#The kids are in college and havin' a good time

[hwsforeignrelations]

Everybody learns at their own pace everybody learns in their own time everybody everybody learns at the time best for them everybody-

[thebearer]

can you make a fic of teenage teddy and (beekeeping age) carm?? like how their relationship would be and his reaction to her growing up so fast 😭

beekeeping age plzzzz lmao. he would be dilflicious and you all know he would!!! no real tw besides teenage teddy, underage drinking, and mentions to mikey???

"Cousin," Richie's voice was eerily calm on the other line. Carmen's eyes sprung open, sitting up in the bed, the grogginess from sleep was gone. "Don't freak out."

"What's goin' on? What happened?" Carmen didn't listen to Richie's advice, snatching the clock to see the time- three-twenty-two am.

"I said don't freak out, alright?" Richie tried again, the tone he used when he was about to tell Carmen something that would make him go nuclear.

"Don't fuck with me right now. What's goin' on?" Carmen's heart was hammering, shimmying on his sweat pants.

"Carm," You muttered, groggy and rasping through sleep. "What's wrong?"

"Go to sleep, baby. I got it." Carmen muttered, pressing a kiss to your head, hand stroking down your cheeks, the impressions of your pillow pressed into your still warm skin.

"Richie, I'm not fuckin' around anymore, ok? What's goin' on?" Carmen hissed, shutting the door softly, padding down the dark hall.

"Carmen, I want to remind you that we have all been teenagers before. Very young, very stupid." Richie hummed.

Carmen's spine went rigid, icy fear shooting through his nervous system. His eyes flickered up the stairs. Teddy.

"Where are you?" Carmen snatched his keys and coat, patting the pocket to make sure his Spirits were in there- he deserved one, he could already tell.

"I'm at my house, but listen- it's not bad, ok?" Richie tried again, his voice raising a little higher to emphasize over Carmen's ramblings.

"What did she do? Is she ok?" Carmen snapped, slamming the car door shut and tearing out of the garage like a lunatic, pulling onto the unusually calm Chicago streets, tearing towards Richie's house.

Carmen was buzzing- maybe with rage, maybe with fear, maybe both. The fifteen year old had managed to sneak out, going to some party with Eva, who was a sophomore at UIC now. The two had always been close, and now that Eva was in college, they were even closer. How Teddy managed to talk her cousin into bringing her to a college party, no one was sure. The campus police busted it up and found Teddy there, making her call her parent to come get her. Carmen tried to ignore the sinking in his chest that Teddy had called Richie over him.

Teddy looked entirely too old sitting on Richie's couch, in a sweatshirt that clearly covered up whatever she was wearing.

"Go." Carmen gave a sharp jerk of his head, pushing the front door open. "Go to the car."

"Dad, I-"

"-Now, Dorothea." Carmen snapped, tracking her with furious eyes while she stomped out the door.

Richie waited until the car door shut to snicker. "That kid," He pointed towards Carmen's car. "Fuckin' Mikey reincarnated, cousin."

"Don't." Carmen shook his head. "Don't fuckin' say that."

"Cousin, hey, woah. I meant that as a compliment, what's the matter with you?" Richie held his hands up in defense.

"A compliment? Mikey was a fuckin' drug addict and blew his brains out-"

"-Carmen, hold up." Richie cut him off, wide eyes that steadied Carmen's shaking nerves. "You... You fuckin' know I would never... Carm." Richie sighed, rubbing a hand over his face. "Mikey wasn't always a junkie or-or addicted to that shit, ok? I know you fuckin' know that."

Carmen could feel his heart drop, the lump growing thicker and thicker in his throat. It had been years now since Mikey's death, but there were still times it would hit Carmen. Crashing, furious waves that had his chest tightening at the thought.

"Teddy... she's a fuckin' funny kid, alright? That's all I meant. She reminds me of Mikey when we were in high school. Doin' stupid shit and havin' fun. She's a kid, and she's a good kid. Better than Mikey, actually, she's got a better head on her shoulder." Richie said. Carmen didn't move, just let him talk.

"It's not a bad thing to say she's like Mikey. She's a good kid and so was he. He... I mean, he fucked up bad and got all fucked up, but... he was always still good."

"Yeah," Carmen croaked, wiping his nose to hide his emotions. He could see Teddy in the passenger seat, head pressed against the window, scrolling 'sneakily' through her phone (the glare gave her away).

"She didn't snitch on Eva, you know that?" Richie snorted lightly. "Cops asked her who she was with, and she said she was just walkin' by and saw it."

Carmen rolled his eyes. Richie grinned. "That's some Mikey shit right there, don't even say it's not."

"It is." Carmen nodded. "Thanks f'pickin' her up."

"C'mon," Richie shook his head. "Go easy on her, Carm. She's a kid."

Carmen waved him off, hands balled in his jacket when he got in the car. Teddy glanced at him carefully, while Carmen backed out of the drive.

They both didn't say anything, Richie's words ringing around his head. "You hungry?" Carmen muttered.

"What?" Teddy squeaked, a little surprised at his calm demeanor.

"You hungry?" Carmen asked, looking over at her. She wasn't the little toddler that used to clamber around The Bear in plastic heels. No, she was growing up. Older now, looking more like you every single day.

"Yeah." Teddy muttered.

Carmen turned into a diner, a twenty-four-seven one he'd taken you when the two of you were younger. Way younger, before kids, before you ever really even knew each other- when your relationship was new and exciting.

It was dingier now, still smelled like old grease and batter. The coffee was still burnt when it was poured into his cup. Teddy still ordered chocolate chip pancakes which made Carmen's heart swell.

"Hey," Carmen muttered, catching a reflection of his own eyes staring back at him, on a face that looked so much like yours. "I, uh, I want you to know if you ever... If you're ever in a situation like that again, you know you can call me or mom."

Teddy blinked back at him, careful and waiting. "We're not... I mean, we're not gonna be mad if you ever need us, ok? You can always call me if you need to- you should always call me if you need to."

Teddy nodded slowly, twirling her straw around her glass. "So... you're not mad?" She asked hesitantly.

Carmen snorted lightly. "I'm not thrilled, but I'm not mad." He said. "I'm glad you're ok."

Teddy nodded again, lips twisting in thought- just like you did. "So does that mean I'm not in trouble?"

Carmen smirked. "What do you think, kid?" He snorted, shaking his head. Teddy's face fell slightly, face falling in a sullen pout but she nodded anyways.

Carmen made sure Teddy was in her bed when they got home, tucking her in with a kiss to her head, like he always did when she was little. You felt the bed dip, turning towards Carmen's warm chest, his arms finding your waist easily. He smelled faintly like cigarette smoke, stale grease.

"What was wrong with the restaurant?" You muttered, eyes still closed, face burying against his chest.

Carmen would let you think it was the restaurant, at least until the morning. No reason to worry you when Teddy was back home safe. "I got it handled, baby. Go back to bed." His hand slid down your hair, your body melting into his easily.

Carmen lied awake, holding you against his chest, thinking back to Mikey. The good times with Mikey, when he was loud and fun and carefree, always messing with Carmen and just fun. Thinking back to the Mikey he was before. He missed his brother, he did, but Richie was right- Teddy had so many similarities to him, all the good ones. The thought made Carmen comforted, that he still had a part of his brother's spirit still here with him, little reminders of Mikey in his daughter.

[ladamedusoif]

A Cup of Kindness, Yet

Part of the Pickled Peña Writing Challenge

(Challenge graphics and images by @musings-of-a-rose and @trulybetty - thank you!)

Pairing: Javier Peña x F!Reader

Word Count: 2191

Warnings: Alcohol; smoking; strong language (it’s Javi); post-S3 of Narcos; no physical descriptions of Reader; no use of Y/N. 

Rating: Teen

Summary: Another Auld Lang Syne in Laredo, two decades after you last saw in a new year with Javier.

A/N: My submission for the Pickled Peña Writing Challenge organised by @goodwithcheese and the rest of the @pickled-pena collective - thank you for organising this event, everyone! I can't wait to read all the different submissions for these really challenging prompts, and hope you enjoy my contribution.

(PS: if you enjoy this story please follow my writing blog @ladameecrit and turn on notifications - I'm also on AO3.)

“Well? What do you think?”

She twirls around in a black velvet dress, its long sleeves sprinkled with little rhinestones. You have to hand it to her - for a widow in her sixties, your mom still knows how to do glamour. 

It’s a pity the same can’t be said for her daughter. You’ve been schlubbing around the house all throughout the holidays in sweatpants, slouch socks, and your oversized college sweatshirt: the perfect “so your fiancé dumped you just before the holidays” cliche. 

“You look great, mom. You always do.”

She casts an eye over your attire, your messy hair, your bare face. “You could get dressed and come with me, you know. Might meet someone new? You never know on New Year’s Eve…”

You roll your eyes. “Mom, if you think I’m going to meet the love of my life on New Year’s Eve in Laredo - correction, in Laredo at the community dance - then have I got a bridge to sell you. You’re likely to be one of the hot young things there, going on the usual crowd it attracts.”

She swats at you with her black clutch. “I beg your pardon? I am one of the hot young things.” A final check in the mirror, a final pat to her perfectly-lacquered blow dry.

“All I’m saying is, you never know.”

“And all I’m saying is, this year I’m sticking to my New Year’s resolution: no more men.”

***

“Alright, pop. Have a good time - and no making out with girls down by the river!”

Chucho Peña shakes his head and smiles as he gets out of Javier’s truck, parked outside the community centre. “A pity you won’t join us, mijo,” the older man says, placing his stetson on his head. “You could do with the company.”

Javier shakes his head. “I’m fine, pop. You go and enjoy yourself. You know I don’t like New Year’s, anyway.”

He doesn’t. He never really did. As a kid he liked watching the countdown on TV with his parents and extended family, as a teen the last day of the year became a competition to find someone to make out with as the clock struck midnight. (Javi always excelled.)

But there was always something uncomfortable about the event, something that preyed on the melancholy aspects of his character. Maybe it was the forced celebrations, or the strangeness of marking the passing of time, or the pressure to be someone new - someone better - in the new year ahead. 

He’d been trying to be someone new for years, now. He never succeeded.

Back at the ranch, he flips idly through the TV channels and finds nothing to watch. A rumble in his tummy has him peering into the cold light of the refrigerator, confronted with a few cold cuts, cheese, and a half-eaten jar of pickles that’s been there forever. A solitary bottle of beer lurks on the refrigerator door. 

“Fuck this.”

He grabs his jacket and keys and heads for his truck.

***

The cashier rings up your two bottles of wine and places them in a plastic carrier bag. They’re young, probably not much older than sixteen, and their New Year’s Eve shift at the convenience store clearly isn’t setting their world alight. 

“Havin’ a party, huh,” they mumble as they hand you the bag. 

“Oh yeah,” you respond in a tone dripping with sarcasm, unable to keep your sass-mouth in check. “I’m having a huge party, with my two bottles of cheap Californian white.”

“Just makin’ conversation, lady. Y’all have a good night at your wine party, or whatever.”

