#again thank you everyone for being so patient

[luveline]

could you please write something with bombshell reader and spencer where there is a misunderstanding and she thinks he is cheating on her?? or anything angsty? love your work and just want to tell you how you are the best author in this fandom! besos <333

thanks so much, hope this is okay! fem, 1.2k

You bend forward and breathe. 

Rough breathing. Audibly disjointed, and panicked, and drawing attention. You clasp at the side of the counter in the office kitchen and everyone standing around you goes silent. 

Someone must tell someone who tells someone, because Anderson makes his way to your side soon after. “Y/N, do you need me to get someone?” he asks. 

“Hotch?” you ask. 

“Sure. Do you want to sit down?” 

Your mouth isn’t calibrated to your mind. Your answer takes time. “I’m okay.” 

You blink hard. Your lashes are sticky, mascara wet in the corners and pulling on each other as you force yourself to keep them open. When Hotch collects you, it is with an immense tenderness, and a poorly concealed confusion. “Hey, come on,” he says, guiding you toward the office doors, “let’s find somewhere quieter.” 

You’re three steps down the hallway when you stop. You cover your face with both hands. 

Your entire world just got rocked… you don’t even know how to say it. You can’t stop seeing it, his hand on her shoulder, his head tilted to one side like he always does with you, like he’s going to kiss her cheek. And she’d just let him do it. 

“What happened?” 

“They were kissing.” 

Hotch looks down at you patiently. “Who?” 

“Spencer and JJ.” You swallow down bile. Your voice sounds far away, “They were so close…” 

“Are you sure?” 

“No… Just, it looked like they were. She had her arms around him, he…” 

You blink hard again, but the panic, the agony remains. You could see it, Spencer kissing her, and it just tore you to pieces right then and there. How could he do that to you? The stereotypical you’d always expected to be above races through your head. Weren’t you too much to lose? 

“They were too close,” you say more firmly. 

“Alright,” Hotch says softly. Then, because he’s your friend, even if you’ve thrust him into an awkward position. “I can work this out for you, if you want. I can kill him for you if necessary.” 

“That’s not funny,” you say, because even if it were, it’s way too soon. 

“I’m not joking. If Spencer ever did that to you, I’d… well, I wouldn’t hurt him, but he would lose my respect, and he would lose yours. Do you believe Spencer would put that at risk?” 

“You think I’m overreacting.” 

Hotch gives you a look. Full Hotchner. Understanding, patient, a little humorous. “I honestly can’t imagine a world where Spencer does something that would hurt you, that’s all. I’m not trying to mock you. I’m not saying you can’t be upset.” 

You realise after a few deep breaths that he was trying to drive you from a panic attack, and he did it successfully. You swallow a nervous lump.

“Thank you.” 

“You’re welcome.”

“I think I can kill him.”

“I don’t doubt it. Do you want to?” 

“Depends on what I saw,” you mutter, turning away from the glass office doors as they open. 

“Well… perhaps you can–”

“Hey, what are you guys doing out here?” Spencer interrupts, breathless as he slides around Hotch and takes your arm in his hand. “Angel, I need your help, urgently. JJ’s earring got caught in my hair, I’m pretty sure I’m bald.” 

You squint at him, still a little breathless yourself. 

“Hey, are you okay?” he asks, looking between you and Hotch with regret. “What’s wrong? You look sick.”

“What did JJ do?” you ask. 

“Angel?” 

He squints. When you fail to offer a reason, he tips his head down to show you the top of his head. “Am I bald? She dropped her pencil case and I tried to grab it, and she yanked back. I tried to stop her from ripping it out, but she said I had to stop being a big baby.” 

He laughs. Hotch lets out an audible breath. 

“I’m hideous,” Spencer surmises from your silence. 

“I didn’t really look.” 

Spencer looks at Hotch. “Can you tell me what’s wrong? Please?” 

You send Hotch a look that says please, don’t.  

“I just felt a bit panicked,” you confess, a half truth to spare your dignity.

“I brought her out here for some quiet,” Hotch says. 

Spencer frowns and holds your arm again with more softness. “You did? Are you feeling better now? You know, the sudden onset of panic is often caused by a process called overbreathing, have you felt that happen to you recently? It’s accidental hyperventilation. Low carbon dioxide in the blood.” His frown deepens. “Unless it’s not that. Are you worried about something?” 

You watch as his hand glides further up, his thumb rubbing into the soft fat of your upper arm. 

“Worried about your hairline,” you mumble. 

Look, you’ll tell Spencer eventually, maybe. But for now your head hurts and you really had almost spun yourself into an anxiety attack, and you need the rest, and meeting his eyes isn’t easy. 

If he were lying about the earring, you’d be able to tell. If he’d kissed JJ, the guilt would be pouring off of him. 

“I can trust you to look after her?” Hotch asks. 

“When can’t you?” Spencer asks sincerely. 

Footsteps. A door opening. 

You and Spencer alone, his voice warm with concern. “Are you okay? Really okay?” 

“Can you hug me?” 

“Sure I can.” He slips his arms through yours and pulls you in. “Do you need something? Listening to music can help, I have my headphones on my desk. Or we can just– walk.” His hand spread wide over your shoulder. “You’re shaking.” 

“I am?” 

“Just a little…” 

You try your best to stand completely still. 

“Oh,” he says softly, pulling you with more force toward his chest, “I’m sorry, I had no idea you weren’t feeling okay today. But it’ll be okay, I promise. I got you.” 

It’s not often you feel like the smaller person in your relationship, and he doesn’t make you feel small, but the depth of his promise gives him this bigness that dulls the panic. Spencer… he really wouldn’t do anything to hurt you. You aren’t at fault for thinking they were too close, but there’s an explanation, and for now that’s enough to make you feel better. 

“How much hair did she rip out, sweetheart?” you murmur, leaning back just far to see his face, not wanting to disturb the stable quiet. “Does it hurt?” 

“No, I’m fine. Honestly I’m more worried about you than my hair.” 

“Can I explain it to you later?” 

“You’ll sleep over?” he asks, lips thinning into a smile. 

“Yeah.” 

“We’ll talk about it later,” he says. 

You close your eyes as he cups your face with both hands. Later, when you tell him, he isn’t offended, just sorry. Necessary or not, he apologises and holds you with so much tenderness you’re assured again that Spencer hurting you would only ever be an accident.

[dont-look-its-embarrassing]

To Be Seen

Azriel x Reader

This is my first ever one-shot or fanfiction type writing on here, so be patient with me bc it will be FAR from perfect or good.

This is purely self-indulgent bc again, I'm new at this and just wanted to write an insert or y/n type little blurb.

Summary; Being the best friend of Feyre when she was human, you regretfully got roped in and turned with her sisters as a tool for manipulation by Hybern. As the sister's find it hard to settle in claiming the attention of the two other bats, you attempt to make Feyre's and the inner court's life easier by flying under the radar and figuring it out on your own. However, are you really as unnoticed as you hope or is a certain shadowsinger entrapped by your caring and soft nature as his heart battles his mind for the third sister or you.

Warnings: None really, mentions of PTSD and anxiety, loneliness and self-help, slow-burn, slight angst with a fluffy ending, reader just wants to be seen but feels like she can't ask

Word count: 2,389

The sound of a door opening broke you out of your thoughts as you sat in the drawing room in the house of wind. The gentle crackle of the fire Infront of you allowed your body to sit comfortably within the rather cold season and the book you were just reading sat loose in your lap. You haven't gotten used to your enhanced hearing yet as your now longer and thicker hair gently fell from where you had tucked it behind your ear.

