#ac x ml

[grandlinedreams]

hiii i hope you’re having a great day/night!!

may i request a not really physically affectionate reader with zoro law or ace coming to them drunk being really excited and kissing&leaving lipstick marks all over their faces. it could be a hc type thing or whatever you like if you’re not comfortable w that!

also I absolutely love your writing ♥︎♥︎♥︎

hi there!! I hope that you're having a wonderful day/night too bb!! absolutely you can! This is my first attempt at a reaction type of post so I hope that this is to your liking!! and thank-you so much!!

[heads up!: mention of alcohol consumption, being drunk, tw for vomiting in Ace's]

Zoro ㅡ Alcohol is his forte, not yours. It isn't that you're opposed entirely to the idea of drinking, just that you're not as accustomed to it as he is ㅡ and as such, your tolerance for it (especially the stronger stuff) is not the strongest.

"Having fun?" He asks, amused by the flush of pink that's spread across your cheeks and bridge of your nose, the glossy, unfocused quality of your gaze. It'd been a playful challenge from Usopp that even he has higher tolerance than you and now the sharp-shooter is sprawled out a few feet away, fast asleep.

You nod enthusiastically, giggling when Zoro reaches to stop the unsteady bob with his hand. "Man, you're absolutely trashed," he comments. "We need to get you some water before you end up regretting this. Come on."

He reaches for your hand to help you up, steadying the way you sway before leading you towards the kitchen. You're still giggling when he guides you into a seat and retrieves a glass of water for you, pushing it towards you.

"Just how much did you have to drink, anyways?" He asks, reaching to thumb at your cheek affectionately ㅡ and watches you lean into it rather than pulling away. Affection is also far from something you normally indulge in very often, and he can't deny that it's nice to see this side of you.

"Not much," you answer at last, foggy mind finally registering Zoro's question, studying him for a moment. "C'mere." You add the forward curl of your hand to emphasize your words, pouting when he laughs. "I said c'mere!"

"Will you drink that water if I do?" Your head bobbles in a clumsy nod again and he leans forward to comply with your wish, only to blink as you lurch forward to press your lips to his cheek. They're cool and a little sticky, smelling of whatever alcohol you've drank ㅡ but you're on a determined self-imposed mission of peppering his face with kisses. It's a little silly with the way you add a verbal "mwah!" at the end of each one, but it still makes Zoro's own cheeks flush all the same.

"All done," you report when you finally sit back, satisfied with the little marks you've left across his skin, and you reach for the glass of water to drink it, as you'd promised. Zoro is silent for several moments. You won't remember this, he's almost certain ㅡ but now all he can think about is how cute you are when you drink.

ㅡ

Law ㅡ "I think that's enough for tonight." Nimble fingers pluck the half-finished glass of alcohol from your grip, ignoring your pout as he hands it off to Clione, who gladly downs it.

"Spoil-sport," you huff, and Law raises an eyebrow. It's not every day that he gets to witness you acting more like a child than adult, and he'll admit that the way you sulk is amusing.

"You'll thank me in the morning." He reaches for your wrist and gently tugs you up, relying on the fact that the others are in varying stages of inebriation to cover for him being so forward with you in front of the others.

He's already had a drink or two, though he stopped when Ikkaku pointed out that you'd been roped into a drinking game with some of the others. Guiding you to the bathroom, he leans in the doorway to watch you sway as you reluctantly ready yourself for bed, studying your own reddened cheeks in the mirror.

"I could've finished my drink," you tell him petulantly, and he watches you struggle to climb into bed. Another reason he's grateful that no one else will remember much about this evening ㅡ he doesn't need them knowing that it's been months since you last slept in the crew bunkhouse.

"I'm sure you could've, but I'm doing myself a favor when I'm the one who's going to have to look after you when you end up with a hangover." Hat tossed gently to the side, he moves to slip into bed beside you and frowns warily when he finds you eyeing him. "What is it? You're not going to throw up right now, are you?"

You shake your head and lean up, your lips on his cheek before he can ask what you're up to. Slow and a little clumsy, each kiss you press is intentional ㅡ his jaw, his cheeks, the bridge of his nose, his forehead ㅡ and you giggle when you pull away to admire your handiwork. "Now you can't be grumpy," you tell him.

Your own perchance for physical affection is usually on par with his, but it's clear that however many drinks you've had have pushed aside your own personal boundaries.

"Aww, you're blushing!" You crow, and he scowls at the fit of giggles that follows. You're lucky that he loves you, and you're lucky that you're cute.

"Whatever," he grouses, reaching to cover your eyes with a hand. "Go to sleep. And don't puke in my bed, got it?"

ㅡ

Ace ㅡ "See? I told you this was a bad idea."

"Shut up," you groan, venom absent from your tone for the way you're forced to stop walking in order to halt the vicious spin of your head. "I don't drink much, you know that."

"I do," Ace agrees, "which is why I'm telling you it was a bad idea." He pauses, head tilting in thought. "Not gonna lie, it was hot to watch you drink them under the table, though. Who knew you had it in you, huh?"

He waits for you to answer and when you don't, he turns to find you half-way into an alley, emptying the contents of your stomach as quietly as you can. That kind of thing doesn't disgust Ace, however, and he hurries to rub your back until the shuddering heave of your body has stopped. "Feel better?"

"Much," you rasp, fumbling for the strap of your canteen and chugging from it greedily. Ace waits until you're satisfied that you've rinsed your mouth clean before he loops his arm around your waist and continues guiding you back towards the Moby Dick. "Still think I'm hot?"

"Absolutely, babe." Ace's answer is swift and as honest as it always is, which makes your heart do something funny as you turn to look at his side-profile. It doesn't take long for him to notice, his expression somewhere between confusion and concern as you come to a stop. "What is it? Gonna get sick again?"

You shake your head. "No, I just really want to kiss you right now." There's the answering spark of fire from Ace's fingers in response, though you take advantage of his momentary fluster to cup his face between your hands and promptly pepper his face with kisses.

Clustered over his freckles, the tip of his nose, eyebrows and even his eyelids, it's several long moments before you pull away. "There," you say, and Ace wonders if you're sober enough to realize his face has gone roughly the temperature of the sun from your burst of affection. "Come on, I wanna go to bed."

Ace lets you pull him along, still dazed by the lingering warmth of your lips on his skin. He goes to bed without washing his face, eager to soak in this side of you that's far less reserved with your affection ㅡ and when the men of his division point out in the morning that he has your lipstick dotted across his face, all he does is grin.

[bumblebee-chimera]

It’s asexual awareness week, so pony!Lucifer demands you be aware of his silly deer bf

Pony!Al is not exactly keen on all the attention

[generalluxun]

Fanficton: Reciprocation, Chapter 1

A Chlolix Chapterfic with an Aro/Ace Felix! The whole thing is written, I'm just posting it a chapter at a time, here and on AO3 (link in Bio) Set in a canon Divergent S5 where Felix chose not to steal the Yo-yo.

I hope you enjoy, and welcome all comments. This is my first Aro/Ace chatacter, and I've taken the time to enlist a couple of Aro/Ace friends to beta for my in addition to doing my own research.

Full text of Chapter 1 after the break.

The image in the mirror regarded him with disdain. Under that harsh gaze he turned and twisted, checking hair, collar, buttons, cufflinks, belt, even raising one foot and the other to examine the soles of each shoe. It was all immaculate—as always—yet immaculate was the bare minimum. Perfection brought no joy when it was a standard.

Felix crossed to his dresser and assembled the rest of his accessories: watch, wallet, cuff-blade, wire, fool's powder, and, lastly, his cell phone. A quick glance indicated his preparation alarm was about to go off. Nine more alarms for the day were set and ticking down. Each an activity that would not be happening today. Felix left the alarms in place, it was important to remember the cost of these outings. It added to Gabriel's tally, though at this point it was pennies against a mountain of gold bullion.

Felix stepped out of his room, then swayed back in as his mother swept down the hallway in a sudden rush. He followed smoothly in her wake. Amilie began to scour the living room frantically yet wordlessly. Felix glanced beside the television, then reached between the couch and the end table.

"Here it is, Mother." Felix held up her purse.

"Felix!" Amilie spun in surprise, but immediately a smile bloomed on her face. She walked to him and took the purse before air kissing beside his cheek. "My wonderful baby boy, what would I do without you?"

Felix remained focused, but did briefly wear a smile; his mother appreciated such things. "You're welcome, Mother. I am glad I caught you before you left."

She waved him off as she turned to rummage in her purse. "I won't be gone long, Felix. It's just more endless paperwork from your father's estate."

Felix grimaced. "I'm going to Paris today. I won't be back until late. I might stay over." He internally began to catalog the things he would fall behind on if he extended his visit.

His mother frowned worriedly. "Again? You just came back. Is it really that important?"

He met her questioning look with a level one. "It is, Mother. It involves Gabriel."

Amilie finished rifling through her purse and zipped it up so sharply she winced at the end, sticking her finger in her mouth to suck the bruise. She took it out to carp, "Everything seems to involve that beast of a man."

Felix reached out, hesitated, then told himself this was his mother and completed the action. He settled his hand on her shoulder. "Hopefully, not for much longer."

Amilie looked ready to fight, but Felix held her eyes and she relented. "Just be carefull, honey. I don't want you getting hurt. You're all I have left."

He completed the ritual. "And you're all I need." He took his hand back. "I will be careful. I don't expect to cross his path directly, and there is nothing else in Paris that holds any mystery for me."

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

Paris spring was a charming affair, if you had the mind for it. Felix recognized the beauty in an abstract way. The healthy greens smattered with the colors of blooming new life were well balanced against the more staid and stark architectural choices of the old city. There was more here to stir the soul than in the clutches of old industrial London.

The greater part of his mind was focused on one house in particular though. Agreste manor stood out in its compound, but even more so the secrets it held. Gabriel Agreste, his uncle, was Shadowmoth. He'd tested that theory at personal risk.

Risk. His last visit here had presented a chance to upset the balance. A chance to free himself. As Felix stood staring up at the observatory window of his uncle's manor he turned over his split second choice one more time.

Ladybug's yo-yo was there, the trusting hero's back was turned. He needed only to touch it once and he would have the ultimate bargaining chip with his uncle.

What?! The idea had run headlong into everything that made Felix who he was. He was better than these fools. He was better than Gabriel. He was better than humans made by random chance. Trading a bounty for a single miraculous, no matter how precious, was a weakling's ploy. Past that, even his bumbling uncle might win with all that power to command. Where then would that leave Felix with his paltry gains? Self determination in the face of utter destruction?

He had let the moment pass. He had returned the miraculous and shared the encounter with his cousin. Let Adrien worry about living up to my standards of heroism. Yet now he was taken to task by his own pride. Having given up the easy path, he must make the hard path work.

He began to notice onlookers out of the corner of his eye. They had been longer in coming than usual. Adrien Agreste could not be out and about in Paris for long without the public catching wind. As his doppleganger, Felix was subject to the same attentions despite his wishes. It had been a full fifteen minutes this time, rather than ten. Had something changed? Had the failure of the First Love campaign already taken its toll on the brand?

