#again your ocs sound awesome!!

[montammil]

I really feel like Lawrence would fucking hate my ocs.

Tdlr: I really just started thinking about things while reading your blog. (it's a great blog btw!) So, I told you about my musings.

Ellington- Cause he's 1. too old to be his kid (He's in that 25 rn.)

2. Cause he's already famous, his disappearance would be noticed.

3. He's a busy-body, always out doing something.

4. Ellington is kinda assertive

5. Ellington vapes. (Not often but still!)

He wouldn't be interested unless it somehow leaked, he was struck by lightning twice. {That's about to be a bitch to write!}

Rex-Cause while he's a work-a-holic, he still is too old(25). He's also previously had a wife who's deceased. So, like I think Lawrence would feel too connected emotionally.

Also, Rex is famous too. Just like Ellington they're in a deathcore band.

I can't really see how he'd get along with them unless Lawrence was maybe older. But even then, I feel like Lawrence would be that crotchety (grumpy) old man.

Idk, seeing the Luca & Lawrence story made me really start thinking.

Also, they both dress far more revealing than Marshal. I'm talking them wide ass arm holes, no sleeves and ripped jeans. Mainly darker colors.

Also, while Rex might be receptive to the babying in small small amounts, Ellington wouldn't even like the nicknames. {Imagining Larence calling him Elly in a soft voice makes me want to cry & die from laughter though cause while others typically call him that I imagine it wouldn't be reciprocated. y'know?}

Thinking Rex's quiet nature and him being busy-body in the way of being a work-a-holic would make Lawrence consider it.

Also, I think Lawrence might be touched that Rex while still missing his wife (Middle school besties -> high school sweethearts.) moved on from that life and chooses solitude or quiet nights in with his best friend. (He'd totally buy into their dating rumors until Rex got good and fed up. Then he'd be like oh, so they aren't dating but in denial.

(Canonically they're just very affectionate best friends.)

(1/2)

Sorry if this like makes no sense I am not good at concisely putting things. This is just me thinking too deeply. I just wanted to re state that this is just me thinking and not me writing anything..I think you know what I mean but I wanted to just put that disclaimer cause I haven't ever submitted this kinda thing before.

I think Lawrence would like your OC’s, he’d just view it as a challenge to break them down, and though he can get impatient, he would think it’d be all worth it in the end.

Personally I think Lawrence would take a heavier liking to Rex, but I could still view both of them as potential kidnapping material!

The fact of being 25 would also not be too much of a bother on Lawrence, since current Nathan is also 25 and it doesn’t bother him too much. It’s all about the “mental age” to him. 

That’s why Nathan’s anger and stubbornness are seen as childish traits to Lawrence, which is what makes him feel parental, which I think he might see with Ellington (or even Rex). 

I think I could see him wanting both of them, but that’s mainly if they form a connection with him and show vulnerability around him (whether they mean to or not).

Some other things I’d like to add is, Lawrence would hate the fact Ellington vapes, but Nathan smoked, so he’d try to look past the vaping. He has a savior complex, so he’d view it as “saving him from himself”.

Your OCs sound awesome, by the way!! From the way you described both of them, they sound so cool! Feel free if you ever want to share your works with me, privately or not :D

If you decide to write something with Lawrence in it with your OC’s, please don’t be afraid to!! Don’t even be afraid if it’s a little ooc, write him how you perceive him! 

And if not, I still really enjoyed reading this!!

[sleepygaymerdisease]

does henry know that henricus can turn into that cat or is it a secret

thats a good question. it's a secret for like, 2 years (the reason for henri keeping this a secret is a long story LOL) but henry eventually does find out and he thinks its like the most awesome thing ever. because like, henry likes the idea of animals but he is very nervous all the time and doesnt know how to interact with them and he worries that they wont understand him. which is normally true (sad) but henricus going cat mode means that he can get used to the idea of a cat in his house. and henricus trusts henry a lot so he will tenatively accept pets.

[luveline]

if you're still taking them I would love to make a request for Eddie and Roan! do you know how sometimes little kids will call their parents workplace just to talk about the most random things or just ask some totally super important question? I feel like roan would do that with the reader and Eddie

thank you for your request!! eddie and roan —roan learns how to use the phone, 1.3k

Eddie used to feel nervous when the phone rang for him at work. "Call for baby Munson!" shouted across the shop while Eddie was usually flat on his back under a truck or elbow deep in a scooter engine, he'd get this pit in his stomach thinking something was wrong. 

It was usually daycare. Roan's sick, Roan's wet herself and her spare clothes aren't here, is Roan allergic to veggie sticks? Because she's saying she is. 

But nowadays, a phone rings for him and it's almost always you with something nice to say. You miss him. You've been thinking about him. All manner of gooey soft confession that has him clutching the phone like a loser, desperate for your voice. 

He springs away from his lunch when he's called. Darwin gives Eddie a funny look as he passes the phone. 

Eddie shrugs it off. "Hello?" he asks. "Y/N?"

"It's me!" 

Eddie feels his eyebrows leap up. "Hi, me." Roan hadn't ever used the phone unassisted, to his memory. "Where's mom?" 

"She's trying to fix your hair dryer." 

Eddie hears it, then, the roaring blow in the background. "Why does it sound like that?" 

"She dropped it. I think she's sad." 

"Ro, I fixed it!" you shout, followed by an even louder howling of air, and a heavy silence. "Okay, I didn't." 

"Is that why you called me?" Eddie asks, bemused.

"No, I called you because I want to know how they make corndogs. How do they get the hot dog inside of the corn, dad?" 

Eddie puts his hand on the wall to steady himself as he laughs. "You wanna know how they make corndogs? Are you gonna make some?" 

"I could if I knew how!" she stresses. "I'd ask mom, but she's pre-oc-u-pied."

"That's a big word, babe, where'd you learn that one?" Eddie asks, impressed. 

"Dad, corndogs!" 

"Right, right. Okay, well. They put the hot dog on the stick first, and then the corn part is actually batter. They roll the hotdog around in the batter and cook them together in the fryer. So it isn't the hotdog going into the corn, it's actually corn going on the hotdog." 

"Batter like for cakes?"

"No," he laughs fondly. "And it's not sweet corn, babe, it's something called cornmeal. Maybe we can make some this week, wouldn't that be fun? Then you can see how they make them for real. I think that would be super fun."

His bubbly tone attracts the attention and subsequent laughter of his colleague. He throws them all the bird, totally content and more than happy with his life and his curious girl. 

"Yes," Roan cheers, dragging the 's' syllable until she's out of breath, "oh my god that would be so fun!" 

"Okay, then that's what we'll do. Are you being good for mom?" 

"I'm being awesome." There's a weird crunching noise. "Did you hear that? I think she put the screwdriver in the hairdryer again." 

"Again?" Eddie asks worriedly. 

Roan must put the phone down. Eddie genuinely can't hear a thing, until you pick up the receiver and say, "Hallo?" 

"You blowing up the house?" 

You make a pleased noise that has his heart doubling in size. "Hi, Eddie. I'm having a technological mishap, but rest assured, we are in no danger of explosion. Anymore. What did you call for? It's lunch, isn't it?" 

"Actually, Roan called me. She wanted to know how to make corndogs." 

"You do know everything," you say. "Go and eat your lunch, baby. We'll still be here when you get home, yeah? I love you. Roan, come and tell daddy you love him before we hang up." 

A small silence. "Dad?" Roan asks. 

"Yep, still here." 

"I love you, okie dokie? Please come home in an hour."

Eddie laughs warmly. It's more like four hours, but whatever she wants to think is what he'll tell her. "I love you. Tell Y/N I love her, too, will you? Thank you." 

"Yes!" Her voice comes quieter, "I love you," Roan says to you. 

"I love you, too. Let's make dinner." 

You must think he's said goodbye, because the phone gets a knock and the dial tone sounds. 

—

You're sitting at your desk shovelling pretzels into your mouth while you click around your emails when the phone rings. You slide it between your ear and shoulder, pausing your frankly messy chewing. "Hello and good afternoon, Y/N L/N speaking, how can I help?" 

"Y/N?" Roan says worriedly.

"Roan? What's the matter?" 

"Oh, it is you! It didn't sounded like you at first, that's weird." 

"Sorry, gorgeous, I was using my voice for fancy grown ups."

She giggles like this is the funniest thing you've ever said to her, "You're being funny," she praises. 

You're secretly incredibly pleased. Making your six year old laugh never gets old. "So nothing is wrong, then? You know, those numbers on the fridge are for emergencies." 

"This is an emergency." 

"Yeah, I bet. What's going on? Where's dad?" 

"He's making toffee cake for you. I was helping him do the buttercream but my arms got tired from whisking." 

"Is that why you're calling me?" 

"Yeah." 

You dig for a saltier pretzel and chew thoughtfully. "What's the tiredest part? Your shoulders?" 

"And my fingers." 

"Asked daddy to kiss 'em better?" 

"I would but he's trying to be perfect about the cake. It looks yummy." 

"Did you get to lick the bowl?" 

"Yeah, and dad let me eat a spoon of the melted chocolate. It was pretty great." 

You grin into the receiver. "I bet it was amazing. Maybe you can try and rest your poor arms. Make daddy pour you a big glass of cranberry juice with the heart shaped ice cubes and watch TV until I come home, okay? That's an order."

"Okay," she laughs. "When are you coming home?" 

"I can leave in about twenty minutes, and the drive home takes another twenty, so…" You check the time on your computer. "I think by five." 

"Ugh, that's forever away." 

"I know. Do what I said, okay? Sit down on the couch. I can have a little look at your arms when I come home, maybe we can have a pamper night tonight. We can use some of my fancy lotion and rub it in like a massage," you say. 

"That sounds nice," she hums. 

"Alright, sweetheart. Listen, can I talk to dad before I go back to work?" 

"Yep, yep." You know what's coming as soon as she inhales. "Daddy!" she bellows at the top of her lungs, "Y/N's on the phone!" 

It's flattering how swiftly he gets there. "Hey?" he asks. 

"Hi, do we need anything for me to grab on the way home? I know you ran out of deodorant, was there anything else?" 

"Nothing I can think of. You okay?" 

"I'm awesome. I told Ro you'd make her a big cup of juice for her sore arms." 

"She told you about those, huh?" He kisses her audibly. "She's the best mixer ever. I was thinking we'd change her name to kitchen aid." 

You choke on a pretzel. Coughing, you laugh through a chastisement. "You leave her name alone. Roan is a nice name all by itself." 

"If you insist," he says grandly. "See you in an hour? I've got a surprise for you." 

"I can't wait," you say. You'll pretend to be totally surprised at his cake, no problem. Anything to make him smile. "Love you both. See you soon." 

"Love you. Say love you," Eddie prompts. 

"I love you!" Roan yells. "I'll make dad put your blanket in the dryer!" 

You put down the phone with a small smile, wondering if you can weasel your way past your eagle-eyed coworkers for an early finish. 

[wwestrang-fan]

Behind the scenes

Roman Reigns x oc reader

warning : a bit of age gap, some hints angst, reader feeling insecure, (sorry it’s a little angst)

Summary: After his divorce, Roman is determined to focus solely on being himself, dedicating his time to his kids and career. However, everything changes when he unexpectedly bumps into someone special.

Roman walked through the bustling halls of WWE headquarters, a spring in his step as he made his way to Hunter's office. The walls were adorned with iconic photos of wrestling legends, and the energy was electric. Just as he rounded a corner, he collided with someone.

“Whoa, sorry about that!” he exclaimed as he looked, surprised to see a woman standing at his eye level. She had an unmistakable presence, her skin glowing under the bright lights, and her long, ponytail swayed with every movement.

“It’s alright!” she replied, her voice warm but hurried. With a quick, apologetic smile, she sidestepped past him and continued on her way fixing her glasses.

Roman watched her walk away until she disappeared around the corner, a curious smile lingering on his lips. After a moment, he turned and headed into Hunter's office, the sound of his footsteps echoing through the hallway.

“Hey, who was that?” he asked as he settled into a chair.

"Who Hunter glanced up from his paperwork

"That woman that looks like at girl in pearl earring art I saw her on the way here Roman said.

“Oh, that’s the new fashion designer we hired. She’s got some great ideas coming up.”

Roman raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “Fashion designer, huh?

As Roman stepped out of Hunter's office, he spotted his cousins Jey and Jimmy chatting near the bustling entrance of the WWE headquarters. They were both all smiles, their energy infectious.

“Hey, look who decided to grace us with his presence!” Jimmy called out, his playful tone echoing through the hallway.

“Yeah, just wrapped up a meeting. What’s good with you guys?” Roman replied, moving closer.

“Just planning our next moves,” Jey said, crossing his arms. “You know how it is.”

“Speaking of moves,” Roman said, glancing at Jimmy, “where’s your wife? I haven’t seen her around today.”

“Oh, she’s with the new fashion designer,” Jimmy answered. “Getting some ideas for a new look or something.”

As they talked, Roman turned slightly to look down the corridor, just as the fashion designer emerged from a nearby office. They crossed paths once again, and Roman’s eyes widened in surprise.

“Whoa, hey!” he exclaimed, barely managing to sidestep to avoid bumping into her again.

“Sorry! You again!” she said with a laugh, her long curly ponytail bouncing as she stepped back.

Naomi approached the group, her presence radiating warmth. She raised an eyebrow, a playful smile tugging at her lips. “So, you two have already met, huh?”

Roman glanced at the designer, then back at Naomi. “Yeah, just a little bump-in.”

“And a memorable one at that!” the designer chimed in, her smile brightening the moment.

Jey raised an eyebrow at Roman. “Don’t you have to get measured again for that outfit?”

Roman nodded, a slight blush creeping onto his cheeks. “Yeah, I do. I guess I should get that done.”

“Oh, you do! I can do that for you right now,” the fashion designer chimed in, her enthusiasm apparent. “No need to wait!”

“Really? That would be awesome!” Roman replied, his excitement returning as he glanced back and forth between the designer and his cousins.

“See? Offered by the expert right here,” Jey said, turning to Roman with a grin.

“Oh, I aim to please!” he responded.

With that, the designer led Roman to a nearby fitting room, Jey, and Jimmy shared knowing looks and laughed.

In the bright, airy room lined with fabric swatches and mood boards, Roman stood before a large mirror with a tape measure draped around his shoulders. The fashion designer, involved in their fitting, adjusted the measure with a practiced eye.

“Alright, Mr. Reigns, let’s see what we’re working with,” she said, her voice smooth and confident, a hint of excitement in her tone.

“Just Roman is fine,” he responded, trying to lighten the mood. “It’s easier.”

“Okay, just Roman it is,” she replied with a smile, her albino skin glowing under the studio lights.

“So, what’s your name?” Roman asked.

“I’m Pudding. Nice to meet you!” she chirped.

“Pudding? That’s an interesting name,” Roman said, looking at her.

With a playful nod, Pudding explained, “My mom’s a baker, and she has a real passion for sweets. Pudding just felt fitting!”

“Sounds sweet!” Roman laughed, appreciating her backstory.

After a moment of silence, he added with a playful grin, “Has anyone ever told you that you kinda look like at girl in pearl earring art?”

Pudding burst into laughter, her cheeks turning a shade of pink. “Yeah, I’ve heard that comparison a few times!”

“I mean look at you,” he said with a smirk, enjoying the light-hearted banter.

“Thanks i’ll take that as a compliment,” she replied, her cheeks flushed with delight as she continued her measurements, feeling more at ease in his presence.

The playful atmosphere continued as the two chatted while Pudding worked, building an instant connection amid the bustle of the wrestling world.

As Pudding finished adjusting the final measurement, she stepped back with satisfaction. “Alright, all done.”

Roman straightened up, loosening the tension from his shoulders. “Thanks! So, when can I expect the clothes to be finished?”

Pudding glanced at her notes, jotting down a few final details. “I’m aiming for about a weeks. I want to make sure everything fits perfectly and looks amazing.”

“That’s not too long” Roman replied, a hint of excitement evident in his tone. “Will I get a chance to see any sketches before then?”

“Sure I’ll send you some drafts once I get the initial designs laid out. It’s important to me that you’re involved in the process,” she said.

Roman leaned against the table, a bit more serious. “That nice.

“Don’t forget to check your messages! Hunter will send updates as I go along,” Pudding called after him.

“I won’t!” Roman replied, stepping out of the room and into the hallway, his mind racing with thoughts of the upcoming designs.

As he walked, is mind was thinking about pudding as he made his way to the exit.

[wildernessuntothemselves]

Jealousy, Jealousy... | Part 7

A/N: don't even have a summary for this. oc is in love with gyu and gyu is in love with another girl but both are virgin losers and gyu is a horndog who would let oc do what she wants to him just as long as he gets to cum.

Word count: 9.8k

Genre: Smut, angst, fluff

Warnings: fem!reader, dom!reader kinda, riding, blowjob, power play, descriptions of a horror movie, inaccurate portrayal of photographers and creative directors, lots of cute moments

You’re on set with the boys shooting promotional pictures for one of their new songs that Yeonjun insisted you'd be perfect for given your affinity for all things horror. It’s called Frost and the concept for the shoot is supposed to portray guys who are hearing voices in their heads trying to drive them mad and they are attempting to fight against them before ultimately succumbing to them, and so you’re doing shots of them getting swayed by the voices contrasting with others where they express fear about what’s happening to them. 

Surprisingly all the boys suit the concept well, even sweet Hyuka was doing a remarkably good job. He was doing this manic laugh and shooting you evil looks that come out really well in the pictures. 

“Wow, Hyuka. These are really awesome shots.” You say, showing him the camera and he laughs. “You sound surprised.”

“I actually am. I didn’t know you had it in you.”

“Well, you know I’m full of surprises, baby.” He winks, flustering you. Who the hell knew he had it in him?

“Don’t flirt with my girlfriend.” Yeonjun scolds, playfully smacking him.  

“I’m just messing with her. You should’ve seen the look on her face.” Hyuka laughs his piercing laugh, as mischievous as ever, and you give him an indignant chuckle. “You little shit!” 

You raise your hand into a fist, pretending to threaten him, and he bolts, yelling a panicked bye over his shoulder. You shake your head, staring at his retreating form with fondness. 

You’re already done with Soobin and Taehyun’s shots, both of whom did really well too, but your favorite so far you have to say is Taehyun’s. The contact lenses you have him wear coupled with his naturally very intense gaze makes it so he doesn’t need to do much to come off as intimidating. 

“Is it my turn yet?” Yeonjun asks, kissing your temple. 

“No, baby, I’ve saved the best for last.” You coo, never missing an opportunity to compliment him, just so you can see the shy, pleased smile on his face, and he gives you just that. “Beomgyu is next.” 

“Oh, are you going to be okay?” His smile falls and concern replaces it instead, making you roll your eyes. “He’s not going to eat me.” 

“No, but I’m worried about you. You haven’t really talked to him for a while. Do you want me to come oversee the shoot?”

You kinda do. You are just acting strong for him. Fake it till you make it, right? He can’t hold your hand forever. “Don’t be silly. I know you’re starving. Go eat something and I’ll call you when we’re done.” 

“But–” He’s interrupted by his own stomach growling and you laugh, leaning up to kiss him. “Go eat, baby.” 

“Okay. I’ll be thinking of you.” He shouts as he leaves, bringing his hands together across his chest and mimicking a heart beating. 

You laugh again at his antics, but quickly stop when your gaze lands on Beomgyu. He’s sitting by himself on one of the chairs, eyes glued to his phone and blocking everything else out. You walk towards him, clearing your throat. “Beomgyu. It’s your turn.” 

He sighs, pocketing his phone and following you silently. You show him where he needs to stand before getting behind the camera. 

“Beomgyu, I want you to lean onto the mirror and look into it, smiling menacingly as if you’re taunting your reflection. We’ll do another one after that of you looking terrified as if you’re trapped in the mirror. So you should play off that. Got it?” 

He nods, resting his arm above the mirror and leaning forward, staring at himself with a smile.

“Okay, that’s not really what I’m going for. I’m not feeling any chills. I want a piercing gaze and a crazed smile. Try to have your mouth open as if you’re panting, like you’ve just won a fight. Don’t furrow your eyebrows and don’t tense up your shoulders.” 

Beomgyu tries again, leaning his head down so he’s glaring up at the mirror and puts on a lopsided smirk. But you’re still not feeling it. 

“You’re putting on an act, Beomgyu. I can see you thinking. I want you to really believe it. Wait.” You walk towards him, reaching up to fix his hair in the way you want. Or more like make it more messy and unhinged. “Let’s just push this over your eyes like this…”

You’re so used to doing this, you don’t even think about it, messing with his hair and making his makeup more smudged, streaking his eyeshadow here and blotting his lipstick there. It’s only when you’re done and realize he has been staring at you that you quickly step back. “There, all good.”

You try again and again with him, but none of the pictures come out like what you had in mind. You don’t get it. He’s usually much better than this. You’ve done plenty of shoots with him before, and he has never given you this much trouble. You keep trying to instruct him but his head doesn’t seem to be in it, too distracted by something else. 

Normally, you’d ask him what he’s thinking about that got him so out of it but you don’t think you can. Things are too awkward for you and him right now and you’re not sure if opening that can of worms here is the best idea, which all just makes you even more frustrated.

“Beomgyu, the concept is mad not sad.” You sigh, annoyed after what must be the hundredth bad shot. 

“Well, maybe if you gave better directions I would know what to do.” He snaps back, irritating you further. Beomgyu has never criticized your skills before and you don’t exactly take it well, the remark hurting more that it’s coming from him. He has always been a wall of unbending support for you so for him to call you out like this causes cracks in the very foundation of your sense of self worth. 

“If my direction was bad then how come all the others had no problem following it?” You hiss, getting defensive to cover the cracks up, but you quickly back down when you see him opening his mouth to retaliate. You’re not going to get into it with Beomgyu right now. You’re at work. You can’t ruin this for yourself. 

“Forget it. You’ve already wasted so much time. I’ll get around to you later.” You shut him down and walk off, not giving him the chance to argue. 

Were you being short with him? Maybe, but you’ve wanted an opportunity like this for a long time and you were doing so well before him. You need to prove yourself. The boys are gaining more attention every day and this shoot could be really good for your career.

You also have a more personal reason to be snappy with him. After all, he has been avoiding you ever since you’ve admitted that you’ve slept the night with Yeonjun and you’re fucking bitter about that. You don’t understand why he’s acting this way and it’s driving you up the wall. You can take the pain of him not loving you back. You can take the pain of him getting angry at you for stupid reasons. But to ignore you? That you can't bear. 

______________________________________

“Yeonjun, I need you to look more sharp. I want you to look at the camera as if you’re going to devour it. Don’t look so sweet. And move your right arm up like this.” You instruct him and he follows your lead flawlessly, so different from Beomgyu, and it slowly eases your nerves and allows you to get back in the mood. 

“Good. Keep your head down and look up at the camera with your eyes. Smile a little, no, not too much. We want you to look crazy, but not funny crazy.” 

He laughs at that, offended. “Hey!” 

You snap a couple of pictures of him laughing. You know, just for your own personal collection. “Sorry, babe. There is such a thing as overdoing it.” 

He pouts, acting sulky, and you take pictures of that too. 

“What are you doing?” He raises an eyebrow and you blush. “Doing my job?”

“Those pictures would never make it as promotional pictures and you know it.” He calls your bluff and you shrug. “They can make it as my lock screen though.” 

“I knew it. You’re so down bad for me.” He laughs and you scowl at him. “Shut up. Be professional.” You demand as if you weren’t using paid time to take pictures of your boyfriend for your own personal use. 

