#So sorry if mei looks a little weird I was in a rush

[cupids-archives]

Can you do an Chill (busty if you like! Im kind of busty myself :P) who hides it on always using oversozed sweatshirt Female y/n that just talks with MK, who likely just met and talked Sun Wukong once when MK introduced him to her on Pigsy Noodles, and he just straight up went obsessed after that?

Srry if i requested in the wrong place that you indicated <33 plus, i love your work!

━━━━━━━━𖥔 ࣪ small fic ft. yandere! sun wukong ₊˚♱ ━━━━━ ₊˚♱ contains: obsessive behavior, small nsfw. ₊˚♱

🪽 ៹ ࣪ this was a bit rushed so lmk if you want a part two or a better/longer version <3 🪽 ៹ ࣪

you were being swarmed by the staff at pigsys shop, your hands tucked in your sweater while they ask you silly questions. “where are you from!! mei asks, uncomfortably close to your face, “and where did you meet mk??” tang says peeking over you, “you guys do know she’s not my girlfriend right…”

mk finally speaks up and you can feel the excitement in the room drop, some of them even looking dejected. the only person in the room who seems to light up at this, is the strange man sitting in the corner, he’s a celebrity so you tried to ignore him through your visit here but it’s almost hard as his follow you every time you get up or excuse yourself. soon most of the people in the shop spread out, starting to do their own things. leaving just you, mei, and mk, it was a little awkward at first but soon lightened up.

“i never thought that THE monkey king would be that weird.” you randomly say, still thinking about the awkward encounter. “he usually isn’t, I don’t know why he’s acting like that” he looks almost scared like he was worried about the guy. “I didn’t even think he would show up, to be honest, when you told me you were the monkey kid I thought you were just joking,” the conversation turns back to the happy one it once was. you guys continue talking about stupid stuff until you want to leave, you wish goodbye to your new friends and start to walk back home.

you can almost feel eyes on you on every step of the way, feeling observed and uncomfortable. you quicken the pace, you feel exposed even with having so many clothes on. you get back to your house safely, making sure to lock the doors. your head immediately hits the pillow, feeling tired, but your mind is happy after an successful day. “you look so adorable when your sleeping.” you immediately jump up looking around to see whoever just talked to you. the hair on your skin feels as if it’s rising and the paranoid feeling comes back again.

you convince yourself it’s just your imagination and start to drift off again, but you feel a cold hand to under your sweater, touching the sensitive skin around your breast. this time however you can’t move, you feel frozen to the spot, the only thing you can move is your eyes, looking up to see the monkey kid fondling you, looking down on you with such intensity like he’s been in love with you forever. you also notice your not in your room, somehow being transported to some weird magical place, one that you can’t help but call beautiful,

“I’m sorry for doing this so suddenly,” the king says, getting closer to kiss your soft lips, “I just couldn’t help myself.” he takes off your sweatshirt completely. immediately nestling between your breasts, “you should stop wearing those big shirts. you look so pretty all naked for me”

[dyaz-stories]

Hey there! Just wanna know, what the heck happened in the JJK manga? Is it already over? Did the characters FINALLY mourn Gojo?! I gave up trying to read the manga after 236, so I just decided to randomly hear from others. But anyways, what happened??

Hey there! BOY AM I HAPPY TO DISCUSS THAT.

(I'm sorry I have so many thoughts and you've given me an excuse to ramble so this is going to be long)

There are two chapters left in the manga, it will end on September 30th. The chapter that just came out, chapter 269, was, however, really bad imo and a terrible use of time considering how little time Gege has left. I get that he had to wrap up quick, but in my personal opinion, it's inexplicable that he'd dedicate a whole chapter to what we just saw.

(More under the cut with spoilers for chapter 269)

Okay, so, the characters spend half the chapter arguing about how they could have done a better job fighting Sukuna, even though at this point, the losses are minimal. Most of the characters who were possibly dead are fine and dandy actually (Yuta, Higuruma, Todo, Kusakabe). Choso is still dead, but he gets a little line about how that's sad (and his death scene was really good and effective, so I'm not that mad about it, even if he's a character I really loved).

It kinda feels like Gege is justifying the way the fight went, which is a bit weird. In story, I think this could make sense if it was fueled by grief and loss and more of a "this person could have been saved! and this person didn't have to die!", but it feels kind of matter of fact tbh, with Maki being pretty much the only one displaying emotions. Even she seems to be arguing about efficiency, not really about saving human lives? Other characters' responses aren't much better. Yuuji in particular looks like he's super numb to everything, which again, yes, that's a trauma response, but it doesn't make for interesting storytelling and it's not going to be explored further, so... what's the point.

Also think that Yuta desecrating Gojo's corpse isn't explored enough. He did something horrifying that turned to not be that useful — going with the manga's message that the end doesn't justify the means — and he seems fine. I guess Maki yelling at him could be explained by the fact that she was strongly against this action, but it's never made explicit, which is a shame. (think it's more implied it's because he endangered himself and she has feelings for him)

The other half of the chapter is spent on a plot point that I don't think had been developed before that, about the new shadow style. This feels like the last arc Gege wanted to have and Sukuna's fight went on for too long so he had to scrap it. The point is essentially that the head of the new shadow style school is trying to become the head of Jujutsu Society as a whole now that the clans have collapsed. There was a binding vow that made it so the head of the school could steal years from people who had learned the style and add it to their lifespan. Anyway, Mei Mei steps in and makes it so the style can become more widely used.

(If you're bored reading that, yeah, so was I)

It's not useless exactly — it definitely goes towards the manga's message of ending the cycle and starting off with a clean slate, so that's a win — but it feels super rushed. It didn't have to be rushed, could have been a decent arc, it just isn't, and again, I don't think that's a great use of pages this late in the story.

Last but not least, Gojo. Gojo gets two mentions in this chapter.

The second one is in passing, when Hakari defends Yuta's usefulness.

And the first one, oooh boy the first one,

is about how this was all Gojo's fault from the get-go anyway 😃

And again, some nuance here. Kusakabe specifically says that the kids have nothing to apologize for — which I agree with. His point is that it was Gojo's responsibility to kill Yuuji. Essentially, the idea is that he was the adult, and in not doing that, he's responsible for the kids having to live with all the consequences of his actions.

Which aaaaah I'm losing it here! Yuuji was a victim of Kenjaku's machinations from the get-go, so would it have been right to kill him? Isn't this just a trolley problem — kill Yuuji and save innocent people's lives? But then, Yuuji, Sukuna and Kenjaku's actions led to the end of jujutsu society as we know it, more or less directly, which could lead to a better future, so was he actually right, in a purely consequentialist approach?

I don't think any of that is particularly interesting to discuss at this point tbh. I feel like that had already been dealt with. I'm just deeply confused as to why we're dealing with this when there were three chapters left before this one instead of focusing on closing the curtain on beloved characters, Gojo in particular.

Anyway! Bad chapter imo. Boring. Bad use of the characters and their relationships with one another. Really questionable use of time. Gojo was not mourned and in fact it's almost like he's never existed or never mattered to anyone. No Shoko here, not a hint of sadness from Yuta either, which I had hoped for.

I'm still looking forward to the last two chapters, and I hope they'll leave more room for the characters to, you know, have feelings.

[ootahime]

analyzing every gojohime moment in the manga >:) pt. 3

more and more paragraphs ahead.  BE PREPARED!

i’m also writing this at 3 am so please bear with the horrendous grammar and punctuation.

chapter 63

i know he’s probably like this with everyone but i love how excited he is bragging about his students to her.  he’s like a child telling his mother about an amazing adventure he had with his friends, making sure he mentions every detail.  in the anime, their conversation lasted for 3:41 :3 backwards 341 is 143 which means i love you.  

1 letter = i

4 letters = love

3 letters = you

chapter 63

i love her fit!  i also like how both of them like to wear baggy clothing that accentuates their collarbones `w` it’s like they’re matching in a way.  even if she did tell him to cut the crap, she still let him run his mouth to his content LOL i feel like if he didn’t compliment himself at the end, she would have said something different.  UGH HE LOOKS SO HAPPY CALLING HER

 ah, let me translate the conversation just in case anyone needs it.

utahime: you wanted to talk about the investigation, right?

gojo: well, got any idea who?

utahime: i have no idea.  no one seems suspicious.  what do we do now?  should we ask the students for help?

gojo: yeah, that’s fine.  i’m busy so asking the kids would be okay.  keep looking.  i’m counting on you.

I THINK THAT’S WHAT THEY’RE TRYING TO SAY.

OR it could mean that she’s asking if they should start investigating the students.  it would make sense either way because gojo says in the next panel that he doesn’t want to assume that the mole is a student, and in chapter 79, gojo sends the trio to utahime to help her.  

chapter 63

these two love their students to death.  neither of them wanted to assume that the mole was a student.  in chapter 79, when utahime is talking to the trio about the mole, nobara points out to the group that the traitor must be from kyoto because utahime is the one who’s reaching out to the tokyo side.  utahime has a dismal look on her face, almost like she’s saying, “i didn’t want it to turn out this way -- for this to be true.”  after mechamaru says his farewells to miwa on the train, mai tries to talk about what he did to which utahime says, “it doesn’t matter, he’s dead, after all,” with a similar sunken expression.  i just love how her care for the students is one of the biggest aspects of her personality that’s been showcased so far.  it’s also cool how it ties together with gojo’s belief that no child’s youth should be taken away.  i truly think these two have the capacity to understand each other to a deep level, down to the core.  seeing as utahime is also a teacher, it’s safe to assume that she also wants to raise the next generation of sorcerers to be strong.  utahime and gojo’s similarities and contrasting elements are so interwined, i really wonder if it’s intentional.  like am i looking too much into this?  are utahime and gojo really meant to be this connected?  think about it.  similar motivations, care of the kids, contrasting palettes, the bickering, long history.  IT’S JUST TOO MUCH. 

also can we mention how their phone calls and meetings must be heavily planned out?  this means they’ve talked and interacted with each other A LOT behind the scenes.  she doesn’t answer his call with “what do you want?  don’t bother me on my day off.”  she knows exactly why he’s calling her and they even speak in code.  she probably meets up with him and tells him to call her on a specific day and at a specific time.  they must know each other’s schedules very well in order to execute this investigation in complete secrecy.  when he says, “we can never be too sure who is listening in around utahime” it implies that they find calling a risk, so in order to guarantee that there is no one around, they have to meet up in person.  see where i’m getting at?  they talk A LOTTT and most likely are aware of each other’s daily lives.  

the fact that gojo is her main source of stress when he’s literally a 3 hour train ride away from her is hilarious LMAOOOO.  you know what that means, right?  he must call and text her constantly about random things to annoy her.  

chapter 65

ah yes, my favorite moment by far.  look at that smile on his face.  

chapter 65

he loves saying her name.  he probably rushed over with the sole purpose of doing something like this to her LMAOOOO like i mean, mei was in there with her so technically they both needed to be helped but judging from his words and expression, he only wanted to help utahime.  notice how mei’s not there in the debris.  could she possibly have suspected gojo’s presence or an outside force?  or was she fast enough to avoid being in the debris?  either way, her lack of presence in this scene helps highlight the fact that this is a special interaction between utahime and gojo.  he refers to her in a very familiar sense.  the most formal way to address someone is by their last name followed by the honorific, -san.  in gojo’s case, he should be calling her iori-san if they weren’t acquainted.  he doesn’t even bother to call her utahime-senpai.  granted, gojo is not the most respectful and socially competent person out there because geto points this out to him.  he isn’t even aware that she finds him annoying because he views her bad attitude toward him as her just playing along with him.  he probably thinks she’s flirting back LOLOL

since he asks her “you cryin?” that definitely means that gojo witnessed her crying on one occasion or maybe multiple.  who knows, the old utahime could have been a very emotional person.  while this is happening, mei is close to gojo, she then asks him if he would console her if she were to cry in a flirtatious manner.  gojo dismisses her attempt at flirting with him and says she won’t cry because she’s strong.  now normally, you’re supposed to face the person you’re talking to, GOJO.  he KEEPS his eyes on her even when more people come to join the conversation.  

now, we can all agree that geto, mei, and shoko are better at picking up social cues than gojo.  they probably knew the vibe of the conversation and decided to play along with gojo’s antics.  

chapter 65

WE were worried about you.

pay attention to the order of the characters that show up.  gojo makes his appearance first, then geto, followed by shoko.  based on utahime’s reaction to seeing shoko, it’s evident that these two share a close bond.  shouldn’t shoko be the one to arrive on the scene first?  she’s the closest to utahime and would therefore be more concerned about her condition, right?  i know shoko’s technique doesn’t really allow her to do anything other than treat the wounds of others, but if you heard your friend was missing, you would definitely rush to the scene.  

look at geto’s reaction when mei says, “you’re the one who’s picking on her, geto.  you don’t even know it.”  i think it’s mei who’s saying this because gojo calls geto “suguru”.  but anyway, mei is aware that they’re picking on her.  i don’t think she’s the type to legitimately bully someone for their strength.  her reaction to all of this is very playful and her “heh heh heh” is proof of that.  when geto shows up and swallows the curse before it gets to utahime, he says, “satoru.  it’s not nice to pick on the weak.”  by saying this, he pisses utahime off because he too, is joining in on gojo’s joke.  i believe he’s unaware that he’s making fun of utahime because his reaction is “gah!” with a sweatdrop.  he probably thought gojo was making fun of weak people in general.  

geto’s usually a gentleman seeing as it is canon that he is more popular with girls than gojo.  BUT WHO KNOWS...you gotta be a specific type of person to be best friends with gojo.  maybe he ain’t shit too...  okay, my point is that everyone is just playing along.  when shoko shows up, utahime is relieved to see her because shoko doesn’t tease her like this.  since utahime tells shoko to not become like those two, this implies that geto teases her as well (probably not as much as gojo).  we all know geto is really big on looking out for the weak so he probably wouldn’t have insulted her for real.  

verdict: utahime being weak is just a joke.  i’ve mentioned this so many times, sorry if it’s getting annoying and repetitive hehehehehe...

chapter 65

these three aren’t irresponsible.  geto and gojo are a troublesome duo for sure, but they’re dependable.  seems unlike them to forget something so simple and essential to pretty much every mission.   

chapter 65

here’s my headcanon.  they were hanging outside or in the car when their assistant manager got a call.  the assistant was informed that two days have elapsed since mei and utahime went on their mission (or last contacted someone).  

gojo: that’s weird.  mei’s with her so they should have finished exorcising the spirit sooner.

geto: you think something happened to them?  maybe it’s a strong special grade.

gojo: utahime probably dragged mei down with her.  poor mei-san~  

gojo gets up 

geto: where are you going?  

gojo: going to save utahime!  it’s fine i’ll put up a curtain!

manager: gojo wait!!!!!!!!!!!

geto sighs

shoko: that idiot’s always running off without us.

they pin the blame on gojo for saying that he’ll put up a curtain and leaving the assistant manager behind.  you know what this means?  he ran and the manager couldn’t catch up HEHE... why the rush, gojo?  were you actually concerned about her?  

tbh i don’t see gojo ever running to something unless it’s urgent.  the fact that he ran to save her says a lot.  

----

let me know if you have any thoughts or questions!  i forgot to add this but gojo had a more serious expression when he was explaining how they must’ve been trapped in a barrier that messes with time.  he then states, “we thought it was weird even though you’re here, mei.”  i know he was probably worried sick because if mei couldn’t be contacted then that means something must’ve happened to utahime too.  okay that’s it for now.  i’ll be bringing up this little detail i’ve noticed about utahime in the manga next :3

[heecyon]

Enhypen Little Angels Series: When they find out their s/o is pregnant

warnings: cursing, mentions of miscarriage and hospitals, collapsing, vomiting and couvade syndrome (for Sunghoon and Sunoo)

this happens before the og enha little angels

taglist: @skyaura-koo @serendipityclick @en-sun @envirae @exulansis-eun @gamezzzz

Pls tell me if I forgot anyone from the taglist and I'll fix it immediately.

I'll try to fix any grammar mistakes. Sorry for the delay

word count: 1,523 words

Lee Heeseung:

“Heeseung... What if i'm really pregnant?” Mina said bouncing on her feet.

Being nervous wasn't the words that she would use to describe how she feeling at the moment.

“If you are pregnant, then that means that our child will have the most amazing mother and the most amazing father.” He set his hands around Mina's waist, then accommodated his head on her shoulder.

“I'm not talking about that.” She sighed, looking at the ring on her finger.

“You mean... the loss?” Mina nodded, her gaze was sad and her eyes were glossy.

“It wasn't your fault jagi, and I know that you fear that the same thing will happen again, but I promise you that everything will turn out for good.” Heeseung placed a soft kiss on his wife's lips, then unified his forehead with hers.

“I think... I'll go check the test.” Mina said before placing a kiss in Heeseung's cheek and going to the bathroom to see the results.

He waited a few seconds and then...

“Heeseung, I'm actually pregnant!”

Park Jongseong

“How many times do I have to tell you that I'm fine?” Bella said looking at IV hooked on her hand.

Jay kept walking around the hospital room, he was a little bit mad, he thought that Bella hadn't taken care of herself as he told her to.

“As many times as you want, because it's not gonna work for me, or make me feel better.” He kept pacing around back and forth, trying to keep himself calm.

“If you keep rambling nothing will be solved.” Jay huffed, as he pinched the skin of his left arm.

“And if you keep dismissing your health nothing will get solved!”

Bella groaned, sometimes Jay could be way to stubborn.

“How many times do I have to tell you that I've been taking care of myself.” She pouted.

“It doesn't seem like that to me.”

Just in time the doctor appeared on the room.

“What is it doctor? Is she healthy?” She smiled at Jay and then at Bella.

“Well, there isn't any problem... Except that you have high levels of HCG.”

They both looked at the doctor completely confused.

“This high level of HCG only appears on pregnancy. Congratulations, you are pregnant.”

If they were confused before then, I don't know how to describe how they felt by the moment.

“Huh?!”

Shim Jaeyun

“Do you think is something bad?”

Jake shook his head, while looking around the doctor's office. He was way more anxious than what he showed, but he tried his best to stay calm for Teagan.

It had been days since Teagan started vomiting and having nausea, to the point that she spent most days locked in the bathroom and nearly fell down the stairs because of how dizzy she felt.

“I'm done! I'm taking you to the doctors!”

Teagan looked at him dumbfounded. Why did he wanted to take her to the doctors so suddenly.

“But I feel fine.”

“Being fine is not nearly falling down the stairs because of dizziness.”

Teagan hated hospitals with all her might, and always tried everything to avoid them, but guess who still drag her to the hospital? Jake!

The doctor finally entered the office, making the couple turn their gaze to him.

He gave them a small smile, before saying:

“I already have your lab results...”

Jake grabbed his wife's hand, trying to calm himself down a little and also reassuring her that everything will be okay.

In the best case he thought you had a stomach bug. In the worst case you could some kind of terminal illness.

... But gladly those weren't the cases.

“It seems like you have high levels of human chorionic gonadotropin.” Teagan looked at the doctor with a dumbfounded gaze.

“What those that mean?” Teagan looked at the doctor and then looked at Jake who was in shock, but then spoke.

“It means... that you are pregnant.”

Park Sunghoon

... It started when Sunghoon started having symptoms. Hyeyoung noticed how tired Sunghoon was does days and how he started having cravings... A lot of cravings.

“And can you please add an extra order of fries please?” “Thank you.”

He hanged up on the call while Hyeyoung looked at him weirded out.

“You sure you are okay?” She walked up to him, seating beside him on the sofa.

“Yeah, why wouldn't I be?”

“Well... because you are acting like a pregnant woman.”

Sunghoon giggled a little, before he realised that...

“Hyeyoung? When was the last time that you had your period?” The girl looked down for moment, and then she finally realised what was going on.

Now they were both looking at the positive pregnancy on their hands.

“Oh shit!”

“OH HOLY SHIT!”

Kim Sunoo

Another case of couvade syndrome...

“Ah! Noona! Sunoo-Hyung just fainted!” Aera ran to the studio and saw the boys fanning Sunoo to make him feel better.

Sunno saw Aera's worried expression and then smiled at her to ease her up.

“I'm fine jagiya. I'm just tired.” He stood up with the help of his oldest members.

He walked up to Aera, who changed her expression suddenly, she started feeling way to dizzy and all off the sudden she lost her balance and collapse on Sunoo's.

