#and you're like whatever it's not a big deal

[okaysonny]

happy new years!! just stumbled on your latest post and i absolutely adore the way you portrayed jake❤️❤️

Can i request for Jake kim x reader where they are similar to sinu han and yeonhui’s relationship and how they act

like yeonhui trying to hit sinu many times but fails miserably (im sorry if you don’t understand my request i cant construct well since english is not my 2nd language 🥲🥲)

smack me if you can ╏ jake kim

ᯓ★ summary: a bet with jake turns into a week long quest to beat his reflexes.

ᯓ★ details: fluff, f! reader, established relationship, spoiler free, jerry appearance! he always shows up when i make jake fics i'm crying

ᯓ★ wc: 920

ᯓ★ A/N: thank youuu for your kind words! 🫶🏽 happy new year :) you probably mentioned yeonhui hitting sinu as an example, but...i took it and ran 🤫

anon is talking about this post btw, if you haven't seen it 👅

as jake quietly slurps his noodles, you sneak up behind him, winding your arm back for the perfect smack on his cheek. just as you’re about to make contact, his hand shoots out, catching your wrist mid swing.

jake blinks at you, visibly confused. “uh…did i do something wrong?”

you huff and shake your head. “of course not! i was just testing something!”

“testing what, exactly?” he asks, raising a brow. but his lips twitch, holding back his amusement.

you glance away, a little sheepish. “i saw yeonhui try to slap sinu earlier, but he dodged it like it was nothing. i just wanted to see if you’d do the same”

jake stares at you for a second, then shrugs. “when you've been fighting for so long, dodging stuff like that becomes second nature. it’s just instinct”

you nod absentmindedly, muttering. “yeah...of course”

but as you turn to walk away, you spin back abruptly and take another swing at him.

he dodges — easily.

your jaw drops. “are you kidding me?”

jake chuckles now, clearly entertained. “told you. you’re not gonna land that slap”

“you little—” you stop yourself, gritting your teeth. “i definitely will”

jake grins, thoroughly enjoying this. “i bet you can’t slap me by the end of the week”

you scoff. “you’re on. and if i lose, i’ll buy you that special chocolate cake you devour like a pig. for a whole week”

his eyes light up at the mention of it. “deal. and when i win, don’t forget to tell everyone your boyfriend has ninja reflexes”

you roll your eyes. "whatever jake. i'm winning this"

୧ ‧₊˚ 🍰 ⋅ ☆

Monday

“woah, look over there jake!”

he glances in the direction you point.

gotcha! you raise your hand.

SLA-

without missing a beat, he dodges, turning back to you with a smirk. “nice try”

you groan.

Tuesday

feigning a pout, you sigh dramatically. “jake…i don’t feel so good. can you check if i have a fever?”

he leans forward, pressing his palm lightly to your forehead.

perfect. you aim for his cheek once more.

SLA-

but jake dodges effortlessly again, pulling back with a chuckle. “you’ll have to try harder than that”

you flop onto the couch, glaring at him.

Wednesday

while eating dinner, you point at jake’s face. “you’ve got sauce on your cheek”

he raises a brow. “do i?”

“yeah, let me get it for you” you say sweetly, reaching out.

too easy. as your hand inches closer, you shift suddenly.

SLA-

jake leans back smugly. “i thought you were more creative than this”

you stab at your food with a fork, fuming silently.

Thursday

desperate times call for desperate measures. you corner jerry in big deal's supply closet, shutting the door behind you.

jerry looks alarmed. "w-what are you doing?" he squeaks. "i don't know what you're planning, but i would never betray jake like this—"

“what? ew! this isn't even close to that!” you snap.

you exhale deeply, composing yourself. “jerry...how would i sneak up on jake and catch him off guard?”

jerry’s eyes light up with pride. “ah...boss jake could never be caught off guard. his reflexes are unmatched, his instincts sharp as—”

“alright, relax. who’s dating him, me or you?” you mutter, already regretting this. before he can continue singing jake’s praises, you shake your head and leave. "never mind...i should solve this on my own"

"where are you going?" jerry asks in confusion.

as you leave the supply closet, you pause, clenching your fist in the air — like some sort of revolutionary leader. “this isn’t just for me. this slap… is for womankind”

you march off with purpose, leaving jerry staring at you, baffled.

Friday

jake is casually scrolling through his phone when you lean in, pressing a kiss to his cheek. he glances up, pleasantly surprised, a smile spreading across his face.

“what’s this for?” he asks, his voice laced with affection.

“just...for being the best boyfriend” you reply softly, taking the phone from his hands and setting it aside.

jake tilts his head, watching you curiously as your thumbs brush over his cheeks. his smile lingers as you lean in close, and he lets his eyes flutter shut, his lips parting slightly.

and that's when you strike.

SLAP

your hand connects with his cheek, the sound echoing through the room.

jake’s eyes fly open, wide with disbelief. “what the—”

you burst out laughing, triumphant. “i did it! i won!”

jake starts laughing too, shaking his head. "using kisses to win? that’s dirty"

you grin, running off. “i don't care! i’m telling jerry you got slapped by someone with zero combat experience!”

jake blinks as he watches you bolt out the room.

you burst into the room where jerry is, huffing victoriously. "jerry! i did it! i slapped him!”

jerry stares at you, gobsmacked. “no way...you actually slapped boss jake?”

“yes!” you announce proudly, before heading for the door. “and now i'm going to the bakery! i'll be rewarding myself with chocolate cake!”

jerry finds jake on the couch, who's chuckling quietly to himself. “boss… did she really slap you off guard?”

jake leans back, a fond smile on his face. “what do you think? of course not. it was so obvious”

jerry furrows his brows. “then why did you…”

jake watches you tie your laces as you hum a little victory tune, grinning to yourself. his expression softens.

“look how happy she is” jake says, his tone warm. “losing was totally worth it to see that smile”

divider: @thecutestgrotto

[mymarifae]

these two are linked in some way. 100%. i'm hesitant to add mem to the theory board because idk if they'll be related to march too or just cyrene (being an entity that sort of embodies cyrene's... essence? like ELF elysia in hi3) but the similarities they have with Both are too big to ignore completely

unsure if they're about to go the route of cyrene and march being the same person or if march is simply like... a fragment of cyrene that was sealed and sent away to maybe give her a chance to live on since this girl is doomed to die in virtually every universe and iteration. amphoreus's time and space displacement is fucked up and it seems like we're going to be spending a lot of the adventure split across concepts of "past," "present," and "future." so that mayyyyy be why we were able to see cyrene interacting with and talking to stelle in the nameless faces video, if she's no longer "whole"/dead/...whatever.

she does appear to be emerging from a place of... non... physicality. also it's worth noting that in the first picture of her i included, she's sinking - into water or a water-like substance. that can presumably freeze over...... and become the ice block himeko and welt found march 7th in....... hm? 🤨

it's hard to say how much cyrene will have in common with elysia - it's unfair to expect them to be the exact same character, and maybe these points i'm about to bring up mean little in the end because we don't know for sure where the story is going to go, but

elysia was "born from nothing" which doesn't quite have the same connotations as march 7th's "birth" but you know. they both found themselves in a sudden state of existence with next to nothing to fall back on and they defined themselves

elysia is not humble about her beauty and speaks often of it (as she should; she is very pretty). similarly, march frequently boasts about her cuteness and describes herself as the cutest girl in the world (as she should; she is very cute)

"never forget your roots" is one of the mantras elysia lives by. this stands out to me because despite not... really needing those memories, march is pretty insistent on remembering her past. the lesson that the garden of remembrance and just the universe and her adventures in general have tried to teach her ("your present defines you; so long as you're happy here, you don't need the memories of your past, and retrieving them might destroy what you've come to love now") just doesn't appear to be sinking in. perhaps because she subconsciously has a core belief stating the opposite

as for how mem would fit into this i have nothing for you because we don't have anywhere near enough info on them for me to begin thinking about that. but it seems like they'll be a pretty big deal.

like i'm spitballing more than anything here. if march IS a fragment of cyrene i think it's also obvious that she has grown into her own, entirely separate person and her origins are inconsequential - though she might not think that if/when she learns this about herself. that might also offer an explanation for why the garden of remembrance won't let her have any part of her old memories, not even a hint. because learning that she's technically a piece of someone else might be too heavy a blow to her sense of identity and she'll be entirely too focused on all the wrong things. uncovering her past will slow her down at the most inopportune moment... make her vulnerable in all the worst ways. which might be why she appears so absent from the adventure.

it's also possible that like. all three of these guys - march, cyrene, and mem - are fragments of a titan (don't ask me which). or that march was given cyrene's coreflame (don't ask me which) before being catapulted into space. or march was the previous owner of the coreflame cyrene has now - if they can be passed on to other people - before being catapulted into space. or i mean, the coreflame cyrene HAD because i'm not convinced this girl's fully alive and well. mem IS the coreflame, brought to life/imparted with cyrene's memories and will.

do you see... there's just so very much to think about... looooots of story spoilers got thrown at us if we can just... untangle the mess... can anyone HEAR me

[beef-brisket]

Adam: Holy shit, who knew Hell had killer food.

