#and maybe they will get the happy ending we fought for so hard

[adri-atics]

I’m so obsessed with Drink With Me you guys don’t understand - the resignation, the acceptance of what will inevitably come in the morning, the choice they made to stay and see it all through to the end, despite everything.

Then Grantaire says:

“Can it mean you fear to die?”

“Can it mean your death means nothing at all?”

Which are such strong and beautiful lines, but also the voice of all their fears. Maybe it was all for nothing. Maybe they died for a belief that could never be.

And yet the next verse is happy and hopeful and dedicated to camaraderie. They don’t want to die, but they will. And they chose to spend their last night with their friends.

“Here’s to you, and here’s to me.”

[jaysgirlx]

Can you do a fic based off of https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZPRcsG8Yu/ this TikTok when Jason and reader was talking and it got deep and he joked about off!ng himself and the reader sits with him all night just in case he wasn’t joking? Please? I love your writing so much and if this is a touchy topic feel free to ignore or correct. Have a nice day!

❝ 𝐈’𝐌 𝐖𝐈𝐓𝐇 𝐘𝐎𝐔 ❞

❥ pairing: jason todd x civilian f!reader

❥ summary: Jason and you are close, you always have been so close that you thought you knew him well enough to read his mind except you're wrong about that, and what you learn ends up scaring you more.

❥ warnings: mentions of death/suicide/afterlife, reminiscing of torture, heavy angst, little fluff, happy ending

❥ wc: 1.5k

Your fingers, combed through Jason's black locks while he focused his attention on you. The two of you had moments on these where you sat together in a comfortable silence. They tended to happen when one of you was upset, usually you but tonight you could tell something was wrong with Jason. So you kept quiet and let him rest. You didn't know if late nights like these would last forever.

"How long are you going to play with my hair princess?"

"Until you tell me what's wrong Jay"

Again you both fell into a silence. This time it was awkward like maybe you should've played dumb but it was too late night to think that. Jason sighed and sat up on your couch and laid his head on your lap. You tried to remove your hand from his hair but he gave this look like this is what he needed at least for tonight.

You weren't sure if or when you and Jason had crossed the friend boundary. The two of you obviously had not slept together but you had kissed numerous times. Sometimes when he was anxious you'd kiss him just to calm him down and it worked, except for the fact you'd end up making out. Or when he would go on patrol and you were worried he would kiss you and then he'd end up cuddling you till you slept off. The kisses you both shared were like little reassurances of love. Though the two of you never actually spoke about what they really meant.

You had wanted to for the longest time but you didn't because in the end you always knew that Jason cared for you. You could tell by the way he always left you breakfast when he had to leave while you were asleep or by the way he'd walk you home if you had decided to work overtime. Jason cared in his own little way and you take what you got especially since he made the best pancakes.

"I fought with Bruce today, he took Dick's side on something and I just got mad…I know they both care, but it doesn't feel like it sometimes y'know? It still feels like they're Batman and Nightwing and I'm still Robin" He stopped himself from speaking further like if he spoke more, he'd say something he'd regret. Jason didn't want to drop all his problems on you because he knew you would listen and he knew you'd comfort him. You did so much for him and was slightly worried he was becoming too much. Jason didn't want to become a burden to you, he enjoyed spending time with you and he didn't wan to fuck that up.

"I've always got your side Jay if that helps and you're not Robin anymore okay and regardless of that, Robin didn't make you…well you" you say, caressing his face. "You're just you Jay and if they've got a problem with you well then they have a problem with me"

"Well, I think I hate myself if I'm being honest" Those words made your hands stop and now you started to really listen. You knew Jason wasn't exactly happy with his life but you didn't think he hated himself. He was so cocky all the time that you couldn't even fathom the idea of him hating himself. "These days getting up in the mornings is so difficult and a good night's rest…I don't remember the last time I had one"

"Well I think we all can relate to that, life kinda sucks for all of us Jay. Everything we do is out of our hands and it seems like no matter how hard we try we're never fully just happy"

"You got that right, the last time I was really happy was…well nevermind, But sometimes I think about killing myself"

"Well I mean we all have, I thought about it a couple of times when work gets hard but-

"No y/n, I mean like really killing myself, like just putting my gun to my head and that's it." He laughs but you still don't manage to find it funny. "I know damn well there will be plenty of people who will probably find it pretty, my brains splattered everywhere and my body lifeless"

"I'd really prefer you'd not do that Jay"

"Okay but in all seriousness-"

"I don't want to hear this Jay"

"I'd want you to plan my funeral, you'd make it beautiful and hopefully not gloomy"

"Jay is this a funny matter, stop joking around"

"I doubt there's an afterlife, seeing that I did die once and I don't remember any floating gates or firey pits"

"Jay please stop it"

"C'mon we both know without you, I'd be better off-"

"No." you said and it came out broken. Jason looked up at you, you weren't playing with his hair anymore, you were crying. He tried to reach up and your tears away but you pushed away his hand. He hadn't meant to upset you, he didn't mean it. Well, he did but he wasn't going to, not when you still cared for him. You were what he was living for. "No, you can't do that Jay"

He again tries to wipe your tears and this time you let him, he sits up and kisses your forehead wishing he had never said anything. You were his world and all he could ever ask for. Without you, who would be there for him after a bad run on patrol? or when his nightmares would start coming back? Deep down Jason Todd is scared of living, he's scared of living without you. "I won't sweetheart, I won't, I promise. I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said any of that"

Now he's holding you and rubbing your back, whispering sweet nothings into your ear. The two of you fell back into your comfortable silence, while Jason made himself comfortable again laying his head on your lap. He hates seeing you that way, with that look of fear and worry. He never wanted to cause it. He wanted to say something but all those hours of patrol and working overtime finally caught up to him. He thought he'd just take a nap, he didn't want to burden you with how heavy he was, lying on his lap but he couldn't help you, your lap was so comfy.

For a while, you watched Jason and didn't know why you were. He said he wouldn't hurt himself, he promised. Still, you were scared because of the way he talked about it...it was clear it wasn't the first time. You knew he had fallen asleep, his tell was that his breathing had slowed. You picked that up when he started coming over early in that morning to nap with you. Jason was only ever truly calm when was he asleep with you.

Watching him like this felt natural like you had to do this. You knew he was serious about killing himself and you just couldn't imagine a life with him, without Jason. Gently you caressed his sleeping face, admiring how handsome he was. The things that happened to him, you knew they affected him but you didn't want to think he'd go as far as to…no you couldn't think of it.

You leaned your own body back on the couch and tried to relax. You'd stay all night with him if you had to, you'd make sure he was safe. You weekend a vigilante like him, you couldn't fight and protect him from villains but you could protect him from himself. It probably seems crazy that you want to protect Jason Todd from himself but it's all you know how to do. You're not completely sure if Jason loves you but you know that you love him.

"I will always be with you, I'm yours Jay, I'm with you" you whisper sweetly against his forehead, before planting a soft kiss. You watch him all night and he sleeps quietly and hopefully comfortably with his head resting on your lap. You didn't work the next day and you had stayed up all night before, this wouldn't be difficult for you.

Even if it was, it was for Jason and he was always worth any trouble. You wish you could tell him that but that's a conversation for another time, for now, you just want to make sure he is still alive every morning.

When Jason Todd wakes up the following morning, you're drinking what he thinks is probably coffee and reading a book. His eyes fixate on you and he reaches up to brush his hand against your face, you smile at the soft touch. HE lets out a yawn and finally speaks up, "Whatcha doing up so early, princess?"

"Just admiring you Jay"

"M'sorry for sleeping on you, and I'm even more sorry for making you feel upset last night, you're…you're very important to me y/n, and as long as you'll have me, I'll be here"

"And I'm with you, for as long as you'll have me" you say with a smile as you hand him the rest of your coffee. He drank the rest before gently pressing a kiss to your lips. Another reassure of his love

Jason Todd was yours for a lifetime and you were happy with just that.

❥ a/n: sorry this took so long anon! I kept rewriting it because I didn't like how it was going. btw comment to be added to my taglist.

❥ taglist: @meowkn, @nia-jul, @woodenanemone, @millyhelp, @yourlocalcringydaydreamer, @kazzattack, @orchidsangel

[chuuyascumsock]

Where Gay Goes to Die || Minors DNI

Summary: I have no words, and no apology because this actually slapped so hard. Let’s go lesbians lmao. Happy pride month.

Tags: Female! Chuuya Nakahara/Reader/Fem! Osamu Dazai, Afab reader, Threesome, Brief Voyeurism, Pet Names (Baby, Doll, Belladonna, Love, Pretty Girl, etc.), Classic Dazai-Chuuya Bickering, Fingering, Nipple Play, Hair Pulling, Face Sitting, Squirting, Strap-on Use, Slight Bit of Aftercare, Hints of a Poly At The End, Idk Maybe I’ll Make a Part Two, Haven't Decided, Honestly Downright Filthy Smut, Literally Wanna Be Stuffed Between Them Like a Sub Sandwich.

How you ended up in bed between your co-worker and her ex-partner from the mafia was a mystery to you. 

One minute you were having drinks with the ADA earlier that night before slinking off to grab another drink from the bar. And the next you were being complimented by one of the five mafia executives herself who was sitting nearby, Nakahara Chuuya. You’ve never had anyone so boldly eye fuck you while smoothly commenting on the way you fought during one of your missions— and against their organization no less. Chuuya was ethereally beautiful, her russet tresses fell over her freckled shoulders, sleek dress hugging her physique tightly to reveal her curves. The most captivating characteristic of hers had to be her heterochromatic eyes, soft blue and brown that sealed your fate as she dragged you away from the bar shortly after your interaction.

Dazai had only noticed your disappearance after she was finished with her Sake. Whining and complaining to Kunikida about how much she missed you, Kunikida scoffed and fixed her glasses. “The last I saw her was talking to the bartender.”

Dazai was quick to jump to her feet and trail off to the bar, only to find no one but the bartender there. When asked, the bartender nodded his head off to the back door that led to an alleyway with a small warning that you had left with a woman described way too familiar with Dazai. Not only was it Dazai’s ex-partner back in the mafia, but you had fought against her just the other day. Dazai felt off when approaching the door, weary of what to expect.

Entering the alleyway, Dazai hadn’t been expecting to see Chuuya feeling your soft body up with her gloved hands while shoving her tongue down your throat and vice versa. 

It took minutes for either of you to notice Dazai’s presence, too caught up in one another to see her staring you down as Chuuya had her way with you. The woman had tugged at the neckline of your tight dress, freeing your breasts to the cold air for the brunette to see before cupping and squeezing them. Your soft and cute mewls had both women wanting more as Chuuya’s lips captured yours again in a sloppy kiss.

Something in Dazai snapped and she knew that there was no more hiding her want for you behind sweet, charismatic smiles and adoring looks from across the office. She cleared her throat, a small gasp of surprise leaving you and not much of a reaction from Chuuya. 

“The hell do you want, shitty Dazai?” Chuuya nearly rolled her eyes as she kept your plush tits groped and spilling between her gloved hands. 

“What are you doing here?” You timidly ask, embarrassed for getting caught, especially with someone who was supposed to be the agency’s enemy.

Dazai kept her composure. “You were gone for too long so I came looking for you— but I see that you’re busy.” She completely ignores Chuuya for the time being.

“Sorry…” You whisper bashfully, head tilting down in shame.

“Well she’s perfectly fine, so you can leave now,” Chuuya grumbles, leaning forward to litter your throat with more hickies.

“I don’t think so— it’d be a shame for the president and Mori to find out what’s happening right now. Why don’t we talk about this at your place, hm, Chibi?” Dazai was clearly planning something.

And that something ended up with you sandwiched between both women in Chuuya’s king sized bed— Dazai’s long, manicured fingers stuffed in your cunt to the knuckles while Chuuya’s tongue entangled with yours, her calloused hand pinching one of your nipples between her fingers.

The loud squelching of your pussy around Dazai’s fingers makes your ears burn as you moan into Chuuya’s mouth, kisses growing messy and mostly tongue filled. Dazai grins in satisfaction as she presses a thumb to rub at your throbbing clit, enjoying every second of your soft walls clenching around her fingers. “Look at how cute her pussy is, Chuuya. Such a needy little slut— wanting both of us at once.”

Chuuya’s lips disconnect from yours, leaving a small string of saliva to break apart from your panting mouths. “Can’t you keep your big mouth shut for three seconds? You’re ruining the mood with your annoying voice,” She mutters in irritation at Dazai’s voice while looking anyway, her gaze glued to your slick pussy as Dazai’s fingers thrust back inside. Chuuya bites into her bottom lip at the scene momentarily before moving back to marking your neck up with love bites.

Dazai blissfully ignores Chuuya’s snippy comment, curling her long fingers to rub into a certain spot that makes your thighs quiver. “She’s so soft, I bet she tastes good too.” The brunette hums thoughtfully, her eyes trailing from your soaked pussy up to your eyes. “Do you?” She smiles mockingly, watching you stumble incoherently over your words into a muddle of whimpers. Her bottom lip juts out into a small pout as she continues to taunt you. “Oh, poor baby… can’t even talk— do my fingers feel that good?”

There’s a small wince as you feel Chuuya sink her teeth into your shoulder just slightly harder than the other bites when Dazai talks, most likely annoyed by how much more she was doing. Wanting more attention, Chuuya growls out, “Oh please, she’ll be crying over my strap compared to your lousy fingers.” 

“Toys? A bit of a cheater, aren’t you, Chuuya? Can’t satisfy her on your own?” Dazai finally responds, mockery evident in her tone.

“Keep talking and I’ll throw your ass out to walk home in the cold.” Chuuya glares at Dazai before she moves away from you momentarily to crawl over to her nightstand to grab out a bottle of lube, harness, and a relatively long dildo. 

Your face must’ve shown just how intimidating the size of the toy was as Dazai gives a light laugh. “Too big for you, darling? Bet you wanna keep my fingers,” She says in a sing-song voice, curling her digits once more. It’s enough to distract you momentarily from their bickering as you feel a familiar feeling building in your lower tummy.

“Relax, doll. It’s only eight inches,” Chuuya sighs nonchalantly, already strapping the harness around her hips and prepping the silicon toy with a thick glob of lube. The sight of Chuuya slicking the toy up with her hand only makes you clench tighter around Dazai’s digits.

“Well some of us aren’t as loose as you are, Chuuya-dear.” Dazai gives a faux innocent smile, malice clear in her eyes and tone. Her fingers falter a bit at Chuuya’s next words.

“You’ve got to be out of your damn mind to talk— you should be considered a fucking graveyard at this point with how many bones you’ve had in you.” Chuuya scoffs, slapping Dazai’s hand away from you as she grabs one of your ankles with her other hand to drag you to her.

You give a small whine, eyes hazy as your orgasm was ripped away from you. 

Chuuya’s gaze falls back to a softer expression as she looks down at you, “I got you, doll.” Her hands move over to grab your hips and lift them until your lower back and ass are resting on the tops of her thighs, bright purple dildo resting between your ass cheeks.

“Well now you’re just being unfair,” Dazai complains, voice pitchy as she gives Chuuya a nasty look.

Before Chuuya could make a snippy remark about her leaving, you reach to lightly tap the brunette’s knee, signaling her to straddle your head. “Just so no one is left out…” You murmur, flustered.

“Well aren’t you just a sweetheart?” Dazai’s mopey expression washes away quickly as she shifts to make her way across the bed to straddle her knees on either side of your head. Her head tilts down to look at you, lips pulled back into a grin and lithe fingers threading into your hair. “You look cute between my legs, ‘donna…” 

Your eyes lull as your gaze drops from her face to her  cleanly shaven pussy, folds practically drooling with arousal which makes your mouth water. You nearly forget about the strap-on nudging against your entrance until it’s pushing in with no warning, the bulbous tip stretching you back open, though not as much as Dazai’s fingers had been. As your lips part to gasp at the sensation, Dazai is lowering herself down until your mouth is enveloping her, your tongue pushing through her folds and labia to lap along her tight hole.

