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bookandcranny · 4 years ago

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SAUSAGE SIMULATOR 2000

A single short burst of light, sound, movement. A rhythmic throbbing of the arteries. A dry edible seed, rich in protein, belonging to the legume family. A palpitation of the neck or wrist. A common feature on a blender.

If one day you happen to find someone lying prone and unconscious, the first thing you’ll do is check for a pulse. But even when that signal, that faint tickle of motion is gone, the brain may yet live on for minutes. It may live on even longer.

summary: A surreal scifi horror set In Another Time, Another Place, in which the narrator reminisces on some events, real and dreamed, whole and fragmented, that occurred during their time attending high school alongside their best friend.

word count: 4.3k

content warnings: Insects, parental abandonment, descriptions of gore and body horror

🦗🦗🦗

We give thanks for the grain, for without it we would have no bread. We give thanks for the vermin, for without them we would have no meat. We give thanks for the machine, for without it we would have no work.

The work is to preserve the law. Without the law, the vermin would devour the grain. Without the law, the machine would devour the vermin. Without the law, man would devour the machine.

-----

Sive dissects his sandwiches layer by layer. He’s probably my best friend, but the guy is so weird sometimes. Regardless, these are the moments I remember the most.

We’re on a field trip, our entire grade; it’s one of the few times we get to hang out during school hours, since Sive is in Class C this year and I’m in A. When we break for lunch, he comes over to sit with me on the crumbling stone wall without either of us asking. I take two sandwiches out of my bag and hand him one. He peels it apart and starts licking mustard off a pallet of pink Bugmeat©️.

Maybe it’s now, maybe it’s later. The moments blend together in my recollection, blurred by the years and the medication. I seem to recall a couple of other friends from my class sitting with us, talking and laughing, but whenever Sive is around the world seems to narrow to a single point of focus. He has a way of commanding the room’s attention, with the oscillating pitch and volume of his voice and his swinging hands, illustrating the latest gossip with all the fervor of a street preacher.

In theory, I understand why some of the other kids are afraid of him. He’s taller than maybe anyone I’ve met and the way he hunches his shoulders makes him look sort of looming. The way he talks and the way he smiles, lip curling back into something more like a sneer, doesn’t help. But he’s my friend, has been since we were small, and I know he’s no more frightening than a field mouse. Besides, while he may be tall he’s also rail thin, skin sucking on his joints when he moves, now more than ever. He inhales his sandwich in seconds, even with the picking and fussing that proceeds it, so I give him half of mine too.

I kick my legs over the side of the wall, looking down at the sloping gray-green mountainside. There are a few masses of rock hovering alone, pushed and pulled by rich natural deposits of magnetic ore. I know this place, the sight of it if not the significance. My dad must have brought me once when I was little. He likes these old ruins, but I never got the appeal and can’t really be bothered to listen as the chaperoning teachers drone on and on about its history. I’ll just take some scans and make a recording to study for the test that’s sure to ensue and call it a day. Better yet, glom some notes off of Elege-- she’s got the good pods, and I know she likes me. Then Sive will glom it off of me. Circle of life.

A boy to my left, Tez Walker, unthinkingly wipes his sticky hands off on his uniform shirt. I watch him with a sort of morbid fascination and when I turn back around Sive’s looking at me like he’s waiting for my input on something.

“Sorry, what’d you say?”

He rolls his eyes, big gray eyes. “My mom wired me some more money so we can go to the video park after school. You in?”

“If you’ve got money to see shows, how come I’m buying your lunch?”

“Come on, I don’t have enough for food and streams and rent.”

I hum a non-answer. “When’s your mom gonna come back anyway? Did she say anything this time?”

He shrugs. “Don’t know. I like living on my own anyway.” So long as nobody knows. It’s not technically legal, even though we’re both almost of age. I’m not even sure how he’s managed to keep it a secret thus far, big-mouth that he is. I might tease but I really don’t want to see him relocated to another district. It feels somewhat inevitable, with this being our last year and all, but I’m not ready to let go just yet.

“I’ll pay for the park if you use some of that money to get an exterminator,” I say, pointing at the reddened welt peaking out above his hip.

He pulls down his shirt with an almost guilty expression and laughs through his teeth. “Stop overreacting, it’s probably just acne.”

I give him a dubious look, and he meets it with another shrug.

“We eat bugs, bugs eat us. It’s only fair.” He flaps around the limp half-sandwich for emphasis.

I growl around a mouthful of my own. “Bugmeat©️ isn’t made of bugs. That’s crazy.”

“Uh huh, I think I see a leg in your teeth.”

I swing around and kick his ankle. “I’ll put a leg in your teeth.”

He laughs. He’s laughing. There’s mustard on the corner of his mouth. Yeah, these are the things I remember.

-----

I’m in study hall going over vocab with Elege when I hear the news. One of the first to know and the last to believe it, and even then I don’t trust the way the others tell it. Sive has been in fights before, I know, but only because some kids go out of their way to pick on him. They see his face and his towering stature and it makes them think there’s something to prove there. But while you wouldn’t know it to look at the two of us, I’ve always been the one to squash ticks and spiders for him while he squirms. I can’t imagine him breaking anyone’s nose, especially not without a good reason.

I want to talk to him, to get the truth, but he’s sent home on the spot and when I try to call him after class all he gives me are these curt half-answers and a warning.

“Don’t come over,” he says. He tells me I was right. There’s something in his apartment, roaches or rats or maybe some crossbred mutation of the two. Whatever they are, they're big and they’re bloodthirsty and he doesn’t want me to risk getting bit.

“If your apartment is infested you need to tell someone,” I urge him.

“If I do that, they’ll realize I’ve been living alone and try to move me. This place might be a shithole, but it’s my home.”

“What are you gonna do then?”

There’s a sound in the background of the call, like something heavy being dragged across the floor.

“Don’t worry,” he says. “I’ll take care of it.”

Over the days that follow I keep trying to reach Sive and eventually he agrees to meet me somewhere, just not the apartment. He hasn’t finished taking care of it, I guess.

We’ve been scoping out some of the abandoned buildings in the area for a while now, looking for a suitable lair. I first had the idea after we saw this show about urban explorers and modern treasure hunters scouring the skeletons of infested districts in their glimmering kevlar. One night at the park I even manage to glom a few episodes when no one’s looking and save them to my pod.

There’s this one part: One of the crew is walking in a precarious spot when the plates shift suddenly and clamp down around his ankle, crushing it until it more resembles sausage wrung out of its casing than anything human. The man screams and one of his teammates quickly cauterizes the flowering stump with a hot blade. He cleans and binds it and they keep moving, because staying put is more dangerous than pushing on with a missing limb. Sometimes when I’m restless at night, I mute that episode and play it on loop until I fall asleep.

All this to say, it’s not such a surprise when Sive tells me to meet him at the old annex attached to the east wing of the school. Supposedly they used to hold art classes and things like that over there before it got too expensive for them to keep it up. The few remaining cameras are in poor repair and the back entrance is mangled and rusty, making for easy entry. Sometimes the local pests will try to bite you there, but things will try to bite you everywhere and a thick pair of socks resolves the issue well enough. That’s the place where we’ll meet.

But that’s not how it happens. I push past the broken lock with ease and call his name, to no answer. There’s a pink twilight settling over the campus, refracting through tall tinted panes of stained glass. I walk from one end of the building to the other until I come upon the old music room, nothing left inside it but a dusty grand piano and shards of crystalline debris that crunch under my feet. The classroom is/was built like a fishbowl, windows all along the hallway so visitors could look in on the students without letting out the music.

I pick up one big piece of glass and hold it up to the light, but when I turn it around I only see myself, staring darkly. I wait and I wander, but it’s always just me. I leave when it begins to grow dark and I hear something moving in the empty halls.

-----

That’s one thing I remember. Here’s another:

I’m walking from the bus stop with Sive, just Sive. Just us. His eyes are bright and bruised with red. There’s a new cluster of those little bumps crawling up the far side of his neck, but he keeps that side of himself turned away from me. My parents aren’t home yet and I don’t have any plans so I walk with him all the way to his building.

It’s a squat concrete cube with littler cubes inside it, just like any of them. There’s some moss or lichen or something growing in the cracks, and at this time of night it looks almost like mold.

“Do you want to go inside?” I ask, when he lingers on the steps.

He shakes his head, silent in the way he never is. Something's clearly weighing on him. We go around the back to the parking garage and climb up onto the overhang. Sitting here, on a clear night like tonight, you can see everything from the Bug Burger to the distant radio tower. The moon sits bloated and bulging against the city skyline, an egg sac fit for bursting. Sive scratches the back of his knee. Our twin breaths turn to ghosts in the February air.

Sive turns and asks me, “Do you know what you’re going to do after graduation?”

“I guess.” My parents both went to the same college when they were my age, so I’ll be going there too. No reason not to turn down any advantage I can get. My grades aren’t bad, but they aren’t great either, and neither is our area code. “Did you pick a school?”

He doesn’t answer, which is an answer in and of itself. I try to change the subject and wind up spitting out the first thing I can think of.

“Have you heard from your mom?”

“No.” He won’t elaborate.

“When are you coming back to school?”

“Soon.”

“Did you really fight those guys?”

“Yeah.”

“Why?”

Sive looks at me annoyed and instead of answering he says, “A counselor talked to me the day I got suspended. Did you know that?”

I don't. I didn’t.

“I was leaving the principal’s office and she took me aside and told me that with my record I might want to consider a future in security.”

My breath seizes in my chest. Suddenly I feel like I’m the one who was punched. “But you’re not gonna do it, right?”

The pause that follows feels like an eternity. “Nah, of course not,” he lies.

This isn’t actually the first time we’ve spoken about this, I recall. One night, after a particularly rough exam, he says something like, “At this rate I should just volunteer for security.” It’s a careless sentence, a tactless joke, but I laugh or pretend to laugh, assured he means nothing by it.

“It’ll turn around,” I tell him, and in the moment, I mean it with all my heart.

-----

On the day Sive returns to school, he gets written up for a uniform violation. I never know for sure why. Could be anything, an untucked shirt or an ink stain seeping through his pocket. Laundry and mending costs money, money that I know he doesn’t have since he stopped letting me buy him lunch. I try, but when I bring it up he says he hasn’t been hungry, and as improbable as it sounds I don’t think it’s a lie, at least not entirely. He must have found something else to eat.

We don’t talk about it. We don’t talk about it at all.

-----

“I don’t love you, not like a partner, maybe like a brother. I’ve never had a brother, or any siblings for that matter. It’s always been just me. Except not really. No one is ever really alone. All you have to do is look around, look inside. Inside, there’s all this movement, all this warmth. And you see? That’s the cause of it all. It was in us from the start. It’s not even just the food we eat or the shows we watch, it has always been there.

“Did you know? I returned to our meeting place, that great vestigial organ, but I don’t think you could see me. You only saw your own reflection. It almost made me doubt that you were ever there at all. I don’t love you, but if you asked, I’d do just about anything for you. We didn’t used to need to ask, but right now, I really wish you would.”

-----

I don’t see my friend much these days. Weeks pass, then months. Sometimes he comes to school, enough to keep the threat of investigation at bay, but-- and I don’t know how to explain this, but even when he’s here he’s also not. Or maybe he is, and he’s just hiding from me.

I keep looking for him right up until the final day, but even then we’re divided by class and I can’t pick out his face in the crowd of all our classmates. We file into the gymnasium where someone’s set up a little wooden stage with a scuffed red carpet draped over the frame and opened all the doors, filtering out some of the stifling, sweaty air and letting in the summer scents of hot asphalt mingling with freshly laid turf.

It’s a bit embarrassing to admit I don’t remember much of my highschool graduation. It seems like one of those things you’re supposed to remember, to hold and cherish years down the line, but in the moment all I know is it’s hot and crowded and I am painfully bored. The principal and vice principal stand up and give some speech while the students fiddle impatiently with their heavy, itchy robes. A girl standing in front of me quickly applies another layer of makeup to a bubbling red patch of acne on her chin. I watch her for longer than I like to admit before tearing my eyes away to search for Sive again.

He’s nowhere to be seen, but he has to be here. No one misses graduation because no one doesn’t graduate, no matter what other infractions they may have committed. My name is called, I receive my diploma, and that’s all. I return to my place and wait. I wait for one thing even as I tumble blindly towards another.

As the ceremony crawls to a close, the principal returns to the lectern at the center stage. He says,

“Before we wrap things up, I have one final announcement. This year a number of our graduates will honor their community by volunteering for the city security tract. Will the following students please come to the stage.”

My heart pounds. I know before I know, still I don’t start screaming until I hear his name get called. The animal grief punctures my lungs and bleeds out my throat in a rushing torrent, clawing and scraping. My classmates and their families all around me barely seem to react. At most they exchange some fleeting glances of pity and annoyance as I fall to my knees.

Someone touches my shoulders, to comfort or to quiet, then I’m being dragged away. Someone or many someones; I don’t know but I like to think I put up a fight. If I try hard enough, it might turn out different this time.

-----

I have this recurring nightmare sometimes. In it, I see myself, or the figment of myself projected into my own mind by an outside eye. Through that narrow watery lens, I see it/me standing in a beam of light. I’m hosting one of those nighttime shows where they used to read the lotto numbers. There’s a big lottery spinner made up of opaque, milky polygons and it tumbles with a sound like chattering teeth.

I turn the crank around and around and when the device finally spins to a stop it flails in my direction a sort of wet nozzle appendage whose shape reminds me of a shower head. I wrap my hands around its vermiform neck and wring a number from the puckered opening, but when I hold up the little white ball to call the winner, the number begins to morph and multiply into a string of numbers, and letters, and symbols I don’t recognize. I can’t divine the meaning and so I start to cry.

The ball splits open.

-----

NO NO NO NO STOP STOP IT NO NO NO STOP NO

-----

Ears ringing, vision swimming, I can barely make out my friend’s face as he steps out onto the stage. I writhe, I howl. I try to make him change his mind. Surely it’s not too late, I think. And I’m sure he hears me. He turns toward the crowd and as I’m pulled through the double doors I desperately will him to see me. He never meets my gaze.

Anyway, that’s all I remember. That, and one other thing but I promise, it will not bring you satisfaction.

-----

After I complete my first semester, I catch a train and vow to spend at least a few days pretending to enjoy my winter break back home before I ultimately retreat into the cradle of my studies. It’s strangely nostalgic to be here, even though chronologically speaking I haven’t actually been gone for very long. Time holds no dominion over feeling, however, no matter what people might tell you.

I am changed. I know that, I think I do. It’s all subjective I guess but the way I speak, the way I carry myself, even the way I dress has changed-- more pale patterned shirts, less muddy sneakers. My mom says I’m just in the process of acclimating myself to college life, that she went through the same thing when she was my age, and I don’t really have much choice but to believe her. Call it growing pains, I guess. Call it a new chapter, a fresh start. Call it anything that keeps you comfortable while you roll around in bed at night.

As I walk around the place I’ve known all my life, I find myself mesmerized by the sight of my white breath dissolving against the cornflower blue sky. I can’t remember the last time I saw a sky so clear. Maybe it’s that succoring sense of reminiscence that draws me back to the grounds of my old highschool. More realistically, it’s probably something to do with my recent change in medication. I’m technically not supposed to be walking alone like this yet; my head gets all fuzzy and I’m liable to get confused. The past bleeds into the present and back and forth and back again like a swinging pendulum, although that analogy, I realize, attaches an impression of consistency to the idea that the reality rarely lives up to.

It’s not all bad though. My focus has improved, and I’m sleeping less but I don’t feel as tired. My math scores have gone up by an average of seven points.

The path is still so familiar to me I could walk it blind, and I don’t realize just where I’ve come until I’m standing outside the front gate. It’s locked, for obvious reasons. Upon a second glance I notice that the school buildings themselves look quite different than I remember them. The dilapidated annex has finally been torn down for one thing. Disappointing. I linger regardless, tracing the perimeter, trying to put a name to this distant feeling of unease.

A shadow passes over my eyes and I smell rot. Rounding a corner I see a cluster of massive, chittering vermin gnawing on the fence where it’s gone red from oxidation. From a distance, from the right angle, their undulating black backs make it look as though the pavement is breathing.

Distantly, I know I should be afraid, but the fear doesn’t quite make it through the veil. One insectoid catches sight of me and rears back, flaring its rear wings and giving me a gurgling hiss of warning.

Before I can react, a security drone-- one of the Angel series, if I’m not mistaken-- descends upon the vermin and carves through them a gory swath of bright pink gristle. Their scattered serrated bits stay twitching where they lay. Some other dispatch from city security will be by in time to clean up the remains.

The bugs are getting so much bigger than they used to be. I have a theory about that actually, but there’s no one I feel like telling it to. It’s sad. This used to be a nice neighborhood.

The Angel series are still a pretty new breed, a hot commodity, recently introduced to the district in the wake of some new hives popping up. It’s honestly fascinating to see one up close like this, and more than a little frightening. At least eight feet of perfect patented genes, of muscle and metal, circuits like the most delicate seams running up the length of its thick fibrous limbs.

It starts to walk away, its work complete, and suddenly I feel this pressing need to stop it. It’s indescribable, the need, an emotion so strong after blank, dreamlike months that it's like a physical probing in my lower stomach. I stagger and trip in my haste, scraping the palm of my hand where I catch myself. The scent of blood emboldens some more common pests, tiny slug-like masses that poke up their pulsing head through the cracks and wriggle from the ground to get a taste. The drone exterminates them with ease as well. All the while I am searching the impassive Angel’s face for some sign of emotion, of recognition.

Bioengineering isn't exactly my field, but I’m not stupid. No, stupid's not the word-- naive. I know it may likely be only a small part of him in there, if anything at all, split into individual strands and laced throughout the makeup of a dozen distinct living machines. Security is very efficient, threshing away the superfluous husk of personality and, like a pot of simmering fat, rendering their creations down to the most basic, most useful parts. Only then are the fresh-cooked soldiers that come out the other side of this procedure truly ready to protect us.

There’s no reason to believe whatever shred of him that remains should know me. Still, selfish creature that I am, I stare into his/its featureless not-face and I search for my friend one more time. I search for big lip-curling smiles, patchy teenage stubble, gray eyes bright with laughter or tears. I would have him any way. I would have him on the worst days: dirty and hungry, bruised and bloodied and bug-bitten. I could even love him, I think. I could love him.

“Sive?” I ask. There’s a quiet rasp to my voice, a wavering uncertainty that shames me even now.

The Angel does not respond, but neither does it turn away.

“Look at me,” I beg, staring into my own reflection in the darkened visor. “Look at me.”

Another few drones drop down across the green, summoned by a signal from their kin. There’s a distressed civilian in need of escort. Of course, of course. These chimerical android creatures are almost completely identical, masses of matching sinew growing like vines around the mass-produced metal hulls, and nothing throbbing inside them but a singular purpose. I realize, abruptly, my foolishness and allow myself to be herded off the premises.

I’d like to say I looked back. Someone like me, forever sick with sentiment? Of course I would look back. That’s not what this is though. This is not closure. This is not an ending, not an exit or an epilogue. The food chain we worshiped back then was as immutable as it was self-serving, a rare form of autocannibalism that feeds everyone and nourishes no one. These still-twitching remains are, as I well know, just a memory.

#writeblr #short fiction #horror #surreal #scifi #original fiction #my writing #dystopia

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creativia10 · 3 years ago

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First Wip: Dukeceit Vs

Summary: Vigilante Janus has to deal with the chaos that is the newest villain wreaking havoc. Yet they both find themselves drawn to one another.

Notes: I decided to go ahead and try posting some of these unfinished wips. This was actually one of the first fics I attempted to write after deciding I wanted to try and participate in Dukeceit week. I actually really liked this one. I think my original intention was for this to be for the Free day (although I ended up getting a lot of Dukeceit ideas that didn't fit into the prompts). I can see myself getting back to it eventually. Sorry for the abrupt cutoff it ends with at the moment.

Pairing: Janus x Remus

Word count: 2014

Warnings: implied background violence? , innuendos (implied kink), sexual tension

Janus nearly had to swerve as he felt his weight shifted into the wall of the building he was next to.

Well this was new.

Once he got his bearings, he carefully righted himself, testing that the ground was no longer shifting underneath him, and carefully made his way out of the alley he had changed in, still using the wall as a railing in case some other natural shift occurred. He peered out of the alley carefully, working into the natural suaveness his vigilante costume normally gave him.

The city…looked like a mess. He almost couldn’t begin to describe it. Roadways were shifted about, all sorts of objects were around in a disarray as though blown there. There were simultaneous evidence of flooding and fires. Janus had never before seen such a catastrophic mess left around. He wouldn’t have believed such a thing was there if he weren’t seeing it with his own eyes.

He sighed, and carefully stepped about to find the source of all this chaos. It didn’t take long for him to hear a maniacal cackle.

“Oh what fun!”

A man dressed in all black with accents in various outlandish neon colors was floating in the middle of the city, over what looked like swirling ground debris?

He was looking about, seeming to laugh at people’s reactions to the mess he had made. Attention at things such as people trying to fix wind ruined hair, and turning around as though dizzy in disbelief. He didn’t even seem to notice Janus at first.

Janus stepped up to him and cleared his throat.

“I’m not sure why I expected anything else, “ Janus said dryly. Of all things to say first to the new chaos.

The source of chaos turned to face Janus, and tilted his head, an unhinged twinkle to his eye before suddenly his earth twister collapsed and he landed right on the ground. There was an unpleasant sound as he landed, but the man didn’t seem phased as he looked over Janus. He had strange vibrant eyes, that gave Janus a radioactive feel.

“Hmm, you the goodie here to kill my buzz?”

Janus scoffed. “Gosh no. Do I look like a bright colored government ken doll? I clearly have way more class than them. I’m just someone who wants to make sure my life doesn’t get swept up in whatever craziness this is, and have the means to do so. I’d liked to see the end of the day, and I surely expected the road being twisted into a column is not going to be helpful to getting me to work tomorrow.”

The other just stared at him for a moment before he snorted.

“Ah, that’s a good one. See…I’m not done so,” He shrugged and went back to pointing around and zapping strange bouts of nature around the city.

“Are you even putting thought into what you’re doing?” Janus asked as he slyly brought himself closer.

“Or are you just doing your best to be an annoying menace to me?”

“Hmm,” he tapped his fingers to his lips, weird bits floating around.

“I mean, I didn’t have a particular plan, but I guess annoying you is a bonus.”

Just before Janus could pull out one of his weapons, a water tentacle slunk up from out of nowhere, and pulled him towards the black clad menace, wrapping him up and restraining him. The other laughed.

“Ah, now let’s have a looksy here.”

He walked around and seemed to be taking in Janus. Janus struggled and tried to get out of the hold, surprised there was such a firm pressure and that it was hard to break hold off. He wrinkled his nose when he got a whiff that suggested this water was not the cleanest.

“Hmm,” the villain was much closer now. Janus continued to struggle, glaring at the other, who simply smiled at him.

“Ok, “

Janus rolled his eyes. He concentrated, and Remus jumped at the unexpected slithering sensation around his ankle, which helped release Janus from the water hold.

Remus looked down to see the yellow and green snake there.

“Ah, you can summon snakes. Neato.” He then reached backward and got hold of Janus’ wrists before he could use the other snake like fanged object and surprisingly brought Janus up against his back, but he held the strength.

“Oh, snakey, if you wanted to wrap me up to bind me so badly, you only needed to ask.”

Janus grimaced and tried to break out of Menace’s hold, who in turn spun him around and pressed Janus back to his front this time. Menace made a sound somewhere between a growl and a purr.

“I say, I rather like you against me.”

Janus’ eyes widened, suddenly very aware of just how warm Menace’s body was against his. He tried to get ahold of his breath, struggling for a comeback.

“What, no quip back?” Menace asked, sounding far too pleased with himself.

Janus huffed out a breath and tried his other trick again.

“Oh, that’s not going to work on me, dear.” Menace said, even when snakes wrapped around his ankles.

“You’re not concerned about them being venomous?”

“You would kill me?”

“I’m a vigilante, I play by my own rules.”

“That wasn’t an answer~,” Menace sang. “And I’m sure this would be less fun if I died.”

“Who said anything about fun? That’s your thing.”

“Mhmm~. Sure.”

He leaned in some to whisper into Janus’ ear,

“Isn’t there a thrill to being close to a rival whose intentions you don’t know?”

For some reason, the way he said that gave Janus shivers. He quickly tried to think of something else he could summon to get him out of this position before he completely lost his composure.

“Aha!” A familiar voice cried.

“Release the snakey villain, you new fiend.”

However, the obnoxious ‘hero’s’ entrance gave Janus the distraction he needed. Janus stamped on Menace’s foot and elbowed him enough to be able to get out of his grasp. He turned to face him, eyes flashing.

Menace simply laughed.

“Oh.”

“Your villainous deeds have now come to an end now that I-“

Janus shot a gag at him.

Menace cackled.

“Didn’t expect you to do that.”

“He’s annoying.”

The hero wrestled the gag out and stamped his foot.

“Hey! I am trying to save the day!”

“Mhm, and I’m trying to cut down a pest, so out of my way.”

“As if I would let the sly likes of you determine your own moral law on how we retain the bads of this city!”

“Oh blah blah blah, gosh, does he always blather on like this?”

“Indeed.”

The hero gasped in offense.

“Anyways, I really did not come here to fight two people today. So if you’re determined, I’m gonna head out. “

“Aww, but you’re probably more fun to fight!”

Janus just stated at Menace for a moment.

“What?”

Menace laughed, and then zoomed away on another earth twister.

“Aren’t you gonna go after him?” Janus asked the hero.

“But first-“ the hero started.

Janus rolled his eyes. “Whatever.” He threw a smoke bomb and left before the hero could turn that into another needless battle, like he tended to do.

Janus wasn’t sure what he expected to come of that, but it wasn’t what ended up happening. For one, apparently Menace, as Janus had mentally dubbed him, was better at getting away than he thought. Janus wouldn’t put it past the hero’s incompetence either though, but it really wasn’t his business as long as the pest was done. Recurring villains, unless they were really powerful, were actually not a common thing where they were. Usually the villain would end up in jail. The hero, despite being annoying and over the top, was powerful, like a more dramatic superman. It was annoying often, say when Janus clearly had it against a villain, or the hero suddenly decided to fight him since his deeds were not always the most legal. Nevertheless, a villain being a child about who they wanted to fight was not common. For one thing, usually it was just the hero who fought the bad guys. Janus didn’t always go out of his way since he didn’t consider himself to be a universal do-gooder or anything like that.

Yet, this ‘Menace’ would show up at different parts of the city, bringing about his usual chaos, and almost actively ignored the hero. It was strange. Janus, begrudgingly, felt he needed to step in. The hero didn’t work well with others, or maybe he was just a nightmare to ‘work’ with.

Janus had barely gotten his costume on in the alleyway when he felt a strong wind pulling him out.

Gosh. That was too close.

Menace was standing in front of him, on the ground this time, with his earthy twister behind him.

“Heyy there, snakey. I’ve been waiting~.”

Janus raised an eyebrow at him, despite it likely being covered by his mask.

“Is that so?”

“Mhmm!” The villain leaned forward on his toes, unnaturally keeping his balance, probably from wind powers or something. Janus couldn’t help but lean back some.

“I was getting bored~.”

“That seems to be your whole ordeal, hm? You get bored. I get tired, yet I’m still here.”

Menace snorted.

“See, this is what I mean. You’re fun to talk to.”

“Yes, because snarky rival banter totally counts as talking.”

“Well, it is for me. “

Remus then spun around in his twister that seemed to stretch away.

“Come and catch me!” His voice rang off.

Janus groaned and started to trudge in that direction, trying to decide what he could summon to assist himself. He hadn’t summoned many large objects of transportation, but maybe he could find something to up his speed.

“You! He-“

“Yeah, I know, sir super hero. He seems to want to play with me, I will have to deal with it.”

The hero paused for a moment. “Is there anything I can do?” He asked hesitantly.

Janus smirked at him. “Not that I can think of. You seem the type to care about protecting the people so” Janus waved his hand, and went back to his task. He didn’t get very far before he was thrust into his next obstacle, a sink hole suddenly sucking him into the ground. Janus quickly summoned a grappling hook and hooked it onto the surface so he was dangling, but no longer falling. There was an echo of Menace’s cackle. Janus sighed as he swung himself up and landed smoothly. He looked around and saw he was in a different part of the city.

“Oo.”

Janus heard little clapping.

“That was a neat trick. I got to see you in many different angles. Very fun for me.”

Janus gave him an unimpressed look, before carefully looking around.

“Where is everybody?”

“Oh, probably deserted. I’m not very quiet.”

He slid up to Janus, on some sort of sliding ground formation.

“I think I’d rather have you all to myself anyways~” He said with a whole body wiggle.

Janus made a face.

“Why do you keep doing that?”

“Hmm?”

Menace suddenly got closer.

Janus took a step back, hand curling for something, but he struggled to wrack his mind of something that he could actually use against the walking natural disasters.

“Th-the comments, to me.”

Janus cursed to himself at the stutter.

‘“Hmmm” Menace tilted his head until there was an unpleasant creak.

“Cause. It’s fun, and I like you.”

Janus paused and stared at him in bewilderment.

“What?”

Menace giggled at that and then suddenly they were against a wall. Janus let out an oof, as his back hit a bit roughly. It didn’t help that the other man was against him.

“Ya know, I gotta say, I’m not the type who’s into pain,” Janus croaked before he could stop himself.

Menace frowned and took a small step back.

“Er, sorry…I got ahead of myself. I didn’t actually hurt you did I?”

Janus narrowed his eyes at the other, a bit

#sanders side fic #dukeceit #ts janus

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ollieofthebeholder · 4 years ago

Text

leaves too high to touch (roots too strong to fall): a TMA fanfic

Tumblr tag || Also on AO3.

Chapter 38: Statement of Kieran Blackwood, regarding...choice. Recorded direct from subject, twenty-fifth of March, 1997.

[CLICK]

KEEPER

When did you start using these for official statements?

GERTRUDE

If this were official, I would have you write it down. Most of the people who come in with a statement simply fill out the forms provided by the Institute.

KEEPER

So why not have me write it down? Why bother to listen?

GERTRUDE

Because I suspect that what you’re about to say would be…unwise to add to the Archives.

KEEPER

It’s not related to that statement, if that’s what you’re getting at.

GERTRUDE

I don’t think it is, no.

But I do think that, whatever it is that brought you here, it may not be something that needs to be available to everyone. I’ve begun recently making audio recordings of statements that I want my research to be…private, shall we say?

KEEPER

Or we could say “secret”.

GERTRUDE

(heh) Fair enough. Any live statements that I feel could be…useful, to myself or my successor if need be, go on the tapes as well. In this case, I suspect it may be both.

KEEPER

You may not be wrong.

GERTRUDE

Besides. I don’t know that I’ve ever had another…devotee of one of the Powers walk in off the street and offer me a statement. Call it curiosity.

KEEPER

I can certainly assuage that, Trudy.

GERTRUDE

Don’t call me that.

KEEPER

Sorry. Occupational hazard.

I’m sure you know how that goes by now.

GERTRUDE

I suppose I do.

Statement of Kieran Blackwood, regarding…

KEEPER

Choice.

GERTRUDE

Recorded direct from subject, twenty-fifth of March, 1997. Where would you like to start?

KEEPER

At the beginning, I suppose.

KEEPER (STATEMENT)

As long as there have been lighthouses in England and Ireland, there’s been a Blackwood manning at least one, probably dating back to the Dover Castle in Kent and leading all the way down to my father. My earliest memory is of him holding me as we stood on the railing, the beacon flashing across the night-darkened sea, keeping safe any ships that might be sailing by. He took his responsibility seriously, and so did I. I remember telling my best mate, a boy whose family lived next door to where Ma and I lived, that I was going to be a keeper myself one day. He asked how I knew, and I told him it was what we Blackwoods always did.

I told Dad that, too, and he took me on his knee and explained a few things. He said the Blackwoods had always been lighthouse keepers, not because we wanted to, but because we had to. He said I was going to be starting school in the fall and that I was a bright lad, so I’d have choices he never had. He told me he wanted me to do the best I could, and that when the time came, I could choose to be a keeper if I wanted, but it had to be my choice.

He died that winter. There was a bad ice storm, and while he was scraping the glass clear, he forgot to shield his eyes when the light came around. It blinded him, and he lost his balance and fell. Hit the rocks at the base. They found him washed up on shore the next morning. Ma took poorly and was in bed for a few days when we got the news, and I went to stay with my best mate until she could get up, but she never quite recovered. I was afraid Ma would want to move back to Ireland where her family was, but she said we had roots too deep in the Bournemouth soil to leave it now. Wasn’t until years later that I found out how little money we had—we couldn’t afford to leave. Then again, if Grandmother hadn’t left us her house, we wouldn’t have been able to afford to stay.

I still wanted to be a lighthouse keeper, but by the time I was ready for the eleven-plus, I knew I couldn’t. For one thing, Ma got into hysterics any time I mentioned it—like it would somehow be more dangerous than anything else I could have done, just because it killed Dad—but for another, they were beginning to automate lighthouses by then. Every year there were fewer and fewer jobs, and I’d have been lucky to get one. My grades were all right, but I knew I wouldn’t pass any of the tests needed to be a keeper.

