#and SURE ENOUGH the definitions that came up did uhh... not align with how i thought it was used!!!!

[frankenfossil]

for the space related asks, ⭐️ & 🛰?

whee!! thank you!

⭐️ Star - Do you have a favourite character? If so, why are they your favourite?

Oh no a very hard question actually... Probably the answer is evidently Emily and Dee since I spend more time thinking and writing about them than any of my other characters. POSSIBLY if I had to choose out of the two of them I'd pick Dee because I am kind of a sucker for a sad sack loser with emotional problems and I deeply enjoy thinking up situations to make him happy and/or traumatised. I also enjoy overthinking his powers and what kinds of things I have to tweak about physics for him to exist with the functions I've given him. (Such as recently I've thought of new objections to the plausibility of time travel but I think I've also thought of a way to resolve them storywise which I personally think is very funny, but if I learn more about physics before it comes up it might change.)

I love Zoe a lot but she is much harder to write and to draw for some reason? I feel like she is clear in my head but never comes out right somehow. It's weird.

I have other characters from other stories that I love too... another favourite who is unrelated to this story is a guardian angel whose first guardee died prior to the story beginning; clearly the angel fucked up a bit with that but gets a second chance, but then is pretty lousy with the second person too!! Trying to push them to fill the shoes of the first person.

Recently I found out that the person who inspired my first 'canon nonbinary' character (I didn't know that was a thing at the time tho) has since come out as for real nonbinary, which obviously makes a lot of sense lol. It was mostly about this one very cool jacket they owned. But that character was a strong fave for a long time... the story was terrible and really problematic lolol but ah well. Probably all the good parts of that character have gone into Dee and Zoe anyway.

I LOVE THEM ALL ;_;

🛰 Satellite - Do you have a character who is very dependent on another character? Is it healthy or unhealthy?

WELL. Again... Emily and Dee are each other's most emotionally intimate relatinship... Dee again is more dependant on Emily than vice versa, and less healthy about it, although I would say it's overall good for them both (but I would say the healthy/unhealthy balance varies over time and may be affected by external factors...).

Zoe is still on the periphery a bit but.............. well there are/will be some dynamics of questionable health there. She doesn't have particularly healthy attachments and is still not exactly over her previous friendship dynamic of being the second best friend of two besties who were shitty to her, and is still kind of stuck in the mode of 'trying to be exactly what the other person wants so they will like me'. Which Emily is not really aware of because she doesn't ever do that. Although the kinds of things Zoe plays up to try to be friends with her probably aren't as bad as what she has done to get OTHER people to like her, and she's relatively confident that Emily isn't going to use any of the stuff she knows against her.

Again, in terms of OTHER characters I have a couple where they are both disabled in various ways but one has more problems with mobility and communication than the other, and also had to be rescued from a kind of slavery by the other, which naturally gives the rescuer some pause for thought about the power dynamic there and whether she's ~taking advantage~ by falling in love with her at the same time (I mean by the time she even gets aware enough of her feelings lolol, gotta sort of pine without realising first!!)... but I'm trying to write that one as pretty healthy tbh, they're just trying to support each other through a difficult world yknow. And anyway the one who used to be a slave deliberately tried to square that debt immediately so it wouldn't be hanging over them both and is now mostly consumed with a quest for revenge lol. But also love.

I am going to.... stop rambling for now lol!!

[ooeyspace]

reminiscing ;; akaashi keiji

ship: akaashi x gn!reader

wc: 1.5k

warnings: ANGST ANGST ANGST . that it that’s the warning.

summary: there’s a saying that goes, “some people are in your life for a reason, a season, or a lifetime.” Akaashi knew you should’ve only been around for a season, but he found himself hoping you’d be around for a lifetime.

a/n: imma say it rn ..... im sorry im sorry this one made me so sad ... i really hope u guys like it!! its my first real oneshot that I actually put effort into, so if you guys have any tips or criticisms i am all ears!! pls enjoy <3

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“I think we should break up.”

Akaashi refused to look up at you as he had spoken the very words he had been dreading and you had been expecting. Both of you knew from the get go that your time together was going to be short considering your paths for the future didn’t really align. Even so, you decided to spend as much time together as possible before going your separate ways. Before you knew it, two years went by in a flash -- graduation had passed and your time together was almost up. Even though you had expected those words to fall from his lips, hearing them didn’t hurt any less.

Those few seconds of silence felt like hours as he waited to hear your response. He used that time to glance up at you from his spot on his bed. In addition to the quiet tears that fell from your eyes, he was shocked to see a small smile tugging at your lips. You lifted your eyes from the ground to look at him.

“Well, we had a good run didn’t we, Keiji?” All the emotions Akaashi had been stifling came out in that moment as deafening sobs that radiated throughout his chest. You moved to sit next to him on his bed as the two of you sobbed in each others arms. That night, you had fallen asleep comfortably in his bed for the last time, not wanting the morning to come because you knew that the moment the morning light shines through his window you would have to say your final goodbyes.

----------

Years have passed since that day, but not a single day has gone by where Akaashi hasn’t thought of you. He tried his best to move on and live his life, but he just couldn’t help it; he saw you in everything. Sometimes he’d hear your favorite song on the radio, or he’d pass by a store window and see something he just knows you’d love. Hell, he even thought about you at work, a tiny sliver of him hoping that you’d come crashing in asking how much longer before he finishes his assignments. He doesn’t necessarily regret breaking up with you; he knows that was best for both of you in order to truly reach your fullest potentials. But still..... a part of him wondered what life might’ve been like if he had been just a little more selfish that day.

The sound of a buzzer had brought him back to reality. Down below he saw his best friend Bokuto screaming and running around with his teammates.

They must’ve won he thought. He picks himself up out of the seat, walks down the bleachers, and moves towards the area surrounding the changing rooms to wait for his friend when he stops dead in his tracks. There’s no way right? You had gone abroad for school.... why were you here? Why were you here right now? As the shock wears off he realizes that it most definitely is you by the way the butterflies in his stomach begin to flutter. 

He remains motionless while tracking your movements, afraid that if he were to move you would disappear like the countless other times he had seen you in his dreams. You looked absolutely radiant; just as beautiful as before of course, but there was something about you that was different this time that he couldn’t quite place. With light feet and slow steps he made his way towards you until you had started making steps of your own in a different direction. Akaashi stopped and waited. You had that oh so beautiful smile on your face that brought redness to his cheeks in an instant. His mind was flooded with all the different memories where he had been the one to put that smile on your face, but the one he remembers most clearly was smile you gave him the day he confessed:

“’Kaashi, ‘kaashi, look! I actually passed!” You ran up to him excitedly holding your English test in your hands trying to catch him before he walked into the gym for practice.

“I told you you could do it,” he said nonchalantly, despite the evident blush painting his features.

“But I didn’t think I could and now here I am! And its all thanks to you! Now we just HAVE to celebrate!” You continued to ramble on about what you could do to commemorate your surprising achievement when Akaashi finally had enough and put both of his hands on your shoulders, making you stop mid sentence with wide eyes.

“I’ll take you on a date to celebrate. How does that sound?” At first, Akaashi had said it just to get you to stop talking so he could go to practice. It had just fallen out of his mouth and now here he was with both of his hands on your shoulders, having just accidentally confessed AND asked you out. He immediately took his hands off and looked away in embarrassment with extreme heat rising in his cheeks.

“Uhh only if you want to I mean it was only a suggestion if you don’t want to that’s totally fine I wouldn’t want to ruin our friendship--” You gently grabbed his hand cutting off his adorable rant causing him to look up at you. Immediately his heart softened as he saw your wide smile.

“I would love that ....... Keji.”

Snapping himself out of his brief daydream, he continued to watch you fondly as your smile grew bigger and your steps much quicker. His heart sank when he came to the realization that those memories he cherished were just that -- only memories. Your brilliant smile and excited steps weren’t because of him this time. All those days you ran to him with that captivating expression of yours on your face -- they were all just distant memories. This time you were running up to Atsumu Miya, congratulating him on the win and saying how glad you were to finally see him play in person.

Akaashi felt like such a fool; of course you had moved on. You were amazing in every sense of the word it was only natural for someone else to see that too and act on it. 

He watched as you gave Atsumu those tight hugs you used to give him on a bad day. He watched as you kissed Atsumu on the cheek like you used to when he would drop you off on your porch after a date. He watched as you gave Atsumu that same radiant smile you gave him the day he confessed. Hand in hand, you and Atsumu began walking towards the exit of the gym chatting light heartedly, completely and blissfully unaware of the shattering of Akaashi’s heart.

The tears he had been holding back began welling up in his eyes as you finally glanced over in his direction. Mild shock overcame your features for just a moment and then it softened into a subtly melancholic expression. You certainly weren’t expecting to see him here and you were sure he wasn’t expecting to see you given the subtle facial expressions he had that you knew like the back of your hand. Akaashi stared back at you, trying his best to remain stoic only giving you a small wave. Of course, just like he knew you would and just like he was dreading, you gave him a smile. However, it wasn’t anything like the ones you would give him before. This one was small and weak; almost apologetic. Akaashi watched as you turned away continuing your lively chat with Atsumu like nothing had happened. He watched your figure disappear once again, but this time he knew it was really for good. He finally let the tears fall from his eyes and released the breath he didn’t even know he was holding as Bokuto walked out as energetic as always.

Akaashi quickly composed himself and congratulated Bokuto on the win. When Bokuto questioned his friend’s slightly red eyes and wet cheeks, Akaashi dismissed his concerns by saying something about allergies and quickly changed the subject to their plans after the game in order to keep Bokuto distracted from the pain that was evident his face.

After finalizing their plans, the two said their goodbyes and split up to find their cars. For once in his life, Akaashi’s mind was completely empty. He wasn’t thinking of you or anyone or anything else; just taking in the information his eyes were seeing and mechanically moving in the direction of his car. Finally reaching his destination, he paused his actions with his hand on the car handle and looked up to the sky. Letting his tears flow freely, he smiled

“We really did have a good run, didn’t we y/n?”

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a/n: IM SORRYYY I KNOW I KNOW i just have really been craving some akaashi angst ..... hope y’all enjoyed!

[hockeybabestars]

New Year, Same Us - Auston Matthews - Eight

a/n: im going out of town for a football game/visiting friends this weekend and i’m not bringing my computer so i thought i would post this early for yall!! thank you to every person who has been keeping up with this story and liking or reblogging! you mean so much to me! i hope yall enjoy the longest chapter of new year same us, to make up for the shortest in chapter seven (yikes!) we’re almost through with this story yall! we have a lil flashback in this chapter! (in italics) and finally have the prompt that started it all! (in bold)

September 18, 2018

Austons P.O.V

“Aus?!” She yelled from her room. “Are you almost ready?” 

I had been ready for 20 minutes and was sitting on our couch waiting for her to finish up. “Yeah I’m ready now!” I rolled up my sleeve to get a better look at my watch, “are you almost ready? It would look really bad if my plus one made us late.” I snicker as I heard her heels clack, the light to the hallway going off simultaneously.

 I got up from the sofa as she entered, and boy, was I going to have to keep an eye on her tonight. She looked stunning. The light pink dress cinched her curves in all the right places, and her hair was in waves. She was like something out of a dream. She didn’t bat an eye as she went to the kitchen looking for the keys. I came up behind her and dangled them in her face, and before she could snatch them I pulled them away. She reached for them again but I held them behind my head, and suddenly she was all too close to my face. I glanced down at her lips, wanting to kiss them badly but then I quickly diverted back up to her eyes. “You look stunning (Y/N).”

I could feel her breath hitch against my own lips and the minty flavor of her gum hit my nose before she smiled genuinely, her signature smile where her lips tilted a little crooked at the corners, and it made my heart flutter. “Thanks Aus, you don’t look too bad yourself.” 

She stepped away and we did a once over of our apartment, making sure we didn’t forget anything. I grinned and opened our front door for her, watching her walk as she went. I locked the door and we went down the hall towards the elevator, “just out of curiosity,” she toyed with a strand of her hair, eyes flicking up to me through long lashes, “how much did your suit cost?” She was smirking at me and I couldn’t resist really. “Wanna bet on it?” The elevator dinged for us to get on and she rolled her eyes, “do I even have a choice?”

“No use fighting at this point babydoll.” I flashed her my signature smirk as the floor indicator ticked down.

“Does that really work on girls?” She played.

“Apparently not on you.” I laughed but deep down I kinda hoped it did.

“It’s because I know you better than you know you.” She stated matter of factly. She did though. That was the scary part. We hit the first level and strolled out, before she added thoughtfully, “did you want it to work on me?”

I felt my cheeks flame, and was thankful she was walking slightly ahead of me, “uhh,” I faltered before gaining my confidence back, “depends on if you wanted it too.” 

She stopped for a split second, giving me a chance to catch up before she continued walking, this time leaning into me a little bit, “maybe.”

My heart jumped at that, “Still wanna make that bet?” I opened the car door for her. She thanked me and I hopped in the drivers side.

“Am I betting high or low.” She gave me side eye as she buckled her seat belt and we were off.

“What do you think?” I grinned. There’s no way she gets this. “Do you know your suits? What brand am I even wearing?” I smiled. 

I could feel her eyes on me as mine were on the road, and she reached over and ran her finger down the lapel of it, feeling the fabric. I tried to concentrate on the road but she was leaned over the console examining the details of my suit, looking for anything that would give away the designer or price. I needed to think fast, I could tell this would be a long night already and it hadn’t really even begun. 

I swatted her hand away, “hey stop it! that’s cheating.” I smiled and looked over at her as we hit a light. She placed her palm flat against my chest as she mocked me, pulling her lower lip into a pout. I could feel my heartbeat pick up and surely she could too.

 “Just seeing what I have to work with Aus.” The nickname melted off her tongue like butter and really I only like it when she says it anyway. The light flashed green and I grabbed her hand off my chest, entwining our fingers together and resting them over the middle console. “I’m betting high, what like $7,000? Is that too much for a suit? What is it Gucci? Aren’t you like their poster boy or something?” 

I laughed at her accusations and she squeezed my hand a little too hard. “Ow! Jeez woman that hurt. Those are my money makers!” 

She swatted at me again, “sorry not sorry. Isn’t like half your closet Gucci or something. I feel like I should know this but I’m really drawing a blank here.”

A smile crept up onto my face. She’s cute when she’s thinking too hard. She always over thinks or over-analyzes everything. It’s like it’s written in her DNA or something.

She looked over at me and I attempted to keep a straight face, “it’s Gucci isn’t it.” I nodded. “$7000 close?”

I kept a tight lip. She turned towards me, “it’s fuckin higher isn’t it!!!” Her voice raised towards the end and I burst out laughing. 

“$10,000.” Her jaw dropped, “what do I get since you couldn’t guess it?”

“I can’t believe you spent $10,000 on a suit.” She was in awe, “that’s like a trip to Europe, or a down payment on a car, what are you psycho?”

“Are you really belittling me right now?” I chuckled, “you guessed $7,000 that’s just as high!!!” 

“Yeah but-“

“But what? $7000 okay to drop but $10 is too much?” Her face went blank as she tried to process it and I howled as her eyebrows knit together. She was something else.

“I hate you.” She fought to keep the smile off her face.

“Your mouth says otherwise.” She covered her lips with her hands as we pulled up to the venue, she finally pulled them off as we valeted the car. And as we walked into the rustic barn I elbowed her a bit, grinning wildly, “seriously though, what’s my prize since you didn’t guess right?” 

She linked our arms as we tried to figure out where we were sitting and smirked at me, “Bragging rights.”

“I bet we could make it a little more interesting.”

“Oh of course you bet huh.”

“You owe me a dance.”

She pouted. “Aus-“ 

“Nuh-Uh. We’re dancing later, it’s the least you can do.”

I can tell she wanted to press me further but instead she just nodded, “Okay.”

“Wow, I didn’t think that would be this easy. I need to win bets more often.” I knew how much she hated dancing. It was because she had two left feet and literally tripped over herself on any normal day. She didn’t like to embarrass herself. The truth was, she wasn’t a bad dancer at all. She could dance fine by herself, especially after a drink or two. But she was clumsy enough that partner dancing wasn’t really her thing. I always try to get her to at weddings and events but she doesn’t budge. She's stubborn as hell, but it’s why I love her. She doesn’t change for anyone. Not even me. I always ended up finding some random bridesmaid to dance with at these things, but tonight she was mine. 

