#and smoking and laughing and cheering together and being sad and angry together it’s truly so incredible

[milo-is-rambling]

Don’t get high and then watch the only team you care about lose

[rachaelswrites]

Breakups are Hard

Sebastian Stan x daughter!reader

Word Count: 1,595

Requested by: Anonymous 

A daughter reader fic (u choose) where they help reader through her first breakup?

A/N: I loved this idea! please send keep sending in more requests.

Warnings: language, men are trash 

You thought today would be a good day. You and your friends were going on a group date during school at lunch. You were really excited because you and your boyfriend were approaching your six month anniversary (which is kind of a big deal for teenagers). You were expecting something nice from him, but what you got was a lot worse. 

You had met up with some of your friends in front of the school, waiting for everyone else. You spotted them and waved them over. You ran and hugged your boyfriend. He was your first boyfriend but you were genuinely in love with him. You found it hard to meet people who really wanted you, not because of who your dad was. Since starting high school, you made a bunch of friends freshman year and then a boyfriend sophomore year. You hadn’t told your dad, worried that he would give you the “Be careful honey. He might only want you for x,y,z” talk. You knew it was a possibility, but your boyfriend assured you he truly wanted you. 

“ Hey y/bf/n! How has your day been so far?” you asked him, kissing his cheek. 

He wrapped his arm around your waist, “It's ok. Could be better I guess,” he shrugged. 

“I know what’ll cheer you up,” you pecked him on the lips. You saw him smile a bit and you grinned. You grabbed his hand and led him to the subway. You two sat next to each other but he wasn’t engaging in conversation. The ride there was silent and awkward. You tried making small talk but he wasn’t interested

  The group was heading to a café that a lot of kids in New York went to. It was always busy during lunch time, but you called ahead and reserved spots for all of you. It was only a short five minute ride from school. You all got off and headed inside. The group sat down and ordered. You all made small talk until your food and drinks arrived. 

You noticed your boyfriend being distant, so you pulled him away from the table to talk to him. 

“Hey are you feeling okay today? Do you wanna talk about something?” you asked him. 

 “Um yeah. There is something I want to talk to you about,” he mumbled. You urged him to continue, “Look. Y/n. I really care about you but, I don’t think we’re working out. I think we’re just too different. I’m sorry,” 

You looked at him in shock. “What do you mean? I thought we were fine? We were having fun. At least I thought so,” tears started to fill your eyes and spill down your cheeks. All your now-ex did was shrug and go back to the table. You were still standing there, while he acted like nothing happened. 

You wiped your tears and joined your friends. Everyone knew what happened. You ate in silence and waited until you all had to leave. You would have left early, but you didn’t want everyone to worry about you. 

Eventually you were back on the subway. You sat across from your ex and saw him flirting with a new girl already. You rolled your eyes. Sadness now turning into anger. 

The rest of the school day was horrible. By now, news spread of your breakup. People would look at you in the hallway and whisper. You were sick of it. By the time the final bell rang, you wouldn’t have been surprised if there was smoke coming out of your ears.

You slammed the door of the apartment shut, making your dad jump. When he asked how your dad was, you only huffed in response and stomped upstairs. Sebastian has never seen you this angry before. You slammed the door to your room as well. He knew he needed to address whatever happened with you. “Y/n? Can you please come back down here for a sec?” 

You were flopped on the bed when your dad called. You groaned and decided to listen. Sebastian was never strict with you, but he could definitely put his foot down when needed. “What!” you yelled from the top of the stairs. 

“Down here sweetheart,”

You stomped down the steps and stood in front of him, arms crossed over your chest, “What?” you asked, a little nicer this time. 

“What’s going on? Why are you so angry today?” he was concerned. Normally, you would have already told him, You were very open with him about this stuff. 

“Nothing. It’s fine. I’m fine. Can you just leave me alone please?” you pleaded. You knew if he kept pressing you, you would spill. 

“There’s something going on. I want to know and I want to help you please,” he looked into your eyes, searching for any signs. 

“You can’t do anything anyway. So don’t even bother,”

“I can’t help because you aren’t telling me,”

“Stop! Leave it the fuck alone already!” you screamed.

Sebastian sat there stunned. You never raised your voice at him and you never cursed in front of him like that. Before you could turn and go back upstairs, Sebastian stood up and grabbed your arm. You tried to pull out of his reach but he pulled you into his arms and held you tight. You didn’t even bother trying to fight. You had broken down into tears now. Sobbing into your dad’s chest. “Shh. Shh. It’s ok. Let it out. I’ll stay here as long as you need me to ok? I’m here for you baby. Let me know when you want to talk,” he whispered. He kissed the top of your head while you continued crying. 

“He broke up with me,” you hiccupped. Sebastian looked down at you, confused, “I don’t even know why. We were doing so well,”

“Who broke up with you?”

“Y/bf/n. You met him a few times. We were together for six months. Well… almost six months,” you stepped out of your dad’s grip and wiped your tears, “and he did it in front of our friends. It was horrible,” 

“I’m sorry baby. That’s awful. Breakups are hard but, I know you’re strong enough to get through it,”

“You think so? I’m just a mess,” you sniffed. 

Sebastian laughed and placed a hand on your shoulder, “Sweetheart. Look at me! I’m a mess. It’s just genetics,” he teased, “Tell you what. Go take a shower and change into some comfy clothes,” 

You nodded and he kissed your temple. You ran back upstairs and did what he told you to. You took a nice, long, hot shower and changed into sweatpants and one of your dad’s old sweatshirts from high school that you stole from him. You met your dad downstairs, keys in his hand. “Come on, let’s go,” he said, extending his hand out to you. You grabbed it and walked downstairs to the car with your dad. You didn’t notice he had a backpack with him until he tossed it into the back seat. He started driving out of the city. He pulled into a gas station and parked the car. “Stay here. I’ll be right back,” he said. He put on some sunglasses and got out of the car. You saw him walk into the store and disappear in the aisles. 

About ten minutes later, you saw him at the register. You tried to see what he was getting, but a magazine stand was blocking your view, He came out and put his sunglasses on his head. He opened the door and tossed the bag next to his backpack. 

“Whatcha get Dad?” you asked him. 

“You’ll see in a bit,” he responded. He turned on the radio and you looked out the window watching the rest of the buildings and cities disappear. 

An hour had gone by and you were getting concerned. It was a school night and your dad always told you how important it was. “Hey where are we going? We’ve been driving for awhile and I have school tomor-”

“Hey. Don’t worry about it. You need to relax Y/n. Besides we’re almost there,” he said. He took an exit off the highway and drove a little farther. He ended up driving to an empty field. He parked the car and got out. You stayed and watched him open the trunk. He moved around and grabbed the bags and pulled the back seats down. He opened the backpack and pulled out a white canvas and a blanket. He set up the canvas so it was hanging from the top of the backdoor. He pulled out a small movie projector that you had no idea was in your house. He climbed onto the folded down seats and patted the spot next to him. You got out of the front and sat down next to him. 

He handed you the blanket and pulled out food and drinks from the gas station. He also pulled out one of your favorite movies. “I know how much you love Chris and how you love early 2000s movies, so I got you Not Another Teen Movie. I figured it would cheer you up,” 

“Thank you dad!” 

He put the movie in the projector and you snuggled up to him. The movie finished just in time for you to watch the sunset and see the first stars appear. You helped Sebastian pack everything back up and head back home. You fell asleep on the way back. 

Breakups are hard, but you found a way to make them better. 

Taglist

@ssebstann @peachyprincessss @emmy-writes-sometimes @teenage-incompetence

[queenofwerewolves]

Future Hope - chapter 1.5 - Practice Makes Perfect

Our heroes didnt get their powers and knew from night to day how to manage them, especially those who had physical changes to their body. Our soon-to-be heroes were all reunited in Maria's house, they had planed to spend the afternoon practing and exploring their new limits and abilities, all helping eitch other.

They decided since Griff had the biggest change, they would focus on him first. At the moment they were out in backyard, eitch one giving suggestions on what to begin first.

"Pick us all up at once with your new muscles!" Said Muffin excitedly. "That's still too light! Pick us all up plus Maria's car" Said Spike, chewing once again on a bubblegum.

"You all leave Hellride out of this!" Maria responded angrily. "That car was expensive as fuck and I refuse to go back to a life of Ubers!" She crossed her arms, indignified.

"You named your car?" Kip answered from high up a tree branch, as cats do. "I name all my belongings, what of it?" Maria answered. "And they're all cool names, too".

"Hellride? Really?" Spiked scoffed. "Because she rides fast as Hell! Look can we get back on track and find something for Griff to test his strenght?!" Maria answered nervously with a touch of embarrassment.

"Unless we find an Indiana Jones boulder for him to spin on his finger like a damn basketball we arent gonna get any damn progress!" Spike shouted back.

Maria sighed and shook her head. "I hate it when you have a point.." Griff nervously scratched the back of his head. "There must be something we can do.." He quietly mumbled out.

"I got it!" Muffin shouted, they all turned to face her. "I forgot Im a fairy! I can just poof something up!" She said excitedly. Everyone stared at her with either a confused or shocked look.

"..How... Do you FORGET that you're a fairy?!" Spike blurted out nervously. "You have fucking wings! How does one forget they have huge pink glittery wings?!"

Muffin just shrugged.

Maria smiled wide. "OK Muffin, give us something huge and heavy for Griff to use!" Muffin nodded and grabbed her wand which had a muffin on the tip. "Wand cook, beat and bake! Give us a big large and tasty cupcake!" She waved her wand and out appeared from a bunch of pink glittery smoke, a nearly two-story house tall chocolate cupcake.

"... Why a cupcake..?" Blink asked as she peeked behind her mask, in slight awe and wanting to secretly a bite out of it. "I can only make sweets!" Muffin said with a shy tone. "Im not a fighter like you guys, I only want to make people happy and eat candy!"

"That is certainly the biggest pastry I've ever seen! So large and beautiful, I bet tasty as well!" "Not to mention DIABETIC AS HELL!!! We could die from a heart attack eating that! Or worse, we could get fat! Even fatter! And become even uglier then we already are! This is too overwealming I need a nap!"

Rooko and Rooki suddenly spoke, almost taking everyone off guard on how their friend Rook is suddenly two split personalities now based on the Youtube character ENA, one is always happy while the other is always sad, and depending on the situation they can go Manic or Miserable.

"OK Griff, show us what you can do!" Maria shouted excitedly. Without missing a second, Griff bent over and gripped the edge of the massive cupcake, after struggling a bit he slowly but surely, lifted the entire thing over his head, smiling proudly.

His friends cheered and applauded proudly. Feeling satisfied, he dropped the cupcake and dusted the chocolate crumbs off his hands and fur. "Yokusei!" He shouted, and with a naruto-like smoke poof, he turned back to his human self. Maria ran and hugged him tightly, which Griff embraced and hugged back with a slight twirl.

"Griff you were amazing!!" Maria said with a proud tone, Griff slightly blushed pink at the small punk girl and her excitement. "Oh shucks, it was nothing.." He said with a shy tone.

"Well, and seems we concluded Griffin's training." Togekiss said as they took a sip of tea. "He jump twice as high as a two-story house, his punches and kicks can knock down brick walls and possibly more if we werent limited on objects to test it with, he can hear twice as much then a dog could with his ears, and his sense of smell is impecable. Truly Griff is a strong asset to our team."

"I can only train my powers at night.." Said Spooks, holding an umbrella to protect her from the sun, now that it injures her. "Muffin's power is only sweet making. Togekiss has exceptional I.Q and can see simulations in the future like Garnet in Steven Universe, along with their strong telekenisis, and Kip simply draws whatever she desires, whether alive or not and it becomes a reality... That means it's Rook's turn to show us what she can do" She finished.

"Wonderful! It's our time to shine!" "I-I-I not ready! Everyone's gonna laugh at us! I-I might piss myself in fear!" "Oh pull yourself together dear! Our friends wont laugh at us!" "How do we know that?! They're just waiting to correct us on a dumb mistake!!!"

Rook's body shook and twitched as her eyes turned to static, suddenly her entire eyes turned black with a blue iris, she turned Miserable.

"They're gonna laugh and point at our foolish selves, we're gonna be so embarrassed that we'll wish that the Earth will swallow us whole and just fucking kill us now!! Go ahead! Laugh at us and our misfortune!!!"

"ooh shit" Maria said. "can someone calm her down?"

Rook's eyes change to regular as her Miserable side went away. "No need my good Queen! We are completly fine! Now prepare to be dazzled as we show you all what we can do!" q

Rook pulled out a harry potter-like wooden wand, waved it around. "Bloom and Blossom and protect who I love! Rise my pretties, rise high and above!" Rooki shot an orange light at the grass, which made dozens of flowers bloom and grow around Spike and Blink.

"This is only one of my tricks! It's a shield that protects them from almost anything! My main weakness is fire, because while plants are beautiful, they are also sadly very, very flammable"

"Cool." Said Spike before using his bat to aggressivly hit the flowers and the vines aside so he and Blink could leave.

"M-M-My turn I guess!" Rook took hold of the wand and waved it in circles. "Razzle Dazzle Shine and Show, make their body move it low!" Rooko shot a blue light at Spooks, which made unwillingly and uncontrolably start dancing and as the spell said, make her go low.

"O-OH GOD SOMEONE MAKE IT STOP I DONT LIKE HOW MY BUTT IS MOVING THIS MUCH!!" She shouted in desperation as she made a split and moved it even lower.

"M-My deal is with music! I-It works as a way of distraction o-or hypnosis and it lasts for 30 minutes un-le-less I say otherwise! I-I know it's a sucky power!"

"OK COOL CAN I STOP DANCING PLEASE IM GETTING A CRAMP!!!" Yelled Spooks, practically begging. Rooko flicked her wand and Spooks fell on the ground, panting. "OH MY POOR HAMSTRINGS THEY ACHE!!" She yelled in utter pain, meanwhile Maria and Spike were absolutely losing it.

"O-OH GOD MY STOMACH HURTS-" Said Spike in between laughter.

"OK you guys cool it" Said Blink. "It's our turn to practice now. We're the only ones who use regular weapons." She said drawing her sword and positioning her mask back in place.

"O-OK! OK!" Maria said getting up, she pulled out a small staff and whipped it, making it stretch out wide into a full, large red and black scythe, with a rose print on the blade. Spike spun his bat and spat his gum out.

"So. Who's ass Im kicking first?" Said Spike. "Wait on second thought this might be unfair." Said Blink. "Me and Maria had blades while Spike has a bat, maybe we should-"

Before she could finish, Spike swung his bat and hit Blink sword, knocking it out of her hand before kicking her back at the ground. Blink fell back hard before she could even process what happen, dumbfounded but angry, she snarled. "Oh it's on now Motherfucker." She extended her hand and the sword flew back to her hand, as she charged towards Spike, who moved out of the way as soon as Blink swung her sword, which if he hadnt been for Maria's scythe, would have sliced her right up.

"Dude! Chill! This is a pratice!" Maria spoke as both of their blades were against eitch other. Blink hopped and flipped over her and landed on a tree branch, croutching like a ninja. She put her hands together and in a small puff of smoke and disappeared. Spike and Maria were back to back, ready to counterattack Blink, what they didnt expect was for her to attack from underground.

Buring up from the dirt, she got both of them off their feet and charged after Spike, who barely managed to regain his balance before his using bat his block Blink's sword. A back and forth of clash-clings-and-clangs between metal begun, one attacking the other but eitch blocking every attack again and again.

Spike ducked a sword slash and roundhouse kick Blink's leg, which was effective since she's practically a ninja. She backflipped back on her feet and kept attacking swiftly. But a sudden scythe blade cut in between them, stopping the fight.

"That's enough!!!" Maria shouted. "You both are gonna end up hurting yourselves or eitch other! im ending it now!!"

"Oh what the hell dude?!" Blink shouted indignified. "I was about to beat him!!" "Oh please." Answered Spike. "Was that the best you could do? Sakura could do a better job kicking my ass" He scoffed. They began to argue loudly, genuinely angry at eitch other.

"THAT"S ENOUGH!!!!" Maria shouted, making them, and everyone else look at her.

"It doesnt matter would win that fight! This was a practice and not a competition!! The point of us being a team and getting powers in the first place was for all of us to make the world a better place, but the only way that can happen is if all of us work together!! As a team!!!"

They stood in silence, listening to her talk and set them straight.

"As cheesy as that sounds, it's true!! We shouldnt fight eitch other like this, you're not just my friends, we're all friends with eitch other! We all go along well and we know that, that's why I got you all together, because no one can bond better in a team then all of us together!!!"

"... She's right." Togekiss added, walking towards them. "We all started as simple individuals with free time on a website, but we all shared common interests, we grew closer.. And suddenly like that, we all became friends.. A family, if you will."

"We take care of eitch other and look out for one another." Said Spooks.

"Just like how you all did for me.. When I almost died. Almost died because of the shit and violent world we live in." Maria said.. With a slight crack in her voice.

"You're bringing in the same violence that almost killed me.. So please.. Please stop fighting.. We're all in this together.. Right..?"

Spike and Blink dropped their weapons and hugged Maria, and everyone else joined in as well.

"You're right, we're sorry Queen." Said Spike. "We got overwhealmed and we didnt mean it. We wont fight again, because you're right." Added Blink.

"We only have eitch other in this world, and if we want to change it we have to stick together, just like you said." Spike said one more time.

"And we wont let you down.. We promise.." Griff finished, with everyone agreeing with what he said.

And so they stayed for a moment, embraced within eitch other in a group hug. A family isnt perfect, there will be disagreements, but a good bond will always overcome those disagreements, and that's what they had, a good bond.

A bond that's practically unbreakable and untaintable. A bond that will soon be ready, and fight together to make the world a better place.

A bond that will the world's Future Hope..

[gremlin-flubb]

I AM SO SORRY FOR THE WAIT! TUMBLR DELETED MY E N T I R E STORY! HOPE YOU ENJOY!!

XxX

Summer Vacation!

It was wonderful! No studying, or tests, or random pop quizzes. It was just so wonderful!

At least, you thought it was.

Your favorite apparition, on the other hand, thought it was the worse thing in the absolute world.

As you walk into his bathroom, he latches his hands to your cheeks, amber eyes big and glossy, bottom lip jutting out.

"[Y/n]! You're not really leaving for three weeks, right?" He asks, eyes searching your face.

You grasp his hands in your own, prying them away from your face. You hold them, head tilting to the side, his sadness at the thought of your absence warming your heart.

"I don't really have a choice." You say, making him pout more.

"That's not fair! What will you even do for three weeks?"

"Well, definitely not clean bathrooms." You laugh, finding your small jab funny.

Hanako, however, did not.

His deadpan expression causes you to sober up quickly, and squeeze his hands in yours. You take your right hand and place it against his cheek. He leans into it somberly, eyes staring at the ground in a child like tantrum.

"I'm sorry, Hanako.. I would take you with me if i could.."

You both stood there for a moment, Hanako refusing to leave your touch, and you enjoying the cool feel of his skin. Suddenly, his eyes sparkle, excitement rolling off him like waves. He starts to float, hand still in yours as he exclaims, "Wait, wait, wait!" He grabs your right hand as well, "I'm pretty sure i've heard Tsuchigomori talk about being able to leave boundaries before!"

"You have?" You ask, brows furrowing.

The bathroom door opens, and feet shuffle into the restroom.

"You can leave the school?" Yashiro asks, her question announcing her arrival.

"I didn't think that was possible..?" Kou pipes up, also announcing his presence.

At the sound of his voice, you turn towards him, eyes glistening with mischief, "You do know this is the girls bathroom, right?"

Kou's face flares up, an indignant yell escaping his throat, "Of course i know!" He defends, "But this is Hanako-kun's place! So you should be calling him a pervert!"

"I never called you a pervert?" You respond coyly, watching Kou's face turn even more red. He turns away from you, embarrassment written all over his face. Yashiro giggles, patting the embarrassed boy in reassurance.

Ahhh... He was just so fun to mess with sometimes..

Hanako lets go of your hands and floats in between you and Kou, a bit of jealousy spiking in his chest from your friendly interaction. He wraps his arms around your neck, cheek pressed to yours. He stares at the blond, who stares back questioning.

"What?" He asks, a brow rising.

"..Nothing.." The ghost answers, cheek rubbing against yours.

"Oh don't start with that, again!" Kou yells, a fist in the air.

You and Yashiro share a look, and burst into laughter. After a moment, Yashiro claps her hands together, gaining the attention of the two bickering boys. She places her hands on her hips proudly once they look at her and announce, "Alright! Let's go see Tsuchigomori and have the best summer vacation ever!"

XxX

"Yeah, that's not happening." Tsuchigomori says, flipping a page in his current book. He takes a drag of his cigarette, blowing the smoke towards the four of you. "At least, not for three weeks."

"Then how long?" You pipe up, cutting off Hanako's small whine. You loved him, truly, he absolutely had your whole heart.

However, he could be a real brat if you didn't stop him before hand.

"A day, maybe a couple hours." The teacher responds, closing his book with a snap and looking up at you.

Not to be dramatic or anything, but you felt kind of honored.

"A day?-" Hanako whines,

"-Or a couple hours-" Tsuchigomori says quickly,

"-But [N/n]-chan will be gone for weeks..!" Hanako finishes, not caring about the small break in his sentence.

"Why do i feel like we're chopped liver..?" Kou mumbles, Yashiro nodding along with him.

"Because we are.." Yashiro responds, just as deadpan.

"What if i fought you?" Hanako asks, not even blinking at the thought.

Tsuchigomori's eyebrow twitched, but you didn't know if it was out of annoyance.. or fear. "I don't really have a say on it.."

You grasp Hanako's hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. He turns towards you, and you give him a small smile, "Maybe we should take it..? We can make it the best day ever! What do you think?"

You could tell he wanted to decline, to fight with Tsuchigomori more to get his way. However, after a few moments of your silent stare off, he agrees.

"Great! Now we all just need to agree on what to-"

"What about the beach?" Yashiro says excitedly, "It's summer! There's ice cream, and we can make sand castles! Oh! And there's-"

"-A chance you'll find prince charming??" You say, smiling teasingly at your best friend.

"Yes, a chance i will find my prince charming." She nods, happily agreeing with your statement.

It makes you snicker.

"What do you think, Hanako? Kou?" You ask, glancing between the two.

"I'm all for it!" Kou cheers, pumping his fist in the air, his staff jingling from the movement.

Hanako places his free hand up to his mouth in thought, mumbling, "It has been a long time since I've seen the ocean.."

"Then it's decided! We meet outside Sunday morning!" You turn to the spider themed ghost, "You do whatever you need to let Hanako have the best day ever!"

The teacher just smirked, and that was all the answer you needed.

XxX

"No, Absolutely not." You whip your head at Kou, arms cross in annoyance, "He was not invited!"

You point your finger at the older Minamoto brother, who only snickers at your angry gesture.

"I'm really sorry, [Y/n]-senpai! He just really wanted to come..!"

"Kou, hun, you precious thing, do you not remember he tried to obliterate Hanako??"

Yashiro whacks your shoulder lightly from her spot behind you, peeking over to look at her weird crush.

Teru smiles down at you, and if you were anyone else, you might've been charmed. But you're not, and you weren't.

It just made you pissy.

"I'm sorry for inviting myself, I just wanted to make sure Hanako-kun didn't bother anyone else." He says cooly.

You narrow your eyes up at him, "He hasn't bothered anyone.."

You hear Yashiro start to pipe up, but in a childish wanting to be right you yell, "NO ONE."

This only causes the tall blond to laugh.

"[N/n]-Chaaan!~"

"Hanako!" You yell happily, turning away from the annoying Minamoto brother. However, when you saw Hanako's beach wear you blink.

It was..

Hanako slams into you, wrapping his arms around your neck. You hug back, laughing at his excitement.

It was a horrendous outfit... But somehow he made it work.

XxX

"Wow...! I forgot how massive the ocean was!" Hanako yells over to you, feet already submerged into the salty body.

You took off your over layers, folding them up neatly and putting it onto your towel. "I know, it's big and sparkly, I really like it!" You respond, matching his energy.

"Yeah, It's like-" Suddenly, he stops. Wondering why his sentence was cut short you turn towards him, but he was facing the ocean.

"Hanako?"

Nothing.

"Hanako-kun??"

Yep, no response.

You huff, placing your hands on your hips, "Amane!"

The only response you got that time was his posture stiffening.

You storm over to him, grabbing his shoulder and turning him to face you. But instead, you got a face full of hat.

So, you try to put your face near his, which results in him turning his face to the right.

So you follow, and he turns left.

Okay..

Nope, now he's looking straight up.

"Amane! Why are you being stubborn!" You scold, trying to look at him.

"You're.." He starts, but his sentence trails off.

"Huh??"

"You're... Not wearing..."

"Not wearing..? Oh! Well i can't wear regular clothes to swim!" You laugh, stepping away from him, "it's my bathing suit! Ne-chan let me borrow it..!"

"You look.. Different." He settles, glancing at you and the ground.

You smile softly at him, grabbing his hand and tugging him back to the water. "C'mon! Let's go absolutely wreck Ne-chan and Kou-kun in a splash fight!"

This perked Hanako right up, and allowed you to drag him towards the two others.

This was probably the best day of his dead life so far.

