#and they do look better than the vday ones those ones were bad

[killjoy-prince]

And that's Seven done!

[ioniansunsets]

Hello yuno! As vday is coming i have an idea or scenario if every heartsteel kayn were to receive handmade chocolates from his f-crush how would he react to it or feel or whichever way you would like owo!!! Feeling like the young kayn in high school moment ♡♡please take your time and its ok you dont have to rush it

✖ Valentine’s Confession Highschool Kayn ✖

✖ Word Count: 1.2k Words

✖ Tags: Mutual Pinning! Awkward young love.

✖ A/N: I wrote a mutual confession thing cause I thought it’ll be cute! I really put my whole IonianSunsussy into this please enjoy it. [Actually the idea of highschool sweethearts Kayn is also really cute. Like imagine the gap moe. He never talks about it and then during Paranoia’s debut he’s just like “ hey can I get an extra VIP ticket? My partner wants to watch.” and everyone is like ??????? and he’s like ??? “ Yeah I’ve been dating them since we were like 15. 6th year anniversary is this weekend.”]

✖ Wrote This Listening To: He just wants to be Somebody to You. I think the whole lone wolf that fell head over heels in love is cute for him hahahhaha

----

Kayn isn’t sure if he should be laughing or crying. Here he is, standing outside your club room at what, 5pm in the evening? Guitar strapped behind his back and a little gift in his hands. Ok, so he had liked you for a while now, so what, nothing wrong with love. Love was badass. So he decided to do something about those irritating feelings and bought you chocolates. So what! So, he decided it was just not hardcore enough, and went to melt and make his own fucking valentine’s chocolates for you. So What!

Maybe he baked cookies too huh? Is that so bad! Is it so bad that he got Akali to lend him some fancy stationery to write you some shitty fucking love letter! Its hardcore, its over the top! It’s how The Shieda Kayn should confess. Nothing subpar, none of that weak, half-assed work. Only the best. You only deserve everything and then some. You deserve the handmade chocolates. You deserve the expensive store bought ones he got too. You deserve that nicely wrapped box with the fancy hand cut crinkle paper in the pretty gift bag. You deserve the handmade cookies that he painstakingly made in your favorite flavor, with the cute icing of Rhaast and the matching handmade sprinkles (that Zed so kindly helped him with). You deserve the effort he took, the countless nights of planning to write down a very well written rap (confessional love poem) for you. You deserve the scented paper (his cologne) and the cool stickers on the envelope (its holographic hearts).

You deserve someone better than him.

He winces as he accidentally bit his lip too hard. Suddenly brought back to the reality of how long he has spent standing by this door. Another click of his tongue, he continues irritatingly tapping his foot while he reconsiders all he’s about to do. Was it creepy? Waiting for you after club activities? What? People should call it romantic right? It…it Was romantic…right? Waiting an extra hour or two after his own extra classes for Your own club activities to finish? I mean, he worked hard growing the balls to ask you to wait for him after school. You said yes earlier too! This is not creepy, this is just him living up to promises he made with you. This is. Normal. Yeah. Totally normal. Romance will die when he lets it. Kayn swallows hard, hand gripping tighter to the ribbon handles of the beautiful gift bag he spent his allowance on. The contents on the bag feeling heavier and heavier by the minute.

Knocking the door with his other hand, Kayn slowly peers into the club room. Slowly opening the door, he enters silently. The sickly blinding white fluorescent room lights mixing with the oranges of the late afternoon sun streaming in from the open windows. Kayn looks around, catching sight of you standing by the closet in the corner of the room packing up whatever it was that you did after school.

" Hey. I’m here like I said." " Kayn!"

He watches as you jump, fumbling as you try to hide whatever it is that was in the closet. Raising an eyebrow, he stands there, giving you an awkward smile as his eyes narrow to discern just what it is you were hiding from him.

“ Oh? Oh~ What is that huh?”

Kayn teases you, hiding his own gift behind his back as he walks over, trying to peer in and see what you’re so desperately hiding from him. As you look back at him with feigned irritation on your face, some quick maneuvers later you managed to hide whatever it is on the shelf behind your back.

“ You first. What’s that huh?”

As you ask him the question, a slow red blush creeps up his cheeks. Slowly you lean over to him, trying to see what is it that he’s holding behind His back. It can’t be right. No way life would treat someone like him this well. No way, no way. You were too close way too close. He swallows hard, leaning back to try and hide what he can behind his guitar case while also leaning away from you. So close to him that he could feel not only your presence in his personal space but the delectable warmth radiating off your skin. As your eyes meet his with that mischievous glint, he freezes. Stunned by both your beauty and the sudden realization that he should get this done and over with before he backs out. A shakily smug smile creeps onto his face as he tries his best to tamp down his anxiety with his Kayn branded cockiness. Was this something everyone went through? Were first loves and confessions this bad for everybody? God, he could feel his palms sweating again. Kayn coughs lightly to clear his throat before proudly thrusting the fancy bag in your face.

“ I…worked really hard on a little something for you. I hope you like it.”

Barely audible, Kayn whispers as he looks away shy. Contrary to his earlier actions, he gently lowers his hands and places the gift into your embrace. His eyes dart around the room, not able to meet your gaze, Kayn seemingly shrinks away from you with the realization of his past few days worth of effort all hitting him at once. The Valentine’s day gift was literally out of his hands now. A breathy laugh escapes him before he finally finds the meager courage to look at you again. And of course, he was instantly awestruck. How could he not be with you. Looking back at him with that tender look, the way your own lips slowly curl into a smile, the sparkle in your eyes as you look from him to the gift in your hands back at him.

“ Kayn…”

” No. Don’t say anything, just…go read the thing when you’re home alone. I don’t wanna hear it! I’m going!”

As he turns to leave, you quickly grab his arm, pulling him back with a quick jerk. Eyes closed, you press your lips against his. Kayn’s own eyes go wide as he looks, unblinking, back at you in shock. He was now suddenly very, very aware of what it felt like when people talked about time feeling like it's stopping.

“ And this is for you.”

You quickly return a similarly lovingly wrapped box into his hands. Kayn frozen in place, his heart working in overdrive, thumping so loudly he was sure he would get a heart attack right here right now. His face such a bright red that the blush reaches up to his ears and also spread down his chest. You could see it peaking through his unbuttoned collar when your gaze trailed down. Before his brain could even begin to regain function you quickly wave to him, scrambling to pick up your bag you run off. Leaving Kayn flustered and alone in the empty classroom as the sun begins to set. You too had to leave his presence before the embarrassment of what went down caught up to you too.

There would be a lot for you guys to talk about tomorrow at school.

Link to fanart for this!

[madamsnape921]

On the Plus Side

Chapter 1

Chapter 2> Pairing: Frederick Chilton x reader

Warning: Most of Chilton’s injuries are briefly mentioned

Note: The Chilton injury that kills me the most is his lips so we’re going to pretend that didn’t happen. Okay?  

WC: 767

VDay Bingo square: Exile - Taylor Swift

Tags: @beccabarba @thatesqcrush @law-nerd105  @prurientpuddlejumper @itsjustmyfantasyroom @lv7867 @word-scribbless @alwaysachorusgirl​ @teamsladsandgents @storiesofsvu​ 

Dr. Frederick Chilton had the worst or best luck depending on how you looked at it. 

To start, he was not the most ethical doctor, considering the whole fiasco with Abel Gideon. He may not have been the Chesapeake Ripper, but he was still a bad guy who killed his own family. Dr. Chilton was lucky in that he was able to keep his license and his job, but not so lucky since he gained a dangerous enemy in the form of escaped murderer Dr. Abel Gideon as well as the real Chesapeake Ripper. On the plus side, he survived.

Gideon achieved his revenge by kidnapping and maiming the psychiatrist that made him believe he was the Chesapeake Ripper. Frederick, unfortunately, lost a kidney, gained a long scar down his abdomen, and now requires the use of a cane. On the plus side, he survived. 

After recovering and returning to work, life seemed to settle back down for Dr. Chilton. That lasted until the Chesapeake Ripper decided to frame Chilton for his own crimes. The bad luck here included having multiple corpses in his house and being arrested. The dead bodies were removed then his house was professionally cleaned and remodeled. While that did cost a pretty penny, his house looked better now than ever before. Before it could be determined that he was innocent and released, Chilton was shot in the face. Unfortunately, that left him missing several back teeth on one side, a hole in his cheek, and a glass eye. On the plus side, he survived. 

To make matters impossibly worse, he was set up to be taken by yet another killer, Francis Dolarhyde. I think I've seen this film before and I didn't like the ending. He had to endure being stripped down, glued to a wheelchair, forced to make a recording taking back the words he was given to say by the FBI, and, as if that were not enough, being set on fire. On the plus side, he survived.

As Frederick laid in the hospital, he questioned everyday whether or not that last survival was actually good luck. Nothing about his life currently was good. I feel like I'm in exile. He had been here for months, and he was going out of his mind. Recently, he underwent his final skin graft on his face and, luckily, they were going to start letting him recover between grafts at home. The one condition for this was hiring a home health nurse. 

He had been interviewing nurses for weeks. It was excruciating. Everyone was incompetent. One person had even had the audacity to completely lie on their resume.

“Your resume says you have experience as an oncology nurse. How do you plan to translate that experience to this job?” Frederick questioned.

“Well you see, um. I gave patients baths and …” the interviewee attempted to answer.

“STOP! You’re lying. Did you believe I wouldn’t call your previous employers? Did you come to this interview in those tight clothes thinking my libido would be doing the hiring? You have never been a nurse. You flunked out of school.” Frederick growled.

“I’m so sorry, Dr. Chilton. I just really need …” She was interrupted again.

“I don’t care. You’re apparently more stupid than you look. You have already wasted enough of my time. Get out,” Frederick seethed. 

After that, the applicant ran from the room, crying. 

Frederick was livid. He had spent months convincing his doctor to release him, and now he is going to be stuck here because he could not find anyone competent enough to hire. He was starting to regret tossing out some of the applicants for petty reasons in the beginning. After giving what felt like a second, third, and hundredth chance in the form of interviews, he was tired and his throat was hurting after trying to yell. On the plus side, that interview ending early left him enough time for a nap before his final interview of the day.

The hospital nurse came to check on him about half an hour later waking him up. After changing some bandages, he left him to his own devices. 

Reviewing the last resume, Frederick discovered that it had some serious potential with some actual home health experience.  Still, he was not going to hold his breath. He was just making a note for a question when there was a knock on the door.

“Come in,” Frederick called without looking up. When he did look up, his jaw would have completely dropped if his newly grafted skin was not so tight. 

“Hello! I’m YN YLN.”

[lizacstuff]

SCK / Edser asks - ep 31/32

Asks about episode 31, some discussion of 32 under the cut

Anonymous said: with the past two episodes, i realized, for me at least, it's not so much about it feeling disjointed (31 didn't really feel disjointed to me tbf) but about the lack of edser screentime. when we do have their scenes, they're good! but the last 2 eps haven't had a lot of it which is what's frustrating (more annoying to me than even selin believe it or not). the fragman for next week looks good though.. with serkan losing his shit more and more.. which can only mean good things for us! lol.

Yes, I agree with this. This episode was a lot less disjointed than 30. 30 felt weird. For 31, there wasn’t enough Edser, but I found it leaps and bounds easier to watch than the last two episodes. As for not enough Edser, I was wondering if that was partly about the short shooting week. For episode 31 they only shot 4 days, a couple of paps said that they did that to give Kerem 3 days off last week because his family was visiting from US/Canada. I don’t know if that’s true, but they follow him around so they pry know if the fam is in town or not. Perhaps in doing that, they had to rely more on the second unit and focus on other characters?? Because there was a lot of focus on other characters this episode.

Speaking of other storylines, I do have to say that I’m very relieved that there is an actual reason why Ceren has lost the thread a bit. If she’s off her meds it explains a lot, and I’m thankful that while she tantrumed a lot about Eda and forced herself on someone who wasn’t inviting it with Deniz, she didn’t do anything unforgivable like actively try and hurt Eda. 

Also the Erdem and Leyla scenes were amusing, and my queen Melo can do anything she wants. The only character who actually gives a damn about Eda and Serkan.  

While there wasn’t enough Edser, there was more than a lot of people are giving the episode credit for.  They had several really good scenes in the office with the balloons and the staring and later him questioning her about Deniz. We got jealous Serkan sniffing around Eda and Deniz’s cafe, and a really nice outside Eda’s house scene that got them being kind to each other and really, honestly talking. Then the funny scene inside with everyone thinking they were back together and Aydan freaking out. (we even got Serkan getting a few cathartic slaps!)  The boat scenes were good, but they could have been better. I think they could have given us more and Eda could have been a bit more open with him trying so hard. 

The final scene was a slap in the face and I think sort of tainted the rest of the episode, but without that, I thought there was actual progress made. 

As for the fragman (and the extra scenes released in the VDay video yesterday) I actually have hope for 32 being a turning point. We’ve seen him be curious about her and opening up with her, now I think we’ll see the ye olde sexual attraction hitting him hard. That should be good!  Plus banning love in the office! Vintage jealous Serkan!

Anonymous said: Last week's episode was not my favorite but after this week's, I'm just confused at the writing situation. You could jump from episode 30, to the last minute of episode 31 and you would've seen all you needed to see. It feels like they're wasting potential. Maybe the showrunner knows something we don't about how much time they have but I'm at the "not mad, but very disappointed" phase with how this story is going. And the "Ceren is crazy off her meds" storyline is particularly striking an nerve.

I’m sorry that the Ceren off her meds story is upsetting to you, I can see that. Unfortunately, I really don’t have faith they’ll do it justice. This show has treated some very big issues like agoraphobia, claustrophobia, narcolepsy, panic attacks and lets not forget amnesia and PTSD, at a very superficial level. However, I am glad that they at least gave a plausible reason for Ceren to undergo a behavioral change.  

However, I don’t agree with you that the rest of the episode was pointless. I thought the Edser we did get was very good and Serkan made big strides. He was drawn to Eda, intrigued by her, asking questions, very jealous of Deniz, lying to Selin, getting annoyed at Selin, and meanwhile Eda and Serkan had some nice quite conversations. Remember the man doesn’t know her, but he feels that primal pull towards her and it still terrifies him. Especially now that we’re past her heightened emotions of ep 29, and he’s realizing what a competent professional she is and also caring and sweet, not quite the picture that Selin painted him. 

The problem is the 1 step forward, 2 steps back that they’re having him do.  However, what I’m hoping will happen is that all these experiences, these big steps forward he makes with Eda, before he freaks, gets back under the influence of Selin and jumps backwards, will have a cumulative effect and he’ll take a giant leap forward soon. 

There are so many moments that show his tendency to be carrying and attentive towards Eda (offering to drive Eda home after the yacht, vs telling Selin he’s busy and she can go on ahead so he can sit and think about Eda), the switch has got to flip sooner rather than later for him. 

Anonymous said: So I noticed that "March 20th" is 5 Saturdays from now. I sincerely hope they don't drag this fake engagement out until then

Good GAWD, don’t even say that! LMAO. Honestly, truly, I don’t think we’re going to drag her fake engagement out that long. Really truly. Have I convinced you yet? Have I convinced myself yet? 

That would be way too much. By March 20th I’m expecting them to be sexing each other up! 

Anonymous said: Think I am going to shake off the not so greatness of the last two episodes by thinking about how hot it is going to be watching Serkan try to win Eda back. Because we ended yet another episode with Serkan apparently still having zero interest in putting his engagement on hold and no progress made towards unmasking Selin’s game. Edser scenes were fire always but still too short & too far in between. At this point I think most of us could write a novel about how all over the place the writing is and how little things makes sense but that is just too depressing.

Yes, I think this is very true. IMO they really miscalculated by going with these engagements. They are really wearing on the audience. But I do think you’re right, that them constantly changing writers is a big part of the issue. Also I think it has to do with constantly living on the edge and not knowing how many episodes this show is going to have. I don’t know how any show could have a clear and consistent narrative with that constantly hanging over the creatives heads. It’s an interesting way to do things. 

It is a bit head spinning when you think about how much time on this show they spend with Edser together and how much apart. HOWEVER, I’m a big proponent that from 16-26, they were basically in a romantic relationship the entire time. Even though they weren’t together, they were together, they belonged to each other, they couldn’t leave each other alone, every decision they made was with the other in mind. But I’m one that doesn’t find those episodes as tortuous as some, there are a LOT of good moments and scenes in there. 

Anonymous said: So was Deniz agreeing to work with Selin supposed to be the start of her downfall? Or not? It honestly seems like the show is not even going the route of Selin doing something to mess with his memories anymore and just going to have Serkan flat out choose Eda over Selin but who knows. Only shining light on that front was the fact that Selin & Serkan had very few couple scenes in the last episode.

You are me, I’ve been wondering about this. The last episode sort of made me give up hope that Selin is going to face any repercussions for the disgusting way she has manipulated and brainwashed an amnesia victim.  I mean, she will be heartbroken and will have to slink out of town again, but it’s possible she may not face any blowback from the other characters and that will suck. 

On the bright side (you know I always have to look on the bright side) that means instead of her being unmasked, it will be, as you say, just Serkan, once again, straight up choosing Eda over her. Which is delicious and romantic in it’s own right. Their love once again triumphing over the biggest of odds, with everything stacked against them and people actively working against them and him suffering from a brain injury. That’s big. And I think after the way Serkan has treated Eda, it’s important that he choose and not just have th choice taken from him by Selin being “unmasked.” Though I’m happy if she’s unmasked after he’s already fallen for Eda (which lets be honest is actively happening). 

So there’s a lot of upside to that, to Serkan just choosing, however if that happens and she leaves prior to him regaining his memories, we’ll probably have to suffer through Serkan thanking Selin and apologizing to her and that might make me break whatever screen I’m watching the show on that night. I keep telling myself the writers have to know we need some comeuppance and consequences for Selin, but I’m not sure I trust them to do that. It’s possible she’ll skate again. 

The spoilers (which so far are batting about 50/50, so this is still all grain of salt) said that the last scene of 31 would be “bad” (it was IMO, ouch!) but that it would start the unmasking of Selin. If Deniz is playing Selin (which I think is very possible) then that spoiler cold still be true.  

Maybe Deniz is a straight up a manipulative villain, but it feels like we have enough of that already. Doesn’t he seem smart enough to realize that he’s never going to get Eda through trickery, and would be much better served by championing her best interests instead of employing underhanded tactics to separate Eda/Serkan? So maybe he’ll help humiliate Selin by reveling what she’s doing. Who knows, we shall see. 

Anonymous said: The thing that bothers me the most is serkan's attitude towards eda. When he is alone with her he is vulnerable, attentive to her, listens and tries to find out more about her and their love and the moments they spent together, he tries to remember. And when he is surrounded by other people especially selin he is completely different with her. He is cold, says cruel things to her (the moment he said that he will never marry her seriously serkan?) and he humiliates her constantly. PART1

Really I wonder why this sudden change every time there is surely something we don't know yet. PART2

Yes, there could be something we don’t know that’s contributing to his behavior. 

Though @echoapothecary had a good theory about those spoilers that came out about how Selin was doing something with pills and potential drugging of Serkan... what if the spoiler types got it wrong from call sheets and mistook Ceren with the pills for something Selin was doing? 

Serkan’s behavior could just be his pre-Eda robotic personality terrified of the person he becomes after Eda, combined with Selin’s abusive manipulation and brainwashing, combined with traumatic brain injury, combined with PTSD from the plane crash. That’s a lot to overcome. 

Anonymous said: Poor Eda how much pain can she bear , she is suffering so much and she tries to stay strong and do everything she can to get her serkan back. I feel so much sympathy for her character, she has endured so much but she remains strong in spite of everything. If she decides to give up I wouldn't blame her, she has the right to think about herself for once. It's up to serkan now to open up to her, to show that he cares about her and wants to remember her.

My heart breaks for Eda. However, come on, it’s been like a week. Eda is stronger than than that, she wouldn’t be Eda if she gave up. She knows Serkan is suffering from a brain injury and being manipulated by that barnacle.

Also, remember how we spent episode 20-26 with Eda keeping her distance and controlling everything while Serkan worked his tail off to get her back, his love never wavering. They work because they don’t give up on one another.

Anonymous said: The only way for serkan to react is to feel that he is going to lose eda (she had already tried everything, recreating their moments, kissing him but nothing worked). Eda knows this and that's why she decided to start this game with Deniz, it's her only motivation. To make serkan react, be jealous, feel that he is about to lose her just like in episode 11 to finally confess his feelings. P1/

At first I was totally against this fake engagement but now that I see it from another point of view it seems to me that it is a good idea. Just how could eda have guessed that deniz was not sincere in his intention to help her and just wanted to take advantage of the situation. P2/

Yes, you’re right. Eda knows that Serkan needs to be pushed into a corner to act. That’s what happened the first time. If only we see a reaction like he had the first time around!

What I didn’t like is when Deniz expounded on their “love story” and made up the whole thing about them promising to get married which prompted Serkan to ask Eda if he knew about that. Eda had to say no and I feel like that gives Serkan a mistaken view of their relationship. That they were not in a place where they would have confided such things. It feels like it works against Eda’s objective. So that move puts a mark in the “Deniz is actually a manipulative shit-stain” category. 

I just so badly want one of the other characters (Engin, Leyla) to accuse Serkan of being jealous and for him to respond that he doesn’t get jealous and for them to be all like, “Yeah, maybe you didn’t used to get jealous, but with Eda you were jealous of anything that competed for her attention, including babies and dogs!”

Anonymous said: i love that scene on the boat where serkan stays behind after dismissing selin (when he all too eager to take eda home before btw!!) and he's thinking about their moments together.. it's not flashbacks to his memories of her, but he's thinking about the moments that they've shared the DOES remember right now... boy is he already falling for her all over again

Yes, me too! That was very good moment. He sends his “fiancé” on her way without really even questioning where she’s been and then sits and thinks about another woman. 

He’s got to be close to catching a clue! If only he didn’t emotionally destroy Eda every time he freaks out. 

Anonymous said: i think it's hard for most people to watch serkan be "robot-y" after sooo many episodes of him evolving and growing and being in love with eda.. but i remember back to the first episodes and there are times and moments where he IS harsh with her there too.. they would have a close moment and then the next day he would be ice cold.. the same things happens now.. he has always, even back then, fought himself falling in love until he couldn't any longer and felt like he was actually losing her.

Yes! This is Serkan circa episode 3 when he freaked out and was a total and complete asshole to Eda. It just hurts so much more this time around. Then Eda, and the audience, could let it roll off our backs because they didn’t have history. Now we have 30 episode of history and love and evolution and it is hella painful to go back to that place again. 

However, it is pretty realistic to his character and the guy we met in the beginning. What’s not entirely realistic is him taking refuge in Selin. But I suppose you take the fact that the last thing he remembers they were together, and forget the reason they broke up is that he was never going to marry her, throw in her trauma, manipulation and brainwashing and here we are at engaged!

Anonymous said: you know i never considered how the show must feel if you binge watched all of it.. i started watching from the 1st ep so it's always been this cycle of waiting a loooong week in between, but it must feel different if you've binged it.. i feel like storylines def won't feel as dragged out and therefore you wouldn't feel as frustrated by how long the plot would take.. like we waited 10+ weeks for edser to get back together but now someone can just breeze thru those episodes lol.

Yes, binging would take away a lot of the pain those of us week to week have felt. I binged through episode 9 and it’s been week to week for me every since. Like I said in that other ask, I like week to week, because I like fandom. I like talking to you all in my ask box and I like content, and having time to digest things and I like following the cast and getting spoilers, but the downside is the PAIN. LMAO. 

Anonymous said: wow, they even stole your caption. so sorry this happened to you , i hope they take it down soon! i know you work hard to create these gifs and posts ❤

This is about the gal who reposted my gifset yesterday. Thank you so much, she did delete it. As I say, I’m more than fine with people using the gifs for reactions and meta and stuff like that, but it’s against every bit of tumblr etiquette (and rules) to repost entire sets as your own. Please don’t do that.

[starkerkeyz]

Love Me Sweetly, Kiss Me Softly

Length: 6543 WC

AO3 Link

Mads💗: So. This was meant to be a one shot, first of all and we had plans to post this on Vday and didn’t finish on time 😅. Second, our RPs have gone from complete smut to… this? 😂 I swear, the intention is smutty though 😱 and it will be! …Later.

Keyz 💖: It was supposed to be a one shot! But then, we kept building up the world and thinking up ideas for more and more interactions. This is the longest we’ve gone without writing smut! 

Warnings:  TOOTH ROTTING FLUFF (for nooow), intersex omegas, naughty but innocent Peter?

Peter isn’t even fully awake when he reaches for the slim dildo on his bedside table. His body knows the motions and he’s able to slip it inside with a sigh of contentment.

His body is sleep warm and lazy but the building orgasm has no problem reaching its peak. It only takes a couple of thrusts of the toy since Peter’s well versed in getting himself off. He doesn’t even need to touch his cock before his body shudders in completion, slick and cum soaking into the towel he had laid beneath him before he fell asleep last night.