Felix moved away from Agreste manor. His swift pace left curious onlookers in the dust, and he was once more alone with his thoughts. How do I get back into the mansion? Gabriel will be on his guard after tricking me with the fakes. Perhaps I can draw him out? Adrien… do I seek out my cousin’s help? What excuse can I use for a swap yet again? He obviously can’t handle the truth of things. A night time break in risks much. Perhaps I can make my move while he is distracted with Ladybug. There is a more gruesome bargaining chip in play. Why give, when I can take away? She is my mother’s sister though. Will he call my bluff?

Variables swam through his head, nothing was lining itself up neatly. If he had more time, he could force things into a better position, but with Gabriel’s trap sprung Felix couldn’t count on his uncle remaining passive much longer. He would not let the fallout from this entanglement ensnare his mother. She was only just now free herself.

Felix rejected plan after plan as he walked blindly through Paris streets. Too risky, too slow, too complicated, too dangerous. Nothing worked and his frustration rose to a crescendo. It took him a full minute to realize the chime wasn’t an internal screaming, but rather one of his alarms.

Felix took out his phone and silenced it. So much for boxing practice today.

A quick glance around told him he had ventured into one of the commercial districts. Oblivious masses trudged about their lives, ignorant of the very gift of being. That truth smeared itself across Felix’s rational thought, blowing apart the fragments of his latest plan. The stress was attempting to overwhelm him. Felix would not let it; he needed a distraction.

As if signaling his cause was just, fate provided him an outlet. Chloé Bourgeois stepped out of a shop two stores up. Oddly, she was alone, and carrying only a single bag. These little details were easily glossed over by her mere existence however. Felix quickened his pace to catch up to her, while running a hand up through his hair to muss the well groomed locks. He pitched his voice higher, and sucked all sense of duty and purpose from it. “Hey Chloé. It’s great to see you! I was just thinking of grabbing a bite to eat. Do you want to join me?”

She turned as quickly as ever, but immediately something was wrong. Instead of a bright smile there was a sharp scowl on those painted lips. She didn’t charge him. She didn’t gush. Even before she spoke, Felix felt an itch between his shoulder blades.

“You’re not Adri-nobody. Don’t even bother trying to pretend you are!"

Felix wasn't one to give up so easily, and Chloé was always a sucker for this game. He heaved a sigh and stuck his hands into his pockets, letting his shoulders slump like some vagrant. "That's not very nice, Chloé. I came to apologize. Are you really going to hold a little misunderstanding against me? I thought we were friends."

Those twilight blue eyes remained mere slits instead of widening. There was no shout of joy and reconciliation, nothing for Felix to mock. She stalked up to him and looked him over in a calculating way she never had before. It was all wrong, the itch grew.

"You're pretending to be Adrien. If you were Adrien you'd be far too busy with your baker girl and your new friends for the likes of me. Sorry to disappoint you, but your game is over. Keep trying if you want though. I can laugh while you look ridiculous, utterly ridiculous."

Chloé tried to finish with a glower, but Felix could hear her teeth grinding behind those pouting lips. She was beyond angry, but he hadn't been the cause. He felt… cheated?

He dropped the act and straightened up, running his hands back through his hair to tame it. When he spoke again it was his own voice, cool and confident. "What on earth happened, Chloé? Was it you or my cousin who was the fool this time?" 

Both were equally plausible.

She leveled a finger at him, nail hovering like a dagger just below his chin. "That's none of your business, discount Adrien! You just stay away from me, you hear? All of you Agrestes are nothing to me now. From ugly Gabriel, to stupid Adrien, right down to annoying you."

She spun at the end of her pronouncement, giving him no room for a retort. The most he could say was that she looked absolutely silly stomping away. Yet, he hadn't been the cause. He had barely been involved in the entire over-emotional exchange. She had even called him-

Felix screamed after her, unaccountable rage flaring from sources he couldn't name. "I AM NOT AN AGRESTE!"

[littlemissayu]

You wake up the TWST boys at 3am bc your hungry

A/N: Lmao, I haven't posted in mad long. I really miss posting for you guys!! While my inbox if flooded nothing rlly inspired me(no offense). I;ve been busy w/school and writing(smth non-twst & non-fanfic related) so I really didn’t have the time or motivation to write. Anyway I’m probs annoying w/ the rambling so lemme get to what y’all voted on.

Parings: NRC boys x reader(romantic/ no Ortho)

Is wide awake and ready to get smth to eat w/ you. Was either already up or was sleeping and js happened to be super energized when you woke him. You guys are going to the nearest corner store/deli/gas station or fast food place.

Kalim Al Asim, Lilia Vanrouge, Floyd Leech(good mood), Rook Hunt, Malleus Draconia, Jade Leech

Lectures you. He loves you - he really does - but it is 3am!! He and you need your full 8 hours of rest, so no you guys are not going out to get food. Now just maybe, maybe, you can convince them to go with you but you better be hella persuasive!! Gl my darling

Vil Schoenheit, Riddle Rosehearts, Sebek Zigvolt, Jamil Viper

Is Disoriented. You have randomly woken him up at 3am and he is so sleepy(it’s kinda attractive), his voice raspy eyes droopy. He’s doing his best to stay awake the entire time. But he does go to get food w/ you!! He may be half asleep but it’s kinda good bc he is clingy and adorable. 

Ruggie Bucchi, Cater Diamond, Deuce Spade, Jack Howl, Epel Felmier, Trey Clover, Azul Ashengrotto, Silver

Says No. He is tired and doesn’t want to get up and leave his comfy bed to get food when the sun isn’t even awake. Urges you to go back to sleep with him BUT if your persistent enough he will begrudgingly go with you, he will have an attitude abt it tho!

Leona Kingscholar, Ace Trappola, Floyd Leech(bad mood), Jamil Viper

Was Already awake, but refuses to leave his room. He improves and you guys js order in.

Idia Shourd

A/N: now that I am back to writing on here pls drop by my inbox, it’s always open to suggestions, as I’ve said I miss writing. I will try to post within the next week or two so lmk wht you wanna see in my content, Have a great day mls!!

Heartsabyul Masterlist

Savanaclaw Masterlist

Octavinelle Masterlist

Scarabia Masterlist

Pomefiore Masterlist

Ignihyde Masterlist

Diasomnia Masterlist

TWST Masterlist

Grand Masterlist

[no-144444]

heyy! i love your work so could i please request anything kimi antonelli? ideally fluff but whatever you would like ml 💗

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taking care- k.antonelli (no.4)

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summary: kimi takes care of you, in his own special way.

pairing: kimi antonelli x fem! reader

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You woke up, an inexplicable pain in your head as you groaned. Beside you, Kimi was sleeping soundly, of course he was, he didn’t have to deal with awful migraines at all hours of the night. 

You silently walked to the kitchen, grabbing your ice cap and sitting on the couch as you slowly sipped water and took your medication. Suddenly there was a comforting hand on your shoulder and a pair of lips on your neck. 

“I told you to wake me up if you have a headache,” he whispered lowly, so as to not hurt you.  “Bad?”

You just nodded, taking his hand as he rounded the couch and lay beside you, putting his head in your lap. You started raking your fingers through his unruly curls mindlessly as you experienced wave after wave of pain. “Didn’t wanna wake you,” you mumbled tiredly. “You should go back to bed.”

“Not without you,” he pressed a kiss to your free hand. 

“Too warm in there,” you yawned. 

“I’ll put on the ac,” he offered. 

“Too loud.”

You could practically see the frown he had on his face, even with your eyes closed. It was the same frown he’d given you any time you told him you couldn’t come to a race, or do something with him. It was adorable, to be honest. 

“We’ll sit here until you feel better,” he decided. 

After a few minutes of messing with his hair, you could feel yourself getting sleepy, despite the awful migraine. A few minutes later, you were out like a light, snoring softly. Kimi knew better than to try to move you, and he just lay there, eventually falling asleep in your lap, and waking up the same way the morning after. 

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navigation for my blog :) (masterlist)

[lancermylove]

What They Call You & Their Baby?

Fandom: Twisted Wonderland

Pairing: All x fem!Reader

Warning: None

———————————————

Lilia

You

In a formal setting – My Dearest

In private – Dear, Darling

When you’re angry at him – Fireball 

Baby

Mini Me

Tiny

Petal (because of how delicate flower petals are)

Ruggie

You

In a formal setting – Your name, My Wife

In private – Pudding, Peanut, Sunflower

When you’re angry at him – Honey Badger

Baby

Dandelion (Ruggie thinks the baby is just as delicate as a dandelion)

Cupcake

Sweet Bun

Little Sunflower

Cater

You

In a formal setting – Your name

In private – Beautiful, Babe

When you’re angry at him – Babe

Baby

An alternate version of their name (so if the child’s name is Alice, Ace calls them Al, Ali…)

Sweetie

Cutie

Vil

You

In a formal setting – My Love

In private – Love, My Muse

When you’re angry at him – Your name

Baby

Angel

Starlet (he hopes his child will want to be an actor just like him)

My Heart

➣ For the rest: What They Call You & Their Baby

———————————————

➣ All Masterlists

➣ TWST Masterlist: [Genre][By Characters]

➣ Tumblr Only ML: TWST ML

[cookie-crumblr]

The Smell of Smoke

Innocent F! Reader x M!Yandere Bully OC

Part 7~

His Info: 🖕✨

Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7, Part 8

CW: Fem Reader, reader referred to as she/her, reader has a vagina, asphyxiation, drugged reader, collars, explicit language, names used against reader(bitch, slut, ), size difference/kink, NON CON SA BY ML, P in V, non con anal, biting, marking, burning, drugs like hard drugs (not usage though in this part…) collar and leash use, bullying, creampie, unprotected sex

You awake in someone’s strong arms, at first you think it’s Ace, you snuggle into the warmth without thinking. He smells so good though. A scent that’s nostalgic and comforting to you, a scent that brings you both joy and despair…

A contradicting scent, for the contradicting man that owns it.

Though your vision is blurred the hair color you see is not pink, and the hight difference is evident judging by how far off the ground you are…

You weakly push away though you use all of your strength, you aren’t really moving.

“Pfft, you wan’ me t’ let ya go tha’ bad? fine. Bitch.” he drops you and you land onto the earth with a solid THUD. You don’t bounce at all and everything thrums intensely with pain.

“fuuuck!” The wind was knocked out of you, and it comes out strained and ragged.

He sits on a rock nearby.

“You wan’ed it.”

“Shinsh when do you everr- gimme whaaad i want.” Your slurring and putting weird emphasis in the wrong places. You can’t control your body very well it seems. This is aggravating.

“Bahaahahaha! You sound like an alcoholic!” He laughs deeply.

As he laughs, it echos through the swiftly darkening trees.

“Where, arrre we?” You look around you slowly, eyes widening in the dimness of dusk around you in the foggy forest.

Glancing down you realize you’re in lingerie and a thick collar with a padlock and a leash that he’s still holding.