“Yes, ma’am.” He salutes you, “Do you think I could play the song on my phone? It might help me get more into the character.” 

“Sure, if you think it will help.” 

He pulls out his phone and plays the song, closing his eyes for a second like he does before doing a dance routine, Kai’s manic laugh from the song ringing around the room before Yeonjun opens his eyes and looks at you, completely transforming in front of you. 

“That’s really good. Keep going.” You encourage. You don’t even have to give him much direction after that, he does it on his own. You just give little modifications here and there but he’s embodying this concept so well by himself. 

“Really lost my mind. Really, really, really lost it.” He mouths the words, pressing two fingers to his head in a trigger motion before rolling his head around. 

“Remember to look at the camera, baby. Not all the time, I want some shots of you looking away so it seems I’ve caught you in the middle of it.” You keep shooting him, getting in different positions and angles to get the best shots as he gets into the music, channeling the darkness of it through him. 

“Now, I want you to snap out of it. Look around as if you’re trying to find the source of the voice.” You instruct and he does it as if a switch had been flipped. He has such a talent for this. “Grab your head and stumble around a bit as if you’re losing your balance. Good.” 

“Now look at the camera.” He looks up at you, eyes wide and filled with fear. You take a few shots before you lower the camera down. “Wow, baby, you did amazing. You’re such a good model.” You praise him and he gives you a lovely smile, completely changing his vibe once again and turning into the sweet boy that only you get to see. 

You smirk, grabbing his chin and making him look at you. “Does someone like being told he’s a good boy?” 

His breath hitches and his smile falls. Shit. You forgot that this is Yeonjun, not Beomgyu. He’s probably not into this. You let go of his chin and step away, an apology on your tongue, but he pulls you back, kissing you. “I do like it. Maybe when we’re done you can show me how much of a good boy I am?” 

Relief soothes your racing heart and you reach up to run your hand through his hair, tugging on the bright orange mess. “Only if you behave.” You brush your lips over his neck, making him shiver. 

“Guys, really? We have children present.” Soobin complains, pointing to Kai. 

“Hey, I’m not a child!” Kai protests in turn, “But I’ll agree to act like a child if it will get those two to stop. Seriously you’re worse than Beomgyu and Haeun." 

That last remark makes your face drop real quick. You're lucky Haeun was too busy to come to the shoot today. With how stressed you are, you might've snapped at her and Beomgyu and made a huge scene. You already almost did it with Beomgyu. You’re sure if she was here, you would’ve lost your cool.  

“Sorry, guys.” You step away from Yeonjun, clearing your throat. You look at Beomgyu to see him staring right at you and Yeonjun, and if looks could kill, you and Yeonjun would be dead now… wait that’s it! That’s the look you want from him. 

“Beomgyu, come with me. I think we can do your shots now.” You motion to him quickly, and Yeonjun gives you a confused look. 

“He’s got the look I want from him. Be right back.” You explain to Yeonjun, getting up on your toes and giving him a quick kiss, partly because you love kissing Yeonjun’s plump lips and partly to annoy Beomgyu further and get him more mad in order to get the pictures you want. 

___________________________

Things go much more smoothly this time. Beomgyu was giving you just the look you wanted, glaring at you like he actually wants to pounce on you. It’s great for the shoot, but bad for your heart.

“Now give me a smile.” You say and his lips move ever so slightly, shaped into a weird distorted smile that is so tense, it looks like it might snap into a snarl any second now. It’s the exact vibe you were going for and you didn’t even have to instruct him to do it. It was almost too spot on. 

“Perfect. Now grab your neck as if you’re trying to claw something out, like you can’t breathe.” Even that he does perfectly, fingers digging into his neck as if he’s not worried about his well-being at all. He’s doing it so well that you only take a few snaps before stepping in to quickly stop him. 

“Okay, that’s enough. We’re done here.” You can’t help but walk towards him, pulling his hand off his neck and inspecting the little marks he made there, smoothing your thumb over them as if you could make them go away. 

“What, I don’t get a good boy?” He asks and you snap out of your worried daze, stepping back. 

“Beomgyu…” You warn, annoyed at yourself for slipping. “Don’t start now.” 

“I guess he’s your muse now.” He mutters, looking away, and you follow his gaze to see Yeonjun looking at you. 

Is he? Yeonjun is a natural model–he has proven that today–while Beomgyu requires more prompting. Yeonjun is intense and chic while Beomgyu is ethereal and melancholic.They’re completely different from one another. Can you really compare them? 

You guess that’s a lie. Yeonjun can embody whatever concept you give him, but Beomgyu inspires you to make new concepts. He’ll always be your muse. 

You don’t tell him that though. It would only cause trouble. Instead, you deflect, “We need to do the group shoot now.”

You gather all the boys in one spot, posing them every which way you want, instructing them on where to look, how to stand and what expression to make. It’s a bit overwhelming making sure that they all look good at once, but you’ll have to get used to this if you wanna make a career out of it. 

You’re almost done with the shoot and you’re so proud of how all of you have done so far. You just need a couple more pictures and that’s it.  

“Soobin, look to the side and tilt your head a little to the right. No more. More. A little less. Yes, perfect! The rest of you stay like you are.” You take a few pictures like this, before you call out again, “Baby, look at the camera” 

When you say that, both Yeonjun and Beomgyu turn their heads to face you, and an awkward moment of silence passes before you stutter, “Yeonjun… I mean. Look at the camera, Yeonjun.”

“Awkward…” Hyuka sings and Taehyun elbows him in the stomach. 

You brush right past it, pretending that it didn’t even happen. Though your stammering and blushing doesn’t fool anyone. Thankfully though, it’s all over soon. 

“Okay, boys, that’s it. We’re done!” You cheer, exhausted but happy and confident that you’ve gotten all the pictures you needed. “Anyone want to see some of the photos?” 

They all gather to look at them with varying degrees of enthusiasm. As you scroll through the pictures, they oh and ah at their own shots while making fun of the others for any awkward ones. You expected nothing less from them. 

“Hey, how come your boyfriend got all the best shots?” Soobin grumbles, and you roll your eyes. “He got all the good shots because he posed the best out of all of you.” 

“Bullshit.” Taehyun interjects and Hyuka agrees, “Nepotism is what it is.” 

“Shut up, Kai. That’s not even what nepotism means.” 

“Oh yeah, then how come you gave him the best set and accessories?” He challenges and Yeonjun wraps his arm around you, “So what if she favors me? Are any of you giving it to her good every night? I don’t think so.” Yeonjun boasts, making you blush deeply. 

Whatever reply you were going to make gets cut off by Beomgyu slamming his drink down and storming off. 

“Someone’s in a pissy mood.” Taehyun mutters and Kai adds, “Probably pissed off that all the good shots went to the photographer’s boyfriend.” 

“Drop it, Kai.” Yeonjun snaps and the younger guy raises his hands up in surrender. 

“Ignore them, baby. I think all the shots are stunning.” Yeonjun says, holding you.

“You really think so?” 

He nods, rubbing your arms soothingly, before grinning. “But mine are the best, of course.” 

“You’re all assholes.” You grumble, pushing him away but inside you’re thankful he diffused the awkward situation. 

“Let me make it up to you. You wanna grab something to eat? I’ll buy you your favorite fried crap.” He offers and you clap, excited. “Oh, yum!" 

“Can I come too, baby?” Kai asks, making kissy faces at you before running away as Yeonjun takes off his shoe and throws it at him. 

_________________________

“Junnie?” You call out and he blinks, looking up at you. “Are you okay? You’ve been quiet for a while now.” 

“I’m just a bit worried.” He sighs, making you frown. “About what?”

“I think we’re really close to being signed. We’re having promising talks with a couple of record companies and the whole process is really stressed out.” 

“But isn’t it a good thing?” You ask, confused. Didn’t the boys want to be signed for a long time? Is he having second thoughts? 

“It is, but we all know the stories of artists getting scammed by companies and having their masters stolen, or having their creativity stifled by the execs, or losing their sound… as the front man I really wanna make sure to do this right. I don’t want to let my members down.” 

“Oh, Junnie, I know you’ll do your best.” You reach out to grab his hand, squeezing in comfortingly. He’s such a good hyung to his members, always so reliable and trying to make everything easier for them so they don’t have to stress like him. “But you can’t put all of this on your shoulders only. The boys need to contribute to the decision too. After all, it’s their future too.”

“I know but it really bums them out thinking about all this. They’re here for the music, you know? Not the corporate dance.” 

“Neither are you. They’re big boys. They can handle it. They need to do this too. They need to take on part of the responsibility.” Your hand moves up his arm, stroking it. It’s not fair for him to take on all this burden by himself. Besides, it’s not good in the long run. The boys need to make a joint decision or conflict and blame could arise later. “I can’t have you losing your hair over this. I don’t really like bald guys.” 

Yeonjun gives you a betrayed look. “Hey! Are you saying you won’t be with me if I was bald?” 

“That’s exactly what I’m saying.” You confirm and he scoffs, pretending to be offended. “You’re so fake.” 

“Probably. But I took your mind off it for a second there.” You tease, using the same trick he used on you when you were crying. 

“I think you’re gonna need to do a lot more to take my mind off it.” He tells you suggestively and you roll your eyes. 

“Eat your heart attack-inducing food first, then we’ll talk.” 

He grabs a drumstick and bites off a piece of it like he’s in a cartoon, making you burst out laughing. 

"You know what I noticed?" He asks after chewing his food, and you hum in acknowledgement, prompting him to go on, "Your style has changed since we've started dating. It's become edgier and more trendy. If I didn't know any better I'd say you were trying to impress me."

You blush, feeling caught. "Good thing you know better then."

"Well, since I know better, I won't say that I would find it really cute if you were trying to impress me or that it would make me feel really special."

"Well, if I were doing it to impress you, it would be because you're really special.” You say sincerely, looking him right in the eyes, before shrugging, “Luckily, this is all hypothetical." 

You continue to stare at him as he laughs. 

“What?” He asks, and you tell him, "You're doing it again." 

"Doing what?" He gives you a confused look. 

"Laughing in that adorable way that makes your nose scrunch up and makes me wanna tackle you to the ground and kiss you all over your stupid face." 

What happens next is so groundbreaking, you almost can't believe your eyes. You actually make him blush. And your stupid heart that has been beating non-stop for Beomgyu, falters in its incessant pace a second to let Yeonjun in. 

___________________________

It’s going good with Yeonjun. Despite the flirty and confident persona he portrays for his fans, behind closed doors he’s shown you many sweet and shy moments. He’s attentive to you despite how busy he is with his career and his clear passion for music. And he’s really, really sexy. 

Yes, his flirtiness can make you feel insecure sometimes and it does make you wonder if he’ll get sick of you one day and jump to someone prettier and new like guys in a band so often do, but you think you could overcome that feeling with time. You’re just being insecure. It’s part of his job. He’s not actually this cocky playboy. He has to act that way to bring in the fans.

Except he kind of is a playboy. He has dated many other girls before you and he has broken up with all of them. Who is to say that that won’t happen to you too soon? Who knows when he’ll get sick of you? Maybe he’s just waiting to scope out his next girlfriend before breaking up with you. 

No, you’re being paranoid. He’s just entertaining his fans. It means nothing. Just because he dated a lot before you, doesn’t mean you’re just another notch on his belt. This doesn’t mean anything, especially not his innocuous interactions with his fans. 

Yeah, you’re not bothered at all watching him deliver not-so-subtle pick up lines to his horde of fangirls and watching them giggle and swoon over him. You don’t care that he lets them touch him and hug him. You don’t even notice the panties they throw on stage for him or that they ask him to sign their bras. It’s all good. 

“You okay, doll?” Yeonjun throws his arm around you, nudging you. 

“Yeah, I’m fine. Don’t let me keep you from your girlfriends.” You mutter, pushing his arm off, and storming off. Okay, maybe you are a little bothered.

You hear footsteps behind you and quicken your pace but he catches up to you eventually. Damn his long legs. “Hey, hey, what was all that about?”

“This may come as a shock to you but I don’t exactly enjoy you flirting with other women.” You grit, your anger bubbling up in your stomach and forming acid around your bitter words. 

“You know I’m just doing my job.” He defends himself and you scoff. “Your job is singing. Not getting their panties wet.” 

“That is still part of the job. You think all those successful bands don’t get where they are by appealing to the fangirls? You really think it’s just about the music?” He may have a point but that doesn’t make you feel any better about his behavior. At the end of the day he is still acting inappropriately around girls who aren’t his girlfriend.  “No, you’re right. I’m sorry. Want me to go invite some of them back to your room for some quality fanservice?” 

He laughs at that, and it’s far from the sweet laugh you adore. “You have no right to act jealous. Not when I have to watch you everyday staring longingly at your best friend. Your best friend who you live with and have messed around with before by the way. How do I know you won’t fall to your knees the moment he asks you to suck him off?”

"Fuck you, Yeonjun." You tear up at the unexpected attack, and turn around to leave. You can't believe he is throwing this in your face. 

“Wait. I’m sorry.” He holds you back, brushing your hair away from your face and seeing the tears budding in your eyes. “I don’t mean to be an asshole. I know you don’t like the way I act but it’s my job. My livelihood depends on it. I’m not doing it just for fun. You know that.” 

You look away, conflicted. Yes, you do know but that doesn’t make it suck any less. “Do you have to let it go that far though?” You pout, images of your boyfriend with his arm around random girls or letting them touch his face or hold his hand flashing behind your eyelids. 

“I will try to tone it down.” He concedes and you finally look at him. “No letting them kiss you?” 

“No.”

“No sexual innuendos?” 

“No.”

“No signing their bras?” 

“So just their breasts?” 

You go to leave but he pulls you back flush against his body. “I’m kidding.” He kisses you and you reluctantly let yourself fall into the kiss. God, why do you pick the hardest boys to love? 

Speaking of which…

“And I’m sorry for what I said about Beomgyu. I trust in you not to do that just as you trust in me not to cheat. But I’m not sorry about the part where I don’t like you living together.”

“What?” Your frown. What is he trying to say? 

“You’re in love with the guy. Living with him won’t allow you to move on. You need to move away from him to let us move on.” He clarifies, not really making it easier for your brain to compute. 

“Oh."

"We can never move forward in our relationship if you're holding onto him." He presses, seeing your resistance to his words. “Come live with me. Leave whatever this thing you have with him in the past and take the next step with me.” 

"But he's my best friend. We promised each other we'd stay together." You say as if that means anything to him, and the look he gives you is what an adult would give to a naive child thinking their family pet really went to live on a farm. "Are you going to live together even when both of you are married?"

"No. But it's too fast. He's so freaked out about everything changing. This is gonna send him into a breakdown." You resist still, maybe because some of what you’re saying applies to you too. You’re not sure if you’re ready to do this. 

"Don't you think that's a little weird?” Yeonjun challenges your statement, forcing you to examine your unusual situation with Beomgyu for the first time. “You two have an unhealthy attachment to each other. You’re not together and believe me no boyfriend or girlfriend is gonna tolerate how you two are acting. I know I can't."

But you can’t think about it too deeply right now, not on the spot like this, not when there is a plain threat in his words. "Are you giving me an ultimatum?"

"No. I'm just asking you to set some boundaries." 

Is that the same thing? You sigh. "Can you… just give me some time to think it through?"

Yeonjun doesn’t like that. "You know I'm right."

"Please." 

What he’s asking you is huge. With how Beomgyu isn’t talking to you, moving out of the apartment might spell complete doom to your friendship, and you don’t know if you are ready to risk that yet. Maybe you can work it out while still living with Beomgyu. Maybe you can find a way to move forward with Yeonjun while still retaining your friendship with Beomgyu. 

"Fine." Yeonjun backs down for now, but this is clearly not the end of it. 

____________________

When you get home, you find a strange surprise waiting for you… A pillow fort?

"What's this?" You ask Beomgyu suspiciously and he beams at you, pulling you towards the structure he made. "Come on in. Come on in!"

You let him take you inside with him, seeing it lined with pillows and soft fuzzy blankets and all kinds of snacks you could ever need. The only light illuminating the inside coming from the small laptop filled with movies for you to watch. 

"What's all this for?" You ask, very confused at the sudden change in his attitude. What has gotten into him? 

"Well, I know I've been an ass–"

You don't mean to snort but you can’t help it–interrupting him–and he shoots you glare, albeit a playful one. 

"I know I've been an asshole," He repeats, not deterred. "But I was worried about what Yeonjun was gonna do to you and I was frustrated you weren’t listening to me. I’ve seen him blow through girlfriends many times before–maybe not in a way that is meant to intentionally hurt them but he just doesn’t seem to be ready for something serious yet. It always seemed like the girls were way more into him than he was into them and that eventually leads to the relationship breaking down and the girls getting hurt and I didn’t want that to happen to you. I didn’t want you to get hurt like that.” 

His words echo your own doubts. You’ve been wondering about this exact yourself. Yeonjun is great. He’s fun and sweet and he makes you smile, but if you let yourself fall for him, will he be able to love you too? 

Is that even a fair question to ask? Doesn’t everyone go into relationships not knowing if the other person will end up liking them the same amount? And can you really be the one wondering about this when you’re the one in love with your best friend? 

You don’t say anything though, just letting Beomgyu continue, curious about where he is going with this. “But in my attempt to try to prevent that I've stupidly gone and hurt you myself. I got angry and vindictive and I lost sight of what I was trying to do… I also was being selfish because I didn’t want to lose you to him. I’m so used to it just being the two of us and it made me a little jealous that suddenly he’s taking all your time and attention. I used to be your number one guy.” 

You look at his pout, trying miserably to fight down the tears his words are springing up. He is still your number one. That’s the problem. 

“You said all of this already.” You say quietly, looking down and trying to hide your glossy eyes from him. 

“I know, but what I didn’t say is that I don't know if Yeonjun will stay like this forever or if he's going to break your heart and force me to cut his balls off, but I wanna be there regardless.” He proclaims, sounding exactly like the best friend you terribly missed, the obvious joke not taking away from the seriousness of what he’s saying. “I don’t want to lose you over this. I want us to go back to how we were before all this mess. Do you think we can do that?" 

You look up at him, his pretty face shimmering and swimming around in your tearful vision, making his already ethereal features appear celestial. He looks at you as if you could ever deny his request. How can you ever say no to him? 

"Yes, Beommie." You finally say, letting the tears fall. 

"Hey, hey…" He coos, grabbing your face and kissing your tears away. "Don't cry. You know seeing you cry will just make me cry too." 

“I can’t help it. I missed you, you idiot.” You wail, and he pulls you into his arms, rocking you back and forth and rubbing soothing circles on your back. 

“I missed you too. So much. You don’t even know.” You hear his voice falter and you know he’s crying too. 

You stay there for a while–you don’t know how long–until you and him have calmed down enough to be able to string together words again. He’s the first to pull back, but only so he can look you in the eyes. 

“You look so pretty when you cry.” He whispers, wiping your tears away and you cover the way your heart skips a beat at that with a cough, pushing him away to give yourself room to breathe in something that isn’t him. 

“Shut up.” You mumble, wiping your tears away with your sleeve before looking around awkwardly, trying to change the subject. “So what movies do you have for us?"

Thankfully, Beomgyu follows your lead. "Top gun of course!' 

You groan. 

"I'm kidding. I'm kidding. I got you one of those foreign horror movies you love so much." He shows you that he chose a French movie called Martyrs. 

"Aw, you really do love me." You exclaim, covering your heart with your hand.

“I know. I’m an idiot, aren’t I?” He mutters, sitting down and motioning for you to do the same. You sit down next to him, leaving a small gap between you. 

“Hey, what are you doing?” He asks, and you look at him in confusion. He rolls his eyes and opens his arms to you. “You can’t have Movies and Cuddles Monday without the cuddles.” 

You hesitate for a second, wondering if you really should do this. Is this too intimate? Would this be considered cheating on Yeonjun?

No, you’re being ridiculous. People cuddle with their best friends all the time. You can do that. 

“Right.” You get into his embrace, and he holds in in both arms. 

“Okay, let’s start the massacre.” 

_____________________________

“I think I’m gonna throw up.” Beomgyu groans, burying his face in your neck as screen shows the main lead being flayed alive. 

“Well, don’t do it on me!” You squeak, trying to pull away to hide the goosebumps that have erupted on your skin when his lips brush against you, but he’s holding onto you too tightly.  “Don’t go. You made me see this. I’m traumatized.” 

“You’re the one who picked the movie.” 

“Because I wanted to satisfy your blood thirst.” He mumbles and you laugh. “I don’t even like gore. I prefer the subtly creepy.” 

“Yeah like that game you like where the character takes a pill and entrails fall from the sky.” 

“Hey, entrails can be subtle.” You grumble, relaxing back in his arms. “Now shut up. I wanna see the ending.” 

Beomgyu sits in silence, holding onto you tightly as the character called Mademoiselle leans over the flayed woman to hear what she has to say after achieving martyrdom. You watch with bated breath, not feeling any of the anxiety you’re supposed to feel as the cult members ask the Mademoiselle what the main character told her–too relaxed with the way Beomgyu massages your scalp with his fingers. If you were a cat, you’d be purring right now. 

Even Beomgyu keeps his mouth shut as the Mademoiselle grabs a gun and shoots herself, taking the secret with her to the grave–the both of you seeming to be in a trance. It’s only when the credits roll does he speak up. 

“I can’t believe they didn’t tell us the secret to the afterlife.” Beomgyu complains softly, not making any move to disentangle you from his arms,and neither do you.

“Yeah right, like they would tell us the secret to the afterlife.” You snort at your naive friend, “Besides the movie isn’t about that.”

“Yeah, and what is it about, genius?” He challenges. 

“Um, it’s clearly about the exploitation of the working class so the rich can achieve knowledge and even more power–no it’s about the exploitation of women of the working class.” 

“You just pulled that out of your ass.” 

“Maybe. But that could be right.” You shrug, your shoulder once again brushing against his lips. “Do you have a better theory, idiot?” 

“Yeah, my theory is that the director just wanted to make the most disgusting movie possible and made up this whole martyrdom story to justify the torture inflicted on the characters, and that’s why he couldn’t come up with an actual answer to what happens after death.” 

“Maybe that’s the point. We were never meant to know the answer. Knowing the answer renders life and its struggles meaningless. That’s why the Mademoiselle killed herself.” 

“Or maybe Anna told her a lie that she knew would fuck her up and get her to kill herself. Perfect revenge.” 

“That doesn’t make sense. At the start of the movie we see that when Lucy got revenge on one of the families, it still wouldn’t make her guilt go away so clearly the movie views revenge as a non-viable option.” 

“Hey, when did you become so smart? I thought Movies and Cuddles Monday was supposed to be about mindless consumption of media and making stupid jokes about plots we’re not smart enough to comprehend.” He looks at you in suspicion and you meekly answer, “I may possibly have started reading some books–”

He gasps. “Books? Dear lord, save us.” 

“You’re just worried you’ll stay the only dumb one.” You poke his nose teasingly and he tries to bite your finger, making you withdraw it with a giggle. 

“Doesn’t matter. Smarts are for ugly people. I’m too pretty.” 

You smile fondly. “Yes, you are.” 

He wraps his arms around you even tighter, letting out a small contented hum as the credits roll, neither of you moving to start another movie or turn off the computer. How can you when it makes you feel so safe and content, like you could want for nothing else in the world as he strokes your hair with one hand and your arm with the other.  

Every emotion you've been working so hard to smother comes roaring back. And you realize that you and Beomgyu are not just friends. Probably can never be just friends. This is why Yeonjun insisted you move out. You can't be this close to Beomgyu without falling back into your old habits. If you wanna give Yeonjun an honest chance, you need to get some space. 

