#because the adults are exhausted and will continue to be exhausted even though this was their idea

[familiarscars]

Lost In Control | Bad Omens | CHAPTER 08

adult content | minors do NOT interact.

⋆ 𝐏𝐀𝐈𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐆. Bad Omens X ex-girlfriend and singer!Reader.

⋆ 𝐒𝐘𝐍𝐎𝐏𝐒𝐈𝐒. You and Noah had a difficult ending but you still need to support each other for the band.

⋆ 𝐖𝐀𝐑𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆(𝐒). melancholy, ex-boyfriends, difficult relationships, alcohol abuse, swearing, drug addiction, violence.

It's okay to not agree with the characters' attitudes during the fic. It's good to remember that the story is fiction from the author's sick mind and of course they will make dubious decisions according to my fantasies. Nothing is done to be compared to reality.

Your eyes seemed to burn from the intensity of the light streaming through the window as your eyelids slowly peeled apart. The sound of a beeping monitor, a white room, and unfamiliar blue bedding came into focus, along with the IV lines running from your arm, causing discomfort whenever your body moved.

The sides of your head throbbed with such unbearable pain that your fingers pressed against your temples, as if fearing they might detach from your neck at any moment. Everything in your mind was a dark blur, with no identifiable cuts of clarity.

Yet the one certainty you had was why you’d ended up here—your body’s reactions made that abundantly clear. Your mouth was so dry that your lips stuck together, and your heart threatened to pound out of your chest with its relentless rhythm. Taking a sip of water seemed like a good way to silence the gnawing pain in your stomach, but as soon as you stretched your arm toward the bottle on the nearby table, it slipped through your fingers as a wave of dizziness clouded your vision.

“Shit,” you murmured, barely audible.

A sequence of claps drew your attention to the door, and your body instinctively straightened in the bed, despite the lingering pain in your left arm. Each clap synchronized with a step, and the expressions on his age-marked face clearly conveyed his lack of enthusiasm to be there, along with a palpable sense of disdain.

“Congratulations!” Gerard ceased his clapping as he stopped beside your bed. “It’s astonishing how you continue to surprise me with your incompetence.”

His eyes scanned your state with the air of someone examining something detestable, and when they met your face again, he shook his head in a theatrical display of disappointment.

“As if it weren’t enough for your face to be plastered all over the internet because you lost it and attacked a fan, now I have to endure the media interrogating me about why one of my vocalists overdosed at a party in my house!” he hissed through gritted teeth, raking his fingers aggressively through his hair. “WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU?”

“I’d answer if I could remember anything,” you sighed in exhaustion, laying your head back against the pillow, wishing only for the throbbing, miserable pain to subside.

“Right now, we were supposed to be at the photoshoot for the band’s new winter clothing line, and guess what?” he emphasized. “They all refused to go because of you!”

“Want me to feel sorry?” you retorted with a scoff. “We’ve never even seen a dólar from those clothes. Looks like I did them a favor.”

Arguing at this point required more effort than your body seemed capable of mustering. Each word exchanged only amplified the pounding in your head, made worse by the grating irritation of his voice drilling into your brain.

“Noah’s decided it’s time for you to step back from the band and focus on getting help. He’s compiled a list of specific places for that,” Gerard gestured animatedly with his hands. “Isn’t that lovely?”

Amid the chaotic jumble of your thoughts, you forced yourself to recall flashes from the previous night. You couldn’t be certain whether it was your mind fabricating memories or if you truly heard Noah’s desperate voice, even though it sounded distant in your ears.

If it had happened, and he still cared enough about your recovery to suggest stepping away, it meant that, in some small way, he still cared. But why did this realization prick at the fabric beneath your skin? You couldn’t find an answer.

“I accept.” You agreed, snapping out of your thoughts, raising your eyes to Gerard, who stood with arms crossed, leaning against the bed. “I want to go to rehab.”

“No, that’s not how this works.”

Your brow furrowed at the sly tone in his voice as he stepped closer. Instinctively, you leaned back, trying to distance yourself from him, but the edge of the bed stopped you.

“We have two festivals in the next two weeks and a tour starting next month, and I’m not letting you ruin them like you did today’s shoot. In our last conversation, I gave you incentives to endure the routine, just like we’ve always done since you proved to be weak. It’s your obligation to learn to moderate!”

