#TRUST ME AND I’LL SHOW YOU CH-CH-CHEERS

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hi everyone this is my girlfriend

[tulip-room]

Crush Next Door - s. kiyoomi

syn. your childhood friend that you lost contact with moves next door to you

Ch. 3 || Dinner

Warning. none <3

Words. 1.8k

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You check your phone as you pick it up from the table. You fix your hair with the camera feature and your eyes flick up to the door as you hear the bell ring. You wave over the blonde girl who walks in. “Yachi!” You exclaim and stands up to pull the girl into a hug.

“Y/N!” Yachi says back with just as much excitement. The two sit back down after their hug with smiles on their faces. “Aww, you got our drinks already,” she points at the three cups already on the table and takes a sip of her drink. She hums in content as the caffeine hits her tongue. 

“Of course, I have news to share.” Yachi’s eyes light up at the statement and she leans forward in her seat. The door rings again and in walks their last friend. The woman had cut her hair since the last time they had seen her, the two stand up to pull her into a hug as she walks over to the table. 

“Kiyoko!” They both cheer happily. The woman, Kiyoko, gives them gentle smiles and returns their hugs. “I love what you did with your hair,” Yachi says after they part from the hug. 

“Thank you, I wanted a change,” she says simply as they all sit down again. “I see you already got the drinks Y/N.” She smiles gratefully and takes a drink. 

“Y/N has news,” Yachi tells Kiyoko excitedly. You roll your eyes at the reaction but there’s a calm smile on your face. 

“Oh well you have to tell us,” Kiyoko encourages and sets her head in the palm of her hand. You let out a small laugh at their enthusiasm and shake your head. 

“I got a new neighbor,” you begin.

“Oh?” Kiyoko chimes as she takes another drink.

“Except he’s not all that new. He’s my childhood friend.”

“That’s nice, I remember when you moved in high school that you always mentioned him. Was he happy to see you?” Yachi asks.

“Yes, it was funny. I walked over with a Tupperware of cookies and he almost immediately pulled me into a hug when he opened the door.” The three of you laugh a little bit as you retell the story of meeting Sakusa again. “I’m going to his house tomorrow night for dinner.” Your face heats up a little bit as you see the smiles on their faces grow. You bite on your lip with a smile as you tell them.

“How scandalous,” Kiyoko teases. “I hope you have a good time. You’ll have to text us and let us know how it goes.” Yachi nods in agreement. 

“We demand it in fact.” Yachi chimes as she gives you a knowing look. You roll your eyes again with a fond smile. 

 Meanwhile

“I’m telling you Tsumu, I know her from somewhere.” Hinata grumbles as he looks through his photos from high school. 

“There’s no way you and Omi know her,” Atsumu says in disbelief. As he watches Hinata scroll through the photos. Bokuto is on the other side also watching the photos go by on Hinata’s phone. 

“I think it’d be pretty cool if he did.” Bokuto chimes as Hinaga stops on a photo. It was of a younger you, Kiyoko, Yachi, and him. 

“I told you!” Hinata exclaims as he shows Atsumu the photo. Atsumu’s jaw drops as he sees the photo. 

“Well, I’ll be damned.” 

“Yeah,” Hinata closes his phone. “She was a second year when I started high school and apparently Kiyoko was the first friend she made. Yachi became friends with her because they stood on the sidelines together during our games. Since we could only have one manager on the court, she kept Yachi company.” Hinata explains with a proud smile on his face that he was right.

Sakusa walks into practice, bag hanging from his shoulder and he gives the three a questioning look. “I don’t trust what you three are doing. Nor do I care enough to ask.” He looks at them suspiciously as he passes by them.

“Aww, don’t be like that Omi! Hinata just knows your neighbor.” Sakusa paused and turned back around, a questioning look appearing on his face. 

“And how do you know her?” Sakusa put a hand on his hip as he looks between the three of them. 

“She was friends with the managers of my volleyball team. So she would come to our games and stuff.” Hinata explains, the proud look still on his face. Atsumu catches the glint of metal dangling from Sakusa’s bag and he smirks.

“Where did the ring come from?” Atsumu points to the source of the glinting.

“None of your business, it’s been here for months. How are you just now noticing it. Do you need to get your eyes checked, Miya?” Sakusa jeers at Atsumu. Atsumu throws his hands up in surrender.

“No need to get so defensive Omi Omi, just curious. So,” he starts. “It didn’t come from a certain neighbor I saw you hug the other day?” 

Sakusa hums and spins on his heel as he goes to the locker room to change. When he comes back out and starts stretching the trio corner him again. “And how do you know her Omi?” Bokuto asks as he starts stretching by Sakusa.

“We went to elementary and middle school together.” Sakusa answers the question but doesn’t elaborate on any of the details. It’s none of their business anyway, and why were they so interested?

“Come on Omi, gotta give us more than that.”

“Contrary to popular opinion apparently, I don’t have to give you anything.” Sakusa rolls his eyes as he replies to Atsumu. The trio just starts pouting at him until he sighs and gives in. “She was my childhood friend. We lost contact when she moved. Now. Stop bothering me.” He shoos the boys away as they begin practice. 

As Y/N scrambles around her kitchen she thinks of one of her favorite memories. The flour on the floor reminding her of when her, Sakusa, and Komori tried to make banana bread. 

Spring, 10 yrs ago (middle school)

Laughter fills the kitchen as Komori grabs a handful of flour from the bowl. He starts lifting his arms up to throw it when Sakusa steps in front of him. “Komori.” He crosses his arms. “Y/N.” He looks over at you. 

Both of you frown at him and his scolding tone. “Let us have a little fun Kiyoomi!” 

He sighs and pinches the bridge of his nose. “I would like to finish making the banana bread for tomorrow, so if we-“ he’s cut off as he feels stickiness on his head. You just cracked an egg on his head. “Oh, that’s how we’re doing this?” 

You don’t have time to run away as he grabs you and holds you against him. “Komori, attack.” You giggle as Komori throws the flour at you. 

“No!” You protest as your clothes get covered in more flour. Sakusa holds you with one arm as he grabs an egg and cracks it on your head In retaliation. You can’t even find it in you to be angry as the yolk sticks to your hair and skin. 

“You started this,” Sakusa says with a shrug as he ruffles your hair. 

“Komori, what is this favoritism?” You protest as Komori throws more flour on you. You blow the flour out of your mouth with a ‘yuck!’ As some of it sticks to your tongue. 

Komori shrugs and throws some flour at Sakusa, who’s still holding you. “You want to do this?” Sakusa uses you as a shield as he retaliates against Komori. 

By some miracle the three of you manage to finish the recipe. Sakusa’s mother shows you to the master bathroom and gives you some clothes from one of his sisters. You’re drying your hair when you pass Sakusa who is also busy drying his hair. They only have two showers so Komori was chosen to go last since he started it. 

“Are those my sister’s?” He asks, looking you up and down.

“No they’re mine,” you deadpanned at him. “What do you think? I just had an extra pair of clothes up my ass?” He lets out a small chuckle and flicks your forehead. 

You rub over the spot with a small pout. “Movie?” He asks as he sits down on the couch. You nod and sit next to him.

“Yeah, but I’m picking.” 

“Okay, I don’t mind.” He hands you the remotes.

Present 

There’s a fond smile on your face as you knock on the door of Sakusa’s house. He opens it with a smile. “Hi,” he sounds a little breathless. There’s clips in his hair, ones that are incredibly familiar. 

“Did you run to the door?” You tease looking over his form.

“No,” he says decisively and lets you in. “Come in.” You take your shoes off and put on the set of guest slippers. He takes the container of banana bread from you and takes it to the dining table. “You didn’t have to bring anything.”

“I know. I wanted to.” 

“Feeling nostalgic?” He asks, looking over the banana bread. 

“It felt right. Do you remember when we tried to make some for teacher appreciation week?” You ask with a small laugh, your hand coming up to cover your mouth. 

“Oh, that was a disaster.” He groans a little bit but his lips quirk up. “My mom was so mad at the mess we made, we weren’t allowed in the kitchen for weeks.” He recounts with a fond smile.

“You tried to stop it.”

“Yeah, but you just had to make me join.”

“You didn’t have to retaliate.” You point out, your smile growing wider as you talk. 

“What and let you get away with egging me?” He lets out a chuckle as he goes to the kitchen. He brings two plates of food out and sets one down in the seat across from him. 

“This looks delicious.” You sit down in the seat and scoot it forward.

“Thank you, truth be told.” He sits down and leans towards you, he puts a hand by his mouth like he’s telling you a secret. “I asked for help from one of my friends.” He whispers as he looks at you fondly.

“The Sakusa Kiyoomi asked for help?” You gasp and play along with the bit.

“I know.”

“That’s unheard of!” You say in fake exasperation as you put a hand over your chest. 

Both of you laugh well into the night. When you notice the time you tell him you have to go. The two of you hug and once again he waits on his porch until he sees you safely back inside of your own house.

One of the longer chapters for sure! Hope you guys liked it even if I don't write very much for every chapter <3 if you want to be on the taglist comment on the series masterlist please <33

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My Alpha Ch. 1 (Alpha!Declan Harp x Omega!Reader) Series

Thank you all so much for the demand for this series!! This first chapter-talk about slow burn- but I promise you all you're gonna love this series!

 Donations | Thoughts & Feelings | My Alpha Series

You looked around the meeting, the fire in the middle of the circle kept you all warm on the breezy cold fall evening. “We gather because our ancestors did this, and we do it to respect them, us, our kind and our pack!” the pack master yelled. The men, women, boys, and girls howled and cheered. You sat quietly on a log watching everyone. You presented at 16, an omega, and here at 21, you still waited. Mostly due to the fact your father was a pack master and didn’t allow anyone to go near you. 

Also, because once everyone heard that you were Omega, they avoided you like the plaque and made their alphas do the same. Funny, Alphas are always so strong and fierce, until their wives or ehem-“Mates” were around and then they were whipped little bitches. You tucked your hands into your pockets as you sat on a log, listening to your father introduce the newest couple in the pack, the 17-year-old girl grinning proudly, the mark on her neck showing in the firelight, her 20-year-old boyfriend holding her possessively close to his chest. Your father and the pack gave them happy smiles, grinning as they announced they were engaged. 

After everyone had settled down, your father smiled, “Now, we have one more matter…a newcomer has joined our pack…Declan Harp, he comes from North Montana, ventured down here for a fresh start after a painful past.” Your father held his hand out a little as a rather tall, handsome man came out from behind a few others and looked around the group. His eyes landed on you before he looked onto others. The pack welcomed this newcomer and soon, the meeting was left to everyone chatting and sharing beers. You stood off to the side watching everyone, alone and seeing all the women watching Declan talk to the pack master. 

Soon after their conversation had been turned toward the pack and your father motioned you over to them. You huffed internally and walked over to the two of them. “Declan, this is my daughter Y/N, our pack is lucky to have what Omegas are left in this world. Omegas are an important part of a pack.” Your father was proud of the fact that his pack had many omegas. You hated it, but you looked up at Declan and swallowed before you let out a soft “Hello, welcome to the pack,” you stuck your hand out. 

Declan smiled and shook your hand. “It’s nice to meet you Y/N,” you smiled at him before your dad wrapped an arm around you. “Proud that my daughter here is an omega.” He looked down at you and squeezed you closer. “She’ll make a fine mate to a great alpha one day” he spoke as if he knew the future already. 

Declan looked from you, to your fathers hand squeezing your shoulder and he felt something in his gut. He wasn’t sure what it was, but there was a feeling that your fathers arm around you was wrong. 

You looked up at Declan again before looking at your father, “Why don’t I show Declan around town, since he’s new and all? I know the lumber yard is looking for someone to work there. Maybe he might be interested?” you asked as your father looked down at you, eyeing you before shaking his head. “No offense Declan, but I can’t just trust you to walk around town innocently with my daughter. You understand right?” he held you tighter to him, giving Declan a tight smile. Declan smiled a little. “No Sir, I understand completely. Why don’t you give me the address of the lumber yard and I’ll stop by there tomorrow and put in an application.” he smiled down at you. 

The next morning, you woke up to an empty house and smiled softly, ‘thank god…he’s so overbearing sometimes,” you stretched and walked into the kitchen, pouring yourself a bowl of cereal, you plopped down at the table, turning the kitchen TV on and watching your favorite tv show ‘Charmed’. You grinned while seeing the sister witches battling the source of all evil in the episode. 

A loud knock sounded on the back door, causing you to jump and glance behind you toward the back door. Getting up, you moved the drawn blinds to see the new alpha from the pack meeting the night before. You smiled and unlocked the door, cracking it open. “Hey!” you smiled at him. 

Declan looked at you and smiled. “Good Morning Y/N, Hope I’m not bothering you, I was looking for your dad actually,” Declan said looking down at you. You shook your head and peeked up at him, “You’re not bothering me, I just haven’t seen my father this morning. He might be in town,” you told him softly. Declan nodded and reached in his pocket pulling out a card, “I, uh, wanted to give you my number. Your pop seems to be pretty protective of you,” he said as the corner of his mouth pulled up into a half smile. You smiled a sly, shy smile and plucked the card from his hand, flipping it over in your fingers, reading the phone number on it. “uh, thanks…I’ll text you sometime.” You said as he grinned. “I’d really like that,” he smiled and walked down the steps before looking back up at you. “bye Y/N,” he waved a little and walked off as you bit your lip, closing the door and locking it. 

As the day went on, you got dressed in your dinner uniform and headed off to work. You tried not to think about Declan, how handsome he was, or the fact he smelt so good. You started your shift, trying to push the thoughts of him from your mind but found it difficult. You wanted to get to know him, but your father wasn’t going to allow it. Your gut told you that your father never had any intention of you finding a mate. 

You walked through the diner, carrying food to customers, taking orders, laughing and joking with the locals as they tipped you and treated you nicely. You got a feeling of eyes on you, but figured it was just customers waiting on you to serve them. But you never would have guessed that there was an alpha sitting across the street in the dark, watching, waiting to pounce on you the moment he had the chance.

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[weixuldo]

Enigma// ch 16

anakin x reader

a/n: this chapter is a longer one, i have so many plans for the future of this story and there’s gonna be a looot of angst (hope that’s good w u guys hehe)

You finally tell Anakin the news you had been dreading

warnings: cursing, cannon disabled character, insecurity, mentions of pregnancy, arguments, verbal degradation (not the fun kind), slut shaming, alcohol abuse, relapse, mentions of alcoholism, just heavy chapter all around

_______________________________

“Anakin…I’m pregnant” 

He froze.

If you hadn't spent so much time together, you wouldn’t have even noticed the shift in his demeanor, but you knew him and you knew something was wrong.

“What did you say?” he responded stiffly.

You took another deep breath and repeated.

“I’m pregnant, Anakin”

He stood from the couch, blankly staring at you.

“I don’t know how, I thought you said you didn’t- you couldn’t… “ you started, hoping to alleviate his unsettling aura.

“I cant.” he cut you off.

“I don't know what to do, I’m scared!” you cried.

He was still just standing there.

“Please, Ani-, Please say something!” you begged.

“Get out”

“What?” 

“Get out of my house” he repeated.

“Ani-”

“Don’t fucking call me that”

“Anakin, what- why are y-”

“get the fuck out!” he shouted as he pointed towards the exit. 

“You and I know damn well I can’t have children, so that's just heartless to even bring that up to me.” his face held a viscous scowl as he yelled at you. 

“But It’s true! I’ve been to the clinic, I have the-” you pleaded with him. 

“And it wasn’t me, so who the fuck got you pregnant? You aren’t the fuckin’ virgin Mary, so you have to be fucking someone else?” he spat.

“I swear, I have only been with you Anakin, I’ve only been with you” you cried

“Don’t fuckin lie to me, Y/N!”

“I trusted you...I shared myself with you and this? This is what you do?” he yelled as he began to breathe heavily. 

“I’m not lying” you pleaded with him.

“I don’t wanna hear it”

“I’ll get a test, I-I’ll show you all my messages, I-i’ll do whatever, please, PLEASE! I’m telling the truth- You have to believe me!” you were full on sobbing on his living room floor. 

His breathing was becoming jagged and he stumbled back to reach for his inhaler.

“I don’t have to do shit” he said venomously before grappling with the small device in his hands. 

“Ana-”

After he took a large puff of medicine he shouted for you to leave once more.

“I told you to leave, don’t make me throw you out” he said with such disdain.

Even with his limitations, you knew he was strong enough (and angry enough) to do just that. So, weakly, you gathered yourself from the floor and stumbled out of his apartment onto the sidewalk where you collapsed once more. 

You didn’t know what you expected, but it wasn’t that. You clutched onto your shirt and sobbed, not only were you pregnant, you may have just lost the man you loved.

_____________________

The next few days consisted of you floating in and out of reality as you sat absent-mindedly in your classes. You were only getting one meal a day and spent most of your time cocooned in your bed, facing the standard dorm-beige wall.

You didn’t have the energy or the will to do anything…you could feel depression creeping up on you.

Even if you got rid of it, your relationship with Anakin was basically over. But if you kept it you would be stuck as an undergrad student with a baby… not exactly a great way to start your adulthood. 

Ahsoka stopped by to check up on you after she hadn’t heard from you for three days; she came with your favorite snacks and some other stuff to cheer you up. 

The two of you had a self care night and you told her what had happened over the weekend with Anakin (Of course keeping out the fact that he is the one who knocked you up). You told her how angry he was that you were pregnant and not because you were young, instead he was just mad that you had been in a situation to get pregnant.

“Ash, he threw me out… h-he literally threatened to physically throw me out” you cried as you recounted the traumatizing fight.

The tears spilled over as you struggled to breathe, “I jus-st don’t u-understand why he-” a loud sob cut you off.

Quickly Ash gathered you into her arms and coached your breathing.

“Shh, shh, it’s going to be ok… Let’s breathe, ok?” 

You nodded and sniffled.

“Ok, Deep breath in through your nose… good. Now out through your mouth” 

Once you were calmed down she responded to your news. 

Her older friend’s behavior disgusted her, “Y/N im so sorry. Truly, I have no idea what has gotten into him…He has no right to talk to you that way.”

You thanked her for being there for you and tried to move on with the girls' night, you needed to focus on the small bouts of happiness you could find.

The next day, you went ahead and told Ben and Satine, because they were the last two in the friend group you hadn’t told and it covered up the reason you told Anakin (Instead of letting them know you told him asap because he was the father).

Even though he was a total ass, you still wanted to respect the privacy deal the two of you struck back in the beginning of your relationship. Though honestly, you were starting to not give a fuck about the secret; a part of you wanted everyone to know he got you pregnant and was now being a complete asshole about it. 

Days went by and then weeks where you silently hoped for an apology from Anakin, but you knew it wasn’t coming.

Since the confession, he closed himself off from everyone; he no longer attended dinners, texted in the group chat, and you hadn't even physically seen him since then. 

Everyone still got together for the routine dinners, the only difference was that Anakin was a “no-show”. The four of you discussed his recent absences (of course you knew that it was probably because he hated your guts right now, but that was no reason to cut off everyone else), you all worried that he may be drinking again.

Ben explained back when he was first struggling with drinking, he’d disappear like this for days or even weeks, going on unhealthy and reckless benders. 

The more Ben told you about Anakin’s past patterns, you felt more and more sick to your stomach. What he described was wildly unhealthy and you hated that you could be the catalyst that turned him back down that path. 

At the end of the dinner the four of you agreed that Ahsoka would go over to Anakin’s and confront him; Ben and Satine both had work and they thought it best not to send you, incase he was drinking and became violent (plus you didn't think he’d react well to you showing up at his door).

Also, Ahsoka had lots of experience calling Anakin out on his bullshit- she could stand her ground against him drunk or sober. 

Hopefully the group would finally get some answers out of him. 

_____________________________________

Ahsoka arrived and noticed that all of his blinds were drawn and the mail in his box was piled up. 

She took a deep breath; she could already tell this wasn’t going to be good. 

Anakin hollered an aggressive,  “Who is it?”, when he heard the knock. 

“Snipps. I’m comin’ in Sky guy, alright?” she said as she pushed the door open. 

Anakin squinted as the light from outside shone through the doorway; he was lying on the couch in a shirt and a pair of old army shorts and wasn’t wearing his legs. 

Ahsoka gently closed the door behind her and allowed her eyes to adjust to the dimly lit room. It was a mess; dishes all around, dirty clothes scattered on the floor, TV on, and sadly… bottles…all around. 

He relapsed. 

Everyone knew he had been doing really well about keeping his drinking under control, but there were worries of a relapse when no one had heard from him. 

Anakin glanced over to his friend, “I like the new hair, Snipps”.

Ahsoka had her hair rebraided and added more white and blue a while ago. 

“Thanks, It's not that new though, I got them done like two weeks ago. But you wouldn’t have known that, right?” she passive aggressively said.

His blue eyes glared at her as if to say “what the hell did you just say?”.

“Well hello to you too” he huffed as he brought the bottle of rum in his hand to his lips. 

Beside the couch was Anakin’s wheelchair; he usually avoided using it at all costs.

“I didn’t feel like going through the hassle of puttin’ my legs on” he said when he noticed Ahsoka looking at his chair. 

Ever since he could stand to have his legs on, he always wanted to have them on; he never wanted to feel “helpless” and for some reason he was ashamed of his wheelchair. But the fact that he had it out now was a major concern. He wasn’t doing well. 

“Anakin, where have you been?” she sighed defeatedly.

“Uhh, look around, then tell me what you think?” he shot back at her with a patronizing laugh. 

“That’s not what I mean”

“Then enlighten me, what do you mean?” he was getting defensive and irritated, but she was not leaving until she got to the bottom of his sudden absence. 

“We haven’t seen you in weeks. Ben and Satine are worried, so is y/n, and so am I”

“Why would that bitch be worried about me?” he snapped as he tossed the empty bottle into the trash bin beside the couch.

“I know you aren't talking about y/n right now” Ahsoka became defensive and was starting to lose her patience with the man in front of her. 

“Maybe I am, why the fuck would you care if I was?” he said as he cracked open another bottle.

“I heard how awful you were to her”

“Yea. And who’s to say she didn’t deserve it?” he annoyedly stated, rolling his eyes.

“Why are you so upset that y/n is pregnant?! I mean sure she’s young, but it's her life!” Ahsoka yelled at the half drunk man on the couch.

“You wouldn’t understand, Snipps,” Anakin said, resting his head on one of his gloved hands and taking a swig of rum with the other.

“Maker, sometimes you're such an asshole.” Ahsoka huffed. 