“Beomgyu… do you ever think about living with Haeun?” 

He frowns. “Why? Did she say anything to you?” You almost laugh at his look of terror. Almost. If you weren’t so terrified of what you have to say to him.

"Yeah she told me on one of our weekly get togethers." You snort, then hesitate. “It’s just… Yeonjun wants me to move in with him.” 

He pulls away from you, face hardening, and your body is suddenly left defenseless against the cold chill in the air. "What did you tell him?"

You want to tell him that you said No. You want him to take you back in his arms. Even if he doesn’t love you back, this can be enough for you, right?  "I said I'd think about it."

"Think about what? This is way too soon. You can't just move in with him. What if you break up? Then you'd be left homeless because you were so stupid as to move in with a guy you've only been dating a few months." 

His anger is like lashings to your cold skin. Why does he keep doing this to you, making you let your guard down before attacking you once more? Does he not know how hard this is for you too? "Beomgyu, you said you weren't going to be an asshole anymore." 

"I just don't understand why you'd do something like that." His frustration is palpable. He is looking at you as if you’re just doing this to hurt him. 

"Because Yeonjun doesn't like me living with you after we messed around."

You shouldn't have said that. That just makes him angrier. "And you’re just going to do whatever he tells you to do? Are you one of those girls who does everything her boyfriend tells her?"

His accusation pisses you off. He’s treating you like you’ve committed a crime for wanting to move forward with your boyfriend. "No, but he has a right to be weirded out by us living together. I know I wouldn't be happy about him living with a girl he hooked up with."

"Oh yeah, and what's next? He's too weirded out by us hanging out? Talking? Looking at each other?" 

"You're being overdramatic."

"Am I?" He shouts, “This is why I didn’t want you to date him. He is taking you from me.”

The fucking audacity for him to say this as if he hasn’t been terrible to you ever since you started even expressing interest in Yeonjun. This would never have happened if he had been an actual goddamn friend to you. 

“He isn’t taking me from you. You’re pushing me away.” 

“You know he’s only going to hurt you?” He says, hitting you right where it hurts. It’s one thing for you to doubt your relationship with Yeonjun, but it’s another thing entirely for your friend and his to keep telling you that it’s never gonna last. 

Does he really have no faith in you? Does he not think you’re pretty enough, good enough to keep yeonjun’s attention? Does he think it’s impossible for Yeonjun to actually love you? 

You start tearing up again. "Why are you being like this?"

“Because it’s what he is. You’re making a huge mistake. You're choosing this guy you just started dating over our years of friendship."

You shake your head. "Why does it have to be either or. Why can’t I have my boyfriend and my best friend?"

He lets out a condescending laugh. “I’m not the one making you choose!” 

But he is. He has been making you choose since the beginning. He just doesn’t like it because for once you’re not putting him and his ridiculous demands first. 

“He is not making me choose.” You defend Yeonjun and yourself. “He just doesn’t want us to live together.” 

“You really think he’ll end it at that? You don’t think he’ll demand more bit by bit? Next it will be ‘I don’t like him touching you.’ then it will be ‘don’t hang out with him so much’ and then ‘why do you even need to see him. We can just stay in.’ and before long he’ll have completely phased me out!”

“Well maybe there should be some boundaries. We did hook up together. It’s normal for him to feel insecure. And maybe we’re a bit more touchy than other friends are. Maybe I should only be cuddling with my boyfriend and that only my boyfriend should be kissing me…” You’re saying this more to yourself than to him. Even what happened earlier wasn’t really appropriate. It could be for completely platonic friends but you know that’s not what you and Beomgyu are. Not for you, at least. 

“See? It’s already happening!” He exclaims, and you sigh. There is no point arguing with him. He’s too upset to see reason. “I’m sorry, Beomgyu…”

"Forget it. Forget all of this." He stands up and takes the pillow-fort apart. "Enjoy living with your boyfriend." 

__________________

You quickly gathered a few essential items that you'll need along with a change of clothes before you texted Yeonjun to come pick you up. You'll get the rest of your stuff later. You just can’t handle being in this house anymore. 

"Are you okay?" Yeonjun asks when you get into his car. 

"Yeah, it's just Beomgyu is really mad at me." You sniffle, trying to hold back your tears. 

"Of course. That fucking idiot." Yeonjun curses and you agree. "Such an idiot."

"Want me to go beat him up?" He offers but you shake your head. "I really don't think you two having a cat fight is gonna lift my spirit up."

"Hey!" He shouts, offended, but he can't help but give you a smile–his sweet smile that you love so much. 

"But that might." You smile back, wiping your nose before bending over to give him a kiss. 

"Didn’t know I'd be eating snot today." He says as he pulls back and you smack him. "I wiped before I kissed you!" 

He laughs and tries to kiss you again but you push him away. "No. I've revoked your right to kisses." 

“Is that so?” He quirks an eyebrow up and you nod, indignant. 

"And what if I told you I have some great news that will make you wanna kiss my face off?" 

“What?” You look suspiciously at the massive grin on his face. "You know the director of Elements magazine?"

"Do I? Of course! She's one of my inspirations." You gush, excited at what he could possibly have to say about her. 

"Well, I've been talking to her about you–"

"What?” Your face falls, terrified. “What–what would you talk to her about me for?"

"She's interested in your work." He tells you and you give him an unflattering snort in disbelief.  "Yeah, right. What do I have to show her?"

"She's actually seen the shoot you did with us and would like you to send her more of your stuff because she thinks she may want you to do a pictorial for the magazine."

“Shut up.” You gape at him. You? Do a pictorial for Elements magazine? "Oh god, I think I'm gonna pass out." 

“Please, don’t. I don’t know how I’d be able to explain why I have a passed out girl in my car to anyone who saw.”

You shoot him a glare, but there is no heat behind it. "How do you even know her?”

"I've done some modeling for her before." He shrugs as if that isn’t a big fucking achievement, "I told you, networking is everything."

"You're amazing." You breathe out in awe. 

"I know." He replies confidently and you suddenly shriek, kicking your feet in excitement. "Oh my god, I can't believe she liked my stuff!" 

"Why wouldn't she? You’re great." You turn to him, a huge smile on your face before you bend over the console and give him a big kiss. "You are so getting laid."

"That's why I did it." He jokes, starting the car before pulling out of the parking spot. 

___________________

"Welcome home." Yeonjun says, putting your bag down in his bedroom. 

Yeah, you guess this is home now. You look around, trying to process the fact, and Yeonjun comes up behind you to wrap his arms around you. “You can redecorate a bit if you want. I’ll give you a whole corner of the room.” 

You turn around in his arms, wrapping your own around his neck. “You’re very generous.” You kiss him slowly, deepening the kiss as you go, pushing your tongue into his mouth as your lips move against each other. “My good boy.” 

“Oh, are we doing this?” He raises an eyebrow at you. 

“You deserve it.” You push his jacket off before slipping his white tank top over his head. As soon as his chest is bare, you attack your lips to it, kissing it all over. Your lips tingle as it comes in contact with his warm skin over and over again and you feel his little moans vibrating through his chest as he slowly gives into the pleasure, shivering a bit when you wrap your lips around one of his nipples. 

Your hands trail down his body, grabbing at his waist on the way, kneading it, before moving to his pants. You unbutton and unzip them slowly, rubbing the back of your hand over the bulge there, making his breathing stutter. 

“Baby…” He pouts at your teasing, and you lean up to give his pretty lips a kiss. 

“Want it, darling?” You ask, continuing to brush your hand over him teasingly and he nods. “Okay. Just because you’ve been so good to me.” 

You put your hand in his boxers and pull out his cock, stroking it to full hardness while kissing his addictive lips. 

“You’re so good to me, Yeonjun. You deserve to be pampered.” You tell him, twisting your hand over the head of his cock as your lips go down his neck and along his chest until you have to get on your knees to go further. You kiss his abs gently before opening your mouth and giving his skin a playful nip which makes him jump. 

“Hey, that’s not pampering.” He protests and you laugh, licking the reddening spot soothingly as you continue to tease his dick with your hand. 

“I was just thinking about how you seduced me with this at the party.” You tell him and he grins. “So I was–ahh–right? It was my rock–fuck–hard abs that got you?” 

It’s hard for him to keep a straight face when your fingers are twisting so sinfully around his hard cock. “Maybe I ran into you on purpose t-to–shit–give me the chance to take off my shirt in front of you.” 

“Diabolical.” You hum, kissing all over his tummy, getting closer and closer to his aching cock before moving up again, just to tease him, then repeating the process all over again until he starts dripping in need. 

“Baby, please…” He finally calls out when he becomes so needy that your palm gets all sticky with his arousal. 

“I got you, baby.” You finally take him into your mouth, the taste of him familiar by now. 

Over the few months you’ve been dating Yeonjun, you’ve gotten very acquainted with what he likes and how he likes to be touched. You learn what makes him tick and where he is sensitive. It’s no longer entirely nerve-wracking to be with him. There are some things you can do and say that you can rely on that are guaranteed to get him in the mood

But today is different. You’ve never tried to take the lead from him before. In a way, you’re both more confident and more nervous–more confident because you know how to do this better, you’ve done this a lot with Beomgyu… and more nervous because you’ve never done it with Yeonjun. What if he doesn’t like it? 

Your movements are slow, meant to tease and build up rather than push him over the edge. Your tongue swirls slowly around his flushed head and laps up any precum leaking from his slit while your thumb and index finger make a circle around his cock and slowly move up and down the bottom of his shaft, working him up until he’s begging again. 

“More–please, I need more.” He breathes, voice tight and needy. 

It’s a lot different from Beomgyu… If it was Beomgyu, he’d be crying and whining loudly, his mouth spouting off all kinds of filth in an attempt to get you to throat his dick. He’d be squirming and trying to push his dick further down your mouth, bucking his hips into your hand so you’d jerk him off faster… 

But Yeonjun is not Beomgyu. He stands there, as still as he can, and lets you do what you want. 

Only interrupting with a quiet plea when he can’t take it anymore. Is that better? Is it worse? You don’t know. All you know is that you need to get Beomgyu out of your mind, stop comparing them. Yeonjun is yours, Beomgyu is not. Yeonjun is here for you to touch and taste and feel, Beomgyu isn’t. Yeonjun has opened his heart up to you, and it’s insulting to think of another guy when you’re with him. 

So you get off your knees and kiss Yeonjun, letting yourself focus on him and only him. You push the rest of his clothes off his body, and let him do the same to you, letting his hands wander and squeeze and caress as he does so–because you’re his. 

You lead him towards the bed, pushing him on it and climbing on top of him, lining yourself up with his hard cock before catching his gaze, seeing the way he lies still and waits for you to do, before you sink down on him. 

He lets out a deep sigh when you’re seated on his hips, his cock buried all the way inside you. 

“This what you wanted, darling?” 

He nods, resting his hands on your thighs, not pushing or pulling, just letting you take your time. Is it a sign of patience and letting you take the lead or is it a lack of passion and indifference? These are the thoughts that plague you. 

But you’re too much of a coward to ask, so you just lift yourself up and fall down on his cock, establishing a steady rhythm. He lets out quiet moans and pants, responding to the way your hips move and your pussy works over his cock, his eyes alternating from staring at your form to rolling into the back of his skull when the pleasure becomes too much. 

“Is it good?” You ask and he nods. “So good.” 

Still restrained. Still subdued. But you take it. You take it and you run with it, bouncing faster on his cock, your gaze stuck to his face, eating up every little twitch and sigh that escapes him, so focused on him that you neglect your own pleasure, only noticing when his right hand brushes up your thigh and his thumb grazes your clit. 

“What are you doing, baby?” You ask, hand circling around his wrist but not pulling it away. 

“Don’t wanna cum alone. Want you with me.” 

Is it really you domming him if he can still do whatever he wants? You don’t know but you don’t have to decide right now. You can just take it slow. You can work things out the kinks bit by bit. 

“That’s a bit quick, don’t you think?” You venture to tease him, hoping he’d give you the response you’re looking for, and he does… somewhat. “Can’t help it. You just look so sexy bouncing on my cock. You should dom me every day.” 

You groan, thighs burning as you ride him faster, needing him to really mean it. “Don’t talk like that.” 

“Like what?” He purrs, his thumb still circling your sensitive nub. 

“Like you’re still in control.” You finally push his hand away, pinning his arms next to his head, but maddeningly, he just smirks up at you. 

“You want the control, you’re going to have to take it, doll. I am not going to just show my belly and give you the lead so easily.” 

“You’re insufferable.” You hold his wrists with one hand and use the other to wrap around his throat, not cutting off his circulation but just holding it tight enough to make a point. 

“That’s more like it.” He gasps, craning his head back to give you an easier purchase on his neck. “I’m close.” 

“Why should I let you cum?” You challenge, digging your fingers just a little more into his neck, clenching your pussy just a little tighter around his cock. 

“Because you like it when I empty my balls inside your little pussy.” He sucks in a sharp breath, his control slipping just a little bit, and you latch onto that. 

“I do like it, but what I like more is making bad boys cry.” You threaten, slowing down your movement until you’re barely riding him. “I’m sure it would feel just as good getting off your cock and making myself cum on my fingers. Just seeing your needy cock all hard and red with no relief would be more than enough to get me off.” 

He frowns. “You wouldn’t…” 

You make a show of getting off his cock and he quickly cries out. “No, wait. Okay. You win. I’ll be good.” 

You raise an eyebrow at him before going back to riding him fast, not giving him the chance to challenge you again. “Well, that was easy.” 

He does well by shutting up this time, his full lips pulled into a hilarious pout. 

“Are you close?” You ask him when his eyebrows begin to furrow and he nods. You let go of his wrist, telling him to keep them there as if you could’ve stopped him if he wanted to overpower you. 

You use your now free hand to rub your clit, pushing yourself towards your own high. 

Yeonjun doesn’t like that. “I could do that for you.” 

He tries to reach out to touch you but you let go of his throat and swat his hands away. “No. Only good boys get to touch.” 

He gives you a little whine–a semblance of what you crave from him. Maybe the rest will come in time. 

“I’m close.” You tell him, fingers desperately moving over your pussy as you ride him. “Want you to cum with me.” 

He nods, his hips moving for the first time under you, helping the both of you over the edge. 

“Yeonjun–fuck!” You throw your head back, eyes squeezed tight as your body shudders with release. Yeonjun hands reach out to hold your hips flush against his as he empties himself inside you, a long groan slipping from his pretty lips. 

“Fuck.” You gasp, falling down when your orgasm leaves you, and Yeonjun opens his arms to take you in, holding you close to him, your hearts beating rapidly still. 

This whole day has been an emotional rollercoaster for you, and the release of pent up energy leaves you spent, your body all but becoming boneless in Yeonjun’s embrace. 

He kisses the top of your head, his hand smoothing through your wet hair as the both of you catch your breath. You feel your eyelids getting heavy with exhaustion, the heat of his embrace now a familiar night-time companion, and you find yourself drifting off to sleep. 

"Thank you again for choosing me for the Frost shoot." You mumble, eyes closed. He may have just changed the whole trajectory of your career. 

"No need to thank me. It was all Beomgyu's idea." 

____________________

A/N: one more chapter to go. as always your feedback makes me update faster so don't be shy to drop in a message. the author note in the last chapter will contain a link to my patreon for the alternative ending for the losing boy so look forward to that

and for the final time

Taglist: @blxxsss@sanasour@tinkw1nks@lol6sposts@zuzuhasablog@beomsl@seolis-world @stantxtorurmissingout@wonwooz1@yaorzu-blog@allylikesdabee@rkivezzs@malieno@leviathanlee26@yomomas-stuff@kurisaiyunobara@girlwholovekpop@zuzuhasablog @viaaasdiary @ho3forkpop@skzvcr @th3-3d3n-g4rd3n @izzyexe @boomfrogg @kpop-cakepops-recs @chronicallygyu @girlwholovekpop

[druidwolf21]

Part of first impressions

Find part 1 here

Sanguinius/f reader

As with the others, there are 2 endings and smut waaaaay at the bottom!

Sorry it took so long, my brain has been melted!

For a list of my other stories, check out here

Taglist: @beckyninja @lemon-russ @cosmic-cryptid-from-beyond @moodymisty

There's a little character Easter egg in here, an OC belonging to @jaghatai-khock, go check them out they're awesome!

You wrapped a slender finger through the soft fabric of your dress and lifted, ghosting the hem along your ankle as you avoided stepping on the material, your steps hurried as you rushed towards the varnished door. The rolled velvet of the carpet shifted beneath your feet as you danced between bodies, trying desperately to reach your exit, but the heaving mass of suits and dresses pressed you back toward the center. The cologne and perfume rolled over you like a wave, filling your nose with a cloud of fake florals and synthetic smoke.

You backed away from the sudden assault as your eyes watered and leant against a table for support, your head swimming and pulsing with nausea. You ran a hand across your brow as bile rose in your throat. Kneading your brow, you were brought back to your thoughts when you felt the table bump and shift slightly.

You frowned slightly and pulled your hand away from your forehead, cocking your head as the table jumped slightly again. Looking around, you gently sunk into a squat, pulled your knees up to your chest and lifting the edge of the linen cloth.

Bright eyes Vermillion red looked back at you from beneath long fluttering lashes as you peered underneath. A small round face framed with spiraled locks of caramel twitched in confusion at you. you stared, mouth slightly agape as it shuffled where it sat, revealing a pair of small downy wings, white as fresh snow and fluffed in delight as it kicked it's small feet up and down.

Was this a cherub? no, a child?

The little creature under the table giggled, dimples creasing it's rosey cheeks as itraised its fists up, displaying small fingers greased in cake icing and syrup. Laughing, it smeared the mess across its face, giggling in delight as it licked sugar from its palms and spread the mess down the front of his scarlet tunic. You smiled slightly and shook your head, letting the tablecloth fall back to the floor and raised yourself to your feet again.

"I have definitely had too much to drink if I think I'm seeing kids here"

Brushing your hands over the front of your dress to smooth the pearl fabric, you looked about the glittering ball room. The candelabras and chandeliers flickered warm light over the opulent gathering and glittered off the golden threads in the banners gently waving across the walls. You cast a cursory glance around, searching for the source of the breeze until your eyes alighted on an open balcony door, cracked open a fraction to allow the scent of fresh rain to snake it's way through the aroma of wine and body heat.

You sighed in relief and strode across the marble floor, head held high and eyes set straight you walked with purpose to avoid unwanted conversation. This approach seemed to work better than skulking through the crowd as you finally managed to break from the drone of voices and slipped through the glass frame and clicked it shut softly behind you.

The air was fresh and cold against your skin, sending goose bumps across your arms and flushing your cheeks against the chill night air. You breathed deep and felt the stress begin to melt from your frame, the sound of the party now slightly muted through the closed metal and perspex. Leaning on the ornate balustrade and tracing a finger over the carves swirles and whorls of the carved stone, you looked out over the city below, scowling wistfully at the twinkling lights and faint echos carried up on the evening wind. You closed your eyes and tilted your head upwards, relishing the soft drip of gentle rain on your chilled skin.

Laughter

The click of the door.

Someone was coming out.

Whipping your head around at the noise you panicked and searched for an escape, finding a trellis wrapped in ivy and climbing wisteria clinging to the wall. Without a second thought you gripped the wood and threw yourself up the crosshatched pine, feeling dew and vines coating your skin like a blanket as you hastily climbed upwards. The laughter and hushed voices from the couple now entangled together on the balcony drew your eyes down and you felt acid boiling in your throat.

That was a long way down.

Eyes squeezed shut to blink way tears, your ripped your gaze from the abyss of black below you and resumed your climb. The faint reflective light of the roof agonizingly close and yet impossibly far. Reaching out a hand, you craned upwards, stretching your fingers to clasp at the cold tiles just inches ahead.

You felt the wood snap before you heard it.

A scream caught in your throat, stolen by the wind as you felt the flimsy wood finally surrender to your unfamiliar weight. Time froze for a moment as you felt backwards, hand still outstretched towards the guttering as gravity claimed you for its own. Desperate clenching of your fist into nothingness did nothing to persuade the darkness below you to relinquish you as the wind tore through your hair, ripping the golden pin from your locks and freeing your treses to the cyclone of screaming air around you.

Your fall halted as abruptly as it began, jolted upward suddenly you felt warmth spreading through your body as your face and chest suddenly pressed into a firm soft texture. You felt weight on your back and slowly pulled back from the mass before you.

Hunched over to hide himself, Sanguinius watched from the roof as the woman stepped out onto the balcony and leant over the edge, admiring the way the ghostly fabric clung to her skin in the soft rain. He found himself bemused at her panic when the door slowly creaked open and laughed as he watched her launch onto the wall in a desperate attempt to escape any attention, listening to her mutter as she heaved herself up.

When he saw her fall he had reached out and caught her, pulling her close to him instinctively. He felt his muscles tense and his wings bristle as your body collided with his. His nose was filled with the scent of fear emanating from you, but underneath he could smell the scent of flowers and fresh grass, parchment and warm spices.

As the woman pulled away from him he looked into her eyes, still dilated with fear as she slowly realized what was going on.

"a fall like that will not end well without wings, my lady"

You lost yourself in the moment as the primark looked down at you with a gentle smile. The moonlight cast gentle light across his golden hair as it fell about his face, framing his handsome features. The crimson hue of his garments reflecting warm shadows into your pale skin.

His palm slid from your back and he took your hand in his own as he helped you to a flatter portion of the rooftop.

"what's life without a little risk, my lord" you replied, shaking yourself from your reverie and tearing your eyes away from his face as you stepped gingerly over the slick ceramic until you found a spot that felt level.

A chuckle escaped from him as his grin widened and his fingers twitched around your hand before releasing you from his grip.

"That desperate to escape high society, little sparrow?"

You blushed, embarrassment deepening the red hue across your cheeks as you realized you'd been found out. His golden eyes twinkled in amusement as you eventually shrugged, accepting you'd been caught.

"A boring event, as with everything else that happens here. But my lord if I might, I'm not the only one hiding out in the rain"

He laughed deep and sonorous and you felt a flutter in your stomach as he flashed you a brilliant smile. You found yourself hungrily trailing your eyes over his scarlet clad body as he swept a hand through his hair, slicking it back with the rain.

"alas, you were not the only one to find the evenings events lacking, my lady"

He lowered himself down next to you, taking a seat on the cool patchwork of tiling and gesturing for you to join him.

"so tell me, little bird, what brings a lady of the court to these lofty heights"

Perching yourself safely next to him and stretching out your legs, you surveyed the patchwork of lights and distant engine jets that stretched into the darkness of the evening. The low hum of activity faint as the world kept turning as you sat and watched.

"wishful thinking, I suppose" you sighed

Sanguinius studied your face as you scanned the horizon, a wistful look in your eyes as you watched a distant thunder hawk roar into life and skim through the gathering clouds, the amber glow of its engines igniting the sky briefly with a clap of burnt colour. The flash of bright light lit your face for a split second, and he enjoyed the way your cheeks dimpled as a smile crept into your lips.

You looked over at him, holding his gaze steadily. No fear or reverence in your eyes, just curiosity. Not looking at his as a God or an angel. Just a man.

It was intoxicating.

He nodded, encouraging you to talk as he lent back and listened. He enjoyed the way your voice lifted as you spoke about the events that landed you at the oarty and he laughed with you as you both shared in the discomfort of social events.

He found himself sharing tales of bhaal secundus and reveling in the way your eyes lit up when he told you about leading the astartes from the helm of the red tear.