You reach up but even that action wears you out, your arms fall to your sides. “What’dddid you do t’ me?”

He looks away.

“No! You don’t get t’ d-do that ‘ny more! jack-ass!” you feel your body waking up a little bit more.

“You don’t get to tell me,” He stomps over to you and grips you around the collar squeezing the thick leather tight against you, his thumbs press into pressure points as he lifts you. “What i can, or can’t do, bitch” Your throat feels like it may just collapse before he throws you back into the dirt.

You gasp for air, before he starts back up.

“I can’t be without you” he’s grabbing at his head as if he’s the one in pain, “I can’t stand you! But i can’t seem t’ be without you” he steps over you.

Shakily, you start to crawl, your body moves, but only barely. You claw the ferns pulling up their snapping roots, while trying to pull yourself away from him. You’re groaning through pain and you knew you wouldn’t make it far, but you have to fight. You just won’t give up.

He’s loving this side of you. It excites him that you’re now unbroken, you’ve somehow gathered your previous shards and glued them back together with gold, and he gets to be the rampaging bull in your china shop.

and oh my, is he gonna tear you apart, again and again, as long as you keep fighting him.

He squats over you and rips down the panties you were in.

His massive, bloody hands enrapture your body, groping your breast, your neck, your thighs, and your belly. You’re trying your hardest to fight, fight through the pain, through the drowsiness and now through the shameful heat igniting the coals in your core.

He bites your back leaving bruises and deep teeth marks, as he presses his burning tip to your entrance.

“Please!” You’re always begging him, as if the humanity that has to be buried deep inside of him will ever hear you. “Ezra! No!!” You struggle and punch at the ground.

He’s forcing his hardened and dry dick inside of you.

It burns in both the absolute worst and somehow the best way you’ve ever felt.

You scream, again and again breathlessly, as he starts slamming into you not giving you any time to adjust or feel anything other than the pain now. His impossibly long length takes the air out of your lungs everytime it punches into you.

he has you face down in the dirt, and you’re still begging and screaming but everytime you try and breathe in, dirt is getting into your mouth and nostrils. You’re humiliated and disgusted on top of everything else. “You like this don’t you slut!? That’s why you keep fighting me!” He pulls on your leash choking you and pulling your head back towards him and out of the dirt.

“Hah! I fucking love your face righ’ now” He pulls out his phone and takes a few pics before slamming back into you and then harshly dragging it out slowly.

For a second his hips roll while only his tip is inside you, massaging that one spongey spot that has you moan out accidentally.

“You’re enjoyin’ this too much…” Ezra smiles.

He pulls apart your ass cheeks and spits on your hole…

“N-No!! EZRA! NO!!” even with lube it would still be insanely painfull with a dick his size.

He pulls out of your sopping pussy, “I knew you liked this, slut,” He spits again and stuffs his dick into your tight little ass hole. It feels like you are ripping apart. You’re being torn like construction paper, messily and all the edges are jagged and ugly.

He groans as he pulls your body up into his lap, he completely engulfs and dwarfs you. He bites your shoulder while pounding your ass and using you like a fleshlight. Or a doll, a pretty little doll just for him to shatter. He doesn’t give you an ounce of pity or mercy. “You can take it!” He spits. “I know you can take this!”

He finishes in your ass while holding your arms behind your back. You feel yourself fill to the brim with his hot, defiling substance.

He throws you back into the dirt.

You land face down, overflowing ass, up.

“Better find y’r way home, I’ll be waitin’ bitch.”

He walks off without you, into the fog.

He would have carried you home, but you just had to be difficult.

You stumble forward in the direction he went as your swiftly numbing body drags behind your mind.

You can’t feel your leg anymore at least.

And your feet stopped hurting from all the thorns and prickly plants a long time ago.

You keep moving.

Just as you fight him, you’re fighting for your life right now. Even if it means getting home to him in your dorm. who knows, maybe before you get there someone will let you use their phone…

That’s wishful thinking.

Lights of the college start breaking through the canopies of leaves and you almost laugh, you made it!

You really made it!

“haaah, hah,” You fall flat.

You can’t move your legs anymore and your vision is blacking out, when you hear crunching footsteps encroaching from nearby.

“Did better than i thought y’ would” You hear Ezra, he was following you the whole time, just watching you suffer.

What a sadistic maniac.

and with that last thought, you’re out again.

When you come to, Ace is there this time, he tells you what happened and where you ended up while you were unconscious.

A rival gang kidnapped you.

Ezra “saved” you.

“pfft. I wish he hadn’t” You snicker. “What could they’ve done that he hasn’t?”

After a little while Ace leaves, and Ezra returns, flicking a cigarette butt at you onto your bed.

You scramble as best as you tired and sore body will let you to put it out before anything catches fire and end up burning yourself, “Ow!”

“Y/N. I want you.”

“What else is new.” You roll your eyes. This is ridiculous.

He isn’t even surprised this time, he just smiles wickedly.

“You just don’t get it, do you? Look at chu! All battered and bruised up. Fuck when are you jus gon give in?” he grabs your cheeks and squeezes them causing your lips to fish out.

You pull away, you’re tempted to bite him. He sees your jaw clenching and his already wild smile grows.

“I have nother present for ya.” You cant move to see what he’s doing, your body is too heavy and worn from your trudge back last night.

you hear rustling of a paper bag before he returns to your vision with a syringe and a spoon and baggie of vinegar scented tar…

“N-no, Ezra… Please…” You always beg.

He never listens.

[youmarin]

Stormy Weather | Iwaizumi Hajime x Fem! Reader

Part 1/1                  Word Count:  5,380                      hq!! ML 

Relationships: Iwaizumi Hajime x Reader. Hanamaki Takahiro x Reader, Matsukawa Issei x Reader, Oikawa Tooru x Reader (all platonic), Seijoh Boys's Volleyball Club

angst, fluff, comedy (me trying to write funny stuff for funsies)

tw: swearing (not as much. I think.), brief suicide mention (just one time like in passing). 

Iwaizumi Hajime is on his way to school. He’s way more than early and has plenty of time to get to morning practice but he takes quick strides under the morning twilight, slightly chilly breeze brushing upon his cheeks making them rosy, and he buries his face in the collar of his jacket. 

 It’s honestly way too early for some. Exclusively for you, since you aren't a morning person at all. When he makes it to Aoba Johsai grounds and the gymnasium comes into view he thinks you might’ve slept over the early morning and are finally coming to school later like you actually should do. He sighs in relief. His fellow third year and team captain, Oikawa, notices him and greets him animatedly. A couple of the others are already inside too. Some of his teammates remind him of you. They are still sleepy, Makki yawning while he starts stretching and he swears Kunimi still has the outline of his bedsheets stamped on his face. Kyōtani is grumpy - well, he mostly looks like that so it is hard to tell the cause sometimes. -  and his friend Mattsun also looks like he would appreciate a couple more hours of slumber.

“Ah, there she is.” He hears the dreaded words and tenses. Oikawa near him tries to hide his amusement and he hears a few snickers around. 

“HAJIMEEE!” he turns slightly and spots you sprinting towards him (you threw your bookbag somewhere along the run and it lands with a loud thump! near a wall of the gym and a few cracks are heard from the contents inside.That bookbag has had a rough life.) Iwaizumi braces himself as you jump on his back happily and he’s quick to hold you, carrying you piggyback style, arms under your thighs as you wrap your arms around his shoulders and hug him. “Good morning!” You kiss his red dusted cheeks due to all the attention you’re getting on the both of you and your actions. “Morning, guys!” 

There’s a chorus of the guys replying to you. They’re always entertained with the situation. The volleyball club doesn't have a manager (officially, at least) but you basically occupy the position dropping by every morning and sometimes in the afternoon too when you were free. Some fans of the team would drop by too but mostly just in the afternoons. So in that way, they’ve grown used to these interactions. They’ve warmed up to you as a person too and are grateful for your help and support. Even if it might be all because of your love for the ace.

“You’ve got to stop coming here this early.” Iwaizumi entertains himself by looking up at the ceiling, hoisting you up a little as you begin to slip down, not a bit uncomfortable by your weight. Then he catches on to what he’s doing and helps you get off him. You’re standing in front of him in a second. 

“But it makes me happy to come see you.” You pout. You’re oblivious of how some of the other boys whine wishing they had a girl be as happy as you to see them. “Aren’t you happy to see me too?” 

“It’s- It’s alright.” Iwaizumi is still flustered, then continues to reprimand you. “And you shouldn’t be calling me Hajime, or kissing me.” Even if it doesn’t feel wrong. 

“Right. I’m sorry.” you look down, biting your lip, fidgeting with your hands behind your back. “Sorry, Iwaizumi.” He nods, but he’s already frustrated knowing you’ll most likely forget about it by later. 

Still, you don’t let his rejection keep your mood down for long, “I’ll get my things and get started around here.”  You say with another bright smile, and return your steps to retrieve your forsaken, beaten up bag. 

“You’re so mean, Iwa-chan”, Oikawa told him later on during practice. “Honestly, you should be grateful a girl is interested in you. I know I tend to steal the spotlight.” That earns the captain a smack to the back of his head and glares from a couple of the others near him.

“I appreciate it, but I don’t like her that way.” Iwaizumi answers uncomfortably, stealing a glance at you as you watch his fellow teammates do their drills. 

“Have you tried telling her that?” Mattsun joins the conversation.

“Yes. But I feel bad and end up giving in to whatever she’s on about at the moment.” He scratches the back of his neck and grimaces. “Also, isn’t it obvious?” 

“Maybe not to her. Love is blind and all that shit.” Makki adds. 

“You should tell her upfront and stop leading her on. It’s going to be worse for her.” The captain finishes and leaves Iwaizumi reflecting on his words. Maybe his friends were right. Your intentions might be so pure and honest you hadn’t caught on that he didn’t reciprocate your feelings.

And now he’ll have to break your heart. 

After practice was over, he had showered and changed into his school uniform, he made haste to find you and get over with it even though he wasn’t sure yet what to say and how to word it best to soften the blow and let you down slowly. 

Entering the classroom, he saw your bag on your seat but you were nowhere to be seen. There was a note on your desk. He flipped it over. 

“Y/L/N: Please meet me in the garden by the tree with the white flowers.” 

He put the note back where it was and rushed out towards where the note said. And there you were, coming to stand in front of a boy. A second year maybe? He clearly was about to confess to you, shifting his weight from one foot to the other all fidgety and flustered. 

Hajime stood hidden at a safe distance but close enough to listen. What was he doing? He was eavesdropping on you. This wasn’t what he was supposed to be doing but his feet had guided him there. He stopped berating himself when he heard your voices. 

“IwantedtotellyouthatIthinkyou'resoprettyandifyou’renotinterestedinanyoneelsewouldyouconsiderme?” He blurted out in one breath, seemingly having rehearsed that one sentence in advance until it was ingrained into his mind. “Dating… Me?” 

