#THESE PAST FEW HOURS OF THE GAME HAVE BEEN AN EMOTIONAL ROLLERCOASTER

[silverselfshippingchaos]

I got to that one scene that he has and I am. So fucked up over it

[borathae]

↳ Index [Chapter 05 - Gäste]

• Gäste (German, guests)

Warnings: a vampire dance, big strong vampires, Yoongi is hot lisTEN!, Tae is grieving and he is a mess because of it, suggestive themes, hints at oral sex, hints at vampire blood orgies & kinky vampire sex parties, drunk!vampires, the ending has me in fluffy tears

Wordcount: 15k

a/n: this chapter is a rollercoaster of emotions and i’m loving it

You didn’t find Namjoon in Munich. Yoongi looked and looked and met with too many people, but his fellow Creator stayed hidden. You left Munich two nights ago. Geneva. That’s where your journey took you next. Yoongi had a house there. Two stories high and with a spacious back garden. He says that he hasn’t visited it in almost fifty years and judging by the dust on every surface, you believed him. You cleaned the place all of yesterday so that it would be comfortable to stay in. In the evenings you played board games, except for Yoongi who met with one of his contacts.

You spent most of today with Taehyung. Yoongi and Jungkook were gone until lunch, while Hoseok and Seokjin were gone until the later hours of the afternoon. So you spent time with Taehyung. First he woke you with his head between your legs. It surprised you so very much that you found your high the second you woke. Taehyung hasn’t initiated sex in months. The happiness and surprise was too grand not to lose control. He made up for the way too early orgasm with the best doggy you had in a long time. Truly, you haven’t experienced such passion from him in months (you don’t blame him. You are aware why he didn’t want to have sex). Afterwards he took you out for food and afterwards shopping because you needed an evening gown as your little group had been invited to a dance.

An old acquaintance of Taehyung and Yoongi sent the invite. She and her husband were organising a dance for vampires (and humans) this evening and they invited Taehyung. He plans on taking all of you as his plus one so you could meet them. They were old vampires. Very old vampires and Yoongi hopes that they can offer their help in his search for Namjoon. Taehyung hopes for an entertaining evening, while the rest of you is down for whatever may happen tonight.

Taehyung has been happier these past few days. Yesterday whilst cleaning, he sang and did a little dance and today when the two of you were out shopping he said that the weather was nice. He hasn’t done either of those things in months and you wonder if the reason for his sudden happiness was Jungkook.

You ran in on them making out on the sofa yesterday and while Taehyung looked happy to see you, Jungkook’s face was as red as a tomato. Which for a naturally pale vampire such as Jungkook meant a lot. You assured him however that you didn’t think it weird that they were seeing each other and then wished them lots of fun as you left the sitting room again. You didn’t see them for the next hour. You also told Yoongi about it, because you wanted to share the news with him as the entire situation still surprised you greatly. He looked at you with widened eyes, but ended up acting as if he didn’t care about it. You think that he talked about it to Jungkook however, because as they returned from their adventure today, Jungkook looked really flustered again.

It was time to leave for the dance. The boys of former Sanguis have already gathered in the foyer, chatting to each other about the evening. They plan on getting drunk tonight.

Taehyung is the next one to join them, while you and Yoongi were still busy with closing the clasp on your necklace. It was a very stubborn clasp and needed all of Yoongi’s concentration.

Taehyung scans his eyes over Jungkook. A black suit and satin dress shirt with the first four buttons undone. He has his long hair in a half bun, letting some of the front strands hang into his face. Taehyung feels his stomach flutter at the view. 

“Jungkook”, he calls out to him, making the young Ripper turn. 

Jungkook shimmies nervously, looking at Taehyung from head to toe. His stomach is tingling. Jungkook thinks that Taehyung looks really handsome in his suit.

“Hey”, he says quietly, lifting his hand for a shy wave.

“You look dashing tonight”, Taehyung says and steps closer, touching Jungkook’s waist. He claims Jungkook’s lips in a deep kiss, flustering the younger vampire to the point that he is gawking even with Taehyung’s lips on top of his’.

Taehyung breaks away, but stays close enough that their noses are almost touching.

“You are making my knees weak”, Taehyung whispers, “I want to run my tongue down your chest.”

“Oh, uhm, oh, uh.”

“What’s the matter?”

“I, I don’t know. You kissed me”, Jungkook stutters.

“Yes. What about it?”

“N-nothing.”

Taehyung lets his eyes flit over Jungkook’s shoulder, meeting the incredibly shocked faces of Hoseok and Seokjin. He tugs Jungkook snug against his body, resting his chin on his shoulder.

“Hello there”, he greets them, smirking playfully, “you look good in your suits.”

“Dude legit”, Hoseok says, “don’t talk to me for the next ten minutes, I have to sort through my thoughts right now.”

Taehyung chuckles deeply, squeezing a wiggling Jungkook closer.

“Since when are you two a thing?” Seokjin asks, trying but failing to hide his disgust. Not for the situation, but for the fact that Jungkook is dating someone like Taehyung.

“Since when are we a thing, Kook?” Taehyung asks, turning his head to Jungkook. He drags his lips up his neck, basking in the shiver Jungkook tries to hide.

“Tae please”, Jungkook says, pushing at Taehyung’s chest softly, “don’t make it weird.”

Taehyung lets go and watches in amusement as Jungkook fixes his shirt with shaking fingers. He looks over his shoulder, meeting the eyes of his friends. Hoseok is gawking, Seokjin is cocking an eyebrow up at him.

“It’s a long story”, he murmurs, burning up uncontrollably.

“Yeah? Really? I couldn’t tell at all”, Seokjin says sarcastically.

“Please don’t judge me”, Jungkook whispers.

Seokjin and Hoseok exchange a look. They let out a sigh simultaneously, turning back to their friend.

“Nah, you’re aight”, Hoseok assures him with a grin, stepping closer to give Jungkook’s cheek a soft pinch.

“I’m keeping an eye on you Kim Taehyung. If you break his heart, I’ll break your windpipe”, Seokjin warns and drapes his arm around Jungkook’s shoulders, “he’s my little brother, so treat him well or else.”

“Yeah or else”, Hoseok agrees, throwing his arm around Jungkook as well.

“Guys please”, Jungkook mumbles, flustering most ardently, “you’re so embarrassing.”

“Waaah, embarrassing?” Seokjin gasps, “who are you calling embarrassing? You old Casanova you are hooking up with Kim Taehyung.”

“Yah hyung”, Jungkook nudges Seokjin’s chest, “you said that you wouldn’t judge me.”

“No. Lies. Hoseok said that. I never did”, Seokjin says with a grin which lets him know that he was solely messing with him.

Jungkook rolls his eyes and grins. So his friends aren’t judging him. He feels so relieved right now. And happy too because he has the bestest friends in the whole wide world.

“Wow look at you guys, you all look so handsome.”

They turn upon hearing your voice.

“___, wow so pretty”, Jungkook gasps, studying you from head to toe.

You are by Yoongi’s side, body wrapped in a mint green dress and with silver jewellery glimmering in the lights. Yoongi is keeping it simple. Black suit and white shirt with a white scarf. He is holding your hand to support you on the steps. 

“Right? Isn’t the colour so nice?” 

“It’s so pretty. It fits you so well.”

“Thank you, gosh. Tae helped me pick it out.”

“I still love it most ardently, my darling”, Taehyung says. 

“Me too, I really do”, you say, sitting down on the hallway chair to put on your high heels. 

“No please, let me.” “Wait, I’ll do it.”

Yoongi and Taehyung say, squatting down in front of you at the same time which ends in them bumping their heads together. 

“Careful”, Yoongi hisses, rubbing his aching skull.

“Why is your skull so hard?” Taehyung whines, massaging his aching head with a big pout on his lips. 

You chuckle, making them look at you. 

“Are you both okay?”

“No, he bumped my head”, Taehyung whines, showing you the spot, “look, it’s bruised.”

“I didn’t bump your head. You bumped mine”, Yoongi complains.

“No, I did not. You did.”

“No. You.”

“Guys”, you cup each of their cheek, making them look at you, “don’t fight about that”, you say, caressing their painful little bruises, “I’m also very capable of putting on my own shoes. So get up and stop quarrelling, you whiney cuties.”

“Whatever, just wanted to help”, Yoongi murmurs, getting to his feet. He busies himself by putting on his own shoes. 

“I apologise, I wanted to be a gentleman. A lovely lady shouldn’t have to put her own shoes on”, Taehyung says, stepping back. 

“You’re a sweet talker, Tae”, you say and chuckle fondly.

You finish later than Yoongi, standing up. Taehyung steps closer, presenting a pair of mint satin gloves.

“Your gloves. May I put them on for you?” he says.

“Thank you, darling”, you accept them, giggling as Taehyung slips on your gloves. He ends it with a gentle kiss to each of your knuckles, “you look beautiful”, he says.

“You’re so sweet, my darling”, you gush, feeling your heart flutter.  

Yoongi steps closer then, calling your attention. You turn to him. He is looking up at you, holding your coat.

“Can I?” he asks.

“You guys”, you giggle, “thank you, my prince. You are so sweet”, you say, allowing him to dress you. He twirls you gently, working diligently to close the buttons.

Taehyung, who watched the whole scene, finally breaks into giggles. 

“What?” you ask, glancing at him. 

“It is just that you two, oh”, he laughs, pointing his finger between you and Yoongi. 

“What? What’s wrong all of a sudden? Is the coat weird?” 

“No, oh dear no. It is just that, hah”, Taehyung can’t finish his sentence as he has to giggle again. It confuses you greatly.

“I don’t understand. What’s happening?”

“You are oh so funny, Kim Taehyung”, Yoongi hisses, sending him a deathly glare. 

“I don’t understand.”

“He’s laughing because I’m smaller than you. That’s it, isn’t it?”

Taehyung nods his head, snickering.

“Now you’re truly tiny. Oh Yoongi, this is hilarious.”

“Very”, Yoongi grumbles and turns to leave. He stomps, keeping his back extra straight just so he can add more height to himself. 

“Oh”, Taehyung truly can’t stop himself. He topples over in laughter, holding onto your arm, “this is beyond adorable.”

“You’re so mean, Tae”, you whine then turn to jog to Yoongi. 

You touch his arm, making him look up at you.

“Should I change shoes?” 

Taehyung wheezes, laughing once again.

“No, that’s weird”, Yoongi whines, “oh my god, stop laughing. It’s not that weird that I’m smaller. There are actually many men who are smaller than their girlfriends, so it’s more common than you think.”

“You are so cute, truly you are adorable”, Taehyung says, draping his arm over Yoongi’s shoulder, “now look at us. Me and ___ with our tiny grandpa in the middle.”

“Fuck off”, Yoongi hisses, shaking him off and pushing him back, “fuck, you’re such a brat. Who taught you manners?”

“I can’t seem to remember”, Taehyung teases and snickers then grabs Yoongi’s hand, “I’m only teasing you. You know that, don’t you?”

“I do. The joke’s terrible”, Yoongi says dryly, pulling his hand out of Taehyung’s hold.

Taehyung grins boyishly, sending Yoongi one last playful look before he turns to you. He grabs your hand.

“Follow me, my sweetest”, he says, leading you outside with the others following close by. “Oh tonight is going to be marvellous. I haven’t seen Fringella in ages” he says.

“You are such a meanie Tae, don’t tease Yoongi about his height”, you say, earning yourself a boyish grin from him.

“He will survive”, he says and steps closer to you. He twirls you, wrapping his arm around your waist, “you are the same height as me”, he says and smiles, “you are so beautiful, my darling.”

“Tae, stop it”, you fluster. He hasn’t been that lovely with you in months. It feels so nice to experience it again.

“Mhm no”, he says and gives you a quick kiss. He pulls back with a smile and sparkling eyes, “I can’t wait for you to meet Fringella. You will love her. She is wonderful”, he says, turning to the front. He holds your hand, swinging it back and forth slightly.

“Yes? How do you know her?” you ask him.

“We were lovers once”, he says nonchalantly, “I spent the seventeenth century with her. We had quite the, well”, he chuckles, “let us call them excessive sessions. Very intense and deeply sexual.”

“Ah. I see”, you eye him, watching him grin and then snicker.

“I will have to warn you, she is quite aggressive in her greetings. So please don’t be startled.”

“Okay?”

“Who is?” Jungkook asks, having joined your side.

“Fringella”, Taehyung says, intertwining his fingers with him.

“Who is Fringella?”

“Apparently his past lover”, you say.

“Ah”, Jungkook says, sneaking a glance at Taehyung.

“She’s a cunt”, Yoongi grumbles.

“Woah”, Hoseok gasps, “harsh words.”

“Yeah and true.”

Taehyung furrows his brows, sending Yoongi a dark look.

“Just because you spent your days not making any friends doesn’t mean you can insult my friends.”

“Uncalled for”, Yoongi says dryly.

“Yes and true”, Taehyung says and stomps off.

“Tae?” you call after him, watching him manoeuvre his way through the crowd on the streets with his hands balled into fists, “hey Tae!” you try to run after him.

“Let him”, Yoongi stops you however, “he’s unbearable when he’s with Fringella. It’s best to stay away from him.”

“You were really mean right now”, you tell him, nudging his side.

“No”, he says nonchalantly, giving you a deadpan expression, “you’ll understand once you meet her.”

“She can’t be that bad, can she?”

“Oh trust me, she is. The only reason I haven’t fucking ripped her head off yet is because she sired way too many vampires. I’m not in the mood to spend my next two centuries eradicating all of them.”

“Damn Yoongi”, Hoseok says.

“Tzt, it’s true.”

You exchange a quick look with the others, who seem just as confused by the feud he seems to have with her. Or by the entire situation for that matter.

“If you don’t like her then why are you coming with us?” Seokjin asks Yoongi.

“Connections”, he clicks his tongue, “she may be a cunt and her sires are fucking perverts, but at least they have eyes and ears everywhere. I’m sure one of them heard of Namjoon’s whereabouts.”

“Is she a Creator just like you?” Hoseok asks.

“No, but close. She’s the first Normal who was turned.”

“Oh damn, so she’s strong strong?”

“Yes Hoseok, I wouldn’t try anything if I were you. Unless you want to be turned into dust within seconds.”

“I’m not going to try anything”, he says and shudders, “scary stuff. I’ll just stick to my little glass of booze and shake my booty on the dance floor.”

“That’s good. You all should. Stick together”, Yoongi says.

“But wait”, Hoseok gasps, “does that mean we are all her sires too?”

“Could be. But it’s not a given. There were many others turned after her by Yaeji. She was just the first.”

“Creepy”, Hoseok says.

“Mhm.”

“Could you beat her?”

“Yes. With some struggle.”

“Woah.”

Yoongi sneaks a glance at Hoseok, giving him the quickest of smiles.

“I can’t believe that we’re meeting someone who could easily go up against you.”

Yoongi scoffs and turns away.

“Yeah, don’t get your hopes up high. She’s a cunt.”

“Will you stop calling her that?” Taehyung says, whipping around, “she’s not a cunt. You’re just jealous because she’s popular and you’re not.”

“Oh trust me, I’m glad I’m not popular. At least people don’t think that I’m their friend.”

Taehyung rolls his eyes.

“Roll your eyes all you want. You know I’m right.”

“Oh trust me. People don’t want to be your friend either way.”

“Taehyung”, you gasp, “take that back, that was uncalled for.”

Taehyung huffs out air and turns back around to stomp off again.

“Hey, come back here”, you call after him, taking big steps to get to him. You grab his arm, turning him to you rather roughly, “Taehyung.”

“What?”

“What’s wrong with you? Why are you so pissy all of a sudden?”

“Because he’s ruining my mood”, he pouts, “I was so excited to meet Fringella and he badmouths her. And now I don’t want to go to this silly dance anymore because I feel as if I’m the only one who will enjoy it.”

“That’s not true. I’m really excited for it.”

“Really?”

“Yes of course. I haven’t been on a proper dance in ages”, you give him a smile, “and I’d love it if we could go there together. Peacefully. As a team.”

Taehyung sighs in defeat.

“I understand”, he says and intertwines his fingers with you, “please forgive me.”

“I don’t need the apology.”

Taehyung glances at Yoongi, grinding his teeth. 

“Please”, you say.

“I’m sorry”, Taehyung presses out.

“Mhm”, Yoongi acknowledges him.

“That’s better. Let’s just only have good times from now on.”

Taehyung smiles sweetly, nodding his head.

“I’d love that”, he says, pulling you into him so he can drape his arm around your shoulder, “oh?” he laughs, “it feels so peculiar now that you are the same height as me. Oh darling”, he pulls you closer and kisses your temple, “those shoes are doing things to me.”

“I can step on you later.”

“Mhm, don’t seduce me, darling. I can only take that much”, Taehyung says and growls playfully.

“Gross”, Hoseok throws in, grinning boyishly.

“Then don’t listen in”, Taehyung throws back.

Hoseok blinks in confusion.

“I was just…joking.”

“I...” Taehyung exhales shakily, “forgive me. I don’t know what is wrong with me tonight.”

You exchange a look with the others.

“I’m sure that you’re just nervous to meet your friends again, aren’t you?” you say, addressing Taehyung.

“Yes, oh terribly nervous”, he says and gives you a nervous smile, “I’m sorry, I’ll try not to let everything get to me from now on.”

“Mhm, okay”, you give him a sweet smile then turn to the front so you wouldn’t accidentally trip over something.

The streets are crowded tonight. The spirit of festivities has the entire town in its clasp so it seems. Your little group blends in perfectly. Nobody seems to mind six people dressed up in fancy clothes journeying the streets. On the contrary, people in their most colourful clothes and costumes dance all around you, singing to the songs and getting drunk on the wine the shops seem to offer.

“What exactly are we celebrating tonight?” you ask Taehyung.

“Oh that? You see, my sweetest. Fringella owns most of the city and its surrounding land and once a year she holds this great festival to celebrate Yaeji, the woman who gave her life.”

“Yaeji? As in the Creator who sired all the Normals?”

“Exactly. She is seen as a goddess here. Well, at least in the circles of our species. Most humans here have no idea what exactly they are celebrating, they are merely tourists or curious souls craving a night of celebration and good wine.”

“I see, so there are many vampires living here?”

“Of course. We have entered their territory five blocks ago.”

You seem to clutch his arm tighter at the mention.

“Worry not, most of them are friendly towards humans”, Taehyung, who had felt you hold him tighter, assures you.

“Well, this is reassuring to hear”, you say and laugh breathily, “I was worried a little.”

“You don’t have to, truly you are safe here. Especially with me.”

“Tch.”

Taehyung sends Yoongi a dark look, one the latter returns.

“And the others of course”, Taehyung says and smiles at Yoongi rather tauntingly.

You try to ignore their weird passive aggressive eye contact.

“Of course, I feel so safe when I’m with you guys”, you say.

Fringella’s house finds itself in the middle of the city’s finest neighbourhood. Well, quite frankly, her house and surrounding parks were the city’s finest neighbourhood. The parks are buzzing with life tonight. Lanterns, held in reds, light up the spacious gardens. Hung from trees, along the marbled paths, on top of statues and furniture and in the countless fountains you pass. It was truly a celebration of light.

“It’s beautiful here”, you say, watching the red lights reflect in the water of the big fountain you are passing. Atop the fountain, a big statue of a woman is standing. Her hair is long, hugging her naked torso in a way that would cover her breasts from the eye of spectators.

“Who is that?” you ask.

“Fringella”, Taehyung answers you and smiles, “isn’t she beautiful? Oh darling, she is even more beautiful in person.”

“Ah. I see she erected a statue of herself”, you mumble.

“Indeed”, Taehyung says and snickers, “she is so beautiful.”

“I’d call it self-obsessed”, Yoongi grumbles.

Taehyung rolls his eyes and pouts.

You have to be honest, you almost chuckled at Yoongi’s words. Building a twelve foot statue of yourself half naked does sound a little bit self-obsessed to you.

“You really can’t stand her, can you?” Seokjin asks.

“No.”

“Why? Did you guys have a fight in the past?”

“More than once. She may be a Normal, but she isn’t any better than a Ripper.”

“That’s not true. At least she can control herself other than you people”, Taehyung snaps back. Yoongi looks unaffected, but Jungkook lowers his head.

“Ah of course, that makes the murders so much better of course. Because she did them out of her own control. That’s acceptable of course.”

“You know what? I’m giving up with you two”, you murmur and break away from Taehyung, “keep bickering, but don’t do it next to me”, you hiss and then hook your arms with Jungkook and Hoseok, “come on guys, let’s have fun.”

Seokjin follows too, placing his arm around Jungkook’s shoulders.

“Cheer up, bro. We know you’re not like that.”

“I know, I wasn’t even upset”, Jungkook lies.

You give his arm a little shake, making him look at you. The smile you send him lights up his eyes in a sparkle.

“You have to dance with me tonight, Kook. I’m not taking no for an answer.”

He nods his head vigorously, “I’d love to. I promise not to get a boner again.”

You snicker.

“Yah Jungkook, you big Casanova”, Seokjin teases, taking Jungkook into a headlock.

“Hyung no”, Jungkook laughs, “my hair, stop messing it up.”

Seokjin snickers, releasing Jungkook to pat his back instead.

“Besides”, Jungkook fixes his collar, “you can’t tease me anymore, because I know that I have game these days.”

“Ooooh Kook”, Hoseok hollers, clapping into his hands.

Seokjin snorts, “you didn’t really just say that, did you?”

Jungkook smirks confidently, “I did.”

“Waah Jungkookie, you’re such a player”, Seokjin exclaims, giving the younger vampire a gentle shake, “careful ___, he’ll get all the ladies if you’re not careful.”

You snicker, “I’ll keep an eye on him.”

Jungkook looks at you with rosy cheeks and soft eyes.

Yoongi and Taehyung join your side very soon, keeping their distance with a frown on their faces. Your group stops by the opened front door.

“Min Yoongi”, a tall woman steps closer, crossing her arms in front of her chest.

Yoongi lifts his head to look into her eyes, deepening the frown.

“Gwendoline”, he says coldly.

“You have balls coming here and thinking that I’ll let you pass”, she hisses.

“Let me through, I’m not in the mood for games.”

“Oh, but I am. One step closer and I’ll rip your arms out.”

“Try it, I dare you”, Yoongi challenges, flashing his eyes ruby.

She growls, baring her fangs.

“Gwen!” Taehyung is the one to diffuse the situation, pressing himself between the vampire and Yoongi, “my darling, come now don’t be like that.”

Gwendoline’s eyes return to their normal blue colour, her lips curl into a smile.

“Taehyung”, she gasps and laughs, “oh look at you, how long has it been?”

“Seventy years? Eighty? I’ve been too busy these days.”

“Indeed you have”, Gwendoline nudges his chest before letting her hand run down his torso. It finds its resting place on his belt, playing with it mindlessly, “you owe me the night in Paris.”

“What night?”

“Tae”, she warns, tugging him closer while her eyes flit to his lips, “don’t play with me.”

Taehyung gets on his tiptoes and lets his lips brush against her cheek.

“You’ll get two nights if you let all of us in”, he whispers.

Gwendoline purrs, sneaking her hand to Taehyung’s butt. She grabs it, gives it a good squeeze.

“What is happening?” Hoseok whispers to you.

“I have no idea”, you murmur, eyeing them with distaste. Jungkook isn’t even looking, staring at the ground with a heavy lump in his throat. 

“Even Min Yoongi?” she asks.

“Mhm, especially him”, Taehyung purrs, running his fingers up and down her arm.

“Two nights aren’t enough.”

“Three?”

She chuckles.

“Fine, four.”

“Four and breakfast in bed.”

“Deal.”

“Seal it, like we always did.”

Taehyung leans in and kisses her on the lips. Deep and with tongue.

“Ew”, Hoseok says, looking at your face instead, “you okay?” he whispers.

“Mhm yeah”, you lock eyes with him because quite frankly you weren’t in the mood to watch Taehyung tongue kiss a stranger.

“Okay that’s enough”, Yoongi is a little more open about his distaste, placing his hand on Taehyung’s shoulder to tug him away, “thanks Gwendoline, I owe you one”, he says and then drags Taehyung with him.

“I won’t forget it Min Yoongi, you owe me one”, she calls after him.

You are inside when Taehyung finally shakes off Yoongi’s hand.

“Why did you stop me?” he hisses.

“Because we didn’t come here to make out with everyone. Don’t forget our plan, we need to-”

“Yeah, yeah find allies in your fight against Namjoon. Don’t worry Min Yoongi, you’ve been talking about it nonstop, I’m sure even the hotelier knows of your plan by now”, Taehyung interrupts him.

“Tch”, Yoongi scoffs and lets go of his shoulder, “fucking brat, mock my plan all you want. You’re still here with ___ and Kook, show them some respect at least.”

Taehyung sneaks a glance at you and Jungkook. He knows exactly what Yoongi meant.

“I know what I’m doing, thank you very much”, he hisses and then struts to you with confidence. He takes your hand and intertwines his fingers with Jungkook as well.

Jungkook however steps away, slipping his hand out his grasp. He seeks Yoongi’s side, granting Taehyung not even one look.

“Okay”, Taehyung murmurs, looking at you instead, “did I do something?” he asks you.

“I don’t know”, you answer him with slight coldness in your voice, looking around the big mansion.

Chatter seems to quiet down, heads seem to turn. They follow you as you walk through the endless hallways. Some people even seem to step to the side, whispering to the next best person while their eyes are focused on your group.

“Why are they all staring?” you ask Taehyung.

“Because you are beautiful, darling”, he says and smiles at you, “they are blinded by your beauty.”

“You’re so cheesy”, you say, giving him a roll of your eyes.

“No but seriously, why is everyone staring at us?” Hoseok throws in, whispering the question.

“Because of me”, Yoongi grumbles.

“You?”

“I told you. I’m not popular here.”

You enter the main dance hall as Yoongi speaks the words. The dancing seems to stop, whispering goes through the rows of people. Then the music stops. Your group comes to a halt. You can sense that Hoseok is inching closer to you as you can suddenly feel his hand on your lower back as if he tries to find comfort through it.

“Min Yoongi”, a deep voice calls from somewhere above so loudly the entire room seems to vibrate, “you have some balls showing your face here.”

