#and I can make them cry big time without it feeling OOC | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

yuansie · 3 months ago

Text

(1) even when there was rain, sunshine came

pairing. caleb x fem! childhood friend! non mc! reader (x childhood bsf! zayne)

synopsis. caleb planted a seed in your heart when you were both young, nurturing it without meaning to until it sprouted and blossomed. it shouldn't have grown this much, not when you knew you could never have him.

genres/aus. angst, fluff, f2l, unrequited love, childhood f2l

warnings. slight ooc caleb (i have not read homecoming or wtv that chapter is called BC BLUESTACKS DOES NOT WANT ME TO FINISH LONG AWAITED REVELRY OR WTV THAT CHAPTER IS CALLED IM STUCK ON CH12...), NOT canon compliant oops (no higher being placing a curse on zayne, no experimentation done on mc and caleb bc josephine is a good person this time BYEEEE), reader has neglectful parent(s) in the beginning kind of, mentions/descriptions of crying, mc is female (she doesn't have a name in here either). if there's anything i'm missing, please let me know!

rating. sfw but make it lowk very angsty but fluffy ish at the same time.

wc. 8.2 k

a/n. live love laugh angst (but with a happy ending) and live love laugh not proof reading and SORRY FOR NOT UPLOADING THIS EARLIERRR uni sucks booty fr !! also, i've come to the decision that i will just make this into a mini series, having about 5-10 chapters maximum !! the ideas keep coming, and i'd like to take a different approach to this prompt/world i've build for this nonmc! reader in an actual caleb series much like my rafayel one! also decided to make it into a mini series bc i cant keep writing and expanding on this and leave yall hanging for longer IOEOIFJAWEOI

YOU’RE EIGHT YEARS OLD WHEN YOU MEET CALEB. it was in the last days of summer, right before the leaves began turning red and yellow and orange. you remember your dad telling you that an older lady moved into the house across from yours, that there two kids living with her: a girl younger than you and a boy your age though a couple months older. he said something about the girl having a special condition but the words went through your ear and out the other because you didn’t care about them; you knew you wouldn’t talk to them anyways.

then, your dad left to go to work and you were all alone.

you were always alone, and you felt that loneliness every second, acutely aware at how it bleeds into your soul and makes you so, so sad. it’s what makes you head to the park two houses down the street and sit at the big, oak tree there. your favorite thing to do is climb it and sit on one of the bigger branches around its middle, feeling as if you could reach the sky and escape these heavy feelings. you blame your dad for making you like this: for making you think that the heavens can help you escape your heavy feelings. he told you once, on a night where he was in charge of tucking you in while your mom worked late at the hospital, that he loves the sky and how it makes him feel like all of his worries are nothing but a speck of dust. he made you think that one day, you could reach the sky and feel what he felt. if you reached out enough, you would be free.

but today you had no energy to do that.

as soon as you reached the oak tree, you sat down and rested your back against the trunk. your eyes watered instantaneously, cold tears dripping down your cheek and to the tip of your chin as you tucked your knees into your chest, your arms holding them in place so they could keep your weeping heart warm. you were so lost in your overflowing sorrow that you didn’t notice a boy running to the tree, not even when he stood three steps away from you.

“why are you crying?”

you snapped your head upwards.

the boy looked surprised, his purple eyes as large as the moon as he stared at you. his back was to the sun, covering him in a golden glow. he didn't say anything as he knelt down, his brows furrowed.

you hiccuped and looked away, angrily staring at your house from where you sat. “go away, stranger.” you see the older boy that lives next door when you avert your gaze from your home. it’s zayne—you recall your mom telling you that you used to have playdates together when you were younger. obviously, you don’t anymore. you don't even speak to one another—perhaps, he thinks being friends with a girl two years younger than him is not worth his time.

you don’t blame him for thinking that; after all, your own parents probably think the same.

before your mind spirals into the inky void that tells you bad things, the boy speaks up. “my name is caleb! now i’m not a stranger, right?” you glance at him from the corner of your eye. caleb grins at you, his smile as bright as the sun. it’s too blinding, you decide, and drop your gaze to the ground. “i guess not…” you mumble.

“so that means we’re friends!” caleb laughs when you quickly look at him again, surprise evident in your features. “now you can tell me why you’re sad!”

you wrack through your brain to come up with an excuse and end up stuttering out, “b-but you don’t know my name!”

“you’re y/n, right?” he laughs again when your jaw drops in comical way, gasping for air in between his next words. “ha! g-gran… talked t-to your�� parents!” caleb wheezes, tears in his eyes. “y-your parents told us about you!” once he calms down, caleb lets out a sigh as he sits next to you, nudging your shoulder. “c’mon, you can tell me why you’re so sad now.”

you look back at your house, frowning at how lonely it looked. “i… i don’t think my parents love me.”

“what?”

“i mean,” you rest your head on your knees, your voice now muffled. “they’re never home and they never spend time with me.”

your dad is often away, being the colonel and all, which means he’s gone for months at a time. it wasn’t always like that, but things changed when that forsaken tunnel appeared above the city. your dad was one of the first to answer the call, to fly in the sky to protect the world from wanderers. so it isn’t his fault and neither is it your mom’s that they’re never there. she’s a doctor, a colleague of your next door neighbor's parents.

it is not your fault they are both needed by more people and by more important matters.

caleb’s about to say something when a girl calls out his name, running until she stands in front of you two. you don’t pay attention to her, and instead keep your eyes focused on your house. you wish your parents were home more, that they’d spend more time with you. the girl ends up leaving after she speaks to caleb, who watches her go with a careful eye.

“sorry about that,” he says, scratching his cheek. “gran sent her to tell me it’s time for lunch, but don’t worry! i’ll stay here with you until your parents are back!”

you blink at him, feeling your eyes start to burn. “you’ll stay?”

“mhm!” he smiles, and this time you actually don’t turn away. caleb laughs softly, leaning forwards to wipe away at the tears that fall from your wide eyes. “why are you crying again?”

you didn’t even notice that you had stopped in the first place. “i-i don’t know.” you do know.

it's the first time someone ever stayed with you in a long time.

caleb, surprisingly, calmed you down in a matter of seconds. he stayed with you until the sun began to set, when the blue sky became tinted by orange and pink. he made time go by fast, making you smile and laugh until your cheeks and stomach hurt. and he was surprisingly attentive, noticing immediately the way you perked up when you saw your mom’s car drive down the road and stop in front of your home.

“you ready to go now?” caleb stood up and stuck his hand out, waiting for you to grab it.

“your hand is warm,” you mumble, gripping tightly onto his hand as you lead the way back to your house.

he giggles and nudges your shoulder. “my hand is warm?”

“mhm.” it’s very warm, akin to the blankets you wrap yourself with during the cold days of winter.

and just like that you were at your front door, shyly waving goodbye before going inside. the doorbell rang shortly afterwards, yet before you could open the door, your mom had already done so. you left and headed up the stairs and into your room, telling yourself you’ll eat something after your mom retires for the night.

but that never happens.

because the strangest thing happened afterwards: your mom came up to your room and talked to you, apologizing for making you feel lonely and abandoned.

you know it was caleb’s doing: why else would your mom be like this?

without meaning to, caleb planted a seed in your heart that day.

when you’re ten, you realize that you’ve changed the slightest bit. you’re a little more outspoken, a little more confident in yourself; and your world that was once monochrome is now full of color, full of warmth and life.

you have memories where you’re laughing until your stomach hurts, where you’re learning to love apple and bake apple pies to perfection, where you’re learning to do cartwheels with the little girl while his laughter echoes in the air. it’s all thanks to caleb—he reached out to you, deciding to integrate you into his world. you’re forever thankful that he decided to talk to you two years ago, thankful that he spoke to your parents about your feelings because otherwise you would be stuck in the dark.

caleb has brought light and warmth into your life, and now you are never cold and lonely. he even sticks to you like glue at school, never leaving you alone for a second in the classroom because somehow you always manage to be in the same class as him. sometimes you grow tired of having to keep up with the energetic boy, sometimes the fatigue wearing your bones down and rendering you useless. caleb seems to know when that happens, or maybe he doesn’t. what matters is that he seems to time his golden smile; it is a smile so radiant that it melts away what weighs you down.

and always being with him has made you adopt some of his habits, his attentiveness being the one that shines through the most. it’s what makes you notice your next door neighbor. days of careful glances makes you learn that he’s always reading on the porch of his house or he’ll do the same inside by the window, that he’s never with any other kids his age and that he’s never at the park.

maybe you should talk to him and—

“y/n~” caleb nudges your shoulder. you jerk in surprise and wobble on the tree branch you both sit on, gripping tightly onto the wood while you lean forwards from your lack of balance. the boy yelps and takes a firm hold of your arm, stabilizing you. “you scared me!”

you huff, glaring at him. “you scared me! i could've fallen just now, dimwit.”

he pouts, “but that's your fault! you weren't listening to me.”

“yes i was!”

“oh yeah?” caleb raises an eyebrow. “then what was i saying?” he snickers when you don't reply, gently nudging your shoulders this time because he learns from his mistakes, you know! “see? i was right. you keep staring over there.” he gestures in the general direction of where you keep staring. his finger touches the green leaves of the tree, the tips fading into a yellow color.

autumn is coming. not yet, but it will be there in due time.

you decide to tease him a little. “pft, you’re pointing at the leaves.”

his lips curl into a frown. “you know what i—”

“caleb!”

the eight year old girl comes running up to the tree, huffing as she points up at your best friend. “i-it’s time for dinner!” she tilts her head over at you, beaming. “gran said you can come, sis!”

caleb looks at you, “you coming?”

you smile at the girl before shaking your head, moving towards the tree trunk. “i need to do something,” you grunt, shimmying down whereas he just jumps off the branch and lands with a thud. the girls gasps and you gape at him with wide eyes once your feet hit the ground, “are you okay?”

“a-okay!” he grins, standing up proudly as if he didn’t just scare the living daylight out of you. caleb flexes a boney arm, “i’m strong, after all!”

“yeah, okay hercules.” you chortle, rolling your eyes. “i’ll see you around.”

you watch as he and she wave goodbye at you, caleb hooking their arms together as they disappear into their house afterwards. you notice that there's a tightness in your chest when you see them hold hands or hook their arms together—it happens sometimes, not always. like right now: your chest tightens a little, feeling heavy. you chalk it up to wanting to do that with caleb one day and go your merry way.

your mom is startled when she opens the front door just as you reach out for the doorknob. she holds a container with cake inside. “goodness,” she chuckles, leaning down to press a kiss against your cheek. “you scared me.”

“are you going next door again?” you move to the side so your mom can walk out.

she hums, “i am! i left some—”

“can i come this time?” you usually don't go to the dinners your mom has with zayne’s family every friday, always heading to hers and caleb’s house instead despite your mom’s best efforts in convincing you to join her. you always had an inkling that she wanted you to spend time with the older boy next door.

your mom beams at you so wide that you’re taken aback as she drags you to the li’s front door. did it really mean that much to her that you want to join this time? well, you’re on a mission to get close to zayne so that he can have friends too.

speaking of the devil, the door opens immediately after your mom presses the doorbell, revealing the older boy. his eyes widen the slightest bit when he sees you, though he quickly regains composure, his features relaxing. with a small smile, he greets your mom. “hello, mrs l/n.” he directs his gaze at you next, “hi y/n.”

you blink in surprise. “…hi zayne.” you didn’t expect him to remember you because you don't particularly remember much about him.

he steps aside just as his mom appears from behind, momentary shock melting into a warm smile. “y/n! i’m so happy to see you! will she be joining us?” her eyes flit up to your mom, who nods excitedly.

you’re ushered inside and into a seat not even a second after being welcomed in. “we always have a plate and cutlery out in case you stop by,” mrs li says. a lump forms in your throat and it’s hard to swallow. you feel awful, knowing that every time you chose to stay with caleb, the li family had hope that you’d stop by and eat with them.

still, you somehow manage to smile at the older lady. “i’ll make sure to come with my mom from now on.”

“really?”

you nod. “of course,” holding out your pinkie, mrs li laughs and hooks her own with yours. “i promise.”

mrs li heads into the kitchen with your mom, leaving you and zayne alone at the dining table. he sits in the chair next to you and you fidget in your seat, not sure how to break the stifling silence. what would caleb do in this moment? he’d probably say something stupid or just go ahead and ask to be friends… that’s something only he could do easily, but for you? that’s a challenge.

“you look worried.” zayne says, looking at you from the corner of his eye.

you frown and play with your fingers, “was it that noticeable?”

zayne hums as the two moms come back with pots of food while chatting about your dad. “you aren't doing a good job at being subtle.”

his comment makes you huff through your nose, the corners of your lips curling upwards. caleb says that to you all the time, claiming that you make it is easy for him to read you.

“smiling suits you.”

you stop breathing and stare at the boy with raven hair, slowly blinking while the moms plate the food and continue talking. zayne glances at you again and then looks at his plate, eyebrows furrowed as he picks up a fork and pokes at the carrots, nudging them into a corner. “did i say something wrong?” he mumbles.

he didn't say anything wrong… it’s just that no one has said that to you. not even after your change, even if it was a small one.

not even caleb.

you shake your head, “no.” coughing, your eyes shift to his hands, seeing how he stabs the last carrot on his plate and places it in the corner along with the rest. “you… you still don’t like carrots?” you vaguely recall a memory from when you were about five: you and zayne were eating a plate of oranges when he suddenly spat it out and a chewed piece of carrot was then laying on the table. his mom had cut small pieces of carrot inside his bowl alone with the oranges, trying to trick him into eating them.

zayne’s hazel eyes widen. “you remember?”

with a snort, you answer, “you spit out the carrots every time your mom tried tricking you into eating them. that’s pretty hard to forget, if you’re asking me.”

his ears flush the lightest shade of pink, making you giggle as your fingers wrap around his plate, rotating it. with your other hand, you grab your fork and take his carrots.

“…thank you.”

“i should be thanking you,” you hum, “i love carrots.”

whereas you and caleb are polar opposites and only have a thing in common, you and zayne are not. you’re so alike: reserved and quiet, both sticking to what you deem is the vicinity of your personal bubble. it was easy to befriend him again; by the end of what remained of summer, you had introduced him to caleb and her. it did take a month and a half of convincing, of relentless pleading that convinced zayne to follow you to the park where she and caleb were playing as usual.

caleb and zayne didn't get along well right off the bat, and they always argued. it took you aback in the beginning, not used to seeing caleb argue so… pettishly with someone. much less with zayne. zayne baffles you every time he mutters under his breath about how caleb is ‘so annoying’ because all he does is talk about dinosaurs or is ‘a child’ during friday dinners at his house. well, he is a child, so he’s not wrong there. but with that logic, he should also be calling you a child and yet he doesn’t.

zayne does, however, get along well with her.

you see it in zayne’s attentiveness to the young girl, you see it in the way his voice softens when he speaks to her, and you see it in the way he hangs onto her every word as if it were something sacred.

you also see it in the way his ears sometimes turn the lightest shade of pink when he speaks to her.

when you think about it, they’re both alike in that way.

the sun is in the sky, bright and warm like the boy next to you.

“he’s trying to steal her from me,” grumbles caleb. he swings his legs back and forth while the two of you sit on a tree branch, zayne and the girl sitting underneath on the other side of the tree. she’s teaching him how to braid a crown of flowers, and you can see the small curl of his lips. he’s smiling a shy sort of smile only reserved for her.

“he can’t steal her from you because she isn’t an object.” you tear your eyes away from them and focus on the brooding boy beside you, taking note of how he pinches his brows together and pouts, mumbling something under his breath. while the branches and its leaves provide good shade from the sweltering heat, there is still sunlight that peeks through gaps, and golden specks manage to coat caleb’s figure. “that means you can’t have her either, cal.”

your words have him turning to you quickly, his eyes wide. “i can’t have her?”

“of course not!” your silent admiration of seconds ago dissipates as you scoff, flicking his forehead. he yelps as you continue, “she’s a person! you can’t have people; that’s weird.”

“but that monster is stealing my best friend!”

you frown, blinking once. “zayne isn’t a monster.” but caleb sure seems like one at the moment, you think. a monster of green envy.

“yes he is!”

“zayne is not a monster.” you repeat, irritation beginning to bubble in your chest because caleb wouldn't be saying such things if he didn't have this weird rivalry going on with zayne. “don’t say that about him.”

“why are you defending him anyways?” caleb narrows his eyes at you. “you’re supposed to be my friend—”

friend. best friend. you realize he hasn't ever really called you his best friend because she’s his best friend while you think he's yours. if he doesn't think that of you, then you can’t think that of him… right?

you both whip your heads to the ground, clambering down the tree as zayne calls out both yours and caleb’s name. if his voice hadn’t betrayed the frantic feeling swirling in it, maybe you wouldn’t have this overwhelming sense of dread. when you both round the tree trunk, you see that his face is pale, and he’s holding onto her. she’s trembling, her face paler than zayne’s as if all the color had been drained from her features, and she’s heaving and trembling uncontrollably. the sight makes your stomach drop to the ground as caleb dashes forwards, dropping to his knees while yelling about getting granny josephine to them. you honestly don't remember running to their house, asking josephine to help the little girl—it’s all a blur. all you can remember is how the two boys finally had something in common other than their care for the younger girl: their expression.

they were both horrified.

and you wonder if you looked like them.

your eleventh autumn was just like any other, but this time it was different because of him.

you decided to stay the night after having dinner at zayne’s so he could help you study for your science test on monday. caleb would have been the one helping you, being in the same classes and all, but he was helping her study. while you do love and care about her, you care more about your grades because surely the tests in middle school are harder than the ones in elementary, right?

you’ve been inside zayne’s room before. more often than not, after dinner, you’d end up in there with him while talking about everything and nothing. sometimes you’d both be quiet, content with just being next to each other while reading a book on his bed, and sometimes you both would talk about current hobbies and interests.

“where will you sleep?” zayne’s voice comes from near his bed while you head towards his desk.

“in your bed, duh.” your eyes skim over the surface, chuckling at how tidy it is… until your eyes fall on a haphazardly hidden pieces of paper underneath zayne’s stack of notebooks. weird, you think. zayne likes keeping notebooks, books, and papers separate from each other.

“why would you sleep in bed with me?” he asks.

“we used to sleep in the same bed when we were children.” which is true: your moms have a photo book with evidence in it from your younger days together. “i don’t see why we can’t if we’re still children.”

you hear him huff through his nose. he’s probably pinching it right now. “you’re eleven and i’m thirteen. you’re a child and i’m a teenager.”

“didn’t you say that teenagers are fourteen-year-olds and up the other day?” your fingers wrap around one of the notebook’s spine, carefully lifting it and whatver notebooks are on top and pull the pieces of papers out.

your eyes scan the contents of one of the pages, highlighted words aiding in your understanding of what it is that you’re reading. medical school… majors… he’s looking at colleges.

“well, yes.”

you turn around and hide the papers behind you. “so that means we can share the same bed, right?”

zayne sighs, shaking his head while his lips curl upwards just the slightest bit. “you win this round, miss know-it-all.”

you grin at him and bring the papers out. “you sure i’m a know-it-all?”

the older boy stares at the papers you wave in the air, staying silent as if trying to find the words to explain something to you. you raise your eyebrows. “staying silent makes you look like you were hiding something from me.”

“well… i am. was, i was.” zayne corrects himself and sits down at the edge of his bed, patting the space next to him. you take a seat and eye him. “i’ve been trying to tell you this past summer that… well…” he sighs. “i skipped grades.”

“oh—” you gasp, eyes widening to the size of saucers. “so this means…”

majors.

medical school.

he’s grad—

he exhales slowly. “i’m graduating from high school this year.”

you feel the world go still. you hear your breathing. you feel cold. suddenly, you feel deep and heavy dread wash over you.

after this year, zayne will leave.

your best friend is leaving you.

“why are you crying?” zayne panics, clumsily wiping the tears you didn’t know were falling down your cheeks. the pad of his thumb is a little rough against your skin, but his touch is soft. he’s trying to be gentle, and it makes you feel more gloomy.

“i don’t know,” you mumble, hiccupping as you look down at your hands, watching the tears he doesn’t manage to wipe away fall onto them. “it’s just…” do you tell him? that you don’t want him to leave you alone? sure, caleb is a great friend but you’ve come to realize, since the incident last summer, that she will always be his top priority and—

majors. medical school… her.

“you’re doing this for her, aren’t you?” your voice is quiet.

you love her, you do. she’s like a little sister, and you obviously care for her like they do. but they care more, they love her more. you don’t quite understand the intensity of their love for her. and despite their burning ardor in wanting to be there for her and how it always ends up making you invisible, you can’t bring yourself to ever hate her. she’s innocent, just living her life while the two boys flock to her. she didn’t ask for their attention or love, it’s just that she’s so easy to love.

“…don’t tell her.” zayne’s hands fall from your cheeks and grab onto your hands. his touch is cold, unlike caleb, but it doesn’t make you flinch away from him. you let him take your hands into his, holding them carefully. “please.”

you huff through your nose. “if that’s what you want,” you answer. “it isn’t my place to tell them, anyways.”

it’s quiet, peaceful almost if you weren’t so caught up in the sinking feeling your chest. your heart just sinks and continues to sink in black ink, growing heavy. zayne’s voice timidly calls out your name. “you’re still crying. there’s more to it, isn’t there?”

“i don’t want you to leave.” because if he leaves, you’re afraid that you’ll have to admit the ugly truth you know, deep down, about caleb. it’s a truth that is so clear to everyone, a truth that you see every single time they’re in their own world. a world that pushes you and zayne out like the waves when they leave shore and retreat back into the ocean.

the older buy chuckles, and you look at him through your wet lashes, noting how his hazel eyes flicker with quiet care in them. “i’m not leaving yet.”

“keyword being yet,” you mumble, gripping onto his hands now. “…i’m being dramatic, aren’t i?”

zayne opens his mouth to say something, but you cut him off. “i should be happy that you’re doing something so cool. i mean, skipping basically all of high school and graduating super early? that’s so cool… and i’m here crying like a baby over it.”

“but your reaction is reasonable,” zayne says. “i’d be upset, too, if my best friend told me all of sudden they’d be leaving at the end of the school year.”

best friend. not just friend.

“i’m your best friend?”

“naturally.” zayne responds quickly. “you know me better than anyone, just as i know you better than anyone.”

just like that, your tears stop falling and the sun peeks out from the cloudy sky inside you.

the rest of the night goes smoothly: zayne helped you study for your science test, which you both found boring after an hour because all of the questions were easy, and you spent the rest of your time talking with him. you wanted to know of his plans, what he’s thinking, about what he wants to do after graduating. you both fell asleep in the midst of your conversation, though you wake up at three in the morning because you felt weird. your own body was telling you that you forgot to do your night routine. so when you wake up, all blurry-eyed and dazed, the first thing you can see is your sleeping best friend. after a couple of blinks, your vision clears up and you’re aware that you’re close to him. in fact, you’re close enough to see and count his dark eyelashes. you pout, no way he has prettier eyelashes than i do. the thought goes away as quickly as it had formed in your mind, replaced by the icky realization that you fell asleep without brushing your teeth. so you sit up, gently waking zayne so he could do the same. when he stirs awake and stares at you with squinting eyes, he knows what you mean when all you do is wordlessly point at your mouth despite the sleepy haze of his mind. and just like that, you both silently head to the bathroom and brush your teeth next to each other, quickly going back to his bed and falling asleep once more.

when morning came, you both find yourselves staring at his mom with confusion as she giggles and repeatedly asks how you both slept during breakfast. you think she must have seen something while you both slept, though you decide to let your suspicions go when you bid the li family goodbye and head next door to your house.

mom will probably tell me about it later tonight, you think just as you shove your house keys into the lock. you push the door open and kick your shoes off your feet, sliding them to the side and slipping into your slippers when you step inside. you hear someone running down the street, and right when you’re about to close the door, you hear your name being called out.

“i didn’t see you at all yesterday!” caleb runs up to you, a bright grin plastered on his lips. with his back to the sun, he looks as if he's bathed in gold. “pips missed you, you know? what were you up to that—what’s that?”

you blink once and suddenly he’s in your bubble, burning fingers gingerly touching your eye. you close it on instinct, and he runs his thumb over your eyelid. you can see yourself reflected in his eyes from this close. his warmth seeps into your skin, and you have the urge to lean into his touch. your heart lurches and skips a beat, feeling excited and calm at the same time.

“what’s what?” you cough, taking a step back.

he frowns, his thumb now under your bottom lashes. “your eyes are red and puffy. are you sick or something? you feel oddly hot.”

oh, that’s right. you cried yesterday, and you feel as if your heart is ready to jump out of your chest and into his arms where it wishes it could be.