You huff as you shove the plastic bag on the passenger seat and hop into your car, still rolling your eyes in misplaced frustration at the young cashier. You knew you were in the wrong, taking your heartbreak and loneliness out on a spotty kid working minimum wage. For a moment, you consider driving to a bar, seeking some sort of solace in the company of strangers.

But every bar in town would be celebrating, you remind yourself. The last thing you want is to ring in the new year being felt up by someone’s greasy uncle in an ill-fitting denim shirt and bolo tie, reeking of cheap whiskey. 

In that moment, the yellow glow emanating from the signage over the branch of Danny’s Restaurant, across the street, catches your eye like a beacon. 

Perfect.

***

Javier’s truck pulls into the parking lot of the convenience store, pausing to let a woman driving a beat-up compact pass on her way out. He’s got his heart set on a half-pounder and fries from Danny’s - extra pickles, extra mayo - but wants to pick up some beers and cigarettes first, to keep him going for the rest of the night.

The cashier rings up his six-pack and Marlboros, sighing as they place them in a bag. “Havin’ a party, huh,” the kid mutters, barely making eye contact with their customer.

“Pretty mean party, just a six-pack and a box of smokes,” Javier responds.

The kid stares up at him. “Whatever. Smokin’s bad for you, anyway.”

Javier wheels around as he exits the store. “I know. Don’t care. Quitting’s my New Year’s resolution so I gotta make the most of them tonight.”

***

“So that’s a Danny’s Special, hold the pickles, extra lettuce, and a Diet Coke?”

You nod up at the waitress and hand her the menu with a smile. You catch a glimpse of your reflection in the window of the restaurant, and for a moment you don’t recognise the woman you see.

When did you get so old, you wonder? Where did you - or at least, the you that used to be - go? 

Still, at least you’d put on some 501s, a fresh white scoop neck top, and a long-line cardigan for your first venture outside your family home in several days. Sure, it might just be for a trip to the convenience store and Danny’s, but even you had standards.

The waitress returns with your drink and the usual complimentary tray of chips and salsa. The restaurant is probably a little quieter than usual for this time of the evening: a couple of families in booths here and there, a few lone diners at the counter. As you nibble idly on the chips, you half-notice a dark-haired man coming through the door a little after you, placing his order quickly at the counter before he’s even been seated. 

It was just what you were after: no countdowns, no forced merriment, no crowds, but just enough hum and background noise to break up the silence that otherwise awaited you. 

“One Danny’s special.”

You thank the waitress and sigh with anticipation as you lift your burger, take your first bite, and find your mouth filled with the overpowering taste of pickles.

***

“Yes, ma’am?”

“Uh, I think my order got mixed up - I asked for no pickles, and this burger has…”

You become aware of the dark-haired man signalling to another staff member behind the counter, pointing at his burger in much the same way as you. 

There’s something familiar about him - about his body language, his profile, the way he carries himself. 

And then it hits you.

“Javi?”

***

How long has it been? Twenty years? Twenty-five?

No matter the number, when the shock of recognition has the power to jolt you back through time like this. Back to another New Year’s Eve, someone’s shitty house party, most of your senior year classmates wasted on cheap beer and tequila. Still an hour or two before midnight and already the party has split into two camps: the lovers, making out on every conceivable surface, and the fighters, yelling and screeching and walking off.

And then there were those who combined both roles, whose loving felt a lot like fighting and vice versa. 

Like Lorraine and Javi.

In your mind's eye, you're back in the upstairs hallway of that house, wearing your new flared jeans and ditsy print blouse and picking your way over classmates and half-drunk plastic cups of beer as you seek out the bathroom. 

A couple is rowing in one of the bedrooms, the door ajar enough for you to be able to peek in. 

You know you shouldn’t, but…

“You’re such a dick, Javi! You know what you did!”

Ah. Lorraine and Javi. Lovers and fighters.

“You stand there and accuse me, Lorraine, but where were you at the time?”

Lorraine tosses her perfect blonde hair indignantly.

“I’m not even going to dignify that with an answer. Fuck you, Javier.”

She doesn’t even notice you as she flounces out of the room. Same as it ever was. You’d always had a tendency to blend into the background. 

Javi notices you, though. “Did you enjoy the show?”

You step around the door and look in at him nervously. “I didn’t mean to overhear, but you guys were pretty loud…”

He’s got his back to you as he sits on the side of the bed, impossibly broad in his tight, striped shirt. 

You wander into the room and closer to him, emboldened by a couple of weak beers. “Are you okay?”

His dark eyes look into yours in surprise, as if he’s unused to being asked the question.

“I guess… it’s just - ah, fuck it. She seems to think I’m always cheating on her - and I’m not, I swear - but won’t explain why she’s gotta spend so much time ‘revising’ with other guys.”

“Maybe she’s just helping them prepare for the SATs?”

He looks at you, and you notice the sadness in his eyes. “Maybe. I dunno. She shouldn’t go off on me about this stuff, though.” He takes a swig from a bottle of beer and exhales. “Fuckin’ hate New Year’s.”

“Me too.” 

He huffs a laugh and smiles at you. “I’m in good company, then.”

You see in the new year sitting side by side on the back porch, sharing a small bottle of cheap bourbon and swapping stories about your plans for the future, your hopes and dreams.

Javier Peña tells you he’s going to change the world.

And then school starts again, and Lorraine and Javi make up, and that’s the last time you talk to him other than a mumbled “Hi” in the hallway now and again. 

Until tonight.

***

He slides into the seat opposite you and shakes his head with a smile. “All these years, and it took a mix-up about pickles to bring us back together again.”

You shrug, taking in the man he had become: handsome, charming, cool, even, but with the same lingering sadness haunting those beautiful eyes. 

“Of all the family restaurants in all of Texas,” you offer.

“You had to walk into mine,” he responds, taking the bait. “Or into this branch of Danny’s, at least.”

You tilt your head to look at him. “What’s a hero doing alone on New Year’s Eve, anyway?”

He rolls his eyes. “Not a hero. And don’t you remember? I don’t like New Year’s. Fuckin’ hate it, in fact. Told you that, all those years ago.”

“You did, didn’t you?” 

The waitress returns carrying your two freshly-prepared, correct orders and a large helping of apologies. “We’ll be sure to bring you over some more chips, too, and the drinks are on the house.”

Javier clinks his glass off yours. “Maybe this year is looking up already. What about you, anyway - what brings you back home?”

“My fiancé dumped me four days before Christmas,” you explain, dipping a French fry into a pot of chipotle mayo. “So what else is a girl to do but run home to mama, legal career or no legal career?”

“Fuck, that’s rough.” Javier seems genuinely sympathetic. He takes a bite of his burger and chews it thoughtfully. “So no New Year’s parties for you either, huh?”

You shake your head. “I would rather be dipped in boiling oil.”

He laughs, revealing the crinkles around his eyes that only serve to make him even more handsome as he enters middle age. Why do these little signs of ageing always look good on men, you wonder, but make a woman feel like she’s failed?

“Would you be opposed to a party for two?” he asks quietly. “Theme is: Fuck New Year’s.”

You grin. “Just like old times. Count me in.”

***

You hear the bells of San Agustín ringing in the new year from the back porch of your mother’s house. Javier clinks his whiskey tumbler off your glass of white wine. 

“A happy fuck new year’s to you.”

“And a happy fuck new year’s to you, too. You got any resolutions, Javi?”

He takes a long, satisfying drag on his cigarette before handing it to you. “Quit smoking. You?”

“No more men. Think you’ll stick to it?”

He raises an eyebrow at your resolution and smiles as he looks out into the night. “We’ll see. Hearing good things about those nicotine patches.” And then those penetrating, sad eyes are on you. “What about you? Think you’ll stick to your resolution?”

You meet his gaze and give him a knowing smile. “We’ll see. Might find someone worth breaking it for.”

[dabisbratz]

first of all the nerd!eren series is so good i can’t it’s just > <

i love the smutty aspects but now i’m curious about the fluffy aspects too. like i know he has a lot of… naughty… things on his mind but-

will rennie ask us out? or go on cute dates? is there romance behind all of his bold getures? i can’t help but think about how the relationship will develop during the story hehe

EEEE VBEEN DYIN T’TALK BOUT THIS AU!!

rennie has alwaysalways had a crush on you !! before even goin to marley university ( hehe ), since a lot of the ppl who go there are from the same small, gated town !! (the university’s in the city though of course !!) would say yguys were close as kids but grew apart young even though ywere neighbors!! jus led veryvery different lives!! n ywanted tbe known as an athlete, not a loser :c so ykinda jus repressed all that n built yourself back up.

n e ways, before ren started even thinkin. bout sex n stuff. he was a huge romance manga fan!! n while he still is, he doesn’t have it displayed very clearly in his room. .n tho he’s not a virgin, he’s only ever really had your eyes set on you !! so s’not like he went out of his way tlose his virginity, jus kinda happened, n the whole time he really only thought of you.

he experimented a lot with his feelins too ( thank u armin n mikasa ), n he realized what he felt fyou was a lot bigger than a crush, or admiration, or friendship !! cuz it jus.. never went away. even after enterin college. especially when he’d see you in class or around the hall or jus hear your name.. sometimes he’d go to your games tsee you, n he’d roll some dice tsee f’ you’d win (cutiepie!!)

his weird. . . horny behavior s’def his way of flirtin!! every hentai he’s ever shown you ends supersuper sweet, like the mcs gettin married/havin kids n somehow he Thinks. yget that that’s his romantic gesture but ydont even read manga, so how would yknow?? he’s a lil dummy . s’also why his aftercare is so slow n thorough (as it should be !!) , he jus wants tlook at you n keep you close f’as long as he can :c

n he has a lot more confidence when he’s angry or shovin your head down on his cock ໒꒰ྀིっ˕ -｡꒱ྀི১ so whether you’re fightin or fuckin, his confession sjus.. horrible timin !! a grunt of ‘you’re so pretty. i love you. iloveyouiloveyou—’

buuut hed act like he never said it :c he’s scared of bein rejected, gettin t’talk t’you n touch you again ‘s already a dream come true t’him!! n fyou were tsay ywere jus friends he’d get so upset. so upset!! eyes waterin n lip wobblin n angry. ‘wanna say that again? friends don’t fuck like we do’ he’s so dramatic !! but he knows he puts his love into it :cc n you do too

s’def a “he fell first but you fell harder” thing !! reader’s still wrappin his head around his sexuality, his relationship with eren?? his borderline commitment issues? his reputation? n his bad grades !! at first rennie’s this sudden n crazy breather from it all. like stress relief!! until he jus keeps poppin up— in person, in his head, in his music n interests n conversations!! n he realizes he’s never felt more loved than when eren’s jus lookin at him.

thaaat bein said!!! they would go on dates!! once s’all figured out, they’d turn everyday stuff into dates !! eatin together in the foodcourt, goin off campus durin holidays, study dates, goin out for dinner after yhave a game!!

