#and will my friend even see ly texts? NO! because she doesn't have to wake ip at 8 go to the beach SHE LIVES THERE BUT IVHAVE TO TO GET

[pigeonneaux]

Me yesterday at 3am : "oh no i forgot to get my train ticket for tomorrow! Better get it now teehe"

Me this morning, delightfully waken up at 7am by a chainsaw and someone putting a glass down too loud : bweh

La sncf with their silly emails : oh we deleted your train :)))) non refundable btw we hate you personally

I am going to eat glass

[6rookie-writer0110]

By your shadow

Tara Carpenter x Male Reader

Request: Could you do a tara carpenter x male reader, either scream 5 or 6, where reader is maybe a part of league of shadows and saves her from the killers, Tara knows very little about his past, both killer just looking at him in his gear, ‘and who might you be’, ‘death’ and ends up figthing Them, or something like that, either way, I love your stuff and you Can do whatever you want with this.

Tara went to see sister Sam, but they got into an argument.

“Sam, stop” Tara sighed.

“I mean it, I don't trust him. We barely know him and you don't even know what city he is from. I don't think he is good enough for you” Sam said.

“He makes me happy and I care about him a lot,” Tara said.

“Open your eyes! I think you should break up with him” Sam said.

“I’m leaving!” Tara yelled.

Tara left and she took a cab to your place. You are happy to see her but you can tell she isn't happy.

“What happened?” You asked.

“I got into an argument with Sam again. She doesn't trust you and wants me to dump you” Tara said.

“An what do you want?” You asked.

“You make me happy, Y/n, and I mean it. I haven't been this happy in a long time” Tara said.

You wrapped your arms around and kissed her head. She is holding you tight and you hold her for a few seconds.

“Can I stay the night?” Tara asked.

“Yeah, you can. I wouldn't say no to you, babe” You said.

You and Tara start to smile at each other. She went to change her clothes and she is wearing your long sleeve shirt. Then you and Tara sit and start to make dinner together.

“Y/n, what city you used to live in?” Tara asked.

“I already told you, don't you remember?” You asked.

“No, I forgot,” Tara said.

You were about to say it, but your cell phone started to ring. Tara noticed it is an unknown number but you picked it up.

“Hello...” You said.

You are being told what is your next mission and where to meet. You hang up and don't say anything about it.

“Who was that?” Tara asked.

“It was a machine, said my Amazon account is closed but it's a lie,” You said.

You put the food on the table and she knows you are lying. But she doesn't ask any questions, now you and Tara start to eat dinner.

Much later, you and Tara went to sleep. But she couldn't sleep but you are sleeping, you have your arm around her body. She starts to think about what Sam said and thinks about what she knows about you. She doesn't know a lot about you and she doesn't know when is your birthday, she starts to think what kind of relationship she is in. She gently moved your arm away from her and slowly got out of bed. You didn't notice and you didn't wake up. She grabbed your cell phone and went to the bathroom, she locked the door.

She knows your password because one time she had to use it. She went through your texts, which weren't a lot. You have online friends that you send funny memes the only texts she saw the most, were between you and her. Then she went to phone call history, she noticed a lot of unknown phone numbers. But one phone number stood out and she called it and someone picked up...

“Thank you for calling, Ray’s butcher shop. What's your next kill?” She said.

She hangs up and she downloads a tracking app, and she hides the app with the other apps. You woke up and walked towards the bathroom and you try to open the door. She got scared and quickly hides the phone in her pocket, then she opened the door.

“Hey, babe,” Tara said.

“Sorry, I didn't know you were in the bathroom” You yawned.

“I’m done” Tara smiled.

She went back to the room and you went into the bathroom. She put the phone back on the nightstand, then she got her phone and took a picture of your state ID. You come back later, then she cuddles with you again.

----

Tara has been checking your locations on her phone. She is starting to feel bad about it and she doesn't want to tell Sam about it. She texted so that you can go to her house. Before you go, you went to pick up snacks for her.

But Ghostface starts to attack Tara. She tried running towards the door but Ghostface slashed her in the stomach. She tries calling the cops then she starts to run away to the kitchen. She is panicking and crying, then she grabbed the knife and starts to move slowly. But Ghostface jumped out of nowhere and grabbed her. Ghostface stabbed her in the stomach then they start to fight. Ghostface grabbed her by the hair, then pushed her to the floor. She tries to get away but Ghostface starts to hurt her again.

You arrived at the house and you hear her screaming. You see Ghostface and you tackle Ghostface and you start to punch the killer in the face. You hear the cops but you don't stop then Ghostface slashed your cheek and then pushed you away. The killer runs away but you run towards Tara.

“Babe, I'm here now. What happened?” You said.

You add pressure to her stomach, and you hold her tight.

“It was Ghostface!” Tara cried.

Sam arrived at the house and she thinks you hurt her sister. She punched you in the face then you moved away from Tara.

“You hurt my sister!” Sam yelled.

“It wasn't me!” You yelled.

She grabbed the knife and tries to stab you. But you dodge every attack, if she wasn't Tara’s sister then you would have fought back. The cops rushed inside and told you two to stop

“He attacked my sister!” Sam yelled.

“Not true! I just got here and it was Ghostface!” You said.

But they start to arrest you and they get help for Tara. Cop took you to the police station. You start to tell them what happened and Sam went with Tara to the hospital.

Hours Later... You went to the hospital to see your girlfriend. But Sam and her friends are there and Sam is glaring at you.

“I came to see her not you,” You said.

“You should leave, Y/n,” Sam said.

“Tara, how are you feeling?” You asked.

“You should leave, Y/n,” Tara said.

“What... Why?” You said.

“I don't trust you. I don't know anything about you at all. And I don't know when is your birthday” Tara said.

“Not this again. Tara, I told you is complicated” You said.

“Y/n, just leave!” Tara yelled.

Chad put his hand on your shoulder.

“She said to leave, Y/n” Chad said.

“Touch me again, I will snap your neck into two pieces,” You said.

“You won't do anything,” Chad said.

You pushed him then he pushed you back, and everyone stepped in before you or him started to fight.

“Just leave,” Tara said.

You leave the room and rushed home.

✬ ✬ ✬ ✯

You haven't spoken to Tara in a week. You tried calling and texting but she doesn't answer back. You have been training hard and you sharpen your blades. You asked an old friend for help then you search online for Ghostface killings etc. Your friend is a cop and he managed to get the files of Ghostface for you. You start to read everything and start to put everything together so far. But you wanted to call Tara but you didn't, you think she won't believe you.

Tara has been staying with Sam and Danny but Tara mostly stays in her room. But they do try to figure out who is Ghostface. Sam thinks it's you but Tara doesn't believe that. Chad tries to convince Tara not to get back to you, but she doesn't want to talk about it.

---

Ghostface started to chase Sam and Tara. But the killers managed to attack Tara and her friends, now they need to stop the two killers. Tara called you and she is hiding in the closet

“Tara?” You asked.

“Y/n, I need you. They are back. We thought it was one but it's two or three, I don't know but they are trying to kill us” Tara cried.

“Where are you?” You asked.

“Sam’s apartment. She lives by the old theater” Tara said.

“Listen to me, just go there with your sister. I will be there soon! Okay. I will protect you and Sam” You said.

“Okay!” Tara said.

You heard Tara scream and she dropped her cell phone. You put on your suit and then your mask, and you grabbed your blades. You knew where the old theater is and you didn't waste time getting there. Sam and Tara ran to the old theater, but the killers are steps ahead of them. Sam used her gun to shoot them but she kept missing.

Ghostface chased Tara and Sam toward the edge of the balcony. Then another killer appeared.

“You would be in the movie, Sam. We just couldn't let the franchise die” Ghostface said.

“But why?” Sam asked.

Ghostface takes off the mask and they are in shock.

“Richie!?” Tara yelled.

“They keep messing up the franchise and it bothered me so much! And we had to do something about it” Richie said.

“You attacked me at my house?” Tara asked.

“Yeah, I had to do it. I got so close to seeing you bleed out but your stupid boyfriend ruined the moment for me!” Richie yelled.

The other killer takes off the mask and it's Amber.

“You are in this too?!” Sam yelled.

“Yeah, he is right about the franchise. It was fun watching you blame the wrong person for this” Amber smirked.

You arrived and threw ninja stars at their legs, they are in pain.

“A third killer!?” Tara yelled.

“No. It's just us two” Amber said.

“Who the hell are you?” Richie asked.

“Death,” You said.

Richie run towards you and he tried to stab you. But you grabbed his hand and then punched him in the face. The girls watch you fight Richie then he tried to stab you in the face but again, you grabbed his hand and snapped it in two. Richie is screaming in pain. Amber used her shotgun and you run for cover. Sam kicked Richie in the face then you throw a dagger toward Amber, it got her in the chest. Then Tara ran towards Amber and pushed the dagger deep into her chest, she starts to bleed out.

“Die, bitch!” Tara said.

She takes out the dagger and starts to stab Amber multiple times. Amber dropped to the floor and bleeds out. Then Richie grabbed Tara and pressed the knife hard against her neck.

“Come out, now or she will die! Don't think about it, Sam because one step you make then I will kill her” Richie yelled.

You come out.

“Don’t hurt her” You said.

“Take off the mask, now!” Richie screamed.

You take off the mask.

“Y/n?” Tara said.

Then you felt a gun press your head and it's Wayne Bailey.

“Put your hands up,” Wayne said.

“Fine,” You said.

You slowly put your hands behind your head, you secretly take out the hidden blade from your left wrist. You slowly turned around

“You should have stayed away, Y/n. But you still have to die” Wayne said.

“Or you can turn yourself in,” You said.

“Funny guy,” Wayne said.

You turn slowly before he pulled the trigger, you sued the hidden blade to cut his forearm. He drops the gun and screams in pain then you stabbed him in the chest. He falls to the floor then you turned around and you glare at Richie.

“You ruined everything, Y/n” Richie yelled.

He stabbed Tara in the stomach and then pushed her over the rail. But she managed to grab the rail but Richie starts to run away. You run towards Tara and you grabbed her hand. But Sam went after Richie and she took your dagger.

“Don’t let go!” You said.

“I can't hold on any longer” Tara cries.

“I got you!” You said.

You use all your strength and you pulled her over the rail. You had pressure on the wound

“I will explain later, I promise,” You said.

“You better tell me the fucking truth, Y/n,” Tara said.

You nod then you put on the mask, then go help Sam. But she killed him and she aims the gun at you.

“Are you really going to do this?” You asked.

You and Sam hear the cops running in the building. They are yelling freeze, then you used smoke bombs to escape. Sam and the cops start to cough. Sam and Tara are taken to the hospital.

✬ ✬ ✬ ✯

Tara has been in the hospital for days, while she was there you didn't call or visit her. Only Sam and her friends went to see Tara. But she has been thinking about you and the relationship, she is feeling overwhelmed.

“Has he come to visit?” Sam asked.

“No. And he hasn't called or texted me” Tara said.

“What are you going to do?” Sam asked.

“I don't know. I know you want me to break up with him” Tara said.

“Yeah, I want you to date someone else. Right now, just focus on getting better” Sam said.

“Yeah,” Tara said.

----

Tara went to your place and you are happy to see her.

“I'm sorry, I haven't called or visited you at the hospital. I wasn't sure if you wanted to see me” You said.

“I get it. Y/n, but I need you to tell me the truth and I mean everything” Tara said.

“Okay. I lied about my past because it was complicated. Since I was two years old, I was thought to be an assassin. I never experienced normal birthdays or holidays or my mom taking me to buy ice cream. I would train from dawn until nighttime or I would be forced to train without sleep. My mom and my grandpa were the leaders of the cult. And when I got older I moved around and stayed away from them. I didn't tell you because I didn't want to lose you” You said.

You went to the room and you show the outfit. Then you take out the weapons and she is speechless.

“I'm in shock,” Tara said.

“There is a reason we haven't had sex,” You said.

“Why?” Tara asked.

You take off your shirt then your pants, now you just have on your briefs. You have many scars all over your body

“I didn't feel comfortable being naked, because of my scars,” You said.

“You got the scars from the training?” Tara asked

“Yes and some from fighting my enemies,” You said.

“You don't have many friends? When I went through your phone, I saw a number and it was a butcher shop but you called over ten times” Tara said.

“No, I don't have a lot of friends. I have some online friends and one in real life. I figured out, that you went through my phone. I saw the tracking app and I deleted it. Oh about that, to make money I hunt down bad guys and kill them for a fee” You said.

“You can't be fucking serious,” Tara said.

“I’m not lying about that. If you don't want to date me then it's fine and I will understand. I don't want you to feel like I'm forcing you to date me. When I met you, I knew you are the one for me. I'm sorry I lied” You said.

She walked towards you, gently put her hand on your cheek and you slightly bend down then she starts to kiss you. You don't stop her and you are kissing her back.

“You still can be my boyfriend” Tara smiled.

“Cool. Do you want to stay? Or we can go out to eat?” You said.

“Put your clothes back on. And your scars don't change my feelings how I feel about you, Y/n and I still think you are cute” Tara said.

You start to put your clothes back on. You and Tara go out to eat while walking to the restaurant you and Tara hold hands.

[prettypinkporkchop]

hii! if you don’t mind, can i request a paul or jared x reader where the reader is a private person and he is frustrated because the reader doesn’t post them on social media or don’t show off their relationship, which makes him a little insecure and it could end with the reader reassuring and shocked because the reader didn’t mean to be so private. sorry if it’s too long lol <3

You kiss Jared on the cheek as he picks at his dinner you cooked. He seems upset. He doesn't look at you. "Babe, what's wrong?" You sit at the dinner table across from him to eat.

He looks up and looks over you. "Did you ever post those pictures of us from yesterday's date?" He asks.

"No, babe. I haven't. You know I don't post much." You giggle and take a bite of your food. You're not lying! You rarely put anything on social media. You don't have many friends or followers. Social media for you is mainly used to see what your family is up to because you're nosey (same).

He nods his head and eats his food.

-----

Jared plays with the ends of your hair, which tickles your back and wakes you up.

"Good morning." You smile and then roll over to face him. You reach up and touch his face.

"Good morning, my love." He says. He stares at your face and observes your features. His eyes wander. Your hand runs up and down his side.

"You have training today. Ready to get the day started?" You ask.

He nods his head and then rolls out of bed. You both get ready and eat something small. Emily is always cooking, so you're not worried about getting full right now.

At Emily's, you sit down at the table where Rachel is. She reaches out and shows you her phone. It's a text that Jared sent to Paul.

Jared: dude is she ashamed or something? There's pics of her but none of me or both of us.

Paul: no man. She's just private. You should know that.

Jared: I do but I thought being in love, you'd want the world to know. Because I want to show her to the world.

You look up, confused. Rachel pulls her phone back to her. She bites her lip. "I didn't realize I made him feel that way." You whisper.

"I just thought you should know. This isn't the first time he's asked Paul about this." She looks at you.

"I just don't like social media that much." You sigh.

"Oh, we know. We don't blame you. Jared doesn't understand that." She touches your wrist.

"Well, it's not a big deal, I'll just post a picture of us." You take out your phone and pull up Instagram. You post a picture of both of you from your date the other night.

----

You get out of the shower and go into your bedroom with a towel wrapped around you. Jared is sitting on the bed, watching you.

"Am I ugly?" Jared asks while you dry off and put his shirt on you.

You look at him with a stern face. "No." Is all you say. You plop down on the bed beside him. "I know what you said to Paul. You could've just told me how you felt instead of going to someone else. It's not even that deep. I posted a picture of us. The first picture or thing I've ever posted in like three years." You roll over and face the wall.

"Are you really acting petty over it?" He grabs your waist, pulling your back into him.

"No. I'm mad because you talked to Paul about it and not me. You know I literally never post anything. If it made you upset, I have NO issue at all showing you off. I love you. You're so attractive. You're mine, most of all. You're supposed to come to me with that shit." You sigh.

He lets you go and rolls over. You leave him be. You feel bad, but you're hurt he couldn't tell you. You're caught out of your thoughts when he sits up. You sit up and look at him.

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you how it made me feel. But just know, you made me feel insecure." He looks ahead of him, never making eye contact with you.

This broke your heart so bad. You grab onto him and pull him into your chest. "My sweet, Jared. I'm so sorry." You rub his shoulder.

He holds onto you and breathes in your scent, calming down. His hands grip onto his shirt that's on you.

"You shouldn't be insecure. You're the sexiest man alive." You giggle and kiss his head.

He breathes out a chuckle and just nods his head.

"I swear to you, babe. I'll kill a bitch for looking at you." You continue.

"O..okay babe." He sits up and looks at you with a concerned face.

"No other woman can look at you. Breathe the same air as you." You scarily stare at him.

He slowly backs up and nods his head. "Okay. Got it."

"I know how to fight, Cameron." You warn.

"Y-yeah. Point has been made, babe. I feel a lot better. You can stop scaring me now."

You laugh and then kiss his cheek. He smiles, shaking his head and plants kisses all over your neck. "You're so silly, my love." He whispers against your skin.

[lyon-amore]

*Jessy and Stephan (Male!MC) oneshot based on Duskwood episode 6*

    Jessy's call, showing me places in Duskwood, the market square, the church, the cafeteria, the library... I imagined Duskwood a little different, something more... Like Twin Peaks? Maybe because of everything I had heard about the town and its legends.     All day showing me Duskwood, freeing me from a day of stress because of everything that was happening. Almost no one stopped by the music store after what Lilly did, so we closed early. Seeing her smile made me feel a strange sensation. Her smile was warm and we joked. We opened up a little about our lives, getting to know her better.

    But something terrible happens while she is on her way home, talking about Thomas and Cleo trying to sneak into the basement of the Aurora.     What had been a peaceful day has ended up like a nightmare.

    "JESSY!" I screamed when I saw Jessy being attacked, it was not something I expected to see through my phone.

    I feel helpless not being able to be there with her, punching the guy who pushed her. And I'm usually peaceful, but this makes my blood boil.     The Man Without a Face picks up her phone from the ground and I see Jessy lying on the ground, unconscious.     He shows himself on camera, almost defiant.

    "You bastard..." I say through my teeth, without looking away from him, "I'm going to go after you and I'm going to finish you off, son of a bitch! I'll get you! I swear! You're not going to get away with what you did to Jessy, you fucking bastard!"

    "Jessy! Please wake up! Say something!" I shout again, worried about seeing her.

    I see that she is finally moving and I breathe a sigh of relief.

    "Are you okay?" I ask, but she doesn't answer.

    She picks up her phone and hangs up.

    As I pack up, I try to text her, worried that she hasn't answered. I also warn Thomas that Phil is going to call the police to report him and Cleo for what they did. And I decide then to make a decision: Right now, Jessy needs me. It's my fault what happened to her, I must fix it and help her.     I also text Macie, knowing that I somehow brought her into the matter and she has become friends with Jessy after they both worried about me because of what Lilly did, she deserves to know.

    I get home and Sky greets me, wagging his tail happy to see me.

    "Hello friend," I say quickly, "let's pack our suitcase_"

    "The suitcase for what?" Sophia comes down the stairs, arms crossed "Where are you going at this hour"

    "I have to go to Duskwood," I walk past her, kissing her cheek, "Jessy was attacked because of me and now she needs me."

    "What does she need from you?" I make a sound in my throat as if to nod, while I take the suitcase and some spare clothes out of the closet, even if it's just for one day.

    Sky stays waiting lying on the floor and I hear Sophia's heels enter the room.

    "You can't leave, you have to prepare the music for the video," her tone of voice is angry "Stephan," she lets out a rather strange laugh, "you owe me for everything you've put me through with your scandals."

    "I can do it another day," I answer, trying to close the suitcase, I have packed everything in due to the rush, "I can't abandon my friend now."

    "And I'm your girlfriend!" her exclamation is more of a high-pitched squeal.

    I look at her in surprise and she clears her throat.

    "Since we have been together you have always composed the music for my videos," she approaches me, placing her hands on my body, “your music is perfect, no one else can imitate it. I need your skills, Stephan."

    Why haven't I realized until now? Maybe it's because I've been afraid to ask. Like I always have. I think until now, I was blind.

    "If the only thing that has mattered to you these years since we dated is that I was your composer, then I think we should think about where we want to take this relationship," I answer, lowering my hands and patting my leg, alerting my dog, "come on, Sky."

    He gets up and follows me.

    We go down the stairs quickly and I grab the leash that's hanging on the coat rack.

    "Stephan!" I raise my head, seeing Sophia leaning on the railing of the room, "If you walk out that door I'm done with this relationship!" I squeeze my hand tightly on the doorknob, "If you're not interested in MY FUTURE and MY CAREER, consider yourself single, because I'm not going to let you ruin it for me because of that woman!"

    When Klaus introduced me to his sister, it was when we were playing together at the bar. She told me that her videos weren’t getting any views and if I could help her give it some life with my music. I agreed. We started dating after that video and I was always making the music. I always had to be available. There was no ‘Us’. It was all ‘She.’     I didn't realize she was actually using me. Maybe it's because I was the only one in love.

    "You've got charisma, Sophia," I reply as I put Sky's leash on, "I'm sure you can do it without me."

    "I've always supported you," I see how she squeezes the railing tightly. "Do you think that someone like her will get fame?"

    "I don't want that," I open the door and Sky comes out first, slowly, "only you want it."

    "Stephan, come back right now!"

    I ignore her completely, walking out the door.     I put Sky into the car, tying the leash on the door, and text Klaus to tell him I won't be going to the store tomorrow, that he'll have to open it.     If I leave now, I might make it to Duskwood before dawn.

    My first stop was at the motel, booking a room for the night.     Then I drive into town passing by Richy's shop. It should open early.     I look out the window, but there's no one there. It's then that I get his message, asking me if I know what happened to Jessy because she won't be going to work.     I explain everything to him and he answers. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Richy I have to go to her right now!

Stephan No, let me talk to her

Richy Don’t you think it would be better for someone to be with her in person?

