingly sweet, truly heartwarming, and even though it's something any of your friends would show, you can't help the murmur in your chest as it comes from him. The fact that his hushed voice sounds like warm honey in the quiet room not helping your situation at all.

You shake your head, turning your body to face him, leg propped on the sofa as the empty teacup in your hands disappears at the house's command. He looked impossibly handsome with his dark messy hair and his half-lidded eyes trained on you.

“Just have too much on my mind, that's all.”

“Alright,” he whispers, blinking slowly down at you, “but you know you can talk to me about anything, right?”

“Of course, Az. I promise it's nothing bad.” He nods, eyes never straying from yours as silence falls between you once again. “Why can't you sleep?”

“I guess I'm just not tired,” he shrugs.

You know better than to pry, but you also know of the nightmares that often plague his dreams, and of the insomnia that won't allow him to get a good rest. Your fingers twitch, wanting to reach out to hold his hand, settling on biting your lip instead, your eyes darting back to the fireplace.

Ever since realizing your feelings for Azriel weren't exactly platonic anymore, you didn't really know how to act around him, entirely too aware of every movement and word, and what they could mean. It also didn't help that he seemed different with you as well, it made your heart get too many ideas.

“The sun is almost rising in the sky. We should probably give up on getting enough sleep,” he says, getting up from the sofa and coming to stand in front of you, holding out a hand towards you, one you don't hesitate in taking, letting him pull you up to your feet. “I know a good place to see the sunrise. Why don't I take us there instead?”

A smile spreads across your face as you accept his invitation with a nod, a smile of his own mirroring yours. Cauldron, how could you not fall in love with him? It seems more impossible to you that no one else was madly in love with the shadowsinger.

His hands fall on your waist unexpectedly, your eyes widening in surprise. “I'll fly us there,” he explains quickly, easily lifting you up into his arms, making you wrap yours around his neck. You've flown with him countless times, but now you could feel his body moving towards the window far too well, considering the lack of clothes between you.

“Azriel,” you call out his name just as he reaches the window, the way his eyes fall on your face taking your breath away for a moment. “Maybe we should get our robes or something before leaving.”

“No one will see us,” he assures, his shadows climbing up your bodies as if confirming their singer's words. “Is that okay?”

“Yes.”

“If you don't feel comfortable with me-”

“I do, Azriel,” you murmur, tightening your hold on him, “Of course I do.”

“Alright,” he whispers, pulling you closer to him as the smile returns to his lips.

“Alright.”

Your lips were only a breath away from each other, and it seems he also realized this as his hazel eyes travel down to watch your mouth, the desire that briefly flashes through his eyes taking your breath away before he recovers, opening the window and letting the chilly early morning air kiss your exposed skin instead.

“We should hurry,” he says with a smile, watching the way you blink up at him. “We don't want to miss the sunrise.”

It seems your silly crush isn't as silly or one sided as you thought.

[uniasus]

If there's anything Dani regretted about traveling it was how out of pocket it made her. She hadn't realized Danny and Jazz disappeared for four whole months.

Four months!

She lost so much time searching for the only family that cared.

There was mild concern from those in the Realms, four months to essentially immortal beings was nothing, but Sam and Tucker at least shared her frantic concerns and helped hide the disappearance from Jack and Maddie. Better they think their kids had just taken a summer job instead of coming home between school years...

"This is solar powered, ecto powered, and has a usb-c port," Tucker said when he slapped a smartwatch on Dani's wrist four months ago. "It will never die. We want weekly updates."

And so Dani traveled again. Systematically searching. She carried a photo of Danny and Jazz, making stops at coffee shops, hospitals, and junk shops to flash the image and ask if anyone had seen her siblings.

A little batting of the eyelashes, a bitten lip, watery eyes. A girl on the edge of crying got attention, and a pretty girl got people to ramble about potential sightings and other places to look.

She wasn't above it. She wanted her family found and safe.

But months of tireless searching with no evidence of Danny and Jazz was disheartening. She was beginning to lose hope.

"Do you really think they might be abroad?" Sam asked on a weekly call.

Dani shrugged, floating on her back through the Ghost Zone on one of its slow-moving currents. "It's been almost a year. If they had easy access to travel or a phone, they would have reached out."

"And you think Russia is the answer?"

"Rural Serbia is huge! If a random portal dropped them there, Danny could like, build them an ice shelter but cell towers are rare-"

"Ladies!" Tucker cut through the building fight

Dani snapped her mouth close, as did Sam.

"Sorry," Sam eventually said. "I'm just worried."

Dani bit her tongue. She knew that, and Sam and Tucker had been worrying longer.

"We do have to consider that Danny and Jazz fell through a portal through time," Tucker said. It was the first time any of them said it aloud.

Dani bit her lip. Portals, especially natural ones, were unpredictable. She'd asked Wulf for help at the beginning, but without seeing the original portal he had no clue where to slash a portal to.

She would much rather Danny be in the deep tundra than a hundred years in the past or future. She hugged herself, cool arms against her bare midriff. Now that Tucker stated the dreaded theory, the thoughts of never seeing her family again took over. She felt queasy.

"Danny would build a portal," Sam insisted.

"If he could," Tucker agreed.

Something beneath Dani tugged at her ponytail. She flipped over, floating on her stomach, and looked down.

Dani spent more time traveling the mortal realm than the Infinite Realms, but she knew this area well enough to know that this portal was new.

A potentially stable portal, seeing as how it'd lasted more than ten seconds.

"So i just found a portal," Dani said, interrupting Sam and Tucker. "Start a timer."

A beep came over the line. "Describe it," Tucker said.

Dani flew around the thin ectoplasmic disk, sharing her sights. It was smaller than the Fenton portal. Narrower, shorter. Same direction of swirl. Less obvious border, but a noticeable difference in color compared to the surrounding ectoplasm. It had a slight sucking effect, just enough to cause a local breeze to tousle her hair, which was more than the Fenton portal nowadays.

"Probably to a spot that has lower ambient ecto-"

"That's every place, Tuck-" Dani could feel Sam's eye-roll.

"And it hasn't changed? Timer is at two minutes."

"Nope," Dani chirped.

"It's stable," Sam breathed. "Think Danny built it?"

"If he has, why hasn't he returned home?"

"Well, I'm about to find out."

"Dani," Sam chastised. "You can't just fly through a strange portal!"

"Watch me."

******

Damian didn't want to be playing guard for an interdimensional closet portal, but until they had a camera that wouldn't fry after a few hours, physical checks were necessary. Danny's descriptions of the beings that could come through were alarming, but none of the Bats could bring themselves to destroy the portal. Not if it really was the Fenton's only way home.

At least he had unfettered, unsupervised access to the Fentons' apartment. He shamelessly snooped, pulling open dresser drawers and poking under the sink. His siblings might call his crush on Danny puppy love, and privately he'd admit that his crush wouldn't go anywhere due to the age difference, but he still couldn't help but sniff Danny's shampoo.

He should pack a bag for the Fentons. Maybe grab something he could use as leverage against his siblings. Though, Danny didn't seem to have gym clothes for Brown to drool over...

Something in the air electrified and Damian spun around to see a figure step out of the portal.

Long black hair in a ponytail tail, with fluffy bangs over her face. Short, but with long legs in bootcut jeans. A tight white crop top, her midriff slightly obscured by a red sweatshirt tied around her waist.

"Fuck," Damian whispered.

Oracle was immediately in his ear. "Robin, report."

The girl turned to him, hands up ready to fight. Big blue eyes. Nibbled pink lips. Danny's face on a girl his age.

"The Fentons' have a younger sister." He couldn't help the slight rise in his voice.

It took Oracle a millisecond to understand. She burst out laughing. "Those Fenton siblings, huh?"

The girl marched toward him, eyes flashing. "You better take me to Danny and Jazz right now or I'll-"

"Okay."

She pulled up, and Damian did his best to push down his blush. Brown was going to tease him so much over this.

Danny: Ugh, they're back again

Jazz: Don't make that face at paying customers. Do you want to make a portal back home?

Danny rolling his eyes: Yes

Jazz: Then we need to get enough money to buy the parts. If that means waiting tables at a barely legal dinner, where idiots hit on us, then we wait those stupid tables. Now go over there and get the Waynes to leave us a 200 tip.

Danny: Fine, but only if you do too!

Jazz: *Tighten her apron straps into an hourglass figure* Way ahead of you.