[faggotmox]

Well damn, now I want to see line cook Eddie in a dive dinner who’s crusty to everyone but who also adds extra food when he sees a messy skinny teen/young adult alone.

yeah i got this & wrote a little thing bc i love line cook eddie being a told bitch but also the best guy ever. so crusty diner au with eddie & mox under the cut, guest staring ruby. eddie kingston may have been an iron worker for real but he has the soul of a line cook baby.

"Eddie!" Ruby called out to the line cook standing half in the rain out the backdoor. "I'm off. You sure you're good to run the joint alone?"

"Yeah, yeah." Eddie stepped back into the diner without putting out his cigarette. "It's two twenty in the morning. I'll be fine until Willow gets here at 5." Ruby grimaced at the mention of one of her least favorite coworkers. To be honest, Ruby only really liked Eddie.

"I don't like leaving you here all to yourself. You might burn the place down." Ruby pulled her hood up.

"Nah. I'll just break the health codes. Go on, and get, kid. You've got classes tomorrow, huh?" Eddie gave her a look. "You always stall when you have classes tomorrow."

"Shut up. Gimme a hug before I leave?" Ruby walked through the kitchen to give the cook his nightly goodbye hug. "I locked the far door. Only one register is up. New coffee brewed, and your prep is done. Don't need a new pack or anything before I leave?"

"Stop." Eddie groaned, not about the hug but Ruby's constant need to help him out. "Go home, Ru. Get some rest. I'll text you when I'm off."

"Fine." Ruby stared him down for a moment before reaching into her backpack to pull out a fresh pack of cigarettes for Eddie anyways. "You're my big brother. I got to make sure you're taken care of too."

"Thanks, Ru." Eddie took the offered pack with a smile. He had been nearly out.

Most nights in their small crusty diner weren't busy. They catered to overnight workers, and all night college students. It was the first few days back from a school break so business hand't picked back up. Their few regulars at this time were out of town or cutting back expenses leaving Eddie with hours of nothing in the middle of the night. Plus the storm. At least it meant his supporting staff could fuck off, and he could smoke weed in the store instead of the rain.

Ten minutes after Ruby left Eddie laid down on the diner's bar top, his hoodie bunched up under his head and one of his Tims resting on the spinning bar stool. The diner had a Bluetooth stereo that Eddie would hijack to play something enjoyable.

The diner door rang about halfway through Eddie's blunt, making him sit up way too quick for his bad back. The door opening let in the loud thunder and heavy sound of rain, Eddie couldn't believe someone was out in the storm. Let alone this skinny kid in a huge Carhartt jacket.

"Y'all open?" The kid started at Eddie, half sat up on the counter and blunt still in his mouth.

"Well," Eddie sighed as he started to get down. "I guess we fuckin' are."

"Sorry." The kid's voice was raspy and quiet, but deep. When he lowered his hood Eddie took in the messy mop of strawberry blonde hair sticking to his forehead. "Don't have to put that out for me though."

"Don't worry about it." Eddie shrugged. "What're you havin'?"

"Ain't you the line cook?" The blue eyes sized Eddie up. "You a waiter too?"

"I let the others get home before the storm was too bad. What're you gonna have?" Eddie pushed the menu across the counter top. The kid looked at the menu awkwardly before speaking up.

"Just coffee." He shrugged, sitting down across from Eddie.

"You came out in a storm to get coffee. Fuckin' alright." Eddie shook his head as he started serving up the coffee. The blunt was put on the saucer with the cup and slid over to the kid. "Gotta name?"

"Just like coffee." The intense blue eyes flickered over to Eddie before picking up the blunt. "Mox."

"Mox. Alright." Eddie grabbed an apron from under the counter and tossed it at Mox. "I gotta go do some shit in the back. Anyone else come in and serve them some coffee and shout for me."

"The fuck?" Mox frowned as he caught the apron. "Serious?" But he got no answer as Eddie went into the back.

Almost everything in the kitchen was turned off except one grill top and fryer that were on low. The kid wasn't too old, and if he was walking into this shit hole in the middle of a storm it meant he didn't have anywhere to go to keep safe.

A lot of folks that had nowhere to go ended up in the diner. This kid Mox probably couldn't even pay for his coffee. It didn't take long for him to get a double burger with cheese and fries going. Every so often Eddie peaked out the window to see the kid just napping on the counter top. Eddie was an asshole but he was also a big softy.

"Ay yo, no sleeping on the job, kid!" Eddie shouted as he came out of the double doors to set the burger down in front of him.

"Uh..." Mox sat up, his eyes on the food with a deep frown. "I didn't want nothin'." He said defensively.

"Nah? Well, I guess I just gotta toss this out, huh?" Eddie went to take the plate back but Mox grabbed his hand. "You don't gotta pay for it, kid. It's on the house for curing my boredom."

"Sure?" Mox looked untrusting but was pulling the plate closer to him. "No one gives me food."

"I ain't no one. I'm Eddie." He snatched the last of the blunt back from Mox. "Eat before I steal it from you. Wanna cigarette?"

[verdantcrimson]

Preparations for the Future - 2

Writer: Suika

Season: Autumn

TL: verdantcrimson

Proofread: Saki

1 | 2

Nazuna: Ah, Anzu. Good work out there.

Nazuna: I’m here at the office for a work meeting. I don’t have any college lectures today.

Nazuna: Oh right, Kuro-chin might be in the lounge. Do you want me to go get him?

Nazuna: “How did you know that?” I know everything about you, Anzu ♪

Nazuna: … Just kidding. I actually talked to Kuro-chin earlier and he mentioned that he was going to have a meeting with you about the Feature Live.

Nazuna: Ahaha, you were a little caught off guard, weren’t you~? Did I sound like a psychic?

Nazuna: I always spot Kuro-chin whenever I drop by the office these days.

Nazuna: He’s usually doing some research for his job, and I often see him talking to the staff.

Nazuna: I’m guessing that all the work he’s doing is for that job on the cooking show.

Nazuna: I can tell that Kuro-chin wants to make this show a success, and I can’t wait for it to air ♪

Nazuna: Seeing Kuro-chin like this makes me feel motivated too.

Nazuna: Though I’m not sure if it’s just motivation, it feels something more like a ‘Fresh Start’?

Nazuna: “That’s something you’d be able to discern”, you say?

Nazuna: Of course. I’ve known Kuro-chin for a while now.

Nazuna: Tell Kuro-chin I’m looking forward to his Feature Live! ♪

Kuro: ………

Kuro: ……I see, so that’s why you have to add the seasoning at the right timing.

Kuro: I mean, I was preppin’ this earlier too……

Kuro: Woah!? ……It’s little miss Anzu. If you were here you shoulda said somethin’.

Kuro: You’re sayin’ ya did call out to me, but I was so focused I didn’t hear ya? I see, I’m sorry for not noticin’.

Kuro: Ah, this? This is the information packet for my next cookin’ show.

Kuro: The show staff were real considerate of my participation circumstances and put together a detailed document for me.

Kuro: I’m glad it’s so easy to understand and all in one place ♪

Kuro: Right. I was a little worried about somethin'. Could I get your opinion on it, little miss?

Kuro: Haha, thanks. Then, look here……

Kuro: It’s this part here… The staff was havin’ trouble with it.

Kuro: Didn’t ya have a similar issue a while back, little miss? In the end, what’d ya end up doin’?

Kuro: I see. Might be better to do it this way, yeah.

Kuro: As expected of the little miss, I can count on you.

Kuro: I’ll make a proposal usin’ that idea. It’s up to them to decide if they wanna use it in the end, but it doesn’t cost me anythin’ to pitch it at the very least.

Kuro: “There’s more detailed information sources mentioned on the right side of the page” you say?

Kuro: Yeah I see. I’m not too sure I’ll be able to explain it well all on my own.

Kuro: It’d be easier to understand if I had those documents. Could I ask ya for them?

Kuro: Thanks. That helped clear up one of my worries.

Kuro: ……Hm? You’re sayin’ I’m not the same as the person as usual? You heard Nito sayin’ somethin’ similar?

Kuro: Well, I was a delinquent a while back, so I can’t blame you guys for thinkin’ that.

Kuro: That ain’t it? You feel like I’m takin’ my work more seriously than ever?

Kuro: ……I understand. If even the little miss sees it like that, then I guess that means I’m doin’ things right this time.

Kuro: You’re curious about why I’m so motivated?

Kuro: You wanna know why I decided to take on the cookin’ show job all of a sudden?

Kuro: It’s true that I don’t really get requests for this kind of job often.

Kuro: I usually leave it up to danna to figure out the kind of job we’re gonna do.

Kuro: …… That’s why, I don’t wanna keep relyin’ on him.

Kuro: I’ve been doin’ whatever I can for AKATSUKI, actin’ only as a member of AKATSUKI.

Kuro: That’s why I never thought it was necessary to try anythin’ that wouldn’t suit the image of AKATSUKI.

Kuro: Danna considers AKATSUKI as a ‘unit’, and Kanzaki is its axis.

Kuro: Everythin’ I’ve done as an idol has been based on what their idea of AKATSUKI is for a while now.

Kuro: If danna decides to do somethin’ I’ll give it my all. If Kanzaki’s heart desires somethin’, I’ll do my best to make it happen.

Kuro: That’s how it’s been…… I’ve never done any thinkin’ for myself.

Kuro: What kind of idol does Kiryu Kuro want to be? I’ve never really answered that question.

Kuro: Now I’ve been payin’ the price. I feel sorry for the trouble I’ve been causin’ this past year……

Kuro: I kept turnin’ a blind eye to the issue, which is probably a part of the reason why.

Kuro: ……So, I figured I had better change that first.

Kuro: This cookin’ show is a defiant first step. It ain’t a job I’d typically take up as a member of AKATSUKI.

Kuro: That ‘Kiryu Kuro knows how to cook’ is absolutely true. I don’t think I can write it off by sayin’ “I don’t need this” from the start.

Kuro: In fact, I started studyin’ cookin’ for this job and ended up learnin’ a bunch of things I didn’t know before.

Kuro: Naturally, I ain’t smart enough to memorize everythin’ I studied immediately…… But still, I think to myself and realize, “There’s a way I can do this.”

Kuro: I could find a cookin’ method I’d like to try.

Kuro: Guess that’s the fruits of takin’ on work in my own style.

Kuro: And so…… That’s why I looked like I was tryin’ my best. Was that convincin’?

Kuro: What’s up, why’re your eye’s sparklin’ like that….. It’s cool? You think I’m cool?

Kuro: It’s the opposite, actually. I’ve done a lot of live shows, and many jobs, but I can’t believe it’s taken me so long to realize somethin’ so obvious.

Kuro: I ain’t like I’ve been half-assin’ anythin’, I did my best……

Kuro: But everyone else had already become aware of these sorts of things and had been workin’ on them for a while. I’m way behind the trends, ya know?

Kuro: …….Still, you think I’m cool for trying to move forward anyways?

Kuro: Little miss, you’re talkin’ like how Tetsu does now. ……It’s a bit of a relief though.

Kuro: ‘Cause I’ve spent so much time with Hasumi and Kanzaki in AKATSUKI. I still feel nervous about takin’ this new step.