The rest of the members started shouting worriedly and asked the staff to call medical help.

“I guess we have the same condition or something.” Sunoo spoke when they where both in the doctors office waiting for both of their results.

“It's probably the flu, or a cold is kicking our butts.” Aera chucked and Sunoo giggled a little.

The doctor entered the room, with the results on his hands.

“Well it seems like Sunoo is pretty healthy and there is no reason for your collapse, except that you have couvade syndrome.” He frowned at the doctors words wanting a clear explanation.

“It's when a partner presents the same symptoms as their pregnant partner.” Aera was the one frowning at that moment. Was the doctor saying what she thought he was saying?

“I'm sorry, but my wife is not...”

“The fuck?! She's pregnant?!”

Yang Jungwon

This boy rushed to the hospital the moment that he got a call from her mom, saying that Mirae had fallen down the stairs.

He freaked out, but when he got there Mirae explained him that she had blacked out and that made her fall down three steps of stairs.

“Are you sure you don't feel pain or anything?” Jungwon played with her hair, while he sat on her hospital bed.

“Wonie, I'm fine, it's just a small bruise”

“And a concussion.” Mirae's mother blurted that out of nowhere. Which made the girl murmured a "Mom" angrily.

“Ah! I guess I'll stay up with you all night.” He said rubbing her shoulders.

“I also have something else to tell you...” She grabbed a strand of hair and started playing with it.

“Hmm?” Jungwon payed all his attention ontu her.

“The doctor did a few tests... Everything's okay, but...” She passed and stayed quiet for while.

“What's wrong Rae, you can tell me anything, remember?” Jungwon smiled showing his cute dimples.

Mirae sighed, inhaled... Then exhaled.

“I'm pregnant.”

Jungwon seemed in shock by what she had just blurted out, but then started laughing immediately.

He was happy, obviously he was... But then he paused.

“When did I made you a baby?”

Nishimura Riki

They where both visiting Niki's parents in Japan, they where on vacations so they used that to pay a visit to them.

Mei Lin wasn't feeling that good throughout the whole way to her in laws house, she felt like throwing up the ride in the plane, but she thought it was just motion sickness.

“You sure you are okay? If you don't feel well enough, we can stay at the hotel and go tomorrow.” Niki wasn't that sure of what to do at the moment, but he thought it would pass in a few hours.

“No, I think I still feel bad because of the flight, but it'll pass in a few minutes, I promise.” She said patting Niki's head before calling over a taxi.

They got home pretty fast and had dinner. They were both enjoying their time, but something about the food just made Mei feel nauseated. So she covered her mouth and nose with her left hand.

The family noticed pretty fast and Niki's sister was already looking for a pill to calm Mei's stomach down.

While Niki was rubbing her back, his mother commented.

“You know, this reminds me of the symptoms I had when I had a few weeks of pregnancy with Riki.” She laughed it off, but something about just made the rest of the family including Mei freeze.

“I think... I'll just go get a pregnancy test.”

Everybody's eyes widened and the thought of their daughter in law being pregnant was kinda shocking.

An hour later, a positive pregnacy test was on the couple's hands.

Niki and Mei were both in complete shock, they were happy of course... But still shocked.

“I wasn't expecting you guys to take me seriously when I said «I want grandchildren as soon as possible.»”

[skellebonez]

How's about 45 and 54 where canon MK finds himself in the Inverted AU Universe? Because I think that'd be funny

Poor MK is having the second worst day of his entire life. This is not the situation he should be in AFTER THE FINALE. This would have been way different if I wrote this when you sent it in, but now you get a very sad Monkie Kid.

You may technically be an adult, but you’re still my child./ Yeah well dying generally puts a damper on things.

When MK was knocked out they were on the deck of the drone ship, fighting off some kind of demon that the White Bone Spirit had taken under her control.

When MK woke up they were on the sandy shores of Mount Huaguo surrounded by baby monkeys and one Six-Eared Macaque looking down at them with a face of great concern.

“Are you-” Macaque started to ask them, unable to finish his sentence when MK screamed and kicked out and just barely missed making contact that would have sent him flying backwards into the nearest tree. “Whoa, no, it’s alright! I’m not-”

“What did you do to me this time, Macaque!?” MK yelled, looking around for a weapon, any weapon, something they could use to defend themself. Their eyes fell on something familiar, something that shouldn’t exist anymore and they froze at the sight of red and gold.

“Little one, is your name MK?” Macaque asked softly, holding up his hands as he slowly walked forward back toward the started and confused young adult before him. “I found you washed up on the shore. You need to lay back down, you’re still-”

Macaque let out a yelp of surprise as MK dove, hand firmly grasping the familiar warm-cold center of the staff.

But it felt... wrong, somehow.

They didn’t let go.

"OK, WHAT IS HAPPENING!?" MK shouted, holding the stolen staff in front of them as they turned on the immortal monkey that was their one time mentor. "Is this Jin and Yin again? Is this the Calabash!? Did they change it so my stuff doesn’t work in it anymore!? I'm not falling for that again!"

"I'm sorry, the what?" A new voice rang from behind him. One a little... too familiar...

It was MK. It shouldn't be possible, not if the Calabash was working the same way it had worked before, but it was them. But not.

Like... the way the staff felt.

The Other MK standing in the too bright sun wore a stark sky blue and black instead of his signature orange and red, a large hefty backpack in that same blue slung over his back. And he was... tall. Not unusually tall, just taller than MK was. And also looked incredibly angry as he carried a box of medical supplies.

"The... Calabash..." MK repeated, holding the staff closer to their chest with a nervous gulp. Their hands twisted around the staff nervously, hoping the repetitive action would ground them against the repeating 'THERE IS ANOTHER YOU STARING AT YOU WHAT THE HELL' whizzing in their head. "This... this isn't Jin and Yin again after all, is it?"

MK gulped again, blinking as their vision swam suddenly and their head felt like it was filled with... something. Like liquid but if it was as light as air.

"I don't know which answer would be better for you," Macaque said softly, honesty palpable in his tone. Something so odd for the Monkie Kid to hear in their ears with that voice. "But no. We are very much real."

"Oh..." MK said plainly. "Oh that's bad. That's... Oh boy..."

Before their eyes rolled back in their head and they passed out they were pretty sure they saw a few more overly familiar faces rushing to them.

~

When MK woke a second time they were once again moved, but to somewhere else far less familiar than the shores of Mount Huaguo and the drone ship... but also too familiar. They also now realized that their head hurt... a lot. Like, a lot a lot.

“Finally, you’re back from the brink of death,” that same overly familiar voice rang our in their ear. They snapped their head to the side, regretting it instantly as it made their vision swim again and lights pop in front of their eyes. “Hey, no, don’t do that!"

The other MK jumped up, kneeling down in front of them and poked them in the forehead. His scowl didn’t seem to let up in the slightest, but it tilted in a way that felt more concerned than angry.

"... why am I looking at my own face?" MK asked, not sure whether they should continue to stare at their own face or to look anywhere else to keep their brain from short circuiting trying to process what the actual hell was happening.

“Considering you were able to pick up my staff,” the other MK said, removing his finger and gesturing to the rod that was still across MK’s chest (how had he not noticed the extra weight of it still in his hand?). “I’d say we have some kind of multi-dimensional bullshitery going on here. Unless you’re, somehow, a robot made of the same shit Red used to get the that thing in the first place, but I don’t think robots bleed from head injuries.”

Ah. That would explain why his head felt like someone had cracked it open and shoved cotton balls into it.

MK looked around, taking in the stark white walls and the overly clean smell and the clean white sheets they were laid on.

“... am I at the hospital?”

“Oh, absolutely!” Other MK yelled, raising his arms in frustration as he paced the room in a familiar excess of energy. “But unfortunately for us you don’t exactly exist here! So we’re figuring out a way to make them believe you’re me with some really fucked up memories my dude! Which is easier with, you know.”

The other MK knocked on his head twice, wincing a bit as the second knock seemed to be harder than intended.

“... but you’re..?”

“I snuck in.”

“OK, well, thanks for the help,” MK started, sitting himself up with more than a little struggle. “But I need to figure out what the heck happened and get back to-!”

“Oh no you don’t!” Other MK said, jumping on the bed and standing over him. That was... well, MK would definitely say that was a very weird but effective way of keeping someone from getting up. “Macaque already ran off without letting me stop him, I barely got him to take some backup, to figure out what in the hell is happening. You are me and I know myself and if you ever tell anyone this I will end you, but you are way too injured to be doing anything right now!”

“I have to do something, Other Me-”

“No, oh no I hate that, just call me Blue,” the other MK said, the scowl on his face softened ever so slightly once again. Just slightly. “It’s a lot better than ‘other me’. And there’s nothing we can do until Macaque gets us some answers.”

"So... what, Blue? Am I just supposed to sit around and wait for someone to come and rescue me if he finds nothing!?" MK snapped, grip on their staff tightening so much that their knuckles paled and creaked in stress. "Just do nothing while who knows what happens to my friends!?"

"No," Blue said, placing his hand on MK's shoulder and frowning when the other shrugged it off and curled in on themselves. "But hurting yourself isn't going to help you get back to them. And as long as you’re here you’re my responsibility.”

“I’m a grown ass adult, you should know that.”

“Yeah, well, dying generally puts a damper on things and you’re not so adult that you can’t escape death,” Blue said, letting himself fall back into a sitting position on the bed. “Unless you got to keep your invulnerability or something, but given the crack in your noggin that doesn’t seem... like...” Blue trailed off, looking at MK with an odd expression. “... are you ok? Like. Emotionally?”

“Huh?”

“You’re crying.”

MK wrestled with one of their hands to free it’s iron grip on the staff (not their staff, their staff was gone, they had to remind themselves that their staff was gone and... and so was so much else), raising to their cheek to discover that at some point in Blue’s retort they had indeed started crying.

“... what happened to you?”

“It’s a long story,” MK said, wiping their face on their arm (they now realized they were wearing hospital dressing). “I...” They grabbed the staff with their now free hand again, twisting the grip carefully and freeing the iron hold their other hand had. “Can I just... keep this for a bit longer?”

Blue looked at MK, looking between the other him and the staff that was rightfully his before sighing and rubbing the back of his neck.

“Not like I need it right this second,” he said, his scowl vanishing completely as he stood and yanked over his backpack and put it back on after he pulled a baseball cap out and squished his hair into it and pulled it down to cover his face. “There’s gonna be someone here with you at all times until you get out, just to keep you in the loop of what’s going on here. We’ll figure out where you’re staying if Mac doesn’t figure out a way to get you home by tonight.” He moved toward the entrance to the room, turning back before opening it. “I’ll be back, I gotta restock my bag. There’s a couple people who wanna talk to you already... don’t... freak out.”

Before MK could ask what Blue meant the young man opened the door and slipped out, talking to someone just out of his line of vision before running off down the hall.

And then they saw the overly familiar sight of Pigsy and Tang... except they weren’t.

Pigsy, their Pigsy, was always in a chef’s uniform unless he was sleeping. Rough edges softened when he smiled or looked at MK or Mei with that exasperated look that MK knew meant he cared. Tang, their Tang, was a scholar who looked the part in every way, old fashioned clothes and books in hand. Always smiling when he could manage it and carefree.

This Pigsy was.. soft. And fluffy. Literally soft and fluffy. And wore oversized sweaters and smiled in a way that fit more on someone else’s face but felt right at home on his. This Tang was...

Well, the only way MK could think to describe the man before them was “skinny biker with probably hidden muscles who would kick your ass”. He looked the same but his hair was more wild, sunglasses pushing his bangs up, decked out in a (probably fake) leather jacket... but he had the same scarf.

And he and Pigsy were holding hands.

“I suppose you already know who we are,” the biker version of Tang said, smile on his face very awkward and seeming somewhat forced in a “I don’t know if this is helping but I’m gonna try” kind of way. “And we know who... you are. Kinda.”

“Yeah,” MK responded, thinking for a moment back to when he was found on the beach. “Were you... were you the ones with Blue, the other me, on Mount Huaguo?”

“Yeah,” the soft Pigsy said and... wow, hearing that voice say something so gently so casually was throwing him through a loop. “M-Blue was convinced we needed to get out of the city for the day and brought us along for his training. We didn’t expect to find... well, another him...” Pigsy frowned, the first one MK saw on his face and it felt so much more openly worried than their own Pigsy’s scowls. “How are you feeling?”

MK looked down at the staff in their hands, then back up to the two men in front of them.

They weren’t the two people MK considered father figures. They weren’t. But they were. And as MK tried to process this they felt their breathing speed up faster and faster and faster until-

“Hey,” Tang said, gentle and soft voice breaking MK from their racing thoughts as he reached out to put a hand in MK’s hair but stopped himself short. Probably in remembering that they weren’t Blue. “You can stay with us if you want. Once you’re discharged and if you need somewhere to stay.”

Well... that didn’t help at all.

No.

Instead it opened the floodgates and MK started crying harder than they had since the final fight with the White Bone Spirit, curling in on themselves as the last few days and what had transpired really hit them.

“What the FUCK did you do!?” He heard his own voice shout from the doorway.

~

It looked like PIgsy’s apartment. But not.

MK’s hands clenched at air, wishing they still had the staff for comfort. But no, they insisted that Blue take it back when they were discharged.

Blue was still the Monkie Kid after all. He needed the staff to fight.

MK... was just MK here. And they couldn’t fight, not while recovering from their injuries anyway.

But oh how they wish they hadn’t given it back. It felt so right and yet so wrong to hold it. They didn’t realize how much they had grown attached to the object until it was...

“MK?” Once again Pigsy’s voice startled him, not for the first time since they arrived at the apartment and MK took up the extra bedroom that this world’s counterpart had once stayed in until the apartment above the shop opened up for them. “Do you need anything?”

“No,” they responded, hands gripping the edge of their jacket in an attempt to hold something solid. It wasn’t the same. “I can handle myself.”

“I know you can, but you don’t have to,” Pigsy said, coming into the room holding a cup of water and putting it on the nightstand. “And you don’t have to talk to us, if you don’t want to... but it’d probably help. Even if you just ramble about something.”

Had this been the other Pigsy he probably would have something something like “You may technically be an adult, but you’re still my child”. Something firm and gruff and filled with underlying affection for the younger adult. But this Pigsy... there was some of that there. A firmness to his words, though the gruffness was missing. But he could feel the affection he must have had for Blue transferring to themself, the knowledge that they weren’t the same person holding most of it back.

But it was still there.

And MK hadn’t really talked to anyone since the short lived argument with Blue.

“... You uh...” they started, chuckling quietly as they twisted their fingers together. “You said you own a flower shop? My Pigsy, uh... he, runs a noodle shop.”

It wasn’t going to help. MK was certain that talking about their family and friends and how different they were would probably make how he felt worse.

But sitting there and ignoring it would make it worse far quicker in their mind.

So MK talked. For hours. Eventually Tang joined the two, both listening as MK recalled all the differences and similarities and...

Well. They listened. Just like their own Pigsy and Tang would.

... they wondered if they would ever get to go back.

[asknarashikari]

Minific idea: Kamen Rider Saber cast meet Samurai Sentai Shinkenger XD (maybe the Samurai girls + Sophia give Mei some beginners lessons in handling swords while the boys spar XD

I actually did a fic where Kento offers to teach her (and he and Rintaro do so) and Tetsuo even supplies her with a sword of his own making. Which, of course, becomes a Seiken.

Additionally, the inevitable has happened and the swordboy trio has met a certain sushi seller bearing a resemblance to Master Logos XD

Soo... let's do this instead~

"...Do you guys smell something funny?" Mei questioned, her nose wrinkling as she put down her teacup. "Is something... burning?"

"Now that you mention it..." Mako frowned, setting down the sweet she was eating. "I wonder if the kuroko accidentally burnt something, but that would be really weird..."

Just then, one of the hooded servants rushed into the room, bowed hastily to the ladies, before whispering urgently into Kaoru's ear and bowing once more.

"Is that so..." hummed Kaoru, the stoic samurai's face not betraying anything. "Alright, I shall deal with the matter myself." The kuroko bowed again, before retreating, and Kaoru sighed, shaking her head.

"What's the matter, milady?" Kotoha asked, watching with the other three as Kaoru stood, tucking her fan and Shodophone into her obi.

"It seems like the men have gone slightly overboard in their sparring," Kaoru said coolly, "and have destroyed the garden in the process." She smoothed out her kimono. "I will deal with them swiftly. Please, continue to enjoy yourselves, I will return momentarily." And with that, Kaoru left the sitting room.

"...What?!" Mako and Mei exclaimed, standing and running after the lady of the house. Kotoha hesitated for a moment, but soon followed suit.

The women soon arrived in the back garden of the Shiba manor. And all they could do was gape for it did, indeed, look like it had seen better days. There were patches of burnt grass, overturned topiaries, and a smoking crater where a stone pathway used to be. The training mat looked like it had been soaked with a hose, and the whole place smelled an odd combination of smoke, ozone and chlorine.

And in the centre of it all were three swordsmen and three samurai, all looking equally sheepish and guilty.

"What the hell happened here?!" Mei exclaimed, looking around the chaos.

"Ah, well... we went a little overboard with our sparring, that's all," Touma tried to play off.

"'A little' seems like an understatement," Mako deadpanned coldly, glaring pointedly at her husband.

"We hadn't anticipated how heated we were becoming," Takeru defended.

"And moreover, they challenged us! Our honor as samurai wouldn't have let us hold back," Kento argued.

"But, how could you not notice you were already destroying the garden? And Chiaki-kun, how could you?"

Chiaki all but flailed at the sight of his wife's disappointed face. "I'm sorry Kotoha! Really, I am!"

"I apologize deeply, on my behalf as well as for all of us! We truly did not intend to cause this much damage!" Rintaro apologized sincerely.

"You should be." The samurai and swordsmen all paled as Kaoru glared at them coldly. "Today, you seem more like a bunch of hooligans swinging swords than heroes of justice... thus, I shall treat you accordingly." A kuroko stepped forward, handing Kaoru a rather large paper fan.

"Oh no..." Ryuunosuke squeaked, starting to back away and pulling his counterparts with him. "Anything but that!"

[therealvalkyrie]

Basil Part 1

Pairing/setting: Pro-hero!Bakugou Katsuki x Female!Reader

Summary: After bringing home Bakugou from a bar, you invite him to stay for breakfast.

Word Count: 2k

Warnings: swearing, kissing, mentions of sex, soft bakugou, aged up characters

AN: I’m sending it lmao. Figured I’d just drop this and go to sleeb, then maybe I’ll find the motivation to finish the second part tomorrow. We shall see!! Don’t forget to come tell me what you think:) Be kind to yourself and others!! ~valkyrie

Something different wakes you this morning. The familiar presence of your cat, Tonic, curled next to your head on the pillow isn’t it, and it’s not your alarm. You crack open a heavy eye and close your dry mouth. Judging by the pale cloudless sky visible through the window, it’s not time for you to get up yet. Was it a noise? A neighbor? A dream? You try to think back on what you’d been dreaming about in your sleep, but the visuals get hazier by the second as you blink lazily. The urge to stretch and your body washes over you quietly, achingly, and you start to roll onto your right side, away from the cat, only to be prevented by a body across your waist. Alarm jolts through you as you glance down. A head of disheveled blonde hair nuzzled into your side greets your gaze. Then, as your eyes slide down the very naked body attached to the hair, you remember.

Oh. Right.

It’s the man from the bar. The one with striking eyes and an attitude problem who nevertheless charmed his way into your pants with drinks and well-timed wit. It’s the man who tucked you under his arm as you giggled your way out of the bar, made out with you in the back of the taxi, and fucked you until you couldn’t think straight. Bakugou Katsuki.

The memory brings a lethargic smile to your dry lips and a warmth to the rest of your body as you experimentally ghost your fingers down his naked back. He looks tranquil here, torso rising and falling easily in sleep, arm thrown over your stomach, and head using your underboob as a pillow. Your sheets are bunched around your tangled legs but you still feel comfortably warm from his body heat. He’s practically like a furnace, skin hot and slightly sweaty on yours.