You lost track of time and yourself as you sat and talked with the angel beside you. Your eyes grew wide as he regaled you with tales of battle and foreign worlds and, whilst a lot more mundane, he seems to appreciate your stories of teenage rebellion and tearing through the manor to avoid a scolding.

"I would expect nothing less of you at this point " he snorted as you finished telling him about the ill-fated turn of events that befell you when you attempted to race your father's new kreig warhorses around the grounds.

"Never have I met one as wild as you, save perhaps my brother, but that is another story"

Streaks of burnished bronze began to creep across the horizon and the rain began to fall in earnest as you sat. Briefly turning his eyes to the sky, sanguinius raised an immense wing over your head and gestured for you to take cover. You stared at the limb, his wings lucent and ethereal as he raised it over you gently.

When you didn't react he coughed slightly, pursing his lips and narrowing his pupils.

"your dress, my lady"

Mortified you looked down, finding the fabric slicking to your body and revealing the pink of chilled skin through the now translucent silk after hours of windswept droplets had settled into the thin threading.

You clutched your hands to your chest and squeaked.

"oh throne I didn't realize, the rain must've... Oh damn it"

The angel coughed again, pausing and bringing his hand to his mouth before he spoke.

"We should find you a change of clothes, before straying eyes find you." He rose to his feet in one graceful movement and blinked at you slowly.

"In fact, there are plenty enough robes aboard the red tear" he reached out a callused hand to help you to your feet as the question hung in the air.

Go with sanguinius.

You stared up at the man above you, the soft light of dawn gently playing through his hair and the pinions of his wings casting his figure in a resplendent halo of burnished light.

"The... Red tear?"

He nodded down at you, eyes searching your intently as he waited.

You sat frozen for a moment, your brain turning over itself as you comprehended what had just been said.

A place on the primark's ship, a chance to escape the gilded cage you find yourself trapped in. No more ridiculous rules, no false smiles ,no fake pageantry. The chance to finally shake off the weight of expectations.

You felt your breath catch in your chest and your heart thrummed in your chest. It would be dangerous, no doubt, you might not make it home. But then again, this hasn't felt like home for a while now.

"the choice is yours, of course. But I can guarantee you wouldn't be climbing manor walls to escape boredom if you joined me"

You chuckled and took his hand, gasping slightly as he hauled you to your feet like you were nothing. Although thinking about it, you probably DID weigh nothing to him.

"I'll hold you to that, my lord, but if I do, I expect you to catch me again"

The blonde smile grew into a toothy grin and he pulled you towards him, pressing your vulnerable figure into his bulk. Your heart pounded as you breathed in his warm comfortable scent, like sunlight and warm grass. Your heart rate increased further as he clutched you to him and took a step towards the edge, muscles flexing and stretching as his wingspan stretched its their full extent.

"we'd best get back to the ship, don't worry I can get us there quickly"

"you've got to be joking"

Refuse sanguinius

You eyed the broad figure above you as his hand hovered just within reach. You trailed your eyes up his arm to his face, meeting his intense gaze and holding it for a moment.

"you want me to go with you?"

He nodded in response, his jaw tight as he waited for your decision. You blinked a few times, assessing his motivation as you searched his face for anything. After a moment you sighed and gently took his hand, allowing him to guide you to his feet.

"my lord, I am flattered, but the red tear is no place for me, as I'm sure you already suspect. I am no astartes, nor a remembrancer. I would be confined to the ship as I am confined here."

He continued to stare at you for a moment, eyes grazing over your face until he nodded and withdrew from you, releasing your hand. He rolled his shoulders and flexed his wings, the primary feathers tensing and flicking water off in a shower of iridescent spray.

"A shame to be sure, but I will not contest your decision, that is your right"

He turned his back to you, stretching out to his full height before casting a glance over his shoulder.

"I will escort you back to your room"

You nodded sadly, hair hiding the welling tears in your eyes as you slid over the roof to join the man's side.

"thank you, for this evening my lord"

He looked down at you, a disappointed frown creasing his forehead as he tipped his chin at you.

"of course my lady, the pleasure was mine"

🪽🪽🪽🪽🪽🪽🪽🪽🪽

Smut below!

An alt ending to going with sanguinius.

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

"your dress, my lady"

You looked down and sucked in a sharp breath through your teeth. The soft fabric of your dress clung to your body like a second skin, your pebbled skin clearly visible through the rain soaked silk.

You swept your arms across your chest, covering your perked nipples as a growing heat spread up your neck and across your face.

"my lord I am so sorry, I didn't realize I.." You stuttered as you realized more and more of your skin was flushing through the gossamer textile. You raised your brow tentatively as you stammered your apology and found the words frozen in your tongue.

Sanguinius' cheeks were hued soft pink and his eyes dark as he looked down at you. his pupils dilated and flicked his stare to your face before jerking away when he caught your eye.

"my lord?"

His head was pointedly turned from you, but you could see his chest rising and falling as his breath hitched. You reached out a cold finger and, after hesitating for a moment, ran a finger along the back of his hand. He jerked at the touch, twisting his head round and watching your hand dance along his wrist, he trailed his sight up your arm, along your shoulder, swallowing as he ripped his stare from your chest to your face. He leaned over, so close you could feel the warmth of his breath tickle your face.

Thump, thump, thump.

You heart was pounding so hard you were sure he could hear it. In fact you knew he could.

Shaking his head slightly he began to pull back from you.

"forgive me, I don't know what"

You interrupted him with a chaste kiss, tracing the line of his angled jaw with your thumb. He held back for a moment before returning the touch, his own hand finding the small of your back and his wing sweeping from over your head to behind you, pulling you close to him. Moaning into him as you felt his tongue run across your lips, you threaded your palms into his hair as you melted into his kiss. The blonde pulled from the kiss and you whined as the taste of him left your lips.

Sanguinius lost himself in your touch as he felt your fingers run through his hair, the taste of wine and heat from you was intoxicating as he licked along your bottom lip, blood rising in him as you moaned, his hands pawing hungrily at you. He wretched himself away and breathed, pushing the hunger he felt down as you teased his scalp. He searched your face for anything telling him to stop, something to force an ounce of self control into him.

But when you reached back for him, your lips tracing his jaw and trailing down his neck, all thoughts of sensibility flew out of his head. He reached out and pulled you onto his lap, a great hand tugging at your hair as his tongue lapped at your throat, nipping and sucking at your jugular until blood trickled and a bruise bloomed across your tender skin, your soft moans feeding his hunger as his hands found your ass and squeezed.

You squeaked as you felt him palming your ass and you ground yourself into his pelvis, feeling his hard cocks pressing against the fabric of his trousers, earning you a hiss and a sharp nip to your neck. His tongue trailed down to your collar bone and you pressed your chest up to meet his eager lips. The hand from your back ripped at the dress knot and sanguinius mouth latches to a nipple as the dress fell away, his tongue tracing hot circles on your sensitive flesh.

"please" you whimpered, kissing the crown of his head.

He raised his amber eyes, almost glowing in the moonlight as he smirked at you.

"such a song bird, piping your sweet voice at me"

He moved his hand from your rear, sliding it down gently between your thighs, a callused thumb brushing gently against your clit, circling the nub gently, teasing as his index finger slowly slid towards your drenched core. Hips rocking into his hand, you hiccupped as he finally slid a finger inside you and dug your hands into the soft cotton of his tunic, feeling the muscle twitch under your touch.

He hummed into your chest, releasing your overworked nipple with a wet pop. He moved his lips to your ears as you shuddered under his touch. "Such a needy little thing" he breathed, enjoying how you were walls clamped around his finger at his words.

You could feel yourself being pulled so close, rocking back and forth in his palm as he worked his fingers into you. Suddenly his withdrew and you whined, tears pricking the corners of your eyes as you felt yourself tripping away from the edge. His hand slid from your thigh and fumbled with his bottoms, pulling his throbbing member free from the drenched fabric.

Reaching for it, you slowly stroked his dick, sliding the precum from the tip up and down his shaft as you pumped. You looked up when you heard him gasp gently and a mischievous smile crept across your face as you slid your hand up and down, teasing his tip with your thumb every so often.

"it's not nice being teased, is it" you smirked edging him closer before slowing down again. You felt his hips buck against you and you slid forward, your hand flew up and pressed against his broad chest for balance and you shuddered, suddenly feeling his dick pressed against your wet folds.

Your eyes met and you nodded, sliding yourself against him to coax him to take you.

His large hands found the soft flesh of your hips as he lifted you slightly before lowering you onto him, you clutched around his neck, whimpering as you felt him stretch you out, inch by inch sliding in.

"so good, song bird, you're doing so well" he cooed into your ear as he kneaded your flesh "so tight for your primark"

He grunted as you twitched and tightened around him at his praise, muscles spasming as he finally bottomed out inside you. Your chest heaved at the exertion as you relaxed into the sensation of how full you were, burying your head into his shoulder you began to move , grinding your ass down against his pelvis before beginning to slowly bounce on him.

His hands guided your waist and kept you balanced as you rode him, crying his name like a prayer with each motion, you slid up and down his shaft. You felt his chest vibrate and he groaned, hands tightening on your hips as he rutted into you and you threw your head back as you came, seeing stars both literally and figuratively as you stared at the night sky gasping as shivers wracked your whole body.

"San.. sanguinius" you croaked, voice harshed from overuse. You trailed your hand from around his neck to the top of his back, running along the lines of muscles to the base of his wings and twisted your fingers into the soft white down, earning you a soft groan from the angel below you.

You could feel him getting close as he continued to grasp you, using his giant hands to manhandle and bounce you on him erratically.

"my lord, my angel" you chirped softly to him, huffing as each thrust of his rigid cock bullied your insides "I need it so bad, sanguinius"

You felt him thrust deep inside as he finished, his teeth finding your shoulder and biting down hard, hot tongue lapped the blood from the bite wound as he spilled inside you. You twitched and shuddered under his touch, the pain from his hungrily mouth and the pleasure of him buried inside you melting your brain to a hot mess. You remained unmoving , slumped against his chest with your arms hanging uselessly over his shoulders as you tried to piece your mind back together.

Blissfully warm and glowing, wrapping in muscular arms and shielded from the still pounding rain by his canopy of feathers you found yourself unwilling to move, even as his cum dripped from your abused cunt.

"you should come with me"

"hmmm?" You mumbled in response, burying your face into his soft hair as it fell around your face.

"I want you to come with me" he shifted slightly as he spoke, pulling you away from his body and turning to look at you. You grimaced at the sudden lack of body heat before it clicked what he'd asked.

"you... Want me to come with you?"

He nodded, stroking your slick hair back from your face. "I do"

You chewed on your bottom lip for a moment before shrugging

"I suppose it's the polite thing to do after.." you gestured at yourselves, still intertwined "this"

A bright smile spread across his gorgeous features and you felt butterflies in your stomach all over again as he kissed your forehead.

"a fine choice, my lady"

[diminuel]

Oh, you're running out of Crocodile ships for the baby wheel? Don't mind me adding some more (which I hope haven't been requested yet lol):

Crocodile/Benn Beckman as the only people holding the braincells between the Red Hair pirates and Cross Guild (Mihawk only gets the braincells when Shanks is not in the vicinity), actually, they would be an awesome matchup at any point in time as the few people who aren't batshit insane lmao

Crocodile/Jinbei because you can't tell me that they didn't get absolutely wasted at least once during their time as warlords, i think it would be very funny if they drunkenly hooked up and then when the next warlord meeting comes around Croc is just like, btw, you're a dad now, and hands him their child (Sengoku suffers in the background until he sees Doffy loosing his mind about still haven't managed to get Croc in bed, then he's maliciously happy)

Crocodile/Daz Bones because come on, Daz as the loyal right hand and should be allowed to tap that at least ones, he's already been drafted for babysitting, he can also have his own kid too lol

I've already drawn all of these ;DDD Though I think I have to try again for the Beckman baby because they don't like the design I came up with! (Since these are mostly just design experiments without much thought behind it, not all of them work. There are a couple I'd maybe redraw)

I have been daydreaming about a Jinbei/Crocodile scenario of something that happened during their Warlord days! And yeah, I guess he'd hand the baby over to Jinbei because Crocodile might not know how to adequately care for the child.

In any case, here are two posts that collect most of the baby designs: batch 1 and batch 2

(Doffy's kid has graduated from design experiment into becoming actual OC.)

Your Daz scenario makes it sound like Crocodile rewards people by having sex with them and giving them a baby *lol* I mean, he's clearly a very dedicated boss and works on his "thank you for your loyalty" rewards for almost a year!

[fanfictiongirlie]

Twilight: The Human and the Wolf Chapter Nineteen

Click here for masterlist

Parings: Paul Lahote x OC (First person, no use of Y/N)

Description: Bella Swan's twin moved to Forks with her sister. Whilst Bella falls for a vampire, her twin falls for a wolf. The story runs parallel to Bella's story in Twilight. But following her twin and her life with the wolves.

AN: Sorry there hasn't been an update in a while, I have been ill + the writing just wasn't coming to me, y'know?

Chapter Nineteen - That Was Awesome! I'm Never Doing It Again

A few days later I walked into Emily and Sam's place, excited to spend the day with them and hang with the pack. Bella had been a lot happier these past days, spending most of her free time with Jacob, I didn't mind, as long as she was getting better. I walked through the already open door, and I was surprised to see Embry sitting with the pack. 

"Embry?" I say excitedly. "Long time no see"

His head snapped into my direction, his eyes widening slightly, a broad smile spread onto his face as he locked eyes with me. "Oh man, it's been ages! How've you been, how it's going?"

"Great" I answer, I walk fully into the house and sit at the dining table, Paul reached over and pecked my cheek gently, his arm went around my back, placing his hand on my lower back, holding me. "You wolfed out too?" I ask Embry. He nods, a proud expression on his face. 

"Yeah, I phased a few days ago"

"Aw awesome! You know what that means?" I ask, wiggling my eyebrows in excitement. Paul had told me what he did with the pack when he first phased and it was something I wanted to try so bad. Embry raised an eyebrow as I spoke. 

"What's that?" He asks. 

"Well, Paulie told me about it, when he wolfed out, as a little celebration for joining the pack they went cliff diving, and well Paul promised me he;'d take me, so it gives us all a reason to go" I explain, looking from Embry to Paul. They both grinned, obviously liking the idea. 

"Cliff diving? Hell, Yeah, I'm in. That sounds sick"

"We can go tomorrow, can't we Paul?" I ask, he nods, a wolfie grin on his lips. 

-

The next day, I travelled up to the cliffs with Paul, Embry, Sam and Jared. I was wrapped up warm, I didn't have the wolf's super warmth, so I'd be jumping in my warm leggings and one of Paul's hoodies, my car was parked close enough to the beach that I could rush and get warmer clothes on when I left the water. I was suddenly feeling terrified, as we trekked up to the jump point. Paul stood next to me on the edge of the cliff, a mixture of excitement and concern in his eyes as he looked down at the water below.

"You ready for this, sweetheart?" He asks, I shiver slightly, feeling my lips tremble as I look up at him. Jared and Embry were laughing besides us, pushing one another. 

"Oh definitely not.. but I wanna do it..I may not be a wolf, but Im your imprint, I wanna be apart of the pack, and this jump.. well you've all done it, I wanna do it!" I say, my voice full of determination. Paul smirks and leans now, kissing my lips softly for a moment, his warmth enveloped me, spreading from my lips through my body. I shivered again, not a shiver of cold however. He pulled back and smiled softly, placing both of his hands on my shoulders. 

"Alright, sweetheart, you got this. I'll be right there with you. You're part of the pack, and you're my imprint. We're all in this together. Just take a deep breath and we'll jump together."

"Deal!" I say with a grin. Paul smiled reassuringly, his grip on my shoulder tightening gently. He stepped closer to the edge, waiting for my signal. I stepped closer to him, taking his hand in mine as I stood shoulder to shoulder with him. 

"Whenever you're ready, sweetheart. Just jump and I'll jump with you. We'll do this together." He says. I nod, and look back for a moment. "Embry you nervous?" I ask, he hadn't done this before, just like me. Whereas Sam, Jared and Paul had, so he was in the same boat as me. He looked nervous, and the nervous chuckle that left his lips suggested he felt the same as me. 

"Hell yeah, I'm nervous. This is my first time cliff jumping, too. But I'm not gonna back down. We're doing this"

"Okay, Paul...I'm doing it" I squeal taking a small shuffle forward, I looked down, seeing the waves beneath me, I liked swimming, I always had. Loved it in fact, however looking down from this height, it made the water look menacing, the waves crashed and the wind howled. I couldn't imagine being in the water in the matter of minutes. Paul's grip on my hand tightened as he held me. 

"I'm right there with you, sweetheart. Ready...and...jump!"

"Jump!" I squeal at the same time as him, we jump off the edge and fall through the air, for a moment I felt nothing but the cold air hitting my skin, and Paul's hand gripping my own, it felt like forever until we hit the water. I soon emerged, giggling softly as I see Paul, he was smiling so wide, I could tell he was proud of me in that moment. I was proud of me. We swam a little bit away from where we had landed so the boys wouldn't land on us. He pulled me close to him as the waves moved us in the water, we bobbled up and down. 

"You did it, sweetheart!That was freakin' awesome!"

"Holy shit! That was awesome! I'm never doing it again" 

Paul chuckles. "Yeah, it was amazing. I don't blame you for never wanting to do that again. You were a real trouper, though. I'm proud of you, sweetheart."

I giggle softly, the waves moved me and I bobbled up and down in the water, the was cold, so cold, I could feel my lips turning blue, but that didn't stop the smile on my lips. As we watched the others jump off the cliff, Paul kept his arm around my waist, holding me above the water. 

We all swam for a bit, and when the shivering became louder than the talking, Paul and I left the water and he wrapped his arms around me, holding me close as we walked back to my car. 

"Always so warm" I mumble, snuggling a little closer to him as we walked. 

"Yeah, well, I guess being a werewolf has its perks, huh? Like being a personal heater whenever you need me to be."

-

I dropped Paul off first, after we had dried and changed clothes of course, and then I drove home. My dad's car wasn't in the driveway, I shrugged it off and walked into the house, seconds after I shut my front door, Bella grabbed my arm. 

"How could you be so stupid?! Jumping off a cliff?" She yells, I pull my arm away from hers. 

"Bells, calm down, it was fun, and I was with the boys, completely safe" I say with a shrug. Bella huffed, pacing back and forth in agitation.

"You call that safe? You could have been seriously hurt jumping off a cliff! And for what? Adrenaline rush?"

"Yeah...guess so" I answer, shrugging, I couldn't tell her the actual idea we went cliff jumping. Bella crossed her arms, her irritation clearly visible.

"Seriously, you can't take unnecessary risks like that. There's more to life than adrenaline thrills. You need to be more careful."

"Bella, mind your own business, it was fun.. I did it once, I won't be doing it again" I snapped, annoyed, she was telling me how to live my life, Bella! After the months she shut off. 

"I don't care if it was fun. You should think twice before doing something that dangerous. And I don't believe you. You said that last time you went cliff diving, and look where we are now. You need to be more responsible."

"Alright" I mutter. "Whatever you say, I'm going to bed!"

Bella huffed, but didn't protest further. "Fine. Do what you want. But don't come crying to me when something goes wrong."

"Jeez Bella, calm down!" I snapped, glaring at her as I stepped closer to the stairs. 

 "Don't tell me to calm down! You're the one acting recklessly, taking unnecessary risks. It's so frustrating dealing with you sometimes" She snaps. 

"Oh yeah? And what about those bikes you're building with Jake? Didn't think I knew about them did ya?"

She froze, her eyes widening slightly. "You keep things from me, you take stupid risks, you do things and act like it's no big deal. I'm sick of it."

"And you shut me out ! For months! When that Cullen left you, you stopped existing and you shut me out, your own twin!"

Bella's defenses crumbled a little at my words. There was a hint of guilt in her eyes as she realised the truth in my accusation.

"I... I didn't shut you out. I just..."

"No nothing Bella. You don't get to yell at me for living my life, Im done arguing" I say walking away, running up to my room, tears leaving my eyes. 

Taglist:

@jaybbygrl, @strayteez3staner, @8crazy-freak8, @idontliketoread2137, @bonni-98 @wh0reforbucknasty

[chil-aglia]

𝐃𝐨 𝐈 𝐋𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐋𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐇𝐢𝐦? |ROTTMNT| (Male OC)

[So, I'm stuck with you?]

Be sure to read the tags on my Ao3 so you guys know what you’re getting yourselves into.

Art above is done by me. PLEASE feel free to make your own art and idk tag me in it or something—

Warnings: None really

And of course, a quick thank you to my awesome beta reader @cimmerian1275 who helped me out a lot with this chapter! Very talented and please, go give them a follow, like their work, etc.

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

Young Leo had never been so cautious, yet so curious in his life before until now. He was kept on strict bed rest with hourly check-ups from the turtles and Draxum, it took him about a week and a half to get used to their sudden visits and to remember all their names.

He was bored but lacked the energy to actually get up and move around, mostly because he was a little…hesitant on walking.

He… hadn’t actually walked before, and he didn’t know how to function or control his body properly. He barely spoke unless he asked a question that he had to answer, such as if he was in discomfort or if he remembered anything.

That… that was another thing he was still trying to comprehend. The brothers (as he learned that they were family) kept referring to him as ‘Leo’. And had told him that he was their ‘leader of the Resistance’.

…

Honestly, he had to tell them to stop the information dumping as it gave him a pounding headache whenever he tried to take in all this knowledge in such a short amount of time.

‘Leo’… it didn’t sound right to him. He wasn’t sure why or how, but he just had a strong sense that he wasn’t this Leo that they kept calling him by. 

He wanted to tell them that. But…

Maybe he didn’t have the heart to tell them how he felt, maybe he didn’t actually know if he himself was right about that gut feeling. He could be Leo…right?

Nights where everyone had left him alone were the most bizarre thing for him. Because every time he figured he was drifting off to sleep, he would just… feel a presence hovering somewhere nearby. As though they were right next to him. And he swore… he swore he heard a voice every now and then distantly talking, but he could never pinpoint where it was even coming from.

Which was the predicament he was currently in right now. It had struck 11:00 pm according to the clock on the wall (how could even tell the time? He didn’t remember learning how to read it when he would wake up still in stasis and Draxum was there, talking to him before he would go back to sleep).

Young Leo couldn’t keep his eyes closed for very long, sleep constantly seemed to elude him.

He felt that presence again. This time it was stronger, like it was actively trying to grab his attention. What was it? 

He shook his head a little out of frustration, and tightly closed his eyes just trying to will himself to sleep out of sheer determination.

Sleep… sleep… sleep… slee—

He gasps, eyes flying back open, but his vision wasn’t met with the dim landscape of the med room like it should have been. No… he was in some kind of dark place. No light seemingly visible.

He felt in a strange way, detached, like this was some sort of trippy dream.

Except he knew it wasn’t. Or at least, it didn’t feel like a dream. 

He took a step forward through the void—

Wait, a step?

He looked down at himself, blinking in utter puzzlement. How was he standing? How was he walking? Perhaps a trick of the mind, he didn’t quite understand.

”Weird…” He mumbled under his breath in confusion, before he froze upon a strange tingling feeling that prickled at the back of his neck. Someone was watching him. Somewhere in this void space. He sucks in a sharp breath, gulping as he opens his mouth to speak.

”Show yourself…!”

He coughs; his inexperienced vocal cords weren’t quite ready for him to be shouting, even in this weird head-space. “Show… yourself.” He demanded again, less shouting involved as he wearily gazed around at his surroundings, turning in a circle in hopes of spotting someone.