You think you could drown in these women and let them fuck you until you’re nothing but a mindless, pussy-drunk slut for them, your hands coming up to grip into Dazai’s bandaged thighs and your hips jerking to take Chuuya’s strap deeper. And they don’t even keep it from you, letting you have your way as Dazai settles her weight fully onto you and Chuuya shifts to slip deeper into your aching core, walls greedily clutching around the dildo. Your moans are muffled by Dazai, your tongue laving through her succulent pink cunt, clit throbbing wildly against your muscle. She isn’t sweet like how it’s always described, a musky arousal evading your senses— but it isn’t unpleasant and it has you slurping noisily at her sloppy pussy loudly, making her moan and buck gently against your mouth.

It’s overwhelming how they both selfishly take as much as they give, Dazai’s free hand reaching behind her to rub your clit as she rides your face and Chuuya is sinking into you to the hilt and pulling away to create a tortuous pace, her hands gripping into the flesh of your hips. Your ears are muffled and you can’t tell if it’s from the pleasure or Dazai’s thighs pressing to your ears, hips rolling down to hump against your wriggling tongue.

“O-Oh, fuck, look at you… made for eating this pussy, huh, ‘donna?” Dazai groans, her fingers tightening in your hair painfully which causes you to gently scrape your teeth along her clit. She gasps and releases your hair slightly, fixing it almost apologetically and pets it down, her other hand now resting to cup your mound, middle and ring fingers gently rubbing circles into your clit.

You don’t let the stinging sensation in your scalp bother you when Chuuya’s pace picks up and her hips are slapping against yours, thighs jiggling each time she fucks the dildo deeper into your sopping pussy. That and Dazai’s insistent rubbing against your clit has that coil tightening in your lower abdomen once more. You wish you could see the way Chuuya thrusts into your eager pussy, the loud squelching of the dlido fucking into you being all you had to know how good she was treating it. 

“Shit… look at you taking it all, dollface— your pretty pussy is sucking me in so. damn. tight,” Chuuya growls, hips slapping harsher with punctuated words, your body jolting with choked breaths. 

“Don’t be so rough with her,” Dazai chides, not really caring about her being rough, but wanting to piss Chuuya off.

It works as Chuuya glares at Dazai and only picks up the pace, thighs stinging with each thrust as you feel her skin slap against yours and her grip grow tighter on your hips. “Don’t tell me how to fuck my girl, shitty Dazai.”

“Your girl?” Dazai humorlessly laughs out before letting out a small moan from your mouth sucking at her clit again. “Please— after this, she’s with me. I’m just nice enough to share this once.”

“Like hell, I made a move first, go find someone else to whore around with,” A huff leaves Chuuya, but her pace doesn’t change and neither does Dazai’s fingers against your clit. It has your mind reeling and body twitching, nearly teetering the edge of a climax— not that either woman noticed as they continued to bicker. 

“Well I SAW her first, I called dibs. Besides, she works at the agency with me so that means that she’ll be coming back with me anyways. You lose, face it, Chibi.”

“Doesn’t matter if you saw her first, you’re just mad that I acted before you did. You’re such a petulant child, can’t even handle losing to me for once.”

“That’s because I didn’t lose, she’s mine.”

“Oh, you fuckin’ bitch—“

Their arguing is cut off by a loud muffled whine from you and an orgasm that has your body shuddering deeply, your pussy creaming all over the purple dildo. A small, frothy ring of your cum forms around the base with each thrust, leaving the two women to finally quiet down as they watch, movements faltering to a slow pace momentarily.

“Fuck… I wanna make her squirt now,” Chuuya exhales quietly.

Dazai nods slowly before murmuring, “Finally, something we can agree on.”

You pick up on their muttering and let out a muffled groan into Dazai’s pussy in attempts to disagree, not sure if you were able to take another orgasm, but it falls upon deaf ears and their movements pick back up to a frenzied mess now.

You squirm beneath them, eyes squeezing shut and limbs spasming as they overstimulate your flushed pussy, folds puffy and clit thrumming as Dazai adds even more pressure to your sensitive nub. You try so hard to focus on Dazai’s rutting against your mouth, but it’s difficult when they’re double teaming you like this and Dazai takes over, allowing her hips to grind down on your face. Her clit bumps against your nose and your tongue occasionally slips into her clenching hole, serving her just enough as she tries to desperately reach her own climax.

“C’mon, hun, let go for us, yeah? We know you can come again— wanna see you squirt, baby,” Dazai pants out, her bangs sticking to her forehead from the sheen of sweat she was working up. You can’t see Chuuya, but you know she must look similar to Dazai’s state.

Your head feels like it’s underwater and you can’t help but give into what the two women want, thighs clamping around Chuuya’s waist as your eyes flutter closed and your second orgasm crashes over you more intensely to the point your ears start to ring. A stream of arousal squirts out, splashing against Dazai’s fingers and Chuuya’s lower abdomen. A soft gasp slips from their lips and Dazai can’t help but come at the sight, her viscous cum coating your tongue and slipping down your throat like honey. It’s a pleasant feeling and tastes almost like nothing with a hint of her scent, making you moan weakly against her as her hips falter to slow down but refuse to let up from your mouth, insides pulsing against your tired tongue.

It’s a couple minutes until you gather your bearings and Dazai finally lifts her hips, breath hitching at the string of your saliva and her cum connecting your mouth to her pussy that breaks when she pulls away. It nearly gets her worked up enough for another round, but she presses the feeling down and moves to lay beside you, clinging to your side and burying her face into your neck. 

Chuuya pulls out of you shortly after, slipping the harness off her hips and begins to clean up. She disappears off into the bathroom momentarily and returns with a small rag to clean your face off first of Dazai’s cum and then between your legs. The mafioso pecks your lips gently in comparison to her rough treatment earlier and glances at Dazai, throwing the rag at her lazily without a care. “Clean yourself up, would you?”

“What?” Dazai whines out, “How come she gets the princess treatment and I’m treated like a peasant?”

“Because you are one, you’re lucky I haven’t kicked you out at this point,” Chuuya clicks her tongue and turns her attention back to you and scoops you up into her arms. “I’m starting a bath, I don’t give a damn if you join or not,” She says to Dazai over her shoulder, leaving the brunette to complain about the unfair treatment she’s getting as she stumbles up to follow after the both of you. 

With your arms looping around Chuuya’s neck lazily, a small smile curls in your lips, knowing that this wouldn’t be a one time thing.

[livingformintyoongi]

can we have a drabble or oneshot where the oc says 'i can't pay for anything* this time' or offers to split the budget 50/50 and jungkook literally😒😤😡🤬 gets mad like I'm your man I'm responsible for you etc🤭hehehhe make me a delululu, I don't have work tomorrow♥️😂

Princess Treatment

a/n: I'M OFFICIALLY BACK (this is the first order I've uploaded in months lol). First of all, I'm sorry to be back after so long, I've been very busy, but I'm finally a free person and I'm at your complete disposal!

Warnings: I read the request and immediately thought of Jungkook from BOTN so I couldn't help myself and ended up using his story as the basis for the drabble, so yes, this is a little drabble of Jungkook vocalist and Y/N's relationship!, reader is 2 years older than Jk, Jungkook is totally and completely in love with Y/N and he doesn't mind hiding it, he's been in love for a long time and is willing to give anything to keep his princess happy because he knows how much she's worth and deserves to be loved <3.

WC: 760

Taglist: @thunderg @minjianhyung @queenv1997 @yoongtism @lizzymizzy-blogg @superbbananananana @drpepperobsessed @themwordsblog @taekritimin123 @bluecloudss @yooglefics @irishhbamb

Dividers: @omi-resources

"What did you say?" Jungkook murmured, stopping his fork halfway to his mouth. You were sure he'd heard what you said, but judging by the frown on his face, he didn’t seem to like the idea much.

“No... I don’t think I can pay the rent this month, at least not on my own,” you bit your bottom lip, feeling your hands begin to sweat with the uncertainty. “Do you think we could split it?” you sighed, hiding your face behind your hands. You felt embarrassed, maybe even a bit ridiculous. You were older than him, you’d been working longer than he had—how could you ask him for this? It felt really humiliating.

For a moment, you thought he’d react the same way your ex had when you asked him for the same thing a few years ago. You could almost hear the excuses and how asking for a 50/50 split was stupid, especially since he barely spent any time at home that month.

But you’d forgotten something important. This wasn’t your ex. This was the damn Jeon Jungkook, the guy who’d waited almost a decade to be with you, the one who fought with your ex when he found out what he’d done, the same one who sacrificed his reputation and the band’s just to rush to the hospital when you’d had a small accident.

“No, forget it, how could I let you pay the rent on your own?” he quickly shook his head, pushing his plate aside to look at you like you’d just said the dumbest thing he’d ever heard, “I’ll cover all the expenses, don’t worry about it.”

You froze for a few seconds, slightly opening your mouth in surprise. Had you heard that right? Did he want to pay it all? Everything?

You shook your head, trying to regain your composure before asking again, “What...? Sorry, I think I heard wrong. You want to pay it all? The whole rent?”

“And the bills too,” he said matter-of-factly, pouring himself more soju. He glanced up for a second, then gave you that signature smile of his that melted your heart every time you saw it. “Noona, I’ve been paying for this place since the beginning, and it was me who asked you to live here with me in the first place. How could I let you pay the rent? And by yourself?” He shook his head, letting out a laugh. “That’s stupid.”

“It’s not... I…” you tried to say something, anything, ask him why he was doing this, but for some reason, it was hard for you to say anything. Probably because you’d never had a boyfriend so understanding.

“Besides... it would be unfair to split the rent 50/50 when our salaries are different. I’ve seen how much you’ve worked to get where you are, and I’ve seen how they pay you pennies for the amazing work you do,” he took your hand across the table, bringing your knuckles to his lips and pressing a soft kiss against them. “I want you to have that money for yourself, to spend on you, without worrying about how much you need to live in our home.”

“Jungkook…” you murmured, feeling your cheeks begin to heat up. What were you supposed to do in situations like this? Laugh? Cry? Run away? The last option seemed good.

“As long as I have a job, I’ll give you absolutely everything you want, Y/N, because that’s what you deserve,” he smiled softly, his lips still gently pressed against your knuckles, sending a jolt of electricity down your spine from the contact.

“Ugh, don’t look at me like that,” you said quietly, lowering your head and covering your eyes with your hand. You felt way too embarrassed, way too shy.

“Like what?” he laughed, tilting his head, trying to make eye contact with you. A triumphant smile spread across his face when he succeeded.

“I don’t know... like you love me too much,” you murmured, glancing at him from the corner of your eye. You knew he was looking at you, and you knew he liked seeing you like this. For some reason, you didn’t feel as embarrassed with him, you felt... happier.

“Because I do, Noona,” he moved his free hand to your cheek, barely grazing it with the tips of his fingers. It felt warm and soft and so... right. “I’ve loved you for years.”

And you knew he meant it, because, damn, how could that bright look in his eyes full of hope be fake?

Masterlist.

[writeriguess]

I need some comfort (whenever you get to mine in the que and what bit) I just became a single mother of two under two so do you think you could write shoto todoroki or Toya todoroki x reader who is in a custody fight with her POS baby daddy and he starts talking all this shit to her and they stand up for her once she starts crying

Fireproof

Custody battles weren’t about truth.

They weren’t about love, or who deserved to raise a child. They were about power—who had it, who didn’t, and who could manipulate the system better. And right now, your ex had all the power.

You hated the courthouse. The walls felt like they were closing in every time you had to sit through another meeting with your lawyer, listening to legal jargon that all boiled down to the same thing—you weren’t winning this fight.

Not yet.

You pushed through the heavy courthouse doors and stepped into the cool evening air, trying to breathe, trying to stop your hands from shaking. But just as you thought you’d finally gotten a moment to yourself—

"Well, that was humiliating," came a voice you wished you could forget.

Your whole body tensed.

You turned, already bracing yourself. Your ex stood a few feet away, arms crossed, smirking like he had just watched you get kicked to the ground.

"You really thought that meeting was gonna go differently, huh?" he scoffed. "Thought maybe you’d finally get the upper hand? That was sad to watch."

You clenched your jaw, fingers tightening around the strap of your bag. "I'm not giving up."

He let out a laugh. "Of course you’re not. You never do, do you? You keep dragging this out, wasting time and money when we both know how this is gonna end." He took a step closer. "You’re broke. You’re barely holding your life together. What judge in their right mind would side with you?"

"I can take care of my kid just fine," you shot back, trying to keep your voice steady.

"Oh, really?" He tilted his head mockingly. "With what? That shitty apartment? Your dead-end job? Hell, even if you do win, what happens then? You gonna cry every time things get hard?"

Your breath hitched, but you forced yourself to stand your ground. "At least I actually care about our child’s happiness. Unlike you."

His smirk disappeared.

"You think you're better than me?" he asked, voice suddenly colder. "Because from where I’m standing, all I see is a failure. A weak little girl who can’t even keep it together long enough to fight her own battles."

Your throat tightened.

"And that’s why you’re gonna lose." He stepped closer, his voice dropping. "Because you don’t have what it takes. You never did."

The words sank in like a knife to the gut. You fought so hard to be strong, to prove you weren’t the weak, helpless girl he wanted you to be. But the way he said it—so sure of himself—made that doubt creep in again.

You swallowed hard, fighting the tears burning at the back of your eyes.

"Aww," he cooed mockingly, "did I hit a nerve?"

"Hey, asshole."

The voice was quiet, but it cut through the air like a blade.

Your ex froze.

Slowly, he turned, his expression shifting from amusement to confusion as he took in the man standing a few feet away.

Touya.

He had been there the whole time, leaning against the courthouse wall, watching. His hands were shoved into his pockets, his usual lazy smirk in place, but there was an unmistakable sharpness to his gaze—a simmering, barely contained rage that made the air feel hotter.

Your ex frowned. "Who the hell—"

Then recognition dawned.

The color drained from his face.

"Shit," he whispered.

Touya grinned. "Took you long enough."

Your ex took an instinctive step back, hands slightly raised like he wasn’t sure whether to run or try to talk his way out of this. "You—you’re Dabi."

Touya rolled his eyes. "No shit, genius. What gave it away? The scars?"

Your ex didn’t even acknowledge the sarcasm. He was too busy staring at him like he had just come face-to-face with a rabid animal.

"You’re with him?" he snapped, turning to you, disbelief twisting his features. "You’re seriously fucking dating Dabi? The lunatic who burns people alive? The guy who doesn’t care about anything except bringing down his old man? Do you realize how easy you just made this for me?"

You opened your mouth to respond, but he cut you off.

"The second I tell my lawyer about this, it’s over," he said, practically vibrating with excitement. "No judge is gonna let our kid be around him." He gestured wildly toward Touya, voice rising. "He’s a fucking terrorist, for Christ’s sake! He kills innocent people! He’d burn the whole damn world down if it meant getting back at his daddy!"

Touya let out a low hum, seemingly unbothered. "Man, you sure talk a lot."

Your ex ignored him. "This case is done. I don’t even have to try anymore. The second I tell the judge about this, I—"

A hand shot out, grabbing his collar and yanking him forward so fast he barely had time to gasp.

The smirk was gone.

Touya’s blue eyes burned with something dangerous, something unhinged.

"You so much as breathe my name in court," he said, voice eerily calm, "and I’ll rip your fucking tongue out."

Your ex froze, his whole body locking up.

Touya tilted his head slightly. "You ever heard what it feels like?"

Your ex swallowed hard, but Touya kept going.

"I have," he murmured. "Apparently, the pain’s so bad you wish you were dead. But the worst part?" He leaned in, lips curling into something cruel. "You can’t even scream properly."