If I couldn’t do that, I decided, I’d do something on the sea. My best mate and I used to play at pirates some when we were little, and we talked about doing that, but of course you couldn’t really do that. We thought about the Navy, too, but we agreed that whatever we would do, we would do it together. By the time we were sixteen, though, I knew I wouldn’t make him. He was smart, top of our class. I barely scraped by with a pass. So we made another deal, him and I. I’d go into trade, learn to sail, to fish, and he’d go on with his education, get a degree in business. Together, we’d build our own fishing company, go out together. Someday, we said, we’d have our own business, a business we could hand down to our sons if we wanted, if they wanted.

I found a job with a fishing crew. Deep-sea stuff, extended voyages. The money was good, so I could take care of Ma and save up a bit, too. And winters were my own, so I could spend them at home. I was a bit of an outcast among the crew, though, and not just because of my age. Even when they were together, they were silent and…distant. The captain was one of the owner’s sons, so of course he was too high and mighty to talk to any of us, but I always felt like he was…watching me. Like I’d disappointed him, even though I did everything right. I felt sometimes like I was the only one with connections on shore—not just Ma, but Walt. We were right close. Looking back…there might’ve been more there than we ever admitted, but it just wasn’t done.

Then I met Liliana.

Walt introduced us. Actually, he was just starting to date Sarah at the time and they needed a fourth for dinner, so Sarah invited her along. I won’t say it was love at first sight…truth be told, I won’t say there was ever love. I’m still not sure Lily’s actually capable of feeling positive emotions towards other people, to be honest. But we had some of the same interests, then. We both liked to dance, we liked the same books, the same foods. She introduced me to her father just before I went out that year, and the old boy and I hit it off, so when I got back in the winter we started keeping company again.

Ma died in January, and Lily came to the funeral, which I appreciated. The four of us got a bit drunk that night, and…well. I was getting ready for the next salmon run when she told me she was in the family way. I was just considering my options when Walt called and asked if I thought the crew could use another sailor, because Sarah was expecting, too. He was leaving school immediately—they needed the money.

I—I couldn’t let him join the crew. It felt like a waste, and I knew he’d want to be there for Sarah and the baby…and I kind of hoped he’d be there for Lily and mine, too, since I couldn’t be. Besides…something about Captain Lukas gave me the creeps. I wouldn’t willingly subject anyone I loved to to that. Luckily, my father-in-law had just mentioned to me that he needed a general handyman about the place. The pay was just as good, and Lily and I had made our home base not far away, so it seemed perfect. We had a quick double wedding, and I went out with the fishing run.

She gave birth right after I got home. We were a bit early back that year, come to think of it, but at the time it never occurred to me that there was anything odd about that; we’d hit quota, that was all. I didn’t love Lily, I told you that, but my God, when that doctor laid the baby in my arms and told me “it’s a boy”, I fell in love then and there. Walt’s boy was born about a month later. There’s a picture somewhere of the two of us, sitting on Alastair’s porch, rocking a pair of sleeping babes and talking.

At least, I hope it still exists somewhere. Brings me comfort thinking it does.

Walt died right when he said he would, three weeks before the fishing run started. The three of us went to the funeral, but Sarah screamed at Alastair before it even started. Accused him of killing her husband.

GERTRUDE

I can’t imagine—

KEEPER

Oh, it wasn’t. Complete accident. The old man wasn’t even home at the time, he’d taken the boys to a science exhibition of some kind. And I’m the one who found him, come to that. Sarah was just hurting and needed someone to blame. But it ended with her ordering us to leave. The look on Walt’s boy’s face when I pried mine away from him and said we had to go is one that still comes to me when I’m having trouble sleeping.

KEEPER (STATEMENT)

My boy and I got a lot closer after that. That boy was my world. My light. The beacon that drew me back to shore. I started calling him Wickie before he could talk. Lily hated that nickname, but then, she hated a lot of things.

She—she wasn’t strong. I don’t mean her health, necessarily, although I know it was a hard pregnancy and that’s when her troubles started. I mean her mind. It was so—easy for her to give into despair. We’d never been close, but we got further and further apart every year. We’d probably have fought more often than we did, but I wouldn’t put Wickie through that. Instead, I’d absent myself. That didn’t help.

Plans. Choices. They never go the way we mean them to.

I gave it one last chance, and it’s one I’ll probably regret to my dying day. The Lukases have a Christmas gala every year, but you have to be an officer on a vessel or serve fifteen voyages before you get an invitation. Suppose it’s to make sure you’re loyal enough to deserve it, but maybe it’s also to make sure you know the rules. I don’t know. The year Wickie turned eight was my fifteenth year with the crew, so I got the invite. It included the whole family. Lily was actually enthusiastic about it, but…she didn’t want to bring Wickie. Said he wouldn’t behave. I—I’m the one that insisted on giving him the choice. Of course he said he wanted to come.

I wish I hadn’t let him.

There were no other children there. That should have been my first clue something was wrong. None of the other sailors even had spouses or sweethearts. I was the only person besides the Lukases themselves who actually brought my family. Maybe the only one who had a family to bring.

I talked Lily into a dance or two. We used to like it, once, and for a song or two it seemed like we’d got back…well. It didn’t last. She said she was tired and wanted a drink. I found her a seat at a table where she and someone from the shipping side of the company could ignore each other and went to fetch her something, and I was looking around for Wickie. I—I found him, eventually. He was off to one side, looking scared, looking…lost. One of the Lukases—Peter—was talking to him. He seemed perfectly friendly, but I could see the fog rolling off him, threatening to engulf my boy. Didn’t seem to be anyone else who could see it, or maybe everyone was just ignoring it. He reached forward to tuck a curl behind Wickie’s ear, and the fog curled that much closer.

I admit I had a bit of a reputation for fighting when I was in school. Never unprovoked, mind you, but…well, between the fact that I was half-Irish and the fact that my best mate was darker than some people liked, I got in my share. I don’t have a temper, but I do have a protective streak a mile wide, and I’m not above acting on it.

As you might imagine, breaking your boss’s son’s nose isn’t exactly the sort of thing that looks good to your employers. I got Wickie and Lily and we left then. Took me the better part of the next week to convince Wickie it wasn’t his fault I’d got in a fight, but it rather put a damper on our Christmas. At the beginning of January, I got a rather terse letter from the Lukases telling me I’d not be welcomed back to the crew.

I…I didn’t tell Lily. I certainly didn’t tell Wickie. Lily was starting to get sick, I couldn’t have told you what it was, but we needed an income and now all we were getting was the bit she picked up at the tailor’s when they needed her. I was desperate to try and come up with something, anything, but nobody was hiring. I swear to you I was about three days away from coming to you and asking if you’d take on a new assistant when there was a knock on our front door one foggy night.

(heh) The fog should have been the clue, really, but it wasn’t, and like a fool, I opened the door. Peter Lukas was standing there. I almost shut the door in his face, but he told me he felt bad about me losing my post on the crew. Said my boy deserved better than an unemployed father, and he was there with an offer. Against my better judgment, I listened.

His family owned a lighthouse, he said. One it was important to keep lit, but just then it was without a keeper. He wanted to offer me the position.

I didn’t believe what I was hearing for a minute. The idea of actually getting my childhood dream after all…and from someone I had every reason to hate? I knew there had to be a catch, so I asked, and I was right. Peter told me it was a stag station, meaning no families; Wickie and his mother would have to stay.

I—I laughed. I asked him how big a fool I thought he was. I’d already told him once to stay away from my boy, and if I wasn’t there, what was to stop him from going after him? Peter took the contract out of his pocket and showed me a clause that explicitly said he would stay away from my son, as long as I kept the light. He gave me the paperwork and told me to think it over, and if I was interested, to sign it and send it back and it would all be taken care of, but warned me I’d have to leave by the time the season started.

That night, with Lily and Wickie both asleep upstairs, I read over that contract with a fine-toothed comb. It all seemed airtight. The pay was decent, enough to keep up with Lily’s medical bills at least, and the tasks were exactly what I would have expected. It wasn’t until I got to those last clauses that I realized what the catch was. It explicitly stated that the Lukases would stay away from Wickie as long as I held the position—but it also stated that I had to do the same. Should either one of us break the taboo and talk to him, it would be fair game for the other to do the same.

I didn’t have much time to think about it. The season was only a week away. I thought about asking Alastair, but I knew what he’d say—not to have anything to do with anyone tied to those things. He’d never been thrilled I worked for the Lukases anyway, but at least before I’d had some distance. This was…worse, somehow. I thought about taking Wickie and absconding in the night, but—but I couldn’t do that. He’s smart, Trudy, he can do so much, and I knew if we were on the run he’d lose so many opportunities.

There was only one choice, in the end. I signed the contract and mailed it off.

The night I left was the night I would normally have left for the fishing run, so I just…let Wickie think that was where I was going. Went through our usual routine. We had alphabet soup and cherry preserves for dinner, then I tucked him in and sang the old sea shanty I always sang the night before I left, to put him to sleep. Once he was asleep, I went downstairs to talk to Lily.

I won’t repeat the things I said to her. Suffice it to say I made sure she knew I wouldn’t be back, and…I let her believe that it was what she’d accused me of before. That I was leaving because of her, because I didn’t want to deal with her and her issues anymore. I left that night knowing I’d well and truly burned that bridge behind me.

Peter Lukas met me at the docks. We didn’t speak. Ignoring all the ships preparing to go out, we went down to the shore and began to walk, silently, until all others had faded away and it was just us, the sand, the waves, and the grey of the pre-dawn sky. And then…there was a door. An old oak door with a brass knob, supported by no structure, standing on the beach and waiting. Peter stopped, pointed at it, and said, simply, “The door to the Light.”

I didn’t ask questions. The time for questions was past. It was my last chance to choose differently…but even if I hadn’t signed that contract, I don’t think I could have chosen to do other than what I did. I shouldered my bag, took a deep breath, and strode through the door.

And I took up my duties as the Keeper of the Light.

It has no name. It needs no name. It’s just…the Light. Fifteen feet in diameter, made of brown stone, it stands on a mountain overlooking, not the sea, but a desert. A vast, impenetrable desert, with nothing as far as the eye can see. The beacon it shines over this desert is not white, but red, bathing the sands periodically in light the color of blood.

The first day I was there, I did an inventory. There were all the things I remembered my father having when I was a wee nipper, things I only vaguely remembered the purpose of, but I knew I’d learn quickly. I’d been told the light would be fully equipped at all times, and it was. The oil was full, there were plenty of fresh wicks, and all the tools were in perfect working order. There was a single bed, big enough for a single man to sleep, although not particularly comfortably. There was a table with one chair. There was one plate, one bowl, one cup, one fork and spoon and knife. The cupboards, I had been assured, were fully provisioned, but I wasn’t yet hungry, so I went to look at the rest of the light.

There were no windows, but there were pictures on almost every wall, each one framed in a different frame. Each picture looked like it was a windowpane, which I thought odd. Then I looked in one, and I couldn’t hold back a gasp. It was a window all right, and one I knew. It was looking into Wickie’s bedroom. I could see him, as clearly as if I was right there, hair rumpled with sleep, looking absolutely devastated. Lily was standing there, too, holding a picture in one hand. I think it was the photograph of the two of us he keeps on his nightstand. She must have been taking it away.

It hurt. I looked away and went to look at another picture. There was a little boy in it, looking—terrified. Upset. Like he wanted to cry or scream but didn’t know if he was allowed. He was reaching a hand out towards a house, where a young man was looking into an open door. He looked like something inside had caught him off-guard, and—something dark, something inside, was reaching out like it was going to grab him. There were cobwebs in all the corners, but they were part of the picture.

For a moment, I didn’t know why it was there—but then I gasped again. I recognized the boy, or thought I did. It looked like Walt, exactly like Walt had at that age. Then—then I saw the eyes. Walt’s eyes were blue, a bright, bright blue that outshone the ocean. This boy’s were a warm and guileless brown. Like Sarah’s. This was Walt’s boy.

The pictures aren’t static. They aren’t of things that were. I realized that as the days, weeks, went on. They change from time to time. I’ll see Wickie working away on his knitting, or Walt’s boy curled up with a book, or one of them standing outside and looking at the sky. It lets me…keep an eye on them, I suppose. But it aches. It’s the ache of separation and loneliness. I can’t look at them too often.

The only place to see out is from the railing around the light. It looks out over the desert, and from there, I can see everything. Doors appear periodically, more old oak doors with brass knobs supported by no structures. They never last long. Sometimes people stumble through them, and then the doors disappear. The people wander the desert. Their paths cross all the time, or go alongside one another, but they never talk, they never see. Each person in the desert believes themselves to be alone.

I can hear them sometimes. I hear them talking, desperately reaching out. They’re all looking for someone, all missing someone. They run for the doors when they see them, but they don’t always make it, and they don’t always see them. I wondered about those doors, about where they led…at first.

Three months in, I found out.

I was doing a perimeter check of the lighthouse, around midday. A door appeared, just in front of me. I walked closer to it, and it didn’t move. For me, the doors stay. I hesitated, then grasped the knob and opened it. The room beyond was dark, the hands of the clock indicating it to be later in the evening than I knew it to be where I was. Time doesn’t move the same way there, I supposed. Then I realized where I was. I was in Wickie’s bedroom. He was curled up asleep, having a nightmare, poor thing. I wanted to go over and comfort him. I’d actually taken half a step over the threshold when I stopped, when I remembered.

Choices.

I had the choice to go in, to see my boy, to hold him and let him know I loved him and would never stop. But if I did—if I do—then Peter Lukas can get at him. He’s so young, I know the—I know they don’t normally go for children, but…I worry. I can’t risk opening that door.

They keep appearing. More and more frequently. And now…the more attuned I am to the Light, the more I know what I’ll find on the other side. And it’s hard not to go through.

I can redirect them. Sometimes. Or maybe I can just open another one. One every…well. To me it’s one a year. But that’s the thing. As I said, time doesn’t move the same way in the desert that it does everywhere else. It’s been about a year, as far as you’re concerned, since I signed that contract and took the job. For me? It’s been more like ten. But I can a door and let it take me wherever I want. I’ve done it when the temptation is too strong. The last time was Christmas. (sighs) Wickie started in chorus this year. His first concert…I could have gone. Could have stayed in the back of the room, maybe, and just listened, just seen him. But what constitutes contact, what violates the contract? I couldn’t risk it. So I did the next best thing. I opened a door and went to Bournemouth and saw Walt’s boy. Didn’t talk, didn’t tell him who I was. Just stood on the shore next to him for a while. I wanted to…but I didn’t.

I don’t even know if he remembers. I couldn’t hurt him by giving him more memories. That would just make the loneliness worse when I did leave.

GERTRUDE

And you used one of these doors to come here.

KEEPER

That I did.

GERTRUDE

Why?

KEEPER

Thought you’d want to know. Honestly, I half didn’t expect to see you here. I assumed I’d have to wait for you, but your assistant—what was his name? The one that looks like he’s about twelve?

GERTRUDE

Michael.

KEEPER

Michael, aye. He told me you were in. Suppose it gets down to time being weird again.

How was it?

GERTRUDE

How was…what?

KEEPER

The funeral.

…You did go, didn’t you? Come on, Trudy, I know you’re all about keeping your past away from your present, but—

GERTRUDE

Don’t call me that. What are you talking about? What funeral?

KEEPER

Gertrude. What was Tuesday?

GERTRUDE

…My God.

KEEPER

Aye.

Lily wouldn’t be pleased to see me. Or you, for that matter. But Wickie…Lily’s making it all about herself, I’m sure. You know how she can be. I just…I hoped if I gave you my statement, you’d at least look in on him for me.

At least make sure he’s okay.

GERTRUDE

I…I’ll see what I can do.

[CLICK]

———

[CLICK]

GERTRUDE

Final thoughts.

Well. I…I don’t know what to think. This is…useful information to have regarding the Lonely. And I’ll certainly be on the lookout for any old oak doors with brass fittings. But as for the rest…

I checked. Alastair Koskiewicz’s funeral was today, and I believe I have missed it. But I may be able to at least pay my respects. I will have to be discreet if I do. Lily made it very clear she wants nothing to do with me, and I have done my best to respect that. And I know I am…observed more often than I would like. The last thing I want is to draw anyone’s attention to Martin.

I don’t think I should tell him who I am.

And, since the Keeper’s statement mentioned it…I listened to Walter Sims’ statement again, and the dates he gave for both his own death and Alastair’s match exactly. I believe I will make one last attempt at reaching out to the Stoker family, especially now that Daniel will have been born. Perhaps they’ll be more likely to listen now. I don’t know what precautions they can take, but…they should (heh) at least have the choice. At the very least, perhaps they’ll be prepared when the time comes.

[CLICK]

———

[CLICK]

[STUNNED SILENCE, BROKEN ONLY BY THE SOUNDS OF SOMEONE—PROBABLY PAST MARTIN—STRUGGLING NOT TO CRY]

TIM

…Fuck.

PAST ARCHIVIST

I-I didn’t…I had no…oh, God.

PAST MARTIN

(tearfully) W-Walter Sims…was—was that—?

PAST ARCHIVIST

My father.

He—I never knew he—gave a statement. Or that he…

Was that the grandfather you told us about?

PAST MARTIN

Yeah.

[PAST MARTIN MAKES A SOUND—A LAUGH? A SOB? BOTH?]

Guess that explains the cherry thing, huh?

PAST ARCHIVIST

(softly) I guess so.

TIM

So—hah, so you two knew each other?

PAST MARTIN

I-I mean, we were two. That was…that was a long time ago. I didn’t—

PAST ARCHIVIST

No. Neither did I, I—

[FABRIC RUSTLES, A STARTLED “OOMPH” FROM SOMEONE WHO CLEARLY WASN’T EXPECTING AN ATTACK HUG]

PAST MARTIN

Sorry, I’m so sorry, I—

PAST ARCHIVIST

No, Martin, it’s not your fault, it’s—it’s not your fault.

It’s not your fault.

TIM

That statement…your dad’s statement. Do—do you think it’s…in here somewhere?

PAST ARCHIVIST

I don’t—I don’t know.

Basira, she, she said she got as many as she could. There might be some that—I don’t know, Tim.

PAST MARTIN

(uncertainly) W-we could—we could look?

PAST ARCHIVIST

Yes. Yes, if—if you could do that, that would…

I’m sorry. I-I need to—I’ll be right back.

TIM

Jon. Be careful, okay?

PAST ARCHIVIST

I’m just going outside. I’ll be fine.

[CLICK]

———

[CLICK]

[MUFFLED SOUNDS OF THE STREET]

PAST ARCHIVIST

(muttering to himself) …won’t be sensible…I know he worries, they both do. Last thing I need to do is make that worse, but God, after that—

BREEKON

‘Scuse us.

HOPE

Jonathan Sims?

PAST ARCHIVIST

Yeah, wh—? Oh, sh—

[THE PAST ARCHIVIST WHEEZES AND COUGHS AS THE WIND IS KNOCKED OUT OF HIM]

BREEKON

Miss Orsinov wants to see you.

HOPE

Says she changed her mind.

PAST ARCHIVIST

No, please, I—

[VAN DOOR SLIDES OPEN, A LOUD THUNK AS THE PAST ARCHIVIST IS SHOVED INSIDE]

[DOORS CLOSE AND ENGINE STARTS]

PAST ARCHIVIST

Oh, God.

[CLICK]

———

[CLICK]

[HIGH HEELS CLICKING ACROSS A HARDWOOD FLOOR]

ELIAS/JONAH

Ah—Sasha.

[FOOTSTEPS STOP]

SASHA

Yes?

ELIAS/JONAH

Coming back from lunch?

SASHA

…Yes?

ELIAS/JONAH

I’m a bit busy today, so I don’t really have time to get down to the Archives. Please let Tim and Martin know that Jon will be out for a few days.

SASHA

…Sure.

Is…everything all right?

ELIAS/JONAH

Perfectly.

I just have something I need for him to do. It might take some time. I’m sure he’ll explain everything when he gets back, but meanwhile, do make sure your colleagues stay on task, will you? No doubt you have a lot to work on.

SASHA

Yeah, of course. We’ll keep things running smoothly while he’s gone.

ELIAS/JONAH

Thank you, Sasha. I knew I could count on you.

(under his breath) Reliable old Sasha.

SASHA

…Thank you.

[FOOTSTEPS RESUME, CHANGE TO A SLIGHTLY MORE HOLLOW SOUND AS IF SOMEONE IS WALKING DOWN STEPS, SLOW TO A STOP]

[SOUND OF NUMBERS BEING DIALED ON A PHONE]

[THREE TONES]

AUTOMATED INTERCEPT MESSAGE

The number you have reached is not currently in service. Please hang up and try again.

SASHA

Shit.

[CLICK]

#ollie writes fanfic #leaves too high to touch (roots too strong to fall)#tma #the magnus archives #the formatting's better on AO3 #isolation tw #gaslighting tw #loneliness tw #kidnapping tw

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hairringtonsteve · 5 years ago

Text

and they were roommates.

[steve harrington x reader]

summary: The shit hit the fan, and you need to find a place to stay. Steve Harrington, being the knight in shining armor that he is, offers to let you crash at his place during the quarantine. Clearly, feelings ensue.

word count: 3,704

a/n: Hey guys. I’m back. The world is a little bit scarier than it was before, but we’re here and we’re getting through it. I need to emphasize that while this fic is lighthearted, it’s not me making fun of the situation. This last week has been excruciatingly stressful for me as well as the rest of us, and honestly, I just need some fluff. So here’s to you and Steve being stuck in an apartment together. Informational links will be located in the first reblog.

**********

“Do we stockpile toilet paper?”

You snorted in response, assuming that he was kidding. Instead of bothering to look at him, you kept your eyes on the Netflix menu, scrolling through the list of horror movies as you tried to ignore the anxiety building in your gut.

If someone had told you at the beginning of the year that you would end up being stuck living in Steve Harrington’s apartment for who knows how long because of a global pandemic, you would have laughed.

But who could have guessed that it would happen? Who could have guessed that your college would shut down and shift everything online, that you wouldn’t be able to fly back home because flights were too expensive? Who could have guessed that Steve Harrington would somehow have perfect timing and walk by just as you burst into tears over flight costs?

“No really, do we stockpile toilet paper?”

You ignored him and kept scrolling.

Really, though, his timing had been perfect. You’d been searching Google for the last twenty minutes, trying to find a flight back home when the cheapest flight out was still over two thousand dollars. Sitting on the steps of your college building – the one that had become like a second home to you since the dorms were awful – you’d shoved your head into your hands and cried.

“Hey, Y/N, you okay?” Steve had asked. You didn’t bother to look up at him, instead opting to take in deep, calming breaths. “You good?” He sat down beside you, not bothering to keep his distance.

The news had been telling everyone to practice social distancing, but it was hard when you were suddenly hit with the reality that you probably wouldn’t see most of these people again. Everyone had thought that you wouldn’t start the I’m graduating college goodbyes until May.

“Oh, you know,” you began as you lifted your head up but didn’t look at him. Your voice was watery as you spoke. “Global pandemic and all that. I’m fine.” Steve leaned over your shoulder to get a glance at your phone.

“Fuck, that’s rough. You trying to get home?”

You’d gotten the email the night before. Sitting in the common area of your building despite the fact that your classes had ended hours ago, the group from your department had all sat at the various tables in shocked silence. Students out of the dorms within ten days unless there were extenuating circumstances. They hadn’t defined what those circumstances would have to consist of, but you knew deep down that you wouldn’t qualify.

“Yeah, I uh… My mom can’t afford it and neither can I.” A new wave of tears started to sting at your eyes. A few made their way down your cheeks. “I’ve got ten days, though. I can figure it out.”

Steve sighed. You finally looked over to him. The tears made him a little blurry.

“My roommate is flying out tonight,” he said. He looked forward before looking back to you. “I’m sure he’d be cool with you crashing in his room until shit gets sorted out.”

You stared at him. Your throat got thicker. You had to bite the inside of your cheek to hold back the sob that wanted to burst through at the offer. Instead of saying anything, you gave him a short nod.

Within an hour the two of you were packing up your dorm room, throwing everything into whatever luggage you had. You hauled the luggage and everything else that couldn’t fit down the four flights of stairs and tossed it into his car. His two-bedroom apartment was a fifteen-minute drive away. There had been a quick goodbye to his roommate – who didn’t know what was going on until you had gotten there – and that was that.

“Toilet paper, Y/N. Do we need it?” A hint of annoyance was coloring his words and you finally shifted around on the couch, twisting your neck far enough so you could see him. He was standing in the doorway to the kitchen, already holding two packs of toilet paper, eight rolls in each.

“Dude, seriously?”

“What? What if we use it all up?”

“Then we go to the store and get more.”

“What if they put us under martial law and we’re not allowed to go anywhere?”

“Then we’ll figure that out. But we have enough for now. We’re not hoarding toilet paper like the rest of the assholes out there.” He tilted his head back and groaned. “Steve, c’mon. It’s fine. It’ll—” You were interrupted by your phone beeping, alerting you to a text. You ignored it. It was probably your mom, checking in. Again. “Steve, it’ll be okay. We’ll have enough toilet paper. We just need to go get food and beer, and we’ll go from there.”

Steve stared at you. “But what if one of us gets diahre—”

“Okay, that’s it. Get your shoes on. We’re heading to the store, dumbass.”

Steve grinned. “Wow, dumbass? It’s like we’re back in biochem.”

You snorted and got up from your spot on the couch, heading to where you’d taken off your sneakers near the door. You’d placed them next to his. It hit you, that your sneakers and his sneakers would be right there for the foreseeable future because of… everything that was going on. You swallowed, the anxiety that had been settled in your gut for over a week now threatening to rise to your throat. But you sucked in a deep breath, willing yourself to keep calm.

Things were fine. It would be okay.

Steve came up beside you and reached down to shove his shoes on. When he righted himself, he bumped his shoulder against yours and grinned.

“Think the beer will be gone?”

*****

The grocery store looked like it was ransacked. The toilet paper and baby wipes were off the shelves. People had grocery carts piled high with nonperishables and whatever else they could get their hands on.

You and Steve locked eyes without a word. His fingers thrummed against the railing of the last grocery cart that had been available while he raised a brow at you. You nodded and the two of you headed straight for the alcohol.

It took twice as long as usual to walk the length of the store to get to the far corner where they held the beer and liquor. Not surprisingly, the area was filled with mostly college-age looking people trying to get their hands on whatever would get them adequately fucked up for the next few weeks.

Steve cleared his throat and nodded towards the beer, the one that everyone had been studiously avoiding. “Should we get some?” He waggled his eyebrows.

You rolled your eyes. “No, that stuff tastes like piss.” He laughed and pushed the cart forward, stopping to get a case of Angry Orchard. “You like that stuff?”

“No, but it’s your favorite, right?”

You nodded as you tried to remember when he would have been able to figure that out. The first time that you’d met was last fall, when you had the same biochemistry lab together. “Yeah?”

“I thought so. I remember you mentioning something about it the night all of us went out after our final in December.”

That had been over three months ago. But everyone in the lab had gone out for drinks to celebrate making it through finals week. At the time, you’d exchanged a handful of words at most. Hell, you hadn’t even mentioned that it was your favorite directly to him. Something shifted in your chest.

Weird.

After that, things grew quieter between the two of you as you made your way systematically through the store. With the alcohol, you got some staples, some favorites, making sure to take into consideration the fact that there would probably be a few nights where the two of you would drink enough to kill a horse. After that, you started to make your way through the food aisles, getting whatever was left over. While most of it was taken, you got the important stuff: bread, vegetables, fruit, meat, peanut butter. Things were scarce, but you got through it.

And the whole time, your stomach was sinking further and further down.

Things weren’t supposed to go this way. All you could think about was the day prior as your professors had said their goodbyes to the students, everyone trying to keep a brave face. Rationally, you knew that things would eventually be fine. But it was hard to keep that in mind when it felt like the beginning of an apocalypse movie.

“—You good to go?”

“Huh?” You looked over to Steve, blinking. At some point, the two of you had made it to the front of the store.

He smiled, soft and understanding. “I asked if you were good to go. We should probably get in line. They’re just getting longer.”

“Oh, right. Yeah.” It took a few minutes to try to find the shortest line (if you could call any of them short. You glanced towards the front of the line, watching as the over-worked cashiers struggled to keep everyone happy. Looking back to Steve, you leaned against the grocery cart. “Have I thanked you yet for letting me crash at your place?”

“Only about ten times, but I haven’t figured out that you’re appreciative yet, so you could go for eleven.” You laughed and rolled your eyes as the line moved forward about an inch.

“Seriously, Steve. Thank you. You didn’t have to offer.”

Steve shrugged. “I kind of did. I can’t live alone.”

You scoffed. “You think we can live together and not want to murder each other?”

Steve shrugged once more. “As long as you let me win at Mario Party, we’ll be fine.”

The anxiety in your chest eased up a little. Maybe staying with Steve wouldn’t be too bad.

*****

As it turned out, being around Steve Harrington constantly was a lot to handle. He was adamant that the two of you worked together daily on your coursework. He’d said that it was to make it just like being on campus as much as possible, but the two of you knew that it was really just an excuse to bicker over homework and steal each other’s pens.

It was weird, knowing these little intimate details about him that you only find out when you live with someone. He sang while he did the dishes. He never made his bed and left video game cases strewn throughout the living room. He had a habit of falling asleep on the couch in the most uncomfortable positions. He preferred tea to coffee, sweet to savory, and had a weird lack of movie knowledge. He also played a lot of Fortnite with a bunch of kids from his hometown.

When you asked him about it, he’d just shrugged and said: “I’m a really great babysitter, what can I say?”

To which you’d heard, muffled through his headset, a boy’s voice shriek, “Bullshit Steve!”

The biggest problem, though, was that he was starting to get to you.

Objectively, you’d understood that he was conventionally attractive. A guy with hair that nice couldn’t be wholly unattractive.

It was just that it didn’t really hit you until two days into quarantine. You wandered around out of your room, too occupied with replying to a text to keep yourself from running into a shirtless Steve, complete with a towel wrapped around his waist and water dripping from his hair.

His hands wrapped themselves around your arms as he pushed you back a little, making sure that both you remained upright. The two of you locked eyes. You were close enough that you could see the little flecks of gold in them.

Oh.

Your stomach flipped and suddenly you were acutely aware of him. Your eyes started to slide from his face – taking in his nose, his jawline, his mouth – to his chest when he let out a choked sort of noise.

“Please don’t look down,” he said, his voice higher than you’d ever heard it before. You looked back up at him, scrunching up your brow. “The towel fell and I… Naked.”

There were maybe three seconds of silence before you burst out laughing. You took a step back, clapping a hand over your eyes as you struggled to breathe.

There you were, in the middle of quarantine during a global pandemic, and Steve Harrington was naked and dripping wet in front of you.

“Just shut it, okay?”

You tried to stifle the laughter, but it just turned into muffled giggles. “You good to go there, Harrington?” You could hear a bunch of shuffling along with some muttered swearing before eventually, he gave the okay for you to look. Your hand dropped from your face and the laughter died out as you got a good look at his chest.

It took him clearing his throat for you to meet his eyes once more. He was looking at you with an intense look on his face. His tongue darted across his lips as he took a step towards you. Your heart thudded in your chest and just as he took another step forward and then —

A knock at the door.

The two of you jerked back. You almost knocked your head into a shelf while Steve said that he’d get the door. You watched as he stepped forward, raising an eyebrow in silence as he turned back to you, a sheepish look on his face.

“Did you just now realize that you’re…” You trailed off as you waved your hand up and down to motion towards the towel. He nodded, his cheeks growing red. “Yeah, yeah, I’ll get it.”

He’d scurried down the hall to change while you opened the door to one of Steve’s neighbors clad in a mask, asking if you guys had any extra toilet paper.

You got the elderly man two rolls and waited for Steve to come back out of his bedroom.

He didn’t come out for the rest of the night.

That was twelve days ago and since then, the two of you had been avoiding each other like… well... the plague.

Instead, Steve would walk into the kitchen, only to see you and abruptly turn around to walk out. You would head into the living room to watch Netflix and immediately try to leave when he was playing the PlayStation. When the two of you did talk, it was weird. Stunted.

“What do you want for dinner?”

“Whatever you want.”

A beat of silence.

“Cool.”

On and on it went, both of you hole-ing up in your respective rooms while trying to avoid the other. You even took turns doing the grocery shopping.

The worst part about it, though, was how aware you were of him. When you walked by him in the hallway, your senses honed in on the way your arms brushed. When he was leaning against the counter and shoving his fingers through his hair, your gaze would somehow magnetically drawn towards looking at him regardless of what was on the TV.

You had to shove your face into a pillow every time you heard the shower turn on.

It wasn’t fair. It just wasn’t fair. Crushes – and that’s what this was, a full-blown crush – were awful to begin with. They were inconvenient and distracting in the best of times. But this? This was downright torture. Utter and complete torture. You felt like you were going to snap at any moment, ready to combust at a second’s notice.

And then you got the alert on your phone. You were sat on the counter, a spoonful of peanut butter shoved halfway in your mouth. Your thumb flicked the notification bar down as you read the headline. It wasn’t anything different, just an update on the virus spread and the estimated time that it would take for things to calm down.

But that meant that you would be there longer. That meant that you would be in that apartment longer, having to go through silence and awkwardness and who knows what else for an “indeterminate amount of time.” Something inside you snapped. You hopped down from the counter, chucked the spoon of peanut butter into the sink, and hurried down the hall towards his bedroom.

