#THAT SHE PROBABLY JUST GOT WHY WOULDN'T YOU BE CONCERNED FOR YOUR CHILD WHO IS DRINKING DEADDSD ANIMAL BLOOD

[flying-cat]

DO YOU EVER SEE A TAKE ON ANITWT OR BNHATWT AND YOU FEEL LIKE YOU JUST HAVE TO STRANGLE THIS PERSON THROUGH THE SCREEN RIGHT NOW BECAUSE I'M FEELING IT

[lucimaaie]

missed you ✧.* tlou

pairings - ellie williams x fem!reader

summary - ellie was just missing you when you showed up at her doorstep

warning - short & not proofread as always

being ellie's ex was no doubt awkward. more at the beginning when everything's fresh and you just have to get used to not being together anymore. seeing something that reminds you of her or not being able to knock on her door and say. "i just need you right now."

then a couple months pass, a year, then three and things were normal. relatively normal for exes, ellie guessed. you didn't talk much besides what was needed or when you happened to end up together.

ellie wasn’t going to admit that she missed you. you were her first relationship, sure. that mattered, she knew that, but something in her head told her she needed to not need you. that that was the mature thing to do: not needing your ex-girlfriend. that’s not what she wanted to call you.

she couldn’t rekindle things again, could she? what if she fucked everything up again and everyone in the town found out? she rolled her eyes at the thought and tried to fix the mess she’d made of her sketch. she’d gotten your nose all wrong and it just didn’t look like you.

the thought that she was forgetting what you look like made her want to knock on your door at..3am in the morning. “damn,” ellie rubbed her eye as she realized the time. she shut her book and walked over to her bed when a quiet rapping on the door stopped her. she waited for it to continue and it did. in that familiar beat that was meant for the two of you when sneaking out to see each other was a big no-no.

ellie realizing it was you, cursed as she searched for pants to put on and a jacket to throw on. she scrambled around to get dressed before opening the door with a startled expression. "hi."

"hi." you sung, swaying from side to side like a child.

ellie tilted her head at your behavior before replying. "are you okay?"

"m'finee. why does everyone keep asking that?" you stepped forward to lean against the doorframe but you ended up leaning and missing the frame altogether.

"woah," ellie barely caught you when it hit her. you were drunk. or high off your ass. or both. either way it was concerning how you got like this and decided to come to her of all people. "you're drunk. like really drunk." her hands wrapped around your waist moved to your arms, pulling you inside before closing the door behind you. "drunk." ellie laughed in disbelief as she looked at you.

she'd wanted to see you, but this wasn't exactly the way she imagined it. regardless, she was happy to see you not so tense around her. "staring." you sang again, flopping back onto the bed.

"shit, sorry. let's get you sober." she grabbed the cup on her desk and walked to the bathroom, but not before taking a glance at you. "ish." it wasn't long before she sat next to you. "here."

you sat up and gulped down the water, something you'd probably regret later, and handed her the cup. "ah," you laid back down.

"ah-ah" ellie pulled you back up. "you are not gonna throw up on my bed. please don't do that."

you opened your mouth in offense. "I wouldn't-" you hiccuped. "do that. I wouldn't do that, el. I promise." you said as if it was the most serious thing on earth.

"i believe you." ellie couldn't help but laugh.

she let out a deep breath as she looked at you in your own world. it was good seeing you be you again. it reminded of her of the nights she'd force you into watching some shitty 80s movie for movie night and listen to you complain about it the whole time. or patrols when you'd gift her some random thing you found who knows where saying "it reminds me of you." with a horrible attempt at a wink. days when there was less to worry about.

"missed you, you know." she said quietly. "a lot actually." the confession didn't come off her chest easily but you wouldn't remember later anyway. call it a test run.

"I missed you too, e." you said so naturally she questioned the truth of it. though it seems she was given her answer when you patted around for her hand. she quickly gave it to you. "we shouldn't have broke up." you slurred.

ellie froze. "don't say that."

"why not?" you pouted, leaning your head onto your shoulder. you looked up at her with slightly glossy eyes.

"cause i'm gonna think it's true.” she disconnected her hand from yours to put her arm around your shoulder. “and you’re drunk which meant i shouldn’t take anything you say to heart.”

“that’s just mean. you should take everything i say to heart.” you nuzzled your head into her neck, making her let out a strained hum. you knew she was touch-starved and was probably doing this to tease her. goddamn you.

“that’s very credible.” she got up. “c’mon, you’re gonna sit up in bed till you fall asleep.” ellie squatted down to take off your boots and set them by the bed.

“will you lay down with me?”

her eyes flicked back up to you at the question. she shut them for a while, trying to keep her head on a straight. “you’re not laying down, remember?”

“fine. will you sit up with me?”

“in bed?”

“yup.” you popped the p like this was some casual occurrence. like the last time you’d been this close wasn’t three years ago.

“okay.” ellie said slowly.

“yay.”

“just like a kid.” ellie smiled as she pulled back the covers and patted the spot. you glared at her for the comment and she matched the energy with a smile in her eyes. “get in, kid.”

“only cause i want to.”

after you slid in, ellie did the same. she looked at the ceiling as you scooted closer to her and laid your head on her shoulder again. this time your hands snuck around her waist. “had no idea you were a cuddly drunk.” ellie smiled as you giggled.

“i’ve grown up.”

“i see.” ellie grabbed on your hands from her waist, feeling brave enough to lace your fingers together. she’d enjoy the closeness for the moment. in the morning, you’d awkwardly apologize and scamper off. probably not talk to her for a while.

“missed you.” you mumbled sleepily before closing your eyes. “missed this.”

“me too,” ellie looked at you in this relaxed state. thankful for the opportunity to see this before the morning hit. but she didn’t want to think about that now. she wanted to think of how cute you looked sleepy. how much you enjoyed her touch. how much she was enjoying your touch. “me too.” she laid her head on yours.

thank you for reading!

[worriedvision]

Ajaw ruins his relationship with you - Kinich

Gender neutral reader, angst. No happy ending here, borderline crack BC Ajaw is a cracky character let's be honest. Ajaws a little shit here

--

Kinich had, somehow, caught your eye enough for you to successfully land a date with him. One date becomes two, and the third one ends in you inviting him over for a drink. He accepts, and before you know it your home becomes a place for him to call home as well. While Kinich wasn't very emotive, he seemed to smile just a bit around you.

However, the couple affections you would expect from him in a relationship weren't coming. Nothing like kissing or hugging, and for a while you think it's because Kinich was not a touchy person. You also knew he was very busy with his work, which was why the first few times he left and told you not to wait for him you didn't think much. At the time, in fact, you were more attracted to him because he was honest with you.

"Don't wait up." He blankly states, every morning he leaves. If you're lucky, he comes back at night time only to sleep - he doesn't make himself any food or drink from your home.

You got suspicious of him when you were hanging out with Mualani, and she brought up the fact someone called Ajaw wouldn't stop nagging at Kinich. When you ask who Ajaw was, rather if this was his boss, Mualani laughs.

"Ajaw probably thinks so, but they bickering too often to do any work together." Mualani tuts. "Do you never hear Ajaw? That voice is so... Annoying to hear!"

"No...I've never met this Ajaw." You hum out, Mualani gasping.

"Tell me your tricks!"

--

Once you get home from your interaction with your friend, you've had enough time to think. After some long thinking, you come to a decision. You move the stuff that's Kinich's, leaving them by the front door, and add temporary locks in addition to the one your key locks until you can change the lock.

To your surprise, Kinich sounds surprised when he notices his bags out. You refuse to open the door, having more than enough time to waste as you had a day off, and Kinich defeatedly picks up his few belongings before leaving.

--

"Hah! You should see your face!" Ajaw jeers, Mualani and Kinich groaning out at Ajaws harsh words. "Good thing _ wisened up and realised they can do a lot better than some mortal being that can't even get himself a group of companions!"

"Because you always ruin things." Mualani sighs.

"Hey, I can't take credit for this one! I never even once spoke around _!" Ajaw shrugs, putting some sunglasses on.

"I was hoping to finally get to spend some time with them. I've finally got enough cover for a few days." Kinich states, seeming to realise what Ajaw did. "...Mualani, you know how annoying Ajaw is. Do you know if -"

"Oddly enough no! Honestly, I'm jealous. Ajaw doesn't know when to shut up."

"...It seems they do." Kinich massages his temples, Mualani making eye contact with him.

"...Do you think they were suspicious you were seeing Ajaw? Yuck!"

"Hey, I can hear you, ya know?!"

"It makes sense though. They don't know Ajaw isn't even human, and also isn't mortal."

"Hahaha! Oh boy, even I didn't think keeping my mouth shut around your potential love interests would give this benefit!" Ajaw cackles, seeing Kinich's hand flying towards him. "Hey, what are - AHH!"

--

You keep getting asked if Kinich is single, each time you saying he wasn't seeing you anymore before they seem excited to pursue a taken man. It's quite concerning, really, you think theres little dignity in being the other person in the relationship.

Kinich tried to talk to you, but each time you saw him you'd make an excuse for being too busy before hearing some weird child cackling and screaming in retaliation to someone reacting to them. As much as his hurt expression spoke to you, you still knew in your mind that Kinich was in a relationship.

Even if he wasn't, you would know in your mind that you were the second choice.

[floatyflowers]

Dark! Percy Jackson Reverse Harem x Reader|| Chapter Five

<<< Chapter Four

"My back hurts so bad right now"

"It must be the seats...There is no way this is what sacred smells like"

Percy whines, as all four of you sit in the back of the bus.

The blond boy feels bothered for not being able to sit beside you.

"We’re soldiers on a mission. It’s not a vacation." Annabeth shoots back.

You start scratching your back from the itchness and the pain.

"I will go to the bathroom in the store, be right back"

You announce and leave before they can say anything to you.

Percy stands up to follow you, but Annabeth forces him back in his seat.

"No, you will stay right there, I'm going to go check on her"

°°°

The moment Annabeth enters the toilet, she is shocked to see white wings on your back.

"Are those wings? And your eyes, they are red"

"Yes" you answer nervously.

"Oh...wow"

"I know, do you think I can fly with them?" you ask excitedly.

I mean it's every child's dream to have wings to fly.

And now you got the chance to do that.

"Your wings might cause a huge problem it will attract monsters"

"Don't worry, my dad gave me a music box to keep the monsters away"

You pull out the music box from your bag.

"Also, can humans see my wings?"

A woman enters the toilet after you ask that question.

She only washes her hands then walks out.

"No, they don't" Annabeth says after the woman leave.

"We need to leave, I sense that we are being followed by a monster"

You turn on the music box as a beautiful melody begins to play.

"This will keep us safe"

°°°

You and Annabeth walk into the bus with Annabeth shouting to the two boys to open the windows.

Percy only stares at you in surprise at your new appearance, then hurries off to break the window with Grover when he sees Mrs. Dodds.

As the passengers get off the bus when the driver announces emergency, one of the furies fly into the bus through the broken window.

The monster looks at you ready to approach you.

But the melody makes it scream in pain when it was close to touching you.

Annabeth takes her chance and throws her dagger at the fury, killing it as it turns into dust.

All four of you escape quickly.

