#at LEAST until I finish what I’m doing with it now
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mrspiastri · 2 days ago
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7. “I was trying to play it cool, but then you smiled, and now I’m a lost cause.” with Charles Leclerc + friends to lovers pls
charles leclerc x reader
prompt 7. “I was trying to play it cool, but then you smiled, and now I’m a lost cause.”
💌💌💌
Charles was in trouble.
Had been, for a while now.
He had always been good at keeping his cool. At least, that’s what he told himself every time Y/N did something that made his heart race—like the way she absentmindedly ruffled his hair when she thought it needed fixing, or how she switched effortlessly between French and Italian when she got excited. They had been friends for years, their bond built on playful banter, late-night drives, bickering over who had better music taste and the kind of trust that felt unshakable.
It had always been easy. Simple.
Until it wasn’t.
He wasn’t sure when it happened—when the way he saw Y/N shifted from best friend to the only person who could ruin me with a smile. Maybe it was that night in Italy when they got caught in the rain, both laughing as she pulled him into the downpour. Or maybe it was the time she fell asleep on his shoulder during a long flight, trusting him completely, her head tucked against his neck.
Or maybe it was always meant to be like this.
Either way, he was screwed.
Because she was still looking at him like he was just her best friend, and all he wanted to do was tell her that she was everything.
Tonight, they were at his apartment in Monaco, curled up on the couch after dinner, a movie playing in the background that neither of them were watching. Y/N had her legs tucked beneath her, wearing one of his hoodies—one she had stolen months ago and never returned.
“Okay, serious question,” she said, turning to face him. “If I was in a life-or-death situation, do you think you’d save me first or finish your race?”
Charles scoffed, feigning offense. “Chérie, I would abandon my car mid-lap if you so much as stubbed your toe.”
She laughed, the sound bright and sweet, but he wasn’t joking. Not even a little.
Y/N shook her head. “You’re ridiculous.”
“You love it.”
She grinned, nudging him playfully. “Maybe a little.”
He didn’t mean to stare. He really didn’t. But she looked so effortlessly beautiful—her hair falling messily around her face, her lips slightly parted as she smiled at him like he was her favorite person in the world.
And maybe that was why he said it.
“I was trying to play it cool,” he admitted, voice soft, “but then you smiled, and now I’m a lost cause.”
The teasing light in her eyes dimmed. She blinked, her lips parting slightly in surprise. “Charles-“
“I mean it, Y/N.” He exhaled, running a hand through his hair. His voice was quieter now, steadier.
“I’ve been trying to pretend I don’t feel this way. That we’re just friends. But then you look at me, and everything I’ve been trying to ignore—” He shook his head, a small, almost embarrassed laugh escaping.
“It doesn’t work. It never works.”
She didn’t say anything for a moment, just looked at him with something unreadable in her gaze. Then, without warning, she shifted closer, her fingers curling into the fabric of his hoodie. “You’re an idiot,” she murmured.
He froze. “What?”
She rolled her eyes, but her voice was impossibly soft when she spoke again. “For thinking I don’t feel the same way.”
And just like that, his heart completely gave out.
He barely had time to react before she kissed him, her hands sliding into his hair, pulling him closer. Charles let out a shaky breath against her lips, his arms wrapping tightly around her like he had been waiting for this forever. Because he had.
When they finally broke apart, Y/N was smiling, her forehead resting against his. “Took you long enough.”
Charles let out a breathless laugh, pressing another soft kiss to the corner of her mouth. “Mon amour, I think I’ve loved you forever.”
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melioraskz · 2 days ago
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Birthday girl (what they got you for your birthday!)
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︶⊹︶︶୨୧︶︶⊹︶︶⊹︶︶୨୧︶︶⊹︶
A/N : so a couple of days ago (on the same day as a certain maknae in fact) was my birthday and I wanted to write this silly thing in celebration, however !!! God has better plans for me because I for the flu and was dead in bed for literally the entire weekend and half of this week which lead to me essentially having to postpone writing this until now !!! Funsiessss
Warnings : mentions of pet names, mentions of sex, fluffy skz
Pairings : ot8 x (fem) reader
︶⊹︶︶୨୧︶︶⊹︶︶⊹︶︶୨୧︶︶⊹︶
Chan :
Chan is a simple guy, keeping it classic, a pretty necklace with a heart on, if it was silver, gold or any other metal is simply decided depending on what you usually prefer, which he of course knows what you wear, he knows you like the inside of his glove ! Even if he knew you’d love the necklace he was probably sweating his balls off in nervousness giving it to you, his ears a pink shade whilst a big goofy smile on his mouth the entire time.
“Happy birthday, babygirl”
“Thank you, Chris”
Lee Know :
Now our guy Minho would probably give you an experience, most likely a trip to a cabin somewhere near a mountain where you two could be alone, far away from the stress of your ordinary life and a place where he can take a deep breath whilst having all his senses focused on you. You’d spend your birthday fishing, having a dinner in front of a bonfire and finishing the evening with sex in front of said bonfire, all his focus on you and only you.
“Happy birthday, y/n”
“Thank you, you really made it special, Minho”
Changbin :
Changbin is loud and doesn’t do anything halfway, he would not only host a party with all your friends and mutual friends with a giant cake for you to blow out all the one hundred candles off, but he would probably buy up a whole store for you, you’d get everything from soaps to dresses and even seven different flower bouquets! He’d be so proud too and wanting to show off how proud he is of you all night, you’re truly the star of the show.
“Changbin, honey… you already gave me flowers an hour ago?”
“So what!? I can only spoil my girl once a year like this! Happy birthday, baby”
Hyunjin :
Hyunjin would probably gift you a painting he has made himself, I mean he is an artist after all. It would be a portrait of you two, he’d use a couple photos he had on his phone for reference so the portrait is a completely unique piece which would have taken him at least a couple of months to put together into perfection! When you unwrap the painting your eyes would tear up, he really saw you this beautiful? It was perfect and would definitely be hung up in your home for all family and friends to witness how talented your amazing boyfriends is.
“It’s beautiful, thank you so much, baby”
“I’m so glad you like it, happy birthday, my love”
Jisung :
Jisung wrote you a song. It wasn’t planned to happen, he was at the studio one day, trying to compose another work for the team when his phone lit up, a message from you asking if he wanted to get dinner after your shift ended, after answering a happy yes to your suggestion he caught himself looking at his wallpaper a bit longer than usual, a photo of you two, smiling. You’re taking a selfie on his phone with a silly filter, kissing his cheek… oh he is smiling to himself and that’s when the idea hits him, of course? He had been stuck with what to get you for weeks now and he had it right in front of him! When it’s the big day and he press play you start to fully cry half way through which makes the poor boy panicking, pausing as he tries in panic to calm you down.
“I’M SO SORRY I JUST WANTED TO GIVE YOU A GOOD BIRTHDAY GIFT I’M SO SORRY I-“
“Han Jisung shut the fuck up and continue with the song before I have a mental breakdown, it’s so beautiful, thank you, I love you so much”
Felix :
Not only is Felix the only member that would actually bake you his own cake in your favourite flavour, but also would make you dinner (or takeout if he fails with the dinner as baking seems to be his strongest weapon in the kitchen). He would probably sneak into your home when you’re at work to set everything in motion, bringing bags of all the ingredients along with a huge bouquet of red roses that he would arrange in a vase of yours prettily on the dining table for you. When you come home from your work, you honestly forgot all about the special day in question he is already waiting in your kitchen, dimmed lit with candles and a romantic dinner setting whilst singing happy birthday to you.
“Happy birthday, my dear”
“Thank you��� I can’t believe you made all of this!”
Seungmin :
He is a classic guy I feel, he’d also get you a piece of jewellery like chan, I feel more graduated towards earrings if you’ve got your ears pierced, something simple and pretty like pearl earrings. He would act so casually when he gift you them, like it’s nothing special but in reality he would be having a panic attack in the inside, wanting you do desperately to love his gift. After all he truly wanted this day to be perfect for you.
“They’re beautiful, seungmin! Thank you so much”
“Oh it’s nothing, I’m glad you liked them”
I.N
Now this guy would be panicking weeks ahead of your birthday, asking his members what the hell you give a girlfriend on their birthday! After everyone’s input he would eventually settle for a huge teddy bear, some of your favourite snacks along with a perfume, a scent he specifically picked out for you because he thought it would suit you. He would have forced one of his members to tag along to the mall and be his advisor for that day, both of their noses numb from all the smelling until they found the perfect one.
“Thank you so much, jeongin. I love it!”
“You love it? Really? Happy birthday!”
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fairyhaos · 22 hours ago
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❖ moonstruck // kim mingyu
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mingyu x f!reader, 2.2k+ words
tags: sculptor!mingyu, muse!yn, pining, ambiguous relationship, fluff, angst, mingyu is Down Bad
notes: title + vibes taken from moonstruck by enhypen cz it fits the feel that i was going for :P forgive me bc i know nothing ab sculpting/muses but i just had to write a fic where yn is devastatingly gorgeous and this js fit so well <3 happy valentines day!
summary: mingyu is a sculptor, and you are his muse.
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When Mingyu arrives at his studio that morning, he finds you already there, lounging around like you own the place.
"Oh, sweetheart, you're late again. What's it gonna take for me to make you finally come on time? A kiss, maybe? A promise of a date?" You smile at him mischievously, eyes glittering in the morning light.
You're watching him amusedly, arms tucked behind your head, resting comfortably on the sofa on the other end of the studio. This is not necessarily a surprising sight: despite the fact that you do not, actually, own the place, it’s still common for you to be there before he arrives, playing with the various clay creations lining the walls or dangling your feet over the edge of the sofa, waiting for him to clock in for the day.
Mingyu scrunches his nose, and does not respond to the latter half of what you said.
“I’m really not late,” he says, setting down his bag and hanging his coat up by the door. “You’re just early.”
You hum contemplatively, kicking your feet out and crossing your ankles over the armrest on the other end of the sofa. The cracking, coppery leather grumbles discontentedly at your movement, but you hardly notice, stretching leisurely like a cat.
“Maybe. Or maybe time is a construct, and neither of us are early or late.”
Mingyu blinks at you, tilting his head. “It’s not even 10. Let’s not talk philosophy until at least 3 in the afternoon, please.”
You laugh at that, silvery and light, watching from your place on the sofa as Mingyu begins setting up his sculpting supplies for the day. 
“Whatever pleases you, my dear Mingyu,” you say, words lilting melodically with teasing. “As your muse, it’s my duty to be as pleasing to you as possible, after all.”
Mingyu just rolls his eyes, used to your teasing. “Of course,” he says dryly. “Though I’m afraid it’s debatable just how good you are at that, though.” He laughs when you huff in indignation, before pulling out his sketchbook. “You saw the sketches I sent you last night, right? Is there anything you want to comment on, or should we start right away?”
───────────── 🏛
You are Mingyu’s muse.
It sounds horribly cheesy, and definitely makes you sound like the romantic interest in some sort of historical-royal-heart wrenching-romance-novel, but he literally means you’re his artistic muse.
This wasn’t always the case. You weren’t always solely his—a few years back, you’d simply been one of the hired models for a class he’d taken back at university. But he’d been utterly mesmerised by you, and so in awe of your beauty that it must have shown on his face, because you’d always catch his eye as he worked, an elusive little smile in your eyes, like you knew exactly how he felt. 
And then one thing led to another, and suddenly he was meeting you outside of classes, and then he was seeing you even when that particular project had finished, and then he was still sculpting you after he’d graduated, and then, and then, and then…
And then here he is, now. 
It’s still something he can’t wrap his head around, even so many years later. How these one-on-one sessions started. How you became his official muse.
“This better turn out amazing, because my arm’s cramping up really badly right now,” you say, voice strained from having your head tilted back for so long, and Mingyu laughs.
“You’re the one who suggested this position,” he says, pencil lightly tracing your form onto paper. “I don’t think you get the right to complain.”
“I have plenty of right to complain,” you argue, opening one eye to glare at him. Mingyu just grins toothily back. “Ugh, whatever. Just hurry up, okay?”
“Hey, you can’t rush art,” Mingyu teases, but he finds his fingers complying anyway, taking longer, sweeping arcs of graphite against the page. He’s almost finished, anyway, with this pose being a lot easier than some others that he’s put you in before. Yet in some ways, it’s going to be even harder for him to complete.
He has you wrapped in swathes of silk, sat on the floor with your legs out in front of you, the cream fabric slipping off your shoulder slightly. You’re leaning back on one arm, the side of your head resting on your shoulder, face tilted upwards as if soaking in the sunlight, eyes shut and eyelashes fluttering gently against your cheeks.
The long, horizontal line of your body makes this a relatively easier art piece than ones he’s attempted before, and while the folds of silk are going to be tricky, that’s not what he’s worried about.
You look so… delicate. 
“Okay, let’s take a break,” Mingyu says, when he sees your arm beginning to shake. It’s not a hard pose, but he knows that keeping one position for too long puts strain on the best of people.
You groan with relief, relaxing your arm and flopping to the floor. “Thank God. Any longer and I would’ve definitely collapsed. Turned into a heap on this floor.”
Mingyu hums, adding further details to his sketch. “I think you already did. Don’t worry, sweetheart, you look pretty even as a heap on the floor.”
He can almost hear your eye roll, and he laughs, looking up from the paper to take in your disgruntled expression, only for the laughter to catch in his throat.
There’s no sign of annoyance on your face, and now he’s looking at you, he doubts you rolled your eyes either. Instead, your expression is strangely unreadable, eyes half-lidded, strands of hair falling across your face like curls of ribbons, lips softly pursed. Lying on the floor like that, hair and silk pooling around you as you blink slowly at him, you look like some sort of nature deity, watching him and observing countless things that Mingyu can hardly even begin to understand.
You’re gorgeous. 
Mingyu knows this—it’s why you’re his muse—but the realisation always makes his heart stick in his throat when he remembers. 
You’re still looking at Mingyu, gaze as dark as molasses, smoky and sweet and pulling him in, making his hands shake and his pulse sound loudly in his ears.
And then you smile, cheeky and playful once more.
“Oh, thank you so much, I’m glad you think so, honeybun,” you say, full of mock-relief, and Mingyu has to blink to remember what you’re thanking him for. “I knew I could always count on you to find me beautiful.”
You dramatically fling your arm over your eyes as you say this, the perfect image of a romantic, distressed maiden having their feelings reassured by the hero, before peeking out from under the back of your hand to flutter your lashes and smile at him.
And Mingyu knows this is an act, that this is just you teasing, but it’s a lot more difficult to tell that to his heart.
“What’s for lunch, by the way?” you ask, taking your arm away from your face. “I’m hungry.”
Mingyu swallows thickly, avoiding your gaze, not wanting you to see every thought written across his face. “It isn’t even lunch time yet. Why are you already hungry?”
“Hey, don’t deny me my right to eat,” you complain, subconsciously smoothing down the silk that’s wrapped around your body. Mingyu sighs internally, already anticipating the hassle he’s going to have to go through to get the folds to sit how they were before. “Modelling for you is hard work, you know.”
Mingyu just hums dryly. “Whatever you say. Unfortunately, break time’s up now, so you’re gonna have to eat later.”
You whine in annoyance, but make no move to resist when Mingyu stands up, walks over and begins rearranging the silk around you again. “Fine. For the sake of art, I guess I’ll go hungry. I’ll be the true tortured artist, or something.”
“Quit the dramatics. We’ll eat when it’s actually lunch time.”
“How about in ten minutes’ time?”
“No.”
“Twenty?”
“No.”
“Fine. You drive a hard bargain, Kim Mingyu.”
───────────── 🏛
So what exactly is it about you that made you his muse?
It’s a question that Mingyu gets asked a lot. By his parents, by his customers, by his friends: none of whom can ever truly understand what a muse is when it comes to art.
You’re not just a really pretty person. To Mingyu, you are—everything. You are beauty, passion, vivacity, intricacy, warmth, cold, colour, light, dark, fear, danger, happiness, love. Looking at you makes his heart twist in his chest, makes his head feel faint and dizzy, makes his eyes burn like he’s been staring right at the sun.
He doesn’t know why. He doesn’t know how. But being with you, looking at you, makes him feel so heart-wrenchingly alive, skin buzzing with the need to carve your visage onto paper, into clay, into stone, to keep you with him forevermore.
It shouldn’t be possible for one simple human to make him feel like this. And yet…
Mingyu has to pause from where he’s bent over your face, the proximity and his thoughts making his hands begin to shake. It’s not actually your face that’s in front of him right now—rather, it’s your face that he’s currently chiselling out of marble—but even just thinking of you and being inches away from something that he’s making to look just like you causes him to act like this. 
But there’s just something so terrifyingly intimate about his craft, about bringing your features out from cold stone, breathing life into the lifeless. 
“Why do you do what you do?” you’d asked him once, back when he was still at uni, back before you were his official muse, and he was struggling through charcoal sketches for an assignment he’d been putting off for days. That was, until you’d offered to model for him, and suddenly, the ideas flowed smoothly onto the page. 
(You’ve always been his muse, since day one.)
He’d looked up from his smudged fingers, watching you sit in front of him, backlit by the soft sunlight streaming in from the window. It made you look like you were glowing, gentle light emanating from your skin in a delicately beautiful way. Not as blinding as the sun, but something softer.
Moon-like.
You take his breath away, and Mingyu had ended up stuttering out some ridiculous answer that he can’t even remember anymore, but thankfully, you seemed to accept it, going back to posing in the pensive position you’d been in before.
If he were to answer the question now, without you here to steal all his words, the answer would be rather simple.
Because he loves it.
Carefully, Mingyu brushes a dusty finger over the jagged profile he’s carved into the marble. The edges are too sharp, the slope of your cheek too unrefined, but Mingyu’s heart only swells in anticipation and adoration for what he knows the finished product will resemble. 
It’s electrifying, seeing what he can bring to life. Like a mad scientist, an obsessed genius, he wonders how far he can go. What things he can make with his bare hands.
Whether he can truly make something that is so very you.
You’d been here earlier to model some more, but you’re gone now, busy meeting up with friends. You don’t normally come in to pose once he has a project fully underway, but he always asks you to come when he starts doing the face properly. Just in case he gets anything wrong.
(It’s all an excuse to spend more time with you, however. He knows your face so well from how often it’s appeared in his dreams, and from how it's carved in his brain.)
“Please try to make it a little bit like me, this time,” you’d teased, eyes shining like twin stars. 
Mingyu had simply laughed, waving you off. “Come on, my sculptures always look plenty like you.”
“Nonsense. None of them ever come close to the absolute perfection that I am.”
It had been a joke, but Mingyu had found himself looking up as you gave him a wave and then walked out without a second glance. He’d watched you go, watching the trail of moonlight you left behind in your wake, soft-scented and silver-lined.
There’s some truth to your words, however. Nothing he’s made has ever come close to perfectly replicating the warmth of your skin, the sweetness of your smile, the light that you exude just by simply being.
You’re so magnetic, a bewitching push-and-pull he can't back out of, endlessly drawing Mingyu in towards you like he’s hopelessly locked in your orbit and cannot even think of breaking away. 
That kind of thing is near-impossible to replicate. But, if it’s for you…
“This time, I’ll get it,” he promises to the empty studio. His words ring about the room like a bell, reverent and full of conviction.