A flicker of blue fire licked at his fingertips.

Your ex twitched. "Y-You wouldn’t—"

Touya’s grip tightened. "You sure about that?"

For a second, there was nothing but silence.

Then—your ex nodded. It was small, barely a movement, but it was there.

Touya held his gaze for a few seconds longer before suddenly letting go.

Your ex stumbled back, almost falling, his breathing ragged. He stared at Touya like he was looking at a monster.

"Now," Touya said casually, stuffing his hands back into his pockets, "be a good little bitch and run along, yeah?"

Your ex didn’t need to be told twice. He turned and bolted, practically tripping over himself in his rush to get away.

The second he was gone, you let out a breath you hadn’t realized you were holding. Your whole body still felt tense, your heart pounding from the adrenaline.

"Hey," Touya said softly, turning to you.

You looked up at him.

"You alright?"

You exhaled, wiping at the corner of your eye. "Yeah. I think so."

He watched you for a second, then reached out, his fingers brushing lightly against your wrist. His touch was warm—not from his fire, just from him.

"You know," he murmured, "I could make this whole custody fight disappear if you wanted."

You let out a breathy laugh. "As tempting as that is, I’d rather not have to explain why my ex suddenly vanished."

Touya chuckled. "Fair enough."

His arm slipped around your shoulders, pulling you in close. You let yourself sink into his warmth, letting the tension in your body finally ease.

"You’re not weak," he murmured against your hair. "You never were."

For the first time in a long time, you actually believed it.

[greenwitchfromthewoods]

a shopping mall. l Joel Miller

Summary: after the loss you tried to rebuild your life together

Warnings: fluff; Joel and Reader are anxious but keep trying; Ellie is embarrassed; childbirth; emotional concerns; remembering loss; some hope

A/N: you know what? I like this story. writing these chapters gives me a lot of comfort and pleasure. I know I've been mean to them lately, but I'm trying to fix that. I'm happy when I have the opportunity to read your opinions, it gives me strength and support. thank you for being here and reading.

your feedback is very important to me and I thank you for all the reblogs, comments and likes. 🖤 sorry for all the mistakes

short stories from life. [masterlist]

It was like walking on thin ice together. Slowly, carefully taking steps to avoid cracks and get to the other side as quickly and safely as possible. The icy water could kill you, and if one of you fell in, it was certain that the other would do everything to save him, and then he would go down.

That's how it was with you and Joel for the next few days. Or at least that's how you both saw it and felt it.

Everything happened slowly - small gestures, conversation, allowing yourself to feel. You, in moments when darkness consumes your mind, prefer to withdraw, isolate yourself from others. Now you were overcoming your fears.

And Joel saw how you fought it every time you approached him and told him that this day was not one of your best. You also allowed him to do what he did best, take care of you, without irritation or saying "I'll manage on my own." Because you were no longer alone.

Joel tried too. He had never been familiar with emotions, and now they were overwhelming him from every side. And there was you, he wanted to be able to support you and help you, so he came out of his safe cocoon every time you sat next to him and talked. He also held back not to wrap you in the protective blanket of his concern. And that was really hard.

This time was really fruitful for you. Soon he heard your laughter, quiet and really sincere. He felt your embrace, even when in his sleep you were the one who was snuggling up to his back, kissing him lightly.

You both knew that what you were building this time was really strong, and you both wanted it.

"Damn, that's embarrassing."

Dina looked in the direction Ellie was pointing and giggled. "I think it's really cute."

Ellie frowned and looked at her friend. "Do you think Joel is cute?"

Dina rolled her eyes and shoved a few fries in her mouth. It wasn't until she swallowed that she decided to speak. "They're cute together." She explained, watching you and Joel dance across the room. "Think about it. We all have our own backgrounds, and they're just enjoying each other's company. Maybe they're a little embarrassing..." At that moment, Joel spun you around a few times, when he wanted to he could be a really good dancer. "But that's cute."

Ellie snorted and shook her head. She had a feeling Dina might have been right, and she was actually glad to see you at the Tipsy Bison dance. Things were going really well between you both, and Ellie breathed a sigh of relief. For a moment, a really short one, she was afraid that what happened would be the end of you, and she didn't want that. Joel could be grumpy, and you could be a bit bossy sometimes, but she knew that you both cared and truly loved her.

She often thought back to one night, when your eyes were so sad and glassy, you looked at her and said quietly "I really love you, Ellie... You're perfect just the way you are.", and Ellie really felt it.

"Naaah!" she sighed, taking a couple of fries from Dina and stuffing them into her mouth "I still think they're embarrassing."

Dina burst out laughing.

You plopped down on a chair at the bar, wishing you could just grab a cold drink. Joel had disappeared with Tommy for a moment, and you were trying to catch your breath. It was a warm and pleasant evening, and you were really glad that Joel had suggested you come here.

"We're bumping into each other again!" a nice male voice rang out to your left, and someone sat down in the empty chair.

"Oh! Hi, Elliot." You greeted the man, smiling, "I didn't know you'd be here."

"It's a nice evening, why would I be home alone." he replied, "Can I get you a drink? Don't make me beg."

You glanced toward the entrance, but Joel was still talking to Tommy, so you figured you could use Elliot's company. You'd met a few days earlier when he'd shown up in Jackson, and you'd bumped into each other at the store.

"Shane said you two went on patrol together."

"Mhm." you nodded, taking a sip of your cold drink "And you? Would you like to take part in this too?"

"And could I be your partner?" he asked, winking at you and chuckling "Just kidding!" he added, seeing that he had caught you off guard "But I'd gladly take some advice from you, to be honest. You've been in Jackson much longer than I have and people know you, respect you..."

"Thank you." you felt warmth creep up your neck "You'd have to talk to Tommy about it, I'm not the one making decisions."

"Sure! I'll talk to him. Or maybe you'd like to..."

You felt someone wrap their arms around your waist tightly, and then familiar lips brushed your temple. "Sorry it took so long."

"Don't worry. I ordered you a beer." you replied, smiling at Joel "And this is Elliot."

The man greeted Joel, who responded pleasantly, but you clearly felt his hand find yours and your fingers intertwined tightly. You all talked for a while longer, about patrols, about life in Jackson, until Elliot finally said goodbye and disappeared among the people.

"What?" you asked, feeling Joel's gaze on you.

He shrugged. "I don't know. You tell me."

You finished your drink and rested your chin on your hand. Brown eyes stared at you, slightly shining from the beer Joel had drunk. "I won't believe you if you say you're jealous." you said finally.

He shook his head, smiling broadly. "I'm not, darling. I know perfectly well that you're only mine, but..." he sighed deeply "I feel a little sorry for guys who think they have a chance."

You patted him on the shoulder, bursting into laughter. "Really? Where are you so sure of that, Miller?"

He leaned in as if to whisper something in your ear. His voice was low and made your body shiver pleasantly. "I just know it, darling." Warm lips brushed your ear, and then he pecked you on the lips. "Come on! Let's go home. Ellie told me we're embarrassing her. Our mission accomplished.”

As soon as she opened her eyes she could feel that something was wrong. But it wasn't until she got out of bed and took the first few steps that she felt it. Something strange unexpectedly ran down her legs and onto the floor.

"Shane!" Ann moaned loudly, looking at the wet spot beneath her. "Shane! Fuck, come here!"

The bathroom door opened and the man stepped out nonchalantly, still brushing his teeth. "Whaaa?" he asked.

"I think I'm in labor." Ann grabbed her stomach as if that would stop everything and looked at her husband with a mixture of fear and excitement.

"Yeah, right... Fuck!"

He wondered the whole way from the stables to the house how he should tell you about that. Should he even tell you? Sooner or later you'd find out anyway. The door creaked quietly as he entered the house. The sun was streaming into the kitchen where you were preparing breakfast.

Joel looked at you for a moment. He liked moments like this and wanted to record them in his memory for as long as possible. You read on the couch, you sleep in your bed, you laugh with Ellie, you cuddle up to him... Many moments with you were already recorded in his head, good and bad, happy and sad. He wanted to remember everything.

"You're staring again." You glanced at him over your shoulder, smiling.

Joel entered the kitchen and cleared his throat. "Shane took Ann to the clinic today. She went into labor this morning."

You turned around abruptly and looked at him with wide eyes. "And?" you whispered.

"She gave birth two hours ago. Tommy told me." Joel replied. "Shane won't be going on patrol for a while and..."

"Boy or girl?" you interrupted him quickly.

Joel frowned, surprised by the question. "A boy."

"I knew it!" you were excited, you pressed your hands to your lips, and your eyes sparkled like stars. Joel smiled at the sight, and then he hugged you when you suddenly threw your arms around his neck "Oh, I had a feeling it would happen soon! I'm so happy."

Joel stroked your back and smiled to himself. Only when you pulled away did he notice that you suddenly frowned.

"Is everything okay, honey?" he asked with concern. He noticed how you bit your lip, clearly worried about something.

Finally, you folded your arms over your chest. "I didn't have time to prepare anything for the baby..." you sighed "I wanted to give them something, but so much has been going on lately and.."

"No problem. I can go with you to that old mall. They should have a kids store there, maybe you can find something."

"Are you sure? I wouldn't want you to have to change your plans especially for me."

He walked over to you, placing his hands on your hips and pulling you closer to him. “And who would I change my plans for if not for you, huh? Besides, you lost your partner on patrol for a while. Let me join you.”

You chuckled. "Oh, I don't know what my boyfriend will think about this. He can be a little jealous."

"So we won't tell him anything." Before you knew it, he kissed your neck. "It'll be our secret and..."

"Ugh! Disgusting! Do you really have to do this here? Before breakfast?" Ellie groaned as she entered the kitchen and sat down at the table.

Joel rolled his eyes and looked at the girl. "We were alone before you came."

"And you're not anymore, so please keep your hands to yourself."

The mall had been abandoned for many years. Many things had been taken and used, both by the residents of Jackson and by other people trying to survive. Your footsteps echoed quietly as you and Joel headed towards the baby store. You passed under the half-lowered blinds and entered.

"Don't spend all your money, honey." Joel mumbled, looking around the interior, which still had a lot of assortment. He walked between the dusty shelves, still keeping an eye on you as you looked through the drawers.

You soon found some necessary things - a few pacifiers, a baby blanket, a few clothes. You put all of that in your bag. It was only then that you noticed something that caught your eye. The smallest onesies you had ever seen in your life. You hesitantly touched the material decorated with colorful dots.

"You okay?"

Joel stood right behind you, looking at you with a mixture of worry and confusion, he didn't know what to expect.

"Did you know that babies could be so small?" you asked, taking the onesies in your hands and looking at them closer.

He was silent for a moment, but finally spoke. "When Sarah was born, she practically fit in the palm of my hand. I'm sure Ellie was the same."

"I'm sorry... I didn't think that you... I'm sorry, Joel."

"You don't have to. I almost forgot about it." he replied, kissing your head. "Did you find everything?"

You looked around the inside and stuffed the onesies into your already full bag. "Yeah, I guess so. I think Ann prepared well enough anyway. I wouldn't want to come to her empty-handed though."

"She'll definitely be happy when you come anyway. Let's go back, honey."

He was a little scared about all of this, but he hoped you were in a different place now. You had only met up with Ann a few weeks after what had happened, and she had been really stressed out then. You were her friend, and she was afraid of hurting you or bringing up painful memories. Joel was sure she and Shane had talked about the both of you, but he didn't hold it against them. They were both your friends, and they cared about you.

It was surprising though that your loss had reached so many people around you.

Joel felt your hand in his and glanced at you as you fell into step with him.

"Thank you for bringing me here." You said, the corners of your lips turning up. "I've missed doing this with you."

"Me too, baby. Me too."

He leaned down and pecked your soft lips. You were on the right track.

☆☆☆☆

Thank you for your time.

taglist, i think: @picketniffler @orcasoul @bbyanarchist @o-sacra-virgo-laudes-tibi @somedayheaven @underneath-the-sky-again @callmebyyournick-name

[sweetlyvibe]

PAIRING : Osamu Miya x Fem!Reader,

GENRE : angst/comfort

WC : 1k

SUMMARY : After a huge fight with Atsumu about quitting volleyball, Osamu crashes at the your place, looking for advice. With your help, he sorts out his feelings and makes up with Atsumu, proving their bond is solid even if they’re on different paths.

CONTENT/WARNINGS : emotional struggles, intense arguments, sibling tensions, misunderstandings

The Miya twins had fought countless times before, but this one was different. You could tell by the way Osamu stumbled through your front door that evening, his shoulders tense and his face twisted in anger, a rare sight on the usually calm and collected twin. He didn’t need to say a word for you to understand. You could guess who the fight was with. It was always Atsumu.

He stood there, silent for a moment, as if trying to find his words, his breathing heavy. You gestured him inside without a second thought, the quiet tension filling the room as he dropped his bag by the door.

“I’m not playin’ anymore,” he finally muttered, more to himself than to you, the words barely above a whisper. “Volleyball, it’s not… for me.”

You nodded, waiting. You had learned to be patient with him.

“And he doesn’t get it.” Osamu’s voice cracked, the frustration spilling over as he ran a hand through his hair, pacing back and forth like a caged animal. “We always fought, ya know? But never like this. Never like this.”

His voice trembled, and you felt a pang in your chest as you watched him try to hold it together. This wasn’t just another argument. This was a breaking point. You gently guided him to sit down, and he sank into the couch, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees, his head hanging low.

“He’s so angry. Like he doesn’t even wanna hear what I gotta say. It’s all just volleyball, volleyball, volleyball… like it’s the only thing that matters.” He laughed bitterly, shaking his head. “I told him I’m done. I’m done with it.”

You sat beside him, placing a comforting hand on his arm. “It sounds like you’ve been thinking about this for a while.”

Osamu sighed, his body deflating as if the weight of it all was finally sinking in. “Yeah. I mean, I love playin’, but not like him. It’s different for me, and I think he feels like I’m betrayin’ him or somethin’. But I can’t keep doin’ it just to keep him happy.”

Your heart ached for him. Osamu had always been the more level-headed one, but right now, he was lost. “He’s your brother, Samu. He loves you. But you’re allowed to want different things.”

“I know that.” His voice was quieter now, his anger fading into something more fragile. “But I dunno how to make him see it. It’s like talkin’ to a brick wall. He thinks I’m givin’ up.”

You paused, choosing your words carefully. “Maybe… maybe you two need space. Time to cool off. He’s not thinking straight right now, and neither are you.”

He didn’t say anything, just stared at the floor, but you could tell your words were sinking in. You let the silence hang between you for a moment before speaking again.

“You can stay here as long as you need. We’ll figure it out, okay?”

Osamu glanced at you, his expression softening just a little. “Thanks… for always knowin’ what to say.”

Atsumu’s anger still simmered hours later as he replayed the fight in his head, the harsh words they’d thrown at each other cutting deeper than any previous argument. It was the first time Osamu had ever walked away like that, and the thought of it gnawed at him. Why couldn’t Samu see how much volleyball meant to him? How could he just quit like it was nothing?

It wasn’t until the next day, after spending the night alone in their apartment, that Atsumu began to feel the sharp edges of regret. He’d pushed too hard. The fight replayed in his mind, and he hated how it had ended. But pride and anger still clung to him, keeping him from making the first move to fix things.

You found Osamu later that night in your kitchen, sitting with a mug of tea in front of him, his head resting in his hands. His whole body seemed heavier than usual, weighed down by the argument. You sat beside him quietly, and after a few moments, he spoke.

“Maybe you’re right. Maybe we just need time.”

“I think you both need to talk when you’re calmer,” you said gently. “He’s probably still mad, but I know he’ll regret it too. You just need to give each other a chance to explain.”

Osamu didn’t respond immediately, but you could tell he was thinking about it. Slowly, he nodded, though there was still uncertainty in his eyes. “But what if he doesn’t get it? What if he’s still mad?”