We wandered further into the barn stopping for a few pictures together before the ceremony as Paige snapped away on her phone and a film camera as well. Mitch and Steph found their way to us too and soon enough we had group pictures with the six of us, then guys, girls, and finally as we finished up it was about time to find our seats. 

The Tavares wedding was really going to be something. Greenery was everywhere and there was a modern feel to their set up even with the more natural elements. I put a hand on (Y/N)’s lower back and guided her to our seats on the grooms side. We were in the middle back and slid into the refurbished white bench with ease, the rest of our group following suit, filing into the row after us. I wrapped an arm around the back of (Y/N)’s seat as she crossed her ankles, leaning into me while we waited for the ceremony to start. A comfortable silence settled over us and somehow both our free hands found each other on their own accord. Soon enough she was playing with my fingers, clasping and unclasping them, tracing the outline of my hand and holding our palms up to watch our hands align. It was something we had done plenty of times before. Whenever we got bored or were watching Netflix or at family events. It was inevitable that our hands would meet. Her hand was a lot smaller than mine, and we quietly played a game of thumb wars before the loud chattering settled down. I could hear the preacher say to rise, so I gently grabbed her hand in mine and lead her up. She was still leaning into me as we waited for the bride to make her way down the aisle. 

John and Aryne chose to say their own vows although short and sweet. It was nice. Being here, celebrating them. (Y/N) was the perfect wedding date. She was classy and reserved when needed but could definitely open up and make conversation with anyone who approached her. And soooo many people approached her. Which was crazy because she was the plus one. But that’s just (Y/N), stealing everyone’s heart the way she stole mine. 

It had to be obvious at this point. I thought my incessant flirting and annoying her every chance I got would be enough to give her the hint, but apparently not. I thought that living together was another sign that maybe I was kind of into her but she just took it at face value since it was the most logical option. I think I really realized how I've felt this past May. I mean, it was there all along, but I didn’t admit it to myself until then. She started hooking up with some random guy at college, and when I walked into some kid in our apartment it made my stomach lurch. I don’t think I’ve ever felt that sick in my life.

I had talked to her earlier in the day. We were on a long road trip in the west and I was excited to get back and see her. 

It felt like maybe things had been changing between us lately, and I wanted to get back and test the waters a little just to see if she even felt a tiny bit the same. It was easy with her. I missed her like crazy, constantly texting to see what she was up to, and sending snapchat updates of what the boys and I were doing, just because I knew she would send a picture back and I could see that gorgeous face again. 

Our flight was delayed because weather in Toronto was pretty bad.  And we didn’t end up landing till pretty late. I texted her when we landed at 12 that I would be home soon. I never got a response so I figured she was asleep. 

What I didn’t expect, when I came home at 1am on a Saturday, was some random guy going through the cupboards in our kitchen with just his boxers on. 

“Uh who are you?” I had a sour taste in my mouth.

The guy looked up from his position on the floor, going through the bottom cabinets and I swear almost shit himself. “Oh my god you’re Auston Matthews.” I frowned. Oh jeez a hockey fan, how rare in this city! He shook his head in disbelief and stood up, walking over to me and put his hand out for me to shake. I took it, begrudgingly. “I’m Reese, it’s really nice to meet you, although I never thought it would be like this.”

I scoffed, but he didn’t seem to notice. He found (Y/N)’s post it notes on the kitchen island and pulled one off handing it to me, “do you think you could sign this for me?”

“What the hell is going on here? Reese I thought-” (Y/N) ‘s voice sounded a little groggy, like she might’ve been sleeping, but when she came out of her room, only clad in black lace underwear and a t-shirt I presumed to be his, my breath caught in my throat. One because she looked damn good. And two because she was wearing his clothes and practically nothing else. I felt a fire in my chest. I swallowed hard and tried to remain neutral. 

When she finally realized I was home her eyes went wide. “Oh, uh, hey Aus.”

“(Y/N) you didn’t tell me your roommate was the Auston Matthews.” This guy was still here?

She uncomfortably glanced over at me. Yeah me too. “Uh roommate? Try best friend.” I said smugly.

“I didn't see a reason to bring it up.” She said. Ouch that hurt.

“Sorry Reese bro, but I’m gonna have to ask you to leave, I really need to get to bed and I’m sure your friend (Y/N) here can fill you in on all the dirty details later. Have a great night.” I walked past them and into my room, shutting the door. Trying to get ready for bed without my head exploding from everything that just happened. I waited until I could hear him leave before I went and knocked on her door.

“What Matthews?” I opened it slightly and peered in, leaning on the door frame and watching her fix her bedding a bit, now in another old t-shirt. 

“Matthews huh? Can I come in?” She nodded and crawled under the white comforter patting the spot next to her. I sat down on top of it before rethinking this whole situation. “Actually can we go to my room?” I wasn’t really comfortable that they just fucked in here and wasn’t too keen on sitting in the bed that someone else got to touch her in. 

She nodded and as I grabbed her hand, I felt tingles. I didn’t dare to look behind me as I lead her to my room. We crawled under the covers and sat against the headboard.

 We stared up at the ceiling a bit before she turned to me. “You’re so dramatic.” 

I looked over to her and I could tell she was slightly upset. “But I know that’s not exactly the most fun thing to come home to and I’m sorry.”

“S’okay. Were you ever gonna tell me you were kinda seeing someone?” My jealousy got the best of me, and I couldn’t help but let it seep into my voice a little as I ask.

“No not really, you never tell me when you do...So.” She shrugged, and I tilted my head back a little, groaning.

“You don’t tell people we’re friends either?” It sucked knowing that maybe she was ashamed of me for whatever reason. I always told everyone about her. I loved to talk about her and how proud I am of her for working hard in college and her internship which she officially secured, and just being the amazing, kind hearted person that she is.

“It’s different… I- I don’t tell strangers or people I just met or at least until I have a grasp on their personality. I stopped doing that a long time ago. I can never tell if they want to be friends with me, or have a relationship with me, for me or to get to you.” 

“Oh.” It sucks, but it makes sense.

“Oh. Is right. Also I don’t want people to be up either of our asses if they're just clout chasers.” She smiled, shaking her head as I laughed, “Just not how I want to spend my time.”

I sighed, “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to kick him out, that was just weird and I wasn’t expecting you to have company and-“

“Auston. It’s okay. I should’ve warned you in some way, or gone to his place. Maybe this whole thing could’ve been prevented. I’m the one who’s sorry. That situation was pretty awkward.” I don’t want her at some guys place. I want her with me.

I grabbed her hand and placed a soft kiss on her cheek. My stomach churning as I did so, “Stop worrying. Don’t be sorry either. We good?” She nodded and entwined our pinky’s. “Always.” And with that she slipped out of the darkness of my room and back down the hallway to hers. And my heart ached with every step.

Maybe I wasn’t doing enough, maybe I just needed to be upfront. 

I took a swig of the beer I was drinking and set it back on the table as I watched her converse with Steph, Paige, and Aryne, Probably complementing the bride on her gown and the allure of the wedding.

Pretty soon we were eating steak, mashed potatoes and wedding cake, and my stomach was all too full when the bride and groom shared their first dance. I looked to (Y/N) to see her swooning at John and Aryne adoringly. She was facing the back of her chair, hands resting on the back of it, and chin resting on her hands. “Don’t you just love those two together?” Her nose crinkled. It was really cute.

I stood and held my hand out to her as other couples started to join in on the dance floor. She looked up to me, eyes slightly glazed from her glasses of champagne, but I knew she was at a good level. Sober enough to make good decisions, buzzed enough to have a good time. “Are you gonna dance with me?” My heart felt like it was racing as I waited for her answer.

She took my hand so I took it as a yes. I lead her out to the dance floor, Kiss Me by Ed Sheeran coming on as we stopped in the middle. She wrapped her arms around my neck and my hands settled on her waist, pulling her close. My stomach churned with nerves and a little bit of excitement. I looked down at her, her head on a swivel, looking everywhere but me. Other people are looking at us and her brow knit in confusion. Her hand was burning a hole where it was placed flat against my chest. 

“What’s going on in that pretty little head of yours?” I touched her forehead lightly, then bringing my hand back down and wrapping it around her waist securely.

She looked back to me, eyes widening, “It’s nothing.”

“You know you can tell me anything right?” I tried, pulling her back into me as she slowly tried to pull herself away. “That’s what friends are for. And hey, quit trying to leave me!” I laugh, grinning. “Were kind of in the middle of that dance you owe me.”

She smiles back softly but glances around the room again, this time almost self consciously. “It’s just that… I don’t know- I don’t really know how to say it without sounding weird.”

“Are you okay? Is something wrong? You know nothing you say will ever sound weird to me? I’m pretty sure we’ve been through it all.” I leaned my forehead against hers and try to ease her mind but she seems so off. I don’t know what happened because everything seemed normal when we first got here.

She took a breath and pulled back a little looking right at me, “Everyone thinks we’re a couple.” I could see the nerves riddling her features and it made me curious as to why. It’s not what I was expecting, but it made me grin, “I know.” 

“You know? It doesn’t bother you?” Her nose scrunched again.

“Should it? Does it bother you? I mean, personally I think I could do worse as far as fake lovers go, but…” She playfully shoved me and we fell right back into place, swaying as the song went on melodically.

“It really doesn’t bother you?” She seemed unsure, but avoided my question nonetheless, looking up at me as if the only answer I could give would be yes. That it does bother me. And that couldn’t be further from the truth.

I shrugged trying to play it cool, “why would it bother me?”

 “I don’t know…” She looked away, back to the surrounding crowd as the song changed. “You’re Auston Matthews.” She huffed. “You can get any girl you want. Wouldn’t people believing that… we’re an item… wouldn’t that get in the way?”

I grabbed her hands in mine, looking down at them. She instinctively clasped them together and my heart warmed as I glanced back up at her. “That’s just the thing.” We had stopped dancing at this point, and I’m pretty sure we were in the way of people trying to dance, but I didn’t mind. “You don’t see me as the Auston Matthews. You never did. You just see me as Auston Matthews, your extremely good looking and talented best friend.” I smirked.

“Way to ruin it.” She laughed.

I gently pulled her closer, “you see me as the dumb kid who broke his arm at your eighth birthday party, and the horrible friend who spilled punch on your prom dress, and the annoying son of bitch who always tries to force you to dance. You never see me as someone who’s untouchable,” I grab her hand and place it over my heart, “you always touch me.” She looked as if she lost her breath, eyes swirling with emotions. She carefully removed the hand that was over my heart and stood still for a second. She looked back up to me meticulously, “let’s get some air yeah?” I let my hand rest on the small of her back and nodded as she lead the way out, one step ahead of me. My heart was pounding in my chest.

I couldn’t be more grateful for the little piece of privacy that we had out here. The air had turned slightly cooler, and I could see her shiver a little, although she would never admit she’s cold. I shrugged my suit jacket off anyway as we walked along the outside of the barn. The sun was starting to go down and the chill in the air picked up. I wrapped my jacket around her shoulders, and used it to pull her in closer to me. 

She muttered a thanks and I sucked in a breath. Now or never Matt’s.

But she turned to me sharply, beating me to the punch, “you can’t just say stuff like that you know?” 

“Why not?” Her eyes met mine and the wary look on her face told me what I needed to know. I know what she’s thinking. And she means more to me than anyone. She must know that. She has too.

“You could never get in the way of anything (Y/N).” I tucked a lone strand of hair behind her ear as her eyes sparkled and flickered up to mine. “It doesn’t bother me because I don’t want just any girl.” I toe around the subject, hoping she can figure it out before I have to say it outright.

“Well, what do you want Aus?” I want you. Don’t make me say it. Don’t make me ruin a good thing (Y/N). I don’t want to lose us.

My eyes flicker down to her lips. I close my eyes and lean in a little, nudging her nose with my own. Slowly but surely closing the gap between us. I could feel the electricity radiating off her, our lips barely touching before I heard a voice coming from the door. We broke apart, wide eyed, hearts racing, both looking to see who joined us outside.

Kappy looked drunk. And Paige looked like she was dying from laughter. They spotted us and made their way over. I looked back at (Y/N), her cheeks flushed and managing to look anywhere but me, although my arm was still wrapped around her. She leaned into my touch as they approached.

“Youuuuu guyssss.” Kap slurred and Paige just seemed to notice the position we were in.

“Uh Kappy needed some air, but I see you guys did too.” She grabbed his hand and tried to lean him into her for leverage. “We’ll just let you guys have some privacy.”

(Y/N) turned her face into my shoulder as Paige tried to shove Kappy back into the reception. I looked down to her and laughed. She did too, bringing her face out of my shoulder. I would’ve tried to recreate the moment but it seemed like it was lost as she grabbed my hand and tugged me back inside. “C’mon Aus, we should get back.” And I had no choice but to follow.

[ofxwordsxandxletters]

Something Sweet (On My Lips)

Series: Wynonna Earp

Disclaimer: The plot and pairing are mine and the characters are borrowed in this work of fan-made fiction off of which no money is made. 

Pairing: Hollirey

Rating: PG

Because it was desired; this is pretty much a date between Doc and Bobo during a “fair” or “carnival” type situation. Whether or not this happens in Purgatory is suspect so I’m just going to stick it here because funnel cake. Peach Funnel cake. 

*~*~*~*~*

Something Sweet (On My Lips)

He wasn’t quite sure why he’d agreed to do this; probably had that moment of stupidity and let himself get lost in the man’s blue eyes. It was very hard to say “no” to John Henry when he flashed those damn eyes and that smile in equal measure. Bobo is sure he’s spent more time perfecting the art of getting his way more than anything else. But it also might have to do with the fact that he was just weak to what the man wanted even though he’d spend days outside of the Ghost River Triangle before he’d ever admit that to anyone. Ever.

So regardless of his misgivings and entirely too many people milling around, he walks at the other’s side. He is very aware of the fingers entwined with his and the ease with which Doc walks beside him but there is no power in the goddamn universe that is making him let go of the other’s hand until John Henry pulls it away himself. He’s just hoping that he doesn’t.

And he gets his wish only until the smell of food has both of their attention. “Why don’t you find a table and I’ll get us something?” Doc murmurs, “The line is long and I know how you feel about crowds.”

“I suppose then I’ll have to trust your choosing skills. Though I retain the right to dump anything unpleasant on your head.”

At that, Doc laughs before stealing a kiss and slipping off. Of course, Bobo spends a couple of minutes just watching him walk away before finally making himself find a table that the other would be able to find him at. He wasn’t wrong about the crowds; Bobo still wasn’t comfortable around lots of people and it showed in his tension and the way he got a little growly if anyone got too close. Even though he vehemently denies doing anything of the sort. Everyone is careful not to make him deal with crowds if it can be helped.

He finds a table and slips onto the seat idly tapping his fingers feeling a little restless and refusing to admit that it might be nerves. Because he didn’t get nervous, especially not about being out like this. On a date. With Doc Holliday.

The sweet smell of the peaches mixed with the funnel cake has his attention immediately when Doc brings it back helping to ease his tension somewhat. “They really do enjoy going all out don’t they? I mean I don’t think I’ve seen so many things on a stick or deep fried. It’s enough to make people gain weight just walking along the streets by the stands.”

Doc chuckles gently. “Well, food is as good a way to enjoy oneself as any. Now are you gonna refuse what is a very delicious treat?”

There’s a moment he wants to be bratty but decides against it and murmurs, “Of course not. That would just be rude and we both know I’m the gentleman between the two of us.”

Doc chuckles softly before settling and offering him a bite. He parts his lips and accepts it, sighing at the sweetness. He’d remark that it was strangely delicious for a fried food when he finds the other leaning into his space to kiss him deeply drawing a more pronounced moan from him as he leans closer.

Of course it’s broken before he likes but there’s something about the way John Henry smiles softly and with satisfaction that warms places in him that he didn’t think could be touched by anyone. “Something you like then?” he finds himself asking huskily.

“Oh, I find that you go well paired with a lot of things, Robert.”

He can’t help reaching for the plate and drawing it to himself to murmur teasingly, “Let’s see if you do as well.”

“If I am everyone’s type then I am sure to be tasty with everything, too,” comes the immediate response that he can’t help laughing at.

“Definitely not a humble man, John Henry Holliday,” he murmurs as he offers a bite in return. Of course he can't resist making sure to get some on Doc's nose just so he can make a show of trailing his finger lightly to get it off and licking the digit before finally leaning and kissing him.

"Tease," comes the bemused chuckle against his mouth that has him humming in pleasure before he breaks the kiss.