Eventually, after staring at him through soft eyes for what should be an embarrassingly long time (but really, you can’t find it in yourself to be ashamed, not when he’d devoured your body with his eyes the night before), you stretch your arms as much as you can without disturbing him and reach for your phone on the bedside table. The screen lights up as you tug out the charging cord, displaying the time (6:13) and a flurry of notifications from your girls’ night group chat. Scrolling lazily through without bothering to open the app, you read the conversation in reverse while tracing gentle circles on Bakugou’s toned back:

carolina, 6:00: ferny have u been murdered in the night

carolina, 5:59: i am alive…………………….barely

Then, it’s arguments and teasing about another friend, Ichika, leaving with a “short ass man,” in Carolina’s words, and then confirmations of everyone arriving safely home. So you weren’t the only one who left with someone last night? It makes you feel better about abandoning your friends. It wasn’t that they couldn’t take care of themselves, more that nights out with your girls were few and far between, given your hectic schedules. You know they wouldn’t hold it against you, but you were looking forward to spending time with them. Scroll, scroll, scroll.

carolina, 00:46: we want details in the morn😈

Mei, 00:45: in that case, take your time sweaty😘

Mei, 00:44: WHAT THE FUCK????

ichika, 00:44: Ground Zero??

Of course they’d discuss this, thirsty whores, you think, grinning. You knew who he was the second he leaned up against the bar next to you with a cocky smile and a pick-up line; it’s not like you’re completely oblivious, unlike Mei, even if you don’t generally keep up with the latest pro-hero gossip. And he didn’t let you forget it, either. Fresh heat rises up your neck as echoes of last night ring in your mind.

“Say it, baby, who’s fuckin’ you so good?”

“Y-you are!”

“And who am I?”

“Ground Ze-ero!”

The ghostly feeling of his fingers digging into your hips makes your thighs twitch together.

ichika, 00:44: omg no way

Mei, 00:44: who?

carolina, 00:44: of course i saw, that was motherfucking bakugou katsuki!!!!!!

Mei, 00:43: y’all see that smokeshow she left with? we won’t be hearin shit until tmrw

carolina, 00:41: or don’t;) we know you’re occupied

ichika, 00:41: lmk when you get home safe, love!!

When you’re finally caught up, you open your phone and type out a clumsy response with one thumb.

Ferny, 6:18: was not murdered, promise i will give deets later

Ferny, 6:18: he’s still here uwu

A low, sleepy grunt pulls your gaze from your phone screen and onto Bakugou. He’s finally stirring, nose pressing into the pudge of your stomach and body twisting further into the sheets.

“Morning, sleepyhead,” you murmur, locking your phone and tossing it back onto the nightstand.

His head jerks up and he looks momentarily caught off-balance, guarded, before he turns to look at your face and his expression softens.

“Mornin, beautiful,” he mumbles in a gravelly morning voice, pushing up the bed to press his lips to yours. Your cat mewls at the inconvenient shift in the pillow and brushes down your body to settle by your feet instead. Indulging for a moment in the soft glow of kissing him, your arms loop around his neck and his warm hand ghosts over your cheek, down your neck, across your clavicle. You let out a singular satisfied moan at the feeling of his bare chest against yours, then gently pull away.

“I have morning breath,” you complain with a pout. He only smirks devilishly.

“You taste alright to me,” he quips before sneaking another, faster kiss to your lips.

You squeal and push him back playfully with an indignant, “Bakugou!”

“Alright, alright,” he concedes defeat, flopping on his back next to you.

Finally, without his body practically pinning you to the mattress, you’re able to sit up and stretch satisfyingly. Your back gives a series of gratifying pops as you yawn and twist, and Bakugou makes an alarmed sound behind you.

“Jesus, you sound like fuckin bubblewrap! Is your back okay?”

“Oh, it’s fine! Always happens when I sleep funny.”

“I dunno, you should maybe get that checked out.”

“After coffee,” you agree noncommittally, then lean down to scoop Tonic from where he’d retreated on the end of the bed and extricate your legs from the tangle of sheets and blankets. “I just have to feed this little guy, and then I was thinking… breakfast? There’s a great bakery across the street.” You’re suddenly shy, voice breathier with the suggestion. 

The protocol you usually employ for one night stands is simple: if you’re at their apartment, make your excuses and skedaddle before anything more intimate like food can happen; if they’re at yours, make your excuses and kick them out before they start doing weird shit to your kitchen. But Bakugou feels different. There isn’t an ounce of regret or shame or embarrassment when you think back on the previous night, and the morning already feels intimate, with its lazy kisses and easy banter. You wouldn’t mind spending more time with him, but you can’t tell if he feels the same. Or if he’s waiting for an excuse to leave and get back to his life.

“Let me make you breakfast,” comes the unexpected reply, and you twist to look at him, eyebrows arched in surprise at both the acceptance of your invitation and his willingness to cook for you. He must mistake it for doubt, though, because he looks suddenly defensive, brow creasing in a frown. “Hey, I can cook, get that dumb look off your face!”

“No, no, that’s not it,” you placate, leaning back and into his side while cradling Tonic to your chest. “I’d love for you to make me breakfast.” You press a kiss to his shoulder as he loops his arm around yours and grumbles something too quiet to hear. “It’s just,” you mumble into his skin, “I don’t have much in the way of a stocked pantry.”

“What do you mean?” You glance up to meet his perplexed gaze.

“I mean, my roommate travels a lot for work and he’s more of a cook than I am,” you explain, not missing the way Bakugou tenses when you mention your male roommate. But he doesn’t say anything, just blinks down at your cat who’s spilled from your arms and across his chest like an uncontainable liquid. “Sorry” —you wince, trying and failing to scoop him back towards you— “he’s very affectionate.”

“S’okay,” he mutters, blinking twice more before focusing back on you. “Let’s at least see what you’ve got, I could probably whip something up.”

You shrug. “Well, okay. Might be a challenge.” At this, he chuckles darkly and narrows his eyes.

“I love a challenge.”

You giggle and push up to sitting again, legs dangling over the edge of the bed and Tonic cradled to your chest. “Alright, Gordon Ramsey, let’s take a look.”

Sauntering over to your closet, you can feel Bakugou’s gaze on you until he stands up as well and starts casting around for his clothes from the previous night.

“Oh,” you start as you reach for a hoodie from the top shelf, dragging his eyes back to you. “If you want some clean clothes, my ex left some stuff that’d fit you.”

He makes a choked sound behind you, then clears his throat. “Uhm, no. Thank you.” It’s strained, and he doesn’t say how he’d rather get food poisoning than wear the clothes of another man who fucked you. The thought makes his skin feel tight and sends an unfamiliar rush of jealousy through him.

You only shrug. “Suit yourself.”

You dress in comfortable silence, trying not to steal glances at his incredible abs while you do it. 

In the hallway, you point at a door, holding Tonic in your arms. “Bathroom’s through there, I think I should have a new toothbrush in the cupboard if you want. The kitchen’s this way, once you’re done.”

He grunts thanks and ducks through the door, flicking on the light switch as he goes.

It puts you slightly off-balance to be aware of someone else in your apartment as you feed Tonic and open up your living room curtains to let the morning sun stream in. You stand there for a moment, looking out over the city and willing your nerves to settle. You like Bakugou, you want him to stay. So just don’t fuck it up.

You hear the bathroom door close and take a deep breath.

In the kitchen, Bakugou stares at your empty cupboards and fridge for a long moment while you stand beside him, awkwardly rubbing your neck.

“What do you eat?” he barks in disbelief, turning to look at you like you’ve got two heads.

“Sunlight and water.”

“What?!”

“It’s my quirk! I, um, photosynthesize.” You cross the kitchen to one of your many plants, a large fern that spreads across half the wall. “Here,” you motion Bakugou over, kneeling down to touch the dirt in its planter. “Watch.”

Bakugou crouches next to you, a confused scowl still etched on his face, but nevertheless looks to where your fingers gently dig into the potting soil.

As you close your eyes and concentrate, pushing will out of your fingers, you feel the fern’s whole network of roots, stalks, and leaves, pulsing with the energy of life. Concentrating, you encourage it to flow towards you, splitting the dirt with a sprout. You allow a smile of satisfaction to split across your face when you hear Bakugou’s gasp of surprise when the sprout bursts into the air and unfurls.

You open your eyes to find his lips slightly parted in awe and his eyebrows raised where they’re normally pinched.

“I photosynthesize and make plants grow.” You lean forward to lightly stroke the little fern’s softly curling leaves. “I can still eat real food, though. It’s just cheaper to get some sun.”

Bakugou leans forward as well, one hand reaching hesitantly toward the fern.

“You did that?” He looks at you in awe.

You nod, smiling lightly. His eyes seem to search yours for a moment, then an air of contemplation crosses his face and he takes a breath.

“Can you do basil?”

[vv3nti]

liar — t. oikawa & h. iwaizumi

synopsis—a love triangle of unrequited love

warnings—angst , unrequited love , break-up , some aspects based off american high school , there may be a little ooc i'm still learning to writing the hq boys sorry :/

a/n—this is a one-shot i wrote i'm hoping to make into a series- i've started part two so that's promised if not a series, send an ask or wtv to be tagged for that <3

“I’m tired of hiding, Tooru. I’m tired of being kept a secret.” You said softly, twirling the necklace around your neck between two fingers. The weight of this relationship finally lifting off your shoulders, but that didn’t stop the inevitable thump growing in your throat. You love Oikawa, you really do, but you can’t keep going like this. Your heart won’t allow it. You want someone proud to show you off and cherish you with all they have. Maybe, your expectations were too high from the beginning; if you had set the bar lower, this all could have been avoided. Or if Oikawa truly cared for you, loved you as he said he did. Whatever the reason, the dull ache was too much to bear. “I can’t do this anymore; it hurts too much.”

Oikawa had not expected those words to leave your plush lips. No, he thought you’d complain again, he’d kiss it better, and you would forget about it, like usual. But this—this was the last thing he wanted to hear. You were happy; he was sure of it. What the hell provoked you to feel like this? “What do you mean? We agreed we would wait.”

“Yeah, months ago.” You wave your hand through the air. You had no intention of allowing the boy to dismiss your concerns, not again. “And every time I mention it, you disregard my feelings like they don’t matter.”

His eyebrows furrowed, a clear frown set on his face. “Of course, your feelings matter to me.”

“If that were true, we wouldn’t be in this situation.” Anxiety started creeping up your spine, a deep shiver demersing. You couldn’t help but feel off-put; if you didn’t end the conversation fast, you knew you’d slip back in his clutches. “Please, don’t make this any harder than it has to be. No one even knew we were together; that means things can go back to normal.”

“Normal?” He mumbled, eyes downcast to the floor. “What does that even mean? Nevermind that—is this about my fangirls? Because I can tell them to back off. Or Mei? Did she say something to you.” Oikawa’s calm demeanor began to wear off, and panic soon set it. The perfect picture he had planted in his head was decaying within the second, and he couldn’t manage the thought. He couldn’t even see the harsh reality behind his imagination; nothing about your relationship was ideal. Oikawa pushed you too far off the deep end, and as he tried to meet his own needs, he neglected yours.

His hands reached out to you, afraid you’d disappear if he didn’t get ahold of you soon.

The mention of his ex stung a little more than it should. But what are you supposed to feel? Tooru was publicly dating her for a lot longer than you've been together and you felt inferior to her in so many ways. They didn't break up on bad terms and you can't help but wonder if he still has feelings for her—it would justify his need to keep you a secret. “No! I’m done, I’m done with this, Tooru. This how couples are supposed to act; I don’t want to act like this. I’m sorry, but I can’t keep doing this. I need time, a break, anything but this.”

That night you both went home with a gaping hole in your chest and beds a little colder than before. Uncertainty crept in; was this a temporary break or a breakup. Neither of you had the answer.

You spent the first day of the long weekend cooped in your room, fresh tear streaks following the tracks on the old. On Sunday, you had to head to the school to decorate lockers for senior night or week in Sejohs case; the volleyball team had games on Tuesday and Friday this week. Luckily your appointed third year was Iwaizumi, so you didn’t have to trouble over an awkward encounter with Oikawa. Monday consisted of endless baking; it was safe to say you went slightly overboard. Assortments of brownies, cupcakes, mini cheesecakes, and peach cobbler aligned the countertops. One might say you’re a stress baker.

On the contrary, Oikawa spent his weekend hounding down on his team with tiring drills and repetitive rotations. His temper was short, and his attitude anything but playful. None of the club members wanted to be the one to confront their captain, leaving him alone in his thoughts—thoughts about you. At night he got little to no sleep, spending his sleepless nights replaying all his wrongs as if the answer will all of a sudden appear. But how is Oikawa supposed to fix a problem he didn’t even know what there.

Tuesday rolled around faster than anyone could have expected. You sat restlessly in the clubroom, waiting for Iwaizumi to meet you there. You requested him to join you in the room, considering you didn’t walk to school with him and Oikawa as you usually would. Regardless of where you interacted, you knew Iwa had many questions, and you’d preferably be interrogated in private than in front of the entire student body.

Iwa rushed into the room, school bag around his shoulder and one of his jerseys flailing in his hand. “Hey,” He spoke, his usually irritated tone nowhere to be heard. Upon seeing him, scorching anxiety rose in your chest. Deep breaths, Y/N, deep breaths. “I brought this.”

“Iwa, hi,” You chirped, hopping on the tabletop and embracing your friend—holding on a little tighter than usual. Despite your constant mantra of ‘I’m fine,’ you did long for some form of comfort. “Yes, right, thank you. Just set in on my bag. I want to show you what I made.” You dragged the boy by his hand to the table occupying your tasty treats. You figured he could share the desserts with the rest of the team once they won tonight. The hopeful look on your face slightly dropped. Iwa didn’t look as excited as you hoped for. Instead, he looked deep in thought, like something was bothering him.

“What’s going on?” He questioned quietly, finally meeting your puzzled eyes. “Come on, Y/N, you cook when you’re upset. Anyone who’s known you for more than a year knows that.”

Mouth ajar and eyes wide, you searched for an excuse to preach to Iwaizumi—although you know your attempts will be futile. Since you were in elementary school, you’ve grown up the boy and had no doubt he would read you like an open book. And if not you, then most definitely Oikawa. “Nothings going on; I just wanted you to have an array of options. Is that so bad? You could be a little more thankful, you know.”

“Of course, I’m thankful for all of this. But I’m going to find it a little concerning when Shittykawa is as quiet as a mouse, and you’ve got bags under your eyes from what? The hours you spent baking through the night?.” Iwa uttered, raising his voice a bit.

Unfortunately, that only further pushed you to the defensive stature. You wished he’d just leave it, shove it under a rug as you did this weekend. “Not everything I do involves Oikawa! If he’s acting weird, then you can ask him about that instead of undermining what I did for you!” You frantically grabbed your bag off the ground, planning to leave the room. “If you didn’t like it, you could have said thanks and thrown it away—”

“Hey, Hey,” A tight grip encloses around your bicep, halting your departure. “I’m sorry, I really like everything you did for me, you know cheesecake is my favorite. I just wanted to make sure you were okay. I’m sorry.” Iwaizumi’s grip doesn’t falter, even as your teary eyes meet his own.

The lump grew in your throat as you fought back the waterworks. “We broke up, or I broke up with him, I guess. Can you even break up with someone who didn’t want you in the first place?” You said, through a broken sob. Iwa doesn’t say anything. He just stares at you with the same pitiful look you’ve seen a thousand times. His free hand moved to the side of your face, patting your hair a few times before he pushed your head into his chest. Words wouldn’t provide you with the support you needed, so Iwa simply let you cry in his embrace—secretly plotting all the ways he wanted to beat Oikawa’s ass.

He didn’t need to ask. He knew all the reasons why this happened. Hell, Hajime had seen the foreseeable future unravel when Oikawa presented your relationship.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to be such a downer on game day.” You lifted your head, lightly brushing your palms along his uniform, waiting for your tears to dry. The door to the clubroom snapped open, hitting the opposing wall, prompting you and Iwa to rush apart. The look on the face read shocked, more towards the fact you didn’t need the club questioning why you were crying this early in the morning. But the brunette boy in front of you idly took a long, deep breath encouraging you to do the same.

“Oh, are we interrupting something?”

“Just Iwa and his not-girlfriend, what’s new?” Mattsun and Makki seemed to be having a good morning, and not even Iawizumi could shake them out of the teasing moods. Despite their playful banter, you couldn’t help but focus on the silent set of eyes following your movements, and something about his silence was off-putting.

You turned to the two, a sly smile planted on your lips. “I’m not even indulging,” Fake it til’ you make it. “But I did make a small arsenal of desserts, so help yourself-”

“If I decide to share with these idiots.”

“Help yourself-if Iwa chooses to so graciously gift you the pleasure.” You said sweetly, playfully bowing as Mattsun and Makki rolled their eyes. “I have to go to class, so enjoy, and good luck.”

“Here I got it.” Iwa offered, plucking your bag from the floor with a small smile. The kind gesture made your heart flutter, your mood beginning to lift simultaneously. Ever since you were little, Iwaizumi always seemed to know what you needed to feel better, almost like an institution. Maybe that’s why his tone was short and sharp when he told Oikawa to move away from the door as you tried to leave, you’re used to his cold demeanor, but it was unsettling. You didn’t want him to be this angry with his best friend because of you, although it was a little awarding.

Oikawa’s lips laid ajar, fumbling his thoughts to form a reasonable enough sentence. He wanted to say something astounding to you, something that gave you no choice but to come back to him. He planned it all day yesterday, but now as you hide behind Iwa, he drew a blank.

“I’m serious, Oikawa. Move.”

Oikawa hung his head in shame, shuffling to the side, allowing you and Iwa to exit the room. The overwhelming feeling of patheticness climbing his veins. He didn’t mind his best friend’s anger towards him, but this wasn’t rage. Iwaizumi was disappointed, and Tooru couldn’t shake his glare.

Practice was usually a time the boys could assert their worries into energy, but the thick tension left everyone unsettled. Today’s warmup was eerily different.

Tooru watched you bounce in and out of the gym with the rest of the cheer squad; Iwa’s jersey adorned your figure. His expression held that of a kicked puppy, and it was pissing off the rest of the team. They needed their captain in his best frame of mind if they wanted to win.

Hajime’s humorless laugh broke the silence. “I warned you, you know.” Oikawa shifted his attention. “I told you you’d only hurt her, and you continued reassuring me you wouldn't, time after fucking time. And...there was a time I believed you, but you’re a liar, and Y/N sees it too.”

Oikawa’s sadness morphed into anger, eyes twitching as he bit the inside of his cheek. “If I’m a liar, that makes you one too.” He sneered, eyes still downcast on the court. His emotions were on overdrive, plucking and pinching in his mind. Oikawa knew he should resort to this method of release, but he was losing all control.

The ace sucked in a sharp breath, eye blazing. “Yea, well, I can live with that. Can you?”

Coach cut the conversation short, asking why the boys weren’t warming up before the game. The captain and ace have begotten many altercations through the years, but they always found a way to convert their anger into power. Coach Irihata only hopes that proves true with tonight’s game.

You, on the other hand, had a million tasks to complete before you could settle down in the gym, so you ultimately missed the scuffle in the gym. Just that didn’t make you ignorant to the rising tension, and you couldn’t help but feel it was your fault.

[its-kall-the-clown]

14 Fluff for Red Son realizing he's nursing a crush on MK

As some context this is post redemption for the demon bull family. So Mei, MK, and Red hang out a lot together now. Red Son is also an idiot. XD

Also this isn’t my most polished work so sorry if it feels rushed.

prompt list

Stop that!! (Don't stop)

Rating: PG-13 for implied sexual interactions

"I think I'm sick"

Red Son admits to the ceiling of Mei's room. They were hanging out like they normally did on days MK was training with monkey king. She was playing some sort of retro video game and he was watching till he got bored and lay on her bed thinking.

"You got a tummy ache?" Mei teased, pausing her game and he huffs rolling his eyes, and sits up.

"Don't be ridiculous" he huffs out and crosses his arms over his chest.

"Okayyyy so what're the symptoms." Mei crawls from her spot on the floor and joins him in bed, sitting crisscrossed with her hand in her lap, and leaning forward eagerly.

"It's hard to explain… sometimes when MK is gone my chest hurts " he places a hand over his heart that was beating normally at the moment.

"And sometimes, when he's around, my hands get sweaty and it feels like I'm gonna throw up and…." He watches a wide unlearning Cheshire grin grow across his friend's face. He continues on, albeit, a bit more hesitantly.

"And….sometimes I can't talk right, and sometimes when he IS around my chest hurts also?" Mei was grinning so wide she was more teeth than she was girl.