Kuro: But if I don’t try, then nothin’s gonna change.

Kuro: I’ll try stuff out for myself, and I’ll make everythin’ I learn entirely my own.

Kuro: That’s right, the Feature Live. I’m gonna tackle it sincerely, more than any other live show I’ve ever done.

Kuro: ……“What kind of idol do you want to be?” It’ll probably be a little more time before I can answer that question.

Kuro: Even if I do figure it out, it might be somethin’ completely different from the AKATSUKI we know.

Kuro: That’s why, each and every one of us in AKATSUKI will risk it all to figure out what kind of idols we wanna be.

Kuro: By doin’ that, I think all of us will shine even brighter as idols.

Kuro: So little miss, from now onwards…… You’re gonna have to watch over us.

[tewwor-moving]

slice of life scoop interaction call — sometimes.... i have a craving for things that don't involve fantasy/horror/supernatural themes. sometimes, i like to play pretend and figure out how certain muses could've been / had. plus, i made some new verses ( that i haven't put in bios yet ). * will indicate that a crime verse is also available

like and/or specify who you’d like from this bundle of goobers! 

*zhong jie-gou — self-made chef / content creater. grew up helping out his parent's chinese american restaurant ( yes, he was that kid in the back booth doing homework ), hot and he definitely knows it, owns a mutt, uses his platform on youtube/tiktok to educate others on a deeper knowledge of food and culinary skills, doesn't know how to cook single portioned meals — it's family style or bust

*hal murray — detective. the half that lies in a buddy-cop tope. single dad just over a messy divorce, certified hot mess that tries desperately to come across as put together ( he rarely does ), kid’s name is jenathan and gives him shit all the time

*yoo serim — detective. the half that tells the truth in a buddy-cop trope. works smarter / not harder, constantly eating something different in every interaction, hal’s kid thinks he’s cooler / asks for advice from him instead, has a habit to subtly neg people when he’s bored.

*yang eun — horror author / retired park ranger . sweetheart of all sweethearts, constant paternal energy, no one around him will go unfed, violence will always be the last resort but he is proficient with fighting, loves his little brother ( chanyeol )with all his heart, is also apologizing for said brother constantly, sleeper build but so shy

*yang chanyeol — freelancer . will literally do anything for work ( hired boyfriend, bodyguard, etc ) but thrives in socialite settings, the biggest shit on this list, horribly protective over his older brother ( eun ), big cat and mouse vibes, secretly terrified of commitment, will put money where his mouth is, has some sick ass tattoos

min hyeonwoo — guitarist for VERMIN RAIL . in a heavy metal band with simon & insung, college dropout, uses irons to light shitty cigs, gets into fights to stop other fights, something-something punk rock mullet havin' fun time lovin' ass

simon sae — lead singer for VERMIN RAIL . in a heavy metal band with hyeonwoo & insung, successful songwriter, loves to do fuckshit and charm his way into things just because he can, kpop idol potential but would rather quit music forever, best aegyo out of the trio

*isaak insung jang — drummer for VERMIN RAIL . born to rock out but forced to work a corporate 9 to 5, good at what he does but also hates what he does, always loaded with work gossip, resident resting bitch face of the trio, can bite as hard as he barks, weirdly the most normal one of the group?

ravi anand — horror podcast / radio co-host . always the biggest hype man and honestly? a girl's girl, always heartbroken over certain fast food items being taken off the menu, knows how to have fun, hyperfixation to the Max, will beg shamelessly

[kiwwia-wiwwia]

matt murdock songs and explanations pt. 1

most of these will be noah kahan just a heads up but I can talk about these for HOURSSSS. just me analyzing matt and some songs and making a verbal venn diagram.

song 1: No Complaints by Noah Kahan

I thought I had somethin' And that's the same as havin' somethin'

matt constantly, CONSTANTLY grasping at whatever connection he can get. foggy, father lantom, elektra, karen, claire... the list goes on. but i really see this as him and elektra. him desperately searching for goodness in her that may or may not even be there but he still so ferverently believes in her, that there's something there, something permanent, esp when he was in college.

I'd get mad at nothin', blame my dad for somethin' I pull no punches, then feel bad for months

he has. so much anger. towards himself, towards his parents, towards god... sometimes he just needs to pin the blame on something. him getting to worked up one night and doing more damage than necessary and then berating himself for it for months. got that Catholic Guilt fr

Mm, thought I was raised better, tried to fake better

impostor syndrome, anyone? he constantly feels like he's not what his dad would've wanted him to be and again, So Much Guilt is in that man. his dad didn't want him to be a fighter and that's literally All He Does. pobrecito hates himself so much for not living up to his father's expectations of him.

Tried to blame weather and escape better Hope the skin heals where the pain enters

GODDDDD THE SYMBOLYSM HERE. hope the skin heals where the pain enters. are u kidding me. i have never heard something more daredevil. the physical and emotional pain he's in constantly, the way that when things get bad for him he uses vigilantism as a form of self harm, especially in season 3 when he tries to off himself by getting those guys to kill him.

But I finally got sewed up I set a time, then I showed up Now the weight of the world ain't so bad

all the times he tries to fix his relationships. when he's destroying friendships left and right (foggy and karen), flaking on them, placing daredevil as his highest priority and then when he realizes he's being an ass he does his best to show up??? trying so hard to be better for them because they don't deserve the way he's been treating them, only for the cycle to repeat itself? oh my god.

I saw the end, it looks just like the middle Got a paper and pen and a page with no space

Him realizing every now and again that nothing changes, the city will always have a new threat and his work will never be done. everything stays the exact same. the end looks just like the middle. GOD.

I filled the hole in my head with prescription medication And forgot how to cry, who am I to complain?

he does self medicate, just not with substances. his drug is being daredevil. he gets frustrated? daredevil. sad? daredevil. angry? daredevil. that's his only outlet, the only time he feels like he's truly being himself. and that man represses so aggressively and feels like he has no right to feel the way he does. again, catholic guilt. "other people have it worse" NO matt. you are in hell.

And now the pain's different It still exists, it just escapes different And evades vision, makes the rain different Makes the news boring and my rage distant

when he gets bad, he gets BAD. mf is depressed. depressed squared. everything dulls around him, he's feeling things at an arms length.

Yes, I'm young and living dreams In love with being noticed and afraid of being seen

his playboy side loves the attention he gets, especially in college, but he's terrified of someone truly knowing him. sure, get close on a surface level, but he's so guarded about anyone fully and wholly knowing him. he's terrified of losing more people.

But I can finally eat and I can fall asleep It's fine, fine, fine

denial is a river in egypt. he's Fine, he swears. everything is Normal and he is Functioning. everything is FINE. but it's not. hes a mess and he's barely holding it together and the only thing he's trying for is the people around him so when he's alone because he pushes everyone away it's dangerous. he doesn't have to keep up appearances, he can just rot away and daredevil until he gets too injured even though he'll probably keep going after that.

thank you for your time this has been me psychoanalyzing my husband

[thuganomxcs]

“You’re kiddin’..” Yusuke spoke up towards the Baby that appeared upon the ‘screen’ of his mobile communicator. 

“I..never…kid. The situation’s far more dangerous than I originally thought it was going to be..and the existence of alien life, well what can I tell you it’s overwhelming. It’s definitely not a case I would want to burden any of our newer recruits which is why I had Botan locate you so I can ask if you can please find this girl and keep her away from the demons that would mean to do her harm.” The baby spoke towards Yusuke.

Yusuke, a once Spirit Detective now Street vendor in place of a college student was left with this task. To find a woman and protect her from powerful demons..an ALIEN of all things. “Fine, I’ll do it. What does she look like? I’ll keep an eye out.” Yusuke spoke looking into the device once more. 

“Thanks, the fate of the world might practically be in your hands again, Botan will send you a picture via text on what she looks like, according to our sources you can usually find her relaxing in the park by this time of day, but beware that you’re window of opportunity might be limited as she’s known to visit other locations beyond our knowledge thus far.” Said Koenma. 

“WHAT?! You tell me that now? Thanks a lot for the heads up!! It’s almost 6PM.” Yusuke closes the communicator and places the little device into his pockets and makes for a dash around town towards the nearest park, there was quite a number to choose and as far as he knows now he has a time limit. SO the first children's park he visited after a ten-minute sprint turns out to be a dud, no one fitting the photo he’s received over his cellphone. Another quick sprint later he arrived at another park..brown-doe eyes glance around until he spotted a familiar person sitting on a bench..well by familiar he means a match in the description.

“Shit..now that you found her, what the hell are ya gonna tell her. Agh stupid stupid, you spend over a half an hour running and you didn’t even think of a way t’ break the ice. Hrmmmm not that I can say ‘come with me if you want to live’. No..that’d scare her off..sides..she’s an alien..” By that realization, he looks at her from afar once more..but for an alien she looks every bit like a normal person. “Hmmm..doesn’t have green skin or a bald head..she does look like she has a nice ass..but that’s not the point.” 

Yusuke spent a good two minutes trying to figure out what to say until he finally mentally gives up and decides to wing it, but it wasn’t before he saw a number of rather ‘well-dressed’ people began entering the park too..not a good sign but Yusuke kept his composure as he stopped at her bench. “Nice afternoon we’re havin’ huh. Hey, ya happen t’ have the time on ya? Cellphone’s dead.”

closed starter for @vartouhix​

[felassan]

I'm havin a 'clear out my drafts' day so heres a wee tagmeme fill:

I was tagged a while back by @thebookworm0001, thanku :) (its edited somewhat)

Are you named after anyone? a figure from myth

Do you have kids? nope

What’s the first thing you notice about people? like what their vibe is ig. its hard to articulate what that is exactly, but their vibe

Any special talents? bird and plant ID. like i can show u where to find and how to make e.g. nice free tea thats good for ur health. and on the way tell u what birds we are hearing and seeing as we wander ◕‿◕ (hhh i also wanna say DA lore but like everyone here is good at that !)

Where were you born? scotland 💙

What are your hobbies? gaming, gaming news, DA/ME, fantasy & sci-fi generally, foraging, birding and anything to do with animals and the natural world rly, queer stuff, folklore & the like, rats, goin to old and ancient places, [scot]politics irl (insofar as politics can be a hobby.. hobby is the wrong word.. but it does take up a lot of free time. u know). also lately I've been doin random classes and self-study of subjects towards random lil qualifications n stuff but like. for fun¿?¿

Have you any pets? not at the moment but I'm a rat fancier/enthusiast and usually keep rescue rats

What sports do you play/have played? cycling/biking, field hockey

How tall are you? bout 5 ft 6

Favorite subject[s] in school? biology, environmental science/studies, art, creative writing. the first 2 i then did at college/uni ◕‿◕

Dream job? actually idk about the idea itself of a "dream job". i enjoy my current job, it helps society, and i am happy and vibin generally which is what matters most i think ◕‿◕

not tagging anyone but if you see this and feel like it, pls do it and tag me so i can see!!