“Maybe, but you seem to not mind so much,” he remarks with a grin at him. The smile in return is like sunshine warming the cold places in him still, and Bobo is beginning to realize just how much he loves this man’s smile. “See?”

He is clearly going to respond something when there is a startled, “Doc?” 

Followed quite shortly with, “Uhh, boss?” that has both males freezing.

Bobo gives Doc a look that clearly asked exactly what the hell they were going to do about being found here. Like this. He isn’t sure what he expects from John Henry but it’s certainly not for him to calmly reach before bringing a thumb coated in peach syrup and lightly brush it against his lips before murmuring, “Oh, look, I missed some,” before he ends up with the male’s lips against his.

And he finds himself melting into it pulling him closer, hating that the soft chuckle against his mouth makes him want to flush darkly at the fact that they were clearly putting on a show. Breaking it, Doc gives him a grin before slowly looking over his shoulder. “Oh, hi there.”

Bobo isn’t sure which group is going to have more of a stroke as they stare between the two of them and it was sort of funny in a way if not a little sad that it took them this long to figure things out. Of course, he’s not surprised to hear, “I knew it! I told you guys they were together. Why do you never listen to me?” from Waverly that has him snorting before he pulls the funnel cake back to him.

“Clearly she’s the only redeeming member of your little group,” he remarks, offering a forkful to Doc. The male chuckles before accepting it. He’d refrain from kissing the other but he decides this was their goddamn datenight and he was allowed to be as affectionate as he wanted. Besides, the other did taste good mixed with the funnel cake. And he was just a little on the side of addicted.

Breaking it, he finds they still have an audience and huffs. “Do you all not take a hint or does someone have to point out that it’s rude to stare at people?”

“You two are...here...sharing...You’re on a date,” Wynonna says slowly.

“Yeah, that’s sort of what people do when they come to these things. What of it?”

“You two,” she says waving at them, “are on a date…together...”

He groans softly before muttering, “Why is she as dumb as Wyatt sometimes?”

“Now, Robert, be nice.”

“That’s why I said sometimes,” he retorts before trying, “Wynonna, I’ve been pretty up close and personal with Holliday since he came out of the well, just so you know. It’s developed certain...characteristics over the last few months that might have more of a personal aspect. So if you do not mind; leave us to have some time for ourselves. All of you. Before I decide that some of you are going to spend a few days outside the Triangle until you think better of interrupting me.”

Thankfully, it seems to work as both groups finally leave albeit some slower than others with varying looks of incredulity. “I do not look forward to the coming conversations,” Bobo huffs.

Doc laughs softly. “Oh please, your Revenants are far easier to cower than Wynonna. I’ll have the worst time and you know it.”

“Well, that’s what you get for aligning yourself with an Earp. I thought you would have learned your lesson by now.”

Doc chuckles before murmuring, “C’mon, we have something to finish and then we’re going to get a hotel room because I’m not dealing with either group tonight. Just you. I think we’ve earned it.”

Bobo’s eyes light up at that and he grins. “Why John Henry Holliday, are you intending on seducing me?”

The male merely grins and offers another bite of the cake in response.

[etlunainmorte]

🖤 I See My Future Before Me 🖤

***

An old Priest bravely came forward despite his trembling knees, holding up his crucifix in hopes of warding off the Demons.

“Sáncte Michael Archángele, defénde nos in proélio,…”

The enemies fell silent, looking at each other, confused of what’s going on. The priest took this as an opportunity to keep praying.

“Cóntra neqúitiam et insídias diáboli - ”

One by one, the enemies started laughing at his words, clearly not affected by his prayer.

With sweat running cold and courage slowly diminishing, the poor old Priest went on, “… ésto p - p - præsídium. Ímperet ílli Déus - ”

One of the Demons came forward and mockingly uttered the prayer with the frightened Priest. “… SÚPPLICES DEPRECÁMUR: TUQUE, PRÍNCEPS MILÍTIÆ CÆLÉSTIS -

“… SÁTANAM!” The Demons finished for him as they laughed and insulted.

The poor old Priest was about to lose all hope when, all of a sudden, the enemies abruptly stopped laughing. Little by little, the smiles on their horrendous faces vanished, to be replaced by expressions of either pain or depression.

Then, all of them stopped moving, frozen and rooted to the ground. This gave the Priest enough motivation to keep on praying.

“… súpplices deprecámur: tuque, prínceps milítiæ cæléstis, Sátanam aliósque spíritus malígnos,” The Priest prayed with renewed courage as the Demons seemingly cowered before him and his crucifix. “… qui ad perditiónem animárum pervagántur in múndo, divína virtúte, in inférnum detrúde.”

“Ámen!”

The people of the church looked behind them upon hearing the loud voice of an old woman who just finished the prayer. And when they saw three old nuns, one bearing a pail of water, and the other two wielding procession crosses, they couldn’t help but chuckle and be worried at them at the same time.

“WWWAAAHHH!” Their leader, the one bearing the pail, howled like a warrior and charged straight at the Demons, almost tackling the old Priest on the way. She doused the nearby enemies with that suspicious water, and lo and behold, the fiends actually shrieked in pain as their hideous skin melted!

It was holy water!

“HHHOOOAAAHHH!” The other two nuns bearing the crosses then charged at the enemies, driving the pointed bejeweled things through the Demons’ heart and successfully killing them.

The nun with the pail addressed the people as her two comrades did the “Demon Hunting”.

“Tränkt die Dämonen in Weihwasser!” She said in instruction for the people to fetch themselves a pail of holy water. “Dann durchstoße sie mit diesem zeremoniellen Kreuz!” She, then, pointed at the two nuns who were still skewering some holy water - soaked Demons.

“Lasst uns diese gottlosen Dinge zurück in die feurigen Gruben der Hölle schlagen!” The old Priest, who was more than ready to fight the enemies, began howling. “ANGRIFF!”

As the people started working together, fetching procession crosses, or anything that’s sharp, and pails of water from the back of the church and letting the old Priest bless them to “weaponize” them, Kyrie made her way towards the altar and leaned against the lectern. She closed her eyes and covered her mouth as tears began pouring out. She, then, removed the hand from her mouth and placed it against her belly.

She cried tears of happiness.

“We’re saved.” She whispered as she rubbed her belly, now with both hands. “Your daddy saved us. Nero,… saved us!”

Meanwhile, at the other side of the globe, Nico, Trish, and Lady were staring at Shadow the feline demon as she sat in front of them, seemingly guarding the human who was sitting on the sofa just behind her. The strange human girl, whose clothes were stained with blood, just glanced calmly at them, unmoving, emotionless,…

… and she was clutching at her mid - section as she healed it with her equally strange power.

“Uhh, so who are you again?” The tattooed woman carefully asked the stranger.

“You can call me Galatea.” The girl answered.

“Hey, I thought that’s (Y/N)?” Lady whispered to Trish, still wary of her movements as Shadow stared at them.

“Perhaps.” Galatea answered for her, making them even more baffled.

“What do you mean by that?” Trish bravely asked her.

The Bearer of The Past smiled at her as she closed her eyes. “… we are connected,… by that one feeling. Her branches mixed with mine,… and our roots,… together joined.”

Nico’s jaw dropped open as she slowly nodded. She looked once more at the huge demonic cat as it remained vigilant on the floor. “I think,…” she began. “I know what kind of feeling you’re talking about. Yeah. You and her are definitely the same.”

Trish and Lady only nodded.

They were all thinking of the same thing.

The mystic words, the feline familiar, her languid eyes,…

Oh, damn! The three women thought simultaneously. She’s just like V!

***

XXVII

***

By that time, the moon had already risen high above the night sky.

V and Dante cautiously made their way inside the mansion, looking for the man behind all the demonic attacks. Knowing the location of Fleminger’s office by memory, the poet led the way, and when they finally opened the ornate wooden door, something made them stop right on their tracks.

The office, itself, looked as neat and as tidy as the first time he was there but, an awfully foul smell of rotten corpses combined with sulfur was wafting around the area. The scent was even more appalling than the Dreadnought’s insides.

The brothers covered their noses in disgust.

“Big fancy room? Funky smell?” Dante spoke in a muffled voice. “Ugh! We’re definitely in the right place! So, where’s the boss?”

V did not answer. Instead, he glanced at the portraits of the pale people on the walls.

“Where could an intellectual man such as Fleminger hide a secret room?” The poet mused as he searched through (Y/N)’s memories in his mind like an archive of some sort. He may have gone back in time but, her memories still clung to him after being acknowledged by the Bearer of The Past. He knew (Y/N) have a clue. After all, she had the first hand experience with Fleminger’s ancestors.

And as V searched for clues in his mind, Dante began moving objects around the room, looking for buttons, trapdoors, anything.

The poet was still thinking when his twin found the old record on the small table near the wall. Being Dante and all, he smirked, poking fun at it despite the situation.

“Eh? Who knew he still keeps an ancient thing around here?” The Legendary Devil Hunter stated as he played the record,…

“On the farm, every Friday.

On the farm, it’s rabbit pie day,…”

“Huh, that’s funny. Today’s Friday! What are the odds,…” Dante said to himself as he placed his fingers on the fragile vinyl and started turning the record in the opposite direction.

“Nur, nur, nur, nur, tibbar nur, tibbar nur,

Nugs remraf eht soeg gnab, gnab, gnab, gnab,

Nur, nur, nur, tibbar nur, tibbar nur,

Nur, nur, nur, tibbar nur, tibbar nur,”

“Run, rabbit, run rabbit, run, run, run,

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Goes the farmer’s gun!”

“Hehe, that sounded awful. Sorry about that.” Dante apologized as he let the record play normally.

As the music played, (Y/N)’s memories of a familiar scene flashed through V’s mind. It was when the uptight woman made them dance to the tune of a broken melody that was being played on an old record,…

“Is this,… the same thing?” V questioned as he glanced down at the vintage mechanism, carefully touching it with his light fingers.

He searched through the memories once more, looking for more clues, until he finally arrived at the moment where (Y/N) actually saw the woman playing that thing on the record.

“Hey, Mr. Poetry, what are you doing?” Dante inquired as he saw V rummaging through the drawers in search of something.

“It must’ve survived the onslaught. Fleminger’s grandmother must’ve brought it with her.”

“The what?”

“That thing.” V answered as he took out the oldest looking piece of record he could find. He stopped the music by raising the tone arm and pulling the cueing lever up. He then moved the tone arm over to the resting place and pressed the stop button.

Dante tapped his toes impatiently as the poet placed the old record on the platter of the player. Making sure that the speed was correct, V pressed play and raised the cueing lever. He aligned the tone arm with the record and dropped it carefully.

And as the first few notes of the sickly sweet music began, (Y/N)’s memories of Fleminger’s grandmother flashed through his mind.

“Perfection is everything.” He could almost hear her say in front of the dancing orphans. “There is no true beauty without worldly perfection. Eternal redemption is the reward for attaining worldly perfection. And those who could not achieve this perfection,… have no right to stand before the true god, Pandemonium.”

“That sure looks graceful,…”

“I beg your pardon?”

V watched with wide eyes as Dante pointed at something behind him. He turned and saw, in utter horror, a ghost of a mutilated lady dancing to the tune of the sweet music in the middle of the room.

“Yeah, just perfect,…” the younger twin muttered in sarcasm as he watched the mutilated lady dance whilst parts of her flesh fall down from her rotting body to the floor.

“It is perfection.”

“Excuse me?!”

“The Pale Ones wanted to achieve earthly perfection by creating girls such as this.” V explained. “They wanted a perfect sacrifice for Pandemonium’s vessel. And this girl happened to have failed on achieving perfection. Thus, she was doomed to dance for eternity like that.”

“How did you even know that?”

V only smirked at Dante. “I just know things which others doesn’t.”

“Whatever.”

The twins watched as the painful dance commenced and when the doomed dancer finally stopped, pointing at something behind them, the music also came to a close.

The two looked behind them to see a really large portrait of Fleminger’s pale grandmother smiling sinisterly down at them. They, then, heard an ugly and wet - sounding thud against the floor. They looked back and noticed that the dancer’s arm has fallen to the floor, its finger still pointed at the portrait. After that morbid display, the doomed dancer finally vanished into thin air.

“I don’t ever wanna see that again.” Dante monotonously uttered.

“Agree.” V replied with the same tone. “So, we’ll set her free. And the others.”

“How do we do that?”

V glanced back at Fleminger’s grandmother and grinned. “This woman knows how,…”

*

“Venit ergo Pandemonium. Venit ergo Pandemonium. Dona nobis virtutem tuam. Det nobis vitam aeternam. Venit ergo Pandemonium. Venit ergo Pandemonium,…”

The Pale Ones went on praying as Fleminger situated himself in the middle of the evil rune near the demonic idol. He closed his eyes, holding up his huge palms in front of the statue,…

“JACKPOT!” The Pale Ones heard a loud and distinct voice as the walls crumbled, revealing the Sparda twins.

“Jack,… pot.” V muttered poetically, his image of the fearful Vergil giving him a weird vibe. ��So, it is written.”

“Honestly, are you really my brother?” The red twin asked as he summoned the Devil Sword Dante. “Because Vergil would never say that. Not in a million years.”

“What’s the harm in trying?” V answered humorously as he drew the Yamato in preparation for battle. “After all,… a truth that’s told with bad intent,… beats all the lies,… you can invent.”

Dante smirked at V’s words as he drew his own weapon, ready and pumped up for the fight. “So, it is written! Or whatever that was!”

The Pale Ones removed their heavy robes as they transformed into gargoyle - like Demons with long sharp claws, twisted horns, and equally twisted teeth.

“Now, that suits you better!” Dante quipped as he fought against the Demons all by himself.

Meanwhile, V had another enemy to confront.

“My Lord,” Fleminger clasped his hands as he put on his vulnerable look and pleaded. “ …it seems that you have gained your power.”

“I did.” The poet answered as he pointed the Yamato at him. “Now, set (S/N)’s soul free, along with others you enslaved for a hundred years, or I’ll use my newly obtained power against you and your horde.”

“You don’t understand, my Lord! (S/N), and the rest of the orphans, we need them to defeat the Dreadnought! We need them to kill (Y/N) - ”

“And summon Pandemonium through your chosen vessel?” V cut him off as he channeled his power to the Yamato. “(Y/N)’s sister would not like that now, would she?”

Fleminger grinned nervously as he realized that he had no other choices left. The Sons of Sparda already knew about the truth!

But, how?!

“Then, I’ll be the vessel, AND NOT (S/N)!”

V watched as Fleminger touched the image of Pandemonium. It gave him massive power as it engulfed him with crimson light.

“What the hell?!” Dante muttered as the enemy transformed into a huge and hideous Demon with scales, three pairs of wings, and a pair of twisted horns. His form was too big that it took up most of the space.

“I WILL OBTAIN POWER,… AND IMMORTALITY!” Fleminger howled, his monstrous voice booming and deafening. “THERE IS NO NEED FOR PERFECTION! THERE IS NO NEED,… FOR A USELESS VESSEL! I WILL OBTAIN,… EVERYTHING! I WILL BECOME,… PANDEMONIUM!”

“THEN, FUCK YOU!”

The brothers turned just in time as they saw Kyrie Eleison coming out of the wall they just busted, glowing and soaring through the air. And riding it was none other than Nero, himself. The youth revved the vehicle and landed right at Fleminger’s face, its spiky front wounding it, making his dark blood splatter on the ground as he howled in pain.

“Is that my son, or is he yours?” V innocently asked as he watched Nero drove Fleminger out of the room, making a new hole in the wall behind them. “Because, I’m very sure that we have no resemblance, at all. And he acts just like you.”

Dante looked at him in surprise. “No resemblance, my ass! And how did you find out?”

“I told you.” The elder brother answered as they followed the boy and the Demon outside. “I just know things,…”

Nero managed to throw Fleminger out using Kyrie Eleison, and as the massive Demon calling himself Pandemonium scrambled to his feet, unable to see due to his wounds, his servant Reginald, who mysteriously just popped out of nowhere, came to his rescue.

“KILL THEM!” He commanded.

“Naturally, Master.” Reginald answered as he stood before Nero and transformed into a Fury - like Demon but, this time, this creature did not have the power of lightning. He raised his scaled arm, pointing his claw at the sky, and when he brought it down, the ground before him split, and fire erupted from it. He, then, vanished with a crimson blur, ready to kill Nero.

“YOU’RE NOT FAST ENOUGH!” Nero bellowed as he changed into his Devil form and matched the Flame Fury’s speed, successfully stopping Reginald with his pair of blue fist - like wings.

