#a lot of people say they wish the heist was more like the one in the trailer

[mail-me-a-snail]

hey. hi. listen. can you imagine being vance. can you imagine being vance and being told you have the opportunity of a lifetime; your ticket to all the eddies you'll ever need to skip town; start fresh; never have to look over your shoulder again (though you will, always; you cannot help yourself)

with the one catch being you have to willingly return to the people you're so desperately trying to escape in the first place. you have to venture into the den and come back out without ever letting them know who you are.

and that's easy enough. that's some kind of retribution, some subtraction of assets that could give vance an uneasy sense of closure. whatever i take from arasaka is what's going to take me away from them.

but can you imagine being vance and losing your best friend in the process.

(he got you out)

(he was going to get you out again)

can you imagine being vance and staring at your reflection, at the suit you swore youd never wear again, at the blood splattered on the once pristine white.

can you imagine wondering how you ever thought you could escape it?

[xxsycamore]

COOLDOWN

╰┈➤ 🖤You're feeling hot, and Ellis worries that it's a result of overworking yourself again. It's too bad that his methods of helping you have the opposite effect of cooling you down.

Ellis Twilight x f!Reader • rating: E (MDNI) • tags: Semi-Public Sex; Temperature Play; Oral Sex; Cunnilingus; Sexual Tension • wordcount: 1,927 • masterlist

a/n: A BELATED BIRTHDAY GIFT FOR @nightghoul381 !!! Happy birthday dear Ghoulie!! This is just a small thank-you for all the wonderful art and fics you've blessed us with, they're always living rent-free in my head. You know which ones I'm talking about. Wishing you many more fun moments on here, gacha luck, all the Ellis content... you deserve it all <3

Part of my Sexy Ikemen Summer Creation Challenge. Prompts: At the festival booth you're volunteering at + Go down on them with a cold tongue

"We're having a lot of customers! I had no idea running an ice cream booth can be so hectic!"

You place your hands on your hips and let out a sigh that does little to erase the liveliness off your face. Ellis finishes restocking one of the containers and gives you a look charged with just a bit of worry. He knows you've been enjoying yourself, but at the same time, even you are recognizing how tiresome this whole ordeal has become.

"You know we can close the booth now… Jude and Roger already took care of the thieves." Ellis reminds, his hand on your shoulder managing to startle you - it's only proof of how tiredness has dulled your reactions.

The mission given to you tonight revolved around catching the culprits behind the latest jewelry heist, expected to make their next big hit here, on the festival, allured by the shiny first-place reward for the competitions held during it. It turned out to be an easy job for your Crownmates, as the other pair consisting of Jude and Roger already reported to you and Ellis that the target had been neutralized.

While you ended up playing a key part in the mission, being on the lookout for the target the whole time from your strategically situated ice cream booth you volunteer at, you couldn't help but be a bit skeptical about, it in the beginning. While you fully understood that this was the safest option for you to help them out, it just sounded a bit ridiculous to remain here and sell ice cream…

This all changed when you realized how good of an opportunity this is to spend more time with your lover Ellis, especially since you both have been busy lately.

The booth's cramped interior keeps you in close proximity at all times, so much that Ellis' scent fills your head completely. He doesn't need to raise his voice more than a whisper for you to hear him, despite the noise of the crowd outside your little shared space. It's like there's a barrier separating you from the rest of the world, so you can't help but jump every time you snap out of your assigned crowd-watching between taking orders, by Ellis' hand accidentally bumping into yours.

You'd joke and say that the only reason your booth is so successful is because Ellis is quite popular with the town's people. He'd shake his head and argue that it must be you who lure them in, because of the happy smile you're able to put on their faces.

"It's alright! I can keep going a little longer. It's close to the end of the festival, might as well try to make it! Here, I'll have some nice cooling ice cream and replenish my energy in no time, just watch!"

Ellis smiles at your stubbornness, readily passing you the ice cream scoop. You feel his eyes on you, and it brings heat to your cheeks knowing that he's probably taking note of the flavors you mix, wanting to know your preferences as always. It's all the more reason to have your cool treat faster, before this heat can get the better of you.

"Mmm, it's so good. No wonder we have so much business! Here, try it too, Ellis!"

You lift the little spoon to Ellis, fully expecting him to take it from your grasp, but instead, he leans down and puts the end of it in his mouth. Your heart skips a beat at the unexpected dose of cuteness, and you barely survive it as he takes a moment to properly sweep it clean with his tongue and savor it thoroughly.

"You're right. It's delicious."

You nod and hurry to put some more ice cream in your mouth just as an excuse to remove your gaze from Ellis' dazzling smile… but you still feel his eyes on you.

"Are you feeling hot?"

Your eyes widen, spoon still in your mouth, as Ellis suddenly grasps the sides of your face, bringing himself closer to you.

"Here, let me. I'm worried that you overworked yourself and got a fever."

Before you know it, a pair of lips is pressing to your forehead ever so gently.

Ellis' lips are so cold… They feel good against your overheated skin.

"I'm afraid I can't judge properly. Should we get Roger? I think he might still be around."

"No, I'm fine! It's just…"

Despite being done with his little examination, Ellis doesn't stop holding your face in his large, roughened hands. There's no escaping from that twilight gaze, shimmering in question from your sudden protest.

"I'm feeling hot because… You're too close…"

In another second, Ellis' mouth opens in a small o-shape.

"Oh."

He removes his hands from you, taking a step back. "I'm sorry that I put my lips on you, then. I didn't realize."

"No, they were chilled from the ice cream and felt so good, actually…"

You said it without thinking, worried that you pushed Ellis away. It's the very truth but you'd rather keep it to yourself because…

"If that's so… Then it might help you cool down."

Because he'll never turn down an opportunity to make you feel better.

Ellis leans in close to you again, but slowly, giving you all the time to reject him. Heart hammering in your chest, you only turn your cheek to Ellis to receive his 'help'.

He plants a kiss on it, gentle as butterfly wings, and cooling as the air they're fanning into it.

It's only temporary however, because as expected, it only makes your blood pump hotter in your veins, receiving Ellis' attention after being in his presence for hours on end and not being able to be lovey-dovey with him.

He withdraws again before you can properly recover, and you see him retracting the poles that prop up the booth's shutter.

"Ellis…?"

"You're in need of a proper cooling down, so…" Ellis returns to you, and suddenly the room inside the booth feels as if it's shrunk drastically. He barely needs to encage you in his arms, but his scent flooding your lungs is so welcomed. The sounds of the crowd outside are a backdrop to Ellis' soft whispers, a sharp contrast between the intimacy and the reminder of where you are. He claims your lips next, and denying him is out of the question. Sucking on his plush lower lip, you want to rob him of all the sweetness and coolness lingering on it.

Once you're out of breath, Ellis lets go, taking in the expression on your face. He's smiling but his eyes are marked by a shade of lust now, and you're surprised to find him still playing along with the little game, taking another spoonful of the cold treat which has somewhat started to melt.

"Ah!"

Even if expected, the difference in temperature startles you when those mischievous lips find your burning nape.

"Here too… Let me kiss you."

His kisses begin littering the exposed surface of your skin, and once he runs out of it, he begins tugging down on the hem of your cleavage to cover more and more with his lips. Little shivers of shame run through you as your breasts spill out, but they're soon replaced with shivers of pleasure as soon as Ellis tongues at your nipples, just briefly enough to turn them into hard pebbles.

Quickly growing unsatisfied with his limitations, Ellis opts for finding the end of your dress and lifting it up instead, practically shoving himself underneath it just to kiss your belly.

The tickling sensation makes a few breathless chuckles escape your mouth, and you put your hands on Ellis' shoulders, though you're not even close to pushing him away.

"Hehe… Seems like we're closed for the day, actually…"

You come to the conclusion as soon as you realize Ellis is sliding his fingers under the waistband of your panties from both sides and dragging them down. There's no going back now, and despite the embarrassment lingering at the back of your mind, you're desperate to feel Ellis when you need him most.

"Ahhh!—"

"Does it feel good? You're being so loud already."

He doesn't have to ask - the combination of his skilled tongue and the enhanced sensation from the clash of the different temperatures makes your legs weak. Your back rests against the wall of the booth as Ellis is seemingly hard at work to make you lose your footing. The hands that caressed his shoulders are now clinging to the fabric of his jacket, each flick of his tongue making your nails sink deeper.

Ellis switches to sucking at your swollen nub, only letting go when he notices your legs beginning to tremble. He laps at the new flood of juices he coaxed out of you, and the hotness of your heat has already erased every memory of the chillness he brought to you.

You don't have the heart to tell him his little plan of cooling you down was doomed to fail from the very beginning, as every place touched by his mouth has only been lit in flames as a result. Or maybe he knew all along.

"Ellis, I'm—!"

"Don't hold back. Come now."

His calm yet sultry voice echoes in your ears along with the thump of your own heartbeat, and soon your vision is overtaken by hot-white. Ellis works you to a powerful peak, not pausing his ministrations for a second. His strong hands keep your legs open, and they're your only anchor keeping you upright. A broken cry of his name comes out of you in a series of moans that you're barely able to keep low in volume.

In your dizziness, you don't realize when Ellis raised to his feet again, carefully arranging your disheveled clothing, sliding your panties back in place. He holds you in his arms for a moment until you can catch your breath, even if his sweet kisses are slowing the process.

"We can open the booth again if you want to. There's still ice cream left."

You blink into Ellis' arms, considering his offer for a second, then letting out a chuckle.

"I wonder if it would cause chaos if we were to bring it back home?"

You certainly don't imagine yourself bribing the rest of Crown with sweets, that's Victor's job. You wouldn't want to take it from him. Though there's something else worrying you.

"But Ellis…What about you?"

He gives you another smile before busying himself with opening the booth once again.

"Don't worry about me. It was enough to see you enjoy yourself."

Despite his reassurance, the air in your lungs escapes you in a sigh. While looking at Ellis, you notice that he's doing a repetitive motion of swinging his arm back and forth, flexing it, sort of as if it's gotten stiff.

Oh.

Feeling the heat return to your cheeks, you feel very guilty about giving Ellis a boner he can't tend to at the moment, even if both of you knew it was gonna happen.

Still, the image of him having to do that instead of waiting it out is somehow terribly hot to you. Along with the show of his well-toned arms, with shirt sleeves rolled up. Blaming it on being lightheaded from what he just did to you, you know you too should focus on anything but the newly formed arousal that pools in your already damp panties.

You just can't wait to make it up to Ellis, once you return home tonight.

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[luna-rainbow]

Hi

Like your posts especially your Bucky posts. He is my precious cinnamon roll, and a character whose popularity makes sense.

Can you explain to me why T*ny Stark though is so popular? I just... cannot see the appeal of him. He's self-righteous, self-centred, reckless, irresponsible and very likely narcissistic.

Also, for all his fans go on about how "sacrificial" he is I do not see it. Or rather, its not actually that admirable to have to sacrifce yourself to solve the problems you created in the first place! That's just... being a decent human.

Now Cap, there's a guy. Resisting authortarinism and fighting for freedom all his life. T*ny though? He's like "yeah kill myself to kill he villain my father/me created". Nope. Not a hero.

Even in Endgame, he's selfish because he's not willing to even give his backing to the Time Heist if it might negatively impact him/his family.

Why do people see him as such again?

Thanks for the ask!

I think most people like characters for a few reasons: a) they think they are their blorbo, b) they want to be like their blorbo, and c) they want to have sex with their blorbo.

Tony, especially with RDJ's portrayal, is exactly the kind of guy that appeals to the intended audience of the comics-loving (mostly male) fanbase: who identify with Tony's "intellectual and pragmatic" over sentimental (ala Pepper) or moralistic (ala Steve), and who wishes they could be the playboy billionaire who has all the sex and buys all the toys and shrugs off all the accountability. Tony is 40 but RDJ plays him like he's 14, he's misogynist and self-centered, cocky and reckless, who won't listen to anyone else's advice because he genuinely believes he knows better until real life proves him wrong (...so many socialised males are like this...)

To be honest, on the one hand, I can see why Tony appeals to the audience. He's at once a a reassurance and a fantasy. If you take away his billionaire status, he's an extremely flawed (all the ones you've listed and more) middle-aged guy who struggles to maintain human relations and makes frequent mistakes but does strive, at least in the earlier movies, to try and do the right thing. I think a lot of people relate to that, because most of us are lonely and messed up and likely misunderstood to some degree. But he's also very much a power fantasy -- he's swimming in money (if you forget where it comes from), surrounded by fawning hot women, he has fast cars and a man cave to tinker with his hobby while his girlfriend/secretary does the real work of running the company. He then gets the ideal redemption story where he proves all the accusations of immorality wrong by doing A Good Deed, and all the fame and glory that comes with it. Yeah, some fans like to lean into how he's still ""misunderstood", but his critics in universe are the minority, and his new hero status has enabled him greater access to what is essentially political power and intelligence networks.

To me, Tony's appeal lies in his struggles and the redemption. He is a morally grey character just learning to look beyond his own needs and still occasionally relapsing into self-centered recklessness. His story was never one about sacrifice - because as you say, doing the bare minimum of fixing your own mistakes isn't sacrifice, it's being a grown up.

And I ignore Endgame XD

[restinslices]

Mortality

Jesper Fahey x Spouse (no gender specified) Word count: 2150 Summary: You and Jesper aged differently. You aged as any Otkazat’sya did. Jesper on the other hand is Grisha and ages much slower. As your mortality gets closer and closer, you and Jesper have a much needed talk. Wrote this on my phone at midnight😀

People could say a lot of negative things about Jesper Fahey. 

He was a shit gambler, a flirt, a drunk, he didn't think, he could be selfish at times, he could give you a headache with one sentence, among other things that could make anyone go in the opposite direction. 

But it was impossible to say he wasn't loving. Jesper held onto people and treated everyone like family, even when there were conflicts. There were plenty of times when you and Jesper would have a disagreement, yet he still looked at you like he'd both die and kill for you. Jesper could sometimes make promises he'd easily break for the right price. The promises he made to you though? There was no card game, no shiny gun, no heist, no amount of cash that could make him turn on you. 

Jesper supposed that's how he got himself to where he was now and honestly? He wasn't sure he liked it. 

Was it selfish to say apart of him wished you two never became something more or maybe that he never met you? Was it selfish to look at your aging body and wish he walked away and stayed away after The Ice Court heist? Maybe. He wasn't sure he cared though. 

Aging gave him a tap on the shoulder, but aging slammed into you. That didn't mean you were unattractive in his eyes, it just meant your body felt the stings of aging. Bad knees, hips, shoulder pains, wrinkles, all that was normal and expected. Jesper practically looked the same as he did when you two met. You were closer to death but he felt like the true ghost; forever stuck in a single moment. No changes to himself, only to his environment and the people around him. 

Or maybe even a time loop, but only for himself. Everyone else was free and moved on. Not him though. 

Jesper didn't realize he was staring until you said something, 

“A penny for your thoughts?”. 

“What?”

“You're staring”

“Oh” Jesper said with realization, “an accident”. Partially true. 

He smoothed out the blankets in front of him to distract himself but that worked as well as anyone would imagine. Your face was imprinted on his mind, and although Jesper could've just laid down and went straight to sleep, he knew it'd be all he'd see when he closed his eyes. 

Jesper heard you close and set your book down, then felt your eyes on him. 

“What're you doing?”

“Smoothing these blankets. They're quite wrinkly”

“Why?”

“Why? Why does anyone do anything?”

You sighed, “why won't you look at me?”

“I'm getting rid of the wrinkles on this blanket like I said”

“Because you can't get rid of mine?”. Jesper's hands stopped moving and he finally looked at you and another wave of sorrow hit him. Why did your inevitable death hit him so hard? 

Maybe it was because you were the last one left. 

Kaz, Inej, Wylan, Matthias, they were all gone by now. Matthias’ death was the first hit he received since his mom passed and as time went on the rest of his family, even if not by blood, passed on. Sure, he had Nina but Nina’s home was Ravka. Nina was more often busy than not and she was not the fondest of Kerch. Many times you suggested moving to Ravka for a “change of scenery”. He knew the truth though. You wanted him to get used to living somewhere else so he could be closer to Nina and not alone. You were the last consistent thing attached to his younger life and by some twist of fate, he'd be doomed to outlive majority of the people he met. He wondered if he did something awful in a past life to deserve this. 

“You've gone quiet again Jes”

He shook his head. “I don't know what to say”

“Too much on your brain? Don't know how to get it out?”. He assumed you took his silence as an answer because next you said “just say whatever, even if it doesn't make sense”. 

He took a deep breath then. It's not like you two hasn't talked about this before, but it was usually a small conversation that he'd slip his way out of with some dumb excuse. 

“I have something to do”. “I'm tired”. “Let's go eat”. “I have to go write a letter”. The list went on and on. This time though he couldn't think of an excuse and with limited time, he knew he had to speak to your living body now instead of a tombstone. 

“I don't think I'm ready to do this without you”

“Do what?”

“Live”. It came out breathy and quiet. He could tell he had upset you by how deep your frown was. Or maybe that was another sign of aging. He couldn't tell. 

“I can't do it”. 

“Yes you can”

“I can't”

“Jesper Fahey you can break into a Fjerdan Ice Court, escape, survive months at sea with Kaz Brekker, go toe to toe with every gang in Ketterdam and you still use the words 'I can't’?”. In any other circumstance he would've laughed and made some comment about how amazing he is. He didn't this time though. Nothing really felt enjoyable or funny anymore. Not when you could have some attack at any moment and be gone. 

“You're beautiful,” he said. “Absolutely stunning. I don't think I've ever seen anything as beautiful as you”

“There's the stars and sea yet I’m the most beautiful thing you've seen?”. 

He nodded. “Absolutely”. 

“Is that why you're with me then? My charming looks?”

“You could look like all things wrong with the world and I'd still want you”

“Jesper the poet? I think I like it”. Your fragile hand held his and your eyes locked onto his. “You can live without me-”

“I can't”. The tears he had been fighting so hard to keep away finally slipped. He didn't bother wiping them away, too scared to let go of your hand. “I wanna be able to but I can't”

“Why?”. 

“Why?”, he  repeated. “I just can't”. 

Your thumb rubbing over his hand soothed him for a moment, but only a moment. That calmness died when you spoke again. 