[imaginesforjohnnydepp]

"You know, I'm thinking about getting rid of it," Sidney said as she poured water into the coffee maker and switched it on. It stopped Lily up short, her fork full of scrambled eggs halfway to her open mouth. "Get rid of it? Why?" All Lily did was suggest getting a new bookshelf for Sidney's books; a good portion of them were starting to pile up in a corner, and now the conversation turned into Sidney talking about getting rid of her LA apartment of a bachelorette pad. "Well, for one," Sidney started, "we're running out of space and Nick has more stuff than I anticipated."

That part is true: usually, whenever Lily would visit, there would be more space in Sidney's bathroom so she could unpack her makeup and skincare products. Now Sidney's bathroom counter is overflowing with Nick's stuff: his cologne, hair and skincare products. Lily hardly recognized the place now as there are traces of Nick everywhere she looked; a pair of white sneakers by the door, a guitar stand, and guitar straps on the couch. When Sidney turned back around from getting mug from the cabinet, she saw her sister's face. "What? What's wrong?"

"It's a lot to take in. I mean, you've had this place since you were 22." Lily remembers exactly when Sidney moved in. She had just finished up her press tour for the first Guardians of the Galaxy movie and in the middle of the press tour, Sidney had found out her college boyfriend Aaron had been cheating on her while she was filming (it turns out that he had been hooking up with his ex-girlfriend and the girl had gotten pregnant). Sidney had moved into this place in an effort to fix her broken heart, and her friends jokingly called it the Dreamhouse for its use of pink and pastel colors and limited rooms. The two of them had Christened it with a sleepover complete with mocktails and giving each other mani/pedis and makeovers while watching movies.

It was then and there that Sidney vowed that no man (other than Jack or Dad) would step foot in it, and she kept that promise, until Nick entered the picture. "Exactly! I'm thirty one now, and married, and we're gonna need extra space when Nick and I start havin' kids." Lily suddenly lost her appetite, but not because of the mention of having kids, but because all the talk about getting rid of the apartment. Her sister getting rid of the apartment marked the end of an era. Now gone are the days of the two sisters just prancing around Paris or LA or New York.

"I'm just-I'm really gonna miss this place." Lily felt that things were moving way too fast, and while she was happy for her sister, she had to admit that she wasn't ready to let go of this one thing they had left together, this apartment. Sidney sat down across from Lily, a no-nonsense expression on her face. "Okay. Tell me what you're really thinking." "I just... miss you is all, and I'm still trying to get used to you being married. Like, last year, we'd used to be able to just catch the next flight out to Paris or LA or New York to meet up and now we have to work around Nick's schedule and-and things aren't the same anymore and now you're spending more time with Sophie and Danielle than you are with me and Jack."

Lily was full on crying now, and Sidney rushed around the table to put an arm around her. "Lil, I'm sorry. I never meant to make anyone feel left out. I promise, the next time I'm in Paris, we'll do something, just the three of us. Can you forgive me?" Sidney pushed out her lower lip in a pout. "Okay, I forgive you! But, I also get to borrow anything from your closet." Not that she doesn't already do that; the amount of times Sidney's come home to find various items of clothing missing from her closet.

"Deal. Okay, so what do you think about me and Nick living in LA a few months out of the year?" "I thought you hated LA." Of course Sidney hated (and to some degree) still hates the City of Angels; the smog, the traffic, the paparazzi stalking her every move, the celebrity culture and the fact that she can't even run to the nearest Walgreens for tampons without it ending up on Deux Moi. "I still do but Nick has businesses out here he has to attend to, and I can adapt. Plus I can see you more often. You're always telling me to come out to LA anyway." "Are you guys already looking at houses?"

"Not yet, but we've been talking about it since the honeymoon. Maybe Santa Barbara. Meghan keeps trying to sell me on it and it might be working." Lily smiled, draining the rest of her coffee. "Whatever keeps us in the same time zone I'm fine with it."

[ohyangchon]

We smoked at the roof of Joe’s shop, the large wooden cabin dotted with coffee plants looming over the otherwise-rarely used dirt path that stretched towards more zombies, more unknown territory.

“Didn’t strike ya as the type to be tough as nails,” admitted Joe, though there was a twinge of fatigue in his tone that he hadn’t bothered hiding, “How long has it been since ya moved behind my place, anyway? I remembered havin’ ta bail ya out a couple times and then it turned out we were neighbors the entire time.”

“Lost count,” I replied, more to be polite than anything, “Time moves slow when you’re basically dead.”

There was a glimmer of sympathy in Joe’s eyes beneath the shades, but he returned to staring out into the distance. “Yer cabin’s not too shabby. Remembered ya exchanged a couple o’ things to get that girl all patched up. I’d like ta think that we’re pretty lucky. Hardly no Blood Moons causin’ us problems with the business. You do the runnin’, I do the tradin’. It’s pretty good ta finally have someone in the wasteland that I can see comin’ back consistently.”

“I was just stumbling in the dark,” I tapped the cigar in my hand a few times, allowing the ash to scatter in the wind, “They don’t teach you this shit in community college. Trial and error, really. Like the time I was scouting you that trade route and got myself mauled by a fucking zombie bear.”

“Hah!” Joe let out a sharp laugh, shaking his head, “Remembered how we had to pull ya outta that place after. Ya borrowed one o’ my 4x4s and still couldn’t get close enough ta that bear. ‘ventually I had ta talk ya down from gettin’ all ya trash back. ‘m still surprised ya paid everything ya borrowed off so fast.”

I crossed one leg over the other, sighing as the sun set before us. There was always a constant fog that set in at night, where I sat in the cabin alone to contemplate life. “Least I could do when you started me off. It was nice to have somewhere convenient in the wasteland to check back in,” I replied, eying Joe again, “And someone to come back to always felt like a perk.”

“Glib, aren’t ya?” Joe blew a cloud of smoke towards me, teasing as always, “Ya do good business, kid. I didn’t hold out much hope fo’ ya. Ya acted lots like the upstarts that end up gettin’ killed by mobs cuz they bit off more than they could chew. I thought ya’d end up one o’ the dead within the first month.”

I scratched my head, shrugging at this. “I’m pretty lucky. I have a really good partner who’d rather die than see his trade route go up in flames,” I teased back, tossing him a wink, “Makes going back to the cabin all the more worthwhile.”

Joe reached over, lifting my chin with his hand. Despite the deep callouses from the heavy firearms he carried to fend off the hordes, he was surprisingly gentle around me. “I like ya, friend,” he scoffed, though I swore a grin peeking through his beard at this, “It gets real lonely out by myself here. Folks think it’s all just tradin’ and sellin’ in these parts, but they don’t know the struggle it was ta set it up that way. Ya get it. That’s why I value ya.”

Snubbing out the cigar, I rested my arms on Joe’s shoulders, staring back at him. “You...wanna come by the cabin after you close up shop?” I asked now, jerking my head towards the gaudy red cabin I’d painted myself, “I promise I’ll stop stepping on my own spike traps. It’s only a short walk away, and I’ve got Shepherd’s pie on the grill tonight.”

“I don’t know what kind o’ miracle you keep pullin’ with the food ya scavenge, but I can’t pass up Shepherd’s pie,” Joe leant in to whisper in my ear - his beard tickled, and I swatted him away, “Just lemme give the other boys their jobs fo’ the night, and I’ll roll up ta ya place lickety-spit. Wait for me?”

“Mmm,” I hummed back, releasing my grip on him to gesture back downstairs, “See you tonight, then.”

“Seeya tonight, traveller,” Joe relaxed now, snubbing his own cigar out, “We could discuss that little errand ya goin’ fo’ tomorrow.”

[gallowsheart]

♢ Grant Andersen (35+) ⭒ illustrator ⭒ Chris Evans ♢

♢ name: Grant Matthew Andersen ♢ age: 35+ ♢ faceclaim: Chris Evans ♢ occupation: Graphic Illustrator ♢ education: BFA from the School of Visual Arts ♢ family: Sarah and John Andersen (parents), Anna McKay (ex-wife), May Andersen (daughter, deceased)

♢ history: The Andersens were solid upper-middle class Boston natives. There was love there but expectations too, and Grant never had trouble meeting most of them. He was good in school, good in sports (baseball and boxing his preferred activities, outside of drawing), and never had trouble making friends or keeping them. He was responsible and well-mannered with a low tolerance for bullies and an occasional streak of mischief.

Nobody meets their soulmate when they’re fifteen years old, but no one could convince him of that. When his car stalled and James Lane stopped to help, it seemed like fate. Grant was good with people and bad with romance. As soon as he realized he found someone attractive, he got tongue-tied and awkward. Somehow, the message got through (or maybe James was just much better at flirting than he was), and he barely left his side after that. He’d never been in love like that, before or since. Grant planned to go to college; James wasn’t sure, but they were going to figure it out together.

It was his first lesson in the fact that life didn’t care at all about his plans. His mother was diagnosed with breast cancer shortly before graduation, and he wasn’t able to defer his enrollment to the School of Visual Arts. She wouldn’t hear of him not going, so he split his time between New York and Boston. She later went into remission and has been ever since. James’s family had just relocated to Chicago, with James planning to join him later in New York, when his father died suddenly that same fall, leaving James home to look after his mother and sister. It was inevitable that they would crack under the pressure, two nineteen-year-old kids who were bad at communication and dealing with issues that would crush most adults.

It wasn’t until James enlisted in the army that he realized it was really over though. (It had been over for months; he just couldn’t admit it.) There was no chance of patching things up with an ocean between them. He was devastated, but Grant was the last person to let on when he was hurting. From the outside, it probably looked like everything was fine. Still, it took him over two years to start dating again and a few more before he proposed to his college girlfriend, Anna. He didn’t tell her about James, at least not specifically, but she knew when they first started dating that there was someone he was holding on to. She only mentioned it once, years later, when they were both drinking and fighting. She told him to stop comparing her to the person in his head, the one he couldn’t let go of, because she couldn’t compete with a ghost. Neither of them ever touched the subject again.

They stayed in New York City while they both started their careers, his as an illustrator and hers as a lawyer. They put off starting a family for a few years while Anna opened her own law firm. When May was born, she became the center of his world. He loved being a dad, and they planned to have more kids after things had settled more with Anna’s firm, which was finally gaining recognition with a few high-profile clients. May had just turned two when she was diagnosed with leukemia, and she died later that same year.

Their marriage died with her, but Grant was slow to realize it. Maybe he’d always had trouble recognizing the end when he saw it. This was a pain he couldn’t hide, and neither of them knew how to deal with it. They both started drinking, and Anna worked longer and longer hours. He couldn’t bring himself to pick up a pen again, so he quit drawing and helped out at the firm. The drinking eased over two years, but the rift between them stayed. They had friends over for a dinner party when he realized she was having an affair with their best friend, who had helped her start her law firm. It was nothing dramatic, just an observed moment in the kitchen when she smiled at Daniel. It had been years since she smiled at him like that. He probably should have felt betrayed, but his primary emotion was relief. Neither of them had to pretend anymore.