Yoongi exhales in annoyance, rolling his eyes. He steps out of your group, straightening his back in a roll of his shoulders.

“Come out Fredrick, I’m not in the mood for your games.”

A deep laugh then a shadows lands right in front of you. Hoseok and you startle, stumbling back and accidentally colliding with Seokjin, who lets out a little squeak of surprise.

There he is. Fredrick. Six foot three. Broad chest, big arms and legs, ginger hair down to his ribs and with his long fangs on display. He stretches his arms out.

“I see you’re still the asshole, you always were”, he says then steps closer and wraps his arms around Yoongi to give him a tight hug, “oh come here old friend.”

Yoongi accepts the hug with a frown, keeping his arms tangling by his side as his face gets squished into the set of impressive man tits the vampire Fredrick sports.

You would have continued staring at the peculiar scene hadn’t someone screamed Taehyung’s name on top of her lungs.

Taehyung’s face lights up.

“Fringella!” he calls out, looking at the balcony high above.

She stands there confidently and proud. Her hair matched in orange colour with Fredrick’s, her body seemed strong and barely any fabric covered it.

“Ladies and gentlemen, there he fucking is. The second best cock I’ve ever had to honour to sit on”, she says loudly, pointing at Taehyung.

Taehyung laughs in a way you have never heard him laugh before. He sounds so cocky, so full of himself. He looks like it too. His face carried the kind of confidence only a man who thinks he could have the entire room carries on his face.

“You’re not making me come up here, are you?” he calls out.

Fringella’s lips curl into a dark smirk.

Then she moves.

She jumps off the balcony, streaks of shadows and then you can watch how she is holding Taehyung’s face captive in a sloppy kiss right against the next best wall while Taehyung is basically bruising her flesh by how tightly he grasps her.

The music starts again. The guests continue dancing and chatting. It is as if such occurrences are completely normal here.

“Okay, there is so much happening”, Hoseok mumbles, changing his gaze between Taehyung violently making out with Fringella throughout the entire ballroom and Yoongi getting smothered by some hairy man tits.

“Yeah, totally”, Jungkook agrees.

“I feel so out of place”, Seokjin whispers.

“Same”, you say, watching with confusion as Fringella drags Taehyung’s lips away from her. Taehyung smirks lazily, dripping spit from his lips while he looks at her with half-lidded eyes. They say something to each other, you can’t hear it because they are currently on top of the balcony far, far away from you.

Then they fall into a disgustingly sloppy tongue kiss again and disappear.

You won’t see Taehyung for the rest of the night. Neither will you see him the next day and the day after that.

You don’t know of that future now however and so you turn back to Yoongi, who just this moment steps back from Fredrick, fixing his suit.

“You messed up my hair”, he states dryly, fixing it.

Fredrick laughs throatily, “you’ll survive, Min Yoongi.”

“Tzt.”

Fredrick turns to you then, studying you from head to toe.

“And who are you guys? You aren’t familiar to me.”

“Hoseok and Seokjin, Normals. Jungkook, Ripper and my apprentice. ___, human and Tae’s mate, so don’t touch her.”

“Of course, of course. All humans are welcome here”, Fredrick says and bows deeply, “welcome. I hope you will find great pleasure here. I’m Fredrick, husband of Fringella and long friend of Min Yoongi.”

“I wouldn’t say friend.”

“Oh come now”, Fredrick hits Yoongi’s upper back brotherly, “I’m the first person he turned.”

“Oh damn, really?” Hoseok gasps.

Fredrick nods his head and smiles proudly.

“Ripper, just like good Jungkook over here”, Fredrick points at his own chest, “I was turned three millennia ago and you?”

“1953?” Jungkook says shyly.

“Oh”, Fredrick belts out a loud laugh and then goes to slap Jungkook on the back so harshly poor Jungkook stumbles with big eyes, “so a Youngling? No wonder he is your apprentice, Min Yoongi. Tell me Jungkook, how many did you kill before Yoongi helped you?”

“I, I don’t know? I, I tried not to count.”

“Mhm sounds plausible. I killed ten thousand five hundred and twelve”, he says and smiles just slightly too proudly for your taste.

“O-okay? Uhm...” Jungkook is trying to wiggle out of Fredrick’s arm, failing miserably.

So with Jungkook in a tight headlock, Fredrick turns to Hoseok and Seokjin, who already cower away in fear of getting the same rough hug as poor Jungkook.

“And you? Younglings or not?”

“Very, please don’t hurt me”, Hoseok says, making Fredrick laugh loudly and then slam his hand on Hoseok’s shoulder in a brotherly pat. Hoseok’s knees buckle, a soft whimper slips past his lips.

“You are a funny boy. I like you.”

Hoseok steps back the moment Fredrick lets go of his aching shoulder, hiding behind Yoongi with a big pout on his lips. Meanwhile Jungkook is still trying to get out of the headlock, hitting Fredrick’s arm who doesn’t even seem to notice.

“Seokjin. I was turned in 1875”, Seokjin says confidently although his eyes seemed scared.

“Another Youngling. Oh that is great”, Fredrick says and greets Seokjin with a harsh slap to his arm, “oh to see the day where Min Yoongi surrounds himself with Younglings”, he says and chuckles.

Seokjin tries not to stumble but still ends up stumbling to the side with an aching arm.

Fredrick turns to you then, forcing cold sweat of terror to your skin.

“And you are ___, Taehyung’s mate. Oh that must be exhausting”, he says and laughs, “tell me is he still fucking his way through life?”

“N-not that I know of.”

“Oh that is hilarious. Kim Taehyung finally learned how to control his cock. But then, he is off to fuck my wife right now, so I would hardly call this control”, Fredrick laughs and lifts his hand to give you a brotherly pat as well.

You stare at it in horror.

This is it, you think, this is the night you will die.

Fredrick lowers it quickly.

You squeak.

Yoongi stops it, grabbing Fredrick’s wrist tightly.

“I told you not to touch her”, he hisses, “besides, release my apprentice will you?”

“Oh?” Fredrick looks at Jungkook, “oh forgive me, kiddo. You are so small and fragile that I didn’t even notice you”, he says and releases Jungkook.

Jungkook stumbles back, finding refuge behind Seokjin and Hoseok and looking like a sad puppy with tugged in tail doing it.

Yoongi lets go of Fredrick’s wrist by pushing it away, stepping between you and the vampire afterwards.

“I see you have to play bodyguard again. Kim Taehyung will never learn, will he? Oh Taehyung”, Fredrick laughs quietly and shakes his head.

He looks at all your faces again.

“But where is Park Jimin? I’m missing him here.”

“He’s not here.”

“Oh truly? But they were inseparable. Fringella’s dances were their favourite thing to go to together.”

“Jimin’s not here anymore.”

“I don’t understand.”

“Namjoon killed him.”

The room, once filled with music and chatter, becomes as quiet as the graveyard Jimin is currently resting on.

Fredrick’s entire face changes. The once bubbly, friendly person from before disappears, giving view to an angry, heartbroken monster.

“Park Jimin is dead?” he asks with a demonic voice.

Yoongi nods his head, forcing angry whispers to go through the room.

“I can’t believe this! Not Jimin! Oh if I meet Kim Namjoon, I will rip him to shreds!” Fredrick yells, grabs a chair and throws it against the wall so harshly it shatters into a million pieces.

You understand then, as you scan to faces of the people in the room and meet utter heartbreak in all of them, why Taehyung might be acting the way he does. He must have been thinking about the fact that he had to go to Fringella’s dance without his best friend by his side. Jimin wasn’t here anymore and this dance is the biggest reminder of it.

Oh poor Taehyung. No wonder he was so easily pissed off. He must have been in so much pain.

“That is why I’m here, Fredrick”, Yoongi says and places his hand on Fredrick’s arm. It seems to pull the vampire back to reality. Just like with Jungkook. Just one touch of their teacher and order returns to their mad faces.

“We are looking for him and we need everything you can give us about his whereabouts”, Yoongi says.

“Of course, I will help you. Everyone!” he calls the attention of everyone, “Min Yoongi didn’t come here looking for a fight. This fella here is looking for the murderer Kim Namjoon, who killed our precious friend Jimin! And he needs our help! So gather here and speak your truths!”

“Was that necessary?” Yoongi grumbles, looking highly uncomfortable by the attention.

Cheering goes through the room. People call his name and scream words of encouragement at him.

“Hear hear!”

“Down with the tyrant!”

“Long live Min Yoongi!”

“Kill the murderer!”

“It’s about time!”

“I mistrusted you unfairly Min Yoongi!”

Despite Yoongi’s words about being unpopular here, the crowd seems to love him, soon inching closer to your little group. Fredrick drags Yoongi right into the crowd. Yoongi turns before he disappears completely. His eyes carry discomfort and exhaustion. Poor Yoongi.

“Stay together”, he tells you then the crowd swallows him.

“Uhm…” Jungkook says, “what the actual hell did we walk into?”

“You say what I’m thinking”, Seokjin murmurs.

He watches with the rest of you as Fredrick and his friends seem to carry Yoongi in their hands. Not literally because Yoongi puts up quite the fight to stay with both feet on the ground, but one wrong step and the poor guy would probably be flung into the air by the excited crowd. 

“Can I say what I’m thinking?” Hoseok says.

“Say it”, you tell him.

“I feel like we shouldn’t have come here.”

“I’m getting the same feeling”, you agree and Seokjin nods his head as well.

“Do you guys think that Yoongi will get his answers?”

“Hopefully?”

“Poor Yoongi, I feel bad for him”, you say and pout.

“Why?” Hoseok asks.

“Because he hates crowds”, you explain, letting out a loud sigh afterwards, “poor Yoongi.”

“Yeah poor Yoongi”, Jungkook agrees.

“Idea”, Seokjin says then, “let’s go to the bar, get booze, hide in the garden far, far away from people and get very drunk and I’m sure we’ll have a good time.”

“We could do that”, Hoseok agrees, finally breaking away his eyes from Yoongi to turn to you and the others instead.

You sit down on the grass once the bottles are obtained. Hoseok offered you his jacket to sit on, which you declined at first until he convinced you with a pout.

So now you are sitting on top of his jacket in the green grass and sharing a bottle of champagne.

Hoseok, Seokjin and you have been chatting vividly while Jungkook has been awfully quiet.

“Jungkook hey”, Seokjin says, handing the younger vampire the bottle, “what’s wrong?”

Jungkook takes a sip, “nothing’s wrong”, he says, handing the bottle to you.

“Yeah, something’s up. You’re really quiet.”

“I’m always quiet, hyung.”

The three of you exchange a look.

“No, that’s not normal”. Hoseok says, scooting closer, “talk to us Kook.”

“No”, he refuses, ripping out grass.

“Well, maybe it’ll help more than killing the poor grass”, you say, placing your hand over his’.

He stops and sneaks a glance at you. For just a moment he falters, before giving in with a sag of his shoulders.

“How are you so cool with it?” he asks you.

“Cool with what?”

“Cool with Taehyung acting like the biggest, rancid fuckboy ever?”

“Damn, harsh words”, Hoseok says.

“Yeah well-”, Jungkook falters, lowering his eyes, “whatever, forget I said something.”

“Are you upset about it?” Seokjin asks him.

“Yeah”, Jungkook whispers.

“Oh Kook”, Hoseok says, placing his arm around Jungkook’s waist, “that sucks. He’s so mean.”

“And I’m upset cause he, he talked about me like that.”

“What do you mean?”

“When he said the thing about control and us people”, Jungkook says and sniffles, “that was so mean.”

“Yeah that, I heard it too. That was really uncalled for”, Seokjin agrees, “I’m sorry Jungkook. He had no right to say that.”

“Yeah, he seriously didn’t”, Hoseok agrees.

“I’m sure he didn’t actually mean it”, you assure him, “he just wanted to anger Yoongi and said untrue stuff.”

“No, he meant it”, Jungkook murmurs.

“No Kook, I’m sure he didn’t.”

“It’s about the principles, ___”, Seokjin says, “he may have only said it to annoy Yoongi, but it still sucks when you insult a certain characteristic of someone when a person you care about has it as well and hears it. Kind of makes the insult sound like a confession about their true feelings.”

“Yeah”, Jungkook whispers, sagging his shoulders even more.

“Okay if you put it like that, I can see why it is upsetting”, you say, “I’m sorry, I didn’t see it that way, Kook. I was trying to cheer you up, but sounded ignorant.”

“It’s fine”, he murmurs, lowering his head until he can rest it against Hoseok’s shoulder, “I’m sad guys.”

“Hey Kook!”

“No baby!”

“Come here Kookie!”

The three of you exclaim at the same time, hurdling over each other to take Jungkook into a big group hug.

“Don’t be sad sweets, we’re here now”, you tell him.

“Yeah, we’re here Kook”, Seokjin agrees.

“We’re not going anywhere”, Hoseok promises him before smooching his forehead loudly.

“Thanks guys”, Jungkook murmurs, finding comfort in the hug. It is warm and smells like genuine love. He likes both of those things and it makes him happy to know that those two things are for him right now.

“You know what we should do?” Hoseok asks.

“What?” Jungkook is talking quietly.

“We should finish this bottle, get more and then dance. I’m sure that will help more than being sad in the grass.”

Jungkook sighs and shrugs his shoulders, “yeah sure, we could do that.”

“Of course we’ll do that. Come on guys, let’s help Kook up and dance.”

It helps. Jungkook is soon too drunk on alcohol and the music to really care about his thoughts. You all are, don’t assume anything else. Seokjin is willing to reach very deep into his pockets tonight. Very deep.

“Fuck”, you stumble again, falling into Hoseok’s chest.

He catches you safely, keeping his hands wrapped around you tightly.

“Careful”, he is lulling his words.

“Damn bro, no joke. I’m fucked”, you say, laughing manically afterwards.

“Same dude”, he says, snickering uncontrollably.

“What’cha guys talkin’ bout?” Seokjin throws in, leaning himself on your shoulders.

“Drunk”, you tell him, “we’re really drunk.”

“Same”, he says and hiccups, rubbing his cheek against your shoulder like a cuddly cat.

“You good?” you ask him.

“Yeah, so good. ___ you smell nice.”

You laugh, “are you guys trying to do a masquerade ball one point two here?”

“No, course not. Unless”, Seokjin wiggles his brows at you, “you’re down for it.”

“Yo, seriously dude? Here?” Hoseok gasps.

“Yeah dude, here?” you tease him.

“What about here?” Jungkook throws in, now having stumbled to your little group. He finds support on Hoseok’s shoulder which in return makes Hoseok lean more of his weight on you.

“Seokjin wants to grind”, Hoseok lulls.

“Yeah, wanna grind”, Seokjin says, rubbing his nose against your neck.

“What grind? On each other?” Jungkook lulls, stepping closer.

“Yeah each other”, Seokjin says, nodding his head, “you join too Kook, you got a nice ass.”

“Thanks bro, you got a nice ass too.”

“Thanks bro”, Seokjin says and the two men high five each other clumsily. They just kind of slap each other’s wrists and call it a day.

“Yeah bro”, Jungkook says.

“Bro”, Seokjin whispers and tugs you closer.

“Guys seriously”, you groan, “you’re kinda unfair right now leaning on the only human here”, you whine, struggling to keep up their weight.

Seokjin snakes his arms around your waist, trying to help you with the burden. Not that he is of great help. Now you have Hoseok and Seokjin trying to tug you closer while Jungkook is still fighting to get into the hug.

“Guys”, you laugh, wiggling out of them with all you got.

They stumble, falling into each other.

“Give a girl some slack”, you say, smoothing over your dress.

“Noo come back ___”, Seokjin whines, making grabby hands at you.

Hoseok drapes his arm around his shoulder and drags him into his body.

“Why are you so horny, dude? You’ve never made a move on her before.”

“Cause she’s pretty. ___ bro you got a nice ass too.”

You snort, “thank you Seokjin.”

He lifts his hand so you can high five it. Which you do, even if Seokjin misses the first time and only gets it right with Hoseok’s help.

Thinking about it, perhaps Seokjin is the drunkest right now.

“Hoseok”, he lulls and presses his lips against Hoseok’s neck, “I miss Emma.”

“Okay, bad news guys. He’s going into depressive mode”, Hoseok says, fighting for his life to keep Seokjin from falling to his knees.

“I get it dude”, Jungkook says and stumbles closer to you, “depressed”, he says and plops against your body.

“Who let those two babies drink?” you groan, “Kook, you have half a ton of muscle mass, please use your legs, I can’t hold you.”

Jungkook whines, “hold me please ___, you smell so good.”

“Okay, know what? Let’s get you to a bench.”

And so it happens that you and Hoseok (with your dizzy heads) drag your two immortal babies to the next best seating possibility. You sit them down, propping them up in a way so they could lean against each other.

“There. Now you can be depressed together”, you tell them, turning to Hoseok, “I’ll get water, you stay here.”

“Yeah, try not to trip.”

“I won’t.”

And with that you turn to stumble away onto your journey for water.

Truth be told, you forget your destination halfway to the bar. It wasn’t your fault, but that of your host.

“Are you lost ___?” Fredrick asks, placing his massive hand on top of your head.

“Oh hey there Fredrick sir”, you greet him, “don’t touch my head like that. You may be one massive tree of a man, but I don’t want your hand on my head.”

Fredrick snorts before laughing loudly.

“Who filled you up?” he says, studying your swaying body.

“Seokjin”, you answer him, “and now he’s crying over his girlfriend.”

“His girlfriend? Who’s this girlfriend if I may ask?”

“Emma. She’s a Glutton, but he can’t find her.”

“Emma, mhm. I know an Emma.”

“Yeah you do? That’s good. Go to him and tell him, because he’s sad.”

You stumble. Fredrick catches you, holding you with painful strength.

“Good sir”, you grunt, “you are too strong, don’t touch me.”

“Oh you are hilarious”, he laughs again, throwing his head back, “forgive me, I won’t touch you again.”

“Thanks.”

You lock eyes with Fredrick. He is grinning down at you.

“Since when are you Taehyung’s mate?”

“Since last September, but we had a little break for a few months because he lied to me and then tried to kill me with Jimin and Namjoon and then Yoongi locked him up as a punishment, but he’s free again and we’re good.”

“Ah I see”, Fredrick’s amusement grows, “and Yoongi, tell me, is he still the loner he always was?”

“Don’t know”, you say, shrugging your shoulders, “I ain’t telling anyways, even if you try to convince me.”

“And why is that?”

“Cause”, you shrug your shoulders, “that’s why.”

“I could convince you very easily”, Fredrick says with a playful smirk.

“No you can’t”, you say and show him your magic ring, “my mind’s safe from you fuckers, I’m not dumb.”

“Oh you”, Fredrick bursts into belly aching laughter. He laughs so hard that you fear his big tits may rip through his shirt (not that there was much of a shirt on his torso to begin with), “I like you. No wonder, Taehyung fancies you.”

“Mhm I know”, you say confidently.

“Either way, I have to go. There are many people who want to talk to me. If you see Yoongi anywhere tell him he’s welcome to join me for a whiskey upstairs.”

“Yoongi?” your ears perch up, you straighten your back, “where’s Yoongi?”

“Don’t know. I lost him an hour ago.”

You look around the room in search for him. Where is Yoongi?

“Either way, I’m going. It was nice talking to you, human ___.”

“Yeah, yeah”, you dismiss him, turning his back to him. Where is Yoongi?

Fredrick watches you stumble away with curiosity in his eyes. He has never seen such a reckless, yet also impressively confident, human in a room where ninety percent of the guests aches for a taste of her neck.

“Oh yeah!” you whip back around and stumble to Fredrick.

You press you finger into his chest.

“You go talk to Seokjin and tell him about Emma, or else”, you tell him, poking his chest harder.

“I will talk to him”, Fredrick promises.

“Good”, you say and turn back around to finally leave.

“She is fascinating”, Fredrick murmurs, “oh if only she wasn’t Taehyung’s”, he says and licks his lips hungrily.

You disappear behind a pillar and with it out of his sight.

Fredrick turns, making his way upstairs. He won’t talk to this Seokjin guy. Emma is better off where she is.

You enter the long hallways, dodging too many people to count. You have to find Yoongi. This is top priority. Find Yoongi and then…make out with him. Yes, that’s the plan. You will find Yoongi and then make out with him. You really want to make out with him.

It is difficult to walk in your heels. They are so uncomfortable and way too high. You really should have picked out sneakers or something. Or no shoes. That would have been fun too, you think as you walk right over some broken glass.

“Or maybe not”, you mumble before continuing your way to Yoongi.

Now where is he?

You cross another corner, entering the massive entrance hall. The air is cooler here then it is in the ballroom. The chatter is quieter as well. It is still loud, but it at least is not as deafening as it was back there.

“Now. Where is he?” you mumble and look around the room.

There he is. Your eyes find him an instant, focusing on him as if it was their only purpose. He is alone, hiding under the stairs with a glass of whiskey in his hands and a deep frown on his face. His figure and face are almost hidden completely in the shadow, but you still know that it is him.

Your face lights up, your heart flutters.

There he is. Your Yoongi Boongie.

You quicken your steps.

You see him a little better now that you are coming closer to him. His eyes – previously they scanned the crowd – are focused on you. His hand lifts the glass to his lips. He drinks the bitter beverage without moving one single muscle in his face. Then he lowers the glass again and licks his lips once.

You dodge an unknown vampire, then two more steps and the shadow swallows you as well.

“Hey there stranger”, you greet him.

“You look drunk”, he says dryly. 

“I am. Very drunk actually. I hate my shoes, it’s difficult to walk”, you tell him as you rest against him with your cheek on his shoulder. 

“You smell like Fredrick”, he tells you, stepping back.

You lift your head, pouting now that he rejected you so obviously.

“Yeah. I met him when I was trying to look for you. He touched my head.”

“He did what?” he hisses, puffing out his chest.

“Calm down”, you stop him from storming off and ripping Fredrick’s hand off, “I told him not to touch me and he apologised. I’m good.”

Yoongi stares at your head, obviously trying to check for wounds. He relaxes with a huff of air, taking a big sip of his whiskey.

“Good”, he grumbles, looking to the side with a roll of his eyes.

“What’s wrong?” you ask him, poking his tummy.

“Don’t”, he says, tensing his abs.

“You look pissed”, you say, studying his dark frown, “what’s wrong?”

“I’m not. Just bored.”

“Yeah because you’re hiding in a dark corner all alone like a creepy little shadow. The party’s back there, not here.” 

“I don’t want to be there.” 

“Why not? You’d be less bored.” 

“Yeah and far more pissed.”

“Really?”

“Mhm, I can’t stand Fringella’s people. They’re perverts.”

“And you’re not?” you tease jokingly, but Yoongi sends you one of his looks. The kind of cold, annoyed look you haven’t seen from him in ages. 

“Careful”, he hisses. 

“Damn Yoongi, you’re really pissed aren’t you?”

He grinds his teeth and looks away. 

“Was the talk with Fredrick so bad?”

He shakes his head, but keeps frowning.

“Tell me about it. Do we know more now?”

“Yes. There’s a group of Namjoon’s followers outside town. One of the guests saw them gathering in an old warehouse.”

“But that’s good news.”

Yoongi nods his head.

“Fredrick’s sending some of his men out there tomorrow. They’ll kill all of them except one. We’ll question them.”

“Seriously?” you gasp.

Yoongi sneaks a glance at you.

“That’s Fredrick’s methods. They’re successful, so I won’t question them.”

“I...understand”, you say, scratching the side of your neck awkwardly. Yoongi is right. The method seems the best for a situation like that. You just have to get used to the constant presence of murder and death and just how normal they are seen by everyone here.

“Do you think that they’ll talk?”

“Oh trust me, they will.”

“Okay”, you whisper.

Yoongi looks at your face.

“Don’t think about it. Fredrick and I will do the work, you should go sightseeing with the others tomorrow. I heard the city offers a really nice botanical garden, I’m sure you could like it.”

“Don’t you want to come with me?”

“No.”

You fluster, blinking rapidly.

“Well, that was quick”, you say.

Yoongi licks his lips now that he feels embarrassed about how quickly he denied you.

“Not tomorrow. I have to take care of Namjoon’s followers”, he tries to put softness into his voice, but fails just slightly.

“Fine, then I’ll do something else tomorrow and we’ll go to the gardens the day after that.”

Yoongi studies your features. He just can’t seem to stop himself from frowning.

“We’ll see what we can do”, he says dryly.

“Okay, we’ll see about it.”

You reach out and touch his wrist.

“Do you want to come out of the shadows now and join us?”

Yoongi hesitates. You notice that he does and decide to distract him.

“Or actually. We don’t have to leave this place.”

You step closer, making him fall against the wall as he tries to keep the distance up. Even closer. You place your hands on the wall beside his head. 

Yoongi lifts his head and lets it fall against the wall, locking eyes with you.

“What are you doing?” he rasps the question.

“Taking your mind off of things”, you say, taking his chin between your fingers to keep his head tilted up.

It makes Yoongi’s eyes glow ruby for just a second. 

“I think it’s kind of hot that I’m taller than you.”

“Yeah?” 

“Mhm yeah, I like it when you look up at me. Your pretty eyes are made for it.”

“I know what you’re trying to do here.”

“I know”, you say, dragging your thumb over his lips, “you’re tempting me.”

He is affected. You know that he is because he likes it when you look down on him. Tonight he seems way too annoyed to react however. 

“We’re not alone”, he says, turning his head away.

“We’re hidden enough, nobody will notice”, you say, leaning in to kiss his neck most seductively.

“Control yourself”, he says, moving away slightly.

“I can’t. You’re so addictive”, you rasp, giving his neck a gentle bite.

Yoongi tenses up and lifts his shoulder to his ear.

“I mean it”, he hisses, “don’t play with me tonight.”

You stop and lift your head to study his features. He is frowning. 

“Oh Yoongs, what’s wrong?” you ask him, trying and failing to caress his cheek because Yoongi flinched away when you reached out.

So he is truly upset. Well damn.

“Did someone say something to you? What else happened when Fredrick dragged you away?” you ask him worriedly.

“It shouldn’t concern you.”

“Well it does. We’re a team, remember?”

He sneaks a glance at you.

“It’s nothing”, he says.

