#We almost asked people to take us while doing the same pose

[lines-on-ice]

On the tracks of Yuri On Ice in Barcelona - Day 2 Part 2

In which we are going to Las Arenas.

"But what is Las Arenas?" were you asking. Well, it's a mall. And you can get on the roof. From the roof you can see a pretty palace :

And if you turn slightly to the right you can also see....

The red towers! We actually found them on our very first day in town but didn't have any props to take the pictures and decided to come back later for a proper shooting.

Once again, finding the perfect angle was a funny detective game, but we were guided by the love of Gays and Ice:

Speaking of Gays on Ice, our lovebirds decided to join too! @tony-dreams was very happy to lend them a hand (I'm just posting this so I can hear him laugh at the awful pun, don't mind me).

After that you can imagine we were rather hungry so we took everyone to eat a nice meal...

We have other visits planned so, stay tuned!

[stevie-petey]

dibs

“Jinx!” Again, they say this at the same time. They both groan, and without any other words, they jump into an intense game of rock, paper, scissors.  “One, two, three!” Steve holds out a rock, Robin does as well, and the two teens almost strangle one another.  They try again, this time they both land on paper, and Robin throws her head back in frustration. “I’m not good at math, but this cannot be statistically possible.”

Summary: do the laws of dibs still apply if steve and robin see you at the same time ???

Rating: general, some swearing

Warnings: swearing, fem!reader, use of y/n

Words: 1.4k

Before you swing in: this is for my beloved val (@southelroy), and i was so excited to try my hand at writing robin and steve together <3 this is a very silly fic, not at all meant to be realistic or serious, and it isnt proofread so pls enjoy n beware !

-

According to the ancient rules of “dibs”, the first person who sees the desired one has the rightful claim of dibs. Anyone else present during this time must obey this sacred rule, respecting the fact that the other has laid claim first. It’s an old, ancient tradition, held up for centuries through faithful friendships. 

It’s a solid system, really.

Except Steve and Robin see you walk into Family Video on the same day, at the same time, together. 

You walk in, hair slightly wet from the rain and your eyes bright, and smile at the two of them shyly. Setting down your umbrella, you unbutton your raincoat and look around the store. “Sorry, is it okay if I hide out in here for a bit? My umbrella broke and I really don’t feel like catching a cold.”

Steve and Robin stare at you, wide eyed and in shock. They’ve never seen you before, they surely would’ve remembered your face if they had, and their brains short circuit simultaneously. 

When they don’t say anything, you cautiously walk up to the counter and laugh nervously. “Uh, hello? I can leave, if that’s what you’re trying to say.”

“No!” Steve shouts, panicked that the word “leave” has left your very pretty and pink mouth. When you flinch at his raised voice, he quickly clears his throat and lowers his voice. “I–uh, I mean… No, no. You can stay–please! I mean, if you don’t mind, ‘cause, ya know, it’s raining–”

“What my coworker here is trying to say is that you can definitely stay.” Robin interrupts, admiring the way the raindrops in your hair seem to form a halo. “In fact, why don’t you have a look around? We have plenty of movies.”

You smile at Robin, which she practically melts seeing. “Thanks, you guys are lifesavers. I’m here visiting my cousin, and he said I should stop by anyways.”

“What, do we know him?” Steve asks, finally finding his voice again. 

“His name is Dustin Henderson, if that helps. He’s a freshman at Hawkins, said he stops here sometimes–”

“Dustin Henderson is your cousin?” Steve and Robin say at the same time, completely taken aback. 

You laugh. “Ya know, I’ve gotten that a lot since being in Hawkins. I take it he’s well known?”

“Oh, he’s definitely well known.” Robin snorts, thinking about how many people would scream at the idea of more Hendersons running around the world. 

But if they’re anything like you, then Robin thinks she’d love to be invited to a Henderson family reunion. Immediately. 

“Well,” you smile again at the two teens, amused by their weird dynamic. You can see why Dustin likes them so much. “Since I’m stuck here for a while and I promised Dustin I’d get a movie, I’m gonna take a look around as suggested.”

You pause, now realizing you haven’t asked for their names, and you gasp. “I’m so sorry! What are your names? I feel horrible for not even asking.”

“You could never do any wrong,” Steve sighs dreamily, leaning against the counter in what he hopes is a cool looking pose. “I’m Steve, Steve Harrington.”

He sticks his hand out for you to shake, which you accept with a slight giggle. He’s odd, but incredibly endearing even if he’s currently standing against the counter like a middle-aged man. “I’m Y/N Henderson.” 

Robin, sensing what Steve is trying to do, hip checks the boy so that he falls onto the ground. “And I’m Robin Buckley, the better half of this duo.”

Like hell she’s going to allow him to flirt with you. 

Her declaration makes you laugh, even as poor Steve groans on the floor in pain. You wink at her, amused by her charm, and start to walk towards the movie aisles. “Oh, I believe that.”

Steve scrambles back up, and the second you’re out of earshot, he and Robin immediately shout at the same time, “Dibs!”

“Jinx!” Again, they say this at the same time. They both groan, and without any other words, they jump into an intense game of rock, paper, scissors. 

“One, two, three!” Steve holds out a rock, Robin does as well, and the two teens almost strangle one another. 

They try again, this time they both land on paper, and Robin throws her head back in frustration. “I’m not good at math, but this cannot be statistically possible.”

“Okay, let’s think about this.” Steve holds a finger up to indicate that he’s speaking, which Robin scoffs at. “I saw her first, so–”

“Uh, news flash, dingus: I saw her first.”

“Were you dropped as a child? I clearly saw her first–”

“Actually,” your voice causes both Robin and Steve to turn in horror, realizing too late that you’ve been standing behind them, listening in. “You both saw me at the same time, so I’m not sure how the rule of dibs applies here.”

“We…” Steve gapes at you, speechless. 

Robin is no better, her face burns horribly. “We think… You’re pretty?”

“Well, I gathered that much.” You laugh again, and the sound is enough for both Steve and Robin to forget all their worries and admire how delicate it is. Then, holding up two dvd’s, you place them on the counter. “I’ll take these, please.”

Robin looks down at your movie selection, seeing The Breakfast Club and The Outsiders, and her heart drops. “Just… Just these?”

“Mhm,” you nod, unsure why her demeanor has suddenly changed. “Is there something wrong with my movie selection?”

Steve looks at Robin and he knows immediately what’s wrong. She absolutely hates your taste in movies, which he’s ecstatic over. He lets out a whoop and first bumps the air. “Yes! She’s mine!”

“Shut up, you moron!” Robin screeches, embarrassed and infuriated. She cannot believe that this is happening to her right now, in front of a very pretty girl, no less. Closing her eyes, Robin takes a deep breath and turns to you. “Please excuse my friend, he’s allergic to pretty girls.”

“Hey, that’s not true–”

You cross your arms at Robin, an amused smile on your face. “What’s so wrong with my taste in movies?”

“Nothing!” When you raise your eyebrow at her, Robin accepts her fate and gives in. She knows she’s done for now. “It’s just… It’s incredibly bland.”

“I happen to think your taste is impeccable, Y/N.” Steve butts in, batting his eyelashes at you for added effect.

Robin watches, with pure disgust, as it works. Steve’s charm gets you to laugh once more, and you even lean closer to his side of the counter. You place a hand on his arm. “I’m honored to have you on my side, then.”

Stupid Harrington and his stupid male species. 

While you and Steve exchange gross lovey-dovey glances, Robin rings up your movie rentals with disdain. 

“That will be $5.25, please.” She mumbles, crestfallen. 

You tear your eyes away from Steve’s and notice the jealousy and hurt on Robin’s face. You frown, feeling bad for being the cause of this. She seems like a sweet girl, and Dustin spoke highly of her, so you know she’s someone special. Taking some cash out of your purse, you hand it to Robin and catch her eye. 

“Hey, listen to me real quick.” Robin looks up, despite not wanting to, but your eyes are too pretty not to look into. When you have her attention, you turn to Steve. “Can you give us a second?”

He looks bewildered. “What? Why?”

“If you leave now, I’ll give you my number.”

“Yes ma’am!” Steve hops over the counter and goes to sort some movies, leaving you alone with Robin. 

Once he’s gone, you lean in close to her. “I understand what you’re going through.”

Her eyes widen, terrified she’s been caught. “W–what? No, I think you’ve gotten this all wrong–”

“It’s okay,” you grab her hand, gently take it between yours. “We’re more alike than you may think, and while I’m flattered, you’re too young.”

Robin knows she should be devastated by this, but all she hears is, “So… Let’s say ten years from now, if you happen to visit Dustin again…”

You laugh, she’s got such a spark to her. “You’ll have to figure out the whole ‘dibs’ thing by then with Steve.”

“I saw you first!” Steve shouts from somewhere in the aisles, before a giant crash follows. A few seconds pass, and then, much quieter this time, he shouts, “I’m fine!”

-

⌑ writing masterlist

[blasphemecel]

Michael Kaiser — Mean

PAIRING: Michael Kaiser/Reader WORD COUNT: 6.4k TYPE: Fake dating, This is not fluff or angst but a secret third thing (with a cheerful ending) WARNING(S): Depersonalization/identity issues

The first time you meet Michael Kaiser, you get a bad impression.

Yeah, sure, he doesn’t have the most stellar reputation, anyway. You’ve met all sorts of unpleasant people in your life and he manages to disappoint even when the bar is so low, the only way to go lower is through digging.

You don’t exchange a word with him, but rather you have the misfortune of having to listen to him talk throughout the entire meeting. He starts countless arguments, some valid to an extent. You can tell he’s just doing this because he’s addicted to the sound of his voice and speaking to people like they’re unimportant specks of dust all while commanding their attention. There’s no point to his fussing either because he ends up signing the same contract you do.

Waste of your goddamn time — he might as well have not signed it and saved you the trouble, since the ordeal ends up lasting three hours because of him.

Maybe you should’ve not signed it yourself, but your PR manager was salivating at the idea of fake dating as a publicity stunt, especially with Kaiser who’ll be posing with you for a photoshoot in a few months, so you said ‘whatever’ and here you are. In this predicament with an insufferable man you imagine you won’t get along with, which already predisposes you to never giving him a chance.

___

The first time you speak to Michael Kaiser, you unsettle him.

It’s unlike him to feel disturbed, let alone at the slightest thing. He’s met all sorts of sickos, so he considers himself unflinching in the face of anyone who has anything off about them.

But he’s fifteen minutes late to the ‘date’ you’re supposed to use as a tool to subtly launch your fake relationship and he’s expecting a scolding. Kaiser spots you and heads in your direction, taking the seat in front with a shitty smirk and an ingenuine, half-assed apology on his lips.

What he gets in response is a blank look — almost… unimpressed, which naturally someone like Kaiser takes as a challenge and already sets the tone for the rest of the conversation — and it’s as if you’re staring into his soul. Then in an instant your expression flips to convincing joy, your warm smile contrasting his snide one, and you say, “Let’s act like we’re really stoked.”

A chill runs down his spine. On a logical level Kaiser knows you’re faking it, but it looks real, and that’s what he finds freaky. Also, the speed.

“Let’s not,” he says. “You’re weird,” he adds after you don’t respond.

You don’t react to this information either and settle for maintaining your smile.

The barista decides to spare him from having to look at you while you don’t say anything. He’s pretty sure you’re doing this deliberately, to torture him. When you attempt to order something, he talks over you and asks, “Can you give us one of those shitty milkshakes with two straws in them?”

She stares at him in bewilderment. “We don’t sell those,” she says eventually.

“Can you make one?”

“No…”

“You’re scum,” you tell him, dropping the happy facade. Again, the quickness strikes Kaiser as disturbing. Then you give her a valid order, and he asks for water since they offer that everywhere and he can’t be bothered to read the menu. After the barista leaves, you say, “I could have lactose intolerance.”

“You could. I could be trying to kill you.”

“I don’t know if a milkshake would be enough to kill me.”

“Maybe I was trying to give you a stomach ache,” he concurs.

You don’t dignify that with a reply either.

Kaiser tries to speak with you again, “I really fucking hate milk.”

“Then why’d you do that?”

“To embarrass you, of course,” he says, like he’s revealed to you the natural order of things.

“Hm.” You consider this new information. “I’ll definitely think of a way to get back at you.”

The lukewarm threat seems to amuse him more than anything.

Then you proceed to have a hostile few hours together in public as instructed. You end up throwing napkins at his face.

Kaiser isn’t good at pretending to be in love. The only such image he seems capable of projecting is one of a middle schooler who’s failing to find a balance between playful and mean. Though it also doesn’t matter to you because you mostly teeter on the edge of mean, slightly left of apathetic. Nothing really matters to you.

___

For your second court-ordered date with Michael Kaiser, your manager tells you to get caught holding hands with him at a park after the cafe meeting doesn’t spark much controversy. The notion itself has you scrunching your face, but you don’t complain about it or voice your opinion.

Again, he’s late picking you up by a not negligent amount of time, leaving you to stand in front of your building, motionless and impatient.

Instead of announcing his presence in a more acceptable manner, Kaiser blares the car horn until you realize it’s him. After you crawl inside the passenger seat, you turn to look at him and see that he looks very pleased with himself. It’s obnoxious.

“I hope we die in a car crash,” you greet.

“We won’t.” You don’t know why, but his brain interprets this as an opportunity to brag. “I’m an excellent driver.”

He’s not. Somehow you make it to the park without getting into a catastrophe — which, as established, you wouldn’t have minded.

You exit at the same time and Kaiser frowns at you by the time he circles his way around to you. You don’t care enough about what’s bothering him to raise a questioning eyebrow let alone ask, but he tells you, “I was going to open the door for you and then offer to help you up. You ruined everything!”

You roll your eyes. “How gallant.”

“Get back in,” Kaiser says, pointing (as if the gesture will be enough to convince you to play along). “Let’s redo it.”

“What’s wrong with you?”

“Nothing. I have a vision for these kinds of things, that’s all.”

“Your vision is trashy and uninspired,” you reject promptly.

Kaiser seems to be the first person in the world who finds your attitude funny rather than objectionable because he grins at your response. But he’s more so looking at you like you’re a bug he finds fascinating in comparison to the rest, without any real respect or acknowledgement. 

“I admit maybe it was a bit cliche,” he says. “Would’ve made me look good, though, if someone caught it on camera.”

You smile that ghoulish smile again and grab his hand like you were told. His fingers are cold and yours even more so, making the grasp clammy and uncomfortable while you begin your stroll. You don’t even know what you’re supposed to talk about with him. Soon enough, you scowl, both the silence and the sensation of getting touched proving too much for you to hide your displeasure, even though Kaiser seems content with letting the silence fester.

“Oh? Why’d you stop? I’ve started enjoying your creepy masquerading.”

“I’m disgusted,” you say.

“Disgusted,” he repeats. “By what? Me?”

“It’s making me sick. Who knows where your hand’s been or what you’ve done.”

Albeit visibly offended for the first time if the lack of an annoying smirk is anything to draw judgments from, Kaiser drops it first. Your arm hangs by your side again, limp.

“Let go, then. Or do I need to do everything myself?” That’s quite a dramatic sentiment coming from a man who has done nothing all day besides a short drive and taking a few steps.

“But my manager said-”

“Who cares? I think my manager’s lucky I agreed to this bullshit in the first place,” Kaiser says. “By the way, my hands haven’t been in any sewers or anything to warrant this reaction, thank you very much.” He must be the type of person who only ever says thank you as if being grateful is some big joke.

“I’m not being literal. I know who you are and what people say about you. My disgust is conceptual.”

“Flattering.” Kaiser’s pleased again with the mention of this tidbit, like the mental image he’s getting of you searching him up gives him immeasurable amounts of satisfaction. One thing you’ve come to notice about him since your last outing is that he’s shameless. “You’re not special, though. Lots of people know who I am.”

“See, this is exactly what I’m talking about. You’re scum.”

“Do you usually talk to people you barely know in this way or is it preferential treatment? I’d love preferential treatment, but the other option is amusing too.”

“Usually,” you say in a monotone. “That’s why I don’t speak much. More so supposed to be looked at rather than heard, and so on.” You finish off your explanation with a flippant gesture. That’s what it’s like for you — ‘shut your trap, it ruins your appeal.’

“Well, I-” there’s an emphasis on the word ‘I’ because Kaiser always thinks his opinion matters, “-think your worldview is pathetic and embarrassing. What’s the point of being looked at if no one will listen to you? How can you be fine with that?”

Fair point. You concede in your head, but don’t commit to agreeing with him out loud. “You’re not special either. Most people gross me out.”

“You hurt me this time.” He’s sneering, though.

After a while of walking, you find yourself sitting on a bench next to him. A few pigeons strut around near your feet, bobbing their heads back and forth, almost catching a groove. “If I had any bread, I’d feed them.”

“I’m not surprised you’d feel interested in such a commoner’s activity,” Kaiser says, as if he is somehow superior to you for not wanting to participate in this.

“Vile,” you say, voice still neutral. You’re not looking at him either, attention glued to the birds.

He doesn’t know which part of it you find dismaying — was it the class shaming or what? “So you like pigeons, but you hate humanity. You’re one of those.”

“I don’t hate humanity,” you say. “But nature is repulsive by default. It’s not amoral. When we’re cruel and ugly, that’s a conscious and opportunistic decision. Every day CEOs throw their employees and workers under the bus for more profits. Someone’s getting murdered as we speak. We’re faking a relationship to attract brand deals. I’m getting sick just thinking about it.”

“Get a hobby instead of thinking about stupid shit like that. Caring about how ugly and bleak everything is won’t get you anywhere,” Kaiser… advises.

“Look at the pigeons.” You’re watching the one with the missing claws, wobbling and struggling to get around. “Humans domesticated them and then abandoned them. I love flora and fauna. They’re interesting and exist much more differently than we do.”

“Does that mean you like my tattoo then?”

“Not everything needs to be about you. It’s not like people will forget you exist when you don’t force yourself to be at the center of conversation.”

This stings him the tiniest bit. Either you’re probing into an insecurity or he’s reading too deep into what you’re gathering from your conversations with him. “If I wanted to have a pseudointellectual conversation, I wouldn’t ask a vapid model to psychoanalyze me.”

“Your opinions are unoriginal and stereotyped just like your ideas about romance,” you say, finally turning around to face him again with those haunted eyes. He’s unamused now, clenching his jaw and all. “A stupid athlete wouldn’t be my first choice for a ‘pseudointellectual conversation’ either.”

“You look down on others and judge them, so what makes you so different from all those ‘scum’ you hate? How are you exempt from your own standards?”

Do you realize you’re displaying similar behaviors to those you’re scolding him over?

“Well, there’s a simple explanation for that,” you say. Kaiser is expecting an argument or something, but you kind of floor him with your follow-up. “It’s called hypocrisy. I’m probably just as disgusting as the average person.”

“Your life must be miserable if you look at everything through this lens. What was the phrase, rose colored glasses? Yours must have shit smeared over them.”

You shrug then make a 50/50 motion with your hand. “My life’s neither good nor bad. I’m indifferent on the subject.”

“Uh huh.” Kaiser considers this, then his lips twitch up, and then his smile broadens — it’s snide and smug again, and you come to the realization that he probably doesn’t know how to smile in any other way — before he inches a little closer to you. Not enough to brush against you, but enough to count as an attempted provocation. “I think people like you shouldn’t be considered alive. Legally speaking. And if we’re being figurative, you’re obviously already dead.”

You frown at him, since he’s kind of right. The fact that Michael Kaiser has the capability to discern truths you don’t want to hear rubs you the wrong way.

“Speaking of birds,” you start, deciding to change the topic, “you remind me of a peacock.”

“Wrong.” He’s pouty now. You find the expression cute, but when you catch the thought you throw up in your mouth a bit, so you ignore it. “I’m clearly a swan.”

“The fact that you have a preference when it comes to what animal you’re considered is sad.”

“And you’re entertaining. Let’s hang out again soon even if those sorry fucks don’t suggest it.”

You find it bewildering how he calls his PR manager’s input a ‘suggestion’ and seems to think he can do whatever he wants. Which, maybe he does, seeing the way he conducts himself. You’re also tempted to tell him to make up his mind on whether he enjoys your company or not, but there are more important matters right now. “We’re not supposed to do that, I don’t think.”

“C’mon, don’t be like that.”

“Why this desire all of a sudden?”

