#and to just be not listened to and dismissed.

[buckysfaveplum]

her weakness

summary: you’re an enhanced individual with strong abilities and one moral code- you only fight with them when your opponent is also enhanced. during the fight with john walker, that code gets broken when bucky is hurt

pairing: bucky barnes x female reader

word count: 3.5k

warnings: violence, blood, fighting, it’s a fight seen so yea expect things relating to that

a/n: i rewatched tfatws and this fight always makes me so worried for my bbs so yea this was born. I typed it up helllllla quick so I'm sorry if its trash, I'm not too proud of this one idk.

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Your feet followed closely behind Bucky as you approached the warehouse. Your limbs were stiff and your skin clammy. Your hand stayed firmly in Bucky’s grasp as you approached John Walker. Sam had tracked him to a storage warehouse near the square you had just witnessed brutality in.

He murdered him, in cold blood, with Steve’s shield. You couldn’t get the screams of the public out of your head, the sound of the vibranium as it slashed into the flagsmasher’s body. You would’ve thrown up if Bucky hadn’t pushed you behind him. You had seen much worse, much more gruesome violence in your line of work. But something about this was sickening, rotting away in your stomach as you tried to grapple with the truth that the shield your friend once carried with honor and pride was just used by an unhinged soldier who found joy in the worst parts of the job.

Bucky stayed ahead of you, following Sam as they entered the building. Your hand trembled in his vibranium grasp. His thumb gently brushed across the veins and bones of your hand, trying to bring you comfort before the scene he knew was about to play out.

As you walked into the large space, you saw him. He was too composed and stoic for what had just taken place. His tall and slender figure loomed as he casually walked up to you all, barely acknowledging Sam as he tried to get him to listen.

“Walker,” Sam started. The soldier brushed Sam’s stern tone off, hopefully delaying what he knew was coming.

“You guys should see a medic, you don’t look so good,” He said, walking past you.

“Stop, Walker,” Sam took a few steps closer, trying again to get him to focus.

Your jaw tightened as you watched the man pace erratically in front of you. He was muttering quietly before responding as if trying to convince himself what he was saying had any truth.

“What?” He asked, coming closer. “You saw what happened. You know what I had to do.”

Your grip on Bucky tightened, sensing Walker’s anger began to boil over. You knew a fight was coming, it always was. 

“I killed him because I had to! He killed Lemar!” Walker shouted, his arms waving now and revealing how off the deep end he had gone. 

You knew the moment you saw him in that fight. He stole the serum and took it for himself. This behavior just confirmed it. But the serum only enhanced what was already bubbling under the surface. The same John you meet on the highway. The same John who waltzed into the police station as if he had the authority or right to control Bucky and call him an ‘asset’. It was always there. 

“He didn’t kill Lemar, John.”

Bucky’s smooth and deep voice cut through the tension in the room. You felt his grip on your hand squeeze for a moment, making sure you were okay. He could always sense your anxiety in the field. Your powers made keeping your calm difficult. You would never use them in battle unless your opponent was enhanced as well. You were a skilled fighter and agent, you didn’t need them. And it didn’t always seem ethical. But keeping them at bay, in check, could prove difficult- especially in heightened situations such as this.

Walker scoffed at Bucky’s words, dismissing the truth like it was nothing.

“Don’t go down that road. Believe me, it doesn’t end well,” Bucky said.

“I’m not like you!” Walker’s voice was full of disgust and resentment. From the moment you met him, you could sense his quiet disdain for your best friend. Looking down his nose at him like he was some scum left over from Steve's life, something he’d always have to deal with. Yet at the same time, resentment. Jealousy over his power, control, and abilities in his enhanced body. As if that’s what made him an excellent fighter. Or a good person.

Your spare hand moved between Bucky’s shoulder blades, giving him a subtle and quiet support as you prepared.

“Listen, it was the heat of the battle, okay?” Sam said, taking a step closer to Walker. That shield danced in your vision, taunting you as he paced back and forth. “If you explain what happened, they may consider your record.”

Walker’s distress spread across his face, his brows furrowing and eyes scrunching as he tussled with Sam’s words.

“We don’t want anyone else to get hurt,” Sam said.

The warehouse went silent as Walker stared at the ground before him. Bucky gave you a soft, tight-lipped smile before begrudgingly dropping your hand. He slowly took a step towards the man, joining Sam.

“John…” Bucky said, calmly. 

“You gotta give me the shield, man,” Sam said.

That did it. You could feel the room shift that second.

A disturbing serene aura washed over Walker at that moment. Slowly, he lifted his gaze to you all. His eyes were dark, lacking a certain warmth and compassion you had grown so used to seeing through that blue cowl. A certain warmth that left when he hung up the shield.

“Oh…. so that’s what this is,” Walker said. “You almost got me.”

You could see his grip on the shield tighten, the leather straps twisting between his fingers.

“You made a mistake,” Sam said.

You slowly took a step forward, your hands flexing as you prepared for what was to come. Walker finally turned his gaze to you. His eyes roamed you up and down. You could’ve sworn you saw Bucky’s jaw clench, that familiar muscle tightening in distress. Walker smirked at you before glancing at Bucky. He could read the protectiveness radiating off of your supersoldier.

“You don’t wanna do this,” Walker said to him.

Bucky didn’t meet his gaze. His fists balled at his side, practically shaking with anger. He never took pleasure in a fight, every punch or kick felt like a necessity rather than enjoyment. But he couldn’t deny how much he desired to rip that shield from his grimy hands.

“Yeah we do,” Bucky said.

Sam lurched forward first, Bucky soon following suit. Your feet moved quickly, moving behind Walker as your friends attacked from the front. The man moved with a speed you had yet to see from him, a brute force you could only get from the serum.

With a harsh kick, Walker sent Sam flying away, leaving you and Bucky alone. You tried to knock Walker down from the back as Bucky grappled with the shield. As you sent a harsh kick into the back of Walker’s knees, he spun quickly and sent a jab into Bucky’s gut sending him backward in pain and knocking him off balance. Before you could back him up, Walker slammed a harsh punch into Bucky’s jaw. Your heart raced and your hands shook as you watched him drop to the ground. You sprung into action, pulling the shield back in your hands and keeping Walker from smashing it into Bucky’s face. Sam leaped in, kicking the shield up and drawing attention to him.

You slammed a kick into Walker’s back, sending him stumbling forward as Sam slashed at him with his wings. Bucky leaped up, his arm aiming to come down on the faux Captain America’s back hard but was ultimately blocked by the shield. 

You were growing frustrated. Walker never packed this much of a punch. The serum raged through his veins, lacing each kick and swing of the shield with force and hate. As you and Sam continued to trade blocks at Walker, Bucky attempted to pull him down but was quickly met with the shield swinging into the side of his face. Your legs shook. The longer this dragged out the more difficult you find keeping your emotions in check. The longer you watched your favorite person in the world become decorated with blood and bruises, the more your ethical code began to look like a suggestion. Walker deserved a swift blast to the face and more. But you held off. 

Walker slammed the shield into Sam’s back, sending him down. As your two friends recovered briefly, it was just you and him. You surged forward at the man, dodging as he swung at you. Being smaller than the two Avengers alongside you made it much easier to evade Walker’s sloppy attacks. You sent a firm kick into his chest followed by an uppercut into his chin. As he spun and tumbled, Bucky was back on his feet and meeting Walker with punches. Bucky’s attacks quickly led the pair into a tight spot, backing Walker up into a heavy piece of machinery. The pair spun in circles over the shield, yanking the vibranium disc back and forth and trading beatings in between. Sam quickly followed you over, diving in for aid, but quickly was sent flying back by Walker’s attacks. His body slammed to the ground with a grunt.

While Bucky worked, you glanced at Sam. He pushed himself to his feet slowly, preparing to dive back into the fight. In your moment of distraction, the fear and care for your dear friend overriding your common sense to keep fighting, you heard Walker’s voice pull you back. Bucky was trapped between the shield and a machine. You rushed over to help but it was far too late.

“Why are you making me do this?!” Before you could register what Walker was saying, you watched as Bucky went flying. 

Walker’s forceful swing of the shield sent him hurtling across the warehouse. Your body froze as if someone had filled your veins with cement. The dramatic scene Walker had created came to an end with Bucky’s body smashing into an electrified pole and crashing to the ground. The might of his impact snapped the pole in the middle, sparks cascaded from the steel and flooded onto the floors; leading your eyes to Bucky. 

“Bucky!” You screamed.

His body lay limp and splayed out on the cold dirty floors. His face was smushed into the cement. His limbs didn’t dare to move. Except for his vibranium arm, which twitched and spasmed under his body; blue and white sparks burst out from the plates adding to the horror.

Your breaths were heavy and shaky, your hands trembled at your sides as the vibrating blue of your powers began to spark at your fingertips; mirroring the sight of your best friend’s arm. The room was spinning, at least that’s what made sense to you. Your balance was unstable, your knees threatening to buckle at any moment. You turned to spare a look at Sam, begging him for permission. But he was already back on his feet and rushing towards Walker. 

“Go!” He shouted.

You had never been faster. Your abilities never gave you the gift of flight but in that moment they very well could have. Your legs became weak and your steps messy as you neared Bucky. You crashed to your knees beside him, pain radiated up your thighs from the impact but you couldn’t care. It couldn’t be worse than the expanding tight pain in your chest as you struggled to breathe.

Your hands quivered as they hovered over his body. With him lying so still you could finally take in the damage Walker had done to his face. Blood was splattered all over, deep purple and blue hues bloomed across his cheekbones, and a nasty split had opened on his lip. Worst of all, his nose was broken.

The sparks continued to burst from the plates of his arm, his hand jerking and spasming with an unsettling sound of grinding metal. Quickly, you placed your hands firmly on the vibranium. A deep blue beamed from under your palms, cascading the metallic golds and blacks of his arm in your glow. The excess electricity from the crash moved in waves through the arm up into your hands. You focused as all the veins in your body became electrified, an aqua glow shone through your skin as the energy you. Your once y/e/c eyes were quickly overtaken, the cool energy overriding your iris’ and leaving an intense indigo shine. With a sharp gasp and breath, you let go. His arm had stopped moving, now lying as still and motionless as he did. 

“Bucky,” you said, giving his damaged body a soft shake. “Bucky, wake up.”

He didn’t move, his face slack and limps heavy as you struggled to turn him to his back and off of his arm. Your hands rushed to his face, cupping his cheeks and holding him close as if you could shield him from more of John Walker’s savagery. If someone had the power to take your abilities and trade them for the ability to heal, you’d offer them anything they wished just for the potential to spare Bucky from his pain even for a moment. 

“Buck… come on wake up,” the fresh blood from his injuries spilled into your fingertips, the crimson caked into your cuticles and threatened not to leave.

“Plum, please,” His body twitched; your lungs finally filled with air. 

His breaths were labored but there, his chest rattled as he sucked in much-needed air. Your fingers moved to his neck, their shuddering finally stilling as you felt his pulse return to a firm and strong pattern.

The sounds of Sam’s grunts and Walker’s cries swiftly pulled your attention back to your friend. He was up in the air, a long metal cord pulling on the shield and attempting to free it from Walker’s venomous grasp. To no avail, as soon Sam was flung back to the floor and across the room. The shield clattered to the ground, equally laid between the two men. The smug and determined look on Walker’s face enraged you, the blue glow returning to your eyes. Sam glanced over at you before rushing for the shield. He needed you.

You turned back to Bucky, still unresponsive to your touches and voice. He was breathing, his pulse steady. Taking in the broken state of his body, his face battered and bloodied, you couldn’t hold back your rage any longer.

It was as if something had possessed you. Gently, you laid Bucky back to the ground, pressing a trembling kiss to his forehead.

“I’ll be right back,” you said, your voice monotone yet determined. The expressions of concern, fear, and horror that had played upon your face just moments ago were now gone. You were cold and still, as you rose to your feet and walked over to the two men fighting behind you.

Before Walker could grab the shield, a harsh blast of blue energy sent him flying back in the opposite direction. The man was studded, confused by how he could have been knocked down. He looked up to see you rushing towards him. You were steady in your movement, not running but with each step winding up for the next blow. Your hands were baked in a fierce glow of aqua as you channeled more energy through your fingertips. 

Walker scrambled to his feet, preparing for the offense. Before he could even take a step he was back on the ground with another blast from you. A loud cry fell from your lips as you slammed him down with force from your power. As you ran up to Walker, he quickly sent a firm hit to your jaw. You stumbled back, regaining your vision to see him coming at you. You jumped up, knees to your chest and feet pressing on his as you blasted him once again. 

He was on the ground with you towering over him. His face was coated in shades of black and blue, mirroring the face you were trembling over just seconds ago. Good, he deserved that and more.

You blasted him again as he struggled to crawl away. You followed him, hot on his trail as energy overflowed from your hands. The shield was long forgotten by you, only driven by your need for revenge. Bucky couldn’t even answer you, couldn’t move. He needed to pay.

Walker’s body slammed back into machinery as you surged more energy at him. He was done, hands shaking above him as he prepared for your next blow.

“We’re better than this right? Captain America doesn’t do this,” Walker said through his split lip and shaking jaw.

You scoffed; if only he had thought that way an hour ago. You wouldn’t be here. Bucky would be okay.

“Good thing I’m not Captain America,” you said. Walker shielded his face as you wound up your aim. Energy radiated from your fist up your forearm as you pulled it back to deliver one last shot.

