#also his spin kicks??? just kicking people and boxes?? good for him

[almondcroissantsandink]

i totally forgot this remake was coming out!! 

[sparklingcid3r]

I promised a rumble rundown, so that’s what I’m gonna do. Let’s go🙏 also here's the yt vid i used lol

0:14-0:17

Paul says, “Hello, Darrel. Long time, no see” and then immediately starts checking him out with that upside down smile, ik what u think abt 👁️👁️

0:24-0:27

“I’ll take you” yeah Paul I’m sure u will 🙄 Darry’s cold af w the staredown tho, it’s unfortunate that Pony and Soda have do a full head turn to look at each other like “IKKK he ain’t j said that”

0:27-0:31

DALLAS MY GLORIOUS KING ARRIVES,, shirtless??? And the crowd goes mild‼️ Pony also gets popped in the face and down he goes, it was so good that he was here for just a little bit, everyone say bye now bc the next time he shows up in the fight u won’t even know it’s him I’m deadass

0:48-0:55

Soda is ripping into this guy right, my baby’s a champion!! And then gets up and kinda… walks past Steve getting his ass beat lmao. He even puts his hand on Steve’s shoulder to steady himself as he goes by😭

He just misses the mean double gut punch Steve tanks like the unit he is, because Steve GRABS THIS MAN’S PUNCH and RIPS one across his face, it was beautiful. Masterclass in the ring I’m afraid

0:56-0:58

Okay. I need to give yall the play by play for this single two-second sequence because it was genuinely the greatest clip of cinema I’ve ever seen in my life.

Paul’s got Darry out of frame and he’s confident, dare I say cocky. He’s doing the universal hand signals for “Cmon, hit me bro.”

And I’m gonna say this next part softly. Lean in and listen to me:

When I tell u that Darry clocks Paul in the face, I don’t mean he just clocks Paul in the face. Darry rises like a phoenix from the ashes and swings so hard that everyone around him can feel the aftershocks. Paul has just experienced the equivalent of a steel boxing glove to the dome. Teeth are flying. Paul will have no recollection of this moment for the rest of his life. Take a look at this.

Alr now we back up because YOU CAN SEEEE THE MOMENT OF REALIZATION. This man starts BAILING. The minute Darry spins back, Paul’s got bug eyes, all “Hold up. Wait a minute. He really ‘bout to clock my shit.” He did not want that smoke NEARLY as much as he thought he did, and ykw? I don’t blame him 🤷‍♀️ 

Letting yall know that I had to go back and slow down the playback speed so that I could bask in the glory that is Darrel Curtis’s behemoth of a punch. Geologists are losing their minds wondering how volcanoes are erupting and mountains are shifting, unaware of what just happened in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

1:00-1:03

Dally bitch slapping a dude is a great way to kick off the one-minute mark, and a good kick to the ribs just for funsies ig. U go girl🫶

1:04-1:07

Hottest Two-Bit has ever looked sorry

1:19-1:21

Alr Dally is literally picking people up and WWE rocking their shit as he slams them to the ground. That kid was dropped neck first. How did Pony not have to write a sequel.

1:22-1:24

Just an entire sequence dedicated to Soda mewing even as he gets bitched in the face. It’s alr tho, he got his get back

1:47-1:49

Istg I’m not tripping, u listen and u can hear Pony screaming for Darry yall I thought this was supposed to be a good time, I’m actually sobbing

1:55-2:01

STEVE CLUTCHES UP??? DEADASSSS that was the CLEANEST three-shot KO I’ve ever seen, then he body flips the guy behind him??? I WASN���T FAMILIAR W UR GAME, RANDLE 🙏

2:09-2:15

The Socs are kind of getting ready to retreat at this point but rq we gotta check in on the exes, Paul’s getting clowned on again lmfao.

This man tried to kick Darry, then when Darry’s got his foot and is getting ready to spin him like that pigskin, he’s PULLING on Darry’s HAIR??? Man, just leave 😭 ur cooked. And the last time we see him, he’s CRAWLING AWAY😭😭 at least STAND UP

2:24-2:27

Pony’s getting washed in a 6v1 it ain’t his fault this time, bless up. Luckily my goat Darrel Shaynne Curtis Jr. pulls up and literally starts throwing bodies. Absolutely spectacular that I get to live in the same lifetime as this movie.

2:30-2:32

Darry’s asking, “Ponyboy, you okay?” and some NOBODY tries to grab Darry’s shoulders. Who do u think u are???

3:35-3:45

Greasers get the W👏

So in conclusion I think we can all agree that if u are locked in an iso with Darry, just offer up ur cheek and get it over w. Ur not getting the dub. Roll down ur sleeves and go home, ur benched.

Sorry this is messy af, I'm just having fun rn LMFAO

[fighting-and-drawing]

IkeSen OC Info Sheet

Name: Thai Bulan

Age: 25 (during Heart of the Warrior)

Height: 165 cm (5'5")

Gender: Male

Universe: Ikemen Sengoku

Occupation: Koshō (Weapon-bearer/bodyguard); Shinobi

Affiliation: Uesugi-Takeda Alliance, Sanada-shi

Background Summary:

Thai was born and raised in California in a stable household. Growing up as the "smaller kid," Thai got into many fights at school, causing his family to enroll him into the closest martial arts school—a Capoeira Academy. From there, Thai's martial arts journey began, first starting with the aforementioned Capoeira Academy and soon branching out to Boxing, Eskrima, and Brazilian Jujitsu. By his Sophomore year in High School, Thai had already gained the reputation of a crafty, yet skilled fighter.

During his University years, and being the suave, yet rowdy bachelor he was, Thai both chased and was chased by many others, racking up a string of both mutually-broken and failed relationships while delicately balancing his avid thirst for excitement and his parents' perception of him being the "good, pure son." It wasn't until meeting Haruka Kurosawa that Thai's life began to settle down, the goal of moving to Japan manifesting in his head. Yet, after lasting a total of three years, everything ended with Thai being blackmailed to break up with Haruka, getting outed to his parents, and subsequently kicked out of home under threat of death.

Through the darkest time of his life and dragging himself forward with what little things he had left and connections he held onto, his dream of moving to Japan became a miraculous achievement. Whether it was out of realizing the dream he valued before or fleeing the ruins of what used to be his "home," Thai had finally done it—he finally followed his old dream of living in Japan and started his new life abroad. Regardless of being in a new country, things slowly returned to normal, up until one fateful stormy night...

Trivia:

Thai's favorite phrase, "Life's a Mystery," came from one of his favorite TV shows, Hell on Wheels.

With English as his first language, he is also fluent in both Portuguese and Spanish, and semi-fluent in Japanese, often mixing languages together in his speech to either throw people off, look "cool," or because he forgot certain words in one language or another.

He still has trouble reading Japanese

The only people to rival Thai's alcohol tolerance are Kenshin Uesugi and Mitsuhide Akechi.

According to Sasuke, Thai's spinning heel kick is almost, if not just as quick as Kenshin's sword draw.

He has a nickname for each of the Kasugayama warlords

Read more about Thai in Heart of the Warrior!

[queenofallimagines]

Meguru Bachira with a black s/o

LISTEN!! I picked up the 2 volume of the manga on accident when I went to target and I’m in love w him the man of my dreams!! Not taking blue lock right now bc besides Isagi and kunigami i don’t remember any other characters name or anything about them😅 feel free to talk to me about him tho I have SO many thoughts👀

** can you tell this is just me rambling 💀

Megaru💕:

- this pic gives me butterflies holy shit

- WHEW this man has huge unhinged sunshine energy

- Like giggling and kicking my feet how he’s the happy go lucky character trope (I.e hinata) but they make sure you remember he’s not “soft”

- Like the way y’all be uwuing hinata that is a grown man😐 he was throwing fists the WHOLE SERIES but he don’t know about sex? Bffr

- Anyway he’s definitely a switch but kinda leaning more top? he definitely just wants to fuck he don’t care who’s on top

- He’s so cuddly it’s adorable

- Getting neon yellow nails to match his hair>>>

- Definitely would like to match fits w you when y’all step out

- WOULD GET YOU AN ANKLE BRACELET W HIS INITIALS ON IT SO HE CAN KISS YOUR ANKLE WHEN HE PUTS YOUR LEGS OVER HIS SHOULDERS!!

- Most fashionable couple FR

- Always has to be touching you in some way

- Holding your hand, arm around you, hand in your pockets

- Wants to make sure you’re there and won’t slip away from him

- Imagining him going to meet your family and he’s SWEATING like he knows he’s not everyone’s cup of tea and really doesn’t want to start anything

- “You are good at soccer so you have like + 100 points right now”(watching Latino people watch the football on the Olympics is so scary 😫)

- Imagine your family watching his games😭 embarrassing bc now I’m imagining a room full of dads and uncles glued to the tv and cheering him on like he can hear it💀💀

- “You so skinny you need to eat more!”

- He’s charming your aunties to steal plates from your house

- You get in the car and he has like 3 Tupperwares full of left overs

- Great with kids because they think he’s cool

- he’s breaking they ankles in soccer tho he’s not gunna play nice w kids

- If “play where it’s safe cuz it’s NOT over here” was a person

- Like he can go 0-100 in a millisecond so if someone tries him

- Very “who’s gon beat my ass about it??” Type beat

- People think y’all are so cute bc he’s so smiley and sweet to you

- DEFINITELY says filthy shit in your ear too

- Like he’s cuddly w everyone he likes so you’d be no different but he’s slipping his hands up your shirt

- Number one hype man when you get your hair done

- So extra

- “My baby so cute🥹🥹”

- Box braids are his favorite bc he can put charms and stuff in your hair

- also medium long locs bc imagining him walking up to you and pushing them out your face to see your eyes🥺

- Freak

- Probably sends you links to sex toys and is like

- “👀👀??”

-“I’m a visual learner btw”

- The MOST unserious character in this whole series so far

- His song is rodeo but just the flo Milli verse i WILL NOT ELABORATE!!

- Once he get to doing that thing where he lower his voice just call in sick bc you probably not walking

- Not that he doesn’t care about your pleasure it’s more he’s fucking until HE taps out so your brains can be soup but he’s not done so,,,,hold on?

- If you like me and a few inches shorter than him will be smug about it

- His personality is big enough to count as a size kink but being a little taller makes him get a big head

- Talks you through it the whole time

- Switching back and fourth between degrading and praise so fast it makes your head spin

- “Hm? Don’t tell me my little slut is tapping out? You were begging me so nicely earlier”

- only one who can say babygirl and it not be cringe 🤭

- “be a good boy and spread your legs for me, hm?”