They took apart their life together with the same quiet efficiency with which they’d built it up. He was happy for them; he wanted Anna to be happy, but he wasn’t self-punishing enough to stay and watch. He moved to Brooklyn, and after a few months, he started drawing again, picking up his career more or less where he'd left off. Somewhere in every story he illustrates, there’s a tiny blonde fairy watching and laughing from the sidelines. He's dated on and off since as well, enough to realize he's not the sort of person who has casual feelings, and that it might be some time before he could handle anything serious again. He’d been alone by himself and he’d been alone with another person, and he knew which one he preferred.

♢ verses: ⭒ welcome to new york: Following his divorce and the death of his daughter, Grant is a children’s book illustrator living in New York City.

♢ wishlist: ⭒ tba

[ryanlockheart]

both boys had come into their own since their days in high school. toby was no longer the awkward nerdy kid who kept to his own corners. his confidence had shot through the roof, and his growth spurts in college had done his body well. seeing ryder so docile and pretty was a startling change, but toby loved it. "how 'bout both? get real slutty," he teased with a smug smirk on his lips. his nimble digits ran through ryder's chestnut locks, giving them a good tug. "that's what you were meant t'be, wasn't it? just a little sloppy boycunt for men to pump and dump?" how toby lived up to the other men ryder had been with before, he wasn't sure. what he did know was that none of them could ever put him quite through the test like toby could. he had years of pent up resentment towards the frat boy, and all of that was going to be taken out on that pretty little mouth — or that plump ass. "could've had you cockwarming me all night," toby remarked. "guess we'll just have to make up for lost time, won't we?" there were plenty of sordid, little fantasies running around in his head, and toby fully intended on making them all a reality. he was going to push ryder to his limits — and take care of him when he finally reached them.

"the worst, but 's okay. you just needed to get dicked down, baby," toby replied. whatever was in the past was going to stay there. he didn't expect some kind of bended-knees apology from ryder; he knew that, in due time, he would make it up to him tenfold. "and look at you now! as happy as could be just bein' a mindless little bimbo slut for all these guys," he chuckled with a smirk on his lips, smacking the tip of his cock on ryder's pink lips. "y'never have to want for anything, do ya? you want a load, ya've got a whole roster of dudes ready to pound you out. piss? i'll bet you're practically a urinal around here. isn't that the dream for a little whore like you?" "we'll take ya out on the quad and just let whoever wants a round go at ya then," the raven-haired male suggested. his mind was being eaten up with lust and sin, but he didn't care. ryder was just too pretty not fall head over heels for. toby was going to make sure he got as much cock as he wanted — or rather, needed. ryder would never go without, he would make sure of it. "good girl, baby. you're already a pro-slut! i bet you've already had your fair share of run-ins with some professors... let's just get all those sweaty men together and let 'em have their fun with you... i doubt that'd still be enough for an insatiable slut like you," he grinned. he could already tell he was going to get them both into a heap of trouble with the amount of fun they'd have. "gonna turn your little cunt into a punching bag," he teased, chuckling to himself. "i'll make it so hard for you to not bust. have you cryin', beggin' me to let you cum. and, hell, i just might letcha dependin' on how long ya last." "so i guess we've gotta find a way to get you a new record... maybe we can get someone to fuck your feet, y'think?" toby questioned, arching up a brow. clearly, ryder had never been one to shy away. so much had changed since he'd last knew the frat boy turned cumdump. toby was going to make sure the memories they made together were stellar, unforgettable even. "you'd be jealous though, wouldn'tcha? havin' to watch all those guys get a good taste of my feet while ya watch," he mused. "when i get bored, i'll have you ride me while they clean my feet. make that pussy all loose and sloppy for 'em." something had taken over toby, just watching ryder hump his foot. it was so pathetic, but nothing had ever turned him on more. spurt after spurt, toby caught it all on video. "jesus, you really are a fag. you busted from that? christ, 's pathetic," he mocked. he lifted his foot to the boy's face. "nuh-uh. if you want daddy's ass, you've gotta clean your mess up like a good little bitch." there was a stern look over his pale face, blue-green eyes narrowing to let the other boy know he wasn't fucking around. "tell the camera you're a bitch that's good for nothin' but getting knocked up and pissed in. tell 'em like your step-daddy's watchin' and ya want something real nice from him."

what happened between ryder and toby in the past, ryder was unaware of. he was so detached from that version of himself, the words that fell from toby's lips didn't register. still, ryder was more than willing to do whatever he needed in order to make up for the torment he had put the other boy through. "oh, i'll wear some glitter for you, daddy! but, uh— which cheeks d'you mean?" ryder replied, preening under toby's delicate touch. "uh-huh, i love being toy. 's my favorite thing, to let everything go and be used. bet you're gonna have s'much fun turning me into your personal boycunt."

ryder was surrounded by men, every waking moment of everyday. he had gotten a taste of every flavor — football player, basketball player, wrestlers; you name it, ryder had fucked it. toby, however, was different. he was not a hyper masculine, sculpted frat boy that commanded attention from every pair of eyes in the room... he was better. he didn't just come out of left field, he was playing a totally different game. toby's gravitational pull was stronger than anything ryder had ever felt. intrigued wasn't the word, ryder was infatuated. "i wish you would have," ryder pouted. "they accepted me into the frat my first night, then used me to break in the other pledges. you would have woken up every morning with my wet, sloppy mouth on your cock, daddy."

"was i really that bad, sir?" ryder inquired. it wasn't an act — ryder truly didn't remember. he wasn't sure that he even wanted to. "well, either way, i'm gonna make that all up to you now, daddy. i'll be the sweetest, most obedient little slut you've ever had." ryder was determined to prove that he had changed, that he wasn't the person he was back then. no matter the price he had to pay, toby was going to fall in love and want to keep him forever. "oh, i'm so much happier now— i don't even know how to throw a football anymore," he giggled. "i know my place now, daddy. that was my problem before."

"i don't even care about the grades— i just wanna be slut out to whoever wants to get their cock in me," ryder admitted, stars in his eyes as he looked up at the smaller boy. "i'll take the entire faculty if i have to, daddy. i'll worship their feet, throat their cocks, eat their asses. i'll be so good, get you the best grades possible." he loved messing around with the frat boys, but there was something different about toby. he was unpredictable, quick-witted, and sharp-tongued. ryder couldn't tell what was going to come next with him, but he couldn't wait to find out. "oh, you would have to— don't even deserve to cum," ryder hummed. "i'm here for your pleasure, sir, but i know you'll have me seeing stars anyway."

"i'm not sure who's gonna be more jealous," ryder snickered softly. "i can take all of you, daddy. i've taken three in my pussy before, plus two in my mouth and two more in my hands— all at the same time. 's nothing to a real slut like me." a chill traveled down the length of ryder's spine, just at the thought of toby's little fantasy. toby was going to rock his world, ryder was sure of it. "that'd be so hot, watching all the guys who picked on you slobbering all over your sweaty feet for a turn with my cunt," he whined, growing antsy. the camera was the only thing keeping ryder focused, eyes glued to the lens as toby degraded him further and further. ryder couldn't stop the low moan that left his lips, thrusting forward into the friction of toby's foot. "o—oh, fuck!" ryder cried out, cum dribbling down his shaft. it was barely enough to notice, but ryder's eyes rolled back into his head. "p—please, daddy... let me eat your ass. humiliate your little slut and let everyone see how desperate i am for you."

[concussed-to-pieces]

More! Part One

Fandom: My Hero Academia/Boku No Hero Academia

Pairing: Eventual Tenya Iida/OFC

Rating: Holy shit M

AN: Hello all, it's time for the first chapter of my prime indulgence! To any of my anime-inclined broskis out there, welcome aboard!

In The Shadow

[!TRIGGER WARNING!: For gratuitous,canon-typical violence and facial trauma. Stay safe!]

Tenya had been informed time and again that college was slightly different from high school. He endured a few weeks of mental gymnastics when he realized that he wouldn’t have a uniform. College was different and yet...not. Certainly, no uniform to iron the night before and the ability to make your own schedule were boons. Nearly all of his ‘new’ classmates were old friends from high school which meant that he wasn't lacking in company, but many people didn’t seem to share Iida’s enthusiasm for continuing to better oneself even after the preliminary quirk training of high school! He wanted to be the best hero he could be, he wanted to make his family proud!

That was why he made the choice to attend college in the first place, with Tensei's wholehearted support behind him. He knew that any time he wanted it, he could have a job at his family’s hero agency. So why not be the best possible fit for his future job? Tenya was incredibly fortunate to have a secure career, and he took his studies very seriously.

Leona Moore wasn’t a troublemaker, though the way that she dressed had set off warning bells in Tenya’s brain. It was the pants, he decided, the overlarge cargo pants that had too many pockets. She was notoriously early for her classes, sometimes by an hour or so. Tenya admired her dedication, consistently fifteen minutes ahead of schedule himself. She always had a lollipop stick protruding from her mouth, her shoulders hunched slightly underneath the leather jacket she usually wore. She couldn’t seem to decide on whether she wanted to make herself seem larger or smaller, her clothes all slightly too big for her frame and her jokes never failing to make Kirishima snort with laughter at the worst possible times.

Her quirk made her a little touch-shy, Izuku had kindly pointed out to Tenya when Iida was confused over her standoffish behavior during their warm up period before general training. “She’s had to be pretty careful, Iida. She didn’t learn how to use her quirk until halfway through high school. Before that, she didn’t even know she had one!” Iida could only imagine how volatile the situation for that revelation must have been, seeing as she had a quirk that doubled the power of any kinetic force she withstood.

She also had control, seeming to have mastered the ability to turn it off and on at will. Tenya's misguided pity had turned into genuine admiration after watching her perform in their college sports festival. Granted, next to the explosive display of Bakugou versus Ururaka or the emotional minefield of Todoroki and Deku's battle, Leona's bout wouldn't stand out overmuch to the average viewer.

Leona had been paired up against Mineta, who made the fatal mistake of immediately pelting her with his ammunition in an attempt to incapacitate her. The kinetic energy from his rapid-fire slinging seemed to send her into overdrive, the young woman slamming an uppercut to his jaw that landed him in the lower stands. One punch, and the round was over. Iida silently approved of the way she had turned and bowed to the crowd before leaving the field. As a hero, one of many priorities would be to end fights quickly and decisively. Another one was courtesy to bystanders and officials-

...

How strange, he mused, thinking about her at a time like this. His rage continued to boil and yet…

He closed his eyes. Just for a minute. God, it was strange. Would she be proud of him? Proud of his rabid behavior? What about his family? Fear lanced through Tenya's heart, the first he had felt in ages. What if his parents lost him to this ill-advised fight? What if...what if this was the end?

The blade in his shoulder twisted sharply and Tenya bit back a sound of pain. He refused to show any more weakness to this monster, regardless of what he might endure.

“Hey, what the hell are you doin' to my class rep?!”

Tenya's eyes shot open. No. That's-

“You've got the nerve of a bull elephant if you're takin’ on ‘Genium. Who do you think you are?!”

“Run More! Get away from here!” Tenya yelled. “He’s got some kind of paralysis quirk, don't let him get close to you!”