After around five hurried knocks, the door swung open. He had a panicked look in his eyes as he stared down at you. “What? What’s going on? Did something happen?” He was frantic as he stared down at you.

“What?”

“You knocked like someone important just died, and I missed it. What’s going on?”

“I — I just wanted to talk?”

Steve blinked at you. “We’re… There’s a global disaster going on and you choose to knock like that so we can talk?”

“Steve, I knocked on your door. It’s not that big of a deal.”

“There’s knocking on a door, and then there’s whatever the hell you did.” He stepped outside of his room, causing you to step back as well to give him some space. “So this —” He knocked against his door three times, slow and not too hard. “-- Is how normal people knock. And this —” There he knocked hard and fast against the wood, exaggerating how hard you’d knocked. “Is how you knocked. Now clearly, there is a difference and you almost gave me a heart attack.”

“You’re dramatic.”

Steve rolled his eyes. “So what’s up?” He crossed his arms and quirked a brow.

You heaved in a breath and started rambling.

“I — Look, I get it if things were weird because I practically saw you naked but we’re in the middle of a fucking pandemic and I’m stuck in your apartment for who knows how long and I can’t keep avoiding you like this. It’s weird, Steve.”

He just stared at you and didn’t say a word. So you kept rambling.

“I get it that you’re really stressed out and I am too, but Steve, this is just making things worse? And like, honestly it’s not that big of a deal. You were shirtless. It was fine. More than fine, actually. Like, it’s cool. It’s —”

“More than fine?”

You stared at him. “What?”

“You just said that me being shirtless was not only fine but more than fine.”

You could feel your cheeks begin to warm. “I don’t — I —”

Steve took a step forward. “Is me being shirtless more than fine with you?”

You gaped at him, frozen.

“Do you like me being shirtless?” There was a smirk on his face now, as though your silence was enough of an answer.

“Steve, I —” He took another step forward, right in your space. He leaned down a little. Your heart was pounding in your chest.

“You like me shirtless.” He wasn’t asking anymore. Your rational brain wasn’t working. You opened your mouth to reply something, anything, and what came out was:

“We’re supposed to self-distance.”

Steve froze, eyes wide, and took a step back. “Did I — Did I misread? I thought—”

You tried to shake your head, hoping that he’d notice, but he was too caught up in the panic of thinking that he’d misread everything and crossed a boundary. So you did the next best thing.

(Really, the thing that you should have done a week ago.)

You reached out, fingers grasping at his shirt and tugged him towards you. You rolled up onto the tips of your toes and pressed your lips against his. He froze, his words falling silent. Your heart was pounding so hard that you feared it would come out of your chest. Slowly, his hands fell to your waist as his lips began to move. He pulled you closer to him, all thoughts of social distancing falling away as you kissed.

Eventually, he pulled away, just enough to rest his forehead against yours. “We’re supposed to self-distance?” He asked, a slow grin spreading across his features. You rolled your eyes and tried to pull back, but he gripped your waist a little tighter, keeping you there.

“I panicked, okay? You just — I just didn’t expect it to go that way.” He didn’t respond verbally, instead just raising his brow. “It’s been weird not talking to you and being here. And I didn’t mean to say that about you being shirtless, it just kind of slipped out.”

“Why are you acting like that wasn’t okay? Y/N, you know I’ve liked you since the first day of biochem.”

You blinked.

“Seriously, you had to have known. I was hung up on you.”

You blinked again.

“Y/N, I laughed at all of your terrible jokes in lab. I… offered to let you stay in my apartment during the quarantine.” While he’d started off laughing, by the second sentence, he was speaking slow and soft, enunciating every word. You opened your mouth to reply when he continued. “I let you win at Mario Party, come on. You’re terrible at that.”

Whatever thoughts of acknowledging his feelings flew out of your head at that. “Excuse you, I am great at Mario Party. I kicked your ass at that the first two days that we were here.”

He rolled his eyes. “I purposefully lost to make you feel better.” Your expression softened at his words. He pulled away just a little — his hands still on your waist — to stare up at the ceiling. “You were stressed about your mom constantly texting and I know that it’s hard for you to not be with your family. So I just wanted to make it easier on you.” He looked back down at you.

Warmth bloomed in your chest.

You smiled up at him as you searched for the right thing to say in response. But it was hard. There weren’t words to convey just how thankful you were for that. You leaned up to press your lips against his once more. After a moment, you pulled back just enough to look at him and grinned.

“So, you want to go play some Mario Party?”

#stranger things x reader #steve harrington x reader #steve harrington/reader #steve harrington #stranger things

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a-forgotten-spirit · 5 years ago

Text

Two Heroes x Reader Oneshot

Pairing: Todoroki x Bakugou, Todoroki x Reader x Bakugou, Poly relationship

Summary: I rewrote the entire Two Heroes movie with you in it, changed a few things but mostly the exact plot. It’s a “oneshot” off of my other story “Love Isn’t an Illusion”. I added a lunch scene, getting dressed and...smut for Bakugous Birthday.

Words: +- 18,000, There is 4000 words of smut you have been warned, sorry for mistakes there is a lot to read through.

SFW Warnings: Domestic relationship, please if you haven’t watched the movie watch it, villains/villain attack, fear for Bakugous/Todoroki’s safety, mentions of sex, kissing, getting lunch with the boys, hugging, soft Bakugou, soft Todoroki, calling them by their first names, competitiveness, being called “Kitten”, swearing, slight injury, Bakugou needs attention, Todoroki needs reassurance, sending photos, being called their girlfriend, a dress that shows skin, nicknames, Mineta and Kaminari, fighting villains, no signal, claws and sharp teeth, bathing together, if you squint there’s a spoiler for the series, NSFW Warnings: Bathing together, groping, moaning, groaning, it’s filth, neck kissing, biting, being called “Kitten”, switch Bakugou/Todoroki, Bakugou bottoms for a bit, soft Bakugou, soft Todoroki, on the pill, temperature play, nipple play, dirty talk, love bites, double penetration, teaching Bakugou manners, traffic light system, riding, complimenting, description of smut, soft smut at the beginning, Todoroki bottoms for a bit, light choking, swearing, multiple orgasms, double cremepie, slight begging. IM SORRY

A/N: Well first off HAPPY BIRTHDAY BAKUGOU. I wrote this for the fans. I do not own My Hero academia or the characters, I don’t own most of the plot for this story, I had watched the show and re-written the dialogue and plot as if the reader was the main character. Everything is centered around the reader. In Japan the legal age for sex is 13 and in my country is 15-17 so by law they are legal, thank you. I hope you all enjoy this oneshot. I don’t usually write oneshots and here is why.

PATREON: This is my patreon, some benefits are getting chapters one month earlier then on tumblr, Love Isn’t An Illusion is one month ahead on patreon for example another benefit is getting a say in what I write and who for, I will also be posting AU’s. I have a NSFW tier that I will begin posting on when October starts and my final tier is commission, you may ask for anything you want! But there is only 3 spots, make sure to check it out. This is a teaser for the NSFW tier starting October.

Masterlist ________________________________________________________________

Y/N P.O.V

This expo was not something I wanted to go to. It would be long and not something I was interested in, though I could use my quirk as I wished which was a nice surprise even though I would not use it, Aizawa had made it quite clear I couldn’t abuse my quirk. Katsuki, Todoroki, Kirishima and I were walking around until we saw a challenge, a race.

Katsuki and I turned to each other and we smiled at each other “I’m gonna win” we both yelled at each other before we were running over to line up “It’ll be nice to beat you again” I smiled and his arm wrapped around my waist bringing my body close to his own.

“Yeah sure you will, no hard feelings” he screamed and I pushed him away shaking my head as we both stared at each other in anger. “You won’t be winning” sometimes I believe his quirk moved to his voice box as well with how loud he was like Present Mic. “I’ll go first” Katsuki did the course and I was livid, he was way too fast. I had to be faster than him, I could not lose.

“Please welcome our next challenger, the villain attack points have been reset. Ready Go” and with her words I was off, running straight through the course. I propelled myself forward with my quirk, a wide and proud smile on my face.

Making it to the first villain I didn’t even look as a clone came up and attacked it, one down. I continued through the course destroying anything in my path but I had to beat Katsuki. I was going to beat Katsuki. Running along the water and then all three were down and I landed my hand on my hip as I looked at my boyfriend. “How was that for you?” I yelled at his angry face.

“A tie” we both turned quickly to the woman “At fifteen seconds. These two are the winners” immediately we were screaming and throwing insults at each other as people looked on in confusion but I did see a few smiles.

“We did not get the same. I clearly won” he screamed and walked over gauntlets on show for all to see as I shook my head and my hand came to rest against my chest in offense. I could see Shouto shaking his head with a small almost non-existent smile.

“I beg your pardon, no you did not. I was faster” I yelled and we came face to face looking at each other before we turned to the woman “We want a rematch” she stood there looking around for a second and then laughed awkwardly.

“Hey isn’t that Midoriya in the stands” Kirishima asked innocently, Katsuki and I turned to face the green haired hero in training and he was indeed in the stands. Looking down at us with a scared look. Todoroki walked out to come stand next to us. I looked around and could see a few people from our class. Why were there so many?

“What the” Katsuki was up throwing himself against the rails of the field as I made some stairs so Kirishima, Todoroki and I could get up to the stands. “What are you doing here Deku” he screamed as I stepped over the railing.

“Oh hey there Kacchan” he stepped back face scared and hands raised in surrender. A good move, he just got his ass kicked by his girlfriend. I can imagine the anger swirling inside his body. “Maybe calm down a little” those were not the words someone should say to an angry Katsuki.

“Don’t you dare tell me what to do” Katsuki screamed, I was glad the fence was between the two childhood friends as well as Iida who had run in to stand in front of Deku. I had been on the receiving end of those words far too many times to count but looking at him, I couldn’t help but love him more.

“Bakugou. Behave yourself” Iida’s arms were out protecting the scared Deku, though those words were also something you do not say to an angry Katsuki. I leaned into Shouto who just shook his head at our boyfriend losing his mind.

Katsuki began to yell, loudly. His hair seemed to stand on end even though it was already spiked. I had learnt it was natural, after so many times sleeping over I learned his hair was just like that. He looked like a little monster throwing himself back and forth against the railing. I was worried it would break.

“So you guys got asked to the expo as well” Momo turned to us and so did the others. I went to lift my mask before remembering I wasn’t actually wearing it and my hand came to rest on my hip to look a little less awkward.

“Kinda” I started and they looked a lot more interested now. “I was invited as I won the sports festival but Todoroki is here because of his father so if I declined I got to be Todorokis’ plus one and then Bakugou got offered as second place so that meant Kirishima could come too” I smiled and they all seemed to nod. I had gotten good at using their last names around the class but I was pretty sure everyone knew we were together. I remembered back to the conversation.

“They want me to go to the expo thing” I spoke slowly as the boys came to move onto the bed. We were staying at Katsuki’s tonight. “Because I got first place at the sports festival” I felt both their heads begin to read over my shoulder. “But I can only take one,” I whispered.

“I’m going with my father, so you can take Katsuki. Problem solved” Shouto had gotten a little more emotion in his voice since being with us. He had started to talk more which Katsuki and I loved to talk about. I nodded.

“Or” I began. Katsuki had also learned to let others talk, I was proud of him. “If I say i'm already going as a plus one, they’ll ask the next person which is Katsuki. Hasn’t Kirishima been going on about this expo” I turned to face the blonde haired male.

He nodded and shrugged “Shitty hair doesn't need to go Y/N, he just wants too. You won, you go” I knew that was his way of saying because I won I should get the credit not just going as a plus one.

“I don’t mind. I can share a room with Shouto, you can come visit. Kirishima deserves to go. I heard Kaminari is going to work as well so it’s a win win” I smiled and I felt an arm wrap around my waist from Shouto as he nodded into my shoulder.

“Whatever” I replied and within a few minutes Katsuki had received an email asking to attend as the first place was already going. Easy. I smiled and laid down as Katsuki sat on his phone no doubt messaging his red headed friend. ~

“You guys are gonna do the villain course or what?” Kirishima asked with a happy smile, turning to him his hand was pointed over his shoulder to he course the three of us had just done. It wouldn’t be a good idea with Katsuki in his little mood.

“Don’t even try it, there is no way you’ll get a better score then I did” his face was pulled in anger as I watched him grip the railed tighter. Deku had gotten a lot stronger but at the end of the day it was a course made to win. The machines didn’t have quirks or a thought process, it had no relation to a real villain take down.

Then his words registered “Our score thank you very much. We got the same even though technically I won” I smiled as his eyes moved to my own in anger. I leaned forward, my arms folded under my chest as I laughed and sighed. “Better luck next time, Ground Zero” I knew he loved when I called him by his hero name.

“Yeah you’re probably right, yep” Deku looked about ready to run and hide. I wanted to laugh at his fear. There was no reason to fear Katsuki, he was a huge softy through and through. Give that man a massage and he is as placid as can be. Though that was Shouto’s and Is’ little secret.

“Huh, I’m not so sure” Uraraka thought out loud as he looked up a hand coming to her chin in thought. Deku was fast but as I said before, these weren’t real villain’s and could no way mimic a real fight. “Only one way to find out I guess” she shrugged her shoulders.

“Yeah you’re probably right” I was at a loss for words. I knew Deku had just repeated himself out of fear but to not even listen to what Uraraka had said and then my eyes turned to Katsuki who was seething. I think I could see steam coming off his body, this probably wasn’t good.

Katsuki jumped over the railing and looked at Deku, his shoulders back and eyes narrowed “Just get your pathetic attempt over with. You damn nerd” with a swing of his arm Iida was pushed aside. Katsuki got right in the poor boy's face and with teeth grit he added “Then you get out of here” it yelled, I was surprised Deku didn’t go deaf.

“He’s so well behaved with us” Shouto whispered as he leaned down next to my ear “So much progress down the drain because Midoriya is here” I smiled as he shook his head “We need to teach him more” I flushed at his words. “One night should do the trick” I laughed and looked back at our boyfriend.

“Right, I’ll do that” I shook my head and let the air from my lungs. Deku needed to stand up for himself more, he was so strong but one comment from Katsuki and he was out like a light. Though I could see the fear, Katsuki never really yelled at Shouto and I. He was quite calm with us though there have been a few outbursts.

“I don’t think one night is enough” I turned and smirked to Todoroki, “A few would definitely suffice though” I whispered and heard the little grunt from Shouto. If only Katsuki knew what we were planning. He would have stopped yelling, or continued. He seemed to like the lessons.

Deku got up and was now going to get his turn. His electricity like lines spread over his body and when the course ended he was one second longer than Katsuki and I. I could see the wide smile on my boyfriend's face and he looked at both Shouto and I then nodded and laughed at the score. Always so competitive. Something I fell in love with.

Deku was now back and talking with Uraraka and Iida as Shouto and I listened in. “I didn’t think I’d be able to get so close to Kacchans’ time” with the way Deku smiled and spoke those words and Katsuki’s narrowed eyes and angered look I knew this wouldn’t end well.

“What, no way. I’ll go again and blast your score to ash” I was looking at Katsuki and shook my head in defeat. I went to turn around to talk to Shouto about this new predicament though when I turned I heard a scream and then the sound of ice.

I ran to the railing and saw Shouto kneeling down ice sprouting from the ground over the course. No way, this couldn’t be happening. The whole area was covered in a thick layer of ice. “This is insane” it was, this was fast, I gripped the railings. “Fourteen seconds” I was livid, I could feel anger coursing through my veins but as he stood up I couldn’t help but notice how hot he looked. “This gentleman has jumped to the top of the pack” I felt my eye twitch and then Katsuki joined my side and then he was gone.

“Out of the way Icy-Hot bastard” I watched and Katsuki was now bursting through the air towards our boyfriend. I was rocking myself against the railing just like Katsuki had done. I was not going to stoop to his level, I was going to be calm. “You can’t just appear out of nowhere and show me up” Shouto had a blank face and I could faintly hear something about Katsuki needing to recognise he lost.

With that I was jumping over the railing and landing on the course. I stomped my way over and looked at our boyfriend dead, his stupidly cute miss-matched eyes “You said you didn’t even want to participate” I yelled and threw my hands into the air.

“Don’t ignore me” is one of Katsuki’s favourite lines to shout when we didn’t answer him. We needed time to think but at this moment, I felt the same. This was beyond anger inducing, he didn’t want to participate though by his choice of words I should have understood he meant to challenge our hot-headed boyfriend.

“The next person is waiting” the woman spoke slowly and Katsuki and I both turned to her with the speed of All Might himself and I could see the fear in her eyes. I was sure she knew who we were and with all the yelling I would be afraid too.

“Shut up, I am doing it again” we both yelled our eyes locked in on her form. There was no way she was stopping me from beating both my boyfriends this god forsaken challenge. I was going to prove I am the best and then later they would praise me. I didn’t want to praise Shouto, at least not for this.

“Please stop, you are going to make the world think UA is full of degenerates” Iida was running onto the course. We were not degenerates. I was already coming up with a plan to finish in under five seconds. Instead of moving I had to do what Shouto did and stay still, let my quirk do the work.

Shouto was holding Katsuki and I back as we were escorted out of the course grounds. Once out Katsuki and I were pouting as we walked with Shouto, Kirishima having said he wanted to go see Kaminari at work, I also heard that Mineta was here. I crossed my arms and pouted as we walked around.

“Are you done?” Shouto asked us and I turned away as Katsuki said what was on his mind, as he always did. We had moved to a secluded area and I felt Shoutos’ arm wrap around my body and he cuddled into my neck “Don’t be mad Y/N” he whispered and Katsuki rolled his eyes coming in to join the hug.

“I’m not mad” I gritted out, how could I stay mad as they both hugged me. It was nearly impossible for a few more seconds and Katsuki giving my forehead a light kiss I sighed and “Fine” I drew out the vowel and smiled. “Wanna get something to eat?” I asked.

“It would be best to get something in the room, that way it is not a full meal, the reception is tonight and there will be food” Shouto pointed out, he was right, there would be food there. “Though it is still quite early, we could have a light lunch and a snack before the reception,” Katsuki nodded.

“I saw a nice looking restaurant a little ways away, near that park thing” Katsuki began and brought out his phone from the little pocket on his pants. He unblocked his phone and showed us the location. I took his phone and looked at the online menu.

I scrolled down and as we were walking I was scrolling. I couldn’t count the amount of times I had been on Bakugou’s phone and I still couldn’t comprehend the device sometimes. “Oh Shou they have Cold Soba” I smiled and showed him the photo.

“I was unsure of this place and no you both don’t get a choice. We are going” Shouto nodded and both Katsuki and I were laughing, it was so funny to hear his monotone voice seem so excited. Katsuki and I could hear the difference.

“You and your fucking soba. I could make it better” Katsuki had his hands on his hips as he looked at our boyfriend with a smile, I smiled at him. I couldn’t lie, Katsuki did make the best food. I had to admit that I had once called Shouto to pick me up because Katsuki said if we were at his house he would make us food. We showed up within the hour.

“I do not doubt that Katsuki '' the little smile that Shouto gave the both of us as he spoke made my heart flutter in happiness. I loved them both so much, I would do anything for them. Even something as simple as a smile made me so happy.

We continued to walk as I continued to look through the menu “Katsuki” I called out as we stopped and they both looked over my shoulder “It’s called the ring of fire. It’s just a bowl of chilli noodles and beef” I smiled and showed the photo to him.

A loud laugh left his throat and he took his phone scrolling through the ingredients “That’s what i'm getting. It better be spicy” he nodded and then gave the phone back “What are you thinking kitten” he asked as we continued to walk.

“I’m thinking something hot, I want noodles” I nodded and clicked the category of noodles. “This one looks good” my eyebrows rose as I looked over the beef noodles. “The broth has a few spices and the beef has been marinated overnight to then cooked to order, the vegetables are marinated with it” Shouto nodded as Katsuki took the phone and looked over it.

“It’s like the noodles I made for our three months,” Katsuki answered and then put his phone away. It was one of my favourite ‘dates’ we had gone on. My parents were out and because my house was the biggest we had decided to get the ingredients and then go to mine and cook. It was such a good night. “It even has the same noodles.” those noodles were delicious.

“Oh ok, I’m definitely getting that then” Shouto nodded to my conclusion and we finally made it to the restaurant. There wasn’t too much of a line but it was packed. It looked to my full. “I did not take into account the people” I whispered.

“Don’t worry, let me talk” Katsuki and I tilted our heads but we slowly walked up to the front of the line. Shouto took his wallet out of his pocket and collected a card that was red. Katsuki and I made eye contact in confusion and we waited. The woman looked around and breathed out trying to find a spot but as I searched to no avail. “Do not worry, we will be taking the private booth please” the woman went to laugh and then her face fell as she looked at the card.

“Oh my. Of course” she bowed and grabbed three menus “Please right this way, follow me” we walked through the restaurant and to the back, going up a flight of stairs and then we were taken to a booth at the back, it was quiet and there was almost no one. “A waiter will be with you in a few minutes to take your drinks” she bowed again as I wiggled into the seat, I wanted to be in the middle.

“What is that card” I looked at Shouto who slipped the card back into his wallet then placed it on the table to the side to not get in the way. I needed a card like that, if it meant I never had to deal with people again in a crowded space I would love to have such a card. Katsuki took his gauntlets off placing them next to him in the booth.

“It’s a card for the expo for my father so he doesn’t have to sit with fans. He said to use it so I’m not with common people” he shook his head and his eyes narrowed “But this way I can have a nice calm lunch with both my girlfriend and boyfriend without interruptions” he nodded. Picking up the menu to the drinks and began to look it over.

My hand moved to gently hold his cheek as I leaned in and gave him a sweet kiss. I loved the way half his lips were colder than the other. He seemed surprised and then he leaned in getting into the kiss. We broke apart after a few seconds “Thank you Shou” I whispered.

“Excuse me” We both turned to Katsuki who had a slight pout as he looked over to us “I am here to you know” it was hard sometimes to give all three people attention in the relationship but we tried. I had learnt that Katsuki really didn’t like being left out and often felt like people didn’t want him there. Shouto on the other hand had a lot of trouble with praise and had to be reassured we loved him every single day. All three of us had learnt to help each other.

“Come here Katsuki” I leaned over holding his hand that was on the table and kissed him just the same as I had done to Shouto. His lips were always so soft, all his skincare routines he did on a night would definitely help to do that. When I leaned back I smiled at his soft face. “We know you’re here and we are both very happy you are here with us” we had to reassure him and I didn’t care how often I had to do it.

“Can I have a kiss too Katsuki?” Shouto asked and leaned over my body so he could kiss him if he allowed, which he always did. Many believe he wasn’t affectionate but Katsuki was the most affectionate. “I love that you came here as well. I wouldn't have come if the both of you didn’t” Katsuki smiled and then leaned in kissing Shouto softly as I smiled at both of them. As they leaned back Shouto smiled and “I love you Katsuki you too Y/N”

I watched as the male in question turned away a flush on his cheeks, something we saw quite often with him. He wasn’t too good with receiving affection, I moved to put a hand on each of their legs and squeezed. Then the waiter walked over.

“Good afternoon, may I take your drinks order” he asked and looked us over as I quickly skimmed the menu. “If you need more time, I can come back in a few minutes” he asked and Shouto answered it was alright. After ordering our drinks we also asked him to take our food orders and then we were back to talking.

“I don’t want to go to this party, it’ll just be a bunch of old geezers giving speeches. Sounds like a pretty lame night to me” Katsuki voiced as he rested his chin on his head. “I only came for you two” he added as he looked us over.

I nodded “Shouto and I spoke on the plane about not really wanting to attend” I sighed. “I did bring a nice dress though” it was a beautiful dress. Something a little fancier then I would usually wear but nice nonetheless.

“I do not want people to ask about my father” Shouto added and I leaned back “But we have to attend at least I do anyway. He wants me to go and I know it’ll only be more effort to not go in the long run” he looked down at his words and Katsuki leaned over taking his head just as I did. We knew it was hard on him. “You two stay in the room, I’ll only go for an hour or so and then we can spend the rest of the night together” he asked quietly.

“We are going with you, I’ll have to go to my room and find something nice. I didn’t bring anything fancy, I wasn’t planning to go” he paused and smiled at Shouto, a real smile “We are here for you Shou" I nodded and the boy nodded as well.

“Then we go together” I smiled “And I asked Kirishima if I could sneak a suit in his luggage for you” I smiled and with a shake of his head I was brought into a hug as I laughed and held out my arms for Shouto who happily moved closer to join in.

Not too long after, the food and drinks arrived, we thanked and then began to eat. We began to eat and chat. “This is actually really good, wanna try” Katsuki asked as I nodded and leaned in to take some of the noodles off his chopstick tasting the flavour and hummed with a nod.

“That’s really good. Too bad Shouto, you aren’t a fan of spicy food” he shrugged and then took some soba into his mouth with a nice hum. I got some of my own noodles and meat in the grasp of my chopsticks and held it up to Katsuki. “It’s really nice, not the same as yours but still good” I nodded and he leaned over taking them into his mouth then chewing for a few seconds and nodded.

“It’s not too bad, not as good as mine but still good” he nodded and I saw Shouto look at my meal back at his and then back at mine. He wouldn’t like Katsuki, we all knew that but he looked sad he wasn’t offered some.

“Shouto would you like to try some” I picked up the noodles just as I did for Katsuki and he looked a little awkward “come on Shou, don’t be shy. You can ask to have some” I smiled and he nodded leaning over to take a bite and then nodded.

“Sorry, I didn’t want to ask but you two were right it is quite nice. The meat is very tender” he nodded and I verbally agreed as we began to eat once more. It was nice to be able to have a meal together and not be worried about the gazes of others about our choice of relationship.

“Can I try some” I asked and I could live off the small smile Shouto gave as he gathered some in his chopsticks and then offered it to me. I leaned in and took the soba into my mouth and then chewed and nodded. “It’s good, Katsuki should make some for us. Sometime” I asked suggestively.

We both turned to the boy in question who just looked up from his food and then smiled “I can do that” even as he complained about making us food he always did no matter whose house we were at. He loved to cook and provide for us.

The rest of the lunch went by with quiet chatter and easy laughs. Time seemed to fly and as we looked at the time Shouto noticed a message from Iida saying where we would all wait and then go together. We agreed to get dressed and meet up then we would all sit at a table together and not talk to anyone.

“Are you sleeping with us tonight” I asked just before we were about to part ways so Katsuki could go and get dressed. I hoped he said yes but then again then Kirishima would be alone in the room.

“Of course. Shitty hair wants Pikachu and ball head to come over so I can just bring my bags over after the party” with those words and a few shared kisses we parted ways and we were off to our room to get ready.

Walking into the room I stretched my hands above my head and put our phones on charge for the party. Searching through my suitcase I found my makeup bag and dress. “I’m going to go for a shower and do my makeup, I shouldn’t be too long” I called over my shoulder to Shouto on the bed.

“Ok, I’m giving Katsuki a call, Kirishima isn’t there yet and he is bored” the small smile on his lips made me smile in return “I’ll tell him you’re in the shower” he looked up and I smiled back to him. I was so in love with both of them.

“Tell him to charge his phone, he always forgets” a simple nod and I was off to shower, the shower was beyond lovely and warm, once out I put my hair up and began the process of makeup. I made sure to dry my hair and tuck in the towel so it wouldn’t fall.

“She’s doing her makeup” I could hear Shouto say and then the door opened as I looked up from doing only the first part of my makeup “Doesn’t our girlfriend look beautiful” he moved into the bathroom and I saw the phone in his hand.

“You both are” I smiled and looked down making a ‘Shoo’ motion with a light laugh. Shouto left the room but I could hear them “Your bathroom is so much nicer” I smiled and then continued on with my mission to do my makeup.

Some flicked eyeliner, shining highlights and blow dried hair later I was done and walking out of the bathroom and I ran my fingers through my hair. I looked at Shouto who had taken a shower while I did my makeup and now his eyes widened.

“I need to call Katsuki.” his hands were trying to find his phone without looking down. Once found he quickly looked down to call our boyfriend. “Katsuki” he quickly began and then Shouto was walking over “Look at her” the phone was in front of my face as I waved into the camera.

It was silent as I looked around “I am definitely coming over tonight” he started and I flushed laughing lightly “Keep me on the line, I want to see the dress” the camera was then gone as Shouto tried to describe what he had seen with the little glimpse he got.

I picked up my dress and headed back to the bathroom. A long sleeved, v-neck, lace F/C dress, at the waist it flowed down between my legs and over my rear, showing the sides of my legs and hips. I made sure the bra I chose to wear couldn’t be seen and then I was walking out.

“Fuck” I looked up seeing Shouto in his suit and I paused to look at him. He didn’t swear often. He was moving to pick up his phone and I stood as he fumbled and then his hand came to rest on his chin.

“Fuck” Katsuki repeated and I looked down, I felt pretty but that reaction was all I needed to know this was my dress. This was the perfect dress for tonight. I was so glad they liked it, confidence rose in my chest and I did a small twirl.

“You guys like it” I asked and walked forward to Shouto holding the phone and Katsuki on the phone. They were silent as I moved to look at Katsuki and swap the camera around so it was facing Shouto and I.

“Yes” they both spoke and then Katsuki had to go as Kirishima was coming into the room. “You look amazing” Shouto breathed out and his hand came to hold the small of my back as he came to lean in and kiss my hair. “I don’t want to ruin your makeup” he whispered.

“Now that we are both ready and you are looking very handsome, can we take a photo for Katsuki and send it to him” he nodded and then we were moving his phone and putting on a timer for the camera.

A few attempts later we had a photo that looked professional. The lighting and the blank wall behind us made our outfits pop. I had put on the matching heels to make the photo look more authentic and beautiful. We were standing next to each other in just the perfect position and with a smile it was sent to Katsuki, I had to admit we really went above and beyond for this photo. Within seconds we received a reply “Please don’t do this to me, I’m with shitty hair”.

“Are you ready to go Shou" I looked over my shoulder at my boyfriend, his suit looked so handsome and I knew from the three of us it was going to be a fun night. Walking over I fixed his tie slightly “You look so handsome in your matching suit” I smiled “Come on Iida is waiting for us” we made our way through the room and then down to where we had to catch an elevator.

“I sent Katsuki a message, hopefully he has not forgotten his phone again” Shouto whispered quietly as I leaned over to view the screen. Katsuki had gotten better at answering calls and messages. At the start of our relationship he wasn’t the best but he is working on it which I’m sure Shouto and I were grateful for.

Coming out of the elevators I saw Iida who I assumed had gotten here far earlier than anyone else. Kaminari and Mineta were also here in their little butler outfits. I laughed lightly as I walked out and into the room. Iida turned around and smiled “I’m glad you two could make it, Todoroki looking very fresh, Y/N” he paused and then nodded “That colour suits you” he smiled.

“Thank you Iida, you look quite nice as well, where is everyone?” I tried to ignore the stares from the two other boys and tried harder to ignore the little whispers to each other. We were a few minutes early but with Iida if you weren’t early you were late.

“They seem to be running a little late” he took out his phone and rang Midoriya. The phone call was mostly linear movements and some loud vocals. I was surprised how loud his voice could go, sometimes louder then Katsuki.

“Sorry about that, you guys” Midoriya’s words were slowed towards the end as he walked out from the elevator and looked us over, we had been here quite awhile but I didn’t mind. Shouto and I had quiet chatter and Katsuki replied saying Kirishima was guiding them to the venue and to go in without him. “Where is everybody?” he stopped running, going to a slow walk.

“They’re not here yet” Iida arms unfolded “Does a proper meeting time mean nothing to you people” he was always like this, so in charge and ready for anything. He did make a good class rep and no one could deny that.

With those words the sound of an elevator door opening rang through the room looking over. I saw it was Uraraka “Sorry i'm late, it took me a while to get ready” she looked cute with her hand scratching the back of her neck and the pink dress she had on. She clearly had gone to the trouble of looking nice. I was going to compliment her though with Kaminari and Mineta racing over. I stayed still.

Another elevator opened showing a blushing Jirou and Yaoyorozu, Jirou was hiding behind the other girl, was she embarrassed? I was positive she looked beautiful no matter what she wore. “Apologies for the tardiness, Jirous’ feeling shy” I knew that feeling but with the help of my boyfriends I had slowly come out of my shell. I ignored the boys once again.

They stepped out of the elevator and Jirou looked down playing with her earlobes “This is fancier than anything I’ve worn before” she looked nice in the pink and purple dress, Yaoyorozu did too. Shouto and I walked forward to join the group. “It feels like a costume” I couldn’t agree more.

“I’m just glad you’re not in a t-shirt” I rolled my eyes at the electric blonde and sighed, he really needed some new morals. Shaking my head I leaned against Shouto just to try and calm my nerves, I wasn’t a fan of crowded places.

“Even the jacket can’t ruin it” Mineta bluntly stated, they both got sound waves to ear, just as they deserved. I was glad I hadn’t heard the things they said about my choice of clothing. I would have put them in a box for the rest of the night.

“I think you both look very nice, even with the jacket” I made eye contact with the fallen Mineta at that comment and looked back up with a smile “It’s nice to see you guys out of uniform. You too Uraraka” I smiled at the group. There was no harm in boosting someone's self esteem even if it was only a little.

“Thank you, you look very nice too, I wouldn’t expect you to wear something like this but I really like it” Yaoyarozu nodded and Jirou agreed with an input from Uraraka. I smiled and pushed my hair back and smiled in thanks.