°°°

"Hades has kidnapped your mother, (Y/n)"

Annabeth says, as you walk all together in the Satyr path.

"What? Why would he do that!" you exclaim, worried for your mother.

"Who told you that?" Percy inquires, looking at her in suspicion.

But before she could answer, Grover sniffs the air.

"Do you guys smell that?" 

"Grover, I’m not kidding..." Percy asserts.

"No, neither am I. Just shush."

"Hamburgers" you sigh at Grover, causing him to blush.

"I think you are just hungry, Grover"

"No, I'm not, somebody's making hamburgers in the middle of nowhere, on a satyr path. Whoever it is... they’re from our world."

°°°

You don't know what made you trust Percy and go inside Medusa's house along with Grover and Annabeth.

Probably because Mrs.Dodds is outside waiting to snatch you and Percy away.

"You're concerned I would hold a grudge against you simply because you are a daughter of Athena?"

You don't dare to look at Medusa even if she is hiding her eyes.

Medusa continues speaking to Annabeth.

"You shouldn’t be. We're not our parents after all. And you and I might have more in common than you think. Please, sit and eat."

Letting out a nervous breath after Medusa starts speaking to you.

"You must be the daughter of Calista, you look like her when she was your age."

Medusa notices that you are not looking at her, she could feel your fear.

"Your mother was a friend of mind, she visited me and told me about her encounters with the gods, poor thing, they wouldn't leave her"

"...They" you inquire.

"Your mother is the daughter of Nyx, her beauty attracted the attention of many gods including Poseidon, Hades, Apollo, Hermes, and Eros" 

Percy shivers at the thought that his father loved your mother.

Maybe he can succeed where his father failed.

"Your mother is an enchanteress not a demigod"

Grover jokes, but stops when Annabeth glares at him.

That must be why Hades kidnapped your mother.

Little do you know that you might up having a similar fate like your mother.

But with demigods instead.

Masterlist

[candiiee]

ʜᴇʀᴏᴇꜱ ᴠɪʟʟᴀɪɴꜱ ᴀɴᴅ ᴏᴛʜᴇʀ ᴛʜɪɴɢꜱ ᴘʀᴏʟᴏɢᴜᴇ: ɪɴɴᴏᴄᴇɴᴄᴇ ɪꜱ ꜰʀᴀɢɪʟᴇ

ɪᴢᴜᴋᴜ ᴍ

summary: your childhood

warnings: nightmares, anxiety, depression, murder, death, violence, mention of running away

an: izuku is honestly a cute beam of sunshine here in reader’s sad little life. Not proofread.

“Y/N?” His soft breaks you out of your self deprecating thoughts. You’re both sitting under a tree, watching Bakugo and his lackeys play heroes in the playground.

You look up into his soft doe eyes. “Yeah?”

“Are you okay? I..couldn’t help but notice you seemed to be sad.” Izuku says, looking concerned.

You smile in fake happiness, “I’m fine. Why aren’t you with them?” You gesture towards Bakugo with a nod of your head.

“Oh..well, cause I’m, y’know, quirkless, and stuff, he doesn’t want me to join in. Cause heroes have quirks..and they're playing heroes. Actually, why aren’t you with them?” He twiddles his fingers nervously.

You frown, “That’s stupid. You can be a hero if you wanted to Izuku. And I’m not with them cause Bakugo thinks a quirk called ‘pickpocket’ sounds villainy.”

He flushes, eyes widening, in hope you think. "Really..?" Practically ignoring what you said after.

You nod, "You can be one, Izuku." Secretly wishing he would assure you that your quirk wasn’t evil, but it’s not like you could talk.

He blinks, a bunch of unreadable emotions going through him. "Thank you.."

You pause, "What time is it? I think I have to go now." He frowns, "You haven't even been here that long." You pause, thinking of a lie.

"Er..I have an appointment." You say, hoping he believes it.

He pauses not quite believing it, but too nice to pry. "Ok..see you tomorrow?" He asks hopefully.

You smile and nod, relieved he somewhat believed you. "I'll try." He hoped he wouldn't question how and why you planned on going home. Or how you even got here at the park for that matter.

Yep, nothing suspicious about a five year old going to a park all by themselves.

You waved bye, “Bye Izuku.” As you left, you passed by Bakugo, and stuck your tongue out.

He glares at, looking like he’s about to say something, but you’re too far to hear it.

The walk home is adventurous. Following your parent’s advice, use and ‘practice’ your quirk’s abilities by ‘borrowing’ wallets. You knew it was wrong. But your daily practice helped your family get by. Granted, the least they could do was be proud of you for helping.

You make it home, dumping your pockets contents, save for some 5 dollar bills. “Mom.” You say, announcing your arrival.

Just another normal day as a low rank thief.

—————

You’re eight now. With a bigger knowledge of the world and reality then any child should know. Using your quirk everyday to see what’s inside other’s pockets, then pickpocketing it.

Downright evil. You can’t help but feel glad Izuku won’t ever get to know. He’d try to save you or whatever.

You still continue meeting up with him at the park, playing together. Even though he would probably like to visit you, and maybe a bit hurt that you refuse.

That is, till you see your parents die.

A completely normal day. Mother hits you for not meeting the quota. You don’t cry. You’re used to it.

Your dad doesn’t show up till late night, and frantic. He immediately starts packing up after a brief conversation with your mom and a lot of yelling. Soon your mom joins in, telling you to make yourself useful and help.

So you do. And right in the process of stuffing your saved and stolen money into all your pockets, you hear someone banging on the door.

And who could that be, so late at night? And why did your parents look so terrified?

“We’re too late.” Your mother utters, standing still in terror. “Late?” You question.

That snaps her out of it. “Hide in the cupboards. Now.”

You blink, “Why?”

“Just do it!”

More banging, and curses.

She grabs your old stuffed dog toy, long discarded, and shoves it into your hands. “Don’t make a sound, and hang onto that.”

She pushes you into a cramped cupboard, and you protest. “Stay here and if you hear anything, don’t scream, don’t cry, don’t make a sound. Got it?”

You blink in shock, “Why..?”

She deeply inhales, “Your father borrowed money from people, bad people. So now they want to hurt him. And they don’t care who. So hide.”

That shuts you up. You nod, and your mother sighs, “Good. And don’t come out till you hear absolutely nothing.” She pauses, and the door breaks. “I love you.” She closes the door, and leaves you in darkness.

You hear screaming, and gunshots. It makes you jump, and you close your eyes shut. You dare to crack the door, just a bit.

What you see makes you wish you had obeyed. Your blood runs cold. Your dad lies dead, bleeding from his head, eyes lifeless but wide open.

Your mom was a gun pressed against her head.

“Where’s the money!” The man, at least you think is on, barks.

“U-under the mattress!” Your mom manages to say.

Which she would be right. If not for the fact that while you were packing up, you had grabbed it and put it in your pockets. You stiffen. If your mom died, her blood would be on you.

One of the men stormed into your shared room. A bunch of noises of things getting tossed around, and he returned, shaking his head. “Nuthin.”

The man cocks the gun. “Last chance.”

“I don’t know!” She cries. The gun goes off. And your mom falls over in a pool of her own blood.

You almost cried out and got out of the darn cupboard. But you remember her words.

You wanted to go out there and kill them. But now is not the time. You grip the stuffie, practically strangling it.

You wake up in a cold sweat. You blink. Oh right. You are not eight anymore. You are seventeen, had some kills under your belt, and was living in a shoddy abandoned shed on the top of a rooftop.

You rub your eyes, thinking about how somehow, your eight year old self had stuffed everything they could into a backpack, opened the window and never looked back.

You even still had that darn stuffie. It was a miracle you had lived this long. No thanks to heroes.

Today was a new day of stealing, maybe killing if anyone got in your way. Granted, you had already gotten your revenge by slitting their throats with a knife, after a long three years of stalking.

And you did feel guilty for indirectly being the reason your mother died. And maybe the authorities were on your tail. But you had outrun them. Maybe. Probably.

You sigh, surveying your scars on your arm. Caused by getting into knife fights with low rank scum.

You get off the floor and your sad excuse of a mattress, and start your day.

@candiiee 2024

Taglist:

@kimyoudraft hereee

@dokidokidraft heree

[impactrueno]

Hi! I really love your comics, and art in general! Your Hey Arnold and Simpsons stuff was fire, and I've been loving your Beetlejuice comics (Lydia and Juice's falling out got me tearing up lmao) As far as your Beetleverse comics go - idk if this is something you've mentioned somewhere - I know they're probably meant to be, like, separate canons and stuff, but if they were to take place in the same kinda "timeline", what would the order of events be?

Does CartoonLydia meeting older MovieLydia - a Lydia who's had some really negative experiences with MovieBJ and preaches that ToonLydia SHOULD NOT trust ToonBJ - have any impact on her getting fed up with her BJ and breaking it off with him?

Again, thank you for making these comics - they're dope as hell, and I'm excited for what comes next!

thank you so much!

the beetleverse comics are just a "what if" where we pull each duo out of their respective canons (unceremoniously) and force them to be in their little white void enclosure that i made for them lol

so the events in the story i'm currently doing haven't been influenced by any of that. but if they were to take place in the same timeline, it'd happen some time before the end of the show (maybe even before season 4,) and i think movie lyds telling her to be wary of toon bj would make her doubt herself and her beej for a moment, but then would be proven wrong or realize that movie lydia was wrong about him. and this would not make sense in a real life situation (in fact, it would be concerning) but here's the thing:

something i've found interesting to think about with the beetleverse comics is that each duo operates on different logic. movie lydia is closer to real life logic aka "why the hell are you letting this child hang around so closely with this weird old man" but cartoon bj and lyds work under saturday morning cartoon logic, meaning none of the things movie lydia is fearing would ever happen, because it's a show for kids. so in their little universe, cartoon lydia is perfectly safe with her beej, who as we all know would sooner die all over again than to cause her any harm, so she has nothing to fear. they'll just be best friends forever (with a few bumps along the road of course) and that's it. movie lydia can't even wrap her head around that.

now going back to the current story of them 30 years later; i'm still writing them under cartoon logic for the most part, but with a bit more realistic flavor. so their relationship is still too weird to happen in real life, only now we're seeing the consequences of the friction between them that was already there in the cartoon, and he can't joke his way out of this one or have silly incidental music and sound effects to lessen the blow. movie lydia's warnings wouldn't have had much of an effect on them because this was something that was going to happen either way, and cartoon lydia's problem with bj was never "you're a creepy old man why are you obsessed with me" (real life logic) and more so "you're supposed to be my best friend in the whole world but all i do is babysit you and solve your problems for you while you try to scam some sucker out of their money and i've had it" (cartoon logic)

i hope all that makes sense lol

[ladykailitha]

Not All That Glitters is Gold Part 17

This is the last chapter of this story. I do have the sequel halfway written and it will be most of the way, if not all the way done before I post the first chapter.

It's called "Everything I Ever Wanted" and will be four chapters, each based on a part of Steve's new life I wanted to highlight. Retirement, Steve's charity, the bonding and mating, and the birth of their first child and the fallout with his parents.

I will still keep the Glitters tag list for the sequel. I wouldn't normally, but it's such a little thing, it's just easier that way. If you want to be taken off the list for the sequel, let me know.