“No, it’s not nothing. You’re upset, I can see it”, you say, caressing his upper arm, “talk to me, Yoongs.”

“They said my name, talked to me. They know who I am, princess.”

“I mean… Obviously people know you. You’re the Min Yoongi and you announced that you are avenging their friend. Obviously they will talk to you.” 

“I don’t want that”, he hisses, “I don’t want to be seen as, as some sort of stupid, fucking celebrity.”

“Oh Yoongi”, you say, rubbing his arm gently, “I know, but I’m sure they didn’t mean any harm in it.”

He huffs out air.

“I’m sure most of them talked to you out of a sense of respect and because they wanted to help.”

“Whatever, you don’t get it”, he says, shaking you off. 

“No I do. You don’t like it when people know you, but don’t think that way. Those people think they know you but they don’t. They know the Creator you, not the real you. And you don’t have to show your true side to them, you can pretend.”

Yoongi listens intently to what you have to say, emptying his glass of whiskey gradually. 

“You can put on a façade tonight and pretend to still be that scary, unbeatable Creator and people will believe to know you when in reality they never will.” 

You give his cheek a soft pet.

“You can do that Yoongi, you know? Just because people know your name and reputation doesn’t mean you automatically have to show yourself to them. You can be hidden behind a mask, that’s your right to do.”

It happens then that the deep frown finally falls from his face. His forehead stops creasing, his brows relax and his eyes – once cold in anger – warm up as they focus on your face. Yoongi takes your hand with utmost care and lifts it to his lips to kiss your knuckles softly. 

“Thank you”, he says, rubbing the tip of his nose against your knuckles just once before he lets go again in fear of someone seeing him. 

“Don’t. That’s what I’m here for.”

Yoongi nods his head in understanding, avoiding eye contact as he feels too shy. You give his soft cheek a little pinch then step back to give him some space.

“Do you want to dance with me?” you ask, stretching your arms out to him.

“Dance?”

“Yes, dance. I feel like dancing.” 

“I don’t know. I don’t like dancing.” 

“Do it for me?”

“I don’t know.” 

“Please Yoongi?”

“Mhm”, he cocks his right eyebrow up.

“Please?”

“Can’t you ask someone else?”

“But-”

“Hoseok!” Yoongi interrupts you. 

The younger vampire stops in his tracks abruptly, backtracking slowly. He looks around the hallway for a moment before his eyes finally land on you.

“Oh, there you are”, he says and hurries to you “what the hell? Why are you hiding in the shadows? I didn’t even see you at first. Also thanks ___, you were of great help.”

“Why?”

“You abandoned me with the two biggest babies ever. I had to drag them outside all on my own. And then Seokjin pushed me into the fountain and now I’m drenched. Look”, he shows off his wet body, “I had to walk all the way back to the bathroom to get dry and they are still outside both crying and whining about their lovers. Why would you abandon your own brethren like that?” he is whining loudly, carrying the biggest pout on his lips.

“Oh shoot, I’m so sorry Hobi. I totally forgot”, you gasp.

“What’s wrong?” Yoongi asks.

“It’s Kook and Jin. They’re waiting outside, totally drunk and depressed”, Hoseok explains.

“Great. I’ll take care of them. You guys should dance together. I’m leaving.”

“Yoongi wait”, you call after him.

Too late. Yoongi is gone already. With sagging shoulders, you turn back to Hoseok, giving him a pout. 

“I’m so confused”, he says. 

“I asked Yoongi to dance with me and he panicked and then played wingman for you and I.”

“Ah I see”, Hoseok nods his head, “is he being grumpy again?”

“No, he is most definitely not in his preferred location.” 

“Oh yeah, I get it”, he laughs, “I almost joined a blood orgy on my way to the loo.”

“Excuse me, what? You joined what now?”

“Nothing. I just opened the wrong door and suddenly bam around twenty vampires fucking. All covered in blood and cum and sticky stuff”, he shudders, “very disturbing, especially when you just wanted to dry up. I left that room so fast.”

“I can imagine”, you cringe, “now I know why Yoongi thinks they’re all perverts here.”

“Oh yeah, they definitely are”, Hoseok laughs, nodding his head, “you should seriously stick with us because I don’t know what would happen if you accidentally walked into that room.” 

“I don’t even want to imagine.”

“Neither do I”, Hoseok says and furrows his brows. 

“Well uhm”, you begin, “now that we were so successfully wing manned by Yoongi, do you want to dance?”

“Honestly? I kind of want to leave. This party isn’t of my taste.”

“You know what? I respect that. Come on, let’s see if we can still catch up with Yoongi.”

You and him hold hands so you wouldn’t get separated.

“I’m sorry for leaving you. My drunk brain totally forgot what I wanted to do.”

“It’s fine, I kinda had a gist that you idiot forgot”, he assures you, making you chuckle.

“Is Tae still here?” you ask him.

“Yup somewhere. Probably. I guess. I honestly have no idea, I know as little about his whereabouts as you.” 

“You don’t think that he’s in that room, do you?”

Hoseok seems worried for a moment. Not for Taehyung, but your feelings.

“I don’t know”, he says, laughing nervously, “I honestly didn’t look that closely and it was pretty stuffy and dark. So I didn’t see much.”

“Hobi, you guys can see perfectly in the dark.”

“Yeah still”, he whines, “I just didn’t look that closely, okay?”

“Yeah okay, I get it”, you say and huff out air, “I just really hope that he isn’t.”

“I’m sure he’s not.”

“Do you think Yoongi is alright?” you ask him.

“Yes, I think he just needs some alone time.” 

“I get it. Gosh, I feel bad for him. He always excludes himself from stuff without even trying first”, you pout, “I feel so bad because I feel like he could have so much fun if he allowed himself to.”

“I get it, but it’s Yoongi. I don’t think he could ever have fun with”, Hoseok leans in to whisper, “those people.”

“I guess”, you mumble, “but he could stay with us and have fun with us.”

“Yeah I know”, Hoseok gives you a sorry look, “don’t take it to heart ___, I’m sure he doesn’t mean it personally.”

“I know, I’m not. I guess, I’m just an overly worried girlfriend right now.” 

Hoseok laughs, caressing your upper back gently.

“Don’t laugh. I feel like all I do these days is worry about one of you guys.” 

“You don’t have to, you know? We’ll make sure that nothing happens to us just so you don’t have to worry.”

“Gosh Hobi, you’re sweet. Thank you for staying safe", you say, caressing his arm. 

Hoseok gives you a cute grin, “of course. Now where is Yoongi? Mhmm.”

You and Hoseok look around the spacious garden.

“I can’t see him anywhere”, you say.

“Yeah, neither can I. Let’s go further up the path.”

You look left and right as you walk, looking for a small vampire with two massive vampires thrown over his shoulder. Knowing Yoongi, this will be his preferred method of transporting the drunk babies back to their rooms.

You end up not finding Yoongi anywhere and walking all the way back to the house.

You stop by a food vendor for some fries with ketchup and then eat them on a metal bench while a few feet away a street musician plays his songs. The lanterns are still burning brightly and all around you, people have gathered to listen to the melodies.

“You know what I hate the most?” Hoseok says.

“Wet clothes?”

“Oh yes, very much so. Especially wet socks”, he wiggles his feet, “there is still water in my shoes.”

“Oh no, poor boy. Should we go back to the house already? So you can dry up?”

Hoseok shakes his head, “but that’s not what I meant.”

“No? What else?”

“When they put the ketchup all over the fries.”

“Yeah same, oh my god, biggest pet peeve.”

“Totally”, he agrees and pokes his fries into the ketchup. He throws it into his mouth and chews vigorously, “those are good fries though.”

“Mhm, totally. Really good. Very salty, which I like.”

“Same. Salt is what makes them good.”

“Agreed.”

“And lots of grease. I don’t understand how people don’t like greasy fries.”

“That’s like a fifty-fifty for me”, you say, “sometimes I like it, but sometimes I get a tummy ache from it. So it all depends on the day.”

“I respect that”, Hoseok says, nodding his head.

“Tonight the grease’s good though. My drunk ass needs it.”

“Totally. My mates back in the day always said that greasy food is the best to sober up.”

“They totally had a point. That and chocolate donuts.”

“Chocolate donuts?” Hoseok laughs.

“Yeah?” you glance at him, “why are you laughing? They are the bomb when you’re drunk.”

Hoseok lifts his hands in defeat, shrugging his shoulders, “I couldn’t possibly tell you, I never had them when I was wasted.”

“You should really try them. They’re amazing.”

“Next time then, unless”, he looks around, “nope, there’s no donut vendor around here.”

“Yeah sad, I already looked. I really crave them.”

Hoseok drapes his arm around your shoulder, patting your arm, “my condolences.”

“Thanks”, you say and chuckle, “maybe that’s karma for abandoning you.”

Hoseok laughs quietly, “maybe yeah.”

He keeps his arm around you afterwards, dancing his fingertips over your upper arm to the melody of the street musician. And as he does, he continues munching on his fries, making sound effects of approval each time the fry was especially salty or greasy. You do the same, enjoying the calmness of the night. Out here, time finally seems to feel real. Back at Fringella’s place so much happened at once that you could barely even keep up. It felt like a dream or as if you were stuck in a movie and someone pressed the fast forward button. But out here, you can breathe again. This feeling is nice.

Hoseok looks at you, which in return makes you look at him.

“What’s wrong?”

“Honestly we should have just done this”, he says.

“Done what?”

“Stayed on the streets. I feel like the night wouldn’t have ended that messily if we did.”

“You think the night ended messily?”

“Yeah I guess”, Hoseok shrugs his shoulders, “Kook and Jin are too drunk, Yoongi is moody and Tae’s gone. And you’re upset too.”

“I’m upset too? What makes you think that I am?”

“I mean…you can’t be okay with Tae acting like that, can you?”

You take a deep breath through your nose, turning back to the street musician. You take a fry and eat it. You swallow it.

“I don’t know”, you say, “I feel like I have no right to feel negatively about his behaviour. Not when I’m the same.”

“The same?”

“Yeah. I want to keep seeing Yoongi too and I’m flirting with you guys. I’m the same.”

“Okay but, you’re not the same. Taehyung’s probably involved in god knows how many orgies with, like, really weird people right now. And he is so nonchalant about fucking strangers. I don’t know, I just think he’s different than you.”

“I guess”, you say.

You eat another fry and then another.

Hoseok has turned back to the street musician by now.

“Sorry. I didn’t wanna overstep my boundaries”, he says, giving your shoulder a little squeeze. His palm is cold like it always is.

“No, it’s fine. It would be weird if you guys didn’t ask. It’s honestly a little strange for me too to have him act so nonchalantly about sex with strangers, but it is what it is.”

“I guess”, he says.

“I’m more worried about Kook, if I’m being honest. He is really upset about it.”

“I know. Honestly it wasn’t okay for Tae to talk like this.”

“Yeah, but I still think he didn’t actually mean it.”

“I guess. It’s still not okay.”

“No, it really isn’t.”

“Especially because Kook’s such a romantic”, Hoseok says and sighs sadly, “I feel so bad for him. He just wants to experience that really cheesy type of love, you know?”

“I know”, you murmur sadly, “it’s so weird, because when I met Tae he was this really cheesy romantic, who talked about monogamy and wanting The One, but he feels so different these days.”

“Is he mean to you?”

“Oh god no, he isn’t. He’s still a total sweetheart when we’re alone. But sometimes he is just…different. I can’t explain it. He seems so distant sometimes”, you say and after a moment of silence you speak again, “I shouldn’t say that. I know why he’s like this.”

“Why?”

“He’s grieving Jimin. That must be it. He is grieving the loss of his best friend. You heard when Fredrick asked about Jimin today and that those two always went to these dances together. Just imagine how much it must hurt him to know that he can’t experience it with Jimin anymore.”

“You really think so?”

“Yeah”, you nod your head, “Jimin was his best friend for so many centuries. You know, sometimes Tae talks in his sleep and sometimes I ask him questions and he actually answers me. One time he repeated that he lost it. So I asked him what he meant by it. And Tae he…fuck”, you lower your head, “Tae told me that he lost his will to live. Fuck”, you inhale shakily, “I cried myself to sleep that night because I was hurting so much for his sake.”

You sneak a glance at Hoseok. He seems to truly live your emotions with you, eyes sad and lips turned downwards.

“Just imagine how painful it must be to lose a person you have known hundreds and hundreds of years, with whom you have shared not one, but countless lifetimes with. I don’t think anyone could truly describe the amount of pain that must bring.”

“It must be really painful. I don’t even want to imagine how it would be to lose Kook or Jin or you and Yoongi”, Hoseok lets out a scoff, “goddamn it, now I feel bad for being mad at him.”

“Yeah, it’s honestly such a messy situation. I’m mad at him for Kook’s sake, but I also feel guilty for it because in the end, Tae’s in a lot of pain too.”

“It’s really messy”, Hoseok agrees, nodding his head. He throws the empty food container into the bin and stands up.

He claims the spot in front of you.

“Let’s go back to the mansion, it’s getting cold and I feel like staying here will only make us feel depressed as well.”

“Gosh Hobi, you really can’t stand talking about sad stuff can you?” you say as you accept his hand and let him pull you to his feet.

“No, I hate it so much. I’m too awkward for it”, he says, making you chuckle fondly.

You intertwine your fingers again and then begin wandering down streets. You don’t chat a lot,  just talks about how nice the night is when you aren’t trapped in a vampire orgy mansion and how you truly should have stayed on the streets. Then you wondered whether or not Yoongi would have been less grumpy about it and then you talked about how bad you feel for him now that he has to take care of Jungkook and Seokjin all on his own.

You then sped up your steps and hurried back to the mansion.

“Yoongi?” you call out, closing the door behind you, “we’re back!”

You slip out of your heels and Hoseok helps you with taking off your coat.

“Hyung, how are the others holding up?” he calls out.

The mansion however stays silent.

“Where is he?” you ask Hoseok.

“Don’t know, let’s check upstairs.”

You check Seokjin’s room first. The owner of said room is knocked out, sleeping with his mouth agape and a wet cloth pressed to his forehead. Yoongi also managed to somehow wrestle him out of his suit. He placed the neatly folded suit over the backrest of Seokjin’s armchair.

“He’s knocked out”, you whisper to Hoseok.

“Yeah, let’s let him sleep”, Hoseok answers you and together you tiptoe out of his room, closing the door behind you.

Next, Jungkook’s room.

“Yoongi hyung?” Jungkook’s tiny voice calls out from the darkness.

“No, it’s us”, Hoseok answers him.

“Hobi hyung, you’re back.”

“Yep, we’re back.”

“Is Taehyung back too?”

“No, he is still at the dance.”

“Oh”, Jungkook says and then soft sobs fill the silence.

“Hey Kookie, I’m here now”, Hoseok gasps, hurrying to his bed, but not before turning to you, “look for Yoongi, I’m staying with Kook.”

“Good plan. Give him lots of hugs from me.”

“I will. Hey Kookie. Hyungie’s here now.”

“Hobi, I really need a hug.”

The door falls closed behind you, drowning out the rest of their conversation. Hoseok will take the greatest care of him. You are sure of it, because Hoseok is one of the sweetest people you know. You feel terrible for having to abandon Jungkook in his state, but you know of Yoongi’s warnings. Moments of emotional vulnerability make Jungkook prone to lash out on humans against his will. And you don’t want that to happen. Jungkook doesn’t need another burden atop his aching heart. Hoseok will take good care of him, you are sure of it.

You finally find Yoongi outside, standing by the fence at the far end of the garden. You hurry to him, using what little light the moon gives as your guide. The grass is wet on your bare feet, tickling your shins as you hurry through it. You are sure that your dress is soaked by now, but you don’t care. You will simply wash it.

“Hey.”

Yoongi turns his head, studying you from head to toe.

“Hey.”

“That’s where you went off to. I was looking everywhere for you. You left so quickly.”

“I hate those things.”

“Why? I thought it was really fun.”

“I hate the stares.”

“Yoongs, that wasn’t true. People didn’t stare at you.”

“Yeah they did.”

“Well, if they did then it was because you look so handsome in your suit.”

Yoongi sneaks a glance at you, seeming flustered. You giggle and step closer, nudging his arm with your chest. 

“What are you looking at?”

“Fireflies.”

You turn and look at the endless fields. He is right. The darkness is broken up by hundreds and hundreds of golden sparkles. They flutter on their black canvas, painting pictures of utter tranquillity. 

“They’re pretty”, you say. 

“I guess. I find them relaxing.”

“Yes, you’re right. They are really relaxing”, you say and smile, “it must be such a great life to spend it making the night prettier.”

“Yes”, Yoongi agrees as he looks at your face. You don’t see that he looks at you, too busy being happy about the fireflies, “it must be a good life”, he says, looking at your lips before he has to look somewhere else as for just a second he felt like gasping for air.

“Did you know that fireflies glow to attract a mate?” he asks.

“I didn’t know that”, you sneak a glance at his face, “where did you learn that fact?”

“Just somewhere, can’t remember.”

“Mhm”, you acknowledge him then look at the fireflies again. 

“I like knowing facts”, he confesses quietly. 

“Mhm, you know a lot. It’s always awesome when you tell me something. I learn new stuff, that’s nice.”

“Yeah”, he whispers, flustering slightly.

Yoongi picks off a little loose piece of wood from the fence. He looks at it and how it sits under his fingernail. He flicks it away and begins picking at a new spot. 

“Did you dance a lot?” he asks.

“No, we left a little after you. We ate some fries and listened to a street musician.”

“Mhm.”

“Why did you not want to dance with me?”

“I hate doing it.”

“Really?”

He nods his head, “there were too many people.”

“Ah, I see. The stares.”

“Yes.”

“I get it”, you say and then hug his arm. You rest your head against his shoulder. “You have to dance with me one day.”

“You really want that, don’t you?”

“Yes, I want to know how you dance.” 

He looks at you. You have your eyes closed, smiling contently. 

He turns then, forcing his arm to slip from your grasp but making up for it by taking you in his arms in a perfect dancing position. 

“What are you doing?” you gasp.  

Yoongi steps closer and begins moving.

“Dancing with you”, he whispers. 

Your eyes begin sparkling even brighter than the fireflies. Yoongi finds immense happiness in the smile you give him.

He leads the dance. Slow steps. Left and right at first before he makes your feet take steps back and forth as well. And then it becomes a pattern of different directions until you are swirling over the meadow, looking as if you are floating on dark clouds. 

And as he guides you over your improvised dance floor, the fireflies seem to burn even brighter, dancing with you while the stars light up your surroundings. 

He keeps looking at you as you dance. His eyes are sparkling with such love they could outshine the moon. You can’t look away either, gazing at him with your heart racing in your chest.

So you are dancing. You are actually dancing. And it is even better than you could have ever imagined it. 

Yoongi twirls you and catches you safely. It makes you laugh and for his own lips to curl into a fond smile. You grow closer afterwards. He is hugging your waist while you caress the back of his head.

“What is it?” he asks softly.

“Nothing, you’re a good dancer”, you tell him.

He flusters and ends up twirling you again. He twirls you and twirls you until you are squeaking and squealing and laughing so much that your tummy aches.

“Stop, oh my god, I’m dizzy”, you complain.

He stops you, holding you safely, “sorry”, he whispers with fondness in his voice.

“Urgh Yoongi, now I’m dizzy”, you whine in a chuckle, resting your forehead against his shoulder. A happy giggle shakes your body and Yoongi finds himself kissing whatever part of your head he can reach, “oh Yoongi…”

You step back and twirl him.

“No, don’t”, he says and laughs, stumbling back into your arms. 

You giggle, caressing his back while swaying from side to side. 

“You’re so silly”, he says in a laugh, shaking his head in disbelief. 

“Yeah I know”, you grin, “you’re cute.”

“Are you drunk?”

“Yes”, you nod your head, “drunk on you.”

“Tzt. I walked right into that one, didn’t I?” 

“Yeah”, you have to snicker. 

Yoongi is melting. You sound so adorable when he makes you laugh. He draws closer, resting his chin on your shoulder while holding you close with his arm on your lower back. 

You rest against him, squeezing his hand softly.

“You’re smaller again”, he whispers.

“I know. My feet hurt so much, so I took off my shoes. I hope that I don’t step on a slug. That would be so disgusting and I would have to burn off my skin with acid.”

Yoongi chuckles.

“Should I massage your feet later?”

“You don’t have to.”

“Okay, I’ll massage them.”

You smile, “you’re so cute. Thank you, Yoongi Boongie.”

You begin twirling again, covering your naked feet in the evening dew whilst creating circles in the grasses. They make sense to you and him. They form the perfect pattern as they are created out of the same melody. A melody only you and him can hear. 

“Wait Yoongi not so fast, my feet are clumsy”, you laugh, stepping on his toes more often than not.

“It’s not fast, you’re just slow”, he teases you and picks you up after you stepped on his toes again. Now you are tangling in his arms, feet just inches off the ground and waist held safely by one of his arms. He presses you against his chest, gazing up at you.

“Set me down”, you whine whilst having to giggle.

“You said I’m too fast”, he says, doing a little twirl while you squeal and squeeze his shoulder. He laughs, setting you down just to hug you close.

“I’m so dizzy”, you whine, lifting your head to send him a pout. His laugh grows until you can’t help but giggle yourself.

It’s so nice. It’s so nice to hear him laugh so much and to watch his face literally scrunch up in happiness. It’s so nice to witness his happiness and to know that right now it is just you and him. As with many of your most precious memories with Yoongi. It’s just you and him.

You know that it originates from a place of wariness on his side. Showing such tenderness in public could mean your death. You know of Yoongi’s fears. But it doesn’t make the moment any less special, maybe it makes it even more special. Because right now, it is just you and him and he shows himself to you as who he really is while fireflies watch you fall in love deeper and deeper.

“I’m happy”, he says and inches closer to rub his cheek against yours like a cuddly cat.

“Me too, Yoongi”, you tell him, doing the same to him with your eyes closed.

“I’m so weird when I’m with you, aren’t I?”

“No, you’re perfect.”

“You think so?”

“Yes. You make me happy without even doing anything.”

“Mhm, okay”, he whispers, turning his head to give your cheek a kiss, “you too.”

“Good”, you turn your head, making your noses touch. 

Yoongi’s lips part, his eyes almost close as they look at your mouth. You break the distance, kissing him sweetly. 

Yoongi stops dancing and as a result so do you. He wraps his arms around you oh so tightly and as a result, so do you. And so it happens that you are standing still as you kiss, hugging each other even better once you break away and begin dancing again.

Yoongi sighs, keeping his eyes closed as he begins rubbing his cheek against yours again. 

“I’m sorry that I was such a moody bore at the dance”, he says quietly. 

“Don’t say that Yoongs. I’m glad you didn’t dance with me there”, you tell him, playing with his hair slowly. 

“Why?” 

“Because I wouldn’t have wanted anyone to see this.”

“Mhm, yeah”, he whispers, caressing your spine.

“You’re not boring.”

“Don’t say that.”

“But I’m serious.”

Yoongi stays silent because he is flustered.

“You also smell nice”, you say, nuzzling your nose into his cheek and tickling him in the process.

He chuckles, “you’re so silly.”

“Yes, oh so silly because of you”, you coo, snickering when this makes Yoongi huff out air and then grumble quietly. 

“You really have to stop giving me so many chances at being cheesy”, you laugh. 

“Whatever. It’s because you’re a flirt.”

“No, it’s because I want to fluster you.” 

“Tzt.”

You giggle, turning your head. You can’t see his blush as his skin is glowing silver in the moonlight, but he avoids eye contact which means you made him shy. 

“You’re cute when you fluster.” 

“Shut up, no I’m not.”

“No? Well then you’re handsome.”

Yoongi sneaks a glance at you, pouting slightly. 

You giggle, pulling him into a kiss. Yoongi accepts it instantly, touching your lower back while he kisses you back with tingles in his stomach. 

He likes it when you tease him. He would never tell you because he’s scared that if he did, you would stop. But he really likes it because it gives him flutters in his tummy and makes you giggle. He likes hearing you giggle and he also likes the flutters in his tummy.

He pulls back, holding your cheek safely in his hand.

“I’m sorry that I only introduced you as Tae’s mate. That was shitty of me to do. I shouldn’t have erased you like that.”

“No Yoongi, don’t apologize. I know why you did it. People liked Tae and they didn’t dare to touch me with that knowledge. But if they knew you liked me too, then that could have been dangerous. You didn’t know who to trust and I’m sure that many people would have used that knowledge to hurt you.”

He nods his head, furrowing his brows.

“Fuck princess”, he presses out shakily, “I seriously can’t lose you.”

“I can’t lose you either, Yoongi.”

You kiss to seal the promise, holding hands oh so tightly.

“You won’t lose me though Yoongs, hear me? Those are just silly fears of yours” you whisper.

“No, it can happen so fast. Fuck, sometimes I just wanna keep you locked up in my room.”

You laugh softly, “please don’t.”

Yoongi caresses the tip of your nose with his own, “I won’t do it, but if you’d let me…”

“No”, you snicker, “Yoongi Boongie, you silly kitty.”

Yoongi peels his eyes open, squeezing your hands. You open your eyes as well, squeezing his hands back. He pulls your hands closer and kisses your knuckles. Afterwards he rests his cheek on them, looking at you with so much fondness you wonder if his eyes could ever be normal again.

“You’re so beautiful, my princess”, he says.

“You think so?”

“Yes, I do”, he drops your hands but only so he can cup your face instead. He caresses your cheekbones and smiles drunkenly.

“I’m drunk too”, he confesses.

“You are?”

“Yeah, I drank too much because I was thinking too much.”

“Thinking about tomorrow?”

He nods his head, “I’m scared to fail you.”

“Fail me? Why would you fail me?”

“Because if we don’t get anything out of them tomorrow, your freedom is still so far away and fuck, princess”, he lowers his eyes, “I just want to give you the keys to the fucking world, but I can’t.”

“Yoongi”, you whisper, making him look at you by tilting his head up with a finger under his chin.

He looks at you with sorry eyes.

“You’re already giving me the world when you’re close.”

He blinks rapidly then looks at the ground with strict precision. It makes you giggle.

“So don’t worry. You won’t fail me, no matter what tomorrow brings.”