- Really sloppy kisser during sex too

- Will tell you to stick your tongue out for him

- On the rougher side of kinky stuff

- Fucks you like it’s the last time he ever will every time

- Don’t care about getting caught bc either way he’s not stopping

- Probably how you’d end up sleeping w him and Isagi I fear

- Isagi is so sweet and megaru is MEAN

- Isagi trying to go slow and be gentle and Megaru over here pulling your hair calling you a pretty whore

- this man In grey sweatpants would end me

- APART OF THE SHORT KING BIG DICK CREW

- he’s tall by Japanese standards but juuuuust 3cm above average in American height

- he already walks out the shower naked w NO care in the world

- probably walks around the house like that too Ngl

- “I am returning to the natural state of my birth” I will glue your clothes to your body sir :/

- feel like he’s more girth than length like don’t get me wrong he def has a third leg but he’s gunna have to work you open

- “ Oh don’t worry, I’ll make sure it fits”

- Act right dick™️ so don’t push him too far in public

- Definitely a bad influence!! You’re trying to be normal in public and he gives you a look

- Next thing you know he’s on his knees for you in a bathroom or an empty hallway🙄

- In the locker room so many times the rest of his friends already know, and when you two disappear they not stepping foot in there

- Buys you lingerie because he’s your biggest hype man

- When you feel confident you’re the most sexy

- “Mmm you look so good in that cute outfit, you won’t be too mad if I tear it off right?”

- Spreads your legs wide and will make you look in the mirror and watch as he fingers you open

- The type of man who fucks you so good you would get his name tatted on your ass

- Your family actually is probably like “don’t you go corrupting that sweet boy”

- And behind closed doors he’s got his hand holding your hair in a tight fist as he makes himself comfy in your throat

- “Let me hold your hair up for you💕”

- L$D- asap Rocky is also his song

[fruitsoxs]

hi socks just wanna let u know i have been thinking about those vashwood as roommates headcanons and i always come back to it cz it’s somehow??? so comforting??? 10/10 chef’s kiss thank u!

it's honestly my comfort au-- so here's a part two ! (here's part one)

Having Vash and Wolfwood as roommates would include(part two);;

warnings;; I included some nsfw headcanons this time. they're at the end and have a warning. This also has a bit of fighting/angst that ends in fluff notes: i have a couple of fics in the work for this au. let me know if there any big moments you would like to see written out into a full fic! (also possibly a knives spin off??)

Their jobs/majors

I kind of feel like Vash is studying in the science department. Specifically something that has to do with plant science? Botany, Environmental science, maybe even biology? I know it’s a little on the nose but I really do think it would work perfectly for him

Maybe he even opens up his own little flower shop in the future??

No matter what he has a lot of labs and he is always tired after them.

He probably has a part-time job as a barista at a little cafe on campus

No thoughts just Vash in a cute little apron

He’s a fan favorite among the college kids. They say he makes the best coffee, and he sometimes gives people little freebies when they look sad

His manager Meryl actively yells at him for it, but she doesn’t actually care that much.

He ALWAYS will give you freebies if you come in to visit him. He gets a free drink as an employee, and he’ll save it for you just in case you come in. Sometimes he’ll even take it to go and drop it off for you

Wolfwood gives huge phycology vibes. Mans had a messed up childhood and wants nothing more than to help other people through that stuff

Either that or he’s an art student. I can see that too

He takes school very seriously, but he is horrible at math. He cannot divide to save his life. He’s had to retake his math class like three times

His job? Well nobody knows and at this point everyone is too scared to ask. (He’s a security guard lol)

Whatever it is, he hates it. He comes home grumpy and needs lots of hugs and kisses.

He’ll be all pouty and pissed off, and then you’ll give him a little kiss on the cheek and a small smile will break out 

Bonus; Knives is on the track to becoming a surgeon. I will die on the hill that he is going into the medical field. (he’d look so good in scrubs) and i know McDonalds knives is kind of funny, but I'm thinking he’s actually and EMT. Imagine getting hurt and having Knives be your first responder (id die on the spot)

First Date

It’s not really a date- well you don’t call it a date. Vash just walks in with a couple of free tickets to a haunted house event thing  and asks if you and Wolfwood want to come

You’re like hell yeah

The drive there is like the calm before the storm. You listen to some music, seated in front with wolfwood driving. He definitely has his hand on your thigh. Vash is super excited about finally doing something that isn’t getting high and playing games

You all thought it was gonna be some dumb little spooky house. They’re never that scary. It’s just fun to see all the decorations and actors

Oh boy were you wrong

It’s so well put together. The actors are really into it, and they have amazing make up. When you’re standing in line, some clown girl walks up to Vash and you watch the regret build up on his face. The guy is already terrified

The first hallway is pitch black, and you have to rely on a feeling your way through it. Vash is mumbling about how much he hates it the entire time

Wolfwood is like “Don’t worry guys I’ll protect you.” And then proceeds to let out the loudest scream when the lights come on and there’s a girl dressed up as a ghost standing there

Soon all three of you are huddled up, holding hands, and shaking

These things should not be that scary!!!

It’s Vash who gets you kicked out

He gets so spooked that he runs into a bunch of boxes and knocks one of the fake walls down. The entire thing has to stop to fix it

You’re all banned

After that you go eat pancakes and complain about how scary it was

When things get tense

Fights can happen sometimes

None of you are perfect, and those boys have gone through some shit

Vash tends to shut himself away from you when he’s upset. He doesn’t come out of his room, and when he does he pretends like he’s fine. 

He doesn’t like burdening other people with his problems.

Eventually it just starts to feel like he doesn’t trust you enough to let you in. SIt gets really bad when he tells you to go away one day, and you watch Wolfwood walk into his room 30 minutes later

It doesn’t really turn into a fight. You just get sad, and even a little insecure. So, you avoid him back. Not because you’re vengeful, just because you feel hurt

A few days of the two of you not talking and Vash is in tears by your door

He begs for forgiveness and explains why he’s like this

You tell him it’s okay, but what he does really hurt you. He promises to work on it, and he does

That night the two of you make up for loss time

Wolfwood and you fight a lot more

Most of the time it’s silly little arguments that you solve pretty fast

Wolfwood is bad at communicating in general. But especially when it comes to his feelings

He has really bad days sometimes, and he can get grumpy really fast these days, and one day you really piss him off

He won’t tell you what you did though, he just gives you the cold shoulder

That pisses you off because you’d so be willing to talk it out and apologize, but he won’t tell you what you did 

So you’re mad now too

Things are tense between you too, and it all comes to an end on movie night when you start arguing about what movie to watch

You want to watch one of your favorite movies from your childhood and he says that it’s a stupid movie

Things get heated fast, while Vash just disappears into the background. He that the two of you need to workout your problems on your own (but he really wants to intervene) 

When the tears start falling, Wolfwood immediately stops

He takes a breath, and the two of you sit down and just talk. 

You talk ALL night about what happened, and what the two of you could have done better. In the end, you fall asleep on his chest while he plays with your hair. 

You have movie night the next night to make up for it, and he puts the movie you wanted to watch in before you can even talk about it ( he ends up loving the movie and after that you two watch it all the time)

Id have to make an entire other thing for when Vash and Wolfwood fight because it’s no fun for anyone

NSFW stuff

After the three of you finally get past the awkward stages and start fucking, you find out these two are…horny

They’ll grab you and go to town any time

They really like to share you, but there’s no jealousy in the relationship so it’s okay for one on one time as well!

Wolfwood will pull you into steamy make out sessions whenever. He’ll do it out of nowhere. I imagine he just really likes you, and can’t get enough

He’s very handsy. He’ll constantly have his hand on your hips, or your thigh, and your waist. He likes touching you

He’s the type to sneak risqué touches in public. He like watching you struggle to not let anyone else know what he’s doing

Quickies everywhere with Wolfwood

Vash is a lot more loving (not that Wolfwood isn’t loving– he probably has cried during sex) 

Vash takes his time though. He wants every moment with you to be special. He likes to do stuff like rubbing your back, and peppering kisses down your shoulders. He’ll run his hand up your shirt, and kiss your neck softly. He builds up to it

He really likes shower/bath sex. It’s intimate and relaxing

He also like when you take control (i know he’s a whimperer)

He is so bad at any type of public sex though. He gets embarrassed way too easily (and i think Wolfwood has fun with that) 

When the three of you do it together it’s fucking electric 

[withacapitalp]

I won’t wish to be yours (or for you to be mine)

Read it on ao3

Second Part

Eddie was never going to be able to stay. 

Logically, Steve understood that. He understood it, and he agreed. No matter what the government tried to spin, no matter what Hopper told them, the people of Hawkins thought Eddie was a murderer. A boy like Eddie had been guilty since the first day he arrived, and this was the inevitable conclusion. 

Still, there was knowing he was eventually going to leave, and then there was watching Eddie put the last boxes in his van and cling on tight to his uncle.

July 14th. Eddie had stayed ten days past 4th of July. Just long enough to make sure they were all going to be okay on the first anniversary. It was kind. It was thoughtful. 

It made Steve wish he knew how to hate him. 

“Okay, so as long as you stick to your timetable, you should get to Chicago by tonight. You have a reservation at this hotel already, so try to get there around check in time, okay? They even have parking in the back,” Nancy rattled off, handing Eddie a thick folder of papers. 

When Eddie had told the five of them he was leaving, she had launched into research mode. It was the way she coped, and it was productive. In just one month she had managed to put together a full dossier of the exact route Eddie had to take to get to New York, even found him a few garages outside of the city in towns where no one would have ever heard his name. 

“Thanks, Drew,” Eddie said with a grin, patting Wayne twice on the shoulder and dragging Nancy into a hug, “Actually, thanks to all of you. You guys have been super helpful.” 

They had been. Nancy planned, Jonathan had started putting together an album of all the pictures he had taken, Argyle began cultivating the perfect stash for Eddie to bring with him, and Robin made about a dozen mixtapes of ‘real music’ for him to listen to. 

Steve had grieved. 

He hadn’t done a damn thing to help or make this process easier. Robin had done her best to try and make things better, she always did, but it didn't help that she was also leaving in less than a month. All of them were. Off to colleges all across the country, while Steve stayed here all by himself. 

He was supposed to at least be able to keep Eddie. But Steve never really got to keep good things, so he should have expected this. 

He turned away from the rest so they wouldn’t see the scowl on his face, kicking at some of the weeds stubbornly poking out from the gravel outside of Wayne’s trailer. The kids had already come by to say their goodbyes, leaving before they had to watch Eddie go. They had offered for Steve to come with them, and he should have taken it. It had felt wrong at the moment to be the only teen to not be there to wish Eddie farewell, but now Steve felt like his world was collapsing, and he just wanted to go home. 

Never mind that his home was standing about 20 feet away from him, laughing with the rest of his friends. Never mind that his home was leaving for good, never to return, and Steve was probably never going to see him again. 

“Hey, easy on the flowers,” Eddie said with a laugh, pulling away from the rest. He squatted low, picking the dandelion and examining it, “Still looks good,” 

Steve hummed, unable to make words come. 