Stephan That's why I came to Duskwood Because it's me she needs now

Richy What? Are you in Duskwood now Stephan? 😮

Stephan I couldn't just sit back and watch Jessy get attacked I… I couldn't just stay home That's why I'm asking you to give me her address, please

Richy Mmm… Surely it's a good idea? After all, you've been a witness Maybe your nerves will make her worse

Stephan Don't worry, I didn't come to make her nervous... Just to keep her company

Richy Okay, if you say so 😕 But tell me how she is afterwards

Stephan Of course ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Richy gives me her address and we say goodbye. I go back to the car and set the street address on the GPS.

    "Let's go meet Jessy,” I tell Sky, who shakes me with his paw as if to calm me down, "Relax boy, I'm fine," I pat his head and start the car again.

    I hope she doesn't get scared when she sees me, knowing that this is because I got involved.

    I arrive at her door. White. Maybe in another situation I would be nervous about meeting her in person, but now it is my concern and guilt that win out.

    I ring the bell, waiting for her to open it.

    "Jessy?" I call her, even knocking on the door, " Jessy, it's Stephan," I close my eyes, leaning my ear against the door, hoping to hear something, but I don't hear any footsteps.

    I let out a sigh and finally rest my forehead, feeling worse. Maybe she doesn't want to see me because she knows that if it weren't for me accepting the virtual tour, she wouldn't be so bad right now.

    "This is all my fault, " I continue talking, hoping that maybe she's listening to me if she's come closer, "I just…" I take a deep breath, squeezing her hand tightly, "I need to know if you're okay."

    When I get no answer, I decide to sit on the floor, resting my elbows on my knees, while Sky lies down.

    I hear the sound of the door opening and jump up, nervous now.     I look down to see Jessy's face. I'm surprised to see that she's shorter than me. Maybe because of the habit of being face to face on the phone.

   <<In person, she's more…>>

    I silence my thoughts, this is not the time to think that she's pretty.

   <<You just did.>>

    I open my mouth to say something, but she steps forward, hugging me.

    "Stephan..." her voice sounds hoarse, probably from crying. "I'm glad you're here."

    Part of me breaks at the sound of it, and I slowly put my arms around her, hugging her back.

    "I'm so sorry, Jessy," I say while burying my face in her hair, "I couldn't protect you. "

    "It's not your fault, Stephan," she hugs me tighter, clinging to my jacket.

    I notice her shaking in fear.

   <<Damn bastard… I swear he's going to pay for this.>>

    I hug Jessy tighter, wanting her to stop shaking, to notice that I'm here with her.     We hear a small cry and we separate a little, looking down.

    "Sky," I see how Jessy tries to smile when she sees him. True, she has only seen him in photos and on video calls, it is the first time she has seen him in person as well.

    My dog ​​raises his paw and Jessy accepts it, letting out a small laugh mixed with a sob. If Sky has helped me in the worst moments, I think he has helped her too. She can even feel safe having a dog nearby in case he notices something strange.

    Once inside her house, we go to the dining room. Jessy lets Sky climb onto the couch with her and hugs him, closing her eyes as she strokes his fur.

    "How are you?" I dare to ask, although I can already know the answer.

    She settles down on the couch, letting Sky put his head on her lap, while he makes a sound in his throat, beginning to close his eyes.

    "My head hurts and..." she rubs her left arm "my arm is bruised—"

    "What?" I avoid getting anxious so as not to scare her with my reaction, "Can I see it?"

    Jessy nods slowly, lifting the sleeve of her shirt.     Carefully, I place my hands on her arm, carefully rubbing the wound. The bruise has started to darken.

    "Have you put any cream on to relieve the pain?" I look into her eyes, worried.

    "I..." she shakes her head, still extending her arm, "I haven't even changed my clothes... I didn't have the strength to―"

    "Do you have any cream?" I get up from the couch, starting to walk.

    "Yes, but, Stephan,” I stop and look at her, she arches an eyebrow, and then makes a tone of voice between still regretful and a little animated, “you don't know where the bathroom is."

    I blush when I remember that I'm not at home. I couldn't help but get up and go straight to find the ointment.

    "At the end of the hallway," she points with her hand to the door through which I have to go, "you have to open the mirror, you will find a yellow tube."

    "Yellow, done," I repeat and smile, "like your favorite color."

    I manage to get a smile out of her, and she nods.

    When I get to the bathroom, I open the mirror, finding all kinds of cosmetics and feminine toiletries. Nothing new for me, having an older sister, I'm used to seeing these things, so I don't get nervous.     I manage to see the cream and take it, closing the mirror again and returning to the living room, where Jessy caresses Sky's head, speaking soft words. I stay a moment observing the scene. The sun that begins to appear through the window makes her hair look bright red, along with a sweet look.     I shake my head and clear my throat to get attention.

    "Did you manage to find it?" She asks and I pick up the tube, shaking it between my fingers.

    I approach the couch again, sitting down not wanting to disturb Sky. Jessy holds out her arm to me again and I put a small amount to spread just on the wound.     I try to distract myself by thinking about something else, because the feel of her warm and soft skin makes me nervous.

    "Do you want to go to the police?" I ask, wanting to make conversation so that my mind doesn't occupy inappropriate thoughts at this moment.

    "I don't know," she answers without looking away from my massage.

    I finish applying the cream and he quietly thanks me, leaving her arm outstretched so that the cream dries.

    "I would if I were you," I try not to make it sound like a reprimand, since it's not her fault.

    "Right now I just want to rest, Stephan," I nod and sigh, "but what would I say to them? That the Man without a Face attacked me? A legend?"

    "I guess... Yes, it would be crazy without knowing what information to give them..." I hit my hand with the tube, "I've taken care of Phil's issue, so at least that's why you don't have to worry."

    "Thanks Stephan," she pats Sky again, as if seeking comfort, "he texted me last night when I got home, but I haven’t read it yet."

    It's strange to see Jessy in such a subdued manner. It's like she's not herself. The attack has taken away all her joy.

    "Richy wanted to come but I told him that I was already in Duskwood to see you―"

    "Stephan," she cuts me off and I see how her eyes shine, as if she were about to cry, "Why did he attack me? What have I done?" I break inside when I hear her talk like that. She's like a little girl wondering why she's been punished for no reason, "I don't understand..."

    I can only think of one reason.

    "I think I know," I carefully squeeze the tube, hoping not to break it out of anger, "we cornered him, so he has no choice."

    "Because of the investigation?"

    Actually, I don't want to say it's because she's the person I get along with the best and you could say she's become important to me and that's probably why she attacked her, to hurt me.

    "Do you think I can ask you some questions?" I try to change the subject in my mind.

    "I don't know, my head still hurts a lot," she massages her forehead, releasing a sigh.

    "It's okay, we can talk about it later," I get up from the couch and pick up the tube, "I'm going to put it away and… Do you need me to make you something hot? Maybe that'll make you feel better too."

    "Sure, some tea would be good for me."

    "Tea, ok," I smile and walk away, leaving them alone. But I reappear peeking through the door "The kitchen?"

    "The door next to you," she points to the closed door and I nod, "the tea is in the third cabinet on the left."

    "Okay, now I'll prepare it."

    "Stephan," she calls me again and I wait for her words, "I'm glad you came to see how I'm doing."

    I lean against the door frame, holding on tightly.

    "I won't let anything bad happen to you again, ever," I fix my eyes on her, being honest, "I promise."

    I see how Jessy sighs, nodding.     I go to put the cream away, feeling my cheeks burning after what I said.

   <<She's just a friend. Nothing more than that. She's nothing more than a friend.>>

    As I let the water heat up, I think about what happened. I still have the image of Jessy lying on the floor.

    "She’s okay," I tell myself as I tap the counter, "she’s on the couch with Sky right now. Jessy is safe."

    My head is starting to hurt too, I feel like I’m going to explode. I’ve been really scared that something terrible could have happened to her.

    <<What if I had lost her?>>

    The water begins to boil and I take a cup to mix it with the tea.     When I go out to the living room, I see that she has fallen asleep. I smile, leaving the cup in the microwave to heat it up when she wakes up, returning to the living room again, slowly stroking Jessy’s hair.     The phone surprises me with what I’m doing, and, as if I were doing something wrong, I take it out of my pants pocket, seeing that it’s a text from Jake.     Perfect, because I have quite a few things to say to him and they’re not nice.

    I sit down in the dining room chair, ready for conversation. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Jake Hello Stephan Is everything okay?

Stephan Wow, you've been gone for quite a while, don't you think?

Jake I am sorry. I could not contact you earlier. But as I can see, you got along pretty well without me.

Stephanie It's not how I'd say it Because we have a lot of things to discuss 😠

Jake That is my intention. So, Jessica was attacked…

Stephan Right in front of my eyes, no less

Jake You admitted to me that you may have developed feelings for Jessica. The attack on her must have been terrible for you. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    I blush reading those words. I never said that. Well, not in that way at least, I was just putting my feelings into the case, nothing more, but where does he get that from? ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Stephan I never said that! This isn't one of Macie's deductions from the things we've talked about in the group, is it?

Jake Really? I guess Macie gave me the wrong information about you then. Because she was the one who warned me about what happened.

Stephan But! Look, I'll talk to both of them later, since I don't want to discuss my issues right now, it's all about Jessy!

Jake Of course ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    That's when I can't keep quiet with him. He's always so carefree with others. When the Cleo thing happened, he didn't want me to send the video, but of course I did, she deserved to know.     Sometimes I think that for Jake we're nothing more than a tool to find his supposed lover, because Hannah surely is. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Stephan Whoever did this is gonna pay, I’ll make sure of that

Jake You are putting your feelings in the middle again.

Stephan And what do you want me to do?! You assured me that the others would be safe! That it was all empty threats!

Jake I was mistaken

Stephan You can't be so careless with your assertions! And that's why I warned you from the beginning! But of course, it's easy for you to hide, since this isn't about you

Jake It was never my intention to make assertions so carelessly. I was sure. And I do not hide for sport, you already know my situation, Stephan.

Stephan I know, the government is after you, you don't have to remind me But look what happens when you ignore A KIDNAPPER! In the end they end up attacking someone who hasn't hurt anyone! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    If it was a call, I would be yelling at him. I could have lost a friend if it wasn't just a push. Now more than ever we have to be careful.

    We continue talking about what I saw and again his words piss me off. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Jake Anyway, we can probably rule out that Jessica is behind Hannah’s disappearance.

Stephan Could you please show some compassion? 🤬

Jake I am sorry, I did not mean to offend you. I just think that objectivity and logic will help us more in this matter than emotions and empathy.

Stephan That suits you well, since you don't associate with the group But I'm the one who's established a relationship with them, they've become my friends Or do feelings mean nothing to you? ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Jake writes, but erases. I wait for him to respond. A 'Yes' or a 'No', it's not that complicated.     Or maybe it's just that I'm more driven by my emotions than he is by the situation. I'm not able to see it logically when people I care about are in danger.     I look over at the couch, seeing Jessy still sleeping with Sky, who hasn't moved and is hugging him. I smile, relieved that at least she seems calm.

    I continue talking to Jake about the new information. I need to finish as soon as possible and also take care of Thomas and Cleo. Too many things to do.     According to him, he is not Hannah's lover, but how can I believe him? Maybe he is hiding it so that I don’t suspect him. Even if he is not the kidnapper, it would clearly be dangerous for him if I knew his true relationship with Hannah. If they are more than just acquaintances, what else would it be? Family? Because then Lilly would have told us from the beginning that Jake is family and not that he could be behind everything... With me as the scapegoat. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Jake We are close to our goal, Stephan. You have made a lot of progress. Without my help.

Stephan Great, now it’s your turn cloud hacking

Jake :) You and Macie are the only ones who make me laugh, you know that?

Stephan It's just a matter of having the last name Connors, we are naturally funny

Jake Haha. I have noticed now.

Stephan But it's kind of sad I mean, you don't have any friends other than us? A group of hackers or something? You know, like in the movies, a whole network of "criminals"

Jake You still have the wrong image of me.

Stephan 🤷‍♂️ You know I don't have a good opinion of hackers

Jake I am sorry you have to think badly of me then. I have to go. Can you get on with the telephone list in the meantime?

Stephan Later, okay Right now I'm taking care of Jessy

Jake Are you in Duskwood?

Stephan Yes Any problems with that too? 😑

Jake As long as you are careful. It would be dangerous for you to meet the kidnapper after all the threats you have received.

Stephan Relax, I'll be gentle 💪

Jake I am serious. Did you go alone?

Stephan If you're wondering about a certain girl's safety, no, she's not with me And I wouldn't let her come either, after Jessy's attack, if the kidnapper finds out that Macie is related to me, he might do something worse to her

Jack Good to know. It would be terrible if there was another attack.

Stephan Mmm…

Jake What?

Stephan Nothing I don't need Macie as much as I used to, though, I've learned a lot about her and how to investigate So we probably won't have her in the group soon

Jake I am glad to hear your skills have improved then :) And I have gotten used to Macie's presence, so do not worry about removing her from the group so soon.

Stephan MMMM….

Jake Stephan…

Stephan Just kidding 😁 I know you're not really interested in personal relationships at work

Jake …. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    I think I've hit upon a sensitive topic. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Jake Okay. So, take care of Jessica and then call the phone number.

Stephan Thanks 🙂 Really I promise to write the name when I know who it belongs to

Jake I hope so. If you are not too distracted by her.

Stephan I'm not distracted! 😳 You're confused again!

Jake Hahaha.

Stephan You're getting into a bad habit of laughing at me that you learned from a certain person 😒

Jake Did not you want it to be more fun? ;)

Stephan But not making fun of me 😤

Jake Sorry, this is the last time before I leave. If anything happens, you can always message me anytime.

Stephan I know

Jake I think it would be be ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    I stare at the screen in surprise. If there's one thing I've learned from Jake, it's that he doesn't usually leave sentences unfinished, so I find it odd that he sent a message like that. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Stephan What were you going to say?

-----Jake is now OFFLINE-----

Stephan 🤨 Ey, Jake ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Seeing that he's just logged out, I don't know whether to worry or maybe take it as a sign that he had to leave without being able to say goodbye due to some situation.

    "Come on, it's Jake," I say to myself, "he'll be fine, as always."

     I go to Thomas's chat and send him a message that we should talk in person about what happened, that we should meet him and Cleo at the Regenbogen cafeteria to talk about their excursion to the Aurora basement.     I look at Jessy worried about leaving her alone, but if Sky stays, I might be calmer having protection.

    I get up from the chair and approach the couch, crouching down, watching her sleep. I carefully run my hand through her hair, carefully moving it away from her face so as not to wake her up.

    I feel my cheeks burn when I see that I don't look away from her while she rests. I feel like that terrifying vampire from my cousin's movies.     Slowly, I approach her and kiss her forehead.     I know, this is not what friends do. But… A part of me wanted to do it. How can I explain it?

    Nervous, I sit up and turn around, but she grabs my wrist.

    "Stephan?" She asks in a weak voice, "Where are you going?"

    "I'm going to see Thomas and Cleo to talk about your brother," I answer while I stroke the back of her hand with my thumb. Friend… She is… A friend, "don't worry, Sky is staying with you and you have the tea in the microwave to heat it up."

    "Thank you for everything you do for me," her eyes search mine. I can still see her sadness in them, "I feel like I'm a burden right now."

    "Of course you're not, Jessy," I smile and stroke her head, "rest, I'll be back soon. "

    "I'll be waiting for you," she forces a small smile that I respond with another.

    She slowly lets go of my hand, going back to sleep. I signal to Sky, who has raised his head, as if to tell him to stay still. He does as I say and lies back down.

    As I leave her house, I lean against the door, noticing my heart beating rather fast.     You could say that I just ended a relationship from years ago, right now it wouldn't be a good idea and it would seem like taking advantage of her.

    "I'm sorry Jessy," I take a deep breath, "give me time to know how I feel about you."

[namuneulbo]

week one hundred and fifty four

i looked forward to the student pubs this week. i went to both the tuesday one and the wednesday one but he wasn't at either. m couldn't join me to the pub this week either so i went with my classmate a. she joined on wednesday as well along with j. i joined them after i finished work. went by the convenience store to get some cigarettes for a. i've never bought cigarettes before. they didn't even id me!

once i got to the pub, a bought me a beer (and the two others i had that evening as well to even out the cigarettes). i was feeling fairly happy and confident and with a little hyping from my friends, i ended following his insta. he accepted my follow request and followed back a few minutes later. i freak out a little bit and end up dming him just a few moments after us following each other.

"hi !! i stole some cards from u during exploding kittens last week. ur quite cute!"

after having sent that i throw my phone in my bag and take a bathroom break and then went to buy another beer. i come back. i fix my makeup. i try to drag out the time as much as possible but j catches on and just goes "CHECK IF HE'S TEXTED YOU!". so i do.

and he has.

"ah, i knew i recognized you from somewhere."

"you're quite cute yourself ;)"

so we texted actively for the entire time i was at the pub. he's been replying slow these past few days though. he didn't even text me once on friday. it's odd because when he does text me, he's very into it. so i don't know. he does to be fair seem like a guy who probably doesn't have his notifications on and probably doesn't use his phone a whole lot. green flag, i guess? we texted a little on saturday as well. he very tongue-in-cheekily sent a picture of ACTUAL feminist literature and went "oh no, i dropped the feminist literature i'm reading right now (170 cm btw)" and i feel like him being short truly ties it all together. he's so unserious TT

the two red flags he do have are his music taste frankly being quite horrible and him following a centrist political party on instagram. see, usually, that's enough for me to leave. i'm never going to date someone who's not a leftist like me. however, he also follows the socialist party and the green party. also lots of accounts about politics in general so i think he's pretty actively interested and i know many leftists who are really into politics also follow parties they don't support just so they can keep up with them. i'll need to smoothly start talking about politics with him.

kent are having some reunion concerts next year. sooo many people i know are going to try to get tickets. i hope i get some. i'm planning to go with l and l :D

h dmed me on thursday asking if him and his friend could get a discount at my job. i said yes. he followed me again. we talked for a little bit. it's a weird feeling talking to him. like, exes (or technically not because we we're never officially together but you know...) in general i guess because it's like "yo, you've seen my entire naked body and you've seen me cry but now we're just having the most simple small talk ever". it's weirdly beautiful.

l texted me as well on friday. i mean, l and i still talk quite a lot. moreso interact, i guess? we reply to each other's tweets and send each other tiktoks and stuff but this time we talked. for hours. we're still friends in that sense. sometimes i'm embarrassed about how i'm not really over him yet. i am, mostly. enough to date other people and like other people. i think i view our time together with very rose-tinted glasses. like... i mourn memories more than him as a person specifically. i think it'll always be that way. same for h.

i miss lying in l's tiny bed, his hand gently rubbing my exposed stomach while we listened to cds on his cd-player. i miss sleeping with h and waking up to an asleep him pulling me even closer in the middle of the night. i miss coming home to l's and having dinner with his family even though i was so shy and awkward. i miss teasing h by pulling away whenever he tried to kiss me and he'd get so frustrated and it was so adorable.

i recognize that these are all moments i will most likely have with whoever else i end up dating in the future. it's not so much about the person perse. i just miss having a connection like that. i just want affection and someone to show it to.

today i had a boring day at work. it just felt like i had no energy for anything. my boss kept nagging me and even though he's so kind, it still felt like it was so passive aggressive. some of my coworkers really despise him. i don't think he's that bad. he's not bad at all actually but you know... he's still my boss. it's intimidating working with him sometimes.

bff l called me soon after i got home. they caught me mid-piss while ordering ubereats. we talked for like two hours. it's nice catching up with her. now i'm in bed, preparing for a day of pure relaxation tomorrow. it's my first day off in over a month. i've always had work or school. tomorrow i have nothing. i should study but i decided to genuinely give myself one day with no obligations. i'll enjoy sleeping in and playing games all day.

sotw: kent - det kanske kommer en förändring

[armpirate]

UNDER HIS SKIN || JJK || Ch. 19

Pairings: tattoist!jk x fem!reader

Genre: smut, angst, friends to lovers, tattoo au, virgin reader.

Summary: They say there are two versions for every story, and it's important to hear both of them. Everybody is hearing your side of the story, but it's just fair to get to know his.

After breaking up with his girlfriend, the only thing he wanted was to have fun with no attachment. You wanted to get rid of your virginity, and he wanted to tick you off his list. What he didn't expect was getting so emotionally attached to you that he would regret the deal.

Previous || Next

MASTERLIST

I jump out of my own sleep when I feel something hitting me, looking around confused until I realize that last night I didn't sleep by myself, and Y/n is the one who woke me up. She keeps shaking her head, slightly furrowing her eyebrows, as she keeps humming something.

I doubt whether to wake her up or not, but I end up doing it anyway.

She is just in her place, I can almost see how she stops breathing for a quick moment before she opens her eyes surprised.

—You had a nightmare —I try to calm her down, as confusion keeps radiating through her face—. It's alright.

When her body falls back on the mattress, I instantly drag her back to my body to hug her tight. Her shaky breathing slowly enters a calmer pace, and she finally relaxes in my arms when she lets her head rest on my chest.

—I'm sure you were a soccer player in your previous life —I joke—. I won't be able to walk tomorrow.

—Sorry.

I can tell she's genuinely sorry for what she did, but I don't really want her to feel bad about this. It wasn't her fault.

—You aren't sorry, aren't you? —I joke again, trying to get her to be back to her own self.

—Not really —I giggle.

I let out an exaggerated sigh, making it sound loud enough so she can hear it. And it seems to work out, because I feel her eyes on me as soon as that sound leaves my lips. I lift one of my eyebrows, looking down at her.

—I know I'm handsome and what not, but you should try to sleep.

Although I really like the way she's looking at me right now.

—Mr. Humble entered the room —she finally moves her eyes away, her gaze lazily lost at some point in my room.

—Why are you looking at me like that then? —I pinch her shoulder, trying to regain her attention.

—Now I can't look at you?

—There's a reason why you look at things.

—Yeah, because they get your attention —she finally looks up again with a sassy grin—. And it gets my attention how annoying you are.

—Then why are you sleeping here if I'm so annoying? —I try to snap back with the same attitude she's giving me.

—You're right.

I feel her slipping out of my arms, trying to get out of bed. Although I know she's just joking around, I rush to hold her waist to drag her back in bed with me. She changes positions though, she isn't laying on me. Her eyes pierce on mine, as if she were trying to get to know all my secrets, while she's lying on her sides. All that staring contest only ends up in giggles and laughs that come up for no reason.