Lucifer chuckled and wiped his mouth with a napkin.

Lucifer: I don't usually eat out, but that place wasn't bad.

Adam: Fuck yeah, it wasn't.

They enjoyed the silence for a few moments, letting the food settle.

Adam: ...I'm kinda glad you're here. Sera wants to see me tomorrow, and I'm kinda shitting myself.

Lucifer: Oh yeah? What about?

Adam: It's either the whole, trying to take over Hell, fucking up the extermination, or letting it slip to some important fucks in Heaven about said exterminations. Who fucking knows... I've fucked up a lot this year. Those last two were big enough deals that could cost me everything, but the whole Sin thing? Yeah, no... I'm pretty sure she's going to make me fall...

Lucifer looked down, Adam deserves to be in Hell. But there are some bastards in Heaven that deserve it more.

Lucifer: I think you'll be okay. And if you're not, you're welcome to stay with me.

Adam rolled his eyes: Obviously. I don't want those fuckers to see what I'd look like... probably going to be fucking ugly... agh, I'm going to have to do a whole bullshit trial with the council, and I know what their going to vote... I might as well just stay down here.

Lucifer: ...You're really going through it, huh?

Adam shrugged: It doesn't matter. I fucking deserve it. Especially after what I did to your whole thing. The rings or whatever the fuck. I'm sure the sins would like to see me, or something... but it's fine... I'm not a pussy who runs from shit. I'll fucking face it.

Lucifer: The sins don't want to punish you, Adam.

Adam raised an eyebrow at Lucifer: Why the fuck not? Especially you, why wouldn't you want to punish me? I fucking... after everything did- after everything I've done? Fuck, man. I've fucking deserved since since the day I got fucking made.

Adam laughed for a moment, startling and confusing Lucifer.

Adam: Sera said I'm Heaven's biggest mistake. I even come before you! Which is funny as shit... I used to see her as my mom, you know? I don't know if I'm even close to that type of relationship, I've never... had one before. But, she cared, so I thought... guess it was just me being stupid. Again.

Adam laughed again before eating some bread that Lucifer had brought with him.

Lucifer: ...She had no right to say that to you.

Adam shrugged: She had every right. And she's not wrong... angels don't lie. Even though I wish they would...

The Sin of Adam!au.

One more quick au before I fall asleep.

Adam falls to Hell after his death. But he doesn't wake up in Pride. He wakes up in Wrath. Adam is completely pissed off and just itching for revenge.

In this, Adam conquers each ring of Hell, growling stronger until he's on the same wavelength as Lucifer, power wise.

Lucifer has no idea what's going on. He's slowly losing contact with the Sins, and everyone is in a state of panic. That's until he returns home from a few days away, trying to find the Sins, that he sees his daughters hotel, and Pentagram city destroyed.

Thankfully, Charlie and her friends are fine. But what she explains is unbelievable.

Charlie: It was Adam, dad!

Lucifer: Adam? He's dead Charlie- I buried him myself.

Charlie: I thought so, too! He was looking for you! He's alive!

Lucifer gets his daughter to hide. Everything is in a state of chaos. He can't find Adam anywhere.

Until he returns home and sees someone sitting on his throne.

After a long, destructive fight, Lucifer realizes that Adam only absorbed the Sins. Their not dead

Adam has literally been taken over by the powers of Hell.

Can Lucifer contain and find a way to get Adam and the Sins back before he destroys Hell and everything undead thing in it??

How will Lucifer get Adam back??

Who knows 🤷

Adam: You can't defeat me now Lucifer!

Lucifer: Oh yes I can! I'm going to fuck the sins out of you!!

Adam: Wait what?

Ozzie inside: YEAH BABY!!

Sorry I'm feeling a little silly lmao 😂

[gothamite-rambler]

Bernard's parents make Tim's entire home life a lot easier to deal with

Mr. Dowd (in another room): I'm not going out there!

Mrs. Dowd (in the same room with him): You can't go out and eat dinner with—

Mr. Dowd: NO! I don't like him!

Mrs. Dowd: You don't like anyone, BRYAN! You're such an asshole that you can't even be a little less of an asshole and have dinner with your son and his boyfriend!

Bryan: No, MELISSA, because he could do way better! I don't give a shit about him being whatever, but he needs someone not as weird and talkative! ADHD my ass, that's an excuse for lazy people!

Melissa: Ah yes, you know about that stuff you failed psychiatrist!

Bryan: Big talk coming from the woman who managed to fail clown college!

Melissa: That is a damn lie! Put your garbage away, put your shoes on and go with me! You think I want to go out there alone while you stay in this shitty den of yours, working on soap art that will never sell?!

Bryan: At least I don't focus all my time on reality TV and Botox!

Melissa: I TOLD YOU I WAS CURIOUS ABOUT GETTING THAT!

Tim: Are they aware we can hear them?

Bernard (shuffling food around on his plate with a fork): They stopped caring a long time ago.

Tim: How long does this usually go on for?

Bernard: Ask my grandma.

Tim turned to an older woman with grey hair and aviator glasses. The elderly woman smiled warmly.

Grandma: We'll be finished with dinner by the time they finally leave the room... I love my daughter so very much, but—

Melissa: YOU CAN'T EVEN DEFEND ME! COWARD!

Joey: APOLOGIZING TO THE NEIGHBOR AFTER YOU SPRAYED THEIR CAT WITH A HOSE SO WE WOULDN'T GET SUED ISN'T COWARDLY! THE FACT I STAYED WITH YOUR CRAZY ASS AND HAVEN'T CHEATED ON YOU MEANS YOU'RE VERY LUCKY!

Melissa: HA! YOU COULDN'T CHEAT ON ME, YOU LOOK LIKE DAHMER!

Joey: BIG WORDS COMING FROM THE CRYPT KEEPER!

Grandma: They’ve actually made me change my stance on divorce. Anyway, nice to finally meet my grandson’s boyfriend. I wasn’t sure how to take the whole gay—

Bernard: Bi.

Grandma: Baby steps, Bernard. I wasn't sure how to take it, but seeing him happy with you is all that matters... and great-grandbabies?

Bernard chuckled, covering his mouth.

Tim (jokingly): We might adopt a lizard.

Grandma shook her head with a smile, enjoying Tim's company while Melissa and Bryan continued shouting over each other.

[possibilistfanfiction]

if you're still taking caitvi prompts: first time

do with that whatever you wish, i love seeing what you come up with

[caitvi wedding!! if there's one thing about me it's that i love outside pov so some ekko pov, some little hints of 207 :) ao3 if u want.]

//

'and you're sure you have the rings?'

jinx groans from where she's sitting on the couch and flops back dramatically, no regard whatsoever for her dress; you roll your eyes but vi is so clearly nervous you pat your pocket and assure her, 'right here, just like they were five minutes ago.'

'okay,' she says, then looks in the mirror one more time. she fusses with her hair, her undercut neat and the rest swept back out of her face; she straightens her already perfectly tailored suit jacket. you share a smile with jinx when she lets out a big breath.