He drifts back into lazy dreams for a few minutes more and then finally rouses. 

The thin blanket gets tossed to the side and he stretches long, lean limbs before finally sitting up. His dildo is on the bedside table again and he takes it along for his shower. 

It’s his daily routine and he makes it to work on time for his shift. 

His ears, long and the same sandy brown as his hair, gently flop as he bounces into work, a beaming smile on his face. It may disgruntle some of the other workers, morning people, they are not, but they expect it of Peter.

His fluffy little tail pokes out from his bottoms and it wiggles in excitement as he ties on his apron.

“Register duty,” MJ tells him gruffly.

“You got it!” Peter chirps back. 

It’s another perk of being his kind. Bunny pheromones tend to lull customers into a cheerful mood so it’s like they’re getting a shot of espresso before they even get their coffee. There are downsides to it, but Peter tries not to dwell on it.

He’s still signing into the register when the first customer arrives.

“One second, sir,” Peter says, just making sure the customer doesn’t think they’re being ignored. “Registers always take a bit to start up… Ah– what can I get started for you…?”

“Tony, gorgeous. I’ll have a large caramel macchiato, sub almond milk.” Tony winks at the cute omega bunny boy that’s been fluttering around behind the counter with a happy little bounce. 

He didn’t think rabbits really did that outside of TV but here -Tony looks at the nametag- Peter is, bouncing around with a smile and a tail wiggle and it’s bringing up Tony’s day just seeing the chipper young man getting set up. 

Tony flicks his triangular ears in the direction of someone laughing from further in the cafe and then centers back on Peter. All that movement draws Tony’s predator instincts like a magnet. The alpha instincts on top make him want to pin the bunny to one of the coffee machines and attempt to fuck the bounce out of his step. 

Peter calls out the order, the words barely registering in his head before they flow out his mouth. He does an excited little wiggle when the machine is ready and then he’s punching in the order with quick, dextrous fingers.

“Large caramel… macchiato,” Peter confirms, “almond milk!”

Tony can’t take his eyes off of the happily wiggling cutie. Just watching Peter prance around with a smile and a bob of his fluffy tail was a mood enhancement. He’d heard that rabbits could do that with their pheromones if they aren’t terrified of the wolf hybrid nearby. 

He’s never been around a bunny not scared of him. This is nice. 

Peter finally glances up, a smile on his face.

“That’ll be–” Peter barely pauses when he gets a look at his first customer, but recovers quickly. “$5.53, Tony!”

It’s a new customer! And– Peter’s eyes grow wide because he looks like– 

His eyes dart to the number of customers in line. It’s the morning rush and he pouts a bit to himself when he realizes he can’t take the time to talk to this new customer. To Tony.

Tony smiles and makes sure his teeth, and subsequently, his fangs, don’t show. He doesn’t want to scare the bunny away with his hunger and he’s aware that his very pheromones can set some prey types on edge instinctively. 

He’s got a hint of wildness to his scent that no dog would ever bring to the table. His fangs are just a little too long, his eyes just a little too intent, and his tail just a little too stiff.

“Long shift today?” Tony asks casually. 

He takes a discreet sniff, nostrils flaring out as he tries to subtly figure out if Peter’s single without asking outright. He likes the challenge of using his senses to sleuth it out as much as he wants to avoid the embarrassment of being rejected if Peter has a girlfriend or boyfriend. 

He doesn’t smell another person but he does catch the deep notes of relaxation and lingering sex that come from masturbation. It makes Tony imagine Peter naked and wonder how soon he could get him there again. 

Tony’s tail wags fluidly behind him with the idea of seeing when this cute bunny might have a break. He might be able to wait for it and chat him up some more if it’s soon. 

His tail freezes when he realizes Peter can’t possibly have one coming up if he just got here. Then it droops, hanging down the back of one leg and staying there. Tony’s smile drops to a polite lip curl. 

Peter probably gets asked out all the time on the clock anyway. Bad idea, really.

Behind him, Peter’s fluffy tail is going crazy with excitement. He recognizes that Tony is a wolf. There’s no other excuse for why the hairs at the back of his neck tingle with warning.

But even though the instincts are there, Peter’s become very good at ignoring them. They live in a modern society and those prey instincts are just relics of the past.

They do some pretty exciting things to his body though. Peter gets a burst of adrenaline which he tricks his mind into translating as excitement. 

It’s another reason why they like to put him up front. Bunnies give off those yummy scents but Peter was particularly good at not being prey, no matter what his instincts scream at him.

So it’s easy for his scent to remain carefree and inviting and for Tony, he thinks it even deepens in curiosity. He’s never met a wolf before…

Tony’s dark ears catch Peter’s attention and he just wants to reach out and see how velvety smooth the fur is.

“Oh…! Yes,” Peter laughs, face going a bit pink when he realizes he’s been keeping Tony waiting on an answer. He fidgets a bit with the little bow tie they have him wear.

Tony’s eyes and ears both flick down at the motion, honing in on Peter’s throat where the bowtie lies on his neck. Tony’s pupils expand like he’s on the hunt. His tail shoots up so fast he knocks the person crowding behind him into giving him more breathing room. 

Peter’s been through this often enough that he recognizes an opening when he sees one. Usually, he brushes them off, playing ignorance and claiming naivety. It’s not really a good idea to give out his shift hours but…

A quick little discrete sniff gives Peter so much intel on his new customer. His scent reminds Peter of warm summer nights and maybe oak?

Peter likes warmth. Peter likes summer nights.

“Wow, buddy, calm that nub down,” Ned laughs behind him as he passes by.

Tony hides his laugh behind a hand, knowing he couldn’t possibly hide his fangs. His tail lifts higher in excitement and starts wagging stiffly back and forth as he waits, hoping that the stalling and the bouncing is a good sign. It’s been ages since Tony tried dating someone, and never a bunny.

Peter freezes again but then pretends it didn’t even happen. His tail continues twitching, he can’t really control that part and Ned knows it.

“I usually have a break around one…” Peter offers, heart skipping beats. He tries for casual and his fingers curl to stop them from playing with his ear. “If you’re around.”

“I could make the time,” Tony offers. 

It’s hours away yet. He drums his fingers on the counter and then picks up the pen used for receipts. He scribbles his number on a spare scrap of torn receipt and slides it over to Peter, fingers lingering.

Peter’s eyes dart to the tiny slip of paper before his hand shoots out to take it. His face blushes pink and he knows it’s futile to try hiding this from Ned and MJ but he still tries.

He knows he should assure Tony that he shouldn’t be inconvenienced just for him but he can’t bring himself to say the words. Their fingers brush and Peter’s heart quickens even more.

“I’d really like that,” he says with a smile.

He tucks the note into a pocket in his apron for safekeeping.

“Maybe we could get something to eat after your shift sometime, too?” Tony hopes he’ll say yes. The little omegan bunny smells so fresh and bright, like springtime grass and freshly bloomed flowers. Growing, ripe, fertile. 

Tony feels like an asshole for thinking such stereotypes. 

To Tony, Peter smells ready for sex and adventure. Like he would be perfectly at home taking a tumble with someone in the middle of a hike. Like he’s definitely gotten grass stains on his knees from fucking in a meadow. Like the athletic cutie wouldn’t say no to being held against a large oak tree and knotted-

Tony clears his throat and pins his ears back with a chiding shake to his own foolish head. He needs to be better than that. No one deserves to be stereotyped into a cock slut just because they were born with certain ears and tail. 

“Your pick.” Tony doesn’t want to come across as more of an ass by asking if Peter’s vegetarian. Is that insulting to assume? Tony hasn’t been around enough prey animals he wants to make a good impression on to know. 

The request surprises Peter but in a very good way. His smile turns sweeter and he leans forward, drawn in by the wolf’s charm.

“I’ll think of something,” he says, meaning he’ll be frantically texting everyone he knows for a good place to take a wolf. “Maybe I’ll have something if you do stop by at one.”

“Looking forward to it,” Tony says in answer, leaning forward in mirror to Peter. His ears are fixed onto Peter, not even flicking away to catalog the hiss of steam and blaring of alarms. 

It almost feels like the world has narrowed down to the two of them and Peter’s more than happy to remain in that bubble.

Until Ned pops it.

“Large caramel macchiato, almond milk,” Ned calls out, “For Tony!”

Peter straightens, eyes darting back to the screen. His ears swing back, one covering his right eye. “Oh, um, $5.53.”

His face feels so warm and he feels a bit embarrassed to have gotten so smitten by a mere two minute conversation. He tucks the floppy ear back, giving a flustered smile.

Tony can’t stop grinning as he fishes his wallet out and pays. He makes sure their hands brush again when he gives Peter a cash tip, winking at the blushing bunny. He wants to be allowed to brush his ear back for him next time.

“I’ll see you at 1, Peter.” Tony tips his caramel macchiato at him in salute and steps out of the way to let him get back to his job. 

Peter’s eyes trail after him as though his brain hasn’t gotten the message that he’s at work. Of course, he snaps back to attention when the next customer, a regular, clears their throat.

“See you,” Peter sighs out, head completely in the clouds and heart in la la land.

Tony makes his way out of the cafe and back to his day with one more meeting on the books.

Internally, he’s giddy to have a shot with someone so smoking hot and unbelievably cute. And his smell! 

Tony just wants to bury his nose right in the source of all that beautiful freshness. He could feel his gums aching and saliva pooling in his mouth already and shakes his head, slapping at his own cheek for focus when he’s sure the bunny couldn’t possibly see him being so weird. 

“Okay. Time to get everything I had planned up to dinner done before noon.” 

Tony sips at his drink. His mind drifts back to Peter. 

Should he bring chocolates? Could bunny hybrids eat chocolate? Hybrid canines could eat up to four pounds of the stuff before it reached toxicity levels and was considered normal to gift out in small, elaborately wrapped packaging. Maybe Pepper would know…

Tony arrives with flowers that smell like Peter and a little fancy clear bag of oatmeal and carrot bunny cookies in his pocket that Google told him is the most coveted brand on the market. Pepper had told him to only bring one or the other but he couldn’t decide and leaving one behind made his tail flick and swish agitatedly, leg bouncing with stress. 

So he has both to present. 

He pushes through the door with his free hand and scans for Peter. He automatically begins cataloging the many scents swirling around the shop; identifying people, machines, ingredients, cleaners and more so that he has a map of the place visually and through olfactory within moments. 

His tail goes high and side to side when he spots the bunny, ears alert. He sweeps through the tables and up to Peter in a flash, holding out the flowers with another carefully subdued smile. 

“Hello, beautiful. Thanks for letting me see you again so soon.” Tony sweeps the cookies up out of his pocket and gives them to Peter on top of the flowers. “I hope you like them as much as the reviews say you should.”

Whatever Peter’s expecting come 1 PM, it isn’t this. Truth be told, the bunny was a ball of nervous energy in the past half hours, worried that the wolf wouldn’t show.

Seeing Tony walk through the doors of their little cafe has Peter so giddy with happiness that he isn’t sure how his feet are still on the ground.

The sight of the flowers already has his eyes growing wide but he recognizes the brand of cookies Tony gives him. They’re a very well known brand of cookies and they’re expensive too. Peter has only allowed himself to buy them a couple of times a year as a treat for him and May so this unexpected treat has Peter’s mouth dropping.

He takes both items, looking at one and the other then back at the waiting wolf.

Tony waits for Peter’s verdict with a small dance of weight between his feet and a continuous wagging of his tail. He holds back from nudging the treats closer or barking to prompt a reaction, just barely. Peter’s wide eyed silence was starting to make him wonder…

The wolf let out a tiny whimper as the seconds ticked by. Was he wrong? Did he pick a bad brand?

“Oh, thank God,” Peter blurts out, “I wasn’t sure if you just wanted to talk or just be friends or– I don’t know, maybe get a free coffee now and then but– but you… you like me? Like… maybe…”

He’s babbling, he knows he is and what’s embarrassing is he does quick anxious little wiggles in place as he talks. He clutches onto the flowers then makes a worried sound when he realizes he might be crushing them.

They’re a sturdy bunch though and he’s relieved to see that not even a single petal was bent.

“I’m glad you like them and no, I definitely didn’t mean just friends. Not for this and not for that dinner invite. I want to get to know you better and maybe… I mean, if you’re single and I’m single…” Tony needs to stop talking. ‘If you’re single and I’m single’ like that isn’t how typical dating worked.  The wolf shakes his head at himself, furry little ears flicking in self disapproval, and hopes Peter will overlook his awkwardness. 

“Honey Bunnies…” Peter says in awe then realizes something else. His eyebrows twitch as he realizes. “Wait, how did you even get these? This flavor isn’t supposed to be out until next month.”

Honey brown eyes look at the wolf with barely veiled delight. If someone accused Peter of being a puppy right now instead of a bunny, he wouldn’t even fault them for the mistake.

This has to be puppy love…

“I love these things,” Peter says. “I– I shouldn’t even ask how, right? They’re a gift so I should just be saying thank you.”

Tony is glowing from Peter’s reactions to his presents. He takes a seat across from the bunny and leans forward, ears and eyes focused with laser intensity on the cutest bunny on the planet.

“I looked up the flavors and ordered the one that sounded best to me, honestly.” 

He knew he’d be the one eating it if Peter didn’t like it and paid extra for the gamble. Oatmeal and carrot sound pleasant enough to him. 

Oatmeal and wheatgrass? Barley and broccoli? Not really appetizing to a wolf that grew up on the iron rich delicacies of lamb chops and steak and learned to navigate dinner parties with the refined taste of sushi and caviar.

Tony yips quietly to himself to refocus on Peter at present, a small sound he’d taught himself (with Rhodey’s help) that no one else should be able to hear in the cafe. 

College had been a nightmare of sounds and smells distracting him until his friend taught him self direction through vocal cues. Something they did in the military, he’d said, but Tony thinks he was just covering up whatever therapist technique it was. Probably meant for dogs.

Tony’s ears twitch and his eyes scrunch the slightest as he notices himself drifting again. He yips firmly to himself and then tunes back into the person he actually wants to pay attention to.

“I was wondering why they’re called Honey Bunnies the more I read. Most of the cookies use grains and vegetables for the main flavor.” Tony shrugs a shoulder. He doesn’t handle marketing in his company for a reason. He smiles at Peter and ducks his head, almost like a bow as both hands settle flat on the table. “I can bring you a new flavor next time if you like?”

That sounds like heaven but Peter can’t possibly accept.

He shakes his hard so hard that his long ears swing side to side.

“You don’t have to!” He tells the wolf, “I-I mean… They’re hard to get sometimes… a real pain… And besides, even these will last me a while.”

It may or may not be true. He hasn’t tried these and he might just as well scarf them down if they’re that good. They’re always that good though… He’d be lucky if he could save some for May to try.

Tony waves off Peter’s concerns about money. He doesn’t expect any kind of favor system or to get presents of equal cost. He gets the people he likes material things because seeing them light up and enjoy them makes him warm and excited. 

He likes hunting down the perfect gift and preening from a job well done when it’s well received. So if Peter likes those special honey-not-honey cookies, then Tony will get him as many as he can stand to eat.

Peter tucks his unruly ear back into place, peeking at the wolf with a smile.

“And, um, they’re called Honey Bunnies cause… cause the founder was a non-rabbit kind who wanted to give his doe something to munch on…” Peter says with wide eyes.

Considering Tony hadn’t known, there’s no way he could’ve planned some sort of meaning behind the gesture. But… considering he bought it for Peter, isn’t it the same, anyway?

“Ahh… I see I’m not the first to fall for a cute pair of ears then, huh?” Tony reaches out and gently tucks Peter’s ear away for him. His eyes sparkle a little and he enjoys the simple pleasure of feeling how absolutely velveteen Peter’s ear is below his fingertips. 

Peter’s cheeks warm up and he knows his tail is twitching in excitement. He tries not to let it get to his head but it may be too late.

He boldly reaches over to squeeze the wolf’s hand before his nerves get the best of him. A moment later and those same fingers retreat.

“I… can be your honey bunny if that’s what you want?” Peter almost squeaks.

Is this how flirting is done? He’s never really cared to try… He just hopes he’s not making a fool of himself 

Tony reaches out for Peter and repeats the motion back, squeezing his hand gently. He leaves his hand over Peter’s instead of pulling back as the bunny had done, smiling broadly enough to show off his upper and lower canines and sharpened incisors. 

The bunny’s eyes can’t get any wider but his breath does catch at the sight of Tony’s fangs. That sweet adrenaline courses through him once more, warning him to run but Peter’s fascinated.

“Of course, I’d love that! I’m definitely going to get you more cookies though, if you’re going to be my honey bunny and all.” Tony winks outrageously, flopping his ears with it to add even more comedy to the effect. 

The little ear wiggle is adorable and only makes Peter want to reach out and touch them. Coupled with the wink, Peter ends up beaming at the wolf, disarmed and maybe a bit enamored.

Looking at Tony, Peter can’t imagine how anyone can be afraid of him.

“If you insist, I won’t say no,” Peter says and it comes out a bit shyly.

He’s out of his depth here and he doesn’t want to seem ungrateful or to give Tony the wrong idea. He turns his hand over and twists their fingers together in a loose hold.

Peter is so unbelievably sweet and pure. Tony wants to lean over and kiss the breath out of him to seal the deal, but it feels almost wrong to be so forward with the bunny boy. This is literally their first date, ever, so Tony can wait and be a gentleman. 

Judging by how hesitantly Peter had touched his hands just now and how flustered he was receiving the presents, he’s either incredibly good at acting or very inexperienced and nervous. 

He’ll let Peter set the pace in either case. He could keep it in his pants and his hands to himself for as long as Peter needs to feel ready. No pressuring or assuming. 

Even drop dead gorgeous bunny boys like Peter could be virgins.

“Can I still take you out to dinner sometime? When are you free?” Tony swishes his tail behind him and resists the urge to slide his hands forward and scent the backs of Peter’s hands with his wrists. 

He’s being a gentleman. He’s going to go slow. He could do this, for Peter. 

“My shift ends in three hours,” Peter says automatically. He blinks when he realizes how eager it sounds. “But my next day off is Thursday…”

Thursday seems so far away and Peter’s little bunny heart wants to curl up at the thought of not seeing the wolf until then. But he has to play it cool.

He doesn’t realize it but his lips pucker into a gentle pout.

Tony wants to suck that pout between his fangs and keep it safe. He’s almost panting after Peter, the cute bunny managing to turn his head in circles with just a smile or a pout.

Tony is a wolf but he’s charming and easy-going. He doesn’t trigger any of Peter’s instincts besides the normal ones that predator scents incite in him. For Peter, he feels relaxed and doted upon.

How could he not? He has pretty flowers that he knows MJ was eying earlier and Honey Bunnies that Ned will try to steal. He wouldn’t take a courting gift from his best friend….

… Is the wolf courting him…?

Tony takes one hand off Peter and reaches into his pocket with the other to grab up his phone. He doesn’t want to stop touching Peter now that he’s been allowed. 

That’s probably too intense, isn’t it? Especially for a first date? Tony doesn’t want to scare Peter off by going too fast…

Peter feels like he’s blurted out too many embarrassing questions already. Tony’s already shown his interest and while that reassures him, the bunny worries about some other things. This being the first person he’s ever wanted to know better in a more intimate sense, he realizes that what he wants may be fast for the wolf.

Bunnies would already be humping by now. May not even exchange names because who needs names when that itch needs scratching…? Peter’s always been a bit different though.

Or so he thought. Looking at the wolf’s roguish smile, he feels his insides warm and his belly clench with excitement.

His fingers twitch beneath Tony’s but he gives the wolf another smile. He’ll behave… He doesn’t want to scare Tony off with all those intense rumors about bunnies that happen to be true…

Reluctantly, thinking the twitch meant he’d overstayed his welcome, Tony places both hands on his phone. He uses the tech as a prop to keep his hands full and fiddling and not grabbing the bunny’s soft hands back up and holding on like a creep.

Peter already misses the warmth from Tony’s hands but he doesn’t chase after him even when his instincts want him to.

“I work pretty much every day but a lot of it I can do from my phone. So just let me know if another day or something works better, don’t be afraid about me not making it.” Tony says to his phone, both ears pointing at Peter and betraying where his attention truly is. He doesn’t dare look up at Peter.

Valentine’s day is this Friday.

Peter might not even want to celebrate. They just met and Valentine’s could be a pretty big deal to some couples. Or maybe Peter wouldn’t feel comfortable spending it with a new paramour. There are so many good, sound, logical reasons Peter could say no. Tony doesn’t want to pressure him and will leave it up to the omegan bunny to decide. 

He really, really hopes, though. 

Peter leans forward and lets his fingertips brush against the back of Tony’s hand. It barely does so but even this bit of contact makes him happy.

It’s Monday…. And Peter normally does not like Mondays but perhaps he has to change his mind on that. He feels giddy just looking at the wolf.

“Um, well I’m working every day until Saturday…”

Tony tries not to let his disappointment show. It’s not Peter’s fault he’s scheduled that day and can’t rearrange his entire work schedule for a sudden, intense new interest like Tony. Peter’s still willing to entertain a second date and Tony needs to focus on that positive instead of the other negative.

There are other big events they could spend together in the future. Tony will have to plan ahead, that’s all.

Peter subconsciously tugs on his ear with his free hand as he considers what to say.

“I work late tomorrow… But I get out the same time on Wednesday and Thursday… Friday, I’m supposed to close,” he says as he mentally ticks off his work schedule.

He creeps his fingers closer until he can gently rest them on top of Tony’s wrist. He can feel the strong steady pulse right there and it feels like his heartbeat resets to mimic it.

Tony feels his ears and tail drooping in pleasure when Peter’s slender fingers come to rest right on his scent gland, bold and soft at once. Peter willingly scent marking himself makes Tony’s heart rate pick up the pace where it’s running laps around his ribcage. 

His nose and ears twitch in conjunction as he tries to sniff out what Peter&Tony smell like off of Peter’s skin. 

Grass and forest. Meadow and heat. Those weeks when spring is heating up into summer, the air simmering itself pleasantly along sweaty, flushed skin. The well seasoned frenzy of mating ruts and bountiful, fertile heats. 

Alpha and omega and predator and prey and Peter&Tony.

Peter ducks his head a bit, peeking at the wolf with a hesitant smile. “Is Wednesday or Thursday okay with you…?" 

Of course, he’d like to see Tony more, but he doesn’t want to be a clingy person. They’d only just met and Peter already feels he’s falling for the guy.

Tony yips to focus himself, realizing he’d gotten lost in the smell of their first real scenting. He smiles widely at Peter, giddy that their scents are so compatible. He knew Peter was special.

“Wednesday or Thursday is fine. I think Thursday would be easier for me though, if you don’t have a preference?” Tony has to hold back from offering to take Peter out both nights. He can’t overwhelm the bunny or he might run.

The thought of chasing him produces a high, excited whine that he quickly bites back with a nervous glance at Peter. He doesn’t want to chase Peter to scare him, but he doesn’t think the truth would go over well either. Telling him, on the first date, that Tony’s whining at the chance to chase him down and fuck him wherever he catches him would be a good way to get tossed on his ass. 

“Sorry. Happens sometimes. Um. When I’m… looking forward to something.” 

Now, Tony’s blushing and looking down at his hands. He sees Peter’s fingers on his wrist and is reminded of their wonderful scent all over again. It only makes him more flustered and happy.

The sound surprises a smile out of Peter and he leans closer. He’s never really been around wolf types and has only really seen them from afar. There were a couple when he was in school, but he never really paid attention to them. His ears have learned long ago to filter out those kinds of noises as background sounds so any barks or yips were generally ignored.

He thinks the sound Tony made is adorable and Peter kind of wants to hear it again. He also wants to know what other sounds Tony would make. Being a wolf… would he growl during intimate moments?

Peter’s face flushes. He’s not used to having these kinds of thoughts at all! But instead of weirding him out, he lets the feeling flow through him and settle.

Tony watches Peter’s facial expressions, amused at his expressive face and the dark blush that’s starting to crawl up his neck. The bunny is so cute. Tony wants to lick his plump, blushing cheeks to taste the heat and the sweetness that must be there. Peter was too pure for anything less, Tony was sure. 

Peter wishes now that Tony had sat next to him just so they don’t have this distance between them.

Then he perks up. His ears don’t have the muscles to stand straight up but the tops do rise a bit in his excitement.

Tony’s eyes and ears zero in on the motion in a single snap. His lips part just enough to show a hint of fang and a flash of tongue as he licked his lips.

"Have you eaten yet?” Peter asks, hoping to extend their time. 

He’s only supposed to take a thirty minute break and he’s already used a good chunk of it… But suddenly, he’s famished.

“Hold on, lemme just–” He dashes off without another word, ears flopping as he rushes back to where Ned’s making drinks.

Tony watches him go with no shame. Peter’s ass is a bouncy round handful and his tail is a flash of color against the cafe’s uniform that Tony wants to bite. 

He hopes no one else in the cafe can see how hungry he is for something other than food.