“I am not an asshole, she’s the one who fucked up, ok?” he snapped back

Ahsoka narrowed her gaze and watched angrily as Anakin tilted back his bottle once more. 

“You gotta stop with the drinking Anakin.”

“Add it to the list of shit I gotta fix” he huffed out a laugh.

“You were doing so well-”

“Do you not think that I know that? I fucking know I fucked up my sobriety, you don’t have to remind me!” he yelled.

She sighed, “I just don't understand where your aggression is coming from”

“I’m not being aggressive, I’m treating y/n how she deserves to be treated, like the whore she is.”

Ahsoka stomped up to Anakin and snatched the rum out of his mechanical hand.

“What the fuck Ahsoka!?” he yelled.

“You have no right call her a whore, I don’t fucking know what your problem is Anakin Skywalker, but i’ll be damned if I allow you to talk about y/n that way. After all she’s done for you?’.

The color drained from Anakin’s face and he froze.

“Yea. I know she’s come over here to help you, I know she offered to help you when you had to be in your chair that week, I know she helped you when you fucking fell out of bed cause you were too wasted to get up and go piss!! You will not disrespect her like that!! Do not EVER say that again, do you hear me?! ” Ahsoka barked at the man in front of her.

His eyes widened and he shook his head, “Get out”.

“No, I’m going to find out why you’ve been acting like such a dick”

“I said OUT!” He shouted pointing to the door; not that he could really enforce his wish because he wasn’t coordinated enough to get out of his seat. 

“ANAKIN, I’M TRYING TO HELP YOU! YOU ACT LIKE SHE WAS COMMITTING A DELIBERATE ACT AGAINST YOU WHEN SHE GOT PREGNANT” Ahsoka yelled back.

“SHE WAS” he practically screamed.

“What are you talking about?!”

He staid silent and looked away.

“wait…. Anakin…. Do you- do you have a thing for y/n”

Anakin let out an annoyed laugh and rolled his eyes. 

“Anakin, she has a boyfriend”

“I know”

“Then why are you upset? Is it because she’s with someone else?”

“No” 

“Then what is it?” Ahoska pleaded.

“The doctors said I couldn’t have children”

“I know that Anakin, what does that have to do wi-”

“I'm her boyfriend… well was.”

Ahsoka’s eyes widened, “what…”

“Yea, fuckin surprise. So it is a personal attack on me ‘casue how the fuck did she get pregnant if I cant have kids?” he lamented with a sad smug look.

Ahsoka shook her head, “Anakin, I think you should get your fertility checked again-”.

“Are you serious right now Ahsoka? Do you even hear what you're asking?”

Ahsoka’s face was serious as she spoke, “yes, it has been years since-”

“Do you not remember what happened last time? What happened with P-” his voice began to waver as he remembered the heartbreak of his last relationship, “Padme”.

“I remember, but I know for a fact y/n has not been with anyone else. She loves you. So much Anakin, and honestly I don’t know how she deals with you”. 

“You don’t know that-”

“Yes I fucking do, I was there to see how much your words affected her. I was there to help her breathe when she was choking on her own tears. I saw a girl whose heart had just been shattered. Why would she be that upset if she wasn’t committed to you?”

Anakin’s heart fell.

Fuck.

A wave of guilt washed over him, maybe he was too quick to judge… but the doctors.. They said..

“I-I don't know what to say” he managed.

“You've said plenty, Skywalker.”

“Could you please tell her-”

“No Anakin. I’m done running interference for your fuck-ups” she said as she headed for the exit.

“Ahsoka…” Anakin called, attempting to follow her; in his drunken haze, he must have forgotten he didn't have his legs on. 

She turned as he landed on the floor with a thud. He groaned and he tried to get upright.

Ahsoka was still angry, but she knew he needed help. 

When she sat him up, he was sobbing.

“Fuck. Snipps, I loved her. I-I just felt like- like she- fuck!” he cried.

“You’re drunk, Anakin. I’m going to put you in bed and spend the night on the pull-out, but we’re done talking about this until you sober up and get a test”

He was shaking, but nodding his head “o-ok-ok o-ok” he repeated.

Ahsoka was drained, on one hand she knew why he was like this and as she helped him to bed all she saw was the kind hearted boy she grew up with. She saw how emotionally damaged he was, she knew how hard he had it. But that was no excuse to act the way he did; the other half of her was disgusted by his behavior and the fact that he spoke to you that way. 

She decided that she was making him an appointment tomorrow morning. No excuses.

___________________________________

The ride to the doctor’s office was silent, the only sound was Anakin’s occasional ragged breath from a night of crying. They arrived and Anakin was taken back to an examination room, but not before Ahsoka insisted he ask for a fertility test.

Anakin hated medical facilities, whether it be hospitals, doctors offices, orthotics offices, or the physio center; he had spent almost half his life in those goddamn places. He sat patiently for his examination and was compliant with his doctor's inquiries. 

“Do you have any more questions, Mr. Skywalker?” the doctor asked as he straightened his wiry glasses.

Anakin debated asking such an odd question at the moment, but he wouldn’t have peace of mind unless he asked (plus Ahsoka would kill him if he didn’t). 

“Yea… you know my results said I wouldn’t be able to have kids”

The doctor nodded as he met his patient’s eyes, “yes… are you inquiring about children?”

"Not really, but is it possible that some of me is still…viable?” his face was surely red with embarrassment.

“If you are asking me about the fertility possibilities for your sperm, we have a test for that, but you’d have to make an appointment at our clinic for fertility and It’ll cost a bit extra but we will be able to get the results back to you in a few weeks.”

“Could I-”

“Of course” the man in the white coat said as he promptly left the room.  

Anakin leaned back against the wall and exhaled a large breath. Fuck. Was he really going to do this again?

He could remember the anxiety he felt when going into that clinic for the first time with Padme all those years ago; the fate of his relationship was on the line back then. 

Now, he had ended his relationship with you but deep down he prayed that he would be able to have kids because the possibility of you cheating on him was tearing him apart. He wanted to believe you wouldn’t do that to him, but he wasn’t really counting on his viability– but after years of no activity, why now would they choose to become active?

But also he didn’t know how he would face you if he were viable…how would he make it up to you after treating you like…that?

***

a/n: next chapter comes after this in the theme line then imma do a small time jump to get to another plot point haha- i hope you guys are still enjoying!!

taglist : @dnamht @sxoulohvn @angeelcoree @wtf-andys @httpeachesblog @katsukiswrld @jetiikote @poisonedsultana @imarimon

[silvergolddraco28]

Suppression Ch 2

!!!WARNING MENTIONS OF BLOOD AND TORTURE READ AT YOUR OWN RISK!!!

()()()( 2 )()()()

Golden eyes squinted as the chamber they were in lit up with torches mounted high in the walls, softly glowing runes carved along the floor zapped at the golden simian’s strength his arms held taut from his body kneeling on the ground with a dark silver band around his throat.

Shade stormed into the chamber, furiously marching over to the kneeling king. “What the hell have you been keeping from me?” He gripped the golden monkey’s hair and jerked his head up. “What did you do to our mate?!” The false king roared.

Wukong grunted slightly. “I never got to mate with him,” Wukong answered. “As for what I haven't told you. That's not for you to know.” Wukong snarked. ‘Now I know why Mac never liked it when I was like this during the demon wars.’

Shade snarled, the sound echoing through the room. “What. Do. You. Mean. Never mated? He is everything we’ve ever wanted in a mate. Strong. Smart. Loyal. He adored us! How could you possibly have fucked that up?”

“I never had the chance nor do I deserve it.” Wukong snapped back. “I broke his trust in me. You know as well as I do that a mating forged on broken trust is not healthy.” Wukong pointed out wincing at the feeling of claws digging into his skull.

Shade brought his face close to Wukong’s. “That wary and guarded fighter is nothing like our sweet Mihou. Whatever you did to him I am going to fix. He is ours as he has always been.” Shade released the king and stepped back. “He’s still very smart. And loyal. Our sweet peach took the kids and fled the moment he noticed something off. Good. Our cub needs a softer influence in his life. Mihou and his beautiful shows and poetry are perfect.” Shade paused, rubbing his chin in thought as he bounced on the balls of his feet. “Cub could use a sibling. Maybe that strange dragon girl. She seemed quite close to him. Maybe I can convince Mihou…. Hmm.” Shade absentmindedly sat back on his tail, pulling out the staff and swinging his feet. “Think they would like a picnic? Some fruits for the children. Peaches for Mihou, just like I promised. I have the strongest craving for venison. Oh. Maybe Human Meat buns. Those are tasty.”

Wukong glared at Shade before he felt a sharp pain in the back of his head the runes on the floor glowing bright before his glamor failed. Gold pupils set in ruby-red eyes were filled with shock as the Shade studied the scars. The most obvious being the one around Wukong’s forehead and his back where the golden fur was swirled with a blue-tinted white.

“You’ve been keeping some big secrets, Monkey King.” Shade remarked, leaning down and running a hand over the scar across the captive monkey’s forehead. “What’s with the white? Surely I haven’t started aging. We’re immortal like three times over.”

“Seven times immortal.” Wukong grumbled the correction. Something that was a rather bad habit from the journey and the times he had to correct Mk’s stories.

Shade’s body stilled and a smile spread over his face. “Seriously? How’d you manage that?” He snickered, leaning back. “Bet those stuffy assholes in the celestial realm hate that. Dickheads.”

“How do you think I ended up in that cooking pot?” Wukong remarked glaring.

“Cooking pot….” Shade murmured, casually spinning the staff. “I remember that. Your guard slipped and I managed to poke through your head a bit. Not much. Annoyingly. There was something after that. Something heavy… and lonely.”

‘Then you are aware of the damn mountain.’ Wukong thought as Shade circled around the golden monkey.

“But I’m not going to be lonely anymore!” Shade cheered as he walked, his mood flipping like a coin. “I’m going to have the most gorgeous mate alive, a very strong cub, maybe two. Haven’t decided. And some good food. And after that,” A dark smirk covered his face. “I’ll make sure Heaven knows to leave my home and family alone. It’ll be easier fighting them without anyone slowing me down.”

“You know Ma-Mihou is just as paranoid when it comes to keeping young ones safe.” Wukong pointed out.

Shade practically swooned with a chuckled. “I remember. He was always so dashing when he was protecting little ones. I’ll make him understand that this is the safest place for them. All of them. All of this new family you kept from me. I could smell others on the two children. Can’t you picture it? Everyone living and laughing here within these walls! Completely safe from danger and threats! Unburdened by the worries of mortals and gods. Just like We always wanted.”

‘Damn!’ Wukong thought before Shade frowned.

“But… There has been something on my mind since waking up. I've noticed you don't even smell like a true demon anymore. I'm going to have to fix that first before getting our family.” Shade smirked.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Wukong snapped, glaring up at the shade.

“Wine, blood, and sex.” Shade supplied. “Perhaps that's why Mihou left. You don't smell anything like a true demon should. You smell far too human.”

Wukong stiffened. “I don’t want to have sex with anyone.” He snarled, growling at the shade. “Ma-Mihou doesn’t smell like it either.”

“Mihou isn't a Warrior Demon. Naturally, he wouldn't like that smell on his person.” Shade narrowed his eyes. “You're still keeping something for me.” Shade stated.

Wukong averted his eyes but said nothing.

Shade grabbed Wukong by the jaw, his black claws firmly cutting into Wukong’s skin. “We can do this the easy way... Or the demon way. What will it be, oh Great Sage?”

Wukong just glared at the shade

Shade simply gave a dark grin in return. “Demon way it is.”

Dread dropped like a brick in Wukong’s gut. During the wars, there were three types of ‘Demon Ways’ to get information. Mental, Physical, and Sexual, something all demons had at least one knack for.

‘Mac... Keep them safe.’ Wukong thought with a prayer.

()()()()()

“You want to sneak onto the mountain to find the real monkey king alone?!” Mk questioned the black-furred simian.

Macaque briefly glanced over at the kid. “I’m not taking you two with me. You won’t be able to last a minute against the Shade. Especially since he took the staff.”

“What if you end up captured like Monkey King did?” Mk questioned. “At this rate Monkey King is turning out to have Disney Princess Syndrome.”

That startled a burst of laughter from the ebony monkey. “I’m going to tell him you said that.” He chuckled, fixing up his armor. “And this is a stealth mission, Kiddo. Something your group isn’t exactly known for. I’ll be in and out really quick. No one can keep me when I don’t want to be. Not for long at least.”

“If your not back by sunrise I'm coming to get you.” Mk warned.

Macaque hesitated and placed a hand on the boy’s shoulder. “I’ll be careful. You and Mei can stay here.”

There was a loud crash followed by a shout. “I’m okay!” called Mei’s muffled voice from another room.

The monkey rolled his eyes. “Please try to leave my house in one piece.”

“We’ll keep everything in order.” Mk reluctantly stated.

“Good.” Macaque ruffled his hair with a faint smirk. “I’ll be back as soon as I can. Hopefully with the real Monkey king.” With that he dropped into the shadows.

In seconds Macaque was silently dropped right at the entrance to the cavern Wukong lived in hidden in the shadows. His eyes went wide at seeing the shack no longer on its small hill while a Moon Barrier softly glowed in front of a massive palace carved into the very mountain. The warrior quickly removed the glamor around his ears, listening for the steady pulse of the stone monkey. His ears flared out as they searched.

Nothing in the ruins of the small house. One ear twitched towards the palace and he stilled before all six faced that direction. That faint beat echoed through the ancient corridors and stone stairways, leading down to the old dungeon. “Of course.” The warrior mumbled replacing the glamor and slipping back into the shadows.

‘The Shade is a Warlord in modern times. Where else would he place a powerful being without him trying to escape?’ Macaque thought while his shadows zipped down the twisting halls and stairs to the all-too-familiar dungeon. Unexpectantly as Macaque got closer waves of pain slowly raked over him pulsing from his hands, mouth, back, and lower left leg. He had only felt something like this a few times in the past when Wukong was severely unconscious and the last time that had happened all he had felt was a burning pain around his own body for weeks at a time before it would stop and then start again a few months later. ‘Phantom pains... Looks like I'm getting closer.’ Macaque narrowed his eyes assessing the sensations to see if a rescue was possible at the moment.

He had to stop when a sharp pain slashed over his blind eye and another over his throat. ”YOU HARMED OUR MATE!?!”

Macaque’s steps faltered and he froze. Petrified he placed an unsteady hand over his eye. ‘Our mate? That sounded like Wukong. It’s probably the shade.’ The implication of him feeling phantom pains and hearing the shade yelling wasn’t lost on him.

Macaque slipped deep into the shadows deciding to use the ceiling to his advantage, no one would bother to look up if they weren't expecting company. Sliding along the ceiling he came to the only cell currently active. He stilled when he saw the shade throw the cell door open, blood dripping from his claws and mouth with a dark look across his face. “You better give me more information before I start triggering your body into heat when I return.” the shade snapped.

The shadow slipped along the ceiling, eyes following the shade as it stomped off. Much more concerned, Macaque slipped through the top of the cell door. His breath caught when he saw the crumpled form of his king in the ground. He poked his head out of the shadows, softly calling to the golden monkey. “Wukong?”

[Mac… where…?] Wukong opened one of his eyes showing it was a pale yellow and pink his position obscuring any more injuries on the king from Macaque’s current placement.

Macaque held a finger to his lips, removing the glamour over his ears. Keeping three of them set in the shade, he turned his focus to Wukong. “If I get you out of here can the shade track you?” The ebony simian moved closer allowing more of his form out, looking for any traps or curses around the sage.

[don't know...] Wukong replied pushing himself up from the ground. Macaque had to stop from gagging at the sight. Wukong’s mouth had been sewn shut while his throat had a large chuck of flesh missing, his left eye was slashed through with three deep claw marks, an obsidian band crafted to look like snakes covered in thorns pressed into Wukong’s head while his hands were missing all of his fingers, his left leg was definitely broken in several places with bones sticking out of the skin while Wukong’s back was shredded. [look worse... Then feel...] Wukong sensed. In truth everything was just numb at the moment.

Macaque shook his head, shoving the sharp spike of rage into a small box. “Could you hear me responding to you at all?” He gingerly placed a hand on top of Wukong’s head, brushing hair out of his face. [Can you hear me?] The ears tracking the shade detected it leaving the castle. “The shade left. We probably have some time before it returns.”

[faint… muffled… warped…] Wukong replied. [don’t touch… crown… enchanted…] Wukong closed his only open eye as blood rolled down his face the spikes from the black ‘crown’ digging into the flesh while the dark red eyes of the snakes shined slowly twisting tighter while a small ‘pearl’ formed in one of the snake’s mouths flashes of a memory playing on its surface.

Macaque tore his eyes from the sight of Wukong fighting him. The circlet adorning the memory’s head gave away which fight it was. “I won’t touch it.” He murmured, cupping the king’s cheek. “Your warning saved me and the kids. I took them somewhere safe. MK is worried about you.”

[You need… to hide…] Wukong flinched, a sharp pain inher back of his head going off. [can’t see… can’t move…]

Macaque quietly slipped into the king’s shadow. “Wukong. How did this happen? You’ve never shown signs of a shade before.” He placed a shadowy hand on the wounded monkey’s wrist, avoiding any injuries.

[in the pot… mind split… Shade drove… I slept… woke up after… the burning… Shade kept sleeping… with potion] Wukong informed the shadow with a barebones explanation. It was all he really could do with his mind threatening to shut down from the toll.

Macaque gently squeezed the king’s wrist. “What potion?” Violet eyes trailed over the other monkey’s form with a frown. “Can you track the shade?”

[not far… few feet…] Wukong sent while an image of a small bottle with a glowing golden liquid appeared in Macaque’s mind along with a simple phrase. ”Just a remedy for me, Mango. To help me sleep.”

Macaque’s hand stilled. “I thought you said that was a sleeping draught. Let me guess. It puts the shade to sleep.” He sighed, unsurprised but with an echo of old hurts. “Where can I get it?”

[need to make it…] Wukong ‘stated’ before stilling slightly. [mimic… silent… don’t come out] Wukong pressed while footsteps of the shade approached.

Macaque stilled, instinctively copying the older monkey’s movements. Twenty seconds later the shade strolled in with a much calmer expression, devoid of blood.

“Alright, I’m calm. Nothing a little violence and a quick run through a waterfall couldn’t fix.” The dark reflection ran a hand through his hair. “So I came up with a brilliant plan to get back on our dear mate’s good side. Despite you spectacularly fucking up, I’m sure it’ll work. I just have to set everything up.” He chuckled, excitedly circling the king. “I’m going to fix up the palace! Get it all nice and ready for our mate and cubs. I decided to take the girl too. It’ll be good for the boy to have a playmate and she will be a good bargaining tool for other demon families. And an excellent hostage for the dragon clans.” Macaque felt his blood run cold. “And our sweet Mihou has always adored children. Offering him more will be sure to get us back in his good graces. I can even set up a special area for his shadow shows he’s been doing recently.” The shade giggled, doing a little cartwheel into a handstand. “And once I get the cubs and our mate all safely stored away, I can go deal with Heaven!” He grinned, unaware of the two horrified looks he received.

[I'm not that suicidal!] Wukong ‘thought’ in pure rage even though he was rendered blind by the shade he managed to glare in its general vicinity.

[You definitely aren’t alright.] Macaque sent back, mind reeling. [I think it’s a lingering fear from back during the demon wars. You were terrified by Heaven. Don’t deny it.] The shadow needed the shade to leave so he could calmly ask Wukong how to make the potion and leave, but the shade was too busy ranting about its plans for the future.

“Do you think if Mihou and I had cubs they would look more like me or you? I want them to look like our sweet Peach. I’m sure our son would love to be an older brother.” Shade goaded.

Wukong couldn’t keep back the growl that escaped his ruined throat at the mention of cubs. [don't you dare touch them!]

Macaque kept a wary eye on the Shade, suppressing a shudder at having a cub with the deranged clone. [I don’t think he can hear you.]

The shade seemed to snap his focus back to the growling golden monkey, scowling down at the mutilated sage. “Let’s see if you’ve gotten any more memories ready for me.” Shade taunted, scanning the ground for more pearls. “Let’s see… saw that one.” He tossed a small pearl behind him. “You foolishly killing our beloved Mihou in cold blood.” Shade growled at the king. “Saw that, mourning while burning bridges. Hmm. Always so stingy with me. Don’t know why you make a habit of lying to yourself.”

The Shade noticed the new pearl that had yet to drop from the crown and grinned before grabbing Wukong by the jaw to pluck the two pearls from the crown. “Let's see here... Mihou and our cub training in the mountains? I'm keeping this one. The other one is just you drinking water from a bowl.” Shade stated in disinterest tossing the ‘useless’ memory behind him while stashing the ‘training’ memory in his armor. “Looks like I'm not going to be triggering your heat this time.”

Wukong shuddered, head hanging low. Despair and grief souring his scent, adding onto the scent of pain.

Macaque watched the shade with narrowed eyes. I knew Wukong watched us training! He eyed the discarded pearl, reminding himself to pick it up later. Leaving memories laying around never ended well.

“Have a nice nap.” Shade grinned before the runes surged to life underneath Wukong. Electricity surged over the sage making his muscles convulse until he dropped to the ground unconscious. The shade closed the cell door and walked away leaving Macaque to carefully slip out of Wukong’s shadow.

Macaque glared towards the fading footsteps before he turned to the king. “Wukong.” He whispered urgently, softly patting the older monkey’s cheeks. “Sorry, Bud, I need you to wake up.” The Warrior reluctantly stared shaking the golden monkey. “I need to know how to make that potion, Wukong. Wake up.” The Sage remained unconscious, not even twitching. “Well, shit. Okay. New plan.” He quickly snatched up the random memory, tucking it into the shadows. Macaque swiftly returned to Wukong’s side and hesitated, brushing the back of his knuckles over the injured king’s face. “I’ll be back soon.” He swore as he dropped into the shadows and fled the palace.

He never noticed a black pearl drop down to the floor from the crown, showing images of LBD talking to a chained-up ebony monkey.

TBC…

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[rispwr]

Sweet mint | YG | MDNI | ch.2

| Song reccs |

Motion sickness - pheobe bridges

Flaming hot cheetos - clairo

Duvet - boa

Right side of my neck - faye webster

Pairings: | (school board pres) yoongi x (school representative) reader

Genre:soft,fluff, sweet, fast burn

Word count:1k+

Contents: |, curse words, cuddling, pecks or kisses, hardlaunching

_________________________________________

“Why? Is something bothering you my sweet mint?” He asks me as he took the phone from my hands “what the fuck.” He said looking at the post, pissed and angry. “Im calling a legal team baby okay? This is an invation of our privacy”

He assured me. As i was still speechless. There were so many words and things i wanyed to say, yet nothing could come out of my mouth, just pure shock.