Here is Steve's happily ever after. As it should be.

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7 Part 8 Part 9 Part 10 Part 11 Part 12 Part 13 Part 14 Part 15 Part 16

****

Steve hated his heats before, but he loathed them now. Now he had an alpha he wanted to share it with, only they weren’t allowed to.

It was only a mini heat to clear out a minor faux bond and would barely last twenty four hours, but they would be the most miserable twenty four hours of his life and that included the twenty four hours after he learned he was infertile.

But Robin was the best handler in the business for a reason. The second his body temperature spiked, Xander and her got Eddie out and into her apartment, still in rut as he was.

Then she rebuilt Steve’s nest from scratch to perfection with the minor edition of Eddie’s handkerchief under his pillow.

The handkerchief plus, Eddie’s scent still sending out waves toward Steve’s apartment would help mitigate the absolute misery he would be in, but he still hated it.

Once all traces of the heat were out of his system, and his temperature going back to normal was Steve allowed visitors. Not even Robin was allowed inside his bedroom during his heats.

Though that was mainly because the poor omega was so pitiful and crying that a lot of handlers would be emotional wrecks afterwards.

Robin had made the mistake once when a heat came a week early due to some stress that was happening in Steve’s life and she was a sobbing mess the whole time he was in heat.

No one knew why the sight of an omega in heat drove betas to such an extreme emotional response, but the prevailing theory was that it was an evolutionary throw back to the pre-historic era so that betas would be moved to not take advantage of the omega in their most vulnerable time.

He showered and stepped out to his front room and smiled. Robin and Eddie were on the sofa waiting for him.

“Hey, princess,” Eddie murmured. “How are you feeling?”

Steve groaned and flopped down on the seat between the two of them. “Like I’ve been run over. The mini heats are the worst. Because you can’t prepare for them.”

“Especially since that was his first mini heat,” Robin commented dryly, “that automatically makes it worse.”

Eddie raised an eyebrow. “You don’t usually get mini heats?”

“Nope!” Steve said, popping the P. “Robin carefully curates my clients so that it’s never happened. I’ve experienced faux bonds before, the chemical bonding of scents instead of an actual bite bond. Those are common enough. But no, no mini heats for me.”

Eddie looked over at Robin who looked smug.

“Well that’s good then,” he said.

Steve nodded. He chewed on his lower lip and sighed. “I think we need to talk about the golden omega thing. It’s not possible, right?”

Robin and Eddie raised their eyebrows.

“Stevie,” Eddie said gently, “not only is it possible, it’s highly probable.”

Steve looked over at Robin and she nodded.

“Wait, what?”

“You don’t have to do anything about it now,” Robin said. “As long as you are a Starcourt escort you’ll spend your heats alone. And then if you want to get bonded to Eddie and have pups with him, walk away from the job and then mate.”

Steve went stock still as he mulled it over in his mind. Eddie and Robin exchanged concerned glances but stayed silent as Steve’s entire world view was shifted on its axis.

Starcourt had always treated Steve like he was special. It was one of the reasons his cherry popping was such a major event. His parents had sneered at the whole experience, but the agency had gone out of their way to make Steve feel safe in the process.

But to be a golden omega for real? And not just because Eddie wanted him to be special. Not that Eddie didn’t already think he was special, but this would cement how special Steve actually was.

He knew his parents would immediately come out of the woodwork to claim more money for being a golden omega, but it would also be the sweetest justice imaginable.

Because they could have gotten more from Steve’s omegahood and chose to throw him away like he didn’t matter. Only coming back when they needed more money.

“Explain it to me,” he whispered.

And they did. Robin leading the way with Eddie filling in spots where he thought Steve needed more clarity. When they were done Steve looked at Robin and said with tears in his eyes, “If I retire do I lose you?”

Robin’s lip quivered and she got up on her knees. She gently took Steve’s face in her hands. “No. Absolutely not. Yes, an omega escort has to be a handler’s top priority, but you are my best friend. My platonic soulmate, you’d have to murder me to get me to leave you. Do you understand?”

Steve nodded and then threw himself into her arms. Having to choose between the love of his life and his best friend would have been the hardest thing he would have ever had to do. But this made it easy.

They talked about it for a bit and ultimately it was decided Steve would retire when he turned thirty. It would give him a couple more years do a job he loved, but still give Eddie and him plenty of time to have pups.

“That’s a perfect solution,” Eddie agreed. “And I think the band will agree to a couple years break making music so we can all focus on our family lives.”

Steve’s omega chirped happily. Eddie chuckled and pulled him onto his lap. He nuzzled Steve’s scent gland and the omega chirped again.

“Look at you,” Robin said happily. “All content and comfortable. You just got every thing you could ever want, you lucky bastard.”

Steve grinned at her. “I am so blessed.”

Eddie blew a raspberry under Steve’s ear causing him to giggle.

“Eddie!” he protested, trying to push the alpha away, but Eddie did it again, this time on his cheek.

Soon they were wrestling and Steve ended up on the floor, looking up at a surprised Eddie.

“Rude,” Steve huffed as he got to his feet.

“Oops!”

Robin shook her head.

Eddie brought out Steve’s silly side and Steve let Eddie be himself. Apparently the universe knew what it was doing after all with these two.

****

The next three years passed by in a blur.

Chrissy had become the star Steve always knew she was. But of course, that meant her ex-boyfriend and her mother found out about her leaving the convent.

Steve was actually there to witness their faces, purple with rage showing up at some event she was at. The alpha actress she was with had to call security to get them removed.

Chrissy released a statement through the agency that spoke of her love of the job, the religious abuse her mother had put her through, and the love she thought was eternal with Jason turning to ash when she found out she couldn’t bear his children.

She spoke of the love that the sisters had shown her when her mother had dropped her off at the convent against the wishes of her father and her own. About how half of her cherry price went to those same sisters who had protected her from the wrath of her mother for years.

She spoke about how she found her people with Starcourt Services. How she had good friends, made good money, and how her father had supported her every step of the way. And how the other half of her cherry price would always be waiting for her if she ever wanted to leave. Something that after some serious soul searching she knew would not be for a long, long time.

Chrissy’s story burst open a scandal that had been the Church’s best kept secret, that a third of the omegas that came to them after learning they were infertile were brought there against their will by religious extremist parents not wanting their omega child to live their own lives.

Max and Lucas finally announced they were bonding after Lucas played his first game in the NBA as the first omega point guard for the Indiana Pacers, having won their law suit.

With Steve retiring, Robin was going to be Chrissy’s handler. Robin hadn’t lasted with Vickie due to them wanting different things out of life. Robin loved her job, but Vickie wanted more of her time to be focused just on her, something Robin wasn’t willing to do.

Tommy had been kicked out of the agency after he had a very public fight with his ex-girlfriend, Carol. He was supposed to be escorting Billy Hargrove but had found him in a bathroom with known omega starlet, Heather Holloway, his dick in her.

Carol had thrown it in his face that he couldn’t even get wandering Billy Hargrove to stay still long enough. Tommy had thrown hands and Starcourt had thrown him out.

Last Steve heard he was working as a pre-school teacher, barely making a tenth the amount he was at Starcourt. But he had found an alpha and they were happy together, satisfied for the first time in his life.

Jonathan was pregnant with Nancy and his second child. Steve was actually happy for them when they announced it.

Eddie’s band was topping the charts and had done a couple of tours. Steve had missed him, but with work keeping him busy, they were able to keep up a healthy communication.

Elinor and Gareth had decided to bond. Elinor knew that she would never reach the heights of Steve or Chrissy so when the last of her cherry price had been paid, she left the agency to be a rockstar’s wife.

Steve couldn’t wait to spend his first heat with Eddie. What was even better was the fact that Eddie’s rut had synced up with Steve’s heat and everyone knew to stay away for that week.

Their bonding and wedding ceremony was the talk of the town, Steve and Eddie surrounded by all their friends and loved ones. The whole Party was there.

Steve had taken preemptive measures against his parents, knowing that they would try and get more money from him, once Eddie and Steve announced that they had gotten pregnant.

He had a protective order ready to spring into affect the moment they tried anything. Lawyers on speed dial, and security on standby.

He had the life he had always dreamed of. A soulmate who would bond him and give him the pups he so desperately desired, who loved and cared for him like no one in his life could match. Robin came close. Because of course she did. Maybe not more or less than Eddie, but different.

And when that first little one came to loving and adoring parents, Steve knew that regardless if Dustin was omega, alpha, beta, or infertile Eddie and Steve would love him and support him no matter where he chose to go in life.

And that was the perfect ending to Steve’s story, he thought. Eddie couldn’t help but agree.

****

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[jevilowo]

It's me the timeline guy. Here are my many lore related grievances with the comic:

SPOILERS UNDER THE CUT tho most people have probably read it by now lol

FIRST OF ALL, the Administrator's plan. What happened to "plan so disturbing that several US senators pardoned her for the Poopy Joe incident?" What even was her plan actually was it just to keep the fighting going forever? Then what was the point of Australiummaxxing after Redmond and Blutarch died?

What's up with Zepheniah’s hooked up corpse. Isn't his ghost still around? He certainly is by the seventh scream fortress comic, which takes place during MvM. His will says he won't rest until he's done being mad at the world idk how that relates to anything.

OH HORSEMANN MY HORSEMANN. Why is Zepheniah claiming to be an only child? And it's not a retcon bc later on Soldier pulls up the family photo WITH SILAS IN IT. Where did he even get that. Anyways. The only explanation is either 1) some in-universe attempt by Zepheniah to write Silas out of history (implied by the two copies of the quarterly concern, one seen in a hidden page in the classless update and the other in the background of the Engineer update), or 2) ...i was going to say Silas was actually his cousin or something but that wouldn't make sense if the siblings of Zepheniah’s dad all died young. Urgh. I hoped the Horsemann would return and put to rest the implications dragged up by scream fortress two but alas twas not to be.

What's with the 3 different covers of a young Administrator? My theory is they're supposed to represent three possible backstories the writers were cooking and wouldn't commit to. Who knows.

CHARLES DARLING. The triplets' birth certificate claimed that their mother was a Darling (save me Bette Mann etc etc), and that had me convinced Charles was going to be at least RELEVANT. Why else would he, a joke antagonist introduced in the War! Comic, show up at all? Looking for Australium, no less? I tell you that flashback of him and Maxton had me CONVINCED something would happen. Especially with the two of them lowkey treating him like shit.

So so so much Admin stuff left unexplained. Seeing her child self in the Australium. The census dated back to 1850 with "HELEN" on it. Telling Engie "your family has already done so much for me". By that she could have just meanth Radigan making an immortality machine for Redmond as well as Blutarch I guess, but ??? I liked the Emily reference tho that was something one of the artists reffered to her as for the Engie Update Comic by mistake and later took back so neat callback lmao.

SPEAKING OF RADIGAN. Nothing on who the third Australium machine went to. Presumably Admin I guess? Not explained, never will be probably.

Who was the person in the torn Mann Family portrait? My main theory was always either an earlier version/design of Grey or a Darling, but in the picture Soldier shows (SERIOUSLY WHERE DID HE GET THAT) we can't even see the outline of a person around his thumb. It almost looks like they just made a version of the picture without anyone in the middle and called it a day.