Silence.

And again, that powerful gaze that could make me slip all of my secrets to her.

And it works.

—I was waiting for you —I say out of nowhere.

Her confused look and frowned eyebrows show clearly enough how she doesn't know what I'm talking about right now.

—You asked me what I was doing when you texted me earlier tonight. I was waiting for you —I explain.

The wrinkles in the middle of her eyebrows slowly disappear when she seems to finally understand. She still seems confused anyway. Maybe because of the comment, maybe because she didn't like the way our conversation could go at any point from now on.

I don't even know why I worded it that way.

—I wanted to be there for you in case you needed help, which it's what happened —I fake explain, trying to find a way out so things won't get weird.

—I handled it myself.

And there she is back again. Her cocky attitude is making a comeback.

—If I hadn't picked you up, he would've taken you home and that dude would've ended up with a scratched car.

Or, even worse, contacting you again to try to get a second date.

—For how long will you remind me of that? —she rolls her eyes.

—Daisy will never be the same.

—You know what? Let's sleep.

We both pretend to get to sleep after I mutter an almost inaudible "Fine", but silence doesn't last long before we start giggling and laughing again. We both open our eyes almost at the same time, laughing even harder when we mirror each other's actions without being aware.

—Cocktease —I try to sound as serious as I'm able to between laughs—, some people need to wake up early to work tomorrow.

And while that's true, I wouldn't mind spending the rest of the night awake like this. Even if I'm going to regret it in the morning.

I feel a bit disappointed when she in fact pays attention to what I say and rolls on her side, making her back face me and leaving me no other choice but to do the same.

✸ ✸ ✸

I sense her moving, trying to get away from my grip, which completely wakes me up. I don't let her get away though, I press on her body carefully, making sure she stays in her place.

—Just stay like this for a little longer —I mutter with my eyes still closed—. You need to make up for me not wanting to go to work this morning.

—Why is it my fault?

—As if you didn't know —I move closer to her, lost in the fruity smell of her hair as my nose digs in her locks—. Who would want to leave you here, looking like this, huh?

—Call Mark, and tell him you can't go —I smile with my eyes still closed.

Oh, I would if I could.

—Don't tempt me. Because I'm way too close to do it.

Of course, Mark has to break the moment by calling me to make sure I'll wake up early, so I get there in time. He already told me he'd be late this morning because he had an appointment with the doctor, which means I'm in charge of the studio for a few hours.

Although I need to leave soon, I have no problem with her staying around and taking her time before she leaves. But she keeps saying she'll leave when I do, and that's perfect because it means I could make sure she gets back home safe.

—Don't worry —she assures me—. Not my first time.

—A quick stop doesn't bot... —her eyes fall on me abruptly, death written in her pupils as she throws several daggers at me— Alright, got it. Wanna hang out later?

—Do you have something in mind?

—Not really —I shrug, walking to her—. But no plan is the best plan.

I don't really care what we do. To be honest I have enough with just spending time with her, like we've done the last few weeks.

—I'll pick you up by seven? —I ask her, when she gives in to the offer.

Thinking this is it, I see Y/n picking up her things and making her way to the door. She can't leave that way though. I hold her wrist, stopping her steps and making her turn on her heels so she's looking at me again.

—I'll send you a text when I get home? —she tries to guess.

Right answer, but that's not it.

I lay a soft peck on her exposed forehead, finally letting go of her arm so she can go back home.

Although she seemed perfectly fine in the morning, I can't stop thinking about what happened last night and that nightmare. She looked so scared, ready to run away at any point as she tried to defend herself from the ghost that was holding her. And when she opened her eyes... I could see the same horror she's had reflected on them a few times whenever we tried to do something.

She would easily look focus whenever she got too deep in her own feelings, but it only happens when it's something sexual.

Could be...?

I shake my head, trying not to think about it. I'm definitely overthinking and creating a bunch of stories in my head. I'm making my blood boil for no reason.

Of course, my impulse acts faster than my brain, and I end up calling Yoongi before I'm able to process what I'm doing.

—Oh, Jungkookie —he teases me—. How are you doing?

—I'm okay, what about you? —I rest my weight on the backrest of the sofa.

—Fine —he simply answers—, although weirded out. You never call... What do you need? —but he doesn't let me answer— Tell me you didn't get in any bullshit and want me to get you out of it.

Honestly, last time I called him was indeed because Tae had a problem with his pub and some permits he did (not) have. He helped us both, even if that wasn't his area of work. So his reaction isn't strange at all, and he isn't wrong either. But I don't want to make it as obvious either, that's why I start a small talk that will take us nowhere.

How could I word it so it doesn't sound suspicious?

—I was talking last night with one of my friends —I start, and considering I have a reduced group of friends, he possibly will end up thinking I'm talking about Tae—, he's a psychologist and he's dealing with a difficult case right now —I scratch my nape—. He has a patient that keeps having nightmares, and seems to have problems when she gets intimate with someone.

I also remember how she didn't want to go back home alone when she got drunk, because she was scared of a man hurting her.

—He is suspicious that it could be related to some trauma when she was younger, and I was wondering if you've had a similar case before?

—For what you're telling me, she doesn't seem to be aware of her own trauma?

—Doesn't seem like it —I shrug.

—I had a similar case, but she was aware of what provoked all of those reactions —he finally says—. The family of the girl sued her uncle for abusing her when she was twelve. And yeah, the trauma caused her to avoid any type of sexual intimacy with any other man as she grew older. I remember I almost lost my shit during the trial —he sighs—. It could be that his patient is going through something similar, but it's something she should want to work on to get an exact answer. Sorry if I'm not of help.

—No, it's alright —I stop him—. Do you know how the girl overcame it?

—No —he sighs again—. His parents told me she started going to therapy after the trial. But that's all I spoke with them —he makes a long pause—. Is this the only reason why you called me? What? Did you bet money?

That's better than letting him know my business, so...

—No, I just wanted to help Jimin out. Thought you'd know more about it, since you've worked with several abuse victims.

—I work with them to punish who's hurted them, not to help them to overcome their traumas.

There's a thick silence between us, before Yoongi gets called out by someone on the other side and has to hang up.

I huff, annoyed. I made that call for nothing.

And I'm probably thinking too deep into it.

✸ ✸ ✸

To be honest, it's been a fairly slow morning. At least until Mark showed up around eleven after his appointment. At least I had someone to bother, apart from Y/n, and to talk to in person. It also helps to have two customers after lunch to speed the afternoon. Before I realize it, I'm finished with the second customer, and now I only have to wait to get someone new to work on.

While I'm placing my sketchbook back on the shelf, I hear some noises from outside. Although, after thinking about it better, I end up assuming it's the entrance door to the studio. I stay still, wondering if there's someone in the entrance or not. I'm able to hear the sound of a pair of heels cracking against the floor, and I know it's not Mark.

I get up, ready to attend whoever is on the other side. But I freeze on the spot when I don't see a new customer in front of me.

What is she doing here?

All her face piercings are gone, and most of her tattoos are covered by the long sleeves of her red shirt -although I can catch a glimpse of some of the ink art on her hands. Her hair isn't blonde anymore, she's gone back to her natural dirty blonde color, that she's keeping mid tied.

—I was hoping to find you here —she whispers.

I don't even want to think why she might be looking for me. Honestly, I don't really want to have anything to do with her, and that's exactly why I'm trying to think fast to plan my escape away from this place.

—Leslie —Mark calls her behind me—. What are you doing here?

—Well, I'm back in New York —although she's speaking to Mark, she keeps her eyes on me while answering—, and thought of paying you a visit.

I can't help but scoff at that. When she left, she didn't care about us, about he studio or how fucked up we'd be with her clients and her absence. And now, all of a sudden, she thinks about us when she's back here? She has to be kidding me.

—I tried to tell you, but you changed your number —she lets me know.

After begging her to come back for weeks, I was able to move on and live my life without her. The last thing I needed was a call or text from her to fall back to the same shit.

—I also wanted to talk to you —she adds when she realizes I have no intention to speak.

—I have nothing to talk with you —I shake my head, trying to walk back to my room.

—I just want to apologize properly —I see her biting her lip nervously.

I shouldn't even think of going somewhere with her. Not when I planned on meeting up with Y/n in less than an hour.

—I think we both need to completely close this chapter —she keeps trying to convince me.

When I look at Mark, behind me, he's giving Leslie a rough look, which turns confused when I finally give in to talk somewhere else with her.

I think it would be a good idea to do this to leave behind whatever we had nine months ago. She probably needs it way more than I do anyway.

While we sit, I send a text to Y/n, letting her know I won't be able to make it to our plan later. Not because I'm planning on spending too much time here, but because I know I won't be at my best after I leave. And it won't be fair for Y/n to ruin her night with my bad mood.

—So? —I say, once I leave my phone to the side.

Everything starts well. Leslie seems genuinely regretful of what she did, and how everything went down between us. She keeps saying she's sorry, and how I deserved better than getting to know about her cheating the way I did.

—Were you planning on telling me? —I finally look at her for the first time— Or were you going to mess with him until you got bored, and then pretend like nothing happened?

—I was confused —she shakes her head—. I thought he'd be just a fling, but it started getting serious.

—And instead of telling me, you hid it until I walked in on you and him having sex in our bed —I tilt my head—. Not enough with that, you left without saying a thing. You left the studio, left my house... and you didn't care about what you were leaving behind, and what conditions you left everybody on.

—I regret that every day —she licks her lips—. That's why I needed to apologize to you.

—Apology accepted —I finally say—. Anything else?

—You're leaving already? —her eyebrows knit in the middle, as she looks at me.

—I have nothing else to talk with you —I cross my arms over my chest—. Besides, if you want to apologize to someone, tell Mark you're sorry for leaving the studio the way you did.

I get up, knowing damn well I have nothing else to say right now. I don't want to say anything else, to be honest. But my steps are stopped by her hand holding my wrist. She's looking up to me with pleading eyes, and it's right at this moment when I know an apology wasn't the only thing she wanted to talk to me about.

—I've really missed you these months —she assures me—. I was hoping...

—What? —I cut her off— Seeing me on my knees? Begging for you to come back after what you did? Leslie, it's a chapter closed for me. I only agreed on meeting you because it seemed like you needed to close it as well —I let go of her grip—. If it were for me, I'd have no need to see you ever again. What we had was over the second you chose to sleep with someone else.

—Are you dating someone?

—Yes —and while I'm answering that, I'm only able to think about Y/n and how I gave up spending time with her to be here—. And even if I weren't dating Y/n, I wouldn't go back to you.

I'm so enraged by what's going on, that I'm not even aware that I've let her name slip as I was talking about her like she was my girlfriend.

—Here —I throw a few bucks on the table to pay for my coke—. I'm leaving now.

When I step outside of the bar, and take my phone out of one of my pockets, I can see I have several texts from Soo -probably Mark told her I met with Leslie. She's probably going to be a pain in the ass when I see her. 

[slut4matty]

Old habits die screaming

Matty Healy and Taylor Swift have been rumored to have something going on for over a decade, when they finally both publicly announce their relationship, the shitstorm is huge. They break it off again shortly after. The only problem is: Taylor is still very much in love with Matty. What she doesn't know is that he feels the same.

"Sorry, I can't sleep", I texted my best friend Abigail. I had to let him go, for fuck's sake. I just can't stop thinking about him.

"Taylor, babe, it's 2 am and I have to be up early tomorrow. I can call you for 10 minutes, but I'm begging you, please let me sleep right after." Of course, she answered, she always does.

"No, it's alright, go back to sleep." I'm a grown woman, I can handle this.

"Abigail, I said, go back to sleep." "Taylor we've been best friend since forever, I'm always here for you, even at 2 am on a random Tuesday. Now tell me, what's going on? You're thinking about him again, aren't you?" Yes, of course I am, I just can't stop thinking about him. "Yeah. I just feel like I'm going crazy right now. We've been on and off for ages, but this time it feels different. I don't think he's coming back, Abigail." I can't imagine a life without him anymore. I've loved him for 10 fucking years, and I'm ready to love him for at least 10 more years. "Babe, don't you think it's time to move on? He has hurt you and your reputation a million times already, and it fucking hurts seeing you this miserable." My reputation. Why is everyone, including myself, so obsessed with this? "I know okay? I know. It's not that easy, though. I feel like, it's my fault he ghosted me. Don't try to blame him now, please, I would've done the same in his situation. Did you read the horrible things they said about him online? I can't imagine how this must feel like." It really is my fault, though, isn't it? But what could I have done differently? Should I have called them out on their behavior? I probably should have. "I understand that this is as hard for you as it must be for him right now, but what can you do? Please don't text him, Taylor! You're only hurting yourself if you do.", Abigail's voice sounds desperate. She knows how hard it is to convince me of something. "I won't. Please go back to sleep now. I'm sorry I woke you up in the first place.," I said in a defeated voice. "No worries, I couldn't sleep anyway", I know she's lying, "I hope I was able to help you a little. Good night, Tay, I love you so much." "I love you more, good night.," I said and hung up.

What now? As much as I love Abigail, this conversation didn't help much.

Writing. I should start writing again. It's my job, of course, but it's also the only healthy coping mechanism I could think of right now. I'm wide wake anyway, so what else could I do right now. I have started writing a song called "I can fix him (No really I can)" I want to do something the 1975 inspired because that's what this is all about of course. Matty Healy. Lead singer of the famous British band "the 1975" but also my decade long situationship. We met years ago, and I was obsessed with their music. He dedicated their song "Fallingforyou" to me once, so I'll dedicate a song to him now. No, fuck this, I'll write a whole album.

"They shake their heads saying, "God help her", when I tell them he's my man."

I hate all of this. Him leaving me because some assholes couldn't keep their mouths shut about my love life. He didn't do anything! At least he actually cared about me and wanted to fight for us, unlike some other ex-boyfriends of mine... Yes, he has made mistakes, but so have I. Nobody is perfect. I don't understand why everyone thinks I am? Matty left because he thought it would be the best for me. He couldn't have been more wrong. I hadn't had a good sleep in weeks and when I finally drift off into sleep he's all I dream about. He's quite literally haunting me right now. I wonder if he feels the same about me. Was any of this real to him, or was he disappointed when he finally had me after all these years of yearning? I know I promised Abigail I wouldn't text him again, but he deserves to know the truth.

"Hey Matty, are you up?", I sighed as I hit send. He's probably asleep anyway.

"Who's this? And how did you get my number?" Shit, I forgot that I got a new number, since the other one was leaked last week.

"Sorry, it's Taylor. I've got a new number. I didn't want to disturb you." I already know this was a bad idea, but it's too late now anyway.

"Hey, you didn't. I was still up. Has anything happened? I'll call my management."

"No, don't worry I just wanted to tell you, that I'm sorry for everything that's happened lately. I should've stood up for you, when my "fans" started attacking you like this."

"Don't worry, Taylor, it's fine." God, he sounds so distant. I don't even recognize him like this.

"No, Matty it's not, and you don't deserve any of this. I don't know why I texted you in the first place, but I just wanted to let you know, that it was real to me." I'm so stupid oh my god. He probably doesn't even care about me anymore. Otherwise, he couldn't have just ghosted me out of the blue, could he?

"Of course it was real to me too! I loved you, I loved you so very much, but this is all too much right now. I'm not good for you or your reputation. You're an amazing woman, and I'm not going to stand between you or your success." I can't do this anymore. He loved me. Past tense. It's really over. He's not coming back. Never. Don't cry. Don't cry. Don't cry. What was I even thinking? Of course, it's over, the whole world knows. Why did I think, this was a good idea?

"Thank you, Matty. I love you very much as well. I'm sorry things didn't work out the way we both wished they would. Sleep well and have a good night.", I sent with tears forming in my eyes, and shut my phone off for good. I drifted off into a deep, uncomfortable sleep, filled with nightmares.

[booksandchainmail]

Pale 7.8 extra

Interesting, I think this is the first extra material we've had that is just normal text? (ie not in-universe writings, not multimedia)

Very interested to get to see more of Lucy's mom. So far we have her meeting Avery's parents... I wonder if Verona's dad was invited? Also curious if this is just a general getting to know child's friend's parents meeting, or if they want to talk over specific concerns

We were friends, before, as much because of the girls putting us in close proximity as anything.

I hadn't thought of Verona's mother as being friends with Lucy's, it's never come up before. Though I know my parents didn't remain close to any people they spent time with because I was friends with their children as a kid

“Don’t even get me started on work schedules,” Brett told her.

Taken by itself, nothing Verona's dad is saying would necessarily be a red flag, but combined with everything we've already seen of him it bothers me. Immediately going into complaining about work when asked what he does, the grousing about Verona that doesn't seem lighthearted to me...

“Is she getting along with either of the two more?” Connor asked.  He looked at Kelsey, who frowned.

don't dig for information like that! If there was something going on, let her tell you in her own time. Also, if Avery was dating one of the others, and they weren't out either, this would be a great way to tip off their parents.

It’s like her skin crawls if she’s in my company for more than five seconds, she runs off to her room or leaves the house at the next opportunity.

now this one is a red flag

“This was weeks of moments,” Brett said.  “I was looking things up and thinking about oppositional defiant disorder.”

of course you were

I can’t talk to her about my work, basic household needs, school and homework…

notably absent from this is her own interests. Why would your work be the first thing you think about talking with your child about?

So clever in many ways that she outsmarted her way out of doing well in school.

I consider this a valid strategy, if sometimes self-sabotaging

"She took up habitual lying…” “It’s that imagination,” Jasmine said.  “She had no outlet.  She stopped art, and she had nothing, so she started telling stories.”

...hmmm. Well obviously she can't do this now, and doesn't seem to need it, but I'm curious what was going on with that, if it was really just an over-active imagination.

Also, man but everything Brett says about Verona is framed in a negative light

Except, I suppose I’m lucky she’s slow to develop. She’s the most kid-like of the three, I think. A late bloomer.

hahahahahaha

“When she and Lucy were old enough to know how to navigate the web but young enough to not know about internet history, let’s just say the searches I saw raised a few eyebrows.  Only when Verona was there.”

yeah that tracks. Both for Verona's character and for that age range

“I thought about one of those wilderness survival retreats.  You know those?  Send the kid out into the woods to rough it, disconnect from technology and outside influences, make them build their own fires, teach them self-reliance and discipline, respect for authority?”

oh hate that. And I liked camping as a kid! But why the fuck are you bringing "respect for authority" into perfectly good outside time

He said that as much as I or Lucy might want to look at this as a resolution, a release, it isn’t. All of that stress and worry and lack of resolution is still there. It’s not fixed or better. She’s certainly not happier or healthier in the wake of it.

:( I'd like to think she got some closure from it... but she certainly isn't less stressed, though there are obviously extenuating circumstances

“I wanted to ask about Julie Hardy,” Connor said. “Going back to the subject of influences-”

...and this would be the catch with Avery's dad. And also the reason why Ms. Hardy's been so careful about interacting with her.

I was awkward and struggled and I tried on a lot of different hats and explored a lot of different identities as a way of diagnosing and trying to fix what was wrong with me.  When it was just regular puberty.

:|

“Avery has expressed some concerns to her mom.  I was hoping to get a clear picture about why, but… Brett’s take is only half a picture, isn’t it?”

good that they're talking about this, and not taking him at face value

Verona takes in stuff and digests it privately, and her mom’s similar to her in that. The thought processes behind the scenes can be impenetrable sometimes.

hmm. Not sure what I have to say here, but I want to leave a not for myself about similarities between Verona and her mother. Wonder if that's making things with her dad worse?

“I just-” Jasmine started, stopped, shook her head.  “If she’s going to be pushed to take action, I want it to be later.  When she’s equipped, educated, grounded and secure in herself.  Change the world, you know?”

I have some bad news for you about what's going on this summer

“And if you don’t have those things, that grounding, education, preparation, what happens?  Another Paul incident.”

or considerably worse

OH! New section! Lore section! Murderer section! Going to analyze this excruciatingly:

Non-italics likes John, which narrows it down to the Kennet Others (no one else knows him). "Everything falls into place" so there's more than just power at stake? Both Kennet and "the rest of us" are taken care of (wording seems to imply once italics takes the seat). Who is that? The rest of the Kennet Others? There's not all that many of them.

Hmm! “The girls. Miss picked some scarily good ones." This would imply to me that Miss was not part of their group. I'd already been leaning towards her not being involved, but this is further confirmation.

italics doesn't want to kill them. General antipathy to violence (would be weird for someone aiming for a war seat) or good feelings to them in particular?

italics was also opposed to the school. OH! finally answer to something someone asked me way back when I was speculating about why Miss picked the girls: if she was trying to keep them controlled, why give them access to the school. Well besides the fact that I'm less suspicious of Miss now, going to the school gives them access to knowledge and power that isn't routed through the murder suspects.

"playing our parts"... kinda makes me think Fae, but that's a tenuous connection. And "we all"... so there's more than just these two.

Very ominous all over!

[potatocornflakes]

My flatmate is a great girl I'm sure. But I'm having problems with her. We love together since November 21. So a bit over a year now.

She is 2 ½ years older than me. And we don't see each other often. I just recently realised that is not a coincidence but it's mor that I am avoiding her. When she is home my trips to the bathroom are less and I barely go in the kitchen so I rarely eat actual meals when she is home and just eat snacks like chips and chocolate and stuff. It's okay if she has her door closed but so often its not. She just keep her door wide open. Why does she do this.

Everytime we talk I feel like she looks down on me. She thinks that I'm a cute little child and everytime she asks about my guests that came over I feel she judges them and me. And I don't like that.

Her stuff is lying around everywhere. Our bathtub is full of her dirty clothes. Our wardrobe? Sometimes I can't get to my side of it because she has so mich stuff standing Infront of it. On our kitchen table and our chairs is so much stuff from her. No wonder we don't eat there.

Every communication to our landlord goes over her. But we are equal renters and I even pay more. But when our landlord(?) wanted to come over because our dishwasher was broken wich he apparently knew before me, because she texted him before I even knew, I had to be the bad guy and stop him from coming over. (He is kinda a weird guy and kinda sexist and we are both really uncomfortable with the idea of him in our flat.