“WHAT FORM OF POWER IS THIS?!” Reginald howled in disbelief.

“Okay! Time to join in the fun!” Dante exclaimed as he made his way towards Pandemonium, only to be stopped by Fleminger’s gargoyle underlings. “What?! You again?! You just don’t know when to give up!” He raised his sword and pointed at them. “Okay, I’m gonna start with,…” his sword, then, landed on the Demon to his right. “… YOU!” He announced as he morphed into his Devil form and began fighting.

Fleminger was about to get up but, he fell down once more as he felt something strange within his whole body. He tried to use his power but, he failed.

“You are not perfect.” V informed him as he pointed the Yamato at him. “You could never wield Pandemonium’s power! And you would never achieve immortality!”

“I’LL KILL YOU ALL THE SAME!” Fleminger boomed as he got up and blindly charged at V, flailing his massive claws and destroying everything in his path. The poet easily dodged and evaded each and every erratic attack, all the while wounding the massive Demon in places to disable him. V made one last slash with the Yamato and wounded Fleminger on the stomach, making him fall. Until the very end, Pandemonium did not acknowledge him as its vessel.

Just when they thought that they finally defeated the Demon, it started squirming on the ground, his wounds radiating with a strange light as if something was trying to come out of them. And just when Nero dealt the final blow on Reginald and when Dante brought down the last gargoyle, the Master stood up, its eyes rapidly changing color as it started rampaging mindlessly about. Then, as it opened its mouth, a powerful light in the form of a crimson laser erupted from it, destroying the mansion before it.

It was the same laser that annihilated everything from the apocalyptic future that V just came, or escaped, from.

Pandemonium was trying to get out of Fleminger’s corrupted body but, it couldn’t.

V sensed this immediately as he prepared to finish it with the help of the Protector of The Present’s power. It must be destroyed, at all cost! Or else, the dark future would still occur, and he could not let that happen! Not now when Galatea entrusted the future of humanity to him!

However, the Aspect of The Future took hold of his mind once again, showing him bits of the future.

A book, a meteorite, a shower of destructive light,…

… an Angel,…

Cassandra showed him these things. And these things would occur in a few moments,…

The poet’s eyes widened as he snapped back from his reverie.

“We’ll end this!” Dante howled as he made his way towards the rampaging Demon.

“I’m with you!” Nero answered as he joined his uncle.

“STOP!”

Uncle and nephew alike halted, unnerved at V’s word.

“We can’t let that thing live!” Dante screamed at him as he raised his sword. “It will destroy everything!”

“ARE WE GONNA KILL THIS FUCKER, OR WHAT?!” Nero howled, his golden eyes seething with wrath.

V calmly went closer towards the rampaging Demon, placing himself between his family and it.

“Let me handle this.” The poet simply told them as he bowed down low. He, then, raised his left hand and snapped his fingers, summoning the golem. It fell down from the sky in the form of a meteor that destroyed everything beneath it.

But, instead of forming into the dark creature called Nightmare, it merely stayed in liquid state, its massive violet eye hovering above the ground, radiating a weak kind of light.

Cassandra showed him this, and she was right, as always.

V smirked as he took out his book - his beloved illustrated William Blake anthology. He opened it and started reading as the violet eye slowly regained form.

“The Angel that presided o'er my birth,” V began reading as the creature rapidly pulsated before him. “…said, ‘little creature, form’d of joy and mirth, go love without the help of any thing on Earth.’”

Meanwhile, back in the trailer, as V read the passage from the book, Shadow the feline familiar radiated with light, making her hover above the ground.

“W - what’s happening to that kitty?!” Nico stuttered nervously as she pointed at Shadow.

“Get away from her!” Trish commanded as she channeled her powers. “She might be dangerous!”

“Please, calm down.” Galatea firmly said as she remained unfazed on the sofa.

“What’s going on with her?!” Lady questioned her in panic.

“Vergil’s Nightmares would be,… no more,…” Galatea answered, still calm. “By the power of the Sisters of Fate, these Nightmares,…”

“SHALL BE CLEANSED!”

Dante and Nero looked all over the place, trying to find that familiar voice. And as the two men looked at the little orbs of light forming above V, seemingly bearing the metal cane that was forgotten on the Dreadnought, the three women inside the trailer looked in shock as the contract markings on (Y/N)’s right arm returned.

But, this time, the markings were not black and inky in appearance. The contract formed in beautiful swirls of shimmering gold and midnight blue. And as it was completed, it radiated with blue - colored currents on (Y/N)’s arm.

V smirked as he witnessed the orbs forming into one creature - a five foot - tall boy with skinny features. He had a pair of the most gorgeous midnight blue wings that glowed, and a golden horn protruding from the middle of his forehead.

Dante and Nero’s jaw dropped open as the creature spread both his wings and his arms, completing the transformation.

He opened his pair of golden eyes and smiled, showing them his jagged teeth and blue tongue.

“Aww, and ya honestly thought I’d be gone for good, eh, kids? SHAME ON YA FOR THINKIN’ THAT!” The boy quipped as he threw the metal cane at V, who caught it just in time as the boy pointed at him with a dark - nailed finger. “And, you! Such a high maintenance ya sure are! Have ye come to yer senses, eh Shakespeare?”

“I did not just come to my senses,” the poet answered like he was greeting an old friend. “… I have finally awakened from my mistakes.”

“Is that? Is t - that - ?!” Nero stuttered as he pointed at the boy, his eyes wide open.

“Damn! It’s the LITTLE CHICKEN!” Dante confirmed, still not able to believe his own eyes.

“MADE YA LOOK!” Griffon, now in his cleansed human form, answered as he turned at the rampaging Demon. He, then, spread his fingers, summoning a golden staff that looked like a lightning rod. Showing his jagged teeth through his wide smile, he pointed the rod at the sky and spread his wings. “FUCK YEAH!”

At those obscene words, Griffon was able to rain down multiple blasts of lightning from the sky that pierced through the Demon’s body like an endless barrage of silver bullets.

V opened his book once more and read another passage.

“I curse my stars in bitter grief,… and woe,… that made my love,… so high,… and me,… so low,…”

The violet eye that was hovering above the ground cracked like glass, letting a blinding form of light radiate from it.

A few seconds later, as the light subsided, all of them saw the golem’s cleansed form - a white - armored Angel that stood eight feet tall, with three pairs of wings made purely out of light and a golden halo atop his head. The Angel carried a huge, heavy - looking metallic staff that radiated with the same light as the Protector of The Present. And as the Demon fired another destructive laser, V’s most powerful familiar pointed its weapon at it, channeling its power and countering the attack with a laser of its own but, much more powerful. The Angel, that was once called Nightmare, easily overpowered the Demon, its laser of judgment coming down at it and melting its demonic exterior, exposing the human inside. V saw this and hastily made his move, charging at it with his metal cane and the Yamato raised high above his head.

Fleminger opened his eyes and saw the son of Sparda above him, about to end his life. The metal cane and the Yamato pierced through his heart, making his eyes open wide in total disbelief.

“I,… lost,… it seems,…” Fleminger whispered.

“Little wanderer,” V began. “… hie thee home.”

***

The three descendants of Sparda, all tired and filthy, made their way towards the fallen Dreadnought in the middle of the ruined city as Griffon, the not - little - chicken, flew above them.

“Make it fast, slowpokes!” He mocked with his obnoxious voice.

“Easy for you to say!” Nero retorted. “Just you wait! I don’t care if you’re a human or what! I’ll still pluck your feathers when I get my strength back!”

“Can we just make this fast?” Dante complained, heaving heavily with each and every step. “I’m beat! I just wanna take a rest.”

All four of them went directly towards the heart, which, apparently, stopped pulsating a long time ago. V touched it with a single hand and spoke to it.

“It’s okay now. You are free.”

At his words, the heart burst open, spilling blood and guts all over the place and making all of them even filthier than ever before. The girl inside was about to collapse when V caught her just in time. She opened her eyes and looked up at him.

“M - my s - sister?”

“She’s safe. The Pale Ones are gone. You can take a rest now.”

“Please,… take care,… of my sister,…”

V listened to her, taking her words and instilling them to his heart like an eternal vow. He, then, nodded.

“I will take care of her for as long as I exist,” he gave his honorable answer. “… I promise.”

The poor tortured girl smiled as she closed her eyes, finally taking her peaceful eternal rest, along with the souls of the other orphans that Fleminger’s ancestors enslaved for a hundred years.

***

🖤 Again, special thanks to @la-vita for the German dialogue and translations. 🖤

***

🖤🖤🖤

***

[thedyingmoon]

***

An old Priest bravely came forward despite his trembling knees, holding up his crucifix in hopes of warding off the Demons.

“Sáncte Michael Archángele, defénde nos in proélio,…”

The enemies fell silent, looking at each other, confused of what’s going on. The priest took this as an opportunity to keep praying.

“Cóntra neqúitiam et insídias diáboli - ”

One by one, the enemies started laughing at his words, clearly not affected by his prayer.

With sweat running cold and courage slowly diminishing, the poor old Priest went on, “… ésto p - p - præsídium. Ímperet ílli Déus - ”

One of the Demons came forward and mockingly uttered the prayer with the frightened Priest. “… SÚPPLICES DEPRECÁMUR: TUQUE, PRÍNCEPS MILÍTIÆ CÆLÉSTIS -

"... SÁTANAM!" The Demons finished for him as they laughed and insulted.

The poor old Priest was about to lose all hope when, all of a sudden, the enemies abruptly stopped laughing. Little by little, the smiles on their horrendous faces vanished, to be replaced by expressions of either pain or depression.

Then, all of them stopped moving, frozen and rooted to the ground. This gave the Priest enough motivation to keep on praying.

"... súpplices deprecámur: tuque, prínceps milítiæ cæléstis, Sátanam aliósque spíritus malígnos," The Priest prayed with renewed courage as the Demons seemingly cowered before him and his crucifix. "... qui ad perditiónem animárum pervagántur in múndo, divína virtúte, in inférnum detrúde."

"Ámen!"

The people of the church looked behind them upon hearing the loud voice of an old woman who just finished the prayer. And when they saw three old nuns, one bearing a pail of water, and the other two wielding procession crosses, they couldn't help but chuckle and be worried at them at the same time.

"WWWAAAHHH!" Their leader, the one bearing the pail, howled like a warrior and charged straight at the Demons, almost tackling the old Priest on the way. She doused the nearby enemies with that suspicious water, and lo and behold, the fiends actually shrieked in pain as their hideous skin melted!

It was holy water!

"HHHOOOAAAHHH!" The other two nuns bearing the crosses then charged at the enemies, driving the pointed bejeweled things through the Demons' heart and successfully killing them.

The nun with the pail addressed the people as her two comrades did the "Demon Hunting".

"Tränkt die Dämonen in Weihwasser!" She said in instruction for the people to fetch themselves a pail of holy water. "Dann durchstoße sie mit diesem zeremoniellen Kreuz!" She, then, pointed at the two nuns who were still skewering some holy water - soaked Demons.

"Lasst uns diese gottlosen Dinge zurück in die feurigen Gruben der Hölle schlagen!" The old Priest, who was more than ready to fight the enemies, began howling. "ANGRIFF!"

As the people started working together, fetching procession crosses, or anything that's sharp, and pails of water from the back of the church and letting the old Priest bless them to "weaponize" them, Kyrie made her way towards the altar and leaned against the lectern. She closed her eyes and covered her mouth as tears began pouring out. She, then, removed the hand from her mouth and placed it against her belly.

She cried tears of happiness.

"We're saved." She whispered as she rubbed her belly, now with both hands. "Your daddy saved us. Nero,... saved us!"

Meanwhile, at the other side of the globe, Nico, Trish, and Lady were staring at Shadow the feline demon as she sat in front of them, seemingly guarding the human who was sitting on the sofa just behind her. The strange human girl, whose clothes were stained with blood, just glanced calmly at them, unmoving, emotionless,...

... and she was clutching at her mid - section as she healed it with her equally strange power.

"Uhh, so who are you again?" The tattooed woman carefully asked the stranger.

"You can call me Galatea." The girl answered.

"Hey, I thought that's (Y/N)?" Lady whispered to Trish, still wary of her movements as Shadow stared at them.

"Perhaps." Galatea answered for her, making them even more baffled.

"What do you mean by that?" Trish bravely asked her.

The Bearer of The Past smiled at her as she closed her eyes. "... we are connected,... by that one feeling. Her branches mixed with mine,... and our roots,... together joined."

Nico's jaw dropped open as she slowly nodded. She looked once more at the huge demonic cat as it remained vigilant on the floor. "I think,..." she began. "I know what kind of feeling you're talking about. Yeah. You and her are definitely the same."

Trish and Lady only nodded.

They were all thinking of the same thing.

The mystic words, the feline familiar, her languid eyes,...

Oh, damn! The three women thought simultaneously. She's just like V!

***

🖤 I See My Future Before Me 🖤

***

XXVII

***

By that time, the moon had already risen high above the night sky.

V and Dante cautiously made their way inside the mansion, looking for the man behind all the demonic attacks. Knowing the location of Fleminger's office by memory, the poet led the way, and when they finally opened the ornate wooden door, something made them stop right on their tracks.

The office, itself, looked as neat and as tidy as the first time he was there but, an awfully foul smell of rotten corpses combined with sulfur was wafting around the area. The scent was even more appalling than the Dreadnought's insides.

The brothers covered their noses in disgust.

"Big fancy room? Funky smell?" Dante spoke in a muffled voice. "Ugh! We're definitely in the right place! So, where's the boss?"

V did not answer. Instead, he glanced at the portraits of the pale people on the walls.

"Where could an intellectual man such as Fleminger hide a secret room?" The poet mused as he searched through (Y/N)'s memories in his mind like an archive of some sort. He may have gone back in time but, her memories still clung to him after being acknowledged by the Bearer of The Past. He knew (Y/N) have a clue. After all, she had the first hand experience with Fleminger's ancestors.

And as V searched for clues in his mind, Dante began moving objects around the room, looking for buttons, trapdoors, anything.

The poet was still thinking when his twin found the old record on the small table near the wall. Being Dante and all, he smirked, poking fun at it despite the situation.

"Eh? Who knew he still keeps an ancient thing around here?" The Legendary Devil Hunter stated as he played the record,...

"On the farm, every Friday.

On the farm, it's rabbit pie day,..."

"Huh, that's funny. Today's Friday! What are the odds,..." Dante said to himself as he placed his fingers on the fragile vinyl and started turning the record in the opposite direction.

"Nur, nur, nur, nur, tibbar nur, tibbar nur,

Nugs remraf eht soeg gnab, gnab, gnab, gnab,

Nur, nur, nur, tibbar nur, tibbar nur,

Nur, nur, nur, tibbar nur, tibbar nur,"

"Run, rabbit, run rabbit, run, run, run,

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Goes the farmer's gun!"

"Hehe, that sounded awful. Sorry about that." Dante apologized as he let the record play normally.

As the music played, (Y/N)'s memories of a familiar scene flashed through V's mind. It was when the uptight woman made them dance to the tune of a broken melody that was being played on an old record,...

"Is this,... the same thing?" V questioned as he glanced down at the vintage mechanism, carefully touching it with his light fingers.

He searched through the memories once more, looking for more clues, until he finally arrived at the moment where (Y/N) actually saw the woman playing that thing on the record.

"Hey, Mr. Poetry, what are you doing?" Dante inquired as he saw V rummaging through the drawers in search of something.

"It must've survived the onslaught. Fleminger's grandmother must've brought it with her."

"The what?"

"That thing." V answered as he took out the oldest looking piece of record he could find. He stopped the music by raising the tone arm and pulling the cueing lever up. He then moved the tone arm over to the resting place and pressed the stop button.

Dante tapped his toes impatiently as the poet placed the old record on the platter of the player. Making sure that the speed was correct, V pressed play and raised the cueing lever. He aligned the tone arm with the record and dropped it carefully.

And as the first few notes of the sickly sweet music began, (Y/N)'s memories of Fleminger's grandmother flashed through his mind.

"Perfection is everything." He could almost hear her say in front of the dancing orphans. "There is no true beauty without worldly perfection. Eternal redemption is the reward for attaining worldly perfection. And those who could not achieve this perfection,... have no right to stand before the true god, Pandemonium."

"That sure looks graceful,..."

"I beg your pardon?"

V watched with wide eyes as Dante pointed at something behind him. He turned and saw, in utter horror, a ghost of a mutilated lady dancing to the tune of the sweet music in the middle of the room.