You smiled softly. “He’s your brother, Osamu. He’ll always come around. You just need to find a way to make him understand that this isn’t about him. It’s about what’s right for you.”

It took a few more days, but eventually, Osamu texted Atsumu, suggesting they meet and talk. They both showed up at the court where they used to practice together, the air thick with unspoken tension.

Atsumu stood with his arms crossed, trying to look indifferent, but the moment Osamu spoke, his defenses crumbled.

“I’m not quittin’ volleyball ‘cause I hate it, ‘Tsumu. I’m quittin’ ‘cause I don’t love it the way you do. I wanna do somethin’ I’m passionate about. I don’t expect you to understand, but I need ya to respect it.”

Atsumu’s face softened, his anger dissolving into something else—hurt, maybe even understanding. He rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly, glancing away before muttering, “You’re still my twin, no matter what. But I thought… I dunno, I thought we’d do this together.”

Osamu sighed. “We’re always gonna be brothers, ‘Tsumu. But I gotta do this for me.”

There was a pause, and then Atsumu nodded, his eyes finally meeting Osamu’s. “Alright. I get it.”

It wasn’t perfect, but it was a start. You didn’t need to be there to know that, thanks to the time apart—and your gentle advice—the Miya twins would be alright.

[justastraymoa]

Unwilling Alpha

Chapter 7

Masterlist

Taglist

Y/n finds their happy again

Warnings ⚠️ swears, abo dynamics, mentions of slave trade, mentions of rape, mentions of abuse, mentions of death, fear, manipulation.

Nothing within reflects anyone or anything irl.

-

For 10 days after I returned my life resumed as normal. It hurt when I thought about the boys. That final night where Seungmin begged me to stay. But I busied myself with work.

Because of my impromptu vacation we were a bit behind. That gave me the perfect opportunity to fill my head with work so Stray Kids had no room in there. They were all locked in my chest where the hurt lived.

For 10 days I worked most of my waking hours, often until I was exhausted enough to go home and collapse just to do it all over again the next day. I took photographs, I made films. I created art from behind a lens.

This is exactly what I fought for. I fought for my art. I fought my parents who said it was a waste of time. I fought my teachers who didn’t understand why I always carried a camera. I fought to get through college with degrees in photography and film. I fought to find a job after graduation. I fought to survive doing what I loved.

My heart and instincts had no say in this. They were locked away with my hurt until they got on the same page as my brain. There was no room for them right now. I was doing fine. Just fine. There was absolutely nothing wrong. Was I happy? No. But I would be again one day. This would all fade one day.

And then my boss, August, an eccentric man who dressed in steampunk attire every day, stopped by my workstation. He slowly closed my laptop with one finger, forcing my entire attention on him.

He half sat on the desk looking at me solemnly. “I don’t know where you went on your vacation. Or why it was so sudden.” He began.

“Gus-“ I was about to apologize for such an abrupt request for time off. Maybe lie about where I went. What I did. I really didn’t have a plan on what to say. Even after all this time. I could never come up with anything that sounded convincing enough even to my own ears.

He held up a hand to stop me. “No, just listen. You came back different. Still an awesome artist. An amazing worker. But something or someone changed you.”

I swallowed and blinked back stinging in my eyes, thoughts of my Omegas filling my head. I tried to lock them away in my chest again. Where they had been living so I could live my life without sobbing uncontrollably every 5 seconds or go running back to them like every fiber of my being wanted to do.

“That!” He pointed at my face. “I’ve seen that look before. In the mirror when I met my Dahlia. You fell in love.”

I nodded and released a sob, giving up on the impossible task of locking them away again. “Yes. I did.” I leaned forward and rested my head on his thigh, sobbing heavily. I hadn’t cried since I got on the plane that last day, holding it all in. Locking it away inside and pretending it wasn’t there. But it all came out now. Heaved out of my lungs like it refused to be silenced any longer.

“Oh, darling girl.” He stroked my hair soothingly, letting me soak his pants with my salty tears and snot. “What happened?”

“I would have had to give up everything! All I worked for to get where I am! I would have had to give this up! Leave you and the others! And I would have had to change. Become a completely different person. I couldn’t do it!”

“Y/n, you silly girl. That’s what love is. True love requires sacrifice. Requires metamorphosis on both ends.” He sighed. “True love will give you the life you were always meant to have. Turn you into who you were meant to be. It will give you a life that you never imagined you would have. With someone you never imagined you would be with. It's hard to let go, but the end results are worth it.”

I sat up again, wiping my face and running nose. My head was pounding, and my mind was racing. All the possibilities. All the options. Everything I would give up. Everything I gave up when I left. Everything that could be. Everything that would never be. My Omegas. Who let me go when I didn’t want to stay. “What do I do, Gus? I am so confused!”

He cupped both my cheeks and smiled sadly down at me, leaning forward slightly. “Leave. Go to them. Be happy. Live your life.”

I nodded with one last sob and threw my arms around him. Gus had given me my break in my art and had always been a father figure to me. One of the most important people in my life. One of the reasons I convinced myself I had to come back. I trusted him and his judgement. He earned it. I would miss him.

I haphazardly threw clothes into a bag while booking the next flight to Korea. I would come back for the rest of my things. Right now, I need my Omegas.

The flight was horrible. I was too amped up to sleep and it felt like it lasted days instead of hours. My leg bounced the entire time, annoying my seat mate who was trying to sleep. I turned down the in-flight meal, stomach too tight with anxiety to even consider eating. Instead, I sipped on water and impatiently watched the little map of our progress on the screen in the wall. The little figure of our plane was moving way too slowly for my liking or sanity.

It wasn’t until I was standing in front of their door that the doubts kicked in. What if they changed their mind? What if they no longer wanted me? What if they managed to find another Alpha after I left?

Determined to find out, I steeled myself and rang the doorbell, counting my heartbeats as I waited, holding my breath.

What felt like years later, Han opened the door looking worse for wear. His clothes were crumpled, makeup smeared, hair in disarray. And I swear he looked skinnier. He hadn’t been eating properly. I immediately wanted to take him and get him taken care of, washed and fed and warm and safe.

He blinked at me uncomprehendingly several times before his eyes widened and face lit up. “Y/ns back!” He shouted before slamming into me. I breathed deeply through my nose, getting the first of his scent that I had had since the scent on the dirty clothes I brought last time faded.

The ones that sat in a pile near my bed that I had convinced myself I was just too lazy to wash and put away. A lot of those clothes probably ended up coming back with me when I packed, since they were nearby and easy to grab.

What sounded like a herd of elephants came running towards us, shouting in glee and throwing out questions so quickly I couldn’t decipher one from the other in any hope of answering them. I was crushed into a group hug, swarmed and bathed in the happy scents that I had tried so hard to convince myself I didn’t want or need.

I was pulled inside at some point. Honestly, I was too focused on my Omegas to notice. Head swimming and emotions bubbling inside like a overflowing pot of boiling water.

God, I hadn’t realized how much I missed them. I hadn't let myself notice how empty I felt before, how desolate and alone. Locked it all inside. But I felt how much I no longer felt that way now. How full and happy I am. How euphoric. I sobbed with the immense relief I was filled with. So happy that I wasn’t even embarrassed to be such an emotional mess in front of the boys.

“Wait, wait, wait, wait!” Chan called over the voices of the others. Everyone quieted and looked at him. “What are you doing here, y/n?”

“Who freaking cares!” Felix responded, adhering himself to me like I was the very air he needed to breathe.

My hands were constantly moving from one person to another, desperate to touch all of them. To confirm that they were here and safe. Just to reacquaint myself with them.

I wet my lips, scared of rejection. “I’m back – if you still want me – to be your Alpha.”

“But your life? All you’ve worked for?” Seungmin asked. “You can't give all that up for us.”

I shook my head. “I’m gaining way more than I am giving up.”

“You need to be very extra sure of this, y/n.” Chan said seriously. “Because there is no going back.”

“Chan, I just spent the last 10 days telling myself that I was okay. I had 10 days of complete separation from this and all of you. And I haven’t felt more fulfilled, more alive, than I do right now with all of you. I'm absolutely sure this is where I'm supposed to be. Where I want to be.”

“We missed you so much!” Chan breathed his entire body sagging with relief.

I reached out and pulled him to me, resting my forehead against his and just breathing the same air for a few seconds. Letting the relief wash through us both.

“I’m sorry to break this moment.” Lee Know spoke. Chan and I pulled apart to look at Lee Know. “We should tell JYP so he can get the ball rolling. We are short on time.”

“You still have 3 days.” I argued. As much as I had tried, I could never get the countdown out of the back of my mind. I always knew exactly how much time they had left. And while the time difference may confuse me a bit, I knew I was only a day off at most.

Chan sighed. “The government has been pressuring us to make an announcement either way.”

“Okay, then let's go.” I pulled away from Felix and opened the door to leave, determined. There was no reason to drag this out any longer. If the government wanted action, I would give it to them.

“Wait, wait, wait!” Changbin called after me.

I stopped and spun around impatiently.

“Hold on! Let us get shoes on and call a car!” Chan chuckled.

I clapped. “Hurry up, hurry up!”

When he saw me JYP quite literally dropped the stack of papers he was holding and engulfed me in the biggest bear hug I have ever received. “I’m so glad to see you!” he gasped out.

"I’m happy to be here." I patted his back. He really was becoming another parental figure in my life. Like Gus back home.

He pulled away, holding me at arms length and giving me a suspicious but hopeful look. "Are you here to bond?"

I nodded. I heard we are running out of time."

"You have no idea."

"But we do, so let’s get this show on the road!" I.N interjected. I smiled fondly at his impatience.

I started with Chan placing my hand on the back of his neck and pulled our foreheads together, closing my eyes. Looking inside myself, I found the part of me that represents Alpha. I imagined it like a big ball of glowing strings - each one connecting me to one of my Omegas. Pulling on the string that represents Chan, I connected it to the spot where my palm met his neck, letting it flow through me and into him.

My palm grew hot. Almost unbearably so as the bond formed and sealed. The back of my own neck stung and tingled as the bong mark formed. A matching one will form under my palm on his neck. It really was an amazing process.

When it was done, I sighed and opened my eyes to meet Chans. His eyes were misty and filled with love. He unleashed his biggest dimpled smile on me.

The bond mark almost made me giggle. A compass. Some things are just fate. My initials were in the center of the compass. Chans were in the center of mine. A simple, minimal design that I immediately fell in love with. Good thing too because I’m going to have 8 of them going down my spine by the time I am done.

I repeated the process all down the line. Oldest to youngest. I began to flag after Seungmin, hitting my physical and mental limits, but pushing through anyways. I had to bond all of them before it was too late, and I am almost done.

So, in a cold sweat and shaking I finally got to and bonded I.N

He had to catch me when I was done because my knees gave out. The others jumped forward in worry.

"It’s okay. I’m fine. Just tired." I mumbled resting my head on I.Ns chest and closing my eyes.

I.N gently lowered me into a chair that someone was kind enough to bring over and patted my sweat dampened hair gently. It was exhausting, but worth every ounce of energy I used. I now had 8 glowing connections to my Omegas and 8 compass marks going down my back. Each with an Omegas initials in the middle.

JYP clapped and rubbed his hands together. "So, how do you want to announce this?"

I glared over at him, panting lightly. "Just tell the damn government." I was not in the mood to deal with the emotions and stress involved in telling STAY right now.

"Let her rest. We will deal with the reveal ourselves later." Chan said gesturing Changbin to me.

Changbin scooped me into his arms. I wrapped my arms around him and rested my head on his shoulder.

"Fine. But be quick about it." JYP relented.

Everyone filed out to head home. My new home. With my Omegas. I smiled to myself.

I was asleep before we got back to the car. Feeling safe and comfortable surrounded by my Omegas and their comforting scents.

When I finally dragged myself back to awareness it was to the pleasant hum of the TV and murmur of voices. I was pillowed on a broad chest and there was warmth all along my back that could only be from another body.

Still half asleep, I rubbed my face into the chest I was laying on. Lee Knows from the scent.

"You better not be wiping drool on me." Lee Knows chest vibrated as he spoke.

I slapped his chest lightly. "Jerk."

"Don’t listen to him. I saw him sneak several photos before you woke up." Han revealed from behind me.

"He lies." Lee Know denied coolly, but his cheeks turned red, revealing his bluff.

I smiled. "Mhm. Sure, he does."

"How are you feeling?

I wiggled a bit, testing my body. "Sore, somehow." I concluded.

"You worked yourself pretty hard. Youve been out for hours." Chan said from nearby.

Lifting my head I noticed that we were all piled up in the living room, using each other for pillows and warmth. There was some game currently paused on the TV as they all turned to check on me now that I was awake.

"Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to sleep through my first day back." I am sad I missed time with my boys.

"We took turns cuddling with you, if that helps." Changbin shrugged. He was laying with his head on Hyunjins thigh.

"I guess." I pouted.

"Have you eaten today? Are you hungry?" I.N asked. He was sitting up with a game controller in his hand so he must have been playing when I woke up.

I shook my head. "I was too anxious to eat on the plane."

"Why anxious?"

"To get back. To get to you. Then I was worried you wouldn’t want me anymore."

"Stupid." Seungmin tsked rolling his eyes. Despite the harsh word, I knew he was happy. But also...sad? Regretful? He would come to me when he was ready.

Everyone ignored him. Lee Know kissed my head. "I'll whip something quick up." He got up, leaving me without a pillow and cold along my front.

I reached and grabbed Hyunjin, pulling him close and making Changbins head drop to the floor.

"Hey, I was using that!" He complained.

I dramatically clutched Hyunjin closer, making him gasp for breath equally as dramatic. "My Hyunnie!" I claimed.

Changbin pouted, lower lip poking out and big fake watery eyes. I just snuggled closer to Hyunjin and pulled Han closer behind me like 2 living blankets. "Mmm, warm." I hummed.

"Not to pressure you, but JYP and our manager are bugging me. They want to set up a photoshoot reveal." Chan informed me.

"Didn’t you tell JYP that we would handle it ourselves?" I may have been half asleep, but I distinctly remember that much.

"I did." Chan nodded. "He and our manager said we are taking too long."

I grimaced and wrinkled my nose. I knew this was going to happen. I came to terms with it when I decided to come back. However, the idea of being known as an Alpha terrified me to the very core. Just thinking about it now made by chest tight and blood run cold.

Han held me tighter and rubbed his thumb soothingly on my stomach where his hand rested.

"We will do what you are comfortable with. If you are not ready yet, we won’t put your identity out there. Period." Chan gently said, moving to catch my eye.

I took a deep breath to get my fear under control. It would no longer control me. I’m Alpha. Stray Kids' Alpha. I needed to be strong. I’m a fighter. Always have been. That wouldn’t change now or any time soon if I had any say in it.

"Tell them that we will post a faceless picture of my soul marks tonight. Let my identity be a mystery and build attention for a day or so." I decided. The anticipation will drive STAY crazy in a good way. They will have the time of their lives trying to figure out who it is. The theories will fly! And I would have more time to prepare myself.

Chan was typing away on his phone. I was thinking about the photo I wanted to take. I was in such a rush to pack; I didn’t really know what clothes I had. Just a vague idea, but I do remember grabbing my backless black sweater. Either because some part of my brain was thinking ahead or purely because of luck. Whichever it was, the sweater would be perfect. It would show off the marks very beautifully.

"JYP is fine with it. Manager is less than pleased." Chan reported.

"Too bad. They are not my manager."

Chan raised his eyebrows. "Do you want me to quote you on that?"

Felix snorted lightly. "She is going to keep manager on their toes."

"Say whatever you need to. I already have the photo planned." I shrugged.

Felix perked up and pulled at my arm. "Let’s go do it! I love your pictures!"

"But I’m so comfy!" I whined.

"Those pictures you took of us blew up! STAY loved them! They are going to flip when you give them more!"