“It’s what I want.” What impeccable reasoning. “I think I can make you enjoy yourself,” he says. “Don’t get me wrong. Not for your merit or anything stupid.” Kaiser offers what you’d describe as a flamboyant hand wave in the air, demeanor laced with complacency. “I think it’d make me feel really charitable and generous if I can manage to add something to your depressing life. Give me a chance to try.”

“Word of advice,” you scoot away from him to the point the edge of the bench is digging into your ass and it honestly hurts, “you’re not gonna get anywhere with that attitude. How you phrased it disgusted me again.”

Kaiser finds your favored terms interesting. Everything is sickening and disgusting and vile and scummy from your perspective. Deep down for reasons he doesn’t want to ponder, he can relate.

“Great. You’ll come around soon,” he promises, with the confidence of someone who thinks this is a game he has a high chance of winning.

___

Kaiser makes it a point to inflict his presence onto you as much as he can afford to with your schedules, even though there’s no need for it. Not that you refuse him either. He’s kind of interesting to keep around, in his own Kaiser-ish way.

Earlier today he invited himself over to your house. He’d decided you need to come up with a story about your ‘relationship,’ but didn’t wanna discuss it through text messages. Apparently he has an interview coming up and wants to be prepared in case they ask him about you.

“How did we meet?” you ask, sitting on the other side of the couch and leaning against the armrest, away from him.

The answer is immediate: “I saved you from a burning church.”

You question what other fantasies this man could probably have because that’s the most absurd thing you’ve ever heard. Your voice somehow remains flat despite the bewilderment when you ask, “Why?”

“Because it’s flashy and dramatic.”

“But if anyone searches it up, they’ll see there haven’t been any… burned churches?”

“You’re such a killjoy.” Kaiser sighs. “It makes it sound mystical.”

“No it doesn’t,” you say, rather flippant about the entire thing. “It makes you sound like a pathological liar.”

“I like your sense of humor.”

“Thanks, but I’m not kidding about this.”

“Then what do you think it should be?” Kaiser asks. Obviously the purpose of this inquiry is to criticize your choice of scenario — even you can anticipate such a predictable move.

You roll your eyes and then look away from him in contemplation. You hadn’t really thought about it, since you don’t do interviews, and therefore you don’t need to concern yourself with hypotheticals on the matter. “Some kind of party, maybe. Post-match celebration?”

“Makes sense,” says Kaiser. “Doesn’t compel me, though. Boring.”

With a hum, you try to imagine what would both appeal to Kaiser and sound realistic. Though he doesn’t seem like the kind of person who’s swayed by practicality. “I went with someone else, but you swept me off my feet so hard, you stole me away from them.”

“I guess it sounds plausible enough while still having an element of fantasy.”

“Is the idea of me liking you the ‘element of fantasy’?”

“Yeah… That’s why I want it.”

You didn’t expect such a response. It has you looking at him weird. You do so often anyway, but now you do it for longer as if trying to glean something. In response Kaiser tells you to take a picture since it’ll last longer. The reply seems extraneous and distracting, and that only makes you feel more suspicious of him, which is weird since you’re not sure what you’re even inferring.

___

Officially it’s your fifth date with Kaiser, unofficially it’s the tenth. This time you’re holding up a frog in your open hands.

He doesn’t know what the point of all the nature-themed outings is — maybe to make him seem down to Earth in the public eye since he’s become notorious for how insufferable he is? Either way he doesn’t care, and he’s not the type to wander at landscapes, but your affinity for ugly animals is kind of cute.

The frog isn’t some special one either. No crazy colors or anything, just a regular green tree frog (according to your expertise). You let it jump onto your palms, since apparently touching their skin is bad for them or something. Kaiser scrutinizes it in distaste, staring down into its big eyes while it croaks. “So you can handle a disgusting amphibian, but you can’t hold hands with me.”

“I see you’re still thinking about that.”

“Well, it was insulting. And besides, it’s never happened to me before.”

“You’re not so bad. I don’t think I’d vomit if we brushed against each other anymore.”

Kaiser seems curious but nonetheless pleased with this development. “Why the change of heart?”

“Because you listen to what I say,” you tell him.

He somehow resists the urge to piss himself laughing at the sound of that. “Your standards are so low. It’s so sad that it’s funny,” he says. Maybe he would’ve dedicated some more time to teasing you over it, but he comes to a realization which immediately lifts his mood. This must mean he’s in your good graces somewhat, and not many people seem to fit there, so that makes Kaiser special to a degree. Right?

“Yeah, yeah. Laugh it up.”

“Who would’ve thought someone who looks the way you do would come out like this?”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“It means I think you were one of those kids who, like, shoved sticks and leaves in mud and called it a potion.”

“And what’s that supposed to mean now?”

Kaiser lets out an annoyed sound, tired of elaborating. “It means I think you’re strange.”

“Hmm, I bet you do,” you say. “There’s a quote I like: ‘It is no measure of health to be well-adjusted to a profoundly sick society.’”

“Yeah, and I bet that’s the kind of message you love. What’s it from?”

“Interesting story,” you say. “This is Jiddu Krishnamurti’s most famous quote, but it doesn’t appear in any of his books. Allegedly he said it to some other guy.”

Kaiser blinks and nods, maybe trying to keep a pretense of having the slightest concept of what you’re on about. “Whatever, got it. I can’t remember the last time I read a book. Maybe I’ll check him out.”

“You don’t seem like you’d be interested in that type of thing,” you say, staring at him as if you’re trying to figure him out.

“Actually, I am. Can you stop taking every chance to insult me?”

“I’m not. At least not on purpose… So, what are your hobbies, anyway? You never told me.”

“I practice. What do you take me for?”

You furrow your eyebrows at him. “That’s it?”

Kaiser opens his mouth to justify himself even though there’s no need to be defensive — maybe it’s that he feels like he’s lacking in some department after you bring your attention to it with your little response and generally Kaiser hates to be insufficient. But before he can argue and try and talk himself out of whatever perception you have of him now, an interruption happens.

The frog, which had been lazy and content with merely existing in your grasp, springs without any warning. It leaps out of your fingers and lands on top of Kaiser’s head.

Today you learn Michael Kaiser screams at an ear-shattering frequency when he’s startled. Soap opera level of shock and overreaction.

___

It is when you’re eating at a trashy place for lunch that Kaiser’s looking at his phone, which you find rude since you’re supposed to be spending time together and whatnot. He eats like a pig, too, not graceful at all — you wonder what his fans would think if they saw him with crumbs over his mouth and sauce on his chin. Good material for a public embarrassment campaign, you think.

But it’s in that moment that he finally wipes himself with a tissue and reaches out to all but shove his phone in your face. “Look, we’re so hot!”

You grace the picture with a dismissive glance before looking back down at your meal, disinterested. You already know enough about Kaiser to assume he’d get a kick out of power couple fantasies. And other power fantasies. Really, you find it pathetic.

It was something out of the photoshoot he was showing you, his favorite you presume. Even someone like Kaiser, who has conventional features, isn’t perfect when it comes to these unreasonable standards. He’d been way too stiff next to you while he posed and though his face is symmetrical, his expressions tend to stray to one side, and obviously it’d been corrected.

There’s a mismatch between you on the covers and your image in the mirror. Maybe your brain is exaggerating the disconnect, but every time you see them, it’s like staring into an airbrushed, distorted amalgamation. In other words, you prefer avoiding both the edited products and your reflection whenever you can.

“We don’t look like that,” you say, offhand about his enthusiasm as you are with most things.

Kaiser scoffs and then very blatantly tries to compare between whatever version of you he has on his phone and the you in front of him. There’s not a single good thing you can say about his decision — it’s making your skin crawl just knowing it’s what he’s doing.

“Close enough,” he deems after careful examination.

“I don’t think it’s me.”

“It’s quite literally you.”

“I don’t think anything is me. Like I’m just what I see. My perspective, my point of view. You get what I’m saying?”

“No?” Kaiser says, laughing at you and your apparently strange affliction.

“Well if not that, you have to admit things captured on camera aren’t real.”

“What are you talking about,” Kaiser asks in a flat tone, which leaves it as something less than a question. A few more snickers escape him and he’s grinning at you like a bastard — if at first he regarded you as a slightly more fascinating bug than the rest, by now you must be his favorite, the rarest… A tree lobster. “You make no sense.”

“It totally makes sense. Imagine we’re having sex-”

“What kind of stupid come-on is that?”

“It’s not a come-on, I’m explaining. So, imagine we’re having sex-”

“In what position?”

“Whatever you want as long as it works for the scenario. Anyway, imagine we’re having sex-”

Kaiser laughs harder and then attempts some seductive sort of expression which doesn’t land with you. “I’m imagining it,” he informs.

“Shut up and let me get to the point. Imagine we’re having sex and I’m recording it-”

“Wow, I didn’t take you for such a pervert? Not that I hate it.”

“-so I’m looking at you through the camera lens. The phone’s between us. I’m not, like, in the moment with you. My mind’s absent, it’s all digital. So if you think about it we’re not even really having sex.”

“... You’re losing me even more,” Kaiser says after some contemplation, finding the fantasy unpleasant all of a sudden with this new spin to it. A moment passes during which he takes another big, possibly exaggerated bite, but he at least has enough decency to chew and swallow before adding, “I think you just have a problem.”

You roll your eyes, wondering if he even entertained the thought, but shrug since it doesn’t matter in the end. “Why are we always talking about how I’m weird? If anything, you're eccentric, not me.”

Kaiser wrinkles his nose in offense at the notion and makes an incomprehensible hand gesture in the air. “No. I’ve turned out totally normal. Don’t put me at your level.”

A lot of curiosities spin around your head concerning Kaiser’s behavior whenever you meet and you’re yet to find an answer. What does he want? Clearly he’s comfortable with and used to wanting, but what is it? Attention? Money? Fame? Status? All, none? Will it ever be enough? Is it even the kind of hunger which can be satiated?

Who is he when he’s not playing this ridiculous character?

“I can’t get a read on you,” you tell him.

“Well, you’re socially inept. I doubt you can get a read on anyone.”

“So are you.”

Kaiser feigns hurt over this. He does that a lot. Maybe he finds it hilarious, maybe the performance is all for shits and giggles — who knows.

“I want to dissect your head,” you say after a while of silence.

“Really? That’s what you wanna do with me?”

“Mhm. With a scalpel. I’d make an incision around your temple maybe.”

“My beautiful and demented angel, is that your way of saying you wanna get closer to me?” The sentence comes out mocking with a paper thin smile, but there’s a sense of admiration in it. What for? You raise an eyebrow in visible confusion at the… nickname, but Kaiser doesn’t elaborate. To take away from the tension(?), he announces, “You’ve got something stuck between your teeth,” pointing at your mouth all amused.

___

Kaiser had an ulterior motive in accepting that deal. Though wording it this way makes it sound like some calculated, opportunistic, sinister scheme, when in reality it’s nothing beyond immature and a little humiliating.

Of course, in true Kaiser fashion, when looking to meet someone, he goes straight for the most convoluted option. So when the stupid idea came up, he agreed, even if he put on a bit of a show at first and acted irritating. Confessing to wanting friends is so embarrassing. He’d rather shoot himself at point blank or perhaps commit an act of auto-defenestration than admit the real reason for participating, much less in front of you.

Despite the jabs, you’re also not bad at all. Calm and uninvolved in anything that upsets him and without any expectations towards him.

At first he found your indifference derogatory, but as the months have passed by, there’s a sort of comfort in knowing that he could’ve been some random guy off the street and you would’ve probably treated him the same. In front of you he is neither on a pedestal nor someone to be knocked down on his knees. More Michael than he is Kaiser.

Things have been teetering on a dangerous edge lately. His mind is wandering off towards you again, more and more often each day. Like maybe he’s excited for the next time he sees you or something else repulsive in a similar vein, a giddy feeling bubbling in his stomach. Is this what it would’ve been like to be a little boy with a crush?

Generally he prefers not to socialize with background characters. So he doesn’t know why it’s while he’s having some benign daydream about you that some newbie he hadn’t bothered remembering the name of decides to interrupt him. Besides, it’s inconvenient, he was supposed to be leaving and this guy is blocking the changing room door.

“I heard you’re banging a model,” he says, as if they’re good pals or some shit. Kaiser is also mostly immune to annoying locker room talk since all the other psychotic men he knows are too busy being as fanatical as him to waste time on something as useless as objectifying someone to pass the time, yet here this lowlife is.

Kaiser regards him with a judgmental side eye — for a second too long, almost television-style — and tries to move and sidestep him. “Why do you care? Pathetic cuck.”

“Woah, don’t be like that. I just thought it was funny. I’ve heard about that person before, would’ve thought it would be more of a hit it and quit it type thing. Yet here you are, still together.”

The emotion that zaps him is almost disorienting. Kaiser bruises easily, but it’s all about him. There’s never been much room for anyone else in his mentality of suffocating self-absorption, a depressing way to try and compensate for anyone who’s ever wronged him. Right now, though, he’s feeling anger on someone else’s behalf. A borderline exotic situation.

“So I was curious if that thing about loonies being the best at fucking was true? I’m assuming it is ‘cause I don’t know why else you’d stay with a schizoid.”

In the heat of the moment, when he’s pissed off, Kaiser is not the most poetic wordsmith. Thankfully politeness and civility are sensibilities which elude him. Without a second thought or any regret, he makes use of his water bottle still in his hand and dumps the entire contents of it over his head before elbowing him out of the way while he’s still confused.

___

You really don’t want to be having this conversation.

For fuck’s sake, you’re on break. And isn’t that supposed to mean relaxation? Yet the other model for the shoot today has been bugging you with unpleasant questions, putting you on the spot.

“Isn’t he a narcissist, though?” she asks, refusing to let go of the topic no matter how unresponsive you’ve been.

“I guess? Maybe. In a way…”

“You’re sooo… I don’t know. Like, you don’t even sound sure about what you’re telling me.” She narrows her eyes at you, leaning in a bit closer. “Aren’t you scared of him? Or is it ‘cause you’re so sheltered, you don’t know not to mess around with guys like Kaiser?”

Scared of him? It sounds ludicrous. At worst he’s whiny.

“He’s harmless,” you say. “Just a little rude and preoccupied with himself, that’s all. Actually, he’s an interesting and attentive person.”

She covers her mouth and lets out a sound of amusement, apparently now finding you more convincing and therefore dropping her worries. “He was saying you guys are suuuuuuuper in love with an interview.”

Not too engaged with the topic — since it’s about whatever lies Kaiser told the interviewer to entertain himself — you ask, “Is that what he was saying?”

“Yep. Didn’t you watch?”

“No.”

“Fine. Maybe he’s ‘interesting and attentive.’ I mean, I don’t believe it, but whatever. What about you, though? Do you like him, let alone love him? Can you even like anyone? I mean, shit, you know how you are. So, like, can you? Are you suuuuuuuper in love?”

You avert your eyes. “Yes,” you say. It’s true. You do like Kaiser well enough, probably more than you should. “And stop making assumptions about him and me.”

“What if I don’t stop? What are you gonna do?”

That’s… A very good question because there’s nothing you can do at the moment. Seems like a good opportunity to weaponize your reputation of being a deranged serial killer. “I’ll lick your eyebrows.”

You don’t know if your delivery is persuasive or not, but the idea you’d do such a thing must come off as believable enough because she makes a strange face before backing off.

___

You despise being in situations. And making decisions.

There’s a stupid PR meeting again. Your manager, who you think should move onto writing trashy novellas instead of administering poison to your career just because his imagination is overactive, proposed a new stunt. With the fake relationship running its course, you were discussing ways to publicize the ‘break up’ and he suggested a cheating scandal. Not to mention his great idea had you as the cheater — you swear he’s praying on your downfall at this point.

Maybe because you’ve been treated as some kind of fucked up creature incapable of thought and trustworthy decisions, something insentient, you would’ve went along with it like always. Even though you know you’d look bad, the point is to make noise, and it would be a scandalous story if not anything else. Another indignity doesn’t matter much on an endless list.

Then Kaiser in true Kaiser fashion declared that he wants to keep the relationship going. To you, such an act of flippant defiance is unthinkable.

But obviously this forces you into a position where you need to pick between your options. They’re all staring at you, waiting. Kaiser is smiling at you from across his seat like you’re in on a joke with him. Anxious, you say, “I’ll think about it,” and stand up to leave.

You’re sweating because somewhere within you wanna announce ‘Yeah, I wanna keep seeing Michael Kaiser,’ but it’s so preposterous.

Kaiser doesn’t chase after you (though it’d be his style to do such a thing solely for the drama), but he catches up to you by the time you make it outside of the building, approaching the parking lot.

“Hey. Hey! Hey, stop ignoring me. Heeeeeeey.”

God he is such an annoying pest sometimes. You turn around to face him, snapping, “What?! What was that about anyway?”

“No, what’s with you? What is there to think about? You don’t want to look like a clown in front of the world, do you?”

You’re looking at Kaiser again like you’re trying to figure out a mystery. He always wants things, but what does he want from you? There has to be a reason for this. Otherwise, he should’ve been fine with the separation instead of trying to prolong it.

“Listen,” says Kaiser, a little apprehensive at your silence and expressionless gaze, “I can tell you barely tolerate your shitty job and that you probably don’t like the moronic idea your anthropomorphized cyst of a manager came up with, so why aren’t you protesting it?”

Those are objective enough observations. However, “Anthropomorphized cyst…?”

“You’re changing the subject,” Kaiser huffs, irked. “And by the way the fake meek act isn’t cute at all. They’re making money off of you. Tell them to fuck off and die and stop acting like a hostage.”

“This is very inspirational and all, Kaiser, but how about you tell me why you wanna keep the fake relationship going?”

“Doesn’t matter. If you don’t want that either, you can say we’ll settle for ending it instead of-”

You cross your arms. “Again, your attempts at a pep talk are adorable and appreciated, but you’re changing the subject now.”

“They’re not adorable. I’m right. Say I’m right.”

“Fine, fine, you’re right,” you relent with a roll of your eyes.

Kaiser smiles snidely and clasps his hands behind his back. “Thanks,” he says in a sarcastic tone. Then you expect him to entertain your question, but he doesn’t, leaving you in an uncomfortable staredown against him and his stupid ‘beautiful glowing blue orbs’ ass eyes.

“Answer me,” you demand.

“Your unpleasant personality and reclusive ways have bewitched me.”

…

…

“… What?”

“I won’t repeat myself,” Kaiser says with too much attitude considering the situation. Like, he just spoke out one of the most absurd sentences you’ve ever heard.

“Do you have a brain tumor?”

The outrageous suggestion makes him scoff. “Really? You think I need a brain tumor to like you?”

“Maybe,” you say. “Should’ve let me operate on you when I offered.”

“You’re mentally disturbed,” he replies like the fact turns him on or something.

“So were you asking me out or what?”

“Yes? No? Yes. Yeah, fine, I am.”

“Do you search up ‘personality’ on porn sites?”

“Come on, be serious. I mean what I’m saying and I want to give things between us a try. Do you?”

You cringe as if admitting your feelings or overall being in touch with them in the first place is a physically painful sensation, but in your defense you think you might throw up. “Yeah… Yeah, okay, I’ll tell him tomorrow. My manager, I mean.”

Kaiser swings an arm around your shoulders, visibly pleased with the way this is all going. He sings, “That’s the spirit.”

What had he wanted from you? Affection and care, apparently. You think back on when you’d called him ‘disgusting’ and a foreign guilt overcomes you since you don’t usually lament the remarks you make during your misanthropic hissy fits.

Is it fine for someone such as yourself to also indulge in wanting? Hesitant, with shaky arms, you embrace him around the middle, the gentlest of hugs. Kaiser freezes for a moment as if he’s unsure what to do when he’s not the one initiating things, but eventually returns the gesture. Melts into it, even. Two existences brushing against one another, at first glance contrary yet perhaps similar in many ways.

When you finally pull away from each other little by little, Kaiser says, “Let’s elope now.”

You sigh. “You sure have a way of making everything sound way more exciting than it is.”

(He drives you back to your place, but still sucks at driving. Chivalrously, he avoids crashing the car, though.)

___

Yall I was drinking light yellow tap water for a few daysdo you think somethings gonna happen to me ?

Btw I hate this but it's finally finished after like around a month so whatever lol I' M FREE

[lilyginnyblackv2]

Buddy Daddies - Episode 12 -SPOILERS! Family? - Let’s Talk About That Photo Scene!