Danny: *Rolling eyes but does the same*

Meanwhile with the Waynes

Bruce: It's so nice to go out to eat with you all

Alfred: Indeed. It's a nice change, don't you agree, children?

Wayne kids: *hyperventilating*

Bruce Not looking up from his phone: The Fenton siblings?

Alfred: Indeed, sir. It seems like Master Dick, Master Jason, and Miss Cass are going to attempt to speak to Ms. Fenton today. Master Tim, Master Damian, Master Duke, and Miss Steph don't seem mentally ready to look Mister Fenton in the eye. Bets?

Bruce: Dick chokes on his fork again. Tim face plants on the table, and Steph once again speaks in gibberish after forgetting the entire English language.

Alfred: Very good, sir.

[sh1nr]

Dangerous Love

Jang Kyujin x Male Reader

wc: 4k

ao3

tags: mild angst, fluff, partners in crime, first kiss

(tw) blood, injury, near death experience

summary: What happens when someone saves you from almost dying?

"Told you to not wave that gun around" Kyujin said cleaning the blood off your hand

"I didn't know it had ammunition" You said "God it hurt like hell i swear i thought i would die"

Kyujin raised an eyebrow, her expression cold as she wiped the blood with a cloth. "You should've known better. Guns aren't toys." Her voice was low, laced with a hint of annoyance, but there was something else there, something that betrayed her worry.

You winced, your hand still clutching your side, the pain sharp and biting. "I didn’t even mean to pull the trigger. It was just… a reflex. And I didn’t think it was loaded. Who keeps a gun loaded like that?"

"People who know what they're doing, and you're not part of that group." Kyujin said sharply.

"Look i'm sorry" You said

"Yeah your ass should be sorry" Kyujin said as she finished cleaning your hand, her eyes still cold but lingering with a trace of concern. "You’re lucky it wasn’t worse. That shot could’ve hit anything—your heart, your lungs."

"I get it" You said

"You don't. And won't until you kill someone or yourself." Kyujin said

You flinched at the harshness in Kyujin's voice. It hit harder than the pain in your side. You knew Kyujin was right, but the weight of her words felt suffocating.

“I wasn’t trying to hurt anyone,” You whispered, your voice shaky. You let your head fall back against the wall, staring up at the ceiling as if the answer would reveal itself there.

Kyujin exhaled slowly, her breath heavy with frustration. She sat down beside you, looking at the wound. "You're lucky. It’s not deep, but you need to get that patched up before it gets worse."

"I'll be fine," You muttered, not wanting to admit that you were scared, not just from the pain, but from the reality of what you did

"Stop lying." Kyujin said

Kyujin reached into her bag and pulled out a first aid kit. Her movements were deliberate, efficient, almost too calm given the situation. "Take your shirt off," she commanded, her voice leaving no room for argument.

You hesitated, your cheeks flushing with a mix of embarrassment and vulnerability. "Do you really have to-"

"Now, Y/n," Kyujin cut you off, her eyes sharp. "Or do you want to risk an infection on top of everything else?"

Grumbling under your breath, you complied, wincing as you pulled your shirt over your head. The sight of the wound made your stomach turn. It wasn’t as bad as you thought, but the dried blood and the raw edges of the graze were enough to make you realize how close you came to a real disaster.

Kyujin didn’t say anything as she got to work. The silence between you both was heavy, filled with the unspoken tension of the moment. The sting of the antiseptic made you flinch, but you bit your lip to keep from crying out. You didn’t want to give Kyujin the satisfaction of knowing how much it hurt.

"This is weird" You said

"Don't act like i haven't seen you naked before" Kyujin said

Your cheeks turned an even deeper shade of red. "That’s not the point. This is… different."

Kyujin rolled her eyes, her focus unwavering as she cleaned the wound. "Different how? Because you’re feeling guilty this time?"

You groaned, your head falling back again. "Do you always have to be so blunt?"

"Do you always have to be so reckless?" Kyujin shot back

"Do you have to be so rude?" You shot back

Kyujin paused, her hands hovering over the bandage she was about to apply. She looked up, meeting your eyes with a mix of exasperation and concern. "You think I’m rude? Fine. But next time if you shoot yourself accidentally I'm not helping you."

"Whatever" You mumbled

"Don't 'whatever' me. I'm younger but I act like an adult not you." Kyujin said

You let out a frustrated sigh, but there was a part of you that knew Kyujin had a point. Your reckless nature had always gotten you into trouble, and yet Kyujin was always there to pick up the pieces. That thought made you feel guilty all over again.

"I don’t need you to act like my mom," You muttered, trying to deflect the vulnerability you were feeling.

Kyujin didn’t react immediately. She simply finished securing the bandage, her fingers lingering a moment longer than necessary, almost as if she was checking to make sure you were okay. "I’m not acting like your mom. I’m trying to keep you alive. Don’t confuse the two."

"You do act like a mom though" You said

Kyujin’s expression softened for a moment, though it quickly shifted back to her usual tough demeanor. "Maybe I do. Someone has to look out for you when you keep making stupid decisions." You didn’t respond right away, the silence hanging heavy between you both again. You couldn’t help but feel a surge of gratitude mixed with embarrassment. Kyujin had always been the one to steady you when you spiraled, and you hated feeling so dependent. It made you feel weak.

"I’m sorry," You said quietly, your voice barely above a whisper. "I didn’t mean to put you in this position."

Kyujin looked up, her gaze piercing. "You say that, but you keep doing the same shit over and over. When are you going to learn?"

You took a deep breath, your fingers playing nervously with the edge of the blanket you were sitting on. "I don’t know. Maybe when I don’t have you to help me anymore."

Kyujin’s eyes softened, but only just a little bit. "You’re not getting rid of me that easy." She stood up, packing the first aid kit away with swift movements. "But I’m not going to be here to patch you up every time you screw up."

"I get it," You said, your tone quieter now. You looked at the bandage on your side, feeling a mix of frustration and gratitude. You weren't sure if you were more frustrated with yourself or the way Kyujin always seemed to know exactly what to say to make you realize how reckless you had been.

Kyujin paused, then looked back at you. "Next time, I’m locking up all the guns. You’re not touching anything without me, understand?"

You let out a soft laugh, though it lacked humor. "Yeah, I understand." You looked up at Kyujin, feeling the weight of your unspoken bond between them. "Thanks, Kyujin."

Kyujin’s eyes softened for a moment, her usual sharp edge replaced by something warmer. "Just don’t make me regret it," she said, before turning and heading toward the door.

"I won’t," You said quietly, watching her leave. You leaned back, closing your eyes, the pain in your side still present but somehow less consuming. It was strange, how Kyujin always knew how to make you feel better, even when you didn’t want to admit it. You sat there for a moment longer, the silence of the room settling around you. Your hand instinctively went to the bandage, checking to make sure it was secure. It was a small comfort, but it was the only one you had right now. You could still feel the weight of the gun in your hand, the shock of the trigger pulling itself, and the pain that followed. The reality of it all seemed surreal, like it had happened to someone else

Just then Kyujin walked back into the room Kyujin stood in the doorway for a moment, watching you with a look that was unreadable. She had gone to grab something from her bag, but now, seeing you sitting there, she paused.

"I thought you might need this," Kyujin said, breaking the silence as she walked over with a glass of water and a small pill bottle.

You looked up at her, her expression softening. "You don’t have to keep taking care of me, you know," you said, a hint of guilt creeping into your voice.

Kyujin ignored the comment, setting the glass down in front of you. "You’re not getting rid of me, Y/n. Just take the damn water."

You sighed, but took the glass and drank from it, feeling the cool liquid soothe your dry throat. You swallowed the last of it and glanced back at Kyujin. "I’m really sorry. I didn't mean for any of this to happen."

Kyujin didn't say anything for a moment, her eyes narrowing as if she was thinking about what to say next. Finally, she sat down next to you, her voice quieter this time. "I know you didn’t. But you always do this. You rush into things without thinking."

"I’m impulsive," You admitted, looking down at your hands. "I know. I just… I don’t always think things through. And sometimes it feels like it’s the only way to feel in control. But then I screw up, and you're the one who has to fix it."

Kyujin’s gaze softened slightly, though there was still a faint edge to her voice. "It’s not just about fixing things, Y/n. It’s about you putting yourself, and others, at risk. You're better than this. You don’t need to keep trying to prove something by getting hurt."

Your breath caught in your throat, and you looked away, your gaze distant. "I’m trying. I just don’t know how to stop. Sometimes it feels like I can't control it… like it’s too much, and I do something reckless just to… escape, or feel something different."