"Yeah, just perfect,..." the younger twin muttered in sarcasm as he watched the mutilated lady dance whilst parts of her flesh fall down from her rotting body to the floor.

"It is perfection."

"Excuse me?!"

"The Pale Ones wanted to achieve earthly perfection by creating girls such as this." V explained. "They wanted a perfect sacrifice for Pandemonium's vessel. And this girl happened to have failed on achieving perfection. Thus, she was doomed to dance for eternity like that."

"How did you even know that?"

V only smirked at Dante. "I just know things which others doesn't."

"Whatever."

The twins watched as the painful dance commenced and when the doomed dancer finally stopped, pointing at something behind them, the music also came to a close.

The two looked behind them to see a really large portrait of Fleminger's pale grandmother smiling sinisterly down at them. They, then, heard an ugly and wet - sounding thud against the floor. They looked back and noticed that the dancer's arm has fallen to the floor, its finger still pointed at the portrait. After that morbid display, the doomed dancer finally vanished into thin air.

"I don't ever wanna see that again." Dante monotonously uttered.

"Agree." V replied with the same tone. "So, we'll set her free. And the others."

"How do we do that?"

V glanced back at Fleminger's grandmother and grinned. "This woman knows how,..."

*

"Venit ergo Pandemonium. Venit ergo Pandemonium. Dona nobis virtutem tuam. Det nobis vitam aeternam. Venit ergo Pandemonium. Venit ergo Pandemonium,..."

The Pale Ones went on praying as Fleminger situated himself in the middle of the evil rune near the demonic idol. He closed his eyes, holding up his huge palms in front of the statue,...

"JACKPOT!" The Pale Ones heard a loud and distinct voice as the walls crumbled, revealing the Sparda twins.

"Jack,... pot." V muttered poetically, his image of the fearful Vergil giving him a weird vibe. "So, it is written."

"Honestly, are you really my brother?" The red twin asked as he summoned the Devil Sword Dante. "Because Vergil would never say that. Not in a million years."

"What's the harm in trying?" V answered humorously as he drew the Yamato in preparation for battle. "After all,... a truth that's told with bad intent,... beats all the lies,... you can invent."

Dante smirked at V's words as he drew his own weapon, ready and pumped up for the fight. "So, it is written! Or whatever that was!"

The Pale Ones removed their heavy robes as they transformed into gargoyle - like Demons with long sharp claws, twisted horns, and equally twisted teeth.

"Now, that suits you better!" Dante quipped as he fought against the Demons all by himself.

Meanwhile, V had another enemy to confront.

"My Lord," Fleminger clasped his hands as he put on his vulnerable look and pleaded. " ...it seems that you have gained your power."

"I did." The poet answered as he pointed the Yamato at him. "Now, set (S/N)'s soul free, along with others you enslaved for a hundred years, or I'll use my newly obtained power against you and your horde."

"You don't understand, my Lord! (S/N), and the rest of the orphans, we need them to defeat the Dreadnought! We need them to kill (Y/N) - "

"And summon Pandemonium through your chosen vessel?" V cut him off as he channelled his power to the Yamato. "(Y/N)'s sister would not like that now, would she?"

Fleminger grinned nervously as he realized that he had no other choices left. The Sons of Sparda already knew about the truth!

But, how?!

"Then, I'll be the vessel, AND NOT (S/N)!"

V watched as Fleminger touched the image of Pandemonium. It gave him massive power as it engulfed him with crimson light.

"What the hell?!" Dante muttered as the enemy transformed into a huge and hideous Demon with scales, three pairs of wings, and a pair of twisted horns. His form was too big that it took up most of the space.

"I WILL OBTAIN POWER,... AND IMMORTALITY!" Fleminger howled, his monstrous voice booming and deafening. "THERE IS NO NEED FOR PERFECTION! THERE IS NO NEED,... FOR A USELESS VESSEL! I WILL OBTAIN,... EVERYTHING! I WILL BECOME,... PANDEMONIUM!"

"THEN, FUCK YOU!"

The brothers turned just in time as they saw Kyrie Eleison coming out of the wall they just busted, glowing and soaring through the air. And riding it was none other than Nero, himself. The youth revved the vehicle and landed right at Fleminger's face, its spiky front wounding it, making his dark blood splatter on the ground as he howled in pain.

"Is that my son, or is he yours?" V innocently asked as he watched Nero drove Fleminger out of the room, making a new hole in the wall behind them. "Because, I'm very sure that we have no resemblance, at all. And he acts just like you."

Dante looked at him in surprise. "No resemblance, my ass! And how did you find out?"

"I told you." The elder brother answered as they followed the boy and the Demon outside. "I just know things,..."

Nero managed to throw Fleminger out using Kyrie Eleison, and as the massive Demon calling himself Pandemonium scrambled to his feet, unable to see due to his wounds, his servant Reginald, who mysteriously just popped out of nowhere, came to his rescue.

"KILL THEM!" He commanded.

"Naturally, Master." Reginald answered as he stood before Nero and transformed into a Fury - like Demon but, this time, this creature did not have the power of lightning. He raised his scaled arm, pointing his claw at the sky, and when he brought it down, the ground before him split, and fire erupted from it. He, then, vanished with a crimson blur, ready to kill Nero.

"YOU'RE NOT FAST ENOUGH!" Nero bellowed as he changed into his Devil form and matched the Flame Fury's speed, successfully stopping Reginald with his pair of blue fist - like wings.

"WHAT FORM OF POWER IS THIS?!" Reginald howled in disbelief.

"Okay! Time to join in the fun!" Dante exclaimed as he made his way towards Pandemonium, only to be stopped by Fleminger's gargoyle underlings. "What?! You again?! You just don't know when to give up!" He raised his sword and pointed at them. "Okay, I'm gonna start with,..." his sword, then, landed on the Demon to his right. "... YOU!" He announced as he morphed into his Devil form and began fighting.

Fleminger was about to get up but, he fell down once more as he felt something strange within his whole body. He tried to use his power but, he failed.

"You are not perfect." V informed him as he pointed the Yamato at him. "You could never wield Pandemonium's power! And you would never achieve immortality!"

"I'LL KILL YOU ALL THE SAME!" Fleminger boomed as he got up and blindly charged at V, flailing his massive claws and destroying everything in his path. The poet easily dodged and evaded each and every erratic attack, all the while wounding the massive Demon in places to disable him. V made one last slash with the Yamato and wounded Fleminger on the stomach, making him fall. Until the very end, Pandemonium did not acknowledge him as its vessel.

Just when they thought that they finally defeated the Demon, it started squirming on the ground, his wounds radiating with a strange light as if something was trying to come out of them. And just when Nero dealt the final blow on Reginald and when Dante brought down the last gargoyle, the Master stood up, its eyes rapidly changing color as it started rampaging mindlessly about. Then, as it opened its mouth, a powerful light in the form of a crimson laser erupted from it, destroying the mansion before it.

It was the same laser that annihilated everything from the apocalyptic future that V just came, or escaped, from.

Pandemonium was trying to get out of Fleminger's corrupted body but, it couldn't.

V sensed this immediately as he prepared to finish it with the help of the Protector of The Present's power. It must be destroyed, at all cost! Or else, the dark future would still occur, and he could not let that happen! Not now when Galatea entrusted the future of humanity to him!

However, the Aspect of The Future took hold of his mind once again, showing him bits of the future.

A book, a meteorite, a shower of destructive light,...

... an Angel,...

Cassandra showed him these things. And these things would occur in a few moments,...

The poet's eyes widened as he snapped back from his reverie.

"We'll end this!" Dante howled as he made his way towards the rampaging Demon.

"I'm with you!" Nero answered as he joined his uncle.

"STOP!"

Uncle and nephew alike halted, unnerved at V's word.

"We can't let that thing live!" Dante screamed at him as he raised his sword. "It will destroy everything!"

"ARE WE GONNA KILL THIS FUCKER, OR WHAT?!" Nero howled, his golden eyes seething with wrath.

V calmly went closer towards the rampaging Demon, placing himself between his family and it.

"Let me handle this." The poet simply told them as he bowed down low. He, then, raised his left hand and snapped his fingers, summoning the golem. It fell down from the sky in the form of a meteor that destroyed everything beneath it.

But, instead of forming into the dark creature called Nightmare, it merely stayed in liquid state, its massive violet eye hovering above the ground, radiating a weak kind of light.

Cassandra showed him this, and she was right, as always.

V smirked as he took out his book - his beloved illustrated William Blake anthology. He opened it and started reading as the violet eye slowly regained form.

"The Angel that presided o'er my birth," V began reading as the creature rapidly pulsated before him. "...said, 'little creature, form'd of joy and mirth, go love without the help of any thing on Earth.'"

Meanwhile, back in the trailer, as V read the passage from the book, Shadow the feline familiar radiated with light, making her hover above the ground.

"W - what's happening to that kitty?!" Nico stuttered nervously as she pointed at Shadow.

"Get away from her!" Trish commanded as she channeled her powers. "She might be dangerous!"

"Please, calm down." Galatea firmly said as she remained unfazed on the sofa.

"What's going on with her?!" Lady questioned her in panic.

"Vergil's Nightmares would be,... no more,..." Galatea answered, still calm. "By the power of the Sisters of Fate, these Nightmares,..."

"SHALL BE CLEANSED!"

Dante and Nero looked all over the place, trying to find that familiar voice. And as the two men looked at the little orbs of light forming above V, seemingly bearing the metal cane that was forgotten on the Dreadnought, the three women inside the trailer looked in shock as the contract markings on (Y/N)'s right arm returned.

But, this time, the markings were not black and inky in appearance. The contract formed in beautiful swirls of shimmering gold and midnight blue. And as it was completed, it radiated with blue - colored currents on (Y/N)'s arm.

V smirked as he witnessed the orbs forming into one creature - a five foot - tall boy with skinny features. He had a pair of the most gorgeous midnight blue wings that glowed, and a golden horn protruding from the middle of his forehead.

Dante and Nero's jaw dropped open as the creature spread both his wings and his arms, completing the transformation.

He opened his pair of golden eyes and smiled, showing them his jagged teeth and blue tongue.

"Aww, and ya honestly thought I'd be gone for good, eh, kids? SHAME ON YA FOR THINKIN' THAT!" The boy quipped as he threw the metal cane at V, who caught it just in time as the boy pointed at him with a dark - nailed finger. "And, you! Such a high maintenance ya sure are! Have ye come to yer senses, eh Shakespeare?"

"I did not just come to my senses," the poet answered like he was greeting an old friend. "... I have finally awakened from my mistakes."

"Is that? Is t - that - ?!" Nero stuttered as he pointed at the boy, his eyes wide open.

"Damn! It's the LITTLE CHICKEN!" Dante confirmed, still not able to believe his own eyes.

"MADE YA LOOK!" Griffon, now in his cleansed human form, answered as he turned at the rampaging Demon. He, then, spread his fingers, summoning a golden staff that looked like a lightning rod. Showing his jagged teeth through his wide smile, he pointed the rod at the sky and spread his wings. "FUCK YEAH!"

At those obscene words, Griffon was able to rain down multiple blasts of lightning from the sky that pierced through the Demon's body like an endless barrage of silver bullets.

V opened his book once more and read another passage.

"I curse my stars in bitter grief,... and woe,... that made my love,... so high,... and me,... so low,..."

The violet eye that was hovering above the ground cracked like glass, letting a blinding form of light radiate from it.

A few seconds later, as the light subsided, all of them saw the golem's cleansed form - a white - armored Angel that stood eight feet tall, with three pairs of wings made purely out of light and a golden halo atop his head. The Angel carried a huge, heavy - looking metallic staff that radiated with the same light as the Protector of The Present. And as the Demon fired another destructive laser, V's most powerful familiar pointed its weapon at it, channeling its power and countering the attack with a laser of its own but, much more powerful. The Angel, that was once called Nightmare, easily overpowered the Demon, its laser of judgment coming down at it and melting its demonic exterior, exposing the human inside. V saw this and hastily made his move, charging at it with his metal cane and the Yamato raised high above his head.

Fleminger opened his eyes and saw the son of Sparda above him, about to end his life. The metal cane and the Yamato pierced through his heart, making his eyes open wide in total disbelief.

"I,... lost,... it seems,..." Fleminger whispered.

"Little wanderer," V began. "... hie thee home."

***

~ A V X Reader set in an Alternate Universe wherein the world was finally saved! 👌👍👍

~ Again, special thanks to @la-vita for the German dialogue! 🖤

~ @heaven-on-a-landslide , @yepps , @krazy06 , @micaelagua , @sofia-micaela , @beyond-the-mirror , @vergils-daughter , @ehrzeth , @ceruleanworld , @gxthghoulfriend , @lessy86 , @simmy-ships , @diabeticsugarush , and @boundbysoul . 🖤

~ The Priest and his three old nuns: Charlie and his angels, German Version. 😂👍👍👌

~ Oh! And one more thing ( and I'm sure @krazy06 knows this ): I have a WIP of the humanized Griffon we just read! I've been planning this for a very long time and I'll post him when I finish him. What? Did you really think that Griffon will stay dead? Guys and gals, I may be a fan of Game Of Thrones but, I'm not George R. R. Martin! 😂

***

The three descendants of Sparda, all tired and filthy, made their way towards the fallen Dreadnought in the middle of the ruined city as Griffon, the not - little - chicken, flew above them.

"Make it fast, slowpokes!" He mocked with his obnoxious voice.

"Easy for you to say!" Nero retorted. "Just you wait! I don't care if you're a human or what! I'll still pluck your feathers when I get my strength back!"

"Can we just make this fast?" Dante complained, heaving heavily with each and every step. "I'm beat! I just wanna take a rest."

All four of them went directly towards the heart, which, apparently, stopped pulsating a long time ago. V touched it with a single hand and spoke to it.

"It's okay now. You are free."

At his words, the heart burst open, spilling blood and guts all over the place and making all of them even filthier than ever before. The girl inside was about to collapse when V caught her just in time. She opened her eyes and looked up at him.

"M - my s - sister?"

"She's safe. The Pale Ones are gone. You can take a rest now."

"Please,... take care,... of my sister,..."

V listened to her, taking her words and instilling them to his heart like an eternal vow. He, then, nodded.

"I will take care of her for as long as I exist," he gave his honorable answer. "... I promise."

The poor tortured girl smiled as she closed her eyes, finally taking her peaceful eternal rest, along with the souls of the other orphans that Fleminger's ancestors enslaved for a hundred years.

***

🖤🖤🖤

***

~ 10 ~

***

[puzzledorange]

OC’s Answer 15 Q’s Tag

okey i know this took a while and there are so many more tag games that I need to do, but once I take over the world i will outlaw school so i can have time to do these, so please don’t hesitate to tag me in more stuff!

I was tagged by @thatsadwriter​ so thanks for that!

Okay so what I’m gonna do is that P (from the Metalrifter) is answering, but both Rigby and Olsen (from stories Friends & the Universe and Life in the Rivers respectively) are also they’re butting in whenever they want. They are in Violet’s apartment house being interviewed btw.

rules: answer fifteen questions as either yourself or your ocs, then tag fifteen people

————————

what is your full name?

“Oh that’s easy. P.”

“Are you serious? You’re the one with some weird-ass nickname and you decided to take this question?” Rigby says.

“Well I don’t have any other names, do I?” P snaps back. “What about your name huh? If mine’s so flawed.”

“I never thought you’d ask.” chuckles Rigby. He tilts his head to the side and combs his hair back. “Rigby Diggins here.” P chortles.

“What’s so funny to you?” Rigby hisses.

“No matter how many times I hear your last name, I laugh.” P responds. “It sounds like a cartoon character’s.”

“Enough.” Rigby says, “Alright Olsen, hit us with your full name.”

“Oh me?” Olsen says. “Well my full name is Olsen Maegan Rivers.”

“At least SOMEBODY has a normal name here.” P says.

“Wait weren’t you technically adopted by Violet though?” Olsen asks. “You guys are technically brother and sister or something right?”

P sighs. “Yeah, I guess.”

“So what is your real full name?”

“P Patterson.”

“I’m calling you Peepa from now on.” Rigby says.

“Please don’t.”

what is your gender? “I’m a guy.” P says.

“Are you sure about that, Peepa?” Rigby teases.

“I’m this close to whooping your ass into next week.”

what does your full name mean?

“Uh, I don’t know. It just is my name.” says P.