“If this is hard for you, you can go. You don't have to see me like this”

“Where would I go?”, he asked with furrowed brows and a mix of hurt and confusion etched on his face. 

You shrugged. “Ravka maybe? Make it your new home-”

“My home is here. With you”

“You'll have to find a new one when I go”. 

His hand slipped from yours, frustration building in his chest. It all sounded so easy but it was only easy because you were the one dying. You wouldn't have to feel another part of you ripped away. You wouldn't feel anything anymore. He would. 

He'd think about it almost everyday and a hole would form in his chest and pull him into this thick fog and within this fog he'd hear the future. He'd hear a heart monitor go flat. He'd hear your breathing become shallow before it eventually stopped. He'd hear his own crying. Yet you would come along and act as if everything was alright. You'd be calm and fine while he was breaking on the inside. 

“Jesper Fahey, I am going to die and there's nothing you can do about it”. 

“What?”

“Jesper Fahey, I am going to die and there's nothing you can do about it”. 

“Stop”. 

But you didn't stop. You repeated it again and again and he thought he must've been hallucinating and finally reached his breaking point. He covered his ears but you grabbed his hands and intertwined your fingers with his. You opened your mouth but he cut you off with a broken voice. 

“Why are you telling me this?”

“Because you don't understand you can't control this”

“I understand fully” he said quickly. “That's the whole problem. Can you stop being calm and show some sort of emotion for once?”

“What do you want me to do? To cry? To think about it and stress myself to a migraine like you do everyday?”. He hated how you looked at him then; with pity. It felt like with one foot in the grave, you'd always use the other to stay near him and soothe him and it made him feel selfish. “You wanna know how I feel?”. He didn't answer but you continued anyway. “I am terrified of death. Faith exists to calm us of this fear but honestly, I'm still scared. I don't know what's next. I don't know how it'll feel. I don't know if I'll see a light or if I'll be in darkness. I don't know how I'll go out and I don't know how it'll feel to take my last breath. I'm terrified but worrying about it everyday? That's not living. I'll be on my deathbed slipping away and all I'll think about is how I should've lived more”

“You are so stressed about me dying but honestly Jes? You're just making yourself live through the inevitable every single day. We should be loving each other now more than ever when we have the time. We're gonna get to my final moments and we'll both have regrets, the only difference is you'll have to live with yours”. 

Jesper couldn't help but let tears fall from his eyes. He knew you were right and that he should be holding you close during this time, but he couldn't help but listen to the tiny voice in his head that drove him insane everyday. Everyday was a reminder that for some unknown reason, he'd live much longer. Years would pass and he'd forget your face and always have to look at pictures or letters to remember you. One day he'd even forget your voice. How long would that take? 10 years? 20? 30? 

The more he thought, the more his breathing became erratic and his vision blurred. Blinking away tears didn't work. They'd just come back. You guided his head to your shoulder before your hand found its way to his back to rub circles on it. Jesper wasn't known to cry, but he cried. Hard. And you let him. When his breathing returned to normal, it wasn't because he was no longer sad. It was because he was exhausted. His eyes and nose had gone red by now and his face felt incredibly sore. 

When he quieted down, you spoke again. “I want to love you while I still can but if you don't want to see what'll eventually happen… I’m… I'm willing to let you go”. It was hard for you to say. He could tell because of how quiet it came out. Were you willing to? Probably. Did you want to? Absolutely not. He didn't need to ask or look at you to know. 

Jesper had a big choice to make. He stayed, spent the rest of your life with you and eventually buried you or he could leave and try to get a jumpstart at a new life. He wouldn't see age continue to eat at you and when your time came, he wouldn't be there. He'd be leaving you alone. He probably wouldn't know exactly when you died. Years would pass and he'd just guess that you were gone. 

Jesper was ashamed of how long it took him to make a decision. Leaving seemed so good. The pain of watching you continue to grow old would be no more, but then he'd be left with another pain; the pain of never seeing you again. Of knowing he abandoned you when all you wanted was to hold him close. You had no family and no notable friends besides him and Nina now. You'd probably be found and with no one to identify you, who knew what would become of your body in Kerch. A body with no name. And he'd become a body with no home. 

“I'm not going anywhere”. He finally lifted his head up to look at you and although he still felt that pang in his heart, he didn't look away and try to avoid your gaze. He just looked at you, mapping every detail of your face so he could look back and remember just how beautiful you were when you're gone. 

“I am so going to miss you”

“Of course you will” you said with a small smile and you finally got a chuckle out of him, even if it was small. 

You didn't have forever. You both knew you were on limited time and one day you'd be apart, but you both promised to love and cherish the time you still had together and maybe, just maybe, you'd see each other in the next life when the sun finally set on the both of you. 

I am feral for this man in the most wholesome way possible. Legit just wanna hold his hand and hear him talk about dumb shit.

[rizaposting]

big bang ask time!! woohoo!!

1. what was your favorite thing about the event?

2. favorite and least favorite canon things about royai?

3. what was the most challenging thing to draw for you?

Can't wait for everyone to see your work!! ☺��💕

Yippieeeee!!! Thank you Ana!

1. what was your favorite thing about the event?

I know everyone has been saying it BUT it's been so fun to get to chat and get to know everyone involved. We have so many silly conversations and everyone is genuinely so nice and talented!!!! ;w;

2. favorite and least favorite canon things about royai?

Oh this is a tough one hmmm... I think my favorite thing is their dynamic, which is kind of a wet noodle answer but! Even before we know about their past you can really tell that there's history between them, and they care about each other more than a usual amount. Some might even say... They are really abnormal about each other. I also love the potential!!! Almost any scenario you could propose, I could see there being a way for it to happen between them. Childhood sweethearts? Secret dating during canon? Post-PD confessions? I could go on.

For my "least" favorite... It's not that I dislike it, but something I wish more people would address is that Royai grew up entrenched in fascism, and I think that's, in part, where their rigid black-and-white idea of punitive justice comes from. And I see a lot of people interpret it as the Correct mindset to have or don't really think about it and it can be so frustrating. I ALSO wish more people would address how self-centered Roy's ambitions are. They're good and well-meaning, don't get me wrong, but he (and Riza) tends to view himself as The Only One Who Can Make Things Right And Make Sure There Is Justice. Which stems from a good place but man it really smacks of his (both of theirs, really) martyr complex WHICH I THINK IS AN INTERESTING FLAW. CAN WE CONFRONT THEM ABOUT THAT? It's one thing to go "if you want something done right you have to do it yourself" and it's another to be like "if Roy doesn't become the Good Guy Dictator this can NEVER happen by any other means. No one else cares about it". I dunno. I'd love them to get called on their bullshit <3 Like babes, get over yourselves <3

3. what was the most challenging thing to draw for you?

I knew EXACTLY what I wanted to draw for 'Accretion' (by raisingmybanner on AO3; get hyped it's a SUPER fun art heist fic) but I struggled a lot trying to figure out the composition. I wanted to show Royai of course, but also show the art piece in question, but also show the gallery. I wanted a lot of depth but I really struggled with it XD The most "classical" art training I have was high school art courses, so my lofty ideas made me really feel that lack of technical skill and know-how. I still ended up really liking the end result! But I certainly had to reign it in to match my current skills hahaha

[kitkatt0430]

17, 33, 35, 44, 50 for OTP Asks (coldflash) please

17.) Who's more likely to pull the other in by the waist and kiss them passionately?

Hmmm, this is a tough one. I think it's something they both do, but who does it most?

Barry definitely has a kink for being manhandled and taken care of. He's constantly having to be the hero and on top of things and so having Len take charge, pull him close and demand kisses... it's nice to just give in. He trusts Len whether it's with something small and romantic like this or, uh... other things. ;) So Len enjoys taking advantage of this in order to draw Barry close and kiss him whenever he wants.

Conversely, Len likes that despite being a twig in human form (until his thirties anyway), Barry can still push him around if he wants. Len definitely enjoyed being shoved around by Barry in S2, though he was definitely wishing for a kiss there. So I think his preference is less being pulled in by Barry and more by being shoved against a hard surface and crowded in by Barry, but he does enjoy getting pulled forward, into Barry's arms, and kissed senseless too.

I think, ultimately, Len is more likely to pull Barry into a kiss, but it's definitely something that goes both ways.

33.) Who's the better cook?

Barry. Len's not a lethal chef or anything like that and he enjoys cooking with Barry because it's something he's doing with Barry. But for it's own sake, Len's more of an 'eat what's convenient' type. Whereas Barry is very much a 'shows love through food' type.

Mick supports the relationship in part because he's no longer the only one making sure Len doesn't wind up with scurvy for avoiding his veggies.

35.) Who's more artistic?

Probably Barry. He can sketch really well and I can see him doing the ADHD cycle through various artsy hobbies. (I do this. Best to keep the projects in what are doable chunks for me or something I can put down and pick up again a few months or a year down the line.)

I think Lewis really stunted Len's artistic talents. He strikes me as the kind of father who sees his son taking art classes or home ec and gets super homophobic about it. Len expresses his creative side through his heist plans. He's maybe starting to allow his creativity roll into creating things - starting from learning how to repair and then recreate the Cold Gun to adapting what he learned to create ice grenades and the like. But overall, Barry's much more of the artsy sort.

44.) Who would dance in the kitchen making dinner? Would the other join in or watch from the doorway?

Barry is absolutely the dancer. We see that in canon with him dancing around in the kitchen in his boxers making breakfast. He will dance around and sing to music on the radio/streaming on his phone when he cooks alone - especially if he's cooking something special for Len. Romantic dinner? Barry is extra bouncy while he cooks and sets up a candle lit dinner.

Len won't admit it, but he finds it really charming how Barry romances him and he does try to romance Barry in return. But when Barry's dancing around in the kitchen, he definitely loves to stand back and watch. Just kind of take in that this ridiculous man loves him so much.

50.) who's more likely to do something out of spite?

I'd say initially it's Len. He's used to pushing people away and he expects eventually he'll push Barry away too and gets snippy and spiteful about things. But Barry's stubborn and as Len realizes that it'd take a hell of a lot to run Barry off, he starts to relax and accept that what they have is actually going to last and his tendency to say spiteful things while angry tapers off.

Barry isn't at first because he's had to learn to be very careful with his relationships and choose his battles with Joe. He'd argue to hell and back about his dad's innocence, but he was very afraid of Joe not wanting him anymore so he got in the habit of swallowing down his feelings about things until they boil over. He's a lot more likely to do this when something's triggered his trauma reactions. The first time Len realizes that Barry flipped out over something relatively minor with him and talking it out later reveals it was really because Barry was already on edge over something Team Flash did that triggered him that his team dismissed as inconsequential? Len absolutely reads them the riot act about the way they treat Barry's mental health so dismissively.

I think once Barry's trauma responses start being taken seriously and his boundaries are better respected, the spiteful responses become less likely to show up too. That said, I think maybe he still struggles with it more than Len.

[perotovar]

twenty questions for fic writers 💖

tagged by @kedsandtubesocks and @nerdieforpedro thank you, loves! ♥

1. How many works do you have on AO3?

technically 4 lol i'm slowly moving my stuff over there. i barely get any traction there compared to tumblr so it's sort of just there in case anyone prefers that format. i like the community i've built over here so i'm not worried about it!

2. What's your total AO3 word count?

apparently 60,272 which is WILD

3. What fandoms do you write for?

the pedro pascal cinematic universe! i've thought about branching out into the bg3 fandom or possibly a couple other games, but the inspiration is with the pedro boys rn ♥

4. Top five fics by kudos

i'll go with the highest number of notes on here i suppose??

baby i'm-a want you (joel x javier p)

into the beat of the night (frankie x oc!river price)

bloody kisses (shane morrissey x tim rockford)

ásjá (pero tovar x ofc!helga)

rebirth (javi g x reader)

5. Do you respond to comments?

i've been really bad about it, but yeah, i certainly try to!

6. What is the fic you wrote with the angstiest ending?

ch1 of bloody kisses ends pretty angsty, but it's got nothing on given to fly, my joel x tess drabble (which i don't think a lot of people even know i wrote lmao)

7. What's the fic you wrote with the happiest ending?

i can tell you right now, itbotn will have a happy ending :)

8. Do you get hate on fics?

i don't think i write the popular boys enough for that. and most of my stuff is queer, which has a smaller audience. so, fingers crossed, no not yet

9. Do you write smut?

yep

10. Craziest crossover?

i feel like putting one of the characters in a macho man heist movie into a goth club was a pretty insane crossover lol but probably bloody kisses, too, because it's between a criminal and a detective. who says opposites don't attract? 😉

11. Have you ever had a fic stolen?

not that i'm aware of omfg

12. Have you ever had a fic translated?

no, but that would be cool!

13. Have you ever co-written a fic before?

yeah, me and @chronically-ghosted work on bloody kisses together! her contribution is my favorite chapter so far, definitely

14. All time favorite ship?

joel/tess has been one of my absolute favorites for years. halsin/astarion is a very close second <3

15. What's a wip you want to finish but doubt you ever will?

i really wanna write the metal!pero and metal!ezra fic but i'm not sure i'll figure out the plot for it sdflkghjdg they're messing with me a lot

16. What are your writing strengths?

i think i'm good at dialogue? banter?

17. What are your writing weaknesses?

interesting descriptions. describing a mood/atmosphere is fucking hard and idk how y'all do it lol

18. Thoughts on dialogue in another language?

i think it's cool! i wish i spoke spanish better than my beginniner duolingo ass can so i can use it more often, but yeah lol

19. First fandom you wrote in?

it was for a band lmao like 10 years ago. i wrote like 2 smutty oneshots and have promptly deleted them off the internet

20. Favorite fic you've written?

god, that's an evil question! tbh it might be a tie between itbotn and bloody kisses. those are my babies and i'm super proud of the universes i created with them!

np tags: @ezrasbirdie @sp00kymulderr @qveerthe0ry @for-a-longlongtime

@goodwithcheese @missredherring @marisferasiop @swiftispunk @mrsmando

@ghostofaboy and anyone else that wants to ♥

[zahri-melitor]

Future State:

So this is a qualified opinion based on the fact I have only read the Bat-related titles and have not yet read the Bat book storylines subsequent to this, but my first impression of this is that you are just fine to skip anything in Future State that you don't want to read.

It does contain 'who is the Magistrate'. The Magistrate are a paramilitary force paid for by Mayor Nakano to hunt down 'masks' in Gotham (both capes and rogues). Their major members are called 'Peacekeepers'. If you literally just substitute the current cape-hunting paramilitary force of Peacemakers commanded by Amanda Waller in your mind, you've got the entire effect without needing to read any of it (Also Gotham is indulging in its neon futurism aesthetic, so think Batman: Gotham Knights the game, or just Bladerunner).

I only have time to read one title: Future State: Dark Detective. The A story in this title follows Bruce working undercover to find a way to reveal what's going on inside the Magistrate. The creative team is Mariko Tamaki, Dan Mora and Jordie Bellaire. One of the only stories in the entire set where I would confidently say this was still a solid yarn even out of context.

I'm interested in John Ridley's Fox Family Drama: read the A story of Future State: The Next Batman. Tam's had a relapse (because nobody can track whether or not Tam is supposed to be better or not), Luke's literally at a loose end because of plotting changes, you meet Jace, Tiffany has been aged up by the time jump to effectively be the age she was back pre-Flashpoint, Tanya is angry at the world because reasons (Tam) and Lucius is making bad decisions because ???.

What else do you think is a fun story? Future State: Catwoman is a train heist story with neon futurism aesthetics, which is busy indulging in re-education camp/concentration camp themes with more than a dash of Hunger Games references. Creative team is Ram V and Otto Schmidt (no prizes for guessing why it's a good story hey). Worth it just for Selina and Talia working at slight cross purposes but acknowledging the other has her own goals.

The E plot of Future State: The Next Batman (the Gotham City Sirens) has Ivy, Selina and slave android named Dee-Dee who has broken from her creator. This is fun for me personally because it is the rare concept where Ivy and Selina are bouncing off each other and Harley is nowhere in sight. The characterisation is at best fine, but the GCS vibes are there and fun.

The rare 'look I don't want to read this but it's well written' award: Future State: Harley Quinn. I deeply, deeply do not care about Harley, but if more of Harley's books were written like this, I think I would enjoy her far more as a character. So, recommendation for the 2021 run of Harley Quinn under Stephanie Phillips, I suppose (I am not planning on reading it).

The rest: look, the biggest issue with basically all of the Future State titles is due to being set in media res of an altered future, there's an awful lot of characters with changed personalities and no clear connections as to why they're acting OOC. And I'm a full believer in 'if you show me how the character got there, it's not OOC', but the whole concept of this is we don't get to see how the characters got there. So you're stuck going "why is Jefferson Davis currently a being of pure lightning, this isn't Jakeem Thunder". "has this writer read a single Stephanie Brown story not written by Bryan Q. Miller? (Vita Ayala I have been anticipating getting to your Wonder Woman stuff but wow you can't write Cass or Steph)". "I really wish this story where Dick is based in the bowels of an abandoned Arkham Asylum was leaning more into the Batman RIP/Reborn era storytelling around Dick and Arkham Asylum" and so on.

Characters don't fully track in their storylines between titles. Who's imprisoned when? Who are Two-Face and Croc working with? What hero titles are Cass, Steph, Barbara and Tim using? What costumes are people using? And so on and so forth.

You can really tell it's worked up from existing plots that got some surgery to rewrite them from the initial concept. Damian is Sir Not Appearing for the entire set of Bat titles, which makes sense on one level (given this is based out of scrapped 5G material) but makes absolutely no sense on another. Talia al Ghul is running around the background of at least two stories helping out the Bats, with no explanation given, but Damian can't be thrown into the art of group scenes because???

Like, read Mariko Tamaki, Ram V and maybe John Ridley because they can actually write solid stories and know (or are busy creating narratives for) the characters they're working with. Ridley's busy retconning a huge amount of existing Fox family stories but as it is he's setting up what will be their default for the ongoing future. Skip everything else unless you're feeling completionist (or interested in the Jason Todd-based alternate future title that spins out of this in Future State: Gotham).

[stevetonyweekly]

SteveTony Weekly - December 30th

Welcome to the final SteveTony Weekly of the year! Tomorrow I’ll be sharing my short list of favorite reads of the year--enjoy these and be sure to leave comment and kudos for your authors if you enjoy them! 

