thegirlinthedirtyshirtmp3

[pretentiouswreckingball]

currently reading a 2006 drarry fic and the author decided that the A of RAB stands for Adrian and I—

[snortlaughs]

twitchy ears

fandom: the owl house

pairing: none! please don’t tag as ship!

characters included: switch!darius, switch!raine

word count: 1,381

genre: fluff!

warnings: none

author’s note: ahhhh~ as i was writing this, i felt like it was gonna be a lot longer than it actually turned out! (・・；) i hope that you guys still like it, please let me know what you think~! this is my first tickle fight fic heheheh~

darius stormed into raine’s bedroom with a frown.

raine looked up from the book they were reading, unbothered by their unexpected guest.

the two witches had become good friends and they regularly came to each other’s rooms to hang out, so this wasn’t something abnormal.

“oh, hello, darius,” raine said bluntly, looking back down at the book that they held in their lap.

the purple-haired covenhead huffed and stubbornly crossed his arms over his chest, not responding to raine’s greeting.

raine pursed their lips with slight irritation and looked up at the figure in their doorway.

“you should reply to people when they talk to you. don’t be rude, dari,” they growled.

“don’t be rude?!” darius barked. “you wanna know what’s rude? you telling the prodigy about my weaknesses!”

raine furrowed their eyebrows with a smirk. “what are you talking about, you goon? i didn’t do anything of the sort.”

as they spoke, their left ear twitched ever-so-slightly.

a dark blush broke onto darius’ cheeks, which made raine giggle.

“heheh— aww, you must be really embarrassed. i barely ever see you blush like that.”

darius squeezed his eyes shut and used his thumb, pointer, and middle fingers to massage his forehead.

“titan, this witch gives me a headache…” he thought.

“that is besides the point, whispers,” he muttered, opening his eyes to glare at his friend. “you told hunter one of my biggest, most mortifying weaknesses, and he used it against me. he’s never going to take me seriously again!”

a look of recognition appeared in raine’s green eyes.

“oh, i get it now. the kid found out that you’re ticklish.”

darius sighed in annoyance and walked to raine’s bed, where they were still relaxing and enjoying themselves.

“he didn’t find anything out. you told him.”

raine shook their head with a scoff.

“don’t be ridiculous,” raine sneered. “i didn’t tell him anything. what’s the point of me doing that?”

raine’s left ear twitched as they spoke.

“what do you mean ‘what’s the point of me doing that’?” darius grumbled. “you live to embarrass me! you enjoy it! that’s the point! what a sorry excuse.”

raine stuck their tongue out at darius and then nonchalantly switched their gaze back to their book.

“sure,” raine confirmed, “that part is true. i do love to fluster you.”

darius groaned.

“…but, still, i didn’t tell hunter anything. you must just seem like someone who’s ticklish,” raine theorized.

their left ear twitched yet again, just more prominently this time. darius smiled slightly when he noticed it.

“titan knows that you’re one of the most ticklish witches on the aisles, anyway.”

the man ignored raine’s blatant jab and sat down at the foot of their bed.

“maybe you shouldn’t lie to me when you’re within tickling distance.”

raine felt their heart skip a beat, but successfully hid their reaction to darius’ words.

“nice try, you buffoon, but i’m not lying and i’m not ticklish.”

and, like clockwork, raine’s left ear twitched.

quite intensely, too.

darius raised his eyebrows and tried to suppress a laugh.

“raine, does your ear twitch when you lie?”

the minty-haired witch’s eyes widened and they abruptly turned their face away from their ally, likely to hide their embarrassment.

“no… i don’t know what you’re talking about.”

twitch.

“pff—”

darius clapped his right hand over his mouth in an attempt to hold his giggles in, but to no avail.

he threw his head back with hearty laughter at the irony of the situation.

he laughed for a long while, and raine got even redder every second that passed.

“HA! heheheh! what in the world were you thinking, lying in this situation?” he snickered, gripping his aching sides in an effort to regain himself. “titan, that was funny. you should join the comedy coven.”

“hey! can you quit teasing me about it?!” raine whined, putting their book down in their lap and holding their hands over their warm ears. “just forget about it!”

darius adamantly shook his head.

“no way. this is too good.”

the man grinned mischeviously and wiggled his fingers.

“so… are you ticklish, rainey? come on, let me see those ears! look at me!”

raine slowly turned back towards darius and removed their hands from their ears.

their face was burning up. they shakily picked up their book and put it down on their nightstand in preparation.

“you know what—?!”

raine, with agility that neither they nor darius knew they had, lunged towards the leader of the abomination coven and dug their fingers into his ribs.

a surprised squeal followed by loud laughter ripped through the air.

“RAHAHAINE! NOHOHOHO!” darius cried, trying to grab raine’s wrists to cease their movement. “THIHIHIS ISN’T FAHAHAIR!”

raine’s mouth dropped open, dumbfounded.

this was the same man who had just spent the last several minutes teasing them about their… ear thing.

they were far out of the realm of “not fair”.

“…oh, not fair, huh?” they spoke. “NOT FAIR?! oh, you’re gonna get it, you little—!”

raine was cut off by darius’ abrupt, boisterous laughter as they began attacking under his arms.

at this point, darius was too overcome by the tingling sensations to speak. all he could try to do was grab raine’s arms and try to get them to slow down.

eventually, after a few more minutes of tickling, he was able to get raine to stop moving so quickly; he firmly held their wrists in his hands. he had gained leighway.

and, since raine has been tickling him for so long and figured he was out of commission, they had let their guard down.

however, darius was far from incapacitated. he actually recovered amazingly quickly from his endeavor.

now it was his turn.

he took a deep breath and raised raine’s arms above their head with his strength, and then stealthily moved both of their wrists to his right hand; freeing up his left hand for the tickles that he was about to dish out.

they looked up at him, unable control the huge grin on their face. the anticipatory giggles had already started to pour out.

“u—uh… is it too late to say sorry for that whole ordeal…?” raine stammered, suddenly realizing that their actions had consequences.

“yes, maybe just a little bit.” darius uttered.

that being said, he began skittering his fingers along raine’s belly and shrill, bubbly giggles filled the room.

“DAHAHARI! nohohoho!” they yelped. “i’m sohohorry!”

for a moment, darius had actually forgotten about what they were even fighting over that resulted in this tickle battle.

at this point, it was just… fun between friends.

this wasn’t really about hunter anymore.

however, he went along with it. he did still want raine to admit what they did.

“sorry for what~?” he mused, alternating his hand from raine’s tummy, to their sides, to their ribs, to under their arms, and then back to their tummy again. “i’m gonna have to hear you say it.”

darius’ method had been enough to render raine completely inconsolable. they were squawking so loudly that it was entirely possible that all of boiling aisles could hear it.

no matter how much fun they were having, they had to give in.

“FIHIHINE! IHIHI AM SOHOHORRY THAT I TOHOHOLD HUNTER THAT YOU’RE TIHIHICKLISH!”

“andddd~?”

“AHAHAND THAT I TICKLED YOU!”

darius immediately let up, releasing raine from the hold that they were in.

they laid in a shakey, ticklish, grinning mound on their bed.

“that’s better. that’s all i wanted, rainey,” darius drawled.

raine looked up at him and blinked.

the man had an accomplished look on his face that made raine want to slap him into next year, but all they could muster was putting a hand on his knee and letting out a breathless line of giggles.

“h—hehehe! hehehe… t—that was so much fun, darius. i don’t think that i’ve been tickled like that since i was a teenager.”

darius smiled so widely that his eyes scrunched up and his dimples appeared in his cheeks.

he let out some chuckles of his own.

“so, you liked it? do you want to do it again sometime?” he asked.

it took raine a few moments to respond. they had mostly regained themself at this point, so their shy, stubborn exterior was back in place.

“umm… no…”

twitch.

[readerinsertfanfiction]

Eeeeek neeeeemoooooo! ❤🔥//dances around! //throws sparkles! Eeek its beeeen so long🤣😳❤❤❤🔥🔥🌈⭐

Hehehehe ill admit lol these prompt + theo //laughs nervously 😅😅😅 lolol but i found one eeeeek! So here we gooooooo! Neeemo dear could i pretty please with lots o candy ontop request nr (dammit i forget but i think it was 10😅😅: "With you holding my hand I will never have to fear the cold.”) with theo! Eeeeek🌈🌈🌸🌻⚘🔥

Love ya loooots neeeemo! Hope ya have the best day! Hope u have been relaxing and reading all the books!🔥🔥❤😳 sending ya alll the sparkles!⭐⭐⭐🌟😆😆

Zetaaaaaa!!! ✨✨✨ I meant to write this yesterday for you with the mid-autumn but guess what didn't happen? 😅😅😅

I'm so glad you only picked one prompt for Theo and not all, because LOL. Anyway...

Prompt 10: "With you holding my hand I will never have to fear the cold.”

Fandom: Ikemen Vampire

Character: Theodor(k)us van Gogh

Word count: -1k

Warnings: Homesickness

Masterlist

When Isaac mentioned the upcoming harvest moon Theo hadn't understood the meaning of, a brow quirking up in that characteristic way of his that said: 'hell, if I care' whilst he thought of the golden wheat fields of his childhood that were now ripe for harvest. It wasn't until he found his brother painting a full moon scenery, the style similar to one of his most infamous paintings as the man shot Theo a smile.

"Dazai told me a story," he started and Theo wondered what mischief the author had been up to now. "A myth to be precise. Of a homesick wife stuck on the moon," Vincent continued and in the way he spoke there was some heartbreak in his voice. His brother was always sensitive like that.

"Then why doesn't she return?" Practical as ever Theo had asked the one question most obvious to him.

To this the older van Gogh had heaved a sigh, continuing the strokes of his brush inspired by the story. "The moon is so far away," Vincent bemoaned instead, not having the answers himself. Myth indeed, Theo found, resisting the roll of his eyes. Of course Dazai would try to inspire his brother through misery. Of course it was associated with the moon as well, for the house was unusually excited about the upcoming autumn moon.

"Aren't you worried?" Arthur had asked later when Theo relayed the story. For once that cocksure smile of his was gone as the author eyed Theo with some apprehension. "It was the full moon that brought the bird after all," the man brought up, and Theo raised another brow at that. You and he were stable after all, so what was there to fear? Theo trusted you not to leave his side. You had chosen to stay with him after all.

"There is another version," his drinking buddy had said and Theo's brows furrowed as he wondered since when Dazai and Arthur talked. "One that she was homesick for their home in the heavens," this version of the story made more sense to Theo, "the other that the wife fled after her husband's neglect," Arthur summed up, his fingers counting the iterations of the same story associated with the moon.

"In both cases they're far apart, kinda like the two of you," the author had ended his explanation with, this time earning a small anxiety to form within Theo.

"Moon cakes. For the mid-autumn," Sebastian had told him the following night, pressing a plate of cakes in Theo's hand that were prettily shaped. The type you were sure to appreciate in shape and perhaps in taste as well. Sebastian would make sure of that.

Theo started to get the hints that had been given to him. The sudden mention of the harvest moon, then the stories that circulated around.

"Hey," he called you from the veranda, startling you from the intense gaze at the full moon reflected above. The nights had been growing chillier as the nights fell earlier, but you hadn't minded any of that. Not in the way you were dressed or the intense gaze into the darkness.

"You will catch a cold, silly," Theo told you as he sat down, his leg pressing against yours as he peered at the full body of the moon as well. If he squinted, Theo could tell that the moon was perhaps a little brighter and larger than usual. Or perhaps that was another trick of the mind.

"I brought mooncakes," the art dealer continued when you hadn't responded, your head affectionately leaning against his shoulder as you continued to stare whilst burrowing into his warmth.

Theo realised that it wasn't the moon, nor the husband and wife relationship that had mattered, but the longing for home. You longed for the life you had left behind for him. The life you were forced to leave behind without a proper goodbye.

"Hey," Theo called for your attention once more, voice gentle for once as he slipped your hand into his, squeezing it gingerly before pressing a kiss against your temple.

"It is chilly outside," you sighed, and for the first time you tear your gaze away from the moon, a lingering regret remaining in your eyes as Theo wonders how he can take away the missing. As he wonders if he is being fair to you, for making you stay. But you have made up your mind as you start to get up.

"Let's go inside," you tell him before you are pulled into a strong embrace from his side, the cook tip of his nose brushing against the crevice of your neck. It earns a shudder from you before Theo feels both your bodies heating up the other.

"With you holding my hand I will never have to fear the cold," he tells you in a murmur, only able to hope that this metaphorical way of speaking will reach you. That you understand all of his selfish wishes along with his good intentions.

You laugh, arms wrapping around his waist as you bury yourself away into his warmth as well, dispelling the chill from the night as you convey your understanding;

"The moon is beautiful, isn't?"

[heliosthegriffin]

Arc-Acres: One 1/?

If there was one place in the world that Arthur Arc could say he felt safe after a long trip hunting, and comfortable in raising his many children, it would definitely be his home, though his father’s old farm was a very close second, may the old codger rest in peace.

It wasn’t too far away from Ansel, around thirty or so miles away, sitting a mile or so outside of the settlement of Pelican Town, a odd name for the town if not for the incredible number of birds.

He had grown up there during youth, after his father decided to move out of city when the Faunas started getting....

And way, he didn’t regret his youth spent out there, he still had some, well not friends there anymore he had spent far too much time away there for him to still be friends, but well acquaintances that he wouldn’t mind catch up with.

Which brought himself to his sunny boy’s room, he hardly got to spend time with his youngest for one reason or another, but he was presented with an unprecedented chance to connect with his son over the next three weeks.

Summer break had started and schools would be closed for the next couple months, his beloved wife and daughters had decided to visit Saphron and Terra along with some other distant relatives in Argus on a girls only trip, and leaving Arthur and Jaune alone for the rest of the month.

Arthur would not let the chance escape him, He liked to think of himself as fairly progressive, but Arthur didn’t like how much his son was taking after his wife and daughters, the dance lessons, gossip circles, and, ugh, dresses they put on him when he wasn’t around couldn’t be helping his boy out in the masculity department, and he had it on very good authority as the boys father that he wanted to be a manly man like himself.

So, Arthur had devised a devious plan the Dark Brother himself would be proud of! The next three weeks... Arthur would take his Sunny Boy camping, fishing, and roughin it in the wilderness around his dad’s old farm! It was fool proof!

His son would learn how to be a manly man, learn how to rough it in the woods, fend for himself, and hopefully, hopefully, learn to say no to be put in dresses!

Hehehehe, Arthur you, evil, evil genius!

He knocked on his son’s door with heavy, calloused hands. The sound echoing loud and clearly across his house’s hallways, there was no doubt that his son heard him.

“Jaune? You in there?”

Arthur honed ears stumbling from the inside of the room, along with something heavy falling on the floor. Likely his son, the boy could dance a mean dance, but he had two left feet more often than not.

“Coming!” His boy answered, his voice that awkward in between a boy and man, coming out shrill and high, but also noticeably deeper than it had been when Arthur last left for his trip.

Arthur tried his best to respect his son’s privacy, he got it invaded enough by his daughter, so he always made sure to let his Sunny Boy open the door.

The door opened into the room, his sun opening it with a smile.

“Welcome to Casa de Jaune!”

Arthur stifled a laugh and entered his son’s room. It was a little messy, but no more so than any of his daughters, a few clothes scattered around and some book and comics left out, but he didn’t expect it to shine either.

Arthur took a load off and sat down on the foot of his son’s bed, Jaune looked nevous as he did so, but he too took a seat on a chair he had in his room.

“Soo, Dad what brings you around?” His son said clearly nervous about something.

“Oh, you know just a father wanting to hang out with his son for a moment, maybe ask him a couple questions.”

His son seemed to go pale at that.

Arthur could practically see his son’s mouth go dry.

“Uh, uh, about what?” His son’s voice cracked.

Suddenly Arthur very much felt like an interrogator.

Did walk in during a private moment? He was around that age wasn’t he? 13 or 14, wait he was 13 and would be turning 14 in august. So, he was around the age where he might be surfing on websites that his mother would be mad about.

A sly grin on Arthur's face appeared.

He leaned his head to the side and tried to peer at his son’s computer. Tsk, no luck, no suspicious browsers open, besides a couple scroll tube video’s about...  Hunter training? Why, he would find any good result on there beside how to get in shape, most, well actually all hunter kept their training a mystery besides the basis of basic in order to avoid their weakness or deficits from be known. All hunter tried to have as unique a style as possible in order to avoid predictability.

Was that a video on swordplay?

Arthur’s hand glided behind himself, his senses noticing a suspicious weight on his son’s bed under the blankets.

His son tensed up as Arthur pulled out a wooden training sword, a cheap one two made of plywood.

Arthur choose to say nothing, it was an open secret what his sunny boy what to do for a living, a profession neither his mother, or sister approved of, one that if he supported would earn himself a noose around his balls and tossed off a tree, his wife's words not his.

He put the sword on his lap, and looked at his son who seemed both ashamed and embarrassed, Arthur took a deep breath and smiled.

“Ok, this is not what I wanted to talk about. Sooo, let’s move on, if you want to talk about it later that’s fine. We good?” He had never seen his son nod so fast. “So, here’s what I want to talk about.”

“I want us guys, to go have a men’s week or two out,” That was a lie, it would be most of a month, he just hadn’t thought of a better way to phrase it.  “I’m been thinking you and me don’t spend enough time together, so we need to have some father-son bonding. What do you think?” Also he already decided it, he wasn’t giving his son a choice.

Jaune’s face let up at the prospect.

“I think it sounds great! What are we going to do?”

Arthur explained to Jaune what he planned, with his son seemingly more excited at the survival element of it, but looked kinda bored at fishing and more mundane elements he talked about. Though the excitement never entirely left his son’s eyes.

“When are we leaving?” Jaune said jumping in his seat.

“Well, tomorrow if you’re up for it. If not, well leave the day after tomorrow on Friday.”

“I’m ready to leave tonight!”

“Heh, a little too soon Jaune. You got to pack, and so I, then we need to pack it into the truck.” “Oh, yeah. By, the way what do mom and the sisters think about it?”

Arthur went silent.

“You’re going tell them right?” “So, you’ll probably want to take this too.” Arthur said handing his son the practice sword, a hungry glint in his son’s eyes now. His son holding the wooden blade possessively.

“Yeah, I will. And you’re mother will definitely love to hear that we’re fixing up the old cabin, but couldn’t due to weather, right?”  “Yeah, it really sucks, right? Can’t believe the way back got blocked so we spent all our time visiting your friend in Patch.” “Yep, then we came home and started cleaning up the house, right?”

“Uh-huh, yep, mom is really going to appreciate some lemon-squares.”

“Making a barbecue should help her after all the air trips, too.”

“So, I better get packing.” “Me too.”

Arthur turned around one last time before leaving the room.

“Make sure to pack clothes that breathe, shorts, and couple work clothes. I think it wouldn’t hurt to actually fix up the cabin a little, if a storm actually does blow in.

“Can do!”

Arthur chuckled and left his son to pack.

-------

AN: End of Part One. I’ve been wanting to write this story for a while. Buckle in children, we’re going for a ride.

Also the first couple parts, and chapter or two will be mostly from Arthur’s perpective, mostly so we can speed through the prologueish area and get to Jaune doing stuff. This first chapter or two will be Jaune learning the basic skills he need for the fix, so when he does something it doesn’t come out of nowhere, and it’s an excuse to portray Jaune’s dad as something other than unsupportive.

[pencilofawesomeness]

Author Self-Interview

tagged by: @ljf613

Name: Pencil

Fandoms: *deranged laughter* Too many. I have written (and published) work for Fairy Tail, Genshin Impact, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, Voltron: Legendary Defender, the Arrowverse, ~Disney~, RWBY, and Transformers: Prime. I have also written for Seven Deadly Sins, My Hero Academia, DC/Batman, Avengers, Danny Phantom, and soooo many others, but those are all WIPs and such. As for fandoms, well, there’s Miraculous Ladybug, Tales of Arcadia, Avatar: The Last Airbender, Tower of God, and more. I bounce around, and I never really leave anything behind, even if other interests are more at the forefront.

Where do you post: AO3. I used to, waaaaaay back in the dark days, post on ff.net, but not only have I forgotten my password, but I don’t like the interface as much, nor the things I posted when I was a Child, so AO3 it is.

Most popular multi-chapter fic: Of Dragons and Fairies, so says my AO3 statistics.

Most popular oneshot: Sparks in the Night, which I by no means expected, being that it was a fun little thing I wrote pretty much in one night. Technically it’s two chapters, but I originally wasn’t going to post the second part I wrote, but decided to later, so I would’ve made it a one-shot, probably, had I thought things through. Besides, it’s only 3k, so that’s a one-shot in my book. 

The “real” most popular one-shot would be Never Forgotten by Pencil-actually-made-it-one-chapter logic.

Favorite story you’ve written so far: F-favorite? Oh. Oh well, um, I have really, really enjoyed the How to Raise Your Dragon Slayer series, far more than I thought I would when I started Of Dragons and Fairies for the kicks and giggles. That said, my favorite installment so far is probably The Eighth Tower, but one of my favorite things I think I have written is a massive one-shot that’s an MHA-style FMA fic, except that I lost it in a harddrive crash and haven’t re-written it. ;-;

Fic you were nervous to post: I don’t know if I’m ever really nervous? I generally post things and accept whatever outcome (even though I always hope it’s well received, because I’m a selfish author who likes validation). That said, it would definitely be United. That story was, and still is, one of my favorite brain-children, but I guessed that it wouldn’t be popular, and I was right. I haven’t written on it in a long time, though I have always wanted to circle back to it eventually; I just figured I had time to follow my current interests, since nobody else was chomping at the bit. One day my child, one day...

How do you choose your titles: Heh. Heheheh. HAHAHAHA. Very carefully, actually, even though sometimes I try to just slap something on a page anyway because it needs one. Most of the time, I try to capture the theme of the story—or at least one of the core ones—and allow it to both serve as a descriptor and as a note that would tie the story together and highlight the theme. Though I do appreciate allusions, and I like to include those as well. (If anyone wants to send me an ask about how I came up with a specific title, I will gladly give my thought process.) Unfortunately, chapter titles—as much as I try—rarely get as much inspiration as the fic title.

Do you outline: Y— Yesssssss.... Sort of. I try. Ironically, my most comprehensive outlines exist as Spotify playlists. That said, HTRYDS probably has the best outline of anything I’ve written, though Tales of Valor had a decent outline as well. 

Complete: Mostly just one-shots—I’m actually pretty bad at completing things, heheh—but there’s a few. Outside of an ongoing series, Finding Home is my only completed multi-chapter. Inside of a series, but existing as comprehensive arcs, I have Of Dragon and Fairies and The Eighth Tower. 

Edit: Oh! And it’s short, but The Recruitment Spiel is an Art But Destiny Took the Fun Out of It is complete! And multi-chapter. Yeah.

Do you accept prompts: Kinda. I’m accepting prompts and ideas for extra scenes for the HTRYDS series, though I’ll tailor them to fit my canon if necessary. Generally, I have so many things of my own to write, any prompt I got would be placed in the back of the line (unless I got super inspired, which happens) but I do enjoy prompts, provided they’re not super shippy or specific.

Upcoming story you’re most excited to write about: Well, that untitled I-have-to-write-it-again oneshot for FMA that I mentioned is definitely something I want to do and post eventually. As for what I’m actively working on, I am really excited for the next HTRYDS arc (I’ve been trudging through TLS to get to it, ngl) which will be titled Demon Tales. There’s also this Seven Deadly Sins TOG AU I’ve had rolling around, though I may not continue that the way I had planned because 4KOTA gave me more ammo. 