“i’m fine. it’s just that i watched a sad movie after dinner with zayne,” you sigh, gently pushing his fingers away from your eyes. zayne’s words echo in your head, a quiet reminder that you can't tell caleb because he’d tell her right afterwards.

caleb huffs through his nose, his lips curling into an amused smile. he shakes his head once, his purple irises reflecting the warmth he radiates. “you do cry a lot while watching movies, don’t you?” he leans back and tilts his head at you. “alright.”

you furrow your eyebrows. “alright… what?”

“even though you’re clearly hiding something from me, i believe you.” caleb pinches your cheek, the amusement in his lips softening. “i’ll see you later?”

“yeah…” you say, dazed, but shake your head quickly. “wait, what are we doing?”

caleb laughs, the hand pinching your cheek now covering his mouth, “don’t tell me you forgot that we’re supposed to study for the science test on monday?”

“about that…” you look away from him. “zayne helped me study for it last night.”

his silence has you taking a quick glance at him. caleb seems shocked and his eyebrow twitches, though it disappears and is replaced by something you can’t quite describe. a forced smile of sorts? “he helped you study?” he asks. “then what’s your verdict? will the test be easy or hard?”

you scratch your cheek, thinking. “well… even though he helped me study for a bit, i say the test is going to be very easy.”

“guess that means i won’t study.” caleb shrugs and ruffles your hair, a real smile on his lips now. “talk to you later, short stuff.”

“i am not that short, cal!” ever since he’s grown an exact inch taller than you, he acts like you're a midget now.

you watch as he waves goodbye, walking backwards for a couple steps with a laugh before twisting around and heading down the street. he’s probably heading to the small dessert shop nearby to pick up some of her favorite doughnuts—it’s what he does every saturday morning.

your twelfth autumn marks your first one without zayne.

he left at the end of summer, right as the tips of the green-yellow leaves on your favorite tree began turning a slight orange, barely noticeable. his disappearance had gone unnoticed until yesterday, half way into the fall quarter and midway into october. you’re in the middle of reading a book, one of your dad’s that he let you borrow, on his bed laying on your stomach while caleb helps her do her homework at his desk. he has a singular picture on it that he puts down whenever you're over, but you never ask why he does that.

“where is zayne?” she wondered aloud, tapping her pencil against her chin. “i haven’t seen him around lately.”

“huh,” caleb clicks his tongue in thought. “now that you mention it, neither have i.”

both their eyes land on you, though you don’t bother looking up. with practiced ease, you reply. “i haven’t seen him around.”

“but you go to his house every friday? and he’s your best friend? surely you know something.” she leans forwards in her chair, trying to get a better look at you.

“i go every friday because i made a promise to his mom,” you retort, finally looking up. with a shrug, you continue, “his mom hasn’t said anything about his whereabouts, so i’m just as clueless as you bunch.”

the girl drops it, a smile now on her lips. “your dad is coming home soon, right?”

you blink in surprise. “you remember?” you mentioned it in passing, it was when she and you were watching caleb during basketball tryouts. you told her that your dad would be coming back soon from the fleet, how you were excited to finally see him after so long.

caleb huffs a laugh through his nose, “of course she remembers, short stuff.”

you grimace, rolling onto your side and reach out to grab something in your vicinity, which happens to be a pen on his bedside, and fling it towards him. “you are literally just a couple inches taller than me, cal.” he’s actually a whole head taller than you now, and caleb's growing into his features. his cheeks have started losing their softness, his eyes a little sharper now. he has a natural, boyish charm, something that makes everyone notice him at school.

he loudly laughs, the pen stopping right in front of him before he swats it away. it lands with a clatter against the floor, somewhere in his room. with a huff, you lay on your back. “better work on that aim, short stuff~” he sings, getting up from his desk and heading over to his bed. you look up at him, your lips pursed as he pinches your cheek, purple eyes warm with mirth. his hair falls over his eyes, making its color look deeper. “how else are you going to get into the aerospace academy with me?”

you raise your brows, “you're acting as if you're already in.”

“well—”

the girl hums. “so you both want to leave me.”

just like that, caleb is back at her side and you’re all alone. “i would never leave you, pips.”

“pinkie promise?”

you watch from the corner of your eye how he wears a soft smile as they wrap their pinkies, his touch lingering.

you aren't stupid; in fact, you pride yourself in being so smart and attentive. so, you know that the tightness in your chest is because of caleb, because of the feelings you harbor for him. you aren't stupid, so you already know that caleb can never be yours, that he can never feel that way for you.

because he is hers.

with a sigh, you close your eyes and will yourself to calm your aching heart. you should be used to the ache that settles in your chest when this happens, but here you are.

later that day, right as the sun begins to set, you bid her and granny josephine goodbye. the taste of her apple pie from dinner lingers in your mouth.

“you don’t have to walk me home, cal.” you say, chuckling as you bump shoulders with him. instead of walking across the street, you walk down the sidewalk.

he hums, following you, “just let me be a good friend, short stuff.”

“you just love rubbing it in, don’t you?” you grumble, stepping into the park. your feet take you to the tree until you’re in front of it. you look behind you, raising an eyebrow at caleb. “i’ll stay here for a few minutes, so you can leave if you want.”

“i’ll stay.” at his confirmation, he moves past you, a faint scent of apples lingering in the air along with the sweet, woody smell from the oak tree as he scales up the trunk with ease. “your turn!”

“yeah, yeah.” you huff, rolling your eyes as you climb the tree and make it to the branch caleb chose to sit at. you breathe in and out slowly.

“the tunnel makes the sky look ugly.”

you snort, slightly baffled at the sudden proclamation from the boy. “where did that come from?”

“what?” caleb shrugs with a laugh, shoulders shaking slightly. “it does make it look ugly. like, really ugly.”

your quiet giggles get louder, and you throw your head back. “that is the first time i have ever heard anyone say that.” you wheeze, your laughter so strong you wobble on the branch. caleb wraps an arm around you to keep you from falling, his touch making you still instantly.

“you need to be careful,” he says. “one of these days you’re going to end up falling and i’ll fall with you.”

“if i ever fall, it’ll be because of you.” you cough and attempt to shimmy away from him, though his grip slightly tightens, preventing you from getting away.

the brunette absentmindedly taps on your arm with a finger. “i’d never let you fall… you know that.”

he’s saying that because you're his friend, and he is fiercely protective of those he cares about: the people in his inner circle. you are a part of it, you know that, and yet your heart cannot help but to stupidly flutter at the illusion of a hidden meaning behind his words.

“…it’s getting late.” which is true—the oranges and pinks of the sunset are now bleeding into a purple hue. “i should get going now.” you don't wait for him to say anything; you just climb down the trees as quickly and possible and book it to your home.

caleb is not far behind you.

stepping on the first step of your house’s porch, you stop and turn around. you’re eye to eye with caleb.

caleb wears a boyish grin on his lips, something that makes your stomach flip. “i have something for you.”

“oh? and what would that be?” the corners of your lips turn upwards.

“how about you close your eyes?” you shut your eyes, hearing intently to the boy shuffling. you feel a warmth brush against your cheek, trailing over to the back your neck. “give me a second.”

you hold your breath. caleb’s fingers work nimbly, and something cold hangs around your neck. there’s silence for a beat; he’s still close enough for you to hear his breathing until he leans away. “open your eyes.”

they flutter open at his command, and flitter down to see a necklace. there is a cloud with a wispy appearance right at the bottom, and small translucent beads hang from it in white and blue. the chain around your neck is decorated with solid white and blue beads.

“do you like it?” caleb scratches his neck, eyes carefully watching your reaction.

your voice comes out quiet, shy. “i do.”

you hear the smile in his voice. “i’ve been trying to give it to you since your birthday.”

“what?” looking up from the necklace, you blink at him repeatedly. “but my birthday—”

“i know.” he laughs softly, shaking his head. “i’ve had it since last year, and… i just didn’t know how to give it to you. i thought now would be a good time.”

i thought now would be a good time.

his words echo in your mind, and you take a deep breath. you also have something you want to give him: it’s sitting in the drawer of your desk, in a small box. “do you… do you want to come inside?”

you’ve never invited anyone inside your house, inside the walls that is your safe space. zayne is the only one who has stepped foot inside, who has made it up the stairs and into your room on more than one occasion. caleb used to bug you about that when you two first met, into the early months of your friendship. he thought it was weird that you were always over at his home while he had never gone inside yours. his complaints stopped when you introduced zayne to them—probably because he didn’t want to be around him despite the desire he had to discover what lays hidden in your home. you like to think that he finally decided to wait until you were ready to show him what’s inside.

caleb’s eyes are wide with surprise. “you want me to go inside?”

“i also have something for you.”

despite the poor lighting of the porch lamp, caleb is still akin to gold. he smiles and you turn around to unlock the front door, your heart thumping loudly in your chest. when you open the door and hold it open for him, caleb is all too quick to walk inside, following you up the stairs into your room after you shut the door. his eyes scan the inside of your room as soon as you turn on the lights, shuffling over to your desk as he stands by the doorframe. the color of your walls are a light blue, strings attached to the ceiling with paper clouds hanging at the end. he realizes there’s glow-in-the-dark stickers on the ceiling after squinting. there’s a book shelf in the corner of your room, right besides your desk. the top shelf has a few trinkets: a small airplane, a blimp, a cap.

he assumes it's your dad’s cap, the one that goes with his uniform.

the second shelf has a couple of books, a stuffed animal in the form of a snowman, and a picture: the last one you took with your parents. last summer, you and your family took a trip to verona. in the picture, your dad has you hoisted onto his shoulders, an arm on your legs to keep you steady while the other is wrapped around your mom. everyone wears a smile, yet yours is the brightest one out of the three. caleb’s chest swells with pride, knowing he did the right thing all those years ago when he found you crying at the big oak tree.

the third shelf has a picture, one where it’s you and him. he remembers when, where and who took the picture. it was on your last day of school, your fifth grade promotion ceremony, and your mom took it. again, your smile is the brightest one. though, upon further inspection, he realizes your picture is different from the one he has on his desk. you’ve decorated it with small stickers, ones of golden and purple swirls that sit on the frame.

then there’s more books. another picture frame—is that zayne? you and zayne as children… oh, well you look at that? another picture frame of you and zayne. a recent picture, it seems, decorated in the same manner as his. he’s not sure when or where or who took this picture—

“think fast!”

caleb blinks and the flying box stills in front of him, floating in the air before it can hit his chest. “uh… why?”

“gotta be on your toes if you want to be in the aerospace academy with me.”

he laughs. “look at you, already acting as if you’re in.”

you shrug. “you do the same.”

“touché.” his eyes look down at the box. with a hum, he grabs and opens it, blinking once. inside sits a necklace, one with a small, silver sun on it with a purple gem in the middle. “…a sun?”

“you remind me of the sun.” you mumble. “you’re warm like it, too.”

caleb beams so wide his cheeks start to hurt, and there's faint blush on his cheeks that spreads to the tips of his ears. “i’m like the sun?”

“mhm.”

“funny… because i got you a cloud because sometimes you’re calm and happy, sometimes you’re gray and gloomy, and there are times when you’re like a storm.”

you stare at him, wide-eyed, and he continues. “tell me when you feel like there’s a storm in you.” he gets closer to you so that he can tap on the necklace that hangs around your neck. “so i can shine the sun on you... i will never hurt you with my warmth.”

it’s a silent promise that he’ll be there for you.

“and if you do?”

“then you can hit me!”

his fingers twitch, his foot taking a step forwards. but there’s a knock on your door before it’s pushed open. both you and caleb watch, confused.

your mom has a night shift and wouldn’t be back until morning.

caleb doesn't see a thing before you’re already leaping forwards into the arms of a man in a black uniform, his cap falling onto the ground. he recognizes the man as the one that holds you on his shoulders in the picture on your bookshelf.

your dad, the colonel of the farspace fleet.

caleb smiles to himself, his hold on the tiny box in his hands slightly tightening. he will be there for you, whenever you're sad or happy or mad.

he will be there.

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wafflefries13 · 1 year ago

Text

Double Trouble (Floyd x Reader)

Summary: A certain pair of twins are found roaming around NRC campus. No, not those ones. (AKA, Floyd and your kids come visit from the future.)

AN: This was supposed to be a cute short fic. Now it's 20 pages and three weeks later.

Warnings: Maybe a little ooc near the end. Kids and mentions of how they're made. AFAB Reader with she/her pronouns.

It was a pretty quiet day at NRC, which meant (Y/N) was waiting with bated breath for something to go terribly wrong.

“You worry too much!” Grim complained, hanging off her shoulder as they walked along the main thoroughfare past the Great Seven statues. “We finally have a day off! No work from Crowley, no problems with the dorms, no weird stuff popping out. And! Sam had that sale on canned tuna!” Grim pawed at the can he was holding, trying to rip open the pull tab on top. With a frustrated huff, he reluctantly handed it over.

(Y/N) quickly popped open the can and handed it back to him. Grim gave a small cry of delight as he buried his face in the shredded tuna. “I know, I know,” She said, absentmindedly scratching him behind the ears. “I think I’m just not used to it anymore. It feels like something should happen, you know? Like, they say right before lightning strikes you can feel the static in the air. And be honest, when was the last time we had a real day off?”

Grim looked up, licking his lips. “Well, last month we - no, wait, that’s when the fairies stole that magestone and had that fashion show. Oh, what about the weekend when we - no, that was Camp Vargas, huh? Uhh, Port Fest was really fun!”

“We were working at the food stalls the whole time.” (Y/N) grinned at her feline-type companion. “Or at least I was.”

Grim frowned. “Hey! Taste testing is an important part of selling food! You have to make sure your product is up to snuff!”

(Y/N) giggled and took the empty can from Grim, putting it in the plastic bag that held the other odds and ends they had picked up from the Mystery Shop. “Of course, we couldn't have done it without you.” She shielded her eyes from the sun, squinting to look up at the sky as if to double check it wasn’t about to start falling. “I just think that-”

“Mama!”

Both (Y/N) and Grim jumped, the latter falling off the former’s shoulder with a yelp to float in the air. (Y/N) blinked the white sunspots out of her vision looking around for where the exclamation had come from. No sooner had she started her search than a tiny force threw itself against her legs nearly knocking her over. (Y/N) looked down, seeing a wailing child bury his head into her hip, arms clasped around her in an iron-clad grip.

“Whoa, hey, hey!” (Y/N) said, trying to get her bearings. She pried the child’s grip away just enough for her to kneel down so they could be closer to eye level. The boy had a cherubic face, big eyes and big cheeks, with big tears rolling down them. He had teal-colored (your hair texture) hair. One of his teary eyes was a stormy gray while the other was (your eye color). A set of sharp almost shark-like teeth bit at his quivering bottom lip.

‘Do Jade and Floyd have a younger brother or something?’ (Y/N) thought.

She patted the boy's hair down and whipped the tears off his cheeks. He was taking big gulping breaths, trying to calm himself down. “Hey, it’s okay,” She said in what she hoped was a calming voice. “You’re okay. Did you get lost? This can be a big scary place, huh?”

The boy took another shuddering breath and flung himself in (Y/N)’s arms. She fell back, sitting roughly, as the boy buried his face in her shoulder.

“Geez, who the heck is this crybaby?” Grim muttered, floating nearby with his paws on his hips.

“Grim, don’t be rude!”

“He’s the one who ran into you! That’s rude!” Grim floated a little closer, cocking his head to look at the boy. “You know, he kinda looks like-”

“Ah!” (Y/N) yelped, pain suddenly rushing through her hand. She had been patting the boy’s hair, trying to help him calm down, when he suddenly turned his head and bit down hard. Jerking her hand back, (Y/N) could see a fresh set of indents forming a perfect semi-circle around the joint of her thumb, two of the points already beading with blood.

Grim immediately jumped to the defense. “Hey! What’s the big idea?”

The boy let out another wail, picking himself up and dashing away before (Y/N) could take another breath. “Hey, wait!” She called after him. “It’s okay! Come back!”

“Okay?!” Grim said as incredulously as he could manage. “He bit you! Look, you’re bleeding!”

(Y/N) whipped away the blood from her hand on her skirt. “He’s clearly just scared, Grim. It was probably just an instinct. Come on, we better find him before he gets into any trouble.”

Ignoring Grim’s grumblings, (Y/N) jogged off in the direction the boy had gone. She wondered why a kid so young would be alone in a place like this. He was, what, maybe seven or eight? Not to mention obviously terrified. And… Wait, had he called her mama? (Y/N) faltered a little when she remembered that. Maybe it was like when a kid called someone they were close to auntie or big sister? But why mama?

“Say that again and I’ll bite your fingers off!”

(Y/N) was pulled out of her thoughts by the sound of a child’s voice yelling some… pretty violent threats. She couldn’t imagine the small crying boy from before saying something like that. Was there another kid wandering campus? Was it a family visit day or something?

(Y/N) turned the corner to see the boy facing off against a group of students. Or, no, it wasn’t the same boy. Sure, he had the same round face, teal hair, and mismatched eyes, but he held himself in a completely different way. Instead of curling in on himself with fear, his shoulders were back, chin up in defiance, his sharp teeth pulled into a scowl, tiny fists balled with rage instead of anxiety.

(Y/N) didn’t want to believe it, but the students looked like they were getting ready to square up with a kid. Channeling into her de facto role of campus peacekeeper, she put herself between the kid and the students, saying, “Hey! What’s going on here?”

One of them jabbed his finger at the boy. “This kid came out of nowhere and started insulting us! Saying our magic was weak!”

“It is!” The boy said, peering around (Y/N)’s legs. “My papa’s the strongest guy at Night Raven College ever! He could take you all on at once! Tell ‘em, Mama!”

“Mama?” Another one of the students said. “Prefect, you know this kid?”

“Uh, not exactly, it’s kind of complicated. Look, he’s just a kid, he didn’t mean any harm. Let’s just all cool down for a second okay?”

Another student stepped forward, punching his fist into his open hand. “I think he needs to learn some manners. And if his ‘mama’ isn’t going to teach them to him, we will.”

Instinct kicked in and (Y/N) scooped the boy up in her arms. “Now, just hang on a second, you’re not really going to fight a kid, are you?”

“Yeah, I can take all you sea cucumbers on!” The boy shouted from her arms. “You look like a sea cucumber too, and their face is their butt!”

“That’s it!”

As the student advanced (Y/N) took a step back. Her arms full, her body reacted without thinking about it. Her leg flew up in a high kick, landing squarely in the approaching student’s face. His face bore a perfect shoe print as the young boy in her arms started cackling. (Y/N) took advantage of the momentary stunning and booked it out of there.

“Grim! Cover!” She yelled. Grim blew a spray of blue flames at the pursuing students, giving the new trio an opportunity to escape relatively unscathed.

(Y/N) sprinted through the halls, the boy clutched in her arms, Grim flying close behind them. Dodging into an empty classroom, (Y/N) took deep breaths as she tried to calm her rapidly beating heart. The boy leapt out of her arms, clapping his hands.

“That was so cool!” He exclaimed. “Uncle Grim was all like ‘Foosh!’ And Mama kicked like ‘bam!’ He had a footprint on his face! Did you see that, Mama? Did you see?”

(Y/N) held her hand up, trying to order her thoughts for a second before speaking to the overly excited boy. “I saw, I saw. Did you really just go up and start insulting those guys? They have to be twice your age, you could have gotten hurt!”

The boy pouted, shoving his hands in his pockets and looking away. “I know. I’m not supposed to start arguing with people. I’m sorry.” He recited the apology as if he had done it plenty of times before.

(Y/N) knelt down in front of him, placing a hand on his shoulder. “Look, I just don’t want you getting hurt, okay? I know you’re probably really tough but you can’t blame me for worrying, you know?”

The boy grinned, showing off his sharp teeth. He threw himself into (Y/N)’s arms in a big hug. “I know. That’s why I have Papa and Mama! Nothing bad happens when you’re around! Oh!” He gasped as if suddenly remembering something. “Mama, have you seen Cas anywhere? We got split up! I need to be there to fight anyone who tries to mess with him!”

(Y/N) rubbed his hair. “What did we just say about fighting?”

Meanwhile, at the Monstro Lounge, Floyd was having one of his rough days. First, he had to break up a fight between a bunch of customers in the Lounge, which might have been fine normally, except they all cowered and begged forgiveness as soon as he got there, so we didn’t even get a chance to squeeze anyone. Then, Azul had started bothering him for his grades in his history of magic class. Like, yeah, it was easy and he could finish the homework no problem, but it was so boring! Why should he have to put effort into something like that, anyway? He was a great mage. Practical exams were a breeze. Why did the paper assignments even matter? Third, Jade kept talking his ear off about some rare new mushroom someone had sent him. Something about how it could let you see into the future, or bring stuff back from the past, or something. Floyd sort of zoned out in the middle of his brother’s explanation.

And, worst of all, he hadn’t seen his dear Shrimpy all day! Usually, on days off, he’d go track her down, making himself home at Ramshackle dorm, looming over her while she tried to study in the library until she finally paid attention to him and they could go do something fun, or dragging her to his basketball practice so he could show off. But he’d been stuck inside all day. He was starting to get stir crazy.

All he could think about was wrapping his arms around her soft, plush form and squeezing as hard as he could, until she gasped and made those cute sounds he liked.

Floyd giggled, kicking his feet. Maybe he could sneak out? Yeah, he could be sneaky when he wanted to! It couldn’t be that hard, right? He was already out of the Monstro Lounge, past the main entrance of the dorm. All he needed to do was go down the tunnel to the mirror chamber and-

“Well, hello there, Floyd.” Busted. Floyd grimaced, turning around to see Jade smiling at him, holding a huge stack of paperwork. “I was looking for you. Professor Trien gave me the assignments you’ve missed. He asked me to make sure you got these done before your next class. You don’t have anything else to do today, right?”

Floyd groaned, rolling his eyes. “Come on, Jade, I don’t want to do that! What’s even the point, huh? What’s some paper going to prove about casting spells?”

Jade gave a faux sympathetic look that Floyd could spot from 10 miles away. “Oh? So you did have plans today? Such a shame that you’ll have to cancel them, then.”

Floyd grit his teeth as Jade shoved the stack of papers into his arms. He briefly considered dropping them all and throwing a punch, if he didn’t know for a fact that Jade was one of the only people who could actually match him blow for blow. Floyd could count on one hand the amount of times they had physically fought with each other, but man, did no one ever suspect that the more calm and collected twin could be just as brutal.

Jade took Floyd by the elbow, not so gently leading him back into the main dorm, when Floyd froze, ears perking up at a sound.

Jade frowned. “Floyd, I said-”

“Shh!” He interrupted, putting a finger to his lips. Floyd cocked his head to the side, trying to hear that sound again. Suddenly, he shoved the papers back at Jade, bounding down the hall and taking the stairs two at a time down to the lobby.

The main lobby of the Octavinelle dorm took the same decor ques as the Monstro Lounge, or maybe it was the other way around. The lobby was seemingly empty, but Floyd was able to narrow in to the sound he had made out earlier, the hiccuping sound of a kid trying very hard not to cry.

Floyd stalked over to one of the couches, peering over. A small boy was huddled against the back of the couch, trying his hardest to make himself disappear.

“Hey, there, Guppy,” Floyd said, leaning over the back of the couch. “What’s with the sad eyes?”

Most children might have been frightened by the sight of a shark-toothed, manic eyed mer looming over them, the moody lighting on the lobby casting haunting shadows over his face. But the boy looked relieved, jumping on and over the couch to latch himself onto Floyd.

“Papa!” He wailed. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry! I got lost and I couldn’t find Argo, and then I found Mama, but I had big feelings and I bit her! I know I’m not supposed to bite when I have big feelings, but I forgot and it was an accident! And then I ran away from Mama, and I know I shouldn’t have, and I still can’t find Argo, and-and-and-!”

Before he could say anything else, and before he had the chance to start crying again, Floyd scooped him up under the arms and brought him high in the air. “Wow, you have strong looking teeth!” He praised. “I bet you can bite real hard! Show me, show me!” Floyd flashed his own sharp-toothed grin, exaggerating gnashing down. The boy sniffled weekly before giving a half-smile. “Hey, come on, you know what I mean. We want a full smile, right, Guppy?” Floyd tossed the boy into the air, catching him and swinging him around so his legs flew out behind him. Despite himself, the boy started giggling. Floyd smiled, booping him on the nose. “There’s those teeth. Look how strong you are!”

The boy covered his mouth with his hands, trying to stifle his giggling. He made claws with his hands, baring his teeth. “Grr!”