TFI having other mercenary groups came out of fucking nowhere, even in comic six. The T and F presumably stand for "Team Fortress", fuck you mean "Team Citadel", "Team Vanguard", giant fucking statue of random epic looking mercs??? What is happening. They did NOT explain that shit at all. Multiple, seemingly incredibly competent teams are NOT "eighteen perfect idiots". Did Poopy Joe die for nothing.

One of the top posts I've ever made is the one where I point out the date Spy and Scout got arrested on that newspaper: September 7th, 1972. This means the rest of the comics should take place 5½ months later i.e. February/March 1973. Ergo, 1979 could not be "seven years later". The comics seem to think themselves that they're set in 1972 already, there's a few lines about it but for the life of me I can't remember. Something something however many years since Zepheniah died blah blah year the triplets were born. Whatever. It's on my timeline probably.

Smaller thing, but embarrassing lack of a full name reveal for Heavy (I originally said And Medic here but. Herbert Ludwig was revealed). Spy also, but I wasn't really expecting that. Heavy shall remain Mikhail "Mischa" Weponzgy in my heart.

SO IN CONCLUSION: the writers went in with no clue how to end the story, something made evident by the possibility of the 4chan leaks being an early script and also entirely fucking different.

Still, there were a lot of lore unrelated things I did enjoy: the fact that the mercs actually got a happy ending, for one thing. Sniper stealing a plane, Scout maturing and moving on from Pauling, Pyro literally just being overjoyed to see Engie again, babies!!! The fact we even got a comic! How crazy is that? At least we didn't have to wait another seven years.

I might draft a script for an alternate ending that tries to answer lore stuff more, but knowing me I wouldn't finish it. Still, I am working on making a website for my timeline and I'll upload the link here once I'm done with it. Oh and I'll update the doc version soon. Bitterly.

[am-i-the-asshole-official]

AITA for coming out as bi to my girlfriend and voicing my concerns to her

I (18M) have been dating my girlfriend, L (20F) for three years now. our relationship has been great so far, we were attracted to each other from the start. she has always been very flirty and tbh that's how she won me over at first, because teenage hormones are gonna teenage hormones y'know, but when I got to know her better as a person I realized my feelings for her weren't just sexual - she is kind, gentle, overall really sweet. I was, and still am, attracted to her in every way. L is also openly bisexual, fully out, and idk I've always felt so safe around her because she doesn't judge others, I think she's so beautiful inside and out. she has been my first girlfriend ever so I always do my best to be supportive and make her feel loved.

a few months ago I realized I'm bi. I thought, hey, since she always speaks about her own bisexuality I think I can tell her I'm bi as well. she was, as usual, very non-judgemental but she said something that I didn't like, something like "you see how much I love and trust you? someone else would've been like OMG YOU'RE PROBABLY JUST GAY AND YOU WANT TO CHEAT ON ME WITH A GUY". I was,, confused bc 1. I think supporting your partner when they come out is the bare minimum, 2. she is bisexual herself and I don't think shes gonna cheat on me with a girl, I never acted like I was great for supporting her and 3. I know I'm not gay because L can do whatever she wants with me so I dunno what that comment was for. I've enjoyed my intimate encounters with her too much to be gay and she knows this.

I was a bit annoyed but still grateful that she was supportive. I noticed our sexual activities increased after that and a part of me wondered if she was trying to make sure I'm not gay. which made her look like a bit of a hypocrite because she never had to "prove" to me that she's not gay. not complaining tho - I just found it odd? I think it's a weird double standard, but then again I know women are always putting up with double standards so I feel like I can't tell her abt how strange her comment was. I just don't want L to think I'm not attracted to her and I started feeling like an asshole for telling her I'm bi.

but she got actually upset over something else that has nothing to do with us being bi - when we first started talking, she was dating another guy. I knew this, so I was respectful, I thought that L being flirty with me was some kind of joke until she told me she was serious and she couldn't stop thinking about me. L didn't cheat on him, she broke up with him before she started dating me, and recently I told her "hey... I won't be that guy one day, right? I trust you and I know you won't cheat on me, but I remembered how our friendship first started and if you ever stop loving me I would like to know before you feel ignored enough to start flirting with other guys". she got very visibly upset, she said I was right, said she felt cheap and like a whore and ???? NOT AT ALL WHAT I FUCKING MEANT. I was trying to tell her I want us to have communication, because I love her and I want our relationship to work out.

I feel like a shitty person and boyfriend, first for telling her I'm bi even though it wouldn't have an impact on our relationship, then for trying to voice my concerns and accidentally making her feel that way.

I've apologized a few times and we're good now but she introduced me to her best friend and,, this girl just started talking abt how she will guide me so I can properly take care of L? it made me feel really stupid. I felt like a child tbh. we are bi but not poly (I respect those who are, just giving you context) so idk why she felt she had to insert her friend into our relationship. am I really so bad that my girlfriend has to ask her friend to teach me how to be good to her? I would understand this if L had some sort of disability but her friend just talks to me about BDSM and doms/subs and like ??? I feel like L being a sub has fuck all to do with our argument, but I still feel terrible. pls help me make sense of these things. I want to know if I am the asshole.

[akutasoda]

Hi there! ☺️ Can I have headcanons of ranpo, dazai, chuuya, sigma and tetchou with a fem!reader who is very very strong physically (not because of an ability) even though she looks fragile, delicate and vulnerable? 🙏🥰

looks can be deceiving

synopsis - you always seemed so delicate yet you probably were stronger than them

includes - dazai, ranpo, chuuya, sigma, tecchou

warnings - fem!reader, fluff, slight crack, wc - 676

osamu dazai ★↷

↪he initially thought you were absolutely precious. while he did dislike how you always looked so vulnerable as he did worry something may happen to you and the fact he couldn't say no to you, he didn't mind when he was around.

↪he could always protect you. but eventually that turned on it's head when he watched you help out with more heavy duty chores around the agency.

↪while he was initially apprehensive about you helping, he immediately shushed his concerns as you exhibited a strength he could only compare to that of kenjis. except your's wasn't your ability.

↪but now he had this information and would call for you every single time he needed help. and he'd be lying if he didn't find it slightly attractive.

ranpo edogawa ★↷

↪he saw your seemingly natural delicate look to be rather cute. he adored you and your personality and clung to it like a life line. any time he felt down he'd find you and immediately perk up.

↪he found out about your strong natural strength by accident. because you seemed so fragile he never assumed you could do much psychically, with no offence toward you.

↪so when he was bored, he started teasing you. teasing about how you probably wouldn't lift him let alone give him a piggyback ride. and you were determined to prove him wrong so you quickly and abruptly picked him up.

↪he never expected it but loved it. so now he would constantly behave like a child and do those grabby hands for you to pick him up so he could parade around the office on your shoulders.

chuuya nakahara ★↷

↪he loved you truly, there was no doubt about that. but he always constantly worried about you being associated with him. you always seemed so fragile and delicate compared to his line of work.

↪so he constantly feared you could get caught up in it and he wouldn't be able to protect you. but those worries very soon melted away when he came home to your shared residence.

↪he opened the front door and was immediately greeted by you practically picking up and moving around the furniture. he immediately got concerned and then curious to why you were doing so.

↪and you're answer was that you got bored. but he still couldn't help but be impressed by your natural strength. it was defined impressive to him and he probably didn't have to worry that much about you anymore.

sigma ★↷

↪he never cared much about how strong you were physically or how you currently seemed so fragile. he was just glad he had someone as great as you that he could trust and finally find home in.

↪but that being said, he did find your delicate nature rather endearing. especially after a long day and you gave him something to look forward to, your comforing embrace. but he wasn't really ready to see you're real strength.

↪he had brought you to the sky casino for the day as you wanted to tag along for whatever reason. but he needed some stuff moving around and before he could get any other employee to help you offered and before he answered you were already helping.

↪he was very impressed by your dispaly of natural strength as he sure knew that wasn't your ability. and he felt somewhat wrong for finding ot rather attractive. especially when you still looked at him with that delicate expression

tecchou suehiro ★↷

↪you two seemed the complete opposite, but he didn't mind bit. if anything he found it endearing how delicate you seemed as it meant that he had some sort of normality to his everyday life.

↪but that didn't really change even if he found out you had some pretty unnatural natural strength. in fact he was pretty impressed seeing with a strength that could probably rival his own without any abilities or such.

↪but that didn't stop him from still seeing you as more of a delicate person but he loved that you had that side to you.

[quennofsblog]

Everything you let go

Sae Itoshi x fem!reader

Itoshi Sae is confused when his wife suddenly becomes ill.

Warning: normal things ; Sae here is already a professional player and is married with the reader and adult; They have children; sorry :( ; English is not my first language and there will probably be mistakes.

Notes: This is my first story on Tumblr (and any other place) so sorry for the bad plot... I hope you like it so enjoy😉. (This is the first story written that was never published, the first was Rosy cheeks by Suguru Geto.🫡

Sae couldn't believe what he was seeing, what was supposed to be a moment of great happiness, soon turned into a big concern for him.

Their second child was finally born, it took a long period of nine months to having a second blessing in your life, but if this is a blessing, why is the person who made it possible bleeding so badly?

Your second pregnancy wasn't one of the best, you were much more tired than the first, there were many more complications, but Sae thought it was normal, after all, no pregnancy is easy.

But he couldn't react when he saw blood coming out of his mouth straight to the fluffy blanket that wrapped his little baby, he saw in his eyes the despair in his eyes and soon he felt it too when you saw your body relax too much and his arms fall to his sides, his excellent reflexes reacting in time to catch the small human in his arms.

He looked at you in shock when he see your body passed out for a few seconds before quickly leaving with the baby to seek medical help.

...

"Sae-chan I don't have much time here..."

You exactly said that a few days before your wedding, Sae knew what those words could mean but didn't know why, he feels this tightness in his heart now for not asking anything at the time, maybe something could have changed-

"Sir Itoshi-san?" A middle-aged man appears around the corner to find Itoshi Sae with a sleeping baby in her lap sitting in uncomfortable hospital chairs. He didn't even know how much time had passed since he witnessed his sudden fainting spell, Sae could only think about what triggered his current state.

Then he looked up to meet the doctor's eyes that were already looking at him with some pity. "Yes? How is she?" The player asked with the coldest possible look that even the poor doctor shuddered before giving him the expected answer. "She's fine sir. But due to the stress of the pregnancy her illness has worsened and there may be complications in the future, you can go see her if you like." Soon the doctor left, leaving Sae almost on the verge of madness.

He got up quickly, gently squeezing the baby who didn't move the whole time, Sae could feel the small breaths on his neck, and he even caressed the small human, but his growing anger wouldn't allow it, when he just wanted explanations.

Finally opening the door of his room he found you looking through the open window and letting the wind ruffle your hair, for a moment he forgot his purpose there and just wanted to stop everything and stay in that place looking for its beauty, even after so many years, you could still manage to be the one to give him those damn heart palpitations that he always tried not to feel.

But it seems that the baby in Sae's arms also feels the mother nearby and soon the intense cries of a newborn baby are heard. Her head instantly turns to find her husband and baby, Throwing a gentle smile at the two, you beckoned them with your fingers to get them closer, knowing what was going to happen, you soon advanced.