Mingyu looks down at your half-finished face, still rough around the edges, but the curve of your lips looking oh-so smooth. With a shaking hand, he traces over the shape of your mouth, imagining how soft your real lips would be, how the tip of his thumb would press into the plushness of it.
Would you let him press his lips to yours in this way? Would you accept such an act of devotion?
Or would you slip away from his grasp, elusive as moonlight, ghosting over his senses before disappearing without a trace?
He doesn’t know. He really doesn’t know.
Swallowing down his heart, Mingyu takes his hand away from your face, avoids your eyes, and carries on with his work.
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fics tags: @jeonginssa @weird-bookworm @minhui896 @slytherinshua @haowrld @belladaises @moonlitskiiies @mirxzii @zozojella @kawennote09 @a-wandering-stay @abibliolife @wonranghaeee @icyminghao @sweet-like-caramel @your-yxnnie @odxrilove @kyeomyun @crackedpumpkin @kellesvt @eightlightstar @onlyyjeonghan @aaniag @starshuas @raevyng @isabellah29 @hrts4hanniehae @mcu-incorrect @dokyeomkyeom @suraandsugar @tulsa24 @melodicrabbit @dokyeomkyeom @hopeless-foolery
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hoo-n-i-ki · 3 days ago
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Cold One. (Chapter 3)
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Only when death looms do regrets surface.
PAIRING - Volturi!Riki x Cullen!fem!reader
GENRE - Twilight AU
CHAPTER WC - 7337
WARNINGS - Vampires, shapeshifters, graphic violence, cursing, plot heavy. Mentions of death + organized crime. Brief cameo of villain shapeshifter Enhypen. (This is a complete work of fiction and is in no way a representation of Riki or Enhypen).
☽✦✧†✧✦☾✦✧†✧✦☽✦✧†✧✦☾✦✧†✧✦☽✦✧†✧✦☾
Once the shock wears off, Misora lunges at her brother.
At the Mind Stealer. At the most devastating angel—despite the eyes of a demon.
You watch as your new best friend moves, driven by over a century of pain. She slams into him with all her inhuman strength, knocking him back, snarling like a feral creature.
And the Volturi guard? He stands as he is, and takes it, despite the likelihood that he could overpower her.
“You left us!” She roars, but her voice is ragged. “We thought you were dead! We thought the Yakuza killed you after you stole all that blood money and left it on our doorstep!”
“I’m sorry.” His apology drips with sincerity. But his words fall onto deaf ears.
“But in reality—this is where you were? Off playing assassin for those parasites? Do you know what you did to mom? If you thought she lost it when she lost her husband, you should’ve seen her when she lost her son.” She laughs bitterly, a cackle so loud it sends the birds flying off the treetops. “She used up part of the money you left us to throw you an elaborate sōshiki, to honor you, and even though there was no body, she cried at your memorial stone for weeks.
“Weeks, Puppeteer, weeks!”
Misora starts screaming. Actual, gut-wrenching screams.
And him? If vampires could cry…
“Jasper, how about you calm her down?” Carlisle whispers to him on your side of the clearing.
“Let them keep going,” Edward interrupts. “He deserves it for using his power against Bella 19 years ago. Any Volturi bastard deserves it.”
“But he’s with us, now.” Carlisle says.
“No he isn’t. He’s with Misora. And…” Edward throws a momentary glance at you, almost contemplative or confused. But he doesn’t finish his sentence.
“I only left to protect you from myself, I swear—“
She punches him, square in the stony jaw.
“Don’t you dare. Don’t you dare swear a single thing to me, because I’ll never believe you, anymore.” Her chest heaves. “You swore that our family would always be together. But guess what? You left. You’re not even the son our parents raised, anymore. Mom, dad, Konon, they’re all gone.” She lifts her arms in exasperation. “I was almost gone, and I was excited to finally see my big brother again, but I got hit with the curse that you so openly embrace.”
He kneels.
“Miso, please, hear me out.”
“I will never,” her voice breaks, “ever be your Miso again!”
She starts shouting in Japanese, but he simply watches with furrowed brows.
It’s like he… forgot his mother tongue during his time with the Volturi.
He lost his identity.
She keeps going. He keeps kneeling. The Cullens keep curiously watching.
And you keep wishing to intervene. But it’s not your place.
Until Misora’s voice tires, and finally stops. She stares at him for a while, heartbreak radiating off of her skin. She recognizes her brother, but she doesn’t know him at all.
She turns to re-enter the Cullen house, you follow her, and the Cullens follow you.
You turn to the angel one last time, and he’s still on his knees with his eyes cast downwards.
The family tries to calm down Misora by giving her a bag of O-.
“(Y/N)?” Esme turns to you with the second blood bag in hand.
You shake your head. You haven’t drank in a week. You feel weak, but you don’t wanna give in—not to human blood, at least.
There’s nothing wrong with you that you’re so unable to ingest animal blood, whereas the Cullens are able to.
Right?
“No, thank you. I wanna give animal blood a try again.”
Esme nods with a sympathetic smile. “Just drink this so you can be strong enough to hunt with us next time, then?”
You sigh and take it with a grateful nod.
A couple sips. Just a couple sips.
Hm.
It’s not as warm as it is fresh—straight from the source—but it still has the sweetness no deer or mountain lion can replicate.
Your fingers tighten around the bag and your fangs ache the more it floods every single one of your senses.
It’s an addiction, but you can control it. You can. You have to—because you refuse to relive that shame.
You tell yourself that this is just closure. Just one last drink. You certainly need it in more ways than one.
It’s just so easy.
But you’re (Y/N) (Y/L/N). You’ve never chosen the easy way out—so when you’re done, you force yourself to pull it away for the final time, even as your throat burns as though it’s upset at saying goodbye.
Misora turns to you. “You’re sure you can do the deers with the sliminess in their blood?”
You trade a glance, and the two of you burst into miserable laughter.
“I’m not sure about anything, anymore,” you scoff.
The two of you sit in a distracted silence whilst the Cullens split off—washing away the remnants of the morning. So you take the opportunity to slip outside.
You weave your way through the trees, feet silent against the damp earth. Something in your gut tells you he’s still here. It’s not logic—it’s instinct. A quiet pull in your chest that you don’t quite understand. You don’t know why you’re doing this. You don’t know him. His scent isn’t familiar like the Cullens’ or Misora’s—it doesn’t pull at any memories or feelings of safety.
And yet, there’s something about him. Something magnetic. Something that urges you forward, despite every rational part of you telling you to turn back.
And then you see him.
Riki kneels at a small creek’s edge, staring into the water like it might hold all the answers he’s lost. His reflection wavers, distorted by the gentle current, but he doesn’t move. He’s unnervingly still—too still, even for a vampire. And his cloak is discarded on the ground, beside him.
For a moment, you just watch.
It’s strange, isn’t it? That you followed him here. That your feet carried you straight to him. You shouldn’t be here. He was sent to kill you, wasn’t he? And now, with Jane and Alec gone, the Volturi will come for him.
And that should scare you. It does scare you.
But you don’t turn away. Instead, you step closer.
“This place… it reminds me of home. There’s a creek behind our old neighborhood in Okayama. My sisters and I used to play there—before everything changed.”
He exhales sharply, gaze still fixed on the water.
He heard you… or maybe he felt your presence, the way you did his.
“Volterra isn’t like this. It’s stone and shadow. Cold. The only water runs through the underground tunnels, and it reeks of death.”
The sound of his voice settles into your bones the more he speaks—a deep, rich tenor that seems to hum through the air itself, and it lingers even after his words have faded.
Yet, when he speaks now, there’s a quietness to it, a vulnerability beneath the depth of his tone.
It shouldn’t be so mesmerizing. He shouldn’t be so mesmerizing.
But the way his voice brushes against your senses—it’s like gravity itself shifts, pulling you closer.
You smile softly as you near his side. “Misora never talked about her old life.”
He shrugs. “It was a tough life, I don’t blame her. And pretty sure I only ended up making it worse, no matter how much I thought I was doing good at the time.” He looks down for a couple of seconds, then back at the water. “I never spoke about it either.”
“Well, pretty sure the company you kept isn’t the type where you sit in a circle sharing secrets while you braid each other’s hair.”
He laughs.
It’s quiet at first—just a short exhale through his nose, like he’s caught off guard by the amusement creeping in. But then it deepens, a low, rich chuckle that rumbles from his chest and melts into the evening air. It’s unpolished, like he isn’t used to laughing anymore, like the sound itself has been buried beneath years of blood and duty.
And it’s… warm. Unexpectedly warm, considering everything about him should be cold. You shouldn’t be wondering how someone who has done such terrible things could sound so human when he laughs.
But you do.
He quiets down and continues. “Not just that. I didn’t want to remember, because I knew that the memories would never stop haunting me if I let myself dwell on the past. It worked… even though it was at the expense of everything I’d ever held dear to me. Until now.” He sticks a tongue in his cheek. “And now? It feels like I’m drowning in everything.”
You hesitate for a moment, studying him as he stares into the water, lost in something only he can see. His words hang between you, heavy and raw, like he’s only just realizing the weight of them himself.
And then, before you can stop yourself, you ask, “Why are you telling me this?”
His jaw flexes. For a second, you think he won’t answer. That maybe he regrets saying anything at all. But then, he exhales sharply through his nose and finally turns to look at you.
His eyes—so red, so beautiful, so unreadable—search yours like he’s trying to find the answer in them before he even speaks.
“I don’t know,” he admits, voice quieter now. “Maybe because you’re the only one who doesn’t look at me like I’m already damned.”
You nod thoughtfully, and turn to gaze at the waters, trying to see what he’s seeing.
If he was truly damned, he wouldn’t have betrayed the kings for the sake of love.
There’s humanity in there, somewhere. Perhaps you’ll be lucky enough to get to slowly uncover it as you uncover your own.
The silence you share is not awkward. It’s peace.
“You were right, by the way. I did hesitate. And maybe that cost me everything. But it feels like I gained something, instead.” He scoffs. “I definitely didn’t gain Misora back. Hell, I deserve everything she threw at me—because I don’t even know how to be a brother anymore. I just…”
You turn to face him fully, the weight of his words pressing into you. You can see the conflict in the tense set of his shoulders, the way his hands rest loosely at his sides, as if he’s unsure how to move forward.
“You got some closure?”
For a long moment, he doesn’t speak, doesn’t even move. His eyes flicker to yours, and when rubies meet bloodstains, there’s an intensity—something raw and searching.
His gaze holds you captive, and you’re not sure if you’re the one who’s getting pulled in or if it’s him. Maybe it’s both. It’s like the world itself has narrowed down to just the two of you.
“Maybe I’m just trying to figure out how to be someone who’s worth trusting again.”
You give him a tight-lipped smile. “She’ll come around. You just have to prove to her that she can trust you again. And hey, you have all the time in the world to do that, right?”
He chuckles dryly. “If Aro doesn’t kill me by tomorrow.” He shrugs. “I’m not sure she’ll be able to look past the past 200 years, though.”
“You might’ve known the Misora from back then, but I know the Misora now. I genuinely do believe she’ll forgive you one day. She might be cynical and great at holding a grudge, but she is crazy loyal. Just try to live long enough to see her loyalty, okay?” You try to laugh.
He smiles with those plump lips. “I was sent here to kill you. Why would you want me to live?”
You pause. Why indeed. “Because it would make my best friend happy, and you didn’t kill me, now did you?”
“Is that it?”
You both fall into a charged silence, and for a fleeting moment, the world feels like it’s holding its breath.
Something stirs inside you. Maybe it’s the lingering threat of danger, or maybe it’s the unspoken understanding between you two that you don’t know how to name.
You can’t hold his gaze for long. The intensity is too much, like it’s pulling you into some unknown abyss. Had you still had a beating heart, the pulse would thumping in your ears.
“I don’t know,” you finally say, your voice barely above a whisper. The truth.
He nods slowly, eyes never leaving yours, and it’s as if he understands—like he knew you didn’t have an answer, but he needed to hear you say it. For a moment, there’s nothing but the rustling of leaves in the breeze and the soft gurgle of the creek before you.
Then, you both get the urge to move at the same time. As you do, your hand brushes against his, and it’s a fleeting touch, but it’s enough to send a jolt of electricity up your spine.
You don’t pull away immediately. Your eyes flicker down to where your fingers are lightly grazing against his skin. Riki’s eyes shift to your hand, then back to your face, his expression curious. But there’s something in the way his lips twitch upward, just slightly.
You pull your hand back, awkwardly, but it doesn’t seem to matter. The connection remains, thick in the air, heavy with unspoken words.
You both start walking, and you try to fill the silence, trying to let your mind wander away from the ending conversation you just had, but it keeps coming back.
“So,” you ask, breaking the quiet, “you planning to stick around at the Cullens’ place for a while?”
Riki scoffs, his hands stuffed in his pockets as he walks beside you. “Highly doubt Carlisle would let a Volturi into his home, even if his daughter does vouch for him.”
You laugh, shaking your head. “I’m not his daughter.”
The words are out before you even think about them. But then they land heavier than you expect. You hadn’t really thought about what it meant to not have parents ever since you entered your… current state.
You slow your step, the sudden weight of the memory crashing into you. Your parents. Their deaths. The vampires who took them from you. What would they think of you now? What would they think of where you are, who you’ve become—who you’re standing next to?
The thought is suffocating, and it almost stops you in your tracks.
Riki’s footsteps falter slightly beside you, and when you glance at him, his gaze is far off, focused on nothing in particular. His brow furrows in quiet thought.
“You know,” he murmurs, “I can’t help but wonder what my parents would think of me. If they could see me now…” His voice trails off, and for a moment, it’s just the two of you once again. You’re sharing something, without ever having to say it.
You understand that neither of you can change the past, can undo what’s been done. But you both have to keep going.
You force yourself to shake off the dark thought and turn your attention back to Riki, the smile creeping back onto your lips. “Don’t worry about it. Carlisle’s good with lost causes. You’ll fit right in.”
He glances at you, that same quiet amusement flickering in his gaze.
But it falls once you step up to the edge of the property. You follow his gaze—to where his sister sits in the living room, exposed by the floor-to-ceiling windows.
“On second thought, I’ll go occupy myself with something else.” He gulps. “Thank you for your… kindness.”
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Riki walks away, and he doesn’t stop until the lights of the Cullen house disappear behind the trees.
It’s better this way—that’s what he tells himself.
But the weight in his chest doesn’t agree.
He tells himself Misora is safer without him, that she’s better off not facing the repercussions of what he’s done. He tells himself he didn’t leave because he was afraid of her reaction to seeing him again.
But that’s a lie.
He is afraid.
He saw the way she looked at him. That uncertain betrayal, like she was trying to make sense of the person in front of her. Like she didn’t recognize him.
Maybe she doesn’t. Maybe she never will again.
Because the brother she remembers—the one who looked out for her, protected her, stayed by her side—he doesn’t exist anymore.
The person standing here now?
He’s a murderer.
The words taste like blood, metallic and bitter.
He doesn’t regret it. Alec and Jane deserved to die.
But the Volturi won’t see it that way, because they don’t care the way he does. The members of the Volturi all have their mates with them, and that’s all that matters to them.
He’s never had a mate… but today struck him with the loneliness and seclusion he’s been in for 200 years, and when faced with impending death, he wishes he went about everything differently.
They’ll come for him. That much is certain. Maybe not tomorrow. Maybe not next week. But eventually.
No one kills the Guard and walks away unscathed. Not even the Volturi’s most prized possession. In fact, they’ll probably be more eager to kill him, considering his position.
He knows too much.
So why does he still feel like he lost something else, tonight, besides his life?
He exhales sharply, shaking his head.
Misora will be fine. The Cullens will protect her.
And (Y/N)…
His steps falter.
Her face flashes through his mind—eyes steady, voice unyielding. She spoke to him like he’s a person. Not just the boogie monster of vampires. He’s been somebody else for centuries, now, but for a moment… he felt like Riki Nishimura.
He laughed.
She looked at him like he was more than just his sins. Like there was still something left worth saving.
Stupid.
He scoffs under his breath, pressing forward. She’s just a reckless newborn. She doesn’t know what she’s doing. She doesn’t know him.
And yet, that brief moment with her is the only thing that doesn’t feel tainted by the rest of tonight.
His fingers twitch at his sides.
Stupid, reckless, exquisite newborn.
But none of it matters.
Not her. Not Misora. Not this useless ache in his chest.
Because soon, the Volturi will come for him.
And when they do, there won’t be anything left of him to mourn.
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Morning light filters through the trees outside, casting soft, shifting patterns on the Cullen house’s pristine walls. The peace feels deceptive—something you haven’t had since turning.
And then Rosalie, standing by the door, lets out a sharp breath.
“You’re going to want to see this,” she says, unfolding a piece of parchment.
It’s the blood-red V emblem imprinted into the wax seal. It’s the same logo on the letter itself.
You’ve seen it before, months ago in Carlisle’s office.
Back then, it was a warning about the tiger shifters. A very vague warning, because there’s nothing actually in it for them. It wouldn’t have affected them or their authority if the Cullens were killed by the Baekho clan.
This letter, though, leaves no room for interpretation.
“To the Cullen Family,
It has come to our attention that one of our own has chosen to defy us. Riki, a member of the Volturi Guard, has committed an unforgivable transgression. The breach of our laws cannot go unpunished.
We understand that he may be under your protection, but we warn you—this is not a matter to be taken lightly. His actions will have consequences, and we demand that you return him to us.
Bring us the boy.
Failure to comply will result in actions that will not be limited to just the one who defies us. You may believe yourselves untouchable, but know this: the Volturi do not make threats. We make promises.
Consider your next steps carefully.”
You’ve barely read the words before Misora’s exhale, barely more than a whisper, breaks the silence. “Riki…”.
She’s already on her feet before anyone can react, moving toward the door like she’s running on instinct.
“Where are you going?” Jasper asks, stepping into her path.
“To find him.”
You speak before you even realize it. “I’ll go with you.”
Misora hesitates for only a second before nodding.
Once outside, the cold air bites at your skin—not that you mind. You don’t speak at first, just move quickly through the trees.
But where would he go? Misora seems to be as aimless as you are.
Then you remember him at the creek. Quiet, lost in thought. So water is nostalgic to him.
“Should we try the Goldstream River?”
Misora shakes her head. “No. That doesn’t make sense. Riki isn’t… he isn’t that person anymore.”
“Then where would we find him in this entire town?”
Misora doesn’t have an answer, but this is the only idea, the only lead you’ve got.
So you run.
The forest blurs around you as you race toward the river, branches whipping past, footsteps quiet against the undergrowth. And then, finally—
There he is, in all his shimmery glory.
Riki stands at the water’s edge, arms crossed, gaze fixed on the slow-moving current. His expression is unreadable, but something about the way he holds himself—shoulders stiff, jaw tight—tells you that brain of his has not quieted down.
Misora exhales sharply, and glances at you, then back to him.
You just watch him for a moment. Misora doesn’t think he’s the same person she used to know, the brother that played with her by the water. But this is where he always finds himself.
Misora freezes, and she can’t bring herself to move closer. He’s noticing, though. You can see the red of his irises in the corner of his eyes watching, waiting, hoping.
Well, you hope that you’re enough.
“Riki,” you start, stepping forward. “You need to hear this.”