Kyujin studied you for a moment, then reached out, placing a hand on your shoulder. "You don’t have to keep running, Y/n. You’ve got people who care about you, whether you realize it or not. And I'm not going anywhere."

Your eyes stung, your chest tightening with emotion you hadn’t expected. You swallowed hard, nodding. "I know… it’s just hard sometimes."

"I get that," Kyujin said quietly, her voice softening. "But you don’t have to do it alone."

You didn’t answer right away, but after a moment, you allowed yourself to lean into Kyujin’s side, the warmth of her presence calming the storm inside you. It wasn’t a perfect fix, and you knew there was a lot to work through, but for the first time in a long time, you felt a small sense of relief. Maybe, just maybe, you didn’t have to fight everything by yourself.

Kyujin’s arm wrapped around you, a silent gesture of support that spoke volumes. The weight of the world didn’t seem as heavy when someone else was there to share it, and for a moment, you allowed yourself to let go of the constant pressure she always felt to be strong, to have everything under control.

Just as Kyujin wrapped both of your arms around your waist you winced. "Oh sorry" Kyujin said

"Sorry for ruining the romantic moment" You teased

"Dont." Kyujin said with a smirk "Romantic moment? What did you mean by that?" Kyujin asked

You raised an eyebrow, your lips curling into a playful grin. "Well, you know… with the whole 'I’m here for you' thing, and the arm around my waist, it kind of felt like a scene from one of those melodramatic romance movies."

"We are not having those lovers in danger moments." Kyujin said

"Unfortunate" You said with a smirk

"What do you mean?" Kyujin asked

You smirked, your eyes twinkling with mischief. "I mean, I think we could pull it off. You know, the whole ‘tragic hero’ thing? You, the brooding protector, and me, the reckless one who needs saving. It’s practically a perfect plot."

Kyujin rolled her eyes, though the small smile tugging at the corner of her mouth betrayed her amusement. "You’re delusional. I’m not playing your damsel-in-distress fantasy."

"Who said anything about a damsel?" You teased, nudging her lightly with your elbow. "Besides, I think we could be the type of couple that survives a crazy situation together, you know? Like those action movie pairs."

Kyujin raised an eyebrow, clearly skeptical. "Y/n, we’re not going there. I’m not saving your ass every time you make a mistake.

"We would also be the couple that steals a kiss or two during a mission" You said

Kyujin froze for a moment, her expression unreadable as she processed your words. Then, with a deep sigh, she leaned back, crossing her arms with an exaggerated look of annoyance. "You really do have a thing for drama, huh?"

You shrugged, your grin widening. "Maybe I just like the idea of us being the center of a story. A really epic, action-packed story."

Kyujin shook her head, though there was a spark of amusement in her eyes. "You're ridiculous, you know that?"

"Hey, it’s not my fault that you’re too good at playing the part of the brooding protector," You teased, leaning back against the wall with a smirk. "All you need now is a leather jacket and a mysterious past."

"I think you need to relax a little." Kyujin said

"Can't when it's you." You said

"I'm not playing into your romantic delusions" Kyujin said

"Not a delusion but a reality." You said

"You're…something for sure." Kyujin said

You let out a soft chuckle, your heart lightening as both of you exchanged playful banter. There was something comforting about the back-and-forth, the way you both could slip into moments of normalcy despite everything that had just happened. It was almost like a reminder that life wasn’t just about the chaos and mistakes—it was about these little exchanges, the ones that made everything feel a little more bearable.

"I think you're just secretly enjoying it," You said with a mischievous grin, nudging Kyujin once more. "You can't fool me, I know you secretly love the drama."

Kyujin scoffed, though the faint blush on her cheeks betrayed her. "I’m seriously starting to question my life choices right now."

"Why?" You asked, your voice dripping with playful innocence. "Because you're stuck with me? Because I make your life interesting?"

Kyujin rolled her eyes but didn’t pull away. "I think you’d be a lot easier to handle if you weren’t always trying to drag me into your ridiculous scenarios."

"Hey, at least I keep things fun," You retorted, flashing her a bright grin. "Wouldn’t you be bored without me?"

There was a brief moment of silence as Kyujin studied you, a soft smile tugging at her lips. "Maybe," she admitted, before looking away, as if trying to hide the vulnerability that flickered across her face. "You can be exhausting though."

You leaned in closer "But you love me."

"I swear, you're going to be the death of me." Kyujin said taking a step away

"I think that happened a while ago." You said taking a step closer to her

"If you're referencing you shooting yourself? Yeah." Kyujin said taking a step away

"Maybe, but also something else." You said taking a step closer to her once again

"Which is?" Kyujin asked taking a step away once again

You grinned, a teasing spark in your eyes as you closed the distance between them. "The fact that you can't seem to stay away from me, even when I make your life a living nightmare."

Kyujin scoffed, though there was no real heat behind it. "You're delusional if you think I'm sticking around because of you."

Your grin widened as you took another step forward, now standing just a few inches from Kyujin. "Come on, admit it. You like the chaos. It keeps you on your toes."

Kyujin met your gaze for a moment, her expression shifting as she thought about it. Her usual sarcasm was gone, replaced by something more genuine, even if she didn’t want to fully acknowledge it. "I don’t know if ‘like’ is the word I'd use," she said, voice softening slightly. "But maybe I’m not as immune to it as I thought."

You raised an eyebrow, clearly amused by the crack in Kyujin's armor. "So, you're telling me… you’re not secretly enjoying our little dance of tension?"

Kyujin’s face flushed slightly, but she quickly masked it with a roll of her eyes "I didn't say that." You leaned in closer, your playful grin not fading as you studied Kyujin's expression. "Oh? So you are enjoying it, just a little bit, huh?"

Kyujin crossed her arms tightly, clearly trying to keep her composure, but the flush on her cheeks was undeniable. "You’re unbelievable," she muttered, though there was a hint of warmth in her voice that she couldn't quite hide.

You chuckled, taking another step forward until there was barely any space between you both. "Admit it. You’re secretly entertained by me."

Kyujin let out a deep sigh, her gaze dropping for a moment, and then she looked up, her eyes softening slightly. "You… make things interesting, Y/n. But don't think for a second that I enjoy all of it."

"All of what?" You asked, your voice quieter now, the teasing tone replaced by something more sincere.

Kyujin hesitated, her eyes flickering briefly before she spoke. "All the mess… the chaos you bring. But… yeah, I guess… I guess I can’t help but stick around."

Your heart skipped a beat at the admission. You could feel the weight of the words, and for the first time, you allowed yourself to take them in fully, not just as a joke or playful teasing, but as something real.

“You really do care, huh?” You asked softly, your voice quieter now, almost vulnerable.

Kyujin didn’t answer immediately. Instead, she looked at you for a long moment, her expression a mix of frustration and tenderness. Finally, she spoke, her voice barely above a whisper. "You’re an idiot, but I care about you. More than I probably should."

Your heart softened, a gentle warmth spreading through her chest. For a moment, it felt like the walls between you two had crumbled, and all the teasing and banter melted away, leaving something much deeper, something more vulnerable and real.

"Yeah but i'm your idiot." You said

Kyujin’s eyes softened, and she let out a quiet laugh, her usual sarcasm slipping away as she looked at you "You're my cute silly idiot"

"Cute? Aww!" You said

Kyujin rolled her eyes, though the smile tugging at her lips betrayed her amusement. "Don't get too carried away," she teased, her voice light but still carrying that soft warmth. "You know I'm only saying it because it's true."

You grinned, your playful demeanor never fully fading. "I’m still your idiot though, right? The one you can't seem to shake off."

Kyujin shook her head, though her eyes were soft. "Unfortunately, yes. You’re stuck with me."

Your grin softened into something more sincere, your eyes meeting Kyujin’s. "I’m okay with that. As long as you don’t mind me being a little… extra sometimes."

Kyujin raised an eyebrow, a small chuckle escaping her. "Extra? You mean all the time."

You nodded, your expression teasing again. "Well, you love it, don’t you?"

Kyujin gave you a mock glare, but the playfulness in her voice didn’t hide the affection. "I might, but don’t get too cocky about it."

Your heart fluttered at the tenderness in Kyujin’s tone, the unspoken connection between you both thickening with every word. "You know, for someone who pretends to hate me, you’re really bad at hiding it."

Kyujin rolled her eyes again, but this time, there was no denying the soft smile on her face. "I don’t hate you. I’m just… trying to keep you in check. You’re a handful."