“Y/n, stop!” Sam shouted.

Your blast was halted by a firm hand on your upper arm. You recognized the stillness and coolness that held onto your body. Turning you saw Bucky behind you. He was shaking as he stood, breaths labored and heavy, but there he was. Sam ran up behind the two of you, shield in hand as he looked at you. But all you could focus on was Bucky.

Bucky stepped forward, shaking his head softly as he lowered your arm. 

“This isn’t you, you don’t do this,” he said. Your nostrils flared as you breathed heavily, struggling to reel your rage back in. You glanced back at Walker who lay on the ground, glaring at you smugly. Your eyes shone brighter, your fists clenching as the glow intensified. 

“Hey,” Bucky said, taking your face and turning you to look back at him. “You’re not him.”

The energy overtaking your body began to fade as you relaxed under his firm touch. The uncontrollable blue glow began to fade back into your body, leaving you panting as you tried to calm your emotions. Bucky stood before you, vibranium hand stroking your own.

“You’re okay,” you said.

“I’m okay. Hey, hey, I’m okay. It’s over,” he said, pulling you away from the scene you had created. He walked you slowly back towards Sam, you shook in his grasp. Walker struggled to stand as he watched the three of you leave. The shield taunted him as it hung off of Sam’s arm, finally back with its true owner. The Captain America.

“I’m sorry,” you said, looking at Sam. “I just….” you glanced at Bucky, once again seeing the battering of his beautiful face. Your throat swelled as you lost your words, choking on your fear.

“We got it back,” Sam said, giving your shoulder a firm squeeze before heading out of the building. His limp as he walked didn’t escape you.

Bucky gripped your hand tightly, pulling you with him as he walked. He didn’t make it far before his knees began to buckle, his body slipping as he fell. You were at his side in a heartbeat, arm hauling him back up beside you; refusing to let his body crash to the filthy ground again. 

“Hey, hold onto me,” you said. You wrapped his arm around your shoulder and his other gripped at your waist as you began to pull him from the warehouse, his feet limping and tripping as he struggled to walk. Walker’s body began to fade in the distance as you left.

“Why did you do that, doll?” Bucky asked as you walked, his voice slurred and low. Each wince and suck of breath stabbed at your side like a pecking bird, refusing to let your wound heal. 

“I don’t know, I’ve never done that. I….” you paused, stopping your feet as you gave him a moment to catch his breath. “When I saw you hit that pole, I lost it.”

“I’m okay, Y/n,” he said, yet his words seemed to hold no weight as he struggled to stay upright at your side.

“Your arm was sparking, Bucky. You weren’t moving. I-I thought that you…” You couldn’t finish, gripping him tighter as your voice shook. As if letting him go would give the world a chance to tear him from you once again. Your fingertips dug into his tact suit, determined to embed yourself in him.

“Hey, babydoll,” he said, hoisting himself up just enough to take your face in his hands. He swayed on his feet as he stood, intent on holding you close as he spoke. Your hands held him steady at his side.

“I’m here, I’ll always be here. But no matter what happens to me, I don’t want you to lose yourself,” he said, stroking your cheek. “I can’t have that.”

“I don’t wanna lose you,” you said.

“You won’t. I’m right here, I’m always coming back to you.”

You nodded softly as you rested your head on his chest. His hands moved to your hair as he held you close. Your hands wound around his center, keeping him safe in your arms. As long as you were around, no one would take him.

“You’re so good, you’re so special, Y/n. You need to be strong, even if I get hurt. You can’t drop your morals for me. They mean too much to you,” he said.

“I think you may be my weakness,” you said, your voice muffled in his chest. He tucked himself closer into you at your words, his head resting upon yours. His lips pressed a soft kiss to the side of your head.

“You’ve always been mine,” he said softly.

---

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[pangur-and-grim]

okay sorry, one other thing annoyed me about that writing class. one of the students is this super clean-cut doctor who works at an HIV clinic, and he asked the prof "do you ever get distracted while reading books, because you find yourself analyzing the craft of them instead of sinking into the story?"

and she said "no," and turned away. and the whole class laughed awkwardly, bc it was a pretty abrupt and dismissive answer. so then she turned back to him and said "you wouldn't ask a musician if they get distracted listening to songs. they just enjoy the music."

but I dunno, I'm a newbie writer with only one (scheduled-to-be-published) book under my belt, but I get distracted sometimes when I'm reading. if I find I'm not sinking into a block of text, I'll squint at it and be like "okay, they're using too much passive voice, that's why my brain isn't grabbing on to it." so I'm sorry Mr. HIV doctor, I thought your question was reasonable!

[occamstfs]

Man-Candle

Under the guise of a gag-gift Chad gives his bookish friend a candle based on his own b.o. Little does Stephen know, as soon as he lights the wick he sets off to join the jock in sweaty abandon.

Very musk forward Jock TF! Hope you enjoy this story of Stephen's scent-based (new)self-discovery, Best! -Occam

His ears ring with tinnitus as he opens the gift. It’s as if an explosion has gone off as he tries to process the pancake in his hands. Everything in him says to laugh, it’s clearly a gag gift, a Man-Candle? His mouth is dry and all the blood in his head rushes to its other epicenter as Stephen looks up, eyes wide, to the man who by all appearances has given him a candle of his own musk, Chad.

His cocky grin is a perfect likeness of the one on the candle’s label staring up from Stephen’s lap. Chad’s expression grows even smarmier as he winks and raises an arm to smell his pit. Stephen’s face burns red as he sees the clear patch of grey that must have been fermenting all morning, his cock bumps against the package.

Chad’s eyes shoot immediately to the sound and his smirk shifts and an eyebrow’s raised in curiosity, excited that his friend must quite like the gift. Stephen speaks up quickly, lest the two brain cells bouncing around the jock’s skull stumble across any ideas, “What the fuck?” The first volley, bounces off Chad’s steel confidence. The second “what the fuck,” causes an eye narrow as the idea that this may be a misstep finally occurs to him, the third repetition of Stephen’s new mantra apparent gets through through Chad’s thick skull.

The jock’s arm remains raised to scratch his back and Stephen’s cock is more than happy to see the grey patch return and his mind must remain focused on not staring directly at the few pit hairs sneaking above his sleeve. Chad clears his throat awkwardly, “I mean bro… Chicks are always talking about how they love, huh- y’know,” he gestures to the air around him, “my aura. Just thought, you know, uhhh- a dude like you might too?”

The jock braces as he sees Stephen’s eyes narrow as he clearly winds up to somehow lash out. Unfortunately for the twink he takes a deep breath to start and is hit with the full force of the man’s ‘aura,’ it catches him off guard and underneath the package his cock pushes again. Stephen grits his teeth and averts his eyes as he tries to hide his desire, “Chad! Those are people you’re sleeping with! I’m just- This is-” Stephen does everything in his power to quiet his lust as he finishes, “Why would I want this?” 

Chad tongues his cheek and juts his stubbled jaw. Scratching his meaty stomach in thought, Stephen can hear the hairs dragged underneath the jock’s tight shirt. Making up his mind Chad decides to speak on the elephant, or moreover the trunk, in the room. Nodding to the gift poorly hiding Stpehen’s erection, Chad shrugs “I mean bro, seems like you’re enjoying it just fine.” 

“Jesus Christ, fucking straight men!” As unfortunately turned on as Stephen is from the gift and the hunk he has long tried to not be attracted to, at the highlighting of his out of control cock he finds the will to defend his paltry dignity. Though instead of speaking up as his mind is not running on all cylinders, his hands instead reach for anything not breakable to hurl at the man still smirking.

Pillows fly at the man as he continues to try and explain his thoughts, “Yo bro! Watch it-” he grabs one to use as a shield against the continued volley, “I mean I can take it back if you want!” Stephen’s dreams of salvaging dignity perhaps fall to the wayside as this remark causes the hardest throw yet. Chad smirks behind the pillow and finally gets to the door, “Whatever dude! I’ll see ya later! Once you’ve cooled off a bit-” 

Chad stands behind the closed door with a shit-eating grin on his face, straight men huh. Awfully dismissive of the bi jock’s identity but whatever. He listens to Stephen huff and unbox the candle through the wall, unaware that the real gift is to come when he finally lights that bad boy up. Whenever the pair get drunk enough it always devolves into Stephen wishing he’d hit the gym more and Chad begging for his friend to join him. He’d love nothing more than a gym bro he can fuck, and soon enough, unless Stephen has the strength to nip his blue balls in the bud, both wishes are to be granted.

It does not take long for already riled-up Stephen to give in to his curious urges. As soon as the scent of Chad in the air dissipates and he hears the front door of his apartment close, the countdown begins. Stephen stares at the obnoxiously smug photo of Chad on the candle and narrows his eyes, “I mean surely it’s a bit? It can’t actually smell like him specifically? Seems hm, expensive to do.” 

He bites his lip as he shakily goes to remove the lid, driven by a mind less than conscious and more than hungry. Mouth on the precipice of watering, as soon as the seal is cracked the scent washes over him like a tidal wave. Somehow more powerful, more alluring than the real thing. Rich and grimy, and indisputably the essence of Chad distilled into waxen form.

His eyes are glazed over and his mouth is now pooling with drool. It's anyone’s guess as to how the candle gets lit, but so it does. Stephen falls back onto the couch as his hands struggle to free his cock quick enough from pants that force it down at an awkward angle. It finally bounces free, flinging more pre than he’s ever produced upward. Droplets land just shy of his own face as his mouth falls wantonly open and his hands begin their gleeful work.

The creation of Eau De Chad was not light work, the boiling down of man into a single candle is quite the ask. Perhaps even more so than the transformative magic that it is to instill in Stephen. Within the candle are notes from every musky epicenter of Chad’s being, more than powerful enough to distract Stephen as he begins his journey into a musky jock’s shoes himself.

Foremost of the mind-numbing notes that the lost man is bathing himself in is perhaps the one he’s smelled the least. As strong as in his jock after a workout, sweaty pubes and dripping pre. The medley of scents from Chad’s crotch is so powerful that even without clearly even knowing the source it’s on the tip of Stephen’s tongue, much like he would dream to have on his tongue in reality.

Each breath pulling him deeper than the last, Stephen continues to paw at his cock now free to the open, musky air. With each kneading thrust his hands struggle to encompass his dick as it begins to change. Years of pushing down primal desires for his friend, the Adonis, evaporate into the air as he pictures himself working Chad’s cock. Breathing and licking the heady swear straight from the source.

He imagines working the larger man’s spit-covered cock and with each new image in his mind his own beast begins to reform. Dripping more pre than he’s produced in his life up to this point, his hips thrust into wanting hands as his dick thickens and spears high into the air. Lengthening to press against his sternum, veins bulge and criss-cross across its length as its head regrows a foreskin he never had the chance to enjoy.

When his smaller hands, unable to truly satisfy or encompass his new rod, shift down to try and cup balls bulging larger and pumping him full of masculinity, he hears them scratch against the new jungle of growing pubes. Though the jock tries to keep his chest relatively hairless, under the belt hair growth is wild enough to more than make up for it, and as Stephen begins changing into his new musky lover, he seems to be of the same persuasion.

The candle wick flickers as a new scent begins to rise in prominence. This one Stephen recognizes all too well, though usually poorly masked under cheap deodorant, the scent of Chad’s pits could never be truly hidden. His mouth waters as the scent washes through him and his whole body contorts in pleasure. When his own pits begin to itch he gasps and for the first time opens his eyes to find an impossibly large cock hanging over his thin thighs. His mouth quivers into a smile as the line between dream and reality shifts muddy.

For now though, for the pit fiend there is only one thing to do. He raises his arm and gasps as he sees his few pit hairs lengthening, while in between each one a few darker curls make themselves at home. Stephen forces his head into the sweaty spot and hungrily sniffs. Nose tickled by the growing jungle he moans as he encounters his own changing scent, currently overcoming his own, usually superfluous, deodorant it is but a pale imitation of Chad’s. Though it races to be something equivalent, no, greater. 

He continues taking deep breaths, switching between the candle burning strong and his own pit as his musk continues to heighten and shift. With each needy sniff it becomes clear that his odor is not the only part of him shifting. Previously undeveloped arms cramp as muscle begins to pile on. Veins pulse down their center as biceps that have scarcely known strain burn as muscle fibers break and reform to create an impressive peak.

Stephven’s face suddenly contracts into a smirk that he never quite understood before now as his arms force themselves into a pose. Flexing and exposing his newly hairy pits in what he now knows as a front lat spread, he almost laughs as his heady powerful musk begins to overpower the scent burning off the candle. 

Having not actually left the apartment, Chad puts an ear to the door as Stephven’s laughter and moans rise in volume and deepen in tone. He creaks open the door and is almost physically hit with the wave of musk as it pours out like a fog from Steven’s bedroom. His own brand mixing with the steam of sweat seeping from his new bros pits is almost more than he can handle. With every step his mind strains to not just give into his own hunger to pounce on his half-formed bro sitting in the chair. 

Hearing Steven’s socks fray and tear as a subtle note of foot funk rises to the top of the candle. Seeing his new partner’s legs fill his young-professional pants to their limit, bulging thighs pushing at and swiftly bursting the strained seams. Chad bites his lip almost to the point of drawing blood as he feels his own thighs cramp. He doesn’t know if he’s somehow growing as his new gym bro continues to edge larger or if he’s simply overwhelmed, if his own mind is too clouded from the hunger and musk.