He doesn’t turn, doesn’t shift from where he stands. But you see the way his fingers twitch at his sides. He’s listening.
“The Volturi sent a letter,” you continue. “They’re demanding that we hand you over.”
Misora flinches beside you, but Riki… he just smiles. It’s small, barely there. A resigned kind of thing.
“Of course they did.” He finally turns his head to glance at you. “It was only a matter of time.”
Something about how calm he is unsettles you. There’s no panic, no urgency—just this quiet acceptance, like he’s already laid himself at the Volturi’s feet in his mind. Like he’s been waiting for this moment all along.
“You don’t have to do this,” you tell him, stepping closer. “The Cullens—Misora and I—we’re not going to let them take you.”
His gaze flickers, but he shakes his head. “You don’t understand. This isn’t a fight you can win.”
“That’s not your decision to make.” Your voice is steady, firm, and that surprises even you.
He looks at you then—really looks at you. Eyes scanning, searching, trying to figure out what the hell you’re doing standing here, offering him something no one ever has.
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“Absolutely not.”
The words hit the air like a slap, and Riki flinches, though he doesn’t show it. Edward stands rigid, his gold eyes dark with what Riki knows is a mix of disbelief and fury.
“You can’t seriously think we’re going to risk everything for you,” Edward continues, voice low and harsh. “I don’t care how much we owe Misora or care about (Y/N). We’re not going to stand by you when you’ve already made it clear how little you think of us,” Edward spits out, the words laced with a sharp edge. “All you’ve done is hurt people, Riki. You were there when the Volturi wanted to kill Renesmee. You don’t get to walk in here and expect us to fight for you.”
Expect them?
He never expected a single thing. The only thing he’s expecting is death.
It’s just that (Y/N) let him hope. He really should’ve known better.
His guardian angel who for some reason decides to speak up. “If he dies, it doesn’t change what he did. It won’t undo the blood on his hands.” She narrows her red eyes at her gold-eyed family. Because the way they stand together? This really is a family—regardless of whether or she accepts it.
And he… is envious.
“But this isn’t about the past. It’s about the present,” she continues. “I thought you guys don’t leave someone behind, not someone who needs us!”
Carlisle, who had been quiet up until now, finally speaks. “The moment that letter arrived, we were already implicated. The Volturi made that clear—we’re in this, whether we like it or not.”
The words settle over the room like a cold realization.
Still, Misora doesn’t move. She hasn’t said a single word since they returned, standing with her arms crossed, watching it all unfold. But now, finally, she steps forward.
“Why should I fight for you?” Her voice is quiet, but the bitterness in it is unmistakable. “You never fought for me during this life.”
Riki exhales slowly, his expression unreadable. “Misora…”
“You stood by and let me believe I was abandoned,” she continues, the edge to her voice sharp. “I fought to keep myself alive. I’ve already done more than I needed to by deciding to warn you.”
She laughs bitterly, but there isn’t a single glint in those crimson eyes of hers. The eyes that used to hold nothing but mischief are now all sorrow, and it’s his fault.
But like she said, she did warn him. Does she want him to live long enough to make things right?
Carlisle exhales. “I understand why none of you want to fight, and I’m not asking anyone to put themselves in danger.” His gaze lingers on Riki before moving to the others. “But that doesn’t mean we do nothing.”
“So, what?” Rosalie crosses her arms. “We just watch from the sidelines?”
“If that’s what it takes.”
Silence stretches, thick with tension.
Alice shifts, arms wrapped around herself. She looks at Riki, then at Edward, then finally at Carlisle. “I’ll try to see what Aro’s planning,” she says, closing her eyes.
Riki watches the crease form between the psychic’s brows. Her fingers twitch at her sides. Seconds pass.
Then Alice’s entire body tenses.
“I… I don’t see anything.” Her voice is barely above a whisper. Her hands curl into fists as her golden eyes snap open, wide with disbelief. “It’s blank.”
The words freeze the room.
Riki stands with his body taut, trying to plaster on that mask of indifference he had screwed onto his face back in Volterra. It would be easier to block everything out—to feel nothing and not care that no one is willing to fight for him. He wishes his sister’s bitterness didn’t pierce so hard, and didn’t remind him of all the years he let slip away. The numbness was so much safer—it prevented him from disappointments. But now? With Alice’s vision going blank? He realizes that it’s all too late.
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A week passes. A whole week, and still—nothing.
The Volturi don’t come. There’s no sign of them, no whispers of their approach, no ominous figures in the distance. Just silence.
It’s like the entire purpose of the letter was to put everyone on edge. And it worked. Even Alice, who has spent the past few days trying and failing to see anything, looks unnerved. Every conversation in the Cullen house circles back to the same thing: Why haven’t they come yet?
You don’t have an answer. No one does.
But in the meantime, you force yourself to focus on something you can control.
The animal blood still doesn’t taste right. It never will. Even the hunt doesn’t fill you with the adrenaline rush you used to chase for three whole months. But you drink it anyway, pushing past the revulsion, the longing for something richer, warmer, stronger. Every time you force it down, you remind yourself why.
You lost your way and became the very creature you resented your entire life. You let yourself forget that when you woke up with red eyes, let yourself believe the hunger was all that mattered. Even now, part of you still wonders if it’s too late—if you’ve already crossed a line that no amount of restraint can erase.
But if you can’t bring back the lives you’ve stolen, then maybe this is the least you can do.
Still, you miss it. The chase, the thrill—the way Misora used to grin at you right before the hunt began, sharp and wicked. But you hunt with the Cullens now.
Misora still chooses human blood, but she doesn’t hunt here. The Cullens made their treaty with the tiger shifters clear: no human blood within Victoria. So she vanishes for hours at a time, returning only when the hunger is sated, and you don’t ask where she goes, so that it doesn’t trigger your cravings.
Riki, on the other hand, appears to be too… dejected to hunt. He’s only drank a single blood bag so far, courtesy of Carlisle, just enough for his eyes to not turn black. But he did try out a coyote that Emmett dragged back to the lot a couple of days ago, and he didn’t look as disgusted as you’re certain you still do.
You’re perched on the back steps of the Cullen house, staring at the trees beneath the grey clouds when you hear him approach.
“You’re changing,” Riki says. His voice is quiet, not quite neutral, but close.
You glance at him. He’s standing a few feet away, hands in his pockets, eyes unreadable as they flicker over your face.
“What?”
He gestures vaguely. “Your eyes. They’re not as red as before.”
You blink, momentarily thrown off, before realization settles in. He noticed something so little. You lower your gaze, staring at your hands.
“Well.” You shrug. “I never liked the red much, to begin with.”
Riki doesn’t respond right away, and for a moment, there’s only silence between you. It’s not uncomfortable, not really. It’s just how things have been. He doesn’t seek you out, but he doesn’t avoid you either. There’s a strange in-between that you’ve both settled into—where he doesn’t push, and you don’t pry.
But now, he stays.
You glance at him from the corner of your eye. He looks as beautiful as always—messy dark hair, sharp features. And yet, something is different. Maybe it’s the way his shoulders don’t hold the same rigid tension, or how his expression isn’t completely closed off.
He almost looks… lost.
You watch as he shifts his weight, debating sitting down next to you.
Until he does.
“Is it a you hating vampirism kind of situation?” He asks calmly.
“I hate… what it reminds me of.”
You tell him everything.
Your memory of your parents’ death. The rampage you went on up until a month ago. All the while, he doesn’t judge. Certainly not the way you’d expect red-eyed royalty to—or at least, the direct subordinate of royalty. He just takes in what you have to say, the red of his eyes warm.
After a moment, he runs a hand through his soft hair. “I get it,” he says, voice quieter than before. “The whole… hating what you are thing.”
You blink, caught off guard.
He doesn’t elaborate immediately. Instead, he leans forward, resting his forearms on his knees, gaze fixed on the woods ahead. “Back in Volterra, I used to tell myself it didn’t matter. That I’d already lost everything, so what was the point of feeling bad about it?” His jaw tightens. “But then, at some point, I stopped having to tell myself. It just… was.”
“So what changed?” you ask, because clearly, something did.
He hesitates. Then, his lips curve into something that isn’t quite a smirk, isn’t quite a frown. “I saw the very reason I begged to be turned, again. I was killed, and then I was almost drained, but I begged the vampire I woke up to to save me somehow. I just wasn’t aware that by being saved, I would end up having to leave everything behind.”
You look at him, but he doesn’t meet your eyes. It’s not avoidance, exactly—it’s something else. Like he’s letting you in, just a little, but not enough to be exposed.
Little does he know, you were in a very similar position. Except you didn’t have a family to leave behind, you just had to let your career go… but in turn, you gained a family.
“I don’t wanna leave people behind, anymore, as long as they’ll have me.”
Instead, you huff a soft breath, nudging his arm. “Careful, Riki. That almost sounded sentimental.”
That earns you a glance, a glimmer of amusement in his expression. “Guess your coven rubbing off on me.”
“You wish.”
The corners of his full mouth twitch, just slightly. And you notice. You always notice. And you can’t help but stare.
But your gaze drags his to your lips, as well.
Until the creak of the door breaks you apart, so you re-enter the house.
Carlisle steps in, his footsteps a lot more… guarded than usual.
And in behind him comes Dr. Park.
You haven’t seen him in months. Since that night.
“(Y/N),” Carlisle starts, his lifted eyebrows almost telling you to be wary. “Dr. Park here wanted to check on how you were doing.”
Riki gets the hint and walks away, away from the brown-eyed man.
“Dr. (Y/L/N), how lovely it is to see you!” His tone is cheerful, but his eyes flicking between your blood orange ones are uncomfortable. Assessing.
“How are you holding up?” he asks, in a tone that suggests he’s genuinely curious—but something about it feels calculated. He gives you a sympathetic smile, but you’re in no position to trust it. “I can only imagine what a change it’s been for you, adjusting to this… new lifestyle.”
You tense, but you force a smile. “I’m managing.”
Dr. Park shifts, and though he’s trying to act casual, his body remains rigid. “I must apologize again for what happened that night… with the tiger shifters.” He holds up a hand, as if to stop you from interrupting. “I know it wasn’t just a simple accident. It was my responsibility, and I—” He pauses, then looks at you like he’s about to offer a kind gesture. “I never intended for any human to be hurt.”
He doesn’t regret attempting to kill Carlisle. He regrets the outcome.
“I’m sure you’ve been through a lot, with… everything you’ve had to give up,” Dr. Park adds, his gaze flicking to your hands briefly. “Family, friends, everything that you once were.” His words are soft, almost too soft. “But you should know that as soon as you build up your self control , if you ever want to come back…” His voice trails off, leaving a silence in the air.
Riki, standing off to the side, frowns slightly. You catch the flash of annoyance in his expression, but he says nothing. Misora, too, watches from the living room—her similar expression making her appear more like Riki’s twin than just his sister.
Carlisle steps in. “She’s doing fine, Dr. Park.”
“Of course, of course.” His smile falters for just a moment before it returns to its practiced warmth. “I just thought I’d offer my assistance.”
He turns toward the door, clearly not wanting to overstay his welcome. But his gaze lingers near the living room for a second longer than necessary.
But you might have hallucinated it.
Just like how the next day, when night falls, you start hallucinating a tiger’s roar. Because there’s no way Dr. Park would violate the treaty for no reason, right? Right?
You, the Cullens who aren’t out hunting, and Riki all share curious glances.
They heard it too.
A low, rumbling growl that wouldn’t belong to any vampire or human. It carries through the trees, deep and guttural, setting every nerve in your body on edge.
Riki hears it too. You see it in the way he tilts his head slightly, listening—then in the sharp flicker of his gaze toward the door. The two of you move almost at the same time, stepping outside alongside Carlisle and the others.
And that’s when you see them.
The tigers.
Your entire body locks up before you can stop it. The world narrows, sharpens—too bright, too loud, too familiar. The way they stand, the way their muscles coil like they’re ready—
It’s just like that night.
Your fingers curl into fists at your sides, nails biting into your skin. You try to force yourself to stay still, to ignore the way your throat tightens—but then Riki shifts.
At first, you think it’s just him moving closer to get a better look. But then, without a word, he steps in front of you.
It’s subtle. Casual, even. He doesn’t bare his teeth, doesn’t snarl like he’s challenging them—he just exists between you and them, a silent blockade.
“What is this, James?” Carlisle calls out to the woods. The man isn’t actually around, but who else could be commanding the shifters?
The amber-eyed tiger steps forward. You remember him—Jay, Dr. Park’s son. The one with icy eyes, Sunghoon. The largest, Heeseung.
And the one who attacked you, the one currently standing at the back but is the fastest, regardless. Jake.
Then shadows shift behind the tigers.
“Ah, how lovely to see you all again. I do hope we aren’t intruding.”
A voice that’s all warmth and poison.
A man you’ve never seen before steps out, with his long, brown hair and black and red coat, followed by a taller man with similarly dark hair and a blonde man.
Gasps ring out near you. Riki tenses in front of you. And you know his name right away.
Aro.
The one Misora once told you is the worst of them all. Thank goodness for her that she’s currently away from Victoria, hunting.
Alice takes a hesitant step forward, flanked by Jasper, her anchor. “So that’s why I couldn’t see you coming,” her voice shakes. “You were hiding behind shifters.”
Aro’s smile widens at that, his eyes gleaming with amusement. “Ah, dear Alice,” he muses, tilting his head slightly. “You always have been quite the gifted one. But yes, it seems our little allies here have provided quite the convenient cover.”
His gaze flickers toward the tigers, then back to you. His expression is unreadable, but the way he looks at Riki, and then you behind him—like he’s peeling back your layers, examining you from the inside out—makes your stomach churn.
The tigers remain silent, their eyes fixed on you. And you truly wish that Edward is here to read their thoughts. It’s clear they don’t like standing alongside the Volturi, but they’re tolerating it. A temporary truce.
“We have a truce with the Baekho clan.” Carlisle’s eyes flicker from the shifters to the Volturi.
“Your treaty was nullified the moment you allowed the boy and his sister to stay in your town,” Caius growls.
“And so,” Aro’s quietly delighted voice rings, “we formed our own treaty with them. Kill the red-eyed, and they’ll never have to see us in Victoria again.”
A slow, creeping chill settles into your bones.
Aro watches you carefully, but there’s something particularly pleased in the way his gaze drifts to Riki, his fascination clear.
“How curious,” Aro muses, almost to himself. “That the very one who was sent to eliminate you is now your shield.” His gaze flickers between the two of you, lingering on the way Riki’s posture remains stiff, unwavering.
Riki doesn’t move. He doesn’t react. But you can feel the tension rolling off him in waves.
Aro’s fingers twitch at his side, as if the urge to reach out and confirm what he’s seeing is almost unbearable. “Riki, Riki, Riki,” he sighs, tilting his head. “I must say, you continue to surprise me. First, you slaughter my dear Jane and Alec. Then, you desert us. And now?” His eyes gleam, lips curling upward. “You protect the very newborn you were sent to destroy.”
His voice is almost admiring, like Riki’s betrayal is nothing more than an interesting puzzle to solve.
Riki shifts slightly, but he still doesn’t move away from you. “Not my problem if you sent me on a job I didn’t finish,” he mutters. “Guess you should’ve picked someone else.”
Beside Aro, Caius stiffens, and Marcus—who has remained silent this entire time—finally lifts his gaze, watching with interest.
Aro, however, just laughs. Soft, entertained, yet there’s something razor-sharp underneath it.
“Oh, Riki,” he sighs, almost fondly. “You misunderstand.”
He takes a small step forward. Riki doesn’t back away, but you can feel the way his muscles tense.
“You didn’t just fail your assignment,” Aro continues, his voice dropping into something softer, silkier. “You abandoned your family—your true family that has been with you for centuries. You took the lives of our own.” He claps his hands together gently, though the sound is eerily hollow. “That is not something we can simply forgive.”
The threat lingers in the air like poison.
Riki still doesn’t move.
Aro hums, his gaze flickering back to you. But I must know—” His head tilts slightly, eyes narrowing in thought. “Where is your accomplice? His lovely sister?”
You keep your expression carefully neutral. You cannot let him see an ounce of concern.
Aro studies you for a moment longer, then sighs. “Ah, well. No matter. We’ll find her in time.”
His focus shifts back to Riki. And this time, the amusement slips, leaving something far colder in its place.
“You do understand, my dear boy,” Aro murmurs, voice quiet but unyielding, “that deserting the Volturi is a crime punishable by death?”
The moment Aro speaks, the air changes.
It’s subtle at first—a shift in the atmosphere, the way the trees seem to stand still, listening.
For the snarl. Low and rumbling.
The tigers move first.
Jay lunges, a blur of muscle and fur aimed straight for Riki. Thanks to his vampiric speed, he’s able to shift his weight, sending them both tumbling.
You stumble back just as Sunghoon and Jake launch forward. Jasper intercepts Sunghoon, the impact sending shockwaves through the ground, while Jake barrels toward you.
For half a second, you freeze.
Not again. Not again.
The memory punches through you—Jake lunging in the dark, his weight crushing you, claws digging in.
But then—
Riki.
He rips himself free from Jay’s grasp, and in a blink, he’s in front of you again. His fingers twitch at his sides, and the tiger freezes in the air, until he falls backwards. The massive body jerks like it’s being pulled by invisible strings, and Jake snarls, trying his hardest to to break free.
But the Puppeteer is far too practiced.
And then the Volturi join.
Caius moves first, aiming for Carlisle. He’s fast—but Carlisle sidesteps him, forcing him off balance just long enough for Alice to charge in. Jasper and Sunghoon are locked in a brutal exchange of claws and limbs, neither gaining the upper hand.
Riki is facing both Jay and Jake at once, switching between combat and his own power, since it appears two minds are his limit.
And you move.
The heavily striped one, Jungwon, comes at you, but this time, you react. He lunges, and you drop low at the last second, sweeping your leg out to knock his balance. He stumbles, and before he can recover, you slam your palm into his ribs, sending him skidding backwards.
Your hands shake, but you refuse to stop.
Until movement flickers in your periphery. Aro.
You whirl just in time to see him standing perfectly still amid the chaos, watching you, studying you.
Like he’s waiting.
You feel it before you see it. The shadow moving behind you. The air shifting.
You turn too late.
And cold fingers wrap around your throat.
☽✦✧†✧✦☾✦✧†✧✦☽✦✧†✧✦☾✦✧†✧✦☽✦✧†✧✦☾
Comment if you’d like to be tagged on the last chapter!:)
Prologue | Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Finale
@angelengene3011 @opheliaas-stuff @lizzygrantwrld @meyinyin @melzonly
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novvabee · 2 days ago
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the day you post the next chapter of the marauders band au will be the day i cry happy tears
well let those tears flow baby, new chapter is here!!! some new faces as well 🎸
The Boys in the Band
word count: 3k
cw: swearing like once, really nothing else this one is a filler until the next chapter
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You had never heard so many screams in your life. If it weren’t for your earpiece, you probably wouldn’t know what the fuck was going on. You got through your entire performance entirely by sheer adrenaline. 
These past few months had been a whirlwind. You went from performing in dive bars and opening for small artists to opening for the Emmeline Vance, the biggest pop star in the world. She has gone on five sold out world tours, has multiple number one albums, and has1 2 Ollivander Awards, the most prestigious and sought after award in all of the music industry. 