Stories you’re most excited to read: Hmmm. I have quite a few things queued in my Marked for Later list, some that I’ve started and some that I wanted to check out, but as to what I have been currently reading/following, the Poisoned Dreams Continuity by StrangeDiamond (AO3), which is currently inbetween fics, and Homuncular Nature by Otaku553 are a couple of things I have been following. I also read a lot of Webtoons, and I have some Tower of God to catch up on, and Room of Swords and Lore Olympus are always welcome updates. I’m currently perusing some of my Marked for Laters, and in regular searches, to see what my next few reads will be. (Feel free to send me recs, but I also got a hefty stack of ATLA fics to check out, I know.)

tagging @therosefrontier @ladylynse and @blueskyscribe (if y’all want to, of course)

[simonrriley]

promise me

tags: @luv-ya-hun, @and-shes-calling-a-cab, @piper-koko-barnes-rogers, @a-seagull-told-me, @acesayshi​, @thatsmycigarbutyoucanborrowit, @panickingpansexualpeanut, @buttonsdelaguerra, @trans-witch-cauldron warnings: death, overdose, drugs, swearing author’s note: i rewrote promise me buuuuut with a lil twimst,,, heheheh goodnight

Bruiser sighed, glancing down at the pad of paper in his hands, terrified to turn his thoughts that had been stuck with him for far too long into a song.  “Anytime you’re ready,” Mouse said, gently holding her guitar as she sat across from him. He nodded, taking in another deep breath and letting it out slowly, letting his mind wander back to how everything began before he let his mouth move and sing the words etched into his brain by now.

We're getting old now But I don't feel it I say you're beautiful And I still mean it

“Hey Bruiser?” King whispered into the darkness, their only light coming from the faint moonlight streaming in from the sunroof on the top of the bus. But it was enough for him to see Bruiser’s pale skin and blue-gray eyes that were shimmering in the dark and the other snoring shape on the other side of Bruiser. Spot always fell asleep fast. “Yes, котик?” Came the mumbled, half-asleep from the boy King had been staring at lovingly like he was poetry that he had to decipher. The only place King could find true poetry though, was in Bruiser’s stormy eyes. There were secrets in there he had yet to discover, poetry he had to write. He was everything. He was a whole galaxy and King was just a small star. Bruiser was a symphony and King was only a sour note. “You’re beautiful…” he murmured, a hand reaching out to trace over Bruiser’s jaw as a grin inched their way onto both of their faces. “And I really mean that. I know I say a lot of things and sometimes I don’t mean them completely… but everything I say, I write, I think, I feel, about you and Spot. I mean it. It’s true.” “And you’re a sap,” Bruiser replied, arms reaching out and flipping King around so his chest was against his back as he cuddled him. “Please go to sleep… You can write poetry n lyrics ‘bout us in the morning,” he said, voice muffled by the fact his head was nestled into King’s shoulder.

King chuckled, the sound of it bouncing throughout the tiny bunk and resonating in Bruiser’s chest where it sparked a warm flame, warmer than any blanket or any other fire mankind could make. Warmer and deeper than any other love. “I’ll try, mi amor, for you.”

And I don't wanna know What old age feels like So promise me you won't Give up on this life

His brain traveled back to Mouse. The two of them on the bathroom floor of one of their old foster homes right before Medda. Right before Mom. Mouse gently placed her hand on King’s knee, which wouldn’t stop bouncing despite having nothing to fear. He’d already told Mouse everything and judging by the tears on her face, it wasn’t a good decision. That’s what he thought at least. “I-I’m proud of you, King. For making it this far. I can’t believe I never… noticed. I never realized that something wasn’t right. I should’ve noticed,” she said, cursing in Italian under her breath. “No, no. Shortie… I didn’t want to tell ya,” he muttered, curling up further into the corner, pulling his knees up to his chest. “And I’m glad you told me. Thank you. It takes a lot of strength for that… Just promise me, you won’t leave me alone or do something you regret? Promise me you won’t hurt yourself?” She asked, looking up at him with glossy blue eyes. King stared at the floor. For her, he’d do anything. He’d push through all the pain, just for her. If that’s what she truly wanted. His gaze slowly travelled back up to meet hers. For her. He would stay. A nod came from King and that was all she needed. She leapt forward and pulled him into a hug as she sobbed into his shoulder. Finally, he whispered. “I promise you, I ain’t going anywhere.”

And we'll be busy tryin' While the rest of them are dyin'

His brain finally dragged him back to the then and now, the three in front of him, holding back his own tears. God, where had he gone wrong? He’d tried to do everything right, to love and cherish them both. Make them feel wanted, make him feel needed, so he never had to turn to the back of the cabinet.  For them, he’d do anything. How had he failed?

Promise me we'll never grow up I don't wanna let go I wanna stay young

“Hey shortie?” King asked into the darkness, listening to the frogs croak outside their window and the bugs buzz as summer heat drifted in.

“Yeah shithead?” Mouse replied, turning around so King could see her, her face illuminated by the phone glowing beside her. “I don’t wanna grow up. Ever. I wanna stay like this. With you.” “I don’t wanna grow up either.” “Then why don’t we promise each other that we’ll never grow up? We’ll stay the same kids, forever and always,” Mouse suggested, rolling onto her back, the bed creaking under her. “I like that idea,” King answered with a grin. “Let’s do it.” And so they did.

And even when the wrinkles show up We'll be laughing, and We can play forever

“Hey Mouse!” King yelled, the guitarist’s head snapping up at the sound of her name. “What?” she called back, stopping in her tracks as she swung her guitar onto her back and walked back over to him. “What do you want?” “Think fast!” He shouted before chucking the glob of slime he’d received from a fan at the meet and greet he’d been attending for the past two hours. 

The green sludge attached itself to Mouse’s punk attire and she let out a screech. “You shithead!” she yelled, lunging for him. King’s eyes widened as he realized he was in some deep shit now. His legs wanted to run and bolt but he stayed planted to the ground. Mouse came barrelling into him and suddenly they were both on the concrete and both now covered in the green slime. Laughter replaced their different expressions quickly as they realized their situation. A chuckle sounded from Spot who stood over them, holding his phone up. He’d been recording.

“You’re next!” Mouse threatened, only causing the two boys too laugh harder, King wished he could stay in that moment, laughing and carefree, forever. With the people who mattered the most to him near him. That was all he truly wanted.

Don't make me face the truth.

That night, while the rest of the crew slept besides their driver, who wasn’t paying much attention to the bunks anyway, King slipped out of Bruiser’s and crept over to the bathroom. All he needed was two pills, something to help him fall asleep faster. B wanted him to sleep anyway. He just had a different way of getting there. Did it really make much of a difference if he had different methods? What was the worst that could happen?

I think it's obvious That we'll stay happy 'Cause I'm the happiest When you smile at me

King didn’t know what joke he’d told or what dumb thing he’d done. All that mattered was the laughter that came from Bruiser and the wide smile that had followed. God, that smile made him feel too many things. It was so much that he couldn’t sit himself down and write it all down onto paper, no. He couldn’t sort through each feeling and pinpoint why and how it made him feel this way and everything he associated with it. There was just too much. And it was nearly all the same anyway. It was all Bruiser. All stormy blue-gray eyes, all gentle touches, reassuring words and a voice like smooth honey with a love deeper than any ocean. Perfection was the closest he could come to describing him. So perfect was what he was.

Perfect was what he saw.

And the rest of the world faded away.

And we won't end the same A broken family I'll never walk away Without you with me

As the last chords of their final song rang out, the five band members grouped together for their bows. King wore a smile bigger than any he’d worn before, bigger than his ego… Almost. The crowd screamed and cheered, words of praise and love echoing around the small venue as the lights flicked back on. The first person King went to for a nice, sweaty hug was Mouse. She was his sister after all and her hugs always felt like home. Always brought him to a calm and happy place. It was nice to have those reassurances. Although this time, the only reassurance came from him as the words that were whispered in his ear seemed drenched with worry. “Promise me you’ll never leave me?” “Shortie, I’d never leave you. Not in a million years. I wouldn’t go anywhere without you by my side.”

And times are getting harder But I'm nothing like my father He wished everyone could stay put like him and Mouse.

He wished everyone stayed with him.

Things were looking great and he knew that when things were looking great, there was always a bad, nasty storm to follow. Good times never lasted. He knew that from experience. Ten years old. He could remember. The previous night, he and his family were laughing, eating cookies on the couch, something they never did and watching TV-- past his bedtime! It was amazing. As his parents tucked him into bed, he didn’t get the same promises he offered everyone else. ‘I promise I won’t leave you’ was a promise King never received.

Maybe that was why the following morning, he woke up cold and alone. He checked every room and screamed his parents’ names until his throat was sore. Nobody answered him.

Nobody had promised.

He made himself a promise that day. He’d never leave anyone he ever loved behind ever.

Promise me we'll never grow up I don't wanna fall out I wanna make love And even when we can't, so what? We're together and happy ever after

As the three walked down the street, Bruiser on one side and Spot on the other, their hands intertwined, the rest of the world didn’t matter. The stares and murmurs faded away into nothing, swept into dust. He knew people didn’t like it and he also knew he didn’t care. He loved these two boys with his whole soul, his whole person. With everything he had in him. And he was going to stay that way. Nothing could shake or break them. “Te quiero,” King chirped happily at the two. The other boys weren’t fluent in Spanish but didn’t have to be to know what those words meant. It was simple. It was constant and it was amazing. Like King. Those words had meant ‘I love you’.

Don't make me face the truth.

But even in that happy and carefree moment, his mind drifted back to the damned bottle in the cabinet in the tour bus. He wanted to get back to it. He needed to even though he hated to admit that. He bit his tongue until a familiar metallic taste stung his tastebuds. He tried to focus on something else, anything else. He didn’t want to think about that anymore, not now, not here, not with him. Then Spot’s head turned to him, a smile on his face. That smile alone cleared his thoughts and caused his own smile to appear. Nothing else mattered. He had the best boys in the world by his side.

The rest of his problems could wait. He wouldn’t let them win anyway.

That I'm dying soon We're dying too And we're so much older All I want is one more life with you

Bruiser watched the smile appear on King’s face and it caused a spark to ignite in his chest, a familiar spark, one he’d felt so many times before. Love being reignited. It never really went out with him though but on some days, things would just add more fuel to the flames and cause them to roar up to the sky and glow brighter. And he was okay with that. He was so in love with these two.

Nothing could possibly go wrong as long as he had them.

He had them, forever and always, right?

When did we get so old? King stared himself down in the mirror. Week… what? Six of the tour? A month and a half of touring and they were nearly halfway done. While it was fun, it was wearing on him, a lot. 

He was never really one for hating on his appearance, he never took time out of his day to go through his image and tell himself what he didn’t like about himself. But now, everything was sticking out like a sore thumb. Speaking of sore, a lot of him was. From what? He didn’t know. He just hurt. All the time. There was nothing he could really do about it. 

The boy bit his lip, fingers gently tracing over his jawline that seemed to be popping out more these days, his ribs too. It might’ve been from how he was running on no sleep, caffeine and well… He had tried, so hard, to stay clean the past few weeks. He was trying, he was basically starting a new chapter of his life. An album! A tour! Their headlining tour! And he had to fuck it up.

But, it had helped him. In his opinion. It silenced his thoughts, helped him write whenever they returned, made it easier to play shows without worrying about messing it up. He knew Bruiser was going to hate it if he found out.

No, not if. When. But he’d be fine. He always was. He always had to be.

Why'd you get so sick?

Their final New York show. After this they were gonna hit Boston and then travel to Chicago. It was going to be great. Or so King thought. King poked his head out slightly behind the wall of lights that kept the crowd from seeing the backstage. He was sure they couldn’t see him but they couldn’t see him. He just wanted to see who showed up and who to point to or look at in the crowd. Whose  night was going to make. His pre-show ritual.

The excitement in his stomach quickly dropped as his eyes found a couple on the balcony, they were older and definitely had no reason to be at a Marked Monarchs show. There was no person around them tiny enough to be their kid. That’s when he studied their faces and every bit of excitement turned into fear as his stomach began churning. He knew who they were He couldn’t forget. Nobody can forget their parents after all. He couldn’t do this… not without. Hissing through gritted teeth, he turned around and ran, shoving past stagehands, Rora and even shoving Mouse to the ground as he tried to find the nearest escape route. Hot tears threatened to pour from his eyes as he felt his heart pound in his chest, he could nearly hear it roaring in his ears. The roaring him reminded him of the way his thoughts rolled like waves and crashed on him at the worst times. Like now. Relentless waves. His dark, glossy gaze found his bus and he sprinted, ignoring Bruiser’s shouts for him. The bathroom. He just needed to make it there. Now. “King! What’s wrong?!” A voice shouted and a hand grabbed the back of his shirt. King let out a frustrated cry, blinking back his tears as he struggled against Bruiser’s hold. “Not right now, mi amor. Please!” He pleaded, his voice trying to drown out his thoughts that were trying to drown him themselves. They would never win. With a harsh push forward with his boots, King was freed from B’s grip and before Bruiser could reach out again, he was gone, already in the bus and the bathroom door slammed and locked behind him. His hands shook as he flung the cabinet open, looking for the tiny space he’d carved out himself. Being like this on a tour bus with several people was dangerous but it was a risk he felt it was worth taking. His fingers finally found the pristine white bottle and wasted no time cracking the lid off. He didn’t know how many he’d dumped into his hand and then his mouth, swallowing them dry despite the horrible taste that came from them when they touched his touch. It was probably too many. He didn’t care at this point. He needed his head to shut up. He needed the pounding in his chest to go away. He needed his parents to go away, they did before, why not now? He needed the world to go away? Hands gripping the counter, he stared down at the empty sink, trying to still the shakes that coursed through him. Everything just seemed to make his heart beat even louder. It wasn’t working, he had to take something else. It felt like a bad idea but what felt worse was how his ribcage shook with each beat of his heart. His head was now pounding too. Something to make it stop. King growled to himself, running a hand through his faded dyed hair, thinking to himself. He didn’t want to. He really didn’t want to. But the needle hidden in the shower was calling his name. Or he thought it was. It was an idea. It was a solution. And he was going to take what he could get.

The waiting period of the effects of both of the things he’d taken were taking too long. Or to him at least. He sat back up, kicking the needle away; he’d take care of it later. He needed to find something else. Something that wouldn’t take as long. He didn’t want to die, he just wanted to stop feeling. He needed a fast solution, they were going on in five fucking minutes.

King clutched the nearly empty bottle of pills in one hand so hard he was sure it was going to break open and spill everywhere. His free hand gripped the counter again as he felt all the effects hit him at once, but it wasn’t how he expected. An unexpected wave of tiredness and dizziness swept over him like a wave, like the ones in his head. His legs swayed and wobbled and the bottle dropped from his hands, hitting the tile floor and breaking open, spilling the rest of its contents on the floor. Its owner was next, as King’s vision started to swim with black spots and the rest of the world became blurred out from a mix of tears that he’d just realized were streaming down his face and from the weight of his eyelids. He stumbled backwards and he felt his head smack against the grimy, glass shower door. It stung and ached, more than the rest of his body and more than the ache in his chest as he slowly realized what was going on. A shaking hand reached out for the door as he tried to force his eyes to stay open. The one time he truly needed to stay awake. ‘Please… Stay open…’ His pleas were not listened to as the world continued to spin until it was engulfed in darkness. 

‘I’m so sorry…’

And how could you die?

Bruiser watched as King sprinted away, feet now glued to where he stood, watching his love run and disappear into the bus, the faint sound of a door slamming with it. It took him a moment to clear his thoughts that were whirling around him, throwing every bad ‘what if?’ at him. He then moved forward, running after King and searching for the source of the slam.

The bathroom door. ‘No. No. No. No. No. No.’ Panic began coursing through him at that and he ran up to the door, knocking once and then waiting a minute. No response. He knocked again, louder and waited once more. No response. He knocked a third time, a fourth, a fifth. Still nothing. “King?” Bruiser called against the door, his fist now pounding on the wood. His hand moved to the knob as he hopelessly twisted at it. Locked. He cursed under his breath as he looked around, stormy gray eyes scanning the tour bus for something he could use to pick the lock. It was a skill he had learned but never found a use for, he wasn’t a criminal. He never planned on using it, especially not like this. He was in the process of searching the small kitchen drawers for a pin when a loud crash, like glass smashing, sounded from the bathroom, his heart shattering with it. His hands tightly gripped the pin as he turned and ran back towards the door, nearly slamming into it on accident. “King! King come on! Open the door baby,” he pleaded, praying that somehow he’d reply. But whether it was the sinking feeling in his gut or the heavy silence that fell over the bus besides his own breathing, he knew he wasn’t getting one. Pushing the pin into the lock, he quickly set to work, hands fumbling to get the door open. “Котик please!” he cried, wincing as he heard how scratchy and desperate his voice sounded, he didn’t even know he was crying until then. Finally, the lock clicked and the door pushed open, only slightly. Bruiser peered in through the small crack and blanched at what he could see; King, lying there, convulsing with an near empty bottle of pills next to him. He tried to push the door open further but froze when he realized that King’s leg was stuck in front of the door and the only way to open it would be…

Bruiser took in a shaky breath, squeezing his eyes shut while he silently apologized profusely to future King before he slammed his shoulder against the door, the slight stinging of his own pain almost blocking out the noise of bones breaking against the wooden door. But it wasn’t enough, the cracking noise still echoed in his ears and he knew it was going to haunt him forever. 

Thankfully, the door pushed open enough for Bruiser to shimmy through and he thanked god that he didn’t have to do that again. He knelt down beside King in the small bathroom and he almost wished he didn’t open the door.  The pills, the broken glass, the needle, the blood. It was almost all too much. Bruiser tried to quiet his sobs as he watched as King went from convulsing to seizing. He didn’t know what to do. If he left him here and went to call an ambulance he might end up hurting himself more with all of the things still lying around, but he didn’t know how far he’d made it with him flailing in his arms. 

He wiped at his eyes with his sleeve and sighed, slowly reaching out and pulling King into his arms bridal style. As gently yet quickly as he could, he made his way out of the bus and to the street. “Spot!” He screamed, hating how his voice cracked and broke, shattering him into a million pieces much like the shower glass door. “Spot! Call 911! Please!”

Spot, who had come outside to check what was going on after King’s panic, nodded, already holding back his own tears as he fished out his phone and clumsily dialed the three digit number. “M-my boyfriend he…” Bruiser tuned out the rest of Spot’s words as he set King down, hoping that while the concrete was rough, it was less dangerous than the scene in the bathroom. He knelt down beside him, still trying to make sure he was okay. “It’s gonna be okay, котик. I got you,” he assured him quietly, even though King couldn’t hear and really he was only assuring himself as the pit of worry in his stomach only grew the longer it took for the ambulance to arrive.

Bruiser was too caught up in trying to console himself and the unconscious boy beside him to notice the wailing of sirens blaring in his ears behind him. He had only noticed that they’d arrived when people began shoving him out of the way to get at King, lifting him up and putting him down on the stretcher. The boy stood up, stumbling back as he tried to quiet his sobs while he watched his baby being loaded into the ambulance. 

“C’mon,” Spot said, moving over to him and grabbing the hand that Bruiser wasn’t holding over his mouth, pulling him towards the white van and climbing in beside the team of EMTs. Bruiser couldn’t watch, he couldn’t listen to it. He squeezed his eyes shut and kept his head down, trying to ignore everything else. He only opened his eyes slightly when he felt Spot’s hand on his knee, squeezing it gently as a small act of reassurance. It didn’t do too much.

You promised me you'd never grow up Now I have to let go God, I miss you so much

Bruiser barely had a moment to try and calm himself down as they reached the hospital, he was shoved inside of the room King was frantically wheeled into and forced to sit down in a chair while a random lady pestered Spot with a bunch of questions since he was too unstable to answer them himself. He pulled his knees close to his chest as sobs wracked him, making his body shake with each one. After nearly two days of sitting beside King’s bed, the boy he loved so much stirred in his sleep, slowly sitting up and blinking sleep out of his eyes, almost like nothing ever happened. “Bruiser…? Spottie?” King asked, propping himself up on a shaking elbow as he tried to keep his half-lidded eyes open. “Yeah, we’re right here baby,” his voice quiet as he tried not to disturb the sleeping Spot on his shoulder. He should’ve woken him up for this but the poor boy needed sleep and Bruiser himself did too, with dark bags under his eyes and messed up hair, but he couldn’t bring himself to. “I love you both… so much,” King mumbled, his voice breaking as he spoke. “I-I’m so sorry.” Bruiser opened his mouth to speak, but the sound of a slow, monotone beep cut him off, which was strange to hear, especially since King was wide awake and perfectly fine in front of him. And then he woke up.

And even when your heart gave out I was thinkin' I I won't say goodbye

Bruiser’s eyes snapped open at the sound and he sprung out of his chair while doctors and nurses flooded into the room as a code came over the loudspeaker, no doubt about King. And the only noise Bruiser could catch between the panicked footsteps and voices was the single, monotone, beep, a long, drawn out beep that rang his ears, sent chills down his spine and caused his stomach to drop. “What’s going on?” He shouted, voice breaking again. “What’s happening to my boyfriend?” He asked, trying to push past the nurses who in turn shoved him away while security came in, grabbing both him and Spot. “I’m sorry, you two need to go.” “King!” He screamed, even though he knew it wasn’t any use, he couldn’t hear him. And he never would be able to. “King!” He yelled again, continuing until his voice grew hoarse. “Please! That’s my boyfriend in there, you need to save him! Please!” He pleaded. The doors to the room only got farther and farther away no matter how much he and Bruiser begged and pleaded and fought. The two eventually were slumped into chairs in the waiting room, not enough energy to get back up and try to get back in there, they couldn’t anyway. Bruiser let Spot crawl into his lap and there, in the room, he let himself cry, holding tightly onto only part of his other half, a new hole in his chest. 

You promised me you'd never grow up But you fucking grew up God, I miss you so much

They didn’t know how much time had passed since then but all Bruiser knew was that a gentle tap on the shoulder had forced his head to look up. Above them stood a sympathetic looking doctor, holding the worst fake smile he’d ever seen and holding a clipboard. “Partners of Levi?” He asked, eyes glancing down to the paper on the clipboard before Bruiser nodded. “King,” he corrected, shuffling to make some room for Spot to move over and sit beside him so they could look somewhat more professional even though it didn’t matter. The only thing that mattered was King. Was he okay? “King, is he okay?” The doctor sighed before shaking his head slowly. That was all he needed to know, to see, but somehow, maybe some cruel trick played by god, he still listened. “I-I’m so sorry. We tried everything we could but… the drugs took too much of a toll on his body and his heart gave out no matter how many times we tried to resuscitate him. I’m so sorry for your loss.” With that, he dipped his head, leaving the two to grieve. 

Bruiser hated crying. He hated crying in public more. But then and there, it didn’t matter. There, he let out a wail, similar to that of the siren, to the alarm that had gone off before, a wail full of anguish and hurt, full of shattered hope and trust. 

A wail full of lost love.

And even when your heart gave out I was thinkin' I'd Love you 'til forever

Bruiser kept his head down as he made his way to the small podium in the cemetery. The one he’d visited with King too many times as a teen to smoke and vent, escaping school and foster homes. They’d sit on graves and chat, leaning on each other and staring up at the stars while the rest of the world went on. It felt like a bad joke. His hands nervously fiddled with the unused ring in his pocket as he cleared his throat, trying to remember what he was going to say. He had tried to write and rehearse a speech but he ended up bawling each time, having to cling to Spot and be rocked like a baby, like he had done with King, his baby. Just the thought of it brought back the pain in his chest and tears back to his eyes. Gray eyes scanned the crowd, looking out at his own friends and family and he was so thankful the very cause of this event hadn’t shown up. Bruiser had looked at the crowd too that night and he’d seen the familiar faces, he was planning on kicking them out but King’s method had worked faster than his. He kicked himself mentally for not noticing and working sooner. Maybe if he’d just been a bit faster… If only. “King was… Amazing. More than amazing. He was something you couldn’t put into words… H-he was always so good with words, he could write you a new emotion with every song, every lyric, every poem. He could make you feel an emotion never felt before, never experienced before. Like, a warm fire, moving and dripping like honey. I know it doesn’t make too much sense, but that’s what he felt like. He was the world to me. Y’know how a person could be your sun, moon and stars? He always called me stars and Spot the sun. He never knew that to us, he was all three, he was more than that. He was a galaxy. Something you can’t solve or figure out but only hope to. I guess he’s finally up there… where he belongs.” 