~

ends of the earth by meidui

“We have a new deal,” Tony interrupts. “From now on, you feel like you messed up, you come home to me. You come home to New York and we figure it out together. If you’re on this cross country road trip and living on a farm because you like it, fine, I’ll come out and visit. But if you’re out here because you’re sorry, I’ve got some bad news for you, buddy. Not even you could fix the entire world.”

They always slip so briskly and unexpectedly into conversations like this. There’s never been anything between them to thaw. Tony has been a bullet through the heart since they first met and he’s still lodged there, and Steve doesn’t know how to get him out.

He doesn’t deserve Tony coming all the way down to Illinois with his million watt attention and a slice of that blunt kindness of his.

the steve rogers rating system by meidui

Tony has an internalised Steve Rogers rating system, but it’s not standardised. It’s also not a foolproof system because Steve behaves in ways that crash it all the time.

everything and the kitchen sink by meidui

Steve eats a lot after the serum (and stashes snacks in his utility belt).

How Close Am I To Losing You by tinystark616

Three different stories about the first time Steve says "I love you" to Tony.

Unseen, unheard by lomku 

Tony and Steve have a furtive encounter. Tony wishes they could have more.

you'd think they'd be married by now by FunSizedMomo 

Tony can cook.

Steve loves Tony's cooking. And baking.

Oh and he loves Tony too.

Thoughtful Indulgences by HeLovedYou (come_chaos)

Tony takes Steve to space for their second anniversary together.

Sun Spots and Other Warm Things by s_p_r_o_u_t

Steve takes care of Tony on a bad mental health day. Lots of sappy fluff!

Nothing Wrong by tinystark616

As the Avengers' leader, Steve always praises each member of the team for their good work.

Except for Tony.

In Arrears by Sineala 

Steve had nearly forgotten what day it was, because he hadn't exactly wanted to write "roleplay elaborate landlord/tenant sexual fantasy with Tony" on his calendar where other people might see it. He suspected Tony actually had written precisely that on his, but, well, that was why he and Tony were two different people.

Coincidences by ladyshadowdrake

Steve hasn't been to a Quidditch game since his mother was still alive, but the US is playing in the World Cup, so why not? He definitely doesn't expect to run into Tony there.

light of my life by tinystark616

Steve has always loved Tony's arc reactor.

And he's always loved Tony.

Make Me Laugh, Make Me Come (At the Same Time) by Sadisticsparkle (sadisticsparkle)

This was it. After many months of sudden invasions, unexpected heists, and at least two zombie outbreaks, they had an entire night for themselves.

this love came back to me by complicationstoo 

It's been two and half years since the last time Steve and Tony saw each other, but the pieces fall right back into place when a chance meeting connects them again.

fourth time's the charm by complicationstoo 

Three times Steve's gifts for Tony didn't go as planned, and the one time it went right.

dreamt of you all summer long by complicationstoo

Steve spends months after the breakup trying to forget Tony, but it never seems to work. That's alright, though, because Tony can't forget him either.

once in a lifetime by meidui for Areiton

“You should be worried that I'll break into your apartment, steal your identity and flee the country with all your money,” Steve says, one arm slung lazily across Tony's chest, playing with the key to his safe. “You shouldn't go around handing out keys to people, you know.”

Tony makes a low, offended noise and grabs Steve’s chin, making him laugh. “Is that what you think I do?”

By The Numbers by JenTheSweetie

“I’m not certain that obtaining a larger vessel will assist him in vanquishing this most dangerous sea creature,” Thor said firmly.

Or, five ways other than battles that the Avengers measured a year.

The Ballad of Captains America by JenTheSweetie

“The thing I want you all to remember, when this is over,” Tony said to Steve Rogers, Steve Rogers, Natasha Romanov, Natasha Romanov, Clint Barton, Clint Barton, Bruce Banner, and Bruce Banner, and fuck, they really needed to find Thor, or possibly Thors, “is that I was planning to use this for good, not evil."

do i wanna know by JenTheSweetie

When Steve Rogers woke up, they told him a lot of things.

They told him they’d fixed things been wrong back before, and that the world was better now. They told him that SHIELD was where he belonged, that they took only the best and the brightest and the bravest. They told him that with his help, they were going to save the world.

They also told him Tony Stark was dangerous.

But Steve Rogers once jumped on top of a grenade, so really, it’s all relative.

[alicepao13]

Hudson and Rex S03E10 - Fanning the Flames

I don't have a clear image of this episode, aside from the major plot points and that Charlie and Rex almost got blown up again but that's what the rewatch is for.

Fogo mentioned again. At this point it sounds to me like Newfoundland's Mykonos, maybe without the terrible crowds.

"I'm going to put all that performance in case someone is watching, even though there's no one but my now murdered by me husband at home."

I wonder where they get generic firetruck footage from.

No, but she did give a great performance as the grieving wife. I believed her for a while.

Charlie: "What do you say, partner? Go pay a visit to Sarah?" Rex: "You'll pay a visit to Sarah, I'll get stuck outside. Life is unfair."

"Coffee with Jesse? I'm saved!"

Yeah, Rex is totally a chick magnet. Speaking as a chick.

Rex: "Double date? Say yes, Jesse! I need to expand my social circle."

Someone got away from Rex? Is that even possible?

Why is this shot funny?

"Everybody loved him" is one of the quotes that should disappear from crime shows. He was murdered.

"Why, thank you very much, Sarah. It will be torn to pieces by the end of the week."

Why the tongue, sir?

Again???

Definitely funny.

It's a good thing that Rex is observant.

Joe: "You sure you're okay?" Charlie: *brushes it off like a good crime show lead character*

Jesse: "This weekend I was thinking of going for a big, long walk". Rex: "You had me at 'walk'."

Sarah: "How are you two doing?" Charlie: "Rex is fine". Sarah: *unimpressed don't-bullshit-me look* "And you?" Charlie: "You know. Shaken, no stirred". I would have smacked him. Sarah is way more patient than I am.

"We may be dealing with a serial bomber". We should only be so lucky. (We're not.)

"Something tells me she's holding something back". The murder.

So we are on the third floor. Glad to know.

That might have been the first show where I heard the term "porch pirate".

Undercover stint!

Looking good even in that outfit.

Why are they putting heist music in the stakeout, I can't with them.

Charlie and Sarah listening to Jesse stuttering about his love life.

"Everyone thinks they can outrun Rex". Well, this kid actually escaped him twice.

Level B has to be the basement, right?

Again, if they wanted to have a storyline where the teen has a mom with an abusive boyfriend, they should have put the word abuse somewhere in there. This is still a cop show, storylines like these should be written in there without having to tip-toe around certain words.

"Hold on, I think I can open this one."

"Why do we attract all the crazies?"

"You're not just a pretty face". Why do I have the feeling that if she'd had the time, she'd have tried to romance Charlie too?

"Wow, you really fall in and out of love a lot." "I have commitment issues". Among other issues that she's got.

Rex about to thwart one more well-thought out plan. Poor criminals, they keep stumbling upon the most clever dog this side of the Atlantic.

"I'll tell them you sacrificed yourself getting me to safety outside but died heroically trying to stop Phil from detonating one of his bombs". Charlie is probably wishing criminals will stop telling him what they'll do after they kill him.

"Oh, I'm sorry, were these wires important?"

Uh-oh. Imminent disaster. That's what happens when you lie to people, Jesse.

I like this episode. I would have maybe pushed it a bit further on the back because the brushes with death kept piling up.

[yoonieper]

Pecattiphilia— Part 5 | PJM

Pecattiphilia is the sexual arousal from performing an act one believes is a sin.

✽ Pairing: Jimin x Reader

✽ Genre: Angel Au, angst, fluff, future smut, this is a slow burn (kinda?)! 

✽ Rated: A for Asskicking!

✽ Series Warnings: This series will include discussion of religious aspects such as the afterlife and concepts of heaven and hell (There are no direct ties to any specific religion besides the mention of angels and demons— all aspects of religion was created by me for this series), this series includes a lot of violence (sometimes graphic depictions) and gore (nothing extreme, Jimin and the boys fight monsters sometimes), and mentions of sin (particularly revolving around sexual topics)

✽ Chapter Specific Warnings: Violence (think like a battle scene)! Lots of it!, gorey at times, torture is mentioned, lore~, questionable characters 😇, very brief mentions of illegal substances, things do get smutty towards the end ;)

✽ Word Count: 19k

✽ Summary: Jimin is sent to watch over you and as the years go by he gets more and more curious and sometimes just wishes he could get to know you. But he knows that’s forbidden, it's sin. However, a freak accident somehow causes Jimin and your eyes to meet for the first time with purpose. He knows it shouldn’t happen but he doesn’t want to break away. He wants you to look at him, wants you to touch him, wants you to be with him. The problem is none of this should have happened in the first place… what’s happening to him?

✽ Now Playing…: Gang Up by Young Thug, 2 Chainz, Wiz Khalifa, & PnB Rock— full playlist available on masterlist!

✽ Beta: Thank you to @theharrowing for reading over this <3!

✽ Author’s Note: The first “heist” chapter! This turned out like 2x longer than I thought it would be, but I made it through 😅~~ I won’t say too much but some of the details in these chapters are important for later so keep an eye out 😉

No reposting, modifying. Translating is not allowed unless given explicit permission. Thank you so much :D

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Phase #1 (Survey)

Devil’s Night

L'appel du vide.

The call of the void.

That tiny, impulsive voice that tells you to jerk the steering wheel to the right and take a flying leap off the ledge… that inclination to walk right into the ocean and never return… the urge to just jump as you gaze off the edge of a skyscraper… the call of the Siren song. 

The void was so unknown yet that innate urge for humans to explore and understand, even the things they weren’t meant to— sometimes that voice gets too loud. Their curiosity, so wondrous at first, oftentimes is their downfall. 

Humans are complicated yet so simple.

However that voice isn’t always their strange impulses trying to send them to an early grave. That void is sometimes very real and that alluring voice, that call to the void, is just a lure to trap its prey in its hungry grasp for eternity.

Devil’s Night

It shouldn’t exist. 

A casino that easily blended in with the hundreds of others along the strip. It was covered in enticing, flashy lights, easily attracting those who craved a quick trip to wealth or who wanted an eventful, possibly regrettable, night of fun. It had just as many people walk in for a night of celebration and just as many walk out disappointed as all the others, bringing any who walked through the doors the standard Las Vegas experience. To most it didn’t look out of the ordinary, it didn’t act out of the ordinary, it was just another casino in a city that was populated by the get rich quick scheme. 

But they saw what it truly was.

It was like looking upon a line-up of seemingly perfectly identical shapes. They were all circles to the untrained eye, but to a server of H.E.A.V.E.N. it was clear one of those circles was not as it should be; an oval in disguise, if you will.

A demon’s lair was a black hole for information. P2 angels were aware of everything that was happening according to their set clock, but even they couldn't see demon lairs unless they stumbled onto it by chance. The higher-ups even struggled to locate their lairs, it being the reason for how these situations can get as bad as they do. 

In this instance, they already knew it was going to be even worse. So many demons had managed to escape and just from the collected information there were a lot of high profiles. Who knows how long they’d been feeding as well?

It was Las Vegas, year 2002, time 11:35 pm as the boys flew over the neon lights. All the current information came to them in an instant except for the spot towards the end of the strip.

Devil’s Night

It was a place that all the locals believed had always been here. Those who were alive at the time had memories of passing by it during its construction back in the 70s and how it recently reopened after doing some intense renovations only a year prior. 

Business was booming now with their new modern look, and many tourists and regulars came through the doors everyday. But memories were so easy to manipulate on the cosmic scale.

Time itself was something that no human, even as an angel, can fully grasp to the point where no one who was born with a soul would ever experience it fully. But memories are so easy, even as a P2 angel getting humans to see what they want them too, to remember things that they’ve never experienced in their lives, was child’s play. 

None of them would ever truly understand how insignificant they were, how they were just pawns, apparitions really of the balance of the universe at play. 

Humans were nothing, yet you meant everything to him. 

You were all Jimin could think about as his team flew over the city.

You, your lips on his as you kissed underneath the tree where you first met— at least the tree you think you first met. He missed you, and despite how busy things have been, you were all he could think about.

2002– you were only six right now back in Seoul, the P1 angel that came before him watching over you intently until he took their place 14 years later.

Jimin had to make this mission quick, he wanted to get back to you.

You never fail to disappoint me.

I’m glad. I’m finally happy.

You don’t know what that is.

I know that’s what she makes me feel.

They are right here, you made a promise.

It was right, here he was thinking about you when he promised his leader that he wouldn’t see you again. Normally he’d be reviewing the battle plans they’d discussed in the meeting they had right before they left, but it was just you, you, and more you.

He had to get back.

He wanted to kiss you again.

In no time the group made it to the place that shouldn’t exist. A smear in the balance of the world, and it loomed with a darkness indescribable to man. If only these humans knew what they were walking into, a trap designed to feed on and corrupt all the hard work their protectors did for them over the years.

This place shouldn’t exist and neither should the demons here be in this plane. They disobeyed the laws of the balance and the only punishment for them was death, extermination in the cruelest fashion.

It was the only other thing bouncing around in his head. 

Purifying this world from this putrid sin. 

The boys landed on their meeting spot, the roof of a shopping center right across the street from the casino.

Like their typical routine, Namjoon immediately got to work constructing a small building they’d use as a base of operations for their short time here. It was about the size of their meeting room, just big enough for a table and enough chairs for them all to sit in.

“Alright everyone, phase one starts immediately. We need to handle this quickly, quietly, and I need everyone alive by the end. Just follow the plan to the tee and we should be fine with hopefully new intel for the higher ups.” Namjoon said as he took a seat at the head of the table, just like he would in H.E.A.V.E.N.

Everyone nodded. Every detail had to be perfect, missions like these were the most dangerous for teams, especially considering the scale and how many demons there were here.

Angels were far superior than most lower level demons, but while power wasn’t necessarily the issue, it was the numbers and confining to the limits of the normal plane. There were a lot of them housed here and the fact this battle needs to happen in the normal plane means H.E.A.V.E.N. can’t just send one angel to smite the place down.

In theory, that would be nice, but that kind of power in the normal plane might rip a hole in the fabric of spacetime, not to mention the amount of casualties besides the demons that would cause.

That kind of power would be enough to bring the fabled apocalypse that the humans talk about every other century. Nobody on this planet would be safe as the power of angelic light would cleanse this frame from the damned; even the universe itself might take a hit from only a microscopic amount of an angel’s full potential.

That is why it was essential that everyone acts in line and uses their abilities sparingly, just a fraction over and suddenly Las Vegas would be a crater that appeared out of nowhere.

This programming went so deep, even if an angel was getting swarmed, their last moments quickly approaching, they would still choose to die if they knew that much power would do noteable damage to the world. 

“Jimin and Taehyung, go ahead and start getting ready, I’ll join you in a second. Yoongi and Jungkook please begin the perimeter sweep. Hoseok and Seokjin, get the rest of this set up. Make sure to log every detail that’s reported.” Namjoon commanded and everyone immediately sprang into action.

Jungkook saluted— it was natural for him at this point. Perfect posture, feet together standing tall and proud with his right arm horizontal and the left in front and vertical. Perfect 90 degree angles, forming the symbol of their allegiance, the cross.

With that, suddenly the door was swinging open, the breeze almost sending everything in the room flying. 

“Does he have to do that every time?” Yoongi chuckled seeing everyone’s hair all over the place.

“He just likes to show off.” Seokjin rolled his eyes, before going and picking up the material Namjoon had already pulled out.

“We should tell him to come back so he can clean this up—“ Hoseok chuckled as he bent down to grab the papers, but before he could get a single sheet Namjoon clapped his hands and suddenly the room was back as it was.

“Focus. This is not a vacation, we have a job to do.” Namjoon sighed.

Everyone grimaced, noticing the leader was still tense. He was like this during the meeting earlier and he admitted the guilt of forgoing procedures and not reporting Jimin like he should have done was starting to eat away at him.

Namjoon earlier even questioned if Jimin should come on a mission like this, knowing something wasn’t right with him. It was risky either way, but he was basically forced to bring him, because the chances of the whole team being killed during this increased to astronomical amounts if Jimin wasn’t with him.

All he could hope was that Jimin could keep himself together for this mission, that he wouldn’t regret his choice.

Seeing their faces, Namjoon instantly felt bad. “I’m sorry guys— you know—“ 

“No we understand, this is business.” Hoseok said, grabbing onto Seokjin’s hand and guiding him to the blue, plastic chairs at the table.

The mood was tense, but they all understood where he was coming from. Things were weird these days, best to stay on high alert. 

“Yoongi? Where are you?” It was Jungkook who was speaking over their channel, waiting right in front of Devil’s Night.

It was like the different channels for radios, but this one was very special. Every team had their own personal channel, said to be the exact conditions and frequency of the electromagnetic field as it vibrated right when they became seven, right before they awoke. They didn’t need radios, no technology at all, it was a channel only they could tap into— named ##7732769(43278)287, or just 287, which were the numbers that truly made it them.

“I’m sorry, I got distracted.” Yoongi chuckled lightly, trying to lighten the mood. He held out his hand and the scope of his gun fell right into it.

Yoongi walked outside and headed toward the edge of the roof that overlooked the casino.

Everyone seemed to snap out of it, once again reminding themselves they had a job to do.

Hoseok and Seokjin took out their devices, a rectangular piece of what appeared as glass, turning into a keyboard with unfamiliar characters, and a projection appeared right in front of them. Humans would only be able to see it as bright light, but any angel knew it was the line to the higher ups. They both got their hands ready on their devices as they listened intently to Jungkook and Yoongi.

Yoongi held up his scope and zoomed to where he could see Jungkook standing by the pillar right at the entrance.

People continued to walk in and out, unaware of Jungkook’s existence as sometimes they’d just phase right through him.

“Jungkook, there’s eight standing by the door.” 

Yoongi saw as he held up a thumbs up in his direction before he was gone again.

Taehyung meanwhile had already set up a mirror in the corner of the room and dragged Jimin over to start trying on outfits to fit the time period.

On the way over, Tae suggested that they should trade their all white attire and go with the ‘rich club owner who has too much to spend’ look— already pulling out the suits he loved so much.

Jimin tried to focus on the channel or at least on Taehyung, who kept holding up outfits for him to try on, but there was something that was bothering him.