Floyd gasped dramatically. “Oh no! This isn’t a guppy at all! It’s a shark! Jade, help me!” Floyd theatrically collapsed to the floor, making sure to keep the boy at arms length above him so he didn’t get hurt. The boy’s mood had fully switched now, laughing and holding his arms out so he could pretend to fly.

Jade stood in the doorway, smiling softly at his brother’s antics. But, more pressingly, wondering how a small child had found his way into Octavinelle in the first place. And, possibly, why he happened to have a certain family resemblance?

“Pardon me,” Jade said, stepping forward. “I couldn’t help hear you say ‘Papa?’”

“And then, I swung on this rope over the river, and it was probably, like a hundred feet high! And I let go and did a huge cannonball and it made the biggest splash ever!” The boy, (Y/N) had found out was named Argonaut, was regaling her and Grim with some pretty fantastical exploits from the last camping trip he and his brother Caspian had taken with their Uncle Jade. The name drops were getting much too specific, and (Y/N) still needed to find out what happened to Argo’s twin, so she decided a visit to Octavinelle was the best next thing to do.

“Wow, you did all that?” She asked. Argo walked beside her, holding her hand and swinging it back and forth in a large arc. “A hundred feet is pretty high. You must be brave.”

“The bravest!” He said with a big sharp-toothed smile. “Papa said I have to look out for Cas because he gets scared real easy. But he knows tons of stuff and he’s really smart, so that’s okay.” He frowned a little. “I can’t read really good, so Cas helps me out. That’s why we’re a team!”

“You sound like a very good team. We’ll find him soon, okay?” (Y/N) could tell Argo was worried about his brother. Even if he kept putting on a brave face, being lost in a big, strange place like NRC would put any kid on edge, not to mention that Argo had no idea how he or Cas got there in the first place.

“My tummy felt bubbly like when I had too much soda that one time and there was a big light and then I was here,” He had said when she asked.

‘More magic nonsense,’ (Y/N) thought to herself. She decided she was never getting used to it.

Stepping through the mirror to Octavinelle, the air temperature noticeably dropped at least ten degrees. The light took on the cool blue hue of the water surrounding the glass tunnels around the dorm. Its own little pocket dimension, or however the dorms actually worked, was like living inside an intricate aquarium full of coral reefs, darting fish, and cool temperatures to remind the largely mer-based population of home.

Stepping into the Mostro Lounge’s lobby, (Y/N) turned to Grim and said, “Okay, you stay here with him. I’m going to try and find-”

“Argo!”

“Cas!”

Argo sprinted away, colliding with his double in the middle of the Lounge floor, almost knocking a poor waiter off his feet. The two boys hugged as if they hadn’t seen each other for years instead of the better part of an hour. (Y/N) felt a pull on her heartstrings at their reunion.

“Cute,” She muttered. She took a step forward. “I-”

“Shrimpy!”

Before she could get another word out, (Y/N) was tackled in a bear hug. Floyd pinned her arms to her sides, picking her up and swinging her around. Behind the daze of dizziness and the feeling of her ribs creaking under pressure, she couldn’t help but compare her normal greeting from Floyd to the smaller twin’s reuniting.

“Urk, hello, Floyd. Good to see you too.”

“Aww, that’s all you got to say? With our kids here and everything?”

“With our- what?!” (Y/N) squirmed out of Floyd’s hold and stumbled back.

Floyd pulled the two careening boys close, beaming like a proud father. “Come on, Shrimpy, you met our little leptocephalus, right? I’m Papa and you’re Mama, right, boys?”

“Yeah, Mama,” Argo said, “Don’t be silly!”

“Argo,” Cas muttered, tugging his brother’s sleeve. “Something kinda weird happened, you know? Mama and Papa look different. I think this is where they met.”

“Yeah, Night Raven College, the best school in the world!” Argo threw his arms up in celebration. He turned back to Floyd and (Y/N). “Cas and I are gonna come here too when we get big. We’re going to be great mages just like Papa and Uncle Jade and Uncle Azul and Uncle Ace and Uncle Deuce and Uncle Grim and everyone!”

“Everyone, huh?” (Y/N) said, starting to feel dizzy.

Cas pouted at his brother. “That’s not what I mean, Argo.”

“He’s right!” Grim cut in, paws on his hips with a smug look on his face. “Since I am going to be the world’s greatest mage!”

Floyd poked Grim’s exposed tummy. “You were last on that list, seal.”

“Mrow!” Grim started flailing his paws at Floyd, who easily kept him at bay with one long arm pushing his head back.

“Ah, here’s where you all went.” Jade came up to the group. He was gently cradling one of his terrariums that had a strange-looking purple and silver mushroom with a dripping cap nestled inside.

“Hi, Uncle Jade!” Argo waved.

“Hello, nephew.”

“Is that one of your fancy mushrooms, Uncle Jade?” Cas asked, standing on his tiptoes to try and get a better look. Jade held it down so the twins could see. Cas’s eyes sparkled in fascination while Argo screwed up his face in displeasure.

“It is,” He said. “And I believe this is why you two came to visit us.”

“What do you mean?” (Y/N) asked, picking Grim up to rescue him from Floyd’s teasing.

Jade turned to his brother. “Floyd, do you recognize this?”

Floyd stuck his tongue out. “Bleh, yeah. You made that nasty tea from that mushroom the other day and tricked me into drinking it.”

“Tea?” (Y/N) asked. “Oh, was that the tea in the thermos you had the other day?” She frowned. “You tricked me into drinking it too, Floyd. You said it was tasty and so excited to share it with me, then laughed when I started choking on it because it was so bitter.”

Floyd had picked the boys up, holding one in each arm. “That’s because it’s funny when it’s you, Shrimpy.”

She narrowed her eyes. “Mmhmm, sure.”

“I apologize that you were roped into my experiment, (Y/N),” Jade said, not looking or sounding apologetic at all. “But I believe it led to an even more fascinating result than I could have hoped for. This,” He held up the terrarium. “Is an oracleum mycoculous, the fortune-telling mushroom. A very rare specimen a fellow mycologist friend of mine sent me from the Shaftlands. He knew I attended NRC and he asked me to study the effects of magic on this particular species.”

“A fortune-telling mushroom?” (Y/N) asked. “Like, if you cut an apple in half the shape of the seeds can tell your future?”

“It’s a bit more extreme than that. It’s rumored that when prepared in a certain way, eating an oracleum mycoculous can give one insight into future challenges, typically giving a person a strong intuition into choices they should make in the near future. My colleague had heard rumors that making a tea with the mushroom infused with magic could give the person who drinks it clearer visions of the future. I only intended for Floyd to drink it and record any dreams or premonitions he had, but if you drank it as well, Prefect,” he booped Cas on the nose, who giggled while intently studying the mushroom. “It would seem we were able to bring your future children from your future to our present.”

(Y/N) gulped hard, finally starting to accept what she had been suspecting this whole time. “Our children?” She squeaked.

Floyd nuzzled the two boys. “Aww, Shrimpy and I had little guppies!” He smiled wickedly. “How many tries do you think it took before we ended up with these fry?”

(Y/N) felt her face explode with heat. “Floyd! That - I mean - We’re not even together!”

“If I may,” Jade said. “The visions associated with the oracleum mycoculous are said to only be possibilities. It shows you options for possible futures depending on certain choices made. So perhaps your boys were drawn from one of these possible futures.”

(Y/N) felt dizzy at ‘your boys.’ “Okay, wait, hang on-”

“Mama, are you okay?” Cas asked. He reached out to her. (Y/N) felt a thud in her chest and took him from Floyd.

“I’m okay, Cas,” She said, trying to hide her anxiety from showing on her face. “Just a little confused, is all. I bet your actual parents are really worried about you.” She turned to Jade. “So, how do we fix this?”

He smiled slyly. “I have no idea. But wouldn’t it be fascinating to find out?”

“Absolutely not.”

The Leech family, plus (Y/N) and Grim, although, if the current children were to be believed, (Y/N) would be part of the Leech family in the future, stood in front of an annoyed-looking Professor Crewel in the alchemy classroom.

“Sorry?” (Y/N) asked.

“I absolutely do not approve of any relationship of this sort. Any pup of mine could do much better.”

“Aww, Beakfish,” Floyd pouted. “That’s no way to talk to your future son-in-law, is it?”

Crewel frowned deeper, his grip tightening on his teaching pointer that often doubled as a whip. He obviously didn’t approve of Floyd commenting on his pseudo-adoption of (Y/N). Although he had been in somewhat of a custody battle with Headmage Crowley in that regard. (Y/N) anticipated a negative reaction from her one father figure, but at least there was a higher chance Professor Crewel would be able to get something done in a timely manner, rather than the crow-coded Headmage dramatically lamenting without much work actually being done.

(Y/N) frowned, feeling her face heat up again. “Sir, we’re not actually together or anything…”

Floyd draped himself over her shoulders, trapping her in a backward hug. “Aww, my wifey Shrimpy is so mean to me. Why’s your Mama so mean, guppies?”

“Mama’s not mean!” Argo defended, taking one of her hands. “Mama’s the nicest! She lets me stay up past bedtime and eat tons of ice cream and watch PG-13 stuff on TV!”

(Y/N) looked down skeptically. “Do I really do that?”

He smiled slyly. “If I say it’s in the future then would you?”

“Nice try.”

“Grandpa,” Cas said, looking up at Crewel with big puppy eyes. “You’re going to help us get back to Mama and Papa, right?”

Crewel faltered. Not even he was totally immune to the child’s charms. He crossed his arms, huffing in feigned annoyance. “Well, of course we’ll get them home. But after we’re having a serious conversation about your future prospects, pup.”

“Like I said, we’re not even together,” (Y/N) protested weakly.

“Jade,” Crewel said, holding out his hand. “The oracleum mycoculous.”

Jade clutched the terrarium close to his chest. “But it’s my only sample. I made the other one into the tea that Floyd and (Y/N) drank.”

Crewel raised an eyebrow. “And we are in this situation because of that. I’ll have to use the mushroom to reverse-engineer an antidote to send these two back.” Jade reluctantly handed the mushroom over. “I’ll start research right away. Hopefully, we’ll get some answers soon. In the meantime, I’ll have to entrust these two in your care.”

“Not a problem,” (Y/N) said. “You guys can stay at Ramshackle with me and Uncle Grim.” (Y/N) caught herself, wondering when it had become so easy to refer to her friends as ‘Uncle’ as her theoretical future children did.

“Papa’s gonna come to, right?” Argo said.

“Absolutely not!” Crewel said, griping the terrarium so tightly (Y/N) was afraid it might break.

Floyd sniffed. “You’re going to tell me I can’t be with my children? You’re going to separate us?”

“You’re already on thin ice, don’t push your luck.”

“I’ll take care of it, Professor,” (Y/N) said before tempers could rise any further. “Thanks for helping us with this.”

“Of course, dear,” Crewel said, his tone softening. He cast a suspicious eye at Floyd, who was getting a bit too close to the alchemy ingredients along the walls, lifting the boys up high so they could get a better look. “Just let me know if you need any help.”

In the end, Floyd did end up staying at Ramshackle for the night. (Y/N) could hear the three Leech boys loudly playing in the living room while she tried to make something quick for dinner. Macaroni and cheese would probably work. Kids liked mac and cheese, right? Even if they were mer kids from the future. Or, half mer? (Y/N) wondered how that worked, specifically biologically speaking. Did the boys have mer forms like Floyd and Jade did? Did they look more human in some parts and more eel-like in others? It occurred to her that there was still so much basic mer and beast-man biology she had no idea about. But how do you ask that sort of thing without it being awkward about it?

“Mama!” Cas called, poking his head in the kitchen. “Can Argo and I go pick out our rooms?”

“I call the big one!” Argo yelled, sprinting past his brother up the stairs.

“Hey, don’t run inside!” (Y/N) warned.

“Yeah, and you can’t have the big one,” Cas scolded. “That’s Mama and Papa’s room.”

(Y/N) gulped. A sly smile stretched over Floyd’s face. “Yeah, where is our room? I should go unpack right?”

(Y/N) shook her head, trying to get rid of certain thoughts while organizing others. She clapped her hands together. “I know. Why don’t we build a pillow fort in the living room? It’ll be like a big sleepover.” She weakly kicked at Floyd’s shin, more out of show than real malice. “Because that’s all this is.”

“Like when there was that big storm!” Argo said, racing back down the stairs. “And the lights all went out and we had to stay away from the windows so we made that big tent in the middle of the kitchen!”

(Y/N) smiled fondly at a memory she hadn’t made yet. “Sure, like that.”

“I know where the biggest pillows are!” Grim called, racing up the stairs. The boys eagerly followed, making plans for their blanket fort that would stretch all across NRC campus.

Floyd sighed dramatically, draping his full body weight over (Y/N)’s back as she tried to stir the macaroni and cheese. “How’d we get so lucky, huh?” (Y/N) purposefully ignored him, something that didn’t slip Floyd’s attention. “They’ve got my looks, of course, handsome devils. Hey, do you think we live on land or in the sea? Ooh, or we could do both! Like a summer house! I bet I make a ton of money, I got to take care of you and the guppies, right? Aww, you’d be a cute little house wife. I’ll come home after work and you’ll say ‘Welcome home!’, I can’t do your voice too good, it’s higher than mine, you know? But you’ll say ‘Welcome home!’ and I’ll give you a big hug and say ‘I’m home!’ And I’ll bring you and the kids gifts and we’ll play games after dinner, and when they’re all tuckered out and in bed I’ll pick you up and go to our room and I’ll squeeze you real tight and say-”

“Floyd!” Floyd jumped at (Y/N)’s sudden exclamation. He felt her body tense and then sag in exhaustion. “Just… You shouldn’t say that kind of stuff, you know?”

Floyd blinked. “Huh? Why not, Shrimpy?”

“You know why.” She didn’t say anything after that. Floyd let the remark sit. After a minute of silence between them, listening to the cheering and shouting from the boys upstairs, (Y/N) finally sighed and said, “You shouldn’t say stuff like that to a girl. Not when you don’t mean it.”

Floyd chuckled feebly, his heart not in it. He felt torn between squeezing tighter and getting as far away from here as possible. “How do you know if I mean it or not?”

“Because you’re always like this. You’ve been like this since we’ve met, you’re like this with everyone. And you know-” She cut herself off. She seemed to be deliberating something serious and finally continued. “And you know how I feel about you.”

Floyd felt his mouth go dry, his heart started thumping a million miles an hour, and his stomach turned into knots. He had to say something. This was one of those moments where you had to say something, right? Of course he knew how she felt, it was pretty obvious to everyone how she felt, Floyd included. And the garden, especially what had happened at the garden. Or, rather, what hadn’t happened.

Now, had he taken advantage of that little fact over the school year to wring out some more entertainment out of the magicless Prefect? Well, yes, of course he had. Had he meant to have his own feelings grow into something he couldn’t manage over that time? No, but it had happened anyway, sneaking up on him and socking him in the heart like a mantis shrimp when he least expected it.

He tried to say it without saying it. He tried to show it without saying it. But why couldn’t he just say it?

“(Y/N),” Floyd started. “I-”

There was a crash from the living room, accompanied by a shriek and laughter.

“Papa!” Cas called. “We need help!”

Whatever seriousness had come over Floyd’s countenance disappeared in the blink of an eye. His signature wide grin cut across his face. If anyone was paying attention, they would notice his smile didn’t reach his eyes. He quickly reached over (Y/N)’s shoulder and stole a spoon, scooping a chunk of the mac and cheese from the pot to shove into his mouth before dashing out into the living room.

(Y/N) stuck her tongue out at his retreating form before turning back to the stove. As she slid the dish of mac and cheese into the oven to finish cooking, she paused. Had Floyd used her real name?

“Argo!” Cas whispered in the darkness.

A large quilt hung over their heads, precariously draped between several chairs. Pillows were stacked on all sides making soft walls and they had layered several duvets and couch cushions below to create an improvised mattress. Mama was on the couch, which served as the left-most barrier of their fort, the quilt draping down close to her head with Uncle Grim curled up on her lap. Papa lay sprawled between Cas and Argo, arms and legs out like a starfish.

“Argo, are you awake?” Cas asked again.

He heard his brother mumble something before his head popped up from the other side of their dad, hair flattened against one side of his head and sticking out in every direction on the other. “Wassup?” Argo said sleepily.

“Did you hear what Mama said with Grandpa Crewel?” Argo rubbed his eyes and shook his head. “She said she wasn’t dating Papa!”

Argo squinted at his brother in the darkness. “But they are. Mama and Papa said they started dating at Night Raven College.”

“But they’re not yet. Remember what Uncle Jade said? We’re only from one future. What if Mama and Papa don’t start dating in this future?”

It took Argo a second to register what Cas was suggesting. His eyes went wide and he gasped loudly. Cas shushed him and Papa mumbled in his sleep, finally turning over on his stomach without waking up.

“You mean we won’t exist?” Argo whispered, panicked. Cas nodded. “What do we do?”

Cas smiled. “Don’t worry, I have a plan.”

The next day, amid a bright blue sky painted with thin wispy clouds, Floyd had insisted on visiting Heartslabyul to “Show off his guppies to his best friend, Goldfishy!” (Y/N) sarcastically predicted that this could only end well.

The group of five had, as anticipated, balked at the two visitors and their explanation for being there. But the boys had taken to seeing their pseudo-uncles like, well, like merboys to water. They were outside, near the rose garden maze. Argo was practicing some kind of gymnastics, holding Deuce’s hands tightly, walking up his stomach and chest to flip in a practice summersault. Cas munched happily on a cinnamon roll almost as big as his head while watching in fascination as Ace showed off some card tricks.

“Have you heard anything from Professor Crewel?” Trey asked, setting down a new plate of danishes on the table.

“Nothing yet,” (Y/N) said, taking a napkin and wiping off some smeared frosting from Cas’s face. “But I assume something like this will take some time to get right.”

“And you’re…” Trey waved his hand in a circle. “Doing alright?”

“I’m… Okay.” (Y/N) looked over at the boys now playing tag. “This isn’t the worst magic thing that’s happened since I’ve been here.”

“That doesn't mean it makes everything easy,” Riddle commented, gazing over the rim of his tea cup. “Especially given your… choice of partner.”

(Y/N) rolled her eyes. “I’m well aware. Floyd’s not too bad, though. He’s pretty good with kids.”

Riddle huffed. “Considering he basically is one himself I’m not entirely surprised.”

“Hmm? Are you talking about me, Goldfish?” Floyd said, appearing out of nowhere. He grasped the back of Riddle’s chair, pulling back so Riddle was thrown off balance, throwing his arms out to try and reestablish equilibrium. Riddle scowled, face turning red. He looked like he was going to say something, but bit his tongue as Cas and Argo ran up and started digging into the pastries. “It’s not nice to gossip about people.”

“Yeah,” Argo said, a mouth full of cherry danish. “It’s impolite. You’re the one telling us about manners all the time.”

“All the time?” Riddle asked.

“When you come over for dinner!” Cas chimed in. “You come over with Papa cause you work together and we all eat and you help me and Argo study!” Argo stuck out his tongue at the last part.

Riddle went from red to white. “We work together?”

“Yeah! You and Papa are best friends!”

(Y/N) was momentarily worried that Riddle was going to faint.

“And Uncle Ace and Uncle Deuce come over all the time! Uncle Deuce is going to teach me how to ride a blast cycle!” Argo said.

“We’ll revisit that later,” (Y/N) said, ruffling his hair.

“Can Uncle Trey still teach me how to bake?” Cas asked. “Uncle Cater was going to help me make a Magicam account to show off the stuff we make! Before Argo eats all of it.”

“Don’t be so good at baking and I won’t be so good at eating,” Argo replied, stuffing another danish in his mouth before darting off, Cas close behind him.

“I feel dizzy,” Riddle mumbled.

“Sounds like you’re keeping busy,” Ace said, watching Floyd duck around the hedges with the twins.

“When am I not?” (Y/N) said. “But at least it sounds like we’re all still close in the future. I like that.”

“It sounds like you don’t go home, though,” Cater said, mostly to himself. “Back to your world, I mean.”

(Y/N) hummed. “Maybe home is what you make of it.”

“Hey, Goldfishy?”

Riddle growned, shrugging off Floyd’s arm for leaning on him. “What is it, Floyd?”

Floyd was quiet for a moment, such a rare occurrence that Riddle looked up at him to make sure he had been heard. Floyd was looking out at the rose garden, watching the two children darting around bushes, chasing and being chased by Ace, Deuce, and Grim. (Y/N) stood nearby, watching with a serine look on her face, chiming in every once and a while to make sure the younger boys (and the older ones, too, let’s be honest) were being careful of their surroundings.

“You know about all that formal romantic stuff right?” Floyd finally asked.

“I don’t know about ‘romantic.’ What are you getting at?”

Floyd has a lazy smile on his face. “Do you know how to write a love letter?”

Riddle felt himself blush. “I’m not getting in the middle of whatever exploits you’re up to, romantic or otherwise.”

“Aw, come on,” Floyd said, poking Riddle’s check, causing Riddle to swat at him like a fly. “(Y/N)’s real nice, you know? She deserves something fancy. And I want-” It was rare that Floyd was at a loss for words. Riddle looked up at him, seeing determination and focus scrunch his brow as Floyd tried to choose his next words. “I guess I want to prove it to her. That I like her. That I really like her. That I-” Floyd groaned, letting his body go limp and dragging Riddle with him to crash to the lawn. “See? I’m not good at this kind of stuff! Help your best friend out!”

Riddle yelled, “If you weren’t so cavalier all the time, you’d be able to focus when you had to be serious!”

Ace stalked through the high hedges of the rose maze, having been called It in the boys’ game of hide-and-seek. “Better watch out,” He called in a sing-song voice. “Uncle Ace is going to find you!”

“Psst!” Ace whipped around, seeing Cas peeking out from behind a hedge, waving him over. He went over, seeing Cas, Argo, Deuce, and Jade sitting together, huddled under the shade of the maze. Argo had smuggled a few more pastries from breakfast and was tearing them apart to share with the group.

“Jade?” Ace asked. “What are you doing here?”

“My dear nephews called me,” He said.

“Papa let me borrow his phone!” Argo said, holding up the cell, smears of frosting covering the screen. “He doesn't know he let me borrow it, but I’ll give it back before he misses it.”

Cas put his hands on his hips. Ace had never seen a more serious looking eight-year-old. “That’s still stealing, Argo!” He huffed. “Whatever. We have something super important to talk about!”

“Yeah!” Argo chimed in. “We need to make sure Mama and Papa kiss!”

Deuce choked on his cinnamon roll. Jade tilted his head and smiled.

“Oya?” Jade said. “That’s quite the goal.”

“We want to get Mama and Papa together!” Cas clarified. “Because they’re in love and stuff! And we want to exist in the future!”

“I don’t know how much we should be messing with (Y/N)’s love life,” Deuce said. “It feels kind of invasive, you know?”

“Anyway,” Ace said, crossing his arms. “It’s Floyd’s fault anyway.”

“Is it?” Jade asked.

Ace gulped and scooted away a little before continuing. “Well, yeah. Come on, we all know (Y/N) likes Floyd, for some reason, whatever, that’s on her. If Floyd can’t string together 2+2 then that’s on him.”

“Floyd isn’t exactly subtle with his emotions, either,” Jade said. “He might have issues directing them to a specific conclusion, however.”

“So, you think he likes (Y/N), too?” Deuce asked.

“Undeniably.”

Ace rubbed the back of his neck. “You know, liking is one thing, but we are sort of talking about future marriage and kids here.” He nodded his head at the twins.

“But Mama and Papa are in love!” Cas insisted. “And the stories Mama tells us says true love conquers all!”

“That does sound like the sort of sappy thing (Y/N) would say,” Ace relented.

“I mean,” Deuce said. “We can’t really force anything, right? If they decide they want to get together that’s up to them. But,” He winked at Cas and Argo. “A little push couldn't hurt, right?”

“Great!” Cas said. “Phase one is complete! Now, we need recruits for phase two!”

It was Day 3 of having Argo and Cas at NRC. (Y/N) was fretting about what to do with the boys while she and Grimm went to class.

“I can skip class and stay here!” Grim volunteered.

“Absolutely not,” (Y/N). “Your grades need all the help they can get.” Floyd had offered to spend the day with the boys as well, when he had tried to worm his way into spending another night at Ramshackle. But (Y/N) had insisted he go sleep in his own bed at his own dorm. And it totally had nothing to do with the fact about how her heart had fluttered the morning after his first night there, when he’d woken up with a big yawn, hair a mess, and smiled lazily at her while wishing her a good morning. Nope. Absolutely not.