With that, Bruiser finally broke down. He walked himself back to his chair with shaking legs, where he collapsed back onto Spot like he had at the hospital a few weeks ago, sobbing into his suit jacket. His face hidden and eyes closed, that way he couldn’t see the ring he’d left on the stand and how it shimmered in the sunlight, like a star, like the faint glow of moonlight, like the sun's bright rays. Like King.

And I can't face the truth That I died with you That you lied (That you died)

Bruiser had lost track of time since then, since he watched people he never met bury the boy who knew him best. He tried his hardest to visit every chance he could and he had every chance but every time he passed the cemetery, even in his car, his heart ached, being able to somehow spot the light gray headstone among all the others just like it. He just knew. The pale moonlight seeped in through a small crack in the curtains, shining onto Bruiser’s pen and paper. King always said that while typing was efficient, pen and paper made him think more, write better. Bruiser didn’t know how true that was, but he’d believe anything King said, he made anything sound real. He let out a shaky sigh as he stared down at the half finished lyrics on paper. He’d never be better than King, he knew that, King was perfect in every single way, it didn’t matter. But King had also always reminded him that it didn’t matter how well he could do something and that if it made you feel good, you should do it. And so that’s what he was doing at two am, writing, alone while Spot snored away in their bed. He wondered if this was how King felt doing most of his work, alone in the darkness, only illuminated by the moon. It was calming, peaceful almost. Except for the roar of his thoughts as his gaze fixed on the bold words at the top of the paper. ‘PROMISE ME.’ King had made so many promises, weaved so many tales, told too many lies. ‘I promise I’ll get better.’ ‘I promise I won’t leave.’ ‘I’m getting clean, believe me.’ ‘I’ll stop doing it.’ ‘I know it’s bad, I’ll quit, for you.’ ‘I’ll be fine babe.’ ‘I’m just tired.’ ‘I promise you I won’t let go.’ How had he been a fool? How had he ignored it? How had he let him slip between his fingers like a handful of sand. He couldn’t believe it. His head dropped down onto the table, tears soaking the paper while he tried to sob quietly. He didn’t need Spot waking up now and seeing this. “I-I’m so, so sorry…” he choked out; knowing nobody could hear him, except the moon really. The moon had always listened, watching silently. It made him feel less alone really and he wasn’t sure why. Was it because of the stupid nicknames King had given them, leaving only one part out? He didn’t know. What he did know, as he drifted off to sleep, worn out by crying, was that one promise echoed in his head, over and over. The only one he was sure King hadn’t broken. ‘I promise you, I’ll love you forever.’ You died.

[drethanramslay]

Since you're taking requests can you write a smut fic of Liam and MC📝 pleaseeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

Thanks for the fic request anon :)

if y'all want to send in any requests my inbox is open and you can refer to this prompt list.

Word count: 1.5 K words (damn I crossed the limit T_T)

WARNING: DIRTY TALK, SMUT AND NS*W!! IF YOU CLICK ON THE READ MORE TAG,THEN YOU ARE CONSENTING THAT YOU ARE 18+ AND ARE CAN VIEW SUCH WORKS

Author’s note: I’m taking part in this week’s @wackydrabbles and the prompt will be in bold

Also this is my first time writing Liam X MC so I hope you like it heheheh

forgive me if I make any mistakes 

Lover 

It had been six months since Anastasia had be crowned queen of Cordonia yet, her role as a queen seemed natural to her. Her strong political science background had been a blessing, but the ease with which she slipped into her duties almost made it look like she had been destined to be a ruler.

She was kind and ruled with a fair hand. The people of the country loved her and the neighbours acknowledged and appreciated her uncompromising and generous nature.

But, it wasn't just her. Liam had also matured and evolved as a ruler. The both of them worked like a well oiled machine but at the same time, they pushed each other to do better. Just like iron sharpening iron.

There were moments where they disagreed but that only strengthened them and their love for each other.

So it wasn't really surprising that Cordonia flourished under their rule.

A knock resounded on the Mahogany door of her office. "Come in." Ana said without looking up from the papers.

"Your majesty, we have got a correspondence from Princess Marguirette and the Auvernese." Her assistant spoke up as she entered the office.

Standing up, she walked too the bookshelves, taking out an old book on Cordonian law. "Give it to me, Reya."

"Well the good news is that Princess Marguirette has agreed to opening trade for textiles and pulses. She plans on coming down here in a week to hammer down the fine points."

A satisfied smile made its way to her face. "That's good. And what about the Auvernese?"

"They rejected the treaty."

Ana let out a harsh breath, and straightened her blouse as she muttered. "Well, I expected them to that after the entire pissing contest I had to endure the last time I met them."

"Anything else your majesty?"

"No. That would be it Miss." Liam spoke up from the entrance of the door, as he leaned against the door frame, crossing his arms.

Reya bowed her head and walked out of the room. Ana's blue eyes brightened as she saw Liam walk towards her.

"Hey there stranger! How is negotiations with Amalas going?"

Liam let out a groan as he wrapped his arms around her. "Could go better. She is a stubborn woman."

"As all good monarchs should be." As she slid her arms around his lean waist, looking up at him.

"That's correct, but still tiring. But, there is joy in doing it for our people, you know?" His dark eyes meeting hers.

"I get what you mean. It feels like I'm a mom and they are our children."

"That's the perfect analogy. Side note, you would make a great mother."

"You would make a great father too. Together we can conquer everything, love."

Liam grinned and bent down to kiss her chastely. Ana let out a sigh of content as warmth and happiness rushed through her veins.

The kiss was short, much to her disappointment. "Come with me I have a surprise for you." Interlocking their hands, he tugged her, forcing her to fall in step with him.

They walked down the beautiful gardens of Valtoria, the evening breeze a relief from being coped up in the study all day. They chatted about random things and it felt nice to just pretend that the weight of the world wasn't on their shoulders.

Liam looked around and stopped Ana, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Close your eyes."

"Whyyy? I will end up tripping and dying."

"That's why you have me, Ana. I won't let you fall." Sighing, she complied and Liam's warm hands covered her eyes.

After walking a couple hundred metres, Liam stopped and dropped his hands from her eyes. "Open your eyes."

Ana opened them and what she saw before had her gasp. "Oh my god."

It was a quaint gazebo on the water, which had climbers creeping up the pillars. The climbers bore beautiful purple flowers. The roof of baby blue in colour and the intricate designs on the fence were beautiful. Fairy lights were strung and candles were set on the stairs which made the entire place look magical.

"Happy six months, my queen."

Her head snapped towards Liam as realisation struck her like a train wreck. "I can't believe you remembered and I forgot. I was so busy and it may have skipped my mind. Fuck, I'm so so-"

Putting a finger on her lips, he stopped her mid rant. "Now, we won't have any of that here. There is more."

"There is more?"

And there was.

Pillows and blankets were strewn on the floor and a picnic basket lay in the corner with a bottle of wine adjacent to it.

Liam pulled her towards the gazebo, excitedly. "What are you waiting for. Let's eat. Chef Gustav made some spectacular meals which you would like."

-------------------------------------------------------- "So... How did you like your surprise?" Liam asked as he looked down at Ana, who was comfortably leaning her head against his chest.

Her blue twinkling eyes looked back at him. "This was the best gift anyone has ever given me. Thank you Liam."

"Only the best for my love."

She shook her head. "I just feel guilty that I couldn't pull a romantic gesture for you. You deserve the best too."

Kissing her forehead he spoke. "No. You are a gift in my life and I am so greatful for that."

Ana leaned back, smirk playing on her lips. "So if I'm a gift... Does that mean you are gonna unwrap me?"

Liam chuckled lowly at the joke, a heated gaze landing on her, causing a shiver to go down her spine. "Do you want me to?"

"It's our six month anniversary, so why not?"

That being said Liam surged forward and pressed his lips against her soft ones. It started slow but in an instant it became urgent and desperate, as if someone poured gasoline into a fire.

Without breaking the kiss, Ana straddled him and ran pushed his jacket off his shoulders. Liam's fingers nimbly unbuttoned her blouse, exposing the swell of her breasts.

He bent down and placed fiery hot kisses up her neck as she threaded her fingers through his soft black hair.

Pulling him by the hair, she forced his lips back on to hers. She ran her tongue over his bottom lip which made him groan and push his hips against her heat, indicating her effect on him.

Liam's hand wandered to her back where he unclasped her bra, exposing her breasts. In a fluid motion, he grasped her by the hips and laid her down on the blankets, before climbing on top of her.

Getting on her elbows, she panted. "You are way too dressed for the ocassion."

"Shall we remedy that?" He spoke as he unbuttoned his shirt, slowly and tantalizingly. Ana growing impatient reached to help him but he just pressed her hands against the pillows.

"Now, be a good girl and keep them right there. If you move them, I will have to start all over again."

Wordlessly, she nodded and Liam pecked her lips before shedding his shirt of, the strong planes of his chest, gleaming under the moonlight.

His lips kissed and sucked the sensitive skin of her collarbone before making his way down south. The moment his tongue swirled around her breast, she arched her back, feeling her insides turning into liquid.

He placed lazy wet kisses along her stomach which had her going crazy. "Please Liam."

"Please what?" He asked as he unbuttoned her jeans.

Lifting her hips, he pulled her jeans and underwear completely baring herself to him.

"Taste me." She pleaded.

Throwing her legs over his strong shoulders, he nipped her inner thigh before burying his face into her womanhood.

Ana's moans wafted through the night sky and it felt like music to his ears. "Look at how much you need me." He spoke in a husky voice as his tongue lapped up her arousal.

"God yes." She breathed out as she felt his deft finger enter her.

His tongue teased her sensitive bud which had Ana trembling. Involuntarily, her hands sank into his hair, her nails raking the scalp.

Almost immediately, Liam's hand clasped her wrists and he pinned them against the pillows. "Tsk tsk. What did I say Anastasia?"

"Liam stop playing and fuck me."

Liam chuckled lowly and pressed his lips against hers. And at that moment, he sunk into her.

She feels so heavenly...

He started slow, letting her get used to him before picking up his pace. One of his hands grabbed her waist to keep her in place, his fingers digging into the flesh. His hips snapped and he pounded into her relentlessly, pleasure coursing through their veins.

With every stroke, she was pushed to a new high, a new level of euphoria. She was so close and so was Liam. He could feel his lower spine tingle and abdomen tightening, which made his strokes shorter and faster.

"Come with me, Ana."

And she did.

Like a coil snapping, she climaxed. Shockwaves of pleasure rushed through her making her eyes roll to the back of her head. Liam groaned and buried his face into her neck breathing heavily as he dumped his load, her walls squeezing around him.

After a few minutes when their breathing returned to normal, Ana wrapped her arms around him and kissed his forehead. Liam snuggled into her and pulled a blanket over them.

"I love you Liam."

"I love you too, Anastasia."

I hope you liked it hehehe 

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[lchufflepuffcorn]

Pinky promises (Yuta x M!Reader)

Author’s note:  Hehehehe. I was in the mood for some K-pop. 

Words: 869

Warning: Slight underlying homophobia because Korea. The gif isn’t mine, it belongs to its owner/creator. Nervousness... 

Masterlist

Yuta was known by everybody to be one of the most comfortable with fan service. He and fellow NCT members (Y/N) were often seen on screen and Livestream being touchy and flirty with each other. Being the fan's favourite for the ‘’gay pairing’’, it was not a surprise for any other guys. 

There was no secret to the group –or the directors– that you and Yuta were dating. And there was nearly nothing they could do to stop the two of you from doing skinship and another worthy fan content, mostly since you were NCT's sweetheart. Usually, when the two of you were together anywhere fans could see, the number of sales and views we're skyrocketing. 

There were pictures everywhere of Yuta and (Y/N) holding pinkies when they were outside, or Sitting on each other's laps, or hugging. There was even a video showing the two of them sharing a bed. But while the international fans were screaming for proof of a gay couple and that the Korean fans were just fangirling at the fan service, no official statements were made about anything. 

So one day, as you and a bunch of other NCT members were on a tv show announcing your latest comeback, the presentations made you all play a game of questions and answers provided by fans. You'd already answered two questions about friends and favoured food when Yuta finally picked something out of the bowl. 

"What are three things you'd bring with you on an Island?" 

The animators made a sound of surprise while the boys shared a knowing look. Yuta takes a second to think. His pinky subtly attached itself to yours as he did so. 

''Um, I'd take my phone, a book and...'' Yuta takes a second before turning to you beaming. ''And (Y/N)!'' The other boys of the group all hide their faces in one way or another, groaning as the animators started asking why Yuta chose such a thing. 

Yuta laughed as you reached for a quick hug, but as your managers were frantically making moves for you to please separate yourselves from one another, you did so just as soon as the hug started. You never lost your smile, though. Your heart was beating faster in your throat, and suddenly your mouth was dry. Your lips were hurting by the stiffness of your smile. 

''I think that it would be less lonely with him with me, and he's braver than I am.'' Said Yuta with a gleeful smile on his face.  

You rolled your eyes and playfully tapped his shoulder as if you were shy of his words, seeing as the managers were already giving the two of you looks. 

***

''You thought it?'' 

''What?'' 

Yuta was taken aback by your sudden question. It was late now, and both of you were lying in your shared room. Your face hadn't moved from his smile all the rest of the filming. You couldn't remember much of all the blur of what happened after Yuta's ''joke''. 

''What you said earlier about taking me to that Island?'' 

''You're still on that?'' Laughed the other boy, turning in his bed to see your form better in the dark. 

You shrugged, but knowing that Yuta probably didn't see you moved, you added: ''You can't blame me for that.'' Yuta finally raised from his bed to stare into your soul. ''What? You can't blame me for that. You know how they get. I just want to know if you said that for the sake of it or if it was real!'' 

''You mean if it was for the fans?'' 

It was your turn now to raise from your laying position, opening your arms as if saying 'duh.' The boys shook his head with a small smile. 

''What are you laughing about?'' 

''It's just, I don't know why that worries you. Sure, it's a bonus sells with the fans, but I was completely serious about bringing you on an island -alone- with me.'' 

You roll your eyes. You know of those words, you heard them before. It's because you can't present yourselves as a couple publicly that you're so on the nerve when things like this happen. Yuta slides under your covers, slowly hugging you and laying back on your mattress. 

''I'm your boyfriend...'' you nodded, ''and I love you.'' You grunted as an answer this time. ''And I know that if we were to come out as a couple, we'd have to stop being public figures.'' 

Once again, you nodded. Yuta hugged you a little bit tighter. 

''Plus, I like being with you in secret. I feel like all the other stars having relationships to covers, but ours is less plausible.'' 

You tried not to laugh. It was always a delight to read about that one artist running from paparazzi's or the newest dating scandal there was with Yuta. You two were careful, except for the fan service, and without proof, there was no way people could see a homosexual relationship between the two of you. 

''So, now we're sleeping, and tomorrow we'll watch the tags on Twitter to laugh, okay?'' 

''Yeah, okay.'' 

And with that, both of you drifted off to sleep in each other's arms. 

(Patreon)   (Ko-fi)

[paradise-creator]

Hellooo!! I love love LOVE the diamond box matchup you did!! You're amazing!! Your blog is incredible!! Now I'm here for a romantic haven box Haikyuu matchup pls🥺

Appearance: My name is Kay! She/her, black, straight, 5'1, I have a slightly athletic & curvy-ish figure (lol idk), short-ish hair(like mid-neck), dark brown eyes, shoe size 9, I like to dress comfy so I'm always in oversized hoodies, sweatpants, sneakers, sweatshirts and shorts. I like colorful clothes too, high waisted jeans and shorts and boots. I'm not very fashionable but I try lol.

Personality:

Basics: infp-t, Hufflepuff, Taurus sun, scorpio moon, sanguine, chaotic good, ambivert.

Some positive traits: I'm optimistic, friendly, energetic, organized, enthusiastic, observant, happy, open-minded, loving, encouraging and inquisitive!!

Some negative traits: I'm annoying, perfectionist, insecure, forgetful, easily distracted, kinda lazy, argumentative, too nice at times and clingy.

I love learning new things!! Currently I'm learning Korean, how to draw, how to paint and songs on the saxophone.

When I'm up for it, I love fun physical activity!! Going for a hike, going to the gym, bungee jumping, mountain climbing, going camping and etc :D

Although I love going out, nothing beats lazy days at home. I can spend hours by myself and still be happy. When alone I usually sleep or watch a movie/anime or practice my drawing or saxophone or try and learn something new!

I have a horrible memory and can never remember important dates 😭 I've forgotten my own birthday a few times (rip) so people can get mad at me for missing appointments, forgetting birthdays and other important days. I try my best to organize everything necessary on my phone calendar so I can be reminded.

I love seeing people happy! Nothing can fulfill my day more than knowing I put a smile on someone's face! I usually try my best to help out anyone who needs it and to the best of my ability! This has led to me getting taken advantage of in the past but I can't help but try and make others happy. I've developed a thicker skin and some trust issues as I've grown up because of it.

I love hyping my friends/family up!! Do you need a boost in confidence? Here I am, ready to help you remember the absolute king/queen/royalty that you are!! I'm usually very energetic and enthusiastic about many things and I love spreading positivity around!!

My love language is physical touch! So touch is very important to me in my relationships. Though I am insecure so I tend to think that I smother the people I care about with too much affection idk lol. I live for hugs and cuddles and hand holding 👉🏿👈🏿 but because of that I feel like I'm very clingy and annoying skskfksjd

I'm introverted in nature so although I mean usually full of energy and love making new friends, I can't do it for too long lol. My social battery runs out really fast and I have to hide away and recharge before I can be fully social again, otherwise I won't be my best self. I treasure personal time and understand when people need time for themselves too.

I love spontaneity!! I love living in the moment and doing stuff just for the hell of it!! Wanna go on a road trip? Dance in the rain? Build houses for charity? Go to McDonald's at 2am? Go on a long walk? SIGN ME UP!!

I can also be lazy and unmotivated to do stuff. If something doesn't interest me, I'd find myself incapable of doing it or I'd do it with great difficulty. I'm one of those 'do something when inspiration/motivation hits you otherwise it'll be absolute shit' types.

But when I do have motivation/inspiration that's when my perfectionism comes in and I have to do it in the best possible way and anything less is an insult to me, my family, my ancestors and descendants lmaoo. Unfortunately I subconsciously set a very high bar for myself which can be overwhelming and stressful but when I manage to produce work of that quality, it's very satisfying and rewarding jshkshdhsj

I have more to add but I feel like this is getting way too long 💀 lemme just move to the next section heheheh

Hobbies: I LOVE listening to music, learning new things, watching movies/anime, sleeping, reading, writing, playing saxophone (I'm still learning tho lol), swimming, drawing, journaling, making friends, and cooking!

My music taste: any type of rock (punk rock, grunge, j-rock, metal), pop, KPOP, RnB, jazz, dubstep, lofi hip hop, rap, trap, krnb, anime OP's and bangers from: Elvis, the beach boys, Queen, Khalid, Ateez, Harry styles, Kendrick Lamar, p!atd, mcr, fallout boy, Nirvana, BTS, mxmtoon, Marianas trench, twenty one pilots, stray kids, Jay Park, crush, Dreamcatcher, Skrillex, MJ, troye sivan etc

Fun facts:

I'm more of a cat person but I live dogs and think they're adorable!!

I have four piercings and I plan on getting more soon!!

I'm a night owl, and get super grumpy in the mornings especially when woken up unexpectedly >:/

Although I love making friends, I only have like 1/2 super close friends and like 20+ acquaintances lol

I want to get a tattoo soon but idk what to get :(

I'm super addicted to coffee (rip) and if I don't take some for some time (like a week) I'll get the worst migraines and I won't feel better until I drink some coffee 😭

That's it!! I hope i wrote enough stuff!! Did I leave anything out? If you need more pls tell me and I'll send another ask :D Take your time!! I'm in no rush. I'll patiently wait even though you get writers block or have a large amount of asks 😌 pls stay safe and healthy!! Drink lots of water, sleep well and have an amazing day/night!! 💙✨

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Hello and Welcome my Starlight!

The Haven box includes:

- Match up

- Sun drop

- Journal of Feelings

- 3 am shenanigans

───✱*.｡:｡✱*.:｡✧*.｡✰*.:｡✧*.｡:｡*.｡✱ ───

I'd match you up with

Sugawara Koushi, Vice-captain of Karasuno

───✱*.｡:｡✱*.:｡✧*.｡✰*.:｡✧*.｡:｡*.｡✱ ───

Sun drops

- OKAY so like, as I read your description I thought of Akaashi or Yaku or Sugawara

- Me being the indecisive author I am had trouble picking

- But then I remembered that you loved to do spontaneous things.

- And that's when I realized that Sugawara is THE ONE

- You two would be deemed the "3 am couple"

- Or in the team it would be "Epitome of Chaos"

- He takes care of you

- He will alway remind you that you don't need to be perfect

- Insecurities? BE GONE

- Nagativity? BE GONE

- That's basically his motto

- He is both your mom and partner in Crime

- did I mention he will take care of you?

- CUDDLES AND KISSES FOR DAYS

───✱*.｡:｡✱*.:｡✧*.｡✰*.:｡✧*.｡:｡*.｡✱ ───

Journal of feelings

- Once this man realizes that you LOVE physical affection. He will give it to you. EVERYTIME HE SEES YOU

Kay entered the gym to watch her boyfriend play. She tried sneaking in and so far it has been great. She thought she was off the hook but then felt a familiar arms wrapped around her waist. "I found you~" Sugawara said with a smile.

- You both would often plan pranks and majority of the times, it would succeed

"Okay okay, so what are we doing today?" Kay asked the silver haired male. "Oh~ maybe we can scare Asahi or anyone for that matter with a beetle?" Sugawara suggested. "That's--no," Kay responded.

───✱*.｡:｡✱*.:｡✧*.｡✰*.:｡✧*.｡:｡*.｡✱ ───

3 am shenanigans

It’s 3 am in the morning. Almost everyone is fast asleep or in their homes, well almost. The night sky is littered with diamond in the sky. The streets were silent but it was comforting. A few people walked here and there. And a few cars passes by there and here. “What are we doing up so late?” A silver haired man said as he yawned. “We’ll be going to Mc Donald’s! What else?” The female responded as she smiled at him. “Is it even open at this time?” He asked. “Koushi, darling, it is open,” Kay, the lover of our beloved silvered male man said as she smiled. Sugawara chuckled and held her hand, the smile on his face was evident. “You know, we should be sleeping by now right?” He said as he pulled her closer. “And so what? I wasn’t planning on sleeping early! I slept the whole day yesterday and missed the chance to hang out with you,” The girl responded.

A small blush appeared on the male’s face and he giggled. “That’s very sweet bu-“ He was about to say but was silenced by the girl. “That was very sweet but we could’ve done this later on or tomorrow. Well, sorry to break it to you, Love. But, we are here,” She said as she pulled the male inside the fast food chain. And soon enough, the two got their orders and enjoyed their meal. “I don’t know why but this hits different,” Kay said as she eat a French fry. “It really does. Especially since you are here,” Sugawara stated as he patted her head. Now, she was the one blushing. As the two chatted, the other customers and staff glanced at them every now and then. None of them were annoyed at their interactions. On the contrary, they enjoyed watching them,

Some felt envious of their relationship. Some dreamt to have something like that. And others remembered the times of old. The two were so sweet, it’s almost too much. Laughter and chattering echoed through the building from both the couple and the people around them. Then they were dub the “3 am couple” as the two would often venture in that restaurant at 3 am in the morning.

───✱*.｡:｡✱*.:｡✧*.｡✰*.:｡✧*.｡:｡*.｡✱ ───

Author's note

I'm so so sorry for the long wait! This week has been hectic. Anywho, I hope you enjoy this matchup~ and thanks for requesting!

[judgmentofcorruption]

Episode 1–The Boy Embraces His Ambition; Scene 3

Judgment of Corruption, pages 31-35

Several months later, on a snowy day.