"Y/n?" Your best friend's voice echoed into the room as her footsteps followed. A soft smile spread across your features as she came in, confirmed you where there, and plopped down ungraciously on the couch next to you. "Thank the mother you are here."

Her features where stressed, the worry written all over her face as she took your form in.

"What's going on?" You ask, hopeful to help.

Feyre let out a sigh as she let her eyes wonder to the fire Infront of the both of you.

"Nothing. Everything. I don't know, it seems that everything I do to try and help Nesta and Elaine seems to only make things worse." She rung her hands, a trait she picked up back in the human lands when she was nervous or upset. "It just never seems enough to make them comfortable or to try and apologize for everything that happened."

Your best friend's eyes slightly widened as she took her gaze from the flames.

"How are you? Are you doing okay?" The genuine care and concern oozing off of the female Infront of you reminded you of why you cared so much about your friend in the first place. When she was taken, you had searched high and low for her in hopes to get her back only to have her return happy and healthy with a loving man, or male, doting on her every need. You were ecstatic, and expressed yourself as so, even if it was with fae beings. When you and her sisters were taken, that happiness was put on hold to make sure that you are all where comfortable. Feyre's self-sacrificing nature did always drive you mad, even now when she was so close to being truly happy.

"I'm okay Feyre." She shot you a look, trying to dig deeper and call the bluff you made. "Seriously, I'm here with you and in an amazing place that I could only dream of with great people."

"A lot happened Y/n. A lot happened to Elaine and Nesta, but a lot happened to you." She was right, and it was weird for you to be so put together when the worlds of the other two were falling to pieces. With your more emotional and strong relationship with Feyre, you had been held captive with her sisters yes, but you also took the brunt of interrogation that the wicked king deemed necessary to gain any information of her court. You had put yourself in that position, you knew how awful she would feel about her familial blood being brutalized in such a way, so you took the heat. But, in the end, her sisters still took the change harder and refused to accept their new life, making everyone on edge and overexerting themselves to help.

With one look at your best friend's-tired eyes, you knew that she couldn't handle another burden. More like she shouldn't have to handle another burden.

The word tasted sour on your tongue.

Burden.

Shaking your head a small gentle smile graced your face, and you forced your features to emulate that same energy.

"I'm okay Feyre, really. Aside from some cool new power thing that I haven't figured out, I'm fine. " The breath she released could only register as relief in your mind as she met your smile.

"Okay, and we will definitely start working on that when we are all settled here." Her reassurance did little to reassure that it would be investigated. Again, with the two sisters gaining war altering abilities, your random energy (that had yet to manifest) would be put on the back burner until everyone else was settled. Again, the slight dismissal ached, but you understood the need for others to take precedence.

Giving a little nod, you two sit in silence for a bit just listening to the crackling of the fire and enjoying each other's presence. That is, until a wince rippled across your friends face and she slowly rose.

"I'm sorry, I have to go. I think Elaine is out and not talking to Lucien and it's a mess-"

"It's fine Feyre, go make sure they are okay." You assure with the same smile. Giving one last 'thank you, I love you' she was gone like the wind that howled outside the windows. The silence that followed her exit had the ringing in your ears become a bit to unbearable. Removing yourself from the couch, you travel down to your room and grab a quick change of footwear.

Today would be a good day to explore the town, or at least good enough to get your mind out of the dark slump of trying to acclimate to its' new body and abilities.

Making your way towards the door, a small flicker of shadow catches your eye.

"Hello?" You call. You know that Rhys is most likely with Feyre and Azriel is also probably there because of Elaine, so you dismiss it quickly after a moment, chalking it up to just a trick of the light.

Opening the door, the slight chill on the wind has a shiver run through you, but the sun quickly chased it away. Breathing a sigh, you look at the vastness of the stairs below you.

No time like the present.

Taking one step at a time and avid breaks when needed, you would rather not admit to yourself just how much time that trek took. However, upon reaching the bottom, the satisfaction that filled you outweighed the journey. Walking down the streets of Velaris, the bustling normality of the people filled you with ease. As your heels clicked against the stones below, your gaze just missed the little shadow that trailed behind your body.

Taking in the colors and vibrant people, the ease and happiness that covered their faces had the ache in your gut grow more and more. Your mind wandered to if you would ever be that happy and mundane. With everything that had happened so far, the familiar life in the human forest (although had its struggles) seemed like an ideal. It was the lack of routine, lack of knowledge, the newly sprouted life, the misplacement, all of it plus more. You didn't notice your breathing gain more weight and take longer to fill your lungs than it did at the house. You also didn't notice the little skitter of the shadow that had followed you as it raced away towards some unseen location. The heat in your body seemed to increase as the sight of a simple family loving and walking together entered your mind.

Would anyone love you like this?

You couldn't think.

Ducking into a nearby ally, the overhead sheets and covering allowed it to be shaded and darker than the streets 20 feet away. Even then, the darkness of the ally seemed to illuminate with your presence there. However, it wasn't the light, it was the lack of grasp of oxygen you could inhale and the strenuous shaking your body couldn't stop. The tears that fell without your knowledge burned their tracks into your skin and sizzled as they hit the ground. Your body gave way to the spasms that took ahold of you as your mind raced. Burring your head into your knees, you attempted to shut the world out and let your mind slow but to no avail. You wished the darkness of the alley would swallow you whole, allow the sun and light to escape you being seen just this once.

Almost as if your prayers where in fact answered, the light surrounding you died as the darkness of the ally surrounded you. Picking your head up to view what cloud or magical being answered your plea, your eyes were met with those of hazel crouching Infront of you.

"Azriel?" You hadn't met this male for more than a couple days ago. He was nice, offering to go with you places or chat every so often. You had a couple nightly talks with him where you shared some stories between the two of you. Nothing out of the ordinary though, you felt safe around him when he was near. Confusion washed your features and for a moment your brain stopped running in circles and focused on why the male might be in front of you in this very unfortunate situation.

"You're okay." His large hands had gently pried your head from between your own. He Slowly, as if not to spook you further, reached for your hands and took them in his own. As twisted as it sounded, the morbid scarring that littered his skin grounded you further and pulled you back to this moment and out of that forsaken cell and cold water. "Focus on me, breathe."

The ease of your breath returned as the seeming dark cloud that surrounded you peeled back revealing that same dampened alleyway. However, the slight char on the walls and burns on the ground was distinct enough to question. Looking around, more of those marks surrounded you but faded as it got further from you. Opening your mouth to ask, a quick look from the male had you hesitant as he shook his head.

"One thing at a time sunshine." You nod, ignoring the small butterfly that hatched in your stomach at the nickname, but the pain in your head from the little outburst brought you back to reality. Bringing your hand up to caress the muscle between your eyes, Azriel scanned you from head to toe checking for any other possible injuries. "Let's get you back to the house, okay? Have Madja take a look at you and maybe give you something to help process."

Although the beginning of his statement was directed at you, for an answer, the second part was mumbled more to himself.

"Okay." The short response was all you could get past your lips as he sent you a small smile and opened his arms.

Looking at him questionably, he held back a chuckle.

"Have you never flown?" Shaking your head, no, you had never flown before. Winnowed? Yes, but never in the arms of one of the three males residing in the same house at you. The aspect of Azriel being your first had a little flush cover your cheeks. He approached you carefully, scanning your eyes for any aversion to being touched or space invaded. If you didn't just have a literally breakdown in the middle of Velaris, you could've sworn there was a deeper emotion residing in his eyes.