“Mhm”, he acknowledges you, stepping closer without saying anything. He rests his chin on your shoulder, cradling you in his strong arm while intertwining his fingers with you.

“We’ll have to leave in two nights”, he tells you, “one of Fredrick’s creations heard whispers of Namjoon being in Paris. So once we eradicate Namjoon’s followers here, Fredrick will prepare us a flight.”

“Okay, we’ll go there together”, you say and smile, “can we make out on top of the Eiffel Tower?”

Yoongi laughs, but shakes his head.

“That’s just reckless.”

“No, it’s not. It’s romantic.”

“So? We can make out in the hotel room too and it’d be the same.”

“Oh no, it’d not at all be the same.”

“I think you’re putting too much importance into Paris. It’s a rancid city.”

You roll your eyes, “I think you’re just telling yourself that because you only spend your days in tiny hotel rooms.”

“No, it’s because it’s shitty there.”

You laugh, “you’re seriously such a grumps.”

He lifts his head to show you a frown, furrowing his brows.

“I don’t mind”, you whisper, erasing the frown by dancing your fingers over his brows softly, “I just want you having fun from time to time too.”

“I do. With you…when you are here…with me…” he lowers his eyes, “whatever.”

You smile fondly.

“I’m glad you do. That’s all I want for you.”

“Why?”

“What do you mean why?” you chuckle, “because I want you to be happy, of course.”

“Oh. Okay. Thanks”, he says and hides his face in the crook your shoulder.

“Gosh Yoongi, you’re so silly sometimes”, you say, hugging him. You begin swaying your bodies from side to side and soon you are the one leading the dance while Yoongi hugs you with his eyes closed and his nose buried in your neck.

[blueberrysauce54]

The Game She Plays- Chapter 6

Previous Chapter

The night was thick with the kind of tension that only a party could bring. Lights flickered in the dimly lit living room of Mel's apartment, casting shadows on the sleek furniture. The smell of alcohol and perfume hung in the air as people milled around, drinks in hand, some talking in low voices, others laughing too loudly to be heard over the bass-heavy music thumping from the speakers.

Caitlyn wasn't sure why she felt so restless tonight. Maybe it was because the last few days had felt like an emotional rollercoaster. She had hoped tonight would be different, that tonight she'd finally have a chance to talk to Athena, clear the air, and maybe—just maybe—take things a step further. But she hadn't expected this.

Athena had skipped their tutoring session.

Not even a text. Not even a "sorry, something came up." It was classic Athena: unpredictable, uncommitted. Caitlyn hadn't expected much, but she had hoped for a little more than radio silence.

Caitlyn sighed as she adjusted the setup for the party. She was already running late, but she needed something to do to keep her mind off the frustration gnawing at her.

Mel appeared next to her, holding a tray of cocktails. She gave Caitlyn a knowing glance, but didn't ask. She could tell that Caitlyn was tense, probably overthinking it all.

"So, what do you think of Athena skipping out?" Mel asked casually, the corner of her mouth curving into a faint smirk.

Caitlyn tried to keep the irritation from her voice, but it slipped through anyway. "I don't know. It's just... odd. I thought we were making progress. I mean, we've been talking on campus, at the gym, even a couple text messages. But something changed after practice that one night.. she doesn't even have the decency to tell me why she's not showing up."

Mel shrugged, her face unreadable. "Eh, it happens. Athena's not the most reliable. She's never been that committed, to anything really."

"I guess I shouldn't be surprised," Caitlyn muttered, her gaze drifting to the door, wishing Athena would just show up already. "How long have you two been friends anyway?"

Mel seemed to think for a moment, her eyes momentarily darkening. "We've been captain and co-captain of the volleyball team for a while now, but I met her right when she moved from Piltover to Zaun. I never really got the full story, you know? She doesn't talk much about her personal life. I've heard some rumors, about her ex and... her parents. But she was always drunk when she mentioned it. So it's hard to say what's true."

Caitlyn felt a pang in her chest at the mention of Athena'sex. She wondered just how much of that was still hanging over Athena's head. The more she thought about it, the more she realized how little she actually knew about Athena's past.

A couple of hours later, the apartment had become a whirlwind of laughter, music, and flashing lights. Caitlyn had lost track of time, too drunk to think straight. She had spent the last half hour pretending not to look at the door, hoping that Athena would walk in, that she'd finally see her, talk to her, and feel like things might go the way she'd imagined.

When Athena finally showed up, she didn't say a word to Caitlyn. She just walked in, dressed casually in a fitted pair of jeans and a backless shirt that made Caitlyn's breath catch in her throat. The shirt exposed the muscles of Athena's back, the soft curve of her shoulders, and a hint of a tattoo peeking out from the side of her torso. Caitlyn couldn't tear her eyes away.

The soft curve of her shoulders, the lines of muscle that rippled with every movement—it was almost too much, but it was the bruises and hickeys scattered across her back that made Caitlyn freeze. The unmistakable marks of someone who had been with someone else, someone not Caitlyn.

Caitlyn's stomach twisted. She wanted to look away, but she couldn't. Her gaze was drawn to the evidence of Athena's recent encounters, the intimacy she hadn't been a part of the way Athena seemed so effortlessly desirable to everyone but her.

Caitlyn felt like she was losing her mind. Was this why Athena had skipped their session? Was this why she was acting distant? Her mind was spinning as she watched Athena slip into the crowd, immediately taking a drink and talking to a few people she didn't recognize.

Mel, as always, looked composed. She was chatting with friends, a glass of wine in hand, when Caitlyn noticed her. But her eyes flicked briefly to Athena, then back to Caitlyn with a raised brow. Caitlyn didn't have the words for the confusion and hurt that washed over her.

Jayce, on the other hand, was a mess. He was drunk, his speech slurred, and he had his hands all over Mel, kissing her with a ferocity that left Caitlyn momentarily uncomfortable. She didn't even know why it bothered her, but it did.

Athena, however, didn't seem to care. She was already drifting from group to group, avoiding eye contact with Caitlyn. Caitlyn's mind raced with a mix of confusion, hurt, and the nagging feeling that she was just another game to Athena.

The music pounded louder as Caitlyn continued to drink, her thoughts slipping further into the haze of alcohol. The party was buzzing, people everywhere, laughing and dancing, but it all felt like a blur. All Caitlyn could think about was Athena. The way she hadn't even acknowledged her presence.

Then, just as Caitlyn had almost convinced herself that she was overthinking, Athena appeared again, this time in the middle of a passionate make-out session with some guy Caitlyn didn't recognize. Her hands were all over him, and his were all over her, touching places Caitlyn could barely imagine. The way Athena's body pressed into his, the heated urgency of the kiss—it was too much for Caitlyn to bear. She watched, helpless, as Athena pulled the guy away, dragging him toward one of the bedrooms.

Caitlyn felt the sting of rejection in the pit of her stomach. She wasn't sure if she was mad at Athena, at herself, or just at the whole damn situation. She had been so sure—so sure—that there was something there between them. But now? Now it felt like Athena was playing some game, and Caitlyn had missed the memo.

Mel appeared out of nowhere, sensing Caitlyn's distress. "Hey, hey, don't watch that," she said, her tone soft but firm. "Let it go."

"I—" Caitlyn tried to speak but couldn't find the words. Her vision was swimming as the alcohol took over, and the confusion clouded everything.

"She's just... being Athena," Mel continued, guiding Caitlyn away from the doorway, trying to distract her. "She's not the 'relationship' type. You know that."

Caitlyn's voice trembled, even as she tried to laugh it off. "Right... Right. I just thought... maybe..." Her words trailed off as she fought to keep the frustration from showing.

"You didn't have a chance with her," Mel said softly, not unkindly. "Not like that. Athena isn't looking for something real, Cait. She never has been. You deserve someone who's going to give you everything. And Athena... well, she's got her own shit to work through."

Mel, sensing the mood, didn't push. Instead, she took Caitlyn's arm and steered her away from the scene. "Come on. Let's have some fun, yeah? Forget about her."

Caitlyn didn't fight it. She just let Mel pull her into another conversation, trying to ignore the lump forming in her throat.

"I thought—" Caitlyn hiccupped, wiping away a stray tear. "I thought maybe... maybe we were building something. I don't know. But I guess it's just all a game to her."

Mel let out a long sigh. "It's not a game, Cait. She just... doesn't know how to be real with anyone. You included."

Caitlyn's emotions surged, and she couldn't keep the words inside any longer. "But she.... She acted like she wanted something. I thought it was going somewhere, but then—then I see her with that guy. What the fuck, Mel?"

Mel's eyes softened, and she placed a hand on Caitlyn's shoulder. "Athena's complicated. She... she doesn't know how to be vulnerable, Cait. You've got to stop thinking it's about you."

Mel's gaze flickered away for a moment, as though she was going to say something. Then, in a quiet voice, she added, "Athena's got a lot she's still working through. You wouldn't understand. She's carrying around a lot of baggage... a lot of hurt. It's not about you, Caitlyn. It never was. But it's not a game to her either."

Caitlyn felt a knot form in her chest. She wanted to scream, to cry, to somehow make sense of all of this. But she just nodded, the weight of everything sinking in.

And with that, the night ended. The party faded into the quiet aftermath, and Caitlyn was left alone with her confusion, her heart aching from the revelation that Athena was always going to be a mystery she might never fully understand.

________

Chapter List

[keystone8379]

Isn't there someone you forgot to ask?

Normally the stuff I would post is older memories from the Kirby Fighters 2 scene. However, everything came together for the most fucked up way a tourney could go and I have to share it.

For the past few weeks, I have been highly anticipating a low tier KF2 bracket I was running. Only Staff, Hammer, Artist, Bandana Dee, Sword, and Beetle were legal and it made for an unironically really hype format. I had wanted to do this for a few months now and I wanted it to be the best it could possibly be. I even had people vote on what day would be the best for them to run the tourney.

So the tourney ends up on Monday, August 28. Eventually, the tourney rolls around and shit goes insane. MULTIPLE top players sign up in the last 10 minutes before bracket starts, including Pizza Time, who is NEVER available, and Celica, who wasn't even in the server before bracket.

So we somehow have a weirdly stacked bracket with players who usually never come out for a special low tiers bracket. It would appear the stars had aligned. Maybe they aligned too much.

After about an hour of bracket, we get a notification that the game will be...undergoing server maintenance. Out of buttfuck nowhere. What is there to maintain???

Bracket goes on for about another 30 minutes until people are not able to make rooms. Then everything falls apart. After 15 more minutes everyone gets comm errored and that was it. After everything coming together perfectly for a super exciting tourney with characters and players we never see, it all falls apart because of an absurdly bad stroke of luck. I feel like I can't understate how much of an emotional rollercoaster this was and I'll try to upload to VOD to my Youtube at some point.

[sabrinajenre96]

Mark Kincaid x Prescott! Reader

I am a huge fan of the scream franchise so I wanted to write a little One-shot about a certain handsome detective.

Warning ⚠️: some kissing and allegedly steamy towards the end

The crisp autumn air of LA was a welcome change after the chaos of the past year. A year since Roman Bridger's twisted game, a year since the Stab 8 set turned into a bloodbath. For (Reader), it was a year of healing, and a year of falling deeply, irrevocably, in love with Detective Mark Kincaid.

She was in her office, a cozy space filled with books and the comforting scent of old paper, grading papers on Romantic Literature. At just shy of thirty, she was UCLA College's youngest professor, a writer herself, and her passion for stories spilled into her lectures. A knock on the door pulled her from her work.

Mark stood there, a warm smile spreading across his face. He looked relaxed, the lines of stress that had etched themselves into his features during the Ghostface investigation softened. He was wearing a casual jacket, his usual cop attire replaced with something more comfortable.

(Reader)'s heart leaped. She couldn't help the wide grin that spread across her face. Without a second thought, she crossed the room and kissed him, a deep, lingering kiss that ignored the possibility of wandering students.

"Mark! What are you doing here?" she asked, her voice breathless.

"Clocked off early," he said, his eyes sparkling. "I have a surprise for you."

"A surprise?" she echoed, her eyebrows raised. "I'm not exactly dressed for anything fancy."

"You're perfect," he said, his gaze sweeping over her. "Perfect for where we're going."

He led her to his car, and with a playful grin, produced a blindfold. "Trust me," he said, his voice a low rumble.

The drive was a blur of soft music and Mark's reassuring presence. When the car finally stopped, he carefully removed the blindfold. (Reader) blinked, her eyes adjusting to the lights. They were standing in front of the entrance to a brightly lit amusement park.

"An amusement park?" she asked, a mix of surprise and delight in her voice.

"We're going to have some fun," Mark said, his smile widening.

They spent the next few hours indulging in childlike joy, riding rollercoasters, playing games, and eating far too much cotton candy. (Reader) couldn't shake the feeling that Mark was holding something back, but she was too happy to dwell on it.

As the sun began to set, they strolled along the beach, hand in hand, the soft glow of fairy lights illuminating their path. (Reader) was mid-sentence, recounting a particularly funny moment from one of the rides, when she realized Mark had stopped walking.

She turned to find him kneeling, a small velvet box open in his hand. Inside, a beautiful engagement ring shimmered in the twilight.

(Reader)'s breath caught in her throat. "Mark..." she whispered, her eyes wide with disbelief. "Are you...are you serious?"

He chuckled, a nervous but loving sound. "More serious than I've ever been. (Reader), you've brought so much light into my life, especially after everything that happened. You're smart, funny, beautiful...and I can't imagine my life without you. Will you marry me?"

Tears welled up in her eyes, and she nodded, unable to speak. "Yes," she finally managed, her voice choked with emotion. "Yes, a thousand times yes!"

Mark slipped the ring onto her finger, his own eyes shining. He stood, pulling her into a tight embrace. "I was so nervous," he confessed, a relieved laugh escaping him.

"You had nothing to be nervous about," she said, her voice soft. "I love you."

"I love you too, future Mrs. Kincaid."

They rushed back to Mark's place, the excitement of their engagement bubbling between them. The door barely closed behind them before they were wrapped in each other's arms, their kiss passionate and urgent. The night was filled with whispered promises and the warmth of their love, a celebration of their future, a future that was now undeniably, beautifully theirs.

[moodswingsabz]

We’re here. The start of the new season is less than 24 hours away and it’s felt like an eternity but also in some ways, like no time at all since that last ball was kicked at Pittodrie and the players took their lap of the stadium, some for the final time, and basked in what had been achieved over the last few months. Even the stoic Barry Robson was seen showing some emotion before he headed down the tunnel. These were great scenes to cap off what had, somehow, been a great season. We won’t talk about the Celtic game, it didn’t matter so let’s just say that it doesn’t count.

Much like the season itself, the summer break has been a bit of a rollercoaster with its ups and downs. It can be quite easy for clubs to open themselves up to criticism during a transfer window - sign a bulk of players early in the window and risk being accused of carelessly making up the numbers and bloating the squad instead of looking for quality but tread quietly in the market and more than likely fans will become restless and quite vocally wonder why there’s no news of additions. The dons have somehow managed to find a strange middle-ground but not necessarily to their detriment. The early confirmations that Angus MacDonald, Graeme Shinnie and what I consider to be an incredible signing, Leighton Clarkson would all be returning set the bench mark high and perhaps a little hard to follow. Nicky Devlin had already been confirmed to be coming North, with most agreeing this was a sturdy enough acquisition, the loan deal of Rhys Williams added some youthful promise to the backline and the relatively unknown Ester Sokler showed early in pre-season that he could be capable of what we’re all hoping for. Then it all went quiet. Aside from a back up goalkeeper in the shape of Ross Doohan, there were a few weeks of relatively little transfer action for the Aberdeen support and coupled with murmurings that Rhys Williams and Angus MacDonald had sustained injuries, an anxiety began to grow that we may be leaving ourselves short in numbers ahead of the start of the league campaign. We’ve not seen a great deal of of the defensive reinforcements which have come in over the past 10 days or so, but it shows the good favour that the AFC recruitment team have curried in the previous windows that the arrivals of Or Dadia and Slobodan Rubezic have been met with enthusiasm, with most of us unfamiliar with both players but optimistic at what they can do in Barry Robson’s new look side.

The drama hadn’t ended though and only a few hours ago as I write this, the news many of us had been dreading was confirmed with ‘sweet prince’ and ‘brate’ Ylber Ramadani departing for Lecce. There were few amongst the dons support who were unconvinced by the badge pounding and hard tackling Albanian and he will be sorely missed but it must be considered great business by the club. It leaves us with an intriguing narrative, whilst I personally don’t think either of these players fit the mould of a Ramadani in terms of defensive attributes, there are two young central midfielders who look to be staking a claim to place in the midfield three, in the shape of Dante Polvara and Connor Barron. After a successful loan spell back in the states and a rousing RedTV interview, freshly mulletted Dante seems to be eager to prove himself in the dons midfield and it seems like he may have Barry’s backing given the minutes he has received in pre-season. There was much talk of Connor Barron’s wavering commitment to the dons amongst rumours of deals with other clubs and perhaps an issue with attitude, but given his social media posts and the fact he has not moved on, he also looks ready to take back a position in midfield this season and given the number of games we’re looking at, there will no doubt be room for both of them to prove what they can do and give Barry Robson selection headaches.

There are possibly more redemption arcs to be had with Shayden Morris looking as if he will have a part to play, Jack Mackenzie having a big role in pre season, Vincente Besuijen claiming he’s back with his focus fully on Aberdeen and of course Anthony Stewart still in the squad, there is much intrigue in how the squad could evolve over the season.

Away from the personnel side of things, it seems to just be sheer excitement from the Red Army. Record season ticket sales, record kit sales, a 4000 strong away support for the first game of the season, fans scrapping for every priority point available in anticipation of trips in Europe and a proverbial lapping up of the new transparency coming from the club, spearheaded by Alan Burrows, there is enough excitement to go around. Let’s just hope when that first ball is kicked at 3pm tomorrow we see what we’ve all been getting excited about!

[makeste]

BnHA 326: What’s up Kids, It’s Me, Your Old Pal Stain

Previously on BnHA: Ochako shamed the U.A. Clown Mob into letting Deku go back inside his own fucking school by giving them an hour-long speech about how not to be humongous dickheads. Kouta and Gigantic Fox Lady saved the manga by being the only ones brave enough to give Deku a hug. Shouto was all “man, all this togetherness sure does remind me of that promise you made that we would handle Touya together which you immediately bailed on, doesn’t it, Dad.” Aizawa was all, “for the one and a half people out there who thought that my losing an eye and a leg might actually make me less sexy, I’m very happy to prove you wrong.” All Might was all, “[standing outside the U.A. fortress alone in the rain talking to someone or something??].” Like seriously, what was up with that though.

Today on BnHA: All Might is all “here I am in Kamino having a belated mid-life crisis because Deku abandoned me and I’m a terrible mentor and everything sucks and I hate myself.” Stain is all, “don’t make me come over there and give you a ten page speech about why you’re still the goat while menacingly holding you at swordpoint the entire time” because idk if you knew this guys, but Stain is pretty crazy actually. Anyway so he does that, and then All Might gets all emotional, and then the lady from chapter 92 shows up and gives All Might’s statue an encouraging pep talk, and then Horikoshi is all “and it even stopped raining lol can you believe this shit I’m not even a little bit subtle,” and he really isn’t. But I still got emotional anyway, because seeing people reassure All Might that everything he’s struggled for his entire life hasn’t been in vain just got to me okay. Horikoshi knows I am weak to the All Might feels and he just goes for the jugular every time, that bastard.

lmao. “in the neverending downpour, All Might is...” yeah, thank you, glad we’re getting right to that then

“All Might is driving 95 mph in his busted ass car in the pouring rain, is what he’s doing.” huh

so basically a day or two after his adopted child refused to accept the handmade bento that he packed with love, my man is out here acting like he’s got nothing to live for anymore. this sure bodes well for certain prophecies on which the clock is still ominously ticking down

his fucking face though omg. is it weird that I’m kind of hoping more people ambush him just because I think it’d be funny to see them get their asses kicked like the last bunch

(ETA: or maybe he will just stand there openly not giving a fuck and basically daring them to stab him!! get it together please All Might.)

side note, “anti-hero supporters” is such a strange way of saying “people who hate heroes”, which I’m assuming is what they actually wanted to say?? this makes it sound like it’s a group that really loves antiheroes. “these Hannibal stans have been a real menace lately. time to go deal with them”

ha ha ha, fucking ouch

are you really gonna do it Horikoshi you bastard. are you really going to let that be the final encounter between the two characters whose relationship you once described as the vertical axis of the entire fucking story. are you really gonna?? huh??

huh

you’re telling me you were driving 112 mph and you still didn’t get there in time. you’re losing your touch old man. lol Todo’s ice is almost fully melted already, how late were you

(ETA: so apparently this is taking place after the end of chapter 325, meaning he went to U.A., hung out for a bit, saw the kids come back with his bedraggled half-dead protégé in tow, watched as they shamed the civilians into some long-overdue character development, and then was all “welp, time to go argue with the hero-hating faction or something because I’m feeling useless.” and Edge just let him go, just like that. though to be fair I have to imagine it’s pretty hard to say no to All Fucking Might.)

also belated lol at the fact that the kids were all “yeahhhhhhh we are definitely not gonna touch that thing, let’s just leave it here, he doesn’t need it anyway.” probably the right call to make since they couldn’t get a hazmat team on such short notice

fuck. ha ha ha fucking ouch part two

All Might please put that thing down before you get gangrene. also yeah, you dropped the ball, good for you to acknowledge it. nobody’s perfect and you did your best. but yeah you could have handled a lot of things completely differently. but I still love you

is Horikoshi really putting this flashback here. are you serious. what kind of fucking sadist

look, I swear I’m not one of those people that runs up and down the street shouting “DEATH FLAG!!” at every third panel lol. but this shit screamed Death Flag when we originally got it, and it’s screaming DEATH FLAG!!! even more now. like with the capital letters and exclamation marks and all. and that’s just a fact. I don’t like it but that’s how it is

ffkdjslk

“DID YOU READ THE SIGN??!” Horikoshi asks while zooming in maniacally because he thinks we’re blind or something. lol what

-- though actually, it only just occurred to me that this sign is actually written in English. I never really paid attention up until now and had been assuming it was written in Japanese and translated by the scanlators, but the writing here is clearly part of the original image. anyway so maybe that’s why he’s zooming in?? just to make sure everybody pays attention lol

okay fuck this

see, this is the whole problem right here. once again All Might is all on his own. Deku’s self-destructive angst spiral was fortunately brought to a grinding halt because he actually has support from his friends and family and teachers and classmates. but All Might never had that same kind of support, and it’s made all the difference between the two of them, and not in a good way. Katsuki wasn’t wrong when he said All Might and Deku were both cut from the same cloth. but now when it’s All Might’s turn to go all “I WALK A LONELY ROAD~~” once again, there’s nobody in sight

just, after forty plus years of him carrying this torch, I just wish someone would finally come along to let him know he doesn’t have to. all those things that he wanted to say to Deku are also things that he needs and deserves to hear himself. Aizawa was making a little progress there, but now he’s got his sad zombie cloud boyfriend situation to deal with, and we can’t expect him and his perfect hair to solve all our problems. someone else has gotta step up

oh my god

“you rang?” never mind I take it all back sob

omg why am I laughing. shit

this man truly has the best PR game in the series. we were truly convinced he was gonna suddenly become a good guy and defend All Might against the other villains or some nonsense. as if this wasn’t the same man who decided on a whim that Iida Tensei deserved to be paralyzed, and that his fifteen-year-old brother deserved to die for daring to be upset about it

lol even All Might is all “I genuinely never saw this coming” lmao

just want to say, for the record, I have always harbored a very sensible hatred toward Stain. feeling very vindicated right now. good job Past Me

adsfklwkfsdwgkj

ffffwefjslkg. ghsdlkg. dsfkkkslkjldwkjrg

STAIN: heard you talking shit old man

ME: smh that’s what I thought you’d say you dumb fucking Stain

STAIN: how dare you talk about All Might that way

ME: gljfljgk

(ETA: in hindsight I have no idea how I didn’t clue in sooner that he didn’t recognize him -- or, well, ~didn’t recognize~ him, to be more accurate lol. I think it was the whole “is that a slight against the heroes?” thing that threw me. Viz’s translation makes it much clearer that he’s offended on behalf of All Might specifically, not heroes in general. anyways.)

sob. so All Might is all “yeah I don’t blame you for not recognizing me in this sweet leather jacket”

good thing he still knows how to do this party trick

A+ reflexes on Stain’s part presumably pulling the sword back a few inches to keep this dumbass from impaling himself with his whole pufferfish routine. can you imagine if that was the gruesome death Nighteye foresaw. and he was just too embarrassed to say anything

lol anyways guess I was wrong about Stain everyone

way to fucking go, Past Me. you really biffed this one

oh wait

Stain sure is one wacky rollercoaster ride

oh fuck me lol I forgot how much I did not miss this

(ETA: “this here is the sacred ground where All Might gave up the last of his power and turned into a shriveled old man!! please ignore the part where I admit to knowing all about that, and yet pretend not to recognize said man when he’s standing two feet in front of me.”)