“Why did you answer the question if that was the answer you would give” asked Rigby.

“Fine then, its over to you.” says P.

“That’s what I’m talking about! Well my name is Rigby because of my free spirit. What can I say, I’m special!”

“Yeah, I don’t doubt that.” says P. “What about you Olsen?”

“Well I looked it up, and a website said that my name meant ‘descendant’. I guess that makes sense, since my ancestor founded my hometown.”

any nicknames or other names?

“My code name is Captain Orbit, or just Orbit.” says P. “That’s what they call me up in space.”

what is your sexuality?

“Huh, I’ve actually never really thought about what kind of people I like.” P says.

“You gotta be kidding me, you’re the most boring person ever.” Rigby says. “And by the way, I’m bi.”

“What does it mean to be bi?” P asks.

“You’re joking.”

P shakes his head.

“Oh, come on!” Rigby exclaims. “Even Olsen knows what that means! How are you this royally uneducated? I thought you were Violet’s brother, but it really is evident that you two are adopted siblings.”

“Hey!” Olsen snaps his fingers. “Calm down. Jesus, you’re always a lit fuse aren’t you?”

“Lit in more ways than one.” Rigby says with a sly smile. He looks at P thinking that he would get the joke, but his humor is that of a wet towel.

where are you from?

“I’m not really sure.” says P.

“EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOUR ANSWERS HAVE BEEN EXCEPTIONALLY SHITTY OH MY GOD I CANNOT HANDLE THIS ANY LONGER” says Rigby.

“Shut your goddamn mouth up.” P says, sending metal up to Rigby’s mouth to inhibit his speech. In response, he starts clawing at it.

Olsen raises his hand in anticipation. “Hey, can I go?”

“Sure go ahead.” P responds.

“Okay so,” Olsen starts. “I was born in Riveria, a small town in--”

Rigby rips off the metal restraining his mouth. “God, can’t a man have freedom of speech? I think you just single-handedly cured my iron deficiency. Anyways I know you guys don’t care, but I was born and raised in glamorous LA.”

“Can you just shut it and listen to Olsen?” P says.

“I knew you wouldn’t care. Hurts, man.”

“As Olsen was saying, he lives in Riveria, and…?” P says.

“Oh yeah! And my great great great great grandfather actually founded the town.” Olsen continues.

“Oh really? Do you want a medal?” Rigby says, reclining back in his chair.

when were you born?

“I WILL take this one, okay?” Rigby says.

“Fine.” says P.

“I was born June the 22nd, 1990. The greatest day on Earth.” Rigby says.

P scoffs.

“You guys can’t even say anything, because your author was negligent enough to not give you definitive birthdays yet!”

Olsen sighs. “Yeah, that’s a problem.”

whoops sorry

how old are you?

“I’m about twenty two I’d say,” says P.

“I’m twenty nine. Hah, beatcha.” Rigby says.

“I’m seventeen.” Olsen says.

where do you live?

“Oh, uh, here.” P says, pointing down at the ground.

Rigby mocks him. “Uh, oh, um, uh, here. Where is here dumbass?”

“Queens. New York.” P says in a stiff tone.

“Better. Now watch an interesting person take this question.” Rigby says. “Right now, I’m currently residing in space, specifically in the port of the Planet Happi.”

“P-Probably not so, uh, ‘Happi’ when you’re there!” Olsen calls out.

“Hey-o! High five!” P exclaims. The two share a hand slap. “So where do you live, Olsen?”

“Well I lived Riveria until I left to LA during my middle school years. I came back to my hometown about 2 years ago.”

P suppresses a laugh. “Sorry, I just can’t let that joke go.”

“It wasn’t even that funny.” Rigby says, crossing his arms.    

what are your quirks?

“What would constitute as a quirk?” Olsen asks.

“It’s what makes you weird and shit.” Rigby says. “P should go first, since this is literally the only question that can make him sound like a cool person.”

“I’d clock you, but I have to answer this question.” P says. “So, I Metalrift. What that essentially means is that I can control and manipulate metal with my mind. It’s super useful, but it took a grueling process to acquire. I have a few other friends that can rift other things, like Scott Walker. He can rift rock, and he’s damn good at it too.”

“I for one,” Rigby says, “Am competent at what I do without the help of magic, but with the help of a little bit of alchies. I shoot aliens and shit. Ain’t that right Peepa?” He smiles as he puts his hand on P’s shoulder. He shrugs Rigby’s hand off.

“What about you, Olsen?” Rigby asks.

“Well, I’m really good with a blade, a machete specifically. Still, my friend, Lisa, taught me how to properly fight. I have a signature backswing and everything.” Olsen says. “Also P I hope you  wouldn't mind metalrifting for us. I mean I've seen it in combat, but not really up close and personal. Could you?”

“Uh, sure, I don’t see why not,” P says, looking around the apartment for any loose metal lying around. “I don’t see any metal though.”

“Wait no, I got you.” Rigby says, pulling out a ray gun and a hammer from the inside of his coat.

“Perfect! I can just extract the metal from the g--”

Rigby starts to casually smash the gun, reducing it to metal bits and bobs. “There you go, rift away.” Rigby says.

P lifts the metal with his mind, and formulates a small elephant on the table using the bits and bobs. It walks around and spurts tiny pieces of metal out of its trunk.

“Oh sweet!” Olsen exclaims.

“Okay yeah, that’s pretty sick, I gotta admit.” says Rigby. “Hey, that rhymes!”

who are your family members? “Uh, next question.” Olsen says. who are your pets?

“I have a turtle, and he is the light of my life.” says Rigby.

“And what’s his name?” Olsen asks.

“Cadet. What a little man.” Rigby says.

“Why’s his name Cadet?” P asks.

“I’m glad you asked.” says Rigby. “I named him after my favorite wine, Mouton Cadet.”

“How original.” P dryly says.

what do you look like?

“Well, I have black hair and green eyes” says P. “Also, I wear a red flannel with a black shirt underneath, and topping it all off with my signature blue pants and black shoes.”

“Alright, my turn!” says Rigby. “So I dyed my hair blond, but my original hair color is brown. I have blue eyes and an amazing goatee. I’m wearing my space uniform right now, which is a blue collar necked coat-jacket that has a white stripe near the bottom, black pants strapped with a holster, black boots, and black gloves. Oh, also I’m a hell of a lot taller than P. Five foot ten ass…”

“How tall are you then?” asks P.

“Six foot three.” Rigby triumphantly says.

“What about you Olsen?”

“Alright,” Olsen says, “Well I have brown hair, a bit combed to the side, brown eyes, and freckles. I wear a red short sleeve with a gray long sleeve undershirt, along with blue jeans and regular sneakers. Oh, and I’m five foot ten too!”

“Shorties.” says Rigby.

who’s your hero?

“Definitely my uncle,” says Olsen. “He’s a real inspiration and always has great advice for me.”

“Both my friends Violet and Basil are amazing people and I wouldn’t be alive for them, so probably those two people.” says P.

“I really like the Hamburglar.” says Rigby. The others stare at him. “What? He really got me to buy more burgers, honest!”

what’s your moral alignment?

“Yo dude!” Rigby says. “I’m uhh,” He snaps his fingers, “Chaotic good.”

P chimes in, “I’m definitely lawful good.”

“And that leaves neutral good for me!” says Olsen. “Wait that’s the last question right?”  

“Yeah, and wow I’m so glad we’re done with this.” says P.

“Why?” asks Olsen.

“So I can do this.” P says, getting up from his seat and knocking Rigby’s lights out.

——————————————–

Cool, this was fun! I’ll be tagging @starlightinhumanform​, @ill-write-when-im-dead​, and @kaigods​, but don’t be obligated to do them. You’re an independent person!

[fanfic-inator795]

OK KO Oneshot: Blorpers Gonna Blorp

Plot: When an annoying meme comes back from the dead, it’s nice to have people - specifically a slightly obnoxious robotic boyfriend - by your side.

((Sorry about the stupid title, lol. But yeah, I’m not hugely into the Radmond ship personally, but at the same time I think it’s pretty cute and I’ve had this idea for a while so, why not write it? Anyway, enjoy!))

To the two of them, actually being a couple wasn’t too hard. Sure, both of them admittedly had quite a bit of pride and Rad did struggle with showing his true feelings at times (though he had been slowly improving at it, much to the delight of his boyfriend and co-workers). However, after the initial confession and whatever embarrassment or nerves that came with it, the actual act of being in a relationship was pretty much smooth sailing! Even their contrasting alignments to ‘good’ and ‘evil’ respectfully didn’t provide much conflict! 

...Setting up dates on the other hand was quite the challenge. With one working a full time job and the other being at the beck-and-call of his father and his missions, it was pretty difficult to find time where they were not only both free but were sure that they wouldn’t get annoyingly interrupted.

Still, they took whatever they could get, hence why Raymond would usually make his way to the plaza around the same time every day, about when Rad’s lunch break started. And, luckily for the alien, Enid would usually let him be a few minutes late getting back, just as long as he brought her back a small snack from wherever they decided to eat. 

Today it was this small diner just about a block or so away from the plaza, recommended specifically by Mr. Logic since they were one of the few places that served several dishes that catered specifically to robotic tastes. Definitely a plus!

“Mmm! The mix of olive oil and engine oil with just a dash of soy sauce is practically decadent! Are you sure you don’t to try a bite, Radicles?”

“Nah man, I’m good,” Rad replied, “I mean, not that my totally stomach can’t handle it but, gotta save room for dessert, you know?”

The green bot shrugged. “Alright, fair enough. ...Besides-” He gave a small smirk, “I suppose if you ever just wanted to experience the taste of it without actually eating it, I’m sure I could easily help you out with that~”

Rad stared, taking a moment to realize what Raymond was getting at - and once he did he practically set off one of his blush blasts. Still, Rad smirked back at him. “Heh, if you’re suggesting a quick make-out sess before I have to get back, I’m preeeetty sure that that can be a-

“RAD!” Radicles flinched at the sudden squeal while Raymond just blinked in surprise. Who in the world-?

And just like that, the couple’s casual lunch-date went from private to VERY public, with several people now surrounding their table. They didn’t look familiar, Raymond was certain he hadn’t seen them around the plaza. However, all of them knew (or at least acted like they knew) Rad, who was clearly forcing a smile back at them despite how much he was trying to shrink down in his seat. Some of them were even dressed like Rad, complete with blue shirts, pink pants and homemade antennas! 

“Wow, it’s been forever since your video!” one guy said, “It’s practically a classic now!”

“Yeah, when’s you’re next one?” a fangirl asked, “I bet it’ll be just as hilarious as the last one!”

Still trying to force a smile, Rad rubbed the back of his neck, glancing away from his ‘fans’. “Heh, well, comedy genius takes time, ya know? You can’t rush it if-”

“Umm, don’t you mean blorp-edy genius~?” Another fan retorted, causing the rest of them to fall into a fit of laughter.

Raymond raised an eyebrow. “Blorp-edy...? Rad, what-?” As he turned his attention back towards his boyfriend, his question almost immediately died in his throat once he saw the expression on Rad’s face. 

There wasn’t even a fake smile there anymore. There was however annoyance, anger, frustration... Maybe even a bit of hurt. And that bit was too much, at least for Raymond.

Gritting his metal teeth, the bot turned back to the fans, who had thankfully started to quiet down (though their smug smiles and clueless grins were still enough to anger the bot). “Excuse me, but I don’t believe any of you were invited to our lunch - a lunch, by the way, not some blooper reel screening! So-” His arm began to shift into a laser cannon, “If you don’t mind, I think it’s time to-

“UHH TIME TO get going back to work!” Rad quickly interrupted, sitting up now. He also gave Raymond a small kick in the shin, and while it didn’t hurt, his boyfriend quickly got the message and (reluctantly) deactivated his weapon. “Heh, yeah, I should get going back to the bodega soon so, we should probably finish eating.”

Of course, the fans gave him a disappointed look, but thankfully they didn’t try to argue. “Alright, have a good lunch, Rad!” “Yeah Rad, we’ll BLORP you later!” “Heh, and don’t forget to get your leftover food to blorp!” “Bleeble blorple!” The fans laughed again, being loud enough that the couple could still hear the chuckles even as they walked out and past the diner. 

 “Ugh...” Rad facepalmed, slouching back into his seat. “Just when I thought it was finally done...” Then again, was anything ever truly forgotten on the internet?

“...Radicles?” The alien glanced up, catching the bot’s concerned look. “Hmph... You should have let me take that penalty shot,” he grumbled, “I think they more than earned one for upsetting you.”

“Hey hey, it’s fine!” Rad insisted, forcing another smile (and causing Raymond’s frown to deepen), “Tc’ch, it’s just some dumb meme that I accidentally created! People repeat memes, it’s just somethin’ you gotta deal with! Besides, it takes more than some dumb ‘fans’ to keep me down for too long! Really, babe, it’s fine!”

“Well, if you’re sure...” Raymond still didn’t quite believe it though, especially since his date spent the rest of their lunch hour together being pretty quiet and only picking at the rest of his food. Still, Rad tried to at least look like he was enjoying himself though, even giving the bot a quick kiss on the cheek after they walked back to Gar’s together. But even so, it was easy for Raymond to tell that what those ‘fans’ of his had said was still bothering his boyfriend. 

Determined and still annoyed at the situation, Raymond activated the jets in his feet and flew back over to Boxmore. “Perhaps I should look more into this ‘blorp’...” And, as soon as he touched down on the factory’s roof and his mind connected to the wifi Boxman had set up, that’s exactly what he did.

“Okay,” he said, closing his eyes and sitting down as he mentally opened up a browser window, “What are the search results for ‘blorp’...” He was pretty sure that was how it was spelled. It certainly came up with enough results, with one of the top ones being connected to a Planet X dictionary. But without a doubt, the most popular result was a six-second video that had well over several million views. And, in the screenshot for it, was none other than Radicles. Raymond quickly selected the video. 

“Rad rocket’s on the roof ready to roll!” *crash* “BLORP!” 

“Pfft.” Raymond couldn’t help but chuckle a bit. Alright, maybe that was funny. A bit embarrassing perhaps but... Where was all the grief coming from? “There has to be more,” he mumbled as the clip continued repeating. Pushing away the video, he continued to search through the results.

Beyond the initial video and results that it only referred to the word itself, there were mostly forums. ...Many, many MANY forums. And, in Raymond’s opinion, almost none of them even had a scrap of information! All of them were just people simply reposting the video or screenshots from it, writing comments, and posting images with Rad’s face photo-shopped onto them, usually referencing the fact that he was an alien. The images weren’t too bad, but the comments...

“Grop he is just SOOOO funny!!! If all aliens were this funny, maybe we’d see more of them around!” 

“Such a goof! Blorp me up, lol!”

“Why hasn’t this guy made more blorpin’ videos already?!”

“Omfg haha, so stupid! aliens gonna blorp!”

“So great! Heh, wonder how many times he blorps up when the camera’s NOT rolling?”

“BLORP BLORP! Hehe, so weird, but still so funny! Blorpy blorp bloop!”

“...Okay, now I’m starting to get it.” Raymond sighed, shifting his mind off ‘internet mode’ before opening his eyes. “No wonder he was so annoyed... Ugh, those fairweather ‘fans’ aren’t even fans of him! They’re just fans of blorp and whatever other ‘wacky alien’ thing they like about him!” Honestly! It was like those old cartoons that he and his siblings had found from centuries ago where the robots were complete jokes or only spoke in beeps and boops! So insulting!

“If they truly knew what Radicles was like, they wouldn’t even care about blorp because-!” He paused. “...Because there would be too many other things to like about him.” Slowly, the bot smiled.

Maybe that was the real answer he had been searching for.

()()()()()()()()()

“Oh, hey Rad. Do you think you can move some of those power-ups boxes we got today out here so we don’t have to worry about getting them tomorrow?”

Rad gave a small groan, but sat up from his spot anyway. “Fine, whatever.” He headed towards the loading dock, not even noticing that his youngest co-worker was watching him. 

“...Psst, Enid!” KO whispered, “I think something’s wrong with Rad!”

“Yeah, maybe,” Enid said as she sat up, taking her feet off the counter and instead choosing to lean on her arms, “He’s been lazier than usual, and he’s not even enjoying it.”

“Yeah! And he hasn’t made any jokes, or tried to show how tough he is, or anything like that!” KO added, getting more concerned, “He just seems so down!”