I am really deeply afraid of animals. I was able to stop her from getting a cat or a dog. Some day she got two bunnies. She asked me two days later when if that was okay for me. Because I was standing in her room and saw them when I talked to her. It was okay for me. Because they were in her room.

Then they ended up on the balcony.

And now they are in the kitchen. So let's just ignore the fact it's really really unhygienic to have them there. But they take alot of space in our already not so big kitchen. But we can't get to all our cupboards without moving their cage. It's also really weird for me because every time I'm in the kitchen I feel like their staring at me. Besides the smell? I can't stand the smell. The worst part is tho sometimes she lets them walk around freely. At the beginning she closed the kitchen door. Wich was kinda sign for me because we never close that door. But she doesn't do this anymore. And I'm really afraid of animals okay. Even if these bunnies are cute I can't go out of my room right now knowing their not in their cage. I am afraid and I am really uncomfortable.

Her alarm is so loud so Annoying and she takes a really long time to turn it off. Normally I have to wake up before her so it doesn't bother me but on my free days and weekends. I hat it and despise it because if my day already starts bad then how am I supposed to make it a good day. She watches TV still with her door open and the TV really loud. And I don't know how to complain.ike I know our walls are thin. But i don't hear that well and it's too loud for me.

the thing is everybody of my friends and family know this but everythime she asks me if something is okay, or if something bothers me, especially with bunnies I always so. "Nah, it's okay. Doesn't matter m doesn't bother me at ally don't worry" it's every time 100 percent a lie.

I can't communicate my feelings to her. I can't. I want to. But I can't. So she keeps on spreading and taking up space and the only space I can feel safe in is my room. But only quiet. I afraid she'll hear me and I don't know why.

I know I'm probably not a perfect roommate either but I'm happy when I move out in 1½ years and get my own place.

[likeahorribledream]

ɴᴇᴡ ɢᴜʏ

» CHAPTER THREE: HIS KITTEN

CHAPTER TWO

SUMMARY: Ransom puts his foot in his mouth and pushes you away.

PAIRING: Ransom x Reader

WORD COUNT: 6.2k

WARNINGS: Fluff, angst. New Girl AU.

REQUEST: Librarian!Reader, she’s shy and insecure about her appearance.

18+. Minors DNI.

ᴍᴀɪɴ ᴍᴀꜱᴛᴇʀʟɪꜱᴛ

𝚂𝙴��𝙸𝙴𝚂 𝙼𝙰𝚂𝚃𝙴𝚁𝙻𝙸𝚂𝚃

Chase opens his mouth to repeat himself but Ransom gestures for him to not say another word, then pointing at your sleeping form.

"She's off limits." Chase says quietly.

"Calm down. There's absolutely nothing going on, I was just cold." He answers just as quietly, unaware that you are awake and that you can hear everything.

"Yeah, right." Chase scoffs. "It doesn't look like "nothing" from over here."

Ransom rolls his eyes. "Would you just relax?! I have no intention to steal your dorky little girlfriend. She's all yours."

As soon as he feels you tensing up against his chest, Ransom knows he just messed up badly. He tilts his head to the side to look at your face and as he feared, you're awake and you've heard what he said.

You sit up and refuse to look at him, even when he is squeezing your hip nervously.

"I'm gonna go to bed. We should probably try to rewatch the movie another day, uh?"

"Yeah…" Theo says while watching the three of you.

You stand up, forcing Ransom to let go and you leave him the blanket. You crouch down to kiss Theo's cheek. "Good night." You stand back up and walk over to Chase, leaning down to kiss his cheek as well. "Good night."

"Good night, princess."

Just as you reach the doorway, Ransom calls for you. "You're forgetting your blanket."

"Keep it for the next time you're cold." You answer without looking back, heading straight to your room and shutting the door quietly, locking it just in case.

You stop in front of the mirror and look at yourself. "I wouldn't want to be seen with me either." You say under your breath, not liking what you see in the reflection.

You turn off the light and crawl under the covers, curling up on yourself as a way to soothe your anxiety and hurt. You ignore Ransom's knocks at your door and his texts. You have nothing to say to him, he's made himself pretty clear, twice. He's too good to be seen with you, to be your friend and you're over trying to prove yourself to him. From now on you're going to be exactly what he's been wanting from you since day one: the girl he shares a living space with.

You wake up the next morning in a still sour mood. You're tempted to stay in bed until you have to go to work tomorrow morning but you won't give him the satisfaction of you being M.I.A. because of him.

You get dressed, deciding to put on a pair of jeans and your favorite band t-shirt. You put on a pair of fuzzy socks instead of shoes and once you're ready, you unlock your door and walk out with your head held up high.

"Good morning, princess." Chase greets you with a smile when he sees you coming. "Are you hungry?"

"Starving!" You walk over to where he is and let him pull you into a hug, wrapping your arms around his torso.

"Good. Theo should be back with breakfast soon." He kisses your forehead before you let go.

"A breakfast I won't have to cook? How fancy." You chuckle.

"Only the best for our best girl." He grins at his cheesy line.

"Suck up." You slap his arm playfully with the back of your hand. "You're only saying that because I'm usually the one in control of how many slices of bacon you get."

"Yes and since you love me the most, I get extra slices."

"Or maybe that's what I want you to think. Maybe someone else is getting more slices than you are."

Chase gasps dramatically. "Who has been getting my bonus?"

"I can't remember." You shrug.

"No? Well luckily for you, I have a great way to jumpstart your memory." He holds up his hands and wiggles his fingers.

You back away, already laughing. "I was just kidding!"

"Or maybe you're lying because you're scared of the consequences." He walks slowly toward you.

You hold up your hand to keep him away. "You can't break the no tickle rule!"

"Mh-mh." Ransom clears his throat, looking between you and his other roommate. "Good morning."

You drop your arms to your sides and stop laughing. "Good morning." You answer quietly before going to sit at the kitchen island, on one of the stools, with your back to Ransom.

"Morning." Chase walks around the kitchen island to come stand across from you. He looks down at you but you're too busy staring at the countertop to notice. "How about I make you a milkshake while we wait for Theo to bring back the food?"

You look up almost instantly and grin. "Yes, please!" Chase makes the best milkshakes you've ever tasted.

Ransom grimaces. "Milkshakes for breakfast?" His nose scrunches up.

"Not for breakfast, but before." Chase corrects him as he starts gathering up what he needs.

"Gross."

You lose your smile, yet again and go back to looking at the countertop. You can feel Ransom staring at you from where he stands behind you but you don't look back.

Theo walks back into the loft just as Chase finishes making your milkshake.

"Finally!" You jump off the stool, taking your freshly made drink with you.

You move toward your seat at the table, stopped by Ransom who decides to take advantage of Chase being busy helping Theo with the food and paying him no attention.

"Can we talk?"

You look up into his blue eyes. "I have nothing to talk about."

"Kitten, come on." He pleads with his eyes.

"You should be happy, isn't that what you wanted since you've met me? For me to leave you alone and be nothing more than someone you share rent with? Because that's exactly what it's going to be like from now on." You step aside and walk around him to go sit in your chair, sipping on your milkshake.

The tension in the loft stays the same for an entire week. Chase is pissed at Ransom, you're acting like you don't care but not so deep down you're hurt, Theo tries to stay neutral to avoid more conflict and Ransom is being extra dick-ish. Thankfully, he seems to want to avoid you as much as you do him so you barely ever see him.

On Thursday morning you feel a little under the weather but decide to get up and go to work anyway. Instead of feeling better as the day progresses, you feel worse and by noon they send you home for the weekend.

You come home to an empty loft. Theo and Chase are at work and Ransom is out doing who knows what, you get to your room and close the door even though no one is here you never know when someone might barge in.

It takes you 5 good minutes to successfully change out of your work clothes into your PJs. You hurry, as best as you can, to get under the covers and try to warm yourself up. You're shivering, except you don't know if it's from being sick or just the AC that's too high.

Just as you are drifting off to sleep, the door of the loft opens and then slams shut, startling you. You hear loud footsteps thumping to Ransom's room and a loud "fuck" being yelled out, startling you once more.

Moving hurts and it takes forever but even in your state you can't leave him to go through whatever he's going through alone. You take the covers with you, dragging most of it on the floor as you walk to reach your door.

You open it quietly, stepping in the doorway and you look across the hall into Ransom's room. He's sitting on the edge of his bed, opposite you with his back turned to you.

"Ransom? Are you ok?" You say softly.

"Does it sound like I'm fucking ok?" He keeps staring at the wall in front of him.

You wince, unsure if it's the words he said or the sound of his voice that exacerbated your migraine.

"What's wrong? Maybe I can help."

Ransom sighs, annoyed by your need to help. "What's wrong is that my grandfather cut me off, forced me to move out of my damn house and move in with roommates. Told me I had two months to find a job, until then he'd pay for my rent. I can't find a fucking job because I've never worked a day in my damn life and starting Friday of next week I'll probably be homeless. So unless you have a job for me, no you can't help me." By the end he's almost yelling, making you whimper from the pain in your head but he's too busy ranting to hear that you're in pain.

"Why didn't you say something?" You speak once you feel he's calmed down. "I do have a job for you."

"What?" He looks to the side, seeing you from the corner of his eye.

"It's nothing glamorous but we need someone at the library I work at. It'll give you experience and something to put on your resume, and a paycheck to keep paying the rent."

"They won't hire me. My resume is non-existent and I keep fucking up the interviews."

"I'm the one in charge. I can hire whoever I want. You start Monday." You turn around and slowly walk back to your bed, using all your strength to climb on it and curl into a ball in the middle of the mattress with the covers tucked under you.

"Thank you." Ransom speaks once he feels like he's gained control over himself again. "I don't know why you're helping me, but thanks."

You hum, closing your eyes.

Ransom looks at his phone and sees that it's barely 1 pm and you're already home. On a Thursday.

"Aren't you supposed to be at work? What are you doing here?" He waits for your answer but he is met with silence. He stands up from his bed and walks to his door, peeking into your room. "Kitten are you sleeping, in the middle of the day?" He frowns.

You slowly open your eyes to look at him. "I'm tired." You mumble incoherently.

As soon as you open your eyes, Ransom can tell something is wrong. He moves toward your room but before he can step inside you stop him. "I'm sick. You need to stay away." Your eyes flutter closed.

"I don't care if I get sick." He kneels on the bed next to you and peels back the covers to find you drenched in sweat, shivering and looking much, much paler than usual. He presses his inner wrist to your forehead and cheeks. "Oh kitten, you have a really bad fever." He sounds worried, which he definitely is.

"I'm fine. Just need a nap." You close your eyes again.

"No, eyes on me sweetheart. We gotta get your temperature down first before you can sleep."

Ransom pulls out his phone and googles all the ways to break a fever, glancing between you and his phone every 10-15 seconds to make sure you're still awake.

He puts his phone on your nightstand once he's confident he knows what to do and pulls off the covers completely away from you.

"No." You whimper, trying to stop him.

"I know, kitten. We need to change your damp clothes ok? You'll feel better in dry clothes and you won't be as cold."

You fight him every step of the way but he manages to change you into clean pjs.

Ransom decides to carry you to his room and to his bed, now that your bed is soaked through with sweat. He covers you with a blanket, it said on the internet that it should be max two blankets at a time. He'll start you off with one and see how it goes. He gets you a water bottle, cold medicine and a damp cloth for your forehead and neck, it's supposed to help according to what he read online.

He makes you sit up long enough to take the medicine and drink the water. He's holding you up until you've had enough and gently lowers you back, settling your head on his pillow. He wipes your forehead and neck with the cloth, watching you like a hawk. "The meds should kick in fast, you'll begin to feel better soon."

"Thank you." You look up at him, looking even more vulnerable than usual which only makes Ransom want to protect you more.

He smiles reassuringly. "Get some rest, I'll be right here."

You nod and close your eyes, falling asleep almost instantly.

Ransom keeps the damp cloth on your forehead, getting up from time to time to rinse it out in the sink and cool it down with cold water. 30 minutes go by and your fever still hasn't broken, he's even wondering if it's not getting worse. He goes back to your room to get his phone he left on your nightstand earlier and calls the only person he knows that could help.

"Marta? It's Ransom. I need your help." He walks back into his room and watches you sleep. "Could you come over? It's not for me, it's for a- it's for my friend."

Within 20 minutes Marta shows up at the loft with her medical bag. Ransom looks at you one more time before walking out of his room to go open the door. He leads her back to his room and steps aside to let her do her job.

"Thanks for picking up and coming over." He says quietly as he watches her every move.

"I knew if you called me then it had to be an emergency." She takes your temperature and frowns. "What did you give her?"

"This." He hands her the box.

She reads the ingredients and goes through her bag to find something to give you.

Ransom comes to sit on the bed next to you when he sees Marta take out a few pills. He strokes your cheek with his thumb to wake you up. "You gotta wake up, kitten."

Marta is surprised to see Ransom being so sweet and soft, in all the years she has known him she's never seen him like this. Not even with Harlan. She doesn't say anything and watches instead. She wonders if Harlan is going to believe her when she tells him about it tonight.

Your eyes flutter open and you look up at Ransom.

"There she is." He smiles. "This is Marta." He points to her. "She's Harlan's nurse. She's going to take care of you, ok?"

You look at Marta when he points and you smile. "Hi."

Marta chuckles. "Hi. Can you sit up? I need you to take these." She shows you the pills.

Moving only made you aware of how achy your whole body is and of the pounding headache that is still very much there.

"I don't wanna." You whine, something to be embarrassed about later.

"Are you in pain?"

You nod at Marta's question.

"Then you really need to take these."

"Come on, kitten." Ransom helps you sit up and moves a little behind you to be able to hold you up.

You lean back against him and take the pills with shaky hands, putting them in your mouth and taking a few gulps from the water bottle Ransom brought you earlier.

He pushes back all the strands of hair that are sticking to your sweaty forehead while you drink, worry written all over his face.

"She'll be ok." Marta reassures him and he simply nods.

He helps you lay back down and adjusts the blanket to make sure you're not cold.

"I'll wait until her fever breaks, after that you should be ok to take care of her." Marta puts everything back in her bag.

"Thank you."

This is the second time Ransom has thanked her since they met. Both times were for you.

"You're welcome. I'll go wait in the living room."

She walks out when she notices that Ransom's focus is only on you.

"How are you feeling?" He looks down at you, searching your face for any sign of discomfort.

"Tired." You wiggle under the blanket. "Cold. Can I get under the covers?"

"Not until your fever breaks, kitten." He sees your little pout of disappointment. "I know, I know. It shouldn't take too long for the meds to kick in."

"That's what you said the first time." You whine. You're exhausted, cold and everything hurts.

"I'm sorry." He looks away, feeling guilty that the meds he gave you earlier only seem to make you worse.

"It's ok." You close your eyes. "Thank you for taking care of me."

Marta comes back with the thermometer 15 minutes later to check the progress. "She's getting better."

Ransom sighs with relief, his shoulders slouch as he relaxes. "Finally."

"When did you become such a papa bear?" Marta whispers, a knowing smile tugging at her lips. She's just curious to see if he'll admit it.

He quickly glances down at you before looking at Marta, it's so quick that she almost misses it. Almost.

"I knew there was a softie somewhere under there." She waves her finger to where his heart is.

Ransom glares at her. "Don't push it."

"I'll wait another 15 minutes." She smiles and goes back to the living room.

While you sleep, Ransom leaves his room for a minute to get you more water and something to eat for when you feel better. He puts everything on the nightstand next to you, grabs his laptop from his desk and gets back in bed, sitting with his back against the headboard. He puts on a show he started watching the other night and lowers the volume to let you sleep in peace.

He keeps glancing between the screen and you, he'll have to rewatch the episode before watching the next one because he's definitely not following the story.

As promised, Marta comes back 15 minutes later and takes your temperature once more. "She's a little hotter than normal but I'd say her fever broke."

Ransom smiles. "That's great, thank you."

"I left you a few more pills on the coffee table in the living room, just in case she needs them. I left the instructions with them. I'm gonna go, call me if there's anything."

"Thanks." He says quickly, his focus is back on you.

Marta smiles as she leaves the loft, loving this new version of Ransom. Something tells her that he's only ever going to be like this with you but it's great to see him care about someone other than himself. Harlan is going to be so proud of his grandson when she tells him.

Ransom strokes your cheek with the back of his index, gently waking you up. "Wake up." He says softly.

It takes you a few seconds but you finally open your eyes. "Mh?"

"Your fever broke. You need to drink some water and then we'll get you under the covers for a real nap, ok?"

"Ok." You nod slowly, still sleepy.

Ransom helps you up yet again, he's glad your fever is gone but he doesn't like how wobbly you are. He holds you while he gets the covers from under you and then helps you get under them. He reaches for the water bottle and twists the cap open before handing it to you.

He watches as you drink and takes back the bottle, puts it back on the nightstand and looks at you. "I got some snacks, are you hungry?"

You shake your head no. "I'm tired."

"Ok, let's get you to bed." He helps you lay back down and sits back in his spot above the covers.

You look up at him curiously as he tucks you in to make sure you're warm. "Ransom?"

"Yeah?"

"Get under the covers with me."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes!"

"Alright, alright." He does as you tell him to and lies down next to you, his head slightly propped up with a few pillows to be able to see the screen of his laptop.

"Ransom?"

He chuckles and turns his head to look at you.

"Can I sleep closer to you?"

How could he ever say no to you when you're looking so adorable. He lifts up the covers and he gestures for you to come snuggle up with him.

He lowers down the covers on top of you and makes sure that they're all wrapped neatly around you.

You rest your head on his chest and half of your body on top of half of his. He hugs you closer and tucks his free hand under his head, finally relaxing now that he knows you're going to be ok.

He moves his arm that's around you under the covers so that he can rub your back to help you fall asleep.

You nuzzle his chest before falling asleep, finally warm and comfortable.

While you are resting, Ransom watches his show and glances down at you from time to time without being able to help it. He absentmindedly runs his fingers up and down your spine, then up to your forehead and follows your hairline down to your neck and back up.

An hour or so later, the front door of the loft opens and slams shut, making Ransom quickly look down at you and thankfully you don't wake up.

"Princess?" Chase calls out. "I saw your car parked in the lot, aren't you supposed to be at work?" He frowns at your lack of answer and goes down the hall to your room. He finds the door open and your bed is messy but you're not there.

Chase turns around to see that Ransom's door is opened and walks over. "Ransom have you seen-" He stops in the doorway.

Ransom brings his index to his lips to signal for him to shut up.

"She came home early, she's sick." He whispers. "She needs to rest and her bed needs clean sheets."

"I'll take care of her." Chase walks in and kneels next to the bed, reaching over Ransom and touching your arm that's resting on his chest.

"I got her." Ransom tries to stop his movement but he's not quick enough.

You whine as you wake up, trying to hide your face in Ransom's chest. "No."

"Princess, it's me. I just got home. Let's go sleep in my room."

You open your eyes at the sound of Chase's voice. "Hi."

"Hey." He smiles. "Let's get you to bed."

"I'm in bed." You mumble.

"The wrong bed, princess."

Ransom keeps running his fingers along your hairline and neck as he watches you and only you.

"I wanna stay here. I always sleep great with him. Right, Ransom?" You close your eyes, ready to be over and done with this conversation.

"That's right kitten." He says softly, still looking down at you, not stopping his movements. He slows down to check the temperature of your forehead, making sure that it's not boiling hot like earlier and then he moves again.

Chase opens his mouth to speak but Ransom cuts him off. "Shh. She's sleeping." He says without barely any sound.

"She can't be asleep, she was talking five seconds ago."

"Lower your voice." He hisses through clenched teeth. "She had a really high fever and now she needs to sleep." He whispers. "I got her, don't worry."

Chase is taken aback by not only how protective of you Ransom is but also that he's right. You really are asleep and Ransom was able to tell in only a few seconds. Maybe there is more to this situation with you than he originally thought.

"Alright." He whispers and stands back up.

"Close the door, I don't want her waking up." Ransom looks down at you, a small smile threatening to spread. Not because he enjoys seeing you sick, but he feels pride swell in his chest that not only you trust him enough to be this vulnerable around him but that you also chose to stay with him over Chase. Maybe it's the fever, maybe later you'll change your mind but for now Ransom will relish in it.

Chase stands in the doorway with his hand on the doorknob, watching as Ransom's hand leaves your face and his arm disappears under the covers. He takes a step forward, ready to rip you away from Ransom until he sees your body move closer to Ransom's, a better angle for your neck. His arm comes back over the covers and he tucks them behind your back to make sure you're all wrapped up nice and warm. Chase feels bad that for a moment he thought Ransom was taking advantage of you instead of pulling you closer so you won't have a stiff neck later. He quietly steps back and closes the door quietly until he hears a little "click" and lets go of the doorknob, walking away from Ransom's room.

Ransom watches a few episodes of his show while continuing to brush his fingers across the same path from earlier: down your hairline to your neck and then back again. He ends up falling asleep at some point, his arm wrapped around your shoulders.

He wakes up hours later, at least he thinks it's been hours because when he fell asleep sunlight came in from under his curtains and now it's pitch black. He looks up at his ceiling, stretching as best as he can without waking you up. Then he hears it: you are sniffling.

He frowns and looks down. "Kitten, are you ok?" He whispers with a raspy voice from sleeping for so long.

He expects to see you crying but you're still asleep, it looks like you're getting congested.

He sighs. "You can't catch a break, can you?" He says to you quietly.

He touches your forehead, relieved to not find it scorching hot or even a little warm.

Ransom closes his laptop and throws it at the foot of the bed.

"Kitten, wake up." He speaks softly, squeezing your shoulder.

You groan and shake your head at his attempt at waking you up, making him chuckle.

"You're grumpy when you're sick." He moves his fingers to the side of your neck to tickle you and get you to open your eyes.

"What?" You slur/whine as you open your eyes.

"Welcome back, sunshine." He teases. "You need to eat something and take more cold medicine, I think you're getting congested."

You try to breathe in through your nose and very little air passes. "Ugh." You huff, annoyed. You hate being congested. "I'm not hungry."

"It wasn't a question nor a suggestion, kitten." He pats your side over the covers. "I'll go get you some soup. Do you want anything else?" You mumble something under your breath that he doesn't understand. "What?" He chuckles.