Past Me, I know we’ve had our ups and downs these past ninety seconds, but I’m really starting to think you were on to something. this dude has always been kind of insufferable. always acting like his high horse is a fucking giraffe when it’s actually a Shetland pony

dammit now he’s got All Might going off on a depressed monologue

oh my god my heart

shit

why the fuck does that hit so hard. he became a hero because he couldn’t bear to just sit back and let bad things happen to people who didn’t deserve it. I mean that’s basically the same as every hero ever, right? so why does it still hit so fucking hard every single time though. what is it about seeing someone so determined to stand up for other people and fight on their behalf. it just never loses its impact no matter how many times I see that determination mirrored in so many of my favorite characters

“I wanted to make the world a better place.” omg. but you did, though. like seriously, I feel like people are always dogging on him for not being 100% perfect, and fandom really doesn’t give him enough credit for everything he still managed to accomplish. this man came of age at a time when Japan was by all accounts a total shitshow, and singlehandedly managed to bring about an era of peace that lasted for four fucking decades. can you imagine having peace for that long?? that’s longer than I’ve been alive. shit

and he gave people hope. he inspired them and protected them and made them feel safe. and no, he couldn’t save everyone, because he’s only one fucking dude (and also because the whole time AFO was also out there desperately working to undermine him so that he could keep preaching his narrative of “heroes are bad actually”). but you know what he did do, is inspire multiple new generations of heroes who, if they can all manage to work together, will finally be able to accomplish everything he never could

so yeah. forty years of peace, and inspired the “that’s how we all became the greatest heroes” generation -- that’s a fucking win in my book. talk about having a net positive impact on the world. lol anyways now I’m all fired up and ready to fight anyone who tries to talk any shit about you, All Might

“but what if I talk shit about myself” okay listen up All Might I’m gonna need you to try just a little bit harder to work with me here okay. please calm down and stop blaming yourself for every single bad thing that’s ever happened in the world. do you remember that time Bakugou was blaming himself for Kamino, and you gave him a hug and told him it wasn’t his fault, and that he was only a boy, and that even though he was strong, even strong people can struggle with the burdens they place on themselves, and that you were sorry for not seeing that earlier? do you remember all of that? that’s what I want someone to tell you too, dammit. anyway please stop breaking my heart please and thanks

wtf

are you dead All Might

um

I don’t even have the slightest idea what’s happening lol

oh snap did he grab him so they could hide??

hold the fucking phone. don’t tell me this person in the background with the umbrella is here to actually do something decent??

oh my godddd

and here come the feels. oh boy. okay don’t mind me, I’m just gonna sit here sobbing over this fictional lady and her simple act of kindness in this weekly shounen manga that I care about way too much

FUCKING DAMMIT AND HERE’S A SECOND HELPING

DON’T MIND ME, I’M JUST GETTING DISPROPORTIONATELY EMOTIONAL OVER THIS WOMAN’S DETERMINATION TO HONOR A MAN WHO SACRIFICED EVERYTHING TO SAVE HER AND COUNTLESS OTHERS. I’M JUST HAVING SOME FEELS OVER HERE ABOUT HER HEARTFELT, DOESN’T-EVEN-KNOW-ANYONE-ELSE-IS-WATCHING FEELINGS OF GRATITUDE THAT COMPELLED HER TO COME OUT HERE AND MAKE THIS SMALL BUT POWERFUL GESTURE. I’M JUST OUT HERE GETTING ALL PROFOUNDLY WORKED UP ABOUT STATUE MAINTENANCE AND THE HUMAN RACE. NEVER MIND. JUST IGNORE ME AND CARRY ON

holy shit. I was not even remotely prepared. you can’t just do that to me. you can’t just leave all these death flags on my lawn and then suddenly shift gears to show me the best of humanity in a chapter where I was expecting the worst. that fucks a person up lol

OH ARE WE STILL GOING

my heart. you see that, All Might. your legacy is so much more powerful and meaningful than you think

...has. has Stain actually been giving All Might a pep talk this entire time

I give up lol. this dude is a fucking enigma

YAYYY

it may just be a metaphor panel, but I’ll take it lol. I missed them. nice to see the traffic light trio front and off-center. I know the whole “this is the story of how we all became the greatest heroes” thing had left some questioning whether certain characters would continue to play a central role in the narrative, and hopefully this will help to ease those concerns just a bit

anyway, so idk if it’s getting a bit chilly down there in hell, but damned if Stain didn’t just give an actual decent fucking speech

I have to say, earlier when I was whining about All Might not having a support squad, I really was not expecting Stain to be the one to come over and pat his head and reassure him that he made the world a better place

-- okay LISTEN

YOU CAN’T JUST COME INTO MY HOUSE AND HIT ME WITH THOSE ALL MIGHT TEARS AGAIN GODDAMMIT THIS ISN’T FAIR. my god. first 317 and now this

holy fucking shit

“I’m just gonna pretend like I haven’t been stalking him for two days and didn’t see the entire Deku bentogate thing go down, and then I’ll give him the whole big speech that I rehearsed, and then I’ll turn around and be all ‘BUT IF YOU’RE A TRUE HERO’, and then I’ll toss him the super-secret AFO wifi password that I stole from Tartarus. god I’m such a badass. fucking give myself chills”

so basically what you’re telling me is that this whole time my “what’s up kids” characterization of Stain from this shitpost has actually been 100% accurate. just want to make sure I’m understanding this right. okay then

“and then I’ll dramatically spin around and be all NOW COME KILL ME BITCH”

it must be so much fun to write Stain. drawing this coked-out maniac who talks like a chatbot that was trained to speak by reading Alan Moore monologues. that must be a trip

anyway so All Might is still crying, the awesome lady from chapter 92 is admiring her handiwork totally oblivious to the batshit insanity going on fifty meters to her right, and it’s finally stopped raining lol

“THE RAIN WAS A METAPHOR YOU SEE” yes, yes, we got it lol. thanks for that Horikoshi. don’t think we needed any help putting the pieces together on that one but I appreciate the effort

so that’s the end! and as I mentioned in another post, I had the count off by one chapter, but next week should be cliffhanger week! so break out your U.A. Traitor bingo cards, friends and fiends. either that or something else happens that I’m completely not expecting at all. which, based on my success rate with Stain predictions, I’d say is more than likely lol

mmm but anyway, so now that the Hug Deku 2021 campaign has finally come to an end, what’s it gonna take to get a hug for my struggling bento-preparing jacket-rocking world-weary death-flag-waving husband who is the worthiest man to ever live and deserves the fucking world, goddammit

[aomineavenue]

Summary: Six years ago, L/N Y/N wouldn’t exactly say that she loves her life. It had always been problematic but her best friend, Miya Atsumu, since she was eight when she moved to Hyōgo, has always been there for her, and she wouldn’t change it for the world. However, things would always fall apart for her ever since, so she should have expected of such. Running away from her problems seemed like the easiest route to take at the time, so what happens when the past comes barging back into her life demanding answers? Will she be able to confront her demons?

Pairings: Miya Atsumu x f!Reader

Genre: Angst, ANGST I LOVE ANGST, a lil bit of fluff here and there.

Warnings: Language, etc.

Disclaimer: I do not own any characters except for the reader and my ideas. I do not claim any images used for content in this fic, everything goes out to their respective creators unless it is mentioned that it is mine.

Status: completed. | series masterlist

↩ at peace | dearest daddy

mia speaks!: 

okay, wow. So it took awhile for us to get here and I apologize for that but we’re finally done with Homesick, wew. It’s been a challenge but I’m so happy and grateful for all the positivity you guys have been sharing with me. Also, thank you so much for your patience. 

It’s been an emotional ride but we’re finally done. There may be a few short stories after this chapter but no promises. Hopefully I get the chance to though, I do want to be able to. But for now, if you guys have any requests for imagines/scenarios with this series, don’t be afraid to send them over!

Also, big thanks to @oii-sugasan​ and @sunshinesero​ for beta-reading this for me! I apologize if this chapter is any way lacking compared to the first nine chapters, it’s been awhile since I wrote anything so I hope this was a great way to end this series. 

I love you guys so much, I’m so glad to be (sorta) back. I hope you guys enjoy this!

Time was a funny and fickle thing. Sometimes there was never enough of it, and other times it stretched out endlessly. It had been seven months since your life had once again made drastic changes. It often surprised you how time flew by so fast.

Seven months since your two precious boys had been introduced to the man that they now call their father. And well, seven months since you had been reunited with the love of your life. Sure, it had ups and downs, it wasn’t bound to be perfect since the two of you were your own person. It was inevitable for such different personalities to clash, it didn’t help when there were two children present, one of them being as handful as their own father.

Atsumu had shown that he was a doting father, despite only being a part of their lives for less than a year, he had put his new family as his top priority, wanting to make up for lost time. He would instantly drop anything and everything, sometimes even volleyball when he could for times when his family needed him. Not that his new family had been a burden since then, his sons and of course you, have been nothing but loving and supportive. Showing up to games to cheer him on and the twins attending his training to either join or just watch their father and new favorite uncles.

It had been a rollercoaster ride since it was officially announced that Atsumu was off the market and that he actually had sons. Some fans were supportive, believing the news and claiming that both the young twins were striking replicas of the volleyball player. And of course, there were fans that were against it, raging how you were nothing more than a money-grabbing harlot and that you had probably lied to Atsumu about the twins being his.

They were quickly shut down, of course, by not just fans but various people close to the volleyball setter who defended you without you even asking for it. You weren’t going to lie, that particular month filled with venomous words thrown your direction stressed you out but it was mostly because of your motherly instincts, wanting to keep your sons away from such unnecessary drama. You and Atsumu had decided to ignore the majority of the vile comments but seeing you so emotionally exhausted had only fueled the already tiny flame in Atsumu. He was quick to announce that he would no longer tolerate any form of slander towards his family and would handle things legally if anyone were to step out of line.

And by the next few weeks, the hate simmered and the stress that had engulfed you and Atsumu in its grip had vanished. All that was left that made you both worry was Atsuhiro’s health.

Fortunately, Atsuhiro’s sickness didn’t grow worse as time passed by since his first transfusion. If anything, the boy was healthier and it was very much evident in his features. The healthy glow returned to his skin, he was smiling more and had shown his usual energetic-self like before he had fallen ill. Atsumu on the other hand, much to Atsuhiro’s dismay, had started becoming such an overprotective father. It took a lot of begging from Atsuhiko for their father to spend the day outside of the protective bubble of your apartment.

It took time and patience from everyone’s side to get this far, and for Atsumu, (and of course, you) he didn’t mind it one bit. He had grown more mature, despite his twin brother’s disagreements, he not only took care of himself more but he had become a role model to his sons.

Not only that, but as his relationship with his sons grew stronger, the love the two of you had for each other only seemed to intensify as well. Sure, the two of you had ups and downs back then in your friendship but it was as if time and distance hadn’t kept the two of you apart. If anything, it was as if it made your bond stronger. Two best friends, reuniting and finally expressing their true desires, it was easy for the two of you to fall into a comfortable routine.

“Where are the boys of the hour? I’ve been wanting to see how good Hiko looks in my jersey!”

Bokuto interrupts your thoughts for a brief second before you return your focus to your duties of cutting up the vegetables in the kitchen. You can’t help but chuckle at the sour expression that graces Atsumu’s expression as he fills a tray of refreshments on one of the island counters. “Don’t remind me, Bo-kun.”

“You’re just jealous that your sons didn’t want to wear your jersey," he teases, a playful grin on his lips as he lifts himself off of the ground by his hands to sit on the counter.

The scowl on Atsumu's face only deepens at the reminder, "Get off the counter, Bo-kun. Don't be rude. Why don't you actually start to help and give out these refreshments to the guests?"

You watch in amusement as the two exchange their usual banter around the kitchen of your home in Hyogo. It was decided a week ago after Atsuhiro's second transfusion was a success, that the twins would celebrate their birthday back at Hyogo instead of having the guests cramp up in your small apartment in Kanagawa.

It was also then decided by your sons what theme they would be having for their birthday. It was traditional for the twins to have their birthdays themed depending on their current interest. Lately, since the two were very fixated on volleyball due to their new favorite uncles and of course, their father, it was decided that they would be having a volleyball themed birthday where the guests were required to wear their favorite player's jersey.

For a minute, your new friend Bokuto had been rather excited upon hearing the idea.

"So show up with our own jerseys? Great!"

And as for Atsumu, he was excited at the prospect of seeing his own sons wearing his jersey. That is, until his sons destroyed such dreams.

"Are the two of you really sure?" you hear Atsumu's voice echoing from the twins' bedroom throughout the walls of the apartment as you stepped inside, shutting the door behind you as you ventured further into the comforts of your home. “Like really? Those are your choices?”

You grew curious as you slipped out of your shoes and let your hair loose from its tight bun, wincing slightly from your tugging. There was a tinge of whininess dripping from Atsumu’s voice that you couldn’t help but wonder what the three of them were talking about. It wasn’t unusual for Atsumu to be around when you had to work on days where the boys came home from school or when they didn’t have school.

At most times, when Atsumu didn't have training, he would be the one taking care of the boys instead of your mother or Osamu. Majority of his free time away from volleyball was spent with his sons, wanting to make up for the time he had lost. And there wasn't a day where the young twins wouldn't ask about their father and if he was going to visit. It was as if they were scared one of them would disappear, wanting to spend the entirety of their lives together.

"Maybe we can go with superheroes this year!" Atsumu's voice grew louder as you reached the door to the room where they occupied. Leaning against the door's frame, your eyes land on the back of Atsumu's head as he's seated on the carpeted floor facing the twins who were playing with their action figures. A small grin curling upon your lips at the sight of Atsumu’s slightly dishevelled bleached hair.

Atsuhiro, who seems to have the ability to sense your presence, looks up from his toys and in an instant, his eyes widen happily. He was about to greet you but you quickly pressed your index finger against your lips to signal the little boy not to announce your presence just yet, wanting to see Atsuhiko and Atsumu's interaction. The smart little boy that he is, nods and returns to his toys.

"But daddy," Atsuhiko protests, his focus still on the action figures in his hands, "We did superheroes last year! I wanna wear Uncle Bo's jersey!"

You fight the urge to burst out into a fit of giggles as soon as you catch a glimpse of Atsumu slumping his shoulders dejectedly. Now you understand as to why he had his moppy voice on. "But don't you want to wear daddy's jersey for your birthday?"

"But daddy," Atsuhiko lets out a sigh, looking up at his father with a look that meant the little boy wasn't up for any arguments on the matter, "Uncle Bo is the best! So I wanna wear his jersey!"

You could have sworn you heard Atsumu whine, suddenly wishing you had decided to film this from the start. "But it will make daddy really happy if you wear his jersey!"

Atsuhiko shakes his head as he continues to play with his action figures, "But I want Uncle Bo and I to match!"

Atsumu sighs in defeat before turning his attention over to Atsuhiro, looking hopeful. "What about you, Hiro? Would you wear daddy's jersey?"

"No, daddy. I wanna wear Kageyama-san's jersey," he nods with a proud smile, "Wanna be just like him! He's so good!"

"But daddy's just as good a setter as Tobio-kun!" Atsumu cries out, throwing his hands up in the air, "betrayed by my own children. 'Samu isn't going to let me live this down."

This time, you let your presence be known by finally releasing a bubble of laughter. Atsuhiko instantly drops his action figures and rushes over with a happy squeal. Atsumu pivots his body, looking up at you with such a pitiful gaze as he juts his lower lips out ot a pout, "I want new children."

Needless to say, Atsumu had been pouty ever since and has been dreading today due to the reason that every single one of his friends had found out about it. He had tried a handful of times to change their minds, unfortunately, the young twins won't budge.

“It’s not my fault your kids like me better than you,” he huffs, folding his arms across his chest, “I am an ordinary ace after all!”

A scowl graces on Atsumu’s features which causes the other occupants in the room to chuckle in amusement. It wasn’t as if Atsumu didn’t like the idea of his sons becoming close to his teammates, but lately, it was getting harder for the setter to share. “Get your own children!”

“Ah, about that...” Bokuto trails off with a nervous chuckle which causes everyone to fall silent and look at him in curiosity, “I actually will be getting my own child soon, I think.”

“You think?” you ask with an arched brow, “You can’t just think you’re having a child, Bokuto-san.”

Atsumu interjects, “And aren’t you in love with that best friend of yours? What happened to never being with anyone else but her?”

He waves his hand in the air dismissively with a frown etched on his lips, “Well, I can’t exactly be with her when she just got married.”

“You are so getting your ear torn off by the management when this news gets out,” Atsumu snickers, which he earns a smack to his shoulder from you. “Ow!”

You narrow your gaze at your boyfriend, completely unamused with his behavior. “Don't be dramatic, I didn't hit you that hard!" Letting out a huff as you wipe your hands on the apron you were wearing, "You aren’t helping Bokuto, ‘Tsumu.”

His lips curl up to a cheeky grin at the sight of your expression. He leans forward to nuzzle his nose against your cheek, your cheeks growing warm from the public display of affection. His heart swells from your reaction to his gesture, murmuring teasingly, “Sorry, darling.”

“Please, don’t make me barf.” Osamu interrupts with his features scrunched up in distaste from the interaction between you and his brother.

Atsumu sticks his tongue out at his brother who returns the gesture with a shake of his head. His arm snakes around your waist to pull you closer to his side as he returns his attention over to his teammate, “Well, is the woman making you marry her?”

“Making you pay for child support?” Osamu quickly adds.

Atsumu quips with a chuckle, “Threatening to expose your sins?”

You interrupt the two with a glare towards them, “Stop ganging up on him!”

Bokuto lets out a laugh as he begins helping your mother set up the desserts onto one of the trays to bring outside to the guests, “Nothing like that, she’s pretty chill and we’ve gotten pretty close lately. So we’re going to co-parent.”

“That’s very mature of you, Bokuto-kun.” your mother compliments him with a smile before patting his back.

He feels his cheeks grow warm from the compliment, his heart swelling with pride. “Thank you.”

“Maybe you’ll end up falling for her anyway,” Osamu teases with a smirk playing on his lips, leaning against one of the kitchen counters.

He shakes his head at the idea as his brows knit together, “Jess and I won’t fall in love.”

“Jess?” Atsumu blinks at the familiar name before his eyes widens at the realization, releasing his grip from your waist, “Jess, that journalist that you showed around town when she first visited Japan?”

Bokuto nods with a smile gracing his features, “Yeah, she’s pretty cool.”

“Maybe you’ll learn to love her in your own way through your child,” you suggest with a shrug of your shoulders as you began untying the apron you were wearing upon realizing what time it was.

Atsumu shakes his head and responds before Bokuto could utter a single word, “No, no. That’s impossible. Bo-kun’s heart belongs to his best friend.”

“Stop teasing him,” you scold your boyfriend with a shake of your head, handing over the apron you successfully took off, “make yourself useful and help out here in the kitchen,"

"Bu—"

Cutting him off with a stern glare as you lift a tray from one of the kitchen counters and handing it over to Bokuto, a small smile gracing your lips, "Don't mind him, Bo. Can you bring these to the backyard and help out if anyone else needs help? I think Reiji needs a hand setting up the bouncy castle,"

Retrieving the tray from your hands, his eyes lighting up from the excitement, "bouncy castle, you say?"

"That's for the kids, Bo-kun." Atsumu scoffs but soon lets his lips form into a pout when he had been ignored, turning his attention over to you once Bokuto slips out of the kitchen, "Where are you going?"

"I'm going to check on the boys to see if they're ready for their big entrance," you muse with an amused grin. Of course, you knew what your sons had prepared for the big entrance that they insisted. Atsumu had pestered both you and the young twins since he had heard of their plan but as your sons refused to budge, you had feigned clueless, claiming that your sons had opted it to be a surprise.

Little did Atsumu know that you had helped your sons pull off such an idea.

"I don't get why they have to have a big entrance," he sighs, brows furrowing as he racks through his thoughts on what the surprise could be. It didn't help that he was both curious and excited at what his sons might pull off.

Osamu lets out a snort, rolling his eyes at his twin brother as a smirk curls upon his lips, "What do you mean? They're your kids."

"What does that even mean?" Atsumu scowls as he slips on the apron you had handed over, walking over to where your mother was situated to take over what you were doing.

You shake your head at the two bickering older twins and shoot a look of sympathy towards your mother that was going to be left with them in the kitchen before she waves you off. Your heart was swelling from happiness at how natural everything felt, despite the silly banter thrown around. It was home.

As you step into your childhood living room, you're hit with a nostalgic wave from the memories surrounding the whole area. Though it may be a mixture of good and bad memories, since you had come to terms that you were no longer running away from your past, you only feel comfort. You made your way through your childhood home over to the bedroom that had been renovated to the liking of your twin boys.

The mere thought of your boys growing to love the place where you had grown up yourself was enough to bring a smile to your face. You press your knuckles against the wooden door to signal your presence by knocking on it repeatedly, “Are you two ready?” you ask, your voice probably muffled on the other side. Your fingers wrap around the handle of the door and as you were about to twist and push it open, the door instantly snaps back shut with a loud thud. “Can’t-”

“No, mommy!” Atsuhiko screeched causing you to blink from both the surprised force and tone. Pressing your palms and ear against the door to hear what the commotion was all about, you frown upon hearing only their shuffling feet, “What are you two doing? Guests have arrived and your party will be starting soon,”

“We’re almost ready, mommy!” Atsuhiro assures you from the other side.

A chuckle escapes your lips at their antics as you decide to not interfere any further, “Alright you two, just be sure to be out in a few. You don’t want your daddy to come fetch you. It’ll ruin the surprise.”

“Okay mommy!” you heard Atsuhiko yell out, their excited muffled voices purely obvious from the other side that you couldn’t help but smile.

On the other hand, back in the kitchen, the father of your twins was having his own little dilemma back in the kitchen. It wasn’t as if he was uncomfortable being around your mother, but it was more like he felt he was still lacking.

Despite him knowing that your mother and you hadn’t had the greatest relationship when your father passed away, he still wanted to be someone your mother would approve of. He didn’t know whether your mother knew the whole story of the relationship between the two of you but being away from you and your sons during most of their childhood was enough to make him worry. The mere idea of his sons looking up to him sent his heart soaring, but of course, he also wanted your mother to feel secure enough for him to be together with you and the twins.

“I’ll bring out these sliced up fruits outside,” Osamu cuts the clear tension surrounding the kitchen. Atsumu resists the urge to glare at his twin for leaving him behind with your mother, knowing full well that his brother knows his current insecurities. A small smirk graces Osamu’s features but not the obvious one that would make your mother notice.

Atsumu watches his twin slip out of the kitchen with a tray full of food for the guests before flickering his gaze over to your mother situated at the other side of the room, making final touches to the cupcakes. “Is there anything else that I can do?”

Without looking up, a smile etches on your mother’s face. “No, it’s fine. We’re just about done with everything.”

“It looks good,” he states with a nod of his head, not really knowing what to say.

Placing the piping bag to the side, your mother lifts her head up to look towards the direction of Atsumu and wipes her hands on the apron she’s currently wearing, “You know you can always start calling me mom.”

The mere sentence made Atsumu want to leap in excitement, but at the same time he was nervous, a sudden fear of messing things up engulfing him. “I don’t want to overste-”

“Oh please,” your mother waves her hand in the air with a light chuckle, “I’ve known you since you were eight. We’re practically family. So you might as well call me mom.”

Atsumu couldn’t help but let the corners of his mouth tug up to a wide smile, “Alright, mom.”

“I’m really happy that the two of you decided to work things out,” your mother spoke with a smile as she delicately places the cupcakes on the cupcake stand.”

His feet shuffled across the room to help your mother stack the cupcakes onto the stand, “We had to for the kids anyway.”

Your mother hums in thought for a second before responding, “I think the kids were just the push the two of you needed. If anything, I’ve always thought the two of you would always end up together since the two of you always leaned on each other for anything.”

He nods his head slowly, leaning against the counter as he feels his heart swell with happiness. “I guess you’re right, mom. I did lean on her majority of the time when we were growing up. I guess I still am now. I just wish I could make her happy.”

“Don’t worry, you do. Before she left Hyogo, I know for a fact that she was miserable in this house after her dad had passed. You were the only one giving her a reason to move forward,” your mother spoke, sadness dripping from her voice.

A sigh escapes Atsumu’s lips as his features scrunch up to something that resembles pain. “I was also the reason why she left. I may be even the biggest reason why she left.”

Your mother extends an arm out and places a hand on Atsumu’s arm, trying her best to give assurance and comfort, “You weren’t the only reason behind that. I don’t know if she’s told you, but I had neglected her. I’m not proud of it and apologies are probably never enough for forgiveness. I was barely a mother when my husband had passed. I was almost an empty shell and instead of being a moth-”

“Mom,” Atsumu cuts her off and grabs hold of her hand in his own, “Don’t blame yourself. She loves you very much. It’s all in the past. We’ll be able to move forward, we already are.”

The two were interrupted with Osamu’s arrival, knocking by the kitchen’s door frame to announce his return. A smile etched on his lips at the scene before him, “Hey, Y/N wants everyone in the living room. Apparently the boys are ready to make their big entrance.”

Your mother excuses herself as soon as she removes the apron tied around her, excitement clearly evident in her features. Atsumu knew it well, despite the relationship that you had been slowly rebuilding with your mother, she was just as excited as him to have the twins into her life. She has equally doted on, if not more, on the twins ever since and well, Atsumu wouldn’t have it any other way.

Atsumu knew for a fact that you adored the time you’ve been sharing with your mother. As long as you were happy, nothing else mattered.

Osamu gives him a pat on the back, arching a brow in curiosity as they make their way out of the kitchen, “Everything alright?”

Atsumu gives him a nod, giving him the largest grin that he could muster. “Yeah, definitely.”

“You look disgusting,” Osamu jokes, pretending to shudder which causes Atsumu to give him a shove as they step into the living room where most of the guests have already gathered.

“Hey ‘tsumu!” Bokuto calls out from next to you as soon as Atsumu comes into view. “Hurry up! I’m excited to see Hiko in my jersey!”

Atsumu rolls his eyes as he approaches, grumbling to himself. As soon as he reaches your side, he places a quick kiss to your temple before snaking an arm around your waist to pull you closer. “Yeah, yeah. You have to stop rubbing it in. We get it.”

You couldn’t help but let a laugh escape your lips as you lean yourself into Atsumu’s warmth, “Oh come on now you two, focus on the big entrance will you?”

Bokuto just snickers from the side while Atsumu sends him a glare. If you were to describe the two of them, they were practically acting like petty children but you know those two will eventually switch attitudes as soon as your twins step out to make their entrance.

You flicker your gaze over to Osamu who was situated a few steps ahead from your little group, trying his best to act natural with his phone up. The two of you had discussed prior to the party that he would be the one to film the whole thing going on. Your little boys had practically begged their uncle to film their big entrance but mostly, what you hoped Osamu to capture was Atsumu’s reaction.

A part of you expects that he would be a grinning mess at the sight of his kids but also, you’re also hoping he’d be speechless from all the teasing his kids put him through of having to wear someone else’s jersey.

“What’s taking them so long?” Atsumu asks, tilting his head slightly hoping to meet your eyes as his fingers play with the hem of your shirt.

As you were about to answer him, the familiar voices of your two boys echo throughout the room from the top of the stairs. You didn’t even have to look to know about their surprise since you know very well of what they had planned. Well, obviously, you had helped them out with picking up the jerseys that they were going to wear.