And she hand selected The Pixies to open for her on her UK leg of her newest world tour. You and the girls could not believe your luck, you were getting to play for thousands of screaming fans every week. These fans were of course there to see Emmeline, but the longer you toured with her, the more the fans learned all the words to your songs and were screaming them back at you. Some of the fans in the audience were there solely because The Pixies were there, and that was what amazed you and the girls. 
You had grown your fan base in this short time, and had gotten enough attention to land you in the spot you’re in now. 
“London, you have been absolutely amazing tonight!” you shouted into your pink microphone. You were met with screams and applause, enough to make your chest rumble with the sound. “We have one last song for you, then we can all enjoy some Emmeline!”
You chuckled as the sound grew impossibly louder, the crowd all adorned in bright colors, tassels and sparkles. Your kind of people.
“So, this last song is probably the one you’ll know, even if you don’t know who we are, you have definitely heard this song.” You said into the mic, trying to drown out the noise of the crowd as you made your way center stage. You caught a glimpse of yourself on the screen amplifying your image to the crowd and smiled. This, you could definitely get used to this, the crowd, the stage, the lights, the production of it all. Hell, there was even a VIP section in the front row. You made eye contact with a few actors and actresses that you had idolised for years, high fived a very famous socialite, and saw artists that you had listened to since you were a child scream your lyrics back at you. It was enthralling to say the least.
You placed yourself in the center of the stage where the screen could pick you up perfectly. Lily and Mary to each side of you, Marlene behind and elevated with her drum kit. All of you matching in pretty red dresses, reminiscent of 1950s swimwear. Though you all matched, you were all giving different vibes and made the dresses your own. You were styled in matching platform heels, Lily had a sheer red long sleeved bodysuit under, Mary had fishnets and black heels, and Marlene was of course in her pair of beat up converse and wore her ripped black tights. You all looked individualistic while obviously being a group.
“Although you may know this song, there is a little dance that goes along with it.” you said, screams erupting yet again, some people already understanding which song you were about to do next. “But the thing is, everyone has to do it or the song doesn’t work.” you said with fake sadness. Mary chuckled beside you.
“So, I’m gonna teach you all the dance now! Marlene, could you give us a beat?” you asked. The crowd’s volume was possibly the loudest it had been all night as Marlene started playing the beat of HOT TO GO! “Ok, ok, the dance goes something like this. H-O-T-T-O-G-O,” you said, using your arms to spell out the letters of HOT TO GO! then finished the dance with, “You can take me hot to go.”
You looked out into the crowd and the whole arena was moving. Every single body was doing your silly little dance and you couldn’t help the smile that grew on your face.
“Ok One more time! H-O-T-T-O-G-O, you can take me hot to go!” You instructed. Lily and Mary beside you, both helping show off the dance. Everyone seemed to pick up the dance fairly easily, but you couldn’t help but notice the front row not joining in. There were a few people who notably stood out because they weren’t doing the dance, and though you had a literal arena to focus on, somehow that held your attention. You made out about 10 VIPs in the front not dancing, and within this crowd, you clocked a few familiar faces.
It took you a moment to recognise where you knew these faces from, but you remembered, these were the boys from The Marauders. The one with long black hair was the one looking the most sulky and upset, and this irked you. Sure, you had only met them a few months ago, and you knew the history with James and Lily, well, you sort of knew, but you thought that they would at least support you, not sit VIP and look miserable and jealous while you were performing. You knew there was a little rivalry, both your bands being from the same town and all, but they had just as much, if not more, success than you girls, so why were they seeming so sour. This bothered you, probably more than it should have.
So you skipped your way all the way to the front of the stage.”It’s so weird that VIP thinks they’re way too cool to do this!” You announced to the crowd. You saw the shocked faces on some of the lame VIPs who weren't dancing, so you decided to address them directly. “You’re not fun!” You shouted then turned and skipped back to where your girls were starting the song. And nevermind, that was the loudest that the crowd was all night. You saw Lily double over with laughter, trying her best to keep it together and keep playing. Marlene’s mouth was hanging open and Mary gave you a wink of approval. “Do it or I’m calling you on stage.” you threw over your shoulder as one last jab.
You decided that the rest of the song you were going to perform for the back of house, where you could see that people were dancing and having a good time. 
I could be the one, or your new addiction It's all in my head but I want non-fiction I don't want the world, but I'll take this city
Who can blame a girl? Call me hot, not pretty Baby, do you like this beat? (Na-na-na-na, na) I made it so you'd dance with me (na-na-na-na, na) It's like a hundred 99 degrees (na-na-na-na, na) When you're doing it with me, doing it with me H-O-T-T-O-G-O Snap and clap and touch your toes Raise your hands, now body roll Dance it out, you're hot to go H-O-T-T-O-G-O Snap and clap and touch your toes Raise your hands, now body roll H-O-T-T-O-G-O
This is when the whole crowd erupted in the dance, hands and arms waving in the air everywhere. So many faces smiling back at you, everyone you could see having an amazing time.
H-O-T-T-O-G-O
You can take me hot to go H-O-T-T-O-G-O You can take me hot to go Well, I woke up alone staring at my ceiling I try not to care but it hurts my feelings You don't have to stare, come here, get with it No one's touched me there in a damn hot minute And baby, don't you like this beat? (Na-na, na-na-na) I made it so you'd sleep with me (na-na, na-na-na) It's like a hundred 99 degrees (na-na, na-na-na) When you're doing it with me, doing it with me
H-O-T-T-O-G-O Snap and clap and touch your toes Raise your hands, now body roll Dance it out, you're hot to go H-O-T-T-O-G-O Snap and clap and touch your toes Raise your hands, now body roll H-O-T-T-O-G-O H-O-T-T-O-G-O You can take me hot to go H-O-T-T-O-G-O You can take me hot to go
You walked to the front of the stage again, dancing your way and stopping to look straight to the back of house and make sure they were feeling the love as well. You saw so much glitter and so many colors flashing in the lights of the arena, the crowd looking like a rainbow colored night sky.
What's it take to get your number? What's it take to bring you home? Hurry up, it's time for supper, order up, I'm hot to go What's it take to get your number? Hurry up, it's getting cold Hurry up, it's time for supper, order up, I'm hot to go H-O-T-T-O-G-O You can take me hot to go (oh, yeah) H-O-T-T-O-G-O You can take me hot to go (hot to go) H-O-T-T-O-G-O You can take me hot to go (oh, yeah) H-O-T-T-O-G-O You can take me hot to go Whew, it's hot here, is anyone else hot? Whoo, you coming home with me?
you pointed to Sirius in the crowd, still sulking with his arms crossed in front of his body, his friends, James and Remus, looked at you shocked.
Okay, it's hot, I'll call the cab
The arena erupted yet again with screams and cheers. You took a moment to take it all in and savor the feeling. This is what you want to do for the rest of your life, not just opening, but headlining shows just like this one.
You and the girls gave your final bows and started to exit the stage. You and the girls waved and blew kisses as you made your way into the wings.
Once you were off the stage and fully out of view, you all hugged. The four of you giggling and squealing and jumping up and down like schoolgirls, but you didn’t care, you just played the biggest show of your life. You could feel your future shift at that moment. You knew that big things were on their way, everything you and the girls had worked for was going to come to fruition. 
“What was that about?” Marlene laughed, breaking away from the group hug and looking directly at you.
You smirked and blushed. “Look, it just made me mad, they were just standing there and looking so pissy,” you laughed. “I had to call them out a little.”
“You know who was in VIP?” Mary mused to Marlene. 
Marlene rolled her eyes as she said, “Marauders?”
“The Marauders.” Mary confirmed. 
Marlene chuckled and turned her gaze back to you. “Well then the outburst is validated.”
“I hope they’re not mad.” you admitted. You did feel slightly bad for them, calling them out in front of an entire arena full of people, potential fans of theirs.
“What?” Mary asked. “No, they deserved it. You know they’re jealous that we got this spot instead of them.”
“Well,” Lily interjected, “We all know only one of them is pissy about it. Remus and James wouldn’t care and were probably enjoying the performance just fine. It’s Sirius ‘Bitchy’ Black.” she laughed. This caused you all to giggle.
“Still,” you said, “We should all be like a united front or something, you know. We're all from the same areas, we’re all up and coming. It couldn’t hurt to be friends with them.”
You couldn’t finish the conversation with the girls or hear what they had to say because Emmeline came up to you girls.
“Oh my God! That was amazing, girls!” she praised. She hugged you all individually and stood with you for a moment before she had to go out. “No joke, you have been the best openers I have ever had with me.”
You and the girls smiled and thanked her, your heart was pounding out of your chest. You still couldn’t believe she even knew who you were let alone that you just opened for her.
“Thanks for whipping VIP into shape, they were looking a little boring.” She winked at you. All of you girls giggled with her. The stage techs were giving her a ‘hurry up’ motion, signaling her to take her position on stage. “Anyways, I’ll see you after the show, thank you so much again. Love you girls.” She said in a rush as the house lights went down and the crowd began to roar and chant her name. She was whisked off to get into place.
You girls decided to head to the dressing room to change quickly so you could come back and watch the rest of Emmeline’s show. 
“I can’t wait to see what becomes of your little… outburst.” Marlene said from beside you, nudging you slightly. You stopped just short of your dressing room as you turned to her.
You rolled your eyes in response to her. “It was not an outburst,” you giggled, “and it is not that big of a deal.” you pulled open the door to the dressing room, about to usher the girls in as you heard an unfamiliar voice come from behind you.
“Actually, it can be.” You turned to catch a glimpse at where the voice came from. A small, platinum blonde girl stood just outside your dressing room, leaning on the brick wall of the hallway, not even looking your way, just twiddling with her fingers. She had the most interesting outfit on, ruffles and patterns, strange yet beautiful. She had the craziest glasses sitting atop her head, holding her blonde locks back; reminiscent of an owl's feathers, one eye glass blue and the other pink. Must be designer.
“Sorry?” Mary said from beside you, the whole group turning their attention to the strange blonde girl.
“She said it wouldn’t be that big of a deal. And it absolutely can be.” the blonde said, turning her attention finally to you four, her round eyes so piercing. She couldn’t just be a fan, the security wouldn’t allow her access this far, even with a VIP ticket. Either she is a crazed fan who snuck past security, in that case bravo to her, or she is someone important enough to be allowed back here. 
The four of you only stared back at her, not quite sure what to say.
“Pandora Rosier,” she introduced herself with a smile. Pretty name.
“Wait, you’re a Rosier?” Marlene asked. Pandora smiled and nodded. You three looked to Marlene for an explanation as to who this girl is and how she somehow knows of her. “Mr. Rosier is the manager for a bunch of different artists… a bunch of successful artists. She’s basically industry royalty.”
You all paid more attention to the blonde now, still standing and smiling at you. “I know that you were just being cheeky, that you were having fun on stage…,” She began, her voice airy and light. “But we all know how the media is. Especially when you offend some of the most popular musicians and actors in the game.”
Offend, you didn’t think of it like that at all. “Wait, no. I wasn’t trying to offend anyone, I was just-”
“Having fun?” Pandora cut you off. “Yes, we all know that, but the media loves to take the fun out of everything. Especially when it is young, talented women. I’ve seen it hundreds of times. The Daily Prophet is exceptionally keen on trampling the fun out of everything, making every small thing a scandal.” She explained. You began to feel a sinking feeling in your stomach. Did you actually offend anyone? Would the media actually write about something as small as this? Surely not, but what if…
“And what? If it does cause a scandal, then what?” Lily asked.
“Well, if you were to have a manager, they could be in communication with the media, you know, work with them on things they write about their clients.” Pandora said.
“Wait wait,” Mary interjected, “Are you trying to become… our manager?”
“You don’t have one, right?” Pandora asked, smiling yet again. That perfect, whimsical smile.
“We don’t,” you answered. “But, we’ve done just fine without one so far.” it was true, up until now, you and the girls worked your asses off to be where you are, hell, you booked this job without one.
“Of course you have!” Pandora said enthusiastically. “But think of what you could do with one. Record deals, albums, world tours. I can negotiate all of that for you.”
“But, why do you want to manage us?” Lily asked.
“Because I see something in you. You’re all destined for stardom. I’ve seen you perform, seen the crowds and the feeling that you bring. It’s like magic.” Pandora answered, a gleam in her big shiny eyes. 
“Say we agree, what do you want out of it?” Mary asked. “What’s the deal, you want like 20 percent or something?”
Pandora thought for a moment before saying, “Honestly, this isn’t about the money.” You four looked at each other, slightly bewildered. What was she after then? “I don’t need money really, my father has plenty of that. What I really want is success. What would you think about something like 5 percent.” 
“Pardon?” Marlene said.
“I want to help you get to the top. I want you to see the success you deserve. I have seen many artists in my life and none of them have made me feel like you four do.” the blonde explained. "You are a group of very talented girls, I don’t want to see that talent extinguished as I often have. This industry burns those who have it out, fast and hard. You four have something that I can’t quite put my finger on but… I think that you may be the first of a kind.”
Something about the way she was talking, it just felt genuine and… like she really meant that she wanted you all to succeed. 
“Well Pandora, you are definitely one of the most interesting people I have ever met,” Mary started, “but you seem to really believe in us.”
Marlene smiled and finished for her, “We would definitely love to have someone like you in our corner.” 
Pandora smiled back, that whimsical smile that you knew you would be seeing a lot more often now.
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this was so long and not a lot happened but... stay tuned for the next chapter because I am planning something juicy.
Taglist⭐️: @adharalikethestar @mayuwolfstar @ieatboysalive @maraudereestauderelb @bugg06 @slytherinambitious @cadenceisdelulu @champomiel @theenorthstarr @navs-bhat
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quintessenceofdust88 · 2 days ago
Text
Life is Changin' Tides, ch. 5 🌊
[Ch. 1]
[Ch. 2]
[Ch. 3]
[Ch. 4]
[Read on AO3]
"“Baby, why would I be going to Mr. Evan's house?” He asks, completely baffled.
It’s not that he doesn’t want to go to Evan Buckley’s house. It’s not like he hasn’t low-key stalked the man’s social media and the last three days and been even more charmed by what he saw. It’s not like he hasn’t thought about asking the other man out at least ten times since that day. “Because, Daddy, mr. Howie said you should, remember?” She tells him, and for once in his life Tommy curses her absurdly good memory. “He said you should check it if mr. Evan meant it or if he was just being silly!” --- Tommy has to make an important delivery. He gets to see Evan Buckley one more time. It doesn't go as either of them expects.
It’s been three days since the tsunami, and Tommy is finally ready to let Vivie out of his sight for more than ten minutes; they’ve spent pretty much all of their time at home as both her and Sal recover from it all, physically and emotionally. Sal’s been staying with them, and Tommy’s insisting he stays until his medical leave is over in a week.  
But now Tommy needs to go for his first shift since everything happened, and he’s pretty sure Sal is having a harder time with it than Vivie. While his daughter is happily lying on the floor, her socked feet swinging in the air as she colors a piece of paper, his best friend is eyeing Tommy warily from where he’s sitting on the couch, as he ties his shoes. 
“Tommy”, he mutters. “Are you sure you want to do this? You… I won’t be offended if you get a babysitter or take her to someone else, you know? I… I’d understand after…”
Tommy sighs; he’s tried to blow off every single apology Sal sent his way ever since the tsunami. They’re safe, and Vivie is completely fine, and Tommy doesn’t blame Sal for any of it. But that doesn’t mean Sal is convinced, and Tommy’s starting to think he’ll need an extra hand. 
“Vivie?” He calls. 
“Yeah?” She answers, still focused on her drawing. 
“Do you want Daddy to call someone else to take care of you while I work?” Tommy asks, and that makes her raise her head in alarm. 
“Why?! Is Uncle Sal not okay?! Are you feeling bad, uncle Sal?” She rushes to them, throwing herself in Sal’s lap. He wraps his arms around her, a sheepish smile on his face.
“I’m feeling fine, darlin’, don’t you worry about me.” He tells her, ruffling her hair, and she sighs in relief. “Do… you want me to take care of you?” Sal asks, sounding impossibly insecure, and Vivie glares at him in a way that’s eerily reminiscent of Tommy’s own bitchy expression. 
“Duh, uncle Sal, you’re my favorite uncle. You play the best games and you sing Barbie songs with me!” She tells him as if it’s the most obvious thing in the world.
Tommy, in his defense, does his best not to look smug, but he doesn’t think he actually succeeds. As he finishes tying his shoes, he gets up, raising an eyebrow at Sal, who’s glaring at him.
“Well”, Tommy quips, grabbing his car keys. “I guess that settles the matter, doesn’t it? You guys have fun singing Barbie tunes as I go to work. You behave for your uncle, pixie, okay?”
He presses a kiss to Vivie’s forehead, half expecting her to say goodbye to him and cuddle up against Sal. What she does instead is gasp and scramble out of her uncle’s lap, rushing back to her paper. As she grabs it, a healthy amount of glitter falls on the floor, and Tommy doesn’t even want to think about the clean-up. He guesses he could ask Sal to take care of it, but it doesn't seem like a fair thing to the concussed guy. 
“Wait, Daddy!” She says, and then she shoves the card into his hand. “You have to take this!”
Tommy frowns, and looks down at the card. His cheeks instantly blush when he sees the wobbly ‘To Mr. Evan’ that’s written on the cover, along with a much neater ‘From: Genevieve’ (she’s only five, but she’s already a master at writing her own name, Tommy is proud to say). There’s a very glittery blue heart in the middle, and when Tommy opens the card to take a peak, he sees two sticky figures: Genevieve, holding Marsh, and a bigger one that can only be Evan based on the blue eyes and the small pinkmark drawn above one of them. 
“Vivie, that is so beautiful, pixie,” Tommy tells her, because he’s a firm believer in always praising his daughter for her efforts (actually he’s a firm believer in giving Genevieve everything he never had growing up, but that is neither her nor there). But he’s afraid he’ll have to burst her bubble at least a little bit. “But… you know Daddy is not going to see Mr. Evan, right? We don’t work together, sweetheart.”
Genevieve looks at him as if Tommy’s being particularly obtuse. He briefly thinks that, if she’s mastered this look by this point, he’s already praying for himself during her childhood. She crosses her little arms and huffs at him. 
“I know you don’t work together, Daddy, Mr. Evan works with Christopher’s daddy!” She tells him. “But you’re going to his house, aren’t you?”
Tommy looks at Sal, completely at loss, but his best friend is no help. Sal looks back at him with a shrug, clearly making an herculean effort to hold back his laughter, and Tommy glares at him before looking back at Tommy. 
“Baby, why would I be going to his house?” He asks, completely baffled. 
It’s not that he doesn’t want to go to Evan Buckley’s house. It’s not like he hasn’t low-key stalked the man’s social media and the last three days and been even more charmed by what he saw. It’s not like he hasn’t thought about asking the other man out at least ten times since that day.
But Tommy can’t, because he can’t hold Evan accountable for the things he said under the effect of exhaustion and painkillers. Tommy doesn’t know what scares him the most about bringing it up: Evan being honest and telling him that of course he didn’t mean it, he’s straight, what is Tommy even thinking (even though a straight man wouldn’t call Tommy gorgeous, not even on painkillers, but that’s not the point), or Evan being too polite to say that and date him out of a sense of obligation.