"Why are you smiling…."

"OMFG!!?? You have a crush on Mk?!!!" She squeaks excitedly and rolls around in her back as she descends into what Red can only describe as absolute madness.

"What are you talking about??!" He sputters, Mei giggles a bit longer before finally pulling together and greeting him with a wide grin.

"Dude. Your like SO gay for him. 'My HeARt hUrTs WhEn hE’s not arOuNdddd~ " she mocks him in a fake tone and he growls hitting her with a pillow..

"Stop that!" He growls.

"SToP ThAt~" she mocks back and they devolve into a pillow fight on her bed. He girns when he hits her smug face squarely with a dragon stuffie.

Soon they lay panting on her bed and the dragon girl rolls onto her stomach poking him in the face.

"So. Crushing in MK huh?"

He grows beat red again and pulls a pillow into his face and groans.

"You should tell him."

Red son sits up with a smile.

"I should!"

"Yes!!"

"So I can tell him to stop making me sick!"

"Say what now?"

He turns to Mei with a feral smile. This 'crush' or whatever she called it could be fixed. If MK was the one giving it to him. He just needed MK to stop doing...whatever he was doing to make him feel like this.

"Hold on I think you are conf-"

"Thanks Mei!" He gets up and is off to confront the noodle boy as he hears Mei shout at him from her room.

"You're a fucking idiot!!!"

-----------

He storms forward like a typhoon. Red son is a force of nature that can not be stopped, nothing could yield him in his goal or hinder him in his path. Wild horses pulling chariots could not stop him, celestials in heaven would not dare stand in his way, and even his parents (by far the scariest force of all) could not persuade him to rethink what he was doing.

He pushes past the doors to Pigsy's noodles, shoves past patrons and ignores the warning shouts from the pigman.

he had one goal on mind

"Nyyyooodle boy!!!!!!" He bellows grabbing the attention to his problem. Those perfect expression color eyes meet him and the disease in his chest grows. He's in his training clothes, clearly on his way up to his apartment over the shop so he can shower.

Why did the idea of MK showering make his heartbeat erratically? Soft shoulders and cascading water off them…

She shakes his head back and forth now back on track.

"Stop. That." He growls out grinding his teeth together as steam leaves his ears. MK tilts his head slightly. The disease grows more in his chest and he hates it.

"Stop that!!!!" He points directly at MK feeling his hair sputter and spark as his temperature rises. He thinks his face is growing red.

"I'm….not doing anything?" MK gives him a sheepish smile, the kind that quirks up on one side and absolutely obliterates Red Son on the spot.

Like a crunchy fall leaf under the heel of a boot he's crushed.

Whatever motivation he had before it evaporates quicker than a drop of water in the Sahara desert.

"Y-your haven't heard the last of me!!" He makes a quick retreat, stumbling over his own feet and taking out one of Pigsy's tables in the process.

He exits the shop faster than he entered. He needed to regroup and strategize.

-----------

"SoooOOOOOo How'd it go?" Mei asked her eyes not leaving the screen, she's playing a different video game now, and she didn't even spare him a glance when he came back as if she predicted he would fail.

"Horrible!!! All it did was make this sickness worse." He throws his arms up and paces back and forth biting his lip. Mei doesn't pause her game this time, only continuing to mash buttons as he grumbles under his breath.

She lets out A long-suffering sigh and finally pauses her game.

"Dude. I know you're behind on the lingo and stuff but a 'crush' isn't a sickness. It means you like MK. As in you want to kiss him and stuff." she explains with a shrug unpausing her game and the sound of power-ups and pixelated men punching each other continues.

Red Son halts in his tracks

He pictures kissing MK. pressing his lips to the boy's soft adorable lips. He can practically feel the warmth it would produce. He pictures MK smiling into the kiss as they awkwardly bump noses. He pictures holding MK’s hand, squeezing it gently as they walk hand and hand. He imagines the feeling of MK’s hair between his fingers as he runs his hands through it.

He sucks in a gasp, his heart beating out of time.

Of fuck.

“I’m so screwed…..”

He feels Mei patting his shoulder, she paused her game again when he was fantasizing

“Yeah, you are. But at least now you can DO something about it.” she nudges his side and he blushes a bright red and he can hear her chuckling at him

--------------

“Can we talk?”

MK blinks back at him looking back and forth for a moment as if he was confused by his precence. Which to be fair he DID just enter through MK’s window while he was showering and was now waiting for him on his bed.

“Uhhhhh sure?” they rub the last remaining moisture from his hair with a towel before tossing it to the floor to be added to piles of laundry they had yet to do. Red Son didn't even curl his lip up at the slob-like behavior because HOLY SHIT MK IS SHIRTLESS!!!

Of course, MK didn't even seem to care that he was only wearing grey sweatpants in his presence. Red Son guilty looked MK’s chest up and down while they searched for a sleep shirt. Working out with Monkey King has been paying off because MK was sporting some muscle. He also had a few scars from battles that only added to how attractive he was, and of course, there were the two faint top surgery scars under his pecks.

“Is this about your weird episode in the shop today?” they asked pulling him from his guilt ogling and MK pulled a shirt over his body. Damn what a shame.

“Mei says I have something called a ‘crush’ and I should ‘tell them how I feel’ in order to make the pain in my chest go away,” he explained using quotation marks with his fingers to punctuate himself. MK’s eyes widen slightly and then it's schooled quickly. They join Red Son on the bed.

“O-oh? Have you told them?” MK squirms in place and keeps his gaze cast down. He looks uncomfortable, no. he looks upset? Why would MK be upset? Was it because he broke into his room again without permission?

No not that. Although he will have to apologize later

“I’m working on that part,” he explains scooting closer to MK and he grabs one of their hands gently. This felt stupid, and he thinks his sickness will kill him with how quickly his heart is beating. He was terrified and all his symptoms were amplified by ten.

He looks into MK’s espresso-colored eyes looking for something. He loved those eyes. They showed so much in them and he SWORE they could change the whole lighting of a room.

He opens and closes his mouth like a fish out of water with his false starts. Eventually, he clears his throat and releases his confession.

“Umm well...MK. I h-have a crush on you.”

he shuts his eyes and waits for the rejection, waits to hear MK laugh with their head back and shove him away.

None of that comes.

He peaks an eye open to find MK’s face a bright scarlet red. Was that a good sign? Or was MK so angry at him that he was just building up anger inside of him like a volcano ready to blow.

“ I w-will leave now.” he pulls away ready to retreat with at least his dignity still in tack. He's pulled back violently and soft lips are smashed to his. He lets out a surprised whimper and absolutely melts into the feeling. His brain is electrified and static all at once.

He kisses back hungrily grabbing MK by the waist and pulls him closer. When they are running out of air only does MK pull away with a little breathless gasp.

“Stay the night?” They requested, placing a soft kiss to the juncture of his neck and he can’t find a single cell in his body that would possibly say no. He nods numbly and MK kisses him again a smile on his lips that he could taste.

----------

“MK GET UP! YOU ARE LATE AGAIN!!”

Pigsy burst down the door jolting the demon awake from his peaceful slumber, his arms that were previously wrapped around MK pull away quickly in the process. He thinks he could stick to the ceiling with his claws like a cat in a cartoon if he jolted just a little higher.

The covers are yanked off them both before Red Son even has time to protest. Thank gods they both put underwear back on when they finished satisfying each other. Red Son is completely and thoroughly exposed to MK’s boss, bitemarks, and hickes across his chest snitching on him.

Red Son and Pigsy meet eyes and he feels a sweat break out across his neck. Pigsy sighs and pinches his snout. He sucks in a deep breath and lets it out through his nose.

“I don't know what happened here... And I don't WANT to know. Tell MK he’s got ten minutes to get downstairs.” Pigsy turns on his heel and leaves slamming the door behind him. Red Son looks over to his now-boyfriend who’s mouth hangs open with drool dripping down his face.

MK slept through all of it.

He can’t help but chuckle and kiss their forehead gently.

[crystalas]

Medical Muddles

Medical muddles

More of the Demon Bull Divorce AU, another one shot wherein Tang gets a phone call from a panicked Mei about an exploded truck and Red Son needing the hospital. Red Son blurts out a few secrets in the process…

also send me prompts if you want more of the Demon Bull Divorce

 Tang was sitting in his study at the university when he got the call from Mei, from what he managed to decipher from Mei’s panicked ramblings is that he needed to get to the garage and fast. Red Son and Mei had been working on the Noodle Truck while Pigsy and MK were at a Food Hygiene training course [she mentions something about installing a nitro and Tang made a note to tell Pigsy before he drove it again.] She had gotten a phone call from her dad and left the garage to answer it, luckily, she had managed to turn a corner when there was a massive explosion that shook the building besides her. She had found the truck’s fiery remains, a decimated garage and Red Son slumped against the far wall.

To be fair at this moment during the call Tang wasn’t that worried. He had seen Red Son take a jet bike to the face and only be temporarily stunned, heck he had seen on live TV the fire demon being ejected from a high speeding racing car onto the road and walk it off! Blunt force trauma was nothing the demon couldn’t handle. But Mei quickly swept away that peace of mind when she continued to tell him how Red Son had been impaled through the shoulder to the wall by a large piece of shrapnel. He told her to keep calm and wait for him and by no means call an ambulance!

By the time Tang had gotten there Mei was freaking out, she hadn’t mentioned the blood! It was splattered all around garage wall and the guilty piece of metal laid on the floor coated in it. Red Son was passed out and Mei was clinging to him trying to put pressure on the wound.

“Mei what happened? You know better than to remove objects from wounds like that!” Tang cried as he rushed over.

“It wasn’t me!” she squeaked as he checked him over “I was keeping him conscious when he just muttered something how he needed to get on with clearing this up and just yanked it out!”

Tang checked him over, he had cuts and scratches all over and the smaller ones where quickly healing, it was big ones that he was worried about. Red Son may have demonic healing abilities but even he could bleed out it seems.

“Help me get him into the car, we need to get him to Sandy’s” Tang declared as he tied the fabric Mei had been using tighter onto Red Son’s shoulder, the demon muttered something incoherent as they dragged him to Tang’s small city car.

“Hang on…Sandy’s?!” Mei asked “We need to get him to a hospital!”

“Trust me a hospital would only complicate things!” Tang declared as he drove off with Mei in the back with Red Son keeping him steady as Tang drove like a mad man through the streets, “He’s a demon remember? They don’t do well with purified water and saline would be the first thing they try and pump into him, not to mention blood types, physiology and all sort of other complications.”

Tang couldn’t help but remember the time Pigsy had cut himself badly while in the kitchen; if he remembered right Pigsy was trying to show off his vegetable dicing skills and it had gone very wrong with a deep gash on his hand. Tang had rushed him to A&E only for the nurse on duty to give him a look and told him that the veterinary clinic was two blocks away. This was twenty years ago mind you but it still put a bad taste in his mouth when he thought about it.

They got to Sandy who Mei had been called on the way there, he was ready and waiting for his patient when they skidded to a halt on the peer. Sandy wasted no time quickly tending to red Son’s wounds and applying medical balms and applying bandages and gauzes, giving Red Son a small cup of syrupy tea to help with the pain. Mei hovered close by and watched how Sandy worked with practised ease.

“Don’t worry Mei Red Son will be fine, he just needed a little help this time that’s all” Sandy declared once he was done “He’ll be up and about in…”

Red Son stirred and sat up groggily.

“Well right about now it seems” Sandy amended, Red Son looked around blearily before smiling at Tang and waving weakly.

“Heeeey Mr Tang…” he slurred “why do you smell like beetles and gold? And why does that make me hungry?”

“Red Son, how are you feeling?” Tang asked and sat in front of him who wobbled slightly as he tried to focus on the scholar before giving a happy smile.

“It’s so weird that you smell like that…oh hey Mr Tang, I feel fiiiiine!”

“Sandy? Is this normal?” Mei inquired looking at the gentle blue giant, he coughed nervously.

“I may have given him a bit too much pain relief…” he muttered.

“Dragon Horse girl!” Red Son cried happily and beckoned her over, “Great you’re here we need to get moving!” Red Son struggled to get up but failed due to his injuries.

“Red you need to keep still” Mei said gently as Tang pushed him back into the bed.

“No, no, no, no I need to get back to work on the truck!” Red Son declared “Pigsy can’t know I messed up; we need to fix it before he gets back!”

All three exchanged a look of disbelief, Red Son was pale and clearly not thinking straight. Mei knelt down in front of Red Son’s bedside so she could look him in the eye.

“Red the truck is totally trashed” she said slowly as if she was talking to a small child “there’s nothing we can do right now so why don’t you just rest for now…”

“Trashed? That means I need to work quicker!” he stated and wiggled out of bed but his legs gave out before he could even take a step and Mei caught him before he could collapse on the floor. “Maybe I could find a transmutation spell! I mean if noodle boy can do it with a stick I can do it with fire magic, Com’on dragon horse girl I need to get moving!”

“Red you nearly bled out, you need to rest!” she tried again but Red Son shook his head and was becoming distressed. Mei helped him back onto the bed but he just curled up gripping his hair with his good hand.

“I’m trying so hard this time!” he whimpered “I’m trying so hard and I’m still screwing up!”

“Red…”

“I can’t afford to mess up this time!” he cried out tears now pricking his eyes, “I have no where else to go! I don’t want to stop playing pretend!”

That last bit got the three’s attention and Tang could see Mei bristle angrily as she grabbed Red by the unharmed hand to get his attention.

“What do you mean ‘play pretend’?” she demanded, “This better not be some long con you and your parents cooked up to get us to lower our guard!”

“I wanna keep pretending that you guys like having me around” Red Son whimpered “I like it when you guys listen to me and pretend that I’m doing a good job…I know it’s only a matter time before you guys get sick of me and want me gone…I…I just don’t want that to end…I don’t want to go back to feeling alone and despised all the time…” at this Red Son broke down into tears. Mei’s suspicious anger dwindled away as she tried to console the now sobbing demon boy.

Tang glanced at Sandy who gestured at his kitchen, he gave a nod and Sandy went to go make some sleepy time tea. Tang was angrier at himself than anything now, he had hoped his experience with helping MK through his issues would have given him a sort of template to help Red Son through his. He had assumed that because Red Son hadn’t been showing any ill signs like MK had when helping him deal with his family and abandonment issues that Red Son was coping with it all. That clearly wasn’t the case and he now realised where he had made a very foolish mistake on his part.

MK had only a few years to build up his emotional walls and learn how to put on a façade, Red Son had centuries to work on his. After all it had taken him and Pigsy weeks to notice how much Red Son was reluctant to go home or the faded bruises.  

Sandy came back with the tea and handed it to Tang to give to Red Son so not to crowd the already upset boy, the poor demon looked up at him forlornly as he approached.

“I’m sorry…” he whispered “Please don’t hate me…”

“I don’t hate you Red Son, none of us do” he said tenderly as he gave him the tea to drink “I’m more upset by the fact it’s taken nothing short of you loosing a couple of pints of blood and being off your head on pain killers for you to be emotionally honest with us.”

“I’m sorry…I’ll try not to mess up anymore…” Red Son mumbled.

“Just drink this and try to rest, ok? We’ll talk more when you wake up.” Tang exclaimed Red Son downed the tea before flopping back onto the bed, his eyes fluttered shut and soon he was asleep.

 Red woke up slowly his shoulder hurting like a bitch along with other body parts. Red Son and pain were old acquaintances at this point so he took note of what might need attention as he tried to move his aching limbs; he attempted to recollect what happened.

He was working on the Noodle Truck; Mei was there he remembered that because they were discussing the logistics of installing a nitro into the truck. He was doing some routine maintenance while checking where improvements could be made when Mei got a phone call, he had begun to check the oil levels when he heard her answer the call.

“Hey dad! How’s things?”

That innocent question struck a chord in Red Son that made his heart clenched painfully and then he did something he hadn’t done in what seemed like centuries…he lost control of his powers. Before he could even think about it flames licked up around his body and normally that wouldn’t have been issue had he not been currently working near flammable liquids.

There was an explosion and he remembered being thrown against a wall from the blast, aching agony erupted down his spine followed by several sharp pains across his body the biggest one in his shoulder. His ears were ringing as he saw Mei rush up to him calling to him through what felt like walls of cotton wool. He saw the truck…oh god what a mess he needed to fix that before Pigsy saw it…he tried to get up and only then saw the large chunk of metal pinning him to the wall.

Mei tried to fight him as he grabbed the metal and tore it out, by the gods that hurt but he needed to get moving, there was work to be done and besides this wasn’t the first time he had done this. However, when he tried to cauterize the wound shut Mei was putting her hands over it with her jacket and getting in the way. He didn’t want to burn her by accident but she wouldn’t let go of him… he didn’t remember what happened after that because things got very fuzzy very quickly.

His last thoughts before he blacked out was that he needed to remember to grab a mop there was messy puddles splattered all over the place…

He finally opened his eyes and looked around and saw Pigsy sitting next to his bed, wait how did he get here? Oh crap Pigsy was here! He hadn’t fixed the truck!

Pigsy glanced down at him and noticed he was awake, Red Son felt his gaze burn into his skull.

“How you feeling?” the pig man asked gruffily “Heard you got hurt badly”

“I’m fine!” Red Son blurted “I’ll be up and moving in no time, don’t you worry demons heal fast…” he sat up and tried to move he wobbled but stayed up straight. “I’ll get back to work now okay?”

“Sit back down!” Pigsy barked and Red Son looked at him annoyed to be ordered around but saw that look of displeasure and sat back down. Cold dread now filled Red Son’s chest, he hadn’t fixed the truck he had left a huge mess and Pigsy was obviously mad at him. But if he was going to get punished then he was going to at least face it like the demon prince he was.

“My apologies, as soon as I am able I will repair the…” he started but Pigsy just glared at him even more angrily.

“You seriously think I’m worried about the truck?!” he snapped “Tang told me what happened! You had been skewered and nearly bled to death!”

“Oh…” Red Son stuttered.

“Don’t worry about the truck, MK has trashed and reassembled that thing so many times I’ve lost count.” he explained,

“So…you’re not mad?” Red Son ventured softly.

“Listen Red, I’m more upset about the fact that you are more concerned about a freaking hunk of junk than your own health!” he explained.

“So, I can stay?” came the quiet reply.

“You thought I was gonna chuck you out because of this? Red if I did that MK would have been out on his butt several times over!” Pigsy explained “What matters is that you’re ok, you really scared us there”

“You’re really not mad at me?” Red Son asked again, the idea that he wasn’t getting punished for this wasn’t quite sinking in yet.

“No, I’m not mad and I’m not going to kick you out or punish you or whatever else messed up thing you got cooked up in your head!” Pigsy declared “What we will be doing is talking about this idea you got that your place in this family is based solely on what work you can do, cos it ain’t! you’re a good kid Red you don’t need to keep proving your value, you need to be able to see that we care despite what you can or can’t do…”

Red Son was looking down at his fists that clench and unclenched at the blankets on the bed. Pigsy was worried for a second that none of that had sunk in and if anything he might have made things worse somehow until he heard a hoarse whisper.

“You said…This family…” Red Son repeated so quietly “I have a place in this family? You really want me around?”

“Yes!” he sighed happily and put his hand on Red Son’s arm. “Yes we do!”

[stormielikeweather]

We’re Going on a Frog Hunt!

We’re going on a frog hunt

A oneshot - Rin and Shippo have a big frog race coming up, but Rin has no frog! Mom and Dad to the rescue! Lots of Sesshomaru Dad! moments and Kagome Mom! moments. Cheers!

For the BigBang 2021: Theme - Spring

Thank you to @goldie-fawn for their patience. This is short but it took me forever. :”D Check out the super cute art that GoldieFawn made!!!  Squeeeeee!

Mud sloshed up Rin's shoes as she raced along the little stream beside the school. The other kids were in front of her, scanning the soggy bank with keen eyes. 

Everyone had on their rain gear, all shiny colorful coats and hats. 

Rin slapped her hand over her hat to keep it from flying off as she ran to catch up with the others.

She could hear the frogs ribbiting loudly. The last frost only days before, the frogs had just come out of hibernation. 

They had watched a video about it in class. The loudest ones were males trying to impress lady frogs. There must have been a lot of guy frogs sleeping through winter because they were loud!