[cherryblossomfic]

Star-Crossed Myth | Valentine’s Day On Earth (NSFW)

SUMMARY: Along with the other fallen Gods of the Zodiac, their Minister of the Crown Alopex, Goddess of Seduction, Ruler of Vulpecula, and younger sister of Leon must continue to fulfill her duties to the King of the Heavens. This includes her duties to Earth on what the humans refer to as ‘Valentine’s Day,’ even though her punishment also included the removal of her wings. Weakened by the Mark of Sin, she is accompanied by Partheno, The God of Love, and supervised by her own Gods of Wishes and Punishments, as well as the Reincarnated Goddess to ensure her job is pulled off as flawlessly as possible. Will her hard work allow her to absolve her sins and return to the Heavens? And will her true love, Scorpio, ever forgive her for what she had to do to earn her fall from the Heavens?

WORD COUNT: 5K

PAIRING: Leon x Dionyssa (The Reincarnated Goddess), Ichthys x Kerasea (Princess of the Heavens), Scorpio x Alopex

GENRE: Otome Fanfic/Smut

WARNINGS: Violence, Angst, Anger, Language, Godly Sexy Time, NSFW

Dionyssa met Scorpio and Zyglavis at the reflection pool with Alopex hot on her heels. Zyglavis immediately handed a file to his superior and waited for her to read it over.

"Excuse me?" her eyes flashed pink immediately.

"What?" Scorpio's head whipped up at the sound of her voice. "You can't give her that one!" Was the King purposely trying to drive her insane?

"I have direct orders," he lowered his eyes.

"He's having way too much fun with this shit!" she yelled up into the air.    

"Let's assess the situation first," Zyglavis moved his hand across the water. As it rippled, they arrived at a scene.

"The husband is mentally and physically abusing his wife," Alopex was seething. Her eyes glowed pink as they continue to watch. The man had finished beating his wife into submission before soothing her and offering her diamonds and jewels. "This is the cruelest form of seduction," her body burst forth into pink flames as her hair too began to turn pink.

Scorpio and Zyglavis looked at one another, questioningly.

"Remember the rules, Alopex," Zyglavis reminded her.

She stared at the reflection for a moment before placing her hand on Dionyssa's shoulder. She waved her hand, forming a huge pink plume of smoke before snapping her fingers.

"Next," she returned to normal before glancing up at Zyglavis.

"Wh... what did you do?" Dionyssa asked.

"He was suddenly overcome by a raging virus. His throat is swollen, so he cannot speak. His body is weak, so he cannot physically hurt her. When she begrudgingly takes him to the hospital, someone will notice her wounds and report him to the authorities. She will be single and living on her own by the next full moon," she snapped her tongue. "Next."

"That was pure genius," Scorpio gave her a smile. “You are the master.”

Zyglavis handed her the next file. She sighed and returned to the reflecting pool before once again placing her hand on Dionyssa's shoulder. The scene this time was of a young woman who was jealous of the attention her crush had on another. She was about to post fake images of her rival on social media just as Alopex snapped her fingers. Before the lady could stop, she had posted images of herself instead.

"Wow," Dionyssa threw her hand over her mouth.

"That is a just punishment," Zyglavis smirked.

"I've got the next one," Scorpio placed his hand on Dionyssa’s shoulder and waved his hand, producing the scene of an angry wife. She had just found out, before Valentine's Day, that her husband was cheating on her with their babysitter. She was in the process of slashing his tires when Scorpio lifted his hand.

"Wait," Alopex stopped him. "Hasn't she been punished enough?"

"This isn't right," he frowned.

She turned her eyes to his. "She deserves a bit of leniency, given the circumstances."

"What would you suggest?"

"She still needs to be punished," Zyglavis spoke up.

"She does," she waved her hand over the reflection, creating a whirlpool of pink water. Scorpio noticed that she wasn't touching Dionyssa, as did she. Her eyes glowed bright pink as she whispered into the water. "No man is worth your dignity. Walk away from him, and never look back."

The woman stopped suddenly, as if she had heard Alopex's words. She slowly rose to her feet, wiped her tears, dropped the knife into the nearest trash can, and walked off.

"Punish her as you see fit," she stared at the reflection before turning to leave.

Scorpio quickly snapped his fingers, causing the police to show up before she could get away. She was going to be punished by the local authorities, but it would be up to the husband to press charges.

.

Dionyssa walked down the hall toward Leon's room to find Scorpio staring out the window at the end of the hall. He suddenly turned to run down the stairs.

"What the hell is..." Leon walked up behind her and placed his hands on her shoulder, when he looked out to the courtyard and saw his sister sitting under the gazebo, on a bench, her knees in her chest and arms over her head as she faced away.  As Scorpio slowly walked up behind her, he sighed. "Oh."

.        

Scorpio sat down next to Alopex and waited a moment before speaking. "Did you mean what you said?"

She sighed, refusing to let him see her cry. She remained where she was, facing away as she answered. "It's the logical thing to do."

"It is," he bit his lip as he watched the back of her head. "Why doesn't it feel right, then?"

"If logic hurts this badly... I suppose the only answer is to be illogical," she rolled her eyes. "I'm screwed either way," she half-laughed.

"Can I please... see your face before I pour my heart out to you?" he reached for her shoulder.

She closed her eyes and sighed before turning to face him.

He saw her tear-stained cheeks and frowned. "Vix..." it broke his heart to see her so sad. He then moved her cape aside to glance at the mark on her shoulder. "You did that for me?"

"It doesn't matter. My choice was my own. I took a chance... and made a grave error in judgement."

"I missed you," he whispered. "I missed you so freaking much," he sighed. "I honestly never thought I'd see you again."

"And I never gave up," tears again betrayed her. "I'm pathetic."

"No," he reached for her hand. "You're strong... so much stronger than I am."

"No..."

"You're beautiful, and you're intelligent, and so confident... and I love you so fucking much."        

She lost her breath as she looked into his eyes.

As their lips came together, a pink shockwave flew out from them in all directions.      

.

"What was that?" Dionyssa caught her breath.

"When two Gods are truly in love, it changes them. That was their hearts, beating as one. Look," he pointed to the flowers, peeking up through the snow, blooming right before their eyes.

"How beautiful," she cuddled into him as he kissed her forehead.

.

"That should have been our first kiss," Scorpio whispered.

She looked up into his eyes as she placed her right hand over his heart. A smile spread across her face as she leaned in to kiss him again.

"As pissed off as I am that you sinned to get here, I am so happy to see you again."

"I feel responsible for you being here."                    

"No..."

"I pushed you to complete those missions for the King when I knew you didn't want to. You were trying to pull away from that life. It was becoming too much like your past life as a human, and I..."      

"It's over," he whispered. "Right now, you should focus on resting up for tomorrow."

She sighed as she dropped her eyes.      

"Hey," he lifted her chin to look into her eyes. "I'll be right here, cheering you on and waiting for you to return. I'm not going anywhere ever again. I love you."

"I love you," she pressed her lips against his.

                                                         ❤︎

“I have to work tomorrow. I might be able to take you out for a quick meal, but I need to keep an eye on my sister,” Leon sighed as he ran his fingers through Dionyssa’s hair.

“What are you saying?” she looked up at him.

“Romance tonight… holiday tomorrow.”

“Oh?” he ears perked up. “Okay… I left your gifts at home anyway.”

“You bought me gifts?” he smirked at her. 

“Of course I did. It’s Valentine’s Day.”

“You never cease to amaze me,” he leaned down to kiss her, pulling her into his room with a slam of the door behind them. He ran his hands up her arms as the most powerful sensations she had ever felt slammed through her body.

“Ah!” she threw her head back as he smiled. He loved using his powers on her. “We’re not going out first?”

“That’s tomorrow night,” he kissed her.

“And this is tonight,” she pushed against him as her bodily responses sped into overdrive.

A guttural growl rumbled from deep in his chest as they pounced on one another, grabbing at clothes and throwing them away while making their way to the bed.

He always had to remind himself to be gentle and to hold back. Humans were much more fragile than the Goddesses he had been with in the past. It would devastate him to kill his woman in the heat of passion.

Every God in the house suddenly looked up toward Leon’s room, bursting into a bright smile before going back to their own business. Alopex grinned as she walked down the hall toward the baths.

“He is definitely my brother,” she grinned as Ichthys followed her.

Scorpio looked up from reading over paperwork to see Teorus tiptoe after them. “Dipshits,” he mumbled before retuning his attention to the papers.

                                                        ❤︎

Dionyssa opened her eyes very early the next morning to find Leon gone. She quickly dressed and walked out to find all 18 of the top-tier Gods in a circle, with Alopex in the middle.

Each of them raised their hand and pointed their palms toward her as her mark began to change. The sun circling the raven completely disappeared, and the raven itself faded to a light gray. Alopex closed her eyes in pain for only a moment, but when she opened them, they were pure, crystal pink as her hair drained of all color, leaving it a silvery white. This is why she was also known as Vixen, for she was The White Fox.  

Her body began to levitate as her clothes changed into a deep purple gown adorned in stars and trimmed in white fox fur with a wide silver belt wrapped around her waist.

She lowered back to her feet and looked down at her hands for a moment, letting her body get used to wielding her powers once again before looking up to Zyglavis and nodding.

Partheno stepped up and knelt before her. "My Lady, I am ready."

She took his hand and nodded before glancing at Scorpio. Dionyssa swore she saw him smile for the first time--ever.        

"24 hours is yours, Goddess," Zyglavis bowed to her.

"Shall we then?" she let out a deep breath just before disappearing.

.

Leon quickly grabbed Dionyssa's hand and teleported them to the fountain in his room. "You have to see this. It's the most incredible sight in universe."

She raised her eyebrows as he waived his hand across the fountain and watched Partheno and Alopex fly through the city. She waved her hand, producing pink dust that found its way to anyone who needed it.

Occasionally, she would land to observe people for a moment. If she decided they needed an extra push, she would touch one half of the couple and then form an arrow of light. Like Cupid, she would shoot the other half straight into the heart and then leave, smiling, as her magic was left to work.

"I taught her that," Tauxolouve grinned from over Dionyssa's shoulder.

.        

"You are so good at this," Partheno grinned at her.

"Losing my wings wasn't as big a problem as I thought," she sighed. "I still miss them, though."

"You're still you, Alo."

"Thank you," she looked around and turned to find a large area in which she was needed. She burst into pink flames as she slowly walked through the crowd and, touching one by one, blessed them with just the amount of love and peace they needed to accomplish their love goals for that night.

.        

"Damn, she's beautiful," they looked up to see Scorpio watching from next to Huedhaut.

Leon slowly turned to him. "So, you finally did it, huh?"

"Is that a problem?"

"It's a huge problem," he growled, "but if you make my sister happy, I can overlook it."

"I'm not sure of anything as long as we're trapped on this damn rock, but... yeah. Eternity with my Vixen sounds pretty freakin' awesome."

"Enough with the pet names," he rolled his eyes. "Do whatever the hell you want."

Dionyssa waited a while before asking a question that had weighed on her mind. "If she's your younger sister... why does she outrank you?"

The other Gods froze, smiles on their faces as they looked up and waited for Leon's answer.

"Because of that," he pointed into the reflecting pool. "She can read what is truly in a heart... and I've never really cared before..."

He stopped speaking, but she knew what he meant. He didn't care about love until he met her.

.

That night, Leon treated Dionyssa to a nice restaurant and a bit of shopping, human things that she seemed to like, before they returned to the mansion. With it being such a big day for both departments, she sat back and resumed her watch over Alopex as the remaining Gods caught up on paperwork and waited.

.

As the sun rose the next morning, the door opened and everyone who had been waiting sat up straight. Dionyssa was apparently sound asleep with her head in Leon's lap (how embarrassing!), but the Gods all bowed to her.

"Thank you," she smiled for them.

"For you," Huedhaut handed her glass of wine.

"I'm going to need it..." she suddenly lost her breath as she doubled over in pain. Scorpio was there in a second, holding her hand as her mark reappeared in full. Her hair and eyes slowly returned to normal, as her purple gown disappeared, and a peach and gold single-shouldered silk tunic took its place.

"I've got'cha," Scorpio whispered gently to her as she returned to her feet.

She took a few breaths before clearing her throat and drinking down her wine.

Once the Goddess had taken the first sip, the Gods raised their cups and toasted her. "To Alopex!"

"I really missed you guys," she broke into laughter as they all followed.

That's about the time Dionyssa woke up and looked around.

.

"You had fun. Admit it, you tooootaly did," Ichthys grinned at Alopex.

"It was different," she spoke slowly. "Having Partheno there to spot what I missed, not having my wings... having a set timeframe... It was strange," she relaxed.

"I'm just glad you were respectful enough not to pull any pranks this year," Zyglavis spoke to Ichthys.

Ichthys dropped his mouth open to mock offense as Leon and Alopex both nodded in agreement.

"Last year was messy, Ik," Scorpio agreed.

"But you're still talking about it," he smirked proudly.

"Because of the carnage," Dui's eyes widened in terror. "I still have nightmares."

"You don't sleep!" he pushed him away playfully. "Besides, Alo totally has the authority to kill me and let's face it, Zig and Scorpy would be more than happy to oblige."

"True," they spoke at the same time.

"It's called self-preservation. I won't crap on the boss lady's holy day... while she's on Earth and can reach me."

"You're a shit," she laughed before elbowing him.

Scorpio silently looked her over for a moment. "You should probably rest."

"I feel fine," she met his eyes while taking a long drink from her cup.

"I don't recall asking how you feel, Goddess," he growled lowly.

She licked the wine from her lips before turning to walk toward her room.

Scorpio watched her walk off for a moment before following her.

                                                      ❤︎

Alopex walked up to her bed and stopped as she stared off out the window and waited. Two warm hands slowly reached up her shoulders and moved her hair off over her right shoulder.

Scorpio smiled before kissing her neck. "Your thoughts are much less crazy today."

"And your heart is racing," she tilted her head, giving him better access.

He pushed her gown off her shoulder and looked down to see her mark before glancing up at her. "It's gotten lighter again," he whispered.        

"I don't care," she turned to push his jacket off of his shoulders.

"Woah, slow the hell down," he raised his voice.      

"You apparently don't know what it's like to have that much love, seduction, and lust coursing through your veins for an entire day," she kissed him roughly.

"Show me," he grinned as her gown fell to her feet.

She threw his white cotton shirt open, sending buttons flying everywhere before reaching for his pants.

"Wait, these frickin' boots..."

"You can keep the boots on," she sucked his bottom lip into her mouth as he pulled his shirt off and threw it across the room.

"Damn it, woman. You can't say things like that and not expect consequences," he pushed her onto the bed and quickly unlaced his black boots before kicking out of his white uniform pants and crawling across to meet her. He kissed his way up her body as she threw her head back and smiled. "You'll let me know if you get tired, right?"

 "I'm planning on making love to you until I drop," she grinned brightly as he stopped at the mark on her shoulder and slowly pressed his lips against it. "And I've got the whole day off, so..."

He grinned evilly before looking up at her. "I love you," he whispered.

"I love you," she replied quietly.

"This," he took her right hand and placed it over his heart, "beats only for you now."

Her eyes glowed pink for a moment before she looked straight into his eyes. His response was to slip his tongue between her full, pink lips and search out her sweet mouth.

She opened her eyes briefly to see him staring back at her before brushing her tongue against his. It was then that she felt his throbbing bulge pressing into her lower belly. She closed her eyes and tilted her head up to give him easier access as she pushed her hips into his. That was all the encouragement he needed before he carefully, slowly, pushed his way inside her.

He pushed up onto his hands to hover over her, taking in the sight of her auburn waves splayed around her head, her soft white skin reflecting the light of the morning sun, and her eyes, the color of the sunset, sparkling up into his. He wanted to remember everything about this moment, from the sounds that she made to her smells, and everything in between.

Finally, there was nothing between them. After decades of wanting her, she was his.

She brought her knees up as her fingers brushed up his back, slowly, and up to his shoulders. He growled deeply as he began to move, sliding against her as she closed her eyes and gasped in pleasure. Pushing up to his knees, he pulled her up with him and leaned back, opening her hips wide to deepen his penetration.

In no time at all, she was pulling at his hair, pulsating around him as her orgasm slammed through her body.

“I've been waiting so frickin' long to feel you do that,” he kissed her ear.

“Please do it again,” she brushed her nose against his.

“Yes, My Goddess,” he pulled her bottom lip into his mouth as he fell back with her atop and pushed up into her hips while pulling them toward him with his hands.

She placed her right hand on his chest and her left hand over his right as she pumped her legs, rising and falling onto him. Again, her body exploded into orgasmic bliss as she threw her head back to catch her breath.

In a flash, he pushed up and turned her around, pressing his hips into the back of hers as she pressed her back into his belly. “This isn’t slow,” she giggled.

“It can be,” he pulled her hair over her shoulder and kissed it while pressing his rock-hard erection into her from behind. He wouldn’t allow her to fall onto her hands, he kept his arms securely around her as he thrust as deeply as he could into her.

As he felt his release nearing, he slipped his right hand down between her thighs and moved his fingers over the most sensitive spot on her body. She reached up to grab his hair as her breathing increased and let his name escape her lips.

They both erupted into bliss and struggled to catch their breath as Scorpio looked down and frowned. Alopex felt him pull back and freeze. She closed her eyes and bit her lip as she felt his fingertips gently brush over the smooth, thin skin of one of the two long, wide scars between her shoulder blades.

"That bastard," he growled. "I didn't realize he..."

"It only took one swipe," she pulled away and fell to the bed. "I suppose I should be thankful for at least that."

"We're going to get them back," he hovered over her for a moment before placing a sweet kiss over one of them. "I swear, Vix. I'll do anything to get them back," he kissed the second scar.

She pushed him onto his side and turned to her side to look into his eyes. "No. That's exactly what he wants. He will use them to get his way again. I don't even want to know what he wants in exchange for them."    

He brought his hand up to her cheek as she pressed her forehead against his. "Show me," he whispered.

She closed her eyes as he did the same. At that moment, she offered her memory to him.

.

"You are hereby banished to Earth until such time as you are absolved of your sin!" The King announced before waving his hand, creating the mark on her shoulder. She looked down through tears of pain before looking up at him. "Am I to join the others?"

"You are," he watched her a moment. "However, your position in my court demands a more severe punishment than the others. I believe forfeiture of your wings would teach a far better lesson than simply falling from grace."

"No!" she lifted her palm toward him, but nothing happened. She turned her head to see a guard step toward her as she turned to punch him square in the nose. She then turned to kick another across the jaw before pulling her arm away from another and elbowing him in the chest.

Before she knew it, four guards had ahold of her as four more forced her to extend her wings. She screamed in anger as The King walked toward her, brandishing the Sword of Sovereignty.

"Alopex, Guardian of the Constellation Vulpecula, Advisor of the The King of the Heavens, Minister of the Crown, and Goddess of Seduction..." he paused. "You have been found guilty of severing a Holy Marriage of the Heavens, for using your powers for your own selfish benefit, and for defying your King!"

With the mark sealing her powers, she was helpless against the eight Gods holding her down. She panted, despair filling her soul as she glanced up one last time to see Zyglavis, Karno, Tauxolouve, Partheno, Aigonorus, and Krioff, and the Gods of the Department of Prayers, Lyra, Caelum, Pyxis, Lagós, Kynigós, and Vélos watching. They were caught between loyalty to their superior and friend and fealty to their King.

She shook her head slowly as her eyes flashed pink, giving them no question as to what they were to do-- stand by and do nothing.

With one strike of his sword, feathers went flying as her beautiful, bright white wings exploded into light. Intense pain filled Alopex just before she passed out in shock.

.

She opened her eyes to find Scorpio's staring back at her, full of angry tears.

"That sonova-"

"It's done," she whispered before kissing him. (We're so close to being home. Please don't make me lose you again.)

His eyes widened as he pulled back and stared at her. (You're a fucking idiot.)

Her eyes widened as she blinked once. (And you're an asshole.)

He burst into laughter before kissing her. "Well then..."

"We're sharing powers now?" she grinned.    

"I think they combined to make... this," he brushed his thumb down her cheek before pulling away and looking down at her.

"We have to be touching," she pushed him over onto his back before climbing up to straddle him. (Like this.) She kissed him before slowly moving her lips down his body.

"Mmm," he breathed. (Gods yes, woman. Lower. Keep going...)

She looked up with a grin. (And what if I stop right now?)

"Aw shit!" he rolled his eyes. "This is gonna take some getting used to." (But seriously, lower.)

She sucked the skin on his belly into her mouth and bit down gently.

"Ow!" he laughed.

                                                        ❤︎

Ichthys laughed at a joke that Dui had told before glancing up as the Door to the Heavens opened. He immediately caught the bright blue eyes of his beloved and burst into a bright grin before jumping to his feet and running up to her.

“What the hell are you doing here?” he squealed.

“Shhh… I can’t stay long. I stole a ring from Uncle Uranus to stabilize my powers.”

“You are going to get in so much trouble!” he grinned before pulling her down to his room. “He’ll never let me see you again.”

“Then let’s make it count,” she pressed her lips against his and pushed him into his room.

.

“Well crap,” Leon glanced up at Ziglavis. “That won’t end well.”

“I’m sure The King already knows.”

“At least she won’t punished as severely as he will be. The Council of Elders would never allow the Crown Princess to be marked.”

“There will be some type of consequence. There always is.”

They both nodded before tipping back their heads.

.

“I miss you so much, Ik,” Kerasea kissed him.

“I miss you too, My Goddess,” he pushed her gown from her shoulders, releasing her from the confines of her clothing.

She turned around and let the material pool at her feet while looking him straight in the eye. She then raised her hands and grinned as his clothing fell away from his body at once.

“I love it when you do that,” he growled pushing himself against her bare body. “I miss my powers sooooo much.”

“Keep working, you’ll be home again before you know it,” she sighed as he kissed her neck.

“Keep telling yourself that,” he sighed, clamping his eyes shut and pushing the thoughts far away.

“How soundproof are these walls?”

“Dionyssa can’t hear through them, but we can,” he grinned. “Let them hear what I can have and they can’t.”

She ran her fingertips down his cheek, grazing his skin with her nails as she continued down his neck. His body lurched as a gurgle formed deep within his chest. He brought his fingers down her back and around her backside before pulling her up, her legs instinctively wrapping around his waist as he pushed his way inside her.

She threw her head back and gasped at the feeling.

“Louder,” he tugged on her hair with a gleam in his eye.

She pushed against his shoulders and arched her back as he pulled her hips sharply against his, repeating the action until she yelled out his name repeatedly and her body quivered around his.

“I love it when you say my name,” he brushed his nose against hers before falling onto the bed with her atop him.

“And I love making you… beg,” she kissed his chest, working her way down his body until he was gasping for breath.

“Please stop teasing,” he grasped his fingers into her light blonde hair. “Either take me with your mouth or your body, but do it now!”

She looked up at him, an ornery gleam in her eyes as she smiled at him, her wings bursting out around her as she sighed softly.

“Imp,” he complained.

She waved her hand, his own flying over his head onto the bed. He was unable to move them.

“Kera,” his eyes widened as his heart beat wildly against his chest. “That’s not fair.”

With that, she impaled herself onto him, his arms and legs immediately releasing to hold her as they began to elevate above the bed. She dug her fingers into his shoulders as she rocked her hips in a ferocious rhythm. He bit on the skin on her neck, leaving a mark as he pumped as deeply as he possibly could inside of her.

"Oh!" she let out a moan.

He breathed against her chest as he felt her insides beginning to clamp around him.

Silky white feathers floated all around them as their bodies erupted in sheer pleasure. Their skin glistened with drops of sweat as they fought to settle their breathing while slowly lowering back to the bed.

“Thank you for coming to see me,” he murmured against her lips.

“Watching Alo on her day is always a bit… erotic.”

“She has awesome natural powers,” he smiled. “I’ve always been jealous.”

“Don’t be. Yours are…”

“Gone. They’re gone,” he sighed.

“Ikky,” she pouted. “You’re still you and I love you.”

He smirked before leaning up to kiss her. “And I love you, My Goddess.”

[fiction-in-my-blood]

Switching Sides: Part 7 (HLITF)

if anyone possibly wants to get on a tag list I’d be happy to make one 👉 @theshove 👈 If you wanna catch up, Part 6 is right here! Happy reading :) Premise: Growing up in a life of crime in a Japanese mafia, Atsuko Motomori has seen enough injustice to last her a lifetime. To try and give back to the universe her family has taken so much from, she dreams of being a detective from a young age. Her twin, sharing her disgust for her father and many uncles, just wants an ordinary life away from the crime, paing and suffering. Instead, she wants to be in the spotlight with the soft notes she makes with her cello. In their escape of 2015, on their coming of age birthday, they must split ways, never to be together ever again. If one was found, they didn’t want the other dragged down with them. Atsuko, having changed her name and appearance as best she can without a scalpel, sets off to start her life of car chases and arrests. Four years in a seemingly dead-end police station in the middle of nowhere, being passed over time after time for promotion, Atsuko finally gets a shot at her dream, having been sent to an academy for the best candidates in the country by her boss who had always kept an eye out for her. After discovering her boss may have made her bite off more than she could chew, Atsuko must become the slave of a dominating instructor!? Who so just happens to be the captain of the most famous police unit in Japan? Not to mention a total knockout! Will Atsuko finally achieve her dream? Or will her new instructor put her through the wringer? Warnings: Language, Reference to sexual activity, Forceful nature, Description of bloody scenes

~~~~~~

When I woke up next, there was a face right in front of mine. I yelled out in surprise to see Kaga peering down at me. 

"Hush with the shouting." He frowned as he straightened and I jumped up. I looked around to find I fell asleep in his living room. "Why are you out here?" He asked and I remember the nightmare I had last night. 

"I-I couldn't get to sleep in there," I muttered, shy that I didn't have a very good excuse. Instead of questioning me further, he threw a towel in my face, telling me to go shower.

As I walked into Kaga's bedroom, I noticed something glinting in the sunlight. I kneeled down and reached under his bed to pick up whatever it was. It was a picture frame, cracked before I had anything to do with it. There were men dressed in suits, one I recognised as Kaga. I started to worry that, in my frantic awakening last night, I knocked it off. Pretending like I hadn't seen anything, I place it on the sideboard, hoping he won't realise as I ran into the bathroom. 