'let's go get you married then, yeah?'

vi blushes all over again, an expression you could only accurately describe as lovesick on her face. jinx groans again but she happily tucks her arm into the crook of your elbow when you offer, kisses you on the cheek.

/

vander is crying before he even starts walking vi down the aisle, while you wait in the wing of the reception hall attached to the truly gorgeous garden that they're getting married in. it's a much larger affair than vi had wanted but a much smaller one than caitlyn's mom had tried to insist on, and there are fairy lights and, predictably, violets everywhere, and vander hugs vi tight before you and jinx get your cue to walk down the aisle before them.

it's more pomp and circumstance than vi wanted — the rows of chairs, each side fairly equally attended, and the full course meal at the reception, and the string orchestra who starts to play. you helped plan most parts of it: jinx was officially vi's best man, a title she insisted on, but you'd helped out with a lot of the logistics she didn't really seem to have capacity to deal with on her own. it was fun, though, to work together with one another and with jayce, caitlyn's maid of honor — another title jinx insisted on, which had made jayce laugh while he easily agreed — to truly irritate cassandra, as she politely, after a few months, insisted you call her. for all her intensity that had driven jinx up the wall, you could tell she really does love caitlyn, and caitlyn loves vi, so the compromises became easier and easier as your planning moved along.

and now, it's perfect, you think as you stand next to jinx and watch vi get teary the second she sees caitlyn in her wedding gown, tobias smiling widely beside her. she's tall and regal and graceful and pretty, and when tobias kisses vi's cheek and then sets caitlyn's hand gently in vi's outstretched one, blushes on both of their cheeks, you let out a relieved breath because it's actually happening, and it's all turned out so wonderful.

the ceremony itself is short, and they say their vows through easy, happy tears, caitlyn using vi's full name at one point in a tone so reverent, in a way only she can manage, in a way only she has ever had permission to, even you feel like you might cry. you hand the officiant the rings when it's time, and vi smiles at you, and her hands shake but they're strong and purposed when she slides the diamond band onto caitlyn's finger, and then caitlyn kisses vi's palm before slipping the thick, simple gold band onto her finger. soon enough, they kiss — short and sweet but with enough passion to make jinx grimace, which makes you laugh as you squeeze her hand — and then they're introduced, for the first time, as the kirammans, together.

/

the reception is, quite genuinely, the best party you've ever been to, thank you very much. there's dinner, and tons of finger food, and you're relieved that both vi and caitlyn actually do manage to eat because they both constantly have a glass of champagne in their hands, accepting many toasts. they share a first dance, vi very seriously concentrating on the steps from the classes she took and the moves she practiced with you and jinx until caitlyn grins and kisses her cheek and whispers something in her ear; vi laughs and her posture relaxes while she tucks her head into the crook of caitlyn's neck and they just sway, easy, happy, an intimacy earned over years of steadfastness.

there's the father-daughter dance, vander and vi making quite the pair next to the easy elegance, born and bred, of caitlyn and tobias, but they end up laughing together by the end. vander and tobias sit together afterward; they're family, now, but they have been for years already too.

'hey, cass,' jinx says, leaning back in her chair when she notices caitlyn's mom walking up to your table. she has a pinched expression on her face at the nickname, and you have to fight the urge not to laugh — but she's family too. for all of cassandra's annoyance, you think she actually does have a soft spot for jinx.

you're proven right when she sits down, poised as ever, and says, 'i just wanted to thank you both.' she looks over at caitlyn and vi, who are wrapped up in each other. vi's hair has lost some of its careful styling, starting to fall into her eyes, and she's ditched her suit jacket, draping it over caitlyn's shoulders instead. caitlyn's eyes are a little unfocused, an unknown number of champagne glasses in, her cheeks flushed, a gentle hand on vi's jaw before they kiss. 'i've never seen caitlyn so happy.'

'you can say it,' jinx responds. 'we were right.'

cassandra sighs, displeased, but then, after a beat, they both laugh. 'perhaps we owe ekko, our peacemaker.'

'you definitely do. i accept venmo, paypal, zelle, or also you can just pay our rent.'

cassandra raises a brow, but it's fond and amused, so much like caitlyn. 'i was under the impression that, perhaps, my daughter might already be doing a fair amount of that.'

caitlyn does help with the rent on the apartment you and jinx share, it's true, and she randomly has groceries delivered sometimes; she and vi have taken you and jinx on some pretty epic climbing trips, and neither you nor jinx are going to finish your graduate programs with any debt. but, still, 'new car, then?'

cassandra laughs and jinx leans forward, intrigued. 'great suggestion, babe.' she slings an arm around your shoulder. 'cassandra, we'll get back to you on the make and model. hybrid, though, for sure.'

cassandra rolls her eyes but, when she stands, she does wrap jinx in a soft hug, and then squeezes your shoulder.

jinx clears her throat, and you decide to spare her from any teasing, just this once. a song comes on that you both love, and she perks up. you grin, and then offer your hand. 'may i have this dance?'

she rolls her eyes but she takes your hand tenderly and leads you to the dance floor.

/

thankfully, even though you'd been best man part 2 — jinx's official title for you — you don't have to give a toast. jinx does, though, or at least she'd badgered her way into caitlyn and vi letting her; she's still, always will be, a loose canon, but she's deeply cared about this wedding, so you know she wouldn't be too crazy.

she tells a funny, sweet story about how vi would always scare her monsters away when they were little and then continues. 'caitlyn, i'm very grateful that i get to annoy you officially now, forever.' caitlyn laughs, so content. 'and vi, thank you for saving my life, so many times and in so many ways. and thank you for being my big sister. i love you.' vi wipes under her eyes and smiles so big jinx can only smile back just the same. she lifts her glass. 'to the happy couple.'

/

the party is dwindling down, caitlyn and vi already having left to go to their hotel room before they leave on their honeymoon in the morning. jinx swipes a bottle of champagne and takes your hand, then leads you out to a terrace that overlooks the city and sits on the edge, her dress carefully tucked beneath her.

'some night,' she says, wistful.

it's hard to look at her, now, without getting overwhelmed, so you keep staring at the buildings, far off in the distance, their shine and shimmer. 'it's beautiful.'

'where'd you learn those moves?' she asks, teasing.

you've danced together for years, all through college and grad school, but, still, tonight was special. 'oh, i was just following your lead.'

jinx laughs. 'he's got lines.'

you laugh, and you sit in the quiet with her for a bit.

'thank you,' she says, eventually, quietly, so sincere your heart breaks a little bit.

'for what?'

she gestures in the air vaguely, and you understand that sometimes things are just too big for words. it had been a hard few months, far beyond wedding planning: one of jinx's most important medications had started to have worse and eventually untenable physical side effects, so she'd had to be hospitalized to figure out a new combination that would help keep her psychologically stable much more comfortably and safely, and with fewer other medications to manage side effects. it was easier than it was in the past — partially because caitlyn had gotten her, immediately, into the best program in the nicest facility with experts she herself had recruited, but mostly because jinx was so determined to get better again, on board for all of it. even on the days she wasn't as lucid as you'd grown so used to, her psychosis was different: gentler, less tortured. she was kind to you, through it all.

'you know you never have to thank me for stuff like that,' you say. 'getting to have all of this with you, it's more than i ever dreamed.'

'still,' she says, and she's so beautiful. 'i know i’m… a lot. so y hank you.'