“Make a wish,” Eddie whispered, holding the fuzzy flower up to Steve’s lips. He took a sharp breath in, hating the way his chest felt like it was about to cave in. 

I wish the people in this town would fuck off so you didn’t have to go. 

I wish everything would just stay exactly as it is. 

I wish you would stay. 

I wish I wasn’t so selfish. 

I wish I knew how to tell you I love you. 

Because he did. Steve loved Eddie in a way he thought he was never going to be able to love again. He loved Eddie so much it hurt, and he had started to think that Eddie might even love him right back, but then it had all broken down. 

Now Eddie was going, and Steve had missed his chance. 

Steve banished all of those stupid greedy thoughts, pulling away just enough to blow out a heavy short gust, watching the seeds dance away, merrily floating across the trailer park, unaware they carried no wishes with them. 

“What’d you wish for?” Eddie asked. 

Steve let himself look at Eddie. Really, honestly, look. He memorized the wave of Eddie’s curls, and the long slow slope of his nose. Steve mentally sketched out the sharp jawline, and the way his eyes sparkled. He committed it all to a place in his brain where Eddie could stay young and beautiful forever. 

That was the Eddie Steve could love forever, that was the Eddie that would stay. 

He could let this one go. 

“That you’d be happy, wherever you’re going,” He whispered, pulling Eddie into a far too tight hug. He rested his chin on Eddie’s shoulder and closed his eyes, dragging in a long breath and savoring the smell of Eddie’s cheap, terrible, 2-in-1 shampoo conditioner. 

Eddie held him back just as tight, his forehead nestled in Steve’s neck. 

“I’m gonna call. Every day,” He promised, and Steve forced down the scoff that wanted to come up. 

That’s what everyone always said. I’ll call, I’ll write, we won’t lose touch. It never happened. His own parents hadn’t even managed to keep calling, why would Eddie be any different? 

No, Steve knew the truth. They would call every day for a while, maybe even multiple times a day. Then they would slowly go to every other day, then once a week, once a month, just on birthdays and special occasions. And, eventually, Eddie would forget his name, or Steve would only be fond memories that lived in high school yearbooks and yellowed old photo albums. 

Eddie would forget that he had maybe started to love Steve. 

It was going to happen with Eddie, then Robin, then Jonathan, then Argyle, and finally Nancy. It would happen with the kids when they finally went off on their own, and Joyce and Hopper when there were no more people tying them down to Hawkins. Everyone would leave, because that’s what people did. 

They would leave, and Steve would stay, and he needed to learn how to be okay with that. He needed to figure out how to get over losing people. 

And he needed to be alone to learn how to do that. 

“Does that sound good, Stevie?” 

Oh. Right. Eddie was expecting a response. 

“Yeah. You better. I’ll be waiting by the phone,” Steve said, hating how much that was going to be true. Eddie laughed like it was a joke, but it was the god honest truth. Steve would wait by the phone every single day, and one day the phone wouldn’t ring again. 

He swallowed down the bitterness that was rising, untangling himself from Eddie’s arms and interlocking their fingers. This was the last time he was going to hold this hand, the last time he was going to feel those rings. He needed to savor it. 

They walked back to the others as one single unit. There was another round of hugs, a few well hidden tears, and then Eddie was getting into his van. For the first time there was an air of nervousness, and he glanced around the group, his eyes landing on Steve and staying there. 

Eddie wanted reassurance. He needed a patented Steve Pep Talk, a few words to tell him that he was making the right decision. 

Well, he was making the right decision for him, but Steve couldn’t do it. He couldn’t tell Eddie it was okay to go. His heart was already breaking in two as it was, giving Eddie the last push he needed would shatter it completely. 

Then Robin’s hand was sneaking into his, and she was giving him a look, and Steve couldn’t be selfish anymore. 

“Don’t forget us when you get big and famous,” Steve said with a wave, all of them pretending his voice hadn’t cracked even a bit. Eddie gave him a beaming smile and a two fingered salute, starting up the van with the usual roar. He carefully backed out of the drive, leaving the trailer park with an obnoxiously long beep of his horn and a waving hand. 

And he was gone. 

He was actually gone. 

Steve didn’t bother to stick around and chat with the rest. He had given the last bit of his care away to Eddie, and now he just wanted to curl up in his bed. Steve had to learn to live with this pain, and the sooner he started, the better. 

Robin followed him without words, and he loved her for it. They had already discussed their plans. They were going to get rip roaring drunk, and Steve was going to have a good long cry, and then they would eat ice cream. It wasn’t enough, but it was better than being by himself before he had to be. 

“I’m sorry,” Robin said softly as they got into his Beemer. 

“Don’t be. He’ll be okay.” Steve replied automatically, starting the car and pulling out, going the same way as Eddie. A wild crazy part of him almost wanted to speed to catch up, cut Eddie off, tell him not to go. 

Steve kept the car below 30, barely crawling on a street he normally flew down. 

“He will be,” Robin said carefully. The unspoken ‘I’m worried you won’t be’ sat between them, heavy and oh so painful. 

“I will be,” Steve said stubbornly, ignoring the look Robin gave him. He put the radio on so they didn’t have to talk anymore, hating himself for wishing that he had wished for Eddie to stay. 

[bookscandlesnbts]

RPWP by RM Thoughts

I know I haven’t been active in a hot minute, and I’ve wanted to be; I even have some drafts. But life has been kicking my ass recently and I’ve been really down and not up to posting or trying to collect my thoughts. I want to do this album justice though because I know the stupid fandom won’t at this point and everyone is only screaming about the few sexual lyrics and missing the point of everything per usual. Maybe that’s just the salty asexual as me, but god there are more messages in this album than sex that should be given wayyy more attention like the fact that Namjoon has told everyone to fuck off when it comes to him smoking and him saying fuck you to the government that he’s not a diplomat. Anyway, I love the album. This is what I wanted from Joon minus my Frank feature that I will forever cry about not getting. This album really reminded me of the instrumental out of the box production and song structure of Tyler the Creator (I’m also a huge fan) and the amount of people in comments I’ve seen on social media being like who is that? have me dumbfounded. Yall please expand your horizons. I promise you can listen to other music besides BTS. Tyler is widely influential and such a cool artist not to mention that he is very popular. Of course not all fans live in America so I’m not talking about them necessarily, but if you live in the US, you should have heard of Tyler the Creator. To me it makes sense to listen to music adjacent and that was a clear inspiration. Namjoon recs his music taste all the time too, but I digress.

I’ll list my favorites from the album so far in no particular order. I’m a huge fan of the opening track. It’s funky and sets the tone for the record. Other than that, I love all the songs that we get hard hitting rapping from Joon. I love Nuts, Domodachi (shoutout Little Simz ily), out of love, Interlude, Groin. I do like the title track even though it’s not my favorite, but it really picks up halfway through. And I love the closer Come back to me. I feel like Namjoon let out of all his rage and frustration only to come back to himself at the end of the record, and in the context of the album as a whole, it’s even more meaningful and beautiful.

Since I’m in music circles with people who love artists who definitely influenced this record and featured on it like Little Simz, I am hoping that they give it a spin but not holding my breath. Regardless, I think Namjoon is amazing and I’m so glad that he gets to carve his own path as an artist and make the music that he wants to make.

Lastly, I can’t wait to see Joon and Mimi listen to this album. I bet they will have some introspective and deep conversations as well as a multitude of Jimin giggles from the amount of cursing and those sprinkles of the sexual lyrics that yall are just relentless about.

That’s it from me, for now. Hoping for good news next week but preparing for the worst as well.

[mixelation]

okay i wrote a scene from the reborn au. here's team disaster

Tori sat in the grass, her water canteen propped up between her knees. A stack of mismatched bento boxes Kushina-senei had “lovingly” filled with food sat next to her. Kushina-sensei herself paced the grass in front of Tori, occasionally blocking her view of Deidara and Itachi beating the snot out of each other.  

Tori had been aware, in her previous life, that Itachi and Deidara were simply on a different level from other ninja. Now this knowledge was even more acute. Itachi’s form was perfect and deadly. Deidara’s style was more lax but just as quick and lethal. They frequently blurred in front of her, moving too fast for her eyes to track, and she knew this is just them fucking around because Kusina-sensei told them to spar. She couldn’t imagine a world someone like her could keep up. 

Kushina pouted as she paced, occasionally shooting Tori a look like she expected Tori to do or say something. Maybe she wanted Tori to ask questions, or to demand to be taught the crazy spinning kick Itachi just used to knock Deidara over. 

Tori smiled back at Kushina. It didn’t bother her too much that she wasn’t some sort of genetic freak like Itachi and Deidara. Sure, she’d like to be able to keep her own in a fight if one happened to happen to her, and using ninjutsu would be cool, but her motives for becoming a shinobi of Konoha had very little to do with wanting to kick ass and a lot more to do with wanting a soft, safe bed at night and a whole research department to exploit during the day. 

(Also, Kushina’s cooking was pretty good. The free lunch was a nice bonus.) 

Besides, if Tori decided she wanted to kill some ninja that was out of her league, she’d figure out her own way to make it happen. She’d done it before with less. 

Itachi finally cracked a tree trunk with Deidara’s head, and Kushina-sensei paused her pacing, propping a hand on her hip. Her brows furrowed minutely, but it wasn’t out of concern for Deidara. No, Tori was positive that Kushina-sensei was frustrated because Itachi and Deidara needed no coaching or teaching from her whatsoever. 

Tori felt a little bad for her. Kushina-sensei was kind of pushy and loud, but she enthusiastically presented them with a homemade lunch everyday, and she’d seemed so excited to teach them that first day. It wasn’t fair that she got handed a team with two ninja that were secretly S-ranked missing-nin instead of cute genin who actually needed her guidance. That was why, when Kushina-sensei shot Tori another look, Tori hopped to her feet and clapped her hands together in the world’s worst applause. 

“Nice hustle, Itachi!” she called. 

Itachi turned to stare at her over his shoulder, like she’d said something a little bit stupid. If she didn’t already know him, Tori thought this expression would be a bit intimidating. Unfortunately for Itachi, she’d met infinitely scarier people. She clapped harder. 

Deidara was mostly unharmed, except for maybe his ego. He shoved Itachi as they walked up the hill to meet Kushina-sensei and Tori. 

“Next time we use jutsu, yeah!” Deidara declared. “Then you’ll be eating bark.”

“Uh-uh, not unless we get a higher clearance training ground, you know,” Kushina-sensei chided, now with both hands on her hips. “Okay, since Itachi won, he spars Tori next.”

There was a long, awkward pause.

“I’d rather not,” Tori said. 

Kushina-sensei just raised her eyebrows at her. “Well, you’re gonna,” she replied. 

“I won’t break anything,” Itachi added solemnly. 

“I don’t want to,” Tori insisted. “I don’t see what the point would be.”