Not only was he missing you, but he kept thinking about his role in this mission. He hadn't done this since you both have been together, would he be able to do this successfully? 

Gathering intel used to be one of his favorite things to do, but his usual method might not work considering he has you in his life.

“Fifty on the roof.” Yoongi called out as he zoomed his scope in further.

“Fifty? On the roof?” Hoseok exclaimed as he typed it out.

“Maybe they’re looking for us?” Seokjin suggested. They both giggled at the thought. 

“You think they would be that dumb to think we’d come flying in from above?” Seokjin couldn’t stop the giggles, the image of the demons preparing for them as if they were an airstrike was all too amusing for some reason. 

“These are demons we’re talking about.” Namjoon tried to laugh as he looked out the door to Yoongi crouching at the edge of the roof. 

“Namjoon, which one?” Taehyung called out to the leader as he spun Jimin around and held up two hangers. One was a white button up, the other was black.

Taehyung held them over Jimin and switched between the two.

Namjoon hummed lightly as he weighed the two options. “What are you putting on the bottom?” He asked, trying to get a better picture. 

Taehyung tossed the hanger with the white button up and as he brought it back, suddenly it was a pair of black slacks instead, with a black belt that had a golden buckle.

“Would you do that for the white one?” Namjoon asked.

“Maybe a suit instead?” Tae looked down at the outfit.

“Yeah, I’m thinking the black one then. The suit’s nice but it might be a bit too formal considering we look like twenty-somethings here in Vegas— it’s 2002 remember.” Taehyung nodded at Namjoon’s words.

“You don’t think we should go for something a little more casual? We’re trying to blend in.” Namjoon also pointed out. 

“It’s part of the plan— if we look like we have a lot of money to spend, the more intel we can learn.” Taehyung tried to rationalize like he didn’t just come up with that on the spot. It’s not like he needed an excuse or anything to dress his members up in suits because he thought it’d look cool.

Their last mission sent them to 2221 BC in Egypt— he didn’t have a lot to work with for “time period appropriate.”

“Never thought about it like that— I guess you’re right.” For some reason Namjoon didn’t see any holes in his logic— not that there was any— but Taehyung beamed realizing he was going to be able to do this.

“Black works well though, I think it works with your hair.” Namjoon gestured up to Jimin’s blue locks that hung lowly in his eyes. 

“I’m still trying to figure out why it’s blue.” Namjoon said, still a little perplexed at the choice.

As soon as Jimin made it back to H.E.A.V.E.N. for their meeting, everyone was shocked to see he had come back with blue hair, standing out amidst the sea of blondes.

“Luckily for Jimin, this is Vegas, so he blends right in.” Tae mentioned as he handed the hangers to Jimin as he turned to the mirror to start picking his own outfit.

“I’m seeing the garage that was spotted, three exits in the back, and fifteen standing right outside.” Jungkook reported. 

Hoseok just had to laugh as he typed that down. “Things just keep getting worse.”

“There’s a skylight on the roof— we might be able to use that.” Yoongi mentioned, when one of the “guys” with black suits moved out the way.

“It seems we’re going to need all our options on the table for this one. Hoseok and Seokjin, I’m going to need you on high alert for strategies as we survey the inside. Jungkook and Yoongi, please keep us informed if you see anything.” Namjoon commanded. 

Tae was about to throw the leader hangers for some ideas for the outfits he could wear, but Namjoon simply spun around and gone was his off-white trench coat. Instead, he was wearing a navy blue suit, a tucked in white button-up, a fancy watch glinted in the light, and he pushed up a pair of black glasses as his transformation was completed.

Taehyung stood there stunned because, while he looked amazing, he still wanted to play dress up for a little while… 

Well, now that just left him. 

“What’s our story going to be anyway?” Taehyung asked as he stood in front of the mirror, pulling out different suit combos. 

That would be necessary, it would be a bit weird to say they were just tourists considering how dressed up they were.

“We can just say we came from a bachelor party— decided to test our luck on the slots for a little fun.” Namjoon said as he peered into the mirror, undoing the first two buttons of his shirt.

“Who’s the groom?” Seokjin asked suddenly.

Jimin, Namjoon, and Tae all looked at each other, but for a second everyone in the room's eyes went to Jimin. 

They were all thinking it, you, you would be his bride that he was spending the night away from. Your wedding was only days away and right now you were out celebrating with your girlfriends while he was spending his time with the guys that he adorned more than anything in the world.

If anyone got too nosy, Jimin was the only one who has experienced anything close to the feelings a groom should be experiencing so close to the wedding. And you, it was all so convenient.

“I’ll do it.” Namjoon suddenly said, raising his hand.

Everyone’s eyes went to him and they all nodded knowing that was best considering the way things have been.

They all thought he was dealing with withdrawals or a breakup of some sort, because they trusted he had listened and wasn’t seeing you anymore. Namjoon volunteered, thinking that it would reopen the wound too soon after they had the meeting.

If only they knew.

Jimin’s mind drifted back to you. He wondered what you were doing, if you were missing him as much as he was missing you right now. 

It only made him more excited to get back to you.

They just had to burn.

“Anyway Taehyung, hurry up. Everyone, prepare to proceed to the next stage.” Namjoon called out sensing the growing tension in the room.

They had work to do anyway.

⊱ ────── {⋅. ✯ .⋅} ────── ⊰

Phase #1.5 (Information)

They made a promise and never in all the eons they’ve been a team had it ever been broken. It was never even something anyone entertained or played with. It was a promise that they all adhered too no matter the temptation. 

Except in certain situations. 

Taehyung especially had this method of doing whatever it takes to get information from people. Jimin operated the same way beforehand, not to such lengths, he couldn’t bring himself to do something so impure, but Taehyung had no care.

Mission success whatever it takes, he’d always say. 

Taehyung always thrived during this stage of the operation. He was good, sometimes too good, his charisma would be able to have them like putty in his hands as he subtly pried them for information.

It was crazy to watch considering what he was like with the team. 

The famed “heartbreaker” they would sometimes tease him with the nickname. Some might have called it cruel, but a few broken hearts for the sake of the fate of the planet, the universe really is worth sacrificing, he would say. 

They agreed.

“They’re only humans.” He’d smirk before getting ready to ruin someone’s life.

It didn’t help the effect they had on humans whenever they went into the normal plane. On the outside, it was like watching bugs swarm around a porch light, just sad and desperate creatures. They never knew what they were in store for whenever they got too close.

Angels have such a tremendous effect on the world around them and all celestial creatures are immune to this, it was always so amusing seeing the heads turn whenever they’d step into a room.

Namjoon, Taehyung, and Jimin flew down the street from the casino, quickly transferred to the normal plane, and started making their way inside. 

The casino was nothing spectacular, Jimin had practically been to every one that’s existed in history at this point. The place smelled strongly of smoke and it was decorated with golds and velvety reds, everything having a certain shine to it that seemed to wow guests as they all walked in.

It was something out of a movie as everyone’s eyes lingered on the three as they weaved through the slot machines and they all just knew how much they were wanted.

It was always so easy.

The boys quickly split up knowing it was always better for them to be seen apart and they had more chances of getting more information. Taking a deep breath, they put on the smiles, the charm that would have the humans practically eating out their hands.

Namjoon made his way to the poker table. It was always so simple— one glance at his watch and he’d already have their eyes. A couple of wins was all it took for people to gather around the table. Two girls had their arms wrapped around him despite mentioning the fact he had a fiancé and all the guys would toast anytime he would pull his newly collected chips in. 

All he really needed to do was make light conversation.

People were busy conversing all around him. Chelsey, the girl to his right, was talking to the guy who stood behind her— who clearly was more interested in her than his poker game. Veronica was the girl to his left and she seemed more keen on making sure he ruined his fake engagement tonight.

Veronica it was then. 

He took the opportunity of Chelsey being distracted to whisper in her ear.

“And who has you?” He smirked down at her.

The question visibly confused her at first, but the hand he had on her thigh was enough to keep her attention. His thumb lightly rubbed along the exposed skin her short, black dress allowed– he didn’t have to be “all-knowing” to see how much she was enjoying it.

So simple.

“I know you know sweetheart. It’s alright, you can tell me.” His soft smile would always do the trick as she stared down at his lips. 

“Gorgo.” She whispered mindlessly, like she had no idea what she was saying.

It was sad, so sad honestly. They had no clue what was going on, they didn't even realize they were here.

Taehyung had skipped the games altogether and had taken a seat at the bar. It didn’t take long for a crowd to form around him, and instead of fraternizing Taehyung had taken a more radical approach as he always did.

She was the first girl that came up to him, mentioned something about liking his outfit and how handsome he looked. The pinstripe suit he’d decided on with a white shirt underneath that hardly covered any of his chest and the gold jewelry he wore made him stand out for all the right reasons.

It didn’t matter to him, but she’d stayed by his side as he tried to decide who was the best in getting the most information from. To be honest, he got bored trying to choose and she just wouldn’t let go. 

She seemed desperate.

It was more of a favor, but he’d lured her to a more private section of the casino and used his tongue for getting more information.

Jimin normally would have been in Namjoon’s spot, pushing the limits, but not as far as Taehyung always did. 

But anytime someone would approach him, he’d always think about you and how much he missed you. 

Jimin had spent a little time at the bar and he wished he had got himself drunk enough to be able to do his job, but alas another downside to being “all-powerful.” Simple, earthly, human drinks didn’t work. 

He thought back to the time when he’d been by your side in the apartment, the week you cared for him. If he wasn’t so sick, a drink would have been nice to have, maybe in that state alcohol would finally be able to do something. 

He only really drinks it for the taste. His normal order, if they served it, was a drink called Hell’s Fury oddly enough— it was a drink that relied on equal amounts of Fireball, 151 proof rum, Everclear, and black absinthe, with an added habanero pepper at the base of the shot glass to give it even more of an intense flavor. It would always get a few concerning glances sent his way as he’d easily down shot after shot and wouldn’t react at all.

Of course Devil’s Night served it, this place was meant to have everything anyone could desire– Eden on Earth was their slogan. 

Yet even their concoctions couldn’t give him the desired effect. 

Some fucking Eden…

The drinks were useless, but sitting at the bar watching the humans pass by, Jimin couldn’t stop thinking about earlier– playing the groom. Wouldn’t it have been so interesting? Spending the night with the people he’s closest with and you– you were his bride and you were going to his soon in just a few short days.

He wouldn’t see this as his last night of freedom, but a celebration because he’s just so happy.

Happy? What did that feel like?

The mindless humans around him all knew, yet someone who was “all-knowing” couldn’t know the blissful feeling of happiness? It was strange, a strange world they lived in.

You were his only comfort these days.

He just missed you so much…

Pathetic.

It truly was.

Jimin had made up the excuse that he just wasn’t in the mood to do that type of probing, instead he’d taken Namjoon’s usual role in just casual chatting to those who’d pass his way, but more importantly, using this as an opportunity to survey the inside of the building.

They had absolutely no access on the outside, their usual “all-knowingness in the moment” just didn’t work with demon lairs. And to make matters more complicated it’s not like they could just send Jungkook in to do a quick run through of the building. 

It’s why there were so many guards inside and all around the building; they knew they were being hunted. 

Before switching to the normal plane, they diminished their “angelic presence” to a degree that remained undetectable to all their sensors. It’s why they didn’t get jumped as soon as they walked in the casino.

Even at higher planes, sending Jungkook in would have made them aware that they were here even though they couldn’t do anything, ruining that sweet element of surprise that always seemed to get them. 

In order to collect the vital information they needed for this mission’s success, they had to do this the old fashioned way— going undercover. 

Their angelic presence was diminished as low as they could get it, almost as low as it normally would be whenever they were given breaks. It was just enough that they would have some type of power if things went left for some reason.

It was still to the point though that humans were irresistibly drawn to them, always claiming they just seemed to almost sparkle in the light. They never saw it, and luckily the demons couldn’t either.

They were just three hot friends who were enjoying the last few hours of a bachelors party and who also had some amazing luck.

Jimin had been everywhere that night– the slot machines, bars, the game tables, the lounges, and even the mysterious VIP section he quickly learned existed. He surveyed, chatted, and probed for as much information as he could considering he was just walking around having casual conversations. 

In the end he walked away with $10,627 dollars in earnings, 3.5 grams of coke, 4 sticks of gum, 12 hotel keys, invitations to a wedding, birthday party, and a cookout, and more importantly, some interesting new information to share with his team.

Apparently a conversation and a little bit of wagering was all it took to get what he wanted. 

There were approximately 1000 demons here under the same roof— most of them resided in the basement but there were about 150 here on the main floor. The number nearly made him keel over and he heard Hoseok nearly choke over the channel.

“They should have sent a bigger team.” Seokjin groaned, they all did because this was ridiculous.

They were only seven, and while yes, they were one of the best P2 angel teams currently active, it would have been better to send a team with more members to handle this. 

It was an overwhelming amount— how they were going to come out of this alive was beyond them at this point. 

Some of the demons were refugees, those who’d escaped prior to Abigor’s legion. They had come from different points in time, slowly but surely they felt the presence of a new demonic lair and knowing they were stronger in numbers, crossed time just to be here. According to the demons that Taehyung and Namjoon managed to identify, they only accounted for a small majority of the demons speculated to reside in the building.

How this many managed to escape was beyond him, and honestly Jimin, all the boys really, had a few things they wanted to say to the P3 angels put in charge of watching over them.

Jimin also managed to do a bit of snooping to get a better feel of the floor plan. Not as much as he would have liked, but there were so many demons everywhere he turned, he just couldn’t wander like he hoped.

It was only through a bit of conversing that he learned where the door to the lower floors was— a secret elevator apparently that could lead someone down to the five lower floors. 

See, the humans have no clue where they are right now, the darkness being ultimately what lures them inside, and if they get too close they get “sucked in” truly like a black hole. Demons feed off of human darkness— a casino was the perfect place for that to accumulate. A human betting their life savings for the chance to turn it into millions and ultimately losing all of it, was like a buffet to them. 

Normally there was always a specific demon that put the human in this sort of trance like state, it was usually how they tracked how many demons were at the location, knowing a majority of them were always hidden.

The trance also gave the human a bit of access to the demon’s mind which is also why angel teams prioritized them whenever they were sent on this type of mission. They were just so out of it, they never had any idea what was going on.

In the end, they got as much information as they could— maybe Jimin could have gotten more if he used his tongue like Taehyung, or maybe even a flirtatious touch like Namjoon would have earned him that extra bit of detail to help increase the success of their mission. 

But he couldn’t kiss them, he couldn’t touch them, not when he had you in his heart. You were his now and he was yours. You were the only human who made him want to do any of those things.

Jimin relished in the fact that he had an excuse this time, but what about the next? Would he just have to tell them?

And then what?

They will understand.

They will not.

They will.

And if not?

I’ll make them understand.

⊱ ────── {⋅. ✯ .⋅} ────── ⊰

Phase #2 (Hellfire)

03:00 was the time they decided on. Devil’s Night officially closed at 2, but they gave it an extra hour because there always seemed to be stragglers at places like these for some reason or another.

There was always a guy begging for another chance because he’d just lost all his money and he was so sure that one more chance would be all it took to win the money back and then some. 

Demons also had no issues intermingling with humans even when they knew they were being hunted down. All night Jimin would pass by the guards hanging around the walls talking with the humans, their intentions clearly less than pure as they easily touched, grabbed, and kissed the simple, entranced creatures. 

Much like Taehyung, but they had no issues taking things to the next level. Apparently one of the first few floors in the basement held rooms just for this purpose. Taehyung only did it for information, but no one knew why they did.

Did it provide them more opportunity to feed? This was one of the leading theories, demons had a horrible tendency to go after humans in committed relationships as their prey for the night. Others guessed they might just enjoy it which was strange.

They had no connections to humans like the P2 angels, for them to have that urge was odd but Jimin wouldn’t be surprised. An impure being wishing to commit an impure act made all the sense to him.

They staked out the building all day following Namjoon, Taehyung, and Jimin’s field survey, analyzing, trying their best to come up with a plan that would somehow have them coming out alive. 

Unfortunately the chances were slim, and growing slimmer by the hour as Yoongi would identify a new demon walking into the casino seemingly each hour. They considered giving themselves another day in order to do more observation, but they knew things were just going to get worse the more they waited. 

Namjoon and the rest of the boys had been seated at their table in their makeshift base, reviewing and reanalyzing their plan, making sure it was the best possible option. In the end, it was almost three and they had to get ready.

“I don’t care how this looks on paper, I need to see everyone of you back here after we’ve managed to contain the situation. Every single one of you. Got it?” Namjoon looked them all down, making sure they understood.

He couldn’t lose a single one of them.

“Affirmative.” The rest of them said in unison with an honorary salute. It was important, for the sake of the balance but also for each other. 

They couldn’t go on with anyone missing. Literally.

Taehyung and Yoongi were up first in the plan while the rest of them began to move in and start the process of containment.

This was extremely important. Celestial matters do not belong in the human world and the risk of getting caught would cause unnecessary drama that they did not need. It also made things easier for as soon as the place was cleared to begin the cleansing process— a building disappearing into thin air again was not something they needed on their hands.

Jungkook used the device specifically designed for this purpose, it almost looked like a white, glowing stick and as he pointed it down to the ground it created a glowing line that set up the base for Namjoon. Normally most teams have another device but with Namjoon’s control, he can create a barrier all on his own. Namjoon ran his hand along the wall that Jungkook created and a white shine would appear before eventually fading as he flew by, showing it had truly been blessed. By the end the lines were gone and the barrier was invisible to everyone and blocked out all perception from any nosy humans. 

It made it so they were still able to fight in the normal plane, without the prying eyes of humans to complicate the issue.

They only had a small window before someone would take notice of the barrier, so as soon as Namjoon had sealed it, it was on for Taehyung and Yoongi.

“Everyone in positions?” Namjoon said over the channel.

They all confirmed and with Namjoon’s signal, it was time to begin. 

Taehyung and Yoongi had maintained their positions on the roof of the shopping center, giving them the right amount of cover and distance for this first stage of the attack. 

Taehyung took a deep breath, stood up, and drew his bow back, a bright white light shining and taking the shape of an arrow. Taehyung squinted one eye as he always did as he aimed it toward the sky, the tip of the arrow setting ablaze before letting go.