“—is way…!”

Huh?

It was faint, but there was a voice echoing to him. He turns around, this time recoiling in surprise when ahead in the distance he spotted a blue glow, pulsing in and out as it captured his attention. There was a tugging feeling in his gut that encouraged him to creep closer, like he was tied to an invisible cord pulling him forwards.

He hesitantly walked one step. Then two, and finally set course. He was slow though, clearly unsure about this strange light that seemingly appeared out of nowhere. Or… was it even a blue light?

The more he seemed to get closer, the more he began noticing a silhouette beginning to take form, standing still, waiting for him to approach and be at arm's length.

”—almost… to me!”

They were shouting for him. Waving their arms out in his direction.

Who…?

He stops, suddenly becoming aware that maybe… this could be a trick.

A trap of some sort, or a very trippy dream. What was going on? Who even was this? And why… Why did they feel familiar but also unfamiliar? Like a stranger that he had never met before, but also had?

His legs were moving again. Closer and closer and closer…

He halts, stopping to stand directly in front of what he first presumed was just a blue light. But upon closer inspection, it wasn’t. It was clearly a turtle, a very tall and broad turtle.

One that looked… quite unnervingly similar to him but older, but with less stripes visible on his arms. From what he could briefly remember that Draxum spoke to him about when came in and out of consciousness during stasis, his specific species of turtle is known as a Red-eared Slider.

And it was unmistakable that this older turtle was the same species as him. They both had lime green skin, a mustard yellow plastron, and a green-blue carapace with a teal pattern. Two red crescent-moon-like stripes arced over their eyes, yellow stripes on the upper arms, black eyes, three fingers on each hand, and two toes on each foot.

But this turtle was donning a blue bandana with tails dipping down his shell, dark blue fingerless gloves, and a similarly blue belt. Attached to the belt were a pair of blue pouches (one on each side) and a familiar-looking emblem that he noticed the three brothers wore on their clothes somewhere, but with this turtle, it was placed in the centre.

They wore dark blue pants, dark blue footwear, and white wraps on their arms and calves. 

Tying it all together, they wore a blue hooded scarf.

With black eyes staring directly into young Leo’s, they opened their mouth.

”So… you’re the one I’m stuck with?”  

Whether they meant it to be sarcastic or lighthearted, young Leo just couldn’t seem to understand, let alone process what he was looking at. He knew who this was, he didn’t know how, but he somehow did.

What?!

How should he respond? Fearful? Surprised? It was pretty much a given that he must have looked utterly shocked to the other turtle in the void.

“Y… you’re—“

“Leonardo? The one that my brothers have been calling you, for the past couple of weeks now?”

Oh, he sounded agitated. Wait… why is he mad?

“You’re the one inside my head.” Young Leo bit back, glaring slightly as the older—no, the real Leo, who blinked down at him, probably not expecting such a sharp response or tone from the total stranger. “Trust me, I don’t want to be here any longer than I have to be. But, it would seem like I don’t have much of a choice.” 

No choice?

Ah, right… Mikey did mention that he’d saved Leo’s soul and transferred it into his younger body. So, that must mean he literally has no way of leaving now. Not that he would know how to get him out.

Hold on… since this is Leo, who had turned away from him, seemingly mumbling under his breath about ‘getting stuck here’ and ‘the Resistance needs me’.

Young Leo froze upon a realization.

He wasn’t Leo. How could he be when the ‘leader of the Resistance’ he’d been hearing about was standing right in front of him?

If he wasn’t Leo… then, who was he?

“Hey, kid? You okay? You’re kind of staring off into the nothingness right now.”

Young Leo—hm… maybe he should call himself something else—blinked and focused back on the actual Leo, who had been watching him carefully, arms crossed and invisible brow raised in mild curiosity. The way he acted and even held himself gave off the impression that he was quite the important figure, so sue him if he was a little lost upon discovering Leonardo apparently lived inside his head.

“I’m fine.”

Leo didn’t say anything in response, as though he was thinking deeply about whatever it was that scratched at his mind. With an exhausted sounding sigh, Leo shakes his head and rubs at his temple, “This is the worst… I need to get back to doing my job, but I can’t like this.” He grumbled under his breath, tapping his foot repeatedly on the floor as he spoke.

Young Leo—who still needed to pick a new name for himself since that was taken— could only observe, biting his lip, feeling as though he was maybe somehow at fault for Leonardo getting stuck in this situation they’ve both found themselves in…

Was he supposed to even be here, instead of Leo?

Was Leo going to take control of his body?

Was he stuck here permanently?

What is he supposed to do in this situation??

Leo gazed down at him, staring wide eyed as he groaned and placed a hand over his face, shuddering briefly. “Kid, I can’t read your thoughts, but from what I can tell, I’m able to sense your emotions. So just… calm down for a second and let me think.” He somewhat snapped, narrowing his eyes at the young mutant who nervously stepped back, squinting his own eyes indignantly back at the older turtle.

Before either of them could speak, they were interrupted when a muffled voice could be heard calling out, it sounded familiar, the two turned to try and figure out where the voice was even coming from, but both were suddenly blinded when there was a bright light shining at them.

When they did manage to get some of their vision back, rapidly blinking to clear the daze out of their eyes. Leo noticed what appeared to be a control stand of some kind in the middle of the vast void, resembling a podium of sorts. He wasn’t sure exactly what it was, but it felt rather important and not something to ignore, he walked over before stopping just in front of it, tilting his head.

Young Leo followed after, standing next to Leo as he observed the foreign object. What was it?

He was the first to reach out, grazing only the tips of his fingers against the middle of the glowing… screen? Panel? Before jumping back when a blue light shot out from the middle. Neither of the two had even managed to think about what was happening when two hazy circular holes opened up ahead, the sudden brightness briefly burning their eyes as the two circles blinked open and shut.

It was like they were eyes.

No wait… they are eyes.

“—eo! You with us?”

What?

Young Leo stared up at the two larger eyes ahead of him, recognising a familiar face in view. Donnie was waving his hand in front of him, shining a little penlight at his eyes.

Young Leo briefly recoiled from the strange transition before he finally felt like he was back in the real world. No void surrounding him. And no Leo standing next to him.

He blinks, flinching back and slapping Donnie’s hand away from his face, grumbling to himself as he rubbed at his eyelids. Donnie leans away and quickly pulls up a holographic screen from his tech gauntlet on his wrist.

“You were out of it for 15 minutes. I was becoming worried. How do you feel? Tired? In any pain? Do you know where you are right now?”

Shut up… my head hurts.

Is what he wanted to say, but he kept his mouth closed, still processing what he just went through back in that mindscape of sorts he seemed to now be sharing with Leo.

Leo!

That had him sit himself up straight and grabbing Donnie’s arm, looking wide eyed up at him. “L-Leo!” He coughs out, clearing his throat as it felt dry and raspy still. Donnie only watched, looking at him in both concern, yet suspicious of his behaviour.

“Are you remembering that you’re Leo?”

In response the young mutant couldn’t help but glare, shaking his head slightly as he tried to figure out how to say what he wanted to tell him.

“Leo’s..n-not..me!”

He hoped that statement got through to Donnie. And judging from the conflicting look he was receiving from the soft shell, it seemed Donnie had heard what he said. But what he said seemingly wasn’t the response he was exactly hoping for.

Donnie pulls away, humming to himself and typing away on the holographic purple screen. “Subject is experiencing what sounds to be a severe case of amnesia and possible delusion. Subject also seems to be having difficulty understanding who he is. Strange… his vitals seem to be in working order—“ Donnie began to rant to himself, standing up and pacing around the room. The young turtle felt a little like he hadn't truly been heard.

He’s not Leo. Leo was inside his head, yes, but he wasn’t him!

“D-Don—“

Because of his inexperienced vocal cords, he couldn’t say much without stopping to cough, sounding as though he was choking on his own words. He lifted his hand towards his throat, the feeling of having difficulty breathing in and out straining his body.

Breathe, damnit!

His vision gradually became a little blurry, like he was on the verge of passing out.

Breathe, breathe, breathe—

A harsh pat on his shell had him gasp in a greedy and sharp breath of air, his eyes widened and flickered around to see who did that, but no one was near enough, Donnie was in the corner mumbling to himself, focused on his note taking.

“I got you, kid. It’s all right.”

Leo? How was he able to help him breathe normally again? He actually felt someone slap him on the shell, but… but that was impossible.

….right?

Taking in bigger gulps of air, he calmed down as much as he could, body trembling slightly from the overwhelming pressure but he was able to keep himself propped up right, watching Donnie turn back to look at him, his face furrowed.

“Leo—“

“Not… Leo..”

Donnie paused, and looked a little bit baffled at him. “…Um, okay, if you don’t want to be called Leo, then… what should I call you?” Donnie asks, whether it was because he just wanted to make him feel more comfortable around him or for some other reason that he couldn’t quite understand, the younger mutant thought about it.

What should he call himself?

His eyes narrowed down at his lap in deep thought, beginning to recall bits and pieces of memories he had when he woke up from time to time in that tube.

…..

………

Oh, he knew now. A faded memory of a time Draxum was reading to him. The first time he woke up.

He’s surprised he can even recall that.

He didn’t recall the exact story of whatever book Draxum was talking to him about, but a name kept popping up that seemed to grasp at his attention quite a bit.

Caden.

He didn’t dislike the name, if anything it sounded pretty cool, and it wasn’t even difficult to say, so there was that too.

“Caden…”

Donnie hums in acknowledgement from the name. “Caden, huh? Very well.” Donnie agrees, nodding his head and clearing his throat. “So, Caden, are you feeling all right now?” He inquires, mentally taking note of every detail, no matter how minor, that he spotted as he observed the turtle in bed.

Young Leo—no—Caden, shook his head. “Not… really.” He replies, wincing a little bit at the headache he felt, “Head… m-maybe?” He adds, noticing the way Donnie nods along with him, “Your head hurts? Did you bump it?” He asks, leaning over and gently guiding Caden to lean his head down so that Donnie could look at the back of it.

“Not sure…”

Donnie didn’t like the sound of that, but he didn’t want to potentially alarm or trigger anything by mentioning it to Leo… ah, guess he should call him Caden now, huh?

“We’ll keep an eye on it. Here, have some water, get some rest. And we’ll continue to monitor you more tomorrow.” Donnie explains the plan, handing over a cup of water to Caden who hesitantly takes it and sips at the beverage.

Donnie pauses for a moment to observe, before he sighs and walks away, heading for the exit. “Good night, Leo.” He says, walking out and leaving Caden in the dark.

“….I’m not Leo.”

-----

Mikey always was the one to try and cheer up his brothers, and offer his help wherever he could. He’s always been a nice guy, and the Resistance really helped him show off the caring and empathetic nature of his.

Mikey knew Leo must’ve been terribly bored sitting in that med room all day, for the past couple of weeks. And he could tell something was eating away at him, sometimes he’d walk in and just see him staring off into the distance with a blank and distant look on his face.

Donnie had told them of his recent discovery a couple days ago, where Leo kept insisting to be called Caden. Mikey didn’t quite understand, but if it somehow made Leo feel more comfortable for the time being, then he’ll give it a try.

The mystic warrior wandered the halls, heading towards the private med bay where those with more severe injuries or illnesses resided. It was also just far more spacious than the usual med bay they had. Leo often said that he wished to make the medical rooms bigger and more comfortable for everyone, but Donnie would shut him down about it and call it wishful thinking, also something about not having the space or equipment for it at the moment either.

Mikey hums along to a tune from one of the opening scenes of a Jupiter Jim movie that he’s adored since he was a teenager. Such a shame he didn’t have time to watch movies these days.

What he would give to have an old fashion Hamato movie night marathon again…

Arriving in front of the door to Leo’s room in the med bay, he carefully creaks the door open, poking his head inside, in case his older brother who was in a younger body was asleep.

He froze when he noticed the bed was empty, making him panic inside as he urgently scanned the room.

Oh no! Donnie’s gonna be so pissed at me for letting Leo escap—

His mind paused mid panic, looking over at the corner of the room in utter bewilderment and disbelief. Leo was standing. Or trying to at least, using the wall as support to hold himself up as his legs trembled like a newborn deer’s.

Leo was panting and sweating, gritting his teeth and gripping at the bare wall for something to hold onto. It was both fascinating and concerning to watch. Mikey figured that Leo probably shouldn’t be trying to walk by himself, but he also knew that he was incredibly stubborn and that this was also potentially a great big first step for recovery.

He’s shaking…

Mikey frowns, watching how the young mutant's body was shaking and trembling quite a lot. Even letting out a shuddering exhale. He most certainly had to be cold, given how he wasn’t in the warmth of the blankets in the bed and had little to cover himself with right now.

Mikey wondered what he could do to both help Leo from freezing his tail off and to hopefully help him gain back his memories.

His cloak!

Mikey beams at his idea, quickly turning back around and scuttling down the hallway towards the direction of Leo’s bedroom.

He felt rude for passing by members of the Resistance without stopping to say his usual hello and check in on how they’re doing, but he could do that another time when he wasn’t so busy with something else more urgent.

Reaching Leo’s room, which was far from where the usual sleeping quarters were for the Resistance members, Mikey flings open the door and looks around.

It was clean, surprisingly. Raph probably tidied it soon after Leo was transferred to the underground lab, floating in that stasis tube of his.

Mikey walks to the wardrobe, opening it and scanning the area for a certain shade of fabric. He remembered putting it in here when they first brought Leo back from the battlefield.

Please don’t tell me Raph moved it… oh, here it is!

Mikey picks up what he was looking for. The big cloak that Leo would always wear. But it was dirty and still had some dried blood staining it.

Mikey grimaced at the pungent smell of it too. It was a good thing he was going to wash it, otherwise Leo might actually die from the stench alone.

Mikey jogged out the door and headed towards the laundry room, which was mostly just a room with cubicles of running water and soap for people to come in and wash their clothes if needed. The brothers shared a small cubicle for their clothes, less of a hassle and gave more room for others who had to clean their clothes.

He eagerly dips the blue fabric into the water, grabbing a bar of soap and scrubbing it as hard as he could to clean off the grime and blood. Oh, how he misses washing machines that would do it all for you.

He didn’t quite know how long he had been scrubbing for, but it was long enough for his arms to begin aching something fierce. He pulled out the blue fabric and was satisfied with the end result. No blood. All clean looking, and smelt fine.

“Now for some mystic dry cleaning.” He muttered, using his abilities to wring out the water, drying it off in an instant. Draxum often told Mikey to not waste his powers on ‘frivolous things’ and simple tasks like drying off clothes, but it wasn’t like this was actively hurting anyone.

Proud of his work, he exited the laundry room and made his way back to the med bay. He wondered if Leo was still trying to walk or if he gave up and went back to bed.

Guess he’ll find out when he opens the door that he soon found himself standing in front of, once he’d turned the corners of the hallways in the direction of the med bay.

He grabs the handle again and opens it carefully, peeking inside to see that Leo was currently still struggling to keep up, he didn’t look like he had moved all that much and he was mumbling to himself, like he was talking to something. Should Mikey let Donnie know about that?

His body was shaking still, and that was more than enough reason for Mikey to confidently waltz in, smiling down at young Leo and draping the cloak over his shoulders. Young Leo, who insisted on being called Caden, stilled at the sudden feeling of being engulfed in something so abruptly. Blinking, he looks over towards Mikey who smiles down at him.

“I cleaned your cloak. Figured it could help with your memories having something familiar, and stop you from shivering so much.”

Caden could only stare, flabbergasted that he didn’t even sense Mikey coming into the room or even approach him. He was so distracted on trying to get his body to move and obey, that everything else was obsolete and unimportant for him to be paying attention to.

Wait a second, his cloak?

Caden tilted his head in confusion. He didn’t have anything that belonged to him. Coming to the conclusion that this was Leo’s cloak, and that Mikey was still claiming that’s who Caden was.

“Thanks…”

Mikey smiles, perking up in hopes that this was helping with the memory problem.

“But I’m not Leo.”

Mikey slumps his shoulders, frowning before he catches himself and instead chuckling awkwardly, rubbing the back of his nape. “Right, Dee said you’re going by Caden now, right? Cool name, where’d you pick it from?” He asks, hiding away the disappointment he felt at the lack of progress, but Caden catches the look, which causes him to tilt his head away from the young Hamato in guilt.

“A book… Draxum read to me.”

“Barry read to you?”

“In the tube…”

Mikey ‘ahh’ at the comment, before softly chuckling. “Is that how you’re able to talk? Normally if someone was in stasis for a long time, they’d have trouble talking, right?” Mikey hums in thought at his own question, whereas Caden just shrugs his shoulders.

“Maybe.”

He grips the cloak around his shoulders, his legs wobbling a bit from lack of support of the wall as he turns around to face the direction of his bed, he hesitantly steps forward, clenching the cloak in his hands tighter as he quietly made his way back to the safety of the mattress. Mikey watched, hovering nearby in case Caden collapsed or needed some support.

But he didn’t, and managed to climb into bed without assistance, dragging the blue cloak across to rest in his lap. “Um… you did well for your first time walking! Been practicing?” Mikey curiously wonders, as Caden hums in response. “I wanted to get used to walking. I don’t plan on staying in this med bay the whole time.” He sternly states, his face briefly morphed into one of grim determination.

Mikey for a moment saw Leo. That was the same face he made when he was set on something. It made Mikey’s heart flutter happily, Caden, as he liked to be called, may insist he wasn’t Leo, but that familiar expression alone had given Mikey a spark of hope.

“Sure, whatever you say bro.”

He ignored the indignant look he received from Caden as Mikey walked by, patting Caden on the head and waving goodbye as he skips out the room.

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

Thus the start of pain begins

APOLOGISE FOR ANY GRAMMAR MISTAKES THAT WERE MADE, I TYPE PRETTY FAST AND OFTEN DON’T SEE THEM UNTIL I ACTUALLY PUBLISH THE CHAPTER. THEN I’D TRY AND FIX ANY MISTAKES WHEN I SEE ONE.

Quotev - Do I Look Like Him?

Ao3 - Do I Look Like Him?

First Chapter here

Next Chapter here

Taglist:

@turtl3sk3tch3s

[sunday-good-enough]

I have a lot of Aang headcanons and I wanted to share them!

His birthday is the Spring Equinox, meaning he turns 13 sometime around the beginning of book 2

I know Air Nomads are associated with Fall, and I do believe most powerful airbenders are born in fall (my air nomad OC was born in fall too) but I thought the season of life and rebirth fit Aang and his role as the avatar better

Modern Aang has autism diagnosis I'm not arguing about this

He's naturally charismatic. Not even in an 'oh he's hot' way, he's just got insane people skills. Katara "threw a cup of boiling hot tea into the lap of a respected FN general for being sexist and was promptly kicked out of the meeting" of the Water Tribe would like to take notes

Grandmas and kids love him immediately, even if they don't know he's the Avatar. With grandmas it's like 'oh he's such a nice young man :)' and with kids it's like 'you are the coolest person I've ever met can you adopt me'

He's a fantastic chef and loves cooking, and baking. Katara "everything I cook comes out slightly burnt or slightly undercooked no matter what I do" of the Water Tribe would, again, like to take notes

Air nomads are naturally flexible. Pair that with Aang's joint hypermobility and he makes for an excellent party trick

Monk Gyatso taught him his marble trick to stim. He used to motion of creating a ring of sorts to develop the air scooter, earning him his tattoos

He has an extremely high pain tolerance. Sokka "I hit my finger with my hammer and was incapacitated for a week" of the Water Tribe would, once again, like to take notes

I've heard some people headcanon that the 36th style of airbending that Aang didn't master was the movement Zhaheer used to kill the Earth Queen. I actually think that this technique was inspired by Aang's air scooter. Man's rolling in his damn grave

A crafter. His carving and painting skills are not the best, but the nuns taught him how to spin sky bison yarn, as well as techniques similar to crochet/knitting. Aang likes making these lovely warm blankets that everyone's always stealing from each other

Inventor of the fidget spinner, with help from Toph and Sokka. The original spinner was a device made of wire, holding three marbles with a fourth in the middle to hold between your fingers. Aang came up with the concept after Bumi II expressed disappointment that he couldn't do Aang's marble trick, Sokka designed it, and Toph metalbended it

Bumi and his new toy got so popular Aang had to start mass producing it. Cue a very desperate Aang on his knees begging Toph to help him

He gets really shaky and jumpy during storms. For. Reasons.

He's good at braiding hair. Kya and Katara always end up with braids because Aang's hands get away from him when he's cuddling with them

We see in The Storm that Aang was relatively popular with his peers. They admired him and played with him before he found out he was the Avatar, so I like to think he was very popular with little kids. Like, five year olds. They probably thought he was awesome.

Claustrophobic. I imagine being in a very tight space, especially one with little air, would freak him out

Can airbend with his ears. Don't ask.

We also see that he travels a lot - since he has friends from so many different nations. Building off another headcanon of mine that each individual nation had its own language, with a common language taught everywhere, Aang's probably polylingual.

He has this sort of otherworldly singing voice. It was relatively known in his childhood that air nomads are excellent singers - monks could make good money singing for people. Since he now lives in a time where air nomad songs haven't been heard for a while, he sounds almost otherworldly to them.

Bumi II, Kya II, and Tenzin all agree that bath time with Dad is so much more fun than bath time with mom. She doesn't even let them flood the bathroom >:(

On that note, Aang probably gushes about his kids any chance he gets. Frames their drawings in his office and everything.

Bumi II thinks his dad doesn't love him cause he's a nonbender? WRONG. Aang is currently writing a letter to Zuko about how amazing his son is and spirits, he's getting so good at spear fighting! I think being around Sokka is having that influence on him, oh and Kya-

He has this nice, loopy handwriting. It's not exactly cursive but it's similar.

He writes letters for Toph

He's very unaware of how famous he actually is, and it hits him like a truck when he realizes

"A museum? Zuko, don't you think that's a little much? It's not like anyone's gonna be interested haha" "Aang they made 16,000 gold pieces the first week"

KING of ridiculously censored swears. Monkeyfeathers, anyone? Absolutely says 'golly gee' in modern aus.

When he gets jealous, he gets more sad than angry. It's less "they're stealing my bestie!" and more "aw, Toph wants to hang out with them more than me :("

Also the king of puppy-cat eyes. Nobody except Toph can resist because come on, look at him! He only destroyed one building!

Airbending children can't really control their sneezes, so they often end up shooting themselves out of their cradles. Aang shot himself out a window once

He learns to control them by ~3 years old. His sneeze in the first episode was the little shit showing off

He is single-handedly responsible for 3/4th of the gray hairs at the Western Air Temple

Fire Lord Sozin destroyed many records and artifacts of Air Nomad history. Those left were preserved in a museum in Ba Sing Se. Aang and Katara have a date there, mostly taken up by Aang pissing himself over mislabeled artifacts

He finds a flute labled as a device used in fertility rituals and nearly chokes

That's all! Thanks for reading

[alexsiple]

ANY YOI FIC RECS?

screaming at this. i assume you're asking because of my substack which is perfect and what i wanted. i'll put this under a cut... lmfao

looking through the most kudos'd fics in the tag will get you some solid fics, so i'll give you some specific ones i love very dearly... like i mentioned in my end of year review, i've been reading a lot of polyamorous/etc stuff so there's a lot of that in here. i like weird sex stuff though so mind the tags but lol go wild

Friendship!!! is Magic by afrai (rated T) / i'll start out with the less explicit stuff lol. this one is a yoi and ouran crossover. it's very good and very funny and very iconic. classic. great characterization

icebreaker by Cesare (rated G) / listen it's not like i'm into rated G content or pov outsider content but when it's done well what can i say. this fic involves an oc meeting a retired yuuri in school and slowly figuring out who his husband is. i like this viktor here (i like when people write him annoying). very romcom to me. super fun

here on the roof of the world by jibrailis (rated T) / so short and so lovely. prose is simple but beautiful. also a well-known classic

dear true love by cityboys (rated T) / a gorgeous, sprawling pianist/writer au by cityboys, who never misses...