A lot of people found this moment a bit odd. Kazuki and Rei look at each other (faces seeming a bit frowny) and Rei asks, “Family?” This question does seem a bit odd doesn’t. After all, they’ve been a family for 10 years, Rei even told his father that he wanted to become a true family with Kazuki and Miri, so why this response to a photo?

Well, let’s rewind a bit! Right before this moment we have this:

Miri standing in the middle of Kazuki and Rei and a little in front of them. This is their usual picture setup:

In Episode 9 for her Field Day Gold Medal Win:

In Episode 12 for her Daycare Christmas Party:

In Episode 12 (Bulletin Board) for her Junior High School Graduation:

This is their family photo setup and dynamic for pictures. And as Miri has gotten older, they’ve also placed a bit more distance between themselves and her. This makes sense. They are Miri’s papas, yes, but they are still papas and she is still an awkward pre-teen girl in junior high school. So, there may have been times when she felt she wanted a bit more space between them all. Also, as children age in Japan, skinship - physical affection - tends to lessen as well. So, as she got bigger and they didn’t need to hold her as close anymore, the distance in their photos got bigger.

So, in more recent years it seems like they may have gotten used to standing a bit farther apart from themselves and Miri in family photos. So, Miri’s insistence that they need to scoot together more, and Kazuki just being like, “It’s fine like this.” And then her insistence that it isn’t, then kind of makes the two of them look at each other. They are a bit confused now, because it has gone against what they’ve gotten used to.

Rei also tends to express his thoughts, especially if he is confused or uncertain about something, in more limited ways (single words, parroting, etc.). So, him questioning Miri, himself, and Kazuki here when it comes to what they consistute as “family” in regards to taking photos together just comes out as:

“Family?”

Then Kazuki acts like his usual self and goes all in:

And this is the result of their new family photo set up:

At least, for Miri’s high school years and as long as she is using a selfie stick, lol. But, much like everything else in the show, there is a focus here on change. As Miri enters different stages of her life, their family, it’s dynamic, and even how they do things like take photos and pose - all of that will continue changing, with Kazuki and Rei smiling right there beside her.

Before, Kazuki and Rei were on either sides of her - protecting her. But she is teenager now. She has more independence and won’t need that same level of protection and looking after. So we see her off on her own a bit, while Kazuki and Rei finally connect on a physical touch level that they’ve never done before.

Like, that’s practically a hug (and Miri looks quite pleased about that, lol). It’s almost like another development for Kazuki and Rei too, another level for them to move on to and get used to (obviously, Rei isn’t quite used to it yet, he tends to take a bit more time to adjust). It’s fun to think about how their family photos will grow and change as Miri ages, if she gets any significant others herself, has any kids, etc. There structure and dynamic will just keeping evolving and changing. 

The full version of SHOCK plays during this whole 10 years later sequence, and the lyrics really do match up with this. 

“Let’s live our lives, loving and being loved.”

[mochegato]

Petty Warfare

Part One of the Pretty Petty Series

“Akuma I have no sense of decorum,” Ladybug grumbled as she surveyed the wreckage before her.  It was all quite impressive considering the akuma had only emerged a few minutes ago and had already wreaked more havoc than the last eight akuma combined, but it was easy to do that with a literal sea of lava appearing and disappearing every few seconds.

It was not the look they needed right before their meeting with the Batman to discuss investigative assistance from the Justice League while still keeping them at a distance and allowing the Miraculous team to stay in control.  It was a well-known fact in the hero community, and the general public really, that Batman and his team had a tendency to think they know better and taking over.

“Absolutely no respect for other people's schedules,” Chat nodded in agreement as he stepped up next to her with a twirl of his staff.

Rena hummed as she whirled her flute and got in line.  “It's one thing that's always bothered me about akuma, how rude they are.”

Carapace stepped beside her.  “Well then, let's teach them some manners.”  He looked down and around, for a brief second there was a glimmer of panic in his eyes, but it almost immediately disappeared in favor of a smirk.  He grabbed his shield from its back holster and spun it on one finger before securing it on his forearm.

Ladybug rolled her eyes and shook her head, much to the amusement of the rest of her team.  It was extremely common for her to do one or the other, but both at the same time?  They rarely got her to do that.  “And let's make it quick,” she advised firmly.  “We have a meeting to get to and I for one do not want to let down Wonder Woman.”  She made eye contact with the rest of her team but then rolled her eyes again at their hopeful expressions and twirled her yoyo.

Chat grinned brilliantly, almost bouncing from foot to foot watching the yoyo, but quickly cleared his throat and shook his body before easing into a model perfect pose.  “Or give Batman the idea that we need him to step in more than we want.”

Carapace sucked in a breath.  “Might want to get on that.”

“Oh my god, that's Red Hood!” Rena shrieked, barely able to keep her voice low enough not to echo across the rooftops.  “I need to get a picture of him in the fight for the paper.”  Her excited grin quickly twisted to a contemplative purse.  “I can’t believe they brought Red Hood near Hawk Moth.  That seems like a poor choice.”

“Red who?” Ladybug asked.

Rena pointed to a figure jumping from roof to roof.  “Red Hood,” she enunciated slowly.  “Affiliated with Batman… kind of… he has a bat on his chest so…”

Ladybug followed to where she was pointing, her face scrunching as she watched him.  “But he doesn't have a hood.”

Carapace shrugged.  “You don't have antenna but your called Ladybug.”

Ladybug scoffed and spluttered.  “No, but I have…” she motioned toward her bodysuit. “I'm not called Ladybug and then running around looking like a fox.”  She gestured harshly toward Rena.  “He should be called Red Mask or something.”  She suddenly narrowed her eyes and shot up straight.  “Is that a gun?” she shrieked, not bothering to keep her voice down.

“That’s kind of his thing,” Rena grimaced.

“Not here it isn’t,” Ladybug snapped.  Her yoyo was sailing toward him before Carapace could warn her that she might not want to start a fight with an ally while they were still fighting an akuma, but by that point, she was already gone and it was probably better for everyone involved if he just didn’t say anything.  Except for Red Hood, but he was a big boy.  He could handle himself… probably.

The yoyo hooked over a beam and wrapped around Red Hood’s wrists in the blink of an eye.  He was yanked forward by his wrists, forcing him to drop both his guns over the side of the building and barely keeping himself from following after, as she jumped off the building and swung toward him, using him as her counterweight.  Thankfully, he was heavy enough he barely moved as she swung.  She landed gracefully and silently, but stalked over to him, stomping the entire way until she was almost chest to chest with him.  “What the hell do you think you are doing?” she demanded.

He yanked his arms back and looked her up and down, the surprised look from seconds before replaced with a mask of indifference, eyes calculating and raised eyebrow unimpressed.  “It's called saving the day sweetheart.  Someone had to do it.”

“Oh shit,” Chat grumbled under his breath.  He searched around for the rest of Red Hood’s team.  Surely one of them could help deescalate the situation.  He could calm Marinette down, but not if Red Hood was actively taunting her.  But when he turned back to intervene, his eyes caught on Red Hood’s hands and he had to fight to stop from chuckling.

He was trying to be discreet.  He was trying to be sneaky.  He thought he could trick them.  He really had no idea who he was dealing with.  He could try as hard as he wanted, as long as he wanted, but he wasn’t going to get out of that line.  He was stuck there for as long as Marinette wanted him there.  Chat would know, from personal experience.  If Red Hood had done any research before coming to their territory, he would have known that.

“It's called inflicting major trauma,” she hissed, “which is a bad thing when dealing with a villain who preys on negative emotions.  I fear that's something most anyone could figure out.”

“Seems like getting attacked by an akuma might do exactly that.  So stopping the akuma would prevent it.  I fear that’s something even someone like you could figure out,” he growled back.

“Someone like me has figured out how to mitigate damage as much as possible from years of experience.  Someone like me has learned unnecessary violence will only make everything worse.”  She closed her eyes and took a deep breath to recenter herself, when she reopened her eyes, they retained the same blazing frustration, but her voice was steady and calm, disturbingly so for anyone who knew her.  “You can’t shoot them.  That is not how we deal with akuma.”

“That’s how I deal with bad guys, kid,” he snarled back.  He took a step forward expecting her to step back, but she stood her ground meaning they were now physically touching chests and he had to lean back slightly to look down and meet her gaze.  “This here is the real world and in the real world, you have to get a little dirty,” he lectured, not bothering to keep his condescension from his voice.  “You can’t just sing a little song to make the bad guys turn good.  Maybe that’s why you haven’t been able to defeat your villain.”

“That is literally how we stopped one akuma, you pretentious, cretinous brute.  Violence doesn’t solve everything.”  She leaned forward, filling in the space he had created and poking her finger against his armored chest.  “In fact, responding with violence has made a lot of our situations worse.  And I’ll tell you one more thing someone like me knows, that even if they don’t look like one, it is wholly, unmitigatedly wrong to shoot a kid even if he doesn’t look like one at the moment.”

She walked away a few steps, missing the way his entire body tensed at her words.  When she turned back to him, she had a cocky smirk on her face, arms crossed, and hip cocked.  “We fight smarter, not harder.  I would say you should try it, but smarter doesn’t appear to be your strong suit.”

Red Hood stepped forward but before he could retort, another figure landed just next to him.  “Oh good, you met the local heroes,” Nightwing cheered, his voice clearly artificially bright.

“I really need you guys to stay out of our way,” Ladybug stated, her voice commanding, clearly intended for all of the bats, but her eyes not straying from Red Hood.

“Yep, he met them,” Red Robin grimaced.  He took a breath and turned to Ladybug and the rest of the team with a calm, confident expression.  “We don’t intend to get in your way.  We will assist if you need, but we are here for the meeting.  We can just treat this like research.”

Ladybug forced out a breath then another before turning to Red Robin and Nightwing.  Her demeanor completely changing from confrontational to commanding.  “Look, you guys clearly didn’t bother to do your research before coming, so here’s the crash course…”

“You seem like you’d be familiar with crashing,” Red Hood muttered loudly enough for everyone on the roof to hear.

Red Robin glared at him.  This could be a great collaboration, helping not only the Miraculous team but the Justice League as well.  He needed to make clear they were not supporting Red Hood in this.  “Didn’t you crash into a billboard a few weeks ago?”

“I was thrown into one.  There’s a difference,” Red Hood hissed, stepping up to Red Robin who danced just out of his reach along the edge of the roof.

“Focus, children,” Nightwing thundered.  He waited a few seconds, staring down Red Hood and Red Robin before turning to Ladybug and motioning for her to continue.

Instead, Chat stepped in.  “Okay real quick, Hawk Moth uses magic to take over people and make them do things they would likely never choose to do otherwise.  They are given magic powers and the powers vary by person.  The magic is anchored in an item.  Break that item, free the person.”

“Also important,” Ladybug cut in, “the people corrupted can be anyone.  They can be completely innocent people.  They could be children,” she added pointedly.  “And they remember everything.  They remember what they did and what was done to them.”  She met Red Hood’s eyes fiercely.  “Do not give our children, or any of our citizens, any more trauma than they already have.”

Red Robin waited impatiently, his eyes volleyed back and forth between them a few times before he couldn’t hold himself back any longer.  “Is the object always prominent?”

“No,” Rena answered when Ladybug still hadn’t broken her glare.  Plus, it was Red Robin!  She was getting to talk with Red Robin!  “Sometimes it's hidden.”

He quirked his head and let his gaze move past her toward the akuma that had now come out into the open.  “How do you know what it is.”

Ladybug finally tore her glare from Red Hood to redirect it toward the akuma.  “We figure it out,” she answered, almost absentmindedly, her focus now on the akuma as her eyes darted to every part of it.

“We deduce it based on the cause of the possession and context clues,” Chat added.

Ladybug turned back at the loud scoff clearly coming from Red Hood’s direction.  “For example,” she snapped, stepping up to him again, “in this case we know it started from a game of The Floor is Lava, the handle of the drawer he was holding onto broke, so…”  She paused and whipped around, eyes narrowed at the Akuma in the distance for just a moment before looking around, eyes tracing her yoyo, then the line to Red Hood, to Carapace to just past him to the edge of the building, then to Chat, and back to the akuma.   “Carapace," she stated.  Her words were heavily weighted like it there was an entire conversation in that one word.

And clearly there was, because Carapace instantly stood at attention and followed the path her eyes had followed seconds before, nodding in understanding.  “On it,” he reported as he stepped into position at the edge of the building.

“Rena, a bit of cover, if you will.”  Rena nodded and pulled her flute up to her lips, ready to play when the time was right.  “Get ready Chat.”  Her words carried the same weight, communicating everything with her tone and body language.

Chat followed her gaze and narrowed his eyes at an area of the akuma’s chest that was protruding strangely.  “Always m'lady,” he answered with a determined nod.

Nightwing stepped forward.  “Um, do you want to share for the rest of us?  We speak to each other with our eyes not our tone so we’re a bit lost.”

Ladybug ignored him and stepped up to Red Hood with a broad, artificial smile.  “Just want to say thank you so much for your service,” she purred.

Red Hood bobbed his head back and tried to take a step away, he was familiar with crazy, Harley had trained them all pretty well, and he would prefer to have some kind of point of reference to know if it was the fun crazy or someone’s going to die crazy.  Unfortunately for him, he was already standing on the edge of the roof and had no place to go.  “Wha...”

Before he could finish snapping at her, she kicked him hard in the chest.  He tried to flail his arms, but his wrists were still bound together.  Not only could he not flail, he couldn’t try to scramble at the side of the building to slow his descent.  Nightwing jumped after him, but before he could reach him, a green shield appeared beneath him, not slowing his descent, but clearly there to keep him from hitting the lava.

Red Robin watched them long enough to make sure they would be okay before turning back to watch the Miraculous team just in time to see Ladybug, and therefore Chat, who was riding on her shoulders, get launched by the input force from her yoyo line, like taut line snapping and recoiling when the counterweight disappeared.  Just as they reached the apex, there were a few flute notes played and Chat disappeared, but within seconds, ‘Cataclysm’ echoed over and between the buildings and Ladybug was moving smoothly and quickly over the rooftops toward the akuma.

Her yoyo line retracted with a speed that defied physics and was released again.  He was only able to track it due to the glowing light it emitted before she reeled it back in.  Rena whispered something he couldn’t understand before stepping up next to him with a huge grin and looking over the side.  “It’s over now, you can come back up.”

Carapace patted Red Robin on the shoulder.  “That was fun.  We should do that again.  I enjoyed working with you.”

Red Robin peeked over the side of the building to verify Nightwing was giving Red Hood a ride back up with the grappling hook before returning his attention to Carapace with a smirk.  “I agree.  Best collaboration we’ve had in a while.”

Rena turned her attention to Red Robin with an excited grin.  ‘Hey, so,” she continued speaking uninterrupted even as a swarm of ladybugs flew all around them removing the lava, repairing the buildings, returning Nightwing and Red Hood to the roof, and Red Hood’s guns to his holsters.  She motioned toward Nightwing without breaking eye contact with Red Robin.  “He mentioned you guys communicate through looks.  How do you do that when you all have the film over your eyes?”

“Experience,” a gruff voice answered from behind her.

Rena spun around and let out a squeal as Batman stepped out of the shadows to announce his presence.  “That was so cool!”

“That’s why he does it,” Nightwing joked.

“Who does what?” Chat asked as he landed next to Red Robin just seconds before Ladybug.

“Batman,” she acknowledged instantly, her eyes finding him before she’d landed.  Chat, however, screamed and jumped away in surprise, almost ending up in Red Robin’s arms.  She continued without missing a beat.  “It is nice to…”

Before she could continue, Red Hood barreled over to her, not stopping until he was towering over her, his massive body, seemingly even larger due to his armor, looming over her.  “You could have killed me!” he thundered in a dark, cold voice.

Instead of being intimidated as he was used to, she crossed her arms over her chest with an unimpressed scoff.  “I kicked you in the chest plate.”

“You didn’t know,” he accused.

“I felt it earlier.  I knew you would be fine,” she snarled back but then she straightened up and opened her eyes wide in a perfect imitation of the innocence she usually embodied.  “And you were so concerned with helping save the day I just knew you would want to help.”  She almost kept the façade up except for a slight quirk of her lip when Chat snickered.

"Oh, you're starting a war you aren't prepared for, little girl," he growled.

She raised an eyebrow and leaned back like she was contemplating him.  “I just defeated a lava monster.  I think I’ll be just fine with little old you.  And just because you’re bigger, it doesn’t mean you’re older, tougher, or smarter.  It just means you have more capacity for bullshit.”

“Being smaller doesn’t mean you have less bullshit; it just means it’s more concentrated,” he hissed back.

Ladybug opened her mouth to respond but Chat cut in.  “While I think there’s room for both to be true, this is not what is important right now.”

“Hood, we have more important things to discuss,” Batman barked.  “Ladybug, I believe we had some things to discuss.”

Ladybug turned to Batman with a forced smile.  “Sorry, I was distracted.”

“Don’t worry about it.  He can be very distracting,” Red Robin assured her.

“The incompetent ones usually are,” she snipped back without moving her eyes from Batman.

Red Hood took a menacing step forward, but Nightwing put his arm out in front of his chest and silently pushed him back.  “Let’s go somewhere a bit less exposed,” Batman suggested pointedly.

Ladybug nodded and motioned to a rooftop nearby.  “There’s a bit more room over there and Rena can provide cover and Carapace can provide a sound barrier.”

“Perfect,” Batman nodded and grappled after her.

Nightwing kept his hold on Red Hood until she had already landed on the rooftop, far out of his reach.  “You’re going to have to figure out how to work with her,” he warned Red Hood.  “If she’s as good as I think she is, we’re going to be working with her a lot.”

“She threw me off of a building!” Hood hissed at him.

“No,” Nightwing smirked, “she kicked you off a building.  And who hasn't?”

“Me.  I haven't,” Carapace popped up next to them.  “Can I?”

Hood turned to him slowly, pointedly.  Even through the mask, it was clear he was glaring.  “No.”

Carapace took a step back, hands held up.  “Ooookay,” he shrugged.  “Little disappointed, dude, not going to lie.  You guys good to get over on your own or need help?”

Nightwing covered his mouth with his hand to hide his snicker.  “No, we’re good.  Be right there.”

“Rightio.”  He saluted them and was gone.

“We won’t have to work with her if I take her out,” Hood observed, a bit too darkly to be joking.

“You can't kill her.  Wonder woman loves her.  Thinks of her like a little sister because of the whole her mom was Ladybug thing,” he pointed out with a smirk.  “You’re going to have to work with her.

“But I’m pretty positive she's evil,” he huffed.  He shot out his grappling hook to swing over to the meeting.

“Honestly, kinda surprised that doesn't make you like her more,” Nightwing chuckled.  He suddenly straightened up, face bright with excitement.  “Or!  Focus on taking her out… on a date!”  His laughter returned full force, echoing over the rooftops, at the glare he could feel Jason sending him from under his mask as he swung away.  “This is going to be fun,” he giggled to himself before grappling to join the others.

[yujinnieswifeu]

hello and thank you for the fic on sex appeal it's really great I really liked it thank you again

I wanted to know if you could make a fic about yujin or wonyoung filming the kisses challenge (candy, drinks, ice cream, popscicle) for reader's YouTube channel and wony or yuj gets a little naughty and horny because of all the kissing teasing the reader about that touching reader breast and reader pushing back their advance and telling them to concentrate on the basic subject after filming the video reader it's that she's going to have a long night (yujin or wonyoung getting hard after a moment in the video hiding they're hard cocks with a pillow video)

(you can easily find gay people filming this challenge you can use it as a source of inspiration)

thanks again for the other fic

-💌

pairings: sub!fem reader x dom g!p Yujin

warnings: smuttt, cumming inside of pussy (please don’t do this irl), kinda switch Yujin and reader?, mild cursing, needy Yujin

a/n: hii again anon!! I’m so glad u enjoyed the previous one that i wrote on Wony hehe, so here is another one w Yujin this time!! I missed writing for Yujin so this was so fun to write tbh, really missed my baby🥺🥺 i forgot to add that this was such a good request as well so tqsm😭. And might have gotten carried away w this askk haha, okk i’ll stop yapping here🥴. (Should i start an anon list btw?? Would you guys like that?)