“Get out of my room! Stay away from me!” Your voice cracked, the edge of its firmness faltering. Keeping composure was no longer possible when all you felt was exhaustion, and even that wretched emotion he insisted on suppressing.

“Of course, sweetheart.”

Slowly, he leaned over you, gripping the curve of your elbow where the IV was attached, pressing the needle into your skin. Your body flinched at the sharp sting tearing through your senses, and you found yourself forced to meet his expressionless eyes.

“But when Noah walks through that door, you’re going to be a good girl and convince him you don’t need help. It’s not like you’ve never lied to him before, right? You’ll return to work and fulfill your schedule without letting that idiot interfere with my plans to keep the band together! I’m not losing money!” He enunciated every word, never breaking eye contact. “And do you know why you’re going to do this?”

“You’re hurting me.”

“Because you don’t want me giving a statement that your overdose was caused by your ex-boyfriend, who just happened to be in the same place where the emergency team found your body,” Gerard said, pressing his thumb harder into your skin. “It won’t be hard to make them believe me when they find what I’ve planted in his room.”

A warm trickle of blood seeped from the IV site as he pressed on it, the same pace at which it began to sting.

“You’re contradicting yourself when you claim to prioritize the band’s integrity, yet your first ‘mature’ decision is to destroy it entirely. You know my absence won’t affect Bad Omens’ performance, but doing this to Noah would tear it all apart. It makes no sense.”

Actually, a realization struck you faster than you anticipated. Gerard knew that when it came to the band, you and Noah had always been as one, and any disturbance to one pillar would inevitably shake the other.

As had happened before.

“I met someone who helped me with this dirty work, and I found it fascinatingly ironic when I discovered he’s a mutual acquaintance of ours: Seth Reigh,” you said, sarcasm dripping from your tone. “There aren’t many guys with that name in that city, especially one with an identical name in your history. Seth is one of Richmond’s best suppliers. But, to my surprise, it took me less than half an hour of digging to learn everything about him, including that he’s your stepfather. The same one who’s been hunting you like an animal for years since you ran away from home.”

How far could someone go when determined to own another at any cost? This was the dirtiest move you’d ever witnessed in your life, hitting you like a slap to the face. Hearing Seth’s name after nine years still made your body react the same way it had years ago. As if nothing had changed.

“All this time, you’ve been safe, with my men guarding each and every one of you. He could never reach you, couldn’t even come near you. But with just one call…”

“You’re the filthiest creature I’ve ever met!” you snapped, your jaw aching from holding back tears of rage.

“And you’ll learn to honor contractual clauses. If not for yourself—which I doubt since you don’t care about your own life—then for Noah’s. He’ll be terribly upset when he gets reported for illegal drug possession after his ex-girlfriend hid them among his things...” Gerard feigned a pitiful tone, as if thoroughly enjoying himself. “No love can withstand that, right?”

You already felt guilty for wrecking the life of the man you’d loved since the day your paths first crossed. Burdened by the mess of your cursed history, you couldn’t forgive yourself for dimming the light in his eyes over the years. You couldn’t be responsible for another.

As though he had managed to plant what he wanted in your mind, Gerard released your arm, the dried blood trailing faint marks where it had flowed. Your head still refused to process the moment, and like a shadow swept away by a lapse in time, he vanished from the room. But unfortunately, this time, it wasn’t a fabricated memory.

That conversation had actually happened.

The nurse brought your meal; everything looked anemic, tasteless, impossible to digest. You weren’t sure if the food was truly bad or if you just weren’t hungry, feeding on hate instead. Your fingers absentmindedly nudged the chicken piece back and forth on the plate, letting it roll alongside a green jelly that smelled like plastic.

“Hey.” A male voice whistled from the doorway, tapping twice before stepping in.

Your smile came unbidden, and he returned it as he walked toward you, hands tucked into his pockets. As always, a cap paired with the hood of his sweatshirt, he was dressed entirely in black and smelled so good you dared to think it was the first scent you’d noticed since waking up. Noah wore the same clothes as yesterday—he hadn’t gone home, hadn’t left you alone.

A restless kind of peace came with him, and he had no idea that it was exactly what you needed.

“As always, I’m giving you trouble…” you began, a little embarrassed, but his soft chuckle cut you off as he gently moved your leg aside to sit on the edge of the bed.