No Less Unthinkable by rageprufrock (rated E) / probably well known by all but so fucking good. in my top 5 fics of all time, definitely. a character study about yuuri and sex and home as an idea and ice skating, obviously. i think it's such a feat of writing... beautiful prose. i love this author. i've read this like 10 times i think

My Old Aches Become New Again by Anonymous (rated E) / this one fucking rules. i love the voices of the characters, i love the situation, the prose is great, it's a well-done emotional romcom that's not very long. basically, a post-canon phichit travels to st. petersburg to be yuuri and viktor's third. thumbs up

here's to the glory still to be by foxfireflamequeen (unrated) / a weirder one that i think about a lot... basically viktor de-ages (more specifically he trades places with his younger self ig) and his younger self appears in a post-canon timeline. which sounds silly (de-aging is a hard thing to pull off and can be questionable, i know) but the prose and ideas are very striking. in this fic viktor bonds specifically with yuri plisetsky and it's a great character study of them both. good stuff

House of Broken Bones by ineptshieldmaid (rated E) / a character study on christophe where he retires because of an injury and travels to be yuuri and viktor's third... idk man i love a fic that takes itself very seriously. i also really like being in the yoi world and this fic delivers that same opulence and emotional depth. interesting!

Like Salt, Like Sun by dance_arcoss (rated E) / viktor and christophe have phone sex because viktor's all nervous about yuuri in the early stages of their relationship... are there other people who think viktor x christophe being fuck buddies is awesome or is that just me

tu etais formidable, j'etais fort minable by Anonymous (rated E) / another viktor x christophe x yuuri threesome fic... what can i say. i like porn that's also a character study!

If You Show Me Yours by airspaniel and dance_across (rated E) / phichit and christophe have sex during the victuuri wedding... i liked it!

Show Him What He's Missing by airspaniel and dance_across (rated E) / fucking awesome fic where phichit kind of sort of roleplays being viktor while helping yuuri get off, pre-canon. yippee!

that's it for now, i think. if you have some recs for me based on this i'll receive them with grateful open arms

[cheriecelestial]

Need part 3 of ur pjo x jjk story for my mental health plss

Ocean Eyes Pt.III

disclaimer *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧ canon typical violence. blood. mild angst. injuries. not proofread!

pairing *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧ Percy Jackson x Gojo fem!OC

a/n *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧ You ask, I deliver. Also I had so much fun writing this lol. Comment, Like and Reblog ദ്ദി(˵ •̀ ᴗ - ˵ ) ✧

Comment to get added into the taglist.

Pt.I Pt.II Pt.IV

The sun hung high in the sky, blazing with such intensity it felt like Apollo himself was watching over his children. Beads of sweat glistened on the faces of the campers gathered for Capture the Flag, the sweltering heat doing little to dampen their spirits. Despite the oppressive warmth, the air buzzed with excitement as teams began to form—red versus blue. Alice had somehow managed to get both of us on the blue team, which she proudly declared was the “underdog but secretly awesome” side.

“Alright, listen up!” one of the older campers shouted, climbing onto a rock to address the group. “Rules are simple: get the other team’s flag and bring it back to your territory. No maiming, no killing, and no setting the forest on fire. Again.”

The terms seemed fair, and the activity sounded thrilling. Ever since I was young, Nii-san had encouraged me to fight, pushing me to be more ruthless until I almost started to enjoy it—almost. I’d always thought of it as more of a coping mechanism, a way to channel everything I was feeling into something productive. But no one could deny the rush of adrenaline, the high that came with testing your limits.

A few campers chuckled at the rules, but I was only half-listening. My focus was elsewhere, my eyes scanning the crowd for my target. Percy Jackson. It didn’t take long to spot him—about two hundred and twelve meters away. Dark hair, sea-green eyes, his hand gripping something tightly. A pen? He shifted his weight from one foot to the other, swallowing almost nervously. I felt a dull ache behind my eyes as I used my cursed energy technique to observe him. It was a useful tool for spying, but with my current level of expertise, focusing on distant objects for too long caused strain. I stopped soon enough so as to not exhaust myself further. If he was as good as Alice claimed, I wanted to see him in action—or better yet, test myself against him.

Alice nudged me with her elbow, snapping me out of my thoughts. “You’ve got that look again,” she said, grinning. “Planning something dangerous?”

“What look?” I asked, tilting my head curiously. While watching Percy, I could also sense the Ares kids nearby. They were definitely planning something. I wanted to reactivate my Six Eyes to get a better read, but I’d just dismantled it, and it needed time to recharge.

“The one you had when you wrecked those Ares spawns,” she replied, her grin widening deviously. “Maybe,” I replied, adjusting the grip on my borrowed sword. Chiron had asked me not to use Kaizen since Kaizen could cause injuries to campers far worse than they were capable of healing. It wasn’t as balanced as I would’ve liked, but it would do. “So this Percy person, where would I find him?”

“Of course you’re already looking for him,” she said, rolling her eyes but still smiling. “He’s usually near the creek. Water’s his thing, remember? But fair warning—if you go after him, you’re on your own. I’m not stupid enough to pick a fight with Poseidon’s kid.”

“Noted,” I said, already mapping out a path to the creek in my head.

 The horn sounded, signaling the start of the game, and the campers surged forward, splitting off into smaller groups. I broke away from the main pack, slipping into the shadows of the forest. I was on the same team as him which made it easier for me to find him without much obstruction. As much as I would've loved playing capture the flag, I had other more exciting things to focus on. 

Navigation would've been easier with my six eyes but for once I decided to do it normally, so as to not lose my touch. It didn’t take long to find the creek. The sound of rushing water guided me, and soon I spotted a group of blue-team campers setting up a defensive position near the bank. And there he was, standing away from everyone else—Percy Jackson.

“Greetings, son of Poseidon,” I said, stepping out of the woods and dragging the heavy sword behind me. The weight of the weapon felt awkward in my hands—I wasn’t used to something so cumbersome. Percy looked exactly as I’d seen earlier: tall, with messy black hair and a confident stance. On the surface, nothing about him screamed “legendary demigod,” but my Six Eyes saw beyond the superficial. There was something more to him, something I couldn’t quite place yet.

He turned, his sea-green eyes narrowing slightly as they landed on me. “It’s you, isn’t it?”

“Whatever do you mean?” I asked, my tone so innocent it bordered on sarcastic.

“I don’t know how, but—” He paused, fidgeting with the pen in his hands. “I could feel something. Someone watching me.”

I froze. Sorcerers above a certain level could detect when the Six Eyes were focused on them, but even then, it only happened if the user allowed it. They were highly trained, experienced individuals. So how could he have sensed it? There had to be more to him than I’d initially thought.

“Very well, son of Poseidon,” I said, shrugging casually, though my tone carried an edge. “You caught me. But I wasn’t watching you without reason.” My words were deliberate, measured, each syllable sharp enough to cut through the tension in the air.

“What reason?” he asked, his sea-green eyes locking onto mine, steady and unflinching.

“I, Kanao Gojo, challenge you to a duel,” I declared, my voice ringing out with a confidence that left no room for misunderstanding.

“No.” His response was immediate, plain, and simple. No hesitation, no grand explanation, just a single word that hung in the air like a stone dropped into still water.

I blinked, caught off guard. “No?” I repeated, my voice rising slightly, a mix of shock and confusion coloring my tone. “What do you mean, ‘no’? When someone challenges you to a duel, you don’t just say no to it. That’s not how this works!”

Percy crossed his arms, his expression calm and unbothered, as if my challenge was nothing more than a minor inconvenience. “Like I said, no. As far as I know, duels only happen when both parties are willing. And I don’t want to fight you.”

His casual dismissal stung more than I cared to admit. “Why? Are you afraid?” I scoffed, my pride bristling at his refusal.

He shook his head, his tone annoyingly patient. “No, I’m not afraid. I just have no reason to fight you.”

“But you have to!” I exclaimed, my voice cracking slightly with frustration and bordering desperation. This wasn’t how things were supposed to go. In all the scenarios I’d imagined, this was never one of them. Did he think I wasn’t strong enough? Was I not worth his time? The thought burned like a brand.

Percy raised an eyebrow, his calm demeanor only fueling my irritation. “I don’t have to do anything. Look, I don’t know what you’re trying to prove, but picking fights for no reason isn’t really my thing. If you want to spar or train, sure, I’m down. But a duel? Nah. Not interested.”

I stared at him, my mind racing. This wasn’t just about proving myself anymore—it was about understanding why he was so quick to dismiss me. “You don’t think I’m strong enough, do you?” I accused, my voice low but sharp.

Percy sighed, running a hand through his messy black hair. “It’s not about strength. I don’t fight people just because they ask me to. I’ve got enough monsters and gods trying to kill me without adding random duels to the list.”

His words hit me like a splash of cold water. There was no arrogance in his tone, no condescension—just honesty. And yet, it didn’t make me feel any better.

“So what, you only fight when it’s life or death?” I pressed, taking a step closer. “You don’t ever test yourself against someone just to see how far you can go?”

He met my gaze, his expression softening just a bit. “I’ve been tested plenty, trust me. And I’ve got the scars to prove it. But fighting for the sake of fighting? That’s not who I am. If you want to prove something to yourself, fine. But don’t drag me into it unless you’ve got a good reason.”

I opened my mouth to argue, but the words caught in my throat. His logic was infuriatingly sound, and it left me with no ground to stand on. Still, I couldn’t let it go. “You’re really just going to walk away?” I asked, my voice tight with frustration.

“Yep,” he said, already turning to leave. But then he paused, glancing back over his shoulder with a small, almost teasing smile. “But hey, if you ever want to team up for Capture the Flag or something, let me know. You seem like you’d be fun to have on my side.” 

I wanted to say something further, to push him into acknowledging the challenge I’d thrown his way, but the words caught in my throat as a sudden, prickling sensation crawled up my spine. My instincts screamed at me, and I froze, my senses sharpening as I focused on the woods behind us. There was movement—subtle, deliberate, and far too coordinated to be accidental. Multiple presences, closing in.

Without hesitation, I strode over to Percy, who was still walking away towards the woods, and grabbed his wrist.

“Look, lady, I—” he started, irritation flashing across his face as he tried to pull his arm free.

“Shut it,” I hissed, my voice low and urgent. My grip tightened, and I yanked him closer, my eyes darting toward the tree line. “There are children of Ares in the woods behind us, preparing for an ambush. And they don’t intend to merely harm.”

Percy froze, his expression shifting instantly. The casual, carefree demeanor he’d worn moments ago vanished, replaced by something darker, sharper. His sea-green eyes flicked toward the woods, and for a moment, I saw a flicker of something in his gaze—anger, maybe, or resignation.

“Not your first time, I’m guessing,” I said, my tone dry but not unkind.

He nodded, his jaw tightening. “I’m not sure if they intend to kill, though.”

“They do,” I replied without hesitation. “My senses never lie.”

Percy’s eyes met mine, and for a moment, we just stood there, the weight of the situation settling between us. I could see the gears turning in his head, the way his body tensed, ready to spring into action. He uncapped the pen in his hand, and a stunning sword sprang to life in a flash of bronze, its celestial glow casting a faint light on his face.

A son of Ares emerged from the woods, his presence commanding and his demeanor deceptively calm. He had the kind of look in his eyes that made you think of a volcano simmering beneath the surface—quiet for now, but capable of erupting at any moment. His gaze flicked between Percy and me, a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth as he stepped forward, his boots crunching against the dry leaves underfoot.

“Look, Jackson,” he said, his voice low and dripping with mockery. “Our beef isn’t with you. It’s with that bitch right there.” He jerked his chin toward me, his eyes narrowing. “You’ve got a chance to walk away. Take it while you still can.”

My grip tightened around the borrowed sword, the weight of it suddenly feeling more familiar, more comforting. I glanced at Percy, waiting for him to do exactly what the Ares kid had suggested—to leave. After all, this wasn’t his fight. I’d been the one to challenge him, to push him into this mess. It was only fair that I face the consequences alone.

But Percy didn’t move. Instead, he crossed his arms, his expression hardening as he stared down the son of Ares. “No,” he said, his tone as calm and unwavering as it had been when he’d rejected my duel proposal earlier.

The Ares kid blinked, clearly caught off guard. “What?”

“I said no,” Percy repeated. “Where’s Clarisse? I can’t imagine her agreeing to this.”

The mention of this “Clarisse” seemed to strike a nerve. The son of Ares scowled, his grip tightening on the hilt of his sword. “She doesn’t know, and why would she? She had the audacity to call us idiots for making a show at the pavilion.”

Percy raised an eyebrow, his tone dripping with sarcasm. “So, let me get this straight. You and your bullheaded lot are trying to ‘restore’ your honor by ambushing her one to fifteen? Real brave of you. You guys are pathetic.”

The insult hit its mark. The son of Ares bristled, his face flushing with anger. “Watch your mouth, Jackson,” he snarled, taking a step forward. “You’re not as untouchable as you think you are.”

Percy didn’t flinch. “And you’re not as scary as you think you are.”

The tension in the air was palpable, the kind that made your skin prickle and your instincts scream to either fight or flee. The other Ares kids shifted uneasily, their eyes darting between their leader and Percy, waiting for the signal to attack.

The son of Ares glared at Percy, his jaw clenched so tightly I could see the muscles twitching. “Well, you made your choice, Jackson. You’ll die with this slut too.”

“Stop”

The command came out sharper than I’d intended, and to my surprise, everyone froze. Even the son of Ares hesitated, his sword hovering mid-air as he stared at me, confusion flickering across his face.

“If this is about honor,” I said, my voice cold and steady, “then let’s do it the right way. Leave him out of this. Your fight is with me.”

The Ares kid blinked, his smirk returning as he lowered his sword slightly. “Oh, so the bitch has a spine after all. Fine. We’ll deal with you first, and then we’ll take care of Jackson.”

Percy stepped forward, his expression darkening. “What are you—”

I raised my palm, cutting him off without looking away from the son of Ares. “You’re not dying before I get you to duel me. I do not need you to fight my battles hero.”

Percy stared at me, his sea-green eyes narrowing as if he were trying to figure me out. For a moment, I thought he might argue, but then he let out a frustrated sigh and took a step back, though he didn’t lower his sword. 

“But before we begin,” I said, my voice frigid, “allow me to prepare the battlefield.” I didn’t wait for a response, nor did I expect one. This wasn’t a negotiation—it was a statement. I crossed my index and middle fingers, holding them in front of me as I began to chant.

“Yami yori idete, yami yori kuroku, sono kegare o misogiharae.”

For a moment, nothing happened. The air seemed to hold its breath, the world pausing as if waiting for something to break. Then, slowly, the sky began to darken. It wasn’t the natural fading of daylight but something far more deliberate, as if the sun itself had been swallowed by an unseen force. A thick, inky substance began to drip from the sky, pooling and spreading until it formed a massive, half-sphere barrier around us. The darkness was almost liquid, shimmering faintly as it solidified into a wall that sealed us off from the outside world.

The brilliance of the sun was gone, replaced by an artificial night that felt heavy and oppressive. The only light came from the faint glow of the barrier itself, casting eerie shadows across the faces of the Ares kids.

“What the hell are you doing?” the son of Ares screamed, his voice trembling with a mix of fear and anger. His earlier bravado was gone, replaced by wide-eyed panic as he stared at the barrier.

I lowered my hand, my expression calm as I turned to face him. “From where I belong, we call this a Tobari—a curtain. It has multiple uses, most of which involve trapping whatever is inside until a predetermined condition is fulfilled. It also prevents external interference. No one can enter, and no one can leave unless I allow it.”

The Ares kids shifted uneasily, their weapons lowering slightly as they glanced at each other, uncertainty flickering in their eyes.

“Those who wish to leave should do so now,” I continued, my tone firm but not unkind. “This is your last chance. If you stay, you will fight me.”

A couple of the Ares kids exchanged nervous glances, their earlier confidence wavering. One of them, a younger boy with a spear, took a hesitant step back, his face pale. But the others, including the son of Ares, stood their ground, their pride clearly outweighing their fear.

I turned to Percy, my expression softening slightly. “You should go.”

He blinked, clearly caught off guard by the suggestion. “Look, I dunno what kind of jojo-mojo you’ve got up those huge ass bell sleeves of yours, but my mama raised me better.”

I furrowed my brows, studying him for a moment. His stance was firm, his grip on Riptide steady, and his sea-green eyes were filled with a stubborn determination that I couldn’t quite understand. Why would he stay? Why would anyone choose to stand by someone they barely knew, especially when the odds were so clearly stacked against them?

People here are so odd, I thought to myself. Alice, who had accepted me so readily, and now Percy, who refused to leave despite the logical choice being to walk away. It was baffling, but also... strangely comforting.

I didn’t respond to Percy, my focus returning to the son of Ares and his group. They were circling me now, their weapons gleaming in the faint light of the barrier, their eyes filled with a mix of anger, fear, and anticipation. I adjusted my grip on the borrowed sword, feeling the weight of it in my hands. It wasn’t Kaizen, but it would do.

The son of Ares stepped forward, his sword raised, though his hand trembled slightly. “You think you can scare us with your little magic trick? We’re children of Ares. We don’t back down from a fight.”

I tilted my head, a small, dangerous smile playing on my lips. “Then let’s see if you can live up to that reputation.”

The fight began in earnest, the Ares kids charging at me with a ferocity that was almost admirable. Their movements were aggressive, their strikes heavy and wild, fueled by a mix of anger and fear. But they were predictable, their lack of strategy making them easy to read. I sidestepped the first swing of a sword, parried the thrust of a spear, and ducked under the arc of an axe. The borrowed sword in my hand felt strange, its weight and balance all wrong for my fighting style. After the first swing, I realized I wasn’t built for it—just as it wasn’t built for me.

So, without a second thought, I tossed the sword aside. It clattered to the ground, the sound sharp and final.

“Are you actually nuts?” Percy yelled, his voice cutting through the chaos as he struggled to fend off two Ares kids who had turned their attention to him. He deflected a blow with his sword, his movements fluid but strained under the pressure.

I didn’t reply. Instead, I reached into the sleeve and pulled out a talisman, holding it delicately between my middle and index fingers. Since I couldn’t use my Six Eyes to their full potential here, I’d been taught other methods to draw out and channel my cursed energy. Talismans were one of them—semi-grade two weapons consisting of runes written on parchment, designed to perform a wide array of functions. They could protect, heal, or harm, depending on the intent behind their creation. A certain amount of cursed energy was required to activate them, and they were often carried on one’s person for quick use. Some were even installed permanently in architecture, but these were portable, versatile, and perfect for situations like this.

“Tengen Talisman Arts,” I murmured, my voice low but carrying an edge of authority.

I tossed the talisman into the air, letting it hover for a moment in front of the charging Ares kids. The runes on the parchment began to glow, a faint, eerie light that pulsed like a heartbeat. The kids hesitated, their eyes widening as they realized something was about to happen—but it was too late.

The talisman exploded in a burst of light and energy, the shockwave knocking back the Ares kids. It wasn't too potent, but it did what it was designed to do. They hit the ground hard, their weapons clattering out of their hands as they groaned in pain. The air smelled faintly of ozone, and the ground where the talisman had detonated was scorched black.

“What the fuck?” Percy exclaimed, his voice a mix of awe and disbelief. He’d managed to disarm the two kids he was fighting, but his attention was now fully on me. “Who the hell are you?”

I didn’t answer immediately, my focus still on the remaining Ares kids. They were regrouping, their earlier confidence shaken but not entirely broken. The son of Ares was back on his feet, his face twisted with rage as he barked orders at the others. They were hesitant now, their movements slower, more cautious, but they weren’t ready to give up just yet.

I reached into my sleeve again, pulling out another talisman. This one was different—larger, with intricate runes that glowed a soft, golden yellow. The light it emitted was warm, almost inviting, but there was a sharp edge to it, like the calm before a storm.

“You go low, I go high,” I said to Percy, my tone calm but firm.

He blinked, clearly confused. “What do you—”

Before he could finish, I tossed the talisman into the air. This time, it didn’t explode or release a shockwave. Instead, it hovered in place, suspended midair as if defying gravity. The runes pulsed with light, and a second talisman joined it, creating a small, glowing platform.

Percy stared at the talismans, his mouth opening and closing as he tried to process what he was seeing. “Okay, what the actual—”

But I didn't intend to wait for him to finish. Pushing off the ground with my feet, I sprinted toward the talismans, my movements quick and precise. The Ares kids hesitated, unsure of what I was doing, but the son of Ares recovered quickly, swinging his sword at me as I approached.

The blade came down in a wide arc, but I was faster. I leapt into the air, using the talismans as a foothold to propel myself higher. The runes flared as I landed on them, the surface firm and stable despite their ethereal appearance. From my elevated position, I had a clear view of the battlefield—and the Ares kids’ confusion was almost comical.

“What the—?!” one of them shouted, his voice cracking as he stared up at me.

It was clear they weren’t used to defending against attacks from above. Their training, their instincts, were all geared toward ground-level combat. I intended to use that to my advantage.

Percy, to his credit, didn’t waste any time. He darted forward, Riptide flashing as he engaged the Ares kids on the ground. His movements were fluid and precise, his sword a blur as he disarmed one attacker after another.

Meanwhile, I focused on the talismans, channeling a small amount of cursed energy to keep them active. With a flick of my wrist, I sent one of them flying toward a group of Ares kids who were trying to flank Percy. The talisman exploded in a burst of golden light, the force of the blast knocking them off their feet.

“Hey, watch it!” Percy called out. “I’m trying to fight down here, you know!”

“Then keep up,” I shot back, a small smirk tugging at the corner of my mouth.

I leapt from one talisman to the next, using them as stepping stones to stay above the fray. The Ares kids were scrambling now, their earlier bravado completely shattered. They tried to swing their weapons at me, but their strikes were clumsy and poorly timed, their frustration only making them more predictable.

The son of Ares, however, wasn’t ready to give up. Even as his comrades lay scattered and defeated around him, his pride refused to let him back down. With a snarl of rage, he grabbed a spear from one of his fallen allies and hurled it with all his strength. But his target wasn’t me—it was Percy.

My eyes widened as I realized what was happening. There was no time to shout a warning, no time to think. Instinct took over. I redirected the talisman I’d been holding, activating it with a surge of cursed energy, and leapt onto it as it floated in the air. The talisman shot forward like a platform, carrying me toward Percy in the blink of an eye.

The second I was close enough, I grabbed the back of his collar and yanked him upward, lifting him into the air just as the spear whistled past, missing him by inches.

“And you can fly too?!” Percy exclaimed, his voice a mix of shock and disbelief as he stared at me with eyes as wide as saucers.

I glanced down and realized there was no visible platform beneath us—just the faint shimmer of cursed energy holding us aloft. “More like I can’t fall,” I muttered under my breath, focusing on maintaining my cursed energy as I slowly descended to the ground. Percy was still floating awkwardly, my hand gripping the back of his collar like a kitten being carried by its scruff.

By the time we landed, only six of the original fifteen Ares kids were still standing, their faces a mix of fear and determination. T

“Okay, Kanao,” I muttered to myself, taking a deep breath. “You’ve practiced this. You can do this.”