"Don't even put on that pretty face, Sae-chan, you know my condition well." you extend your arms to indicate for Sae to give her the baby that wouldn't stop crying, Sae hands it to her without saying anything and watches her lift her blouse and feed the baby who soon calms down.

Sae keeps looking at you waiting for explanations from you. "I told you I didn't have much time, did I? I have this plague even before I met you, and well it's gotten worse since the birth of Akira, I just didn't want to worry you or Akira and even this cutie, it is not Muroko-chan?" You said caressing the little hands, while the baby held one of your fingers and had her eyes closed, already ready to fall asleep in her mommy's arms.

"If that was the goal, it failed... a lot, you selfish idiot." Fortunately, her anger was already gone, and Sae approached the bed, sitting on it, coming close to her head and planting a kiss in her hair. Turning your attention to you "And now what will become of you huh? The doctor said this disease got worse..." He got it his eyes fall a bit into sadness. "What's now?"

Your always impatient husband, how would you face him and say that soon he would leave, this disease directly affects the heart and you have had it forever and always prevented you from doing a lot of physical activity, and what cost you a body without much use, but on the other hand your intelligence helped a lot, since during a good part of your life, was Sae's assistant, since he was a minor in a new country (Not that you weren't too).

"Anything." You said softly smiling at Sae. "The doctor said I'll be under observation for a few days, then go home and get Akira with his brother and bring him here, I miss my favorite boy, can you do this for your dear wife?" you said with a teasing face.

Sae had never felt her frown grow so much.

...

"Mami!!" An excited Akira Itoshi runs towards the bed you are on and tries to climb up. You get close to the edge of the bed and lift him to sit on your lap, luckily he doesn't have his shoes on, even at 4 years old he's still light, the boy soon snuggles into your chest smiling brightly. "I miss you!!"

"Guess who missed your favorite little boy too" you hug him tightly and kiss his red hair, even after all this time you still couldn't believe that you were married to your management client and now had two children, even though the public didn't know anything, this life is a strange thing to think about in the past.

"And guess who had to hear all the way here 'Let's see mommy!'" Sae made fun of the joke that Akira made during the entire trip, walks over to greet you with a kiss on the head and squeezing Akira's head which was still on her chest, then sitting on the edge of the hospital bed.

"Mami? Your big belly is gone!" Obviously the child has ignored her parent and pulled her head out of your cute grip and soon bothered to get answers from you.

"Really? Look over there." You point to the front of your bed where there is a crib with a little baby in it. "It's your little sister." You said softly, stroking her plump cheeks.

As if she'd been told a malicious secret, Akira's cheeks darkened a fluffy red, soon getting off his lap to crawl towards the crib.

"Uohh, she's so tiny, we haven't met yet but my name is Akira, A-K-I-R-A Itoshi, but you can also call me nii-chan." With the voice so cute and full of love to give her sister, the tears that welled up in her eyes said it all, seeing her oldest son love the idea of ​​being a big brother was just heartwarming.

"You're not going to cry now, are you? You snot." Even if he didn't show it, you knew very well that he was also emotional, of course, in the Itoshi way.

"What do you expect Sae? They're going to be such good friends." With hearts in your eyes, you take Sae's hand just to hold it. "He was so looking forward to meeting you, Sae-chan, can you bring her here for Akira hold Maruko-chan?"

"Of course your majesty~" He stepped off the ledge, and picked up Maruko-chan, motioning Akira to sit next to her mother.

The couple's eldest boy, who never obeys his father, is a mama's boy through and through, decided to obey just to hold on to his little sister.

"Are you happy Akira?"

"Yes mami! She's so cute." You placed Akira's arms just right to receive the youngest Itoshi, Sae placed her carefully, holding her at the bottom so the fragile baby wouldn't fall.

Akira was so happy looking at the baby in detail, but suddenly her expression of pure happiness turned into fear and distress.

"M-Mami, Papi? Whose is th-this weird fringe?"

The couple took a closer look, only to come across The fringe, Sae looked at her with the biggest face of disgust as you couldn't contain yourself and soon started laughing out loud.

Sae couldn't believe her daughter inherited those bangs from when he was younger and always tried to hide it.

"Akira, don't worry, it's your father's bangs from when he was a kid." You laughed even louder at the thought of your oldest daughter at school with her husband's weird bangs.

"I can't believe my own daughter has this thing, it's decided let's cut it."

"Não papi! É uma franja estranha m-mas fica bem nela não é mami?"

"Of course, it goes really well together, she even has the same hair color, you better accept it, Sae-chan~"

"But mami, she even has that weird dad face!"

"That's right! That 'I don't care about anyone, just to become the best midfielder in the world' face she is totally Itoshi Sae's daughter."

"Can you two stop talking about my similarities to Maruko-chan?"

"No."

...

Itoshi Sae woke up abruptly with his eyes almost bulging out, his chest rising rapidly as he looked across the bed and there was no one there, and no noise was heard from the rooms of his little house in the Spanish countryside.

Where the hell was your family?

A snap quickly went through his head when he discovered that in fact his family had fallen apart, and it was entirely his fault.

All the good and happy memories are just a beautiful wave of nostalgia that Sae wanted to live forever but-

Oh.

So it is.

It was all a dream.

Notes²:

Remembering that this is all fiction 🫵.

There will be a few mini chapters before part 2 to see this family's interaction (they are cute<3)

Blue Lock belongs to Muneyuki Kaneshiro and Yusuke Nomura.

I reinforce that English is not my first language and (I translated the story on Google translator because I don't trust my skills 💀) it has a high chance of having grammatical errors.

Bye 😘

[staticymaticyyourlifeisatravesty]

Starved

(Dorn is deeply concerned about his niece and the way she's getting weaker)

Tags: TW Child Neglect, Good intentions with terrible consequences, TW Child Abuse, TW Disordered Eating Self Dehumanization, Bad Self esteem

Also @jaghatai-khock for mentions of Zadkiel

Rogal Dorn was worried. Scratch that, he was deeply and unfathomably concerned. Something was wrong with Lilith that much he knew. She wouldn't tell him what was wrong but something clearly was. She was getting weaker by the day, and her eyes were no longer the vibrant red he first saw when they met. They had turned to a bright almost tarnished looking gold, and it didn't escape his notice that she didn't fly as much anymore. She still flew, of course she did, Dorn would be concerned if she stopped entirely, but the fact remains that five years ago it wasn't uncommon for her to be found perched on spires or window sills. There was also a matter of her age, she was supposed to be fifteen this year...but Dorn felt that she hadn't aged much at all, physically or otherwise.

It was worrying, and he was unable to get any answers from anyone aside from a cryptic "Oh that's just her mutations doing that". Dorn wasn't so sure. The Primarchs aged quickly into adults, and before this she was aging at the same rate as a baseline. If anything, she should be aging quicker, not slower. But what was really concerning Dorn was how thin she looked these days. Her face was sharp and boney, bereft of any puppy fat that should've been there at this age. He knew Sanguinius thought her blood drinking was the result of the Red thirst, but looking over at Lilith, she just looked sick to him.

"Lilith, have you eaten today?" Dorn asks her cautiously as she sits on the floor, focused intently on a sketch. She'd been drawing more often lately, though her lines were shaky these days. She also seems to be intensely focused and after a few moments, Dorn clears his throat to get her attention, "Lilith, I asked if you've eaten"'

"I had some soup earlier" Lilith responded looking up from her drawing "I haven't really been able to keep much down lately. Please don't tell Father...he's got enough on his plate. H-he doesn't need to know about this. He's got Zad and the new baby. I'll be fine"

That just started alarm bells in Dorn's brain who decided to see if he could get more answers out of her, "What do you mean you haven't been able to keep much down? And why do you think your father doesn't need to know? You are just as important as the rest, if there is a problem, he should know"

"I'm fine! It's just... some illness is all. I'll be fine, uncle Rogal. You don't have to worry about me. Kakek says that the medicine should be doing their job soon, he says it might take a few days" Lilith replies to him, and gives a reassuring smile, leaving Dorn wondering if her fangs were always that big, or if they've gotten longer.

"You told me this three months ago. You're getting worse. Tell me what is truly wrong with you" He pushes "You are ill, and you are losing weight. You're eyes are not the colour they should be, and your feathers...you have been molting far more then you should. They shouldn't look so ragged" He says gesturing to her wings which were a far cry from how they once looked, patchy with bald spots that she's desperately tried to keep hidden.

"I-" Lilith just looked uncomfortable and looked away from Dorn, "Father has other kids doesn't he?" She instead asks, a slight reverb coming to her voice as it shakes, "He doesn't... He doesn't need a monster like me. He's probably ashamed of me... I mean look at how happy he is with Zad...he never looks at me like that anymore..."

"Your father loves you, he does. Don't call yourself a monster, no child is a monster" Dorn says pulling her into his lap, being mindful of her wings "You are his eldest, his first and currently only daughter. He loves you more then you know, why would he be ashamed?"

"Because I'm hungry! I can't eat food! Every time I eat anymore it all tastes bad! Pa wanted me to stop drinking blood! And the way he looks at me! Pa never looked at me like that! Maybe he's realized that the elders were right" Lilith sobs, bursting into tears, she's completely unable to stop both her accent and reverb from fully entering her voice, and Dorn just holds her closer.

He's angry at both Lilith's plight and at his brother, but he feels useless because he has the feeling that no one would listen. So he opts to just hold her in his arms. "Do you think some blood might help you? Does that still taste good to you?" He tentatively asks her "If I were to cut myself, would you drink?"

Lilith stiffens in his arms before pushing herself away from him and quickly standing up, swaying a little before she steadies herself, "No, no I won't feed on you, uncle. I haven't had blood in....I don't remember, but I don't need it, I'm fine. I-I just have to wait for the medication to work"

It broke his heart how desperate she sounded, and he wondered if slapping his brother across the face was warranted here. It was so clear to him that she was suffering, and if it was blood she needed... "Lilith, listen to me, you need blood. You are sick. If the medicine has done nothing now, it will not do so in the future. Please let me he- LILITH!"

While Dorn had been speaking, Lilith swayed dangerously before suddenly collapsing, Dorn catching her from falling completely to the floor. He quickly checked to see if she was alright, yet she'd clearly fainted "Lilith, Lili, please wake up, did you move too quickly?"

With no response from Lilith, and him listening closely to hear a very faint heart rate; Dorn panicks. She needs to be brought to an apothecary and quite frankly he was not trusting of Malcador or the Emperor in the slightest. Instead he was going hunt down one of the Blood Angel's apothecaries. They would know what to do better then he. Maybe they can give her a blood transfusion, he doesn't know.

All he knows is that Lilith is lighter then she should be, pale with her freckles standing out far to starkly against her skin, and she was cold. So very cold. That wasn't even speaking of her heart rate, which he swore was getting weaker until he certain there was a full minute between beats. He regretted not saying earlier.

He regretted it so fucking much.

[quitealotofsodapop]

Shihua was probably just having a normal day when her youngest bursts into the throne room talking about how his gege on a cliffside with a bunch of strangers and seemingly didn't recognize him. Confused and fearing if it were an impostor, Shihua orders them to be brought before her after Ma got back to her with knowledge that Shihou was still in the Celestial Realm.