“Yoongi..im scared, this will affect our school reputation.” I said to him worried.

“Maybe it will, maybe it won’t. Our relationship will bring nothing bad to us okay?” “Just trust me.” He pulled me in for a hug as he kisses my head, reassuring me.

—————————————————————————

A few days has passed since me and yoongi decided to take it slow. He was actually more than what he shows himself to be.

At his studio.

“Wow yoongi! your music- wahh!” I praised him a little too enthusiastically as i enjoy to the music he just composed.

He looked at me as i enjoyed listening to the track he made. He was so lost in thought looking at me, and admiring me.

“You know yoongi? I kinda did feel dirty after what happened there in the dressing room”

Yoongi looks at me as his heart sank, thinking it was because of him. “Why?” He asks me caressing my hand “i-i dont know honestly..it was my first time and i just felt dirty doing that especially in the dressing room..” i explained to him, looking down “y/n baby im sorry..” he apologized to me “i will never do anything that you don’t like ever again im so sorry..please forgive me” he apologized again looking at me genuinely “no yoongi..it was not because of you really. You were great, like really great at it. It’s just that it was my first time and this time i felt dirty doing it with someone.” I explained to him reassuring him that it wasn’t his fault. “I’ll make it up to you baby, the way you like iit okay?” He said “it’s just that I didn’t feel the love during that yoongi.. is it too much to ask?” I said. “No baby, c’mere.” He pats on his lap signalling me to sit on it “I loved you ever since okay? Everything about you was perfect. Even before i already had a strong admiration for you. I just- i just couldn’t get the courage to tell you since i knew damn well you don’t know me and i just knew you from afar.” He explained reassuring me. I gave him a smile as i leaned in for a pure and passionate kiss.

“Baby, you’re great at anything. I just wasn’t ready that time. My hormones got the best of me and I didn’t know what i was thinking. But this time i wanna do it again with you. I don’t just wanna make sex with you yoongi, i wanna make love to you.” I pulled from the kiss as i explained to him as he nodded. “Such a goodboy hm?” I gave him a smile as i ruffled his minty coloured hair. “I love you yoongii!” I wrapped my arms around him as he wraps his arms around me “i love you more sweet mint”

We then suddenly got caught offguard as flaming hot cheetos suddenly played in the backround

“Just the right moment” he laughs at me showing me his gummy and cute smile.

I burried my face in his neck “i’ll be there cheering for you at your competition. Okay?” I said “okay. I’ll make sure to do well for my baby” he replies to me kissing my head non stop. “I love us like this” i calmly say enjoying this precious moment with him “baby can we take a picture of us like this? I wanna keep it” i asked him “mhm” he hums in agreement to me as i reach out for the polaroid.

I kept oit positions as i click on the shutter. “We’re so cute” i smiled at the picture while he stares at me smiling. He took the polaroid ftom my hands “baby smile!” He takes a picture of me smiling. He doesn’t take a glance at the polaroid picture as he just stares at me smiling genuinely. “My baby is so precious and pretty” he tells me smiling at me, making me turn red as i quickly burries my head into his neck again. He took his phone and takes a picture of both of the polaroid pictures and posts it on instagram with the song motion sickness by pheobe bridgers. “I love her more than anything” he types the caption as he clicks on the post button.

*ping* i heard a notif on my phone, rolled my eyes, slightly annoyed that it ruined my moment with him. I checked my phone seeing the article “President Min and Rep Cheon dating?” Said the caption. As i scrolled down a smile left my mouth.

‘ “I love her more than anything” said on the caption that Pres. Min posted on his instagram. Refferring to Ms. Cheon the school representative. ‘ said the article

I scrolled down on the comments

“The perfect couple ever!”

“They finally found each other”

“They’re so cute together”

“The perfect pair”

Said the comments as i leave out a chuckle. “Babyyyy!!” I whined to him “i love you so much!!” I said taking my head off from his neck and starts kissing his face non stop.

He smiles at me enjoying this beautiful moment. “You’re so pretty baby” he tells me “i’ll treat you the best okay?” He assures me “ofcourse you will!” I tightened my hug around him as he also tightened the hug around me.

[marauderundercover]

Taking Chances Ch. 19: Lack of Communication (Wayne Gala)

AO3

Prev

The shrill ringing of her phone tugs Marinette from her sewing machine. Glancing at the caller ID, she grins widely.

“Hey Uncle Jagged.” She says, pushing her chair away from her desk. It’d been a couple weeks since she last heard from the man as his tour had really picked up at the end. It was practically back to back concerts, so that didn’t leave a lot of time for phone calls or face times.

“Little Rocker! Glad I caught you. I have an event next week and I was hoping I could drop by the bakery so you could fix a tear in one of my suits.” He says. Marinette winces. That’s what she was supposed to do. Tell Uncle Jagged about...well, everything.

“Yeah, about that…” She trails off, wishing she’d thought to tell him about the whole ‘adopted’ thing the last time she’d seen him in person. “I’m actually not in Paris right now. I’m in Gotham spending the summer with my birth father.” She says, deciding to just rip the bandaid off. There’s silence for a minute. Then two. She looks down at the phone, frowning. Did he hang up?

“You’re in Gotham?” He finally says.

“Yup.” She says, sighing. “I’m really sorry I won’t be able to fix your suit.”

“What, no, this is great! See the event is in Gotham! It’s just a bunch of rich people and- hold on. Penny!” He yells. She catches bits and pieces of their conversation, Penny agreeing wholeheartedly with whatever it is Jagged has suddenly decided. “I have a rocking idea.” He adds.

“Okay? I’m listening.” She says, glancing at the new dress she’d started that was pinned on her dress form. She was having trouble with the shape and was quickly getting frustrated with her struggles.

“You could come with! As MDC, of course. You could wear one of your designs and get known in Gotham. The event is supposed to be highly publicized. Penny thinks it’d be a good way to get known in the US. So, whatdya say?” Jagged asks, and Marinette can just tell that he’s grinning widely, can hear it in his voice. She thinks for a minute, glancing at the dress form with a new sense of determination.

“I’ll have to double check with my dad.” She says, trying to think if they had any plans for next week.

“Of course! Let me know soon, okay? Penny says she wants to start publicizing MDC’s appearance if you’re gonna come.” Jagged says. Marinette agrees before hanging up, thinking. Would her dad let her go alone? Or would he insist on coming with? She knew Gotham was dangerous, it’s why she hadn’t gone anywhere by herself despite being a hero herself. She didn’t want to risk her Miraculous falling into the wrong hands, even if the person didn’t realize what they had. Making up her mind, she sets off to find her dad and ask about the event. She still wasn’t quite sure what it was, just that there would be plenty of big names and plenty of journalists- the perfect opportunity to build up a clientele outside of France. Checking his study first, she’s unsurprised to see he’s not there. Knowing chances were good that he was in the cave, she pulls a domino mask out of her purse. Her dad had asked her a couple days ago to wear one in the cave just in case they had unexpected visitors. Kinda like how her and Chat Noir had shown up unexpectedly that one time. Complete accident. Changing the time on the clock, she presses the button that opens the entrance, sliding in and walking through the passage. Glancing into the cave, she grins when she sees her dad, in costume, sitting at the computer.

“Hey B!” She says, knowing not to call him Dad while he was in the cowl. Something about it making him seem less intimidating, or something.

“Ladybird.” He nods. She frowns, glancing at the computer screen and wincing when she sees Superman on screen.

“Sorry, I didn’t know you were busy.” She apologizes, waving awkwardly at the man on the screen. He quirks an eyebrow.

“Hello. Ladybird, was it?” He asks and she nods.

“Er, yeah. Ladybird. Nice to meet you.” She says, rocking back and forth on her heels, eyes darting around the cave. Maybe she should just leave and ask later.

“Is everything alright?” Her dad asks, obviously confused at her presence in the cave. Not that she wasn’t allowed, she just didn’t spend a lot of time there.

“I was just wondering if I could go to an event next week with my Uncle.” She says, trying to stay vague. He’s silent for a moment before nodding.

“We can discuss details later, but that should be fine.” He says. Marinette grins, bouncing up and down in excitement.

“Thank you, thank you, thank you!” She cheers, resisting the urge to hug him. “Bye Mr. Superman!” She adds, waving before running back through the passage to work on her dress some more. This was going to be amazing!

---

Penny had picked Marinette up early the morning of the Gala. She still wasn’t sure what it was for, but that didn’t bother her. She was just excited that she had finally finished her newest dress in time for the Gala. Penny had insisted on her coming over early so that she could help Marinette do her hair and makeup, which she was thankful for. Selina apparently had something to do tonight and couldn’t help her, and she would’ve definitely been her first choice. Smiling down at her dress, Marinette looks at Penny with a grin.

“Could you take a picture for me without my face covering so I can show my parents later?” She asks. Penny nods, smiling back.

“That dress is amazing, Marinette. Truly one of your best designs.” She says. Marinette blushes at the compliment before smiling at the camera. She thanks Penny and takes her phone back, sending the picture to her Maman and Papa as well as her dad and Selina. She was extremely proud of the dress and wanted them to see her in it before she added her ‘disguise’ to protect her identity.

“Hey, Aunt Penny?” Marinette says, looking up at the woman. Penny hums, putting on lipstick. “What is the event for? All Jagged said was that it’s a Gala.” She says, Penny huffs.

“Of course that man didn’t give you any other information. Honestly, sometimes- you agreed without knowing what the event was?” She says, eyebrows raised. Marinette shrugs.

“Uncle Jagged said that it’d be fun. I trust him.” She says. Penny sighs, pinching the bridge of her nose.

“Remind me to read any contracts before you sign them, okay sweetie?” She says. Marinette nods and Penny smiles. “Good. Anyway, it’s a Wayne Gala. The family hosts several every year to help raise money for the Wayne foundation.” Penny says and Marinette freezes. Wayne Gala? As in, her father? Her family? Were they really having a Gala tonight without telling her? Or inviting her? Were they….were they embarrassed by her?

“Like, Bruce Wayne?” Marinette manages to ask, trying hard to ignore the way her heart breaks when Penny nods. That was why Selina couldn’t help her. She had to get ready for the Gala. And if she had to guess, the rest of her family was also going. What would they have done with her if she hadn’t had plans? Would they have told her then? Or would they have acted like nothing was happening. Where even was the Gala? Oh my god. It was at the Manor, wasn’t it. The thought strikes her and she winces, giving Penny a small, tense smile.

“Are you okay?” She asks, obviously concerned. Marinette nods sharply.

“Yes, one last question. Where is it?” She asks. Penny frowns, obviously not believing that Marinette was okay, but luckily not pushing it.

“Wayne Manor. The Galas are the only time the manor is opened to other celebrities. The family is usually very private.” Penny says. Marinette huffs out a puff of air, working hard to ignore the hurt in her chest. The feeling that she wasn’t enough. That they didn’t need her. Suddenly, she wasn’t excited anymore. She really wished she would have asked Jagged for more details last week, because now she was stuck going. And it was going to suck.

---

Feeling confident in her design and disguise, Marinette walks through the wall of journalists with Penny and Jagged at her sides. She was working hard to push down the intrusive thoughts that were threatening to take over. Instead, she tried to focus on the questions being called out by the journalists.

“Jagged! Jagged Stone, is this really MDC?” One of them asks. Jagged immediately stopping and shooting the reporter a wide smile.

“Of course it is! She designed all three of these outfits.” He says, gesturing between the trio. “Isn’t she rocking!”

“MDC, why did you pick the Wayne gala to make your first public appearance?” Another journalist asks. Marinette turns to Penny, trusting her to answer the question. They’d agreed before leaving the car that it was best if Marinette didn’t speak directly to any journalists. It would make it easier for them to place her age and where she’s from, given her accent.

“She was in the area and Mr. Stone insisted his favorite designer needed a chance to flaunt her skills in America.” Penny says, flashing the journalist a wide smile before gently pushing Marinette along down the line of journalists. Marinette nods to the man who’d asked the question before following Jagged and Penny closely, her stomach churning as they walk up the front steps of the manor. Of the place she’d been living since summer started. Where apparently they didn’t care to tell her about one of the biggest family events of the year. No big deal. She thought they were accepting her, that they were all getting closer. But maybe not. Her dad not telling her didn’t hurt nearly as much as her brothers not telling her. That felt like a knife in her chest. Trying hard to move gracefully instead of tensely, she follows Jagged into the manor and into the ballroom. Her jaw clenches as she spots her family across the room.

“Mr. Stone, I’m Clark Kent. Nice to meet you.” A man with a notebook and camera says, walking over and extending a hand. Marinette narrows her eyes. She thought the journalists were supposed to stay outside. And this man looked oddly familiar….

“Rocking meeting you man! You a journalist?” He asks, his calculating look hidden by a wide grin. Mr. Kent chuckles.

“Yes, sorry for being so forward. Mr. Wayne and I are friends, so he lets my wife and I have an exclusive pass to come inside the Galas.” He says, glancing at Marinette over his glasses. She watches as his eyes widen slightly before he schools his features back into a neutral expression.

“That’s pretty rock n roll of him!” Jagged says, clapping Mr. Kent on the shoulder.

“It is. Pardon me, but are you MDC?” He asks, turning to look at Marinette once again. She glances at Penny, shaking her head to let her know that she’ll speak for herself for this one. As upset as she was with her dad, he obviously trusted this man. So she would as well.

“I am. Pleasure to meet you, Monsieur Kent.” She says, extending her hand. He smiles, shaking her hand.

“And you, ma’am. I must say, I was not expecting to see you here. I was under the impression that in person events weren’t your forte.” He says, clearly fishing for something. She knew how journalists worked, she’d seen Alya at work enough times to understand that the man in front of her was looking for a story. One she wouldn’t be giving, no matter how much her father trusted the man.

“I like to occasionally surprise people.” She says, waving her hand in a noncommittal way. “Keep them on their toes.”

“I can respect that. Well, I’ll let you all get back to your evening. Nice to meet you all.” He says. She nods back at him, not missing the way he immediately darts off to her dad. She watches as the two start talking, a surprised look on her dad’s face before he turns and sees her. She knows he recognizes the dress. Knows that he knows as well who is underneath the veil. She turns, deciding to ignore him. He didn’t want her here, fine. She’d make sure she stayed out of his way.

---

Clark Kent was confused. He’d known that Bruce must have another kid, adopted in some way. He didn’t just work with random vigilantes, especially not in his city. So knowing that Gotham had a new vigilante named Ladybird, he put two and two together. Didn’t take the world’s greatest detective. But what was confusing was the fact that no new faces showed up with the Waynes as they walked into the ballroom for the Gala. Making a note to ask him about it later, Clark makes his way around the room, talking to familiar faces and names, writing things down that would help the story he was being forced to write on the Gala. These events were not his favorite to cover, hardly anything ever happened. Until he heard the commotion outside, other journalists calling out to MDC. He blinks in surprise. MDC had never made a public appearance before. This was an odd one to choose. Preparing himself to confront the designer, he’s surprised as she walks in behind Jagged Stone. He’s even more surprised when he realizes she had to be a teenager. He chats with the girl and Jagged, glancing down at her over the top of his glasses, shock immediately flooding him. The girl had injuries. Hundreds of them. Bones fused back together haphazardly. Quickly excusing himself, he rushes over to Bruce.

“Do you know who MDC is? Because that girl is definitely younger than Tim. And she has hundreds of injuries, Bruce. Hundreds.” He says quietly, watching as Bruce turns and glances at the girl, his eyes widening slightly.

“Shit.” He mutters.

“What?” Clark asks, trying to figure out if he should also be concerned. Bruce smiles, but it's tense.

“That is my daughter.” He says. Clark blinks.

“That’s the new one? Why didn’t she show up with the rest of the family?” He asks.

“I knew she had plans for tonight, so I didn’t tell her about the Gala. I was going to warn her about it, if she didn’t have plans. So she knew to stay in her room.” Bruce explains. Clark frowns.

“You were going to keep her locked up?” He asks incredulously. Not even the least social Wayne was kept locked away for the Galas.

“Of course not. It’s just- she hasn’t said she wants to be announced yet. She hasn’t even said anything about being MDC because she hates the spotlight. I couldn’t just throw her to the sharks. I’m just trying to do what’s best for her.” Bruce says, standing up straighter. Clark sighs.

“Did you actually talk to her about it? Or did you just assume?” He asks, Bruce huffs.

“I think I know my daughter a little more than you do, Kent.” He says.

“Really? Because from here it sounds like she’s about two breaths away from a panic attack. And Penny Rolling keeps reassuring her that they don’t have to stay long. Oh- and now she’s apologizing for not telling her it was a Wayne Gala until today, but she’s also clearly confused as to why it’s upsetting her. And now-”

“Okay, I get it.” Bruce snaps, cutting him off. Clark raises an eyebrow.

“I’m not sure what happened, but you should fix this.” He says with a pointed look before walking away. God knows the Bats all need a push in the right direction every now and again.

---

Jason frowns as he looks around the room for Marinette. He knew that she hadn’t come with the family, B hadn’t explained that one. But he had heard that MDC was there. And he wanted to talk to her, make sure she was doing okay. These things were annoying as hell and he knew he wouldn’t get through it if he didn’t have his brothers (even if they were little shits). He finally spots her near a wall, clearly trying to disappear. He grins widely, walking over and grinning at her.

“Well, MDC, fancy seeing you here.” He teases with a wink. He watches her for some kind of reaction, frowning when he doesn’t get one. “Pix?” He says, softer this time as he looks at his baby sister.

“Oh, that’s right, I wasn’t supposed to be here, was I? Well, sorry to disappoint.” She snaps bitterly. Jason flinches back, surprised at her tone.

“What’re you talking about?” He asks, eyebrows furrowed. Why did she sound so hurt? Why did she think they didn’t want her there?

“Clearly I’m not as much of the family as I thought I was.” She hisses under her breath. He starts to deny that, but she cuts him off with a humorless laugh. “Bruce didn’t even tell me that there was a Gala. None of you did either. A Wayne family Gala and I wasn’t told. I should’ve known better.” She says, turning to walk away. He grabs her wrist gently, stopping her.

“I promise you, we want you here. Dick, Damian, Tim, me- we all want you here. I can’t speak for B, I’ll definitely be having words with the son of a bitch later, but we want you here.” He says, frowning as he listens to her sniffle under her veil. “Pixie, we thought you knew. He told us you weren’t ready to come to this. I swear to you, we would have told you if we knew. I swear.” He adds. His heart breaks as he hears a hiccupped sob break free from her. He wants nothing more than to wrap his baby sister in a hug, but he knows he can’t. Media’d have a field day.

“Really?” She asks in a small voice. Jason nods.

“Hell yeah Pix. Tell ya what, I’m gonna go get the others and then we’re all gonna sneak out. Take one of the old man’s cars and get some garbage fast food. Who needs this lameass party anyway.” He says, hoping she’ll agree. He’ll let himself be mad at Bruce later. And boy was he gonna be mad. The old man had really fucked up this time. It was one thing to ask Mari to not go to the Gala, or to think she wasn’t ready for it. It was a completely other thing to not even give her the chance to decide, or tell her at all. Cause now she was hurt and thinking everyone hated her. Well, he wasn’t gonna let that happen. Not on his watch.

“Lemme just go tell Jagged and Penny real quick.” She agrees, scurrying off. The second she walks away Jason lets his smile drop into a scowl. That son of a bitch. Storming over to his brothers, he tugs them over to the wall. Better not to let B get word of where they’re going.

“What is the meaning of this?” Damian asks with a scowl.

“Pixie’s gonna tell her Aunt and Uncle that she’s leaving and then we’re stealing one of B’s cars to go to McDonalds.” He says simply. Tim frowns.

“And we’re doing this because?” He prompts.

“Because B apparently didn’t tell the kid about the Gala. And she assumed we knew, and that we all hate her.” Jason explains with a frown.

“Father said she didn’t want to attend.” Damian says, and Jason huffs.

“Yeah, well apparently he lied. She had no clue that the event she was going to as MDC was a Wayne Gala.” He says.

“I’ll go get the car and pull it up front.” Dick says, a determined look on his face. Sometimes his ‘we’re a family and we stick together’ shit annoyed the hell outta Jason, but he was thankful for it today.

“I’m gonna go grab Selina’s coat for her to put on. I saw her dress, and if any MDC fan sees her leaving with us it’s gonna start a media circus.” Tim says, walking away to the coat room. Jason sighs, watching Marinette from across the room. A cleared throat beside him tugs his attention back to his youngest brother.

“What?” He asks, pushing his frustration down. He’d go shoot something later, but right now he was determined to not take his frustration at Bruce out on his siblings.

“Why would Father intentionally keep her from the Gala? She is far more adept at social interaction than I am.” Damian says with a frown. Jason sighs, shrugging.

“No clue. But I’m not about to let her push herself away from the rest of us just because B fucked up.” He says, watching as she walks over to the wall, almost disappearing in the shadows. He nods towards her, making sure Damian follows. The second Tim has Selina’s coat, their small group is off, sneaking out one of the side doors and walking past the journalists, sprinting to Dick and the waiting car. They all jump in and she tears the veil off her face, making Jason wince slightly at her red, puffy eyes. Dick slams on the gas, eliciting a curse from Jason and a squeal of surprise from Marinette.

“So! We broke out of that stuffy party. Where are we headed?” Dick asks, glancing in the rearview mirror to make eye contact with Jason. Jason grins.

“We go get a shit ton of junk food from McDonalds and eat it in the car. Give it the old, fast food smell that B loves oh so much.” He says. Marinette snorts, and Jason grins at her. He’d give B hell later, but for now, he was going to enjoy spending time with his siblings.

---

Bruce frowns as he glances around the Gala, not seeing his daughter. Or any of his other children. He made a mental note to talk to them later. Perhaps keeping the Gala from Marinette wasn’t his best decision.

Next

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[avidgrapejuicelover]

mark me with your words - ch.8

pairing: diluc x childe

genre: angst & fluff/ au-soulmate

warnings: none

word count: 4.3k

summary: The first thing Diluc did the next morning was write to Ajax. 

A/N: i bolded ajax/childe’s portion of the convo so it’s less confusing as to who is writing/saying what

also on ao3 under the user playfuldreams

ch.1 | ch. 2 | ch. 3 | ch. 4 | ch. 5 | ch. 6 | ch. 7 | ch. 8 

enjoy!~

The first thing Diluc did the next morning was write to Ajax. 