You and Yujin have been seeing the viral kissing challenge, and wanted to try it out for a while now. You were scared but excited at the same time. It is not like you and Yujin were innocent when doing youtube couple videos, but the thought of doing a challenge like this, it was something new. Yes, sometimes your hand would linger a little longer than usual, sometimes your eyes would stare a little longer into hers, but kissing so intensely in front of the camera was something that you two would never think of doing until couples started doing the kissing challenge.

So fast forward to now, you and Yujin were sitting in your living room, the ice cream flavours were spread all over the table and the camera settled over the tripod just like usual. “I’m scared of this Yujin ah..” you mutter out your thoughts in your head, and Yujin goes to cup your cheeks, planting a soft kiss on your lips to calm you down. “Mm..what have we not accomplished huh?” She whispers against your lips, her eyes lowers down on them before going back to look into your eyes.

“You’re right…with you, everything is possible.” You gave her a wide smile, the one she adores and she smiles back widely as well, almost looking like a puppy. “Stop that lookkk.” You dragged your words, which makes her giggle, showing off her dimples. “That’s even worse!” You pout, and she takes the opportunity to pinch your cheeks instead. You were whining now and Yujin just shushes you up with another kiss. “We need to start rolling the video now, if not the ice cream will melt.” She looks over the ice cream, some puddle of water under the wrapper due to condensation (idk if I’m right 🧍🏻‍♀️), and back at you as you gave her a small pout.

“When i kiss you later, that look of yours will be gone baby.” She teased, and you just roll your eyes at her way of flirting with you, a smile forming on your lips now. “There’s that smile, i’m going to start now okay?” She asked and you nod your head yes. Within a few seconds, she starts the video, settling next to you and you two starts with the normal introduction, filling some fans in on how has your day been and answering the lucky fans questions. Finally, it was the part when you two would do the challenge.

“So..Yujin and me both know how fans have been asking for this content lately…so we’re going to do this challenge. Can you guys guess what it is?” You posed with your hand over your ear, as if hearing what the fans are saying and Yujin giggles at your actions. “You got it right, we’re going to do the….kissing challenge!” Yujin answers after a while of silence and you hid your face in your palms, suddenly feeling embarrassed. “As you can see, y/n here has been trying to get away from this, but of course, i convinced her.” Yujin teases, her hands going to ruffle your hair and you give her a glaring look, which makes her giggle. “Okay okay, i’ll stop.” She says, straightening your hair for you before going back to the task at hand.

“So for this challenge, we have prepared ice cream, and there’s so many flavours to choose from, we really just bought a bunch which we thought were nice to try for this challenge.” Yujin rambles on and you nod at her words.

。。。

Yujin shows the ice cream flavour to the audience, the blindfold was over your eyes now, making you unable to see anything but darkness. Your heart was racing during this time, being unable to see was not something you two were unfamiliar with of course, but thinking about her lips on yours while the video was playing, and blindfolded, there was just something about it that makes you all nervous and excited.

When you feel her fingers under your chin, you got the queue, your lips puckers a little and then you felt it, her cold lips on yours. Your breathing hitches in that moment, feeling her kissing you more intensely, her tongue presses through your lips, forcing you to taste the sweet taste of the ice cream that lingered on her tongue. It tasted like a mix of blueberries and strawberries. Your breathing starts getting heavier, and after a while, Yujin pulls away, almost drawing a whimper out of you as you bite your lips between your teeth instead.

“Well..what flavour was that?” She says slightly breathless, now grabbing a pillow from the edge of the sofa over her lap. “Mm..was that mixed berries?” You raise a brow through the blindfold and Yujin was a little shocked you got it right. “You guessed it right babe, how did you guess?” She quipped, now removing the blindfold for a while, your eyes squinting from the light slightly. “It tasted like blueberries but at the same time strawberries?”

“Oh, to me it just tasted like blueberries, maybe it’s because of you huh? Always distracting me.” Yujin smirks, her attempt to flirt with you makes you roll your eyes, your cheeks now slightly red from her words. “Let’s move on to the next flavour!” You added on, trying to change the subject which causes Yujin to laugh. “Okay, okay, put it back on then.” You place the blindfold back on, the sound of the wrapper fills up the room, the silence was making your heart race, not knowing when she will kiss you.

That was until you felt a pair of hands on your waist, pulling you closer to her, your breath hitches, a gasp falling past your lips at the unexpected touch. Yujin takes this opportunity to kiss you deeply, instantly sliding her tongue inside your mouth, you whimper softly, feeling her hands slide up and down your body teasingly. You were going to push her away and chide her but Yujin knew you too well, her hands sliding under your shirt to feel your skin against her palm. You moan into the kiss, not stopping her yet, until you felt her sliding her fingers past your bra and brushing teasingly at your nipples. You pull away almost instantly, breathing heavily and removing the blindfold that was covering your eyes just a second ago.

“What was that?” You were sternly looking at her now, and she pouts cutely instead, hoping it would work against you. “Don’t give me that look, we need to focus on our video and you know that.” Yujin just whines, she was getting hard doing this challenge and it was not helping when you were blindfolded. She was having those naughty thoughts about you, all blindfolded for her, maybe even bound to the bed…it was driving her and her cock crazy. She just wants this video to end at this point and show you how hard you have gotten her. “Baby…can we stop here for today?” Yujin whines, the pout still etched on her face and you sigh, shaking your head no. “Just 2 more flavours okay? We need to retake this one since you got carried away.” Yujin droops her head, almost like a puppy which makes you giggle. “Sorry love, soon okay? Then we can take care of that problem of yours.” You whisper the last part seductively into her ears, and she bites her bottom lip, suddenly eager to continue recording the content for you two’s youtube channel.

。。。

“A-ahh Yujin slow down!” You cry out, Yujin had requested for your blindfold to stay on, the camera still rolling as she rams her cock inside of you. “Ngh…s-so tight for me, is it cause of the blindfold?” Yujin pants heavily, spreading your legs apart as she drives her cock further deeper inside of you, reaching places that you couldn’t and you let out slurs and moans. She loves seeing you like this, so vulnerable for her. “Shut u-up.” You say breathlessly, and Yujin giggles slightly, pushing your hands up over your head instead to feel you squeeze around her even more. She groans softly against your neck, before licking and sucking at the skin there. “You like it when i do this?” Yujin tightens her grip over your wrist, and you whimper softly. Your hands were curled into fists, and Yujin moans, feeling you tighten around her more.

Just a little more and she would come undone, but that was not what Yujin wants. Within seconds, you found yourself being manhandled into a new position, Yujin slides her cock between your folds, whimpering into you ear as she has your front pressed down against the bed. “F-feel so good..your pussy is mine.” She bites your earlobe, pushing her cock tip past your hole again as she rams herself inside of you. You moan loudly, the sound slightly muffled as you had your head in the pillow. Yujin slides her fingers under your front, her fingers going to tease at your nipples, rolling and pulling them between her fingers, your moans becoming even louder at this point. Yujin whines against your ear, your pussy was closing deliciously around her cock, and she couldn’t stop. Within seconds, she cums inside of you, moaning how good you feel against your ear as her finger slides down to rub at your clit, which sends you over the edge as well.

You feel her hot seed inside of you, but she was still moving her hips slowly. It starts to get too much for you, and you whimper, unable to push her off you since she moves her hands to pin your wrists down, driving her cock that was still hard inside of you. “S-so good, i can’t stop baby, please? I want you to be full of my pup..i’m going to fill you up full of my pup o-okay?” And who were you to say no? When the thought of it turns you on so much? You two ended up doing it all night, and you were sure to be sore the next few days but that was the worries of tomorrow with how good Yujin was fucking you.

[biteofcherry]

Eva. I. Had. A. Thought. (Who knew I could have one of those huh?) I actually had two thoughts technically.

Boudoir Photographer!Steve. You book him with plans to make yourself feel more comfortable in your body.

He definitely makes you feel more comfortable in your body… but man do your shoulders and back and thighs ache from the rope and positions he manhandled you into. Purely for photos. Not for any personal reasons. 😏

He definitely makes you feel more comfortable in your body… but he feels even more comfortable when he's inside you 😏

The boudoir photoshoot is a birthday gift from you to you, because you wanted to feel sexy and desirable and a little bit bold. At first you searched for a female photographer, but when you browsed Steve's portfolio you couldn't take your eyes away.

So you decide to be brave.

You were prepared for your shyness and awkwardness, but you were not prepared for how big Steve is; how smooth and warm his voice is; how your whole body snaps to attention and melts into sense of safety at the same time, when he guides you with softly spoken commands.

He starts you off easy - a few photos in lingerie.

But breathing seems to be difficult when Steve's big hands guide your hips up and push your shoulders down.

Then he encourages you to take off the lace and pose with a sheet; his fingers brushing your skin as he drapes the fabric between your legs and over your breasts.

Somewhere between his words of encouragement and appreciation - "Lovely" - "Oh, that one is stunning" - "Gorgeous" - slips in a "Good girl" that has your fingers clenching on the sheet and your mouth parting.

It takes you a long moment to realize your reaction, though you're not aware that you tilted your face toward Steve as if awaiting his caress on your cheek.

He notices.

He asks you which of his photo collections you liked the most and you admit it was the one with the colorful shibari ropes and soft looking leather harnesses.

You also sigh in envy that you wished you felt as light and sensual as the people in those photos were.

Steve gives you a long look then asks you to follow him into another set in his huge studio. You recognize it from the shibari photos and a thrill makes your heart flutter.

It's there that Steve sets the camera on a tripod and secures his already rolled up sleeves. He looks you straight in the eye when he asks you to drop the sheet and let him make you fly.

As he ties intricate knots on your body, it really feels as if you're floating. Then, using ropes linked through hooks under the ceiling, he yanks you up into the air and takes your breath away.

Tears almost fill your eyes when he slips flowers under the rope, turning you into a stunning artistic arrangement.

Steve's touch is always there, making you feel safe and grounded and you fall even deeper into this cloudy state as he circles you with the camera in hand, snapping picture after picture.

You never expected a photoshoot could make you feel this deeply, make you turn so emotional. But when your mind finally starts to fully reconnect with reality, you find yourself wrapped in a sheet and seated on a comfy chaise. Steve brings you a cup of tea and some cookies, softly explaining to you how the editing process will look like and when you can expect your photos ready.

Before you redress, he asks you how much you liked the experience. When you admit it was more and better than you expected, Steve asks if you'd like to repeat it.

With or without the camera, but for your mutual enjoyment.

That you don't feel rage, or disgust, not even fear at his blunt proposition - is a surprise. There's some hesitation, shyness still. There's also a jolt of excitement at the thought of Steve doing more to your body while you're bound or bent.

You lick your lips and bring the mug closer to your mouth, peering at Steve over the rim.

"Could we try the leather harnesses then?"

[tf-boi]

Maybe a story of a guy transforming his boyfriend into an almost completely inanimate mannequin, renting out his body to store while he takes his boyfriend's head and junk home, the only parts of him that are animate.

(Finally after being in my inbox for a million years~)

"Sign here . . . and here . . . aaaaaannndd here. There we go thats everything!" A medium build man wearing some square glasses (Tom), standing by a slightly taller man (Andy). "My boyfriend is yours for two weeks." the smaller man says with a smirk.

"Babe you gotta stop saying that when you rent my body out." Andy said sighing.

A girl passes the clipboard back to Tom and giggled "Oh don't worry we'll take great care of him~". The girl walks away and returns with a box of clothes. "Just get changed into these and you'll start right away!"

Tom and Andy walk into a changing room as Andy starts stripping. "grrrrowl. . . " Tom said admiring his boyfriend.

Andy blushed "You have to be in the room while I change?"

Tom chuckled "Well we don't have too much fun when we do our thing so why not take it all in while I have you?"

Andy sighed "That's true I guess, but renting our our bodies to these popup stores does making ends meet easy. Plus the after pick-up sex is amazing too."

The two college students embrace and kiss. As Andy and Tom walks out of the changing room, the popup store manager eyed Andy and gave a nod of approval. "Okay you'll be in the front of the store soooo lets get to posing!" The three make their way to the front of the store as Andy strikes a few pose, they eventually settled on a neutral pose.

"Alright, perfect! Lets go home~" Tom said as holds Andy's hand. Andy's body started to turn a shade of grey and blue his body started shining a nice glaze like a fine plastic, his joint's becoming like a doll's. This spread until it reaches Andy's head. Tom then reaches up and puts his hands on Andy's head, that has remained the same, and gives it a nice tug as it pops off his body. "Ahh, babe!" Andy exclaimed. "Ahhh sorry don't know my own strength~" Tom chuckled, "well we can't forget this!" He reaches down Andy's pants and gives another tug as he pulls off Andy's unchanged manhood.

"Thanks for renting, we'll be back in a few weeks!" Tom said walking off.

"Hey feel free to come back if you want to loan us your body too!" The manager waved at them.

Tom and Andy make their way home, Andy's head under Tom's arm, getting a few stares from people. Some thinking its a realistic head commenting on it, but the others who are in the community looking at it lustfully. Renting out their bodies for these stores was a convenient way for them to make some money and good way for them to make new friends. As they entered Tom's apartment, many other mannequins could be seen around the apartment. Some of them are their exes, most of them willingly gave their bodies to them.

Tom set Andy's head on the bed as they both lie there watching TV. It was an awkward silence for a bit before Andy spoke up "What's up babe?"

"W-what? Nothing!" Tom stuttered.

"Please, you were quiet on the way back and you are quiet now. That only happens when something's on your mind."

"Ughhh fine. . . you always know how to read me. Remember what I said at the store? About not having fun while one of our bodies is being rented out?"

"Mhm?" Andy said interested.

"Well what if . . . we changed that?" Tom said blushing.

Andy looked intrigued now "Ohhhh what did you have in mind?"

Tom said "Well . . . well . . ." "You know what? No need to ask, just do babe. My powerless head is under your control~" Andy winked.

Tom gulped but knew Andy was serious. Tom dropped his pants and picked up his blonde prince and put his mouth against his rock hard cock. Andy knew what to do and started out with a whiff of Tom's cock. Tom's dick was smaller than Andy's but his nerdy brunette boyfriend was still packing a decent size. "Ohhh . . ." Tom moaned as Andy started to suck Tom's dick. "mmmm . . . mmmmm . . ." Andy moaned as he savored Tom's cock in his mouth. Andy suddenly felt his head being moved forward and back as Tom started to fuck Andy's head. "Ahhh ahhh" Tom moaned as he let out his inner beast. For years he's been the bottom but now he finally found a boyfriend to let him be on top. He laid face down on the bed, Andy's head still sucking on his dick as he pound's Andy's head. He moves faster and faster but couldn't hold back as he lets out a load into Andy's mouth. Andy moaning as he slurps it up. The cum flows into his head but out of his neck soaking their bed. Tom's cock retracts out of Andy's mouth and he lies next to his boyfriend.

Andy gasped for air. "That was pretty good, but I wish it could have lasted a bit longer . . ." He said with a pout.

Tom looked a bit embarrassed "Sorry it was my first time topping . . ."

"But you were great with your cock, it felt so good and hard . . . when we get my body back, this time you're definitely topping!"

"really?" Tom grinned.

"Yup . . . but first round 2" Andy said lustfully.

"But I'm out of cum . . ." Tom said confused.

"Oh you are but, my cock is ready~ And by the way babe, its my turn."

Tom was shocked by the sudden request but walked into the living room to retrieve Andy's dick. He walked back into the bedroom and gulped. Tom lied next to Andy as he used his power on himself. His body having a nice plastic sheen as he detached his dick and replaced with Andy's massive cock. He winced a bit at how much more testosterone he had as it fills him up. He was tempted to fuck his boyfriend's head again but decided to follow through with his command. Tom put his hands on his body and popped his head off placing it next to Andy. The two share many kisses as Tom's hands reaches for Andy's head and places it onto his neck stump. Instantly Tom lost control of his body as he see's Andy feel his new body.

Andy felt up his new body admiring every inch.

Tom blushed "What are you doing??"

" Just admiring my new self. Having all my muscles is great but sometimes I want to try a slimmer body you know? Besides this is the first time I had your body while you are awake."

"Awake?? How many times have you done this?"

Andy ignored this question and picked up Tom's head and started making out. Their tongues wrapped together as they moaned into eachother's mouth. Tom suddenly felt his head get pulled away as it is placed in front of Andy's rocket. Tom started to suck Andy off wrapping his tongue around Andy's meat. "Ohhh babe you know all the good spots..." Andy moaned as Tom's head serviced him. Just like Tom, Andy started to use Tom's head as a fleshlight stroking his rock hard dick with him. Tom loved being used by his boyfriend and it even aroused him knowing it has his body being used. Tom gladly played the role of a toy and pleassured his boyfriend.

Once again Tom felt himself pulled away as a new sensation filled his head. Andy had slid his cock into the bottom of Tom's neck hold and started fucking him. Tom wanted to moan but Andy's cock filled his throat. His mind went blank as he eatches his boyfriend fuck him through the neck. Tom tightened his throat to squeeze Andy's cock. From the corner of his eye, Andy saw Tom's disconnected dick had gotten hard again and he picked it up and shoved it into Tom's mouth. "Mmmmmmm mmmmm mmmm" Tom moaned as he sucks his own dick. As Andy kept fucking Tom's head Tom came into his mouth, the streams of sperm lubing his throat for Andy's still hard member. Wanting this to continue, Tom got his cock hard again and kept sucking himself off. He came several more times until he felt it. Andy's cock releasing his love juices into his throat. The sensation made him cum once more as pools of cum pour out of both ends of his body. As they finished cumming Andy leaned back on the back of the bed a bit too hard and his head pops off Tom's body landing next to his boyfriend covered in their cum.

"That was amazing babe! We should definately do this more often." Andy said.

Tom didn't respond. His mind completely blanked out.

Andy still in control of Tom's body picks himself up and reattaches himself to Tom's body. "Well guess we went a little too hard..." Andy picks up Tom's head by the hair. "I guess its me and his body for the next couple of weeks."

Andy stared in their closet filled with their exes petrified bodies. "Well maybe I'll give our exes' body a spin too so it won't just our cocks being shoved in you~" Andy says picking out a body for round three.

[valentiyne]

𝗂𝗌 𝗍𝗁𝗂𝗌 𝗌𝗉𝗈𝗍 𝗍𝖺𝗄𝖾𝗇? ꕥ 𝖺𝗌𝗁𝗍𝗈𝗇 𝗂𝗋𝗐𝗂𝗇

Ashton Irwin x Fem!Reader Summary: Getting randomly selected as a seat filler for an award show can't be as boring as it seems. Warnings: None Word Count: 1.3k Copyright © 2023 Valentiyne. All rights reserved. This original work is not allowed to be reposted on any platform in any format.

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Confirmation Code #AI0771994

Hello Y/n!

We received your request form for the annual MTV VMA's seat filler position. Your ticket was randomly selected and we are sending this email as a confirmation of your acceptance.

We hope to see you there!

The MTV Video Music Awards is an award show to honor the best in the music video medium. Of course, I had stumbled upon the application as an ad while scrolling through Instagram- thinking nothing of it when I filled it out months ago.

When I woke up to the confirmation email this morning, I flew out of bed and began picking out an outfit- regardless if I was five hours early. I spent most of the afternoon practicing my best smiles and poses, making sure I wasn't caught on live TV with an embarrassing face.

I stumbled down the steps, constantly checking the time over and over again. It was enough to send chills down my spine- wondering who I would get the honor to sit next to. Justin Bieber? Or even Taylor Swift? A girl can only dream it's someone she adores.

"Ticket please", The man at the front asked in a husk voice, holding up his scanner toward my phone as I showed him the confirmation email instead. His eyes scan it, using his pinky finger to scroll across the email.

"Seat filler..", He scratches his chin for a moment before turning around to speak into his earpiece, leaving me to anxiously bounce between my feet. He snaps back around, pointing behind him before leaning in,

"You're going to go straight down the hall, into the auditorium and find the next open seat. Do not scream or squeal if you're placed by a huge celebrity- it's against your policy and you will be thrown out", He hands me a wristband and I slap it around my wrist, giving him a quick 'thanks' before darting down the hall.

The auditorium was filled to the brim, the loud bickering of voices filled my ears as I tried to focus my eyes at the empty seats. There were limited seats that weren't preoccupied so I found myself circling the same corner until I spotted one in the back. I scooted through peoples legs before plopping down in a vacant seat- or so I thought.