“We’ll be okay, Mama!” Cas promised. She had set him and Argo up at the kitchen table with a box of crayons and coloring books she had snagged from the Mystery Shop (Sam really did have everything in stock). “Argo and I will stay right here and not do anything sneaky!” Argo punched his brother’s shoulder. (Y/N) raised an eyebrow, even more nervous about leaving the boys in the large dilapidated dorm for an entire school day.

“Don’t worry about it, Prefect!” Phineas, Ezra, and Gus, the Ramshackle ghosts, said, materializing in the kitchen. “We’ll take care of them.”

(Y/N) sighed in relief. “Thank you, guys. Boys, you be good for the ghosts while Uncle Grim and I are away, okay?”

“Yes, Mama,” They both said dutifully. They listened intently for the sound of the front door closing before jumping up and smiling at the ghosts.

“Okay!” Argo said, clapping his hands. “Phase three of Operation Angelfish is a go!”

For once, everything seemed to be going as normal. (Y/N) and Grim went to classes, got an update on the return potion from Professor Crewel (Just waiting for it to reduce to a concentrated form), had lunch, went to gym, nothing out of the ordinary. Which, as previously established, put (Y/N) on edge.

Everything seemed to be normal. Too normal, as far as (Y/N) was concerned. If she didn’t know better (and she did) it would seem like her friends were going out of their way to make it seem like nothing important was going on. There had been at least three times already where (Y/N) had walked up to a group, only for them to immediately stop talking, or very obviously switch topics, all while casting side-eyes at each other. She also couldn’t help but notice that she hadn’t seen Floyd all day. Well, maybe out of the corner of her eye, or hearing his voice, but it was always cut off, he was pulled away by his brother, or one of her friends suddenly desperately needed her over there right this second.

She tried not to take this as some kind of commentary on the possible future relationship the two out of place children suggested. It wasn’t really that bad, was it? Her having feelings for Floyd? She knew Ace, Deuce, and Grim were pretty shocked when she had first confided in them. (“I think I like Floyd. Thought?” “And prayers.”) And while no one had ever said anything explicitly negative, besides the occasional teasing or complaining about her crush, there wasn’t anything actually encouraging either. (Y/N) knew she let Floyd get away with way too much most of the time, and only after interacting realized how moon-eyed she’d been acting. Half the time she thought Floyd might return her feelings, and the other half felt like he was taking advantage of her swayed good graces. It made her head spin and chest ache.

And now, with Cas and Argo appearing out of nowhere? Saying that they were married in some possible future? Happily married with children? The picture the boys painted was idyllic. The kind of thing (Y/N) had only seen in magazines or at the end of some Jane Austen novel. (Y/N) felt herself blush every time she thought about it, whether it was out of embarrassment or longing, she wasn’t sure. Dinners together, people from NRC coming to visit all the time, (Y/N) bringing traditional holidays from her world to celebrate, a beautiful house by the Coral Sea where the boys would learn to swim in their human and mer forms.

Was there a lingering darkness in the back of her mind that told her this meant she would never go back to her own world again? Sure, of course. Was there a nagging that this was only a possibility, and her own future still had a chance of being completely different? Yes, definitely.

Did that stop her from planning how exactly she would formally confess to Floyd once she made sure Cas and Argo got home safely? Not a chance.

Finally, it was the end of the day. (Y/N) was already planning in her head what to make for dinner when she heard someone call her name. Well, sort of her name.

“Child of man,” Malleus called, raising a hand in greeting from the quad.

“Oh, Horton,” She said, jogging over to him. “Hi, I don’t usually see you around now. How are you?”

Malleus puffed up with pride, a self-satisfied smile on his face. “I’ve been recruited.”

“Recruited?”

“By my future nephews. I’m meant to distract you.”

“Future-? Ah, I see.” (Y/N) had an adorable image flash in her mind of the twins and their doting Uncle Horton. “Any particular reason I’m being distracted?”

“I’m not meant to say.”

If they had managed to wrap Malleus into whatever they were doing, (Y/N) thought it couldn’t do that much harm. Why not let the boys have fun while they were still in the past? But just to be sure…

“Grim, you’ll make sure the house doesn't burn down while I’m gone, right?”

Grim saluted, giving a conspiratorial nod at Malleus before flying away.

Malleus offered his arm which (Y/N) took while they strolled away. “Should I be worried about what you’re all planning?” She asked.

He hummed. “Not at all. Now, have I ever told you about the controversy surrounding bat-styled gargoyles versus griffin-styled gargoyles in 15th century cathedral architecture?”

Floyd was mad. Actually mad. Sure he got annoyed or frustrated every once and awhile, but actually angry? That was a rarity that no one wanted to witness.

Not only had Shrimpy not let him stay the night at her dorm again, which, fine, it was her house, but he’d been trying to see her all day to no avail. Either someone would pull her away, Jade would appear out of nowhere and stall him until she was gone, or they’d just keep missing each other. It would have been one thing if circumstances kept them apart, coincidences were coincidental after all, and it’s not like they had never gone a day without seeing each other. But this was intentional, pointed and deliberate. He was in a Shrimpy drought and the people around him were building a dam.

And he couldn’t find his phone anywhere.

Eventually, he couldn’t take it anymore. His skin felt too tight and all the lights were too bright and he wanted to scream. He cut his last few classes and returned to Octavinelle. He had already started tearing off his jacket and shirt as he walked through the mirror portal, leaving clothing in a scattered trail as he marched his way to the decompression chambers that let out into the surrounding water around the dorm. He jumped into the water, the icy chill shocking his human system. He felt his muscles stretch and a comforting pressure encase his body as he shifted back to his mer-eel form, legs melding together as one as he whipped through the water. He shot through the water, scattering fish as he went. He didn’t have the patience to play with any of them today. He was finding he didn’t have the patience for a lot of things.

She’d try to tell him, once, that she liked him. That maybe she loved him, or that could have been him projecting. (Oh, dear Seven, did he love her?) She’d asked him to meet him in the gardens after school. She said she’d been thinking a lot and there was something extremely important she needed to tell him. He’d poked her, saying she should just tell him now, in the passing period between classes surrounded by curious and eavesdropping classmates. She’d said no, that she still needed to get her thoughts in order. She’d written a letter, she said, that she was holding firmly in her hands, but she thought he would appreciate a more direct approach. So. Garden. After school. She’d be waiting. And then the bell had rung and she’d run off.

And he’d left her waiting.

He hadn’t shown up. He’d heard later that she’d been there so long the grounds keepers had to ask her to leave so they could lock up the bio-dome at night. He’d seen her the next morning, eyes red and puffy, huddled with her first year friends who were speaking in low, comforting tones, trying to be affectionate and reassuring in that awkward way teenage boys did. And he had waltzed right over, picking her up and spinning her around. And she hadn’t mentioned the garden. She hadn’t mentioned the letter. She never mentioned any of it again. They fell back into their old rhythm, the one Floyd knew, the one he was comfortable with, the one he could predict.

He should have gone to the garden.

Why the hell hadn’t he gone to the garden?

Floyd burrowed into a reef section of a shallow, tearing at floating kelp with his claws and snapping jaws. He was trashing and writhing, kicking up the loose sand so it created a hazy cloud around him. The sand started getting in his mouth and eyes but he didn’t care. He welcomed the sting of it.

Argo and Cas being here meant everything was okay, right? If they had kids in the future, it meant everything worked out, right?

Floyd was mad. He was angry.

And he didn’t understand why.

“Floyd!” Floyd looked up, seeing Jade swimming towards him.

He scowled, turning away to focus on wreaking havoc on the underwater flora. “Not now,” He said through gritted teeth.

“Floyd, this isn’t the time-” Jade tried to reach out and touch his brother. Before he could make contact, Floyd whipped around with a snarl, swiping at Jade with his sharp claws.Jade quickly jerked out of the way, his surprise quickly melting to aggravation. Jade surged forward, catching Floyd around the stomach and tackling him to the sea floor. Floyd gnashed his teeth, clawing at Jade’s back. “What exactly do you think you’re going to accomplish here?”

“Get off!” Floyd writhed, wrapping his tail around Jade and spinning to loosen his brother’s grip. Momentarily free, Floyd took the opportunity to lunge at Jade again.

A fight, good. This is exactly what he needed. He needed to do something physical, something violent, something to get his mind out of whatever stoop he was stuck in, something so he didn’t have to focus on how bad he felt, something where the outcome could be predictable and certain, even if the certainty was pain. That was better than not knowing. That was better than letting feelings he couldn’t control take over his mind.

He and Jade wrestled, throwing each other into the sand, striking with teeth and claws, whipping with their tails. They didn’t cast any spells, which is the only way each twin was able to understand the severity of their fight, even if it was a subconscious understanding. Fighting was one thing, using magic against each other was another.

Finally, the two faced off, gills heaving with underwater breaths, scratches and gouges bleeding, eyes locked. Jade pushed back a little, careful not to make any sudden movements.

“Do you really think this is the best use of your time right now?” He asked.

Floyd snapped his teeth. “Who asked you? What do you know about anything, anyway?”

“I know (Y/N) tried to confess to you.”

Floyd froze, then felt another surge of anger bubble under his skin. Why did Jade know? What right did he have to know (Y/N)’s inner thoughts when Floyd himself couldn’t even have them?

“She told me,” Jade continued. “Or, I gathered from context clues. She asked if you had ever dated anyone back home, what sort of person you liked. She wanted to know if you prefer meeting in person to discuss important things or if she should leave a letter. Not that she really needed to discuss much. I would say it’s been rather obvious to anyone paying attention for the last few months. The real issue, I find, is why you haven’t confessed yourself.”

Floyd yelled, grappling Jade and sinking his teeth into his shoulder. Jade bit his lip to keep from crying out. He took advantage of the grapple to twist and pull Floyd into a headlock.

“I went there,” Jade continued through gritted teeth. “I went to the garden. I was planning on spying, I thought it’d be fun. But you never showed up. I kept waiting, and so did she, and you never appeared. Why in all of the deep blue sea didn’t you come?”

“I don’t know!” Floyd confessed. He went limp in Jade’s grasp, all the fight going out of him. He let out a choked cry, something Jade hadn’t heard from his brother in who knows how long. “I don’t know, I don’t know!”

Floyd sank to the rocky coral outcropping, collapsing. Jade observed him for a moment. He swam down, curling up next to Floyd.

“She still has feelings for you, you know.”

Floyd groaned deep in his chest. “I can’t.”

“Can’t what?”

“Can’t tell her. I can’t hear her say it. What happens after that, huh? What happens after we both say it?”

“I don’t know.”

“That’s the problem! How do I know what to do? Do I change, does she? And what if neither of us do? I can’t risk it, I can’t lose her!”

“You’re losing her anyway.”

Floyd felt his anger flash again and lashed out with a claw which Jade easily dodged. The fight drained out of him again and he flopped back down.

Jade regarded Floyd. When he determined that Floyd wasn’t about to fly off the handle again, he came closer. “Don’t you think it’s selfish, keeping your feelings all to yourself?”

“Eels are cowards,” Floyd mumbled.

“But humans are brave.” Floyd peaked up at Jade. “They can’t survive long in water, they don’t have the heightened senses of beastmean, nor the longevity of fairies. They don’t have claws or teeth or endless magic supplies. But they’re brave and stubborn. That’s how they’ve lasted so long, become such a force in the world. And there’s a certain human we know that is exemplary in that regard.”

Floyd hummed. “She’s amazing. She’s pretty and smart and clever and strong and… What if I mess up, Jade?”

Jade patted Floyd’s back. “Then I’m sure she’ll let you know and you’ll figure it out together. Relationships require two people, after all.”

“You think she’ll forgive me? From before?”

“If you apologize, I’m sure she will. And, brother dear, I have the perfect setting for such an apology. Come on, we need to get you fitted with your suit. And maybe some stitches there above your eye.”

“Ow!” (Y/N) cried as she banged her shin for the third time.

“Sorry, Mama!” Argo said, pulling her hand to maneuver her around the low table.

“It’s fine. Are you sure I have to keep this blindfold on?” She reached up for it.

“No!” Cas gasped. “It’s a surprise!”

(Y/N) sighed and let herself be pulled along, gritting her teeth when she stubbed her toe on the side of a chair.

After Malleus had brought her back to Ramshackle after their walk and gargoyle lecture, she had immediately been set upon by the boys who kept insisting that she absolutely not look anywhere near the backyard. Almost immediately after walking in the door, Vil appeared seemingly out of nowhere and shoved a garment bag in her hands. The dress was beautiful, of course, and probably worth more than she could ever afford, in her old world or this one. It seemed like almost everyone she knew was bustling around the dorm, being extremely secretive. Finally, her boys had come to get her, giving her a blindfold to wear and gingerly escorting her down stairs.

‘Her boys.’ When exactly had she started thinking of them like that?

(Y/N) felt a cool breeze as she stepped outside. She could feel the boys walking her up the hill in the backyard, stopping suddenly.

“Okay, Mama,” Cas said, his voice bubbling with excitement. “You can look now!”

(Y/N) removed the blindfold and gasped at what she saw. The large oak tree in the back dripped with tiny string lights and paper lanterns. Fireflies gently bobbed around in the oncoming twilight. A small table, (Y/N) recognized it from the Heartslabyul rose garden, had been set up underneath the glowing bows, decorated with a candelabra.

“Oh, boys,” (Y/N) said, taking each of their hands. “This is beautiful. Is this what you’ve been up to all day?”

“Mostly!” Argo said.

“Yup, now it’s phase 4!” Cas said.

“Phase 4?” (Y/N) asked. The boys just dragged her over to the table and pulled out the chair for her. They made to rush away before Argo hastily corrected himself and pulled out a wireless speaker from behind the tree trunk. He took out what suspiciously looked like Floyd’s phone, sinking it up to the speaker. Soon, it began to play a string quartet. Argo smiled triumphantly, he and Cas taking hands and rushing back to the dorm.

(Y/N) smoothed her dress and sat down, watching the fireflies and sunset with the calming music in the background. There was a tea set on the table and she poured a cup. She paused for a moment before filling up the cup across from her as well. As she sipped the tea, she saw the silhouettes of Cas and Argo dragged someone around the side of the dorm. In the low light, she couldn’t exactly tell who it was, but based on the lanky form and fond body language, she guessed it was Floyd. She sighed inwardly, half excited to see him and half dreading it, especially in such a romantic location. So this way the boys’ real plan. She wasn’t sure exactly how to feel about that.

She stood up as Floyd came closer, stepping into the circle of light around the tree, ready to disperse whatever plot the boys had set up, before gasping. “Floyd! What happened?” Although Floyd was wearing a nice suit and tie, he had a black eye, a split lip, and a cut above one of his eyebrows that looked like it had been hastily patched with stitches. She rushed to him, her hands hovering around him. “Are you okay? Should we go to the infirmary? Who did those stitches - why do you have stitches!” She frowned. “Honestly, I keep telling you to stop getting into fights! One day you’re going to fight someone stronger than you and then where will we be? Look at you, you’re still bleeding!”

Floyd only grinned, leaning down so his forehead touched hers. “Shrimpy’s worried about me.”

She weakly pushed him off. “Of course I’m worried. Gosh, did the boys see you like this?”

Before she could take a step away, he wrapped his arms around her, crushing her in a tight hug. “I like when you’re worried about me.”

“Is that why you keep doing stupid stuff?”

Floyd hummed. “Maybe. If it makes you pay attention to me, then it’s worth it, right?”

(Y/N) didn’t know how to reply. She felt heat building up in her checks, a mixture of embarrassment and longing and something else she couldn’t quite place.

“Floyd, I-” “I like you, (Y/N).” She froze at his words. “I couldn’t say it before. I mean, I could, but I didn’t. And that’s my fault. It was bad, I was bad, I still am bad. I’m sorry. I’m really sorry. I just - You’re so much of everything. And I want that everything. I want us to share it, forever. I want to see you all the time because you make me so happy and I want to make you just as happy. I think we can be, together. I promise I’ll try, really hard. And I-” Floyd sniffed as (Y/N) pulled back. His face was flushed, tears dotting his lashes. He was trying to keep up his usual confidant grin, but it crumpled at the edges. “I’m sorry, Shrimpy. I’m so sorry I hurt you, that I acted like nothing was wrong, that nothing happened. I love you, you know that right? You know it now. I love you.”

“Oh, Floyd,” She muttered, brushing his hair away from his face. “If I kiss you now, is your lip going to start bleeding again?”

Floyd broke out into a real smile, letting out a choked laugh. He crushed (Y/N) to him, picking her up and spinning her around. He peppered kisses on her face while she giggled too. She took his face in her hands, gently lowering him closer and kissing him.

Back at the dorm, spying out the windows, Cas and Argo high fived.

The next morning was bright and sunny and (Y/N) couldn’t help but think it was all for her.

Cas and Argo were making their rounds in the quad, saying goodbye to their uncles, many of whom grew misty eyed and the imminent departure. Floyd was squeezing her hand, rubbing the back of it with his thumb.

“Alright, pups, everyone settle down,” Professor Crewel called, waving everyone over. He took out a paper bag and shook out two dark purple oval candies, handing one to each boy. “Here, this will get you back to your time in the blink of an eye.” He patted each of their heads. “Be good, pups.”

The two took the candies and rushed over to Floyd and (Y/N). Floyd crouched down and picked each boy one at a time, throwing them in the air and catching them before repeating with the other. (Y/N) pulled them both into a tight hug, kissing the tops of their heads.

“I can’t wait to meet you boys for the first time,” She said.

“We’ll see you soon, Mama!” Argo said.

“Mama,” Cas said. “You’re going to take care of Papa, right?”

(Y/N) laughed as Floyd frowned. “Hey, shouldn't I be the one taking care of Mama?”

Cas frowned, a perfect mirror of his father. “Only kinda. Mama’s the one who does all the taking care of.”

“Well, when you get home, tell your Papa and he promised you ice cream.”

(Y/N) quickly whipped away the tears that were forming in her eyes. She cleared her throat to try and speak without faltering. “Speaking of, I’m sure your Mama and Papa are worried about you. I think it’s time to head off. But one more hug.” They crashed back into her open arms. Floyd threw his arms around all of them, squeezing tight.

Finally, the Cas and Argo each took the others hand, popping the candy in their mouth. Cas screwed up his face and Argo stuck out his tongue at the bitter taste of it. (Y/N) couldn’t help but laugh, comparing their reaction to hers when Floyd had first gotten her to drink the oracleum mycoculous tea. It seemed there was no good way to mask that taste.

Before their eyes, the twins started to fade out, as if they had been projections. They stared in fascination at their disappearing bodies. They looked up and waved and everyone waved back. Eventually, they slipped out of view. The group waited another moment, giving some sort of solemn respect to the family they would meet again in the future before dispersing.

“So,” Floyd, leaning down to speak quietly to (Y/N). “You never did answer me, Shrimpy.”

“Answer what?”

He grinned deviously and (Y/N) immediately regretted asking. “How many times you think it took before we got them.”

#fanfic #my work #twisted wonderland #twst x reader #twst #twisted wonderland x reader #floyd leech #floyd leech x reader #floyd x reader #magic plot points #this took me way to long #you have no idea #wafflefriesfic

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sourscheming · 9 months ago

Text

Why the Tacomic scene in II 2 17 isnt as bad as some of you are making it out to be

II 2 17 SPOILERS BELOW!!

ive seen many people say they absolutely despise the tacomic scene in ii 2 17 due to many reasons. mainly being that the scene felt too rushed or that microphone was heavily out of character.

and while i can agree with these claims when looking at this scene from a first glance, ive realized this scene requires a lot more additional context and reflection to fully understand, using tiny bits and pieces left for us. and its my job to help glue them up! hope you enjoy my rambling :)

Arguement 1: Mic is very OOC

when first looking at this scene i can agree that yes microphone is very out of character. her acting so nonchalant, just playing off tacos actions. but let me tell you why shes not as ooc as some of you might think. first: a tweet from brian

“mic had always had a tendency to let taco off the hook” and this is very true! she will always try and play off taco’s actions due to how much she cares about her. and. with this being a life or death situation, she really didnt want to make a mountain out of a molehill and potentially die without any closure with taco. her playing off tacos actions might feel like its ooc, but it makes so much more sense whennyou consider their history and the fact thst in someways microphone still yearns and loves taco. she yearns for taco a 7/10 it used to be higher!! (source: brians streams) she still really loves taco despite everything.

i know what pissed many people off was microphone acting so… natural. she wasnt mad or anything. she was just so chill about it all when she shouldve been mad, right? i definitely agree with that, but most people seem to be forgetting this line

(nice callback to this scene btw)

but back to the point; mic hears everything. microphone always knew taco was in the hotel because she heard her. and doing this she had time to reflect and gather her thoughts so she wasn’t screaming at taco or getting mad irrationally. and keep in mind microphone most likely heard taco crying and screaming about pickle dying, i dont think she wanted to push her to do that again. hearing taco, the one who presented herself to be so strong and evil, just sobbing her heart out mustve been terrifying.

now i also wanted to bring up this:

microphone knows about the events of episode 15 and was most likely told taco died and why. she knows taco can die due to heavy emotional distress. acting angry and irrational and not sitting down to talk about wouldve stressed her out more and they couldve potentially lost her too. the reason why shes so chill about isnt because shes not upset about everything, it was because if she was, she risked the chance of loosing taco.

another tweet from brian to show microhone doesnt forgive taco yet, but she definitely woud in the future if taco proved herself:

and again it may not look like this in the episode, but microphones nonchalant attitude comes with a lot of jabs at taco, showing that she doesnt truly forgive her. plus, microphone never utters the words “i forgive you” once.

but the reason why shes able to move on so easily is because of how well she knows taco. taco had always struggled with apologizing, as seen in episode 13. she’s almost never used the word sorry consciously.

microphone had always been a big softie for taco being at least a bit sincere, so imagine how she felt when taco went fully sincere. and she knew she couldn’t just hug her and say i forgive you on a whim, so she sorta had to play it off to keep everything on track.

and this scene is so. impactful because of just what it represents. microphone had always been about “doing the right thing” and taco begrudgingly respected her wishes. but to see taco DOING the right thing mustve been such a turning point for microphone. shown her that taco CAN change, that she wants to. it solidifies that the care that microphone had wasnt one sided, taco LEARNED something from her. shes learning how to be better. shes trying because she wants to be with microphone. i think thats what really strikes a chord, she gained something, a friend.

Arguement 2: The scene felt really rushed

oh i definitely agreed with this at first. this segment will be much shorter because it’s basically hammering into your head that HEY they were in a LIFE OR DEATH SITUATION!!!

microphone needed to quickly rush taco out in order to keep her safe, they needed to do it quickly so they wouldnt die. again, mic wouldve reached out sooner but the situation was so stressful she only did it now. taco probably wouldve died if she didnt come out, and they all knew the onpy way they could pry her out was with someone she cared about.

do i wish they got 5 more minutes to talk? fuck yes, but also keep in mind they barely had time to do anything, so much was happening all at once they had to shoehorn something in. and with the points i listed earlier again, this was probably the best they could do due to circumstance.

CLOSING THOUGHTS

overall, while i do think this scene was rushed, theres still beauty to be had with it. its still really impactful when reflecting on it and i dont think it devalues the tacomic arc as much as some of you make it out to.

i wish there was more to this scene but i think what we got was pretty substantial especially considering everything that happened in ii 2 17.

they both still care for eachother, they both loved eachother so much, that they were able to put their grievances aside so they could spend their final moments together.

thanks for reading <3

#microphone ii #ii microphone #tacomic #taco ii #ii taco #ii 2 17 spoilers #ii spoilers

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fanfictionstuff · 9 months ago

Note

Can you do a Hanahaki disease with Ego Jinpachi? Maybe the reader has the disease? But with a happy ending because I don't want to cry lmao

Ego Jinpachi x Reader

Okay, so I know people have strong opinions about Ego, I gotta say, I find him attractive

I guess kind of OOC

TW: death? But not really because it's a happy ending

The first petal was confusing: an odd tickle in your throat leading to a horrible coughing fit. “_____, go drink some water,” Jinpachi had casually said, eyes locked on the screens. You pulled your hand away from your mouth and glanced down to see what had caused the odd tickle. A white and pink petal. You stared at it, trying to wrap your head around it. Why would a petal be in your throat? Have you eaten something with real flowers?

The next ones came when you offered Jinpachi something to eat, something you had cooked. He didn't even face you when he told you he didn't want it, but you still left it on the desk. Anri can just get rid of it if he doesn't eat it. As you stepped out of the room, another tickle in your throat, this time three petals. Same color as the first. It's what confirmed it. Then, as if the flowers themselves weren't bad enough, you used an app to identify them. Striped carnations- their meaning is rejection. Fitting.

The following few times, Anri was nearby, too, her big brown eyes full of concern as she questioned if you were sick. You coughed the petals into your hands and stuffed them into your jacket pocket. "No, just a tickle in my throat." You shrugged.