I am proud to say that I am now Sir Diluc Ragnvindr, a knight of the Order of Favonius.

congrats Diluc! :)

Thanks Ajax :)

you will be a great knight!

Diluc continued to update his Fated.

I have my first patrol through the city next week. I will be partnering with a senior knight so that I can get used to the job.

everyone will feel safer now in mond with you patrolling

Ajax’s handwriting had improved as did his grammar now that he and Diluc wrote to each other more often. Although, Diluc still found Ajax’s clumsy writings endearing.

I sure hope so. Also, your handwriting has gotten better Ajax! As well as your wording

thanks! i have been practicing with my family. mama bought more ink so i can practice more!

I’m glad. That means we can talk a lot! I’ll tell you all about the adventures I go on as a knight!

can’t wait to hear them!

Diluc would have to work hard to live up to Ajax’s expectations. Hopefully his patrols would be interesting enough.

~*~

It had been a few months since Diluc joined the knights. He had gotten used to the routine and was trusted enough to patrol outside the city walls. He was still partnered up with another knight for safety, but he easily showed that he was more than capable of handling patrols on his own.

Diluc wrote to Ajax about the patrol he had finished earlier that day. 

Today I was patrolling around Springvale and managed to defeat three Hilichurls! Ben, my partner, let me keep the masks as keepsakes. I can’t wait to show it to Father when he returns home.

Wow! That is amazing Diluc! You are so strong to take on three hilichurls. Was it not hard?

Diluc smirked. He recalled the fight before responding.

Not really. They were pretty weak, so after attacking them a few times, I defeated them easily.

While he did manage to defeat them, it took a bit of effort, not that Ajax had to know. The hilichurls were a bit larger than him, but he was able to leverage his agility against them and take them out. 

Woah, I also want to be able to defeat them that easy, Ajax wrote back.

I’m sure you could if you train! But it’s ok if you can’t too, cause I will protect you.

Thanks! But I also want to protect you! But…

But? 

Diluc wondered what would be worrying Ajax.

I am not that strong. And it is kind of scary.

Diluc thought of what he could write to reassure his Fated.

It was scary for me at first too, but I believed my training made me strong enough to defeat them, and I did. If you believe, you can also do it! I know you can!

Yeah, you are right :) I will ask if I can also train, then I will also protect you

Diluc cheered him on. 

I look forward to seeing it! 

~*~

Diluc had finished washing up after dinner and decided it would be a good time to write to Ajax since he hadn’t had much time during the past few days except to send a few drawings.

Sorry I haven’t written in a while. I didn’t have many stories to tell since I took a break for a couple of days. Father had returned home from his latest trip.

Oh did you guys do anything special?

Yeah! Kaeya and I helped Father out with Angel’s share. After we closed, Father even let us stay up and try mixing some drinks!

What drink did you make? I want to try it!

…I made a juice cocktail. 

Diluc felt a bit sheepish writing it out.

A juice cocktail? What is it made of?

… juice

Just juice? Don’t cocktails need alcohol? That’s what Papa and my siblings say.

Diluc scratched his head. He had tried to play it off, but it looks like his Fated knew more about drinks than he thought. Diluc might as well tell the truth.

It was more of a fruit punch. Three cups of juice to be exact. And a juice special to Mondstadt, so it’s one of a kind. So, it’s very special. 

He ended up writing the truth, just with a bit of a twist.

Oh really? I would love to try the special juice! What did your father say?

… He didn’t have much of a reaction. Kaeya said Father told him they might put it on the menu. But I think Kaeya just said that to make me feel better. I wish I had come up with something more creative.

Diluc remembered his father’s reaction when he picked up the glass and took a sip. The silence after was louder than anything his father could have said. Diluc knew he should have let Kaeya go first. Kaeya was always the more innovative of the two. 

Diluc focused back on the new writings on his arm.

I am sure your papa liked it. Otherwise he wouldn’t have drank it!

Yeah that’s true. But it’s a good thing I became a knight because I would not have been a good owner of the winery.

At least this way, Diluc wouldn’t disappoint his father constantly.

Everyone has their strengths and weaknesses, Diluc. Your papa’s and your’s are different, that’s all!

Diluc stared at the words for a second before responding. 

Wow that’s very wise Ajax.

Hehe thanks! Mama always told me that my strengths are different than my older brother’s and that I should not compare them.

Diluc smiled reading Ajax’s words. He should have known Ajax heard them from somewhere, or rather someone.

Thanks, I’ll keep that in mind. I should thank your mother for the wisdom. :)

I will let her know!

Diluc wondered if his mother would have told him something similar if she were alive.

He quickly shook those thoughts away and decided to put his attention on the paperwork he had to go over.

~*~

The yearly admission exam for the Knights of Favonius had just finished as cool autumn winds rolled in. Diluc took part as an administrator this time. It had been two years since he became a knight and was quickly rising through the ranks due to his achievements. The higher ups thought he would be helpful with administering the exam this year.

When he was first asked to be an examiner, he thought he would be assigned to spar with the examinees in the combat test. But surprisingly, he got put in charge of the oral exam. He would ask the testers various questions and grade their responses. 

This year was special because it was the year both Jean and Kaeya would be testing. He knew he wouldn’t be able to test Kaeya since they were brothers, but Jean also was tested by another examiner. Not that it mattered. Diluc was sure both would pass either way, and Diluc would never cheat. It would be disrespectful to Kaeya’s and Jean’s hard work.

After the exam, Diluc went to congratulate both new recruits for getting accepted. 

They went to Angel’s Share to celebrate that evening along with the other new recruits and knights. 

Once they returned home, Diluc got ready for bed and wrote to Ajax. They found the best time to chat was right before he got ready for bed since Ajax was free then. 

Kaeya and Jean both got into the Knights! But we weren’t put in the same company. 

Tell them I said congrats!

Will do! I’m glad Kaeya decided to join. He was hesitant for a while, probably worried about something. But he finally took the exam. I knew he would make it. And of course Jean aced her exam too! The Knights will be very strong in the future.

It seems so! 

I also think I might get promoted. Kaeya told me he heard some of the higher ups talking about it!

Diluc wasn’t quite sure how his brother managed to find that out, but Kaeya always seemed to have a way of knowing all of the gossip. Diluc stopped questioning it.

Wow! That would be amazing! You certainly deserve it from what you’ve told me!

Thanks! So, has anything exciting happened for you?

Yeah! My big brother finally got married! That’s why I couldn’t write to you last week. He left with his wife to move to the city yesterday.

That’s great! I’m sure your brother is very happy! How was the wedding?

It was so much fun! Everyone in the village came and there was a bunch of food. We all danced the whole night!

That sounds like a lot of fun! Did he marry his fated?

It was! And no. Big Brother never contacted his Fated. His wife lived in our village. Big Brother and her fell in love growing up. He even wrote her poems haha

Oh, did he not want to meet his Fated?

While waiting for a reply, Diluc thought about the last thing Ajax mentioned. Maybe he should take some poetry lessons.

Well, we didn’t have much money for the ink and Big Brother said he didn’t care much about it. He told me that if it truly was ‘fated’ then even if he didn’t contact them, they would still meet and fall in love. 

Hmm that’s pretty reasonable. 

Haha yeah! If you hadn’t written to me, I probably would have thought the same. 

I suppose it was fate that I did. 

Yup! Oh but no more writing all over your body. That really scared my parents. They almost banned me from writing to you ever.

Diluc felt his heart stop when he read Ajax’s message.

…Oh, yeah, sorry about that. I was young and got over excited after learning about Fated Pairs, haha.

It’s a good thing Adelinde made him promise to not do it again. Diluc might have never heard from Ajax.

It’s ok! I managed to convince them in the end.

I promise that will never happen again! Knight’s honor!

I’ll keep you to that promise. Oh and I’ll be getting another younger sibling! Mama thinks it’ll be another boy.

Wow. That’ll make how many siblings? 

Including the new baby, it’ll be six!

What a big family. I can barely handle Kaeya at times, I don’t know how you deal with six other siblings.

Hehe it is a big family. We fight, but we always make up! 

You seem to love them a lot.

Yup! I do! I love them the most! Oh and you too!

Diluc read the last few words multiple times before responding back, blushing.

…Me too. 

~*~

It had been a little over three years since Diluc became a knight. He was able to complete patrols alone and was a respected knight by everyone. Diluc knew he still needed to continue training in order to get stronger. He was not about to relax just cause he could take down a few hilichurls. There were other dangers lurking around Mondstadt, and if he intended to defeat them, he would need to work harder.

With that in mind, Diluc increased his training outside of his knightly duties. He had gotten used to using a claymore after testing it out at the headquarters’ training arena. It gave his swing more power and could reach enemies at a farther distance. But to wield a claymore, Diluc had to build more muscle. Instead of focusing on agility like he had done when using a sword, Diluc focused on stability and strength. 

So far, the results have been promising. He was able to complete a set of attacks without breaking a sweat. If he kept this up, he would be able to take on a mitachurl with little effort. 

It seemed Celestia was pleased with his driven mindset as he found a gift when he woke up one day. It was a warm sphere that was blazing red. It burned with the same passion Diluc felt flowing through him.

Unable to contain his joy, Diluc jumped out of bed and ran to his desk to take out his ink and pen. He frantically wrote.

AJAX!

Thankfully he received a reply almost immediately.

DILUC!

Unsure how to convey his emotions, Diluc sent a bunch of smiling faces and exclamation marks. 

Diluc???

Guess what!

Hmmm… you found a giant grape that was so delicious?

What

Sometimes Diluc wondered what was going on in his Fated’s mind.

So you didn’t find a delicious grape?

No! I woke up this morning and there was a vision next to my head!

WHAT! A VISION?!

YEAH!

Which one?!

PYRO!

Sweet Tsaritsa!! I’m so happy for you Diluc!! Congrats! I always thought you would get one!

Really? You thought I would be given a vision?

Of course! You are so passionate about what you do! If you didn’t get one, I don’t know who would. And Celestia would be an idiot to not grant you one!

Haha thanks!

And a pyro vision definitely suits you

That’s what everyone has been saying! Now I can help protect Mondstadt even better!

I wonder if I will get one?

I’m sure if you continue doing what you believe in, you will also be granted one Ajax!

…Yeah

Diluc noticed the change in tone. 

Ajax?

There was no reply. Diluc worried he had let his excitement of receiving a vision get the best of him and overlook Ajax’s feelings. Maybe Ajax felt overwhelmed by something?

Before Diluc’s thoughts could spiral any further, he read the new writings Ajax sent.

I just… I’m not sure what I believe in. No, more like, I don’t have a future goal. I will probably become a fisherman like Papa, but I don’t know if I actually want to do that.

Oh… well you still have time to think about it. Maybe you can try different things and see if you like them?

Yeah. I wanted to learn swordsmanship, but no one in our village can teach me. Papa said if they save up some money, he will take me to the city near us and see if he can find a teacher, but I don’t know when that will happen. 

If Celestia wills it, I’m sure it will happen!

Celestia huh… you sure are faithful Diluc.

Diluc couldn’t think of a reason to not be faithful.

Well, Father has always said to thank Celestia and the Archons for our happiness. Besides, Celestia gave me you as my Fated!

Haha true, maybe I should thank Celestia more often!

Don’t worry too much about your future. If you want to become a fisherman, you can. If you want to do something else, you can do that too. Either way, I’ll stay by your side no matter what.

Diluc smiled as he wrote. He meant every word. As soon as he was old enough, he would find Ajax and never leave him.

…Thanks Diluc.

Of course! I would do anything for my Fated!

After chatting a bit more with Ajax, Diluc skipped downstairs to share the good news with everyone. He was sure his father would be proud!

~*~

Soon after Diluc turned fourteen, rumors of a promotion spread like wildfire. The knights had been gossiping about Diluc receiving a promotion since a while ago, but ever since he was granted a vision, more and more people thought it would be true. 

Diluc struggled with his vision for a few months when he first received it. The combat styles he had previously learned were meant to be used without a vision. While he received some advice from another vision-bearing knight, their advice was not very helpful as they were granted a hydro vision. 

In the end, Diluc managed to figure out his own technique after trial and error. The only thing Diluc disliked about getting his vision was the scars he had received from taming the flames. His forearms ended up being covered in burns while he willed the flames to wield to him. He spent countless nights apologizing to Ajax over and over, but his sweet Fated forgave him so easily. Ajax told him he was proud to wear the scars Diluc got from controlling his pyro vision. Diluc had thanked Celestia once again for his Fated that night. 

Once he was able to incorporate his pyro with his combat moves, Diluc was an unstoppable force. He took down hilichurl camps like they were a pile of sticks waiting to be lit. Even ruin guards went down with little struggle. The reputation of the knights rose with every story a Mondstadt citizen shared of them witnessing Diluc’s strength. 

One evening, after Diluc came back from his patrol, he had been called to his captain’s office. Diluc was told he would be promoted to the position of Cavalry Captain. The ceremony would be held this weekend so he could begin his duties next week. 

Diluc raced home to share the news. Everyone was overjoyed. His father even shed some tears, which caused a ripple effect and led everyone else to cry as well. Diluc swore he even saw Kaeya wipe some away before they fell. 

After saying good night to everyone, Diluc ran to his room to tell Ajax.

Ajax! I’m going to be promoted to Cavalry Captain!

Wow! That’s amazing! Congrats!

Thank you! I wish you could come to the ceremony. 

Me too! But I promise I can visit you when I get a little older.

You have to. I will hold you to your promise. 

Haha I will. I never break my promises! So Cavalry Captain means you have to deal with a lot of horses right?

Yeah. I’ll be in charge of the knights who fight on horses. 

Won’t it be hard to fight on a horse with a broadsword?

Haha it’ll be fine. I’ve been training enough. Besides, I’ve already fought with my claymore on my horse. 

Wow! You’ll definitely have to show me when I see you!

Will do. So when do you think we will see each other? Can you come to Mond?

Hmm, I don’t think I can come anytime soon. Mama has to look after Teucer since he’s still small and I don’t think Papa would want to leave Mama alone with my siblings. 

Oh.

I think you’ll have to come to Snezhnaya. If you can.

I don’t think I’ll have time now since I just got promoted. Maybe in a year? Yeah maybe I can see if I can visit next summer?

Ok! I’ll do whatever I can to help with that!

Haha don’t worry, I’ll ask Father. I’m sure I can tag along on one of his business trips!

I wish this year would go by fast so that we can see each other sooner!

Me too, but we’ll just have to be patient until then. 

You’re such an adult Luc. 

Hehe thanks. 

… 

?

Haha good night! And congrats again on getting promoted!

Thanks! And sweet dreams Ajax!

~*~

The promised summer rolled around faster than Diluc thought it would. His father did happen to have a business trip at that time; however, it was in Natlan rather than Snezhnaya. Not that it mattered. Diluc wouldn’t be able to go anyway. 

The duties of Cavalry Captain were more numerous than Diluc anticipated. While he didn’t mean any offense, Diluc couldn’t help but frown at the state of the company when he was first handed the reins. 

Diluc successfully whipped all the knights into satisfactory shape in the past year. However, now he needed to focus on the tasks the cavalry was needed for. He knew he wouldn’t have time to visit Ajax this summer. 

As the winds warmed, Diluc delayed the undesirable news. Eventually though, Diluc had to tell Ajax the bad news. 

Ajax had shared a funny story about his siblings that had happened earlier that day when Diluc finally gathered his courage to tell Ajax. 

Ajax, I don’t think I’ll be able to come to Snezhnaya this summer. Sorry.

That’s ok. I thought you might not.

I’m really sorry. I tried my best to free up my schedule but all the

Diluc stopped writing once he saw new words appear next to his. 

It’s really ok! You have a lot of responsibility, so I knew it would be hard for you to come all the way here. 

Ajax…

We can just plan to see each other another time!

I’m so sorry, Ajax.

It’s fine. Now don’t apologize anymore or I really will get mad! 

Diluc chuckled when he saw the accompanying angry face Ajax drew. 

Okay, thanks for understanding. You really are the best! 

As long as you know! I’m just happy we can write to each other like this. 

Yeah. I’ll let you know first thing as soon as I find out when I can visit you okay?

Sure! I’ll be waiting!

~*~

After the unfulfilled promise of visiting, the two boys weren’t quick to make any new ones. They both seemed to implicitly agree on letting the visit happen naturally. The first one who could make the journey would speak up. And soon, another summer passed along with Diluc’s sixteenth birthday. 

It was a personal party, but the size was larger than intended. Diluc originally wanted a small get together with his brother and close friends at Angel’s share after their knightly duties finished. However, his subordinates caught wind of the celebration and decided to join. And from the looks of it, other knights and even apprentices outside his company heard about it too. By the time the “get-together” began, the pub had been jam packed with the knights and regulars. 

The night ended with multiple knights throwing up their drinks while others passed out on the tables all while the bard continued to sing. Diluc apologized to Charles, but he couldn’t help the smile as he remembered all the speeches everyone gave earlier. Diluc never imagined he would be so close with everyone. Wishing this happiness would remain was the last thing Diluc thought that night. 

Several weeks later, Diluc woke up to find writings he hadn’t noticed the previous night. Or rather, they were words Ajax sent him after Diluc had fallen asleep.

Diluc, I think you are asleep right now but I still wanted to tell you now. I think I want to become an adventurer. 

Diluc quickly replied before getting ready.

Sorry, I just woke up. And that’s great to hear!

Ajax’s reply came while Diluc was filing through his paperwork on their latest mission. 

Yeah, I’m still a little scared. I have never gone far from our home and village. The farthest was when we visited Big Sister in the capital. 

Diluc usually didn’t write to Ajax unless he was off duty in order to keep his professionalism. However, something about Ajax’s tone made Diluc respond immediately. 

Did you like the trip? Adventurers travel a lot, so they get to see a lot of interesting things. 

The trip was so fun! And I know, the stories Papa told me about adventurers always interested me. I just don’t know if I can do it. I want to, but I’m just… a bit scared.

Diluc was glad Ajax found something he was interested in. He knew it made Ajax feel anxious not knowing what he wanted to do. 

It seemed Diluc spent too long in his thoughts as Ajax wrote something else before Diluc could respond. 

Oh I’m not scared scared, you know, just a little worried, or not worried, but 

Diluc responded before his Fated could continue.

Ajax, it is fine to be scared of something you have never done. Especially if you are going to go far away from home. I would be a little scared too.

Really? You would be scared? I can’t imagine that. 

Haha I have fears too.

I know, but… you’re so much stronger than me and braver. You became the youngest captain of the knights! And I… i’m just some boy in the middle of nowhere. 

Ajax…

It’s fine, sorry I didn’t mean to bring down the mood. I just wanted to tell you I’d be an adventurer.

Ajax, you’re more than just some boy. You’re a loving son of a father and mother. A protective big brother, and a playful younger brother. You watch over your siblings and help out at home. I know all that you’ve done for your family and village. So don’t put yourself down.

When Ajax didn’t write anything back, Diluc continued.

Besides, I… I was born and raised for this role. I spent my whole life getting ready to become a knight. You have the freedom to choose your path, so don’t get hung up on comparing yourself. You are you, be proud of it. I know whatever you do, you’ll achieve great things!

…Thanks. Thanks for believing in me. 

Of course I would.

Because I’m your Fated?

No, because you are Ajax. Fated or not, I would still believe in you.

There wasn’t an immediate reply, but Diluc wasn’t worried. He stood by what he said. And when he did get a reply, Diluc simply laughed.

Kaeya should stop letting you eat so much sugar, cause everything you say lately is too sweet. 

So, an adventurer huh. I guess you’ll be coming to visit me first right?

Haha sure, I’ll make my first adventure to Mondstadt!

Maybe not your first adventure. Only when you are fully prepared. 

Diluc wouldn’t want his Fated to travel all the way to Mond as a new adventurer. It would be far too dangerous. 

Yes sir!

Diluc felt the corners of his mouth rise as he read the response.

~*~

A month later, Diluc woke up to read a sentence that made him smile.

Going on my first adventure! I’ll write to you once I get back! Wish me luck!

He couldn’t wait to hear all about it. Diluc got on with his day after writing a response back.

Good Luck Ajax!

[spideyobsessed]

Before It’s Too Late Ch. 2

peter parker x avenger!reader

Synopsis: With all the life changing events taking place, will you ever get to overcome some of your biggest fears?

Might wanna read Ch. 1

You run and run and run until your legs nearly go numb. Bumping into people, tripping over your feet, the sounds of your heavy breathing getting louder and louder. There’s only one thought etching itself into your mind: Tony’s words.

If you got your powers from that thing, then I’m positive you can do a lot more.

A lot more.

Why now? After years of having these abilities, why now? It’s almost like the words he spoke yesterday were a trigger and now they’ve awaken something that’s been dormant inside of you.

I heal and that’s it. I heal and that’s it. This can’t be happening right now.

You finally take a right down an alleyway and slow down to a stop. No words can be strung together to perfectly describe the sensation you’re feeling. It isn’t painful, but you ache. Energy is surging through your veins, but you feel like you need to lay down and rest. You feel anxious, but if the circumstances were different, you can find this quite enjoyable. It’s confusing.

You sit down right next to a dumpster and bring your knees up to your chest, fighting the urge to let out a gut wrenching scream. You can feel something inside of you bubbling up and growing stronger. It’s a tight feeling, like your body is a champagne bottle and the cork is going to skyrocket any minute now. For a brief moment, you come to the conclusion that you are literally going to explode and accept your fate.

...you can do a lot more.

Your hands cover your ears, your thoughts ultimately becoming too loud for you to endure. It’s like all of your senses are heightening, yet numbing all at once. You can’t pull it together. Your face scrunches up as you unintentionally hold your breath. Useless.

Involuntarily, you let out a cry that you’re sure can be heard throughout all of Queens. You feel your body jerk harshly three times before, all at once, everything stops.

A breath of relief escapes your lips as you finally relax your tense body, but the anxiety remains. Nothing new. Your entire physique feels tingly. Too fatigue to immediately spring into action, you remain sitting in your spot.

After a few moments, you take in your surroundings. The alley, although it was noticeably trashed when you entered, looks horrendous. The dumpster is about three feet away from you now. The windows in surrounding buildings are shattered. Several car alarms are blaring.

“What just happened to me?”

- - - - -

“You better keep your little girlfriend in check, Parker.” Flash threatens Peter before purposely bumping into him.

Unfazed by him, Peter turns his attention to Gwen. “Uh, is she..” He trails off.

“Yeah, she’s fine! I should still go check on her though. Best friend duties, ya know?” Gwen chuckles awkwardly.