“That doesn’t matter, but I’d like to know how you’re feeling.” He sighed, glancing at the tray beside you. “Why haven’t you eaten yet?”

You just wrinkled your nose with a grimace that made him smile.

“Come on, at least a little, okay?” he coaxed, adjusting the tray in front of him. With infinite patience, he cut and gathered the food onto the utensil, then brought it toward you. “Watch out for the airplane!”

Stifling a laugh, you accepted the food and closed your mouth to chew. Determined not to upset him, you ate two more bites before he moved the tray aside again.

“I don’t know if you’re well enough for this, but I can’t think of a better time to have this conversation with you.” Noah hesitated, running his hands over his thighs and biting his lips before looking back at your face. “I promise that the person sitting here in front of you right now isn’t your work partner. It’s Noah. I don’t know if you even remember him, but he used to be yours.”

“Please…”

A warm sensation ran through your skin when he placed his hand over yours, his thumb tracing over the exposed bones.

“I know what it feels like to lose you, and I swear to God, it doesn’t compare to how I felt yesterday when I found you in that place.” Slowly, he raised his face, his dull, lifeless eyes brimming with emotion. His lips trembled, but his touch didn’t falter. “That was one of the most selfish things you’ve ever done, and believe me, you’re the most selfish person I know.”

As though it were an involuntary command from your body, a single tear fell from your left eye just after one rolled down his cheek.

“I’m so sorry for that.”

“I can’t take this torture anymore—being forced to watch you die. Every part of me rots along with you every time you choose to hate yourself this way because I’d never do that to you. I’d never treat you like that.” He looked up, gasping for air, before continuing. “So, if you still hate yourself too much to want help, do it for me. I’m still your biggest fan.”

Your chest felt like invisible strings were being pulled tighter and tighter, suffocating you. But you couldn’t expect much from yourself. Closing your eyes, you prayed for this moment not to be real, for it not to demand that you say the things that would break him again. But when you opened your eyes, he was still there, as vulnerable as the night you first kissed.

“Noah…”

“I’ve found good contacts. It’s not too far, the treatment would be short, and I’ve already planned to visit regularly and…”

He was talking so fast that he could barely hear himself.

“Noah, I don’t need help,” you blurted, closing your eyes again to avoid seeing the moment the words hit him.

“What?” he asked in disbelief, adjusting his position on the bed. “Do you have any idea what happened yesterday, or are you going to ignore it like you’ve been doing all these years?”

No one warns us that struggles with addiction are destructive not only to the user but to everyone around them, reducing their world to a single life—yours. No matter how much you try not to make it about you, they relentlessly, almost obsessively, pursue your cure, forgetting they’re deteriorating along the way. But who catches the strong one when they can no longer hold themselves up?

“I know I crossed a line yesterday, and that’s enough for me not to repeat it, but not enough to accept being admitted as if I’m some addict!” You didn’t even believe your own words, but you needed to hold your ground. “If you really cared about me like you say, you’d never suggest something like that!”

“You’re acting like you didn’t hear anything I said!” Noah pressed his hand against his thigh, preparing to stand, but you grabbed his wrist just in time to stop him.

Gently, you got to your knees on the bed and crawled toward him, feeling the wind from the window brush against your back, exposed by the hospital gown. Noah was breathing heavily, his face damp, his red, irritated eyes framed by strands of hair tucked behind his ears. He didn’t resist your touch as your hand cupped his cheek. Shutting his eyes, he moved slightly when you tilted his face, shaking his head as though the scene was something he had lived through before.

And in truth, he had.

"Hey, I'm still here, look at me!" you whispered, and after he refused once again, you opened your eyes, anguish etched into your face as your foreheads collided, breaths clashing. "There’s no one else in this world who knows me as well as you do, so give me one more chance when I say I’ll get it right this time. I want to be better. I want to be good again, but I can’t do that unless you believe in me. Unless, just once more, you believe in me, Noah."

Your voice held steady, resisting the urge to falter, and for a second, in his silence, you thought he was considering your words. The way he listened so intently, down to the rhythm of his breathing, made you hope. You couldn’t resist the subtle way your skin brushed against his, even though desperation lingered in the air.