Chad shambles towards Steven, mouth falling open as he sees the shimmering sweaty traps that have torn his shirt open. His eyes can’t look away from the newly heavy pecs that hang over his defined abs, he fights the urge to lean down and lap at the muscle as Steven delights in bouncing them. Sending cascading shadows across his sweaty core, and gaining more mass with every dancing flex.

 Instead, Chad leans in close to Steven’s delirium painted face. “Looks like ya liked my gift after all, huh Steve?” His breath mists across Steve’s face. Its heavy humidity barely overcomes the sweaty atmosphere but the sharp mint and undercurrent of musty breath underneath call to his nose like smelling salts. 

His jaw cracks and widens as the changes that have overtaken him finally begin their work on the final frontier. Unable to control himself Chad licks the man’s face as it prickles with stubble. Steve’s nose breaks then reforms, his brows thicken and cast a shadow over his eyes as they lose both their color and clarity. Deepening to brown as their default state becomes glazed and thoughtless.

Feeling Chad’s sticky tongue drag on his cheek, it’s like he was struck by lightning. Every new bulging muscle in Steve’s body flexes at once and he stands to his new height, able to make direct eye contact with the man staring at him, just inches away.

Steve tackles him onto the bed, knocking over the candle and sending wax flying through the air. The pair are sparingly coated in the Chad scented candle as they begin heavily exploring Steve’s new form. As their mouths that have always been left wanting find new delight, whatever shreds of the old Stephen that are left begin to vacate.

The anxieties and priorities of a small meek man who never let his id loose disappear as he positions himself over Chad. He bites his bro’s lip and thrusts downward as he pins the massive man’s hands above his head. Masked by the pleasure of true release, he doesn’t care as his old self washes away. Memories evaporate like the sweat pouring off his form. He delights in maneuvering across Chad’s form and enjoying his musk from the source.

His tongue dances across sweaty pecs that match his own as his collection of classics on a bookshelf disappear to be replaced by free weights. Steve’s nose finally shoves its way into Chad’s pits as his extensive collection of hygiene and beauty products down the hall clatter to the floor and disappear as they’re replaced by a single bar of clinical deodorant only used for special occasions. Sleeves fall off his wardrobe of cardigans and button ups as sweat stains yellow every garment. The tops throw themselves from hangers while musty shorts and jockstraps heap into a pile on the floor.

Sweat drips from his brow as with each thrust into Chad his mind gives up the ghost. Each impossible wave of pleasure erodes his old self, each drop of sweat an idea gone, each rivulet of pre dripping down his veiny cock a sign of his intelligence drained to increase the muscle mass of his new form. After all besides pleasure nothing matters to him nearly as much as his fucking hot bod.

He feels his balls pulse as every remaining aspect of Stephen’s self shoots down and is quickly converted. His eyes roll back as he cums the few specks of self remaining in a massive load onto Chad’s sweaty abs. After a few moments of total mindlessness from the jubilee of release, Steve awakens to find himself atop his bro and simply laughs, “Huhuh woah dude that’s a fuckin’ fat load huh?” He scratches at his hairy chest and grimaces as he imagines how that’s going to hide his gains.

Seeing the thoughts on his face as the two are evermore on the same wavelength Chad pauses rubbing Steve’s cum onto his abs and offers, “Lookin’ a little rough there bro, wanna go top up and then hit the gym?” Steve smirks as his bro basically reads his mind, “Yoooo totally let’s hit it!” He punches down into his bro as he stands, smirking as he watches Chad’s cock bounce before sprinting into the restroom and prepping to get pumped.

The gym starts to clear out as the pair arrive, judging by the musk already following in their wake no one dares risk having to smell what it’s like once they actually start going. Stopping in the locker room the pair stop publicly groping and sniffing each other long enough to take a pre-workout photo, tongues out as ever. When they see some poor soul who didn’t escape the gym quick enough covering his nose they eye each other up.

“Yo dude, looks like lil’ bro over there’s gotta problem with your stink.” Steve performatively sniffs his pit and shakes his head, “Nahnah bro. It’s definitely yours, check it.” They continue to talk up eachothers musk while the young man can’t help but sit there, stunned into silence. With each new statement the pair swagger closer until their sweat may as well be dripping on the man.

Gasping as he regains awareness just as the pair are almost standing over him, the sharp intake fills his lungs with their musk as a smile creeps over his face. “Looks like lil bro’s likin’ it after all Chad.” Throwing a sweaty arm over his bro, the man who can scarcely recall that his bro hasn’t always been like this laughs, “Huhuh, well obviously bro, no shot anyone’ll be able to resist us soon.” The pair help the hazy man up and begin ushering him through the ropes, eager to have another musky jock in their image and excited to see how far their little group will grow.

[kalessinsdaughter]

@vercengetorixadvisor the right-hand-on-heart is part of the South African civilian flag salute (just like it is in the US), yes.

But the raised, extended arm? Nope. That's not Musk being South African and doing shit a little different.

Please, I say this as a Swedish goy: listen when Jews tell you they're alarmed by the very familiar signs they see arising.

And if you're going to try to dismiss them anyway, at least try to use sources that don't directly contradict your claim.

jews have been sounding the alarm about the alarming rise of antisemitism and neo-nazi rhetoric around the world for years now, and have been largely dismissed by all sides of the political spectrum. they’re playing the victim, they’re exaggerating, they’re lying, they’re a distraction from other more important issues, etc etc.

i hope this can be a wakeup call for many. if this is shocking to you, i urge you to find jewish voices and creators to follow. antisemitism is a canary in the coal mine for fascism and jewish people are the ones most equipped to recognize it and oppose it.

we will all need each other more than ever for what’s to come. make sure the coalitions and networks you build include jewish people too.

[witherby]

Please help a starving Anon..... I need more Mother Hen Hal from you...The way you write him and the characters are so good and perfect(idc if anyone disagrees), i am dying../silly/nf

It can have anything you wish to add, maybe a sprinkle of hurt/comfort (let's not forget the queers(BatLantern) too/verysilly)/lh

Yeah, you can absolutely have more mother hen Hal!!! This one is a little early in the relationship, pre-Flittermouse, and Dick-centric.

The Littlest Wayne: Mother Hen (Dick)

"B! Thanks for coming to get —"

Dick stops and tilts his head as the window of the Lambo rolls down. It's not Bruce, here to pick him up from a celebration at Titan's Tower he was just a smidge too drunk to drive himself home from.

It's Hal.

"Hi, kid," he greets. "Bruce was asleep when you texted. I told him to chill out and I'd get you instead."

"Oh, hi," Dick says, a little off-kilter. His grin only wanes a little. "Yeah. Okay."

He walks around the car and climbs into the front passenger seat, brows furrowed. It's the first time they've been alone together since Bruce told the boys that they started seeing each other.

"Thanks."

"No problem. Have you eaten in a while? Might hit a drive-through before we get back. My treat as long as you don't tell Alfred."

Dick nods slowly, staring at Hal like he can't quite figure everything out. Hal just shoots him an easy smile, then focuses his attention on the road.

They're quiet for a while, the radio playing some top 10 hit softly through the speakers neither one of them recognizes. When Hal pulls up to order them some food (and how curious that he knows Dick's usual) then waves away Dick's effort to pay, the man can't help but say something.

"You don't... have to do that."

"It's like thirty bucks, champ. I've got it," Hal chuckles.

"I don't mean the food."

Hal looks at Dick curiously. It's probably the fact that he's still pretty sloshed, but he feels especially vulnerable in the car with him, and can't quite keep his thoughts to himself.

"You don't have to pretend to care about Bruce's kids just because you're dating Bruce." Even as he says it, he knows it was mean and dismissive. Dick chews on the inside of his cheek and can't figure out how to take that back, so he stops talking.

Hal doesn't respond. Dick can't make himself look at Hal's face, so he fiddles with the Nightwing charm dangling off his cellphone.

"Here's your meal, sir. Enjoy," says a fast food employee. Hal thanks her quickly, then pulls into a parking lot and kills the engine. Dick listens to him rustle through the bag and sort out what belongs to whom for a minute, then gently takes his portion from him when it's offered.

"Hey," says Hal. Dick pretends he's too preoccupied with opening the sauce packet for his chicken nuggets to look up. "Okay. I'd probably be a little skittish after dropping a bomb like that, too. So, just listen for a sec, okay?"

"Kay," he mumbles through a mouthful of fries, trying very hard not to feel like he's eight years old and sitting in Commissioner Gordon's office, waiting to find out if Bruce will assume guardianship and take him home, waiting to see if he'd be accepted or rejected.

"I think Bruce is it for me."

Hmm. Okay, not the words he expected to hear, but Dick is listening.

"You've probably heard that from his exes before. Something about Bruce is just...captivating. He's got his own gravitational pull, and I'm not interested in getting knocked outta orbit."

Hal pops a couple fries in his mouth. Dick sees his shoulders shrug in his periphery.

"I'm in love with him, is the point. Have been for a few years now, but I didn't think it was reciprocal until that battle in Coast City. But Bruce isn't just Bruce, is he?"

Hal reaches across the center console to gently squeeze Dick's knee.

"He's Bruce, and Dick, and Jason, and Tim, and Damian. He's got a whole gaggle of wonderful sons I'd love to get to know."

"We've worked together tons of times before," Dick says. He's barely picking at his food, too busy trying to figure out Hal's point.

"Sure. I've worked with Nightwing a lot. But that's not all you are. I don't really know anything about Dick Grayson, and I'd really like to."

Hal pulls his hand away and picks up his burger to take a bite.

"All this to say...I know you guys are mostly grown. You're used to having one parent and don't really need another one, and, damn, I don't know the first thing about any of that. But I'm in this for the long haul, and you can rely on me. I don't want any of you believing you're just an afterthought to me. Okay?"

Oh. Oh.

In lieu of an answer, and also because his throat feels too tight to speak, Dick just nods and goes back to eating. They finish their food in silence and Hal gets out to dispose of the trash, then turns the engine again to take him the rest of the way home. As he parks and they leave the garage, Dick throws his arms around Hal. He pretends the stinging in his eyes is some weird effect from the alcohol when Hal hugs him back just as tight.

"Goodnight, kid," he murmurs. "Go take a glass of water and some ibuprofen to bed with you for that hangover in the morning."

"Yes, mom," Dick snorts, teasing, but he detours to the kitchen with a shy little grin anyway.

[liivzen]

Hi, could I please request jealous and possessive Chishiya? Thanks

Hehe I love this. Thanks anon, i hope i do you justice with this.

little self-idulgent but- can you blame me?

*set at the beach and reader is also an executive*

a/n: somewhat edited

wc: 2k

warnings: oral (fem!receiving), fingering (fem!receiving), lmk if i missed anything.

You were sat in a meeting with all the other executives, listening to the hatter ramble on and on about his ongoing utopia and the games. During the meeting though, you could feel someone staring at you, burning holes into the side of your head. At first you thought it was Chishiya, although your relationship isn’t widley known to everyone, he could just be staring at his you during the boring meeting. However when you finally glanced towards your left where Chishiya is seating and find his eyes locked on hatter. Although he was sitting leaning towards you, he wasn’t the one looking at you.

Confused, you start to look farther past where Chishiya was sitting at to the other people to the left of you. As you go down the row you finally catch someones gaze staring back you. You lock eyes with the person burning holes into the side of your head.

The person being none other than Niragi.

When he caught you looking back at him all he did was smirk a bit and return his attention back on the hatter. You didn’t like the way he was looking at you and shifted uncomfortably in your chair.

Soon the meeting was called to an end and everyone was dismissed. You filed out the doors like everyone else was doing, and somehow ended up as one of the last people in there. Chishiya was already out the door in front of you before you could catch up to him. As you were about to leave the room you felt someone grip your arm and pull you back into the empty room.

When you look back at you who had pulled you back into the meeting room. It was the person who exactly didn’t want to be left in a room alone with.

Looking up at him, he was looking down at you with the smirk he was giving you earlier. You really were starting to get tired of that smirk.

“You know, Chishiya can’t just have you to himself right?” Niragi spoke down to you. You just rolled your eyes at him and respond to him.

“Yeah well, what makes you think i’d want to be with you hm?” You tell him trying to back away from the annoying man in front of you. He just follows you as you back up. Soon enough you’re hitting the door you just tried leaving out of.

“Oh well, we’ll see how long you stay with that weirdo.” He says to you before grabbing the handle to the door and walking off. After a few seconds of collecting yourself you walk outside the door yourself.

As you cross the threshold of the door, you see Chishiya leaning against the wall next to the door. As you close the door behind you he glances over to you. He gives a once over of you before pushing off the wall and coming to stand in front of you.

“What did he want.” Chishiya asks you, getting close to you, hands still in his pockets as usual. His eyes had that half lidded stare that you always liked about him. Trying to not get lost in his eyes, you respond back to him.

“Just giving me some bullshit on how long he thinks I’ll stay with you before running off to him.” You tell him rolling your eyes like you did when niragi was speaking to you. All Chishiya did was hum and nod his head. He takes one hand out of his pocket, tilting your head up to his.

“Is that right, hm?” Chishiya whispers to you, which you respond with a confirming hum.

“Well, we’ll see about that won’t we.” Chishiya says before sliding his hand down and grabbing onto yours and pulling to you down the hallway.

—————- later that night ——————-

The day had gone on like normal after this afternoons ordeal. The usual people partying around the beach and those who aren’t partying are laying back in there rooms doing who knows what. You had just finished grabbing a bite to eat with Chishiya and was heading back to your guys room. Chishiya was being as layed back as he normally was while you were the one keeping any type of conversations going for the day.