I hadn’t known the pictures had blown up. When I left it was too hard to look at anything Stray Kids. I couldn’t even listen to them without forgetting how to breathe.

Groaning loudly, I let Felix pull me up from between Hyunjin and Han, grabbing my forgotten luggage on the way to the guest room.

The room was just as plainly decorated as when I left. But there was a major difference. The bed was obviously slept in, sheets and blankets wrinkled and rumpled. And there were several makeshift beds on the floor, all crammed together so they would fit in the limited space. Basically the whole room was now a bed.

"Have you been sleeping in here?" I looked back at Felix, who looked slightly embarrassed.

He rubbed the back of his neck. "We were having some trouble after you left. Your scent in here helped."

These boys were suffering so much, and they still let me leave. They were willing to let me go, let me live my life while they gave up theirs. I really did find myself 8 human embodiments of green flags.

As much as I am sad they suffered so much, I still think leaving was the best thing for me. I needed the time away. I needed someone outside the situation to confirm what my heart already knew. What I already knew. What every ounce of me besides my brain knew.

If I had stayed from the get-go, I would have resented Stray Kids forever. I would have blamed them for losing what I had. I would have never been able to really let go of my old life and be the Alpha they needed. The Alpha I needed myself to be.

"Let’s make some room in here first."

Felix and I stacked the makeshift beds into a corner, leaving a nice space to be able to work. And for once the plain white wall will be an advantage. It will make the marks and sweater framing them stand out even more.

I threw my bag on the bed and turned to Felix. "Okay, out." I shoved him towards the door.

"What! I can’t watch?"

"No! I’m too embarrassed! I’ll show you the pictures when I’m done." I finally got him out and shut the door firmly behind him. There was no way I could do this with an audience. I didn’t even want to watch myself!

📷📸

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[altgojo]

Love always make itself known. (a katsuki Bakugo/reader…)

Summary : you knew that you will always be there for him, no matter what happens, because you know that you love him. But what you didn’t know is that he does too, and he would do anything for you… wc: 1,6 k Author note: you know how I started from a Drabble? Now I wrote a whole ass oneshot😭, I originally wanted to do this with a prohero!tomura/reader but I fear that I didn’t know how to construct such thing in one single part 🤕, butttt if you want it then maybe I could do it😇. Anyways, I hope you like it :3

Warnings: a little tiniest tiny bit of angst, but it’s a happy ending, fluff, they are both in love with each others to the point when it HURT like just confess😭, but they do eventually, f!reader, clingy katsuki because why tf not?

The sunshine was seeping through the glass panels of the window, gracing the room with a newfound warmth after a long cold night. As the sun rises up, the bright light slowly arose you from your sleep. 

As you get your own self accommodated to waking up, you notice that you were wrapped into a strong embrace, you try to slowly turn around, then as you look at their face, you remember all the things that occurred the day before.

      He saved you.

He saved you. You thought you were doomed for, your back colliding with the brick wall behind you, grunting in pain as you try to move, but to no avail. Your eyes were getting blurry and your mind was foggy, the only thing you can see is his face.

      You wished that you confessed.

      You wished that you had the guts to. 

You were ashamed, you wanted to be strong alongside him, you wanted to be with him. But you couldn’t, because you were a coward, and we all know cowards get nothing. 

      He sees you.

 And all that flashes into his mind as he sees you there, all sprawled with your back to that wall, is pure unfiltered rage. He wanted to be strong enough for you, he always trained so hard to do so, but there he is, he lets you get severely injured. Like the weakling he is. But he doesn’t have time to think about such things, he has to save you, as fast as possible.

      So he does. 

As flashes of your memories with him race in your mind, you feel large arms encapsulating you in his embrace, holding so tightly, but you don’t feel anything, so you just bask in his warmth as he shouts at you to talk to him. He finishes the villain off with you in his arms, you feel his rage and his anger as they escape his body, with an intensity that can rival the biggest waves crashing onto the shore . Then you smile, you smile because you are glad that you set your sights on him from the beginning, because to you, even if he doesn’t reciprocate your feelings, you still won’t stop loving him. 

    He is everything to you.

    But you are also everything to him,

    You just don’t know it.

That’s why, once you opened your eyes, he instantly appeared in your field of vision, he held your hand right away as he spoke.

“If you had died, I would have killed you”

You held his hand tighter. You realised that you missed him, even when he was right there, with you, in the hospital room, you missed him and you are glad you are here with him. You don’t realise that you were crying until you felt his hand wiping your tears away. His hand feels slightly different than when you were both teenagers, soon to be pros. But, even so, they still held the care and the warmth that they always did. 

 “Why the hell are you crying? I’m right here.”

‘I am right here, I am not going anywhere.’ That’s what he wanted to say, but he knows that you will understand him anyway, you always did, that’s why he was always at ease with you. You didn’t just dismiss him as an “angry aggressive person with no other feelings” like all people did, you saw right through him. You understood him, and that scared him at first. He tried to push you away, but you remained still, even when you both fought, he always found his way back to you. Because he realises that his future lays with you, with nobody else but you.

You look at him as he is deep in thought. With a relaxed smile on your face, you softly spoke, finally meeting his eyes.

“You can’t kill me if I already died, katsuki.”

As you finished, you realised that you just broke his train of thoughts, he looked slightly shocked for a second before he mutters :

“I don’t care, I will if you did.”

You muse back with a soft laugh :

“Then I won’t, never dreamt of doing so.”

You both stare back at each other for a while, silently looking at every detail on each other’s face, both trying to reserve this as one of the plenty of memories that you both shared. 

  You got discharged from the hospital two days after. Fortunately, you only had one severe injury that was nearly healed thanks to recovery girl (she came just after the villain attack because katsuki urged her to come. You made sure to thank her profusely for healing you.)

As you were about to leave the hospital, you found katsuki right outside waiting for you. As he sets his sights on you, he rushes to your side, and helps you get onto the car, his car.

You both sat in silence, listening to the low sounds emitting from his radio that acts as some sort of white sound in the car. That’s until katsuki turns it completely off and starts talking:

“I already talked to your agency and told them about your condition and the physical state that you are in, you need a lot of rest so I better not see you there until you fully heal, understood?”

Just based on his keen, stoic tone, you knew you couldn’t argue with him. So, you just sank further onto the cushioned leather seat of his car, opting to look out the window instead. Katsuki kept stealing glances at you from time to time, checking if you were okay. After some time, you reached your front doorstep. As you turned around, ready to unbuckle your seatbelt, you were outrun by katsuki as he unbuckled the belt for you, and then his. sensing your confused glance onto his back as he opened his car’s door, he quips:

“You need assistance, so you’ll better let me accompany you without being such an annoying brat.”

And that’s how you find yourself being tended by him all afternoon, never leaving your side, and if he does by chance, he keeps you near him or steal glances at you to make sure you are doing good. You know why katsuki is acting like this, you saw his face once you woke up on the hospital bed. He was scared, afraid of losing you. That’s why you don’t complain nor tease him about his clinginess, you just let him be, plus you always like it when he gets clingy, even when it comes with a tinge of guilt. Because he always gets clingy whenever something bad happens between you two. You brush that thought off as you remained on the couch while he is making dinner, reminding you of your time in UA common rooms, when you and all your friends lounge together in the living room while katsuki cooked , but now, it’s just you and him. 

When katsuki finishes up making dinner, he beckons you over to the table, almost acting like he owns the place and that the house is his , not yours. As you sit down, you both eat in silence until he starts to glance at you, that’s when you know he wants to initiate a conversation, so you look up and he begins:

"Just what the hell was going through your mind when you decided to face that villain?"

You look straight into his eyes, your posture radiating confidence even when you really don’t feel it at that moment, fake it till you make it I guess.

"What do you mean? I am a prohero katsuki, of course I would go against a villain. What do you want me to do? Watch you defeat them yourself?"

Katsuki scrunches his face as he starts to get mad. His expression is a clear indication of that.

"I know that you are a prohero, but that does not mean that you should just jump infront of villains with no plan whatsoever and take their blows."

You lowers your eyes and look anywhere but katsuki’s face, all the initial confidence in you blew away after his perfect response, damn he caught me!

Katsuki sees your look as a signal to continue, probably because he knows that he caught you right where he wanted to.

"I know that you want to beat as many villains as you could, and I have always appreciated the dedication that you have to beating villains asses, but you should be careful so they don’t beat your ass up instead. I won’t always be there with you on missions to save your ass so you better not do this anytime soon, I want you to use your brain and think before jumping to action, got it?"

Katsuki then stops to analyse your reaction, glancing right through you, your eyes widen for a second as you process his words, and then, you look up and smile at him. His heart melting at the sight of it, he never wants you to lose your smile, he never wants to lose you.

As you look up at him, you smile, your heart melts with his words, even if he talks in that way, you always see right through his words, he cares about you, and you do too. You trust him with your life. 

So you decided it’s time. 

It’s now or never. 

You look straight at his beautiful, ethereal crimson eyes and say.

"I love you, katsuki.”

That’s how you find yourself, as a new day begins, under your sheets, with the man whom you have always and will pour your love into, and he will do the same if not more. 

As you look at his sleeping face, he is slowly arising from his sleep, almost in command. 

    because whenever you look at him, 

    he would always be there, 

    at your service. 

And then his eyes meet yours and the first sentence he utters is:

"I love you most."

copyright © 2024 altgojo. do not copy, remake or edit any of my works, you can reblog it but do not reupload on any platform, thank u.

[mendessi]

things i say when you sleep | chapter eight

multi chapter bodhi durran x fem!oc

word count: 5.2K

chapter summary: bodhi durran on ania alistair

tags: slow burn, friends to enemies to lovers, canon typical violence, mentions of death, she falls first he falls harder, majority canon compliant, some canon deviance, eventual smut, angst with a happy ending, additional tags to be added

AO3 masterlist

six | seven | eight | nine | ten

b o d h i

Ani had always been an exceptional girl.

She'd been a part of my life since I can remember. When I think back to my earliest memories, she's always there.

Once Ani learned to walk, the Alistairs would join our family at Riorson House for weekly dinners. Despite being the youngest, she learned to read before any of us. Every adult I knew always talked about what a bright child she'd grow up to be—a Healer, maybe, just like her mother. 

She and I could always relate, being the youngest of the group. Sometimes we were left out of the plans that Xaden, Garrick, and her brother, Beckett made. Eventually, as we got older, we started to be included too. More often than not, Ania would choose to exclude herself to stay in the library.

But she was always there. Her presence was always there. She was just as much a piece of our family as we were to theirs. The times she did decide to join us, she'd shut her book cooly, but the way her eyes lit up was undeniable.

Sparring with her was always entertaining. Once she turned ten, we started letting her into the gym with us. We thought having a girl on the mat was amusing, but we learned quickly that her adaptability was unmatched. Observing us, she picked things up and engraved them into her brain. She never won, but she always put up a challenge.

With us being the youngest, our mothers always dreamed of the idea that we'd grow up one day and get married. In turn, Xaden, Beckett, and Garrick would tease us. "Lovebirds", they called us. I never minded the jokes, but I'd put a stop to the conversation when I saw Ani's cheeks flush.

Once the rebellion began, the talk became more serious. While Xaden had been betrothed to Catriona, the backup should something happen, I was betrothed to Ania. Under any means necessary, we had to preserve the Throne in Aretia. She never understood the severity past that point. It was still a harmless joke amongst our families to her. How could she understand when she was left in the dark?

We had always planned to tell her, we just never had the chance to. It was hard when her mother was so against it. It was too late when we finally wanted to let her in. Beckett died and we barely had time to blink before the executions. 

The last time I saw Ania, she was thrashing in a man's arms as he pulled her away from us. The new relic shimmered against her skin as she hit his chest. Xaden and I fought for her. We at one point had all managed to grab onto each other but, were ripped apart, and shipped off to new foster homes. 

Years went by and I could nothing but hope that she was being treated right in her new home and grieve what had been taken from us. We were just kids. 

My first year in the quadrant practically flew by. Xaden and I were different and for some deluded reason, we had expected her to remain the same after six years. We were wrong to think that she'd be happy to see us. 

Xaden found me after Parapet and his jaw flexed as he pulled me into a quiet corner where we could talk.

"Is she here?" I asked him. 

"She hates us," He said as he ran a hand over his face. "Wants nothing to do with us."

"What do you mean?" I pressed further. 

"She blames us for Beckett," He replied. "I helped her cross but-"

"She told you this?" I looked around the courtyard to see if I could see her. 

"No, I just know," He sighed, "She's not the same. Just keep your distance til we can figure out how to handle this."

Gods, did she make it hard on us. 

We were fools to think that she could be the same after everything that happened in Aretia. 

Keep my distance. That's all I had to do.  

I didn't question it when Xaden told me she had changed. We all had. The ramifications of the war were not light on any of the Marked ones. The things we went through as kids, molded us as people. 

The Ani that I saw step onto the mat during Assessment Day was not one I was ready for. She'd grown. She was always a beautiful girl, we'd heard it our whole lives, but I was seeing it now.

Our first mistake was sending Quinn in. 

She left the mat with a broken nose, even though she, by technicality, won. Since Ania had yielded. This hard exterior was fascinating. I never imagined Ania to be what other cadets would call "ruthless." I had a hard time grasping the person she had become. 

I didn't heed Xaden's warnings to stay away. How could I when that night, I found her sitting under a tree watching the stars? I instantly was reminded of a time when we were kids. The stars were beautiful from the top of Riorson House. 

Things had seemed to be going well, I was making progress, actually getting through to her. Until I brought up Xaden. 

"She hates us but at least she doesn't seem to be getting closer to anyone else in the quadrant," I said to Xaden as I sat in his room one night. 

"I don't want her to be isolated. Unfortunately, you can't make it here without some sort of teamwork." He replied and I knew he was right. 

Ania was isolating herself. Excluding herself like I'd seen her do on several accounts growing up together. 

We took what felt like a million wrong approaches toward her. We had to tread lightly, and carefully, to avoid pissing her off. We noticed early on that she had developed a very serious anger problem. We'd all been there, all shed it, but her's had stuck. That became the top priority. We could use her anger and do our best to avoid it backfiring. Once she let us in, we needed to focus on her control. 

Her anger would get her killed. 

Only after calling her to the mat did we start to slowly make progress. And it wasn't because of me. If anything, I'd set our progress back to the start. I'd call it tough love, but I'm not sure it deserved that name after I knocked her out. 

"Let me talk to her," Liam had said to us. 

Xaden had told him about Ania during their time being fostered together. Liam had been excited to meet her. He, like us, had been expecting someone different. 

Xaden pondered on the thought, slightly angry with me for taking it too far, and then nodded. 

Liam Mairi had been the first of us to get through to her. 

When Xaden decided that she had trusted Liam enough, he sent me back in. 

With Threshing approaching he was beyond stressed.

"I'm stretched thin," He kept saying.

At this point, it was a matter of if she lived or not would we finally be able to make things right.

"Ani?" I asked. He had been observing in the valley and was supposed to keep an eye on her.

"I lost her," He replied, running a hand through his hair.

'What do you mean 'you lost her'? I raised my voice. 

"Sorrengail was in trouble," He said and he had to put his hands on my shoulders to keep from running into the damn valley myself.

"And what about Ania?" I screamed. 

I forced myself to walk away from him for my own sake. Xaden was not a fight I could win.

I found her squadmates and asked if they had seen her. My stomach sank when Violet returned, and she still hadn't. 

Xaden's jaw ticked and I know he was worried. We had broken Beckett's promise. If he had just kept eyes on her-

"Ani!" The second I found her in the medical tent, my heart sank. I practically ran toward her. 

I cupped her cheeks into my hands my eyes scanning her over to assess her injuries. She looked like she just went through hell and back. Maybe even shook Malek's hand while she was at it.

Her face was covered in blood, hers or someone else's, I'm not sure. Her hand had a gaping hole through the center and I can only imagine it's from a dagger. 

