#and meet my new team properly before i officially start

[eternal-hum]

I have to go to Birmingham next week for a meeting with all of the marketing department at our head office and why am I nervous ?

I haven’t started my new design job yet but they invited me to the meeting prior and now it feels very real😂

[maxsimagination]

𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 - 𝗺.𝗹𝗲𝗼𝗻

summary: moving from germany to spain is no easy feat, but luckily yn has frido and mapi to help

-> ingrid and mapi aren’t together for this, and never were

-> i apologise if any of the translations are wrong

𖦹 masterlist

𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗣𝗟𝗔𝗡𝗘 𝗙𝗟𝗜𝗚𝗛𝗧 𝗙𝗥𝗢𝗠 bayern to barcelona felt like it was insanely long, but really it was only two hours.

i got bored super easily and had no one to talk to for the time we were in the air. i was moving from bayern munich to barcelona, which was a big change for me.

i knew i wouldn't have a language barrier because i knew spanish but it was like moving schools. i have to learn a new city, where everything is and how to get places. and that not even including meeting new people.

i was a very social person, i loved to have company but that didn't stop me from being nervous when i had to make new friends or talk to people i'd never met before. and it didn't help that my new teammates were some of the best players in the world.

we got into the airport at 12:05 pm barcelona time and i ordered a taxi to my new apartment. it wasn't that far from the home stadium that i'd training at when i officially started at the club, maybe a 10 minute walk.

but first i had planned a trip to one of their home games to see what exactly i was getting into. their first game of the season was tomorrow night; the same stadium i lived by, and it was against valencia.

i wouldn't lie, i'm excited to see the players, especially knowing that frido plays here now. she was at the club for two years from 2017 to 2019 and we talked a lot when she was there. she moved to wolfsburg and then barcelona, so this was the first time i'd seen her properly in a couple of years.

the stadium was packed for the first game of the season, majority of the fans dressed in barcelona jerseys and waving flags around. it was exciting to see and think about the prospect that these fans would be cheering me on in a couple of weeks.

barcelona won that game, 6-0 with two own goals scored from valencia. i made my way down to the rail where i saw frido signing shirts. i waited until she was close enough and called out to her, she looked up and spotted me, her eyes widening.

"yn! what are you doing here?"

"here to see you, and meet my new teammates. care to introduce me?" i nodded over to where some other barca players were chatting.

she grinned, obviously putting the pieces together and understanding that i was moving to her team.

"absolutely. come down here."

she reached up to where i was and lifted me over the barrier. she signed a couple more things and took some photos before we walked to her friends. i knew they were staring at me the second frido lifted me on to the field.

"ale! mapi, irene, ingrid! i'd like you to meet someone."

they all turned to me, the four pairs of eyes boring into me. i threw on a smile and held out my hand to each of them.

"nice to meet you, i'm yn yln."

the shorter girl from the group perked up when i said my name.

“¿como yn del bayern munich?” (like yn from bayern munich?)

“la única. mapi leon, ¿verdad?” (the one and only. mapi leon, right?)

she nodded and i grinned, she looked slightly taken aback that i could understand and speak fluent spanish. the other three introduced themselves then.

"yn is joining us in a couple of weeks. she's moved from bayern to barca, a german international."

"thankyou frido, for the introduction. and yes i can speak spanish."

it was a great way to meet some of the team before my first training with them in two weeks.

the time went by quickly from when i first arrived in barca and then officially starting at the club, but i was excited to see the girls again and meet the rest of them. i walked down to the grounds and met frido out the front.

we walked to the changing rooms where i dropped my bag off and grabbed my cleats. then we walked out to field and over to the covered gym they had. the coach, jonatan met us there and introduced himself, before announcing to the whole team who i was and that i was joining the team.

mapi and alexia came up to us and welcomed me back, mapi practically bounced her way over and gave me a hug while ale was more relaxed.

we got straight into gym then finishing with some mini games between the players.

——

it had been a week since i was at barca, i was settling in nicely and really enjoying my time here. all the girls were lovely but i was especially close with frido, because we knew each other previously, and mapi, who had become very close over the time i'd been there.

we had a 'team bonding' event tonight as lucy liked to call it. her and kie were hosting it at their place and it was basically a night were the whole team comes and spends time together doing anything and everything.

mapi had offered to pick me up and i gladly accepted, becoming quite fond of the short spanish woman.

it was now the evening and i had grabbed my pre packed bag and phone and rushed downstairs and out the door to where mapi was waiting in her car.

lucy informed me that most girls left before it got too late but i was welcome to stay the night if i wanted to, so my bag was fully prepared if i did stay the night. i joined mapi in her car and she drove us to lucy and kies house.

almost the whole team was already there when we arrived, some turned up early to help lucy and kie prepare for twenty-two 'kids' running around their house.

"hola chicas!" (hello girls!) mapi burst through the door with me right behind her. she was always full of energy and i loved it. the team matched her energy and cheered when she made her entrance.

it was such a great vibe for the evening, with lucy and kie already ordering a bunch of food that we could eat for dinner. there was a list of movies that we voted on and ended up putting on some random disney movie.

by the time the movie was nearing the end which was only a couple of hours later, some of the girls were packing up their things to leave and go to their own homes. however me and mapi were still on a couch in the living room.

at some point in the film i'd gotten a bit tired and cuddled into mapi. i think the spanish woman had a heart attack because she didn't move for a bit, until i looked at her and smiled.

we spent the rest of the movie like that, cuddled into each other.

lucy and kie had retired to their own room, leaving the rest of the girls who were staying to make themselves comfortable. mapi and i stayed on the couch along with ona who was fast asleep. i think i had gotten real tired right at the end and shut my eyes for a bit.

i hadn't fully fallen asleep yet and could still hear things, it was more of a lucid dream state.

however my acting must have fooled mapi because she brushed my hair out of my eyes and slightly caressed my face. i made no move to stop

her as she spoke soft spanish to my 'sleeping' form.

"god you look so pretty, mi corazón." (my heart)

i heard her, loud and clear, although they were the last words i'd hear for the night. i fell asleep then and didn't remember much else.

——

lucy dropped me back home the next morning, since mapi was still asleep. i didn't want to wake her and lucy was already up so i left mapi a note and grabbed my stuff. once i was home, the only words flowing through my mind being mapi's words from last night.

it made me think of how close we had become during the time i'd been with the club, which was not a lot. however mapi made it seem like we'd easily known each other for years. i admired the shorter spanish woman and i knew that what we had was slowly changing from friends to something more.

i walked down to training the next day, fully prepared to talk to mapi.

after everyone had gone through training, i pulled mapi over, asking if she wanted to go out for coffee. she agreed and volunteered her car, simply because i didn't have one yet.

we were at a little cafe in the city, just sipping on our drinks when i decided i'd stalled for long enough.

"so, did i look pretty while i slept at lucy's, mi corazón?" (my heart)

my eyes were trained on her face the entire time, not wanting to miss her reaction. she immediately looked to me, eyes slightly widened and a somewhat shocked expression on her face.

"you thought i was asleep, didn't you?" i was now fully grinning with a mischievous glint in my eye.

"i can explain." she seemed extremely nervous, although she had no reason to be. i wasn't mad or angry or upset, i just thought it was funny how this turned out.

"yn, ilikeyoumorethanfriends." she rushed it out, although i had an idea of what she said.

"slow down, maria, i don't speak gibberish." she blushed when i said her first name.

"i like you more than friends, yn."

"much better."

mapi didn't respond, only sat looking at me for a bit longer.

"that's it? you're not saying anything?" she almost looked offended, like it was criminal not to like her back.

"well maria, you're in luck. i like you more than friends too."

[prettyboykatsuki]

not enough trust to believe (not enough feeling to care) | a. shinonome

✮ tags ; fem!reader (usage of she/her towards reader + mentioned to wear make-up), established relationship, making-up, jealousy, hurt/comfort, light angst / happy ending, aged-up characters (this is sfw), single suggestive comment at the end.

✮ wc ; 4k (how.. literally what happened.)

✮ a/n ; the minute i touch that app a demon takes over and i end up daydreaming about this mf and toya . peace and love i feel insane. also for what its worth i do think adult akito is very good at communicating his emotions in comparison to now so if u find him ooc my apologies.

title from rental by brockhampton. shoutout if u know what manga this panel is from lol. also if ur a minor please do not follow me. u r welcome to read.

"Y'know, Akito - you're being a bit of a hypocrite right now."

"Shut up, Toya." Akito grumbles, forcing himself to tear his eyes away from the bastard you're currently giggling with "I'm not."

An laughs from the other side of the room.

"You so are being a hypocrite right now," An threads her fingers through Kohanes hair, the other currently seated on the floor while she styles it "What was it you said? It's nothing to get jealous over so don't worry."

"Akito-kun, it's not good to be dishonest."

"Kohane-san, you're being corrupted. I can't believe you'd join these two on this."

Kohane shakes her head.

"I'm not being anything. It's just not right."

An wraps her arms around Kohane's shoulders from above, chin resting on her head. Akito sighs, leaning his head back on the wall behind him with his eyes still closed - only bothering to open them again when another giggle falls from your lips. This time it turns into full blown heart eyes from that corny bass-playing bastard.

Akito Shinonome is not jealous alright? He isn't. So, this reaction is not by any means hypocrisy.

VIVID BAD SQUAD has officially been on tour for 6 months. This is their first international tour of their career, after releasing their first studio album. It was received well in Japan but surprisingly had more of an audience overseas. So, they'd been performing all over North America with another band.

You've been apart of the VIVD BAD SQUAD team for quite some time before then, working as a roadie for tours back home. Akito has been dating you for well-over a year, and so far - its been great. He gets to see you often and manages to sneak you onto the performers tour bus sometimes. He likes not having to be apart, even if he is incredible busy. A little is better than nothing at least.

A few months ago, the two of you got into a bit of a spat. You'd told Akito that you think he gets a little too friendly when girls come to meet him backstage. Went on a whole spiel about understanding his career and persona, that he doesn't need to be cold but that you wish he put a little more distance between them.

Akito had retaliated with the fact it's nothing to worry about. He's loyal to you and him being friendly isn't anything meaningful. You were upset about this reply and the two of you got pretty intense.

It took Kohane and An's intervention and plenty of convincing to get you two back on good terms - with An promising that she'd keep and eye out and scold Akito properly. You started talking again after that at least, and things went back to normal.

But nothing had really gotten resolved. You still seemed to feel upset every time he'd act too familiar with fans and Akito still didn't see it as a problem. To him it was just a fake part of the persona, and he didn't think it was like you to get so jealous about something like that.

Then, a few months ago - word got out that the bassist of the band they're traveling with has a crush on you.

FLASHBANG, a smaller indie rock band that everyone on tour is very fond of and a perfect addition to their set list. Both bands are friendly with one another. He'd assumed the news of their bassist having a crush on you was nothing more than some rumor. He just couldn't believe it having met them.

Sure, not everyone knew you two were dating but surely Akito would've noticed that before. He just wanted to double check.

It's been weeks now, and he's sure. Hiroaki Miura, bassist pretty boy, has a fucking crush on you. It's so obvious he has no idea how he didn't pick up on it before. He has no idea how you haven't picked up on it either.

He'd mentioned it to you just last week, just to see. You laughed a bit, but asked if he wanted you to stop hanging out with him as much or if there was anything you could do - all while assuring you didn't think that was the case.

"If it makes you uncomfortable, I can put some distance between us. Miura-kun isn't interested in me at all, though - I don't think. We're just good friends, we went to school together."

Ultimately he said that wasn't necessary. Akito stares at the two of you together now and scoffs. Haah. Good friends because you went to school together? He's practically making googly eyes at you.

"Looks like they're coming over here," Toya mumbles. Akito closes his eyes and pretends to be asleep, eye twitching when he hears Toya exhale.

"Hey, guys - great show! The duets today were just so vocally smooth and—oh shit, is he asleep?"

He hears An laugh and forces himself not to react. "Yeah. He was exhausted after today."

"Oh, really? Some sleep will be good then." The affection in your voice is so obvious he temporarily forgets whats happening until another, much more annoying voice comes through.

"You guys going straight back to the tour bus tonight?"

"Yeah, probably." Toya confirms.

"Ah, okay cool. We," He pauses, and Akito can only assume he's gesturing to you "Are gonna go check out a manga pop-up that's open here a few blocks down."

"Just the two of you?" An asks, very obviously barely holding in a laugh.

"Oh no, Eta-san is coming with us."

"Y'know, I wanted to go alone with you," Miura says, and Akito really thinks about waking up and hitting him "But Eta really wanted to come so I couldn't say no."

"I like how honest you are with your feelings, Miura-kun. Very refreshing."

"I don't have anything to hide," He insists, and Akito feels his hand clench "It was just nice we ended up tour together. We haven't seen each other since highschool so I thought I should make the most of our time together."

"I don't remember you being so sentimental. I actually remember you bullying me more than anything."

"Hey, quit it! I wasn't bullying you, i-it just came out wrong. I'm not good with my words and all."

"I know," You say completely good-naturedly. Akito knows objectively you're being friendly and thinking nothing of it. He knows that this is nothing to be bothered over and that you've been nothing but loyal. But god he’s annoyed."You would make fun of me then turn around and lend me your stuff. After I figured out you weren't a bad guy I wasn't scared of you."

"You guys have quite the history," Toya comments. You laugh.

"Yeah, I guess so. We lost touch after I moved for my internship so it feels like a big coincidence! Always good to see old friends."

Before any more conversation happens, another staff member calls Miura for whatever reason - leaving you alone. Akito keeps his eyes closed, hearing Toya sigh for a second time.

"Should I tell Akito where you went?"

"Oh, would you? That'd be great, thanks. I figure he wouldn't want to come, or else I'd invite him and go together."

"Why do you think that?" Kohane asks.

"I'm not blaming him or anything! I just don't think he'd be very enthusiastic about it, that's all. I don't want to force him. Me and Miura-kun bond over this stuff, Eta-san too."

"I'm sure he'd be happy to get to spend time with you," Toya assures. He can't see you but he can hear the insecurity seeping through your voice and something in him starts to bend.

"I know, but you know. It's weird lately with tour and all. I think getting my mind off it would help."

"Oh, no." An sighs. Akito's chest tightens "You poor thing."

"Oh stop that, I'm fine! Getting some air will be nice though, you know? For both of us maybe. I did want to tell him myself though."

"It'll be fine, I'll make sure."

"Thanks, Aoyagi-kun.

"And just so you know, Akito-kun really loves you!"

"Of course. I have no reason to feel stuffy about it. Just makes me wonder if I should still be apart of the picture if that's part of his career, no? Dating would hinder that."

"Don't think like that." Toya interjects. You laugh but even Akito can hear how sad you sound. He had no idea you'd even been thinking that.

"I'll try just for you. Now all of you, stop moping over my silly dating problems okay? It was an amazing show today!! Cheer up and I'll see you guys later."

"Where are you going now?"

"Gonna wait backstage for Miura-kun."

"Have fun," Kohane says last. You laugh brightly and assure you will before your footsteps trail off and get lost in the music. When you're gone, Toya punches him in the shoulder - hard enough to hurt a little.

"Ow, what the fuck?"

"You're such a jackass," An says seriously, shaking her head.

"I told you that it was gonna be a problem that you acted like that when we're a duo," Toya reprimands seriously. Akito can't do much to counter it "You should talk to her properly."

"About what," Akito grumbles "It is part of the gig. It doesn't mean anything to me."

"Oh my god, you're so clueless!" An says, exasperated, startling him "It bothers you this much that she's talking to Miura-kun but she should just deal with it when random girls act like to you all the time?"

"An-chan, don't get too mad."

"If I don't no one will! Did you see how sad she looked! She was even trying to be all understanding. That's not fair to her at all."

"...I also understand Akito-kuns view. But if that's the case, then that doesn't mean that she needs to tolerate it, right?"

"What are you saying, Kohane-san?"

She shakes her head.

"I just mean she doesn't have to continue if it's hard for her. If it's not something you can change, then she shouldn't endure it forever, right?"

“What the hell? Are you saying we should break-up?”

“Maybe. If it can’t be resolved, then isn’t unfair to expect her to always endure it?”

“That’s a mature way of looking at, Kohane-san.” Toya comments. Akito shoots him a dirty look. Toya shrugs, unbothered.

“Her and Miura-kun are a good match. They have a good atmosphere and Miura-kun doesn’t care about things like that,”

Akito sits up in frustration, nearly grabbing Toya by the collar.

“Don’t fuck with me.”

“Think about whats best for her in the long run.”

Akito stands to his feet, glare hardened but Toya doesn’t budge at all. He doesn’t have to listen to this shit.

"This and that isn't the same. It's work to me, that's it."

"Everything that she and Miura-kun do is strictly platonic to her. She's not flirting with him, and it's not her fault if he has a crush on her. She even offered to stop seeing him if it made you uncomfortable."

Akito stays silent at that.

"But what about you? You just immediately dismissed it because it's part of her job and didn't even apologize to her later. You seriously think that's fair?"

He sighs at that, and shakes his head.

"I'm leaving."

Toya shakes his head once Akito is out of ear shot.

"So stubborn."

___

It’s close to midnight and you haven’t returned to the tour bus.

Akito knows its stupid to worry but knowing you were out with that goon all day is grating on his nerves. So he’s been waiting. Pacing around and smoking cigarettes, going in and out - he even texted you couple times to check in. You responded with pictures of your items, and selfies.

You had a long day, you drank a bit, you'd be back to the bus soon, you miss him. All in a row.

The longer the time goes on, the dumber Akito feels.

He leans on the bus as he waits on his phone, fingers growing cold. He hears you before he sees you, the sound of quiet giggling followed by a loud laugh. Akito's head snaps up almost immediately.

He hasn't seen you since the afternoon, but you changed. You're wearing your going-out outfit and it looks like you've put on some makeup too, smudged and worn. Eta is between you both as you carry her - Miura just has lovesick as when Akito saw him last. His stomach drops a little.

But the feeling is washed away when you brighten, eyes landing on him. You wave with a bag in your hand and Akito waves back. He waves to Miura too, if only to be polite.

"Akito-kun," Miura is the first talk as all three of you approach "What are you doing here?"

"There was some stuff about tomorrow set we needed to talk about," Akito says, gesturing to you. You blink owlishly.

"Just for you guys? Not FLASHBANG?"

Akito nods. You hum, then look over at Miura.

"Will you be okay taking Eta-san?"

Miura nods.

"Of course. I can't believe she drank so much in the first place, but I oughta to walk her back to our bus." Miura says as you off-load the weight on your shoulder "I'll see you again for tomorrow. Had a lot of fun today."

You giggle, clearly a little tipsy as you give Miura a thumbs-up. "Me too. See you tomorrow!"

Miura laughs a little before turning the corner, mumbling some light reprimanding to the drunk Eta before going on his way. Akito waits until both parties have disappeared - all the way out of ear shot before he looks at you with clear eyes.

If he's come to any conclusion it's this one - Akito doesn't want to break up with you.

He can't give up his career either, and maybe that's selfish. Maybe that's the whole problem. He can't pick. He thought about it, whether or not breaking up would be the right solution. He landed on maybe. Rationally he understands it. But it makes him angry just to think about it.

Akito stares at you as you hold your bag in comfortable silence and look at him. Wide, honest eyes - so dazzling he can hardly breathe. He reaches forward and cups your cheek in the palm of his hand, smoothing his thumb underneath your eye.

"You're back late," He murmurs, though it's not accusatory "What were you doing?"

"Well, a new store opened up at the mall in Tokushima, a bookstore that had a little pop-up for an anime Miura-kun likes. So we shopped around for a while, then stopped to see a movie, then went to an izakaya to drink a bit."

"Did you drink a lot?" He says, gentle as he holds you "You're gonna get a migraine."

"I had 2 mixed drinks. They had shochu in them but it wasn't very strong. Some water will sober me up." You pause inbetween your words, brows furrowing "What happened with the set list?"

"I was lying," Akito admits without thinking twice. You look surprised and he laughs "I just wanted us to be alone."

You tug on the lapel of his jacket weakly "I said I'd put some distance between us if it made you uncomfortable."

"It's not that," And it's true. Akito just really, really needed to be with you alone for a while "I was getting grilled earlier."

"From who?'

Akito rolls his eyes "Who else but Toya?"

You giggle.

"What was he grilling you about?"

"...You," Akito answers after some time "Us."

A beat of silence passes.

"Were you really thinking about breaking up?"

You look a little startled before looking away and something in him is crushed.

"Is that what he told you?"

"It's what it sounded like," Akito replies back. He reaches for your hand and squeezes it "Do you?"

"It's not that I want to,"

"Then what is it?"

'We're gonna go around in circles again," You say through a wet-laugh, like you're already gonna cry again. Akito fucked up bad. He brings your free hand up to his lips, kissing your knuckles gently.

"We wont this time, swear."

"I know it's just work to you. It doesn't bother me all the time, either - like sometimes it doesn't bug me at all. But then, it's like, if I can't handle this much, maybe we should break up," You explain carefully and slowly, not trying to be too harsh at any point "I don't want to resent you or get in the way of your career, y'know. I know you're not gonna cheat on me. I'm a little insecure about it, but tough shit you know?"

"What do you mean?"

"It just...I dunno. It feels bad to watch you flirt with your fans, but if it's work for you than that makes it a me problem right?" You say thoughtfully, a sad but gentle look in your eyes "I don't know if I can handle that. So maybe, it's better to nip it in the bud now before things get serious."

"Aren't they serious already?"

"Yeah, but it's not like we're married. Or public. Like this, it's a normal break-up. It'll be awkward for a bit. But we get through it and things go back to how they were."

