#and reading the first part [ch. 1 to 11 IIRC] is basically a timestamp of the past

[self-shipper-snowdrop]

is breakdown a new f/o or has he been around for a while, just not on your f/o list?

It's complicated ^^; Kinda... both-ish????? Sorta????

He's always been a character my bro and I have paired with Knockout [we legit cheered when the comic showed them canon married, my brother sent the panel and we freaked in a good way] and he WAS always planned as a love interest for Bronwen in the TFP fic that's been around for like. a long time lmao. BUT, L/Is in those fics haven't always reflected my actual taste/likes, if that makes sense. Basically characters in some personal fics are used, essentially, as vessels for me to practice writing. This can actually be seen in some super old fanfic [some of the oldest I have digitally, and thus survived the burnings] of Bronwen paired with characters I hated then and still hate now; but it was a chance for me to explore characters and dynamics before I was comfortable writing using OCs. Ones that couldn't be written with characters I liked only. That isn't tsundere denial, that's literally a thing I did for practice.

BD is different, though, because I've always adored him. There's just never really been... ship content. Or many notes.

But while I think I've always loved him too, I wasn't really open with myself about it until more recently. I wrote the chapter for the episode Operation: Breakdown in the fic a few weeks ago, and in it, Bronwen ends up captured with BD. I think that made me realize that writing about just them [not just in the context of them both as KO's partners] makes me happy too. Like 80% of the chapter where Bronwen appears has her and BD bonding and being close, with him affectionately calling her "Birdie". She even states in chapters following that she is- quite literally- willing to defy her visions and fate to make sure BD lives.

It kinda had me understanding that... yeah. I think this has always been here, I've always loved him, it's just time for me to own up and acknowledge it.

SO, in essence, I think the feelings have always been there. I just haven't actively let myself acknowledge that yes, I love Breakdown too, until recently. Hence the addition!