"A grilled cheese sandwich, please."

"You got it." He lets you move away before sitting up and he stretches his arms above his head, frowning when he feels his shirt stick to his chest. He looks down and pulls on it. "Did you drool on me?" He turns to look at you, amused.

You look at the wet spot on his shirt, your eyes widen with embarrassment and you're quick to cover your face with your hands. "I'm so sorry."

"I think you might be the first woman to literally drool on me. I'll take it as a compliment." He teases you before getting out of bed. He walks to his dresser and takes off his shirt, tossing it in the hamper with the rest of his dirty clothes. He pulls out a shirt from one of the drawers and puts it on. "There. A clean shirt for you to drool on later."

You hide completely under the covers, making him laugh. "I'm going to the kitchen. Stay in bed and try not to suffocate under there while I'm gone." He squeezes your foot through the covers and leaves, closing the door behind him.

He washes his hands as soon as he gets to the kitchen before touching anything as an attempt to not spread the germs all over the loft. He gets to work on heating up some soup and making you a grilled cheese sandwich, hopefully he won't mess up and somehow make you even more sick.

"How is she doing?" Chase asks as he walks into the kitchen.

"She's awake and slightly grumpy. She's getting congested but she seems a lot better than when she came home from work." He glances at Chase before focusing back on not burning anything.

"That's good." It's the first time that you're sick and that he's not the one taking care of you, it feels weird to be so out of touch with what's going on. "Just so you know when she's sick she gets a little… clingy and needy. It's not annoying or anything, but if it gets too much just let me know and I'll take over. She really hates being sick and she wants to be comforted."

"It's ok, whatever she needs I got it." He turns off the stove and puts your bowl of soup and your grilled cheese on a tray to bring to you.

Chase watches as Ransom looks around to see if he forgot something.

"You like her." It wasn't a question, he was stating a fact.

Ransom looks up and frowns. "She's my roommate, of course I like her."

"What you've been doing today goes beyond roommate duties. You like like her."

Ransom sighs, annoyed with the conversation. "So what if I do? You're going to tell me that she's off limits again? Or that she's yours? That you're in love with her and I need to back off?" He turns to look down at Chase, he’s only a few inches taller but right now he looks a lot more imposing.

‘’What? No.’’ Chase laughs. ‘’She’s like my sister.’’

‘’You flirt with her all the time. I don't know about you but where I come from, we don’t flirt with our sisters.’’

‘’I just like to give her a little confidence boosts.’’ He shrugs. ‘’She doesn’t go out that much and she’s had some pretty bad experiences with dating. If I don’t compliment her then the only thing she hears all day is what she tells herself and trust me, it’s rarely positive. Just keep being good to her.’’

‘’I will.’’ He says sincerely before taking the tray and leaving the kitchen to go back to his room. He opens his bedroom door long enough to walk in and closes it back. He looks at his bed and frowns. ‘’What happened here?’’

‘’Nothing?’’ You look up at him.

‘’I told you to stay in bed.’’ He shakes his head disapprovingly.

‘’I didn’t move!’’

‘’Yeah? So the pillows from your bed just magically appeared on my bed while I was gone?’’

‘’Yes?’’

‘’I’ll pretend to believe you. Now sit up and eat, houdini.’’ He moves to stand next to the bed and waits for you to sit.

‘’I’m not hungry.’’ Your nose scrunch up at the smell of your soup.

‘’I know you’re not hungry, kitten, but you still have to eat. You don’t have to eat it all but at least a little bit, ok?’’

‘’Ok.’’ You nod and sit up slowly, shivering as the covers fall from your shoulders.

Ransom puts down the tray on your thighs and opens the water bottle, handing it to you to make sure you drink. He walks over to the other side of the bed and gets under the cover with his back leaning against the headboard. You drink almost half the bottle before putting the cap back on and moving the tray on the bed. Ransom watches you curiously as you lift up the covers, careful not to spill anything, and change places to be sitting between his legs with your back to his chest.

‘’What are you doing?’’ He chuckles.

‘’I’m cold.’’

He touches your forehead and cheeks with the inside of his wrist. ‘’Do you want me to get more blankets?’’

You shake your head and put the tray back on your thighs. Ransom pushes the hair back from your face as you lean forward to eat your soup.

‘’Is it good?’’

‘’Yes, thank you.’’

‘’You’re welcome.’’ He smiles, even if you can’t see him, and leans back against the headboard to let you eat peacefully.

‘’Can we watch something?’’ You ask after a few minutes of silence and your quiet slurping noises.

‘’Sure kitten, what do you want to watch?’’

‘’I don’t know.’’

He laughs and points to his laptop. ‘’Grab my laptop and we’ll watch whatever you want.’’

You lean to the side while he holds the tray and you pull his laptop back to you. He takes it and opens the screen, putting it down next to the two of you. He scrolls through one of the many streaming platforms services you all subscribed to.

‘’Can we watch American Horror Story?’’ You turn to try and look at him.

‘’You don’t like horror movies.’’ He shakes his head.

‘’I know.’’

‘’It has horror in the title. I don’t think it’s a good idea.’’

‘’You said we could watch whatever I wanted.’’ You point out, waving your spoon around.

‘’Alright, alright" He gently grabs your wrist to stop you from putting soup everywhere. "But you can’t blame me when you wake up in the middle of the night because you had a nightmare.’’

He shakes his head as he puts on the first episode of season one and adjusts the volume, it was still on low from earlier when he didn’t want to wake you up. You eat slowly while watching and you can't help jumping from time to time because of things popping up on the screen.

‘’Are you sure you want to watch this?’’ Ransom asks you after the third time he feels you jump.

‘’Yes!’’ You put down your spoon. ‘’I’m done.’’

He looks over your shoulder and down at the tray, satisfied to see that the soup is entirely gone and half the grilled cheese too. ‘’Are you sure?’’ You nod. ‘’Alright.’’ He takes the remaining half and eats it before putting the tray on his nightstand, keeping the water bottle in bed next to him.

You push the laptop further away and move next to Ransom to lie on your side, facing the laptop. You take one of the pillows to rest your head on and hug close to your chest.

‘’Already done with me, uh?’’ He jokes.

‘’No, come watch.’’ You blindly extend your arm behind you and pull on his hand when he puts it in yours. He props his head up with a pillow to be able to see the screen over your shoulder, lies behind you until his chest is flush against your back and then wraps an arm around your waist.

You let out a frustrated huff at the end of the episode.

‘’What’s wrong?’’ Ransom lifts his head to look at you.

‘’The men in the show are assholes. Had I been her I would have divorced his ass so fast.’’

Ransom chuckles and pauses as the second episode starts. ‘’Love makes people do stupid things.’’

‘’My boyfriend cheated on me once, I didn’t even want to know what his excuse was, he was out.’’ You scroll to find something better to watch.

‘’Whoever cheated on you is as dumb as they come. He didn’t deserve you.’’

‘’So I’ve been told.’’ You shrug it off.

‘’What’s his name? Do you want me to kick his ass? I’ll go kick his ass right now, you say the word.’’ He tickles your side gently, hoping to make you smile.

You laugh and try to get away from his fingers. He smiles as he stops tickling you now that his goal to make you smile is achieved, instead he wraps his arm around your waist and pulls you back to his chest.

‘’Do you want to watch something else or do you want to rest?’’

‘’I think I’ll try to get some sleep before I get congested again.’’ You sigh. ‘’I hate being sick so much.’’

‘’I know. I wish I could do more to help you.’’ He closes his laptop and turns on his back to put it down on the floor. ‘’Get some rest, I’ll go clean up my mess in the kitchen.’’ He rolls over and stands up from the bed, stretching his arms above his head.

“You’re leaving me alone?’’ You turn on your back and look up at him with a little pout.

He takes the tray off of the nightstand and narrows his eyes at you. ‘’Don’t give me that lip, kitten. I’ll be back before you wake up.’’ He quickly walks out of his room and shuts the door because he knows that if you ask him to stay he will do it and Theo’s going to be pissed that he left the kitchen in the state that he did.

Just as he puts the tray down on the counter his phone starts to vibrate in his pocket. He frowns and pulls it out, his eyes widen with shock at the name on the caller ID.

Harlan.

CHAPTER FOUR

@n3ssm0nique | @lover-of-bucky | @beingagodsucks | @littlemissthistle | @dancer3205 | @thatblondebrownie | @rainbowkisses31 | @benbarnesbussy | @emi11ie | @floral-recs | @greeneyedblondie44 | @fangirl125reader | @aya-fay | @rogersdrysdalebarber | @broadwaybabe18 | @blackwidownat2814 | @chris-butt | @cevans98 | @futur3corps3 | @evansgal | @aude1508-blog | @tenaciousperfectionunknown | @patzammit | @mrsdrysdale18 | @fallenoutofrose | @crossfitjesusinblackskinnyjeans

[bontenten]

Sleeping Beauty

Pairing: Shirabu x f!reader WC: 5.6k Genre/Warnings: smut, fairy tale retelling, incest, dubcon/noncon, drugs (sleeping pill), somnophilia, abusive past relationship, implied rape (not Shirabu), panic attack, victim-blaming, hero-complex with a bit of god-complex, hints of yandere, uhh medical malpractice, Shirabu’s bangs

Summary: The real story of Sleeping Beauty is anything but beautiful. Shirabu will do everything he can to keep you in a safe haven where you can freely dance with your prince once upon a dream.

A/N: This is a part of the whorehouse intoxicated collaboration, rest of the pieces of this toxic journey can be found here! Thank you Ria and Angel for helping beta <3 Love you both so much.

Unofficial bgm: Once Upon a Dream & Once Upon a December 

"You'll never wash me from you," he sneers, pulling you back by a handful of hair. You feel a blanket of pain shoot across your scalp. "You'll never really get away. Time to wake the fuck up."

"G-get away from me!" 

You thrash and kick your legs wildly hoping something will land. The moment you hear a pained grunt and feel his grip loosen, you scramble up to your feet and run. Your shoes grate against wet cement as you take off. Your heartbeat pounds in your ears as you will your legs forward one after another. The caw of birds seem to act as a beacon leading you through the twists and turns of the terrain.

A left turn here, two blocks straight. Past the corner store and beyond the stoplight. Three blocks. Right turn. Two Blocks. Five steps away. Four...Three..Two...Safety...

----

"In the forest, the princess played with a lot of animal friends. She grew up there in the cottage with three fairies looking after her."

Thunder claps and lightning strikes outside.

"It's so loud Kenjirou-nii!" you cry, burying yourself into Shirabu's arms.

"Shh, I'm here," Shirabu coos, rocking you back and forth until your sobs subside. "One day, the princess was singing with the songbirds..."

Shirabu begins to recount the fairytale of Sleeping Beauty to you, slowly easing your mind away from the turbulence outside.

"Do you think you can sleep now?"

You shake your head and jump again when the thunder claps over the roof of the house.

"It's okay, I'm right here. Big brother’s always going to protect you."

"Like the prince protecting the princess?"

"Yes, exactly. You're always my princess, now go to sleep. I'll wake you when the sun's up.”

After a while, you calm down and slowly drift into sleep with your breaths evening out. Shirabu pulls the covers over both of you and enters sleep as well.

The winds continued to howl outside the window...the branches tapping...tapping against the window...tap...tapping…

----

Shirabu Kenjirou opens his eyes. He had just fallen asleep while studying for the third time that night. There is no use staying at the library if he is going to treat it as a hotel; he’ll be better off going home first. He yawns and stretches his neck, then packs his bags to return to his apartment. There are few students left in the building at this ungodly hour. Dark clouds loom overhead and the air is filled with the pitter patter of autumn rain hitting cement. Shirabu zips up his coat, opens his umbrella, and walks into the dark.

You would have been so frightened by this sort of weather, whimpering under your blankets, counting sheep with shaky breaths. Just like how you did in that dream of his earlier.

While growing up, Shirabu hadn't cared all that much about anything else considering he spent most of his time with his studies or playing volleyball. Although there was you, his little sister, he figured you had your little bubble anyway. But on a stormy night, you teetered down the hall after finding your parent’s room locked. Afraid and sleepy, you looked for comfort elsewhere and arrived at Shirabu’s room.

Shirabu had been most irritated and decided to shoo you out with strings of curses and profanities, but he couldn’t. The sight of your form huddled right outside his bedroom, with young eyes pleading for him took hold of a bit of humanity in Shirabu’s heart. So, he let you into his room, a safe haven, and eventually a world that was composed of only the two of you against the rest of the world.

Shirabu has known for a long time that you are the most brilliant, precious, and purest thing he’ll ever encounter. Always perfect. Forever unsullied. 

There are many things that Shirabu wants to shield you from. If he can secure one more hour of innocence, one more day, one lifetime, he’ll do so without a moment of hesitation. The real world is unlike the fairy tales that you hear about while growing up. 

The real story of Sleeping Beauty is anything but beautiful. There isn’t a handsome prince the princess meets in a forest. No color changing cake. No kiss of love. In the real story, the princess is put into an endless slumber and has her virginal body taken by some unknown beast of a king, used like a rag for his carnal pleasure. When he leaves, the sleeping girl is then forgotten like trampled daisies under the hooves of horses. And she will wake to find her womb bulged with bastard life as a result of the damnation. The stretches clawing around the navel as permanent reminders that nothing will wash him from her.

The real world is dark. Horrible. Wretched. Dirty. Filled with suffering. That is why he, Shirabu Kenjirou, responds to the call to action and enters a life of service. In his heart he yearns to save and help, even if just a little, by becoming a prince with a white coat. He will not give up trying to salvage pieces of humanity he’ll touch, and in the process, carve out a haven, a little forest with a cottage, for his dearest sister to safely live in.

It has been a while since he last heard from you. Partly his own fault, really. Ever since Shirabu entered university and then medical school, the number of times you two would meet up dwindled. The hours on the phone became texts and soon after, communication vanished into mostly silence.

You are in university now, grown up and stepping into the real world, but that doesn't mean you are no longer his little sister. And because you are the one and only, Shirabu feels that he should try to do a better job as an older brother and check-in with you to see how you are doing. So, Shirabu takes out his phone that’s still on silent after studying.

27 missed calls from Sister 

Shirabu pauses in his tracks and returns the call. Cars zoom by on the streets while he waits for the line to connect. 

He was right, you must have been frightened.

The first call doesn’t connect, so Shirabu immediately tries the second time. You pick up on the third attempt.

"It's me, I'm so sorry I didn't pick up earlier."

"K-Kenjirou-nii..." your voice weakly translates over the speaker. 

Shirabu presses the phone closer to his ear and turns up the volume. "Where are you now," he demands. "At school?"

"...Your place..." Your voice sounds so dangerously faded, like petals beaten to the ground from the rain.

Shirabu bolts. His apartment is just a couple blocks away. Around the corner just up ahead. Shirabu makes a sharp turn and splashes through a puddle. 

"Stay...on the phone with me," he urges, paying no mind to his soaked shoes and socks.

You nod in understanding, as if he’ll hear your action.

"I'm almost there okay, almost."

Shirabu isn’t lying. A few moments later you hear the frantic footsteps coming closer to you. The stomping noises make your skin crawl, but the familiar face of your brother melts those fears away. He appears with his wet bangs stuck to his face and his shoulders heaving up and down. It’s him, your niichan, your prince finally here.

You scramble up and dive into his open arms, in relief that you are safe at last, as you finally allow tears to mix with rain.

"I was so scared. I missed you so much, Kenjirou-niichan," you sob into Shirabu's wet coat. "Where were you, where were you?"

"I'm sorry. I'm here now, I'm sorry," Shirabu apologizes, "Let's go inside first, alright? We’re both drenched.”

----

Under the bright lights of the living room, Shirabu gets a better look at you. You catch his discerning eyes studying you up and down, visually tracing the markers of your demise. That’s when you crack.

“Kenjirou-nii...the real world, the world is a horrible place. I trusted him, you know? I trusted that man.”

Foolish and stupid, Shirabu wants to say. It’ll be easy to simply yell at you.

Shirabu is not someone without a temper. He was quite known for it back in his high-school days. The bruises, the scars that did not heal well. Shirabu reminds himself to keep his composure, especially in front of you. He’s to be a doctor. He’s to be a protector, a savior. And with the training he already has so far, Shirabu knows he’s already as good as any board certified, licensed white-robed saint. He just needs to do what he’s meant to do. Heal. Clean. Purify.

After listening to your brief tale, Shirabu tells you not to worry about anything else tonight other than take a hot shower and get some rest. He gives you a reassuring smile and sends you off to the bathroom with towels and a large t-shirt.

While you wash-up and lose your thoughts piecing together the messy events of the night, Shirabu paces in the living room after he changes his own wet clothes. Nevermind the medical books he still needs to pour over, all Shirabu wants to do right now is track down the culprit and stick a scalpel through his socket. No, that’s just too easy. That bastard deserves something much more horrible, a slow and patient torture, a death within grasp but just out of reach. As if agreeing with Shirabu’s thoughts, your phone on the coffee table lights up. Shirabu picks up the device and watches the notifications pop-up.

Shirabu sees an unknown number call you. He doesn’t pick up, letting the phone ring while he reads the numbers across the screen and commits them to memory. The phone calls stop and an onslaught of texts follow; some coherent and others far from decipherable. There are messages of broken apologies and confessions of persistent love. Requests for you to go back to him. Shirabu scoffs at the language.

Shirabu continues to wait with impassive eyes, but the tight death grip around the device gives away the boiling rage beneath his skin. How dare the man behind that accursed number treat you, his little sister and princess, in such a foul manner. This beast who stole from you. Who is the reason behind the tainting of your now sullied innocence. 

Finally after a few minutes of silence, the screen lights up with a series of curses and condemnation that show the man’s true colors. A morphed beast due to your lack of response. Shirabu scrolls through the list of notifications again with impassive eyes, but the tight death grip around the device gives away the boiling rage beneath his skin. 

"You will pay," Shirabu seethes, taking a knife from the kitchen and ramming the sharp end straight into the device glass. The phone buzzes desperately and goes dark. You have no use for that phone anymore after all of this anyway, and the cursed number is already memorized by Shirabu for his own purposes.

----

Shirabu’s room is tidy. The two bookshelves on either side of the table are filled with books, photos, and many other accolades. That’s your older brother alright: perfect, proper, always right. Always right about everything, except one thing. The world you know really isn’t the wonderland he told you about growing up. Not at all. 

You bury your face into Shirabu's pillows and will yourself to sleep. You are safe here in his bed. It’s a haven...safely tucked in a forest. You are in a forest. The trees and the breeze. Songbirds are singing. 

You can dance here, twirl about...safe...free…

The trees melt.

Birds squawk and screech, scampering away…

Ink engulfs you....swallowing you whole

Falling...falling…

"You'll never wash me from you," he sneers. "You'll never really get away. Time to wake the fuck up."

NO! you try to scream. You can’t, the weight on your chest sinks you deeper, only silence is uttered...choked…

Wake up.

Wake up.

"Wake up!"

Your eyes fly open and you see him. Him. A blood curdling shriek finally tears through your throat and you thrash. "Getawaygetawaygetaway! NO!"

"It's me, hey, it's me. You're okay, you're safe." Shirabu’s eyes widen with worry at your outburst, but gives you ample space to breathe and compose yourself.

This familiar voice. It does not belong to him. It’s definitely not him.

"...Kenjirou-nii?" you ask quietly. The shadow is backlit from light coming in through the door and your vision is still fuzzy from the nightmare.

A tender hand closes around yours. "Shhh, it's okay, you're okay now. It was a bad dream, you're safe. You're safe. I'm here."

Cold sweat runs down your temples. Your breath is fast and shallow.

"Follow me, okay. Breathe in..." Shirabu takes a deep breath. You follow his voice and movement as if they are lanterns guiding you through a maze. "And breathe out. Good, you're doing great. Breathe in...and out..."

You feel your mind slowly beginning to clear with each inhale and exhale. Finally, you see Shirabu clearly again. You can smell the scent of his body wash from him. The texture of the blanket rubs against your fingertips. You’re here in Shirabu’s room. Safety. Haven. 

"I'll be right back," Shirabu tells you, before leaving you for a moment and going towards the bathroom. He opens the medicine cabinet, pops out a few white pills from a box.

"Here," he says holding out the small tablets in the middle of his palm. The off-white seems to almost glow in the dark.

"It's zolpidem, a sleeping pill I sometimes take for insomnia. It'll help you for tonight, and then we'll get you something else tomorrow that'll work better."

You look at the pill and then at Shirabu. Shirabu is someone you love and trust with all your heart. His embrace is your anchor and haven when the rest of the world has turned a blind eye. He’s your brother. One and only. There’s no reason not to trust him.

"I won't see him will I?"

"No," Shirabu affirms. The pills don't really manipulate dreams, but if reassuring you can placebo sweet dreams, then what harm really is there? He didn’t pass Ethics with top marks for nothing.

Shirabu gently presses the pill body against your lips and you part them, allowing the small object to slip through. He feeds another and you open your mouth obediently. You look at Shirabu’s eyes which are fixated on the way your lips wrap around his three fingers.  Kenjirou-nii’s lashes are so nice and pretty, you think. 

One gulp of water later, and you feel nothing but a cold sensation traveling down your throat and disappearing into your belly.

"It'll take about half an hour, I'll stay with you until you fall asleep," Shirabu says. He supports your back and gently lowers you back into the comforts of the plush mattress. Shirabu will surely carry the same attentiveness and care when he becomes a full-fledged doctor. You are sure of it. The big brother you grew up with has truly grown up and matured. But no matter how much he changes or how much you mess up, he’ll always be your big brother.

"Can you lie down next to me again, like when we were young?"

An innocent request from a patient-in-need. Shirabu complies and lies down next to you.

"I remember when we were young, I would make you dance with me to live out my princess dreams. You remember?”

Afternoons next to the stereo, crayons scattered on the floor. The smell of something baking in the kitchen. Shrieks and laughter in the living room. Even though Shirabu would be mildly annoyed at first, he found humoring your imagination to be a pleasant and soothing experience. Even he was sometimes whisked away from textbooks into a magical forest that was just you and him. The stress and burdens of everything else all seem so much lighter on his shoulders when you’re simply just there.

"Of course I remember, silly."