It only takes him a few minutes and a few overdramatic claims of possibly starving to death before Ned brushes him off with a grin. There’s a reason why Ned’s his best friend and Peter would straight up crush him in a bear hug if he wasn’t holding a cup of steaming hot coffee.

He returns to the wolf but doesn’t reclaim his seat.

“Ned said I can take the rest of the day off,” he says, a bit breathless.

Then, realizing the implication, he stutters a bit. “But, I mean– You don’t have to spend the whole day with me, I know you’re probably just on break and have work too. But maybe, uh, I was thinking Five Guys? Their burgers are really good and– Oh, God, I should’ve asked you first.”

He bounces anxiously on his toes, ready to rush back behind the counter. He can pretend he hadn’t just completely made a fool of himself.

Tony stands up and steps closer to Peter. He tries not to loom but wants to be close enough to brush their hands and wrists together, the wolf wanting to soothe and strengthen their ties. He lowers his chin and ears to tell Peter he’s in control of the situation, not Tony, and signals with a tail against his leg that he would defer to Peter’s judgment. 

Peter’s eyes are large and round when Tony stands. He’s taller than him by a couple of inches but for some reason, the bunny isn’t feeling intimidated.

Instead, he feels a sense of excitement and his fluffy little tail twitches. He’s not sure why he feels so at ease. Something in Tony’s eyes, the warmth and deep brown that reminds Peter of warm, sun-soaked soil beneath his bare fingers…

His body sways as though it’s being lured in by the wolf’s calm demeanor.

Peter has to force himself to focus when the wolf talks.

“I’m starving, actually. I haven’t eaten since yesterday if you don’t count coffee.” He’d skipped out on breakfast to avoid a board meeting, which is how he found himself in Peter’s cafe this morning. Then, he’d skipped out on lunch in order to make it to this date with Peter and get all his work done. 

Possibly he had skipped dinner the night before, too. It was hard to tell; when Tony got focused he could go for a long time without food. Whenever he emerged and remembered, he’d eat a significant portion of his own body weight in food and sleep for 10 hours. 

Then he’d usually repeat. 

“And I happen to have the rest of the day off, myself. So don’t worry about it, I’d love to extend this date.” 

Tony flicks his eyes at Peter sidelong, hoping that the bunny isn’t so upset anymore. Tony could smell the anxious wafts coming off of him earlier and he wants to make sure not a drop of his scent is tainted with stress. Peter deserves to smell happy and fresh, ripe and fertile-

The fast flowing words sweep away the worry that hovered around the boy. In fact, the news that Tony’s free has Peter giddy and ready to bounce in place from sheer excitement.

Tony wanting to extend the date though… Peter feels like he’ll just melt right there.

Tony yips to himself, flicks a reproachful ear at nothing, and focuses on Peter again with a small, nervous smile. He keeps talking to stop himself from straying in his thoughts. 

Peter’s eyes catch the quick movement of the wolf’s ear– a cute little flick and the bunny thinks it’s so adorable. He almost wants to nibble on it just to see how Tony would react then.

His eyes widen and he quickly shoves the thoughts to the back of his mind before his scent gives him away.

“Don’t be alarmed if I eat them out of house and home. Wolf stomach. I’ll pay.” Tony wouldn’t ever make a date pay the tab he’s about to rack up, even at a fast food place like Five Guys. 

Tentatively, Tony laces their fingers together, making an inquisitive noise from the back of his throat as his ears perked and lowered in a wiggle of question. 

Peter looks at their interlocked fingers and practically vibrates in place from sheer delight.

He honestly doesn’t make much. Even just comparing the two of them, it’s obvious who’s making bank. 

Tony’s suits are tailor fit and Peter’s wearing jeans and a silly t-shirt of no brand. Black leather shoes, brightly polished compared to the standard converse Peter wears… yeah, it’s painfully obvious to the bunny, but the sight of their hands clasped together seems more important than that.

“I’m only accepting,” Peter begins, “Cause I’m getting the next tab.”

Tony’s ears flick a quick negative before just as quickly sweeping back and down, chagrined at his automatic dismissal of the bunny. He rubs his thumb against Peter’s wrist, scenting himself. He doesn’t want Peter to feel inadequate or incapable. 

He understands the urge to provide; it lives in his blood and bones.

“That’s doable. Back and forth, right?” Tony smiles with fang. He’s pleased with the implication of that. Of course, there’s going to be more dates. 

Peter nods enthusiastically, making his floppy ears waver in the air.

“Right,” he says with a wide smile.

He brings their joined hands up and rubs his cheek against the back of Tony’s hand, grateful and affectionate.

Tony steps smoothly into Peter’s space so that he’s crowded up close, their shoulders bumping and arms tangling together.  His tail relaxes towards Peter, swishing through the space where another wolf’s tail would have been brushing back in returned affection. 

He waits patiently for Peter to finish and then gently, almost reverently, brings Peter’s wrist up to his mouth. He kisses the pulse point, hot and with fang pressing to skin, dampening the bunny’s skin with his lips and teeth. He turns and rubs his cheek on the sensitized spot of skin, signature facial hair rubbing his scent in where he’s already primed and stimulated Peter’s scent gland. 

His scent would linger like a calling card for weeks. His ears stood tall and tail up straight behind him, proud to have been allowed the privilege and challenging anyone to try and take Peter from him. 

Peter’s resolute on this money thing. He doesn’t want Tony to pay for everything even if he’s more than capable of doing so. He’s glad Tony doesn’t argue with him on this. He’s not sure he would’ve been able to resist because the wolf has those kinds of eyes that just makes Peter want to melt and blindly agree.

Then he smiles sweetly at the wolf, squeezes his hand once and sets off towards the Five Guys just a couple blocks away.

.

Mads 💗: Peter is a very horny bunny but he’s also a very romantic bunny and wolf Tony is perfect 😭 Just wait till we earn the E rating lol 😏 The upcoming date is awesome toooo 😂

Keyz 💖: Tony is trying SO HARD to respect his bunny! If only he knew how badly Peter wanted to be defiled 😂 The date is so good it will probably be the entirety of ch2!

[btssaysstudy]

Valentine’s Day || BTS JK

Genre: Fluff Paring: JK x reader A/N: My first fanfic hehe, hope you like it and do drop a message if you did!

In University, you joined a dance club as an extra curricular activity and that was when you met your best friend — Jungkook. Everyone in the club was familiar with each other and you had many events together already. It had turned into your family in university.

“He said I looked good in my recent post.” You had to admit that you sounded vain and shallow when you said that to your best friend. Jungkook chuckled, “I’m telling you he’s interested.”

“Or he’s just being nice.” You countered, to which Jungkook shrugged his shoulders. You took the drink you ordered and walked away with Jungkook to your table to have your lunch.

You hung out with Jungkook the most in school since you guys took the same modules and in the same year. “Anyway, enough about me, any updates on that girl that texted you?” “Nothing really, she’s another one that thinks we’re dating. I don’t understand why a girl and guy hanging out together will always get mistaken for being together.”

“Beats me. Maybe you should get rid of me to help with your game.” You grinned at Jungkook as a joke. He rolled his eyes at you, “As if it’ll be easy to get rid of you.”

“Oh so you’ve had thoughts about it?”

“Shut up.” Jungkook threw his crumpled receipt at you to make you stop. The two of you finished your lunch and headed to your next lecture together. On the way, you were talking about what you and Jimin had been talking about the other night when you were lucky enough to bump into him.

“Guess who’s behind.” Jungkook whispered after he had coincidentally turned around. “No way. You think he heard me gushing about him?”

Your best friend shook his head, placed his hand on your shoulder and whipped your body 180 degrees so that you could meet eye to eye with Jimin.

“H-Hey Jimin!”

“Y/N! Jungkook! Just the people I was looking for!” Jimin waved at you enthusiastically as he jogged up to the both you.

“You were?”

Jimin bidded his head with his charming closed mouth smile, “Nothing serious. Just a random question, are y’all skipping practice next Friday?”

Park Jimin. Another star dancer in the club, along with Jungkook and a few others. He’s also the one you have been talking about to Jungkook. You did see your fellow club members as family. Jimin was the exception though.

Jimin was a flirt.

A lot of people knew that. However it was not like the f*ckboy flirty ways, he was a natural at it. You were even sure that there were times he himself didn’t even recognize that he was flirting. You loved to talk to Jimin. You loved to see him dance as well.

“Skipping practice? No, why?”

“Because,” Jimin winked at you, “Next Friday is Valentine’s Day.” You tried not to let a big smile show as you remained ‘nonchalant’ about Valentine’s Day.

“I might be.” Jungkook wriggled his shoulders cutely and you nudged your best friend with a shocked look on your face. “I need an update!” Jungkook laughed, nodding head his, “Yes boss. I’ll update you later. For now, we have a lecture to attend.:

The three of you were in the same lecture for this module. However, Jimin attended this module with another group of his while you were with Jungkook. It was true that you two seemed inseparable. Of course it was appear this way since you guys organised your semester schedules together. You guys met during orientation camp and have become best friends ever since.

Halfway through the lecture, Jungkook had given up listening and started using his phone discreetly behind his laptop. You glanced to see that he was texting someone. “Who’s that?” You softly nudged his sides. “It’s the girl I asked out for Valentine’s.”

Your attention immediately shifted to finding out who was this mysterious girl, turning to him to ask for more information. “Show me a picture! What’s her name? How did you meet?”

Jungkook nudged you to keep quiet, finding a picture of her on social media. ‘Wow she looks good.” You thought to yourself, somehow feeling dejected without knowing the reason why.

It dawned on you that Jungkook won’t be there for dance practice next Friday and it made you less excited for practice. However, something bothered you even more. You felt more upset compared to the other times when he was just lazy to practice but you couldn’t put a finger on it. So you decided to brush it off.

__

“Jeon Jungkook! What is this?” You asked in shock as you looked at the contents of the tote bag. Taking out the box from inside, you opened it to find out that Jungkook had prepared you a lunch bento box and along with it, came your favourite drink.

“Do you like it?” He asked, you didn’t miss how shy and nervous he sounded.

You looked back up at me, showing the brightest smile you have as you pulled him in for a tight hug. “I love it! I love food! You’re the best I swear!” You felt his chest vibrate as he chuckled, making your heart flutter from the sensation. He patted your shoulders, signalling you to release him from your tight grasp.

“I didn’t get you anything though.” You pouted, feeling guilty that you didn’t prepare a surprise for your best friend. He shook his head, “Nah, it’s fine y/n. Don’t feel bad about it. It was an impromptu thing anyway.”

Jungkook started filling you in about the details on his date later that night - where he would bring out and what time. Once he was done sharing his part, you started talking about you will be hanging out with some of the club members after practice, one of them being Jimin.

You noticed his smile dropped for a split second before he went back to showing a supportive and bright smile. “Are you guys getting closer?” Shrugging your shoulders, “I guess so? But just as friends.”

“I see.”

—

While waiting for practice to start, you and Jimin were sitting next to each other, talking about recent events the past few days and just catching up in general. You realised that you never gotten the proper chance to just sit down with Jimin alone to get to know him better. It was mostly because you were always more nervous about trying not to make it obvious that you thought he’s cute.

However, the longer the conversation went, the more you realised. You were more than happy with how things are with you and Jimin. It already felt perfect in a way. You weren’t sure of the reason why but suddenly, it was as if you didn’t have that cute crush on him anymore.

“Jungkook told me about the girl he’s taking out tonight. Have you met her?” “No,” you answered curtly, which surprised Jimin and even yourself. “Why do you ask?”

“Nothing.” Jimin chuckled, “Why are you laughing?” You looked at him in a questioning manner. Jimin just pinched your cheeks playfully. “It’s nothing y/n.”

You didn’t want to talk about Jungkook’s Valentine’s date, you weren’t sure why but you were sure that you wanted to change the topic.

Practice ended slightly earlier so you guys dashed out of the studio to head over to McDonald’s to get a midnight snack since you were all starving after dancing for hours.

Hoseok and Seokjin, also members of the dance club, were goofing around while you guys were walking to the fast food place. Taehyung was behind them, laughing freely and filming them. While you and Jimin were in front leading the way and talking with each other.

“Valentine’s Day doesn’t seem so boring when we have them behind us.” Jimin was referring to the two fooling around behind. You laughed as you glanced back, nodding your head in agreement.

“Too bad Jungkook isn’t here.” Jimin added.

“At least he’s on a cute date.” You said bitterly, looking down at your feet, not really paying attention to what you had just uttered.

“You know, I find it hard to believe no one asked you out for VDAY.” Jimin commented.

You looked back up to face Jimin as you walked, “I mean, everyone in the crew are all like family. We don’t see each other that way? And I basically only hang out with y’all.”

“Mmm. I guess that could be another reason.” Jimin jutted out his lower lip as you stared straight ahead, as if deep in thought.

You furrowed your brows, “Another reason? What reason did you have in mind?”

Jimin just winked at you and you nudged him to get it out of him.

“Spill.”

“You know, before I spill, I might as well spill that I knew you had a small crush on me.” He winked at you and you were completely caught off guard. He knew all this time?! You felt like a fool next to him all of a sudden.

Out of embarrassment you smacked his arm. “Didn’t need to do me dirty like that.”

Jimin laughed before continuing, “I had a crush on you too, for the record.”

You scoffed, not believing his words. “Really now.” For all you know, he could be saying that out of pity to help you feel less embarrassed.

“Yea. But I thought you and JK had a thing so I did my best to get rid of those thoughts. I only knew about you liking me recently because Jungkook dropped some not so subtle hints.”

“He WHAT?!”

Jimin winced sheepishly, probably thinking he screwed up and you were going to murder Jungkook.

“Don’t kill him. It’s because I was asking about your V-Day plans.” Jimin shook his head, “Anyway, back to the main point. That’s the reason I was referring to.”

“The main reason is that people think Jungkook and I are a thing?”

“Not gonna lie, I ship you guys at the same time so I was willing to let my crush go.” He winked at you and you laughed. “Well, you should’ve made your move since we aren’t together. He’s on a date now and he’s just my best friend.”

“You sure about that?” He asked as he opened the door to McDonalds, letting the group in and that put a pause on your conversation

After that day, Jungkook didn’t really update you about his date as he was talking to you as if nothing happened. You found it weird because he was usually very eager to share what happened.

“Okay. Why aren’t you updating me about your date?”

“There’s nothing to say.” He grumbled, seemingly not in the mood to talk.

“What do you mean there’s nothing? There has to be updates.”

“I don’t want to talk about it.”

Jungkook was avoiding your eye contact, looking at his drink, stirring the melting ice with his straw.

You tried to think of a reason why Jungkook was in such a sour mood. Then it clicked in your head, “Oh. It went badly didn’t it? It’s okay Jung—“

“I said I don’t want to talk about it.” He snapped his head up to look at you straight in the eye.

“Damn. Okay.” You raised your hands, brushing his harsh reply off though it hurt you a bit. Jungkook felt guilty for lashing out at you and opened his mouth to apologise but was distracted when he saw Jimin approach your table, waving at the both you.

“Lover boy is here. I gotta go.” Jungkook got up with his bag.

“Go where? Our next lecture is only in an hour—“

“I’m going to the library.” He rushed off after saying hello to Jimin.

The library? Since when does he go to the library before lectures?

After waving goodbye to Jungkook, Jimin turned back at you, standing next to your table. “He looks pissed. What did you do?”

You shrugged your shoulders, leaning back against your seat, staring at your empty plate and cup.  “I have no clue. He was being pissy about his date.”

“Oh. He didn’t tell you what happened?”

“No. What do you know?”

“He cancelled his date.” Jimin said with a knowing smirk, wriggling his shoulder suggestively.

“And how do you know that?”

“He told Taehyung when we were going out for Macs that night. He wanted to join us for post-practice meal.”

“So why didn’t he?”

Jimin sighed, reaching into his pockets to take out his phone. He showed you his chat with Taehyung.

“Tae filmed the group walking to Macs and I guess he saw this.” Jimin explained as you read the chat. You clicked on the video that Taehyung sent. “Wait.” Jimin took his phone and  skipped to the part where you and Jimin were walking together and seemingly having a good time together.

Confused, you looked back up at Jimin. “What about it?”

Jimin jokingly poked your forehead. “Must I spell everything out for you? He likes you. Dumb ass.”

You laughed, “If he did. He would’ve asked me out for Valentine’s.”

Jimin shrugged his shoulders, taking your bag from the seat. “He probably would’ve asked you if you didn’t tell him about your crush on me.”

“What are you doing with my bag—“

Jimin took your arm and pulled you up. “Where did he go?”

“The library?”

“Yea right, that boy ain’t there to study. Go talk to him.” He started pulling you in the direction of the library.

Throughout the walk to the library, you kept saying you didn’t want to talk about it. You needed to think it through and come up with a plan but Jimin kept pulling you all the way.

At the entrance, you saw Jungkook walk out, he looked at you and Jimin together. You noticed the blank look on his face, as if he was trying to hide his emotions.

Jimin smiled at Jungkook and pushed you towards him.

“See y’all at the lecture!” Jimin winked at you and briskly walked off.

“Screw you jimin.” You cursed under your breath.

“What’s going on?” Jungkook asked as he walked up to you and you shook your head. “N-Nothing. Just wanted to check on you since I seemed to have pissed you off earlier.”

Jungkook sighed and shook his head. “No you didn’t. Sorry I snapped at you. Can we forget about that?” You agreed and the two of you made your way to the lecture hall.

“About my date. I cancelled it.” Jungkook spoke after the short silence.

So it was true.

“Why?”

“It didn’t feel right.” He answered but you didn’t pry.

—

After lecture, Jungkook suggested to go for ice cream and you agreed. He asked about updates on you and Jimin. You told him you don’t see him that way anymore.

“Really? Just the other day—“

“Yea I know what I said but I realised it was just eye candy or something.”

Suddenly you remembered that Jungkook snitched on you. “He told me that he knows I liked him. I wonder why.” You looked at him and he gave you an apologetic look.

“I-I’m sorry.”

You laughed, brushing it aside, “It’s okay. But we talked about it and we’re cool.”

There was silence following that as you guys ate your own ice cream. It was creating nervousness in you and you couldn’t sit in silence any longer.

“Wish you joined us that night.”

Jungkook smiled, “Me too.”

“Why didn’t you? Since you cancelled the date.”

He shrugged his shoulders, avoiding your eye contact once again, taking a lick of his ice cream. “It was too late to go out.”

“That’s nonsense. You have no curfew.”

Jungkook chuckled, “Okay yea you’re right.”

“Jimin told me you asked Taehyung where we were but you didn’t meet us.”

“I lost the mood to meet you guys.”

Your eyes widened in disbelief, “You lost the mood for a midnight snack? Okay, the date, I understand since you’ve done that before. But McDonald’s? With everyone?”

Jungkook pressed his lips into a thin smile, you could tell he was thinking of his reply. You waited, eating your ice cream that was slowly melting in the cup.

“I didn’t want to go there on Valentine’s just to see you and Jimin together.”

You stopped mid-scoop and looked up at him who was looking down at his ice cream cone. “W-What?” You felt your body froze, trying to comprehend what he was trying to say.

With a frustrated sigh, he looked into your eyes and confessed. “I always cancelled on dates because I didn’t want to go on dates with other girls. Hanging out with you is more than enough. I thought at first maybe its because I was just stuck with you. But after hanging out with other girls before, it just didn’t feel as happy and chill when we hang out.”

You didn’t break eye contact at all and you felt the sincerity of every single word he had uttered. Yet, you didn’t know how to reply. You felt your heartbeat even more heavily, you felt this adrenaline rising in your and your cheeks heating up.

“I like you y/n.”

You leaned back, staring at your cup of ice cream. “Huh.” You chuckled, completely at a lost.

“Why are you laughing” He asked, looking a bit nervous.

You looked up at him, making eye contact and smiled. “If you do, why aren’t you asking me out on a date then?”

His nervous look morphed into a big smile, “Do you want to go on a date with me?”

“I’d love to.”

[aestuavis]

A Nii-san's VDay Chocolates

Giving chocolates to someone he’d once hunted down on a case… The world certainly worked in mysterious ways. Kurenai’s personal life was all a wild card to the detective, so Julius had to cross his fingers the girl would approach him first for him to hand-deliver them. His odds were good–she didn’t exactly have a hard time (both figuratively and literally) in the past–but a big brother’s worrying never ceased in the face of logic. If what he chose to do could claim to have logic behind it at all. Ludger sure didn’t think so despite following his lead.

After much too long loitering outside his office doors for his chance, the heavens rewarded his patience as the girl he’d wanted to see walked by. “I was hoping I’d catch you today. I have something for you,” Julius handed the hacker a medium heart-shaped box sealed shut by a silver ribbon. Inside were chocolates when arranged together looked like a computer monitor. Ludger managed his strange design specifications in spite of understanding almost nothing about the situation. 

“I’d like to claim these chocolates were all my efforts, but my brother acted as quality control. The upside is they’ll actually taste good thanks to his help.” If only he had a tenth of Ludger’s cooking skills, Julius wouldn’t have to admit such an embarrassing detail; his entire image as a detective based itself around honesty, so he couldn’t compromise no matter how small the lie.

 “Happy Valentine’s Day, Miss Kurenai. May these chocolates convey there’s no bad blood between us personally.” 

|| 紅 || :: VALENTINE’S DAY wasn’t exactly something the hacker paid much attention to, of course, that was prior to meeting a certain detective that had captured her attention. so, for the occasion itself, she actually had taken the effort to make him HOMEMADE CHOCOLATE to give him on the date itself. she didn’t think the other would be all that surprised given her … well — partial confession regarding her feelings for him. it was quite obvious by now, wasn’t it ?

showing up at his OFFICE had been a sort of routine for her whether her presence would be made known to the man himself or not, but what she didn’t expect was the DETECTIVE standing at the entrance. she tilted her head in a playful manner when she approached him, a teasing smile curving her lips.

                “ if i hadn’t known better, i’d think you were waiting for me — ”

                “ — eh ? ” her teasing was cut short with his SENTENCE, coupled with a heart-shaped box handed over to her. wait, what ? SURPRISE was immediate upon her features, and it was almost a rare expression on the usually well-planned hacker who often was able to figure out ANYTHING at a glance. she was still brimmed in confusion even as those hands of hers accepted the box from him. swiftly untying the ribbon to peek inside, the CHOCOLATES were arranged in a shape and color resembling a COMPUTER MONITOR.

                “ you … did this for me ? ” she was at a loss for words, feeling an unfamiliar warmth rise from within as he went on explaining that he received HELP from his brother who made sure the taste would be satisfying. his GENUINE SMILE didn’t help one bit. he looked satisfied with the product ( and he should ), while the hacker wondered if he even KNEW what this implied.

                “ y-you — do you even know … what it means … to give someone homemade chocolate on valentine’s day … ? ” no bad blood between them personally. this guy … !! how casual he was about all this actually made the redness upon her cheeks spread and darken, and the sound of her heart ramming itself against her rib-cage was ANNOYINGLY LOUD. why was this making her so happy ? this was so unlike her —

— and that was where she held out a wrapped square box tied with a white ribbon, eyes not daring to MEET his gaze for she felt her BLUSHING EXPRESSION would be too obvious in this case.

                “ h-here. this is for you. it’s probably not as good as your brother’s, but … take it. ” damn it, she was really feeling her face burning as she said this. how UNCHARACTERISTIC of her. the detective really had caught her off-guard, and she was still collecting her own bearings to cope with it all. he was surprisingly difficult to read. what was he thinking ? giving a chocolate to her ? did he even mean it in a ROMANTIC way ? ugh !! this guy — !!

                “ thank you … for the chocolate. i’ll be sure to savor it … ” her voice was softer than usual, as she tried to calm her own heart was leaping out of her chest. a national criminal wanted by the GOVERNMENT and she was floored by this honest detective. how was this even possible ? crimson orbs then finally lifted to meet his own despite the burning of her face. what a cheat.

                “ happy valentine’s day to you too, mister investigator. ”

▸▸ [ @ofstarsandskies​ ]

[queenharumiura]

💐

Valentine’s Day Meme ||Still accepting|| 

[to note: as this is a vday meme, there will be a focus on romance. This is going to be more of a theoretical sort of thing given the interactions between the two aren’t much yet, and I’m not very familiar with the series that Rentaro is from. So this is going to be a fun theoretical playlist that will tell a story]

💐: A playlist for our muses 

Gift of a friend- Demi Lovato

Scars to your beautiful- Alessia Cara

Human- Christina Perri

Believer- Imagine Dragons

Titanium- David Guetta ft. Sia

Confident- Demi Lovato

Count on me- Bruno Mars

I’m glad you came- The Wanted

Stand by you- Rachel Platten

I will be here- Steven Curtis Chapman

Heartbeat song- Kelly Clarkson

Can’t blame a girl for trying- Sabrina Carpenter

Teardrops on my guitar- Taylor Swift

Just the way you are- Bruno Mars

Give your heart a break- Demi Lovato

Can you feel the love tonight- Elton John

In case you’re curious I have my reasonings and explanation for choosing the songs under the readmore. It’s-- kinda lengthy;;;;;;;;;;;;

-

Gift of a friend

Haru gets the vibe that Rentaro is more of a loner type,which contrasts her social butterfly type. Haru is very friendly with othersand she’s quite popular in her own right. With his hobby of creature watching andpreferring insects over humans, she has the thought that he spends more of histime alone rather than immersing himself around others like she does.