~~~~~~

When I got to school, at a different time to Kaga as he left while I was in the shower, I was listening to Naruko gossip about my night at his apartment. As usual, she was less worried about me messing up than she is with the risque situations she can think up. 

"You two alone... seeking out each other's skin to heal your tired bodies." She goes off into her own little world as she pictured it. "Then your shadows overlap..." I quickly tried to silence her as her retelling of the night got too vulgar for me. A memory of him recently out of the bath flashed through my mind and my cheeks burn brightly. ‘Not to mention how much nicer he was...’

~~~~~~

After school, I was walking to the Instructor's Staff Room for a briefing on Takeda's mission. My leg still hurt and I had to rebandage it in the infirmary during my break because it started bleeding again. ‘I’m lucky it wasn't that deep, but it needs to heal quickly or I'll fall behind.’ I began to worry about my training as I walked along. Taking a quick sigh, I knocked on the door. 

Many people were already there, so I walked fast enough so that no one can see my limp and bowed my head to Instructor Kaga. "I'm truly sorry for inconveniencing you yesterday." He didn't even look in my direction as he looked at the papers in front of him. "I understand that I failed miserably and I'm very sorry." Thinking he wasn't listening, I tried apologising again.

"This mission is back to square one thanks to you." He spat. "I have no need for useless morons." He scowled but still couldn't look at me. 

"Yes sir. I will be more careful next time." I straightened my back, trying not to seem scared as he rightly reprimanded me. 

"You can leave already. Disappear." His final words made my heart stop, but I quickly regained my composure. 

"I have no use for useless morons. Get lost. Now." He announced again and I tried to find the words to respond. He seemed angry. Usually, he would just be annoyed and get me to do more meaningless filing. But, right now, there's hatred in his words. 

"Didn't you hear me? I'm done with you. Get out." He didn't even raise his voice to brush me off, but he may as well have. Everyone around us acted like nothing was happening, just like at the station. I clenched my fists to calm myself down. What had changed since last night? 

"Yes sir," I muttered, turning to leave when the door opened. There, Ishigami came to stand in front of Kaga.

"What's wrong? Did something happen?" Ishigami directed his question to Kaga, but I was the one who tensed up. 

"It's no big deal. Just getting rid of this moron." 

At my instructor's words, Goto stared at me. I try to seem unaffected by them, but I felt so tired from the little sleep I got last night, I couldn't meet his gaze. The triggering words don't help, my fists clenching harder, but I couldn't feel the pain I'm sure I'm inflicting on myself. I couldn't feel anything. No pain. No warmth or sensation. It wasn't only the mental scars I left that house with. 

"Kaga, explain." Ishigami looked at Kaga with a stern expression. 

"As you know, the investigation was a failure thanks to her mistake yesterday. There's no value in using her, so I'm disposing of her. That's all." The triggering words he was saying set alarm bells to go off in my mind. I was left frozen in this room of professional detectives. 

"Same as ever, aren't you? You can't simply-." Soma tried to butt in with a smile, maybe even to help me out, but he was cut off. 

"This is my decision," Kaga argued. Even though it was my first job, there seemed to be no excuses in the Captain's eyes. Why was I surprised?

For a moment, I felt numb. My heart was hammering hard in my chest, my temper through the roof, and stress pumping through my veins, mixed with the maddening adrenaline. Squeezing my eyes shut in an effort to calm myself down, I took a deep breath, not really caring how strange or pathetic I might have looked trying to console myself. When I opened my eyes again, luckily, no one was looking at me.

"Excuse me," I muttered before he could insult me further and left the room without a reply. 

~~~~~~

I escaped to the rooftop, seething with anger and trying to breathe through it. ‘Why am I so stupid?’ I scream at myself, kicking a trash can with my injured leg. 

‘Okay, that hurt more than I thought.’ I held my foot, hopping over to a bench by the railing. 

"What is wrong with me?" I asked myself, letting my head fall into my hands. ‘I'll never be able to help Juna at this rate.’ I let out a heavy sigh, falling back in the seat to look up at the orange-hued sky. 

Soon, the door to the roof opened again and I heard someone call my name. It was a girl's voice and, getting ahead of myself, I thought it was my sister coming to comfort me. Unfortunately, it was just Naruko and some of our male friends. Naruko saw me physically deflate as she approached. She sat down next to me, placing a hand on mine. 

"Did you really get cut from doing undercover work?" She gasped and I almost laugh. 

"Yeah, but that's not what's bothering me." I forced a sad smile as our male friends stood around us.

Naruko smiled to encourage me to continue. "I think my sister's in trouble." I sighed, bringing my knees up to my chin. She seemed shocked and told me she thought Juna was dead. The guys were more shocked, they had no idea about any of my relatives. 

"What would give you that idea?" I raised my voice in shock. She explained how sad I seemed when she brought up the pictures and anything about my family. 

"Well, I can assure you she's still alive." I laughed, maybe trying to make myself aware of that fact. I sighed just thinking about it and fell back on the back of the bench. 

"We didn't grow up in a great family. My dad was a pretty bad influence and my mom left us when we were kids. It was hard to leave home, but when we did, we kinda lost contact." I tried to be as vague as possible, but I wanted to get some of this stuff off my chest. I had been bottling it up for years. "I guess I've just had her on my mind lately." I looked at my printless fingertips and wiped my thumb over them again as if reminding myself of the damage my father could do.

"Well, Instructor Kaga has been pushing you really hard." Naruko smiled and I nodded. She probably thought the stress of school was rehashing old memories. "You made it here! So don't get down on yourself when an instructor forces you to do more than you could do." She tried to cheer me up. Even though she made sense, it was nice to think Kaga trusted me enough to do more than I thought I could do. Besides, if I wanted to stay here, I needed to be able to do this stuff.

"Besides, it's probably best he cuts you loose now." Our friend spoke up and I threw him an inquisitive expression. 

"How's that?"

"There's a rumour about him. That he killed his part-." Before another classmate could continue, I brushed it off. 

"I don't believe it." My adamant statement seemed to shock my group of friends. "I accept he's mean and scary, but leave a man to die..?" My brows furrowed as I contemplated everything the instructor had done for me. 

"Isn't there a saying for that? There's no smoke without fire?" The men started to shrug off the rumour as something they would never really know as true or not and they all left me on the roof to cool off. 

~~~~~~

Left with my own thoughts, I started to realise what being fired as Kaga's aide meant. I would have no access to the case. No way to make sure my father was involved. No way to tell Juna if she would be safe or not. And I sure as hell couldn’t keep tabs on who the team was dealing with. 

I groan out upon the realisation that I had messed things up so much more than I originally thought I had. 

"You depressed over Hyogo tossing you out?" A voice I wasn't expecting to hear called from the direction of the fire escape and my gaze darted over. 

"Shinonome?" My face screwed up in confusion as he walked over. 

"Or are you depressed over being yelled at?" Ayumu finished his question as he came to a halt in front of me. 

"I've been yelled at far worse than that before." I laughed self-deprecatingly, thinking back to when my father was ever in a 'good' mood; whenever he didn't feel like he needed to punch the closest thing to him

"Wow, you're tough." The young detective smiled and I stared up at him. 

"Besides, it's not like he's yelling for no reason..." I sighed, pouting at my own shortcomings. 

"Then why are you making that face?" He looked down at me suspiciously and I felt like glaring back. Whenever he asked me questions I felt like I was being interrogated. I didn't trust him or his stupid smile, and I especially didn't trust his words of consolation- if that's what these words were meant to be.

"What're you doing here anyway? Coming to accuse me of being a missing person again?" I frowned, dropping my chin into my knees. I just wanted to mope around now, not have him question me. Ayumu just sat beside me. Maybe he was here to hear me out. Maybe he was here to tell me I was out. But I couldn't tell when the only expression he had was somewhat positive. 

"I came here to save people, and all I've done is mess up over and over again." I sigh, staring at the floor in front of me. "It's like I don't know anything, no matter how long I've been here. Every time I try to fix something, I end up doing something worse." Thinking back to when I tried to stop Takeda from being suspicious of us by pulling Kaga close, I also remember how I eventually broke the investigation. 

"Well, if you're comparing your detective skills to Hyogo's, you would be close to nothing." Ayumu laughed and I secretly glared at him. 

‘How was that meant to make me feel better?’ 

"It's because that guy has put everything he has into becoming a detective." The statement made me think back to everything I had been holding back. All my past experiences with the law and seeing it fail miserably, just like I felt like I was doing, had been locked away so no one can figure out who I was or where I came from. I didn't want anyone to get close or to draw any unneeded attention to myself, it had only ever gotten me in trouble. But, when you're in a competition to get to the top, or pass the bare minimum bar, you really need to show everything you've got. 

"By the way, they may seem like complete opposites, but Ishigami is the same way." Ayumu leant over to pull me out of my thoughts. 

"Don't tell them that." I laugh at the idea of both of them having a similar trait. 

"We're here because those two recognised something in us." The instructor closest to my age added and it filled me with a little hope. Until I remembered my application here was totally falsified. 

"But..." Ayumu got my attention again before I could spiral. "I've seen very few people last this long with Hyogo. Let alone a woman or a student." I started to think that maybe my childhood experiences could have attributed to my ability to withstand the man's abuse with a smile most of the time. 

"I can follow him like a puppy all I want. That doesn't mean I'm at all helpful," I complained, thinking back to my late night filing sessions and carrying Kaga's papers from classroom to classroom. 

"Really? I'm sure Hyogo would've cut you off much sooner if that's all you do. Just think about the guy in the alleyway." Ayumu seemed a little surprised with my depressed attitude. 

"What?" I recalled defending Kaga from that blade-wielding maniac as we tailed Takeda. It was an instinct, mainly meant for when I was protecting Juna from any of the men in our house. 

‘Kaga wouldn't have been in that situation in the first place if not for me though...’

"Since he hadn't then... surely some part of him approves of you?" The word echoed in my brain and my heart fluttered at the idea. "Well, it could just be his fickle temper too..." Ayumu immediately shut me down. "The only time I thought you were helpful was when you made me tea." The innocent smile he portrayed was completely different compared to his demeaning words. 

"And I was just starting to think we could get along." I sighed, standing up once I realised my private time wasn't mine anymore. Although, I did feel a grin growing on my face as I thought about the possibility of Kaga approving of me. If only a little. 

"I'm going to put everything I have into this exam." A grin finally appeared on my face. 

"Where did this come from?" Ayumu, on the other hand, was evidently confused. I had only ever done one exam in my life, and that was the officer's exam in the police academy. I did pretty well in it, so I was confident I could prove to Kaga I wasn't completely useless. 

"That's all I can do, for now, to prove I'm worthy." I looked triumphantly into the distance. 

"Do your best. But Hyogo will be giving the exam." The information slightly deflated my resolve. 

"That means I'll just have to try harder than my all." I nodded to him before turning and leaving the rooftop.

~~~~~~

It was the weekend after my abysmal show of a mission and I was on my way out of the school to meet Juna at the cafe I suggested to update her on my situation. It was hot. Unbearably so. So I'm wearing shorts, which I hadn't worn since enrolling in the basic training academy. And, to hide my face from anyone looking for someone with my features, I had a baseball cap and sunglasses.

"Atsuko, where are you going?" I heard Naruko call out to me in the cafeteria. Usually, on our days off, I'm doing work for Kaga. Maybe there was one blessing to come with being let go. 

"I'm just leaving campus for a bit. Need to clear my head." I kneeled down to grab the coffee can I bought from the vending machine. Naruko was in her casuals as well as everyone else in the room at this point in the morning. 

"Oh? I thought you were going on a date." She cheered and I just laughed her off, used to her vivid imagination by now. 

"I'll see you before curfew!" I waved behind me as I ran out of the cafeteria.

~~~~~~ 

Just as I was about to pass the school gates, I heard my name again. I turned to see Instructor Soma wearing his usual suit. 

"Are you teaching today, Instructor?" I asked as he walked up to me. I was in a rush, but I disn't want to seem rude or suspicious in front of the only friendly special instructor. 

"Something like that. Are you on your way out?" He asked with his kind smile. 

"Is that a bad thing?" I laughed awkwardly, not wanting to seem like I was slacking off after Kaga dropped me. 

"Not at all, we all need some r'n'r" Soma grinned at my reaction to his question. 

"Then you should too, sir! I'll see you around." Finding that I'd have to leave now to catch my train in time, I ran out the school gates.

~~~~~~

At the cafe I used to work at, I took a seat at one of the tables outside. It hadn't changed much, except for some of the staff that ran around taking orders. The last I heard, my father didn't control this area of the city. Control in the sense of demanding protection money or laundering money through its businesses.

After I asked for a coffee and what I remembered my sister's favourite drink to be, I saw a woman walking up the street with long, flowing green hair. She sat at the table behind me.

"Were you followed?" I asked low enough so only she could hear, hiding the movements of my lips with the edge of my phone I knocked against them casually. 

"No, I went on three different lines to lose them. And left my phone in his house." She replied in a whisper as well, looking down at the paper menu left out on the tables, lifting her shades only slightly with one hand. "What about you?" Her question surprised me, seeing as she was the one being held hostage. 

"Who's going to follow me?" My face screwed up in confusion before I realised I had to be covert, sitting up and looking around just in case her own concerns were valid. I shuffled in the metal seat, my own sunglasses sticking to the place on the bridge of my nose with the glisten of sweat that collected there due to the weather and my nerves. Luckily, I didn't see any familiar faces or vehicles. 

"You literally go to a school for cops." She laughed in response and I heard the screech of her chair being pushed back as she stood up again. I jumped up as well, turning to my sister dressed in large sunglasses to hide her face from recognition. 

"I'm so glad you're safe." I breathed a sigh of relief as we enveloped each other in a tight hug. I sniffed to hold back my tears, of relief or fear I didn't know, and the fresh scent of the shampoo my father had us use filled my nose. The sense of fear that I drew from that made me hold her just a bit tighter, my arms wrapped around her neck.

"I had to get to you, didn't I?" She pulled back with a bright smile, noticing my tenseness, and we sat back down on my table. I took off my sunglasses but left on the cap and she left her glasses on. 

"Not like you to wear shorts, though." Juna looked down at my bare legs once we got our drinks. When we lived with my father, I hated showing any skin in front of our creepy uncles, or anyone for that matter. My sister grew a little concerned at the bandage around my shin.

"I came to the realisation that heatstroke is more important than keeping my modesty." I laughed nervously in response and she giggled, pushing her questions to the side for now because I seemed positive. As we made easy conversation, I felt my nerves bubble up again.

"Juna... I... I got kicked off the case." I told her, anxiety written all over my face. Her hand freezes from stirring her iced tea and my palms became clammy around my freezing coffee. "I messed up when we were following Takeda and we got attacked. He got away and my instructor got really mad." I explained slowly, trying to speak in a low voice so no one would overhear who or what we're talking about. 

"Actually, I have something to say as well." She responded in a low, frail tone and I gulped to push away my guilt. I put her in danger by asking her here, just to tell her that I was losing my chances to save her. 

"There's a meeting happening at a hotel in a week. Dad's going to be there, along with a lot of the uncles... Katsumi, I'm scared they're going to do something really bad." Her glasses were off now and I could see the true fear in her eyes. 

"And... I overheard someone talking about a detective that broke into one of the offices. They mentioned a woman that they found familiar..." She didn't have to explain why they found me familiar. I already knew who she was talking about. I sighed, frustrated I had been so reckless. "They know you're in the city, but I don't think they know your name or where you live..." She explained and my heart stopped. I was lucky Kaga doesn't refer to me by name and I didn't have my badge on show. 

"I think we need to leave while we can. The next meeting is going to be big. If you can manage to be there, I'll be waiting for you. But I'm leaving the first chance I get." Her words echoed in my skull. 

‘I'll have to leave my life behind? The one I worked so hard to get? I'll have to leave my job, Naruko..? I'll have to leave Kaga...’ The words vibrated in my skull like a resounding alarm as I thught about what being discovered meant. 

"I have money and a ride. Somewhere to stay. It won't be difficult once I get away. Katsumi, I want you to come with me. My life has been so empty without you. So much more than I expected..." Juna reached forward to grab my hand. I was biting the tip of my thumb, trying to plan with the information she gave me. 

"We'll be safer together..." Juna added on, leading off when she realised I was stunned to silence, clutching my hand to bring me back to earth but knowing I couldn't feel her support that way. Her fingers worked up my wrist and I finched when she touched the skin on the inside of my wrist, a place I could feel, and my gaze fell on her. She looked just as scared, just as earnest as she was the day I talked her into running away. I never thought I'd be the one that would hesitate. 

"What about our plan, Juna? I'm so close. If I can just get the pictures to one of my instructors, he'll be locked up. Maybe even executed. They're already doing an investigation." I explained. I really wanted to stay. I was enjoying the life I had made for myself. Even with how hard it was right now. Even if the people I had grown close to c ould never know the real me, the reason I became a cop, I felt like they knew the me I had become. Hopefully they trusted me enough to not ask why I had those pictures.

"What happens when they ask you where you got them? When they find out who you really are? Who we are? The moment dad realises where you are... He'll kill both of us." She argued back, trying to bring me to my senses. 

"You're not safe there, Katsu. Just look what happened to you when you got involved with his case." Juna gestured to my bandaged leg and I cursed how right she was. If they were already suspicious, it wouldn't take them long to realise what I was working on. The threat of being discovered would push them to be more reckless. More unpredictable. Who knew what they'd be willing to do. 

"I've been out for too long. Look at this. It might help you decide." Picking up the black backpack she had carried here with her, Juna sighed. 

"What is it?" I asked, pulling on the zip. I peered in to see a few files of paper, a piece of cloth and a flash drive. 

"I found your old camera hidden in our room," Juna explained as I pulled the paper out to find photos of gruesome acts and forced them back in desperately but carefully enough not to crease them. 

"Juna..." I led off, knowing how dangerous it could be to get these images. 

"I saved some accounting documents to the flash drive. It proves they're embezzling from uncle's company and they’re paying off cops and hitmen. I think I saw Takeda's name in there as well." She continued and I looked at her in shock. 

"You're a better detective than I am." I laughed defeatedly, ashamed she had to do this when it was my job to protect her. I should never have left her or made us try and forget each other.

"It's kind of exciting. I can see why you do this." She returned a tired smile. She was probably kept awake at night, worrying that someone would discover what she was doing. I know I was.

"What's this?" I pulled out a silken rag decorated with red splatters. 

"It was under dad's bed. I'm not entirely sure, but it might be from mom..." She led off, knowing what this meant. 

‘So he really did kill her.’ I clenched the bloodied scarf in my hand, having a vague memory of our mother possibly wearing it. 

"I have to get going. Will I see you at the hotel?" She stood up without the bag. I looked up and smiled sadly, giving her a heavy nod. 

As she turned to leave, I noticed a black SUV approaching the shop with the back window pulled down. Seconds later, a hand pulls a gun through the window. 

"Gun!" I screamed, running to Juna and pushing her to the floor with the full force of my launched body. As bullets sprayed into the glass storefront, I held my body over my sister's to protect her. 

When the blaring bangs halted, I hesitantly raised my head to look around. Car alarms were going off and I could hear a woman crying loudly as I searched for the car. 

"It's gone," I muttered, standing up to get a better view of the street. 

As I looked at the destruction in front of me, my sister hobbled to her feet. "A-Are you okay?" She looked at me with trembling legs, arms reaching out to hold mine, maybe in an effort to stable herself or make sure I'm actually alive. I saw some customers rising from the hiding spots and heard a man calling for help.

"You need to go. Before the police get here." I rushed to my sister's side, guiding her in the direction she was already going. 

"But Katsu-." 

"They'll question you if they see you here. Go home, tell dad it was a rival or something. Just go." I spoke in a low voice as I pushed her along. "I have things here," Were my last words to my sister as she started running down the street.

When I turned back around, I saw some bodies laying on the floor and glass was sprayed everywhere. 

"Ma'am, can you call emergency service?" I kneeled in front of a woman who was likely in shock but seemed otherwise unaffected. She gave me a rushed nod as I got up to look at the injured.

There was a man lying in the doorway with the cafe's uniform on. A woman in a similar uniform was holding him up, tears spilling out of her eyes as blood poured out of his abdomen. I hurriedly grabbed a fabric tablecloth from where I had been sitting and rushed over to them, not caring for the glass mugs that shattered on the ground. 

"Sir, are you awake?" I asked, remembering to apply pressure to the gunshot wound from my training in the police academy and what I could gather as a child. 

"H-He passed out. Or he's dead. I... I can't tell." The woman stuttered out as his head laid in her lap, voice hoarsening as she spoke. 

"Miss, can you press on here. I need to see if anyone else is injured." I didn't try to make my voice softer as I grabbed her arm, pulling her to my side. I had felt him breathing through his mouth. There's nothing more I could do for him personally. I had no first aid kits and no professional medical training apart from this.

"Bu-But what if he dies?" The shock she was in prevented her from wanting to touch him except for cradling his skull in her lap. 

"He won't if you apply pressure. An ambulance will be here soon, but he won't live if you don't do this." I forced the tablecloth into her hand and then on the man's side where he was hit.

Once I ensured she was aware enough to continue, I moved onto the next person. There was an older man, resting, or having fallen that way, with his back against the half-wall of the cafe. He was clutching his shoulder, red seeping through the partings of his fingers.

"Hey, how're you feeling?" I slid to his side, asking to see his wound so I could assess the damage. 

"A... A little woozy." He stammered out, trying to act strong but I could tell he was scared. 

"That'll be the shock. The bullet went straight through, so it should be an easy fix when you get to the hospital." I explained as I took the tie from around his neck, obviously asking first. 

"Well, I've lived this long. I guess I've gotta keep going." The man was in the makings of a suit, but I assumed he had left his blazer at his office. Tying the tie over his wound, I took a few of the paper napkins from the host's counter just outside the front door and stuffed them under the tie. I knew he'd be too weak to put appropriate pressure himself. 

"Too right. Stick tight, help will be here soon." I put a comforting hand on his other shoulder and gave him a calm smile before heading inside.

Climbing through the now empty window frame, as I wasn't sure if I should move the man from the doorway and sure as hell didn't want to try and step over him, probably scratching up my legs on the shards that settled there, I looked around for anyone crying. Calling out, I heard a little kid yelling from the back of the small room. My eyes widened at the familiar cry of an innocent child and charged to where I heard them. In the corner, behind the service counter, a little boy was sitting next to a woman with blood already puddling at her sides.

"H-Hey, kiddo, how are you doing?" Knowing how traumatic it could be to witness something so horrific, I kneeled by the opposite side of the woman the boy is sitting. The spots of red on her blouse, holes ripped through it, was obvious she had been hit twice, maybe three times, I couldn't count right now. Not when it was possible this kid may watch a human being die right before his eyes.

"M-Mom got hurt." I could see he was trying to hold back tears as he held his mom's hand. I looked down at her body and saw a splatter of red pumping out of her thigh far more intensely than the others on her torso. The mother's expression was pained and she looked a little out of it, probably delirious with agony and blood loss. 

"Toto. Are you alright?" She mumbled over and over as I found something to plug the hole in her leg.

"Is that your name? Toto?" I tried to distract the kid from his mother's slurred words, trying my best to plug the two other holes in her body. Hopefully, god please, I could help her enough until paramedics arrived. The kid nodded curtly, scared if he talked he would cry. 

"I'm Atsuko. Can you be brave for me?" I asked, pressing on the wound that likely came from a major artery. He looked up at me. "I asked a woman outside to call the hospital, but she seemed a little shaken up. Can you call them for me?" I tried not to let my gaze leave his, wanting to draw his attention away from the wettening body below us. Taking the phone from my back pocket, I hand over what must look like a relic to him.

The boy called the emergency services and put it on speaker so I could talk. "This is Officer Atsuko Motomori. There's been a shooting at Cafe Zero down Empire Street. Please send paramedics for at least three victims." As I announced my badge number so they knew I wasn’t lying, I spoke fast and clear, noticing the mother's consciousness fade. 

‘You can't do this. Not to him. You can't die in front of him.’ I moved from her leg to her torso, feeling for a pulse on her neck. ‘It's weak, but there.’ I started pushing on her chest to keep her heart beating and blood pumping to her brain. Luckily, there was a waiter watching over us that had a belt so I could secure a makeshift tunicate to her thigh so she doesn't bleed out as fast.

"Ambulances and police are on their way." The operator responded bluntly. 

"Can you take him somewhere else?" I peered up at the waiter standing in the opening of the counter. 

"No! I don't wanna leave my mom!" Toto cried out but I shot him a concerned and slightly annoyed look, probably scarely similar to Kaga's. 