You hum softly and continue waiting for the medicine in your bloodstream to make its way through your body.

"Do you...remember the sleeping beauty story you would always tell me?"

"Yea?"

You pause for a moment before quietly asking, "Kenjirou-niichan, why did you lie to me?"

Shirabu does not respond and only glances over at you, eyeing your closed lids. Closed though they may be, the tiny beads of glimmering tears are beginning to emerge from between the lashes and trail down your cheeks.

"There is no prince, Kenjirou-nii...no prince for me, no one...niichan...," you mumble between your breaths. The drug is starting to take its effect, ushering your mind into another dimension far away from hurt and pain. It swallows you like a pit of ink, sinking you deeper and deeper...

----

Kenjirou-nii, why did you lie? Earlier, Shirabu felt his breath hitch when you asked that. 

He calls out your name softly, brushing over your cheeks, and listening to your soft breathing for a good while to make sure you are in fact asleep. At long last, maybe this is a good dream.

A lie? No! Not a lie, Shirabu wants to tell you. For you, his dearest sister, who only ever deserves happiness, in the rawest and truest form. You are supposed to have a life of others giving gifts of love, never having to offer anything of your own.

Shirabu feels his blood boil once more at the thought of that man who stole your innocence away. The one who took your body for his own carnal pleasures. The one who dared to steal you from him, Shirabu Kenjirou. If Shirabu's nails are not kept in immaculate condition for his profession, no doubt, his grip would be drawing blood from his palms.

Those marks and scars across your skin. Shirabu traces his finger down your neckline and along your arms...

Your head turns from left to right and you manage to shrug the big collar of the t-shirt off your shoulder. Shirabu can see, under the glow of moonlight from the cleared night sky, a nasty mark. A permanent mark. And before he realizes it, his fingers are already traveling over, tracing along and testing out the patterns and bumps.

Shirabu feels his chest burn beyond the anger and fury. Guilt. Where was he all this time when you were suffering? Why hadn't you just called him then? Anguishing thoughts of his little sister writhing in pain under that beast's grasps tear Shirabu apart. Did you cry? Were you scared? All these years studying for what? For what noble purpose is Shirabu trying to pursue if he can’t even save those closest to him?

Shirabu continues to search for any other marks or discolorations that are splayed across your skin like a map. It is what it is now. But Shirabu still has his calling. He is a man who answers to a life of service and healing: a prince in a white coat. No matter what happens, even if you’re tainted now, you’ll still be his little sister.

Even if your naivety and stupidity got you into the mess in the first place. Of course, why didn’t you listen to your brother’s warnings and stay in a safe haven like a good girl? Stay in your room and study for your future like a good student? Like him? Why did you think running off for fun, enjoying “youth and freedom” like the other degenerates would be a good idea?

Shirabu grits his teeth. Look at you now, damaged and past the point of no return, used. Injured and ill. Still, he needs to get the full story first, and see where else you might possibly be hurt. A complete diagnosis needs to come first. After the messages from the man, Shirabu is all the more certain that there are more clues left, and he needs evidence. He needs to know. The comforter is pulled away and careful hands examine the lines of your palms.

Once upon a time, you grabbed Shirabu’s hand and tried to use the methods of schoolyard palm-reading on him. You even exclaimed, “Kenjirou-niichan, this line means you’ll live a long life! And we can be together forever because my life line is really long too!”

Shirabu smiles at the memory and presses a kiss to the center of your palm. It must have been so painful, how could you have possibly endured? But you did and you survived. You are so brave. 

Probing fingertips trace across your collarbone and push the fabric of the large t-shirt up to reveal your torso. Shirabu blinks, realizing that this is now the body of a fully matured woman. You take a deep breath in your sleep from the cold air running across your exposed breasts. Shirabu can see the nipples perk up from the chill and hesitantly touches the bud with a hint of academic curiosity.

“Mmm, that tickles...” you giggle softly. Your hand pushes Shirabu's off and scratches the same spot he just traced, fondling your own breast briefly before letting go and continuing to sleep. Even grown up now, still the same adorable little sister.

Shirabu lets himself tease your nipples and knead the soft flesh of your breasts, toying around and watching your cute little expressions. Sometimes you’ll respond again and paw the tickling hands away. It’s fun, like playing a little game.

But when he lets his eyes wander down, Shirabu’s eyes narrow. Below the breasts, on either side of the waist, Shirabu sees damning marks of deep purple turning into a disgusting yellow. Like cursed claw marks. Shirabu hesitantly presses on the bruise, watching the color transform under his touch. He stops immediately when you begin to whine in pain. Carefully, Shirabu presses a kiss on these markings too, just like any other little injury you sustained in the past. A kiss so the pain flies away.

Foolish, foolish girl. Naive princess. Why did you let this happen to yourself? In the future, don’t run anymore. Stay here where it’s safe. 

There is just one place left Shirabu did not examine yet, a hidden spot that is supposed to be locked away that someone else discovered. Shirabu looks down at the dark lace panties obstructing his view like gates of a castle. It’s a poor “keep out” message; if anything it entices anyone who sees it to come in. A tempting invitation to see what’s behind.

Shirabu allows his clean fingers to easily slip through and begin a thorough investigation through the soft folds of flesh. His fingertips dip into a pool of wetness. He furrows his brows. When did this happen? 

Why are you wet? His eyes focus on your sleeping face that still has a relaxed smile. What are you dreaming about that makes your body like this? Shirabu drags the fingers covered with your slick to circle your clit. In response your thighs clamp and twitch. So sensitive, still inexperienced, even if you’re sullied. 

Shirabu slides the soaked panties off and pushes your thighs apart so he can continue his examination. That person must have touched this area too, his fingers have been here, and then…plunged his fingers into you like so. Your body trembles as Shirabu’s two fingers probe in, fully examining your inner anatomy. Soft, warm muscles clamp tightly around his digits and try to stop them from entering further. It’s for your good and his knowledge. He pushes deeper into you, dragging alongside the bumps and ridges of your walls.

You whine loudly and arch your back when Shirabu’s fingers find a sweet spot. Your head shifts on the fluffy pillows.

“Did you like that? Did that feel good?” Shirabu asks, probing your hole once more. As if in agreement, your body twitches again and your hips automatically roll against the palm, pressing your sensitive clit into the surface. Your breathy sighs are soft and sweet, unlike any other sound Shirabu has heard from you. It’s like a spell that enchants Shirabu and beckons for him. He shudders as he feels his cock responding to each noise coming out from between your lips.

It’s good, something feels so good. Under the sunlight, you feel warmth pooling throughout your body. There are tingles in the soles of your feet, like grass tickling skin while running around barefoot. Your body feels so light and relaxed. It’s warm and you’re not in this forest alone. The shape of a prince appears. You know he’s a prince because his voice is gentle and his touch feels safe.

If this feels good, it’s only because this is an act of love. If this makes you happy, it’s because it’s love. If it’s love, it’ll fill the empty pools of hurt. And if you’ll be whole again, you’ll heal. Shirabu makes up his mind and caresses your cheeks tenderly, So beautiful. Always beautiful. A sleeping beauty. His hand reaches to the waistband of his pants.

The prince rests his hand on your hips and excitement jolts through your body. You wrap your arms around his neck and smile back.

Shirabu freezes the moment he feels your arms wave into the air and reach for him. The sneaky fingers run across his skin.

"Dance..with me," you slur before falling back into silence.

The alarm washes away when he confirms you are still sound asleep.

"Are you dreaming of your prince?" Shirabu asks while tearing open a condom packet. Medical safety. He should have worn gloves earlier too, if he wasn’t already too entranced. "Dancing? Then I'll dance with you."

Forever. I'll be your prince, my sweet darling.

Shirabu runs the length of his hardened cock along your glistening slit. Rather than take, rather than pillage and steal...Shirabu will give. Replace the gross markers of pain with soft fleeting kisses. Replace the innocence stolen with love given unconditionally. Shirabu will give you all the love you deserve and more.

Shirabu’s fingers weave into your delicate ones, the palms join together, and your fingertips automatically lock with your niichan’s. It’s the starting position for a waltz in the forest, once upon a dream.

The man takes the initiation, the leading step. Shirabu closes the gap, sinking his length into your sweet embrace in a fluid and wet squelch. You respond, digging your nails and tightening your grip on his hands. Your other arm hugs around your partner, your niichan, pulling his body close against yours. Your blank eyes flutter open briefly to look straight at the shadow of Shirabu. Of course, you don’t see anything, you’re actually in a warm forest shyly gazing at your prince. Shirabu almost thinks that he woke you up, but you only let out a quiet moan before your body relaxes again.  

Shirabu groans and rests his cock in your warm and tight embrace. This is the way it should be, how it ought to be done. No one else can lead you in this dance the way he can. The way he will. This is not the self-fulfilling king stealing the princess’s virginal body for his own pleasure. This is the loving prince who loves and gives selflessly. Your big brother knows you the best, knows how you’ll respond, knows how you’ll like it. Shirabu slowly draws himself out and thrusts back in.

The prince presses himself so close to you, and you inhale sharply. During the waltz, you always have to maintain body contact with your partner. You feel his breath on your cheeks, and you’re sure he can feel your hammering heartbeat. The intimacy builds in the tender but secure hold. The steps are quick but the movements are not violent. It’s just enough that the heat stirring in your core spreads throughout your body.

Breaths become more labored and raspy into the act. Shirabu sees your face morph into bliss as he continues his pace and rocks his hips into you. His own brows furrow as Shirabu feels his grip over rationality falling apart with each thrust. Each flutter of your walls against him only invites him to come in deeper, farther. Harder. 

“...K-Kenjirou-nii...,” you softly cry out.

Your honeyed voice is a thick syrup trapping Shirabu, coaxing him. It’s like a melody inviting a weary traveler, a lost prince, in for rest. Your voice, your body, it’s tantalizing.

"Too good," Shirabu groans to himself. Why is it so good? You, his little sister, how? He looks down towards where he sees his cock, covered with your fluids, disappear into you. The thin latex barrier doesn’t stop how close the two of you are, Shirabu feels each clench and spasm around him. “My little sister, I didn’t know…” 

Shirabu can now understand just why that man did all that to you. Why that man wants to keep you by his side. Why he incessantly sends messages and tries to manipulate you back into their world.

It’s the only explanation, really, when you don’t even know how bewitching your body is. How enticing your voice is. Anyone would want to keep it as their own. Your warmth, your sweet, sweet hole. This cunt of yours is itself a safe haven. And Shirabu feels like he’s the one being made whole from you. It’s all because of you.

Each moan from you. Those gentle mewling cries, a witch’s spell, an incantation for addiction. That man is trying to manipulate you? How? When your whole existence manipulates everyone first, drawing them all in with the image of your unsullied purity.

Shirabu feels his impending release around the edge. His pace quickens and his thrusts meet with each of your twisting squirms. Your head tosses side-to-side on the pillow as your sleepy climax washes through.

Spin. Faster and faster in the forested ballroom. Twirl for the finale. You feel a dizzying jolt as the prince dips your body back. It’s a whirlwind of love. In your dream, the sunshine is so warm and growing so much hotter. It feels like you’re floating. So light and free. That prickling tickle in your feet is growing stronger until little fireworks set off across every corner of your body, filling you completely. The forest melts as the colors blend together in a dreamy painting. 

Euphoria, as Shirabu finishes spectacularly, clutching your sleeping body close to him in a messy ending pose. The final winds of the dead storm outside sound like a rumbling applause for this sinful waltz. He can hear his own pants and your shaky breaths mix into a fading duet. Shirabu lets himself bask for a moment, resting, entangled with you.

Everything makes sense now. He completely understands why the bastard king forces himself onto Sleeping Beauty. He completely understands why your allure is much too exquisite to pass on. Shirabu pulls out and carefully removes the condom, collecting the white essence you bewitched out from him into a little package with a tie. Dangerous little princess, that you are.

Even though Shirabu now fully understands the complete story after careful examination, there are still a few lines Shirabu will draw. One, that man has still committed a very grave sin, being the first to sample your purity, stealing that away from Shirabu? Damaging your flesh and skin? Unacceptable, he thinks as he tosses the used condom into the waste bin. A complete low-life who doesn’t know how to cherish. Punishment will be due.

Shirabu returns to the bed where your unconscious body is still sprawled between bunched sheets. His blank eyes study your spread legs and puffy cunt that’s still quivering every now and then. He taps his index finger against your sensitive clit. As if it is a magic button, your body briefly trembles on command. As if you are ready to enchant another unsuspecting traveler into your safe little haven. A little bit of fluid leaks out from your hole, presenting itself seductively. Welcome. 

Shirabu scoffs. And number two, you’ll be better off staying here with himself, your big brother. You’ll be safe here with a prince who knows best how to love you right, and give you the world. This is the way it should be; before you completely lose yourself into degeneracy and invite just about anyone into you. 

Those sleeping pills will be insufficient for the long-run. A different concoction while you are still healing from your terrible trauma will be needed. A cocktail of sorts that will target different needs. Yes. Shirabu files that thought away, putting it towards the top of his to-do list. There’s so many things he has to take care of. Too much pain in this world waiting for him to don white robes and be out there.

“But you’ll always come first on niichan’s list,” Shirabu whispers, slipping your panties back on and pulling the comforters over your body. He’ll never allow you to be sullied again. You’ll stay here in this safe haven, like a little cottage tucked away in the forest. Dream here. Find happiness with the only prince you need.

The first rays of dawn begin to brighten the sky, shooing away the cloak of night. The first songs from the birds announce the arrival of a new day. The morning light filters through the windows of the room, spilling over onto the bed and your quiet, unmoving form.

Time to wake up now, sleeping beauty.

[skybristle]

GOING INSANE AGAIN. this time about STRAWBERRY CREPE COOKIE. copy/pasted this from my dms but this is MY fanon and I make the rules. some oc stuff in here but honestly i don't care god is dead and i can do whatever i want. putting it under the cut because it's long and ALSO tw for manipulation/abandonment of children

okay so for context white lily in my fanon was always kinda,,, Off??? like i def see her as a brilliant mind with good intentions and misguided ways but shes very distant and gets kinda obsessed with her ideas of creating the 'perfect' cookie, even after the massive failure at the acadamy resulting in what happened happening pv gets kinda dragged into it because,,, she's his sorta lover sorta friend sorta ????? [idk i headcanon them as qpr with a really complicated relationship] and he has the healing magic in case anything goes awry, not to mention the kingdom and revolutionary technology so she can work. he kinda turns a blind eye to it because,,, it's his beloved lily,,, she wouldn't do anything like that,,, again. she was extremely remorseful over what happened at the acadamy [we see it in the flashback chapter 10 cutscenes] then she drags him in the lab one day, finally executing one of her biggest experiments. strawberry crepe. he's there for their creation and,,, crepe comes out faulty. they're crumbling, very easily [they lose their arms first but could have easily died right there], are mostly deaf, and while they can process what's happening its obviously,,, Very hard to grasp considering they can't hear anything + dude they were created 5 seconds ago. white lily immediately dismisses them as a failure [she's in deep at this point, it's only a couple months before the night of the witches] and pv is like HELLO???? THAT'S A CHILD??? but he doesn't know What to do with crepe at all [healing magic is just as much about a plan of action as the power behind the magic] so freezes them in stasis and tries to figure it out,,,, but dark flour war happens, he loses time for it inbetween everything, running off to other kingdoms to heal wounded soldiers,,, and by the time the war's over, he's gone. having rejected the light of truth feeling he failed and is no longer worthy of it, and healer doesn't remember anything, let alone crepe of course, dark enchantress knows what happened to them, and when she takes over the castle in the sky as her base of operations she takes a look around,,, and is surprised to find them intact [or, as intact as they were when pv froze them]. she wakes them up, slaps some cake arms on that fucker [PV did some more general long-term spells to keep them intact], and basically starts the manipulation from day one. she realizes quickly crepe is far smarter than a failed experiment would let on so,,, indulges them. plays with them, and introduces them to the wafflebots. crepe is immediately fascinated with them and is practically clambering at the chance to get into engineering. perfect. she claims they must be a prodigy and sets them off to mess around. one of the first things crepe makes is their headset [which are also hearing aids! tons of anatomy texts lying around for em to reference] and later their paw prosthetics [cake limbs tend to kinda mess with your head and crepe absolutely Hates it. they gotta stay in their own mind!!! de praises them all the time for their intellect,, they can't lose that, can they?]. their prosthetics r modeled after cat paws. they wear gloves over them most of the time but u can see it a bit in one of my drawings de basically immediately puts lies into their head, blaming PV for their failed creation, blaming PV for them being frozen for decades, blames PV for everything [which, admittedly, some of it is kinda PV's fault but like he only did that because of what SHE did and his denial over it], and grows distant with time. isolation is one of the best weapons of a manipulator, and as crepe desprately chases that shred of attention from the only cookie they know [DE even keeps the other cookies of darkness away from them], they'll do practically anything for her. they're so alone,,,, they fill the void with building shit like the waffle goliath and setting them all off on the surrounding wasteland to break shit,,, not thinking that there are cookies down there. there can't be, everything is dead down there. right? tldr chapter 9 is a. Shitshow. they

spend

most of the time messing with the starter squad because. hey!!! cookies!!! :]]]] they haven't seen any besides the rare glimpse at the cookies of darkness and DE herself. but,,, towards the end,,, it kinda,,,,, Hits them??? when black raisin freaks out and says "YOU'RE the one who's been attacking our village?" not to mention they get the shit beat out of them,,,, they're destroyed with guilt + DE told them that nobody was down there [distracting the village with wafflebot attacks was good to keep them off her back up in the castle in the sky, especially because there's no way she doesnt catch on to healer being pv] and crepe starts to unveil the lies, especially afterwards when PV is back and goes back,,, guilty as hell it took him so long to help them and let DE play her twisted games with them. they heal crepe up and try to start them on reversing the damage done but,,, crepe at this point has a deeply instilled hatred of pv. they almost try to kill him and spend the rest of their time avoided them and smashing shit in the workshop. they're entire reality crumbled apart in front of them and they are NOT ready to let someone else worm into their head claiming that they're 'the right one'. never again. actually funnily enough the way that crepe gets out of their 'i can't trust everyone everyone wants to hurt me everyone is lying!!!" deal is a. road trip. when messenger returns to their kingdom,,, they see pv's attempts with crepe aren't working [they know about everything white lily did, including the creation of a failed cookie who they quickly figure out is crepe], they're incredibly blunt with crepe [good for someone who thinks everyone is trying to worm into their head] and basically says "hey, i know what happened, i'm not going to tell you because you'll think i'm lying, i would too, but i can show you the direct evidence and letters" and they take crepe to the grove,,,, being really silly and fucking around and taking them to all sorts of spots to pad out the journey and help the poor kid open up and eventually letting crepe read the letters and diary entries and diagrams,,,, comforting them through the ensuing breakdown. it's what crepe needs,,, but it's definately hard on them, especially reading it point blank that their creator simply saw them as a failure and truely abandoned them, only coming back when they could be 'useful' to her schemes. messenger is no therapist, but they can play the cool older brother motif and open them up so PV can get in and help them properly i dont think crepe will ever be Not a bit of a little shit and kinda a chaotic asshole but. they have tons of trauma to work through and it would be good for them if they understood cookies and cared for them a bit more

[impala1967dwinchester]

Sam Winchester: Running Away

Pairing: Sam W. x Reader

Pov: Reader/Sam

Warnings: Panic, anxiety, being scared, mature content, talk of sex, Sam, inner thoughts

Summary: With Y/n and Sam only being together for a short time, when Y/n learns she pregnant she freaks thinking every bad thought about the things that could go wrong.

Word Count: 2.1k

A/N: This is Dominant Sam I'm talking about here, but also a protective Sam. This is for band--pyschos 1.5 followers bingo writing challenge.

Square: First Child

Sam Winchester Master list

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TagList: @sweetdetectivequeen @wonderfulworldofwinchester @band--psycho

So, maybe I've been with Sam for a few months, but it's not that big of a deal. We're just a once in a blue sorta thing. Sam and I yes live together alongside his brother Dean, but I don't mean that Sam and I share a bed you know.

Okay well, maybe we do share a room. We share a comfy large bed when a hunt goes bad, or Sam wants to release some tension. We go and let go of our bodies' tension. Together we let everything go, and we sort of become one.

Sam is a giant teddy bear, but when he's had enough put onto his shoulders he needs someone to ground him, that someone for right now just so happens to be me. Bad hunts turn into long, fast, and hard nights.

Nights when Sam drags on, his large hands wrapped my throat pinning me down to the fluffy bed. My nails leaving red marks down his muscled back. His hips snapping against my cervix, his lips leaving bruises on my skin.

The way he'd snap his hips into me as I rode into him. In moments like these Sam was my cowboy, and I was his baby girl. The loud grunts and moans that echoed off the motel, or bunker walls were the most amazing sound to my ears.

The sound of our skin slapping together, and the dominant nature of Sam, his almost animalistic way of fucking me. I wasn't a virgin when I met Sam and Dean, I wasn't a virgin when Sam first came to me with this idea of friends with benefits.

But even without being a virgin, taking Sam for the first time. That made me feel like I had died and came back to life. I know saying that seems probably very odd, but Sam there is something about him that makes him so fucking... fuckable.

The moment that I came down from my high and he laid on top of me, trying his hardest to not lay all his weight on me, I reveled in those moments. Was this what it was like to fall in love with someone?

Would Sam really want that? Would I be enough for Sam?

Months it went on like this, bad hunts or just wanting to let go. It went back and forth. The deal that we held, was for the both of us, and usually, we needed each other at the same time.

Bumping into each other, cute moments. Moments when I would try to put more effort into it. I learned real quick that Sam had a thing for lace and the color red. Something about the way it felt against his hands, or how it looks against my skin tone.

Nothing's more special than having your boy toy pull off your lace panties with his teeth while he makes direct contact. Again there was that dominating nature of Sam. Sometimes my mind would float to what it would be like with Dean, but I would be very much slapped out of that thinking when Sam would snap his hips into me and ask me 'who do you belong to?' or 'Who owns your body?'.