"It sounds like you don't take this seriously." Akito says, accusatory. You sigh and shake your head.

"That's not true at all. If you mattered to me in any less, it might be easier. Like if I loved you just a bit less, I could come up with a better solution," You hum. Akito believes it more than anything, that you love him. Even knowing doesn't make everything better "I love you and I know that your career is the most important thing to you. I would never want to make you choose."

"So what? You just cut yourself out of the equation so I don't have to?"

Where Akito expects you to disagree, you laugh and nod your head.

"Yeah. At least we'd be on good terms that way."

Akito stares at you in disbelief. He's partially angry, and partially devastated. He knows what you're saying, and it makes sense rationally. Logically at least. It's a problem with no good outcomes, like if there's already a stalemate - whose to say things will get better. It's in character for you to think like that. Where Akito is hard-headed and passionate, you're calm and analytical. To overthink to such an extent, to think so seriously about your futures. Both Akito's future and yours.

But it's not what he wants. His career is important, of course it is. What he's built is important. But does that mean he has to give up on you?

When Akito reflects on it, he doesn't think your original ask was that hard to fulfill. It hurts the worst to know that. Had he heard you out properly the first time, thought about it a little more - it'd be clear that it's nothing that serious.

Nothing worth making you worry over. Nothing worth making you question your entire relationship over.

But he didn't do that the first time, and now he's stuck listening to you think of all the ways things could go worse from here. It's his fault, really, for not thinking about it. He's always been this way about his career.

"You've been thinking about this a lot." He says first, almost paralyzed. You laugh humorlessly.

"I was going to wait until tour was over to talk about it."

"...Cause you were worried about how I'd perform."

"You're an important part of my salary," You joke, trying to lighten the mood.

"...Man this feels like shit,"

"Sorry."

"No, not it's not that. It's not your fault."

"It's not yours either."

"But it is," He says, exasperated with himself "If I would've just fucking... heard you out a few months ago. You wouldn't have been thinking about all this. If I had just done something then,"

"I don't see it like that, Akito."

"I know but it doesn't matter, cause it's my fucking fault anyway." He looks at you seriously. Shit, he almost wants to cry. "I don't want to break-up with you. I'm really sorry."

"A-akito?"

"I'll stop flirting with the girls who come to meet us. And I'll announce our relationship after I talk with the managers a bit,"

"A-akito, you really don't have to—"

"My career, music, everything we've built so far is important to me," Akito looks at you seriously, hoping it all comes out right. That everything comes through the way he intends "But shit, so are you. You're not...less important to me than any of that."

You stay silent, like you're in disbelief.

"Really?"

"Fuck—god, yes of course. I'm sorry. I really screwed up this time. I don't want to break up. I want to be with you, for a long time. Longer than this."

"I'm gonna cry." You say with a warbly laugh.

"Don't cry," Akito mumbles, pulling you into his arms. He hears you sniffle as he tucks your face against his chest, his arms around you tightly as he comforts you "I'm sorry for being an idiot. I love you,"

He presses a kiss to your head, looking at your tear-stained face with a sigh. He leans forward, knocking your foreheads together before littering kisses along your cheeks and face until you laugh again. He finds himself smiling too, before another somber wave of emotion washes over him.

"I'm sorry for being a shithead," He says with a sigh "An called me a jackass and I can't believe I have to agree with her."

You laugh "I don't think you're a jackass."

"You totally should though," Akito says back "I was pissed off the whole day."

"Really? Why?"

"Why do you think?

You look genuinely confused for a minute before something seems to click.

"Was it because of Miura-kun?"

"Yeah. Fucking walking around so lovey-dovey, making googly eyes at you."

You smile impishly "He confessed to me earlier today."

Akito stiffens immediately.

"What?!"

"Yeah. We were in an alley and waiting for Eta-san and he just... told me outright."

"...And then what?"

You roll your eyes "Of course I accepted and now we live together, happy ever after." Your sarcasm bleeds through your words as you flick Akito's forehead "Obviously I rejected him gently and said I was seeing someone."

"And then?"

"And then he asked who, and I said and then he was silent for a while before tearing up a little." You reply thoughtful, fond smile on your face "He said he wishes he did it in highschool and I comforted him for a bit. Guy cheered up really fast,"

"Seriously?"

"Congrats on being right," You lean into Akito, wrapping your arms around his waist "He bounced back after a drink or two and it hasn't been awkward at all. He can't hide his feelings for shit so I'm sure he's fine."

"Seriously? It's over just like that?"

"He's a positive guy and he doesn't dwell on things. Kind of dopey you know? Pure-hearted to a fault, the only thing he's really smart at is music and sports."

"So he's over it? There's no way."

"I wouldn't say he's over it," You say thoughtfully "More that he just accepts things as they are. I'm not into him so that's that. But we're still friends, and that won't change any time soon. I hope that's okay."

Akito widens his eyes.

"I mean, yeah it's fine - I guess I feel better about this way but. I mean, shit."

"I thought you'd be celebrating a little more."

Akito scoffs.

"He's still gonna make those stupid heart eyes at you, just not in front of me."

"He does not do anything of the sort!"

"Oh yes he definitely does. Ask Toya if you don't trust me."

"Maybe I will." You reply, sticking your tongue out.

"Ask him when we get to our bus."

"...Is that okay? Did you ask your manager?"

He laughs again, holding you close a second time. He tilts your chin up towards him, placing a kiss on your lips.

"Don't care," He says brazenly "I need you with me tonight."

"That sounds dirty, Akito."

"Oh, it is baby," He teases, turning his voice low "Try not to be too noisy. Kohane-sans a light sleeper."

[for-yoongi0309]

BTS’ Suga Returns as Agust D to Tackle Loneliness, Humanity & Being Acknowledged

Most famously known as Suga from BTS — but also by the solo moniker Agust D, as well as birth name Min Yoongi — the artist who works as a rapper, singer, producer, dancer, fashion muse and NBA ambassador wants to remind listeners that, above all, he is a human.

“In the past — and I’ve always said this in my interviews — personally, I think loneliness is being together in modern society. I always talk about loneliness in my interviews, but regretfully, it isn’t always in the final interview. Not only me, everyone has this loneliness inside them until the moment they die. However deep you are in a relationship, how much you engage with other people, how many friends you meet, or how often you meet with your family, you always have the loneliness inside.

So, I started with this keyword of “loneliness” three years ago, and I wouldn’t say there’s much difference in that everybody can feel pain and agonized. It’s the same with me. Whether it’s me from BTS, SUGA, Min Yoongi, or Agust D, I always have that inside me too. People might see me as someone who wouldn’t have any concerns or worries or that I don’t feel any agony, but I feel those emotions too. I’m trying to find a way to fight those and overcome those too.”

Today, April 7, marks the return of Agust D, the name Suga uses when releasing solo projects away from BTS, with the new single “People Pt.2” featuring K-pop superstar IU. Not only does it mark the duo’s latest collaboration after teaming for the No. 1 hit on Billboard‘s World Digital Song Sales chart “Eight” from May 2020, it also acts as an extension from “People,” a fan-favorite cut from Agust D’s D-2 mixtape released that same month. While the original “People” saw Suga reflecting on himself and meditating on how others judge and change, Part 2 longs for connection with others. As multifaceted as Suga’s world is, loneliness is a permanent source of inspiration and intrigue for the 30-year-old. Hours before “People Pt.2” drops worldwide, his call with Billboard occurs alongside multiple international teams who work around the clock for Suga and BIGHIT MUSIC artists. Some are beside him physically, others via Zoom connection virtually — but loneliness remains a muse for the star, assisting him in searching within and speaking to listeners in larger, universal ways. Since its debut, BTS’ musical appeal has reached globally largely through the septet’s extended metaphors and imagery, translating into accessible storytelling alongside boundary-pushing compositions and choreography. Suga’s range of material is vast, after producing on essentially every BTS album, not to mention scoring high-profile collaborations with everyone from Halsey and Juice WRLD to Epik High and Japan’s ØMI. But now, he’s emphasizing the topics that move him personally — and ensuring he’s properly heard.

Despite an already packed spring and summer with album promo, his solo world tour, ambassadorship duties and a YouTube series, Suga cheekily closes out our chat “Yeah, it’s fuking busy,” he says with a wink since he has no time to waste. Read on as he narrows in on the release of “People Pt.2” and all that’s led up to this reflective pop/hip-hop collaboration.

We’re hours away from the release of “People Pt.2,” your official return as Agust D for your D-Day album. Is there a different mindset when you prepare music as Agust D versus solo or as SUGA alongside BTS?

SUGA: They’re all music made by the person called Min Yoongi. So, I don’t actually have a very different mindset for each moniker — but I would say that the purposes could be somewhat different. Ultimately, the goal of releasing this music is for as many people to listen to my music as possible. So, “People Pt.2” was made thinking about how people will receive Agust D’s music, which is why we also featured IU. It’s kind of a trial to release this music under the name Agust D. I’m actually a little bit worried.

“People Pt.2” (featuring IU) of course follows up “People” from the D-2 mixtape. What was important about continuing this story with IU?

SUGA: This is a story that you’ll personally love: The title wasn’t originally “People Pt.2.” Actually, “People��� from D-2 is personally my favorite song — and we actually worked on “People Pt.2” three years ago. When I was releasing my pictorial [Photo-Folio Wholly or Whole Me] photo shoot, the company actually revealed the guide [demo] version and gave a glimpse of it to the public. But anyway, it was already finished when we were working on D-2 so I was thinking, “Oh, I should release this, I should release this.” But we had to get on with “Butter” and “Dynamite” so we didn’t get the chance. Originally, the title was “Sara (사라),” without the “M (ㅁ)” consonant in Korean — because that’s, like, one consonant less than the word “saram (사람),” which is Korean for “people.” Depending on whichever consonant you put at the end of the word sara (사라), it can become “saram (사람)” and “people,” or it can become “sarang 사랑,” or “love” in Korean. So, it’s the listener’s choice to put which consonant you want at the end of “sara” (사라). But I had my friend listen to this song and people heard it as “sal-ah (살아)” which kind of means “live” in Korean and I was like, “This is not going to work.” So, we finalized the title to be “People” in the end. And some people call me August D, some people call me Ah-gust D, but I’m actually Agust D. So, you know, people take my name differently and we had to sync the person SUGA and Agust D. This is a song that kind of matches that sync. We need that bridge and sync between my mixtape and this official solo album. In order to put that sync together, I had to make this a very pop song. We didn’t try to make the music video that intense — and, in that sense, IU really played an important role in doing that. I also think this is a genre that I can do best, this pop-focused song.

There’s this sync between songs, but the themes and lyrics are very different, right? “People” was self-reflective and examined other people’s judgments, but “People Pt.2” seems more about connection and fighting loneliness. What most differentiates the two in your mind?

SUGA: In the past — and I’ve always said this in my interviews — personally, I think loneliness is being together in modern society. I always talk about loneliness in my interviews, but regretfully, it isn’t always in the final interview. Not only me, everyone has this loneliness inside them until the moment they die. However deep you are in a relationship, how much you engage with other people, how many friends you meet, or how often you meet with your family, you always have the loneliness inside. So, I started with this keyword of “loneliness” three years ago, and I wouldn’t say there’s much difference in that everybody can feel pain and agonized. It’s the same with me. Whether it’s me from BTS, SUGA, Min Yoongi, or Agust D, I always have that inside me too. People might see me as someone who wouldn’t have any concerns or worries or that I don’t feel any agony, but I feel those emotions too. I’m trying to find a way to fight those and overcome those too. This album doesn’t really finalize everything in its message either. So, there might be a possibility there could be a “Part 3” later on. For now, we’re just trying to say, “Let’s not hate each other. Let’s find a way.”

I like that — because even in the Road to D-Day documentary trailer, there’s a moment you say you frequently consider quitting music. But when people come together, it makes you realize you can do it and have fun. Does this tie into themes of “People Pt.2”?

SUGA: This is kind of a difficult topic, because I started making music and writing lyrics [when] I was 11 or 12 years old. I’ve been making music for all these years, and now I’m 30. It wasn’t easy writing “People Pt.2,” and the album overall, but people really don’t know the whole process of that. Even though I’d been making music more than half of my life — and I’m just saying this because you understand this, Jeff — when we first started in the K-pop scene, we were in this ambiguous position of not being accepted as musicians and not being accepted as idols either. But the musicians close to me know that I’m very serious and sincere in music and that I’m a very natural person. So, the documentary started as I just wanted to capture and show this process. It started with the purpose of showing SUGA as a producer and songwriter, but it kind of ended up having the worldview of an album-making process. I tried to show the normal, individual side of me as much as possible, but as I am a Korean idol, or K-idol, a lot of scenes were edited out; there were more of those natural scenes and some very good scenes that couldn’t make it in the final version. The documentary and “People Pt.2” try to reveal the natural side of the human Min Yoongi. I just wanted to show that I am this humane person. I am just a human.

You need to release your “Director’s Cut” one day. While D-Day and the documentary are coming, I want to congratulate you on the worldwide release of D-2 and Agust D this week. My favorite song, “Agust D” with the sample of “It’s a Man’s Man’s Man’s World,” was finally added to streaming too. You shared how J. Cole approved BTS’ “Born Singer” sample, what can you share about the process with James Brown‘s estate?

SUGA: I released Agust D when I was still very young, so, even as I listen to it now, it kind of sounds immature — if you listen to the tone, the rap itself wasn’t very organized, I wanted to do a lot of things at that time. It just kind of keeps going very tightly and quickly. But after doing so much various and diverse music, I think that people love the songs that have been released more recently than the songs that were released back then. So, I kind of dare say that people are starting to recognize and acknowledge these songs now. Since the musician actually passed away, I think it was the family who decided to acknowledge it. Same thing with [clearing] “Born Sinner” — and I don’t know what the path was for the musician themselves, but it was clear. And I take it as that I, as BTS, and Min Yoongi, and SUGA, and Agust D, was acknowledged as a musician. I’m really not thinking that broader consumers or audiences will accept it, because it’s not really popular music. Still, I would dare assume that it’s getting cleared because we’re finally getting recognized as musicians.

Interviewer: Jeff Benjamin at billboard

[missmagooglie]

I suddenly need to know what dsau stands for

It stands for dom/sub AU 😂

As in, an AU where being dominant or submissive is like a biological trait, and Buck's a sub who's never been properly dominated.

Bobby hires a dominant (Eddie) in a last ditch effort to get Buck's wild and reckless behavior under control before Bobby's forced to fire him.

Buck's shaking a little as he takes a seat in Bobby's office. He knows he's blown through one "last chance" too many – it was clear in the fury on Bobby's face when he caught Buck up on the roof with his pants around his ankles and a girl on his lap.

Bobby follows him in and shuts the door. The livid anger from the roof has melted into a disappointed weariness that makes Buck's stomach churn with guilt.

"This isn't working, Buck," Bobby says. "This reckless behavior of yours, it's not just bad for you. It's gotten to the point where you're becoming a liability for the whole house."

"Bobby, I'm sorry–"

Bobby holds up a hand to stop him before he can continue apologizing.

"I know that you're sorry, Buck. But I don't need you to be sorry. I need your behavior to change, and no matter how many warnings I give you, that just isn't happening." Bobby sighs, and sinks down into the chair next to Buck rather than circling around to sit behind his desk. "The 118 is more than just a team, Buck. We're a family. And as the head of that family, I have to make decisions that are best for all of us. I've talked to the chief about our situation, and he's agreed to extend our budget so we can hire an additional firefighter for the team."

Buck's confused. "Another firefighter? What do we need them for?"

"I'm hiring a dominant, Buck. And the two of you will be matched," Bobby says.

"What? Bobby, no!" Buck begs, kneeling in supplication at Bobby's feet. "Please, you don't need to match me. I can be good. Please, Bobby, I can be so good. I can doing without being claimed, I swear –"

"Buck, this has already gone on for too long," Bobby says. "If you want to stay with the 118, then I need you to get trained. Properly."

Buck whines and lays his head in Bobby's lap. "Can't you do it? I'll try harder, Bobby, I swear."

"I've been trying, kid. It hasn't stuck," Bobby says, letting a soothing hand drop to Buck's head and comb slowly through his curls. Buck always kinda hated his hair and was forever trying to tame it with gel and sprays until he'd come to the 118 and Bobby started doing this for him after bad calls. Bobby's the first dom who's ever tried to soothe him this way, who's ever tried to actually take care of his needs as a sub.

"This isn't a punishment, alright?" Bobby continues as his fingers continue to scratch along Buck's scalp. "This will be good for you. You won't have to fight with a whole firehouse for my attention anymore. You'll have your own dom who can give you all the attention – and, let's be honest, discipline – that you need."

"I don't want a dom," Buck sniffs. He's aware that saying so makes him sound like a kid having a tantrum, but that's sort of what he feels like right now. He's never been claimed before. He's always been able to take care of himself.

"This isn't how I wanted to tell you," Bobby says. "I wanted you to meet him first. I wanted to be able to give you a choice, but," he sighs heavily, "you're forcing my hand here, kid. If you can't learn from this new dom and turn yourself around, then I'll be out of options."

Buck frowns. "What does that mean?"

Bobby brings a hand to Buck's chin and tilts his head so that Buck is meeting his eyes. "It means," Bobby says with a gentle firmness, "that if things don't work out with Eddie, I'm gonna have to fire you. You are officially out of last chances, Buck. So please, please make this one count."

[hongchenzhu]

This is part 4

Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 3.5

Also pls read the chapters in order, cause there is a lot of information in chapter leading up to this one

Also same as other chapter, if you don't like the outfit I describe then change it I don't mind, same with height the only thing that can't be changed is the eye's and hair cause they are plot related.

Also swearing

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

(Timeline might not match with the Manga)

“My logic is very simple if you are not dead by the end of this training session. Then I will make you work to death.”

WTF, who are you

Yup, that's me. You're properly wondering how I ended up in this situation? Well…

24 hours prior

“Congratulations on passing the 3rd selection. But bad news, your soccer careers are in danger of disappearing forever like worthless trash, along with Blue Lock.”

Murmurs of disbelief started among the boys

“But good work, playing against the world all-stars was quite the experience, right?” Ego display on the screen

“A lot happened since the third selection, I plan to narrow you down to five players, but… the plan has changed. The main problem is the bigshots of Japanese soccer are trying to put kibosh on Blue Lock, so I decide to send them a challenge.”

A holographic appeared on the screen.

“This means the next selection, which is done in three weeks will define the outcome of Blue Lock’s future.” Ego pushed his glasses towards his face, the light reflecting off the glass giving him a sinister look. “If you win this game, you can steal the honour of representing Japan at the U-20 World Cup.”

A series of murmurs started again “What” “No way” “For real”

“Therefore the time has come, my lumps of talents. To bring a new era.”

Small time skip - after the groups have been chosen (Cause I’m lazy 👍)

“For the first few days, you’ll have matches between each other after that you will start training, for the next two weeks.” Ego’s on the screen again telling group A what the plan is for the next three weeks “Of course, there will still be matching between to see how much you have improved.”

Isagi raised his hand.”Ego-san” “Yes, Yoichi?” “Who are we training with?”

Ego’s sadistic smile appeared on his face again “you’ll know who your trainer is when the time comes.” Shivvers were shot down the spine of people in the room, including Rin and Shindou. Just then a female appeared behind Ego “Ego, there is no need to be that harsh on them.” An elegant woman wearing a large hat came into view, with the hat obscuring her face but her straight posture exposed who she is to Isagi. ‘!!! Y/n is going to our trainer??? . . . We’re fucked,’

Another magic time skip cause I can’t be bothered writing the different matches ✌️

Day 1 of training

Everyone in team 1 was chilling, more like waiting cause ego called them into the meet room. “Hello, my diamond in the rough, how was your match? Not bad… great. Today marks the start of your training camp. And who is your t-” the screen closed

“That dame bastard, so annoying.” A new voice appeared in the room,

“Ahh” “Who?” “Ahh,” “WTF”

A Tall, white-haired female who clearly wasn't here before stood in the middle of the room. “Hello” waving her hand “I am your trainer for the next 2 weeks”

Murmurs began to start “now, to officially start this training camp, start by running 50 laps around this room”

“What?” “Do what?”

“Start now, or no dinner.” this caused people to start running. ‘I knew that would work, no one would reject not having dinner.’

“Oi, old hang you do I have to run,” Shido shouted

Y/n turned around and look at Shido through the pitch-black glasses she wears. “Because Ryusei Shido, it’s for you to get stronger.” Shido could feel her gaze through her glasses “Now get running or you’ll run another 5- laps”

Out of fear, Shido began running again, this time faster as he could feel her gaze on him almost making two holes in the back of his head.

Isagi was out of breath by lap 34 Shido was the second to finish, after Rin, and Isagi finished at number 8 and everybody slowly after that.

“Great, now that everyone is done with the warmup, I should do a little introduction.” Y/n clapped her hands as the last few finish up “I am Gojo Y/n your new trainer until the U-20 Japan match, nice to meet you” Everyone looked at her “Now, I will spend two hours each day for the next two and push you as far as you can after all” A shiver was sent down everyone’s spin… again almost like there fucked “My logic is very simple if you are not dead by the end of this training session. Then I will make you work to death.” In the sweetest voice anyone could have, but saying the most brutal thing.

And this was how most people in group 1 would die after every training.

Time skip … again

In the main presentation room, all 45 participants were present. Ego was on the stage. “When a person focuses on something, they can get so absorbed in their work they don’t realise the passing of time.” Ego’s tone was very stable and calm “taking enjoyment in the process, their brain enters a state of excitement. To put it simply, that is the ‘flow’.”