I tilted her head to the side, clenching my jaw when I saw the fresh bruising in the shape of handprints. 

I'm the one who has to control my anger now. The second she tells me who's responsible, I'll fucking kill them. 

"I'll relay to Sgayel that she's okay," Cuir says and I mentally thank him.

Xaden appears within minutes, but I'm still pissed at him. As he surveyed her, I could see regret swimming in his eyes. 

She killed two men. My Ani killed two men. Innocent, bookworm Ania Alistair. A murderer. Justifiably.

But she survived in the process. Ruthless, she lived up to her name. If she looked like this, I'd hate to see the other two. 

With a glare in Xaden's direction, I helped her to the healers after the celebrations begin. She didn't even flinch when her Red Swordtail burned a relic into her skin. 

She's strong. In shock maybe, but strong.

"She made it, she bonded," Xaden said to me when I returned to the flight field. I had members of my own squad that I haven't checked on yet, being too preoccupied with Ania. "Is she okay?"

"She killed two men today, Xaden," I replied with my arms crossed over my chest.

"That's a part of life, Bodhi," He was stern with his tone, "We can't coddle her. Especially when she doesn't let us. Beckett wouldn't want that. We want her to live past the quadrant, yes?"

"Of course," I said. 

"Then we can't hold her hand through it. She's not a kid anymore. We can do our best to protect her and trust me, we will. But we can only do so much." Xaden said.

As much as we want to believe that she's someone we can shield from the hardships of the world, we just can't. "When do we tell her about what's really going on?"

 "We'll take it day by day," He replied with a curt nod.

The next morning when I went to check on her I was not expecting Ridoc Gamlyn of all people to open the door. Shirtless.

His eyes flared wide like he knew he was not where he's supposed to be, "Oh shit."

I ran my tongue against my teeth when Ani appeared behind him standing in nothing but her tunic. I accidentally let my eyes glance her over, noting the angry dagger wound in her thigh.

All I did was look at him, but that seemed to scare him enough for him to scramble out of her room without even putting his shirt or shoes on. 

That was a situation I could've handled better. She didn't need me to be overbearing in that moment and I was, but I couldn't help it. I told myself the anger came from concern over her not letting her injuries heal. I had no right to tell her who she could and couldn't bring into her bed. Or that she can't bring anyone into her bed at all. 

Garrick and I met in Xaden's room that night to talk about the next drop-off. We never made it through a meeting without bringing her up. How could we not? We'd all been there the day Beckett died. Xaden held him in his arms while we surrounded him. We all made a promise. 

"I see her in the gym a lot," Garrick said, "Pretty much every night. If not with Gamlyn then with Liam. She's pretty intense." 

"She still avoiding you?" I asked.

"Yeah, but because I give her the space to. She'll come to me when she's ready." Garrick replied, tapping his fingers mindlessly against the table. "She's got a good head on her shoulders. I think we should consider letting her in."

"I agree. But we can't just pull her aside and lay everything on the table. She's a logical person. Extremely intelligent. We have to plant the idea inside her head, let her figure it out." Xaden explained and then turned to me after a beat, "You should be the one to start. She's starting to trust you."

"I can do it," I nodded.

"Anything else?" Xaden asked. 

"I found Ridoc in her room this morning," I said, trying to ignore Garrick and my cousin's shared glance.

"Does that bother you?" Garrick asked as he crossed his arms. 

"I think that she should be focused on other things, that's all." I defended. I should've kept that to myself.

"As long as she's not sleeping with a psycho like Barlowe, then I hardly think it's our business," Xaden smirked. "Cadet Gamlyn cares for her. In a strictly platonic way."

My cheeks heated up and I hated the way that Garrick and Xaden burst into laughter.

"Some things never change," Garrick laughed as he stood up and pushed his chair in.

Hardly any progress was made from our end. I began to accept the fact that she genuinely wanted nothing to do with us. When we started sparring, she took the notes I gave her and didn't say much to me otherwise. Watching her from a distance as she grew closer and closer to her squadmates was bittersweet. She was meant to be coming on runs with Xaden, Garrick, and me by now. Our dynamic was supposed to have returned to how it had been in Aretia. She made it so hard, but we were not letting up.

Even though I had a way of saying the wrong thing at the wrong times. 

"You don't necessarily make it easy to care about you," I regretted the words as soon as they left my mouth that night.

Progress reset once more. 

Xaden took matters into his own hands after that. He finally sat her down and talked to her about the promises he'd made to Beckett regarding her. He was convinced now that moving forward should be easier. We were so close to fully earning her trust.

I was the first one to test that theory.

We finally were able to meet in the gym to spar and I was grateful that I had caught her before she left. 

I let her put me down once, but in her second match, she earned her victory fair and square. 

On round three, I attempt to do what I was sent down here by Xaden to do. 

"Do you remember those stories that Xaden's dad used to tell us?" I asked, as casually as I could. Plant the idea. Let her figure it out.

"About the venin?" She ducks under my arm as I throw a punch. "They were why I was scared of the dark forever. You really wanna bring that up right now?"

She had always been scared of the dark as a kid. There's a distant memory of a night we had a sleepover at Riorson House. Garrick was staying with us for the summer and Beckett and Ani had come over as well. We spent the night playing hide and seek in the dark and trying to scare each other with the tales of the dark wielders. When Beckett and I woke up the next morning, Ani was sleeping at the foot of our bed because she had gotten scared in the guest room by herself. 

I never expected her to manifest moments later. 

There's only one other time in my life I've felt fear like that. The day that our parents were captured and we knew that we had lost the war. 

The scream she let out rattled my bones as I held her. Every mage light in the gym shattered. The second I felt her skin rising in temperature, I lifted her into my arms and carried her to the bathing chambers. I put the water on as cold as the lever would allow, but by the time we got there, I could hardly touch her without wanting to pull away.

"If her power is backlashing, she could kill you in the process," Cuir said through our bond.

"I don't care." I slammed my shields shut to block him out. I just needed to focus on her.

I pulled her tunic over her head to try and cool her off, but she was shivering and her teeth chattered uncontrollably. I couldn't understand how her skin was so hot, yet she seemed to be freezing. Was she going to wield fire? Ice? I couldn't tell.

My hands shook as I cupped her cheeks and forced her to look at me, "You have to ground, Ani. Please. Please ground." 

I'm begging her to ground, I'm telling myself she'll be okay, I'm begging Malek to not take her from me. 

"T-t-the library. R-R-Riorson Ho-use," She said after I asked where she grounds. 

I brushed the wet hair from her face, searching her eyes to do my best to counter whatever the fuck she was manifesting. 

"I'm trying. You're going to be okay, I'm right here." I fought back the tears, trying to catch the glint that would tell me how to counter what was happening. 

We both were drenched, fully clothed as the cold shower sprayed over us. I flinched when the mage lights in the bathroom shattered just like they had in the gym. 

I tucked her body to my chest in case any glass were to fly at us and I realized then how heavy I was breathing.

I'd never felt so hopeless. She was either going to live through this, or she was going to die and take me out with her.

You're okay, you're okay, you're okay.

The whispers were continuously falling off my lips when I finally heard her say my name. When I opened my eyes, the entire bathing chamber was pitch black. But her hands were glowing. 

Magnificent. 

My forehead fell against hers at the sheer relief of hearing her voice. She pulled my face a few inches from hers and I wished I could see her face. I wanted to see her eyes just for the extra confirmation that she'd be alright. 

Light returned to her fingertips, nearly taking my breath away. My hand finds the base of her neck, brushing the soft skin there. Soft, golden light illuminated her face and within an instant, she was the most beautiful thing I've ever laid eyes on.

She gently tugged my face toward her but I held back. I reached for the lever instead, afraid that she'd do something she would regret, and turned the water off. 

After I left Ania in her room, I immediately went to Xaden's, hoping he was still awake. 

"What's going on?" He asked once I stepped inside. "You're dripping water all over my floor."

"She manifested," I said, turning to face him. "And she- Gods, she was so close to fucking backlashing."

"What did she manifest?" Xaden asked me. 

"She can bend light," I said to him. "I had to carry her from the gym to the bathing chamber, she would've combusted if-"

I sat in one of his chairs, covering my face with my hands. The overwhelming feeling of relief settled within me and tears threatened to spill. I don't remember the last time I cried.

"I was so scared," I admitted in a whisper. "I couldn't counter it. I couldn't help her. She was in so much pain and-" 

"You did everything you could," Xaden reassured me with a hand on my shoulder, "She's okay because you were there. Thank you." 

Time was not something gifted to us after she manifested. Between her squad's trip to Montserrat and prep for War Games, I didn't get much time to train with her. I'd wanted to check in so many times, ask how she was, and see how her signet was developing. But there's just no time. 

I replay our time in the shower when she tugged my face toward hers. It was so subtle that I didn't even want to suggest that she was going to do something like kiss me. Would I have let her if she tried? 

After the first battle of War Games, I find her and Ridoc on the flight field. I can't help but be amused at how Ridoc still does his best to avoid me after I found him in Ania's room. 

I'm sitting on the edge of her bed and she's explaining something she did with her signet and I just want to listen to her talk about it endlessly. Flight leathers look good on her and I find myself fighting the urge to stare. Her hair is wind-blown from flight and she's got lines from her goggles, but she's stunning regardless. 

"How have you been otherwise? We haven't seen each other much," I asked, forcing myself to be coy. There was a line that I was threatening to cross and I needed to stop before I could start. What would the others think?

"Fine," She answered as she crossed her room. She's annoyed that I'm avoiding the conversation she really wants to have. But I can't go there with her. She turned her back to me while she undressed and I forced myself to look away, my knuckles turning white from how hard I gripped the edge of the bed. 

My gaze returned to her when she turned back around and I couldn't help but look her over. The way the fabric cut off in the middle of her thigh, the sounds her bare feet made across the stone as she walked to me. Her hair rested in waves from the loose braid she'd had it in. I nearly felt sick to my stomach at how divine she looked.

"Ani," I whispered when she stepped between my knees. Fucking hell. 

"Yes?" She asked softly. She had to know the effect she was having on me. 

"Don't do this to me," I practically begged her. Thin. Ice.

"Do what?" Her skin felt like silk under my fingertips as I trailed them up the sides of her thighs, stopping short of the hemline of her sleeping gown.

"Tell me to stop," She whispered. I'd rather die.

She settled herself deeper between my thighs, looking down at me. 

I want her.

"Ani," I warned. Moreso, for myself but I wished she'd heed it too.

My fingers dug into her thighs as I fought every illogical thought I was having. I couldn't do this. She shouldn't either. She'd regret it in the morning. 

But I've never wanted someone more in my life than I do right now. 

"I can feel it," She whispered. Feel what?

My thumb brushed her bottom lip and my lips parted. Soft, plush. I needed them against mine. Just once. I cupped her jaw gently pulling her face toward mine.

The position in which we were in, me sitting on the edge of her bed while she stood between my legs. As she looked down at me and I up at her, things couldn't be more clear. She had me in the palm of her hand. 

"You're gonna be the death of me," I said under my breath. Just this once. 

I couldn't hesitate any longer. I pulled her face towards mine, pressing my lips to hers in a soft kiss. She wanted more and I did too, but I couldn't help but hold back. 

She tangled her fingers in my hair and she deepened the kiss for the both of us, urging me further back on the bed. She pushed me back onto the mattress, tugging my bottom lip between her teeth and in that moment, she could've done anything. I would've let her. 

She was on top of me and I wanted her so fucking bad that I'd give up everything good in my life to just spend the rest of my life in this bed. 

My hand was around her throat, pulling her lips against mine in a heated exchange. It felt like I'd been deprived of air and she was the first breath of it. Her hips grinded into mine and I groaned into her mouth, my fingers pressing into the sensitive skin at her neck. 

I want more. I want this. I want her. 

But I'm holding back and I don't know why. 

Too many thoughts were clouding my mind. What would Xaden say, what would Beckett think, she'll gonna regret this in the morning. 

"Just kiss me, what are you so fucking scared of?" My eyes flared when she pulled away and I had to second guess if I said any of that out loud. "What? Bodhi, please. You want this. I know you do."

She leaned to kiss me, but I stopped her, "Ani, what are you feeling right now?"

"I want you. But you won't let me. You're holding back." She said.

I pulled her face back toward mine, my lips brushing hers but then I stopped myself again. She whimpered and the sound made my heart throb. I looked up at her, something primal in me taking over. We would not be leaving this bed tonight.

I flipped us over so that I was pressed between her thighs, kissing her hungrily. The anxiety and uncertainty of it all still lingered, but I couldn't find it in me to care. Not when my tongue was against hers and she's whining into my mouth while my hands run up and down her sides underneath her sleeping gown. 

I'm right where I need to be. 

The thought is shoved into my mind and the anxiety dissipates almost immediately as I pull her chest flush with mine. As the anxiety faded, logical thinking returned and I forced myself to pull away. 

She groaned in frustration when I let my forehead rest against hers. 

This could ruin everything. I could lose her if we get involved like this. I can't lose her. Not when I've worked so hard to get her back into my life. 

"You're not going to lose me. Stop thinking that," She said breathlessly.  

I pulled away to look at her, my eyes scanning her face. The second it clicked, I wished it didn't. I wished this information hadn't been set on me. 

"What, Bodhi?" Her voice is soft and her lips are slightly red and swollen.

"You're a fucking empath."

The disbelief is fresh on my tongue as she slowly crawls off of me. I'm amazed she has a second signet, but terrified of what it'll do to her.

She hesitates and looks down at her hands before she slowly crawls off of me. 

"You say it like it's a bad thing," She has hurt in her eyes. 

"It's a death sentence, Ania," I whisper. "You can't tell anyone." 

"I didn't know that I was until just now," She defends herself, wrapping her arms around her body. "You can't even be sure that I am."

I stand up from her bed and she grabs my hand and when I turn around her, her knees are pressed into the mattress and she has tears in her eyes.

"Where are you going?" Her voice cracks. 

"I can't be around you right now," I say. I'm trying to be gentle, but the words refuse to come out in the tone I intend.

"Wait, please." She holds my hand in both of hers and my heart nearly shatters at her frantic words, "I- I didn't mean to. I'm sorry, Bodhi. Please, I won't do it again."

"I have to go," I pull myself from her grip and leave her sitting on her bed. I try to ignore the soft sob that leaves her lips right before the door shuts.

Halfway to Xaden's, I have to lean against the wall to regain my composure. 

"You did not handle that accordingly," Cuir says.

"Yes, I'm fucking aware," I huff, punching the wall so hard that my knuckles split. 

She wanted me because I wanted her. She was acting on my desire, not her own. 

"Have you thought that maybe her desire was simmering before tonight?" My dragon says down our bond. 

I can't think about that right now. 

Xaden opens his door the second I knock, but he looks like he's heading somewhere. 

"What happened? Where's Ania?" He asks immediately. 

"She's..." How do I explain this? "Something happened Xaden, but I-"

"She manifested again," Xaden says, and my brows furrow.

"You knew this would happen?" I ask. 

"What did she manifest? Walk me through it," He leans against the door. 

My heart pounds. Her second signet is a death sentence. I know for a fact that Xaden would never let anything happen to her because of it, but I speak it out loud that just makes it more real. 

"I'm not sure if I'm right. I could be overthinking," I backtrack. 

"Bodhi, get it the fuck together, I have somewhere I need to be," My cousin says. It's tough love. 

"They'll kill her if she can't keep it hidden," I say quietly. 

"She's an inntinnsic," Xaden whispers. 

"She's a type of inntinnsic, I've only heard of them by word of mouth. I wasn't even sure they were real, but I'm positive she's one." I explain. "An empath."

"I need the step by step," Xaden says. 

Well here goes.

"We were," I hesitate, "Kissing-"

"Naturally," Xaden smirks. He deserves to be punched for it but I'll let it slide.