"Your mom doesn't want you to see her like this, okay, Toto? I'm going to make her better so that you guys can go to the hospital together, but it's going to be scary." As I'm telling him, sweat is growing on my brow far thicker than the ottest day on earth could make as I pressed all my body weight on the woman's chest to a rhythmic beat. 

"I-I'm brave enough." The boy stuttered and it was clear he was terrified. 

"You're not a wimp to go, Toto. You're not cowardly to hide, you're brave to leave your mom's life in someone else's hands. Trust me, you don't want to see this." I lowered my voice so only he could hear, hoping to seem more personal. He looked from me to his mom's sleeping face and I could see the tear dams break behind his eyes. He got up and took the hand of the waiter, walking to a table on the other side of the counter.

"You can't die on him, you hear me? Do you know what that will do to him?" I panted as I whispered, enraged my father would open fire on a building of civilians. It was likely that the people following Juna hadn't lost her and decided to do this as a warning. Hopefully, for both of our sakes, my sister could convince him that this was some sort of action performed by a rivalling gang trying to intimidate him or a gang members betrayal.

When I next checked the mother's pulse, it was slightly better than before. 

"The paramedics are here!" A voice called out and I looked up in relief. Toto came running around the corner, probably having escaped the waiter, and looked down at his mom, covered in blood but slowly awakening. He cried out her title and ran to her side and I couldn't help but smile. I stood up, calling the paramedics as they made their way through the door, having extracted the male waiter.

"She lost consciousness for a bit, but I performed compressions and she's coming around again," I explained as they came running around the counter. I grabbed Toto and pulled him off her so the trained professionals could get a look at her before sending her to an ambulance. 

"I-Is she going to be okay?" He asked as I picked him up, carrying him around the counter so that we wouldn't intrude. I didn't want to give him false hope if I was too late to save her, but I didn't want to break his heart unnecessarily.

"She should do good. It was all because of your bravery that she woke up again." I laughed, tapping underneath his chin to get him to raise his head. I only noticed now that my hands were covered in blood. I looked down and so were my legs, having kneeled in the mom's blood that had come out before I got to her. 

"Thank you!" He cried out, wrapping his arms around my neck as he sat on the counter.

Then, the paramedics announce that they were ready to go. I told Toto to go with them and he ran after her gurney.

Finally having a moment to myself, I dropped to the floor in exhaustion. I had been running on so much adrenaline that my head now felt light as I sunk to my knees. Soon, the waiter who had helped me with Toto ran to my side, helping me up so I could sit in a glass-free chair.

After he got me a glass of water and the other paramedics on the scene looked over me for any serious injuries, I heard police sirens driving closer. Several uniforms came out of the cars that pulled up outside and started questioning us all about the incident. I explained how I had seen the car approaching and, after I heard the gunshots ending, went to help the people who were injured. I left out the part where my sister had been here, not wanting to get her involved, and hoped no one else noticed her through the mania.

"Well done, Officer Motomori. You were good to act so quickly. Although, you do look a little pale. Do you want a ride to the hospital?" The officer questioning me slapped his booklet shut and I jumped a little at the sudden noise. 

"I-I should be fine." I stuttered, even though I noticed my hands shaking. I had already refused an ambulance ride, I definitely didn't want to go in a squad car.

"...Okay. We'll give you a ride back to your home. You can't go wandering the streets like that." The older man chuckled and I looked down at my reddened body. The bandage I had around my leg had unravelled and my own wound had started bleeding again, probably because of any glass that I most likely kneeled in. I had a lot of little cuts as well.

"Can I make a call first?" I look back up with a tired expression and he nodded, handing me his phone. I had washed my hands by now, so I wasn't too worried about getting blood all over his possession.

Shakily, I typed in the number for the Instructor's Staff Room. "Captain Ishigami." The stone-cold voice spoke up over the phone and I was somewhat disheartened, somehow expecting to hear my mentor's. It wasn’t like he would answer a phone anyway. I shook my head. 

"U-Um, sir, it's Motomori. I'm sorry f-for disturbing you. But... There was this... This..." Not knowing how to explain the situation, I took in the scene around me. There was glass swept all over the floor and tables and chairs are overturned. I could see bullet holes in some of the furniture and the actual bullets were either in the wall or on the floor next to it. A cold shiver ran through me to finally understand how close to death I really was and the sweat on my body only made the breeze blowing through the hollowed window frames icy.

"Motomori, what is it?" Ishigami sounded annoyed that I was lost for words. Then, the officer who had been watching me took the phone back. He introduced himself before explaining the situation, but I wasn’t  really listening. 

‘I was actually able to save someone.’ Joy filled my heart. My father had done something despicable to so many innocent people, and I was actually able to help. I didn't just have to sit there and take pictures for when I could use them in an investigation, I was able to stop a murder from taking place in the first place. However, that delight was short lived.

"Alright, Officer Motomori, you're captain will be by soon to pick you up." Hanging up from the conversation with my instructor, the officer looked at me with a smile. 

"Did that really just happen?" I looked up at him with shame and fear wrapped in my expression. Even though I was able to help, it was still my fault they all got hurt in the first place. If I hadn't come here or told Juna to meet me, there would never have been a shooting. Toto would never have had to see his mom almost die. 

"Are you sure you're going to be okay?" The officer put a hand on my arm as my gaze wandered again. At the end of the counter, I could see the puddle of blood left by Toto's mom slowly crawling out, almost taunting me with the knowledge of my naivety. 

‘How could I think we could meet safely?’  

I nodded with a small, encouraging smile.

~~~~~~

By the time Ishigami arrived, I was still sitting with the cop, just trying to compute what happened. He looked at the destroyed cafe, and then at my bloodied body. Soma was with him, but no Kaga. I found myself looking around them in hopes he would be here. 

"Captain Ishigami. You have a very capable, young cadet here!" The officer sitting with me jumped up, trying to lighten my spirits by praising me. "She was able to act quickly and three people are on their way to the hospital instead of our morgue." However morbid, the statement was true. It was lucky I had the training I needed to save them.

"Atsuko." Soma kneeled down in front of me to catch my gaze as it drifted to my legs. The blood had dried by now, staining my legs and my clothes. I looked at Instructor Soma as he smiled kindly. 

"Instructor. I...I'm sorry." I apologised, but I'm sure they didn't know why. He laughed at this and I realised what I said. I bit my lip to stop myself from talking further. It was an instinct from a child. The last time I had seen this much blood in one room.

"I'm not Kaga. I'm not going to yell at you. Come on, you need to rest. Remember that r'n'r we talked about?" He s stood up and I followed his rising stature with my eyes. 

"O-Okay." Embarrassed by the apology I made, I got up. As I was walking out the door, I remembered the bag Juna had left for me and rushed to pick it up, making sure the zip was closed so that no one could see the contents.

"Is it really okay? Won't your car get messy?" I asked as Ishigami tells me to sit in the back seat. My legs were covered in blood, thankfully not all mine. I only had little cuts and scrapes. And when I say covered, it looked like I was wearing red shin pads. My clothes were likely ruined and I felt like I might smell a little, having exerted so much energy trying to keep Toto's mom alive. 

"It's fine, just get in." He got in the driver's side and I was forced to jump in before I got left behind.

~~~~~~

When we got back to the academy, everyone that was sitting out in the rays of the setting sun were staring at me. I probably looked crazed. Maybe they thought I had flipped out after Kaga dropped me from the case, because it looked like I had killed someone. Suddenly, Naruko ran up to me as I walked behind the instructors. 

"Atsuko! Oh my god, what happened to you?" She held my arms as she shrieked. 

"There was a shooting at the cafe I went to. Don't worry, I'm not hurt." I laughed, trying to help her not worry. To be honest, I probably wasn’t as affected by that scene as I should have been. I had watched people die before, many times before, so I was somewhat used to it. 

"You're covered in blood!" She yelped again and I could tell Ishigami was getting annoyed. I reassured her that it wasn’t mine and she just sighed. "How are you so calm?" She sounds exasperated as she held my arm, encouraging me to keep walking to the dorms. 

"My dad was a butcher, so I'm used to blood." It took me a moment to respond with a nervous shrug, hoping to make up a viable lie. Hopefully the instructors wouldn't feel the need to double check that information on my made up file.

"I swear you're not even human." She laughed, thinking back to all the training I was able to do without complaint.

~~~~~~

Once she escorted me back to my dorm, I threw my bag far underneath my bed and took a shower, scrubbing at my skin to get all the blood off. I hadn't realised, but I had smudges all over my face from where I was wiping the sweat off my brow. 

‘This... This can’t happen again. I can’t let it happen again’. I clutched the water basin to hold my weak body up during my contemplation. I felt so guilty and helpless in that moment. If I couldn’t go back in time and stop that shooting from happening, stop Toto’s mom and all those people from getting hurt, I would have to make sure it never happened ever again.

~~~~~~

When I was done cleaning myself up, I went down to the cafeteria to get a well-deserved meal.

"Hey, Motomori! Heard about that cafe. Well done out there!" A male classmate called out from his table as I passed. 

"Oh, thanks, but I was just doing what I could at the time." I showed an anxious smile, not wanting to give it more attention than it already had.

"Motomori, did you really bring someone back from the dead?" Another called out from a different table and my gaze whipped around. 

"W-Well, it was a close call, but she didn't die. And how did you hear about that?" I replied, stumbling over my words as everyone started to surround me, asking questions of what it was like to be in such a disastrous scenario. 

After a bit, having escaped the line without buying any food, I got overwhelmed and stormed out the hall.

~~~~~~

On the roof, I made sure whether or not anyone was there before I started to pace. If Kaga wast here, I would ave hated for him to see me so freaked out, he would think I was more moronic than he already did. Unfortunately, I saw him in his usual corner, breathing out smoke. Just as I was about to turn, his gaze caught mine. He looked down at my body, scanning for any signs of fear or delayed shock. When he saw that I'm neither shaking nor swaying, holding my breath just in case my racing heart betrayed me, he turned back to the view of the city before him. I released the breath I was holding and ran back to the door, wanting to be here as much as I wanted to be badgered by my overexcited classmates.

~~~~~~

Once I returned to the dorms, it was a little after dark. "Oh, Atsuko, there you are!" Naruko cheered when she saw me pass by a common room she was lounging in. 

"Sorry I had to leave! I just needed to get some air." I smiled, although nervous that she would ask me where I had been. 

"It's not a problem. Those guys were too pushy." She shook her head and frowned at some of the men that had surrounded me earlier. 

"So, what did you do today?" I asked, wanting to get my mind off those memories. She looked a little surprised at first, but soon understood why I asked. 

"I got to do some serious studying for next week's exam!" She smiled brightly as we started walking to our rooms. 

"Oh yeah..." I quickly remembered a big part of my plan for next week might be greatly impeded if I were to attend.

"It's at this hotel. Apparently it's a big meeting of some major crime syndicates!" Naruko was so excited, she didn't even notice me stop. 

‘Could that be the meeting Juna was talking about?’ I started to think about how, if the mission went well, I wouldn't have to run away again. I could continue my life here, like my past wasn't a thing. As Naruko pulled me back to earth, I showed her a smile full of hope.

[whitequeenasitbgan]

The House of Smoke and Fog

Cap 3.

December, 1916

Erin knocked at Mrs Blake’s door. She opened, always happy and cheerful, just like her son.

-Hello, Erin! My dear girl! Come inside, George! Erin is here, come!

Erin was quite surprised from this invitation. She hadn’t visited the Blakes since Tom told her he had volunteered. Since they argued. She wasn’t even at the train station to say goodbye. She expected his mother to close the door on her face. But there she was serving tea and biscuits. Mr. Blake was smoking his pipe, reading the newspaper loudly to the two of them.

-Well, according to the news, the frontline hasn’t moved for days- said Mr Blake, putting down the newspaper to pick up one of his wife’s famous shortbreads.

-And this is a good thing or a bad thing?- Erin asked, in a clumsy attempt to hide her curiosity.

-Good, isn’t it?-said Mrs. Blake

-I suppose

-George! Who else in this house is supposed to know? You’ve been at war. You should know!

-first thing first, it was a totally different kind of war. We weren’t fossilised in trenches. We kept moving, it was a totally different strategy. Second, I was in the cavalry. And last but not least, when I left for war, I was young.

-My husband seems unable to reassure us, Erin. He has no respect for my nerves

-you’re wrong. I respect them. Truly. They’ve been my best friends for the last two decades. I don’t wanna tell you a lie, that’s all it is.

-Thank God the boys keep me updated, they write quite regularly.

Erin felt a sting of embarrassment. Mrs. Blake almost mentioned her youngest son.

-oh, ehm... are they alright?

-Yes, Joe has been promoted. He’s a lieutenant now. Tom finished his training with the rank of lance corporal and has been deployed to France in November.

Deployed. He was fighting, then. Erin hoped for the war to end before he had to. Christmas was close. The end of the war wasn’t, though.

-you must be proud- Erin said, in a clumsy attempt to hide her worries. Yes, they argued, but she cared for him. How couldn’t she.

-are you alright, dear?

-Yes, of course.

Mrs. Blake didn’t seem to believe her: she exchanged a quick look with her husband, meaning he had to leave the room, so that she could talk to their guest in private. Erin remembered Tom and she had developed the same secret tongue: just a quick look across the crowd and they managed to leave, unnoticed, to spend time together. A stab in her back. She hated how those memories tortured her, but still she was thankful for them. She treasured every moment.

Mr. Blake got up from his favourite armchair, -I need to collect some wood for the fire, darling. Would you excuse me? My wife gets hysterical when she’s cold.

-of course I do, there’s only one thing you have to do, now that the boys are away and still you forget about it. I am not your servant. I love you, darling -Mrs. Blake said, mad at him.

-Goodbye, Mr. Blake- Erin said, trying to smile.

As he left, Mrs. Blake closed the door behind him and went to sit on the couch, by Erin. She took her hands and asked her:

-what is it, darling?

Erin never cried. She hated to. She was fighting against her tears. When Mrs. Blake pulled her close and hugged her, she surrendered. Her embrace was warm and comforting. She really was Tom’s mother: he reacted the same way, when Erin was crying. He just hugged her. Every time. He was always there for her, but not this time. His mother felt different, but Erin was thankful for that hug.

-I’m so sorry Mrs. Blake...

-for what, my dear?

-for what happened with Tom. For being angry with him. For yelling at him in your orchard, you must have heard everything...

-You should have heard me, when Mr. Blake told me he had volunteered before we got married. Like father, like son. You were kind, compared to my fury. My dowry was ready. His position at the bank was secured. It was just a matter of time. I was almost 24. One more year and I’d have been perceived as a spinster, a failure. Imagine how under pressure I felt. And this fella’ came to me, galloping on his brand new Irish drought he bought with the money he had saved for the wedding, all dressed up in his military suit, he got off the horse and he said: ’I’m going to war’, smiling from ear to ear.

-what did you do?

-I punched him in the face. When he came back years later he apologised. His mother told him I had refused any other suitable proposal. So he came to me, seeking for atonement. Two months later we were married and Joe was on his way to this world.

-I thought he was born prematurely.

-that little bull? No way!- Mrs Blake laughed, pleased by her ability to manoeuvre the village’s public opinion. It was her talent. She could have made people believe elephants filed. She would have been a successful politician. -you won’t tell anyone my little secret, won’t you? Poor Joe would be appalled.

-of course, it will be buried in my grave

-did I cheer you up?

-a bit- Erin smiled.

-there’s nothing to forgive. Men seem to love war more and more these days, but they’ll never love us less. They’ll always come back to us. Everybody was enlisting. There were men risking their lives at the front, his brother among them. Tom felt he didn’t have the right to do any less than those men. How could he walk on the streets, passing by mothers, sisters and girlfriends of those women. He felt he wasn’t worthy of you. Not until he proved it on the battlefield.

-prove what? I know his value...

-to prove that he had done what he had to do, that he’ll be able to stand proud in this curious society of ours, walking with you, a beautiful woman by his side, knowing people will say ‘he deserves to be happy, cause he fought, he didn’t stay home like a coward’. He loves you deeply. Before he got on the train he told me to look after you. He didn’t expect you to come, though he kept looking for you among the crowd.

-I wasn’t even there. I was so angry.

-I know.

-I expected him to come and see me again before he left. For three days. But he didn’t.

-I’ve tried to convince him, but the last day he got angry at me. He’s gets angry easily, but never with me. I didn’t realise I was exasperating him. He wanted to see you again. But he knew he would have never had the strength to see you and leave the next day.

-what if he...

-no, dear! Don’t think about that. It doesn’t help. Think about what you can do now. Write to him. Tell him how you’re feeling. Don’t leave anything unsaid. Whatever happens.

It was almost dark when Erin took her way home. She met Mr. Blake at her gate. He had visited her family. It wasn’t curious. He and her father were close friends.

-oh, Erin! I completely forgot to tell you, the tea obscures my old mind, I believe. Tom was asking about his horse in his last letter...

Joy. Tom’s horse. The one he used to secretly teach her how to ride. The one he used to walk back to school, until they reached the hills behind it, jumped on the saddle and galloped away. Another stab.

-I have noticed he’s getting a bit fat. I really don’t have the time, not the physique du role to exercise him properly. Nor Mrs Blake. I know Tom wouldn’t trust anyone else but you around his horse. I was discussing this matter with your father and... apparently he agrees it would be good for you to get some fresh hair and go for a horse walk every now and then.

-how did you convince him?

-oh, I didn’t do anything. Goodbye!

-goodbye Mr. Blake. And thank you!- Erin said, trotting home excited.

-you’re welcome, come anytime you want, you know the barn right?

-Yes, Tom showed me everything! How about tomorrow, Mr Blake?

-sounds good to me!

Tom. That was the first time she said his name, since they argued. Her mother was waiting for her on her doorsteps, a big smile on her lips.

-did he tell you- she asked.

-how did he convince dad?

-he just told him he noticed sadness didn’t suit you- Erin was left petrified by that revelation. He thought she was good at faking. She didn’t want her parents to worry. She didn’t tell them about Tom. She thought she managed to keep it secret. She was wrong. -we knew it, Erin. Mrs. Blake told me everything the day Tom left. Come in, now. Dinner is ready.

The next morning Erin gave her dad a letter for Tom -thanks, papà.

-oh, don’t tank me, thank you mother. I couldn’t bear to see you sad as a widow anymore and she suggested this. She was right, I suppose, she always is. Give me a kiss, now... and off you go. I’ll be late. And be CAREFUL.

Erin took the horse on top of a hill. She had this silly idea that if she could set her eyes on France, somehow This would have helped Tom. She kept telling herself ‘don’t look away. Look at France. Keep your eyes where he is’. She reached the top, but the all she could see was clouds

-Sorry, Joy. I made you climb this hill like a monkey for nothing. Clouds. I was only hoping for a thin black horizon. Not that I expected to really see France from here. I’m not that mad.

Then she remembered. Tom. Talking to Joy. Looking at her. Smiling. ‘I’m not mad. I promise. I just love talking to him. He’s a good listener’. Joy was almost asleep. His eyes closed, his breath calm, Tom softly caressing him, holding the horse’s face in his arms, almost like a baby. ‘He’s sleeping, you know that?’ Erin said, getting closer to Tom. ‘I didn’t say he was good at answering. That’s your forte’. And he kissed her.

Another stab.

She was getting used to it: to the pain.

‘Be careful out there, my love’, she whispered.

Cap 4

https://whitequeenasitbgan.tumblr.com/post/611701976132206592/the-house-of-smoke-and-fog

[chromium-siren]

The “Present” (Phux)

@kyber-hearts-and-stardust-souls

(So, after I saw this post, ideas began to swirl in my head like crazy. And I wanted to write it. Also, Pudge will make a cameo.)

London, England, 1920 something. Armitage Hux has just finished his set at the Starkiller Lounge, and was grateful that it was finally finished. It wasn’t that he had anything against sharing his jazz music or playing his saxophone, it was just a rather long night. He wanted nothing more than to get a good night’s sleep, so he packed up his instrument, said good night to the bartender and staff, and made his way back to his car. Just as soon as he arrived at his Packard, he heard someone yell out “Oi, bloke!” only to get knocked out. The last thing he remembered was falling to the ground as everything faded to black... 

“‘Ey lads, Sleepin’ Beauty’s comin’ around!” someone said in a thick Scottish brogue, which was followed by raucous laughter. Armitage finally came to his senses when he felt trapped by something- he was tied to a chair, rendered immobile, and his saxophone case was strewn on the floor, half-open. 

“I demand to know what’s going on!” he yelled in panic, trying to set himself free from his prison of rope. “Let me go!”

“You don’t tell us what to do around ‘ere, mate! We only answers to Big Joe, savvy?” another goon said, circling Hux like a shark. The name hit him- Big Joe. He let out a groan when he realized he was captured by none other than the Parnassos Gang, and he was going to have to come face to face with the infamous leader, Big Joe Phasma. Sure enough, heavy footsteps were heard as the lackeys scrambled about, trying to make themselves appear to be acceptable for when he came in. 

“You sit tight and shut yer piehole, boyo!” the Scot from earlier yelled at Hux, who felt his pulse race as the footsteps grew louder and louder. The lackeys stood very still now, as if they were soldiers at attention, when he finally came down the stairs and into the den. Big Joe wasn’t exactly what Armitage though he was going to look like- he expected an obese man smoking a cigar. Instead, a tall, silver haired, and slender man, almost needle-like, walked down the stairs, taking a long drag from a cigarette. When he looked towards Hux, he smiled and let out a booming laugh. 

“Well, gentlemen, you managed to get the right one after all. So, this is the famous Armitage Hux my daughter has heard so much about, eh?” he said with a sneer. Mustering up the courage to reply to him, Armitage swallowed his pride and looked the mobster straight in the eye. 

“Did you think there was another?” he said defiantly. Insulted, Big Joe backhanded him, causing Armitage to wince. 

“Listen to me, boy. You may be cheeky with me now, but I won’t allow it tonight, you savvy? Today’s me darlin’ daughter’s 18th birthday, and she wouldn’t stop blabbing about how wonderful you was. Now, once you come ta yer senses, you’ll get right cleaned up, put on yer white tie an’ tails, an’ give me girl the one thing she’s always dreamed of. Are we clear now, love?” 

Armitage sighed heavily, looking over at the pristine white tie get-up reserved for him at the side. He was going to have to go along with him if he wanted to get out of this alive. “As crystal.”

“Good boy,” Big Joe teased, undoing his ropes. “But don’t try nothin’ fishy, ya hear?” he scolded as Armitage sighed in relief. After the confrontation with Big Joe Phasma, the most feared man in Brixton, Armitage prayed that he would make it out of the den alive. A few hours later, Armitage stepped behind the dressing screen provided for him in his elegant outfit and stood on the makeshift stage, warming up for the evening’s performance. A small sextet was arranged behind him and were warming up their instruments as well- probably more musicians that were kidnapped, Hux figured. Big Joe came back down the stairs, holding his cigarette as usual, but this time he held a revolver in the other hand. 

“You better make good on this, boy, otherwise yer doomed ta spend the rest of yer life down here, ya savvy?” he hissed, poking Hux with the butt of his revolver. Hux nodded, before heaving a sigh. “All right, Brienne lovely, come on down! Daddy has one ‘ell of a surprise fer ya!” he yelled in a saccharine voice Hux couldn’t think he was capable of doing without spontaneously combusting. There was the sound of high heeled shoes gently clicking which grew louder and closer with every step. 

“Alright, Daddy, I just Marcelled my hair a while ago, hold your horses!” Hux heard a voice call out. “I swear, if it’s a Tommy gun, I’m not going to be pleased. I mean I already have a pistol, and... that’s not a Tommy gun,” the voice said, slightly shocked. Finally, the source of the voice was revealed as a tall, beautiful young woman exactly the same age as Hux. Her silver fringed dress showed off her legs, and her short blonde hair was styled in a perfect Marcel wave. Ruby nails gently pet a Persian cat with luxurious white fur, which purred gently as they surveyed the guests assembled. Beautiful sapphire eyes outlined in smoky black kohl glanced over at the stage, and ruby lips were parted into a prim “ooh.” 

“Brienne, sweetness, Daddy found you the best birthday gift ever,” Big Joe said, still maintaining that syrupy voice that both Brienne and Armitage winced at. Brienne was shocked to see Armitage mouth “help, he kidnapped me,” but she focused on her father instead. So, she put on an act of surprise while she devised a plan to help send Armitage home. 

“Oh, Daddy, thank you so much! This is the best birthday ever!” she squealed, doing a near perfect imitation of Betty Boop as she peppered her father’s sharp cheekbones with a barrage of kisses. Big Joe turned to the musicians and putting on a false smile began to address them. 

“Okay boys, strike up the band and give my girl the party she’s dreamed of- or else!” he said with a hiss, before waving his arms in imitation of a conductor. Immediately, Armitage and the other musicians began playing a lively Charleston as the birthday girl and the other young ladies present proceeded to let out a cheer and head to the dance floor, kicking up their heels and whooping as they danced. 

Armitage stepped forward and started playing a melodic solo on his alto sax, the golden instrument shining in the light of the room. The girls seemed to dance closer to the stage, just to revel in the notes he played for them, and he shot a wink at Brienne, her face now becoming a light shade of pink as she blushed. The song finished to wild applause, and then the music changed to a sensual tango. Brienne looked wistfully to Hux, who set his saxophone down and got offstage to dance with her. 

“So, my father kidnapped you?” she asked him innocently. 