"Excuse me ma'am? You're in my seat", I snap my eyes up and give a faint smile before clutching my purse and brushing past the lady that stood before me. I looked around once more before finding another seat a few rows up.

"Excuse me, Is this seat taken?", I leaned down to ask the man who was busy talking to the brown-haired boy on his right. He averts his gaze over to me before shaking his head and grabbing his water bottle from the seat,

"No not at all, help yourself."

I give him a thankful smile before plopping down beside him, my elbow brushing his as I propped it up on the armrest.

I started at the people seated in front of me, taking numerous selfies of themselves so I awkwardly looked to the right only to be met with hazel eyes staring back at me. He was dressed in almost casual clothes, with the exception of a leather jacket and freshly polished dress shoes. His cologne smelled like it cost more than my apartment's rent and I took note of the fact he may be a celebrity I didn't know.

"Are you a seat filler?", His voice chirps up after a few moments of awkward silence of the self-challenged staring contest. His eyes glance between my eyes and my tight black dress,

"Yeah, are you?", I shift now, turning ever so slightly to the right to fully face him with my purse on my lap.

He gives me a warm smile, flashing his dimples for a mere second before nodding. The announcer, some celebrity who's name I couldn't pronounce, introduces themselves before notifying us that the show was starting. I switch my phone on silent and slide it into my dress' pocket, taking note of the hazel eyed man next to me copying my actions.

A few big named artists preform on the stage in front of me, confetti falling occasionally. I couldn't help but glance over to the boy next to me hunched over to his right with his back towards me. I blow air into my cheeks and begin bouncing my leg nervously. A tap on my arm snapped me from my train of thought and I immediate look down to see a piece of paper at the edge of my elbow.

"This is lame"

I stifle a laugh and look up at him, reaching across to snag the pen from his hand.

"You chose to be here silly"

He leans in closer to read my tiny handwriting before gently taking the pen back,

"Something like that"

He gives a crooked smile and I roll my eyes at him causing him to pass the pen back to me,

"I'm Y/n"

"Ashton"

I whisper his name in my head, trying to put his face to a name before smiling up at him.

"We should do something after this?"

Oh he's bold.

"We could ditch now" I look up hopefully, only to find him shaking his head with a frown.

"Cant" Is all he writes before stuffing the pen back into his blazer and facing his attention to the stage.

I turn my gaze back to the front, subconsciously looking at Ashton through my peripheral vision. He doesn't move an inch nor advert his eyes in my direction for a whole hour.

The announcer walks back on stage, adjusting their hair before speaking.

"As we all know, Song of the Summer is one of the biggest awards to be given out tonight-" They start, toying with the envelope in their hand. "It is voted by fans across the globe and tonight, I'm here to announce who gets the honor to take home this award"

The audience goes silent, my eyes averting back to Ashton whose jaw was now clenched and I could've sworn I saw his eyes watering.

"And the winner for Song of the Summer goes to", the announcer unfolds the tiny envelope in front of them and smiles into the crowd. It was the last award to be given out tonight, and I could see Ashton rubbing his knees with both hands.

"5 seconds of summer!"

Ashton and the men seated next to him shoot up, hands in the air as they start shouting and jumping. The bright spotlight hits my face and I cover my eyes before a rough tug on my arm sends me up from my seat. I'm pulled into a tight embrace, large arms covering my figure as I adjust my head to look up. Ashton was hugging me, jumping up in down with me in his arms.

A song begins playing over the loud speakers and he lets go of me, patting my head before handing me the slip of paper from before.

"See you soon", he shoots me a toothy grin and follows after his friends up towards the stage. I was in disbelief, one second someone is telling you their a seat filler and the next they are a rockstar in sheep's clothing. I turn my gaze to see four pieces of paper taped to the seats that were once occupied by them,

Reserved for: Michael, Luke, Calum and Ashton

I blink a few times before sitting down to read the note that Ashton had handed me.

Hi, sorry for lying. here's my number incase you still wanted to grab a bite to eat?

###-###-####

-Ash Xx

[atreyushortcake]

Are some RoR/SnV artists aware that they are supporting A p3do and a tracer?(Beware of Rebjastonia)

TW: mentions of minors being depicted in disturbing scenarios

(Disclaimer:Do not witchhunt or cyberbully ANYONE i mentioned in this post. Also, everything I state in this post is alleged, I am not the government, I am not the law, everything stated in this post is alleged)

Hello, normally you would see fanart for various fandoms but most notably Record of Ragnarok. This post? this is not something I would normally do but I wanted to spread awareness about an artist by the name of Rebjastonia. Some of you may be familiar with this person but if you dont know who Rebjastonia is, she is an artist known for her Record of Ragnarok ocs, especially this one here

This girlie here is Femit, “the 14th valkyrie” and the daughter of Adamas. Ok here is when it gets interesting, “she is the youngest valkyrie, even younger than Göll and she is often hidden.” My problem with Femit is that she doesn’t even look that young at all and second, there are canonly only 13 valks in Record Of Ragnarok, and obviously Göll being the youngest. You cant even add another valkyrie to the story unless if its an au of who were the original valkyries before the ones we all know and love in RoR. (unless if you count Zerofuku from round 6)

MOVING ON TO THE MOST IMPORTANT PARTS

When I scrolled in her profile, I noticed some of her art looked off. Some of you fellow viewers may ask “Caro, is there anything wrong with any of her works” well, the mold grows here….

Take a closer look at this gentleman by the name of Sobek, the egyptian crocodile god…. I dont fucking remember im sorry.

If you look closely, you could even find this oc’s pose familiar. You guessed it, the official render of Adam from the anime.

the two images laid on top of each other

As you can see, the entire posture of the oc and the official render is almost nearly identical but the only difference from the original image is that Sobek’s arm is more closer to his hip.

Here is another example(I am not going to share the name of the original artist for the sole purpose of protecting people’s privacy. Rebjastonia’s may have a few differences but the similarities are still rather uncanny)

WARNING:THE NEXT PART MAY BE DISTURBING FOR SOME VIEWERS

This is the most serious part here. While I was scrolling in her deviant art page, I found something very messed up…… I am not gonna bother sharing the actual image, even if I censor it but I will show you the description and the title of the drawing.

“But Carolina, arent the characters depicted as adults in that image you speak of?” Well, the aging up excuse is a tactic that some NSFW artists and proshippers use to depict minors in nasty situations yet they never change anything at all and thats similar to what was shown in the image Rebjastonia drew.

Take a quick look at Souji and Goll

And here is what was said about them

I know some of you may say “waaaaaaa but they're 1800 years old” yeah, thats the same old excuse that proshippers use but the character’s soul is still inside a child’s body.

In conclusion, if you still want to support Rebjastonia, it’s completely up to you but please think twice and be aware of her actions and the warnings about her stated in this post.

(UPDATE 2/28/24) It comes to my attention that she left the internet, she deleted every single post on her facebook, her deviantart along with a blacked out pfp, but somehow her insta is still up, it just has nothing on there.

[carrrrino]

HELLO I am very excited for this project! I wanted to express a concern though…it’s rather hard to find the any info on the project aside from what’s on the blog (which isn’t…very much information wise) I’m not sure if that’s an intentional decision…

I know when I first found the info I….kind of didn’t believe this?? That sounds odd. I suppose what I mean is, it didn’t seem the most legit. I did digging through the blog, read all the links, searched for a Twitter and YouTube accounts and had a hard time doing that as well…Simply because there is very little information on it. Which there’s nothing wrong with…I was wanting to suggest (as an outsider) that you and your team put more announcements/ marketing into this…?

I REALLY hope to see this project grow, it’s absolutely deserved, and very few people seem to know about it. I’d hate that to be something people miss out on. I don’t really expect an answer on this but I thought I should share the concern as an outside perspective. 💛

I really hope this project is going well for you and that it gets the deserved recognition as it’s coming out!!! So excited!!!

I'm so happy that people share the same excitement and concern for the series. Also, the fact that you guys think it's worthy of success Is truly inspiring! I think it's time I SAY something though about my current situation.

TL;DR - Our team basically went inactive after the summer; everyone returned to their lives and I'm the only one who can keep up with the project unconditionally. I didn't mean to dishearten you guys! It's a pain in the ass to work alone - excluding voice actors and SFX producers. The OUTBREAK blog will change entirely, it will be used for info and marketing. This blog will just be general art created by me (&no-namestuff). I will continue to work on the series independently, but I'll definitely give out more info as requested and make things more legit whenever I can!

Over the summer, a group of us began working on the project together, but as most of my friends returned to school and their regular lives, it became almost impossible to keep going. Currently, only a few are available to help, but they're too busy.

I didn't want to worry anyone by saying that it's basically just me working on the project; it's tough to balance animating, scripting, marketing, planning, publishing, AND funding by myself. Over time it (advertising and insightful communication) just became indifferent to me, I even considered going silent for a while until I had a mother-load of progress, but that's really not fair.

The project was a bit of a mess when we started. We didn't plan on making it a big deal, my animations were half-assed and incomprehensible; I barely knew how to work Adobe and could barely even pay it off, the sound was going to be recorded via iPhone, the script wasn't even halfway done, and voice actors weren't thought of until the Prologue. After more than six months of work, Verse 1-4 (or 6?) was deleted because of issues with the file.. this really drew the line for everyone.

So here I am, despite everything; I revised the script, which is barely halfway done, redesigned the characters, read more into the multiversal conundrums of AUs and UNDERTALE, built a portfolio, studied poses for the action scenes — and there’s still a lot that I have to learn. I'm working on Q&As, asks, and the teaser / test / project animations. I don't want people to be confused or hesitant, so I appreciate you a lot for reminding me of this. As requested, I will provide additional details about the project too :) !

No-Name's theme is in progress (thanks to Synth Mints), I've invested heavily in software for good quality animations, talented voice actors from this fandom (some you might even know) have agreed to voice for me - I'm extremely grateful for their help. Even if it takes years to release an episode or pilot, I'm still excited about the outcome. Who knows, I might even have a genuine team by then! :D

aw geez sorry for the whole bit-life story, I'm just trying to shed some light on the situation for you all. I do care, I want everyone to know that, it's just hard work.

Until the next teaser animation, please have these lil' pieces of teasers / lore as an apology!

SD by @/galacii ERROR by @/loverofpiggies / CrayonQueen

LASTLY today is my birthday yayyy 🥳🎂

[bloody-bee-tea]

June of (minimal) Doom 2024 Day 30 - Breathe, damn you!

This marks the end of June of (minimal) Doom! I hope you enjoyed it and that I'll see you again for any other story I might churn out for these two! <3

Suguru has his bag at the ready before he even knocks on Satoru’s door, because like this it’ll be faster. He can oversee Satoru pack his own bag, instead of trusting him to do it and then they can leave in ten minutes instead of the forty it would otherwise take.

By now Suguru knows Satoru and he knows how best to work with him to get things done faster.

“Get ready, we’re going swimming,” Suguru announces as he steps into Satoru’s room and he almost chokes on his laugh when he sees the pose Satoru has pretzeled himself into. “What are you doing?” he gets out and Satoru only glares at him.

“How is that even possible?” he asks, pointing at the entirety of Satoru, because he’s pretty sure no human body is supposed to bend that way, but then again, this is Satoru. Of course he can do everything.

“What do you want?” Satoru bites out instead of answering Suguru’s question and Suguru raises his bag in answer.

“We’re going swimming. Up you go,” he cheerfully says and watches how Satoru un-pretzels himself into a human shape again.

“Fine, let’s go,” he sighs out but Suguru frowns at him.

“Like this?” he wants to know, pointing out the lack of anything swimming related on Satoru but he only shrugs.

“Like this.”

“Satoru, this is not how you go swimming,” Suguru informs him because maybe Satoru simply doesn’t know that.

“It is for me, because I’m not going to swim,” he shoots back and Suguru drops his bag with a sigh.

“Why not? It’ll be fun,” Suguru tries but he knows he won’t have much luck when Satoru’s face closes off.

“Maybe,” he still stays, “but I’m not going to swim.”

Suguru regards him for a moment before he hazards a guess.

“Is it because of the scar?” he whispers out, acutely aware of the huge scar bisecting Satoru from neck to hip.

Satoru isn’t shy to run around shirtless with Suguru and they’ve showered together in the communal showers, too, so it doesn’t seem as if Satoru minds it much, but maybe other people are different.

“No. I could just heal it if it really bothers me,” Satoru mutters, a hand darting under his shirt to no doubt trace over the scar and Suguru decides to let it go for now because if he inquires right now why Satoru doesn’t heal the scar in the first place it would probably open another can of worms, and Suguru really just wanted to relax today.

“What then?”

“Suguru, can you just—I just don’t want to, okay? I’ll go with you but I’m not going to swim,” Satoru says, more harshly than Suguru expected and he deflates, because there’s no way he’s going to drag Satoru out of here to do something he so clearly hates.

“Okay,” he agrees and kicks his bag into a corner of the room. “Counterproposal then. We go to the fair and then get something to eat.”

It’s going to be stupid hot and over-crowded but at least that would get them out of school for a little while and Suguru does not miss the excited glint in Satoru’s eyes at hearing his proposal.

It only lasts a second before it dims again.

“But you wanted to go swimming.”

“I wanted to go swimming with you. I wanted to do something fun with you, but if you’re just going to stay on the shore, then that’s hardly fun, is it? I’d rather we do something we both enjoy, if it’s all the same to you.”

“I didn’t mean to spoil your fun,” Satoru mutters and Suguru walks over to him so he can smack him over the head.

“I want to do whatever with you. I don’t care if we go swimming or hiking or to the fair. I just considered the weather and picked the option that’s least likely to grill us alive but I’m totally down for the fair, too. You know I wanted to check it out anyway.”

It’s not even a lie; Suguru is not stupid enough to lie to Satoru like that. He has mentioned the fair before and they had vague plans to go there eventually, he just bumped these vague plans up now.

“Okay, if you’re sure,” Satoru gets out and Suguru affectionately flicks his forehead.

“I am. Now come on, you grouch, let’s go have some fun!”

~*~*~

Suguru watches how Satoru crashes into the lake, disappearing under the water almost immediately. He doesn’t think about it further, because then the curse is gunning for him and he doubts that Satoru has been hurt enough to keep him down.

He’ll be up in a moment, Suguru is certain of it.

But Suguru subdues the curse, turning it into an orb to swallow it later, and still Satoru hasn’t come out yet.

And now worry grips Suguru’s heart.

He runs over to the lake, jumps on his manta ray to let it carry him into the middle of it, where he’d seen Satoru fall and then he jumps without a second thought.

Satoru hasn’t come up yet, so of course he needs help.

The lake is absolutely freezing even though it’s barely autumn and the temperature is a shock to his system that makes it hard to concentrate for a second. But Suguru gets himself under control again and he dives deep and deeper still, desperately looking out for a mop of white hair, for something human shaped.

He sends out a few of his curses as well, has them help him search but in the end it’s him who finds Satoru first. He’s sinking, completely still, not even trying to get back to the surface anymore and when Suguru runs cold this time it’s not because of the temperature.

Suguru directs his curses, has one of them catch Satoru and bring him back up to the surface, while he is not that far behind and by the time his curse lets him down at the shore Suguru feels as if he’s going to die.

Satoru is too still. He’s never this still.

Suguru is at his side a second later, shaking hands reaching out for his pulse, but there’s nothing. Suguru faintly hears Shoko tell him that it can be difficult to detect a weak pulse in an emergency, so he leans over, puts his cheek against Satoru’s face, but there’s no breath to detect either.

“Fuck,” Suguru whispers out as he springs into action, tilting Satoru’s head back, before he opens his mouth and slots his own over it. He breathes into him a few times before he pulls back but there’s still no reaction from Satoru.

He moves to Satoru’s chest, his CPR training finally kicking in for real and he tries to get Satoru’s heart to pump on his own, before he goes back to trying to breathe life into him again.

“This isn’t how this was supposed to go,” Suguru despairingly thinks as he slots his lips over Satoru’s again and he breathes and breathes and breathes, before he goes back to pumping.

“Breathe, damn you!” he yells when Satoru still doesn’t make any motion to do absolutely necessary, life-preserving stuff on his own and then he’s back to breathing.

He’s just about to move back to his chest, but Satoru finally, finally, starts to cough and Suguru immediately helps him lean over to the side so he can dispel the water he no doubt has in his lungs.

“You’re okay, you’re fine,” Suguru mutters out, his own voice shaky with panic and Satoru doesn’t even do anything besides flop over, his breath still coming in short and ragged and Suguru feels tears prick at his eyes. “Fuck, you scared me,” he mutters, sitting down next to Satoru, just for a moment, to catch his own breath.

Satoru doesn’t move, doesn’t do anything besides trying to regulate his breathing and Suguru takes one moment longer before he gets up.

“We have to see Shoko,” he decides, because Satoru was dead there for longer than Suguru cares to think about.

Satoru only grunts at that, and Suguru doesn’t even expect him to get up on his own, so he bends down, sliding his arms under Suguru’s knees and behind his back and then he’s hefting him off the ground, clutching him tight to his chest. He thinks he’ll probably have a hard time letting go of Satoru for a while now, but that will come later.

For now he has to get Satoru to Shoko so she can check him out and make sure that he’s actually going to stay alive.

With a plan in mind, Suguru gets them back on the manta ray, before he has it take off towards the school.

~*~*~

Suguru is slumped against the side of Satoru’s bed, his hand clutched around Satoru’s wrist, fingers pressed to his pulse-point, while Satoru sleeps off the shock of drowning.

Satoru drowned. Satoru drowned and he was down in the water for so long and Suguru’s breath is coming a little bit faster just remembering it.

Shoko assured him that Satoru would be fine, and by the time they came back to school he was aware enough to rule out any potential brain damage, and yet Suguru still can’t bring himself to let go of Satoru.

“Suguru,” Satoru eventually slurs out, turning to his  side and moving his hand so he can tangle his fingers with Suguru’s.

“Satoru,” Suguru breathes out, scrambling up and sitting down at the edge of the bed now. “How are you feeling?” he asks and pushes some hair out of Satoru’s face.

“Tired. Sore,” Satoru mutters out and Shoko told him to expect that, so Suguru isn’t quite panicking anymore.

“Okay. That’s good, that’s really good,” he gives back, aware that he’s rambling like he usually never is but Satoru is aware enough to realise it because his gaze slides over to Suguru.

“I’m okay,” Satoru tells him and now that makes Suguru huff out a laugh.

“You were dead, Satoru,” he corrects him because that thought hasn’t left his mind all the time and he thought he’d never have to go through that after the mess with Toji.

“But then I came back to you,” Satoru confidently says and Suguru lumps forward, until he can rest their foreheads together.

“I was so scared, Satoru, never do that to me again,” he gets out and Satoru pats his head.

“Sorry,” he mutters.

“What even happened? Did the curse get to you? Did it hurt you? Shoko couldn’t find any injuries,” Suguru asks and Satoru sighs, before he moves away from Suguru, avoiding his gaze suddenly.

“Nothing happened. It didn’t. I have Infinity.”

He says it as if it should explain anything but in all honesty it just raises more questions.

“Then what went wrong? You weren’t coming back up, did you lose consciousness when you hit the water?”

“I—” Satoru worries his lip before he drags himself into a sitting position, still avoiding Suguru’s gaze. “I can’t swim,” Satoru finally admits and it’s so not what Suguru expected that he needs a moment to process his words.

“You can’t swim,” he repeats as if that would make it make more sense and Satoru only presses his lips together.

“If you laugh I’ll kill you,” Satoru mutters and Suguru can do nothing but stare at him.

“Why would I laugh?” he eventually gets out, because that really is not something he even thought about doing. “Why can’t you swim?”

It’s probably still insensitive to ask this, especially with the way Satoru curls into himself, but Suguru doesn’t understand why this is even something Satoru was trying to hide from him.

Satoru clicks his tongue and glares at Suguru.

“I have Infinity. My parents always knew that once I figured out my techniques, I’d be able to float. So what use was there in teaching me how to swim?”

Suguru has to admit that he still has a hard time wrapping his head around this. Satoru is powerful enough to be able to level the entire city with one attack but he can’t swim.

It doesn’t sound real.

“You never learned?” Suguru asks for confirmation again and Satoru shrugs, but he doesn’t say anything else.

Suguru remembers the one time he asked Satoru to come swimming with him, how he was so adamant on not going and now that finally makes sense. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to go, but that he knew he couldn’t join Suguru in the water.