Guilt?

Worry?

Longing?

You couldn't place it and decided not to keep the process waiting. Taking a step towards him, he kept his arms spread out to accompany your space against his.

"Wrap your arms around me." His voice was lowered with your closer proximity. Slowly you brought your arms to wrap around the back of his neck. He waited until you settled there before moving to hoist you up into his arms and walk slightly out of the alley to give his wings more room to take flight.

While doing so, you couldn't help but settle into his warmth as it felt nice against our colder frame. With all the adrenaline wearing off, you were left shivering.

"Make sure to hold on." He noted, which was all the notice you got before suddenly you two were no longer on the ground. Tightening your grip instinctually, you shut your eyes as you could practically feel the male smile at your nature.

"How did you get down there anyway?" With the loud wind it was hard to hear, but again due to the lack of space between the two of you his voice rang clear.

"I walked."

"Down those?" Without realizing the easygoing atmosphere he created, you had peered open your eyes to look down at the stairs you both were currently soaring over. Only a brief look however as you still had some human tendencies and did have a slight aversion to heights.

"Yeah." You nodded and went to shut your eyes once more to finish out the flight, but as you did you caught sight of a new look on the spymaster's face.

Pride.

Landing as softly as possible, Madja was already there waiting for the two of you to arrive. Without thinking, you blamed it on the spymaster's shadows (but grateful they were there). Feyre also stood to the side of her, worry wringing her hands again and you let out a sigh of defeat.

Stumbling out of Azriel's arms, he steadied you, giving a once over before his high lady had shot him an inquiring look. She looked at you shortly after.

"You are never to lie to me again Y/n, you hear?" Her chastising voice was filled with love and worry all the same.

But before you could open your mouth to respond with a thousand reasons why you might, a certain male beat you too it.

"Don't go too hard on her, admittedly we have all been a bit busy to check in." You both glanced back at the male in question as his shadows wrapped around him in song. He has said it was so to promise his attention to fix the problem, which warmed your core.

"She will be okay Feyre." Meeting eye contact with him, he had sent you a small nod of his head and smile before disappearing into the dark.

Your best friend looked at you in question, but a deeper thought was spinning in her head. However, the little throat clear of the healer nearby jumpstarted the next 24 hours of care and therapy from your best friend and the best healers in Prythian. The whole endeavor couldn't tear your thoughts to a certain inner court male and the way his arms felt around you.

Maybe you would be okay.

[a-lexia11]

First time

Kyra Cooney-Cross x reader

Word count: 5,7k

Warning: angst,insecurities,, smut ??? Not that explicit (MINORS DNI) ,loss of virginity.

Based on this request.

The café was alive with the sound of laughter and conversation, the steady hum of chatter creating a comfortable, familiar background noise as you sat with Kyra and her teammates.

They were telling stories, sharing jokes, and basking in the high of a recent win, but you couldn’t quite shake the nervous energy curling in the pit of your stomach.

You had been dating Kyra for almost five months, and every day with her was more exciting than the last.

It was a whirlwind of joy, laughter, and connection. But beneath the surface, there was a constant undercurrent of anxiety gnawing at you.

Kyra’s hand rested comfortably on your knee under the table, her thumb tracing lazy circles on your jeans.

It was such a simple touch, yet it sent warmth rushing through your body—followed quickly by that all-too-familiar pang of fear.

You had never been with anyone like that before. No intimate experiences, no firsts. And you had never told Kyra.

You felt embarrassed, afraid that it would change the way she saw you. So you buried it deep beneath layers of excuses and avoidance.

You glanced at her, watching as she lit up the room, her laughter infectious.

Kyra was so effortlessly confident, charming, and easygoing, especially around her teammates.

She was known for being a bit of a flirt, a “fuckboy,” if you were being honest. Everyone knew about her reputation—she had been with plenty of women before, everyone teased her about it.

It was not something that bothered you. It was part of what made Kyra who she was—bold, confident, and unapologetically herself.

But when you thought about telling her the truth about your inexperience, about how you had never had your “first time,” the fear of disappointing her crept in. What if she was expecting more from you? What if, when she found out, she pulled away?

You sighed softly, shifting in your seat, the weight of your secret pressing heavily on your chest. Every time things between you and Kyra started to get more heated, you found a way to stop it, to avoid going any further. And each time, it left you wondering how long you could keep this up.

“You okay?” Kyra’s voice pulled you out of your thoughts, her gaze soft but curious as she squeezed your knee gently.

You forced a smile, nodding. “Yeah, I’m good. Just… tired, I guess.”

She narrowed her eyes slightly, as if she wasn’t quite convinced, but she didn’t press. Instead, she leaned in closer, her lips brushing your ear as she whispered, “Let me know if you need to head out early, okay? I don’t want to keep you if you’re not feeling it.”

Her concern made your heart swell, but it also added to the guilt. She was always so patient, so considerate, and yet, you had been hiding this huge part of yourself from her.

You nodded again, giving her hand a small squeeze in return. “Thanks, Kyra. I’m okay, though. Just trying to keep up with all the energy here.”

She grinned, her teasing nature surfacing once more. “Yeah, they can be a lot. But if it gets too much, I’m all yours.”

Her words hung in the air, innocent on the surface, but they reminded you of the countless times you had felt her hands on you, the heat between you intensifying, only for you to pull away at the last second.

Kyra had never pushed, never demanded more than you were willing to give, but you wondered how much longer that would last before she started to question if something was wrong.

The anxiety crept in again as you looked at her—at her easy smile, her relaxed posture, her confidence. It was just one more reminder of how different your experiences were and how much you feared losing her because of it.

——

It had been a few weeks ago, after a quiet dinner at her place. The two of you cuddled up on the couch, the dim light from the television casting a soft glow around the room.

The smell of the homemade pasta Kyra had cooked lingered in the air, creating a cozy atmosphere that felt intimate and safe. You could hear the gentle background music from the film, but it barely registered as your focus shifted entirely to her.

Kyra had her arm draped over your shoulders, her body warm and inviting against yours. The softness of her skin against your arm sent a thrill through you, and you found yourself leaning into her, seeking that warmth.

She shifted slightly, her hand resting on your thigh, her thumb stroking the soft skin just beneath the hem of your shorts.

The simple touch ignited a rush of warmth that coursed through your veins, but it was accompanied by an unsettling knot of anxiety in your stomach.

You could feel the tension rising between you, the movie forgotten as her touch grew more deliberate. Your heart pounded in your chest, a steady drumbeat of fear and excitement as she leaned in closer.

You felt her lips brush against your neck, soft and teasing, sending a shiver down your spine that made it hard to think straight. Every nerve in your body was alive, and you could feel the heat radiating from her as her fingers slipped under the fabric of your shorts, inching higher.

“I’ve been thinking about this all night,” she murmured against your skin, her voice low and husky, dripping with desire.

The thrill of her words made your head spin, but just as quickly, panic surged through you. Her hand slid further up your thigh, and you felt your breath hitch in your throat, caught between longing and fear.

Your mind screamed at you to stop her, the reality of your inexperience crashing down like a wave.

“Kyra, wait,” you blurted out, pulling away just as her fingers grazed the edge of your underwear, your pulse racing.

She froze, her brow furrowing in confusion, the playful glint in her eyes replaced by concern. “What’s wrong?”