Ned speaks up, “I totally get that. Being the superior friend comes with a lot of responsibilities.”

Peter furrows his eyebrows before shooting a look at his best friend, who is supposedly superior to him. “Don’t act like you didn’t know.” Ned says simply, earning a laugh from Peter.

“Exactly! So I gotta go.” Gwen says as she tries to walk away from the dorky pair.

“Can I come with you? I’d like to check on her, if that’s okay.” Peter asks.

If this were any other time, Gwen would’ve agreed before he even finished his sentence. She’s been rooting for you and Peter from the start, along with several other people, considering you two have made your feelings for each other extremely obvious to every except each other. It warms her heart to see your crush of four years finally getting the courage to get to know you.

However, having seen your hands radiating that familiar glow with her own eyes, she has to lie.

“You actually can’t b-because she’s just...on her period?” She lies horribly, but it’s perfect enough to fool two young men.

Peter immediately backs off, understanding that it’s not really his department of expertise. “Yeah I think you got this. Tell her I’ll text her later please?”

“Gotcha. Bye guys!” She waves at them before fast walking in the direction you went.

The two boys stay in place, as quiet as they’ve ever been. Both of them are obviously thinking the exact same thing. They don’t even have to say it out loud, but of course, they do anyway.

“Dude.”

“I know.”

“DUDE!”

“I KNOW!!”

They giggle together happily as they do their signature handshake before sharing a celebratory hug.

“She’s so into you!” Ned cheers when he pulls apart from his best friend.

“Do you really think so?” Peter questions, “That could’ve been strictly platonic.”

“Trust me, man. It wasn’t! She’s practically in love with you!” Ned over exaggerates, but he wasn’t wrong.

Peter doesn’t respond to his comment, but instead looks down at the ground and smiles to himself. “

‘Does she actually like me?’ He thinks.

The short events of today made him even more excited for the party tomorrow. Although he’s nervous and still very doubtful about your feelings for him, he planned on confessing his feelings for you at the party.

Ned continues to ramble on about “the birds and the bees”, (Peter doesn’t even know how he got to that topic), when suddenly chills plaster Peter’s body. He lifts up his arm and sees that every single hair is reaching straight up.

“Spidey sense. So cool.” Ned chuckles.

“Not cool. That means something is wrong, Ned.” Peter states as he begins to let his legs carry him to wherever feels right. Coincidentally, it’s in the direction Gwen just went.

As he rounds the corner, just as you and Gwen did minutes before, he spots the blonde girl standing in the doorway of the girls’ restroom. Before he can even get halfway to her, he watches as you make a beeline for the nearest exit of the school.

“I thought you said she was fine.” Peter says, strolling up next to Gwen.

“I thought you said I got this.” She quickly retorts, hoping he didn’t see your hands or eyes.

“Yeah, well look how that went.” He responds back.

He takes a few steps to walk after you, but comes to an instant halt. Peter turns on his heels and walks back up to Gwen.

“I’m sorry, that was sort of rude.” He apologizes sincerely. He looks back at the door you stormed out of and back at Gwen once more, “I’m just worried about her. Something is telling me to go check on her.”

He lightly jogs to the exit before Gwen can spit out another lie to protect you. Peter pushes the door open with determination, the cool wind breezing against his face. His head snaps left and right, looking for any sign of you.

A group of girls chatting.

Someone rushing through their homework.

A guy skating across campus.

“There she is.” Peter mumbles when he finally spots you.

He’s able to take one step before being yanked backwards by his backpack.

“Leaving so soon, Mr. Parker? It’s not even lunch yet.” He hears the voice of his principal.

“Uhh I have gym class next. I was just going to get a head start on my mile.” Peter lies through his teeth with a sheepish grin.

He might be good at fighting crime and protecting his neighborhood, but if there’s one thing Peter can’t do to save his life, it’s lie.

The principal obviously saw right through him and chuckled dryly. With a firm grip still on his backpack, Peter gets walked back into the hallways of his school. His principal even takes it upon himself to watch the young boy walk into his next class, earning laughs and taunts from Mj.

- - - - -

It was only a few minutes into physics whenever Peter’s senses started sounding off alarms in his head again. His eyes scan the classroom, every student with their heads down and focused on their work. He glances at the teacher, who is steadily typing away at her laptop.

“Psst. Ned!”

Ned, who is sitting directly in front of him, turns around, surely prepared to make some outlandish comment. However, upon seeing the worry on his friend’s face, he decides against it.

“Spidey sense?” Ned asks simply.

Peter frantically nods his head, “I’m almost positive it’s Y/n. It feels different. It feels the same way it did whenever I thought she was being followed.”

He takes one more anxious glance around the classroom to make sure none of his classmates were eavesdropping.

“I need you to create a distraction.”

Ned gives him a single nod before swiveling his seat back to its prior position. He obnoxiously clears his throat, “Uh ma’am, I think there’s a mistake on this paper. Here let me show you.” He rises from his seat and as soon as he does, everyone hears a mysterious low rumble.

Peter and Ned make eye contact, knowing that it’s already too late. Whatever Peter was being warned about is already happening. Without a single notice, the entire school is shook by a harsh vibration.

Boom

The students begin to talk amongst themselves worriedly before another vibration strikes. Panicked yelps scattering all around the classroom.

Boom

“Everyone stay calm. There’s no need to get worked up.” The teacher attempts to calm the students, despite sounding panicked herself.

If every fiber in Peter wasn’t going haywire already, there’s no doubt that they are now. It’s almost like he can felt the movements before they happen. He flies out of his chair and peers out the window.

He’s not sure if what he’s witnessing can be seen by everyone or if it’s just his heightened senses. “What the hell is that?” He mumbles to himself.

Peter watches as a violent ray of purple aura heads straight for them, everything in its way viciously convulsing. His heart rate quickens as he turns to face his classmates.

“Everybody get down!” He shouts, the people surrounding him do not waste a second to fling themselves onto the floor.

Peter grabs a hold of Ned and together they hit the deck just in time.

Boom!

A purple wave is washed over them, shattering the large windows in the process. Glass flies everywhere as the terrified shrieks of each individual fills the air.

The wave left just as quick as it came. Peter and Ned are the firsts to pop up from the ground, breathing heavily with shaky limbs. They look out of the broken window and are absolutely astonished by the amount of destruction that was caused in such little time.

“Still think it’s Y/n?” Ned chuckles in amazement.

Peter doesn’t answer because at this point he doesn’t know what to think. He definitely doesn’t want to rule it out. Whether it was you or not, he can only hope that you’re okay...wherever you are.

“Okay ladies and gentlemen, we need to evacuate now! Get on your feet and start calling your parents, we need to move!” The teacher instructs.

Everyone hurriedly follows in pursuit.

- - - - -

You let out a groan as you slowly pick yourself up from the floor of the dirty alleyway. Aside from being a little lightheaded and having a slight sharp pain on your side, you’re feeling 100 times better.

You dust yourself off, taking another look around as you do so.

Okay. Maybe that stone isn’t amethyst after all. You admit to yourself.

A dry cough erupts from your throat as you begin to walk to... well you don’t know where you’re going. You don’t want to go home yet, just in case an episode like this happens again. You wouldn’t want to put Alice in danger.

Just as you exit the dimly lit backstreet, an old man with thinning white hair and a white mustache to match it speed walks over to you.

“It’s the damn aliens!” He shouts as he whips out a tinfoil hat.

Where did he get that from??

“It’s the aliens, I say! They’ve finally arrived!” The man continues to yell as he carries on.

He wasn’t the only one in a frenzy. Everyone roamed the streets talking to one another. Theorizing what great threat they think has struck New York now, complaining about their vehicles, using some pretty strong language.

The pit of anxiety residing in your stomach quickly turns to guilt. You’re fully aware that you couldn’t control your actions, but it doesn’t change the fact that you still caused all of this damage. The further you walk, the guiltier you begin to feel.

How far did it reach?

You thought you only affected a block or two at most, but now you are starting to believe you victimized the entire city.

“Kid!” You hear a familiar voice.

You snap your head to the left and see a black vehicle with tinted windows. In the backseat sits none other than Tony Stark.

“You are in huge trouble. Amethyst crystal my ass.” He scolds.

The door pops open, “Get in.”

Not having the energy to argue back, you slide yourself into the car.

“I didn’t do it on purpose.” you clarify.

“Well I sure hope not. Happy, to the tower.”

The drive wasn’t long, only about 20 minutes, but the silence made it feel like hours. You’ve tried apologizing multiple times, but every single time you were dismissed by the lift of a hand.

Once in the tower, you didn’t even have time to look around in wonder at all the high tech features of the place. You were put in a room with Tony sitting directly in front of you. His eyebrows are furrowed, eyes focused on you, and his leg is bouncing so fast he could drill a hole in the ground. He still has yet to speak a single word.

You open your mouth to say something, but your phone begins to vibrate. Instead of answering, you freeze, not wanting to make Stark even more upset, if that’s possible. You also don’t want to see all the angry texts from Aunt Alice.

“You gonna get that?” Tony questions.

“Oh, he speaks.” You attempt to make a joke, but you’re the only one laughing.

Your smile falters as you take your phone out of your pocket to see who’s calling. Peter.

The smile returns once you lay eyes on the goofy contact picture he took on your phone. As much as you want to answer, you figured it would be better to wait for another time. It would be sort of hard to explain everything. Especially while Tony is shooting daggers into your head.

You take a swift scroll through your texts.

Gwen: That was so cool and kinda scary at the same time! Was that you??

Peter: Hey! Don’t mean to bother, I just wanna check up on you. Sorry I say that a lot haha.

Peter: Text me back when you’re feeling better. I hope you’re okay!

Alice: Y/n, you NEED to call me back. NOW!

Alice: You’re not in trouble, I just need to know if you’re safe.

Peter: I also want to say thank you for standing up to Flash for me. Even though I totally could’ve taken him myself! Okay okay, sorry for triple texting!

You send Alice a simple message back just to ease her nerves and not ground you before locking your phone.

You look up to see Tony still staring at you quite intensely. If you didn’t know any better, you could’ve sworn he hasn’t blinked yet. You clear your throat.

“Look, Mr. Stark, I really didn’t mean for-“

He cuts you off, “No no no, it doesn’t matter if you meant it or not. That’s not going to reverse what you just did!”

His tone of voice makes your heart shudder, the guilt you were feeling from earlier returning. You decide not to talk again unless he tells you to.

Stark runs a hand through his hair in frustration before cradling his left hand as he pushes himself out of his seat.

“I know you couldn’t control it.” His tone is softer now. “It’s not fair for me to take my anger out on you, I’m sorry.”

You still don’t dare to say another word. He sighs and walks over to the window that has a perfect view of the city.

“I’m not really angry. I’m just...scared.” Tony admits.

This is not the man you’ve been seeing all over the news for years. Tony Stark has never been one to be so vulnerable and open about his feelings. Or anything for that matter. You sure as hell didn’t expect a superhero to ever get scared, much less admit it to someone he barely met yesterday.

“Scared of what?” You ask quietly.

He turns and makes eye contact with you once again, but this time you don’t feel like he’s ready to attack. There’s a beat of contemplation coming from him before he says, “The little outburst you had might’ve sent a signal to a really bad guy. A really bad, really powerful guy. His intentions aren’t the best, and it won’t be long until he comes here.”

You blink a couple of times trying to process what he’s telling you. If an avenger is this scared of some “guy”, then you really have a situation on your hands.

“He’s coming for me?” You squeak.

Tony returns to his seat in front of you, “Not technically. But he will be coming for the stone that you have locked away in a desk drawer.”

“So if I’m in the way...”

“He won’t be afraid to move you.” Stark affirms.

You sink down in your chair, taking it all in. How has your life completely flipped upside in just two days. Two days! Just as you might finally get a chance with Peter after crushing on him for so long, you possibly just devastated the entire city. Maybe the entire country. Maybe the planet. You don’t really know how bad it is, but you feel too sick to your stomach to bother asking.

“How long until this dude gets here.” You ask.

Tony snorts at your usage of the word “dude” when describing someone who has destroyed multiple planets, but of course, you don’t know that yet.

“Our very own time telling wizard gives us about a week. A week and a half, if we’re lucky.” He answers.

“Great.” You sigh as you pinch the bridge of your nose.

You take a look at Tony, who sends you a sympathetic smile. You return a defeated one, tears burning at the corner of your eyes.

“We’re not going down without a fight, kid. That’s the one thing I can promise you.” He says sincerely, trying to make you feel better.

Although you appreciate the sentiment, you don’t respond in fear that the lump in your throat will make your voice crack. Instead you change the subject.

“Why do you keep nursing your arm like it’s a defenseless baby goat?” You ask, earning a hearty laugh from the man in front of you.

“Well after 10 years of being one of earth’s mightiest heroes, you’re gonna walk away with some battle scars.” Tony explains.

You let out a light chuckle, almost forgetting exactly who you’re talking to. With a smirk on your face, you stand on your feet and walk towards him, “May I?”

He scoffs and gives you a strange look, but nonetheless, offers his hand. You take it with both of yours and close your eyes. It isn’t long until you feel the warmth of your energy flowing through your veins and to your palms. Tony watches in amazement as his hand is engulfed by the same sensation that shook the city just hours ago.

You finally let go and open your eyes just in time to see the dumbfounded look on his face. He closes his hand into a fist, and then opens it as he wiggles his fingers around.

“Who’s the happy fingers now?” You tease. “I can’t heal 10 years of injury after injury in one sitting, but it should feel a little better now.”

Tony is still shocked beyond belief. All he can do is let out small breathy chuckles and stare at this hand that’s nearly good as new.

“Y/n.” He manages to say.

You’re shocked to hear him say your actual name. Weirded out even.

Stark finally puts down his hand and gives you a look of astonishment.

“How would you like to be an avenger?”

Your eyes widen and your jaw drops. Tony Stark, aka IRONMAN, wants you to be an avenger. After you’ve wrecked miles and miles of property, he’s asking you to be an avenger?!

“What? I mean...w-what?!” You let out an incredulous laugh. “You want me to- even after every- I can’t..I-I..” All you can do is stammer.

“Well don’t say yes too quick” Stark rolls his eyes.

“Sorry, I’m sorry! It’s just that I didn’t even know the avengers were a thing anymore. I also don’t know the first thing about being a superhero. All I do is heal tiny animals and cure hangovers.” You ramble.

Tony stands whiles still wiggling his hand around, enjoying the extra mobility it suddenly has. “And if you can do what you did today in a more controlled manner, you’ll be unstoppable. A bit of combat training wouldn’t hurt either.”

You think it over in your head. What he’s saying makes a lot of sense. You still don’t know what happened to you today, and you’d love nothing more than to figure it out. Tony is the perfect person to help with that.

Being an avenger is a lot of pressure though. Only a week and a half to train and fight some “really bad, really powerful guy”? It’s impossible. You’d be way over your head. You would get yourself killed.

“I know it’s a lot to take in.” Stark saying, practically reading your mind. “But I believe you can do it, and I’m never wrong. Scratch Saturday, you’re coming in tomorrow for immediate testing and training. Expect to be here all day.” He orders, returning back to his assertive persona.

All day tomorrow?

“I actually can’t tomorrow, Mr. Stark sir.” You say a little under your breath.

“You what now?” Tony stops in his tracks.

“I-I can’t come tomorrow. I’m going to a party, I sorta have a date.” You explain, getting quieter and quieter after hearing how pathetic you sound.

It’s his turn to laugh incredulously, “Yeah, sweet cheeks, and the world is sorta in immortal danger. I’ll let Happy know he needs to take you home and I’ll see you tomorrow.”

You don’t bother trying to protest or be a smart ass because he makes a very valid point. “See you tomorrow.” you say, mostly to yourself.

- - - - -

Three knocks echo from your bedroom door as you sit at your desk doing some chemistry homework.

“Hey hun! I brought oranges slices.” Your Aunt Alice shuffles past the doorframe. As she comes closer, the brightest smile on her face, You notice she made a smiley face on the plate full of poorly cut oranges.

You let out a giggle and set down your pencil, “Thank you Ali, they look great!” You begin to eat the juicy treat while Alice takes in the atmosphere of your room.

“Those weird earthquakes were crazy today, huh?” She absentmindedly makes conversation.

“Earthquakes. Right. Yeah it was crazy. They really shook me at the core.” You say sarcastically, soaking in the irony.

Alice only hums in response. You watch her eyes dart from your trophies and then to the chair with clothes piled on it and then to the plants perched on your window until they finally land on the picture of her, your mom, and yourself.

It was your 11th birthday and you had cake smeared all across your face. The memory is so vivid, you can still hear the beautiful melody of your mother’s laugh dancing through the air. It’s the last picture you have of her.

“I miss her too.” You speak quietly, fearing if you spoke too loudly, the memory would go away.

Her gaze returns to you, tears brimming her eyes and her smile a little less bright. “You remind me of her so much, Y/n.” All you can offer her is a warm smile.

You’ve already cried all the tears you had left. You clear your throat, “Thanks again for the oranges, Ali.”

She wipes the tears that manage to break free before placing a quick kiss on the top of your head.

“Take out will be here soon.” She informs as she exits the room, her cheerful tone returning.

“Sounds good.” You respond.

You take one more glance at the picture of the three of you before getting back to work. However, like most things here lately, you didn’t get very far.

“Shoo, shoo! Stupid bird. I hate you!” You hear a muffled voice coming from outside. You wouldn’t have found this odd, if you weren’t on the fourth floor of an apartment complex.

You rush over to your window and peek outside, and much to your surprise you see just the person you needed to see. You snicker before unlocking your window and pushing it up.

“Peter, what are you doing up here?” You whisper.

“Oh, ya know, just...fighting some birds.” He chuckles weakly at being caught.

You smile wildly at the sound of his voice and the sight of him covered in feathers. You’re feeling too giddy to even question how he got up here. “Get in!” You move out of the way so he can crawl into your room.

Oh my god. Peter Parker is in my bedroom!

You hurry to shut the door, so Alice doesn’t see a boy in your room. You turn back around to see Peter stealthily make his way past your potted plants. He hops in with a soft grunt.

“Hi.” He says shyly once he finally looks at you.

“Hi.” You say back in the same tone.

Peter looks down at his hands, causing you to just notice he’s holding a plastic bag. “Um this is for you. You never answered my texts so I thought I should just...sneak by.”

You take the bag from him and sit on your bed, Peter copying your actions. Your breath hitches as your shoulders touch.

OH MY GOD!

You pull yourself together enough to take a look in the bag.

There are several things inside. Two chocolate bars, your favorite ice cream, a large bottle of water, a box of tissues, and a dvd of your favorite movie.

You look towards Peter with the softest smile to ever lie upon your lips.

“What’s all this for?” You nearly whisper, your heart aching at the gesture.

“Gwen mentioned that it was that time of the month for you, so I brought you some things. I asked her for your favorite snacks and stuff.” He explains as his face burns with a rosy tint.

You’re not on your period, so you just assume that Gwen covered for you earlier today. She could’ve come up with literally anything else because her lie is kind of embarrassing, but you’re not complaining at the moment.

After you don’t saying anything in response, Peter starts to ramble nervously. “I’ve seen this movie once, it’s pretty good! I don’t know if it’s Star Wars level good, but I’d recommend it to someone. Now that I think about it, I don’t know why I brought you a copy. If it’s your favorite movie, you probably already have it so that’s kinda stupid of me I guess. Did you know that-“

You could listen to this boy talk for hours and hours, but for now, you interrupt him with a tight hug. It takes him a second to process, his mind and his heart going just as crazy as yours. He recoups soon, wrapping his arms tightly around your lower back.

“Thank you, Peter. You really didn’t have to do this.”

“I just wanted to make your rough day a little better.”

And that, he did. More than he even knows. The two of you hug for a little while longer before pulling apart, your faces only inches away from each other.

You gulp as you look into his brown eyes. You’ve never seen them this close before. Chills are sent down Peter’s spine, but for a different reason this time. A better reason.

His eyes begin to flutter shut as he leans in and you mirror his movements.

It’s finally happening, and so fast too! Peter Parker is now literally in the palm of your hands. You try your best to maintain your excitement. Another uncontrollable episode is not what you need right now.

You can basically feel his lips on yours already. Your first kiss with Peter...

“Y/n! The food is here!”

...was too good to be true. Of course.

The sound of Alice’s voice makes you and Peter jolt to opposite ends of the bed. You run your hands over your face and let out an exasperated sigh. “Yeah Alice, I’ll be right there!”

The air becomes still as you and Peter look at everything in the room except for each other. He’s the first to speak up, “Well uh, I should let you go eat.” He rubs his hands on his legs.

“Yeah I probably shouldn’t keep my aunt waiting. She’s scary when she’s hangry.” You joke to lighten the mood.

You both share a small laugh before you walk Peter over to the window he’d just entered through.

“Thank you again for everything. You’re a really good friend.”

He doesn’t show it, but that word just stabbed him in the heart. Friend.

“Anything for you, Y/n/n. You should go, I don’t want you to see me climbing these walls.” Peter says truthfully, but plays it off as a joke.

You laugh along with him, “Call me if you hurt yourself. I have ways to fix ya up.” You say truthfully as well.

Neither of you catch on to the other’s honesty.

You give each other an endearing smile before parting way.

Once your back is turned, you whisper to yourself, “Friend? Why did I say that?”

Here’s one more thing to beat yourself up about all night long.

“Y/n, The food!” Alice yells, the hunger taking over.

“I’m coming!” You should in an equally frustrated tone, but because of a different type of hunger.

/ / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / /

Sorry it took a while to post this chapter!! I tried making it longer than the others to make up for it :)

Omgg my Tom fic, The “Friendship” Test is currently sitting at 800+ notes, that’s insane!! Thank you guys so much, I know I say that a lot but I truly mean it!

((excuse any typos, i write at night))

tag list 🏷 (lmk if i missed you or if you want to be added!)

@jackiehollanderr @crazylittlereader2474

@phantomhrt @sassystay-bunny @sltwins

@bigassnocash @pignolithecookie

@big-galaxy-chaos @lilyblackx @jjjmaybank

@peterandtom @meilikki

@the-avengers-assembling @voldyphobia

@lumiees @frostay

@lupinpetersclearwaterodairparker

@mikaofasgard @empath-bunny

@neoneun-nananeun-neo @themoonlightofari

[that-bi-bitch-writes]

A Cursed Reality-JJK x M!Reader (Ch.2)

Question: Do you guys prefer longer chapters or shorter chapters? I’ve been making an effort to write longer chapters but if you hate reading them I’ll write them less.