"She picked up on my fear, on my anxiety, my doubts. The lust most of all. The idea of losing her, she picked up on it." I tell him.

"She can read emotions." Xaden nods slowly. "Eventually manipulate them with practice, I'm sure. Like Cat." 

I take a deep breath and sit on the edge of his bed, running my hands through my hair. "She didn't just read them, she absorbed them."

"I'll help her get it under control. She'll learn to sort what's hers and what isn't. It's an easy signet to hide," He says. "Do you find it intriguing that both of her signets manifested in your presence?"

"Why would I?' I ask. 

He shrugs and then stands at his full height, "What happened after that?"

"I told her what she was and then left." Not my proudest moment.

"You what." Xaden's jaw clenches and for a split moment, I fear for my life. 

"I couldn't be around her anymore. She was absorbing all of my emotions, I was trying to help her," I argue.

"And how exactly did you 'tell her what she was'?" Xaden balls his fists. 

"I said, 'You're a fucking empath.'" I repeat my words.

"I'm gonna pretend you didn't just say that." He opens the door and nods his head. 

"You asked how I said it," I defend myself as I walk toward the door. 

"I told her that when it manifested, to find me or you. Because I trusted that you would handle the situation with care. You just left her there alone to deal with the aftermath." Xaden pulls the door open and gestures me out. Right, he's heading somewhere. If I had one guess, I'd say its to Violet's room. "I'll try to talk to her tomorrow."

Amari, if you're up there, please help. 

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[crusty-chronicles]

Hiei Courting Headcannons

In honor of the Live Action series (Even though I don't Have High Hopes For It)

Now, we all know Hiei is a very stubborn demon. Especially when it comes to his feelings. When he realized he liked you and didn't just tolerate your presence, he fought hard to deny it.

So what if he spent most of his time with you? Who cares that the first place he goes to after coming back from the demon world is your house? It didn't matter that his eyes seemed to soften whenever you were around.

No not one bit.

But the second Kurama threatened to court you himself, well Hiei couldn't just sit down and let that happen. Didn't that fox understand he shouldn't touch what wasn't his.

1. Showing off to see if you're interested

Hiei may be a demon, but he has some semblance of manners. His pride wouldn't allow him to claim you until you accepted his advances. Any creature who dared force themselves onto another was the lowest of the lowest.

So, his first step is showing off during fights.

Letting the enemy bloody him up more to show that injury didn't affect him.

Using more spirit energy than was needed to end another demon with just one blow

Stopping you from fighting because he'll "take care of it. You humans are too fragile."

He'll also use his Jagan more frequently.

You lost something?

Well look no further, he can track it down precisely and easily.

Praise him even once or say in passing he's really strong, and he'll take that as you being interested.

Even if you're just trying to be nice.

2. Wearing Richer Colors

I firmly believe Hiei courts more like a crow than the usual beast. He's sleek like one anyways.

Now if you didn't know, most birds attract mates with their bright feathers.

In Hiei's case, he'll start to wear dark, yet rich colors to get your attention.

Strength is one thing. Any low-class demon can demonstrate strength and be happy about it.

What Hiei is looking for is to see if you're attracted to him. If you find him visually appealing.

Though he's not a vain creature, he still yearns for the confirmation that him and him alone captivates you.

He'll start with darker blues. Maybe change up his cloak a little.

And when that doesn't work, he moves onto purples. Getting teased by Kurama for 'changing up his style.' But he stays determined.

Eventually moving onto a burgundy. And the way you were immediately drawn to him then made it worth it.

Relishing in your compliments on how 'the color really suits him' and 'it matches his eyes perfectly.'

Letting you grab at the fabric and inspect it until he asks why you like it so much.

"Well I always thought your eyes were pretty. It's nice to see something that reminds me of them."

He's a prideful smug bastard after that. Not even comments from Yusuke can tick him off that day.

3. Bringing You Shiny Objects

Once again, he courts like a crow.

Now that you've shown interest in him, it's time to properly start showing his affections.

Hiei isn't one for flirting or compliments. He's more prone to showing rather than telling. And in this case the way to do that is to bring you little trinkets that catch his eye.

Usually, it'll be small gems he stumbles across in demon world.

Rubies, diamonds, and emeralds. All things he knows where to find thanks to his prior occupation as a thief.

He's not trying to buy your affection. He knows you're not that vain judging by the pushback you always give when he presents you with a jewel.

No, rather he's trying to show that he can provide for you. That you'd never have to worry about scrounging around to survive as long as he was with you.

A protector and a provider.

He also notices how you treasure the less valuable items with as much fondness and care as the others.

He had asked you why you slept with a chunk of pyrite on your bedside one time. And your response let him know he wouldn't give up on pursuing you anytime soon.

"Because it was one of the first things you gave me. Don't you remember? You said something along the lines of fool's gold for a fool's heart. I think it's sweet you even got me something at all."

You didn't care about what he brought you. All that mattered was that it came from him.

If that didn't mean you accepted his advances, then he didn't know what would.

4. Scenting

Ah, yes. Back to the classics

Once you've accepted the gifts he's continuously given you, Hiei takes it as you liking him back.

He's aware human and demon courting processes are very different from one another.

But he's exactly not human, is he?

When it comes to demons, once you've accepted their advances, your mates.

In a sense, it's like dating. Only except a dissatisfied partner will kill the other in most cases.

With this in mind, Hiei happily accepts the fact you're his and immediately moves onto the final stage of courting.

Scenting you so that other demons know to back off.

Think of it as your last out if you realize what's happening and actually don't have feelings for him.

The scenting process will start with Hiei showing up to your place of residence and staying with you.

Not yet following you around, but making sure to spend time in each room.

If he has to leave somewhere, he'll leave either an article of clothing or his sword.

It confuses you at first and you think maybe he just trusts you.

But you start to think otherwise when he starts getting touchy.

Laying in your lap and ordering you to stay still, only to find out he's fallen asleep on you.

Or letting his face rest against the crook of your neck. Which you didn't mind all that much.

It was quite funny to see someone as tough as Hiei become completely docile around you.

You weren't too worried until he followed you out when you went to buy groceries.

"You don't like being around people. Don't you wanna stay home until I get back?" You asked him.

"I've already shown you that you're a very fragile creature compared to me. It's best I accompany you so you don't hurt yourself."

Usually you would have argued back, but it was clear something was off with him.

These past few months had been strange with him either trying to get your attention or trying to stay directly next to you.

You wouldn't figure out what it was until your other three friends showed up.

Kuwabara wanting to have a movie night and you offering your home to do it.

When the three of them arrived, you noticed Kurama and Yusuke hesitate by the entrance.

"Something wrong?" You questioned.

" I can't put my finger on it, but something's telling me I shouldn't go in." Yusuke responded.

Unawares it was Hiei's scent warding him off.

But Kurama knew. He'd known since you opened the door.

It seems Hiei had staked his claim on you.

Yet judging by your calm demeanor, you didn't know that yet.

"Have you noticed Hiei acting strange lately?" Kurama asked.

"Yes! I thought I was the only one. He's been really clingy. I mean at first it was odd he kept bringing me stuff like gems, but then he started following me around like a house cat. It's endearing, but honestly what's going on with him?" You ranted. Prompting a laugh from the redhead.

"I see. Good luck on your new relationship."

Before you could question him about what he meant, a gentle grip around your waist stopped you.

"What're you doing inviting these fools to our home. You know how long it took me to get rid of their scent the first time? It's like you want me to start the whole courting process all over again."

Courting?

Oh.

Oh.

You couldn't say you minded now that you knew what was actually going on.

[bnhaobservation]

Todoroki family and chap 430

In case it wasn't obvious by now, I was very invested in the Todoroki family storiline and one of the things that sadden me the most about chap 430 is this image.

We've Enji, or maybe I should say Endeavor, Rei is pushing his wheelchair as he goes somewhere, we don't know where, some want to think he's visiting Touya but it's not said and, around him there are 3 men and a woman.

It's not his children, it's his sidekicks and Hawks.

The final chapter doesn't touch what happened to Natsuo and Fuyumi, we've to assume Fuyumi is happy with her work and Natsuo with his marriage.

We don't know if Touya is still alive but, anyway, he's going to die. Even if we assume he died happily he had said smiling was why they lived their lives. He could keep on living out of anger and grudge but not out of smiles and happiness?

Fuyumi has fought for all those years so hard because she wanted back her family and she basically get nothing, not her old family as Natsuo leaves and Touya dies and it's not even hinted she has a new one as it was Natsuo the one who got a girlfriend as soon as he entered university and marries her basically a year and a half later.

Natsuo is just rushedly married to this character of which we don't even know the name. We don't know if, in the end he visited Touya again or not, we don't know if he ever managed to overcome all the anger and pain he felt inside for how his father ruined the family.

Shouto became a Hero, but his mother is not with him to support him but she is with his father. We don't see his siblings around him, cheering for him. We don't know which effect had on him to reconnect with Touya only to lose him. We're only told he became a good Hero so people don't call him anymore Endeavor's son, forgetting people also looked poorly at him for being Dabi's brother. How did he overcome that? Evidently it somehow disappeared as all the first years are already all his fans and even Dai said all the kids wanted to be like Shouto... but, at the end of the day, we aren't shown Shouto having a good moment with his family, his good moments come from being a Hero and being with his friends.

Even if we assume that, despite having to marry Enji out of duty to help her family, Rei had fallen in love with Enji while their family was having a good time before he turned abusive, and now that she had forgiven him and he stopped being abusive she's glad to be back with him... skipping this was very vaguely constructed she lost 10 years in a hospital and we can't see her with her children. She's supposed to be happy being with him with one of her children dead and one of her children keeping away from his father because just being in the same room with him makes him feel bad.

Mind you, I'm not saying Natsuo should forgive Enji or force himself to be with Enji or whatever but having a person that's related to you that makes you to feel bad just by being in the same room with you so that you've to avoid that person, is not something that's good. If Enji and Rei live together and Natsuo wants to visit his mother he has to make sure to do it when his father is somewhere else. In the past Rei was split between taking care of Shouto, who couldn't be with her other children, and taking care of Touya, Fuyumi and Natsuo, with the result Natsuo felt neglected because he was very small when all this happened and needed his mother... but likely she ended up neglecting Fuyumi and Touya too because you can't be in two places at the same time. Now, instead than having to take turns with Shouto, Natsuo have to take turns with Enji.

Ad for Enji... all his atonement for what? He doesn't manage to rebuild a relation with his children, apparently his sidekicks and Hawks have replaced them, they're conveniently of the right number. His children would have gotten where they were even without his atonement because all we hear is about others helping them, he only get the cool sentence, we see nothing of his struggle. But this is also supposed to be a happy ending for him. Who care if he doesn't have his kids? He has his sidekicks and Hawks his newfound family he would have had anyway had he focused on his work only.

The story tried it's hardest to make me think he cared about his family but then I'm supposed to think he's happy not having any of the sort apart for Rei and a new found family.

Horikishi had already established in the previous chapter Enji would have his sidekicks and Hawks' support, I didn't need a reminder of that.

I needed to see THIS image at the end...

...maybe including Natsuo's girlfriend as he could have introduced her to the rest of the family... or him holding his firstborn and letting Rei see her grandchild.

I needed to see Fuyumi finding someone with whom to form a family since she can't have her own back and she wished so badly for it.

I needed to have this being shown to me...

...or at least to see Touya out of that contraption as he died in peace, a smile on his lips since happiness somehow couldn't save him but grudge could.

I needed to be told something that Enji did that HELPED his kids, that made them be better. Not something vague, I need something concrete. Even if they would never be with him, since he's supposed to atone to them, I need him to make something more than just give them a new house and pay for the bills because he'd been paying bills through all his life so that's not new.

I would have been fine with him watching them smile from a distance or hearing from Rei how they were doing and smiling.

Mind you, I'm willing to believe in Horikoshi's mind Enji now is a changed man and very sorry for what he did and loves his family and yadda yadda but there's a reason why we say 'show, don't tell' and so far Horikoshi is more interested in telling than showing.

I get that in his mind Enji is a character more important than Rei, Fuyumi, Natsuo or even Touya, I would have been fine with all that I've mentioned being shown through his perspective because he cares about his family and so he's happy if they're happy.

If, in all that talking Midoriya does about reaching out to others, what he wanted to point out was Enji had continued to reach out to help his family even if they had cut him out of their lives.

But no, the good part is that his sidekicks and Hawks are reaching out for him. Okay, I can take this as the test trying again to point out Enji will never be a Hero, in the end he's not the one reaching out but the one others have to reach out to help but, again, it was established in the past chapter so I didn't need a reminder and it kind of steps all over his arc of trying to reach out for his family.

In the end the most he does is to just take it when they want to yell at him and let them live the live they want... I do think it's a great thing if an abuser were to realize what he had done to his victims and try to atone. It's kind of a miracle turned true... but there's just too little of it in this story.

Maybe I'm missing some deep cultural context, maybe Enji is doing something AMAZING for his family that Horikoshi thought he didn't need to show because it's obvious to Japanese readers but... but I wish he had shown it. Instead the moment Enji finally stop being a Hero and could do something for his family, the manga ends with his family disregating but I'm supposed to see it as a happy ending.

I prefer it had just been called a sad ending. Bad things happen, I can stomach them but honestly "Ano Hana" makes a much better work at portraying grief and atonement and the same goes for "Koe no katachi".

Horikoshi knew he was selling this manga also to foreign readers. I'm not saying he should have made his manga thinking to them but, if this atonement arc was so important, maybe he should have made it more understandable for us as well. This makes the diffference between a national mangaka and an international one.

[roguishcat]

Augustarion Day 2 – Pool Party 🌊

This was supposed to be 500 words. It isn't. Also, it was supposed to be a fun, light-hearted drabble. I have no clue how it turned into angst/comfort. Nevertheless, I enjoyed writing it and hope you will enjoy reading it! ❤️

Day 1 - Strawberries, Day 4 - Mythologies, Day 6 - Cream, Day 7 - Underwear, Day 14 - Protective, Day 15 - Shirt that goes hard

Pairing: the reader (You) x Astarion

Tags: Insecurities, mild angst/comfort, implied nudity

It was yet another boiling hot day and the group was suffering. Having to wear heavy leather armour and full supply packs whilst encountering a veritable cornucopia of monsters certainly did not help their mood.

When you saw the glittering blue thread of the river on the horizon, you felt like falling on your knees and weeping tears of joy. The rest seemed to be just as excited as you at the prospect of washing the grime and dirt off their sweat slicked bodies. Even Lae’zel for once did not complain when Gale tentatively suggested that they continue on in that direction.

Your steps quickened and after another hour you finally felt a cool breeze caress your cheeks. You looked over at your rogue walking a little behind you, the gentle wind teasing his silver curls. Astarion was the least affected by the weather but even he seemed to visibly relax when he realised that they would be stopping shortly.

“Phew, soldier. It is hotter than the hells today. Can’t wait to go for a dip. In fact,” Karlach grinned, “can our leader be persuaded to stay here till tomorrow?”

“Well, it would certainly be good for the morale,” Shadowheart agreed, letting her pack drop with a thud. “I, for one, am not moving anywhere until I wash the viscera out of my hair.”

“Tsk, vanity is a vice, dear,” Astarion teased, moving to set up his tent.

“Says the vainest person in Faerûn and beyond,” Shadowheart shot back, flipping her hair over her shoulder.

“Most certainly! But you see, it would be a sin against all creatures to deny them the opportunity to gaze in admiration upon my beauty. You agree my sweet, don’t you?” he grinned, looking at you fondly.

“Perhaps, although when it comes to looks, I’m afraid this lot certainly could dethrone you, Astarion. You are an attractive bunch,” you smile at your friends as they prepared to finally, finally enjoy the weather rather than suffer in the heat.