But when the impostor was brought before her, separate from his party, her breath caught. The monkey before her was older than her Shihou, with a wisdom and confidence to his step her cub had not yet gained and wearing strange and expensive clothing, but there was no doubt about it. He resembled Shihou, from the golden eyes he had inherited from her beloved right down to every hair of his ginger fur that seemed to glow like fire in the sunbeams that caught it.

"You stand before the Matriach of the Huā Guǒ Troupe, Shihua." Her beloved announced, careful to not let the unease she felt from him show as he did his due diligence as her advisor, "Name yourself and your purpose!"

The stranger seemed taken aback and before stepping forward, clearing his throat.

"I... My name is Sun Wukong, Lady Matriarch. We had not meant to intrude, we... we fell through a portal and woke up here, lost."

Her troupe murmured, confused as to the name the doppelganger gave and what he said. Shihua considered his words about teleportatuon and portals, familair with the concept from her time speaking to the celestials until her eye caught sight of a familiar fabric of red that had flared up behind him as he stepped forth. Faded and far more weathered than her own, around his neck was a familiar cape tied with a simple knot in the style of a scarf that barely concealed a braded black chord. As she stared, transfixed at the cape, the strange monkey began to stammering in his explanation, fidgeting with his hands and tail whipping about in a manner near identical to Shihou whenever he became nervous, clearly uncomfortable with her attention on him.

"I'm not exactly sure how it happened, but we think we're in an alternate dimension or timeline. It's... it's the only reason I can think to explain it." He was saying, "Our world has had a series of disasters happen recently that resulted in damage to the Pillars and reality itself nearly shattering. We... we managed to stop it but we fell through the cracks and so we ended up here and not at our home and-"

Shihua rose from her throne and stepped closer to the doppelganger, startling him with a choked squeak as he noticed her approach. His stammering increased as he began to become more flustered eith every step, stumbling back as their height differences became apparent and she began to tower over him.

"And I was... uh..." the familiar stranger's words faded out as Shihua slowly grabbed at the cape, lifting it for a closer inspection and sniffing the fabric. Her eyes widened in shock, the scent different yet still unmistakable to her. Peach blossoms and fresh grass after morning rain and bright sunlight and the smallest hint of smoke. It was different but it was Shihou! There was no mistaking it.

"Where... did you get this?" Shihua asked, voice shaky as she looked into his eyes, needing the confirmation. Her son's doppelganger looked away, as if ashamed,

"I found it, draped upon the stone throne when I first discovered the Stone Palace."

"'Discovered?'" Shihua echoed, "Have... have you not lived here you're whole life!?"

What Shihou said next shattered her heart. Her people had lost their ancestral home and he had been the one to reclaim it, and the title of 'king' along with it.

"How old were you?" Ye Lin asked, picking up her concern. He had said he was young, but surely he wouldn't have been-

"It's been so long in don't remember for sure, but I think I was only 10 years. Possibly younger."

A cub, he was just a cub! Ye Lin gave her a concerned look, she knew he too was suspicious of who this monkey was and why he looked so much like their child.

"Surely you're parents would have stepped in!" Ye Lin sounded almost desperate as he spoke, "No parent would let a mere cub rule alone!"

"I... I never had parents."

Those four words were like a nail in the coffin and a knife to her heart. He was an orphan. In whatever world this version of her son had come from, Shihou had been an orphaned and abandoned cub!

"I was hatched atop the mountain from a stone egg, alone." Shihou was saying, his words sounding muffled to her ears through the sheer horror she was feeling, "As far as I'm aware, I'm the only celestial primate alive aside from MK and Macaque."

She felt a firm paw on her shoulder, a glance back showing her mate had stepped up to stand beside her, concerned. Shihua takes another deep sniff of the fabric and even a bit of the other ginger monkey's fur, memorizing the subtle differences in his scent from her cub's. Shihou, no he had said his name was Sun Wukong, looked somewhat confused and uncomfortable. What a peculiar yet somehow fitting name for her child. That confusion only grew as she offered the fabric to her mate, letting him smell for himself. His eyes snapped to hers in shock,

"How could this be!? He smells like Shihou!"

"His story explains everything, my love." Shihua gracefully assured her, "He and his companions truly are from another world. One where our people did not survive the tragedy of the Floods. In that world, he must be our son."

The news created a ripple throughout the gathered troupe as every single jaw dropped, all eyes locked upon the alternate version of their eldest prince. Many, such as the marshals and generals, moved in closer to the younger monkey, sniffing and inspecting his fur.

"Son!? H-hey! What are you-" Sun Wukong yelped, eyes wide as he was crowded by monkeys, trying to step away but by that point he was surrounded and moving back only brought him back to chest with Luzhen, "Uh...?"

"So does that mean I was right!?" Luzhen's paws came to Sun Wukong's shoulder, gripping them excitedly in the same manner he would do so when presenting Shihou with something he considered exciting, "He is gege!?"

Shihua couldn't hide her giggle at the sight, it appears no matter what, Luzhen would always idolize Shihou, even if it was not the one he knew. "No my little one, your brother is still serving his sentence in the celestial stables. Ma had checked when you first announced finding Aun Wukong here. This is version of your brother from another world."

Luzhen's ears and tail drooped for but a moment as he considered her words before perking right back up, grinning even wider.

"Then that means I have two big brothers!" Luzhen announced, excitedly clinging to the older version of his brother. Sun Wukong's eyes were as wide as dinner plated as he stared in shock at the younger monkey,

"B-brothers!?"

Ah, right. He had said he was an orphan, hadn't he. As Shihua left Luzhen to his excitement, she called one of th3 guards over, asking that Sun Wukong's companions be freed and escorted here. No doubt they, too, would want to be a part of the upcoming discussion.

Ref.

You have such a talent with writing!

I love how you wrote in Shihua subtely observing Wukong; how he has little habits indentical to Shihou, and how his smell is nearly identical. Ye Lin being her biiggest cheerleader and support.

And ofc their shock at learning that the "Shihou" before them is an orphan, flrced to take the reins of his troupe as a mere child.

I love it <3

[sunset-sprinkles]

Love next door , EP 2

"Always knew what love means-" is what rings in my mind when I see through all of Seung-hyo's action. There's a gleam of love in his eyes in all the moments he looks at her and the reason no one around him probably gets it - because oh bickering is their love language. And you wouldn't know people fighting for each other's lives would actually be falling in love with eachother but also it's most likely they would.

"Hate - 미움" is how the episode is titled and you think why it is? It's because what seems like hate is actually love that has been trampled by situations.

"Hate has its own satellites. Your high expectations, your faith and fondness for a certain person are all interconnected. But when any of these elements leave their orbit or retrograde it can turn into hate" ~Seung-hyo

It was about mending relationships showing the light how there's a thin line between hate and love - why they are the strongest emotions we feel towards anyone.

We all get Mi-sook's trauma right? She hasn't been the best but it's all response to a societal baggage she has been carrying around. "What if I haven't done enough for myself - my daughter will do it !!" - this is where asian mothers fall weak it's to understand your expectations shouldn't turn into a baggage for your child to the limit they fail to express what concerns them. All Seokryu ever wanted from her mother was to stand by her side when she needed the most - as children would look upto their parents to love them the way they are and not hold them as a trophy of achievement or as the compensation of what they themselves couldn't achieve.

While Seung-hyo's emotions are a bit more transparent to us -Seokryu's are not. And in my eyes she has been holding onto a lot more emotions we can't see through - because there is a complexity in her character that comes out as bossy and chaotic but is vulnerable and over burdened with expectations and responsibilities. And you know who knows her the best right!!!!

Though I feel Seung-hyo is an equally hidden and complex character when it's comes to his own emotions but transparent only when it comes to be with her [ofcourse].

Something healed in all of us when he said : "Don't force yourself to laugh when you want to cry". It's something we all want to hear when we are breaking down and still trying to smile through, for what ? Just so people don't see how weak we are , how much we want to cry and hold onto someone. Showing emotions do not make you weak specially to the people who care about you!!

Seung-hyo knew when he had to be by her side - so effortless and comforting. Isn't that the base of childhood friendships- someone who can see through what you feel and brings you to a position where you actually freely express what you are going through.

Umbrella - sometimes symbolised love and sometimes the shield. He let go off her shield and let her get drenched in the rain - let her cry out all she has been holding out , pouring down along with the rain all the emotions she had been hiding in the facade of a smile.

"WHEN YOU KNOW YOU KNOW"- we all know , we all can recall that smile he gave when he got to know she wasn't getting married . We know when he followed her to the park to make her feel better- we know when he brought one umbrella to share , when he closed it to let her cry out, when he rearranged her room like it used to be , when he put the stars she loved on the ceiling, when he shifted close to her just to be by her side. Only two episodes out and I think this episode is already my favorite!!

I don't know if it meant that there's only a thin line between hate and love and therefore it does take only one moment to change it. But I do feel it also meant the things changing between them , between those two windows- between those two friends- it's crazily well shown ❤️‍🩹😭

And here comes my favourite scene with these lines playing in my mind -" If you could see that I am the one who understands you, been here all the time so why can't you see it, you belong with mee...yeah!!"

In my concluding lines, we all feel that why does Seukryu not get what he means , why doesn't she see the same thing we are seeing. But let me tell you SHE DOES! She does see it , she does care for it- but for the complexity and baggage she carries maybe this resides in her subconscious self only and it will take time for her to realise it. To all the times he looked for her , she looked out for him too- she asked him too if he was doing okay.. all because she wanted him to be part of everything she did then and now .

[melanieph321]

Ruben Dias x Reader - Fake Love Part 7

Reader is a kindergarten teacher. Nothing more nothing less. But following an accident whistle vacation in Dubai she somehow makes her boyfriend believe that she does somthing else for a living, something that earns her way more money than she has. Her boyfriend, Ruben, is just happy to have found someone who understands him so well, someone who doesn't want him for his money since money isn't an issue for neither reader or himself. Or so thinks. Would finding out the truth ruin their newfound relationship? Readers thinks so, and does everything to keep up the lie, although it has some bad people from the middle east looking for her.

Enjoy!

"Okay, how much is that?"

"About 7 000 total."

"Ugh, we're still 13 000 pounds short." You groaned, falling back against your couch.

You and Alicia agreed to sell all the things that she had bought, in order to pay Mr Siddiq back. You managed to sell most of her designer items online, and some of the items that she hadn't even worn yet were returned to the store for a refund. You spent all week living like savages, glued to the computer, making phone calls to meet up with potential buyers.

"I don't understand why we can't eat, though? Or have heat?" Alicia asked, wrapping her body up in a blanket.

"Eating costs." You muttered. "So does heat. All of our money is going to paying back Mr Siddiq. I've told you this."

"Yes, but like you said, we're still 13 000 pounds short. I don't think we will be making that much money in 24 hours and I'm starting to get hungry."

You rolled your eyes. You really couldn't with Alicia. How could her financial judgment have been so poorly? I mean, her mother is an accountant for God's sake. However, it might have been her dad who used to spoil her as a child. The thrill of a man paying for everything she pointed to must be her aspiration in life. But today Alicia's aspirations had gotten you in a lot of debt.