Somehow, in a way Iwaizumi couldn’t comprehend, you understood what the boy had said. “You think I’m pretty. Me.” You sounded dumbfounded by that for some reason. He hoped it wasn’t because you really hadn’t noticed how pretty you really were. 

“I mean,sure, you could put a little more effort on your looks at school and you always have dark circles under your eyes. Are you sleeping well?” He was straying off topic very badly. “But! We’ve run into each other outside school and you look clean up nicely.”  Now, Hajime would’ve found that funny if something about that information and truly about the whole ordeal didn’t sit right with him. 

He heard your laugh. “Well, thank you for your honesty.” You hesitated a little afterwards, “I’m flattered, really, but I’m sorry I… I got someone else I like.” 

“That Iwaizumi guy from the volleyball club, right?” So, he had shot his shot knowing that the odds weren’t in his favor anyway. 

No response but he knew the answer. He figured you nodded by how the boy continued. “I should work out more. A lot of the girls are always fawning over his arms. The boys are all jealous.”  You laughed again and the boy did too. 

“It’s not just about his strong arms. I just think he’s beautiful. And,” You went on for a bit but then looked up to the boy, who seemed rather amused instead of upset by being turned down, and caught onto what you were saying. “I’m sorry!” You apologized with a deep vow, embarrassed of your slip up in front of a boy who had just confessed to you. Only you could stand there rambling about the guy you actually liked right on his face. You were down bad.

Iwaizumi felt his face grow hotter. This was wrong. He’d heard too much, so he stalked away, not listening to the rest of the conversation. 

Come third period and you doze off, head resting on your desk and part of your hair covering your face. A line of drool was dripping out of your mouth. Very pretty, indeed. Iwaizumi laughed to himself as he stared at you and stopped himself before reaching over and brushing your hair away. The teacher let you napping during lectures slide just because you always made up for it by getting excellent grades. He seemed more affected by it than you as he caught himself staring at you from time to time. 

Then at lunch, your energy was fully charged again. “Haji-! Iwaizumi.” You cleared your throat, catching yourself. He noticed your efforts. “Want me to buy you something at the cafeteria?” 

“No thanks.” He rejected. He didn’t like you spending your money on him. 

But lunch was a funny topic between the four third years. Was it during their first year? You had taken the initiative to bring lunch to Iwaizumi. It was so obvious you meant it especially for him even though you brought an extra one and offered it to the others to share. You were so shy and nervous, Iwaizumi thought you were really cute and couldn’t say no. Who knows how much effort it took you to make it, and much more to give it to him. 

Later when lunch hour arrived and they went to eat, Makki called for bids first but was shot down by Oikawa. “Y/n-chan meant it for Iwa-chan.” 

“It looks good.” He brought the food to his mouth and the others witnessed as their friend turned a little pale, then a little green but still gulped the mouthful down. He scrunched his nose. “Don’t-” he coughed, and reached for his drink. “Don’t eat that.” 

“Damn. It can’t be that bad.” Makki ignored his friend’s advice. No better way to learn than going through it yourself. Makki’s face grew pink as he started to laugh in the middle of a coughing fit. “It’s terrible.” 

“Why are you still eating it?!” Mattsun, eyes so big it looked comical as he stared scandalized at his friend, tears pricking at the corner of his eyes while finishing the food.  

Before practice that day, you arrived at the gym. The first thing Iwaizumi noticed was your red rimmed eyes. 

“Hey,” he started carefully, “You okay?” Then, he fucked up. “Ah, thanks for lunch. It was very good.” 

Your lower lip wobbled and the dam broke. You started bawling your eyes out in front of everyone. Pathetic, right? You’ll think about it later and it will haunt you for the rest of your days. 

Everyone’s expression ranged from concern, surprise and well, hilarity (Makki was crying too, laughing uncontrollably at you while Mattsun smacked him trying to hold his own laughter and Oikawa rushed towards a frantic Iwaizumi trying to figure out how to calm you down.) 

Iwaizumi’s stomach was not harmed, though it is not so certain about his taste buds. Makki got food poisoning and had to skip school the next day. 

To this day, you are still trying to learn how to cook.  

“Cool. Does the offer apply only to him or…?”  Hanamaki, having come in from his own classroom, asked shamelessly. 

“Yes.” 

“Ouch.” 

“I’m kidding. What do you want?” 

“Yes! Free food. Oh, I’ll go with you.” He ignored the glare Iwaizumi sent him.

“Bring me something too!” Mattsun yelled after the two, receiving an On it! from you as a response, seeing you walk away with his best friend. “What?” he asked, the ace’s unhappy stare now on him.

The sky was dark with swelling clouds in the evening as practice came to an end and everyone gathered up, hurrying to head home before they decided to burst. 

“Let’s walk home together.” You offered to Iwaizumi, “I know you always forget your umbrella. Plus I got a new one.” By new one, you meant one of his from another day you had walked home together. You didn’t forget yours. They just tended to break. But that one you had managed to keep safe. 

He thought about it. He’d been meaning to talk to you all day but the chance never presented itself. “Okay.” He saw your smile grow as you counted your victory and his resolve almost dropped.

As you began your walk, it started to rain down. You raised your arm carrying the umbrella high above your heads to keep you and Iwaizumi covered. He had given up on trying to hold it himself. You seemed pretty happy doing it.

The rain shower was okay until the wind picked up too, sending a chill up your arms and you shuddered. 

“Y/L/N…” he started as you got closer to his house, before your paths diverted. 

“I keep telling you, you can call me by my first name.” a small smile shone through. “The others don’t mind. Oikawa started to do so before I had to tell him anything.” 

“Y/L/N,” he repeated, sounding more serious and you stopped walking. He had done so too. You turned to face him, “This has to stop.”

“What do you mean?” It was harder to look into your eyes, seeing you were genuinely confused, but he forced himself sternly. Why did it have to be him? 

“Everything! I don’t like it. I don’t like you.” Seeing the sudden pang of hurt in them sent an uncomfortable, almost painful jab to his chest. “All the time.You’re too much.”

Your eyes get shinier, heavier with tears, like the droplets of rain gathered in the clouds above. But you put in all your efforts in trying not to spill them. Not in front of him. You choked in a painful, almost pitiful sound that tried to escape your throat. “Okay.” Was your meek response. 

He didn’t think he’d ever hear your voice sound like that. It sounded foreign to his ears, yet he swallowed back the disagreeable feeling it brought him, “Okay.” 

“I should probably give this back then.” You grabbed his hand and returned the umbrella to its owner before you plunged yourself under the rain, your tears starting to blend with it. He suddenly wishes he hadn’t spoken watching you blur away while he stays back, powerlessness fixing him in place. 

The storm lasted all through the night and next morning early again, light rain was still falling. He enters the gym after changing into his shorts and t-shirt for practice and before he knows it, it is about to start.

“It’s weird that senpai hasn’t shown up.” he hears Kunimi say to Kindaichi, referring to you. The third years silently agree and throw not so subtle glances at Iwaizumi. 

“She got tired of waiting for Iwaizumi and abandoned the rest of us.” Yahaba says.

Kindaichi shuts him up fearing the third years are listening, then adds quietly. “She wouldn’t do that.” 

“Oi, didn’t you two walk home together yesterday?” Mattsun asks Hajime. “Did she get home okay?” 

“Yeah…” He debated for a while if he should text you last night after your conversation but when he finally did, you hadn’t answered. Didn’t even read it. “She’s not answering my texts.” 

“Did you talk to her?” Oikawa guessed. By Iwaizumi’s expression he could tell he had done it. 

“No way.” Makki chuckled dryly, clearly lacking humor. It sounded like a sad movie scene. “Out of all the times you chose to turn her down while it was pouring rain. That’s so messed up.”

“Even I feel like shit.” Mattsun agreed with a grave nod.

“You guys said I should do it!” Why were they all ganging up on him now? 

“It wouldn’t have cost you to read the room a bit and wait a little longer.” 

“I didn’t want to in the first place! I panicked!” 

“You panicked.” Mattsun more like stated, slowly, “You. You did.” While they figured out what to do with their usually collected friend, that gave him time to go back and repeat the words he had said to you in his head. He slid a hand down his face and up again through his hair, messing it up a bit.

“And what exactly did you tell her?” There it was. 

“You fucked up so bad didn’t you?” 

Makki almost groans after he repeats the exact words he had thrown at you last evening. 

To their surprise, you showed up for class later. There’s still some time before the bell rings so they’re hanging in the hall when they see you. Iwaizumi falters and stops abruptly on his tracks. You send a weak smile at the three other boys and try your best to act like Iwaizumi is not right there beside them, walking past them on your way to the classroom. Something feels so off. He’s usually greeted with your smile (and a little bit of brute force). And to no one’s surprise you had definitely been crying.

For now they think it’s better to give you some space.

At lunch break, Makki and Mattsun’s figures appear under the door frame. The former seemed to look for someone and then he remembers. “Where is she?” 

“Cafeteria.” Oikawa answers while Iwaizumi keeps eating his lunch silently. 

“You wanna come?” He hears Makki ask Mattsun and then both disappear after you. Makki’s clearly a bit irritated with the ace. 

Both boys find you eating lunch at a table at the cafeteria, alone. 

“Hey,” the strawberry blond smiles at you, taking a seat in front of you while Mattsun takes one by your side. “You brought your own lunch?” Matsukawa tries to hide his concern after he also notices it. You nod. 

“Did your mom make it?” The raven color haired boy hopes. 

“I made it. Though she guided me through it.” Your mom gets closer to a mental breakdown every time you get near the kitchen. It should be considered a skill your immense lack of skill. 

“Are you trying to kill yourself?” Makki reaches for your lunchbox. 

“It’s actually good this time.” You say throwing them an offended look and they're glad to see that dead aura leave you for a few seconds, yet still a bit unsure about your statement. “I’m not going to kill myself because of a boy."

Makki snatches some of your food and tries it. Just to be sure. He already knows what’s the worst that can happen. His eyes go wide, pleasantly surprised. “You can cook!” At that you actually chuckled, making him do so too. Then Mattsun also steals some of your food. 

“At least something good came out of me making a fool of myself for years.” And just like that the happy spark dies. You push your food aside and look down, trying to hide your tears as your vision gets blurry.

“Hey, no,no,no.” Makki is tilting your head up while Mattsun awkwardly brushes a hand through your hair trying to comfort you. “You know you can ugly cry in front of us.” 

A hiccup keeps you from answering, then, “Don’t I look pretty when I cry?” 

“Nope.” He says just to bother you. You laugh again but then you actually start crying and Mattsun hugs you. “There it is.” 

Next day, the bell rings and as he walks inside, Iwaizumi’s eyes are looking for you, then asking out loud, “Hasn’t Y/L/N arrived yet?” 

“She’s not here?” That boy who’s always fighting with you over perfect attendance turns around and it’s just as surprised when he sees your empty seat. “Huh. I wonder why she’s not here.” he mumbles. 

As class is about to start, Mattsun comes by.

“Matsukawa, why aren’t you in your homeroom?” The teacher sighs.

“Our teacher didn’t come today.”