But something shifted in his eyes. They darkened, fixing on you with an expression you had never seen before. Noah seemed to take every ounce of his accumulated weight—exhaustion, fury, repression—and throw it all down at once. Gripping the hand still resting on his face, he let it out.

"I. DO. NOT. BELIEVE. YOU." His voice was strong, firm, rough, and left no room for argument. He pronounced each word deliberately, not once breaking his gaze.

Noah shoved your hand away from his face as if it carried a contagious disease, and in the next moment, he stood up from the bed in a hurry. He turned back toward you, eyes scanning your frozen figure, still on your knees. It seemed to hurt him as much as it hurt you—evident in the way his breathing hitched, his chest visibly weighed down.

"If you really want another chance to fix things, then accept my help. If you won’t do it for yourself, do it for me and all the time I stood by your side, even when you least deserved it, even when I forgot the way back home." Noah insisted. "But if you don’t, I want you to forget I exist outside of the stage. I want to be dead to you, just as you will be dead to me the moment I walk through that door."

Though his words wavered with hesitation, they struck like a promise. Avoiding his gaze long enough to keep him from noticing your cracks, you lowered your head, offering him only silence in response.

But he would never understand.

"Hey..." Three heads peeked around the doorway, and both of you turned to see Folio, Jolly, and Ruffilo entering, pretending they hadn’t been eavesdropping just outside.

"Didn’t know we’d be walking into a funeral. We can come back later," Folio said with a flat smile, gesturing his thumb toward the hall.

"No need, boys. Noah was just leaving," you said with a friendly smile in their direction. From the corner of your eye, you saw him nod and storm out of the room like a furious bolt of lightning.

The trio exchanged glances, silently communicating in their own cryptic way before each of them found a spot on the bed, squishing together to keep you company. As the conversation flowed, you tried to distract yourself, even laughed at the absurdities spilling from their mouths, but your mind kept drifting back to the same place.

This was the first time you’d truly kept a promise to him.

You had finally broken his heart.

Once again.

⭑ @collisionofyourkissmakesitsohard ; @iluvmewwwww75 ; @anarchydomainglory ; @foliosgirl ; @lma1986 ; @chey-h ;

[hustlemeanokay]

Road trip. Washington to Texas. T-Minus 30 minutes. Yes, we're leaving at 2 am pacific time. Because we're insane. And because the husband wants to get to the great salt lake before 5 pm. 🤷‍♀️ So, we're off to see the wizard.

[wildmtthyme]

Road trip. Washington to Texas. T-Minus 30 minutes. Yes, we're leaving at 2 am pacific time. Because we're insane. And because the husband wants to get to the great salt lake before 5 pm. 🤷‍♀️ So, we're off to see the wizard.

[woso-dreamzzz]

Bike II

Chelsea Women x Child!Reader

Part of The Big Adventures Universe

Summary: You're good at bike riding

"I'm so tired," Erin complains, fanning herself," God, it's hot today."

"I need a nap," Millie agrees.

"A nap and to do nothing for the rest of the day," Niamh says as she passes by, stripping off her sweaty training shirt," I'm just going to go home and melt."

"Home and an ice cream," Zećira continues, nodding and completely satisfied with her plan," I can't wait to get home."

"You'll all have to wait," Magda says decisively from the day. She'd come in earlier than everyone else, taking you into the building for a toilet and hydration break.

Most of the team had actually been quite worried about you.

This heat is sweltering and you're still tiny and excitable with energy that makes you run all over the field. It's like an accident waiting to happen.

Pernille had you stop and take long drinks from your water bottle all through practice until it ran out and she sent you off with Magda to fill it up.

You and Magda never came back though so everyone just presumed you'd already been bundled up in the car where there's air conditioning to use while you wait for Pernille to finish up and change.

"There's a surprise out the front."

"Is it an ice cream van?" Guro asks," Because that's the only thing that will make me happy right now."

"It's not an ice cream van."

"Then I'm out."

"No you're not," Magda says sternly," You're all going out the front with a smile and you're going to celebrate and clap and give compliments. Got it?"

"It's hot," Sam complains," Can't we rearrange this surprise?"

"No, Sam. We're doing it now."

"Give them a second to change, Magda," Pernille says," We're all hot. We're all irritable. Give them a sec."

Magda huffs. "Fine. I'll be out the front." She points a finger at everyone in turn. "I expect you all out there in ten minutes."

Pernille manages to shepherd everyone out in five.