Both sides lunged at me at once, their weapons and fists aimed at my body. But the blows never landed. Their swords, spears, and punches stopped, frozen in mid-air exactly three centimeters from me.

“What is this?” the son of Ares demanded, his voice trembling with a mix of frustration and fear. He pressed harder against the invisible barrier, but it was no use.

“Infinity,” I said, a small, mocking smile playing on my lips as I lowered my glasses slightly to meet his gaze. “It’s like Achilles and the tortoise. No matter how close you think you are, you’ll never reach me.”

While they were still struggling against the barrier, I took the opportunity to strike. My movements were swift and precise, each punch landing with enough force to knock the wind out of my attackers. One by one, they crumpled to the ground, groaning in pain.

Once they were down, I set Percy back on the ground with a soft thud, though I kept him floating just slightly above the surface since my hand was still gripping his collar. He stared at me in wonder, his expression a mix of awe and confusion.

“What… just happened?” he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

“Consequences of stepping out of line,” I extended my hand toward the center of the remaining Ares kids and curled my fingers into a fist. The air around them seemed to warp, an invisible force pulling them together like magnets. They struggled against it, but it was no use. With a loud crash, they collided with each other, collapsing into a heap on the ground.

I finally released Percy, letting him stand on his own two feet as the talismans behind me dissipated into nothingness. The son of Ares, however, wasn’t done. He staggered to his feet, his face twisted with rage, and charged at me with a roar, his sword raised high.

I didn’t flinch. Instead, I reached into my sleeve and pulled out one last talisman—this one smaller, with runes that glowed a deep, ominous red.

“You should’ve walked away when you had the chance,” I said, my voice cold and steady.

He hesitated, his eyes flicking to the talisman in my hand, but it was too late. I activated it, the runes flaring to life as a wave of energy erupted from the parchment. The force of the blast sent him flying backward, his sword slipping from his grasp as he hit the ground hard.

The battlefield fell silent, the only sound the faint rustling of leaves in the wind. I turned to Percy, who was still staring at me with a mix of curiosity and disbelief.

“Okay,” Percy said, his voice cutting through the heavy silence that had settled over the battlefield. He stepped closer, his sea-green eyes wide with a mix of awe and confusion. “You’ve got to explain this to me. What was that? And don’t say ‘a magic paper thingy,’ because one, I don’t know what they are, and two, I’m pretty sure that’s not a normal demigod thing.”

I glanced at him, my expression calm but guarded. “Later,” I said simply, not in the mood to dive into an explanation about talismans, cursed energy, or the intricacies of my abilities. There would be time for that—maybe. 

As the barrier began to dissipate, the artificial night around us gave way to the warm glow of sunlight. The inky darkness receded like a tide, revealing the world beyond. But as the barrier dropped completely, the surrounding area came into view, and my heart sank.

Everyone was there.

Alice stood at the front, her hands clenched into fists, her face pale with worry. Behind her was Chiron, his expression a mix of concern and stern disapproval. Alice's friend Julia, the blonde girl who had been with Percy earlier, was there too, her arms crossed, and her eyes narrowed. The dark-haired girl stood beside her, her gaze sharp and calculating. The rest of the campers from both the red and blue teams had gathered as well, their faces a mix of shock, curiosity, and fear. They had all been watching.

For a moment, I felt exposed, like a specimen under a microscope. My chest tightened, and I fought the urge to retreat, to disappear into the shadows where I wouldn’t have to face their stares. But before I could move, Alice broke away from the crowd and ran toward me.

“Thank the gods,” she said, her voice trembling as she threw her arms around me in a tight hug. “You’re okay.”

The hug felt strange, unfamiliar. I had been hugged before, but only by family—Nii-san, mostly, and even those were rare. Alice’s embrace was different, warmer and more earnest. I could feel her shaking, and when I pulled back slightly, I saw tears glistening in the corners of her eyes.

Why did she care so much? We had only met a day ago. It didn’t make sense to me. People didn’t just care about others like that, not without reason.

“How did you find me?” I asked awkwardly, patting her back in what I hoped was a comforting gesture.

Alice sniffled, pulling away slightly but keeping her hands on my shoulders. “Kaizen,” she said, her voice still shaky. “You left him in the room. He came to me and basically dragged me here. When I saw you fighting with the Ares kids, I tried to help—” Her voice broke, and she took a deep breath before continuing. “I tried to, but there was this invisible wall that wouldn’t let me through. So I called Chiron.”

I glanced over her shoulder, where Chiron stood watching us, his expression unreadable. The rest of the campers were murmuring among themselves, their voices a low hum of curiosity and speculation.

“You shouldn’t have worried,” I said quietly, though the words felt hollow. “I had it under control.”

Alice gave me a look, her tear-streaked face a mix of relief and exasperation. “Under control? You were outnumbered, and they were out for blood! Of course I was worried!”

I didn’t know how to respond to that. Her concern was genuine, and it left me feeling off-balance, like I was standing on uneven ground.

Percy stepped forward, breaking the tension with his usual casual demeanor. “Yeah, about that ‘under control’ thing—what exactly was that barrier? And the exploding paper? And, you know, the matrix ass move?”

I sighed, running a hand through my hair. “It’s complicated.”

“We’ve got time,” The blonde-haired girl said, her tone sharp as she stepped forward. Her gray eyes were piercing, and I could tell she wasn’t going to let this go. “You just took on a group of Ares kids single-handedly and used abilities none of us have ever seen before. You don’t get to just say ‘it’s complicated’ and walk away.”

I met her gaze, my own expression hardening. “I don’t owe you an explanation.”

“Maybe not,” Chiron interjected, his voice calm but firm. “But you are a camper and your actions have consequences. What happened here today could have escalated into something far more dangerous.”

I clenched my jaw, the weight of their stares pressing down on me like a physical force. They wanted answers—demanded them, even—but I wasn’t ready to give them. Not yet. The words caught in my throat, tangled with the unease of being exposed, of having my secrets laid bare for everyone to see. Just as the tension threatened to suffocate me, a soft, radiant light enveloped Alice and me, spilling down from above.

I looked up, my breath catching in my chest. There, hovering in the air, was a shimmering pink dove, its wings glowing with an otherworldly brilliance. It was ethereal, beautiful, and unmistakably divine.

“Mother,” I murmured, a humorless laugh escaping my lips. “And here I thought you’d forgotten about me.”

I had always known who she was. Nii-san had begun to suspect when I was younger, and as I grew older, those suspicions had solidified into certainty. My skin began to glow with a soft pink aura, and a faint red haze swirled around my feet, rising like mist until it enveloped me completely. I could feel it working, a gentle but insistent force mending my wounds, soothing my aches, and even altering the way my hair was styled. My clothes felt heavier, richer, as if they had been transformed into something far grander than what I had been wearing moments before.

When the haze finally dissipated, I looked down at myself and froze. I was wearing a stunning white kimono, its fabric so delicate it seemed to shimmer in the sunlight. Embroidered across it were intricate blue and silver dragonflies, their wings so finely detailed they looked as though they might take flight at any moment. My hair, which had been loose and messy from the fight, was now elegantly pinned up, adorned with hairpins that sparkled like stars. I plucked one out to examine it more closely, my fingers trembling slightly. It was the most exquisite piece of jewelry I had ever seen, delicate yet bold, with tiny gemstones that caught the light in a way that made them seem alive.

This wasn’t random. Every detail, every stitch, every carefully placed hairpin spoke of thoughtfulness, of care. It was as if she had been waiting for this moment, preparing for it, knowing exactly what I would need to feel... seen.

“You’re a daughter of Aphrodite,” Percy breathed, his voice filled with awe and confusion. “But then how—”

He didn’t finish the sentence, his words trailing off as he struggled to reconcile what he had just witnessed with the image of the girl who had just taken on a group of Ares kids with talismans and what seemed like magic.

Alice, sensing the tension, stepped between me and the others. “Look, she just fought off a bunch of Ares kids. Can we at least give her a minute to breathe before we start interrogating her?”

Her words broke the spell that had fallen over the crowd. The campers began to murmur among themselves, their voices a mix of curiosity and disbelief. Chiron stepped forward, his expression thoughtful but still tinged with concern.

“Alice is right,” he said, his deep voice carrying across the clearing. “This is a moment of revelation, not interrogation. Let us give her the space she needs to process what has just happened. But this conversation isn’t over. Kanao report to the Big House this instant.”

As the crowd began to disperse, Alice turned to me, her eyes still filled with worry. “Are you really okay?”

I hesitated, then nodded. “I’m fine,” I said, though the words felt hollow even as they left my lips. Beneath the surface, a cold, creeping fear was beginning to take hold. I knew I didn’t have much time before I’d have to dismantle my technique, and I knew what would follow. I had pushed myself too far, overused my capabilities, and now the consequences were catching up to me.

An icy sensation coiled around my throat, its tendrils sinking deep into my chest, spreading a chill that made my breath hitch. The discomfort was dulled slightly by Aphrodite’s blessing—her divine energy still lingering in the air around me—but even her power couldn’t shield me from the full extent of what was coming.

“I should go,” I said, my voice strained and weaker than I had intended. It was a struggle to keep my tone steady, to mask the growing unease that was clawing its way up my spine.

Alice didn’t look convinced, her eyes narrowing as she studied me. But she didn’t push, perhaps sensing that I wasn’t in the mood—or the state—to argue. Instead, she looped her arm through mine, her grip firm but gentle, and began leading me away from the clearing. Percy followed close behind, his usual casual demeanor replaced by a quiet concern. Trailing after him were the dark-haired girl and the blonde girl, her sharp gray eyes watching me with a mix of curiosity and suspicion.

Each step felt heavier than the last, my body growing weaker as we moved further from the battlefield. The journey to the Big House, which normally would have been a short walk, now felt like an endless trek. My legs trembled with every step, and my vision began to blur at the edges, the world around me tilting slightly as if I were standing on uneven ground.

By the time we reached the Big House, I was barely holding myself together. Chiron was waiting for us on the porch, his expression stern but calm. However, the moment his eyes landed on me, his demeanor shifted. His brow furrowed, and he stepped forward quickly, his hooves clicking against the wooden planks as he moved to steady me. 

“Sensei, please,” I murmured, my voice barely above a whisper. “I-I don’t want them to see.”

Chiron’s hands were firm but gentle as he took me from Alice, his gaze softening as he looked down at me. “You can trust them, Y/N,” he said, his tone almost apologetic. “I had intended to introduce you to them properly, but I did not get the chance.”

I wanted to respond, to tell him that it wasn’t about trust but about pride, about the years of conditioning that had taught me to never show weakness. But before I could form the words, the world around me began to spin. My breath caught in my throat, and my knees buckled, sending me crashing to the ground. I barely managed to catch myself on my hands, my body trembling as a fit of coughing wracked my chest.

Alice and Percy were at my side in an instant, crouching down next to me, their faces a mix of horror and worry. “Y/N!” Alice exclaimed, her voice trembling.

“Leave, please,” I rasped, my voice barely audible. I didn’t want them to see me like this—weak, vulnerable, a far cry from the girl who had just taken on a group of Ares kids with nothing but talismans and sheer willpower.

But Alice shook her head, her eyes wide with fear. “Kanao, look,” she said, her voice breaking as she pointed to my sleeve.

I followed her gaze, my stomach sinking as I saw the blood blossoming on the rich fabric of my kimono. The crimson stain spread quickly, stark against the pristine white, and I felt a wave of nausea wash over me.

Chiron’s eyes widened, his usual composure slipping for a moment as he realized the severity of my condition. “Annabeth, fetch ambrosia this instant!” he barked, his voice sharp with urgency.

I had been raised to never show weakness. The Gojo name was synonymous with strength, with power, with perfection. To reveal vulnerabilities like this was unthinkable—a death sentence in the jujutsu world. But as another wave of pain wracked my body, I knew I couldn’t maintain the facade any longer.

The world around me blurred, the voices of the others fading into a distant hum. I could feel myself slipping, the icy tendrils of my own cursed energy tightening their grip. This wasn’t just exhaustion—it was a reckoning, a consequence of pushing myself too far, too fast.

And I knew, deep down, that this was only the beginning. It would get worse from here.

The pain in my chest was unbearable now, a searing, relentless agony that made every breath feel like a battle. Each gasp for air was shallow and ragged, as if my lungs were filling with something thick and heavy. The metallic tang of blood coated my tongue, and I could feel it trickling from the corner of my mouth, warm and sticky against my skin. My vision swam, the world around me dissolving into a blur of colors and shapes, the edges darkening as if the shadows themselves were closing in. But the worst of it were my eyes, they hurt as if they had been stabbed with the same shards I seemed to have swallowed.

“Annabeth, hurry!” Percy’s voice cut through the haze, sharp and urgent. I could hear the sound of footsteps—quick, frantic—as Annabeth sprinted around the Big House.

Chiron knelt beside me, his hands moving to my wrist to check my pulse. His expression was grim, his usual calm demeanor replaced by something far more serious. “Her energy is unstable,” he murmured, more to himself than to the others. “She’s pushed herself beyond her limits.”

I wanted to tell him I was fine, that I could handle it, but the words wouldn’t come. Instead, another fit of coughing seized me, violent and uncontrollable. This time, the blood wasn’t just on my sleeve. It spilled from my lips, staining the pristine fabric of my kimono and pooling on the ground beneath me. The sight of it sent a wave of nausea through me, but I was too weak to even turn away.

“Kanao!” Alice’s voice was frantic now, her hands trembling as she tried to wipe the blood from my face. “What’s happening to her?!”

“Her cursed energy is backfiring,” Chiron said, his tone heavy with concern. “She’s been using techniques far beyond her current capacity, and her body is paying the price.”

Percy crouched down beside me, his sea-green eyes wide with fear. He reached out, his hand hovering over mine as if unsure whether to touch me. “Is there anything we can do?”

“The ambrosia will help,” Chiron said, though his voice lacked its usual confidence. “But it may not be enough. Her condition is... complicated. Her energy is unlike anything I’ve seen before. It’s as much a part of her as it is a force working against her.”

“Stay with us, Y/N,” Percy said, his voice soft but urgent. “You’re stronger than this. You can fight it.”

I wanted to believe him, to cling to his words like a lifeline, but the pain was too much. It felt like my body was being torn apart from the inside, every nerve on fire, every muscle screaming in agony.

Annabeth returned moments later, a small square of ambrosia in her hand. She knelt beside me, her gray eyes filled with worry as she pressed the square to my lips. “Eat this,” she said, her voice firm but gentle. “It’ll help.”

I tried to obey, but my body refused to cooperate. My jaw clenched, my teeth grinding together as another wave of pain wracked my body. The ambrosia slipped from my lips, falling to the ground as I coughed again, more blood spilling from my mouth.

“She’s not strong enough to eat it,” Chiron said, his voice tight with frustration. He looked at me, his expression a mix of concern and helplessness. “We’ll have to find another way.”

“What about nectar?” Percy suggested, his voice rising with desperation. “Can we give her that instead?”

Chiron shook his head. “Nectar is too potent. In her current state, it could kill her. Her body is too fragile to handle it.”

The others fell silent, their fear and helplessness palpable. I could feel their eyes on me, their worry pressing down on me like a weight. But there was nothing they could do. This was my burden to bear, my consequence to face. I had pushed myself too far, and now I was paying the price.

Then it struck me—a flicker of clarity amidst the chaos. I couldn’t stop the pain, but maybe, just maybe, I could minimize the damage. My voice was weak, barely more than a rasp, but I managed to choke out the word: “P-paper.”

The dark-haired girl was the first to react. She scrambled to Chiron’s desk, her movements quick and precise, and returned moments later with a sheet of paper. She placed it in front of me, her gray eyes wide with a mix of curiosity and concern.

With trembling hands, I dipped my finger into the blood still dripping from my mouth and began to trace a rune onto the paper. My movements were shaky, the lines uneven, but I poured every ounce of focus I had left into it. When the rune was complete, I slammed my hand onto the paper, forcing my cursed energy to flow through it.

The rune glowed faintly, a pale imitation of the ones Shoko onee-san used to create for me with her technique. It wasn’t nearly as potent, but it was enough. A wave of relief washed over me, dulling the sharp edges of the pain and giving me a moment to breathe. I collapsed backward onto the floor, my chest heaving as I let out a shaky sigh.

For a moment, everything was quiet. Then I felt a hand on my shoulder, gentle but firm. I turned my head slightly and saw the blonde girl—Annabeth—holding a small square of ambrosia. Her expression was unreadable, but there was a flicker of something in her eyes—relief, maybe, i couldn't tell.

Once the blood stopped flowing, I reached for the ambrosia and popped it into my mouth. I had heard stories about what it tasted like—your happiest memory, they said. The texture was strange, almost like a mix of honey and bread, but the flavor... it was unmistakable.

It tasted like Nii-san’s Kikufuku mochi.

The memory hit me like a wave, vivid and warm. I could see him standing in the kitchen, his sleeves rolled up as he kneaded the dough with that ridiculous grin on his face. He’d gotten the recipe after shamelessly flirting with the owner’s 70-year-old wife, and he’d been so proud of himself. “It’s all about charm, Y/N,” he’d said, winking at me as he handed me a piece.

I closed my eyes, a faint smile tugging at my lips as the memory washed over me. For a moment, the pain was gone, replaced by a warmth that spread through my chest.

When I opened my eyes again, I was met with a circle of worried faces looming over me. Chiron’s expression was grave, his eyes filled with the kind of sorrow that comes from seeing too much suffering. Alice’s eyes were red and puffy, her cheeks streaked with tears. Percy looked like he was on the verge of crying himself, his usual bravado nowhere to be found. And Annabeth—her face was a mask of concern, but there was something else there too, something I couldn’t quite place.

I sat up slowly, wiping the rest of the blood from my mouth with the back of my hand. My body still ached, but the worst of the pain had subsided, thanks to the rune and the ambrosia. The room felt heavy with tension, the air thick with unspoken questions and lingering fear.

“When your uncle said you had stamina problems, I didn’t think it’d be like this,” a voice drawled from behind the group.

I looked up and saw Dionysus standing there, his usual bored expression slightly less bored than usual. Behind him was the dark-haired girl, panting slightly, as if she’d just run a marathon. Her sharp eyes were fixed on me, her expression unreadable but intense.

I smiled weakly, shrugging as I met Dionysus’s gaze. “That’s what you get for being a forbidden child,” I said, my voice still hoarse but laced with a hint of my usual dry humor.

“But Aphrodite isn’t a part of the pact. That’s just for the Big Three.”

The room fell silent, the weight of his words hanging in the air. All eyes turned to me, curiosity and confusion etched on their faces. I could feel the questions bubbling up, the unspoken demand for answers.

“Who ever said anything about the Greek side?”

╰ ┈➤ Masterlist

╰ ┈➤ Tags: @hana-no-seiiki @cxcilla @imsoslay2386 @meilvn @ilovebattinson @mymelody58 @joekitsu

© cheriecelestial - arabelle | 2025

[sunshine-theseus]

White Noise | Alessia Russo x trans-masc. OC

Word Count: 1.6k Summary: Being trans masc. can be hard but Alessia will always be there for you – also the request did say trans masc., not trans man, so I hope this is what you wanted! I’m so sorry if it isn’t😭 I can adjust it to be. Warnings: dead naming and use of wrong pronouns, not really a warning but just stating that Calum uses they/he pronouns Request for - @sky-the-trans-guy00 - i really hope this is good!

“Are you sure you don’t need me to come with you?” Alessia’s arms wrap around my waist as I brush out my hair.

“It’s just a haircut Lessi, I’ll be okay.” I turn around and look her in the eyes.

“But last time they were pieces of shit and ruined it. You ended up buzzing it and I’m sorry to break it to you, but you do not have the head shape to be bald” I give her a faux offended look but laugh.

“This place is run by a non-binary person. And most if not all their employees are trans or queer. Plus, you have training.” She groans and her head falls into my chest.

“Fine. But call me if you need anything.” I lean down to kiss her lips before ushering her out, so she isn’t late, again.

~~~~~

The haircut goes well, something only few people understand is so important to me, and I decide to visit Alessia at training. She’s been begging me to come with her for months, but I’ve been too nervous about how her teammates will be view me to ever go through with it.

I sign in with the lady in reception, who calls Lessi to take me to the locker room before they head to the gym. I rub my sweaty hands against my jeans, but Alessia slips her smaller one into my own, rubbing her thumb back and forth against the back of my hand.

“Your hair looks good.” Her blue eyes shine as she smiles up at me, reaching with her other hand to run it through the newly cut locks.

“You think? It’s not too feminine?”

“Not at all! I can’t believe you went with blue instead of red though, they’re all going to think you’re a Chelsea fan.” Alessia stands on her tippy toes to kiss me before opening a door, letting shouts and… questionable singing, ring throughout the halls.

She grabs my hand again and pulls me into the busy room. Everyone stops talking as the door slams closed again and all eyes fall onto us. I cower slightly next to Alessia, but she wraps her arm around me and says

“Girls! This is my partner I’ve been telling you about! Calum, these are the girls.”

“Yo, your hair looks fucking awesome dude!” an Irish accent is the first to break the silence between the 20+ bodies.

“I told them to go red, but they insisted blue was cooler.”

“You’re not a Chelsea fan are ya? Cause then we’ll have problems.” Lotte, the one person I did know, jokingly asks me.

“I promise it’s just my favourite colour. I’m a Gooner through and through.” A group of laughs echoes throughout the room and I chuckle with them.

“Are you joining us for gym?” Less pokes me in the side.

“No, I just wanted to come say hi. Show off my super awesome new hair.” I kiss her goodbye and am halfway out the door before another voice calls out.

“Wait! We’re having a team + partner dinner tomorrow after training. You down?” I look at Alessia then back at the room of her teammates.

“Uhh sure! Yeah I’ll be there.”

~~~~~

“What’s the dress code for this dinner?” I ask Alessia as we lay curled up in bed, neither wanting to make the move to get up as the sun slowly brightens in the sky.

“Semi-formal. You can wear that cute button up with the flower pattern I got you! It matches the dress I’m going to wear.”

“Sounds perfect.” I kiss her on the nose before groaning as I roll out from under the covers and get up.

I make us both breakfast before she leaves for training, and I take some time to myself before having a zoom meeting with my team to discuss our project.

And then I get a call from someone I hadn’t planned on hearing from ever again. I hadn’t seen or heard from my older sister in 4 years. I tended to avoid any family gatherings if I knew she’d be there and had removed her from all social media and my contacts, a call is the pinnacle of unexpected. So I leave it to ring, face down on my desk, as I look through the closet for an outfit for tonight’s dinner.

An hour or so later, Alessia rushes through the door, kicking off her shoes and dropping her bag at the door. She barrels into our room and beelines to the closet.

“Whoa what’s got you in a rush? We don’t have to leave for another 2 hours.”

“No no, I texted you. We had to move it up an hour. You didn’t see it?”

“I haven’t looked at my phone in like 3 hours I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay, but you gotta get changed. Like now.”

We both rush to get into our outfits and get out the door in time, Lessi giving up on putting on her heels as we walk to the car, opting instead to put them on when we arrive.

“I’m so excited to meet the girl’s partners and show you off. Lia’s bringing her new girlfriend she won’t stop talking about.” I just smile, taking her hand in my spare one, the other clinging to the wheel as we wait at a light.

“You look so handsome too. I told you this shirt was the go-to.”

“You look beautiful.” I park the car and race around to help her out.