“You could have just said,” Suguru mutters, reaching out to take Satoru’s hand back in his. “You really think I would have judged you for it?”

“But it’s so stupid, isn’t it?” Satoru rushes out. “Everyone can swim and everyone expects everyone else to be able to do it, too. It’s just—no one ever took the time to teach me and now it’s way too late.”

“It’s never too late,” Suguru whispers and moves so he can sit next to Satoru on the bed. “I can teach you. If you want to, of course. It’s no big deal if you can’t swim, but it could have spared us all a lot of worry and pain if you had mentioned it before. I could have gotten you out sooner. I prioritised the curse because I thought you could get yourself out. I just—I need to know stuff like that, Satoru.”

“I’m sorry,” Satoru mutters, tightening his grip on Suguru’s hand. “I probably should have told you, I just—”

He was ashamed, Suguru fills in but he doesn’t actually say it. There’s no need to talk about this anymore today, because it’s done and now Suguru knows but it sure shaved off a few years of his life.

“It’s fine. I’m just glad you’re okay. I was scared out of my mind,” he admits, because he’s not too ashamed to admit that.

“Sorry,” Satoru says again and drops his head to Suguru’s shoulder.

Suguru turns his head to press a kiss to Satoru’s forehead and he lingers there for longer than he probably should. But Satoru’s skin is warm and his body is a pleasant weight against Suguru and he can finally, finally convince himself that Satoru is safe and sound and not slipping through his fingers at any given moment now.

“As long as you’re here,” Suguru gives back and Satoru melts even more against him.

“I’m not going anywhere,” he promises and Suguru decides to believe it for now.

Right now, he just wants to enjoy this moment with Satoru, so he closes his eyes and he breathes together with Satoru until they fall asleep just like that.

[judysxnd]

Hola me encanta como escribes!! No puedo quitarme a Pedro de la cabeza durante la entrevista con el presentador de los Oscar, llamándolo galán. ¿Puedes crear uno donde T/N y Pedro, como actores del año, estén en la alfombra roja de los Oscar y el entrevistador coquetea con él. Ella se pone celosa y se pone a la defensiva, pero Pedro se da cuenta y la calma dándole un beso en la mejilla frente a la cámara :) Gracias, espero que mi deseo se haga realidad.

Holaaaaa mucho gracias! No puedo hablar mas que eso en español, lo siento. My level is very very low, unfortunately. Also, I hope I understood correctly what you wanted!

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

You were currently in the car, sitting next to Pedro. You were a few minutes away from the red carpet of the Oscars. You were getting a bit nervous, you couldn't help but shake your leg. You felt like it was getting hot in the car, and the tag of your dress was itching in your back, striking on your nerves. Thank god your hairstylist convinced you to tie your hair. Pedro quickly noticed your anxiety.

"Are you okay?" He said putting his hand on your thigh, making you stop moving your leg.

"Just a bit nervous" you said, taking a deep breath, smiling at him.

"It's going to go great"

"Says the guy who has as much anxiety as me" you joked

"true" he paused "but you're with me tonight and I'm not feeling any stress" you put your hand on his cheek

"I love you" you got close and kissed him

"We're together so it's going to fine" he added

"yeah but it's the first time we go out to an event as a couple" you looked outside behind Pedro, seeing lots of people, meaning you were almost there.

"even better" he kissed you again. Then the car stopped, sending a knot in your stomach. You looked at him then nodded

"okay let's do this" The door opened on your side, so you went out first. People started to scream when they saw you, making you feel more confident. You stepped on the side, letting Pedro get out of the car too. People were screaming even more. You were both smiling. Pedro immediately held your hand.

You started to walk on the red carpet, posing for the photos. You obviously took some individuals pictures and some with Pedro. You stayed a bit longer on the carpet, while Pedro went to do his first interview. But you were fast to join him. You arrived next to him, holding his arm.

The lady who was interviewing Pedro barely looked at you. She stayed focused on Pedro.

"So how does it feel to be one of the best actor of the year?" Her eyes were shining, eyeing Pedro. "best actor of all time if I might add" she added tilting her head a bit. Your muscles tighten a bit, anger starting to rise. You held Pedro tighter.

You were trying to go past it. Of course all ladies would try to flirt with him. It's how it works. Some guys were doing it with you too and Pedro has to put up with it too. But it suddenly got a bit too much. You were seeing it a lot, it was getting overwhelming.

"oh you're flattering me" he said with a big smile

"Is it working?" she asks

"It's totally working" he looked at you "It's great, I love the attention" you all laughed

"What about you?" She finally talks to you, and you were surprised. You didn't say anything but Pedro saw it. "What do you think about all the attention Pedro gets?" you were a little offended. You were also one of the best actors of the year, but she only had eyes for him.

"Well" you cleared your throat "We're both actors of the year, so" you dryly said "we're used to the attention, we're able to manage it for now, even if some people can be disrespectful" you said staring at the lady "but it comes with it" you smiled a little, grabbing Pedro's hand. She looked at your hands intertwined together.

"Yeah we have to chance to deal with all of this at the same time so it is easier to support each other" Pedro added, trying to lower the tension.

"Yes it's easier when you both know how it feels" she said nodding, looking at Pedro. You saw her eyes wandering on Pedro from time to time, but what you hated the most was how she bit her lips and how she touched Pedro's arm every time she laughed, which was lot.

Your eyes were slowly showing your anger, your smile was fading more and more. Pedro let go of your arm, and put his behind your back, squeezing your waist a little, trying to calm you down the best he could. He kissed your cheek, making you blush a bit. You were not used to this physical touch in public, but it felt great. The lady quickly lost her smile too, but you got your's back.

"Okay I think we need to move forward, more people are coming" Pedro said looking on your left. "This was great thank you" he started to leave, grabbing your right hand to follow him.

"Oh yes thank you" she said "you look cute together" she added, watching you leave with him.

The night was going to be tough, but manageable. You both have to learn to handle this. When you were finally seated together, Pedro reassured you.

"Are you okay?"

"Yes I am now" you said getting as close as you could to him. "But that lady got on my nerves"

"I saw that" he smiled

"Sorry"

"Don't be" you looked at him "I do have to put up with it too with you"

"oh yes like it happens a lot"

"huh yeah" you frowned "the last guy, you didn't see how he flirted with you?"

"he so did not"

"Should I be concerned that you don't even see it?" you both laughed

"oh yeah I see it now" you said thinking

"stop thinking about it" he playfully hit your thigh

"you made me to!" you grabbed his hand "but I see your point"

"We're both working on it"

"Yeah" you smiled, quickly kissed each other, before returning your attention around you, as everyone was there and the ceremony was about to start.

[canirove]

In The Name of Love | Chapter 19

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Masterlist

"How long until you arrive?" Pedri asks.

"5 minutes according to the gps."

"Are you ready?"

"To spend the weekend celebrating that my ex boyfriend is marrying a woman I hate? I'm ecstatic" I reply.

"Lucky you, you have me" Ferran smiles.

"Will you take care of her?" Pedri asks him.

"I will" Ferran says, quickly looking at my phone's screen and then back at the road.

"What was that?" I laugh.

"Uh?"

"That look you two just shared. Is that some bro code or something?"

"What?" Pedri says.

"Yeah… Something only you two understand."

"It was just a look of I will take care of your girlfriend so she doesn't do anything stupid like running away or killing the bride" Ferran says.

"Why would I run away?"

"Love that you are asking that instead of why would you kill the bride" Pedri laughs.

"I have reasons to do that. But running away?"

"That's what you did during their engagement party."

"Because we had had something like an argument and you were all I could think about."

"Awww, Val" Pedri smiles.

"Guys, please don't get cheesy while I'm present" Ferran says. He tries to make it sound as a joke, but I've noticed the way his grip on the steering wheel has tightened.

"Anyway, we are almost there. I will call you later or tomorrow morning, ok?" 

"Yeah, sure. Enjoy tonight's party or whatever they are doing" Pedri says.

"White party they've called it. So original" I scoff.

"Try to enjoy it, Val. You too, Ferran."

"Thanks, bro" he says.

"And again, don't do anything stupid. That goes for both of you."

"Yes, mum" Ferran and I say at the same time before starting to laugh.

"And then I am the kid" Pedri sighs, rolling his eyes.

"Yes. My favourite one" I smile.

"I love you, Val" Pedri smiles back.

"I love you too" I say before hanging up.

"So…" Ferran says.

"So."

"Ready to fake again that I'm your boyfriend?"

"Are you?"

"Why wouldn't I be?" he chuckles. "I said yes to this, didn't I?"

"I know, but…"

"Holy shit."

"What? What happened?"

"Val, are you sure this is the right address?"

"Yes. Why… Oh, wow" I say when I look at the road. At the end of it, there is a… palace? A castle? Both? I had seen photos of the venue online, but it was nothing compared to seeing it in real life.

"I feel like I'm going to have to call you my lady during our stay" Ferran laughs. "My Lady Valeria."

"Lord Ferran actually sounds like the name of someone who would have lived in a place like this" I chuckle.

"See? I can be posh too!"

"More like royal."

"That's cooler if you ask me. So, for the rest of the weekend, you may address me as Lord Ferran Torres" he says, straightening his back.

"Yes, my lord" I laugh, his weird faces and poses making me relax and forget about what is ahead of us. 

━━━━━━❃━━━━━━

"It feels wrong, you know? Throwing a white party in a freaking castle…" Ferran says from the bathroom. "We should be dressing as kings and queens, not like this. I've always wanted to try on those puffy shorts men used to wear."

"Puffy shorts?" I chuckle while putting on my shoes.

"Yes. The ones they wore with white tights."

"Maybe for your next birthday you should throw a party where people have to dress like that and make your dream come true."

"Maybe I should, yes" he says from the bathroom's door. When I look up, I see him leaning against the door frame like Pedri always does, his arms crossed over his chest. But it doesn't have the same effect on me. Not even when I catch him checking me out as I stand up.

"White suits you, tho."

"That isn't going to work, Val" Ferran laughs.

"What won't?"

"Flattering me. I'm not signing for Real Madrid even if white looks good on me" he smirks.

"Who says I want you on my team?" I tease him.

"Yeah, you prefer having me close to you" he says, slowly walking towards me and closing the space between us.

"Pedri" I blurt out. "I haven't called him and I told him… I should…"

"You should, yes. I'll wait outside" Ferran says, his voice sounding different. Cold. 

The moment he leaves the room, I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding. 

We are off to a great start.

━━━━━━❃━━━━━━

"I envy you so much Val… He is yummy."

"He is what?" I laugh.

"Yummy" my friend Alicia says. "Where did you find him?"

"I believe you can usually spot him at the Camp Nou" Sara chuckles. The two of them, Silvia and I, met when we were just 6, and we have been part of the same group of friends with Marc and some other boys since then. Though since he and I broke up, we haven't seen each other as often as we would like to. 

"I meant how did they meet" Alicia says, rolling her eyes. "You've kept him hidden from us, Val. Though I get it. I totally get it" she says, looking at Ferran from head to toe for the millionth time while he chats with some of the boys.

"I was on a night out with Silvia and we just met" I shrug.

"Just like that?"

"He offered to buy her a drink and 5 minutes later they were making out. What?" Silvia laughs when I give her a murderous look.

"It's ok, Val. I would have done the same" Alicia sighs. 

"Did you know who he was?" Sara asks me.

"Nope. He had just moved from Manchester, I wasn't familiar with him yet" I tell her. That was the story we had decided to tell everyone, a mix of how I met Pedri and a few lies here and there. 

"The sex is the best you've ever had, isn't it?" Alicia suddenly says.

"Careful there" Sara chuckles when I almost choke with my drink.

"I'll take that as a yes. He is young and a professional athlete, I'm sure he lasts longer than the average guy. And he definitely knows what he is doing, doesn't he?" Alicia smirks. "Just look at you, Val. You look hotter than ever!"

"Yeah, just look at the colour of her cheeks" Sara laughs.

"Urgh, ignore her" Alicia says, giving her a little push. "You've always looked great, don't get me wrong. But you've never looked this good, Val. You are glowing!" 

"And when you walked in, I saw a few guys looking at you" Sara adds.

"They probably were looking at Ferran because they recognised him" I say.

"No, they weren't. They were checking you out. So if I was him, I would not leave your side just in case." 

"And if I were you, I wouldn't leave his either" Alicia says, her eyes fixed on Ferran once again while taking a sip from her drink.

"Girls!"

"Oh, dear" I whisper when I hear Isabel's voice.

"Aww, girls. It is so nice seeing you here!" she says, hugging Alicia, Sara and Silvia. "Hello, Valeria."

"Hi" I reply.

"Congratulations, Isa!" Sara says, trying to lighten up the mood. "Are you nervous about tomorrow?"

"Where is he?" Isabel asks me, completely ignoring her.

"Who?"

"That boyfriend of yours."

"Right here" Ferran says as he shows up next to me, putting his arm around my waist and kissing my cheek. Before the party we had agreed about the arm, but not the kiss. "Isabel, right? It's a pleasure to finally meet you. Congratulations" he says with his best smile, taking her hand and kissing it, his eyes fixed on hers. He is giving her his fucker look as Pedri, Eric and Gavi call it, the one that gets him the girl 9 times out of 10.

"Hi" Isabel giggles, clearing her throat to try and hide it. But we have heard it. All of us have. Ferran's charm has worked on her too. "I thought you wouldn't be able to come and poor Valeria would be all alone" she says, back to her usual self.

"Almost, but you chose the perfect weekend to get married. Just after the preseason ended and before the season starts" he smiles.

"Ready to kick Real Madrid's ass?" Sara asks him before looking at me.

"She will kick my ass if we dare to win them" Ferran laughs. "Won't you, Val?"

"You will be sleeping on the sofa for a month, yes" I reply.

"If that's the case, my bed is very comfortable" Alicia smirks.

"Ali!" Sara laughs.

"What? I had to shoot my shot" she shrugs.

"I'm very flattered, but I only have eyes for one girl" Ferran smiles. 

"Yeah, well… Let's not get cheesy in public, shall we?" I say, feeling my cheeks on fire. I'm pretty sure he wasn't lying or pretending when he said that.

"Yes, please. It is my day, not Valeria's" Isabel says, reminding us that she still is there. 

"Of course. My apologies" Ferran says, using his famous look once again. Now Isabel is the one blushing.

"Yes… Umm… I better go find my future husband. Goodbye" she says, turning around and walking away as fast as she can.

━━━━━━❃━━━━━━

"Did you do that on purpose?" I ask Ferran once we are back in our room, the party finally over.

"Do what?"

"Flirt with Isabel and use your fucker look on her."

"I did, yes" he grins.

"Why?"

"Because I wanted to see her reaction, if I could get to her. And I did. I'm sure she's spent the whole night hating herself because she has been turned on by her nemesis' boyfriend."

"Her nemesis" I laugh. "But she probably has. You made her giggle."

"I know" Ferran smirks. "Right or left?"

"Uh?"

"Which side of the bed do you prefer?"

"Oh, left. I like sleeping looking at the window."

"Ok" he says, taking off his shirt.

"You don't wear pyjamas either? Is that a Barça thing?"

"What?" he says, getting in bed.

"Pedri also sleeps in his underwear."

"I actually sleep naked, but, you know… I didn't want to make it more awkward."

"That's… that's very thoughtful. Thank you" I reply, quickly getting in bed too and trying to hide that I'm blushing.

"Yeah, thoughtful" he chuckles. "Bloody hell, Val."

"What happened now?"

"Your feet! They are frozen!"

"Oh, yes. Sorry. They are always like that" I shrug.

"Always?"

"Always. 24/7."

"How can Pedri sleep next to you when you have two blocks of ice for feet?"

"He doesn't mind. And he says that if he gets hot through the night, he can always count on them to help him cool down."

"That's… weird. But ok" Ferran chuckles.

"It's Pedri" I shrug again. "Anyway, good night. From the three of us."

"The three of… Val!" he complains when I touch his leg with my feet.

"Night night" I smile.

"Night night, yes" he replies, sticking out his tongue and moving his legs as away from mine as he can. 

━━━━━━❃━━━━━━

"At first I wasn't going to wear flat shoes because, who wears flat shoes for a wedding? But I don't know how to walk on heels, so in the end I said, fuck it. You can barely see them with the dress, and by the end of the night everyone will be barefoot and…"

"Val… Val!" Pedri laughs over facetime.

"What?"

"You are rambling."

"Am I?"

"You are" Ferran says while retouching his hair in front of the mirror.

"Sorry, I just… I am a bit nervous" I sigh.

"Just a bit?" Pedri laughs again.

"Yes" I reply, sticking out my tongue.

"You'll be fine, Val. You don't have any reason to be nervous."

"Don't I?" I say, trying to nod towards Ferran without him noticing.

"You don't" Pedri insists. 

"If Isabel tries something you know we can use my charm on her" Ferran says, still busy with his hair. It is taking him a lot more time than it took me, and he has a lot less.

"The fucker look almost never fails" Pedri says. "So relax and enjoy the day, ok?"

"Ok" I sigh again.

"You look beautiful, Val" he smiles.

"Do I?"

"You do. Doesn't she, Gavi? Gavi. Pablo!"

"What!" Gavi says. He is sitting next to Pedri, waiting for our call to end so they can go back to playing FIFA.

"Doesn't Val look beautiful?"

"Oh, yes" he replies, not lifting his eyes from his phone.

"Thank you, Pablo" I chuckle. "He is talking to her, isn't he?"

"When isn't he?" Pedri says, rolling his eyes.

"Don't let the teenagers know that the it boys are currently taken, their hearts may not take it" I smirk.

"Meh meh meh" Pedri replies.

"Ok, I'm ready" Ferran says. "You?"

"Yep."

"Then let's go."

"Have fun, guys" Pedri says. "And Val…"

"I'll try to relax and enjoy the day."

"I was going to say that I love you" he says. "But that too." 

"I love you too" I smile before hanging up.

━━━━━━❃━━━━━━

"I'm glad Isabel left you out of the bridesmaids" Ferran says as we watch all the girls walk down the aisle.

"Why?" 

"You look stunning on the dress you picked, but if it had been down to her, I'm sure she would have chosen the ugliest one she could find."

"Definitely" I chuckle. "Do you think anyone has noticed?"

"That you look more beautiful than them?" 

"That I am the only one from our group of friends she left out" I say, trying to ignore Ferran's compliment. Again.

"Nah, I don't think they care. And here she comes" he says when the music changes, everyone looking at the end of the white carpet that leads to the aisle. "100€ she looks our way when she walks past us."

"Ferran, I'm not gonna bet any money" I laugh.

"Ok, fine. No betting. But she will definitely look. Should we do something?"

"Something like what?" I ask.

"Can I improvise?"

"I don't like it when you improvise."

"I won't kiss you, I promise."

"You better" I say before turning to look at Isabel. She is very close to where we are, smiling and saying hello to everyone. And she looks beautiful, I can't deny her that. "Shit!" I jump when I feel Ferran's arms around my waist, hugging me from behind.

"It's part of the plan. Relax" he says next to my ear. "But you should put your hands around mine."

"What?"

"Just do it, Val."

"Ok" I sigh, doing as he says and interlacing my fingers with his. 

"She's gonna look" he whispers, resting his chin on my shoulder.

"She…" She is looking at us. At first she looks all smug, but after noticing Ferran behind me, her face changes. And when he kisses my shoulder, she quickly looks away, her smile gone.

"Told you" he chuckles. 

"I thought we had said no kisses."

"On the lips."

"Yeah, well. We should… You know" I say, letting go of his hands. "The ceremony is about to start."

"Yes, of course" he replies, moving his too. But he does it slowly, definitely taking his time. 

━━━━━━❃━━━━━━

"They look cute" Silvia says while we watch Isabel and Marc do their first dance as a married couple.

"Yeah, I guess" I say, trying to focus on them dancing and not on Ferran standing behind me, his hands resting on my shoulders while his thumbs make small circles on my skin.

"Aww, and now their parents. Marc's mum looks so nervous…"

"Uhm…" I reply, Ferran's thumbs now moving to the back of my neck and slowly massaging it. Why am I allowing him to do this? It isn't part of our arrangement.

"Oh, our turn!" Silvia says, taking Pau's hand and dragging him to the dancefloor as everyone else joins the bride and groom and their families.