“This is my first time in formal wear, I just borrowed something from Yaoyorozu” Uraraka walked over to Midoriya as her arms bent at the elbow up and down as she spoke. Yaoyarozu had very pretty dresses then.

“It looks really good” Midoriya scratched his cheek and I smiled leaving the conversation. They had such chemistry, I was surprised one hadn’t confessed yet. Then again I hadn’t confessed in the greatest ways. I took Shouto’s hand, we weren’t much for public displays of affection but right now I was so happy to be with friends and loved ones.

The sound of the elevator opening sounded and I turned hoping to see Katsuki and Kirishima though it wasn’t them. It was the girl I had seen at the stands. I never caught her name though she seemed to know the place. “Oh good” she ran in dress swaying as she did. “I thought I was going to miss you guys. Let’s get downstairs to the party” she seemed very friendly from the one sentence I had heard her speak. I should talk to her.

I ignored the boys having a fangirl fest in the middle of the room. I shook my head and then we were off to the party. “No good, neither of them is picking up their phones. Knowing those two they’re just blowing off the party” Iida spoke out.

“Bakugou and Kirishima said to go in without them, Todoroki and I messaged Bakugou” I began and saw a few sideways glances of interest. The girls always asked about my relationship with the two and most had guessed what was going on. “We can go in without them, they will come eventually” I smiled and got a nod from Iida.

I took out my phone and saw a message from the explosive boy. Opening the message I almost dropped my phone at the picture of Katsuki in a suit with roses on the side and a tilted head. “What’s wrong” Shouto started and then looked over my shoulder at the photo “Why is he so handsome” he whispered and I nodded. Sending a message along the lines of what he had sent to us. I hoped they were both safe.

The alarm began to sound and I felt Shouto pull my body closer to his own, the windows began to have their lockdown shutters fall. An explosive device? I worried for Katsuki’s safety as well as Shoutos’ and my own, so I looked around and we had everyone. So far so good. Most likely a false alarm. The voice over the speakers continued as I put my hand on Shoutos’ chest. What was going on?

Shouto took out his phone “I’m not getting any signal, looks like my service is completely blocked” I took his phone and then my own and quickly checked. No signal, we couldn’t contact Katsuki. What if he was in danger. I looked to Shouto who seemed to have the same fears. “He will be ok, he is strong” whispered quietly I nodded and handed his phone back.

“The elevators are not working either” Jirou was standing in front of the elevator system, though we still had lights on so it wasn’t as if the power was out. What a suspicious time to have a lockdown. I stepped away from Shouto and looked around.

“What the heck is going on here” Mineta cried out, he had a point. He was saying what was on everyone's minds. It had to be a false alarm, a faulty button. There wouldn’t actually be a bomb here, right?

“It is strange that the system would go on high alert” it was the girl I didn’t know the name of. I had to ask her name, if I knew her name I could protect her. Her hand was under her chin in thought. She must know this place well. “That’s not the protocol whenever explosives are discovered” so she did know this place well. If this wasn’t the protocol then something must be wrong.

“Iida, let’s go to that party” Midoriya stated sternly walking over to the seemed leader of the group. Iida questioned why, why did he want to go to the party. It was a lockdown. We should stay in the same place until we are told not to. “Because that’s the place we can find All might right now” I nodded, it was a good plan. All Might would know what to do.

“Wait All Might’s in there” I knew that wherever Midoriya was, All Might wasn’t too far away. Though if the number 1 hero was here then we had nothing to worry about, if there was an explosive I was sure he was on his way to do and stop the issue.

“Oh thank goodness, we don’t have anything to worry about” Mineta looked relieved but this was still suspicious. Would they not have put something over the intercoms to say the situation was being handled. They wouldn’t keep people in the dark plus there were probably up to a hundred Pro’s here. Someone would say something.

“So Melissa do you know of a way we can get down there without the elevator” my eyes perked as Midoriya looked at the blonde girl, her name was Melissa. Perfect, name done. I could now protect everyone in the room. Shouto had been kind enough to give me the heros and top celebrities and things that would be here for right now. I was able to help.

“Yeah sure, we can use the emergency stairs” she replied pointing to the stairs behind Shouto and I, it would be risky. If something was actually wrong we could be going towards the danger instead of away. I could only help so many people. “That will at least get us close” I wanted to voice my worries but I had trust in my friends.

“We will follow your lead then” I clenched up, I was worried not only for the people in this room but Katsuki. I was beyond worried about him, was he ok? Was Kirishima with him? He couldn’t message us now and that brought a whole new wave of panic.

We began to walk through the stairs, silently as we could which was hard with heels and fancy wear. I was scared and worried about Katsuki and Kirishima as well as the rest of the people on this island. Jirou and Midoriya walked in to see what was going on as the rest of us waited.

“We’ve received All Might’s orders loud and clear, he is our teacher. I suggest we follow his instructions and escape this place” Iida had a point, he had told us to leave but we may be the only people that could actually help win this fight. Who knows what these villains were trying to do. “Otherwise we’d be going against his will”

“I’m afraid I have to agree with what Iida is saying. We are still only students, we can’t fight these villains if we don't have our hero licenses” Yaoyarozu was also in the right. Legally we weren’t allowed in interveen, we had to do as our teacher had told us but we did not come here as a school but as ourselves.

“Why don’t we get out of here and tell the hero's outside?” Kaminari piped up, hypothetically that may work but it may also set off unwanted alarms along the way. It may end us in a worse spot than we already are. There wasn’t much we could do without permission but I wanted to help.

“It’s not going to be very easy to escape” Melissa whispered out as her hand left her chin, I stood close to Shouto and tried to think my way out of this. My whole quirk relied on thinking, that’s what I was here for. I was logical and smart and I had to figure something out. “The security system here is on the same level of that of the Tartarus prison which is where they keep the most dangerous criminals in the world” think, I had to think.

“And all we can do is sit and wait until everything is over I guess” Kaminari voiced out, his tone was low and sad. I couldn’t blame him, I also felt trapped. I had to think of something, anything. Any idea was better than none.

Jirou stood up fists clenched and looked down to our classmate “Are you really ok with that Kaminari” she questioned in a soft tone. I wasn’t, I wasn’t ok with just sitting and doing nothing while innocent people feared for their lives. “Don’t you think we should at least try and stop them” I nodded in agreement.

“Come on, those villains have even got All Might trapped. There’s no way we can stop them ourselves if the actual Pros are stuck” Mineta although was disgusting and quite pervy, he unfortunately was decently smart. His words were true. If they had a hold of All Might then what shot did we have.

“Aren’t we trying to be Pros’ ourselves” my eyes left the ones of my classmates and turned to one of my lovers, he was looking down at his hand as he sighed out lowly eyes half lidded. He looked sad, he almost always did.

“Yes but we are not allowed to work as heroes, you know that” Yaoyarozu looked sad as well as she spoke. I could see she wanted to help but also wanted to keep people safe, keep us safe. I couldn’t agree more but if we couldn’t at least help a few people then sitting here and doing nothing will be meaningless.

“Does that mean that it’s right to do nothing at all” Shoutos’ fist clenched as he continued to stare at his hand. I shook my head, he was worried. Whether it be about our missing boyfriend or the idea of sitting aside and not doing anything I didn’t know. I would guess it was a little of both.

“Well it’s complicated” Yayorozu was right, this was complicated. Do we risk getting in more danger and not helping anyone or do we sit back and potentially not help someone in need. All Pro’s had to deal with these choices but as I saw everyones’ faces fall my own fell as well.

It was silent in the stairwell but with a shake of my head I breathed in “I can help” everyone's eyes turned to me “I want to help, I don’t care for the consequences. Bakugou and Kirishima are out there, civilians are out there. I can shield us from being seen if need be but I am not going to stand here when I am able to help” I swallowed the lump in my throat as I pursed my lips.

“I want to help” Midoriya whispered out “I want to save them” we made eye contact and he looked so determined, this was all our dreams. To become a hero, to help those in need no matter the consequences. To do all we can until we can’t.

“You want to go fight those villains, did you learn anything from the USJ Midoriya?” Mineta's voice was loud and his hands were moving so frantically. I thought back to the USJ, I had been teleported to one of the zones alone and made to fight, I didn’t know any names so I spent my time dodging and using the loophole of my own name to survive.

“This is totally different, we don’t have to fight them, as Y/N said she can shield us. We need to find a way to rescue All Might and everyone else at the party without facing the bad guys” Midoriya fired back, he was ready for any question that was shot at him, I could see it. I could shield all of us, I could shield the island if given enough time. I could do this.

“That’s easy to say but you know it won’t be that simple” this time it was Kaminari who shot the idea down. If they wanted to be heros they needed to start believing in themselves. We could deal with the consequences, we were here on our business not the schools.

“I know but I still want to try,” Midoriya nodded and I nodded, I was going to help them with or without the help of my classmates. I wasn’t going to let innocent people be scared because of some egotistical villains who decided to make a scene. “We can figure out what the best plan of action is and keep these criminals from winning. We can save everyone” he called out, I thought we were being a bit loud for the stairway but I wasn’t going to say anything.

“I know where the security system is, it’s on the top floor of this tower” Melissa walked forward into the group, she did know this place which means she would most likely know the safest route to take. “If these criminals manage to take control of it then the authentication lock password has most likely been disabled. We should be able to restart the system ourselves. We just have to stay off the villains radar until then and get to the top floor.That’s all” I could cover us and the cameras wouldn’t see us but if doors were locked it would most likely sound an alarm which wouldn’t do us any favours. “If we do that the whole island will be safe again”

“Then it’s possible” Midoriya whispered in hope, of course it was possible, everything is possible. The word impossible literally says I’m possible, we just had to devise a plan and stick to it to remain safe.

“Sure but how do we keep on the low for that long” Jirou questioned walking forward towards Melissa who had just finished her motivating speech. Judging by the way she spoke I was guessing that she was able to restart the system.

“The security system hasn’t discovered us yet that means the villains probably don’t know how it works very well” she had a point, the stairwell seemed to be fine. No alarms or villains coming to check it out. I nodded in thought.

“So we avoid fighting anyone and try to get the place back to normal” I knew Shoutos’ voice from anywhere, I turned to look at his arms crossed over his chest and eyes downcast in thought. I hoped Katsuki was ok. “That could work”

“I can cover us from unwanted eyes. I am able to cover us all with no problem. It would be like we weren’t even there” I smirked moving my hands to rest on my hips. “Cameras’ aren’t able to detect me when in an illusion, I’ve tried” I continued to smirk at the smiles I was receiving.

“Not bad, what do you think” Kaminari turned to Jirou who smiled and agreed. Mineta did not look in the least bit impressed with his wide eyes and mouth. He was never going to become a hero if he was unable to take a leap of faith.

“Many of our enemies are likely gathered there on the top floor” Yayorozu thought aloud into the stairwell. I would guess most would be there though some would be trying to do whatever it actually was they were trying to do here.

“If we’re fast we won’t have to fight them, when the security system goes back to normal All Might and the others will be released. They’ll immediately jump into action and stop the villains I know it” we all seemed to be on the same page.

“Let’s do this guys” Uraraka jumped up her eyes wide and hand fisted in determination. We would help these people, we would become heroes some day. This was just the first step in the long journey of our future career. “I don’t want to sit around here being helpless, not if there’s something we can actually try” she shook her head and looked to Midoriya who had said her name. “What’s important is that we’re helping people even if we’re not real heroes” I smiled at the bright girl.

“That’s exactly how I feel about things, we’ll follow our hearts and save the island” even though Midoriya was talking to the group his eyes never left Uraraka, it seemed like all his words were directed to her and her alone. They would make a good couple in the future.

Everyone began to agree to the plan, one right after the other. We were going to do this, for us and us alone. We were going to save these people not for show or to be seen but because that’s what a hero does.

“The moment I think we’ve gone too far it’s over” Iida walked into the little huddle of us all eyes closed and brows knotted. He was worried you could practically feel the waves of emotion coming from him. “If that’s something you can agree too, I’ll join you as well”

With all in agreeance, Midoriya told Melissa to stay behind and when listening in I found out it was because she was quirkless, something very rare these days. Even if the quirk was considered ‘useless’ they were still held higher than those without quirks. She was strong and put the greenet in his place with her knowledge of the tower. She was going to be a hero too. She was a student at the academy she said and she wanted to help. I nodded and smiled at her. She was going to be a hero one way or another. Midoriya went back to tell All Might what our plans were and soon we were off and going through the tower. When he came back we began to go through the tower to try and get to the top. We were running up the stairs which was quite hard in heels and a dress but I was managing.

Finally we reached level 30, I couldn’t believe we made it without a single alarm of bystander. These villains really didn’t know what they were doing here. They did not know the system as if they did there would be alarms in the stairwell.

“Melissa, how high does it go” Midoriya asked as I turned to the girl in question, she was puffed, sweating and holding the railing for support. She wasn’t used to high intense training like we were, the stairs were like nothing to us. An annoyance at most but not difficult.

“Two-hundredth floor” she breathed out, I shook my head as Kaminari asked her to repeat herself. She could barely make it to the thirtieth I doubted she would make it to two hundred though I had faith in her. She just had to keep pushing herself.

After a small discussion that taking the two hundred flights was better than an accidental run in with the villains we all began to climb again. I stayed in line with Shouto as we ran. We had to be fast otherwise something could potentially go wrong. I sighed out and shook my head while running, everyone would be ok. I knew it. Katsuki would be ok. He had to be. Each flight felt like impending doom and finally at floor eighty it was blocked.

“What should we do?” Shouto asked as he breathed heavily. Eighty flights will do that to a person. I breathed out looking around, what could we do. There might be villains or civilians on the other side. “Break through it,” he suggested. I shook my head, no there had to be another way.

“If we did that, I’m sure the security system would alert the villains that someone’s in here” Melissa answered, I had the same thought. I looked over the block and bit my lip, my lungs still begging for more oxygen. What could we do?

“Then why don’t we go through this door instead” that was Minetas’ voice and as I turned around not even hearing Midoriya’s words as he yelled. Mineta opened the door with a click. No, no, no, they would know we are here. This could ruin everything.

We all went through and I sent out a cover, the detectors would detect something but they wouldn’t be able to see us at least. “We move now” I started and ran out first. “I have us covered but that doesn’t stop sensors only cameras” I called over my shoulder as Shouto came to join me at the front. We ran down the hall hoping to find a way further up.

“Is there another way to go up?” Shouto asked over his shoulder, I was guessing he was indicating to Melissa who knew her way around. I knew the villains knew we were here and I was sure they were sending reinforcement.

“There should be another emergency staircase at the end of the hallway” she shouted back, it was good my illusions also hid sound, in a place like this I didn’t doubt that the cameras also had mics.

“Alright then let's hurry” Iida instructed though as we turned a corney the gates began to shut. I guess they believed it wasn’t a false alarm and then people really were scuttling around on this floor. The gates began to close “Todoroki” Iida called.

“I got it” a shard of ice shot out from his foot and then Iida was running and sending his leg through the gate. We had to keep moving. I grabbed Melissa’s arm and began to run, she was the most important out of all of us.

Running in there were trees and bushed everywhere “What is this place” I hadn’t let go of her hand as we ran. I needed to know she was safe. She couldn’t defend herself like the rest of us. She was smart but villains didn’t care for smarts.

“It’s a plant factory” she answered as we ran into the factory. “They research the effects quirks have on fauna here” she elaborated. An interesting field to go in I had to admit, I was more for the hero side if I was being honest.

“Hold on” Jirous' arm went out in a rushed movement and we all stopped. I brought Melissa closer to me, she smiled and seemed grateful. I nodded to her. “Look, the elevators are coming up” she breathed, so they did know we were here. There was no point to hiding us here then.

“Don’t tell me the villains found us” Mineta looked about ready to dig his own grave amongst the fauna. I looked around, we could hide but knowing villains they wouldn’t stop until we were found. We could fight them but that would mean owning up to us being here.

“We should hide and let them pass,” Midoriya told the group and we all agreed. We ran off to the side hiding amongst the bushes. I covered us just to be sure. We waited in silence and I crouched close to Shouto and others down the other end talked.

The villains came in, speaking lowly and I couldn’t quite hear them. They just had to leave, they had to leave. Walking in they began to look around for us. I could see Uraraka holding her hands over her mouth even though she knew they couldn’t see us but what if one of them had a quirk that could. This could be bad. We just had to wait for them to pass.

“Hey we see you stupid kids” that’s impossible, they couldn’t see us. There was no way. No one could see us. Does he have a thermal imaging quirk type thing? We were safe, right? Was he trying to make us come out. Some kind of reverse psychology.

“What did you say you bastard” I perked up, I knew that voice. Looking out I saw Katsuki in all his glory. His suit and tie, his scowl. He was ok, he was alive and ok. I felt a hand come to my back and I turned to see Shouto looking relieved.

“What are you two doing here” one of the villains asked, they must not know what’s going on. Katsuki would never give up the chance to use his quirk against a real villain. Did they not hear the broadcast? How were they at such a high level?

He laughed lightly “That’s what I wanna know too” he began to walk forward. I shook, what was he doing? He needed to be careful. He was so close but so out of reach. I watched Kirishima put a hand on his chest and told Bakugou that he could take care of it.

“We kinda got lost looking for the party” I deadpanned, lost, this was the eightieth floor. How do you get that lost that you wind up on the eightieth floor. I knew they weren't lying with how awkward Kirishima was acting. I doubted they even knew where they were. Katsuki did not look happy. “Can you maybe point us in the right direction” he asked politely.

“Don’t lie to me or you’ll regret it” the words were yelled as one of the villains sent out what seemed to be a gust of wind towards the boys. My eyes widened and before I knew it I was running.

My arm raised quickly sending out a wall to protect them. “Hey watch out” Katsuki yelled and I held the wall up as Kirishima fell back and Katsuki met my eyes. “What?” I saw his lips mimic but no sound came out. I was breathing heavily. I had to protect them. “Shou" he asked as Shouto walked out.

His hand moved to the floor “We can keep them busy down here, look for a way to the top” ice sprouted from the ground and was sending the rest of the group up towards a higher railing. I was not in the right attire to fight but I was going to. They were trying to get through the wall. “We’ll be right behind you after we clean up this mess” I smiled at them.

“Go be heroes” I shouted and looked to Melissa “Show me what you can do” she nodded firmly and then they were gone and up on a higher railing. I needed to make sure my boyfriends were safe, I knew they could handle themselves but love does strange things.

“Wait you guys are here too” Kirishima asked slowly and confused “What the hecks going on guys” Kirishima walked over and Katsuki followed coming to look at us both. I knew those looks, he was checking us over.

“You didn’t hear the broadcast alert” Shouto asked as I pushed the wall higher, they were strong villains. Though we could take them I knew we could. There were four against two, we could do this. Now that I knew they were ok I was less panicked, a clear mind. “Nevermind, some villains have taken over the tower”

Katsukis’ eyes narrowed and he seemed to look us over more intently, he was making sure we were ok. “Wait, so that’s what this is about” he asked as I looked through the wall, they were desperately trying to get through. I just had to hold them there until the others were out.

“I’ll explain more when I can, no time now” Shouto looked to Katsuki and looked him up and down as well. Not while Kirishima was here, not right now please. I felt a hard hit to the wall and made it stronger as I looked through, he had a weird quirk in his hands, was it air, it looked to be air.

“What’s with guys quirk” I could already hear the few pops from his palm as Katsuki called out his question. I let the wall fall and I breathed heavily, he was strong. I needed a second to completely clear my head. When Shouto said to stay alert he got a lovely “Shut up, I know that” from our boyfriend in return.

“So you wanna pick a fight” the man began to shake and grow. I stepped back, I couldn’t do much without their names but I’d manage. “Let’s see how tough you really are” he screamed, skin turning purple and veins bulging in his arms, he looked like an ogre, a beast.

Shouto flicked his arm out spikes of ice running straight for the beast of a man, he was punching them and they broke in front of my eyes. So he was strong, noted. Then he was coming straight for us. We all jumped and I landed on an illusion in the air.

Katsuki quickly turned “Die” he screamed and sent an explosion into the beast's back receiving a loud grunt in response. The beast fell though I knew he would rise again soon. Katsuki landed.

Through the smoke I saw the beast running towards him, he was pushed out of the way by Kirishima “Bakugou” his arms rose in a cross formation and hardened, stopping the villain in his tracks for only a second before Kirishima was pushing into the ground and through the leftover ice shard from Shouto and into a wall.

“Kirishima” Katsuki called and I was looking around frantically. I hid myself from view as I watched. Who was more pressing to go after, who was stronger out of the two villains. I watched, it seemed the one with the air type quirk was, he was long range making him harder to take down.

“Dodge” Shouto called out as ice sprouted from the ground towards the villain but was taken out but a swipe of his hand. I knew what I had to do. I had to take him out. Shouto and Katsuki were back to back as they were in the middle of the villains.

“You boys know how to fight, don’t you” the air quirk villain asked, his voice was higher than it should be. I was dropping towards the ground, they couldn’t see me, I needed to wait for the perfect moment. I stayed closer to the ground and above the villain.

“Where did you come from” the other asked in confusion, I was watching the two villains, they couldn’t attack right now without potentially harming the other in the process, so I waited.

“Yeah right, like we’d tell a couple of weak ass villains” Katsuki called out with a smile, I smiled as well. He always got revved up in these situations, always so excited and all over the place. It was one of the many things I loved about him.

“Why would we tell you anything?” Shouto asked, his hand coming out to show ice slowly frost over his hand. Then the fight began, smoke and ice everywhere. I couldn’t get a good view and then it was perfect.

Katsuki had amazing reflexes but the purple villain was just very strong and the other villains' quirk had nothing to do with air, he was displacing matter as he wished a very strong quirk.”Let’s put an end to this” he shouted and began to twist in the air just as he had done the sports festival. “Howitzer impact” I knew I needed to get out of the way. I dropped from the sky grabbing Shouto and creating a barrier as a gust of smoke and heat sprang out.

Once over I uncovered us, “Damn you” the other called out and sent out a gust of wind tearing Katsukis’ sleeve with a scream from Shouto. I was already running before I knew it. Hiding and then springing up behind him and throwing my body into the air and spinning only to send a kick to his ribs sending him to the other side of the path.

“Did you forget about me” I called out and the guy stood up looking angry and down to his hand that seemed to have small parts of Katsuki’s sleeve. I was confused but made sure to be on high alert just in case.

“That’s the sweat from my palms” I knew what he was doing now I stepped back, this wasn’t going to end well. “It works like Nitroglycerin” and with those few words Shouto knew what to do and sent out a line of fire exploding the villain and then collecting him in a block of ice.We ran over to Kirishima “Kirishima” Katsuki asked while Shouto asked if he was ok, Katsuki did care for his friends.

“I can’t move, can you get me out of here?” I wanted to laugh as I looked at the worried face of Katsuki fall into one of annoyance like usual. I was sad his suit was ruined, I was looking forward to some pictures and taking it off later tonight but not all dreams come true.

“Are you that stupid just turn your damn quirk off idiot” I walked closer come to stand next to Katsuki, I missed him, I was so worried for him. I needed to know he was ok and now he was, right next to me. He was ok, Shouto was ok.

“Oh right” Kirishima deactivated his quirk and then removed himself from the wall “Guess I should have thought of that” he looked down to his hands and brought a knee to his chest and tried to wipe some dust off of his suit.

“I’m just glad to see you are not injured” Shouto spoke out, he still looked just as we left the room. All pristine and beautiful, Katsuki as well. I sighed and continued to look between the two of them. I was so glad they were ok.

“Yeah same to you guys” he smiled and I smiled back, we were all ok, for now. “If I may say” Kirishima spoke slowly and then looked at the three of us with a smile “I know the three of you are dating and your girlfriend looks like she’s about to cry” both eyes turned to me and I laughed awkwardly.

I threw myself into Katsukis’ chest and hugged him as tight as I could. “i’m so glad you’re ok Katsuki” I whispered and felt his arms wrap around me and put his head down on top of my own. “I was so worried” I added and felt another hand come to rub my back as I opened my arms for Shouto to join and that he did. “I’m so glad you both are ok” I paused and raised my head to Kirishima “You too” he smiled.

Katsuki looked away from the complete red head and spoke out “Thank you” we all stopped in our tracks for a moment. Did Katsuki just say thank you. I wasn’t hearing things, right? Sure he had said it to Shouto and I but anyone else, no way. This was new territory, unfound land.

“Wow where did that come from” I could hear the waver in Kirishima’s voice but the smile showed all I needed to know, he was grateful and I was proud of Katsuki, Shouto and brought me into his arms to hold me close and kiss the top of my head. ‘Don’t worry about it” he finished.

Katsuki turned back quickly, hands in his pockets and mouth wide in a yell “I’m not worried” he screamed and I laughed lightly, he was always so quick to bite back. I loved him and Shouto more than life itself.

“Alright, let’s catch up with the others” Shouto voiced loud enough for everyone to hear and then we were off to find the rest of the gang. I had no idea how high they could have made it by now. They might already be at the two-hundredth floor. I just hope they didn’t run into anything else.

“Don’t order me around” I turned to look at Katsuki with one raised eyebrow and a slight smirk and he looked away, his cheeks lighting up slightly. If only people knew just how much Katsuki liked to be ordered around in different ways.

“Todoroki time to give us some details” Kirishima yelled out and Shouto looked back to the rest of us but at the sound of an alarm we stopped and looked forward seeing robots flooding into the room.

“Oh this is easy. Stay back boys” I smirked and ran into the front lines. Sending out clones with long sharp claws. Claws ripped through metal and wires like it was butter. This was my time to shine. Clones grew long and sharp teeth rearing forward to send long sharpened claws and teeth into the robots and ripped them apart. I ripped through the metal like it was nothing and after a few minutes the clones fell “Well that was easy” I flicked my hair over my shoulder and smiled to the boys “what thought you guys wanna gonna have all the fun” I asked.

“That was so hot” Katsuki breathed out with a wide smile and I flushed looking down to the floor in embarrassment. “Please, do that more” I knew Katsuki had a thing for strong quirks but I turned around and then we were off again.

We were running to the top, so many flights of stairs and robots that were taken out by clones, ice and explosions alike. As we were running we came to see a load of robots heading outside, we all looked and nodded knowing they would most likely be following the group, we had to help them. Katsuki was the first to make a hit saving Uraraka from a bunch of robots. I ran out clones coming out long claws and sharp teeth alike as I joined the fight, ripping them apart. Shouto and Kirishima ran in and when I looked up I could see Melissa had wide eyes and Midoriya. I ducked missing a robots’ attack and sliced it in half.

I didn’t have time to listen or even hear what was going on as I heard explosions and fire and then a loud and booming smash. I continued to destroy the robots in large groups though they just seemed to keep coming and coming and coming. I was getting excited as I ripped apart the metal and wires. We continued to fight but then they all seemed to shut down.

“What happened?” Katsuki asked aloud as all the robots just shut off. I was out of breath and let all the illusions fade as I smiled and fixed my dress. Definitely not a dress you were meant to fight in.

“That felt good” I stretched my arms up high and then heard a nice click in my spine. I smiled and looked up to see Uraraka looking at me with wide eyes and a confused expression “Are you ok” I asked walking forward.

“Yes, that” she shook her head and then smiled widely “That was amazing, you just ripped them apart it was just” she paused again and I laughed lightly “Wow” I laughed louder and then nodded.

“We need to go find Midoriya and Melissa” I stated and then we were off trying to find a way to get higher. “I can create an illusion elevator, hop on” I yelled and with that we were heading to the top floor hopefully to find Midoriya and Melissa.As we were slowly rising, I couldn’t go too fast that could make the illusion fumble or worse someone could fall. We had to get to the top, we had to meet up with Midoirya and Melissa. I was not going to make them fight alone. Looking up we could see smoke and debris falling from the top. “Hold on” I screamed and we were racing up. I could see a helicopter and Midoriya hanging off of it and then he was falling.

Then All Might was up and in the sky and the helicopter was blown up as we made it to the top, there was All Might but a machine-like thing, the villain. He could control metal, All Might was thrown across the roof as we jumped off onto the roof. We had to do something. Midoriya looked injured and All Might was then back on his feet. I could see Melissa, she was ok.

All Might smash only did so much as more and more metal was taken into this “I can feel my quirk getting more powerful,I'm never taking it off” he had some sort of strange headband on. That must be where the power is coming from. “The thing on his head” I yelled and then we were off. The roof was being broken apart as we ran over.

“I think I know the best way to raise the price of this device, I can charge whatever I want if it was used to kill the world’s number one hero” he wanted to kill All Might. It was hard even staying on the roof, there was no way we would be able to get to him while he was floating around his own quirk. How could we do this?

The floor beneath me broke apart as I put an illusion under me to keep me up. The others seemed to be ok. I had to think, how could someone get close to him, with all the flying metal and debris, how was one even meant to try and get close, this was almost impossible. There was no time for thought as I took an illusion into the sky and hid myself to try and get close. I watched a metal was coming to crush All Might but was then covered in ice, Shouto would help him.

“Go to hell” I heard the scream and smiled maneuvering my way through the flying metal as I heard explosions behind me. Katsuki wasn’t too far behind at all. I knew they would be ok. When this was over I would hold them close but for now it was time to be a hero. “How can you let yourself get beat by such a lame final boss. Hurry and take him down” Katsuki screamed as I dodged a piece of metal, a little more.

I knew both of my lovers were close to their limit, I had to end this and end it now. I looked back and saw the rest of the others join. I was going to help them, I was going to do this. For them, for us. Or everyone. This was our time. I moved faster, I was so close. Just a little more, just a little more.

The guy had All Might by the neck. I just had to go a little further, dodging and ducking around the metal I put my arm out. I couldn’t hear it was like white noise. There was nothing, I was going to be a hero, I was going to save everyone. I was going to help. He was going to kill All Might and I could see the rest of the class falling, All Might was bleeding, there was so much blood. I needed to do this, I had to do this. All Might was thrown away and it seemed like he was being crushed, he had to be ok. No this isn’t how it was going to end. That was Midoriya, All Might was up and ok. I was going to do this. He didn’t know me or of my quirk. I was going to do this. I was moving faster than ever, weaving and ducking through metal. I could hear everyone helping and I was so close, so very close. I just had to take off the headband thing. I came up from the side and I saw Midoroya and All Might coming straight for him, running together. Only a few more moments. He had that huge cube, if I could get it off then they could punch through it.

I showed myself to them and then I thrust my hands out grabbing the headpiece and ripping it from him as I passed by. I met his eyes and I was then flying off. “Do it” I screamed holding up the headpiece in my hand, the cube was punched and I threw an illusion around myself and the professor, I could see him. Metal was still coming after me as I whipped through all the debris and falling metal. A loud bang was heard behind me and a shock wave was sent out into the sky as I was falling. Something had hit me, I was falling as I held my shoulder.

“Y/N” I could hear someone shout as I felt myself being caught and looked up seeing Katsuki. We landed and I dropped the handpiece and brought the professor to the roof to be safe. I breathed out and rested my head on Katsukis’ chest.

“Let me take her, your arms are about to split” I was then handed over to Shouto as I sighed out. I wasn’t tired but mentally exhausted, I looked up seeing Midoriya and All Might with their fists in the air. “You did so well kitten” Shouto whispered and kissed my head as I moved to stand on my own.

I didn’t care who could see, I brought them both into my embrace and smiled as wide as I could “I’m so happy you two are ok” I cried out and felt a few tears prick my eyes but my makeup was far too good to actually cry. I felt them both wrap around me and I felt whole. “Though I am extremely mad your suits are ruined” they laughed with me.

I ignored the group as they looked out to see Midoriya and Melissa waving down at us. I was smiling wide as I waved back but I wasn’t listening to anything they were saying. I wanted a nice warm bath and some cuddles, and a good meal. Soon enough we were allowed to go back to our rooms and a hero was coming that could also control metal and was going to come and help.

Shouto took out his phone “Katsuki what’s your room number” three simple numbers and his phone was brought to his ear “Yes can you please go pick up the orange and black suitcase and bring it to my room, thank you” and his phone was put away “You are staying with us. Message Kirishima” he smiled lightly.

Once in the room I kicked off my heels and sighed out in relief. “I need food” I turned and smiled sweetly to Shouto who nodded and moved to pick up the phone and the menu. This was a long afternoon but it would be one we would remember. It was strange how easily we just had to go back into normal lives after something like that, a life of a hero.

I watched Katsuki walk up behind Shouto and wrap his arms around his waist looking over his shoulder at the menu, a quick kiss to Shouto’s neck he whispered “Can I have the spicy chicken noodles” another kiss.

“Of course Katsuki” he turned his head and they shared a kiss as I smiled, we were all ok. He looked over to my smiling face and smiled as well “I was just going to get you some beef noodles, I know how much you love them” I nodded.

Peeling off my dress I noticed it was covered in dust and debris. I was so sad, I spent so long picking this dress and I was so ready to look good tonight. The dress fell from my shoulders and landed in a pile beneath me. Once the dress was off I walked into the bathroom taking my makeup wipes and I began the process of taking off my makeup. “Hey boys” I called out and almost immediately they were at the door looking at me with wide eyes and smiles. They both nodded for me to continue. “Whose jumper am I stealing tonight?” I asked.

“Mine” they both said at once and then turned to each other “Mine” it was a little louder and I sighed out finishing the cleaning of my skin routine. I wasn’t one to wear makeup but tonight was meant to be special. Once done I walked out only in my underwear I saw them both rummaging through their suitcases to try and find a jumper, they always did this and I loved it.