The Flow is a state of extreme focus where you are immersed in what you are doing.

“Now that Ego is done with his presentation, let me introduce you to another phenomenon called ‘curses’” Y/n stood on the stage in a black long-sleeve kind of body-hugging long dress with a long black coat, black heels and her signature black glasses. (Again if you don’t like this outfit then you can change it)

“Curses, are a race of spiritual beings created from negativity. Now everyone in this room has curse energy, but only a selected few can weld it by will.” A cart of glasses rolled toward Y/n “here, take one and passed it on.”

After everyone got a pair of glasses Y/n started talking again “Put the glasses on before we continue.” A movement of kids putting their glasses on. “These glasses have been imbued with curse energy, therefor you should be able to see the orb that I am creating.” Y/n held her hand open and a red ball appeared in her palm. “This is a form of curse energy, normally you wouldn’t be able to see it but since you are wearing the glasses it allowed you to see it. And that's what the flow is like a sudden surge of curse energy that gives you a push in what you are doing. Isagi!”

“Hai”

“Is a perfect example, he momentarily entered the state of the flow which means he had a burst of curse energy in physical strength and most importantly, the firing of neurons which allowed him to have a full spital awareness of the court.”

Yukimiya put his hand up “Yes, you”

“Y/n - san, how did you know Isagi momentarily entered the flow?”

“Yukimiya, to those who could weld curse energy at will we also have the ability to see curses, in a matter of fact if you look at the end of the room” Y/n walked off the stage while the boy’s head turned to see the back of the room. “What is that!” “That thing!” “I… want to vomit”

“This gents is a curse and as a jujutsu sorcerer, it’s my job to excoriate it.”

‘That thing’ thought Isagi ‘is similar to the one I saw in the training room’

“But like skills, different sorcerers have different ways to excoriate a curse.” Y/n walked towards the curse at the end of the room. “First grade huh,” she whispered, with a click of her finger, the head of the curse turned into a splatter with purple goo covering the corner that was trapped in. Everyone else in the room looked at her, more like her back standing tall and proud it seems like this is her everyday job.

“Now you can keep the glasses, but if you don’t want to see this creature when you are going to bed I suggest only wearing them when you are analysing your opponents.” Her glasses slid down a bit, allowing her eye to be visible. Bright blue eyes, like the reflection of the sky staring back at the player, the brightest object in this dark corner that seems to peer into the souls of the living. Unnerving and unwavering of the eyes looking back. “Right now get out and start training for the round coming up.”

Time skip to one day before the match

“Isagi, good luck on your match tomorrow” “Y/n why are you telling me this now” “Isagi, I have a mission tomorrow so I won’t be able to tell you that, I’ll try getting to the match as fast as I can after finishing off my mission, ok”

Y/n raised her hand and touched Isagi���s head, ruffling his hair “Isagi I know you can lead this team to win, you will become the star of this show.” Her bright blue eyes look into Isagi’s eyes “Because Isagi, you are similar to us. Your eye has traces of curse energy more than the average human but less than curse users, if you can somehow manipulate it at will then this will help you in the near future.” Y/n then touched Isagi’s face, her eyes began to water making her already mesmerising eyes even more ethereal.

“Wait for me Isagi, and let me see you win this match.”

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

After this is offically start of the U-20 arc the arc might be split up into different parts to make my life easier.

[evvy96]

Nightmares - Platonic!Artemis x Reader, hint of Robin x Reader

y/n=your name s/h/n=super hero name h/l=hair length h/c=hair colour e/c=eye colour

“Recognised. (S/h/n), B26. Nightwing, B01. Kid Flash, B02.”

You walked through the Zeta Tube into the living room of Mount Justice, nerves making you almost visibly shake as Nightwing called over your new team. “Team, I’d like you to meet (s/h/n). She’s going to be joining the team starting today. I’ll leave you all to get properly acquainted while I get your next mission brief from Batman, be nice.”

Everyone was silent for a few moments, not entirely sure as what to say to break the ice. Deciding it was better to just say something rather than the awkward silence, you spoke up. “Uh, hey guys. As Nightwing said, my alias is (s/h/n), but you guys can just call me (y/n). It’s… It’s nice to finally meet you all in person. I’ve been following you guys over the news for a couple years now. Really awesome work.” That seemed to have done the trick, as the team all smiled and started introducing themselves officially and, for everyone but Robin, revealed their civilian identities. A few of the team, namely Connor and Megan, were attending the school you were being transferred to starting the following week, so it was a comfort to know that you would have people to spend time with until you were comfortable in a new environment and could make your own friends. When the pleasantries were out of the way, everyone went their separate ways, and Artemis approached you to give you a tour of the mountain.

You marvelled at the structure within the mountain, making Artemis laugh whenever she caught your facial expressions. You spent an extensive amount of time checking out the training rooms, unable to resist testing out your skills against the archer in hand-to-hand combat for a few intense rounds. Artemis taught you the basics of using a bow and arrow, and then guided you to the room you would now be occupying. As you roamed over the spacious room, a whoosh sounded, and you turned to see Wally standing beside Artemis with a relaxed smile on his face, red hair slightly dishevelled. “Hey babe. Just wanted to triple check our date for tonight. Movies and ice-cream in my town yeah?” Artemis chuckled, “Yeah Wall, we’re still set for tonight. I’m just gonna make sure (y/n) is properly settled in her room then I’ll go get ready. We can leave in about an hour, kay?” “Sweet. I’ll see you in an hour, angel.” With a swift kiss to her cheek, Wally sped away, in search of a way to kill time before their date. “So, are you guys a thing, or a potential thing?” You teased, bringing forth a blush to Artemis’ cheeks. “Um, I’m not sure yet. Wally’s super sweet, when he’s not stuffing his face with junk food.” You both laughed at this. “We’ve only been on a couple dates, I think I need a little more time before I make any big decisions.” “Well, he likes you, a heap. I know I just met you and all, but I think you should give him a chance.” Artemis’ eyes widened at your words, “H-how do you know he likes me?” You chuckled softly, “Besides the kiss on the cheek and the fact that his smile nearly broke his face when you confirmed your date? His thoughts were basically screaming his joy about going out with you again. That’s one of my powers; I can hear people’s thoughts and read emotions. I can’t influence them or get into your head, but it certainly comes in handy when helping out a friend.” With that, you turned back to your room, settling your pack on the bed and lying beside it. “I think I’m gonna have a little nap, if that’s okay. Our combat training has really drained me. You go get ready for your date. Have fun.” “Thanks (y/n). I’ll see you later tonight I guess. Dinner is normally at about 7, unless we have a mission. Welcome to the team.” With a smile and a wave, Artemis shut the door behind her as she walked down the hall to her room, leaving you to turn down the covers and settle in for a short sleep.

It was dark on the side of the road, the only light being the blazing inferno that used to be your family car. It had all happened so fast. One second, you were walking towards the car to go to dinner with your parents, the next, the vehicle had exploded.

You shakily pushed yourself to your feet, holding your dislocated shoulder tenderly to your side as the sounds of sirens filled your ears and the flashing lights of police cars and an ambulance illuminated the front of your house.

Next thing you remember, you’re being dragged away from the scene. From your home, where you had grown up and spent the best days of your childhood, screaming for your mom and dad and expecting them to emerge from the flames of the car somehow unharmed and hug her and tell her everything was going to be okay.

You woke with a small shout, shooting up into a sitting position on your bed, (e/c) eyes wide, breathing heavy and heart racing.

It had been the same every night since the attack. You had hoped that moving into the tower would somehow miraculously cure you of the haunting memory, or at least stop you from reliving it every time you shut your eyes for longer than a blink, but no such luck. You had been part of the team for a good few weeks by now. You were still adjusting to not only hearing everyone’s voices in your head, but also being able to communicate back to them. You had been on a few missions, each successful, but the most recent one had left you a little on edge emotion wise.

The villain you had been facing was one no one was familiar with, yet she seemed to be very familiar with each and every member of the team, each of their strengths and weaknesses, their worst nightmares. Her powers allowed her to tap into those nightmares, leaving everyone to relive them and act them out in fear until she was ready to deal with them, one by one. You didn’t know what everyone else saw, but apparently a previous mission had allowed them to break the trance quite quickly, easily overpowering the villain as a group, before noticing you hadn’t snapped out of it yet. They listened to you shout and cry for your parents, squirming from their grasps as they tried to calm you down and wake you up. When Robin finally managed to rouse you from your dream state, you looked around to see the damage you had caused. Many members of the team were holding various parts of their bodies where apparently you had managed to get a hit in. Wally was sporting a red eye that was sure to turn black as the next week passed. You apologised profusely to each person before going silent, walking back to the Bio-Ship and sitting quietly until you returned to the mountain, slipping away to your room and locking the door and sobbing silently so no one would come to check on you.

Unbeknownst to you, the team were being filled in on your history, how you got your powers and how you came to live with the team to begin with. Everyone was saddened by the story of how you your parents had been murdered by members of the Injustice League when you were only 8 years old and spent years bouncing from Foster Home to Group Home, even at one point, being adopted only to be sent back when they couple had their own child. However, no one was as upset as Artemis. She had formed a special connection with you over the weeks since you had arrived, coming to love you like a little sister and a dear friend. She felt ashamed with herself to have not asked you about your past or why you lived with them in the first place. It had always been typical girl talk and movie marathons without anything truly meaningful discussed between you two.

After the debrief, she had made a beeline to your room, raising a hand to knock on your door before her enhanced hearing picked up on your sobs. Her heart broke at the sounds and despite the strong urge to break down your door and wrap you in her arms until your tears ceased, she decided to leave you be until you were ready to talk.

That night Artemis lay in bed, sleep evading her. Her thoughts were consumed with you were okay, and until she had spoken to you face to face and you had assured her you were okay again, she wouldn’t sleep tonight. She slipped out from under the covers, tip-toeing to your room and easing the, now unlocked, door open and peeking into your room. It was meticulously clean, not a stray piece of clothing or schoolbook in sight, but what caught her attention was your struggling form on the bed, soft whimpers escaping you as you dreamt. Your flailing intensified as she approached the edge of your bed, your limbs becoming a tangled mess beneath the sheets. Artemis rushed to your side, holding down your arms and calling out to you. “(Y/n), (y/n) come on, wake up. (Y/N)!” You shot up at her shout, breathing heavy as your eyes frantically swept the room before landing on the reason behind your disrupted nightmare. It was dead silent for a moment as you stared at each other, before the dam broke and you collapsed into her waiting arms, sobbing uncontrollably as she wrapped you into a tight hug, whispering words of comfort into your ear softly as she ran her hand through your (h/l) (h/c) hair.

When your tears had subsided and your breathing had evened out, you pulled away from the comforting embrace. “I’m sorry you had to see that. I didn’t want anyone to see me like that.” Artemis frowned, “Why? (Y/n) we’re a team, we see each other at our best AND our worst. You shouldn’t hide this side of you from us. We all care about you, and we got really scared when we couldn’t snap you out of Stormsong’s spell. We don’t care that you fought with us, or that you got a few, really REALLY impressive shots in, but what we do care about is your past. We wanted to wait until you had been with us longer to ask what happened to you, but after this morning, Batman decided it was better for us to know now. I’m so sorry we never asked you what your history was like, and we can’t believe all the crap you’ve been through. You’re so strong, we had no idea. But we’re all here for you. No matter what; whether you have a nightmare, or even if you can’t get to sleep, we’ll be there to make it all easier. You’re one of us (y/n); you’re part of our weird little family now.”

You smiled at your friend, wiping away more tears that had leaked from your eyes at her words and thanking her for everything she was doing to ensure she had a place with the Young Justice Team. The remainder of the night was spent with you telling Artemis about everything you remembered about your parents and your life before their deaths. The archer listened intently without a falter; she didn’t once feel exhaustion from the previous day seep into her system, entranced by the stories you told and letting her imagination run wild with the words you spoke.

From then on, your life with the team improved 100%. You were still plagued with nightmares, but when you awoke, you were always woken to the sight of Artemis, or, after you had entered a relationship, Robin (Tim), by your side to hug the tears and bad dreams away (and in Tim’s case, kiss). The rest of the team would do smaller thing to show their support for you. They stayed up with you having movie marathons whenever the nightmare became too much, and even let you in on their own histories and night terrors. You in turn promised to be there for them when the night became too hard to deal with, and had each and every person’s back at the slightest sign of danger on missions. Life was back on track, and you couldn’t have been happier with the way it was turning out.

[ragana62]

Fictober Recap and Updates

Well, it's officially the end of the month...

This year I have 22 completed before the month ends, which given I've been sick most of the month I'm going to say is pretty good. I also wrote for at least 4 new fandoms, which I am also here for, made a whole companion playlist, turned things into at least two spin off mini-series, and did some art for quite a few of them!

I do plan to finish the remaining fics that don't exist yet, and will update this post with links once that's happened, but for now, here's what we've got!

Ratings:

General: ❤️

Teen: 💛

Mature: 💙

Explicit: 💚

Miniseries and Ongoing Fics will be indicated with: 💘

Link to the Series

Link to the Playlist

Day 1 ❤️

It's a Team Effort

Fandom: Harry Potter

Prompt: Lost Pet Meet Cute

Song: We Are Going to Be Friends - White Stripes

Pairing: Hermione Granger & Neville Longbottom

"Hermione has never been good at making friends. But this is a new school, a fresh start, and she's very determined for things to be different this time around. Even if it seems everyone in the magical world has incredibly questionable taste in pets."

Day 2 ❤️

Just Like Riding a Bike

Fandom: Harry Potter

Prompt: "Left... Your Other Left"

Song: Bicycle Race - Queen

Pairing: Harry Potter & Hermione Granger & Ron Weasley

"It's not that he's intentionally a bit of a disaster. It's just that the whole constant murder attempts and saving the world thing left Harry with very little time for an actual childhood. But now, Voldemort is properly dead, nobody is expecting anything from him beyond the occasional photo-op or the like until September, and he's got all the time in the world to learn how to be the kid he never got to be. Why that seems to be a hell of a lot harder than fighting giant snakes and murderous lunatics, he couldn't say, but at least he's trying!"

Day 3 ❤️

Romanticizing Life

Fandom: Harry Potter

Prompt: Favorite Scent

Song: My Baby's Taking Me Home - Sparks

Pairing: Angelina Johnson

"Ever since she had that potions class on Amortentia, she’s been looking for that particular combination of smells everywhere. On every first date, every meet cute, every chance encounter, but despite searching for it every day for years she’d yet to find it. But what she had found was almost better."

Day 4 ❤️

The Night Market

Fandom: House of the Dragon

Prompt: Market Day

Song: Thick as Thieves - Kasabian

Pairing: Rhaenyra Targaryen x Alicent Hightower

"Everyone else is excited for tomorrow's joust, but Rhaenyra is more excited for the market tonight. Officially, that's because she still needs a gift for her soon to be arriving little sister (and it will be a sister, she's determined), but if it also happens to be the perfect excuse to convince her favorite to escape the castle with her for a moment before everything is consumed with the tourney and the new baby, well, all the better."

Day 5 ❤️

Between a Rock and a Hard Place

Fandom: Harry Potter

Prompt: Gravestone

Song: Two Coffins - Against Me

Pairing: Harry Potter x Luna Lovegood, Harry Potter & James Potter & Lily Evans Potter

"It was an odd habit, he’d be the first to admit it. But who else was he supposed to talk to about these sorts of things?"

Day 6 💛

It's Like the Internet, Only in Person and With Candy

Fandom: Harry Potter

Prompt: Mistaken Identity

Song: Sexy - Mean Girls on Broadway

Pairing: Percy Weasley x Oliver Wood

"Maybe muggles were onto something with these whimsical masquerade parties. He could be anyone here, anything too, and they’d never know better. Something about that felt almost, relaxing in a way."

Day 7 ❤️

This is Our Get Along Sweater

Fandom: Harry Potter

Prompt: Hoodie Weather

Song: Get Over It - OK Go

Pairing: Hermione Granger x Fred Weasley x George Weasely, Hermione Granger & Harry Potter & Ron Weasley

"Harry and Ron both might have points, but the better one was that they needed to get over this little spat or nobody in the whole of Grimmauld Place was going to get any sleep."

Day 8 ❤️

Banned Books

Fandom: Harry Potter

Prompt: Getting Revenge

Song: All My Life - Cruel Youth

Pairing: Hermione Granger x Fred Weasley x George Weasely

"It was bad enough that Harry and Ron were still constantly bickering. Getting her banned from the library over it was another matter entirely, one that Hermione was hardly inclined to take lying down. How fortunate it was that she'd clearly picked up a few new companions who were more than happy to help her sort the matter out to her satisfaction."

Day 9 💛

Champagne Problems

Fandom: Harry Potter

Prompt: "Don't Do That!" "But..."

Song: You Stupid Bitch (feat. Rachel Bloom) - Crazy Ex-Girlfriend

Pairing: Sirius Black & James Potter, James Potter x Lily Evans Potter

"When you thought about it, really thought about it, it wasn’t really fair that all the big parties and accomplishments after your 17th birthday and graduation were so focused on settling down. And like sure, it was his best mate who was engaged, and Lily wasn’t a completely terrible choice if he was going to lose his partner in crime to someone, but it was the principle of the matter, and the principle of the matter was Sirius Black was feeling left behind. And very very drunk."

Day 10 ❤️

The Claw

Fandom: Harry Potter

Prompt: Bet, Game, Contest

Song: Cabinet Man - Lemon Demon

Pairing: Lavender Brown x Ron Weasley, Lavender Brown x Hermione Granger

"Hermione had sworn off being Ron's keeper after the war, which was probably why he had somehow forgotten he was meant to be at a date tonight with Lavender. A really genuinely terrible date, actually. Just because she wasn't managing him anymore, that didn't mean she couldn't still honor girl code and usurp his failed attempt at winning back his ex though, right?"

Day 11 ❤️

The Westview Gardening Club

Fandom: Agatha All Along

Prompt: Ingredients & Spells

Song: Spellwork - Austra

Pairing: Agatha Harkness x Rio Vidal, Coven Vibes

"If Wanda's boy wanted to play games, then Agatha could play with the best of them. Just as soon as she figured out how to get out of this damn tunnel, ideally without her ex-girlfriend overcomplicating matters further by telling her quasi-coven all their dirty little secrets at once. And, apparently, figured out how to give Mrs. Hart or whatever her name was, a taste of magic herself seeing as green witch or not she clearly was the greenest thumb they had."

Day 12 ❤️

Picking Up the Pieces

Fandom: Harry Potter

Prompt: "This is Spooky" "Really?"

Song: Fantasy - Lush

Pairing: Lavender Brown x Hermione Granger

"Sure, crashing and salvaging the date had been purely for altruistic motives. But, if Ron was so determined to drop the ball, why shouldn't Hermione take full advantage to get the girl after all?"

Day 13 💙💘

Dreams of Morning

Fandom: House of the Dragon

Prompt: Attic, Cellar, Hidden Room

Song: Pink Pony Club - Chappell Roan

Pairing: Helaena Targaryen x Rhaena Targaryen, others will be included

"For much of her life Rhaena has never quite felt like enough, not for her father, not for her step mother, and not for a dragon of her own. Helaena has spent most of her life knowing she was not what everyone wanted her to be. What if they were exactly what the other needed?"

Day 14 ❤️

You Have Witchcraft in Your Lips

Fandom: Agatha All Along

Prompt: Mundane AU

Song: Fast Girls - Sarge

Pairing: Agatha Harkness x Rio Vidal, Lilia Calderu x Sharon Davis

"People came to West View University for a bunch of reasons. Small class sizes, the ability to attract genuinely world class professors on the promise of leaving them alone and not forcing them to publish on shit they didn't want to, a shockingly good hockey team for being a small liberal arts school, all of them were valid. But they all stayed for the same reason. Sure, every school had a tradition or two, but none were nearly as good as the annual post-finals performances of the West View Questionably Accurate Shakespeare Society."

Day 15 💚

For Your Health

Fandom: Doctor Odyssey

Prompt: "What are you wearing?" "It's Laundry Day."

Song: Favorite - Liz Phair

Pairing: Tristan Silva x Avery Morgan

"Avery's been stressed for weeks, more than usual even. Tristan is of course more than happy to help with that, particularly after a middle of the night emergency has her curious enough to ask."

Day 16 💛

Magic for Dummies

Fandom: Fate: The Winx Saga

Prompt: "Yes, No, Maybe"

Song: Come Home - Willow (feat. Ayla Tesler-Mabe)

Pairing: Farah Dowling x Saul Silva

"Magic wasn't exactly his area of expertise, but then again it wasn't exactly the first world's area of expertise either. Lucky then, that Farah is magical enough to more than make up for it."

Day 17 *Coming Soon* 💚

No New Intentions

Fandom: Harry Potter

Prompt: Only One Bed

Song: Number 1 - Goldfrapp

Pairing: Kingsley Shacklebolt x Hermione Granger

"She was there under false pretenses, their friends had clearly misunderstood even worse, but when in a very nice hotel suite you didn't have to pay for, why not make the most of it?"

Day 18 *Coming Soon* 💛

So What Does That Make Us?

Fandom: Harry Potter

Prompt: Bewitching

Song: So Into You - B*Witched

Pairing: Hermione Granger x Fred Weasley x George Weasley

"Two weeks had never flown by so fast, but now that things were set to return to some form of normal, where exactly did that leave things between Hermione, Fred, and George?"