“Well, maybe he’s just having a bad day?” Enid shrugged, “Nothing a little sleep can’t fix, probably. Or maybe he just had a bad date with Raymond?” KO hummed, thinking about it. Either of those could have been the reason... But before he could agree or offer up any theories of his own, a familiar voice caught their attention.

“While you’re certainly close to figuring out, you’re still throwing air balls.” The two employees turned around, spotting Raymond casually posing against a rack of fruit-themed attack projectiles. 

“How did you get in here without us noticing?” KO asked while Enid just rolled her eyes at the bot. 

Of course, Raymond ignored them both and walked further into the store, towards the back. “Besides, knowing why he’s upset won’t change much,” he added in a lower voice, “After all, no one can destroy something once it becomes memetic.” But there was something he could do to maybe counteract it...

No sooner had he reached the back of the Bodega, Rad returned with several floating boxes surrounded in pink aura. “Hm?” he blinked, “Uhh, what are you doing here, Ray?”

“Just thought I’d stop by for a bit to talk with my favorite Bodega worker~” Raymond replied simply, “Maybe brighten up the last few minutes of your shift with my presence.”

“Tc’ch.” Despite everything, Rad couldn’t help but give a small smile. “Alright, works for me.” With that, he began stacking the crates against the wall.

Raymond hummed as he watched him. “Though, I must say, my dear Radicles, you’re quite the all-star yourself.”

“Real- er, heh, yeah I am,” Rad nodded.

“You’ve got plenty of power and strength. Why, I’m sure you’ll even level up soon! Your fingerblasts are very useful, and you’re able to apply them to your own style of fighting, making them all the more unique - just like you! Plus you’re light on your feet, very useful!”

“Uh huh,” Rad nodded again as he continued stacking boxes, though his boyfriend’s compliment marathon was far from over. 

“But it’s not just power and fighting that keeps you at the top of the starting line-up, oh no. I’d also say you’ve very stylish, much more stylish than other bots- er, people - that I see each day! You’re also very charming-”

Raymond paused, hearing a small snicker. He shot Enid a quick glare before continuing. “As I was SAYING, you’re very charming - from your interesting conversation topics to your wits, your dancing, your flirting. Why, I’d say you’re one of the most unique and most exceptional organic beings that I’ve ever-”

“Okay.” Rad dropped the last box he was holding and turned to face his boyfriend, giving him a look.

Raymond blinked. “What? Did I say something wrong?”

“Well, no but-” Rad crossed his arms, not looking angry or even annoyed by any means, but still looking a bit confused. “Look, I get that couples are supposed to compliment each other and stuff, and yeah all the things you’re saying are totally true but, don’t you think you’re laying it on just a little too thick? Seriously, Ray, what’s up?”

“...Well...” Raymond sighed, deflating slightly. This wasn’t going quite as well as he assumed it would. “I just thought that, well, after what happened at lunch, you could use some comments that weren’t just jokes at your expense... Comments that were genuine, and that were from someone who actually knew you and admired you - and not just the things you’ve said - and who-” He cleared his throat, his face heating up slightly. “Who... cares about you. I just didn’t want you feeling like everyone just saw you as a joke or a meme or whatever.”

“...” Rad turned his head away, staying silent as Raymond watched him blink a few times, and even giving a small sniffle. However, once Rad looked back over at him, the only thing on his face was a big - and genuine - smile. 

“Heh... Like I said,” Rad told his boyfriend as he stepped forward, “I already knew all the things you said about me, but-” He leaned forward, allowing their noses to touch (surprisingly, Raymond’s nose wasn’t nearly as deadly as it looked). “But it, you know... It still means a lot to hear it from someone who does care. Thanks, Raymond.” 

With that, Rad moved his head over slightly. Knowing now what he was planning on doing, Raymond happily lifted his own head up slightly, allowing their lips to meet.

Once their kiss broke though, Rad did add one last thing. “And just so you know, babe... I think you’re pretty great too. Great AND unique, no matter how many other Raymonds there are.”

Raymond smirked. “Of course. Coach Boxdad made me to be the greatest after all. But, it sounds even greater coming from you~” And with that, the couple shared another kiss.

“Aww!” KO smiled, clapsing his hands together, “That’s so sweet!”

“Heh, yeah yeah,” Enid smirked, “Hey Rad, just remember you’re still on the clock for another half hour! So let’s wrap it up, okay?” Though, even if her co-worker didn’t get much else done that night, she didn’t think she would mind - at least, not tonight.

Sure, Rad and Raymond could sometimes be annoying or frustrating on their own. But together, they really were a sweet sight.

THE END 

((First OK KO fic so, hope everyone was in-character and that you all enjoyed reading! ^v^))

[kthyunngg]

When Stars Align | One

Member: Jungkook 

Genre: Angst, fluff, long distance relationship 

Word Count: 4.1k 

Summary: You were only going to South Korea as a little present for yourself. Nothing more than that, but when a stranger drops his phone and then becomes your seat mate on the plane, all your plans to be a tourist in another country changes. (lol i suck at summaries) 

A/N: Enjoy?! This is a SERIES. I don’t know how long it will be, but I’m excited and I hope you are as well. 

✩ Two | Three | Four ✩

“Now boarding flight number four-seven-eight-two. Please make your way to the gate and present your boarding passes. Thank you.”

The speaker’s voice announces your flight and you make your way with your boarding pass. As you’re walking through the rows of seats, you notice a phone that drops out from a man’s pocket. He doesn’t seem to notice so you rush over to the phone and pick it up before anyone steps on it.

“Excuse me,” You tap the shoulder of the man wearing a camouflage jacket. “I think you dropped your phone.” You hold up the phone for the man to look and he smiles.

“Ah thank you so much.” He takes the phone and proceeds to check into the flight.

You also join the line up and wait until it’s your turn to board. Luckily for you, you managed to get into line before the enormous heap of people, making your journey to find your seat a lot easier.

“C-twenty four….twenty five….twenty seven… aha! C-thirty one!” A window seat as well, your favourite. Just as you’re about to walk into the aisle, you notice someone is already sitting in the aisle seat.

“Excuse me, can I get into my seat?” The man looks up from his spot. Oh. It’s the man who dropped his phone.

“Sorry.” He looks a little flustered and scrambles to his feet, allowing you to get into your seat.

“No worries.” The two of you settle down and after a few minutes, he jumps in his seat.

“It’s you!” The man gleefully exclaims. “Uhh…Thank you…for…my phone.” You notice his english is slightly broken, but not bad.

“No problem. Are you from this country?” You can already guess that he’s from Korea, but you don’t want to be rude so you allow him to tell you for sure.

“No, Korea. I’m flying home.” Bingo. Lucky for you, you’ve been studying Korean for a while now, only recently saving up enough money to take a vacation to South Korea. For his benefit, you switch over to speak in Korean.

“Ah really? Your english is quite good for a non-native speaker!” Your sudden change seems to have shocked the man as he looks at you with wide eyes.

“You….can speak Korea?” He hesitantly asks you in his native language.

“Yup, I’ve been studying it for almost a year and a half now. It’s not the best though.”

“It’s quite good actually! Are you visiting Korea for vacation or do you live there as well?” Two of you shift a little in your seats so you’re able to have a better conversation.

What are the odds that this man who dropped his phone would be your seat mate for ten hour long flight? You chuckle lightly at that thought and then remember that he asked you a question.

“I’m visiting for vacation. I’m staying for about a month so hopefully I can get a nice overview of what life is like in South Korea.” He nods and then his eyebrows scrunch together.

“If you don’t mind, I could give you a tour. I live in Seoul so if you’re staying near there, we can work something out. Of course, that is if you don’t mind. I understand if you’re not comfortable with having a stranger leading you around places.” Out of nervousness the man scratches the back of his neck.

You’ve been taught that you shouldn’t follow strangers around places, but from what you can see, this man looks far from dangerous. Physically he is very toned, but from his facial expression and actions, he’s just like a little teddy bear. Perfectly harmless.

“Hmmm.…I don’t know. How can I be sure that you’re not some dangerous man?” You tease him.

“Good evening. This is your captain speaking. We are about to take off so please fasten your seatbelt. You must remain seated until the light…” You zone out from the captains words and fasten your seatbelt. Your seat mate does the same.

“Don’t worry. We have a long flight ahead of us. Lots of time for me to prove that I’m not a dangerous person. I’m quite the opposite believe it or not. I’m Jungkook by the way.” He sticks out his hand and you reciprocate his actions.

“I’m Y/N. Nice to meet you. I really hope you’re not a dangerous man. I’ll be in big trouble if you are.” You tease once again and both of you laugh.

At that moment the plane begins to accelerate and soon enough the plane is up in the air. That’s where your adventure begins. If someone came up to you at the beginning of the day and told you that your boyfriend is going to be your seat mate on your flight to South Korea, you would have with a doubt laughed in their face. Your trip to South Korea was supposed to be solely for exploration and learning purposes. You never thought that you would meet your boyfriend, let alone become friends with the person sitting next to you. On top of all that, you would have never thought that you were up to maintain a long distance relationship. You’ve heard that it’s a lot of work, and that’s exactly what you received.

~

About three hours into the plane ride, you’ve gotten to know Jungkook pretty well. He works as an assistant to one of the music producers in South Korea, pursuing his dream of becoming a well known producer himself. He has an older brother, he’s two years older than you, would love to travel the whole world one day, and he loves to sleep. You can definitely see some similarities between the two of you, but he is more outgoing than you.

‘What about you? What’s your story?” Jungkook takes a sip of the orange juice that one of the flight attendants gave and looks towards you.

“Me? Well…I’m an only child, I’m still a university student, and I also really love to sleep. Aside from my school life, I rarely go out and this vacation for me is definitely the first of my life. I’ve never left the country, let alone leaving for an entire month. I was really scared at first since my Korean is really basic, but now I’m seeing some more hope for this trip.” Something about Jungkook’s presence makes you want to constantly joke around. He makes the environment a lot more cheerful and you really appreciate that.

This entire week has been nothing but stress for you. Packing, making calls, and organizing everything. Luckily it is your summer break so you can take the time off for this trip. Your parents were worried just like you, but you managed to convince them and told them that it would be a nice learning experience for them.

“Do not worry! I, Jeon Jungkook will prove to you that I am a trustworthy tour guide. You’ll see the ins and outs of South Korea in know time. All the good food and places to go, it’s all part of the package.” He puffs out his chest and crosses his arms proudly.

Somewhere along the flight, the lights dimmed and there was a nice ambient blue light coming from overhead.

This must be their way of signalling nighttime.

You body seems to have got the message and you soon grew tired. Travelling takes a toll mentally and physically. Jungkook must also be feeling the same and soon both of you doze off into a peaceful sleep…well, as peaceful as it can get on a plane.

Time passed by a lot quicker than you expected. It felt like you just shut your eyes a while ago, but now you’re finding yourself waking up to the sound of Jungkook calling you and lightly tapping your head.

“Y/N, it’s time for breakfast.” You slowly open your eyes and take in your current surroundings.

Sure enough, it is breakfast time as you can hear the sound of the food trolleys being pushed down the aisles. You’re also rested against something extremely comfortable. Puzzled as to what that thing could be, you lift your head and look to your left. There you see a pillow fall from Jungkook’s shoulder.

“Oh my god. Was I sleeping on you the whole time? I’m so sorry!” Jungkook smiles and nods at your sudden frantic behaviour.

“It’s okay, I didn’t wake up too long ago. They’re handing out breakfast right now.” As if right on cue, the flight attendant walks over to your aisle and hands out the trays of food.

Without another word, the two of you dig into your breakfast. You finish everything, but the eggs and push them to the side of the tray.

“Do you not like eggs?” He points towards your neglected pile of eggs.

“Yeah…not the biggest fan of eggs and I’m not feeling too hungry because of the flight.”

“Ah, then you won’t mind right?” You shake your head, giving the go-ahead signal.

~

“Welcome to South Korea, the land of happiness and good food!” Jungkooks spins around in a circle at the front of the airport while you’re dragging both your luggages.

You laugh at childish actions, but you’re still enjoying the welcome.

“Thank you, thank you. It’s quite nice even though we’re still at the airport.”

“I can guarantee that you stay in South Korea will be an unforgettable one.” Little did you know, Jungkook was right.

You show Jungkook the address of your hotel so that he can meet up with you once he settles down at his place. So you go in separate ways for the time being to settle down in your respective places. While choosing your hotel, you made a good decision to not live right in the heart of Seoul. You chose somewhere in the suburb area where there aren’t as many people, but still close enough to access the entire city.

According to Jungkook, your hotel isn’t too far from his apartment either so you quickly change your clothes into something more presentable than the average airport attire and then head to the lobby to wait for him. In the first hour of your trip you’ve been quite impressed with the overall environment. Everything seems so clean compared to your hometown and the people are also quite polite.

“Hey Y/N!” You hear your name echo across the lobby and sure enough, Jungkook struts in with his backpack, waving at you.

“Hey Jungkook.” You walk over towards him and give him a smile.

“Ready to be wowed by this country?”

“Ready as I’ll ever be. I hope your tourist guide skills live up to your words.” Starting from this moment, your life is about to change. You had no idea what you were signing yourself up for. All you wanted was a nice vacation, some time off from your regular life.

A month passed by a lot quicker than you expected. True to his words, Jungkook was an amazing tour guide; too good if you dare say. He taught you the ins and outs of everything you needed to know when staying in Korea. He brought you to his favourite restaurants and didn’t miss out on all the tourist locations. One day turned to three, three turned into a week, and sooner enough it’s already your last full day in Korea. It’s bittersweet and you’re trying to think positive, but after having the time of your life, you didn’t want to leave.

“Are you ready for the final stretch of your trip?” Jungkook says cheerfully while he swings your arms up and down.

This has become a habit for the two of you. Since there can be quite a few people walking down the streets of Seoul, it’s hard to keep up with Jungkook so he took it upon himself to literally guide you. At first it just started off as a way to make sure that you won’t get lost in the crowd, but soon enough it became second nature for him to just grab your hand when walking anywhere. You didn’t mind though. His hand is quite bigger than yours, and it was awkward to get a comfortable position, but in no time it felt normal.

“I don’t know Jungkook. So far you’ve been pretty good at surprising me, but I don’t know how you’re gonna top last week with the beach and amusement park.”

“I figured you liked the beach so today, I, Jeon Jungkook, will take you to the land of the sea, my hometown, Busan. Be prepared to be hit by the fresh salt ocean, the breeze in your hair, and the smell of home cooked food.” Perhaps Jungkook is enjoying this more than you are as he announces the different sights to see in Busan.

“Alright tour guide, lead the way!”

“To Busan!” Jungkook points his finger forward and marches confidently down the street towards the train station with you in his hand.

It’s quite early in the morning so there aren’t many people at the station. This works out great for the both of you as you easily buy tickets for the trip and within a few minutes of waiting on the platform, a train arrives. The trip itself was not too interesting as you took a nap, but when the train arrives to your destination, you notice that the sun is in mid-sky, giving a soft highlight to everything it touches.

“Y/N, welcome to Busan!” Jungkook says with a smile and leads you off the train.

Hand in hand, Jungkook leads you out of the train station and you properly start your day in Busan. You can already tell that the atmosphere of Busan is a lot different from Seoul. Busan is definitely more laid back and easy going compared to the metropolitan lifestyles of Seoul. Everything is constantly buzzing back there, but here you feel like you can properly take a breathe of fresh air without anyone bothering you.

“So, Mr. Jeon tourist guide. Where are we headed first?” If Jungkook had not stopped walking and you pulled along with him, you would have completely forgotten that he was holding your hand.

“Well, I thought that we would get some breakfast and then head to the beach. Afterward I was planning to take you to some parks to walk around and maybe do a little last minute shopping before you leave tomorrow.” Tomorrow. The way he says it makes the day seem so far away, but you know it’s going to come quicker than you can possibly prepare yourself for.

“Sounds good! Lead the way!” You give your best attempt to hide away your sadness to your soon departure of this city and Jungkook seems to get the message.

Just like he said, Jungkook brought you all around Busan. With a slight change of plan, you went shopping right after eating since there was a little area to do so where you guys had breakfast. You bought a few accessories, nothing too big so you didn’t have to carry around obnoxious bags the whole day.

“Hey Y/N, these are pretty nice!” Jungkook calls you over to the other end of the store. He holds up two bracelets made of wooden beads. There are a few intricate designs on the beads, but not too much to take away from its simplicity.

“Oh they’re pretty. You should get it!” Your attention for the bracelets is stolen away as you notice a little photo booth in the corner of the store. You head in its direction as Jungkook goes to pay for his bracelet.