“Well, yes, and I really want to get home,” he replied. 

“I don't blame you, he always does things like that. Here’s the thing- I can create a diversion, and we can get out together as soon as possible without him noticing. Also, I’ll just call the cops, and hopefully they’ll finally put him to justice!” she whispered. 

“Plotting against your own father? Interesting,” Hux replied as he and Brienne continued to tango. 

“Well, he’s a terrible person, and I’d rather be living with my mother in Sussex anyway.” The music ended, and with that, Armitage dramatically dipped Brienne, much to her joy. 

“Good luck,” he whispered to her as he got back on stage. The band played a soft fox trot as Brienne made her way upstairs, ready to create a distraction of her own. She sneaked into her father’s study and took one of the many Tommy guns he had so generously given her for her birthday, and began to shoot a round of blanks, calling the police afterwards. For good measure, she added a scream of terror as she came running down the stairs. 

“Daddy, it’s the Bala-Tik gang! They’ve shown up and want to brawl!” she gasped, pretending to be hysterical. Everyone in the room screamed and began to hurry away from the basement in fear of an impending brawl. Armitage packed up his saxophone and grabbed his clothes, running upstairs in the fray. Just as soon as he made it up and with Brienne, police sirens wailed as the cops pulled up to the house. Big Joe was angry- he was duped by his own daughter!

“Brienne?! How dare you lie to me?!” he roared, almost about to strike her. But she stood her ground, refusing to be scared as he yelled. 

“Listen, you’ve done this for far too long! You killed Keldo, you stole my inheritance, you kidnapped and tortured too many people, and you killed my REAL father!” she screamed. “I hate you, you monster!” she yelled, as she watched the mobster and his cronies get carted off to prison, where they were never heard from again. She began to sob quietly, sad that her fortune was being used for criminal means, and she would never get it back. Armitage gently held her, letting her cry in peace. 

“Brienne, are you alright?” he asked her. 

“N-no. I have nothing. The cops are probably gonna raid the mansion, and I can’t contact my mother yet. What am I supposed to do?” she asked. 

“Well... you could stay with me for a while, if that would make you happy,” he said. Gently, Brienne hugged Armitage, as she pressed a kiss to his cheek gently. 

“Thank you so much, Armitage, You’re one of the few people who’s truly been kind to me.” Just as Brienne predicted, the police came to raid the mansion- but there was a silver lining. The man who claimed to be her father was sentenced to life in prison with no hope of escape, and both the mansion and inheritance were reverted back to Brienne and her true mother. But the true gift that came from the whole ordeal was the society wedding of Armitage Hux and Brienne Phasma, and they stayed together for many long, happy years.

[jzeeeeeeeee]

Game of Thrones 8.06 Series Finale Recap and Review

THE NIGHT IS DARK AND FULL OF SPOILERS

This should be kind of obvious but I'll be discussing the final episode of Game of Thrones here so if you're not caught up don't read this unless you want to be spoiled!

CITY OF ASHES

Tyrion walks us into the episode, literally, walking through the ashes of King's Landing, closely followed by Jon and Davos. Ash is everywhere, still raining down, floating in the air like snow. I can only imagine the smell, if the scent from piles of burning dead outside Winterfell was bad this must be a thousand times worse considering they've always said how bad the city smelled to begin with... The horror on Tyrion's face is evident and surely echoes our own, as he walks by dead children and a near-naked burnt man stumbling out of the ruined city looking truly shellshocked. Tyrion tells Jon he wants to go on alone and heads for the destroyed Red Keep. Jon and co. run into Grey Worm and the Unsullied sentencing some Lannister soldiers to death in Dani's name and under her orders. Jon tries to tell Grey Worm that the war is over and the enemy soldiers are prisoners now, pleading for their lives. But the overwhelming loss must have had a hollowing effect on Grey Worm, emptying him of every last fuck he had to give. It almost comes to blood between Grey Worm/the Unsullied and Jon/random Northmen but Davos intercedes, quickly urging Jon to go speak with Dani directly. As Jon walks away, Grey Worm goes back to slitting throats of Lannister men like it's nothing, as if to show Jon how truly empty his fuck-tank was.

Back to Tyrion, walking around the remains of the Red Keep. He follows the steps down just like he told Jaime and sees the gigantic mountain of rubble covering the exit he had described. He starts digging through the rubble and finds jaime's gold hand. Digging further he uncovers both his siblings, dead on each other's arms. The music is haunting, a slow violin rendition of Rains of Castamere. This scene was picture perfect in it's tragedy, the bricks washing all color out of the scene save for the Lannisters. I might not have liked the way Cersei's end came or Jaime's middle finger to his redemption arc but seeing Tyrion kneeling there crying over them definitely gave me the feels.

PLAZA OF PRIDE

Arya walks past dead bodies and ruins out into the square in front of the Red Keep where the mysterious remaining half of the Dothraki are riding around on their horses, cheering and raising their arakhs in the air. We switch to follow Jon who's walking past the Dothraki and Unsullied towards massive, imposing steps of what is apparently left of the Red Keep. It makes me think of the Mayan Temple of the Sun, draped with a truly ginormous Targaryen banner. Jon looks at Grey Worm when he gets to the top of the stairs like "this is not handicap accessible". Just kidding, Jon looks at Grey Worm like he's gone as bonkers as his Queen. Dani and Drogon come flying in overhead and land somewhere behind the ruined Keep. Drogon's wings behind Dani stretch out and fold as she comes walking into the foreground. The sight is truly amazing and I've watched that part alone a hundred times. This is a powerful leader with men fiercely loyal to her returning victorious, no longer that little girl in Essos constantly on the run from assassins. There's a nice juxtaposition of the Unsullied lined up with precision thumping their spears in perfect unison, while the Dothraki are in a frenzy behind their orderly rows, practically doing wheelies on their horses as Dani delivers her victory speech.

Ok let's just stop and appreciate this character for a minute. Let's just imagine going through what she went through, it truly must feel like destiny, step by step bringer her closer to madness, all that power she has. She has a huge dragon that is closely bonded to her, she's the Unburnt not just a Khaleesi, not just a Queen. She's conquered before, and liberated before. When a character is too OP you just know they can't last... Remember the speech she gave when she named the entire khalasar her bloodriders? These men watched her walk out of fire, TWICE, unharmed. Who wouldn't kneel? They must think her a goddess! Grey Worm is devoted utterly because he was freed by Dani and he controls the Unsullied. The naming as Master of War, a great boon to him I'm sure, leader of ALL her forces now. He's still covered in the blood of dead Lannister soldiers as he steps forward to accept the nomination.

Danaerys speaks passionately, fervently as any champion of fire would. I could practically see flames dancing in her eyes as she talks of liberating the people of King's Landing. The show told me she's going crazy so I guess she must be. Jon's eyes when she starts talking about liberating the entire world... But it seems Tyrion agrees with me and in a fit of pique and anguish he casts off his Hand of the Queen pin to the ground. Dani commands the guards to take Tyrion and he locks eyes with Jon as he's walked off, with this "Your girl done gone nuts bro" face.

Arya catches up with Jon on the steps, urging him to see that Dani is a killer and he's in danger from her since she knows his true heritage. I like how he's surprised to see her, asking for its the audience what she's doing there in the first place. He doesn't even question the fact she came to kill Cersei and walks off to go find Tyrion's cell.

BROKEN THINGS

Jon and Tyrion discuss what happened and Jon can't deny what Dani did was wrong but he's trying to justify it by naming all the things she lost along the way to madness. Tyrion reiterates what Arya was saying, that Jon's life is at risk because of his claim to the throne. Jon actually rolls his eyes before sitting down to take it all in. It seems like Tyron admits he had feelings for Dani here, saying he loved her though not as successfully as Jon did. He walks Jon by the hand to the idea that she's the biggest threat to the people, especially his sisters. He lays a choice at Jon's feet, knowing that only Jon has the chance to bring this to an end.

Jon leaves to go find Dani in the Keep. Drogon is stretched outside like the largest cat ever, briefly getting up to see who's disturbing his rest but let's Jon go by without even a puff of smoke. Dani's walking through the ruined throne room, stretching out her hand to the Iron Throne she's sought after for all these years, touching the arm briefly. The ruins of the throne room and the snow-like ash in the air are the payoff from the vision she had in Qaarth's House of the Undying. She's contemplative, making a meta comment about the throne being made of a thousand blades from Aegon's fallen enemies. This is a sort of dig because the throne GRRM had described and imagined was more like the one she does here. Jon comes in to rain on her parade, angry about the Unsullied executing Lannister soldiers along with the thousands of dead and burned children outside. He seems to be giving her one last chance, begging with her to see reason. As she says her final words about building a new world and breaking the wheel I'm heartbroken because I know what's coming next without anyone telling me. "Be with me. Build the new world with me. This is our reason, since you were a little boy with a bastard's name and I was a little girl that couldn't count to 20. We do it together. We break the wheel together." He kisses her passionately this time, "You are my Queen, now and always", not breaking away like he did at Winterfell and Dragonstone, and I know the instant the knife goes in her heart he's sobbing and so am I. It's like she had plot armor her entire life... until today.

THE IRON THRONE

Jon lays Dani's body down on the ground and suddenly Drogon's there, sensing something wrong with his mother. He nudges her with his head but she's gone, and the sadness that pours out of him is an echo of my own seeing her tragic story at an end. This girl had been on this path since her birth, freeing slaves, serving justice to those who deserved it and I'm supposed to believe right at the end she decides to kill all the innocent people she came to save. Ok fine I'll go along with it for now since we're on mega fast forward this season and maybe I just missed all the subtle steps on the way to Dani's madness. Back to Drogon... He's so full of anguish he let's out a few huge bursts of fire, melting the Iron Throne down to slag. The scene was awesome in the true meaning of the word but I'm a little confused why Drogon would understand the meaning of such an act. And why didn't Jon move out of the way more? He has a weird thing with facing dragons I guess, maybe he planned on yelling at Drogon like he did to his brother. The scene ends after Drogon snatches up Dani's body in one claw and flies away, never to be seen again.

Tyrion awakes, finding his buddy Grey Worm at the door. He's led out to the Dragonpit where the Lords and Ladies of Westeros (🤷) are waiting. I have no idea what kind of time has passed but guessing from Tyrion's hair it's been a few weeks since Dani's death. Sansa demands to know where Jon is but Grey Worm insists they are in control of the city and it's prisoners. Sansa doubles down letting him know King's Landing is surrounded by Northmen. Yara makes some threat about Jon getting killed by the Unsullied but Arya comes right back at her saying she'll slit her throat lol. I think it's right around here everything becomes a bit hokey to me. After some back and forth with Grey Worm about the fate of Jon Snow, Tyrion suggests they choose a king or queen (who will ultimately be in charge of that fate). That Tully dude, Lord of the Riverlands gets up to make a speech (maybe to make a play as king?) but Sansa shoots him down by asking him to just sit, be a good boy, and drink his bottled water. Sam suggests a type of democracy system where everyone gets a say and they all just laugh at him. Just like everyone imagined, Tyrion reveals Jon is the heir to the Throne and they all live happily ever after. Wait no, actually he walks around and talks about how stories hold the world together and Bran should be King. What in the ever-loving fuck? Who has a better story than a man who came back from the dead only to find he was not a bastard at all but the heir to the Iron Throne????!!! Ok I get that he killed Dani so that's a stain on his honor but he did it to save the whole damn world. He didn't want to rule but neither did Bran! Tyrion proposes kingship to Bran in a way that sounds like a marriage proposal from the realm. Then Bran shows more emotion than he has in the past 2 seasons, he smiled a little and says "Why do you think I came all this way?" Huh? Well I had thought it was to help defeat the Night King and the White Walkers but fine I'll go along with that too I guess... I thought for a hot second he'd say "I am Groot". Sansa declares independence for the North after we get a round of "ayes" from all the other Westerosi Lords and Ladies in favor of Bran the Broken as king. I face palm but on my 3rd or 4th rewatch I see that Tyrion's cleverness did shine through one last time. He knew that giving Jon to the Unsullied would mean more war, knew Jon didn't want the throne anyway, knew that the puzzle needed solving and I suppose he did it. Jon would go to the Wall and serve a life sentence in the Night's Watch as a compromise, apparently to keep everyone from getting what they want. We see Tyrion meet briefly with Jon to explain this and he's as baffled as I am there's even a Night's Watch left. What are they watching? Season one?

A DREAM OF SPRING

Another time jump of unknown proportions and Jon is getting on a boat, headed for the Wall. He sees Grey Worm on another ship about to set sail for Naath where I can only assume he'll die from butterfly poison trying to protect Missandei's people. As Jon rounds a corner he sees Bran, Arya and Sansa are there to see him off. Hugs all around, Sansa apologizes to Jon and I can't help but think it's forced, Arya will sail West of Westeros. When Jon kneels in front of Bran saying, "Your Grace" I'm still wondering what his Targ ancestry had to do with anything and why Bran thought it was so important for him to know. The last of the Starks are going to go on their separate paths again, but hey they won the Game.

We next get a cute scene of Brienne writing Jaime's deeds in the White Book, meaning she's the Lord Commander now. This part is uber meme-able, particularly when she makes faces trying to think of good deeds to write. After a few creative truths she closes the book without writing anything about how he saved the people of King's Landing from being burned alive with wildfire. This scene also shows us Bran the Broken has taken a raven for his sigil, it's now prominent on Brienne's Kingsguard armor.

We go next back to Tyrion, the Keep mended enough to have a small council meeting in the old spot he's meticulously rearranging the chairs. Sam, now Grandmaester, brings in a book called a Song of Ice and Fire, very Hobbit of him, setting it in front of Tyrion. The rest of the small council files in, Bronn as Lord of Highgarden and Master of Coin, Davos as Master of Ships, and Brienne the Lord Commander of the Kingsguard. Bran is wheeled in just for a minute so we can hear they're missing a few officers and see Sir Podrick is in charge of pushing his chair around now, making an ambiguous comment about finding Drogon just before leaving the running of the kingdom to the council (please give me a sequel of just that!). The scene ends with Tyrion starting his famous jackass/brothel joke but we never get the punchline.

NORTH OF THE WALL

Jon arrives at the Wall, which has been repaired with wooden gates. Then the most well-done cutting of scenes together happens as we bounce between Arya getting ready for her journey west, Jon's arrival and subsequent leaving of the Wall, and Sansa's coronation as Queen of the North. We see Jon moving through the wildlings and finally, FINALLY, he pets Ghost. Arya's on a ship with a huge Stark wolf on the sails. Sansa is at Winterfell newly crowned. It all ends kind of how it started, with Jon on his horse walking north into the woods, wildlings on foot following him into the future. The scene evokes a sense of adventure unknown and reminds me of the first scenes from the pilot where we first saw the wights and Walkers in action but instead of death it's life moving through these woods now.

UPS AND DOWNS

So my main reason for breaking this all down was because I've been asked over and over what I thought of this episode. Many of you know I'm passionate about this show and even now that's it's over I'm sure I'll rewatch it many, many times again, season by season. In fact, this will probably be the first blog entry I have in "Watching Thrones Backwards; maybe it makes more sense this way?"

That being said I feel like this ending was really perfect for what they set out to do. A show based on a book series is always difficult, and Thrones lost access to the written word once the show moved past the books. I've read every single book and felt that more character development could've been done here in Seasons 7 and 8, both of which would've been better with more episodes. It felt rushed without those extra moments this story deserved but instead we got what we got. And what we got in the last episode was amazing for this series, beautifully produced, imagery leaps and bounds ahead of anything else on television, well-acted, even if not always well-written.

The biggest criticism I have was that the dive into Dani's madness was too abrupt, and such a huge deviation from her character. But her last words will haunt me for all of time. "We will break the wheel together." And they did. Jon's act was a sacrifice for both of them and gave rise to the new system of electing leaders.

Time was also my enemy in this episode, I know that it opens pretty soon after the last one because there's still fires burning but as we go through it I felt less and less certain where we were on the timeline. At the Dragonpit scene Robin Aryn was much taller, does that mean years have gone by or mere weeks? Years of Unsullied occupancy in King's Landing doesn't make sense to me but ok whatever. And at the end stuff was kind of fixed like in the Red Keep and at the wall so that must've been years certainly! But Sansa was just getting crowned so did they really wait all that time to do it? I guess I'll need to wait for GRRM to help me clear that up, hopefully in my lifetime.

My other problem was that everything was getting tied up with pretty little bows, basically going down the list and checking off all the weird bets people were making online. I could've easily told you Arya would head west of Westeros, Sam would name that book a Song of Ice and Fire, and that Tyrion would never finish his joke on screen. I say "was" though because I'd rather have all these things tied up neatly than a lot of wtf moments. We had enough of those watching this series, and this being the last episode it truly was "bittersweet" so seeing storylines get sewn shut was much nicer after I had time to really think about it all. I'm over a dozen times through this episode now and it's held up amazingly well to rewatch.

Even with all the negative criticism I absolutely loved this episode. Each scene in this final episode looked incredible, Jaime and Cersei dead in each other's arms, the dragon wings behind Dani at the Keep, Drogon melting the Throne, even Jon walking off into the woods at the end. Cinematically it was successful, thematically maybe a little less so. But it made sense in a way the Dexter or Lost finales never will. Dany succeeded in the end with breaking the wheel - Shakespearean tragedy at its finest, Tyrion is for all intents and purposes ruling as Hand, Arya stopped killing everyone, Sansa's a queen in her own right, Bran is probably warging into Drogon somewhere off screen flying about and Jon pet Ghost. Team Stark FTW I give it a solid 9 out of 10!

*Picture credits to HBO Game of Thrones*

[friendlyfaceseverywhere-sp-blog]

Chapter 1: Party At Cartman’s

          The last week of August and the end of summer had finally came to South Park. Stan’s Marsh phone alarm played a nice, peaceful and relaxing tune, which was the opposite of what his mornings looked like, but the volume was high enough to wake him up. Stan opened his eyes and was about to press the snooze button, thinking five more minutes of sleep wouldnt disturb his routine, but stopped when He saw there was a message from his best friend Kyle Broflovski. He opened the chat and read “Ready for another year of torture?”

           Stan laugh. “And do we have a choice?” was his reply, knowing Kyle would probably chuckle like He did on the other side. He gave up sleeping five more minutes longer and stood up, walking towards the bathroom to wash his face, but was abruptly pushed before He could enter by the stupid She-Ogre He knew as his older sister. Shelly would just return to the college campus for classes in september and Stan couldnt avoid thinking if it was about time for her to go away. Have her home some weekends was bad... But everyday was almost too much to bear.

- God dammit Shelly! Do you have to do this everyday? – Stan shouted from outside the bathroom, knocking on the locked door. His sister had grew a lot. She didnt used braces anymore and had gave a update to her looks, at least the possible, but her bad attitude had stayed the same. Shelly opened the door, almost hitting Stan’s face with it, to respond.

- Shut up Turd! I’m going out! – and she closed it again almost breaking it. The noise made Stan’s mom, Sharon, soon appear to ask what was going on, but the boy Just sighed and went back to his room. He packed his school stuff and changed his clothes while waited for Shelly to come out of the bathroom.

           He placed his jacket, a The Who shirt, clean jeans and his red converse Chuckies above his bed. He opened the drawer e there it was, carefully stored, his trade Mark: The red poof Ball hat. He throw the little thing with the others at the same moment He saw Shelly passing irritated through the hallway while his mother followed her screaming. Finally He could use the bathroom.

             About twenty minutes later, Stan got to the bus stop, not the same one He and his friends used to hang when they were kids, despite being practically the same thing. All sights in South Park looked alike. When He got there, Kenny and Cartman were laughing, while Kyle had his arms crossed glaring at the other two. – Hey guys. – Stan Said smiling to Kyle, who Just sigh and got closer to his Best friend.

- Hey dude... – Kyle seemed frustrated and Stan knew the reason. He knew why his other two friends were laughing their guts out and it was the same reson that placed that expression on Kyle’s face.

           A week ago, to celebrate summer’s ending, Cartman threw a huge party for everyone in class on his basement. Eric Cartman’s basement had always been the Best place for such stuff... It was big, had an extra bathroom and Liane, his mom, never seemed bothered with all the shit they’ve done down there. The whole sophomore class appeared, Kenny had got the booze and the pot with his contacts and everything was going as planned.

           Stan and Kyle were sitting in the staircase that lead to the basement waiting for Wendy Testaburguer, Stan’s girlfriend, arrive. The Black-haired boy was anxious, since she had spent most of her Summer travelling with her parents. Kenny, Cartman and the others that had arrived already, were downstairs having fun. Watching this, Kyle seemed nervous about something.

- Youre gonna try tonight Kyle? – Stanley asked with a smirk on his face as Kyle turned to him widening his eyes for a second.

- Uh? I dont know what youre talking about...

- The pot dude... I’m asking if youre gonna try it. You Said your parents would be out tonight. – Stan gave a brief look towards Ike, playing with his phone in a couch. Since the Broflovskis were out, Kyle had to bring him to the party.

- I dont know dude... My mom would kill me if she discovered i’ve smoked. – He took a deep breath before continuing. – I know Ike wont say a Word, but i dont know... You know how she gets when she’s angry.

           Stan opened his mouth to say something to his Best friend, but they both turn their heads at the same time hearing the door above the stairs opening. Wendy and Bebe passed through it and the Black-haired girl froze as soon as she saw her boyfriend waiting. Stan smiled and patted Kyle’s shoulder friendly. – You know i support whatever your decision is, right? – and before the red-haired could reply, Stan stood up and went up to where Wendy was.

- Hey babe! How was your trip? – He asked already pulling her into a hug. Wendy seemed nervous about something, and her fake smile showed that.

           Kyle, who could see Wendy’s expression, watched the scene confused, standing up as well. Bebe passed through him shooking her head. – This ain’t gonna be cool... – she sighed already knowing the kinda talk her bestie would have with her boyfriend next. Kyle turned to her listening this, getting even more perplexed now since according to Stan, the two of them seemed to be ok until the previous Day, at least He Said Wendy seemed to miss him in their messages.

- Bebe... What...

- Have you seen Clyde, Ky? – Bebe asked and the jewboy only pointed to where the football team captain and the blonde’s boyfriend was. Soon He also went down there leaving Stan and Wendy alone.

 - Everything was fine Stan... I had lots of fun. – Wendy replied stepping away from his hug. She was acting weird.

- Is everything ok? Something happened? – Stan asked noticing this. He hoped his girl would be anxious to see him again, just like He was. He hoped that she would be happy and willing to tell him the news about her trip and that they would spend na amazing night together at the party. But the words that came out from Wendy’s mouth next made Stan’s heart stop beating for a second.

- Can we... Talk? – she said in a uncertain and not a bit thrilling tone. – I mean... Alone?

 - Whats wrong with your face Kyle? – Kenny asked when He saw the jew coming downstairs with some worry on his eyes. He looked up towards Stan and Wendy while going down, and bit his lip nervously when He saw Stan’s smile vanishing, before He agreed with his head and followed Wendy out of the basement.

- It’s just... I think Wendy is going to break up with Stan. – He said grabbing a pop for himself while Kenny raised na eyebrown. He understood why Kyle seemed worried about this since Stan always ended up devastated everytime He had a fight with his girlfriend and them splitted apart for a while. None of them could forget the goth kids episode. Kenny got a bottle of vodka and added some to Kyle’s cup.

- Guess we’re gonna need more of this to comfort him later then, huh? – He said with a little sigh. Kyle looked at his cup and scratched his neck.

- I dont know if i should Kenny... Ike’s here and... – He thought for an instant. Why not? He wanted to be able to help his Best friend upstairs, but theres nothing He could do at the moment. Maybe when He came back, if what He was thiking truly happened, Kyle could cheer him up a little bit. – Alright... But let’s get slow... You know Stan has a problem with alcoohol.

- I have some weed here too... – Kenny said patting his parka’s pocket where probably the joints were. The smirk on his face showed the other the exact words that were about to come out of his mouth. – You said you were gonna try tonight, Kyle.

             Wendy guided Stan to Cartman’s backyward. Usually, there was the parties Make out spot. Of course, couples used to kiss and fool around down the basement as well, but true action happened there, under the stars. Stan and Wendy had kissed in Cartman’s backyward before but they never reached the ultimate goal, He respected her too much to try doing anything without her giving a sign first. In reality, He didnt fell secure enough to go more ahead than what they had done by that point.

           A girl placed her hands in her coat’s pockets. Despite still being Summer, South Park managed to be to coldest town in all Colorado. She sighed without facing him, just looking at the starry sky, nervous with something Stan couldnt identify. – Wendy... What do you wanna talk about? – she suddenly firm her feet and turn her head to him.

- Stan... We need to take a break.

           Complete silence. Stan tilted his head to the side confused for a few seconds staring at his girlfriend not knowing how to react. E then He chuckled. It was a quick one tho, since Wendy’s expression didnt change. – Wait... You’re being serious? B-But why?!

- I’ve been thinking during this trip... You know? I need a break to think, thats all. – she replied shyly looking to the ground. She hated having to do that. But at the same time, it was needed, doubts came on her head during vacation and she needed to find a solution to it without Stan interfering, even without meaning it. – Please... You need to understand.

- You’ve met someone on the trip, don’t you? Thats what happened? Thats why you’re acting weird? – He asked leaning onto her and gently taking her hands, which made him stare at his eyes one more time. – Wendy... Please don’t do this to me again... I... I love you...