Day 19 ❤️

Threads of Fate

Fandom: House of the Dragon

Prompt: Yarn

Song: Chains of Love - Erasure

Pairing: Helaena Targaryen x Aemond Targaryen

"He was the only one in this family who seemed to understand his job, much less do it with any consistency. Aegon and Helaena were the two getting married today, and yet Aegon was still missing, and Helaena was sitting on the ground and making a mess of herself while muttering nonsense. But if it wasn't entirely nonsense that had her so unsettled this morning, how exactly was Aemond meant to protect his family from something that seemed so inevitable?"

Day 20 ❤️

It's Easy When You Mean It

Fandom: Rosaline

Prompt: "Written but Never Sent"

Song: All the Words We Don't Say - Hiatus Kaiyote

Pairing: Rosaline Capulet x Dario Penza

"He was annoying, weirdly fixated on his boat, always thought he was right, didn't know when to shut up, and frustratingly persistent. By all accounts, Dario Penza was her father's worst pick yet. But he did tend to make himself useful, and it was nice to talk to someone who actually talked to her instead of at her even if it was more often than not just to throw a one liner of his own back at her…"

Day 21 ❤️

The Red Queen

Fandom: House of the Dragon

Prompt: Bonfire

Song: Venus - Shocking Blue

Pairing: Rhaenys Targaryen x Corlys Velaryon

"After such a long voyage, all Corlys wants is to set foot on familiar shores, at least for a moment before setting his sights on a new adventure. As it happens, his next adventure means to find him before he can even make it to port."

Day 22💙💘

Courtly Love

Fandom: House of the Dragon

Prompt: Heirloom

Song: Knights in Shining Karma - XTC

Pairing: Alicent Hightower x Rhaenys Targaryen, Alicent Hightower x Corlys Velaryon, Rhaenys Targaryen x Corlys Velaryon

"She had always been the sentimental sort, ever since her father had brought her to the unfamiliarity of the Red Keep and told her to make friends with the princess. Anything that reminded her of home, of the peace she’d known before all was consumed by her father’s ambition and her duty was nearly sacred, none more so than her Mother’s necklace, the last thing she had to remember her by. And now, that too was gone. In her favorite books, this would be the moment a brave and handsome knight would ride in to rescue her, to battle beast and warrior alike to see it returned. But Alicent was not living in one of her stories."

Day 23 ❤️

Bad Dog

Fandom: Harry Potter

Prompt: Stormy Night

Song: I Was a Teenage Werewolf - The Cramps

Pairing: Remus Lupin & Lily Evans Potter, Remus Lupin x Sirius Black

"Everyone always talks about heightened senses like they're some sort of superpower. For Remus, they've always felt more like a recipe for guaranteed headaches, and never more than during a storm. Over the years, he's come up with his own means of managing it, but when his boyfriend gets a little too excited trying to demonstrate his new trick, that goes right out the window, and he's left improvising."

Day 24 *Coming Soon* 💚

Eat, You'll Feel Better

Fandom: Doctor Odyssey

Prompt: Comfort Food

Song: Bad Wine and Lemon Cake - The Jane Austin Arguement

Pairing: Tristan Silva x Vivian Montgomery

"It's been a very long day, full of very high maintenance passengers, doing unreasonably stupid things to themselves. All Tristan wants to do is fall asleep, ideally in a bed somewhere, but anywhere will do. Too bad tonight is supposed to be his first proper date with Vivian, and he'd decidedly made other plans for what to do in that bed that are going to have to be adjusted."

Day 25 ❤️

Monsters, Ghosts, and Ghouls

Fandom: Harry Potter

Prompt: Haunted House

Song: Punk House of Horror - Teenage Bottlerocket

Pairing: Harry Potter x Ginny Weasley

"Harry had insisted on sending the kids to muggle primary school for a reason, and though the Fall Fun Fair and other nonsense events weren't that reason, seeing his wife's responses to what muggles considered scary certainly was an unexpected perk."

Day 26 *Coming Soon* 💛

Finding Family

Fandom: MCU

Prompt: "I can't find it."

Song: Can't Hardly Wait - The Replacements

Pairing: Wanda Maximoff x Natasha Romanoff

"She hasn't been an Avenger nearly long enough to be losing things around the tower, nowhere near long enough to be asking the others for help after what she did. That doesn't change the fact that her last reminder of her brother is gone."

Day 27 ❤️

Outside Looking In

Fandom: Harry Potter

Prompt: Afternoon Stroll

Song: L.E.S. Artistes - Santigold

Pairing: Hermione Granger x Percy Weasley

"War has a funny way of clarifying all the complicated bits of life. The people, the places, the things, that mattered, and what the price one was willing to pay for it, all of it became so much simpler when it had to be condensed to one bag and whatever few meetings you could sneak around all the running, hiding and fighting. But then again, both Hermione and Percy had always been good at compartmentalization, at narrowing their focus. Maybe that was why the same war that had everyone else scattering had pulled them back together."

Day 28 *Coming Soon* 💙💘

How the Other Half Lives

Fandom: House of the Dragon

Prompt: Lucky Charm

Song: All Tomorrow's Parties - Rasputina

Pairing: Alicent Hightower x Rhaenys Targaryen, Alicent Hightower x Corlys Velaryon, Rhaenys Targaryen x Corlys Velaryon

"If asked, Rhaenys couldn't have said what made her feel so protectively towards the daughter of the man she hated so much, or what had made her act as she had the night Aemma died. What she does know, is that things have not changed much since she was the girl of fifteen walking the halls of the Red Keep, and that is not a good thing. When unfavorable events conspire to bring that girl, and her niece, to her door once again, she knows what must be done."

Day 29 *Coming Soon*❤️💘

Angry Makes Me a Modern Girl

Fandom: Harry Potter

Prompt: Time Capsule

Song: Modern Girl - Sleater Kinney

Pairing: Lavender Brown x Hermione Granger

"There's nothing else to really do, is there? Moving on always requires a proper girls night, burning the memories you don't want to keep, ideally over a glass of cheap wine. Moving on together, though, has it's own rules."

Day 30 *Coming Soon*💚

Just Some Lover

Fandom: House of the Dragon

Prompt: "Forever"

Song: Love is a Lazerquest - Arctic Monkeys

Pairing: Rhaenys Targaryen x Corlys Velaryon

"It hadn’t been that long, since they had last seen one another. Not in the grand scheme of their thirty year marriage, at least. Somehow, this time three weeks seemed longer than thirty years."

Day 31 *Coming Soon*❤️

Wishful Thinking

Fandom: Harry Potter

Prompt: Make a Wish

Song: Man on the Moon - Sugar

Pairing: Neville Longbottom x Luna Lovegood

"Blown dandelion tufts, burnt bay leaves, shooting stars, watched clocks for 11:11, it was all well and good, but it wasn’t getting her what she wanted. She needed something stronger if she was going to make her wish come true."

[grantgoddard]

Sacked by a boss desperate to steal my success : 1991 : Gordon McNamee, KISS 100 FM, London

 It was a little after seven o’clock in the morning when the phone rang. Normally, I would already have been out of bed by that hour on a weekday. However, the previous night’s ‘DJ meeting’ [open to all 44 KISS FM presenters] had tired me out. I was awake, but I was still trying to urge my body to get out of bed. The mobile phone stationed beside my bed rang noisily and forced my brain into action far faster than it wanted.

It was [KISS FM personal assistant to managing director] Rosee Laurence on the line, asking if I could schedule a meeting that morning with [KISS FM managing director] Gordon McNamee. I scrambled out of bed to retrieve my diary from the battered ‘WH Smith’ black plastic briefcase I always took to work. Requests for meetings at such short notice were common although, during the last few days, McNamee had had no contact with me. Laurence suggested ten o’clock. I explained that I already had an editorial meeting [of my programming department] scheduled for half past ten, but I could fit it in as long as the meeting was not going to last too long. She assured me that it would not. I scribbled “10am – Gordon” in my diary, replaced the mobile phone in its charger and got on with the business of waking up properly.

My diary told me that I had two further meetings that afternoon – a weekly sponsorship get-together at one o’clock with [KISS FM finance director] Martin Strivens and the sponsorship manager, Gordon Drummond, followed by a debriefing session in the boardroom at three o’clock with KISS FM’s partners in the Pepsi promotion. During the drive from my flat to the office, I reflected on the possible reason for the early morning phone call. Was McNamee going to tell me what had happened at the previous day’s board meeting? Was he going to pretend that nothing untoward had happened and that the board had approved all his [unachievable] targets for Year Two?

I was already running late when I became caught up in the worst of the rush-hour traffic along Holloway Road. Although my work day officially started at half past nine, I liked to arrive at work earlier so that I could snatch a little time to myself before the inevitable mayhem started in the department. However, that day, there was only time to down a quick cup of tea before walking up to the top floor in time for my ten o’clock appointment. Gordon McNamee was sat in his corner office when Laurence ushered me in. After exchanging morning greetings, I sat facing McNamee across his huge wooden desk. He shuffled from side to side in his chair a few times, avoiding looking directly into my eyes, and he sighed unusually heavily. Several times, he looked up at me as if he was going to say something, but then stopped short.

I stared at him blankly, not knowing what to expect. Eventually, he started mumbling something apologetically, but still he was making little sense. I knew then that McNamee had bad news to break to me. He had always been excellent at whipping his team into a frenzy of enthusiasm when something good was happening, but he was almost incapable of breaking negative news to anyone. He started speaking slowly and managed to explain that he had been “extremely vexed” by the memo I had delivered to him two days earlier. ‘Vexed’ was one of McNamee’s favourite words to use in situations when somebody had done something that displeased him. Anyone else might have been angry, but McNamee was always ‘vexed.’

As he reflected upon the contents of my memo and how ‘vexed’ it had made him, McNamee seemed better able to talk to me directly and to break the bad news. He explained that the board had met the previous afternoon and had decided that the company no longer needed my services. He muttered something about this being the hardest thing he had ever had to do and how he regretted the decision, but I was barely listening to his words. Instead, I was thinking how cowardly was this man sitting in front of me. I was thinking that, even now, he had no intention of telling me the truth of what had taken place at the board meeting, or how he had probably acted to save his own skin. What I wanted to know was what he had told the board about my dissent and what he had told the board of my contributions to the station’s success.

But there seemed little point in saying anything at all to the cowering figure sat in front of me, with whom I had worked so closely for more than two years. I got up to leave the room. McNamee had failed to deliver my promised rewards on so many occasions that I did not need to hear another fabricated story about why I was not getting things to which I felt I was entitled. As I left his office, McNamee said that it would be necessary for me to leave the building immediately, and he thrust some documents into my hand. I walked straight out of his office, shocked that, even at this stage in our relationship, McNamee was still incapable of telling me truthfully why I had to go.

Before I could reach the staircase to return to my office, McNamee had caught up with me and was asking me to stop. For a second, I felt as if I should ignore him totally and just carry on walking, but I turned towards him at the very top of the building’s stairwell.

“We could say that you had resigned, to make it easier for you, if you wanted,” McNamee suggested to me.

I stared at him coldly with a combination of anger and hatred that I could feel welling up inside me.

“Gordon, that’s a fucking insult,” I spat at him. Then I turned and walked down the staircase leading to my office on the next floor.

I was incensed. After all the sweat, blood and toil I had poured into this company. After all the personal sacrifices I had made to ensure that KISS FM succeeded. After my hard work had produced the required results more quickly than had ever been anticipated. Now, I was being asked to resign from a job in which I had achieved nothing but success. McNamee’s cheek to even suggest such a thing had made me really angry. I was in a rage as I stormed into my office. The programming floor was starting to fill up, as staff trickled into work. My first thought was the speed with which McNamee had insisted I must leave the station. Rather than suffer the indignity of being forcibly removed from the building by the station’s security guard, I started to pack up my possessions.

[KISS FM head of music] Lindsay Wesker caught my attention as he walked onto the floor from the staircase. He was one of my senior team members, so I felt I should break the bad news to him personally. The only private place I could think of to talk was the men’s toilet in the stairwell of the floor, so we crowded into the tiny cubicle.

“I’ve just been sacked,” I said to Wesker, “and I’ve been told to leave the building immediately.”

Wesker looked thoughtful, but did not seem particularly shocked. I suddenly understood that Wesker must have been the only member of my team to know what was going to happen to me, before I did.

“Just as you’ve said before,” said Wesker calmly, “it’s always the programming department that gets the chop.”

These were the very words I had shared with Wesker more than a year earlier, during the first programme planning meeting I had convened at [former KISS FM office] Blackstock Mews. Wesker had mulled over my words carefully then and, now, I realised why he had found those words so interesting. In Wesker’s eyes, he had got rid of me at last. I exited the men’s toilet without saying another word.

Having received no sympathy from Wesker for my predicament, I walked back to my office and continued assembling my personal effects. I had spent far more of my waking hours in that building during the last year than I had at home, so many of my own possessions were intermingled with that of the company. There was the portable television I had brought to the office when the Gulf War had started, there was a portable cassette player I used, the records I had used to make station jingles, and unread magazines that were cluttering the floor. These were all mine. I started gathering them together into a manageable pile to take away with me. Other staff on the floor noticed me through the clear plastic partition of my office and started to wonder what was going on.

I told Philippa Unwin, who had worked with me closely as the department administrator since the Blackstock Mews days, what had just happened to me. She became visibly upset. As I told other members of my team, they stood around the floor in disbelief and shock.

[KISS FM head of talks] Lorna Clarke said to me: “They can’t sack you just like that. You’re the only one who knows how this whole station works.”

I felt pressured by the urgency to get out quickly, so I started carrying boxes of my things down three flights of stairs to put in my company car parked at the back of the building. I suddenly realised that my hasty and unexpected departure from KISS FM could be explained away to the staff on any pretext, unless I could make some kind of statement myself. The memo that had ‘vexed’ Gordon so much had recorded all the significant events of the previous week, as well as having stated my unambiguous position on wanting KISS FM to adopt a realistic strategy for its future.

After less than a year on-air, one of the staff’s major criticisms was the lack of information about company decisions that trickled down to them from the senior management. Only those staff working most closely with me in the programming department understood that I was just as ill-informed about what was going on at board level as everybody else was in the building. Using a Prit-Stick from the top drawer of my desk, I glued a copy of my memo to Gordon McNamee onto the clear plastic partition of my office. My room opened onto the floor’s entrance lobby and the partition could be seen by everyone passing through the department. Alongside the memo, I glued the document detailing the programming policy changes I had been ordered by McNamee to devise.

While I continued to gather together my possessions, staff in the department started to read my two memos, all the while expressing outrage that my dismissal could be so abrupt. Then, Wesker burst into my office and handed me a sheet of ledger paper.

“Rosee [Laurence] upstairs says these things are KISS property which you have to give back before you go,” said Lindsay sheepishly.

Inscribed in red ink was a list:

“1) security tag 13-92 + ID pass. 2) office & studio keys. 3) car keys.” 

It was evident that Wesker had been anticipating my dismissal and was acting as messenger boy for the management staff on the top floor who were too cowardly to talk to me directly. I snatched the piece of paper from him, but ignored it. I asked him, rhetorically, how I was expected to take home all my personal possessions without being able to use the company car?

Before leaving the station for the last time, I walked around the programming department and said my hurried goodbyes to the few staff who were already at their desks. Because the majority of my team worked shifts, there were only a few people there. In the DJs’ office, [daytime presenter] David Rodigan was sat at his desk, facing the front windows that looked out over Holloway Road. His back was towards the office door, so I had to interrupt his preparations for that day’s lunchtime show to bid him farewell. He expressed outrage at my sacking and seemed bewildered by the speed with which I was being forced to leave.

There was nothing left to do except thank everyone who was in the department for the good times we had spent together and to give many of them one last hug. Some of the staff were crying, others were visibly angry, and some did not seem to believe the events that were unfolding right in front of their eyes. Wesker was the only person who seemed unmoved by the whole scene. He was busy protesting that I had not left the company’s property that he had been given responsibility to collect. I could not have cared less.

I got into my company car, half expecting someone to rush out and stop me driving it away. But they did not, and I drove away from the station’s car park for the very last time. I had arrived at work barely two hours ago. Now, I was already on my way home again. It felt as if some ghastly mistake had happened, some chance mishap over which I had been able to exert no control. I could not believe that this would really be the very last day I ever worked at KISS FM. The traffic was much lighter on the roads, now that the rush hour was over, so I reached home within half an hour. By then, I was feeling neither upset nor angry about my dismissal. More, I was stunned that the end could have come so abruptly, and without McNamee having offered any gratitude for my significant contributions to KISS FM’s success.

[Excerpt from ‘KISS FM: From Radical Radio To Big Business: The Inside Story Of A London Pirate Radio Station’s Path To Success’ by Grant Goddard, Radio Books, 2011, 528 pages]

[Originally published at https://peoplelikeyoudontworkinradio.blogspot.com/2024/05/sacked-by-boss-so-desperate-to-steal-my.html ]

[runnersnz]

"I started running in mid 2020. I’m unsure of the exact date as it was probably going to be another short lived fitness binge. I wanted to drop weight, but in my previous fitness attempts I’d do really well, then lose motivation, get comfortable, and go back to the old ways - gradually putting the weight back on and be as bad as I was before I started. I was 106kg and although active and work/farm fit, I was struggling with health, alcohol and cigarettes. I was externally happy, but internally I was struggling to ‘get out of bed’. It was a pack of wolves at the gate wanting to take my soul. So I committed to a week of getting out the door by 6am for a run…..

I had been fit before. I had run at school with Harriers and the sprint team. I had run in my military career. But after many life challenges, my will to do these things had diminished. A very sick child, an exhausting stint of high stress roles at work, a divorce, and a resulting mid life crisis that revolved around alcohol and poor life decisions, became the mask that I wore. It’s funny what a good woman will do for a man in need, and in an effort to be a long lived husband, helpful son to a father with ill health, and to be a father setting good examples - my running journey began. Some of this of course is in hindsight, the deeper reasons of my why were to be found over the following 3 years. 

I don’t run because of trauma, but I’ve realised running soothes my unquiet mind (as it had on many occasions in the past) and allowed the stable, certain me to think. I started running on my road, Peacock Road. My road - a place and name that my grandfather once travelled with horse to the back of the farm. This was my place. It is a gravel road, 4km long, and because of that surface, required trail shoes... which to be fair I didn’t know were a thing [in my young days Bata Bullets where it - IYKYK]. The trail shoes became important later as it was the trails and trail running that I sought out. 

I lost some weight, 20kg to be precise and life got better. I moved easier, slept better, was more stable, energetic and healthy. Cigarettes were gone (properly gone, not just hidden from my wife) and alcohol consumption had all but vanished. I still enjoy a beer or whisky on occasion but my new improved self image allowed me to stop and look forward to a good sleep and a productive run in the morning. I signed up for some events, they got muddled up with lockdowns and postponement, but eventually they happened and our local parkrun started officially after months of not-parkruns. So I ran some trail events and some more. I ran some parkruns and volunteered at many more. Inspired by those around me, the RunnersNZ people I knew (all those legends know who they are, and yes the Webbers that’s you too). I found the inspiring Instagram runners who helped motivate me and I tried to be a motivation to those who participated in the Sunday run group - a run that I encouraged as personal motivation for a couple of wee challenges that I had for me. 

Why? Why did I start running? I don’t know. Why do I continue? Because I must. I choose to run; to run for fun, for challenge, for great friends, for mental health, for my son who will never know the joy, for my father who worked hard all his life and never ran for joy, for my wife to ensure I live long (but really just to keep up), for inspiring others to do hard things, easy things, fun things. To meet new people on the trails and explore the trials of life, love, loss and mental health. To reach deeper into the well of fatigue, self doubt, success and failure (my recent adventure is another story). To be the authentic me who has the capacity to deal with the challenges that life throws at me, to keep the black dog behind the fence, to help others and to seek others help. But also and most importantly to have fun, to seek out hard things, to never find my limits, for they are hidden in the cosmos. 

Do hard things, and do dangerous stuff safely."

Kendall @peacockkendall (Waipukurau) Photo taken at Lake Wakatipu – Portraits of Runners + their stories @runnersnz

[regallibellbright]

[ID: Two screenshots showing critical moments from The World Ends With You and Heaven Official's Blessing. On the left, Joshua and Neku stand across from each other in an ominous throne room, both holding guns. On the right, He Xuan and Shi Qingxuan look towards each other on a mottled red background. End ID]

So yeah, obviously this one's got context already, I don't NEED to add more. I'm doing it anyway because seriously these two. These two. Rewrite my brain forever, why don't you. This one's just under the cut for length but I felt free to go LONG.

Okay, so the thing with Joshua is that he is sketchy as hell from the moment we meet him. The World Ends With You is divided into three weeks, each with a different partner to our main protagonist Neku. We first meet Joshua in the second.

Well, we first PROPERLY meet Joshua. Sharp-eyed viewers, especially on replay, can spot him VERY briefly in the background of the scene where Neku first meets his first partner, Shiki. He's gone as soon as the cutscene showing them making a partnership is over. He has reasons for this, and a sharp-eyed viewer who DID manage to catch that at first is going to be on guard. The rest of us are on guard because when Neku goes to the statue of Hachiko, looking for a Partner, Joshua immediately waltzes in and forces a team with Neku before even introducing himself. "You seem like such a pro at this, I just... helped myself," he says afterwards. He's been watching Neku, despite the fact that Neku's supposed to be on another level of reality from the living - he's been trapped for over a week now in a purgatorial game for the dead, with the chance to come back to life for the winners.