However, you had wanted to capture Atsumu’s reaction to your boys with your own two eyes instead of just watching it from a video. And honestly speaking, you didn’t think you’d fall in love with this man any more than you already do but here you are.

Just the mere sight of his features scrunching up to a look of awe was enough for your heart to swell. It looked as if he was close to tears as watches the twins descend the stairs with the prodest smiles they could muster.

You pry yourself away from his side as soon as the twins approach Atsumu, knowing full well what was going to happen as they had practiced what they were going to say. Flickering your gaze over to Atsuhiko and Atsuhiro, seeing them in Atsumu’s high school volleyball jersey made your own eyes water despite the fact that you were the ones who had gotten them the uniform a week ago.

“Wh-What are you guys wearing?” Atsumu almost chokes out his words, “What happened to the jerseys that we bought that you said you were going to wear?”

Atsuhiko throws his arms out in the air, smiling widely. “We changed daddy!”

“We wanna wear your jersey daddy,” Atushiro nods his head enthusiastically, lifting his hand up to grip onto Atsumu’s shirt.

Atsuhiko wraps his arms around Atsumu’s waist, “‘cause you’re our favorite volleyball player daddy!”

The scene itself was enough for everyone to watch in awe, a few of the guests that were invited had their own phones up to capture the moment with smiles on their faces, the others were almost practically in tears themselves, and well there was also Bokuto by the side with his pouty self at the realization that neither of his nephews were wearing his jersey like he thought they would. Atsumu on the other hand, had eventually dropped down to his knees and wrapped his arms around his two boys, burying his face in between them as he let out his own tears stream down his face from the overwhelming joy that coursed through him.

Yes, this is your family.

This is your home.

You stare out the window from the kitchen of your childhood home, a smile on your face at the beautiful afternoon of your backyard full with people you adore and have missed so much. 

The party was still in full swing despite the sun about to set, the laughter from the guests and a few children present rang in the air. Happiness had engulfed your heart and honestly, you had trouble believing it yourself but here you were. 

You wouldn’t trade this for anything. 

An arm snakes around your waist from behind and you would have been startled if you hadn’t felt Atsumu’s presence a minute ago. Despite not having seen each other in years, everything about him was still familiar. Sure, there were a few things about him that you didn’t know but that didn’t mean that he still wasn’t your Atsumu that you’ve grown to love. 

“Thank you,” he whispers as he nuzzles his nose into your hair, a smile playing on his lips. 

You place your hands atop of his and lean yourself back into his warmth, your brows furrowing in confusion. “What are you thanking me for?” 

“For everything,” he lets out a sigh, causing a shiver to run down your spine from the heat radiating from his breath close to your ear, “For giving me two amazing boys and for existing yourself.” 

Pivoting your body around so that you were facing Atsumu, your hands settling on his chest as you look up at him with your lips curling up to an assuring smile, “Thank you.” 

“And what for?” Atsumu questions, matching your own smile with his own as his hands cup your face. He lowers his head slowly, nudging your nose with his own as the pads of his thumbs brush delicately against your skin. 

Heat spreads across your cheeks at his gestures, feeling shy yourself but despite that, the majority of what you felt was only comfort in being in his arms. “For loving me as much as I love you.” 

He hums in response, placing a quick kiss to your lips. “No, I probably do love you more. More than you can imagine.” 

Before you could respond, he places his lips back firmly on yours and your eyelids flutter shut as if on instinct. The hands of yours that were resting on his chest eventually found their way around his torso to pull him close. Tilting your head to the side, the kiss itself deepens as he runs his fingers through your hair. 

It just felt so natural being with him.

Before the kiss could grow more heated however, a loud yell from outside had interrupted the both of you causing you to pull away much to both of your dismay. Your heads turn towards the direction of the commotion, the bouncy castle coming into view.

Or rather, the depleting bouncy castle with Bokuto and Hinata coming out hastily in laughter. 

You shake your head at the scene, a bubble of laughter leaving your lips before turning your head back over to look at the man before you. Just when you had decided to pull back and return to your duties of being a mother, he wraps his arms back around your waist to pull you back against him. Another laugh escapes your lips as you playfully slap his chest, “What now? We have a party going on, we have to entertain our gue-” 

“Move in with me,” he interrupts, his features showing nothing but seriousness. 

You meet his sincere gaze with your own and your heart makes a leap out of joy. There was only one answer you could possibly give. 

“Yes.”

[saltnhalo]

yay!! congratulations!! :D ♥ ♥ ♥ for the song prompts - Till Summer Comes Around by Keith Urban ♥

such a poignant song, thank you for the prompt!

Castiel meets him in the summer: that beautiful boy with the bright, green eyes.

It’s a few days before the Fourth of July, and everyone seems to be at the fair tonight, enjoying themselves beneath the carnival lights with sweat sticky on their skin. Castiel can still taste cotton candy on his tongue, and there’s a giddiness beneath his skin as he looks up at the Ferris wheel from where’s he’s seated.

He’s always loved the boardwalk.

“Mind if I sit?”

For a second, he doesn’t realise that the voice is talking to him, too enveloped in his own thoughts—and then it twigs, and he glances up, towards the boy who is watching him with a half-smile on his face.

“Oh, I—of course,” Castiel says, edging over a little on the wooden step where he’s sitting to make room for the handsome boy who, out of everyone in this crowd, picked out Castiel.

The boy’s smile widens, and he sits down next to Castiel. The step is barely big enough for both of them, so they’re sitting shoulder to shoulder, and Castiel can feel the heat of the boy’s skin against his bicep.

“You from around here?” the boy asks, glancing up as the rollercoaster passes overhead. It’s not in a distracted way, though—it’s observant, as though the boy sees the things that regular people wouldn’t, just because he knows how to watch.

“I am,” Castiel tells him. His whole family is from this state, born and bred. “You?”

“Nah.” The boy shrugs. His green eyes shine beneath the dancing lights. He doesn’t elaborate, and for a minute, they sit side by side, watching the comings and goings of the carnival, until—

“What’s your name?”

Castiel is used to people making fun of his name, and he braces for it now, as he says, “Castiel,” and waits for the boy’s interest to turn into ridicule.

But it doesn’t. Instead, the boy just grins that infectious grin and nudges him gently with his shoulder. “Cool name,” he says, and Castiel can tell that he means it. “I’m Dean.”

And that’s how Castiel meets Dean Winchester.

~

That summer is a whirlwind.

Castiel spends as much time as he possibly can on the boardwalk every summer, but this time it’s different, because this time, he has Dean. Before long, they’re hanging out almost every day—Castiel’s parents don’t overly care what he gets up to, and Dean’s dad will be in town with work for a while yet, so they have all the time in the world.

They finish almost every night by taking a ride on the Ferris wheel, just before the carnival is about to close. That’s when it’s at its quietest, and Dean and Castiel can just sit side by side and look down at the lights of the fair and the dark ocean beyond.

One particular night, they happen to stop at the very top of the Ferris wheel. Castiel kicks his legs idly in the air, and Dean chuckles quietly as their seat rocks. “You like to live dangerously, huh Cas?” he teases, a grin curving his lips.

Castiel has never once in his life lived dangerously, but he nods anyway, only the barest hint of a smile indicating that he’s joking. “I’ve been known to flirt with danger,” he deadpans, and Dean laughs out loud this time.

The lights are dim up here, but it only makes Dean’s eyes shine all the brighter.

Castiel has thought about kissing Dean before, but the urge has never been as strong as it is right now. Dean is watching him back, that grin faded to a smile that seems to hide so much beneath it. So much that Castiel doesn’t know.

He wets his lips, suddenly so dry, and feels his breath hitch in his chest as Dean’s gaze drops. In a single second, the air between them becomes so electric that Castiel almost doesn’t dare to breathe. Slowly, Dean lifts his hand, curving his fingers against Castiel’s jaw, and when Castiel doesn’t pull back, he leans in.

The kiss is soft, slow, Dean’s nose bumping gently against Castiel’s. It’s everything Castiel had hoped it would be and more, and he reaches up to curl his fingers into the front of Dean’s shirt and pull him in closer.

When they separate, Castiel is just is breathless as he had been before, and Dean’s grin shines brighter than the stars.

~

They spend almost every day together, and anyone who knows them knows that they’re completely inseparable—

Until they’re not.

Today feels off—unseasonably cool and with a strange feeling in the air, that kind of electricity that heralds the coming of a storm. He and Dean are meeting at the carnival tonight, just like most nights, and so he focuses on that instead of the strange feeling in his chest.

At first, he thinks Dean is just late, but as he waits by the arcade games for him to show up, the hours passing one by one, the pit in his stomach grows.

Dean doesn’t show up—nor does he show up the next night, or the night after that.

Castiel still waits for him. It’s almost a week before he’s able to accept it for what it is.

Dean isn’t coming back.

And he hadn’t even said goodbye.

~

The summer fades.

Castiel leaves for college, and while he still holds his memories of Dean (and his heartache) close to his chest, it’s easy to be distracted by the newness of it all—new surroundings, new classwork, new friends. It still hurts, and he still misses the warm nights, the fair food, Dean, but every day it gets a little bit easier.

The year passes, slowly but steadily, and as the weather begins to warm once more, and the end of classes is on the horizon, Castiel’s thoughts turn back to home.

To the fair.

To Dean.

~

Castiel drives past the water on his way home from the airport. He can’t help it, some part of him pulled towards it without conscious thought, and his heart twinges in his chest as he catches a glimpse of the boardwalk. The rides are still, the fair quiet and lifeless, but he knows that tonight it will be as bright and as bustling as it always has been.

He misses it, misses it like he misses a limb.

But that night, he stays home with his family. He talks with them, catching up on all that he’s missed while he’s been away, and he tries his best not to think about all that he’s missing on the boardwalk by the ocean.

~

It’s a full week before Castiel works up the courage to go back to the fair.

The boardwalk is just like he remembers it—full of laughter and light and the smell of fried food, and being back here…

It feels like he’s finally, truly home, but it makes his chest ache with every moment he spends here. Last summer had been the best summer of his life, and it had all been because of Dean. Now it just feels as though all those memories and emotions, allowed to fade after so many months away, are being dredged up once more.

But Castiel doesn’t want to give up this place, just because of a boy who hadn’t cared enough about him to say goodbye before he disappeared. It’s his.

And so he walks along the boardwalk, smiling at the vendors he recognises and watching children shriek in joy on each ride, just like he had for so many years. He walks until he reaches the very end of the boardwalk, where he stands with his hands in his pockets and looks out over the ocean.

He’s learned so much this past year, and while it’s strange to be standing here as a newer, different version of himself, it also feels right. Hopefully one day he will be able to look back on the summer spent here with Dean, without pain, but for now…

For now, it’s nice to just be.

From here, Castiel can hear the sounds of the fair, the waves, the cry of a bird wheeling somewhere up above. There are footfalls against the boardwalk somewhere behind him, but he pays them no heed, focusing on the ocean and the tumult of his own mind, until—

“Cas?”

The voice is quiet, but achingly familiar, and Castiel feels his breath catch in his lungs.

When he turns, it’s as though the world is moving in slow motion, the carnival lights blurring behind the figure of the person standing with him at the very edge of the boardwalk. He doesn’t even need to see the green eyes or the hesitant, nervous half-smile to know who it is.

He would recognise Dean anywhere.

[grimsonchin]

My Take on The Last of Us Part II: (SPOILERS)

If you were just like me who just finished the game and are unsure about the outcome and story plz take the time to read this:

If I’m being honest af right now, playing The Last of Us Part 2 for the first time made me low key filled with anger and sadness. I really enjoyed playing as Ellie in Seattle with Dina and Jessie. After switching off to Abby for a few hours, I wanted to just speed run through her arc because I hated for what she did to Joel. I was starting to miss Ellie. However, after Day 1 and I started Day 2, for some reason, that hate was replaced with being intrigued with the story progression to Abby meeting Yara and Lev (I was still mad at Abby at this point, but not as much). I was glad that I stopped speed running through her story and I actually got to be in Abby’s shoes about her relationships with others and being a caring individual towards Lev and Yara. It just shows that ND is trying to make you see another point of view of Abby’s revenge being similar to Ellie’s revenge: both are in an endless cycle of vengeance that must be broken. They might try to make you sympathize with Abby, but it’s okay if you don’t. It’s okay to hate her for what she has done. However, ND wanted to show you her story and where she comes from the end of the stick does matter. Both characters have experienced loss; Ellie losing Joel, Jessie, and nearly Dina. Abby loses her father and her friends (Manny, Owen, Mel, Nora, Yara and others). So I see from both sides that they want to avenge those they have lost.

Even though TLOU is mainly focused on Ellie and Joel, you don’t realize that the TLOU universe has no heroes/villians. It’s mostly just human beings out her trying to survive an apocalypse; even if it’s defending yourself from other people who want to hurt you or murdering others in order to survive and gather supplies for others. The first game had Marlene, Tess, Sarah, Riley, David, Sam, and Henry; characters that impacted the first story for both characters, good or bad. For the second game, there’s WLFs, people of Jackson, and Scars/Seraphites. Different groups with different purposes in order to strive into the apocalyptic world.

After the depressing ending we got, I literally crumbled. A game like that has NEVER made me feel things that I had to take a pause from it and recollect my thoughts. That’s some extraordinary work. However, the ending was so impactful to me that I couldn’t process what just happened. So I thought that the game was good but not that great.

That’s when I started to replay it again with a collective mind and paid more attention to detail. (Still cried every time over losing Joel). That’s when my mind started to change about the overall message and tone about the game. Naughty Dog even stated that the first game was about LOVE and the second game was aimed towards HATE. They wanted to make the player feel uncomfortable and feel a rollercoaster of emotions as a human being (anger, sadness, and happiness). This was a game about consequences from both sides of characters: the people of Jackson and the WLF. Both sides had human beings murdered in order to survive (as well as the Seraphites).

My favorite gut-wrenching part about the game (besides gameplay and character arcs) is that it honors the first game with foreshadowing. In the first game, Sam asks Ellie what she was afraid of. Ellie says that she was afraid of being alone. Revenge has unfortunately blinded Ellie and she suffered that consequence: she was all alone in the end. She lost Joel, Dina, her son were no longer home (the farmhouse they built their love and long lasting relationship together), and she lost her two fingers and couldn’t play the guitar anymore to bring her peace (the two fingers were referenced near the end of the first game when Ellie confronts Joel about the Fireflys). As Ellie leaves the guitar behind, it symbolizes that she has let go of Joel (not completely as she still loves Joel but her anger towards his death has been replaced with peace as she realizes that killing more people in order to avenge him won’t bring him back).

After witnessing the ending for a second time, I started to realize that instead of my past self wanting Abby to be killed by Ellie, this present me was glad that Ellie spared Abby. Before Ellie threatened Abby, she had a flashback of bloody Joel, suffering. This caused Ellie to feel the need to “finish what she started” in order to avenge Joel and to fulfill her quest. However, after attempting to drown Abby, she slowly started to get a flashback of Joel; not bloody Joel, but Joel playing the guitar, happy to see Ellie on the night of the dance. Ellie at that point started to realize that she needed to start forgiving herself. Not Abby or anyone else. Herself. It wouldn’t bring back Joel, but she thought to herself that it wasn’t right. She needed to save herself in order to break the cycle of violence (Lev would’ve gone after Ellie if Abby was killed). If it weren’t for Ellie finding closure, Abby and Lev would’ve died on the pillars and never make it to Catalina Island.

I praise Naughty Dog for this type of direction they were going with. They’ve warned people might not like it and it’s understandable. However, that does not mean that it gives people an excuse to make it look bad for others and sending death threats/ harsh comments to others. Part II WAS something I was not expecting at all. But I’d say that if you understand the messages in the game and take the time to understand the story and characters, it makes the gaming experience phenomenal.

I know that the biggest problem people have about the second game was Joel’s death being unexpected and too early. I agree; it was too soon. However, I felt that the story with flashbacks made that up for the most part. Also, it occurred to me (my own opinion) that Joel did not put much of a fight with the WLF because I felt that he knew deep down that the people who want to hurt him were somehow connected to the Fireflys from the hospital where he killed many people in order to save Ellie. He just didn’t have enough fight in him no longer after his confrontation with Ellie the night of the dance. He probably had to live with that guilt for all those years, even though Ellie would offer to try to forgive him for making her life actually matter. We have to keep in mind that Joel is a bad person (not to us the player, but to someone else). We love Joel, I love Joel dearly, but again, there are no heroes in this story.

Overall, I really really enjoyed Part 2. Lil bit more than the first one, even tho the first game has room in my heart. I’ll be honest; there are just a few few flaws it may have for story wise but overall was an amazing experience. I wish I could experience it again. Everything from gameplay, to story progression, to amazing acting. Congrats to Naughty Dog for an amazing masterpiece :D

*** Also, we all know that Ellie does go back to Jackson to be with Dina and their son and y’all can’t tell me otherwise :) ***

[thisdreamplace]

7 Days of ‘I Am the Creator’ Meditation

Guidelines:

- ‘I Am the Creator’ Meditation

- SATS

Why?

Why not? haha Nah, these days were a lot more relaxed than the previous challenge I did. The main goal here was to continue deepening my knowing of who I truly am (God) and I can say, I’ve had a helluva time.

Reflection:

This is gonna be a pretty long reflection. Compared to my last little challenge, this one ended up being extremely reflective. So, get cozy. You’re in for a ride.

Okay, so this was an interesting 7 days. I battled with anxiety, feeling like I am the exception to the law (read through a lot of my asks this week, EIYPO is no joke haha), and just overall wondering if there’s any point in continuing this journey. I’ll just be real honest with y’all about how I’ve felt. It’s been a little ugly.

But the is answer is... yes, it’s always worth it to be on this journey. Especially because I can stop consciously living by the law if I want to... but I will continue to live by the law regardless, with my subconscious mind. So there’s no point in stopping persisting. My issue tends to be, what am I persisting for? And well, I came to some hard to swallow pills of realization as well lots of good realizations too. It’s been an emotional rollercoaster. But I will say, despite it, I have been able to keep some bursts of feel good energy here and there. All is not lost... it’s just truly a journey. A real lifestyle change I’ll keep going at until I wake up from this dream world.

Now, reflecting back on the meditation specifically.. I absolutely adore it. And I will continue to do it when I feel like it, because I just really enjoyed the concept. When I meditate, I’ve been allowing myself to use the infinity timer so I can go for as long as I feel is natural to me. (I use the app Insight Timer if anyone is interested!) Anyway, I average between 10-20 minutes. That being said, whew, this meditation! On the longer days, I was able to use this meditation as a way to calm my anxiety. On other days, the meditation absolutely overwhelmed me! When I got to the step of allowing myself to really FEEL what I wanted to feel... I’d feel overwhelmed. Shortness of breath, the absolute need to move. It was interesting. Some of the sensations you get during meditation are weird sometimes. haha I appreciated this meditation regardless, because I love the practice of the outer world no longer existing and allowing myself to be consumed in my mind, where I am home, where I am safe. Where I AM the creator and can literally have anything I want without a reason, other than the fact I want it.

Best Manifestations:

Mainly lots of passive manifestations. These 7 days really showed me that um... everything you reap will be sowed. Neville didn’t lie.

For example, a coworker randomly brought me the gift of a state flag... Thing is, there’s a state I love and adore and I will be moving there when I’m done with the things I want to finish where I currently live. A few weeks ago, I was looking up little flags for that state but didn’t end up buying any. Then she randomly brings me one? She knows I love the state. But it’s not like I was walking around asking for flags hahaha so that was cool

Then, I’ve wanted to watch Casablanca for a while. But I haven’t watched it because it’s not on any streaming sites for free. Then, I bring it up at work and my coworker so happens to have it on DVD. She brings it within a couple days and I get to watch it and I loved it. Maybe not the most exciting thing ever, but for me it was just another confirmation that yep, I am always manifesting. I will always end up getting what I want.

People have been mirroring my thoughts a lot more. I posted about one incident here, but also, people bring up something I am thinking about within seconds. Sometimes, not going to lie, this pisses me off. Sometimes it’s cool, sometimes it’s like no... I wanted ACTION. Not for us to simply talk about it? But regardless, it still shows the world is mirroring me. So, in a way, it’s still a form of success. haha And of course, the only failure is thinking you have failed. I will persist. Oh, and I played around with the basics of EIYPO (people are always like, decide what someone will wear!) lol so I chose the shirts of both of my coworkers one day. One was specific down to the actual t-shirt, the other was a pattern (plaid). They both walked into working wearing what I wanted them to wear, haha.

Plus, the things I want to know/find always pop up. Like, a Neville story I once heard but can no longer find. Information that will help me better understand the law coming up a few days after I want it. I have full confidence now I will always find what I need.

Best Self-Concept Improvements:

Information downloads!!!!!!!!!!!!

While, yes, I was kind of not in the best place emotionally, it kind of lead to some deep shit I needed to acknowledge. Like, at one point I got upset because I realized, I really have been trying to apply the law. Meanwhile, I’ve been applying the law effortlessly since the day I was born. I can stop trying to apply the law and I’ll still be living by the law. All of this hit me and it just made me feel like, yo... what am I even doing? If I am God, no matter what, what am I even doing? If I am manifesting naturally, why in the world am I trying?

During one of my meditations, I decided I want to give myself freedom. That’s what I wanted in the little world of my mind and the response I got was, “there is freedom in I Am-ness.” It was like, wait. What. I am right! I AM RIGHT. (Of course I am... lol, being God jokes.) Anyway, that little information download changed the game for me. That little phrase suddenly was the key. Let me explain further.

I ended up going on an affirmation walk that really turned more into a walking meditation. All I could repeat was, “I AM I AM I AM I AM I AM I AM”... yeah, you get it. And like, it made sense. It actually made sense. “I am. And because I am, everything is.” This was the sentence that would come up during this meditation and it actually made sense.

Finally, the hardest pill the swallow:

Responsibility. Taking responsibility. How funny is it that this podcast was dropped on my last day of doing this challenge. During these 7 days, I definitely had some victim mentality thoughts I entertained a bit. Like the classic, I’ve been working so hard at this and it’s like nothing is changing. (Not even true, I literally posts my successes here and keep track of others one on my notes app.) Well, here’s the hardest pill. Did Neville not say, to see change you must first change yourself? How in the world can I say I have changed, if I am able to comfortably think the same victim thoughts that got me the old story? Ouch.

This is one thing I really had to look at and accept about myself. And EIYPO. I will be tackling this concept, because it’s time to. I have stayed away from it. I understand it intellectually, but I have barely allowed myself to go beyond that because honestly... it means taking ALL the responsibility for my life. Because, people have been my weakness. My old story includes lots of feeling like I could die and no one would attend my funeral. Literally. This is a thought that would loop in my mind damn near all of the time back when I was immersed in the old story. Need I say more? EIYPO is actually a more sensitive subject to me than I allowed myself to accept. And now, it’s time to take responsibility and face it head on. Sometimes, the concept feels suffocating. But I know as I persist, it’ll all lead to my freedom.

Conclusion:

My biggest question during these 7 days was, am I focusing on the right things? Is it even worth it to keep focusing on my specific manifestations at this point? I think I got my answer and of course, it’s hazy. The answer is, no. But also yes. I just want to shift my focus a bit.

To what, exactly? To me. I thought about my journey for the past 7 months that I’ve been on. And I can honestly say, I have failed to manifest for me. I will for a few hours. Then I find an excuse for why it’s okay to think about the other things I want because hey, I want them. It has to do with me. What’s the difference? Well, there is a difference. One keeps me using manifestation as a technique and the other allows me to step into who I really am, as God. Have I had successes? Yeah, tons. But there’s something in all those articles I have refused to listen to. The parts that constantly say, “IT IS YOU. IT IS ALL YOU. YOU MUST GO WITHIN.” Like I get it, and I thought just persisting in what I want would be enough. But when you are able to so easily slip back into the old story like it’s nothing, like I did this week, that shows the state you are truly operating from. And yeah, I’ve made tons of progress. I get things I want quicker now and I am able to get a lot of the things I want, but I want to take this to the next level. Not just so I am getting things here and there, but so my entire life is a constant stream of me getting what I want. Even on the off days.

On these 7 days, I came across a post someone made where they showed their affirmations. One of them that stuck out to me was:

“I am always chosen, because I always choose myself.” Something about it kind of stuck with me. Could I say this affirmation has been true for me? No. I’m good at choosing myself in the outer world. But in the inner world? Nah. And it’s time to change that.

How will I do that? By following Neville’s first principal.

Be still and know that I am God.

“There is nothing to change but our concept of self. As soon as we succeed in transforming self, our world will dissolve and reshape itself in harmony with that which our change affirms.” - Neville Goddard

[skzafterdusk]

lee minho + "And July"

request from the Dean Title Track List

tags: vampire!reader, immortal!minho, daddy kink

The sun has already set; you can tell that much. If it hadn’t been for the darkening cracks in your closed blinds, you would have never noticed the way the room around you has grown dim. You could turn on the kitchen light, flicker on a lamp in the living room, but you were almost petrified in your spot on the kitchen counter; your right leg bent so your arm could rest on your knee, and your left leg dangling over the edge. Any bruises you probably had on your face hours ago have already healed, the pain long gone, as well.

Minho’s body is just in eyesight from where you’re sitting. Splayed out and unmoving, you pay close attention to this heart in his chest that remains still. You’d snapped his neck hours ago, but you count down the moments.

10 metaphorical heart beats…

9…

8…

7…

The silence should be deafening with not a single breath to inhale. But you quite enjoyed the feeling. Even after years of being undead yourself...to not need the oxygen in your lungs...but to prefer it. Odd.

5…

4…

You like to wonder if this time will be different. So many shows would like to have you believe that coming back to life is like crashing into your own body, the sudden way one wakes up after dreaming of falling to their demise. Minho never came back in that manner.

3...2...1…

It’s always the first beat of the heart. The first noise to fill the apartment in so many hours. Then it’s the rush of blood as they circulate through his veins. And he takes his first breath...his lungs fill with a mighty gulp of air...but he remains still. And it’s the softest sound, but you can almost make out the flutter of his lashes when he blinks his eyes open. And thus, Lee Minho has come back to life, yet again. And the fun shall continue.