"Only for you," You replied, your voice low but teasing.

Kyujin sighed dramatically, though her smile never faded. "Yeah, yeah. Whatever."

"I would still kiss you by the way" You said

"Try me." Kyujin said Your grin only widened at the challenge, your heart racing slightly at the playful dare in Kyujin's voice. You leaned in just a little closer, your breath brushing against Kyujin’s cheek, the tension between them palpable. For a moment, the world outside of your little bubble seemed to disappear, leaving only the space between the both of you.

Kyujin didn’t pull away, but her expression was a mix of amusement and something deeper, something more vulnerable. Her lips quivered into a smirk, clearly still testing the boundaries, but there was something unspoken in the way she didn’t move.

Your eyes flickered to Kyujin’s lips for a brief second, then back to her eyes. “Are you sure about that?” you asked, your voice almost a whisper now, the teasing tone replaced by a softer, more serious edge.

Kyujin’s gaze softened, and she let out a quiet sigh. “I don’t know,” she said, her voice quieter, almost hesitant. “But I think you should, uh, just go ahead and try. If you’re brave enough.”

The challenge was clear, but the undercurrent of something else, the vulnerability, the trust, was equally clear in her eyes. It was a moment that hung in the air, suspended between them, heavy with possibility.

Your heart thudded in your chest, but instead of retreating, you took a deep breath and closed the remaining distance between you two, your hand gently cupping Kyujin’s cheek. The kiss was slow at first, tentative, like you were both testing the waters. It wasn’t a movie moment, it wasn’t dramatic, no stolen kisses during a high-speed chase or danger-filled mission, but it felt real. It was raw and honest, something that neither of you two had fully expected, but both seemed to need.

When you finally pulled away, the silence between the two of you felt different, more peaceful, as if something had shifted. Your gaze softened, her fingers still resting gently against Kyujin’s skin. “You know we can't do this…" Kyujin said

"Worth a try." You said

Kyujin's eyes flickered, uncertainty dancing in them as she looked at you, her breath still unsteady from the kiss. "Yeah," she murmured, almost to herself, "Worth a try."

You smiled, but it was softer now, quieter, as if the teasing mask had finally slipped away. "I don’t know what it is between us," you admitted, your voice quieter, tinged with a raw honesty that was rare for you. "But whatever it is… it’s different."

Kyujin nodded slowly, her gaze not leaving your face. "Yeah, it’s… complicated."

"Complicated is an understatement," You said with a soft chuckle, though your voice held a hint of frustration, as if you were trying to make sense of the whirlwind of emotions inside you. "But I think… maybe it’s worth figuring out. If you’re willing to."

Kyujin’s gaze softened, the edges of her usual guarded nature slipping away. "I don’t know what I’m doing half the time, Y/n," she confessed, her voice a little more vulnerable than usual. "But I know I don’t want to walk away from this… whatever this is."

Your heart skipped a beat at her words, and for the first time in a long time, you felt like maybe she wasn’t the only one who was scared of the unknown. "Neither do I," you whispered back, your voice barely audible.

For a moment, neither of you said anything, just letting the quiet settle around the two of you. It wasn’t perfect, and it wasn’t easy, but in that silence, you both understood something unspoken.

Kyujin finally broke the quiet, her voice soft but steady. "We’re both messes, you know that?"

You grinned, your eyes twinkling with that familiar mischief. "Yeah, but we’re each other’s mess."

Kyujin rolled her eyes but couldn’t hide the small smile tugging at the corner of her lips. "I don’t know if that’s comforting or terrifying."

You leaned in again, this time a little more confidently, your fingers gently brushing Kyujin’s. "Maybe both."

Kyujin’s smile deepened, and she let out a soft laugh, her hand brushing against yours in return. "Yeah, I think you’re right."

You both stood there for a moment, caught in the quiet space you had carved out for yourselves, knowing that things wouldn’t be easy and that your path ahead was far from clear. But for the first time, neither of you felt like you had to figure it all out alone. And for the first time, that mess didn’t seem so bad.

[vandal-flower]

Saying Something Stupid, like I Love You

Poseidon x Amphitrite!Reader

Requested. @amphitriteswife

Plot: Poseidon faces a dilemma concerning his love life. Reluctantly accepting their help, he plans to make things right with (Name). Thankfully she is lonely on New Year's and needs all the company she can get.

Warnings: Poseidon is bad at feelings but it works out, angst but a happy end.

Notes: Happy new year. Here is my gift. 🐚

"You've been an awful mood lately.", Zeus teased, raking his beard as he chuckled.

His brother, Poseidon didn't dare to say anything, but instead glared at him. Not that it would do much anyways.

"Look I was right Hades! Doesn't he look like a pouting child!", at this point Poseidon nearly summoned his trident just to skewer his brother, not caring for the consequences at hand.

But before he could, Hades smacked Zeus's head, "Quit your teasing Zeus, but you do have a point. Brother what is going on with you, did something happen?", Hades glanced over at the ruler of the seas with a look of concern.

In all his years, not once did Hades ever see Poseidon be so...off. Sure he is arrogant, but he has the power to back it up. But now, he looks as if he is distressed. This whole week he has been.

From what he heard, he has been ignoring meetings with his fellow godlike beings, causing unnecessary problems, ignoring his duties on Olympus, and at one point nearly flooded the whole of Olympus when asked about it.

Since that incident, no one has been able to tell him to stop, out of fear of being killed.

"It's nothing you should concern yourself. I'm perfectly fine."

If there was anything that Hades knew better than anyone else, it was that Poseidon was a terrible liar.

Zeus sneaked behind Poseidon's chair, "Let me take a guess."

"You need my help but you don't want to admit it."

"I would never require the assistance of someone like you."

"You accidentally broke your trident and now you're throwing a fit."

"Should I smite you with said 'broken trident' Zeus?"

"Is it concerning Amphitrite?", Hades asked, breaking the dispute between his younger brothers.

Poseidon was silent. Bingo.

Zeus's laugh filled the room as Hades chuckled at the sudden realization. Poseidon has been having love problems. Should news of Poseidon's love life ever go out, the Heavens would fall apart. Maidens and potential suitors would have their dreams shattered.

Realizing he could not get out of this mess, Poseidon, reluctantly, have a brief summary of his situation.

Amphitrite or (Name), has been distancing herself from him as of late. Everytime he approached her, she would throw some reason to excuse herself. No longer could he see her glowing dark skin under the sun, or the moonlight. Stare into her eyes that put the beauty of various beings to shame. He could no longer be held by her, or even listen to her enchanting voice.

In short, he could no longer be with her.

"I never thought you would be a lovesick fool Poseidon. Never thought they day would come.", Zeus joked earning another glare from Poseidon.

"It makes sense, you have been a temper tantrum. I should've stopped your habit if I knew it was going to be this bad.", Hades said, a smile growing on his face as he too teased the King of the Seas.

Poseidon hated the reaction he received from his brothers. They were making fun of him, and had it not been for the fact that they're his most trusted pupils, he would of ended their lives swiftly long time ago.

Soon, Hades collected himself, and Zeus followed suit. "So do you want our help or not, lover boy Poseidon?", Zeus nudged Poseidon, further agitating him.

With no other option, Poseidon answered a begrudgingly "yes".

The aftermath of Christmas lingers as festive lights and decorations all around the Heavens. With the new year, brought new beginnings and although it was meant to bring joy, it had only brought more sadness to (Name).

Seeing all the couples walking around with each other in arms, or buying more fireworks to celebrate the new years at their parties. Not to mention, a sculpture of Zeus dressed up in a tuxedo with Hera beside him with a glamorous dress to showcase her beauty. How great...

As much as she wished to climb into the arms of her friends to get rid of her feelings, she couldn't. With the following reasons...

Her nymph friends were trying to get a chance to be with gods like Apollo.

Persephone was visiting Hades in the Underworld or her mother on the Overworld.

Other friends of hers were visiting family or too busy.

Nonetheless, she was alone. She sighed to herself, the cold wind gently blowing against her face."For a bright and lively season like this, you don't like you're having much fun."

(Name) perplexed at the sudden voice, turned around to see Hermes. "Happy New Year to you Hermes. Any deliveries you should be attending to?", she looked at him with suspicion. Hermes smiled wider than usual.

"No reason.", he spoke. "However if I were you, I would go to the beach to calm all my worries." He pointed towards the beach, his smile not faltering not once. (Name) frowned at his words.