The weight of her question hung in the air, and you scrambled for an excuse, the heat creeping up your cheeks in embarrassment. “I—I just remembered, I need to get up early tomorrow. Work stuff.” The words felt hollow as they left your lips.

Kyra blinked, clearly thrown off by the sudden change in mood. The moment stretched on, filled with unspoken tension as she hesitated for a moment, her hand retreating slowly. “Oh. Yeah, sure. No worries.”

You could see the flicker of disappointment in her eyes, and it pierced through your guilt like a knife.

The relief of avoiding a more intimate situation washed over you just as quickly, but it came with the heavy realization that you had just pushed her away again. You felt safe, for now, but deep down, you knew it couldn’t go on like this forever.

For weeks, you had been making excuses and avoiding her advances. At first, Kyra hadn’t pushed; she never pressured you or asked any questions. You appreciated her understanding, but now you sensed a troubling shift. You could see her pulling back.

During one quiet evening together, you sat across from her, watching as she absently twirled the straw in her drink, her eyes distant and unfocused.

The warm glow of the candle between you felt more like a barrier than a bridge, and the familiar warmth that used to envelop you both seemed to evaporate.

She no longer leaned closer, her laughter no longer filled the air with joy. Instead, the silence felt heavy, each moment stretching on painfully.

You noticed how she had stopped initiating any physical contact—no kisses to greet you, no playful nudges, and no lingering touches that once ignited sparks between you.

Every time she shifted away or wrapped her arms around herself, it pierced through you, a reminder of how far apart you felt.

The space between you grew, not just physically but emotionally, too, leaving you feeling more alone than ever.

You tried to engage her, to pull her back into the warmth you once shared, but every attempt seemed to fall flat.

Her laughter felt strained, her smiles not quite reaching her eyes. You could sense a wall between you, one that you were powerless to break down.

The intimate conversations that once flowed effortlessly turned into awkward exchanges, filled with pauses that left you questioning everything.

The anxiety churned in your stomach, a constant reminder that something was wrong. With each passing day, the worry festered, consuming your thoughts. You couldn’t shake the feeling that she was growing tired of you—of being with someone who couldn’t meet her needs.

The realization crushed you. You felt inadequate, as if you were failing her in some fundamental way.

Your heart ached as you imagined Kyra out there, surrounded by women who could give her what she wanted—someone who could be everything you weren’t.

The thought of her moving on, of finding someone who could satisfy her, tormented you. You could envision her with someone else, someone more experienced, and the idea made you want to cry.

You longed for her touch, for the connection that once felt so effortless, but every time you tried to bridge the gap, she seemed to retreat further.

The uncertainty loomed over you like a storm cloud, darkening your thoughts and filling you with dread. You felt trapped, caught between your desire to reach out and the fear that she would only pull away more.

As you sat in silence, watching her gaze drift away, you felt the tears prick at your eyes. You were losing her, and there was nothing you could do to stop it. The weight of your sadness hung heavy in the air, a constant reminder of the rift that had formed between you.

——

Tonight, the team celebrated a big win, and you found yourself at a bar with them. The atmosphere buzzed with energy—loud music, laughter, and cheers filled the air, creating the perfect backdrop to get lost in the revelry. But amidst the excitement, an unsettling feeling clung to you, refusing to let go.

You sat off to the side, nursing a drink, your eyes drifting toward Kyra. She stood near the bar, animatedly chatting with her teammates, her laughter ringing out like music.

Yet, even as she smiled, you noticed a flicker of something distant in her eyes. A knot tightened in your chest. “Is this because of me?”

For weeks now, she hadn’t tried to take things further, and every casual touch felt like a reminder of the invisible barrier that had formed between you—one that you had inadvertently put up. Why can’t I just tell her the truth?

You took a sip of your drink, the cool liquid doing little to soothe the heat of anxiety rising within you.

What if she’s tired of waiting? What if she’s already thinking about someone else—someone who can give her what you can’t? The thoughts spiraled, each one more painful than the last.

Just as you were about to look away, something caught your eye—a tall, confident brunette approaching Kyra with an easy smile.

Your heart dropped as you watched her sidle up to Kyra, laughing at something she said. The way she leaned in close, brushing her hand against Kyra’s arm, felt like a punch to the gut.

You knew deep down that Kyra would never cheat on you; she had always made her commitment clear. Yet seeing this girl flirt so openly, touching her in ways that made your heart race with jealousy, sent your mind reeling.

What if this girl can give Kyra what you’re too afraid to? What if Kyra is realizing she doesn’t want to wait anymore?

You couldn’t stand it any longer. Kyra wasn’t flirting back, but she wasn’t pushing her away either, and that tiny flicker of uncertainty was enough to send your thoughts spiraling. Panic clawed at your throat, choking you. You gripped your drink tightly, knuckles whitening, feeling the urge to flee.

“Hey, you okay?” Alessia approached you, concern etched across her face.

“Yeah, I’m fine,” you replied too quickly, forcing a smile that didn’t quite reach your eyes. “Just… tired, I guess.”

She nodded, but you could tell she didn’t believe you. You forced yourself to look back at Kyra, only to see the brunette lean in even closer, whispering something in Kyra’s ear that made her laugh. It was the kind of laugh that cut through you like a knife.

Without thinking, you grabbed your jacket, your heart racing as you slipped out of the bar before anyone noticed. The world outside felt cold and unforgiving, but it was nothing compared to the storm brewing inside you.

Tears blurred your vision as you rushed out of the bar, each step feeling heavier than the last.

How could you face Kyra now? You couldn’t bear the thought of confronting her, not when the weight of your fear and insecurity felt suffocating. You were convinced she was going to leave you, and the thought was unbearable.

——

As you stumbled through the door of your apartment, the silence engulfed you, starkly contrasting the noise of the bar.

You collapsed onto the couch, your heart racing and tears streaming down your cheeks. What if this was the moment you had dreaded all along? What if this was the end?

Shaking off the emotional haze, you made your way to your bedroom, determined to pack a bag.

If Kyra was going to leave you, you might as well make it easy for her. You didn’t want to wait around for her to realize she was done with you.

While shoving clothes into your suitcase, you heard the front door swing open.

“Y/N?” Kyra’s voice was filled with concern as she rushed into the room. “What’s going on? Why did you leave?”

You froze, hands trembling as you tried to wipe away your tears. You didn’t want to face her like this. “I can’t do this anymore, Kyra.”

Kyra stepped closer, confusion knitting her brow. “Do what? What are you talking about?”

Avoiding her gaze, you could barely choke out the words. “I saw you with that girl at the bar. She was all over you.”

Her expression softened as she registered your hurt. “Wait—no, Y/N, it wasn’t like that! I swear, I was trying to get her to back off. I told her I have a girlfriend!”

“I know,” you whispered, your voice barely audible. “But that doesn’t change anything. You don’t try with me anymore. You don’t touch me. You don’t want me.”

Kyra’s eyes widened, disbelief etched on her face. She took a step closer, her hands instinctively reaching for you. “What? No, that’s not true. I want you. I’ve always wanted you.”

You shook your head, pulling away from her touch. “Then why? Why don’t you try anymore? Why don’t you push like you used to?”

Kyra hesitated, her hands dropping to her sides as she searched for words. “I didn’t want to push you if you weren’t ready. I thought maybe you needed more time.”

Tears spilled down your cheeks once more, and the truth escaped in a shaky breath. “It’s not that I’m not ready. I’m just scared. I’ve never done any of this before. I didn’t know how to tell you.”