As it stood in the most northern point in the Evillious region, it wasn’t an uncommon occurrence for it to be snowing in Levianta. It had the four seasons, but compared to how things were in the south its summers were short, and its winter season was unusually long. For the people who lived in this country, preparedness towards the cold was a very commonplace, and yet essential, state of affairs.

That day all of those who had assembled in the Dark Star Bureau’s meeting room were garbed in bulky fur coats.

“Brrrr~ It’s so cold.” Hanma took his seat after adding some kindling to the fireplace. “Well then, let’s begin. Today’s meeting is on…Erm, what was it again?”

At Hanma’s question the vice-director sitting next to him passed him some documents. “It’s regarding this term’s successful applicants to the bureau.”

“Ah, that’s right. Hrm, I see, so this year there are…six of them. That’s a decent amount,” Hanma said as he skimmed the documents.

“All of them are Levin University graduates, and all of them are people of respectable families. –Well, they might extol this whole doctrine on ‘merit’, but it seems money does after all have some connection to academic performance.”

“That goes without saying. Yes…This looks good. I can’t see there being any problem with these—”

As Hanma moved to quickly bring the meeting to a close, the vice-director stopped him. “Excuse me, director. There is one name there—one individual that there is a problem with.”

“…And who might that be?”

“This one.” The vice-director pointed to one of the names written on the document. “Gallerian Marlon. The youngest in his class, with the highest grades.”

“…Marlon…As the name indicates, he is a descendant of the once royal Marlon family. There’s nothing wrong with his pedigree there, I would say?”

“And he is also the son of your former colleague Gandalf Marlon.”

“…Ah, that’s right. Gandalf. I do recall such a man having once worked here long ago. –In any case, there is precedent for a member of the Marlon family to work at the Dark Star Bureau, so there is no issue here. The Viwirtz family of the country of Marlon have done no meddling into the justice system. And all that being said…Vice-director, do you know the name of the person who built the Dark Star Bureau?”

The vice-director nodded. “Yes, of course I do. –Penry Marlon.”

“Exactly. Gallerian’s great-grandfather. The Dark Star Bureau should be pleased to have the descendent of its founder working here, should it not?”

There, a red-haired bureaucrat sitting across from Hanma stood up and declared, “The important thing here isn’t his family credentials. This applicant—Gallerian Marlon—is suspected to be the son of a witch.”

“My…This is the first I’m hearing of it,” Hanma said with a forced tone of surprise, continuing on to ask the bureau member, “Where did you get this information?”

“…Well that’s a…matter of confidentiality…”

Gazing upon the mumbling bureaucrat with delight, Hanma put his elbows on the table. “Heheheh. Well, I think I can guess the gist of it. Can’t say I’m terribly impressed with someone who is a member of the Dark Star Bureau being so friendly with a specific organization. Shouldn’t those who participate in the judicial system remain neutral at all times? You understand that, don’t you? Hm?”

“M-my apologies. But…I believe the information itself is accurate.”

“The child of a ‘witch’…So then, where is this witch now?”

“She was tried in this very courthouse fourteen years ago, and was executed shortly after.”

“Fourteen years ago…Oh! Could it be! You mean Elluka! That was a trial that I ran! Goodness! Imagine my shock to hear she had a child. I had no idea.”

I wondered if there was anyone who noticed the barefaced lies in the words that Hanma was spewing right then. At any rate all of the bureau members participating in the meeting were silent, merely waiting for his next words.

“—So then, assuming that is the truth. …What exactly is the problem?”

“Huh!? No, but…Letting the child of a criminal work for the bureau—”

“Didn’t I just say it? Justice must be neutral. No matter what kind of person they are, as long as their punishment has been carried out, then their crime has already been atoned for. Not to mention that a parent having been a criminal has no bearing on their child. …If he’d inherited his mother’s ideology and witchcraft, that would be a different matter. Heard anything like that?”

A different bureaucrat said, looking over his documents, “No. No such investigation results have come forward.”

“If my chief of the Dark Star Bureau’s Special Operations department says so, then there can be no mistake. At the very least he’s more reliable than outside information sources whose identities you can’t reveal.”

“Grr…” The red-haired bureaucrat sat down with a mortified expression on his face, murmuring quietly, “…Those jokers in the Special Operations Department are all your hand-reared pets, you bastard…”

“—What did you just say, Hodr?”

“--! N-no..nothing…”

“Hmm, I see. Well, regardless, we can’t afford to reject such a promising individual on the basis of mere rumor. That makes six applicants as planned. –Any other objections?”

No one spoke up.

In the end, the authority of the director sitting at the top of the Dark Star Bureau was absolute. “Neutral” does not mean the same thing as “equal”.

…Although, even that “neutrality” is suspect, in truth.

“No objections… Then we will close the meeting for today.”

Hanma stood and quickly made his way out of the meeting room.

<<prev------directory------next>>

[wetalkinboutbooks]

My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite

Summary: When Korede’s dinner is interrupted one night by a distress call from her sister, Ayoola, she knows what’s expected of her: bleach, rubber gloves, nerves of steel and a strong stomach. This’ll be the third boyfriend Ayoola’s dispatched in, quote, self-defence and the third mess that her lethal little sibling has left Korede to clear away. She should probably go to the police for the good of the menfolk of Nigeria, but she loves her sister and, as they say, family always comes first. Until, that is, Ayoola starts dating the doctor where Korede works as a nurse. Korede’s long been in love with him, and isn’t prepared to see him wind up with a knife in his back: but to save one would mean sacrificing the other. (Taken from Goodreads)

Our Ratings:  

 → Geena:  ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️🌗 

 → Kae: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️🌗 

Overall: 

My Sister, the Serial Killer is a thriller that delivers 😤 Oyinkan Braithwaite does an amazing job delving into the psyche of our main character even though there’s only a few hundred pages to this book. In addition, we also get a sense of every other character’s personalities (with some bias since it is first person). There’s wild plot twists and an ending that leaves your brain reeling! We highly recommend this book, it’s a quick read and pretty entertaining. 

~ Spoiler-full discussion below ~

The Good: 

→ The story

Kae: So, we start off with Korede receiving a call from her sister, Ayoola. She has killed another man and has class her big sister to help clean up her mess. Korede, as tired of her sisters shit as she is, drives to her sisters now DEAD boyfriends house to help dispose of the body. Her sister is always claiming self-defense, but Korede isn’t so sure. She’s a bit of an obsessive cleaner, so she scrubs his house clean, they throw his body in the river and continue on about their lives. Korede, not as easily as her sister. Korede is a nurse who has a crush on one of the doctors, Tade, who is just GOD’S FINEST MAN, according to Korede. Not in those words, but you get what I’m sayin’.  

Geena: SHE DESCRIBED HIM LIKE THE MAN OF EVERY GIRL’S DREAM

Kae: Boom! This is true. She’s madly in love with him. He can sing, is tall dark and handsome, and has a smile that outshines the sun. BUT, Korede is not conveniently attractive and is often overlooked by her beautiful sister, Ayoola. Though Korede doesn’t mind, it still irked me that everyone assumed she was jealous of Ayoola. They also treated Korede like the ugly duckling and I DID NOT like that shit AT ALL. 

Geena: Kae really hit all the main points, and I agree… I HATED how Korede was treated and looked at. Everyone around her seemed to look down on her (even her own mother???). Regardless of how she’s been treated due to her comparison to Ayoola, Korede loves her sister (like why else would she help hide 3 of her murders lmao) and would do ANYTHING (obviously) for her. Though that takes a hit when Ayoola waltzes into her hospital and the doctor she had a crush on falls head over heels for her. It’s just a wild ride from there as the doctor Korede thought was so perfect… just…. Rots??? LIKE HOW DO WE DESCRIBE THAT… His perfect man façade just fades as the story progresses. I really liked how the story progressed and we got to see how Korede’s opinions and thoughts change over the course of the novel like yaaas girl men ain’t shit!

Kae: Basically, yes men ain't shit and I love how his character just deteriorates in front of our eyes. That’s good writing because at first, I too was like “yaaaas, a perfect man!” then I was like “Ew, it stinks in here. Smell like funky ass Tade.” with that funky ass personality. 

→ Muhtar and Femi

Geena: DESPITE MY EARLIER POINT ABOUT MEN AIN’T SHIT, two men in this story were okay. Given that one was in a coma for half the book, and the other dead. Femi is the man that Ayoola murders at the start of the book, we learn about him as Korede keeps track of his family and how they react to his “disappearance.” Femi was a Soft Boy™ that wrote poetry and was lowkey jacked (according to Korede as she helped wrap his corpse). Femi essentially haunts Korede’s conscious, like the first man that Ayoola has murdered that wasn’t an absolute bag of shit (once again… according to Korede). I also liked how Femi’s voice in Korede’s head was the loudest when she was the most anxious about Ayoola murdering Tade… but as the novel progresses we hear less from ‘Femi’. AND LIKE…. OYINKAN IS SUCH A GOOD AUTHOR… all these subtleties that I didn’t even notice till now.. 

Kae: GEENA, YOUR MIND. I didn’t even peep that until you said it. But yes, to all of it! And now, we have Muhtar. Muhtar is a patient that’s been a coma for a few months that Korede has been caring for. She also talks to him about the murders her sister commits and how she helps clean the mess. You’d think this is alright because Muhtar has been in a coma for months, so he won’t tell anyone. WELL DING DONG, YOU ARE WRONG…. Kind of. Because my boy wakes up and he remembers damn there everything. Korede is shook (but I saw it coming hehehehe) so she then begins to avoid him. But, he requests her. He thinks her voice is what saved him and kept him alive while he was in a deep, comatose sleep. She begins to learn that he is a professor and that his wife was MAYBE TOTALLY POSSIBLY (absolutely) having an affair with his brother while he was knocked tf out. Korede is nervous because Muhtar remembers everything, but he assures her that he will not tell her secret. But he DOES tell her that continuing to aid her sister is going to destroy her little by little. He’s kind of right. But he, along with Femi, is a voice of reason for her. Muhtar is also one of the few people that treats Korede like a decent human being. He never mentions her appearance or if he thinks of her as a bad person. In his eyes, she is his angel that saved him from completely drowning in the sea of darkness that was his coma. We stan Muhtar! He even wanted to stay in touch with Korede after he recovered, but Korede reluctantly, burned his number. She wanted to leave him in the past, like all the murders she helped clean up. 

Geena: Ugh yes, I was thinking that maybe Korede saw Muhtar as an uncle/father figure, because their own father was absolutely garbage like…. TW for reading this book because their father is honest to god the WORST. I feel like if she had kept his number and talked to him she would’ve been able to break out of the toxic cycle of helping her sister get away with murder but I guess it wasn’t in her fate :(

The Bad :  

→ Korede 

Geena: Our heroine is UNFORTUNATELY the bad of the book. We sympathized with her a lot, she was the eldest sibling that always got the short end of the stick both at home and work, but she was expected to be perfect nonetheless. Yet, as the story progresses and the solutions to her problems become glaringly obvious (pls turn in ur sister… even though at this point your complicit) Korede turns a blind eye and continues to fall under the influence of Ayoola. We had hoped that by the end of the series Korede would have realized that blood isn’t thicker than water…. But :// I MEAN I understand why narrative wise but IT STILL WAS FRUSTRATING like…. 

Fate: *presents the perfect chance for Korede to be free of Ayoola*

Korede: *slips on sunglasses* suddenly… I can’t read 

Kae: Yeah, I sympathized with Korede a lot. Like, she was always overlooked, talked down to, and treated like she was less than. But she’s honestly the true definition of “ride or die” *ba doom tiinnngg*. I do wish that even if she didn’t turn in her sister, she would’ve at least moved out of her toxic home away from her murderous and toxic ass sister. Like Geena said, she had the perfect opportunity to solve her probbies, but she just kept up with the shits. THOUGHHHHH. Her sister DID attempted to kill Tade and failed and that kind of backfired. Ayoola claims Tade was beginning to think Korede killed Femi and Ayoola was like “oh shit…” then stabby stabby, missed him, BOOM. He stabs her instead. It’s a whole thing but they get out of it. Blame it on Tade. Self defense and all that jazz. But YES, I’ve gone off topic. Korede got stuck like chuck. 

Geena: LMAO YES KAE WORDED IT PERFECTLY! And now that you mention it… I’m like…. What did Ayoola say that led Tade to believe that Korede killed Femi 👀 Ayoola was fr gaslighting our poor girl the whole time like… OKAY I KINDA WANNA TALK ABOUT AYOOLA BC HOLY SHIT THAT GIRL…. HOW U GONNA CASUALLY LICK ICE CREAM WHILE LOOKING THE SISTER OF THE MAN U KILLED IN HER FACE AND BE LIKE “OMG IS THERE ANY NEWS?” LIKE……. WHERE IS HER OSCAR? AND HER JAIL SENTENCE… My mind was REELING… Also, I GUESS Korede’s choice makes sense, she chose to protect Ayoola since they were kids (from their shitty ass dad) and I guess that trauma just forced her to follow the same path. 

The Ugly: 

→ Tade 

Kae: Geena was so right about everything she said about Ayoola. HONESTLY. TRULY. Now, Tade… Tade, Tade, Tade. Not gonna lie, I was swooning right along with all the other ladies at the beginning of the book. He was described as the perfect gentleman. He is basically what every girl (or boy or anything in between or not) would want. Then, as the story progresses, we see Tade as well… a fuck boy. Like, backtracking a bit, Ayoola mentioned that Tade was just like the rest. He saw a pretty face and nothing else. And well, Ayoola was right. He didn’t know shit about Ayoola, her little quirks, or even what she liked. He just thought she was pretty and was ready to put a ring on it. He began to ignore Korede, only talk to her if it was about Ayoola, and eventually came to speculate that Korede was the one to kill Femi. He thought like this because he grouped pretty faces with lovely things, and well… ugly faces with ugly things… Like murder and jealousy. We slowly began to see that Tade was just like the rest of them and that was ANNOYING AS SHIT. ESPECIALLY when he starts getting up Korede’s ass, saying she’s a bad sister and jealous and bitter. Korede was nothing but nice to his STANK ASSSSSS and in the end, he couldn’t even be nice in return. MIND YOU. He’d only known Ayoola for like a month or two, but had known Korede for like a year or so. Annoying. 

Geena:  HARD AGREE ON EVERYTHING KAE SAID, because holy shit Tade deteriorated faster than Femi’s corpse. He really saw Ayoola once and forgot about Korede. Our girl out here used to COOK for his dumbass… She used to listen to him talk about everything, and Korede was ready to give him the world. The funniest part in the whole book was when Tade is going batshit crazy because he finds out that Ayoola cheated on him and Korede sees his condition and was like pathetic.jpeg… But they share a moment there??? And Korede tries to tell him that Ayoola is a serial killer and Tade is like “I KNEW YOU WERE A BACKSTABBING BITCH!!”  while Korede was like… the only stabbing bitch here is Ayoola but alright. Not to mention when he brings out the ring for Ayoola and he’s talking like a crackhead about how much he loves Ayoola and Korede asks “Oh, so what do you like about her.” *CUE SILENCE* Tade is like “OH you know she’s super pretty and I wanna be with her.”......... like……… if that ain’t the most fuckboi shit……… I guess that was the point Korede was like “men ain’t shit!!!!” making it easier for her to just turn him over to the cops when he stabs Ayoola. GOD he was fucking annoying, kinda disappointed that Ayoola didn’t kill him :/// hoo boy thinkin bout that man gives me a headache… the absolute stupidity……………. Korede was wearing them heavy rose-coloured glasses at the start of the book and we got to read them shatter so that was a good touch!

→ Ayoola

Kae: AYOOLA. The perfect, pretty little sociopath. This girl is honestly something else. Sometimes I would have to scoff at the gall of this girls ability to not give a single fuck. Ayoola really murdered Femi, called Korede, then was just chillin on her phone or whatever while Korede cleaned up the mess. She has to have this like, impulse feeling where she hears Kill Bill sirens and sees red, then just straight up STABS OL’ DUDE and then she’s back to normal like “oops, I did it again.” and this bitch just be like WELP GOTTA CALL BIG SISSY TO HELP ME la dee daaa. She even participated in Femi’s hashtag on Insta. Home girl was DANCING IN HER ROOM after killing him. This would honestly make a great movie, ngl. 

Geena: YOU’RE SO RIGHT IT WOULD MAKE A GREAT MOVIE, I’d pay to see this made. God.. Ayoola was actually psycho just after a week she murders her bf she decides to go on to the next one? Like girl wasted NO time moving on, even though the whole time she was with Tade she was, like Kae said, participating in Femi’s Insta hashtag like “omg where is my man :(((“. ALSO the way she expects Korede to not question her after she kills a man? Korede will simply insinuate that Ayoola murdered someone and this girl would be like “YOU SEE ME AS A MONSTER????? IS THAT HOW IT IS?” Making Korede feel bad and backtrack. ALSO, like Kae mentioned…. AYOOLA WAS NEVER STRESSED??? Even when the cops rolled through to question her and Korede, Ayoola was like ~sips drink~ “I’m sure Korede has this figured out.” Going to project for a second and be like.. That’s such a younger sibling thing to do? Like never stressing about anything because they’re sure their older sibling will make up for them.

Kae: And we do. We totally make up for them. Because if they’re not going to do it, it falls on you ANYWAY and I honestly don’t like seeing my little sister get in trouble so, I get it. She only deserves to get in trouble if I think she deserves it. Mostly because we totally raise our younger sibs. We lowkey “momma bear” them. 

Conclusion 

Geena: This book was pretty short, only a few hundred pages, but it was fucking JAM PACKED!! It was a thriller, every chapter you were like “Ok this is where Ayoola snaps!!” or “This is where the cops catch them!”  but NAH! I really enjoyed the writing even though the ending made me wanna SCREAM, Oyinkan Braithwaite does a really good job at foreshadowing and so on. For example, foreshadowing Muhtar waking up (which I should’ve seen but I was drinking that dumb bitch juice). Rated it 3.5/5 because I think there was room for Korede to grow past what she has known but sometimes we just fall back into what we’ve always done :/ 

Kae: I agree. It was a short book but it was jam packed with entertainment and I never knew what was going to happen next. I really enjoyed reading it and I loved how modern it was with it’s mentions of Insta and Snapchat. I liked that Korede dealt with all of her trauma by excessive cleaning. I liked that it showed a real coping mechanism, even if it was under horrible circumstances. I liked all of the characters and the way Oyinkan wrote them. I loved going deeper into these characters personalities. The ending did piss me off, but IT’S A THRILLER BOOK. So I should’ve seen incoming *small violin*. I too, give it a 3.5/5. 

Geena: BUT YA I’D SAY THIS IS A GOOD BOOK REGARDLESS OF THE ENDING RIGHT? I really liked everything UP to the end skfjns… PLEASE READ IT!!

Kae: YES. READ IT. IT’S SOOO WORTH IT. IT’S A WILD RIDE BAYBEEEE. 

[cutegirlmayra]

Ember Commission Receipt

@marydragneell​ commission for another continuation of Ember the Immortal Wolf series - The Fire’s Scourge.

Time: After hearing what was desired for the chapter, I began researching and plotting points together. Then I wrote about 44 pages for the overall story. It has been through one round of Author edits before the rough draft was presented to the customer.

Review:  OMG I FUCKING LOVE IT,  I LOVE IT, I LOVE IT, I LOOOOOOOOOVE IT AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH. Ember is the right amount of badass and sassy, but at the same time just perfect with the jokes. Protective sibling shadow🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤 And manic just awesome and want to be flirty and affectionate 💚💚💚💚but since the bro is there he just try to not show it XD. That part was so cute and hilarious at the same time XD I think it’s my favorite part of that chapter, shadow being like " wtf is going on with those two".  Like always its perfect ^^ - @marydragneell

Note: I love you too, Mary! ^^ It’s always fun writing for you and Ember! You’re so sweet and I always work hard so I can see your happy comments. You’re adorable, my friend!

Paid amount: 50$ (This price was offered by the Customer, I’d like to thank her for her generous decision. ;//wn//;)

Product preview (ROUGH DRAFT ONLY, with permission fo the customer):

The Fire’s Scourge.

Commission for the lovely Marydragneell

By: Cutegirlmayra

Dear Manic,

Your song lyrics are so funny, not everything has to rhyme or sound like a poem. But I appreciate it, it’s great to read. I’d rather hear it though! Or at least sing it! When do you plan to visit me? It’s gets boring here sometimes… especially when Shadow bosses me around about being all ‘responsible’ and ‘acting my age’. I’m the same age as him! I was even created before him! I’m practically the oldest… anyway, I’m grumbling on paper, haha! Send me a mix-tape sometime and don’t be afraid to write back. I enjoy these letters.

I enjoy scrapping my claws against the thin paper as I write to you.

Sincerely, The most epic wolf you’ll ever know! Ember

P.S: Ember is easy to make songs out of, try and be more creative next time!

It was the last letter she had written Manic… before the letters stopped coming.

Ember lightly made sure her claws wouldn’t crease too much of the paper, deciding to write another letter in hopes he may respond this time. Like he used too…

The letter folded neatly into an envelop as Ember sealed it with a lick. She held it close to her face, letting it touch her nose as she excitedly withheld herself from getting her hopes too high.

Again…

She had been pen-paling Manic The Hedgehog, Sonic’s brother, for a little while now. Ever since Rouge gifted her a writing kit, trying to make peace with her since they sometimes had to work together, she’d been writing him back and forth like this.

She hopped down from the G.U.N HQ’s desk she was at and went to put it in the mail chute when Shadow stormed up to her.

“Where were you?”

His voice sounded annoyed, not like his normal, causal brooding…

“I was… um…” she hadn’t told Shadow about her little crush…

He looked at the letter in her hands, but she quickly stuck it in her tail and smiled nervously to him, “I’m just writing Santa!”

“Hmph.” He shot air out of his nose at her humor. “When are you going to start-“

“Acting my age?” Ember rolled her eyes, “Get to work? Be nice to Rouge? Hang out with people? I thought we were passed this already, I’m a grown woman! Let me live my life!” she folded her arms before exaggerating her independence, “I do jobs for G.U.N, don’t I?”

“Speaking of which, there’s been a portal breach near where you’re supposed to be patrolling.” He glared her down, seeing her trying to wiggle the letter out of her fluffy tail and get it in the mail chute.

When she saw him staring, she pretended she was just wagging her tail in excitement.

He pinched the middle bridge of his nose, “What am I to do with you?”

“Love me?” She moved back a bit, not sure if he’d find that funny.

His look certainly showed he didn’t.

“If you’re not going to take this mission seriously, I’ll go myself.” He grabbed what looked like a brown, dirtied cloak with rips all throughout it, but Ember immediately reached forward, grabbing a bit of it.

“No!”

“No?” he pivoted, “What do you mean, no? I thought you were ‘enjoying your life’?” he seemed to be spitting the same wording she had used in previous discussions right back at her.

Ember sweated a bit, seeing how angry he really was at her, but realized he was trying to cut her some slack. “You’re a good brother, Shadow. Whether you want to be or not.”

He raised an eyebrow, but she slowly began to tug the cloak off of him.

“And you do make a valid point… I need to prove I can handle this. You’re always worried about me-“

“-And for good reason.” He fully faced her, his tone full of distain.

She gulped, folding the cloak in her arms and continuing as she draped it over her arm. “B-but that’s why I’m going to show you I can do it! I’ve done big missions before, I can do some recon too.” She stood confidently, placing the cloak back on the hanger and tugging her own tighter onto her back, flexing it forward. “Trust me a little, I won’t let Eggman kidnap me again!”

Shadow’s eyes turned softer then, his shoulders going limp.

“Sonic said you passed out, turned insane again… how can I-?”

“I do reckless things, but most of the time, I’m only trying to make you proud.” She took his hand, shaking it lightly. “And do what’s right.”

“…Do you even comprehend what’s right?” He muttered the sentence out, but worried about her maturity level…

It was more tender a question than she had realized, and she quickly was caught off-guard.

Not wanting to continue the topic further, feeling a bit of hurt by those untrusting words, she let his hands go and tried to look chirpy.

“Well, brother. I promise to at least try and not get into trouble… of my own accord… if I can… deal?” her inputs made it all the more unbelievable.