Warnings: fluff, comparison of Inumaki’s speech to a disability/handicap, cursing. Dislike of Maki (Not me. wrong bitch. I love her)

Previous || Next

Chapter Two:

[Name] actively dislikes hanging out with the second years. Not that they’re bad people in any way, it’s just he’s anxious and awkward, and even after spending a year familiarizing himself with the school and the people in it, there’s like a small group of people he would invite to his birthday party.

That and he just doesn’t care for Maki Zen’in. And it is most definitely mutual. To him, she’s just pretty. She also won’t die in a battle between her and a curse below first grade. But that’s about the end of her appeal. Of course, Panda is fun to tease but he typically plays the peacemaker between the second years. [Name] would rather not care about people in peace.

There’s no dramatic reason to it all, it’s just [Name] didn’t really come to Jujutsu Tech by choice so he hadn’t intended on making friends. He obviously failed considering he befriended Inumaki within his first day and they have some homoromantic vibes going on in their friendship.

That’s not to say you can’t platonic cuddle with your best friend but when you longingly gaze into each other’s eyes and he’s the only friend you’ve made besides an annoyingly hyper 30-year-old because no one else understands you like he does… And it kind of goes both ways considering you’re the only person he trusts himself enough to have a full-on conversation with.

Yeah, it’s not looking very good for the argument that they’re not gay. They’re not though. At least not now.  

“[Name]”

“Yeah toge?”

“You look like you’ve got something on your mind” Inumaki responded. And although he had plenty of experience saying words, having a conversation without using safe words felt a little weird. It was an aspect of who he was now and [Name] being immune to the cursed speech wouldn’t erase the problems he had with talking and it didn’t make [Name] his savior or soulmate.

Luckily [Name] was both lonely and not a complete asshole because he had no problems adapting to the switch between Toge’s ‘onigiri glossary’. Learning it was actually a really fun experience because it turns out Inumaki did not have the exact translation of all his safe words. He would just say an ingredient and [Name] had to fill in the blanks. There was a lot of trial and error and a lot of [Name] smiling down at Inumaki’s concentrated face.

“I was just thinking.” [Name] broke the contemplative silence.

“Hmm”

“You know” [Name] started again “... They say it was believed people kept their souls in their throats” and as Inumaki gave a confused denial (“fish flakes”) [Name] was internally panicking on whether or not he should keep going with this specific train of thought or make a joke to deflect from the very real and emotional but corny statement he was about to utter.

“Ah fuck it. I want to exercise the curses in the world or at least enough to keep you safe so you don’t keep damaging your soul when you use your cursed technique”

“Sujiko”

[Name] looked at Inumaki. And as if breaking off pieces of his soul didn’t matter to him, Inumaki spoke, a short sentence that stunned [Name] into silence

“I love you”

If Gojo hadn’t come in, they might’ve kissed.

“[Name]-kun!!!”

Aaaand [Name]’s sentimental mood was gone. Don’t get him wrong, Gojo definitely would get an invite to [Name]’s birthday party, but the man was like 30 running around being overly cheerful and with that teasing nature he was definitely repressing some trauma. He also definitely had some of the worst timing

“What is it Gojo?”

“No sensei at the end? So mean!

“Fushiguro was sent out to find a cursed object but he’s been out all day with no calls back home or anything. Of course I plan on going to check on my beloved student, but I am busy for the next hour or so. Can you please check on him? For your favorite sensei?”

“My favorite sensei is actually Nanami and he’s not even a sensei but yeah I’ll check on the emo kid”

‘You’re pretty emo yourself dude’ Gojo thought to himself

“Ah Thank you [Name]-kun. You’re a lifesaver” Gojo called out behind him as he left to do whatever it is crazy white haired ‘old’ men do.

‘He’s/I’m totally not doing this for free’ both [Name] and Inumaki thought at the same time.

[Name] got up suddenly and started getting ready to leave paying no attention to Inumaki who watched him get ready with a casual interest. Before [Name] headed out, he turned to look at Inumaki with a serious and concentrated expression.

“Toge.”

“I love you”

“What the hell happened here?”

“....”

“Fushiguro-kun, if you please”

“Well I only know half of the story so it’s best if we hear it from Itadori”

All eyes whipped to the shirtless Yuji who had just gotten control of his body back from Sukuna, the apparent king of curses.

“I’d say it started when I went to school this morning but I think it started a little earlier for Fushiguro. Right Fushiguro?” Yuji asked

‘I swear I’m going to explode if someone doesn’t tell me the how we got this far I mean Fushiguro is bleeding from his head, this pink haired enthusiastic kid is possessed and I can’t tell if he’s too sweet to care or if he lost a few of his brain cells when he and the little emo first year wrecked this building’ [Name] thought to himself.

Clearing his throat he began “Well okay Fushiguro has a lot of really bad injuries so is it okay with you if he just quickly shares his part and then you take over?”

“Ohh Yeah that makes sense” Itadori awed and both he and [Name] turned their attention to poor Megumi who was bleeding from his forehead.

“Yesterday I was sent to retrieve a special grade cursed object and when I got there it was gone. Gojo sensei told me I couldn’t go home until it was recovered. The next day I stalked around the school and investigated when I saw Yuji for the first time.”

“Oh I remember that. It’s my turn to take over now. Uhh. I was in the occult club with my senpais Sasaki and Iguchi and we were asking the spirits about which animal the Student Council President was weaker than ( a fish) and then he burst in the room because he didn’t approve of our club-”

“Fast forward please” [Name] interrupted

“Fushiguro found me after my grandpa died and told me Iguchi and Sasaki were in danger because of the finger so I led him to the school where they said they were going to peel off the seal”

“And that’s why we’re here” [Name] surmised

“So what’s the situation”

“Gojo-sensei”/ “Old Man what are you doing here?” Megumi and [Name] called out

“I wasn’t gonna come but the higher ups got involved. I knew you’d all be fine though, I sent [Name] here to deal with it.”

“That’s true” Fushiguo mumbled

“I’m glad you all have faith in me” [Name] started “But that means I came here for absolutely nothing”

“... So did you find it?” Gojo asked

“Um sorry.... I ate it”

Gojo who didn’t hear the whole introduction and [Name] who didn’t quite get to the eating of the finger part in the story turned to Yuji in shock

“For real”

“For real”

“Haha you’re not kidding. They’re combined. How does your body feel?” Gojo asked Yuji

“Okay”

“Can you switch to Sukuna?”

“Sukuna?” Yuji asked

“The curse object you ate”

“Oh yeah. Probably”

“Ten seconds” gojo said “Take control again after ten seconds”

“I dunno about this”

“Don’t worry. I’m the strongest Jujutsu sorcerer”

Megumi looked to [Name] after hearing a curious “hmm” but [Name]’s face showed no anger or displeasure.

“Megumi hold onto this will ya” Gojo’s voice bled through Megumi’s thoughts of who would win between [Name] and Gojo. Give it a year or two and it might actually be [Name].

“What’s this?” Megumi asked

‘It better be a fucking weapon’ [Name] thought ‘Because if he sent me out because his important business was shopping he’s gonna regret it’

“Kikufuku Mochi” Gojo replied casually before feeling bloodlust leaking from [Name]. He’ll just have to make it up to the second year somehow

“Behind you” Fushiguro called out and [Name] sucked his teeth hoping Gojo would get hit at least once. He did not get his wish once

“I’ve got a student watching so..I hope you don’t mind if I show off a little bit” . And after that Gojo commenced kicking Sukuna’s ass. Sukuna tried to monologue a little as he sent out a powerful attack, but he missed Gojo on account of Gojo’s infinity dispelling the attack. By the time Sukuna realized Gojo was unharmed it was time for Yuji to switch back.

“Oh was everything okay?” Yuji asked as he came to his senses.

“Oh what a surprise” Gojo responded “You really can control it”

“Yeah, but he’s kind of annoying”

“It’s a miracle that’s the only side effect” Gojo said right before knocking Yuji out with one finger

“If he wakes up and isn't possessed, he might have potential as a vessel. Okay question for you two. What do I do with him?”

“Even if he is a potential vessel… He must be executed under jujutsu regulations…

“But I don’t want to let him die”

“Is that a personal opinion? Gojo asked

“Yes, a personal opinion. Please do something about it.

Gojo smiled and the two of them turned their attention towards [Name] who had been silent throughout the whole experience.

‘Besides being a little too excitable, he’s not bad. Like a puppy. I’d keep him as a pet.’ [Name] thought

“Don’t kill him” he said

“A precious student's request. And one from my favorite second year? Of course. Leave it to me!” Gojo said before lifting Yuji up.

[Name] still a little upset he was called away for nothing, raised his hand in front of his mouth so gojo couldn’t see what he was doing and whispered

“Fall over”

“Aak! [Name]-kunnn”

Fushiguro was shocked to see Gojo faceplant on the ground with Yuji on his shoulder. If the combination of Fushiguro’s wide eyed expression and the sight of Gojo in pain made [Name] giggle a little, he’d never admit it.

[limitlessgojo]

Blood Bound: Red Strings of Fate (Ch 13)

Warnings: Action, Coarse Language, Fighting, Descriptions of Blood

Previous Chapter: Goldenrod

Next Chapter: The More You Know

Next SFW Chapter: Big White Lies

Tags: Soulmates AU, Angst, Fluff, Hurt/Comfort, Fem!Reader

Taglist: @lessie-oxj @rizzo-nero @whoreuc @fkngkumiko @isl3t @gojoussunglasses @onepotatostand-blog @s-t-f-u-b-i-t-c-h @sunaswife @lordguameow @track5enthusiast

Notes: If you want to be tagged for every update, specify if you're okay with nsfw posts or not, and please mention it in the comments below ty ❤

Chapter 13: Home Sweet Home

That weekend you went back home. It was so refreshing to see everyone. You yelped out with joy as you ran over to your cousin “Hiroki niichaaaan~” You jumped into his arms.

He hugged you tight. “How have you been doin lil sis?”

“Very good! I missed you all so much, especially you Hiroki nii." You pouted up at him.

You caught up with your family, had meals with them, and trained with Hiroki. They were most curious about your soulmate, as you have expected.

“What’s he like? Aren’t people from the big 3 clans so stuck up all the time? Even Satoru is full of himself at times, ey?”, Hiroki asked you with a mouthful of food.

“He isn’t too bad to be honest. He’s a gentleman and sweet with me. Decent man. Just, seems a bit like the private type? I mean… Doesn’t talk much about his family even though we are soulmates. Oh I’ve already talked to him about you guys.” You added.

Hiroki tilted his head, “Ehhh… mysterious huh.”

“Give him time. The Kamo Clan aren’t the most open minded people. They’ll feel you out before allowing you in.” Your dad said.

“Even though I’m his soulmate?!” You exclaimed.

Silence. “We don’t know what they’re thinking so we can’t say for sure.”

◇◇◇

“Heh, you’ve gotten better lil sis,” Hiroki dropped low and thrusted out his spear. You jumped and immediately shifted your stance to land a kick on him. He easily parried and slipped out of your range.

Your family specializes in dealing with reverse cursed techniques aside from the occasional esper. Hiroki was only a semi-grade 1, because he trained his ass off for years.

Now that he’s built, he uses cursed tools to help him fight. A strong 185cm man can definitely handle close combat well. And in terms of healing abilities, he was number 1 in the clan.

It was only the women in your family that were able to inherit psychokinesis for some reason. But usually it only applies to a specific thing. Like how your mom can control plants. And your other aunt does with small metallic items like coins and darts.

Mother approached you after your sparring session. "Does he make you happy my dear?" Your mother asked you. Hiroki drank quietly from his water bottle.

You thought about it. The past few months were not easy but really colorful with Noritoshi. Minus the nagging feeling of him covering up his family affairs from you.

But… "He does. I feel so safe with him ma. Like I do with all of you. He is family to me now. I think I really like him and I trust him with my life." You whispered out.

"Then next time, bring him here. We will gladly welcome him with open arms." Hiroki smiled at you and leaned into your side.

◇◇◇

You went to visit your dead older sister’s grave just before you went back to Kyoto Jujutsu High School.

It was just you and Hiroki. You both cleaned the grave, trimmed the weeds, changed the flowers, burned fresh incense, and said your prayers for Sora. It was such a clear day with barely any clouds. The sky was so blue.

Just like her namesake.

Hiroki left you to give you some privacy, saying that he’ll pick you up in 2 hours.

You took a deep breath. “Sora neechan. It’s been a while. Sorry I couldn’t come to see you as often, because I’m currently a student at Jujutsu High.”

“I met this guy. He … So he is my soulmate. The first time I met him, I thought he was pretty. As I got to know him more, I felt as if there was a reason as to why the heavens chose him for me you know? He is really cool, but so warm and sweet with me. I think I’m a little bit in love with him.” You admitted.

“I’m really scared to lose him. After I lost you, I just… it was hard… I try my best to be cheerful and helpful really. But it gets tiring at times. I’m glad I was able to make a lot of friends who understand the life of a Jujutsu sorcerer at least. I tried to open up to Noritoshi a bit more. But it’s hard because he seems so closed off at times.”

You had mixed feelings, because you promised Noritoshi you would trust him more. That means working on anything that bothers you regarding your relationship with him. But can he accept it if you tell him that you want to know more about his family? He already clearly stated he needs more time.

“Am I being too greedy and hasty Sora? I want to support his clan affairs, even if it's just a tiny bit as his soulmate. He seems so troubled with it all the time. Like he wants to carry the burden all alone. I want to help, but he doesn’t really let me. I don’t know. I wish you were still here with me.”

“Last time I asked him about his parents, he snapped at me. Of course he apologized. … Maybe it’s all just in my head. But I do want to meet his family. Eventually. Though at this rate I have no idea when. Everytime I ask about them he just shuts up.”

“Falling in love is way too hard….”

The wind blew as if to agree with you. The leaves rusted in a circular dance just around the grave. You smiled.

You bid farewell to your family after the weekend. Hiroki hugged you tight and whispered, “I hope it gets better for you and Kamo kun soon enough.”

You looked up at him, “Yeah, thanks bro.”

◇◇◇

You texted Noritoshi and let him know that you were on your way back. He said he was free for the evening and that you could come over to his room.

You knocked on his door with anticipation. You opened the door, “I'm back, Toshi!” He pulled you into a tight hug and closed the door behind you. “I missed you. Come in. How was your family? Sorry I couldn’t go with you again.”

“It’s fine! They’re all okay and excited to meet you next time.” You looked up at him. He looked a bit regretful, “Next time I’ll make sure to properly clear my schedule with my father so I can go meet them okay?”

“Ah, okay.” You both walked over to his table and knelt down on the floor.

“I’ve been wanting to tell you this for a while,” you started. Noritoshi looked on intently. “I’ve already told you about my family right? Mom and dad and my other male cousins. Ah, what I didn’t tell you before was… I used to have an older sister. I - uhm. Well she died after being attacked by a curse. I … I hope to bring you to her grave one day.”

Noritoshi’s heart dropped. He pulled you in close. “I’m so sorry to hear that. I’m sure she is proud of you. Of course I’ll go with you to see her next time.” He was now highly regretting choosing to do some useless tasks for some of his clan’s elders instead of spending the weekend with you.

You gripped his clothes tighter. “Thank you, that really really means a lot to me.” You started tearing up, but you blinked your tears away.

"Oh! My family and I have gifts for you. I'm not so sure if you'll like it. It's a Coral and gold bracelet. Everyone in my family has one. It's almost like tradition for us, and we believe it to have a layer of protection. I also brought Jade here for you." You presented the bracelet alongside the Dragon carved Jade Pendant hanging on a thick white gold chain.

Noritoshi's eyes widened. The jewelry was stunning and looked expensive. He may have been favoured as the heir to the Kamo clan, but even he didn't own so much expensive jewelry.

He sputtered out “I appreciate it but I can’t take something so expensive and precious-”

“Noritoshiiii,” you whined out loud, making him stop talking. “You don’t want to accept such a precious gift that I picked out for you?” you whined with the largest puppy eyes.

“No, I- I am grateful. Thank you, I’ll accept it.” Noritoshi conceded.

Got him. You grinned madly as he shook his head. “You’re a dangerous one,” he muttered under his breath. “What was that?” you asked him absentmindedly as you worked on unclasping the bracelet to put it around his wrist. “Nothing, nothing at all dearest.”

You narrowed your eyes at him before grabbing his wrist and putting it on for him. It was a perfect fit. You thanked yourself for loving to hold his hand so much that you knew his general hand measurements.

His hands down to his wrists were so pretty. You didn't realize that you were playing with and smiling down at his fingers until he opened up his hand and linked his fingers with yours.

Slowly, carefully. Falling in love with you was the easiest thing Noritoshi had experienced. Now that he had embraced his emotions and tried to open up to you, it was a bit better now.

'Is this what love is? I don't know since it's my first time experiencing it.' Noritoshi wondered to himself.

It was in the smallest of things with you. He loved the way you would call out his name with loving eyes. The way you would always greet him first before the other senpai. The way you give him coffee and kisses on late and cold nights of studying.

The way your hair smells. Your perfume. The way your eyelids flutter shut when he kisses you. The tightening of his chest and shortness of his breath made apparent whenever he was with you.

The way you don't ask for too much from him. Just that he shows his love to you either by his actions or words. The comfort he simply feels when he is beside you.

He really just needed some time, and seeing you around more often really made up for it.

He ticked the inside of your palm which made you shiver and yelp. He laughed out loud at this and pulled you into his lap, hugging you tightly.

Staying quiet, you buried your head in his chest. You could feel his heartbeat, and it was faster than you expected. But soon it went back down to a steady rate.

"Your heartbeat is so steady, but mine is always wild around you. Noritoshi I feel kinda embarrassed to be honest." You admitted, fingers curling into his kimono.

He smiled and his heartbeat quickened to match yours. You looked up at him in confusion. "Did you just…" He just leaned down to rub his nose against yours. "I am a blood manipulator. I can manipulate my pulse rate darling." You huffed out a laugh, feeling warm and fuzzy.

"I love you." You said suddenly. He stared in shock at your words. You realized that you said it without intending to. But you didn’t take it back.

"Kamo Noritoshi I'm madly in love with you." It wasn't a sudden realisation of being in love. You slowly fell for him again and again each day.

Noritoshi’s brain short circuited.

Suddenly he was kissing you. Tongue slipping into your mouth and playing with yours and rubbing along the roof of your mouth.

You tried to fight his tongue for dominance, but you ended up surrendering, your back bent back with your face turned up towards him.

You clasped your hands around his neck as he pressed deep kisses against the top of your chest. Your face was flushed as you fell limp against him, gasping out heavy breaths. "I'm not going anywhere angel." Noritoshi whispered against your neck, hands tightening possessively against your waist.

‘Please wait a little longer for me. Until I can confirm that these feelings for you are indeed true love.’ His thoughts went unsaid.

The one thing Noritoshi promised to himself is that he would never lie about his feelings for you. To him, the worst he could do was to confess his love without actually being in love with you.

Blood Bound: Table of Contents

[simpingforsoftboys]

The Odds of Us All

CH 3 Part 2/5: The Foxes Burrow

You stood beside Kita, facing the starting members of Inarizaki’s team. Your soulmates were pretty surprised to see you here- but that was a given since you may or may not have neglected to inform them that you would be their new manager.

“This is Ushijima Y/n. She was previously Nekoma’s volleyball club manager- I’m sure some of ya’ have heard of them before. They’re Fukurodani’s main rival- aside from Itachiyama.” Kita introduced her formally, before allowing Y/n to say a few things herself.

“I look forward to getting to know you all! Please take care of me.” You said with a bow. Kita nodded in approval at your brief greeting- concise yet polite- just as he liked it. 

“Today’s extra practice for the senior and starting members. So take yer time with gettin settled in. If ya need anythin just ask me or Aran.” A tall male in a #4 jersey strode up to you, a welcoming smile on his lips as he stretched out a hand for a handshake.

“Nice to meet ya Ushijima! Welcome to the team!” You accepted his hand and shook it firmly.

“Glad to be here Aran-senpai- but please just call me ‘Y/n.’ Ushijima is my cousin-”

“Course- ain’t gonna lie- made me double take the first time I heard it.” They shared a quick chuckle. “Why don’t ya go talk to the other’s? We’ll be right here after.” Aran stepped away to speak to Kita, luckily you didn’t need to go seek out anyone else to speak to- since someone walked up to you.

*Apologies in advance ya’ll, I’m only an anime watcher so I DO NOT have a grasp on Akagi, Omimi, or Ginjima’s characters AT ALL... so please- if you guys have tips please comment. Also I have no idea if Akagi or Ginjima was raised in Hyogo so I’m going to give them a normal Tokyo dialect for now- but Ginjima will have hints of Hyogo dialect- this is subject to change if I get advice. 

“Hi! I’m Akagi Michinari, you’re new right? How’s Inarizaki so far?” Akagi was fairly cheerful- almost like a breath of fresh air compared to everyone else. Sure, Kita and Aran were plenty nice but they were more like a parental/older brother sort than friendly.

“Mhm, I just got here two days ago! Everyone here is so friendly- I love it.”

“Hey... this is just between me and you but,” Akagi leans forward, hand covering the side of his face like he’s telling a secret, curious, you lean forward to hear better. “It’s kind of refreshing to talk to someone without the Hyogo dialect. Sometimes I still have trouble understanding what people are saying so I smile and nod.” You two look at each other for a good moment before bursting into actual giggles. 

“Me too actually, I was so lost in Japanese literature- so I just pretended to know what was going on when Kenji-sensei was lecturing.” You whisper back- sending the third year into a fit of laughter. The two of you were oblivious to the jealous stares from the nightmare trio, and the curious looks from the others. 

“Haha- I think we’ll be fast friends Y/n!” The libero says, turning to look at the last two people. “Hey Ren, Hitoshi- come say hi!” A super tall, scary dude with a blank expression walks over, along with a stereotypical alt obsessed looking guy. “The super tall one is Omimi Ren- and the grumpy one is Ginjima Hitoshi!” Omimi doesn’t say anything- instead opting to nod in greeting.

“Hey.” Is all Ginjima says, looking like he’d rather be anywhere but here. 

“Call me Y/n! I was meaning to ask earlier but are there any allergies or food preferences you might have? I was going to bring homemade energy bars but realized someone might be allergic.” 

“Uh, nah I don’t have any allergies.” Ginjima looks pleasantly surprised, though it’s barely noticeable on his face, “I don’t think anyone here has allergies so ya don’t need to worry.” He turns to look at his seniors for confirmation.

“No one has any.” Omimi agrees.