This song sorta has the vibe of her feelings. She honestly hopesthat she’s wrong about the fact that he’s more of the loner type, since that’slonely. So this song embodies her hopes that he can see her as a friend and shewill try to help him open up and see the other good parts of life. Other peoplearen’t so bad. If you can make a friend out of Haru who is around your age,surely, you’ll be able to find others! Don’t worry! No matter what, Haru willbe by your side.

Scars to your beautiful

In our threads, we’ve both mentioned that Rentaro and Haruboth have crushes on people. Haru has a crush on Tsuna Sawada who… usually doesn’treally see her that way. Haru tries very hard to appeal (a bit too hard, in myopinion) to him, but he only has Kyoko in his eyes. Kyoko is a good friend ofHaru’s, so it’s hard to see that the person she likes won’t look at her themoment her friend Kyoko enters the picture.

Sometimes she’s been pushed away in favor of Kyoko as well,and that certainly would hurt in more ways than one. The way I headcanon Haruis that this has hurt her emotionally and it damaged her self-confidence. Thissong is something that she can relate to. The beginning of the song speaks toher on an emotional level. She feels ignored and hurt, but she doesn’t want toshow her pain. If she does, she doesn’t want for her friend Kyoko to feelsaddened by it. It’s not her fault that Tsuna likes her. After all, Kyoko is awonderful person. Haru is the one that’s lacking, surely.

The later portions of the song shows how she tries to cheerherself up when she’s alone, wallowing in her pain. Haru may be hurt, but inthe end, she’s an optimistic person. She’s got a lot of inner strength and she’llalways try to bring herself back up again. Haru is currently struggling withthese issues with the way I write her.

 Human

This song has a slower tempo, and it is more of aself-reflecting song. She can try to hype herself up as much as she wants, andfake her smiles in order to not worry her friends. She can turn on her abilityto fake her happiness to not let anyone know how much she’s hurting. Be thatmachine that only shows what is expected of her, but it’s… tiring. The slow tempofits that tiring mood of hers. She can fake things to not worry her friends,but she’s ultimately only human. She can only hide so much of her hurt. She’sgoing to fall and get hurt, but she still has to try to stand up and be strong.

She does let it slip sometimes when she’s around others who aren’taffiliated with the Vongola, but she still tries to hide that part of her. It’sa part of her character to be positive and energetic. She can’t get down. It’snot like her. She tries to build herself up, and I’m sure her friends try to dothe same—but being ignored or brushed aside can make all that come crumblingdown. She can only take so much before she has to take time to herself and cry.Afterwards, she always builds herself back up again. The previous song is agood fit for that. This song I put lower on the list, because I feel this songshows better how continuous hurt and faking can tire you out. You start to loseenergy. Sometimes, you may start to lose yourself—like how she needs to be likea machine. Haru really doesn’t like to hurt people, so she would hate to makeanyone feel guilty because of her hurt, so she’d try to hide it as much as possible.

 Believer

For some reason, I feel like this song works really well to representHaru’s frustrations. It gets really irritating after a while to be bogged downby negative feelings. Even more so annoying when you’re trying to hide thesevery feelings of yours.

I think that she feels that Rentaro is a bit of alike-minded soul, and she feels more comfortable around him to be honest withherself. I will go more in depth about it with a future song [“confident”], butI feel like after becoming friends with Rentaro, she really starts to realizehow FRUSTRATED she is. She’s upset about the way things have been and the waythings are. She needs to do better, and surely she can. She can believe thatshe can do better when she realizes that she’s so much more than she was madeto feel. The song kinda feels lowkey powerful, like Haru is now standing up andfighting for her own self. She’s going to move past the slow sadness and justfight to better herself again. She’s going to HEAL.

 Titanium

A bit odd, but this song is actually a song about Haruagainst Haru. With the lyrics, it sounds like some person is attacking thesinger. In Haru’s case, it’s herself. Her self-deprecative feelings that criticizesher for her past mistakes and her not being good enough. She’s already resolvedto heal from her one-sided feeling with Tsuna, and she wants to build herselfto be strong like TITANIUM. Her thoughts can attack her all she wants, but shewill use that to fuel her desire to recover. No matter how much her thoughtsscream at her, she wants to believe she can get better. She’s WORTH something.

As she works on this process, she will learn to getstronger. She won’t fall back into those dark thoughts. She will learn to standup and be strong against anything- even figurative bullets. It’s going to be atough battle, but she will do this. She has to. The song is more upbeat and Ithink it fits well as if it musically depicts her will power for her ownbetterment.

 Confident

I think this song is a good transition song that shows howHaru is starting to gain her confidence back. Having a friend who shares someof her hobbies and has a good opinion of her is very enlightening. Haru is very…passionate, and she definitely comes off as strong when she loves someone. Ilove Haru but I have to admit that. She is young so she may not know better,but she does lay it on strong. This is one of the reasons she gets pushed awaya lot, understandably so. That being said, she also got pushed away for justsaying hi because Tsuna didn’t want Kyoko getting the wrong idea. (trivia: that’swhy Haru was sensitive to the fact that she didn’t want to cause anymisunderstandings on Rentaro’s side for the Vday thing)

She is very hyperactive and a lil… on the zany side. Thissometimes either gets her in trouble, or judged by those around her. She isnormally shown not particularly caring for what others think, but I think that’smostly just her being a bit naïve. There were canon instances where her effortsweren’t appreciated, or were sort of brushed off. There are also instanceswhere she may get a ‘cold’ reception for something she does, but when Kyokodoes the same thing, suddenly the reception changes. I find it prettyhypocritical, but they are young kids here, so I get it. Still, I don’t thinkthat won’t hurt Haru. That would hurt you on a confidence level.

Like why is it that I can’t do the same thing as her? It’sthat kind of mentality. Even in the last chapter Haru finally confronted him aboutit like do you even look at Haru? Sadly, she went back to being in love withhim QuQ. I think it’s heavily hinted that Kyoko likes him back so--- I cry forHaru. So that’s essentially why I headcanon for Haru to have these feelings andpain. I personally think that Rentaro would be a good influence on her. Someonewho can appreciate her hobbies and truly appreciates her efforts. He doesn’tfind her annoying or useless [another thing she worries about].

I think befriending him helped her remember that there is moreto her than she knows. There are people who can appreciate her and think wellof her. I’m going off on a limb her and will guess that he’d accept her and herweird quirks. He thought well of her dreams of being a housewife but also beinga world-class costume maker. The fact he didn’t make fun of that and even saidsomething positive about it, really meant a lot to her. She does sometimes getmade into a butt of a joke in canon for her thoughts so I think that would be apositive thing for her. So, this song represents how she starts to truly loveherself again and remember how to be confident. Just because Tsuna didn’t payher any true attention, that doesn’t mean she’s worthless.

[Extra, but another reason why I feel like she’d feel lowkeyworth less than Kyoko is because aside from Tsuna, others pay more attention toKyoko. She’s the school idol, and she’s also the younger sister of one of the mainmembers of the Vongola. Not only that, it’s painfully obvious who Tsuna (theboss) likes, so others tend to pay more attention to her because of it.Essentially like a bias(?), and it doesn’t help that everyone goes to the sameschool except for Haru. She’s almost an outsider who somehow managed to wormher way into their friendship circle. So, Kyoko has a big advantage here, andshe doesn’t really have much. Most of what she does, it’s usually also paralleledwith Kyoko.]

 Count on me

Haru is a very dedicated and loyal person. Once you becomeher friend, she is more than willing to help. Canonically, it’s been seen thatshe’s willing to risk herself for the sake of her friends. She can be ratherrash, but it shows that she’s someone who cares a lot for others, sometimes evenif it could be to the detriment of herself. From what I’ve read in our threadso far, I get the vibe that while Rentaro doesn’t seem to mesh well with otherpeople (of his age group) very well, he’s kind and caring to those he caresfor.

He’s got a sense of responsibility if him making food forothers means anything. The way he wouldn’t take advantage of Haru’s kindnessalso shows that there is a moral backbone that stems from justice. From this, Ifeel this song fits the two of them as I feel that Rentaro may reciprocate someof Haru’s feelings here. If she’s a dedicated friend who is willing to alwaysbe there for him, he likely would return the favor? If I’m wrong (sorry!),consider the song to be Haru’s one-sided feelings then. She’s a very dedicatedfriend.

Being that he’s helped her heal (whether he knows it ornot), Haru would feel very inclined to be supportive of him. She’s the type ofperson who would die for her friends, and Rentaro would also fit into thiscategory. Essentially, this song, you can say, primarily notes Haru’s wishesfor him to count on her. She wants to help him like he did for her.

 I’m glad you came

I know that this song sounds more romantic but HEAR ME OUT,FRIEND. This song more accurately can be used to explain Haru’s feelings ofgratefulness. She’s truly grateful over the fact that Rentaro came into herlife and became her friend. To her, it’s amazing how things have changed in herlife for the better. I really like how the song starts out slow, but then itgets fast paced. It’s almost symbolic of how Haru’s mental/emotional state wasbefore and then after he came into her life.

She loves spending time with him, and she hopes that he doesn’tregret becoming her friend. Hopefully they can stay friends for a long time. Nomatter how much time passes, she’ll always be grateful towards him, and she’sso happy that he came into her life. This song is one of thanks. He truly didchange her universe (the emotional one).

 Stand by you  [&]  I will be here

I liked both of these songs, since I think it can fit Haru’sfeelings of wanting to be a source of support for him as well, like he was forher. If he ever feels hurt by something, she wants to be there for him tosupport him. Maybe life is being tough on him, or maybe something is going onwith the crush of his. If he needs someone to talk to, she will be there forhim. Whatever he needs, she wants to do her best to help him in any way she can.Ignore the fact that the songs sound romantic. Just focus on the ‘I will bethere for you’ aspect of the songs. Shhhhhh. At this point, I don’t think Haruhas realized any romantic feelings yet. She thinks of it all in terms ofgratefulness.

 Heartbeat song

LOL okay but—I found this song and I found it rather funny.Like with the beginning where there is a lyric like: ‘You, where the hell didyou come from? You’re a different, different kind of fun, and I’m so used tofeeling numb” had me like—Haru suddenly realizing “WAIT—what is this. What arethese feelings? Am I--?? Do I--? OMG I caught the feelings TM” It’s interestinghow crushes and love works. Sometimes it seemingly comes out of no wherebecause you didn’t realize it, or you were in denial. I feel that over time asthey spend more time together, Haru will eventually come to have feelings forRentaro—romantic ones that stem from gratefulness.

“This is my heartbeat song and I’m gonna play it. Been so long,I forgot how to turn it up up up up all night long.” These are the very firstlyrics and I think it’s great symbolism of how Haru forgot about how it felt tofeel in love for a moment and she forgot how to work with these feelings ofhers. So, this is basically a ‘HOLY CRAP- I CAUGHT FEELINGS’ sort of song. Lol Sorry,as soon as I found it, I needed to add it to this playlist. It’s not verydeep;;;;;

 Can’t blame a girl for trying

;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;; So this song sounds prettyupbeat and kinda… funny to me? To me, this song sings about how Haru isderisively judging herself now that she’s accepted the fact that she likesRentaro. Like mentioned previously… Haru is… uh… passionate. She’s very… yeah…when she likes someone. So this song is about how she feels like this isn’tgoing to end very well because she’s dumb af. She can be her worst enemybecause of how passionate she is. Why didn’t she just keep quiet? What if shecares him away with how passionate she can be? To put it simply, this is literallya song of her worries that now that she realized she likes him, he’s going toend up scaring him away. Whoops. Even so, she can’t really blame herself fortrying. She’s a go-getter type and she knows it. OTL

 Teardrops on my guitar

Haru is a person who loves to talk about love, so I’m surethat during their friendship, she would have asked many times about the personRentaro likes. She’s already talked about Tsuna a couple times in our threads,so you know that Haru is not shy about talking about love. She would definitelyask him about the girl he has a crush on.

IF he would tell her about her, Haru would support him asmuch as she can. Give him advice and all that. When she finally realizes herfeelings for him, then it’s like—oh no. I already resolved to be supportive ofmy friend. So it’s like – I gotta be supportive, but at the same time--- OUCH.So she’s pretty jealous about the person that he likes, but there isn’t afeeling of hatred. Rentaro is a good person, so surely the person he likes willequally be a great person.

If she makes him happy, she’d happily congratulate them. Ifhe’s happy, she’ll smile and hope for the best. So yeah, this song is aboutconflicted feelings, I guess?

 Just the way you are

Yo—Haru is that kinda person who accepts almost everythingabout the person she likes. Hm? Yep, ignore the pronouns of the song. This isHARU’S song about Rentaro. She would totally be like ‘oh wow you did a thing.Amazing! You’re so wonderful!’ I guess you could say she gets blinded by lovelol. She’s not very judgmental that way. If she falls in love with someone, sheaccepts them for what they are. She will learn to love everything about them.

HOWEVER, like seen in the case with Tsuna in one instance,she WILL drop you like a hat if you do something that she can’t morally agreewith. In canon, there was a misunderstanding, and Haru thought that Tsunabecame a person who abused children. This is something that Haru would NEVERstand for. Children are innocent and she believes that they should beprotected. She’s very protective of children, so the moment she thought he wasabusing kids, she was more than ready to drop him like a hot rock.

Other than that, she doesn’t care. He’s famous for being a ‘nogood’ guy with little talents, and he’s not particularly known for any goodlooks either. Still, she was always very supportive and loving towards him. Shethinks that he’s an amazing person because she looks at the inside. Assumingthat Rentaro is a good and morally standing person, she truly would likeeverything about Rentaro. No matter what, she wouldn’t want anything to change,because love is about learning to accept someone and also compromise. Love isn’twhen you try to change someone to suit YOUR needs or preferences.

If you are going to change someone, you do it because youthink it will make them into a better person. I wholeheartedly feel that Haruwould agree with that statement. As such, this song is pretty accurate to how Harufeels when she falls in love with someone.

 Give your heart a break

//MASSIVE SWEAT, okay so like—I don’t know much about the mediathat Rentaro is from, so I actually have no idea what his relationship is likewith his crush. I’ve no idea if they are canon or what—but because this is aValentine’s day meme--- I’m going off the premise that things didn’t work outbetween Rentaro and his crush. Sorry Rentaro;;;;;;; I’m rooting for you,honestly.

Now being serious here, let’s pretend there is a bit omissionhere. Going off the idea that things didn’t work out for Rentaro with hiscrush, Haru would in theory try to help him feel better about it by supportinghim the best she could.

He would need his own time to recover from the failure, andhe’d need his own time to notice Haru. I will not try to assume I would knowenough about him to choose songs about his POV, therefore this playlist willhave a big empty space.

All because Haru knows how it feels to not have your lovereciprocated, she’d heartedly support him. She wouldn’t take this time to tryto get him to like her. Heartbreak really hurts, and she won’t do something socowardly as to use the situation to her benefit. Haru’s really the sort to tryher best to help people, and she normally doesn’t even think about HERSELF. Thisis a girl who was more than willing to risk her life to escape from a safetyzone to try to find medicine to help a child who was very sick.

This is also the girl who was willing to fall to her deathif it meant that her two other friends wouldn’t fall with her. She was morethan willing to die for their sakes. There was little to no hesitation there. Whenher loved ones are in danger, she won’t even consider herself and she’ll do allthat she can for their benefit.

In canon, in a future arc, Haru did her best to be strong,to not allow her fear to show. She’d cry and be afraid in secrecy as to notbother the guys who were busy training for an upcoming battle. Even though shewanted nothing more than to tell them to not fight, she knew it would breaktheir resolve. She and Kyoko both had to hold back and tell them to do theirbest and to please come back safely. It’s not easy having to be thrust into adangerous situation and keep your own feelings hidden. Both girls had to remainstrong and try to be calm for their sakes.

When being told the truth about how dangerous theirsituation is, she purposefully brushed it off so she wouldn’t worry Tsuna. Shedidn’t want to start panicking at that moment or whatever because that’s notgood. It would put more of a burden on him. Instead, she walked away, and endedup crying to someone else. She mainly felt ashamed of herself for beingselfish. For context, Haru and Kyoko had gone on a strike, saying they wouldn’tcook or clean until they were told about what was going on.

On one hand it’s selfish, but in my opinion, it was theirright to know. They were suddenly thrown into a chaotic future where friendsand families were dead. In some cases, they didn’t know whether the missingpeople were still alive or not. The guys are training hard, always coming backbattered and hurt. During all of this, they were told nothing. Nothing. That’sunfair to them when they were dragged into the situation due to associationwith them. They deserved to know the truth, regardless of how scary the truthis.

They wanted to know, and so they went on strike. After beingtold the truth, Haru cried for her selfish feelings. The guys were going throughso much, but the girls selfishly went on strike because they wanted to know thetruth. She cried over this. I think this really goes to show how she tends toprioritize other people over herself with how she felt ashamed of herself. Understandablya strike is pretty intense, but they were so unwilling to tell the truth andwhen you’re caught in such a crazy environment, you’ll want to know what’sgoing on. Families are missing, friends are dead, they have to live in hiding,etc.

Not telling them the truth when they actually wanted to knowis cruel in my opinion. Sorry for the tangent, but essentially—Haru isn’t thetype to use that situation to her advantage in my opinion of her charactertype.

So I think somewhere down the line, maybe they both start torealize they have feelings for each other, but they hesitate. They haverecently recovered from heartbreak, but can they move on?

With the way I think this story plays out, they both helpedeach other with their own heart break, so they have an understanding of theother person and their pain. I think that this song is excellent in meaning. Neitherof them wants to hurt the other. They know how hurt the other was, and by what.They wouldn’t do the same things to hurt them.

Both would likely think about the other “let me give yourheart a break” because I’ll treat you right. I can treat you better than theperson who hurt you.

 Can you feel the love tonight?

This is already super long, so I’m going to make this onethe last one. Arbitrarily I chose a song about how they decided to reciprocatetheir feelings for each other. Basically, a love song. It’s the last song andfinally it’s a love song lol.

Even if it is, it’s Disney. I’m sorry to be corny. I just… Ilove Disney. Forgive me. I think I chose it because it’s a cute song, but alsobecause I somehow can imagine them watching Disney movies together. Simpledates are great, please. Watching Disney together is great, please. Who doesn’tlove Lion King? Look Rentaro, you can animal watch. OTL||||||||||

I really tried to find a song that I felt would work to endthings off but it’s really hard? Trying to find a good duet song is HARD. I’vealready been working on this for over 3 hours and I’m tired QuQ Sorry for thelackluster ending. //sobs

-----------

Haha this was pretty long, and I’m sorry about that. I justget really heated about explaining my thoughts and I love to go into deep thinkingabout stuff. That’s why I ended up writing so much about this, because therewas so much to consider. If you read this, I hope it was an interesting read! Itried not to talk too much about Rentaro since I don’t have a good understandingof him. I was kinda just going off lil hunches based off what little I know of him.If this is very wrong, just consider this some weird AU ahahahha;;;;;;;;

I hope the playlist I made is good enough. Sorry if it wasn’t. QuQ

[wild-untamed-heart]

Vasco 2k19 Vday Drabble

Thanks for sending in for Vasco! This is a drabble for the Space!au for the Vday event thing that I do annually~ I hope you enjoy! (Ahaha i’m posting them a lil early this year =w= )

———————————————————————–

Kajika had asked to see him, and he wasn’t sure what it was that she wanted, but he had guessed that it may have something to do with their travels. Though time was a constant, it always seemed as though time had a different flow across various planets. The biggest factor that lead to this feeling was most probably the fact the weather wasn’t a constant thing. Neither was the period of time it took for a ‘day’ to finish on any particular planet.

Some planets had long lasting days, while some others had longer lasting days.  It was due to this that even Vasco had a hard time keeping track of dates. It seemed that Kajika had kept better track of dates than he had, considering she had something specially prepared for him.

He walked into the room that she requested for him to meet her at and he was blown away by the object she was standing next to. Figuratively, of course, not literally. She explained that the object was a constellation projector, and it mapped out their route through space thus far. At least, it was the route that was travelled since Kajika and Vasco were both on board.

Vasco carefully inspected the route, and saw that it was accurate. Considering the mechanic, the captain and the navigator had to discuss things like travel routes carefully, it was not hard for Kajika to know their exact path through space.

Maybe a few crew members would have a general idea about their path, but only 3 on the ship for sure could know their path. The one steering the ship may have an idea, but there were multiple people who drove the ship around, in shifts, so it wasn’t like any one person at the helm would have the full picture.

Nostalgia consumed him as his eyes followed the path on the projection. Memories flashed through his mind as he recalled various mishaps, and celebrations. Like that place, is where they narrowly missed an asteroid. A bit further down from that, they came across an abandoned ship and explored the ghost ship.

Vasco says ‘they’ as if he went as well, but he refused. He was weak to anything that related to ghosts, so he refused to even set foot into the ship. The more adventurous people (like Kajika) went to give it a look. They saw that no one was in the ship, so it was abandoned. No clues could be found about who owned the ship. The entire ship was swiped clean of anything of value.

This was just a ship with nothing to offer—except for spare parts, perhaps. A small smile almost unnoticeable appeared on his face as he continued to go down memory lane. His eyes stopped on their very first planet that they ventured to after he became the navigator. Vasco could recall being so nervous about navigating the ship on course, but they managed to arrive in one piece.

“Do you remember this planet? All the animals  were so small  and friendly. They all looked so cute and fluffy. They are like the dogs on my planet.” Vasco was definitely a dog person, so seeing those mysterious creatures that acted so much like dogs was more than exciting for him. If not for the fact that animals usually could not handle travel so well, he would have loved to bring a pet along with him. 

So many memories, it vaguely made him think about the return gift he gave her last year. He collected items from the various planets they visited and made charms out of them so she can put them onto a bracelet. He continued to make charms for her that she could switch in and out on her bracelet as she pleased.

Maybe this gift was to mirror that in a way? It worked to remind him of the travels they went on together. “I remember this is where the ship came across some difficulties after a sudden space storm and we had to wait for reparations.” He pointed to a place further down on the path, in an almost empty space.

Emptiness either meant danger, or the place was seldom ventured so it was hard to get help. That said, sometimes you didn’t want to get ‘help’ from others in space. You never knew what their intentions were. “This is a really nice projection, Kajika. Thank you.” Vasco was very pleased and you could easily see it on his face.

At first, he was keeping his energy in check, but right now, he was very excited! His joy was readily available on his face, like an energetic puppy. “Setting up the bar pretty high for my return gift, huh?” Vasco cracked a small joke, now wondering what he could get her in return in a month’s time.

He was going to have to carefully keep track of time so he doesn’t miss it. “Will you be updating it every time we visit a new planet? That took a lot of determination and motivation– he’d know, since he was doing the same with the charms.

  ___________________________________________________________

It was immensely pleasing to stand back and watch Vasco’s eyes dance with delight as they trailed the path they had travelled shown by the projection. It was also relieving to know that she hadn’t missed the mark and that he really appreciated it. She figured he might after the thoughtful memory provoking gift she had received last year.

Turning her silver eyed gaze towards the projection, she too recalled the adventures they’d had, the creatures encountered, the near mishaps avoided. Good times and bad times. It was also rather impressive to note the progress they made through space or lack thereof in some cases, when their Captain’s tendencies to wander caused a delay in their flight schedule.

Kajika grinned mischievously at the joke and with a jaunty tilt of her head she teasingly replied that she’d be looking forward to it. Truthfully, a return gift wasn’t necessary as she was more than satisfied with the gift of his friendship. As the ship’s navigator and engineer, they were both fairly busy more often than not with their individual responsibilities but Vasco always made time to spend with her when he could have spent his free time in any other way. It meant a lot. It would probably sound cheesy to say it aloud though wouldn’t it? Or at least cause him embarrassment...

Smiling warmly now, the young engineer nodded enthusiastically in response to the question.

“Of course I will! Can’t have a moment of our adventures forgotten can we?”

[tk-writer]

I’m 11 minutes late but here’s a cute Claypollo hurt/comfort that doubles as a cope fic for me since I broke up with my SO on Vday

Enjoy!