"Right," Millie says, adjusting her cap so it properly shades her from the beating sun," What's-Oh."

"Look!" You say," I'm riding my bike!"

You peddle quickly around the car park, little legs pumping as you turn your handlebars so you're going around in circles.

You're doing impressively well on your bike, a very slow for an adult but fast for a little kid. It's even more impressive when the team note that you've not got any stabilisers.

A little basket that wasn't originally there when Sam bought it sits on the front and in it sits your swan and moose toy as well as a little bouquet of flowers that Pernille bought you at the market this morning.

Most of the team is speechless until Jessie starts clapping.

"Well done!" She calls out," You're doing so well!"

You beam at the praise, puffing out your chest in pride and pump your legs even faster.

Magda also puffs out her chest and Pernille has to smother her laughter.

"I taught her to ride," Magda brags," We took her stabilisers off last week. Isn't she so good?"

"The best!" Jessie agrees warmly, still clapping.

"Best ever!" Sam yells out," Look at you go!"

The team seem to have forgotten their exhaustion as you skid to a stop nearly half an hour later, everyone crowding around you as you pant from your cycling.

"Look at this!" Zećira exclaims," It's such a cool colour!"

"It's red," You tell her," Like Arsenal and Sweden's goalkeeper shirt! I love red!"

"It is!" Zećira says, nodding along," And you've got a little basket!"

"For my toys," You tell her," And my water bottle. And I've got a bell!"

You demonstrate by flicking it, letting the noise rings out through the car park.

"That's so cool!"

You grin at Zećira before looking at Jessie, suddenly shy.

"Did I do good, Jessie?"

She grins at you, ruffling your hair. "So good. I'm very impressed. I didn't know you could ride a bike!"

"Morsa taught me," You explain," And Momma did too. At the park. They say if I keep practicing and getting better and better we can all do a ride together! Do you want to go on a bike ride with me, Jessie?"

Jessie grins. "I'd love to."

[miss-oranje-disco-dancer]

kiss it better

pairing: leon x reader

cw: smut, ddlg, doctor/patient roleplay, p in v, oral

summary: you and leon take turns playing doctor

a/n: it's exactly what you think it is

wc: 3.8k

[edit] taglist:

@rigorwhoring

@dilfprayers

@porcelainseashore

@dollita-fawn

@xoxoloveless

@admirxation

@pawrincss

@onlyasimp4-2dbitches

You’re Leon’s baby girl – no, daddy’s baby girl. You’ve been in this role for most of your relationship – you went from calling him ‘daddy’ during sex to buying a pacifier faster than you can say ‘princess parts’. It’s an always, not a sometimes. Until Leon comes home from an assignment injured. His bicep is wrapped in a bandage, he has a visible cut on his forehead and a bruise on his cheek, possibly a half-healed black eye too.

In your mind, it would be cruel to ask him to take care of you when he’s in a state like this. You should be tending to his wounds and force-feeding him ibuprofen even after he swears he can handle the pain. But daddy is home. He hasn’t been home for weeks, and oh, how you missed him. When you hug him the moment he gets in the door, you call him daddy in your sweet baby girl voice. But you stop yourself before you fall further into that headspace.

For the next couple of days, Leon’s exhaustion weighs on you, especially when he refuses to let you do anything to help him. “Can I get you some water?” “I’ll can do it myself.” etc. etc. etc. You feel dejected and out of place – because, in your typical dynamic, this isn’t your role, so once you get sleepy it all piles on and you can’t keep up this facade of being a 'big girl' anymore.

You walk into the living room wearing your pajamas where Leon is half-asleep on the couch. He opens his eyes at the first sound of a sniffle.

“Daddy…” Leon swears it’s the weakest cry he’s ever heard. He turns and you’re holding your special blanket, rubbing it along your face for comfort. You don’t want him, you need him. Suddenly alert, he hoists himself up and opens his arms wide.

“I don’t wanna hurt you,” you cry, but he shushes you and kisses your temple as he pulls you in closer.

“I’m here, baby. Daddy’s got you. Don’t gotta worry anymore.”

You feel guilty and the tears continue to fall. It’s a spiral.

“Baby, come here” he says, cupping both cheeks and gently lifting your face, so he can wipe your tears. After his thumbs brush across your cheeks, he places a kiss on each one.