“Great! Thank you... how about food preferences? Any dietary restrictions for you three specifically?” You’re slipping back into your old managerial habits, pulling out a notepad and scribbling down notes. You may not be of any help on the court directly, but you pride yourself on being analytical and taking care of your team. An example of this was how you’d watch Nekoma’s next rival team beforehand, chatting up their players by starting off with simple conversation- and estimating what makes them tick based off their answers. 

“So professional- Shinsuke picked a good one.” Akagi praised, before giving his own preferences (along with Omimi’s), Ginjima spoke after him. Something told you this years team was going to quickly be added to your list of friends.

“What’cha talkin bout over here?” Atsumu slinked over to stand at your side, inserting himself into the conversation. The two third years were unperturbed at his interruption, meanwhile Ginjima looked a little irritated. 

“Just dietary restrictions.” You replied showing him your notebook. “Speaking of which I have to speak to you, Osamu, and Suna about yours. Excuse us-” After politely excusing yourself and Atsumu, you walked over to join the other two.

“Enjoyin yerself?” Osamu questioned in greeting, taking a bite of his senbei cracker. “Never seen Akagi so chatty with someone he just met.” 

“That’s because they were gossiping.” Suna snickered, shooting you a knowing glance. “It was something about the dialect right? He said the same thing to me when we first met.” He laughed at the scandalized/busted expression you wore.

“What d’ya mean?” The vegetable oil color haired twin questioned, tilting his head to the side- Osamu said nothing, content to munch on his cracker. 

“Thank you so much for exposing me.” You ‘thanked’ Suna with a saccharine sweet tone, before answering your faux blonde soulmate. “It’s Tokyo dialect things. That’s it.”

“Oh ok.” He seemed satisfied with your answer, not seeing any reason to doubt you- much to his twin’s, and Suna’s amusement.

“Alright everyone, practice now!” Coach Kurosu called, the gym doors slamming open as he strode in alongside Coach Oomi. “Ushijima- er I’ll just say Y/n yeah? Come over and I’ll give you a rundown on how things work around here.” While the boys began running their warmup laps around the gyms interior, you made your way over to the coaches. “So... says here you were manager of old Nekomata’s team huh? Interestin’ well, it’s the same as any managerial position. Keep the bottles filled, maintain our players morale when you can, and launder the towels and practice jerseys... sound good?” You nodded, already used to the burden of managing a boys volleyball team. 

“Yes, thank you.”

“Oh and here,” he hands you a hefty, sealed envelope. “Your budget for the next two weeks. Anything you don’t spend will be subtracted from the next allowance.” Your eyes widen at the weight of it, but you nod along nonetheless. Money is a friend of yours- the Ushijima’s being a very well off family. “Well the bottles are in the locker room hallway.”

“Right, of course.” Then you left, going to begin the familiar tasks that had somehow become an important part of your daily high school life.

Oomi looked at Kurosu. “Why’d you give her cash? We’re supposed to give her the card?” Kurosu is silent, watching his players with a scrutinizing look. 

“She reminds me of a boerboel.” 

“I don’t follow?”

“I have a feelin that we can trust her.” 

Facts/Trivia

This takes place the very next day after CH3 pt1, ignore the 4d mark on that one cut off tweet please

Tendo has this uncanny ability to tell when someone is trash talking either Ushijima 

Sakusa still doesn’t know that Y/n is Inarizaki’s new manager

None of her soulmates follow her private twitter- or know of it’s existence

Y/n is very efficient at doing laundry/filling water bottles within a small time frame- she has Nekoma vbc to thank for that

Nekoma didn’t have a allowance for their team- so Y/n just paid for everything out of pocket

Yes their budget for TWO WEEKS is about $270 

The only things she can bake well is granola/energy bars, scones, and cookies. Anything else she attempts turns out horribly

A boerboel is a extremely dependable dog breed 

Sometimes when the teachers speak too quickly, Y/n can’t tell what they’re saying so she just stares at them, acting like an attentive student so that they’ll be less tempted to call on her during class

I have no idea how to write for Omimi, Ginjima, Akagi, and both coaches so I’ll just do whatever

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[keiksy-cake]

Lunatic Blue Ch 8 (Gore TW || Hetalia Doujinshi)

I do not own this series, I am just a friendly neighborhood translator~

The original is linked and the Pixiv ID is 80718949 , please support the original creator! The previous chapters are linked below:

Lunatic Blue 1

Lunatic Blue 2

Lunatic Blue 3

Lunatic Blue 4

Lunatic Blue 5

Lunatic Blue 6

Lunatic Blue 7

Next:

Lunatic Blue 9

I think he’s referring either to how the head/body was hidden away, or that the case is hard to understand

Prussia calls Austria “Young Master” to make fun of him, see last page

YEEEE AFTER 17 DAYS I FINALLY TRANSLATED CHAPTER 8

Tbf it’s been 9 days since my last translation, which was the nanakusa thing. I’m very sorry anyways for leaving  you all waiting ;; Whenever I come across any kind of difficulty I just sort of give up for the day TwT and perhaps I also kept putting this chapter since it’s the last chapter that artist has done and I was afraid of finally finishing/catching up. Anyways, this means that there won’t be any updates on this series until the artists updates it and for all I know they could’ve dropped this series, I really hope not! Hopefully they’ll pick it up again but I wouldn’t want to pressure them or anything :(

As for my usual commentary... OH MY GOODNESS I WAS SO PSYCHED TO SEE RUSSIA. I was hoping he would begin to show a bigger role in this chapter, I mean he legit lost his sister/friends, there is so much potential! I would love to see a backstory but idk if the artist is interested in that sort of thing. I am a Russia stan so I can’t help but wish to him take an active role TwT

When Prussia is speaking about the case, I got confused a lot of the time, so I’m not actually sure if he mentions that they disappeared after buying cake, there something about sweets and how they gone missing so while it seems like that’s what said, I’m not sure because if he recognizes they all went missing after buying cake, surely they would already be suspicious of the bakery right? Same goes for the “maybe he likes the head”, I think that’s said by Toni but I’m not sure.

ALSO ISN’T IT CUTE HOW DEPRESSED GERMANY IS OVER HIS FIGHT WITH ITALY? THEY’RE SO ADORABLE I LOVE THEM. America is also cute for cheering him up but I feel his backstory with Arthur is raising kind of a death flag, right? :’(

My experience in watching Criminal Minds has led me to hold high expectations in detectives so it’s been frustrating to watch the BFT not figure it out yet, but finally Roderich steps in and helps! One thing I’m worried about though is maybe Prussia is helping Italy? Like perhaps Italy is forcing Prussia to help him and that could be part of the cause of why he was so afraid when he heard Lud mention Feli (other than obvious trauma). I’m not too sure ofc, this is all just my imagination but I think it would be a cool plot twist. Other than him, I can’t think of anyone who could be helping Italy, if not Prussia, than I imagine someone to be manipulating Italy and being the cause of his trauma reviving rather than being someone that Italy is manipulating. I really can’t guess who, it could be anyone really and I’m excited to see who it could be!

Also, isn’t it lowkey messed up that after Italy’s traumatic experience, Rome didn’t decide to spend more time with Italy and comfort him but instead sent him away to some distant relative? I imagine it must be because Rome knew Italy should get away from the area but was stuck in a situation where he himself couldn’t leave such as his job, so he sent him to a trusted relative. They do seem to be rich so perhaps Rome thought he would be happier there.

Also I found out that I’ve actually been misspelling hre’s name, it’s supposed to “Ernst” I believe. But I’m thinking of combining all Lunatic Blue chapters 1-8 with the earlier chapters being more “clean” like how it is now rather than shaded, so I’ll have it changed to “Ernst” during then along with other fixes to mistranslations and typos.

If you’re reading this, please do comment/reply, it would make very happy as I have no one else to really talk to about this amazing series, I’m so lonely TwT

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Lunatic Blue 9

[ikeromantic]

Strength

An Ikesen Mitsuhide fanfiction, approx. 2000 words. This scene occurs toward the end of Ch. 12 in the romantic route.

First: Mitsuhide and the Maiden

Previous: The Greatest Harm

Mitsuhide found Motonari in gambling house, as expected, but at the promise of violence to come, he was easy to persuade.

“We’re gonna march on tha shogun tonight, huh? ‘Bout time. My gun is gettin’ rusty with all tha waiting!” Motonari walked beside the kitsune warlord, almost bouncing. “I can send my men over to get tha guns and powder in tha mornin’. It’ll take that long ta get there and set a camp. Too bad we can’t just rush tha castle an’ get tha party started tonight!”

It was strange to think the man genuinely enjoyed fighting. For Mitsuhide, battles and killing were a means to an end, but he never sought them out. Still, it was good at least that the pirate was on his side. He’d rather point this avatar of destruction at a target than to be the target.

“Yer awful quiet, fox. Get in a tiff with tha woman?” Mouri chuckled. “Can’t imagine why.”

Mitsuhide gave the pirate a thin, sharp smile. He couldn’t let the man goad him, not tonight. Not with so much on the line. “My little mouse is fine. It is not easy for her to stay here while I go to fight.”

“Huh. Ya sure that’s all?”

The man was too damn perceptive. But they said madmen often were. Mitsuhide chose to ignore the comment.

Kennyo was staying in a widow’s home at the edge of the market. Of course, Mitsuhide was not supposed to know that - but the abbot knew he knew, and his arrival should not overly alarm the demon monk.

He sped them in that direction. The sooner the three were on their way, the less chance to slip and break this fragile alliance. It had to hold until Ashikaga’s head left his body behind. That was what Mitsuhide focused on. Not the last look he’d shared with his little one. He couldn’t think about the tears in her eyes, or the way his heart felt torn in two when he considered leaving her behind.

“What are you doing here, kitsune?” Kennyo’s deep growl came from a shadowed walkway in front of a closed shop.

“Looking for you.”

The abbot stepped out into the moon’s silver glow. His scar was a black crevasse across his face, a crack in the universe through which hell could be seen. His eyes burned with a dark and lightless hate. “You came to betray me?”

“He came ta tell ya we’re leavin’! Time ta make tha shogun pay fer ruinin’ my fun.” Motonari put his hands on his hips and leaned back on his heels. “Ya comin’ er did ya decide ta tuck yer tail and go back ta prayin’?”

Kennyo growled, a low rumbled in his chest like distant thunder. “Demons do not pray, nor do good men pray for the deaths of others. If it is time, then let us go. In silence.”

Mitsuhide raised an eyebrow. “Do you need time to pack?”

“I have all my worldly possessions on me now. And what I need most is always to hand.” He tapped the bottom of his staff, and the dark street rang with the sound.

“Then I will meet you both at the edge of town when the moon touches the mountain tops.” Mitsuhide gave them a nod.

“Goin’ ta smooth things over with tha lady? Ya know if ya need some help, I -”

“Will be silent because your voice grates my nerves as surely as a stone in my sandal.” Kennyo interrupted Mouri with a grimace.

Mitsuhide gave the monk a look of gratitude before hurrying off to the inn.

His little one was gathering the last of his things when he arrived. And seemed in much better spirits. She even smiled as he came in, though there was still an edge of sadness to it. “Everything is packed and ready to go.”

“Good. Mouri will be sending people for the guns tomorrow. Be ready.”

“I will.”

There were a thousand things he wanted to say in that moment. Promises he couldn’t keep. Words of love that would only make it hurt more to be apart. Mitsuhide was good at speaking - when he was playing a role. When it was the truth of his own heart, he found it hard to put the feelings into words. He was no poet. Not like Yoshimoto.

His eyes went to the floor, where the letter had fallen. It wasn’t there anymore, but he spotted the creased paper soon enough. Sitting on the desk, open. Was that the reason for her mood? Had Yoshimoto’s poetries cheered her where he could only seem to make her cry?

In silence, he picked up his things and together, they went to saddle the horses. They, at least, seemed happy to finally be traveling somewhere. Being cooped up in the stables was hard on war-trained mounts.

“Can I come with you? As far as the meeting point?”

Mitsuhide nodded. “Of course.” He couldn’t help the bitter twist to his smile. “I wouldn’t deny you that.”

Neither of them said much on the ride through town. The air felt heavy, and it seemed wrong to push sound out into that darkness. Though unspoken words churned in his chest.

The chatelaine looked lost in thought as she rode. Her posture in the saddle, relaxed. Her eyes forward, looking at some distant point and trusting her mount to navigate the empty streets. It made Mitsuhide proud to see how far she’d come. How much she learned. He held back the compliment though, worried what other words would escape with it, should he speak.

Soon enough, they passed the city gates. The last of the dim torchlight fell behind them, and ahead lay only rolling fields and an endless expanse of stars. Mitsuhide felt lost in it. He had messed this up, as he’d known he would. Giving his love only tears. If Yoshimoto could make her smile with only words on a paper . . . perhaps . . .

The dark figures of Motonari and Kennyo took shape in the darkness ahead. Their horses stood in the field nearby, heads down and grazing. Mitsuhide stopped as they got close enough to make out their allies’ faces. He turned to his little one, feeling brittle like rusted iron. “This is as far as you may come. Turn your horse and go back to the inn.”

Not the parting words of a lover but right now he couldn’t trust himself to be himself. He needed this mask. The kitsune warlord, heartless and cold. It would hold him together. It had to.

“I will.”

Motonari scoffed. “Is that all yer gonna say? Ya know, in tha west they kiss to say goodbye. Ya should try it! Maybe slip her some tongue -”

“Keep your vulgar thoughts to yourself,” Kennyo rumbled. “Your bellowing is disturbing the horses.” He threw the pirate an icy glare. Without looking away from Mouri, he said, “Mitsuhide - we will go on ahead. Do not keep us waiting.” Then he grabbed Mouri’s arm and pulled him toward their mounts.

Mitsuhide didn’t know if he should be grateful or resentful of the courtesy. Now he was alone with his love, and his heart trembled near to shattering. Conflicting emotions tore at him. Jealousy and worry, love, anxiety, doubt . . . he couldn’t let any of it show.

His little one dismounted, beckoning for him to follow. Reluctantly, he did.

Her face was angelic in the starlight. Like a spirit. The silver moon shone in her eyes as she looked up at him. “Mitsuhide, I want you to have this.”

It was hard to look away from her beauty to see what she held. When he did, his eyes widened. “This -!” The bellflower hairpin. He felt stunned, frozen in place. What did this mean? Why? His gaze lifted to meet hers.

She reached for him with her empty hand and touched his cheek. “This is my prayer for victory. Kyubei told me that’s what it symbolizes.” She pressed it into his hand. “I want you to keep it with you while we are apart. Don’t lose it though! It’s my only precious bellflower.”

Her smile was radiant.

“You are a wonder.” Mitsuhide could not stop a tear escaping his eyes, but she wiped it away with her thumb before it could fall. “I thought . . . I thought you would wish me goodbye in tears. Or -” Or tell him she’d had enough of this life, that the shadows around him were more than she could take.

His little mouse nodded. “I might have but I came to a few decisions about myself. Most importantly, that I’m tough enough to be by your side no matter what.”

He blinked. “You . . . decided that as you packed? And . . . read that letter?”

“Yep.” She laughed softly. “It’s funny, actually. I was beginning to doubt myself. I am not the kind of strong you are. I am not a warrior. But I am strong like me - you taught me that. To trust myself and my ideals.”

Her eyes were so warm, and Mitsuhide felt himself leaning into her touch.

“That letter from Yoshimoto reminded me of the things I’ve done. And all the lessons you taught me so that I could survive in this world. We make each other stronger.”

Mitsuhide put his arms around her, still holding the bellflower hairpin tightly. “All of that, you decided in such a short time, hm?”

She laughed again and nuzzled his chest. “It was already inside me, I’d just forgotten how to use it. And now I can access that strength when I need to.”

He stroked her hair, enjoying the closeness. His heartbeat was thundering in his chest, but the anxiety was fading. Leaving behind it only his love for her and the promise of a life together. How had he lost sight of that, even for a moment?

“I want you to remember your strength too. You don’t need to burn yourself out to protect me. Use your strength to fight your hardest. I will be here, waiting for you. Safe.”

Mitsuhide whispered her name into the night, full of his love for her. His heart in each syllable.

“Make sure you come back to me, Mitsuhide.”

His lips curled up in a genuine smile. “You surprised me again, little one.” He pulled away enough to see her expression. “Instead of tears, my weepy little mouse wishes me good fortune. With a smile like the sun.”

“Hey! Did you call me weepy?” Her laughter rang out, fierce and full of joy. “I’ll make you weep for that!”

“Mmm, and it is that fiery tongue and heart that never breaks that made me fall in love with you. Thank you for reminding me.” He tucked the bellflower beneath his armor to keep it safe. Then lifted her hand to his lips to press a kiss to her wrist, feeling the beat of her heart through her warm skin. It matched the rhythm of his own.

She shivered at the touch and her cheeks pinked. A reaction he loved to see. It made him wish for homecoming sooner rather than later.

“You’ve shown me resolve, beloved. And as your future husband, I must show you I can do at least as much. I will return to you.”

His little one studied his face for a moment, her eyes bright. “I love you.”

“You should save those words for my return.” He felt his grin widen but he couldn’t help himself. “Because when I do, I will give you cause to say them so much that you grow tired of repeating yourself.”

He pulled her close once more, wanting to feel her warmth a little longer. Only knowing that Kennyo and Motonari stood a little ways off stopped him from doing more than holding her. “I promise you,” he said softly, his breath tickling her ear, “when I return, I will tease you mercilessly. I will tease you until all you can think of is my touch. And I still won’t stop . . .”

She took a deep, trembling breath. “I am looking forward to it. And you know . . . you aren’t the only one that can tease!” Then she stepped back. “I should let you leave. Good luck, Mitsuhide.”

His smile held his gratitude and love. With one last wave, he watched her mount her horse and turn back for the city gates.

“That’s one wide grin yer wearin’” Motonari chuckled as he approached. “Ya slipped her some -”

Kennyo’s growl cut him off before he could finish. “Speed and silence.”

“Yes, let’s not keep the shogun waiting,” Mitsuhide agreed. He should have been tired, but he felt full of vigor. This would not be easy - but he knew they could do it.

The three men mounted and rode into the night.

Next: Siege

[canyouhearthelight]

The Miys, Ch. 139

Day Two of the Food Festival!  This one has a specific request from @baelpenrose, which was fun to play with in the Low-Stim session (always on day 2).

To everyone who has reached out to tell me how much they are enjoying getting to see Sophia actually relax and just have fun for once.... Y’all are the best! It’s been fun writing it, too. 

New reader shout outs go to @corvallis, @penguin--person, @amphibiousuprising, @chip5-0, and I think @lostsoul8822. I think that’s everyone... If I missed you, please DM me, and I’ll add you to the next chapter.

On with the show!

The first day of the Festival, Conor and I ended up staying through not only Maverick’s shift but the one after, just so we could drag him to our favorite spots. Day two, however, Conor was on deck as Support Personnel as well as Maverick, and neither were assigned to me - for the first half of day two, we were in the Low Stim Mode, so I was pretty sure I could brave it on my own with everyone else’s proximity alerts and my own personal hyper-alertness preventing accidental bumps.

For me, the most exciting part was the different foods offered, and the fact that I could focus on just the food. Not having to ignore the other stimuli was a completely relaxing experience. The visual of the mural, with everything present, was still completely different in the even, indirect lighting. The dual nature of it was toned down significantly, leading to the overall feel being softer and overall more pleasant without being distracting.

Halfway through a very good pad thai, I spotted Derek and Sam sitting with Ivan and poking at something that Sam was clearly excited about and Derek was equally doubtful of. I circled around so they could see me approaching, and made a point to wave. “What do you think?” I asked, trying to sign as I spoke but hampered by the food in my hands.

“It was a good try,” Derek confessed, cheeks stuffed with something that had previously been on a plate to his left as a backup plan.

Setting my food down, I grinned mischievously. “Doing my best,” I signed, leading to laughter on all sides.

“You just told him you do him the best,” Ivan murmured, my face immediately flooding red.

“That is NOT what I meant,” I tried to explain out loud, over-enunciating while I clenched my hands in embarrassment.

To his credit, Derek signed what he seemed to understand I meant, emphasizing each sign. It was clear that I had gotten several out of order and added one that changed everything overall.

After repeating the signs and getting confirmation, I shook my head and sighed dramatically. “I tried.”

Ivan was trembling with laughter. “You. You did,” he admitted. “But that was… wow.” His head dropped on his hands as he shook silently.

“Souffle pancakes?” I offered, finger spelling the word souffle since I had no freaking clue how to actually sign it.

“Egg pancake,” Derek explained, poking the one I offered and contemplating the jiggle.

“It’s cinnamon sugar, and not gooey,” I explained.

Apparently I got that one right, because Derek immediately stabbed a piece and shoved it in his mouth.  The only judgement I needed was the fact that he dragged the entire remaining pancake onto his plate.

Sam watched his roommate before contemplating his own sample. Before he could even ask, I held up a cup full of macerated berries. “And fruit topping for you, sir.”

“Are those my berries?” he asked, skeptical.

I shook my head. “Bog standard, from the consoles. Your vegetables and fruits are being used in the other shifts. We didn’t want to give anyone here unexpected tastes.”

He nodded and dumped the entire cup of fruit over his pancake, digging in happily.

Ivan batted his eyes at me until I explained. “Sam’s produce has… unexpected pairings. Tomatoes that pair with cheesecake and wines, strawberries that really go well with steak…”

“The mango that goes with beer but not fish?”

“Yeah, that one. Von soil does strange things to produce, turns out.”

“Those matcha-edamame are amazing though.”

“For ice cream, yes. For tea, less so. They’re like… cooking matcha, almost.” I laughed. They actually worked better for ice cream than matcha did, oddly - reducing the sugar content but still giving the same flavor.

“One vendor on the last day is using nothing but my produce,” Sam announced happily. “They asked my permission.”

“That’s good!” I encouraged him. “They should always ask your permission to do things like that.”

“People ask with requisition forms,” he agreed. “Mona asked in person.”

Note to self: much more patronage at Mona’s normal spot, I swore in my head.  She specialized in vegetarian dishes, and honestly made some of the best fried cabbage I’d had in my life.  Knowing that she was so considerate of Sam cemented her as my new favorite takeaway place.

After a little more chat, I finally waved my goodbyes to everyone and strolled slowly to the next tempting stall. I wasn’t really in any hurry, and did more people-watching than I did eating. Latkes were infinitely more interesting when I could overhear people arguing over family recipes.  A small bowl of udon was delicious, but not nearly as flavorful as the discussion around hot versus cold, what to top them with, egg or no egg… the only thing anyone seemed to agree on was that the smiling vendor ‘obviously’ ground their own flour, because the flour provided by the consoles was the wrong texture.