           She stopped and her eyebrows curved in a sad way. She slightly and carefully touched his face. – And i love you too. Thats why i have to do this, because i don’t wanna hurt you more than necessary. I need a break Stanley... – her voice was firm and decisive. – And no... I didnt met anyone on the trip. I just... Need you to respect what i’m asking you.

           She took a deep sigh gazing deeply inside his eyes, before releasing his hands and pass through him, returning back into the house. Stan’s shoulders dropped while he stared at nothing ahead of him with wide eyes, shocked, without understanding how in a matter of minutes he went from “Cute messages of missing you” to “We need to take a break”. He had no Idea how longer he stayed there staring at nothing in particular, but he discovered later that it was for awhile, cause Kenny opened the glass door that gave access to the backyard, holding himself to not have a laughter attack.

- HAHA! STAN! – he couldnt stop laughing. – You have to come see the shit Kyle’s doing! S-Stan... – Kenny stopped in front of his friend, finally seeing his desolate expression. – Uh... Stan? What happened?

- Wendy... She... She... – Stan tried to speak, but the words simply didnt came out. He felt his body being pulled into a hug all of sudden. Kenny sighed releasing him a few seconds later.

- I’m so sorry dude...

           Stan felt terrible. If at least he knew why Wendy did this to him, maybe he could stand the fact better. Kenny was a good friend and for sure, at least as far as possible, his hug had helped. Perhaps if he went to hang with his friends... Wait a minute. Stan’s sad face changed to confused in just one second. – What did you said about Kyle?

 - ALRIGHT, MOTHERFUCKERS! WHEN I SAY CARTMAN, YOU SAY FATASS! – Kyle was standing above the junk food table, wearing only his underwear and hat. His voice sounded drunk and a little bit higher than usual. Kyle already had the most high pitched voice among all his male friends, but that was too much.

           Kenny returned with Stan to the basement and just when he saw Kyle, he couldnt contain his laugh. Stan’s eyes got wide seeing his Best friend completely high and screaming almost naked in front of everybody. That wasnt Kyle, or at least, it wasnt how Kyle acted. All the others had similiar reactions to what was going on: Or they were laughing or they were shocked. Cartman didnt seemed to care that mosto of the shit coming out of the jew’s mouth were poorly directed to him. At the moment, the fat kid hold onto Heidi, his girlfriend, while filming Kyle making a fool of himself with his Iphone. – That’s totally going to my Twitter. – Eric laugh evil.

- My god Kenny... What the fuck did you gave him? – Stan asked, a mix of worry and giggle on his voice. Kenny laughed out loud in return, showing the other joint he had.

- Looks like our friend Kyle kept his promise, huh Stan?

           Wendy was one of the people looking at Kyle without knowing how to react. For a second, she glanced at Stan, but quickly the boy looked away and went to the table where Kyle danced ridiculously. – Kyle, you have to get down from there dude. – Stan said reaching his arms towards his Best friend so he could come down without falling or getting hurt.

- Hey Stan! Hey everybody! This is my Best friend Stan! – Kyle said almost tripping and falling from the table, but Stan managed to hold him and put him down safely before that could happen. – Ah... Dude... Your eyes are puffy... – Kyle stopped smiling and touched Stan’s face dizzily. – She broke up with you, didnt she? I’m so sorry Stan! – and then he hugged him.

Stanley wanted to talk with Kyle about it. During his whole life, that boy was always there to help him, but he knew the red haired didnt had conditions at the moment. He sighed and asked someone next to the scene to pass him Kyle’s clothes that were on the floor. – C’mon man... Lets get you home. Lets go Ike!

Stan went away without saying bye to most people. In the end, Kyle’s little show had gave him an excuse to leave... After what happened, the last thing he wanted was partying. When they got to Kyle’s house, on the other side of the street, Stan carefully placed him on his bed with Ike’s help. He thanked Jesus for their parents being out.

- God dammit... Hey Ike, i think i’m spending the night. Just in case Kyle doesnt feel good... And he has no conditions of... – Stan stopped talking when he heard voices that sounded much alike the ones he heard at the party coming from Ike’s phone. – Ike?

- Uh? Oh, sure, no problem. – Ike replied laughing and showing his phone screen. It was a vídeo of Kyle’s show at the party, posted three minutes ago on Eric Cartman’s Twitter Page. – Its online already.

           Stan took a deep breath, rolling his eyes thinking how Cartman could be such an asshole. He looked at Kyle knowing how ashamed he would be in the morning, despite him looking so peaceful sleeping now. – Alright Ike... You should go rest. We’ll figure this out tomorrow ok? The sleeping bag is still in the closet?

           Stan layed on the floor next to Kyle’s bed, curling himself at the thick Terrance & Phillip sleeping bag. He smiled a bit remembering how happy they both were when got that gift. Soon he frowned tho, thinking about Wendy and what happened at the party. Why did she had to do that with him? Why didnt she gave him a reason? He heard Kyle moving on his bed and then released a groan.

- You better be ok in the morning to hear me mourn Kyle...

- Stan? Are you listening to me? – Kyle asked waving his hand in front of his Best friend’s face, that looked completely lost in thoughts.

- Uh? What? – he asked snapping out of it. He was inside the bus already heading to school with Kyle sitting by his side.

- You didnt heard a single Word i said, right? – the red haired kid asked with a bored look. Stan stuttered to reply, which made Kyle sit straight in his seat with his arms crossed. – Nevermind...

           Stan felt bad for a second. He’d been thinking about Wendy and what happened for the last minutes, not realizing his surroundings. In fact, he and the girl havent spoken to each other in a week, ever since the talk in Cartman’s yard. The boy relaxed in his seat sighing sadly gazing at the view from his window. – I know you were problably cursing Cartman for being an ass and posting that vídeo. He’s really a jerk... I’m sorry about it and i’ll help you solve this shit. Is just...

- The thing with Wendy, right? – Kyle said suddenly. The two boys knew each other time enough to know exactly what the other was thinking without much effort. Stan looked back to his friend. – I know dude... It sucks. But you told me she just wanted a time. Didnt she said she loved you?

- Well... Yeah, she said. But i dont know... She seemed so... – the bus stopped in front of South Park High and the doors opened so the students could come out. But Stan couldnt stand. He saw something outside the bus the simply freeze his movements. Wendy was sitting at the stairs in front of the building with a big book in one of her hands... Because the other side of the book was being held by a blonde kid around their age that was extremely familiar. -...Distant...

           Kyle looked from the window seeing the same scene. The boy was close to Wendy. Too close. The two of them seemed to be talking about the book and she seemed happy with this kid’s company. Kyle lifted an eyebrown, having the same sensation of familiarity. The blonde curly hair thrown back, fancy outfits and that smart air he exibited over Wendy... It reminded them a lot about this kid they’ve met years ago, when they were just eight, and that had went study with them. Kyle’s eyes widen when his mind reproducted the words “La Resistance” and he could, finally, identify who this guy was.

- Gregory... – he said making Stan turn to him abruptly.

- Hey, you two have to come down! – the bus driver yelled making them realize they were the only ones left inside. The boys quickly took their stuff and did as the man said. Kyle tried to pull Stan as far as possible from where Wendy was with Gregory, maybe head to their lockers and get over with that, but Stan couldnt avoid giving his girlfriend, or ex, a look with all the sadness from his body.

           For a moment, Wendy faced him back, and the joy vanished from her face. She looked embarassed to the ground while Kyle kept trying to pull him away. But he knew there was no sense in spare him since his heart was probably already broken.

             Eric Cartman was walking towards his locker with his usual egocentric air. He wasnt among the youngest in school anymore, actually, he was practically a veteran if you think well. It was like he owned this territory by now. He spotted Heidi Turner, his longdate gilfriend, searching for something inside her locker, and, even tho he wasnt seeing her face, he knew she was excited to see him. They were more attached than ever, since a week ago, after the incredible party in his house that he liked to call “High Kyle’s show” they went it on inside his room. Probably the best day of his whole life, not only for seeing Kyle humiliating himself, but because he lost his virginity, all in one night. It was too good to be true.

           When he reached her, Cartman hugged her from behind, gripping her waist and lifting her up softly. Heidi gasped startled, tooking a fright when he lifted her, but when she looked back and saw her boyfriend, her face turned angry. She shook her legs and kicked him lightly to be released. – Let me go Eric!

           Cartman released her, getting confused. He chuckled sarcastically. – Wow... Looks like someone is on a bad mood today. Are you on your period or something?

           Heidi shut her locker madly, which made Cartman shut his mouth. He had seem her pissed before, despite being rare, and he didnt liked at all. He kept perplexed while she faced him almost like she was about to attack him. – I dont wanna talk to you! – she yelled suddenly and started to walk away. Cartman ran and grip on her arm.

- Hey! Wait a second, what have i done? – he asked not understanding. Heidi’s face got even angrier, burning bright red. After a few seconds she opened up.

- You want to explain to me why everybody knows what we’ve done last week? – she screamed pulling her arm away from his touch. Cartman’s eyes widen, as he placed his hands on his pockets.

- I... I dont know what youre talking about, Heidi...

- Dammit Eric! I asked you to not tell anyone! – she stamp her feet on the floor with tears on her eyes.  

- And i didnt! – he screamed back, some people were staring at them both, before turning their faces and leave. Heidi crossed her arms, not buying not even a bit of that. – Well... Maybe i’ve told the guys... And Butters... And Clyde. I mean, i had to tell Clyde, right? Oh yeah... I told Jimmy too...

           He stopped when she suddenly pushed him and his fat body hit the floor. – Youre an idiot! Now everybody looks at me knowing what happened! Dont you ever speak to me! Its over Eric! – and then she returned to march nervously away from him.

- Fuck you Heidi! Thats right, go away and leave me here, laying on the floor! – Cartman yelled seeing her move away. Noticing she didnt hesitate a single step and just disappeared by the end of the hallway, ignoring him completely, he sighed heavily, still with an irritated expression, laying the rest of his body on the floor too. – Crap...

OH MY GOD I’M SOOO HAPPY HAHA! So yeah, this was the first chapter. Hope you guys enjoyed. Feel free to comment, share and talk to me or Mary about it cause it really makes us want post more and more about this!!  

*THIS AU BELONGS ENTIRELY TO ME (@maryramos) AND MY FRIEND (@m-tonks). If repost, please give credit to us and make sure to follow our page for more content of it!*

[star-across-the-universe]

SILVER and SCARS

The moon shone down on the rooftops, painting the night with a perfect soft, diffuse glow, like the steady hand of a master painter. A passing cloud parted the veil over its bright face, casting a shaft of silver light down dramatically toward a lone figure, his face mysteriously obscured in shadows. He stood with one foot up on the low parapet of a building, the edge of his cloak sweeping behind him as if it were alive, tossed about in the chill breeze. 

He stared out over the city. His thoughts were his own tonight, mysterious and as dark as night shadows on velvet, or some other really dark thing...

So loud were his brooding thoughts ringing in his ears that he nearly missed the sound of a footstep on the rooftop behind him. 

“So, you have found me at last, my rival,” he murmured in a low and silken voice. “I knew this day would come.”

“You knew you couldn’t hide from my eyes forever, you mean,” the deep, rich rumbling of a completely different voice was carried toward him on the wind. “Also, it’s technically night time.”

“Confound you, Scarr Fightsmore,” the tall, cloaked figure whirled around, revealing his elegant porcelain features in the pale moonlight, his fashionable fluffy hair dancing in the wind like white flames. “Yes, all right, it’s night time - but the moon’s bright gleam warms me as if it were day.” He said. “Tell me, why do you hound me, after all these years?”

“Because,” said the voice as its owner stepped fully into a beam of glistening luminance, “I will never forgive you for your betrayal, my greatest enemy, and once, my greatest friend - Magnus Darkbright, the Silver Sorcerer!” 

The broad, hulking, yet sensual figure of Scarr Fightsmore was lit gently, his sinuous, corded frame caressed by the soft glow from above. His long, night-dark hair was also billowing in the wind, hanging mysteriously across his face but occasionally pulled aside to reveal a terrible yet intriguing scar running down his forehead, over one eye, and down his face. There was also another scar running perpendicular to the first one, across his face. 

“My betrayal?” The silver-haired mage - who looked far younger than the color of his hair would indicate, except inside his eyes, which looked very old indeed - exclaimed in outrage. “You lie! It was you who abandoned me, when you -”

“I will hear no more of your trickery - now DIE!” the very muscular fighter shouted in a sensual growl. Scarr had always been the impulsive, yet quiet type, even before he got the scars. His parents must have been very prescient. He pulled a sword from over his shoulder, though Magnus couldn't see where it had come from.

The silver sorcerer - who was actually a wizard, technically - gasped. “That sword... It's not a sword!”

“How right you are, my former friend,” he roared throatily as he ran towards Magnus, his dark hair trailing behind him as if it were in water. “It is 100 swords! Every sword of everyone I have defeated in sword-combat, forged into a sword!”

“That is unreasonable!” shouted Magnus, as he summoned his arcane prowess and his eyes began to glow with a mystical light. White flames danced across his fingertips, just like his white hair danced in the wind. It was very fashionable. “You can't just weld more swords to your sword every time you defeat someone - it goes against every principle of metallurgy!”

“And yet, I will not rest until I have buried it to the hilt, deep inside your flesh!” the fighting man yelled in response as he finally reached Magnus.

The wizard dodged out of the way, but only barely, and the sword looked like a wall made of swords as it passed by his face. A single lock of his beautiful silvery hair drifted slowly to the ground like a leaf, made of silk. It had been cut off by the blade, which was apparently sharper than you'd expect from a sword made of a bunch of swords stuck together.

Scarr Fightsmore was very strong, and also very fast despite being so huge and muscular - but The Silver Sorcerer did know him very well indeed, and could predict his moves. He was a wizard after all.

Which was good, because Scarr whirled around, like a shadow passing over the moon, and swung the sword of blades at Magnus again. The wizard vanished like smoke, reappearing thirty-five feet away but still on the rooftop. “Scarr Fightsmore, you give me no choice but to set you on fire,” He warned dangerously, his words like a whisper but louder. 

The fighter roared at him again, a sound like the scrape of steel against steel, only deeper, and ran towards him like a charging bull, except with a sword instead of horns. Magnus chanted secret, unspoken words of power, letting the mystical energy swirl around him until it reached a climax, and then shot out at the other man in a gout of burning white flames.

Scarr kept coming toward him, exploding through the white hot heat. “You fool!” he said while smiling and also on fire, “I have been setting myself on fire every day just to practice fighting you, and now I am immune to fire!”

“You can’t become immune to fire,” Magnus frowned. “Fire doesn’t become less hot the more times you are set on fire. It doesn’t work that way!” Only just then he realized that Scarr was still running towards him as he was talking, just as he was suddenly slammed into by a great big hunk of beef and unresolved issues.

“Ahah! It’s called nerve damage!” said the fighter triumphantly.

Magnus said nothing, because he was too busy flying through the air, which was normal for him, except only without magic this time, which was not normal. His flight was suddenly brought to a stop by a brick wall, which was conveniently on the roof, where the roof entrance was.

“Ugh!” said Magnus. His head was ringing like a hundred bells would, if you threw them at a brick wall. He looked up and saw Scarr walking towards him slowly in the bright moonlight, which was good because it gave him time to think. If he could just get close enough to the fighter without getting his head chopped off...

He lay on the floor and moaned, gripping his head between his hands - he pretended to be hurt, which wasn’t hard, because getting thrown into a wall really hurt actually.

“Now, finally I will have my revenge for your betrayal, Magnus Darkbright, when you left me to die all by myself!” said Scarr, as he walked up to the wizard and pointed the sword of many blades at his throat. 

“I already TOLD you,” Magnus said, his sticky-uppy hair falling over his eyes fashionably. “You betrayed ME!” He grabbed ahold of the sword and channelled his magics, charging his hands with lightning, which ran up the blade with great huge sparks and into Scarr’s big hands and muscled arms. The fighter was exploded backward, in a different direction than the sword, which flew through the air and stuck into the rooftop. He staggered up against the brick wall, which was conveniently behind him. 

Magnus walked towards Scarr slowly, his hands still sparking with lightning like a distant thunderstorm, only in his fingers instead. Scarr leaned back against the wall as Magnus came up to him and leaned towards him with the lightning, which was casting dark shadows and bright light on his face, just like his name. Magnus put one hand on the wall over Scarr’s shoulder so he couldn’t leave, which he could do because Magnus was also very tall, even if he didn’t have muscles.

“You left ME to die all alone, because you never showed up and I had to fight a whole army of evil undead by myself!” Magnus had tears in his eyes, but it didn’t count as crying, because they caught fire before they rolled down his face. His cloak billowed in the wind.

“No, you left ME to fight an army of evil undead by MYself,” Scarr said, sticking his lower lip out in a way that was both sad and angry. “What kind of a friend is that?” His silky black hair also fluttered in the wind.

“Wait,” said Magnus, thinking. His tears dried really quick, because they were on fire. “Did you go to the east gate, or the west gate?”

Scarr frowned, his scars illuminated starkly in the moonlight. “The west gate, of course, like you said!” 

Magnus also frowned. “What? No, I told you to go to the east gate. East, with an E.”

“But west also has an E in it,” Scarr said, thoughtfully. “Does that mean...” He looked at Magnus, his eyes gleaming in the soft moonlight shining down on the both of them, his face shadowed hauntingly, like his tragic past. 

“We were both just in the wrong place,” Magnus breathed out the words, which escaped into the night air like the sadness leaving his body. “So then did you really come to help me?”

“I would never leave you alone,” said Scarr, “because you’re my friend.” 

He looked deeply into Magnus’ eyes, and Magnus looked into his, like a mirror. The wizard leaned in more, putting his other hand on the wall on the other side of Scarr’s head, only he forgot to get rid of the lightning, which shot into the brick wall. But neither of them cared as sparks exploded around them, because finally they knew that they had truly found -

“Ah, Everine, there you are!” a cheerful voice cut in brightly. “Hard at work on that essay on somatic components I assigned you, right?”

The young elven girl’s eyes flew open and she slammed the notebook shut abruptly with the pen still inside it. She was thankful that someone her age probably couldn’t get a heart attack. 

“Hahhaaahhh, you know it, Master Pipeleaf,” She grinned and pointed both index fingers at him, laughing through clenched teeth. She carefully slid the notebook aside and leaned an elbow on it protectively. 

Her mother smiled breezily, having escorted her erstwhile tutor in. “Thank you again for coming by, Cleric Pipeleaf, it’s so hard to find a good spell tutor these days, especially within the church, what with all the troubles in the world lately.“

Davin waved it off with a smile. “Not at all, ma’am. Young Everine is a very bright pupil. She’ll be quite the asset to the mage guild someday soon I’m sure, particularly with her talent in divinations. I’d hate to see that wasted.”

“Yes, such a colorful imagination!” Her mother laughed and gave Everine’s hair a tousle, at which her daughter wrinkled her freckled brown nose and readjusted her bright yellow hair bow. “Well, you two just let me know if you need anything, I’m sure Everine is eager to get to her studies.”

The elf girl gave them her brightest, widest, and most innocent rictus.

[marinette-sky]

Cigarettes and Leather Chapter 7

A/N: A lot goes on in this chapter, both good and bad. This is my longest chapter yet, finishing at a whopping 5,832 words! I am NEVER doing that again. Detail is, like, my private prostitute at this point and i wish it weren't ;-; I am a filthy liar btw, I said this chapter would center on an Adrienette trip to the bar and shit, but that sure as hell ain't the truth.Also, I know I said this would be a slow-ish burn, but....well you have to read the chapter ;)

Summary:  Marinette, and other things, are falling apart at the seams (and oh, how she wish they were as easy to stitch back together as clothing).

Wednesday Morning

Marinette woke up before her alarm in spite of the exhaustion dragging at her eyelids. The sleep she had gotten could be described as fitful at best, events from the previous evening to blame for her poor condition. After getting home, the heroine had all but collapsed in a sniveling, self-pitying heap on her bedcovers, replaying what transpired between Chat Noir and her until she was no longer conscious enough to dwell on the persisting anguish.

Though, it is certainly still with me. She pressed a hand to her chest, dully noting the ache that pushed back.

Heaving a big sigh, Marinette sat up and blinked a few times for her eyes to adjust to the dim light filtering through her skylight. The skin around her eyes was slightly puffy from crying, but nothing a few dabs of concealer couldn’t fix. Hopefully.

Alya has eyes like a hawk, so maybe I’ll do full face makeup today.

With this in mind, the female crawled down from the bed, (snagging the neatly ironed uniform from its hanger hooked on the bedpost), and made her way to the bathroom to get ready for the day. When she had showered and dressed, true to her word to applying full face makeup, she snuck back to her room to find Tikki waiting by her school bag.

The kwami looked at her with apprehension.

“Marinette, we need to talk about last night.” Tikki said firmly, crossing her arm-like appendages. Because of her small stature, she made for almost a laughable sight if not for the serious nature of her words.

“There’s nothing to discuss, Tikki. I was just stressed and Chat made it worse by mentioning working with someone else as a civilian. That’s all.” Marinette ducked around the little creature to grab her bag, purposefully avoiding eye contact as she spoke. She recalled Tikki once telling her that eyes betray the truth, so she should always look at someone head on when talking to see if they are lying or not.

“No, that’s not all, Mari. You cried. I know it has something to do with the fight between you and Chat Noir.” Tikki insisted, moving to block access to the trapdoor handle. “I feel everything you feel when transformed, and it wasn’t just stress.”

She’s not budging on this, is she?

“Well, my feelings are dumb and so are you if you believed them.” Marinette retorted weakly, glaring at her character shoes. “I need to leave for school.”

“Now you are just being childish. And you are not leaving this room until we talk about last night.” Tikki was resolute. “We both know that you have feelings for Chat Noir, and I know first-hand how you get when his female fans get too snug with him.”

“I—”

“You may think you protect him inside the mask, by keeping him by your side only, but outside the mask is different. You both make your own decisions, and he seems to have made his. Tell me I’m wrong.”

Marinette tried her hardest to not recoil at Tikki’s accurate observation, however vague it was. Although it stung, she was right. Chat Noir was never hers to begin with and no amount of jealousy or tantrums could change that.

What I did last night was selfish.

I was selfish.

He was only trying to help them both and the situation at hand by taking action in his civilian form and teaming up with someone else to investigate what happened to Kim and Ivan.

And Marinette scolded him for it.

But…

“You’re not, Tikki.” Marinette admitted. “But that’s not the whole picture either.”

Tikki’s gaze softened when she saw the raw look on the female’s face. “Then what is, Marinette.”

Marinette played with the hem of her shirt, hesitant at voicing her real concerns to the kwami. Swallowing the lump in her throat, she met Tikki’s stare with a heartsick one of her own.

“Its just…well, I’m hurt that someone else caught his eye, and not me. We’ve known each other so long that I figured we’d eventually end up together, and I defended this notion by making sure no one else could get close to him in the mask. So when Chat Noir told me he found this girl, and talked so fondly of her, it made me angry.” Marinette bit her lip, the fire in her stomach spreading to her lungs.

She waited for the suffocating feeling to subside before continuing.

“And then he even told me she reminded him of me. How am I supposed to interpret that? It was like getting told that I wasn’t good enough for him, but the girl who reminded him of me was. Like giving someone a gift only for them to return it in exchange for something similar to the original.”

Tikki nodded sympathetically, smiling sadly at her.

“I think he meant that he found someone with a good heart like yours. It was a compliment, sweetheart.”

Marinette silently agreed with Tikki’s insight, suddenly abhorred by her actions from last night. A despicable sensation crashed over her, like she had just been covered in acid and it was eating through her skin, her muscle, only to congeal itself around her bones and harden so she couldn’t tear it off. It felt worse than guilt, but lighter than heartbreak. There was no word that could possibly label the sensation and Marinette just had to live with it for now until it faded.

Tikki was alarmed.

“Marinette, what is it?!” She trilled, flying up to her face and cradling one of her cheeks.

“…I can’t believe I was so horrible to him. I’m a horrible friend.  Tikki, I’m a horrible friend.” Tear pinpricked at her eyes, but Marinette refused to cry. She could cry and cry and cry and cry about how lowly she is; but, as the philosopher Heraclitus once said, the sun is new each day, but sadness will stay the same and she will not cry over the same sadness she felt yesterday as she does now.

I don’t deserve to.

“Marinette, just because you did something bad doesn’t make you a bad person.” Tikki attempted to comfort her, “You are not horrible.”

Yes I am, she wanted to explain, I’m a horrible friend because I was horrible to him and I realize this. But, just because he likes someone else, my feelings for him will not just disappear, and thus the jealousy I harbor will not either. I can’t tell him about my feelings for him because it would further complicate the situation, and we already have something much bigger and more important to worry about.

As wise as Tikki is, she would never understand what Marinette truly meant by her words.

Putting on a strong face, Marinette lifted her trapdoor open and went downstairs; past the kitchen where her mother was cooking breakfast, past the bakery where her father was taking care of early bird orders. It was only halfway to the school when the heroine realized something.

Chat Noir is shy, but his shyness did not make him a coward.

Ladybug is brave, even to the point of reckless abandon, but what she did made her a coward.

Thursday Afternoon – Lunch Break  

“Girl, I know I’ve asked you this a hundred times since yesterday, but are you okay?” Alya asked around a mouthful of Bruschetta de Flageolets, balsamic vinegar dribbling down the corner of her mouth. “You barely touched the salad Niçoise my mom made for you.”