Her eyes softened, a mixture of understanding and concern flooding her expression. “You’ve never…?”

You nodded, biting your lip. “I’ve never been with anyone. I didn’t know how to tell you. I thought you’d be disappointed or leave me because I’m not… enough.”

Kyra stepped forward again, pulling you into her arms, her voice thick with emotion. “Oh, Y/N, why didn’t you tell me? You should’ve trusted me with this.”

“I was embarrassed,” you murmured against her chest. “You’ve been with so many women. I didn’t want you to think I wasn’t good enough for you.”

Kyra cupped your face gently, her thumb brushing away your tears. “Listen to me. You are more than enough. I don’t care about your past or your experience—or lack of it. I’m with you because I love you, not because of what you think you can give me.”

Your breath hitched in your throat. “You… love me?”

“Of course I do,” she replied, her smile warm and reassuring. "I’ve loved you for a while now. I just didn’t want to rush you into anything before you were ready."

The weight of her words settled heavily in the air. You stared at her, trying to absorb the reality of what she was saying. Love. She loves you.

The knot in your chest began to loosen, but emotions swirled around in its place—relief, fear, gratitude.

“I didn’t know,” you whispered, trembling. “I was so scared, Kyra. Scared you’d leave me for someone who… someone who could give you what I can’t.”

Kyra frowned, her hands firm on your shoulders. “Babe, I’m not with you because of that. I don’t care about sex. I care about you.” She leaned in, placing a tender kiss on your forehead.

“I just want to be with you, no matter how long it takes for you to feel comfortable. I’ll wait for as long as you need.”

A tear slipped down your cheek, this time from relief. You reached up, brushing it away as you locked eyes with Kyra. There was no judgment or frustration in her gaze—only love. It was overwhelming.

“I’m sorry,” you breathed. “I should’ve told you. I didn’t mean to push you away.”

Kyra shook her head. “You don’t have to apologize. I just wish you knew how much I care about you. I’d never leave you over something like this. We’ll take things at your pace, okay?”

You nodded, feeling a weight lift from your heart. “Okay.”

For a moment, you stood together, Kyra’s arms around you, her warmth a cocoon. You felt safe, more than you had in weeks. The vulnerability of the moment felt like a release, as if all the walls you’d built were crumbling down.

After a bit, Kyra brushed a lock of hair behind your ear. “Do you want to sit down and talk some more? We don’t have to figure everything out tonight, but I want to make sure we’re on the same page.”

Taking a shaky breath, you nodded. “Yeah, I’d like that.”

The two of you settled on the edge of the bed, Kyra’s hand resting on your knee, providing a constant reminder of her presence.

Her thumb drew soothing circles, and you felt the love in her touch. You weren’t sure where to start, but Kyra patiently waited for you to find the words.

“I think… I’ve been scared because I’ve never done any of this before,” you admitted, your voice soft yet steady. “I don’t know what to expect. And with you… you’re so confident, and I feel like I don’t know how to measure up. You’ve been with people before, and I’m just… afraid I’ll disappoint you.”

Kyra’s expression softened further, her hand squeezing your knee gently. “Y/N, I don’t care about how much experience you have. That’s not why I’m with you. I’m with you because I love who you are, not because of some expectation. When we’re ready—when *you’re* ready—it’ll be perfect, just because it’s with you.”

Letting her words sink in, the anxiety that had burdened you for so long started to dissipate. “But what if I… what if I don’t know what to do? What if I mess up?”

Kyra chuckled softly, leaning in to press a kiss to your cheek. “Babe, there’s no ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ when it comes to this. It’s about being together, learning together. I’ll guide you, and we’ll figure it out as we go. There’s no pressure.”

Your cheeks flushed at her reassurance, but this time, it felt comforting rather than shameful. “You’d really wait for me? As long as it takes?”

Kyra’s gaze softened as she took your hands in hers. “Of course I would. I’m not going anywhere. I’m all in with you, Y/N. I’ll wait for as long as you need.”

The sincerity in her voice washed over you like a warm tide. You hadn’t realized how much you’d been holding back or how fear had controlled your actions.

But with Kyra’s reassurance, it felt like you could finally breathe again.

“I love you, too,” you whispered, the words tumbling out as if they’d been waiting to escape. You hadn’t planned on saying it, but it felt right—authentic.

Kyra’s eyes lit up at your confession, a genuine smile breaking across her face. “I love you, Y/N.”

She leaned in slowly, giving you time to pull away if you needed, but you didn’t. You met her halfway, your lips pressing softly against hers.

The kiss was gentle and sweet, and this time, there was no fear behind it—only the warmth of her love and the comfort of knowing she wasn’t going anywhere.

When you finally pulled back, your foreheads rested against each other, and a smile spread across your face. “I’m still scared,” you admitted quietly, “but I’m ready to try… when the time is right.”

Kyra smiled back, her hand gently cupping your cheek. “We’ll take it one step at a time. There’s no rush. I’m not going anywhere.”

——

The days that followed felt different. A newfound openness blossomed between you and Kyra, the weight lifted from your relationship.

No longer did you feel the need to hide your insecurities; Kyra, true to her word, never pushed you for more than you were ready for. She was patient, kind, and always willing to talk things through if you needed it.

One evening, you found yourselves curled up on Kyra’s bed, watching another movie. Kyra’s arm draped comfortably around your shoulders, her fingers gently playing with the ends of your hair.

The movie played on, but your focus remained on her—on the way she looked at you, the warmth of her touch.

Without thinking, you leaned in and pressed a soft kiss to her lips. Kyra responded instantly, her hand cradling the back of your neck as the kiss deepened.

Your heart raced, but this time it wasn’t from fear. It was from desire—desire for the person you loved, the person who loved you back just as fiercely.

Kyra pulled back slightly, searching your eyes for any signs of hesitation. “You okay?”

“Yeah,” you breathed, feeling a warmth spread through your chest. “I’m good.”

Her smile widened, and she leaned in for another kiss. This time, you surrendered to the moment completely, allowing yourself to feel every sensation—the softness of her lips, the warmth of her body pressed against yours.

There was no panic, no anxiety; just the bliss of being exactly where you were meant to be, with the person you were meant to be with.

As you kissed, Kyra’s hand slid down to your waist, pulling you closer. You could feel the tension that had built up inside you dissipating, replaced by a sense of safety and acceptance.

When you finally pulled back, your foreheads touched again, and you couldn’t help but smile. “This feels nice.”

“Doesn’t it?” Kyra replied, her thumb brushing against your cheek. “We can take our time. I just want you to feel comfortable.”

You nodded, feeling grateful for her understanding. “I really appreciate that, Kyra. It means a lot to me.”

“Always,” she said softly. “You’re worth it.”

There was a pause, the weight of her words settling in. You took a deep breath, feeling a newfound sense of courage. “Can I ask you something?”

“Of course. Anything.”

“What if… what if I want to explore more? With you, I mean?” Your heart raced as you spoke, the idea both thrilling and terrifying.

Kyra’s expression brightened. “Really? You want to?”

“Yeah,” you said, a shy smile creeping onto your face. “I think I do, but I don’t know where to start.”

Kyra’s eyes sparkled with excitement, but there was also an undeniable tenderness in her gaze. “Then we’ll take it slow together. Just tell me what you’re comfortable with, and we’ll figure it out as we go. I promise it’ll be special, just for us.”

You felt a surge of warmth at her words, a mix of excitement and relief washing over you. “I’d like that. I really would.”