'you know i'd never give up on you, right?' you tuck a strand of hair, grown out in the past year so that it sits at her shoulders now, bangs that you'd clumsily helped her cut one night like you were kids again, behind her ear gently. her eyes are so clear, so blue. she tucks her head into her chest and you wrap your arm around her. you've loved her your whole life; you've loved her like this for years. 'but it's such a happy night,' you say. 'want to just... pretend like it's the first time?'

it's hard, sometimes, to hold all the grief of your lives when you were younger, all the grief of a brain so troubled and so extraordinary, in the same hands that hold all the joy — your palms aren't big enough, or they're too rough, or they're not strong enough, or they shake and tremble and it all slips through your fingers. it's hard but it's worth it, when she feels it too, when you get to hold it together.

her hand is gentle on your jaw, cool and thin and brilliant, and it's easy to remember your first kiss, to remember all the first kisses that came after that as she healed too. it's easy to kiss her again, for the first time. there are vows here too, ones the two of you say all the time: you make sure she eats and she makes sure you get to bed on time; you lift the weight of the world off of each other's shoulders with silly inventions you make together, and belaying safely, and holding her when she can't quite make out what's real and what isn't. you're real, and your love is real, and the promises are holy, and unspoken, and there all the same.

she sniffles when you back up. 'who knew vi's stupid wedding would make me so emotional?'

you laugh, wipe under her eyes to catch her slightly smeared mascara. 'i could've guessed.'

'we're never doing this, right?'

'a kiramman wedding? god no.'

she grins.

'i'd elope for tax cuts, though, if you ever wanted.'

'incredibly romantic.'

you both laugh and you lace your fingers with hers and then shrug. 'it's you and me.' you bring your joined hands to your mouth and gently kiss the top of hers.

'you and me, forever,' she adds.

'that sounds pretty good.'

'yeah.' she looks out at the city, the light brought down like stars. 'it does.'

[yonakuu]

۶ৎ- Don't be Shy Babe, Spend some More!⭑.ᐟ

Kaiju No. 8: Narumi Gen

Word Count: 1.2k+

Pairing: Narumi Gen x Reader

More Author's notes at the end, enjoy your reading!

۶ৎ In the vast blue sky, Clouds part to welcome a shooting star. In all it's beauty, adorns a royal purple as it inches closer and closer.

You'd be surprised at this phenomenon if it was your first time playing this game 'Genshin Impact'.

But no, You've been playing this retched game for a long time now. Grinding long and boring quests which offer little to no reward at all. Repeating daily commissions, explorations, and events. Only to receive not even one useful character constellation.

Four stars appear subsequently on the screen, showing the art of a weapon you've seen so many times before.

' Favonius Codex '

˚ ༘ ೀ⋆｡˚

That was the last pull you could do. Saved up Primogems out dry in a blink of an eye.

You don't know what to do now: Whether to roll around the floor in hysteria, to cry, to laugh or to just sleep and dream of wonderful things.

Like getting your favorite character.

"Ouh, that sucks." What a half assed response to that life ruinous occurrence- drawled by an individual of black locks with pink highlights. Which also peeped at your phone and witnessed... Whatever that nightmare was.

"Shut up Gen! You're so lucky it makes me sick.-" You gasp.

"- No no no you must've paid so much to get where you are now." Now pointing fingers to accuse him further.

"A sore loser too, I mean that's a skill issue babe." Narumi :3's at your frustration, easily riling you up. One of the plethora of skills he's most proud of.

With your mouth wide open at his words, you feel your jaw ticking. "I'll show you skill issue!" With a pillow in hand you pour all your rage from the months you've ground for those shiny primogems. Smacking it at him continuously in commemoration for all the blood, sweat and tears you've used up.

"Ahhh! Whats the big deal babe. It's not the end of the world- maybe the banner in a few minutes but come on." Trying to wrestle the pillow from your grip he does underhanded techniques. Another thing he prides himself in, of being able to get out of sticky situations especially on the field because he's that good.

But to be honest he's more scared of you than any kaiju. Especially when your bottomless pit of anger plummets to the all time low, maybe pacifying isn't his strong suit after all.

"There's one solution to that you know." With his serious work face on, he says directly to temper you down.

......It really is a good idea this time.

"Huh?" You tilt your head and show your skepticism. The pillow now out of your grasp due to those distracting words you hear him utter.

......

"Top up." He grins,

Jutting his jaw up proudly. Like he's solved the answer to the worlds greatest problem.

That kind of solution should've been expected. With all the Yamazon boxes sprawled in every corner of his room as a reminder.

Retail therapy is his go to problem solver then. (Honestly same)

"Don't you pin me out like you! I don't wanna become broke. I still have to buy stuff for our survival." Declining a bit too quickly for his liking.

Though he's still thankful for the added thought of him oh and the snacks you bring home- Oh great responsible partner, love of his life.

"But it's so cheap to get a welkin moon." Itching the side of his face, he deadpans. All so while gazing at his own account. Already maxed out on the current banners.

"Well I don't have a first division captain's salary now don't I?" A duh statement if you ask him- nobody has the biggest perks in this place but him!

"Butttt you are a very hard working individual- too hard working actually. So you can make up the loses. Plus you're very very responsibl-" He continues his yapping to why you should waste your money on a stupid gacha game, every word and praise coming out of his mouth you try to ignore.

But if it's something Narumi Gen isn't? Is someone who is quick to give up nor docile-

And.... his reasoning is starting to sound a little plausible now.

... Sigh, what a bad influence.

˚ ༘ ೀ⋆｡˚

You got the golden wishing star, bringing forth your desired character with it. But at what cost?

The beauty of this character- the voice lines, skills.

That's it? Once the adrenaline from gambling wears off life becomes meh again.

Narumi observes your defeated form with confusion. "If your so worried about the money you spent then take some back from my bank." He ushers in disbelief, Does this really bother you that much?

If so he'll take care of it.

He won't run out of money that fast. Ah he thinks....

But! When the time comes begging officer Shinomiya for money is no biggie.

"That's sweet babe, but I don't wanna have you dirt poor as much as It tempts me. You've still got alot of pending Yamazon orders last I checked."

-ack. The previous loving expression takes a detour on Narumi's face, turning into one like irk. Animating itself on his face.

No more like the five stages of grief actually.

"I would expect my lover to have more trust on me! You're starting to sound like those losers on social media- if you wanna break up with me just say so!" He mumbles, sulking as he pulls his blanket and wraps it around his sitting form.

"Your loss anyways." He mumbles with spite-

"Nah it's cause I love you too much babe!" You're quick to deter his claims of you, closing your distance with amusement.

"Hmm and next thing i'll know you'll have a hate account of me. Like them, get a life really." His eyes narrow in suspicion, his declarations only worsening.

Much to your offence,

"I'd fight them for you Gen, you know that. I'll right hook their hate so far they'll never see the face of the earth again!" You peck him on the cheek. Clearly talking doesn't penetrate his defenses that much. So a hands on approach is definitely the way to go.

"Tch you're super lucky I love you." Sarcastic as it is, he let's up his sulking to wrap his arms around you- in one tight hug.

It seems like he doesn't really believe you when you say that huh?

....Another sigh,

If only he knows you really do have a fan account of him fighting for his honor. A fact unbeknownst to every single person in your life, only in the shadows of your room there you work earnestly looking for no reward....

A downtime job when you aren't busy supporting your captain in the field eliminating kaiju.

It takes a lot of effort, even if you're fighting a losing battle you won't let up cause you know how much of a good person he is.

So your solution to this problem....

Is to gather more Fans of him! By letting the citizens see some super high quality compilations of Gen fighting kaijus in the coolest, flashiest angle on social media- which no normal paparazzi could capture n' post unless they're directly on the field with him. Showing how awesome he could be.

But that's a secret for another day. You'll just busy yourself in co-op with him in this game for now.

Without anybody knowing your hidden identity....

So basically, Reader being Batman. A crackfic IM SORRYYYYY.

Christmas break is gonna be over soon i'm losing my mind.

Please let the tags work on this one i'm gonna cry if it's broken like the Hoshina one. The gradients are a bit funky, but it's a problem for another day ya'll. Promise it will be fixed :>

[cheezbites]

Dating Ghost -- Part 4

✎: HAPPY NEW YEARS EVERYONE!! Ending 2024 off with a part 4 to my Ghost headcanons series!🤭

♡Summary: Headcanons of dating Ghost.