"Would you please pick up your phone, my ass doesn't want to vibrate forever, and I'm pretty sure your boyfriend is calling me now."

It was true, you recognized Ruben's number on Alicia's screen. You stood up to take the call, disappearing into your bedroom.

"Ruben?"

He had been calling all week. But with everything going you weren't in the right head space to talk to him, let alone be honest with him.

"Hey, baby. Is everything alright?" He sounded concern, probably because you were talking to him through someone else's phone.

"Everything is fine. Life is just pretty hectic right now."

"Oh, sorry if I'm disturbing you..."

"It's fine Ruben. Hearing your voice is really what I needed."

"Good." He shriped and you imagined the dimples that came with his smile.

"I've actually got some news that might cheer you up?"

"Really? A man named Mr Siddiq and his entire family sadly passed away in a plane crash?

"Yeah, I'll be in London this weekend for our away game against Chelsea."

"Oh"

"Oh?"

You perked up. "I mean, that's...that's really nice Ruben. But I'm not in London this week?"

"No? Where are you then?"

Don't lie, don't lie, don't lie.

"Stevenage!" You blurred out, immediately regretting it.

"Stevenage? What is that?"

"Um, it's a city. Where I grew up actually. Where my parents live."

"Oh, you're visiting your parents?"

"Yes, so I'm pretty busy."

"I'd love to meet them someday."

"You do?" You paused, Ruben's answer suprised you.

"Of course. Wouldn't you like for me to meet them?"

You had just gotten comfortable calling Ruben your boyfriend, him meeting your parents would mean another milstone reached before you had told Ruben who you really are.

"Sure." You mumbled.

"Let's make it happen someday." He said, sounding happy about the fact.

"Um, I've got to get back to work..."

"Of course. It was nice to hear your voice too. Can I call you again later tonight?"

"Um, sure."

"Alright, talk to you later then. I love you."

"Bye Ruben."

The room fell silent as you ended the call, however the guilt and shame inside you was louder than ever. You dragged yourself back to the living room, handing Alicia back her phone.

"You good? What did he say?"

"He said he loved me." You plotted down on the couch, eyes staring blankly into space.

"Oh my god, really? What did you say."

"I said, bye Ruben."

Alicia frowned.

You turned to her with tears in your eyes. "He's never gonna talk to me again when he finds out."

"Finds out what?" She cought you as you slumped into her embrace. "That you're nothing but a gold digger?"

You sat back up. "That's not funny Alicia."

Her shoulders shrugged when she laughed.

"I am not a gold digger. You on the other hand...."

"Okay, okay. I get, I messed up. I'm the bad guy in all of this. But speaking of gold diggers...." She said, with that look that often haunted your dreams. "Wouldn't it be easiest to just ask Ruben for the remaining money? I mean surely he's good for it, and if he really loves you..."

You batted your eyes. Baffled by what was coming out of Alicia's big mouth. Surley anyone would agree that now would be the only right time to slap your best friend in the face. "Alicia." You said, with the lowest most calmest tone you could extract from yourself. You were convinced that this was the only way that she would understand you, if you were babying her.

"Yes, Y/N?" She said, with that naive twinkle in her eyes.

"Have...you...learned...nothing. You are NOT. I repeat NOT, borrowing money from anyone ever again, especially not Ruben."

"Then how are we gonna pay the last 13 000 back?"

"I'm...." You said, getting up and walking over to grab your coat. "I'm going to talk to someone I trust and know will lend me the money, with a promise that I'll pay him back with interest."

Alicia looked over to where you stood. "It's not Byron is it?"

"That's none of your business." You hissed, slamming the door on your way out.

Byron agreed to hear you out over a beer. You met in a small pub in town and to your suprise Byron agreed to lend you the money.

"And don't worry, you won't have to give me all of it until June."

"It's okay." He said.

"It is?" 13 000 punds was alot of money. However, there was something else on Byron's mind, a question.

"Is this you?" He asked, showing something off his IPhone.

Heat rose to your face seeing a photo of you in the club with Ruben and his friends, Ruben's arm waying over your shoulder as you sat next to him.

"Um..."

You had seen it before, the photo, going around the internet, with the caption talking about Ruben and his new boe. It was first posted on Lauren's Instagram. Lauren who was Ruben's teammates girlfriend.

"Yes, yes that's me." You sighed.

Byron nodded. Of course it was you in the photo, he wasn't blind. People in Stevenage watched Football and knew of the hype around it. You only belong to the few people who didn't.

"How do you know Jack Grealish and Ruben Dias ?" He followed up, in a way that sounded more like you were being accused of a crime rather than asked a simple question.

"I um....met them during a night out with friends." You lied. He wasn't  Ruben, you had no problem lying to Byron.

"And so the two of you...?" He was reffering to Ruben.

"Took a photo and then went our separate ways." You nodded. "Yeah, that's pretty much what happened."

Byron didn't look to believe you, but proceeded. "It's obvious that you're seeing someone Y/N, I mean you never come over for game nights anymore and I've seen you texting someone when you should be paying attention to your class."

You chuckled. "Byron I have no idea what you're point is, but if this is you criticizing the way I teach my kindergarten class then..."

He shook his head. "No, it's not that."

"Then what is it?" You really didn't have the  time. You should get back to the apartment, help Alicia sell her clothes. And Ruben would want to facetime soon.

"I like you Y/N."

"There it is." You sighed.

"And I'm not lending you the money so that you'll finally agree to be my girlfriend, but...."

"But?" You frowned. "There is no but in this Byron. Either you lend me the money out of the kindness of your heart, or you don't. This is not an exchange of services."

"Then, no." He said, fixing his posture as he sat across from you.

"No? What do you mean, no?"

He got up to leave, grabbing his jacket. He looked down on you with pitty on his face. "Life is about choices Y/N, and you seem to keep making the wrong ones."

With that he left.

You got back to your apartment, pretty sure that smoke was coming out of your ears.

"Y/N, there is something you should..."

"Not now Alicia."

You stomped across the living room.

"But you should really..."

"God, not now Alicia." You hissed, not meant to take your anger out on her. Nevertheless the damage was already done as Alicia crumbled where she sat on the couch. "I'm sorry I..." You ran a hand down your tired face. "I just got to facetime Ruben first. I have to tell him that I love..." The handle to your bedroom door pressed down just as you were about to do it. The door opened and he appeared in the frame.

"Ruben?"

He grinned. "You sounded down over the phone so I brought something that might cheer you up."

"W...what?"

He stretched out his arms. "Me!"

Warmth erupted inside you. You stumble forwards, melting into his giant embrace. Although this was a bad thing, a really bad thing that he was here, you really needed to be held right now.

[niragisimp]

The Pain Before (Niragi x Reader) Part 15

Part 14, Series Masterlist, Masterlist

The players ran throughout the hotel, all trying to get down to the lobby as quickly as possible. The thought ran through Niragi's mind for moments on end, but in the end, he decided against going back for you. You would be far safer in his room, tucked away where no one would dare to enter. Especially in a game such as this.

The crowd gathered around the girl crying out for her lost friend, and it only took a moment of Niragi stirring the pot for everyone to turn against each other. This was more than perfect; the prime time and conditions to finally make those pathetic excuses for "friends" that you have pay for what they put you through.

For some reason or another, Niragi couldn't help but find joy in firing off rapidly into the crowd. His laugh echoed throughout the halls, the various shots of gunfire beginning once Aguni gave the order to find the Witch. 

The thought had occurred to Niragi more than once when he began firing, what he would've done to his bully, your brother, Haru, if he had gotten the chance in Borderlands. But you took care of that all on your own, it seemed. He recalled the night he demanded you meet him on the rooftop, the night he humiliated you. He still wasn't sure why he did what he did. Maybe he wanted some form of payback for having the live through the torment of that bullying. Maybe he just wanted to see if you were anything like your brother.

But you weren't. You were just another victim all the same, just as Niragi was. But Niragi refused to be a victim any longer, and he was going to be taking you with him on that path; whether you wanted to or not. As the militants began chasing after the other players, Niragi felt a certain kind of bliss in knowing he could do as he pleased, all the while you were safe and secure. He was certain you weren't the Witch, how could you be? He had eyes on you almost every moment of the day, even if they were the eyes of a snake.

You groaned and shook in your sleep, the sweat from your brow dripping down onto the pillow as you tossed in your turmoil.

The fires raged on, the screams of your parents hollowing throughout the street as you watched on, the police holding people back as the firemen tried desperately to extinguish the flames. The fire was a lot bigger than you expected it to be, but as long as it got the job done. That man would never lay a single finger on you, ever again.

The police questioned you over and over again.

"How did the fire start," was the main concern of theirs. You could've told them the truth, but where would that have gotten you? Locked away somewhere, probably in an asylum or prison for at least the next twenty years or so. The smell of gasoline wasn't as prominent on your hands anymore, at least. Everyone in the area smelled of it, so why would it seem suspicious that it was on you?

Haru beat on your door over and over again, telling various profanities and slurs, nearly breaking the door at one point or another. You were huddled up in the closet, shaking as you held your knees to your chest. You cried silently to yourself as Haru screamed drunkenly.

Looking at your phone, you scrolled through the limited contacts that you had. Your mother, father, Haru, and a few distant relatives. You contemplated calling your aunt who housed you for a while, but you knew she was tired of dealing with a child that wasn't her own. You leaned your head back on the closet wall as you pursed your lips together, trying not to make a sound as you covered your ears, sick and tired of being harassed and violated by the one person who was supposed to protect you from harm.

The thought was a sudden one, almost like a foreign voice looming over in your mind. "Wouldn't it be nice if all this stopped?" You shook your head, trying to get rid of the voice that lingered ever persistently.

"You can make it stop. All of it."

You froze at the thought, telling yourself it wasn't a thought worth lingering. All you had to do was save up enough money to move out, and then you would be free of this, or so you had hoped. "But would that really stop that monster from finding another victim?" Your eyes opened slowly. Oddly, you never felt as calm before than in that moment. You wiped the tears from your face and simply waited for the beating outside of your door to stop.

It didn't take long for Haru to pass out drunk in his room. You grabbed the rope, tying it around the handle of the doorknob, securing it to your own. You gave it a good tug, and it didn't budge. "Good." The smell of gasoline filled your nostrils, but you knew to only do enough near the outlets for it to start and spread, the rest would surely take care of itself. Once the lighter dropped, the eruption of flames made you stumble backward, the heat blaring in your face. The heat captured your attention as you waited patiently. "But shouldn't I be panicking? Maybe even regretful?" "No."

Your eyes sprung open as you sat up hurriedly, your heart beating fast as you felt a droplet of sweat run down your neck. You glanced around the familiar room, an odd sense of calm washing over you, only to be disrupted by the sound of gunshots in the distance. Swinging your legs over the edge of the bed, you carefully made your way to the door, pressing your ear to the wood. Various screams and gunshots were all that could be heard. Out of the corner of your eyes, it called to you. Turning back, you focused in on the small television flickering on and off, your eyes going wide as the reality hit you; the Ten of Hearts had officially begun.