Sure, the beach would be great. Sand under her feet, and a chance to relax in the cool waters. However it reminded her of Poseidon.

Something told her that he doesn't like her presence as he hardly ever responded to what she says, only answering with a nod or a hum. And with his cold attitude, it only made sense he didn't think much of her or at all. The guilt of wasting his and her time ate her inside.

So to avoid making the situation worse, she distanced herself. Sure it hurts, but it's the thought that counts.

"Any reason for you to say that? In fact, why don't you mind your business, go run errands somewhere. I'm busy.", she waved off his suggestion and continued walking.

"Oh, but you have to. Poseidon ordered for your presence. And if word got out that you rejected the Poseidon himself, what would the Heavens make of you?"

Damn. He made a good point.

With no other choice, (Name) changed course and walked towards the beach. Not without cursing Hermes.

"So...you wanted my presence, Lord Poseidon?", (Name) asked. Before her was a dinner table and multiple decorations: seashells, corals, and lights. Donned in a fine suit with a small flower in the chest pocket, was the King of the Seas with his signature cold gaze. In his hands held a bouquet.

"I would like to take you to dinner.", he answered as she still tried to process the situation. This was all too much! The dinner table, decorations, and the flowers?

It would have been anyone's dream to experience was the scene right in front of her eyes, but not her. She avoided Poseidon like the plague only for him to ask for her and present her with dinner? Romantic as it is, it seemed suspicious...

"But, why? You clearly don't like my presence, so why the sudden change, AND why did you feel the need to plan a romantic dinner?!"

His eyes glanced at a rock that hid both Hades and Zeus, the duo gave him a thumbs up. He glared at them before turning his attention back to (Name). "I wanted to make you feel special, and...to apologize for my behaviour towards you."

If there was one thing the King of the Seas was not good at doing was apologies, however it was always genuine whenever he was backed into a corner to apologize.

"Apologize?"

"Yes."

Internally, (Name) clutched her pearls. Poseidon the King of the Seas, most feared Olympian, apologizing?! "It must be a dream", she thought.

Poseidon took a deep breath, silently cursing his brothers, " (Name), for the past weeks that I was away from your presence, I had the opportunity to contemplate my actions towards you."

"Every time you make some pathetic excuse to avoid me, it...breaks my heart to see you go. Your presence makes living more tolerable, since I'm surrounded by a circus.", Zeus gasped is shock at his comment, had it not been for Hades stopping him, he would have ruined the moment.

"You are more enchanting than the stars themselves, your voice eases my heart, and even if I were to give you a thousand compliments today and ten thousand tomorrow, it would still not be enough to describe how I truly feel about you."

Despite the cold look on his face, his cheeks and ears were dusted with pink. His eyes held a hidden warmth only meant for her. He walked towards (Name), holding the bouquet of forget-me-nots to her. It looked like he wanted to propose to her.

"But why, do this all for me, why do you want me?", (Name) asked, tears about to spill from her eyes. Poseidon sighed, "Because I love you."

Zeus and Hades popped their heads from behind the rock, eyes wide open. To hear their Poseidon actually say he loves someone was a miracle of itself.

Time had stood still for a moment between (Name) and Poseidon. Without realizing, tears had already started streaming down her face. Closing the distance from the two, Poseidon wiped her tears away with his thumbs. (Name) pressed her forehead against his, her eyes looking into his own.

"I appreciate the view, allowing me to see your eyes closely once more.", he whispered causing a smile to form on her face. She wrapped her arms around his waist, before giving him a kiss on the lips. As she pulled away, she rested her hands on his cheeks.

"Come back to my palace, there's a new collection of pearls and other accessories that I believe would suit you."

"I would love to, my dearest."

The two entered the ocean together, Poseidon in the arms of (Name), and (Name) telling him of her latest adventures. Once the two were gone, Zeus and Hades left their hiding spot.

"Well that turned out better than I anticipated.", the King of the Heavens smiled. "But what to do about the dinner setup?", Hades questioned.

The two stopped and thought about, "I'll just use it as an apology to Hera, after we had our argument the other day.", Zeus said.

"You are really shameless."

Happy new years!!

Sorry if Poseidon is ooc, but we deserve a soft Poseidon at least once in a while...

[writhyv]

⋆｡°✩ tfw a bad date leads to you...

tfw... | nishimura riki x male!reader

pairing: niki x male!reader genre: fluff word count: 2.3k warnings: drinking, implied stuff regarding drinking, implied stuff done by people when they encounter those who are wasted from drinking ...

Do you know that feeling when you meet someone so pretty it hurts your eyes a bit, and tugs your heart, and you feel like you're going to burst down in flames altogether where you stood? That's how exactly how you'll feel when someone just comes your way, being their cute little self.

"I'm tired." You sighed heavily as you rearranged the papers stacked neatly in front of you. It had already been a minute since you fiddled with them, not that you paid any attention to it anyway.

"Come on! It’s not like the end of the world if you tried getting out, right?" Thea, one of your co-workers, playfully tapped your back as she urged you to try another round of her matchmaking. To be honest, you had no confidence in getting anyone to date you with these blind dates. You just felt pity for your friend, however it may seem.

"I guess third time's a charm?" France, your other co-worker, leaned beside your desk. "You have to stop at some point, though. It’s still meeting strangers."

*Sigh.* Obviously, you sighed again.

"Fine, I'll go." You raised your hands in mock surrender. "But just because I don't want you to be sad, Thea."

"Yey! But it’s not for me; it’s for you!" Thea cheered. "It’s just one guy! We’ll have no idea if you don’t try now."

"Just be careful," France spoke, a hint of concern lacing his words as your friend. "The last time I saw you—"

"That was a mistake, France." You stood up quickly, adjusting your bag on your shoulder. "I should've just said no. Yet I insisted and got into some mess that you had to be called to rescue me. I still owe you for that."

France laughed quickly at this. "Pssh, it wasn't anything. You're my friend. It’s my job to look out for you."

"Uh-huh," Thea butted in, trying to suppress her laughter.

"Shut up, little person," France retorted quickly. "Best be on your way; I heard this guy booked you at 8."

"Yup! Just be on the dot!" Thea added, walking closer to you as you moved toward the elevator doors.

"Are they any better than the first guy?" you asked, feeling a flicker of hope. Maybe this guy might be worth a shot this time.

Thea laughed. "They will!"

"I'll hold you to that." You smirked as you saw the elevator doors open.

"Update us!" Thea waved as France settled behind her to see you off.

"Sure thing," you spoke as the elevator doors began to close.

The chime rang, and the shaft glided down the office floors you had grown accustomed to over the past year. Quickly getting a job after graduation had been a breeze, but all the things you had to do after that were another story. Living alone in the city was a hassle, especially with your boss’s constant demands since you were a new hire. It was probably because of your talent for working a little too hard that you might be a teensy bit gullible at this point, but oh well... It pays. So you might as well.

As for love, you never really had one. Not that it didn't interest you, but rather, you had waited for it, and it never came. You had never entertained anyone, but who would court someone as plain and boring as you? You worked hard enough to be buried in files and stacks of paperwork, so you never thought anyone would understand you on that level.

In some terms, you had given up already. But right now, it wasn’t the case. Right now, you were being given chances to see people. You never really had a preference for who to go out with—basically any type. You just wanted someone to look your way, and maybe it would spark that flame inside you too.

On your way to the bar, you saw a large sign on the side of a fancy-looking establishment. It read 'Retro Palace.' Not that it was important, but it sounded really generic. Instead of wallowing in the dilemma of the establishment's name, you stepped inside to see crowds of people. There was no way you could properly do a blind date in a place like this. Plus, you were never a club person. In fact, you hated parties and events that needed crowds. But maybe this was worth a shot. Maybe?

As you entered, you sliced through the middle of the pool of people, who were doing all kinds of things: dancing, shouting, conversing, and more. There was definitely a vibe that every person inside that place exuded.

You remembered you were supposed to go to the second floor, a platform dedicated to dining and feeling a lot more relaxed than the ground floor mess you were in. You spotted it clearly in the distance. A spiral staircase led to the top, where a small luxurious bar sat between rows of fine seats that could cater to just about anyone.

Feeling fancy, you adjusted your attire. It wasn’t your favorite combo, but you couldn’t refuse a gift from your co-worker. The suit was tight, and the colors didn’t really match your face. In any case, it still looked good with the way you carried it, but wearing it was definitely another case entirely.