︵‿︵‿︵୨♡୧‿︵‿︵‿

Bf!Ghost lets you drag him along to parties. You received a last-minute invitation to this big New Year's party, and he already knew there's no way you'll miss it. He doesn't protest. In fact, he doesn't even mind. He found himself mildly enjoying the company of other people, picking up on bits and pieces of meaningful conversations such as their resolutions, hopes or big plans for the year ahead of them.

His attention, however, is almost entirely fixed on you. Whether you’re catching up with someone you know or heading off to grab another drink, his sharp eyes follow your every move, ensuring you’re always within his sight.

As the clock nears striking midnight, the big countdown begins and the room almost instantaneously buzzes with excitement and anticipation. Ghost gently pulls you into his arms, tuning out the raucous cheers and clinking glasses around you. He kisses you softly, his masked demeanor melting away in the intimacy of the moment.

“Guess you’re stuck with me for another year, eh? Don’t know how you do it.”

Bf!Ghost loves the idea of cozying up at home with you. The world outside is cheery and loud: groups of friends heading to or returning from clubs, the occasional firework bursting in the sky, and the distant hum of cars as people race to make it home before midnight. But his world—being you—is cozily inside with him. A bottle of champagne, your favorite cheesy sitcom playing on the TV, and a soft blanket draped over the both of you, making the moment so effortlessly perfect.

Bf!Ghost keeps in contact with you, no matter where he is, this man will find a way. His texts range from sarcastic remarks to just random snapshots of his day. He has this knack for making you laugh with his dry humour and cheeky quips.

"Guess what I had to deal with today? Idiots."

*(Attached: A photo of some destroyed expensive looking military equipment) "Just a bunch of idiots."

Or, out of nowhere, a photo of a random animal he saw, captioned: “This you?”

Bf!Ghost isn’t the type to sit down and plan New Year’s resolutions. It’s just not his thing—too much fuss over things he figures he’ll do anyway. But with you, it’s become a tradition. He always kept his short and practical, things like, “Stick to the training routine,” or “Get the truck serviced.” Straightforward. No fluff. But every single time, you'd make sure to add an impossibly unachievable one regarding Simon, like “Convince Simon to wear a ridiculous party hat.”

But little does he know, you’ve got your ways. It's not even February, but he’s sitting on the couch with a sparkly, oversized party hat perched on his head. He grumbles something about how you’re impossible, but there’s a warmth in his eyes that he can’t hide.

His biggest resolution this year is different, though. It’s more personal: “Learn to take a proper holiday with you.” He’s honest about it—years have gone by without him truly relaxing, and he knows he owes it to himself—and to you—to find that peace.

He secretly loves when you set a goal for the both of you, like planning a getaway or trying a new hobby together. Even though he pretends it’s all “your idea,” he’s all in from the start. It’s the kind of commitment he doesn’t say out loud, but you can see it in the way he clears his schedule, shows up on time, and puts his whole heart into whatever you’re doing. With Simon, even the smallest resolutions become something meaningful when it’s with you.

Bf!Ghost stares. A lot. But not in a creepy way, but in a way that makes you feel like you're the only person in the room, and that's if you notice--most of the time you don't. When he zeroes in on you, it's like he's in a sort of daze and there's a softness that momentarily lingers in the creases of his eyes.

"Y'know, you always do that thing..." You mention whilst glancing over at him. He was leaning back on the couch, casually sipping on his drink with his eyes fixed on you.

"What thing?"

You tilt your head and a smile plays at your lips. "Stare."

He just shrugs like it's no big deal. But you can tell by the shift in his gaze that it means more. “I like looking at you,” he says, voice low and quiet, as if it's the most obvious thing in the world.

Bf!Ghost keeps a picture of you in his wallet, hidden among the military IDs and mission cards. It's just a photo, after all—nothing to make a fuss over. But the way his fingers linger on it when he's pulling out his cards or the small smile that tugs at his lips when he sees it tells a different story.

Bf!Ghost holds onto little souvenirs from your outings and dates. The ticket from the first movie you saw together? It's in a safe place in his drawer. A napkin with a doodle you drew as you were chattering away with your friends on the phone, laughing about silly gossip? That's tucked into his wallet, next to your picture.

Bf!Ghost surprises you with these small, simple decorations when the New Year rolls around, like some dazzling fairy lights twinkling in the corner or some sparklers at night. When you asked him about him, he just shrugs with a nonchalant look and says, "Felt like it."

But deep down, you know it's because he loves seeing you get excited or surprised whenever he does something special, even if it's out of the usual for him. He's secretly a sucker for seeing you get all thrilled over new beginnings,

Bf!Ghost discovers you putting together a messy craft project, showcasing all your favourite memories from 2024. You've been in and out of rooms, running around to fetch a variety of creative supplies and being careful to not prick your foot with scissors or knock over an unscrewed glitter jar on your way back.

"What do we have here?" He asked, leaning against the doorframe and observing as you neatly trimmed a photograph to stick onto your collage.

"A time capsule, right? But make it *aesthetic*." You answer, still focusing on the right place to glue this photo of him (he didn't even realise you took it) onto your collage.

Stepping into the room, he watches you rearrange and readjust bits of paper as you searched for the perfect combination. He decided to make himself useful, sitting across from you and quietly helping with cutting things out for you or suggesting ideas. Every little thing he does makes the process a little smoother. He's there, helping you build something together—just like he’s always there for the bigger moments.

Bf!Ghost finally lets you paint his nails after what seemed like hours of pleading and begging--but just one, which was perfect for what you were trying to do, anyway.

You chose his thumb so you can have more efficient and visually representative thumb wars, of course. I don't know how this man does it, but every time he wins. His true competitive nature comes out in a good old fashioned thumb war. But it's also another excuse to hold your hand and hear you giggling as you thrash about and try cheating your way through getting his thumb cornered.

You carefully painted it black and added a tiny ghost doodle in white, refining all the details in black with a tiny and precise brush.

"Fits, don't touch think?" You teased, holding it up for him to inspect.

But you didn't want Ghost Jr. to feel left out, so you got a matching one. (But yours is pink, of course). Whenever you held his hand, you always dubbed them as 'best buddies' and pressed your thumbs together, making hand holding all the more special to you guys.

Masterlist

🌸Part One

🌸Part Two

🌸Part Three

✎: This one felt super short to me, but that only means there's more works to comeeesej!!😝 SHARE YOUR RESOLUTIONS IN THE COMMENTS I'D LOVE TO HEAR🩷 Mine's to stop perfectionism and procrastinating.. nasty habit of mine😭 hence the super long writing hiatus--but she's BACKK💕🫶 I missed you guys so much!!1!1!

[howlingday]

Nora's A Super Weirdo Kinda Girl

Ren: (Walks in, Sees Nora on the couch)

Nora: (Reading manga) Welcome home~! Yang get home okay?

Ren: Why are you here?

Nora: I figured I'd crash here tonight.

Ren: You could have called first.

Nora: Oh, cry me a river, Renny! Ooh~! And now there's a guy walking next to our leading lady~! Prolly her brother. Older if I were to bet on anything. Bruh, it's so obvious just looking at them! This protag's dense as hell for getting jealous!

Ren: Funny coming from someone like you.

Nora: Wuzzat s'posed to mean?

Ren: It means you've been pretending to be my childhood friend in front of everyone.

Nora: But am I wrong, though? What else would you call a childhood friend?

Ren: It's... just somebody you got along with growing up-

Nora: DING DING DING~! Correctamundo~! So yeah! Why wouldn't that include your adorable baby sister, huh? (Sniffs) We're childhood friends, best friends, siblings- AND THEY CAN ALL BE THE SAME ALL AT ONCE~!

Ren: You're acting really weird, Nora. We're not even re-

Nora: Who you callin' weird, you weirdo foo~? Mah big ol' brain is too big fo' someone like you~!

Ren: ...

Nora: ...WHOA! Time out! It really was the lead lady's brother our protag saw!

Ren: It's a common trope.

Nora: THEY'RE MAKING OUT NOW!

Ren: No way!

Nora: Yes way! Still, I wasn't expecting the incest is wincest route so soon...

Ren: It's probably not that big of a deal. They're probably not blood related. Adopted, you know?