Marinette, who had been distractedly watching Adrien chat with Nino and Lila across the courtyard, snapped her attention back to her worried friend. They were seated on one of the newly installed benches that happened to be beneath a tree in the school courtyard, having thought it was an appropriate setting to dine on the meals that Alya’s mother had so kindly delivered to them out of the blue.

(Though the ravenette knew it was because Alya had begged her to make Marinette’s favorite lunch to try to cheer her up).

Marinette picked up her napkin and reached to clean the vinegar from Alya’s chin, causing her friend to giggle.

“I’m fine, Alya. I just have a lot on my mind right now.” She resigned herself to watching Adrien again, smiling emptily to herself when she saw he had lit a cigarette and was now shamelessly smoking in front of their lunch monitor, Ms. Mendeleiev.

The professor looked furious, but knew better to hold her tongue with Adrien.

Alya followed her stare and laughed easily.

“Is that why you keep watching Adrien? I thought you were saving yourself for Chat Noir.” Alya nonchalantly stuck a fork in Marinette’s salad, hiding her smirk behind the piece of lettuce.

Marinette blanched and blushed hard at her friend’s implication.  Only Alya knew of her adoration for Chat Noir and absolutely loved teasing her about it every chance she got. The teen tried to look amused by the redhead’s attempt at romantic humor, but the look she was giving ended up being pained.

“I did, too.” She replied honestly, not noticing Alya drop the fork onto the autumn-leaf covered grass as she went back to staring at Adrien.

Adrien, dressed in the usual black leather jacket, chose to wear a short gray vest with a white-collared button up underneath it. The jeans he had on were gray-blue and tight, reaching just where his black oxford shoes started. Before, he always wore a white tee and ripped gray jeans with torn up converse.

She absently wondered what had changed.

Adrien caught her staring and grinned. He too had noticed the funk Marinette was in, but knew that there was caution tape surrounding the subject that only Alya dared to cross, so he left it at that. Instead, he subjected her to endless unfunny and suggestive jokes until either Nino or Alya would have to threaten him to stop.

That, at least, got her to smile and laugh.

Friday Night

Tikki tutted at the menacing clouds overhead from her alcove in the pocket of Marinette’s red trench coat, poking her head out to glare at the foreboding weather. Thunder shook the darkened windows of the Dupain-Cheng bakery, prompting Marinette to retreat farther under the establishment’s decorative awning. A heavy gust of wind disturbed the high ponytail she had tied her impossibly frizzy hair into, the promise of rain not far behind.

“We should really wait inside for Adrien, Mari!” Tikki hissed, glancing at the bakery doors.

“Shh! Someone might see you! Besides, my parents would only ask more questions if they saw Adrien come in alone, given that I told them I was going out with friends.” Marinette pushed the kwami back into her hiding place just as a couple giggling and holding hands rushed by them, giving the teen a strange look in passing.

Oh, well.

“Well, it’s getting dark, so he better hurry up.” Tikki continued to fret, shivering slightly from her chosen’s cold fingertips.

Night was falling faster than usual because of the gloomy weather, along with the temperature. Marinette regretted turning her nose up at her old blue jeans in favor of wearing the black tights that matched her red ankle boots. Unfortunately, where her tights lacked in warmth, so did her coat; the inside of the trench coat was lined with silk, not felt, which failed at trapping heat.

I’m going to freeze for the sake of fashion. She thought ruefully, squinting as another big gust of wind swept across the street.

More pedestrians hurried by them as the minutes ticked by, all of them having enough sense to seek shelter from the impending storm. In no time Marinette was the only one left standing on the corner, save for a patrolling police woman who had stopped on the opposing street corner to smoke a cigarette. Despite being Ladybug herself, it was oddly comforting to know she was in safe company in case it grew too late and the Friday night crowd took to the pavement.

Marinette had already locked eyes with the woman twice by the time a dark green Renault duster pulled up to the curb near the bakery. The heroine tensed, warily watching the figure behind the vehicle’s tinted windows as the car engine was killed. When the side door opened and revealed the figure to be Adrien, she immediately relaxed; the police woman was now watching them with interest.

Marinette began walking to the car, shouting a stiff ‘hey’ in greeting.

“Hey, sorry for the wait, my father was bein’ a pain in the ass.” Adrien apologized, meeting her halfway.

“It’s fine; at least you got here before I turned into a human popsicle.” She brushed his excuse aside, taking a brief survey of his person.

His hair was parted on one side of his forehead and smoothed back into tasteful blonde waves that tapered into a low buzz cut which perfectly showed off his ear piercings. He had zipped up his leather jacket partway to his chest, enough so that his V-neck gray shirt was still visible.  

How can someone still manage to get a tan in October, when it’s the middle of autumn?

Models. A voice whispered back like it was the most obvious answer.

Much to her inner fashionista’s delight, Adrien had chosen to wear ripped denim jeans to offset the blending of neutral colors, which flared out around his black combat boots. All in all, a good look to slip into an adult bar unnoticed.

…unlike her rather noticeable appearance.

Well, shit.

Something in her gut told her that Adrien would not be too happy if she went back inside to change.

“Too bright of a color?” Marinette asked upon seeing the odd look the male was giving her.

“Yeah, but don’t worry about it. We should go now, the bar is kind of far from here.” Adrien quickly ushered them into the car, shoving the key into the ignition and impatiently running his fingers along the steering wheel as the engine roared to life.

No sooner had Marinette buckled herself in the seat, they were speeding away from her home and into the murky dusk. Unlike the methodical and careful driver she had been taught to be by her father, Adrien was the exact opposite. He threw caution to the wind as he weaved in and out of traffic, going above the speed limit and slamming the brakes when they came across a traffic light. If Marinette was normally a klutz on two legs, that made Adrien a total disaster behind the wheel. 

Instead of watching the dizzying scenery zip by in the passenger window, she took the liberty of inspecting the car’s interior. Its sleek design and touch-screen radio indicated right away it was an expensive model, and judging by its contemporary appearance, a new one at that. There were mint and pine candle clips attached to the air vents above the front console, so the scent of stale cigarettes was faint. Everything in the vehicle was so pristine and clean-shaven, one would have thought the owner was a ghost.

He’s going to be if he keeps driving like this!

“I thought you had to be 18 to legally apply for a license and drive a car?” Marinette pointed out as they rounded a particularly narrow corner.

Adrien glanced at her in the rearview window before shrugging.

“And?”

“And you have been driving to school since the beginning of the year. Illegally.”

“My birthday is next week, darlin’, its not that big of a deal.”

Marinette started and gave him a sharp look.

“This is news. What day is your birthday?” And why didn’t you tell me?

“’The hell you looking at me like that? It’s on Monday, yah know, the 20th.” Adrien grumbled, screeching to a stop at yet another red light.

Wait that’s…Chat Noir’s birthday too.

Marinette felt her stomach plummet.

“Oh.” She hadn’t given her partner much thought that evening until then, too distracted by their plans.

Chat Noir.

We never did make plans to hang out on his birthday, not that it matters.

There is too much to do now as it is.

Marinette fiddled with her hands, violently repressing all the memories and emotions she had been wallowing the past couple days. Right now, her sole focus was the crime scene and Adrien Agreste. She could lament over Chat Noir when she was alone, in the safety of her room.

Adrien needs Marinette’s help right now, not her drama and baggage.

If Adrien noticed the drop in her mood, he didn’t say anything.

Lifting her head, Marinette had not noticed they entered a seedier part of Paris until the car lurched to a stationary position on uneven cement beneath a flickering street light, Adrien announcing unceremoniously: “We’re here!”

She shot him a skeptical look as they both got out of the car, taking great care to step over the cracks in the pavement. The area they were in was small and crowded with buildings, most of them being rundown warehouses that were transformed into nightclubs. Judging by the amount of shady people already loitering outside the establishments and the loud music that could be heard beyond the thresholds, this was definitely not a place for adolescents to be.

Yet, here we are. She thought ruefully, pursing her lips.

Marinette made her way over to where Adrien stood, trying to ignore the way the claps of thunder overhead and the screams seeping from the nightclubs around them sounded alike.

“Is this the place?” She addressed the unsuspecting building in front of them, gaze snagging on the open space between itself and an abandoned duplex on the other side. 

“The one and only.” He replied, eyeing her sideways.

The structure was made up of a jumble of red and tan brick, with a stone staircase leading to the bar’s entrance. On a huge, rectangular window off to the side of the entrance displayed the bar’s open and close times, along with a distorted view of the contents behind the hazed glass. There, above the window and entrance, read the name of the bar in neon red cursive:

Dust Devil.

“Interesting name.”

“Yep. Shall we go in?” Adrien held out the crook of his elbow for her to take, astonishingly.

Marinette arched a brow at this gesture.

“I don’t know if this is the right time or place to be a gentleman, Adrien.” She told him bluntly, searching his face for any sign of illness. “Are you feeling okay?”

She placed a hand on his forehead to check his temperature. It felt cool to touch from the humidity.

“For safety purposes, darlin’. Plenty of assholes around here know my face, and they’re goin’ to wanna know yours, too. For different reasons, I’d imagine.” Adrien reached up and enveloped her hand in his. “Not that I’d ever let that happen.”

This sent Marinette reeling backwards mentally, her insides heating up at his consideration.

That’s…actually pretty sweet of him.

She peered at their interlocked hands.

And this is kind of intimate.

Something pleasant and warm settled in her chest, in spite of the chilly weather.

To hide her discomposure, Marinette swiftly curled a hand around the hardened muscle of his upper arm and the other in the steeple of his elbow.

“F-Fair enough. If shit hits the fan, you’ll be the one people will hit because you’re taller, at least.” She mumbled, pulling them stiffly forward.

Adrien laughed at this as they ambled up the steps, a smile dangling from the corner of his lips.

“Oh, the fuckers would never get the chance.” He mused, pushing open the door so they could enter.

Once inside, there were three things that stood out to Marinette.

One: It was desert themed, with goddamn cactus-shaped string lights outlining the perimeter of the ceiling.

Two: Every piece of furniture, that including the bar and stools, appeared sanded and rustic (much like if they were hit by an actual dust devil).

Three: There was a legitimate jukebox tucked away in a corner by the elevated bar.

Now the name makes sense.

Adrien maneuvered them around numerous gruff looking patrons who laughed merrily and drank from dark bottles she could only assume was alcohol. Exhausted wait staff buzzed around the room taking orders and balancing platters, some of them even waving to them in recognition. As they drew closer to the main bar, her ears picked up soft, twangy music emanating from the jukebox in a language Marinette did not quite understand.

Her stomach was doing flips of impressive feats by the time they situated themselves on barstools, arms still entwined. Now that they were higher up from everyone else, she was sure that more than a few people were watching them. Their dubious stares dug into her back like thorns. She opted to ignore them for the sake of acting natural.

“So, who do you know here again?” She asked, staring at the vast assortment of liquor on the wall across from them. “The owner, I hope?”

The smell of alcohol is so strong, it’s making me nauseous.

“Sort of. The owner’s daughter is a bartender here, and a talented one at that. She’s also a fan of mine, not surprisingly, which comes in handy if I need favors.” Adrien winked, flashing an arrogant grin. “Such as this one.”

Marinette decided she disliked the implications behind his words.

I’ll ask him about it later.

“Okay…?” The heroine gave their busy bartender a deadpan expression. Although they had their back to the counter, she could tell it was a woman because of how petit their build was. There was something naggingly familiar about the way the woman’s blonde hair was done up in twintails.

It almost reminds me of…

The woman turned around, and Marinette was shocked to see a familiar face.

Aurore Beauréal!

After the Stormy Weather incident, Aurore transferred out of their school and hadn’t been seen since. She never tried to pursue her passion for meteorology, Alya had told her once, because no news channel wanted to put an akuma victim in the impressionable and influential position of weather girl. It had infuriated Marinette at the time, but there was nothing to be done about the judgement of others.

Aurore’s glacial blue eyes brightened when she saw Adrien, nearly dropping the mixer she had been shaking to greet him.

“Adrien! What the hell are you doing here so early? Let me finish this order, and then we can talk in my dad’s office.” She inclined her head to a sharply dressed woman sitting at the end of the bar.

“Sounds perfect. This is Marinette Dupain-Cheng, by the way. You used to go to Collège Françoise Dupont with her…”

Aurore inspected Marinette with an insightful stare, lingering on their interlocked arms. She smiled haughtily, and reached under the counter without breaking eye contact.

“I might have seen you around, Marinette. You were the do-gooder, right?” Aurore was nonchalantly pouring the concoction from the mixer into a martini glass, the fruity-alcoholic fragrance filling the air between them. Marinette felt her stomach roil in disgust from the strange beverage, face pinching into a grimace.

I feel a gag coming on.

“Well, yes? If that’s what you want to call doing the right thing.”  She leaned away from Aurore and the martini, pressing firmly against Adrien’s side in the process. The scent of leather and sweet cigars infiltrated her nostrils, and the teen gladly embraced this change.

“Yeah…excuse me for a moment.” Aurore pasted on a friendly smile before bringing the martini over to the business woman. While they were conversing, Adrien looked down at her expectantly.

His eyebrows started to wiggle insufferably.

“If you wanted to cuddle, you could of at least waited until we were alone, darlin’.” He patted her hand fondly, smirking.

“Oh, but it’s more exciting this way…” Adrien faltered for a moment, and she chuckled. “Kidding! The smell of alcohol makes me sick to my stomach, and that martini didn’t help anything—hey, quit giving me that look!” Marinette swatted his arm, the smile she had on betraying her true thoughts.

Adrien coughed and turned his face away, the tips of his ears going crimson. Making him flustered was certainly not her intention, but the results were fruitful.

“Uh, I’ll keep that—um, in mind next time we, well, go out.” He mumbled to his hand, and Marinette pinked at the suggestion.

‘Go out’…he means to like another outing to look for leads to the culprit?

Yeah.

“Are you jokers done? If you are, then feel free to follow me to the office, it’s ‘round back.” Aurore suddenly materialized next to Marinette, lightly laying a hand on her shoulder. Through the fabric of her coat, she could feel how icy Aurore’s hands were. It reminded her of Stormy Weather’s cold winds. “Unless, of course, you need a few more minutes.”

Aurore tightened her grip on Marinette’s shoulder, leering at Adrien in a knowing way. She noticed the slope of his jaw clenched almost imperceptibly.

What was that about?

“Fuck off, we’re right behind you.” Adrien shoved off his stool, jerking Marinette off of hers as well. The weight of other’s gazes did not stop dragging at her back until the creaky wooden door of the office shut behind them.

Aurore sauntered around the desk towards the back of the small room and flopped down in a worn leather armchair. She gestured to the loveseat placed directly across from the desk, suddenly serious. Marinette noted the open laptop off to the side of the blonde and the scatter of Manilla folders beneath where she had rested her hands. It all seemed very official.

When they took their seats, Aurore spoke to them in a whisper.

“A friend of a friend managed to smuggle me copies of the main case files. Mostly photographs of the alley right after the attack, but feel free to read the descriptions too.” Aurore slid the files over to Adrien.

Marinette watched as Adrien began to open the first folder, but almost immediately after a manicured hand slammed down to keep the flap shut. Tikki shifted in her coat pocket, probably as startled as she was by the sudden noise.

“What the hell, Aurore?!” Adrien exclaimed, emerald eyes flashing in warning. “What’s your deal?”

“Before you open them, explain to me why you brought Marinette Dupain-Cheng with you.”

“She’s—” Adrien started to explain, but Marinette briskly cut him off.

“I’m here to help. Adrien asked for my aid, so now I’m here. You can trust me.” Marinette smiled at Aurore reassuringly, employing the same tone that Ladybug used to calm down civilians.

Aurore looked to Adrien to confirm, who nodded with contempt. Her hand retracted back to her side.

“Fine. Whatever.” Aurore waved her hand, giving them permission to proceed with the files.

The duo secretly glanced at each other with triumphant simpers.

They both then endeavored to comb through the files, bouncing comments off the other occasionally. Many of the photos depicted remnants of the encounter; most notably, the small blood splatters on the ground and a demolished dumpster. From the substantial damage done to the dumpster, Marinette was sure it was an akuma’s doing. Though, she dare not voice this assumption to the others.

As Marinette was scanning the last file over, one photograph in particular snagged her attention. It was apparent that it was taken by a phone camera, given the elongated stature of the picture and poor resolution. Yet, it was the only one of its kind compared to the professionally snapped photos stapled around it, which made it suspicious. The image exhibited a small group of indistinguishable figures crowded in an alley from afar, but that’s all that could be made out. Beside the photo was a neatly printed comment that said “Nearby witness was able to capture all four attackers on camera. Their identities are still unknown”.

Marinette was in shock. There were not one, but four attackers?! How could that be?

That is so vile! Poor Kim and Ivan…it wasn’t even a fair fight.

I need to tell Tikki about this as soon as possible. Chat Noir definitely needs to know, too.

“A-Adrien…look.”

Marinette brandished her find to Adrien, who hastily inspected the report. All the color drained from his face.

“Aurore, what the hell is this?!” Adrien thrust the offending file to her. “Why the hell did you not tell me sooner?!”

“Hey, calm down! I figured it would be better to let you find out on your own, okay?” The bartender typed something on her laptop, pushing the file away.

“You wanted me to find out that my two friends got their asses handed to them by four goddamn people on my own?! Don’t you think that is kind of a bad move?!” Adrien seethed, crossing his arms. Marinette winced at his harsh wording, her own anger starting to surface.

“Okay, when you put it that way, yeah it was a bad idea.” Aurore admitted and turned the laptop to them to reveal a video recording. Adrien stilled beside her.

“What is that?” Marinette asked curiously, trying her best not to sound irritated. “And why are you showing it to us?”

“It’s the security feed from the night Kim and Ivan were attacked. We have a camera in the alley way, but there’s no audio and there’s a huge shadow over the fight from the building. But, it’s the best close up you’re going to get.” Aurore replied somberly, gaze flickering to Adrien. “I didn’t want to show it to you until you fully had a grasp on the situation. Just watch it and I’ll explain everything else.”

Adrien said nothing as he reached over and pressed the play button. Marinette watched with horror and disgust at the scene that unfolded in the video. Kim and Ivan were thrown around the alley way by four figures until a smaller but commanding figure held up a hand for them to stop. The video may have been darkened, but she recognized the build of the akuma to be feminine. The last thing to be caught by the film before the group vanished into the night was that all of them were wearing the color orange.

But why? Why Kim and Ivan? And why did they all have orange on?

This just brings about more questions that have no answer.

Adrien shut the laptop with a glower.

“Explain.” He barked at Aurore.

“Gladly. My guess is there’s a new gang in town, and this was their entrance. This could be interpreted as a warning, but I think their actions were too specific. If I were you, I’d watch your back, Adrien.” Aurore rested her chin on her steepled hands, pausing so the information could digest.

An akumatized gang leader with willing cronies, huh? She pondered morbidly.

Hawkmoth had certainly gained an edge to his plans on obtaining their miraculouses. It was brilliant and meant trouble for both Ladybug and Chat Noir. They would definitely have to be more vigilant than ever, for there could be eyes everywhere.

“Do you know anything about them? Besides what you already told us and what we’ve seen?” Marinette blurted out, a sinking feeling in her chest.

Aurore shrugged and shook her head.

“I know that when the news channel and media outlets find out about this, they’ll blow it way out of proportion. I also know that, for some ungodly reason, that blame is being pinned on Ladybug and Chat Noir. Whoever is spinning rumors like that must be good to turn people against our damn saviors of France.”

“Yeah, well, they’re a damn idiot if they believe that this is Ladybug and Chat Noir’s fault. I know Chat Noir would never allow such violence to persist.” Adrien said with a flourish. “He would give his life to protect the people of France.”

“Exactly! Ladybug has done so much for Paris and its people, so why would she ever allow something like this to happen? She would kneel over and die before she would willingly let someone else get hurt.” Marinette had felt the burning desire to defend her alternate persona, and Adrien’s fierce claim gas-lighted a fire inside her.

I wonder if he’s a fan of his.

Their gazes met and something secretive yet intangible passed between them, like an understanding of some sort that both receiving ends could not make heads or tails of. It was extremely gratifying and alleviated some of the pressure on both their shoulders.

Aurore stared at them in near disbelief before coughing loudly to get their attention.

“It’s getting late and I don’t want to keep you guys long. Normally, I would let you stay, but in light of recent events I cannot.” She held up a hand as Marinette and Adrien stood to leave.

“I meant what I said, though. Watch your back, Adrien. As for you, Marinette, I hope you understand what you’re getting yourself into.”

Marinette looked up at Adrien. “I do.”

“Good. It would be a shame if you got those nice hands of yours dirty.” Aurore responded cryptically, and Marinette raised a brow at the metaphor. Adrien gave Aurore a mildly threatening glare.

What is it with these people and metaphors?

She chose to let it go for now and they left Aurore standing in the doorway.

Outside, it had already begun to sprinkle.

They were almost to the car when Aurore shot out of Dust Devil and yelled after them.

“Hang on! One more thing I forgot to tell you! Those bastards in the video, the people around here have given them a name.” The petit blonde flitted over to them, quickly checking the area before whispering

“Vixens.”

  Adrien walked Marinette to her door, even though it was pouring rain outside.

“You okay?” She placed a hand on his back, concerned for his mental health after their rollercoaster of a night.  He had been quiet the entire car ride back.

“Yeah…” Adrien let out a shaky sigh. “Yeah, thanks for asking. Are you okay?”

“Me? I just feel sad for Kim and Ivan. Whatever happens to those people that attacked them, I hope it’s well deserved.” Marinette replied softly, unconsciously moving her hand down Adrien’s shoulder and resting it on his forearm.

Adrien suddenly grabbed her hand on brought it to his lips, kissing her knuckles tenderly. Marinette yelped and pulled her hand from his grip, a blush dusting her cheeks.

“What was that for?!” She demanded, thoroughly surprised.

Adrien cracked a genuine smile and took a few steps back.

“Thanks for coming with me tonight. I mean it.” He smirked, and added, “That hand kiss was me showing my gratitude, by the way. Text you later.”

With that, Adrien dissipated into the rain, leaving Marinette to wonder what the hell that made their relationship. 

[pandamothium]

ohhh this is great >:3c 6, 25, 27 and 30 for Yuko, Hila and Sun （*´▽｀*）

6: How they explain their feelings (sorrow, anger, love, etc.)

Yuko: Yuko doesn’t really know how to express her feelings well and either tends to bottle them up or explode right then an there. When she angry, you’ll know it on the spot, she’ll glare and her polite speech will hardened into a cold and biting tone. She may act out and become reckless or just run away as not to have to be around anyone until she calms down. If her anger was unwarranted, she’ll profusely apologize and feel terrible for days. But if it was truly someone else’s fault, she’ll be very short and irritated with them until they apologize. When she’s upset or sad, she hides and clams up. She won’t engage or speak and will dwell in her thoughts until someone takes action to cheer her up. She’s her own worst enemy in that sense and needs help to pull herself back up. When in love, she’s very subtle in public, flashing warm smiles and grazing her fingers over her lover’s hand. Wistful glances and soft blushes. But in private she’s very romantic and loving. She spares no expense for her lover and will be devoted. Though arguments and fighting really upset her and she struggles to get over harsh words that are said.

Hila: Hila has trouble processing her emotions, especially after just regaining her human form. She doesn’t understand humans feelings and how to express herself properly. She freaks out when she cries the first time, “What is this? My eyes? I don’t understand?” She doesn’t quite get what it means to internalize things until later on, so for a few months she just outwardly states everything to an embarrassing degree. “My chest, why does it hurt like this? Am I ill?”etc. Laughter really throws her for a loop, she thinks she’s having a fit when Lavi makes her laugh the first time and at first she thought smiles were threats (baring teeth= warning/threatening) but soon she starts to re-acclimate. Though she’s still a bit of an open book, she doesn’t understand embarrassment well. She cries openly and is not ashamed to voice her fears and worries. After a few months she becomes more reserved having learned inhibition and restraint. When she’s angry, she has trouble calming herself down and often times Lenalee runs after her and helps Hila when she’s nearing a full on rampage (the Grimm Halo is very much affected by strong emotions so if she’s not careful her Innocence will activate and cause trouble). It takes a long time for Hila to fully understand what it means to be in love. She loves her friends in the Order like they are family and so she has to learn to make the distinction between her feelings. But when Hila is in love… she’s adorable. She sighs and stares off into space with a lovesick expression. She loves to catch glimpses of her lover around the Order and she’ll fiercely fight beside them and protect them (often being reckless). Surprisingly though, she’s not one for PDA, having had Lenalee and few other drill into her how not to impulsively act on her feelings, and so she saves the lovey-dovey stuff for when she and her lover are alone. Of course if her partner likes to be more open then she won’t object and will discuss with them the do’s and dont’s so she knows their boundaries.