This of course in my world would only last for so long. Something always had to go wrong. So wrong that everything that I had worked for wasn't worth it. Wasn't worth it, if I would just be crashed in the end. I didn't think any wrong could come from fucking my best friend in a way.

Because that was Sam and I are.. were. We are friends, best friends, who know everything about each other, who know when the other is about to have a break or the other needs space. What happens when Sam finds out about this.

This is a normal fuck up that be taken care of. This is my fuck up, this fuck up is huge. He won't want to stay. No, see I've ruined this for the both of us.

What happens if Sam. What if? That's the big question stop overreacting. You've spent time with Dean, ask your question then act, not the other way around. You need to actually find out if your pregnant.

'pregnant' "FUCK" I said out loud rather loud, louder than I should have said it. "Y/n you okay?" I outside the bathroom door. Panicking I slipped the pregnancy test into my sweater pocket. "Yep, I'm super," I said and unlocked the door, slipped by Sam. Smiling before I casually walked away from him. Panicking on the inside.

"what am I going to do?" I asked myself under my breath. "A Winchester baby, a baby, my baby," I said hushed under my breathe. A tap to my shoulder pulled me from my very important inner monologue.

"Y/n, what's wrong with you?" Sam said wrapping his hand around my shoulder. Mouth left gaped open. "Y/n?" Sam repeated, just my name this time made everything worse. The echo of Sam's voice grunting and moaning my name as he comes down from his high.

"Sam," I said looking up at him. These were moments that I said he was a huge teddy bear. Worry crossed his handsome face. "Y/n what's wrong?" Again he forced his first question.

"Nothing Sam. Just let it go." I said tapping his hand on my shoulder. There was a look of upset confusion on Sam's face. "Y/n don't you dare pull away from me, especially after what we have together," Sam said as I walked away. I stopped and thought about it. 'Don't pull him into it, you just take care of it.' I just kept walking.

I made sure that the pregnancy test was really correct, by going to a doctor's office. "You're about six weeks along." The doctor said. More panic. More anxiety, more questions, more thoughts. That drive back to the bunker I was fighting the idea of leaving.

If I just left, what if I just didn't come back. 'No go back and try to hide it, say you're sick, hide in your room. You won't be able to hide it for long' Sam will question you, Sam will notice, he'll notice your body change, he'll notice everything Y/n.

When I got back Sam was waiting for me in the library. "Where were you Y/n?" he asked me as I passed by him "I was out," I said passing quickly. Trying to stay away from him, the closer I am to Sam the harder it is to not tell him the truth. The grip of his hands around my wrist is so powerful, so strong.

"Stop running away. I just need you Y/n I thought..." Sam paused looking down at my body and then to my wrist. "Sam let go of my wrist. You're hurting me." I said ripping my arm from his grasp. Stomping away and down the louder echoing bunker hallway.

'LEAVE' 'No stop he's right you made a promise, a deal.' "Stop" Fighting with myself was the worst of all of this. You can't run away from yourself. No knock at my door, but I wouldn't have known. I had taken a nap my thoughts clouding my mind. Waking up to a quiet bunker and a note stuck to the coffee machine. "Y/n whatever is going on.

That's what I'm here for. Please baby girl. I don't know what to do. Shoot me a message, or even text Dean. Just let me know you're okay." Signed Sam. Yet another wave of new thought, new emotions. I want to stay, but it wouldn't be good for either of us. Nobody benefits from this.

A normal hunts take Dean and Sam about a week tops so with the letter that Sam left behind I can only imagine that Sam is pushing Dean to hunt a lot faster. Get the hunt over and done with come home and figure out what is wrong with me.

I say I've got two days tops before the boys get back. To toggle with the idea of leaving. Two days doesn't seem like enough time, but I need to not trap them in a situation like this. Sam doesn't need to have another thing on his shoulders, Dean doesn't need the worry or the panic. Of a Winchester baby.

Taking a long walk around the bunker brought memories alive in my mind's eye. The great, the good, and the bad. Most of them included Sam. The night he asked me to start this friend with benefits or the wild night that he took me on the book-filled library table. He fucked me in the middle of the wide open.

Would it be bad to say that I fell in love with him from that moment? He made me feel like the only girl in the world. A few spots in the kitchen early morning breakfast being made, and in the garage washing whatever car Dean would let us wash.

'You need to go' Memories pinging in my head. Hitting all the corners of my head. This is the most stressful thing I've ever had to do. There's a baby inside of me now, every choice has to be for this little one. This choice was for Sam and for this little one.

My hand laid on my still flat stomach. I wish that I could feel Sam's hand on top of mine, or watch his face. But that wouldn't be a good idea and I know that.

"They're going to a Winchester in and out," I said walking past Sam and Dean's rooms. I think I'll just have to write a letter to Sam, a sort of backwards odd way of responding to his letter.

This letter will just be my goodbye. "Hey Sam, by the time you read this I'll be long gone. Let me explain. I'm pregnant, with of course your child. We never got the chance to talk about being parents, never got the chance to even have a normal relationship. Sam, I fell hard for you, so hard that I don't want to hurt you. I know you most likely aren't ready to be a dad, so yes I know I'm taking that choice away from you. I am making so many mistakes and I don't want to be a burden on your shoulders or even a burden on Deans. They'll find out about you, they'll be nosy like you, be hardheaded like you, defy me like you defied your father." I wrote out pausing to let my shaking hand take a break.

"Cowboy, I'm running away, because Sam that's the only thing I know how to do. Don't you dare think... Don't you dare ever for a second think that I don't love you, or that this baby won't grow up knowing who is, who knows maybe I'll come back... I love you, Sam, I love you cowboy."

I read over it once and then twice, Dean stood over my shoulder. His hand lying still against my blade. I swiped the pad of my thumb over my Y/n nicely small handwriting. "Sammy?" Dean questioned. "Hmm?" I hummed fearing my voice would give too much away. "What did she write?" He asked, "Y/n wrote that she's pregnant, and she is running away afraid to put the burden of my child on my shoulders and on yours." I said continuing to look at the page in front of me.

"Dean we.." "I've got you, Sammy. We'll find her bring her home and you wife her up." Dean said, grabbing my bag and racing back to the impala. "She's on foot, and most likely hasn't made it very far, I'll call Charlie, you call her," Dean said, whipping out my phone it tumbled in my hands landing on the footwell of the front seat.

Pulling it out it came with pictures, pictures of the three of us. Sitting on baby's hood, her in the middle of the two of us next to her. I could see it now, a baby Winchester, sitting on her lap and taking that picture all over again.

"Sam, Charlie says that she's gonna try her, see if we can sort of trick her into going with Charlie until we can get to her and bring her home," Dean said.

"Yeah let's hope she wants to come home," I said the mix of different emotions and feelings shoring through me, I felt the revive of the impala's engine. 'There's no running away from the Winchesters.'

Completed on: 05/04/2021

[mangodelorean]

Bad and Crazy - Episode 02 recap/musings

[The theme music continues to captivate me, fyi.]

We pick up right back where we left off, at Gyeong Tae's Inferno, with Su Yeol barrelling through the rooftop-high window with the young officer in his arms...

Hard-cut to a dazed Su Yeol waking up on a hospital bed, hearing these loving words from his family:

"This idiot."

"Oh, he woke up!"

Followed promptly by a motherly smack on the arm. Then another, and then another, as Mama Ryu berates him for putting himself in danger. Dong Yeol tries to calm things by pointing out that Su Yeol saved someone else's life, to which Mama Ryu responds with: "Hero, my foot. Why would you do such a thing? It's so unlike you!" More slaps. Ha!

Jae Son takes Su Yeol to see a still-unconscious Gyeong Tae and says that false rumours are flying about that the young officer tried to take his own life because of Su Yeol's surveillance. Just recounting it makes Jae Son frustrated at how they're treated by their fellow cops [oof, dude, don't you know who you work with?] and suggests tracking down Helmet Man to see if they can try to find a starting point from which to clear things up.

Their first lead is a student who says that she ordered jokbal (braised pig's trotters) and came to the roof. She states that she only saw two people fall from the top floor, and a "handsome man" on a bike, but nobody in a helmet. Amazed by Su Yeol's cat-like recovery after the fall, she asks if he works out. He deadpans, "I go fishing." Heh.

Meanwhile, Assemblyman and Detective Do watch the footage from the bear that the latter swiped from Gyeong Tae's home. It turns out to be just a sweet birthday message to her daughter. Furious at the lengths they went to for such a non-issue, the Assemblyman reminds his cousin that, even though Gyeong Tae might not regain consciousness, he still saw his face. He warns him that if he doesn't clean up this mess, "even the President can't save you".

Back at Bong Pil's office, the chief is reading out hate comments to Su Yeol from an article about Gyeong Tae's reported "suicide attempt". Bong Pil asks Su Yeol what the hell he's playing at, but Su Yeol points out that he found Gyeong Tae beaten to a pulp, and that he saved his life. In case we needed another reminder of how much of a selfish, amoral wanker Su Yeol is, Bong Pil snorts at this: "You'd never save anyone if there was nothing in it for you." He warns him to just lay low until the pre-promotion evaluations, and Su Yeol promises to sort it out.

At lunch, Jae Son deadpans that Su Yeol could have gotten promoted by ruining Gyeong Tae but, oops, he went and saved his life instead. Su Yeol says it's not over and that he just needs to find Helmet Man, but Jae Son's had enough of this and wonders if Su Yeol's just lost his marbles, because nobody else they've questioned has seen this guy and would just think Su Yeol is lying. A frustrated Su Yeol spits (literally) back, "How do you think I feel right now?". Jae Son insists he gets help before his cop badge goes bye-bye. "I know a good doctor."

Su Yeol visits this doctor, Yeom Geun Su, whose grubby little office, with its broken neon lighting and shag curtains instead of doors, resembles more that of a palm reader on the lam rather than an actual medical professional. Of his friendship with Jae Son, he recalls, "the illegal distribution of mental health medication brought us together." Hoo, boy.

He invites Su Yeol to open up by thinking of the good doctor as his mother. [So...lots of slapping?] Su Yeol talks about Helmet Man, but his story sounds both increasingly unhinged for the doctor to feel awkward but also boring enough for him to stealth-text his friends on his phone. He manages to convince Su Yeol that he probably just fell asleep and hit his head in the sauna, and "prescribes" (read: reaches into a drawer full of tubs with home-made labels) Su Yeol some sleeping pills.

At home, Su Yeol gets a call from Jae Son, who tells him that there's no dirt on Gyeong Tae - everyone loves him [and who wouldn't?], and that the last place he went was Yu Na's apartment complex. The next day, the two head over. Su Yeol mentions that Detective Do showed him proof that Yu Na was still alive (the credit card transaction) but Jae Son said he already looked into it [god, I love him] and that it wasn't her, but a friend.

The pair head up Yu Na's flat, only to find that the landlord has scrubbed everything clean amid renovations. They confirm that Gyeong Tae was there and that he was looking for "a doll". Su Yeol has a twinge of a memory in the bathroom - he clearly remembers being there. There's no way it was a dream.

On the way out, the two piece together the possibility that Gyeong Tae was right, and that someone is violently trying to cover up Yu Na's disappearance - maybe even Detective Do. Su Yeol semi-dismisses this (gotta protect that relationship with the Assemblyman) and suggests they lead with trying to find Yu Na first. Su Yeol tells Jae Son to check security footage and to meet with the security guard [like that'll do shit].

A little while later, Su Yeol comes across In Seon, Yu Na's daughter, arguing with a street cleaner about putting up her poster. He takes her out for ice cream and asks her about Yu Na, but it's not going well. In Seon asks if he's a really police officer, to which Su Yeol responds by snatching his badge out of her hand and shoving her ice cream bowl at her. [Which one's the kid, here?] In Seon asks if it's bad news, that it's okay, he can tell her, and she asks him to give Gyeong Tae her clover bracelet because she couldn't find a four-leaf clover to make him one. Oh, my heart.

Back at the station, Jae Son and Su Yeol comb through reams of security footage literally all night and finally spot something odd - a car with a giant stovepipe attached. Su Yeol says it resembles a pet cremation van from his youth (Dong Yeol's idea for their dog's funeral, aww), but notes that this is definitely illegal.

They track it to an office on a dirt road, and speak to a foreign worker who works for the owner. He doesn't say much - other than it's from an old business, that his boss will be back soon, and that Su Yeol is rude [ha] - and then flees by bike. They won't catch up to him, so Su Yeol makes Jae Son break into the van without a warrant:

Su Yeol: The window's cracked.

Jason: What? Where?

Jason: ...

Jason: Just tell me to break it, for goodness' sake.

Inside, they find ashes. Oh, dear.

Elsewhere, Detective Do barges into the van owner's cozy, impossibly string-light-decorated restaurant where the latter fills in the former on the raid. Do orders the men to leave the country before things go south, but the van owner demands money for the costs. Do hands him an envelope. "This is the last time." He leaves, but not before warning him that if he doesn't leave and lie low, he'll die. That wasn't very hygge of you, Detective Do.

Shortly after, Detective Do stands looming over Gyeong Tae's hospital bed. He takes something out of his pocket, but we don't know what it is or what he's about to do. Yikes.

Next morning, the two good(ish) detectives find out via Forensics that the ashes were indeed human. But to do a DNA test, they head over to take a swab from Yu Na's brother while In Seon, giving her grandmother the world's tiniest back rub, looks on. Yu Na's brother brings up his sister's insurance policy, which Jae Son rebukes as callous. Yu Seol, to his credit, gently closes In Seon's door, but she can still hear. He tells the brother to get custody of In Seon if he wants to manage her payout, but that the money is definitely hers and if he spends it or screws with it, he'll go to jail.

A tearful In Seon rushes outside to ask if her mother is dead or alive. Su Yeol says they don't know either way. In Seon reminds him that it's okay, she doesn't have to hide the truth, and bursts into tears. Su Yeol just stares at the sky.

Jae Son calls Su Yeol while he's visiting Gyeong Tae and tells him the ash DNA was a match for Yu Na. He tells a still-comatose Gyeong Tae that he was right.

Su Yeol returns home to find two pairs of shoes that aren't his in his entryway. He hears his older brother wooing a noona over pizza with some suitable cheesy lines and rolls his eyes. She asks Dong Yeol to call him 'jagiya' [I see you, Strangers From Hell reference], but he replies playfully that he can't say it, so Su Yeol shuffles in saying it himself while pretending to call the cops on the pair for trespassing. Dong Yeol accidentally calls the noona 'jagiya' while telling her to get out. Pfft. Su Yeol tells his brother to kindly piss off, but when the jokbal Dong Yeol ordered shows up, Su Yeol has a thought: checking the dashcam of the jokbal the student from before mentioned.

Su Yeol reviews the footage and clearly spots Detective Do. Over the phone, Jae Son connects the dots and our dramatic irony is over - both now know what we, the viewers, know, and the pair meet up outside Munyang Police Agency to confront Detective Do. He's there with a posse who threaten to start shit. Su Yeol asks why Do went to Gyeong Tae, mocking that "there are dash cams everywhere", but Do lies that he went there to apologise... and then reveals that he didn't know that Gyeong Tae had killed Yu Na. Su Yeol laughs at this, but Do reveals that a knife with both Yu Na's blood and Gyeong Tae's prints were found on the latter's rooftop. But Jae Son isn't having any of it, and flat-out accuses Detective Do of lying, killing Yu Na, and trying to frame Gyeong Tae. A mini-brawl breaks out, but the station's beat cops flock out to break it up.

Next morning, Bom Pil stares at Su Yeol with all the disassociated disappointment of someone who ordered crepes but got a pancake instead. "I don't even get angry anymore," he laments. Su Yeol insists the killer wasn't Gyeong Tae but actually Detective Do, and that they should clean this up because there's no way Assemblyman Do would want to be associated with a killer [oof]. Bom Pil tells him that the detective already has an alibi - the Assemblyman said they were together. Su Yeol, with the inference skills of a vintage bowling ball, wonders out aloud why Assemblyman Do would lie, but Bom Pil just tells him to shut the fuck up about it all, especially given that it'll take away his promotion that he's literally about to get - and even shows him the paperwork for it.

At the hospital, Detective Do keeps an ominous watch on Gyeong Tae while overhearing a news broadcast about the latter being charged with murder.

Now we're at Yu Na's funeral, where In Seon gazes stoically at her mother's funeral portrait, and her uncle is dozing off. This poor kid. Other than one other person, the only other people there are Su Yeol and Jae Seon. The latter spots the former fidgeting with the clover bracelet, and he jokes that In Seon is talented, that his own kids can't make anything with their hands. Aw. Su Yeol pours him more soju, and Jae Son apologises for losing his temper but adds that they can't just stop now. Su Yeol appears to nod in response.

But the next morning, Su Yeol is decked in uniform and holding flowers: He got his promotion. Jae Son isn't best pleased. Su Yeol tries to chat, even invite himself over, but Jae Son gives him the cold shoulder, pretends to swat a fly while batting away Su Yeol's hand, and finally walks away in disgust. Su Yeol eyes his new nameplate on his desk, but a slow camera pan away shows how alone he is.

After work, Su Yeol finds Hui Gyeom waiting at his car. She sarcastically congratulates him, then sits in his car to talk. Like my dad, he scolds her for slamming the door as she gets in. She tells him she looked into Yu Na's case and there's no way the killer could have been Gyeong Tae as they'd had zero connection before he started looking into her disappearance. Su Yeol mumbles about the knife being found but Hui Gyeom says there isn't even a motive, nor did he bother to look for one, and drops the reveal that Yu Na was a secret informant of Min Su (the slain cop mentioned in Episode 1). Hui Gyeom recounts how she found out that Yu Na wore a necklace that had a secret spy cam inside, sent by Min Su, and asks Su Yeol if he's seen it. Su Yeol says he hasn't and grumbles at her to get out of his car. She does, but then slams the door shut as hard as she can. Ha!

Back home, Su Yeol takes the elevator up to his flat, but it stops suddenly. Guess who? It's Helmet Man! - who uses a knife to pry open the door with a "peekaboo!" and then starts jumping up and down like a kangaroo on cocaine atop a trampoline inside a bouncy castle during an earthquake, sending them hurtling downward. Before they crash, Su Yeol wakes up...

...On a motorcycle, strapped butt-to-butt against Helmet Man, which takes us into my favourite set of shots of the show so far: a series of jumpy, wild POV and tracking shots of the duo just tearing through a shopping mall and a motorway, with Helmet Man turning on his red LED helmet lights while a flailing Su Yeol struggles to right his jostling, lanky frame like a deranged spider crab. It's a stunning sequence, but made next-level by this: They briefly stop to let an elderly lady cross the road with her zimmer frame, but before Su Yeol can use this as an excuse to free himself, off they zoom again. Hee!

They arrive at the hideout of the van owner and his workers, and Helmet Man literally has to force Su Yeol into the doorway. The latter tries to play it cool, but the van owner keeps asking if he's the fried chicken delivery guy. Ha. An impatient Helmet Man cuts to the chase and punches the van owner, and a full-blown brawl breaks out. While Helmet Man fights off 6+ guys with his bare hands, Su Yeol hides behind a desk, throws a box of pens at one guy (and misses), then trips over his own feet while running upstairs. Good contribution, dickhead!

He's about to outright just fuck off without helping when he notices an open cabinet, whereupon he peeks in and notices a box of jewellery. He spots the spy cam necklace and grabs it, then makes a calculated leap from the mezzanine balcony - only to fall into a pile of ashes. Eurgh. He sees Helmet Man through the window and then frantically waves bye before fleeing like the bag of human skin stuffed with arseholery that he is, leaving Helmet Man to fend for himself.

But you know what? Helmet Man's doing fine on his own: He pushes over a vat of oil, gets in, slips about (wait, what? why?), then taunts them with a lighter. He throws it to distract them, then beats the shit out of everyone with the perplexing grace of a drunken ballerina, even removing his helmet to use as a boxing glove. Honestly, the choreography and comic timing of these fight scenes are a joy to watch.

Back home, Su Yeol watches the necklace cam's footage: It's of Assemblyman Do screaming at Yu Na's bloodied body. It's clearly him, and it's clearly Yu Na. Su Yeol shuts the laptop in horror.

But the next day, he stands on a bridge, holding the necklace, thinking of its implications for his job, his connections, for any future promotions. He throws his arm back to hurl the necklace off the bridge but Helmet Man drives by and snags it right in time, and stops a short distance away. Su Yeol leaps into his car to chase him but Helmet Man zooms back and smashes his passenger window with his front wheel, then doubles back to basically fart out debris and petrol fumes from the other side of his bike. It's working: Su Yeol is scared and screaming, and sits and flails for a bit before realising, I don't know, he can actually drive away, fucking moron? Which he does, knocking Helmet Man to the ground.

Su Yeol jumps out of the car and berates Helmet Man, who asks about the necklace. Su Yeol doesn't reply, but tells him to give it back and that Helmet Man has no idea what it means. Helmet Man removes his helmet for an introduction:

Su Yeol: Who are you? Who the heck are you? Who are you and why are you doing this to me?

Helmet Man: Me? Hero.

Su Yeol: Wot

Helmet Man: To punish those trash-like rotten punks. The last of this era! The hero.

Su Yeol: ...

Su Yeol: !!!

Su Yeol: You're one crazy idiot, aren't you?

Helmet Man: [laughing] You... You still don't get who I am, do you? [points]

Su Yeol: [backs away in fear]

Helmet Man: Watch closely from now on. About who I am.

And with a wink and a wave, he hurls himself backwards from the bridge. Su Yeol rushes to the barrier, but he sees nobody in the water. He's utterly flummoxed. Completely baffled. Heckin bamboozled.

Next morning, a news broadcast shows that Assemblyman Do has been re-elected. Su Yeol enters Bong Pil's office to find the Commissioner visiting. They exchange pleasantries before Assemblyman Do walks in. Bong Pil tells everyone that, entre-nous, Su Yeol owes his promotion to the Assemblyman, and nudges him to thank him (which he does). They head out for a meal, but Su Yeol, suddenly suffering from a headache, says he'll use the restroom and meet them there.

He tries to pep himself up in front of the restroom mirror but Helmet Man (sans helmet) walks out from a stall, mocking him and saying he saw the necklace cam footage, before running away. Su Yeol gives chase but is stunned when Helmet Man keeps ending up one step ahead of him.