“By the way, can we split our group and take your class now?” Makki said, popping behind the middle blocker. Now that would sound strange coming from him but he was just looking for a way to get over with classes sooner. 

“Hold on. That’s not why we’re here, stupid.” Mattsun scolded and headed over to their teacher to tell them the reason for your absence. You had catched a bad cold. The image of you under the rain taunted him and the guilt didn’t take long to eat away at him.

The days kept moving all the same. There was afternoon practice, some supporters (mostly from Oikawa’s considerable fan club) showed up for a while, but no you. Walking back home, there was no you with your exciting chatter about whatever thing had your interest now, whether it was about that book you were reading, or that tv show you’d told him about or a new song from your favorite artist. No texts asking if he got home safe. And the same thing the next morning, the next afternoon, the day next. From what he’d heard from your mutual friends, it might take you a few more days to get back.  He’d found himself missing all of it more than he ever thought he would. Which in turn made him the more confused. 

“Iwa-chan. That crease between your brows will become permanent. I don’t think it will suit you.”

“Shut up.” He turned his face away from the brunette and faced the window, scowling even deeper if possible. His head was resting over his folded arms on his desk.  

“Did you eat something bad?” Even that stupid question made him think of you. He groaned. 

Then enter the tall, dark haired boy and the strawberry blond, the latter laughing at something in his phone and showing it to Mattsun. 

“Are you still pestering y/n?” That was Mattsun. As if he hadn’t joined earlier. Iwaizumi perked up at the mention of your name.

“Let that poor girl rest.” 

“She’s fine, see?” He turned his screen to show Oikawa a picture of you, still smiling softly at the camera, the tip of your nose pink, same as your cheeks. You look a little sleepy too. 

“We have a groupchat. Why is she always sending stuff to you?” 

“Jealous much?” 

“What is up with him?” Mattsun noticed Iwaizumi, trying but failing to subtly steal a glance at Makki’s phone. 

“He’s brooding.” 

“I’m not brooding.” 

Oikawa ignored him. “Thinking too hard for his own capacity.” 

“Are you looking for a fight?” 

“That’s what you might be good at. But why don’t you tell us what are you so upset about?”

“I told you I’m not upset. I’m just…” he brushed a hand through his hair, exasperated. “I just don’t get it. I said what I said to her because I was sure that was how I felt,” 

But why do I miss it all so much? He wanted to add. 

“How do I fix this?”  He asked, looking so helpless and lost as they had ever seen him. 

Makki sighed, “If I was her, I wouldn’t want to deal with anything about you anymore,” Very supportive of him, “But unfortunately she likes you a lot.”

“Do you really like her or you just miss the attention?” It was low blow after low blow. He kinda deserved it. Very much. 

“I think what they’re trying to say is that you really need to be sure about what you feel if you don’t want to fuck up even worse.” 

But when you got back you avoided him like the plague. The contrast was impressive; how you were able to shower someone with affection but when it wasn’t desired you'd sneak around and away with such an ability. He still didn’t know how to approach the topic best, considering how bad that had ended before. 

Then you started going back to help during practice, even during the mornings.

“Told you.” Kindaichi elbowed Yahaba, regarding with full admiration at his senpai. 

Makki hummed contentedly,  “Long time no see you around these premises.”

“Sorry I bailed on you, guys.” You apologized to the rest of the team but they told you you had nothing to worry about. Meanwhile you felt Iwaizumi’s stare burning into you. Was he uncomfortable with you being back? Panic started to bubble up inside you. You weren’t obliged to be there anyway. “Captain. A word?” You squeaked out and before Oikawa could question this new odd behavior of yours you were pulling him away from the group.

Iwaizumi tilted his head observing the interaction. Oikawa threw him a quick glance before he directed a smile at you and you were nodding, looking unsure. 

“Okay, everyone, let’s start!” The setter walked over to him and patted his back, then whispered, “Talk to her.” 

Light started to fade away as signs of a storm rolled in. It was time to finish for the day.

“Where is she?” 

“What? Ah, she just left- Wait- Wait until I tell you where she is! Jeez. She said she left something behind in homeroom.” 

Iwaizumi made a run for the classroom and slid open the door. Empty. All these days he didn’t know why he had bothered to fix his hair for the countless times he’d ended brushing his hands through it out of frustration and messing it up. He was messing up a lot lately.

He sprinted his way towards the school entrance just in time to see you stop in your tracks as it started to rain outside. Of course, he had your new umbrella. And he never brought one. 

You turned around hearing the flurry of steps headed towards you and there he was, arms dropping at his sides as he gasped, his lungs desperately trying to recover some air. Iwaizumi saw your eyes go wide and for a moment it was like he was able to see every single one of your movements before they reached completion. 

“Wai-” You dashed outside and away. Damn. Were you scared of him now?

He groaned in protest before he started to run after you, “YOU’RE GOING TO GET SICK AGAIN!” He managed to say. You kept running like your life depended on it, as if you didn’t hear him. Maybe you didn’t because of the downpour that suddenly surrounded you. “OR BREAK SOMETHING,” he tried speaking between hurried breaths, “IF YOU FALL!” 

He grabs hold of one of your upper arms, making you stop and turn around. “You’re pretty damn fast for someone who hates to exercise.” a deep breath, “But I’m faster.” 

You wanted him to let go and keep running, but his grip was firm and even if he did let go, you weren’t sure if you’d be able to look away from his eyes. Iwaizumi was staring at you with a new intensity that had your feet rooted to the ground. 

“Why are you doing this?” After he tells you to stay away, he chases after you. And now he’s looking stupidly handsome even though he’s soaked from head to toe, his spiky hair pushed down by the heavy droplets that keep falling on you. And his plain t-shirt from practice is sticking to his body - you’re thankful he’s casted a spell on you and can’t break eye contact, you think, in fear of staring-. Somewhere else in the back of your mind, an annoying voice tells you you probably look as if a stray cat had taken a bath. 

“I can’t take back what I said.” He starts, “I wish I could because I didn’t mean them that way. And then I realized I didn’t mean them at all.” 

That doesn’t enlighten you at all. “What do you mean? You…You mean you still want to be friends?” 

“We can’t be friends.” 

“Okay, you’re being really confusing right now-”

He closed his eyes and shook his head, “Please,” He knew, but he was trying, “Let me talk before I go crazy.” 

You shut up, and listened as he started talking,“I like when you smile at me in the mornings even though you hate to be up early. I like how cute you look while you nap during class and I hope that doesn’t sound creepy at all. And when you tried to make lunch for me and it was so, so bad, but I still ate it because you made it. I like walking home with you and learning about the things you like. I liked all of it and I regret so much saying it was too much because I know it hurt you when it wasn’t even true. I didn’t know how I felt about you because I thought your feelings for me were stronger than mine for you. Because you’re so open about them compared to me. But I like you just the same way, and I’ve missed you these past couple of weeks so much.” He took in a deep breath, then let it out, shuddering, partly because of the cold rain shower, partly for what he was about to say next. “I totally get it if I ruined my chances. I did it to myself. Even though it’s going to hurt like hell knowing I could’ve had you.” 

The boy of your dreams was right in front of you, baring his heart and pouring all his feelings out. You should feel ecstatic, overflowed with joy. And you are, warmth seeping in and settling on your chest all while goosebumps crawl on your skin from the chilly weather. And though it is obvious you are, there is some uncertainty in how you look at him and Iwaizumi sees it. He feels something close to desperation even though he knew mending the damage he’d inflicted couldn’t be so easy. 

“Is that how you really feel?” 

“I wouldn’t joke about something like this.”  And you know he wouldn’t. 

You lift a hesitant hand to his face and cup his cheek, brushing your thumb gently over it. It feels just as cold as your fingertips. For a moment you’re worried he’ll fade away. Your other hand closes around the front of his shirt and pulls him down into a kiss. He lets out a whimper, surprised by your actions, but he returns the kiss right away. He wonders how he could have been so long without this. Then it is over. So, so, soon. You break away for air but he wants more and this time he kisses you. 

When you pull away for the second time, your eyes meet his, “I had to do that.” And he totally understands. 

“Would you give me a little more time?” 

Though you’re not totally rejecting him, it still stings. But he can do that. He nods fervently, “Yes.” 

You’re holding one of his hands and give it a light squeeze, then continue your way home walking this time. 

He’s sure this in no way resembles the way you were heartbroken that day, he remembers Makki’s words. It was really messed up.

It was Iwaizumi’s turn to be sick. But unlike you, he recovers faster, back in shape after some bed rest and 3 days out. Oikawa nags at him for being so careless as to run in the rain. He has his suspicions about what happened but doesn’t push him for details. You’re doing better. And though the spiky haired boy looks to be awaiting for something eagerly and seems to stop breathing every time you look at him, he’s doing alright too. 

Then it came a sunny morning against a bright blue sky. Iwaizumi was chatting with the captain about an upcoming match when he heard someone arriving into the gym. He turned around and sure enough there you were with Makki, whom you’d ran into on your way there. You stood there staring at each other as if in a frozen picture frame. Only melting when you smiled at him just like only you could do. He blushed but opened his arms wide as you shrugged your bag off - Makki letting out a puff of air after catching the heavy thing out of reflex, saving it from another disgrace- and made a run for it and jumped, legs wrapping around his waist as you hugged him while he kept a strong, safe grip on you. 

Fin.

A/N: Hello! I share with you dear reader my first Iwaizumi fic! I had the idea not too long ago and finally started shaping it into words on Wednesday evening, then continued Thursday afternoon/evening, Friday and editing/proofreading today (probably did a poor job at proofreading cuz my brother came home to visit and he distracts me all the time. And that’s why it took me longer to post it). This was a bit complicated to write because I didn’t want the fluff ending to feel baseless, as if Iwaizumi’s feelings bloomed out of nowhere just because reader wasn’t giving her undivided to him, yk? I hoped I achieved that. And that the ending transitioned smoothly? And wasn’t abrupt. Honestly I was just about to finish it after Iwa confessed and they kissed but I wanted him to suffer a bit lol. Oh and Makki being besties with reader . I just loved it. Reader is like sister #3 (like his # too <3). Also it’s been raining for the past two weeks so maybe that’s why it rained so much in this story lol. Let me know what you think, what aspects you liked, if any. Likes, rbs and comments are always appreciated. Enjoy your reading and check out my hq!! ml for more! - Youmarin

[guiltygearconfessions]

I think it's really funny that zato just keeps losing. Nothing goes right for him, ever. Even on the gameplay side he always ends up low or even bottom tier by the end of a game's life (Arguably bottom 3 in +R, bottom 5 in XRD, Literally the worst character in strive rn. he's only good in ML and X and that's probably because both barely got any revisions. X 1.5 was about it.). and to top it all off they made him canonical a groomer lmao.

They really made one of the coolest characters ever in a fighting game and then went "Make him have an extremely questionable relationship with someone he practically raised, make him miserable 24/7 and have bad thing after bad thing happen to him and also make him comically hard compared to 95% of the cast and nerf him into the ground every game." and honestly, I salute them in their efforts. I trust in Daisuke's vision. He isn't done paying for his AC crimes.