Word Count: 1350

~~~

Apollo Justice had a new mystery to solve. One that fortunately didn’t include murder, but nonetheless gave him a fair amount of grief.

The mystery involved his closest friend and most intimate companion: Clay Terran. After being friends for more than a decade, the two of them knew each other like the back of their hands. Or at least, that’s what Apollo had thought until Clay had shown up at his apartment on Saturday morning acting like a completely different person. He knew something was up immediately; his attitude was piss poor, and nothing seemed to pull him out of it. He had moped around all morning, barely saying a word and preferring to grunt as his chosen form of communication. It was the first time he’d ever seen Clay so down and lethargic since the death of his mother. And despite Apollo’s attempts to reach out, he refused to talk about it.

By late afternoon, the budding lawyer had grown tired of Clay’s crabbiness. He realized he would have to take drastic measures to find the truth.

It started off innocently enough. The two friends were sprawled out across Apollo’s gigantic brown leather couch in the living room; Clay laying against the pillows on one side with his arms crossed, and Apollo leaning against the back of the couch next to him. He flipped through the channels mindlessly as Clay stared blankly at the changing screen.

“Law and Order’s on.”

“Eh.”

“Okay… what about SVU? That one’s got better cases, anyway.”

“Sure.”

“So is that a yes?”

“Whatever.”

Apollo paused for a moment, looking over at his friend who had a sullen look on his face. He pointed the remote at the TV and pressed a button, sliding the remote on the coffee table as he turned to face Clay. The dialogue murmured in the background as he spoke.

“Alright, time to fess up.”

“Hm?”

“Don’t ‘hmm’ me. You’ve been acting weird all day. Tell me what happened.”

Clay just pouted.

“Nothin. Just in a bad mood.”

Ba-dump.

…Oh! Apollo felt his bracelet tighten around his wrist. Although he didn’t need to use his perceive ability to know that Clay was lying, he decided to use it anyway.

“Clay,” he started, hoping to prod a confession out of him. “This isn’t like you. I know something’s wrong. Why can’t you just tell me?”

Clay shifted a little in his seat, but his expression didn’t change much.

“I’m fine! Really! Just drop it.”

Ba-dump. There it was again. Apollo could’ve sworn he saw his lower lip quiver when he said the first part.

“Your frown is giving you away. Your lip trembled when you said ‘I’m fine.’”

Clay shot a glare at him.

“Get out of my head with your lawyer stuff! If I say I’m fine, I’m fine!!”

He said those last words quite loudly, and they had Apollo at a loss. There had to be something he could do. Even if he couldn’t get him to confess, he could at least try to cheer him up.

After pondering his options, he eventually slid off the couch and walked around back, feigning defeat.

“Alright… if you say so…”

Clay paid no mind to his friend as he snuck behind him, unaware of what he was planning next. He suddenly shot up when he felt a pair of hands squeeze in between two sensitive spots on his shoulders.

“AAAH!”

He tried to worm away, but Apollo had a strong grip. He could hear him snickering behind him.

“Relax! You’re so jumpy.”

“Ngggh! Stop!!”

Apollo laughed out loud, rolling his thumbs into his skin to add to his torment. He relished in the sight of Clay squirming so aggressively under his touch.

“Don’t tell me you’re still ticklish?”

“Nnnnnh, no!”

Finally, Clay managed to shake him off. He twisted around, taking a swing at him but missing by a long shot.

“Seriously, stop! Don’t touch me there.”

“Alright… I won’t touch you there…”

Apollo walked into the kitchen, and when Clay was certain he was gone, he turned back to face the TV. A few minutes passed by uneventfully, and he started actually paying attention to the episode of SVU. Unfortunately, this meant he was caught off guard again when Apollo suddenly body slammed him from behind the couch, pinning him down on his stomach and shoving his hands under his arms.

“AAAAAAAAH! Ahahahaaaaa-HAHAHA! Dude, stop!!”

“Stop what? What’s wrong?”

Clay was alternating between keeping his arms at his sides and attempting to elbow Apollo’s hands away. His frustrations only amplified when his efforts to fight him off ended in vain. Despite kicking his legs and twisting his body from side to side, he could not escape and resigned himself to laughter.

“AHAHAHA – Apollo!! – GAAAAAH! Don’t!!”

Apollo grinned. He could tell the tickling was starting to get to him.

“Remember when I used to pin you down and tickle you like this when we were kids? You loved it.”

“NAAAOOO! I dihihihidn’t!”

“Are your ribs still ticklish?”

“NOOOOOO!”

It was an elegant switch; Apollo simply drifted his hands downwards and began clawing at his ribs. His wide hands fit perfectly around Clay’s athletic midsection; one finger rested upon each rib. He knew this spot wasn’t as bad as his underarms, but for Clay it was torture nonetheless.

“Ahahahaha - AHAHAHAHAHA! Apolloooooo!”

“Why are you laughing so much, huh? What’s wrong?”

“It TIHIHIHICKLES!! Pleeeeease!”

“Please what? Tickle you more? Oookay~”

“NOOOO! You assHOHOHOLE!!”

Clay’s laughter pitched higher when Apollo’s fingers reached his sides, as it did whenever he touched another ticklish spot. He made things ten times worse by poking all over at random. His ribs, stomach, and underarms were no match, and as he was already quite weak he could barely flail his arms at this point. He shrieked every time Apollo touched him, jolting into the air as if he was bouncing on a trampoline.

“AAH! NO! GOD! STAHAHP! NOOO!”

Apollo relented at last, allowing his breathless friend to regain his senses. Clay lay limp for a moment and breathed deeply between flipping over onto his back, still too worn out to think of a witty comeback.

“Don’tcha feel a little better now?” the lawyer asked with a shit-eating grin.

Clay’s smile soon faded once his breathing returned to normal. A melancholy expression washed over his face as he turned away, eyes slightly wet and reflecting the ceiling lights. He almost looked worse than before. It broke Apollo’s heart to see him like that.

“Clay… I know that look. What’s eatin’ you? I’m your best friend. You can tell me.”

Clay sighed, fighting back tears as he spoke his next words.

“I got dumped…”

Apollo’s mouth fell open in shock.

“Wait, seriously? She broke up with you?”

“Yeah…”

Neither one of them spoke for a while. The only sound coming from the television and Clay’s still staggered breaths. Apollo was the once to finally break the silence.

“I’m so sorry,” he whispered.

Clay just shook his head.

“It was a long time coming. I thought I’d be fine, but honestly… I’m not.”

Apollo sat there for a moment, puzzling over the situation in his head.

“Well, what do you wanna do? Or I guess, what do you need me to do to help you feel better?”

Clay gave him a bizarre look, a mix of confusion and embarrassment. Apollo watched as his already pinkish face blossomed into a deep shade of ruby. He mumbled something, looking away in shame, then quickly shook his head. Apollo pressed him for more info.

“What? What is it?”

Clay returned his gaze, and took a deep breath with cheeks aflame.

“You could… uh… do that again.”

“… What? Do what?”

“You know… what you were just doing…”

Apollo put two and two together, and finally realized what his friend was asking. A wide smile spread across his face that he couldn’t suppress even if he tried.

“Oohhh… you want me to do this?”

He scribbled his fingers across Clay’s stomach and laughed along with him as he cackled and squealed, this time a little more jubilant than before.

[kpopchangedme]

Capture the Flag: The Trade

Two teams, a lot of snow & a simple common goal. The only problem is that you’re on a losing streak and Jaebum, your nemesis, is way too good at this game...

GOT7 Masterlist

Protagonists: Im Jaebum & you

Word Count: 3.6k

Genre: SFW - Fluff - Enemies to Lovers - Highschool!AU - Inspiré par La Guerre Des Tuques

Lys’ note: Part of my VDay’ Collab for the @kpoptrashnetwork! Read @greasygyeom Yugyeom’s One Shot Capture The Flag: The Absconding!

In the middle of the white field of snow stands your old friend, Youngjae. His face is scrunched, whipped by the cold wind of the winter, if there were price to pay for not choosing a side it’d be that one; freezing to death. There’s absolutely no shelter from the bad weather in the neutral zone, the small flat ground separating the two enemy bases. Youngjae is still waiting to talk, trying to gather the attention of everybody across the playground, even though he’ll fail like always. You wiggle expectedly from one foot to the other, partly to not let your toes freeze, but also because you’re especially anxious today.

Nobody really knows how this all started, only that it’s been a school tradition between students for years; two teams, two elected Captains, a referee, a list of rules and two flags. Both teams spend weeks of winter building a snow stronghold, working on their strategies and praying for the weather to be on their side. Then comes the final week of the game; four evenings after school without adult supervision where the two teams face off with everything they’ve got.

“Captain Im is still staring at you, y/n.” Mark leans closer, nudging you with his elbow. “Try to not move around so much, perhaps he won��t notice how nervous you–”

“It’s freaking -15ºC, Tuan. Maybe if you thought harder about your strategies instead of studying where Jaebum is looking, you’d be able to beat Jinyoung at it for once!”

“Ouch, I’m hurt.” Mark touches his coat where his heart hides under, chuckling. “I don’t think my strategies are what’s causing our losing streak you know… I’m starting to believe your heart isn’t really in it!”

Gasping at the implication, you feel your cheeks heat behind the secrecy of your scarf. “Shut up!” You scowl and Mark laughs, only amused by your perpetual anger. He’s been bringing this up a lot these days, always teasing you about your rival. “As if, Jaebum’s the enemy and he’s an assh–”

“No fight within the teams!” Youngjae points to you both, raising his voice so everybody can hear. Your eyes catch a smile on Jaebum’s face at the other side of the playground and you curse him under your breath.

Today is the day you win; you’ll wipe that smug off his perfect face.

Im Jaebum. Your nemesis, the Captain of the Blue team. If he were Achilles, you’d be Hector and tonight; the battle of your life.

“Is everybody already here?” Youngjae clears his throat and both teams purposefully ignore him as always. “Great! Before beginning, let me remind you all one last time; no weapons are allowed on site!” There’s a collective groan from the two small crowds. “No fireworks this time! Snow and your open hands are your only tools, did you hear me Bambam?!” Youngjae sighs, discouraged. “That being said; we’ll proceed as always. You have to wear your hat from your team’s colour at all time! Each team will go back to its castle and its flag and you’ll only be allowed to leave when you hear my siren... If I see somebody trying to cross the neutral zone bef–”

“We get it! Everyday’s the same!”

“Thanks for the unnecessary intervention Jackson, but there’s no interrupting the referee!” Youngjae shakes his head, like his role is unbearable and you roll your eyes at his lack of authority. “Anyway, after the siren, you are free to leave your castle to invade the other team’s. The first team to successfully secure the other’s flag and bring it back to its own castle wins the battle! For the last fight of the year, the score is…” Youngjae pauses dramatically and you clench your teeth, annoyed. “3 – 0 for the Blue Team!”

There’s an uproar on the enemy’s side of the field while Red team stays quiet behind you. You stare at Jaebum’s silhouette as he proudly raises both arms under a thunder of claps, muffled by mittens. Show-off.

“Red team”, you growl, “I don’t care what it takes to defeat those jerks. Tonight, they’ll see RED!” There’s a loud racket of approval accompanying your words. Your teammates even begin to energetically jump, the sound of their boots on the solid snow reverberating through the air. Across the field, the smug on Jaebum’s lips straightens, usual arrogance cooled a bit by the high spirits of your troops. That’s right Im, you’d better prepare for a damn war. Your lips curl upwards, a new confidence warming your body; Red team would never go down without a mighty fight.

You barely avoid a chunk of ice flying near you by rolling on the ground and let out an angry hiss through your clench teeth. Ice is supposed to be prohibited, but amid a fight with snow flying all over the place, it’s hard to prove the throw was voluntary. Plus, you’re attacking the north facade of the Blue’s snow fort and Youngjae is monitoring the neutral zone where most people usually fight, which is south from here. The north facade isn’t usually guarded since it’s near the end of the playground, on the outskirts of the woods, and all entries to the Blue stronghold are facing the neutral zone. Still, a few enemies followed your troop there, probably suspicious you were on a special mission or something. They are right, but it’s part of Mark’s scheme. Around you, boys from all ages are fighting, pushing and throwing; your teammates are doing a great job creating a diversion.

The enemies don’t even give you a second glance; the girl attempting to climb the 7 feet ice wall. You usually go unnoticed, that’s partly why you were chosen for the special mission. In an almost all boys’ competition, you’d think they would give the only two girls playing a little attention, but they ignore you both and let you do what you want. Except Jaebum, that jerk is always picking a fight with you. For once, he’s probably fighting someone else at your own castle at this very moment.

As for the only other girl, she’s from Blue Team and a complete mystery to you. She’s a real danger though, they say she has a mind of her own and is a total badass. So far today, she’s nowhere to be seen, it’s worrisome but you can’t think about her. Right now, all your efforts are put in the endeavor that is the escalade of the ridiculously high fortification of the Blue fort. Seriously, how did they even successfully build that thing? No wonder the Red haven’t got a single win yet! Their stronghold is almost impenetrable this year. Jinyoung, their strategist, probably worked on the plans all Fall, he’s way too invested in the game, even more than you or Jaebum. The climb would be a nearly impossible challenge for anyone else, that’s why their walls aren’t guarded, but you aren’t anyone. Only Mark knew you spent all your summers climbing mountains all over the country with your father. That’s the other reason why you were chosen for the invasion today, put your skills to good use.

When you finally reach the edge of the fort, you throw both legs inside, not bothering to look to see if there’s an opponent. Down on the ground of the Blue’s castle, you lower your scarf under your chin to make your breathing easier and recover. You’re already all wet from the physical effort. There’s three openings in the huge fort, but they’re heavily guarded. They’ve been keeping the same defense strategy all week; four guys by each door while every other player is on the field. The whole point of your mission is to sneak in without a physical fight, Red has been failing all aggressive invading attempts these past days. You reach the center of the fort without any encounters, just like Mark predicted, the enemies are all out attacking your own castle.

You must hurry to grab their flag and go back before they succeed in stealing yours. You believe in your teammates back at the fort, but they can only push the Blue invaders back for so long before someone slips in and catch it. Mark is with most of your team, taking care of the defense of your Red banner. While Jaebum team’s usually opting for many strong attacks, yours voted for a defensive strategy with a single attacking troop for the last game; you and the diversion guys causing chaos outside. Tonight, things are looking great, the hard part is done, you’re now in the center of the rival stronghold, completely alone. Getting out with the banner will be easy since they won’t be expecting the enemy to come from inside their castle.

Wait a second, where’s the Blue flag? You freeze, looking at the empty lonely pole in the middle of the circular ice room. It’s not here. The flag is to never leave its original fort expect for the capture, it’s one of the rules! There’s no way someone from your team already stole it, the plan–

“Not on the defense duty today?” A boy you hadn’t spotted earlier walks out of one of the corridor in front of you, leisurely, almost teasing. He’s around 16 years old with sharp eyes and wears a blue hat pushed so far down you can barely see his eyebrows.

“Jaebum”, you groan, irritated. “Looks like we actually switched roles.” He nods, taking a step to the right and you mirror him. You’re both used to meeting like this, since Jaebum’s his own strongest attacker while you usually assume the defense of your flag. The situation appears to be reversed for the last game, maybe it’s something like faith. You’re destined to fight each other, only tonight; you’ll win. Find his weakness – Achilles heel – make sure his arrogance is his own undoing.

“Well”, he cocks his head contemptuously and you just know he’s smirking under his scarf, “I’m glad, I was a bit sad when I thought about not seeing your pretty face today…”

“Shut up”, you’re both slowly tracing circles in the room, walking around the pole in the center. “Where’s the flag, dickhead?” Jaebum laughs at your insult, the sound making your skin crawl.

“Dickhead? Tst!” He takes a step forward and you back up by reflex, colliding with the ice wall. “The flag hasn’t leave my fort –” Jaebum throws his hands to the sides, gesturing the whole empty place. “You know I love to live by the rules…”

Grimacing, you study him anew; he’s wearing a simple black coat with snow pants of the same color and a scarf is covering most of his face. There’s only one place he would hide it; under his clothes. It’s nothing new, the Blue Team used that technique very often last year, back when Chansung was still in school and their elected chief.

“I guess I’ll have to come get it then.” Jaebum frowns at your confidence, uncertainty passing on his features for the second time today.

“I know you, y/n! You wouldn’t da–” He never gets to finish this sentence, because in no time, you’re jumping on him. The boy lets out a muffled grunt when the air is expelled out of his lungs and you both fall on the cold ground. “Are you nuts?”

Right now, you don’t care what it looks like. The Red team needs a win, you won’t go down in school’s history as the first female Captain with absolutely no win for your first winter. You’re sitting on top of him, trying to shove his zipper down while Jaebum’s wiggling, panicking under you. His reaction’s off; if he hid it under his coat, he should have expected somebody would try to steal it. The struggle is draining; there’s nothing quite as exhausting as wrestling in snowsuits. You’re almost thankful when Jaebum shifts his weight to flip you both and cages you between his knees.

“God, you’re heavy!” He fails to avoid your elbow flying to his head and you accidentally shove his scarf down, uncovering his face. “Hey! That’s an illega– humpf” Jaebum winces when your fist finds his stomach, although the hit is mostly absorbed by his layers of clothing.

“I’m not heavy, you asshole!” You’re about to hit him again, but he grabs both of your hands, pining them above your head.

“I know you want a win...” Jaebum pants, tired from the struggle. “But if you hit me again, girl… I swear, I won’t hold b–”

Without warning, you jump, pushing your hips away from the ground and trying to make him fall off you. You successfully destabilize him, but instead of using the opportunity to wiggle away, you’re completely frozen still. Jaebum may not have been expecting your hip thrust, but you definitely weren’t expecting his sudden proximity. To keep the upper hand and his balance, he lowered himself on you. He’s so close that you can feel his breath on your cheek and see every single one of his dark eyelashes perfectly.

“What are you doing?” You wiggle, uncomfortable and trying to free your hands from his. If he were a gentleman, he’d let you go, but instead he holds the position, staring at you with his eyelids lazily half closed.

“Holding you down with my body.” His voice is hushed, so low it feels like he’s telling a secret. “Enjoy every second of this honey, you made me do it.” Your original confusion turns to anger at the pet name and you glare at him threateningly.

“Get off!” For a second, you still and he hesitates, seemingly pondering.

“I thought you wanted my flag.” Jaebum chuckles and hot air brushes your face. Despite yourself and the freezing weather, you shudder treacherously, body catching fire and cheeks tinting red.

“Well, there’s no way you’re giving me that…” You hate yourself for it, but when you murmur, without really meaning to, you glance at his mouth.

You’ve never been this close to a boy, let alone actually kiss one. Even if you’re fighting, this feels somewhat intimate. Jaebum lips seem so close, soft and intriguing. Blushing, you blink, trying to erase your thoughts and he shifts his weight, pressing you down on the cold ground even more. Jaebum exhales slowly, taking a moment to look around the empty room like he’s searching for somebody.

You can hear the screams mixed with laugher from the game raging on outside the fort. It’s only a question of time before one of his teammates comes in and finds you both like that. It’d be horribly humiliating, people would misread the whole situation. Jaebum has quite a heartbreaker reputation in school, he’d brush it off and laugh, but you couldn’t. You’re the one who’s the best at everything she tries, the one who intimidates the boys, you’re the first girl to be elected Captain of the Red Team; you don’t lose to anyone. Not even freaking Im Jaebum. That’s why this week of games has been hellish and you’re probably just losing your mind because of this arrogant jerk.

“I-I don’t know... I might.” When Jaebum looks back at you, you stop breathing.

“W-what?” You gulp and he chuckles again, glancing at your parted lips.

“We both have something the other wants”, he clears his throat, taking a more formal tone, “I’m proposing a secret trade.” You raise a brow with skepticism; you have absolutely nothing that Jaebum would need. “Captain to Captain.” He adds, lips curling upwards.

“Anything.” You breathe out and his expression flickers between shock and incredibility for a moment. He hadn’t realized you’d take the deal. “I really need that flag.” You need more than the Blue flag; you need to bring it back to your fort too. You need the Red Team to score one point, just one. Blue Team would still win this year’s games, but Red’s reputation would be saved. Now it’s a question of honor.

“Anything?” There’s a new longing to his voice and you hold his gaze, anxiety and perhaps something foreign growing in your stomach. You nod slowly, barely able to move as Jaebum licks his lips and glances at yours again, eyes feverish.

Maybe you’re not the only one losing your mind.

Is Im Jaebum about to kiss me? Why would he trade something as precious as a flag for that? The school heartthrob and you; it makes absolutely no sense. It’s supposed to be Red versus Blue, not Red making out with Blue. You’re both sworn enemies, this is wrong. Mark would never let you live if he found out you had your very first kiss with the infamous Im Jaebum. Still, against all better judgement, you close your eyes, waiting for something to happen. You hope you didn’t misunderstand him, you’d looked so foolish right now. Jaebum’s breath seems to creep on your cheek forever before his lips brush yours.

Right there, on the floor of the enemy’s castle, nothing so wrong has ever felt more right.

His kiss is delicate, gentle and short. He pulls back, but you stay still, eyes shut and toes curled tight, too timid to act. Jaebum chuckles lowly before leaning into you again, this time releasing your hands to rest on his elbows more comfortably.

The second kiss quickly evolves in something else, dangerous; annihilating space and time. You move too, molding into him in response and you both seem to forget yourselves. This is why people kiss so much, you think as you begin to question reality; this sensation is both blissful and alarming. Jaebum’s lips part, tongue testing your mouth. You allow him access, without really knowing how, but craving the taste of him. He explores you as you wrap yourself tighter around him, losing it.

You want more. Your tongue finds his, gently fighting and teasing it until a sound dawns in Jaebum’s chest. It’s another new discovery, an instinctive vibration that reverberates to your bones, something rough but delightful, savage but formidable. Another wrong that’s nothing but exquisitely right. You feel him smirk his usual stupid grin in your mouth, but for once you don’t mind. You want to hear him make that sound again, want to reexperience that vibration in him on your chest, without layers of clothing between your bodies.

Unfortunately, Jaebum pulls back panting like when you wrestled earlier. Fighting in snowsuit might be arduous but making out is even harder. He sits back in awe, finally getting off and releasing you. As you stand up too, still shaken up, you find the lack of him even worse than being trapped. Avoiding your gaze, he opens his coat and reaches under his sweater. He retrieves the folded precious navy flag and hands it to you with both hands, almost ceremoniously. You blush taking it, if you weren’t wearing giant gloves, you’d probably feel the warmth of his body lingering on it.

Jaebum clears his throat. “Remember that the trade must absolutely stay secret.” His words, spoken candidly, almost knock the air out of your chest. Of course, he’s ashamed he kissed you, he’s Jaebum and you’re y/n! Still, he’s the one who initiated the trade; the flag for a kiss. It wasn’t your idea.

“You think I’d boast about making a pact with the Devil? Trading a kiss for a win?” His face falls and he narrows his eyes. Already, you’re regretting your words. You don’t know much to relationships, but you’re pretty sure you shouldn’t let something fake, like this whole competition, taint something that felt as real as that kiss.

“Wow, who’s acting like an asshole now?” Jaebum frowns and you open your mouth to apologize, but he goes on: “I just meant that we’d get into trouble if people found out. Youngjae might not be a scary arbiter, but I assure you Jinyoung is terrifying. He’d never leave me alone if he knew I gave you this.”

“I’m sorry…” You nod, thinking about Mark and the rest of your Red teammates. They didn’t elect you Captain to make out with the enemy. You blush, embarrassed by your actions.

“But since you brought it up, we haven’t determined clearly what I get from this trade…” He closes the space between you, pushing until you’re trapped between the ice wall and his body. “You say I’m the Devil…”  You swallow when he leans in slowly, chills spreading on your whole body but not from the cold. He licks his lips again and you shut your eyes, expecting him to kiss you. Instead, Jaebum wet lips brush your ear, right where your red hat ends, and he blows softly, making you shiver. “Then I’ll be back to claim your soul next time.”

Your eyes shot open when he bursts out laughing, backing away. You smile, watching his eyes crease cutely. You get his reputation now; the Captain of Blue Team is deliciously handsome when he’s smiling and not being a jerk. After all, even Achilles was famous for his charming ways. A sudden profusion of loud screams outside catch your attention back and Jaebum groans, annoyed. Seems like your diversion is still ongoing.

“I believe that’s your cue; shouldn’t you make a run for it?”

You nod, looking around to plan your getaway. You’re conscious the deal was to give you the flag – not to ease your escape – but still, he points to one of the three ice corridors leading to an exit. You don’t even hesitate for second before deciding on this route, choosing to trust your occasional sworn enemy. You smile at Jaebum one last time, finally turning away and running to flee his fort. You just know you’re going to grin all the way to the Red Team’s ice fortress.

Perhaps you really traded your soul for a win after all.

GOT7 Masterlist

[lilacflamesss]

Shattered (Chapter 6)

Smutty Ayahina College AU

Summary: Hinami tries to deal with her sorrows through seeking Ayato out. Ayato can never turn away the girl he loves far more than he should. Two people with unrequited feelings, dealing with them in very different ways. Human AU. (8.6k words)

Warning: This fic contains unhealthy coping mechanisms, heavy sexual content, and plenty of problematic/ dubious things which I absolutely do not condone at all. This is a work of fiction that takes on a more mature, physical take on Ayahina’s relationship as opposed to the typical conventional one. Please feel free not to read this fic if it’s not your cup of tea! Additional trigger warning for stillbirth since this is an add-on to the previous chapters.

A/N: If I have to give this chapter a title, I’ll call it ‘Change’ because a bunch of things change for both Ayato and Hinami. Probably the tunring point chapter. This chapter was supposed to be longer. There’s supposed to be two more scenes. But I decided to push that to Chapter 7. On its own, Chapter 7 will be nothing much aside from a long smut scene so I opted to change it. Please do reblog this and feel free to leave some comments!

Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 3.5 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 4.5 | Chapter 5 | Chapter 6 | Vday Side Chapter | Chapter 7

Preview: 

She should go back and get some clothes and shoes. She should go back and get an umbrella. She should get her phone to call him. Maybe he went somewhere urgently. There’s a lot of things she can and should do. But instead, she’s scampering down the stairs and dashing out to the streets, looking around. She’s scared; she’s so so scared. She doesn’t know what he’s going to do and she’s even less sure of what he’s capable of doing. Out on the street, she looks around the place, the cold and the rain the last thing on her mind. She looks up, eyes lingering on the roof of the apartment complex. There’s nothing-- no one-- there. She relaxes, or tries to at least. She’s jumping to conclusions. He wouldn’t just do that.

Ayato… Ayato…

Or maybe he would, just not somewhere so predictable. Hinami’s breath catches in her throat and she starts running. She’s never been much of a runner. She doesn’t have that great a stamina and she barely passes physical ed. But she can’t be bothered about how she’s barely breathing as she runs. She can’t be bothered about how her lungs scream for air and her heart threatens to break out of her ribs. She runs all the way to their university, stopping at the entrance. The compound looks like a ghost town but she hears the screams and chattering of people, probably from the dorms right beside. Another predictable place. She starts running again, screaming his name at the top of her voice. Her eyes are streaming. She hadn’t known when it was that she started crying.

Ayato… Ayato… Ayato…

She’s being drowned but the raindrops and the claps of thunder. No matter how loud she screams, she can’t hear herself. She doesn’t expect him to at all. But even so, she screams it out, running through the street like a madman. She realises how obscene she must look right now in what she’s wearing. She’s only wearing his t-shirt. She hadn’t even realised how light it is. Her skin can practically be seen. Her nipples are hard and erect from the cold and they stick blatantly out through the thin cotton. She feels so naked.

She needs to go back. It’s a bad idea to be out like this. She should have thought things through before jumping to conclusions. But she’s too worried. She can’t remain optimistic, not after she’s seen him at such a state. It still feels like he’s doing something, either dumb or tragic, but either way, she knows it’s drastic. No one just leaves home in the rain like this. Her own desperation is evidence enough that she should be worrying about Ayato. He probably did something stupid as well.

Where are you? Where are you… Ayato…?

She wants to throw up. He couldn’t have done… that… right? The thought makes her head spin. Won’t she lose him for good if he does? Would he make that choice? He’d leave her behind if he did. She’ll be all alone; he’s all she has. Not even Kaneki can give her the comfort and warmth that Ayato does. Not even Kaneki can make her feel safe like Ayato does. Not even Kaneki will go to the extents Ayato does for her. She hadn’t realised it much before but standing in the middle of a street, soaked to the bones and entirely all alone, Hinami doesn’t think she’s felt fear like this before. It’s getting really hard to breathe and she knows this isn’t from her running. She thinks back to waking up knowing that she’ll never see Mama and Papa again. She remembers how crushed and broken she felt every morning as the thought fills her head and tears fill her eyes. Will this be her again now? Will she go to sleep crying for Ayato just as she had cried for her parents? Will she pray for him to suddenly show up in her bedroom every morning, just as she had done for her parents when she was a kid?

Ayato… Ayato…

She shakes her head. She can’t give up so easily. She runs all the way back to the apartment. The muscles in her legs ache as she climbs up the stairs, skipping steps as she goes. She hadn’t realised it till she’s on smoother flooring, but the soles of her feet were throbbing from running on rough tar for so long. By the time she’s outside his apartment, she’s barely breathing. She’ll get proper clothes and she’ll search the town again.

Ayato… She needs to find Ayato.

He can’t sleep. It’s even more annoying because he can’t toss and turn too much. Hinami is still clinging onto him, pressed against his back and deep asleep. He doesn’t really know when she fell asleep. He might have dozed off at one point; he probably cried himself to sleep. By the time he guesses he woke up, she’s no longer awake.

His head hurts, but he doesn’t think it’s the hangover. This doesn’t feel like a hangover. He rarely gets that drunk, but he’s gotten them once or twice before. It’s not just his head that hurts. His body feels really heavy and exhausted as well. His throat is parched and stinging-- probably from all that hard crying. He’s never cried this much before, not ever since his mother died and that was when he was ten.

He didn’t cry when his father died. He didn’t know if he should. He didn’t know how to react to it. So he had shut up entirely, channelled everything to anger instead. It was all Kaneki’s fault. Kaneki is the reason he was in front of that car. Kaneki is the reason he broke a huge bunch of bones in his body. Kaneki is the reason he can’t run anymore. Hell, he can’t even walk all that well. It’s barely noticeable to everyone else, but Ayato knows the limp is there. It doesn’t feel right.

Pushing the blame onto Kaneki had been easy to deal with everything, to give himself a reason to run away from it all. But was he really okay, when his first alternative to not being able to obtain his dream was to live for his father’s? It hit him that night-- he’s never blamed Kaneki, not truly. After all, Kaneki might have been the one who pushed him in front of the car, but the reason they were left stranded on the road that night, the reason Kaneki raised his hand and the reason all of it happened, was Ayato’s own selfishness after all. Kirishima Arata died because his disappointment of a son couldn’t live up to what he wanted him to be. If he’s been a good, model straight-As student like his father wanted him to, this wouldn’t have happened. Touka would never have made their father suffer from a heart attack; she sure as hell wouldn’t have killed him.

He hadn’t thought about his father much lately. As time went on after his death, it became increasingly easy to pretend it never happened, especially when he moved away from his family. The biggest tragedy of his life right now isn’t what happened to his father. The biggest tragedy in his life is Hinami’s stupid love for her stupid big brother and Ayato’s currently-stagnating relationship with her. He has pretty much convinced himself about it for a long period of time, completely forgetting about everything else earlier on. That is until Hinami said those words.

The baby died.

He really doesn’t want to think about it at all. He forces the thought out of his mind, turning his attention to something else instead, like the hard pelting of raindrops outside and the occasional claps of thunder. It’s raining-- no wonder it felt so cold. It’s cold, but it’s still pretty nice.

Ayato likes the weather when it’s colder. He used to hate the rain, especially heavy rains. Heavy rains made it impossible to play soccer. Even when he did, the ground is too muddy and slippery that it ruins the mood. He used to like the sun, but he doesn’t really have any reason to anymore. All the sun does is make him sweat and give him unnecessary sunburns. The rain is nice. It’s cooling and relaxing and it always makes him feel so much better about locking himself indoors.

The weather is nice like this. Maybe he’ll feel better after a walk.

He sits up slowly, moving Hinami’s hands away from his waist as he moves away from her hold. She stirs slightly from the movement, but otherwise remain mainly asleep. He heads to his closet and pulls on the whatever he gets his hands on, leaving the clothes on the floor still in the messy heap they’re in. Hinami still doesn’t wake up, so without another glance back, he walks out. He only means to take a short stroll, maybe to enjoy the breeze and calm his nerves. He doesn’t bother to lock the door behind him; he doesn’t bother to take anything along with him.

He steps out, shivering slightly from the cool air. It’s colder than he thought it’ll be and the rain in front of him is heavier than he had anticipated. He leaves his apartment complex, hesitating a little at the sheltered walkway before he takes a step out into the open. He’s drenched in a matter of seconds. The water is freezing and he’s probably shivering. But as he stands out in the open, he can’t really bring himself to walk back. He should. He’ll catch a cold if he doesn’t. Yet, when his feet do start moving, they move in the opposite direction and he’s walking further and further away from home as he speaks.

Thunder claps overhead. Ayato realises that he doesn’t know what time it is. It has to be really late at night since the roads are practically empty. He doesn’t see anyone wandering about as well. He’s pretty much the only one around. It has to be past two at least. There’ll be some forms of life otherwise.

Why’s he even doing this? He should head back. What if Hinami happens to wake up when he’s gone? What would she think if she finds him missing? The thought makes him hesitate. He doesn’t want to bother her. She has her own worries and problems already. She doesn’t need him to be an additional burden. He’s already gone too far with the previous night. She didn’t need to see that. She probably felt obligated to stick by him and help him out.

Would she care enough if she wakes up and sees him missing? It’s different from seeing him cry right in front of her. Maybe she won’t care about it too much. She might go back to sleep assuming he went to the bathroom. That seemed more likely. He doubts she’ll worry too much if she finds him gone. He doesn’t have to head back too fast. Another clap of thunder sounds and he shivers.

Well… That was counterproductive. He sighs and then stops, realising where he had subconsciously arrived. He’s… home. Ayato stares at the small house in awe. He hadn’t seen it in years but it’s still just as he remembered it. There hadn’t been any changes made to it at all. Even the nameplate barely had any change. It still said ‘Kirishima’ with a small addition of ‘Kaneki’ to it. He’s not surprised to see that though. His sister has always been a sentimental one.

He doesn’t know what he’s doing there, but he knows for sure he has no intention of making his presence known. If he didn’t deserve to face his sister after pushing her down, he doesn’t know what he deserves right now. Probably nothing. He’s taken the lives of two closed ones away from her. He can’t expect anything from her anymore. He should just quietly leave and pretend this never happened at all-- crawl back home, back to Hinami and back to agonizing over the fact that he can never have her love. That seemed more appealing than all this.

But nothing ever goes like he expects to it anyway.  

“Hey, can I help you?” The rain drowns out the voice mostly. Ayato can hear the words, but he can’t make out the voice of the person talking. By the time he recognises that person, it’s already too late. He’s turned and made eye contact.

“Ayato!” Kaneki gasps, eyes going wide. A short distance away, Kaneki stands rooted in his spot. He’s struggling to keep the umbrella he’s holding onto in place but with much difficulty. He looks only a little less drenched than Ayato is.

He should go. Ayato turns away immediately and starts walking away. The rain’s too loud for him to hear the footsteps that rush towards him and he doesn’t notice Kaneki coming up to him until the older man has his hand on his shoulder in a tight, secure grip. Ayato stops.

“I’m going home,” he mutters.

“Yeah, you are. Come on.” Kaneki pulls him in the opposite direction, dragging him into the house. He tries to fight back but his body doesn’t seem to listen. It’s too cold; he can feel the chill in his bones. Kaneki opens the door and pulls Ayato in along with him. Kaneki doesn’t have his umbrella with him anymore. Ayato glances over his shoulder to see it lying on the floor, being pushed away by the wind. Kaneki must have tossed it aside when he came after him.

“I should… go home,” Ayato grumbles. It wasn’t clear when he spoke outside but now that he’s inside, he can hear the chattering of his teeth.

“Stay here,” Kaneki commands. He’s using that voice again-- the stern, authoritative voice. Ayato supposes it’s the same tone he uses when he’s dealing with his suspects and other criminals. It’ll work a lot during the investigations Kaneki has at work, but Kaneki’s used it on him a lot as well. Ayato hates it. It always makes him feel unwelcome and it does so now as well. Even though he’s in the house he was born in and grew up in, he feels like he shouldn’t be here.

“I need to leave,” Ayato insists. Kaneki pays no heed to his words initially, shrugging off his coat, kicking off his shoes and peeling off his socks. He reaches to turn the lights on and Ayato realises just how drenched Kaneki is. If Kaneki is that wet, Ayato must be wetter. That probably explains why Kaneki is able to move around relatively normally while Ayato is still shivering by the door.

“Stay here. I’ll get you some towels and I’ll put some tea on. You should change into something warmer as well,” Kaneki says.

“No, I--”

“Stay. Here,” Kaneki exerts again, cutting into his words. He turns to walk deeper into the house. The place lights up more and Ayato squints, looking around. From what he can see, the interior hasn’t changed much at all either. The walls are a different colour now though. They’re white. They had used to be blue. Ayato remembers painting them with his sister and father. He remembers the exact colour; he chose it after all.

If he wants to leave, this is the only chance he has. But even as he’s aching to turn around to dash out of the door, his body is still insistent on not listening to him. He’s still frozen in the spot, all the more now since the house felt warm, making it more obvious how cold his body is. Perhaps taking a walk in the rain really is a bad idea.

“Ken, is that you?” Ayato’s eyes widen as he hears the voice of someone else, his heartbeat picking up instantly. He needs to leave. He really needs to go.

Touka…

“Hey, why you’re soaked? You’ll fall sick.”

It seems like Touka is with Kaneki, which means she has no idea he’s there at all. It’s for the best that he doesn’t see her. He doesn’t have the right to; he’s told himself that so many times already. He already troubled her far too much by calling her and he could tell from her tone that she got really worried. He can only guess how she’d feel if she sees him in the state he is in right now. Touka doesn’t need any more of that. She’s been through too much already.

Ayato turns around and shakily reaches for the doorknob. This was a stupid idea. He shouldn’t have done this. The walk was supposed to clear his mind, not land him shivering and drenched at his old home, feeling worse about it. If he hadn’t left, he would still be curled up in Hinami’s arms. He’d be warm and dry in the embrace of someone who might not love him, but at least cares about him. She said it before they fell asleep, didn’t she? I still care about you very much…

He shouldn’t have left. He should have stayed there. This was a stupid idea.

“I figured you’d be trying to leave the moment you hear her.” Ayato glances behind as he hears Kaneki’s sigh. Kaneki walks over and grabs his arm again, tugging him away from the door. “I don’t think so. You’re not going out there again.”

“It’s none of your business,” Ayato grumbles.

“No decent human being is going to let someone else walk in the rain like that,” Kaneki argues back. He throws a towel at Ayato, which Ayato disgruntledly accepts.

“But you’re not a decent human being so let me go.” Despite his verbal protests, Ayato knows Kaneki isn’t going to give in to him so easily. He presses the cloth against his body and while it doesn’t make much of a difference, it does soak in the loose droplets of water that have been falling off him and forming a puddle on the floor.

“Very funny,” Kaneki mutters. “I do believe that’s not something I’d want to hear from your mouth.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“I may not be the most decent of humans, but Ayato, you’re not one to comment on it.”

He’s about to argue back, but he stops. Kaneki’s staring at him in hard eyes and it takes a moment for him to remember why such a forlorn expression might be on his face. It wasn’t just Touka who lost a kid, it was Kaneki as well. Ayato knows he’s not in any position to argue with Kaneki now. But he’s still not keen on following Kaneki in.

That is until a figure shows up behind Kaneki and Ayato realizes that his chance is up.

“Ken, why do you need two mugs? I don’t want any tea. I don’t even like it—” Touka pauses in her steps, holding two mugs in her hands. She looks so much different from the last time he’s seen her. She’s smaller, of course. She doesn’t have the belly anymore. Her hair is notably different as well. It was dyed and wavy the last he’s seen it. She had it done. But now her hair’s straight and flat. It’s back to its usual dark color. She hasn’t bothered to take care of it. Her hair is probably the last thing on her mind right now.

“Ayato…?” Her voice trembles as she says his name and for a moment, he’s worried she might drop the two mugs.

“I found him wandering outside,” Kaneki says. He walks to Touka and takes the two mugs from her. “I’ll be inside. Ayato, you should come and drink it before it goes cold.”

The place falls silent, aside from Kaneki’s receding footsteps, which eventually fades to nothing else as well. Touka stares at him with confused eyes and Ayato himself doesn’t know what to say or do. He looks away from her, pressing the towel to his head to dry his hair and more importantly, shield his face from her. He doesn’t want to look.

“Don’t do it like that. You’ll catch a cold.” He hears her voice closer and senses her presence right beside him. He feels her hands on the towel, pressing down on his head. She’s rough as she dries him off, but it feels nostalgic. She used to bathe him after their mother died after all.

“I’m going home,” he says after a while, pushing her hands away.

“But you’re already home,” Touka murmurs. She grabs onto one of his sleeves and he looks at her, trying his best to force out an annoyed expression. “You’ll fall sick… You should stay the night or at least until the rain stops.”

“You don’t want me here… not after everything.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’m just tired. Can we stop this already?” Touka sighs.

“Just leave me alone,” he grumbles, trying to pull his arm away. Touka tightens her grip and her dazed expression hardens to a frown.

“Leave you alone? Leave you alone?” she snaps. “Who was the one who called me all of a sudden? Who was the one who suddenly showed up here? You can’t just do this and then take it out on me for trying to talk!”

“I was drunk just now. It was a drunk call. Don’t pay any mind to it,” he says. “Really, let me go—”

“No! The call might be a drunkard call or something but you still came here on your own accord, didn’t you? Are you drunk now as well? Because if you are then that’s all the more a reason for me not to let you go now.” She’s holding onto his arm now and he knows that she isn’t going to let him go.

“Give it up already, Ayato,” Kaneki calls out from inside the house. “Your tea is getting cold.”

He doesn’t have a choice. Still trying to avoid looking at Touka, he kicks off his shoes and enters the house. Kaneki is sitting on the couch in the living room, drinking from one of the mugs. A towel lays over his shoulder. His hair is still wet, but it’s not plastered against his head anymore. Instead, the strands stick out awkwardly and Ayato supposes he didn’t bother much about them after he dried himself.

“You should drink it,” Kaneki says, nodding to the other mug. “After that, get yourself changed. God knows how long you were standing there before I showed up. You’re thankful it was me who saw you. Someone else might call the cops and this time, maybe they won’t let you off.”

“He won’t get into trouble,” Touka speaks up from behind. “This house is his as much as it is ours.”

“He didn’t pay for it.”

“Neither did we.”

Kaneki looks over at them, a slight annoyance crossing his face. He drains the cup of its contents before he gets up. “I’m going to take a shower. Ayato can take his after I’m done.”

Ayato nods initially, but as Kaneki walks away, he starts to panic. It means he’s alone with Touka now and he doesn’t know how to deal with that. The towel still remains on his head and it helps to shield his face from her, but he also looks like a total idiot doing it. He knows that Touka knows he’s trying to avoid her and this simply makes everything all the more awkward.

“Don’t stand there like an idiot. Your tea is gonna go cold,” she murmurs, lightly pushing his back.

“I’m not thirsty,” he says.

“It’ll warm you up,” she says with a sigh. She reaches over and pulls the towel off him. “And stop keeping that there, you look like an idiot.”

“I want to go back,” he says.

Touka takes a deep breath and sighs. “You can when the rain stops.”

“I don’t like it here,” he admits.

“I know. I know it’s hard and I know it brings back bad memories but--”

“I shouldn’t be here, Touka,” he cuts in. I have no right to. He almost says it out, but he knows it’ll only piss her off even more. She’s too forgiving. She’s made that clear from still showing him a lot of care and love even after all that he’s done.

“I know how hard it is--”

“No. No, you don’t,” he growls, turning to her without really thinking twice about it. It’s only when he’s looking at her that he stiffens.

Face your fears, his father used to tell him. That was regarding soccer in particular, but right now, he thinks it’s pretty applicable as well. He’s terrified of looking his sister in the eye. He doesn’t know what he should expect. Touka might be nice and kind to him right now but it’s always in the depths of one’s eyes that you see their true selves, that you see their true emotion.

What would he do if he looks in her eyes and sees the truth buried under those midnight eyes? What would he do then? Is he ready to know just how much he hurt her? He doubts so. And so, he hid. He hid from her and he hid himself from her. But right now, they’re looking at each other, all of their the deepest secrets all laid bare for the other to see.

“You don’t know how hard it is to be here,” he whispers.

Touka nibbles her lips slightly. Her eyes are down, he notes. He can’t really tell what she’s thinking. But slowly, she raises her head. His eyes meet her eye-- the one that’s not veiled by her thick bangs. It’s glimmering in the bright light of the living room, watery from unshed tears. He’s speechless as he stares at her. He sees a lot of things in there-- regret, despair, fear, to name a few. He doesn’t see a tinge of hate but that was not unpredictable. He knows she’ll hold nothing against him and it just makes him feel all the more worse. He wishes she just hates him instead. He wishes she had greeted him with a harsh slap instead of wiping his hair for him and pampering him the moment she sets her eyes on him. Those things are much easier to deal with.

“You should hate me,” he says and Touka frowns in an immediate response.

“Why? I can never hate you.”

“I killed them,” he replies and her frown deepens. She raises her hand and presses it to his cheek, lightly stroking it with his thumb.

“Who? You’ve never killed anyone, Ayato,” she says with a soft sigh.

“I have, Touka. Don’t lie to yourself.”

“My baby brother who wouldn’t drink at my twentieth birthday party because he’s too young for it is incapable of killing anyone. That I am very sure of,” she says. Her eyes drop and her other hand goes to her tummy. “If you’re talking about her, it’s not your fault at all.”

“I… pushed you…”

She looks up at him with a grim smile. But even as she’s smiling up at him like this, he knows she’s not smiling deep down. He wonders if she cried-- if she let herself cry. She’s always keeping a strong front. He heard that she didn’t cry during their father’s funeral and that she went about running things without even a shaky voice. Whether that’s true, he doesn’t know since he wasn’t there, but he can picture it easily.

“Yes, it was a terrible and shitty thing for you to do and it’s worse that you ran away and never bothered to check on me at all,” Touka says, her voice stern. Ayato grimaces at the tone but Touka’s face softens. “She probably wouldn’t have made it even if that hadn’t happened. We were warned from the beginning.”

“Warned?”

“There were too many complications. The doctors told us to… get rid of her, that there’ll be no chance. But I wanted to hold on. I had my faith,” Touka explains. “I… just wanted her to make it, you know… I didn’t want to lose anyone anymore.”

Ayato’s head reels as Touka takes a step back, bringing her arm over to her face and wiping her eyes with her sleeve. She’s crying. His always strong, always tough, always composed sister is tearing up. He feels a lump rise in his throat. Okay, he didn’t kill the baby. But he doesn’t feel a tinge better about things at all, not when she sniffs again and continues to wipe her tears.

“Shit. Why won’t they stop?” she mutters under her breath. She’s suffered too much already. Her mother died a long time ago. Her father fell sick from overwork and lived his final years as a weakling until he died from a heart attack when he saw his son on the brink of death. Her brother survived, but even he left her, taking his bags, walking out of the house and turning his back on her. He didn’t realise it till now but, Touka hadn’t had time to grieve over their father because of Ayato’s accident. Yet, the moment he was out of the hospital, he chose to leave home immediately. In that short period of time, Touka had lost both of her closest blood relations.

It’s no wonder her bond with her husband is so strong; he was there for her when no one else was.

Ayato feels sick. He feels sicker just from watching Touka, her hands fumbling even more as she struggles with keeping her tears in. Just how long is she going to do this? Just how long is he going to make her do this? Fuck. Fuck fuck fuck. Cursing and slapping himself mentally, he closes the gap between them, taking her by her arms and pulling her to him, until she’s pressed against him. His arms wind around her, hugging her tightly. Touka has always been his big sister. It’s only now he realises how small she is. She’s only a little taller than Hinami. When he’s hugging her, it’s like he’s enveloping her in his much, much bigger body.

“It’s okay… It’s okay, Sis,” he murmurs.

“A-Ayato…?”

“It’s fine now. Everything is fine now. I’m here. I’m not going anywhere,” he continues. How can he? He can’t even consider leaving her, not when she’s in such a state.

And for probably the first time since he was born, Ayato hears her wails. Touka’s arms cling onto him tightly, face buried deep into his chest. She’s screaming, loud enough that he feels her voice reverberated through his body. The louder his sister cries, the tighter he hugs her. He’s an idiot; he’s a jerk. Touka deserves better. He knows that so damn fucking well. But there’s nothing they can do about it. He’s all she has. She’s not going to get another brother now. They both have to make do with it. It’s easy for Touka. Ayato knows that she loves him much more than she should, much more than he deserves.

The least he can do is try to act in a way that at least pays her back for that.

She hears a noise. It sounds a lot like a door being closed.

Hinami wakes up feeling cold. She knows immediately why she feels that way. It’s raining heavily from the outside and she’s naked. But what she does find weird is that there’s no trace of the heat from another person’s body at all. She opens her eyes a little and blinks the blurriness away. She’s looking right ahead. She sees the edge of the bed, the closet beside it and the window beyond that. She’s still on her side of the bed, which means she shouldn’t be seeing those things at all. It’s either she’ll be facing the other way to see Ayato’s study table and the short walkway to his bathroom, or she should be seeing him. It’s neither. In other words, Ayato isn’t in bed.

Maybe he went to the bathroom… That’ll explain why she heard a door. Hinami closes her eyes again, sighing softly as she tries to drift off to sleep again. But it’s harder than she thought it’ll be. She thinks about what happened earlier on, about how Ayato had cried himself to sleep in her arms. Ayato never cried in front of her before. She’s seen him in his ups and downs back when they were in high school. She remembers all those strange rumors. One moment, he was doing perfectly. She remembers how everyone was talking about him. He got that big-name scholarship from that huge sports school or something-- something that’s only reserved for the top of the nation’s talents. No one was too surprised. He was their school’s pride and joy in the sports field, so much so that the teachers all turned a blind eye to his grades. If there’s anyone in Kiyomi High School that would have gotten that scholarship, it had to be Kirishima Ayato. He was that talented; he was that amazing. 

But things changed all of a sudden. Hinami herself isn’t sure what happened and when it happened. They knew each other at this point in time-- they had been in the same class in their first and second years-- but they were not close to the point that she’d notice if he suddenly went missing from school. He did and about a week later, she overheard a pair of her classmates talking. That was how she found out. He met with an accident. He’s in a coma. Apparently, his father died when he heard about it.