It was Katsuki who found his first and it was thrown at me and I laughed at the pouting face of Shouto. I pulled the big jumper over my head and pulled it down my body, the end finished at my mid thigh. I walked over to the bed crawling up the bed and laying down on my stomach. “Come here Shou" I smiled and he made his way over and sat down on the bed as I cuddled into his side. “Katsuki are you joining us” I whispered out as he grunted and walked over. I felt his body heat press against my back as we cuddled. “This is perfect” I nodded and threw my arm over Shoutos’ waist.

“I agree, after today it is quite nice to sit back” Katsuki grunted again his arm over my waist, his front against my back and I was so happy to just sit here. I nodded into Shoutos’ side and I felt so content to just sit back and chill for a moment.

“I missed you both” I went silent as Katsuki spoke and he buried his head into my hair not wanting to show his face. He was always so affectionate when no one was watching or listening. He was usually physically affectionate but with those few simple words I smiled and turned slightly.

“We missed you too Katsuki” I whispered and his head rose as my hand came to caress the side of his face and pulled his face close to my own and pressed our lips together. It was calm and loving. I loved kissing both of them. Pulling back I smiled at him as his eyes were half lidded. “I love you Katsuki” I whispered and gave him another peck.

“I love you too” he smiled lightly and then we both turned to Shouto who was happily watching us. “I love you Shou” he whispered and moved to sit up and lean over my body to give our boyfriend a kiss.

After a few moments they parted and smiled at each other. Shouto looked down at me as I sat up “Want a kiss too?” he asked quietly, already leaning in as my hand rose to his neck and pulled him in just as I had done to the other. I gave him another peck and sat back. “I love you both” Shouto whispered and looked away, he was the one who said it the least. He was always so nervous to say such things. “Alot” he added.

“I love you too Shou” I smiled and then I shook my head leaning back on my legs as I looked at the two boys “Today was a long day” I nodded and looked down breathing out “I’m glad we can share this time together just us” both both nodded and as we were about to begin talking again there was a knock on the door.

“That must be the food” Shouto shimmied himself off the bed and made his was to the door, opening the door Shouto was told that food was ordered to this room and the service person then went through the food and drinks that was ordered as I moved to look at the half open door. “Yes, thank you” a little trolley was pulled in. “Thank you” he finished and walked into the room pulling the trolley “Foods here” he called out.

We sat at the little table and ate together, nice and calm as we just talked about school and what we were going to do when we got home “I want to try that new soba place” Shouto voiced and I could see Katsuki eat a little faster “They have spicy soba” Shouto looked up rom his food and then it got into the conversations of what spices Katsuki liked in his food.

Once the food was done we placed the plates back on the trolley and then I looked at the boys who were standing in the middle of the room looking at one of their phones. “Would you two like to join me for a bath?” I asked out loud and their heads turned like owls. “I’ll take that as a yes” Within a few minutes I was in a towel and waiting for the water to rise to the right height. The bath was huge as this was one of the best rooms in the hotel, much different then Japanese hotels. “It’s ready” I called out and they walked in towels around their waists. “Whose in the middle” I asked.

The boys looked at each other and Shouto shrugged “I’m happy to lean against the edge” with that Shouto took his towel off folding and then stepped into the bath and leaned against it with a sigh of content. Katsuki was next to do the same and then I stepped in, the water was warm and leaning against Katsukis’ chest was nice.

His arms wrapped around my waist and I leaned back quite happy with these events. It was nice to just sit with them in a nice bath. We hadn’t gone to a hot spring together but that was in the future. I definitely wanted to go to a hot spring.

Katsuki leaned down and moved my head to the side and began to kiss along the side of my neck, I let out a little sigh as he continued. I heard Shouto move and then felt hands coming to drag up Katsukis’ chest so that I could feel a little touch against my back. Katsuki’s kissing was soft and light, I heard a little grunt come from him and a little laugh from Shouto. Katsukis’ hands came from my waist to run up my stomach to my chest and squeezed.

“Katsuki” I sighed and bit my lip letting out a small moan in response. He grunted in response, his lips never leaving the skin of my neck as I felt his teeth dig lightly into the flesh “Katsuki” I moaned softly as his hand squeezed my chest once more.

“Should we move this to the bed” Shouto whispered out and his hand moved against Katsuki’s chest and then moved down towards his waist “I’m happy to stay here though” I heard Katsuki let out a little grunt and smiled.

“Bed” Katsuki whispered and then we were out and drying with towels and then off to the bed. I was pushed onto the bed by Shouto, falling on my back with his hands next to my head as we began to kiss feverly. I felt the bed dip next to my head and Shouto was leaving my lips to kiss Katsuki. It didn’t matter how many times we did this it always felt new.

Once they parted, Katsuki looked down, his breathing fast and his face slightly flushed. “Pill” he asked just as he always did, always so caring and affectionate. Although so many people though the explosive blonde was just that explosive, loud and uncaring he did care.

I nodded “Suitcase” I answered and he was leaning down to capture my lips, lips moving against each other quickly and I felt Shoutos’ hands slowly feel up my hips and then dipping into my waist and up to my chest and then leaned down. I could feel his tongue drag along my chest and catch my nipple. “Shou” I breathed out leaving Katsukis’ lips but they were captured again quickly.

Shoutos’ tongue was cold against the nub of my breast, so soft and gentle. Kitten licks and then took it into his mouth as his tongue swirled in circles, his other hand moved to my other breasts and began to toy with my breasts. Katsuki refused to let my lips go as I moaned and arched into Shouto who was on top of me from pushing me onto the bed.

“I just want to fuck you” Katsuki pulled back and looked down his pupils blown and breathing faster then before, I couldn’t agree more. “It’s so hard to decide who I want to fuck” he breathed out and Shouto left my breasts to look up at us.

“It is quite difficult” Shouto agreed and I flushed as they both looked down to see me. I could practically see the lust swirling around us. Shouto’s hands continued to drag along my skin and it felt so calming and nice.

“I just want to feel both of you” Katsuki sighed and leaned over to kiss Shouto’s neck. Shouto was probably the most sensitive out of all of us. Any sudden movement or kiss would send him into a frenzy. Shouto moaned softly and I knew Katsuki was in one of his marking moods which we both loved even though we would be covered in love bites in the morning.

“We could” Shouto whispered and my hands moved to caress his sides as I leaned up Shouto and I flush against each other as he straddled my lap. They were both so beautiful, I would never find partners like them. “Fuck Y/N” he breathed again and his eyes met mine “Together” I flushed, I knew what he was saying. I understood. It wasn’t often Shouto swore but during these times he didn’t care for his language.

Katsuki left Shoutos’ neck, a small little love bite being left in his wake. “Please” Katsuki basically begged and his eyes met mine and Shouto nodded in need and how could I say no, not that I wanted too. I wanted to say yes.

I nodded and breathed out “But first” I whispered and moved to push Katsuki down underneath me. “You were so good today Katsuki, so nice and well behaved though you did yell at Midoriya early so Shou” I turned and Shouto smirked crawling forward and moving to lean down ‘You need another lesson in manners” I smiled.

My hands moved behind me, fingers wrapping around his member and squeezing lightly with a grunt and moan in the process “You were going so well and this morning” Shouto sighed and shook his head “You do need another lesson in manners” Katsuki was quiet as his chest rose and fell with each breath.

“He deserved it” He gritted out and I began to move my head as his breath caught in his throat with a light moan. This was a very easy way to make our boyfriend quiet and complacent. I moved to hover above his member and his eyes opened. “Wait, no. Not this” he breathed and he knew what was to come, “I’ll try” he tried to reason with a shake of his head. I looked at Shouto “Shou come on, Kitten, I’ll try” he smiled and nodded biting his lip with a grunt.

“No Katsuki, you need a lesson. We’ve been over this” I looked to the male beneath me as Shouto leaned down to begin to run his hand over the others torso softly. My hands rested on his chest, hard and toned.

Without warning I sunk down onto his cock, thick and long. They both had amazing cocks, I put my head back moaning out in pleasure as I clenched around him “Fuck” I heard him whispered and Shouto moved to take one of his nipples into his mouth as I moved my hands. “I’ll be good” he breathed out “Fuck you’re so tight” he breathed and bit his lip “Shou” it was always the best when one of the group was being pampered.

I rose and sank again using my legs to move my body as I started to ride him, stretching my walls each time I lowered onto him. His hands fisted in Shoutos’ hair as he shivered. “Katsuki” I whimpered and he looked up. “You feel so good, you’re so good” I moaned and breathed out eyes rolling back. I looked back seeing Shouto had moved to his neck as I moved faster. “Why don’t you say some nice things about Shouto” we had discovered Katsuki loved to compliment people when he was like this, his brain was shut off and he wasn’t trying to be the best. Placing pleasure with kindness seemed to help him be nicer.

“I like” he moaned, it made him think more. Trying to find real thing he needed to think about “His hair” he added and his head fell back to the soft pillows and whimpered in need as I began to move faster “it’s so soft and nice, I like his eyes” he was trying so hard to get the words out as he moaned “they are such a beautiful colour” he finished and his chest rose to release a long and pleasurable moan.

“Thank you Katsuki, anything else you’d like to say” Shouto moved to look down at the moaning and whimpering usually loud Katsuki who was just taking everything we were giving him. His cock was amazing, we had all shared our firsts with each other and I knew no one would ever amount to these too.

“I like, oh my, fuck” his hands came to rest on my waist and he began to move me up and down his cock stretching my walls so nicely, “I like your” he bit his lip and then looked back to Shouto who was happily waiting for him to continue “I like how you take us out” his eyes rolled back as he moaned out.

“You’re doing so well Katsuki, now compliment kitten, she’s doing so well isn’t she” Shouto smiled slightly and began to caress his chest and moved to hold his hands. I could see Katsuki grip his hand and breathe out in pleasure.

“I liked the dress she wore” I smiled and circled my hips on his cock “Oh fuck” it didn’t matter how we tried he would always swear but this was helping him be nicer. Each of us had things we connected with pleasure. It helped. “She is very pretty and deals with my outbursts” he breathed and his head fell back to the pillows once more. He was quite easy to deal with if I was honest. “I like her eyes as well” he nodded and bit his lip and gripped Shoutos’ hand as I sunk down moaning out as he was so deep “They’re so nice to look at and I love when we all just sit and watch a movie, it’s so nice and I feel so loved” I smiled and leaned down leaving a kiss on his cheek. Katsuki has a hard time accepting love even though he was so affectionate. We had been to his house, we knew it was hard sometimes.

“You did so well Katsuki” I smiled and leaned down to kiss him again as he leaned in and met my lips, he was moaning quietly and then he leaned back letting his breath out in short little pants. “See it wasn't so bad, was there a real need to complain” I asked sitting so he was as deep as he could be.

He shook his and opened his eyes to see Shouto leaning over him and beginning to play with his hair. “I thought it was going to be like last time” I smirked, last time. Last time was quite fun, we didn’t let him finish until he complimented everyone we could think of, he was quite nice the following days.

“No, it’s been a long day, we were going to do that” Shouto smirked and leaned in giving him a quick kiss. “Light” he asked slowly. Katsuki always made it very clear what he wanted and what he didn’t. Shouto always made sure though.

“Orange” he breathed out and I stopped. “I just need a second to breathe. You can stay here, I just need to breathe” Shouto and I nodded waiting for him. He was so soft when he was bottoming but as soon as he got control he was off and ready to take charge, like a switch. “Green” he nodded and moved to his elbows to look at us.

“I’m ready if you guys are or do you want some attention Shou” I asked with my eyes turning to blue and grey ones looking back at me. Shouto wasn’t one for being the centre of attention he much preferred to be giving than receiving though I always asked.

“I want to be on the bottom” he asked and looked at us. I nodded and leaned down to kiss Katsuki as I left his body and allowed him to get up. Shouto moved to lay down and sighed looking at us “Come here Kitten” he whispered, Shouto was the possessive he wanted to be.

I moved to straddle his waist and looked down to him “Green” I asked and he nodded looking up as his hands came to run along my thighs “I need to hear the words” I whispered, we needed to hear it.

He nodded with a smile “Green, sorry” he whispered “I’m just really happy” he smiled, it was small but noticeable. I smiled and then sunk down onto his cock my head falling down as I moaned. He felt so good, I loved the stretch. “Katsuki was right, you feel amazing” my hands came to rest against his chest.

“Kitten” Katsuki moved forward, his hands coming to rest on my waist. I could feel his member up against my back and shivered in lust. “Green,” he asked, kissing along my neck. He was always so soft and loving.

“Green,” I whispered and leaned forward, my hands still on Shoutos’ chest and leaned my head down to get ready. It always felt amazing but it took some time to get used too. I loved them both so much and I would happily do this again.

Katsuki moved to have his tip at my entrance and I sighed out getting ready “You are doing so well” Shouto whispered and began to rub my sides as Katsuki pushed inside slowly, Shouto moaned out and I whimpered all the air leaving my lungs.

“You’re doing so well Kitten” Katsuki whispered and leaned down to kiss along my back and up to my neck “You feel so good” I nodded and felt myself clench around them as Katsuki continued pushing inside. It was so tight and they were stretching me so nicely. “Look at Shou he looks so good” I looked up seeing Shouto biting his lip and I felt him gripping my sides. “He’s trying so hard not to fuck you” I flushed.

Once they were both bottomed out I couldn’t help but moan, every single breath I was moaning. They were so deep and pressed against me, my legs were beginning to shake as I felt so much pleasure and love swirl around us. I moaned again and my eyes rolled back as I bit my lip and tried to calm down.

“Green” Shouto gritted out and I looked up. He was asking as his breathing was fast and hard “Green” he asked again and looked up to Katsuki who repeated the colour with a smirk, I could hear the smirk in his voice. His cock twitched inside me and I moaned loudly. “Kitten, I need you to say it” he breathed out.

“Green” I nodded and smiled looking up to gaze as Katsuki “Green, green fucking green” I moaned and immediately they began to move Katsuki was the first to move and then they were going opposite when Katsuki pulled out Shouto was pushing in. It felt amazing. “Fuck” I whispered my head falling to Shoutos’ shoulder.

I couldn’t do anything but moan and whimper in pleasure with each time they pushed inside me. Katsuki’s hand came to run up my chest and to my neck as I was pulled up to his chest his hand squeezing my neck “Look at you taking our cocks Kitten” I could hear the dominance beginning to flood in. “Doesn’t she look beautiful Shou” I was moaning, I could barely keep my eyes open “Open your eyes Kitten” I opened my eyes and saw Shouto looking up at me.

“She’s beautiful, just like you Katsuki” Shouto whispered and then he began to move faster inside me, pushing in and out so fast I could barely think “Look at you” I leaned back on Katsuki feeling his hands holding me up. One hand on my neck and the other around my ribs in support. “You’re such a good Kitten. Katsuki was right, you take our cocks so well” Shouto complimentented and I clenched around his, my walls stretching to take them both as they both pushed in together. My legs were shaking as I moaned. “She’s about to cum” his voice was so deep and baritone.

“I was just about to say, we know you so well Kitten. Come on, why don’t you cum for us” Katsuki whispered in my ear and looked down to Shouto as my head rested on his shoulder, my eyes rolling back as I felt the coil in my lower abdomen beginning to tighten. “Do you want Kitten to cum Shou” he asked.

Shouto was nodding and sending himself inside me like he was in heat, it felt amazing. I felt so good, they felt so good and with the little grunts and moans, whimpers and tightening hands to know they were feeling good as well. I felt so full, it felt so good. “Yes, yes. I want her to cum, I want to feel her cum on our cocks. Come on Kitten cum for us” I couldn’t hold it.

One of my hands moved to hold Katsukis’ hand on my neck and his lips began to kiss my cheek and my other hand dug my nails into Shoutos’ chest as I moaned and they continued to thrust inside me, stretching my walls so perfectly. I felt the coil tightening and then it came so suddenly. My nails dug into their skin as my legs shook and I felt my orgasm run through every single cell. I was practically screaming my pleasure as my eyes rolled back and it felt so good.

“You’re such a good girl Kitten. Look you did so well” they stopped for only a moment so I could breathe, it was like the pleasure was not stopping it didn’t stop. My legs were shaking and if Katsuki wasn’t holding me I doubted I would have fallen.

“You did so well Kitten, such a good girl” Shouto breathed out and I looked down my chest heaving and he smiled and moved his hips, my eyes rolling “It’s so cute that you can’t control your quirk after you cum” I tried to look down at him. It was hard with so many thoughts going through my head. I knew my eyes had changed.

Katsuki turned my head to look at him. “You’re right Shou she’s so cute, your eyes look so beautiful Kitten” a sweet kiss to my cheek and I smiled letting my eyes close for a moment. Moaning out as Shouto moved I couldn’t help it.

“Please, don’t stop. It feels so good. Please, please don’t stop” I begged and turned to kiss Katsuki as they began to move again without so much as a word. It felt amazing, so sensitive after an orgasm, I loved post orgasm sex they were so amazing. The kiss was sloppy and all over the place but once we finished I left his lips and moved to take Shoutos’ lips into a kiss just like the one I shared with Katsuki.

They went faster than before, I was moaning into Shouto’s mouth as Katsuki gripped my hips and began to thrust himself inside me as fast as he could. He was moving as quickly and so deep I couldn’t stop moaning and I was trying so hard to continue the kiss with Shouto.

“Look at you taking our cocks. You look so beautiful, you're clenching so tightly” Shouto moaned and moved down to kiss along my neck and bit down sucking lightly as I moaned out my body moving forward with each thrust of hips. That coil began to tighten more as I was moaning and whimpering, Shouto’s teeth and cock and then Katsuki desperately trying to go as fast as he was good. Grunts and little words escaping his mouth. “Katsukis’ so close you can feel him” I nodded into Shoutos’ neck, his teeth having left my neck. I could hear each slap of Katsuki’s body connecting with him.

“Fuck I just want to fill you up Kitten” I was nodding. Words and begs falling from my lips like a mantra. I needed it, I needed them. “Shou we have to give her what she wants” he leaned down and Shoutos’ arms wrapped around my waist and held me to him.

“Kitten do you want that” I nodded desperately needing them, I was so in the moment. I couldn’t stop. I needed them, I needed them to fill me up. “Why don’t you cum with us Kitten” I nodded agreeing. I wanted to cum with them, I wanted to cum so much. It felt so good, I was so sensitive and needed them.

They began to move faster and all that could be heard was skin slapping, moans, whimpers, grunts and praises throughout the last few moments of our intimacy. I tightened and I was so close so very close. “We’re close Kitten” Katsuki whimpered and I nodded.

“Please, please fill me up Katsuki” I breathed and brought in some air “Shou please fill me up” I moaned and then I felt them both push in as much as they could and the heat as they filled me up. I shook as my second orgasm ran through my system. Legs shaking and my mouth open in a moan. It felt so amazing, this is all I wanted.

I felt so good and the feeling of Katsukis’ breath on my back as he slightly shook against my back and Shouto was breathing heavily beneath me. I breathed heavily trying to get my breath back as Katsuki leaned down resting his chin on my shoulder.

“I love you Y/N. I love you Shou”

“I love you both Y/N, I love you Katsuki”

“I love you Shou, I love you Katsuki”

We all answered and smiled. A quick shower and some fondling in the shower we were off to bed as I pulled on Katsuki’s jumper and Shoutos’ boxes to be completely comfortable. I smiled and laid down on the bed, it was so soft and I felt so tired and relaxed. Katsuki only had his boxes on as well as Shouto who came and cuddled into my body on the bed. I felt so loved and was pushed between them, Shouto was cold and Katsuki hot so it was the perfect temperature. Within a few moments I felt the soft breaths of Katsuki and Shouto, this is where I wanted to be. This was perfect, this is all I could have wanted.

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serpentstole · 3 years ago

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Luciferian Challenge: Day 12+13 (And 22)

A few of these prompts ended up being very similar in theme, so I’ve combined them into a bit of a long reply.

Dogma is something we throw about…that we reject it. Where do you think we may fall short as Luciferians/Satanists when it comes to dogma? Do you think dogma has a certain value?

I don’t think dogma has any value really, no, as I don’t like the idea of rules or ideas that cannot be questioned on principle. Even as a child, I took issue with blind obedience. My mother once called me downstairs, and I asked why, and my father got angry and said that I shouldn’t bother to ask why and just do it, and that even if one of them told me to jump out of a window they probably had a good reason for it.

That memory is seared into my brain and still irks me.

I do think rules themselves can be important, but when we speak of rejecting dogma it’s typically in the sense of it being some authoritative status quo that cannot be discussed or challenged. I think my example above is a good example of that, as petty as it may seem: that parents should be obeyed without question and with the assumption they have our best interests at heart.

I do not believe there’s room for that sort of attitude in an empathetic and respectful society, even towards children. Respecting their natural curiosity and teaching them about bodily autonomy is something I think can only be a net good. The only thing growing up in a strict household taught me, where there was little room for negotiation or challenging of the way things were, was how to be a decent liar.

It harmed me in far more ways than it helped instill any positive values, and while I would not want to belittle the experiences of anyone in a similar boat, I consider myself one of the lucky ones. There are some families where a dogmatic stance, whether based in politics or religion, can lead to the alienation or outright abandonment of LGBT youth, of young women who wish control over their own bodies, of those with views that differ from their parents’, or any other black sheep.

I feel like this question and my thoughts on it really go hand in hand with the next one, so I’m going to actually combine them into one post and make up the difference later.

Do you think it’s dogma or silly to say what Luciferianism/Satanism is not?

I do not think it’s dogmatic to say what Luciferianism or Satanism is or isn’t. The reason I’ve kept both labels in these two prompts, when I’ve removed them in every other post, is because I spent a lot of time in a mixed Luciferian and Satanist community during the beginning of my religious journey. Despite our differences, especially in the case of Atheist Satanism versus Theistic Luciferianism, I saw a great deal of overlap in a lot of the values/ideals, inspirations, and talking points.

I think outlining those ideals and values is important to just… having a label. Words mean things. Religious affiliations and ideas mean things. Even saying you belong to or adhere to a school of thought typically has some manner of definition or parameters. While Luciferianism and Satanism can be incredibly diverse when it comes to the details of one’s ethics and morals, practices, views of the divinity or lack there of, and other suck points, there’s a good deal that does unite us that’s reflected in the archetypal figures our religions are named after. I also believe that certain aspects of what is seen as the Standard Luciferian should be weighed more or less heavily. For example, I don’t see my irritation with hostility towards Christianity as something that makes me less of a Luciferian.

However, I want to combine these two prompts with one more to round out my view of this topic.

What do you disagree with Luciferians/Satanists most?

In the goddamn dogma they cling to and perpetuate while claiming to be adversarial to or enlightened above such ideas. It’s become almost a meaningless buzzword. It barely still looks like a real word to me anymore. This is honestly where my post goes completely off the rails into a mini essay, so it’s under the cut.

The idea that all “Abrahamic” religions should be treated as inherently harmful and oppressive is a bad take.

That Christianity, Judaism, and Islam should even be lumped together when discussing such issues betrays a shallow understanding of these religions that’s been regurgitated from one person to another, typically through a culturally Christian lens.

The idea that “only LaVeyan Satanism should be called Satanism because nothing else that calls itself Satanism is actually Satanism” is exhausting, and I will fist fight Anton myself in hell.

The principles of Might Makes Right and Social Darwanism that some Satanists perpetuate is dumb and bad and wrong, sorry, that’s the only rebuttal I’m dignifying that school of thought with. Once again, I will be fist fighting Anton in hell.

And that’s to say nothing of the Satanists and Luciferians out there that regurgitate the same racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, and other assorted bigotries that they’ll condemn religions like Christanity for while perpetuating it with a coat of black paint. Because I have absolutely seen this first hand, both as an observer and as the target of it.

Like... I can’t speak on Islam at all, because I have very very limited experience with it from both a research and real life experience point of view, and thus I’m not comfortable making any claims. On the other hand, I do know that to list all the ways that Judaism is not a dogmatic religion would deserve its own post written by someone far more knowledgeable than me, and it somehow still gets lumped into the Problematic n’ Dogmatic category of AbRaHaMiC ReLiGiOnS. For that reason, in the case of Islam, I can’t help but wonder if the assumption that it’s also dogmatic comes from the harmful assumption that it’s a religion that’s strict to the point of harshness that a lot of people have.

Even in the case of Christianity, which I would argue (as someone who I’d say was raised within the church) is hands down the most seemingly dogmatic of the three (particularly in North America), this is just not universally true. If it was, there probably wouldn’t be so many branches and denominations, many of which cannot stand each other and think the rest are misguided at best and heretical at worst. This is something that’s even brought up in the Satanic Bible; I’ve read the miserable thing. Have you ever seen someone say “Christians and Catholics”? That’s a pretty loaded example of how much disagreement exists within the religion when an entire core branch of it is considered tangentially related.

Not to mention, I was raised Lutheran. That came about because a German Catholic got incredibly steamed at his own religion so he made a more boring different version of it. While the existence of dogma has led to these schisms, historically speaking, the end result has been a religion so varied that it’s hard to say what is and isn’t treated as inarguable law. If you don’t believe me, try talking to a Protestant pastor about the Seven Deadly Sins and see how far you get. I tried during confirmation class and got shut down immediately... but on the flip side, my church was pretty accepting of LGBT folks, which I think some people would claim Christianity is dogmatically against by default.

Is there dogmatic thinking within specific churches or branches or communities? Absolutely, I wouldn’t argue that. I think it can arise in any community, religious or not, but that some religious communities seem to be particularly vulnerable to it. But the harm those specific cases could do should be where our focus goes, not the condemnation of these religions or the concept of religion as a whole, which I touched on in a previous prompt.

I’m not some glorious enlightened mind. I would not want to give the impression that I think I hold in my hands the One True Way to do Luciferianism, or that I think the majority of this religious community are uncritical edgelords. This is, after all, my answer to the thing I take issue with the most, not my thoughts on Luciferianism or Satanism as a whole. I just don’t think it should be a particularly hot take that Religious Discrimination Is Bad Actually, or that maybe you can be rebellious and adversarial and hedonistic and enlightened while still genuinely giving a shit about people. Because otherwise what’s the point?

If we are hostile and rebellious with no actual end goal, no greater cause or purpose, we are simply being contrarian for the sake of it. If we blame the idea of organized religion instead of those who manipulate and abuse faith and scripture for selfish and malicious ends, we’ve missed the point, as I said in the aforementioned previous post. Not all of us have the ability to become an activist, obviously, and I would not ask you to. But I think as those who would claim to reject dogmatic thinking and strive to embody either the ideals of enlightenment or the adversary would do well to be ever questioning their preconceptions of the world around them, of other religions, and of less obvious unjust structures of power.

I don’t know why a community that believes in illumination and free thinking sees the world in such black and white ways.

While I will always strive for a greater understanding of the world, and I hold the concept of enlightenment very dear to my heart, I think it’s something that one spends a lifetime working towards. Alongside my favourite quotes from Paradise Lost, I hold the Socratic Paradox of “I know that I know nothing” as a personal motto, and I wish more people who I share this label with would do the same.

#luciferianism #theistic luciferianism #satanism #theistic satanism #witchblr #left hand path #lhp #30 Day Luciferian Challenge #30dayluciferianchallenge #illumine

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jaxsteamblog · 4 years ago

Text

Aurora

Click here to read the full fic on AO3

And it was over.

Zuko took time to help her move during the week and on Saturday, Sokka closed up the Ice Blossom and drove the big truck to move the pieces she couldn’t break down. In the evening, as she washed away their sore muscles, they all sat at Katara’s kitchen table and shared the various cartons of take out.

They ate by candlelight as the electric company had not switched over her account like she asked.

It was awkward for more than that, as they all knew what the next day was.

Katara’s summer was over, though there was still a week left before her classes began. All of them were about to head up to the North Pole for the Avatar’s debut and, even worse, the Fire Lord was coming along.

They slept over and in the morning, they went together to the airport. Despite the impending three day ordeal, their luggage was light. All of their fancy attire would already be there and waiting for them.

Flying to the North Pole was a lot easier for Katara, mostly due to the fact that they boarded a private plane. Iroh met them at the airport, coordinating with Zuko about when they would be meeting up with Azula and the Fire Lord.

The thought that she would soon be face to face with the man behind her mother’s death was, for the lack of a better word, odd. The degrees of separation between the Fire Lord’s order and Kya’s death passed through so many people, it was difficult for Katara to connect the two. Still, having to meet him made her feel queasy.

Everything was moving so fast, and Katara took her first breath of the day on the plane. It was as if the past few weeks had swept by her in a gust of wind. Her head spinning, Katara gripped her armrests and tried to focus on the small porthole window.

Hopefully the next five days would pass quickly and without incident.

Multiple cars were parked on the tarmac and their plane taxied slowly over to them. A stairway was wheeled over and as the door to the plane opened, the cars similarly opened. Most of them were guards, but Hakoda stepped out of one, smoothing down the sleeves of his parka.

“Hey, there they are!” Hakoda greeted as Sokka and Suki emerged from the plane. “Let me see my soon to be daughter-in-law!”

Katara followed after them and watched as Suki hugged her father. She hesitated before walking over and was distracted by a loud calling. Looking around, Katara finally peered upward, shielding her eyes from the sun still clinging to the horizon.

A Sky Bison banked and landed in a turn, facing the rest of them and stomping some of its tree trunk legs.

“Hi Katara!” Rohan’s voice bellowed from over the Sky Bison’s head. There was a flurry of orange as multiple people jumped down using their airbending.

Still breathing, Katara smiled. It didn’t seem likely that the time would pass slowly now.

It was dark when Zuko found her.

A dinner was being held for just the guests of honor, and drinks were being served. The Avatar was in conversation with Arnook and Tenzin, while the Fire Lord was standing with her father, Iroh, and Azula. It was too much and, with dinner still yet to be called, she had to escape.

It was the end of summer, so the North Pole was heading quickly into the dark season. The sun was only up for a few hours and lingered at the horizons, but evening fell quickly. So it wasn’t surprising that Katara stood in twinkling darkness before suppertime.

“I am not used to it being this dark but not feeling tired.” Zuko said as he walked up to her. Most of the building was made of wood and stone, but the balcony was pure ice. Zuko looked uneasy as he stepped on it, despite the grit the architect had added.

“It’s worse when the sun doesn’t go down at all. My bending is all out of wack then.” Katara replied.

“Sounds like Firebender perfection.”

“Don’t like the moon?”

“I prefer the ocean.”

Katara rolled her eyes and turned, crossing her arms on the railing just as Zuko stood next to her. He, like every other Firebender that came to the Poles, was dressed lightly. It was a mark of weakness if they needed arctic clothing, and while Katara understood that their inner fire kept them warm, it also greatly annoyed her.

It was as if they were saying they were better suited to living in her home than she was.

“So the Avatar seems nice?” Zuko offered. Katara glanced back briefly and nodded.

“She is. She definitely seems interested in being your friend.” She said.

“It surprised me too. I wasn’t prepared for her to get political so quickly.” Zuko replied. “But she wants Azula to teach her firebending.”

“You’re kidding!” Katara scoffed and Zuko smiled.

“It makes sense. If she cozies up to me, it gives me a leg-up on the global stage. But by having Azula be her teacher, she doesn’t risk ticking off my father too much.” He explained.

“About him…”

“What?”

“Does he always look like that?”

“Like what?”

“Like he has a rod jammed up his backside but instead of taking it out, he just gets offended that you haven’t impaled yourself?”

A laugh burst from Zuko and he quickly covered his mouth.

“That is definitely one way to put it.” He said.

“I can find other ways.” Katara offered and Zuko chuckled.

“I’d rather you not.” He said.

They stood in silence, looking out over the snowy courtyard. Everywhere she looked was snow and ice. With no humidity, the lampposts and streetlights didn’t glow, but stood like beacons of crisp white brilliance. The snow and ice itself glowed, coloring the light blue.

When it got truly dark, people would begin to carry around lanterns that were as old as their tribe.

“I hate being here.” Katara said suddenly and Zuko faced her.

“As in tonight or just in general?” He asked.

“In general.” She shook her head and tucked some of her hair behind an ear. “It reminds me of horrible things, yet I spend all of my time needing to go to the Oasis.”

“Then let’s go.” Zuko said.

“And be late to dinner?” Katara asked.

“Let’s cause a scandal. I don’t really want to eat with my father.” He replied. Smiling, Katara took his hand.

“We can be quick.” She said and pulled up a massive ice ramp from the snow on the ground.

Katara raced them both around the palace and to the high walls that guarded the Oasis. Out of respect, Zuko insisted they use the door and the guards let them pass. It was going to be hard to deny Katara entry when she harbored a link with one of the spirits being guarded.

Zuko seemed in awe of the place and Katara watched peacefully as he walked around. She went to the pond and sat down, not looking at the fish beside her but neither was she ignoring them.

After marvelling at the plantlife, Zuko walked to her and sat next to her.

“How do you feel?” He asked.

“Calm.” Katara said with a smile. She then grinned and leaned toward him.

“Want to see something weird?” She asked. Zuko only nodded and Katara sat back, putting her hand into the pond.

She couldn’t see it, but the look on Zuko’s face told her what was happening.

“Whenever my link to La is active, my hair turns black.” She said.

“But at the beach-” Zuko started, still staring at her hair.