Soon the two of you arrived at the door of your shared room. Chishiya being the gentlemen he is, opened the door for you and standing to the side, letting you into the room. You step into the now dark room since it was past sundown, the room left how the two of you had left it this morning. You were a few steps into the room when you heard the door close and you could’ve sworn you also heard the lock as well. As you turn around to look back at Chishiya, you realize he was already right next to you.

He was inches from you, staring down at you with the smallest smile on his face. Looking up at him you couldn’t help but smile a little bit yourself.

“Whats that smile for?” You ask him, looking at his face look down at you. Chishiya takes his hands out of his pockets and places them on your exposed waist. Thanks to the swimsuit rule at the beach, all you ever wore now was a bikini set you found at a store near by, along with a small shaw to keep you not totally exposed.

“Niragi said you weren’t mine hm?” Chishiya whispers down to you, leaning in slightly. Before you could say something back to him, he’s speaking again.

“Why don’t we show him, yeah?” Chishiya says to you, and next thing you know you’re being pushed back onto the bed. As you land on your back, you look to Chishya at the end of the bed. He was shedding his jacket that he always kept on, now being left topless with just a pair of swim trunks on. Even though this wasn’t the first time seeing him like this, it always got you slightly speechless. You continue to watch him as he climbs over you, joining you on the bed.

“You know I seriously don’t want him right?” You tell him now that you’re face to face. Chishiyas hair is now curtaining the two of your faces since he was so leaning over you.

“Oh I know, but I think he might need a little reminder on whos you are.” He tells before bring his lips down to yours, stopping you from trying to question what he’s going to do. You melt into his kiss, grabbing onto his arms that were placed next to your head. Chishiya grabs your hands from his arms and places them above your head, stopping you from moving them anymore. The kiss was quickly turning more passionate by the second as chishiyas tongue explored your mouth. You easily lost dominance over his skilled tongue skimming over yours. You couldn’t help but moan into his mouth, Chishiya giving his own groan into your mouth.

Chishiya quickly moved away from your mouth, finally giving you time to breathe. As you did that though he moved his kisses down your neck. After a second you felt his hands move down to where the strings of your bikini were knotted around your neck. He was biting into your neck as he untied the strings, making you let out small breathy moans. You could feel Chishiyas smile on your skin as he did so.

Once your top was untied, Chishiya quickly removed it from your body, leaving you completly exposed at the top just like Chishiya. It didn’t take long for Chishiya to move his mouth down to your breast, while one of his hands gave attention to the other. Chishiya was kissing and leaving marks all over, even places that wouldn’t be covered by your bikini later on. You were letting out all sorts of whines wanting Chishiya to give your nipples the attention they needed. He looked up at you with his dangerous smile and finally listened, wrapping his lips around your nipple and pinching at the other one. This made you throw your head back and let out a loud moan.

Chishiya had to have left many marks on your chest now, but you didn’t care at this point.

He eventually left your nipples, much to your dismay, and leaned back on his legs. Look up at him, you admired how handsome he wasnt. He wasn’t a guy who was too muscular, enough to make him fit. His skin was flawless, and his face was just one that put butterflies in your stomach anytime you look at it. Now looking up at him it was just the same.

Chishiya grabbed onto your legs, sliding his hands up and grabbing onto the strings of your bikini bottoms. He gently pulled at them and took the material off your body, throwing it to the side and off the bed. He then grabbed your knees and pulled them apart, exposing you to him. You were way past wet for the man, your essence clear as day for him. This made him smirk down at you. He slid his hands up your thighs and ran his fingers over your wet lips, causing you to let out a whine, wanting him to keep going. However, he stopped his fingers, keeping them on your hip with a strong grip.

“You wouldn’t be this wet for him wouldn’t you?” Chishiya asked down at you, looking at your figure trying to get him to move his hands more. You didn’t even have to ask him who he was referring to, knowing it was Niragi.

“N-no shiya-“ you let out, moving your hips again to get him to do something. He smiled down to you and listened, gripping your knees to the side to make room for him. He pulled you closer to him and licked a long strip at the junction of your thigh and pelvis. He quickly moved to licking another long strip from your aching hole to your clit.

Chishiya stopped at your clit, making figure eights over it, causing you to throw your head back and grip onto his partially blonde locks. Soon he was sucking on your clit and sinking his fingers into you. You felt him start to push his fingers in and out of you, taking you closer to your release. Chishiya picked up speed with his fingers, making his tongue and mouth faster around your clit.

You were trying your hardest not to cum quickly, but you were losing that battle very fast. You eventually couldn’t hold yourself back anymore after Chishiya had hit just that right spot with his fingers, you were gushing all on his face and fingers in seconds. Your legs had tried closing in the process but Chishiya just held them open with a tight grip that you were sure would also leave a bruise.

“There we go- yeah you only do that for me mhm.” Chishiya hums up at your huffing chest, trying to come down from the orgasm you just had. After a second, Chishiya came up from between your legs and leaned over you. He places a quick peck on your lips, moving the hair out of your worn out face.

He laid down next to you, giving a small kiss to your forehead and wrapping his arm around your waist. That was the last thing you remembered before passing out for the night.

The next morning at the next executive meeting you couldn’t hide the marks that Chishiya had left the previous night on you, so you had to let them be exposed to everyone. Chishiya sat next to you with a smirk on his face and his hands in his pockets at usual. You yourself had a tinge of pink across your face, knowing that anyone that looked at you knows exactly what happened last night.

However, you didn’t feel the harsh stare that you couldn’t get rid of during yesterday’s meeting, making you slightly smile yourself.

—————-

a/n: thanks for readings, feel free to check out my ko-fi <3

[starburstsobsessions]

agent stone is sooo German Shepherd coded. I’ve seen folks say Golden Retriever a few times and that isn’t it at ALL.

His number one trait is unwavering loyalty- but it’s only for one person. He dismisses others and is only passive with them, even going as far as disliking most other people/creatures that come around.

He takes orders when robotnik is around, and otherwise takes a light and smart lead. He doesn’t love on everyone else, just his one person. Not Golden Retriever at all!!!

For his person, he’s endlessly again- loyal. Pleasing. He puts his thoughts aside just to listen and take orders from the one person he respects. He’s level headed when he knows robotnik is safe and under control, and his only true worry comes from when his person is under distress, or threatened. That’s enough to set him scared.

And he’d be more than happy just staying with that one person forever.

Ever seen the adoration in working German Shepherds eyes while they’re at work? Check out some videos, they’re neat to watch. Hell yeah though, that’s sure him.

self projecting a little tho 🤭 I love those dogs, and he deserves better than the meager golden retriever treatment.

[originalitysquared]

No offense OP but you don't have "masculine" interests. Don't sexualize your hobbies like they do. It doesn't matter that you like star wars and wear pants. Women can like star wars and wear pants. A woman who likes things that are more widely accepted to be a female hobby will still watch star wars and wear pants. This doesn't mean you can't be friends with them.

I don't wear make up and my skincare is just washing my face and putting sunscreen. The trick is to change the subject and ask them about things that are not at all related to pop culture.

Ask about their day. If they bring up buying make up, don't dismiss them. Just because they do things you wouldn't do doesn't mean you can't talk about it. Talk about how makeup is a lot of work. Talk about how sabrina is bending over a lot for someone who is supposed to be listened to by preteen girls. Talk to women different than you and spread your ideas.

I fucking hate being a woman with masculine interests. My options for friends are:

-Guys who will always end up asking me out and throwing a fit when I say no. Best case scenario they never speak to me again (as opposed to me needing to get a restraining order).

-Women who I have no interests in common with. We can hang out and relate to each other but ultimately everything they like is lost on me. I’ll totally go to a Sabrina Carpenter concert with you but I genuinely have never heard her music before and only vaguely know who she is. I don’t do nail salons I don’t wear makeup or do skincare.

-Lastly, female people who have all the same interests as me, but identify as trans and continually insist I must also be trans because women can’t have short hair and wear pants and like Star Wars. They refuse to call me she/her and repeatedly ask if I’m planning on taking T or getting top surgery, no matter how much I say I’m just a woman.

But if I say how different and othered I feel, if I ever voice being on the margins for being a woman who doesn’t present traditionally feminine, I’m instantly called a pick-me, even though I would never put down another woman for being feminine. So what am I supposed to do

[romerona]

The Cook and The Teacher!

Let's pretend The Bear and Abbot Elementary are in the same city.

Another cute interaction between Carmen (Carmy) Berzatto x Abbot Teacher Femreader! Sunshinereader!

You sat at the table, doing your best to appear interested as your date droned on about his latest work achievements. Something about managing accounts, sealing big deals, and being “essential” to the success of his company. You’d lost track of the details five minutes in, your polite smile starting to feel like a workout for your face.

“…but you wouldn’t get that,” he said, waving his hand dismissively, like you were a child. “Teaching kids and all. It’s like... coloring books and snack time, right?”

Your smile faltered, and you tightened your grip on the stem of your wine glass, fighting the urge to roll your eyes. “Not quite. It’s actually pretty challenging—teaching is about shaping young minds, not just... crayons.”

“Sure, sure,” he said, nodding like he wasn’t really listening. “But you have to admit, it’s not exactly high stakes.” He leaned back in his chair, a smug grin stretching across his face. “I mean, no offense.”

“None taken,” you replied tightly, though the bile creeping up your neck said otherwise. You took a slow sip of your wine, hoping the glass might serve as a buffer between his words and your patience. Spoiler: it wasn’t working.

Inwardly, you cursed yourself for agreeing to this. What had Ava said when she pitched the idea? “Girl, you’re way too cute to be single and wasting away in that apartment of yours. You need to get out there. Shake things up. And this guy? Total catch—tall, successful, and probably rich. You’re welcome.”

At the time, it had seemed like a good idea. Ava’s relentless confidence had rubbed off on you, and the idea of putting yourself out there sounded... productive, if not promising. After all, your secret crush on your cute neighbor wasn’t going anywhere.

Carmy.

You couldn’t help but think about him as Ben prattled on about his “huge network.” Carmy was quiet, focused, and sweet in a way you didn’t think he realized. But he was also impossible to read. Sure, you’d had a few conversations here and there, shared a laugh or two, but he’d never made a move. You hadn’t either—paralyzed by the thought of misinterpreting things and embarrassing yourself.

Which is how you’d ended up here, with Ben. Wonderful, condescending Ben, who clearly thought your life’s work was a joke.

“And this place,” Ben said, gesturing around the restaurant with a smug grin. “Pretty great, right? Super exclusive. I know a guy who knows the chef here. Heard he’s like, a genius or something. Figured we’d go all out.”

You glanced around the dimly lit space, suddenly more aware of the upscale decor—the polished wood tables, the soft amber glow of the overhead lights, and the quiet hum of conversation that seemed to fill the air like music. It was... fancier than you’d expected.

The Bear.

You’d heard of it, of course—who hadn’t? It was one of those places people raved about, where getting a reservation was an accomplishment in itself. The kind of place where you know the food would be incredible, but the bill would make you question your life choices. Nice, but you were pretty sure you could only afford, like, a cup of water here.

Ben leaned in closer, grinning smugly. “This chef guy? Supposedly some kind of prodigy. I don’t know the details, but people say he’s a big deal. Good thing I’ve got connections, huh?”

“Mhm,” you hummed, noncommittal, as you glanced toward the bustling kitchen. A wave of heat and light spilled out from behind the pass, where you could just make out the shadowed figures of chefs moving in synchronized chaos.

As you sipped from your wine glass, trying to find something redeemable about Ben’s endless self-promotion, you wondered if maybe Ava had oversold this whole “dating adventure” thing.

Carmy spotted you the second you walked in.

He’d been at the pass, focused on plating an intricate dish—a delicate arrangement of seared scallops and edible flowers—when his gaze drifted toward the dining room. His hands paused mid-motion, a faint crease forming between his brows as he recognized you.

You were hard to miss, sitting near the window in a corner booth, your posture poised but just slightly tense. Dressed in something a little sleeker than usual, you looked... different. Not in a bad way—never in a bad way— Not that you ever looked anything less than beautiful, but tonight, something about you seemed… striking, enough that he found himself staring longer than he should’ve.

His eyes flicked to the guy sitting across from you. The guy who was laughing too loud, leaning back in his chair like he owned the place, gesturing with wild hands as he talked. You, on the other hand, wore a polite smile that didn’t quite light up the room as it usually did.

Carmy’s jaw tightened. He wasn’t sure why the sight of you with someone else tugged at his chest the way it did, but it lingered, heavy and unwelcome.

It’s none of your business, he told himself, forcing his focus back to the dish in front of him. You weren’t his to worry about.

You weren’t his at all.

Still, his gaze flicked back toward your table, almost involuntarily, catching the way your date seemed oblivious to your discomfort. Carmy’s stomach twisted at the thought. He didn’t know what he expected—maybe for the guy to notice the way you played with your napkin or to tone down his boisterous tone—but it wasn’t this.

“Chef?” Sydney’s voice broke his focus, sharp but professional.

“Yeah,” he muttered, snapping back to reality. His eyes returned to the plate in front of him, the arrangement now slightly skewed from his distraction. He adjusted it quickly, his movements precise but tighter than usual. “Thanks, Chef.”