"I got one! I got one!" Yelled one of the taller boys from her class. He held up the squirming frog high above his head like a trophy. 

"I got one too!" 

"Yay! Look at mine!" 

"Mine's going to win for sure!" 

As her classmates began to catch them a sense of urgency bubbled inside Rin. Maybe there wouldn't be one left for her to catch! 

"I got one! Check out his long legs!" 

"W-Woah!" Rin stumbled over a rotten log, landing on her butt. "Ow..." Mud stuck her pants, but she didn't care. 

Two large yellow eyes blinked at her, and she blinked right back. 

Her hands felt ready. She sucked in a breath, extended her fingers to go for a solid grab. 

"This one's mine!" The bigger girl knocked Rin's hands away and took the frog for herself. 

"Hey!" Rin shouted, "I found it first! That one's mine!" 

“Oh boo hoo!” The girl rolled her eyes, "Go cry about it to your Mom! Oh, wait," She sneered, "You don't have a Mom to whine to!" She stuck her tongue out.

Rin's jaw clenched. Fists balled in the mud. Before she could defend herself someone shouted behind her.

"Woah, that's the biggest frog I've ever seen!" The boy ran over, shouting back at the others, "Hey check out this one Mei found! It's huge!" 

“It’s Frogzilla!”

Excitedly the group circled the girl that had taken her frog. Rin shoved off the ground. 

"Hey, Rin!" Shippo bounded over as she wiped the mud from her pants. 

"I don't really want to talk right now, Shippo. I need to find a frog for the frog race tomorrow." Not that she hadn't already found the perfect one. She glared at Mei's smug grin.

"That's what I came to talk to you about! I caught two! Want one?" He grinned, holding out one of the frogs he'd caught. The puny frog blinked back at her. His stubby legs squirming.

"I..." 

"Hahaha! Look! Rin can't even find her own frog!" Mei pointed right at her. "What a loser!" 

"I am not!" She snapped. She knocked Shippo's hand away, the frog leaped up into the air and splashed back into the pond. "No, wait!" She dove to catch it, but it was long gone. She landed with an oomph! "Shippo,” she looked up at him from her place on the muddy bank, “I'm sorry!"

"It's just a frog," Shippo shrugged, "What do you care what they think anyway? You know you can catch one yourself." He held out his free hand and helped her up.

She clenched her jaw, "It's just that Mei makes me so mad!"

“She makes everyone mad, don’t take it personally.”

Rin looked over at the crowd surrounding the selfish brat, “It sure doesn’t look like everyone is mad at her, Shippo. It looks like they all love her. They think she is awesome.”

Suddenly the light misty air filled with thick heavy rain. 

“Students! Time to come inside! Put your frogs in your buckets for tomorrow!”

Rin looked over at Shippo, panic-stricken. Her large brown eyes near tears, “What am I going to do!? I don’t have a frog!”

“Rin! Shippo! Come inside!” Their teacher called from the door as the last of their classmates scrambled inside. 

“Sorry Rin,” He looked down at his frog as it hopped and splashed inside his small bucket, “I don’t mind sharing with you.”

“It’s a race.” Rin sulked, “We can’t share and race against each other.” 

“Rin! Shippo! Don’t make me come get you!” The teacher scowled, “Get inside! Now!”

With a heavy sigh, Rin trudged toward the school building. Shippo alongside her. 

That night, Rin felt restless. 

She watched out the living room window as the rain came down in sheets. 

Her lip worried between her teeth. 

She jumped at the sudden sound of the doorbell.

Her father’s long strides moved toward the door and she found herself peeking from around the corner of the hall. 

“Kagome?” Her father’s amber’s eyes lit up at the sight of their neighbor. “What brings you here?” He cleared his throat and opened the door wider, “Come in out of the rain.”

Kagome stepped inside, and Rin immediately noticed the green polkadotted rainboots and forrest green rain coat. Their eyes met across the hall, and Kagome grinned at her. “Well, a little fox told me that someone here wanted to catch a frog.”

“A fox you say?” Sesshomaru’s brow rose. He gently shook his head with a chuckle as he caught sight of Shippo right outside. His bright orange and white raincoat stood out in the night. His rainhat had little triangle fox ears. “Perhaps this fox should come inside?”

“So,” Sesshomaru looked at his neighbor and her son, “What is this about catching frogs?”

Shippo told him what happened earlier that day. The man’s ears tipped red with anger for his daughter’s sake. 

Sesshomaru reached out for Rin, “Come here Rin.” 

“Daddy!” She rushed into his arms, tears pouring down her cheeks as she let him comfort her. His chest felt warm and she buried her face above his heart, where it always felt safe. Her hands balled into fists and she let herself cry out the frustration and indignation that she had been trying to hide.

He held her head in his palm as he leaned back to look at her distraught little face. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

She shook her head and clenched her eyes shut, “I didn’t want to.”

“Why didn’t you want to?” 

“It’s humiliating...” She muttered under her breath, “I can get my own frog. I don’t need help.” She looked away from the intensity of his gaze, “I didn’t want you to worry.”

Sesshomaru hugged her tighter then. His little girl. “It is my job to worry for you. Understand?”

When she didn’t respond, he reiterated and she nodded silently.

Kagome’s small but warm hand met Rin’s back, sweeping her hair aside as she gently rubbed soothingly. “Rin, sweetheart, we know you can get your own frog.” 

“Yeah,” Shippo rocked on his heels with a huff of doubt, “I mean I don’t know if you can find one as big as Frozilla, but you can definitely catch a frog.” 

Rin growled, her fists tight as she pulled out of her father’s grasp and narrowed her gaze at her so called friend, “I can so catch a bigger frog than Frogzilla!”

Shippo smirked, “Sure ya can.”

As the children bickered, Kagome and Sesshomaru exchanged a glance and a grin. 

Rin shouted, “I have to get my raincoat and boots on first Shippo!”

“Fine!” Shippo groaned.

Kagome laughed, swinging her umbrella back and forth as she looked up at Sesshomaru.

He had both hands in his pockets and gently rocked back and forth. Rarely did she get to see his ling silver hair loose. It hung over his shoulders as he moved. 

She took a step toward him, her smile faltering as a moment of insecurity broke free, “Are you still sure about Friday?” 

Sesshomaru’s dark brows rose, “Why wouldn’t I be?”

She glanced back at their arguing children, and back at him, “You know, if things go well...”

“What?” He closed the distance. “Your son and my daughter will pick at eachother everyday?” His grin, as charming as ever. His head dipped low and his whisper warmed her cold ear, “I could only be so lucky for things to go well.” He kissed her cheek then and leaned back, “I should go put on my raingear.”

Her fingers caressed the place on her cheek where he pressed his lips. Blushing. “W-wait,” She took a breath, her heart fluttering in her chest, “You’re coming too?”

Sesshomaru smirked as he worked his hair into the band he’d had on his wrist, “Of course, don’t you know that I am the Lord of Frog Catching?”

Kagome’s brows rose, “The Lord of Frog Catching?”

“Really, daddy?”

“Seriously!?” Shippo’s green eyes gleamed, “That is so cool! Mom you haven’t won any titles have you?”

“Not for frog catching...”

Shippo snicked, but Rin came to her defence, “She could if she had the opportunity. Daddy was a part of a competition that your mom wasn’t, right daddy?”

Sesshomaru nodded, “Right you are, Rin.”

Kagome rolled her eyes, “Pft. Sure.”

“I’ll have you know I caught a frog when i was a boy and it followed me around for three years.” 

“Oh really?” Kagome scoffed, “What was it’s name then?”

“Jaken.” 

“Jaken? What was it, evil?”

Sesshomaru cocked his head and nodded slowly, “It was a very nastly little frog.” 

Shippo burst into laughter, “Your dad is weird, Rin!”

“Daddy! Stop, you’re embarrassing me...” Rin flushed. The floppy yellow hat atop his head didn’t help her embarrassment. Her nose scrunched as he slipped into a big yellow raincoat and matching boots. 

“How do I look?” He did a turn and placed one hand on his hip for his daughter’s mortification and Kagome’s enjoyment. 

“Fabulous.” Kagome tapped his hat making it drop over his eyes, “Let’s go catch some froggies!” 

“Yay!” Both Rin and Shippo cheered.

Outside the rain had slowed to a light sprinkle. Kagome held the buckets, a smile planted on her face while Sesshomaru’s deep voice overtook the sound of the storm and the resounding ribbits of the frogs coming out to mate. 

Sesshomaru squatted between their kids, a hand on each of their shoulders as they all tucked between the thick reeds at the edge of the stream's bank.

He looked so natural in any element, whether in the office or out in the rain hunting frogs. His button down and tie hidden beneath sun-yellow rain gear. The man could make anything look good. 

She joined them. Her feet crunched twigs and earned her a look from all three of them. “Oops?”

“Quiet, mom.” Shippo whispered.

Sesshomaru visibly preened. “Proper frog hunting etiquette requires stealth.” He dropped his hands and slowly spread the tall grasses. “Watch.” 

The children were quiet. Their movements purposeful as all three of them dipped their noses into the tall grass and peered at the contents. 

"Frog!" Rin squealed in delight before slapping her hand over her mouth, "sorry," She whispered with a wince.

Her shoulders fell as she noticed the frog gone.

"It's okay, Rin." Sesshomaru gave her a gentle pat. 

”That frog was pretty small anyway, you said you were gonna find a big one remember?” 

Rin pinched her lips at Shippo. “I will find a really big one.”

Sesshomaru had moved farther up the bank. As he spread the tall grasses, a large rock lay at his feet. “Rin. Shippo. Come quickly.”

The children shuffled close. 

He looked at them with serious eyes. 

Kagome had seen the same look on his face as he went over his files at the dining table. She had come by to pick up Shippo and the door had been unlocked. He had been so engrossed with the paperwork, he hadn’t heard her knocking. She found herself wondering if he took everything so seriously... and if that meant he took asking her out just as seriously as everything else. 

“When I lift this stone, you must move quickly.” 

The children each nodded their little chins, their gazes just as serious as Sesshomaru’s. 

When he lifted the stone, Rin gave a shriek. 

“Woah, cool!” Shippo gasped, reaching out for the slimy creature. 

“Fasinating.” Sesshomaru mused as he dropped the large rock back to the ground. 

Kagome stepped over clumps of grass and mud. “What is it?”

Shippo turned her way, holding it up like a puppy. “A salamander! Cool isn’t it!?” His wide toothy grin made her smile. “It’s way slipperier than I expected!” He shouted, “want to touch it?!”

Rin backed away, “Gross, no way!”

Sesshomaru reached out and brushed his fingers over the large black creature’s wide head. 

It squirmed. 

“Find a good place to set him back free, Shippo.” 

Her son pouted, “Aw, but I want to keep him.”

“Salamanders don’t make good pets Shippo.”

“Yeah, they are too gross. Get rid of it.” Rin grimmaced. 

“They are not,” He frowned, “This guy’s really cool.” He turned pleading eyes on his mother, “Mom, can you please take a picture?”

“Of course I can,” She shifted the buckets in her hands and pulled out her phone, “Alright, everyone get in the picture!”

Rin began to back away again, but Sesshomaru pulled her close enough to get in the picture. 

Kagome laughed, “Say cheese!”

Shippo and Sesshomaru complied, but Rin was too busy side eyeing the salamander to smile. 

As soon as Kagome lowered her phone the little girl complained, “Can we get back to frog hunting now?” 

“What’s with the sour face, Rin?” Her dad gave her a gentle nudge, “Too serious for fun tonight?”

She crossed her arms over her chest, “This is a very serious problem I have daddy.”

“Of course it is. Come here,” He grabbed her up and she squealed, kicking her legs. 

“Daddyyyyy!”

He put her on his shoulders, “Better get an eagle eye on it.” He held her legs to keep her steady.

As soon as she settled, she giggled, “Do you really think I can spot frogs from way up here?” 

“The really big frogs you can.” 

Her grin turned serious as she nodded, “Right.”

Shippo and Kagome watched the salamander slide back into the water. 

“Cute little guy wasn’t her?” She grinned.

“Super cute.” Shippo nodded, “And super cool. I’m going to put the picture on my desk in my room.”

“Good idea.” 

She helped him back up the bank and they followed Sesshomaru and Rin along the stream.

Shippo studied his mother. She looked what his great grandfather called googoo eyed. “Mom?”

“Yeah?” She turned, a light flush to her cheeks from the hiking. 

He pressed his lips together, “Do you like Rin’s dad?”

Kagome paused. “He seems like a good person, don’t you think so?” 

She waited with bated breath as he took a moment to think. Unable to relax until his little chin nodded and he offered a smile. “Yeah. He is weird, but so is Rin, and she’s my best friend.” 

“They are a little weird aren’t the,” She laughed, hugging him by the shoulders as they continued forward “Then again, maybe we are a little weird too, don’t ya think?”

“Speak for yourself.” Shippo scoffed. 

“Hey! Shippo! Kagome!” Rin yelled, “We are going to turn over another big rock!” She pointed down the bank, “Over there!”

When they made it to the small boulder, Kagome’s eyes widened, “are you sure you can lift this one, sesshomaru?”

As if to proof her point, the kids climbed on top of it, giggling. 

He stiffened, “You think I am so weak as to not be capable of lifting a simple stone?”

“That thing isn’t a stone, it’s huge!” 

He rolled his eyes, “Children, remove yourselves.”

“Okay!” 

Rin rubbed her hands together, “I bet this frog is going to be ginormous!”

“Ready yourselves.” He pressed his lips together and placed both hands around the sides of the boulder. 

Kagome winced, “Don’t hurt yourself.”

“I. Am. Not. So. Weak.” He clenched his teeth as the boulder came free from the ground. 

“Wow, your dad is like superman!” Shippo looked at him with awe. 

“I know.” Rin bragged, “He’s the strongest person alive!”

Unconvinced, Kagome grabbed both children by the collars, “Wait for him to tilt it a bit, you don’t want to get crushed if he drops it.”

His glare didn’t deter her. “Fine.” He grunted as the boulder dropped to it’s side. “There.”

The children rushed in. “Frogs!” The frogs began hopping up the bank quickly. Rin and Shippo gave chase. 

Sesshomaru’s hand went to his side. 

“Pulled a muscle?”

“Of course not.” His eyes clenched shut as he took a step forward, and Kagome bit the ‘I told you so’ on the tip of her tongue. 

“Let me help.” 

Amber eyes cast her a cold look, “There is nothing to help. I am fine.”

She rubbed her hands together quickly. “Nonsense.” 

He winced as she slid her hands inside his rain coat and pressed her palms against his aching side. They had never been so close before. She couldn’t help but admire the length of his dark lashes as he stared into her eyes.

“No need to admit anything.” She grinned up at him. 

For a moment he simply looked back at her silently. His heart beating fast in his chest. Her hands firm yet gentle against him. “Actually,” He whispered, “it is quite sore.” 

“Is it?” Her eyes glittered with both warmth and mirth. She kneaded, “Does this seem to be helping?” 

“It is.” 

“Daddy! Look!” Rin bounded over. 

Kagome stepped back, leaving Sesshomaru’s side cold. 

Sesshomaru looked cool as a cucumber, but her face pounded with heat.

Rin held up a fat frog with thick legs, “I’m going to call him Frogculese!”

“I got... one too!” Shippo gasped, doubled over as he caught his breath. “He was really... fast and hard... to... catch!”

“You already have a frog, Shippo!” Rin reminded him. 

“I’ll...let that one... go!” 

Kagome handed off each bucket, “Good job! One of you are sure to win the race tomorrow.”

“I’m totally going to win!” Rin grinned from ear to ear, “Frogculese is the best!”

“You’ll probably beat Mei, but you won’t beat me and Kanakero!” Shippo held the handle of his bucket close to his chest, looking down at his frog as it tried to hop up the sides and failed. 

“You will both do well.” Sesshomaru patted them each on the head, 

“Daddy!” Rin groaned, fixing her hat. 

Shippo preened. 

The next day each child came home with a big yellow ribbon. And that Friday, Kagome and Sesshomaru had a first date that went very well. 

[lunar-wandering]

Heist time? Heist time!

me?? writing a crossover between Monkie Kid and Kaitou Joker that only a few specific people will probably read?? its more likely than you think.

Word Count: 1.5k

read on ao3

---

"You received a what?" MK asked, staring at Mei in shock.

"A...heist notice?" Mei said, "It's not for anything important really, just some amulet no one in my family really cares about, but we are required to defend it, so I was wondering if you would come along."

"Are you kidding me?" MK asked, jumping up off of his chair in excitement. "You got a heist notice from Kaitou Joker, Mei! He's world renowned! Of course I want to help you defend your treasure from him!"

"...Do you think Red Son will want to come too?"

"Even if he doesn't, he'll probably still come anyways."

---

"I don't understand how you forced me into this." Red Son complained, as the three of them leaned against the wall in Mei's Family's Treasure Room, waiting for the time on the heist notice to arrive. "I mean, it's just one thief. How hard could fending them off be?"

"I'm pretty sure it's harder than it seems." Mei said, "I googled him when we got the notice. The list of things he's managed to steal is about three miles long."

"And the list of things he failed to steal?" MK asked.

"Non-existent. Either he always succeeds, or he covers up his failures really well."

"Well he better hurry up and get on with it." Red Son said, "I don't exactly have all day after all."

"You do know that you don't have to stay in this room right?" Mei asked, "You can go and investigate other parts of the mansion if you're bored."

"Oh thank fuck." Red Son whispered, standing up and walking out of my room. "Shout if he shows up!"

---

Of course, as fate would have it, Joker and his assistant, Hachi, just so happened to jump down through one of the windows on the roof not even ten minutes after Red Son left the room. They landed on the ground in a crouch, proceeding to stand up-

And come face to face with Mei and MK's weapons.

"We aren't going to let you take the treasure, thief." MK said, before excitedly whispering under his breath; "Man, I've always wanted to say that."

"Oh, you think you can stop me?" Joker said, a smirk on his face. "Sounds fun."

And just like that, Joker suddenly slammed a smoke bomb down onto the floor, causing Mei and MK to back up and shield their eyes so that the smoke wouldn't get in them. During the haze, Joker forcibly bumped into MK, making him drop the staff. Joker bent down to pick it up-

Only to find that he couldn't.

"Huh. Weird." He said, trying again, and giving up when it wouldn't budge. "I'll have to get back to figuring out how to steal that later."

"You'll have to what-" MK started, but was cut off by Mei, who rushed pass him, aiming to swing at Joker. He dodged at the last second, maneuvering behind her and hitting her on the back, causing her to stumble.

Joker swiftly and casually took the sword out of Mei's hands, proceeding to jump on top of a nearby statue to be out of her reach for a few moments.

"Oh now this is interesting.~" He said as he observed the sword, "Maybe I should send out a heist notice for this as well-"

Joker suddenly paused, and a tense atmosphere filled the room.

The spirits of the past dragons had surrounded Joker, and they were all glaring at him angrily.

"...You know what?" Joker said, tossing the sword over his shoulder, causing the dragons to vanish, and for Mei to scramble to catch it before it could hit the floor. "I don't need this sword, I've got plenty already. Hachi, are you ready?!"

"Yes sir!"

"Wh-" MK whirled around, to see that, while he had been distracted, focusing on Joker, his assistant had taken the amulet from it's stand. "Hey, give that back!"

He lunged at Hachi, and the ninja gave a little shriek, hurriedly side stepping and tossing the amulet to Joker, who caught it and proceeded to turn to run out of the room, Hachi moving to follow close behind.

"Oh no you don't!" Mei yelled, immediately chasing after them, with MK quickly joining her.

They ran through the hallways, twisting and turning. They almost lost sight of Joker a few times, what with him using his image gum to try and disguise himself as various statues, but MK's true sight always let them spot him rather quickly, and then the chase would be on again.

It was during one of the points when they were running after him that Red Son happened to see them from his position of sitting up in the rafters.

"Oh for the love of- I told them to shout if he showed up." He muttered to himself, before sighing. It seemed like he was going to have to step in.

"You won't get past me!" Red Son said, jumping down into the thief's way, his hands on fire. Joker didn't even blink.

"What are you, some relative of Phoenix? The fire trick is so old school y'know." He said, not even bothering to stop. He vaulted over Red Son, who, faced with the fact that the thief wasn't afraid of his fire, had frozen in place in shock. Hachi quietly ran around him as well, muttering a quiet "Sorry." As he did.