“Great,” Kyra said, her grin infectious. “How about we start with something simple? Just cuddling or kissing a bit more, and then we can see where it goes from there?”

“Sounds perfect,” you replied, feeling a flutter of anticipation in your stomach.

“Okay, then,” she said playfully, shifting to get more comfortable on the bed. “Come here.”

You got on top of her, feeling her warmth envelop you as she wrapped her arms around your waist.

You both settled into a comfortable rhythm, exchanging soft kisses and gentle touches. Each kiss ignited something inside you, awakening desires you hadn’t fully acknowledged before.

“See? This isn’t so bad, is it?” Kyra teased, her eyes twinkling.

“No, it’s amazing,” you admitted, a smile breaking across your face. “I’m ready. I want to take this step.”

Kyra’s expression softened as she looked at you. “Are you sure?” she asked, her fingers gently caressing your back, grounding you in the moment.

You leaned in and pressed a quick kiss to her lips, feeling a surge of confidence. “I am. I trust you.”

With that, she shifted your positions, settling herself on top of you, a warm presence that felt right.

“Just let me know if you ever feel uncomfortable, and I’ll stop, okay?” she said, her voice laced with concern.

“Okay,” you replied, the reassurance in her tone calming your nerves.

Kyra leaned down, starting to kiss your neck softly. The sensation sent shivers down your spine, and you found yourself relaxing into her touch. As she continued, her kisses became deeper, her lips trailing and occasionally licking and sucking, sending a rush of heat through you.

As Kyra gently sucked on your neck, an embarrassing loud moan escaped your lips before you could even think to hold it back.

“Hmmm, that was hot,” she murmured, pulling back just enough to look into your eyes, a playful glimmer of mischief and warmth dancing in her gaze. “I didn’t know you had that side to you.”

A rush of warmth flooded through you at her words, the sound of your own desire emboldening you to lean into the moment even more.

“Just wait and see,” you teased, a playful grin spreading across your face.

Kyra’s smile broadened as she leaned back in, her kisses trailing lower, igniting a spark of sensation with each soft brush of her lips. She moved with a mix of tenderness and excitement that made your heart race.

Her kisses traveled down your neck and across your collarbone, each one a feather-light caress that set warmth blooming in your chest.

Pausing for a moment, she met your gaze, her eyes searching for any hint of hesitation. When you smiled back at her, she visibly relaxed, her confidence blooming.

With gentle fingers, she slid her hands under your shirt, fingertips grazing your sides.

The sensation sent a thrilling wave of anticipation through you, and you held your breath as she slowly lifted your shirt, exposing your skin to her hungry gaze.

The absence of a bra left you feeling both exposed and exhilarated, yet Kyra’s admiration enveloped you in warmth.

“Wow,” she breathed, her eyes sparkling as she took in the sight before her. “You’re absolutely beautiful.”

Heat rushed to your cheeks at her words, a flutter of butterflies in your stomach as she leaned in closer, her hands tracing along your sides.

Her fingers danced across your skin, and you instinctively leaned into her touch, reveling in the mix of vulnerability and exhilaration.

Kyra’s hands moved with both purpose and a softness that made you feel cherished.

She explored every curve, her fingers brushing against your waist and lingering just above your hips, creating a connection that sent shivers coursing through you.

“Is this okay?” she asked softly, her voice a low whisper, laced with genuine concern.

“Yeah,” you replied, your voice barely audible. “It feels… really nice.”

Encouraged by your response, Kyra leaned in again, capturing your lips in a kiss that began gentle but quickly deepened.

The heat between you intensified, the air thick with unspoken desires.

As she kissed you, her hands roamed further, tracing delicate patterns along your skin, igniting every nerve ending and leaving you breathless.

She pulled back slightly, searching your eyes. “Just let me know if you need to pause. I want to make sure you’re comfortable.”

You smiled, warmth flooding your chest at her care and attentiveness. “I want this, Kyra. I really do.”

With your reassurance, she leaned down again, her lips trailing softly down your body. Pausing to admire your chest, she looked up at you, her expression a mixture of desire and reverence.

“Can I touch you?” she asked, her voice a gentle murmur, seeking your permission.

You nodded, feeling a thrill at her question. “Yes, please.”

With a tender smile, she reached out, her fingers brushing softly against your chest, each caress sending warmth radiating through your body.

Kyra leaned down, kissing her way across your chest, and as her lips moved lower, she did so with a tenderness that made your heart race.

She paused, gazing up at you, her eyes shimmering with affection, before her fingers danced along the waistband of your pants.

“Can I?” she asked softly, a hint of uncertainty in her voice, seeking your consent.

You nodded, your breath hitching as she slowly undid the button and eased your pants down, revealing more of your skin to her tender touch.

The cool air brushed against you, heightening your senses, but Kyra’s warm hands soon followed, gliding across your thighs in gentle caresses.

With every touch, you felt a mix of vulnerability and exhilaration.

She took her time, exploring you with a reverence that made you feel cherished.

Her hands slid further, fingers brushing against your hips as she leaned in, placing soft kisses along your inner thigh.

Each kiss sent sparks of warmth through you, causing your breath to catch.

“Y/N,” she murmured, her voice low and husky, “you’re incredible.”

Your heart swelled at her words, the way she looked at you making you feel seen in a way you had never experienced before.

You could feel her desire, wrapped in a blanket of affection that made everything feel safe.

“Kyra,” you whispered, feeling the tension and excitement building between you. “I—”

“Shh, just breathe,” she interrupted gently, her fingers continuing their exploration, brushing lightly over your skin, lingering just above where you craved her touch the most.

The way she caressed you was electrifying, making you arch into her, craving more.

“Let me take care of you,” she whispered, her voice filled with warmth and promise.

You let out a soft sigh, the intimacy of the moment wrapping around you like a comforting embrace.

It was a feeling you never wanted to end, the connection between you deepening with each passing second.

In that moment, it was just the two of you—lost in each other, exploring the boundaries of your relationship in a way that felt right, filled with trust and love.

——

You let out a loud moan as Kyra helped you ride out the waves of your orgasm, the sensations lingering like an electric current through your body. After a few moments, she returned from between your legs, trailing gentle kisses across your skin, her lips exploring every inch of you until they finally met yours.

You smiled at her, the afterglow evident in your eyes as you kissed her softly.

“How was it?” she asked, rubbing your noses together playfully, her gaze filled with warmth and curiosity.

“Incredibly,” you breathed, the simple word carrying the weight of your experience.

Her smile widened, a mix of pride and joy lighting up her face. “I’m glad you enjoyed yourself,” she replied, leaning in for another sweet kiss, her lips lingering as if savoring the moment.

“Thank you for being so amazing,” you added, the affection in your voice unmistakable.

Kyra chuckled softly, brushing a strand of hair behind your ear. “It’s easy when it’s with you. I want you to feel cherished.”

Her words wrapped around you like a warm blanket, and you couldn’t help but lean into her touch, feeling safe and adored. The connection between you deepened, creating an intimacy that felt as tender as it was exhilarating.

“Do you want to relax for a bit?” she asked, her tone shifting to one of gentle care. “I can run us a bath to unwind and keep the moment going.”

Your heart swelled at her thoughtfulness. “I’d love that,” you replied, grateful for her attention to detail.

With a soft smile, Kyra slid out of bed and made her way to the bathroom, leaving you momentarily basking in the warmth of the experience you’d just shared.

You listened as she turned on the faucet, the sound of water filling the tub blending with the ambient calm of the room.