The guards standing outside were hardly paying any attention, the whole patrolling thing getting a little exhausting. They were just talking to each other, trying to do anything to make the time pass by when suddenly a swift zip sound flew right past one of their heads.

They all turned and were shocked to see a flaming arrow pierced into the wall, one made of angelic light at that. It had not missed by even an inch to the guy standing on the far end. 

They were here.

They quickly looked around, trying to see where that arrow came from but one glance up and they saw another one heading their way.

What was going on?

Another zip sound filled the air, this time much faster, their attention all still on the arrow flying in from above when a thump finally pulled them away.

To their horror, the guy who was on the opposing far end was lying on the floor, and right in the center of his head was a glowing bullet hole as black tar slowly oozed out from it. They all just stared at the way his eyes were still wide like he was permanently stuck staring at what would ultimately be his demise. They were absolutely taken aback at what just happened as they continued to watch his body flake into ash.

There was only one thing that could do this. No mortal weapon could do them any harm, especially to so mercilessly slaughter one of their kind.

Yoongi smiled at the sight in his scope as he pulled back the bolt handle with astounding speed. He enjoyed the satisfying, fast paced click while he found their immediate panic and shock at the sight of his doing being far too satisfying. 

“Beautiful.” He said to himself as he moved his scope to focus on the guy standing closest to the door. This will be oh so glorious, a day of reckoning that he and his team would gladly deliver. 

With a steady hand, as soon as Yoongi had a clear path, he pulled the trigger again with no hesitation. Yoongi laughed at the sight. The guy fell so easily, they always do.

They really started to scramble, Yoongi watched as they headed for the door, but just as easily as the first two, he smote them down before they could make it to their sanctuary. 

“Are you having fun?” Yoongi heard Joon chuckle on the channel.

“Mhmmm— Taehyung, you can go ahead and start with the ones on the roof.” Yoongi said hastily as he took out three more that were by the entrance. Through the scope though he saw one of them likely calling for backup, that was only a second before he became another one of the bodies beginning to line the perimeter.

“I also think our brief moment of stealth is about up so prepare for stage two.” Yoongi called out as four more bodies hit the pavement.

Once Taehyung heard the needed confirmations, he pulled his bow back once again, this time the arrow making a faint sizzling sound.  

He let go and he watched earnestly as the arrow zipped through the sky, landing exactly where he wanted it to, the furthest point of the roof of the casino. It was only a second later when an explosion of white hot flames of purification erupted, consuming everyone in the near vicinity.

Even from where Taehyung and Yoongi were standing, they could hear the screams of their sins being purified.

“Now this is truly beautiful.” Taehyung beamed.

“Fun’s over. This is where things get serious. Take care of the perimeter as soon as possible so you can join the rest of us inside.” Namjoon commanded, getting a little more stern. 

“Rodger captain.” Yoongi flashed them a thumbs up where they could see from where the rest of the members had been standing, right by the edge of the boundary they had drawn.

With a majority of forces handled on the outside it was time to begin the brave journey of getting to Abigor, the head and ultimately why they’re here in the first place.

Abigor was a famous leader in H.E.L.L. leading rebellion after rebellion, always spewing nonsense about ‘the hellfire that will rain from above,’ that the P3 angels continuously had to put down. He was more annoying and hard to deal with than actually dangerous.

Still though, he had managed to convince a legion of demons to follow him and there were so many to face up ahead.

Namjoon, Jungkook, Hoseok, Seokjin, and Jimin finally shifted to the normal plane and made a beeline straight to the door. 

This, this would be when things truly got intense. 

Things outside were chaotic; all of the demons trying to locate where the shots were coming from made slipping inside easier than ever. 

Gone was the glitz and glamor that lured in all the passersby, instead Devil’s Night revealed its true state, the mask it put up for all the mortals nowhere in sight. The casino was uncanny, an unnatural dark haze clouded the halls and that same putrid black ooze slowly seeped from the walls.

Besides the horrific sight, it was easy to feel something was off about this place. 900+ demons or so were meant to fill the halls, yet it was uncomfortably silent. As they all entered, like it was some horror movie, the doors slowly closed behind them.

For some reason they all knew the only way out of here would be to kill every last one of them.

Namjoon turned behind him to confirm his team was still, in fact, behind him; sometimes these places liked to make things more complicated and instantly separate them. No worries, they would always find each other.

But to his relief, he saw their concentrated faces likely trying to think of the next procedure. 

“There shouldn’t be too many on this floor right now. I want this floor cleared entirely along with the confirmation from Taehyung and Yoongi that the outside is clear before proceeding. The last thing we need is enemies coming down from above. I want this handled quickly, we reviewed the floorplan for this floor, there should be no reason for any mistakes or hesitation. Affirmative?”

“Roger.” They all said in unison like the perfect obedient soldiers that they are.

All weapons were taken out, and for a second they just looked at each other. From here on out, things were going to be so chaotic. The chances of this mission going smoothly were not in their favor, but when had that ever stopped them? Still though, it was nice to have this one final image before they got too busy to realize who was even right beside them. 

They did this every time, and with that out of the way the fun could finally begin.

Jungkook, with his SMGs in hand, twirled them around his fingers before he zipped past them first into the darkness. 

Seeing his faint glow disappear into the despair, moments like these made Jimin remember when they had first awoken. His terrified eyes staring up at him and Joon as they clung to each other in such a terrifying and confusing world. So much time has passed since then, Jungkook has grown so much since then, and he has changed. 

Time was such a made up construct, especially to a being who never truly got to experience it fully. None of them aged, they didn't look a day older than the first moment they opened their eyes. Time stopped for them so long ago, and yet they weren't the same people who Atara and Celine first gazed upon.

If time hasn’t changed them, what has? 

Dragging Jimin out of his thoughts was the signal they needed. Jungkook’s whistle echoed in this chamber of silence, its power making his glow finally pierce through the haze. It was terrifying, it was as if their set clock stopped entirely as the image of Jungkook standing there in the middle of the fog, with deformed humans all trying to leap at him from all directions, blackness oozing from where their eyes and mouths should be. 

It was a split second, but Jungkook was faster as he flew above the herd, the window into the fog quickly closing, but that was all they needed.

Jimin, Seokjin, and Hoseok were next. 

Seokjin charged in quickly, his sword made from angelic light easily causing the lead of screams that sounded through the fog. He was skilled, easily out beating the best swordsman humanity would ever see as he effortlessly sliced through their flimsy, squishy bodies. Seokjin’s technique was deadly in the way he used the powerful momentum of his wings to sink his already more than lethal weapon at speeds so great, it was as easy as cutting paper.

He always used flight as an advantage to easily dip and dodge their attacks. They had weapons, far less powerful, but their dark bullets or blades certainly could kill them if they were struck too many times or a knife was sunk too deep. They also had the added advantage of that ooze seeping from seemingly every one of their orifices. Too much can lead to the speedy corruption of an angel. Not lethal by any means, but that would immediately turn the boys’ attention from the demons to their own comrade.

A corrupted angel simply can not exist. 

Seokjin was careful and despite his weapon not being a speedy bullet, he was quickly able to kill before they even had any time to fire.

Hoseok took a different approach. 

He simply flew into the fog but planted his feet in the ground as soon as he was deep enough in. 

Almost immediately the demons started trying to leap at him as well, but Hoseok’s quick wielding of his pike was faster. The pointed tip easily pierced through the fake flesh that housed the darkness within. Hoseok moved like water, a dance almost as he toyed with them. He’d spent an incomprehensible amount of time learning to make the most of less. 

Jimin could never forget how many times he’d walk into their training room, seeing Hoseok trying to practice his technique, something Celine and Atara said was essential for handling a weapon like his. 

For a while, the perfection that H.E.A.V.E.N. demanded seemed impossible to achieve, but Hoseok would always say the key was just thinking about it like he actually was dancing, that he was on a stage and this was all some elaborate performance. 

It was strange, Jimin never got it, but apparently that mindset flipped some kind of switch in him. Despite him usually fighting on the ground, he was sometimes more lethal than all the rest of them in the way he’d ‘perform’ with the enemies. It was graceful and incredibly beautiful as all the ‘performances’ would conclude with their screams as his angelic light pierced through their bodies entirely. 

“Maybe I used to be a dancer.” Hoseok would always joke around anytime they’d be cleansing a scene and the amount of bodies he’d created on his own was hauntingly beautiful, sometimes more than those with faster weapons.

Jimin always wondered, surely one of the lives he lived he had to be the greatest dancer that ever lived, because the way he moved topped even the most majestic sights.

Jungkook’s fighting style was a little more similar to Seokjin. He relied on speed and pretty much speed alone. He was fast, the fastest out of the team actually. Back during their training days, Jungkook came first place in all the races they’d do pretty much all the time. It was clear to Celine and Atara that he was to be their head scout, able to dip and dive enemies in case of emergencies easily.

His guns were also seemingly chosen with that fact in mind. The small guns shot fast, but only allowed him to fire so much at a time before reloading. It kept his mind prioritizing his movement in order to confuse the enemy before dealing a quick final blow.

From where Namjoon was standing, Jungkook almost seemed to blink, his light in the fog quickly disappearing before reappearing faster than it left. For brief moments in time you could see the demon's horrid faces stand around trying to find where he was before suddenly Jungkook’s light would barely illuminate the fact that they were beginning to pile on the floor. 

Jimin was trained to be the master of all trades. His handle allowed for versatile weapon usage unlike his teammates, but the dials on the handle made switching in the middle of battle slightly difficult. He’d been trained to use nearly every weapon his handle could create and the combinations exceeded the thousands. His training took the longest, but Jimin's efforts then created the killing machine he is today. 

He plowed through enemies with the light beam configuration, the handle now split into two with thick beams of light coming out from each end. 

Namjoon could see Jimin was fighting slightly differently today. 

Normally this was just business, albeit inconvenient business considering they were busy as it is with their guardian duties, but this was their jobs as warriors for maintaining the balance of the universe. 

As Namjoon watched, he was slightly stunned at the power Jimin would fly around with. It was with the same ferocity that he would sometimes encounter when watching over humans. Whatever it was, it was good.

Despite where Jimin entered having far more of the vile creatures, Jimin nearly beat Jungkook in clearing his side.

If only he knew Jimin was thinking of you. You were his fuel to the fire, he wanted to see you, he needed to see you and this filthy scum was getting in the way of that.

Namjoon smelling the burning of purification in the air and the fog filled with ash, he began his trek to the elevator Jimin found.

He entered the fog as he would a midday stroll, something he often enjoyed doing with the human he’s watching over currently. Most of the demonic creatures were more so focused on taking out the four who were actively fighting their legion, but some did notice him.

They ran up to him, their guns blazing in order to stop him, but they were nearly all but useless.

Namjoon’s angelic glow was powerful enough to practically melt any bullets that traveled too close or slow them down enough they simply fell to the floor as Namjoon kept moving.

Some of them tried to run up on him, but his blessed hands, now back to being wrapped in the necessary protective bandages, were more than enough to purify the enemy with a single touch. 

Namjoon’s presence alone was enough to create a near permanent path through the fog leading straight to the secret elevator’s entrance.  

When he made it, he simply turned around and watched as his team members slaughtered the last of the unlucky demons that were on this floor at the time.

It was a symphony of perfect chaos, the rumbling of explosives from Taehyung and terrified screams of those who noticed “there's a sniper on the roof!” They’d cry out but Yoongi was faster. Then the battle on the inside as his team began the cleansing of the building that should not exist, the stain on humanity that they must fix no matter the cost.

They cleared the entire floor in a matter of minutes. The battle was unfair, it usually was.

It also wasn’t long before Taehyung and Yoongi gave the confirmation that the perimeter had been cleared and would be heading inside soon.

The bodies that filled the halls it was nearly impossible to walk with how lumpy the floors were now, bodies and goop not the easiest to stand on. Jungkook, Seokjin, and Jimin quickly flew over top of it all and met Namjoon by the elevator. 

“Alright, we’re about to head down to the first basement level. Taehyung and Yoongi, have this mess cleaned up before we finish dealing with the first level. Join us as soon as you can and we can all regroup and do the clean up together.” Namjoon said over the channel despite talking to the three in front of him.

“Roger!” They saluted, perfect line, perfect posture like they’ve done this a million times.

Certainly more than that by now right?

With confirmation from the two outside, they proceeded inside the elevator, deeper into the belly of the beast.

Purification was necessary, unlike sins, it was a little harder to purify demons enough to deal with them. Quick blows from weapons weren't enough to cleanse the scene, instead they needed to taste the flames in order to truly be purified.

It was a grueling, nasty job that no one really wanted to deal with. Over the years though, Taehyung and Yoongi, normally being the ones responsible for being the “clean up crew,” had perfected their system to be the most efficient. 

Burn them all.

Simple, yet it always proved to be the most effective.

Yoongi and Taehyung would take up the task of flying around, collecting all the scattered body parts into one large pile— this time they chose to bring it all outside, right to the edge of where the barrier extended. They were quick despite how many casualties there were just in this one area, their keen eyes great at spotting even the smallest chunk. 

The most horrific sight awaited them at the end of their efforts, bodies stacked high enough to nearly surpass the height of the casino itself. 

It was glorious.

Taehyung got out of his bow and, much like the first shot he fired out earlier, the arrow lit ablaze before he fired. The white flames easily consumed the pile, their sins being a great conductor for making the fire grow in an astonishing amount in a short amount of time. 

The air smelled of burning flesh, and the black ooze that covered the bodies produced a unique scent that all the boys have grown to love despite its unpleasantness. This was purification, cleansing the world of sin like they had promised to do in a life they can’t even remember anymore. 

This was their duty and seeing it in this pure form would never not bring a smile to their faces.

Yoongi took up the job of cleaning up the ooze that painted every surface in the casino. It was hard to believe this was the same place Jimin, Taehyung, and Namjoon walked into yesterday. The place reeked of death, and the doom and gloom weighed down the atmosphere. 

With an arrow Yoongi borrowed from Taehyung, Yoongi used its flaming tip as he flew around setting ablaze to any ooze that remained. 

The battle that took place had the place covered in it, the shiny gold floors, the elaborate chandlers, the slot machines, roulette and poker tables, everywhere their sin had continued to drip. Quickly, the place was consumed entirely with flames.

Luckily for them, the flames of purification couldn't hurt anything unless they’ve been tainted with sin, something these damned creatures practically swam in.

They were quick, meticulous, and by the time they were done, the flames of purification had nearly returned the place to its former glory— well, as nice as it could be before they burned it all down. 

They headed to the elevator only minutes after their counterparts, and down they went to the first floor of the basement their team had gone down to. The minute the doors opened, Yoongi and Taehyung were delighted to hear the immediate screams from the demons and it seemed like their teammates were nearly done clearing the floor.

Namjoon was standing back, closer toward the elevator watching Jungkook, Seokjin, Hoseok, and Jimin go through each of the rooms and slaughter any demon they saw.

“Are things going well so far?” Yoongi asked, walking up to Namjoon.

“They have to.” He put it plainly as he gazed upon the chaos. It was almost like he was in a trance, fully enamored by its haunting beauty.

Namjoon snapped himself out of it. “But yes, so far things are going to plan. Jimin today seems especially motivated making things run even smoother than I anticipated—“

Interrupting Joon was a demon that had run out of one of the rooms, the ooze just pouring, but it was clear it was running straight toward them— or maybe the elevator, but that didn’t matter.

Taehyung already brought out his bow, fired, and watched as the arrow pierced right where its eyes should be. Nevertheless, the arrow was deadly, the demon being sent flying back as it flew out from the back of its head and shooting into the wall behind it.

“Bullseye.” Taehyung smiled because there was nothing more satisfying than watching their suffering.

Namjoon gave Taehyung a commemorative nod, before turning his attention back to the overall battle at hand.

“They seem like they’re almost done.” Yoongi mentioned as the screams of horror began to quiet with each and every kill.

“Seems so, maybe we should begin cleansing this floor. The quicker we make it through this the better.” Namjoon said wanting to keep things moving as much as possible.

During these missions Namjoon always felt the most useless. The fact he didn’t have a weapon like the others meant there was no way to “filter” his angelic energy making a vast majority of his capabilities too powerful for the normal plane. He always tried to help out when he could, oftentimes cleaning up the few stray enemies or literally joining the clean up crew with Tae and Yoongi.

Soon, the rumored rooms used for purposes less than pure were bathed in the very substance of their consequences. Black, black, as far as the eye could see. 

Hoseok, Jungkook, Seokjin, and Jimin were practically covered in it by now, their white clothes dripping with the black ooze. As soon as they gave the all clear Yoongi flew over to them to hand them the vials of holy water he prepared for just these types of scenarios. 

Normally this ooze that came from sins would evaporate over their holy bodies soon after it landed, but demons were darker and it took extra effort in order to purify after battle. 

They quickly unscrewed the caps and poured the glowing white liquid onto their skin. They immediately cried out at the burn, it wasn’t a pleasant experience, far from it actually. Holy water had to be intense to remove the filthy sin as quickly as it needed to be. The holy water reserved for battles was far stronger than the baths in H.E.A.V.E.N., working much faster than the relieving soak they would need to take occasionally.

Despite the pain, it easily washed away the black that had started to stain their skin, instead the red burn of purification left in its wake. 

They also had to change their clothes, the fabric too soaked to continue on. 

“Jimin, what’s up with you today?” Yoongi asked as he watched Jimin pull his new shirt over his head. 

“Huh? What do you mean?” He asked, only paying attention halfway. 

“You’re doing great, but wow are you making cleanup hard.” Yoongi tried to joke, but he wasn’t exaggerating. It was obvious which ones were what Jimin left behind. Hoseok, Seokjin, and Jungkook’s were those with only the necessary final blow, a few bullet wounds, stab wounds, and the occasional discarded limb, but Jimin’s were sometimes entirely dismembered, disemboweled, and Yoongi even came across one that was practically reduced to mush. 

“Oh? I’m sorry.” He mumbled but this time Jimin was looking at him. 

“No apologies, just save some of that energy for Abigor.” Yoongi moved in a little closer to pat him on his back. 

Jimin nodded, but he didn’t let himself relax, he was chasing a high he didn’t want to lose until this was all over and he was back with you.

You, he had to get back to you no matter what.

After their brief regrouping, the group hurriedly helped Taehyung and Yoongi with the new mess they created.