Signed, The world's worst XRD Zato main.

-

[love-me-a-lotta-whump]

넘버스 - Numbers - Whump List - 🇰🇷

Whumpees: (GIF) 장호우 (Jang Ho Woo) played by 김명수 (Kim Myeong Soo) and 한승조 (Han Seung Jo) played by 최진혁 (Choi Jin Hyeok)

Synopsis: Seung Jo is the ace accountant of the firm who's quite the opposite of Ho Woo in terms of motives, status and personality. These two work together with numbers to achieve their own goals. Their goals are different, but they are headed towards the same target. Will they be able to serve justice in this accounting firm and allow Ho Woo the closure he so desperately desires? (MDL)

Genre/Tags: Office, Romance, Tragic Backstory, Found Family, Orphan ML

Watch On: Viki, DramaCool, KissAsian

⚠️CAUTION: Ep 1 has a s**cide 15 minutes in —- Ep 5 has mentions attempted s**cide 22 minutes in⚠️

WARNING: POSSIBLE SPOILERS BELOW

장호우 (Jang Ho Woo)

1.01 : tragic backstory reveal ::: fought ::: picked up at the police station, hit on the back of the head (semi comical), cut on his face ::: fought, strangled, manhandled, beaten, cut lip, angry, thrown ::: concerned for someone, in shock, grieving, sobbing ::: (flashbacks: grieving, sobbing), angry ::: stressed

1.02 : none

1.03 : traumatic flashbacks, upset ::: in a car wreck, cut on his cheek ::: traumatic flashbacks, emotional

1.04 : cuts still on his face, emotional ::: (in someone’s flashbacks: in shock, hands covered in blood) ::: nosebleed, refusing help, angry ::: emotional ::: pushed up against a wall, manhandled, someone tries (and fails) to intimidate him ::: emotional ::: in shock

1.05 : in shock ::: emotional ::: drunk, in a depressed state ::: emotional ::: (nightmare: traumatic memories, beaten), woke up sweating, heavy breathing

1.06 : cold ::: coughing, concern for him ::: looked after ::: emotional ::: thrown against a wall, collar grabbed

1.07 : in shock ::: using himself as a shield (very minor), in shock

1.08 : in shock ::: emotional ::: running until he’s exhausted ::: fought, ran into a burning building to save someone, nearly in an explosion, concerned for someone

1.09 : fought, ran into a burning building to save someone, nearly in an explosion, concerned for someone, in shock, stumbling ::: emotional ::: in a depressed state in bed ::: in shock ::: emotional ::: angry

1.10 : out of it, fought, angry, restrained (manhandled), struggling ::: friends come get him from the police station, black eye, busted lip ::: in bed in a depressed state, concern for him, refusing to speak, curling in on himself ::: emotional, concern for him ::: running a fever, concern for him, shaky breathing ::: scolded (sorta), wound reveal, emotional

1.11 : none

1.12 : panicked ::: emotional ::: grieving, traumatic flashbacks ::: looked after

한승조 (Han Seung Jo)

1.01 : someone attempts to fight him

1.02 : none

1.03 : in a car wreck

1.04 : (traumatic flashbacks: crying), intense chest pain (panic attack), collapsed, writhing ::: looked after, asleep, woke up, groaning, reveal that he has/had a panic disorder ::: emotional, angry, punched ::: emotional ::: in shock

1.05 : in shock ::: emotional

1.06-1.07 : none

1.08 : fought, nearly in an explosion, concerned for someone

1.09 : fought, nearly in an explosion, concerned for someone, emotional ::: fought, grabbed a knife with his hand to protect someone, concern for him ::: emotional

1.10 : emotional, crying

1.11-1.12 : none

———+———

MORE WHUMP LISTS >>> {x}

[selineram3421]

Could I request some platonic relationship headcanons of Angel Dust with an asexual reader? If you like the concept (cuz I haven’t seen this anywhere else) I would love some one shots too! Like reader’s 18th birthday, a comfort/reverse comfort scene. It would just make me so happy to see more asexual representation! I also just love the way you write the characters! (P.S. maybe we could get some cameos from the also-asexual Alastor? Could be a fun dynamic!)

Ace buddies, lets goooo!

Headcanons for Ace Reader

Platonic: Angel Dust X Ace Reader

You're both chill. Sometimes he'll flirt with you but you know its all jokes.

No judgement. He does his thing and you do yours.

You go shopping together a lot. Picking out each others outfits or helping each other find the right accessories.

He'll tell you about his day, leaving out the details that you don't wanna hear.

The first time you met Angel was behind the bar in the alley way. He was pretty beat up and looked like a kicked puppy.

"Here.", you offered him a bottle of alcohol.

"The fuck is this for?", he takes the bottle with a scowl. "Do I look like someone who needs handouts!?"

"No.", you take out a box of mints and quickly pop one into your mouth. "But you do look like you wanna forget. At least a little bit."

He doesn't say anything else after that, opening the bottle.

Then the spider wouldn't leave you alone, dubbing you his new friend.

You're my friend now. We're having soft tacos later. Lol.

He grows on you and eventually you both end up at the Happy Hotel.

There's days you don't mind his weird shit but you step in when it gets too far or hurts friends.

Kinda like now.

"What the fuck Angel!?", you say after dragging him off to the side while Charlie stepped out. "Why would you do that? Don't you want to try and get out of this dump?"

"We don't even know if this shit fucking works. Why not mess around a bit?", he says and continues sucking the popsicle.

You sigh and rub the side of your forehead. "Its worth a damn try. Messing around is only gonna keep you here."

"Listen to your friend asshole.", Vaggie said and sat down on the couch.

"I listen..sometimes.", Angel says and goes over to the moth demon. "It wasn't that bad anyway."

You have to hold back from punching the idiot, lifting up your hands to make a point with your fingers that touches your nose. "Angel, It was so bad I was cringing. I don't cringe unless I remember my middle school years from when I was alive."

Then things get weird..

Some guy in red shows up, smiles and laughs about the great depression. A whole musical number and then some casual destruction of an airship.

Totally normal.

At some point "Red", you started calling the Radio Demon, walks over and asks you a question.

"Excuse me if this is inappropriate but are you and the arachnid together?"

"Together?", you raise a brow. "Did you lie about not being interested in my friend?", you ask.

"No.", he says quickly and scrunches his nose a bit.

You laugh. "Ace, got it."

Angel, who was sitting next to you, gasps and places his lower hands on his hips. "Am I not good enough?", he says to you in a joking tone.

"Honey, please. I would rather eat dirt than sleep with you.", you stick your tongue out. "Bleh."

"I'll have you know my dic-"

You quickly cover your ears. "I don't wanna know!"

~

Why can I imagine Angel trying to gross out their friend with work stories?

I'll get around to that oneshot sometime.

~Seline, the person.

ML for Angel Dust🕸

[grandlinedreams]

what about ace waking in the night with you sobbing quietly in his arms, still trying to deal with the fact that he is here, with you, despite the marine ford incident? idk but just the idea of being so emotionally overwhelmed after seeing your partner almost die, and then him trying to comfort you warms my heart <33

PLEASE yes i can I was in my ace feelings today :')

[Heads up!: mention of Marineford, hurt/comfort]

"Thank-you for loving me."

You wake with a sharp inhale, cheeks wet and lips parted around a silent scream of Ace's name. It takes a long moment for you to register where you are, the room dark save for the spill of moonlight through the window.

You're not alone, either ㅡ there's a familiar set of arms wound around your waist, anchoring you to a body that always runs far warmer than your own.

Ace.

You stare at his face, relaxed in sleep ㅡ unaware that you've been woken from another nightmare about his death. A death narrowly avoided ㅡ you trace unbroken skin, shuddering at what could have been. He'd gotten lucky. He's here, alive, safe.

And yet you can't stop crying. You try to stay quiet, keep the shuddering hiccups soft ㅡ but either you're louder than you think or Ace isn't sleeping as well as he says he does, because he stirs.

"That nightmare again?" He asks softly, heart aching at the shine of tears on your cheeks, wondering how long you've been awake. You nod, reaching up to scrub at your eyes.

"I'm sorry," you mumble, voice wobbling. "I woke you up."

"Shh," Ace soothes, moving to tuck you further against him, humming as you cling to him. "It's okay. You're okay, I've got you."

Ace lets you cry. He hates it, hates that you're hurting like this ㅡ but he lets you cry until you have nothing left, rubbing your back as you shudder.

"It was just a bad dream, okay?" He kisses your shoulder, murmuring against your skin. "I'm not going anywhere, I promise."

"You don't know that," you protest weakly, even as you cling to him as tight as you can.

"No," Ace admits softly, adjusting enough to kiss your cheek, then your temple. "But we'll take it day by day, okay? We can do that."

You pull away enough to look at him properly, and his heart twinges at how tired you look. "I'm scared, Ace."

"Me too." He kisses your forehead. "We can be scared together." His lips ghost along the bridge of your nose. "But as I said, we take it day by day, step by step. Let's start by getting some sleep, okay?"

"Okay." Your voice is soft, a barely there whisper. But it's still an answer, and Ace rewards you with a proper kiss, soft and slow. "What if I have that nightmare again?"

"Then I'll be here to help you feel better," Ace answers, cuddling you him, bodies slotted together like puzzle pieces. "I'll be here for as long as I can, for as long as you want me."

[ginsoakedgirl80]

Costume Cdramas I watched in 2023

My 2nd year with Chinese dramas as my love for costume drama continues.

The title links to where you can watch it (tried to find free legal watches where available)

The Blood of Youth (40 x 45min, filming started in Oct 2021, released Dec 2022) fun action drama with a good dose of comedy, not for people who want lots of romance because they are too busy (and the canon couples don't have enough chemistry, there I said it) to be making out. Good for bromance, ghost ships and/or ace character head canons. Xiao Se's fur collar wins fur collar of the year, Tang Lian is my blorbo of early 2023.

My Uncanny Destiny (24 x 30min, filmed in autumn 2021, released Jan 2023) My favorite comedy of the year. Don't get turned off by the toilet jokes, it's a gem that spoofs drama tropes, gives you a coherent plot, silliness, fun side characters, a ML that is not afraid of being silly and a FL that plays capable and silly well. This might be a low budget production but they put that money to work. Politics, cross-dressing, found family, sisterhood, enemies to lovers, third wheel bisexual who reminds me of Wen Kexing, over the top villain, himbo villain who works out shirtless all the time, it got it all.

Wulin Heroes (22 x 45min, filming started Nov 2020, released Jan 2023) I watched this for Li Hongyi and he is incredibly beautiful in this so props to his stylist and cinematographer. BUT it is a badly written and edited low budget romp. If you are not watching for any actor then do not bother. FL is bearable once you realize she is very much of a lets see where this goes kind of character. 2nd ML is a suffering captive prince turned whiny regent played by Zhu Zanjin. So if you want to see Jin GuangYao suffer, you might like his scenes?? It can totally be read as a throuple especially with the New Tales of Wulin Heroes mini series add on. The choppiness might also be a result of the dangai ban??