"Wh- Hey! Get back here!" Red Son yelled as soon as the shock wore off, turning and joining Mei and MK in chasing after the thief. Joker just laughed in response.

"A larger audience just makes the chase more fun!" He shouted over his shoulder-

And then suddenly he came to a complete halt, Hachi bumping into him from the unexpectedness of the sudden stop. MK, Mei and Red Son stumbled, barely stopping themselves from also running into him. MK looked over Joker's shoulder to see what had made the phantom thief pause.

There was a cat in the hallway.

MK, confusedly, looked back at the thief, wondering why a cat of all things had made him stop. He got his answers as soon as he got a good look at him.

Joker was genuinely trembling, the bit of his eyes that MK could see under the hat were filled with fear.

From his side, Hachi sighed.

"Seriously, Joker?" He asked, a bit deadpan, but still with some concern in his voice. "I assumed you'd gotten over your fear of cats after so much exposure to Hosshi."

"Well excuse me for not recovering from my childhood trauma." Joker said,  causing Red Son to stifle a laugh.

The cat meowed.

"Shit." Joker hissed, backing up and practically scrambling to climb on top of the nearest person, which happened to be Red Son, who shouted indignantly in response, struggling to pull him off to no avail.

"..While I hate to use a fear against anyone, since I know what it's like first hand." MK started, "Would you. Give us back the amulet if we get rid of the cat?"

"Fine, fine!" Joker yelled, "I'll give you the amulet okay?"

Red Son finally managed to push Joker off, the thief landing with an "oomf" on the ground, and leaving the amulet behind in Red Son's hands. Mei made swift work of picking up the cat and quickly herding it into a nearby room. MK reached down and lightly patted Joker on the shoulder.

"There, was that so hard?" He asked, a bit of smugness in his voice. Hey, he had technically just bested a world renowned phantom thief, he could be a little smug. Joker just sighed.

"Whatever." He said, before quickly jumping up, grabbing his assistant in his arms, and turning to take off down the hallway without another word, laughing once he'd reached a good distance away from them. MK was confused for a moment, before-

The amulet in Red Son's hands suddenly popped, like a balloon, leaving only a card, the Jack of Hearts, behind.

The three of them stared at it for a moment, in silence.

"Oh that fu-"

---

It was rather late when MK finally walked into the Noodle Shop, practically dragging his feet. Pigsy glanced up as he walked in.

"There you are, MK. What took you so long, your shift started two hours ago." He said. MK sighed.

"Sorry Pigsy, I was busy....." MK trailed off as he suddenly noticed the other two people in the restaurant, at the exact same time they noticed him.

MK, Joker, and Hachi stared at each other for a few seconds.

"Welp, that's my cue to go!" Joker said, picking up the bowl he'd been eating out of and carrying it with him as he ran past MK and out of the shop, Hachi quickly throwing some money on the counter before running off behind him. MK didn't even try to stop them. He stood there for a few minutes, registering what just happened, before moving to sit at one of the stools by the counter.

"Long day?" Pigsy asked.

MK put his head down on the counter and screamed.

[nitewrighter]

Make the AU, Nitey

Just for the record, this is @azaeleia ’s fault because I really like this art and I’ve pondered how a Gakuen AU might look for a while.

----

The thrum of cicadas whirred from the trees that marked the edge of campus, their sounds seemingly gaining momentum over the open air of the track and the green. Overwatch Academy was a stately boarding school with a sleek modern architecture that seemed to have echoes of old Georgian dignity. Genji slumped against the stucco wall of the gymnasium, smacking his lips to try and get the blood from his teeth. He wiped the back of his hand across his nose and mouth and huffed at the streak of red that marked the back of it, sticky in the kicked-up dust and grunted with some disgust. The blaze of furious adrenaline was fading and the bruises were setting in. He just needed a few seconds before getting up, that was all. He glanced down at his uniform and sighed--it was covered in dirt and grass stains from the tussle, and a few specks of blood from his nose and lips.. What a mess... he wouldn’t hear the end of it from Hanzo.

Classes for the day had let out nearly two hours ago, and now were the few hours devoted to intramural activities such as sports and arts and other programs before the students were called in for dinner in the dining hall and sent to their dorms for the evening.

Or in Genji’s assailants’ case, wander off to the areas of the campus that were too far-flung to be monitored and unintentionally re-enact Lord of the Flies. They were bullying Zen (again), and Genji intervened. He wasn’t sure if he could really say his intentions were purely noble, rushing to defend Zen, as he often found himself in fights by virtue of his own mouth--but he figured he was a lot more used to fights than Zen, and thus here he was, dirty, bruised, and feeling more stupid than heroic.

“Genji!” A pair of scuffed saddle shoes skidded to a dusty halt in front of him and Genji glanced up to see a familiar skinny figure in a blouse and the blue pleated skirt of their uniform. Angela Ziegler carried herself stiffly, and sometimes you could make out the faint lines of her back brace through her blouse. She buckled over rigidly, like a doll, with her hands on her knobby knees to catch her breath.

“Class rep...?” said Genji, squinting to make eye-contact with her. Angela Ziegler was a bit of an odd duck among their peers, one of those kids who acted like a mini-adult while not being aware they acted like a mini-adult. She was a favorite of Professor de Kuiper, elected to the position of Class Rep not because she was popular, but because she was universally recognized as a busybody who would probably push her way to the position anyway to see that things got done. As she pulled herself back up to an upright postion, head eclipsed the sun but was still blinding in its blondness. “But,” Genji eked out the words, “How did you--?”

Angela looked back over her shoulder and Genji made out another kid, bronzey-tan, shorter and even skinnier than Angela with a close-shaved head, sage, heavy-lidded eyes, and the remains of a surgically corrected harelip.

“Zen, I told you to go,” said Genji trying to push himself up to his feet, the stucco prickling the skin of his palms with the action.

“I did, and then I got help,” Zen answered mildly.

Genji shot him a dark look as Angela looked around, “Did you see where they went?”

“It’s fine,” Genji said, his voice half a growl, “They’re long gone by now.”

“Who was it?” said Angela.

Genji’s lips tightened. 

“Genji,” Angela put her hands on her hips.

“Just Max and his goons again,” Genji said sullenly, “So crying to Professor de Kuiper isn’t going to do anything.”  Max’s family were wealthy donors to the school. Kids like him tended to only get a slap on the wrist, come back to inflict more pain as a reaction to getting in trouble, all the while getting better at not getting caught.

“We wouldn’t be crying to him--” she started but then huffed and held out a hand to him, “Come on, let’s get you cleaned up.”

Genji took her hand and she and Zen helped him up to his feet. She blinked at a dirty, bloody abrasion on his arm and another on his hand from when he was shoved hard to the ground. “You can walk, right?”

“Of course I can walk,” said Genji, limping a little.

“This way,” said Angela, taking his non-injured arm and walking around the gym.

“I don’t want to go to the nurse,” muttered Genji.

“I have a first aid kit in my gym locker,” said Angela, “It’s closer.”

“Nerd,” the scoffing word came out of him on reflex.

“It’s coming in handy, isn’t it?” she said, arching an eyebrow at him. The three of them headed over to where the locker rooms of the Gym emptied lead out to the green. In the distance, the school soccer team thundered around the grass, their shouts and laughs mingling with the screech of cicadas. 

Zen held down the button on a drinking fountain and Genji sloshed up water onto his face, feeling it go from lukewarm to shockingly cold as he washed and watching his own watered down blood splash pink against the white of the fountain’s basin. He got a mouthful of water and swished it around, trying to get the dirt and blood from his teeth.

“Got it!” Angela briskly walked out of the girl’s locker room just as Genji was spitting bloodied water into the drinking fountain’s basin, and he made eye contact with her. She had a neat little first aid kit in hand but her lips were pulled back from her teeth in a grimace at him spitting. Genji looked up at her from the fountain, face dripping, moving to wipe his mouth with the back of his hand again, but she reached into the breast pocket of her blouse and held out a cloth handkerchief to him. His brow crinkled as he gingerly took it from her, and he couldn’t keep eye contact with her as he padded at his face with the handkerchief. He looked from the handkerchief to her but she was already sitting down on the bench outside the locker room and rifling through the little first aid kit. Genji pressed the handkerchief to his mouth, then padded it around his dripping jawline and the wet margins of his face. 

“Here, sit down,” said Angela, taking a small disinfectant wipe from the first aid kit and tearing it out of its wrapper.

Genji moved to sit but grunted in pain in the process at what was surely a wide bruise on his leg. 

“You were limping earlier,” said Angela.

“Yeah.”

“Is the skin broken?” said Angela.

“I don’t think so,” said Genji.

“Zen, can you head to the science lab? Professor de Kuiper has an ice pack in his fridge. Just say it’s for one of the soccer players.”

“Mm-hmm,” Zen gave a short nod before jogging off. 

“Why were they picking on him?” said Angela, wiping the disinfectant wipe across the bloody abrasion on Genji’s arm as Zen exited earshot. Genji drew in a sharp inhale through his nostrils as she wiped grains of gravel from the injury.

“‘Cuz he’s weird,” said Genji with a shrug.

“He’s not weird, he’s nice,” said Angela, in her mini-adult way. 

“He’s nice in a weird way. I guess it makes other people think he thinks they’re better than him,” mumbled Genji.

“Well that’s just childish,” said Angela crisply.

“I mean, we are kids,” said Genji.

“That’s not an excuse!” said Angela.

“You’re a kid too, you know,” said Genji.

“Exactly! Like, it’s not hard to be nice!” Angela rubbed the disinfectant wipe a little too hard and Genji winced, “Sorry--! Sorry...”

Genji snorted a little.

“What?” said Angela.

“Nothing, I just...it’s kind of funny that you say that when you’re getting mad,” said Genji.

“I’m not getting mad!” Angela argued and then caught herself, “Oh--you--! You need to be more careful! You should have gotten an adult! When they were picking on Zen, you should have gotten a teacher! Not gone all.... fighting... guy! Who fights things!”

Genji rolled his eyes. “You’re class rep. You wouldn’t get it,” he muttered.

Her big blue eyes widened with insulted alarm. “What wouldn’t I get!?” she said. 

“Well... you and Zen... the teachers like you,” said Genji.

“So?” said Angela. 

“So they treat you better,” said Genji.

“So everyone has to treat Zen and me worse to make up for it?” said Angela, setting the disinfectant wipe aside.

“I don’t know,” sighed Genji, leaning against the painted brick of the locker room. He blinked a few times. “Do they treat you badly?” he said, glancing over at her.

“No... they don’t... treat me like anything,” said Angela, now taking a bandage and wrapping it around the abrasion, “...they...don’t talk to me unless they have to. Maybe if they forgot an assignment...” she trailed off and then caught herself, “I mean--I--I hang out with Mei! Sometimes... when she’s not with her tutors...”

Genji looked over at her, his brow crinkling. Her blond hair was shrouding one eye as she worked. She always seemed so smart and together that he had never really considered she could be lonely. Her eyes were fixed on his palm now, wiping another disinfecting wipe across its heel, 

“Thanks,” he said quietly.

She glanced up.

“For uh... all this. I’ll clean up more at the dorms but... this helps. Are--are you going to tell...?”

“...not unless you and Zen get in trouble again,” said Angela, glancing off, “But--you should feel like you can go to the teachers for help! That’s--that’s what their job is...” she trailed off. She furrowed her brow. “And--and you can come to me, too. I’m the class rep, after all.” A small smile spread on her lips.

“Sure thing, class rep,” said Genji. A pause passed. “You know... on Thursdays, there’s like, a whole 3 hours between where the AV club leaves the media center, and the janitor comes in to kick you out, so sometimes McCree and I watch bad horror movies in there.”

“Bad horror movies?”

“Yeah! And you eat a bunch of junk food and make fun of them! It’s great!”

“...why wouldn’t you just watch good horror movies?”

Genji huffed. “You’re killing me, Rep.”

Angela blinked. “Wait--are--are you saying I can come? On Thursdays?”

“Yeah,” Genji shrugged. 

The brief, heartbreakingly bright emotion that rippled across her face, the awe, made Genji’s stomach lurch. She quickly tried to regain her composure before focusing on unwrapping another bandage. “Yeah! Thursdays!” she tried to sound casual as she placed the bandage over the scrape on his hand, “Thursdays are--I like Thursdays.”

Genji smiled a little and she pushed her hair back from her eyes. She smoothed her thumb over the adhesive bandage she had put on the heel of his palm. There was a steadiness to the motion that caught his attention, how much care and warmth that tiny action seemed to hint toward.

“I’ve gotten the ice pack,” a calm voice piped up and both of them flinched to alertness. Angela quickly released his hand and they both looked up to see Zen calmly presenting a blue ice pack which Genji eagerly grabbed and put over the bruise on his leg with a sigh of relief. Angela blinked a few times and then quickly stood up.

 “Well--um-- is-- does anything else hurt?” she said, holding her little first aid kit in a white-knuckled grip.

“Uh.. I... think I can handle it from here if you need to go,” said Genji.

“Yes--I just remembered I.... have... homework. So much homework. And I should do it. So I’ll... see you in class?”

“Yeah,” said Genji, “See you in class.

“Mm-hm,” she gave a quick nod and then quickly disappeared back into the locker room. Genji sighed and pressed his back against the wall behind the bench, before he noticed a small rag crumpled at his side.

“Hey--Rep, you forgot your--” Genji picked up the handkerchief and pushed up from the bench and grunted, pressing the ice pack to his leg as he became aware of his bruise again with his own movement, but then he looked at the handkerchief, now soddened with blood and dirt and water. What was he going to do? Call her back and have her take the filthy thing? He sighed and sank back onto the bench, holding the ice pack to his leg with one hand and the damp, dirty handkerchief in the other. He glanced back at Zen to see him smiling with such an irritating serenity that Genji wouldn’t be surprised if it were the sort of expression that got him into trouble with Max or his goons in the first place. 

“What?” said Genji.

“Are you going to give it back to her?” said Zen.

“I dunno, it’s stupid. Who carries around cloth handkerchiefs? It’s gross. Look at it, it’s gross already.”

“...you could wash it and give it back,” Zen said with a shrug.

“Well of course I’m going to wash it before I give it back,” Genji huffed only to see Zen was beaming now. “Oh get over it.”

[jacksgreysays]

For fake title: still waters (run deep) character: Shisui and or theme: Uzushio

The fisherman doesn't look surprised when Shisui arrives, not by the suddenness of his appearance or his age or the fact that, excepting the crow on his shoulder, he is entirely alone. No, the fisherman is not surprised, but that doesn't mean he's relaxed either: a large man, nearly two heads taller than Shisui with muscle honed through hard work. But it is a civilian level strength. For all that the fisherman is accustomed to shinobi, he is no match for one.

"You're headed to Uzushio, huh?" the fisherman says, less a question than an accusation without any heat.

"Yes, I am" Shisui answers anyway with a polite sort of cheer; there is a reason why he's the one being sent to Uzushio and not one of his cousins. "Tazuna-san said you're the best at navigating the whirlpools."

The fisherman gives him a skeptical glance which is fair. What Tazuna actually said was that if Shisui was fool enough to go to Uzushio, then this particular fisherman would at least make sure Shisui's fool head didn't get dashed on the rocks of the shore.

But the fisherman shrugs, accepting enough, and tilts his head at a small wooden boat tied to the dock with nets bulging with fish. "That one's mine. Are you in a rush? Because I have to get these to the monger first."

"No, I can wait," Shisui says, because that's the polite thing to do and if this fisherman is his best way to Uzushio then its worth waiting for... except, as Kansoku reminds him with a sharp tug on his hair, he is actually kind of in a rush. Shisui is a shinobi, so of course he's smelled worse, and so he doesn't wrinkle his nose at all when he offers, "Would you like some help? Four hands are faster than two."

"Alright, kid, I'll take you up on that." The fisherman's expression lightens into a wide, friendly smile and Shisui who can't help himself, returns it with one of his own. The fisherman introduces himself, "You can call me Kaiza."

---

A few weeks ago, Hidden Rain broke their decades-long silence with increasingly concerning news:

Hanzo the Salamander long dead.

A heretofore unknown organization leading the village.

Active recruitment and retainment of various S-rank shinobi.

A grudge against one Shimura Danzo, former council member of Hidden Leaf.

One year--maybe even as little as a month or two previous--would have made this the most momentous occasion in international shinobi politics since the last world war.

Unfortunately, it only just barely makes top three in the past year.

---

"So, kid," Kaiza says as they're coasting over the waves at a clip much faster than Shisui would have thought possible for the small wooden boat, "You're from Leaf, right?"

"Yes." It's literally on his forehead and more straightforward than some of the other villages' symbols, but Shisui gives him the benefit of the doubt. Kaiza is a civilian, after all. And to be fair, some of the Uchiha elders were considering changing it to match the new regime, but Fugaku-san--sorry, Hokage-sama, Shisui's still getting use to it--felt it would be best to at least try to maintain a semblance of stability.

He doesn't know if news of Konoha's turmoil has reached this far. Or if the people of Wave even care. They certainly didn't bat an eye at Shisui's questions of their new neighbor--old neighbor? returned neighbor?--all incurious shrugs and silence or entertaining but unhelpful tall tales.

"Have you ever met another shinobi?" Shisui asks conversationally, though he already knows the answer to that question. "Am I your first shinobi passenger?"

"I've seen a few Mist ninja from a distance. A very far distance, thankfully," Kaiza responds, casual and earnest; Shisui sees no reason to doubt him. "Never had a ninja join me sailing on my boat before, though. Not one that helped me unload my haul. You're a good kid." 

Shisui has killed more men than there had been fish wriggling in those nets. He appreciates the sentiment anyway. Kaiza is an honest sort of man, Shisui is glad to have met him.

He could use more straightforwardness in his life.

---

The Mist Rebellion overthrew the Yondaime Mizukage after an almost tidy public assassination and thirty six hours of civil war with minimal casualties.

Terumi Mei, newly coronated Godaime Mizukage, only mentions the "grace and goodwill of allies." Neither of those words particularly apply to the surly looking Momochi Zabuza standing two steps back and one step to the right of her, but if there is another ally in the works they're not claiming the limelight.

Hidden Mist has always been a tumultuous village. Tidiness aside, nothing was surprising about it.

---

It's strange.

When Shisui pictured Land of Whirlpools, he had a vague idea mostly cobbled together from the grey, cloudy skies of Mist, or the eternal deluge of Rain, or even the foggy, sepia tones of Wave.

He was not expecting clear skies almost impossibly blue and lush treetops tall enough to rival the forests of Konoha. The beach is pink.

It's vibrant. It's strange. There's a giant chakra turtle monster happily splashing in the shallows, waving tendrils in their direction as a greeting.

The sharp jagged rocks and erratic whirlpools between them and the shore are real, at least, so Shisui hasn't been completely fooled, but from the wry, almost apologetic smile on Kaiza's face, Shisui's not great at hiding his hurt.

Kaiza pulls out a decorative coin--what Shisui had thought was some kind of superstitious fisherman charm that he'd touched before they set sail from Wave--and passes his thumb along the surface. After a moment or two, the swirling slows, the water calms, and the passage is traversable. A small figure appears on the pink beach. The giant chakra turtle monster reaches a gentle tendril out and is metaphorically met half way by an arm absolutely minuscule in comparison.

"Don't worry, kid," Kaiza says reassuringly. It's the kind of statement that would be accompanied with a clap on the shoulder, but whether the fisherman can sense Shisui's betrayal or, more likely, he's been around more shinobi and knows better, he keeps his distance. "Tazuna vouched for you and you didn't even get mad when the monger threw a fish at you and said it was a cultural tradition."

Kansoku had been less than pleased and Shisui's shirt still smells like fish. 

"You'll be fine. She'll like you."

---

There is an oasis in Land of Wind. An earthquake in Land of Hot Springs caused the controlled collapse of a temple and new arrangements of the surrounding town's infrastructure. A dilapidated and forgotten shrine in the outskirts of Land of Fire was completely relocated across the ocean. Only the first has any sort of influence on shinobi politics and even that has more to do with the Yondaime Kazekage's sudden attitude adjustment than anything else.

But the revival of a nation thought long dead with the power to back it up?

Well, even if Konoha is still struggling to cobble together a government, it's the sort of occasion to send one of their best and brightest as an ambassador even if there's no firm idea what might be on the other end of the journey.