As Sydney moved on, Carmy risked one last glance at you. The corner booth, the dim lighting, the guy who couldn’t seem to shut up—it all felt wrong. But he pushed it down, buried it under the quiet rhythm of the kitchen, telling himself it wasn’t his place to care.

And yet, he did.

He cared enough to, like some kind of creep, step out of the kitchen and hover near the hallway that led to the restrooms. It wasn’t a plan—not really. He told himself he just needed a breather, a moment to clear his head and shake off the knot in his chest. But he wasn’t fooling anyone, least of all himself.

The low hum of the restaurant buzzed in his ears as he leaned against the wall, his arms crossed tightly over his chest. He didn’t even know what he’d say if you saw him. Maybe he’d play it off, and act like he just happened to be there. But then, what were the odds you’d even notice him? You were here with someone else, after all.

It was ridiculous, he knew that—irrational even— he should go back, really what the fuck was he thinking--

But the sound of heels clicking softly against the floor pulled him from his spiralling thoughts. His breath hitched as you turned the corner, and your expression turned to one of shock when you spotted him.

“Carmy?” you said, stopping mid-step. Your voice carried a note of surprise, but there was something else there too—curiosity, maybe, or even relief at seeing a familiar face in such an unfamiliar situation.

“Hey,” he said, standing a little straighter, as if he hadn’t just been loitering near the hallway like a guilty teenager. He cleared his throat, trying to play it cool. “Didn’t think I’d see you here.”

You blinked, your eyes flicking over his clothes—the crisp white uniform. The realization dawned on you, and your brows lifted in surprise.

“You work here?”

“Yeah,” he said, shifting his weight slightly. “I, uh... I own it.”

Your eyes widened, and you couldn’t help the soft laugh that escaped you. “You own it?”

“Yeah,” he said again, a bit softer this time. His lips twitched into a faint, almost sheepish smile. “I started it a while back. Kind of… a long story.”

You took a moment to process this revelation, glancing around the restaurant as if seeing it in a new light. The warm lighting, the carefully plated dishes you’d glimpsed on their way to other tables—it all made sense now. Of course, this was Carmy’s place. It was thoughtful, deliberate, but somehow unpretentious.

“Wow,” you said, meeting his gaze again. “That’s... impressive.”

Carmy shrugged, his hands slipping into his pockets. “It’s just work. Nothing fancy.”

“Nothing fancy?” you repeated, a small laugh escaping as you gestured toward the elegant decor. “Carmy, this place is gorgeous. You’re way too modest.”

"Thanks," His lips twitched into a faint smile, but his eyes lingered on you, searching before he added, “You didn’t look like you were having a great time out there.”

You blinked at the sudden change in topic, your surprise melting into something closer to embarrassment.

“Oh,” you said, glancing toward the dining room before meeting his gaze again. “Yeah, it’s... it’s a date.”

Carmy’s jaw tightened imperceptibly, though his expression didn’t waver.

“Figured,” he muttered, his voice steady but low.

“Not a great one,” you admitted, your lips quirking into a dry smile. “Blind date, courtesy of Ava. It’s... fine, I guess. He’s just... not my type.”

Carmy raised an eyebrow, his curiosity getting the better of him. “What’s your type, then?”

The question caught you off guard, your breath hitching slightly as his words hung in the air. You laughed softly, deflecting. “I don’t know. Someone who doesn’t treat teaching like it’s a hobby or call it a job anyone can do.”

His lips twitched into a faint smirk, and he shook his head in disbelief. “He did not say that.”

You groaned dramatically, closing your eyes as if the memory physically pained you. “Oh, but he did. Word for word, and I quote: ‘Teaching is important, I guess. But it’s gotta be, like… easy, right? Summers off, finger painting, all that?’ And then—then!—he laughed. Like he’d just unlocked the secret to stand-up comedy.”

Carmy blinked, his smirk fading into something closer to incredulity. “You’re kidding.”

“I wish I were,” you said, sighing dramatically. “You’d think he was trying out his Type Five for open mic night. And the pièce de résistance? He throws in the classic ‘no offense.’ Like that’s a verbal Ctrl+Z or something.”

That earned a real laugh from Carmy this time, his shoulders shaking slightly as he shook his head. “What the hell? So, this is what you’re dealing with?”

“Oh, but I’m thriving,” you replied, your tone dripping with sarcasm waving your hand dismissively. “Peak romantic energy. Nothing like being told my career is a glorified arts-and-crafts workshop to really get the sparks flying.”

Carmy leaned slightly against the wall, crossing his arms as he listened. His expression was unreadable, but there was a flicker of something in his eyes—irritation, maybe, or quiet disbelief. “And you’re still out there?”

“Excellent question, Chef Carmy,” you said, pointing at him with mock gravity. “I think it’s a mix of morbid curiosity, sheer stubbornness, and maybe a touch of guilt. I mean, he did spring for the wine. Even if he did refer to it as a ‘top-shelf pour.’”

That made Carmy snort, his head dropping slightly as he tried to compose himself. “Top-shelf pour, huh? Sounds like a real charmer.”

You laughed softly, though there was a bite of bitterness in it. “Oh, totally. It’s been a real dream date. Honestly, if he makes one more crack about teaching being ‘easy,’ I might just—” You mimed strangling someone, your hands curling dramatically as you added a mock growl for effect.

Carmy chuckled, the corner of his mouth quirking up. “I’d pay to see that.”

“Don’t tempt me,” you shot back, your grin sharpening. “It might get me out of this date, but I’m pretty sure assault charges aren’t a great look for me.”

He huffed a quiet laugh, shaking his head. “Fair point.”

Your playful energy dimmed slightly as you glanced toward the dining room. “Anyway, I should probably get back out there before he starts mansplaining the wine list to the waitress. Again.”

Carmy’s lips twitched as if he wanted to laugh, but instead, he straightened up quickly, the weight of his role as head chef settling back onto his shoulders. “Yeah, I should... head back to the kitchen too. Got a lot to wrap up tonight.”

You turned back to him, your expression softening. “Thanks, by the way,” you said, holding his gaze. “For... checking in, I guess. You didn’t have to do that.”

He shrugged a gesture that looked casual but felt like it carried more weight. His voice dropped slightly as he replied, “Yeah, I did.”

The words hung there for a beat, his meaning lingering just beneath the surface as the two of you locked eyes. The air between you felt heavy, almost tangible, like a thread being pulled taut. You wanted to say something—anything. Maybe a joke to break the tension, or maybe the truth: that you liked him, that you wished it was him sitting across from you tonight, making you laugh instead of testing your patience.

Unbeknownst to you, Carmy’s thoughts ran dangerously close to yours. He’d been replaying every interaction with you since the day you moved in next door, every laugh, every casual smile. The thought of you with someone else—someone who didn’t seem to notice the little things about you the way he did—made his chest tighten in ways he couldn’t explain.

But before either of you could give voice to the thoughts swirling in your heads, the faint sound of your date’s voice carried through the hallway, breaking the moment like a needle scratching across a record. You winced slightly, the weight of reality pulling you back.

“Ugh. That’s my cue,” you said, shooting Carmy an exaggerated grimace. “Duty calls.”

Carmy nodded, his expression carefully neutral, though the flicker in his eyes betrayed the emotions he was trying to keep in check. “Good luck out there.”

“Thanks,” you said with a wry grin. “I’ll need it.”

Despite his words, his gaze lingered on yours, as if searching for something unspoken. For a moment, you thought maybe—maybe—he’d say something more, but instead, he stepped back, the faintest of smiles tugging at the corner of his mouth.

“See you around,” he said, his voice quieter now.

“Yeah,” you replied softly, your heart squeezing as you turned to head back toward the dining room. “See you around.”

As you walked away, you couldn’t shake the feeling that you were leaving something unfinished behind. And Carmy, watching you go, felt much the same, his hands flexing at his sides as he fought the urge to call after you.

When he finally turned back toward the kitchen, his jaw tightened, the moment still playing over in his mind. He rubbed the back of his neck, willing himself to focus as he pushed open the swinging door. The familiar clatter and hum of the kitchen greeted him, but it did little to drown out the thoughts circling his head.

He barely made it three steps before Richie appeared, leaning casually against the counter with his signature smirk firmly in place.

“Well, well, look who finally decided to grace us with his presence,” Richie drawled, crossing his arms. “What’s the matter, Cousin? Lose track of time out there? Or were you too busy making googly eyes at the customer? Can't blame you thought, she's gorgeous.”

Carmy’s jaw ticked, his shoulders stiffening. “Shut up, Richie.”

--------

Your date’s voice droned on, a monotonous background noise to your growing sense of regret. Why had you agreed to this? Why hadn’t you just stayed home with a glass of wine and a good book?

Just as you were contemplating an excuse to leave—feigning a sudden headache, maybe, or an urgent call from a friend—a waiter approached your table. It wasn’t the same one who had been serving you throughout the evening, but an older guy with an easy smile and a glimmering of mischief in his eyes carrying a small plate in hand. The plate held an assortment of beautifully arranged pastries, each one delicate and intricate, like a tiny work of art.

“Oh, I didn’t order this,” you said, your brow furrowing as you looked up at him.

“It’s from the chef,” the waiter replied, his tone polite but with a glimmer of something knowing in his eyes.

Your eyes widened slightly, your breath catching as you glanced instinctively toward the kitchen pass. Sure enough, Carmy was there, leaning slightly against the counter, his arms crossed. His expression was unreadable, but there was a faint smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth, and his gaze was fixed squarely on you.

Your heart gave a little jolt, heat creeping up your neck as you turned back to the table.

Your date, meanwhile, was entirely oblivious to the silent exchange. He grinned widely, puffing out his chest a little as he gestured to the plate. “See? Told you this place was top-notch. They must’ve recognized me. Perks of being a regular.”

It took everything in you not to burst out laughing. Instead, you bit back your amusement, your lips twitching into a barely restrained smile as you reached for one of the pastries.

“Right,” you said lightly, turning the pastry over in your hand. “Must be your VIP status.”

As you took a bite, the pastry practically melted in your mouth, a perfect blend of buttery richness and delicate sweetness. It was so good it almost made you forget the company you were keeping—almost.

“You know, this kind of attention doesn’t happen just anywhere. It’s all about knowing the right people.”

“Mmm,” you murmured, taking a bite of one of the delicate confections. It melted in your mouth, rich and buttery, with just the right amount of sweetness.

When you glanced back toward the pass, Carmy was already gone, disappearing back into the kitchen as seamlessly as he’d appeared. But his gesture lingered, wrapping around you like a quiet reassurance, a small thread of comfort in an otherwise unbearable evening.

And for the first time that night, your smile wasn’t forced.

A/N: Heyyy I hope you enjoyed it. Thank you to all those people who comment, like and reblog. Like fr you all make my week. Always looking for some ideas so please feel free to ask.

Also, please tell me if you want to be tagged. Be safe out there, please the world is too crazy at the moment. <3

Tags:

@hiitsmebbygrl16 @urthem00n @svzwriting29 @tyferbebe

@akornsworld @khxna @ruthyalva96 @beingalive1

@darkestbeforethedawn16 @turtle-cant-communicate spideybv28 veryberryjelly @daisy-the-quake

[rekino2114]

Can you do something with fem!kaiser meeting male!reader's abusive ex before a match since she's in the team they're going against. The ex tells kaiser something about y/n that pisses her off, and that results in her and you going way harder than normal and completely destroying the team.

Also, since you said you liked childhood friends to lovers kaiser can you make that reader's parents abused him too, and that's how they bonded

Fem!kaiser meeting your abusive ex

A/n:so you know how I said I'd do blue lock post every week? Make that twice a week cause I got so many requests (I genuinely love you guys so much) and have so many ideas and I can't contain them. I chose this request cause I really liked the prompt and am in a kaiser mood this past few days

Kaiser took a deep breath as she heard all the cheers. It felt so nice to have all the people cheering for her and you, sure she stared a bit too much at the girls yelling about how hot you were and rolled her eyes at the few people who cheered for isagi. But the majority of the yells were for her and you, and she loved it. It felt so good to be loved and adored by all the fans. It felt so good to finally be someone, a sentiment she was sure you shared

As soon as your face appeared in her thoughts, kaiser started searching for you on the field, and she found you talking to isagi and Ness. Normally, she'd scoff and pull you away, scolding you for just talking with her enemy, but ever since noa announced who bastard would be playing against, you had been distant even to her. Whenever she tried to ask you what was wrong, you just dismissed it and told her it was nothing, so she didn't pry further, no matter how much she was worried about you.

She tried to go up to you but was stopped by someone tapping her back

"It's been quite a while, Michelle"

"What do you-"

The moment kaiser turned around and she saw who was talking to her, a look of pure hatred appeared on her blue eyes

"......what are you doing here?"

"I just wanted to say hi to-"

"Answer me"

"So you really became as cruel as people say, I really don't see what he sees in you"

Kaiser, now fully turned towards the mysterious girl, glared at her with the deadliest glare she ever gave anyone

"I said....answer me"

"If you really have to know, I got into football too, I'm the captain of this team you know?"

"Ah, makes sense, a team of losers I've never heard the name of captained by you"

"You better watch your mouth blue rose empress, I'm here for one thing and one thing only"

"A mediocre career that will get you nowhere?"