From a distant balcony he spots Helmet Man descending the steps and calling out rudely to Assemblyman Do. Su Yeol yells at Helmet Man to stop whatever he's about to do, but Helmet Man gears up for a flying kick towards Assemblyman's face.

And it's then, right then, before the moment of impact, that Su Yeol realises, through a series of flashbacks: that it's him. He's Helmet Man. He was Helmet Man the whole time - at the apartment blaze, while using the UV light for clues at Yu Na's place, and during the entire fight at the hideout, even wearing the same motorcycle leathers. And, to bring it home, we see (while wearing his day suit), it's definitely, unequivocally, indubitably, Su Yeol himself Mortal Kombatting the Assemblyman in his jowls. Oh, damn!

And thats episode 2 down!

This show continues to get madder, and I'm happy it set down some rules early on how Helmet Man/K manifests and that only Su Yeol can see him. Though, with just 10 episodes left, I'm curious as to where this will go now that Helmet Man has created such a damningly public scene. Ooh, the implications!

I can't wait to see more of his internal struggle with Helmet Man/K (can they just finally introduce him as K in the show so I can start calling him that in my recaps?). Will it be like Venom (or the arguably much better Upgrade)? Are we going to see split shots of Su Yeol talking to K and then talking to nobody?

I'm also curious about who K is or what he might represent. When he removed his helmet, Su Yeol didn't recognise him. So he can't be a manifestation of someone from his past, surely? Argh! I need to know more!

I'll just sleep until Friday. It's what Su Yeol would do.

Stray thoughts:

Why is everyone eating jokbal in this episode? (Edit: If this is a dark and timely joke about corrupt cops, I am here for it)

Assemblyman Do, do you not have earphones? Why listen to a potentially incriminating video on a laptop on full volume on the boot of a car during the day?

Detective Do is terrified of his much, much smaller cousin. To be honest, so am I. People who laugh when they're angry are definitely to be feared.

I hope visiting dodgy pill-peddlers isn't the standard for mental health care in South Korea, but the little bit of research I've done suggests that the services provided by the state are both under-funded and under-utilised. Sigh.

The poster of the smiling Assemblyman Do right behind little In Seon is chilling.

Jae Son and Su Yeol screaming excitedly over each other when they find the van made me snort a bit of a giggle.

The forensics dude said that ashes found in the van were only a small amount. Maybe Yu Na's not dead?

Surprised to see Jae Son walk away like that after In Seon asks if her mother's dead. I know she was talking to Su Yeol but, still. Doesn't he have kids, too?

Seeing a bit more of Su Yeol's flat and it's more of the same, sad set-up - just a single bar stool in the kitchen. Does he ever entertain? I did spot a roomba by the sideboard so at least there's some form of life there.

Lee Dong Wook's Agent: You have to say 'jagiya' in everything you do now, sorry, them's the rules.

That kitchen spread that poor, cock-blocked Dong Yeol had put out actually looked quite nice!

Su Yeol's little jump at the jokbal place when a driver wearing red and black pulled up behind him. Ha.

Jae Seon: "I will kill that jerk today and quit." Whoa. Cool, but, whoa. I'm really liking him as the passionate/gung-ho voice of reason.

When K bent over before jumping, I seriously thought he was about to twerk.

Those sweet nods exchanged between K and the old lady at the crossing!

The van owner handing the foreign worker the bat, who slips and then hands it to K in resignation, who then uses it to paddle the van owner on the bum: comedy gold.

Other than being owned by Su Yeol, what did that poor clearly-an-Audi car do to deserve all this punishment?

I'm not surprised, but a little bit surprised, that Su Yeol would turn a blind eye to actual murder if it suited his own interests. Which begs the question: How many times, if at all, has he done this before?

K's breaths of joy as he lets his face bask in the sunshine on the bridge are probably real reactions from poor Wi Ha Jun. We all saw the on-set photos of him in that neck fan.

Su Yeol's new desk nameplate states his rank as Captain, but in the final scene, Bom Pil refers to him as Superintendent. I'm going to split the difference and call him Supernintendo Dickhead.

HELMET MAN DID NOT WASH HIS HANDS, HE DID NOT WASH HIS HANDS, HE CLEARLY DID A NUMBER TWO AND HE DID NOT WASH HIS HANDS, WHAT THE FUCK, I don't care if he's a psychological manifestation of whatever he STILL NEEDS TO WASH HIS FUCKING HANDS

That tiny misdirect when Hui Gyeom saw and acknowledged K!

I really hope both LDW and WHJ do more physical comedy roles. They're both nailing the timing here.

[illkeepyourbrittleheartwarm]

Sometimes, I wake up with such a bitterness in my heart that I cannot help but go downstairs and eat as much sweet food as I can. I'll feel so sick, but I need something to comfort this bitter pain in my chest.

I eat and I think about every adult who failed me as a child. I think about my mother letting me down so many times that when she read my texts telling my friend how my dad had kicked me, I didn't even try to insist that it was true, because she said that she would go down to ask him. I said that he didn't kick me, because I knew that she would eventually believe him and drop it. Because I knew that if my mum sided with me for even a minute, he would be even worse to me than usual. So she made me call my friend right in front of her and apologise to her for lying. She then made me go downstairs and apologise to my father for lying about him.

I think about the teachers who read my stories and poems, who had other girls going to them saying they're worried about me, who demanded I showed them my self harm scars in a crowded corridor, scoffed, walked away, and never did anything about it. The teachers who would call in my parents after my counsellor had to report when I told her that my dad hit me, and tell them everything. Who broke safeguarding procedure, who contacted my parents, didn't call social services, and never paid any attention to what was very clearly a child in distress again.

I think about the grown men who saw a little girl desperate for love, and took advantage of that in the sickest ways.

I think about my 'friends' who I know I can't be bitter towards, because they were children and they didn't know any better. But I am bitter, because I KNEW BETTER. I knew better than to bully someone. I knew better than to be cruel and unkind and use someone. I knew better than to assume someone was stupid when their life was falling apart and they were too depressed to do school work. I knew better than to slutshame a victim. I was younger than them, yet I still knew better. So how come they didn't??? How come they didn't know better??? How come they couldn't be decent human beings? You don't have to be an adult to understand that people suffer and that just because they try to see the best in you and give you more chances without expecting an apology, doesn't mean you get to treat them like shit but still claim to be their friend.

I think about all the neighbours who heard everything, all the crashing, yelling, screaming, daily, and did nothing. Who were the first at the door when my mother got home to tell her that they heard me shout at my younger brother when I'd snap from him constantly hounding and abusing myself and my baby brother. When I was left alone to watch them as a fourteen year old. When I was left alone to watch the middle brother when I was ten, before my baby brother was born. But when it was my father screaming and yelling and threatening us, they suddenly didn't hear. That was never a problem for them, when he would be yelling at us every day into the early hours. When he would drive home drunk. When he would be outside yelling and banging stuff or beating his workers up. All of a sudden, that didn't matter. Only if I finally yelled after trying to raise children as a fucking child with more patience than most adults have, only if I was kissing a boy somewhere, only if they saw something on my social media, like the stories I'd write, to gossip about.

I think about the social workers who got mandated reports a few times and did nothing, and sexual health clinic workers who would treat me for STDs several times, hear about the older men, test me for pregnancy, and never even tried to say anything. I'm glad they didn't report it because I'd be the only one to suffer for it, but i wish they hadn't just smiled and nodded.

I think about all the family members who saw and heard what was going on at home, but didn't care, and sung my dad's praises. But when I cut my father off, suddenly it was a big deal, and "he's your father, he did everything for you, you need to forgive him, he's such a good man, you're exaggerating, you've always had a tendency to tell stories".

I think about my mother insisting that he is a good man, a decent man, who just got lost along the way.

And the chocolate I was eating suddenly feels like tar in my mouth, difficult to chew, to swallow, to digest. Suddenly, my stomach and throat burn with bile and tears.

[karasunology]

⸙ ˚₊ ➷ KUROO TETSUROU & KOZUME KENMA BEING A DAD HEADCANONS ! ❞

✎ . . . all those dad headcanons are making me so SOFT 🥺✨🥺 do you think you could make some for kuroo, akaashi and atsumu as dads if u haven’t done them already??

❝ ― submitted by @ nonnie <3 ❞

✎ . . . i'm happy that your requests are open ! and for dad headcanons?? i am right here to serve my braincells for you ma'am. what about dad! sugawara & kenma? thank you in advance 🤓😘

❝ ― submitted by @ nonnie <3 ❞

-ˏˋ ➶ character(s) ━ kuroo tetsurou & kozume kenma <3

[ trigger warnings ━ slight manga spoilers !! ]

✎ . . . DAD HEADCANONS.

[ SUGAWARA KOUSHI & OIKAWA VERSION. ] [ BOKUTO KOUTARO VERSION. ] [ MIYA ATSUMU VERSION. ] [ IWAIZUMI HAJIME. ]

-ˏˋ playing soleil's tape ˊˎ-

[ 📼 ] . . . someone send me cute dad suggestions because i am running🏃out of ideas💡 i'm also finaly done with dad! akaashi hcs in my notes, so feel free to request ( even non-dad related ones ) because i lowkey have no life👉👈🗿

KOZUME KENMA.

➜ it would come as a shock to him honestly ─ you guys used protection and he was atleast careful despite having lazy smex half of the time

➜ but what shocks YOU the most was that he didn't want to get rid of the baby ─ he just couldn't, it was a child he co-reated with the love of his life, how could he ?

➜ you were quick to come with an agreement with him, his soft smile tugging on his lips to form, the smile 80% of the time would come out only for you ( shoyou & kuroo )

➜ he was also lowkey excited, he texted shoyou and kuroo about it as they both congratulated him and were already trying to do dibs on who'll be god father

➜ and you've noticed that he was bit more affectionate with you when you were in your pregnancy, his head on your lap as you play with his hair ─ which he usually doesn't like people doing?? and would every now and then kiss your tummy while playing his games

➜ i want to h*ld his hand

➜ and k*th him

➜ he's like a mother cat on pregnancy, but with you ─ never lets you do work, saying that he already has it under all on control, very protective of you and literally hisses at other people coming near you LMAO WTF MAN

➜ tries to be as knowledgable for your pregnancy as much as possible ─ just like the other dads in my hcs, they want YOU to feel comfortable with EVERYTHING and want YOU to feel supported

➜ has already bought EVERYTHING you needed, even extra ones and has booked appointments left and right

➜ like mans hasn't done this much effort after volleyball ngl

➜ but just like everyone else ─ he's terrified, he doesn't know alot of these things and of course you're the only woman he has ever gotten pregnant and he doesn't have any experiences in these type of thing whatsoever

➜ doubts were not uncommon ─ if he ever was going to be a good father to his child, if he was even a good fiancé to you, was he even worth to have a child with ?

➜ this bb boy CRIED when he heard you guys were having twins, TWINS; like as in a girl and a boy

➜ when kaori and kazu were born, kenma wasn't aware that he could fall in love all over again

➜ is this even worth mentioning because everyone probably knows this?? he s p o i l s  them big time

➜ whenever he's working late at night, he'll always be the one telling YOU to go back to sleep and he'll be the one to take care of the kid for the night

➜ and by kid, i meant kazu because somehow??he??got??his??father's??sleeping??schedule??

➜ and it's how he sleeps by

➜ sometimes whenever you wake up, you find yourself alone in the bedroom and whenever you look at either the game room or your childrens' room, you would always find kenma lying with his children on couch-bed ─ kozu and kaori on each side of his head, kaori having her small little fingers holding and sometimes tugging onto her dad's hair

➜ and sometimes you would also join them

➜ but most of the time, you would head to the kitchen and make some breakfast

➜ and usually kenma would wake up and put his kids back to their crib and he'd go look for you, finding you cooking as he would wrap his arms around your waist as he hugs you from the back

➜ i just wanna get myself a gamer boi kenma

➜ since he gets a lot more clingey whenever he wakes up

➜ whenever he's streaming USUALLY, kozu would sleep on his lap like a cat while kaori is sleeping in his head?? Idk how??

➜ while his fans literally PAY him to show his adorable kids, some even commented how they're all so cat-like and alike with their father

➜ one time while streaming, he was probably ranting tf out of a game he wasted his money on and warning his fans not to buy it because it's basically a scam

➜ and while he was in the middle of ranting, his daughter comes in while holding a blanket on her as she rubbed her eyes looking so much like a small kitten, he literally STOPS DEAD ON HIS SWEAR WORD AS HIS EYES WIDDENED while the people in the chats are either fangirling how CUTE his daughter was or DYING because mans was almst about to swear and interrupted himself

➜ before he could react a bundle of energy comes into the gaming room, you hot tailing on his tracks as you came into the room while trying to retrieve kozu

“ kozu!! don't come in there ahH ─ ” you blushed as you looked at both your boyfriend that has an amused eyebrow cocked up, and onto the camera before laughing and smiling at it since his fans ADORE YOU

➜ when you finally got your hands on your son, you smiled at your daughter as you signaled her to come over to you

➜ but before she could come to you she was already lifted at her father's lap

“ it's fine, i'll have her with me ” he said as he nodded at you, placing her gently in the middle of his lap as his arms encaged her while he played his games

➜ before leaving with a pouting kozu on your arms you threw a peace sign at the camera for his fans, closing the door on the way out

➜ let's just say that it lowkey went viral because it's literally so cute

➜ sorry i just HAD to reference that interview that got viral before

➜ one time where you fell asleep with both of your children curled up to you in the bed, kenma just finished a long stream as he walked to the bedroom hoping to fall asleep ontop of you yet finds two cute cat looking children cuddling you

➜ he quickly took a photo or two and made it both his home and lockscreen before sending it to shoyou

➜ and then sliding himself onto the covers as he, himself, nuzzled himself onto your warmth

➜ the relatable dad, idk why but i really see him getting along with children especially when they're teenagers ─ i just, i COULD SEE IT

➜ especially kaori😭 since she inherited his introverted and somehow shy side??

➜ kaori : *slids down the chair after coming home from school* i wanna die

➜ kenma : same

➜ he would introduce video games to his children AHH

➜ would even play violent games with them because why not?

➜ you'd prolly have to scold him after though

➜ the biggest achievement was when both of his children listing game consoles on their christmas lists

➜ and it was on the top of the list

➜ but kenma, being the kanbe(kambe??) daisuke he is, he bought all the things on that list

➜ he knows his kids are supposed to be studying at school ─ he knows it, he really does, that's why he made them go to school

➜ but he couldn't help but play along with his children on the imessage games when he DEFINITELY knows that they were in the middle of history class

➜ and you'll just find out it through the family gc seeing them spam the chat with games and screenshots of their scores while comparing them😭

➜ he always knew how to communicate with his children ─ perhaps it was because of the reason that they are his children

➜ but whenever his daughter comes to him complaining about human interactions and wanting to stay home while his son complains about school being in the way of gaming ─ he's just like : WE SEE EACH OTHER

➜ baby boy is a lazy bum, but he will never hesitate to participate and contribute to his children's life ─ not only through things, but also with just his guidance and presence

➜ your pregnancy may have come across as an accident, but it was never a mistake to kenma.

KUROO TETSUROU.

➜ after getting married for two years now, you couldn't help but want to start building a family with kuroo

➜ LIKE WHO WOULDN'T?? this is kuroo tetsurou we are talking about

➜ unlike oikawa and bokuto ─ YOU were the one having the baby fever

➜ your friends and colleagues already having or talking with their partners to start or adopt

➜ but of course you were lowkey insecure, why wasn't he even mentioning that he wanted a family with you? does he think that it was a waste of time? or maybe he doesn't want to start it with you ─ maybe you were the problem?

➜ but unbeknownst to you, tetsurou also wanted to start a family with you ─ he wanted a lot of children, actually. but he doesn't want you to feel pressured ─ since you guys are still youthful, there's still a lot of time to think about it

➜ and most of all, he doesn't want to start a family with anyone else BUT YOU

➜ whatthefucksanaol sir eye ─

➜ and he's already talking to bokuto behind your back about wanting to start a family with you ( and of course kenma )

➜ but BOKUTO IS JUST SCARILY GOOD AT ADVICES

➜ it's quite eerie honestly

➜ you, thinking it was only just a slight baby fever with all your friends wanting them as well, tried dismissing your thoughts

➜ but your mind said nO❌🚫 RIGHTS✅💢

➜ and kuroo could notice the slight change in behaviour with you, it was subtle but he was quite perceptive

➜ with his cat eyes intently watching you as you tried avoiding his gazes because all you could think is HAVING A BABY WITH THE SAME EYES AS HIM FIIFJJCJC

➜ HELP ME

➜ it was fine until he confronted you about it

➜ kuroo ─ for me, is someone to face a problem head-on, it's just his personality, so it wasn't a surprise that he seriously yet carefully and nonchalantly confronted you while you guys were about to sleep as you layed your head on his lap, taking in his warmth

➜ and that's where mans dropped the b*mb💣

“dollface? is everything alright with you?”

➜ just imagine kuroo's concerned voice is all that you could hear along with the palpitations of your heart as he caressed your cheeks, brushing off the hair covering your face as he puts down science pun book he had on his hands on the nightstand

➜ now i can't help but imagine that scene from the special/bonus chapter from bj alex with chanwoo and MD on the bed, that scene where he tries to confront chanwoo about that bruise on his face? ughshshsj

➜ all he heard was that you wanted to start a family with him👉👈 and now he's seconds to going FERAL and push you down the matress

➜ 😳🔞

➜ SIR CALM DOWN PLEATHES

➜ I CAN'T TAKE IT

➜ but mans was quick to get himself back to reality, a bashful smile tugged on his lips as he nodded at you, kinda disappointed that you had to be the braver person in the relationship to bring out the topic and it wasn't him

➜ mans is competitive okay

“ . . . why don't we start now? ” he slyly grinned, y'know, that cheshire cat grin

➜ let's just see you guys didn't sleep at all that night

➜ kuroo was, though not surprisingly, good and knowledgable with pregnancy, not like he secretly researched about it that one time when you guys got a pregnancy scare that started all his wild thoughts about you carrying his child um ─

➜ and this is kuroo we are talking about lmao

➜ i think he has his insecurities but was never doubtful of himself being a father, LIKE MANS HAS TAKEN CARE OF A WHOLE ASS VOLLEYBALL TEAM ─ but he knows there is a difference between being a father to his child and being a good one

➜ i wanna m*rry him too😡

➜ you gifted him a daughter, his first born. the first time he saw her, GOD WAS THIS THE BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN HIS LIFE

➜ like who knew you guys could create someone so beautifully mashed of both him and you ─ but you disagree, as even by the youngest age of four months or three, you could see the literal resemblance of your husband on her

➜ and it was uncanny, her eyes were the ones you dreamed of your children having ─ molten golden ones of tetsurou's, her cat-like grin and sly personality

➜ she was always quick to lean on her father's warmth, and that made kuroo CRY and you kinda jealous

➜ but nevertheless, you knew that there were plenty of times to make one that loves you just as much taiga loves tetsurou

➜ and you did get it, second born after only half a year, was tamaki, which has taken both your personality and tetsurou's, while having your appearance.

➜ but you were quick to notice to comment that tamaki has gotten kuroo's shy personality while he was young, he would always shy away from his sister that kept clinging onto him since she has never had a playmate other than her uncles from nekoma's old volleyball club

➜ kuroo was to say the least, really happy when he sees your two children getting along with each other since he, himself, has grown up alone with no sibling and without a mother

➜ and as he looked at you playing tamaki and taiga as tamaki got you all wrapped around his finger while taiga was looking for her father, he couldn't help but smile

➜ believe it or not, taiga first said your name ─ not tetsurou's

➜ in your face kuroo

“ come on, say dada !! ” your husband patted his thighs to make a sound as he sat on the bed while your daughter just ─ once again, leaned on his touch, nuzzling her face onto his warm thighs while giggling

➜ he dropped his phone to the bed whining, “ mama! look at her ─ ”

“ ─ mama!! ” your daughter imitated his words, both leaving you guys stunned and wide-eyed as you laugh in shock while tamaki was jealous you gave his sister more attention and now tugging softly at your hair,

“ . . . mama? ”

➜ KUROO WAS SO DONE, HIS COMPETITIVE LOWKEY PETTY ASS WAS DONE

➜ also belive it or not, tamaki was the one who got his father's sleeping habits of having two pillows on both sides of his head

➜ HE'S THE TYPE OF DAD THAT USES A VACCUM CLEANER TO STYLE YOUR DAUGHTERS HAIR LIKE THE ONES ON THOSE VIDEOS ON YT SNSJJSNZZ

➜ and it actually??comes??off??nice??and neat??

➜ at the age of 7, your daughter was already picked to represent her class on a science fair AND YOU BET TETSUROU IS SO PROUD OF HIS DAUGHTER

➜ would be such a supportive dad

➜ visits tamaki and taiga's volleyball games ─ like atleast all over them, and would bring along his old teammates to it maybe just to relive old memories because you BET that they're attending nekoma

 ➜ would always have these little traditions and inside jokes with them and you

➜ especially science ones

➜ what do we expect? HE'S LITERALLY A DORK

➜ AND SO ARE HIS KIDS

➜ they just vibe with each other ngl, like kuroo is just a down-to-earth guy and could get along with BOTH your extroverted daughter and introverted son, since he was both of them in a moment from his life

➜ uncle kenma would always bring in gifts for them because they're literally now his cats because they are now cats

➜ sorry i don't make the rules

➜ my husband, kenma, does😋

➜ your kids LOVE HIM though, especially tamaki being a bit like kenma ─ both, growing a soft spots for each other

➜ whenever some of his old teammates would visit, taiga is always on uncle lev's back while yaku scolds him to put her tf down or else she'll fall

➜ tamaki on the other hand, is just safely sitting beside his uncle kenma while he watched him play games ─ which he has also grown to love

➜ doesn't let your kids forget to eat and makes them eat even if taiga's in the phase of wanting to be sexy gorl tingz ─ DADDY KUROO SAYS NO RIGHTS🚫

➜ overall, kuroo couldn't ask for more, he was so proud of his children no matter what they do through and through and of course you too ─ for carrying his children, bringing them into the world and being patient with them