---

"Hello, Uchiha Shisui of Hidden Leaf," says the girl on the shores of Land of Whirlpools. Somehow, even with the grown man twice his size and the giant chakra turtle monster, she's the scarest thing on the beach.

Which is still bafflingly, vibrantly pink.

"I heard you were asking questions about Uzushio," she says, with a smile as dangerous and beautiful as the land she's made her home. "Let's talk."

~

A/N: Sometimes, you’re in a writer’s block and a prompt just punches you into the right headspace. Thank you, damnsmartblueboxes. (You know I have so many Uzushio feelings, how dare you! :D)

If anyone wants to ask me questions about this, please do. Please.

Oh, but I should clarify here: this was written intending to be in a post-Split Gardens!verse. But if you’re reading this you probably have already read some of the Gardens!verse stuff so...

Also, yes, Kaiza is the fisherman who would’ve been killed by Gato and now kinda works for Shikako as a more active and less suspicious Sazanami from the Land of Stone Arc. I mean, kinda all of Wave works for Shikako? But in a much more benevolent way than that might imply. They’re fond of their weird neighbor with her giant chakra turtle monster.

(Also, also, yes, Tetsuki Kaiza does get her name from this Kaiza though in the Naruto world she actually never has the name Kaiza. She goes from orphan Tetsuki no-family-name to either Tetsuki Utsugi or Agent Shu. Depending on how fucked her situation is)

Also, also, also: Ask Box Advent Calendar 2020!

[skellebonez]

Could you do number 46. They have amnesia? With Monkie King and MK If you’re still doing the request/prompts

You didn't say who had to have amnesia, anon. Spoilers for episodes up to S2E6 inside.

They have amnesia?

"How is this even possible?" MK asked softly, not wanting to be heard but knowing that Wukong’s superior hearing would pick up most of what he was saying. Though given how distracted he was...

"It shouldn't be!" Tang exclaimed equally as quiet, watching his hero with a mix of curiosity and dismay. "He's the Monkey King, nothing should be able to hurt him like this."

"Maybe he wasn't hurt," Mei offered, watching Wukong herself as Pigsy held up another photograph and only recieved a confused look in response. "Maybe it's magic. He can be affected by magic that isn't directly hurting him, right? Even if it takes something big to hurt him physically a spell or curse could still something."

"That is a possibility..." Tang muttered under his breathe. He ran his hand through his hair, sighing as Pigsy seemed to exhaust photographs and illustrations to show the Monkey King. Sandy stood beside them both, Mo curled up in Wukong’s arms instead of his usual place on the big guy's shoulder, and said something in hushed tones that made the Monkey King's ears pull back. "There are no shortages of either that could cause memory loss, hopefully for us temporarily so. And he didn't seem injured in any way when we found him outside the shop... though he shouldn't even be here, he was on vacation! Wouldn't he have told you he was coming back?"

"Maybe..." MK started slowly, watching as Pigsy held up a group of photos and Wukong pointed to one of them excitedly. "But he's been acting... weird since he left anyway. Like he was distracted. I kinda just tried not to worry about it but..." He trailed off, jumping as a loud snap was heard and then wishing he had the staff out in his hands to wrap them around it instead of the mop he just snapped in two. "... crap..."

"You're worried," Mei said softly, laying her hand on her best friend's shoulder. "I am too, even though I may not know the Monkey King that well. But once we find out exactly how much he remembers we can find a way to help him."

"Yeah, about that," Pigsy's voice broke through their conversation as he made his way over. The chef looked perturbed. "So we went through all your pictures MK. He remembers going on the journey, though the details of it are lost, and he knows Mount Huaguo like the back of his hand. But he doesn't remember like 99% of the journey, can't remember any of his monkeys, can't remember us, can't even remember that he's the Monkey King or what that title means." He sighed, pinching the bridge of his snout for a second before continuing. "What he does remember clearly is that he lives alone on an island and that it's the modern day, he went on some big journey he barely recalls... and that he knows MK and that MK is important."

"What?" MK looked away from where he had glanced over to Wukong, staring at Pigsy in disbelief. "Wait, you're telling me I'm the only person he remembers!?"

"Barely!" Pigsy elaborated with another sigh. "Kid, whatever happened to him really messed up his memories. He knows your name and face and that you're important. He kind of remembers training you. But that is it. He doesn't recognize anyone else. And I don't know him that good, but he doesn't seem to be acting like his normal self either."

This was bad. There was no other way to put it. And they needed to figure something out fast.

"MK?" Wukong said suddenly, having wandered up to the group. He still had Mo in his arms, the cat looking up at him in concern. "Is everything alright, Bud?"

It most certainly was not.

~

"This is my house?" Wukong asked softly, one of the first things he had said since MK and he had arrived back on Mount Huaguo. Getting him home was easy enough, one of the few things he remembered was where he lived after all, but he seemed confused regardless. Perhaps he didn't remember the mountain as much as Pigsy thought he did. "It's... cozy!" He laughed, rubbing the back of his neck. "When your boss told me I was a king I kind of worried that... well, I don't know why, I was just worried for some reason. Weird."

Weird didn't even begin to cover it.

Pigsy wasn't lying when he said that Wukong hadn't been acting like his normal self. Instead of the loud and boisterous and kind of, admittedly, self important Monkey King MK expected, Wukong was oddly subdued. Maybe it was the amnesia making him weary, but he was acting so much like he had for just the shortest moments at the Lunar New Year festival (both before the fireworks had cheered him up and after the fight with the Spider Queen) that MK was starting to wonder...

"I really do live alone except for my monkeys, huh?" Wukong said softly, one of the aforementioned monkeys looking at him in their own concern.

When he saw them face to face he seemed to recall at least a bit. That he cared for them in some capacity both as an actual caregiver and as "I guess a King is right" as Wukong put it. But while he knew each one on the island by name before he couldn't recall a single one now. But MK remembered that the little one that followed them inside was called Yue, partly because he had been the one to help name her.

Knowing that Wukong likely didn't remember that day, let alone how important it had been to him to include his student in this endeavor, made MK's chest hurt.

"Yeah, it's, uh... yeah," MK attempted to confirm, coming off as awkward as he felt internally. Everything about this was awkward. But MK could not, and would not, leave his mentor while he could only barely recall how to navigate his own home island. "So... we didn't exactly get that much to eat at Pigsy's... you hungry?"

~

The two ate in moderate silence. MK didn't want to force Wukong to feel awkward by asking him about topics he couldn't remember (the last few confused and then apologetic smiles made him feel too bad to try again). He managed to find something, at least, however small it was.

Wukong seemed to remember little bits and pieces about himself. Not everything, obviously, but he remembered some important things. He knew he was immortal and invincible. He knew that he was very very old. He knew he was technically not a regular demon monkey but a stone monkey born out of a... well, a stone. And he remembered his dietary preferences.

This last one was news to MK, who had never actually seen him eat more than peaches and peach chips and food made from his own hair (which was not something he was looking forward to trying again). But it made fashioning something for them to eat easier. Something simple, rice for both of them with fresh peaches (he had so many of these things in his fridge and MK did not know how they lasted without spoiling, but he did not ask) for his mentor and rice with some tofu and green onions for MK (simple, but with seasoning and sauce that for some reason had his own initials on it tasty, he had to remember to ask about that... after).

It was... kind of nice, the situation aside.

"... am I your... absentee dad?"

And there that went right out the window and right into the volcanic inferno of the flaming mountains!

MK nearly choked on his rice, barely managing to chug a glass of water before managing out a "HWUH?" in his mentor's direction.

"I-I'm sorry!" Wukong stuttered out, the uncertainty in his voice sounding wrong. "I just... I thought... there's stuff in here with your name on it but there isn't a place for you to stay, the second room is just storage, so I thought..." He trailed off, biting his lip before sighing. "You told me you were my student. But that... it's doesn't feel right. It doesn't feel wrong but it feels... sorry."

Taking a moment to breathe in deeply, MK steeled himself.

"No, don't apologize," he started, setting his bowl to the side and staying quiet for a moment. "No, you're not... my dad. But I noticed those things too. I've never really been inside your house all that much, only a couple times before you left and only twice since. You don't..." He paused, trying to find the right words to express himself. "I guess I'm just realizing there's a lot of things you don't tell me."

"... it'd be kind of awkward if I just ruined some kind of big thing I was gonna tell you when I got back," Wukong said through another bite of a peach.

"Yeah, I doubt you were gonna tell me you'e adopting me," MK laughed out awkwardly... but that awkwardness lingered long after the conversation moved on to how much of the stuff in the house he remembered.

~

MK woke up in a sleeping bag in a room that didn't belong to him. He was confused at first, sitting up quickly and looking around before realizing that he was just in Wukong's house. On the floor of Wukong's bedroom, actually. The Monkey King had insisted that he could not sleep on the couch, comfortable as it looked, and they looked around in his storage room for any alternative until they found this.

It was comfortable enough. But not so comfortable he slept through what had woken him.

It sounded like crying.

Not loud, not enough to wake most people. But MK was already highly stressed from the situation and had developed much better hearing since obtaining the Monkey King Powers (how he had thought he needed to learn super hearing that one time he did not know now that he thought about it). So he picked up on the soft sniffs and whimpers and shakey breathes and now he would not be going back to sleep until he figured out what was up.

"Monkey King? You sure there isn-" MK froze as he turned to his mentor's bed, only to find it empty.

Well. Shit...

That probably answered that question.

MK wasted no time in jumping to his feet rushing out of the room and toward the crying before freezing in the door way to he living room.

Monkey King was sitting on the floor, TV on and VR set still strapped to his head.

"Oh... no..." MK muttered softly, making his way inside to stand behind Wukong. "Hey... Monkey King? What are you doing?"

Wukong flinched, he'd never seen him do that before, and gripped his controller tighter. He heard it creak worryingly under his grip.

"I... I saw this game earlier," he started slowly, and MK didn't need him to explain which one it was. The case, familiar to him now, was sitting in plain sight on the floor before them. "I dunno, it just... it felt important. And I couldn't sleep so I decided to go through some more of my stuff and... and..." He took in a shakey breathe, putting the controller down and taking the VR headset off. "I... it was weird looking at myself. Listening to myself tell me what do to. But it felt familar. So I kept playing and..."

MK put a hand on his mentor's shoulder and looked at the screen. He'd made it to the in game store, the temple. There Tripitaka, Tang Sanzang, resided to give the player passive abilities. "How long have you been playing?"

"An hour maybe?" Wukong offered, wiping the tears from his face. "I made it to Zhu Ganglie but I. I couldn't. I didn't want to... MK, I feel like I should remember these people. I can't look at them without feeling... sad. Guilty? I can't help but feel like I did something wrong to them?"

And MK's chest hurt once again, knowing that somewhere deep down in Wukong he hadn't completely forgotten his companions from his journey centuries ago. He should have pieced it together when he played. The art, the dialogue, the placement of the monk... he'd never seen the game on store shelves before either, never even heard of it.

But Sun Wukong had played this game for 10,000 hours.

"They're, uh... They're the people who were on your journey with you," MK started as he sat on the floor by his mentor. "You haven't gotten to Sha Wujing, but he's there too. So was Bai Long Ma. I could... tell you about them? I don't know all the stories by heart like Tang does, but I can try."

"You don't have to do that," Wukong said much more assuredly and firm than before. "If I did something that made me feel like this that should be my own burden to bear, not yours."

"Yeah... but I want to help you anyway."

The two sat in silence for a moment before Wukong stood and made his way into the kitchen. He returned a moment later with a small bowl of peaches and a wrapped pack of pears (once again with MK's initials on it). He sat on the couch, gesturing for his student to join him before he spoke.

"I appreciate the offer, I do... but I'll be able to learn that on my own before my memories return," Wukong said, biting into one of his peaches with a sad smile. "You said Tang, the guy from the noodle shop, knows them. I can ask him tomorrow... well, later today. But as I said before, that isn't your burden to bear. And I don't want to put that on you. And even though I remember you the most out of everything it feels like I don't know you as much as I should. So, if neither of us is going to sleep again any time soon... tell me about MK?"

"... When I moved into the apartment above Pigsy’s I took on MK as a nickname."

Wukong looked up in confusion for a moment before his eyes widened and he put all his focus on his student with a soft smile. "OK..."

The two talked for only roughly another hour, Sun Wukong listening to MK tell him anything he felt comfortable telling him. When he woke up he was back in the sleeping bag, the soft snores of the Monkey King resounding above him.

As he laid awake, the small monkey Yue having made her way inside to sleep on his chest making a good excuse to not get up, he wanted to mull over everything he had learned. He'd learned more about his mentor in the 6 waking hours they spent together in his home than he had his entire apprenticeship, and the same went the other way.

MK wondered just why Sun Wukong hid all this from him so far. For so long. And he knew now he couldn't have possibly been on vacation. Not when it resulted in this. The Monkey King had been hiding so much from him and it clearly wasn't limited to what he was doing behind his back.

But right now Sun Wukong trusted MK, him coming back with him to Mount Huaguo was evidence enough of that. And MK trusted him as he was now... but didn't know how much of Sun Wukong from the past to trust anymore. He needed to get his mentor's memories back. And he needed to get answers.

Sun Wukong slept on, oblivious to the conflict in his student's head.

[wonderwomanfantasy]

August 18th

So I am tentatively coming out of Hiatus, I’m still not accepting requests but I’m writing again, yay! I really have no idea if anyone will read this, it seems like every time I take a break I come back to fewer and fewer interaction on my posts but whatever. Also, I was talking to my friend about this fic and she informed me that this sounds suspiciously like the plot of Cars so I have that going for me.

Denki x Waitress!reader 

word count: 5,700(about)

warnings: mentions of gun violence and death, Mild angst (that makes it sound sad I promise this is really fluffy ;-;)

summary: You are just trying to take things one day at a time, Denki is trying to do the same, but he can’t seem to move past this one day... 

You didn’t love your job, who did? but you didn’t hate it either. You were a waitress at a hole in the wall type Diner but it made ends meet and the place was nice enough. clean, comfortable, and small. Just like the rest of this town. you were terrified that one day you were going to look up and your whole life would be gone without ever stepping foot into the outside world just like your parents. 

you shook your head and sinched your apron, a cute frilly thing the did little to stop actual stains, around your waist before heading out onto the floor. You were only 20 this job wasn’t forever it was just for right now, you had all the time in the world to get out to bigger and better things. 

The restaurant was dead, one table of four, and one table of two both quietly enjoying their meals. Neither should need further assistance for quite some time.  A Carry Underwood song played over the speakers mixing with the clink of silverware. You had a good chunk of time before the dinner rush started so you busied yourself whipping down the empty tables and chairs. 

The familiar chemically smell fills your nose and your eyes begin to burn, you were just debating whether you should add more water to the solution when the bell above the door chimed. Your head shot up at the noise and a blonde boy you had never seen before entered the restaurant. 

He didn’t look at you as he crossed to the nearest booth and sat down. You took a moment to examine him and make sure that he was in fact a stranger. You saw new people so rarely, especially good looking guys like him. He had a streak of black running through his blonde hair and his eyes were a similar neon yellow color. He looked tired not just ‘had a rough day’ tired but withered in the way old men sometimes were.  like he had lived too long of a life. it was an odd look for someone your age to have. Despite this, he was still drop-dead gorgeous.

you hurried over to his table and gave the stranger and gave him your best smile.  “Good-”

“Good afternoon cutie what can I get you? Just coffee. Coffee this late in the? trust me I’ll need it. One coffee coming right up. You aren’t going to ask if I need cream or sugar? Sorry I get distracted by cute faces, cream, or sugar Sir? Don’t worry about it just put both on the side sweetie,”  He spoke the entire ramble while looking straight down at the table, modulating his voice up when he was mimicking you. 

“what?” you breathed stumbling back. He blinked and seemed to return to the real world. 

“Just a coffee, cream, and sugar on the side,” he mumbled and you were quick to scurry behind the breakfast bar back to safety. 

“you okay sweetie?” Donna, the other waitress in your section, asked she pressed the back of her hand to your forehead like she was checking your temperature. Donna was middle-aged and had taken on the role of “work mom” for almost every waitress on staff, she was good to have around even if she was a little overprotective at times. 

“I’m fine, that guy who just came in is just a little weird that’s all,” you said pouring the steaming coffee into a waiting mug. She huffed

“If he gives you any more trouble you have my full permission to drag him out back and make him eat that dumpster,” she huffed. you laughed and loaded the tray before sauntering back to the table. 

“I mean it (y/n)!” she hissed as you walked away.

He was laying down with his forehead to the table you gently unloaded the tray next to him and he didn’t even flinch. did he fall asleep?

“Uhm- Sir?”

“I am awake,” he groaned sitting up and rested against the booth. 

“are you okay?” you asked folding the tray awkwardly under your arm. He looked over you hitting you with the full intensity of his golden eyes. 

“I am in love with a girl who doesn’t even know who I am,” he sighed  “do you know what that’s like?” you looked around the restaurant but no one seemed to need you.

“I know what heartbreak is like if that’s what you're asking,” you said sympathetically, deciding that you had time to deal with him. 

“I’m sorry to hear that, you’re a nice girl,” he said. you smiled. 

“Is there anything else I can get you?” you asked 

“no just the coffee,” he turned to the coffee and started pouring in sugar and cream 

“let me know if you change your mind,” you said knocking your knuckle on the table before turning away. 

“(y/n)-” you turned, he licked his lips and dropped his gaze. 

“thank you,”

“no problem,”

you went back behind the counter before you realized he had spoken your name without you having provided it to him. you shook your head, he really was a weird guy. 

“My God,” you muttered to yourself 

“what is it?” Donna asked looking over at you. 

“That blonde guy from earlier tipped twenty bucks on a two-dollar coffee,’” you said disbelievingly looking at the bills. Donna whistled

“Damn he’s got money money huh?” 

“I guess so,” you muttered to yourself. What was a good looking guy with cash to burn doing in a town like this? Still,  you weren’t going to look a gift horse in a mouth you pocketed the 20 and you didn’t think about the blonde boy again until the end of your shift. 

The sky had been cloudless blue this afternoon when you had gotten to work, but now the sky was pitch black with storm clouds rain pouring down. It was one thing to walk in the dark, that was normal, but walking in the dark and the rain... 

You didn’t have a car and you always walked to work.  you hated walking home in the dark, you would hate it even more in the rain. You sighed and stepped out of the door under to the restaurant awning braving yourself for the horrid walk home when someone called out. 

“Hey! need a hand?” It was the blonde guy from before this time with an umbrella in hand. was he waiting for you?

“lucky timing huh?” he laughed seemingly reading your thoughts, He seemed to be in a better mood than this morning. 

“Let me walk with you,” he said, offering you half of his umbrella, you bit your lower lip, were you really stupid enough to lead a stranger to your house?

“oh right introductions, I’m Denki Kaminari,” He said with a beaming smile 

“Denki Kaminari,” you repeated trying the name out before introducing yourself

“so can I walk you home?” he pressed 

“sure,” what other choice did you have?  Something was kind about his face and besides the pepper spray in your purse landed you a small sense of comfort. You stood close to him as you both hurried through the rain. 

“Why haven’t I seen you around before?” you asked 

“I’m not from around here, today’s my first day in town,” He said, you noticed he was leaning the umbrella heavily over you and his shoulder was getting soaked without thinking you sidestepped closer to him so you were both squarely under the umbrella. His face erupted in a fiery blush. He caught you staring, and the blush darkened. 

“S-Sorry I get flustered around cute people like you,” he mumbled

“for someone who told me they were madly in love,  you’re quite the flirt,” you laughed

“Like I said she doesn’t even know I exist,” he mumbled. A crack of lightning split the sky followed shortly by a deafening clap of thunder making you jump about a foot in the air. 

“scared of thunder?” He asked, not unkindly. 

“N-Not usually it was just so close,” you gulped before turning  “This is my house,” you said and he walked with you to the door. 

“Glad you got home dry,” He said turning to leave, something made you stop him.  you reached out and caught him by the sleeve of his jacket 

“It’s late, why don’t you stay until the rain lets up?” you asked 

“u-unless you have to go,” you added second-guessing your brash decision. 

“No! I mean no- I don’t have anywhere else to be, I’d love to come inside,” He stammered as he fumbled with the umbrella trying to close. You fumbled with your key before opening the door and ushering him inside.  You flicked on the lights as you toed off your shoes and nervously started messing with your hair.