“Good!” You exclaim, moving your stiff joints to hop down from the counter. On the impact of your bare feet hitting the floor, it’s met with the crunch of some snack-like food; chips, perhaps. But the crumbs under your feet are of no importance as you make your way through the doorway and into the living room. That is when the comparatively softer bed of broken chips turns into a gravely path of broken glass. Never the most comfortable, but you’ll live.

Minho is just beginning to stir, sitting up in his spot and going to nurse his head as if he suffered from a night of drinking heavily, to the point where his body screamed at him in agony from the inside out.

“You’re awake,” you say cheerfully, a too innocent grin on your lips.

The man huffs as he rubs at his eyes with the heels of his palms. “You bitch.” Such a simple statement that holds the weight of his anger.

Anger, of course, that can only spell fun for you.

“You’ve called me much worse.” Your statement only holds objective truth.

He’s finally able to stand up, slow at first, but his energy seems to flow through him once his eyes land on you. Are you the predator or prey? It’s usually so hard to tell, really.

He stalks towards you in an instant, making sure to crowd your space and look down at you from under his nose. “Why the fuck did you kill me?”

You shrug with a scoff, electing to move past him and further into the living room. You’d left it in disarray after you guys had begun fighting. Drinking glasses hurled at walls, chairs and tables strewn about. You go to turn on that lamp, the only one still managing to stand after the hurricane that is you and Minho.

You’re not entirely sure what his excuse is, but immortality has left only two states of mind for you: insufferable boredom or rollercoasters of emotions. Clearly, one of them sounds more entertaining, yes?

The warm light of the lamp illuminates the chaos around you. Your voice, as you answer, doesn’t necessarily fit the current state.

“You were getting annoying. You probably would have tried to stab me if I hadn’t gotten to you first.”

Unfortunately for Minho, though, is that in some places, stabbing is quite...exhilarating. 

The immortal other seems to be at a loss for words, since he decides to go to the kitchen rather than come up with a response to your excuse.

“All the time I was out and you couldn’t bother to clean this place up?” grumbles Minho, searching through a cabinet before finding the prize, a bottle of whiskey. 

You turned your nose up at the sight of the bottle. You hated the taste of whiskey, and you hated even more the way Minho’s blood tastes after he had his fill. It was a sure way to make sure you didn’t feed on him, which must be the payback for...well...yknow.

��I didn’t make the mess by myself. We clean it together if you’re so worried about it.”

He doesn’t even bother getting a glass (possibly he wouldn’t be able to find one), just tears the cap away and starts taking swigs.

“Only thing I’m worried about is how I’m gonna get you back for snapping my neck.”

You roll your eyes as you lean against the wall adjacent to the kitchen doorway. He’d turned on the dim fluorescent light. The scar on his lip and cheek are still there because his bruises don’t heal quickly like yours. No matter for you. You’ve always preferred the look of him a little beaten up.

“Think this through, babe,” you start. “If you try anything, you’ll be stuck with this messy place until I can wake up.”

He makes sure to take a longer drink before slamming the bottle on the counter. Again, as he stalks towards you, he almost looks like the predator, like he’s capable of doing any real harm to you. He’d get pleasure out of it, regardless. 

His grip is firm when he grabs your face, fingers digging into your cheeks until they plump up and pucker your lips. 

He spends a long while just examining your face, eyes flitting to your lips, searchin your eyes, observing and appreciating the slope of your nose. What he sees makes him smile; it’s a sadistic premonition for the near future, the dark behind his white teeth. 

“How about I whip out the cuffs? Know how much you hate being tied down.” His breath already smells like the cursed wood barrel that stored his whiskey, but you make sure to keep your face cool, so as not to show him how he’s already getting under your skin.

“Please, you love it when I scratch you up. No need to torture yourself, as well, daddy.”

His smile drops immediately at the pet name, eyes of fire suddenly bursting with fury. “Told you never to call me that.”

You shrug. “Not my fault you can’t handle your own kinks.” He snaps your head back until it meets the wall. The angle is awkward enough for it to not cause much impact, unfortunately. “Aw,” you coo. “Did I make daddy angry?”

His hand goes down to close around your neck, just under your jaw. The air you’d been breathing cuts off immediately. He already knows it doesn’t make much difference to you, but the pleasure still starts to travel south, waking your core to the possibility of what Minho might do to you in his fit of rage.

“You’re so lucky you’re already dead. How would you and your filfthy mouth survive otherwise?”

Your time as a human started fading by the end of your second decade as a vampire. It wasn’t much of a life, and Minho had known exactly why. A survivalist like yourself knew when to speak and when to keep her mouth shut. But being at the top of the food chain...well…

“And you’re lucky you found me.” You bring a hand to rest against the hand fisted around your neck. You can feel the pulse of the veins in that hand. Maybe he didn’t drink enough to make his blood taste so strongly of the alcohol. Maybe you’ll be able to bypass it. “You know how boring your immortal life would be if I hadn’t come along?”

He laughs loudly, but no humour resides in its hearty sound. His jaw is clenched, grasp growing stronger around your neck. Cutting off circulation to veins that need not produce new or fresh blood. You’d say his efforts were all for naught, but then that wouldn’t take into consideration the way liquid fire seemed to drip from your pores in anticipation. 

“Do you think I enjoy being killed?”

“Don’t make it sound like I do it that often, daddy, be reasonable.”

If you were a human in this moment, everything would have happened like a blur in front of your eyes; the way Minho dragged you from the wall, throwing your body to the floor -you probably wouldn’t have noticed the shards of glass that broke through your clothes and cut through your back-, how he suddenly was on top of you, taking one of the bigger shards and pressing the jagged edge to your throat. One wrong move as a human, and you would have been dead.

But you’re not, and the thrill that comes is not of terror, but of excitement. See? Had you been wrong?

You can feel his semi-hard length against your stomach. It makes a smarmy grin grace your lips, challenging eyes looking at his. “Fucking knew it. Daddy gets so hard-”

“Do you ever stop talking?”

With a nod, you answer matter-of-factly. “Yeah, when you’re dead. Then I don’t have anyone to play with.”

The glass must have cut Minho’s hand, for soon the sweet smell of iron fills your nostrils, and the crimson drips to the point of the glass that meets your skin. Automatically, your fangs elongate from your gums, and your mouth begins to salivate.

“Let’s stop fucking around,” you suggest, voice a mere hiss. “And let’s play some games.”

Minho doesn’t see the world as you do, doesn’t get the advantage of the same reaction time. That’s why he isn’t able to stop you before you can rip the glass from his hand and sink your teeth into the heel of his palm. It’s not the best place to bite from, but the skin there is always easiest to puncture, and the blood likes to flow freely there.

The first mouthful of blood is always bliss, so satisfying like jigsaw pieces slotting into place. It’s so euphoric, you remember you’d have tears in your eyes your first few feeds. Immortals like Minho are rare, but they’re the best source to feed from. His blood doesn’t taste any better, but he’ll be around way longer than any human can.

He grinds his hips down, looking for friction, pleasure. You pull away, reveling in the blood that slides down your throat, before sitting up, your faces breadths apart.

“Looks like daddy wants to play.”

“(Y/N)...” he only calls your name like a warning, seemingly somewhere between anger and pleasure. He still wants to have an upperhand.

Maybe tonight you’ll let him. As an apology, of course, for killing him.

[jawritter]

Daddy’s Little Girl...

Request: Hey you! Can I request a Jensen x Reader fic where they just had a kid. But for some reason only Jensen is able to calm the kid down. And the reader feels like she’s failing as a mother and as Jensen’s partner and feels left out. With lots of angst and fluff too, please? Thank you so much!

Warnings: None really, angst, emotional reader, some fluff. I think that’s about it..

Pairing: Jensen Ackles x Reader

Word Count: 2009

A/N: Okay guys disclaimer here.. This is a work of fiction, and I mean no harm to the Ackles family at all. Also I know this is a pic of Dean and a baby, and not Jensen, but I didn’t feel comfortable using a pic of Jensen’s actual children over a work of fanfiction. Guess I’m just funny that way. Sue me.. Feedback is golden! Please do not copy my work! All mistakes are mine!! I wanted to have this one ready in time for mother’s day...Oooppsss.... LOL. Enjoy lovelies!!

Want more? Check out my Masterlist!!

****MASTERLIST****

Emotions... So Many emotions...

Being a new mother was hard, and by no means did you expect it to be easy. Still nothing could have prepared you for the rollercoaster of emotions that seemed to be crashing into you with every other hour that clicked by on the clock.

At first it was joy, and happiness that you had even felt before. The excitement of bringing a new life into the world with the love of your life, then it was the happiness of bringing that new life home for the first time.

All that work you had put into setting up a nursery, organizing and planning, it had all gone down the drain pretty quickly.

You discovered that there was no 'game plan' in taking care of a newborn, and you had to adjust pretty quickly to rolling with the punches.

Joy turned to exhaustion, with long nights of staying up with a colicy newborn baby, and long days alone nursing while Jensen was working long hours filming. No other adult interaction, and no help. Just you and your baby...

Exhaustion turned into frustration, which only…. No that's not right...

Exhaustion turned into relief, which later turned into flustation...

You daughter had been crying for three hours straight. Nothing you did seemed to satisfy her. Nursing didn't work. You tired things like gripe water, and other colic relief methods that you googled online. You tried rocking her down for a nap, walking and bouncing across the floor. Singing. Nothing seemed to be doing the trick, and your daughter just kept crying...

Then Jensen walked in, coming through the door, and taking your daughter from your tired arms, and started rocking her and singing to her... 

Just like that the crying stopped, and relief flooded you...

Even though Jensen had worked an almost 14 hour shift, he told you to go and take a nice long bath, and if he needed you he'd call for you. To 'take a minute for some me time'. Which you gladly did...

One week…. 

That's how long it took the frustration to set in...

It seemed like Jensen just had the magic touch. There was no other way to put it. 

Whether it was late at night, or whether it was mid day. She could be screaming to the top of her extremely healthy little lungs, everything you tried to do failed at your feet, but as soon as she was in his arms, she stopped...

They always talked about this 'maternal instinct' that would kick in, and about the bonding of a mom and her newborn in the first few weeks of life, how magical it was...

You got to experience none of that, maybe you were born with a maternal switch missing, maybe there was something wrong with you. 

Are you not a good mother? 

Were you not doing it right? 

What was the deal?

Why did Jensen seem better at parenting than you?

As the weeks drug on to months, the only thing changed was that the preference of your daughter was absolutely her daddy, and not you..

He got the first smile…. 

He got the first laugh…..

He got the first word!! Dada! She still had yet to say mom, or mama…. 

Everyone assured you that it was just early, and that you were doing everything right. Dada was just easy to say, and that she didn't even really know what she was saying, just mimicking sounds..

Gen swore it was his voice that she found so soothing, and you could understand that, because you found it soothing to when nothing else was, but you still felt left out. 

Like he had some bond with your child that should have been yours...

What made it all even worse was the fact that you were having a hard time keeping up with everything in the house. 

Laundry was piling up, the kitchen was never clean enough, dinner was hitting the table later and later.. 

You forgot to pick up the one thing that Jensen asked you to pick up for him from the grocery store today, because as soon as you got there your daughter had the biggest blow out diaper of her life, and you had to change it. 

You had forgotten to pack enough diapers because you didn't think you were going to be there that long, and now she only had the one you changed her into, so you felt like you had to rush.. In case it happened again… 

Totally forgetting what Jensen needed you to pick up...

Then there was the fact that the two of you were having sex less and less. You were just so tired by the time you went to bed at night, that you just weren't in the mood. It wasn't that you loved him any less, because he was your everything, but you just were physically exhausted, and you felt overwhelmed. Like everything was piling up and it was just.... Too much...

Tonight was the biggest fight you had ever had as a couple...

When dinner was finally served... an hour late... and he'd bathed your little girl for you so that you could get caught up on folding some clothes, he'd come into the bedroom and suggested that maybe he should hire a housekeeper to help you keep up with the house...

That stung… Even though it shouldn’t have….

Did he think you were failing now as a wife... as a partner....

In your offense you had jumped down his throat.. 

Your words ring in your ears. Stinging at you the way that they had at him...

"Why? Why do you think you need to hire a maid Jensen... What, is the dinner not out fast enough for you? Is the house not clean enough for your liking? I don't need some stranger coming in, and helping me run my house Jensen. Our life is in the public eye enough.."

"Sweetheart... You're exhausted, overwhelmed, let me hire someone to help you. It's not about clean enough, or dinner it's..."

"THAT'S BULLSHIT JAY, THAT'S TOTALLY WHAT IT'S ABOUT!!! YOU THINK I CAN'T KEEP UP WITH EVERYTHING. THAT I'M NOT GOOD ENOUGH!! WELL LET'S SEE YOU DO IT ALL!!! LET'S SEE YOU MAKE THE GROCERIES,  LET'S SEE YOU COOK DINNER WITH A BABY ON YOUR HIP SCREAMING, LET'S SEE YOU KEEP THE HOUSE SPOTLESS!!!"

"Y/n please your overreacting.."

"I'M OVERREACTING? FUCK YOU JENSEN! I'M SORRY I DON'T HAVE THE MAGIC TOUCH THE WAY YOU DO, OR OUR DAUGHTER PREFERS YOU OVER ME! I'M SORRY I'M NOT GOOD ENOUGH! GO AHEAD!! HIRE YOUR FUCKING MAID!!!" Throwing the clothes you were folding in his face you pushed past him towards the door, nearly knocking him down as he tried to reach for you..

"WHILE YOUR AT IT WHY DON'T YOU MAKE A POST ON YOUR INSTAGRAM ABOUT HOW SHITTY OF A MOTHER I AM SO YOUR FANS CAN SEE JUST HOW SHITTY OF A WIFE I AM TOO!!!"

Before he could respond you slammed the door in his face, but you didn't miss the hurt look as the door slammed...

Hours later your daughter was in bed, and you sat alone in your room crying, unable to face him. You felt like a failure, you overreacted and blew up in his face,because you thought that he thought you weren't good enough, you were confused, probably more than a little hormonal, and a whole lot hurt about a whole lot of things…

Right now though, it was the crushing guilt and regret you felt for blowing up at him…. When you knew he was just trying to help you...

A soft knock at the door made you nearly jump out of your skin, and you hurried to wipe your face when you saw Jensen standing cautiously in the doorway...

"Hey." He said softly, but not daring to come into the bedroom, probably fearful of another blow up from you...

"Hey." You said, your voice deep and thick from crying... Looked back down at your hands, too ashamed to look at him standing there in the doorway like he was afraid of you...

"Can I come in?" He asked, and you just nodded. Picking at a loose thread on your comforter.. You felt the bed dip under Jensen's wait as he sat down next to you...

"Sweetheart I'm sorry, I shouldn't have suggested a maid. I wasn't thinking, and I didn't mean to hurt you. I'm sorry that I made you feel like you weren't doing a good job because you are....I could just see how tired you are, and thought that I was helping..."

Reaching over he wiped away the tears that were now falling down your face, when you looked up at him he reached his arms around you, pulling you into his hold. Kissing the top of your forehead lightly..

"You're doing a great job baby, our little girl loves you so much, I love you, I can't imagine doing this without you, I don't know how you keep all of this going, I'd already have pulled my hair out. I'm sorry I made you feel bad baby, please forgive me, I hate when you're mad at me. I don't hate the fact that I'm the reason you're crying right now. I’m not her favorite baby, she loves you too, so much.." 

His voice was strained, and it made you lift your head off his shoulder to look up at him for the first time, really look at him.. 

There were deep circles around his eyes with bags to match, long nights filming, and long nights here taking their toll. His hair was a mess from constantly running his hand through it. The lines around his eyes showed more tonight, and his brow was creased from worrying. There were a few grey hairs speckled in his beard, and there was a spit up stain on his sleeve. 

It hit you then....

He'd been in the trenches right there with you, not working against you because you're a bad mom, but doing everything that he could to try and ease the load just a little.

He hadn't made that suggestion tonight because you were a failure he did it because he loved you..

Wrapping your arms around his neck you buried your face in his neck...

"I'm sorry Jensen. I overreacted. I'm not crying because of you. It's just hormones, and exhaustion.."

Jensen lifted your lips to his, brushing his lips over yours..

"I have another suggestion, but I don't want you to get mad at me, this was actually something I was thinking about before the baby.."

You sat up a little in his arms, and looked into his tired green eyes. The ones that you fell so hard for so long ago...

"Okay, I promise I won't yell at you no matter what you say." You told him, making him chuckle a little.

"Let's move to Dallas, closer to my parents, that way we can have a baby sitter we trust, and when you need a some extra hands, or when just want to have a date night that we haven't had in forever my mom and dad can help, or even my siblings, it won't be strangers, and it gives all of us a chance to be around family. Plus my mom would be over the moon."

You smile at him a little, and the relief on his face was evident when you did. The thought of Donna spoiling another granddaughter was fun to think about...

Poor baby would be so overdressed, and over bowed that it made you giggle a little.

"Actually Jay, I like that Idea a lot, let's go home."

Jensen brushed his lips lightly over yours again...

"I love you Mama."

"I love you to Daddy.."

Just as you were about to kiss him again a cry sounded from the nursery that sounded a whole hell of a lot like Dadda, and you couldn’t help but giggle..

“Okay, well I’ll admit that she’s definitely a daddy’s girl.” Jensen said, pecking you on the lips before getting up to go get her..

“You better still be awake when I get back, I’m not done making this up to you.” Jensen said with a wink that insinuated everything dirty you could possibly think of, making you fall over laughing on the bed. God you loved that man..

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

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[kalypsichor]

five’s a crowd [ beatles x reader ] chapter nine

summary: George fancies himself to be Sherlock and drags you along with him, determined to figure out why Ringo’s been acting so weird lately. What you find changes everything.

warnings: 2.7k of an emotional rollercoaster

i’m sorry. notes at end of chapter

You float through the next few days on a bit of a cloud. George doesn’t see Maureen again, which you know you should be bummed about since he’s your friend and all, but… okay, you admit it. You don’t like them together. It’s nothing against Maureen, of course, and everything due to you being a shitty friend.

Wait… that’s it. You’re sitting on the steps leading up to your building and, jumping up, you almost hit your head on the railing. That weird, acidic feeling that sat in the pit of your stomach and reared into your throat whenever Maureen had laughed or George had put an arm around her… that was because you didn’t want to lose George’s friendship. It all makes sense now. And sure, although you admit that it’s not healthy to be so possessive of a friend, it’s better than the idea that you could possibly be… possibly be in…

“Love? What’re you doing out here?”

You know who it is before you turn around. Still, your heart catches in your throat, and you can’t help feeling like you were just caught doing something you shouldn’t be.

“Just enjoying the nice weather,” you say, smiling at George as he joins you on the steps. Are you smiling too wide? Is it too forced? Fuck, you’ve forgotten how to smile, what’s happening to you??? “How ‘bout you?”

George bumps his shoulder lightly into yours. “Was wonderin’ where my friend went. Have you seen her? She’s about yea high, can’t play Clue for shite-”

“Hey! I’ll have you know that I’m very good at Clue. Better than you, at least.”

“Hm, but who was it that won Monopoly at Game Night?”

“You were cheating!”

You grin at each other and it’s so… natural. Yes, this is natural, this is just good ol’ banter between good ol’ friends. And being so jealous of Maureen had been stupid; how could you have possibly doubted the bond between you and George? The bond which has kept you together through thick and thin, through all your ups and downs…

Ever since that first night you met him.

***

Uni was nothing like the movies.

For one, there were no cliques or anything like that. People were generally nice and welcoming.

Which made the fact that you were feeling so out of place at this party even more pathetic.

Your roommate, a bubbly theatre performance major named Jane, had convinced you to come—well, her exact words were that you needed to “stop sitting on your arse and get out of the dorm a little”—and you weren’t having a bad time. You just weren’t having much of a good one, either. The music was loud yet also unintelligible and the flat, which belonged to some third years, was stuffy and packed with way more people than should be legally possible.

So, there you were, nursing a cup of Sgt. Pepper and trying to find somewhere that didn’t smell like B.O.

People kept on bumping into you, making your drink slosh around dangerously close to the top, and you kept on apologising for some fucking reason. Eventually, a set of double doors caught your eyes. It led to a porch of some sort, and just the thought of fresh air was already making your breathing easier. With quick, careful steps, you made your way through the throng of people and into the warm summer air.

It’s so dark out that you don’t notice there’s someone else on the porch until he turns, melting right out of the shadows and startling you a little.

“Oh! I’m sorry, I didn’t see you…”

The stranger just blinked at you, looking as though he was about to scowl but suddenly forgot how.

“Er, I’ll just find somewhere else to, uh, sulk.”

You made to leave but froze at the feeling of a grip on your wrist. Your gaze followed the long, almost elegant fingers to a tense shoulder. A bobbing Adam’s apple. Dark eyes which widened comically when he suddenly snatched his hand back as though burned.

“Stay. Sorry. I thought you were someone else.” When he noticed your shocked expression, he quickly backpedaled. “I mean, you don’t /have/ to stay. You can. I’m not tryin’ to tell you, uh… I’m…” The boy sighed and slumped forward, his next words more to himself than you. “Jesus Christ.”

Normally you’d sprint the other way if you accidentally found yourself alone with a complete stranger, but something drew you to join him, drew you to stand shoulder to shoulder and drape your arms over the railing. Something, something… you weren’t sure what. You would figure it out eventually, probably.

“Well, it’s an honor to meet you, Jesus. I’m a big fan of your work.”

His head turned slightly, dark mop of hair shifting and parting in the breeze. When your eyes met, you both started laughing, the sound carrying over the din of the party behind you.

And when he told you his name, and you told him yours, they fit together like pieces of a puzzle.

***

George brings you out of your reverie, calling your name softly. You shake your head and try to swipe away the cobwebs of that fond memory.

“Sorry, I was just thinking about something.”

He grins and shoves a hand in his pocket, bringing out his phone. “I’ve been doing a little thinking of my own, too. Have you noticed how Ringo’s been sorta sus recently?”

Huh. You think back to Ringo's odd behavior last Sunday, and how he’d come back from supposedly walking dogs with a grin that lasted til dinner. Dogs are cute, obviously, and you’d die for one in an instant, but you’ve never seen them have that kind of an effect on Ringo.

“Yeah, I guess. Do you know why?”

“No, but!” George accentuated the ‘but’ with an adorably excited wag of his finger. “I know how we can figure it out… using the wonders of technology!” George’s phone is shoved in your direction and you blink at the familiar yellow app glowing right back at you.

“... Snapchat?”

“Ringo left half an hour ago to do some more ‘dog walking’,” cue air quotes, “and I was thinking we could try and figure out what he’s really up to.”

It takes your brain a few seconds to process this. “Wait, but—shouldn’t his location be turned off?”

“Yeah, it should be. I tell him to do it all the time, 'cept he doesn’t know how. Anyway, it’ll come in handy now.”

“Wait wait wait.” You bring up a hand and slowly move the phone out of the way so you can meet George’s eyes. “You’re talking about stalking your friend.”

“Our friend,” George corrects. “And it’s not really stalking if he’s so easy to find.”

“Say that a little louder, Geo, I don’t think the police heard you.”

“Listen, there’s no harm in it. If Ringo’s really telling the truth, we’ll get to see some cute dogs. And if not, we can catch him red-handed doing… something sketchy!”

You want to say no, partly because this is a crazy plan and partly because you weren’t too keen on spending your afternoon on a wild goose chase. But with your exams over, you really haven’t got anything else to do.

Also, you just can’t bring yourself to let down that adorable anticipation on George’s face.

“Fine. But!” This time it’s your turn to jab a finger in his direction. “If it’s the mafia or something, I’m using your skinny arse as a human shield.”

George frowns. It’s more of a pout, really, and you privately think that it puts Paul’s to shame. “First of all, it’s not skinny. Second,” he grabs your hand and starts pulling you along the sidewalk, “we’re losing daylight! The game is afoot, dear Watson!”

You can’t help but laugh, even as you’re being unceremoniously dragged along. “Why do you get to be Sherlock?”

George lets go of your hand (you are not disappointed, you’re not) and turns up the collar of his jacket, sending you a sly grin. “It’s the cheekbones. Benadryl Cucumber could cut glass with those things, y’know.”

As you look at George’s side profile, platonically admiring his sharp jawline and defined nose, you can’t help but agree. Personally, though, you think that his cheekbones put Beelzebub Cabbagepatch’s to shame.

***

The problem is that Ringo keeps on moving. Sure, you have Google Maps, but you can’t exactly put in a destination because Ringo doesn’t even seem to have one. George isn’t any less directionally challenged than you, so for the past half hour you’ve both been just walking in the vague cardinal direction of Ringo’s last location.

“Consider this,” you say, huffing a little from the endless walking. Okay, so maybe you should get out of the apartment and, god forbid, exercise more. “What if he’s actually walking a dog? He’s moving around enough to be doing it.”

George comes to a sudden stop and you smack right into him, nose squashing momentarily against the back of his jacket before. Before you can withdraw from the warmth of George’s body, though, you catch a whiff of something—clean laundry, fresh linen, George—and you’re overwhelmed by a sudden, ridiculous urge to press into him again.

“There’s got to be something going on,” he insists. “Ringo can barely wash his hands with that cast on, much less walk dogs. Don’t you think?”

You nod, but really only because you’ve suddenly forgotten how to speak.

“Wait, look! He’s walking around in circles now… think he’s at some sort of park. Come on, before we lose him!”

And then George is taking your hand again, sprinting across the street with no warning. You can’t bring yourself to mind. His palm is so warm against yours, fingers intertwining perfectly as though they were made for each other. He lets go when you reach the sidewalk, of course, which is absolutely normal. Friendly. Your fingers don’t suddenly feel cold, not at all.

God, you wanna hold his hand.

You get to the park pretty quickly, which the stitch in your side is grateful for. It’s your run of the mill ordeal: benches, trees here and there, a nice duck pond in the middle of it all. Before you get the chance to look for Ringo’s mop of hair, though, George pulls you into a clump of bushes. Your knees hit the dirt and send a jolt of pain up your leg, making you hiss.