He shook his head but conceded with a shake.

“I just don’t want you getting hurt…”

“I won’t!” She embraced him, knowing he wouldn’t embrace her back but still.

Shadow flinched at the touch, but relaxes after a moment, knowing this is just how Ember shows her affections.

She only gave hugs like this to him, anyway.

He was about to put a hand up to her head, attempting to reciprocate some family love before Rouge intervened, flying down with a sweet smile on her face.

She stretched her wings out a moment before retracting them back behind her. “Aww… look at the cute little siblings… finally getting along?” she teased.

Shadow quickly turned his head and hand away. “Ugh…”

Ember released him and glared at Rouge, sticking her tongue out. “You ruined our moment!”

“Oh? Did I?” Acting innocently, Rouge placed a finger up to her mouth. “Hadn’t noticed.” She winked, being playful. “Shadow, command wants to know about that portal…”

“Ember’s on it.” Shadow looked over his shoulder at her, and then back to Ember. “I hope.”

“Hope is enough!” she waved him off and dug through her tail, getting the letter she stashed out and dumping it in as quick as lightning.

“What was-?” Shadow peered down the mail chute but Ember was already booking it away.

“Bye, bro!”

“Wait! Ember!” He called after her, but she had already raced out.

“Wild one. How ever are you going to tame her to be a good little soldier like ourselves?” Rouge put her hands together and struck a very fake pose, she was clearly mocking the fact that Shadow was in charge of Ember’s training.

He sighed, still watching where she had run off too. “Sometimes… I worry I don’t know her full strength… as well as I pretend too.”

“You of all people should know her best. She doesn’t hide anything from you.” She walked up next to him, placing a hand on his shoulder, showing more comradery than teasing now. “To her, you’re family.”

“…She is the only thing I have to an actual family.” He muttered out, as though admitting it aloud for the first time.

“Oh my! What a declaration.” Rouge took her hand off him and covered her mouth, but smiled at his tender comment. “Such a softy under all those quills…”

“Hmph.” He moved away from her, trying to signal he was done talking but she flew off after him anyway.

“Do you know who she’s writing with my little present?”

He froze, looking back at her.

“Someone who may be close… but differently, compared to you.” She fluttered her wings and took off, giving him just enough to drive him crazy with questions.

He openly showed his teeth, frowning deeply. “At least she has a friend… that’s what she meant… wasn’t it?”

However…

Below where the letters are delivered, a few shadowy figures lurked. One suddenly caught the falling mail and tapped it against his shoulder, opening it up and pretending to barf. He shredded the letter and snickered, writing his own back with a click of a pen.

“Hehehehe… Dear Manic… Get lost.”

The other shadowy figures snickered a moment.

The mailman came and the new letter was sent, as the old one’s remains drifted down in steady, shredded pieces…

“And now, boys… let’s go catch a spark of flame~” A devious voice spoke through the darkness, and the gang all raced out to follow Ember’s figure disappearing into the woods…

----

Ember couldn’t remember much, which she wasn’t used to with such a profound memory. She could only recollect something hard had struck from behind, knocking her out pretty hard and leaving her mostly unconscious. Now, as she woke up, she noticed the jerking of a brown, dirtied bag squishing and bobbing her between mysterious footfalls that carried her in the bag.

“She’ll probably have portal-lag. Might as well set her down here till she wakes up.” The voice wasn’t familiar to her. It wasn’t from Sonic or from his gang, so she figured she was just kidnapped.

‘Kidnapped!?’ she plugged her mouth immediately after thinking that awful thought. ‘No, no, no! I just told Shadow I wouldn’t be kidnapped! Ohhh! Now I’m mad!’ She squirmed a bit in the tight space, her tail taking up most of the free space. ‘I’ll thump’em! I’ll trounce them! I’ll- I’ll-!’

“Are you mad?” Suddenly, she did pick up on a voice. Her bag was gently lowered and she could feel the swinging weight of her body finally rest upon cold ground.

Was that… Sonic?

Was this a joke!?

“We have a powerful entity on our hands… I just want the fiery babe to feel comfortable enough to not burn the whole place down to smithereens!” His sudden tone change,… that sarcasm,… the joke about the portal-lag…

Was she in another dimension?

“Tsk. I don’t see why you’re so fixated on chaos power again.” Another voice spoke out a grumbly tone, feminine this time. But…

Could she maybe..?

She tried to wiggle her finger around the opening of the bag, seeing if her claw could get the band on the bag a few more inches loose.

“…You don’t get it?” Sonic’s voice turned dark again, and she flinched a minute as her ears tried to adjust to the strange rhythm it had. Sonic was always full of life, vigor, and general velocity in his actions and words to match his quick feet. This… couldn’t be Sonic.

She felt a shift and the bag toppled over. Ember had to keep silent but could feel a breathy ‘yelp!’ escape her lips just barely. She instinctively plugged her mouth again, and quickly.

“What do you think I’m running here, Fi? You worthless Destructixs are in this for me. Got it? We broke out of jail for the sole purpose of lighting this world on fire with my iron fist pounding it into submission! To light the world… we need a match.” Ember could hear a fist pound into something, probably the other hand, but felt the shift in atmosphere… as though eyes were on her.

‘Light the world on fire..?’ She thought a moment, ‘Destructixs? Where have I heard… Ah!’ Ember suddenly recognized this speech pattern wasn’t Sonic’s at all! She remembered perfectly the name, where she had heard it too. Immediately, she decided she couldn’t—No, wouldn’t stay quiet and hide forever!

She had faked her unconsciousness to get information, but now, she was getting impatient.

‘Gerald Robotnik created me for good! To defend! I know who these guys are now…’ She flexed her claws, getting ready...

It only took a moment of further silence before the bag was shredded in seconds, and Ember rose up with a quick swipe toward where Sonic’s voice had previously come from.

“Scourge!” she cried out, “You rascal!”

“Woah. The kitty’s awake.” He smirked, stepping back to dodge her assult before tugging on his black, flaming jacket. “Boys?” he gestured to the gang as Ember’s arms were thrown behind her.

“Pfft. Who thinks they can hold me down—Ohhhhh…” She struggled a moment before turning her head around to look up at a large, imposing figure. “A big boy.”

The extremely large and tall giant growled down at her, at least, that’s how she saw him.

“Simian, make sure our guest knows her place.” He began to walk toward what looked like a stone throne. Around Ember was a large, black and blue stoned castle, or the remains of what looked like one.

She was able to fight a bit back and get her arms almost away from her back, but Sgt. Simian’s strength was certainly a match for her.

“Okay… Not so easy to break out of.” She grumbled, disliking the change in the situation.

“Stone, babe.” Scourge tapped the stone beneath them, looking at her over his shoulder. “Want to have a go at making this place light up?” he teased, moving over to his throne and sitting rather reclined in it. “Welcome to my realm. Not much. But all mine.” He put a hand up to his chin to rest his head on, “Well… anymore.” He snickered as the rest of the team seemed to chuckle back.

He motioned for the rest of the gang to come forward. “You know how hard it is to track down a little firefly like you?”

Ember spat on the ground, “Call me a firefly one more time…” she tried to resist being dragged forward from behind, her feet scuffing at the stones below her, but there was no traction strong enough to withstand Sgt. Simian’s brute strength. He basically dragged her towards Scourge at his request like a vacuum cleaner across a rug.

“Tsk. Like I care!” Scourge responded, watching as she was pushed forward towards him.

In protest at being man-handled, her feet began to spark against the stone, but no fire was produced.

‘Shoot!’ she thought to herself, ‘I’m surrounded! And on top of that? I’m not even in my own realm! Guess back-up’s out of the question…’

“You think we have time for a new carpet? This place is fireproof, baby! Hahaha!” He leaned his head back and laughed and laughed.

“Whoo… I have to hand it to ya. You’re one hard dame to find…” he clapped a little with his hands, as though congratulating her and rubbing some ‘tears’ out of his eyes after his such a good laugh. “Had to send every mercenary I could intimidate on the hunt for you. Glad you remember me though.” He winked.

“So… I was kidnapped, I’m in a different world, and you’ve sent spies to figure out where I was. Am I missing anything?” Ember raised an eyebrow, being rather composed as she relaxed. She was hoping it would make Sgt. Simian’s grip on her arms loosen, at least let his guard down, but that didn’t seem to be the case…

A red fox walked up to Scourge, turning around to face Ember and folding her arms, clearly not liking the other girl’s presence. Ember assumed this was the girl he called ‘Fi’, simply because she was the only girl in the group. So? Deduction stands that she must be the feminine voice she had heard previously...

“Show some manners and don’t directly talk to the king.”

“Wow. You even got her playing pretend.” Ember snapped a quick line back as the girl tensed up, her tail flicking in rage but Scourge just raised a hand.

“Feisty, feisty, feisty… I like it. But you’d do well to remember what situation you’re in.” he took his raised hand and leaned forward, snapping. “Snap!”

Suddenly, there was a harsh spark of pain in her arms. Ember was lifted up in a painful hold as Sgt. Simian held her suspended in the air.

Her eyes flinched, but she kept any grunt or utterance of pain at a minimum.

“Aaaaannnddd… Hold for dramatic effect… Snap!”  Scourge reclined again and snapped, having Sgt. Simian put her down again.

Her arms twitched under the uncomfortable position, and she swore a few jerks would have had her shoulders pop out of their sockets.

“Do I have your attention now, little spark?”

“It’s Ember.” Ember gritted her teeth. “And when Shadow finds out what you’ve done-!”

He suddenly rose to his feet, “I’ve defeated Shadow! And Sonic! At the exact same time!” he swiped his arms out, growing annoyed. “Don’t you dare think you can threaten me!!!”

“Tsk.” Ember emoted, not seeming to have known that before. She sweatdropped, nervous now if Shadow could even jump realms… ‘Maybe I should have laid low a little longer…’

“Scourge.” A hawk stepped forward, as though gently reminding his leader of his purpose.

“Hmph. I know!” Scourge dismissed the comment, swiping a hand at him, “In my own due time!”

He turned back to his throne, “As you recall, I was trying to lure out Sonic through a staged ‘setup’ if you will…”

----

It was a vivid memory—though Ember’s memory never failed her anyway. No matter… how hard she would try and forget.

Scourge had run into her vigilante G.U.N attire, not having fully recognized her as she continued to foil his criminal activities of trying to seize control over the world. Sonic and his friend would naturally call upon the Freedom Fighters to put a stop to his plans, but this time was different.

G.U.N had actually assigned her to stop a village fire,…

Little did she know it was a trap.

The citizen’s screamed in terror as wood and falling debris littered the skies, their homes and city collapsed around them in the flames.

Their city was deep within a crater formed in the earth, with sharp, jagged cliffs encircling them. There seemed to be a drainage system in place for floods, but for some reason, the drains had been clogged and the fire had no where to escape too. If they tried using water to put out the massive fires, which started up sporadically in different locations, then they would be trapped within the crater.

What made matters worse is that the fires had burnt the electrical powers, so even their way out was blocked besides long, carved stairwells which would be too dangerous for a mass of panicked people to scale in an efficient manner.

So what was Ember to do..?

“Help! Someone!” A woman cried from within a building as Ember quickly leaped up and scaled the tall skyscraper with her claws.

“Haaannnggg ooonnn!!!” she ripped through the flaming surroundings and grabbed the woman, rushing down and helping her to safety. “Does anyone know who started this?” Ember set her down lightly as the woman frantically turned around, wanting to aid as much as possible now that she was out of harm’s way.

“They called themselves ‘Destructix’. They said-“ as the woman began to cough and mutter, a voice suddenly rose from the flames atop a hill.

“Too bad! Looks like Blue didn’t have time to save any of you. Guess you’ll just burn straight to the underworld then!!!” A figure stood looming above on a cliff. He looked like a light green hedgehog with bright sunglasses, having the city’s flames dance in their shades, tugging on his jacket. He flicked his wrist as a few other figures came up: a monkey, red fox, frog, dog, hawk, and wolf. They stepped ahead of him and poured what looked to be gallons of gasoline down onto the streets below.

Like a skillet having oil poured on it, firing up everything for a split second of pure horror. The flash blinded the citizens as the heat swept their breaths up and burst the rest of their hope they had at survival.

People shrieked as he smirked, turning away before Ember’s rage couldn’t contain itself anymore.

Her fingers twitched, head pulsed with trauma as she saw children rushing away from the quickly moving flames…

“NOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!”

She couldn’t control it. It was too much on her heart.

The cursed emerald pulsed, cloaking her in a bright white as her eyes covered in pitch black smoke that rippled along her eye sockets. In this hysterical super form, she covered herself in chaos energy and burst through the trailing gasoline.

It was like an arrow through water, she would thrust one hand out and burning gasoline would splash out of her way onto the buildings and away from the cowering citizens. One hand at a time, she propelled herself through the streets. Her power turned the flames into nothing more than burnt oil stains against the city’s skyscrapers, extinguishing them as fire swarmed her being. With enough force, she had spared the majority of the city while they continued to evacuate. Some had burns, but it looked as though no one had died, miraculously.

“B-Boss!” The shaking hand of the Wolf gestured behind him towards the powerful streak of Ember’s power charging like a swift beam of light towards them.

“…Hmm?” Scourge turned around, his glasses suddenly shining with the light she was emitting as he strode back up to the edge and peered down at her. He smirked, his eyes completely consumed in the image of her magnificent flaming display of power and skill.

She scaled the ledge, climbing in a ferocious tantrum towards them. Below, people cheered and huddled close to their loved ones, scaling the escape route out from their precious homes now destroyed to mere ash.

Some of Scourge’s men got ready to fight, but he rose a hand up to stop them. “Wait!” His sharp teeth glistened when his tongue licked over their dry frames. The chaos energy and the flames left a streak of dry wind, smoky to the smell, and excited Scourge for a moment.

“Well, well… I think I remember you.” He backed off, “We’ll meet again, little spark!” he then escaped in the nick of time, just before Ember ripped through the skyscraper in her way, leaping straight through it, and landing off into the mountain’s cliffside. She attempted to pursue him in her fury, but his buddies and him had portal capabilities, and were gone without a trace.

Ember huffed and puffed, standing away from the fires still licking at the lightly fuming city before she collapsed and gripped her head. “How could… How could people like that still exist..? I thought… G.U.N was the only organization capable of being so cruel… I’ll find them. I’ll stop them no matter what it takes!!!” Ember’s oath was never forgotten, but she hadn’t found a rumor about the mysterious Destructix’s since.

----

So while Scourge finished his recollection of the story, Ember was still locked inside her own perfect memory of the event. The smoke that rose from that black pit… the reports of missing individuals that some witnesses say they saw escaping up the stairs… the families being left with nothing but soot on their faces and half-burnt clothes on their backs…

Scourge didn’t seem to notice her shaking pupils, but did see how quiet she was, staring off at the ground as she began to realize what a mad man he really was.

He took off his sunglasses, his eyes widening in glee. “That power was something else, babe. Mind telling me why you’re not summoning it now?”

She flicked her nose up, ‘Is that what he’s after?!’ and looked away. ‘At first it was to find Sonic… but now he might do something horrible like that… to find me.’ She couldn’t bare to think about it, biting her jaw tightly shut as she tried to hold in her rage. ‘What… what awful things did he do while he searched for her instead of Sonic..? Was it her fault..? That more people were hurt by his crazy, terrorist attacks?’

“Playing coy?” He teased, jumping down from his throne and walking over to her, standing by her side and checking her out. “That power’s not asleep, is it? Hate to wake it up…”

His threats fell on deaf ears, which she twitched to show her ignorance of his roaming eyes…

Her tail maneuvered itself between Sgt. Simian’s legs… waiting for a good opportunity…

“I remember how you looked, sweetheart. Covered in the light of flames and spouting oil this way and that.” He gestured with his hands, flinging them out left and right to show a live demonstration of her feat. “You almost made me think you cared for all those people down there…”

She growled.

After seeing his eyes light up at her reaction to him, she forcing her mouth shut again, but she refused to let him taunt her.

He wanted a fight, but she wouldn’t give it to him.

He put his glasses back down over his eyes, his smirk fading slightly. “You’re not one to talk back or pick fights, are you? Caution is the most annoying trait, babe.”

Ember sighed, “You want my power. That’s annoying in and of itself too.” She lowered her head, playing into the ‘I give up’ motive and waiting for Simian to drop his guard.

She felt his hands loosen with her bending body and knew the moment wouldn’t be too far off now.

Just a little longer…

“Well, yeah. I find it hot.” He suddenly lurched forward, straight at her face. It startled her, but he reached directly at her chest and grabbed her emerald, sticking just slightly above her shirt as she felt the Master Emerald’s power suddenly rejecting it, inflicting Ember’s essence with its powerful, pure chaos energy.

“AHHHH!!!” she flung her head back as he poured some of his chaos energy into her, causing immense pain as the cursed emerald seemed to be repelled when it wanted to fight back and defend itself.

“Hahaha! So it is cursed!” Scourge kept his grip tight, laughing as the fox girl saw where his hands were and quickly grew defensive.

“That’s enough, Scourge!”

Her jealous burst made him stop laughing, turning to look at her with a frustrated expression as his hand released Ember.

She fell to her knees, taking a moment to recover from that torture before she felt Sgt. Simian’s hand let go of her, now holding her with one. He did so to avoid falling with her, since he was much larger than her anyway.

Now was the time, she just needed her strength first.

“Fiona, baby, I’m working here.” Scourge began to walk up to her, seeming calm but Fiona knew his act all too well.

She stepped away a moment, seeing him immediately grow hostile and grab her neck.

He screamed in her face, dipping her down and gripping her to him, hollering down her throat. “Don’t interfere!”

When he let her go, she fell and coughed, clutching her sore neck before pointing towards Ember, “She’s nothing! You’ve seen me take down stronger foes than her! Let me fight her! I’ll prove how useful I can be-!”

“Pfft. Save it, toots. You and I both know little spark’s far more devastating than some freaky kung fu moves.” He waved her off, making Fiona look down and slam her fist to the ground.

“She’s the freak with the moves… I can do it. I can beat her if you’ll let me just-“

“Quiet!” He swiped an arm out, silencing her again. “You’re getting on my nerves. Take a chill pill and walk, Fi!” Immediately, as though understanding the context of his words, some of his men came up behind Fiona. She looked behind her, getting upset as she struggled and glared to Ember.

Ember didn’t have anything against the girl, besides that she followed a lunatic, but the look she gave her made Ember feel even more irritated.

Fiona shook off the men’s arms and got up, silently walking away with the men, clearly having some resolves.

“Hmph. Women, am I right?” he folded his arms and then looked back to Ember with a joking, sinister smile.

Now!

Ember tripped up Sgt. Simian, wrapping her strong tail around a leg and pulling him back to fall down behind her. He was already bending over to keep one hand on her, it was his own fault for thinking she couldn’t recover fast enough.

She got her arms back and pounced towards Scourge, raising a clawed hand up. “HAAA!!!”

“Oh! Something interesting!” he chimed, jumping back and out of her way as her claws dug into the concrete of the old castle, near his throne.

The stone bricks flew out of place and crashed all around, tink, tink, tinking onto the ground as rubble and chalky dirt launched everywhere into the open air.

Scourge wiped his mouth of the grey dirt and readied himself, looking thrilled at some violence. “Finally… I was thinking you were just gonna lay down for me, sparkz.”

“Ember.” She growled.

“Right, right. Well, you either have two options. As far as I see? It’s join me-“ he flicked off some rubble that was sticking to his shoulder, “Or death.”

Ember also got into a fighting position, summoning all her strength she had regained from resting a moment to her hands and feet.

“And it’s not really a request…”

Ember felt her power soar through her being, the cursed emerald still pumping chaos through her in a means to recover after that last attack.

She flung her arm out again, but it was a feint. Soon as he tried to dodge, she gripped the ground and swung a foot into his stomach.

“Offph!” She watched him recline back from the pain, his lips pushing forward at the intensity of the hit.

“Heh.” She had the advantage and wouldn’t let it slip away! “Here’s a taste of my power you want so badly! Have itttttt!” she roundhouse kicked, knocking his head back but he lifted an arm up to grab her other leg as she circled for another blow and threw her down.

Quickly getting back up, she saw his hands come together and slam down on the concrete where she had just rolled away from.

‘This is gonna take more than strength…’ she recognized that his strength was equal to that of her powered cursed emerald. He must have been powered by the Master Emerald too… but how?!

She didn’t have time to dwell on that. She wanted to prove, not just to herself but to Shadow too, that she could complete a mission on her own!

She summoned some power to her chest and filled her claws with chaos energy, making them grow out like beams of light. “Try dodging this, don’t underestimate me!” She leaped up and feinted a swipe as though about to cast Shadow’s Chaos Spears.

It worked. Scourge recognized the familiar motion and went to dodge what he thought was the onslaught of chaos energy spears, but she pushed off the wall nearest to her, her eyes twitching, ‘There! An opening!’

She kicked off the wall and threw herself fully at him, “Haaaa!!!!” she slashed his already permanent scar with fresh new claw marks across his chest.

“Agh!” he was blasted back, the pulse from her Chaos Claws sending the cursed emerald’s power through his body and having it repel his own stolen Master Emerald power.

The two didn’t mix well, the power kept blasting the other back, but at least she knew she could push him back if she summoned her power faster than he could counter it.

He still had that advantage… but for that moment, he wasn’t using it at its full potential. Even Ember could see that…

She landed a bit away from him, watching him grip at his chest. He seemed surprised to see no blood. “The damage was more to your energy.” She slowly rose up, the power in her claws fading as she returned to her usual twitch of sharpening her nails. “But I still got’cha…”

Indeed, she saw the wounds reopen on his chest, only a little blood oozed out but just enough for Scourge to look down and see the delayed reaction.

His face shifted to lines of anger stretched up from the dip in his narrowed eyebrows.

As though refusing to let loose his full power just yet, his energy subsided and he just looked back up at Ember, fixated on her form.

“Interesting…” he licked his lips, getting up. “Very interesting…” he still held his chest, some blood on his glove now, but the bleeding would stop momentarily as the chaos energy began to reform again.

She disengaged and stepped away, feeling the power in her claws slowly dwindle. “Tsk.” She kept sharpening them as sparks flew around her. ‘His attack on me from before weakened the cursed emerald… I can’t do what I normally can now… is that why he so directly attached the Master Emerald’s power to it? By doing so, he probably knew it would cripple me somewhat… I’ll have to play a bit of a waiting game to get my lost power back.’

She smirked.

‘Perfect. I’ll keep him talking…’

“So? You really think you’re going to somehow get me to join your little uprising?” She decided to play along, swishing her tail and moving back as to lure him up and think she wasn’t going to strike anymore.

“Heh… do you really think me that stupid?” He growled. She could feel his own chaos power recharging, and knew he was probably adopting the same strategy.

“You’re lucky, you know… I haven’t even begun to fight!” he suddenly let loose a Chaos Blast, shattering the ground and exploding outward as Ember couldn’t react fast enough to block against it.

She was blown into the wall, crashing hard against it and getting a headache when she landed back to the ground with a hard thump!

She groaned, trying to sense her surroundings again when a foot was pressed on her back, keeping her down.

Then… she felt a hand move through the back of her hair, gripping some strangled strings as smoothly as moving through water. But then her head was ripped back, forcing her to turn toward him.

“Erk!” it hurt like none other, but she could hear him shifting his muzzle through her hair, pulling her head back to lean and press against it.

“My, my… Who’s afraid of the big bad wolf?” he mocked with an alluring pleasure to his voice. “I’m not.”

“Back off!” she threatened, flailing a moment but his touch never wavered.

“You’re so enticing, Ember… like a warm fire that burns anyone who dares to touch it.” His words hissed in a pleasure-seeking tone that made her uncomfortable. What was that? Some sort of intimidating praise or actual flirting?

From back in the front of the castle, the gang watched on, having all scattered back after that fight.

They knew when not to intervene with Scourge, but Fiona couldn’t contain herself.

She lurched forward, only to have a hand grip her shoulder and the frog shake his head. This time she gritted her teeth, seeing how they all weren’t keen on Ember, but wouldn’t dare disobey Scourge again.