Nora: (Grabs his collar, Shakes him) YOU TAKE THAT BACK! IT'S ONLY HOT IF THEY CAME FROM THE SAME WOMB~!

--------------------------------------------------

Nora: (Jumps on Ren) Ohio, my oney-chan~!

Ren: ...It was good until you gave me the world's rudest awakening.

Nora: C'mon~! Your adorable little sister is waking you up with love and affection~! BE HAPPIER!

Ren: One, we're not related. Two, you're not spinning this as anything but sick and wrong! Three, GET OFF ME!

Nora: Oh~? What was that? Did you just ask your little sister to GET YOU OFF~?

Ren: You're not even listening to a word I'm saying, are you?!

Nora: Fine... Spoilsport... Next time, I'll hide under your bed like a tentacle monster and grab your legs when you least expect it~!

Ren: Yet another lewd genre, huh? Whatever. Just get out of my room.

Nora: But why~? Did you pop a boner on me~?

Ren: D I E .

[demonslayedher]

The "Umai" Bentou: Gyunabe

A very special edition of Kimetsu Kitchen, recreating the most iconic meal of Kimetsu no Yaiba, one fit to power a Hashira through a night of battle! Good enough to be one's last meal!

As a quick forward, the first official fanbook makes it official that what Rengoku was eating on the train was a gyunabe (beef hot pot) boxed lunch, which is pretty close to a sukiyaki recipe for how it simmers beef in sweetened soy sauce brine. However, sukiyaki is typically eaten with the freshly cooked beef dipped in raw egg, for eggs were also a luxury food back in the Taisho Period commonly associated with Western style restaurant food (they were not commonly used at home until later in the period). Putting some egg in the bentou is part of what elevates it to be especially fancy. Speaking of time period differences, although it is not common now, Taisho Period gyunabe recipes included miso as part of the sweet soy sauce brine.

Thankfully searching in Japanese for keywords like "gyunabe bentou rengoku recipe" yields many results from Japanese fans who were mindful of this difference, so I more or less followed the following recipe. Unlike my usual Kimetsu Kitchen experiments, I'm going to try to write this one in a way you can follow. You can see the visuals in gif form on this post. That being said, I hate cooking, and I may not be a good person to take advice from.

Umai!! Gyunabe Bentou

2 servings, based on a Mizunoto-ranked Corp member's typical serving size

Ingredients:

200g of sliced beef short rib*

1 egg**

1/4 white or yellow onion

1/2 package grilled tofu***

1/4 leek

🔥2 tablespoons sugar

🔥1 tablespoon red miso paste

🔥3 tablespoons soy sauce

🔥3 tablespoons sake

🔥4 tablespoons mirin****

🔥2 tablespoons water

Beni-shoga (pickled ginger), to taste*****

Whatever serving size of white rice your heart desires (Japanese rice recommended, but I am not the rice police)

*Short rib is a fatty cut with lots of cartilage that turns to gelatin when slowly cooked. I prefer lean cuts, so even though it comes out tougher, I used sliced beef round and it turned out just fine.

**I prepared two eggs in case one wouldn't be very photogenic. That turned out to be a good call.

***Grilled tofu, like firm (momen) or silken (kinu), is water-packed and likely available at Asian grocers. However, the vegetarian section of a Western style grocer might only have firm & silken, in which case, go with firm.

****This can be substituted if you can't find it

*****Or totally omitted if you dislike it, can't find it, or otherwise don't mind not totally recreating the bentou

Step 1.

Get your egg(s) boiling. The internet will tell you wiser things than I can about this, but what I did is bring my water to a boil first, and then put in the eggs, submerged by about an inch. I added a splash of vinegar to make them easier to peel later. I set the timer for 10 minutes, but you can pull them sooner for runnier yolks. After that, put the eggs in cold water to stop the cooking. You could also steep the eggs in mentsuyu for half a day if you want, but I didn't bother and just peeled and added them to my brine later.

Step 2.

Get your rice cooking. I added nice clean bamboo charcoal to mine for good luck. I am not the rice police, but I did make sure to wash my rice first and gave it about 15 minutes to soak before I turned on the rice cooker. Because that is what old ladies in Japan tell you to do.

Step 3.

Cut and drain your tofu. To drain it, fold up a bunch of paper towels and set the slices on top, then put more folded paper towels on top of them. If you have flat surfaces like cutting boards to work with, you can put something heavy on top to squeeze out more water and make the tofu slices firmer and easier to work with. Do expect the surrounding area to get very wet--this is why I like to place mine on the bottom of a pan so there is somewhere for the water to flow away from the tofu, but it's not a big deal if your tofu is wet. Since you're only using half a block, you can save the rest of the tofu in water for later use; it's very versatile and packed with protein. Oh, you don't like tofu? I don't think tofu likes you much either.

Step 4.

Cut your onions. For the leeks, give them diagonal cuts, for the yellow or white onion, slicing with the grain will make them milder in flavor because you rupture fewer of of the cell membranes. Speaking of, you know what happens when you rupture those?

Step 5.

Cry. Because you miss Rengoku-san, because you hate cooking, because you are cutting onions. You must press on.

Step 6.

Mix all the ingredients marked with an 🔥. The miso might be a little clumpy, but don't worry about it. Just try to dissolve the sugar. It's a little late to say it, but I don't know if calling this a "brine" is correct. Don't at me. Do you think I cook?

Step 7.

Fry the yellow/white onion slices until almost translucent. Set aside, and clean the pan if you plan on reusing it for the rest of the dish.

Step 8.

Give the 🔥mixture a stir for good measure, and then heat it up over medium heat. Add the beef slices, simmer until heated through. Remove the beef slices, set aside.

Step 9.

Add the onions, leeks, tofu, and eggs to simmer. I just listened to my heart on the timing and wish I would have given the leeks more time and the onions less time, and I can't remember how much time I gave them. I peeled the eggs and put them in whole to give them some color and heat them back up, but maybe that wasn't necessary if you had them soaking in mentsuyu half the day. My tofu behaved. I like tofu and tofu likes me.

Step 10.

Your rice is probably done. Spread it across the bottom of your bentou.

Step 11.

Carefully slice a boiled egg in half. If you fail, try the other one. Select the prettiest half-egg to place in one corner of the bentou. Next to that, place your two prettiest leeks. Next to that, your two prettiest slices of tofu. There should a little space remaining to add your pickled ginger. You probably want to taste this first to decide how much you like it.

Step 12.

Stir back in the meat with the onions, then layer this mixture on top of the rest of the rice. The bentou is complete!

You know the final step to take once you take a bite.

Say it.

[anchorandrope]

i'm literally flabbergasted at pheobes thing like now? 9? years later??

the poor child has been splashed around everywhere since birth and now you're concerned 😒😒

i dare to say that it was the most nonsense they did in a long time, and that everything is very nonsense here hdhshsbs

from the moment this poor child set foot on earth, his own family (the clarks) took it upon themselves to spread (which, by the way, if its so "louis' wish" that they keep his face private, they could all delete his photos posted on social media of every other clark and tomlinson??... i mean??) his face, his name, his "birth certificate"... literally everything. and out of nowhere almost 10 fucking years later they think a little heart is a positive and useful change ??? the little heart couldn't have occurred to them a little earlier ??? lmfao.

sure, i guess having a bunch of creeps fantasizing about his "dad" and making fanfics/edits/fan accs of him wasn't that big of a deal ofc... but sure larries are the big deal... those larries...

and it genuinely worries me how neither of the two "sides" (larries and antis) take the situation as seriously as babygate is, i feel like they take it like anything else in the fandom, but is a very serious case, whatever you think about it. seeing people talk about the whole situation as if it's.. a song analysis gives me... headache. louis worries me and it's a horrible situation for him yes, but the one that worries me the most here is the kid. i don't know if people don't know or don't understand the amount of damage that this must have done to him and that's why they talk about it like its some random discourse ? or whatever.. but the fact that it's more necessary to stop this for the kid than it is for any other adult in the situation is something i don't think many understand either. its fine if you don't care about it, you don't need to, but if you are gonna say and pretend you care about fandom stuff i think the most serious topic is this one 😬 seeing people pretending this is the most unserious thing ever is so ???? you can just ignore it.

anyway.. end it.