As soon as everything was collected, Taehyung fired his arrow and the bodies set ablaze. Just like the floor up above, they had to set the ooze scattered all over on fire to fully purify everything. 

With that done, they all headed to the elevator to continue their descent into madness. 

From here on out their plan kicked into full gear. There were five floors in total to this basement— Jungkook, Jimin, Seokjin, and Hoseok were to lead the attack on the next two floors with Namjoon, Yoongi, and Taehyung helping out whenever they could. 

As soon as they completed that, Namjoon and Jimin would ride with the rest to the following floor but continue straight to Abigor, interrogating, and extracting all the information they could while all of the rest of the team took care of the fourth floor.  

They moved systematically while trying to navigate the insanity as they passed through each floor. Demon lairs were strange in what its connection to H.E.L.L. did to the building, this abomination, this place that shouldn’t exist. The further down they went, the more that point became abundantly clear.

This building shouldn’t exist. Its windy halls that seemed to stretch for entirety, its strange physics that shouldn’t belong in this universe, the growing heat as they went deeper, the fire that burned across the walls, not of purification but red and hot of the rightful damnation they all deserved. 

Just like the sins they fought on a normal basis, everything was just never where it should be. Eyes crying in the walls, arms, legs, feet all trying to escape the tortuous flames. Scenes, as if it was stolen straight from someone else’s time period, were also stuck in the walls, sometimes entire streets were seemingly copy and pasted for no reason. 

It was strange but that didn’t deter the team as they continued to plow through any demon they came across in this madness. It took forever to clear the floors because of how endless they seemed. 

Luckily they were immune to the feelings of the passage of time, honestly there was no telling how long they were stuck going through the halls; years could have passed going through and killing the demons, followed by the necessary purification, and they wouldn’t have known. 

And then the fact they had to clear two of these floors…

They were angels, they couldn’t get tired, but for some reason, as they finished the third floor they all felt the aches, pains, exhaustion, and mental enervation of doing this for who knows how long. 

Strange… that didn’t used to happen. Maybe they really had been doing this for too long.

Riding down to the fourth floor they were covered in burns, scorched head to toe from being stuck in the flames for so long. Yoongi had tried to heal everyone but as soon as he did the burns were back with even more vigor. 

To make matters worse, the temperature only increased as they rode down. Angels were immune to practically everything that existed in the normal plane, but H.E.L.L.’s flames weren’t from this plane and had the capability to do noteable damage. 

It was painful, exhausting, and draining, but the worst was behind them now. It was honestly surprising they managed to make it through this, Jimin honestly at multiple points considered giving up, letting the flames embrace him, but then he’d remember you, who was still waiting on him, and then he’d brutally execute anything that was near him because he had to get back to you.

He promised.

This happened once in the middle of clearing the third floor, Jimin had nearly taken the head off his leader before he realized what he was doing. The blade had managed to graze Namjoon’s neck. They had all tried to joke and say Jimin was starting to lose his mind, but they all wanted out as soon as possible; any longer and they worried someone might do something stupid. 

As the elevator doors opened, they were greeted not by flames, but total darkness instead. Like most lairs this was probably where they housed the more powerful demons. It wasn’t the best idea splitting up now, but Namjoon trusted the other five to be able to handle this without them all here. 

“I know we've been at this for a while, but let’s clear this alright? Watch out for each other and you all better be alright when we get back.” Namjoon looked all of them in the eyes. 

They needed each other. Seven in, seven out, there was no other way.

They all smiled, before pulling each other into a tight hug, a goodbye that shouldn’t be long but with how this mission had gone so far, one never knows.

Namjoon told them all to follow Hoseok’s lead as he’d normally be appointed second in command whenever he was away for some reason or another.

They waved at each other as the elevator doors closed and Namjoon hit the button down to floor number five of this basement. 

This was a necessary move— Abigor certainly by now aware of their presence— any more time wasted gave him more opportunity to escape. They couldn’t take any chances.

The temperatures in the elevator continued to rise to astounding heights, it actually hurt just to stand on the metal, and the fact they both didn’t have any shoes didn’t help whatsoever, not like that’d help much. 

As much as it hurt, they had their sights set on the very being that brought them here. 

Abigor.

As soon as the elevator doors opened, Jimin ran out into the red, fiery hellscape, no care at all for the flames that practically encased the hallway. He had to get back to you.

Namjoon was a little stunned about how motivated he still seemed after all they went through, but quickly sprang into action and ran after him.

One drawback of being this far down was that it was far too hot for them to fly, losing the advantage they had fighting in the air, but being this far down meant that they had escaped the normal plane enough for Namjoon to use some of his abilities. 

The demons down here had all heard that they were coming and had set up makeshift covers with the desk they had as they sprayed their demonic bullets down the hall. 

A strategy that might have easily taken them down if Namjoon wasn’t here. He quickly was able to catch up to Jimin and before a majority of the bullets reached them, he was able to move in front of him. Quickly clapping his hands together, the bandages around his hands started to glow and a slightly translucent barrier formed in front of them both, easily melting any of the bullets that came anywhere near them. 

Namjoon turned, ready to reprimand Jimin for his utter stupidity because he knew he was supposed to go in first, but when he did, he noticed the pained look on Jimin’s face as he was holding his right arm. A dark red trail speedily began running down his arm from the spot his hand tried to protect. 

That just made him even angrier because this could have been avoided if he just stuck to the plan. 

Namjoon was fuming but with a majority of his attention needing to be in front of him, he couldn’t stop worrying something worse had happened.

“Are you ok?!” Namjoon yelled over the gunfire.

“I’m fine, just a stray bullet.” Jimin grumbled as he fished out a piece of cloth from his pocket and hurriedly went to tie it around his arm. Blood and his angelic light continued to spill from the wound.

Namjoon sighed, an instant relief coming over him. 

“You can still fight right?” Namjoon called out, but he wouldn’t really take no for an answer. He was still mad.

“Yes! I’m sorry, just get me a little closer.” Jimin sighed as he watched the white fabric begin to soak up the blood. 

Namjoon picked up a little more speed and as soon as they got close to the tables, that was Jimin’s cue. With new found adrenaline from getting shot, Jimin whipped out his handle, turning the dials to first to split then to form two small blades. 

Jimin hopped over the tables and easily cut all their throats, despite their pleas. The guys on the other side were a lot more determined to take him down. 

One of the reasons Jimin was pulled from the mission upstairs was because of his insane athleticism and agility, even when fighting on the ground. He was easily able to dodge their attacks, his quick movements and flips making all their attacks basically useless as he crossed their spray of bullets and executed them just as easily as the others. 

With the front line cleared, Namjoon expanded the barrier as Jimin moved to attack all the middle ranks. 

Bodies upon bodies continued to hit the floor as despite Jimin trying to be as speedy as possible, some of them still ended up with their heads cut clean off. 

With Jimin handling the worst of it, Namjoon hurriedly pushed forward to get to their back line, the damage he did was even worse. 

He dropped the shield and with one pointed finger, he watched as they all dropped their guns and began screaming with pain. The bodies started to glow white from purification and as the light grew bright, so did their screams as well. 

It was the most pleasant deafening screech for life, but as the light faded he would find no one, their bodies finally tasting the light of purity. 

Smiting someone alive was not the best experience but it was what they deserve. 

The entire back line was extinguished almost instantaneously. Namjoon now had clear sight lines to the door that likely led to Abigor.

He turned around and saw Jimin running over to him. The gun fires had subsided, this hall was now clear. 

Before heading any further, Namjoon handed him another vital of holy water Yoongi had given him before they separated. Jimin was covered in it once again, but it was hard to tell what was the ooze and what was just burnt scorched marks. 

“You ok?” Namjoon checked in once again. 

“I’ll be better once we’re out. Let’s hurry.” Jimin said before sprinting straight to the door. 

Namjoon followed closely behind as Jimin was easily able to burst through the door. 

Inside they found two terrified demons with guns pointing straight at them and someone sitting right at a desk in the center of the room. 

Namjoon saw it before they could act and as the two demons were about to shoot, he smote them down before they could even process they were here.

Now that just leaves him. 

Abigor.

⊱ ────── {⋅. ✯ .⋅} ────── ⊰

Phase #3 (Interrogation & Termination) 

Abigor was stunned, they could tell by the look on his face on how easily they took down his two guards. He was ready to run but Jimin was quick in sprinting over, a blade to his throat ready to end him at any second. 

“Don’t even try it.” Namjoon announced as he waved his hand and the blessed rope came up to tie him to the chair. 

Jimin resisted the urge to laugh, hearing his screams at the burn of the ropes. 

Not the time. 

Abigor gritted his teeth. “What.do.you.want?” He sounded less than pleased to see them. 

“As much as you can give us. Tell us why you’re here, how you escaped, or anything you think is of value.” Namjoon smiled while taking a seat on the desk. 

“And why would I do that?” The demon’s eyes bore into Namjoon, different from the rest, strangely human, but just as dark and sinister as the rest. 

“Because then he’ll kill you.” Namjoon motioned over to Jimin who still had the knives to his throat.

“I can make things quick for you but my friend here… I think you’d prefer I take care of things. You should see what he’s done to your colleges.” Namjoon couldn’t help but laugh, noticing the fear in his eyes for a second.

Abigor didn’t let it show for too long, instead that snarky attitude was back. “You’re both going to fucking kill me anyway. Just do it already—“ but Jimin wasn’t having it, he had been gone from you for so long, he had to get back. Jimin didn’t hesitate pushing his knives deeper into his throat. The burn of the purity from his blades was quick to get a reaction, they always did.

His screams were music to their ears.

“I’d try that again. Jimin knows exactly how to cut you in ways to ensure you’re still alive as long as possible. Talk and I’ll give you the death I’m sure you’ll crave soon enough.” Namjoon smiled.

What they didn’t expect was for Abigor’s eyes to light up for some reason.

“You’re… Jimin?” His eyes were wide, eccentric almost. 

Namjoon and Jimin both were incredibly confused because there should be no way for Abigor to be familiar with the name. They’ve never met before, Jimin hardly knew who this was.

Abigor continued to stare into Jimin’s eyes, the darkness unnerving and Jimin had to resist every tendency he had to stop himself from sinking his knives further into his throat.

His smile was too wide for someone who was tied up with blessed rope, the smell of his flesh burning filling the office, and blades were literally piercing into his skin. Why the fuck was he laughing?

A sick and twisted laugh filled the eerie silence of all the death through the halls. 

“And hell will rain from above, our days of glory are upon us!” Abigor shouted, his smile growing more unnerving. He also started to struggle, seemingly all of a sudden not caring at all about the ropes or Jimin’s knives sinking even deeper into his throat.

Jimin tried to stop him, but nothing he did seemed to work. 

“Permission to just end it sir?” Jimin asked just wanting to be done with this madness already. This one was insane, no other way to put it. It was a common occurrence from demons and even P3 angels occasionally, the conditions there were so extreme in H.E.L.L. it was easy to lose your sense of self in it all. 

Namjoon was stuck on the desk extremely perplexed. This wasn’t what he expected, everything in his plans suggested at this point he’d either sick Jimin loose or he’d have already started talking and he would be just a pile of ash on the floor soon.

Maybe he should have heeded the P3’s warnings a little more about how erratic Abigor was, or maybe there was something worthwhile here. 

Namjoon hopped off the desk and walked towards Abigor. 

“Permission denied. If he wants to die on this hill then so be it, but we’re going to draw it as long as possible.” Namjoon looked down at this pathetic man. 

“HELL WILL RAIN FROM ABOVE!” Abigor laughed maniacally, but Joon’s hand came up to cup his jaw. His laughs turned to tortured screams as Namjoon’s bandaged fingers started burning his flesh even more than the ropes or the graze of the blades. 

He was screaming but Namjoon still saw that crazed look in his eyes.

“We got time, the others will probably take a little while to clear the floor up above so take your time Jimin. Try and get as much out of him as you can.” Namjoon said coldly, going back to his spot on the desk. 

Jimin smiled. That was something he could work with.

He removed his blades from his neck.

Jimin turned the dials on his handles to get more appropriate tools. 

To be honest he didn’t care if he talked, this was one of his favorite parts during these missions.

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He didn’t talk. Throughout the whole session, Abigor just kept screaming about “hell raining from above,” whatever that means. 

Namjoon challenged him, wondering if he was going to die on that hill and apparently he was, to his dying breath it was the very last thing he screamed.

They could have kept prying for information but they both heard Hoseok’s winded voice over the channel reporting they had slain the last demon and was about to start purifying the floor. 

Time was up unfortunately and they hadn’t really learned anything new. This is usually how most of these missions went, demons were really tight-lipped, the most they ever got was an occasional name they could report to the P3 angels to keep an eye out for. 

It didn’t matter, their main mission was to cleanse this place and that’s exactly what they did. Any new information was simply an added bonus.

After Jimin’s efforts, Abigor’s neck had practically been reduced to just black mush that covered the ground all around him. Only Jimin could have kept him alive that long, by his final moments, he had carved away so much of his neck it was a miracle his head was staying up in the first place.

How Abigor was alive was an even bigger question.  

The miracle of what Jimin could do with intricately placed wires, a dull blade, and an incomprehensible amount of time and experience dealing with sharp objects– he could pull off the impossible.

The scene had been particularly brutal to watch even as Namjoon tried to focus on interrogating Abigor, watching his teammate work was almost sickening. 

This instance Jimin had used the wires to assist holding Abigor’s head up– not vertically but the hooks pierced his flesh on the sides of his face horizontally to keep his head in place while his neck could still bear the excruciating weight of his head. Jimin had pulled up a chair and ever so meticulously sliced, hacked, and cut away at the flimsy flesh as more and more of Namjoon’s questions went unanswered. 

With how precise his bladework was, it was obvious this wasn’t his first time doing this. Far, far from it actually. This was Jimin’s role in the group after all– deemed the executioner for his vast array of weapons and how skilled he was at using every single one. He was deadly, extremely, exactly the type of person who’d be great at extracting information from even the toughest of captives using whatever means necessary.

Demon’s are notorious for not giving up information even in the face of death, yet many younger teams looked up to him in the fact he was one of the most successful in getting them to talk whenever they were sent out on missions like this.

Not everyday can be a win though. Despite his effort and elaborate setup, it all proved to be pointless. They learned nothing.

As soon as they got the message from Hoseok, Jimin had turned his trusty tool and turned the dials of his handle for a longer, sharper blade and finally cut his head from that pathetic stalk, ending that pitiful creature’s suffering. 

And with that, the last demon was gone.

They honestly could have collapsed from exhaustion and heat alone could have taken them out, but they had bigger priorities, now was not the time to rest. 

Namjoon handed Jimin another holy water vial to clean up with once again.

This building that shouldn’t exist still existed and they needed to fix that.

⊱ ────── {⋅. ✯ .⋅} ────── ⊰

Phase #4 (Purification)

After Namjoon and Jimin finished cleaning up the rest of the bodies and purifying it from that horrendous black ooze, they were finally able to leave the vexatious flames of the bottom level and finally start heading up once again. 

Even on the journey back up to the fourth floor, the heat difference was so great, it felt like the sun on a hot summer day compared to the literal hellscape a floor down.

As soon as the doors opened, they were greeted by the rest of their teammates. Namjoon instinctively did a headcount, more than relieved to see, including himself, they were seven once again.

They all looked even more exhausted, their skin still scorched from the heat, but with red burns sprinkled in between, likely from the holy water, and they were practically covered in blood.

They didn’t say much, they didn’t need to, anything of importance could be discussed later. Instead they all hugged once again as they rode up the casino floor. 

The fog had cleared, by now it just seemed like any other closed down casino. The sun was peeking in through the windows, a peaceful silence in the air.

It was strange, it felt like so long since they’ve seen the sun. It felt like years since they saw its blissful rays.

Also now that they were back up here, they finally knew what day it was again. 

Hardly any time had passed up here, time being a funny thing like that. It was the morning after they began their planned attack, the sun now up and a few early bird Vegas residents already walking the strip.

From inside the building, because of the barrier Namjoon put up, passersby would start at one end, disappear, and then reappear at the other end of the casino. To them, they saw a casino that was still closed, but they were completely unaware of the horrors that happened inside these walls in just a few short hours for them. 

Such simple creatures.

Sometimes Jimin couldn’t help but wish he was as blissfully unaware of things like they were. It would be so much easier that way. 

They all helped each other hobble over to the entrance. It was a task trying to fly up to the shopping center, that short distance up was hard for most of them to do, Namjoon and Jimin had to fly all of the others up to the roof. 

As soon as they all made it, they all just laid down with a sigh and stared up at the sky beginning to erupt with color as the sun continued to rise. 

“You think we can convince the higher ups to give us a whole decade off after this?” Seokjin let out a pained laugh. 

“Right… we have to go straight back to being guardians…” Taehyung frowned. 

“Why are we so tired?” Jungkook whined, hating the feeling. It was strange, but none of them thought too much about it, they had really been fighting for a long time and with so many enemies. 

“We must be getting old…” Yoongi sighed and they all laughed. 

If only. 

The moment was nice but they still had one more task left. Namjoon tapped Taehyung and after a little bit of complaining he finally got up to deliver the final blow.

Taehyung brought his bow back out and drew it for the last time. Another arrow appeared over the line with the tip blazing with flames, instead of white this time, a vigorous blue blazed over the tip. 

He let go and the arrow whizzed through the air before landing somewhere on the roof. A blue flame slowly began to grow in its place. 

This step usually takes a while. 

As soon as this was done, Namjoon would be able to swoop in and finally put the last piece back in place. 

Devil’s Night never should have existed and everyone who thought it did would forget about it, the world going back to the way it should be. The balance restored, time itself restored, in the end, while it may not have been the most satisfactory ending, it still was a mission success. 

Yoongi finally had enough energy to begin healing everyone, first tending to any serious injuries that had caused the pool of red to collect underneath them, then soothing their burns from either the flames or the holy water, and finally making his way over to Jimin and tending to the bullet hole that had gone straight through his arm.

It sucked, but getting shot on missions like these wasn’t something new, so he was used to the sting of Yoongi trying to patch up the hole that was seeping both blood and his angelic energy. The rag he’d tied around the wound was soaked with blood and the bright white light of the true beast that was within glowed brightly as soon as Yoongi took it off.