"I think we both know what i'm talking about"

Kaiser's eyes widened as the girl's gaze started drifting away from her and going to you

"I'm here to make y/n mine aga-"

Before she could even finish her sentence, the collar of her jersey was grabbed by kaiser who now was fully killing her with her glare

"Listen here, you waste of dna. Don't you ever dare utter his name again. You don't deserve to walk the same ground he walks on. You don't deserve to breathe the same air he breathes, you just think you can walk back into his life and ruin him again? I'll admit you have guts, or more probably you're just a brainless idiot who only does what she wants without thinking of the consequences"

She let her collar go which caused her to back down a bit and look up at kaiser

"The only reason why I haven't kicked you in the ribs yet is because this is being broadcasted and I care about my reputation"

The new gen 11 member looked again at the girl like she was nothing more than a bug she could step on at any moment because that was exactly what she was to her

"Y/n is my emperor, and I am his empress. If you dare come close to him again, I will murder you. That's a promise"

The girl gulped a bit in fear, knowing that kaiser was 100% serious, but still kept her smug smile on her face

"I guess you're not so cruel with your boyfriend after all"

"Of course, I'm not you"

"Whatever"

"I'll make you a deal. If you go kneel to him right now, I'll go easy on your team, by which I mean I will only score twice"

The girl now started laughing as kaiser's annoyance grew

"Kneel? You were serious about that emperor stuff?"

"Of course"

"As if! I'm sure he'll be the one kneeling to me by the end"

Kaiser's rage was now at it's limit but instead of snapping she just smiled and turned her back on the girl

"Thank you"

"Huh, for what?"

"I really didn't wanna go easy on you, plus"

She turned her face towards the girl, grinning menacingly and with a blue light coming out of her eyes

"Seeing your crying face as all your hope is crushed during this match and you kneel to y/n will be so amazing"

The girl started sweating at kaiser's menacing words, but the empress didn't give her any more attention as she started walking towards you

"Oh michelle-"

"Listen ness. In this match I want you to pass to y/n as much as you can, even if I'm free pass to him"

"Hm ok"

"Hey wait a second, what are you trying to do shitty rose-"

"Shut up, yoichi. I have more important things to do now"

She told them to get into their positions (ness basically dragged isagi) and approached you, her expression softening as saw how worried you were

"I'm sorry for not telling you she was on the team"

"It's fine"

"I know how much you hate her, I'm still sorry for all the pain I must have caused you, choosing her over you at first"

"I already told you it's fine, I should have beaten that bitch's ass when I found out what she was doing to you. I'll just settle for doing it in football"

"No, I understand why you didn't, you had.....your own issues"

Kaiser went to grab the ball and put it in the center ready for kick off

"Hey Michelle, can I ask you a favor?"

"Anything for you schatz"

You raised your head and looked at your girlfriend with fire coming out of your eyes and an aura enveloping you

"Can you help me destroy her?"

Hearing those words, kaiser smirked and matched your energy her own blue aura coming out of her even making her tattoo glow

"Did you even have to ask?

The match was an absolute massacre. It ended 8-0, 4 goals made by you, and 4 made by kaiser.

Speaking of kaiser, she was an absolute menace during the 90 minutes. It was like her objective was not to win but to demolish everything in your name, you genuinely thought you saw the ball go on fire with how many kaiser impacts she threw.

She also kissed you every time you scored, which wasn't something new. She always does that. But this time,her kisses were much more intense and passionate than the ones she usually gave you during matches, it was like she was was trying to claim you and make your ex mad, which you 100% agreed with so you kissed her back with just as much passion, enjoying the anger on your ex's face.

While you weren't as flashy as the blue rose empress, you still dominated the match too. It was simple, you just put all the hatred you felt for your ex and all the years of pain she put you through in your plays and kicks, and most of them resulted in goals.

When the referee blew his whistle and the match ended, you were immediately hugged and kissed by kaiser again. When she stopped the kiss she looked at you and grinned

"We won schatz, isn’t it wonderful? Not that I ever doubted that"

"Yeah, I never thought beating one of the people who ruined your life would feel so cathartic"

"Oh we haven’t fully beaten her yet"

"Hm?"

Kaiser pulled away from you and told you to follow her as she went on to approach your ex, whose eyes widened once she saw you

"Y-y-y/n!?"

"........how does it feel?"

"E-eh?"

"How does it feel knowing you're so inferior to us now"

"S-shut up! You just-"

"That's no way to talk to your emperor. Remember what I said before"

"H-huh?"

"Kneel"

"You seriously think i'll-"

"I don't think you understand the situation you're in"

Kaiser grabbed the girl by the hair and dropped her to the ground at your feet

"That wasn't a request or a question, kneel!"

The girl now with tears in her eyes just stayed on the ground. Looking at her now, a crying sniveling scared mess, you felt nothing but pity

"I can't believe I actually dated you and let you do what you wanted with me, you're so pathetic now, no, you've always been pathetic, I just needed someone to open my eyes"

You looked back at kaiser, who just gave you her signature grin back......and then kicked the girl in the stomach as soon as you turned your back for good measure

You went over to a bench to calm down and think about everything, kaiser immediately followed you and sat near you, ordering ness to bring you two bottles of water, when he came back kaiser handed one to you as you thanked her. When you took the first sip, your eyes darted over to your ex, who was still crying on the ground

"That was pretty brutal of you"

"Are you feeling bad for her or something?"

"No, I was just thinking that this was broadcasted. What are the media gonna say?"

"That we put another bitch in her place"

"Or that you made another girl cry. I just think you should have went easier on her"

"Schatz, I was going easy on her, you have no idea what I would have done if I ran into her in the parking lot"

"Knowing what you did to those police officers I can hazard a guess"

Kaiser giggled and started drinking again. She opened her eyes when she felt your hand intertwine with hers. She put the bottle on the bench and looked at you.....you were smiling at her

"Thank you"

"It's nothing, really"

"No I mean......thank you for loving me"

Kaiser felt your hand wrap around even more around hers

"I think you're the first person in my life to actually love me"

The blond and blue haired girl held your hand even tighter and looked at you once again. Your smile was so beautiful. It made her wish you smiled more so she smiled back at you, an equally beautiful and genuine smile

"The same goes for me"

Kaiser always knew you were the same as her. That's a big part of why she loved you so much. You two could empathize so much with each other. You were just like her, a person whose life was nothing but abuse, who wanted nothing more than to escape that hell. A person who, after years of hate and abuse, deserved to stand at the top of the world and be the best, you deserved to rule everyone else alongside her. She wanted you to be her emperor and be the best with her, because you deserved it, because even after more abuse than her, you still loved her.

She knew how much you completed each other, how much you needed each other to live and be happy, and she would never let you go, you were her emperor and if anyone wanted to hurt you ever again they would have to deal with her.

She gently pushed you towards her and kissed your lips passionately again. You obviously kissed back while your hands were still intertwined and your other arm instinctively made its way to the back of her neck

Your hands on her neck had the opposite effect of her father's. They were gentle and soft. You weren't choking her, but caressing her. It was like every touch healed her of one of the scars that piece of shit gave her. She couldn't have known it but her hands and lips had the exact same effect on you

Your lips parted away, and you smiled at each other again. In that moment, you thought the exact same thing, and you didn't need any words to communicate it

'I'm so glad you're in my life'

Kaiser already knew, maybe subconsciously, that the wishes from her childhood came true, that right now everything she wanted was right here because of you, but looking at your smile reminded her of how lucky she was to have you, because now what she spent all her childhood asking for was right on front of her.

She was free, and she was loved, all thanks to you, just as you were free and loved, truly loved, all because of her

[333rabbittarot]

pick a card: I'm so anxious, what should I do?

1 - 2

***

pile one:

Your mind feels overly active, making it hard for you to rest. Insomnia, restlessness, difficulty focusing. You may also be unintentionally fixating on what's lacking in yourself or your circumstances, and expressing negative thoughts and feelings in the process.

It seems you have lived diligently, perhaps even self-sacrificially, in hopes of being rewarded with meaningful relationships, friendships, or a fulfilling career where you could fully pour your heart. However, there may have been an event that shattered all your hopes and expectations, and this event might be the root cause of your current anxiety.

The cards advise that you first bring peace to the situation. You need to calm your overly active mind. It won’t be easy, but try to approach everything with lightness and simplicity for now. Just as past worries now seem insignificant, your current concerns will also feel that way to your future self. Don’t linger too long in the fog of anxiety, anguish, or regret.

Pause the urge to predict, plan, and act out of anxiety about the future. Even if your ego insists that something is absolutely necessary, listen to the signals from your body and soul—such as trembling, unease, or subtle discomfort—and stop. Sleep on it and revisit the decision the next day. Acting impulsively out of fear or worry might cause you to overlook or miss better opportunities.

To reach what you desire, you’ll need to adjust the plans you’ve relied on until now. The cards suggest adopting a bolder and more daring strategy for your long-term goals. You may have already thought of this approach but dismissed it because it seemed impractical or risky. That hesitation likely comes from your ego resisting the idea of letting go—of the career, network, or style you’ve carefully built over time in the real world. But as your intuition may already be telling you, the current path isn’t working. For the sake of your body, soul, and the things you truly wish to achieve in life, a new way forward is needed.

***

pile two:

There's a sense of calm. Rather than feeling anxious, you might simply lack a bit of confidence in your decisions.

It’s possible that you’ve had a tendency to overwork, overanalyze, and be overly critical of yourself throughout your life. But now, it seems you’ve realized that this way of living isn’t serving you as effectively as it once did. You’re at a turning point. You’re beginning to approach life’s challenges differently, and your definition of success has started to shift as well. That’s incredible! Listening to and following the demands of your soul is no easy task.

The cards advise that now, having decided how you want to live, it’s time to take the first step in that direction. There’s no need for further analysis or overthinking. Trust the inspiration and insight you’ve received and turn them into tangible results. Your work may involve writing or another intellectually engaging activity. It might be best to keep your decisions to yourself until your work is complete.

Lastly, pay attention to your home, family, and health. Even if moments of anxiety arise, don’t let them shake you.

I've re-uploaded this because of an account error. Sorry to everyone who had already seen it.

[delugyu]

thinking about bsf gyu (specifically your take on him) and he’s like pecking your lips “playfully” in hopes that maybe you kiss back (you never do) and all your friends hate him cause he’s so bad for you ughhhh love me a toxic possessive bsf

GAHHHHHHH THIS IS SO GOOD.. 😵‍💫😵‍💫

(warnings: manipulation, kinda suggestive?)

best friend beomgyu who knows no boundaries… his hands linger in places that aren’t so friendly, his eyes trail over you with more heat than what friendship allows… but you always dismiss his actions and shrug it off as him being clingy.

his lips on your skin isn’t an entirely unfamiliar feeling. he’ll take your hand and kiss the back of it, and you meet his eyes to see a wide smile already adorning his face. how could you tell him off when he looks at you like that? he’ll wrap his arm around you during a movie night and turn to peck your cheek, completely unphased. the first time it happens, you try desperately to fight the heat that threatens to take over your face. you tell yourself this is normal, this is beomgyu. he’s just like that sometimes.

he starts getting braver, letting his hand rest so far up your thigh you’re scared to move and accidentally push him towards your center. his kisses to your cheek move closer and closer to your lips, but you don’t dare turn your head to reject his affections. his arm brings you closer and closer to him, until eventually you’re halfway onto his lap, legs thrown over his own and body pressed tight into his side.

the first time he places a peck against your lips, you can’t control the way your eyes bug out. all he does is laugh at your display of confusion, patting your head and calling you cute. the two of you were in public—not a very crowded place, but public nonetheless. you try to control the way your heart hammers against your chest. this is beomgyu. this is normal.

it’s not a one-time thing. the action follows into your homes, into your friend dates, into the car, truly anywhere beomgyu wants—but what’s most horrifying is when he does it in front of your friends.

“are you two dating now?” your friends ask you. you get texts and calls piling in, even from friends who weren’t at the stupid party with you and beomgyu. it’s a chore having to explain your dynamic to everyone, because no one believes you. no one thinks that beomgyu’s behavior is just friendly, no one thinks he’s being sweet or cute. it leaves you second guessing your friendship.

beomgyu’s offended when you bring it up to him. who are they to dictate what’s right and wrong in your relationship? they don’t know him like you do. you shouldn’t listen to them, they don’t get it. why do you even need them anyway? they’re just trying to split you apart.

you’re so unsure of everything now. your friends are adamant that this is weird, that he’s taking things too far. beomgyu is persistent in promising you everything’s okay, and even more persistent in telling you to stop listening to what everyone else is telling you.

“how about you just stop hanging out with them?” he suggests one day. “all they’re doing is making you confused. wasn’t it easier before they all came in convincing you of things that aren’t true?”

you don’t know. you feel like you’re in the middle of a tug of war, being pulled to either side, but you’re threatening to split now. you guess you should make a choice; it’s pretty clear you can’t have both beomgyu and your other friends in your life.

“if i stop hanging out with them, then i’d only have you,” you say. he doesn’t seem to find anything wrong with that. he takes your hands and pulls you close.

“is that a problem?” he asks in a whisper. you can feel his breath on your face as he speaks.

you know you can’t say the wrong thing here. he wouldn’t react well to anything other than the answer he’s expecting. “no,” you say.

he smiles at that, pressing a kiss to your lips. he got what he wanted, but he’s frowning when he looks at you again.

“what?” you ask, eyes darting between his, trying to find the issue.

“you never kiss me back,” he says. his frown doesn’t leave his face.

“i’m sorry.” you don’t know what else to say. his hand cups your face, thumb brushing your cheek. he doesn’t conceal the longing or the hurt in his eyes. it pangs your heart.