We make our way into the restaurant, spotting the group from the door. We’re almost at the table when I stop abruptly in my tracks, jerking Alessia back with me. Why the fuck is she here?

“Cal? What’s wrong?” my mouth gaps open and closed but I don’t get the chance to come up with a reply.

“Bella! Oh my god what are you doing here?” I feel the colour drain from my face as my older sister pulls me into hug.

I’m frozen in place as she pulls back, a wicked smile gracing her face, and I can see everyone’s confused faces out of the corners of my eyes. There is a deadly silence that falls across the group/ My throat dries up as I try to reach for Alessia’s hand again.

“Bella? I thought his name was Calum?” Caitlin’s the first to speak up.

“Oh no her name is Bella. Calum is just a weird person she plays for attention.” That’s my breaking point.

“Oh, fuck off Tahlia! You’d think four years would be enough time for you to grow up. You’re still the piece of shit you always have been.” I hear some gasps, but no one makes a move to stop me.

“I’ve always been Calum; I’ve just had to pretend not to be because of miserable fucks like you who can’t fathom people being who they truly are. Just because your life isn’t working out doesn’t mean you get to ruin mine again.” A tear pricks at the corner of my eye.

“Non-binary isn’t even a fucking thing! And they/them is fucking stupid you’re not multiple people.”

“It’s good to know you wouldn’t be able to pass a first grade English test. You never were that smart.” Tahlia’s fist comes swinging but a hand that most certainly isn’t my own stops it right before it hits me.

“You need to leave, and never come back. Never talk to Calum or any of us ever again.” Katie shoves Tahlia towards the door and she stomps her foot, looking at Lia expectantly.

“You’re just going to let them talk to me like that!?”

“Uhh, yeah. I think I will.” She stomps her foot again before turning and running out.

I let out a sigh and my shoulders sag in relief. Alessia pulls me to sit down at the table between her and Katie’s girlfriend.

“Are you ok?” I nod, leaning my head on top of her own as the others take their seats again.

“That was fucking wild.”

“I’m so sorry Calum. I had no clue she was your sister, or that she was insane.” Lia gives me an apologetic look, but I smile reassuringly at her.

“It’s not your fault, she’s a good manipulator, always has been. She’ll tell you what you want to hear to get close then show her true colours.”

“Hey, you don’t have to answer this but how do you identify? Because I’ve been calling you dude a lot.” I chuckle at Manu before answering.

“I’m non-binary trans masc., they/he pronouns. I don’t mind being called dude of whatever, just absolutely no feminine terms please.” Everyone nods in agreement, and it doesn’t take long for conversation to continue on between everyone.

I’m talking to Katie’s girlfriend, the owner of a small book café, when Alessia tugs on my sleeve. I excuse myself before turning to her, the overhead lights reflecting in her stormy blue eyes and making her freckles prominent.

“I’m so proud of you.” I kiss her softly.

“I love you.”

“Hey hey! No smooching at the dinner table please.” Everyone laughs and I flush red.

~~~~~

A week later I find myself in the Coloney changing room again, surrounded by sweaty bodies preparing for gym once again.

Instead of leaving as they slowly trickle out, I follow behind Alessia. It takes five minutes for me to start being teased by Katie for blushing as I watch Lessi work out, her biceps very prominent as she lifts the weights.

It takes me another five minutes to swiftly walk over to Alessia after she finally drops the weights, and kiss her passionately, before swiftly exiting, blush burning my cheeks. It may take a completely new hair colour to persuade me to make an appearance at training again.

[wwestrang-fan]

Something different pt 5

jey uso x oc reader

warning : a little bit of angst insecurity bit of age gap scars

Jey walked out of his locker room and headed toward the car. "Hey Jey, where are you headed?" Sami asked, approaching him.

"Um, I'm going out," Jey replied as he slid into the driver's seat.

"Again?" Sami said, raising an eyebrow skeptically. "What’s the plan this time? Don’t tell me you’re just going for another late-night burger run."

Jey chuckled, shaking his head. “No, it’s not like that. I’m meeting someone special.”

“Oh really?” Sami leaned against the car, his interest piqued. “Care to share who is this lucky person lo?”

“Maybe,” Jey said, trying to play it cool. But the smile tugging at the corners of his mouth gave him away.

Sami crossed his arms, a teasing grin spreading across his face. “Maybe, huh? You’ve got that look on your face. It's a date with this lo person?”

Jey hesitated for a moment, then shrugged, a hint of a smile still lingering. “Kind of. We’ll see where the night goes.”

“Alright, Mr. Casanova,” Sami laughed, stepping back as Jey started the engine. “Just don’t stay out too late, okay.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll be back early,” Jey replied, giving Sami a thumbs-up before driving off. As he merged into traffic, excitement bubbled inside him, mingling with a touch of nerves about his date ahead.

Jey walked to Lola's apartment door and knocked. The sound of dogs barking filled the air, creating a lively atmosphere. After a few seconds, Lola opened the door, her face lighting up with a smile.

"Hi, Jey!" she said cheerfully.

"Hey, Lola," Jey replied, returning the smile as he took in the cozy interior behind her.

“Come in! Sorry about the barking; I hope you don't mind dogs,” she said, stepping aside to let him enter. “Dolly, Ginger, and Dumpling always get a little excited when someone knocks.”

Jey chuckled as the trio of dogs, rushed toward him, their tails wagging enthusiastically. “I don't mind dogs at all; I have three pit bulls at home,” he said, bending down to greet them.

“Really? That’s awesome! Pit bulls are so sweet,” Lola remarked, watching him interact with her dogs. “What are their names?”

pongo, Jax, and mumble,” Jey replied, scratching behind Dumpling’s ears, who was leaning against him affectionately. “They’re a handful but full of love.”

“I know,” Lola said, laughing a little at the chaos of her excited dogs. “What did you cook? It smells good?” Jey asked curiously, catching a whiff of something savory.

“It’s the hákarl It’s almost ready. You can sit on the couch while I finish setting up the cheese fondue and raclette,” Lola replied, gesturing toward a cozy couch in the living room.

“I’ve never had Hákarl,” Jey said, sitting down and sinking into the cushions. “What’s is it?”

“It’s a fermented shark a traditional Icelandic dish. It’s a delicacy”Lola explained. “The fondue and raclette will go great with it”

Jey’s eyes lit up at the mention of cheese fondue. “That sounds amazing. Jey said

“It's going to taste amazing too” Lola called back from the kitchen, a smile on her face.

As he waited, Jey took a moment to enjoy the warmth of the room, the playful dogs lounging around him.

"The food's all set!" Lola said , her excitement evident as she carefully arranged the dishes on the table. The rich aroma of melted cheese wafted through the air, making Jey’s stomach rumble. He hopped off the couch and strolled over, his eyes lighting up at the sight. "Wow, this looks awesome!" he said with a grin, settling into his seat

Lola poured some warm cheese into small bowls, bubbling and inviting. "Dig in! I made the fondue just right," she encouraged, her eyes sparkling with joy. Jey couldn't wait; he dipped a piece of crusty bread into the gooey cheese, marveling as it clung perfectly to the morsel. Taking a big bite, he let out a satisfied moan. "Mmm, this is so good!" he said, eyes closed in delight.

Lola chuckled as she sat down, watching him enjoy his meal. She grabbed a napkin and leaned over, playfully wiping the cheese off Jey's beard that had captured some of the delicious goo. "You know, you might want to keep your beard out of the cheese next time!" she teased, her laughter lighting up the room.

Jey grinned sheepishly, brushing a hand along his face. "What can I say? I'm just too into the fondue!" He picked up another dipping fork, ready to dive back in.

Lola took a bite of her rösti, savoring the crispy edges and cheesy topping, before looking up at him. "Hey, have you ever watched anime?" she asked, her curiosity piqued.

"Uh, no, I haven't," Jey replied, shaking his head.

"Really? We should watch one after we're done eating um I mine if you want too" Lola suggested.

Jey raised an eyebrow, a smirk forming on his lips. "I wouldn't, what do you have in mind?"

"Demon Slayer! It's really good," Lola said, her excitement bubbling over.

"So, what is it about?" Jey asked, intrigued.

Lola leaned forward, animatedly explaining, "It's about a young boy named Tanjiro who joins the demon slayer corps after his family is slaughtered by demons, and his sister Nezuko is turned into one. By muzan the demon King. He travels to avenge his family and find a cure for her."

"Sounds intense" Jey said, intrigued. "What makes it so special?"

"The animation is stunning, and the story is really emotional. You get to see Tanjiro grow and make friends, all while facing really tough challenges," Lola replied, her passion evident.

"Alright, you sold me on it let's finish up this fondue, and then we can dive into some demons and fights," Jey laughed, already looking forward to their anime night.

Lola settled next to Jey on the couch, i got some chips!" she said, reaching for the snack bowl on the coffee table.

She grabbed the remote, she navigated through the streaming app. "Alright, here we go," she announced, finally selecting "Demon Slayer."

The opening credits played, vibrant colors and stunning animation filling the screen. Jey glanced at Lola, who was leaning forward, eyes glued to the TV.

"Wow, this looks good" he exclaimed, his curiosity piqued even further.

"Just wait until the action starts," Lola replied, eagerly munching on chips.

As the story unfolded, they both found themselves captivated by Tanjiro's journey, sharing laughter and gasps during the thrilling moments. With each episode, Jey found himself more engrossed, realizing he might just have to explore more anime in the future.

"How have I never watched this before?" he wondered aloud, glancing at Lola, who was smiling widely.

"Welcome to the world of anime! You're going to love it!" she teased, nudging him playfully as they settled in for an epic binge-watching session.

As the episode progressed, Jey felt the excitement of the story pulling them closer together. The intense sword fight on-screen made Jey more intrigue, but it was the cozy atmosphere of the couch that drew him even nearer to Lola.

He glanced over at her, noticing how absorbed she was, her eyes sparkling with anticipation. In a moment of spontaneity, Jey shifted a little, scooting closer.

Lola turned her head slightly, a smile spreading across her face. “Looks like someone’s getting comfortable” she teased, playfully nudging him back.

“Can you blame me?” Jey shot back, with a smirk, he didn’t pull away. Instead, he wrapped his arm around her waist, inviting her closer Lola leaned into him.

Jey chuckled, feeling warmth spread through him as they cuddled. The comforting weight of her presence felt right, making the thrilling battles on the screen fade into the background. They settled into a cozy rhythm, sharing chips and laughter, feeling a connection that began to deepen with each passing episode.

Jey stirred awake, feeling a warm, wet sensation on his cheek. Blinking sleepily, he realized it was Dumpling, Lola's adorable Great Dane , happily licking his face. He let out a soft laugh, scratching Dumpling behind the ears.

“Hey there, girl” he said, pushing himself up into a sitting position.

His eyes shifted toward the kitchen, where he spotted Lola bustling around, a cheerful energy radiating from her as she cooked. The smell of something savory wafted through the air, making his stomach growl.

“Good morning, chef!” Jey called out, a smile spreading across his face.

Lola turned around, her hair pulled back in a messy bun, a spatula in hand. “Morning! I’m making scrambled eggs and some Muesli thought we could use a hearty breakfast after last night!"

“That sounds amazing” Jey replied, swinging his legs over the side of the couch and standing up. He stretched, feeling the remnants of sleep leave his body, and padded toward the kitchen.

Dumpling Ginger and Dolly followed closely, their tail wagging excitedly, as Jey approached Lola, wrapping an arm around her waist. “Need any help?”

“Just keep the dogs out of trouble” she laughed, nodding toward the eager dogs who was eyeing the food on the counter.

Jey chuckled, leaning down to pat the dogs once more. “Alright, no stealing food y'all”

As Lola continued to cook, Jey felt content standing beside her, ready to start the day with good food and even better company.

Lola sat at the kitchen table, the sunlight streaming in through the window, casting a warm glow over the breakfast spread. A plate of scrambled eggs, Muesli, and buttered toast sat in front of her. She took a sip of her Orange juice.

Across from her, Jey was munching on a piece of toast, crumbs lingering on his shirt. “This is the best breakfast,” he said, wiping his hands on a napkin. “You really outdid yourself, Lola.”

“Thanks i figured we deserved a good start to the day,” Lola replied, a smile spreading across her face. She could feel the warmth of the moment.

After a brief silence, Jey cleared his throat. “So, I need to talk to you about something.” He looked a bit hesitant, his eyes darting to his plate before meeting hers again.

Lola's heart sank. “What’s up?” she asked, her curiosity piqued.

“I have to leave this afternoon. I need to head out of town for work,” he said.

Lola’s smile faltered a little. “Oh, really?” She tried to keep her tone light, but it didn’t quite come out the way she intended.

“Yeah,” Jey replied, his gaze searching hers. “I’m sorry. I didn’t want to leave without telling you.”

Lola nodded, forcing herself to swallow the disappointment. “It’s fine. Just... unexpected.”

“Look, I’ll call and FaceTime you every day, alright? And I promise to bring back something special when I come back to Philadelphia,” he said, trying to lighten the mood.

Lola chuckled softly, appreciating his effort. “You better! You know I expect at least some souvenirs.”

As they finished their breakfast in a comfortable silence, Lola couldn’t shake the bittersweet feeling. She felt grateful for the moments they shared but anxious about the time apart. Finally, she smiled at Jey, determined to stay positive. “Just remember, I’ll be counting down the days.”

“Me too,” Jey said, reaching across the table to squeeze her hand. “I won’t be gone long, I promise.”

As they finished their breakfast in a comfortable silence, Lola couldn’t shake the bittersweet feeling. She felt grateful for the moments they shared but anxious about the time apart. Finally, she smiled at Jey, determined to stay positive. “Just remember, I’ll be counting down the days.”

“Me too,” Jey said, reaching across the table to squeeze her hand. “I won’t be gone long, I promise.”

With a gentle tug, Jey pulled Lola closer, leaning in and planting a soft kiss on her cheek. The unexpected gesture sent a warm sensation through her, melting away some of the anxiety that had settled in her chest. Lola blinked, momentarily taken aback, but a smile broke through her surprise.

“You always know how to make me feel better,” she said playfully, her cheeks tinged with a blush.

Jey grinned, his eyes sparkling. “Just trying to leave you with something sweet before I go,” he teased, pulling back to gauge her reaction.

Lola chuckled, her heart fluttering, feeling both reassured and more connected to him. “Well, mission accomplished. Now I’ll just have to keep that memory close while you’re away.”

Jey got back to the hotel and walked into the room, his mind still lingering on the warmth of breakfast with Lola. He glanced around and saw Sami, Jimmy, Naomi and Rhea waiting for him, expressions of concern on their faces.

“Jey, where were you?” Sami asked, looking concerned.

“Yeah, Cody, Damian, Roman, and Solo are out looking for you,” Jimmy added, his brow furrowed.

“We got worried! Where were you?” Rhea chimed in, glancing at Jey with a mix of concern and curiosity.

Jey ran a hand through his hair, chuckling slightly. “Sorry, guys! I just lost track of time.”

“Don’t do that again,” Naomi said, her expression serious but her tone lightened with a smile. “We were about to have a search party.”

Jey raised his hands defensively, a grin spreading across his face. “I promise I’ll keep my phone on next time! I was just having breakfast with someone.”

“Someone, huh?” Sami raised an eyebrow, a smirk forming. “You mean Lo, right? You two were hanging out?”

“Yeah she lives here,” Jey admitted, feeling heat on his cheeks.

Rhea giggled, “So, how was it?”

Jey shrugged, trying to play it cool. “It was nice! Just chatting, enjoying breakfast… and you know how it goes.”

Naomi crossed her arms, feigning a serious tone. “And you didn’t think to let us know? We were worried sick!”

“I know, I know! I’ll make it up to you guys, I promise. Let’s catch up with Cody and the others and then head to the airport,” Jey offered eagerly, trying to shift the focus away from his breakfast date.

Jimmy chimed in, “Sounds like a plan! But first, spill the details about Lo.”

“Another time,” Jey laughed, leading the way out of the room. As they walked.

[pixiedurango]

Last Line... seven sentences... WIP game... weekend... monday

I was tagged by a bunch of awesome people, for example @ezriell , @alystrin03 and @serensama for several post something from your current WIPs -may it be the last line, of 7 sentences or a whole paragraph... tbh I haven't written that much, more diving headfirst into a new project and trying to find out where my lovely OC Cara de Riva fits there and how. But I have a little something to post now and since it's a short piece, I will post it completely. Viago (a fledgling still probably at this point) tries to talk his little sister, 9yo Cara, out of her decision to join the Crows rather than going into exile and live the careless life of a noble.

“Listen to me, Caramella.”

Cara knew it was serious by the way, Viago used her full name and not ‘Cara’ as he usually called her. She raised her chin in what was supposed to look as brave and courageous as a nine-year-old girl - just a little too small and too bony for her age - could muster. But the way her lips trembled, betrayed her, giving away, how frightened she was.

“I’m listening” she pressed out the words.

Viago was her brother. Her half brother, to be precise. Years older than Cara and the only hero she had always ever looked up to.

Being like Viago - the big, adventurous heroic, dangerous and handsome Antivan Crow, was everything the little girl with the untamable fire red curls aspired to be like when she would be big one day.

And when they had asked her the other day whether she wanted to leave Antiva and live the beautiful life of a noble girl - or, and of course you won’t want that… hahaha… becoming an Antivan Crow, Caramella had shocked everyone - including Viago - by choosing the latter.

They had been questioning her for hours, whether she knew what she was choosing, and it seemed - for a child of her age she had been able to give reasonable answers.

Then they had tried to bribe her to choose exile, and maybe they even would have succeeded - but the second she learned she would not be able to see her brother again, she was back on her initial choice and nothing made her rethink it from there on out.

Now they had brought Viago in, to talk some sense into her.

He had knelt in front of her, to see eye to eye, and told her to listen.

“Look at me, Cara mia!” rarely had he ever used that term of endearment, which worked so well with her name. And yet he gave his voice a serious tone sounding as stern as he could. “I understand that you think, staying in Antiva and becoming a Crow will be a big adventure, and that you and me will spend much time together as we are learning to become assassins and all will be a lot of fun. Believe me, Cara, it isn’t!” He put his hands, that were covered by snug leather gloves, on her shoulders and intensely looked into her eyes.

“I know it is no fun.” She boldly objected. “I read many books. We are going to be assassins. It means we kill people for gold. And it is very hard to become a good assassin.” She ignored the part where he had said, they would not be able to see each other much. Cara’s little, very much overwhelmed mind was only able to process so much at the same time.

“You could have a pleasant life, Cara mia.” Viago tried another time. “Living without a care in the world, if you would be willing to travel somewhere else, out of Antiva.” The last words were hard for him to speak, because only he knew how much he would miss this silly little ball of energy that was his sister.

But he also did not want her to face the same hardships that he had gone through on his road to become an Antivan Crow, and still had to face every single day.

In order to become a successful assassin, many, if not every fledgling had to become ruthless - which often included cruelties against the other fledglings. From bullying to full on physical or psychological cruelties - nothing seemed off limits for some.

“I don’t want a life without Antiva. And without my family. Without you.” Her voice was small and trembling, but even that could not hide, how serious Cara was about it.

“We won’t see each other much.”

“I don’t care.”

“You know, the other children will not always be nice to you. And I won’t be there to help you.”

“They can try! I know how to defend myself.” Her little fists clenched, and her face scrunched in a little show of what she thought was looking dangerous.

Viago suppressed a sad little smile, remembering just how cruel his own early days in the Crows as a royal bastard among literal street rascals ganging up on him, had been. But he already knew there was no way to talk her out of it. Thus,he continued talking to her, but more like stating facts than trying to convince her to leave.

“There is a lot to learn. You will be busy all day and sometimes more than half the night to keep up with the demands of your trainers.”

“I love to learn new things.” this much, he knew was true.

“Will you be able to follow orders from your superior Crows?” this one would be the real challenge for her.

“When the orders make sense, of course.”

He had to stifle a grin. Just what he had expected.

“And if they don’t make sense? Cara, sometimes you will have to follow orders that don’t make sense to you.”

“If they are good orders, someone will explain me, why they make sense and all is good.” Cara insisted in what was something she still fully believed in. But she would have to learn very quick and thoroughly that in reality often no one would bother to explain anything but expected flawless execution. "No, listen to me! You will follow orders, no matter how dumb you find them! It is your job and even though I know how much you love to discuss things, you won’t be allowed to do that. And when you ask me ‘why’ now, I’ll carry you out of Antiva myself, because a Crow arguing for reason all the time won’t survive the training for a week!"

Her eyes clearly told him, that she was working hard to not open her mouth and asking exactly what he had just told her, not to do.

If she would manage to keep quiet now, he would accept her choice, even though it would make his own life even more complicated as it already was - without his baby sister at his literal heels.

Cara just stood there, almost choking on the urge to ask why there was a rule so stupid, but bravely keeping it in. Pressing her little lips together and nodding furiously as a sign, that she could do anything her big brother would ask of her.

Little did she know…

I tag to share a bit of their work and to choose from every form of tag game is going around: @nyx-de-riva @becausedragonage @only-slightly-terrified @rook-de-rivas @hyperions-light @ofcrowsanddragons @thedissonantverses and everyone who wants to show off something

[nephilimbrute]

whatre your splatoon AU squad's genders/pronouns/sexualities i must know :3

my agents? Hmmm......welllll

val (agent 3) is a Cis lesbian. she uses she/her. someone asked if she got kicked out of the NSS for being cis. she holds the title of agent 3 to prevent confusion even though she was FIRED. she's also blonde and white but thankfully not blue-eyed

spingly (agent 4) is a bi transman and uses he/him. he's the only normal one out of everyone else (he later on decides to get his joints replaced with metal). he HATES salmonids and doing salmon run shifts. marie is like his mom

riley (cap'n 3 and Only called cap'n 3) is a sapphic demigirl that uses she/they. i can't tell if her or 8 are more troubled but she's Really anxious. was hired in place of val because val was "too reckless" (that's just how she works), which resulted in riley getting her ass beat BAD by agent 8 not once but TWICE

agent 8 (agent 8) is NONBINARY and uses THEY/THEM (really sticking this into your brain so you'll remember it). they don't have a name but if they did it would probably be "nana ida" which sounds cute, but they don't even respond to the name nana since it's not their birth name. they're also really mean, but they don't show it and keep it to themself. like they don't say mean things (because they rarely ever speak) but they'll probably upset you with no remorse

maggie (neo 3) is a uhhhh.huhhhhhhh.. bigender unlabeled inktoling. i think. i forgot. she uses she/him (no pref) and is super annoying. really stupid and likes to annoy people with his dumb arguments. knows a lot about technology but that's the only field he's smart in

and then vega is a transfem lesbian that uses she/her. she's dating marie and she has a Cool Metal arm. i don't know. she's awesome and she mains splatana and splatling

val is dating one of my friends' ocs (iris) and we hit them with hammers over and over again and burn them alive. this is their daily treatment

8, riley, and spingly are all dating each other. riley is Very dependent on spingly but she tries to manage on her own. both riley and 8 are very awkward with touch, but they know each other's boundaries. spingly is very nice and riley and 8 love him. though, 8 'likes' to make riley uncomfortable by asking her really personal questions or by staring at her too much (because all they do is stare), and sometimes they make her break down into tears (they don't really have much empathy).

maggie is 21 years old but dating nobody because he's just. uninterested. if you flirt with her she'll make fun of you for it

this is canon to me. whenever i see cap3 or 8 i go "OMG that's riley" or "stupid bug looking 8". same with agent 4 but preferrably if it's a green 4

ummmmm that's all. if you wanna know more about any of them you're free to ask any questions