"Are we dancing too?" Ferran asks me.

"Do you want to?"

"I am not the best dancer but sure, why not?" he says, his hands finally moving from my body. "My Lady Valeria" he smiles, now offering me his hand.

"Lord Ferran" I chuckle, taking it and following him to join the others.

━━━━━━❃━━━━━━

I don't know for how long we've been dancing and singing, but I do know that I am having the time of my life. Maybe because I've had a few more beers than what I am used to and I am a bit tipsy, maybe because the dj is playing hit after hit.

I've sung my heart out with Silvia, Alicia and Sara, we've had a battle of boys dancing vs. girls, Alicia made her dream of being all over Ferran come true while they danced together and we all cheered for them, and now… now it is him and I the ones who are dancing together, barely any space between us.

My back is against his chest, his arms around my waist, mine around his neck. And his lips are leaving small kisses on my jawline, making me giggle while we just move to the rhythm of the music. 

When it changes, he pulls me closer towards him, moving his head to kiss my neck. At first I barely notice it, but as he gets closer to the spot that makes my knees feel like jelly, I can feel my body tensing, one of my hands moving up and down the back of his neck. And then, he finds it.

A gasp escapes my lips, goosebumps going down my spine as the hand that is on his hair looks for something to hold to like it is used to. But it finds nothing. Because this is Ferran. He isn't…

"Val" he whispers into my ear, the feeling sending another wave of goosebumps over my body and making me forget about what I was thinking before he quickly turns me around, the movement making me feel a bit dizzy. His hands still are on my waist, pulling me even closer to him and then… then his lips meet mine.

He is kissing me. Ferran is kissing me again.

But unlike that day at the school, I don't freak out. This time I find myself wrapping my arms around his neck, letting him take control over the kiss and be the one in charge while I just let go.

[dira333]

Through the eyes of others - Sasuke x reader

part three - 7297 words (I got a bit carried away) - there’s some angst in there, beware. Also pushing rare ships in here that I once read about and fell in love with.

Kakashi likes to take credit for being the first one to notice. Yamato doesn’t care. 

Because while he wasn’t the one insisting that the Fox should stay in rotation for the whole time Sasuke was supposed to be tailed, he was the one calling her name when it was time to pick the members.

Kakashi hadn’t known her like he did, when he signed that mission. Hadn’t seen how perceptive she was to the pain of others. Maybe he didn’t even believe the extent of her talent when he gave the okay, like most people didn’t. As the Hokage and as a fellow Sharingan User he probably knew what they all knew - they needed someone good to follow him.

And the fox did not disappoint. Neither in her thorough work nor in the way her heart caught on his, like a loose thread likes to find the one nail jutting out of a doorway. 

-

Ino liked to call it her sixth sense, but it was probably just dumb luck that she spotted them. 

She was looking for Sai, originally, believing that he’d walk down the street any minute, coming back from his mission and seeing her in her prettiest outfit yet. She’d believed the same yesterday and the day before but today she’d be right.

The light caught in inkblack hair and she startled, moving to pose as naturally as she could while keeping an eye on him - only to realize that it wasn’t Sai walking towards her, but Sasuke.

And he was laughing.

Well, as much of a laugh you could usually get out of him. She’d never seen him belt out a laugh like Chouji could or howl in laughter like Kiba liked to do, but she’d seen him snicker or cough to cover what must have been a laugh in the first place.

She stepped aside, eager to investigate but less eager to be spotted. Who was he talking too?

At first it seemed like he was talking to air but then she noticed the woman walking next to him. She was a Shinobi, that was clearly visible even when she tried to cover it with a hideous Kimono in a terrible colour mix of bright orange and muddy green. Her face was bland enough that it could be forgotten immediately and her hair didn’t stand out either. But her hand, that Ino saw clearly, her left hand was curled around Sasuke’s elbow in a way she’d never seen someone touch him before.

Huh, that was interesting.

“Ino.” Sai’s voice so close to her ear startled her from her inquiries. 

“Sai.” She breathed out his name and nodded in the direction she had been staring. “Do you know her?”

“Oh.” He nodded, surprisingly. “Not her name, though. But she’s the Fox. She was part of Sasuke’s tail with me.”

“What’s she doing with him?”

“Maybe they’ve become friends?” He asked and blinked at her like he was trying to tell her something. “Like us?”

“Friends don’t hold onto each other like that.” She told him as she did, in fact, put her hand right where the girls had been. Well, on Sai’s arm, to be correct. It felt good to hold onto him, almost as good as it would feel to hold his hand, but it was daytime and they were Shinobi and she knew he hated it when he didn’t have both hands free to fight at any given moment.

He smiled instead of answering but with Sai that was one and the same.

-

“Sasuke? Dating someone?” Sakura looked perplexed for a moment before she nodded to herself. 

“Now that you’re asking me, I do remember him mentioning something when we brought up the possibility of a prosthetic arm.”

“And you didn’t tell me?” Ino’s voice was both annoyed and excited. 

“There wasn’t much to tell.” Sakura neatly folded another bandage and put it away. “He mentioned he wanted to talk to someone about it and when I asked who that was, he mumbled something that sounded like girlfriend. And when I asked about that, he shut down and told me she did not see him that way.”

“Well, she was seeing him that way very much today. And Sai told me she’s Anbu, she was with him on the group that tailed Sasuke.”

“You don’t think he was flirting with her just so she would hide something shady?” Sakura bristles and Ino shrinks a little into herself.

“You don’t think that-”

“No, I don’t.” Sakura cuts her off. “Honestly I thought he wanted to talk to Naruto about the arm, because he’s already got one and maybe he doesn’t want one but doesn’t want to disappoint his best friend? Boys can be stupid like that. It’s none of our business if he’s dating anyone anyway if he wants to tell us, he will.”

“So you’re totally fine with that? You’re not jealous.”

Sakura could feel herself blush but not for the reasons Ino was probably thinking.

She hadn’t been thinking about Sasuke like that in a long time. He hadn’t been around when she was lonely or made her laugh when she was sad and while she recognized him as her friend and her teammate, he’d also grown into something like a brother and she wasn’t into undoing that change.

“There’s someone else I’m interested in.” She said instead, pointedly, to get Ino of Sasuke’s tail. It worked. Now she only needed to tell Kiba about that before Ino ran her mouth and his mother found out about it before he had the chance to tell her herself.

-

Surprisingly, she met Sasuke on her way back home. It was warm out and she took the longer route, taking her sweet time through the market to gaze at the goods still up for sale. 

She might have missed him, had he not stepped away for a moment to hold something up to the sun to glare at it. Sunlight caught in his hair and she’d know that haircut anywhere.

“Sasuke.” She called out his name and watched him hastily put back whatever he had held in his hands.

“Sakura.” He greeted her calmly. “Are you on your way home?”

“Yes.” She smiled. “How have you been? Haven’t seen you since the celebration and that was almost two weeks ago. Naruto’s keeping you busy?”

“I’m fine. I do train with Naruto three times a week but I’ve also been able to go on small missions.” He gifts her a little smirk. “Saving a cat from the tree and things like that.”

She laughs in memory of their Genin-missions but moves back to the topic at hand.

“Did you get the chance to think about the arm? Genin-missions are one thing but you might want one when you move to Chunin Level.”

Instead of answering, he stretches out his arm, his hand pointed to the side. It’s a weird gesture and Sakura stares at it, her mouth to slow to ask before someone steps out from the shadows.

She’s wearing a standard Shinobi outfit but Sakura doesn’t have to spot the Anbu Tattoo to know who she is, her Chakra Signature is something else. But then she walks the short distance between them and links her hand with Sasuke’s and Sakura knows exactly who she is.

“Hi.” Sakura smiles at her, trying to look the least bit nosy. “I’m Sakura.”

“I know.” The woman doesn’t smile, doesn’t offer her name and for a moment there’s an awkward silence between them until Sasuke squeezes her hand, the movement so tiny, Sakura could have missed it.

“I’m sorry.” Her voice is smooth and soothing as she speaks and Sakura can’t help but think that any man would be a fool not to fall for that. “I think I just got a bit jealous right there.”

Sakura laughs, startled by her honesty and even more amused at the thought.

“God no, you can have him. Now that I have you here, are you guys free on Sunday? We could do a double date then.”

There’s another squeeze of hands between them but this time it’s her hand that squeezes his and Sasuke nods awkwardly.

“We will see.” He tells her. “Depends on the mission roster.”

She doesn’t put much hope on seeing them there, realizing that Sasuke managed to pick a partner that’s just as much an introvert as he is. 

But she still can’t help herself and leans forward with a wink as she makes to leave.

“Just so you know, Sasuke. I’d take the earrings you just put away. They will look lovely with her eyes.”

-

Hinata is pretty sure that she’s gotten the time right, but as she reaches the training field, Naruto’s already there. 

“I-I hope I-I’m not late.”

“No, Sasuke left a bit early, he wants to pick someone up before.”

“O-Oh.” She didn’t know Sasuke would be there. She’s still a bit unsure around him, his usual mode of quiet observation reminding her too much of her father to be comfortable. She tries to see him the way she sees Shino, but so far he hasn’t proven to be as awkward as her teammate.

“H-How was your day?”

She blinks in surprise. In all her life, she hasn’t heard Naruto stutter once. They’ve been spending more time together lately, training or talking or sitting together when she’s made some food for him that isn’t Ramen, so this isn’t different, is it? Just going out to eat with him after training.

He smiles almost sheepishly, rubbing his neck in the way he always does when he’s ready to admit something embarassing.

“Ah, Hinata-chan, I have to tell you… Well, Sasuke told me to get myself togeth- No, I mean.” He takes a breathe and laughs, wide and open like she knows him, before he turns and throws her one of those smiles that make her knees all wobbly.

“Sasuke said he’s dating something and it’s serious and I should get my shit together and admit that I like you too. Like, really really much and I…” He’s started fast and loud but his voice drops down now as his fingertips touch hers as if he’s trying to take her hand.

“I’d like to take you out on a date. We’ll have fun, I promise.”

She nods, unable to say anything, not trusting her voice. His smile blows up like a firework.

Rustling in the trees saves her from dropping to the floor in shock even though Naruto must have noticed something and taken her arm to stabilize her.

Sasuke steps out of the trees, face as passive as ever, a woman holding onto his arm in a simple gown. Hinata’s not sure she’s seen her before but she touches Sasuke with an ease she’s a little envious of. She feels like she might go up in flames just at the thought of touching Naruto.

As the two step closer, sunlight catches on little drops of glass hanging from her ears, the earrings glowing a red almost as bright as the Sharingan.

Somehow, Sasuke has managed to get them into something that Hinata can only describe as a dance party. She’s never been to a place like this where you can drink or eat or just dance, so many couples holding each other under soft lights, swaying to slow music.

He must be a romantic, she thinks, as he pulls his girlfriend towards the dance floor, giving Naruto a little push as they walk past.

Naruto is a clumsy dancer and so is she, but it’s fun with him and he manages to get her out of her head, to think about something other than the people around her.

But then she catches sight of the red earrings again and she sees them, Sasuke swaying awkwardly with only one arm slung around her shoulder, somewhere at the side where there aren’t that many people.

He catches her eye and she blushes but he winks at her, puts a a finger to his mouth and disappears in the crowd.

It takes her embarrassingly long to realize what he’d been doing, even as Naruto himself blushes over the realization.

Sasuke, who Naruto always calls a bore who’d never leave the house if he could, had gotten them here for their sake, playing along just long enough to get them to losen up.

She wonders if he did it for Naruto or for his girlfriend, but whenever she catches sight of the red earrings catching the sun, she can’t help but smile fondly, exchanging a knowing look instead of words with two people who share their silence like a warm blanket.

-

Temari doesn’t know much about Sasuke but what she knows doesn’t impress her much.

He’s had a bad childhood, but so did she and she did not betray her village over that.

He’s a genius - or so they say - but so is Shikamaru and he’s the one she can count on any day, even if he moans about how troublesome it is.

But she supposes, for all of his faults, Sasuke’s pretty darn good at picking his girl.

She’s quiet when they’re all out and about but when she offers a comment it’s either hilarious or insightfull, often leaving her stunned over the sharp humour of the other girl. She reminds her of her brother Kankuro’s wit, just softened where it needs to be and a hell of a lot smarter.

And she’s a great fighter too, something she only connects when she notices the blood red earings dangling on a chain around her neck, the only thing betraying the anonymity of the fox mask.

It wasn’t her first mission with the fox but the first one since both their wedding dates were official. With her family in Suna and herself still pretty much living there, there was still so much to do and plan that she didn’t appreciate being thrown into a last minute mission somewhere near Kirigakure. Shikamaru could figure it out if problems arose but he’d be the last to push forward on annoying tasks. Well, he’d do a little because he loved her but she’d be able to do so much more…

But when the Hokage had looked her in the eyes and told her he needed her expertise, she couldn’t just tell him no, especially knowing she’d be living in Konoha soon.

“How’s the wedding planning?” She asked instead, trying to get her mind off of things. 

The fox shrugged, the mask barely showing her eyes.

“We don’t have much to plan. We’ve got the house and will probably get married at the Uchiha lake.”

“Yeah but dress, maid of honor, flowers?”

“Sasuke will figure it out while I’m gone.” She explains flatly. “Sakura is taking him out for planning every day since she heard of his proposal.”

“Well, expect it to be pink, then. She’s your maid of honour?”

“No. I’d like to ask you, if you’re free.”

Temari almost drops from a tree at that comment, barely catching herself. The medi-nin that’s been trying to catch up with them for hours almost reaches her until she picks up speed again.

“I’m flattered, but… why me?”

“Sakura and Ino talk too much and Hinata would be too overwhelmed by all of it. Tenten and I aren’t close and I haven’t been able to speak to Karui since she moved here a month ago. Also Anko would kill me if I’d ask her, she hates dressing up. She’s only going to come for the alcohol.”

“Ah…” Temari’s silent for a moment.

“Don’t feel pressured to say yes. It was just a suggestion.”

Well now she can’t say no. But she also doesn’t know if she should say yes. It’s just a bad timing, she doesn’t really know her that well and it’s just…

“I’ll think about it.” She promises and the fox mask gives her a firm nod.

They’re still prepping for the actual mission tomorrow when the fox stumbles into the room, foamy white substance dripping from her chin and dropping to the floor in a coughing, wheezing heap.

Temari has seen enough deaths by poison to know what she’s dealing with but she’s not a Medi-Nin.

She calls for the one that she thought unnecessary when they left Konoha, removing the fox mask - which she actually isn’t allowed to do, but that’s just bullshit right now - to look into eyes so wide she can see herself in them. There’s no fear in them, but a lot of pain.

“What happened?!” She demands to know but the fox shakes her head, her hand clenching and unclenching around her fingers. Temari hadn’t even realized she’d taken her hand.

“Just nod or blink if you can’t nod. Blink twice for no, once for yes. Was this part of your mission?”

One blink.

“Does it affect our mission? Do we need to get up and fight?”

One blink. Two blinks. 

“Do we need to leave?”

One blink. Well, shit.

“We can’t leave.” The Medi-Nin who Temari never bothered to learn the name of, is astonished at her plan. “We’re on a mission.”

“There’s no mission anymore. She’s Anbu, she’s our team lead. If she says we need to go, we go.”

“I don’t know if I can stabilize her enough to move.”

Temari turns back, fear now gripping her own throat.

“Do you know what kind of poison this is?”

Two blinks. Shit. Shit. Shit.

“Do you have any general antidotes. I’ll get our stuff, we’ll travel with my fan. It will take a lot of Charka but we’ll cut down on days of travel. You’ll have to keep her alive.”

The fox slips into unconsciousness not long after they leave the town they’d been staying in. 

Three hours into their move, the Medi-Nin starts crying, complaining about how painful it is to keep healing and healing and healing, that the poison is running havoc and she’s scrambling to keep up with it.

Temari looks down at him as she asks: “Do you want to tell the Uchiha that you couldn’t save his wife’s life because you were too weak?”

They feed of soldier pills and water and Temari’s Chakra’s running so low they almost crash into the wall surrounding Konoha but the messenger Hawk was worked wonders, Sakura’s waiting at the doors, her hands already glowing green.

She knows she’s supposed to leave for the Hokage, give a report, defend her decision, but she can’t. She can’t just leave her now, her hand still wrapped in hers. 

At the hospital, Sasuke waits with a face made of stone. He’s silent but his eyes beg for answers that Temari doesn#t have. She tries to explain nonetheless, unable to think anything beyond “If it were me, I’d want to know.”

Shikamaru comes to get her, a gentle hand on the small of her back, worry etched into his face.

The worry runs deeper when she insists on going back to the hospital righter after their - brief - meeting with the Hokage.

There’s only one with the information necessary to understand what happened and that person is currently in a coma.

Temari can’t do anything but watch. 

How Sasuke is a quiet presence, seemingly never blinking, just there. He’s by her side, holding her hand, but he’s also at the side, a still presence near the windows, not in the way but never leaving. She didn’t know what she expected him to be like in a situation like this but she realizes that she’d thought him louder, threatening the world over the pain he’s experiencing now.

But he’s quiet, set in stone, never once muttering a word even when Sakura comes to give them the news.

-

Shikamaru has never been a fan of Sasuke. 

Not during academy days, not after and certainly not when he left Konoha and all the time that followed.

He likes to think that he’d been of the hardest critics to convince to let him stay and becom a Konoha Shinobi again - but he knows that’s a lie because he’d never be harder than the elders.

He’d wished him to stay away in his youth, to find whatever he was looking for and never come back bothering them when he grew a bit more empathic.

Now, that he knows what love is and what loss feels like, he wishes for someone or something to ease the pain. 

As Shinobi they are trained not to fear death. They encounter it everyday, wether they kill or get killed. Or, even worse, survive the death of those they love.

But this is different.

The fox isn’t dead. Yet. Temari had relayed everything to him that day, after being awake for more than 24 hours, after traveling such a distance, Chakra almost depleted, uncertain about the status of their mission. But Temari had not even a scratch on her and her teammate was fighting for her life, a poison still unknown on a warpath through her body.

Shikamaru can’t help but to think that it could have been Temari who’d been hit. None of her teammates can travel such a distance in the same time. She would have died far away from him without the help of Sakura and Tsunade and he would have been none the wiser.

It makes him go out and sit with the deer while Temari rests, makes his brain go through book after book that he’s read, through mission reports and plans.

He comes up empty handed but that doesn’t stop him.

Sasuke will never know that the reason there’s a second bed in the room now, positioned just right so that he can rest while holding her hand, is because of Shikamaru.

He will never know that Kankuro rushed to Konoha with a group of poison experts because he told the Hokage he would leave Konoha if he didn’t call for him.

He doesn’t have to know. 

Because when those eyes open again and Sasuke’s face finally relaxes, like a stone wall crumbling under the weight of relief, Shikamaru understands.

He’s never been a fan of Sasuke, he’d never do the things the other man did.

But he understands, the way he feels, the way he loves, even. 

And when a black eye flickers back to him, Shikamaru doesn’t dare to roll his eyes and mutter about things being troublesome. Because he knows, should their places ever be reversed, Sasuke would do the same for him.

-

Shino has never understood the appeal of alcohol.

It’s poisonous to him and it certainly is poisonous to others, just in a lesser degree.

Why anyone would willingly consume something that makes them change so drastically in their personality - he’s heard about Lee and it made him swear off it even more - is beyond him.

Why they serve it on occasions as happy as a wedding is even more of a mystery to him.

Don’t they want to remember this happy occasions?

He glances over to the table where Temari is downing another sake, her now husband leaning into her, flushed and relaxed from either the alcohol or just being himself.

It had been a great party, a happy occasion that had both the Hokage and the Kazekage bless them with their presence.

Now, after the food, most people were either drinking and telling stories or drinking and dancing and with a glance towards the dance floor where Kiba was twirling Sakura around with more force than strictly necessary, he directed himself towards the tables. 

Surely there was someone not drunk around who he could sit with now that his table had been turned into a make shift arm wrestling tournament by Lee and, surprisingly, the Kazekage.

He found them in the corner, almost completely hidden by a giant flower arrangement that looked like Temari - no doubt Ino’s work. Sasuke and his fiance, Shino was still trying to remember her name as everyone seemd to call her the fox anyway, sat with their faces towards the dance floor, hands joined on the table, seemingly deep in thought.

That’s right. She wasn’t allowed to drink so soon after being released from the hospital.