She was just going to make a fool of herself. She’d be okay with a proper teaching spar– the kind where the more experienced shinobi carefully guided the spar. She didn’t trust Itachi or Deidara to have the slightest idea how to do this. Kushina-sensei was ordering her to go let Itachi kick her ribs in for no reason. 

“Kid, I am your Jounin sensei, you know,” Kushina-sensei told her, eyes just a little incredulous. “You have to do what I say, no matter what.”

Deidara was looking at her the way he would right before she did any sort of fuinjutsu, like he expected her to accidentally set the grassy field on fire or something. Was talking back to a teacher really so scandalous? 

“Do you need a pep talk, girl to girl?” Kushina-sensei pressed, eyes lighting up in a way that Tori did not want to deal with. 

“Fine, fine,” Tori grumbled. Meeting Itachi’s eyes, she said, “If you do break something, you owe me dinner for a week.”

Itachi faced her the way Deidara had looked at her sometimes, when they’d been renegade ninja buddies for a month. It wasn’t that he thought she was weak or delicate, or even that Tori couldn’t be incredibly dangerous under the right circumstances, but more that he’d already sorted her into a category of non-combatant. There was an uneasiness in his body language, imperceptible to anyone who wasn’t used to reading him. Itachi still thought of her as a civilian, and one he theoretically liked. Fighting her hand-to-hand was as inconceivable to him as it was to her.  

He did proceed to fight her with kiddy gloves on, she thought, because she saw every hit coming even as she failed to dodge. The fight ended with her limping back to the pile of bento, sweaty and bruised all over and slightly embarrassed. This would have almost been better in her old life, where expectations for her taijutsu were in the negatives. 

“Okay!” Kushina-sensei cried, sounding more excited than she should be. “Let’s analyze what happened!”

The analysis was basically just Kushina waving her arms and listing things Tori needed to improve, because Itachi’s taijustu was borderline perfect. Tori opened her canteen and took a long chug of water while Kushina-sensei babbled. A couple of insights were useful, but most of it boiled down to “Itachi is just better than you in every way.” It would be humiliating, Tori thought, if she were actually twelve or if she didn’t already have a history with both Itachi and Deidara. 

It wasn’t completely not embarrassing, though! For once maybe they could do an exercise Tori would excel at, like having a pleasant conversation with a stranger, or what to do if the scroll you stole was sealed up tight. 

Deidara turned his head to hide a smirk at her expense. Tori considered chucking her canteen at him. 

“Oh,” Itachi suddenly said, head whipping round from where he’d gotten bored and turned to watch a dragonfly. “Tori, I’ve been meaning to tell you. Your tree-walking is all wrong.”

Tori stared back at him. “What?”

Kushina-sensei practically exploded with joy at the chance at a teaching moment. They were all ushered down the hill and over to the tree line to watch the incredibly mundane sight of Tori walking up a tree. 

“What, because she’s slow?” Deidara asked, watching as Tori flipped herself over to stand on the bottom side of a branch. The long braid she’s tied up her hair in dangled centimeters from brushing the grass below.

“I think I’m doing fine,” Tori sniffed. Kushina-sensei too seemed confused about what the problem was. Sure, Tori slipped or mistimed the jutsu sometimes, but it wasn’t like she wasn’t getting better and better with practice. 

“No, you’re…” Itachi trailed off, staring at her. Unlike for their spar, he’d activated the sharingan. “You might be doing that in the least efficient way possible. Who taught you?”

Tori glared back at him. She was barely using any chakra to stick herself to trees and buildings nowadays, thank you very much. If she was expected to be even more efficient then she might as well just quit being a ninja now. 

“No one taught me,” Tori replied. “It’s just the leaf exercise but on your feet, isn’t it?”

Kushina-sensei’s eyes widened in horror, and Deidara burst into hysterical laughter. 

“What?” Tori demanded. She was standing on a tree, wasn’t she?!

“Oh, Tori….” Kushina-sensei said. 

As it turned out, tree walking wasn’t just activating and deactivating the leaf exercise to stick plant matter to yourself as you hopped around in a tree canopy, carefully timing sticking and unsticking yourself to the tree with every step. Apparently that was an insane way to do it, and Deidara kept spontaneously choking on his own laughter over how insane a thing to do it was. No, tree-walking only required a thin layer of chakra on the bottom of your shoes, and you could easily stick and unstick yourself without having to constantly adjust it. 

It was a team effort to explain this to her, everyone talking at once. Apparently if you’d already solved a problem in the most cursed way possible, everyone wanted to correct you. Still, she managed to parse what she should have been doing from the cacophony of noise. 

“Are you fucking kidding me?” Tori demanded of her feet, glaring down at her sandals as she walked up a second tree, this time with about a million times the ease. 

“Wait,” Deidara wheezed, straightening up from where he’d had to lean against another tree he was laughing so hard. “Tori, how have you been water-walking?”

Tori stared back at him, expression dead. “You don’t want to know.”

[oh-surprise-its-me]

In honor of the Dallas Cowboys fucking annihilating the New York Giants I wrote a short NFL au.

Jake- quarterback.

Javy- running back.

Bradley- Running back for Philadelphia Eagles.

Chris- was a sports medic, he met his idiot during a concussion check. Ron flirted the entire time.

Slider- was a running back.

———————————

Jake was hopping in place. It’s raining so hard he should practically be swimming at this point. He glances over at Javy. At least Javy also looks miserable.

Jake looks up at the boxes. At least his dads are out of the rain. Bradley at least should be watching the game at his house. His game ended three hours ago. Jake was able to watch the end during half time and text him.

Sucks that he wasn’t able to be there for him but they get it. It comes with the job.

Jake wishes they could just call the game over. They all know the cowboys won hours ago. It’s 40 to 0.

He claps his hands for the final play. He watches as the ball is snapped back towards him. He catches it and scans, he sees Fanboy. He throws the ball.

Fanboy jumps and catches it, he takes off towards the end zone. He crosses and leaps into the air.

The whistle goes off sounding the end of the game. Jake sighs, he can’t wait to take off all of the soaking padding. He feels disgusting.

Jake smacks his helmet into Javy’s, they always kick ass together. Jake high-fives the other quarterback, they do a side hug. He’s a good guy. Bad at throws but good.

He jogs off the field. Jake knows he should stay and talk to the press. He doesn’t want to. He misses his boyfriend. Wants to see his dads.

Jake strips and showers as fast as he can. Their coach gives them a short talk before saying they can go. He looks at Jake and tells him to scram. Jake loves Wolfman, he’s the best coach he could’ve ever asked for, the best uncle.

Jake takes off through the stadium, he takes back paths and runs as fast as he can. He runs to the boxes. He slides into the owners box. He sees Ron. “Pa!” Ron spins, he opens his arms, “hey chickie you killed it!” Jake is caught in a spin. He feels Chris come up behind him and hug him. “Hey dad.” Chris presses a kiss to his head.

“Proud of you baby.” Jake grins at his dad.

“Look at you go cowboy.”

Jake freezes. He spins. Holy shit. Bradley.

Ron gently pushes Jake towards Bradley.

Bradley who is wearing a Cowboy’s jersey. Jake’s cowboys jersey.

He’s caught by Bradley in a hug, he’s picked up, Jake wraps his legs around his boyfriend’s waist. Bradley always could hold him easily. Jake feels a kiss pressed to his head, “congratulations baby. Killer first game.”

Jake laughs and puts his legs down. “Congratulations to yourself sweetheart. I caught some highlights you were hot as fuck.”

There’s a cough from behind them, Jake flushed lightly. “Sorry pa.” Theres a laugh from Chris. “Y’all are fine but go to the hotel. Y’all can avoid people if you go now.”

Bradley nods in thanks. “Come on, let’s party.”

Jake laughs, he takes Bradley’s hand, he waves at his dads. “By party I hope you mean sleep because I’m exhausted.”

Bradley pulls him closer again in the elevator, he presses a kiss to Jake’s jaw. “Too exhausted to celebrate?” Jake smiles. He kisses Bradley, “not too exhausted for a special celebration from you.”

Bradley laughs. He pulls Jake to one of the Ubers that’s waiting. “When do you gotta leave?” Jake hums and scoots closer in the car. “Not I till late tomorrow.”

Bradley smiles, “no practice?” Jake shakes his head, “all yours for tonight, go nuts.” Bradley kisses Jake again. “You’ve got it baby.”

Jake melts into Bradley’s side. Hell of a way for a first game to end. He wouldn’t change it for anything.

[punchdrunkdoc]

Part 3, Chapter 9

Summary: After the events of S3, Matt Murdock is trying to once again balance life as a lawyer and a vigilante. But he’s been scarred by loss and betrayal - will a mysterious new neighbour help him heal? Or will her secrets drag him back into the darkness?

Notes: This is a slow burn romance with an original female character, told in 3 (maybe 4??) parts. There is mystery, intrigue, action/violence and angst - all the good stuff!

Also available on AO3 and Wattpad

Masterlist

Reference pics

————–

PART 3

Chapter 9

The warehouse was a confusing maelstrom.

The scents and the body heat of dozens of people blended together, and the painful cracks of gunfire bombarded Matt's sensitive hearing. But within moments of crouching by the main door of the squat, rectangular building, he started to sense the order in the mayhem.

The Widows were advancing through the space in teams, covering each others’ backs, their movements precise and economical. Their enemies were spread out and floundering, seemingly taken off guard, and too poorly trained to adapt to the sudden attack.

No. Not quite. Matt cocked his head, assessing the occupants of the warehouse further. They weren’t poorly trained, they just weren’t used to working as a team. As individuals, they definitely had some skills…but they still weren’t a match for the Widows.

He followed the fight from the sidelines, knowing it wasn't his place to intervene, that it wasn't his battle. But he was poised to enter the fray if Calina or one of her sister's were at risk of getting hurt, or if something went wrong.  

And after ten long minutes of fighting...something did. 

The balance of the fight somehow shifted. Something turned in the favour of Volkov’s men, and the Widows formation started to fracture. They started to take more hits, and they had to scramble to try to cover each other.

But not all of them managed. 

Matt caught the moment one of the smaller Widows came up against a hulking thug almost twice her size. He could smell the gunpowder from her weapon where it had been knocked to the ground, and she was reduced to dodging and spinning out of the way of the brute’s powerful fists, her own hits landing with barely any impact against his muscled mass.

Sensing the danger she was in, and knowing it was time to act, Matt sprinted through the doorway and into the warehouse. He leapt over workbenches and the boxes littering the cavernous space and reached the Widow just as her opponent picked her up by the throat and slammed her onto the concrete floor. Matt launched himself into the air, twisted, and used his momentum to kick the Russian in the side with full force. The brute grunted as he flew across the floor, and Matt quickly leaned down to check on the Widow at his feet.