Of course, she was also nearby when it worsened; this time, a whole flower came up covered in disgusting saliva. As you stared down at the flower in your hand, Anri didn't freeze in panic; she didn't stare at you, trying to figure out what to do. No. She grabbed your wrist, nearly dragging you out of the Blue Lock building. You tried to argue. She didn't care. "This isn't just a tickle in your throat _____! You can die from this."

"______, what are your thoughts?" Ego asks without facing you. You remain silent, causing him to feel a hint of irritation. He swivels his chair around to face you, ready to ask again, but you're not there. He checks the time and notices it's not lunchtime yet. You never leave unless your shift is over or it's time for lunch. A few moments later, Anri enters the room. "Where is _____?" He asks. "At the hospital," Anri replies.

"She's in the hospital because of a cough?" He had heard how much you've been coughing lately, but he didn't think it was serious enough for hospitalization.

Slowly, Anri shakes her head. "No, it's worse than a cough. Maybe you should go see her."

It can't be that bad; you haven't said a word to him about it. "I'm busy at the moment, maybe later." He shrugs, turning back to focus on his diamonds in the rough.

“It’s Hanahaki disease.”

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

You are taken aback when Ego enters the hospital room. "What are you doing here? You should be concentrating on Blue Lock," you say casually, trying to make light of the situation. The doctor had insisted that you stay in the hospital for observation. "It's only a cough; I don't want you to waste your time." His eyes drift to the bed, where multiple flowers and petals are. "Hanahaki disease is not just a cough," Ego frowns at you.

Just as you are about to reply, there is a knock on the door. The sound interrupts you and catches your attention. "Miss ____," a doctor says as he enters the room, holding a chart in his hand. His gaze falls upon Ego, and he hesitates before asking, "Should I come back at another time?"

"No, it's fine. What is it?"

"As you are aware, there is only one choice. I am here to review the specifics with you. First and foremost, we must go over the potential consequences of the surgery. It is important to note that you will lose all memories of your current love interest; there is a small chance you may never experience romantic love again. However, this occurrence is extremely uncommon; most patients have no issues after the procedure."

You state bluntly, "I don't care what the statistics say. I am not going to have the surgery."

The doctor moves past Ego and stands at your bedside, gently touching your shoulder. In a calm voice, he tells you, "____, without the surgery, you won't survive."

"I'm aware. It's fine."

Ego shakes his head and moves to the other side of your bed. "Don't be ridiculous. Have the surgery; you'll recover at the Blue Lock facility. Don't concern yourself with work-"

"Jinpachi, I don't want the surgery because I don't want to forget him."

The doctor interrupts, "It's a common response. Your love for him is so intense that it's physically harming you. If he doesn't reciprocate your feelings and you forego the operation, you won't survive. But after the surgery, you'll be fine. You won't even remember him; his memory will be completely erased."

Your voice takes on a sharp tone, filled with annoyance. "I can't just erase him from my life. It's not some fleeting crush that I can simply move past. I'd rather die." You turn your back to the doctor and Ego, keeping your gaze away from both of them. "You just don't understand."

Letting out a heavy breath, the doctor nods in understanding. "Take some time to consider it," he says before quickly glancing at Ego with a pleading look, silently urging him to try and convince you to change your mind.

As soon as the door shuts, Ego plops down on your bed and gives you a frustrated glare. "Don't be difficult. I need you in the Blue Lock program." You remain silent, refusing to look at him.

"You can't be replaced if you die."

"As your employee?"

"As my friend. You've been my closest friend for the last twenty-five years."

You give a slight nod. "I can't have the surgery because of that very reason. My life has been intertwined with yours for as long as I can remember. Without you, I don't know what I would do. What would I do when I wake up after surgery? There would be nothing left for me; everything would be wiped away." From your high school days, your life was centered around Jinpachi, choosing what university you should attend and what degree to pursue in order to support him as best as possible. There will be nothing left for you in this life if you have the surgery. "Death is a kinder option."

You lean back on the bed, giving the genius a moment to process your words. "I'm the reason you have this disease?"

A sudden fit of coughing overtakes you, leaving you unable to answer verbally. Instead, you can only manage a meek nod of your head as you try to spit out the flowers that have lodged in your throat. Your chest heaves, and your eyes water as you struggle to catch your breath, surrounded by the flowers. The coughing subsides, and you are left gasping for air.

Ego watches you with a mix of concern and frustration; his brows furrowed deeply as he processes everything you've just revealed. "Why didn't you tell me?"

After wiping your mouth, you pick up a flower and show it to him. It's a white and red striped carnation. "This flower represents rejection."

Ego gazes at you for a brief moment, his expression devoid of emotion, before he lets out a deep sigh and rises from his seat. You wonder if he plans to walk away, leaving you to deal with your problems while he tends to his important work. But to your surprise, he stays put and instead shoots you an irritated look as he grabs the bag that Anri has brought for you, containing a fresh set of clothing. "We're heading back. Let's go." As he speaks, he carelessly throws your belongings into the bag without much thought or care.

"I don't think the doctor is going to let me out without surgery."

With a heavy thud, he drops the bag at the foot of your bed and climbs over you in one swift movement. His long limbs form a cage around you, trapping you beneath him. His intense gaze locks onto yours, daring you to speak against his actions. But before you can utter a word, his mouth descends upon yours, silencing any protest. "Instead of doing something as reckless as this again, talk to me first," he murmurs between kisses. His lips move feverishly against yours as he scolds you for your near-death experience. "You would've died if Anri hadn't told me." He pulls away to look at you with concern before claiming your lips once more. "The flowers will shrink in size before they disappear." He speaks sternly. You gently push him off, feeling another coughing fit coming on. "Now let's go. The boys have important training to complete."

You remove the flower from your mouth and toss it at his head, but he catches it effortlessly.

A gentle knock echoes through the room, but before you can respond, the door swings open to reveal a woman around your age. She stands in the doorway with confidence, holding a clipboard in her hands. She gives you a warm smile. "Hello, I'm Mika, a therapist specializing in cases like yours," she introduces herself. "I understand how difficult this process can be, and I'm here to guide you through it and help you process any emotions or concerns you may have before the surgery."

"She's not getting the surgery. I'm taking her home."

"I understand your desire to respect her wishes, but death by Hanahaki is an excruciating experience," she maintains a professional tone, but inside she's confused from what the doctor had told her, she was expecting the man in the patient's room to advocate for the surgery. Her composure begins to slip as she starts to feel anxious.

Ego tilts his head in irritation. "She's not going to die. Call a nurse in so I can discharge her from the hospital."

As you leave the hospital, a car is waiting for both of you outside. The therapist hands you some documents about Hanahaki's disease and advises you to return to the hospital if the symptoms worsen. Ego throws your bag into the backseat of the sleek black car and takes the papers from your hand. "Ego-san, where would you like to go?" The driver questions.

"The Blue Lock facility." After answering the driver, Ego hits the button to raise the divider between the two of you and the driver.

As soon as you have some privacy, he turns to face you. "You know that besides soccer, you are the only thing that matters to me. When did it appear?"

"A few months ago."

"So, you were not going to tell me and just die?"

"Yeah. I didn't want you to feel guilty for not returning my feelings. So, I didn't want to tell you. If I had the surgery, you would've known it was because of you. If I had just died, you would never know who it was."

"_____, I love you. Why did you think I've made sure to keep you by my side? Since graduating high school, I've made sure you'll stay by my side." His confession is blunt and to the point.

"More than soccer?"

"Don't push it," he warns, his voice low and intense.

He bends down to kiss you once more, his lips pressing firmly and insistent against yours. His warm tongue slides teasingly along your lower lip, silently pleading for entry. Your heart races with anticipation as you let him in and melt into the passionate kiss.

Breaking away from the kiss, Jinpachi rests his forehead against yours, his warm breath mingling with yours. "Maybe a bit more than soccer."

#jinpachi ego #jinpachi ego x reader #ego jinpachi #blue lock fanfiction #blue lock x reader #Blue Lock

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kaisworlds · 2 years ago

Note

hey don’t know if you still take requests or not but if so can i request a ftm zoro x male reader

scenario: everyone is still at water 7 after saving robin(when zoro becomes “big brother”) and zoro and reader are doing chores and the reader thinks zoro would be a good parent/male-mom and after there done the reader cooks for him since sanji is still out and things get heated and ends up in smut

kinks: choking, spanking(in backshots) feminization, and breeding

p.s you can take your time i’m in no rush and i understand if you don’t wanna do it

-🦉anon

w 🦉anon idea

i've staring at this since i got it bro and my mind has been blank help plus excuse if some details are fucked i havent watched that arc in a hot minute btw ooc zoro maybe

im so sorry aabt the fact it came out this late owl pookie

cw: sub bottom ftm character x top dom male reader, feminization, spanking, choking

it all started when zoro somehow got roped into baby sitting 3 babies and you bumped into him as he was trying to hide from sanji

after a day of hard work finally putting the kids to bed walking back to the ship you look at the sky before speaking "you know you'd make a good parent zoro..." his brain shuts down stammering out a quiet thank you mind immediately going towards how you would treat him if he was the parent to your kids, would you let him go work or would you tell him to stay home to take care of the baby, how would you act with the kids would you feed them or would you help him feed them, your hands slowly traveling to his front cupping his chest, thumb rolling over his nipple as he leans his back against your chest as you slowly squeeze watching the milk trickle down into the cup you were holding, or would you turn him over and suck on his aching nipp-

walking around admiring the clean water floating between the buildings snapping back into reality once you see a tan guy hiding against the wall with familiar green hair "zoro..." eyes trailing down his body to the tight yellow crop top wrapped around his chest finally noticing the babies in a blanket tied to his front "who....who's children are those?" zoro's face flashed as he panicked a bit in his mind not wanting anyone to see him in this outfit especially his crush "hey you cant say anything about this too shitty brows okay" silently agreeing you decide to help him, cooing the babies as they wake up crying slightly crouched over to get onto eye level with them (indirectly staring at his chest). zoro blushed looking away eyes widening as he makes eye contact with robin in the distance watching her snicker as she walks away before he can explain.

"zoro are you okay? you've been really quiet" your voice snapping him out of his day dream as he nods walking a bit faster finally reaching the ship immediately going to his room shutting the door.

after a work out session zoro peeks into the kitchen watching as you cut up vegetables adding it into the stew you're brewing, without looking up you speak "you want some?" flustered that you caught him staring "y-yeah.....shitty cook not back yet or something?" he silently cursed him self for stuttering "mhmm no ones here yet...just us" still not looking at him you grab bowls dishing him some food before setting it on the table sitting down across from him while he eats "this is good..." "thank you"

with each sentence more and more embarrassment sunk into him he didnt even notice how you had stood up and sat next to him in the middle of your speech, head snapping towards you as you run your hand through his hair "not that i mind when youre so pretty..."

the silence consumes the room as he just feels your stare on his face while he refuses to meet your gaze. you dont speak until he finished his food "do you think im stupid?" his eyes widen, did he do something to offend you? he quickly answers shaking his head no. "well you must be stupid then if you really think i wouldnt notice" having a good feeling of what you were talking about but he decides to stick to his story "notice what..." smirking you lean forward arms resting on the table "i noticed a lot actually.... like how you practically turn into a fucking school girl with a crush on a teacher whenever we're alone, or how earlier today whenever i was with the kids i saw how you'd look at me, eyes all dazed, or how when i commented on how you'd be a great parent your entire body flushed, you walked in silence with me for almost 30 minutes, face getting redder with each passing minute, i could see you rubbing your thighs together when we stopped to pick up ingredients, and if that wasnt enough, the way you ran to your room as soon as you stepped foot in here."

his back arches up off the bed his nipples hardening under the white tank top eyes clenched tightly as his moans come out rough with a dazed look in his face.

zoro lets out an almost unnoticeable whine leaning into your touch "please..." tugging softly making his head tilt back "please what?" he huffs realizing you're gonna make him say it he takes things into his own hands, cupping your face pulling you into a kiss, grunting as you tighten the grip on his hair pulling him a few centimeters back, lips hovering over his "didnt know you were so desperate princess" zoro grumbles under his breath " 's cause youre teasing me too much just kiss me dumbass" you lean toward him, smiling against his lips, hand gripping his thigh the other holding his cheek "wanna go to my room?" he immediately nods standing up scrambling to the room as you follow him, he rests on the edge on the bed looking up at you, his eyes practically have hearts in them as he runs his hands up your shirt pushing it higher so he can lay soft kisses along the hair trail leading down. you unbuckle your belt tossing it to the side stepping out of your pants watching as he does the same, leaning down you kiss him pushing him back onto the bed, taking note of how his legs wrap around you tighter as your hand ghosts his neck, slightly choking him to see what he does he murmurs out a soft "harder" as he tries to rut his covered cunt up into your hardening dick, the friction of your boxers rubbing aginst his clit makes him let out soft grunts, silently obliging to his wishes you tightly wrap your hand around his neck watching for discomfort before grinding down into him

sliding your hand down his underwear,the back of your hand touching the wet spot against the fabric "jesus i barely did anything and youre already looking like this" smirking at him as the irritated look on his face grows, it went as soon as it came though once he felt the pad of your thumb pressing against his clit slowly rubbing circles as you push your middle finger into him

he stops you gripping your hand trying to speak through the lack of oxygen "al-ready...just put i-t in"

a smirk washes over your face before flipping him onto his stomach pulling his ass up and slowly pushing your self in eyes widening as he slams his hips back into you a moan slipping through his lips before a small yelp as he feels the smack against his ass "did i say you can move huh?" he turns back to look at you, slowly shaking his head trying to apologize before he feels you pull out all the way just to slam back in, the force making him hunch over head pressing deep into the pillows biting his lip when he feels your hand roughly grip his hair pulling him back so your chest is flush with his back, his hand resting on his lower stomach where he feels your dick making space for itself inside of him.

"you wanna be my housewife hmm zoro? wanna carry my fucking kids for me fuck you'll make a great fucking mother" tears start brimming at his eyes when he feels your hand leaning forward to rub his clit, your movements hault making him almost sob asking why "you didn't answer my question zoro..." punctuating your sentence with a thrust, tears finally streaming down his face as he grabs your forearm nodding "please god yes i-i'll be your fu-ucking house wife if you just move"

smiling you grant his wish restarting your brutal pace praising him watching as his body flops forward, he rests on his forearms as his thighs shake almost no sound coming from him as he bites into the sheets "i wanna hear all the pretty sounds you make before i fill you up" he immediately spits out the blanket loud sobs coming from him "c-close so- clo-se" you feel his walls clamping down on you trying to milk you as you keep thrusting into him, he starts wailing, overstimulation making his drunk on your cock.

"so fucking good for me zoro im- fuck im close okay?" zoro nods tiredly "in-inside please..." he murmurs out before he feels your warm cum filling him up listening to your grunts and savoring the last few pumps before he feels you pull out slowly and lay next to him as he rolls onto his stomach carefully "pillow..." he says quietly " excuse me?" you say raising your eyebrow at him "i want to...keep it inside....give the pillow" slowly nodding you hand him the pillow watching as he pushes the pillow under his lower back

just as a happy comfortable silence consumes room zoro hears your voice

"your know i didnt take you for someone with a breeding kink..." "shut up." "but-" "shhhh." "zoro i-" "dont bring it up unless youre gonna do it again." "who said i wouldnt

#dom male reader #top male reader #amab reader #kai writes👽#zoro x male reader #bottom zoro #sub zoro #ftm zoro #sub one piece #bottom one piece #🦉anon

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i-write-things-sometimes · 21 days ago

Text

Better Off Alone (Part 4)

context: mc gets the closure she needs from the vagastrom and jabberwock ghouls

PART 1 PART 2 PART 3

mc pov: feminine 3rd person (she/her), frequent scene changes marked clearly

content warnings: conversations, mentions, and consequences to attempted suicide; the consequences of depression, self-depreciation, and general mental unwellness.

author notes: thank you all so much for your supportive words ;u; i really appreciate them. it helps me have the will to continue and not have yet another unfinished wip lmao, not as big as the last one, but still a hefty 9.1k words (i will make the note in advance that if any of the actions of the characters in this feel slightly ooc, that rash actions of a loved one can cause a person to act in that manner. i've done my best to convey what each personality type may do in response to the actions taken in part 2.)

THIS TAKES PLACE AFTER THE EVENTS OF CHAPTER 7 BUT BEFORE CHAPTER 8 (so mc knowledge reflects that)

================================================

On a typical day, Alan would have stood ground against Jin disciplining a Vagastrom student - a ghoul, even - the Vice-Captain, even! This was not a typical day, however, but a somber night where someone he cared about was giving them all a chance to say farewell. It was his turn to enter the building and offer up words of consolation, and so someone had to keep Leo in line. It could only be the only other somewhat responsible captain in the group - someone not afraid to stand their ground, not afraid to put a demon like his vice-captain in place.

He'd take care of it after he was done. For now, it was to walk through the door and hope that his biggest weakness wouldn't come back to bite him.

+++ ++ + ++ +++

"Alan, I want you to know just how grateful I am for all the help you've given me. Even without grand speeches and monologues, even without words in general. You were a good pillar of support for me, even if fear kept you from saying much - but I'm afraid that you'll crumble without support of your own. When I'm gone, I want you to not fear becoming close with another; find a pillar of your own, if you don't have one. I wish I could have been strong enough to do so for you."

+++

What would a man of few words say to someone who needed them to continue living?

What would a man afraid of himself say to someone who needed his support?

Alan's stride didn't waste time, he would think about his words and what to say once he's seen her. Once he's seated and next to her. Though her blank stare at the ceiling sparked a different fear in him - one that made him want to make his exit without another thought. Except he couldn't. He couldn't be the reason she had no chance to live, couldn't be the reason for her disappearance.

Her eyes fell to him before he snapped out of whatever trance made him focus on her like a deer in headlights. The soft smile she gave him had his heart crying out, had him wish he was more comforting, had him begging to something to give him the strength to send her off if she chose to leave. Then they moved to the chair beside her, beckoning him wordlessly to her side. He followed.

He sat down, fixed a pointed gaze at her neck. Without seeing for himself what transpired, he could still envision it. He's seen this before, he's sure; some poor sod either murdered and set up or felt so fed up with the hells on earth or an anomaly driving someone to an early grave. He's sure he's seen enough death to imagine hers.

It didn't make this any easier. Or better. It didn't even justify it.

He let out the heaviest sigh, weighed down by so many regrets. So many words that never made it past the filter of fear in his mind. Where was he supposed to start? He already knew the why of it, or most of it, at least. It was easy to see on the outside. Being forced on these dangerous missions without the ability to move nimbly, without the ability to stand for long periods of time; to be forced to go undercover without the aid of mobility. Then, being tormented by everyone about it. He could already picture the amount of pain she must have been in to be here. To him, it was blatantly visible... and yet...

"..." He closed his eyes. "...tell me what you're thinking." "Right now?" "Yeah." "How much pain I'm in, stuck suffering minute after second wondering if I'll ever be free of it. Thinking how I would love to just... be gone. To be forgotten. It hurts even more, the more people tell me how much they care - how low and wretched of a creature I must be to hurt all of these people I've done nothing but care about." "...while neglecting yourself." He leaned back in the chair, folding his arms over his chest. Breathed deeply on her behalf while he searched for the words. Thankfully, she spoke first.

"Y'know... you're one of the few who noticed. Who didn't push me to do more than I could. Always asked if I was doing alright. One of the few who didn't take advantage of my kindness." She continued to smile for him. "After everything I was told of you, you happened to be the opposite of it all. I feel like... you would still be like this, even if I wasn't so weak." "You aren't weak." "So it seems a lot of you believe." She tilted her head. "You're so gentle, soft-spoken. Even if you come off as gruff, it seems you're just as shy." "Shy is a new one." She laughed. It was beautiful, one that could make hearts melt - like his.

"Not shy as in timid, but... shy as in cautious. You certainly aren't timid of your thoughts... but you are of yourself." "I don't want to hurt you." "What makes you think you will?" "I always do. Past and present." "Well, your past doesn't define you. It's the growth from it that does. And you've yet to hurt me in the present." He blinked at her, the first to tell him something he agreed with but never applied to himself - as if he were the exception. But here she was, including him. He closed his eyes to think carefully his next words. They were as soft as she perceived him to be. "Yet. Would the chance be there if you stayed?" "I suppose, but you seem to have very little trust in yourself. Then, that leaves the if I don't stay. You can't hurt me if I'm dead." "..." When he grit his teeth, she could almost hear them grinding together. "...Like the rest, I... I want you to stay." "Even if there's the chance you could hurt me?" "Yes." "Why?" She knew the answer. She just wanted him to think it over. To come to the conclusion himself. To see himself in a different light. "...because it... isn't guaranteed that I will."

She smiled again, satisfied that he was able to speak the words out loud. She repeated them. "Because it isn't guaranteed that you will." For some reason, he couldn't help but return the gentle smile she gave him. "You can be manipulative if you want to be." "I can. Usually, I don't, though." She hummed. "What would you do if I didn't stay?" "I don't know." The answer was simple. How would he grieve a woman who wanted to be forgotten? How would he mourn her? Would he be able to come to terms with the loss of her? The loss of someone who seemed to understand him? Who respected and admired him without fear? The words fell from him again. "I don't know."

"Why?" "Don't I know?" "Yeah." "Because there's a piece of you in everything I do." Despite being a man of little words, he always seemed to know what to say. Seemed to know exactly what he felt and how to convey it. "I wouldn't know what to do, if everything I do is filled with you. You want to be forgotten and as much as I want to respect your wishes... I can't. I don't know what I would do if you were gone." "..." Her eyes turned back to the ceiling, trying to process it. The way he thought about her was so straightforward. He left no room for misunderstanding. Why did that make this even harder? "You don't fear me." "Why would I? You've done nothing to make me think you're dangerous to my well-being. ...Maybe an anomaly's well-being. But not mine." "You're a human. A general student with a fancy title. You're the first."

He wanted to believe her words. That he wasn't dangerous. She looked back at him and lifted a hand towards him. "Scoot a bit closer to the bed." Quietly, he did so. He kept his thoughts to himself for now, they weren't necessary. Not relevant. Whatever he was thinking froze completely when she placed her hand on his cheek. She could feel him tense up, every muscle held still; and she kept it there until he relaxed. Until he relented, leaning his head more into her palm. "If I'm gone, and you can't forget me, then... remember my words. Your past doesn't define you. Don't fear yourself. Continue to be kind and understanding." "... please stay..." "If I choose to, then... you promise me: you'll give me the biggest hug you can." He laughed under breath. "I promise." "Good. Now, when you leave here, you take Leo's phone from him until he's done. I don't want him recording or live-streaming or blogging or anything of the sort while he's in here." "Jin already did." Her laugh rang out again, echoing off the empty walls. It was funny how predictable she was to him, just as he was to her. She continued to smile for him, idly rubbing her thumb under his eye. He closed them, taking another breath, as if to steel himself for the inevitable, permanent, goodbye.

He pressed a gentle kiss to her palm. "I know it hurts you to hear it... I hope you can forgive me, hurting you like this. But. I love you." It wasn't the first time she heard it. Even though this was seventh time thus far, it still hit her ears in the same way a foreign language would. Too alien of a concept to understand. All of these people with their dramatic confessions (his was the least by far)... why couldn't they have done them earlier? Made her feel loved and whole and not... whatever she was. He stood up slowly, taking her hand from his face to hold gingerly. The gentlest squeeze was followed by two simple sentences. "You're important. If you aren't to them, then you are to me."

Then he was gone.

+++ ++ + ++ +++

When Alan stepped outside, he was met with Leo's phone being handed over to him. Either his demands to discipline those under his colors were being respected, or more likely, Jin knew that she would ask Alan to take the phone.

The screen wasn't locked, however. Open to Leo's social media. Jin tapped the edge of it. "You should read what he posted before I took it from him." Alan was more than glad it was already open to where it needed to be - god forbid he would navigate technology while this stressed. He looked down at it, eyes flickering over the words. Reading and re-reading.

"Sorry guys, I know I was supposed to stream for you tonight, but something important came up."

It was simple. Short. Most of all: it made no mention of her. No guilt-trips. No cries for attention. In fact, he straight up cancelled his stream instead of pushing it back for later in the night. It felt almost unreal. He was certain - they were all certain - that Leo would do anything to grow his follower and viewer count, including taking advantage of the position she was currently in. He locked the phone and approached his vice-captain - who peered up at him from the nearby curb with disdainful boredom.