Hinami’s eyes shoot open. Oh, so that’s what he was talking about. His father got a heart attack from hearing about the accident. That must have been what Ayato was talking about when he said that he killed both of them.

Hinami sits up. He’s surely taking awhile in the bathroom and she doesn’t hear a single sound, not even the flowing of water. Looking up, she realised that the bathroom light isn’t even turned on. Slowly, she gets up to her feet. She bends down and takes Ayato’s t-shirt from the floor, pulling it on as she slowly walks towards the bathroom. It falls to the mid-section of her thighs, the edges of the sleeves hanging off her hands. It’s far too big for her, but that comes with no surprise. Ayato is pretty well-built after all.

“Ayato?” she calls out as she nears the bathroom. “Ayato, are you in there?”

She doesn’t want to walk in on him if he’s in the middle of something. She doesn’t understand why he’d be in the dark. It’s creepy and she doesn’t think he’s into sitting in the dark that much. It’s where the bugs hide, he had said once, and Hinami knows he hates bugs. She knocks on the door again but there’s still no response.

“Ayato, I’m coming in.” She pushes open the door with one hand as the other moves to flick the light switch. The room is illuminated and she doesn’t have to spend another moment staring at it to know it’s empty. She blinks at the vacant bathroom in disbelief until a sudden flash brightens up the entire apartment for a second, only for it to plunge the place back into darkness again. A few seconds later, she hears a loud clap.

Lightning. Thunder. Rain. It’s almost like there’s a storm outside.

She rushes away from the bathroom and out of the bedroom. The apartment is silent aside from the sound of the raindrops falling harder and harder outside. There’s no trace of life aside from her and the three tanks full of fishes. She notices one of them staring at her. It’s the dragon fish again. It’s a pretty fish when she’s looking at it from the side, but now that she’s seeing it directly from the front, it looks strange. Its mouth is curved downwards. It’s almost like it’s feeling sad. Ayato does spend a lot of time looking at this fish, much more than his other ones. She’s always assumed it’s because it’s his favourite fish, but as she watches it swim slowly with that permanent expression, she wonders if it’s the melancholic vibe of the fish that really attracts him to it.

“Ayato!” she cries out. She walks to the kitchen and looks in. He isn’t there as well. There are no other rooms around and the apartment is far too small for her to have missed him somehow. She doesn’t know where he is, but she knows for sure that he has left the apartment. Another flash occurs, followed by another loud clap.

He left the apartment in the rain?!

Hinami glances over at the corner where he keeps his umbrella. He only has two of them and both of them are still leaning against the wall untouched. She’s sure he doesn’t own a raincoat. He must have walked out in the rain just as he is.

That idiot Ayato…

A wave of panic washes over her. What person in their right mind would do that? It hits her less than a second later-- he’s not in his right mind right now. He had looked completely lost and confused last night, depressed and almost lifeless. He had looked at her with the eyes of a man that almost seemed dead, cursing his own fate. She doesn’t think he’s capable of doing anything too drastic, but even then, does she really know?

The eyes of a dead man…

Ayato…

“Shit,” she curses-- she never curses-- before she runs out, throwing the door open as she leaves his apartment. Her feet shivers the moment they come into contact with the bare zinc flooring, cold and wet from the rain. She screams his name, over and over again. He doesn’t seem to be anywhere in close to the apartment complex. She doesn’t see him even when she looks down at the street below.

Ayato…

She should go back and get some clothes and shoes. She should go back and get an umbrella. She should get her phone to call him. Maybe he went somewhere urgently. There’s a lot of things she can and should do. But instead, she’s scampering down the stairs and dashing out to the streets, looking around. She’s scared; she’s so so scared. She doesn’t know what he’s going to do and she’s even less sure of what he’s capable of doing. Out on the street, she looks around the place, the cold and the rain the last thing on her mind. She looks up, eyes lingering on the roof of the apartment complex. There’s nothing-- no one-- there. She relaxes, or tries to at least. She’s jumping to conclusions. He wouldn’t just do that.

Ayato… Ayato…

Or maybe he would, just not somewhere so predictable. Hinami’s breath catches in her throat and she starts running. She’s never been much of a runner. She doesn’t have that great a stamina and she barely passes physical ed. But she can’t be bothered about how she’s barely breathing as she runs. She can’t be bothered about how her lungs scream for air and her heart threatens to break out of her ribs. She runs all the way to their university, stopping at the entrance. The compound looks like a ghost town but she hears the screams and chattering of people, probably from the dorms right beside. Another predictable place. She starts running again, screaming his name at the top of her voice. Her eyes are streaming. She hadn’t known when it was that she started crying.

Ayato… Ayato… Ayato…

She’s being drowned but the raindrops and the claps of thunder. No matter how loud she screams, she can’t hear herself. She doesn’t expect him to at all. But even so, she screams it out, running through the street like a madman. She realises how obscene she must look right now in what she’s wearing. She’s only wearing his t-shirt. She hadn’t even realised how light it is. Her skin can practically be seen. Her nipples are hard and erect from the cold and they stick blatantly out through the thin cotton. She feels so naked.

She needs to go back. It’s a bad idea to be out like this. She should have thought things through before jumping to conclusions. But she’s too worried. She can’t remain optimistic, not after she’s seen him at such a state. It still feels like he’s doing something, either dumb or tragic, but either way, she knows it’s drastic. No one just leaves home in the rain like this. Her own desperation is evidence enough that she should be worrying about Ayato. He probably did something stupid as well.

Where are you? Where are you… Ayato…?

She wants to throw up. He couldn’t have done… that… right? The thought makes her head spin. Won’t she lose him for good if he does? Would he make that choice? He’d leave her behind if he did. She’ll be all alone; he’s all she has. Not even Kaneki can give her the comfort and warmth that Ayato does. Not even Kaneki can make her feel safe like Ayato does. Not even Kaneki will go to the extents Ayato does for her. She hadn’t realised it much before but standing in the middle of a street, soaked to the bones and entirely all alone, Hinami doesn’t think she’s felt fear like this before. It’s getting really hard to breathe and she knows this isn’t from her running. She thinks back to waking up knowing that she’ll never see Mama and Papa again. She remembers how crushed and broken she felt every morning as the thought fills her head and tears fill her eyes. Will this be her again now? Will she go to sleep crying for Ayato just as she had cried for her parents? Will she pray for him to suddenly show up in her bedroom every morning, just as she had done for her parents when she was a kid?

Ayato… Ayato…

She shakes her head. She can’t give up so easily. She runs all the way back to the apartment. The muscles in her legs ache as she climbs up the stairs, skipping steps as she goes. She hadn’t realised it till she’s on smoother flooring, but the soles of her feet were throbbing from running on rough tar for so long. By the time she’s outside his apartment, she’s barely breathing. She’ll get proper clothes and she’ll search the town again.

Ayato… She needs to find Ayato.

She scampers into the room, but thoughts of getting clothes vanish the moment she steps in. Her phone. She sees it on the bedside table. She grabs it immediately, looking through her contacts for his name. She hits on it with shivering fingers, bringing the phone up to her ear, hands still shaking. Please answer… Please answer, Ayato… As she listens to the ring from her phone, her ears prick at the sound of another tone coming from outside. Hinami hesitates for a moment, before she walks out, following it. The sound gets louder as she approaches the kitchen and when she looks in, she sees a lighted screen on the floor in the corner.

The tone in her phone stops and immediately, the one from the kitchen does too. She doesn’t redial, but instead, she approaches it. The screen remains lit for a moment before it blacks out. Hinami bends down and picks the object up. It’s a phone-- the same model as hers, only it’s black instead of white. She lights the screen up. The familiar lock screen comes up, a photo of the back of a girl reading a book set as the background image. It’s not obvious just from that picture who the girl is but Hinami knows that it’s her. She knows that picture so well. Ayato had taken it when they were studying together some time back. On the screen, there’s also a small notification.

Hina ❤︎ Missed Call.

It is his phone after all.

Her body is still trembling as she gets up, placing his phone on the counter. There’s no chance of contacting him now. She wonders if he left it at home intentionally. But that would mean he’s doing something terrible enough for him to want to remain uncontactable. Whatever it is, she can’t think of any reason why it will be on the floor out of all places. She’s read books and watched movies before and in every one of those scenes, it’s always an indication of a fight or some kidnap scene. She doesn’t think something like that happened but she’s sure it had to be something bad for it to be on the floor. Did he try calling someone only to get angry and throw it or something?

Curious, she unlocks his phone. She knows his passcode; it’s the combination of their birthdays. She checks his messages and call logs and right below her name, she sees her answer. The name on the contact he had called stares back at her as she watches it. She’s momentarily in disbelief.  

Kirishima Touka / (⁎˃ᆺ˂)＼

He called his sister. She glances at the time and realises that it was a few hours ago, before Hinami even returned from class. This call can’t possibly be the reason why he’s missing but this is probably the reason why Kaneki had spammed her with messages and calls when she was in class. Ayato must have said something to Touka that worried her, or maybe simply seeing that he had called her worried her. Either way, Hinami now has a vague idea where she should be headed to.

She can’t think of anywhere else he’ll go.

She makes a quick trip back to the bedroom to pull on more clothes-- her panties, her skirt and the jacket that’s hanging on his chair. Wearing a bra would take too long and even though Hinami knows that he should be safe, she’s still worried and she wants to get here as soon as she can. But this time, she makes sure she puts on some shoes. She doesn’t bother with umbrellas and raincoats since she’s already drenched to the bone. She heads out of the house and goes towards her destination, running faster than she was previously. She didn’t think she had that much stamina. Maybe she’s fitter than she thought. Maybe all the sex helped. Maybe it’s something else.

There’s still the deep churning in her abdomen. Her heart is still being squeezed by the same grip of anxiety. She’s worried. Even though she thinks he’s safe, she’s worried. For some reason, she has to see him. She can simply call the place to check if he’s there. The idea had surfaced in her mind when she was leaving the apartment. She discards it immediately. She needs to see him for herself, in the flesh. She needs to know he’s okay.

Ayato… Ayato… Ayato…

She runs, not slowing down even when she sees the familiar characters on the nameplate of a house. She runs in, throwing herself towards the porch. She slams her fists against the door repeatedly, knocking it over and over again. The lights of the house are turned on. She knows someone there is awake. She’s crying out, but she’s not sure what she’s saying. All she knows is that he’s there. He should be there.

Ayato! Ayato!!

The door opens and she rushes in, only for a pair of hands to grab her by her upper arms and stop her dead in her tracks, holding her close to him. She looks up, expecting to see warm blue eyes behind the usual long, unruly dark bangs. The person who’s holding her is about the same height and build. It might be him. It might be Ayato.

But when she lays eyes on who’s before her, her heart sinks immediately. It’s not blue eyes she’s staring at; it’s grey. The person’s hair is white. While he does have a gentle gaze, it lacks the burning intensity that is always residing in Ayato’s eyes as well. It’s not Ayato… It takes a moment for recognition to sink in. 

“B-Big Brother!” she gasps, choking from the lack of breath.

“Hinami? You too?” He seems just as surprised to see her but his words make her eyes go wide. You too? Someone else had come here as well. It had to be him.

Ayato… Ayato is here. Ayato had come here. Ayato… Ayato…

“Shit, you’re shivering so much,” Kaneki grumbles as he shuts the door. He pulls her close to him and hugs her tight. “It’s okay now. Come in.”

No. No! She’s shaking her head. It doesn’t matter if she’s shivering. It’s not about her. It’s about Ayato. Ayato! She wants to scream for him but her breath is still caught in her throat, lungs still trying their best to stabilise after her long run. Kaneki pulls her into the house, now holding her close to him by his side. She doesn’t think he’s ever held her this long before, but right now, she can’t seem to care. Her eyes dart about the place as Kaneki leads her into the kitchen. She doesn’t see him anywhere at all.

Ayato… Ayato…

Was she wrong after all? Maybe he didn’t come here.

No… Ayato… where are you?

“Ayato…” she finally manages out. Kaneki looks at her with a raised eyebrow. “Ayato… where is he?”

“Hinami, calm down. We’ll get you warm first--”

“No!” she cuts in. “You don’t understand, Big Brother! He went missing. I can’t find him anywhere. I searched the whole town… I went to all his favorite hang out spots. I can’t find him at all. I’m so worried--”

“Hinami,” Kaneki sighs, but Hinami ignores him, continuing with her ramble.

“He was so weird last night, Big Brother! I’m really scared. Is Ayato here? Please, I need to see him. I need to know he’s okay. I’m scared he did something. I don’t want anything to happen to him. I don’t want to lose him. I--”

“Sis?”

Hinami pauses at the voice that she hears from a short distance away. Her heart stops for a moment, only to start beating much faster the moment she hears it again. “Guys? I’m done with the shower… Uhmm… Where are you guys? Touka?”

Ayato!

She pushes Kaneki away and runs out, coming to a halt the moment she lays her eyes on the familiar head of blue hair, the slope of his broad shoulders and the hints of the black ink of the tattoo on his waist that is peeking out of the pair of sweatpants he’s wearing. He has his back turned to her, but she’s silent as she watches him.

Ayato… It’s really him… Ayato… Ayato…

He must have heard her footsteps because he turns to look merely seconds after she stopped. His eyes shoot open the moment he lay them on her and his lips part. He’s in the midst of saying her name before she runs right to him, arms winding around his shoulder and face nuzzling into the crook of his neck as she pulls him into a tight embrace. Ayato, Ayato, Ayato. She breathes deeply, inhaling the smell of lavenders, probably soap, and also the scent that is undeniably his-- the same scent she’s so used to smelling whenever they have their bodies pressed against each other.

“Hinami? What are you doing here--”

She cuts him off by meshing her lips against his, moulding them together. Even as she’s standing on her tiptoes, she’s pulling him down so that their lips can meet. She pushes her tongue into the cavern of his mouth, running it along his lips, teeth, tongue and even the roof of his mouth. She moans his name over and over again, her voice muffled against his lips, harmonizing with his own moans. Ayato… Ayato… Ayato… She’s never wanted to feel him against her so much as she does now. She never wants to have him beside her the way she does now. There’s a fire burning deep within her that’s never been there before, or perhaps it has, only to be overlooked as she’s blinded by her own ignorance.

At this moment, Hinami realises that something has changed. Perhaps it might have changed sometime back but she was too dumb to realise it. Perhaps it really did take such a big scare for her to snap back into reality. Was losing Ayato really what she needed as a motivation to finally-- literally-- push Kaneki away? She had never run into someone’s arms as fast as she had run into Ayato mere seconds ago, not even into Kaneki’s. The way she’s feeling is something very very different after all.

Eh? What is she thinking?

She breaks the kiss apart but stays as close as she can be to him. Resting her forehead against his, her eyes are narrowed into small slits. She watches the space between their lips; as small as it might be, it still feels like they’re too far apart.

This is so weird.

Her eyes fix on the strand of their saliva connecting both of their moist, swollen lips. She can’t tell whose it is. It’s a mixture of both of theirs, almost like a union. She feels hot just thinking about it, about how her tongue was exploring deep inside of him merely a minute ago. They've made out before, but it’s never messed with her head this much before.

Strangely, she wants to kiss him more. She wants to keep kissing him until the end of time. She’s felt thirsty for him before, hungry to feel his naked body against hers or to have him buried deep inside her seeping core. But she’s never been so desperate to kiss him over and over again as she does now.

“Ayato,” she whispers, pressing her lips against his again. She nibbles on his bottom lip, tugging it a little. Ayato pulls her closer to him, hands resting on her hips, under the jacket but above the cotton t-shirt. She forces him to part his lips again and slides her tongue in. His tongue meets her and they run along each other, coiling and twisting. He tastes like mint; she wonders if he just brushed his teeth. From the dampness of his hair, the lavender scent lingering on him, and the (lack of) clothes he’s wearing, she assumes he just took a shower. She’s pretty sure the pair of sweatpants he’s wearing right now doesn’t belong to him as well.

Her hands move down his body, raking his back lightly with her nails. She’s moaning his name again. It’s all she’s able to say-- Ayato, Ayato, Ayato, Ayato, Ayato. He kisses her back with a force just as hard, a passion just as powerful. His hands slide up her body, moving to her chest, cupping her breasts and pinching her erect nipples. She senses his surprise even if she has her eyes closed and can’t see it. She’s not wearing a bra, after all.

He pulls away from her for a few seconds, hands falling back down to her hips to lift her up. Her legs wind around his waist, one hand finding its place deep in the messy tresses of his hair while the other claws into his back muscles. He kisses her again and she murmurs his name silently. Ayato, Ayato, Ayato. She’s chanting his name like a mantra in her head. It had never occurred to her just how beautiful his name sounds being repeated over and over again. It’s rhythmic, even on its own.

She feels him move but she pays no attention to it until she feels her back hit what she assumes is a well. She too distracted to pay too much attention to that, especially when Ayato’s thrusting his tongue into her mouth this time. His body presses against hers, holding her in place, as his hands settle on her ass, massaging them skillfully as he grinds his hips against her.

It doesn’t bother her a single bit that she’s in Kaneki’s house right now and that he’s right next door in the kitchen. It doesn’t even cross her mind that he might walk out and see just how much of a slut she is for Ayato. She doesn’t care about any of that. At that point in time, the only one in her world is Ayato and she finds herself not caring if he’s the only person to there for the rest of time. Just the thought of losing him it too much to bear. She doesn’t want to go through all that again.

Ayato pulls away from her when they hear footsteps approaching and he sets her down immediately, eyes looking down at her with a look part-lust and part-confusion. All of this must have been a shock for him. He clearly was surprised to see her in the place. Whatever she just did must have shocked him even more. This isn’t how things normally are, after all.

But it’s expected. Because the truth is, something really has changed.

A/N: I’m too sleepy to say anything but I hope everyone enjoyed this chapter. Thank you all for your support with Shattered! I believe we might be nearing the end of this story! :o Maybe around 10 chapters! So Hinami’s finally fallen for him/ realised she’s in love with him but of course nothing good is going to come out of too much positivity in a chapter. Ayato doesn’t know she loves him and that’s always fun~ It’s time for Touka to be a good sis next chapter and mess things up (ง///-'́)ง

Also kinky smut next chapter. Or the one after. Depending on how the length goes. 

Once again, please please do reblog if you like this! It’ll really help me out. Feel free to leave comments in the tags/ reblogs/ replies or through asks!

[savedbythenotepad]

how about a little something about vik and yuuri's first Official vday date? (gone horribly wrong, yet somehow perfectly right)

valentine’s day was ages ago and i’m so sorry that this is late and that it got quite long! asdfghjkl, i hope you like it!

The whole idea about Valentine’s Day was for it to be special and a chance to properly spoil and treat the one that held your heart. Nothing stopped Viktor from spoiling Yuuri on any normal day but Valentine’s Day was one of the days when one could go all out and be incredibly romantic. 

Viktor had been planning the events for the day since the middle of January. He booked a nice table at their favourite restaurant in St. Petersburg and organised a horse drawn carriage that would take them around the huge park that wasn’t too far from where they ate. Then with a blanket and a bottle of champagne, they’d sit underneath the dark sky to marvel at the stars which one of their favourite pastimes. He also had many little surprises dotted throughout the day but these were the more grander gestures. 

It was known that Yuuri wasn’t comfortable with being swept off his feet. He wasn’t used to someone being willing to spend more and above to make him feel so special and wonderful. He wasn’t used to someone loving him unconditionally and showering him with enormous amounts of affection that his cheeks would flush a beautiful red and he’d hide his face behind the safety of his hands. 

But Viktor always noticed the soft smile that grace Yuuri’s soft features and the way his hands would move to rest over his heart. Yuuri wasn’t used to them but he was entirely appreciative of them and kept every single thing that Viktor had given him with tenderness and love. That included the memories that they had formed together throughout their roller coaster of their life. 

He was going to keep it quieter this time and a part of him also craved for a simple Valentine’s Day. It was going to be one of the best days of the year and Viktor was going to make sure of that. 

Valentine’s Day had come around and everything seemed to be going well. Viktor had made Yuuri breakfast in bed and enjoyed the shower of kisses that his face received in thanks. He was then pulled back into their warm sheets and the two of them feasted on buttery toast, scrambled eggs and freshly chopped pieces of fruits. 

They sleepily dozed throughout the morning and well into the early afternoon as they curled up around each other. Makkachin soon coming into the bedroom and making herself comfortable on top of them as the quiet room was filled with her soft and happy pants. Her afternoon walk was needed after another hour and Yuuri told Viktor that he’d do it even though Viktor insisted that he could at least come with. Yuuri only shook his head with a secret smile and pecked Viktor’s nose and forehead before lashing up Makkachin and the two of them were out the door. 

The plan was then ready to be set in motion and he had made plans to call the restaurant to ensure that everything was ready. After that, he’d call the carriage company to let them know that things were still on steady mode. He was about to make those calls when the front door opened up and Viktor looked up from his spot on the couch, expression confused. 

Both Yuuri and Makkachin were completely soaked.

Viktor’s furrowed eyebrows deepened and he turned to look at the window before seeing that his worst nightmare had come true. How did he not notice before? He was seated right here and he didn’t even realise that it was raining cats and dogs out there! 

“We had to come back before it got too bad but we got caught in the downpour,” Yuuri said, giggling as he shielded himself from Makakchin’s shakes. He then continued tor remove her harness. “I had no idea it was going to be so bad. The weather forecast said it was going to be a clear night tonight.”

It did.

“It’s such a shame though.” Yuuri sighed, pouting slightly and ushered a playful Makkachin into the bathroom. 

Viktor didn’t move from the couch and only kept staring out at window, at the rain that pelted down from the sky. The dark clouds that kept away the promise of a clear night with stars and dry grass for their blanket to settle on. 

A loud groan crawled at the inside of his throat because he suddenly overwhelmed with anger and annoyance. Today was supposed to be a good day and now all his plans were ruined. They couldn’t go carriage riding through the park or sit underneath the stars. He had even planned on them walking to the restaurant which wasn’t too far from here but it was raining and all taxis and cabs would be booked up for the day. 

This wasn’t a good day in the slightest. 

He heard a loud splash coming from the bathroom accompanied by a loud, “Makka!” and Viktor sighed with a hint of reluctant amusement as he got off the couch and headed into the bathroom to help his beloved. 

The rain didn’t let up and continued to pour throughout the evening. Viktor called the restaurant and the carriage company to cancel their reservations. Yuuri didn’t seem to notice as he busied himself in the kitchen to start dinner and the gentle sound of his humming lured Viktor onto his feet. 

He made his way into the kitchen and leaned against the wall as he observed Yuuri with a fond smile. His dark hair was all mussed from the shower he had and the strands were all over the place due to not being combed. He was dressed in one of Viktor’s shirts that were a little big on his smaller frame but he looked so cosy and at home and Viktor’s whenever he wore a shirt of his. He wore a simple pair of grey sweatpants and the adorable bunny slippers that Mila had gotten him for his birthday. He looked so at home and so peaceful and gorgeous that Viktor’s heart felt like it was about to explode for the amount of love he felt for this one man. 

Yuuri stopped washing the vegetables and turned to look at Viktor with a soft but questioning smile. Viktor chuckled and waved as Yuuri rolled his eyes but beckoned him forward. The two of them shared a quick kiss as soon they were close enough and began working on dinner as a perfect team. 

“You had something planned today,” Yuuri said as he expertly chopped a red onion and Viktor wasn’t even surprised he knew. “You’re not as secretive as you think.” He turned to smile teasingly at Viktor huffed an amused laugh as he dealt with the carrots. 

“I did,” Viktor still confessed. “I was going to fly you to Paris and have us eat our Valentine’s Day dinner at the top of the Eiffel Tower before slow dancing to a small orchestra that would play any song we requested.”

Yuuri’s eyes popped open at that and Viktor could see the cogs turning in his head. He bet Yuuri was already planning on packing up a suitcase in a matter of ten minutes because he didn’t want all of what Viktor had planned to go to waste. It was so endearing but Viktor did feel a little bad for teasing him and calmed the hidden panic down within him quickly. 

“I’m joking, solnyshko.” he smiled apologetically and feigned a hiss of pain when Yuuri thwacked him lightly. “But I did have something planned. Something a lot quieter than a sudden trip to Paris.” Viktor looked towards Yuuri who looked at him with curious eyes. “I had planned for us to go to our favourite restaurant because I know how much you enjoy the food there. We were going to order all of our favourites and just talk about stuff because life has been so hectic lately we haven’t had a proper chance.” he reached out to take a gentle hold of Yuuri’s hand and his smile widened when Yuuri’s squeezed around his. 