She held silent reservations, but looked on and held herself back. “I hate her…” she mumbled.

The rest of the team sighed in tense pockets of air, letting them go gradually. They seemed to be silently agreeing with her.

Maybe this girl was more a problem than a useful pawn…

“You know what’s crazy good about you, Toots?” Scourge smelled her hair in a deep, creepy whiff. Ember reached her hands back to get him off her hair but he gripped her wrists and spun her around, pinning her on the ground.

“Ack!” she felt the cruel stone scrape against her back. Her clothes survived the Chaos Blast, but some of it had ripped somewhat.

“You know what..?” He moved close to her face, his fangs skimming her forehead as his tongue taunted her eye.

It was disgusting, she twitched her eye and finally turned away, giving into some fear deep inside herself.

“After I broke out of jail for the hundredth time… I decided, hey, wonder how my dear emotionally distraught castaway was doing.” He pulled back and winked. “Found you again… a dog to those goody-two-shoes, and it’s been sparkz ever since, Cinder~”

“Ember.” She growled, as though cursing loudly, she tried to push against his strength.

For a moment, it was working. She could feel her power returning to her, inching him off little by little and getting her hands to lock in his own and steadily push him away.

But he only smiled, watching her struggle must have looked like a game to him.

“Whatever. Still on fire.”

“Ugh, What is?”

“My heart and your body, babe.”

She rolled her eyes, “I’ll make a fire in you, alright… one that burns you to a crisp!” she started to summon her own Chaos Blast, struggling under him.

However… his head jerked down and his fangs gripped her emerald.

“Ack!” she blushed before another huge wave of the Master Emerald’s power shot through her and electrified her body. “AHHH!!!”

Again, Fiona could not remain still, so as she went to leap forward, about to call out his name when the rest of the Anti-gang grabbed her and pulled her back, covering her mouth.

“Tolerate it.” the Lynx threatened. “He’s only getting what he wants.”

Her eyes were green with jealousy, but her face was red with anger and revenge.

Scourge let go and Ember collapsed on the ground, breathing heavily as it felt her entire insides had been fried.

“Ever since you raged from that burning town,” He wiped the spit off his mouth, letting her go and looming over her. “I’ve always had the hots for ya.”

She coughed and breathed heavily, sliding herself out from under him and leaning against the stony wall. She gripped it for support, rubbing her imbedded cursed emerald before gathering enough strength to speak again. “Me? Or my power?” she turned back to him, playfully folding her arms, faking that she was fine.

“Boo, it’s all in the same body.” He lowered his sunglasses down to get a better look at her. “What’s the difference?”

He must have called her bluff, because he moved right back where he was, pinning her against the stone and letting his nose skim her muzzle. He whispered, “What to do… what to do…” As though taunting her feeble state. “What ever should I do to you first..?” he smirked, looking back at her.

Ember ignored the power-plays, quickly changing the subject and trying to restore her strength back, struggling to push him away again. “My power isn’t me. I-I mean… I’m more than my abilities!” Her head rolled a moment, feeling nauseated from the two chaos powers conflicting each other.

“Sure, sure. But my abilities could send you to a whole new world…” He gave her a suggestive eyebrow movement.

Ember couldn’t let him just toss her around like a ragdoll! No matter how much his chaos power repulsed and diffused her own… she would have to fight!

Ember chuckled, trying to still play cocky as best as she could, even if she was stuck against a wall and a madman. “I’m already in another dimension.”

“I know, right? Exciting, isn’t it?”

He suddenly let her go.

It was then that Ember felt her body fall back to the ground. Was she unable to keep going?

She tried to slide her feet under her, but they skid back to being weakly shaken upon the ground.

She began to panic. ‘No… No-no-no, get up! You can’t let him win!’ She was growing more and more anxious and worried, but he just watched her face as her internal struggle grew more and more dire.

“Tsk, tsk, tsk. Someone can’t admit when she’s beat.” He chuckled right back, turning his head a bit upside down to get a better look at her. She hid her face and he gripped it with his hand, forcing it back into view and up to look at him.

He stroked with his pinkie the side of her cheek, still humming a bit of gleeful victory before flicking his head, flirtatiously. “Join me and we can have a bonfire later tonight~”

He moved dangerously close to her lips, “You and me… no sounds but the constant cries of you wanting more…”

She gagged. “Do you honestly think girl’s fall for that?”

Fiona had been taken away, pushed against another wall by her comrades, her fierce rage rising with each sentence she heard from the other room. She gripped at her captors backs and threatened to scratch and peel their skin off, but for her sake, they didn’t let go. “Sorry, not into ‘green’ fads.” Ember spat out.

“Ouch.” Scourge’s smirk was replaced quickly with a frown. “Touchy, touchy.”

“You seem to be.” Ember tried to bite at his wandering hands, but he pulled them back, apparently turned on her by actions as his eyes widen with intrigue.

His head perked up, and he mimicked a cat’s ‘rawr’.

“Ohhh… look who’s talking back. I like you.”

“Clearly…”

“Only… my love’s a little conditional. Pricey as it seems, I’m a man of material desire.” As he slipped a hand around her waist, she punched him back, summoning everything into that blow that forced him away.

“Grrk!” he gripped his eye, where she had punched.

Ember rose up and began to deal more hits, taking him off-guard as she spun and whacked him with her foot, leaving him prone before diving onto him with her knee, continuing the onslaught.

As though summoned by the sudden shift, the Anti-gang pounced and let Fiona go.

“W-what!?” Ember was tackled down, fighting for her life again as the Anti-gang began to beat down on her, protecting their so-called, ‘king’.

When they moved away, Ember was left utterly beaten and weak. Bruises forming along her muzzle and arms now… The only visible ones, anyway.

“Y… You cheated.” Ember stated, gritting through the pain as she crawled to try and get back up again, but was failing miserably. “I overpowered you… overcame… I would have won if-!” she was kicked across the room by Fiona, leaving her rolling along the cobble floor. “You… played fair.” She finished her sentence, but at what cost? She gripped her stomach and got up to her knees, panting as Fiona’s face looked like seconds away from murder. The Anti-gang turned to Scourge, who was getting up with a wobble in his step, gripping a hand over his eye.

“I’m starting to lose patience with you…” he muttered under his breath. “You say you don’t like green… but I know a certain hippie drummer boy you tend to write through G.U.N’s mail delivery service..! Too bad most of those letters don’t always end up in his hands…”

Ember was confused at first, not understanding before her eyes widened. “Are you talking about..?”

He didn’t let her finish, “I’m not one to be jealous, honestly. Only possessive. Which brings me back to my earlier demand…”

Suddenly, the Chaos Emeralds floated out from behind Scourge’s flowing jacket, revealing themselves as they gently swayed in a circle around his body. He approached his throne but stopped, turning his head back to her with another evil look of desire and pre-victory gloating.

“I want you… but all of you.” He turned back around and spread his arms out, the emeralds stopping their turning and remaining still… his presence was extremely intimidating, and Ember could feel she wasn’t at full power yet… The healing would need more time!

‘He knew about Manic? What else did he know!?’ She couldn’t continue on like this. Her panic was reaching its maximum capacity. She could feel the Cursed Emerald wanting to retaliate with the dark madness she knew all too well. ‘He knew how to reverse the Cursed Emerald’s power onto me… He knew about G.U.N, Shadow… what else is he hiding up his sleeve?!’ she felt the world caving in on her. ‘Shadow… Sonic… Manic…’ she closed her eyes, remembering her dear friends she had collected along the way. ‘What if they can’t save me..? He clearly gathered and stole all the Chaos Emeralds from our world… he’s… so powerful now. He can trump me at every turn!’

She looked to his team, slowly withdrawing with a sick sense of gloating in their boss’s power, staring at her and waiting for him to deal a finishing blow. ‘I… I can’t do this, can I? Shadow was right…’

Then… a letter returned to Ember’s memory.

Those words…

“Won’t happen.” She suddenly felt a courage spark in her.

“I won’t let you win.” She felt her fist tighten. The words her friend wrote her sang in her ears now, the last letter she had read from Manic…

Dear Ember,

What’s up? Sorry I haven’t written in a while! I hear it’s been pretty rough for you. Shadow sounds a bit like a downer, man. In all honesty, you gotta keep your head up. No matter what rain falls in the summer, it just turns to snow in the winter, and then a pleasant shower in the spring. I guess that’s super poetic, heh. But you like that kinda stuff, right? Anyway, what I mean is, don’t let things that seem hard keep you down. You have a really unique spirit, Ember. Kinda like your name, you’re a spark to the flame. Riding and gliding, you’ll always be the same, but evolve toward your name. Ember, Ember. Spark and shine. Embers and cinders, lighting the night! It’s hard not to write lyrics for ya, I know you laugh at me when I do, but it’s so easy for me to get inspired off of ya. You must be some kind of muse to me. Is that okay? Whatever, I’m not a very good letter writer, but I hope you know…

You aren’t just the embers, but the spark to the flame.

- Manic The Hedgehog

Her head reared up, his lyrics giving her strength as her heart pumped rapidly and her power swiftly returned to her.

“You want to see fire and brimstone?” She blasted her energy out, her super form taking effect again. It would cost her this time… but for once, she felt her mind just a little more clearer—it peeked through the haze of crazy power, and gave her the confidence to remain calm.

“We’ll see about that.” Scourge’s evil, scheming smirk reappeared. He lowered his eyes, attracted to her rebelliousness but also trying to not get frustrated again. “I’m not very patient.”

“I’m not very outspoken, and yet, here we are.” She smirked back, unwilling to be intimidated by his confidence. She proved she could beat him once. Time to do it again…

“This time, I’m going to push you around!” She took a few steps forward, her power sucking away at her now, like one last shot of adrenaline to end it all or be ended herself. “I’m speaking out against your bad fashion sense.” She egged him on.

“That’s it! I’ve put up enough with this! I’ll just take you here and now!” he blasted a deep purple, much like her Cursed Emerald’s power. His chaos had turned negatively charged and dangerously unstable.

At least she had some practice with being an uncontrollable mass of destruction.

“Bite me.” She threw her hand out, spiking out artificial chaos claws a few inches ahead, glowing purple in radiance once again. Her white form and black eye-sockets fanned like a raging fire, waiting for him to come at her.

“I’ll try!” his smile turned devilishly crazy, as though it was blood-hungry now.

The two clashed in what looked like an array of lights, flashing and blinding the other Anti-gang members as they held their arms out to shield themselves from the aftermath. The force tossed them back and around, skidding on their feet to avoid falling back.

“They’re gonna kill each other!” One of them shouted out, but it was hard to tell who with the constantly clashing lights that blinded their sights, and the rapid whipping of force pounding them in different directions as Ember and Scourge duked it out with everything they had.

“Dang it, Scourge! He’s going to take the whole fort down with him!” That one sounded as though it was Fiona, but before anyone could say anything more…

There was a large explosion, blasting the stone walls as Scourge shoved stones off of himself. He looked enraged, huffing and puffing a moment, wiping some blood off his chin.

“Heh… heh… Okay, doll. You’ve got my attention.” He breathed as though exhausted, bruised up and singed in different locations on his fur. “That power has a kick to it. Mind if I take a bit of it?” He shot up through the air, “Or how about all of it!?”

He rocketed down to Ember who had let her super form take over her actions. Though she was conscious and aware of herself, her reflex was stronger than her mind could keep up with. It was the ultimate instinct, a great offense to his aggressive—and unconcentrated—attack style.

She was battered and bruised though, but countered most of Scourge’s hits. This wasn’t looking good for either of them. They had different ways of utilizing chaos energy, both in dangerous ways, but with grave consequences on both of them. Especially mentally…

“Urk!” Under his sunglasses, which had fallen with the swing of his head down to his eyes, he suddenly winced in a bit of fear. “W…What-what gives you all this power!? Why won’t you just give in to me!?” It was almost pathetic, his sudden realization of how far Ember’s power could take her, but Ember liked to hear she was getting the advantage again.

She strained against his energy, him charging at her again, her pushing him back and holding her own as she tried to summon enough strength and sanity to speak again.

“It’s… because…”

Shadow… Sonic… Rouge.

“I have…”

Cream, Amy, Knuckles, Tails…

“P-people…”

Her memories, Maria… Dr. Gerald Robotnik.

All of her experiences.

All of her strife and happiness, pain and sorrows.

…Manic…

“I want… to protect!”

She sent a large energy wave out of her, rippling through the air as he remained stunned at the intensity of her Cursed Emerald’s power.

It was almost as though her very chest was shaking, the Cursed Emerald looking as though it was being rocked from her very core. Her soul taking full swing at him, him locked in her grip as she refused to let go.

“How’s that possible!?” he cried out, but it was too late now…

“I have all 7 Chaos Emeralds! You have only one!”

“Guess you didn’t do your research, but this little emerald was cursed for a reason!” She formed a beam at the tip of her protruding emerald, Scourge’s eyes glazed over with its wild radiance as he pulled his head back, whincing as he knew…This was gonna hurt. A lot.

“HAAAAAAAAAA!!!”

She spread a beam of dark purple energy out from her chest, propelling it into him as she held his fighting hands in place. A direct shot. A finishing blow. All she had left to give.

 She left him with nowhere to dodge.

 She had grappled him, causing his flimsy form to fly out in front of her, being forced to remain in the shock-blast of her immense power.

To keep from having the power push her back against the wall, she dug her feet into the ground of the cobble floor.

“AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!” the hit finally died down and caused Scourge to fall flat down on his face when she released him and backed away.

She gripped her arm, feeling the fatigue as her form disappeared and she fell down too. “You may be ticked… hah… hah… but no amount of fighting… hah… will keep me from forgetting… hah… hah… my friends.”

That was all. The last of everything. At least, she thought it was. Her vision so blurry and her body so numb.

The Cursed Emerald faded… as though Ember was left only to her mortal capabilities now.

“Grr…” he gripped the ground beneath him, “…Ow.” feeling the Chaos Emeralds shoot out from him, he forced his crisp self to get up, still steaming from the hit.

 “YOU LITTLE-!” he reached out to her. “Whether you join or not, I’ll just kill you and dance on your corpse!”

While the two were distracted, they didn’t notice a portal open and his Anti-gang getting beaten in their attempt to block out their powerful and heated light energy.

“You can’t win! Ahh! Ow! Hot! You can’t burn me! I’m raw to the core, babe! I’m-… I’m not done,… I’m well done! Haha! Ouch… Get over here…” he began to crawl to her, and it was pretty impressive that he had even survived her attack.

‘How?’ Ember’s eyes were too exhausted to shake in fear, her body too tried to fully react to his advances toward her. ‘He’s totally beaten… He can barely move… the Chaos Emeralds… He must have used them to block some of the attack… but they’re drained too. How… How powerful is this guy?’

“I won.” She countered.

He fidgeted in his painful crawl towards her.

His face and belly were scraping against the floor, his knees skidded with fresh burns that only made the stone sting further against the cold, rough touch. The surface was like sandpaper on his blackened hide, but he kept moving, he kept crawling… his gloves ripped and his sunglasses blasted like a comic book page’s BAM. He kept coming. He wouldn’t back down.

“I’m not just gonna lie down and die! I’ll take you with me!” he raised a crazy eye and gripped her head.

She was powerless to stop him, she could barely move her body, let alone keep her eyes open.

“You… cheated.” She muttered again as he attempted to use her head to push him off the ground, but she didn’t have enough strain and just toppled with him.

“Dang it…” he finally let out what sounded like his own acceptance of his defeat. “You and I… we’re too alike.” He just managed a smirk. “You and I… we’re bad to the bone.”

“No…” Ember breathed out and managed to look him in the eye.

“I’m nothing like you.”

Then…

“Scourge!”

Scourge stopped in his pursuit, still gripping Ember’s head. She was so close to fainting that she couldn’t move out of his grasp.

He turned to the sound and noticed his gang tied up and on their knees, looking ticked at three figures who walked into the shadows of the room.

Scourge quickly removed his hand and grabbed Ember by her neck, forcing himself up while pulling her with him.

He wobbled to his feet, clearly annoyed and struggling to find a joke in the situation. “So much interference… Can’t a man feed his ambitions first?” he licks his lips. “What is this, the Calvary?”

The figures halted.

“Heh. Might as well make a lasting impression, hmm? Fire girl’s mine! You’re too late to save anyone!” He was fibbing. It was all a fake show to mask the fact that he knew he was beat. He couldn’t do anything and neither could Ember now. His strength to rise to his legs was nothing but a mortal attempt to look like a god. He was really just a rag-doll with his stitches coming undone, the fluff of powerlessness inches from snapping out of him and spreading like dandelion fuzz around the air.

For a last kick, a final punch, icing on the cake of trying to reclaim an authoritative stance, he leaned in to kiss her…

“I… won’t… lose…” his façade was failing him, he was about to collapse. He pushed his thumb up to get her chin to rise…

A moment away from some petty form of victory… not willing to admit defeat…

But a noble drumstick hit the side of his cranium.

His eyes blinked, dazed and confused.

One figure stuck a hand out into the light where Ember and Scourge had made the ceiling fall apart, but some of it dared to stay intact.

One pointer finger rose up and wagged itself in broad daylight. “No, no, no… that’s no way to treat a lady, dude.”

Scourge squinted his eyes as Ember slowly began to go limp in his hold.

She was too exhausted to try and look and see who it is, but ever ounce of her felt it knew that voice. Like a steady drum beat… like a rhythmic pound within the sound of the man’s voice.

“And you are?”

“When Ember’s letters started turning sour, I figured something wasn’t right.”

That voice… She knew that voice…

“Sonia said they were forged when we compared handwriting with previous other letters she had written me.”

It couldn’t be… but Ember’s eyes struggled to force themselves open just a little longer…

Hoping for a glance of him…

Of…

“I went to Sonic for some answers. Turns out Shadow was looking for her too and well,” he shrugged, but his voice was immediately recognizable to Ember.

 “M-…Man...ic?”

 “Well, now we’re saving my luscious lady from your filthy little hands!” Manic, Sonic, and Shadow both stepped out of the shadows, revealing their forms as Shadow narrowed his eyes, a deep glare upon his broad brow as he noticed the state Ember was in. Sonic was also acting a bit more serious than Ember had ever seen him look before, but that soon changed to a proud smile when he noticed Scourge was thoroughly beat-up by her before they had even gotten there.

“L…Luscious?” she could barely get any air to escape her throat and respond to him, but he seemed to be proceeding with caution, noticing her frail state. Still, it made her want to chuckle, bringing a corner of her lips up to a smile at hearing his ridiculously outdated talk start-up again. It wasn’t nearly as annoying as Scourge calling her ‘spark’ or ‘baby’. She’d rather hear Manic say it than him.

“It means you’re rocking!” Manic drummed the air, hearing her faintly whispered reply to his shenanigans. “But in a- ‘pretty and wonderful personality’ kinda way.”

“This is annoying.” Scourge lowered his eyelids, tilting and trying to regain his lost balance again. It was clear he wasn’t ready for a round 16… as he had previously already taken Ember on a good number of times.

“This is the bozo I have to rival with?” he looked comically to Ember, as if not understanding her taste. He pulled on her hair again to get her to look up at him, and through the pain, she laughed a moment.

“He’s the right… shade of green.”

Scourge showed his fangs on that comment, not liking it one bit.

“I can still take him.” Ember protested, but weakly pawed her claws at him. This only made the scene funnier and more desperate.

“Right. Don’t mean to steal your thunder, babe, but let me and my bros handle this.” Manic turned back to the Anti-Gang as Sonic and Shadow leaped forward.

Scourge’s eyes widened, not ready for this new encounter at all.

With that last comment, Shadow darted up and launched a Chaos Spear, which forced Scourge to jump back. He released Ember, leaving her to drop like dead-weight on the ground, flopping a bit and not even trying to stop the fall… even just a little bit.

She wouldn’t call out for help though, she just tried to keep breathing and keep her eyes from fully shutting. She wanted to see this. Shadow kick some butt, Sonic do his thing, and Manic… she just wanted to stare at him as long as she possibly could.

It was good to see him again. So, he didn’t hate her? All those sent letters never reached him? What awful things was Scourge writing to him, under her name?

Scourge was injured and woozy, so when Shadow’s feet hit the ground, he was still unsteady.

Shadow dealt a number of powerful blows, causing more noticeable blood to spit out from Scourge’s mouth, revealing the internal injuries were getting just as bad as his outer appearance…

The Chaos Emeralds were flung from his being— Pik, pik, pik!

They bounced against the ground, tumbling, and finally rolling through a half-demolished wall’s jagged holes where stones had been hit out of place.

Sonic watched the emeralds scatter and raced along the still remaining walls, letting his hand skim their grainy exterior before rolling into a ball and ducking into the holes of the same wall after them.

“I’ve got Scourge, you get Ember!”

Sonic’s voice rang out as he sped through the barely hanging walls of the destroyed castle, revealing his super from as he blasted the remaining structure away. With that wall gone, the whole place started to shake and loosened stones began to fall around them.

The Anti-Gang looked up, realizing the whole place was about to go down.

Scourge’s super form immediately faded with a knee to the face as Sonic easily began to pummel him down while Shadow turned his attention back to Ember.

Right before she fainted, she felt Shadow quickly scoop her up. A tight, firm grasp upon her sides made her flinch a bit in pain, but his words made her happy in their weird way. “Stupid girl, what did I tell you about making enemies!?”

“Only twice a day?” she joked, and then her eyes rolled and she fell unconscious.

She only vaguely remembered voices. Shouting from Scourge, mostly. She did hear Manic and figured he must have been the one who rushed over, skidded to his knees, and felt her face…

But she could have imagined it…

The next morning, she admitted what she had done was reckless, and should have tried to escape instead of fight.

Manic had tended to her wounds with Rouge and other G.U.N officers, but Sonia was the one who helped create the portal to get her out of that mess.

She personally thanked her before Sonia had to return and govern her own kingdom that Sonic and Manic willingly gave off to her. Neither wanted to rule, but Sonia was a natural leader who was born for the role, quite literally.

Laying on the gurney, she slowly blinked her eyes to adjust to the light, having taken a long rest since then. Shadow, Sonic, and Manic had stayed at different times to check on her as she dozed off repeatedly back to her deep, recovery slumber. However, this time, they all seemed to be in the room.

She immediately opened the conversation, weakly and groggy at first, with a gentle explanation of her behavior for why she didn’t try to run but fought instead.

“I just wanted to see how far our little ‘game’ would go.” She withdrew herself back from Shadow’s glare as she rose from the gurney. “Who defeated him in the end… might I ask?”

In her heart, she still believed she succeeded. “Cause honestly,” she began, unable to keep it to herself. “He cheated.”

The men had different reactions to that. Sonic chuckled while Manic rolled his eyes with a smile on his face, and Shadow just grumbled something under his breath… probably a curse she was glad she didn’t hear. Maybe he was holding back..? Due to her condition?

Shadow turned to Sonic, who looked back at him and then over to Manic. They seemed to be thinking the same response…

“We all kinda chipped in.” Sonic stated, before Shadow shook his head and sighed.

“Far to modest… I completely obliterated him.” Shadow immediately bit back at Sonic’s rather ‘humble’ comment.

“What!?” humbleness went out the door as Sonic suddenly spun to confront Shadow’s claim, “We all fought him! And besides, I beat him up waaaaaay before you or Manic stepped in!”

“I believe you have failed to recall how I dealt with him swiftly first. You’re the one who called me off to get your own share of the action.” Shadow folded his arms, turning at an angle away from Sonic’s childish behavior. “Honestly, you’re no better than her at claiming all the glory…”

“You’re the one making a fuss!” Sonic pointed an accusing finger before looking over to Manic, “Well? Am I right? Or am I right!”

“I’m a peacemaker, yo. A pacifist at heart.” Manic drummed the side of the gurney, refusing to be apart of the contention. “But for you, I couldn’t help but summon my old drum set. Sent beats of righteous justice his way.” He winked to Ember, admitting that he did join a little bit in the fight, even if it was indirectly and through the power of his sick, twisted beats.