(The thought that maybe Evan did mean it never crosses his mind. But apparently it crosses Vivie’s.)
“Because, Daddy, mr. Howie said you should, remember?” She tells him, and for once in his life Tommy curses her absurdly good memory. “He said you should check it if mr. Evan meant it or if he was just being silly!”
“Wait, wait, silly about what? What did Buckley say?” Sal asks, his gossiper vein clearly showing, and Genevieve is answering before Tommy can stop her. 
“About wanting Daddy to ask him out!” She says, bouncing excitedly on her toes. “He said Daddy should, as a thank you, but Daddy said he didn’t mean it because he was too sleepy!”
Sal smirks like he has just won the lottery, and Tommy would strangle him if he wasn’t hurt. Tommy’s cheeks blush impossibly red, and he runs a hand through his face, wondering how he can tell his five-year-old to shut up without traumatizing her. 
“Did he, now? Isn’t that interesting?” Sal says, crossing his arms and smiling smugly at Tommy, who flips him off mentally. 
“It’s not, because he was under heavy painkillers and probably wouldn’t know the difference between me and Margot Robbie at that moment.” Tommy grumbles.
“Dude, that’s flattering yourself” Sal scoffs at the same time Vivie pipes ‘Who’s Margot Robbie?!’, and Tommy very maturely chooses to ignore both of them. But he should have known there’s no stopping his determined little matchmaker. 
“Daddy, but you’re going, right? What if he wasn’t being silly? You could go out with him, and you could be friends!” She says, and Tommy is pretty sure Genevieve doesn’t really know what asking someone out entails. 
“Yeah, Tommy, you could be… friends. With Buckley. I can tell you want to.” Sal says, and Tommy internally thinks he’s having way too much fun with it. “Besides, can you really disappoint Vivie and not take her card to him? Are you really gonna do this to your daughter?”
Tommy opens his mouth, but nothing comes out, because he’s either going to break his daughter’s heart or teach her the words ‘son of a bitch’, and he’s not looking forward to it. So he closes it again, looks down at the card clutched in his hands, and sighs, realizing he doesn’t really have a choice. 
“Please, Daddy?” Vivie pleads, and Tommy already knows he’ll say yes. He’s a sucker for those puppy eyes. 
“Genevieve, I… Fine.” Tommy accepts, but he doesn’t want to set her up for disappointment, so he kneels down to her level and looks her in the eyes. “I’ll go over to his house and I’ll take your card, but I don’t know about the whole asking him out part. But I promise you’ll be the first to know how it went, okay?”
Vivie smiles brightly, throwing her arms around his neck, and Tommy hugs her with a chuckle. She’s the love of his life, this little girl, and yeah, he’ll take a few awkward moments to make sure her gratitude is relayed to Evan Buckley. 
But he absolutely won’t ask the man out. He still has some self-respect. 
-----
Evan Buckley is an overthinker; he’s known that fact about himself all his life, but knowing it doesn’t mean he’s able to control it. So, it’s a given that he’ll overthink the things he said to Tommy Kinard on the day of the tsunami and that Chim had, very kindly, told him in excruciating detail when Buck said he didn’t remember it the next day.
Apparently. Buck had called Tommy gorgeous (ridiculously gorgeous, according to Chim, who was having way too much fun with it). Which gives him the slightest pause because, yes, he’s always been an ally, and yes, he’s always been able to appreciate a hot guy’s ass, but that’s normal, isn’t it? He had never thought of himself as being attracted to guys before. 
And yet, he had asked the guy out. More accurately, he had implied Tommy should ask him out as thank you for doing the decent thing and rescuing his daughter. And to top it all off, he had said it in front of said daughter. 
Buck supposes his only saving grace is that he doesn’t have to see Tommy again. Eddie told him there’s been some number exchange because Chris and Genevieve wanted to see each other again, but that doesn’t mean Buck needs to be around for it. No, Tommy Kinard has no business being in Buck’s life (and Buck tries to ignore the disappointment that thought brings him). 
As he hears someone knocking, Buck figures it must be Eddie asking him to babysit again, so he tries to push away any thoughts of the so-called hot pilot. 
Buck opens the door to find Tommy Kinard on the other side. 
“Uh… H-hey, hey, Tommy.” Buck says, and tries not to flinch at how idiotic he sounds. 
There’s one point in which Buck has to agree with his painkiller-brain: the man is ridiculously gorgeous. He’s wearing a black henley, and there’s a bit of stubble on his cheeks, and he has a cleft. Tommy’s looking at Buck as if he’s a little shy himself, which Buck finds ridiculous, because a man like that has no reason to be shy, ever. 
“Can we talk?” Tommy asks, and Buck gulps. 
Oh, God, he thinks. He’s going to tell me how completely inappropriate I was and that he doesn’t want me anywhere near his daughter. 
“S-sure!”, Buck says, the cheer in his voice embarrassingly fake. “Come on in.”
He lets Tommy inside his house, and the man takes an appreciative look around before gazing back at Buck, smiling at him. He has a crunchy sort of smile that makes Buck’s stomach twist inside of him, and he’s starting to think he might be a little more than an ally. 
“Can I offer you anything?”, Buck offers, trying to ignore how sweaty his hands are and how fast his heart is beating inside his chest.“
“No, thanks, I’m not staying long. I’m actually here as a mail man”, Tommy says, and when Buck frowns at him, he chuckles, obviously amused by something. “I was given strict orders to deliver you this.”
He offers Buck a blue piece of paper, shaped like a card. Buck takes it curiously from his hand, an unhealthy amount of glitter slipping from his fingers, and his heart gets all warm when he sees the words ‘TO: MR. EVAN, FROM: GENEVIEVE’ on the card. He opens it to find a quite heartwarming picture of the two of them, and he’s smiling before he can stop himself. That little girl has a piece of his heart, he’s not shy to admit it. 
“Oh my God, that is so sweet”, he marvels, chuckling in delight and shaking his head, holding the card close to his chest. Apparently Tommy doesn’t want to tell Buck to stay the hell away from him and his daughter, so he feels more relieved. “She… she really didn’t have to.”
“Well, that’s Vivie for you”, Tommy says, and it takes Buck aback how much affection he can hear in his voice when he talks about his daughter. “She always wants people to feel loved.”
“She’s a great kid”, Buck says sincerely, placing the card on his counter with a small smile on his face, and he looks back at Tommy to see a soft smile on his face too. 
Buck realizes that, theoretically, Tommy has nothing else to do in his house. But he’s not moving to leave, and Buck is in no rush either. He likes having this man around; he wants to get to know him better, without missing children or painkillers being involved.
“H-how’s she doing, by the way?” He asks, trying desperately to find a way to keep Tommy for at least a little bit more. “A-and your friend Sal?”
“They’re good!” Tommy exclaims, the relief palpable in his voice. “Sal’s recovering, and Vivie… Well, she’s perfect, thanks to you. Evan, I really don’t think I can put into words how grateful I am.”
He’s looking deeply in Buck’s eyes, and Buck can’t breathe all of a sudden. His gaze is piercing, and it’s making Buck have a hard time thinking. It takes him longer than normal to realize he should answer Tommy. 
“I…” He trails off, and crosses his arms on his chest, trying to ground himself. He feels so light-headed it’s ridiculous. “You really don’t have to thank me, Tommy. I’m just glad everything turned out okay.”
Tommy nods, his soft smile gracing his features once more, and then he frowns worriedly at Buck. 
“And how are you doing? How's your leg?” He asks, and his concern sounds absolutely genuine, which makes Buck feel all tingly. 
“Ah, it’s… It’s alright, I just gotta take it easy for a couple days. I’m under Hen’s strict orders.” Buck chuckles, and Tommy nods in sympathy, which reminds Buck this man knows all of his friends. In fact, it seems almost funny that they had never met before. 
“Good. I’m glad you’re taking it easy, cause… You weren’t doing that great last time I saw you”, he says, and Buck wants to flinch in embarrassment, imagining how he must have looked to Tommy, fainting like a Victorian lady as soon as they met. But then Tommy smiles, a little teasing this time. “Though you still managed to realize I am ‘ridiculously gorgeous’, so I suppose you weren’t so out of it”
The teasing catches Buck completely off-guard, and he blushes all the way from his forehead to his nose. Shit, he remembers, he thinks, and then wants to kick himself because of course Tommy remembers, Buck is the one who was out of it, not him. 
“Oh, God, yeah”, Buck says, and makes a weird sound that’s something between a laugh and a scoff. He rubs the back of his neck and wonders if it’d be too dramatic to jump from his loft window to escape this conversation. “I am sorry about that, by the way. Probably not what you needed when your daughter had just been rescued from a natural disaster.”
Tommy chuckles politely at that, and Buck’s relieved that at least he doesn’t seem offended. He gives Buck a light shrug, getting a little closer to him, the teasing smile never leaving his face. 
“No, don’t apologize, it was very flattering! No one had ever called me a hot pilot before” He says, unlocking another piece of what’s shaping up to be Buck’s most embarrassing memory, and he laughs a bit hysterically. He takes a step closer to Tommy, as if drawn by an invisible magnet. 
“Well, you are. A hot pilot, I mean.” He blurts out, and widens his eyes when he realizes what he said. For some “N-not that I’m objectifying pilots or anything, I didn’t even know you were a pilot until that day, and there are probably better ways to tell someone you’re attracted to th-”
Buck doesn’t get to finish his sentence; it all happens in a blur. Tommy gets closer, feels two fingers raising up his chin, and next thing he knows, Tommy’s lips are touching his, and oh. 
There are fireworks exploding in Buck’s head; it’s like something is unleashing inside of him, a part of him that had remained hidden until now, a bit of himself that needed Tommy Kinard to be let out. Buck kisses him back, placing his hand on Tommy’s shoulder, reveling in how right this kiss feels, in the wonderful feeling of Tommy’s lips against his.
It’s over much sooner than Buck would have liked; it could have lasted forever for as long as he’s concerned. His world could have been reduced to kissing Tommy Kinard, and he’d been happy with it. But now Tommy Kinard is looking at him, as if he’s a little surprised with himself, and Buck can only imagine how shocked his face looks right now. 
“Like that?” Tommy asks, and he sounds a little out of breath. 
“Y-yeah, that works” Buck stutters, his voice more high-pitched than usual, his eyes impossibly wide, but he wants more. 
“So that was okay?” Tommy asks, and somewhere in the back of Buck’s mind it registers how sweet of him to be making sure. It makes Buck want to kiss him again. 
“B-better than asking someone out in a painkiller-induced haze.” He answers dazedly, and Tommy chuckles adorably, his posture more confident once he’s sure his kiss was well-received, as if Buck’s enthusiastic kissing back hadn’t been proof enough. 
“Well, I promise there are no painkillers in my system right now”, he says, and then honest to God straightens Buck’s shirt, and Buck’s pretty sure he’ll never be able to form a coherent thought again. “But I still would like to ask you out. And not even as a thank you for saving my daughter, it’s because you’re really cute.”
Buck smiles despite himself, blushing like a schoolgirl at being called cute of all things. He nods emphatically, looking down at where Tommy’s hand still lingers on his shirt, warm and heavy against his chest. 
“I… I’d like that”, he admits, and Tommy’s smile widens impossibly. 
“Great. How about Saturday? Are you free?” He asks, and Buck lets out a deep breath he hasn’t even realized he was holding, God knows for how long. 
“Yes, I… I am free” Buck answers, and he realizes he doesn’t mean just about Saturday. 
“Okay, so… I’ll pick you up around eight? Does that work?” He asks, and Buck realizes he probably should answer more coherently, but all he manages is another weak nod. 
“T-totally” He tries again, and Tommy makes finger guns at him, and Buck’s just agreed to go out with this dork. 
“So… see you Saturday?” Tommy confirms, and Buck realizes that he’s also a little nervous. That somehow eases Buck’s nerves, and he manages to smile even a little flirtatiously at Tommy. 
“Absolutely. D-do you want my number so we can set things up or?...” He asks, and Tommy surprisingly shakes his head, chuckling. 
“No need, Chimney already gave it to me.” He tells him, and Buck has never been more grateful for the existence of Howard Han. 
“So we’re all set. S-say hi to Vivie for me?” Buck says, and Tommy smiles, already halfway out the door. Buck has to resist the urge to call him back. 
“Will do. Bye, Evan.” Tommy says, and just as he came, he’s gone, as if he hasn’t just upended Buck’s life and brought him all sorts of discoveries about himself. 
Buck throws himself on his couch, and a huge smile comes to his face. This is the happiest he’s felt since the fire truck accident, and no wonder. He may not have his job back yet, and things might take a while to get better, but… He has a date with Tommy Kinard. How can he be upset?
----
Tag list:
@bidisasterevankinard @unhingedangstaddict @silversky9 @music-is-the-voice-of-the-soul @asmugfirefighter
@typicalopposite @aplaceinme @rubydaiquiri @racerchix21
@dearqueend @laundryandtaxesworld @buckleyskinards @actuallyitsellie
@agentpeggycartering @chaoticdisasterbi
@deelovesbooks @teabroomsandbooks
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cal-daisies-and-briars · 2 days ago
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I’m so intrigued by this one 🔀🔀🔀🔀🔀🔀🔀🔀🔀🔀🔀🔀🔀🔀🔀🔀🔀🔀🔀🔀🔀🔀🔀🔀🔀🔀🔀🔀🔀🔀🔀🔀
And I’m always excited for more of this one
🔼🔼🔼🔼🔼🔼🔼🔼🔼🔼🔼🔼🔼🔼🔼🔼🔼🔼🔼🔼🔼🔼🔼🔼🔼🔼🔼🔼🔼🔼🔼🔼
Thank youuuu!
96 for 🔀:
---
He still looks pissed. For Buck, rather than at Buck. 
“Yeah. Let’s go.”
Thirty minutes later, they’re eating at a nearby diner, and Buck has explained everything. 
“This is ridiculous,” Bobby huffs after he’s done. “They’re treating you like a suspect when someone out there is weaponizing the worst thing that ever happened to you.”
It’s not. Being kidnapped at four is not the worst thing that has ever happened to him. Buck’s not going to argue though.
“I’m not sure what their angle is,” Athena admits. “What more do they need? They have the perp in custody. Caught him red-handed.”
Buck shrugs. “Unless they really believe I’m some sort of imposter.”
“Didn’t you say the guy looks younger than you?” Bobby asks. 
“By a decade,” Buck confirms. “At least.”
“So that makes no sense,” Bobby says. 
“No,” Athena agrees. “It doesn’t.”
Buck sips his coffee, frustrated. He hates this. He doesn’t understand why this is happening to him. 
“Buck, you need to know,” Bobby says. His expression is serious, concerned. “We’re on your side here. Whatever happens, okay? We know… We know you haven’t done anything wrong.”
Buck takes a deep breath. He doesn’t take their faith in him for granted. There was a time in his life where he wouldn’t have had it. Where he wouldn’t have deserved it. He knows that.
“Thank you,” Buck says.
Athena nods. “Of course.”
“Uh, can I ask…” Buck frowns. “With Ingram… It seemed like he was trying to get me to confess something. I don’t know what.”
“Hmm,” Bobby replies, forehead creased with worry.
“Athena, uh, what’s his deal? What kind of cases does he even work?”
Athena frowns. “I wish I knew. I’ve never met the man before.”
“You haven’t?” Bobby asks.
“No,” she says. “He must be a new transfer or something. I’d never even heard of him.”
🟢
He goes to Maddie and Chim’s. 
He goes, knowing their appointment is long since finished, and knowing that, well, he should probably keep his sister up to date with his legal affairs. 
It doesn’t quite go that way. 
“We’re having a boy!” Maddie grins the moment they walk through the door. “A little boy! Isn’t that amazing?”
And, well? Yeah. It totally is. It’s the best news in the whole entire world. A boy. A nephew. Jee’s little brother. Buck is beyond thrilled. So thrilled that he can’t bring down the mood. He won’t. Maddie doesn’t need to hear about this right now. In fact, until Buck knows more about this strange petty criminal dragging up both of their childhood trauma, Maddie doesn’t need to hear anything at all. 
🟢
He calls Eddie. 
He calls Eddie, because Eddie is far away from all this. The things he knows don’t make it back to Maddie. Eddie is his best friend. He should also be kept up to date with Buck’s legal affairs. He’ll have something reasonable and encouraging to say. 
Of course, this doesn’t quite go that way, either. 
“Chris and I are coming back to Los Angeles,” Eddie says, instead of hello, when he answers Buck’s call. 
And Buck is so happy, so overjoyed, he forgets himself entirely. 
“What?” He breathes. “You-you are?”
“Yeah, we are.” 
He can hear the smile in Eddie’s voice.
“Oh my god,” Buck starts to tear up. “When?”
“A few weeks. Need to pack everything up. Do the school transfer. Won’t be long, though… Hey, are you actually crying right now? I can hear you crying?”
“Obviously I’m crying, Eddie!” 
---
96 for 🔼:
---
“She won’t be any trouble. She’s super chill.”
“Mmm, well,” Margaret says. “The more the merrier.”
All things considered, dinner doesn’t start terrible. Everyone is friendly. Everyone’s pretending it’s just been a few months since they’ve seen each other, rather than years and years. His parents are pretending they didn’t drop Maddie. That they don’t hate Buck. They put all their interest into Chimney, vetting him more or less. It’s all great. 
Except… His mother keeps interrogating him. About Jane. 
At some point, Jane is propped on Buck’s lap, and he’s spoon feeding her baby food, and Margaret just sort of stares at them. 
“Everything okay?” Buck asks her. 
“You’re very good with her,” his mother observes. “For the babysitter.”
Buck blinks. “Uh… Her parents and I are very close. I see her all the time.” 
“Her mother is Shannon,” Maddie says. “Remember, Mom? I mentioned her. She’s my closest friend out here.”
“Right,” Margaret nods. “And how old is Jane?”
“Ten months,” Buck says. “She’ll be one in December.”
“And you and Maddie are both friends with her mother?” Margaret asks.
Chim is looking at his plate. Like really avoiding eye contact. Fuck. 
“Her dad and I work together,” Buck says. 
“With Howard?” Phillip asks.
“Yep,” Chim squeaks, sweating. “I don’t know much about it.”
Buck sighs.
This is how they find out he’s seeing a married couple.
“About what?” Margaret asks.
“Nothing,” Buck says. “It’s really nothing.”
“I’m confused,” Phillip says.
“Me, too, if that helps,” Albert offers.
“Okay, Evan,” Margaret sighs. “Just be honest. Is she your child?”
Buck’s jaw drops. “What?” 
“Oh, it’s clear you’re lying, Evan!” She presses. “You show up here with some child you’re overly familiar with, who belongs to a friend. We know how you are. You got some girl pregnant out of wedlock and now you’re too ashamed to say it!”
“Hi,” Maddie waves at her. “Also pregnant out of wedlock. Nothing shameful here.”
“I’m not her father!” Buck protests. He looks at the baby. “I wouldn’t lie if I was. Right, Jane? I’m not your dad.”
Jane tilts her head back to look up at him.
“Da…Dada?”
Chimney coughs. Albert conceals a laugh. Maddie pinches the bridge of her nose. 
“My god, Evan,” his father chides. “Really?”