“Then we were going to go on a carriage ride around the huge park because I know that you’ve never ridden in one and you gave yourself away when you saw one during an outing of ours months ago,” Viktor said and laughed when he noted the flush that stained Yuuri’s cheeks but had a smile that lit up his features. It was gorgeous as always. “So I wanted to do that for you and it was going to be amazing, I was sure. Then I had found a spot for us in the park to settle down with a blanket and a bottle of champagne so we could stargaze because it’s what we love to do and I thought-”

His words were caught off by a pair of lips that were soft yet slightly chapped. They were more than familiar because Viktor had kissed them so many times before and he happily leaned into the kiss. His arms encircled Yuuri’s waist and pulled him closer which earned him an appreciative mewl and he could feel himself falling even deeper in love if that was even possible. Yuuri’s hands rested upon his shoulders and gently gripped at the broad muscles with a light tinge of desperation that Viktor knew he was returning. 

It felt like forever but it was only a moment before they parted with heavy breaths and adoring eyes that stared into each other’s own. Yuuri’s smile was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen and would remain to be so as he learned down and nuzzled the tip of his nose against the giggling Yuuri’s. 

“I don’t care if we did go to Paris or simply stayed at home because it meant that I’d be with you either way,” Yuuri murmured softly, wanting to run his hands through Viktor’s hair but couldn’t due to the onions. Viktor wouldn’t have minded because it meant he would be feeling Yuuri’s touch. “But the fact that you were willing to do all of that for me is just something I’ll never be over.”

Viktor leaned forward to press a soft kiss against Yuuri’s wrist. “I’d do anything for you, lyubov moya.”

Yuuri’s smile widened. “And so would I, Vitya.”

That evening was spent with them forgoing making dinner to order katsudon from their favourite Japanese restaurant. They curled up on the couch with a bottle of wine they had stored in the fridge and laughing at a horrible comedy that made their sides hurt. Kisses were exchanged and hugs were given in the most generous amount as they talked and drank and grinned so much that their cheeks hurt. 

It wasn’t what had been planned but it was so much better than that. 

Because they had each other and that was all that mattered. 

And rested underneath Viktor’s pillow case was a small maroon jewellery box that was not seen by him throughout the day. Within it was a simple silver chain with a heart that had the words, ‘my love, my love’ engraved on it. Inside that heart with a picture of both Viktor and Yuuri smiling as they shared a kiss.   

[theolddarkmachine]

Kingdom- Chapter Ten

Gajeel has had the dream about dying for the blue haired girl for as long as he can remember. Which is weird, since he’s never met anyone with blue hair in his life.

Levy has always loved myths and legends. So much so, in fact, that she was currently getting her master’s in mythological studies.

What neither of them realized was that they were living a legend all their own.

AKA the one with a knight, a princess, and a curse that keeps bringing them together just to pull them apart.

PREVIOUS CHAPTERS

AO3

Weeeee another chapter! I’m gonna stop pretending I’m back on weekly updates now, because clearly, I am not XD I JUST KEEP ADDING THINGS TO THE TO-DO LIST WAH I’M SORRY. Anyway, so here’s a wild fun fact, we’re six chapters from the end of Kingdom. Can you believe?! Me either lol Another fun fact? This is the last chapter of questions. After this there are answers. Lots, and lots of answers. And possibly pain. (Read: Lots, and lots of pain.) So uh, enjoy the calm before the storm lol also hi yes also in case you missed it theres a gajevy vday fic coming which is partially why the delay in this update

********************************* 

Why?

The single word had tinged his existence a darker shade of grey as Gajeel was haunted by the continuous replaying of his talk with Lily.

Why?

The story has changed so many times, I can’t be sure, but it is said that the queen was the one that did it.

But why?

If it’s true, she wanted Levy to feel the pain of loss, stretched across all her lifetimes.

Growling under his breath, Gajeel threw his weight into a particularly difficult spot that marred the top of his bar as he let his frustration bleed into the force he exerted. No matter how many times he’d asked, and no matter how many times Lily had replied, he still wasn’t any closer to a real answer.

All that Lily had known was nothing more than possibilities, the truth trapped within the binding of a single book that had been lost to time. Hypotheticals were the only tether to a past he’d only seen glimpses of, and wasn’t even quite sure he believed existed. Even with all the evidence, he still reeled against the possibilities of his impossible truth.

Days had passed since the discovery, and Gajeel wasn’t necessarily avoiding his problems. At least, that’s what he told himself as he’d put his phone on silent and taken on more shifts at the bar than he normally would have. No, he just needed time to work things out. To work out what exactly it meant to be cursed to die for a woman he hardly knew.

What it meant to know, and not be able to do anything about it.

Worst of all, what it meant to know that he would die, and not even care.

Because when it came down to it, Gajeel would die for her. Hell, he’d already thrown himself in front of a truck for her. His problem wasn’t with the situation at all, so much as the realization of his own feelings. Being a reincarnated knight, he could figure out.

The way his stomach dropped each time he checked his phone and didn’t see Levy’s name on the screen, he could not.

With a sigh, he pulled away from the mark, its dark stain stubborn as it stared back at him with all its smudged glory, lit only by the dimmed lights of the bar. It had been days since Levy had walked out of his apartment, leaving him alone with the memory of her blue hair as she disappeared through his doorway.

They’d exchanged numbers, and aside from a quick text that she had made it home in one piece, he hadn’t heard from her since. Something about the hollowness that bled out over his chest felt wrong, leaving behind the biting tang of unease. The only thing that kept it from wholly consuming him was the small voice that reminded him that she wasn’t his.

Yet, he bit back.

Gajeel’s black shirt vibrated against his skin with the force of the bass that danced around his body. It felt ominous in its own right, its growling coming louder and closer than it ever had, wrapping itself around him like a beast behind the bar where he stood.

Ironside itself felt animalistic.

Standing at its entrance had felt like standing in front of a monster and staring down its gaping jaw without any form of defense. It had been enough to make his skin prickle with foreboding as bile worked itself upwards towards the top of his throat with its burning bitterness. Everything about the bar felt wrong.

Almost as if it too, was in on the plot to end his life.

“Hello, handsome,” a voice purred, curling around the edges in a sharpened caress as a taloned hand ran over the stained spot that had held his attention. Ripping his thoughts away from death, Levy and the stubborn mark, Gajeel let his eyes slip up from the wood until he found his crimson gaze caught by one made of amethyst.

The woman that stood before him looked completely misplaced against the backdrop of the bar behind her. Dressed in a black dress cut more for business instead of pleasure, she stood straight with her chin raised high. On anyone else, it would look snobbish. As if she was looking down at those beneath her. In her, however, it gave her a sense of regality. It suited her, and if Gajeel hadn’t known better, he would think her something closer to a queen than someone looking to spend her night at the bar.

With the red lighting that drenched everything along his countertop crimson gracing the sharp points of her face, she carried all the beauty of a wild tiger. Stunning, but dangerous. 

Her lips pulled back over her teeth in a blood colored impersonation of a smile as she dragged the purple of her stare up and down his body. Heart seizing in his chest as if frozen by the sudden grip of fear, Gajeel tried to breath around the feel of sudden panic burning through him.

“What can I get ya?” He pushed through the fear as it coated the back of his tongue with its acrid sting. Everything in him was telling him to run from the hard cut jewel stare. They stood in silence, the thrum of the music falling away from him as they looked each other over. She didn’t make any move to answer, instead opting to run her pointed nails back over the bar.

After allowing the moment to stretch uncomfortably long, Gajeel opened his mouth to ask his question again, sure she hadn’t heard.

“You never change, do you?” She finally spoke, voice lower, and darker. Almost as if it had been mired in shadows. Another pang of something like dread heaved itself against the walls of his gut.

“Have we met before?” He asked, searching his thoughts for an recollection of the woman, only to find himself hitting a wall each time he felt himself get closer. The woman moved forward, settling herself onto a bar stool as her smile widened. Underneath the friendly exterior, he only saw frost. It was a look filled with the knowledge of something he was not privy to.

“My mistake, dear,” she soothed with all the same comfort of a venomous snake as she shook her head. “You just look like someone I knew a lifetime ago.”

Caught under the weight of her biting smile, Gajeel reached for a glass, mindlessly trying to place his attentions on something other than the way the glimmer of her teeth cut into him like sharpened knives.

“He must’ve made an impression,” he muttered, finally tearing his eyes away as he grabbed for a towel.

She probably just needs someone to talk to, he told himself as he started to wipe at the smudges on the cup. It wouldn’t be the first time someone had walked into Ironside looking for a cheaper and more enjoyable alternative to a therapist. Easing himself into the comfort of the barely veiled lie, he stole a quick glance of the woman just in time to see her mouth twitch downward.

“Quite,” she said sharply, her expression twisting with shadows cast from the ever moving lights of the bar.

“Didn’t end well, I take it?” Gajeel prodded, hand twisting the towel around the now pristine surface of the glass, if only to give himself something else to preoccupy his mind aside from that voice beating inside his mind. Pushing back against her words and the mad thump of the music, it kept on in its insistence that something was wrong.

“Not for either of us, I’m afraid.” The words were a hiss that cut into him. His hand stalled as they wrapped themselves around his throat, choking him of air.

“Bad breakup?” He managed around the tight grip that cut off his breathing.

It’s okay, he told himself as he dragged air down into his lungs, fighting back the sudden burn in his chest.

“I suppose you could call it that,” the woman’s voice dipped back into her earlier purr as she bore holes into him with her stare. Gajeel’s grip tightened around the glass, his knuckles turning a stark white, as he felt the sharp sting of a pointed claw dragging down the back of his neck.

A static moment stole his senses, dipping him into silence as he found himself held like a mouse staring up at a snake. In the distance, he could hear the strain of a voice calling his name as if he was caught underwater. That voice sounded so familiar. And it sounded like it was crying.

And then, it was gone. Air burst into his lungs as the sharpened sensation disappeared from around his throat. The music came roaring back to life, nearly deafening him as he set the the glass down onto the counter, using his newly freed hand to steady himself with the hard surface.

The woman, in turn, just smiled.

It’s okay, he repeated, ignoring the smaller voice that contradicted his own thought.

No, it’s not.

“Well, you’ve come to the right place to forget him for awhile,” Gajeel said, aware of the way his voice wavered as if he’d just run a marathon. All he needed to do was get their conversation back on track. If he got her her drink, she could leave, and then he could slip out to catch his breath. Her eyes glowed with the red light, her gaze becoming amethyst mired in blood as she replied.

“I hear you make a great cocktail.”

Another breath.

It’s okay.

No, it’s not.

“You’ve heard right,” he said with a smile, aware that it would probably look more like a grimace. If she noticed the way it hadn’t quite touched his eyes, she didn’t say anything.

“I’ll take a Blue Princess.” Flicking her hand through the air with the same flourish of the royalty she seemed to embody, she gave her order with feigned nonchalance. Even with the thick covering of indifference, he could still hear the hint of something else. Quickly fishing out the alcohol and mixers needed to create the drink, Gajeel filled her glass with the swirling blue liquid.

Setting it before her gently, he took the money she had set before him.

“Keep the change,” she soothed, licking across her bottom lip as she grabbed the drink. Running a finger across the rim, she regarded it with a strange fire in her eye before she brought it to her lips. With a quick flick of her wrist, and a tip of her head, she threw it back, nothing but ice clinking against the glass when she dropped it back on the counter.

It’s okay.

No, it’s not.

“It was good seeing you, Gajeel.” Carefully stepping down from the barstool, she fixed him with a final smile touched by razorblades and ice. Turning away, she started to make her way towards the crowd of swaying bodies, throwing her last words over her shoulder before she disappeared amongst them.

“Thank you for the drink.”

It wasn’t until much later, after he had disappeared into the supply closet under the pretense of needing more glasses, after settling the spinning feeling that had left him reeling, and after he’d returned home from the bar more exhausted than usual, that Gajeel realized something.

It was good seeing you, Gajeel.

The sound of the deadbolt sliding into place a loud click in the otherwise silent apartment.

He hadn’t told her his name.

Vibrations erupted from his pocket as his phone went off with a message alert, sending his heart up into his throat as he grabbed it. Across the screen, he saw Levy’s name, and accompanying it was a simple line of text.

Hey, can we meet up? I was hoping we could talk.

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

[drawerswithouthandles]

"nothing really changed in him, that shows us that he won’t go there again. Cause all the promises, that he would be faithful, to put Aaron FIRST, he had already made them, three weeks before the cheating than happened. " -- Exactly this! It's why I can't get excited about the wedding either. I just don't believe in these characters anymore - what they say, how they react; nothing feels meaningful anymore. They had the big gestures, the big fall outs, and it all gets swept under a rug for plot.

Hiya Nonny,

I think what we experienced in this SL is something that happens to every fandom once in a while. When the fanon and the canon doesn’t overlap during high drama events. We can lose connection and understanding of characters we loved before and thought we knew. Cause they reacted and behaved differently as we expected. 

And when the shift stays, we might never get the connection feeling back. Results are often, that people talk about “characters being OOC” or “bad writing” - and gosh we had a bunch of ‘bad writing’ and characters acting weirdly during this SL.

I would recommend to take a small step back, maybe even from fandom, watch either for yourself or take a small break and come back in the new storyline. It might help to find meaning again. Nothing feels more awful then to not connect with something you once loved and thought you understood. 

Honestly, lots of people I talk on here regularly did exactly that!

Thoughts that have very little to do with your question, mostly rambling about Robert and Redemptions under the cut:

I am NOT saying by ANY means, that I think Robert will cheat again. (any time soon) Its just that after this SL nothing really NEEDS to make that much sense. 

After the cheating this fandom meta’d the HECK out of the scenes, tried to make sense, why Robert would do that to Aaron, why this insignificant prison fight completely tipped him over. And we found some answers. Some things made more sense after the reveal episode. But still some things never really fit together. (Rebeccas whole character for example, the baby first as a constant reminder, then as a sh trigger, now as a cute coparenting option?, Robert turning dark side for a bit etc.) 

But the most popular theory was for ages, that the ONS never happened or we would get a twist and everything would be alright again. Look, even today, the baby is 4 months old, there has never been any real questioning of paternity, a good chunk of the fandom is only here, cause they still hope for a “Ross is the dad”-reveal. 

It’s a soap, they are usually not that deep. You get HEAVY hints if something should FEEL off or get taken by the hand and shown what’s going on. Like comparing it with Vadam, the audience knew for a good while, that Adam wasn’t the dad (and got occasionally reminded) and were just waiting for this to blow up. 

Here, we only have the knowledge, that Lachlan caused the crash, a deleted voicemail and a brain damaged witness. And it revolves around characters, that the GA doesn’t care about anyway( The Whites don’t even have gravestones in the village)

So as for Roberts redemption, it felt for ages, that the show sort of, took loving and compassionate Robert away from us, only to sell him back as ‘new and improved’. 

Even tho we saw him already in his first redemption - getting Chrissie off for manslaughter, this was not connected to Aaron in any way. Robert making up with Andy, in Chicken 2.0 was only indirectly about Aaron. So the fandom picture, that the first redemption was ‘all about Aaron’ and this redemption is ‘better’ cause its NOT about Aaron (where Aaron was the one making Dad!bert possible in the first place) is a bit inaccurate from the get go.

Robert did feel like a 2D version of himself for big parts of this SL, like he was running on heartbreak, I know that, but some of his actions were just really OTT, and all reaction we got from Aaron (the only person that matters to Robert) was “At least no one died” xDD I mean yay! But it’s also… a bit unsatisfying, that Robert got this LOW and there are just no consequences to it… nothing. All people that could hold him accountable for any of it are dead or brain damaged/depending on him. 

And I don’t mean only NEGATIVE consequences!! Robert had severe sleep issues?? He was always living on the brink of a break-down? Why is he not in counseling? The reveal episode in May promised that Robert would go with Aaron, that’s completely forgotten about, even though the dude could really need some support. Look how fast he crumbled on Aaron’s sofa on VDay, the he is still living close to a break-down? Are we not meant to see it that way? Has getting back together with Aaron fixed all those lingering issues? Another pillar of Roberts second redemption is guilt and I am not sure if that is that much better then the first redemption. 

I know, lots of people are okay now with the way this was told and that’s alright. Cause soaps often takes their characters to extremes and suck in the aftermath. So, I try to get on board with things and forget the stuff that happened that just felt ‘icky’. 

There are things to look forward to! We get a more Aaron centric SL in April, the Joe/Robert stuff looks like fun. Liv gets focus, Gerry is in the Mill :D 

[prettyxlittlexwriter]

VDay Challenge Day 1 -Wreak Havoc

Day 1: Song by a female artist - Wreak Havoc by Skylar Grey

Rick Flag x OFC Kara

Lyrics in BOLD

Note: Hi guys! Here is my first submission for the #2018 Vday Challenge! It’s my first ever Rick Flag/DCU/Suicide Squad fic! There was a serious shortage of Rick Flag Fic and I hope to fix that. Enjoy! <3 Sarah

It was hot and dry and Rick Flag could feel the back of his neck already beginning to burn in the desert sun. He squinted his eyes against the swirling dust being kicked up by the landing helicopter. His sunglasses helped keep most of the grit out, but the nature of dust was that it managed to get literally everywhere.

The chopper touched down and the big doors slid open. Black stiletto heels and long, tanned legs appeared, followed by a tight pencil skirt stretched over muscular thighs tapering up to a narrow waist. The Colonel fought to keep his expression stoic and composed as the face of a ghost that had haunted him for years came into view. It was a face changed by time and mostly obscured by expensive aviator shades, but nonetheless, it was one he would have recognized anywhere. Kara Stone, owner and CEO of Blackstone Security crossed the landing pad towards him as if she owned the place.

“A little overdressed?” he drawled dryly. He imagined her rolling her eyes behind her dark glasses.

“I wasn’t exactly given the chance to change,” she bit back, her voice sharp and laced with ice. “So did I get to know the reason behind my abduction?” She asked as she pushed her fitted black blazer open, planting her hands on her hips and Flag caught a glimpse of a shoulder holster and the butt of a small Glock 26.

“You weren’t abducted ma’am,” he said, not even trying to hide his smirk now. “Your presence was simply requested without the option for you to decline.”

“Don’t fucking give me that ‘ma’am’ shit, Flag,” she swore, causing Rick to raise an eyebrow. “I’m sure you didn’t drag me halfway across the globe for a happy reunion. You want to talk? Let’s talk.”

“Follow me,” he said, turning and heading for the tallest building on the base. “And, uh, watch out for scorpions. Those shoes don’t offer a lot in the way of protection…” Muttering under her breath, Kara stalked after Flag, not bothering to look for any god damn scorpions. They cut a path through several green tents, past rows of HumVees and Jeeps and a few small one story out buildings. Flag pushed open the door and a blast of AC washed over them. They both removed their sunglasses as they proceeded wordlessly down a long hall. Rick finally stopped near the end and opened the door and allowing her to enter first. Kara did a quick assessment of what appeared to be a conference room. Large oval table surrounded by twelve black leather chairs. A small projector in the center of the table sat next to a round conference phone. At the front of the room was a white screen and a smartly dressed African American woman with her hands folded in front of her, her lips pressed into a hard line.

“Kara Stone, meet Amanda Waller,” Flag said and the woman nodded by way of greeting.

“Ms. Stone,” Amanda said, smiling though it didn’t reach her eyes. “Please have a seat.” As Kara sank down into the chair, Amanda opened a manila folder on the table in front of her. “Thank you for coming.”

“As I mentioned to the Colonel, it didn’t appear as if I had a choice,” Kara replied tersely.

“Tell me, Ms. Stone. How does a decorated graduate from West Point rise up through the ranks to a First Sergeant in the United States Army only to be dishonorably discharged with an otherwise spotless record?” Rick’s stomach rolled slightly and a small muscle in his jaw twitched.

“The US Army doesn’t really like to give second chances to fuck ups, Ms. Waller,” Kara said matter-of-factly.

“Even when those fuck ups are the daughter of a Two Star General?” Waller countered.

“Especially when, ma’am,” Kara answered and Flag could detect a shift in her voice. He was sure Waller caught it to.

“He died shortly after you were court-martialed, did he not?” The older woman asked. Rick swallowed down a hard lump in his throat and did his best to look anywhere except at Kara.

“He did. Heart attack,” she answered quietly.

“I was sorry to hear that,” Flag said aloud, the words out of his mouth before he realized they were being spoken. Kara’s eyes flew to his and she nodded her thanks.

“You could have Googled all of this,” Kara said, leaning forward and resting her elbows on the big conference table. “Why am I really here?”

“Your firm holds the security contract for Cadmus Laboratories. We need to infiltrate a their secret location and destroy all the research and…. experiments there.” Waller said, crossing her arms over her chest.

“Ms. Waller,” Kara said, a wry smile forming on her lips. “As you’ve said, my frim controls the security of Cadmus and as such we are responsible for protecting against infiltration and destruction.”

“We’ll pay you three times what Cadmus is paying,” Waller offered.

“But even that won’t cover the cost of all the business I stand to lose after failing to protect such a high profile client.”

“Aren’t mercenaries in high demand right now?” Flag interjected. “Isn’t there some third world dictator that needs his assets protected?” Amanda Waller shot him a look that could kill and he clamped his mouth shut again.

“Mercenary is such an ugly word,” Kara said, her lip curling up at Flag. “We’re a private security firm. And the answer is no. I make no apologies. All of my sins I would repeat and I repeat. I’ve worked hard to get where I am, in spite of my tarnished military service record. I’ve built an elite force and we have the top contracts.”

“The US Military has the top contracts,” Flag bit out. “You get the dirty shit they won’t touch.”

“Colonel Flag!” Amanda reprimanded and once again, Rick grew silent. “Ms. Stone, we are not in the habit of asking nicely, but because of your… history with the Colonel here, I am going to make my offer just once more.”

“My history with your associate should have no bearing on this matter,” Kara said, standing to leave, “The answer is still no.”

“That’s too bad,” Amanda said, beginning to pace and for the third time today, Rick stomach felt ill and he mentally braced himself for what came next. “Your father was a great man. Sparkling service record, two time Medal of Honor recipient. He has library named after him in your hometown, doesn’t he?” Kara froze, staring down Waller with a deadly gaze. She didn’t answer. “It was a shame when all those women began to come forward with allegations of sexual misconduct. A few men, too, if I’m not mistaken…”

“Fuck you,” Kara spat. “My father was an incredible man, an incredible leader. His men and women loved him.”

“I know that,” Amanda said, her tone full of mock kindness. “You know that. Hell, even Flag knows that… but I have found that I can get pretty much anyone to say anything… for the right price. They’ll even throw in some tears to make it extra convincing. I wonder if they would have to rename the library. I wonder what your mother would think? A woman her age… you really have to worry about her heart just… giving out.” Kara sank down slowly back into her chair, her chest rising and falling with deep, agitated breaths.

“You know,” she said after a few moments, “I have a file on you, too. A.R.G.U.S? The Suicide Squad? The shit in Midway City?” Amanda looked impressed for a moment.

“Rumors,” she said with a shrug.

“Perhaps,” Kara said, rocking back in her chair. “If I do this, I want the money and I want my father’s reputation intact. Maybe even an posthumous star awarded.”

“Fine. Done,” Waller said, reaching for the file on Kara and shoving it back into her briefcase.

“And I want in on all the intel,” Kara said, standing and pressing her palms flat on the table top. “I will not be kept in the dark.”

“Fine,” Waller said again as she crossed the room to leave. “Rick will accompany you back to New York. He will brief you on the situation and you two can come up with a plan of attack. Task Force X is also at your disposal.”

“Task Force X?” Kara asked, but Waller was gone, the door shutting quietly behind her. Rick listened for the sound of her heels to disappear in the hallway outside before letting out the breath he’d been holding.

“Kara, listen…” he started.

“Fuck you,” Kara said, her voice wavering in anger. “Fuck you for everything.”

“It’s better this way,” Flag offered. “Trust me.”

“He loved you like a son,” she said, quietly. “He’d drop dead all over again to see what you’ve become.” Her comment cut him deep, though he didn’t allow his pain to show outwardly. He nodded and said nothing. More than one time he’d found himself in a difficult situation and tried to think of how General Stone would handle it. He wondered now what the great man would think of the business his daughter was conducting. He wondered if she ever asked herself that very question. She took a deep breath, one last attempt at composing herself and it seemed to work. Standing, she smoothed down her shirt and buttoned her blazer in front of her. “I assume you don’t need to pack?”

“My bag’s on the chopper,” he said, reaching for the door handle and pushing the door open for her. Kara brushed past him, long legs carrying her quickly back towards the exit. Rick followed after her but just before she reached the double doors, she spun on him and he had to stop short to avoid crashing into her.

“I know that you hate that you need me, you wanna destroy me but you can’t,” she seethed, eyes blazing with fury. “Tell me, Flag, what’s your weakness? Who is your pressure point?”

“At the moment,” he said, trying to keep his voice even as an image of June Moone flashed in his mind, “I am without one. I’ve discovered it’s better this way.”

“Lucky you,” Kara spat out before turning and pushing her way back out into the suffocating desert heat. Rick forced himself to follow, thinking that lately, he’d felt anything but lucky.

To be continued.................................................................