This will be the theme of their relationship. Joshua is abrasive, smug, overly-familiar from about the word go, suspicious as hell, doesn't actually want to complete the missions they need to get through to survive in the Game, and could generally do with a punch in the face. Neku's not in a good mood, here, either - He and Shiki won last week (yesterday), but only Shiki was chosen to come back to life despite their working exclusively as a team. Worse, entering the Game for a chance to come back to life costs an entry fee that will only be returned on winning, on order of the Composer who runs the whole show. Shiki is Neku's fee this week - if he fails, he won't just be erased from existence, so will she. (When he tells this to Joshua, he gets a song on the world's tiniest violin. Actual quote.) And Shiki's really the only person he cares about, yet. When we met him, it was by him shouting, in a voiced cutscene, "Outta my face. You're blocking my view!" and declaring that he doesn't get people, never has, never will. Even the FONT for that manages to look aggressive. Getting stuck with this little shit tests Neku's nerves CONSTANTLY, and worse, it seems like Joshua's doing this on purpose. And then there's the other part.

Telling Neku he's been watching him's just the start. He seems to know details about how this game is run. And for some reason, Neku can read Joshua's mind - something players in this death game can do, but only on living people. And when Neku tries, he sees his own body, lying flat on his back in the middle of the street with a pin marking him as part of the death game falling onto him. Obvious question: What the hell does this kid know about Neku? And why does it seem like he was at the scene of Neku's death?

And YET. Simultaneously. Thanks to that week's Game Master having his own agenda, they've been left on their own for a while this week. With nothing further to do, even though Joshua doesn't want to do the game missions, he decides they're going to help some random people with their issues for the hell of it. A local ramen shop is abandoned because someone opened up a new store nearby and has an influencer shilling it? Well, why don't they see what they can do to attract new customers by giving him some inspiration? Some jerks are blocking their way to Udagawa because their microphone is missing and they want Neku and Joshua to solve it? Joshua gets surprisingly enthusiastic about playing detective, given how annoyed he usually is when his plans get delayed. He doesn't want to do the mission and play in what is essentially a Beyblade tournament with pins, but he seems to know a lot about the kids' TV show about said pin game, and we'll later find out he spent a week playing it when he had other things to do. He goes into a detailed rave over the ramen shop owner's special. And he and Neku are on surprisingly similar wavelengths:

Joshua: Everyone has their own little internal world-- a secret garden only they can enter. Each world follows its own internal logic-- individuality. And the logic of one world means nothing in another. ...Understanding other people isn't hard, Neku. It's impossible.

Neku: Yeah. (Even if I could, I wouldn't want to see inside other people. They can keep their secret gardens, thanks.)

--

With one critical difference:

Joshua: I was thinking. "Something different"... Maybe everyone in Shibuya is here searching, struggling for a peek into their neighbor's worlds. When those neighbors change, they get scared, feel they have to change themselves-- even what makes them who they are.

Neku: Right. You don't want to change, but you don't want to be left behind either.

Joshua: Of course not. We can't go through life alone. We're part of a community. We have to live by its rules. And the move we connect with people, the trickier those rules get.

Neku: Yeah, and the more people hold you back. Screw living in a world choked by rules. I'm living free. Like CAT. It's just easier on my own. Nobody else's baggage. Nobody else tying me down. ...People aren't meant to figure each other out.

Joshua: My thoughts exactly. I'd rather just get rid of them.

Neku: What?

Joshua: Same as you, Neku. Those headphones you wear say it all.

Neku: (Yeah, so what? I don't like other people. I've got no use for the next world over... so don't come barging in on mine. My own world's all I need... Unless...)

Neku might not like people, but he wouldn't go so far as to get rid of them anymore. He's starting to change. And the more he interacts with Joshua, the more he realizes that this isn't who he wants to be. He wants to get to know people by talking to them, not reading their minds, especially because the more he talks to others, the more he's starting to see they're all a lot deeper than he assumed. The gyaru girl who seems like a ditz and her surly-looking boyfriend, another player team? They're sweethearts, utterly devoted to each other, and when Neku can't save them, it hurts, even though they were technically competition. Shiki had a deep well of insecurity under the bubbly front she was trying to put on - her entry fee was her entire appearance, because her self-image issues were so messy. Another player, eventually Neku's third partner Beat, seems like a skater boy with more muscles than sense even when Neku partners with him, but he's been drowning in guilt for his sister's death and subsequent erasure - and has been keeping that in from the start, along with his insecurities from parental expectations he could never live up to. Throughout the game, no one's quite what they seemed to be on the surface, including Neku - he was introduced as an unlikable shit who you can't imagine coming to care for, but ultimately he's a pretty emotionally intuitive guy who knows how to help Shiki and Beat through their issues when they're sure it's hopeless. We the players are prime to assume, then, that Joshua's not as sketchy as we thought, maybe. And despite himself, even as he's wondering what Joshua knows, Neku still kind of likes this smug, misanthropic asshat. So do we.

The game's mentor figure, Mr. Hanekoma, knows Joshua, and explains a few details. For a start, he's been able to see the layer of reality where the game is played as a living person. That's left him pretty lonely, and could explain how he knows so many things he shouldn't... and may explain why he remembers Neku's death. Joshua has apparently decided he belongs here, not in the world of the living, and wants to take control of the Game as the Composer. (When he talks about what things were like there, he says normal life "felt like death" and that he's here because he wants to be. They don't go so far as to say outright he was suicidal, but it's obviously heavily implied even WITH the knowledge of a secret purgatorial death game, and it's one of the easiest reads of his actions as a whole through the game that he still is.) He admits he picked Neku because he saw how strong he was, who's to say he didn't kill Neku in the first place to GET a strong Partner? Especially when Neku reads his mind again and sees how Joshua got to that point - he ran into Neku holding a gun, and then Neku hears a gun go off and Joshua's gun is smoking. Neku eventually confronts him about the fact that Joshua seems to have killed him, after Joshua reveals he has mysteriously strong powers - which he claims are because he snuck into the game and is actually alive. Joshua's response to this accusation?

"Aww, Neku. You said you didn't remember! You sneaky little thing. So what if I did?... What if I am the one who killed you? You're going to do something about it?"

Neku can't. He can't get a new Partner - even if he tried, by this point in the game everyone else seems to have been killed by super-powerful monsters - and without one he's dead(er) and so is Shiki. So he struggles through the last few days thinking he's working with his murderer, and stays icily hostile to the guy.

Cue the last day of the game, where they fight the Game Master for the week and Neku suddenly gets another flash of memory. Joshua was there when he died, but so was the GM. And it looks like the GM shot first. And after they fight, he responds with a suicide attack, a massive flare that would take all three of them out. Neku thinks they're doomed, before Joshua smiles and pushes him out of the way and takes the blast instead, apparently trying to make things right with Neku after all the suspicion.

This hits Neku HARD. Even though Joshua was annoying and abrasive, he didn't deserve to die. And Neku regrets that his suspicions kept them from getting along, and made Joshua feel he had to sacrifice himself. Worse, because Joshua was in the game illegally, Neku has to play a third time, and the entry fee is "all the other Players." (He finds a loophole when a friend-turned-enemy decides that no, this whole being enemies thing sucks, and changes sides again.) With the game increasingly messed up, and the entire city falling under some kind of creepy mind control, he and Beat decide that the only thing for it is to replace the Composer and put Beat in charge. As the week progresses, they conclude that it was probably Mr. Hanekoma, who's been revealed as not just a mentor figure but Neku's idol, and who was also responsible for saving Beat back when his sister and partner got erased. We're coping with that apparent betrayal and fight the Composer's second-in-command, who seems increasingly agitated, when Joshua appears, talks to the guy like he knows him, and is promptly trapped by the guy in a last-ditch final boss fight before Neku or the players have time to ask what the hell is going on. But hey, we got attached to that little shit, too. We're happy Joshua's alive, even if we're incredibly confused at the moment. Neku wins. And we learn everything.

The second-in-command was responsible for the brainwashing, but had a reason for it: This was his last-ditch attempt to save the city from destruction by the Composer, and the whole thing was a game between them.

Since he lost, said second-in-command will be erased from existence same as any other game loser.

The Composer wasn't supposed to interfere directly, but to watch from the sidelines over a Player he'd chosen for this purpose. That Player was of course Neku.

And who's the Composer? Joshua freezes Beat and the now-returned Shiki and giggles as he says it was him all along, and Neku was his pawn for this whole "destroy the city" plan. He couldn't have won without Neku! Good job.

Oh, by the way. He never said he DIDN'T kill Neku, now did he? Here's the rest of his memory. The Game Master was aiming for him, not Neku, and trying to take his job. But Joshua took care of that by freezing the bullets in midair and promptly shot Neku. Hee hee.

(I'm not kidding here for those just tuning in who've never played it, the giggling after Neku realizes that nope, he was right the first time, Joshua killed him is literally in the game script.)

The players are reeling. The final boss was just defeated, but the entire critical context of the plot is only revealed in a twenty minute cutscene AFTERWARDS, and understanding what the hell actually happened requires a full replay to unlock a series of secret reports explaining what was going on on the sidelines. We were expecting it to be betrayal by mentor when we had the rug pulled out from under us YET AGAIN. (And he still has his own secrets, as those secret reports will detail.) Neku's reeling, too. There are so many revelations in such a short time frame. And we're ALL feeling betrayed. That sketchy first impression was right! And if anything, the situation's EVEN WORSE than we thought when it was just murder.

But Joshua is willing to let this come down to one last game. Winner gets to be the Composer. Neku knows the stakes - If Joshua wins, he's "already decided" what he'll do. So here's a gun. Joshua will count down to ten. And on zero, they shoot. He's already taken Neku's entry fee. He counts down. Neku cries and raises his gun, while Joshua's stays trained on Neku's the whole time.

And then Neku drops his gun. Joshua shoots anyway. The last thing Neku sees are Joshua and Hanekoma smiling down at him.

And then he wakes up in the street again, with no idea what the hell just happened.

And, because I can't resist adding this even though I forgot to add that reaction for Utena/Anthy and it's the reason why BOTH pairings live rent-free in my head forever how the betrayee reacts to it, we cut to a week later, as Neku reflects on what he's been through the last month. How hard it was to learn to trust people and have that trust broken. How much it's changed him into someone else. He addresses Joshua.

"I can't forgive you, but I trust you." And then he says how excited he is to have friends now, and how they're about to meet up for the first time in a week. See you there? he adds, hopefully.

And the credits roll, as the players all look at this game and realize they are never going to emotionally recover from that last twenty-minute emotional roller coaster, or the game as a whole.

Iconic Homoerotic Betrayal: Round 1

Round 1 Directory

Context for TWEWY below. Beefleaf fans, drop your summary in the reblogs.

You play as Neku Sakuraba in this video game, who is in the Reapers' Game, fighting for survival and partnering up and with amnesia. Turns out you're dead! He doesn't remember how he died. His first partner gets taken from him so he ends up partnered with Joshua for week two. He's an asshole and rude but also has hidden depth to him, and really connects with Neku (who remembers everything EXCEPT how he died, now).

At the end of week 2! Joshua dies for you! Takes a blow to save Neku's life!

And then at the end of the game he shows up a-okay and says HEY IM THE ONE WHO KILLED YOU, I PUT YOU IN THE GAME, YOU HAVE TO SHOOT AND KILL ME OR IM GOING TO DESTROY THIS CITY YOU'VE COME TO LOVE, AND ALL YOUR FRIENDS TOO, KILL ME OR I WILL RUIN EVERYTHING

(AND NEKU DOESN'T SHOOT, AND NEKU DOESN'T KILL HIM, AND JOSH CHANGES HIS MIND BECAUSE NEKU CARED ABOUT HIM ENOUGH TO SAVE *HIM* TOO)

Josh is also very flamboyant and teases neku gayly. I love them your honor

Extended summary for Josh/Neku. Excellent read:

Okay, buckle in, because we are going on a ride. Player One: Neku Sakuraba. Dead kid extraordinaire. He woke up in the Reaper's Game, a game hosted in Shibuya's Underground, or UG (essentially the afterlife, it's a plane of existence on top of the Realground, or RG, which is the plane of the living), where freshly-dead souls partner up and compete for a second chance at life, with no absolutely no memories of who or where he was, much less how he died. Still, together with his first partner, he managed to win the Reaper's Game... but was denied a second chance.

The Conductor, who runs the Game, told them that the Composer, essentially the god of the Underground, had decided only one of them could return to life, and that was his partner, so Neku re-entered the Game for a second week in a row. Enter Player Two: Yoshiya Kiryu, but Mother and Father call him Joshua and, well, he supposes Neku can call him Joshua, too, seeing as he's his dear, dear partner. Joshua is annoying, grating, the manifestation of all of Neku's worst traits, the thing he could be if he refuses to grow, and he's constantly giggling and flirting with Neku. He's definitely hiding something, and eventually admits that he's still alive, playing the Game of his own accord. His ultimate goal is to become the Composer, as whoever defeats the current one takes their place and Joshua's status as a living Player makes him significantly more powerful. Plus there's the issue of the current Game Master, who seems to have taken an interest in Neku and causes headaches whenever he's around.

Partway through the week, Neku receives a flash of memory, the memory of his death. He was shot, and Joshua was behind the trigger. This information leaves Neku in a difficult position, as he can't win the Reaper's Game without a partner, and in fact, if his partner is erased, so is he. And he needs to win because his partner the previous week was taken as his entry fee, he's playing for her and he doesn't know what will happen to her if he loses. So he has to get along with his murderer for the rest of the week. Joshua, meanwhile, gleefully dances around the subject, never quite confirming or denying whether he killed Neku, even when confronted.

On the final day, they have to defeat the Game Master in order to win, and just before the fight, Neku receives the same flash of memory as before... but this time, it continues. Joshua pulled the trigger, but Neku didn't die. He didn't shoot Neku; just behind him lurked the Game Master, holding up a gun of his own. Joshua never killed him, Neku realized. He had spent all week distrusting his partner, when all along, he had been trying to protect him. And after they defeat the Game Master in the present, he releases one last attack, one that would certainly erase both of them. But Joshua pushes Neku out of danger, taking on the full force of the attack himself, leaving Neku alone with the guilt, of his distrust having pushed Joshua to figuratively take the bullet for him.

And once again, Neku is forced to play the Game again, but this time, he teams up with his new partner to use the clues Joshua left them with to find the Composer themself and bring an end to all this. And they do! As the city falls into chaos around them, denizens of both the UG and RG falling victim to mind control that must be the Composer's doing, Neku and his partner fight until the last day, until the only thing standing between them and the Composer Himself is the Conductor. And just as the fight is about to begin, Neku hears that familiar giggle. Joshua is alive. He calls the Conductor by name. But Neku barely has time to process this, because the Conductor fuses with Joshua for one final battle. And in the rubble of that, as the Conductor teeters at the edge of erasure, he asks Joshua what will become of the city. It turns out, one month prior, the Conductor made a deal with the Composer, who thought Shibuya had become stagnant and needed to be destroyed before its negative influence spread elsewhere. The Conductor had a month to prove that the city wasn't worthless, to turn the people into something more suitable - thus the mind control. To make it fair, the Composer decided that He was going to play with a hand-picked proxy in His place. But the Conductor failed. As he dissolves, erased, Neku finally gets to ask Joshua what's going on. "Hee hee... It was me, Neku," Joshua says. "I'm Shibuya's Composer." And Neku was his proxy. Finally, he returns Neku's memory of his death in full - the Game Master raised his gun, but he wasn't aiming at Neku, he was aiming at Joshua. And every bullet he fired was frozen mid-air, until he was turned to turn tail and flee. Then Joshua turned his gun on Neku once more, and shot him.

And now, Joshua, the Composer of Shibuya, decides to give Neku one last chance. They'll have a duel, and whoever wins gets to decide the fate of Shibuya. Neku doesn't get the chance to agree or disagree; Joshua gives him a gun, and the countdown begins. 10... 9.... Joshua raises his gun, smirking. Like he doesn't care. Like their time as partners meant nothing. 8... 7... Neku cries. He just stares at the ground, gun in his hand, and cries. 6... The sorrow turns to rage, and Neku raises the gun, aiming at Joshua with shaking hands. His eyes squeezed shut. 5... 4... He can't do it. 3... 2... Despite everything Joshua has done, despite killing Neku, lying to him, manipulating him and forcing him to play his sick Game, faking his own death, forcing Neku into this situation, planning to erase the entire city... Neku can't shoot him. Joshua is his partner. And Neku trusts him. 1. He lowers the gun. BANG. A single gunshot rings out, and Neku falls to the floor. The last thing he sees as his eyes close is Joshua's smiling face.

If you got here, know that I was very tempted to put joshneku in a threeway duel with komahina and akeshu but decided to split things up a bit.

[cjsinkythoughts]

Inner Conflict

Pairing: Bucky Barnes x Avenger!Reader

Word Count: 3586

Warnings: !FATWS SPOILERS!, Cursing, Some Angst, Some Fluff, Sam and Bucky being idiots, Mentions of PTSD, Anxiety, and Depression

A/N: Here’s Part Three to my FATWS Series, which I’m making a masterlist for that you can find Here. 

Uh…it’s a little long, and I apologize for that. It doesn’t even encompass the whole second episode, only the first half, so a Part 3.5 will be coming out later today probably (it’s my day off work so I have all day to relax and write!) I tried not doing a line for line rewrite of the episode, but there are quotes from the show in here. Mostly it’s Reader’s thoughts and feelings towards what’s happening while conversations are going on around. Reader’s backstory is a bit more unfurled. It’s more action packed and more scene-for-scene of the episode than the previous two. Less emotions shared and less hurt/comfort type of thing, but that’ll be back in the next part probably along with more scenes not in the show. The next part I’m planning won’t be as long, it’ll mainly just be the Couples Therapy scene and a bit more angst with her and Sam and her and Bucky.

Because there’s four more episodes and I don’t know what’s going to happen in them, I’m kinda hesitant on spilling out exactly what is going on with the Reader and what her role was on the original team, but we’ll get there. Also, I wasn’t expecting to be writing multiple pieces for one episode, but if the other episodes are as packed as this one, prepare yourself for more parts than anticipated. We’re already on Part 3 and I’ve got Part 3.5 coming. Just bare with me as I don’t know what’s going to happen in future episodes! Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoy it! 

(Not beta’d so excuse any mistakes.)

!SPOILERS UNDER CUT!

Walking out of the shower, ruffling a towel through your hair to dry it off, you froze at the sound of the TV. A sigh left your lips. It’s all he’d been doing the last few days - watching the news. Keeping up with the tour for the new Captain America.

You peeked out of the small bedroom to find Bucky sitting on the floor, brow creased as he watched John Walker talk to the Good Morning America hostess.

“You shouldn’t be watching that.” You spoke up, leaning on the doorway, still patting your hair dry. He glanced over to you, taking in the towel wrapped around you, before looking back at the TV. Seeing you like that wasn’t anything new. “Buck, I’m serious. Brooding over it won’t make anything better.”

“What do you want me to do?”

You let out a sigh, shifting your feet and biting your lip as you thought about how to respond. “I-I haven’t figured it out yet. But obsessing over the new guy-”

“Aren’t you mad?”

You frowned at his question, his eyes meeting yours once more. “I told you already that I am.”

He tilted his head, which he did when he was confused, his eyes narrowing. “Why don’t you show it? Why aren’t you screaming or cursing or crying or something? You, of all people-”

“Because it won’t help anything, Buck.” You shook your head, pushing off the wall. “I want to. But if I let myself go down that road…” Dropping your gaze to the floor, you take a breath, collecting your thoughts. “This is such a complicated situation, James. I’m being contacted left and right for a statement on the new Captain. People trying to see my reaction. Senators trying to get me to meet with him. I can’t let myself snap. I can’t.”

He scowled. “They’re still bothering you?”

A dry chuckle escaped your lips and you nodded. “Makes me miss the days when no one knew who I was; when I was the behind-the-scenes seventh Avenger. But I made that choice to come out, and I have to deal with the consequences now. Blowing up will only-”

“Even though I never met him…he feels like a brother.”

That one statement stopped you in your tracks. Bucky’s head whipped back to the TV, his jaw ticking, his nose scrunching up.

“Did he really just say that?”

Bucky merely nodded, his chest heaving as he tried getting his breathing under control. “Feel like snapping now?”

You purse your lips as you held in the tears stinging your eyes. After composing yourself, you moved over and grabbed the remote, letting out a tiny sniffle as you did so. You tentatively touched Bucky’s shoulder, silently asking him if he needed anything from you. His response was to open his arms, so you quickly got down besides him to hold him.

“He is my brother, doll.”

“I know, Buck.” You pressed a soft kiss to his head, which rested against your bare shoulder.

Your bare knees are pressed harshly against the wooden panels of the floor, and you’re twisted awkwardly, but you couldn’t bring yourself to care. As long as he was comfortable, you would take the uncomfortable position. As long as he was being held, you would take the soreness it would leave. As long as you could help him be some sort of okay, you would take not being okay in this position.

 You two sat like that for a few more moments before your phone buzzed. You gave a sigh, pulling back and holding his cheeks in either hand. He wasn’t crying, although he was on the verge of doing so. You’d seen him cry before, so you knew he didn’t mind. For you it was a different story.

Bucky had maybe seen you cry twice since the whole Blip thing went down. And one of them was over the phone, so he didn’t see it so much as he heard it. You didn’t let yourself cry in front of him. Or anyone, for that matter. It was a part of you. The only person you ever felt comfortable enough around to cry in front of…wasn’t there. And you couldn’t change that.

“We’ll figure it out.” You told him, nodding gently and letting a small, sad smile quirk the corners of your lips up. “Okay? We’ll figure it out.”