Despite all the injuries being fixed, they still felt exhausted for some reason. Instead of heading straight back to H.E.A.V.E.N. after watching Devil’s Night burn down, they decided a quick break at a restaurant would hopefully boost their spirits.

Food wouldn’t work like it might for humans, but the environment was nice to lose yourself in, making the stress and exhaustion go away even if it was just the slightest.

It took awhile for the casino to burn down, despite the flames quickly overtaking everything in sight, it was as if the building itself was fighting till the very end. The boys all watched from the roof of the shopping center as the bright blue flames consumed it whole. Eventually all things must come to an end, and instead of the magnificent casino that easily lured in guests, the casino sitting right in front of them was no more, instead a giant hole in its place.

Namjoon then came in and as he removed the barrier they had set up earlier he individually removed Devil’s Night from everyone who had memories of it. A process only Namjoon could do so fast and on such a large scale. 

The walls came down and the gaping hole in the ground was instead replaced with the abandoned building that was meant to be there. It looked exactly like the casino did, albeit in a more pathetic state than the flashy lights, golden floors, and the red velvety accents, but it started to make a lot more sense how they were able to set up so quickly. 

With that done, this was officially it.

Mission success indeed. 

⊱ ────── {⋅. ✯ .⋅} ────── ⊰

Namjoon shifted up to the higher plane where their base resided and destroyed everything inside. He was back quickly and they all changed into more casual clothes that fit the time period, tshirts, shorts, hats, sunglasses.

Nobody would ever guess they weren’t just a group of friends who decided to hit up the strip early. Perfect.

They flew down from the roof as inconspicuously as they could, heading down in an alleyway, before emerging where the rest of everyone walked.

They enjoyed their time sightseeing, despite being more aware of all the sights than any of the baffled tourists they passed, they still had a little fun while they searched for a place everyone wanted to eat at.

The problem was that most places were closed since it was so early, in the end they decided to do breakfast instead. It was a cute place, themed around an old fifties diner. 

“So did Abigor end up telling you anything?” Hoseok asked as he stared at the mountainous stack of pancakes the waitress had just given him. They all had a surplus helping of the meals they ordered, apparently complements of the chefs, who all shyly waved once they noticed their eyes. 

“Nope, just the same shit the P3 angels said about him.” Namjoon sighed, taking a bite of all the bacon they had sitting on the plate. His attention turned to Jimin right as he said that.

“When we first got there though he acted as if he knew Jimin for some reason when I mentioned his name.” Namjoon said, adding that little bit of detail.

All the boys who weren’t there looked around a little confused. 

“Why…?” Taehyung looked extremely confused, they all were honestly. 

“I’m not sure, he was pretty crazy though, so I don’t think it’s something to worry about.” Namjoon tried to reason but he couldn’t get it out of his head how things were fine until Abigor heard his name.

“Do you think maybe the P3 angels were talking about us and he heard about Jimin?” Jungkook suggested. 

It was no doubt they were one of the most infamous P2 teams currently active, the idea of a P3 angel mentioning their name and Abigor happened to be listening wasn’t that outlandish. 

“That has to be it if anything, I think it’s worth mentioning in our reports but I think the higher ups will probably write it off too. At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter anymore, he’s gone.” Namjoon put it plainly. 

Jimin was only halfway listening. He mindlessly used his fork to push around the overload of scrambled eggs on his plate, he was too focused on wishing you were here with them. 

You would have sat right beside him because he could easily put his arm around you. You would have been a little shy about it, but Jimin would have been smiling ear to ear, happy to have you here with his teammates.  

He had to get back to you.

Despite how tired he was, he was the only one who just wanted to head back so they could hurriedly start on those reports they had to get done before he could get back to you.

It’s been too long since he’s seen you last.

Luckily the boys knew to move speedily, they were expected to return soon, so as much as the others wanted to take their time and enjoy themselves after the literal hell they’ve been put through, they still had a job to do.

Despite the surplus of food, all of the plates were clean by the time they asked for the check. Even the waitress looked surprised as she came over. It was one of the only advantages of not having a stomach, you could enjoy food to your heart's content and there were absolutely no consequences.

As much as most of them didn’t want to leave, once they left the diner, they headed behind one of the buildings on the strip to quickly return to their higher plane. They quickly ditched their casual 2002 attire for the white, silky fabrics they were used to.

Now invisible to everyone except each other, they moved back into the open. A shiny, golden ring appeared above Namjoon’s head and he jumped up to grab it.

He tossed it into the air and the ring quickly began to spin before a black void appeared right in its center. 

With one last passing glance over the strip, the boys all flew through, the blackness only momentary before they flew right up to the landing bay in their headquarters. 

It was similar to the larger one used in H.E.A.V.E.N. but this one was the one for their own personal HQ. It was the same place they first awoke, the same place Celine and Atara trained them, the same place they’ve used to plan all their missions, and the same place they met every month while on guardian duty. It always molded and expanded to their every need.

They all stretched their tired limbs but immediately went to work on getting those reports done. They were always long and tedious and this one especially was going to be difficult to get done. They had to make note of everything that happened in the most explicit detail, even down to the names of every demon they located and killed. 

It was hard work and Jimin didn’t know how long it took them, it was impossible to know here anyway, but they eventually got it done. 

Finally they could put this behind them.

But the grind never stopped, they all still had humans to go back to look after.

Namjoon volunteered to be the one to turn in their reports, tell the higher ups to start the final cleansing (Namjoon whipped everyone’s memory in 2002 of Devil’s Night but for those who weren’t around at the time, they still died with the memory— something that can’t happen) and inform the watchers of their return, but at this point they all said their goodbyes, a commemorative group hug being the last thing they did before they started heading their separate ways.

The set clocks returned back to their synchronicity. June 6th, 7:34pm, all in their respective years, but he was going to 2021.

Jimin couldn’t be more happy as he started making his way back. 

He just missed you so much.

⊱ ────── {⋅. ✯ .⋅} ────── ⊰

You went to bed a little excited today. 

Your nights had been way too peaceful– there was no Jimin, no field, no date, it was just nothing. You found yourself in absolute darkness till the morning, something you found you weren’t used to anymore. 

Was it embarrassing to say you hated it? Yes, and maybe even more so that you were actually counting down the days till Sunday. It was only three days after your last meeting, but after the next night proved to be dreamless, as weird as it was, you still found yourself growing eager for the end of the weekend for the first time ever.

As soon as it got late, your excitement got the best of you, and so to speed up the process, you finally turned on that documentary about penguins that you would always fall asleep to. 

You would be out like a light every time.

Your excitement let you get past the opening credits, a rare occurrence unfortunately, and you even finally heard the narrator speak for the first time. It was by far the longest you lasted, but those peaceful, nature sounds and the soothing voice of the narrator didn’t let you get any farther than the introduction to their migration patterns.

Before you knew it, you opened your eyes to the clear blue sky, and the leaves of the infamous tree rustling in the wind. 

Realizing you were finally back, you sat up quickly trying to find where Jimin was, only to be shocked to see his smiling face next to you, staring up, as you both laid out on this picnic blanket.

Part of you was honestly surprised that he was really here on the day he said he was going to be. How was this possible?

How was any of this possible? It didn’t make any sense whatsoever, but in the moment, it didn’t matter because Jimin was right here with you once again. 

If things couldn’t get any more embarrassing your eyes started welling up as you quickly leaped on top of him.

Jimin laughed as he felt your tight embrace, but just the feeling of having you in his arms again, if he could cry, he would have been bawling his eyes out right now. 

“I missed you more…” His voice was soft as he gently rubbed your back. 

“Not possible.” You choked, trying your best to hold it together, but you were miserably failing. 

Jimin wanted to say no, it actually was very much so possible. It had been years since he’d seen you, the three days apart was nothing like it was on his end, but he let you have this one. 

You eventually pulled yourself away from his shoulder, still surprised to see he was here, you were here, that this was happening. 

Your position had accidentally turned a bit promiscuous as you sat up. You were sitting right on his lap, your white sundress dangerously kept inching up your thigh with every movement you made. 

Jimin realized this quite quickly and that word on his wrist that had healed back to gold, began to set a blaze at the dangerous thoughts bouncing around his head. 

No. Don’t do this.

“You kept your promise.” You smiled down at him as you wiped your eyes. 

“Of course I would~” He chuckled, his hands coming up to rest on your waist. 

Oh this position.

Jimin knew you could see his eyes drifting down to where your bodies connected.

“Mmm, we seem to be in a similar position to how our first date ended.” You smirked thinking back to it. 

Jimin just laughed nervously because you were right, this is exactly how your first date— well, the second attempt ended, you were right on top of him like this. 

You leaned forward so you were a little closer, this new position making it so easy for him to stare down your dress. You knew what you were doing.

“I know you know what I’m thinking, you always like to be in my head so much. Don’t you know how much I missed you?” Your voice was so sultry as you leaned in to start peppering kisses along his cheek. 

He knew, he knew exactly how much you missed him. You let him see it, see what you did late at night to soothe the ache that he left behind the last time you saw each other. 

A pained whine left his lips as you drew closer, the image so clear, your fingers working so well to please yourself at the thought of him. 

Of him.

Him!

You smiled at him before kissing him ever so gently, like you were oh so innocent, your lips, your soft lips against his. 

Oh no.

Almost immediately taking you out of the moment was the sound of plates clinking together and the soft murmur of voices. 

Confused, you broke away and you were a little stunned to see no longer were you by the tree in the beautiful meadow, but instead you and Jimin were on the floor of a restaurant.

You quickly looked down at Jimin and he looked like he’d just seen a ghost.

“Date! I wanted to take you out today.” Jimin sounded nervous as he looked around. 

He ushered you off of him and into the booth you were laid out beside. 

Trying to stop the embarrassment from rising at the fact you started to see others in the booths, you looked around hoping that would be a good distraction but you found yourself even more confused. It looked like one of those fifties diners you would see whenever you watched old American movies. You’d certainly never been here before. 

“Jimin, what’s going on?” You asked, a little scared. This was weird, this was the first time other people had been in your dream besides the two of you.

“I wanted to take you out, I hope you don’t mind.” Jimin tried to smile to reassure you. 

The same waitress he’d seen before his team left Vegas walked up to you both and asked for your order. 

“This place is amazing!” Jimin boosted and ordered the “special” which here just meant the same thing he and his group got when they visited. Was it far too much, certainly, especially for just the two of you, but he wanted to give you the experience.

The lady— Laura was the name on her badge— smiled at you both. 

“Y’all make such a pretty couple.” Laura cheesed as she finished writing down the order. 

Jimin blushed before thanking her. 

If you weren’t confused before, things got weirder in the fact you understood everything she was saying despite you not exactly being fluent in English. 

Maybe you were better than you thought, but…?

As Laura walked away, Jimin’s attention was fully on you. He knew you wanted to ask what just happened, he reassured you once again this was just a date like he always takes you on and you started to relax a little when Laura brought out the surplus of food, which you definitely wouldn’t have been able to eat all of it.

It got you to smile as plate after plate kept coming out and managed to take your mind off of the awkwardness earlier. 

As you started to dive into your breakfast, you asked him what he did over the three days he was gone. 

Jimin reiterated once again that he left to take down bad guys, to which you playfully rolled your eyes and asked for more detail. 

“Can’t tell you silly~” Jimin chuckled.

“Why?” You pouted.

“Confidential.” It wasn’t really in all technicality because you shouldn’t even be in a position to ask him this question. 

“Confidential? This is my head Jimin.” You laughed, baffled that this man was trying to keep secrets in your own mind.

You let it go though after he at least told you his mission had been successful. He knew you had more questions, but didn’t address it. It was not like he could anyway. 

You both laughed as you ate your breakfast, breakfast for dinner…? What time was it? Was this actually breakfast or was the night still young as that penguin documentary continued to play with you passed out on the couch?

It didn’t matter because Jimin was here right now as you enjoyed your spread of pancakes, waffles, eggs, bacon, French toast, and assortment of fruits. Jimin assured you, you didn’t need to eat it all, but you had fun trying all the different foods. 

The date was nice, something he pictured you would have had if you had been with him in Las Vegas back in 2002.

All was right, he was with you again, it should be as simple as that but it never seemed to be just that simple. 

As innocent as your conversations were, your mind was a broken record for what happened earlier under the tree. Not just that, but what happened when he was gone, or all the multitude of ways your mind seemed to come up with as you spoke like nothing was wrong. 

And to make matters worse, you weren’t doing it intentionally this time. Maybe Jimin had searched in your mind to find where your desires continued to play out, if he did, he didn’t mean to, but it was too late to go back. 

It was pissing him off. 

You were pissing him off, because while you had the luxury of fooling around with whoever you pleased, he couldn’t— it was a sin for him. 

A horrendous sin and a promise he made to the people he was closest to.

There was no way he could break their trust, to fall that low into temptation. 

Why were you doing this to him? 

Why wasn’t he stronger than this?

Jimin tried to pay attention to your rant about why you kept trying to watch that penguin documentary when you’re sleepy instead of in the afternoon or something, but your mind was filthy and it was so distracting. 

The more he tried to push away, the more he wished he never made this date happen. He wished right now you both were still alone and underneath that tree as he let you touch him. He wanted you to touch him and he wanted to touch you even more. 

Jimin hated the way his body felt, this unnerving flame that continued to grow brighter. He felt hot, hotter than the hell he was put through for his mission. His eyes encapsulated by your beauty was a dangerous fuel to the fire, it had just been so long, and your smile while you tried to recount how much you actually learned from that penguin documentary, it took so little for you to do this to him. 

Just one human, one, to make him feel like this? Was he really that weak to sin? 

Jimin knew he must have started to look strange, but he didn’t even realize you had stopped talking all together noticing his expression grow more… pained? There was a weird, scary look in his eyes.

“Jimin, you ok?” You asked worriedly. 

As quickly as you noticed, your voice was enough to get him snap out of it… slightly. 

Jimin didn’t say anything, instead choosing to beckon you over to sit with him. 

You were still confused, but followed his request, moving over to his side of the booth.

“Soooo, what’s up?” You tried again. There was a notable distance between you two and his eyes weren’t on you but towards the window.

“It’s a nice day, isn’t it?” He smiled. Your attention turned to the window.

“I mean… I guess. Jimin, what’s go—“ Jimin didn’t let you finish before he pulled the most classic trick in the book, the comical stretch into the arm over the shoulder.  Jimin giggled as he pulled you close so you were cuddled up next to each other. 

“Was that cheesy?” He laughed as he saw the look on your face. 

“Very but I’ll give you a pass this time.” Your cheeks were flushed, you probably had a stupid look on your face, but the more you felt his warmth, you made yourself cozy.

Jimin smiled knowing that you loved it.

Your gazes both trailed outside the window as you settled on the growing business of the Las Vegas strip. You couldn’t help but wonder how all of this was in your head.

Jimin invited you to his game of people watching, the strip infamous for bringing out a lot of interesting characters. It was peaceful, but you had more fun just having Jimin this close to you.

The playfulness faded into something more tender anytime you’d see a couple walk past hand in hand. You’d hold on to Jimin a little tighter and smile, it was a bittersweet feeling knowing you’d never get to do that with him. 

You distracted yourself with the memories you did manage to create together, the months you’ve shared meeting in your dreams every night. 

Unfortunately those memories also included your first encounter, how forward you were despite that being so unlike you. It included your date to Saturn’s rings, how it ended with Jimin on top of you, confessing his worries about this relationship and how you told him you didn’t care. And how could you forget what transpired only moments ago, a position so similar to the first time you met but this time you were able to kiss him, touch him slightly. If only you could have—

Taking you out of your thoughts was Jimin’s fingers coming up to lift your chin so you were looking up at him. 

“Behave.” His voice was dark, barely above a whisper. 

Suddenly it got very quiet in the diner. 

Jimin leaned forward, his lips trailing up your jaw. “You know I know what you’re thinking. You’re doing this on purpose aren’t you?” His voice was shaky, yet he was being assertive. It almost seemed like he was genuinely mad.

“What if I was…” Your words were dangerous, you were dangerous. 

You were making things even worse, so dangerous as you purposefully focused on what happened under the tree earlier. 

“Your mind is so filthy…” Jimin groaned, trying so hard to keep it together. He wanted to punish you for doing this, spread out over this table, show you exactly that there were consequences to your actions. 

“Mmmm, it’s your fault.” You smiled, climbing into his lap. 

You were right, the diner really was empty now, if you turned behind you, the Vegas strip was deserted as well.

Jimin would have cried if he could, it hurt so fucking much. 

“Y/n… you don’t know what you’re doing.” He sighed as you kissed his cheek, his grip on your waist probably way too tight.

“I think I do… I want you to fuck me.” Your tone could have ended an entire legion at how easily you whispered that into his ear. 

Your hands ran up his toned chest, to settle around his neck, beautiful whines of pleasure escaping his lips no matter how much he tried to stop them. 

You gazed into his eyes, that strange look returned to them, but you didn’t mind it and pushed on, kissing him like you’ve wanted to all night. 

The moment only seemed to last for a second before you felt you were falling and then the feeling of the soft blades of grass against your back made you open your eyes. 

Like when this dream first started you were back underneath the big tree, staring up at the bright blue sky. This time with Jimin on top, his silver necklace with the cross on it falling out of his shirt and dangling in between you two.

He pressed himself into you and quickly kissed you in the soft breeze.

“I’m trying so hard…” This time it was clear, he truly did sound pained as he hurriedly reached down to hick up your dress so it was bunched around your waist. 

“I’m trying so hard, I promise.” Then his lips were on your neck, kissing, sucking, as his hands ran up your sides. 

“Why won’t you just fucking behave like I told you to—“ It came out as a mangled sob, but he truly was angry with you. 

You just wouldn’t listen, if anything, you were just more turned on, choosing to hurriedly run your hands up and down his back to somehow try and get his shirt off.

But you were just making things harder as you moved from his lips, to plant needy kisses down his neck.

Jimin had his hand tangled in the grass as you let him feel all these new sensations, ones he’d never been on the receiving end of. 

It was too much. 

He wanted to make you feel good, but, but…

Jimin buried himself in your neck as his hips bucked into your heat, his grip on the grass growing too tight, the roots themselves started popping out.

Your moans, what he would have given to hear them more. 

He was making you feel so good but just like what happened on the rings of Saturn, right as things were getting too spicy you found your eyes shooting open to your darkened living room, once again alone. 