And wasn’t their own wedding next week? He hoped there would be less alcohol if she wasn’t allowed to drink it anyway and he hoped even more that she’d be stronger by then, less pale as she appeared to be from where he was getting closer.

“Do you mind the company?” He asked and the fox shook her head.

“Too much noise for you?” She asks him and he nods, thankful for her understanding.

Before he can say anything, however, Sasuke leans towards her, his nose brushing her temple.

“Your voice is so beautiful.” He tells her and, Shino has to look a bit closer, he blushes.

“Thank you.” She addresses her fiance flatly and smiles at Shino. 

He blinks, unable to say something else before Sasuke speaks again.

“You’re really beautiful. Your hair smells so nice.” He dips his nose into her hair and inhales loudly, followed by a sigh.

“He’s a bit tipsy.” The fox explains and uses her free hand to gently pat Sasuke’s arm.

“We’re going to go home soon.”

“You’re so lovely.” 

It’s Shino’s turn to blush, realizing belatedly that he’d judged Sasuke wrong all these years. 

Where he had thought the other cold and uncaring, he seemed to be a lot like him, his emotions shielded from the outside. But while the Aburame could do that with a coat and an army of bugs, the Uchiha weren’t given that ease of mind.

He wanted to say something to explain his understanding but dark eyes flicker to him, telling him not to. Red drops of glass twinkle in the lights as she shakes her head softly.

“I think you’ll have to excuse us, Shino.” She tells him softly. “He needs to get home.”

“I’ll see you-” He stops himself when he doesn’t know when that is. Is “soon” a good term here?

“Tomorrow?” Theres something like a smile on her lips as she stands up, Sasuke’s head now heavy on her shoulder where he gazes up at her with lovestruck eyes.

“We’d love to have you for tea if you’d like. We’re a quiet bunch and I think you wouldn’t mind.”

He nods, surprised at the sentiment. As far as he knows, there have been only four people been invited to the newly built Uchiha household at the lake and two of them, Sakura and Naruto, have bursted through the doors on their own accord.

“I’d love to.” He tells her and opens his mouth again to ask for the best time when a strong arm moves around his waist and a head drops onto his shoulder.

“There you are.” Tenten blinks up at him like she’s a cat that’s found a mouse. “I’ve been looking for you.”

He wonders if he can blame his blush on the alcohol and looks to the other couple for help or at least a moment of calm to gather himself but they’ve disappeared, not a trace left of them.

“Want to go to my place?” Tenten asks, her voice nowhere near the whisper she was intending it to be.

He wants to say no, that they shouldn’t leave a wedding early but he also thinks of Sasuke’s cool demeanor cracked by someone who knows him so well they don’t mind how weird he might get and his hands find hers.

“Let’s go to my place.” He says instead, “I want you to get to know me.”

-

When they find out that Hinata’s pregnant, Naruto thinks of the two people he wants to tell. Iruka’s going to be away for the day, teaching yet another class the importance of chakra control, but Sasuke’s probably home, training or repairing the wooden deck overlooking the Uchiha lake. 

Naruto’s right, but Sasuke has gotten predictable lately. 

He’s also gotten more open to help, which means nothing more than to be ordered about and called Teme more or less affectionately when Naruto narrowly misses his thumb as he puts a nail deep into the dark wood.

“Why are you here anway?” Sasuke asks at some point, “Doesn’t Hinata want you around when you’re off mission?”

Naruto opens his mouth and closes it, looking out the lake for a second. He’d been bursting with the news when he arrived, stalled by the apparent need for help and now there’s something new, a feeling like being in a chokehold, fighting for life.

Kyuubi’s not really helpful there, telling him that he’s afraid in the same tone one would tell off an idiot.

“Do you think I’d be a good father?” He asks instead, the question slipping out of his mouth like a snake out of hiding, ready to bite.

Sasuke halts, hammer in the air. He drops it slowly and turns, a feeling in his visible eye that’s so out of place there, Naruto needs a moment to recognize it. It’s fear.

“How…” Sasuke clears his throat awkwardly. “How far along is Hinata?”

“Estimated birth date is at the end of march. Why?”

“Ours too.” 

Something clatters to the ground and Naruto belatedly realizes that he’s dropped his tools, the impact leaving a dent in the wood in the form of a smile. He dips his fingers into it, lets it ground him as he thoughts run through him.

“Boy or girl?” He asks, his voice raw.

“We don’t know yet. The kid’s pretty stubborn and refuses to move.” Sasuke lets out a laugh, the sound almost shivering in the air.

Silence falls between them until Naruto speaks, unable to process his thoughts quietly.

“I’m so freaking scared.”

“Shitless, yeah.” Sasuke admits as well. “My father wasn’t…” He winces instead of ending his sentence and Naruto nods.

“Mine wasn’t even there”

“But Iruka?”

Naruto furrows his brows. 

“What do you mean?” 

“Don’t you have Iruka as a role model? Wouldn’t he be like a granddad as well?”

“And you’re taking Itachi as your role model?”

It sounded like a great idea at first, remembering what Sasuke has told him about his brother since he’s came back to Konoha. But as the words leave his lips he realizes how wrong the sound.

Sasuke chuckles lowly. “Yes, I’ll kill and betray to show my love…” He hesitates for a moment before laughing softly again. “But I guess he wasn’t the worst role model. And if either of us fucks up as a father, we’ll have each other to keep us in check.”

Naruto smiles, can feel it crack open the cast that fear has left him in. 

“And we’ve got our wifes, too. You will be a great father, Dattebayo!”

Sasuke throws him a look and rolls his eyes for a moment before nodding. 

“So will you. I won’t let you be anything else.”

-

Chouji had been running errands when he’d seen them hurry towards the hospital, Sasuke’s face paler than his wife, rushing through the streets like there was Barbeque waiting for them somewhere.

He wasn’t one to be worried easily but he still remembered that mission too clearly not to be worried. Besides wasn’t her due date around the corner?

Chouji put the vegetables away and raced after them, reaching them just as they entered the hospital.

“Everything okay?”

“No.” Sasuke pressed out, “She’s going into labor.”

Chouji blinks in surprise and looks at the woman in question who seems a bit flushed from the brisk walk but otherwise not that worried. Just a little in pain.

She flinches and Sasuke calls for Sakura, his voice so much louder than he usually is.

“Relax.” Thin, scarred fingers weaves themselves in between his and squeeze.

She throws Chouji a smile, pulling his eyes from their intertwined hands up to her eyes and keeping her there.

“How’s Chouchou?”

“Oh.” Chouji turns to show them the sleeping bundle tied to his back. “She*s knocked out from lunch. And soon you’ll have your own bundle to hold. Have you come up with a name yet?”

“Sasuke.” She turns to him, squeezing his hand again, head knocking against his shoulder when he’s still as stiff as a board. “Everything will be fine. Let’s talk to to Chouji a bit while we wait.”

“You’re in pain.”

“Yeah.” She smiled, “But that’s normal. We’re at the hospital. They know what they’re doing.”

Chouji stays with them. 

At first it was a bit of curiosity. He didn’t have any other plans for today but buy groceries and keep his daughter happy until his wife returned home.

When Couchou woke up and demanded her bottle he considered leaving them but by that time Sasuke had been pushed out of the examination room and he seemed too much a worried wreck to be left alone.

“Can you hold her for a moment?” Chouji plopped his daughter onto Sasuke’s arm, fully trusting the power of her big golden eyes to work magic on him. And he’s right.

She grabs a hold of his shirt immediately, pulling herself up to examine his pale face and dark hair. 

Chouji doesn’t waste the chance he’s been giving, prepping yet another bottle and pulling a few bags of snacks for both him, his daughter and maybe Sasuke, if he can convince the man to keep anything down.

“You wanna give her the bottle?” He holds it out for Sasuke before he realizes that the guy can’t, by all means, hold both the baby and the bottle with only one arm.

“Shit, sorry.” 

Choucho solves that problem before Sasuke can even answer, his little genius daughter grabbing the bottle from Chouji’s hands and going ham on it, leaning back in Sasuke’s arm to drink easier. 

Sasuke looks down at her and there’s something in his eyes that Chouji knows so well. 

As if he’s just realized that the world turns just for that, for the little girls and boys that they’re allowed to hold.

Someone clears their throat behind them and they turn to look at Sakura, arms crossed, leaning in the doorway.

“It’s gong to take a bit, but you’re allowed in now. Just stay calm, please.”

“You’re working already?” Chouji asks, surprised.

“Kiba’s looking after the puppy.” Sakura jokes. “I’m just here for Sasuke. He’d call me either way.”

“Thank you.” Sasuke tells her with his usual seriousness before turning to Chouji. 

“Do you want to stay?”

He doesn’t but Sasuke has never asked him something like that before. And with all the snacks and games he has in his bag he’s sure that even Chouchou won’t mind staying for a few more hours.

And when Sarada is born, the tiny body placed on her mothers chest and Sasuke curled around the two of them like a giant black blanket, Chouji steps outside with a smiling Sakura, the two of them definitely not misty eyed.

Who would have known, he thinks, that loving someone allowed Sasuke to become human, imperfect, open to the possibility of others being there for him..

-

“What’s my favorite grandchild doing?” 

Kakashi’s voice rings through the house and Sarada giggles loudly as she hides behind her father.

“Aha!” He pokes his head through the door, locating her easily where her small hands hold onto his trousers. “Found you.”

“Noooooo!” She whines and runs off for another hiding place, presumably somewhere behind her mother.

“What brings you here?” Sasuke’s dipping his paint brush in, careful not to drip as he pains the wall a light blue.

“Ah. Can’t I come in for a surprise visit?”

“You can, but since when do you do that on business hours?”

“Do you need help?”

“Hm…” Sasuke glares at him before nodding towards some boxes in the corner. “You can set up the bed. Shikamaru delivered it but he refuses to build it back together.”

“Oh, you got Shikadai’s old bed? You sure the genius and laziness won’t transfer?”

“I don’t think Itachi will let himself be manipulated by a bed but thanks for the input.”

“Oh…” Kakashi halts over the open boxes to look back at Sasuke. 

His shoulders are relaxed as he paints, the name dripping from his mouth like it’s no longer blood but something sweeter.

“You’ve decided on a name already?”

“We knew it would be Itachi when we had Sarada. He’s just nice enough to show us his gender right away.”

“Huh. You could have called him Kakashi, you know. That would have been noble, to name him after the Hokage.”

Sasuke laughs, a sound so open and unreserved that Kakashi has to watch him again,.

“People will talk.” He says dipping his brush again. “But I don’t really care how other people see us.”

“Yeah.” Kakashi nods as he resigns himself to the fate of building that darned bed. “It’s more important how you see yourself.”

And he guesses that he’s right about that but he’s always been better at judging others than himself.

But as he watches his former student paint, only interrupted by Sarada running through the rooms from time to time, calling for her Papa or her Grampa, as she calls Kakashi affectionately, he decided that there’s no real need to mention what he really came for.

He can ask Shikamaru tomorrow if that six month mission is really that important for Sasuke to miss the birth of his second child.

And if it is so important to send a Sharingan user, there’s still him to send. He could take Guy with him, annoy Tsunade with having to be back up Hokage again or even let Naruto try his hand at the business.

He looks back to Sasuke again, considers the words and swallows them back down again.

He doesn’t have to tell the boy that he considers him his son. Sasuke already knows.

-

Through their own eyes…

“Papa?” Sarada comes into the room carrying her snuggle blanket.

“Yeah?”

“Is Mama back yet?”

“No. You wanna sit with us? Itachi got hungry.”

“Okay.” She climbs up on the upholstered bench overlooking the lake, cuddling into his side in the coolness of the night.

“Are you worried, Papa?”

“Mhm, a little bit. But I’m always worried.”

She's quiet for a bit until Itachi lets go of his bottle to take a breath and the bottle slides down his soft belly towards his legs. 

Sarada giggles, takes the bottle and brings it up to his lips again. 

“Here, otouto.”

“Can I hold him, Papa?”

“Sure, but gently.”

She rolls her eyes at him. “Of course.”

“Come here Itachi.” She pulls him from Sasuke’s arm, the little boy immediately settling into her warmth.

Sasuke could be content like this, watching his kids love each other so effortlessly. But there’s another presence missing his perfect moment. 

He’d been a worrier before but ever since that fateful mission he’s been so much worse at waiting for her to return.

Something shifts in the air and he can see the shiver running down Sarada’s back as she feels it to.

He smiles. “Mama just came back.” He tells her softly just as someone drops softly on the deck behind them.

Sasuke doesn’t have to look to know but he looks nonetheless, drinking in the body peeling itself out of the dark, the fox mask giving way to a familiar, well-loved face.

“Hi.” 

She looks tired and Sasuke’s at her side immediately, fingers roaming over her body to look for injuries.

“I’m fine. Just tired.” She laughs into his kiss, smells like cold air and the dampness of a forest.

He releases her and she squeezes his hand one more time before side stepping him to get to Sarada.

“Shouldn’t you be in bed, lovely?”

“Couldn’t sleep.” She giggles as her mother drops a kiss on her forehead. “Itachi is hungry.”

“That he is and it’s so nice of you to feed him. If he’s too heavy I can take him and then we get the both of you back into bed, what do you say?”

“Are you gong to be home tomorrow when I wake up?”

“Absolutely. We can swim a bit if you want.”

“Really?”

“After training, yes.”

Sasuke watches them leave for the bedrooms, knows that Sarada wants her mother for herself for a minute.

He’s gotten progressively more tired by the time his wife walks back outside.

“I need to deliver my mission report. Temari wanted to check in on Shikamaru and Shikadai too before we meet up for the report.”

“No one got hurt?” 

She eyes him warily before opening her coat to reveal a bandage on her side.

“It’s just a scratch.” She reassures him when he takes a deep breath to ground himself. “No poison. We checked three times.”

“You’re going to the hospital…”

“Tomorrow, okay?”

“No. right away. I mean after the mission report. I’m serious.”

“Okay, serious.” She leans forward to peck his lips. “Don’t hit me in your sleep again, there’s only one woman crawling into your bed while you sleep.”

-

As she walks the road back to their house with a fresh bandage on, she thinks about the difference between what they are and what they seem.

The Uchiha’s are known for being cold and conniving, but Sasuke is caring, ready to defend his friends, ready to loose a night of sleep or an hour of work to help, even when he hasn’t been asked for it.

The Uchiha’s are geniuses, known for their hard and intense training regimen and brutal teachers.

But as she walks up the step towards your door, there’s a multitude of signs that Sasuke has painted with Sarada, each representing a different job she was aiming for.

There’s the bright red “Future Kazekage” sign from when she had a crush on Gaara and the deep purple “Future Academy teacher” she made after being babysat by Shino and Tenten.

Never has he told her that her wish is too outlandish or got sad over the choice of her day - not even when she declared that she’d marry Boruto one day. 

The Uchiha’s don’t show weakness, know no pain.

But there’s Sasuke, who’s built up this house himself to repent, who cried when he put up the Uchiha sign, who’s named his son after his brother.

There’s Sasuke, who’s okay with the fact that the whole hospital has seen him cry when his children were born. Who keeps the light on when she isn’t home, who touches the little dent in the wood that Naruto made everyday to remind himself that he’s here, this is real, he’s loved.

There’s Sasuke who’s still awake as she steps into the bedroom, even though his eyes are only half open now and he groans as she settles against him.

His hands find the bandage on her side and he probes it carefully.

“I’m fine.” She tells him again, “You’ll probably die before me.”

“We’ll die together.” He tells her off. “After we’ve gotten like, one hundred years old.”

“Sure. You’ll be so cute when all your teeth fell out.”

“Hush.” He kisses her softly, tentatively, as if still asking for permission.

“Anything that I missed?” She asks when he drops back into the pillows.

“Sarada’s  currently obsessed with Chouji again. She wants to learn cooking.”

“Not against that. Did Iruka say something?”

“Mhm. They’re going to be discussing Clan’s soon.”

“Ah.” She smooths his furrowed brows. “Don’t worry. She’s smart. She’ll understand.”

A fond smile stretches over his mouth and she waits, knows that he’ll elaborate on his own when he feels like it.

“I am so glad I fell in love with you.”

She rests her head on his chest, listens to his heartbeat and knows.

It doesn’t matter what others think about them.

They know the truth.

-

If you find any mistakes/typos, you can give them back to me, it’s not my first language and I’m happy if I can correct anything.

[octuscle]

I really like the transformation of this guy in a professional soccer player! Well I know the feeling to wish for another decision in the past. I work actually as a construction worker because my gf got pregnant in college and I had to earn money quickly. Now we're divorced and I don't think I'm a hero for my son. That would be different if I said 'no' in the past going my way into sports and maybe got draftet in a money-spinning sport. Maybe my son would have a poster with me on it on a wall in his room today if I decided otherwise in the past. I'd like the same program as the other guy - changing my life and my past. I take the risk not becoming a hero but please give me a chance, chronivac support

No problem, you can use the preset as often as you like, that's the least effort. You are now not quite as old as the soccer player, so with an initial age of 36 like yours, the result will be 18 years… Depending on the sport that fate decides on, your career can be almost over or just beginning. 4:00 PM, you just got off work, shall we get right to it?

Boy, I mean, you're not exactly in bad shape. But you've allowed yourself to get a little carried away, haven't you? And the tattoos would look better with less flabby skin. Well, that's going to change. Actually, you wanted to order a pizza while you were scratching your sack. But suddenly you don't feel like it anymore. Instead, you write a message to your gym buddy, with whom you have been training for a few weeks, asking if he spontaneously has time and wants to do a training session. You meet in half an hour at the gym.

The guy at the reception greets you with a fist bump. You've been part of the inventory here for a year. Some people with a fine nose may be bothered by the fact that you don't shower after work before you start training. But nobody can say that you are not a role model in terms of motivation and discipline. A year ago some things were still wobbling on you But now there's hardly any fat left and the muscles are coming really nicely. You also have your life better and better under control. No more alcohol, no more cigarettes. Your alimony checks come on time and are always covered. Even if the mother of your son doesn't want to have contact anymore, your son at least follows you on Instagram. In the meantime, you have a good 2K followers who accompany your transformation. You are proud of that, too.

20:00 o'clock, you two are done. A few more poses in front of the mirror. Four years of hard training have turned you into a model athlete. And with your fitness followers you now make more money than with your job as a construction worker. But you want to be a role model for your son, just being an influencer is not a profession. It takes you an hour to shower, shave your body and trim your beard. When you leave the studio, you want to look good. Even if it's just to go home and cook. You are a domestic person. And besides, it saves money. And you make a live stream out of the cooking, which gives you a few more followers. But it's also a hard job. By the time you've eaten and cleaned up the kitchen, it's already 11:00 pm. And the alarm clock rings at 5:00 am. Time to go to bed. Actually, at 29, when you have a body like yours, you should have more fun in life. But you've been a father for seven years, and that obliges you. With the birth of your son, you've completely turned your life around. Even though you are divorced, you still have a good relationship with your ex-wife. And your son already writes you good-night text messages. Hey, you know people who are worse off!

Your routines include drinking a liter of water before bed. It flushes all the toxins out of your body overnight. Can't be much with your diet, but you like routines. However, this often means that you have to pee again at night. Today so about 02:00 clock. You have to be quiet so as not to wake your wife and son. The little angel breathes regularly. It is nice to hear this sound from the neighboring room while you fall asleep again.

06:00 in the morning. Your wife hits you with the pillow. Like every morning, when you don't turn off your alarm clock after a microsecond. She gets her good morning kiss and you head off to the gym. You're always one of the first of the team to get there. The janitor already knows you. They call you the Swiss clockwork. Always on time, always reliable. Discipline is everything. You have the chance to live out your passion for ice hockey here. You've been on the ice since you were eight years old, and you've been a professional for four years. In Canada. An absolute dream!

10:00 a.m. Press conference. You're just 18 and you've managed to get signed by the London Knights as a European. Your stepping stone into the National Hockey League. Everything is still terribly exciting. But you are a sporting prodigy. And you've spent your whole life preparing for this moment. You speak English and French fluently. Despite the double burden, you skipped a year of school and graduated with honors. And your girlfriend is pregnant. It was not planned. But it happened. And you are both very happy.

The nursery is already furnished. Above the crib a poster of you. You have to expect that you will not see your son for one or two weeks. But he should always have a picture of you in front of his eyes.