The clench in his jaw loosened as your fingers worked circles into the hinge, making him relax and nod back. You pressed a tender kiss to his forehead before standing up, moving across the room to where your phone was on the counter. You assumed it’d be another government official or news reporter, so you were slightly shocked to see ‘Sammy’ flashing up at you.

Your eyebrows furrowed as you read his message, a slight pout forming on your face. 

“Doll?” Toned arms wrapped around you, warm and cool, his chin setting on your shoulder. “What’s wrong?”

“It’s Sam. He needs my help with something.”

“I’m coming with you.”

You turned in his arms, eyes narrowing in suspicion. “Why?”

He shrugged, licking his lips. “You might need help.”

“Bucky, you can’t go if you’re just going to yell at him.”

“I won’t.”

You studied his features. He was lying, you knew that. Of course he was going to snap at Sam for giving up the shield. He was mad and they got on each others’ nerves every chance they could find, so of course he was going to.

But you still found yourself saying yes and telling him to go pack a bag. You were never able to say no to Steve and it seemed that got passed on. What a nuisance it was.

****************

And you were so right. It was the first thing he said once Sam came into view coming down the stairs.

“You shouldn’t have given up the shield, Sam.”

“James.” You squeezed the hand he was holding, voice pleading for him not to do this right now. He huffed, stepping back to let you greet Sam properly, giving the man a hug. “Hi, Sammy.”

“It’s been a while.” Sam commented, pulling back and holding you by the shoulders. “You look good. Not that you’ve ever looked otherwise.”

You gave him a small smile. “You do too.”

“Thanks for coming. I know it’s short notice, but-”

“It’s fine, Sam. Really.” You insist.

Sam nodded, before eyeing Bucky. “Did you have to bring him?”

“Samuel-”

“This is wrong.” Bucky cut in, staring Sam down, falling into step besides him as the man started heading outside.

“James-”

“Hey, hey. Look. I’m working, all right?”

You rolled your eyes as the two started arguing, stopping your stride to take a breather. You used to joke about babysitting them, but it didn’t feel like a joke anymore and you were getting tired of it. All the bickering for no reason. The contempt they held for one another. Steve made you promise that you would look out for them, and you were trying, but they weren’t making it easy.

When you joined them again, you raised an eyebrow at the direction the conversation turned. How the hell did they get from arguing about the shield to what a wizard is?

“Ahh! Haha! A sorcerer is a wizard without a hat!”

You gave Sam a look as he babbled about how he was right. “Sorcerer Mickey has a hat. Isn’t that, like, how he gets his powers and everything?”

Bucky grinned at you. “Thank you!”

“Excuse you!” Sam scoffed, pointing an accusing finger at you. “We were having a conversation!”

“Yeah. A stupid conversation I just ended. Now I’m gonna be in the plane. Feel free to join me when you’re done being idiots.”

They both spluttered, but you were already walking away, leaving no room for arguments. As you loaded onto the plane, you spotted the Lieutenant whom Sam mentioned who had been helping him out with missions. Torres, you thought, remembering his name from a previous phone call with your friend.

“You Lieutenant Torres?” You asked, walking up to him.

He blinked, before his eyes widened, a grin appearing on his face. He seemed young, which you were perfectly okay with considering you’ve been working alongside old men for the past decade. It was always nice to work with a fresh face, which you found after you started working with Wanda and Peter.

The thought of the two youngest members made you falter, not having heard from either of them since Christmas almost six months prior, but you quickly recovered yourself, shaking away the worries you had for them.

“You’re Y/N Y/L/N! I’m a huge fan! I’ve read all your files!”

Chuckling a little, you held out your hand. “Most of those are heavily classified.”

He ducked his head with a little blush, rubbing the back of his neck after shaking your hand. “I, uh, I might’ve…used connections.”

“It’s okay.” You reassured him, throwing him a wink. “I won’t tell. Can you tell me what’s going on? Sam didn’t exactly explain the situation.”

He nodded, getting into ‘work mode’, something you’ve seen in most military men, informing you of their recent missions and the group known as the Flag-Smashers and giving you a file on them. He was in the middle of telling you about his solo mission in Germany when your two fellas came in, sending each other small glares, but remaining quiet.

Bucky caught your eye and sent an apologetic look your way, to which you just smiled at before turning back to Torres.

“Well I’m glad you’re okay.” You told him once he was done.

“Oh yeah. It wasn’t that bad.”

You laughed and nodded. “I’m sure. You seem like a tough kid.”

He smiled, before looking around and jabbing his thumb behind his shoulder. “I-I’ve gotta go, but-”

“We can talk later.” You promised with a grin.

“Really?!”

“Of course! I have a feeling we’ll be working together more, and I like getting to know who’s gonna have my back.”

He beamed and nodded, walking backwards. “That’d be awesome! Talk to you later then!”

You giggled as he turned around and jogged off, pumping his fist in the air. You turned to a grinning Sam and nodded towards where Torres left. “I like him. Seems like a nice kid.”

“He is. Very energetic. A little reckless, but he’s got a good heart.”

You hummed, the smile falling from your face as you flipped through the file Torres gave you. “So…Munich?”

“Yeah. Listen, I’m sorry again for taking you away from the search, but-”

“Search is off.” You informed him quickly, not looking up. “Until further notice.”

The plane went quiet, before Sam cleared his throat. “So…no sign of Wanda yet, then?”

You shut the file, looking up at the men whose features were laced with concern. “I’m gonna go talk to the pilot. Behave while I’m gone. No pushing each other off the plane.”

“Doll?”

You were stopped by the hand that grabbed your wrist as you passed Bucky. You shot him another smile, knowing it wasn’t convincing enough for him, but it being the best one you had. “I’m okay. I’ve just gotta ask him some questions.”

************

Opening your mouth to stop him, you groaned when Bucky jumped out of the plane before you could speak. First Sam jumps without sharing the plan, then Bucky jumps without having a plan. Or a parachute. Or wings. Or anything.

Torres looked at you, but all you could do was shrug. “I dunno what to tell you, kid.”

“You’re not gonna do that, are you?”

“No.” You reassured him, shaking your head. “I’m gonna wait ‘til we land like a normal person and take my bike. I just have to pray that they’ll wait to do anything stupid until I get there.”

They didn’t wait. You’re pretty sure they didn’t even think about waiting. By the time you got to them, they were fighting - and losing, might you add - to six really strong people on top of two semi trucks.

Because why wouldn’t they?

Oh, oh. And on top of that, the fake was there, throwing the shield. The shield that didn’t belong to him. The shield that meant so much more than he would ever know.

“Hi, doll! Sorry we started the party without you!” Bucky shouted from where he was hanging off the edge, that close to the street and getting his head torn off by the tire.

“I’m so tired of babysitting you two, you know that?!”

“Oh! Sorry we’re such an inconvenience for you! Blame him! He jumped the gun!” Sam shouted, coming to fly next to you as you rolled up your sleeves, standing on your bike, using one hand to steer.

“Can I get a little help already?!”

“Sam-!”

“On it!”

Knowing that no matter how much they pissed each other off, Sam would make sure Bucky was okay and vice versa, you focused on getting to the top, where Walker and a buddy of his were struggling a little bit.

You climbed up to the roof of the semi no one was on, wincing when you heard your bike skidding across the pavement. There goes half your salary.

You couldn’t dwell on it for very long, considering one of the guys appeared in front of you. You recognized the fighting - the strength - and faltered, a memory resurfacing at a very bad time.

~

“C’mon, honey. You can do better than that.” Steve grinned at you, holding out a hand to help you up.

“Excuse me for not having super strength, Rogers.” You huffed out, taking it and letting him pull you up.

“You don’t need to be stronger than me. You just need to be smarter.”

“That’ll be easy.” You teased, stretching your arms before getting into your stance again. “You’re a dumbass sometimes.”

“Yeah, well, who chose to be friends with this dumbass?”

“Everyone needs a dumbass for a friend.”

He cocked an eyebrow. “So I’m your dumbass?”

“If you want.”

The grin he shot you made your heart skip a beat. “If you’ll have me.”

~

You blinked, but Steve wasn’t in front of you anymore and you weren’t in the gym in DC. 

The guy caught the punch you distractedly threw and twisted your arm, making you cry out, kicking him in the back of the knee and flipping him over your shoulder.

You went to kick him again, but he caught your leg and threw you against the side of the other semi. You were able to grab onto where Bucky had ripped through the side, but you winced as the metal cut through your palm. Sam had just flown under the trucks, taking Buck with him, and you knew when a fight wasn’t worth it, so you quickly moved around the truck, letting Walker and his pal distract the Flag-Smashers, before letting yourself fall onto the side where the grass was.

You wanted to lay there, to catch your breath and curse yourself for getting distracted. You hadn’t had a flashback like that in a while. But you didn’t let yourself. You had to make sure the guys were okay.

Standing up made you cringe; you could feel the throbbing in your shoulder from where it was no doubt dislocated and your leg was aching, the muscle probably pulled when the guy threw you.

“Doll!” You turned, seeing Bucky and Sam sprinting towards you a few yards down the road. “Hey, hey.” Bucky immediately had his hands hovering over you, scanning your body. “Are you okay?”

You nodded, shoving his hands away. “I’m fine.”

“What’s wrong with your shoulder?”

“I think I dislocated it.”

Sam frowned. “What the hell happened?”

You gave him a weird look, starting to limp across the field to where you noticed a side road earlier. “They were super soldiers, Sam. And we got our asses kicked.”

“Yeah, but you know how to fight a super soldier-”

“It’s been a while.”

“Bullshit.” Sam side stepped in front of you, making you stop. “What happened?”

“I-I just got distracted, okay?”

“Y/N. Look at me.” Bucky took your face between his palms, eyes worried. “Are you okay?”

You nodded. A tired sigh left your lips and you looked anywhere but his eyes. “Yeah. I’m fine. Just hurting. My leg, I think I pulled it or something-”

“C’mere.” Bucky turned and crouched down, making you blink.

“What?”

“You shouldn’t be walking. We don’t wanna make it worse.”

“But it’s just a strain, it won’t-”

Sam rolled his eyes. “Just get on the man’s back, Y/N.”

You bit your lip before sighing and carefully climbing on his back. He shifted you gently, making sure to hold your leg with caution, leaning his head into yours when you hooked your chin on his shoulder. “You-you don’t have to talk about what happened. Just-just know that when you do…I’ll be here, okay?”

You nodded, moving to press your nose against the column of his throat. “Okay.”

But you could never tell them. How could you? How could you tell the world’s longest POW that you were having nightmares? How could you complain to an Air Force vet who served two tours in Afghanistan and watched his best friend get blown out of the air that you were having flashbacks?

You weren’t sure if it was PTSD or anxiety or depression. Maybe all three. It didn’t matter, though, because you didn’t want to admit it. You wouldn’t admit it. No one thought the Blip messed you up that badly. No one thought Steve leaving did that much damage. And you were okay with that. You were okay with them thinking you were healing - that you were fine - because they needed to see that it could be done. That they could be fine, too. Especially the men walking, Sam teasing Bucky per usual.

It wasn’t until a horn honked that you allowed yourself to be pulled out of your thoughts. A scoff left you when you realized who it was, switching the side you were laying on so your cheek pressed up against the cool metal of his left shoulder, facing away from the jeep.

You tried ignoring the guy as he talked about working together and shit, taking a shuddering breath, making Bucky squeeze your uninjured thigh. There was no way you were working with him. You couldn’t. It’d be like betraying Steve and you didn’t need that on top of all the other things you were dealing with.

You couldn’t deny the need for a ride though. The airport was 20 miles away and you were hurting pretty bad. You suspected that was the reason the guys relented, Bucky tenderly setting you down in the jeep between him and Sam, careful of your injuries.

You stared at your lap as Walker and Sam talked shop. You understood where they were coming from, you were always able to see both sides of the coin, but it didn’t mean you were going to willingly work with him.

“I got mad respect for all of y’all, but you were kind of getting your asses kicked till we showed up.”

You scoffed at that, finally raising your eyes to meet Walker’s friend’s. “Like you were doing any better?”

Bucky reached over to grab her hand that was resting on her lap. “You know, I’ve been trying to get in contact with you.” Walker faced you, eyes raking down your form. Bucky shifted in his spot, but you ran your thumb over his knuckles before he could do or say anything stupid.

“Yeah. I know. My phone hasn’t stopped blowing up for a week. Thanks for that, by the way.”

Walker frowned. “If you just answered-”

“I don’t care who you are. I don’t care what you’ve done. I’ve been a little busy doing my job to blow smoke up your ass on national television. Sorry if my saving people’s lives has been an inconvenience for you, but some wannabe playing dress up isn’t my top priority.”

Walker’s brows furrowed and he was about to say something, when Bucky cut in, asking his friend who he was. You were already that close to jumping out of the jeep, when the guy, Hoskins, told you three that he went by ‘Battlestar’.

If the situation wasn’t so aggravating, you would’ve laughed when Bucky immediately told the driver to stop, opening the door before the car even stopped. “C’mere, doll.” He murmured, lifting you up into his arms bridal style, before walking off, tuning out Walker as he shouted after you two.

You pouted a little when you saw Sam still talking to the guy. “What’re they talking about, Buck?”

“Some nonsense about him not replacing Steve. Just trying to be the best Captain America he can.”

You laid your head against Bucky’s chest. “The best Captain America is Steve. He can never be Steve.”

“I know, doll.”

“Steve told me once that all he was trying to do was be a good man…it’ll always amaze me that he didn’t see he was the best.”

You missed the distraught look Bucky shot towards you, the look in his eyes almost heartbroken while you talked fondly about his best friend. The tortured scrunch to his features seemed to melt away at your next words, though, and he held you tighter as you curled into his hold.

“Just like it amazes me that you don’t know how important you are to me too, Buckaroo.”

[comphy-and-cozy]

NHL!Michael Blurb // "Let's have a baby."

For the anon who requested #49 ("Let's have a baby"). I took the liberty of making this deliciously filthy and smutty.

NSFW/Smut under the cut. ~3.5K words. Breeding/pregnancy kink. Some daddy kink, too.

Unofficial part 2 here.

#49: “Let’s have a baby.”

You’re in the kitchen when he says it, unbuckling your heels from the team function you just came back from. Facing the counter, one hand supports you as you slip your feet out of the shoes.

“Let’s have a baby, or let’s make a baby?” you ask, brow quirked to yourself. “There’s a big difference.”

You feel the warmth of Michael’s body approach behind you, hands resting on your hips. He presses his lips against your shoulder in an affectionate gesture that you know has more meaning behind it. He hums, lips sliding toward your neck. “Both?”

You turn in his arms, stopping his movements as you look him in the eyes, trying to gauge how serious he is. “Michael —“

“If we start trying now, there’s a better chance that they can be born in the offseason,” he explains, voice logical.

You raise your eyebrows, surprised at his thought out rationale. “Oh, so you’ve thought about this.”

“I always think about knocking you up.”

You roll your eyes, and he grins. Michael’s arms wrap around you, holding you close, and he adds, “I’m serious, though. I want to start a family with you.”

“Babies are a lot of work,” you point out, not convinced that he really understands the magnitude of bringing life into the world; you assume he’s just trying a new tactic of getting you naked. “It’s different from Gus.”

“I know.”

“We have to feed it and bathe it and teach it life skills and lessons and —“

“Y/N, I know.”

You pause, biting your lip as your arms circle around his neck. You’d wanted to be a mom for as long as you could remember, that feeling only becoming more prominent as your relationship with Michael blossomed. Now, the ring on your left ring finger holds a different weight, symbolizing the security and stability you didn’t realize you had been waiting for.

His eyes watch you, as if he’s trying to hear the train of thoughts chugging through your mind; he gauges how long he should let you ponder.

“Angel,” he presses on after a moment. “I want to be a dad. I want to be a parent with you. I’m ready. If you still are.”

Your eyes slide back up to his, and you see the sincerity in his gaze. Suddenly shy, you shrink in his arms as the realization hits you that this is real.

“What if you think I’m ugly when I’m all bloated and pregnant?”

Michael’s large hands flex slightly on your hips and his gaze becomes more intense, but his smile is the opposite, full of love and adoration as he looks at you. “I could never think that, baby.”

You’re not convinced, but then his hips press into yours, letting you know exactly how much he likes the image, and suddenly the mood in the kitchen has drastically changed. His hands move to grip your hips tighter, and he leans in to kiss you; it’s sweet, but you can feel the heat behind it that he’s trying to contain, waiting for your ‘official’ approval.

You’re ready; you know you are, and it really isn’t much of a decision — the source of your hesitation is more that you sort of can’t believe you’re really going to do this. With just a simple nod, you let him know that the light is green. You feel his lips curl into a grin against yours before he’s kissing you with full force, letting the hunger inside of him take over.

Michael’s tongue meets yours, carving out a space in your mouth as his hands pull you against him. His mouth is quick to move to your jaw, pressing open mouthed kisses along your skin before he murmurs in your ear, “You’re going to look so fucking sexy carrying my baby.”

A shiver runs down your spine, going straight to your core at his words. Michael walks you backwards until your bottom hits the edge of the counter, and he effortlessly lifts you up until you’re sitting on it. He pulls his mouth away from yours to smirk at you for a moment, then spreads your legs and steps between them, pulling you close once again before seeking out the skin on your neck.

You hum with pleasure, each kiss earning more goosebumps along your skin as you feel the wetness between your legs growing.

“Michael,” you whine. “Please.”

“Needy already, are we?” he teases. “Have patience, angel. Gotta get you nice and ready for me, yeah?”

Michael follows through on his statement by tugging your hips forward, placing a hand behind your back to gently lay you down against the granite countertop. It’s cold against your skin, but you’re distracted quickly when he kisses your calf, trailing his lips up your leg as he bunches the skirt of your dress up your thighs. Your back arches when his mouth presses against your core through the fabric of your panties, his tongue licking the material barrier.

Soon, but not soon enough, his fingers curl into the waistband of your panties, pulling them down your legs. Your eyes watch him as he takes in the sight of your bare pussy in front of him, and you wish that you could see into his mind and hear all of his filthy thoughts.

“She’s so gorgeous,” he murmurs, settling between your legs and allowing them to drape over his shoulders. He’s speaking to you, but his eyes haven’t left your core. “Such a pretty pussy.”

You shiver under his praise, eyes fluttering shut when he presses a kiss to your lower lips, slowly and sensually dipping his tongue in your entrance. “Taste so fucking good, baby.”

Michael’s tongue explores your pussy as if it’s his first time, taking his time even though he knows each and every spot. He’s always been the kind of guy who genuinely enjoys eating pussy, treating it like an art rather than a chore. He kisses your clit before flicking it gently with the tip of his tongue, drawing delicate circles around it that have your head spinning in no time.

Large hands hold your hips in place as he all but makes love to your pussy, tongue delving inside you and through each fold. His nose nudges your clit, and you stifle a moan when his tongue flattens against you. One hand trails to meet his mouth, dipping a finger inside you to work in tandem with his lips wrapping around your clit.

Your mind is blank, empty save for relishing the heated euphoria Michael is providing you, working you with his practiced rhythm in the way that always leaves you breathless. He said he wanted to get you ready, but with the cadence he’s set, you know he wants to make you come, and hard. By the way the heat is flooding your belly, it seems like he’ll achieve his goal quicker than expected.

“That’s it, baby,” he mouths against you, his voice muffled by your thighs wrapped around his head. “Can feel you.”

Fingers curling upward, he all but grins at the cry you let out as he strikes your g-spot, probing it while his tongue continues it’s assault on your clit. The pressure inside you snaps, hitting you like a freight train, and your body goes rigid as your release rips through you. Michael doesn’t relent, his fingers and tongue working to drag out the waves of your orgasm that have now dulled to an intense ripple.

Once he’s satisfied with your weak whimpers, he slows his movements before gingerly removing his hand, inserting the same fingers into his mouth to suck off the remaining excess.

“Michael,” you moan, the sight nearly too much to handle in combination with your climax. “Need you.”

He chuckles softly, standing to lean over you. His mouth is coated in a layer of your slick, but you reach up to kiss him anyways, tasting yourself as he wastes no time in plunging his tongue in your mouth the same way he had done to your pussy just moments prior. In an instant, the action has your orgasmic haze clearing, making way for a fresh, and strong, wave of desire.

“I don’t think the kitchen counter is the right spot to make a baby, do you?” he asks, hands sliding under your ass to lift you into his arms. Wouldn’t be the worst spot, you think to yourself, but you tuck your arms around his neck anyways.

“Nah,” he says. “Want to do it properly, in bed.”

If your lips weren’t so busy seeking out his, you might be embarrassed that you said that out loud, but instead you’re focused on wrapping your legs around him as he begins to carry you through the house. Eventually he makes his way to the bedroom, gently dropping you on the mattress, crawling over you in an instant.

Michael’s hands slide up your sides, helping you to remove your dress, then your bra, and he pauses to take in the sight of you naked beneath him.

“Never gets old,” he comments, eyes staring at your breasts.

“Michael, you saw them this morning,” you laugh, and he shakes his head.

“Doesn’t matter. They’re still perfect.”

You respond by tugging at his shirt until he pulls it over his head, and as your eyes trail over the cut muscles of his body, you suddenly understand his sentiment — you will never grow tired of this view. You’re distracted, though, when he unzips his pants and kicks them down his legs, leaving him in nothing but his boxer briefs with a sizable tent in them.

Dragging your bottom lip between your teeth, you do your best to quell the moan that bubbles in your throat, anticipation thrumming through your veins. Michael knows, and he gives a cocky smirk. “You want it, don’t you, angel?”

You drag your eyes up to his, giving your best sultry ‘fuck me’ eyes as you nod, refusing to give into the temptation to yell, “Yes, please, please, please.”