Sun: Sun is more emotional online and can express herself easier in text than in person. So when you meet her, you’d think her to be quite emotionless and reserved, but in actuality she bottles everything up, to an unhealthy degree. She lies about how she’s feelings and diverts conversations when the topic focus on herself. Sunhee doesn’t like people to worry over her and so she’ll put up a happy and “all-is-well-with-the-world” facade until she’s alone and then she just breaks down. She handles her depression and PTSD by smoking, running and taking care of her plants. In fact she only really is her true self around her plants, she’ll talk to them and cries around them. She’s fairly pessimistic but she puts on the face of an optimist when trying to help her friends. When Sun is sad, no one will know, she’ll laugh and joke and hide her feelings until she’s at home alone and then she’s an utter mess. But make her mad and feel her wrath, she’ll curse and glare and argue until the matter is either resolved or made ten times worse. Sunhee in love is a difficult thing, she’s been through a lot and her lover will have to be patient and understand that sometimes she just needs to be left alone. But she’s very tender and romantic and will surprise them in the bedroom with her dom side. But she’s the type of lover, to withdraw into herself for a few hours and all of a sudden curl up next to her partner and want to talk for hours over nothing.

25: Their face when someone says “I love you” for the first time to them. 

Yuko:She stops in her tracks and stares wide-eyed, mouth gaping slightly. She thinks you’re joking at first, because after all, how could someone ever come to love her? After the terrible things she’s done, how horrid and ugly she was. It’ll take a bit of convincing to make her believe your words and it results in her crying. Tears of shock and overwhelming happiness rushing forward as she laughs shakily while you pull her into your arms. How could someone like her be so lucky? (I just took this from my other ask :P)

Hila: Hila doesn’t  know what to do, her faces grow red and her eyes are bright and staring wide. “Eh?” is all she can manage to say and then she becomes really flustered not knowing how to react, but all she knows is that her heart is fluttering and she feels overjoyed. This is love isn’t it? she thinks, This is how its supposed to feel?! Prepare yourself because this girl’s about to flash the most gorgeous heartwarming smile. A few tears may fall down her cheek, but she’ll wipe them and turn to face you, “I have never felt happier.” She’ll step closer and take your hands in hers, pressing her forehead to yours as a she laughs giddily.

Sun: Sun is surprised for a moment, but then her expression turns a bit sad. “Why would you say that?” She honestly wants to know, what is it about her that made you feel she deserved your love? She has no faith in herself, “I’m a broken person, you’ll only get cut trying to pick up the pieces.” She’ll turn away from you, trying to blink away the tears forming in her eyes and when you lay your heart out for her, she can’t hold them back anymore. She’s so happy, more than she’s been in a long time and she’ll bury her face into her chest. “I love you too, so much it hurts.”

27: How they handle their hair when getting ready for the day.

Yuko: She gets up, looks in the mirror and prays the cowlick will go away before she goes to work. She’ll idly brush her hair while picking out her clothes and maybe run a bit of argan oil  though it to try an quell the wild bedhead. If the cowlick remains undefeated, she’s wearing it in a bun.

Hila: AHa, there is no “handling” her hair. It’s a knee-length wavy mess and has mind of its own. Her hair decides whether its going in a braid or ponytail and often when she’s around the Order, she’s wears it freely flowing. Lavi and Lenalee like to braid it and put it up into different styles. Allen’s hidden from Link in her locks and sometimes she finds Timcampy sleeping in there too. Lavi jokes that when Hila’s Innocence it deactivated that the Grimm Halo resides in her hair, thus its unruliness.

Sun: She does absolutely nothing. She wakes up, runs her fingers though it and done. Sunhee’s bedhair is her everyday hair. It just somehow manages to look like a put together mess.

30: How they react to being scared.

Yuko: Depends on what’s happening or where she is. If she’s alone, she’s curls into herself and bites back tears. But if she’s fighting or out in public and gets scared, she stares wide-eyed and freezes up entirely.

Hila: She doesn’t get scared often really, she’s seen a lot of fucked up things and has to fight horrifying Akuma on the daily, so few things frighten her. Although she has terrible nightmares that leaves her shaking and gasping for breath. Despite this, if something does frighten her, she goes into a panic and is extremely difficult to calm down.

Sun: Sun will cuss and jump out of her skin. If someone was playing a joke, they’re gonna get an earful but if its something more dangerous, she’ll shake and freeze up. Loud noises send her into panics and there’s no way in hell she’ll willingly go into a hospital, after the incident she can’t step through the doors of one without feeling like she’s suffocating.

[depressionkat-blog]

Friends?

So I just re-used an old tumblr blog to pen down my thoughts on depression. Actually, I am not sure if I even have depression. Would it be more comforting to be diagnosed with depression rather than to solve an unknown problem? 

So what is depressionkat? Maybe using the moniker depressionkat is bad, because that is self-labelling myself as depressed, and of course when you believe you are depressed, you start acting depressed. But whatever.

depressionkat (small d) is a cat who is kinda depressed. How did it even start? As a wee little kitten, depressionkat would lie in bed, pondering about the meaning of life. If all we ever feel is sadness and suffering, surely there must be a purpose. Would depressionkat be able to change the world? 

But depressionkat felt despondent about that hope. depressionkat felt sad and lonely most of the time. It didn’t help that momma and popa cat weren’t around very often, moma cat was busy working while popa cat didn’t even live in the same home... that is another story for another day. 

In school, depressionkat envied the others who seemed cheerful and smiley and pretty and had a lot of friends and had many wonderful hobbies. Of course ruminating about all of that did not help. depressionkat felt inferior in every aspect. Whenever depressionkat walked up to the mirror, depressionkat would think, why do I look so terrible with little shifty eyes and length awkward arms and rough fur everywhere, I don’t look like a proper cat, I don’t think anyone would want me. Sometimes the thoughts got so bad that depressionkat just cried, whether it stemmed from poor grades or feeling ugly or anything at all. It caused the class to call her ‘crybaby’. 

It’s not like depressionkat had no friends, depressionkat started a blog, a comic, and a storybook with a few of them, writing/drawing and passing them around class. It was one of the only times depressionkat felt that she truly felt at peace and belonged with the rest of them. She loved it when the classmates laughed and smiled and asked for more sequels and continuations. But that didn’t help her to feel that they were close friends at all. There were the times where there were birthday parties and she wasn’t invited. There were the times that the teacher orders the kids to line up in twos and she had no partner. There were the times where she didn’t know what to say exactly to make friends. There were the times she was sick and no one messaged her to ask how are you. Those times stung badly and again depressionkat was reminded that she had no true friend to stick with. The world is a lonely place to be in. 

Luckily, depressionkat was hardworking and fortunate enough to be in a family with adequate financial resources. The numerous tuitions and ‘learning camps’ and ‘enrichment’ helped depressionkat to adopt positive study habits and discipline. Even though depressionkat felt sad most of the time, she told herself to stop being sad or angry. Hence her results were pretty good, while not the best, it was always among the upper percentile. At least she was smart enough. 

To be fair, depressionkat wasn’t always sad. The times punctuated with happiness included: going over to the neighbours’ and playing video games, reading books, drawing and talking to self about a fantasy world, writing guides for Pokemon, neopets or any other online games depressionkat chanced upon. All these activities passed the time, allowing her to tide over the day and forgetting about sadness for a moment. The internet was a safe place, where no one could know how ugly or lonely she was in real life. Plus she felt proficient in using computers, as there was this class in primary school where the teacher would instruct the kids on how to use certain programs, and depressionkat would be one of the first few to finish the task at hand. 

When depressionkat was moving on to the next phase of education, she vowed that she had to become a new version of herself. The old depressionkat was gone. The new depressionkat was going to be popular, pretty, and smart. So she avoided going to the secondary school where most of her primary school friends had gone to, and went into one where everyone else was new. It was going to be a new start. 

Even though depressionkat had more friends, she still felt horrible. It was not what she had expected. Most of the times spent together was so routine and boring - just grabbing some Burger King, Starbucks or 7-11 Mashed Potatoes and Slurpee. Where were the sleepovers and actual fun activities, the things she saw on high-school movies? I guess it was ok, but I wish it could be better. I still felt the tinge of loneliness whenever the teacher asks us to line up in pairs, because the cliques tend to be in even numbers, I seemed to be the odd one out... not sure who to pair with. 

But overall it was better. She bonded with her new-found friends over nerdy things like anime, coding on blogskins.com, and of course blogging on blogger.com. The one thing she remembered fondly was the times rushing home from school to grind on maplestory with one of her friends, playing until the wee hours of night. In a span of one month of intense playing, she managed to level her character to 107. She even managed to get a certificate for high level of computer proficiency, as well as code Flash sites and MINDSTORM robots. That is so.. nerdy.

School was still pretty easy (ie. other than homework, there was still time to pursue mundane hobbies/time-wasting activities) so depressionkat managed to enter into a class with triple Science and Additional Mathematics. It was a bit sad because she had barely any old friends in her new class, but she re-assured herself that it was gonna be ok. 

That was when her life began to change drastically. She found an online community where lots of ah-lians and ah-bengs resided. Feeling lonely and craving for excitement in her nerdy life, she reached out to them and met up to play in the arcades and hang out, go to clubs and smoke. She quit her ‘nerdy cca’. And a lot of bad things happened then. 

There was this time where she was sending out a micro-tweetlike-message on the site. Suddenly she was meeting up some guy, who was her then ‘stead’s friend, at his place. It was her first time. His home was filled with foreign people like his aunties and what not. She didn’t know what to do. He offered her some respite in his room so she obliged. 

And then the bad thing happened. A game of ‘truth or dare’. The dare was... taking out of clothes. I don’t remember much of it, except intense crying and begging to let me out. Eventually the guy relented and I fled the block, ran to the bus-stop and continued crying, texting my ‘stead’ about what had just happened. My ‘stead’s gang walloped the guy (who was also part of their gang) for the gang no-no of ‘stealing yo girl’. 

That wasn’t the end of the drama and the bad company. But she felt popular. She felt wanted. She felt pretty with a little eyeliner on. She loved drinking because she felt good at it. There was the high and excitement in the life that she had craved. There was all the typical girl drama of getting boys, cheating on boys, getting found out, losing friends over getting found out, being sad and crying for days on end on the floor, wanting the boy back. 

At this point, depressionkat’s grades plummeted down and she almost could not be promoted, but miraculously scraped by. It was a harsh wakeup call. At this point depressionkat’s looks also started to become worse, the acne had flared up due to stress and aggravation from a malicious facial company. Her scalp became so unbearably oily. Stop being depressed over boys, your ‘O’ levels are next year and you’re failing almost everything other than English. No more boys, no more social media, just study. The daily routine became something like this: wake up and attend school plus extra classes from 6am to 4pm. Go for tuition from 6pm to 8pm. Do homework from 9 to 11 or even 12/1am. 

The efforts paid off eventually and depressionkat’s grades improved so much, that she got a ‘Most Improved!’ award from the school :’) She could go anywhere she wanted. What did she want? 

Perhaps writing? Maybe journalism. She loved writing so much (as you can tell from this really long post). 

Perhaps design? She loved drawing, and more so she discovered she loved digital design from the photoshop and html/css she did for school and her own personal hobbies.

With that regard, depressionkat’s goals was to enter a course for Mass Communication. She knew that course was perfect, she could write eloquently, she could dabble in web-design and collateral design, and maybe even DJ (not the remixing kind, but the ones in the radio station!)

But depressionkat soon got intrigued by psychology. Having such a (self-proclaimed) depressing past, she wanted to know what to do to get better. So she enrolled in psychology instead.

Bad move. 

(I will detail about this in a future post!) 

[artificialqueens]

Reminiscences Ch.2 Trixya-Scoobert

Katya POV

I sat down on the makeup chair, a little rattled by this makeup artist. She was a bit awkward but I have to admit kinda cute. When I first met her she looked like she’d seen an evil spirit or something, but she eventually fell into a sweet, kindly mood, fitting the name I’d previously given her, Barbie. As I thought of the doll I’d owned as a child, I could seriously see the similarities.

 I waited for her, swinging around on my chair and fiddling with my fingers. I loved my job as a model but honestly it was kind of repetitive being painted by makeup artists all the time and using clothes other people picked out. In my own time I adored using kooky patterns and items that most people would shake their heads at. Some fashion designers admired my creativity, but honestly I’m probably better up on the runway. Ever since high school it’s been a great way to build up confidence and earn some money at the same time. I often worry and feel self conscious but seeing all the smiling people and being around such a bustling happy atmosphere makes me feel like I have a sense of purpose.

Trixie returned and started on my face, rubbing in some primer and dabbing away with foundation. Usually the artists tried to make some meaningless small talk but Trixie looked completely focsued on her work and rubbed the cream right into my pores. Either she wanted the makeup to last for a few years or she was thinking about something hard. When she got ready to work on my brows, I ended up staring directly at her eyes, it would be weird to look down or to the side, she’d know I was avoiding her, so I just looked straight ahead as her brow furrowed, trying to draw the individual brow hairs with perfection. Her eyes were so beautiful, they were a bright, intense blue, like those Greek oceans with perfectly white crystalline sand running across their edge. Those eyes they reminded me of something, what was it?

Flashback

I walked out into the courtyard with my lunch, making my way over to my usual table with my friends. I was just about to wave over at Alaska who was sitting and gossiping with the usual bunch, when I looked to the side to see a pair of vibrant clear blue eyes looking over towards me with a sense of longing and sadness. We made eye contact for a few seconds before he quickly turned his head to focus on his lunch instead. I looked over at my friends who seemed to be deep in discussion about Ginger’s new car. My limbs made their way over to the boy and I sat down on the concrete next to him.

He looked up at me startled but I avoided eye contact and like him before, focused on my lunch in front of me. We sat here for a time until I spoke up. ‘Hey, I’m Katya by the way, we always ride our bikes together but I’ve never actually really met you before huh, do you mind if I sit with you for a bit?’

I looked over in his direction and he finally looked up smiling with a sense of hope.

‘Ah no of course not, I’m Brian by the way,’ he said shyly.

‘Cool, so what kind of music do you like? Personally I love Backstreet Boys, Nirvana and Green Day, they have awesome rhythm and I love sitting in the park listening to them and…’

I was cut off, slightly alarmed by his little giggles and the small smile that formed on his lips.

‘What, not into music huh? Fine then, what do you like?’

‘No, no I love music, but those bands are junk!’

I smiled, glad that he was actually talking with me and seemed to be enjoying it. ‘Well then, any suggestions, Mr. laughing at my music?’

‘Well Depeche Mode, Blink-182, U2 have some awesome rock music, but if you really want to get into it have a look at AC/DC, Guns and Roses. I have to say though, Sex Pistols are my all time favourite, try listening to them.’

‘Wow thanks, I’ve never heard them before, sounds cool, maybe you can show me sometime?’ I looked up smiling and I knew that was the right move. As I looked at him I could see a hint of pink poking out from under his jacket.

‘Ooh pink shirt?’He quickly covered it up and turned the other way.

 ‘Oh um I mean, I think it’s cool, wear whatever you want if it makes you happy!’ I exclaimed quickly. He turned back around slowly with a sad smile. ‘I wear the weirdest clothing so I don’t think I’m really one to judge’

‘Uh thanks,’ he looked over and let his jacket go slowly. ‘My stepfather hates it when I wear this sort of stuff, says I look too much like a girl’

‘Hey I don’t think it really matters, personally I like girls and boys and I don’t think clothing should define you at all.’

‘Really?!’ he smiled hopefully and I felt good being able to make him happy.

‘Yeah of course, disregard what your stepfather says, be who you really are.’

‘Well I would but my mom really likes him and I don’t really want her to see him any differently, especially if that means he’ll start acting like he does when I’m alone with him.’ I shuddered slightly and glanced over at his face, I could see a slight purple tinge on one side of his face which had been covered by concealer or something.

‘Oh shit, are you okay, did he…’ I glanced down at my uneaten food, suddenly not feeling as hungry.

‘Yeah he really hates it when I act girly and always calls me a ‘fucking Trixie’ and thinks I’m going to bring disgrace to him and his manhood or whatever, he gets really angry and thinks because I’m not actually his child he can treat me however he wants’. Woah, I had no idea this boy I ride with everyday had such a deep story. I felt kind of sorry for him.

‘Wow, I’m so sorry you have to deal with that, my dad isn’t like that but at the moment I’m constantly being given from one parent to the other. They’re fighting in court and neither of them really want to deal with me and my ‘bisexual tendencies’ once the divorce happens.’

‘Well it seems we’re in similar kind of situations. Thanks for sitting with me today by the way, it was really nice talking to you, I hope everything works out.’

‘Yeah no problem, it was nice to finally let it go, most of my friends don’t really want to hear about my problems or anything ‘too depressing Katya, lighten up’ or whatever.’

‘Well I’m here anytime you want to talk, no one else really wants to hang out with the weirdo kid.’

I laughed at that. ‘Well maybe I just happen to like weirdo kids, we’re not so different really!’ I replied as the bell started to ring. We both packed up and started in the directions of our lockers. When I walked inside I looked back to see Brian doing the same thing and our eyes met, smiling at one another and the connection we’d made in that small time period.

As I was packing my books for math, Alaska perched on the locker beside me.

‘Hieeeeeeee Katya, where were you at lunch? You missed all the drama about my boyfriend Aaron and I, we’re back together again by the way,’ she cooed in her deep drawn out tone.

‘Ah yeah sorry I just had some stuff to catch up on.’

She moved over closer and stroked the side of my face before resting her fingers on my chin and turning my face to hers.

‘I really hope that’s true, because I missed you and I really hope you’ll be there tomorrow. We have a lot to catch up on.’

‘Yeah yeah, sure thing’ I said, still trying to avoid her eyes.

‘Hmm okay, see you later girl’ she said as she walked away, winking at the boy whose locker was a few down from mine. God she was annoying, but I liked smoking with her after school and at least when I hung out with her I felt noticed, special, accepted. Unlike being at home with one of my parents. They just ignored me and pretended I didn’t exist. Besides I’d seen what she’d done to people that had got on her bad side and I didn’t reaaaally want to be in that position. She could be extremely cruel when she felt like it.

‘Get out of my way, you fucking Trixie, we don’t need any lady boys around here,’ I heard her slur from down the hall. I turned my head around to see the boy Brian from earlier being pushed to the side by Alaska and quickly turned my head so he didn’t see me.

End flashback

I’d zoned off while the artist, Trixie, had been doing my makeup. High school hadn’t been the best time for me but I’d gotten off okay by having influential friends like Alaska and Ginger. I still hung out with them sometimes but they’d definitely changed a lot since high school. They listened to me now and were less ‘all about that gossip girl’. Alaska had broken up with her high school on and off boyfriend Aaron and Ginger had a nice long term partner. We caught up from time to time and it was nice to see where they were at.

This girl though, was it possible she was Brian from high school. It couldn’t be, that boy had always seemed so shy and timid besides the fact that he was a BOY for gosh sake. But then again, those eyes, they looked exactly the same.

‘Okay, I think we’re all done here Katya, you look amazing, if you don’t mind me saying,’ she said, smiling ecstatically waiting for me to come out of my weird daze I was in.

I looked in the mirror and saw my reflection. Wow, I thought, this girl is truly talented.  She’d turned my skinny little face into one of beauty and glamour, ready for the runway. As I looked at myself in the mirror, my eyes couldn’t help but trail off to reach into Trixie’s fresh, shining orbs. It had to be him, that memory was too vivid in my mind to forget. But then, this girl, seemed so happy and cheerful, he had always sat at the back of class in an aura of despair.

‘Okay Katya, let’s get you changed into your dress, Fame’s given me this for you to hop into, it’s quite tight at the back though so I might need to help you zip it up if you don’t mind.’

‘No no of course not’ I replied in a daze.

I pulled off my slacks and shirt I’d previously been wearing and slipped myself into the dress. I felt Trixie’s warm hands glide up my back along with the zipper. My skin shivered as it reacted to her touch.

‘All good here?’ Fame, the girl that seemed to be in charge questioned, walking past.

‘Yup, let’s get you on the runway Katya, you’re all ready to go. Good luck Sweetie’

‘Thank you!’

‘Come on you have to smile’ she said giving me a giant grin for example. I’d been so focussed on my memories I’d been thrown out of my usual pre runway mood. It probably wasn’t even him, I don’t even know what happened to Brian, we hadn’t really talked after that day.

[ddizzlemynizzlexo]

how i knew he was my soulmate.

so i developed a crush on my boyfriend (obvi. before he was my boyfriend) circa late 2011. he was the first love of a friend of mine at the time. she used to tell me and this other girl things that occurred during their subsequent on/off relationship. it sounds really fucked up but i honestly found him cute, the middle school i went to was a few blocks away from his home. so whenever i got out the train station to get to school, i'd see him walking past me. when i tell you he was the cutest guy on earth to me, i am not lying. he looked like a typical mixed bad boy, yet he seemed so mysterious. his inky black curly hair that used to fall right on his face made my heart skip beats. despite him being a sophomore in high school, and me a senior in middle school; his piercings, plump lips & obvious array of tattoos was a turn on in my freaky teenaged 13.75 year old mind. i knew it was wrong to like him because of my budding friendship. and i knew i would be the last girl on earth he'd ever want to date due to my thin hair (due to perming yet it was still at good length), my braces, my glasses, my thin frame, small breasts and most of all my bushy eyebrows. looking back at it, it's all so ironic. in my opinion, irony played a huge part in our relationship because i always wondered.... what if one day in some strange universe, it was me & him in a loving relationship?, what if he has a crush on me too?. before then he didn't even know who i was except his ex's nosey friend. guessing because i used to ask a lot of questions abt their relationship, when she was just ready to spill it out. i never used her friendship to get to him, it all just happened in some weird miraculous way. as my crush on him developed, we would have short decent conversations on facebook. he would ask me a certain question frequently too when do you wanna chill?. i would be so nervous to answer, telling him soon & that i'd just lie to my parents abt where im going. i told my friend about our conversations not to start an issue but to just tell her. maybe he just wants to be my friend. one day when my friend was absent from school, i was sitting with my best friend and a mutual friend of ours at lunch. come to find out that my so-called friend was talking about me behind my back. stating numerous things, and one of them being that i was a liar stating that her ex did not want to hang out with me, and he never said that. i grew so tired of her shit, and disrespect for me so one day i blew up. we got into what almost would have been my first fight. not giving one fuck anymore, i was happy i got rid of that drama... so that i thought. a week or so after the chaos, i wanted to hang out with an old friend from elementary school, but she didn't respond. so guess who i asked? you got that right. him, the cutest guy on earth. not even caring who's ex it was. i decided to hit him up and ask if he wanted to come with me to get a few things from the clothing stores near my house. we met up at the train station, and when i saw him. oh my god. i was frazzled, i was anxious, and i was shaky as fuck. he was so cute in his black leather jacket & short curly cut. i didn't know what to say, or else he would think im too boring or too weird ya know? we ended up having good conversations, and laughing. at the end of our time together and we said our goodbyes, i was happy because i gained a friend, a very cute one. later on that day, i never would have thought our new found friendship could possibly change. with one message made my whole day. yeah lol i think your cute too. when i tell you i was so happy? ugh i was happier than spongebob when him in patrick found the key to the patty mobile in the very first movie. i was jumping for joy, i even started kissing & hugging my sister because i was super happy. after that we started hanging out more and more, and our conversations got more personal. eventually i shared my first kiss with him and my innocence. we started dating, and five years, five months & 3 days later, i never could be more happy with the person im with. i never been in love with someone as much as i am him. he irks my last fucking nerve but he is truly a gift from god. he opened up to me as much as i opened up to him. we share secrets, and with those secrets we try to understand each other more than we did before. with help and worldly advice from his mom and grandma, we try to work through or issues. although sometimes it goes through one ear and out of the other. i literally grew up with this guy as he's seen me through my worst and my happiest. he gives me tough love and even though i don't show that i do, i really appreciate it. his advice and tough words have helped and sometimes haven't lol. he is the only person in this whole world that can make me so angry but with one stare i instantly start smiling again. we have our issues, like any person does. i say things i don't mean like he does, we argue, we cry, we laugh & we love. i realized christopher marty was my soulmate the day that he really opened up to me. we were in his room at home and his just let everything out. i looked at him and just thought wow, he really loves me just like i love him. he pisses me off sometimes where i think is it worth it anymore? its just gonna get worse. i pray and i think "no because thats gonna just leave you sad and depressed, you know you dont wanna leave so stop it" the way he stares at me with his big brown eyes, its so remarkable how handsome he is. he's my personal teddybear, so soft and cuddly and so strong 💕 when i look at him i see a future. a nice apartment in the city, me and him dancing to songs, smoking pot in our bedroom watching funny tv shows, or just talking about our goals when we reach 30, or even what we would name our kids, and the type of weddings we'd have. so many people commend me on the length of our relationship, asking how do i do it... how do we both do it. and honestly i never wouldve thought in my wildest dreams i would be with someone for almost 6 years of my life when i could be out doing god knows what. it all happened in an instant. when your happy with someone times flies. we sometimes sit and reflect on our relationship. "wow five years". he is honestly my guiding light in a world of darkness, he's helped me through depression and distraught thoughts more than anyone else. i am honestly head over heels in love with him. the thoughts of him being with another girl tend to enter my mind but he shows me that he would never be unfaithful. as ugly as i feel at times, he can always cheer me up saying "you so sexy baby", "your so beautiful". the next day after i came home from college, he seen me & said "wow i forgot how good you looked, like wow its been so long" being that it was may and i only seen him in march, january, december and november. he is a diamond in the rough, and the older he is, the more mature and he honestly makes me the proudest girlfriend ever. even though i may not show it at times, he really does make me proud. he is so kind, and puts others before himself, although he may seem like a smart ass at times. hes sensitive but strong and tough at the same time. im glad i got to know him and be with him on such and intimate level. god really blessed me and i hope he keeps on for years to come with christopher marty.