“What the hell, George?”

“Sorry, sorry!” He gives you an apologetic look and his hand finds one of your knees, rubbing little circles where there’s a smear of dirt. Suddenly, you don’t care at all about falling down. “Just wanted to make sure we wouldn’t be seen.”

You huff and glance around. Thankfully, there aren’t any passersby to give you weird looks. “This Sherlock thing is really going to your head. Don’t you think we’re making a big deal out of all this?”

George goes to make a retort—looks a little sheepish, though, so you’ll give him that—but then he freezes. He doesn’t even have to say anything for you to know that he’s spotted Ringo… and that something’s wrong.

Ringo’s walking around the bend of the path that circles the pond, laughing about something. He looks so happy, his laugh so lighthearted, that your own lips twitch upwards at the sight. But then you see what’s making him laugh and the grin disappears.

It’s Maureen.

Ringo’s got his arm around her and they’re looking at each other like nothing else exists. You’ve seen that look many, many times, having to suffer through it whenever John and Paul get very, well, JohnandPaul. It’s not friendly, like you and George, it’s… it’s like love.

You want to pull George away, cover his eyes, anything that could possibly undo this, this… whatever this is. But the damage has already been done. You can see it in how his jaw clenches, how his eyes flash vulnerable before settling on guarded, and how his posture is stiff when he stands up and walks right through the bushes you’re crouched behind.

“George, wait-”

It’s too late. Ringo’s head turns to the sudden commotion and his smile slips away so quickly it’s like it’s been slapped off. He stops in his tracks. Maureen is a second behind, takes another step forward before jolting back when her partner doesn’t move. And when her gaze lands on George, who’s barreling towards them, the emotions on her face are so visible that you almost cringe. Shock, fear, and then, overwhelmingly, guilt.

You don’t have to see Ringo to know he looks the same.

Your feet are carrying you towards them before your brain can catch up, but something stops you a few feet away from the scene. It almost feels like you’re eavesdropping because this has nothing to do with you. Except, you realize, everything concerning George concerns you, too. Because you care about him.

So much.

“Ringo! We were just walking through the neighborhood!” George gestures in your direction and Maureen’s eyes snap to you. You flinch, partly at the motion and partly at the false cheeriness George has inflected into his voice. “You know, she said to me, she said ‘well isn’t that Ringo?’ And I thought, no, it couldn’t be. My best friend wouldn’t go behind my back and take out the girl I was seeing.” His voice cracks halfway through ‘best.’ You know that George notices, because his cheeks have turned a furious, embarrassed pink. “But I guess it really is you.”

Ringo’s eyes stay on George the whole time. They’re really so, so blue and light enough that a part of you fancies you could see George’s reflection in them. They don’t look away, not when George points at you, not even when he’s done speaking. You know, then, that Ringo really cares about George. Loves him, even. And George must know that, right?

“George.” Quiet, restrained. “How did you find us?”

It’s like George doesn’t hear a word. “Did you already have your eyes on her at the bar? The morning after, you were already texting her, right? God, you took her out. The morning after.” His voice breaks again at the last sentence, catching on something sharp and stumbling out of his throat.

There’s nothing to say. Everyone knows the answer, really. It’s obvious—yes, yes, and yes. The silence that stretches between George’s shuddering intake of breath to Ringo’s next words is heavy.

“Did you follow me?”

The atmosphere becomes paper-thin, now. Changes so quickly you feel the breath rush out of you. And George tears right through it.

“Does it fucking matter?” You’ve never heard George sound like this and you know you’ve got to stop it, got to slam on the brakes before it all breaks. But how?

“George-”

“Stop. Just stop, Ritchie.”

That’s when something cracks in Ringo’s eyes. Only his closest friends call him that, Ritchie, and hearing George say it like that, practically spitting it out… even Maureen feels the venom in his tone. She takes a half step forward and Ringo stops her, hand grasping her arm and tugging her back. George sees it and his face falls.

“I’m sorry, George, he was just—being nice to me, that’s all.”

“Nice? Is that what you call it?” George laughs bitterly. “God, I couldn’t even keep you for a day, huh? This is pathetic. I’m-”

He doesn’t finish his sentence, takes a deep breath instead. Runs a shaky hand through his hair. George is angry, trembling with it, but for some reason you almost feel like it’s more towards himself.

“I guess you really were dog-walking, Ritchie. Just didn’t think she’d be a bitch.”

Whatever holds the four of you in place shatters. George stumbles backwards and the regret is already painted all over his face, the shock evident in his wide eyes. Maureen gasps, tearing her arm away from Ringo’s hold to clasp a hand over her mouth. And Ringo—Ringo doesn’t stop her this time. They both know he doesn’t mean it, even you do, but the word still hangs in the air between them. Ringo has always been the slowest to anger, the hardest to rile up, but this time is different. You see a fire rise to his eyes, a line harden around his mouth, a subtle change in his stance.

Still, nothing prepares you for when he rears back and strikes George right across the face.

- - -

notes: 1) i know nothing about college (or i guess “uni”) in england, so some of this is probably so wrong. Like i guess you guys only have three years?? And apparently NO GPA??? So, that was def a mistake on my part in ch six. Also, I guess midterms aren’t a thing. That brings me to 2) this story is taking place during the first semester of their third and final year at uni. Which means they are in… the middle of October! IDK i’m making this tf up rn. Mostly bc I really wanna write a halloween chapter (dee here! We’re making an executive decision to set this before halloween because we NEED christmas feels)

taglist: (wanna be added? dm me or @spaceyantique!)

@1-2beeble @beatlevmania @theclassicsl @withthebeables @thasbooooooi @geostarr @report-abuse

[kasplode]

Love.

Fandom: Steven Universe

Words: 1,700

Summary:

Steven with his family, in the days following his break down.

(Set after Steven Universe Future Episode 19, ‘I Am My Monster’)

—

Hey, you, show me that solvable problem

We can get through this

I'll do the hardest part with you

[READ ON AO3]

Steven is exhausted.

For the first time in several days, he’s actually alone. He’s sitting in the kitchen, staring out the window at the beach and the horizon beyond. He’d been playing games with Amethyst all morning, and now she’s left the house for her class at Little Homeschool. It’s nice to finally have a moment of quiet.

The Diamonds and Spinel went back to Homeworld a few days ago, at the insistence of Steven and the gems. He appreciates that they care, but Spinel was right, back then. Sometimes you need to not see someone for a while.

The rest his family have been all but smothering him in love. It seems that every moment of every day, there’s at least one aggressively loving person by his side; be it Dad, Connie, Pearl, Garnet, Amethyst, Bismuth, Peridot or Lapis.

‘That’s so many,’ Steven can’t help but think, sometimes. ‘So many people here. So many people I love, who love me. How did I ever feel so alone?’

But smothered as he is, it feels like he’s never been able to breathe quite so easily.

They’ve kept him busy, made sure he doesn’t do too much.

/-/

The day after his breakdown, Steven forces his tired body out of bed, where Connie is curled up beside him, passed Pearl, who has apparently taken up the whole ‘watching him while he sleeps’ thing again, and downstairs to make himself breakfast.

“Good morning Steven,” Pearl greets him, following him downstairs. “How are you feeling?”

“I’m-” Steven stops before he can say ‘fine’ and stares at the kitchen counter for a moment. Saying that will never be the same again, he thinks.

“I’m tired. I feel better than yesterday, though,” he says.

It’s true. Every move he makes is weighed down as if gravity is pulling at him harder than usual, trying to push him into the ground. But still, he can stand, and his emotions seem to have finally settled after the riotous rollercoaster of the past few days.

Pearl claps, rewarding his improved mood with a smile. A spark of happiness lights in Steven, but.

How long has it been since he’s made one of the gems smile? How long has it been since he’s even seen them smile, without sadness there to corru- ruin it?

Steven turns back to the counter. He’s so tired, but it’s no good if he goes back to bed now. He needs to get something in him, and with his current lack of energy, that ‘something’ may as well be a protein shake.

“Oh, Steven,” Pearl says, when Steven grabs the protein powder, “you need something with more substance than that to keep your strength up! I wanted to make breakfast for you and Connie.” She glances at the couch, “And Greg too, when he wakes up.”

Steven’s face falls against his wishes. He’s already caused so much trouble, he doesn’t want the gems to feel like they need to take care of his every whim and will just because he couldn’t handle himself!

Pearl looks at him, and her expression becomes a little less sure. “That is, if you’d like me to. I understand if you’d prefer to take care of it yourself, I just…”

And heck, he’s made Pearl lost for words. Not what he wants to do.

Steven forces himself to take a deep breath, breathing out the muggy smokiness invading his lungs. “No, it’s okay. If you want to, I’d love to eat your cooking again. It’s been a while.”

Pearl gives him a crooked smile and pulls him into a quick hug. “Excellent! I have so many recipes I’ve been meaning to try out. Maybe you can hang around and be my taste-tester today?”

He’d wanted to start helping the clean-up at Little Homeworld, but he supposes he can wait for an hour or two. For Pearl.

“Yeah. Sounds great.”

Steven convinces Pearl to let him help cook, needing to keep himself occupied. Connie comes down when she wakes up, and the noise of their conversation proves to be enough to rouse his dad.

Amethyst comes in from her room and is ecstatic to see so much food cooking. It takes Steven, Connie and Pearl’s combined efforts to save their breakfast from the voracious gem.

Garnet appears when the food is laid out on the table and makes herself comfortable, Cat Steven sitting in her hair.

Steven sits down with them all, feeling light for the first time in weeks.

/-/

He had eventually managed to sneak away to go to Little Homeworld, but as if she had future vision of her own, Bismuth was waiting at the warp when he arrived.

“You’ve been cleaning up everyone else’s messes for so long, Steven. You can sit this one out,” Bismuth had assured him, ushering him back onto the warp pad and taking him back home herself. He still felt bad, but in the end, he appreciated it.

He still isn’t ready to face everyone after wrecking Little Homeworld.

Tears well up in his eyes. He wipes at them frantically, but it’s no use. He’s been crying with startling frequency, and when he starts, it’s hard to stop.

And lately, when he cries, he is soon comforted. Before the first tear reaches his chin, there are big, multicoloured hands picking him up and carrying him to the couch.

When he’s put down again, he finds himself sat not on well-loved upholstery, but the strangely warm lap of a gem.

It’s way, way too comfortable to sit in Garnet’s lap, cradled in loving arms.

“I’m sixteen, Garnet,” he protests weakly. “You don’t need to- to put me in your lap like this anymore.”

“Nonsense,” Garnet says, giving him a little squeeze, “you’re never too old for affection.”

“Heh. I guess you’re right.” Steven’s voice comes out a little wet, as it often tends to do these days.

“I hope you’re prepared to not move for the next hour,” Garnet adds.

“What?”

A furry warmth climbs into his lap, and Steven is delighted to see Cat Steven making herself at home there.

“Oh.” Steven melts as Cat Steven begins to pur, and he scratches gently behind her ears.

As predicted, they remain that way for an hour before Steven’s tears dry and the void in his chest closes up, at which point Cat Steven stands, stretches, and walks away with a little miaow.

/-/

Connie returns to the house in the afternoon. She’s been spending an hour or so each day at the library, getting in some college prep while she’s away from home. Quite conspicuously, she’s only been studying when Dad or the gems have some kind of activity planned to keep him occupied for that time.

They sit down together for lunch, holding hands over the table, as Connie tells him about how she thinks gem technology defies physics. She asks after Steven’s day, and he tells her about the doctor’s appointment he’s booked and his impromptu cuddle session with Garnet and Cat Steven.

They fall into a comfortable silence, which of course is when Steven’s brain decides to throw everything in his face again. He doesn’t cry this time, but he feels the wrinkles of his frown.

“What is it?” Connie asks.

Steven bites his lip. He doesn’t want to bother her with it. But he can’t keep everything bottled up. If nothing else, he’s learnt his lesson about that.

“It’s just… I’m thinking about what happened. I’m worried that you’re still here. You should go home! I don’t want you to risk your future for me. You need to study, not look after me.”

“Steven, I’m here because I want to be,” Connie says. “Some things are more important than studying. It’s really not going to hurt for me to be here a bit longer. But that’s not all you’re worried about, is it?”

“Yeah. My…” he takes a deep breath, has to accept it, has to say it, “corruption. I really could’ve hurt people. You and Dad, all of the gems. And Beach City, Little Homeworld! I’m- or at least. My powers are dangerous. It’s scary. And I don’t know if I can ever make up for everything I’ve done with them.”

Connie gives him that look. That warm one, where her eyes go all soft, the one she gives because she’s concerned and she loves him and she wants to make everything better. Her other hand comes up to sandwich his own.

“Whatever happens from here,” Connie says slowly, “I can’t promise it’ll be easy. There’s no one, instant way to fix everything, or control your powers, or get better.” She squeezes his hands. Her sword-calloused hands, smaller than his own, are firm and strong.

“I know it was scary, and I understand why you’re scared. But what-ifs won’t help, okay? No one was hurt. The house wasn’t damaged, you didn’t get anywhere near Beach City.

“You can’t change what happened. But you’ve done so much good you shouldn’t ignore, and you can keep doing good. You aren’t alone, and we will never let you feel alone again. We’ve all learnt from this, and we’ll do everything we can to make sure you don’t break down, or become corrupted again.”

Connie looks him in the eye, holding his hand tight. “And if, somehow, things go wrong again? We will make it better. Crystal Gems always find a way.”

The tears come again, and Connie holds him tight as he clings to her.

“Thank you.”

/-/

Steven sits at the table, surrounded by his family.

He doesn’t know what’s going to happen from here. He isn’t sure he’ll ever be okay again. He’s terrified he’ll break down again one day, and won’t come back.

The future is a foggy, unknowable mystery ahead of them all. There are still so many questions and uncertainties plaguing him.

But now, Steven’s pretty sure he has the beginnings of the way forward, a start for the answer.

He looks between his family members, so full of compassion and life, looks around the house, adorned by years of soft memories and tough decisions and firm, unending determination. He smiles.

Yeah, Steven’s pretty sure.

The answer… is love.

[madlymiho]

Hoping my scenario makes the narrow finals!! Ace's former marine love got pregnant from her first sexual encounter with Ace and two years after their training, it is time for reuniting! Their toddler is sooooo eager to meet their father that they try to go right out and find him! Thanks for taking these requests, Miho!!!

Awwwwwww here it comes!!! The cutest moment of this world!! 😭❤️❤️❤️ A rollercoaster of emotions to finally reach this AMAZING TIME 🔥❤️ I’m so glad I met you, my friend. It has been a long and wonderful journey

Since we discussed about it, the little toddler will have a gender, and it’s a girl! 😤💖

Words : 2420

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6

Ace scenario : The moment I became a whole (read after the cut)

His heart is wrenching inside his chest, while he’s looking at the horizon. He has never been so nervous in his entire life. Not even when his crew has been defeated by Whitebeard. Not even when he took the sea at the age of seventeen. Not even when he was on that scaffold, his life about to be ended by the marines. No, he has never felt this way. Perhaps it’s because it’s been two years since he didn’t see her. Two years without a single letters, nor a single phone call. Two years living with the everlasting fear that their passion would be gone for good ; something belonging to the past. They are young after all, barely twenty two years old. At this particular age, there’s nothing to bond you forever to the other one. Ace pinches his lips together, and watches Amazon Lily’s island becoming bigger and bigger, as his ship is about to anchor there. 

“Oï Ace, look at this!” Luffy brags while he blows in his hand, creating for the thousand time a gigantic bicep. “It’s really cool!” 

“Shut it, Luffy.” Ace rolls his eyes, while he sighs, looking at the cliff just above the natural arbor. 

Two years ago, he was with her, right there, still shocked and injured after what happened in Marineford. They made love for the very first time of their life, both of them finally forgetting the many obstacles between their hearts. Ace has cherished that moment every day since he left Amazon Lily, sailing with his young brother to that wild island where the both of them trained harshly until today. 

“Do you think she’s still there?” Luffy suddenly asks, right beside Ace, as he doesn’t know he just surprised his elder brother. 

“Who?” Ace frowns. With Luffy, there are always so many possibilities. 

Luffy chuckles and throws to Ace a playful stare, while he jumps on the barrier of the deck and starts to walk on it.

“The girl who saved your ass, idiot! You love her, don’t you?” 

Ace wants to punch his little brother right in the nose, but he’s terrified to answer this question. He doesn’t know. She lost everything during that battle, two years ago, but he can’t tell if she waited for him. Perhaps the marines took her away, when he wasn’t here to defend her. Perhaps she also decided to disappear, too ashamed to face him the day he would be back. 

“I don’t know, Luffy. She might be gone,” Ace answers bitterly, swallowing his spit. “She has no reason to wait anyway,” 

“Mmmh…,” Luffy closes his eyes, patting his chin. “I think she’s there. She’s your nakama, or sort of.” He shrugs while he jumps back on the deck and starts to exercice, easily distracted by his own mind. 

“Yeah, sort of…,” Ace adds for himself, feeling his heartbeat getting erratic as the boat is now really close to the shore. 

***

When Ace jumps off the boat, he immediately recognizes and appreciates the general atmosphere of Amazon Lily. The arbor is pretty busy at this time of the day, and Luffy is already lost in the alleys, begging for food, not even paying attention to the rest of the world. Ace chuckles and pushes his hat down on his hair, looking around to see if he spots any familiar faces. The capital of the island isn’t so far, and perhaps that a few warriors under the orders of the empress are here to shop for her. He puts his bundle on his shoulders and starts to walk, looking around to see if he can see anyone, but especially her. After all, the purpose of this visit is to find her lover ; at least for him. The real goal of this mission is for Luffy to thanks Boa Hancock, and for the two of them to get back to Sabaody and meet the rest of the Straw Hat. 

“Oh…,” Ace stops walking while he feels something grab his ankle. He looks down to notice a little toddler gripping his boot. “Hey little one, are you lost?” 

Behind dark locks, two curious brown eyes are watching him, absolutely hypnotized by his features. Ace can’t help but smile to the little girl, squatting down to have a better look on her round and chubby face. She’s really adorable. 

“Are you alright?” He tries again, his voice soft and reassuring. 

He has always loved kids, he can’t deny it. And this one looks particularly gorgeous. As an answer, she only extends her hands up in the air, closing and opening them while she gives him the purest smile ever. 

“Up!” She orders with her baby voice, and a soft giggle escaping from her throat. 

Ace chuckles and tousles her raven hair, before he eventually accepts her request, and picks her up in his arms. As he straightened himself up, he feels her tiny fingers exploring his face, gently grasping his nose and skimming his cheek. It makes him laughs softly, while he notices the many freckles on her pale skin. 

“Young lady, are you trying to seduce me?” Ace winks, as the little girl muffles another happy giggle. 

“Funny!” She says as her hands fall down on his neck, pulling on the rope of his hat. “Papa funny!” 

Ace is a little bit surprised by her statement, feeling embarrassed. He shakes his head and smiles tenderly. 

“I’m not your papa, young lady,” he says as he changes her position on his arm, so she can have a proper seat. “But I can help you finding him? Or maybe your mama?” 

“Mama!” The toddler positively shouts, her eyes enlightening by the thought of her mother. 

Ace sighs, as he starts to walk in the alley, where numerous merchants are selling their products. Perhaps her father is somewhere there? He doesn’t remember seeing someone with freckles among the Amazonians, but there’s still the possibility that the person he’s looking for works on this market. She seems too young to be on her own anyway. He decides that he just needs to ask to the different persons here, and eventually, someone will recognize this little girl. 

“Excuse-me!” He calls out to the first merchant. “Do you know who’s she? And where could be her father, or mother?” 

The merchant blinks several times, looking at Ace, then at the little girl, while she’s laughing blissfully within his arms. 

“I’m not here to play game, Fire Fist…” The merchant answers before he rolls his eyes and turns his back to disappear behind a ripped curtain. Ace tries to call him a few times, but nothing. He tries to another merchant, and another one, but all of them seem pretty hostile and busy, and none of them would give him a proper answer. 

“Papa funny…,” the little girl cooes, hiding her nose in the crook of his neck. 

Ace continues his researches for at least half a hour, as he starts to feel slightly afraid for this little toddler. Why does he feel that no one take him seriously? He heard many giggles when he asked his questions, and it seemed that all of them knew the girl. After a moment, slightly upset with the whole situation, and the precious time he’s losing, he decides to take a break, as he seats on a barrel and secures the girl on his lap. She immediately pushes her back against his belly, sucking on her thumb, continuing to give him lovely smiles. Ace can’t help but play with her hair, before he exhales loudly. She seems young, but perhaps she would be able to describe her mother? Or her father?

“Tell me, sweetie,” he starts while he cups her jawline and lifts her chin up. “How’s your mama?” 

“Fine!” The girl nods as she swings her feet. “Mama is okay!” 

Ace giggles and shakes his head. 

“No, I mean… Can you describe her physically? Can you tell me how she looks like?” 

The little girl frowns, visibility concentrated. She looks at her hands for a second, playing with her pants, before she eventually looks back at Ace with a radiant face. 

“Mama is pretty!” 

Ace widens his eyes before he massages his forehead, unable to scold such an adorable child for her more than honest answer. She’s trying her best to describe her mother, but all she can think about is that she’s a beautiful woman. And there are a lot of women on Amazon Lily. But since he can’t stay with her forever, Ace starts again. 

“Sweetheart, can you describe your papa, now?” 

Hopefully, she will understand… Again, she frowns, looking at him with curious and lost eyes, before she tilts her head and points at him with her index. 

“Papa.” She just answers, blinking. 

“I’m not your papa,” Ace shakes his head, as he puts his back against the wall. “It’s not a game, sweetheart. You have to tell me where are your parents, because I need to go.” 

“Go?” 

Ace immediately regrets his sentence. The eyes of the toddler are now full of tears, her bottom lip trembling dangerously. Before he can do anything, she turns into an impressive human waterfall, heavy tears falling on her cheeks, her screams desperate and full of pain. 

“No, no, no! Don’t cry!” Ace gasps as he pulls her against his chest and rocks her gently. “I’m sorry, I don’t mean to hurt you… But you need to understand that I can’t stay…” 

“Stay! Stay!” She desperately cries, her little fingers gripping his skin, she’s now inconsolable. 

What can he do, now? He tries his best to rock her, but it seems that his words have a real impact on her heart. Perhaps her papa abandoned her? Maybe she’s an orphan? So many questions travel through Ace’s mind. He’s so busy trying to comfort her that he doesn’t notice the silhouette walking in their direction. As the little girl is still a crying mess, a young woman is now standing in front of them, her own heart about to fall in her guts. 

“Ace?” 

It feels like time stops itself, her soft voice echoing into his soul. Even the little girl immediately stops her cryings, sniffing while she looks up and extends her arm in the direction of the woman standing in front of them. Ace can’t even think anymore. He can’t believe it. It’s her. 

“Mama! Mama! Look!” The toddler happily wiggles on Ace’s lap, as the woman bends down to pick her up and kisses her cheek. 

Ace doesn’t process at all. He’s all numb, mouth slightly open, his eyes travelling from her lover face to the toddler’s one. Mama. 

“Name…,” Ace finally whispers, getting back on his feet as if he has been struck by an electric salvo. “Name, it’s you!” 

He wants to hug her, kiss her, to feel her skin again, and have her smell in his nose. To be able to cup her waist and make love to her, but every of his muscle doesn’t move. All he can think about is the fact that she’s carrying a little girl. 

“It’s been a while…,” she says, breathless, her eyes a bit shifty. “I was expecting your return…,” 

“Mama, look!” The toddler wiggles between her arms, pointing at Ace. 

Ace feels his heart wrenching hard. Is it… Really too late? After all, he shouldn’t be surprised. She’s a beautiful girl, fierce and intelligent. It’s perfectly normal that many men want to have her by their side and have a family with her. Yet, for Ace, it feels that he’s being stabbed by thousand knives. He swallows his spit, looking at the ground for a moment, pushing on the edge of his hat to cover a bit more his eyes. He’s so pitiful ; he’s about to cry. 

“I should go,” Ace whispers harshly, unable to stay anymore. His heart is broken in many pieces. “It was nice to see you again, Name...” 

“Mama, why papa is playing again?” The toddler says loudly, as Ace is about to turn his feet and leave them. 

“He...He doesn’t know who you are, sweetie…,” She answers shyly. “Not yet…” 

Ace feels his whole world spinning. He looks up, frowning. What is she trying to say right now? 

“He doesn’t know that he’s your father yet…” She continues, trembling. “I was supposed to tell him today, but someone decided to run away!” 

She turns her head to look at the mischievous eyes of her daughter. The little one only giggles and kisses her mother’s cheek. 

“It’s...It’s real?” Ace stutters, making a step forwards. He fights the need to throw up, the surprise kicking his guts. “She’s…” 

Name nods slowly. 

“Her name is *name*, she’s your daughter.” She pauses, then exhales. “I can’t believe you thought it could be someone else’s child she looks just like you!” She snaps, her impetuous character coming back to the light. 

Ace chuckles, still processing, yet, he closes the distance between the two of them. As he looks at his daughter, he can see how much she’s the spitting image of him. Same eyes, same hair, same freckles. 

“So… I’m your papa?” Ace asks, still hesitant. 

The little toddler just throws herself inside his arms, peppering his neck and jawline with tender kisses. 

“Yes! Yes, you papa!” Name chirps, “Mama showed me photo of papa!” 

Ace closes his eyes as he hugs her tightly, feeling the tender digits of his lover skimming his arm. 

“I showed her your bounty poster months ago. She wanted to meet you so eagerly, I couldn’t prevent her from escaping. She’s a real wild fire…”

Ace looks at the features of his lover, and slowly, he rolls his free arms around her waist, pulling her against his torso. For a second, he only sees the beautiful complexion of the women he loves, before he bends down and steals a hungry kiss, his thumb caressing her back. He feels so many emotions right now, and he can’t even pick one. They slowly part their lips, bliss surrounding the three of them. 

“Ace!” A voice calls from the end of the street. “Aceeee!” 

Ace notices his little brother running to them, a bright smile blooming on his lips. He waves at him, tears of happiness falling on his cheeks. 

“Luffy!” Ace shouts at the top of his voice. “Luffy, come here! I need to present you someone important…”