"The sooner you get in there, the sooner you can have it back." "Ugh. Seriously? Let me guess, Ice Queen Elsa did it of his own volition and then Honor Roll told you to. Fine. I'll get it over with." He jumped to his feet and yelled at Sho, who was just about to take his turn. "Sho! I'm going next!" The man regarded him with nothing more than a smug smile. "Oh, is that right? Like her that much?" "Ew. No, she just needs to stop acting like she's the main character of everyone's story." "Go right ahead, I'm sure she'll love to hear it." Sho opened the door for his supposed friend, smile still plastered on his face.

+++

"Leo. I'd call you an asshole, but you'd probably only laugh at it. You relish in others' anger towards you, like it's all just the funniest joke to you. To be honest, I don't know what to say to you. My loathing of you has hit a level so high, that it has me feeling nothing towards you. Now, you're just an insignificant mosquito in what is left of my life. I'd wish for your misfortune if I had the ability to care that much about you. But I don't. So. I hope you had fun with your one-sided rivalry, and maybe you won't feel so insecure when I'm gone."

+++

No one wanted to get this done and over with faster than he did.

And as much as he didn't want to admit it, it was for more reasons than he simply wanted his phone back. His only escape.

From Darkwick.

From reality.

From himself and all the emotions that came with it.

From the disgustingly meaningless people around him...

How could she be the most meaningful meaningless person out there? It was infuriating just how much space she took up in his mind. He had other things to worry about! He could be thinking about so many other people - from his fans, to digging up more information on the ghouls and the Institute.

Instead, all of those thoughts were replaced with HER. This stupid NPC of his life, useless and worthless. Constantly in the way, constantly dragging everyone down - constantly dragging him down.

He made it to the room in record time, a brisk walk taking him to the chair beside her bed.

Why the hell should he care about her? Because everyone else wants him too? Because she continued to be in his way, continued to be kind to him no matter how many times he treated her like a roach, continued to look for ways to help even if it was nothing but a waste of time? Because she was laying in this bed in front of him, hooked up to machines, looking more pathetic than ever? Because she tried to kill herself? Why should he care about what she wants to do with her life?

Before he even had a chance to open his mouth, she spoke. "To be honest, I'm surprised you even showed up." "As if I was given a choice. So now here I am." "So now here you are." She sighed. "What are you going to do about it?" "Why the fuck does it matter to you, if you're so dead set on dying?" "You're right. Stupid of me to ask. Get out." "Like hell I'm leaving!" "Going to fulfill a time quota, then? Since when have you cared about what others think of you enough to cower behind a set of doors for ten minutes? If you think I'm pathetic, at least I'm not you."

He clenched his jaw, biting back his tongue when she dragged him down. Bit back the insatiable want of bringing her down with him. But how much further could he actually drag her? She already found herself worthy enough for the worms, lower than dirt, six feet under - it's not like he could do any more damage short of killing her, himself.

"You're a real piece of shit." Leo scowled at her. "Woe is me, my life is worthless. Pay attention to me, I tried to kill myself." A mocking, sarcastic, tone dripped through his teeth like a black ichor. His glare was met with the taciturn stare at him from the corner of her eye. "You couldn't even finish the job! Couldn't have done this sooner and saved us all the effort?" "..." She let out sigh out through her nose. "You're right. I should've. Would've saved me the effort too." "What the fuck is wrong with you?!" "Everything. Are we done here?" "You're not supposed to agree with everything I say!" "No? Then what am I suppose to do? Plea to a heart that doesn't exist? Apologize to someone who couldn't care any less about me? You're a joke, Leo. Fuck off."

She was really pissing him off. Angered to the point of silence, a speechlessness that could burst several veins. Why the fuck does he care so much?! She's nothing! A pain in the ass! An NPC that deserves no face and no name! "You really think you're important enough to--" "Fuck. Off. Before I call Jiro." "No!" She shook her head. "Why, then? Is this some sick form of entertainment for you? That's low, even for you." How was she taking up this much space in his mind - she pissed him off, and so he kept thinking about her, and thinking about her, and thinking about her. Thinking about how annoying she was. Thinking about how stupid it was to take her on missions. Thinking about- thinking about- thinking about--

All he ever did was think about her! He couldn't even enjoy a night of streaming, or a long bath, or anything because his mind was filled up with her! He's wasted months and months and months just thinking about her, and now she was threatening to make him think about her even more! If she died, that's all he'd think about! He'd think about how empty his life was without this useless useful girl - think about everything he said to her before she died - think about everything he could have said to her. He didn't even know he could feel remorse!

"You think I like looking at you laying in a hospital bed, playing victim? You think I enjoy looking at that eyesore on your neck? You think I want to be here?" "No, I don't think you want to be here. I never have." "Well, I do!" "...huh?" The sound fell flat from her mouth. She furrowed her brow at him. No, she definitely wasn't going to believe a word that came from his mouth. "Ugh!" He stood up, throwing his arms up with the exclamation. He turned himself away from her, but raised his voice anyways. "It pisses me off how much bandwidth you take up!" She tilted her head at him, even if he couldn't see the disbelief that painted her face. "...huh?" Now she was even more confused. Sure, she could piece it together - but anyone would've been thrown off by it.

"Uhh..." "You really are stupid!" When she came to from the brief state of catatonic confusion, she decided to use it to her advantage. She stayed silent. "If you had been anyone else-" His sigh sounded more like a hiss, than anything. "You really piss me off. I don't know how you do it. How you manage to make me angrier than anyone I've ever met. But I'm still here - against my will. I'm still here willfully, even, and that makes me hate you more. It's like a fucking cycle. I hate you, I hate you, I hate you and the more I fucking hate you the more I fucking love you."

She stared at him blankly - how else was she supposed to respond? They weren't the words she thought she'd ever hear from him, but it was somewhat humorous that he would rather admit that he was in love with her than to apologize for being a shitty person. The humor part hit her a little harder than the confusion, and all she could manage was a small laugh.

"Fuck you!" And in grand Leo fashion, he stormed off. "Leo!" "No! I don't want to fucking hear it - or anything you have to say." Still, he stopped walking. "If I'm gone in the morning, you have my permission to use my passing in any way you'd like." "My followers like you too much, so you better not be fucking gone in the morning. Not after this shit." Even though she couldn't see it, she could still hear it - how his voice cracked under the strain of remaining indifferent, beset by tears he said he wouldn't shed.

+++ ++ + ++ +++

Leo didn't even stop for his phone, he simply threw himself down on the curb away from everyone else. Even when Alan passed it back to him, he practically threw it away from himself. He didn't want the reminder when he opened the phone back up. He didn't want the "I hope everything's okay"s from his fans.

No, everything was not okay!

Why the hell was he so upset?! He knew why, but why?! "Fuck this!" He was the first to truly leave the area - the others stayed so far, if only for solace in knowing that they weren't alone in this. He scooped up is phone and kept walking back to Vagastrom.

Sho rubbed the back of his head. "That was... new. Somehow, not unexpected. Guess it's my turn, then."

+++

"Sho, when I first met you, I wasn't sure what to think. You attached yourself to Leo, and that alone made me mistrust you. Whenever you were away from him, however, you showed your true colors - caring and willing to help. I wish those colors shone more brightly on our mission together. Your hesitation nearly cost me my life... though I guess at this point it wouldn't have mattered either way. When I'm gone, if Leo keeps holding you back, ditch him no matter the consequences. You don't deserve that fate. P.S. keep pursuing your cooking career, it makes me glad to see you enjoying your own hard work."

+++

Where normally he would find his pace to be taken with purpose and confidence... he only found himself slowing down with each step. He didn't know what he was going to see, and he wasn't sure he wanted to. The words in her card were enough, maybe.

But what about his own words?

They all fell apart when he saw her, vanished when he took in what could possibly be the last place he'd see her. This scene of despair and helplessness. What could he have done to keep this from happening?

So many things, he thought. So many, many, things.

Keep Leo from being an ass, check on her more frequently when he noticed something wrong, take her pain and work into consideration... not hesitate when her life was in danger. In his defense, this was his first mission of this caliber - how was he supposed to know? Of course, there was the situation regarding the enhancement of his stigma, but...

Did it not work because he thought about how it wouldn't work? About pretending? His full belief that it wouldn't work, only to do so right afterwards when he believed it would? It was the feeling of relief that was strange to him - like his anxieties melted away for the briefest moment. He thought it was the ring, at first, but now... he realized, it must just be her.

His feet took him to the chair in a somber silence. Her presence was always soothing, full of life, fleeting like rays of sunshine at sunset. There was a crease in his brow when he thought of her like that - soon to be gone, replaced by a darkness that he didn't think he could handle alone. When he finally spoke, he tried to distract himself from the sadness in front of him.

"I tried bringing you meals, but they wouldn't take outside food." "Not to mention that I'm not allowed to have solids, at the moment. I appreciate the thought of the gesture, though. It would've been nice to taste your cooking again before I'm gone." "...do you have to go?" "Have to? No. Want to? Yes. I just want you all to forget me, but I seem to be having a hard time convincing anyone to." Sho let out a short snort of a laugh. "You've left more of an impression than you think, Senpai."

That didn't seem to be the correct answer, as she turned a skeptical gaze towards him. Perhaps an impression of annoyance, but nothing significant. Nothing so intense enough to warrant all of this attention. Attention she didn't want to begin with.

"And what kind of impression did I leave on you?" "I'd have to change the sign for the truck if you left. You picked the font, the colors, the size and details. Every bit of it would remind me that you'd never try anything new I'd make." "Simple changes." "You would think, huh? But that sign took forever. I don't think I could get rid of it - even if I took it down. I couldn't possibly forget the work you put into it. Not to mention..."

He turned his head away, avoiding eye-contact by pretending to examine the room. "Your strength to keep going has kept me going. If you're gone, where will that strength be? I... don't think I'm strong enough to face the future without you." "I know you are." "You should've seen Leo after he left. I've never seen him so... helplessly angry before." He let out a soft laugh. "If I had the guts to cut him loose, I would. But he's my friend, regardless." "A shitty one." "...yeah, most of the time. You always took his cuts and jabs in stride, it helped me do the same. Maybe one day I'll get tired of it."

She followed his eyes to the blank wall ahead of her. "In stride... right..." "We should've seen it. We should've known. You've always been so attentive of all of us, and we couldn't even return the favor. Now we're here, with a reminder that we may never see you again." "Maybe you should've, yes. It wasn't all that difficult to see how much pain I was in." "...no, it wasn't. And we all ignored it. Ignored the signs, thinking they'd resolve themselves. In a way, I guess they are... not in the way I'd like it, though." "In what way would you like it?" "With your hand in mine. Taking you for a ride on Bonnie. The wind in your hair could do you some good. Being stuck in here, then in a coffin - you'd never taste fresh air again, before you go."

He turned back to her, taking in the bruise on her neck - grimacing afterwards with the words that could've been seen as inappropriate. She only laughed. "Maybe that's for the best. I'm not sure I want it." "Why not?" "It would mean being alive still. Still in pain. Still suffering. If the air is stale, I'll feel more likely to take it away completely." Sho let out a heavy sigh, an apologetic smile crossed his features. "I wish I could take that pain from you. Suffer it myself so you could relax." "Me too."

How was he supposed to say it? How was he supposed to tell her? She wanted to be gone, and much like Alan, there was too much around him to remind him of her. If he was going to be constantly reminded of her presence in his life, he'd rather she be alive and next to him. He'd rather have her encouragement through words he could hear and not words he would think. Feel the comfort she gave him, the fleeting feeling of everything being okay.

Like the sunshine in the setting sun.

"...god, please stay..." He ground his teeth together. "To never see you again, I don't think I could do it. I'd see the ghost of you every where. In line at the truck, the side of the road while on a drive, walking to and from class and between houses." "Ghosts fade eventually. You should know that, we had a whole mission about it." She could only laugh, yet that seemed to spur something in him - something he couldn't place his finger on. All he knew was that it was something painful. "How can you be so damn carefree about this?!" He scowled. Her soft smile only made this worse. "So... so... apathetic to the thought of leaving us, to the pain you're going to cause." "Trust me... I'm keenly aware of the pain I'm causing. Whether I'm dead or alive. At least... if I'm gone, you won't be so focused on keeping me safe. You can focus on your missions. It's one less thing to worry about." "No matter what we say... you'll find a reason, won't you." "It seems so." He leaned his head back to look at the ceiling, letting out a defeated sigh. "...if you decide to stay... tell me what your favorite food is. I'll make it for you. I'd ask now, but if you leave, I don't want anymore reminders."

He stood up slowly, hesitating as much leaving as he had entering. She held out her arms for him, and who was he to deny what could be the last hug he'd ever get from her? When he leaned over, he pressed his lips to the side of her head - letting out a trembling sigh against her ear. "Stay... please stay... I love you too much to see you gone..." "Thank you, Sho. Please... forgive me if I leave. Or. Don't... maybe it'll make it easier. To think of it like a betrayal. Anyways. I have a feeling... it's... Haru, next?" "Nah, it's the vice-captain." "Really?" She couldn't hide her surprise, only to smile softly. "Promise me something..." "Yeah?" "Keep being everyone's friend for me?" "...I'll try. But that's your job, Senpai. So. Don't make me do your job for you." When he pulled himself back, he rubbed an eye with the heel of his palm - forcing back his tears, if only to see her off with a smile. "See you tomorrow."

+++ ++ + ++ +++

"Towa, I'm sorry that I'm betraying you like this. You don't deserve the pain of loss, and here I am, giving it to you. I... am concerned, though, that you may not fully understand what's going on. I feel terrible assuming the worst, but, there's plenty of other human emotions and social cues that seem lost on you - I don't fault you for them, but rather... that this makes it even more difficult to explain. I hope Haru can explain for me. When I'm gone, please be nicer to Ren - start with changing the nickname you've given him. And... keep being a good friend to Haru."

+++

Towa was another one a lot of them felt wouldn't put in the same effort everyone else was. Not due to an extreme ego, like Leo; nor extreme selective amnesia, like Taiga; but with an extreme innocence. How would someone learning social cues like a child understand someone's dissatisfaction with their lives and fate like this? Haru was put into the unfortunate position of not only the burden of knowing, but the burden of teaching too.

As anyone could have expected, his ability to grasp something of this nature was... lacking. A barrage of "why"s were asked, now filling up his mind as he peered around the corner of room. Why would she not want to be alive anymore? Why would she want to leave them all behind? How was he supposed to share all of his favorite flowers with her if she never came back? How was he supposed to learn more about romance if she wasn't around to teach him?

"Poor Dandelion..." He cooed softly, still loud enough to echo across the room from the empty walls. He tilted his head when his eyes trailed to the mark on her neck. Maybe he understood more than anyone gave him credit for. While he could never see himself committing an act like this, he's certainly seen enough unfortunate souls to know a doomed one from another.

He didn't, however, know that hers was one of them.

Here she was, wilting in the opposite direction of her namesake. No longer filled with happiness-laced eyes, no longer believing she was loved or could be loved. If there was ever an antonym for romance, it was this scene.

He sat down in the chair beside her, scooting it forward enough to lean his arms on the edge of the bed. He rested his head on them, turned towards her with a wistfully ignorant smile. "Come home with me, Dandelion. I can take care of you. I can protect you."

"I'm sorry, Towa..." She returned the expression, though she wasn't sure how to explain to him how she felt. She had read a few books to learn why he came up with such a name for her, and floral names for those around him - maybe she could use that. "Maybe... it's best if you change my name..."

"What would you change it to?" "Have you seen an asclepias before? They're beautiful. They attract so many butterflies. And they match Jabberwock's colors. I think that'd be a perfect name."

He understood, then. It was there that pain writ across his features, disbelief that she'd say such a thing. "No! No, no, Dandelion - that name is too much. Too tragic and painful..." "It's how I feel too..." "..." His eyes turned down, away from her face. Asking to be named that seemed to make him understand more than any words Haru could have spoken. "Of course, any flowers that speak sorrow are more fitting of me than anything romantic. But... I think that one fits the most. Because... I want you to let me go. I don't... think I can keep going." "They all hurt you, didn't they... they made you want to be forgotten and alone... but no dandelion grows alone." "Most of them did. Not all of them, but..." She wasn't sure how to explain that his liveliness and inability to listen also hurt her, physically, at least. She knew he didn't mean to. "If I did leave forever, I'd still want you to change my name... what would you change it to?"

Towa smiled a little more. "Forget-Me-Not."

Her smile fell into a pained grimace, where she could only cough out a sob. "Please... I don't want to be remembered... please don't..." "Why not, Dandelion? If you have a name, you'll always be remembered. Why does the name matter? You're already a pressed flower in everyone's journal." "It hurts..." She cried. "It hurts so much... how everyone only started caring when I tried to take my own life. Only when their useful tool was nearly taken from them. It hurts when they all tell me they love me, knowing that I've hurt them... it makes me feel worse. I'm a terrible person for it... doing this to all of you..."

He watched her curiously as she cried, as she vented out everything she had said before. "I'm in so much pain... all the time. In my body, my head, my heart... everything is in so much pain... I guess... Aloe would be a good name for me too..." "Marigold." "Fitting... in a twisted way." "You're feeling twisted anyways. I wish I could untangle you, Dandelion. I can do so many things if you ask me to, anything for you! But... what you want, I... I don't think I could do that." "I feel so awful, doing this to you..." "Then don't." "I..."

She trailed off, stopped moving as if she had stopped breathing right there. He turned his head away and sat his chin on his arms to look further down the room - there was a serenity to the contemplative expression he focused into the far wall. "What's your favorite flower, Dandelion?" "..." She let out a soft sigh. "...Snowdrops." "Then... that's what I'll name you. Snowdrop. It fits just as well, maybe even more." "Towa..." "I don't want you to leave, Snowdrop. You make me happy, I feel so happy when I see you. You make Haru happy too! To never see you again..." "...if you have to remember me... then, think of me like actual snowdrops. Maybe you'll see me again, eventually, far in the future." "If I see you again in the future, then you really will be my soulmate, won't you? How else would you know to find me again?"

She huffed a small laugh. "If we're changing my name, we should change Wolfsbane's too. He's not so bad, he's just a low-effort guy. If you can make him put in more effort into his work, then Haru wouldn't be so focused on him, I think." "Hmm... then..." He sat up to put his hand under his chin in thought. "Xanthium." She closed her eyes as she wracked her brain for the plant, not only of the plant itself but its meaning as well. "Oh! You mean, like... a cocklebur? I... guess... saying he's persistently rude is better than telling him he's the worst human ever?" Towa nodded in agreement, regardless of whether or not it was actually a better name. "Are you feeling better, Snowdrop?" "...better is subjective. I'm not crying anymore, so... I guess that's an improvement. But... I'll always feel like this... I'm sorry that I can't be stronger for you Towa."

Either the words she spoke really were lost on him, or he was taking it better than everyone else. She felt it was the latter, when she noticed the plaintive smile on his face when he addressed her again. "My soulmate deserves a happier life, she deserves to live without pain. So... if you are gone, Snowdrop... I'll keep looking for you again. But if you're not, you get to help me plant snowdrops everywhere!" He stood up, taking her hand with him. He pressed the gentlest kiss to her fingertips. "Promise?" "...I promise... thank you, Towa..." "Haru's next, Snowdrop. He's been crying a lot. It hurts me to see his tears. I know that what you tell him won't help. But... I'll take care of him, like you do." He set her arm back down slowly, and took his leave afterwards. Before he turned the corner and out the door, he looked back at her over his shoulder with a bright smile - sending her off with a little bit of weight lifted from her chest.

+++

"Haru, you've been such a good friend - it always brightened my day whenever I saw you. Your positivity, whether real or feigned, is infectious. I can't say it's all smiles, though. You're too quick to drag people into running errands and helping at the park - I never minded helping with the smaller ones, where all I had to do was sit and watch them. But all of the running around, the lack of awareness or neglect of it... it hurt so much. When I'm gone, I want you to practice giving others space - Ren included - enough so their physical and mental batteries can charge. Sometimes, sleep isn't enough. P.S. please don't bring Peekaboo with you, he doesn't deserve to see me like this."

+++

Maybe he shouldn't have had that energy drink before this. His heart was racing as fast as his thoughts, and with such a horrible scene in front of him, it made his chest tighten.

Haru knew when a serious moment called for it, he knew when cheery optimism could make things worse. Reading this room around him, he wasn't sure if it would or not. If maybe she did want smiles and happiness around her. He rubbed the front of his throat, subconsciously noting the bruise and how painful it must be. If she wasn't in pain before... she sure was now. He let out a heavy sigh, a careful pace brought him to the chair beside her.

Where was he supposed to start? Maybe something less heavy. Less attention drawing. "Towa changed your name, I heard." "We had a lengthy discussion about it." She offered him a soft smile, tilting her head. She knew he was stalling, but she let him continue - if only to gather his bearings in the conversation. "Whatever you said made him understand the situation, I don't know how you do it with him." He laughed in spite of himself. "Gahaha! One less thing to worry about with you around!" Those words made his brow crease and smile fall. He leaned back into the chair. "...you're not just some useful tool, y'know." She shook her head at him, but stayed silent when she saw his mouth open again. "I know I didn't help with that. Kept pushing you to do more and more until you couldn't. You're no beast of burden, but I certainly treated you like one." He leaned forward again, resting his arms on his thighs. His head faced down, but the shaking of his body spoke more words than he did. "For that, I have so many regrets. No amount of apologies will help, but... I'm sorry. I'm so... so sorry."

"Thank you, Haru. Trust me, most of the work I did for you was nothing compared to, say... Sinostra." A bare hint of a laugh left his lips. "Sounds about right." "Unfortunately... everyone realizing these things after I've tried to disappear... it..." "I know..." He lifted his head to smile for her, even with the tears. "I wish I told you all the things I told Romi and Mickey. How amazing you are." "I don't think I've done anything to warrant a compliment like that." "We needed a boat and you had the Frostheim captain on speed-dial!" "He owed me anyways, I guess." "And??" He made his confusion well known. "I don't think he would've done that for just anyone! He probably saw all of the things I did and do. Just how special you are."

As he thought, however, no amount of praise would help. It was all empty to her. Only given because she could be gone at any moment - when all it took to keep her here was to tell her how much they appreciated her before. She truly was special in his eyes. No matter the pain she went through to help, the animals loved her - loved seeing her! As if she was the one taking care of them all this time.

Towa loved her. He could even see that Ren did too.

He loved her.

It was so difficult to look at her and know... that maybe her own infectious smile and brightness wouldn't grace the world anymore. One less beautiful, wondrous, soul.

"I guess asking you to forget me would be too much, then..." "It really would. How could I forget, if Peekaboo would constantly remind me? How could I forget, seeing the dorm in disarray because you weren't there to help clean up?" He shook his head. "And I mean that in an affectionate way, not just because you clean. Every misplaced item would remind me that you've done so much for us, and we've done nothing in return." She watched him slowly break down, holding his face in his hands as he rested on his elbows. Watched him stifle a sob, pushing it back, trying in vain to grasp at his optimism. "I can admit... that I never knew how much I loved you, until the possibility of you not being here showed up. I never knew how much I rely on you to make it through each day. Never knew how much you made me smile every time I saw you. The thought of you gone, I..."

"I think you're the first to admit that." "You're so special to us. To me. You're an amazing, wonderfully talented, and gifted person - and no amount of saying so will make you believe it. Not right now. Not like this." "Thank you... I do mean that. It is nice to hear, regardless. Even if it doesn't change much." She held out her hand to him. "Chin up, Haru. Smile for me." He lifted his head slowly, noting her hand in front of him. Instead of taking it, he pulled the chair forward enough to rest his chin in her palm with a defeated huff. She laughed. "You look silly like this." Still, she idly rubbed her thumb against his jaw. The way he melted into her touch like Peekaboo would was endearing enough to keep a smile on her face. One that made him return it, even if it was filled with a heartrending guilt, even if it was filled with a sadness deeper than anything could describe.

"I love your smile. It always made my day." She spoke softly, fearing the chance that she'd only see it briefly again. "I can say the same for you. So... please... stay. Stay, and I'll give you a smile everyday. I'll tell you every time I see you, how much you mean to me." "If I'm gone in the morning... can you promise me something? Finish taking care of the animals and the park as fast as you can... and take a break. Sit down. You worry so much about everything, that you never give yourself any time to rest. And if you need help, ask Ren how. He'll gripe, but I think he'd love the chance to sit down as well." "O- Okay... I'll try... but..." He inhaled sharply as he lifted his head, taking her hand as he stood. "Don't go..." He leaned over to kiss her temple, squeezing the hand he held gently. "I'll do so if you stay too. We can rest together."

When he managed to pry himself away from her, he gave her an apologetic smile. "...Sinostra's next after Ren. I think their first year's taken the lead. ...Good luck." "Thanks, I'll need it. They're a handful." "Several hundred handfuls! Gahaha!" He left her with his boisterous laugh, echoing off the walls even after he left the building.