“My hair was wet, you wouldn’t have noticed it.” She said and then turned to look at the fish. As they swam by, Katara put out her hand and let them pass under. Their scales felt like silk.

It was while she looked down that she saw the reflection of the sky.

“Zuko.” She said with a gasp and looked up, pointing as she did.

Green light spilled over the dark sky like trickles of water. The lines themselves also bled upward, illuminating a three dimensional space that made the vast sky a maw of darkness. The lights shimmered and Katara turned, lying on her back to watch them. Zuko joined her on the grass, his hands under his head.

“Now that is cool.” He said.

“Everything is so beautiful here, I wish I was happier.” Katara murmured.

“Are you not happy?” Zuko asked.

“I am, right now.” She said and turned her face. She was looking at Zuko’s scar and felt impelled to reach out. His eye fluttered, but he didn’t move away and Katara lightly touched the burn. At her touch, he closed his eyes and Katara rolled onto her side.

“I think here, of all places, I could heal you.” She whispered.

Zuko smiled.

“No. Right now, I’m happy too.” He said.

Katara took back her hand and leaned over as he opened his eyes. Zuko reached up with one hand, putting on the back of her head as she dipped in to kiss him. As her lips met his, she turned herself, and he sat up, holding her. They curled around each other as Katara ended up with her arms around his neck; his wrapped around her middle.

As they broke apart, Katara felt her arms pull against him and he pushed her up.

“We should probably go to dinner.” He murmured.

Sighing, Katara rested her forehead against his.

“Fine.” She put down an arm and pushed herself up, allowing Zuko to stand.

“May I escort you, your Highness?” He asked, offering his arm.

Katara only stuck out her tongue before linking her arm with his.

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#zutara #fanfiction #jax writes #modern au #zutara month 2020 #the fic that prompts built

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crackimagines · 5 years ago

Text

Welcome to Abyss (FE: Three Houses Full Fic)

Prologue (House Isekai - Cindered Shadows)

What started as a small investigation leads Byleth and House Isekai to discovering the Ashen Wolves, beginning an adventure that they will never forget...

----

All 3H Au’s Listed Here!

----

[Evening Moments - Trails of Cold Steel]

It was a late Friday evening when Byleth and the other instructors left the Listening Chamber.

Manuela, Hanneman, and Seteth went to bed early that day while House Isekai's staff were heading towards the mess hall.

(Sara) “Ugh, finally it’s over! I thought he’d never shut up.”

(Megumi) “Come on, what he was talking about was important!”

(Sara) “Yeah, for them! We teach our classes in a completely different way! We don’t even follow the same curriculum.”

(Byleth) “It’d go faster if you didn’t constantly drink at the meetings.”

(Towa) “With all due respect, professor Byleth, it’s far better than the alternative...”

(Angelica) “Yeah, no drinks means Sara becomes whiny.”

(Cocytus) “SHOULD A TEACHER BE DRINKING THIS CONSTANTLY?”

(Sharon) “Normally, absolutely not! It’s just that Sara is special!”

(Sara) “What’s that supposed to mean?!”

Doomguy shook his head and walked a little behind to walk with Megumi and Byleth. They all grabbed a late dinner and had a lively conversation.

...

Megumin and her cat Chomsuke quietly sat at the lake, watching the fish swim by.

She didn’t have anything in particular to do that night, and she couldn’t sleep yet since it was still so early. She WOULD have liked to use an explosion spell sometime this week, but her professors forbid her from doing so, on the grounds it’d do property damage.

Pouting, she laid on the ground and looked up into the skies.

(Edelgard) “Are you bored, Megumin?”

(Megumin) “Edie!”

Her mood was instantly brought up and she turned around to face Edelgard. The two began talking about various things while watching the stars glisten across the waters.

...

Ainz and Narberal returned from a mission with the Knights of Seiros and kept a leisurely pace behind the teams passing through the market square.

(Momon) “That mission was a bit longer than I expected it to be.”

(Nabe) “I imagine it would have gone quite longer if you weren’t there Loooor-...Momon.”

(Momon) “Hm, most likely.”

(Jeralt) “I could use a cold drink after we report in.”

(Shamir) “I’d be down for that.”

(Alois) “As would I!”

(Catherine) “How ‘bout you two?”

(Momon) “Not tonight. We are quite tired from the trip.”

That was a lie. He didn’t ever get exhausted with his undead body, and he was pretty sure Narberal wasn’t either.

They needed to have a meeting with their folks to discuss what the Knights actions have been and find out where to go from there.

(Momon) “We’ll catch you tomorrow. Come along, Nabe.”

(Nabe) “Yes, Momon.”

They walked off towards the dorms.

...

Akechi was walking to his dorm room when he saw Ainz and Narberal passing by.

(Akechi) “Ah, good evening! You all just got back?”

(Momon) “Yeah, a few moments ago in fact. How’s everything at the Monastery?”

(Akechi) “Quiet as ever. It is quite dull!”

(Nabe) “...No one is around, you know.”

He took a quick glance and sighed in relief.

(Akechi) “Thank god. Anyways, nothing’s changed as usual, same shit.”

Ainz sighed as well, dropping his persona too.

(Ainz) “Everyone is free tomorrow for the meeting, correct?”

(Akechi) “Yeah.”

(Ainz) “Good. Now we should-”

Narberal’s eyes quickly squinted and got in front of Ainz.

(Narberal) “Lord Ainz!”

[Restlessness - Persona 5]

Akechi and Ainz turned to where she was facing and saw it too.

A man they hadn’t seen before in the Monastery was walking quickly out of sight.

(Akechi) “Shit, he didn’t hear us did he?”

(Ainz) “Unlikely. But to be safe, we should go back to using our personas once more.”

Everyone nodded and began to tail the figure.

...

After a pleasant conversation with Edelgard, they parted ways for the night. When she was turning the corner, she ran into a large man, knocking her back.

It was an extremely loud collision, as the man was wearing heavy armor and appeared to be carrying seemingly expensive wares.

(Megumin) “O-Ow!”

(Man) “Hey, watch where you’re going!”

Before she could even respond, he quickly began to walk away.

(Megumin) “Jerk!”

Getting up, and turning back to keep walking, Ainz, Narberal, and Akechi came around the corner.

(Megumin) “Oh, hey guys!”

(Momon) “Megumin, did you see a man pass by just now?”

(Megumin) “Huh? Uh, yeah I did actually. He went this way.”

(Akechi) “Could you show us?”

...

Sharon came out from the mess hall to investigate the noise and saw a small group walking out of view.

(Sharon) “Oh?”

She hopped over the wall and landed elegantly. Even though the railing from the Mess Hall to the lake wasn’t that big of a drop, it would’ve been impressive to see a maid do that regardless. But luckily for her, no one was around to make such a comment and followed the group.

...

They all watched the man go into a hole in the wall. It was completely out of the way in the Monastery, but the fact no one knew that it was here after several months seemed suspicious.

(Akechi) “What is that?”

(Nabe) “A secret entrance of some kind...”

(Megumin) “Are we going to follow?”

(Momon) “With just us? That’s too dangerous. We should at least get a few more people.”

(Sharon) “A sound call, Lord Momon!”

All four of them spun around and pulled out their weapons to see Sharon standing behind them with her trademark smile.

(Akechi) “Tch, damn it! Stop doing that!”

They all sheathed their weapons as Sharon giggled.

(Momon) “When were you here?”

(Sharon) “Just now. I heard a loud crash from outside the mess hall and came to investigate. That’s when I saw all of you.”

(Akechi) “Come to think of it, what WAS that noise?”

(Megumin) “Oh, that jerk had a lot of stuff on him! I’m not sure what it was exactly, but it looked expensive. And shiny!”

(Sharon) “A thief, perhaps?”

(Momon) “The question remains, what was it he stole?...Nabe!”

(Nabe) “Yes, Momon?”

(Momon) “Go get Byleth and bring him here. I’m going to order the Floor Guardians and Pleiades to be on maximum alert, and to notify anyone else of our house.”

(Akechi) “I’ll stand guard here in case he comes out.”

Megumin dramatically posed.

(Megumin) “The Crimson Demon shall stand with Akechi!”

(Everyone) “...”

(Sharon) “Since time is of the essence, I will be alerting the others as well!”

Sharon bowed then quickly walked off. Narberal did the same.

Momon put two fingers to his helmet’s side.

(Momon) “Message.”

(Demiurge’s Voice) Lord Ainz? Is something the matter?

(Momon) “We’ve got a situation...”

...

Byleth returned with Narberal, with Sharon arriving at the same time.

(Momon) “All right, word should be getting around now.”

(Byleth) “Nabe told me what was going on. What’s the status now?”

(Megumin) “Nothing’s happened as of yet!”

(Akechi) “This ought to be a good enough scouting party.”

Ainz nodded and turned to Byleth.

(Momon) “There’s no telling what will happen down there, professor. What’s your orders?”

(Byleth) “Hm. There’s too many unknowns so at the first sign of trouble, we’re getting out of there.”

Everyone nodded and looked at the entrance.

(Byleth) “I’ll head in first.”

(Sharon) “I’ll cover our flank.”

With positions confirmed, they went inside the hole in the wall.

----

[Woven By Fate - Fire Emblem: Three Houses]

(Rogue) “Hey, boss!”

Four figures turned to a suspicious looking individual, carrying several items that looked rather expensive.

(Yuri) “Back already, huh? I see you got the items we needed from the Cardinals.”

(Rogue) “Yeah, but the thing is, I think I was spotted by some weirdos! They chased after me and everything!”

(Yuri) “Some weirdos you say, so very helpful. They weren’t knights were they?”

(Rogue) “M-Maybe? There were three of ‘em. Some tall kid, a woman, and a man decked out in full black armor. I’m pretty sure they’re armed to the teeth if someone like that armored guy is around!”

(Yuri) “Just three? I doubt they’d take on the entirety of Abyss with those meager numbers.”

(Balthus) “They probably took you as some kinda villain. I bet they’ll lock you up if they catch ya. Finally, a little action! Let’s go find ‘em first and throw some punches!”

(Constance) “Hold Balthus, ‘tis ignorance itself to rush headfirst in trouble!”

(Hapi) “You’re excited to fight too. You’ve been waiting for a chance to try out your shiny new magic.”

(Yuri) “Heh heh, surface laws don’t apply down here. That gives us a bit of freedom to have some fun with them. They’re probably not knights, but they definitely work for the church.”

They all began to walk away and prepare for battle.

(Constance) “You had best not be leaving me behind!

...

Byleth emerged from the passage first, with Narberal, Momon, Akechi, Megumin, and Sharon falling behind.

(Megumin) “This place is really well lit!”

(Momon) “Yeah, I thought Night Vision spells would have to be used to see but...”

(Sharon) “It seems that there is a group of people living here.”

(Akechi) “Which means we’re right in enemy territory.”

(Narberal) “Tch, humans living underground. They’re like cockroaches...”

(Byleth) “Right...Anyways, we should probably go get reinforcements. I don’t like the looks of this.”

(Momon) “Agreed.”

Right as they were all about to head up, Akechi’s clothes changed from his school uniform to his Phantom Thief outfit.

(Megumin) “Woah, that was awesome!”

(Sharon) “Miss Megumin, that’s not a good thing.”

(Akechi) “She’s right, my clothes only do that when someone sees me as a threat, which means-!”

Everyone pulled out their weapons and turned around, seeing Balthus with his arms crossed.

(Balthus) “Hello, strangers! Welcome to Abyss!”

(Narberal) “Identify yourself!”

Byleth noticed that he was wearing an officer’s academy uniform, though it was a different color and completely shredded almost beyond recognition.

(Balthus) “Well, pleased to meet you too, missy! Name’s Balthus! Now, what brings upstanding citizens such as yourselves to our humble abode?”

Sharon stepped out in front and lightly bowed. She kept her smile as she talked.

(Sharon) “We apologize for intruding this late at night. We saw a suspicious individual running around with valuables that are assumed to be stolen. May we be allowed to pass?”

(Constance) “Ahaha! Such indulgence simply cannot be permitted! Your words and smile may fool the fool, but not I cannot be so easily deceived! I, Constance Von Nuvelle, shall divine your true intentions!”

(Momon) They have a read minds skill?!

(Constance) “You are here by order of the church...which cruelly plots to eliminate the inhabitants of Abyss!”

(Momon) Oh...No, they’re just idiots jumping to conclusions.

(Megumin) “Lady, we don’t even know who you are! Why would we wanna do that?!”

(Byleth) “We aren’t here to harm you!”

(Balthus) “Frankly, I don’t care what the reason for a brawl is, nor do I believe you guys! I mean, your weapons being pulled out kinda makes us assume!”

(Akechi) “I don’t think their bravado is just for show...I’d dare say they’re on par with us.”

(Megumin) “BOOK IT!”

Everyone turned to dash for the exit before realizing people were already standing there.

Several rogues were at the entrance and backing up Constance and Balthus, including Yuri and Hapi.

(Yuri) “Turning back already? Oh, but you’ll make me so sad! Now why would you wanna do that? Everyone’s been starved of amusement! They’ve been waiting for a good fight!”

(Momon) “Damn, they’re smarter than they look too!”

(Balthus) “Way I see it, you guys have two options right now! Get the beating of a lifetime, or let us lock you up look the good girls and boys you are!”

(Akechi) “I’m afraid we cannot allow that!”

(Megumin) “Psh, think you all can take on the Crimson Demon?!”

(Nabe) “Touch him, and I slit your throats!”

(Yuri) “Well, looks like we’re going to have do this the hard way!”

----

[As Swift As Wind - Fire Emblem: Three Houses]

UNIT SELECTION

Begin the battle?

>[Yes] No

Victory Conditions: Defeat the enemy commanders.

Defeat Conditions: Byleth falls in battle.

----

[Fatal Conflict - Yakuza 0]

(Hapi) “Come on, you’re not gonna seriously send your maid and kid after us too, are you?”

(Constance) “It would be quite shameful to allow non-combatants-”

(Sharon) “Pardon my interruption-”

Everyone turned to Sharon, who still had a smile on her face.

(Sharon) “You should worry more about yourselves than us!”

Before anyone could realize what she was doing, several wires emerged from her sleeve and shot it towards several of the rogues.

Yuri jumped out of the way as they were dragged towards Sharon as she pulled out a massive dagger.

Wasting no time, Akechi brought out his pistol and shot the Rogues armed with magic and bows in the arm while tearing off his mask.

Sharon twirled the wires as she flipped the dagger to a more comfortable position.

(Sharon) “Shall I take the ones in front?”

(Akechi) “By all means, be my guest!”

(Hapi) “Ooooh, that’s not good.”

(Megumin) “MAGIC BUFF, NOW!”

Nodding, Ainz casted a magic buffing spell on Megumin.

(Megumin) “HAHAHAHA-”

(Constance) “MY GOODNESS, CHILD WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU?!”

Turning to Balthus, Ainz got into a battle stance. and looked at Narberal.

“WITH ME!”

“PAY FOR YOUR TRANSGRESSION, MAGGOT!”

(Balthus) “Hah, this is gonna be GREAT!”

Byleth pulled the Sword of the Creator out.

(Yuri) “Alright then, LET’S DANCE!”

Using her wires, she brought one of the rogues she captured in front of her.

The rogue started to scream as her smile didn’t even flinch.

Putting a dagger against his throat, she heard Byleth’s voice.

(Byleth) “EVERYONE, DISARM! DON’T KILL ANY OF THEM.”

(Sharon) “Ah, my apologies!”

Using the hilt of the dagger she hit him on the head, knocking him unconscious.

A magic mirror was put in front of Sharon as spells reflected off it.

(Akechi) “Mages! Get the warriors, I’ll handle them!”

Nodding, she quickly ran towards the rogues wielding axes as Akechi’s Persona fired several arrows at them.

The arrows dissipated once they hit the mages, acting as magic missiles, they sent the mages flying back.

Turning around, Sharon had already disarmed most of the rogues. Some of them tried running away but she used her wires to wrap around their legs.

(Hapi) “Damn!”

A bright circle formed and surrounded Sharon. She jumped out the way as the ground she was standing on exploded with dark energy.

Before Hapi could fire another spell, an explosion came from behind and the force of it sent her tumbling forward.

When she tried to get back up, Akechi hit her in the back of the head with his pistol, knocking her out.

(Megumin) “HAHAHAHA! POWER! UNLIMITED POWER!”

Her staff kept shooting off explosive spells, sending everyone flying into walls or the air.

(Constance) “A NUVELLE WILL NOT FALL TO THE LIKES OF SOME CHILD!”

Constance countered with her own magic, trying to seal Megumin.

A green sphere formed around Megumin as the spell almost made contact.

Ainz had cast a magic protection spell just in time and barely blocked the attack coming from Balthus.

Megumin turned her attention to Constance and smiled.

(Megumin) “EXPLOOOOOOSION!”

A bright red flame emerged in front of Constance, which she tried using magic to cushion the blow.

When the explosion went off, her hearing went completely deaf as the explosion’s force sent her rolling backwards.

She tried to get back up, but Akechi hit her in the back of the neck with his pistol.

(Akechi) “MEGUMIN, NEED SOME EXPLOSIONS HERE!”

(Megumin) “ASK AND YOU SHALL RECEIVE!”

Megumin cackled as she provided supporting explosions elsewhere, making the entire area shake.

Opening her eyes, Constance felt Balthus grabbing her and standing her back up.

Constance couldn’t tell what he was saying, but whatever it he was saying got cut off with Narberal swinging her sword, Balthus catching it with his gauntlets.

(Balthus) “Damn, you guys fight dirty!”

He barely managed to get that sentence out as Narberal fired a lightning spell from her fingertips, it shooting forward and piercing through the wall, creating a massive hole.

Ainz rushed in, swinging his greatswords as if they sticks, slamming it with full force against Balthus’s gauntlets, each strike making him fall back.

When Constance finally snapped out of her daze, she was ready to fire a spell at Ainz’s back.

Casting a fireball, it almost hit had Narberal not suddenly spun around and tanked it for him.

Bits of her cloth was on fire, but she shook it off as if it were dust.

(Constance) “What an annoyance, their mages!”

(Yuri) “DUCK!”

Constance turned and her eyes went wide as she dived for cover.

Byleth’s whip sword swung across and almost struck her, Yuri dodging the attacks and trying to find a good time to counter.

When Byleth swung his sword upwards, Yuri managed to swipe at his arm, ripping a bit of cloth and causing a cut.

Byleth only gave the wound a glance and went back into his fighting stance.

(Yuri) “You’re pretty good!”

Byleth said nothing as he charged forward, Yuri blocking the attack with his sword.

Yuri stepped to the side while Byleth was pushing his sword forward, making him fall over.

Byleth turned around and had Yuri’s blade at his throat.

(Yuri) “Call off this attack, and I won’t have to gut you!”

His sword was shot out of his hands by Akechi.

Byleth swung his sword at Yuri, but before the blade connected he quickly stepped back.

Frowning, Yuri pulled out a dagger.

(Yuri) “Jeez, you guys DO play dirty!”

Yuri did a quick scan of the battlefield.

The one with the weird sword and mask were right in front of him.

Hapi was unconscious on the floor.

Constance and her men were cornered by the girl with the hat.

Balthus was starting to run out of stamina, the black knight and his servant never relenting with their attacks for even a moment.

The only person that was unaccounted for was that maid-

Turning around, he managed to block the dagger that was almost about to plunge into him, and used his leg to kick Sharon.

She almost fumbled, but somehow managed to catch herself and flip back into position.

Sharon dusted herself off where Yuri kicked her. She kept her smile up as her hand raised upward.

Yuri didn’t have time to swear as he felt the wires enclose around him, making him fall over and drop his dagger to the floor.

It seemed like the more he resisted, the more she tightened her grip.

(Yuri) “Tch, dying by a maid? Can’t say I know this would be how I’d die...If I order everyone to stand down, will at you least have the decency to make this quick?”

(Sharon) “Professor?”

(Byleth) “We’re not going to kill anyone-”

(Yuri) “Professor...As in, Professor Byleth?”

(Byleth) “You...know me?”

(Yuri) “Wow, alright, probably should have asked before we started swinging-EVERYONE! STAND DOWN!”

All of the rogues and Byleth’s group turned to Yuri and stepped away from each other.

(Byleth) “Sharon, release him.”

Sharon nodded and loosened her grip, letting Yuri untangle himself.

Balthus helped Hapi up while Constance and the others went over to Yuri.

Narberal and Ainz still had their weapons out while Megumin kept a close eye on their men.

Akechi started to reload his pistol before Byleth made everyone put their weapons away.

(Yuri) “Damn, wish you at least said your names before you started throwing punches! Sorry about the confusion there.”

[Shut up, lower life form - Overlord]

(Megumin) “Confusion?! you tried to kill us!”

(Constance) “Us try to kill you?! We were not the maniacs casting explosions left and right that could have brought the entire roof down on us!”

(Balthus) “Plus, we don’t have the killer maid who was about ready to slit our throats...”

(Hapi) “Ow...ugh that’s gonna bruise. Anyway, Yuri-bird what’s with the surrender?”

(Yuri) “We’re talking to Byleth, that new professor. Which means...”

Yuri examined the others.

(Yuri) “You all must be that newly formed house, House Isekai. And you two are Momon and Nabe.”

(Megumin) “How did you know....t-that...?”

WHAM!

Megumin hit the floor facefirst, and her voice was slightly muffled.

(Megumin) “...Ow.”

(Balthus) “Oh, crap!”

(Constance) “O-Oh dear! Did I wound her deeply someh-”

When they looked back up, all of them were either facepalming or sighing.

The exception being Sharon, who was still smiling.

(Yuri) “Are you guys not worried-”

(Sharon) “Not in the slightest!”

Sharon helped Megumin up, wiping a bit of the blood off from the impact from her face.

(Momon) “I...might have buffed her too much.”

(Nabe) “She should be grateful you decided to give her any to begin with.”

(Akechi) “Oh, we should make sure there are no injuries on you or the others as well. I...don’t think we held back as much as we should have.”

The mages who were shot by Akechi were glaring at him.

(Momon) “I’ll take care of Megumin. Sharon, you should assist the others.”

Sharon bowed and walked towards everyone, bringing medicine out.

The rogues all started to back up from her as she walked forwards.

(Sharon) “Come now, I don’t bite!”

(Akechi) “That’s reassuring.”

(Momon) “Nabe, you should help provide the medicine to the others-”

(Nabe) “And let these lower life forms continue living, Momon!?”

(Hapi) “...Lower life forms?”

Narberal realized she had shouted that and coughed loudly.

She was blushing at her outburst, but she started sulking when she saw Ainz facepalm.

Byleth sighed as the exchanges were going on.

Yuri walked up to Byleth and rubbed the back of his head.

(Yuri) “Er...sorry about, well that introduction. I think it’d be better if we explained what was going on. How about we start again?”

Yuri stuck his hand out to Byleth.

(Yuri) “Name’s Yuri Leclerc. That’s Constance, Balthus, and Hapi.”

Byleth nodded and reached for Yuri’s hand.

(Byleth) “Byleth. That’s Momon, Nabe, Akechi, Megumin, and Sharon.”

(Yuri) “Pleasure. Hah, well this time it is anyway. Professor and friends...

...Welcome to Abyss.”

To be Continued...

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d3-iseefire · 5 years ago

Text

The Symphony of Cinderella Chapter 7 (Epilogue)

Allegro (Epilogue)

Bilba settled the phone back in its cradle, sprang to her feet and sprinted toward her door. She grabbed the frame and used it to swing herself around into the corridor.

Erebor's palace had wide corridors with thick, elaborately designed runners on the marble floors and serious looking ancestors glowering down from portraits and statues along the walls. None of them would have probably appreciated her blatant disregard for propriety.

Oh, well.

Bilba bolted around the corner and shrieked in surprise as she came face to face with another person. She tried desperately to catch herself, only to manage to trip over her own feet. She threw her hands out, hoping to break her fall and mentally acknowledged that maybe, just maybe running in the halls was a bad idea after all.

Arms grabbed her. Instead of hitting the ground, Bilba ended up awkwardly on her knees with someone pressed against her back, also mostly on their knees.

Bilba twisted to look behind her and gave a guilty smile. "Hey, Kili."

"Bilba." Kili shook his head in bemusement as he got back to his feet and helped her up. "Are you all right?"

Bilba nodded, happily smoothing down her dress and checking her hair. She twirled in a circle. "Do I look okay?"

"Can't see anything that will make the tabloids," Kili said. "And if it does I'll just do something idiotic and overshadow it."

"That's why you're my favorite brother," Bilba said, stepping forward to impulsively hug him.

"Flattery will get you everywhere," Kili said, hugging her back. "What are you in such a rush for anyway?"

"Oh!" Bilba released him and jumped back. "I just got the call! Fili's back! I gotta go!"

She rushed past him and soon reached the grand staircase. She grabbed the railing and forced herself to take the stairs at a slightly slower pace, barely pausing to smile or respond to greetings from passing nobility or staff.

Once she'd reached the bottom she tried to adopt a more leisurely pace, but her feet seemed to speed up on their own until she was at a full out run again.

The guards, standing on either side of the enormous front doors grabbed the handles and pulled them open so that she didn't even have to slow as she burst through them.

It was a beautiful, bright sunny day outside. On any other day she might have gone to Dale to visit Sigrid, Lord Bard's daughter, and wander the markets.

This day, however, she'd stayed home for one very specific reason, and he was currently walking across the grass toward her.

"Fili!" Bilba sprinted toward him. Fili, in turn, dropped the duffle bag he'd been carrying and broke into a sprint of his own. They met in the middle where he proceeded to grab her, lift her off her feet and spun her in a circle.

Bilba wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him as he gently set her back on her feet. She broke off and ran her hands through his hair and then down over his shoulders.

Fili looked exhausted. He'd gotten rid of his suit jacket and tie, and the sleeves of his slightly wrinkled dress shirt were rolled to three quarter length.

Bilba could definitely understand

He'd been gone almost a month.

A very long month.

"How did negotiations go?" she asked, wrapping an arm around his waist.

"Good." Fili retrieved his bag, wrapped his free arm around her waist in turn and started them toward the palace. "We should have the new trade route in place in another week or so. Uncle will be happy." He grinned down at her. "How were finals?"

"I passed all of them," Bilba said with pride. She'd been determined. She'd been separated from her husband for a month thanks to those stupid tests. There was no way she was failing them.

"Congratulations." Fili squeezed the arm around her waist and leaned down to kiss her again.

Ahead, Kili had come out, with Tauriel at his side. The two had just recently celebrated their third wedding anniversary with a trip to Rohan which meant Bilba had been without all of them for a time. Granted, she'd been so busy studying she'd had little time to notice but still.

Fili released her long enough to greet his brother and sister-in-law before coming back to tiredly loop an arm around her waist again.

"I managed to get your schedule cleared for the rest of the day," Kili said. "You owe me."

Fili nodded. They both knew that "getting your schedule cleared" translated to Kili had taken on all of Fili's expected duties in addition to his own and would probably be up quite late getting everything done.

"You're officially my favorite brother," Fili said with sincerity.

Kili rolled his eyes. "That's what they all say."

He clapped Fili on the shoulder and then he and Tauriel headed off to whatever function was next on their schedule.

Bilba and Fili went inside and up to their chambers. As soon as they were in Fili dropped his bag with a groan and said, "I'm going to take a bath, and then sleep for a week."

"All right." Bilba nudged him toward the bath chamber. "Go on in and I'll bring you some fresh clothes."

He kissed her in gratitude and vanished into the other room.

Bilba unpacked his bag, sending his dirty clothes off to the laundry and placed the bag on the top shelf of their closet. Fili preferred to sleep shirtless, so she grabbed a pair of fresh sweatpants, boxers and socks and carried them into the other chamber.

Fili was soaking in the heated pool, leaned back against the edge with his arms propped on the ledge. His eyes were closed but he shifted when she sat on the ledge next to him and dangled her legs in the hot water.

He wrapped an arm around her leg and rested his head against it. "Can I go to sleep right here?"

"No," Bilba said, jiggling her leg against him gently. "I don't fancy trying to fish you out if you go under. I'd probably have to call Dwalin and get him to get you."

"Well, that's a terrifying thought," Fili mumbled with a yawn.

Bilba giggled and pulled herself free. "Come on," she said, tugging on his arm. "Get out. The bed is awaiting."

Fili grumbled but obediently got up. Bilba got him a towel, made sure he was safely out of the pool and then went back into the other room. She pulled the covers on the bed down and opened the balcony doors to let a fresh breeze in.

The view outside drew her and she went out for a moment to rest her hands on the balcony and enjoy it. Their quarters were on the side of the mountain that faced Dale and the plain between it and Erebor. If she looked hard enough, she could just make out the venue where she’d officially met Fili for the first time.

It had been four years, and she still half expected to wake up any minute. After the ball she had indeed received invitations from all over Middle Earth. She'd traveled, on her own terms, played because she wanted to, and the money she'd received was hers and hers alone.

Two years after the ball, she and Fili had married. They'd gone to Gondor for their honeymoon and, upon their return, Bilba had started college. She preformed less often now that she had classes but still managed to get in a few a year.

It was such a night and day difference from her life before...

She sighed in contentment, before pushing off the railing and heading back inside. She toed off her shoes, clambered onto the bed and sat with her legs curled to her side.

Fili came out a few minutes later, wearing the sweats she'd left him but not bothering with the socks. He grinned and climbed onto the bed. He came toward her on all fours, hands and legs planted on either side of her and slowly advanced. She leaned away as he drew closer until she was on her back and he was braced over her.

"I thought you said you were tired," she said dryly.

He leaned down to kiss her. Bilba kissed him back and then obediently tilted her head back as he shifted to begin kissing along her jaw and throat.

"Since you seem to have found a secret energy reserve," she said mildly, "do you want to see the present I got you?"

He pulled back and his eyes narrowed. "A present?"

"A present," Bilba repeated. She put her hands on his shoulders and pushed. "Off. Present."

He obediently rolled off and flopped onto his back on the mattress, draping an arm over his eyes with a sigh.

Bilba scrambled up, and half crawled across his body to reach under one of the pillows. She dragged a small, haphazardly wrapped present out and sat back next to him. "Here you go."

Fili sat up. He took the gift, gave her a questioning look, but then tore it open and pulled out a sage green t-shirt.

"Read it," Bilba said, clapping her hands and bouncing on the mattress.

Fili held the shirt against his chest and looked down to read the writing. "World's Greatest Dad." He was silent for a few seconds, and then his eyes widened, and he looked up at her sharply. "Really?"

Bilba nodded excitedly, and then shrieked as Fili dropped the shirt and tackled her back onto the mattress. He kissed her, hard, and she happily wrapped her arms around him. After a few seconds, he moved back so he was lying beside her, and pressed a hand to her still flat stomach. "When did you find out?"

"Right after you left," Bilba said, rolling to face him. "I wanted to wait and tell you in person." She scowled. "It was really hard to wait."

"Hmm." He wrapped his arms around her and pressed his forehead to hers. "Have I mentioned lately that I love you?"

Bilba giggled. "Last night on the phone, but that doesn't mean I mind hearing it again." She kissed him lightly. "I love you too." She pulled away from him gently and got up on her knees. "Come on." She pulled at the covers, trapped under his body. "You need to sleep."

Fili grumbled, but it was clear that his extra burst of energy was already fading. He shifted enough for her to get the blankets free and slid beneath them. Bilba jumped off the bed to pull the covers over him. She started to grab the t-shirt, but he got it first and pulled it against his chest. "Have you told anyone else yet?"

"No," Bilba said. "I wanted to tell you first."

"You mind waiting?" Fili asked. "I want to wear it and see how long it takes people to figure it out."

Bilba rolled her eyes and laughed. "Sure." She leaned forward to kiss him on the forehead and, when she pulled away, it was to see that he was already fast asleep.

Bilba laughed and grabbed her purse. She'd promised Dis she would go shopping with her after Fili had come home. The older woman had treated her like a daughter, a true daughter, from the first day they'd met and Bilba adored her in turn. Later they would all meet for dinner, including Thorin who'd proven to be far less terrifying than she'd originally thought.

She looked over her shoulder at Fili and rested a hand lightly on her abdomen.

Her life was so much different than it'd been just a few short years ago, and the future looked brighter still.

She'd never been happier.

Follow on AO3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/22263070/chapters/53163472

#Fanfic #Fanfiction #Writing #My Writing #Hobbit #Tolkien #Bilbo #Female Bilbo #Female Bilbo Baggins #Fili #Genderswap #Modern #AU #Cinderella #Fairy Tale #Romance #angst #Pianist #Stagehand

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emotchalla · 5 years ago

Text

Tempt You - I.

A/N: Hello it’s me your neighborhood “I will have as many WIPs as I want” ass bitch back at it again with a new fic! I have not been enough of a Peaky Blinders whore on this blog and that is unfortunate because this show has owned my ass for the past 3 years. I’m particularly obsessed with one Mr. Michael Gray, and this AU is actually my own personal headcannon I’ve had stewing around in my brain for a while. It’s also loosely based on the summer I studied abroad in London and my desire to go back there! (This version of the reader is very very similar to me.) I got inspired to jot some sentences down a few days ago, and while I was traveling this weekend a bunch of it just sprawled out of me and well, here you go! This fic is inspired by “Tempt You (Evocatio)” by Nothing But Thieves, which you can listen to here. I suggest listening to the song at some point in this fic because it’s pretty integral to the way I see Michael’s perspective on this relationship. Alright let me shut up so you can get on with reading.