Pushing every anxious thought to the back of your mind, you pushed through the door leading to the hallway, leaving Niragi's room behind you. Making your way carefully through the mostly empty halls, you found yourself in the lobby, picking up a phone and letting it scan your face. You briefly glanced at the girl lying in the middle of the floor, pausing briefly at the knife in her chest. Your head whipped towards the sound of dangerously familiar laughter followed by gunshots, the sound of bodies dropping echoing through the halls. "Niragi..."

It wasn't long before you saw his face, and your eyes met almost instantly. "Y/N, there you are! I thought you'd wait in the room!" Niragi had a grin you couldn't quite place on his lips, and for the first time, you felt an odd sense of panic as you looked at him. "... Niragi... What's going on...?" You barely got the words out before his laughter erupted, making you jump slightly. 

"Isn't it great, Y/N? I never would've dreamed the Ten of Hearts would be this much fun!" You took a step back before you even realized it, but Niragi noticed plenty. He moved his gun to the side, walking towards you with a confused look on his face. "Hey, what's wrong? I'll clear the game for us, you go back to the room." You couldn't do much else but look at him, almost as if trying to recognize him.

Niragi could sense the change in your eyes when you looked at him, tilting his head a bit, "What's that look for?"

His hand gently reached out, trying to tilt your face up to look at him properly when you stepped back suddenly, and Niragi then realized where he had seen that look before. His eyes went wide a bit, "No, no, no..." Echoed through his mind as his memories came to him.

The pouring rain as you ran into him in the alley, Haru just moments behind you. The fear, the reaction, it was all the same. The sight of you on the floor in the hallway in Niragi's shirt, looking helpless and scared as he mocked you and threw you to the side. The look on your face mirrored it all. Niragi quickly reached out, his hand barely brushing against your swim cover, "Wait!"

Feeling your heart start to race, you turned and ran in the opposite direction, your feet moving before you could comprehend what Niragi was even trying to say. You bolted up the stairs, hoping the floors above would prove to be safer. After several floors, you slammed into someone rounding the corner, stumbling backward and picking yourself back up hurriedly, fists raised in defense. You paused for a moment at the white jacket, your stance softening slightly.

"Y/N...?"

Chishiya couldn't believe his luck; finding you here like this so quickly. Without waiting for your response, he quickly pulled you into a tight hug, surprising you both. "... I'm glad you're okay." He swallowed the lump in his throat, his hand never leaving your arm as he pulled away, not bothering to look at the shocked look on your face. He pulled you along hurriedly, "Come on, quickly." He didn't wait for your answer as he tugged you along, keeping you close as he silently maneuvered through the halls, stepping over the littered dead bodies in his path.

Chishiya looked ahead, his eyes narrowing as he listened carefully, not realizing his hand had slid down to yours. He quickly crossed the hallway, pulling you into a room he knew hadn't been used in weeks. Closing the door firmly behind you, he finally dropped your hand and turned to you, "Are you alright?"

He tried not to let his shock show as you buried your face in his chest, hugging him tightly, your body nearly shaking. He awkwardly positioned his arms around your back, "... Stay here until I come back to find you, okay?" You forced yourself to pull away, wiping away tears you didn't realize had been falling. You nodded your head in understanding, sitting on the edge of the bed in the room.

With one last look, Chishiya turned and left the room, pulling the door firmly closed behind him. "I'll be back before you know it." He murmured to her through the door, knowing she probably couldn't hear it anyway. He pulled his hood up over his head, shoving his hands in his pockets. It was there when he felt them, nearly forgetting they were even there. Thirty-nine cards glided across his fingertips as he walked forward silently, for once having an odd sense of purpose in this excuse for a world.

The door ripped from the hinges, falling to the floor with a loud echoing thud. Niragi's eyes narrowed as he stepped in quickly, his boot overlapping his kick imprint on the wood. "Shit." You were gone. He rummaged through the room, checking the bathroom and closet, nearly screaming in anger when he couldn't find you. "Fuck, fuck, fuck!" He yelled, throwing the desk chair across the room. The smoke from the basement was already reaching the higher floors of the hotel through the vents, and Niragi could feel himself running out of time.

He ran his hands through his hair, pacing back and forth in his room, his gun dangling from his shoulder. "Where is she? Where is she? Where is she?!" Niragi could've sworn he saw you walk past the room, bolting out and looking both ways down the hallway, his heartbeat starting to become rampant as he found nothing, no one in sight. He paced in the hallway, cursing himself for not going after you earlier.

Niragi just watched as you gave him that look, the look that mirrored your horror when he first met you, running from your stepbrother. He couldn't move his body to go after you as you ran from him, his feet frozen in the ground before he could think to react. The only thing on his mind now was finding you, and ensuring your safety. Niragi ran through the halls, his mind trying to form some plan of action as he stepped over the various bodies that were littering the halls.

He checked your room, the cafeteria, and even Kuina and Chishiya's separate rooms. The smoke was thickening through the halls, Niragi coughing in response. He cursed to himself, running towards the fire exit. He started making his way down until he stopped, turning and bolting up the stairs. The roof. He would be able to see you from the roof if you made it outside.

Pushing the door open, he hurriedly stepped out onto the roof, ignoring the various sounds of screaming from below. He grabbed his rifle, looking down through the scope to see if you were out already. His shoulders tensed when he heard the voice he loathed the most in the world.

"Looking for someone?"

Niragi turned his head, immediately turning the safety off his rifle, holding the grip of his gun firmly in his hand. Niragi's tongue traced his teeth in irritation, barely glancing at Chishiya.

"... Where is she?"

Chishiya stood there, his hands lingering in his pockets. "Not sure who you mean."

Niragi's voice boomed, "You know damn well who I'm talking about! Where the fuck is she?!"

Chishiya merely smirked, "Oh - You mean Y/N?"

Niragi pointed his rifle at him, taking a heavy step forward, his finger resting on the trigger.

Chishiya just shrugged his shoulders, "You'll never find her if you kill me."

He scoffed, nearly rolling his eyes, "Stop acting like you're fucking better than me. Did you really think she would pick you over me?" Chishiya stood there silently for a moment, not letting anything show on his face. But the truth was, he never thought about it. He just assumed it would all go according to plan, even if he had to adjust a few things he didn't account for.

"She belongs to me." Niragi held up his gun, ignoring the sight on the scope, smirking as he saw Chishiya react for once to his words. He lowered his hood, his face a mild scowl, "She doesn't belong to anyone." Niragi smirked, proud he finally found something that would irritate Chishiya as much as Chishiya irritated him.

"Is that why she's covered in my marks? Because she doesn't belong to me?" Niragi chuckled lowly, his eyes darting to the sudden movement of Chishiya's hands in his pockets, his full attention darting up as cards rained down, a sudden heat lashing out from a plastic water gun.

You couldn't help the burning sensation in your throat, the smoke leaking out from the vents. You thought about it carefully, coughing into your elbow, your eyes mildly burning from the fumes. Leaving the room, you left a note in case Chishiya happened to come back to look for you, telling him you were leaving. The gunshots had died down severely from earlier, so you figured it would be rather easy to get to someplace safer, even if the game hadn't been cleared yet.

Your attention turned to the window in the hall, looking down at the huge bonfire that reeked of human flesh as bodies were piled on top of bodies. You shuddered at the smell and sight, hurriedly making your way downstairs. You were just above the lobby floor when you glanced down at the lobby, staying tucked away behind the corner as you watched on. There was a young man in white, yelling at Aguni with a probably broken nose.

Scanning the crowd, your eyes found Kuina, but no Chishiya or Niragi. You thought about it worriedly for a moment, wondering if either went back to look for you. Your mind wandered to Niragi, wondering if he was safe, regardless of how much he reminded you of Haru in that brief moment, part of you understood. To be the one dealing harm instead of taking it was always a thought in the back of your mind as well.

Blinking rapidly, you pulled yourself out of your thoughts as a small group of people lifted the girl who had been stabbed, carrying her body over to the large fire burning outside. Within moments, the smoke from the basement and outside seemed to spark violently, the rooms starting to burn and decay around everyone. You quickly ran down the stairs, getting out of the building as the game clear announcement echoed through the empty halls.

You looked around hurriedly, ignoring the various shoves and pushes that came as others ran past you. Your eyes searched, your heart starting to beat loudly as fewer and fewer people started emerging from the building. Just as the panic started to build, you felt a hand on your arm, tugging you forcefully away from the burning building. You looked up, to see a focused Kuina pulling you along with her.

"Chishiya, I found her!' Your eyes looked around, steadying once you found white. "Chishiya...?"

He lightly jogged up to you both, his hands tucked away in his pockets. "Glad to see you made it out," he murmured, his face hiding away his emotions.

"Where's Niragi?"

Your voice was a bit hoarse from the smoke, but you figured if anyone would know, it would be Chishiya, the man who always has an eye on one thing or another.

Kuina looked from you to Chishiya, almost like she was trying to study Chishiya for a moment before turning away, her hand still firmly on your arm, almost in a consoling way. Chishiya's lips parted for a moment as he seemed to think, "... I would figure if he isn't already out here, then..."

You felt your heart drop to your stomach, your throat going dry as your eyes went blurry. "Wh... What...?"

Kuina's hand lightly squeezed your arm, keeping herself planted by your side as she gave you a sympathetic look from the corner of her eyes. She could relate to losing a loved one, even if they were a terrible person.

The three of you watched as the Beach burned, lighting up the sky brightly. Your hand was lodged securely in Kuina's, her thumb softly stroking the backside of your hand. You couldn't tear your eyes away from the fire, looking at every discreet movement, every flame that lashed out a bit too far. The words echoing around you didn't make it to your ears, the only thing you could hear was your heartbeat and the overwhelming voice in your head asking you the same question over and over again, "Why didn't you try harder?"

As the dawn rose above the horizon, the last three standing on the hill decided to move on. Kuina kept herself at your left, with Chishiya mirroring her on the right of you. His fingers briefly brushed against yours, grabbing your attention. "... Are you ready?"

His voice was oddly soft, making Kuina's shoulders tense, sparing him a quick glance as you answered, your voice still hoarse. "Y-yeah... I'm ready..." You wiped your face, the tears streaking the ash that gently coated part of your cheeks.

Kuina couldn't help but linger for a moment on Chishiya as you and him started walking forward. She narrowed her eyes for only a second, her hand clenching into a fist briefly, angry at Chishiya but proud of herself for finally figuring out his body language. He knew where Niragi was, and if he was alive or not. 

A loud groan echoed through the rubble of the Beach, various burnt boards moving to the side as he groggily stood up, the pain shooting through every fiber of his being. His eyes opened, his vision mildly blurred by the popped blood vessels in them. He looked around, groaning with each step he took, the agony almost making him forget what he was looking for.

Niragi looked up at the rising dawn, his body burning, pain shooting across every bone and muscle. "Y/N... Y/N?!" He screamed out, his eyes casting over the rubble, looking for any sign of you. He grabbed at his side, the raw flesh stinging with every movement. "I'm coming, Y/N... I'm... coming..." He said groggily, limping out of the rubble, dragging himself forward, only one goal on his mind; to find and protect his world.

AN: Thank you so much for reading this far! I appreciate every single repost, comment and like that have kept me going this year. This is the end of "The Pain Before", which captures season one. The aftermath will follow shortly! Please continue with your support, and please look forward to "The Mending After", part two!