As she added lavender bath salts, the soothing aroma began to waft through the air. You could hear her humming a soft tune, the sound filled with lightness and joy.

When she called you to join her, you slipped out of bed and followed her into the sanctuary she had created.

The bathroom was bathed in soft candlelight, the flickering flames casting dancing shadows on the walls. The sight was enchanting, and you felt a rush of gratitude for her thoughtfulness.

“Just relax and let the warmth wash over you,” Kyra encouraged as you stepped into the tub, the hot water enveloping you like a comforting embrace.

She settled beside you, her presence a gentle comfort as you both sank into the warmth. As you rested your head against the edge of the tub, Kyra began to wash your hair, her fingers working through your locks with a tenderness that made you melt.

“This is perfect,” you sighed, feeling the stress of the day fade away.

Kyra smiled, her gaze soft and affectionate. “You deserve this,” she replied, rinsing the shampoo away and leaning down to press a soft kiss to your forehead.

“I love you,” Kyra murmured against your forehead.

“I love you too,” you replied, drawing her into a gentle, passionate kiss.

In that moment, everything felt right, and the bond between you only deepened, the intimacy transforming into a beautiful, serene connection that made you feel more at home than ever.

FIN

[forgettingcrowbin]

Final prizes for my dtiys, once again I’m so sorry it took so long, but thank you for everyone for being patient. It means so much to me to have such encouraging people around me ❤️❤️

[runawaycatwalker]

Part 24. Misaligned Approaches (Oni-Chan 2.0, part A)

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Bonus: The bread lesson Rolland teaches Adrien immediately before this page takes place that I had to cut to save space.

Description below the cut

Alya sits on Marinette’s chaise lounge looking at her phone.  Marinette looks upwards, clenching her fists in vindication.

Alya: Preliminary results about Catwalker are in.  Verdict: Pretty skeevy.

Marinette: I knew it!  Tell me everything!

Alya scrolls through the messages on her phone.

Alya: My informant doesn't have any concrete evidence yet and most of this is just vibes, but...

Alya: Catwalker did specifically mention you by name.

Marinette: What??

Alya: When confronting my informant, Catwalker got defensive and asked if 'someone Marinette knows' sent them.

Marinette places her hand on Alya’s shoulder, looking shaken.  Alya looks up at her with a look of uneasiness.

Marinette: Does that mean he knows you're Rena?

Alya: Or he might be on the verge of discovering your identity.  Either way, I'm certainly not comfortable working alongside him anymore.

From behind, we see Marinette hold a hand up to the sky and clench her other hand in a fist in resolution.

Marinette: Because of Mayura we can't just fire him, but we can contain him.  We'll rely on the rest of the team for all battles and restrict his interactions with everyone.  If he steps out of line, all bets are off and we treat him like he's another akuma.  And we keep investigating.  I just know that he's up to something terrible right now and we've got to put a stop to it!

Rolland shuts a book between his hands entitled Pain.  Adrien holds up a hand and offers a wishful grin.  Behind them is the cabinet of things in Rolland’s living room, including the Lost flyer of Adrien, which is draped over a box.

Rolland: So: Shall we bake?

Adrien: I sure wouldn't mind if you showed me how to make baguettes...

Rolland: Bahaha!  Baguettes!  You are in no way ready to bake baguettes!  No, we start with something far more traditional: the boule!

Rolland holds up a finger.

Rolland: But first: you must wash your hands.

Adrien: Of course!

Rolland: And take off that ring.

Adrien: Wh—what's wrong with my ring?

Rolland grab’s Adrien’s hand and points at the indentations in his ring.

Rolland: Just look at it!  Flour is going to collect in all of those crevices!  It is much simpler to just take off your ring while baking.

Adrien looks at his miraculous in thought.  Behind him is the sink with the handle of a knife poking out of it.

Adrien (internally): I shouldn't take any chances of being caught without wearing my miraculous.  But maybe if I don't stop wearing it...?

Adrien kneels on the ground and uses a knife to cut through the front rubber part of his shoe.

Rolland: What are you doing?

Adrien: Making a hole in my shoe! If I can't wear my ring on my finger... I can still have easy access by slipping it on my toe instead!

Adrien turns his knife aside and uses his other hand to slip his miraculous through the new hole in his shoe.  Rolland’s hand reaches down from above dangerously close to the knife.

Rolland: You are using one of my knives to cut through rubber?!

Adrien: I'll clean it after I'm done, don't worry.

Rolland: That is not the point!

The knife’s edge cuts the back of Rolland’s hand.

Rolland: Give that b—Aaack!

Adrien touches his hands to the bottom of his face.  One hand is still holding the knife, which now has a small spot of blood near the tip.

Adrien: I'm so sorry!  I didn't mean to—!  Please don't fire me!

Rolland: Oh, hush.  It's barely a scratch!

Adrien: I'll get the first aid kit!  Where's the first aid kit?  Do you have a first aid kit?

Rolland: I'll handle that without you.

Rolland waves his hand grumpily.

Rolland: You just worry about washing up my knife!  Without cutting anything that is not food this time!

Adrien: Y-yes, sir!

Rolland slams the doors between the kitchen and living room shut, so that Adrien is alone in the kitchen and Rolland is alone with his collectibles.

Rolland (internally): Don't lose your temper, Rolland.  Baldy's still a child.  He's probably never been in a kitchen before.  Whoever raised him had no idea how it's done.  Teaching him that is your job now.

Rolland digs through the box on his cabinet, one hand picking up the Lost flyer to move it out of the way.  As he does so, Oni-Chan teleports behind him with her sword pointed over his shoulder.

Rolland (internally): Now where did I put those banda—?

Oni-Chan: Where are you keeping Adrien Agreste?

Oni-Chan grabs Rolland’s shirt and holds her sword above his head threateningly.  Rolland is still holding onto the flyer and looks panicked.

Rolland: Aahhh!

Oni-Chan: Tell me where Adrien is before I strike you right where you stand!

Rolland: You mean the missing angel boy?  I don't know!  What does a Chinese monster want with him?

Oni-Chan swings her sword.

Oni-Chan: I'm not a monster!

Rolland has now become frozen in place, covered in splotches of white, red, and black.  Oni-Chan stands behind him, looking back over her shoulder.

Oni-Chan: If anyone else stands in my way, they're getting petrified too.  And for the record, I'm Japanese.

Oni-Chan kicks down the doors into the kitchen.  No one is there, only a slight movement of the window drapes in the background.

Oni-Chan: Hi-yaaah!  Shadowmoth!  He's not here!

Shadowmoth (over akuma connection): The old man must have seen Adrien somewhere.

Oni-Chan: The only sign of Adrien anywhere is on the flyer that man was looking at!  Wait...

Oni-Chan, a butterfly light mask in front of her face showing her communication with Shadowmoth, grabs the Lost flyer and slices through Adrien’s face with her sword.

Oni-Chan: I was promised the ability to track the last person who saw Adrien, but these powers sent me to someone who was just looking at an Adrien picture!

Oni-Chan throws up her hand in frustration.  There is also a closeup of Shadowmoth (also with the butterfly light mask) from his lair, holding out a hand negotiatingly.

Oni-Chan: Do you have any idea how many people are looking at pictures of Adrien?

Shadowmoth: Millions every day.  ...I presume.

Oni-Chan: I will not sift through millions of people merely because you gave me unusable powers!

Shadowmoth: Would you rather I take your powers away and leave you without any leads at all?