“Well, I don’t know about the rest, but I am just happy that we aren’t getting attacked for once. I am half-expecting something to jump out the bushes at any moment. We need to stay vigilant,” Wyll reminded everyone.

“Argh, monster hunters,” Astarion scoffed, “so paranoid.”

You didn’t hear Wyll’s reply, choosing to step into your tent and begin to shed the layers upon layers that you had on.

As you undressed, you scowled as you uncovered yet another scar. Spells healed cuts and wounds well enough, but unfortunately your body was covered in reminders of battles fought.

You tried not to think about. You had bigger, more urgent matters to attend do. But, as you thought of Astarion’s beautiful, unmarked face, you felt an ugly feeling rise as you thought of how a creature as perfect as your elf would think of you when the adventure would come to its inevitable end.

You knew he was fond of you. Knew that he was grateful for what you did for him. And maybe that would be enough for a while still. But you also were under no illusion about what would happen once it was no longer necessary for your merry little band to stay together. The end of the Absolute would probably mean the end of this alliance. They would all carry on their personal quests, fighting their battles, living their lives. And you would let them go. Let Astarion go too. Because you loved him and realised that there would be nothing worse than deny him the freedom that he so desperately fought for.

You heard splashing and laughter from outside the tent, making you smile. You didn’t feel like joining in, but perhaps you could go for a little swim once everyone settled in for the night. Yes, a midnight dip sounded heavenly.

Hours trickled by and finally everyone bid each other goodnight and soon all was still. You gathered your supplies and put on a thin cotton slip. It was not something that you would usually dare to venture out in, but everyone was clearly resting, so what was the harm?

Quietly, you slipped out and walked barefoot along the shore, careful to avoid the sharper rocks, and made your way away from camp.

As you were about put your things down, you felt the fine hairs on the back of your neck rise. Someone or something was watching you.

“Astarion, if you want to catch me unawares, then you shouldn’t have doused yourself in your signature scent. I could smell you before I could hear you,” you turned, your eyes locking with ruby ones.

“Oh, please! I was hardly being subtle,” he took a step towards you, “in fact, I was all but stomping my feet not to startle you.”

“Sure you were,” your lips quirked into a smile and you shivered, suddenly feeling very exposed as he levelled you with an intense, hungry look.

“Any particular reason for you waiting until now to go down to the river, hm? I thought you just couldn’t wait to cool down.”

You gripped the towel tighter, not wanting to talk about your insecurities. As far as everyone was concerned, you were the confident, daring leader. The one who threw yourself headfirst into the epicentre of any battle. And you would rather walk on red-hot coals than admit that you were self-conscious about your body to Astarion, out of all people. Being in a situationship with an impossibly gorgeous vampire did not mean that you felt worthy of being in a relationship with the said mind-numbingly beautiful vampire.

This wasn’t the most exposed you were, you all but shared a tent and were intimate on several occasions. But sex was about being lost in the moment, there was hopefully little opportunity for him to see the full extent of the damage done to your body over the years.

“Darling?”

Your eyes snapped to his fingers as he reached out to cradle your wet face in his hands.

Shit.

Were you crying? You so were not standing near naked in the middle of nowhere with your intoxicatingly beautiful lover and pathetically crying because you felt that you could never, ever hold a candle to him even on your best day. Except apparently, you were.

“I- I’m sorry. I guess the heat got to me. You should go back to camp.”

“I’m staying.”

“No,” you wanted to sound firm, but it came out far less certain than intended.

“Why?”

You pulled on the hem of your slip down subconsciously and looked away. Astarion was quick to catch on. His eyes softened and his hands fell to your shoulders.

“Darling, how many times do I have to tell you how beautiful you are for you to believe it? I can hardly keep away from you.”

“I know. But that’s hardly attraction. I am just, kind of, there. And you are grateful and, I suppose, maybe you-”

He scoffed. “Don’t insult me by insinuating that I have been forcing myself to come to your tent every night for the past several months. You were the first to tell me that I don’t have to do anything I don’t want to do. And now, I very much want to do this.”

You saw a flash of a blade in your peripheral and then felt the fabric slide down as it fell to the ground. You dropped the folded towel you were still holding in a futile attempt to keep what was left of your clothes on you.

“Perhaps a more hands on demonstration of how I feel about you is in order. Time to be a man of deeds, rather than of words, so to speak.”

His lips found your neck as he threw the dagger on the ground and gripped your waist tight, pulling you closer to his body.

“But my scars-”

“Love, I don’t want to hear a single word out of your mouth unless it is my name, are we clear?”

“But-”

“You told me that my scars don’t define me. That I am more than just my past. It is baffling that you would show endless kindness to anyone but yourself. So let us not waste another moment. No more words.”

You nodded and your eyes fluttered closed, submitting to his eager hands.

“This is what happens when we have no opportunity for taking some time to ourselves. Yet another drawback of staying within earshot of everyone. We are overdue for a little private pool party, hm?” he said, lifting you up and carrying you to the river.

And then Astarion descended onto you, mapping your body with his lips, committing your sighs and moans to memory.

💖 Tag list 💖:

@ninty900, @ayselluna, @dajeong, @ravenswritingroom,

@misscrissfemmefatale,

@clazberryk, @anukulee,

@preciouslittlebhaalbae,

@sh3rl0ck, @mellowenthusiast2299,

@fleetstreet78, @starlight-rogue,

@obsessedwhyyes, @arzen9

[nickrocketrodriguez]

As part of a writer room, since it's a collective work, do you sometimes have to put aside your "real" self from your "writer" self? The wording is horrendous, but for example, when it comes to shipping, you like the trope of a certain ship and would like for them to happen, but as a writer you know that it wouldn't actually make sense for the characters? It just seems so hard to me to have dicern "good" ideas from selfish baseless wishes so I wonder how it's managed in a writer room.

Ooooh, a craft question! I love these.

So, basically, yeah, you DO have to set aside what you want from what is right for the story, because those are often not aligned. At the end of the day, if the Nublar Six were real people, I want them to all be happy and healthy and live conflict-free until forever. But that's not good story.

When you're in the room trying to tell the most interesting and meaningful/emotionally resonant story for these people, you can't do what you want with them -- you have to do what the story demands thematically. That's why we have writers rooms: we're constantly discussing not only what's cool, but what makes sense, both logically and emotionally. Thankfully for our room, we were all very aligned with what we thought the story was from the very beginning. There definitely some pitches I fought for that maybe weren't right for the show and we more based in what I wanted to have happen -- but that's part of the job. Discerning between ideas you like and ideas that make sense and ideas that make sense but are also surprising is a very tough muscle to work out, but that's all it is -- a muscle. That's why a good writers room will have long discussions about practically every choice to see if it actually works and means something for the story and the characters. It's also my favorite part of the process. And I like to think I only got better at this throughout our time in the room together, and that I'm continuing to get better at this on the new show I'm on.

Philosophically, I believe that, VERY often, what we want to see happen in stories are and what should happen in them are complete opposites. We don't necessarily want our favorite characters to be in conflict and find opposition -- but the problem is that without all of that, the characters don't shine their brightest or learn their lessons, and therefore neither does the audience. It's something that I wish chronically online fandoms would understand better so that they don't turn around and throw hate at people who are trying to tell good stories. Like, trust me, you don't want an entire episode where the characters just talk and laugh and have a fun little barbecue with their dinosaur friends. You'd be bored to fucking tears and your favorite characters wouldn't be people, they'd just be... I dunno, cardboard cutouts of the ideas of people.

Maybe it's not even about separating the two sides of yourself, but about acknowledging both sides within the scope that stories are not just a series of cool or nice events. Stories all come down to conflict, especially conflict between people, and the puzzle of writing a show is determining which conflicts mean the most and allow for emotional reactions and revelations, etc. If you're just watching the show for the dinosaurs (and I know some do), then you're missing out on all of the more important aspects of the story that was being told.

I think I got a little off-track there, but thanks for coming to my TEDTalk.

[duhshereadz]

A revision of Ekko and Jinx’s ending because I think we all know they deserved to be together:

Ekko stood amidst the ruins of what once was, the matchstick trembling in his fingers. He stared at the paper—a ghost of the girl he used to know, the girl he had lost. Jinx. Gone. He’d told himself he’d moved on, but it was a lie. He hadn’t. He couldn’t.

The flame consumed the edge of the paper, curling it inward. The drawing burned slowly, and for a moment, it felt like everything burned with it—his memories, his hope, his guilt.

As the embers died and he let the ashes drift from his palm, a voice, soft and unnervingly familiar, pierced the stillness.

"That’s not how you should say goodbye to someone."

Ekko froze, his breath catching. His blood turned to ice, then fire, as he whirled around. She stood there, bathed in the dim light of the city’s chaos, her hair wild and vivid, her expression caught somewhere between a smirk and sorrow.

“Jinx?” he breathed, disbelief cracking his voice.

Her eyes, that eerie, unnatural pink, softened for just a second. “The one and only.”

For a moment, he could only stare, his heart pounding against his ribs. Every emotion he’d buried clawed its way to the surface—grief, rage, joy, confusion. He stepped closer, his hands clenching and unclenching. “You’re alive?” His voice was barely above a whisper. “Vi said—she told me you were dead.”

“She needed to think that,” Jinx replied, her voice quiet, almost fragile. “It had to stay that way. For her. For everyone.”

“That doesn’t make any sense!” Ekko snapped, anger flashing in his eyes. “She thinks she failed you! She thinks you’re gone because of her. Hell, I—” He broke off, running a hand through his hair. “You let us believe you were dead? Why?”

Jinx’s gaze flickered, her smile fading. “Because I couldn’t stay. Not after everything. Not after Silco. Powder died a long time ago, Ekko. And Jinx... Jinx doesn’t fit in their world. She never did.”

“That’s bullshit!” Ekko shot back, his voice breaking. “You could’ve come back. We would’ve found a way.”

She shook her head, her laugh bitter and sharp. “No, you wouldn’t. You all deserve to be happy. Vi, Cait, you... You deserve a future without me screwing it up.” Her voice wavered as she added, “You’re better without me.”

Ekko stared at her, his chest tightening. “You think disappearing fixes anything? You think leaving makes it hurt less? You don’t get to decide that for us, Jinx!”

Her breath hitched, and for a second, the mask cracked. “I had to. Don’t you get it? I destroy everything I touch. Vi... Silco... even you, Ekko. The last thing I wanted was to ruin you too.”

“You didn’t ruin me,” he said, his voice dropping, softer now. “You’re not a bomb waiting to go off, Jinx. You’re—you’re just hurt. And maybe we all failed you, but that doesn’t mean you had to run.”

The words hung heavy between them, both of them locked in the weight of their shared history. She shifted uncomfortably, wrapping her arms around herself like she was bracing for impact. “I didn’t run. I left so you wouldn’t have to watch me fall apart.”

Ekko stepped closer, his voice a raw whisper. “I would’ve stayed. I would’ve fought for you. I—I still would.”

Jinx’s eyes flickered up to meet his, something trembling and uncertain in her gaze. “You’re an idiot, Ekko.”

“Yeah,” he said, his lips quirking into a sad smile. “Guess I always was when it came to you.”

She looked down, her voice cracking. “You shouldn’t have to carry me anymore.”

“I’m not letting you go,” Ekko said firmly. “Not again.”

For a moment, she didn’t move, didn’t speak. And then, slowly, her arms dropped to her sides, and she stepped forward, closing the space between them. Ekko felt her hands curl into the fabric of his shirt, pulling him closer. He wrapped his arms around her instinctively, holding her tight, like if he let go, she’d vanish all over again.

“I missed you,” she whispered into his shoulder. “More than anything.”

He swallowed hard, his voice shaking. “You don’t get to say that and walk away again, Jinx. You don’t.”

She pulled back, just enough to look at him, her fingers brushing his cheek. “I can’t stay here, Ekko. Not in Zaun. Not with everything I’ve done.”

“Then I’m coming with you.”

Her eyes widened, panic flickering across her face. “Ekko—no. This is my mess.”

“I don’t care,” he interrupted, his voice steady. “I’m not losing you again. Wherever you’re going, I’m going too.”

Jinx hesitated, her breath hitching. For once, the chaos in her eyes seemed to still. “You’d really leave everything behind? The Firelights? Zaun?”

“You’re worth it,” he said simply.

For a moment, all she could do was stare at him. And then, slowly, her lips quirked into a fragile smile, and she leaned forward, pressing her forehead against his.

“You’re so stupid, Little Man,” she murmured.

“And you’re still impossible,” he replied, a faint chuckle breaking through the tension.

She kissed him then, fierce and messy and desperate, like it was both a promise and an apology. When they broke apart, her hand lingered on his cheek, her thumb brushing his skin.

“Okay,” she whispered. “Let’s go.”

And together, they turned toward the shadows, leaving the ruins of their past behind.

[krems-chair]

Daily Dose of Solas-Posting Time/just a love of what love can achieve I guess?

I think a lot of people in this fan space struggle to distinguish the apparently very blurred line between "oh look, this poster likes Solas and must therefore condone murder to achieve one's goals", and "rad, she understands that this is a game in which characters do things she would never approve of in real life but given the fact that these are all tiny people on a screen she enjoys extrapolating larger themes"

And for those of you in that second camp how freaking beautiful is it that we get to see one of the oldest saddest elves go on an absolute bender and still get the chance to make things right because he has a friend/lover who knows his heart and refuses to let him hide from it any longer.

Varric disapproves of trying to save him at the end of Trespasser and clearly at some point within the next eight years goes "you know what? This sassy nerdy passionate guy was my friend once and I believe in what he could be if he gives up on the self-destructive path he's chosen"

Harding struggles to fathom what the Inquisitor sees in a disingenuous clefted egg but knows that if nothing else she trusts her friends and for all my critiques of Veilguard I do think Bellara gets a baller of a line with the "trust your heart, it is a good one" banger. Harding may not know exactly how she feels about Solas (and yeah that is so fair) but she knows the Inquisitor's heart is a good one, and if they're trying to save him, she trusts it. She chooses to believe that in an ever-darkening world there is power in restoring a little bit of light.

Your Inquisitor has the option to be like "wow this guy was my friend, occasional confidante (and potentially the most brutal love of my life), fought alongside me and guarded my life as I guarded his, and spoke so wistfully of things I did not understand at the time but now realize came from a place of deep grief. The way he's acting now stems from hurt and trauma and I know it'd be easier to just stab him with his own dagger but what if what if what if..."

And if you're able to look at his story at its simplest (if you're able to see past the broken man and into the spirit of wisdom he once was, if you will) it's really just the grandest version of pre-EA Bioware's bread and butter theme for at least a few companions per game: even the most broken people are capable of changing themselves and ultimately the world for the better if those who can reach out a hand do. And the Inquisitor only has the one hand to reach out, in fact they only have that one hand because of the very man they're hunting down, but if they can find it in themselves to extend it, damn. It brings a broken man back to his feet after an absolutely brutal confrontation of his past and helps him stand tall and face what's coming next in a way he wouldn't have been capable of otherwise. It lets Solas, who is at his absolute lowest, know that someone he strongly admires, who can relate to the challenges he once faced as the young leader of a massive movement, sees the parts of him that just want to do what's right but can't quite remember how anymore.

And to someone who hasn't fought in a war or forged the tools that wrecked entire civilizations, sure maybe that wouldn't hit as hard. But who amongst us hasn't betrayed the core of who we are to make others happy and regretted it? Who hasn't charged down a path that sent thorns digging into their skin with every step because to stop and turn back means facing everything they've done to get there? Means admitting they were wrong? Who hasn't hit a low and crawled their way back to themselves again because that hand came down and refused to let go?

To someone like that, like me, it can make all the difference in the world to see it go down on that tiny little screen.

Mmmmm there's just so much power in having even one person who sees you self-destructing at your worst and goes "not on my watch" and I love that most of these games have brought us such beautifully simple yet meaningful ideas in so many different ways.