No Doubt in us (24 x 14min, 2021, donghua) saw this on netflix and it roped me in with the body switch trope. It's sufficiently entertaining. Though I didn't enjoy the animation style apart from the chibi scenes.)

Heaven Official's Blessing (season 1, 11 x 26min, 2020, Donghua) It's THAT story and the art style is so pretty. I haven't read the books yet but still got what was going on most of the time. Liked it a lot. Haven't watched the 2nd season yet)

The Journey of Chong Zi (40 x 45min, filming started in June 2021, released Feb 2023) This xianxia is a mess! But it gave Scorpion King Li Daikun another memorable role with being the FL's protector. Watching Wang Zhoucheng having a ball with his role was fun. Immortal turned demon Wan Jie is so handsome and tragic. It did draw me in but the main couple is just ick so every time they were apart it immediately got better. ML's refusal to take the antidote to ease his obsession was lmao, FL is naive but charming and her demon styling rocks (do not get the hate on the actress, she is selfmade and there are many bad pretty face actresses around but I guess antis attract antis). Oh and there is a bromance between two of Chong Zi's harem members

Till the End of the Moon (40 x 55min, started filming in Nov 2021, released April 2023) aka my brain rot drama of the year. Drawn in from episode 1 on. Bai Li and Luo Yunxi <3 Pian Ran, Ye Qingyu, Nian Baiyu and Si Ying. <3 I was spamming tumblr with my screenshots, it was a jolly good time to watch this epic tale of love and suffering and saving the world dilemma with a great cast, characters, costumes, sets and soundtrack with the cdrama ppl of tumblr. If this weren't too complicated for cdrama newbies I'd recommend it to all my friends. Do not skip the dream arc (I ended up liking it) or later stuff will make less sense. I'm still annoyed that we didn't get a good extra episode that wraps up some lose ends for the main side characters and that reunion of the main characters but Youku really went nah we better play it safe with censors not liking happy ends for morally grey characters.

My Queen (24 x 45min, filmed in 2020, released Jul 2021) An FL enters a romance adventure VR game drama that I watched because I needed some fluff between TtEotM episodes. Why pick this among any other sufficiently entertaining dramas that are probably better written and not as forgetable? Because I wanted to watch Hu Wei (rich nepo baby in The Blood of Youth) in another comedy role >_> and ridiculous overacting he did deliver

The Trust (30 x 45min, filmed early 2021, released Apr 2023) The life action adaptation of the manhua No doubt in us is based on. I dunno why I finished this, I guess I'm not a quitter and needed silly stuff to balance TtEotM angst. For some reason the director thought it would be a good idea to film this like a donghua and it is causing 2nd hand embarrassment. The ML cannot pull off being a woman in a man's body, not even a martial arts nerd like Xu Yu. Like Wulin Heroes it was filmed before the dangai ban but that didn't stop them from having at least two bromances.

Wanru's Journey (24 x 35min, filming started in Jun 2021, released May 2023) A mess. So IQIYI released this simply to ride on the wave of Ao Ruipeng's The Blood of Youth popularity. Because this got so chopped down because of the dangai ban and it probably wasn't good to begin with. Basically an actress transmigrates into a dangai screenplay and gets between the leads while also making money by writing fic about them (ok this is my reading but she DID release fic and drawings of them). Of course it takes an unnecessarily dramatic turn, instead of staying on the comedy side, cannot remember more of the plot, oops.

King is not Easy (20ep x 30min, released Aug 2017) I watched this for the body switch trope and Bai Lu. Nice to see her actual face before the fair skin filter got her, entertaining enough, badly written silly comedy with mind mindbogglingly contrived final 4 episodes. It's Bai Lu's drama debut so it's nice to see how far she got

Destined (40ep x 45min, filming started in Jun 2022, released June 2023) Highly enjoyable. Fell in love with Bai Jingting. What's not to love about a playboy getting put on his path by his wife and them becoming friends, sworn siblings and then lovers in the process? No this is actually about FL finding her thing (trade) and being wildly successful at it, then it's also political, revenge and more. The leads are extremely charming and have great chemistry (the drama suffers every time they are apart lbr) and the writing is good, though people are too perfect and I wasn't into the whole palace stuff.

My Journey to You (24 ep x 60min, filming started Dec 2022, released Sep 2023) Had me from episode 1 on. Made me buy IQIYI VIP so I can watch it in good quality. Fell in love with Zhang Linghe. Yu Shuxin needs to do all the wuxia while she is still fit. Why waste being able to do the splits on some modern drama? The director sent her mud wrestling and she went for it. Everyone knows she is pretty no need for her to be beautifully put together on screen 24/7. Love the style, the character introductions, the characters, the cast, the chemistry, the story, the way you expect something and something else is going on. While it started out gloomy and remained so for the most part, it surprised me with throwing in more comedy than I expected. The good old idle manchild gets thrown into a position of power story but it's a murderous martial arts clan against another murderous martial arts clan. It's giving you some information but often just enough for getting what's going on just to play with your expectations later, FUN! And I didn't even mention all the other characters because surprise! this is actually an ensemble drama with several intriguing characters. Do not expect for the two leads to be on screen all the time.

Hilarious Family (24ep x 45min, started filming in June 2022 (?), released Sept 2023) A fun ensemble comedy I watched for Jackie Li. A widow moves to another city to marry off her 4 daughters (a silly man-crazy one, a homely one, a scholar one and a tomboy one). No it's not Pride and Prejudice but yes of course this is a romcom and all women have a love interest. It kind of drops off later on tbh, but still good for the characters and side characters. The success of this in China hopefully means that Jackie Li will get to be getting more comedies to work in after the Queen Lau disaster and people having a problem with her artist alias in 2022.

Hello There (20ep x 30min, released Jan 2023) I stumbled on this on IQIYI while looking for a light fast watch that will let my brain relax. The ML's best acting moment is when he plays a wooden robot. FL is fun. There are some questionable scenes, standard low budget action comedy fare.

An Ancient Love Song (14ep x 30 min, released June 2023) A wonderfully written and executed grown up time traveling story, that shows once again that you don't need a big budget to tell a story that draws you in. Ended my palace politics blockade. All this time traveling and no reincarnation in sight. ;_;

Story of Kunning Palace (38ep x 45min, filming started in May 2022, released Nov 2023) Tieing 2nd with My Journey to You for brainrot drama of the year. The cinematography is questionable, the story is not for teaching perfect courting behavior but those two are just such a good cp in their awkward messy way. Their friends/sidekicks are fun too and bring some comedy to that story though crazy in love ML is serving some comedy too. Props to ZLH for actually trying to grasp the basics of playing qin and not just waving over the strings like other dramas deem it sufficient. Bai Lu is Bai Lu-ing, gathering her harem. Coming into this right after An Ancient Love Song the idea to defeat destiny this time around seemed hopeless to me but this is one of those they are good at making plans and they turn out mostly alright dramas. I hope those two's material for the next years is as good as the two dramas with them I watched in 2023, fingers crossed!

Currently watching: A Journey to Love and Taoism Grandmaster as well as 2/3 through a LbFaD rewatch that I started in summer.

I also watched a handful of modern dramas (made in Korea and Japan) and some mini-dramas, but that is for another post.

And yes my most watched actors are probably those uncles stuck in Hengdian, might look that up another day.

If I got the time to blog about a drama I usually do it with screenshots so my tag for those posts is excuse my bad quality screenshots. In other cases I just reblog and put my thoughts in the tags.

[generalluxun]

Fanfiction: Reciprocation, Chapter 4

Author's Note: Felix learns something of maintaining relationships, while still plotting for his freedom.

Link to AO3 in Bio, full text after break.

Silence of the heart, that blissful state of pure concentration he was used to, lasted him several more days. He got no further messages, but he knew. He knew and for some reason, that mattered. The next tug came more gently than the previous. It wasn’t an itch or a hollow that burned him, it was a prickling of his thoughts. It was a distraction that was gentle, yet grew over time. When it finally shifted from background to foreground it was a nudge not a yank, but he still took it seriously.

Felix was at his desk when it happened. His concentration broke and chemistry went from a wonderful dance of unity and division to a scramble of letters and numbers on paper. Felix set his pencil down and let his head fall back. Why must this thing exist? I can’t hare off to Paris every time my emotions decide to unravel themselves.

Felix picked up his phone from his desk and opened up the short text conversation. His fingers hovered indecisively over the keys. Indecision did not come easily to him, and this paralysis was revolting. He had nothing to say. There was no need for communication, no message, no update. The thought of a simple ‘How are you?’ was revoltingly childish. He found he had half-expected an incredulous tirade in response to his provocation from before, but had gotten nothing; less satisfaction, more (any?) respect.

Felix put the phone down and folded his hands on his desk. It was a slow, torturous process turning his thoughts inward. What do you want? He asked himself in frustration. This thing, this uncountable portion of his being that made no sense was one he could not command and barely knew how to speak to.

‘Of course you are.’ Even now those words created an uncomfortable warmth in his chest. Uncomfortable because it still made no logical sense. In the contemplation of that warmth a course of action drifted up into his mind. It coalesced and Felix understood what he had to do. He reached for his phone.

He balked.

His hand hovered again, it was a pure effort of will to make it pick up his phone. He keyed open his contacts, then closed them again, open, closed, open. Damn this, damn it all to hell. A plan was supposed to make things easier. A plan was how you claimed victory and what separated you from the weak fools. There were risks to every plan. The mind weighed and calculated them. It accepted the costs.

Felix wasn’t dealing with the mind though. He was dealing with the heart. It was a weak and stupid thing. It feared. The idea that he could encounter rejection reached up and took him by the throat. I don’t even LIKE this accursed woman, he growled at his fears.

‘Oh?’ They whispered back coyly.

I am no slave to petty emotion or amorous frivolity!

‘Mmm, then, why am I here?’ they murmured.

He had no answer, and not having one became its own fear. It grew until one fear outweighed the other, both inside him and threatening to break free. His thumb came down on the call button, a tightness spreading inside as the screen flicked over. Felix raised the phone to his ear.

The phone rang, and again, he tilted it away from his face to be sure the timer was ticking up properly. Of course it was. Half a dozen more rings had turned the tightness into suffocation.  He pulled the phone away from his ear again and-

*click*

More seconds of silence, but the icon was green. The icon was green and he could breathe again.

"Felix? Why are you calling me?"

Even more the tightness unwound itself. Too fast, and he felt the urge to snap, to bite back and live with the pains he understood.

He was quiet too long and she spoke again, "Felix, what the hell? What do you want?"

What did he want? How could he explain it?  No one had ever understood before, and here he was a supplicant to the least kind of souls.  But, against reason, maybe- "I don't want to talk to you."

Another long pause. "Oh. Okay."

Nothing more.  Felix checked again. It was still green. The timer ticked up and with it a mounting tension. Would it change? Would it? 

One minute.

Three minutes.

Five. 