**All my works are written with a Black or POC reader in mind, because I am one myself, but all readers welcome!**

Pairing: Modern!Michael Gray x Fem!Reader

Summary: Modern!Michael Gray AU. Michael Gray has everything he wants. He’s the owner and senior partner of his own law firm; he’s paved his own path away from the family business. He’s past the wild, drunken nights and cocaine benders, the bloody noses and knife wounds and the fucking Catholics. And then he meets you. Suddenly Michael realizes that he doesn’t have everything after all.

Warnings: Swearing, Excessive flirting, Sexual tension, Michael gives off very strong sugar daddy vibes, Fluff...for now

Word Count: 3.2k+

series masterlist | main masterlist | add yourself to the taglist here | listen to “tempt you (evocatio)” here

There are a pair of eyes watching you. Warm, bright, and the prettiest shade of green with flecks of blue and gold and brown too. They’re curious eyes, ones that have been on you sine the stranger they belong to entered the Starbucks across the street from your job. He smiles softly as he watches you watch him observe you. You look up to catch his gaze and he winks. Shit. You quickly look back down at the script in front of you. You can still feel the heat of his stare as you pretend to study your lines, neglecting the obvious truth that you’d been distracted by this man from the moment he walked in.

He’s beautiful. Dangerously so, unbridled youth mixed with the right touch of reckless mischief, and a hint of danger. He’s more than his suit suggests he is. He all but smells of wealth, and your eyes glaze over with the thought of how much money it might have cost to buy that dark blue Giorgio Armani suit and sleek black Rolex. You’ve been watching him too. He clearly takes care of himself and seems to enjoy doing it. You can picture it all: the fancy tailors, exclusive barbers, personal drivers and chauffeurs, a butler, even. What you wouldn’t give to have a life light that, to not worry about your next meal or skip out on A/C for the summer to split your rent costs in half. You dropped nearly everything to move to London, and the job you’d secured at Shakespeare’s Globe wasn’t enough for you tp pay for rent and grad school tuition. You let yourself get lost in the fantasy you’ve created about this stranger, the idea of being able to live comfortably. It’s something you desire with every part of you.

You bite your lip as you daydream, oblivious to the fact that the stranger has left his table and approached yours. He stands and watches you for a second, amused by how easily you seem to preoccupy yourself. You’re not like other women he’s met, he knows that already. And he’s quickly overcome by the desire to know everything there is to know about you, from your favorite movies to the way you take your tea. You sigh as you start to upset yourself with so much wishful thinking, causing the stranger to chuckle, a deep rumble vibrating through his chest. You jerk your head up toward the sound to be met with those beautiful green eyes, except they’re right across from you.

“Hello,” he says with a soft smile.

“H-Hi,” you stammer, completely caught off guard.

He’s even prettier up close. He gestures toward your neglected script.

“Looks like you’ve got a lot of lines to memorize. You’re an actor, then?”

You nod.

“Yes,” you answer. “Well, trying to be,” you correct.

He frowns.

“What do you mean by that?”

“I’m in school for acting, but I haven’t done much actual work apart from the scenes I’m assigned in class. I’m prepping for an audition, actually.”

You cut yourself off before you start to ramble, but the stranger doesn’t seem to mind. He looks at you expectantly, like he wants to know if you’ve finished your thought. You bite your lip to hold back the sea of worries threatening to push back your lips. This man doesn’t need to know how terrified you are about auditioning, the possibility that all of this—applying to RADA, getting accepted, moving to London, all of it—would end up being a massive failure.

“You’re an actor if you act, yeah?” he asks, and your heart flutters at the kindness in his voice.

“Y-Yeah, I guess you’re right.” you say, aiming to infuse more confidence in your voice.

He’s intimidating, but you won’t fold that easily.

“I often am,” he hums before gesturing toward the seat across from yours. “May I join you?”

You almost do a double take.

“Me?” you ask, not bothering to hide the shock in your voice.

The stranger smiles at you.

“Yes, you,” he answers, giving you that same smile.

“Sure.”

He slides the chair out from under the table before seating himself across from you.

“What play are you auditioning for?”

“Hamlet at the RSC,” you begin. “One of my professors at RADA knows the director and she told me that she thinks I may have a shot at being cast. I think it’s a fucking long shot but she’s scarily confident in me so I’m pushing myself to do it even though I’m terrified and—oh my god I’m so sorry! I was about to start going off the rails.”

He shakes his head. Up until you stopped yourself he’d been hanging on to your every word.

“Don’t apologize, Miss…” he falters.

“Y/N! I’m sorry, I completely forgot to tell you my name.”

“It’s quite alright, Miss Y/N. I neglected to tell you mine as well,” he chuckles.

Almost immediately, you feel a familiar heat building in the pit of your stomach with the sound of his laugh. There’s no denying how attractive he is. You’d be kidding yourself to even try.

“I’m Michael,” he says, extending a hand across the table.

You reach out to shake it, but he pulls your hand toward his mouth instead, pressing a kiss to the skin.

“Pleased to meet you, Miss Y/N,” he murmurs before releasing your hand from his grip.

Those green eyes are still fixed on yours and you resist the urge to flush and giggle uncontrollably like a schoolgirl. He’s a charmer, this one. You echo his pleasure of making your acquaintance, and Michael nods toward your script again.

“What part are you auditioning for?”

You frown and look down at your hands. Should you tell him? Would he laugh and tell you that you were right to worry? Would he shake his head and wish you luck, pitying you all the while?”

“Y/N?” he calls.

You look up to find his eyes still fiercely trained on you.

“What part are you auditioning for, love?”

“Hamlet,” you whisper. then brace yourself for his laughter.

Michael only looks at you with that curious interest from before.

“You must be quite the actress, then.”

That was not what you were expecting him to say.

“Huh?”

Michael smiles softly at you. He was right about you being different. Here you were, probably one of the most talented people he had ever met, and he can’t detect an ounce of arrogance from you. It was a nice change of pace from the world he was used to—one filled with people who would do anything to get ahead, even if that mean destroying a life. You’re nothing like that. You’re kind, humble. A touch insecure, he can tell, but adorably soft around the edges. You remind him of beautiful summer nights in the country, scenes from his boyhood after the orphanage, before he became a man committed only to his business. You’re something akin to home.

“You got into RADA, did you not?” Michael asks.

You nod.

“And you’re not from here, yeah?”

Michael already knows this but he wants to hear where you’re from, from your own mouth.

“No, from the States,” you answer. “Chicago.”

“Ahh, the Windy City,” he hums. “One of my favorites.”

This makes your eyes light up and the smile that crosses your lips is stunning. Michael decides right there that he wants to make you do that many, many times.

“When’s the last time you’ve been?” you ask.

“It’s been too long, I’m afraid. Although, I’ve been looking for a reason to go back.”

You don’t miss the subtle drop in his voice, the veiled suggestive nature imbedded within. You dare to look in his eyes and find that they’re just as intense as before, but there’s something else hidden there. A desire that matches yours.

“Well, if you feel inspired to take a visit, I think you should. Who knows, we could see each other there, too.”

“I’d quite like that,” he says, and his gaze is so intense that you have to break away to look anywhere else. Just for a moment. You reach toward your teacup to find it empty. You must have drained it earlier without recognizing.

“Would you like another one?”

You look up to find Michael nodding at your empty teacup.

“Oh, Michael, I couldn’t ask you to do that.”

He smirks at you before reaching across the table to grab the empty cup from your hands.

“I promise you, Y/N, it won’t set me back. It’s just a cup of tea, love.”

You nod, unable to meet his beautiful eyes. You don’t know if he’s trying to woo you on purpose but he’s doing a damned good job regardless.

“Thank you, Michael,” you manage to mutter.

He smiles at you again.

“Have you had anything to eat?”

Michael knows the answer to this as well. He’d noticed your teacup and your head buried in that script as soon as he walked in, but he doesn’t want to let on how he’d been taken with you almost immediately. Not yet.

“No,” you admit, a little embarrassed. “I needed the caffeine to power through these lines but I kind of forgot about food if I’m being honest.”

Michael nods. He’ll have to work on that with you.

“I’ll be right back,” he says, and then he’s gone.

You watch as he walks toward the front counter, peering at the pastries behind a glass case before heading to the register. You watch the barista at the register blush as Michael opens his mouth to order, and you fight to suppress a giggle at the bored expression on his face. He knows how attractive he is; you’re sure of that. You wonder how often he encounters people who forget how to function when he’s around.

Michael’s eyes find yours as he waits for your order, and he shoots a boyish wink at you before gesturing toward your lines. You shake your head and mock yawn. He grins. He’s just as eager to get back to the table and keep talking to you as you are for him to return. You relax into your seat as you watch him and sigh contentedly. You have no idea what the hell is going on, but you’re not complaining. Michael watches impatiently as the same barista from earlier fumbles her way through your order. Poor girl; you’d probably react just the same if you were in her place. She keeps batting her eyelashes and asking if he needs anything, to which he huffs in annoyance and scowls at her. It’s a reluctant game of cat and mouse, and you wonder if Michael might not be fond of attention. Eventually, the barista is able to get your order together, and you watch Michael pull a twenty pound note out of his wallet to slide across the counter to her. She all but faints at the sight of it, and you shake your head as Michael rolls his eyes and starts toward you.

“I apologize for whatever the hell that was,” he greets, setting a fresh cup of tea and a chocolate-filled croissant in front of you.

“I thought it was cute. You’re cute when you’re flustered, that is,” you say, already reaching for the croissant.

Michael’s eyes are bright as he smirks at you.

“You think I’m cute?”

You roll your eyes at him.

“You obviously know you are.”

He chuckles.

“I don’t think I’ve ever considered myself ‘cute’ in my life,” he jokes, relief settling into his skin as he watches you eat.

“Well you can lie to yourself all you want but I said what I said.”

Michael’s eyebrows raise. So you have got a mouth on you after all.

“Oh, is it like that?”

You watch as his tongue darts out to lick along his bottom lip and briefly lose yourself at the thought of having that same tongue somewhere else.

“Thank you for entertaining the obviously infatuated barista to get me something to eat,” you say sincerely, and the mood shifts.

You are so unbelievably sweet, Michael thinks. He wants to corrupt you. Not yet, he tells himself. Not yet. Michael asks you more about how you made it to London, and you talk him through the whirlwind of your life post-undergrad. You had always intended on becoming a professional actor, but the road was hard and nothing was certain. You’d bounced around between part-time jobs to help your dad around the house as you transitioned into postgrad life, but you knew that wasn’t where you wanted to be. In your sophomore year of college, you got the opportunity to study Shakespeare in London for the summer and since then, you’d wanted to return: for grad school this time. You went out on a limb and applied to the Royal Academy of the Dramatic Arts—one of the hardest acting schools in London, let alone the world, to get into—and by some grace of god, you were admitted. You moved at once. Packed up your few belongings and took a one-way flight to London, your fancy new student visa gripped tightly in your hand. You wormed your way into a position as an administrative assistant at Shakespeare’s Globe, but had yet to land an acting gig whose stipend might help ease the burden of your constantly accumulating bills. You were one of the only Americans in your program, and while you were well-liked, you felt like you always had to prove yourself. It was a lot of pressure.

“No wonder you’re so stressed about this audition,” Michael mutters, his beautiful face set in a frown.

You shrug.

“If I get it, it’ll be amazing but if not I’ll figure something out. I have to.”

You look down at your teacup, keeping your eyes trained on the dark liquid to prevent budding tears from falling. Michael sighs. He takes the time to think about what he’s planning to offer, and measures his words. He doesn’t want to scare you off, but he wants to help.

“Y/N, I—”

A shrill ring cuts him off. Michael rolls his eyes and pulls a cell phone from his pocket. He taps the screen before pressing it to his ear.

“Gray,” he answers.

You watch as he gets pulled into what is obviously a work call. He glances over at your half-eaten croissant.

Eat, he mouths.

“So bossy,” you whisper, picking up the pastry.

Brat, he mouths again, watching you start to eat the rest of the croissant. His assistant, Finn—also his younger cousin—was calling to remind him about a meeting with a client he’d definitely forgotten, and he couldn’t be bothered to care about it when you were sat in front of him.

“I’ll be back to the office soon, Finn,” he groans. “We can talk about it there.”

Finn must say something snarky because Michael laughs before muttering ‘fuck off,’ and hanging up.

“Sorry about that, love,” he apologizes.

You shake your head.

“You’re a busy man I assume?”

He chuckles to himself.

“You don’t know the half of it.”

You take the last bite of your croissant, and Michael hums to himself, happy that you’ve gotten something on your stomach. He clears his throat.

“I wanted to ask you something, Y/N.”

You smile at him before taking a sip of tea.

“Shoot.”

“What would you say if I offered to help out with your bills?”

You nearly choke on your tea.

“If you what?”

“Well, I was thinking earlier—when you were talking about school and making rent—that if I helped you out with that bit, things could be a little easier on you.”

He blushes crimson when he says it, green eyes searching yours. You shake your head.

“Michael, I could never pay you back for that.”

“You wouldn’t have to. I want to help you, Y/N.”

You sigh.

“Can I…can I think about it? This is all a little…”

“Overwhelming?” he suggests.

“Yes,” you breathe.

He smiles at you.

“Take all the time you need, love.”

He reaches across the table to take your hand in his.

“Let me build you something better, Y/N,” he whispers.

You know that if you look into his eyes right now you will combust. You need to relieve the tension somehow.

“You know,” you joke. “Sugar daddies are supposed to be old.”

Michael roars with laughter and you can’t help but giggle along wit him as people’s heads turn in your direction, the entirety of Starbucks now focused on your table tucked in the back corner. Even the flirty barista watches the two of you, eyeing your hand clasped in Michael’s, his thumb rubbing soft circles into your skin.

“Is that what I’d be?” he asks, amused.

You giggle again.

“Pretty much.”

He rolls his eyes.

“I’m much more of a ‘sir’ than a ‘daddy,’ but I’ll play your game, sweet thing.”

Your heart hammers in your chest as his words take their effect on you. You look up to find him watching you, awaiting your next move. Before you can respond, his phone cuts through the conversation again.

“Fucking hell, Finn,” he growls, before he silences the ringer.

“Can I see you again?” he asks, eyes back on yours.

“I’d like that.”

“What are you doing Saturday night?”

A small smile crosses your lips as you look up at him through your lashes.

“Going out with you.”

He grins at you before pulling his hand away from yours to grab his phone. He hands it to you.

“Put your number in there. I’ll text you.”

You nod and type in your number before handing the phone back to him. He moves to stand up from the table, and your disappointment must show on your face because he smiles down at you.

“I gotta head back to the office before Finn bloody tracks me down and drags me there himself,” he apologizes, reaching for the suit jacket he’d strung across the back of the chair.

You watch the fabric of his shirt flex and stretch around taut muscle as he shrugs the jacket on, and Michael doesn’t miss the way your teeth graze that plump bottom lip of yours. He’s just as attracted to you as you are to him, and he wants to tell Finn to piss off and spend the rest of the day chauffeuring you around the city and spoiling you absolutely rotten. It’s been a long time since he’s wanted someone like this, and Michael is thrilled that it’s you. He reaches down to cup your cheek in his hand.

“I’ll text you, yeah?”

You nod. Michael pulls away from you and gets his wallet from his pocket. He pulls out a business card and slides it over to you. He gives you one last wink before he’s gone, out of the Starbucks and into the busy London afternoon. You bring your teacup to your lips. The liquid inside has since grown cold but there’s a fire ablaze within you. Michael fucking Gray.

wanna be tagged in this series? click the link above!

#michael gray au #michael gray #michael gray smut #modern michael gray #michael gray x reader #peaky blinders au #peaky blinders smut #new fic #emotchalla writes

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scienceboyfriendscollegeau · 5 years ago

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Title: Just Ask

Pairing: Bruce Banner/Tony Stark

Warnings: some swearing, some discussion of being fascinated by bombs, slight sexual innuendo, some negative self talk, mild angst but there’s a happy ending. :)

Synopsis: Bruce and Tony are grad students at Caltech where Bruce is a college DJ in the spring of 1990. Tony is a frequent caller of Bruce’s late night show, but his last call leaves Bruce with a lot of confusing feelings to sort out.

This is a part of my 80s college AU. It will probably play out a bit differently in the scheme of things, but I was really inspired by this song (”Ask” by the Smiths) and wrote the entire thing in one sitting, so I thought i would post it to inspire myself to write more. Also if it ends up playing out differently, I don’t really want to lose this. So I hope you enjoy this oneshot and hopefully there will be more of this AU soon. :)

Word Count: 1,809

Bruce settled in the old orange colored office chair, propping his feet on the edge of a crate of records. He flipped through the box of his favorite tapes and put in Three Imaginary Boys. He thought he’d just play the whole thing, Tony probably wasn’t listening tonight and if Tony wasn’t going to heckle him about what he played, he didn’t really care what other people thought. Though Bruce would have been lying if he said he didn’t sometimes play a particularly poppy or techno sounding song just so Tony would tease him. The Cure’s debut record wasn’t really mock worthy, but it wasn’t critically acclaimed either. It was kind of weird and rough and had been mostly been ignored. If Bruce had been talking to Tony he would have added “like me” in his classic self-deprecating way, that didn’t seem to make Tony uncomfortable like it did everybody else. Tony was somehow encouraging even when he was teasing and razzing him. Bruce never felt ashamed for the things he said about himself when they were together, but somehow ended up leaving conversation liking himself a little more or at least laughing more than usual.

Bruce shook his head and exhaled heavily. He hadn’t come here to think about Tony. He had come here because, well, he had been every Wednesday from 1:30-3:30AM for the past five months. Even if no one listened this late, he had requested this time slot to DJ and felt obligated even if no one would notice if he stopped. Anyway, he enjoyed it.

It wasn’t like he and Tony were even fighting. It had just been...different lately and he hadn’t seen him since Friday. Bruce tried his best to shake all his thoughts away and pulled out his homework and zoned out to the abrasive yet jaunty sounds of his favorite band in their garage state.

“No sound. No clocks. No people.. Stop. Short. Grinding halt. Everything’s coming to a grinding halt.”

When Side A ended Bruce didn’t bother to flip the tape right away, opting to finish the page he was reading instead. It was already 2AM, the only people listening were probably drunk and busy doing something more stimulating. Bruce jumped a little when the silence was interrupted by the loud ring of the studio phone.

“Hey, Mr Tamborine Man, will you play a song for me?”

It was Tony. Full of energy and spice like always. Even at two in the morning. Especially at two in the morning. Before Bruce could say “you’re on the air” Tony kept talking

“I like your new Avant-garde approach to radio, but if I could interrupt Simon and Garfunkel for a moment, I’d like to dedicate this one to someone special.” When Tony said ‘someone special’ his words oozed with romance and playful flirtation and it almost made Bruce’s stomach turn with a mix of anxiety, attraction and jealously.

“I’ll play anything you like…” Bruce said, his voice calm and casual and in complete contrast to how he felt. He closed his eyes tight and thanked himself for not saying “do” instead of “play.”

“You like the Smiths: Cousin Brucie?”

“Don’t call me that, I can’t afford a law suit on a grad student’s pay…” Bruce paused to smile and shake his head a little, Tony could almost hear it “but you know I do”

“Well there’s a song I think really fits this situation I’m in….it’s a single they put out a few years ago….Ask… I’d like to dedicate to my...lab partner. I think we’ve gotten a lot closer, but they won’t give me the go ahead, and I’m just not sure where we stand…”

Bruce suddenly felt warm and that awful drop in his stomach again. Lab partner? Tony had a lab partner? Who?

He continued in his cool, even voice; that didn’t even have a hint of the rejection (no matter how irrational) and panic he was feeling.

“Sure, of course, the Smiths 1988 single “Ask” coming right up. I hope your lab partner’s pulling an all nighter.”

He hung up the phone and found the tape and started to play it, listening intently trying to picture who Tony was talking about. Tony always joked that they were lab partners, but it was just a joke. Bruce helped him with physics sometimes because it was one of the few things that didn’t come completely naturally to him, but they didn’t actually have any classes together. Who was he talking about? They didn’t really do lab partners in grad school…did they?

The jaunty, island-y guitar reminiscent of Paul Simon filled the airwaves. It was one of the Smith’s happier sounding songs, something that had done intentionally to off-set a the previously politically leaning single.

“Shyness is nice, and, Shyness can stop you, From doing all the things in life, You'd like to”

Tony was never shy. Bruce didn’t think shy girls..or boys..were really his type.

“So, if there's something you'd like to try

If there's something you'd like to try

Ask me, I won't say no, how could I?”

It sounded like Morrissey was trying to get his significant other to be more adventurous. In bed probably. Was Tony seeing someone? And didn’t bother to tell him? Bruce took a deep death and tried not to feel hurt. It wasn’t any of his business, really. He had just thought they were closer than keeping those kind of things from each other, but then again, Tony had so many friends and Bruce had one other good friend, he was probably over estimating the closeness of their friendship. It had happened before.

“Ask me, ask me, ask me,

Ask me, ask me, ask me

Because if it's not love

Then it's the bomb, the bomb, the bomb, the bomb, the bomb, the bomb, the bomb

That will bring us together”

The bomb. And when it finally hit Bruce it did feel kind of like a bomb.

Of course. Why else would Tony request the Smiths? Tony didn’t even like the Smiths. He said they were sad and boring. A point Bruce had neither agreed or disagreed with, but had simply shrugged in response to and said he couldn’t really explain why but he loved them anyway. Everything was suddenly starting to make sense. It felt like the turning point from when Burce was just learning Physics to when he really started to know and understand it.

“the bomb would bring us together.” From the very beginning it had always been bombs that brought them together. It was a dark secret understanding that only they shared. They both knew that it was their fate to work on them for the rest of their lives and were both darkly fascinated and horrified by them at the same time.

Bruce started frantically going through his tapes and records, trying to find the perfect follow-up. Something to let him know. He did want to ask Tony. There were lots of things he would like to try with him. Everything. Anything. All at once.

Bruce pretended that he only cared about work, but he was really just a horny, lovesick bastard underneath it all and he had been for months ever since he and Tony had started spending long, late nights together. He could still remember the first time Tony had called in at the radio to complain about the lack of “barn burners” he was playing.

“If you’re listening to the radio this late, you’re trying to stay AWAKE.” He had ranted to him, while pushing him to play more AC/DC. Bruce had been annoyed at first, but even before they had met in person, he had started secretly looking forward to his calls and requests. Then one day after class, this gorgeous brunette with a smile to kill over, tapped him on the shoulder and asked “are you the night radio guy on Wednesday’s that plays all the goth techno shit?” and the rest had been history.

Bruce went for the Cure automatically and then stopped. No, Tony had chose his language, Bruce had to at least meet him half way. And he couldn’t pick something like Orchestral Maneuvers in the fucking Dark. He flipped through the classic rock, and the punk side of New Wave, frantically trying to find something appropriate. He paused at the Blondie record, not fully able to remember what he liked on it. He flipped it over. “Atomic” was written in yellow cursive. Bruce had never put a record on so fast. Perfect.

As the Smiths winded down, he pressed the “on air” button. “this one goes out to my lab partner.” And with that he let the needle drop on the record, turned off the lights and locked the door.

“Make me tonight, tonight, make it magnificent, tonight”

“Atomic.”

.............

The warm Californian spring air whizzed by as Bruce peddled his bike as fast as he could down to Tony’s apartment. The streets were empty and everything was quiet except for the faint sound of some undergrads’ drunken shouting in the distance. He skidded to a stop on the sidewalk below Tony’s apartment. Tony’s bedroom light was still on.

Bruce paused. He didn’t usually put himself in situations like this. There was still a chance he has misinterpreted everything, but there still seemed to be a bigger chance that he had been being an oblivious idiot for awhile and Tony had been trying his best to patiently spell things out for him. He leaned his bike against the railing, took a deep breath, and ran up the stairs, like he was in one of the romantic comedies he not so secretly loved.

Before he could even knock on the door, it swung open to reveal Tony’s trademark cocky grin.

“I’m really digging your new hands off approach to DJ-ing, Banner.”

Bruce laughed, still out of breath from the bike ride over. “Tony…Tony!” he stammered, finding it difficult to even hear himself, his heart was beating so fast and loud in his ears. “Tony, I want...I want to ask you…”

“You don’t even have to ask” And there was that sly, but warm smirk that made some guys want to punch him, but made Bruce want to do a whole variety of different things.

Tony’s lips were still at first, when Bruce’s met his, surprised that Bruce had made his move so fast. Tony felt one hand on the small of his back and the other grasping at his hair, but before Bruce could pull away, thinking he had made some kind of terrible mistake, Tony bit his lip and pulled him back in, not hesitating to deepen the kiss with his tongue. He pulled on Bruce’s shirt, guiding him out of the door way, and kicked the door shut loudly.

He knew Bruce was a sucker for cheesy romantic comedies.

#my writing #science bros #science boyfriends #bruce banner #tony stark #marvel fic #avengers fic #avengers college au #stanner #brucetony #tonybruce #bruce x tony #tony x bruce #tony stark x bruce banner #fic #science boyfriends 80s college au

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awesomehimalayanhigh-blog · 5 years ago

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Best Jungle Safari In India - Madhya Pradesh

I have recently come back from four-month solo spending travel in Europe and still inside seven days, the post-travel gloom kicks in. What's more, to aggravate it, my morning sniffles incited by a brown haze covered Delhi turns into a daily schedule. I am desiring to return to nature at the smallest probability. I begin searching for choices – the slopes of Himachal, a forsaken place where there is Ladakh the perfect shorelines of Kerala or the sand ridges of Rajasthan. Subsequent to considering for a couple of days, the choice is made. I am going to visit the woods that roused Rudyard Kipling's Mowgli. Toward the part of the arrangement, set off from Delhi to investigate natural life the travel industry in India. While there are numerous choices to pick the best wilderness safari in India, I settle for a five days Tiger Trail in Madhya Pradesh.

The best Jungle Safari in India begins at Pench

At 5:30 am on a hazy morning in November, I leave for the Pench National Park in an open-jeep alongside my Naturalist, Alwyn from Jamtara Wilderness Camps. Before beginning our Jungle experiences, we are blessed to receive a hot cuppa espresso and tea alongside home-heated treats. Our naturalist reminds us to abandon all electronic gear at the hotel excepting our cameras and binoculars. The crisp breeze stings my cheeks and makes my eyes water however I am solid and steady with a few layers of winter garments, woolen top, suppressor and a high temp water jug tucked under my cover.

As we enter the recreation center, I see langurs hopping from tree to tree, feathered creatures tweeting as one, chital and sambar crowds cautiously munching in the prairie. We move along the wilderness and I smell the sweet fragrance of the moist earth at sunrise. I see the morning dew dribbling from the trees onto the rich undergrowth. Before I could catch any of those, the jeep moves and the scents and sights vanish. The quietness of the wilderness is every so often broken by Alwyn and the neighborhood park control, who exhaustiveness and enthusiastically educates us concerning the widely varied vegetation of the wilderness. They share stories of the backwoods that are a charming blend of logical certainties gathered from their preparation and the books they have perusing, and neighborhood legend from the region.

All of a sudden Alwyn hears an alert call of a langur pursued by the snorting of a deer. It is a sign that a tiger is on a lurk. A feeling of readiness holds the gathering as we drive towards the pain call. When our jeep stops, we pack onto one side of the Jeep to look outside.

Following 10 minutes, our understanding is reasonably compensated when the great feline uncovers itself to us from the thick foliage. My heart is everlastingly held by the glossy orange coat with dark stripes. Only a couple of feet away… the Royal Bengal Tiger crosses the earth street… gives us a hateful look… and evaporates again in the thick timberland. My day is made!

We at that point proceed onward to investigate the recreation center's huge assorted variety of untamed life, including Leopard, Tiger, Jungle Cat, Dhole (Wild Dog), Sloth Bear, Wild Boar, Mongoose, Gaur, Cheetal (Spotted Deer) and Sambar. When our long for Tiger satisfies, cravings for food kick in. At around 9:30 am an excursion breakfast is served in the wilderness with some hot tea or espresso. We at that point remain in the recreation center until 11 am before coming back to our base camp at Jamtara.

At night, we had an alternative to either go for the evening Safari from 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm or drench ourselves in the ancestral existences of the Jamtara town. We stroll through the town market selling a wide range of knickknacks – from silver gems to crisp vegetables. Peddlers genuinely call us as we go through the mud way with our eyes stuck on the cobs of corn, which develop richly in the region, dry in patios. Jug gourd vines climb wooden fences and tiled rooftops. We are welcomed for some steaming tea in a nearby house made up of wood and mud. As the sun sets, we come back to our camp seeing the residential dairy cattle returning home with their herders.

This was my first day of a five-day Tiger Trail in Madhya Pradesh, where Rudyard Kipling got enlivened to compose the Jungle Book. While visiting the two key national parks, Pench and Satpura, I saw an assortment of creatures and flying creatures including tigers, panthers, wild pooches, wolves, sloth bears, buffaloes, wild pigs to give some examples. Alwyn and Aly Rashid (naturalist and the proprietor of Reni Pani) continued sharing the top to bottom learning about the undulating geology and untamed life.

About the National Parks – Pench and Satpura

There are more than 1,200 types of plants in Pench and 1300 in Satpura including a few uncommon and imperiled ones. We went through a variety of vegetation extending from clammy, shielded valleys to open, dry deciduous timberland. Satpura is dissimilar to Pench, however they are only a couple of hours drive from one another. The previous is lusher and has trees greener and taller than Pench. In Pench, there are higher odds of Tiger locating, while Satpura has a lot of panthers, sloth bears, monster Malabar squirrels, and transitory winged animals. Pench is best investigated on jeep safaris, Satpura can be investigated by walking, pontoon, jeep or elephant.

Past the untamed life

Each night, we shared our accounts of creature sightings as the tidbits and beverages made the rounds around the blaze. Furthermore, every night a fortunate individual got an opportunity to rest under the stars in the Star Bed – a glitzy machan in fields at Jamtara Camps. The Star Bed experience is a wellspring of salary for neighborhood ranchers, and 80 percent of the staff are procured from encompassing towns.

Truth be told, it was here I became more acquainted with how profound established organization's history is in protection. Proprietor Amit Sankhala's granddad – Kailash Sankhala – was the person who begun Project Tiger, a preservation program in India in 1973. Furthermore, the heritage has developed as far back as then with his child Pradeep Sankhala assuming control over the charge of the Tiger Trust after his dad's passing and setting up eco-accommodating Jungle lodges. Also, presently Amit is holding the post effectively.

Nourishment is either developed nearby or sourced locally from the encompassing farmlands. Goods are produced using reused wood, every characteristic item are utilized where conceivable, and visitors are given a tempered steel bottle for sifted water.

In any case, it wasn't only the national stops and camps that intrigued me. I was astonished by the real protection and network advancement works of Jamtara Wilderness Camps and Reni Pani Jungle Lodge. In addition to the fact that they provide an extraordinary Jungle safari experience interface you with the neighborhood networks that call these remote zones home and assume a crucial job in protecting the national woods. Both Jamtara and Reni Pani resorts supply school work areas and different things to the network and assume a functioning job in Tiger preservation.

I had gone to focal India to dispose of my movement blues yet I wound up observing so much common excellence and good omens in untamed life the travel industry – on account of edified law-production, a couple of submitted people, and some genuinely great cabins.

Things being what they are, when are you heading on a Tiger Trail in Madhya Pradesh?

Travel Essentials

Where to Stay in Pench

While there is a wide range of settlement alternatives accessible in the Pench National park territory, I profoundly prescribe remaining at eco-accommodating hotel Jamtara Wilderness Camps arranged in the Village of Jamtara, close Pench National Park. There are 10 extravagance safari tents with en-suite restrooms and private verandah, open air and indoor parlors, library, valet stopping, pool and clothing. Rooms are outfitted with free sifted water, tea-and espresso making offices, boiling water bottles, cooling and Soultree shower items. There are no TVs and no WiFi or versatile sign all through this remote, eco-accommodating camp.

Where to remain in Satpura Tiger Reserve

As of late, the Satpura National Park has seen the blooming of a few boutique wilderness lodges. Among these, the Reni Pani Jungle Lodge is best in class. Situated in an immaculate backwoods common of the Satpuras, it gets its name from the neighboring innate town. Reni Pani highlights twelve extravagance bungalows enveloping three particular structural plans.

The nallah units, the backwoods units and the slope units are altogether assembled utilizing nearby/indigenous material and are portrayed by survey decks, huge relaxing narrows windows and extravagance restrooms. The 'GolGhar' or the gathering place, has an interesting and one of a kind plan and highlights an eating territory, a bar, a library and a parlor set in its different corners. Its actual woodland condition combined with neighboring patches of rural land make Reni Pani and its encompassing territories a hotbed for creatures and flying creatures.

The most effective method to arrive

The Pench National Park is all around associated via air, street and railroads

By Flight: Arrival to Nagpur, Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport (130 km away) or Jabalpur Airport (213 km away) from any significant Indian city.

By Rail: The closest railhead to Pench is Seoni Railway Station, which is around 30 km from the Pench National Park and has ordinary trains interfacing the spot to Mumbai and different spots.

By Road: Pench lies on the Nagpur-Jabalpur parkway and is effectively open by transports and cabs. Take a transport or a taxi from Seoni transport remain to the Pench National. Seoni is connected to all spots in Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra by a decent system of Roadways. In the event that you intend to take the transport from Nagpur, you should get down at Suktara or Khwasa.