Up close he recognised her as Inessa, one of the Widows from the cabin. She was sprawled on the concrete, eyes closed and not moving. The scent of copper filled his nose, but before he could check for the source of bleeding, his opponent got to his feet and came at him.

That’s right, Matt thought as he ducked under a right hook. Pick on someone your own size.

He parried the hook with a one-two jab of his own, and attacked with a series of kicks and punches…but just like Inessa, his hits barely registered. The hulking Russian just absorbed the impact and kept standing. Even a booted kick to the face - with Matt’s entire forced behind it - did little more than snap the man’s head to the side. He just spat out a globule of blood and smiled, baring red-stained teeth.

Matt took a step back, frowning. His first kick had managed to affect the guy…but was that just due to the element of surprise? Because nothing was working now. 

Who the hell was this?

What was this?

There was no time to figure it out - it was the brute’s turn to go on the offensive, and Matt had to use all his concentration to avoid the attacks.

Given his size, the man wasn’t exactly light on his feet, but his fists packed a huge amount of power. The support beam to Matt’s right splintered into fragments when one of the punches missed Matt by a hair and impacted the wooden structure.

Matt wasn’t so lucky with the next hit. He was a fraction of a second too late to fully dodge an uppercut, and the glancing blow to his chin was enough to send him flying backwards. He landed in a heap next to the still-unmoving Widow. He gave himself a moment to shake off the ringing in his head from the impact before staggering back to his feet.

But it was a moment too long.

It gave his attacker time to swipe Inessa’s fallen gun and start firing. Matt dodged the first round, his honed senses moving him out of the line of sight before his addled brain had a chance to catch up.

The next round glanced off his mask.

But by the third round, Matt was ready. He ducked and spun out of the way, grabbing his billy club from his holster. With a sharp flick, he sent one end of it barrelling towards the gunman. The baton hit the man in the hand with a crack, and the pistol flew out of his grip.

Before Matt could follow up the move, a familiar figure came sprinting towards them from the right. Matt watched as Calina leapt up onto a nearby workbench and used the added height to launch herself onto the shoulders of the Russian brute. She wrapped her long legs around his chest and jammed both hands into his neck, sending bolts of crackling electricity through his system.

As the incapacitated man dropped to the floor, Calina gracefully rolled off his shoulders, somersaulted across the floor, and came up in a crouch at Matt’s feet.

She stared up at him, mouth parted in surprise. “Wh-what are you doing here?”

There was no time to reply. Another man had chased Calina across the room and was coming in hot. Matt grabbed Calina by the arms, pulled her to her feet and shoved her behind him just as the newest aggressor reached them.

This one had a knife. A long, serrated dagger that flashed towards Matt as the man attacked. Matt blocked the blade with the edge of his baton, and countered with an elbow strike. Calina stepped out from behind him, dropped into a spinning crouch and swept the knife-man’s legs from under him. He collapsed to the floor, and Matt followed him down, hammering a vicious punch into his face to knock him out.

Another assailant came running at them, this one a similar build to the electrocuted brute.

And he was just as strong.

It took Matt and Calina working together to take him out, the two of them utilising their strengths in tandem - Matt’s offensive skills, Calina’s agility, the weapons strapped to her wrist, and the baton in his hand.

And they complimented each other perfectly. They both seemed to instinctively knowing where the other one was, and what they were going to do. They were so in sync, it was like a dance. As if they’d been training together all their life.

As the man finally fell unconscious at their feet, Matt turned to Calina and touched his gloved hand to her cheek, his senses checking her over for any injuries. “Are you okay? Are you hurt?”

She pressed his hand to her face. “No, I’m fine. Are you?”

“I’m good. But who the hell were those guys?”

Calina shook her head. “They’re not supposed to exist. And they’re definitely not supposed to be here.”

———

Their intel had failed them.

All of Anya’s careful research, the days and days of carefully scrutinising the footage from this warehouse, the weeks spent wading through the information from Ranieri’s laptop…and no one had realised that three members of Volkov’s team were supersoldiers.

Well, super-ish soldiers.

The former Soviet Union had never quite managed to faithfully recreate the serum that had transformed Steve Rogers into Captain America. They’d come close with the Red Guardian during the Cold War, but a fire had broken out in the lab hosting the supersoldier program, and decades of research, and the top minds involved in the project had gone up in flames.

Over the years they’d tried to reverse engineer the serum from the Red Guardian’s blood. But the resulting super soldiers were weak facsimiles, and they invariably succumbed to an aggressive form of blood cancer, accelerated by the serum.

It was no secret that Dreykov’s ultimate goal had always been to combine the mind control of the Widows with the power and strength of the Red Guardian - he’d even experimented on his own daughter to try to achieve that aim. Calina had just assumed all that research had been destroyed when the Red Room fell.

But Volkov had obviously managed to find a few vials - and a few volunteers - and had created a cadre of three semi-enhanced soldiers.

Enough to give the Widows a fight tonight.

But not enough to thwart their victory. Calina glanced around as the warehouse suddenly went quiet, the gunfire little more than an echo, and the sounds of hand-to-hand combat silenced. All of Volkov’s men were down - either knocked out or dead - leaving only the Widows and Matt left standing.

Matt.

What was he doing here?

Before she could ask, he suddenly pushed past her and crouched down behind one of the toppled workbenches. Calina followed, her boots crunching through broken vials and beakers as she hurried to catch up.

Rounding the table, she spotted the still figure sprawled on the concrete. “Inessa!” she gasped. She dropped to her knees and patted the Widow’s face gently. “Inessa? Can you hear me?”

There was no response. Stomach lurching with fear, she scrambled at the material of the other woman’s high-collared suit, tugging it down to try to reach her pulse.

“She’s alive,” Matt reassured her. “But one of those ‘things that shouldn’t’ exist slammed her hard.”

Calina let out a shuddering breath. She hadn’t realised Inessa was in trouble. All of the Widow’s training and strategy had fallen apart once they’d encountered the supersoldiers. 18 against 9 had turned out to be shitty odds when super-powered, 6-foot-5 killing machines were part of the 18. They’d lost track of each other in the melee, their careful plans to watch each others’ backs had fallen apart in the struggle to just survive the fight.

The fight that Matt had wanted no part of. The fight that he didn’t agree with, and the one which went against every facet of his moral code.

But the one he’d joined nonetheless. To help her and her sisters.

“Thank you,” she whispered, knowing instinctively that Inessa would be dead if it wasn’t for him.

“You can thank me when she wakes up,” Matt said, probing the back of Inessa’s head. When he lifted his hand, his glove was wet with blood.

“How is she?” Yelena asked, fear evident in her husky voice. She and the rest of the Widows had rushed over to crowd around their fallen teammate.

“She needs a doctor,” Matt answered. “She’s got a nasty laceration. I can’t sense a fracture, but she’ll need to see a doctor to be sure.”

Yelena nodded, then turned to Calina. “You and Katya, take her to St Jude’s across the river. The gear’s in the van - you know the drill.”

Calina nodded, then looked to Matt. “Can you carry her out? I’ll be there in a second.”

“Of course.” Matt lifted the other Widow in his arms and followed Katya as she led him out of the warehouse.

“Will you guys be okay here with all the…clean up?” she asked Yelena.

“We have enough time,” Yelena replied. “Anya’s checked the airwaves, and no one’s reported the gunshots to the police.”

“That’s not what I meant.”

There were several bodies on the ground who were merely incapacitated and not yet dead - including the two supersoldiers that she and Matt had fought. They needed to be taken care of. And Volkov still needed to be interrogated. Once again, she felt like she was being given the easy way out. That her sisters were taking on the dirty work of killing, while she left with her hands somewhat clean.

“We’ll handle it, Calina,” Yelena said, not unkindly. “Inessa needs you. You’re best placed to sell the cover-story to the medics - you’re a lot less beat up than us, thanks to your boyfriend.”

Calina glanced around at her sisters, realising Yelena was right. They were all littered with wounds and bruises, while she was relatively unscathed. “Okay. I’ll check in later.”

Yelena nodded, then turned and started barking orders at the rest of the team.

Calina jogged out of the warehouse towards the van stashed in the adjacent lot. The earlier pain in her knee - forgotten during the heat of battle - flared up as she ran. By the time she reached the vehicle she was limping badly.

“You okay?” Katya asked from the driver’s seat.

Calina nodded and jumped in the back, pulling the sliding door closed behind her.

Inessa was laid out on the floor, still unconscious. Matt sat by her head, his mask in his hands. The sight of his messy, sweaty hair caused a pang somewhere deep in Calina’s heart. She wanted to freeze time and live in this instant forever. She wanted to avoid the inevitable moment when he would say goodbye and she’d lose him for good.

But they needed to move. Now. Inessa needed medical attention as soon as possible…and she wanted Matt as far away as possible from the warehouse before the executions began.

So she sat down, took Inessa’s small hand in hers, and called out to Katya. “Let’s go.”

———

Five minutes later, Calina started to strip, knowing it was time to put the plan in action. She pulled down the zipper of her suit and started to wriggle her arms out of the tight fitting material.

“What are you doing?” Matt asked, sounding confused.

“Getting changed,” she explained. “I can’t take Inessa into the ER looking like this.”

She kicked off her boots and peeled off the rest of her outfit, then rummaged in the duffel bag stashed in the back of the van. She eventually found what she was looking for and pulled it out, the heavy sequinned material rustling in the quiet of the van.

Matt cocked his head to the side and frowned as he tried to place the sound. “Is that your dress?” he asked. “The one you wore the night we fought?”

Calina laughed, the sound holding a bitter edge. “Yeah. Maybe one of these days I’ll actually get to wear it out dancing.”

But maybe not. This particular dress held nothing but bad memories now. In fact she was starting to think it was cursed. First there was the mind control incident, and now one of the worst case scenarios from this battle was playing out - a Widow was injured enough to need hospital care.

Calina finished dressing, quickly fixed her hair and applied some make-up. Then she turned her attention to the unconscious woman on the floor. She quickly removed Inessa’s suit and placed a different dress around her neck. As Calina gently manoeuvred Inessa’s arms through the sleeves, the other woman finally started to stir. “Why’m I naked?” she slurred.

Calina froze at the sound of her sister’s voice, then let out a shaky laugh. “You’re not naked. But you hurt your head, Nessie.” The nickname came out of nowhere. But it felt right. It made Calina realise how much she cared about the younger Widow…and how worried she’d been that she’d never hear her voice again.

She pulled Inessa into a seated position, quickly tugged down the dress, then let the injured woman rest against her. Her head fell heavy onto Calina’s shoulder, and Calina gently smoothed a hand over her braided hair as she explained what was happening. “We’re taking you to the hospital. But we need to get the cover-story in place first. You remember the plan, right?”

Inessa started to nod, but groaned as it aggravated her sore head. “Party time.”