“You were ranged, but still effective.” Shadow still didn’t know how to address the fact that his so-called ‘Sister’ was writing a complete stranger. To him, anyway, he didn’t know anything about this ‘Manic’ fellow but trusted him after all he’d done to find and save Ember. “However, you have yet to explain your side of the story…” Shadow turned to Ember again, “How exactly do you two know each other?“

“It’s been a while since you’ve fought, Manic.” Sonic smirked, turning his attention away from Shadow’s stubborn crossed-arms, not willing to admit it as a team effort, but also avoiding his brother and his possible girlfriend from having to admit anything.

“I did most of the work, though…” Sonic muttered through the side of his mouth, pulling up a hand to side-mouth the statement towards Ember, grinning widely as he winked to her.

This only made Ember smile, seeing them all try to lighten the mood for her.

“You merely distracted him as I got Ember to safety and defeated him only after I had stepped in.”

“I had to let you have a few blows, you were acting like the angry big brother all the way there! And what? Are you trying to look ‘cool’ in front of your sister now or something?” Sonic teased, calling Shadow out with a hint of casual backstabbing.

He leaned towards Shadow, lowering his eyelids with a wicked sense of pleasure on his face, waiting to see Shadow’s reaction to his words.

“Why?” Shadow closed both his eyes, refusing to give Sonic what he wanted. “I have no need for that. She already looks up to me far more than she should.”

“Yeesh, what a double-edged sword.” Sonic sweat dropped a bit, flinching back at how arrogant Shadow could be when provoked.

But… Ember noticed that he didn’t protest Sonic’s words too severely… It made her heart lighter than air… hearing him accept her being called his little sister without too much of a complaint.

“We searched a few realms before finding the right one. Sorry for being a tad late—not so fashionably—But it was far out and about, man.” Manic twirled his drumsticks into a holster and walked over to Ember, subtly reminding the other men in the room that it was about Ember, not them.

He leaned on her bedside, “Just glad you’re alright.”

His smile melted her worries away, and she tilted her head towards him, wishing to be closer to that positive aura his smile gave off. She tilted her chin down with a faint blush…

Then something crossed her mind, just as quick as her blush disappeared.

“T-those letters, though… the fake ones. W-wha-what did they say?” Worriedly, Ember’s face turned sorrowfully up to him with regret. “If I had known…”

“Don’t worry about it.” He flicked a finger under her chin, tapping it playfully but remaining at a distance. Especially with Shadow around… she took a quick glance at him before pulling a bit away from Manic, respecting that he was just as nervous with being affectionate around her with Shadow in the room as she was towards him. “I’m just glad we were able to nab that bad dude. He should be in prison now, right?”

“Him and his goonies.” Sonic nodded as Shadow took a few more turns looking back and forth between Manic and Ember.

‘Just what the heck are you two, anyway!?’ was the expression on his face, leaving Ember to awkwardly look away and wag her tail as Manic scratched behind his head and nervously laugh the constant double-glances Shadow gave him away.

----

Far away, and in a dusty jail cell, Scourge and his team were separated.

He was thrown into quarantine with a ripped-up jacket that freed his arms from their insanity hold around his waist, gripping the bars. “I vow to never rest till Ember’s blood is burning on my hands, or at least something of hers..! I will have my REVENGE!”

“Keep it down over there!”,

“Ahhh, shut up!”,

“Is that..? Ah, man. Why’s he back with us?”

The other inmates could hear his ranting cries clear across the courtyard, where Fiona and the gang pop some bubble gum. She stuck it to a nail file and threw it up over the wall. Quickly moving through the bars of his small, rectangular window, it flipped a few times before descending and clinging its gummy, pink, and spit covered substance against the wall.

It stuck to the inside of his cell, slowly being pulled down by the weight of the nail file and stretched towards him. Finally, with Scourge leaning up against the wall, grinding his teeth together in frustration, he heard it tink just above him.

He stopped scowling and looked up, seeing the metal gleam in his eyes, his sunglasses upon his head also reflecting their bright, silver exterior.

“First freedom.” he smiled with evil glee.

“And then, that day… will come soon.”

Laughter echoed the walls of the isolation unit.

End.

[absolutely-legit]

author-nim can i request a fic where youngjae is "evil" and just uses jaebeom for showing off and sex but jaebeom is blind with it because he loves youngjae hehehehe

WHY do you want me to be mean to Jabum??

~*~

„Honey!“ Jaebum startles out of his half-sleepfeeling disoriented. “Hum?” He makes. There’s a warm hand onhis chest and smelly breath in his face. He blinks his eyes open, butit’s completely dark. “Honey, you awake?” He hears a whisperand hums. The rough bare sole of a foot rubs against hi shin, nudgingbetween his legs. It takes him a moment. “Youngjae?” He mumbles,sleep ridden. A kiss to his cheek, his jaw and the corner of hismouth.

“… what timeis it?” He croaks, while Youngjae’s soft body and enticing warmthslips over him and all around him and lures him awake slowly butsurely. “Dunno.” Youngjae giggles softly, peppering wet smoochesto his face and neck. Jaebum sighs. “You drunk?” He asks,slipping a hand over Youngjae’s on his own chest where he’s takento rubbing his nipples through his shirt. “’m wasted.”Youngjae cheers proudly. His tongue flicks out to lick at Jaebum’slips. “’n I miss’ my seck…sy kitt’n.”

Jaebum heavesanother sigh. “Youngjae.” He scolds but without any firmness. “Ididn’t give you my apartment key so you can crawl into my bed inthe middle of the night when you’re shitfaced and horny.”Youngjae grumbles and shoves his leg up that was lodged soaffectionately between his all the way until his knees presses rightinto his crotch. “Not?” He asks, feigning innocence. “Butthat’s the best thing about having your key.”

Jaebum groans,wraps his arms around Youngjae and rolls them over. “You missedme?” He questions into his neck, mouthing at the skin. Youngjaegiggles gleefully. “Sooo much.” He blabbers. Jaebum can taste thealcohol on his tongue when they kiss. It’s gross. His skin tastesof sweat and smoke, he doesn’t really want to know what shady,fucked up place Youngjae hung out at with his trashy friends.

But he’spliant. Jaebum knows he won’t get to rest until Youngjae has hadwhat he wants. And he knows how to get it, how to get anything fromJaebum. He drapes back into the sheets, his thighs fall open withease, his back arches in pleasure. His lips part glistening wet, hemoans messy encouragement, whines his name, over and over and over.Jaebum’s heart swells with affection and possessiveness while hemarks the pale skin with lovebites and bruises. Youngjae begs. Hepleads for touches, for kisses, pleads to be taken and ravished.Jaebum delivers.

It’s heated andpassionate. Once Jaebum starts he can never stop, lust taking controlof his actions until he’s barely himself anymore. Until it’sover. Then he falls into the sheets, dead tired. When he got rid ofthe used condom and picked up a tissue to clean the cum stains ofYoungjae’s belly, the other is already fast asleep, snoringobnoxiously how he tends to do when he’s drunk. Jaebum does hisbest to ignore the noises and the smell as he wraps him in a hug andsnuggles close.

Jaebum is awalking corpse the next morning. He doesn’t even know how long heslept afterwards, but he certainly feels like it was just a minute.He takes a really hot shower, because taking cold showers is a dumbcliché and doesn’t help anyone. He doesn’t bother to be quietwhen getting dressed for work, because Youngjae slumbers peacefullyand it would need at least a tornado to wake his wasted ass. He doeshowever press as soft kiss onto his open mouth before he leaves.

“Are you okaysweetheart?” He texts Youngjae from work, but doesn’t receive ananswer until about noon. “Hyung, where’re your aspirin?” Jaebumrolls his eyes. Maybe where they’ve always been? “Left door ofthe bathroom cabinet, babe. Headache?” There’s no answer andJaebum puts his phone away.

When he has timeto check again later that afternoon he finds one more text. “You’reout of cereals.” He sighs. That boy…

“Your ass looksforbidden in those slacks.” Youngjae hushes as he comes up behindhim grabbing his waist. “Just my ass?” Jaebum pulls a face at himthrough the mirror where he peeks over his shoulder. He reachesaround him to adjust his tie. “All of you.” He reassures.“Perfect 10.” Jaebum can’t help the way his face lights up.“The girls gonna be so jealous.” Youngjae murmurs and pecks thespot behind his ear that makes him tingly.

Jaebum sighs.“We’re not overdressed?” He asks and watches his head shakevividly. “Nooo, it’s a fancy dinner.” To be fair, they could begoing to a wedding, or an award ceremony, both suited up head to toe,though it’s just Youngjae’s class reunion. “Come on, Sex god,we’re late.” Youngjae spanks him playfully on the butt and turnsto leave. Jaebum rolls his eyes. “It was you who needed an extra 20minutes to redo his hair.” He complains. “Well I need to live upto you don’t I?” He admits unabashed while he slips into hisdress shoes and snatches the car keys off the shelf.

Jaebum frowns.“Aren’t we gonna take a taxi?” He’s tired of staying soberwhile Youngjae drinks. He’s met with a surprised glance. “Why?When you have a perfectly working new car?” Jaebum shuffles alittle. He’s not fond of the idea of having to hang aroundYoungjae’s old friends where doesn’t know anybody and will likelyget bored and then he can’t even drink some wine. “Come one,hun.” Youngjae cheers and grabs for his arm pulling him out thedoor. “Next time I’ll drive. Promise.”

It’s not asbad. One of Youngjae’s peers from his college music club seems tohave really made it. They drive up to a big mansion with a fancy carin the driveway and Jaebum is relieved that he won’t stand out likea sore thumb in his three piece suit. What isembarrassing is how Youngjae flaunts around with Jaebum hanging athis arm while they greet everyone. Or rather Youngjae greets themwith beaming eyes and he just nods his head and says “Hello, niceto meet you.” About a thousand times when Youngjae introduces him.

Jaebum is not afan of upper class mannerisms, but he bites through it because itmakes Youngjae happy. And he looks gorgeous when he’s happy and itis a lot better than him ending up under the filthy tables of Seoul’smost dodgy back-street pubs. The girlsare jealous. Jaebum can hear themwhisper to Youngjae, who answers them a lot less secretive. “I knowright. He’s to die for. I must have been a saint in my previouslife.” Cue Jaebum turning away so they can’t see them blush andhe busies himself with the buffet full of fancy starters and snacks.

There’s achuckle by his side and he looks up instinctively. The handsome manwith the boyish grin and creasing eyes looks familiar. They probablyhave been introduced but Jaebum doesn’t remember a single name.“Yes?” He asks, startled. The guy smirks. “Man, Youngjae isreally head over heels for you, isn’t he?” Flushing furiously,Jaebum opts to stuff his mouth with some miniature salmon wraps, sohe doesn’t have to answer. “It’s kind of funny.” Jaebumfrowns on top of his hamster cheeks. “Hm?” He makes betweenchewing.

“Well…” Theguy explains, letting his gaze wander in the direction where Youngjaeis probably still boasting to his former female classmates.“Shouldn’t it be you prancing around your colleagues and friendspriding yourself with your young, handsome sugar baby and not theother way around?” Jaebum almost chokes. A piece of bread goes downthe wrong way and he begins coughing like crazy, almost spitting fishall over the table. The other man pats him harshly on the back,apologizing profoundly. “Sugar baby?” Jaebum croaks after awhile, still attempting to breathe properly. “Gosh, sorry.” Heraises is hands in apology. “I thought that was the thing with youguys.” Jaebum wipes his mouth with a napkin. “We’reboyfriends.” He hisses. It would be an understatement to say thatthe guy looks disbelieving. “Sure.” He mutters. “And Youngjaeis not unemployed either, right.” Jaebum shoots daggers at him.“No, he isn’t.” He states with finality and stalks away,leaving the dumbfounded man behind.

“Why didJinyoung-Hyung try to kill you?” Youngjae asks sweetly, ordering afew strays of hair on his forehead. Jaebum shrugs. “Nothing.”Youngjae leaves it at that.

Youngjae does getdrunk, but at least not wasted. They leave when he doesn’t stopfondling Jaebum’s butt anymore and eventually attempts to pull himinto a bathroom for a quickie. Jaebum decides that it’s time to gethim home, where Youngjae doesn’t waste any more time tearing thosedamn slacks off of him. “You were so good.” He praises, havingJaebum’s naked body shudder underneath him. “Made me so proud.”He squirms and whines under the praise and exploiting hands.

Youngjae goessavage. He takes him twice that night after teasing him for what feltlike hours. Jaebum his butter in his grasp, he burns up from theinside until he’s a pile of ashes, limp and defenseless and hethinks it’s worth it; the prancing and the glitter if this is hisreward. They’re at it till the early morning hours, when the birdsstart to chirp and in the first rays of sunlight they finally fallasleep.

“Youngjae-ah.”Jaebum says carefully when they’re having a late breakfast andfiddles with his empty mug. “Huh?” Youngjae briefly glances upfrom his phone while he shovels egg into his mouth. “I know we’vetalked about this before.” Jaebum calmly explains. “But…” Heswallows. “Can I ask you again to finally move in with me?” “Notthat again, please.” Youngjae huffs dismissively. “Can’t I evenhave my breakfast in peace?” Something cold settles in Jaebum’schest. “Youngjae?” He pleads.

Without lookingat him Youngjae puts his phone face down on the table, staringblankly ahead. He finishes chewing slowly and swallows. “You saidit yourself.” He states in that neutral voice of his that Jaebumhates because he can’t tell where it’s leading. “We’ve talkedabout this before and I’ve explained it to you before. I need myfreedom.” He blinks and suddenly they’re looking at each other.“I know.” Jaebum sighs hastily. “I know that, darling, but… Ihave to keep asking you. Until you change your mind.” Youngjae’sgaze is piercing. “Why should I change my mind. I don’t likebeing suffocated in a relationship. You know that. Why do you keeppressuring me?”

There it is.Jaebum thought maybe he would get angry, maybe annoyed. But his toneslips off into the territory of hurt that he doesn’t bare well.“I’m sorry.” He mumbles. “I just… This.” He gesturesaround the kitchen, the comfy meal. “We could have this always.”

“I don’t…”Youngjae breaks off and takes a shaky breath. “Look, I know, okay?Don’t think I know that… I’m far from perfect. I am not goodenough for you. Can you please not… shove it in my face all thetime?” Jaebum’s jaw tenses. “That’s not what I…”Youngjae’s eyes flash darkly. “Oh yes it is.” He cuts him offwith a hiss, then he blinks rapidly. “I just can’t, okay? I’msorry that I am this burden on you, but I can’t. I need space,Hyung! I can’t help it. I wish I could give you all that youdeserve, but I…” And there is the sniffle. “I don’t know whatto do either… Please just… please don’t ask me all the time. Ithurts.” A thick round tear falls from his eye and rolls down hischeek.

Jaebum is by hisside in an instant. He slides to his knees by his chair and presseshis head into his side. “I’m sorry.” He whispers, rubbing histhigh with his palm. Youngjae sobs. “I don’t want to lose you,but… if we can’t… if we don’t fit, I…” Jaebum shusheshim. “Shut up.” He says. “You’re not losing me… I’m sorryI asked, I’m sorry love.”

Youngjae criesand sniffs for a little longer. Then he finishes his cold eggs andgoes home. Jaebum huddles on the sofa alone. He wishes they couldspend their lazy Sundays snuggled together, but Youngjae is has theright to keep his independence. Jaebum is too patronizing sometimes.And it’s probably better for both of them.

“Darling, Ineed to cancel our dinner date.” Jaebum types down into his phone,curled up in his blanket and surrounded by used tissues. He adds asad emoji for good measure. And a few more. The answer doesn’t takelong. “What??!” Plus angry emoji. Jaebum’s heart sinks. “I’msorry, baby.” He writes back. “I’m sick, I can’t go.”

Youngjae whines.At least Jaebum assumes he does. “But you promised!!!” comes backwith way too many exclamation marks. He doesn’t have time to answerbefore the next message pops in. “You said you were gonna take meto that new place! That fancy one with the glass ceiling.” He saidthat. “I’m sorry. We will. I’ll take you there another time. Ipromise.” Sick of typing he tries to call Youngjae instead, butgets rejected.

“Don’tbother.” Youngjae writes. “I don’t give a crap about yourpromises.” It makes him angry. A little. “Babe, I will take youthere. Just not tonight.” He takes a break to blow his nose. “Butyou can come over and we’ll order from that Sushi place and watchNetflix. How about?” It takes quite some time for Youngjae toanswer.

“So I’llcatch your germs? No thank you. Just so you know, I had my hair doneand I bought a new outfit, too. I was really excited to go. I evengot waxed.” Jaebum’s heart aches. He doesn’t want to disappointhim, but he really doesn’t feel like he can leave the house.“Please don’t be upset. I’ll make it up to you, I promise.”All he receives is a “Whatever.” He buries his face in hisblanket and screams. He breathes deeply. Some graveling won’t hurt,right?

“I do miss youterribly.” He sends. “I wish I was with you right now. Are yousure you don’t want to come over and watch a movie? Pretty please?”This times it takes even longer for Youngjae to respond. “I gotdolled up to go out and I will.” He responds finally. “If youdon’t want to take me out, just tell me. If all I’m worth to youis sitting on your lame ass sofa watching Jurassic Park the millionthtime. Fine. I’ll go out with Jackson. Don’t come at me with yourshit excuses just because you think you’re spending too much moneyon me. I won’t ask anymore. Sorry for wanting to spend quality timewith you.”

Torn betweenbeing furious and heartbroken Jaebum starts typing, which is hardbecause the keyboard blurs before his eyes. He hasn’t finished evenone sentence when Youngjae already sends a new. “Don’t text meanymore. I’m out.”

Jaebum hurls hisphone away. It bounces off the armchair and clatters to the ground.It’s alright, he tells himself, when he orders food and picks out amovie. It’s just Youngjae being Youngjae. He’s a bitch sometimes.Easily upset, but it never lasts. Tomorrow he’ll be fine again.Maybe even tonight if he gets drunk. This has happened plenty before.They’ve been dating for ages, he knows Youngjae. It’s fine.Jaebum is fine. Except that he feels lonely and that he really misseshis boyfriend.

Two movies laterhe stares at his phone that didn’t get a scratch from the throw. Hewonders if Youngjae is drunk enough that he can shoot him a textwithout upsetting him further. He just wants to know if he’s okay.He’s out with Jackson isn’t he? Jackson is Youngjae’s roommate.At first Jaebum didn’t really like him living with another man, butJackson turned out to be incredibly sweet and loyal and mostdefinitely not a threat in any way. Jackson will take good care ofhim.

He opts to textJackson instead. They’ve never actually corresponded and Jaebumonly met him once, so he has to search for his number. “HeyJackson.” He ponders and decides to add his name in case he doesn’thave his number saved. “This is Jaebum. Can I ask you if Youngjaeis alright? We’ve had a quarrel.”

It doesn’t takelong for his phone to light up. The first message is just a “???”He doesn’t know what to make of it. “I don’t know, bro? He’snot home.” Jaebum’s skin crawls. “Uhm, he said he’d go outwith you because I canceled our date…” He types as fast as he canand waits anxiously. “Negative.” Jackson replies. “He said he’sout with his boyfriend, we never made plans.” Jaebum shuffles. “ButI canceled in the afternoon already. Didn’t he say anything afterthat?” His heart is thumping in his chest.

“Dunno man.”Jackson answers, but he’s a kind soul. “Give me a minute. I’llcheck in for you.” The next couple of minutes are torturous whilehe anxiously waits for an answer, checking the screen every fewseconds. Finallya message pops up. “I asked him if he’s gonna be home tonight. Hesent this.”

Maybe Jaebum ishallucinating. Maybe he’s having a fever dream from the flu. Hestares at the picture that Jackson forwarded. Youngjae took a selfie,arm stretched all the way over his head, looking up with a wink andhis tongue out. On a bed. The photo frame just so captures the lowerhalf of his body. And a second body. The lower back of it to beprecise. And Youngjae’s cock buried to the hilt in their ass.

Jaebum pressesthe trash can icon without a second thought. His breathing and heartbeat calm down to a resting state. It’s not. There’s anexplanation. There’s a reason. He gently sets his phone aside andgrabs one of the pizza rolls to take a bite. It’s fine. It’ll befine. Tomorrow everything will be okay. Youngjae won’t be upsetanymore, like always. They’ve been dating forever, they know eachother well. They’ll be fine and Jaebum will take him to that fancyrestaurant next week.

~*~

I took it very literal in case you missed that. But still tried to keep it subtle? Idk.

[thekrazykeke]

FANDOM(S): Deadpool, MCU

RELATIONSHIP(S): Blind Al & reader. Deadpool x reader.

REQUEST: Oh it’s cool just some deadpool/reader. Like where the reader is blind Al’s granddaughter(or daughter up to you lol) and she meets wade for the first time and immediately falls for him cause he’s akward and cute and he falls for her cause she’s sarcastic and funny??? If u cant its fine just wanted to ask cause i havent requested anything in a while lol😂

REQUESTER: @keya168 @keya168 (because I’ma fuckin’ clown, m8)

SERIES (ASS BACKWARDS): Part I, Part II, Part III

SUMMARY: Superficial beauty never mattered much in the long run, especially if someone was a piece of shit on a slice of white bread.

This is the last part of this series. I’m not for sure when the sequel will be up, but I’m gonna aim for ‘soon’.

~

Whistling cheerily, holding a few boxes of pizza, under the cover of the night, Wade skipped along the broken and uneven stone steps of Cloverfield Lane.

“Are you fucking serious right now, author?”

Don’t be a pain in the ass and just go with it!

“Okay, okay. I guess since I gotta...”

Feeling all over his body, he used his free hand to slap his forehead, muttering ‘Duh!’ underneath his breath. Leaning down, Wade kicked over a rock and grabbed the key which had gotten embedded in the dirt. Twisting the key in the lock, the chain hit the ground and he pulled on the handle of the warehouse door.

“Help me! Someone help me! HELP!”

Taking his sweet time, Deadpool closed the warehouse door, not bothering with the lengthy process of making sure it was locked from the inside. Gathering up the pizzas in his hold again, he walked down the rickety stairs at a leisurely, sedate pace. 

“How ya doing, Don Lothario, having fun, just hangin’ around down here?”

Admittedly, he probably, maybe, had overdone it. 

The captive had his hands handcuffed and feet bound with rope, a makeshift noose around his neck, which was wrapped around the nail which had been quickly pierced to the wooden frame behind his head; in front of the captive were two keys, which he’d been led to believe were his ticket to freedom.

“I’m never going to tell you where she is.  Never, hehehehe. Never!!! You hear me, you crazy piece of shit?!”

Flipping the lid off of one box, revealing mushroom and pineapple pizza, nonchalantly, Wade pulled at the edges of his mask a little so that his mouth is revealed, and he took a generous bite. Pretending not to notice when his prisoner couldn’t stop staring at the pizza in his hand, “You will,” It’s said with absolute surety and then he took another bite, making an obnoxious sound of enjoyment. “Want some?” Holding out the slice that he’d bitten off of. 

“I know what you’re doing and it ain’t gonna work.” 

He shrugged. “Okay then. More for me.” Flipping open the boxes of the other pizzas, the merc whipped out his favorite switchblade, stabbing at a slice of cheese pizza before bringing it closer...and closer...to his mouth. 

“Fucking feed me!”

“You just said you weren’t hungry, Joey. No take backs, sorry.” Then because he was a shit, he ate that slice of cheesy pizza too. Once finished, he looked up and nearly busted a gut laughing, almost falling out of his fold up chair, at the affronted look on the guy’s face. “You’re really terrible at this game, Sammy. Absolutely no poker face. It makes me wonder why your bosses didn’t just kill you before it got to this point?”

“When my brother hears about this...”

“Ah! Now we’re getting to the nitty gritty of the matter!”

“When my brother finds out about how you’ve been treating me, he’s going to take it out on your lady friend, asshole.” For a single second, Deadpool paused. “Yeah. Maybe beat her up, bruise that pretty ski--AAAAHHHHHH!” The knife embedded itself in his leg. He screamed, flopping about gracelessly. 