And you truly were alone this time. Jimin had flown out the window as soon as you got back.

He couldn’t be in that room, instead not even a minute later he was flying off to that forest, merging to the normal plane before diving into a random lake.

He’d hoped the splash would have quelled the burning of sin he felt from within, but as he started sinking to the bottom, he knew nothing would work. 

He’d nearly lost it right there with you. He had been so close to giving up everything, a promise older than anything of existence, just for a few minutes with a human. 

His wrist hurt, the letters blackened out once again and he hadn’t been back for long.

How, how was this relationship going to work?

He’d resist the temptation, he had to, no question about it, but it fucking hurt so much. The human that he once was, was haunting him even though they were long gone.

Jimin's eyes fixated on the full moon that continued to shine brightly through the waters.

What are you going to do? 

I’ll just have to resist it.

You nearly gave in already.

I’ll resist, nothing will jeopardize that. 

You’ve already compromised so much for that human, is this a promise that’ll last forever?

It has to.

No questions, no matter how much temptation might try to lure him into sin, he will prevail. 

Removing her from your life would make things easier to manage.

But she is now, and that was not going to change.

He would figure this out, no matter how much it might hurt, he’ll make it work. 

Maybe if it hurt more, the reminder of the path he’s straying down because of the sins he has committed that were marked all over his body– maybe then he would be put back in his place. 

If this kept going Jimin feared he might grow too used to it.

What then?

He had to make it hurt.

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[emmebearpaw]

Hello. I've worked in a grocery store for a while, I shop for people and take it out to their cars (this is my 3rd summer in a row...). I know lots of weird types of people at the grocery store. Please allow me to tell you what kind of person various characters are at the grocery store. Fandoms: Reverse 1999, Genshin Impact (R1999) Regulus is the Doordash driver who checks in to pick up groceries and then goes MIA. She shows up 5 minutes later to get them with a Dr. Papper and no cart and you just have to look her dead in the eyes with 2 dozen bags around you and say "You need a cart."

(GI) Furina is this one guy at my old store who was always the last one to show up on Saturdays. Tired. Easy. Does not feel like chatting right now. She's here to get Mac and Cheese and some Wine and then she is going to bed. (R1999) Kanjira, Erick, Balloon Party and Mondlicht are the group of unsupervised kids that are causing a Problem. (R1999) Oliver Fog and Eagle are the inexplicably unsupervised kids there at odd hours that ask you where a specific item is and are a joy to have. No problem. Inexplicably looking for a block of good cheese. (GI) Lyney, Lynette and Freminet are the kind of people shopping who employees don't even notice until they get to check out. They are sent to the store with a list. They plan out an ideal route like its a fucking heist. They are in and out of there in 20 minutes with the power of teamwork and planning.

(GI) Baizhu does carside pickup. Only buys organic foods. Qiqi doesn't get goldfish she gets Annie's crackers, that sort of thing. In a seeming contradiction there is a bottle of wine in the order too. (R1999) Ok listen to me. This isn't a customer story. This is my former STORE MANAGER. Constantine is my old store manager that everyone hates, but I have one particular story she is. We had radios in our department so we could communicate items that weren't on the shelf and to ask for assistance from other departments. No one else was supposed to use the radios, however management didn't want to spend money on the radios so they just let other departments steal from us, which usually meant we didn't have any. Our store manager in particular would get upset if we didn't use the radios. He also had a habit of stealing ours, so we didn't give him the code. I left my radio at my workstation to run an order outside as he walks in for the morning. I come back in barely 2 minutes later and the radio I left out is gone. Constantine is stealing my radio. (R1999) The Apeiron crew are this group of 4 or 5 Orthodox Jewish men who would all come in together (unusual, most grocery shoppers are alone or with their significant other + maybe their kids. Additionally we are not an area with a large jewish population) and I always had to inform them that. Yup that's our whole kosher section. No we don't have a kosher frozen section. I wish you luck on finding food for your diet, god speed, I can not find kosher food we don't stock. I do plan on writing something jsut for them because I think i need to, emotionally. 37 would throw a fit in the canned bean section.

(GI) Venti was this guy who was clearly reselling beer. Ordered 5 40 packs of bud light 3+ times a week. (GI) Yaoyao is every kid I've seen pushing around the tiny kid sized shopping cart they have at my new store. She's not accompanied like the real world kids are though. No she's just shopping by herself. Where are her parents. (GI) Neuvilette is the guy at my old store who would order like. 10 liters of sparkling water. All the same flavor. Made me climb the shelf most days to grab all of the bottles that fell over (the flavor he ordered was on the top shelf too) so I could try to scrounge together everything he ordered. Probably more later lmao

[swalker2000]

Well, I have watched the movie twice, so here's my full review of Despicable Me 4!

MAJOR MAJOR SPOILER WARNING!

Man, I can't believe this huge wait is finally over. I'm gonna miss the excitement and anticipation, until something else in this franchise is announced I guess lol.

As for the movie itself, I dunno know where to start

DM4, as a concept, is perfect for this franchise. All the family going undercover and being placed into witness protection right after Gru and Lucy welcome a biological baby, and then taking on new identities? Think of the potential! How can this possibly go wrong!?

Well, when we then start incorporating Mega Minion scenes, and Poppy and her parents, and then following a villain alongside all of that. That's how it goes wrong.

All of the ideas for brilliant scenes following the family, developing the characters and expanding on them as people, are rushed through so fast that it felt like they barely even happened. Margo struggling to fit in? Over in a second. Gru and Lucy starting new jobs? Over in a second. Edith and Agnes causing mayhem in their karate class? Over in a second.

Don't get me wrong, these are all AMAZING scenes, especially that karate class one! But again, the chance to really explore these characters is squandered because it felt like the movie was glossing through all of it as fast as possible, just to fit in all the other aspects of this REALLY bloated plot. I enjoyed myself watching those scenes yes, but when I return to this movie in the future, I'm always gonna be left feeling like I just want MORE of them. I'm gonna wear them all out FAST 😅

I also have to be honest. I didn't like Poppy. I wish Illumination would stop pointlessly introducing new characters like her and instead just focus on the amazing ones they already have, especially when we had the baby introduced too. Why not just age Edith up a bit and then have her go on that school heist with him? Would've been more faithful to the franchise imo.

The Mega Minions were also COMPLETELY pointless. Why not just make an entire spin-off movie surrounding this concept? Then, it won't interfere with the pacing of a movie that's also trying to follow the family, a new villain, AND Poppy!

Then, there's the ending. Once again, the concept is AWESOME, the idea of all the past villains coming back that is. But the execution is just...what? Why the heck is Gru singing and being all buddy-buddy with the guy who just stole his baby and turned him into a human-cockroach hybrid, before trying to kill Gru and raise his child as his own? Like, that JUST happened? Excuse me!?

The final fight was also SUCH a mixed bag. In comparison to the past movies, this one doesn't even come close. Gru Junior revolting against Maxime after his dad says he loves him is adorable and a strong moment, but a lot of what leads up to and then follows that is kinda stupid. Didn't really get the same level of anxiety as I did watching DM1 or DM2, or even DM3 for that matter. I guess I just don't buy Maxime as a villain AT ALL.

All I'll say is, that karate class scene and the supermarket scene and the parts where the family are being moved into their new home are the true redeeming moments that save this movie. They're the only parts I'm excited to rewatch again and again and again. The karate scene especially, which reminds me...

Edith getting her own little subplot and attention put a gigantic smile on my face. This movie deserves MASSIVE credit for that, and I don't wanna understate how much I appreciated it! She's SUCH a fantastic character, and when she's given a chance to shine, she definitely✨SHINES✨!! It makes me crave a mini-movie centered around her even more. Out of the gorls, she's been the most ignored in recent times, and this one was an improvement from the last two movies in that regard, even if the gorls in general were still somewhat sidelined.

Speaking of those three, this movie completely neglected the idea of them being concerned that Gru and Lucy would start favoring Gru Jr. as their biological child, and then them both reassuring them otherwise and displaying how much they truly love them. It's a perfect idea that's RIGHT THERE.

This franchise desperately needs a TV series following the family. Like, DESPERATELY!!!

4/10

[fanfic-corner]

AO3 Wrapped

Happy New Year everyone!! Although 2023 has been hard, it's nice to look back on everything we've achieved over the year before starting 2024. So here are all the fics I wrote this year!

Grishaverse

things we don't say (14k)

Inej's phone has been silent for two months.

OR

Inej and Kaz have broken up. Jan Van Eck has locked Wylan in the house and pulled him out of the university, preventing him from marrying Jesper.

There's only one logical solution to the two conundrums: a heist.

I love this series and this felt like a wonderful conclusion to characters I adore.

meet-cute (3k)

meet-cute

noun

(in a film or television programme) an amusing or charming first encounter between two characters that leads to the development of a romantic relationship between them.

One meet-cute isn't enough for Jesper and Wylan. Here's the story of their first two.

Inspired by the series, I thought I'd write a little bit of wesper fluff, never realising I may never see them again :')

dream of better nights (1k)

Nina hasn't fought so hard and so long to let Matthias stay in Hellgate.

I couldn't leave them apart like that!

Fairytale of Ketterdam (2k)

Kaz has dreamed of seeing Inej again for two years.

He wasn't expecting to find out she's coming home from an idiot. An idiot who's kidnapped him. An idiot who wants to ruin the Feast of Saint Nikolai by destroying Kaz's family.

Luckily, Dirtyhands - for the first time in a long time - has backup.

A little Kaz-centric fic for the Grishaverse Secret Santa!

The Last of Us

hold me close to your heart (2k)

Joel convinces Ellie to come back to Jackson before they rush into a cure. And in the meantime, he's tasked with the very important job of finding her new nickname.

AO3 went down immediately after I finished TLOU and then this happened!

Safe as Houses (7k)

Making it back to Jackson doesn't promise Joel and Ellie safety. But it does offer them one thing the open road didn't: a home.

This was so much fun to write... Joel and Ellie are just Tony and Peter in a different font!

Marvel

the ripples they cause (111k)

There is exactly one person who remembers the name Peter Parker, and that’s Spider-Man. Although the spell prevented the multiverse from tearing itself apart, Peter’s problems are far from over. The number of people calling for his arrest grows every day, and it’s not easy to live your life when you no longer exist.

Luckily for him, the apartment above him belongs to two really good lawyers, and they know every vigilante in the city. With their help — and the assistance of two Avengers intent on rising from the dead — Peter may just be able to find his way in this strange new world.

I started this in 2022, but finishing it in May this year was one of my proudest achievements. To write a novel-length fanfic and finish the ending I wish No Way Home had meant a lot, so thank you to all the wonderful people who commented and egged me on!

what it means to be a person (currently 28k)

Nearly a year after the spell that erased Peter Parker, he finds himself chained to his old mentor. Literally.

Tony Stark has been running from his memories of Thanos for two years, burying himself in work and spending time with the family he nearly lost. But when a cunning new villain kidnaps Spider-Man to get to him, they’ll have to work together to escape with their lives.

But Spider-Man is just a kid. A kid who seems to have the answers to every hole in Tony’s memory. And he’ll do anything to protect the one person who might finally let him rest.

I just love making everyone cry. Both at my update schedule and emotions.

According to AO3, I wrote a whopping 173,000 words this year! Here's to even more fanfic next year 🎉

[mathmusicninja]

TMNT Fic and Comic Recs

An ongoing list. Feel free to drop more in the notes!

(tw: strong language for the majority of these. Mind the tags and be safe!)

AO3 Authors:

T33la, (mostly ’03 with a heavy IDW influence), anything they write is great—a little spooky at times, but always with lots of comfort in the end. Personal favorite at the moment: “The Gauntlet” (but all of their stuff is seriously so good)

Flynne, (mostly ’03), I’m still reading all of their stuff (lots of one-shots with a few longer fics), but liking what I see so far, lots of really good hurt/comfort. Personal favorite fic at the moment: “Collector”

Halogalopaghost (halogalopaghost), (’03), mostly one-shots to fill in between the lines of canon. Personal favorite fic at the moment: “Doctor On Call”

AO3 Fics:

"Pretend that I Never Left" by redstringraven (sirimiri), ('03 x HZD), tw violence, during the Ultimate Drako fiasco, Mikey is taken to a different reality where animal-like machines roam the land and people live in tribes. Technically a crossover with Horizon Zero Dawn but no prior knowledge of the game is necessary! Mikey-centric long fic

"How to accidentally kidnap yourself several times over" by Camildeni, (Rise x '03 x '12 x Bayverse), instead of getting himself out of a sticky situation, Rise!Mikey accidentally brings more of himself into it. Very fun and creative

"Looking for a Furr-Ever Home" by The67ImpalaDragonChild, ('03), each of the boys gains a new companion through various means. Adorable, also has hurt/comfort and holiday feels

"Little Kid with a Big Death Wish" by remrose, (Rise), tw dissociation and suicide attempt, Leo-centric recovery fic after the movie, very well written and focuses on non-linear (but upward!) healing. Can be intense at some parts. Excellent hurt/comfort

“I May Be Invisible, But I Still Look Good” by Dandy (@dandylovesturtles), (Rise), Leo gets mystically separated from his body and his brothers go through a lot to get him back. Dandy also has other Rise one-shots that I enjoyed (especially “Tapping Out”)

"Underdark" by Nekotsuki, '03, Mikey-centric, a bit of a whump fic but with a happy ending, very well written and one I go back to a lot

“A Tale of Spirits” by unorthodoxx (@\unorthodoxx-page), (Rise x atla), I don’t usually do cross-fandom fics like this, but this one works for me. The Rise boys end up in the atla universe because of mystic stuff and no one believes them when they say they aren’t magic spirits.

“Ghost in the Shell” (’03 x Rise), “Fusions” (’12), “The Great Skittle Heist of 2105” (’03 au), and the “Please Just Let Them Hug” series (’03 canon compliant one-shots) by AmevelloBlue (@\amevello-blue). Good hurt/comfort

“Carapace” by SkeletalConstellation (@\kettle-bird), a Rise fic based on some events in the IDW comics

“Picking up the Pieces” by Andromedabrown, GalacticDreamer, ParvumAutomaton, (Rise) pretty long but has very intricate plot. Leo accidentally ends up mystically connected to his shattered sword and his brothers go on a wild adventure to get him back

“The Last Ronin Becomes a Discord Admin” by MelonPalooza (@\melonpalooza), (’03 x ’12 x Rise), a classic in the fandom. Has some great humor and drama. Also has a one-off crossover with “Ghost in the Shell” that was a wild ride.

“Sanctuary” by RealityBreakGirl, (’03), just a nice and fluffy one-shot, Donnie and Raph centric

“A truly French experience” by Get_dunked_off, (Rise), one-shot of Leo defending Hueso’s honor from rude customers

"Ice Cream Makes Everything Better" by mathmusic8 (yours truly :D), ('03), a series of canon compliant one shots to fill in some comfort gaps for the '03 show

"Wow, What a Coincidence" by mathmusic8 (me again ^.^), ('03 x '12 x Rise), a separated AU where the '03 boys get lost and each raise one of the Rise kids and then the kids all end up in the same summer camp. The '12 boys are camp councilors. Rise-centric. Crack fic treated seriously

Tumblr Comics:

“Cass Apocalyptic Series” by @\somerandomdudelmao, (Rise), fandom classic, bad future timeline comic, this series (the “Can you carry your uncles” episode in particular) got me interested in tmnt in the first place, canon compliant

“Aftermath” (also on AO3) by @\happyfoxx-art, (Rise), aftermath of the Rise movie, very good hurt comfort (no language!)

“Replica” by @\kathaynesart, (Rise), fandom classic, bad future timeline comic, canon compliant

“2 Arms Left” by @\intotheelliwoods, (Rise), the softest peepaw au in existence (until it isn't--mind the tags for later comics)

Tblsomedoodles (@\tblsomedoodles) does a combo of comics and fics, mostly Rise but also ’03. Has some adorable Rise x ’03 AUs

"Swantello" by @\tangledinink, (Rise), a rottmnt x swan lake crossover we didn't know we wanted

"Krang Infection" by @\abbeyofcyn, (Rise), set a year after the movie. Donnie gets a krang parasite that makes him go feral turtle for a while

"Unmutated Donnie" by @\onejellyfishplease, (Rise), Donnie ends up as an unmutated softshell turtle but keeps his brain. Very cute, fun, and Donnie's snoot is the best thing on the planet XD

"Kid Leo Au" by @\angelpuns, (Rise), when Leo came out of the prison dimension he accidentally turns himself into a kid, very cute and has good hurt/comfort feels

@\heckitall has a bunch of mini comics (mostly Rise, some '03): Masterpost. Also check out "What will it be" by clandestineclairvoyant for a fanfic of heckitall's "Same as it Never Will Be" comic!

[scarlet--wiccan]

I’m sure you’re going to read it already but several things in the pride special seem like they’ll be of particular interest to you… (don’t want to spoil anything, though)

Okay, just finished reading. As much as I love the idea of celebrating Raven and Irene, and commemorating the historical significance of their relationship, I was seriously questioning how they would make this event make sense in-universe. And I still have questions-- when is this story set? What is it telling us about these people's lives post-Krakoa? But the story feels a lot more cohesive knowing that wedding ceremony was a front for one of Mystique and Destiny's nefarious schemes, and I love that, in spite of that, they still found time to turn it into a genuine, heartful celebration for not only themselves, but their children. After Irene's resurrection and the revelations of X-Men Blue, these moments where they all get to finally exist, on page, as a family, feel really special, and I have to say that this book exceeded my expectations.

While I do wish that the issue could have represented a broader range of characters, I really appreciate the benefits of doing a more focused project in lieu of the typical Pride special. I mean, just look at what DC put out this year. I kinda hope they do something similar in the future.

[Spoiler Warning]

Alright, real shit, though, what they hell did they steal from Wanda?!! Even though my girl got got, it was cool to see her and the Emporium being represented on the same level as Dr. Strange and the Sanctum Sanctorum. I liked seeing Wanda and Kurt's friendship on display and I'm glad that she's still on amicable terms with the majority of X-Men characters now. And just as a side note, I think her coloring was more accurate to the early issues of Scarlet Witch than a lot of other recent comics, so that's nice.

But what did they steal? I guess it doesn't really matter-- the heist itself is the important thing, but I still wanna now.