As you tried to find the best seat, your phone rang. To your surprise, it was your supposed date.

"Oh, hey! I'm here." You smiled as you answered quickly.

"Yup, I can see you from where I'm sitting," the other person chuckled over the line, seemingly already inside the establishment.

"Oh? Where?" You turned to your sides to find the mysterious date.

"The nearest table to the bar. To your left." You squinted again to your left and found a guy standing and waving his hand. Looks like you’re in for a good night.

Although walking closer, it didn’t seem to click. As much as he was good-looking, there wasn't that connection you were hoping to find. It felt... odd. Maybe it was just the norm since you had never met this guy before. The night was still young.

As the guy opened up a seat for you, you thanked him for the gesture and settled in comfortably. He introduced himself.

"Hi! I'm Chang. You must be?"

"Yup, in the flesh," you nodded. Whoever Thea had connections with, she sure had many. This was the second guy she referred to, but it did seem she had a whole collection up her sleeve of people to refer. It seemed... concerning. But that was for another day.

The conversation started light, but as the minutes passed, you felt the disconnect grow. Chang had a pleasant demeanor, but your mind wandered. You were trying to connect, but something felt off.

“Have you been to any other places like this?” he asked, taking a sip of his drink.

“Not really. I prefer quieter spots,” you replied, feeling a mix of anxiety and discomfort.

“Ah, come on! You gotta live a little!” Chang laughed, but it felt forced, like he was trying too hard.

As you looked around, a waiter walked near and handed you two drinks. Chang clasped his hands around yours and served it on his own.

"Here. Got you a fine mix for the night. On me." Chang smiled broadly as he mixed your drink with the straw it came with. That was... a gesture for sure. You could only smile so wearily.

Chang then raised his drink and moved closer to you.

"To more chances of seeing your handsome face up close. Cheers." His eyes meticulously focused on you, prompting chills down your spine. Was this what real nerves were supposed to feel like? Or just cringe?

"Sure. Cheers." You could have never said that more tiredly. Almost doing it all for the sake of finishing the date, you drank the mix in one go. Chang's eyes widened at your action, but he nevertheless still enjoyed watching you unravel little by little.

As you took another sip from your glass, you felt the warmth intensifying, the drink beginning to take effect. The tension that had settled in your shoulders began to ease, and you found yourself laughing at Chang's jokes, even if they weren’t particularly funny.

“Alright, let’s play a game,” Chang suggested, his eyes sparkling with mischief. “Two truths and a lie! I’ll go first.”

You leaned in closer, intrigued despite yourself. The game had a way of breaking the ice, and at this moment, you needed a distraction from the gnawing feeling of disconnect. Chang quickly rattled off his statements, and you found yourself engaged, playing along.

As the minutes turned into hours, you began to notice something unsettling about Chang. His laughter felt a bit too loud, his gestures a bit too exaggerated, and the way he leaned in closer made you feel uneasy. You brushed it off at first, attributing it to the atmosphere of the bar and the alcohol coursing through your veins.

“Another round?” Chang asked, his smile wide and inviting.

“Why not?” you said, raising your glass, feeling more adventurous than ever. You downed your drink, the sensation of the alcohol igniting a fire within you that you hadn’t expected. You weren't really a big fan of drinking, but when you did, you always tended to go all out.

But as the night wore on, the laughter grew quieter, and your surroundings began to shift. The edges of your vision blurred, and the sounds around you became muffled. You could sense the growing warmth of the alcohol wrapping around you like a cozy blanket.

“Hey, I think I need a breather,” you mumbled, standing up unsteadily. The room swayed slightly, and Chang reached out to steady you, a predatory glint in his eyes.

“Let’s step outside for a bit,” he suggested, guiding you toward the exit. As you stepped outside, the cool air hit your face, but it couldn’t chase away the feeling of unease that settled in your stomach.

“Feeling good?” Chang asked, leaning in a little too close for comfort. His breath smelled of alcohol, and you could see the way his eyes roamed over you, making your skin crawl.

“Uh, yeah, just… need some fresh air,” you replied, trying to put some distance between you.

“Come on, don’t be shy. You know you had fun tonight,” he said, his tone dripping with false charm. “Why don’t we continue this party just the two of us?”

Your heart raced as you realized the implications of his words. “I think I should really be going,” you said, attempting to step back.

But Chang blocked your path, his expression shifting from playful to something darker. “Oh, come on. You’re not going to leave me hanging after all this fun, are you?” His gaze lingered a little too long, and the way he reached out to brush a stray hair behind your ear sent shivers down your spine.

“Seriously, I need to go,” you insisted, your voice trembling slightly.

“Just relax,” he said, his smile widening unnaturally as he leaned closer. “We can have a lot more fun. Just you and me.”

The panic set in, and before you could respond, the world around you began to blur again. You could feel the warmth of the alcohol wrapping around you like a heavy blanket, pulling you down into darkness.

“Hey, don’t you want to have a good time?” Chang’s voice echoed in yo̵u̸r̷ ̸m̵i̸n̶d̷ ̶a̷s̴ ̷e̶v̶e̸r̷y̷t̴h̵i̸n̸g̶ ̸f̷a̵d̵e̷d̵ ̶t̴o̶ ̶b̴l̸a̴c̸k̴.̷

Your eyes jolted awake, blinking against the sunlight streaming through a window. The air smelled of something delicious—bacon and eggs? As you looked around, a weight shifted, seemingly on top of you, and you looked down to find a small, fluffy dog staring intently at you.

Strange... It was a dog you vaguely recognized, who tilted his head, his big eyes full of curiosity. You couldn't help but chuckle at the sight, the dog's innocent demeanor contrasting sharply with the confusion swirling in your mind.

As you took in your surroundings, you realized you were in an unfamiliar room. The cozy space was decorated with simple but charming furnishings that felt oddly welcoming. The faint sound of sizzling came from the kitchen nearby.

“You're awake. That's good.” A calm voice called from that direction. You turned to see a figure moving about, clearly busy preparing breakfast.

“Uh, morning?” you managed to reply, your voice still thick with sleep.

“You must be hungry. You really knocked back those drinks last night.” A young man with a relaxed demeanor approached, holding a plate full of food.

Your heart sank slightly, memories of the previous night flooding back but feeling scattered and muddled. You recalled laughter, games, and warmth, but something about the night felt off, like a detail on the tip of your tongue that you couldn’t quite grasp.

"Wait... You're..."

"Not the guy you were with last night? Definitely." The young man smirked. "I'm Nishimu— I mean, just Ni-ki is fine."

You tilted your head, curious as to who this man was. He looked too young, too bright, and well ... too handsome. He only wore a grey tank top, exposing his bare arms that were a bit defined. Not that it mattered, he was in the comfort of his own home anyway. His eyes were sharp, but not piercing through you. Instead, they were filled with simple concern. As he sat next to you, he brushed stray hair from your face. With the way he treated you, you couldn't help but feel a light warmth buzzing over your cheeks. That was certainly... a reaction.

“Did I… did I spend the night here?” you asked cautiously, looking around as you distracted yourself from the thought you just had.

Ni-ki shrugged, his expression steady and thoughtful. “Yeah, you were out cold when we got back. I couldn’t just leave you on the street. You were shivering all over here. Bisco was worried, you know?”

You glanced at Bisco, who had jumped off the bed and was now wagging his tail happily, oblivious to your unease. "Oh... That's a nice name."

"Thanks..." "..." "Oh, you meant the dog? Cool. Cool, cool."

“...but thank you.” You replied, trying to keep your voice steady. “Also, I don’t really remember much after stepping outside.”

“Things can get a bit wild sometimes,” Ni-ki said, his tone calm but with an underlying sense of understanding. “You seemed like you were having fun, but it’s always good to be careful.”

Your heart raced as unease gripped you tighter. You felt trapped in a moment that should have been carefree, with Bisco’s warm presence only slightly comforting against the growing realization that something was very wrong.

oooh! cliffhanger! woo! hopefully i get to write more hehe. also ... niki ... 🥺💙 more stories? check out my masterlist

[universalzones]

"I think they did right after Eggman was beat and he lost his control over the entire world, though I think it was rushed for the most part. I didn't really have time since I was busy blowing up any standing bases, though if I were to guess he might've ran unopposed if no one really heard about it. It would make sense too. I wouldn't be surprised if not many wanted be President with how much work there was to do to get things back in order." The entire planet was a mess from when Eggman has complete control of the world.