Oni-Chan: No!  No, I'll keep my akuma.  But I'm not going to try to get Ladybug and Catwalker's miraculouses for you until after I find Adrien.  You want me to help you?  You help me first.

Shadowmoth: I could create a sentimonster to destroy all instances of Adrien's image until you find the real one.

Oni-Chan: Then do that!

Shadowmoth: I'll need time to prepare the amok.

Oni-Chan starts to teleport away, her expression resolute.

Oni-Chan: Well, I'm not wasting my time waiting.  Have your sentimonster summon me when it's ready.

Cut to Adrien and Plagg outside Rolland’s residence, watching as the light of Oni-Chan’s teleport flashes through the window curtains.  Adrien still has the knife and replaces his miraculous back on his ring finger.

Adrien: Do you think Oni-Chan really came here because Rolland saw me on Marinette's flyer?

Plagg: Probably not.  Akuma powers usually work however the akuma expects them to and Rolland was the last person to see you.

Adrien: But her expectations just changed.  So maybe people seeing pictures of Adrien will be tracked by her powers now?

Plagg: Even if you do turn out to be that lucky, you're still better off being Catwalker instead of Adrien.

Adrien: Right.  Plagg, claws out!

--

Bonus Scene:

Rolland holds up a hand invitingly.

Rolland: Baldy, you have returned from your morning walk!  Now we can begin your lessons in flour!

Adrien: Yeah, okay.

Rolland: What do you mean 'okay'?  I thought you wanted to be my apprentice?

Adrien pulls off his beanie, looking discouraged.

Adrien: Sorry, I just saw a friend and he... Never mind.  It's nothing.

Rolland: Nothing?

Adrien: Bread is the most important thing, right?  Teach me everything I need to know.  I'm... ready.

Rolland: You are not quite ready yet.  First...

Cut to Adrien taking a bite of bread, happily going ‘nom! nom! nom!’.

Rolland: ...You must eat!

Adrien: Ooh!

Rolland: It's from yesterday, but it is better than nothing!  We French know the value of bread, for we remember the days when we did not have it!

Rolland holds up the book Pain : pour les enfants! and reads to Adrien as he finishes his bread.

Rolland: This is today's lesson: how wheat shortage caused the Revolution!  Wheat gives us flour, flour gives us bread, and bread is life!  And when the wheat harvests failed, we survived by eating whatever awful bread from bran we could afford—if we could even afford that!

Rolland points to a picture of Marie Antoinette holding a purple rose in the book, which has the caption “Qu'ils mangent de la brioche”.

Rolland: But who wasn't starving?  The nobility!  They still ate fancy Viennese breads made with refined white flour!  And while France suffered, Marie Antoinette had the gall to tell us ‘Let them eat cake!’

Adrien holds up a correcting finger.

Adrien: Isn't that quote apocryphal?

Rolland: What?

Adrien: No one ever verified that it was Marie Antoinette who said that.  And even if she did, she would have been just a kid at the time.

Rolland: Bah!  That’s not important!

Rolland holds up the book in front of his face.  On one page, a pie chart with 75% blé (wheat) and 25% seigle (rye).  On the other page is a guillotine surrounded by bread and centering the French flag, below which is the caption “Pain d'égalité”.

Rolland: The point is that the people of France revolted because of this, because of bread!  And once we got rid of those pesky nobles, France could have one bread: the bread of equality!  It would be made from all our grains, from wheat to rye, and everyone would eat it!

Adrien: Sounds much simpler.

Rolland: Very simple!  But it wasn't to be.  People still want their fancy flour.

Rolland holds up his wooden peel in one hand and his metal peel in the other in a pose reminiscent of the painting Liberty Leading the People.

Rolland: But once there was no more shortage of wheat, the government decreed that bakers must follow strict rules.  You want to make a baguette?  It must be the right size and made with the right ingredients!  You run a boulangerie?  You must make your bread on-site!  And you must never close shop without warning!  We do this so no one will suffer the pains of being forced to eat terrible bread—or no bread—ever again!  Because here in France, that is how it is done!  So: shall we bake?

Below are the same images as above, only without text:

[unfunnyaceartist]

Me when @kovox

[slotmachines-fearofgod]

NEXT CHAPTER OF BRICK BY BRICK IS UP RAHHH GO CHECK IT OUT THE WAIT IS OVER!!!

[luderailing]

Tolys Laurinaitis. That’s what they called him.

(Woah!!!! Art!!! Sorry it’s been a few everyone I had a bit of a busy week<33)

[shima-draws]

By thee way I am planning on reopening commissions soon! I’m moving out in a couple months so I need to start saving up for the cost of that plus the deposit and all that fun stuff. So keep an eye out ;)

[the-kipsabian]

Chuck/Kip 👀👀👀👀👀

I need more information

they had such good content together before kips injury ough

its been a while since i thought about it but theres some quality moments with these two. tbh the entire "charles the butler" thing for the wedding. there were a part in that feud where chuck dragged kip from ringside to the back for like a solid ten minutes and then they both just returned completely refreshed like nothing ever happened when that match ended (which i believe was miro vs trent?) (but like what were they doing back there all that time? surely not fighting based on the way they ran back...). pretty much every match with them is An Experience

also theres the match with kip vs kenny from dark where chuck was in commentary and he called kip cute like i cant stress this enough CHUCK CALLED HIM A CUTIE (i actually did write a whole fic around that one cause brainworms were STRONG)

i have more posts about this somewhere if i remember when i went on a tangent about this so i can try to search for them but there is a handful of fics about them in the ao3 tag!! cause god the obsession was short lived in the moment (tho i still think about them at times) but man it really hit hard ough

[vegasandhishedgehog]

Am I currently sobbing because of My School President right now? Yes.

[yukikorogashi]

I got a part time job as Marie Kondo, apparently.

[despairforme]

[lunaetis]

[ i'm going to head to bed, but a little heads up that since new year is approaching, i will be doing a followers clean up before the year ends. i've realized that my motivation to be here had fluctuated due to stress and many other factors, so i'd like to be more selective with who i follow now. it's nothing personal, ofc ! i just get really overwhelmed and pressured quite easily as of late.

the threads clean up will come after that, but i'll prioritize the followers clean up first. i'll do it bit by bit from now to new year. thank you for understanding & i hope you guys have a great day / night ! ]

[lightblueminecraftorchid]

(Context: I am Level 1 autistic and sometimes experience verbal shutdowns)

Things I appreciate someone doing if I’m upset and cannot talk:

- only asking one question at a time

- asking yes/no or binary questions instead of vague ones (Ex: “do you need space?” instead of “what do you need?”)

- being okay with not receiving an answer at all, and moving on (or rephrasing questions if necessary)

- accepting gesture, sign language, and/or AAC without pointing it out as unusual or joking about it

- offering comfort items or distractions, and allowing me to choose whether or not to use them myself

- treating me with respect and not talking down to me; there is a difference between being gentle and treating me like a child

- not assuming that I will regain speech as soon as I feel better

- letting me joke around and participate in conversations without speaking, even when I look happy and calm

- choosing communal activities that are low-key and don’t rely on verbal speech, such as watching a show, painting, or looking at memes together

- understanding if I need space, and leaving me be if I walk away from a conversation or leave suddenly

- letting me use comfort items and stim, even if it looks weird to you

- understanding that saying words =/= having full speech again; I usually regain echolalia before being able to generate my own sentences

[grcveyacd]

/ okay, all starters are officially posted! :)