+++

"Ren, god, I don't know what to say. There's so much and so little. I wish you would put in a little more effort - I know it sucks, and it's unrewarding at first. But getting everything you need to done faster will keep Haru off your back and give you time to rest. When I'm gone, I want you to stop lying to yourself. It's okay to enjoy things. It's not a weakness to admit you like someone's company. Stop pretending everything is a hassle. ...and maybe bring up to Haru your fear of water, because I don't think he understands. P.S. force him to take a break too."

+++

Now, this - this - was the worst.

What the hell was he supposed to say? There wasn't much he could say that the others hadn't said yet. Maybe his own twist and version of it - but it was all the same. It'd do the same thing: nothing.

He knew what this slog felt like. The inability to move or go anywhere without expending a great deal of energy. The effort it takes to get out of bed in the morning. The effort it takes to get to sleep at night. When he sat down, it was with his typical heavy sigh followed by a complaint. The exact one she knew he'd say.

"This is the worst."

She smiled at him, still. There was a certain charm to the way he complained about everything. The more she watched him, the more he found himself sweating under her gaze. As if scrutiny crawled from her eyes, just to torment him - though there wasn't any. She was simply watching him and the growing redness on his face.

"Stop staring at me like that." "Why?" "Because it's weird! And creepy!" "I was just admiring your eyes." "Huh??"

He was a lot like Yuri, in the way she could make him fluster over the smallest things - the smallest compliments to rival his complaints. Before he could call her an idiot or stupid or any amount of others things to keep himself from stumbling more, she spoke again.

"We were in the same guild, y'know." He stared at her, bewildered. "I got kicked out for telling the leader that I'd be away for a long time, being sick as I was." "Wait... what?" "I thought it was cute, the way you were teaching me how to play a game I'd been playing for years. I let you continue, because you were so passionate. I loved that." She reached for her phone, pulling up the game that they'd been playing together.

He still wasn't sure what to say. She just dropped three major bombs on him in the span of two minutes. When she showed him her profile, confirming who she was, he gawked at it for a moment. "That's... you? You're a legacy player? What the hell! Why didn't you say anything?!" "Because I loved the way you got so passionate about it when you were teaching me." "...it's because I finally had someone to play with." He took her phone from her and opened up his own, adding her as a friend in the game. Then, after giving her phone back, continued on his - typing away. "I'll make my own guild, then. Like hell I'm going to stay with a group that kicks someone out for being sick. You can be my co-leader, and I don't care how long you're away."

She smiled a little more. "I appreciate it. I... don't know if I'll be back, though. So... maybe it isn't for the best." "..." The thought of her gone, even before knowing how long she'd been playing, just the thought of the only person who played with him... gone. If she wasn't there in the morning, he'd be reminded everyday - the day she died would be printed on her profile, "Last seen online". A constant, heavy, reminder... a chance that this burden would be on his shoulders, weighing him down. "...you'll be back. You have to. You can't leave." He stared at his phone blankly, unaware of the tears that started to splotch the surface. "The next update is coming soon. And I... I don't... I don't think I could keep playing the game if you left."

She put her phone away, turned her eyes away from him. "If not that one, then another. I know you can move on. You're strong enough for it." "The fuck I am. I'm no stronger than you - at least you put in the effort to do shit." "And look where it got me... maybe I should've taken a page out of your book." "Please... don't go..." He pleaded to her, much the same as everyone else. Nothing changed in the words spoken from each one of them, only the voice that spoke it. "We could hide somewhere, play games and watch movies..." "If I stay, I'd love to do that." "..." The "if" was still there. "If I'm not, then... help Haru out more? And teach him how to take a break." "..." He didn't know what to say. He knew what he should say, to get the weight off of his chest, but the words stuck to his throat in the way peanut butter would. Clogging up any other word that tried to escape.

"What are you thinking?" "...I'm thinking about... how much I love you." His voice trailed off softly, and if it were just a tad bit louder in the room, she wouldn't have heard him. "...how much I love your company. How much I... want to do things with you and be around you." "Just now?" "No... I..." He grit his teeth together, jaw tense with hesitation. "...you're right. I keep lying to myself... I... don't want to get hurt. But... if I... I'm never going to see you again, then... I- I at least have to face one truth." With another deep inhale, a preparation for the spew of words that'd leave his mouth. "You've always been such a breath of fresh air. Even when you force me to work. You were always so bright and cheerful, but not in the same obnoxious way as Haru - it... it's..."

He couldn't convey just what he thought of her. How it reminded him of a lemonade stand, draped in a plaid tablecloth and laced with sunshine. Like a cool breeze on a summer day. Something free and innocent. She was so much more to him than the game they played together, or the stupid B-movies they'd commentate together. She was so much more than the errand-girl of every house, more than the maid service she provided to the dorm.

"God, I... how the hell am I going to get by everyday without you?" "Like you did before you met me." "I barely did..." "Then take me as a lesson. Grow from it. You can do it." "... fuck! This isn't fair!" He gripped his phone tighter in his hands, understanding now why Leo had thrown his away from him. "You did everything they told you to, and all you were treated to was shit. Now- Now they're taking you away from me - away from a future I really fucking wanted." "Ren..." She reached out to him, placing her hand on his cheek to wipe away his tears. He kissed her wrist, choking back more tears. He was embarrassed to hell and back - admitting everything, crying in front of her, touching her - and he was so glad they were alone. So glad that she wasn't jabbing at him, laughing; instead she only smiled gently, watching him as she did when he first walked in.

"Stop looking at me like that." "Why?" "Because I don't need your pity. Watching me wallow and cry." "I don't pity you, I pity myself. How I've done this to you, I couldn't be any lower of a person. You deserve better than me, okay?" He clicked his tongue as he stood up suddenly, pulling himself away from the embarrassment and tomato-red skin. "I don't want anyone else than you. So you better fucking be here tomorrow."

He left her before he broke down even more, before he melted into a mess of tears, begging her not to leave. Before he looked even more pathetic than he already did.

+++ ++ + ++ +++

Ren stopped next to Ritsu, who had been trying to convey the legality (or lack thereof) of an assisted suicide to Yuri and Jiro with no fruits born from it.

"Dude, shut up. This isn't a court case. She's not your business partner, she's your friend."

He was so, so sick of him taking advantage of every situation like a golden opportunity just arose.

"I don't think anyone here is going to assist her. She's just gonna do it herself, so just... shut up and get in there."

===============================================

after prompt notes: wehhhhhh, super sad that this didn't get out sooner - but sho's really threw me for a loop.

so i hope his portion came out alright ;n; i didn't think haru's would be difficult, since i had a small outline already, and yet.... (ˉ▽ˉ；) hopefully that one came out alright too.

if the writing styles seem different for each person, it's probably because it was written on a different day and/or my meds kicked or wore off lmao

liberties taken with mc, because i think it's dumb that we don't get a chance to say "hey maybe she HAS played a mobile game before" i dunno, same with the chess thing with tohma. "do you play?" "YES I DO LET ME KICK YOUR ASS I DIDNT GO TO NATIONALS FOR NOTHING"

and hoo boy, the next two houses are gonna really (: really gonna test my ability to gauge a personality lmao

EDIT: made some grammar corrections, fixed misspellings figured i'd also add flower meanings for reference

dandelion - "love's oracle", faithfulness, happiness asclepias - sad remembrance, "let me go" aloe - represents feelings of bitterness and pain marigold - used to overcome grief and despair (also commonly used at celebrations of life) snowdrop - hope and consolation

#tokyo debunker #tdb #tkdb #mc with disabilities #my writing #mc x alan mido #mc x leo kurosagi #mc x shohei haizono #mc x sho haizono #mc x towa otonashi #mc x haru sagara #mc x ren shiranami #mc x tokyo debunker #lmao sho getting two tags cause of his name

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blacklegsanjiii · 1 year ago

Note

•°♤°• Soulmate AU: The Aftermath

Sanji doesn't really understand their anger. He doesn't understand at all.

He doesn't understand

He doesn't remember how to feel. Not since his father Judge told him that his soulmates are dead.

He remembers it as if it was yesterday.

He was still in the dungen, head wrapped tightly around a metal helment. Meant to kept the face hidden but not seen.

He remembers Judges footsteps, the way his big and tall figure covers his sight. He remembers the cruel words that wouldn't leave his mind.

"They're Dead." Judge says

"They're Gone." Judge continues

"Not only did you fail as a son, but you failed as a soulmate as well." His tone so venomous its like a vipers fangs had pierce his own skin.

Sanji, despite with the helmet on, can see the corners of his mouth twitch up.

Nine years. At nine years old, he was told by his father Judge that his soulmates are dead. He failed them. He should've been there to protect them. But instead he was there when they died.

He remembers breaking out in a loud cry. A cry so loud it could've been heard from miles away.

He falls to his knees, gripping them tightly as tears drip down. Above him Judge scoffs.

"Honestly, why am I even surprised?"

"You obviously don't deserve it" He scoffs with a smirk

"Maybe it would've been better if you weren't even born. Then maybe your soulmates didn't have to die. Maybe they would've been better off without you, to maybe find out that their 4th soulmate is a failure."

Judge turns around, but he mutters the words that would haunt Sanjis mind forever.

"If your purpose isn't to be a soldier, then maybe your purpose it to be a Lab Rat".

(Sorry if Judge is a little OOC).

Spade, please don't apologize for taking Judge to the place he would have gone if Sanji had stayed in Germa. But holy hell that's sad, let's go!

Sanji has been numb since nine years old, trapped in a dungeon in a metal mask with his father leering down at him. Telling him his four soulmates are better off without him because of his being. His weaknesses. He doesn't understand why the four people in front of him have anger towards a man who is blatantly right about him. Sanji thought Reiju was lying after all. Why would his soulmates be alive? Why would Judge let them live?

He remembers what Judge told him very clearly, surprisingly. He failed to save them, he let them die because he was in the dungeon. He was weak and dumb and fragile. He stared down at Sanji and said he shouldn't have been born and Sanji felt himself break and agree silently in own head. That his only used would be as a lab rat, something to cut into and test on.

Chopper shoos everyone out so he can ask Sanji questions when he wakes up which he answers plain and simply. There's no need to lie if they're telling the truth or not, either way they'll all find out. He says that to Chopper, he's used to repeating himself and if they want to know he'll tell them. Chopper frowns and says that's his decision to make but still, as a doctor he's supposed to give his patients privacy from others. Which is new to Sanji who blinks and shrugs before chopper gives him the okay to go back to sleep and he does.

When he comes to next Zoro and Nami are eating with a plate for him beside them. Nami smiles and says they saved him dinner and that they'll need to know his favorites for the party they'll throw when he's allowed to leave the infirmary. Sanji is blinking and confused for the first time in ages as he stares at the plate and tries to remember what real food tastes like, he read plenty of cookbooks but he hasn't eaten real food since he was ten.

"Eat up, Curly. It won't hurt you." Zoro says.

"Right." Sanji whispers.

"Do you need help? We can cut it up if you like or-" Nami starts.

"No, no. I just haven't had to eat since I was ten. Would get in the way or the scientists work, not that it particularly stopped them " Sanji says as he starts cutting into the brown meat thing on his plate and takes a bite.

"What do you mean?" Zoro asks carefully.

"Easier to keep my nutrition coming in from an IV, especially after they replaced my ribs." Sanji shrugs, not really finding the pleasure he did as a child in eating. "Could probably make decent money off me since I have a bunch of Germa science experiments in me." Zoro is still as can be as Nami leaves the room quickly with hands over her mouth.

"You're our soulmate! We aren't sending you anywhere or selling you off." Zoro forces out.

"Judge killed my soulmates. He killed Reiju's too, I'm pretty sure." Sanji says as he eats. "Told me when he moved me from the dungeon to the medical wing I was in."

"I'm right here, in front of you." Zoro argues as he grabs Sanji's arm and anything zing goes into Sanji's body and well that's strange. "Your connection to us is weak. It got damaged when we were kids.

"Oh, he would do that." Sanji says simply as Nami comes in with Luffy and Usopp making the two men look as well as Chopper standing by their legs. "Did something happen?"

"What the hell did Judge do to you?" Luffy demands with anger and fury as he looks at his soulmate.

"I'm a labrat, he experimented." Sanji answers like it's obvious.

"You're a person." Usopp argues.

"I have never been a person." Sanji responds. "Why would you even want me as a soulmate anyway? I'm broken."

"You're not broken, you're ours." Nami says as she brushes his hair with his hand and that's a sensation Sanji hasn't felt in years. Not since his mother died, but this is more intense with the little electric feeling of finding one's soulmate.

"Nami, set course for Germa. We're beating up Sanji's dad." Luffy orders.

"Aye aye, captain." She says as she kisses Luffy's cheek and leaves.

"Is the food good at least?" Usopp asks after a few quiet tense moments.

"I have no idea." Sanji answers as he keeps eating. Zoro laughs as Usopp complains he made it with love and Sanji is confused but finishes a third of his plate before giving up and watching Luffy inhale it like the vacuum tubes in the lab.

#black leg sanji #monkey d. luffy #roronoa zoro #vinsmoke sanji #cat burglar nami #answers #god usopp #usopp #straw hat luffy #nami #zoro roronoa #soulmate au #east blue polycule #labrat!sanji

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picklebunbun · 1 year ago

Text

જ⁀➴₊⊹ 🎀 dazai x male! reader

๋࣭ ⭑

velvet ring

big thief ♥︎

⇄ ◁◁ I I ▷▷ ↻

⁰⁰ ²⁵ ━━●━━━━━━━━ ⁰² ⁰⁸

๋࣭ ⭑

⟢ male! reader, can be read as trans or cis, masculine pronouns

⟢ genre: angst, like MAJOR angst, bittersweet? ending {up to your interpenetration}, so a bit of fluff

⟢ cw: implied homophobia, verbally fighting, crying, self deprecation, dazai isn’t good at communicating, implied su1cide and maybe OOC

⟢ fandom: BSD

⟢ romantic, dazai and [name] are engaged in this

summary: major fight happened between dazai and his fiancée, about him not outwardly expressing his feelings, [name] feels like he’s walking on eggshells around him. Dazai comforts [name] while he’s bawling his eyes out, everything is okay after that

[angel’s note👼🪽: taking a break from the usual requests because I really wanted to do bsd, sorry, also, this is based off my oc with dazai (I made them have marital problems) I wanted to do very angsty stuff too]

𓍢ִ໋🌷͙֒

it was the dead of night, only darkness filled the room, the loud silence of the couple only made the somber attitude worse.

there were days like this were they wouldn’t talk to each other, usually it was after a fight, but not this time. What else could they talk about though? It wasn’t unknown that Dazai could read you like an open book, his intellect was truly terrifying. As for you, it’s hard to talk with your partner when they won’t communicate with you

it often made you sad though, Dazai had no problems talking about himself to his friends, or anyone. The most frustrating part is that he makes light of it whenever you try and talk about it with him. Were things just different when you’re engaged? Maybe he was just on edge because you were both men , but Dazai didn’t seem like the type to care about those things. Maybe it was just you, you did always feel a bit insecure just by being with his fiancée, Dazai was certainly known to be a “playboy”. Being engaged should mean that he ultimately chose you right? I mean, sure, they legally can’t get married but they were basically at that stage

it just made everything so frustrating all the time, how can you expect a healthy relationship without communication?! That’s like a key component of a relationship!

“..hey, [name], are you awake..?”

“….yeah.. I can’t sleep”

“me either.. c’mere for a second”

you looked at him ,confused, until Dazai lazily wrapped his arms around you and you got the idea. The {h/c}-ette hugged him as well, it was pretty easy to tell if Dazai wanted to cuddle. It just felt weird, almost as if he was cuddling with a stranger, or at least that’s what it felt like. Dazai used to say how you had this overwhelming warmth about you, you’re not quite sure if he still thought that now, it was okay I guess, it’s not like you needed the constant praising.

it was a beautiful night though, the last quarter moon illuminated the deepest of shadows in the room, although, it could never hide the amount of darkness around you and Dazai. Even while being wrapped around eachother, you know deep down that you couldn’t feel warmth in this relationship, but little moments like this were nice.

Whenever the moon was half lit, or more specifically, the 3rd quarter moon was when Dazai most liked it , when you asked “why? Why not when it’s fully lit or fully dark?”, Dazai always said the same thing “it’s like how Wednesdays are halfway through the week, the last quarter moon gives me hope for another month, just waiting for a break so I can relax”. Sometimes his messages were so cryptic, you could never really tell if he was going to do something to seriously harm himself or he just says things cause of how meaningful he thinks they are.

Dazai went rambling on about his day at work, you listened, but there was something at the back of your mind. You figured to tell him in the morning, for now, it was time to shut your eyes, there was no point in staying awake now since you could hear the soft snoring that was Dazai’s slumber.

-𖤓°⋆.ೃ࿔*:･

“well, I’m off to work! Bye, my love!”

“wait, Dazai… can I ask you something?”

Dazai turned around, he knew what was about to come, whenever you two fought you set off like a firecracker, completely blinded by how you were feeling, it’s entirely justified too. Usually, Dazai would’ve thought about this in advance, but what could he really say? Expressing himself seriously was not an option, so he’d just have to deal with your red hot anger.

“hm..?”

“do.. you.. hate me?”

“w-what?! Of course not! I could never hate you, I’m engaged to you! How could you think that?”

“you just never talk to me, you talk more to your co-workers than you’re own fiancée!”

“maybe I should get married to them instead them, heh..”

he tried to make a joke, you did not like that

“are you kidding me?! You’re joking about this? Dazai! This isn’t funny! I’m tired of you not talking to me!”

“woah, okay, calm do-“

“HOW THE HELL CAN I CALM DOWN? IT’S LIKE I’M LIVING WITH SOMEONE I DON’T KNOW, YOU DON’T TELL ME ANYTHING!”

“oh, I don’t know [name]! You’re screaming in my face right now, maybe that’s why!”

“THAT’S THE ONLY WAY I CAN BE HEARD BY YOU, DON’T YOU THINK THAT’S A BIT WEIRD, I HAVE TO SCREAM AT MY FIANCÉE BECAUSE HE JUST WON’T LISTEN.”

“YOU NEVER LET ME TALK, YOU JUST TURN IT INTO A BIG ARGUMENT.”

“WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO TALK ABOUT ANYWAYS? YOU NEVER TALK TO ME, I BARELY EVEN KNOW WHAT YOUR FAVORITE DRINK IS, I HAD TO HEAR IT FROM ATSUSHI, ARE YOU KIDDING ME.”

your eyes were getting cloudier by the second, it was frustrating talking to him. Your throat felt like there was a lump of air stuck in the middle, your eyes hurt from the stinging tears that were forming. Your voice was cracking as you felt yourself about to break down

“IS THIS IS WHAT IT’S ALL ABOUT? THE FACT THAT I CAN’T COMMUNICATE?! YOU’VE BEEN GOING FOR MY THROAT FOR THAT?!”

“I-I’VE BEEN TRYING TO TELL YOU FOR MONTHS.. you never listen.”

“well, you ju- woah woah woah, [name]..?”

you broke out into violent sobs, you couldn’t keep on fighting, it was so exhausting just screaming all the time.

“hey, hey, hey, hey, calm down.. why did you suddenly start crying?”

when he asked you, you couldn’t stop weeping even more, everything was just building up and then you just let it all out. You were holding your chest while you cried, it felt like you just got a heart attack, well, at least that’s what it felt like, really, your heart was just shattered like it meant nothing to Dazai. He loved you, your sure he does, but lately it just feels like the more distant he seems, the more distant his loving embrace feels, the more colder it feels when he says “I love you”, like he’s forced to say it.

finally, your teary screams were reduced to nothing more than quiet sniffles, an occasional whimper here and there. You seemed composed enough to form a complete sentence, so Dazai asked you, in the softest tone he has

“why were you crying..?”

“…”

you looked at him, your eyes were wet and so were your cheeks, a red gradient formed around your eyes and nose from wailing so much. You looked around, not wanting to see his face, avoiding any eye contact. The room was so hushed, you could hear the pitter -patter of a bug if you wanted too. It’s no use, he probably wouldn’t leave until you told him.

“.. sometimes I feel like you don’t care about me enough to talk about your feelings, I just wish you would talk to me instead of making jokes, it makes me feel humiliated, like my feelings don’t matter, and then you get mad and argue with me when I don’t know how you feel!”

Dazai stayed silent, not knowing what to say, or even what to think.

“is that it? You’re not going to speak to me?”

silence again

“..okay, I’m just going to get some fresh air..”

the door slammed closed, Dazai was left there to soak in his own feelings. Honestly, the arguments before seemed minuscule compared to this one. He wasn’t a sensitive man, but everything felt so overwhelming, he couldn’t help but feel teardrops staining his cheeks. Dazai always took advantage of the relationship, ignoring your previous arguments, but now if he kept this up, he would lose you, and he’d have no one again.

-𖤓°⋆.ೃ࿔*:･

cricket, cricket, cricket

that’s all you hear at night. At first, Dazai would keep you up with useless conversations about philosophy, to which you lightly punch his elbow, but now it just felt so lonely. Back to back, not looking at each other, laying in bed, you could never face each other after that, you’d have to deal with it tomorrow, but right now, you’re just tired of everything

#dazai x male reader #dazai osamu #bsd dazai #bungou stray dogs dazai #bungou stray dogs x male reader #bungou stray dogs x reader #bungou gay dogs #x male reader #x male y/n #angst #bitterness #bittersweet #dazai x reader

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variousxreader · 1 year ago

Note

I DUNNO IF THIS WAS THE RIGHT INBOX OR NOT AAAAA

CAPTAIN KOBY HEADCANONS MY BELOVED

(Haven’t watched that far into One Piece, I’m at like episode 500 so sorry if these are ooc at all)

General

- Doesn’t like coffee, no matter how much sugar or creamer he puts in it’s always not quite right or to his liking, he’s the same way with some teas.

- Keeps a pocket sketchbook or some sort of small notebook hand, sketches or writes about things he sees or thinks about.

- Favorite animal would be otters, I feel like he would see them frequently while sailing and overall likes them for their smarts, such as using rocks to open shells. Though, he absolutely adores how they hold hands or hold their kin while they sleep or float to not get lost.

- Morning person, definitely. Almost always the first one up and awake, walking around and already doing things while everyone else is still in bed.

- While he has grown up and became stronger, he’s still an easy crier. He gets emotional over things and while he can shove down the need to cry, he finds some place private to let his emotions go. He doesn’t like it when people see him cry publically, he feels like that wouldn’t make him “strong” to anyone anymore, especially with everything he has to go through.

- Struggles with anxiety, and I mean this man is brimming with it. His habit of overthinking can lead him to peril, while he has been scolded for “not doing anything and risking lives” due to it, some of his decisions after that could seem reckless, as he wouldn’t even give a second thought to the first thing that comes to mind.

- Definitely sleeps hugging a pillow, cannot sleep without hugging or holding something.

- Personal headcanon (I don’t know if we ever learn about his family or not) I think that while yes he truly did mistake the Alvida pirate’s boat for a fishing boat, he really was trying to sail away for good that day. People in his life would always tell him that he cries too easily or was too skittish about literally everything, overall bringing him down for years of his life. Yes, it was ok when he was younger, but while this behavior continued, people yelled at him more about how he needed to “not be such a crybaby” and not be so afraid of everything. Even now, he has issues dealing with people yelling or raising their voice at him.

- Another personal headcanon, this fella is so trans masc coded to me. When he found Luffy he was scared at first of course, some random ass stranger popped out of a barrel. But what really sold him is that Luffy didn’t question him at all about how he sounded or looked different, but to be quite frank, Luffy doesn’t seem like the type of person to bring that up anyway. Yes, Luffy saved him and he’s happy about that, but he also saw how he was? How he actually wanted to be? AND inspired his dreams?? The boost of confidence he got from that still fuels him to this day as a captain, that’s why he still looks back to that day, the first day someone saw him for who he actually was and didn’t question him. Still questions to this day if he’s valid or even passing for that matter, but that memory always helps him with dysphoria.

S/O

- Loves spooning, he doesn’t care if he's big or little spoon, he’s perfectly content either being held or him holding you. Though, he does have the habit of being mostly big spoon since he wants to protect you and keep you safe.

- His love language would definitely be quality time, especially with how long he has to be gone for sometimes. When he comes back after whatever duties he had, all he wants to do is spend some time with you doing whatever. Could be something as little as just sitting and holding each other in silence, or something more like going shopping or on a date. Though, his favorite thing to do would probably be being able to snuggle up with the person he cares the most about and rest without having to worry.