"That is a sound theory, and if he has strong ties to G.U.N then I'm sure they wouldn't have had second thoughts about 'convincing' anyone attempted to run against Thawne not to do so." Blaze would turn her focus on the Chaotix. "Perhaps you time might be better looking into this Thawne. I still hold hope that he didn't have any involvement and is intentions are genuine with his concerns."

"Maybe we could simply ask him some questions? I mean, it can't hurt, and he shouldn't have any reason to lie to us. I know this is me being optimistic, though I just hope I'll see the best in people." Belle wasn't really using reasoning rather than feelings with what she just said, though sometimes being kind and direct got answers. Throwing out the idea doesn't hurt anyone either.

"That's... foolish thinking." Kitsunami seemed to want to say something else, though he bite his tongue and softened his words. The fennec actually liked Belle's company so didn't want to be mean to her. "Though it's not like it'll do any harm. The worse that could happen is he deflects or simply refuses to answer. If you want to ask then ask, though I personally think its a waste of time."

===========================================================

"Sounds like you'll miss me being a pain in your ass, which is just weird. Though I guess no one on this team is normal." Surge wasn't good at this, mainly because she simply expected them to shut her out and leave her to face the music solo style. Now they were saying they'll miss her and how she caused problems? Ugh, why does being a good guy have to be so weird.

"...Just take it easy Lanolin. I know you gotta deal with Tangle being Tangle, though you seriously need to relax more. Plans are fine, though if you wanna deal with Eggman you gotta learn to role with the punches and change on a dime. I know it's sucks to be put in a position like that when you gotta lead, though I think it's important." Why was Surge trying to give advice in a situation like this?

"I could dash you where you want to go before heading to the command center. I know a lot of people get stomach sick, though I've got more control now, weirdly enough." Surge actually had a moment to process just how stable her powers were. Made her wonder how tied her emotions were to her powers. Well, not like she'll have time to explore that.

That village, they condemned her the moment they found out who tinker was. It was also ground Zero for the Zombot virus. Of all the people they were hit the hardest. They of course put that blame on poor Belle. Miles couldn't help but feel like it was a sore spot for her, and hoped deep down that she was right. They'd have to contact him, get papers and confirm it all. But he knew it was just as likely even the mayor would turn on her. He'd be there to help her through it regardless--- chaos he hoped she was right.

Miles flipped through his phone as he looked for information on this president. A Name, a birthdate anything he could use to give him a clue about who he was.

" Here we go, President Thawne... first name Luthian... 28 years old, served in GUN from the time he was 18, fought with GUN in the War-- yea right more like cowered in a hole. Not much else here... just lots of photos of him with Abe. Guess they knew each other... still young for a president... did they even do an election i wonder? "

He flipped through the photos and checked his social media but until he could hack in and check things. He could only tell so much.

" Likes his guns, gives to charities, helps out at the local homeless shelter... guy is squeaky clean... like to clean, this feels--- Staged? no angry posts, no joking posts... nothing from before the war... Dunno if this will help us, and its very sus..."

The chameleon didn't seem phased by her decision, and frankly if she knew someone to counter that ability good. But he guessed they'd get involved before it was over. Plus they knew the lay of the land well enough. No point in arguing right now, they'd have time to discuss it later.

" As you wish princess, we'll be here if you need us. "

==========================================

She chuckled at Surge being upset that she wasn't angry, that it might be easier if she was. If anyone was angry it was Sonic, pissed that she wouldn't fight for her freedom. But that wasn't to say Lanolin wasn't feeling emotions. She was, but they were a jumble of sadness and feeling like she failed Surge on some level. She hugged herself and looked down at her feet, just for a moment that stern façade she wore faded away.

" Anger would be easy... i wish i could be angry at you. Yelling would have been so much easier. But i just feel... i'm going to miss you Surge. Even your little outbursts, and raiding the fridge at all hours of the night. Our little arguments about how to handle missions... i'll miss it... "

She said in a softer tone less the commander and more like a friend, even if they had there problems. She saw Surge as more then just a weapon, more then just some soldier.

" But i guess i'm being sappy, and sentimental--- Yes Report to the command center. Get Miles to get your testimony and get it all on tape concerning that day. I have one more stop to make, and then i'll be back at the command center. "

She took a deep breath and let her personal feelings go. She held a hand out to Surge as if to shake her hand.

" It was a pleasure working with you Surge... I hope we one day in the future we can do so again..."

[balkanradfem]

So, nobody asked, but I am going to tell you about a weird health(?) thing that I have going on, just because I think it's weird and funny, and not all that concerning but kinda like, interesting.

I've been going on about how I have low blood pressure, and this winter it's been worse than ever; which is curious. Because low blood pressure is usually the worst in summer when it's hot, but here I am, in December, collapsing on the floor and losing my vision every time I stand up, feeling dizzy all day because my blood is just not feeling it. So I'm like, okay, I'm gonna work on this, I'm gonna salt my food double, I'm gonna drink tons of water, so I did all that. And nothing, I'm still collapsing all the time.

But, I've noticed that every time I go outside in the freezing cold, I'm suddenly feeling clear and awake and better. So I got an idea, and I shut off the heating in my room. And this worked! Being in a constantly cold room made sure I breathe in only the cold air and it helped me normalize the blood pressure, finally I was better. I was wearing warm clothing and hiding under covers and blankets to deal with the cold.

Until one day, I was feeling very unwell, uncomfortable and upset, and I couldn't figure out what it was for the whole day, until by the end I realized my problem was that I was overheating. I figured I must have been too warmed up, so I changed into light summer pajama, and instead of my winter cover, I used my summer cover (which is just a light blanket wrapped in a sheet). And I'm lying there like, hmm, this logically isn't right; it's the end of December, temperatures outside are below zero, this room isn't heated, I'm wearing only light clothing and using a light cover, if I go to sleep like this I'm going to catch a cold. But I couldn't stand anything more warm than this so I went to sleep like that, and the next day, I had to go to work, and I was worried that I was gonna be sick.

But I wasn't, and while working I even opened up a window because the unheated room at work was also too warm for me. I came home like what is up with this, this is not my normal winter behaviour! I am usually in two sweaters, with a warm cover, in a heated room, wearing a scarf on top of all that! But every time I would try to wear any warm clothing, or put a warm cover on, I would get upset, uncomfortable, frustrated, restless and dizzy; I could only relax while in the cold.

I also lost the sense to tell the temperature; I can't tell at any point anymore if my body is warm or not, I struggle to tell if the air in the room is warm or cold, I can tell that my toes and fingers are kinda cold but I don't mind it anymore. It's now been several weeks of this and I'm still only able to be in light clothing in a cold room. If I even get into a warm shower I get all uncomfortable and dizzy, my blood pressure is immediately bad. But as long as I am in the cold, my blood pressure seems fine.

Possibly related to this, my neutral body temperature is 35,5 celsius, it used to be 36,6 when I was young but about 10 years ago it defaulted to 35,5, and if it goes any higher I am in a fever. I've not been sick or feverish though, I can't really tell what my temperature is now because I do not own a themometer, I've just been checking my forehead and it's normal. So I have a few theories about what is going on!

1. I'm turning into a vampire. My body craves the cold because my blood is trying to reach the temperature of zero as well.

2. I'm turning into a werewolf. I'm too hot because I'm secretly growing fur all over my body and any kind of clothing or covers will soon be unecessary

3. I've pissed off a witch and she threw a curse at me, saying something like 'you'll not be warm this winter' and now this is where we are

4. Cold never bothered me anyway. I'm developing my new ice powers and temperatures over zero would melt me.

Has anyone else heard of this kind of thing? My friend told me I must be menopausal but I don't get any flashes, I just can't stand any warmth!

[sugarstarlights]

..Okay. I lost. The strings. I feel relatively normal now. Glad for the improvement.

[femsolid]

I've seen videos of men raping hogs, turkeys, jumping with two feet on chickens, slamming piglets on the ground, dismembering little lambs alive, putting knives in a sheep's eyes etc. I've seen men write "slut" and "bitch" on hogs and brag about raping them and encouraging each others to torture them, using misogynistic language. Every day new videos come out, it's not abnormal it's part of the job. So, no, I'm not financing this hell.

Neither vegetarianism nor veganism make people weak and small, you're just spewing propaganda you've heard without question. A lot of top tier athletes are vegan, and you sure as shit aren't stronger than them. A plant-based diet can be safe and is even known to improve health.