“No! No!” Buck protests. “Why would she say that? Maddie, why would she say that? Back me up!”
Oh, Eddie is going to be devastated. This is horrid. He’ll be so sad. Buck needs to, like, disappear. Spend less time with Jane. Ignore her maybe. It’ll break his heart, but it’s what needs to be done. For Eddie. 
“She’s really not his,” Maddie says.
“Dada,” Jane says again, clapping her hands together.
“No!” Buck insists. “No, Jane. Sweetie. I’m not your father.”
“No,” Jane says. 
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kamurawaffles5684 · 2 days ago
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I have 2 actually! Here they r!
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The first one is Agnis, who is a Hammerite guard. Nothing too fancy about her other than being a lesbian pagan in denial because she only joined the hammerites because she thought that’s what every self-respecting city dweller did according to her parents.
The second one is Athos. And man is he a doozy.
First off, he joined the Keepers because he was diagnosed with TB as a child, so they had to use glyph magic on him to stave off the disease because of no modern medicine n whatnot, and for plot fluff because thief doesn’t really go into that lore as far as I’ve seen so I’m improvising until further notice. He’s around the same age as Garrett, albeit somewhat younger. (So about mid 30s in Deadly Shadows at the very least given that Garrett is most likely in his late 30s by then) and is one of the first people that Garrett meets when he is ceremonially adopted into the Order apart from Artemus. They grow to become quick friends after an incident where Athos passes out when he officially becomes apart of the Order as an Acolyte because of a flare up of his TB that went unchecked. (He is around 12-13 at this point in time) Athos and Garrett knew of each other beforehand but didn’t really bother with talking all that much until this incident because of their own introverted tendencies.
During the events of TDP Athos becomes a fully fledged Glyph Warden/Scribe studying under Ruehan up until the events of Deadly Shadows, where Athos’ condition worsens again because of the difficulty that the Mechanists had brought on in TMA and the Rust Gas cleanup process, going to Orland, who dismissed him, thus finding himself in the clutches of Gamall who tricked him into burning a glyph onto his forehead and chest which was supposedly to help him banish the illness for good, but given that it was Gamall, slowly siphoned his life away to her to give her vitality. (This was promptly after Caduca’s death, as she had nobody to take the blame for Athos’ death if it happened anymore) By the end of DS when Gamall is finally found out, he is one of the victims that Gamall tries to siphon life from and petrify, until Garrett was able to stop her in time, which permanently causes him to be partially stone due to Gamall actively siphoning life from him via the glyphs he had from treating his illness and being tricked by Gamall in the first place when Garrett finished the ritual. (Because despite glyphs being gone, deities and other creatures could still have prevalence in the world, especially when magic could exist in a different form now that the keepers continue to exist/are rebuilding.)
Now Athos leaves the Keepers after Orland attempts to detain him out of fear that he might be the next “big threat to the keepers” due to the prophecies and text being omitted, taking the role of master thief now that Garrett assumes responsibility as the One True Keeper.
also Garrett and Athos lowk had a thing going on between all this but Garrett being Garrett was like “uh how about no actually. I have better things to do.” And Athos is also FTM because I like trans allegories and the fact that Athos was siphoning life away due to a curse made by an evil woman in the hopes that he might be free from something just screams internal/external transphobia issues to me.
But ya, those r my two current Thief ocs. If I make more I will make sure to let u know or just reblog this again with an updated list :3
Where the fuck are all the thief OC’s. I need to hear about someone’s city watch blorbo. I cannot LIVE without hearing about the one hammerite guard who turned to the order because of trauma please.
Where are the ocs.
Tell me about your blorbo meow meow committing war crimes in The City.
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starryluminary · 1 year ago
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I’m imagining WTBNATOOK as like a full on comic with proper panels and fully colored and shaded and with the story written in full from start to finish and oooohhhh I need to be sedated before I start something I can’t finish
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sk8erama · 1 month ago
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Day 1 of spending no money was a success but idk how much of that can be contributed to me since my grandma paid for my lunch and my dad paid for my dinner 😝
STILL THO I think before I got to bed tn I’m gonna dec out my new bag so I can finally start using it, and I think I’ll put my wallet minus credit cards in there.
I know this won’t be the biggest help since most of my big frivolous purchases happen online but still, i think it’ll be good to at least remind me that I can’t be as careless about it as i used to be.
ALSO I finally got my bathroom all cleaned up and organized 🙏 I knows it’s just one small part of my room but I’m so relieved to have SOMETHING done. I’m still proud of how clean the living room/kitchen is but those are spaces I’m gonna have to continuously clean so I can’t be happy w it for tooo long (esp since I’ll be moving my bedroom shit in there to help w organizing)
REGARDLESS THO I think tmrw im gonna try to focus big time on cleaning my bedroom and closet, calling my dad to see if he can come install some stuff for me, and tidying up in the living room and kitchen before my Roomate comes back
Ghhrrr I’m so ready for everything to be in order, and I *know* that might not be possible to get done, but I’m REALLY hoping I can make a noticeable improvement, once I get the harder parts done it’ll at least be easier for me to finish up the next day 🤙
#also I need to wrap up my shit on TikTok#I’ve saved a bunch of videos but there’s still some collections I wanna look thru before it’s too late#and then I need to organize them SOMEHOW#idk what app would be best storage wise but I deeeff need to do a big photo album purge soon#it’s taking up like at least 40gb of my storage rn and that’s HEINOUS#I also STILL need to finish my widget layout god#that can wait until my real life is clean and organized tho#once that’s done THEN I can go in and organize and clean out my phone#anyways#I think I should do pizza or pork carnitas for dinner tmrw?#OR I split up the dough and make a mini pizza for lunch and carnitas for dinner…#I’ve been toying with the idea of making sliders for my work lunches but idk where to find buns for that#I will need to do a grocery run for my full sized buns anyways tho so hmmm#also this is why I love tumblr as a diary app#I feel like I never talk as much as I do on tumblr#this is how I was always reaching the post limit on here during middle school#I’ve just never felt so free when making a post and then just sending it into the world like I do on tumblr#this must be what it’s like for influencers ugh#god speaking of once I’m done with 1. irl cleaning 2. online cleaning 3. I NEEED to get back to art#like drawing and using my iPad yes but also looking into art jobs or at least ways I can get involved in the art world#I might want to look into new jobs anyways but I think I need to find a way to incorporate art into my life again#I feel like it’s taken such a backseat in my life and I rlly hate when that happens#I think I’ve started pushing it aside when I have relationships to take care of now that I’m out of hs but I think I need to find a way to#balance both#work life art balance like I think this is so doable#maybe I do need a planner or graph or something to get all my priorities straight hmm#OHHHH MY VISION BOARD FUCK#I need to make my vision board#I’ll work on my bag and then I’ll get started on my vision board layout ugh#jan 25
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cowchickenbeefpork · 2 months ago
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Lee oneshot is now at 6.6k words….i can see the light at the end of the tunnel
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captainclickycat · 2 years ago
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Urgh GOD I forgot what it does to your notifications when a post gets popular and everyone puts something in the tags
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honey-tongued-devil · 3 months ago
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[Arcane preference]reacting to their s/o calling them husband/wife for the first time
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I’ve finished the first chapter of the long fic about Universe 7 (Anytime it rains). As soon as my second beta reader gives me the okay, I’ll post it. While I wait, I’ve written the first headcanon (out of three I’m definitely planning to write and post in the next few days) and picked up the drawing of Steb I’d left unfinished. I’m slow, as usual, but English isn’t my first language, and I’m juggling a lot of things at once. Enjoy!
socials: | INPRNT | | Tip Jar | | X | | BlueSky | | Ao3 | poster: | Jayce poster | | Silco poster | |Silco +self insert poster 1| | Steb poster | if you want to read the fluff longfic with vander and his happy family + Silco x reader you can find it here! ↠ Masterlist
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Jayce:
-This man is planning to put a ring on your finger as soon as possible, okay? -Between the academy, public appearances, and both theoretical and practical studies, there isn’t a single moment when he’s really in the right mindset to bring up the topic -The worst part is that, deep down, he’s terrified of putting pressure on you -That’s why, the first time he hears you refer to him as “my husband” during a gala with noble families, he almost chokes -He has to gather all his strength not to grab the interlocutor by the shoulders and ask if they also heard you say that word -He’ll try to keep his composure, maybe responding to your remark with, “Yes, exactly. Her husband really did say/do/design that.”
Viktor:
-It’s not a thought he’s ever really entertained; it never crossed his mind -Part of it is that science is his priority, and part of it is that marriage doesn’t seem like something meant for people like him, -The first time you call him “your husband”, that thought suddenly becomes real in his head, and he can’t help but lean against a wall and wait for the other person to leave -“So, I’m your husband now, huh? Mmm… I don’t mind, a bit pretentious, though…” he jokes, making you roll your eyes -Now, more than ever, he has no idea what to do. He’ll give you a bronze ring from a machine he’s building -“Until I can get one worthy of you.”
Ekko:
-Yes -That’s it -The end -Okay, seriously. The idea of being certain that something will last forever is probably his greatest wish -The first time you call him your husband, he doesn’t see it coming -“Wait, you’re married?” -“I was talking about you, Ekko.” -The moment you say it, he points to his chest, you see his lip tremble slightly, and his eyes grow shinier -He won’t stop talking about it for a week, and at least once a day, he’ll ask if you still want to marry him, if you’re sure, if you love him -No rings before S2; the promise is made by drawing something for each other on your masks and clothes -After S2, he still can’t afford a ring, but now that life is more stable, he can start thinking about a more traditional gift, like a piece of jewelry
Vander:
-This man is ravenous for any family role you might offer him—fiancé, father, husband. Anything goes -The first time you call him “husband”, he plays it cool but will seize the first opportunity to return the favor by telling a customer you’re married -As soon as he can, he’ll squeeze your hand, even under the counter -The idea of being married and having a complete family is everything he’s ever wanted -He won’t stop calling you “my beautiful wife/husband” from that moment on.
-You said it first; you can’t take it back. Now you have to get married
Silco (old man):
-This man’s only sin is loving too much, but I’ll save that reflection for another post -Having no ties other than his illegitimate daughter doesn’t make him someone who’s particularly keen on formalities -The first time you call him “your husband” is in front of Sevika, and he slowly turns to look at you, while she slowly turns to look at him -“Did I... miss something?” Sevika asks, but he doesn’t reply, still perplexed, before glancing at her and saying, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” -He’s relieved but doesn’t show it. He can’t afford to just yet -As soon as he confirms you were serious, your name will be flamboyantly forgotten—he’ll constantly refer to you as “my wife/husband”
Silco (young):
-The man who survives on love -The first time you call him your husband is in front of Vander, and while Vander bursts out laughing, Silco chokes on his drink -“Are you serious?” He’s so happy that his pale iris are completely swallowed by his dilated pupils -He grabs a pen and draws a ring around your finger -To his credit, he works in a mine, so it’s hard to do better than that, but it becomes the goal that keeps him going -Completely focused on family, the future, and anything that sees the two of you together and happy
Steb:
-The first time you call him your husband is at a dinner among enforcer families, and being mute doesn’t stop him from stealing the spotlight -He whips around, blinking slowly with only his third eyelid in a gesture of confusion -When he’s 100% sure he understood what you said, his eyes widen, the small membranes under his eyes flutter madly, and even the barely visible gills near his jaw gasp for a moment -Someone says, “I didn’t know you were married,” and he immediately nods enthusiastically, not giving you time to take it back -Within 48 hours, he’ll have the ring ready
Jinx:
-The first time you call her “your wife”, she freezes -“What did you just call me?” -She’s used to being a little sister, a big sister, a daughter—she’d never thought she could be a wife. Family ties aren’t chosen, but the idea that someone would want her in their life so much they’d marry her feels incredible -“You want to marry me? Really? Why?” -She bursts into tears, and it’ll take at least 24 hours of cuddling in bed to calm her down -After that, she’ll run to her father to announce that she’s now a married woman
Vi:
-She might not be Silco and/or Vander’s blood daughter, but she’s inherited their deep desire for family -From her family’s tragic fate to Vander’s, she’s always seen family as the ultimate aspiration -When you call her “your wife” for the first time, she doesn’t notice right away, but a full minute later, she whirls around to look at you, as if to ask for confirmation -“Say it again.” -“...You need to buy bread?” -“No, all of it.” -“My wife needs to go buy bread.” -“Again.”
-"My... wife?"
-"Again"
Caitlyn:
-Has she thought about it? Yes -Was she planning to act on it? Not exactly -Caitlyn struggles with emotions and feelings, which is why she hesitates and takes her time -But when you first call her “your wife”, her brain completely shuts off—she just stares at you, unable to hear a single word being said -If you or someone else asks her a question, she’ll snap out of it and respond, -“My wife/husband said everything.” Even if it makes no sense as an answer, making you laugh and leaving the other person baffled
Mel:
-Not a single flicker of surprise—the first time you call her “your wife”, she remains completely composed -“So, I’m your wife?” she asks as soon as you’re in private, approaching you like a feline. You can almost hear the purr in her voice -She’s amused but also intrigued by whatever game you’re playing -The idea of marriage is complicated for her—on one hand, it feels like it would limit her freedom to act, while on the other, unresolved family issues seem to devour her at the mere thought of starting a new cycle -She’ll tell you to go ahead, to get married, but she’ll also ask for time -In the meantime, though, she’ll start using the term “husband/wife” with you—she likes the way it rolls off her tongue
Sevika:
-Between the work she does, the environment she lives in, and all the interesting circumstances of her life, marriage has never been on her radar -Not to mention that in Zaun, it’s not exactly a common practice—people just move in together and build families when they can, without much fuss over formalities or bureaucracy -The first time it happens, she’s playing cards with the other goons, and you casually ask if “your wife is winning” -Her first reaction isn’t even hers—it’s the others’. Dustin, the blond goon with the lazy eye, almost starts crying, embarrassing her -Don’t worry, she’ll make you pay for it at home -She won’t ask to formalize anything, but in true Zaunite fashion, she’ll consider you married, plain and simple
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hoshigray · 1 year ago
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𝐎𝐥𝐝 𝐓𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐬, 𝐒𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐓𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐬 | toji fushiguro
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𝐒𝐲𝐧𝐨𝐩𝐬𝐢𝐬: Your ex-husband bringing the kids over for trick-or-treating is one thing; him wanting to spend the night at your place is another. But it's just for the night. There's no way one night can rekindle some old feelings...right?
𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬: ex-husband! Toji x fem! reader - explicit content; minors DNI - the reader is around their mid-30s - Tsumiki (age 11) and Megumi (age 9) - mutual pining - kissing/makeout sessions - unprotected sex - Daddy kink - breast sucking + nipple play - fingering (f! receiving) - oral (f! receiving) - spooning + mating press - cervix fucking - breeding kink - praise - clitoral play (pressing and grinding) - pet names (baby, good girl, mama, princess, sweetie, sweet thing) - you and Toji have been divorced for five years - cameos: Gojo, Utahime and Mei Mei - mention of drool/spit and tears - humor bc I'm [not] funny.
𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭: 7.6k (....dawg.)
𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫'𝐬 𝐍𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐬: happy Halloween, everyone!! so, randomly missed writing ex-husband! toji bc it's lowkey my favorite, soooo yeah, this is what we're doing to celebrate the end of the month! anywho, happy October, beautiful ppl, and tysm for reading my works!! Alsooo, ty for 2.8k!!!
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“Trick-or-treat!!”
“Gasp—Oh my goodness!” 
“We came to celebrate Halloween! Also, Megumi forgot his toothbrush here again.”
Opening your door to children at the sunset of Halloween day isn’t out of the ordinary or anything special. However, it’s always a pleasant surprise when it’s two kids you hold dear to your heart. You greet them with a hug, two siblings you know too well to say you’re acquainted with. If anything, you’re practically family. 
The raven-haired brother, referred to as Megumi, speaks up. “It’s not my fault! Dad was rushing me last time.”
“Because you had to bring your stuffed animals last time, holding us back for your baseball practice.” Tsumiki, the older sister, snapped back. The two argue amongst themselves in front of you as you try to mediate. It’s no avail until another voice comes to the fray.
“All right, chill out, you two.” The voice belonged to the person approaching the porch stairs, your eyesight capturing the familiar figure walking up with two duffle bags. The one standing tall before you was the father of the children, Toji Fushiguro. Who’s also known as your one and only former husband. “Get inside and finish y’r homework, or else we’re goin’ back home.” 
The siblings stop bickering and head inside, taking off their shoes at the foyer and walking upstairs. Now that they’re gone, you turn to the man with the jet-black hair, his viridian orbs focused on you. The weather was chilly, so the man wore his usual dark denim jacket over his plain black sweatshirt, matching his jeans. “You look good, big guy. What’s in the bags?”
He greets you with a curled lip, and the scar on the side of his lip lifts. “Picked them up from their after-school sports, so it’s their sports gear and costumes for tonight. Mind helpin’ me here?” 
“Hmmm,” you merge your facial expressions to that of faux pondering, turning your back to Toji. “Nah, can’t. Got dinner to finish making.”
“Hmph, should’ve known.” He makes his way through between you and the front door. “Wouldn’t wanna break your pretty nails carrying heavy shit, huh, princess?” 
You glare at him using the nickname, hating his patronizing gaze. “From what I remembered, you would never let me carry the heavy stuff because you thought I was too fragile and easy to break. So how about that, Mr. Knight in Shining Armor?”
“Really? I don’t remember sayin’ all that before. You must’ve put me in a spell.” 
“Probably, I’ve been told I’m quite cute~.”
“Mmm, nah, more like an old hag of a witch.” Toji barks a laugh at your offended reaction, and he immediately ducks and heads for the stairs when you throw a sandal at him.
“At the very least, say I’m a cute witch, fucker.” You say the final word under your breath, grabbing the sandal you threw and heading back to the kitchen.
To say you and Toji were acquainted with one another would be the biggest understatement of the century. The two of you met a decade ago, fell madly in love, and married within a year of the relationship. When you tied the knot, Tsumiki had to have been two years old, and Megumi just turned one year old. You two had been together for four years after that, and you could confidently say those were one of [if not THE] best years of your life. You often second-guessed yourself being in a relationship with someone who had children, fearing that they wouldn’t like you or ignore you.
However, those worries were blown right away as the days went by. Every time you spent time with the children brought you three closer than ever; it was to the point that they saw you as their mother. How sweet! And there’s no denying that Toji loved you. The man would break someone’s nose for you  — yes, it happened before, and it wasn’t pretty — for you were his sweet little thing that kept him going.  
Well, if it was so great, why the divorce? Let’s just say you weren’t Toji’s first love. That title would have to be awarded to the Megumi’s mother. Even in her unfortunate passing, you can tell that Toji loved that woman like no other. It didn’t make you jealous or anything, seeing the man you love still mourn for a dead woman. Hell, you’d probably do the same if you were him. But, you can’t lie; it felt like you were cast over a “shadow” when it came to her influence. It was damn near suffocating to bear, especially in those four years of marriage. So, for your sake and his aching heart, you pulled him aside and suggested a divorce. And Toji didn’t fight you on the proposition, signing the papers and setting you free from the thick air.