[anavatazes]

Decisions 2

Summary: Magneto is called away from Utopia to help care for an injured Rogue. Set just after the Schism, when Mags is still in Utopia, and Rogue is with Wolverine at the Jean Grey School for Gifted Youngsters back in Westchester County, NY. 

Pairing: Rogue/Magneto

Warnings: Trigger Warning: I am ruining the plot for my own story here by choice. There is a discussion of and partial scene of a character having a miscarriage. Because this can be a very sensitive topic and triggering for some, please proceed with caution. I did not go with anything graphic, but to each their own on what they can and cannot handle. You have been warned. 

Author’s Notes: This is part two of my Decisions fic. Looks like this might be turning into a series. I am not sure when parts will be added. The title will most likely be changing, and a series title created. Not sure yet. Plans are still planning. Keep an eye on my Tumblr to see updates!

*****

It had been roughly a week since Rogue's stay in the Infirmary, and just about as long since Magneto glued himself to her. Gambit had tried to see her before now, to apologize for his part in her injuries during the battle with the renegade mutant. He just didn't want to do it with her constant shadow. 

“You're being a big baby, Gambit,” Frenzy called him out. They were sitting outside, on a picnic table, enjoying the sun.

“It musta been tèrib if'n he come all de way from Utopia. I don’ wan none o'dat wit him,” Gambit didn't really have a problem with Magneto. Normally. But the way he was barely leaving Rogue's side told Remy that something serious happened and he didn't want to tread where he wouldn't be welcomed. 

“Idiot, it was an accident. Magneto told me he sees it that way. He knows you'd never do anything to intentionally hurt her,” Frenzy rolled her eyes at the Cajun. 

“Don' you have class?” He glared.

“Nope. I have a free period, so I can sit here and tell you what a fucking idiot you're being.” Frenzy was enjoying getting a rise out of the Cajun. 

“I just wan’ ta talk ta her alone.”

“Admit it! You're afraid of Big Daddy Magneto!” Frenzy laughed.

Gambit shook his head in disgust. “Remy not afraid o’ him. I jus’...” 

“Uh uh, LeBeau! You're not getting out of this one.” Frenzy held her hand up to quiet Gambit's protests. “You're afraid of what the old man is gonna say or do to you, even though I can tell you without a doubt, he holds nothing against you.” 

“Den why he here? Any time she get hurt, he let her deal wit it on her own.” It was something Gambit didn't like about their relationship. In his mind, Rogue needed someone there for her all the time. But it rose warning bells in him that something else may have happened to Rogue that caused Magneto to show up.

Frenzy sighed, “That's for him to know and us to find out.”

Gambit's eyebrow shot up at that. Turning to look at her, “He not tell you?”

Cargill cracked her knuckles, “Nope. Whatever happened, I'll tell you, has him upset. Not at you, and not at her. Just in general. I've never seen him like this. Even with Wanda.” 

At the mention of the Scarlet Witch, Gambit shudders. Being reminded of M Day and the catastrophic times that followed… it was not a time he wanted to remember too well. “Whatever it is, he barely lef’ her side. He also got Wolverine on a short leash…”

“Pryde's lovin’ it. He upgraded the security system within his first two days here. Currently, he's finding some basic education teachers for the school. He was furious when he saw the curriculum,” Frenzy laughed, again. 

“Logan jus gonna let him take over?” Not that what Magneto was doing was bad, but this was Logan and Kitty's school. 

“Pryde is ok with it. It's benefiting the students. And gonna help make us accredited or some shit. So we'll be official and the kids can get actual diplomas and go on after that. She says it'll bring more students in. More paying students.” She had to admit, that did sound great for the kids. Teaching them mutant things was good, but they also needed the basics of the world. Leave it to Erik to think of things like that. 

“If it helps the youngsters,” Gambit shrugged.

*******

Rogue lay in bed in her room. Magnus was in the shower, not aware that she was awake. Her head was still bandaged, the wound healing nicely. Wolverine actually offered her his powers. She declined, much to his surprise. She told him she had her reasons, and Magnus backed her up. Wolverine backed off and said the offer was still on the table. 

As she lay there in the bed, Rogue rested a hand on her lower abdomen. Part of the reason she didn't want to use Logan's powers was because she wasn't ready to let go yet. Magnus had guessed that was her reason. He supported her, telling her that unless her life was in danger, whatever she decided was fine by him. Rogue, honestly, hadn't ever felt more loved than she did in this last week. He doted, and made sure her needs were met, and even some of her wants. She wished she were in better shape to return the favor because she knew he was mourning just as much as she was. The pregnancy was unexpected and unknown, but once they'd had the opportunity to discuss things, they discovered it had been very much wanted by them both. 

Rogue had a complicated relationship with kids. She loved them dearly, but never really thought of herself as a mother type. Not to bring them into the world. It was something that scared her when she was with Remy. They'd had a scare once. He'd gotten so excited and wanted to start picking names immediately, not even considering her feelings. They'd gotten into a huge fight and Rogue came close to leaving him then. He finally apologized, but she still wasn't settled. 

Magnus on the other hand, during this whole ordeal, let her take the lead. Made sure what she wanted was done. That she was comfortable. When she was in pain, he and Rachel ganged up on Beast saying he was using antiquated books and information. Beast finally gave in, admitting that yes, not much study had been done on the female body at all, and he would follow the lead of his patient, but would also take care not to overdose her. That satisfied everyone. She hadn’t cramped in days, and Beast performed an exam to make sure everything was gone, and it was. She and Magnus clung to each other and cried for hours after that.

That was when they talked about deciding the baby had been wanted. They still haven't talked about any kids in the future. But Rogue could see herself having kids with Magnus. Unlike Remy, Magnus listened and paid attention. He even had when they first got together and birth control came up. They had an actual discussion, instead of him saying it was going to be his way or the highway. She guessed with his age and having been married and in other long-term relationships before, Magnus had picked up on listening to his partner. 

Cradling her lower abdomen, Rogue thought about what if the baby had stayed. Would Magnus be by her side? Would he be helping her? Be there for her. What would it be like to be pregnant and know it? Beast determined she had been about 12 weeks along. That was their last night in Utopia when he told her he wasn't afraid of a little distance. Sure, they'd had quick visits in between here and there, but both had been busy. And she'd been so stressed. When would she have noticed? While she was giving birth?! 

Then her thoughts trailed over to holding the baby. A little girl, maybe? The same beautiful blue eyes as her father. Maybe her hair, just minus the white streak. She would have been the most precious and loved baby ever. Joining her sisters and brother. But now… the tears flowed freely, again.

Magneto exited the bathroom, fully dressed, minus his shoes. He was going to meet Kitty in an hour to go over the applications for the new faculty. He noticed Rogue was lying on her side, cradling her stomach. She looked beautiful like that. Then he noticed the sob she just heaved. Padding quickly over to the bed, climbing in behind her, gathering her up in his arms, he held her while she cried. 

“It's muh fault she's not here!” She cried.

“Shshsh, no, no, no. We talked about this, my love. You are not at fault. You didn't know,” kissing her head, it alarmed him that she had gendered the baby. That wasn't anything they'd discussed. 

“It is! She's gone and it's all my fault!” She clung to her lover. He was her source of comfort and solace. When the world dropped out from under her last week, he had been there, and he was still there. Holding her, while she came to terms with this loss. 

Kissing her temple, Magneto takes a breath, “Liebchen, just breathe for me. Please.”

They lay there, holding each other, crying, letting out their emotions. 

******

“I apologize for my tardiness,” Magneto sat across from Headmistress Pryde in her office. 