“That’s right. Just one more thing to do.” Calina glanced up at Matt. “Can you-” Her question died on her lips as she saw the strange expression on his face. His head was still tilted to the side,  his eyes were soft, and he was smiling a small, affectionate smile. It was so out of place in this van soaked with fear and sweat and blood, that she didn’t know what to make of it.

“Matt?”

The smile dropped. He shook his head as if clearing it. “Sorry, what?”

“Can you pass me the bag by your feet?”

He reached down and grabbed the paper bag, handing it over. She pulled out the bottle of whisky from inside, unscrewed the cap and downed a heft swig of the dark liquor. Then she deliberately splashed some of the contents over Inessa’s outfit.

“So that’s the cover-story,” Matt commented, putting together the plan. “You were out drinking and got injured.”

“Yep,” Calina replied. “We’re just two innocent, twenty-something party girls living it up on a Friday night.”

Matt shook his head in admiration. “You guys really thought of everything.”

“We had a lot of time to plan for all eventualities. Well, almost all eventualities.” The last part was muttered under her breath.

But, of course, Matt caught it. “You’re referring to those men in the warehouse?” he guessed - correctly. “The ones who aren’t supposed to exist?”

“Frickin’ supersoldiers,” Inessa muttered, still slumped against Calina.

Matt sat forward. “Supersoldiers? Really?”

“Yep, really,” Calina confirmed. “Do you see why someone like Volkov - with his knowledge of how to create monstrous armies - needs to be taken off the board?”

Matt said nothing and Calina winced internally - she didn't mean to drag up their fight again. She didn't want to remind him of why everything between them had fallen apart.

Luckily, she was saved by Katya. “We’re here,” she called from the driver’s seat.

———

Matt felt the van slow as it made a left turn. The sounds of beeping monitors, and the smell of antiseptic and blood grew stronger as they approached the entrance to the hospital.

“You okay here?” Katya asked Calina. 

“Yeah, I got it,” Calina replied. “Can you drop Matt off somewhere dark and shadowy on your way back?”

“No problem,” Katya called pulling to a stop. “Be careful.”

“You too. I’ll call with an update once we’ve seen a doctor.”

“Do I get a call too?” Matt asked. They still hadn’t gotten a chance to really talk. The whole reason he’d been at that warehouse tonight was to see her, to talk to her.

To figure out where they both stood.

Even if that mean re-hashing their fight from the other night, so be it. He just wanted to talk to her.

Instead, she was about to leave, and he felt a sudden, irrational spasm of fear that he would never see her again. That she would disappear forever and he’d be left with nothing but a disconnected phone number and a pile of regrets.

Calina paused, her fingers resting on the door handle. She turned to him slowly. “Do you want me to call you?”

“I think I made that pretty clear when I dialled your cell a million times today.”

She frowned. “You did?”

Matt frowned too. “Yes. I called you all afternoon. Because we need to talk, Calina.”

The confusion radiated off her - and it felt honest and true. She really hadn’t known that he’d called.

Had it all just been a misunderstanding?

He’d spent hours fuming with anger over her ‘cold shoulder’ treatment of him, and he’d recklessly traveled all the way into Jersey to hunt her down…all for nothing?

No. Not for nothing. If he hadn’t been there in that warehouse tonight…and those men had managed to kill Inessa and overpower Calina…

He couldn’t bear to think about it.

He was meant to be there tonight. Call it God’s plan, or fate, or just wild coincidence…for whatever reason, he’d ended up in the right place at the right time tonight.

“I hate to interrupt,” Katya called out, “But you need to go, Calina, before someone takes too much notice of this van.”

“Right,” Calina said. She pulled her hand from his and wrenched open the sliding door. Then she helped Inessa out, one arm wrapped tightly around the other woman’s waist. She looked back at Matt and bit her lip. He could sense her indecision - and her struggle between helping her friend and not leaving things so uncertain between them.

So he let her off the hook. “Go,” he said, grabbing the handle of the door. “Inessa needs you. We can figure this out later.”

“Okay,” she nodded. “I-I’ll see you later.”

“See you later.” He pulled the door shut, and followed her with her senses as she hobbled with Inessa into the building. As Katya started the engine, Matt listened as Calina put on a show for the medical staff inside.

“Please you gotta help us, my friend fell!”

He laughed at the unexpected, note-perfect Brooklyn accent.

“We were just out drinkin’ at that bar, you know the one in Bushwick with the balcony and all those fairy lights, and she fell. Outa nowhere. There was all this blood and she was knocked out cold.”

She’d completely morphed from his sweet, serious Calina into the perfect rendition of a vapid, drunk party girl.

It was impressive, really.

“What’s so funny,” Katya asked.

“Calina. She’s really selling your cover-story.”

“Yeah, when she gets into character, she really commits. She should be on the stage.”

“I can’t really picture that.” Calina was too reserved to chase a life in the limelight. She wanted a simpler future, filled with happiness and meaning.

He just hoped he could be a part of it.

————–

Chapter 10

Tag list: @hollandorks @chezagnes @stilldreaming666 @sio-ina-bottle @tearoseart-blog @acharliecoxedfan @freckledbabyyy

If you’d like to be added - let me know!

[sickficideas]

Okay, hi, my name is Austin and it feels like no one will listen to me when I talk about the Hunting Dog’s fighting styles.

Like, idk what’s about it but just hear me out.

When it comes to Jouno, he’s usually drawn — in my opinion with a sleeper build. Like, not a lot of muscle in my opinion.

So, in that case, I feel like he uses his sword a lot but when it comes to hand to hand combat? I feel like he’s more of a Black Widow type of fighter. Like full body attacks, I feel like during sparring he’s locked Tecchou in a thigh chokehold before while punching his head.

Like full body, all the way. Especially that spin move Natasha does?

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZT8q18Lhu/

Like that, he’s done it so many times before. I feel like he also uses his legs a lot, like he’s a bad habit kicker and he honed it to perfection. Like making a bad habit a good weapon.

Now, we all know Tecchou uses his sword a lot. It’s basic instinct since it’s his ability at this point. But when it comes to hand to hand combat? He’s a kick boxer. Like for real throwing hands with a little of Kuina Hikari from Alice in Borderland’s fighting style in the mix. Like, look it up on Youtube and you’ll know what I’m talking about.

Teruko.

Ah, Teruko.

She doesn’t have a fighting style.

Let me rephrase that, she has multiple and she can’t pick one or choose. Her fighting style is whatever will take down her opponent faster. Boxing, Tae Kwan Do, Agni Kai, Streetfighting, Black Widow — whatever will take down her opponent, she’s doing it.

Hell, she’ll fuck around and copy their fighting style for shits and giggles.

Now Tachihara is the prime example of “packing heat.”

He brings the gun to the sword fights. He brings the gun to the knife fights because nobody is bulletproof to him. It’s all fun and games, all abilities and whatnot and he’ll forget his ability and just start shooting.

Hand to Hand combat tho? He’s a street fighter. Like, street fighter. Hands up, jacket off, hopping in place and throwing hands and putting people in chokeholds. That’s it, that’s all.

Thank you for reading this through and I hope you have an awesome day!

hi Austin thank you for sending this this is very interesting!!! I don't usually think too hard about this sort of thing so it's cool to see what other people see or think about !!! These are all fantastic but I really like your view on Teruko especially I can totally see that ....and Tachihara the street fighter is soooo perfect

[miammey]

Okay, hi, my name is Austin and it feels like no one will listen to me when I talk about the Hunting Dog’s fighting styles.

Like, idk what’s about it but just hear me out.

When it comes to Jouno, he’s usually drawn — in my opinion with a sleeper build. Like, not a lot of muscle in my opinion.

So, in that case, I feel like he uses his sword a lot but when it comes to hand to hand combat? I feel like he’s more of a Black Widow type of fighter. Like full body attacks, I feel like during sparring he’s locked Tecchou in a thigh chokehold before while punching his head.

Yes I know technically he probably has a lot of muscle from the enhancement surgeries, but also because’s he’s blind, I feel like he rely on agility and mobility rather than brute strength like Tecchou. Like add some class to it.

Like full body, all the way. Especially that spin move Natasha does?

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZT8q18Lhu/

Like that, he’s done it so many times before. I feel like he also uses his legs a lot, like he’s a bad habit kicker and he honed it to perfection. Like making a bad habit a good weapon.

Now, we all know Tecchou uses his sword a lot. It’s basic instinct since it’s his ability at this point. But when it comes to hand to hand combat? He’s a kick boxer. Like for real throwing hands with a little of Kuina Hikari from Alice in Borderland’s fighting style in the mix. Like, look it up on Youtube and you’ll know what I’m talking about.

Teruko.

Ah, Teruko.

She doesn’t have a fighting style.

Let me rephrase that, she has multiple and she can’t pick one or choose. Her fighting style is whatever will take down her opponent faster. Boxing, Tae Kwan Do, Agni Kai, Streetfighting, Black Widow — whatever will take down her opponent, she’s doing it.

Hell, she’ll fuck around and copy their fighting style for shits and giggles.

Now Tachihara is the prime example of “packing heat.”

He brings the gun to the sword fights. He brings the gun to the knife fights because nobody is bulletproof to him. It’s all fun and games, all abilities and whatnot and he’ll forget his ability and just start shooting.

Hand to Hand combat tho? He’s a street fighter. Like, street fighter. Hands up, jacket off, hopping in place and throwing hands and putting people in chokeholds. That’s it, that’s all.

Thank you for reading this through and I hope you have an awesome day!

Ooohh yes yes yes!!! I love hearing about fighting styles, keep talking about it all you want!!! These are awesome and make total sense!!! Idk what a lot of these character’s fighting styles look like, but I get the picture through your explanations

Jouno putting his whole body into it makes a lot of sense, yes he’s fairly muscular but body-type wise he feels like he’s be a bit leaner than characters like Tecchou or Teruko (adult form). I also think that he’d just have more fun in that sense

Tecchou throwing hands is something we need more of, even without his sword this guy’s a menace and I love that

Teruko not sticking to one specific style and going with whatever works in the moment fits her character so well, she’s definitely the type to think on her feet and keep her opponent on their toes

Tachihara being a streetfighter also fits super well, especially with the gangster-personality he has in the Mafia. I also imagine if he does run out of bullets he’d just start smacking people with his gun alongside his fists lol (that’s called pistol whipping, right??)

Anyway, thank you so much for sharing this, Austin!! If you have any more to share I’m absolutely down to listen!!

[krsonmar]

I don't think I ever posted my Nandermo playlist, so here it is, with annotations: "Their Love Can't Be Put Into a Box full of Oreos and Pedialyte", a Nandermo fan playlist

1.) Please Don't Leave Me--P!nk

One way to describe this show is "it's bouncy and fun and about how horrible we are to the people who know us best". That called for radio pop about knowingly unhealthy relationships, so of course I went for P!nk. Listen to that bridge ("I forgot to say out loud...") and tell me that's not a Nandermo dynamic.