- Love hugging his s/o from behind and resting his head on their back or shoulder, depending on his height.

- This man is all green flags, will absolutely pamper his s/o if they’re feeling under the weather and sooth them if they’re not feeling 100%.

Sorry for any spelling mistakes btw :3€

AAAAA GOD TIER HEADCANONS!!!! I love them all!!!!!!

Don't you worry, im crawling through Impel Down, dreading 482 and what comes after 🙃 Ace girl things™️

But AAAAA no SADS JUST KOBY

This man has abused golden retriever energy, like rescued and bounced back and is the healthiest boy now.

He is a literal cinnamon roll!!!!!

God he'd cry over every animal he sees because its so cute. Like "S/O! Look!!!!! At them!!! Can we adopt them?!" Its so hard to say no

I loveeeeeeee the idea of him falling for a Pirate. Man is so upset about it too at first, like he is so in denial about it. Till a silly fanfic esq situation gets them alone and he can't deny the attraction, physical and emotional anymore?! Chefs kiss the drama!

I also love the idea for Trans masc Koby, that Garp is just like Luffy in his acceptance, like hes so confused as to why people would be upset that Koby identifies as a man. "You say you're a man so you're a man. " simple as that.

Also, forehead kisses on his scar!!!!!

Steal his bandana to tie up your own hair, the mans heart nearly stops and he clutches his chest.

Also i love the idea of his S/O trolling Alvida in subtle ways. As petty revenge on Koby's behalf. Like just any chance they get, they fuck with her. Steals her hat or something just goofy shit that you know would drive the unhinged woman mad.

Koby would 10/10 write little love poems in that notepad/ sketch book for his s/o or crush. Not that he'd be brave enough to share. He could be convinced. Lol

Hes a precious little Peony

#one piece x reader #koby one piece #koby x reader #coby x reader #coby one piece

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fictionfixations · 2 months ago

Text

book 7 part ten

what happens if we die in the dream

actually if its imagination whats stopping yuu from being the most op person of this dream team we have going on here

ngl a lil tired of always kinda being the one who cant really do shit because no magic

its not really a big problem its just when i think about it and i kinda wish we did more

yippee floyd in mer form

i might not actually say much cause i saw this when it dropped for jp and i still remember it pretty well and also grinded on a game for hours earlier so im kinda really tired

lmao imagine floyd was a celebrity that just did whatever he wanted so he was kinda like a mystery like oooh whats he gonna do next cause hes so unpredictable

the dude with hella good talent, if hes in the right mood

idk

not floyd waking up the genie ..... and then wasting all his wishes....... well i mean they were probably what he just wanted at the moment so it wasnt a waste to him in comparison to us who could think of a boatload of other things it could be used for, the scale too without worrying of whether its humanly possible

LMAO FLOYD

dude id hate to be bored for all of eternity with nothing to do

i just like.. hate sitting still and doing something so im always like trying to do something and when i cant sit through something i multitask and split my attention and it helps me focus better in a way that probably doesnt make sense it just works

like idk i feel i get appeased easy and cant really understand floyd who would want BOTH the ups and the downs and without the downs theres no point to the ups

but i think.. if i was suddenly really good at everything to where i could just do everything with no amount of effort i think i could get very bored and even the things i found fun id find them boring too because so i reached all the way to the top. what now? what am i supposed to do now?

and you cant really do anything. and what you can, whats the point when you know the outcome? when therse nothing really... new that you experience?

and that sounds horrible.

heahduiawhd

silvers so goofy sometimes

silver: i was drifting off but there was an explosion and you were on fire flying through the air and it woke me up. im very grateful to you for that

like SILVER--

herhasduihwea

the first time i saw this i couldnt stop laughing each and every reveal....

like ??? FLOYD WHY ARE YOU UPSIDE DOWN FLYING ACROSS THE SCREEn

PFF rIDDLE????

HES BEING HELD BACK BY THE TEACHERS 😭

DARKNESS ?????

GO AWAY this is ngl prob one of the more easier ones

AAAAAAAAAAAAA i wasnt ready to see the actual art in icons and shit yet

have you guys seen the art for floyd and jades merform, both normal and groovy theyre so fucking pretty its crazy

i saw it and i couldnt believe it was real i thought it was fanart at first

id pull.............. but im saving for heartslabyul, especially since book 7 updates seem to be dropping by faster

floyd believes in the being able to leave if they arent up to par, easy as that not really seeming to care about attachments made

azul believes the twins would leave him if he wasnt something something i forget interesting probably but like if he tried to like really control them theyd probably leave thats what his belief is i think back in book 4 he said something like that ? or it mightve also been jade i forget

i just stare at floyd rejecting the 'just three of us together' because i mean one darkness acting hella OOC as jade and azul but also the if they did act that way hed ditch easy

and just gotta wonder. is it really that simple for floyd or is it not?

crying floyd abusing the we're in a dream power and doing whatever the fuck

hdeahduidh dreamy magical makeover.....

so pretty

... 😭

........so silly.......

jade wanting to fall into the 'reality' that the dream offers him meanwhile floyds like.. fine. you wanna live in denial? then whatever.

im sure floyd sees it as a sort of betrayal to him that jade believes more in a fake version of himself that acts nothing like him and rejects him who is real but fhsiudhfseh

wheres my no trauma au sob

!!!! sebbie using his signature spell

lightning in water.......................... uhhh

so sebeks spell works better when hes in water, he has more control then when hes on land

is it possible to dream up being perfect with his spell or is it because we're technically in like an area formed by the signature spell of someone that signature spells are different?

i think silver said the drain on him from his signature spell isnt a lot so it should be fine but it makes me wonder

getting so shocked bruh forgets what he was doing and has to think about it again

solid plan?

jade dreaming of the two people closest to him accompanying him wherever he goes and having to realize no actually they would never

jade is... on the subject of ditching whenever

i think what he wants is for them not to go but thats not how it works because they have their own interests and things they want to pursue that they cant just all stay together in a trio

and at the same time he knows that and he has the control to move on from that fake reality

he doesnt really show himself uncomposed or like sort of vulnerable or emotional so its hard to really tell how he feels. im sure people can analyze and figure out but i needed to go to bed like 2 hours ago i do not have the brain cells to think on this

actually gonna pause here because i dont think i have anything to comment on about azuls dream and. well. sleep.

like rn i feel like id just breeze past it with no comment trying to just get it done because sleepy and then go to bed so im gonna hold off until im more awake

anyway dont expect a post about azuls dream from me (if i make a part 11 for azuls dream and then confuse myself because ive been following the parts twst gives us to name posts cause otherwise id forget, id just explode... pancakes with mind) 🤷 i dont think i have a lot of valuable commentary there but i bet people have some good analyses of dreams 👀

#twisted wonderland #twst #twst wonderland #twst book 7 #book 7 spoilers #twst book 7 spoilers #octavinelle #floyd leech #jade leech #octatrio

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imaginespazzi · 6 months ago

Note

Chapter 14

Wow, this was really really perfect Nivi. The narrative you created here is something special and I am forever impressed by you. I don't even know what to say except for that this will be the one and only time I reread the proposal scene 😭😭😭

June 2033

three weeks is crazy Paige but I have a feeling youre about to get your shit together

Ugh I have been through that situation before where its an ambiguous open ended thing where you are waiting for the other person to make a fucking decision and it is absolute torture, way worse than when the bandaid is swiftly ripped off

Clemmy, you gotta let this go girl. Find a nice lightskin French speaking girl from Reno.

Sad Stephie is the worst thing in the world

“That sounds sweet,” Azzi says wistfully, still a little confused why she’s being told everything about Anya’s two mothers. -> Ok Anya we get it your life is perfect, enough!

“you and Miss Buecks- you were just- you were just like Anya’s Mama and Mommy?” -> 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

April 2025 - AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

Candles and roses on the rooftop my heart

“I’ve got you baby,” Paige squeezes her hands gently, mistaking whatever it is that Azzi’s feeling, for simple nerves. -> Ok this is when I started legitimately crying

I'm assuming your concern about being OOC is about Azzi's feelings here about being overshadowed by Paige, not having her own identity etc? I wouldn't worry about it cause at the end of the day we have absolutely no idea how Azzi feels about all this. I'd say on the surface it seems like she's used to it an doesn't really give a shit… but girlie gives nothing ever so we have no idea. The way you have built up the reasoning and explained the inner monologue is done so well and fits into the narrative and her characterization in the story so well … anyway, you're perfect!

flicking open the box to reveal a heart-cut diamond ring, -> well there was your biggest mistake Paige. Azzi deserves a flawless quality princess or radiant cut MINIMUM 3 carats, we know you have the cash girl

“what does that even fucking mean you can’t?” -> wow P wasted no time getting really angry

“you better fucking explain yourself.” -> Im scared mommy

Oh god they had plans for their hard launch

I can feel the absolute betrayal P must feel here. Its almost an embarrassing feeling when your SO has been hiding something internally for a while. You feel like 'wow, I've been walking around like an idiot thinking things are fine'. Its awful

-> Oof this was painful and I cried the whole time I read it. But that is def a sign that you plotted and wrote this PERFECTLY. I feel both mad and sad for both of them, and see both perspectives. It was really balanced and explains SO MUCH. You did your big one here.

June 2033 - FINALLLLLLLLLLY

OMG Stephie wanting to move to New York…. I guess you had to punch us in the gut one last time eh?

I can't believe that you have put us through misery without fluff for like 4 months/chapters you're evil

Reunited and it feeeeeeels good. I can feel this stephie/Paige hug and it feels like pure love

“Well I’m an idiot,” Paige says matter-of-factly -> Acknowledgement is the first step -> OK having Paige call off the deal BEFORE talking to Azzi to show her the trust she feels was genius. Perfect perfect perfect perfect Nivi.

“I love you so much Paige Madison Bueckers and I want everybody to know it. Stephie, our families, our friends, our teammates, the whole world. I love you and I never wanna hide that" -> HALLELUJAH CHOIRS OF ANGELS SIIIIING

I know you said there is one more chapter and then Stephies version - I hope those will be more fun for you to write than the past couple chapters cause I know you were stressed about getting everything perfect. You did such an amazing job of bringing a peak to the conflict, having everything unravel, and bringing it back together. I am in awe!!!! A few things I'd love to see and you are a genius for coming up with the Stephie's version concept cause I think some of these would be so precious to see from her perspective:

Obviously the first time Stephie calls Paige Mommy

Azzi proposing to Paige first, cause lets be real P has PTSD and as far as they've come I don't think she's gonna be rushing to get on one knee again even though she knows she has nothing to worry about

Paige being really annoying and hyper attentive while Azzi is pregnant because she feels bad that she wasn't there the first time

If you MUST give us more angst I think you mentioned potentially Stephie wanting to find out more about her sperm donor. I know P would be really really hurt but would want to be a supportive and loving Mom throughout it.

Stephie going to UConn and having to tell a newly retired Paige that no, she cannot buy a condo on campus and attend every practice and game

Stephie's WNBA draft

🤱🏻

Hello hello, I love that I'm not being yelled at these days (I was gonna say today but I'm replying late as per usual so whoopsies)

Yeeeeahhh inbetween zones, for anything but especially romatic relationships, are literally the worst. Waiting to see which way things will go like no thank you please take me out of my misery

Tbf Clemmy is now in Atlanta but hey maybe she could find a nice Dallas reporter who just understands her tee hee

Anya lowkey a menace I fear

My concern about OOC was more about how Azzi dealt with those feelings and how Paige dealt with that. Like I obviously don't know if Azzi feels that way, but if she did, I think it would just be human nature really to not want to be overshadowed. But I don't think the outcome would've been so dramatic as in I don't think there would've been a whole failed proposal to break-up pipeline lol.

LMAO not the ring critique

Y'all gotta like me a lot to have stuck around these last 4 months stuck on the same old angst on the same fucking day like wow that's some patience

I am actually very excited to get back to the fluff and light-heartedness (well if that's what happens next tee hee) and chapters that don't "mean as much"

Some of these things will absolutely me in the next chapter and Stephie's version :)

#ask #fic talk #notes time with nivi 💅🏽#🤱🏻 anon my personal jester <3 #y'all kinda live in my head with some of the thing you suggest

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anya-nya-nya · 2 months ago

Text

A work I wrote last summer and suddenly caught a vibe with. Not sure how popular x reader fics are in this obscure fandom and if there are any at all but suddenly felt the urge to share it.

GN! reader, (really) insecure! reader, angst, hurt/comfort, could be viewed both as romantic and platonic, there are some hc of mine about Terra's past that could be found unsuitable/OOC. words: 2.8k

Puffy clouds that get thicker and lower to the earth surrounds and gobbles up that part of the light that was striking through the window to your room, now leading you in the cold semi-visible darkness. It's like an inkpot flips over the canvas of the sky and these big torn pieces of cotton manage to absorb most of the black ink, leaving the sky itself in dirty plain gray while taking all the messy darkness to themselves. The way that little light leaves your silent room so quickly and drastically for some reason feels akin to the way the last hope crashes inside your head.

Nothing. Nothing works. These words that you said for yourself were so simple yet the precise incision they made right in your heart was much deeper than any detailed description of hate you will ever hear from anybody else. Cause the outside hate is building up on inside hate. Of course no one will love you if YOU don't love yourself. Such a simple truth yet so much more painful.

The moment your gaze shifted at the mirror on your desk you found yourself still sitting on the floor with your back pressed to the wall. The reflection of your body was as pathetic as the original in this world, surrounded by the mess you made in another hysterical haze. The makeup tools, brushes, a few accessories - all were tossed around after you frantically threw everything on the floor.

Nothing. Nothing of these stupid things will ever work on you no matter how many of them you will use and how much you will improve your skill. It's like trying to decorate some old rotten flower without changing the ground of it, without eradicating the bigger inner problem that didn't let the flower bloom. And in your case the ground - or the base - that really needs to be changed is your face.

When the main storm was just gaining strength on the outside, yours already passed, leaving you drained out of both emotions and power. As you slowly get up on your weak legs to get closer to the desk and sit down, your eyes lifted to the mirror again. It's as hypnotic as a fire - you know it's hot and hurts yet the urge to push your hand a little bit closer is inexorably pulsing in your head. Yet the urge to see your reflection while knowing nothing changed is longing in your mind.

Powder eyeshadows are smeared, gathering in the lines of your eyelids, making them look heavier and more wrinkled. The long and still a little wet dark trails of mascara on your cheeks in the dark looks like war scars. And the pallor of the skin caused by all that crying contrasted with the blush so much you looked like a clown.

You didn't even have the strength to turn away, watching with disgust as your face crumbled up in an expression of hopeless sadness. It hurts, no matter how much you try to beat the acceptance of your appearance in your head. At that time you only were able to accept the fact that you can't do anything about it and this pinching pain would be stuck forever somewhere deep in your soul, hurt, and mind. Reminding you. Making you turn away as you pass large crowds of people your age. Stopping you from doing group photos cause the only moments you are not afraid of the camera is when it's your own phone that you can hold just perfectly to give your face the right angle. And even in that moment you still will feel the said ruthless thoughts.

Little sobs would have probably turned into another cry, just much more weak and quiet this time, if not a few knocks on your door. Not only the sound itself makes you jump on your places and fall on the wood floor again, but the tone of these knocks. Living in a charisma house for a long time you notice this little unique difference that separates your neighbors, as everyone has their own way to knock on the door. Or not knock at all and just burst in, if we talk about Saru.

And right now this acknowledgement just makes you even more anxious because these elegant and delicate but surely petulant knocks belonged to Terra. Yeah, you probably were pretty loud.

"For goddess sake, what happened?! Terra-kun was sure you had a charisma break or something!" - Not waiting for any invitation, he opens the door himself and steps in, letting light from the corridor draw your hunched frame out of darkness.

'Well, definitely a break, but not that charismatic one..' - You thought for yourself and maybe would even manage to chuckle if the situation wasn't that awkward. But right now you preferred to cover yourself in some weak attempt to hide the ugliness of both your trembling body and hurted soul.

Hands cast shadow on your face, soothing you with this little resembling a wall to hide behind. Only for a second the small triangle of free space between your index and middle finger shifts to your eyes, letting you see how a frown that marries Terra's otherwise attractive features quickly shifts into a more worrying expression. His brows were still furrowed yet the hardness and irritation in his voice leaves as some soft tiredness fills it instead.

"Ha.. And what is this?" - He closed the door behind himself and kneel to get on your level. The genuine interest in his demanding question added a new feeling of guilt to all the other innumerable painful thoughts that pierced you like barbs. And it takes some time for you to answer as you really tried to find the right words between this sharp self-destructing shit.

"Nothing, I'm sorry.. It's.." - It doesn't feel right but you were too tired to actually explain, and too embarrassed to drag someone as Terra in the mess of your ill head. - "It's nothing to worry about, really.."

"That's why your stuff is, like, absolutely trashed around?" - A small scoff escaped his lips and you can imagine him looking around, despite having hands on your face again. - "Wait, why did you break almost all your makeup?! Did you throw away my present too?!"

No. Of course not. It's surprising that even in such piteous hysteria that completely fogs your brain in the moment, the bright palette that was gifted you by Terra remained untouched. And you were sure it's not a coincidence as the few brushes you bought together not that long ago also were alright, unlike other ones that you get even before moving in here.

"And what's that mean? Don't wanna use anything besides things you get from the great Terra or what?" - Maybe if his tone would be more bright and sweet as usual you would let these words pass as something he would actually say. Yet the nitpicking irony that he addressed to you was as clear as the bright line of light from the corridor under the door. The small space between your hands and cheeks only allowed you to see this piece of door, your own trembling laps and Terra's one too as he moved back to sit with you after checking the remains of makeup tools on your desk.

"I'm sorry.." - You mumbled under your nose, trying to ignore the pinching pain in the corners of your eyes. Blinking quickly didn't help as a few small drops still fell down, blurred dried mascara and stained your palms in black wet spots.

"And now you sound like Obake-kun. Stop this." - Another sigh ringed before you felt his hands on yours in a gentle yet commanding gesture. He pushes them out of your face and despite the will to cover it again flare up in your chest, the will to fight back remains silent. Without any resistance you let Terra drop your hands to your laps, before your hurted eyes meet his. Before you start to cry again.

"Why is it so useless? Why AM I so useless?" - Your voice comes out much pathetic and weaker than you thought it would be, yet you didn't care for now. The emptiness after the first breakdown already gets filled again with frustration and now it bursts out. There wasn't the same raw rage, only helpless resignation. - "Nothing and never will work for me, and I will forever be ugly! Why should I even try? To embarrass myself with all these things that don't help? To let people see: 'oh, hey, I'm ugly and I think I can cover it! See, I look like shit but I put a bow, don't you think I look pathetically cute now?' I don't want to look both ugly AND stupid!"

The lack of air in your lungs made you stop for a second. While you were talking, the visage in front of you started to warp and straightened out only as you took deeper breaths. And when you looked up at Terra's face again, already with an open mouth to start ranting all over, you stopped, freezing in place.

His eyes, always so vibrant and bright, glowing with the sweetest pink even in dark, now seem so hollow and plain as if all this time you kept roasting him and not yourself. He was looking right at you, your soul, and despite you not managing to say all the worries out loud, it feels like he understood everything. Understood too well for a person with his level of confidence…?

"I.. I'm sorry, I shouldn't-" - You start again just to be interrupted by his voice, the tone is much more quiet than usual. Maybe you can even use the word 'sensitive'..?

"For how long do you feel like this?"

"I.. I don't know.." - The suddenness of his question takes you aback as you were fully prepared to hear some kind of lecture about having low self-esteem. - "Sometimes it's getting better, sometimes much, much worse.. But never leaving completely."

His lips parted slightly then pressed tightly again as if Terra wanted to ask something more but changed his mind. Or maybe because he already knows all the answers. Know why you never told it to anyone and why it doesn't even seem like you have such a struggle while talking with him or anyone else.

"It will. You just need to remember one simple thing, one truth.." - with these words his hands slowly wrapped around your shoulders, embracing you in the warmth of his body. And while some kind of confusion runs through your mind you still instinctively lean closer, yearning for some comfort.

"That nothing.. nothing will work so I should not give a fuck?" - With a small sob you latched your hands around his neck. The light scent of his perfume, softness of the fabric of his costume and direct closeness of his face at the same time calms you and pushes you closer to another small cry. Being around him was both so soothing and exciting..

"No.." - His little chuckle tickles your ear as Terra starts slowly caressing your shoulders. - "That you just need to be yourself. There's no point in hiding and dreaming about being truly loved somewhere in your fantasies. Focus on yourself, and find the right people who will show you how pretty you actually are."

"But.." - the weak protest quickly gets shushed down:

"Just do not fall in the rabbit hole of fake self-love, okay? You get so frustrated because you're trying to use all these things.." - He pulled his head a little bit back to show with his gaze all the broken makeup tools around your figures. - "To hide yourself. You think if you cover yourself you will manage to fall in love with the resulting product. Don't. It's not a mask or a wall to hide behind. It's a tool that highlights the beauty you already possess. Got it?"

For a second you raise your hand to wipe another tear from your cheek yet stopped, not really wanting to smudge ruined mascara even more.

"So all this time I tried to highlight the thing I didn't see and got frustrated when I only noticed the disguise..?" - As you drop your hand back weakly, instead Terra's one shifts closer to wipe your tear. A soft fingertip of his thumb slowly strokes your cheek and it takes a lot of strength to suppress the urge to just close your eyes and lean to the touch. Cause you still wanted to look at his face, to watch this strange new expression that adores his features right now.. You never know he can be that sensitively gentle both with his touches and eyes.

"Something like that, yes. Glad you understand it that quickly." - This little smile that accompanied his words sent a ticklish thought to your mind that you're probably the first in this house to whom he smiled like that. Or maybe beyond the walls of this residence too..

Yet instead of some dizzy pleasing feeling only a slight worry settles in your abdomen, as you think more and more about his speech.

"..You sound like you know what you are talking about.."

Terra was already on one knee, standing up, as he suddenly stopped and lowered his eyes to meet you again. His gaze was unreadable at this moment yet then he proceeded to get up.

"Aren't you a curious little thing?" - The returned sweet tease in his voice almost physically made you feel some push. On the cusp of another panic attack you grasp the fabric of his suit jacket, not wanting to let him go.

"No, wait! I'm really.. Terra, please.." - Blackness crowding in on your vision as he stands up completely, towering over you lithe frame. - "You can't just leave now.. why are you.."

An unspoken question hung in the thick tense atmosphere of the air. Maybe you should have got up too to look at Terra's face more properly.. yet wasn't able to pried off yourself from him, arms clenched tightly around his hips.

"All in due time, alright..?" - His hand lowered to pat your head, fingering at your messy hair. It soothes you a little, yes, yet even through the comfiness of his touch and confidence of his voice you can hear undertones of longing sadness in every of his actions. - "I.. Don't think I'm ready to tell you the very deep part of the great Terra's story.. yet."

"Even though I opened mine..?" - Doesn't matter that your entire pose and voice smack of a little desperation right now. Or probably not even 'a little'.

His hands flailed a bit before moving to your face to tuck a few strands of hair behind your ears and then Terra stooped.

"Well, then it means you're much stronger and brave than me." - Gently yet so firmly, his lips pressed against your forehead. More than in a quick kiss, as there was enough time for the feeling of his lips to imprint in your memory forever. Long locks of blonde hair flowed to your shoulders as some sort of curtain that hided your faces from the outside world. Your body hummed in response as you froze, not able to even take another breath. - "Huhu, can you believe that? The great Terra-kun just confirms you're better than him at something! Aren't you flabbergasted?"

You were more than that. Your mind is being flooded with a mix of different thoughts as you want to suddenly ask even more questions, hear even more about him, and know.. Just know more about who Terra is.

Yet before you managed to open your mouth and speak he was already on the doorstep, tilting his head to the side. Pink bright meets your meek plain one as he chuckled.

"Now, now.. I think you need some time to gather yourself, no?" - Terra looked around your dark room before moving his gaze back at yours. There was the usual playful taunting in his words yet now it doesn't feel as if he was trying to push you or fence himself. - "After that, go to my room. Let's play a little, okay? Terra's feeling really generous today, so consider yourself lucky that he will give you some of his things!"

It probably wouldn't take so long for you to get ready as the chance to stay alone in this cold room for another few minutes feels too depleting. So instead of saying anything you just nod, his smile reflects on your lips.

..That wouldn't be the first time you will have a little party in his room in late evening, yet it definitely would be the first time when you would feel so intimate with him. And who knows how close he will let you get during this or any other nights like that..

#Feel like the only person who would read this is gonna be me but alright #charisma house Terra #terra charisma house #Terra x reader #charisma house #charisma house x reader

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