Stain grunted, obviously a little startled by the young woman's abrupt presence. From what Tenya could see out of the corner of his eye, his classmate Leona (hero name More for reasons he had yet to discern) looked red in the face like she’d been running for a while. Her shoulders were still heaving up and down even while she raised her fists.

“You're another trainee. Interesting.” Stain remarked, almost as if he was talking to himself. “So you're also from the college. And you called him the class rep, which means he and you are in the same classes.”

“Mind like a steel trap on ya’.” Leona replied dryly. “Any other obvious insight you want to share, or can I beat the shit out of you now?”

Tenya bit back the reflexive shout of language!, shocked out of his impotent bloodlust by how brazen his classmate was being. It was an admirable strategy. Or at least, it would have been if she actually had backup.

“Another fake hero who needs to be cleansed from the planet.” Stain eased his blade out of Tenya's arm agonizingly slow.

“Thanks, but I'm plenty clean. Took a shower this mornin’ and everything. The name's More, and I'm no fake!” Leona called to Tenya then, her voice sharp with poorly-concealed worry. “How you holdin’ up, Calf Crusher?”

Tenya groaned. Her nicknames never ceased to send the class into fits. “I can't move. I'll be no help at all. He's just going to kill you. Why did you interfere?”

“You've gotta' be shittin’ me right now, Rep. Like I would just stand by and watch you get fucked? What kind of friend would that make me?” She sounded incredulous. If Tenya didn't know any better, she actually sounded a little irritated.

“One that keeps living, that's what kind!” Tenya snapped. We're barely friends! his mind added traitorously.

Leona pounded her fist into her palm and then jerked her hands up in a way oddly reminiscent of how Iida would move when he was excited. “I know who this guy is. More importantly, I know who you are and I figured out what you were up to when you picked Hosu for your internship. It's okay.” She reassured him.

You're going to die. “I'm begging you. Please leave.”

“I'm not gonna’ let you degrade yourself by beggin’ me, bud.” Leona retorted. “Second oldest son, heir to the Ingenium name, badass extraordinaire and all around decent dude, shut the fuck up and let me do what I can to make sure you can keep doing the best that you can!” She all but shouted, leaving Tenya speechless as Stain stepped over his body.

“‘More’, huh? Why, because you're always trying to be the best? Maybe because you want to protect more people. At least, that's what you would say, right?” Stain sneered, brandishing his sword.

“No way man! ‘More’ because the more the merrier when it comes to me!” She shot right back, that teasing grin firmly fixed on her face. “I may not be fast or smart like ‘Genium...hell, I'm not even all that special compared to the other people in my class, but I'm still here!” Tenya's eyes widened as she advanced on Stain, extending a hand. “I look forward to apprehending you, sir!”

“You'll be fun to kill.” Stain lashed out a second too late, Leona barely ducking his blade in time. “Another false hero, proud to wear the title and unwilling to do the damn dirty work that comes with it!”

“I feel like this is pretty dirty work right now.” She pointed out, catching his next strike with her gloved hand and grunting at the impact against the padding of her gloves. “Whew, a little harder next time and you'll take me down for sure!” She encouraged sarcastically, twisting the blade and coming close to ripping it clean out of the villain's grasp. She was so focused on his sword that the knife thrown at her arm caught her by surprise.

Stain’s speed and raw power were devastating. The blade sank deep, so deep, too deep. Tenya's brother in that hospital bed was burned into his mind, I can't feel my legs I can't feel my legs. “More!” Tenya had thought he felt helpless before, but it was now multiplied tenfold. “Damn it, I told you to run!”

“It shouldn't be too tough to keep him here until the pros arrive. I'm in for the long haul, Calf Crusher. Don't worry.” Leona said calmly, her rational words only serving to confuse the engine hero. She was built to take hits and he had never witnessed any particularly mindblowing strategies from her. Maybe he had written her off too soon. Maybe-

Stain rushed her, that deadly sword smeared red with Iida's blood. Moore jerked the knife out of her arm and used it to hastily deflect the worst of the cut from the sword away from her torso, snagging the blade under her arm instead. Stain drew another knife, this one serrated, and slashed at her face with it. One of the teeth on the knife caught the edge of her mouth and split it open nearly to her cheekbone. Leona staggered back, holding her cheek.

Stain turned up the pressure, releasing his sword momentarily in favor of cracking a fierce punch into her wounded face. Blood spattered from the impact, Stain's knuckles that sick red. “That all you got? Gimme’ more!” Moore slurred through her broken mouth, that infuriating grin still-

Oh. Tenya felt like an idiot. She was the endurance hero. She absorbed punishment like it was oxygen, a kinetic battery that could only be charged by violent outbursts. And when she decided to strike back, she doubled the output...but her body had limits, he had seen them in action during training. Midoriya had given her a kick at her request and instead of explosively discharging the extra power, she just passed out.

His heart slammed in his throat. If she pushed herself too hard, Stain wouldn't even have to do anything.

She swung at the hero killer and the doubled power of her blow threw him to slam his back into the alley wall. Stain wheezed for breath, clearly confused by the force behind her hit. “Just who the hell are you?” He panted.

“Beat me an’ maybe you'll learn.” Blood was spilling between her gritted teeth, running in a brilliant trail down her chin to drip off the bottom of her jaw. She was smiling like a fiend.

“I've never met anyone so eager to die.” Stain grimaced, rotating his shoulder and then shaking it out.

Tenya heard a strange crackling noise, almost like electricity. Midoriya rocketed over his head and bounded off the walls of the alleyway, a green missile with fist extended to crash into Stain. “Smash!” He yelled. Green energy, lightning, whatever it was it was blanketing his body. The Hero Killer was flung further back in the alley from the impact. Izuku skidded to a halt beside Moore, shaking his hand and hissing in pain. “Sorry I took so long!” He said brightly, like he hadn't just given the man responsible for killing a multitude of heroes the most thunderous of haymakers. “How you doing?”

“Take care of ‘Genium. He can't move, help him get out of here!” Leona said urgently.

Tenya refused to meet Midoriya's eyes, ashamed at how his own filled with frustrated tears. Midoriya reached for him and then went stiff. Tenya's heart fell into his stomach when he noticed the small tear in Midoriya’s glove and the blood blotting the fabric. Just enough. “Uh...I can't...move either?” Midoriya muttered slowly.

Tenya watched Leona freeze as well, her arms grinding to a halt. “Stain, your fight is with me! Leave them alone!” Tenya yelled, his voice cracking.

Further down the alleyway Stain grinned, giving his knife another lick. “I think I'd rather play with your friends. At least they landed hits on me. Unlike you. How does it feel to know that this is entirely your fault, fake hero?”

An ugly noise of agony fought free of Iida, rasping in his throat like sandpaper. It was true, wasn't it? Tensei worked so hard because Tenya believed in him, looked up to him, and the eldest Iida wanted to make his little brother proud. If Tenya hadn't been such a child, maybe…maybe his big brother wouldn't have tried so hard to rid the world of injustice. Maybe his big brother would still be able to walk. Fake hero.

And his classmates, friends, tangled up in this mess because of him! Midoriya crouched so close and yet so far away, his eyes darting around as he tried to figure out where Stain would come from. Moore, frozen in place with her back to the two of them while she was forced to face down the Hero Killer. “I'm so sorry.” Tenya breathed finally.

“Don't apologize! I should be apologizing. I should have gotten you to talk to me after what happened to your brother.” Midoriya looked tearful. “I should have said something. I just didn't want to pressure you. I'm sorry I'm a bad friend.”

Tenya was at a loss for words, losing his ability to stave off the tears streaming down his face.

Flames suddenly illuminated the whole alley, the gout of fire threatening to cook Tenya in his armor. “Next time you send your location, give a little more info.” It was Todoroki! And he was using his left side! Tenya was aghast. How many acquaintances had his blind rage dragged to this slaughter?

“Easy! I think you singed my hair!” Midoriya fussed at the icy hot hero. “That was all I had time to send!”

Stain hammered a fist into Moore's side, making the endurance hero spit out a mouthful of blood. Her arm wound up for a swing of her own, body sluggishly chugging forward like she was moving through molasses. The fact that she could move at all, though-! Was it because she absorbed the momentum from his hits? Or was Stain’s control weaker the more people it was spread across? Tenya found himself pondering the ins and outs of the man's quirk even as Stain pummeled Moore. She was defenseless, where was the honor in this?! Tenya's fingers twitched, uselessly tapping the cracked blacktop.

Todoroki drove Stain away from Moore with a combination attack, fire and ice arcing through the air as he switched rapidly. Leona slid one foot back, then the other, spitting more blood off to the side and slowly raising her arms in a defensive move. “Icy Hot, you-”

“I know. Keep my distance. Shouldn't be too difficult.” The flames on Todoroki's left side burned even brighter. “I'm not one hundred percent comfortable with my fire yet, but I can't deny its applications here.”

“How many children will throw themselves upon my blade tonight?” Stain cackled incredulously. “Bad enough that your friend in the armor didn't have the brains to run and get help just like his stupid brother, but now the rest of you feed yourselves to me!” He shook his head. “This next generation of heroes gets weaker and weaker. At least I'm lessening the workload on your professors.”

“You be quiet!” Iida shouted, fingers digging into the asphalt. “Ingenium was the model hero, the perfect example of selflessness and respect for others that a villain like you couldn’t possibly understand! I'll never forgive you for hurting my brother!” He screamed, able to move his neck now so he could look up at Stain while he issued his ultimatum. He didn't care how idiotic he must look, barely managing to wiggle his fingers while he yelled his fury at this man, this villain, this monster who had fractured his family.

“You're selfish. Dragging your friends into this fight because of your petty need for revenge. You're the furthest thing from a hero. You're a weakling.” Stain sheathed his sword, drawing two smaller knives instead and lunging at Todoroki and Moore.

“Don’t listen to him!” Midoriya said fiercely, somehow already able to move again! Was Tenya really that weak? Or was Stain’s quirk overpowering him because he had been the first one hit? “He’s just-”

“No. He's completely correct.” Tenya cut him off dully, clenching his hand into a fist. “If I hadn't been so consumed with this...if I had just been stronger, maybe…” Emotion closed his throat.

“Knock it off!” Leona yelled, startling him with the fury in her tone. “You don't need to be a fuckin’ martyr, Iida! What good does it do your brother if you get your ass killed?” Her voice was rough, words hard to understand through the injury she had sustained. “Think about how your parents will feel, and especially think about how your brother will feel! We're here to help, Rep, but you gotta’ take our hand!”

“Ingenium wouldn't give up!” Todoroki continued where she left off. “Be Ingenium! Get up and fight!”

As though a switch had been flipped, feeling surged through Tenya's arms and legs. Pins and needles so harsh it made him wince, and it was nothing compared to the pain in his limp arm, but he was up, he was up-

He staggered to his feet, splaying his stance just to stay vertical.