“Do you want to go in?” Jungkook approaches you just as he’s stuffing a small plastic bag into his backpack. You nod as you open the curtain to the photo booth.

You look at your options and decide to opt for two five panel strips. The booth itself is quite small, but Jungkook somehow manages to fit himself into it. The first photo that’s taken is a nice one, but then Jungkook tickles your side and you scream just as the second flash comes up. Appropriately, the next couple of photos are funny faces.

The countdown to the last photo appears up on the screen and you’re contemplating what face you should make. As you look up at the screen, Jungkook makes a straight line to your cheek and kisses it, just in time for the last photo.

Without saying anything, Jungkook steps out of the booth to retrieve the printed photos.

“Here you go,” He hands both strips to you. “Let’s go!”

Once again he takes his hand in yours to guide you to your next location, but this time it feels different. The spot where Jungkook pecked is burning compared to the rest of your face. You want to touch that spot, but you’re afraid that once you do, the feeling will go away. His hands also feel different. They feel exceptionally warmer and they seem to be holding onto you a little bit tighter. To top it all off, there’s a slight tingling sensation traveling up your arm. You’ve never felt all this before, so why now? Why on the last day?

The entire bus ride to the beach was fairly quiet; on the outside that is. Your mind is scrambling with thoughts. ”Jungkook probably kissed me on the cheek platonically,” you think to yourself. You’re probably overthinking this, but the longer the quiet lasts, the louder your thoughts get. While Jungkook taps his feet against the floor of the bus, your palms grow sweaty and you try to dry them by wiping them against your shorts.

“We’re here.” Jungkook whispers to you, but he gets a little too close to your face and he breath sends shivers down your spine.

“O-okay.” You mentally slap yourself for stuttering and try your best to clear your mind before getting off the bus.

Your efforts do not go to waste as the moment you step off the bus, the fresh smell of the ocean fills your nose. Excitement takes over and you, for the first time without realizing, grab Jungkook’s hand and run towards the beach together.

“Y/N slow down! The ocean won’t go anywhere you know?” Jungkook yells while laughing, but you can barely hear him as the wind roars against your ears.

The sight is absolutely beautiful. The ocean is shimmering as the sun reflects off of. The waves crash against a few rocks on the shore, making an extravagant abstract picture. Seagulls and other birds dance in circles over the ocean as they sing songs to each other. You’ve never seen anything like it.

“It’s beautiful.” You say delightfully. Jungkook nods and proceeds to take off his shoes. You follow his actions and place your belongings on the warm sand.

“Shall we?” Jungkook motions towards the water. You didn’t bring a change of clothes, but considering that it is your last day, you decide to take the risk.

“Let’s go.” You nod and you’re about to run towards the ocean, but Jungkook has his own devious plan and carries you across his shoulder.

The sudden change of position makes you shriek and you can only see the sand.

“Jungkook! Don’t you dare drop me in the water!” You shout in fear as you see the sand darken due to the water. The water gets deeper, but Jungkook doesn’t stop. “Jungkook!!” You start to slap his back and after awhile he stops, but he doesn’t let you down.

“I promise I’ll keep you safe Y/N.” You can picture his mischievous smile as he says that.

“Jungkook I swear to Go— AH!” At that moment Jungkook starts spinning you and droplets of the salty water hits you in the face “Let me down!” That was your first mistake.

Jungkook listens to your request and lets you down, but you didn’t realize how deep in the ocean you actually were. Lucky for you, you’re wearing shorts, but the sudden coldness of the water catches you off guard and you lose balance in your steps. You manage to regain balance, but in doing so, you ungraceful steps cause you to push over Jungkook, sending his straight in the water, fully soaked.

“AHHHH Y/N!” He screams out in rage and you begin to run in fear of his wrath.

The rest of the day continues like that as the two of you enjoy what the ocean has to offer. Slowly but surely, the sun begins to set and the sky takes on a new shade of a warm orange. As if that isn’t a big enough sign that the day is finally coming to and end, your fatigue takes over.

The formerly soaked from head to toe Jungkook has now dried off and he too notices your tiredness.

“Did today live up to your expectations?” The two of your lying down on the sand, enjoying the colour changes of the sky.

“Everything and beyond. Busan is amazing.” The clouds are moving slowly as the night wind begins to pick up.

“It really is. I’m lucky to have grown up in this city.” Your shoulders are practically touching as you’re lying down.

“After today I don’t want to leave anymore…there’s still so much to see.” There’s a hint of sadness in your voice that you don’t bother hiding anymore.

It seems that you’re not the only one who’s expressing sadness as Jungkook doesn’t speak. For a while he just lays there and then he gets up.

“I want to give you something.” He rummages through his bag and you sit up as well. “Here.” He takes out the bracelet that he bought in the store earlier. He takes your arm and puts on the bracelet, adjusting it so it fits.

“Isn’t this yours? I thought you only bought one.” You look at the bracelet that is now on your wrist. Somehow it embodies the essence of Busan nicely.

“I bought two. One for each of us. I didn’t know what else to get you so I just went with the flow since it’s your last day…Do you like it?”

“Of course I do! Like I said before, it’s beautiful!” You admire the bracelet and Jungkook puts on his own.

Couple bracelets they would call it, but you two aren’t exactly a couple.

“You could stay in Korea….” Jungkook says softly.

“I can’t. I have to go back to school.” You’ve been tempted to stay, transfer to an international school perhaps, but you know that’s not the right choice.

“I—” He’s about to say something, but immediately cuts himself off. The sound of the waves grows softer as the evening slowly turns into night. “Let’s go, it’s getting late.”

Bittersweet.

That’s how the rest of the night passes by. Jungkook brings you to one of his favourite Busan restaurants for dinner and then you’re headed back on the train to Seoul. The ride is quiet, but not like the morning one where you were all tired. During the time of the entire ride, Jungkook doesn’t let go of your hand; you don’t try to stop him. You’re also trying to enjoy what’s left of the night, but both of you know that the end is inevitable and dangerously close.

Jungkook takes you back to the hotel, but the two of you are reluctant to part ways. You take it upon yourself speak first.

“I had a really great time Jungkook and I’m glad we met on the plane. Without you, I don’t think I would have experienced Korea the way I did this past month. It was really amazing.” Unexpectedly, tears form in your eyes, and you blink quickly to try them up. Jungkook still remains quiet.

“Well…I guess this is goodnight..and goodbye.” You hesitate at first, but gather enough courage to kiss him on the cheek. Jungkook is still quiet. You give him a sad smile as you pull away and head towards the elevators.

In that moment, you feel a tug on your arm and you’re immediately spun around. It happens so fast that you’re not able to register what’s happening. You feel strong arms pulling you into a huge, but then gentle touches against your face along with a warm touch against your lips.

You open your eyes to see what’s happening and you’re only able to see Jungkook’s face, millimetres away from your own.

He’s kissing you. The tears that you held in the entire day and now spilling out. You close your eyes and savour the moment, but you also curse at him and yourself.

Why? Why now? Of all possible times, why now?

[zacekova]

Of Bees and First Impressions

Summary: Tochiro was standing in the doorway, his hands pressed together as if in prayer and expression appropriately grave, eyes closed in a display of sorrow. “And so lies the great Captain Harlock, brought down long before his time by a lowly bee. May he rest in peace.” Harlock threw a pillow at him.

Pairing: Harlock/Yama|Logan  Characters: Harlock, Tochiro, Yama|Logan 

@ruledeargremlinchild, since you were wondering what fic that line came from, even though I’m pretty sure you’re not in this fandom even if you’ve seen the movie... 

(His feet are stuck to the sidewalk, frozen in place with the force of the universe pressing down on him. Fate has brought him here - some fortune beyond his wildest dreams has aligned the stars to make this moment happen, to create the magnificent creature he sees through the glass. Eyes like the ichor of the gods, rich and gold and flecked with sprigs of summer green, and a smile as dazzling as the sun on the sea. He is ruined before he remembers to breathe again.)

Harlock looked up when he heard the door open.

Tochiro was standing in the doorway, his hands pressed together as if in prayer and expression appropriately grave, eyes closed in a display of sorrow. “And so lies the great Captain Harlock, brought down long before his time by a lowly bee. May he rest in peace.”

Harlock threw a pillow at him.

Tochiro managed to catch it and clutched it to his chest like a string of pearls, scoffing with all the prideful airs of a refined lady of pedigree. “Rude! And after I’ve come all this way to you in your time of need. I thought we were friends.”

Harlock shook his head, hoping the hair falling over his face was hiding his smile. “Yeah, yeah. Did you get my text?”

Tochiro reached into his jacket and pulled out a Brown’s bag with flourish. “As requested, only the finest of gas station food for you.” He tossed it over, brow furrowing when Harlock caught it and started opening the packaging with glee. “I still don’t get how someone who grew up like you did can like those things. Even I think they’re disgusting.”

Harlock bit back a grin and turned his nose up, chewing through a mouth full of deep fried, greasy, delicious mushrooms and swallowed with as much dignity as he could muster. “I’ll have you know I have highly refined taste.”

Tochiro’s expression went flat. “Right. Okay. Say I believe you, how do you explain that?” he said, gesturing at the stained bag in Harlock’s oily fingers.  

He grinned. “Palate cleanser.”

Tochiro laughed, shaking his head and sitting down on the mattress by Harlock’s knees. “Alright, whatever. Weirdo.”

Harlock smiled, the remaining tension in his nerves finally settling under the familiar cadence of teasing banter and Tochiro’s comforting presence; he always made Harlock feel better.

Tochiro smiled back and rotated to lean his spine against the foot of the bedframe. “So you wanna tell me how you ended up in here?”

Tochiro also made him hate his life. “Uhh.”

(There’s dirt on the young man’s hands, caked under his fingernails; it should be gross but he can’t find it in himself to care when those same fingers are also so slender and graceful, dexterous and delicate as they sort through the stacks of papers on the desk and hand him a colorful pamphlet. “Hi! Welcome to Gaia Botanical Gardens! Would you like to join our next tour group or would you rather explore the grounds on your own?”

He glances at the schedule up on the wall, then at the analog clock beneath it - the twelve-thirty tour is to be lead by “Logan.” He turns back to the employee with eyes like melted caramel and scans for his name tag. A smug smile graces his lips when he finds it. “A tour would be lovely.”)

The door opened before Harlock could make up an excuse explain anything, revealing a tall, young man with shaggy hair carrying a tray, various snacks and drinks scattered across it. “The cafeteria didn’t have any ice cream left but there was some pudding,” the guy was saying. “I don’t know what kind you like so I just grabbed one of- Oh. Hi.” He had finally caught sight of Tochiro sitting on the bed with his leg wedged in next to Harlock’s and eyebrows raised in curiosity; his eyes flicked between the two of them, expression neutral.

Harlock jumped at the chance to change the topic. “Logan, this is my friend Tochiro. Tochiro, this is Logan. He was kind enough to drive me to the hospital.”

(Oh god, you’re swelling. You’re really swelling. You need to go to the hospital. Shit. Shit, where’s my keys?”

Harlock gestures vaguely toward the kid’s back pocket. He’d seen the outline of what was probably a ring full of keys (and, yes, he had been staring, could anyone really blame him? Those jeans were tight ).

His larynx is going to start constricting any second now. He’s going to start dying and the last thing he’s going to see through his rapidly-swelling eyes is Logan’s flushed cheeks and frantic pocket-patting.

Totally worth it.)

Tochiro smiled nice and easy because he’d always been the better of the two of them at socializing and thrusted his hand out. “Hey, nice to meet you. Thanks for taking care of this guy for me,” he said, nodding in Harlock’s direction.

Logan smiled politely and shook Tochiro’s hand. “It was no trouble. My shift was over anyway and he didn’t have anyone to go with him.”

(You came here alone, right?”

Harlock nods, his cheeking knocking against Logan’s head where it’s wedged under Harlock’s shoulder, supporting his woozy self as they trudge as quickly as his wobbly legs can take them out the side door and through the parking lot.

“Anyone I should call for you?”

He’s panting, lungs working in overtime to get oxygen through his narrowed bronchials, but he manages to squeeze out, “It can wait till we get there,” his voice rasping and labored.

Logan nods and calls out to a pretty girl watering some flowers by the wall. “Nami! Clock me out, will you?”

She looks up, eyes widening. “Uh sure. What’s going on?”

“I’ll tell you later!”)

Tochiro’s eyes pinched in curiosity. “Your shift?”

Uh oh.

Logan’s brow furrowed and he glanced over at Harlock where he was subtly trying to gesture for him to stop, abort, change the subject. Something. Anything . But Logan didn’t seem to notice and barreled on. “Uh, yeah, at the botanical garden? That’s where he got stung.”

Shit.

Tochiro’s head began to turn - Harlock could hear the creaking of his spine as it rotated, slowly, painfully; creepy and terrifying like a body possessed by demons -  and his eyes blazed with murderous, unholy fury. The monster had been unleashed. “You went to a botanical garden?” he asked, low and quiet. Dangerous.

Harlock resisted the powerful urge to flinch, but only just. “Umm… there were extenuating circumstances-”

(“A friend gave me a cactus once because he said, and I quote, ‘even you can’t kill this.’ It was dead in a month.”

Logan laughs, light and free like birds in the springtime, like the tinkling of a rocky stream, like angels singing from within the heavenly gates. Harlock must have been a saint in another life to be able to see this.)

“You dumbass!” Tochiro shouted. “What were you thinking?”

Nothing appropriate, but he wasn’t about to say anything.

(His work polo stretches taut over his arms as he lifts the massive flower pot and carries it out of the middle of the aisle. He has a tan line around his biceps, rich brown meeting soft pearl, and Harlock is weak.)

Logan’s eyes were wide, darting back and forth between them.

Harlock sighed. He had accepted this inevitability when he had knowingly walked through Gaia’s gate, trailing after his own personal Achilles. But no way was he admitting that to Tochiro. “I suppose I wasn’t,” he said.

Tochiro deflated a bit, as Harlock had planned, shoulders slumping. “Yeah, no shit.”

Logan’s eyes narrowed. “Wait. So you knew you were allergic to bees?”

Damnit. Harlock sent a silent prayer to the heavens for mercy; no one here had any in their hearts for him. But he couldn’t lie, not to Logan. “I… was aware, yes.”

Logan’s eyes widened in panic. “You idiot, you could have died!”

Harlock grinned, raking his gaze up and down Logan’s frame. “Well. The view was to die for.”

Logan flushed up to the tips of his ears, mouth gaping. “I- You-”

Tochiro’s nose wrinkled. “You’re not talking about the flowers anymore, are you?”

He wasn’t talking about the flowers.

“Yep, I’m out,” Tochiro said, raising his hands in the air and heading toward the door. “You two lovebirds are on your own.” He paused in the doorway and turned to give Harlock a thumbs up behind Logan’s back before disappearing.

Logan’s jaw was still unhinged, looking at Harlock in blatant surprise, and Harlock smiled.

(“Well it looks like you’re going to get your own private tour!” he says, still smiling with all the brilliance of a newborn star. “If you don’t like crowds, you definitely picked a good time to come in.”

He cannot think, can hardly breathe, but somehow words come out of his mouth in coherent form. “I’m just on my lunch break.” His heart is racing, beating against the cage of his ribs so hard he’s surprised Logan hasn’t commented on it.

“Must be a long lunch break,” he says.

Harlock hums and doesn’t say that he’s definitely going to be late clocking back in. “And what better way to spend it?” he does say, eyeing Logan appreciatively.

But Logan’s gaze is on a bed of gerber daisies and he doesn’t seem to hear the suggestion in Harlock’s tone, already moving to explain how the aqueducts carry water to the whole garden.)

“I suppose I was a little too subtle with my… interest in you?” Harlock asked, hoping he wasn’t going to have to spend the night comforting himself from a rejection on top of recovering from a severe allergic reaction. He might need more mushrooms.

Logan’s jaw slammed shut and his eyes darted away. “I- Yes. You were.”

Harlock nodded and leaned forward, getting himself in Logan’s line of sight again. “Is that a problem? My being interested in you?” he asked, heart hammering in his chest. “Because I am. Very interested.”

Logan’s gaze roved over his face, expression going soft, relieved. “No,” he breathed. “No it’s not.”

Harlock’s heart skipped in his chest, the rhythm picking back up twice as fast as before. “Can I take you out for dinner?”

Logan nodded. “Yes. Yes, please .”

Harlock smiled. “Let’s get out of here.”