Your feet slide up his legs and make their best attempt at pushing his boxer briefs down his legs, half succeeding before he’s smirking again, leaning back to help you remove them completely. Your mouth waters at the sight of him, finally naked and bare for you, just as you are for him.

He’s in a teasing mood, you can tell, and instead of letting him, you take matters into your own hands by reaching out to fist his length. He’s hard in your hand, skin soft as velvet, as you pump your hand while maintaining solid eye contact with him.

Michael isn’t pleased with your act of defiance, but your hand feels too damn good to ignore, and a groan of pleasure sounds from his chest as you give him a squeeze. His eyes watch you, glittering, while you shift onto your knees on the bed to take him into your mouth.

He groans out at the feeling, hand moving to tangle loosely in your hair as you work your lips around him. He’s heavy, and big, and you have always enjoyed the challenge of fitting as much of him into your throat as you can. Steeling yourself, you relax enough to take him deeper, tongue flattening against the underside of his dick.

“Jesus Christ,” he grunts out. “Such a perfect, pretty mouth you have, baby.”

You bob your head, finding a rhythm, tongue working sinfully in tandem with your lips and the suction of your mouth. Even after all these years, he is still in awe that he married the world’s best dick sucker, and that he’s going to get blowjobs like this for the rest of his life.

Slowly, your rhythm melds into his as he begins to gently move his hips, thrusting into your mouth cautiously. Once he’s sure you’re ready by the telltale sign of your fingers flexing on his thighs, he takes over the movement, fucking your mouth as he hits the back of your throat each time.

“Mmm,” he hums, fingers gripping your hair a bit tighter. “So good for me.”

Each thrust and groan from his mouth draws more arousal to your own core, thoroughly enjoying how much pleasure you are providing to him. With one hand bracing yourself on the bed, holding yourself steady, you move your other hand between your legs, rubbing circles over your clit. Michael, of course, takes note of this quickly, chuckling darkly. He knows how much you enjoy this, and it turns him on wildly to know that getting him off also gets you off.

Pulling away from your mouth, Michael bites his lip at the sight of his dick emerging from your lips, swollen and covered in saliva, as a string connects your mouth to his tip even as he pulls away.

“As much as I love to fuck your pretty little throat, I’m afraid I won’t be cumming there anymore. Have to save all of this cum for your pretty little pussy, yeah?”

You let out an unabashed moan at his words, feeling yourself clench down onto nothing at the thought. Michael presses forward, leaning down to kiss you as he gently pushes you backward, tangling your legs around his hips while he crawls on top of you.

He settles between your legs, his hard cock resting so close to where you need him most, but instead of giving you what you want, he cages your head between his muscular arms, gazing down at you.

“You like that, angel?” his voice is low as he weaves his hand down your body, toying teasingly at your entrance; he smirks upon feeling just how drenched you are for him, welcoming his fingers greedily. “Oh, yeah, you fucking love it, huh? You can’t wait for me to fuck a baby into you, can you?”

If his grade-A pussy eating skills don’t have you soaked, his words certainly do, and you feel your muscles clench weakly around nothing, aching for him to be inside you.

Michael kisses you deeply, and you can’t help the whimper that he swallows down as he grinds himself against you. Your arms wrap around his shoulders, fingers clutching onto him as you try to focus on anything but the throbbing between your legs. You’re desperate for him, needing to feel some sort of friction and the delicious stretch of him inside of you.

“Michael, please,” you whimper, “Please.”

“Please, what, angel?” he asks, teasing you as he leans back to rub the head of his cock along your dripping slit.

“Please, fuck me,” you moan, and Michael hums in approval.

“That’s my girl,” he praises you, enjoying the effect he clearly has on you.

He adjusts, bracing his arms on your sides before he slides into you slowly, eyes glued to your face as your mouth opens in a silent moan. The sex was always good with him, but there was nothing quite like the first stretch around his thick length as your bodies connect into one.

Your nerves tingle as he works himself into you, leaning forward to touch his forehead to yours in a sweet gesture that you’d normally appreciate more if you weren’t desperately in need of more. His hot breath fans over your face, but you’re too busy focusing on the way he feels moving in and out of you, igniting the fire in your core with each thrust of his hips. Breath is caught in your throat, hips rising to meet each push, and Michael kisses you as if to suck the air out of your lungs for you.

For a brief while, all that can be heard in the privacy of your bedroom are your heavy breaths and the gentle sound of Michael’s hips hitting yours. He feels so fucking good, and you are perfectly fine to enjoy the sensation rather than rushing to reach your peak. Somehow, it feels different — and even better — knowing that this act is more than just passionate lovers, but making love — and making life.

Your hands graze over the skin of his shoulders, accepting the heat of his flesh into your fingertips, and, likewise, transferring the thrum of your chest until your hearts beat in tandem as one.

Michael, though, has a different idea in mind, and soon, the pace of his hips speeds up as he begins to thrust into you harder. His lips find your jaw, sucking into the spot just below your ear, muffling the sound of his groans as he feels you clench tightly around him.

“Fuck, you feel so good,” he murmurs. “Can’t wait to fill this pretty little cunt up with my cum.”

All you can do is whimper in response, the arousal you feel at his words and his matching actions almost overwhelming. Your fingers tremble along his shoulders, nails digging into the flesh as you hold on for dear life.

“Yeah? You like that, baby? You want to make me a daddy?”

“Fuck,” you cry out, both from the way he presses the head of his cock right against your g-spot, as well as his erotic words. “Yes, Michael, yes, please.”

“Yeah? You gonna take all of my cum, aren’t you? Not gonna waste a single drop, huh?”

You shake your head, not trusting your voice to come out, and he rewards you by moving his hand to circle at your clit. He knows you’re close, hanging on by just a thread, your cunt clenching desperately around him.

“That’s it, angel,” he praises, eyes glassy as he watches the bounce of your tits. “Take it so good, don’t you? Fuck, it’s like you were made to take my dick, baby.”

Between his hot praise, forceful thrusts, and calculated rub of your clit, you’re spiraling over the edge before you even have a chance to cry out, the euphoria washing over you in overwhelming waves. Your head falls back and legs tremble with the strength of your orgasm, clenching tightly around him as he groans at the feeling.

“Good girl,” he purrs, removing his hand from your clit to take its place back on your hip, gripping it tightly as he seeks out his own release.

He pumps into you, losing himself to his own rhythm as his eyes close. A deep groan rumbles in his chest, almost animalistic, and it has you clenching tightly around him.

“Fuck,” he exclaims. “Gonna come, angel. Gonna fill you up with a fucking baby.”

“Give it to me, daddy,” you moan, encouraging him. “Come inside me.”

The sight of him coming is always something — head thrown back, eyes closed, muscles flexed — but it’s even more beautiful knowing the intimacy of the act. It’s more than a release, it’s the start of a family with the man you’re hopelessly and deeply in love with, souls connected in more ways than one.

You feel the hot spurts shooting into you, and it’s almost enough to send you into another orgasm, your cunt greedily taking every drop from his cock. His hips stutter against yours, hands loosening their grip as he comes down from his high.

Michael looks down at you, panting, and smirks at you before pulling out halfway, only to push back in and make you clench weakly around him.

“Gotta keep it all in this pretty little cunt, don’t we? Don’t wanna waste a single drop,” he says.

He takes his time, lightly fucking you, gently sliding in and out of you. Between your two orgasms and the feeling of his warmth deep inside your womb, your core is on fire in the best way, and your fumbling hand reaches quickly for your clit. One, two, three circles later, you’re crying out in your final orgasm of the night, legs trembling weakly as your insides contract tightly.

Michael watches in awe, cursing under his breath as he lets you work through it, keeping his gentle rhythm steady. He eyes the swollen, wet lips of your pussy with a deep appreciation. “Look so fucking pretty taking my cum. All filled up with our baby, yeah?”

He presses kisses to your hairline as you come down slowly, as if to tell you to take your time. When he finally pulls out, you whimper slightly at the loss, feeling the emptiness, but you know you’re not really empty.

With his release, the darkness in Michael’s eyes has disappeared, and now he’s looking at you softly, eyes full of love and adoration. His lips curl into a smile, leaning down to kiss you gently as one hand trails over your belly. No words are needed; you know what he’s thinking, as you imagine the little seed growing inside of you.

He shifts so that he’s laying next to you, pulling you into his arms, and he presses a kiss against your forehead.

“Have to say,” he murmurs after a moment. “I think I like being daddy already.”

“A daddy, or just daddy?”

Michael hums, hand trailing over your stomach again, as if there’s already something there, invisible to everyone but him.

“Both.”

[tnbc-thoughtsandheadcanons]

Mirror Moon Series Review

The Nightmare Before Christmas: Mirror Moon comic by TOKYOPOP has recently ended. I’ve read through all of my Issues to give this series a proper full review! As always, I’m tagging with #Mirror Moon Spoilers to anyone who’d like to avoid them. This post *WILL* be long, since I’m talking about the entire series, so read the review below!

I want to start off with my pre-ordering experience with this series. Mirror Moon was expected to release in its entirety by October 2021, but kept getting delayed and only officially finished in April 2022(August, if we’re counting the Graphic Novel’s print date). It was irritating to lose money over this series. I hope no one endured the Hell I did with preordering Mirror Moon. Crossing my fingers that TOKYOPOP improves from this experience because I was not happy with ordering the Issues. :/

With that aside, I’ve broken things into categories to make things easier..!

The Art / Style

Mirror Moon has a unique and colorful art style compared to other TNBC adaptations, similar to Story of the Movie in Comics! Which might by explained by most of the events taking place during a sunny day. I love the stylization of most characters / Residents in here - I love what they did with the Witches and Sally especially! It’s always nice to see TNBC characters getting experimented with.

This comic *does* go with some recent changes, like the Behemoth’s axe is missing and the Vampire Brothers have pupils, both of which aren’t consistent with their designs in the movie. Something I want to mention is that...with the new style, some of the characters / residents are hard to recognize. This isn’t a big deal since these are side characters, but...Who is this tree, for instance??? 🤔 Is it the Hanging Tree from the film? His cousin? I love the insight as to who else could be living in Town, but it leaves me feeling confused since they’re either not addressed or explained.

Another criticism I have is the trouble with some scaling in the comic. Particularly, the way Jack Skellington is drawn in here...he’s known to be extremely tall and thin, as a skeleton, but in Mirror Moon, he’s drawn rather short and bulky. Something about it seemed off to me and I couldn’t enjoy the way he was drawn in here. A few other proportion issues come with other characters, but it can be chalked up to the stylized choice. In my case, I loved most things about it, but found Jack in particular to look....odd?

Another small mention is how Sally is drawn normally for the first couple of issues, but then is colored with a blush for the rest of the series(after she meets her clone). My best assumption is that they either decided on a style change, or did this to differ her between the clone? Maybe, to show how flustered she was from the ordeal? It still was off-putting. 🤔

The Plot / Story

A *LOT* happens in Mirror Moon’s story, so I will try to be brief explaining it all:

The comic is about Jack Skellington inventing a mirror that duplicates both objects and people, inspired by a dream he had where all of the Holiday Doors opened at once. In order to work on the mirror, he puts Sally in charge of the Halloween planning, merely a few days before Halloween. Understandably, Sally is stressed with all the responsibility, and has a premonition where she breaks Jack’s Mirror. She gets the feeling something terrible will happen from his plan.

The rest of the comic is Halloween Town spiraling into chaos from the unpredictable and malicious copies, while Sally learns about the mirror and helps get rid of the clones using the Vampire Brother’s help. She ends up breaking the magical mirror so no more things can be duplicated. Her ending line to the comic is: “A rag doll’s work is never done!”

...The comic is fast-paced, so things happen quickly. I think it would’ve benefited from a longer series to properly explore the concept. I would’ve loved to learn more about the clones - maybe see them team up + revolt together? See more of the Townspeople’s reactions to their copies? I think there was a lot of potential to this story that I expected too much out of - I find the plot a little lazy in explanation(the fact that Jack was accidentally copying people because the mirror was pointed outside? Really?) I feel like there was more they could’ve done with these ideas.

The concept felt a little more sci-fi compared to Nightmare’s usual fantasy. Still. It was filled with a lot of drama that kept with the story, so I appreciate Mirror Moon not being **boring**. Far from it! But I wish they had executed more bold ideas, and had the opportunity to do so instead of a 5-Issue series. I feel like that limited them greatly with what they could’ve done.

As a TNBC Adaption

I saw Mirror Moon described as a “sequel continuation to the Nightmare Before Christmas”. However, after reading the story....I can both understand and argue against this. The first thing we’re shown is Jack Skellington having a dream about all the Holiday Doors opening at once. Which means he’s aware of them and the Christmas debacle *likely* happened. It would also explain why Sally has more confidence to take charge of the town and approach Jack about his announcement to begin with.

However, some other things would point to Mirror Moon being a prequel. For instance, Oogie Boogie has an appearance later in the story. Since he dies onscreen in the film, this means it would *have* to be a prequel for him to be alive. The fact that Jack & Sally don’t seem to share any romance in this would also support the Prequel theory(that they’re just friends in this time). Unless both of these happen to be goofs / forgotten details.

If we’re treating Mirror Moon as a sequel, then it brings interesting worldbuilding / theories into play. The Clones prove doppelgangers are possible in the TNBC universe, and they turn malicious the longer they exist. Do they have their own universe in the mirrors? Are reflections’ true purpose is to be evil? Are they really a copy, or their own people in some way? This brings interesting questions!

Mirror Moon doesn’t necessarily have a new villain character either(unless we’re counting the clones themselves!). Nor does it bring new characters to the franchise...I know they introduced Gourd in charge of the pumpkin patch, but..c’mon. He’s just Jack’s Scarecrow design from the movie/games. It seems like a lazy way to bring a ‘new’ character in, borrowing an already-canon design of the MAIN character.

Other Commentary

I happen to be a big Jack X Sally fan. In this case, I somewhat expected some romantic scenes between them, only to be left in the dust. I know their relationship wasn’t the main focus of Mirror Moon’s premise, but...it doesn’t seem to exist in here, either. Which is confusing if this is a Sequel. Their first conversation is mostly one-sided with Jack not even asking for Sally’s consent to have her take charge of all the Halloween planning, or telling her in advance that he made this decision. The two don’t talk again until the very end. But Jack doesn’t necessarily apologize - and the two don’t share anything romantic. Weird.

-- To add onto this, some Mirror Moon concept art was shared in the digital Graphic Novel release(Credits to @violetified​ for sharing them!). Interestingly, some of these actually feature both Jack & Sally together, with a couple showing their malicious reflections behind them! I wonder why these weren’t used, but I also wonder if they were initially meant to interact more in the comic? Least to say, I prefer these layouts more than the finished result...

Also....one main character doesn’t even make an appearance in the comic. Dr. Finklestein is nowhere to be seen. He isn’t shown when Sally has to leave the Tower - which makes me wonder if she either approached him at all, had to sneak out, or (since this is a Sequel) she’s granted more freedom? I would’ve loved to know because I can’t see the Doctor allowing Sally taking charge of Halloween Town if he knew about it. He’s kind of crucial to her situation with her home life. He would also probably recognize her clone since he created her and knows Sally the best - possibly helping out with the story’s plotline!

- He isn’t my favorite character, but I think the Doctor’s presence would’ve contributed greatly to the story! He’s a mad scientist, and Jack was basically running a science experiment with the clones and mirrors. Why didn’t he ask for his help? Or work together with him? He could’ve assisted Sally with a solution to get rid of the copies! I find myself lamenting the lack of his presence in here because I can see him fitting so well with Mirror Moon’s events. :(

Overall

Mirror Moon was a fun experience, and something new for the TNBC franchise! I hope the fandom talks more about it. It brought an exciting plotline and shed light on Sally, arguably an underrated TNBC character who rarely gets proper focus in most adaptions! I love to see her character properly explored and written like this, where she’s able to show off her strengths! <3

However, Mirror Moon has questionable details that leave me confused. I wonder if the creators intentionally forgot some things from the movie, or if these were honest mistakes. (Dr. Finklestein, Oogie Boogie’s Death, Jack being the Scarecrow, etc.) It is a short story, so it can’t explain/explore everything unfortunately, but I still am left...confused....however, I’m delighted I got to read something like this!

Comparing Mirror Moon to Zero’s Journey, I can say that it felt like *more* actually happened in this series, which is funny since this was shorter in comparison. I looked forward to each Issue and was excited waiting for them to release! Both have their strengths and weaknesses as Sequels, but Mirror Moon is more fast-paced with a lot going on. I’d recommend this comic if you want something a little bizarre and different, but Zero’s Journey if you want something more loyal / consistent to the original movie!

If anyone has any further thoughts/theories/etc. on Mirror Moon, feel free to bring them into my Inbox! I’d love to talk more about this series!

[inazumaeveryday]

Day 10

At home

Kidou: Good morning, mar.

We have our first match of the tournament against Ryuuguu today.

We haven’t played an official match in a long time, so I’m excited, even if it’s just against Ryuuguu.

mar: (The match against Ryuuguu…)

Option 1

mar: You can afford to take it easy today!

Kidou: Yeah, we’ll just play like usual.

Option 2

mar: Don’t overdo it, okay…?

Kidou: Heh… You know I never go easy on anyone.

Kidou: The match is at 14:30.

I hope they’ll put up at least a little bit of a fight.

*

Kidou: I woke up before my alarm this morning.

Breakfast

Kidou: Hm, it’s good.

You know, you can already tell if you’re in good condition by breakfast.

I’m in perfect shape today.

Kidou’s room

Kidou: …Oops, almost forgot my cape.

I can’t properly start my day without it.

In the car

Kidou: Hmm… Should we use Koutei Penguin no.2 in today’s match…?

…No, we shouldn’t reveal it yet.

Morning practice

Kidou: Koutei Penguin!

Sakuma&Jimon: no.2!

Doumen: Woooow! It’s so cool!

Genda: They got it right away, too!

Not that I ever doubted them, but they really are amazing.

Kidou: Jimon, try going a little faster!

If we can get the timing right, the shot will gain even more power!

Jimon: Got it, I’ll try that.

*

Kidou: Sakuma and Jimon both adapt quickly to the changes I make.

I can already feel our Koutei Penguin no.2 is going to become an amazing secret weapon.

At school

Class (physics)

Kidou: The story about Newton figuring out the laws of gravity from an apple falling off a tree is pretty famous…

I wonder what law it is that makes you want to kick a ball when it falls on the field?

Break

Kidou: Sakuma, how are you holding up?

Koutei Penguin no.2 is lighter on us, but it’s not like the burden is completely gone…

Sakuma: I haven’t had any problems with it so far, don’t worry!

I’m actually excited to finally use it in a match…

Kidou: No, it’s too soon. We don’t need to use it against Ryuuguu.

Class (social studies)

Kidou: Behavioral psychology… I learned a little about that with Kyougoku-sensei.

It kind of reminds me of personality quizzes... It’s pretty interesting.

Break

Kidou: We have a match today, but I can’t really feel any kind of emotion from you, Gojou…

I can tell the others are excited, but you’re a complete enigma to me.

Gojou: Kukuku… “Don’t show your emotions, keep a poker face”...

That’s what the commander always says, after all…!

Class (PE)

Kidou: Oh, so we’re having a shooting competition today.

Good timing. It’ll help me concentrate for the match later.

Break

Jimon is sitting still, his eyes closed.

Kidou: …What are you doing, Jimon?

Jimon: …Meditating.

I’m trying to focus for the match.

Kidou: Oh, alright. Sorry to interrupt.

…I’ll give that a try too.

Class (Japanese)

Kidou: Oh, this is The Book of Five Rings, Miyamoto Musashi’s masterpiece about the martial arts.

There’s a lot in there I can apply to soccer. I’ll have to read it thoroughly.

Lunch

Kidou: I’ll keep it to a light lunch since we have the match right after…

As usual, don’t worry about that and eat whatever you want, mar.

Pre-match meeting

Kageyama: This is our first match of the regional qualifiers… Well, playing against Ryuuguu will essentially just be a way to kill time for us.

Prove yourselves worthy of the Teikoku name and show everyone the overwhelming difference in power between you.

Team: Yes, sir!

Kidou: Heh… We should play a match that the commander can enjoy, even if just a little.

We’ll bring back an absolute victory to him.

Ryuuguu [1]

Henmi: Hmph! They look like a bunch of wimps.

Kidou-san, what’s the plan today? How many points are we scoring?

Doumen: Maybe like, 10 points?

Kidou: Heh. You two, don’t be rude to our opponents.

Jimon: You said they had a new special move, right?

Come on, let’s have some fun.

Kamenaga: What’d you say?! You’ll get hurt if you continue insulting us!

Sakiyama: Huuh?! You looking for a fight?!

Otofune: How dare you! You’d better brace yourselves!

Kidou: Their new move’s nothing to worry about.

Heh… Let’s just get this over with.

Match begins

mar: (What should I do…?)

Option 1

mar: Yuuto-kun, do your best!

Kidou: Hmph. They’re slow.

Option 2

mar: Everyone, do your best!

Kidou: Let’s go!

*

mar: (What do I do? Ryuuguu’s falling apart…!)

Option 1

mar: I’ve had enough… They don’t need to go that far…

Kidou: Heh… Guess it’s over now.

Option 2

mar: …………

Kidou: …That’s the end.

After the match

Otofune: You… You’re all horrible… You can’t call this a match!

Kamenaga: My body and spirit are both completely crushed…

Kidou: Heh… They were no match for us, after all.

Sakuma: You lost because of your own weakness. Don’t blame us.