Although things ended between you two, that didn’t mean things stopped being what they were. If anything, it was as if nothing happened at all. Even if you still don’t live under the same roof, you still make time to hang with the Fushiguros, whether invited to some occasion or exchange phone calls or texts to check up on them. Even now, five years after your separation, it warms your heart knowing that you get to interact with the people you care about. 
There are moments you find yourself missing living under the same roof with all three of them and living alone can be pretty lonely. But all in all, as long as they’re comfortable and trust you enough to be around, there’s no need to change things up again. Like right now — the four of you sit at the dinner table eating before the kids go off trick-or-treating.
“Are you going to trick-or-treat with us, Y/n?” The brown-haired child sitting next to you asks while finishing up her dinner. 
“Sorry, not this time, gotta be at a Zoom meeting for my job in a few minutes. But I do have someone else to take my place. Gojo will be here at around—Why are you two making that face?” You stop mid-sentence to notice Megumi and Toji at the other side of the table, displaying disgusted facial expressions at the mention of the white-haired other’s name.
“Why him?” They said in unison.
“Why not??” You question their irritation.
“He’s so annoying…” Again, in unison. Proof enough that they’re father and son.
You sigh as you get up to take your plate to the sink. “Oh, come on, you two, it’s not like he’ll be with you guys the entire night. He has a party at a friend’s he’s going to later.” 
“Isn’t he too old to trick-or-treat?” Tsumiki questions, noting that Gojo is way past his undergraduate years. 
“He is, but whatever gets that prick any free sweets,” Toji answers his daughter before getting up to put his dish in the sink. 
You exit the kitchen, head into the living room, and sit on the couch. The laptop you had placed there was ready to open and unlock, and you clicked on applications and windows to look through before your meeting started in the next three to two minutes. He should be here about—
DING-DONG!!
Now.
Right on cue, you motion for Toji to grab the front door, and he follows your command. “Kids, Gojo’s here!” You shout out to the two kids who still sit at the table. “When you’re done eating, you can go upstairs and put your costumes on. But whoever finishes last has to do the dishes.” You can hear commotion from the table as the brunette rushes to put her dish in the sink and dash for the stairs. Megumi groans to himself; you giggle when you hear him mutter an “Aww man…”
You pull out your headphones to connect to your laptop, put them in their respective ears, and prepare yourself for the meeting. Ignoring the faint passive-aggressive tones of your ex-husband when greeting Gojo at the door…
─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───
Your eyes flutter open, noticing the lighting change around the living room. The orange sunlight no longer decorated the space, substituted with the gradual darkness that overtakes you. The only source of light you can figure out is the flashing from the television screen.
Aside from the TV, there are no other signs of life. There aren’t any signs of Tsumiki or Megumi around playing or causing a raucous. It could only mean the two are still trick-or-treating with Gojo. 
One blink, two blinks. I must’ve fallen asleep after the meeting… You hum while sinking to the couch, burying your face into the pillow. 
But…since when did your pillow act like it was breathing with a heartbeat? And…I smelt that cologne before…How?
“Ya awake now?”
You raise your head, realizing you are not lying on your couch. Technically, you were; however, you were lying on something else on the furniture with you – more like someone. 
It’s then you realize that you were lying on Toji during your entire slumber, him leaning on the end of the couch, one leg spread to make room for you to sleep on him while you sit on the other. And you can guess that you had your head on his chest, snuggling up to his warm figure. He looks at you with his green eyes now darkened by the room, yet you can see their glow from the television light. And that small smile he gives you, the scar on the right side of his lip lifted upward. The familiar butterflies in your stomach flutter like before. Like old times sake…That must be embarrassing, huh?
You frantically try to get off of him, “Sorry about that, I thought—“
“No, no,” Toji places a stern hand on your back, keeping you from moving further. “You were comfortable.” 
You stare at him for a few seconds until your face contours to a look, and a smile starts to creep up while you situate yourself back to your original position, pressing your face back on his chest to listen to the beats of his heart again. “I recall having this couch all to myself not too long ago, so where’d you come from?”
“Well, I wanted to watch some sports highlights, but I figured you’d kick my ass if I pulled you off and had you sleep on the floor instead.” With the click of your tongue, he chortles. You bet your ass I would. “So, I decided to have ya sleep on me while I watch TV.”
“What’s wrong with the other side of the couch? It’s quite vacant and enough for a big guy like you.” 
“True,” his hand rubs circles on your back, an old habit he did when he used to have you like this. “But then I’d be lonely.” 
You titter. “That’s big for someone who said he thrives on being alone.”
“I thrive being alone when I’m working.” You’re glad he can’t see your eyes roll; he’d probably grab you by the cheeks like a child. “Besides, why would I wanna be alone when I have you for myself.”
And there it is, your cheeks begin to warm up. Or was it because you’re so close to him that his heat is transferring to you? That’s probably it, yeah. Let’s change the subject…”How long was I out for? I remember the kids left around 7:30-ish.”
“Mmm, it’s going to eleven right now.”
Three and a half hours? Damn. “It’s past their bedtime.”
Toji scoffs. The abrupt motion of his chest rising is satisfying in a way that makes you even more comfortable. “You still think they’re gonna sleep with all that sweet shit they got?” He snickers some more as you shake your head.
“They know better. When you guys get home, be sure to put their candy bags on the top shelf of the closet for the morning.” 
“Still traumatized from that one time?” 
“Uhhh, yes??” The memory flashes to you for a quick moment, but the dread from before still haunts you. Megumi was six years old and Tsumiki seven, returning home from trick-or-treating and immediately tasting their labor from that night. However, what you didn’t expect was for them both to eat almost half their bags. Let’s just say, thanks to their sugar rushes, they didn’t drop dead until the hour hand touched two of the morning. “Unless it’s the weekend, never again.”
The way the older man chuckles is so therapeutic — it nearly makes you want to fall asleep again. “You weren’t the one chasin' Megumi all over the place tryin' to get him to sleep. Little squirt gets his speed from me.”
“Awww, poor you~” You can sense the glare as you respond in a condescending, sing-song tune. “You and him are always butting heads. Like father, like son.”
“Tch, hate that sayin’ so fuckin’ much.”
“Why? ‘Because it’s true?”
“Shut up.” The hand he used to rest his head comes down to pinch your nose. You wriggle out of his hold with giggles, but he happily keeps you grounded to him with his stronghold and a leg wrapped around to prevent yours from moving. “He only listens to you. Such a sweet lil’ baby to you, huh? Puttin’ my own son against me.”
More giggles prompt out of tiny guilt, and you bring up a hand to rub on his chest. “He’s such a bright boy now. Growing up so big and fast.”
“Miki, too. That girl is way too smart fr' me to catch up. And she’s becoming so kind and strong, crazy to think she made me play teacups when she could barely go down the stairs by herself.” Toji hums, the vibrations felt on the pads of your fingers. “Think she gets that from you.” 
You shook your head. “They’re your babies. They do amazing things because they have a big guy like you to catch them if they ever fall.”
“Hmm, fair…But let’s not pretend I’m the best dad in the world. Fuck, never in my life did I think I’d be a dad, especially with two kids. I didn’t know shit back then — still! I still don’t know shit.” You don’t say anything, just listening to him voice his thoughts to you. Because he knows you’d listen – you always do. “If you weren’t there for them, I don’t think they’d be shining like this. Y’re definitely the thing that brought us up together. They look up to you so much. Ya did so well with them.”
Nodding aimlessly, his black sweatshirt grazing on your cheek. “Thank you. Same to you. Didn’t do so bad yourself, big guy.”
“Mmm.”
Nothing is said between you two after that. The only thing that makes noise is the voices coming from the television. The volume lowered, an initiative you could guess from Toji wanting you to get some rest. The silence was too awkward that it might torture some, but it was fine where it was. There was no need to change it, especially when you were comfortable in each other’s embrace.
That is, until Toji asks, “Do you miss it?” The rubs on your back go slower, his fingertips drawing a ticklish sensation.
“Of course I do. All the time.” You answer honestly, turning your head to rest your chin on him. Your eyes glimpse directly at his, giving him a tiny grin. “Why ask? I know the kids miss me being around; what about you? Miss me nagging and putting you to work all the time?”
He sneers at your comment. “Every day.”
It was such a simple answer, yet it had the power to wipe that smirk right off your face. Your eyes locked in his sight, and your heart tuning to an irregular rhythm. Oh, come on, Y/n, get a grip! “Ahem—Toji, I hope you know that I never stopped missing everything we had — I never will. Those years that we shared were probably the best I’ve had. We had happy moments, others sad, of course. But, God, do I miss it all. I miss it so much. I miss having you guys here. Miki and Gumi and—“
“Me?” Good Lord, if this man doesn’t stop looking at you with those goddamn eyes of his, such captivating orbs that say more than he lets on. Your breath hitches, and so does the hand on your back. “Hmm? Ya miss me, baby?”
Oh, for fuck’s sake. Why’d you have to call me that? And it gets worse when he places his free hand on your cheek, his thumb brushing your skin while the forefinger teases the lobe and tragus of your ear. Goddammnit…
“...Yes,” your voice was down a whisper, which could easily be mistaken with the television. But you know Toji heard you, loud and clear. “Especially you, Toji.” You said it. The words that he wanted to hear from you. They felt so forbidden to say, yet it was the truth. You avert your gaze away from him. But you knew that wouldn’t work, not right now. Toji taps your cheek with his thumb, and your eyes sheepishly return to his.
He doesn’t say anything, and that makes your heart beat at an unbearable rate. It’s all you can hear when you stare into his deep emerald eyes, the sound of it ringing your eardrums as if you could puke. Your throat running dry, so you gulp to ease the uncomfortable bob. If something could just happen to end this anxious torture, that would be great. 
And then your prayers get answered: something does happen. Toji slowly brings his face closer to yours — your body goes rigid, and you instantly face away before the inevitable happens. No, I didn’t mean that!
“Aht aht, don’t do that, baby.” His hand slithers from your cheek to your chin, forcing you to face straight at him. “Lemme see you.”
“Toji, wait,” your voice travels out in a shaky breath. “We shouldn’t be doing this. We can’t cross this line anymore.”
He listens to your pleas, but his body does otherwise. Placing a gentle kiss on your forehead while the hand on your back snakes downward. “Why not?” His gruff voice dialed down to a whisper.
“Because—Mmmm…” Toji interrupts you by licking the helix of your ear. Oh, you slick bastard. “We’re supposed to be done…” 
“That’s not stoppin’ me from takin’ care of my sweet thing.” Jesus Christ, you almost melted from the way he whispered that to your ear. He’s pulling out all the same old tricks, and it gets more hellish by the second as you try not to give in. “So, y're gonna let me take care of you like I always do, right, mama?”
Both his hands now rest on your ass, groping it while your hips sway as if they have a mind of their own. The leg between yours comes up slightly, making you ride on it. The heat on your cheeks has already blossomed to your ears, making it hard to think straight. Gripping his sweatshirt, your hips ride his thigh to ease the throbbing sensation that grows with every motion. Good God, you shouldn’t be doing this. You know you shouldn’t be doing this. However, it’s been so long that you felt wanted like this — wanted by him. It’s all the same – his voice, his hands, his words, his body, and the names he calls – yet here you are turning into putty. 
“Haaahh, Mmmfff…Toji, please,” Toji withdraws his face from your shoulder, leaving him to examine your expression. You must look so dumb right now, with your hooded eyes and shivering lips. But, at this point, do you even care? “Please…Treat me right.”
One moment, you see his gaze narrow with a devious glint. Next, you’re taken aback when Toji slams his lips on yours, kissing and sucking your bottom lip until you give him access. With a moan, you open your mouth for him and sink deeper into the kiss. Your hands come around his neck, keeping him focused on you and you alone. Not that he would have it any other way.
His strong hands continue to knead your asscheeks while you hump and grind on his thigh. Nibbling on your lip, you whimper helplessly for him. It strokes his ego, knowing he’s making you like this, the fucking bastard. He takes in your tiny cries happily, shoving his tongue to play with yours. You give in to him, almost losing your balance riding his thigh, yet Toji’s lips never leave yours.
You break the kiss to get an imperative breath, panting loudly and sweetly for him as Toji kisses and licks your ear. The sounds make your lower region twitch. “Hnnmm, fuck…That’s my girl. So fuckin’ good fr’ me always, Y/n…” You can feel him slide a hand up to the hem of your leggings, forcing it inside for his thick fingers to brush up on the bare flesh of your butt. You gasp sharply. Him squeezing your butt has you biting down on his sweatshirt. “—Hahhh, Oh God, Toji,” With every squeeze, he inches closer to your panty-covered chasm, where you know he’d find a damp spot. Please touch me. Please, please, plea—
CLACK-CLINK!!
The two of you are frozen stiff when you hear the sound of the door opening and closing, the foyer lights turned on. “Alright~, we got you guys home. See ya later!” That was Gojo’s voice, indicating everyone was finally back from trick-or-treating. This means that Tsumiki and Megumi are about to see you on top of their father, his hand in your leggings and smacking lips with yours. Your eyes shoot wide with horror — immediately remove yourself from Toji and stand up from the couch to pull your bottoms up. You barely had the chance to peek at Toji because the kids already run to the living room to find you two.
“Y/n, Y/n, look!” The brunette was the first to greet you with her adorable pink Barbie cowgirl costume. She and her brother, dressed as Sasuke Uchiha, cheerfully showcased their pillowcases full of candy. “Look at all this candy we got!”
“Wooow, you guys really went on a haul,” you can only hope they can’t see you sweating bullets through your fake reaction. “Wh–Where’s Gojo?” 
“He dropped us off here a few seconds ago and left for the party,” The raven-haired boy answered while scanning his pillowcase.
You only nod along until you frantically wipe your mouth, realizing the tiny trail of spit from the corner of your mouth. “Umm—Ahem, well then, I’m glad you two got all that candy. Now, let’s hurry up and get you guys home so you can get ready for school tomorrow!” 
But the children didn’t move an inch. Actually, they looked like they were going to tell you something. You lift a brow. Oh no, they’re going to look at each other. They looked at each other and then glanced back at you. Oh, God, no. “Uhhh, Y/n, we were thinking.” Big sister Tsumiki is always the one who asks the following question. “Can we stay over?”
You inhale a massive breath, yet you do your best not to exhale a heavy sigh. “Kids, you promised to keep the overnight stays to three at max per month. This will be the fifth!” 
“Yeah, but it’s dark out. Plus, it’s way past our bedtime.” The younger chimes in with a tiny pout. “We’ll be asleep by the time Dad gets us home.”
And here comes Tsumiki with the tag-team response to add on. “And that means he’ll have to make continuous trips back and forth from the car. Picking me and Megumi up, getting our bookbags, the bags full of candy, the whole thing! We already packed up our PJs just in case.” 
You stood there staring at the two in astonishment. There’s no way they thoroughly planned this out. There’s just no way… And to make it worse, they were making valid arguments. You open your mouth to say something, but the two give the best puppy eyes they can. The wave of guilt hits like a train, internally cringing. You turn to Toji, who still sits on the couch, and the motherfucker only gives you a shrug. Wow, what a helpful father he is.
You groan into your hands, shaking your head while looking at the kids who wait for your verdict. “…Alright, you can stay as long as you PROMISE to put those candy bags in my bedroom closet. Deal?” The happy smiles and aggressive head shakes should answer your question. “Good, now go ahead and take your showers before you head for bed.” They rushed to the stairs by the time you finished that sentence, so enthusiastic about staying the night at your house, and you can’t help but smile hearing their footsteps run up the stairs. 
With that being said, you turn to the older man again. Your brows are trenched down, but your smile is still present. “So, you legit just sat there and let those two tag-team me like that? In my own house?”
Another shrug with a dumb smirk on his handsome face. “Told you: too smart fr’ me to catch up.” You shake your head before exiting to get the kids and guest rooms ready, leaving him with the television. 
─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───
The midnight hour has finally danced its way into the darkness of the night. Halloween is finally over, and the month of October is no more. The pitter-patter sound of the rain cleanses the neighborhood of its merits and festivities that partook hours ago, ready for a new phase of the year to take over.
After having the guest room ready with sheets and sleepwear for Toji and kissing the kids goodnight, you rinse your stress off with a nice shower and put on your pajamas to get ready for bed. After you turn the lights off, you drape the comforter over your figure as your body sinks with the cozy sheets and pillowcase. Your eyes close while focusing on the curtains of your window, the only light piercing inside being the lampposts by the street. 
…Well, at least that’s what’s supposed to happen. But that’s not the case because you’re not the only one lying comfortably on your mattress. Instead, Toji is here with you, in your room, on your bed, his chest to your back, and his hand roaming inside your oversized shirt. Your lips are now connected with his, sharing your erotic moans with his enticing groans, and you get a little louder as his fingers cup and play with your breast.
“Mmphh…Ahhhh, I thought I told you you’re sleeping in the guest room—Nmmff!” He tweezes your nipple with his forefinger and thumb roughly.  
“And I thought you’d be smart enough to know that wasn’t gonna happen.” Toji kisses the crook of your neck, drawing near your ear for him to whisper. “Besides, look at you. Still sleepin’ with no underwear on?”
“Hmph, only when I have a man around the house.” That answer got you another rough tweak on your nip and a purposeful gnaw to your ear. You knew he’d react like that, never liking the mention of another man leaving your mouth – especially during an intimate time like this.
“That so? What man you know that can handle all this?” Toji then moves from his side to be between your legs, pulling up your shirt to fully expose your chest. And your breathe hitches while his free hand travels down your abdomen to your bottoms.
“Ahhhh, no one. Just you...” You look at him with half-lidded eyes, taking in his reaction to what you said. The salacious grin on his face becoming broader should entail that he greatly loved that retort.
He brings his face to your other unattended nipple, “Good answer, princess.” The nub of your breast enters his mouth, and the wet warmth of his tongue greets it with lapped motions and grazes from his teeth. Despite that, it doesn’t distract you from the fact your bottoms are pulled down with ease and are thrown to the bedroom floor, leaving your cunt out for him, your erotic fluids seeping and glistening from the outside lights. 
Toji plays with your folds until he can stuff his pointer finger into your chasm, the insertion resulting in your body’s jolt. It’s been a long while since you had his thick digit inside you, playing and scraping the inner walls to evoke whimpers. God, it felt so good, this satisfying feeling returning to awaken your body to his touch. He interacts with your body as if he’s the only person who knows how to get you going – and it’s the truth. No one can put you in a blissful haze quicker than this man. And you’d prefer to keep it that way. 
The addition of his middle finger into your leaky entrance startles you, the thick digit making its way in with such vigor that he uses both fingers to scrape the velvety texture of your walls. Your eyes are now screwed shut at the growing commotion between your thighs, and the heat within your body flourishing all around gets to your head. “—Khmm, Oh fuuck, Toji. Please, don’t stop.” 
With a soft ‘pop’ noise from his lips, Toji replies to your demands. “I’m sorry, what’s my name again?” You giggle with trenched brows. Of course, how could I forget?
“Nmmph, D-Daddy, pleaseee, I’m so clo—Ahhhann!!” He puts his thumb to your clit, grinding down on it unexpectedly. “I wanna cum, pleaseee…”
“Hmmm, good girl,” he teased, laying down kisses, nibbling on the skin of your stomach and inner thighs until he arrives at your leaking slit. Your body jerks up from the bed when you feel the cold, wet muscle slowly lick on your clitoris before ravaging your folds. The sounds of his mouth on your cunt are so lewd to the ear, slurping noises from his lips with the lapping motions of his tongue claiming your come are too much for you. And when he uses his hand to swipe and pinch your clit? Oh, it’s a wrap. Your release comes out without control, biting down on your bottom lip to make sure your cries don’t leave this space for the kids to hear. Their room is on the other side down the hall; tonight isn’t the night for too many risks.