The idea that empathy is ridiculous and that we need to kill to be strong (or manly) is masculinist propaganda. And so is the idea that women are too empathetic and socially oriented and should be more like men (selfish and destructive). No, I don't want to be more like men and turn a blind eye on exploitation and pain, nor contribute to it. Men aren't the standard and I'm not going to lower myself to their level. The fact that women care about such horrors is a good thing. We're better than that.

Veganism isn't "self-destruction." It is a scientific fact that the meat, milk and fish you eat leads to many health issues, cancers and deaths. So I could argue that you're the one contributing to the destruction of women by telling them to poison themselves.

Not to mention the fact that it's the leading cause for the current environmental disaster. So even if you feel no sympathy for the animals, you're still encouraging a capitalistic system that's going to kill all women in the end. And that is self-destructive.

Veganism is not a cult nor a diet. It's a political movement. Women are quite capable of making politically informed choices. For you to reduce this choice to a "diet" or a "cult" means you don't really view women as reasonable people. You think women are vain, foolish and too emotional, like men do. If you really were trying to convince us, and if you really cared about us, I don't think you would insult our intelligence like that.

You don't have to be vegan to be a feminist. However it means you only oppose torture and exploitation when your social group is concerned. Personally, my moral values are all encompassing. That's why I oppose capitalism, misogyny, homophobia, racism, imperialism, child abuse etc. I don't really hierarchize my indignation. We're not prioritising chicken's lives, we're just capable of caring about several things at once. It's never okay to exploit and enslave anyone. And when men promote something, beware.

Why is it a controversial take to say women shouldn't prioritise a chicken's life over their own? Veganism is not feminist, full stop. I get it, I feel bad for the animals too, but the world isn't all sunshine and rainbows, and as omnivores humans need animal products to be strong and not malnourished. Women are raised to be overly empathetic to anything other than themselves. You can't buy into this self-destruction, be on an EXTREMELY restrictive diet, and call yourself a radical feminist. I thought we were fighting diet culture here.

I will go to the gym and eat a steak for every woman that diets herself into being tiny and weak and skinny, don't @ me. A female human being is not a fucking squirrel. Be in a misogynistic cult if you want to, but don't shame other women for not joining it.

[edge-oftheworld]

starting to have a way of processing my reaction for when i see what i call 'shallow hearts for shallow minds' takes on here like. do you not know how when you don't feel something at the time it catches up with you later? do we not understand the cumulative nature of nervous system stress and how. sometimes it gets worse before it gets better. sometimes getting better isn't about being happy, it's about feeling things as they come rather than trying to force yourself to be happy. making choices that will lead to the most happiness, even if they're painful at the time. i won't know exactly where an artist is at, neither do you, but I can trust that they're making the kind of decisions that are a step forward in self care in times where I see something that looks familiar and i'm like. i think i've been there. i know it doesn't make so much sense to everyone, but, that's what the fandom's for right?

[aroace-number-eight]

.

[louderfade]

exene talking about the state of the world. the good stuff starts at eight minutes. or you can just read the transcript complete with the usual errors that accompany robot transcribed speech (the irony of which is not lost on me). maybe it's not about transhumanism and living forever (or maybe it is who knows), but there's definitely an agenda of surveillance and control at work which is designed to keep the powerful in power. cash rules everything around me and you will own nothing etc. the future is worse.

[kurlik42]

(I reblogged my previous post to clarify a few things. Again, it's about proship, so I've also put it in "read more".)

Thank you for all the activity on this post! I appreciate your clarifications and patience, now I can see that some of the statements and formulations I've made were wrong. I can see that not everything in that text is comprehensible, so I apologize for my English — it isn't my native language. Since censoring words isn't necessary on this site, I won't use the censorship anymore.

I agree that fiction and reality don't work in the same way and I believe it is fine to explore dark themes in fiction for any reason, as long as it doesn't hurt real people. If certain ships make a person happy and bring them comfort, there's likely no harm in it due to the fact that it's only fiction. It's not always used as a way to cope and it's fine to enjoy fiction due to different reasons, as well as it doesn't necessarily reflect a person's morals and beliefs. Also, as I understood, attraction towards anything doesn't make a person bad, since they can't control the feeling of attraction itself; rather, the actions speak volumes: if they decide to act on the urge and consciously hurt someone real, then they should be held responsible for the illegal act. However, if they decide against it, there's no specific action to judge them for. I believe that these people also deserve help and a safe space, because harassment and oppression never made anyone better, but everyone deserves a chance for a happy life. And of course, any sexual act in reality should be solely performed from consent after every party reached the legal age.

And to answer the question of the user miranova23: although I'm currently not pushed into such beliefs by my close social circle, the topic of proship makes me anxious due to confronting my previous beliefs. I'm not officially diagnosed with moral OCD, however, I'm indeed prone to questioning my morality every so often. So all of the questions I asked are hypothetical — I'm strongly against CSEM and no real child deserves to be hurt (the thought itself makes me uneasy). In case that was the case for concern, the question about monetisation of r34 with underage characters was asked because I wasn't sure whether it's appropriate to gain money from such art despite the depicted characters not being real. But I suppose it's fair to say that it depends on the laws of my country; besides, pixels can't consent, which is why being concerned about this in the first place isn't necessary, so it's better to focus on real victims who should have support and help. Even if so, I'm not going to draw sexualised minors at any point. I'm not judging those who do, since they don't harass real children and, again, just draw pixels, and I definitely will not harass and threaten people over it. I'm only saying that this content makes me uncomfortable and I prefer to skip it respectfully, because your kink is not my kink but your kink is okay. I think that not all kinds of content are for everyone, but it's alright. And yes, I suppose I could use therapy 😅 Perhaps I should learn not to give a fuck about others's business. I hope I answered your questions.

Feel free to correct me if I might be wrong somewhere — I simply would like to have a better perspective on the topic, because I strive to be a better person. Anyway, wish you all a great day!

(It's about proship, so I've put it in "read more" in case someone finds the topic uncomfortable. Take care)

Without negativity, I have a few controversial questions which I'd like to see from some different angles. It's curiosity, but not an accusation by any means — I just question my moral beliefs, so I don't want to cause arguments but a discussion. And you aren't obligated to answer all the questions and aren't obliged to answer at all, of course.

With all due respect, what I'd like to ask is:

Can "proship" be considered a bad coping mechanism? Does the media that one enjoys reflects their morals and beliefs? Also, I'm not sure if that's okay to sexualise and fetishize underage people, even if it's fictional. I understand that it's often a way to cope with trauma, I don't mean to invalidate it in any way and I'm not a doctor, though I can't decide whether it's a healthy way to process it. I once heard an argument that it works in a similar way with gambling and p0rn addiction, as in indulging in fantasies and letting urges control one's behaviour, but I'm not sure if it's really so. Isn't it possible to see ped0phile inclinations in a person through the media they consume and produce? Also, is it okay to monetise drawn child p0rn? Because this content is created specifically with the idea to get turned on by drawn kids, which sounds not so far from getting off on real ones (with the difference that in the first case, it's fictional, so no real kid is technically hurt; however, the attraction is still caused by knowing the drawn person is underage, so the mechanism remains the same).

So all in all, I think there are concerning people on both the proship and antis sides. Which doesn't mean that every person in both communities is inherently bad or good, but I think it's important to acknowledge that there can and will be people who do questionable things from both sides. I also would like to clarify that I'm against threats and bullying over fiction, respect should be always prioritised.

Thank you for your patience, I apologize if I made you uncomfortable or understood something wrong.

[kindnessoverperfection]

wild how the more i'm working on recovery. the more i realize how fucking bad i miss her.

[theofficialpeanutgallery]

So, a lot of times when I'm feeling particularly frustrated about things (computer issues, homework), I get a really big need to bite something. And it's fine. I usually find like a towel or something and lock my jaw on it for a bit and then I'm better.

Today, though.

Today was different.

I don't understand anything about it, but I had a very sudden, very strong desire to bite something. Not just anything. Something very specific.

My own brain.

See, I was very frustrated, I think, about my brain not functioning properly (adhd is real strong here), and suddenly I just really wanted to bite my brain, rip a chunk out, and then... I don't know. See if that would fix everything?

I don't know. I don't know what would cause this (am I tired? hungry? thirsty? just plain irritated?), but I have never felt less mentally stable.

[artekai]

I need to stop making OCs who are emotionally fucked up from being overshadowed by someone in their life who they perceive as more successful or likeable than themselves, everyone's gonna think there's something wrong with me orz