He began to hope.  As if handling a newborn Felix maneuvered the phone down to his desk. He held it by fingertips only, terrified of bumping the screen accidently.  Once it was in place he continued to watch it for a minute more.

He had studies to do, and so he dove into them with his head clear and focused.  He checked back at five minute intervals, but it did not derail his work.  It wasn't until an errant thought, a dark whisper from up out of the chasm of misunderstanding whispered to him, She probably just left it on and went away that he began to worry.

He was full up on worry though and by the time his intervals had shrunk to one minute anger was back in force. He stabbed another button on the display, waiting to reveal a fraud.

The picture winked into existence to prove him false though. There she was. She wasn't even looking at her phone. The image was askew as if propped up on something, but she was in it. Felix watched, seemingly unseen, for another full minute.

He got back to work.

It was three hours and five subjects later when Chloé's voice filled the quiet of Felix's room. "I'm going to go down to dinner now. It'll be noisy. One Hour, two if Daddy decides we have to be a family today."

Felix blinked at the phone. He looked down to a closeup of Chloé's face. "Okay."

"You're so weird." The words were familiar, but the inflection was wrong. Felix frowned and received a smirk and a finger wave in reply before the picture flicked out.

Felix realized that he was ravenous. It was way too early for his own evening meal, but his stomach was making its voice clear. He considered his schedule. Workout first, eat after. My body will not start disobeying me too.

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

Everything had arrived. Everything was in order, yet still he sat idle. Felix knew how he would blackmail his uncle. He had practiced the sabotage until it was rote in his mind. He would allow no mistake to put his aunt in true peril by his hand. The one missing component was timing. He had to be sure he would not be interrupted while he worked. He needed a plan more concrete than his previous ones had been, the interruption in his uncle’s atelier had nearly been a disaster.

Felix sat alone in the living room in a high backed chair. Hot water with honey and lemon was his drink of choice, no caffeine to cloud his thoughts at the moment. Beside him was a stack of books. Doyle, Chandler, Christie, James, and others, mysteries often held obscure and yet clever solutions to mundane problems. Few scenarios were sensible if taken whole cloth, but they made excellent seeds at times. Felix flipped through page after page, transferring the stack from one side to the other as he devoured the possibilities.

BuzzBuzzBuzzBuzz.

Felix let the noise continue until the end of a page before frowning at his phone. He’d left it on for his mother to reach him. She knew well enough to text though unless it was an emergency, and he had no reason to believe it would be. He picked up his phone and, no not his mother. Chloé’s number stared up at him from the vibrating device.

Putting aside his habitual unease, Felix touched the pick up icon. "Yes?"

"-nd Lila's not picking up, and she's gone! Those stupid, horrible, tacky, disgusting nobodies took her! What am I gonna do? Mommy is too busy, daddy says he'll buy me a new one but he doesn't understand!" A wave of blubbering sound assaulted Felix, pausing only when frantic emotion overcame the ability to draw breath.

The desperation wrapped itself around Felix and tried to sink its claws in. He reacted quickly and decisively. "Chloé, I am busy. I don't have time to indulge some flippant tantrum over a lost bauble."

He braced for a second salvo, it was expected. Instead, he got only a hiccup and a simple, "Oh."

Off balance at the lack of resistance, Felix waited several seconds before tapping hang up, cutting off a sniffle from the other side.

Immediately the discomfort unwound itself. The emotional assault ebbed and dissolved into the still air of the room. Felix turned a page.

Is it still on? A little voice whispered. Felix looked over at his phone. Of course it wasn't. The little voice whispered, but it was. That timer had ticked up, second after second, minute after minute, for hours.

It's not the same, Felix countered. That cost her nothing.

Didn't it?

Felix forced himself to read a paragraph, when not a single word stuck, he felt the voice cackling at him. He knew what it wanted, but those hooks threatened. Look, I'll call back later, when she is calmer. I'll let her yammer to her heart's content.

It was a spurious argument. Felix knew how emotions worked. He made it his business to know. Emotions were powerful tools.

Damn you, Felix hissed in his own head, the irony of such a thought was not lost on him. He snatched up his phone and hit call. 

After one ring a wet, "H-ello?"

"You have fifteen minutes. That's all I can give you."

Instantly the flood hit again. Felix braced and endured. Words ran over each other, slurring and repeating in an endless spiral of broken glass and rubble.

He pulled out bits from the cacophony, supplying grunts and 'mmhms' when she paused for breath. Her longtime acquaintance, the ginger with glasses, was hanging out with other students it seemed. Felix was well aware of how much Chloé had utilized the girl's academic prowess, but as she herself had said, her father had promised to make good on a replacement.

Felix tracked the time as it ticked up, eight minutes, ten, twelve. Chloé was talking herself in circles without end. The blubbering came and went of its own accord, but the flow was unending. Her agitation was a trial of endurance for Felix. Provoking responses was fun, staying for them was exhausting.

Suddenly the flow cut out for a second of silence then, "Oh, that's Lila calling me back. I'll stop inflicting myself on you now. Talk to you later, or not, or whatever it is you do when you call."

*Click*

Felix blinked at the flashing time. The silence was suddenly louder than a room full of Chloés. "But, you had two minutes left…"

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

He scanned himself in the mirror, this time with a hint of pride. He had his plan. It was so simple the odds of it failing were almost non-existent. It did rely on another person, but history was on his side in that regard. It had been a flash of inspiration, an ingenious calculation, a scheme mulled over and honed in the pure silence only the witching hour could bring.

It also had absolutely nothing to do with that blonde woman in Paris, or those missing two minutes; no matter what the little voice in his head kept saying. Well, it had something to do with her, but she was not the reason. She was simply a cog. He’d come up with the idea while watching the Paris news, a perfectly reasonable thing to do, right?

Felix smoothed down his collar, adjusted his cuff, and wheeled his luggage out into the living room. A full suitcase, garment bag, and hardened carrying case were his significant burden for this trip. As soon as he made his appearance, Felix announced, “I’m going to Paris, mother.”

She looked up from the counter where she was enjoying a morning cup with the financial section of the day’s newspaper. “So soon already, dear heart?”

Felix raised his chin and stood a little taller. He allowed a smile to play over his lips. “I think I have found my solution, Mother, to our dilemma.”

Her face brightened with genuine joy. Amilie stood and hurried over to him. Soft fingertips touched his shoulders, “Really? You will be careful won’t you? How will you do it? Oh- don’t tell me. I will worry if you do. I will worry if you don’t, but I will worry less. I have faith in you, my son. You can do anything you put your mind to.”

Felix absorbed his mother’s joy. He understood it, he welcomed it, and he let it pass through him. “It may take a few days. I will stay in one of our apartments there. I will contact you every night, so that you will know I am safe.”

His mother’s face fell, clouding with the concern she could not hide. Her touch lifted. “Days? Will it be long? I will miss you terribly, my moon.”

Felix clenched a fist to demonstrate his conviction for her. “Not long, if all goes well. I do not wish to remain in Paris any longer than I must.”

Amilie’s hands wavered, as if to reach out to him again, but she clasped them instead to her chest. “Go, go quickly. I want all of this behind us as quickly as possible, but most importantly I want you safe. If I had the power I would do this all myself and spare you, Angel.”

Felix made a concession. He stepped in and wrapped his arms around his mother for a firm if stiff embrace. She didn’t move, she scarcely breathed until he let her go. When he stepped back her eyes were shining so intensely he had to look away. “I will hasten back, Mother.”

Felix turned abruptly and took hold of his bags. As he started off his mother’s voice rose in a gentle question. “Are they a part of the plan; the person the cologne is for?”

Felix stopped dead in his tracks. It was an incisive question, but then, that was his mother. He had made a mistake with the embrace perhaps. He chose honesty. “It is a bargaining tool. They will find it appealing I believe.”

Good humor seeped into his mother’s voice, “Then allow me to provide this tip, my little Lothario. The scent will not hold for the duration of the train ride. Apply it again before meeting your mark. Give it fifteen minutes to air before the meeting for best effect.”

Felix assuaged his shame by focusing on the factual information. It would be of use to him. “Thank you, Mother.”

With that, he walked towards his Fate.

[princess-of-the-corner]

Honestly my ideas for an ML x AA crossover begin and end with some fanart i saw for a wholly different ML AU where Chloe grew up to be a lawyer and basically a living Miraculous/Ace Attorney/Legally Blonde crossover

Okay but honestly lawyer!Chloé is on the list of endgame careers for her in my head.

[smutconnoisseur]

Starstruck

{𝑹𝒆𝒅,𝑾𝒉𝒊𝒕𝒆,𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑾𝒐𝒐!‘𝑽𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒆}

Pairing ⍟ Rockstar!Bucky Barnes x Captain America!Steve Rogers [Shrunkyclunks]

Rating ⍟ E

Word Count ⍟ 6.6k

Major Tags ⍟ Shrunkyclunks, Modern AU, Prequel Fic, Bucky's Birthday, Rockstar!Bucky, Charity Auctions, PWP, Explicit Content, Strangers To Lovers, Getting To Know Each Other, Original Songs, Serenading, Everything Is Beautiful & Nothing Hurts, Happy Ending

Summary ⍟ Bucky's evening cannot get any worse.

“Our next bachelor up for bid tonight is a wild card.” The crowd chuckles, but a few at the front tables stay mum at the glare he sends the group. This is the last fucking place he wants to be. “Grammy award-winning musician and songwriter. He’s the frontman of Winter Star, branded by Rolling Stone as the “it” sound to hear. His passions include reading by the fire, romantic cooking, and long walks in the…snow?” The crowd laughs again, and he, despite his scantily clad concert attire, starts to sweat under the gaze and heated lights. “Bucky Barnes!” The MC announces too loudly, the mic cracking.

“Fuck me.” He hisses under his breath, clenching down on his teeth.

-

He closes his eyes attempting to starve away from the humiliation and tries to think of a happy place. He gets as far as his own apartment, in the bathtub before a deep voice has him jerking back with surprise.

“I’m sorry sir, please correct me if I misheard. But did you say—“

“I said.” The tall blond steps out from the shadows and into the spotlight in the center of the dance floor— holy fucking shit, that’s Steve Rogers, Captain America. “Five hundred thousand dollars.” Dark eyes lock on him, and Bucky bites back the squeal trying to leave his throat.

You know what they don't tell you when you pursing your dreams and shoot to fame? That it doesn’t make you any less of a fan yourself. That it does not diminish your own personal fandom in any way. His childhood hero, the man who inspired his gay awakening—just paid half a million dollars for a date with him. Okay, so it's for a good cause.

Square + Prompt ⍟

Ⓘ ⓸ + March Monthy Mission: Happy Birthday Bucky! | AllCapsBingo | Card # AC 1094 | @allcapsbingo

Ⓑ ⓶ + Music | Stucky Bingo | Card # R40101 | @stuckybingo

Read on Ao3

Author's Note ⍟

Happy Birthday Bucky!

@buckybarnesevents

AO3 | Masterlist | ACB ML | SB4 ML | Playlist for R,W&W |