The Satpura National Park is a 3.5hr/130km drive from Bhopal. Bhopal is all around associated via air, rail and street to real Indian urban communities.

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thecreativeangel · 6 years ago

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aut neca aut necare: I

Peter Parker x Fem!Reader

*Please don’t plagiarize my work, thank you :3*

Summary: Spidey believes in her, although he was his doubts about her intentions. If she’d known those doubts would be her downfall she’d have acted better.

Warnings: Cursing, implied bullying, but this is actually pretty fluffy. For now.

Words: 1,908

Prologue Next Chapter

Kimberly wasn’t the only looming threat to you anymore. I mean, she’s up there. You thought. She’s like in the top five. Maybe three. Your fingers tingled with energy all the time now, as if any movement too sudden would trigger a chain reaction. It already happened a few times; you would let go and something in the room would fly into a wall and shatter. That was only at your apartment thought; your mother was yet to see these new abilities, thank god. So far, you’d gotten through most of school without an accident. It didn’t help that Kimberly was in half your classes, eyes boring into the back of your head.

“You okay?” Peter asked softly, poking your arm. Your head snapped at the sound of his voice, another thing you hadn’t learned to control: the odd but pleasant fluttering in your chest when he spoke. A feeling that, by the way, someone shouldn’t be having for her best friend. Despite your face heating up, you convinced yourself it was nothing. Maybe I’m getting sick. Mum did forget to stop by the drug store. She probably didn't go on purpose, just ‘cause we had that fight...

“Yeah. Just tired.”

“Cool, cool.” Peter mumbled, somewhat awkward. He glanced sideways at you from his book. “You can talk to me, y’know? The whole lab accident made you, uh, quiet.”

“I’m fine, Peter.”

“I know.” He defended, earning a glare from the librarian. “I’m only reminding you that we’ve been best friends for six-”

“Seven.”

“Seven years now.” He finished, closing his book. “If you don’t tell me all your secrets then I’m- I’m just plain hurt, (Name).”

He feigned pain and you flicked his cheek, chuckling under your breath. “Okay you cocky asshole, I got it. Nothing’s wrong, ‘m fine.”

You felt Kimberly’s eyes on you once again, even without looking back. They felt like lasers on the back of your head, slowly burying into your skull. The bell rang and you hopped up, grabbing your pre-packed backpack and tapping your foot as Peter got his.

“See you tomorrow Peter!”

You burst through the school’s back door, already excited for later tonight. Sure, your “super-suit” was handmade and obviously stitched together, but it let you wander the streets of Queens at night without being detected.

“Spidey!” You shouted joyfully, dangling your legs over the side of the building. The Bug Boy landed beside you gracefully, probably showing off his skill. He was already a two years into being Spiderman, and had figured out all the possible secrets in his new suit.

“Hey.” Spidey said, trying and failing to casually lean against some support railing. His elbow slipped and he stumbled, managing to catch himself before a faceplant. You laughed loudly, slightly muffled by your mask. Spidey’s eyes widened with embarrassment, making you laugh even harder. The only non-perfected part of his suit were the eyes; they were comical and expressive, hardly fitting his new “darker, more mature” look.

“Are you sure you’re a trained super?” You ask as he plops down beside you.

“Pshh! Shut up.”

He’s pouting playfully under his mask, you can tell. “Aren’t you gonna teach me something today?”

“Oh yeah! Right. How’s your flying?”

You turned away to look at the skyline, the sun barely peeking from behind skyscrapers. Of course the smokestacks in the distance were less than ideal, but they, along with the smog they created, were a black outline against a fiery sunset. You could feel Spidey’s lenses focus on you, and you wondered why he bothered to look at you when the sky was this beautiful. “I...haven’t really tried it since last time?”

“Wh- Sunshine, you said you’d practice!”

You lifted the bottom of your mask and stuck out your tongue. “Don’t call me sunshine!”

“Alright Sunshine. Wanna go practice?”

“Oh fuck you.”

Spidey giggled, already standing on the ledge. “How very hurtful. C’mon, show me your progress.”

You looked down over the ledge, the dumpster at the bottom looking more and more disgusting by the second. Spidey gave you a thumbs up. Rolling your eyes, you pushed yourself off the ledge.

Oh.

Oh god.

Oh no-

Time slowed down as you fell, the wind rushing through your open fingers. Your eyes watered, but you kept going. Spiderman sat anxiously at the top of the building, waiting to swing down and catch you when you screamed the codeword for stop. Despite the wind pushing against your chest, you managed to breathe in and concentrate as the asphalt grew closer and closer. You were less than two stories away from the ground and then-

Your body dissolved into dark blue smoke. Spidey whooped once and threw himself off the ledge, swinging after you. You traveled in a sort of billowing smoke, not really a cloud but not mist. The smoke flew low over the ground, out of the alley and onto a road and- Headlights emerged out of nowhere. You veered up to avoid a truck, momentarily transforming back to human form mid-air, two stories over the bustling road. You began to drop, flailing your limbs like a trapped bug, trying to get back into smoke form.

“Spidey!” You screamed, preparing to be flattened by the ground and then run over by a car. A web stuck to your back, yanking you up like a bungee jumper. One arm hooked around your waist and pulled you to a nearby fire escape.

“You okay?” Spidey asked frantically, patting you down for wounds. You wrinkled your nose inside your mask, still breathing heavily from the fall. Sometimes Spiderman sounded suspiciously like Peter. The way he said things, his funny accent, the little stutter he had all reminded you of Peter. But Spidey obviously wanted his identity a secret, and you did yours.

“Perfect.” You wheezed out. “A bit winded.”

“That was great though!” He exclaimed. “You were flying! It doesn’t obey any laws of science but that is the coolest shit I’ve ever seen!”

You clung to the railing of the fire escape, red paint chips sticking to your sweaty palms. “I looked like a Death Eater back there!”

One of Spidey’s eyes got wider while the other squinted, meaning he was raising an eyebrow at you. Cheeky shit. “You looked like a blue cloud.”

“Oi! Don’t ruin my fun.”

The truck you almost ran into was backing up into oncoming traffic, having driven out of its lane to avoid hitting you. The driver, along with people from several other cars, were cursing loudly at each other, almost completely forgetting the weird girl who fell from the sky. Ah, New York. What a magical place. You were about to suggest another go when several black vans drove past the building, all of them following a sleek sports car. Spiderman and you shared a look and nodded. You were about to jump from the fire escape when he put an arm forward to stop you.

“Maybe I should carry you.” He suggested, smirking playfully under his mask.

“I can’t have you carry me every time Spidey!” You whined. He slipped an arm around your waist again.

“Only until you get a hold of your powers Sunshine.” He said, already swinging off the fire escape and onto the streets. He swung after the vans, the streets becoming narrower and dirtier as they sped into the beacy area of Brooklyn. You realized before him that the vans were heading towards the docks, and that they were probably carrying some sort of cargo.

Spiderman landed on a storage container and let you down, both of you crouching down to see men in dark clothing get out of the vans. They opened the back of their vans, beginning to unload crates and odd shapes wrapped in sheets.

“What d’you think they’re handling?” Spidey whispered, his eyes glued to the men. You shrugged, watching them walk with the heavy objects across the dock and to a good container boat.

“You dealt with somethin’ like this before, right?” You whispered back. “With Adrian Toomes? Looks like they’re doing the same thing.”

“Hopefully not.”

The built-in phone inside his suit rang, and Spiderman mumbled a sorry to you before accepting the call with a simple voice command, which was incredibly cool. You heard the distant chatter of a woman. Spiderman nodded a couple times and ended the call.

“Shit, sorry,” He apologized, aiming his wrist at the storage container the two of your were hiding on. “Gotta go. I- I’ll stick a tracker on this thing so we don’t get lost t’morrow.”

“No, I’ll do that.” You said. “D’you have the more easily tracked devices Tony Stark gave you?”

“You- shouldn’t have that…” He said uncertainly.

“I’m not going to die if you give me on of your gadgets, Spidey. Cough it up.”

“What do you need it for?” He asked suspiciously, narrowing his eyes at you.

“I’m going to stay back and set it up on this container.” You lied easily, not having to think twice. “It takes time, right? Not as simple as your old trackers.”

He typed something into his wrist and a little mechanical spider hopped onto your hand, crawling around in small circles. “Alright… Be careful. Don’t hurt yourself! Don’t die!”

You rolled your eyes. “Bye Spandex.”

He jokingly flipped you off and climbed off the container, silently swinging back to the city. You poked the little spider in your hand, watching it scurry around, waiting for directions. “C’mon little guy. Let’s get you in position.”

You double tapped the spider’s abdomen and it froze, a little holographic projection being played from its eight eyes. Ducking down lower, you began to type out directions to the reactive machine, selecting the camera, GPS and heat/chemical sensitivity options. You double tapped the bug again and it sprung back to life, jumping off your palm and running to the men unloading cargo. Sliding a finger over the silver cuff on your wrist, you were able to see a hologram from the spider’s point of view, as well as several maps and body temperature signals.

“Perfect.” You whispered gleefully as the spider crawled up a man’s pant leg. A piece of loose rusted metal skidded away when your foot hit it, creating a loud metal ‘clunk’.

“Who’s out there?” One of the men called out, walking closer to your container. He carried a gun in hand, his finger pressuring the trigger. You tried to crawl off the back of the container but the man scaled it in an instant, noticing you as you jumped onto another stack of crates.

“Someone’s been watching!” was all you needed to know before you started to sprint, leaping from crate to shipping container to, finally, the ground. The man from before fired a shot at the ground, narrowly missing your feet. Come on! You urged yourself. Now would be a great time for me not to fail at smoke form! You dodged another shot which hit an old boxcar train only inches away. For a few seconds your fear was replaced by anger; these men were firing bullets at a kid. Then of course, you remembered that your suit masked everything, including your age. You felt your body become light as it took smoke form, flying higher into the city.

The men shouted threats into the night sky, and a single camera flash went off before you disappeared behind an office building.

Tags List: @4-a-m, @miss-glitch, @runs-with-sciss0rs,

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thong-in-the-twist · 7 years ago

Text

Persona (non) grata

Summary: oldie but goldie - police&criminal!AU

You’ve learnt not to talk about certain things at a pretty young age. You didn’t understand that back then. Children don’t understand why they are not allowed to say some things. They take the censorship at the face value – it’s just another thing that parents impose on you, like wearing pants and washing your teeth. Another stupid rule to make your life a little more boring. To make you more like them.

But then you’ve learnt that you are one of those few whose censorship is stronger than the rest.

Take the simple question: what your parents do? It’s an easy question, that is being asked a lot at a certain age. It’s greeted with smiles and proud answers, and follow-up questions whether you want to be like your mom, your dad, your whoever.

Your answer was usually greeted with small oh and awkward stares. If you were lucky.

If you weren’t, it resulted with parents forbidding their kids to play with you.

That’s what you get when your parents are criminals.

They weren’t bad parents. You were fed, and loved, and clothed, and scolded, and raised – but the money supporting the family came from various sources, none of them totally white, totally legal.

Up till the end of the primary school you even had a permanent place of residence, your parents, though shady, part of the community.

Until the big job came around, and with it big money, and pretty nice wanted poster, which your parents still keep as a weird family photo. They were proud.

They were loaded and proud, and you were loaded and lonely. Except for constant police surveillance. As if you parents were stupid enough to appear in front of you. They left you with squeaky clean laundered money, and arrays of house ladies to cook, to clean, maybe even to raise you.

But you didn’t go around answering questions like: who are your parents? Why they never come to see you?

You met him for the first time in front of the building of your high school. Half of the kids came with their proud parents, and you passed them indifferently. Even if one day you felt a pang at that, it wasn’t there anymore. And your mom called you in the morning to wish you good luck on the secured line.

You weren’t dysfunctional family – just – different.

And there the boy was, all smiley and happy, kind of embarrassed to be driven to school by the parents, waving them away. His father patted him on the back, mother kissed his cheek – looking smart and professional in her fitted suit. She sported high ponytail, that made you kind of want to replicate that.

Your eyes locked with boy’s father as you were passing them, and you bowed politely, and he narrowed his eyes at you, while mother squeezed her son’s shoulder. The boy himself spotted the sudden interest of his parents behind him, and he turned around to look at you.

You winked at him, earning yourself an uncomfortable cough from the cop that used to be part of your surveillance team, and detective that is probably still on the force trying to catch your parents (as soon as they are back from the non-extradition country that are currently at).

The boy takes to eyeing you. In the beginning you only met on corridors, since you were in a different classes, but every time you saw him, he was looking at you with a curiosity chiseled into his futures – soon enough everyone believed he had a crush on you.

But you knew better.

Either he didn’t know why would you greet his parents, and he was dying to find out, or he knew and he saw you like this curious specimen, the abandoned child of thieves.

This changed in the second year, because you ended up in the same classroom. It took him three days, before he was sliding on the chair in front of you during a break, chin resting on the backrest. He looked at you until you looked up.

“Yeah?” You asked, trying to sound as withdrawn as possible. He narrowed his eyes at you, but then he smiled, relaxing his face.

“So… What’s the deal with you?”

You didn’t answer back then, and you didn’t answer hundred questions that came after the first one. And he kept trying. He kept pestering you day after day, week after week, month after month, apparently deaf to all the kids’ teases about his helpless crush.

And boy, was he persistent.

You told your mom about him, and she laughed and laughed, and then called your father to say how hilarious it would be if their son-in-law was son of the cops.

You didn’t join in with the laughter.

He stopped pestering you in the third year. After vacations he came back taller, way taller than you remembered him, and his face lost most of his childish appeal – making way for sharp angles and pronounced bones.

His eyelashes were always dark and nice, but suddenly they started catching your interest.

But he no longer came to slide on the seat in front of you, or next to you, whichever was empty to ask you who you were. Now he was sitting down at his own desk, with open book, studying as hard as he could. It wasn’t weird – he wasn’t the only one to do that, you were seniors after all.

You didn’t make much out of it – you weren’t that keen on studying, that’s the only thing your parents couldn’t force you to do. They were making more money stealing than 90% of university graduates.

So while your classmates were studying you found a new group to hang out with. With fake id in your hand you were learning the hedonistic ways of life. Clubs, karaoke bars, even your own house. All was the place for debauchery.

But you quietly attended your classes, more to make sure that they didn’t have a reason to call for your parents (because it would be a hell to pay for you if they did) than to receive the education. You had to suffer through countless consultations about your future, what you should study, where you should study. It took one outburst of my parents are criminals, no need for me to study for your teachers to never take you on one of those again.

Somewhere in the middle of the year you overheard your room teacher talking to your math teacher about how curious the life is. To have in one class the kids of both cops and criminals, with both of them wanting to follow in their parent’s footsteps.

That’s how you learnt that Haein was studying to become a cop.

His parents came to the graduation. Yours didn’t. You greeted them just like you did back on the first day of high school, and Haein looked at you, old curiosity sparked anew. His parents were as taken aback as they were those three years before, but even you couldn’t spoil their day.

After taking pictures with parents and friends he ran after you. He asked for a photo, and it was a first time he asked you something different than what’s your deal, so you said yes. You smiled and raised victory sign to your face as you looked into his camera.

He smiled brightly, head tipped to your side, took picture and thanked you afterwards.

You saw him again two years later, while out in the club. The night wasn’t any different from those countless before. You didn’t know why he happened to be in this club, but at the same you didn’t know why you were in this particular club either. It seems like things like that just happen.

You saw him, or rather he saw you, when you pushed in next to him at the bar, laughing with a random guy you met a moment before.

You waved the bartender and turned to the guy, when you heard your name spoken with a note of doubt. You turned around to face the caller, Haein, whose face lit up when he saw you.

You did the talk. How are you, how is life, what have you been doing? Your answers were short and brisk, but it didn’t put him off. It seemed like he genuinely wanted to know how you were.

You learned that police academy was coming along quite well.

Your dancing partner for the night ordered shots, and forced one into your hand. You took it as a rescue it was. You downed it, and threw a short see you around, and drugged the guy back to the dance floor.

Next time you saw him it was a rather awkward meeting.

Your car was hit by another car, while Haein was out on his patrol, and he happened to see it – so he forced the driver to wait for the owner of damaged car (you), since it seemed to be really luxurious. Because it was.

Nearly five years passed since you graduated high school, but neither of you changed. His face lit up when he saw you, and the sheer wonder at your car made you uncomfortable. Maybe it wasn’t best money could buy, but it was pretty close.

It’s been really long since your parents’ money started making money. At the same time your money, were making money as well, all in legal investments. You were managing the legal part of your parents’ empire – not being allowed to touch anything that wasn’t perfectly legal or squeaky clean.

You settled with the other driver quickly, and he drove away as soon as he can, leaving you with Haein. He looked like a model citizen in his uniform, reminding you of boy scout. He eyed your car long enough for you to grow uncomfortable.

“I know it’s been years…” He said suddenly, turning to you while you drank vending machine coffee on the street, leaning against street railing. “But seriously, what’s the deal with you?”

You shrugged, not answering, and you downed your coffee, ready to hit the road.

You father slipped. It was bound to happen, sooner or later, and you were surprised it lasted so long. Most of the empire came tumbling down, your mother fleeing on her own, but you didn’t worry. Not much anyway. Your mother would be fine, settling in a new place, forming her new kingdom, your investments were safe, and your father… At least you knew that for the first time in years you’d be able to see him anytime you wanted.

In prison, after a fair trial. Obviously. He joked that it was his retirement.

But he could still be acquitted. Things like that did happen too.

But you got called in for questioning. It was something you couldn’t just skip and even if you considered it unnecessary hassle, and you still had to go.

You were prepped half of your life for this to happen, so you didn’t flinch when they led you to interrogation room. You sat at the table on the uncomfortable chair, not having to try to look bored. You were bored.

And you knew that they were trying to shake you up by leaving you alone for prolonged period of time – probably looking at you though the mirror.

When the door finally opened and detective came in, you were in for a surprise. Or maybe you expected that?

Haein looked a little shaken, and though his face did not lit up, his eyes looked as if they did. He sat down in front of you, his eyes snapping to the mirror, and it made you wonder whether his mother was behind the glass. After all her team was the one to catch your father in the end.

Which made you wonder where in the force was Haein’s father right now.

“Congrats on your promotion.” You said, and he looked up surprised, and he smiled a little, before he schooled himself realizing he shouldn’t have done that.

“Well, thank you. I would like to ask some questions, if you wouldn’t mind?” He said, trying to be serious, and you smiled.

“Ask away, but you do know, since, well, we’ve known each other for quite a long time, that while I don’t mind you asking, I am not about to answer anything.” Haein snickered a little, his eyes jumping to the mirror, as if checking if people behind it saw him lose control.

After that he was all professional. Asking questions, one by one, and you refused to answer every single one of them. It was a dreary and dull process, but finally you were done.

“Well, at least now, I know what was the deal with you.” He said as he walked you out. You said nothing, but at the main entrance you stopped, and asked the very first question of your own.

“Was my family a frequent guest in your family’s dinner discussions?” Haein smiled apologetically.

“Yeah.”

Courtroom is filled to the brim. Reporters, reporters and reporters, with miscellaneous crowd thrown in the mix, they are all here to see your father, and usually – to see the justice be served.

Your father looks old. Older. And tired. Way more tired than when you saw him for the last time. Was it junior high? High school? You don’t remember really. You exchanged photos, and they did contact you on a weekly basis, but to see him in real life – that was first in ages.

And people gawked at you as well. The daughter of the criminal. Filthy rich daughter of the criminal, still walking free, but probably she’s next in line. How bold of her to come here. How bold of her to be in this sacred place, where the justice will be served.

You’d like to say that it bothered you. That you feel the modicum of shame. The truth is – you don’t. You are not ashamed of your father. You are not ashamed of being in the courtroom.

To see the justice be done.

Although you are not sure that it will be done.

Police with prosecutors froze your father’s assets. But they didn’t froze neither yours nor your mothers (and it’s not like they found all of your father’s accounts anyway). So your family, in the world where money is power, wasn’t powerless.

Of course he had the best lawyer. Not in town, no. Your mother flew him into the country, to ensure that your father would be back with her in less than a year.

And you came to see if it was possible.

You notice Haein sitting in the first row, probably to serve as a witness.

Sure enough somewhere in the middle of the pre-trial, he is called to the witness stand, and your father sends you a surprised glance. You shrug, even though you are surprised that he remembered about the boy that used to pester you in high school.

Haein catches up with you after the trial. You don’t greet him, but you allow him to fall in step with you.

“You saw your father.” He says, hands in his pockets.

He looks nice in the formal uniform. Better. Taller. More responsible. You still remember him in the fluorescent traffic vest.

“I did.” You answer, moving your bag to your other arm. You have no idea why, but you didn’t like it being between the two of you.

As if he could steal something from you.

“You’ll be able to see him more often now, I guess.” If it wasn’t Haein, smiley, clueless Haein, you’d consider the sentence offending. You’d stop, and you’d put on your sassy attitude to put down the person trying to undercut you.

“I will enjoy it, while it lasts.” You say, because that is what you plan to do. His hand suddenly grabs your arm and he jerks you to stop.

“What does it mean?” He asks. You are taken aback, and you brush away his hand, and he seems embarrassed when his hand drops to his side.

“It means that you are not going to put him away, Haein.”

You stop going to see your father trial after the third day. It’s a sad play really.

They try, oh boy, do they try. Evidence after evidence, expert after expert, witness after witness, and the lawyer throws them out one after another. It’s methodical, meticulous, and really, sad to watch. The frustration in the court is palpable, judge pleading the prosecutor to bring something undefeatable. Reporters ceasing stopping with their stories, because of the unsatisfying plotline.

It’s never fun when the bad guys win.

Money. There is nothing more powerful than money.

You are being cynical, but it’s hard not to in the world that you found yourself in.

Haein comes to you. It’s surprising, really. You don’t remember if he ever reached out to you on his own. He usually came to you when you were in the vicinity anyway.

But you don’t show how surprised you feel, when you assistant leads him into your office. Office which looks like CEO’s office.

Because that’s who you are.

“Haein.” You greet him, as you never did, and his eyes snap to you, and he nods. He looks like detective, but it shouldn’t be surprising – he is one.

You sit in the armchair, and he sits on the couch. He says yes to proposed coffee, and you sit in silence waiting for your assistant. He looks out of the window in the meantime, clearly impressed with the view.

You look at Haein.

He is fidgety. Not like him. He doesn’t want to be here. Or he doesn’t want to say what he is about to.

Coffee comes, and he finally looks at you.

“Did your mother send you?” You ask before he gathers himself enough to speak. He blinks and takes a sip of your coffee. Your own blend.

You take the cup in your hand, but you don’t drink. You warm your hands.

“Yeah.” He says, when he realizes that you are not going to let him avoid the topic.

“To talk me into testifying against my father?” You pose it as a question, but it is a statement.

“Yes.” He answers after a moment of silence. His voice is quiet, when he does it.

You exhale, you put the cup down on the saucer and you stand up, Haein looking after you as you walk through your office.

“Does she know that we are in no relationship, that would justify this kind of plea?” You ask, rhetorically, and you stop at the doors, opening them for him.

He looks taken aback and shaken, and you don’t understand that. What did he expect after coming to ask to snitch on your father. He gathers himself and stands up.

“I think she realizes that I’m open to the idea.”He says, as he walks to you.”Maybe it’s her way of punishing me for that.”

He walks out, and turns on his heel.

“Goodbye, Haein.” You say flatly, closing the doors, not addressing the confession you just received.

Come to think of it, it’s not surprising. Not surprising at all. You should have expected it sooner. Maybe even back in high school.

Maybe he had a crush on you back then, and he tried to get over it after you graduated – but you were constantly appearing in his life. For a moment, with long periods of not existing in his life, but often enough to throw him of his track.

Or maybe that was his trick to somehow force you into testifying against your father.

Which would be really futile.

It isn’t only about you two being family, and you being loyal – you actually know nothing about the crime he committed. It happened years ago, before you went to junior high, and the statue of limitations is only few years from now. You know nothing.

But it’s still inappropriate for him to even consider asking.

To national outrage, your father goes free. For the first time in years, he can freely walk on the land that belongs to your country.

At least until they find some new evidence. Or he commits another crime and gets caught. Which is unlikely at this point.

In his own words, which he utters to you before flying back to reunite with your mother, he won’t do anything that would jeopardize him walking you down the aisle during your wedding.

Which would be lovely, if he didn’t ask about Haein back there.

You don’t know. You saw him briefly during the last day of the trial, looking pale while sitting next to his fuming mother.

He still looked dashingly handsome.

It’s weird how easy it is to fall back and live your life the way one used to.

Except is not.

Haein’s confession wasn’t explicit or romantic in any way, but it is all that occupies your mind, when you go out clubbing, when you went go out on dates, when you work, when you shop, when you rest.

It’s there. Constant maddening reminder of… What exactly?

A person that sees you in you, despite coming from different family.

Or so you explain to yourself.

But you don’t seek him out. You are in no position to do so, and your pride wouldn’t allow you to do so. And now, with nearly two decades of you living on your own, having a company is not high on your list of priorities. It seems more like a choir.

Your parents take on asking about Haein with every call. They are still using the secure line, your father got away with not-murder, but no one is about to push your luck to check whether your mother could repeat the trick.

It’s like high school all over again, with your parents being as persistent as Haein once was.

Another criminal was caught. Embezzling money, bribes, black market. One arrest shook the world of others like him.

He is a businessman. Owner of his own company.

Company that you used to deal with – sometimes.

The moment you see the news, you call your legal department to leave some special instructions – because search and seize warrant is a possibility.

But you are a gambler, and you are quite sure, it’s not going to happen.

Haein comes. With few police officers and another detective. Your assistant leads them in, except for the officers – no reason for you to entertain the pawns. You are drinking coffee when they enter, already sitting in the armchair, and you refuse to stand up to greet them.

Not when they arrive hostile.

“I’m willing to cooperate.” You say, putting the cup on the saucer. Haein and the other detective exchange glances. The stranger looks wary, but Haein, smiley, clueless Haein doesn’t.

He smiles, and comes to sit down on the couch, asking if he could get a cup of the amazing coffee he had here last time. The stranger approaches slowly, as if not understanding what was happening.

You call for your assistant and you decide for the other detective and you get two coffees for them.

This time you exchange empty pleasantries with them, while waiting for their coffees.

You allow them to take a sip of the beverage, before you speak up.

“How can I help you?”

The other detective sputters, and he immediately puts his coffee down, while Haein seems to enjoy it.

“Ma’am…” Starts the stranger, but you don’t really want to listen to him.

“Before you say anything, I want you to understand, that, by default, I am quite distrustful of the police force. Which I hope is not surprising.” You say, Haein seems thoughtful as he analyses your words. The other one seems just taken aback.

But before he says anything, Haein turns to him slowly, and subtly shows him the doors.

Even if the detective feels insulted, he doesn’t show that.

“So…” Prompts Haein, after the doors behind the spare one closes.

“I prepared all the documentation regarding my company’s dealings with the defendant.” You say, fixing yourself in the armchair, your body turning more to Haein.

He blinks, once, twice, and then smiles.

“How about preparing the documentation regarding your dealing with feelings for me?”

You blink, once, twice, and then you laugh.

You kissed him right there, back then. The thing itself wasn’t new. You kissed and fucked fair share of men in your life, and the basics felt pretty similar.

But having Haein be the one to stare at you, when you pulled away, forehead against forehead – that was new and exciting.

Soon enough information is out that you and your company is clear, nothing illegal in your documents. You know that, and you knew that before – because you stayed clear of anything illegal in your life.

Except for your parents and their money.

But what was yours in paper? It was legal.

“I don’t think it’s a good idea.” Whispers Haein, and you ignore him, like you used to do so many times back in high school.

However, for the first time in your life, you probably should acknowledge him. But with all your respect (or lack of thereof ) to armed forces there are things that you always wanted to do.

And detective boyfriend is your… Permit.

“Really not a good idea.” He whispers, looking around his shoulder.

“The more you talk the longer it takes.” You whisper back sternly, and he turns back to stare at you, and you stare back at him. It last long enough for him to deflate a little, obviously realizing that you are not going to change your mind.

But when he rolls his eyes you can see the shadow of a smile on his lips.

“Ok, let’s get on with it.”

As if he’d really be able to say no to you sucking him off in a cell.

“Are you into roleplay?”

That is not an appropriate question to be asked in your office, so you look up from your computer screen. You are sitting at your desk, and Haein is sprawled on one of your couches with cup of coffee in front of him. His notebook and pen are laying on the coffee table, and there is also an open file, but you refuse to look at it.

Haein’s head is resting on the backrest, and he looks at you quite thoughtful. You don’t answer, trying to show him that it’s not a question to ask in your office.

His head rolls back, and he looks at the ceiling.

“I guess you are.” He mumbles, and you raise your eyebrows. You say nothing focusing back on your work. “You did get me off in the cell.”

“That doesn’t mean that I’m into roleplay though.” You say dismissively.

“Yeah.” He agrees. In the silence that follows you manage to write an email, and you nearly forget about the topic, when he follows: “that would be awesome, though.”

“Oh, really?” You ask, suddenly interested in the conversation.

“Yeah.” He says, and his eyes are sparkling, a smile tugging at his lips. “Cause I thought about officially introducing you to my parents, and that would require us playing role of upstanding citizens.”

Through the mirage of emotions, the most baffling one is your appreciation of him using the pronoun “us.

“Are your parents flying in?” It turns out Haein likes to ask you questions when you are in no mood to answer them. It was true years ago, and it’s true now.

You turn the page in your book.

“Well, my father is flying in.” You answer. Which should be obvious – it’s not like you are going to walk yourself down the aisle. Haein, smiley, not so clueless anymore, Haein, grabs your hand and kisses the engagement ring. You know that his way to show that he understood what you tried to imply.

“Is your mother flying in?”

Your mother is flying in. She would never skip your wedding, that’s for sure. But the thing is, with half of Haein’s department, and half of yours city police invited, it’s not like she is going to be sitting at one of the tables at the reception.

But you’ve worked it out. Your family has means to do weird shit.

“Nooo…” You say, and you actually look up from your book. Haein laughs at you.

“Oh my god, you used to be a better liar.” You close the book on your thumb, and you hit him with it.

“Well, I’m not going to tell you that!” You say indignantly.

“C’mon, that’s unfair!” He says, but to be sure he grabs the book out of your hand and puts it away. You are not happy with that, since you don’t know the page, but then he is hugging you, and bring you close, and you hit his arm, annoyed. “I want your mother to be there! She is going to be my mother-in-law!”

“I am pretty sure that your mother wants her at our wedding just as much.”

Haein doesn’t have to consider that even for a moment.

You both know that is one hundred percent true.

“One, two, three, and… smile!” You smile, but as soon as the photo is taken, you look to the side annoyed. Your father shrugs apologetically.

You had no idea that your family is so big!

And that half of them are criminals just like your parents (which horrified Haein informed you about, as soon as they started gathering). It is going to be one hell of a wedding, really. One half of the wedding hall filled with cops, the other with not-so-upstanding-citizens.

Haein’s head appears in the doors, and he pauses for a second when he sees you. He saw you in the wedding dress few times already, but the pure admiration does wonders on your ego.

He came to tell, that it’s about to start.

Well, sure as hell it won’t start without you, but you nod, feeling the adrenaline strike. Haein doesn’t go immediately, opting to stay a second longer, biting his lip, and you smile at him, brightly, feeling how happiness bubbles in your gut, and you wave him away.

In like half an hour he is going to be yours.

Your father offers you his arm, and you look at him in need of reassurance.

He pats your hand on his arm, and together you leave the room you’ve been confined in for the last few hours, and you walk together down the empty corridor. You need to stop yourself from fidgeting on your heels, but it’s really exciting and nerve-wracking to be standing in front of the double winged doors, knowing that there is Haein waiting for you at the end of the aisle on the other side.

The moment you the doors open, you realize that you were right about having one hell of a wedding.

Your mother decided to just show up. Wanted criminal sitting at the close family places, just next to the aisle, across from Haein’s mother. The top detective trying to catch your mother.

But the music is playing, and you go down the aisle, with your father at your side, and Haein looking at you with eyes bright, and broad smile, and that’s all you wanted to see.

Although you can still see your mother waving smugly to Haein’s mother and you realize that it’s not going to be good.

Hell breaks loose after the vows. The moment the rings are on, and Haein and you (now husband and wife) kiss, Haein’s parents stand up – probably to clap, but that alarms your mother and she bolts upright and runs out of the building.

Immediately half of the Haein’s part of the wedding hall jumps to their feet to go after her, to what your own family reacts by standing up to stop them.

In seconds you and Haein are left alone in the wedding hall. He is still holding you, and your hands are still on his nape as you look at all the empty space. You can hear people shouting outside, and you can here running and cars, and police sirens, and that is just ridiculous.

You turn your head to look at Haein, and he was just waiting for that.

He kisses you, slow and deep, tongue sliding along your teeth, lips pressing hard against yours.

“It’s been years since I asked that, but seeing what happened here…” He says when you finally part, and you realize that you no longer care what happened with your family (and Haein’s). From this point onwards, you two are the family. “What is the deal with you and your family?”

#jung hae in #jung haein #jung haein scenario #jung hae in imagine #jung hae in scenario #jung haein imagine #kdrama scenarios #kdrama imagine #kdrama scenario #kdrama imagines #kdrama

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