“Erik, it's all right. You and Rogue are going through a difficult time right now. Rachel informed me that you both were resting, and we put two and two together. We don’t even need to do this right now.” She gave him a sympathetic smile. When they’d told her about the miscarriage, she told Rogue to take as much time as she needed. Next thing she knew, Erik was handing her the schematics and passcodes for the updated security system, and he was making suggestions on improvements for the school. He'd also asked her if it would be ok, that if Rogue decided to stay, that he could stay on as a physics teacher. It surprised her, to say the least. 

“Rogue needs proper rest without me fretting over her like a nursemaid. This should not take long, so I can go and check on her. It is also the least I can do for you, allowing me to stay here, offering me room and board.” Magneto took a folder from the desk labeled applicants.

Kitty sighed, chuckling. “Always working, Erik?” 

“Not as much as I could be right now. This is more of a distraction, and will serve as one for Rogue when we talk later.”

“You know you don't have to worry about room and board, right? With me in charge, you're covered for life. I still owe you for giving me my life back,” Kitty reaches a hand across the desk and places it over his. “As far as I'm concerned, regardless if you and Rogue are together, there will be a place for you here, always.”

He considered her words for a minute. “You're serious? You think you owe me for bringing you home?” He watches as she nods her head. “Dear child, you owe me nothing. I am appreciative of the gratitude, but you owe me nothing. You are a mutant, and one of my sisters, in more ways than one.”

“We'll agree to disagree, ok.” He seemed satisfied with that. “Now, the Language Arts teachers are all mutants, and pretty qualified…”

*****

Gambit stood outside Rogue's door, flowers in hand. He was still nervous about seeing her, feeling the guilt in his part of her injuries. Finally finding the courage, he knocks on the door gently. After a minute it opens, revealing Magneto on the other side. 

“Ah, LeBeau. We wondered when you would make an appearance. She is resting, but please, come in,” the older mutant opened the door all the way, making way for Gambit.

“If she be sleepin’ I come back later. No need ta disturb her,” he wasn't looking forward to talking to Magneto by himself. 

“No, I insist. Please, the flowers, place them on the nightstand,” he indicated the one near where Rogue lay. 

“Ok,” he walked in quietly, seeing Rogue sleeping peacefully, her head bandaged still. He did take note that she looked like she'd been crying. Going to the nightstand, he rests the flowers down on a space, near other flowers and a notepad, as Magneto closes the door. Gambit couldn't help but notice Rogue's beautiful handwriting on the pad, listing… baby names?

“Uh…?” Gambit stumbled over his words a bit. He couldn't help but stare at the notepad. 

Magneto sighed deeply. McCoy had suggested that maybe it would help Rogue if she went through some names for the baby, and named it. It had been too early to determine the gender, but Rogue insisted it had been a girl. The evidence of that exercise was there on the nightstand. This was a conversation he did not want with Gambit.

“Rogue is pregnant?” Gambit finally looked over at Magneto. The look on his face was confusing. It was a blend of sorrow and something else. 

Might as well get it out of the way, “She was.”

Was? She was? Meaning she wasn't anymore. That meant… “Non!” Came out in a harsh whisper. “Non! Dat woul' mean she lost it when… non!” Remy LeBeau gave Magneto a mournful look. 

“Neither of us were aware,” Magneto spoke carefully. He didn't want to cry or give in to his anger. Honestly, he did not blame Gambit for what happened. But it would be so easy to use him as a scapegoat. “Had we been, things would have been approached much differently.” 

“Je suis tellement désolé. De Gambit did not know. Tings ben differrent had I known,” Remy started crying. 

Magneto shocked Gambit with his next action. He put a hand on his shoulder, “LeBeau, I know. You have been steadfast in your friendship with Rogue. I know you helped her when Logan decided to be difficult with her. I know you have been there when I could not. I do not doubt that any part you took in her injuries last week were all accidental. So does she.”

“But de bébé? Dat is no so unforgivable, non?” 

“Whatever we do or say is not going to bring the child back. All we can do now is be there for Rogue. She is taking this especially hard. I am… beginning to worry. McCoy believes it may have to do with her head injury. That may be so.” He peers over at the sleeping form of his lover. The medicine that Rachel had brought up was doing its job. Rogue was sleeping through their conversation. “Come sit.”

Magneto led him over to the sitting area Rogue had set up, where she and Rachel usually spent time. The two men sat down in the plush chairs, collecting themselves. 

“Wha’ she nee’ from me? Remy do what he can ta help Rogue.”

“Be her friend, as you have been. Be here for her especially when I cannot. I do not know if this is where we will stay, I have left that up to her after she is healed. If we do, and I am called elsewhere, it will be a comfort to know that she has you at her back.” Magneto knew full well that Rogue could take care of herself. But he began reevaluating a few things about her and their relationship. Things he hadn’t considered before. Like emotional support. Rachel read him the proverbial riot act about that. Noticing that she was indeed thriving with it, even considering her reactions to the miscarriage, this was something he considered talking to Gambit about.

“O'course. Gambit a'ways has Rogue's back. I be dere fer her. No matter where she be.” 

“Good. We are appreciative of this.” Magneto looked like he had a weight lifted off of him. “It should also go without saying that the news of the baby is mine and Rogue's to share.”

“Gambit gotcha. No’ a word from him ‘bout it.” He pretended to zip his lips, causing Magneto to roll his eyes. 

*****

A few weeks later Rogue was given a clean bill of health. She and Magneto found themselves in Headmistress Pryde's office, ready to discuss the future. 

“I wish I could convince you both to stay,” Kitty was genuine in her sentiment. Rogue is an old friend, and Magneto makes himself indispensable around the school. It seemed once word got around that he was present on the campus, very few wanted to actually mess with the school. 

“Ah'm sorry Kitty, really. But, we need this. Muh body is healed, but muh mind and soul ain't. Some time away from ev'rybody will do me some good,” Rogue smiled, but it was empty. She felt normal, but it was almost robotic in how she responded and reacted to everyone. Everyone, but Magnus that is. 

“As I've stated before, where Rogue goes, so do I,” Clutching her hand tightly, Magnus hoped that Rogue felt the encouragement he was sending her. Felt how proud he was of her. She needed time. Yes, their people needed them. However, after hard lessons learned, he knew she needed a respite or things would not end well for her. And that would not do. 

“Is it a secret where you two are going?” Kitty asked.

“No. Ah thought maybe we oughta go back to where it started for us. We're headin’ for the Savage Land.” 

Magneto had kept up with his Citadel base, even made some improvements on it, and offered it up when Rogue had mentioned wanting to go back to the Savage Land. The light in her eyes when he told her gave him hope that it was the right decision. 

“Oh. Ok. You both will keep in touch, right?”

“That is the plan, Katherine. I have already talked to Scott, that if an emergency arises and we are needed, do not hesitate to call us. We will not be completely out of contact,” Magneto assured her.

“Good. Because I will miss you guys. Rogue, you are indispensable when it comes to the kids. We can't afford to lose you. But, I completely understand you needing time,” turning to Magnus, Kitty continues, “I know you will make sure you both are well rested and cared for while you are away. And the offer still stands for you to come back here. As long as I am Headmistress, it's an open invitation, Erik.” 

“Kitty, you have no idea how much that means,” Rogue is teary-eyed, unable to finish her sentence. 

“Just because my counterpart is a hardheaded idiot, it doesn't mean I am,” She winks. 

[nulfaga]

idk why i am so compelled to write about marriages slowly breaking down even tho the couple love each other (nothing thicker than a knife's blade separates love from etc etc). do i call this the john darnielle instinct

[snackugaki]

one orrrr

two?

[manglam-marfach]

dyke!Chilaios has me understanding breeding kink all of a sudden

[lunarharp]

Very important conferences.

[july-19th-club]

forced myself to finish this book even though by the last hundred pages or so all i was doing was picking apart the post-catholicism of it all. bc i feel like it's important to read shit you don't gel with . just because. even though the whole way through i was like they HAVE to prove it's not real. they HAVE to. so not the point of any of it but i was desperate for them to Find The Body etc. and of course instead they have mystical time travel experiences and all that because that is the kind of book the actual star is but i was desperate for them to realize that the star you see is the actual star. and then it wasn't