“Anything I can get you to drink?” you offered as the two of you went further into the house

“I’m alright, thanks,” 

“So what brings you all the way out here? we don’t get many visitors,” you asked sitting down on your couch and motioned for him to sit next to you. 

“I was only supposed to be passing through but my car broke down- and well some other stuff happened, So I’ll be in town for the next few days,” Denki explained running his rand through his wet hair. He had really gotten soaked in order to keep you dry. 

“I know a good mechanic, She can fix up whatever’s wrong with your car for cheap,”  you offered. 

“You’re talking about Hatsume? I already stopped by she’s taking care of it,” he hummed. you nodded Mei was a good friend, she could probably do something really great with her talent if she ever got out of this town. 

“that’s good she’ll have you up and running in no time, you’ll be out of here before you know it,” you laughed,  you sounded almost bitter even to your own ears, jealous that he could leave and you were stuck.  

“I doubt it like I said,  there are other things keeping me here,” he sighed.

“what do you mean?” you asked before tensing you hardly knew him he probably didn’t want to vent to some stranger. 

“would you believe me If I told you?” Denki asked that tired look that he’d worn this morning was back. 

“Why wouldn’t I believe you?”

“I don’t know it sounds crazy to me and- and I don’t want to scare you off again,” he sighed.  again? you gulped. you literally had no reason to trust him but you decided to do so.

“tell me,”  you pushed 

“you know what a time loop is? I’m stuck in one,” he asked 

“Like- Groundhog Day?” you squeaked.

“Exactly like Groundhog Day I’m stuck on the same day over and over again,” he looked thrilled that you had gotten it so quickly. you promised to believe him but you couldn’t help but look at him like he was crazy. 

“you don’t believe me,” he whispered the excitement gone from his voice. 

“No- Denki I didn’t stay that, just this is all-”

“This is all so hard for me to wrap my head around Denki. Well, I can’t expect you to be pretty and smart doll. oh, stop hitting on me will ya? what am I flustering you?” he sighed, ranting the same way he’d done this morning. It finally clicked. 

“we’ve had this conversation before?”

“five times, although this is the first time in your house so the variety is nice,” he said with a shrug 

“I’m sorry but do you have something more than just- I don’t know a movie title and a conversation we might have had?” you asked pinching the bridge of your nose. 

“your boyfriend dumped you three weeks ago to chase after someone named Stacy Holden. It really messed you up because she isn’t even prettier than you and she’s kind of a bitch, also your mom is sick and freaking out over it but you’re like 90% sure it’s just a cold and in three seconds the powers going to go out because of the storm-” there was another clap of thunder and the lights flickered and shut off. you shrieked. 

He had been right, about everything. You had no idea how he’d know all that personal stuff and predicted the future  

“how did-”

“This is the first time we’ve talked in your house, not the first time I’ve been here,” he mumbled. It was hard to make out his face in the darkness but you could tell he was looking at you. 

“and what about all that stuff about me? you spent time stalking me or what?”

“you told me,”

“why would I tell you?”

“so I could prove to you that it’s all real, are you okay?” warm fingers brushed your arm making you jump,

“Sorry I didn’t mean to scare you,” he murmured. 

“it’s fine, I just couldn’t see you,” you sucked in a sharp breath “this is all a lot- fuck you've probably heard that before too,”

“don’t worry about supprising me, sweetheart I’ve heard it all at this point,” you shifted uncomfortably on the couch it was so dark and the rain was still pouring. a tense silence fell, well it was only tense for you Denki probably knew what was coming next.  

“I’m sorry this is happening to you,” you whispered, 

“it’s not your fault, well it is but don’t worry about it- also watch your eyes the lights are coming back on,”  he sighed as if on cue the lights surged back on, you winced your eyes adjusting to the change. 

“what do you mean it’s my fault?” you snapped 

“The first day we met- I know that’s today but the first day for me, I was a real dick to you, and-and you died, then I got stuck in this time loop so I’m pretty sure that if I can make up for that I’ll be set free,” he explained. 

“wait I died?”

“just once don’t worry about it-”

“No, tell me how I died!”

“I locked you in the kitchen to keep you out of the way of a gunman, also technically my fault,  but you escaped with your little quirk and got shot,” he huffed. your head was racing 

“This is all too much,” you whined squeezing your eyes shut. 

“I know, trust me I know, why don’t you just stay here and I’ll make dinner,” He offered this all seemed so natural to him. then again he had probably done this a few times by now. 

You followed him into the kitchen and sat down watching him as he grabbed ingredients from your cupboard. 

“You know Bill Murry went on a killing spree in Ground Hog day and you’re here making dinner for me,” you laughed

“Well I’m a Hero so I guess murder sprees aren’t really my style,” he said starting on a pot of rice and cutting peppers and other vegetables. stirfry maybe?

“you’re a hero? you never told me that,”

“Chargebolt, the lightning hero,” he Smiled throwing vegetables and meat into a saucepan. 

“that’s amazing, I’ve never met a hero before,” you said awestruck. He smiled, almost proudly.

“Not a lot of crime around here huh?” he asked

“Small town, we all know how to keep the peace,” you said with a shrug. The small talk continued as he cooked, adding the rice, soy sauce, and some scrambled egg into the pot It was like talking to someone you’d known all your life. 

“thank you Kaminari this looks delicious!” you said as he set the plate down in front of you. you grabbed a fork and quickly shoveling some of it into your mouth, you hadn’t realized how hungry you were, but hey a double shift would do that to you.

“I’m glad you like it,” he said shyly sitting down across from you and digging in himself. you finished your plate in record time and even went back for seconds. He really was a good cook, you’d have to keep him around if you ever lived to remember him. 

you slumped back in your chair, satisfied if not a little sleepy, Denki was looking at you. 

“what?” you asked

“The rain stopped,” He said you turned to the nearest window and saw that he was right. while there were still fat drops of water slipping from the roof but that was the only rain that fell. 

you turned back to him scowling  “If you think I’m going to let you leave just cus the rain stopped think again, you have to help me clean the dishes,” you scolded, scooping up the dirty dishes and taking them to the sink

“Leave em,” Denki said getting up to follow you.

“Easy for you to say they aren’t your dishes,” he touched your arm again, his fingers curled around your wrist and this time you didn’t flinch away. 

“Trust me, princess, tomorrow morning you’ll wake up and you will remember none of today it will be August 18th again and those dishes will never be used,” your frown deepened. 

“and what if you’re wrong? and I wake up on the 19th with a sink full of dirty pots and pans?”

“I’ll clean them myself, promise,” his voice was soft, and his eyes were so pained. His thumb caressed your wrist almost subconsciously. Suddenly something he had said this morning jumped back at you. I’m in love with a girl who doesn’t even know who I am. He had meant you, hadn’t he?

“what do you suggest we do, since you’re so against washing dishes?” you teased. he smirked and flicked on the stereo next to your sink. Soft music filled the kitchen.

“Dance with me?”

 “what?” you blinked 

“Dance,” he repeated his other hand circled your waist pulling you away from the counter into the open ‘dance floor’ of your kitchen. the song was slow and sang of young love. He was an excellent lead. As the two of you danced together you couldn’t help but be transfixed by his eyes. even in the harsh unflattering light, he was still gorgeous, your heart gave a flutter. damn it. you were not going to fall for some stranger hours after meeting him. 

“Better than doing the dishes?” he asked you adverted your gaze. damn. 

“When does the day reset? you asked looking at the clock it was almost midnight already. 

“Six AM, don’t worry princess you get to dance with me a little longer,” he laughed. 

“that’s not what I meant,” you mumbled. Mercifully he didn’t press, if he had you would have been forced to admit you’d been lying. The song ended and the radio station cut to commercials. and so too your dance came to an end, his hands left your body and you instantly missed their heat. 

“I guess I should get going,” he said with a sigh,

“I’ll see you tomorrow,” you said with a tight smile. 

“I hope so,” he laughed. He left his umbrella with you, good If this all was bullshit then he would have to come back for his umbrella and you could make him wash your dishes. 

you went to bed easily that night and dreamed of Denki. 

You didn’t love your job, who did? but you didn’t hate it either. You were a waitress at a hole in the wall type diner but it made ends meet and the place was nice enough. clean, comfortable, and small. Just like the rest of this town. you were terrified that one day you were going to look up and your whole life would be gone without ever stepping foot into the outside world just like your parents.

you shook your head and sinched your apron, a cute frilly thing the did little to stop actual stains, around your waist before heading out onto the floor. You were only 20 this job wasn’t forever it was just for right now, you had all the time in the world to get out to bigger and better things.

The restaurant was dead, one table of four, and one table of two both quietly enjoying their meals. Neither should need further assistance for quite some time.  A Carry Underwood song played over the speakers mixing with the clink of silverware. You had a good chunk of time before the dinner rush started so you busied yourself whipping down the empty tables and chairs.

The familiar chemically smell fills your nose and your eyes begin to burn. You added more water to the solution and cleaned the empty tables humming softly along to the country music. 

The bell on the door chimed your head shot up and saw the town sheriff enter. 

“(Y/n)(L/n)?” he asked

“Sheriff Copland?” you asked with a gulp, the seriousness in voice frightened you.

“Someone just trashed Tucker Hayes’s truck right in his driveway, you wouldn’t happen to know anything about that, would you?” he asked hooking his thumbs through the loops on his belt. you winced at the mention of your ex-boyfriend's name. 

“I’m sorry sir but I’ve been here all day I don’t know anything about it,” you said.  Donna came up behind you protectively

“That’s right she’s been here since the morning she hasn’t done jack,” She defended. 

“And you don’t happen to know anyone who might have done something like this?”

“no,” you gulped, he nodded and tipped his hat

“let me know if you hear anything ladies,” he said before leaving the way he came. you let out a shaky breath as relief flooded you.

“pig,” Donna spat as the door shut behind him before turning her attention to you. 

“don’t worry sweetie, you didn’t do anything besides whoever did it is a hero,” She huffed clapping you once on the shoulder before sending you off. What a weird day. 

The sky had been cloudless blue this afternoon when you had gotten to work, but now the sky was black with storm clouds rain pouring down. It was one thing to walk in the dark, that was normal, but walking in the dark and the rain...

You didn’t have a car and you always walked to work.  you hated walking home in the dark, you would hate even more in the rain and dar. You sighed and stepped out of the door under to the restaurant awning braving yourself for the horrid walk home when you saw a small black package leaning up against the side of the wall. 

You laughed almost giddily seeing it was an umbrella, but the joy quickly vanished you snagged the umbrella by the handle and turned back into the restaurant. but no one claimed it, so you took it for yourself. Today really must have been your lucky day, first someone broke Tucker’s prised truck, and you didn’t have to walk home in the rain. you must have an angel watching over you or something. 

Denki had been convinced that he was going crazy around the 100th August 18th. Now he was convinced that it wasn’t some delusion; it was pure hell. He had died and this was his eternal punishment. 

He woke up at Six AM sharp to the same blaring alarm going off twenty minutes before he had set it. he picked his phone up and threw it against the far wall. both the phone and the drywall cracked. 

The phone buzzed, a text from Mei informing him his car would be good as new first thing tomorrow morning and that the engine just needed a little tuning. The fact that he was trapped in this impossibly small town was the least of his worries. 

Maybe he should spend the full day in bed. was there any point in actually participating in this day? he groaned and rolled out of bed. No, he wasn’t giving up just yet. He needed to see you again. 

It really was hell, being so infatuated with a girl who would still greet him with the same polite, tempered smile. the smile was nice, the lack of recognition behind the action killed him. 

Maybe he could go wreak your ex’s car again today, that had been fun. He shrugged on his clothes. what he wouldn’t give for a different start to the morning.

The first day here, he had been such a dick, to you, to everyone. it had ended with him provoking the wrong person. and you had died because of it. He hadn’t made that mistake again. Now, almost six months of Agust 18ths, he was in love with you.  

He left his hotel room and started the agonizing motions of the day. The girl running down the hall with her shirt inside out, he caught her and informed her of the mistake. The complimentary breakfast was burned so he skipped it altogether. The cat stuck in a tree that he helped down. Then he paused, and Tucker Hayes came around the corner sharply. The first day he had run straight into Denki and it had ended in a fistfight. It was the only part of the first day he really missed, Tucker was a jack ass and probably deserved a good beating, but he was trying to be better. He gave the son of a bitch a friendly wave and continued on his way. 

He crossed the street, avoiding the man who would shoot up the diner where you worked, if provoked and started walking through the park.  He retrieved a kite from a tree, and sat on a bench for a long time, talking to the man who had just lost his wife. the stranger left happier and Denki sat alone for a few moments feeling the sunshine on his skin. the rain would come in shortly.  Not that he minded, He had always liked the rain. 

His stoumach growled and he sighed. No breakfast meant he was in need of an early lunch or at least a cup of coffee. This was the time he was supposed to see you. 

Not yet, he wasn’t ready he would stay a little longer in the sunshine and see you a little later, He was sure that he couldn’t stay away long, he had a nasty habit of inserting himself in your life. 

Denki sighed and smacked himself right on his forehead. As if he could beat away the image burned into the back of his eyelids. “there are other restaurants, I can eat somewhere else!” he groaned to himself. besides, there were other acts of good he could do if he just ignored his hunger

Still, he had avoided you all day yesterday and it hadn’t been much better. so he’d have to do both then. Do some good now and see you a little later. 

The sky had been cloudless blue this afternoon when you had gotten to work, but now the sky was black with storm clouds rain pouring down. It was one thing to walk in the dark, that was normal, but walking in the dark and the rain...

You didn’t have a car and you always walked to work.  you hated walking home in the dark, you would hate even more in the rain and dar. You sighed and stepped out of the door under to the restaurant awning braving yourself for the horrid walk home when you saw someone approaching you in the rain. A handsome looking blonde man holding a black umbrella. 

“Need a hand?” he asked, you didn’t recognize the kind stranger but you decided instantly to trust him, what other choice did you have? Something was kind about his face and besides the pepper spray in your purse landed you a small sense of comfort. 

“Thank you so much!” you called ducking under the umbrella your shoulder bumping against his. 

“I’m Kaminari,” he introduced you followed his lead and told him your name. He smiled and repeated the name.

“Are you new in town Kaminari? I don’t think I’ve seen you around before,” you said above the rain. 

“that’s one way to put it, I’m just passing through I thought I’d do some good while I was here,” he responded. your heart melted and you felt a sudden rush of affection for this stranger. it sure didn’t hurt that he was so good looking. a New and Hot guy walking you home, you would have to brag about this later to the other girls. 

“Well, I sure appreciate the gesture,” you giggled a sudden flash of lightning caught you off guard and the accompanying clap of thunder made you jump. 

“scared of the thunder?” he asked sympathetically. 

“N-Not usually it was just so close you know?” you tried to laugh it off but you were still shaking. you looked back to the main road and realized you had walked right past the turn-off to your house, 

“oh, hey-”

“you had a long shift, right? do you want to stop for a bite to eat, my treat,” he offered. then quickly amended “ah that was totally creepy right? why don’t I just give you the umbrella-”

it was your turn to cut him off.  “actually dinner sounds nice,” you said and he relaxed “although It’s almost ten I don’t know any place that would be open- besides my dinner and I’m not going back there.”

 “I think I know a place that’s still serving people,” he said you nodded and let him lead the way. It was funny how someone new to town seemed to know this place better than you. Sure enough, Kaminari lead you to a small Mexican restaurant with the lights still on. 

“I used to come here all the time when I was a kid,” said softly remembering the times you would come here with your family. you were ushered out of the rain and to a table, Kaminari slid into the seat across from you.

“order anything you want, my treat,” he said not looking at the menu himself.

“you’re awfully generous,” you said blinking.  

“I’m just lucky enough to have the means to be generous,” he said with a shrug and then the waitress was there to take your order. 

Dinner was accompanied by and easy conversation, As it turned out Denki was a pro hero, just passing through and stuck here because of a broke down car. 

“I’m sorry to hear that, this isn’t a very good place to get stuck, I mean you must be bored half to death,” you said sympathetically. 

“Don’t get me wrong it’s no Villian attaching the city, but there is plenty to do around here, Lots of cats to save from trees,” He teased and you laughed politely. 

“And girls to offer umbrellas to,” you added. he smiled and agreed. it was a shame he was just passing through, you would have loved to spend more time with him. 

“Thank you for the meal,” you said after both plates had long been cleared and you were both on your way out the door. The rain had stopped but you still staid close to him. 

“do you mind if we take one more detour before I take you home?” he asked. in truth, you were exhausted but you agreed without hesitation. After all, it wasn’t every day you met a pro hero. 

Again he took you to a place from your childhood. A small play structure on the top of a hill. It would be unfair to call it a park it was so small. but it was nice to be back here, it made you feel like a child again. 

“Look at the stars,” Kaminari whispered his head already tilted to the sky.  you looked up and gasped. The clouds had parted revealing the inky black sky dotted with stars. they glimmered like bits of broken glass, or maybe diamonds were a better comparison. the longer you looked the more awestruck you became. 

“it’s beautiful,” you breathed, not wanting to shatter this perfect moment. 

“It is,” he whispered back before taking a step closer and pointing up at the sky. 

“you see that one right there, the one that’s not twinkling?” He asked, you followed his outstretched finger and saw what he was talking about. 

“yeah,”

“that’s not actually a star, it’s Mars,” he said, dropping his arm. you were suddenly very aware of how close he was. the heat of his body radiating to yours.  

“do you want to see something really beautiful?” he asked

“I swear if you make me look at myself-”

“no, here,”  he laughed and spun you around by your shoulders so you were facing the opposite direction. you gasped at the sight. 

From the top of the hill, you could see everything. the whole town it seemed like. Soft multi-colored lights dotted the houses and storefronts, twinkling just like the stars. It was incredible, you had lived here your whole life but this was the first time you had seen it like this.

“It really is beautiful, and that’s saying a lot, I really hate it here you know?” you laughed, unable to take your eyes away from the scene in front of you. 

“you really shouldn’t, there are so many great things about this place,” he protested softly. 

“like?”

“like you,”

“Kaminari?”

“Yeah?”

“Can I kiss you?” you had no idea what compelled you to ask it, but the words seemed to hand in the air. He didn’t respond, instead, he cupped your jaw and pulled your face closer, your eyes fluttered shut and your lips connected to his. 

His lips were softer than you were expecting. you hummed against his lips unthinkingly as your lips moved against his. There was a well of untapped passion just under the surface of this kiss, you could feel it, maybe Denki was as attracted to you as you were to him. but you didn’t push it, I mean it would be too much to make out on the first date right?  you pulled away and licked your lips tasting the remnants of him on your mouth. 

The awkward silence fell lasted only for a few moments before Kaminari spoke. 

“it’s almost midnight, we should get you home.” You nodded and started the walk home. it all ended too quickly. it was only a few short minutes before you were at your front door. 

“thank you I had a great time tonight,” you said reaching around and opening your door. 

“I know you probably have to get going as soon as possible, but I’m working the morning shift tomorrow so if you want to stop by,” you trailed off not knowing what you were offering him. 

“I’ll be sure to say goodbye tomorrow, have a good night (y/n),” he said before leaving. once you were inside you couldn’t help but squeal. a date with a hero, How lucky were you?

Denki couldn’t help but smile as he walked home he had spent about six mouths reliving this day and this had been the first time he had kissed you. For the first time, he went to bed with a smile. 

Soft rays of sunshine poked through the curtain waking Denki slowly. Then he shot up reaching for his phone, The alarm was off. he fell out of bed and was quick to spring back up. it was the 19th. He laughed giddily, disbelievingly. Then he remembered his promise to you a promise you would actually remember.

Denki couldn’t stop himself from grinning while he stumbled around the room trying to get dressed before booking it out of the room. No girl running down the hall with her shirt inside out No burned breakfast. It was a new day full of new choices. 

He breathed in the morning air, it smelled like rain. He was like a kid on Christmas as he burst into the small Diner his eyes finding you at once. you were just jotting down someone's order but you still looked up and smiled when you saw him. 

He had just sat down when you appeared at his table looking flushed, “what can I get started for you?” you asked 

“Bacon and eggs,” he said without thinking. you nodded 

“I’ll have that right out for you, so what time are you planning on hitting the road?” you added the last bit casually but he could hear the anxiety in your voice. He chuckled, 

“Actually not anytime soon, I think I’m going to stay here for a while,”