“do you think it’s wrong?” he asks. you blink at him in confusion. “for me to kiss you?”

you try not to feel so nervous, but you can’t help the way you tense up a bit. he gives you an illusion of choice: if you say no, he’ll be happy, but if you say yes, he’ll be upset and pester you.

you look away and choose to not say anything. he grabs your waist and pulls you closer until you’re flush against him. your eyes land on his face again in shock.

you don’t get very long to question his action when his lips are on yours again the next second. you pull your head back and place a hand on his face to keep him from lunging at you again.

“everyone told me it was wrong,” you answer finally.

“are you them? or are you your own person?” he asks. he’s losing his patience, his eyes hold his irritation.

you pout. “i’m my own person…”

“that’s right. only we get to decide what we do as friends,” he spits out the last word as if it holds some sort of derogatory connotation. his mouth finds your jaw, and you gasp.

he pulls away to continue, “so this is okay… right?” he places a kiss on your neck.

you gulp and nod. you don’t want to argue with your best friend. “yes.”

[obsessive-valentine]

Please, we need a bedtime story from Dorian. 🥺🙏

The room was dim and quiet, the faint golden flicker of the bedside candle casting long shadows across the walls. Lavinia had just left, she’d ensured that you were comfortably tucked in, the curtains drawn tight, and everything precisely as it should be. Sleep was essential—Lavinia had been clear about that, especially while your body and instincts adjusted to its new life, there was to be no argument about the sleep schedule she set.

But Dorian had other ideas.

Down the hall, the sound of Lavinia’s steps faded as she descended the staircase, and a grin tugged at Dorian’s lips. He moved silently, his movements smooth as he slipped to your door. With a practiced hand, he eased it open just enough to poke his head through, he startled you with his swiftness -and while if either of the other men in this house had done that, you’d have a heart attack- Dorian’s comforting smile calmed you right back down.

“You still awake?” he whispered, his voice light but brimming with mischief.

You squinted at the light spilling in from behind him, a small smile creeped on you face as you pushed yourself into a sitting position, before giving a small nod.

“Good,” he grinned wider. “I remembered another story I just have to tell you. It can’t wait.”

He slips inside the room, closing the door softly behind him. He moves with the ease of someone who’d had centuries to perfect the art of sneaking, pulling the chair beside her bed closer and settling into it with a casual air.

“You know Lavinia will—” you began, but he waves you off with a quick, dismissive hand.

“Lavinia’s downstairs, probably doing something terribly dull, she’s busy and I’m swift. And Soren…” he smirked. “Well, Soren doesn’t scare me… not much, anyway.”

You gave him a hesitant look, but he leaned closer, his expression conspiratorial. “Relax. It’s just one story. Harmless.”

It’s wasn’t only Dorian’s smile that was contagious his mischievous nature was too -so despite your better judgment the smile creeped back on your face and you shuffled into a comfortable position, ready to hear whatever story he was about to tell. Dorian leaned back, folding one leg over the other, his fingers steepled dramatically.

“All right,” he began in a hushed tone, his voice low and dramatic, “let me tell you about the time I nearly lost my head—literally—thanks to a argumentative nobleman who could admit he was wrong- in Prague- We were visiting for a short while due to business-”

Your eyes widened slightly at that opening line, and he grinned, clearly enjoying the effect. “Now, this was back in the 18th century, mind you,” he continued, gesturing with his hands to illustrate as he spun the tale. “Prague was beautiful then—still is, I suppose. But it had this nasty little habit of attracting… shall we say, complicated people. Or maybe it’s me attracting them…” he shrugged away that thought.

He wove the story like a master storyteller, his voice dropping to a whisper at moments of tension and rising with excitement during the twists and turns. Despite the hushed tone, his gestures were grand, his expressions exaggerated, as though he were performing for a grand audience.

You couldn’t help but be drawn in as Dorian described close calls, daring escapes, and a particularly memorable duel beneath a moonlit bridge.

“And there I was,” he said, leaning forward, his voice barely audible now, “cornered by the river, sword in hand, three of them against me—one of them the duke himself. In that moment I thought, ‘Well, Dorian, this is the end. You’ve had a good run.’ But then—”

The floor boards creaked faintly outside as someone passed the room.

Both of them froze, the story hanging in the air like the candlelight flickering against the walls.

“Dorian…” The you whispered, looking from the door to his face for any semblance of guidance on what to do, nervousness in your voice evident.

“Shh,” he hissed, holding up a hand, and listening intently.

The steps faded, and Dorian exhaled dramatically, a hand over his chest. “Close call,” he muttered, flashing her a quick grin. “Now, where was I? Oh yes, cornered by the river…”

[honeyncherry]

tell me which you'd be more interested in being done first!

unholy devotion (one long fic)

For four unforgettable months, you were the one thing the NFL’s golden boy couldn’t stay away from — the woman who had him wrapped around her finger in a whirlwind romance that felt almost too good to be true. But when the pressure to protect his spotless image catches up with him, he walks away, choosing the role the world expects over the connection you shared.

The fire you thought had burned out blazes to life again when he shows up at your door uninvited, desperate, and determined to make you listen.

One night is all it takes to break down the walls he built between you, and just like that, you’re right back where you started. Consequences be damned.

are you sick of me? (multi-parts)

Landing the job as the Bengals’ newest PR assistant should’ve been your dream opportunity — until it meant managing Joe Burrow, the team’s star quarterback with an attitude to match his talent.

From day one he makes it clear that he wants nothing to do with you. He’s cold, dismissive, and treats you like just another nuisance in his perfectly controlled life.

Things take a turn when a fake dating rumor involving you and Joe goes viral, and the team decides the best move is to lean into the lie. Now, you’re stuck pretending to be his girlfriend for the cameras.

How hard can it be to fake a relationship with someone who doesn’t even like you?

[weneeya]

don't like you m.list | rules

pairing. dr ratio x reader

note. i'm finally falling in honkai star rail so be prepared to see characters from there quite a lot from now on (and i'm not even sorry about it)

Working with no one else than Dr Veritas Ratio was really a pain in the ass. It might have been a lot of people’s dream to be able to work with someone as intelligent as him, but it was surely not yours. In fact, you would have preferred doing this with absolutely anyone else other than him. The explanation was easy : you could not stand that man. He was arrogant and always called other people stupid. He had no respect for them, so you did not have any for him or his work. 

You had no choice though, working with him was not your own decision and you could not discuss it no matter how much you wanted to. This is how you ended up sitting in a library with Veritas in front of you, speaking over and over, again and again, without ever closing his mouth. A sigh left your lips, and you met his eyes. 

“Do you shut your damn mouth sometimes?” You asked him bluntly, and he looked at you in disbelief for a second ; before his expression was quickly replaced with a frown. “And do you have some respect for people sometimes?” You suddenly straighten your back at his words. 

You thought about a million things to answer his stupid remark, but you decided to be more mature than him this time and not to reply to him. You shook your hand slowly, monitoring him to keep going in his never ending monologue. After some time, you began to listen again to what he was talking about. 

No matter how hard you despised him, you could never deny the genius he was. His brain was working a thousand times faster than anyone else, and you could only agree to what he was saying. Except right now, because you had something else to propose as an idea. 

You raised your finger, and it made him stop speaking for a moment. Aeons, it really was great when he stopped. You cleared your throat, looking at him with a light grin on your lips. Oh, he did not like that. 

“That’s a good point, I admit it ; but I don’t like you. So fuck you, and here’s my idea.” And with that, you stole the pencil in his fingers and began to explain your own point of view and your ideas on the subject, not giving him the opportunity to stop you. It was your turn now. 

He could not believe it. Not only the fact that you were a brat clearly making fun of him right now, but also that your ideas were… great. It was hard for him to admit it, but you really had some good points that he did not mention even once. Maybe you did not like him, and maybe he did not care much (or that was what he said) but you were not as much of an idiot as he thought you were. 

When you were done, you expected him to dismiss everything you said and called you the stupidest person on this planet. But he did not. Actually, he almost did the opposite. Well, you would never say out loud that you were pretty smart, but he did not throw your ideas away. 

At your biggest surprise, you both began to work together on the subject to find a good idea and solution that would use both of your brains and not only his. It was a first. You almost thought he was making fun of you in the beginning ; but you had to admit that he clearly was taking you seriously. 

It was refreshing, and as the days got on while working on this, you realized that perhaps he was not as much of an asshole you thought he was. He was just a genius surrounded by slower brains and he had some trouble accepting it. But he was almost treating you as an equal now that you had tell him to fuck off and put some respect on your name. 

Perhaps you should have done this sooner.

thank you for reading!

[islandtarochips]

Arthur’s Note: Talofa everybody! I was having some thoughts about my Black Ops OC, named Koa Nikau. Ever since I was done watching the Black Ops 6 Campaign. I was SO hooked up that I wanted to see if I could add Koa in there somewhere. And I also wanted to thank Khushi for helping me to figure it out. Since she also planned for HER OC entering this Universe! (Her Bell OC of course!) And this shows (SPOILER ALERT) after Adler, Sims and Chase had caught and interrogated Gusev. Since they have the lead that the next location is in Vorkuta. So you guys may enjoy reading this! Thank you! Love ya, peles! 😘💖

“Marshall.”

“Woods?”

“I know that you, Sev and Case will handle this mission. To Vorkuta. But I��m having a bad feeling that Jane has something or someone ELSE up from her fucking sleeves.”

“How can you be so sure?”

“I…don’t know but I could feel it in my damn guts. I have someone in mind to help you and the others out. Just for backup.”

“Oh yeah? Who?”

“Heh. You’ll see. I just hope that he’ll agree to assist us.”

“...alright, Woods. I’ll accept this extra help.”

“Don’t worry buddy. He’s an old friend of mine. I’m sure he’ll listen to me.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Balmoral Military CampTekapo, New Zealand

The sun was rising high above the plains and the mountains. Where the sun had shone down at the plains were soldiers, jogging their way through the fields with big heavy backpacks on their backs. Sweating like crazy under the heat of the sun. Many of them were running together to reach the end of their destination.

And at the end of the line from that destination. Standing two higher officers. A female Lieutenant, named Rui Hehu, standing next to her boss. As she watched the soldiers running. Looking through her sunglasses. “Te ahua nei kua tino pai ta matou tamaiti koura i te arahi i tana kapa. He pai hoki te wa.” She said in their foreign language. Pointing at the man who was leading the group.

Her boss, who is a Commander, had shown a small smile. Commander Koa ‘Hunter’ Nikau. The man who everyone had heard about his mission that he had fought and succeeded. Had also watched them running in through the finish line through his own sunglasses. And saw one man walking towards the team and giving them high five. “Ae ra.” He said softly.

Soon the two walked over to meet up with the soldiers. Before Koa told the Lieutenant to call out their team.

“SOLDIERS! DROP YOUR BAGS AND FALL IN!” She yelled out to them. Making sure that they could hear her.

Seeing the soldiers pile their bags on one side before running up to form a line across. Standing straight as Koa started to walk over with his hands behind his back. Seeing his soldiers lining up and looking straight ahead. 

He passed by them. One by one, watching them from one eye to another. Seeing them not even glancing at him. Which is good. It goes to show him that they RESPECTED him. And that made him proud.

“Alright, listen up.” The Commander said as he continued to walk past them. “For those who are NEW into this camp. I am Commander Koa Nikau. You will address me as Commander Nikau or sir. I am here to train you to become a better soldier. A GOOD soldier.” He kept walking and started to turn his boots around as he stood straight and stared at them. “If you really want to survive through any battles that hit in front of you. You shall listen to me and pay every single detail of what I’m going to train you for. Is that CLEAR?”

“SIR! YES SIR!”

He smiled a bit before he saw one of the soldiers from afar had run up to his Lieutenant. Seeing them whispering something to her. Her expression seemed serious before she nodded and looked at Koa.

He was quiet for a moment when he looked at her eyes. Then he started to look at his soldiers. “Now, go take your bags and get yourself ready for training. In 20 minutes.”

After he dismissed them, he walked up to the Lieutenant before hearing someone calling up to him.

“Commander! Sir!” A young man called out to him.

Koa turned his head before smiling to see him. “Sergeant Haimona Eruera. How may I help you?”

The Sergeant, who is named Haimona, is one of Koa’s BEST soldiers in the team. He had met him after he came back from his mission from the Safe House. His Colonel had introduced this man to him. And he heard his story about joining the army. It was…the same fate that Koa used to be when he was young. And it gave him the heart to have this Sergeant under his wings.

Haimona saluted the Commander before responding. “If I may ask, sir. Do you think I could join you on the next mission?”

His eyebrows went up after hearing that. “Oh…uh…I don’t know, Sergeant. I don’t think you’re-”

“Sir, please.” The Sergeant said as he lowered his arm down. “I have been training for YEARS ever since you brought me under your wings. Which I do appreciate. But I want to prove more and expand my skills.” He respectfully asked his Commander to give him a chance. He heard about his mission from the Safe House and it inspired him so much that he wanted to be trained under him. And even wanted to go on a dangerous mission with him too.

Koa looked Haimona in the eyes. Seeing his eyes fills with determination and he could tell he has no fear to show. That is the kind of soldier that he’s looking for but…there are some missions that Koa went that he doesn’t want this boy to see. Not even wanting him to find out what he was actually doing in the safe house. Some images started to flash into his mind. Remembering some of those old friends of his and some foes as well.