“Rule number one of Deadpool’s DayCare.” Pushing the blade in a little more, relishing how the screams hit another level. “‘Show some goddamn respect to your caretaker.’” Roughly removing the blade, he once again ignore the sobbing. Instead, he wiped the blood on the guy’s crusty, grimy shirt. “Do you know what the shitty part of being happy is? Hm?”

“Please...No...”  The serrated edge of the blade caressed his cheek, the cool metal producing chill bumps.

“There’s always that one jealous bastard ready and willing to snatch someone’s bit of happiness away.” There’s a pause and the energy in the room became charged with hostility. “You took my happiness, my light, the only good thing I have left in this world. So I’m going to take your life away.”

“No. No. No. Wait, wait. No. NO. NOOOOOO!”

There’s a wet squelching sound and then...silence. 

Breathing heavily, Wade kept eye contact with the useless waste of space, as he gagged and choked to death on his own blood. As the light left his eyes, the merc’s shoulders hunched up with agitation before he just snapped.

He overturned a table, the chair, threw the pizzas around the room.

Ripping his mask off, he pressed the heels of his hands against his eyes, a choked off sob clogging his throat. 

Nearly overcome with despair as he was, that didn’t mean he was deaf. The warehouse door opened noisily. Putting back on his mask, Deadpool checked to see if he was carrying his guns (the incident with Dopinder never need be repeated) and he was. 

If someone had found him, then they were going to d--

“Shit, Wilson, turn on a damn light in here, would ya?”

“WOLVIE!!” Flying up the stairs, he launched himself at the feral, unsurprised to get an adamantium fist to the jaw. “’ou ‘ame (Translation: You came)!” Wade’s jaw was dislocated and it stung like a bitch but that was irrelevant. “’Emmmy! ‘Ou ‘oo!!! (Translation: Remy! You too!!)”

“Looks like you started the party without us, mon ami.” Playing with his cards, Remy’s red on black gaze is, as always, hidden by his signature bowler hat. The hellish stare is pointedly glancing at the slumped corpse. 

“I wasn’t for sure if the Professor would let you two out past bedtime. Ow, shit, fuck a duck.” Gingerly, he pressed his fingertips to the tender area. “You still hit like a train, Wolvie.”

“Did this other douche at least have an inkling of where your girl is?” Logan was not going to give into any baiting. 

“Well...” Like a kid with caught with his hand in the cookie jar, Wade poked his fingers together, an air of guiltiness about him.

Remy sighed and Wolverine pinched the bridge of his nose. “Luckily for you, we know where she’s supposed to be moved. Let’s get the fuck out of here. It stinks.”

“Why didn’t you just lead with that? Let’s go!” 

~

Drip-drip-drip.

The room is cold and dark. You’re strapped down to a metal slab and wearing only a hospital gown. Pumped to the gills full of drugs, you go in, then out of consciousness.

“You know, you’re only experiencing pain like a human is because that’s what you’ve tricked your brain into thinking.” The man, this sadist, who’s been assigned to break you, methodically uses his instruments to produce the most pain with the least amount of effort. “That you’re one of us. But you’re not. You’re not. If you were human...you would have died hours ago.”

You had learned less than five minutes in, underneath his ‘tender’ mercies that there isn’t any reasoning with this maniac, he’s a mutant hater and an advocate for wanting the genocide of anyone not purely or totally American (i.e. white). 

‘I’m going to die here.’ 

Perhaps it’s selfish but you didn’t want Wade to find your body. The two of you had been together almost five months, gotten closer and slowly, he brought his friends to meet you. You are certain that you loved him but couldn’t bring yourself to say it aloud, even though you tried to show it with your actions. 

“Oh.” He sounded genuinely surprised. “You’re crying.”

A short scream, turned into a wheeze, escaped your clenched teeth when he poked at something delicate. 

“Don’t do something so human. It’s unnatural.” 

His voice sounded far away, reverberating in your ears then became overlapped by another’s. Blinking slowly, you try to focus but it’s difficult. 

Be human. Be human. Don’t let them find out. Be human.

“Oh ho! Now we’re getting somewhere.”

The door is thrown open and a man? Enters. “The Avengers are here. We gotta move, now, Doc.”

“I’m not finished with my patient, Mr. Rumlow.”

“You can find other mutants to torture and study. You’ve been paid alot of money by HYDRA which means--”

An explosion rocks the building.

“I’m not leaving without it! Let GO o--”

There are two gunshots fired and the sadist hits the floor. The man, Rumlow, approaches your side, a gun raised to your temple.

“Good night, Princess.”

Take my life. When you wake...

Just as he squeezed the trigger, the bullet impossible to dodge at this angle... You closed your eyes, accepting that this was the end. The door bursts open again, revealing Captain America, who immediately flung his shield at the HYDRA operative’s gun. 

The bullet only grazes you.

Eyes opening again, heart still beating in your chest rapidly. Too rapidly. Glancing to the left, you see that your torturer has enough strength to inject you with something. 

Your heart begins to beat rapidly. Faster and faster. Trying to get air is an exercise in futility. Vision going grey around the edges, you try to croak out ‘Help’ but you can’t and fall backwards onto the metal slab again. 

Everything goes dark.

[ikenbar]

Mr. Love: Ike’s Choice CH5 PT5

Heheheh time for some Kiro angst!! Something I wish would happen more in the game. Not like, oh he is sad oh no! More like, Kiro crossed MC and now he has to work to make it up to her kind of angst. I LIVE for that angst in princely characters. You don’t see it much in media... what a shame...

Warnings: Tips for the swear jar, pure unadulterated angst for the shinning light named Kiro, Also some Gavin angst!, Also Ike angst! But that is in almost every part I post so it’s to be expected. As well as the cliffhanger at the end of the part :D

(Chapter Five (Kiro and Youran) Prologue and part one, two, three, and four can be found here~)

((Please read the author’s note (and the beginning of the story) on chapter one part one if you’re new here :D))

Chapter Five:

Part five:

I was still trying to catch my breath when I finally heard Kiro calling out to me. 

“Ike!!” His calls were muffled behind the wall, “Ike?! Is everything alright?!” The voice that once brought me joy only brought me pain. How could he have done this to me? How could he have led me here and nearly kill me?! How could he have lied to me and stood by my side while-

I cringed as Kiro continued to call for me, “Ike, Please! Talk to me! Are you ok!? Answer me!... Super Stranger?!” Those last words sent that power from before back into my body. He called me his hero. He said I was important. He made me believe I was important. 

I couldn’t take it anymore. 

I moved over to a wall, kicking away the debris at my feet. “Move.” I called, raising a fist.

“Ike?!” Kiro’s voice sounded hopeful.

 Without a second thought, I threw my fist into the wall. It caved to the amount of pressure I exerted, bursting apart and crumbling to the ground. I moved what debris was still in the way and looked around the room. Kiro was on the ground, inches away from the small room that held me captive.  I glared at him.

 Maybe I shouldn’t have given him a warning. 

Kiro’s face was shocked. “Ike.” He breathed, “Did you just-” I avoided eye contact as I moved to the door.

“Wait!” Kiro scrambled to his feet, “You’re not going to be able to make it out that way!” I stopped in my tracks, “The door's locked! The handle disappeared. See?” He was right. Where there was once a door now only stood another metallic wall blocking my way. I stretched my jaw in annoyance.

“Fine.” I walked back to the other side of the room, “I’ll just make my own way out.” Walking straight past Kiro, I approached one of the gray looking walls. I started tapping on the wall, trying to listen for an opening.

“Ike, Are you ok?” Kiro asked, worried. I didn’t respond, only continuing to tap in different places on the wall. “Ike? Ike? Have you gone deaf?” He laughed nervously, “Come on. Don’t ignore me! Super Stranger?” I cringed and hit the wall harder than I meant to. My hand fell through it easily, exposing an empty room on the other side. Moving quickly, I started pulling apart the wall from the hole I created. The wall caved and crumbled easily due to my evol and behind it was another dark hallway. I growled. How many of these do we have to walk through to leave this place?! I pushed away the rest of the wall and moved to walk into the hallway, but was quickly stopped as a hand held my shoulder. I whipped my head around and caught Kiro’s eyes. He looked worriedly at me. I glared at him. Kiro flinched and retracted his hand.

“You don’t trust me.” Kiro said this more as a statement than a question.

“Yeah, no shit." I deadpanned.

“Ike, it’s not what you think.”

“Tell it to someone who cares.” I moved back toward the hallway but Kiro grabbed my hand. I growled and wrenched my hand from his as I looked back to him.

“Please, Ike.”  Kiro’s eyes shone with earnesty, “Let me explain. Let me make this right.” I hesitated. He looked genuinely sorry… maybe if I-

I shook my head. “You lied to me!!” I growled, walking quickly into the hall, “How on Earth do you expect me to believe you now?!”

“I lied to you??” Kiro scoffed, running after me, “What about you?! You kept who you were from me! You even said you came to the shoot late and-”

“I didn’t want you to know it was me!” I threw my hands up, “I had spent the whole day yelling at everyone on my team! I didn’t want my idol to look at me as if I were a monster!”

“... I’m your idol?” Kiro’s voice had become soft.

“You were my idol." I rolled my eyes, "I don’t idolize anyone who puts me into near death experiences and forces me to remember-” I stopped talking. The mere mention of what was on the computer sent the sounds from before ringing like bells in my mind. I clutched my head, “... remember things that were better forgotten.”

“What do you mean?” Kiro asked, “Are you talking about what was on the computer? Ike, I can honestly tell you I had no idea what was on there.”

“Yeah right.” I continued to walk down the hallway.

“Ike, stop.” Kiro grabbed my shoulder again and forced me to turn to face him, “Please. I didn’t hack into your email. I didn’t freeze your phone. I’m not even the one who paralyzed the internet! Key is being framed!”

“Oh please." I huffed, folding my arms, "How do you expect me to believe that?"

“...You... you just need to trust m-"

“Oh come on!” I hissed, turning back to the hallway, “Just like I had trusted that you didn’t have your phone on you?! We could have been out of here in no time if you had called someone for help!”

“That’s why I didn’t tell you! I wanted to spend more time with you! To have an adventure with you!... to be alone with you.” My heart fluttered slightly. I clenched my hands into fists and shoved that feeling away. He was just sweet talking me to get back on my good side so he can throw me away again. Don’t fall for it again, Ike. 

“Come on, Stranger.” Kiro continued, “I’d do anything to bring back what we had before! What can I do to make you trust me again? I’ll do anything!”

“I’ll tell you what you can do.” I growled, walking faster, “Take your petty excuses and shove it up your-” 

I ran smack into a wall. 

I cursed and held my nose. Kiro laughed slightly and walked up next to me, “You ok?” He placed a hand on my back, which I promptly shook off. I felt the wall again. It wasn’t like the walls before it where they were slightly metallic or made of dry-wall. This wall was made of brick. I backed up slightly.

“Move.” I stretched my arm out, “When I hit you, I want to do it on purpose.” Kiro had just barely moved out of the way when I threw my fist back and at the wall. The bricks broke and flew forward, exposing us to a bright light. Sounds washed over us. Birds chirping, cars honking, police sirens wailing from nearby.  I blocked my eyes as they adjusted to the light. We were on the other side of an alley. I walked out into it and looked at the building. We were being held in the building next to the studio we were filming in.

I walked out of the alley and was greeted with the sight of a line of cop cars along the sidewalk. Some had their lights on while others had people standing just outside of them. Bart and Adri were among these people. Bart was talking seriously to one of the policemen while Adri looked at the ground, tear stains running down her cheeks. The policeman was scribbling quick notes and nodding occasionally, showing he was listening tentatively. I moved to walk to him but stopped as my eyes landed on a familiar figure. His chestnut hair and blue uniform almost made me dismiss him as one of the crowd but, nonetheless, it was him. It was Gavin. He was looking over to me, a look of surprise plastered on his face. Someone hopped out of the car he was leaning on. My heart leapt.

“Youran.” The name escaped my mouth. She had changed into her blue striped dress and had her hair down. She held my blazer in her arms. The moment we locked eyes, those images from the computer overlapped. The screams and noises reentered my ears as feelings of protection and desperation boiled in my chest. I heard children screaming. There was a loud crash then… 

I slumped over, clutching at my head and closing my eyes, hoping to suppress whatever was raging to escape my mind. Those pictures. Why were they familiar to me? They seemed like something important to me. Something real.

Why couldn’t I figure out why?

The power from before reentered my body. It pushed itself through my chest, making it ache mercilessly. A muffled voice came from next to me. It used to be the voice that would anchor me, that would give me reason to calm the storm in my head. Now it only further escalated it. 

I felt something soft touch my face. Instinctively, I grabbed it, thrusting open my eyes as I did so. Youran was standing in front of me. The look of worry she had before was still there but it was hidden behind the expression of shock as she looked in my eyes. I immediately relaxed my body. “Youran.” I gasped. After a slight pause she nodded then looked at my hand. I followed her gaze and saw that I was holding her wrist. I let it go quickly. Then, remembering the power I had felt before, I immediately took it again and started inspecting it. “I’m so sorry!” I nervously said, “Did I hurt you?! Are you ok!?” Youran’s mouth opened but no words came out. I looked at her quickly, reading her face for any pain or hatred that I might have caused.

She closed her mouth and slowly shook her head, “N-no, you didn’t!” She said, softly “I’m ok.” I sighed and closed my eyes again. Thank goodness. I gently rubbed Youran’s fingers, Thank goodness she was ok. I hadn’t-

I stopped. I brought my eyes back up to Youran’s bright brown eyes. Those pictures… the ones of the little girl… could it be- no. No it couldn’t be... could it?

Something touched my arm. I whipped my head around and caught Kiro retracting his hand from me hurriedly. He was smiling weakly at me. “I thought I lost you there.” He chuckled lightly, “Is everything alright, Super Stranger?” I glared at him.

“Super Stranger?” Youran asked.

“Y-yeah!” Kiro smiled brightly at Youran, “Have you two met? Miss Chips, this is Super Stranger! Super Stranger, this is-”

“We’ve met.” I deadpanned, dropping Youran’s hand and straightening my posture.

“Oh.” Kiro’s smile faded slightly, “Ok! Well, I bet you’re wondering why I call her Miss Chips! It’s a funny story actually! We-”

“I wasn’t.” I looked away from Kiro and behind Youran. Gavin waved off the police officer he was talking to as he quickly walked over to us, “Excuse me.” I pushed past Youran gently as I made my way to Gavin, who sped up his pace when he saw me approaching him.

“Gavin.” I addressed him formally, “I-”

“Are you ok?” He cut me off.

“I...I’m fine.” I rolled my eyes, “I was just-”

“Are you sure?”

“... yes, Gavin. I’m positive.”

“Ike, your shirt.”

I looked down. My sleeves had been torn to shreds, exposing my heavily scarred arms.  Fragments of glass and debris covered the front of my shirt and dirt had coated my entire body. Crud. I looked over to Youran. She was inspecting Kiro's body seriously, making him laugh. Did she see them? Kiro looked up at me. I quickly pulled my eyes away from them and back to Gavin. He had his arms folded and was looking at me seriously.

“Was this Montu?” His question was said with a tone that screamed, If you lie to me about this I’m going to strangle you.

“No.” I answered firmly, “What happened in there was way over his head.” I hesitated then looked seriously into Gavin’s eyes. “Have you heard of the organization, Black Swan?” Gavin tensed.

“What about them?” He sternly asked.

“There was a computer in there with these words, claiming to prepare to make the world only suitable for evolvers… Then…” I hesitated... No, I breathed heavily. 

I need answers. 

“...I saw pictures.” I balled my hands into fists as the noises reentered my head, “Pictures of… Children. In a lab. They… I…” The noises became too much. I clutched my head and closed my eyes. After a moment I felt a hand on my shoulder. I looked up. Gavin's eyebrows were tightly knitted as his eyes screamed concern. “I have no memories of those pictures, Gavin.” I continued, voice shaking slightly, “But, it almost seemed as if… I should have... What is going on? Who are these people? What do they want with me?!”

“... You don’t have to worry about that.” Gavin said, voice now incredibly placid as he placed both of his hands on my shoulders, “I’ll handle it from here. Why don’t you go over to the ambulance? They can-” I shrugged Gavin’s hands off of me.

“No!” I scoffed, “Gavin, those pictures have affected me. They’ve affected me in a way I can’t understand! I think about them and I hear… I see… Ugh! I deserve an answer! I deserve to know what is going on!”

“I know you do,” Gavin held a steady tone, unintentionally increasing the anger I felt, “but not now. You’ve been through a lot. Just go and re-”

“Don’t you dare tell me to relax!” I boomed, shutting Gavin up completely, "You didn’t see what I saw, Gavin! Children on experiment tables, broken glass and bleeding girls, red eyed monsters! What are you keeping from me?!” Gavin didn’t respond. Only looking at me with a complicated expression. I looked down as tears welled in my eyes. “I was told my dad would find me in the foster system. I lived my life waiting for him. Does... does this have something to do with him? Is he… ever coming back for me?”

Gavin stayed silent. I closed my eyes and squeezed my trembling hands into tight fists. The screams in my mind had started to become unbearable. I felt hands cover my fists, filling them with a familiar warmth. “Ike.” Gavin’s soft voice only made me cringe. I backed up and threw his hands off of mine.

“Whatever.” My voice quaked. I forced the tears off of my face and trudged away from Gavin. He called out to me but I could barely hear him. My thoughts and emotions had become overwhelming. And he wondered why I kept things from him?! What had just happened made me feel weak! And he dared to keep that information from me?! I'm not weak!! I've done so much more than he ever could! And he thinks I can't take this?!?

I gripped my head in frustration. The screams had gotten louder. The sound of breaking glass… metal scraping across the floor… the little girl’s cries… 

The air in my chest left me as I was suddenly pulled into a strong embrace. “Evie.” Bart’s voice broke from over my head, “Thank goodness you’re ok.”

 I froze. The scene in my head faded as Bart’s familiar scent overwhelmed my senses. I felt myself relax in his arms. He held me closer but only for a moment as Adri appeared next to me. She was in tears and her words were barely audible but I could still make out her apologies for yelling at me and calling me an awful sister. Without saying anything, I pushed away from Bart and pulled her close to me. She stopped speaking for a moment, surprised by my actions. Then she wrapped her arms around me and cried into my shoulder. I rested my head next to hers as I held her.

Bart approached me from behind Adri and I, pulling us into a group hug. I raised my head and fought back the more tears that threatened to spill as I looked over to Gavin. He had walked over to Youran and Kiro and began talking to Youran. Kiro’s eyes were on me. My grip on Adri’s back tightened.

(Next)

[ghost-imagines-blog1]

Burning for you // Alpha

(Heheh see what I did there?( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°) heheheh)

Alpha imagine

Song: Eyes on Fire by Blur Foundation (Heh another pun)

The churches halls were quite, only the sound of the fire and her breathing could be heard in her room. She joined the church about a week or two ago, having the honor to live among the greatest of the great; Papa Emeritus and the ghouls.

Her cell phone lit up her face as she scrolled through photos of her family and friends back home, missing them dearly, smiling at them when she heard a creak in the floorboards in the hall. Curiosity got the best of the girl as she tossed her phone to the side and walked towards the door that was separating her and the noise. The sound of footsteps echoed through the hallway, sounding like the steps were leading towards the sanctuary.

She waited till the noise got farther, opening her door and following the noise, wanting to know who's up this late at night.

Her small figure crept towards the sanctuary, peering over the corner to see who it was. She noticed a figure, pacing around the room. Her curiosity moved her into the room, watching the figure.

As her eyes adjusted to the dim light from candles and the faint reddish glow from the red windows to the red carpet and red accents. She scanned the faint person out to be one of the ghouls. She got to meet them when she arrived, but couldn't tell which one he was due to the dim light being unable to process his eyes and symbol correctly. But she was hoping it was Fire; she felt a rush of energy run through her everytime she was around him, his eyes burning into her skin. She had a longing for him, they way he walked, talked, had an attitude but was also sweet. He had a power over her and she didn't know how.

The head of the ghoul peered towards her. He walked with a mysterious pace, his hands behind his back and his eyes going to the floor, to the walls, ceiling, altar, and her.

"Uh.." she managed, feeling awkward for just standing there randomly and oddly. His figure made it's way toward her, his stance still the same.

"Hello" He said in a deep accented voice.</p>

"Um, I'm not meaning to bother you. I was just walking around." She said sheepishly, embarrassment present.

"No need to apologize, so was I." His eyes became clear to her; blue orbs shown through the dim lighting, making it know it was Fire.

His eyes flickered as he stood there staring at her, his tail (yes, tail. When they're in/part of the church, the ghouls have tails and serpant like tongues, okay? Okay😂) flicking to the side.

"(Y/n), right?" He asked, head slightly tilting to the side.

"Yeah," She smiled lightly, "Fire?"

"Correct" He chuckled softly, clearly amused.

"I'm going to leave you to do your thing, I'm just going to sit down for a bit." She said, walking over towards one of the long black benches with red fabric. He started up his pacing again, looking down at the ground in front of his steps.

Her eyes roamed to his figure again. Something about him makes her feel something. Like he's the predator and she's his prey. She could feel his eyes on her again, never leaving hers as he paced around the corner.

His eyes glistened again. Walking behind her, she felt his eyes burning holes. Fire walked up to her, holding his hand out; her gaze met his hand beside her.

"Would you like a tour?" He said in that deep, intimidating voice of his.

"I would love one." Her small hand met his as he pulled her along, her feeling as though there was electric in her hand.

He led her about the church, letting her admire the beauty and architecture. But the whole time, she was focused on him. While he was focused on her as well. They both had some sort of pull on eachother, some sort of drive. Neither of them wanted to admit it to themselves, but the feelings that coursed through them when they were around eachother was pure madness. Fire was one that's hard to read, but he let off a sense that he found his prey. Like a sense of danger, like he was going to attack any moment.

They entered the balcony to the sanctuary. She leaned over the railing, taking in the sight of the church's (un)holy-est spot. Her long dark hair flowed gently down her back, her eyes glowing with fasination. She soon turned to him, looking confused.

"What? Is my hair messed up?" She asked, her anxiety getting to her, her hands rushing to the dark locks. He chuckled.

"No"

"Its something." She said, not taking her eyes off of his. A strong force between them buzzed, feeling a flame glow.

Her heart fluttered. His nerves got to him. They both continued their deep gaze, suddenly both of them longing for eachother.

"There's something about you, ghuleh. You radiate with the smell of anticipation." He placed his hands behind his back, raising an eyebrow. He was so smug. His deep voice got to her, making her shiver; her face growing red.

"Maybe I'm excited for the ceremony tomorrow."

"Or.." he started, slowing making his way closer to her, one step at a time, "maybe you're waiting." He was standing about 2 feet from her, his eyes locking with hers. This is how Fire was, he was smug and mysterious, but also captivating. She could feel her heart beat as she tried to read him.

"For what exactly?" She said quietly, almost in a whisper. Chuckling deeply, he moved even closer to her, his mouth by her ear.

"For me." He huskily whispered, sending shivers down her spine. He knew just how to make someone crack, how to read them, and how to tease them. When Fire wants something, he tries to hold it back for the sake of the church, but to him; she was too ravishing to ignore.

The ghoul could smell her nerves, chuckling again to himself as his hand found it's way to her side. He just has to give her one look, one sentence, one more touch.

"Well.. what are you wanting for?"

AUTHORS NOTE; sORRY FOR SUCH A DUMB ONE. It's late and I'm tired and it took forever to even try to write each paragraph. Fire has such a pull on me that my head goes nuts and I can't concentrate on writing atm. I will write a part 2 tomorrow or sometime soon. ITS JUST ONE BIG CHOPPY MESS AGGHH. And again, sorry for the shitty imagine. It was hard writing this for me because I haven't written in a while and it's hard for me to try to explain how I see Alpha. He's like a mysterious magnet type threat but inside he's a sweetheart. But he seems so intimidating and dark at the same time, easily captivating someone with his eyes. Ahhhggg so hard to explainnnnn!