Another mental note: don’t learn to make udon.  Despite what I had previously believed, it takes a lifetime to make it right, turns out.

Wandering further down, I was delighted by the discovery of something that was very clearly Hannah’s doing: demonstrations of older food prep techniques.  Simon winked at me as he carried on a demonstration of - insanely - how to hand pull toffee. I didn’t know he could do that. Muna was demonstrating the correct way to make chapatis and handing them out as fast as she was making them. Clearly, she had been making them her whole life, because at no point did I actually see her look at them, but every single one was perfect.

Laughter erupted over my shoulder, and I whipped my head around to see the source. After wading through a crowd of smiling faces, I couldn’t help but join in.  There, right in front of the entire Ark, was Maverick trying to flip takoyaki as fast as the person demonstrating, and ending up with just a mess of octopus and batter on his side.  Both Maverick and the person guiding him were smiling, though, and in the end, the vendor handed Maverick four perfectly-round balls and quickly devoured all of the - less shapely, so to speak - ones on my partner’s side.  With an exuberant cheer and extending his arms wide to the crowd, the man exclaimed “The first takoyaki of a new student are always my favorite! Nothing tastes better!”

After bowing to his sensei, Maverick turned and spotted me, face still flushed with laughter.  He offered his food to a smaller man I did not recognize, who must have been the person Maverick was Supporting, before waving to me and continuing on.  Despite the urge to crush him in a hug, I forced my feet to stay in place and reminded myself that he was working.

By the time I trusted myself not to race after him, I realized someone had been trying to get my attention and had resorted to messaging me rather than shouting. “Phee, I don’t know what la-la land you are lost in, but look 100 yards to your four.”

The hell was Arthur doing here? He wasn’t scheduled to work this shift, as far as I was aware.  Craning my neck over my shoulder, I turned to see… Apparently a hallucination. It had to be.  There was no chance in any of the nine hells that Arthur Farro was dishing out spaghetti, much less smiling while doing it.

Almost dreamlike, I found myself drifting over to confirm that I was wrong, only to be startled when he shoved a plate with not only spaghetti but two gorgeous pieces of garlic bread under my nose. “Special plates, you can’t smell anything unless it’s on purpose.”

“You… Spaghetti?” I asked, eloquent as ever.

“Family recipe.”

“Leaning into the stereotype a bit, aren’t you?” I asked carefully before shoving as much of one thick, crusty piece of toast in my mouth as I could.

He shook his head. “Anyone who tells you their family is Italian and denies having a family recipe for anything is a damned liar.”

Skeptically, I took a bite. It was amazing. “Ah ee deh rehahee,” I tried to get out around the heap of pasta I was steadily shoving in my mouth.

“Maverick is a very bad influence on your table manners,” he observed drily, plating more portions and handing them out. “And no. Not happening.”

“You know I can cook.”

“Not the point. I also know that you will fiddle with it until it is unrecognizable, so there’s really no point in giving it to you.”

Defiantly, I took a smaller bite and chewed carefully. “Garlic, onions, obviously. Sausage and minced… Lamb? But that’s probably just for this session, knowing you it’s spicy sausage regularly.  I’m not getting carrot, though, so no soffritto? Unexpected…. Is that thyme, I’m tasting?”

“Rosemary, you heathen. And you’re still wrong.”

I mumbled to myself. “What did I get wrong? It’s gotta be the lamb… maybe he does usually use the lamb? I’m certain it is lamb…”

“It is lamb, and no, I don’t usually use it. But you left several things out.”

I stared at the plate again, confused. “I didn’t think I needed to mention the tomatoes….”

“Basil… oregano….” he drawled.

“Duhhh?” I poked through the last bite on my plate, sniffing it, trying to figure out what I was missing. “Fine, you win, I’m lost.”

“Mushrooms, Sophia. There’s mushrooms. Jeezus. It was an easy one, too.”  He showed me a bowl full of what looked like cooked and crumbled sausage, only for me to realize it was the tiniest diced mushrooms I had ever seen in my life.

“I am dying to know how you got them that small.”

“With a knife?” He arched an eyebrow at me as he turned to start another batch of sauce.

“Yeah, no shit, Arthur.”

“Correct, there is no shit in the spaghetti,” he confirmed cheekily as the vegetables started sizzling.

“Asshole,” I laughed, scraping the remaining sauce from my plate with the piece of bread I saved just for that purpose. Just as I was frowning at the sauce-less plate and remaining half-piece of bread, a scalding hot dollop of fresh sauce invaded my vision.

“You love me, because I won’t let you frown at your bread like that.”

Fiiiinnnne I sighed in my head as I shoved a piece of saucy, saucy bread into my cheeks and waggled my fingers to let him get back to work.

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[quillsandtypos]

Ours Stars Collided- Part 2

Summary: As our reader, a musically gifted high school junior, navigates life she realizes not everything goes as planned. She didn't plan on getting close with Julie's band. But not any band, her band is made up of ghosts. But is the afterlife enough to keep her feelings in check towards the main guitarist?

Words: 3.8k

Pairing: luke patterson x reader

Warnings: none

...........................................

“Hey, you ready?” you asked.

“Yeah, just let me grab my stuff,” Julie answered.

She pulled the emoji covered backpack out of her locker and shut it.

“Alright, you ready?” she questioned, as she let you lead the way.

“Yes, and no,” you said, with a nervous smile.

She placed her hand on your shoulder. “You got this, besides, you’re in good hands with Luke,” she reassured you.

“No doubt about that, it’s just a matter of whether I’ll embarrass myself or not.”

She smiled genuinely at you. “You got this, trust me.”

You held the door open for her.

“That car is yours, right?” She pointed across the parking lot.

“Yep, that’s the one.”

You unlocked it and threw your bag in the back, before getting into the drivers side.

“Alright, whatcha wanna listen to?”

Julie paused in thought before hesitantly asking, “You know who Lizzo is right?”

“Oh my god yes! You listen to her too?” you excitedly asked.

“Yes! How could you not listen to Lizzo!”

“Lizzo it is then!”

The first song was Soulmate, followed by Tempo which the two of you practically yelled, and the third song was Like a Girl. When Truth Hurts came on you both gasped and made eye contact through wide eyes.

Soon enough your sound system was blaring through the car and the two of you were belting the lyrics.

“Help you witchya career just a little,” you sang. Then you pointed to Julie to take the next part.

“You supposed to hold me down but you holding me back and that’s the sound of me not calling you back!” Julie was somewhere in between belting and yelling and still managing to sound good.

Then the both of you took the chorus. “Why men great till they gotta be great, don’t text me tell it straight to my face!

You were both animatedly pumping your fists with bright smiles as you finally rolled into her driveway.

Julie opened the studio doors to the boys all sitting there, ready to go. “Well you guys certainly look like you were having fun,” Reggie commented, smiling.

“We did,” you agreed.

“But now it means that break time is over for you guys,” Julie teased them.

Alex had already poofed over to the drums before she said anything.

“Yes ma’am!” Reggie said, getting off the couch.

Luke had a playful smile on his face. “We were the ones working on a new song, so I think that means the break is up for you,” he teased.

You couldn’t help but notice their closeness in that moment, you tried not to; but a small part of you couldn’t help but wish that was you.

Julie just rolled her eyes at him and walked to her piano to put her bag down. And just like that the moment was over.

After you and Julie had settled in and warmed up your voices and practiced a bit with your instruments, you figured you should probably figure out what you were doing.

“So do you guys want me to sing, or play, or listen?” you asked.

They all looked over at you, but Luke was the first to speak. “I can show y/n a couple of the songs with her while you guys run through Bright. Then we can see how she fits into that?” Luke brainstormed.

He held eye contact with you for a few moments before shifting to his other bandmates to gage their reactions.

“Sure! Sounds good to me,” Alex offered.

“Yeah you guys can go sit up in the loft if you want, just so you won’t be distracted by us,” Julie suggested.

“Yeah, sure, come on newbie, let’s see what you got, shall we?” He gestured to the stairs, and allowed you to go first.

“Don’t you already know what I’ve got since you technically already heard me play?” you said, as you ascended the stairs with your guitar.

“Yeah, but that one doesn’t technically count since it wasn’t in here,” he argued.

You paused and turned around, as you desperately tried to fight the smile forming on your lips. “Well technically you shouldn’t break into someone’s room and watch them play without knowing, so,” you trailed off.

“And to think I wanted you to be in the band,” he tutted, with no malice in his voice.

You couldn’t hide the grin on your face now, so you instead choose to plop down on the floor and start on your guitar.

“Alright I’m gonna show you the first couple chords that I have for Bright,” he explained as his fingers effortly slid across his guitar. You watched as he repeated it a couple times before joining him.

He looked up at you as he continued to play. “You’re a fast learner,” he commented.

“Eh, I’m just a visual learner.”

“That must help, I mean with the music school that you and Julie go to. It must be easier to learn things,” he guessed. He continued watching you play.

“Well I mean yes, I go to the same school as Julie but I’m not in the music program,” you admitted.

Luke abruptly stopped playing. “What?”

“Yeah, I wasn’t able to get in.” You were getting somewhat embarrassed.

“Seriously?” he asked in disbelief.

“Seriously,” you confirmed.

“How could they not let you in? I mean you obviously belong there,” he insisted. He sounded slightly upset about the situation.

“There are plenty of people in that school that are much better than me Luke, trust me,” you reassured him.

He leaned forward slightly which forced you to make eye contact with him. He looked quite somber but his eyes seemed to reflect a sort of light; it was as if he was looking through your soul with how intense his gaze was. “I doubt that,” he said.

You nervously swallowed and hoped he didn’t notice. “Thank you,” you uttered quietly, though it did not obstruct the feeling in your voice.

“You’re welcome.” His gaze tore away from yours. You were half relieved and half disappointed.

“So you ready to learn the rest of the song?” He said, breaking the rest of the momentary silence in the loft.

“Whenever you are.”

“Is she show ready?” Julie asked as you walked back down the steps twenty minutes later.

“I think she can manage,” you responded. You sounded more confident than you felt.

“Alright, let’s start Bright from the top. Y/n I want you to sing the chorus, pre-chorus, the second verse and then out to the end of the song, except for the bridge. Luke I’m gonna have you not sing, just for this one. And I will sing the intro, chorus, pre-chorus, the bridge, and verse one. Y/n just sing on this one, we’re not gonna add your guitar yet,” she explained.

You were glad she had a plan, so you at least knew what you were doing. You attempted to shake out your nerves a little bit and Julie gave you a thumbs up from her piano.

She started her intro and of course she sounded amazing. Luckily, you had listened to their song before so you knew when you needed to come in.

“Life is a risk but I will take it

Close my eyes and jump, together I think that we can make it

Come on let’s run”

The guys joined in with their instruments as the two of you reached the chorus. You started to relax through the chorus until you remembered that you would be singing on your own in a couple seconds. Pulling up your previous lesson from Luke in your mind, you tried to remember how high he had you sing it, it wasn’t quite Julie’s level but it was definitely higher than his. You once again made eye contact with Luke who mouthed ‘you got this’ with a determined look on his face. You heard the drums starting to quiet slightly and you knew you were up.

“In times that I doubted myself

I felt like I needed some help

Stuck in my head with nothing left

I feel something around me now

So unclear, lifting me out

I found the ground I’m marching on”

You were once again back with Julie’s voice as she came to stand beside you. You turned to face one another and sang with a harmony you were quite certain you hadn’t heard before. She was practically glowing with happiness and you couldn’t help but reflect that same joy on your own face.

As her individual part finished up again the two of you sung the final parts of the song as you went low on the last bright as she sung her iconic high note. The music faded and you couldn’t help but cheer a little bit.

Julie pulled you into a tight hug. “See I told you you’d be amazing!”

You returned the hug. “Thank you, but you should seriously hear yourself. You are so talented.”

“She’s right y/n you sounded really good,” commented Alex from the back; Reggie nodded in agreement.

“Thanks Alex,” you replied. A small smile was on your face and a certain amount of heat was creeping up to your cheeks from the levels of attention on you.

Luckily, Julie quickly took it off of you. This time she was going to have you play a version of Luke’s part on the guitar but complimented it as he sang; which you were grateful for because it meant you could take a background seat for a minute.

Julie started up on her piano again. This time you were waiting for the chorus to start, and as it did you almost forgot what you were doing when Luke started singing. Sure you had heard him sing this song in full once before. But damn could that boy sing.

It wasn’t until the chorus hit that things started to go wrong for you. You once again couldn’t help but notice their closeness, or the way they looked at each other. You continued on playing but you would be lying if you said it was with the same energy you had minutes ago.

The final chorus hit and your face had fallen all the way from buzzing with joy to mopey. You noticed Reggie creeping up from your right and your spirits were slightly raised as you watched him awkwardly wink at you and walk over to finish the rest of the song with you. For a second he made you forget all about your moment of sadness. As you finished up the last of the chords with each other you ended up back to back towards the end of it, for dramatic effect. Alex laughed as the song ended and he noticed the stance you and Reggie had chosen.

“What?” Reggie grinned.

“That was awesome!” you yelled, high fiving him

“Yeah it was!” he said, mirroring your enthusiasm.

“Ya know I think she’ll fit in quite nicely,” Luke observed. You could’ve sworn you saw him smirk and his eyes move slightly, but it was only for a moment.

Julie smiled in a slightly mischievous way. “I think she will too,” Julie agreed, as if you weren’t in the room listening to their conversation.

“You guys know I’m right here right?” you quipped from the other side of the room.

“Yeah I know, but I have a LOT of homework so we gotta wrap this up.”

“I can do that!” You raced over to the couch to get your stuff.

“Gentleman and Julie, it was lovely playing with you and I will see you all tomorrow,” you said as you waved goodbye. They all waved back as you pulled out of her driveway.

It turned out that heavy homework wednesdays were becoming a thing for Julie because in the following week she was told she wasn’t allowed to have band practice until her homework was done. She said something about her dad not being too happy about her staying up till twelve doing it. Though Julie didn’t sound so happy about it either, for obvious reasons; but she did of course want to have band practice, so she promised all of you she would be done as quick as possible. But she still needed a ride home, and Flynn’s house was on the way to your house, so you offered to drive her too.

Flynn called shotgun which Julie groaned about, but she took the back. You turned on Lizzo before putting the park in reverse to get out of the parking lot and driving off.

“So how is your new spot in the phantoms going?” Flynn asked.

“I would say pretty good, but I’ll let Julie answer that one.”

“She’s doing really well, her and Luke have really figured out how to compliment one another on the guitars, and she gets along great with all of them,” Julie responded.

“Well I think they might, maybe, just maybe, be keeping you,” Flynn told you, sarcastically.

“Thank god they are, I don’t know what I would’ve done if they hadn’t," you worried aloud.

“Probably would’ve still thought you were insane,” Flynn suggested with a shrug.

“Harsh! But, yeah, probably,” you admitted, laughing a little bit, and the other two joined you.

“At least now I can get people off my back about me and Luke,” Julie spoke. Flynn pointed at her in acknowledgement.

Now that peaked your interest. “What?” you asked, trying to sound nonchalant about it.

Julie casually waved you off. “Oh just people thinking Luke and I are together.”

You thought you were going to jump up and down from excitement, “Wait, you guys aren’t together?” You hoped you didn’t sound as excited as you felt.

Julie had a borderline concerned look on her face. “Ohhhhh definitely not, we are just friends, and neither of us want to be anything more. I mean don’t get me wrong, I see the appeal, but he’s not my type,” she explained.

“Yeah cause her type is Nick,” Flynn sang, snapping her fingers.

Suddenly a lightbulb clicked. “Was that the guy you were talking to by your locker the day Luke saw me?”

Julie facepalmed in embarrassment. “Yes.”

“See she’s not even denying it,” Flynn pointed out.

“That’s true,” you agreed, looking through your rear mirror at your bandmate.

Flynn's face suddenly turned from mischievous evil to somehow even more evil. “Though I mean we could instead talk about how you obviously think Luke is cute.”

Now that took you by surprise. “I do not!” you insisted.

Flynn’s eyes got slightly larger with her raised eyebrows and she pursed her lips. “Okay so we’re lying now?” she teased.

Julie laughed before slamming her hand over her mouth. “Flynn stop, if she says she doesn’t like him then she doesn’t.”

“Thank you Julie.” You specifically enunciated Julie and Flynn stuck her tongue out at you. And just as she did you turned onto Julie’s road.

You waved goodbye to Julie, wishing her luck with her homework. And then went to drop Flynn off before arriving home yourself.

You rummaged through the fridge to find something and you managed to settle on an orange before also finding hummus and pretzels.

You sat down in your empty kitchen and took a bite of a hummus covered pretzel, and realize you forgot to get water. You turned around to come face to face with Luke…. again.

“HOLY SHIT!” you yelled. It wasn’t your first time but it didn’t mean it wasn’t just as scary.

“Sorry didn’t mean to scare you,” he said, not looking very sorry at all.

“You have got to stop doing that.” You walked past him and by that you mean you accidentally walked through him. You turned back to him for a moment to see if he was okay but he seemed to be looking at you curiously so you assumed he was fine.

“No promises, remember? It’s kinda a ghost thing,” he reminded you as he followed you around your kitchen.

“Okay well what do you and your ghost thing want?” you asked, immediately regretting your choice of words. You could practically feel his smirk from behind you.

“Did you just-” he started but you cut him off.

“Nope, no, no I didn’t. What do you want Luke?” You were trying to pivot and luckily, he took the bait.

“Well, can you come to the studio?” he asked.

“Yes, I was already going to be coming there later.” You were getting slightly confused.

“No, I mean like now,” Luke explained.

“Why?” you asked, finally sitting back down with your water.

“We’re bored,” he confessed, slouching on your table.

“You came here to tell me you’re bored?” you giggled.

“Well I guess technically, yes, so can you come?” he impatiently asked. He just looked restless. Though you supposed being in a garage for a large majority of your day and only having two other people to talk to would do that to a person, or ghost in this case. But unfortunately, you still couldn’t come.

“Sorry Luke, I already told my parents I would be leaving later tonight, and I don’t wanna have to switch plans on them,” you apologized.

“Oh come on, your parents aren’t even home,” he pointed out.

“I’m well aware, but I try to keep my promises to them,” you defended. Though he looked so goddamn cute at the moment you could feel your will power breaking.

“It’ll be fun!” he promised. He must’ve known that his smile could get to you because when you looked at him you swore it had grown three sizes.

“Tempting, but I’m gonna have to pass.”

“Please?” he asked. You looked him in the eyes, which was a big mistake because he was giving you a puppy face. I mean it’s not like you already thought he was cute, but this? This was on a whole nother level. His lips were in a slight pout as his head was tilted doward just a smidge, and his blue eyes mocked sadness, in a way that was just unbearable.

“Okay, okay, fine,” you agreed, you tried to sound annoyed but it didn’t work in the slightest.

“Yes!” he shouted.

“Just let me grab my keys, wait, can you even go in a car?” Could he even get in the car? Could he get in the car, and then his physical state or lack thereof, could suddenly go away and he wouldn’t be sitting in the car anymore? But Luke’s voice interrupted your hypotheticals.

“How about I just meet you there?” Luke suggested.

“Good idea,” you agreed.

Ten minutes later you had pulled up to Julie’s house and entered the studio. “Oh hey Reggie,” you greeted, taking a seat on the couch.

“Oh hi y/n! Are you here to practice with us, or? Not that I mind you being here,” he quickly stammered out.

“It’s fine, you’re okay Reggie, I know I’m not usually here unless it’s for practice. But yeah, I’m just here to hang out.”

“Oh, cool!”

“So where’s everybody else?” you asked.

“Well I think Alex is with Willie and I’m actually not sure where Luke is,” he answered.

“I wonder wh-” you started, but you had a feeling that someone had landed beside you.

Which, of course Luke had, and practically right on time too.

“Sorry, I was just checking on Julie and seeing how much homework she has,” Luke explained.

“How’s it looking?” you asked.

“Not so great, she still has a lot left to go,” Luke admitted.

You shrugged. “Well I’ve got nowhere to be.”

And for the next two hours or so the three of you sat there and talked about all sorts of things, from mundane things, to really deep things, to things they missed the most about being alive. Which mostly consisted of food, not that you blamed them.

Soon enough Luke went to go check up on Julie again.

“Are you cold?” Reggie asked you.

“No,” you lied.

“Dude, I can see you, you’re literally shivering.”

“Yeah, I forgot to grab a jacket before I left my house,” you admitted.

“Here-” he threw a jacket at you, “wear this one, it’s nice and warm.”

“Reggie you really don’t have to-” you started, but he insisted; and you were pretty cold so you gave in.

In a couple of minutes Luke returned to the same spot.

“How’s it looking now?” you asked.

“I don’t think she’s gonna,” Luke suddenly stopped mid sentence to glance over at you, “nice jacket y/n.” For whatever reason, he had a very interesting look on his face, to say the least.

“Thanks, Reggie lent it to me.”

“Oh is that so?” he asked, now turning to look at Reggie, who looked slightly frightened.

“Um, yes?” you said, though it was more of a question.

Luke turned to you, “Y/n?”

“Yeah?” you responded.

“You know that’s my jacket right?” he asked.

Now you also turned to stare down Reggie, “What was your intent with this-”

“Wait what’s his full first name?” you asked Luke in a whisper.

“Reginald,” he whispered back.

“What was your intent with this Reginald?” you asked.

“I have no idea what you guys are talking about,” Reggie said, looking up at the ceiling.

Luke took one step towards him and Reggie yelped before poofing out.

“Why does he keep offering up your stuff?” you laughed.

He scoffed, “I wish I knew.” It seemed like he did know but you weren’t going to press him on it.

“Oh, here, you can have your jacket back now.” You awkwardly handed it over to him.

“Oh, thanks. You did look good in it though, by the way,” he casually mentioned.

You were pretty sure your brain just shut down for a couple seconds. “What?” you asked, you were still working to catch up with what just happened.

“I said, you looked good in it,” he repeated, as his voice was becoming soft and slightly deeper.

“Thanks,” you managed to mumble out. But meanwhile you thought your face was on fire.

“Oh also you might wanna head home, Julie said she’s not gonna be able to practice tonight,” he mentioned.

“I probably should, but hey, I’ll see you tomorrow!” you yelled as you left the studio.

“See ya!” he yelled and waved.

By the time you got home there was a note on the kitchen table, ‘Don’t worry I cleared it with Luke this time -signed Reggie’ and next to the note sat the jacket. You laughed quietly to yourself before taking the note and the jacket upstairs with you.