“Haimona…I appreciate your enthusiasm but you’re not ready to go with me. Not yet.”

“But sir-”

“That is final, Sergeant.”

“I know that I’m-”

“SERGEANT.” Rui raised her voice at Haimona while giving him that serious look. “Listen to your Commander. If he said you’re not ready. Then you’re NOT ready. How about you lead the training for him? He has an important phone call with someone.”

Koa turned his gaze at Rui when she mentioned someone calling for him.

Is that what the soldier was telling her? Someone was calling for him? But who?

“Sir, they’re waiting.” The woman said to her boss.

Koa nodded at her before looking back at the Sergeant. “Make sure to go over the stretching routine and start. Alright?” He gently patted his shoulder and left with the Lieutenant and the other soldier.

Haimona watched them leave as he sighed and felt disappointed. But just did as he was ordered to do while being a bit upset.

Koa and Rui were walking side by side with the soldier walking next to the Commander.

“Who are they?” He asked while glancing at the soldier.

“H-He won’t even say his name unless it’s YOU, Commander.”

“He? Sounds suspicious. Don’t you think so?” Rui said as she gave that look of suspicion. Doesn’t even trust this man that the soldier had mentioned. “Do you really want to take this call? I can take over?”

“No. I got this. And I’ll talk with this man, Lieutenant.”

“You’re the boss, sir. I’ll wait out here for a bit while taking a smoke.”

“Thank you. And don’t smoke too much.”

Soon the three had made their way to a small cabin where their communication lines were stored. To contact other bases in New Zealand and in the state. 

The soldier opened the door for Koa and walked right through. While Rui stayed outside and lit up her cigarette. The sound of their boots on the ground had echoed around the hallway and hearing the door closed. He started to follow the trooper up to a machine with the phone handset on the side.

Koa started to sit down and grabbed it before nodding to the soldier to make the contact.

They nodded back at him before pressing some of the buttons. “All set. Contacting him now.”

He waited as he heard the phone start to ring. And once it stopped ringing, someone on the other line answered. So he put the phone against his ear. “Hello?”

“Koa? Is that you?”

The Commander paused for a moment once hearing that familiar voice. He tries to recognize so he continues to interrogate this person. “Who is this? How do you know my name?” Then he started to hear laughter on the other end of the line. A laugh that Koa had remembered from somewhere.

“Hahaha! I thought you might recognize my voice, you old Gorilla!”

That nickname ‘Gorilla’ had gotten his attention as he remembered only ONE person called him that. “Woods?”

“The one and only! And also still breathing!”

Koa started to sigh in relief before laughing a bit. “WOODS! Hahaha! How are you my friend?”

Frank still laughed along with the old friend as he started to clear his throat. “Still living and serving the country, buddy. How about you? How was your end?”

“Things are going good now. Taking care of my own team that I’ve been training with.”

“Oh right. I heard that you’re a COMMANDER now?”

“Yup.”

Frank chuckled softly. “Well, congrats. I should salute you when I see you.” He could hear Koa laughing softly on the other line. Which made him smile a bit. “Hey, Koa? Are you alone?”

Koa looked at the soldier who was standing only inches away from him. He nodded at them to let them know that they were dismissed. They nodded and marched their way out. And once Koa saw the door slowly shut. He went back on talking on the phone. “I am now. What’s wrong?”

Frank sighs softly as he tries to find some words that won’t get on Koa’s nerves. “Listen, I…I know you said to us before you left. To NEVER contact you. But…we really need your help.”

The Commander felt silenced for a moment when Frank had mentioned that. About him telling his ex-team to never contact him before he left that Safe House. He still remembers that anger inside of him when he found out about what Adler had done. Something that he did was UNFORGIVABLE and he would never want to be part of that.

Back at the safe house in 1981. The day after saving the United States from being blown up. That was under the attack of that Soviet Spy named Perseus. It was a winning victory for them since they had found out where Perseus had hid those missiles. And it’s all thanks to that one person who had helped them along the way. The person that Koa had called a close friend or make that…sibling.

But it was already too late as soon as he finally realized what happened to them. Of what Adler had done. It angered him but also saddened. So much trust that person had given to Koa. Has been shattered into millions of pieces.

He couldn’t take this pain and anger much longer. So he quit working at the safe house and came back to the Army. He also told them to NEVER contact him. For he doesn't want to do their dirty work any more.

But here he is. On the phone with an old friend who actually called him for help. 

“......does it have to do with Adler?”

And now it’s Frank’s turn to be silenced when Koa asked him that. The bearded man knows that he and Adler’s relationship wasn’t on good terms ever since that day. So he tried to answer his question CAREFULLY. “Yes. But we’re working together to stop someone before the whole state gets into a fucking WAR or WORSE!”

Koa started to listen to Frank about their mission of trying to stop this group called the Pantheons. For they are going to Vorkuta to collect an object called the Cradler.

“Vorkuta? That’s…pretty far away for me to go to.”

“I know. And that’s why I have to give you an early call. Hoping that you will take an early flight there. The team is setting up and leaving in an hour.”

“Okay. But I don’t get why you forget that I mention NEVER call me when it comes to those CIA bullshits missions. Even with Adler. What’s wrong with your team you have now?”

Frank sighed as he tried to explain. “They might need Manpower for this one in case the mission goes south.”

“What about Sims or Park?”

“Park is busy working with the SAS in Iraq at the moment. She’s not available. Even for Captain Sims who is in Kuwait. In the battle right now.”

“Wait…CAPTAIN Sims? Huh. I thought that he’s going to be more of a tech guy or something.” Koa smiled a bit to hear Frank laughed lightly from the line.

“Nah. He’s actually looking forward to being on the battlefield, Koa. And you may have inspired him to take the step out of the CIA ground. Hehehe.”

“Good for him. But what about Mason? Isn’t he there with you?” Koa then heard a long deep silence from the line. Not even one minute, Frank didn’t respond. Something was wrong. “Woods? Woods you there?”

“U-Uh- Sorry. I um…kinda lost track there.”

After hearing Franks’ unsteady response. Koa knew something was up when he brought up Mason. “Frank? What happened to Mason?”

Another full on silenced from the old tired soldier. Koa can hear him sighed as he could tell that he was rubbing his face on the other side.

“Mason and Hudson…they’re…they’re both KIA.”

This news had suddenly given the Commander a shocking expression. His eyes went wide as he could feel the world around him paused. “W-What? How, Frank?”

Woods had sadly started to explain the mission that he went to. Along with Mason and Hudson. To stop the man named Raul Menendez from pulling up a war that will destroy the world. They were supposed to take him ALIVE but because of Frank’s selfish act. It had causes Menendenz’s anger fueled more after of what he had done to the sister.

Koa kept listening and nodding at every sentence that his poor friend had gone through. It even made him feel pity towards Woods when he explained further.

He started to tell Koa that last mission he went with Mason to kill Menendez once and for all. Had backfired them. One of the men who was Menendez arm’s dealer had tricked Frank. Instead of shooting their main target dead. He shot Mason instead. Koa could feel Frank’s anger and sadness. He could also feel the guilt was rising up from the other line.

“Woods?”

“I should’ve known that the two-time face son of a bitch would trick us!”

“But you didn’t know.”

“Well I should HAVE! Mason was DEAD because of me! Not only that, he also captured his SON with him! And Hudson was there! And you know what happened to HIM?”

“Woods-”

“He got fucking SHOT! Right in front of my fucking FACE! And Dave…the kid…he just saw his dead dad laying there…”

Koa kept being silenced as he waited for Frank to calm down. But then he could hear a sniffle from the line. Is he…CRYING?

“The kid…he shouldn't have seen his own father dead laying there…he was too young to see all of that…”

Those sentences that Frank had said. Had gotten him by surprise. He never knew that Mason had a son. And after hearing that from Frank about the young boy seeing his own father laying dead on the ground. Reminded him of the memories that he used to experience. But it was the opposite. “...how old was that kid? When…When Mason passed?”

“...he was only 7.”

Koa took a deep breath through his nose as he closed his eyes. Feeling that small sharp pain in his chest as he felt so hurt. As a father himself. He couldn’t imagine if his own children would experience that kind of tragedy at that kind of age. Mason’s son was a young boy at that age. Witnessing his own father’s death that is right in front of him. It must’ve traumatized him.

“He’s in a safe place though. Hopefully Menendez won't get to him again.”

“That’s good.” Koa said as he slowly opened his eyes. Just staring at the machines that were working on the phone that he was on.

Soon the two were silenced. For it feels like an eternity between them. But Frank had finally broken that silence as he started to speak.

“Listen, Koa. I’m not telling you this to change your mind. And I know it won’t if it involves Adler. But…we really need your help. I need your help. You are the only person that I know who has the guts and strength to take these motherfuckers DOWN.”

Koa was still in his silenced area as he thought about it. Before he took something out of his pocket. And it shows it was a photo. A photo of a teenage girl with that brightest smile that he could ever see.

His daughter.

He kept looking at the photo while rubbing his thumb over it while Frank was still talking.

“So please. Koa. Can you help us?”

The Commander kept looking at the photo as if in his heart. He knows what to do. “I’ll bring my team to assist me to deal with these Pantheons.”

“Okay okay. Listen, I- Wait what? Really?” Frank was caught off guard after hearing Koa’s answer. “Are you fucking with me right now? Like, you’re actually agreeing to do this? No jokes or serious lectures about that?”

The Commander made a smirk on his lips when he heard Frank’s reaction. “No. I’m not fucking with you, Frank. I’m MARRIED.” He felt pretty pleased to hear him laughing at his humor.

“Hahaha! I KNOW you’re married, you sick bastard! You know what I’m talking about!”

“Yes yes. I know what you are talking about. And yes, I am serious about agreeing to this mission Frank. I’ll be getting my men right away.”

“Hehehe…thank you, Koa. I owe you one.”

Koa softly smiled after hearing that. “No need, Woods. I’m doing this for Mason’s sake. And Hudson. Even though I hate that bald headed bastard as well.”

Frank laughed again but a bit more loudly. “Ha! Yeah, I understand that. And uh…Koa?”

“Yeah?”

“I’m sure your dad is really proud of you. And your kid too.”

Those words had suddenly touched his heart as he chuckled softly. “Thank you, Frank. Now, I’ll go and get my boys. And we’ll be there in 22 hours. Will that be a problem?”

“Nope! Not at all! It’ll take a few hours for us to get there. So we’ll see you soon.”

“Alright then, see you there.” As soon as Koa hung up, he took a good look at the photo and smiled softly. “Ka hoki pai au ki te kainga, e tama.” He said in a soft voice before standing up and leaving the room. He opened the door and stepped outside before seeing his Lieutenant just finished smoking her cigarette as she flicked the leftover down to the ground.

“So, who was it?” Rui asked as she stepped on the butt of the cigarette. And looked at her boss while crossing her arms.

“An old friend. He’s asking for help so I accepted. Get our team ready. We’re heading to Vorkuta.” Koa said before starting to walk off. “I’m gonna get our ride.”

Rui’s eyebrows rose when she heard that. Quickly following Koa. She started to feel uneasy about that area. “Vorkuta? As in VORKUTA in RUSSIA?”

“Yes.”

“Sir. I didn’t mean to sound rude or anything about your friend’s request. But isn’t it a bit dangerous for our comrades to participate in this mission? To THAT place?”

“The new recruits will stay. But the one who I trained for. I know they are ready.”

“Even Sergeant Eruera?”

That had made Koa stop as he just remembered about that Sergeant.

Rui could see him hesitated as she sighed. “Sergeant Eruera came in the SAME time and day as the rest of those recruits. Ever since you’ve created this team, sir. And if you say that he’s not ready, then the team is not ready.” She stood firm as she continued reasoning with the Commander. “I’m not saying that they CAN’T do it. All I’m saying is that they are still learning how to defeat the toughest enemies. And THESE enemies that you are sending are much tougher AND stronger than the one that we have faced before.”

Koa slowly looked down to the ground as he listened to the Lieutenant’s words.

She was right. The men that he had trained only knew a few ways of fighting the enemies. And this mission that he’s going to. Is MUCH bigger than what they have experienced. He closed his eyes as he started to think for a few minutes.

“Sir?”

Koa opened his eyes again before glancing at the Lieutenant. Who was showing a concerning look.

“Listen, I never doubted your decisions when it comes to battle. But I also don’t want you to come back with regrets.” Rui said as she kept looking at her boss. Hoping he understands what's going to happen over there. “You have sacrificed SO much ever since you’ve come back from that mission in the state. It really hurts me to see you like that, Koa.”

The Commander sighed as he hated to feel like someone else was right. “I know, Rui. I know the consequences if we ever step into that area. But my friend was asking for help. And I want to help him. And I will make sure that our men will come back in ONE piece. I promise you that.”

Rui shook her head a bit after hearing that answer but smiled a bit. “You truly are a stubborn one, Nikau. And I admired that.”

Koa smiled back at her as he nodded. “Thank you, Hehu.”

“Alright then, I’ll get the boys and explain everything to them but I’m coming as well. Don’t you dare think that I want to miss these fun activities.”

Koa smiled to hear the Lieutenant wanting to join in the fun. “No doubt. I’ll meet you and the others at the plane area in 10 minutes.”

She saluted him and nodded. “Sir yes sir!” Then started to walk off to get their recruits.

While Koa went in the opposite direction, heading towards the building where the planes were at. As he started to think about his decisions.

Will they make it out alive or will they die in that area just to help a friend?

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