Genda: Sigh… I didn’t get to do anything. I was bored out of my mind.

Henmi: Hey, at least it was a good warm-up for today’s practice, right?

Kidou: All of you, don’t forget to do your cool down exercises. Be careful not to get hurt.

The bus leaves at 16:00. Don’t be late.

*

Kidou: Oh, mar. We’re advancing to the second round.

Well, with Ryuuguu as our opponent, it’s really no surprise…

It wasn’t much of a workout though, so we’ll keep practicing when we get back.

On the way back

Kidou: We’ll practice some more when we get back to Teikoku.

Honestly, practice matches against the second string’s team are more enjoyable than this…

We’ve got some time to kill until we get back... I’ll look over the class report[2].

Practice

Kidou: You’re too slow, Henmi, Gojou! You need to read your opponent’s moves better!

Let’s do that one more time!

Henmi: Yes!

Gojou: …Oookay, kukuku…

Kidou: Sakuma! Jimon! Let’s go!

We’re doing Koutei Penguin no.2!

Koutei Penguin!

Sakuma&Jimon: no.2!

Kidou: Good! Remember that timing!

Jimon: Got it!

Sakuma: Let’s do it one more time!

mar: (They’re practicing even after playing a match…)

Option 1

mar: You guys have a lot of stamina!

Kidou: That’s not it… We just don’t feel particularly tired after a match like the one we just had.

Option 2

mar: That’s just Teikoku for you, I guess…

Kidou: The match was essentially just a warm-up for us.

Kidou: The semi-finals are next… I can’t wait to find out who our opponent’s going to be.

I didn’t enjoy the match against Ryuuguu at all.

In the car

Kidou: Hmm… It’s still not quite there yet. Just a little more precise…

I guess it’s only fitting that we reveal Koutei Penguin no.2 in the finals…

At home

Kidou: Our practice made me sweat more than the actual match today…

I’ll go take a refreshing bath.

In the bath

Kidou: Koutei Penguin no.2 is great…

The way they jump out of the ground looks awesome…

Dinner

Kidou: I didn’t eat much before the game, now I’m starving…

Ah, but getting seconds is… No, I should stop there. That’s too many calories.

Kingcraft lessons

Kyougoku: You will find that throughout history, all of those who managed to rise above others have one thing in common.

And that is… an indomitable spirit. An unshakeable will to accomplish anything they set out to do.

Yuuto-san, would you say that is something you possess, too?

Kidou: Yes, without a doubt.

There is… There is something I absolutely have to accomplish, too.

Kyougoku: Hm! Very well.

Kidou: An indomitable spirit… Yes, I’ll absolutely get it done, no matter what…!

*

Kidou: I do have something I absolutely have to accomplish…

Teikoku has to keep winning…!

*

Kidou: Oh, mar. You can eat the chocolate over there if you want, it’s fine.

I just felt like eating some after using my brain.

The game against Ryuuguu today… It was pretty boring, wasn’t it.

What did you think?

Option 1

mar: I wish you could fight stronger opponents!

Kidou: Right?

Option 2

mar: A lot of them got hurt, I was really worried…

Kidou: …Huge differences in ability can be cruel like that.

Kidou: Tomorrow’s the match between Biyuutei and Ooedo. Whoever wins will be our opponent in the semi-finals.

I’m expecting Biyuutei to win… Though they’re both B-rank teams, so either way, they’re no match for us.

Speaking of the tournament… Looks like Mikage Sennou’s soccer cyborgs went to Raimon, after all.

I hear they had a bit of an argument with Endou and the others though.

Kidou: Well, no matter… We still need them to crush Raimon.

*

Kidou: I ate too much chocolate… I’ll have to brush my teeth well before going to bed.

You too, mar. Watch out for cavities.

*

Kidou: Alright, time to sleep.

Goodnight, mar.

At night…

Kidou: …………

…choco…late…

Ryuuguu as a whole is based on the tale of Urashima Taro. Ryuuguu is the undersea Dragon Palace, Otofune is based on the princess Otohime and Kamenaga is based on the turtle who takes Urashima Taro to the palace.

Kidou gets a report of what was taught in every class he missed when he goes out. I wrongly called it a "report card" in a previous day because I had no idea what it was... Now you know (I still need to fix it)

[lazypeachsoul]

I wouldn't want to spend a minute lovin' anybody else.

Warnings: this fic has some sad moments and mentions of the blip. also kind of AU because I'm completely ignoring Natasha's canon end.

Word count: 4,2k (i got very carried away with this fic)

Summary: · Meeting the right person at the wrong time can be life changing when it doesn’t work out the way we desire. But if it's meant to be it will always happen, right?

A/N: This is my fic for the "Women of Marvel xReader Exchange" created by @marvelxreaderfanfictionfest . It was created for @im-holding-ontoyou and I hope you like it! gif by @natasharomanovgifs 🌼 ALSO; i haven't watched Black Widow yet so I'm sorry if something in this fic doesn't fit the new info we got about natasha.

Masterlist.

To be added to my taglist use this forms or write me an ask!

New York, 2015.

When you received the call from one of your bosses that you had a new case you would have never imagined how big that case would turn out to be.

You had been working for one of the most important law firms in New York for a year now, and you were getting kind of used to reading cases that would be narrated in the papers for months. Rich and entitled men, big divorces were they fight over who gets the yacht, one or two murder cases... if it revolved around the powerful people of New York city, your firm would get it.

When you got to the debriefing and were told that Tony Stark, one of the firm's most important clients, asked your team for assistance in the creation of some legislation with the newly created “Advanced Threat Containment Unit” you were more than surprised.

The events that the Avengers had caused (or saved us from, there were different opinions going around) in the small country of Sokovia were known all around the and it was only time before the most powerful officials asked for the regulation of ‘superhero activity’.

You weren’t important enough to actually attend the meetings that took place with the government, seeing as you had only passed your bar exam a little over a year prior, but you were deemed cheerful and nice enough to act as a nexus between the firm and the client.

For months you spent your days talking to Tony Stark and other members of The Avengers trying to explain what was being talked about. The first few meetings were a disaster, seeing as the mood was somber for the lives lost and nobody really understood your legal jargon. But slowly you started to transform your language and really tried to make the meetings as easy as possible for everyone present.

But who were you kidding, they really didn’t care about the meetings or the silly attorney being sent to explain something that was way above their paycheck. Well, at least Stark was gracious enough to set a coffee station with some pastries for the meeting. You were pouring the hot liquid into your to-go cup when your hand jerked and the hot liquid splashed your hand.

You could feel the sting of the burn but avoided further sudden movements trying not to make it worse. Before you could reach for a napkin to clean up the mess you made, a more dexterous and manicured hand reached for them and exchanged the hot cup in your hand for the bunch of papers.

“Careful, Stark always serves boiling coffee. I think it’s to mask that it’s not the best quality.”

You lifted your gaze from your hand and found a pair of deep green eyes gazing back. You would have thought that spending numerous meetings in the company of superheroes would make you less susceptible to their powerful auras, but being this close to Natasha Romanoff made your heart beat a bit faster.

“Yeah, I found out the hard way.” You joked, lifting your hand a bit. “You would guess one of the richest people in the world would actually serve good coffee...”

Seeing her crack a smile made you feel less tense. Sometimes you forget they are still normal people. Normal people who could kill you with their bare hands and had superhuman powers. She placed your cup on the food table, apparently not bothered by how hot it must have been, and pushed her hand in your direction.

“I’m Natasha Romanoff.” You wrapped your hand around hers and shook it, biting your tongue trying not to tell her of course you knew her name. “Sorry I didn’t introduce myself in earlier meetings, we were all trying to come to terms with what had happened.”

“No worries, I can only imagine how hard it must have been for all of you.” You nodded and tried to show her sympathy, trying to avoid thinking about all the lives affected by the fight. “Oh sorry, I’m-”

Natasha quickly cut you off, speaking your name before you could even say it. You could feel your cheeks get warmer at the idea that they actually knew who you were, and she probably could sense your mood change because she quickly explained.

“I know who you are, you send us at least two emails a week about these meetings and FRIDAY always announces you before you arrive.”

“Who announces me?” You asked curiously at the mention of a name you recognized.

“FRIDAY. It’s the name of Stark’s AI technology. It works all around the tower and it’s there to make life easier for everyone.” She explained pointing around at the speakers strategically placed around the room.

“Oh, I get emails from Friday sometimes. Most of them are asking me to translate or explain something about the debriefing because Mr.Stark is not interested in legal terms.” Both you and Natasha laughed at the thought.

But she quickly recomposed and tried to look serious again when she heard her teammates coming in to get ready for the meeting.

“I wanted to ask you about that. Do you think we could schedule a meeting so that you could explain some things about the legislation of the A.T.C.U.?” She spoke lower than she had when the two of you were alone and you wondered why she didn’t want her colleagues to know about the meeting.

“Ye-Yeah, of course I can.” You were confused but thought it would be in your best interest, and the firm’s, to say yes to the proposal. And a meeting with a very attractive and definitely interesting woman was not something that happened constantly for you.

“Great, thank you.” She smiled warmly and squeezed your hand that you hadn’t even realized was still wrapped around hers from the introduction. “I can promise you better coffee.”

You could only hum in response, still trying to piece together what she might want from the meeting. But your thoughts were quickly cut off when Stark entered the room and you moved to start the reunion.

During the entire meeting you could feel the dull pain in your hand from the scorching coffee and the feeling of a pair of green eyes watching your every move.

Vienna, 2016.

The situation had only gone downhill from the Battle of Sokovia. The public’s opinion on the Avengers was at an all-time-low and that made terrorist groups bold. They knew that if they struck and caused enough chaos, the blame would fall on the good guys that tried to stop them.

The only thing that seemed to be a stable thing in your life was Natasha. Well, as stable as dating a superhero might be. She was busy a lot, but you understood the importance of her job and you were quite busy too gaining importance within the law firm.

And even if sometimes terrorists and criminals got in the way you still found a moment to spend together, wrapped around each other without having to think about how messed up life was.

You thought Lagos was the blow that would make everything tumble, the Sokovia accords were unveiled and it broke the Avengers, and your girlfriend. You could feel how torn she was at her decision of some of her friends to oppose the signing and go on the run, and her own decision to subordinate to the United Nations mandate. But you realized how small that had been when king T’Chaka was killed at the UN.

You had been at the UN as part of the USA legal team that participated in the writing and monitoring of the accords. Your participation in the negotiations almost broke your relationship but you were able to recover once you explained your position and Natasha actually came to an understanding of it.

Natasha was also in Vienna when everything went down, you hadn’t managed to properly see her because she was one of the signers and they sat at the assembly while other guests sat at the amphitheater watching the retransmission.

You hadn’t been able to properly see her all day, seeing as she took a detour before flying to Austria. You were only able to communicate through texts where you tried to make the situation more comfortable for her and she promised a peaceful european trip to celebrate the signing.

When the bomb went off and all hell broke loose the first thing you tried to do was look for her, she was at the epicenter of the explosion and you just wanted to see if she was okay. You saw her from afar when you were being pushed to the outside of the building while they swiped the perimeter.

She sat with T’Challa before he jumped from the bench and stomped away. Natasha looked around and your gazes crossed, immediately melting away some of the worry. You tried to push your way through the crowd to get to her, but police and security didn’t budge.

You never took your eyes off of her, scared that if you did she would disappear. But she did move her gaze to her phone and the look that crossed her face when she heard the voice at the other side told you it was a very important call.

Once the call was over and she looked at you again you knew that would probably be the last time you would see her in some time. You hadn’t known Natasha as long as some of her colleagues had, but you could proudly say you could understand what she wanted to say with just a look. And the look on her face in that moment read close to a goodbye.

New York, 2018.

It had been two years since the fall of Helmut Zemo and part of the Avengers was still on the run. And it maybe wouldn’t have had that big of an impact on you if it wasn’t because Natasha had also been on the run for that long.

You had heard about what happened at the Leipzig airport and how Natasha had changed alliances to join Captain America’s fight. You had been heartbroken at the news knowing that any resemblance of normality that you still hope for was destroyed.

You had spent months wondering what had made her change her mind. Had she thought about your conversations about the accords? Had she even remembered you, waiting for her back in New York, when she decided to go on the run?

A part of you tried to convince you of how selfish thinking about that was, why would she think about you when the future of her team and friends was at stake? But also you were her girlfriend, she should have thought about the implications that might have had for you.

In those years you had mourned your relationship and after the grieving period you tried to rebuild your life. New friends, a new position and new chances to take. And it went okay...at least until someone opened their mouth to talk about superheroes or The Avengers. Years down the line and it was still on people’s minds.

On special occasions you would receive anonymous gifts at your office or your apartment. The first birthday after the war you sobbed for fifteen minutes when you saw the bunch of flowers. There was no name or indicative of who might have sent them, that was until you looked better at the card and saw the small red hourglass painted in the corner.

The gifts continued. Every case you won, promotion, birthday or holiday a bunch of flowers would be delivered to you with the same note.

In a way it gave you a sense of peace knowing she was okay and still thought of you. But the more you thought about it the angrier you got at how she had left you.

You didn’t expect a message from your boss to run to the Avengers compound and assess some situation between Coronel Rhodes and Thaddeus Ross. Although the team had crumbled, your company was still hired to legally represent the remaining members and moderate situations that might arise with the government.

You entered the compound expecting another bureaucratic complaint about their activity but you found a trickier situation. The meeting room was filled with people you thought you would never see again.

Captain Rogers was sitting on one of the chairs sporting a new look that made you almost not recognize him and a tense demeanor. Next to him was Sam Wilson, looking around at the smallest of movements and trying to assess the situation. Wanda Maximoff was standing on the furthest corner of the room playing with her rings, meanwhile Vision was apparently being checked out for a wound. What kind of wounds a synthezoid could get was beyond your understanding.

“Thank you for coming so quickly, I might have angered Secretary Ross during a meeting.” Rhodey came up to you with a nervous smile.

You had gotten closer to him thanks to your job seeing as he was the one doing the dirty superhero work.

“Yeah, I got that much from the text. Nothing new then.” You tried to joke to diffuse the tension in the room. “It would have been nice to know you had guests though.”

“We are not guests. Last time I checked this was our home too.”

That voice made your blood freeze. You should have expected her there, all her friends had returned and the chance of her being back too was almost 100%. But hearing her voice again after two years was not something you expected.

You bit your tongue before you could talk about how it’s not a home if you abandon it, but decided against it. This was a fight between them, not Natasha and you.

“I need you to work with the government to avoid this situation becoming a disaster.” Rhodey explained and you scoffed.

“Rhodey, I’m a lawyer not a politician. I have as much power in this as you might have.” You tried to lay your point across but it was difficult with all eyes on the interaction. “Hell, I have even less power than you do.”

“Then I need you to distract them enough to get them off our shoulders.” He pressed. “Something big is coming and we need all the strength we can get.”

You thought about it for a moment. If it was true that something big was coming, the Avengers were the best option to fight it.

“I’m in.” You scoffed at his smile and sat down in one of the chairs of the meeting room. “I’m not ready for the world to end yet.”

The meeting went on for a while. You called bosses, government officials and everyone that would listen to your distractions. You sent emails that would flood their inboxes for days so that they couldn’t read any news that might reach them about what the superheroes had in mind.

It was late at night when a cup of steaming liquid was placed next to you. You looked at it and saw that it was some kind of herbal tea, probably made to relax the drinker. You followed the hand that was still holding the mug until you reached Natasha’s face.

You had done your best to ignore her looming presence in the room but now there was no distraction. Looking at her you could see tiredness in her face. She was platinum blonde now, a look that weirdly suited her, but her face still looked as welcoming to you as it always did.

You tried to stop the flashbacks to the last time you saw it in person in Vienna, but they kept replaying in your head until her voice broke you out of the loop.

“I thought you might need it, I remember how nervous calls used to make you.”

She was smiling but you could tell it didn’t reach her eyes.

“Yeah, I guess I got over it since I got my promotion. Now I spend a long portion of my day making calls.”

She hummed and sat down next two you, but leaving a chair in between you as a safe space.

“I read about it in an article, I sent you flowers to celebrate.”

“I got them. And the Christmas ones. On my birthday too.” You enumerated the times you had gotten the plants in the past two years. “You must have spent an awful amount of money buying me so many flowers.”

“You deserved it, you still do.” She shrugged and that’s when you noticed she had her own mug of warm tea in her other hand. “I’m sorry I couldn’t be there to celebrate with you.”

You laughed into your mug sarcastically. Out of everything you expected her to say this wasn’t one of them.

“Did you really? Because you didn’t seem to consider me much when you went on the run for two years.”

Natasha paled when she heard your tone. She probably wasn’t used to situations like these but you weren’t going to let her go without an apology at least.

“I was trying to do the best for-”

“-for the world. I get it, Natasha, I do.” You tried to contain your emotions but it was getting harder with every word. “Relationships are supposed to be teamwork. I know you are always too busy playing heroes and I never judged you for that, I just wish you would have trusted me enough to tell me before you disappeared.”

She was silent and knowing Natasha it’s because she was probably overwhelmed with the display of feelings. But she needed to hear how bad you had felt.

After minutes of waiting for an answer from her and getting nothing but sighs you shook your head and looked back at the computer screen.

“I guess it was a case of the right person, wrong time.” You shrugged trying to find distraction in the flurry of letters in your email inbox. “Or at least it was for me.”

She got up from her seat without a word and you grew exasperated. Why had she even approached you if then she wasn’t willing to have an adult, two sided conversation? She was almost at the door when you heard her voice again.

“Please never doubt how much I love you. I made some bad choices but dating you was not one of them.”

New York, 2024.

Time apparently flies by when you are erased from the face of the earth. One day you are in your office working late and the next you appear five years in the future with no recollection of what might have happened.

You were taken by authorities to impromptu camps and one by one examined to check your identities. The entire thing seemed to be something out of one of the dystopian novels you used to read as a teenager.

When it was your turn you gave them all the information you had on what had happened. You had given them your name and personal information and apparently had been a very searched person because the computer started beeping as soon as your name was introduced in the database.

You were moved to a secluded part of the camp and kept in an isolated room for god knows how long. Your stomach was in knots during the entire situation and you could feel the cold sweat on you. That mixed with the metallic taste on your tongue you knew this time your anxiety was justified. You were almost dizzy because of how hard you were thinking about the entire situation and trying to make sense of it.

When you heard the door of the room open you jumped up, discarding on the floor a makeshift blanket that had been placed on your shoulders when you got there. Your legs almost gave out at the movement and your heart felt like it was going to burst out.

The door opened enough for you to see who had been searching for you. Natasha stepped through the door still dressed in her tactic gear and with tiredness written all over her face. But that feeling seemed to almost disappear when she finally saw you.

With quick movements she stepped into the room and wrapped her arms around you tightly. For some reason that action was the trigger that you needed to let all your emotions consume you.

You started sobbing uncontrollably at the unknown. You didn’t understand what happened or how you are here, but feeling her embrace helped you feel safe in a way. It had been years since you last hugged her but it still felt as good as back in 2015.

You could hear Natasha’s soothing shushes in between your sobs and you moved to hold her tighter.

“You are here. I can’t believe I found you again.” She spoke softly and you didn’t know if she was speaking to you or herself. “It’s okay darling. I’m here and I’m not letting you go again. I promise.”

And with that promise a ray of hope made way between all the fear you felt.

Missouri, 2025.

Soft music could be heard all around the ground floor of the house. The soft beat was upbeat enough to get the morning started but not enough to be overwhelming if you had just woken up. You were sitting on the kitchen island looking at the news on your phone and having breakfast.

Mornings were usually very calm around the homestead and you couldn’ be more thankful for that. It allowed you to silently prepare your breakfast and coffee and get a headstart on Natasha’s breakfast too.

Since she had retired, Natasha had discovered a newfound love for sleeping in and you didn’t dare to take that away from her. She deserved it from all the work she had done in her life.

You, meanwhile, tried to get up early to scroll through the cases that you got in your new and smaller job and schedule meetings or emails.

It was a Saturday so work wasn’t a thing and you could actually enjoy your toast and coffee in peace. Or at least until a pair of arms wrapped themselves around your middle and pulled you back against Natasha.

“Good morning baby, how did you sleep?”

“Like a baby.” You could feel her smile when she kissed your cheek from behind. “You weren’t there when I woke up though.”

You shrugged before moving to get a bite out of your toast. Natasha tried to do the same but you quickly moved it away from her with a smile. She tried again and you moved as fast as your reflexes allowed you.

“C’mon baby, give me a bite” “No, it’s my toast. You can make your own.” “But it tastes better when you make it.” “No it doesn’t, don’t be lazy.”

The playful fight continued for a few moments until she got close enough to get a small bit but you moved it again.

“Don’t make me bite you, darling.”

You chuckled at her threat and plopped the remaining toast on the plate in front of you. Breakfast didn’t matter much anymore. You threw yourself into her arms and pressed your lips against hers. It wasn’t a slow and sensual kiss, it was closer to how small kids smooch their parents. But you knew it would convey your love more deeply.

“Don’t threaten me with a good time, Nat.” You spoke against her lips and squaked when you felt her playfully nip at your bottom lip.

“Is now a good time?”

That question had become recurring in your household, a nod to the phrase you said when you found eachother again after being separated the first time.

“I couldn’t think of a more perfect time.”

And you couldn’t. The rest of your life spent in a homestead with your girlfriend and whatever life might bring? It sounded absolutely delightful.

Taglist: @tagehaya @flyforeverfree @rooskaya-yelena @evalynanne @insanitybyanothername @princessayveke @yelenabelovasgf @kyli314