Stain hacked Midoriya’s leg out from beneath him after barely avoiding another Smash and then rushed Todoroki, nimbly dodging the fire and ice attacks in an attempt to bring that sword down on Todoroki's left arm, he would sever it clean at his shoulder-

Tenya felt like everything shifted to quarter-speed. Leona's fingers grasped desperately at Todoroki's shirt to try and pull him out of the way in time. She was still too slow, still sapped by the hero killer's quirk. Shoto's eyes went wide in realization, the young man attempting to recoil backwards away from the blade. Midoriya was yelling something, Todoroki's name no doubt, tears shining in his eyes.

Tenya's breathing echoed in his ears. In, out, in--

The engines in his calves came roaring to life in a glorious rush of Reciproburst! and without a thought for his own safety, Tenya was there between Todoroki and that sword. His armored knee shattered the blade before he whipped his whole body around via bicycle kick and re-aimed his leg at Stain's side. The hit made landfall accompanied by a shower of blue sparks from the heat of his engines, essentially drop-kicking the villain out of midair.

Stain was flung head over heels. Iida stumbled as his right leg gave out, clumsily dropping to one knee. His engines sputtered to a halt, shudders of pain from his calves flickering over the all-encompassing agony in his wounded arm. Fleetingly he wondered if he had ruptured something in his frenzy.

“Iid-Ingenium!” Todoroki shoved the larger man behind him and issued another burst of flame, barely warding off the rallying villain in time. “He’s fighting like a rabid animal. Be careful!”

“Give me a good kick, ‘Genium!” Leona suggested eagerly. “I'll get his ass back down to ground level so you and the others can wreck him!”

“My Reciproburst shot my engines and I don’t think a regular punch would offer you sufficient damage, I've overheated and I need more…time...” Iida paused, his eyes narrowing as a thought occurred to him. “Todoroki! Can you freeze my legs without plugging my exhausts?”

Todoroki opened his mouth to reply and Stain roared in outrage, bolting through Todoroki's flames in the distraction for another attack on the icy hot hero. Tenya and Moore moved at the same time, Tenya extending his good arm in front of Todoroki’s chest to offer him the protection of his armor while Leona rushed forward to fight Stain one on one. “You're in the way!” Stain snarled at them, leaping backwards up the icy pillars Todoroki had created.

A folding knife found its mark in Tenya's upper arm after penetrating his armor and he gritted his teeth in pain, doing his best to hold fast. “Todoroki please-!” A larger serrated knife followed the first, slamming into Tenya's forearm so hard he was forced prone. The wind was knocked out of him by his abrupt change in posture and Tenya choked for breath, still bewildered by the Hero Killer's power and tenacity.

“Iida!” Todoroki actually stopped his elemental attacks on Stain in favor of reeling back his fire-wreathed fist and whacking a heated punch into Moore's shoulder (to Tenya's dismay). Leona laughed (also to Tenya's dismay), easily accepting the blow while the air began to reek of smoldering cloth and lycra. Todoroki quickly slapped his other hand down on the burning area of her vest, extinguishing the heat before it could get out of hand.

“Just freeze my legs!” Iida yelled, startled by the fierce cry Moore let out before she lunged upwards at the retreating Stain.

A distraction, a distraction, he realized suddenly, take the punishment and double it to give us time. Please Leona!

Midoriya was back up again, limping badly. Cold ripped at the armor covering Tenya's calves, the frigid temperature almost too much to bear. This was an incredible risk he was taking, pushing on past the natural boundaries that his quirk and familial training had instilled. He hadn’t had enough time to recover naturally from his last Reciproburst. If something gave out under the strain, he would be incapable of defending himself.

It didn't matter. Tenya felt his engines choke, sputter, and then rev wildly. His left arm was useless at this point. He used his teeth to pull out the knife in his right, retching at the sour taste of old blood on the handle. Both arms were effectively unusable.

It didn't matter. He would use his legs. As long as Leona could land a hit that would get Stain off-balance enough for himself (and possibly Midoriya, but it might be presumptuous to rely on him) to capitalize on, that was all that he could ask for.

Iida stood, bending his legs at the knees as he prepared to leave the ground. Leona wisely aimed at the building directly beneath where Stain had jabbed the remaining stub of his sword in to perch, the doubled power from Todoroki's hit easily crushing the cement to instability. Thank God the buildings were long abandoned. Stain at least picked fights far away from where people would frequent, isolating his victims. A solitary, fiendish predator.

Iida crouched as low as he could, his exhausts glowing bright blue with the horsepower he was putting out. A new word came to mind.

“Recipro-” The engines in his calves stalled and keened, out of sync with one another as the ice dissolved into rivulets of moisture on the heated surface of his armor. “-extend!” He left the ground behind, a cloud of dust billowing in his wake.

If I just…

Tenya rocketed towards Stain, his eyes locked on the villain.

...use my leg…

He was vaguely aware of Midoriya out of the corner of his blurred vision, a brilliant streak of verdant green that seemed to hang in midair perpendicular to his path of upward motion.

...that's all I need…

His knee threatened to hyperextend even with his armor to brace him. Iida squinted fiercely and gritted his teeth.

...to beat this guy!

Midoriya’s fist planted in Stain's jaw the same time Iida's foot crashed into the villain's unprotected side. The impact rang in Tenya's ears, metal on cloth on skin on metal, high reverberations that sent shivers down his back.

Even after that tandem strike, the conniving villain still managed to swipe wildly at Tenya with one of his many knives. Tenya barely moved his head in time, feeling the blade just catch on the top of his dark locks. He narrowed his eyes, ignoring the fact that the three of them were now rapidly returning to the ground. Izuku started scrabbling at the wall, trying to grab a handhold.

“I will defeat you Stain!” Iida shouted passionately. “Because you are a criminal, and I am a hero!” His second kick didn't miss the free-falling villain either, cracking into Stain’s side so hard Tenya could feel the older man’s ribs collapse as they plummeted towards Todoroki and Leona in the alley far, far below.

Arms locked around Tenya's hips and Leona pushed off the wall in an abrupt redirection, moving Tenya so Todoroki could have a clear shot at the villain. How had she jumped so high, so fast?! She skidded to a stop on a pillar of ice that Shoto had made, still holding tight to Tenya’s waist. Iida shifted his weight as low as he could, trying to help so they wouldn’t go over the edge. His legs felt like gelatin, like they would fold underneath him, and he was immensely grateful for her strong hold on his armor.

Shoto's mastery of ice was intimidating enough up close and personal, but his barely-controlled flames were a sight to see. Tenya supposed it probably had to do with man's deep-seated primal terror involving fire, if he had to chalk it up to something. A massive fireball engulfed Stain, missing Midoriya by the barest of inches.

“Deku!” Leona yelled, sighing in relief when the young hero gave her a thumbs up and a wavering smile from his own slippery perch.

“Get up and keep fighting, you three! I doubt that was enough to…” Todoroki trailed off, his eyes widening in confusion. Stain had crash landed on yet another of his icy plateaus, the villain’s eyes rolled back in his skull. He looked like he had been knocked unconscious.

Is he dead?

Tenya hated the sick, joyous thrill that sang up his spine at the thought. He had been so selfish, so blinded in his fury that he believed his actions righteous. It was terrifying that he could so coldly rationalize the taking of another human being’s life, even one so horrible as the Hero Killer! He would never forgive himself if his own mistakes had urged Todoroki forward into doing the unthinkable.

Moore went limp against Tenya’s back, her relief palpable. “Icy Hot, I think we’re all going to need an assist at this point.” She slurred. “I’ve lost...a lot of blood. Head wounds, you know the drill.”

“Your mouth! Moore, are you-”

“I think he knocked out one of my teeth?” She mumbled over Tenya’s frantic question, moving to sit beside him and then carelessly dragging the flap of skin from the split side of her mouth aside (presumably so she could count her own teeth). Tenya fought a wave of nausea at her rough actions, thankful that at least the destroyed side of her face was outside his limited field of vision. His own pain and injuries he could take in stride, but someone else’s because of him was…

He didn’t care for the sensation at all.

Todoroki eased them to the ground through careful manipulation of his quirk, until finally the three heroes and one villain were safely down. Stain had indeed been knocked unconscious, but whether by the punch, kicks or outright fireball was anyone’s guess. Shoto wasted little time securing the villain with some clothesline he found in a dumpster, practically mummifying the older man with the half-frayed rope.

“We need to get him to the street. The pros and the police should be able to handle it from here.” Todoroki said calmly.

“I can drag him!” Tenya offered immediately, taken aback when Todoroki shot him an incredulous look.

“Have you forgotten about your arms, Iida? What will you drag him with?” Shoto deadpanned. Tenya deflated a little. He had almost forgotten the beating he had taken, if he was being honest. Adrenaline.

Moore’s snicker was a half-hearted gurgle at best, the endurance hero scooping Midoriya up onto her back and starting the slow limp to the street. “C’mon Calf Crusher, let’s get you home. I’m sure your pros are really worried about you guys.”

Iida trailed silently after his classmates (friends, he reminded himself), flushed with shame. Moore hung back for a second, letting him come up alongside her and Midoriya.

“Hey, you know that this isn’t your fault, right?” She murmured as best as she could. “I would have done the same thing no matter who the hero killer was going after.”

“I wish I had said something at the train station that day.” Midoriya whimpered. “I could tell that you were hurting, Iida, but I just...I didn’t know what to say. I’m so sorry.”

Iida shook his head dejectedly. “Don’t apologize to me, Midoriya. It’s not your responsibility to look out for my emotional wellbeing. I ought to have better control over my-”

“As your friends, it’s absolutely our responsibility! We need to pay attention to each other in this line of work, Iida!” Midoriya actually interrupted him. “You never know...you never know what could be the thing that pushes someone over their edge! You’ve always been there for the whole class since high school and the one time you needed us, we weren’t there for you!” Izuku was always so passionate about hero work, throwing himself headfirst towards any new challenge they faced. It should be no surprise to Iida that he would have a speech prepared for this situation.

So why were tears blurring his vision further? Tenya tried to no avail to wipe them away with his limp arm, ending up smearing blood across his cheek instead. Moore clicked her tongue at him (an impressive feat in and of itself due to the wounding of her oral cavity), pausing in her forward motion to dig in her pocket and tug out a red bandanna. “Never know when you’ll need a field dressing.” She shrugged, using the cloth to clumsily mop at Iida’s face. “There. That’s better. Look a little less damp.”

“I’m relatively certain that I’m the furthest thing from ‘less damp’ right now. But…” Tenya hesitated, unsure if this was overstepping a classmate or coworker boundary. “Thank you for your, er, concern. I will...do my best to rectify this grave error in judgement.” His bow was, as ever, perfect. “I humbly beg your forgiveness.”

“You don’t need to, Tenya.” Moore using his first name snapped Iida’s eyes up, the large man startled. She gave him a thumbs up and a grin that was a wince, her facial expression a little more kindly than he was used to seeing on her despite the gruesome flap of skin that hung from her cheek. “Let’s go, dude.”

“Will you pull yourself together? You’re the class rep. You're practically our mascot.” Todoroki complained, the hint of a smile tugging at his mouth.

Gratitude closed Tenya’s throat and he nodded hurriedly, trying to blink back the fresh wave of tears.

[mxbutchtwink]

..