When your trembling body calms down and subsides, Toji withdraws his face from between your thighs. Your essence paints his mouth, and he wipes his chin clean while licking the remnants that coat his scarred lips. “Hmph, missed tastin’ you like that.” You open your eyes when your high finally evades you, watching your ex-husband pull down his sweats. His erection springs out and hits his stomach, your mind going rampant with thoughts as you ogle at his freed limb. Shit, it’s been so long. Will that shit even fit me again?
“Don’t think it’ll fit, baby?” Damn him, he loves teasing you. Toji then discards his black wife-beater, at long last revealing his well-built, brawny physique that has you drooling for him. He uses his hands to maneuver your legs—your knees pushed to your chest as your legs propped up on his shoulders. A position you’re all too familiar with. Your eyes don’t leave Toji’s cock as he aligns his cock to your slick-coated folds. “Take some breaths fr’ me, sweetie. Can’t take care of you when you’re all tense.”
You take up on his advice and begin taking deep breaths, reminding yourself to maintain the steady pattern as he pushes the tip of his dick between the lips of your cunt. Every inhale is where he nudges into the hole of your inner cavern, and every exhale gives you time to breathe out the pain that comes in for a split second. This carries on until the cockhead wedges itself perfectly into your vagina, along with the inches of his girth that stretches until the base kisses your lips, the tip of him kissing your cervix. Tears swell up in your eyes, taking more deep breaths to prepare yourself for what’s about to come. 
“Oooh fuuuck…Heh, yeah, that’s my baby right there. Fittin’ so perfect fr’ me, mama…” He puts his weight on you, keeping your figure unmoving under his bow. 
“Nmmmf, Daddyyy,” you’re forced to take in all of him, and drool trails down your lips with no hope of taking care of it. “…I’m so full, you’re too much…”
“I know, sweetie, I know.” He wipes your spit after kissing your forehead. How gentle compared to what you’re about to go through. “Gonna move now.” His thrusts start slow for the two of you to adjust to each other; the feeling of his length’s veins coming in and out of your chasm is so euphoric, and the kisses to your cervix want your body to writhe and squirm. But you’re bent into this position for a reason: forced to submit to him no matter what. So you do just that.
Yet your horny haze gets more potent once he picks up the pace, rutting into you with increased speed. Your slit, still sensitive from earlier, gets overstimulated with the constant grazes on your gummy walls and jabs to your tender cervix. It takes everything in your power not to come so early.
“—Hahhhh, Nmmph. Oh, shit, shit, shit…” Toji groans above you, the thrusts of his pelvis increase to an irregular rhythm, grinding deep into your cunt to the point of uncontrollable babbles escaping your lips. His bullying on your insides results in you gripping his length hard, causing the older man to hiss and moan at your contractions. “—Ohhhfuuuckk!! Jesus Christ, baby. Y’re gonna make me go crazy.” 
As if that wasn’t already happening now that he pistons his cock into your wetness, your brain turning into mush from the onslaught of ruts to your puffy wet chasm. Tears stream down your face, and more drool follows down with more precise hits to your delicate canal. The pounding in your head makes it hard to think of anything else, the squelching noises and paps of Toji’s balls hitting your cunt making it worse. 
“D-Daddyyy, I’m—Ohoooo!! Oh, Jesus, ohhhshit!” You can’t formulate a proper sentence, too engulfed with the electrifying sensations coursing through your body. 
“Damn, you feel too fucking good—Hnngh!!” Toji places his forehead on yours, resting his entire weight on you while his hips have a mind of their own. “‘Bout to make me knock you up…”
Oh, good Lord. The mere thought of having a child is the last thing that should be on your mind. But in a time like this, who in their right mind would be thinking straight? “Nnnfff! Oh God, pleaseee, fill me up, Daddyy!” Green eyes narrow with trenched brows. “—Pleasepleasepleaseee!! I want you to fill me up so bad, I want it, I want—Hyaaaaa!!” 
How can he deny your desperate, teary pleas when you’re urging him on like this? “Heh, you’re so fuckin’ sexy, mama.” Toji captures your lips with his, your mewls taken by him as you sink further into your pleasurable thrill.
Sporadic thrusts of his pelvis produce more raunchy noises in the joining of your sexes, his heavy balls smacking on your cunt as he drives the base of his cock straight into you. Your slit is now a puffy mess, come and slick form a soapy mess that Toji now harbors a milky ring around his girth. A few rushed, sloppy thrusts heighten your high once more, and then Toji presses his pelvis down to the hilt on one final, harsh thrust, unloading his seed into your aching folds. And your climax follows in a few seconds, the walls of your cunt fluttering on his pulsating dick as your essence soaks him. Your muffled shrieks are received by him, quivering under him until the aftershocks wash through your body. 
Once you two breathe at a steady tempo and the nerves of your sweaty bodies fall still, the kiss is broken with heavy pants and a string of spit that links you two together. Toji buries his face between your neck and shoulder, licking and kissing your skin as you’re allowed time to experience your clarity.
“Hmmm…You know I’m not done yet, princess.” Toji mumbles to your ear before stationing your legs off his shoulders for them to rest.
“Yeah, I know, big guy.” You tease him with a breathless laugh, kissing him on the temple. “Always wanting more…”
─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───
“…So, you’re telling me you had your ex-husband spend the night? Not just the kids?”
“Yup, that’s what happened.” 
This morning was different from your usual routine – well, you can’t say it’s different if you have done it before, huh? After five years of divorce, you thought you’d be so used to waking up and getting ready for work without worrying about others. However, this morning proves otherwise.
It felt natural walking into the kids’ room and lightly shaking them awake, telling them to get ready while you whip up something quick for them to eat as Toji showers (using your bathroom, by the way). Watching the kids run down the stairs and eat breakfast puts a smile on your face, reminiscing about the good old days when they were younger and teenier. It sometimes feels surreal doing the same thing for them now that they’re getting older and taller. But seeing them bicker and interact with each other in your presence never fails to warm your heart.
When Toji’s finished freshening up and loading his kids’ stuff in his truck, it’s time to bid them farewell for their departure for school. You give them final touch-ups on their hair and outfits, reminding them to be safe and not get into trouble (especially Megumi, now that the boy’s been getting into fights). And before they rush to the car, you hug them and give each a kiss on the cheek. Here is where the warm feeling inside your heart begins to deteriorate, not wanting to let them go. Yet, for their sake – and education – you release them and hope for the best.
The last to leave was Toji, who came from the kitchen to the front door with a paper plate wrapped in foil in one hand. His name is written boldly by a black Sharpie. “This fr' me?” 
“No, it’s for Shiu Kong, for dealing with you all the time.” You stick your tongue out at Toji as he glares at you, not even moving out of the way while he exits through the door. “You better eat that when you get to work, you have a terrible habit of skipping lunch.” 
“Whatever ya say, mom.” He pesters you with the title, knowing you’re technically not a mother anymore. Yet it only makes you smile knowing he notices your maternal side. 
“Don’t forget to text me when Tsumiki’s soccer game is next week.” You watch him go down the porch stairs. 
“Will do.”He whistles. 
“And Toji?”
The man stops walking to turn to you, his forest green eyes fixed on you so quickly that you almost forget what you want to say. Or what you wanted to do. You place your fingers on your lips and blow a kiss with an outward gesture. It was an old habit you did whenever he left, something you can’t seem to get out of practice with. It’s embroidered in your mind at this point. 
And when he catches the kiss with his free hand and places it on his chest, it makes your heart skip a beat. Toji grins, “I’ll be damned if that was fr' Shiu, too.”
You snicker with a shaken head. “Drive safe, Toji.” Closing the front door, you stand there for a while. Your smile doesn’t falter; it gets bigger as you replay the moment instead. Thinking about him, hearing him, seeing him, it all drives you crazy. And that’s a good thing…right?
“I don’t know, sounds like you still kinda care about the guy.” 
“Of course I do,” So here you are, sitting in your living room enjoying the rays of the sunset decorating the space, in a video call with your best friends, Utahime and Mei Mei. You reply to the former’s comment. “Just because I don’t have the ring on my finger doesn’t mean I shouldn’t care about him. I mean, he’s the father of two lovely children.”
“Shoot, you’re better than me, then.” The dark-haired woman admits. “But you’re kinda proving my point, Y/n. Even when you don’t have the ring on, you two act like the same old couple, and it’s definitely not just for the kids’ sake. Let’s be real here.” 
You try to interject, but the pale-blue-haired other, Mei Mei, intervenes, “I agree. It’s one thing if you let the children stay over, but he also wanted to spend the night. Sure, he could’ve been tired from driving all day and such. However, if you’re still seeing a man for the last five years – while legally unbound – and he says he wants to spend the night under your roof, which is rare, that should ring some bells at least.”
“I know, it did…” you nod along with what your friend is saying, throwing your head back with a heavy sigh. “But it’s not like he’s never spent the night here before, nor is he banished from stepping inside.” 
“Oh? Then why is this time different from the others?”
Utahime jumps in after Mei Mei’s chirp. “Yeah, you’re telling us about all these nostalgic lovey-dovey feelings as if you’re falling in love with him all over again. What, did you two have sex or something?” 
An open mouth, yet no words come out, leaving you in a predicament. You could’ve just lied or swerved the subject to something else. But you didn’t. And the two women on the screen lift their brows with hooded eyes, a look meaning a thousand words. You couldn’t even explain yourself either because a sudden knock on your door captured the attention of all three of you. 
You stand up and walk towards the door, your friends still on call on the phone at hand. Opening the door, you’re almost stunned to see in front of you. Tsumiki and Megumi with nervous smiles, and their father at the car collecting the same duffles bags from last night. You’re kidding.
“Hey, kids.” The two of them gulped from not calling them by their names. You bring up the phone to face the screen to them. “Say hello to Auntie Mei Mei and Utahime.” The women on the line smile and wave at the children, who sheepishly wave back.
“Hi, aunties.” Megumi greets them, and then his eyes drift back to you. “So, Y/n—“
“What did you forget this time?” Straight to the point, no room for excuses.
“It was Miki this time! She forgot her soccer cleats.” The older sibling gawks at her younger brother for calling her out.
“Tsumiki, I know you have cleats at home.”
“I do, but these are special! You bought them for my birthday, and I’ve been wearing them to every game ever since! So, I was scared when I couldn’t find them at home.” The brunette was quick to defend her stand. “Also, Dad doesn’t feel like driving up here and then back. So…can we…”
You close your eyes and bring the phone to your face to shield your vexation. Twice in a row, the sixth time this month. You can hear the giggles of your friends from the other side of the phone, adding more fuel to the fire. You don’t look up until you hear heavy footsteps on the porch, seeing Toji holding both duffle bags with a hand and shoulder. He stares at you as you stare at him, a silent conversation on how to handle this situation. And when he shrugs with lifted brows, you realize it’s no use and release the long-awaited sigh.
“….If I see one more thing being left behind here, you guys can’t come back till December, understand?” It wasn’t anything serious, but enough for the kids to know you weren’t joking. They nod their heads in unison while you roll your eyes. “Okay, get in here.” They rushed inside with gleeful laughs, the shuffling of their backpacks following along with them. Your eyes then drift to Toji as he walks up to you. “Did you forget something here, too?”
“Yeah,” you lift a brow when he drops Megumi’s bag to the floor. Before you can register his hand on your chin, you squeak when he brings his lips to yours. It lasted for seconds, but the kiss was sweet and tender, sucking on your lip before letting go with a playful bite. “Meant to give you that when you woke up. Thanks fr' the food, mama.” 
Toji picks the bag up and walks inside your home to put the bags in the rooms, leaving you standing on the porch with an astounded expression. You couldn’t appropriately calibrate your thoughts until you heard faint laughs from the phone. Then, you realize your best friends witnessed the entire scene that transpired. 
Utahime, with the slyest leer, was the first to say something. “Oh yeah, he laid that pipe on you good, without a doubt.”
“Mhmm,” Mei Mei agrees with a chuckle. “And I'm guessing he’s gonna do it again tonight. Isn’t that right, Y/n?”
You end the video call with a heated face. “Sh-Shut your damn mouths!!” Again, you groan into your hands before returning inside. Thank God I still have those birth control pills...
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♱ 𝐌𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭
© 𝐇𝐨𝐬��𝐢𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐲2023 – reblogs + comments are appreciated wholeheartedly ☆ header art by rororogi mogera + dividers by the amazing @/cafekitsune!!
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steviescrystals · 11 months ago
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one more rant about my layoff in the tags and then i’ll shut up i promise
#my mom is telling me to apply for unemployment and i’m so overwhelmed even thinking abt it#the guy from payroll who so nicely told me about the layoff sent me a link for it like that’s the natural next step#but like i’m not planning on staying unemployed for more than like a week i’m planning on applying for another job in a few days#so i feel like it’s not even worth it but at the same time i do need money bc the timing of this was terrible#BUT idk if i’m even eligible for unemployment bc i have a second job#i’m on demand there so i only work like once every couple months but it’s still a job so i’m not technically unemployed yk#and i was going through the eligibility requirements online and i can’t find anything related to that one way or the other#i want to just say fuck it and not worry about it#but is that stupid bc i currently only have like one job in mind to apply for and i don’t even know if they’re hiring yet#i feel like i’m being dumb and picky bc i’m still in college so it’s not like it’s a career thing i just need a job for now#preferably retail bc that’s what i’ve always done and i’m extremely opposed to the idea of a serving job#anyway it shouldn’t really matter that much bc it’s gonna be temporary#but i’m not the type to change jobs often (i’ve only ever had 2 and they’re the one i got laid off from and the one i’m still on demand at)#so wherever i end up working i’m planning on staying for at least a couple years so i want it to be something i at least somewhat enjoy#it just sucks so much having to go through this whole process#bc i was planning on staying at this last job until i finished school and possibly longer#and now i don’t have that option bc they let me go with no warning and no explanation#and i loved that job so i’ve been extremely depressed ever since i got the call#which just makes the whole unemployment/applying for new jobs thing so much harder#and i wish i could stop whining about it but it’s literally all i can think about i’m just! so unhappy rn!#vent#lj.txt
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suguae · 1 year ago
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Haunted
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Toji cannot move on, until he realized too late.
Warnings: Angst, slightest fluff (reader and baby 'gumi moment)
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You were just a girl, standing in front of a man, asking him to love you.
How hard was that for him? Yes, he wasn’t good with his words but he wasn’t good at anything else either. He was just there.
Maybe because the woman he truly loved—he was still mourning over her. His sad eyes every time he watched an old couple dance together, wishing he had been doing that but with her. The cute babies babble with their mothers as Megumi babbles with his father, how he wished his wife was still here instead of you. He never said it, but that’s what it felt like. 
And perhaps that's what it was. 
Sometimes he curses himself out when he accidentally calls you his wife's name. During intimate times only. You tried—trying to keep the emotions in as if it wasn’t breaking every part of you, was the hardest part. “Look he’s walking...” You smiled at the dark haired baby who was walking towards you. Toji smiled, making sure he’d record every second of it; deep down he wished his wife was the one the baby was walking towards instead of you.
And it was wrong—so wrong. 
“This relationship, I’m with you but Toji—Toji this is the loneliest I’ve ever felt.” You whispered while he ate his leftovers, his brows still furrowed from the argument occurring earlier. Having Toji work from 9–5 wasn’t the best but good thing he had you, helping him out with so much. Picking up groceries, picking up his lovely son—until you mentioned that one of his teachers mistaken you as his biological mother. That right there was enough to make Toji angry for weeks at least.
But not this time.
He stopped chewing on his food after you spoke, waiting for more of an explanation. Which you figured he needed, “I don’t think you’re in love with me–” 
“I like you [name], a lot.” He cleared his throat. He leaned back on his chair as his arms crossed waiting for you to continue the sentence he interrupted. 
Right, he liked you a lot. These three rough years you’ve been dating Toji—that particular l word was never uttered once, not even if he was drunk, or having a special moment with you. You huffed trying to find the right words for Toji to understand. That was until little Megumi started crying from his room. “I’ll try to put him back to sleep, finish eating.” He watched as your fragile little body sulked its way to Megumi’s room.
He knew this was gonna happen, he knew you were bound to leave him sooner or later. 
You smiled as you opened the door to see the little Megumi standing on top of his little bed. His hands wiping his tears as he ran towards you, his arms now wrapping around your legs. “Sleep with mama and papa.” He cried out as you leaned down to pick up the little boy. “[name] and papa, not mama okay?” You corrected him, if Toji were to find out that he had been calling you that, then that argument would’ve climaxed.
The little boy nodded, his tears now gone as you swayed him around. “Sleep with you.” He mumbled, leaning his head on your shoulder as he played with a strand of your hair. “Just for tonight.” You whispered, watching Megumi pick up his head and smile. Content with your answer. 
Toji’s heart could just swell at the sight. You treated his son as if he was your own and nothing looked so much better right now, except for the fact that he wished it was his wife.
Megumi was now soundly sleeping between you and Toji, “I don’t think I can do this anymore.” His eyes shut tightly hearing those piercing words leave your mouth. It hurt when his wife left him, but this hurt was different—different because he knew it was coming yet he didn’t want to do anything about it. 
“I’m sorry—”
“You don’t need to be the one apologizing.” He watched your soft gaze stare at completely nothing. He was confused, this was his fault. He never treated you how you needed deserved to be treated. “It was my fault for throwing myself at a man who simply was not ready.”
The next morning was silent—baby ‘gumi was confused at the saddened look on your face. Constantly walking up to you asking if you were okay. He was still just a baby, yet he read the room so well. “I’m sure we can work this out—” Toji now sitting next to you on the couch, some cartoon playing in the back as Megumi’s little head sat on your lap. “You’re not ready, Toji.” You nodded, eyes still glued on the tv as if it was meant for you and not the little Megumi. 
“And how are you so sure—”
“Tell me you love me then.” Your eyes are now fixed on Toji’s. It was hard, he felt as if his mouth had been glued shut. You sigh, bringing your gaze back to the tv, “I love you—but it’s hard when it’s one sided Toji.” 
It hurt much more, seeing you drive away as the clueless Megumi waved you out. Poor thing thinks you’re simply going to the store. The house that once felt like home was so dull now. Toji sat little ‘gumi down on the couch. 
His constant, “mama?” or “[name]?” while he kept his gaze on the door every so often. Nothing prepared Toji for this. Megumi cried that he wanted to sleep with his mama and papa, his heart swelled knowing that he had been talking about you.
You were gone, just like his wife. But it hurt—it hurt so much more knowing that you’re alive trying your best to…move on. He stayed up late that same night, stumbling upon a video from two years ago. When Megumi first learned how to walk. You and Toji had just started dating but the look of happiness plastered your face as you watched the little baby walking. 
That was one thing Toji never forgot about, how much you loved kids. Telling him how once you had kids of your own you would finally be able to live in peace. How he heard of it less and less as the years went on, he wonders if you still think that.
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