2.) King of Wishful Thinking--cover by Newfound Glory feat. Patrick Stump

Denial is the name of the game, kids! This cover gives the song a nice rock anthem feel. I'm proud of finding this for this playlist.

3.) I WANNA BE YOUR SLAVE--Måneskin

A nice little song about inverting the servant-master dynamic. Who's really dependent on who? And who's really "corrupting" who? Also it's very queer, good old-fashioned campy glam rock. Play it for your Sunday School group!

4.) How's It Going To Be--Third Eye Blind

It's getting to be an unspoken rule when I make a playlist that I have to have one of three songs by Third Eye Blind and one of three by Vertical Horizon. In my defense, these two bands fell into a sweet spot in the late-90s where alt rock was getting just poppy enough but not too poppy.

This one's about knowing you want to leave, you're just waiting for something to happen to finally start the actual ball rolling on it, an inciting incident of some sort: a fight, a snafu you should be able to handle together but that snowballs instead, so on. It's the point in a deteriorating relationship where you've decided you want this to end and you just need an opportunity to enact the decision...but you're also mad at what you've lost. It's before the resignation where there's nothing left to say except "goodbye". Fifteen years and you're not a vampire yet, so please won't the other person give you a reason to leave? Special stuff, kids, and here it has a good singalong chorus and another rockin' bridge.

5.) If You Ever Leave I'm Coming With You--The Wombats

"This relationship degrades me so badly and don't you even think about trying to escape me!" Great to listen to on a loop while nailed into a coffin for weeks while sobbing quietly about how you were *going* to travel the world with your Nan-with your Master!!

6.) I Get A Kick Out Of You--Frank Sinatra

Yeah this one is out-of-place for this playlist but this playlist goes to some weird places. It's a fan playlist about goofy vampires, I do what I damn well want.

Nandor is 700 years old and can't die. He's been a deadly military warlord, watched empires rise and fall, and outlived the majority of his own descendants. He's gotta be pretty jaded. When you drink the blood of other people to live, a lot won't phase you anymore. That's the thinking behind this song. I think Nandor is kind of fascinated with Guillermo's mortality in a way (I wrote a meta post here) and that might play into why he doesn't want to turn him.

Also this song is a standard that gets remade all the time, so if you know of a version that isn't by Old Blue Eyes that you think would fit this playlist, I'd love to hear it.

7.) Dancin' In The Moonlight--either the 1970s original by King's Harvest or the 00s remake by Toploader, take your pick

Ah yes, a good old-fashioned autumnal ball for the supernatural who walk among us, perhaps held on the night when the veil between worlds is thinnest! And a classic song to dance to. I like to imagine our boys having a cute moment to this one; Guillermo trying to spin Nandor around by the hand until he realizes a second too late that the height discrepancy is ridiculous, Nandor doing some medieval Persian dance moves Guillermo tries to copy, long coats sweeping behind them as they twirl and boogie, lots of giggling. It ain't all angst here, folks.

8.) One Week by the Barenaked Ladies (the acoustic version from The Bathroom Sessions, find it on YouTube)

I have always loved this song, so I was thrilled to see it in the Fitness Center episode, and you know I had to get it in here. The song's about having a fight that could end in a breakup but you both know each other too well to stay mad, and this version--recorded in one of the band members bathrooms as an experiment in acoustics-turned-full impromptu YouTube series--conveys a good-natured casual intimacy and amiability that comes from years of deep familiarity--haha--and learning to get things done together and have fun with it while fully expecting each other's shortcomings and planning for them so it'll be okay. Maybe that's me reading a lot into it; yes, it's filmed in a bathroom, and it's an acoustic version of a song the band is known for even to non-fans, so Ed Robertson and Steven Page's easy back-and-forth ad libs have the comfort of years of doing this under it; but also, the song was almost 20 years old at the point this was filmed, so it's *that* level of "we know how to do this", and it you know the band's history, a few years later, the band kicked Steven out due to a lot of drama, with, IIRC, the understanding he could come back at some point if he worked on himself. Knowing that, the recording can read a lot like a comfortable, long-lived domestic relationship that eventually went south, but this is a snapshot of when times were still good.

I'm way overthinking this, but anyway, the song fits that episode of the show really well and I think this version heightens the "why" of that.

9.) You're A God, by Vertical Horizon

This is the other band with three songs that end up on all my playlists somehow. I really think Nandor and Guillermo have each other, despite what it seems, on a pedestal somewhat, and might even see each other as having a type of divinity that makes them untouchable to the other in some sense. Guillermo, to Nandor, is pure, fragile, mortal, in need of protection, unsuited to being "ruined" by vamipirsm...because then what other human would dare risk gracing Nandor with their time of day? Nandor, to Guillermo, is a powerful, aloof being, literally supernatural, infinitely more powerful than him and far less vulnerable (in multiple ways, so it seems), and promising him access to this thing he wants so badly if only he just proves himself enough.

Catholicism ahoy! And I'll take mine with a side of a modified Madonna-Whore Complex, please!

They've got some complexes, these two.

10.) Last one and then you can stop reading (why are you still reading this??)

Total Eclipse of the Heart by Bonnie Tyler, or, depending on a few things, go for the techno remix by Nicki French

This song was actually written by the composer best known for his work with Meatloaf, for a campy rock opera about a human in an emotionally abusive relationship with a vampire. I know, right? If they don't use this song somewhere in the final season, I will riot. A good finale piece; I want to see it used in its techno incarnation for a climactic fight scene, I wrote a stupid thing a couple years ago about the idea. A nice, very fitting wrap-up to the playlist...and the show, perhaps?

Go take a break, you just read way too much meta about a fictional neurotic gay couple.

[pikmingrubb]

Gustavo xFTM! Reader

Lyle plays cupid with reader and Gustavo at Los Pollos Hermanos,

Tags: SFW, fluff, food, trans masc reader, 

Words: 1,251

AO3 Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/47596747/chapters/119998228

Just another day, events happened as usual, nothing interesting that could have possibly even made you wonder if something else was going on. You needed to go to work, to pay your bills, to fold that laundry that had been sitting in your bedroom corner for god knows how long.

Before you knew it, eight hours had passed, you clocked out with an exhausted sigh and waived gently to your coworkers as you peeled your uniform from you. Shit, you hadn’t even thought of food until now, what even sounds good?

It wasn’t normal for you to eat out, you tried saving money as much as you could, being independent and alone meant you had no one to fall back on. No point in spending money on frivolous shit. Knowing you could spend money on that was one thing, but also worrying that if you suddenly had something happen would you be kicking yourself for not saving more? Fuck it, Los Pollos it is…

The drive there was automated, not a single thought as you slowly turned your radio on and slipped in your personal CD that you had made with your friend years ago. A good memory, a time when you could just spend an entire afternoon ruminating inside your house and gathering all your favorite media and trading newfound songs with each other.

A honk sounded behind you, shit, you had waited too long at a green light, you stepped on the pedal and quickly turned as not to bring upon the ire of New Mexico’s worst drivers… You gave an apologetic wave as they sped off behind you, oh well .

Putting your shit box into park, you clicked the seat belt and it retracted, the heat quickly welcomed you as you stepped out squinting. Inside you go, off this hot pavement, you eyed some trash inside a paper bag and quickly swiped it up to be deposited inside a nearby trash can.

You could never understand people's laziness when it came to conveniently placed trash bins, didn’t make sense, but you could at least fix it…

Doors swung and halted as you let out a couple exiting, a smile and a polite thank you were exchanged, and you quickly entered after, escaping the scorching heat that stung your bare skin.

The menu before you felt unreadable, come on, how hard is this? You chided yourself internally, the line was getting shorter and soon it was your turn, panic rose.

“How can I help you?” A loose smile greeted you; you could hardly pay attention to him as you began to visibly choke.

“Uhm, I want…Chicken.” You said suddenly, WRONG! Your brain scolded.

They held a slightly concerned yet patient look and gave a small chuckle, it’s not as if they are being mean, but your response is absolutely not helpful,

“I-I’m sorry, it’s been a long day, sir. Uhm, what do you recommend?” You just really needed an extra hand, too many decisions made your head spin.

“I would say a number three with our special seasoned fries on the side,” He smiled, pointing his hand to the sign above him, and you nodded quickly glancing over it. Your eyes traced to his name tag; it wasn’t there.

“That sounds wonderful, thank you, uh-” Your brain halted, not sure what to call him.

“Gustavo,” He said with a smile, “Thank you, Gustavo, like I said I’m so sorry, I’m not usually this scatterbrained,” You said pulling out your wallet, you didn’t mean to cause a fuss, but he seemed extremely kind. It put you at ease.

“Not an issue, we all have those days.” He comments handing you a paper receipt, you gently thanked him and accidentally brushed fingers with him, you stepped out of line before a blush stung your cheeks.

Thankful for the crowd of people that kept the workers busy, your scrambling of words was quickly forgotten as people rushed in for their dinner.

Food was quickly passed to you, the hot tray smelt heavenly. Pickles on the side gave off a delicious vinegar smell you oh so loved. This was a good idea, your stomach rumbled as you placed yourself near a secluded area, watching people chat and much about calmly.

The fries were amazing, well-seasoned, and just crunchy enough. You practically devoured your meal forgetting how absolutely hungry you were, by the time you got to the actual chicken you were already feeling a little full. You had to slow down…

“How is the food?” That same beautiful voice asked you calmly, he was standing over your table and looking down at you, thankfully you didn’t have food shoved in your mouth, save you the embarrassment…

“It’s really good, I love the fries. Also, I’ve never seen you around here. Do you work at different stores, too?” You asked, he didn’t seem new to the job, but you’d never seen him at this location. You knew Lyle was one of the shift leaders, you two often talked at the counter for a second and even shared lunch a few times.

“Ah, I’m actually the owner, and I’m glad you liked my suggestion.” He said clapping his hands together, giving you a grin, your brows rose at this.

“Oh, wow. That’s actually really cool! your workers are great, no wonder. They have you as a boss,” You chuckled, Gustavo just listened with a beaming smile, he gave a little laugh at the compliment.

“Thank you, I have worked a long time in this business, and my employees always uphold my standards of care in the work environment,” He said praising them, and a little of himself. He should, he ran his business with great care, it was honestly something to strive for.

“Now, are you done with your meal, can I take your tray?” He asked politely, you looked down to study your now empty tray, oh I guess you finished it.

“Oh, uhm no it’s fine. You don’t have to do that!” You said standing up and gathering your trash, you hated the feeling of others cleaning up after you.

“Please, it would be my pleasure, a friend of Lyle’s is a friend of mine.” Your heart dropped, oh my fucking god Lyle you’re going to kill me… You sent a quick glare towards him at the register, a grin adorned his face, seeing you panicking in front of his boss!  

Gustavo most definitely saw the exchange but said nothing.

You submitted, trying not to make this any more awkward, you nodded your head in a silent thank you as he gently took the tray. He turned away to gather more that people had left behind, and this is when you finally turned to give Lyle the most malice-filled look you possibly could. It failed to deter him as he instead just laughed and grinned, waggling his eyebrows comically at you.

You were going to kill him, he was going to get a nasty little text later…

Saving yourself anything more embarrassing, you left the restaurant and Gustavo still managed to catch you on your way out, giving a gentle nod and a smile before going back to helping customers. You couldn't hold your blushing back at that point, jesus fucking christ he’s extremely handsome.

___

“ Lyle, what THE FUCK WAS THAT?! ” You sent him the heated text when you got home.

“ Haha ;D ” Was his only reply, you just screamed internally. He is definitely bored at work…

[bf-skz]

24 to 25 days of SKZMAS | December 24th - Jeongin

pairing: Yang Jeongin x Reader

genre: love at first sight

synopsis: Jeongin is kicking his 3rd year at JY Publsihing as an underpaid intern. Life could be a lot more enjoyable if he would at last recieve the position he has been dreaming of... but his usual coffee runs make it more bearable once a new barista starts working at his regural coffee shop.

warnings: -

words: 1056

24th day of SKZMAS

December 24th

You haven’t seen Jeongin for the past week. You feared the worst, that he might actually got fired because of you. Because of your reckless advise that he took to the heart and now he no longer wanted to see you. But a couple days after your impromptu peptalk, a new intern entered your coffee shop and once he asked for the order you happily scribbled Jeongin’s name on one of the paper cups.

So he made it, you sighed to yourself with a relief when it happened. However, you couldn’t really shake off that eerie feeling you felt in your chest with his lack of visits. You thought you were close enough for him to tell you… to come running to you about the promotion but maybe you have mistaken his advances. Maybe he is just generally nice to catering employees and all this was just in your head.

It’s Christmas Eve tonight and as there was nothing else for you to do, you agreed to take on the morning shift yourself. Luckily, you close at one in the afternoon, so you still have plenty of time to go home and celebrate with your family.

The cafe is quieter than usual. You take it as a good sign that in this corporal area, where mostly offices work, there are only a handful of people who spend their holidays working here. The door jingles for about the third time that day, not much earlier before closing and you spin around to greet the incoming guest with the utmost cheerfulness. 

As Jeongin steps into the cafe, his attire makes you speechless on the spot. He has a long coat on with casual clothes, something that you thought you would never have the privilege of seeing him in. However, the most shocking part isn’t his outfit, but the huge box he is holding, neatly packaged in wrapping paper with a bow on it. “Merry Christmas.” 

“Merry Christmas to you, too.” you respond, smiling in amazement. “You shouldn't have… what is this?”

“You should open it to see.” He chuckles cheekily before handing you the present. “Why are you working on Christmas? Are you aiming for that promotion?”

“I'd love to say I do.” you roll your eyes, taking the box and placing it on the counter. “God, it's so big.” you huff as you place the box on a table, the one you sat by with him just a week ago. “I'm afraid I'm just a loser who has no one to spend Christmas with.” you explain with a chuckle as you start to unwrap your present.

“Well, that makes the two of us.” he smiles fondly, watching your movements. “I’m sorry I wasn't coming by but the company made me work tirelessly.” he chuckles. 

“Oh, love, please don't burn yourself out.” you say, glancing up at him and he is already watching you. There's so much adoration in his gaze… it makes your heart race. You finally open the present, and it's a thick coat, black and soft with padding. Also looking incredibly expensive. “Innie! Gosh, you really shouldn't have! I cannot-”

“We worked hard for that.” he grins. “I got the PR position and without you I wouldn't have gotten a raise. You deserve it.” he smiles. “Besides, you need something warm to the Christmas open-air-concert we are going to.” he adds, taking out two tickets from his coat’s pocket.

You are speechless for a second before you jump in his arms happily. Hugging his neck, you feel his arms wrap around you, and gosh, your heart is going to explode. “You did so well. I'm so proud of you.” you whisper.

“I couldn't have done it without you!” he admits, burying his face in the crook of your neck before spinning you around in his arms. “I was also thinking, if you might be free… it's kind of late to ask you though but… the office party is on the 25th and I was wondering if you’d like to join me as my date?” he finally blurbs out.

You pull back to look at his cute face, all blushed and warm and smiling at you beautifully. “That sounds like a great time. I'm in.”

“Oh, thank god it would have been embarrassing to turn up alone, after all I gushed about you to everyone.” he chuckles, booping your nose and still holding you.

“Stop being so cute!” you squeal and squeeze him in the hug. You generally don't believe in Christmas miracles… but this one, it can hardly be called anything else. “I think I might have annoyed Ryujin by always talking about you, too…”

“Is this why you are all on your own today?” he jokes with a playful glint in his eyes. “When do you finish? I can help you close up.”

“I am done for the most part, actually.” you grin and there is a moment of silence before you speak. “Do you think… would it be okay if I kissed you?”

“I think I should be kissing you.” he hums after a second of thinking, and he leans in to kiss you finally.

You giggle in the kiss, tugging him closer because you want to feel his whole being in the kiss. And oh, you do. He might look young and innocent, but Jeongin is an amazing kisser. He picks up on your rhythm in a second, and the way he kissed you makes your knees go weak.

He seems to catch on all your little movements and he grabs your waist to keep you grounded. Your tongues dance, lips melting against each other as they do. You are like water and fire, complementing each other perfectly.

“Innie…” you pull back breathlessly, because you feel like he could go on forever.

“Yeah.” he chuckles sheepishly but without any regrets. “Let’s close up and have lunch?”

“I'd like that very much.” you say, kissing his nose. “And then, you are coming over to help me pick an outfit for the party.”

“Yep, exactly what I had in mind.” he grins cheekily, his eyes resembling a fox. You slap his arm as you step back to close up the counter while Jeongin picks up a broom and gets to work as well. You wonder how on earth did you get so lucky…

to be continued...

[river-bottom-nightmare]

a brief list of how to be a compassionate and kind human being: as told by and demonstrated by grayson

○ put yourself in someone else's shoes

"and how exactly am i supposed to do that?" damian asked, trying exceptionally hard not to snap. "i'm damian al ghul-wayne, i can't imagine being anyone but myself."

"you do undercover missions well enough, don't you?" grayson said dryly, fingering through a couple protein bars. the organic foods aisle was not the place damian would have chosen for a conversation such as this, (in fact, he wouldn't have had this conversation at all), but grayson seemed unconcerned as he weighed the 24g protein vanilla bar with the 22g protein chocolate-chip-cookie-caramel bar.

"that's different," damian argued. "that has a purpose."

"this also has a purpose, damian," grayson said, his voice having the audacity to be nothing but warmly amused, nothing but water-softened logs at the bottom of a brook, gently keeping the entire river flowing.

"then please," damian said sarcastically, "enlighten me as to what that purpose is." then, he reached over and grabed the box of 24g chocolate-peanut-butter protein bars and shoved it in the cart. grayson always forgot they were his favourite, and remembered right as he started up the car. best to just remind him now.

○ exercise kindness without people pleasing

"isn't that," damian said, squinting, "the entire point of being kind. so that you please other people."

grayson hummed, tilting his head from side to side as if to say not quite. he was dressed plainly today, his black sweatpants and grey shirt blending into the background of the city park, which is what they needed. but it was so utterly devoid of the life grayson normally displayed, it was a little startling. damian had grown accustomed to ribbon and golden sparks and the wild gleam of a smirk.

"well, people-pleasing and trying to please other people are different things," grayson said nonsensically, "but that's not exactly what i'm talking about."

damian kicked a rock out of frustration, then narrowed his eyes at the gleam of metal in the roots of a bush. "your ten o'clock, i believe it's a remote timer."

"good," grayson said, which had damian glancing at the older man, wondering when he'd spotted it. "one more lap, and then we can head to grastava's to start the stakeout."

damian almost groaned. nobody had ever told him detective work was so boring.

grayson jotted down a quick note on his phone about the position of the possible timer, then continued. "it's more like doing nice things without expecting anything in return. no praise, no gratitude, no recognition. just—being kind for the sake of being kind."

"that sounds like a waste of time," damian said, rounding the corner of the paved hike. keeping an eye out for any more nefarious buried electronics, damian spotted a coke can under a couple leaves by the base of the tree. it shone sickly bright, out of place in the worst way.

"indolent fools," damian grumbled under his breath, then bounded forward to pick it up. there was a trash can on the other side of the pathway, and he darted over to drop it in before returning to grayson's side, missing the proud little grin between the man's dimples.

○ to become compassionate, first practice self-compassion

"i can't get it!" damian cried, training and decorum being the only things keeping him from throwing his bo staff on the floor.

"yes you can," richard said calmly, balancing on his hands with the staff balancing on the arch of one outstretched foot.

"this was never something taught in the league. i don't know this."

in one smooth movement, richard tumbled, carrying the staff with his momentum, then kept rolling forward as the staff flew in the air, spinning neatly until it was caught by one steady hand in an upright position. "that's why i'm teaching you."

using the staff to swing himself over to damian, richard melted down to sit cross-legged in front of damian, his gaze like light shining off the edge of a blade, forcing damian to look up. damian fought to keep the waver from creeping out alongside his voice but, well, this was richard.

"i don't know this," he said, quieter.

"that's why," richard repeated, also speaking around the words like a delicate fruit, "i'm teaching you." with a sigh, he slumped to lean on his bo staff. "you're ten, damian. i don't expect you to know everything. in fact, i'm glad you don't."

"but how else am i supposed to—"

"you're not supposed to do anything, damian," richard said. "you're a kid. i want you to learn, i want you to grow, i want you to try things you don't already know just for the fun of it. or, like now, i want you to try your hand at a useful skill that'll help you in the future, regardless of how much you know right now."

and that baffled damian, it really did. if he didn't understand and master what his trainers taught him as quickly and efficiently as he could in the league, he was punished. it made for the most skillful fighters. nothing more complicated than that. and yet—

"come on," richard said, as if holding out cupped palms to coax a little bird into them, trembling and hooting and terrified. "your follow-through is good, and you've got the momentum down. you just need to work on the timing."

with a stuffy sniff, damian slowly nodded. "just have to work on the timing," he repeated, then hauled himself back up on the training mat.

--

this is so rough oh my god. ghaehgiehigahei i just had to get the idea out so here.

tag list: @woahajimes @birdy-bat-writes @subtleappreciation @catxsnow @pricetagofficial @screennamealreadyused @clamityganon @maplumebleue-blog-blog @sundownridge @thatsthewhump @xatanna-troy @red-hood-redemption @capricorn-stark @batshit-birds @buticaaba @comics-observer @newsical @queenofbooknerds @scattered-winter