“I’m happy you came to me when you got sad, alright?” He looks you in the eyes and nods slowly, and you mimic the gesture in understanding. “Plus,” he starts, in a whisper, “daddy missed you too.”

Your eyes light up at the thought of Leon missing you. “Really, daddy?”

“Yes, baby. Daddy missed you so much.”

Daddy missed you in more ways than one. Despite how much he wants to let you dote on him for once, the stubborn part of his brain that insists on doing everything himself keeps getting in the way.

Until he remembers how good you are at playing doctor.

It was at least a month ago when he bought you the Fisher Price doctor set. You were sitting on a beanbag chair in front of the TV while Leon was dozing off on the couch when a commercial came on for a play pretend doctor set, and you decided you had to have it. You shook Leon awake – scared the Hell out of him – to beg him for it. He wanted to say ‘no’, but he looked into your eyes and he broke immediately. Leon hadn’t been in a toy store in ages, and by the time he left, he realized that if he never went back, it would be too soon. You’re the only baby he wants to be around.

On his way out of the mall, he spotted a nurses costume in the window of a store geared towards adults – much more his speed. Though you would be the one to wear it, it was a gift for himself. He got a strange look from someone who noticed he was holding a shopping bag from the toy store while purchasing something akin to lingerie, but he ignored their stares. He’s used to doing weird shit out of love for you.

When he came through the door of your shared apartment, holding his gifts for you, you jumped out of your seat, even more eager to see him than usual.

“For me?” you asked, pointing to the bags.

“Of course it’s for you, baby. Who else do I buy things for?”

The face you made when you saw the plastic stethoscope was well-worth the $39.99 Leon spent. The hug you gave him was tight enough to give him organ damage so he was in need of a doctor anyway. A doctor who takes her payment in kisses is a much more affordable option after such a big purchase, he thought.

He was finishing up some paperwork when you walked into his office wearing the nurse’s costume he picked out for you.

“It’s time for you appointment, daddy” you said, standing in the doorway.

“Huh?” His eyes remained on his computer until you said the word ‘daddy’. When he looked up and saw your attire, he shut his laptop and stood up, completely entranced by you. “Oh. Of course. My doctor’s appointment.”

“Follow me to the examination room,” you said, taking his hand.

Is the doctor supposed to hold the patient’s hand? That little detail didn’t matter to Leon.

The examination room was his bedroom with your toys set up on the bedside table.

“Lie down, please” you said, gesturing to the bed.

“Yes, ma’am,’ he said. Leon reclined on the very expensive - but well-worth the comfort - examination table (aka his king size Sleep Number bed).

Standing by his bedside, you grabbed a notebook and a pen, ready to ask questions. You looked awfully professional for a girl wearing a “Sexy Nurse Costume” as it was labeled on the package.

“What’s your name?” you asked.

“Leon Kennedy.”

You hummed and nodded, writing it down. His answer was satisfactory, though, you would’ve accepted ‘daddy’ as well.

“Age?”

“47.”

“Sex?”

“Love it. Are you offering?”

“Daddy! It doesn’t mean that.” Your pout barely covered up a grin, giddy at the mention of sex.

“Fine. Male.”

“Can I check and see?”

Leon went slack-jawed, an incredulous chuckle escaped his Really? After insisting on professionalism? “Check and see? Are you asking me to take my dick out? Because I don’t think the doctor gets to do that.”

You couldn’t hide your disappointment. Yes, you absolutely wanted him to take his dick out. (And, for your information, Leon, the doctor does get to do that.)

“Fine. How tall are you?”

“6’1.”

“That’s not true! You can’t lie to me. I’m a doctor,” you whined.

“Says who? There’s no rule about lying to doctors.” But your little frown was enough to get him to give in. “Okay, okay. 5’10… and a half. Don’t forget the half.” He reached over and tapped your notebook.

You did not write down the half. You cared much more about Leon’s measurements below the belt, anyway.

“I’m going to take your blood pressure now,” you said, grabbing a toy blood pressure pump. The plastic cuff barely fit around his bicep, which was frustrating in more ways than one. You squeezed the pump to make the cuff tighten around him and pretended to study the numbers.

“It looks good,” you decided. The comment was more directed at the toned upper arm that you held onto rather than his blood pressure.

“Your machine’s broken then. Try again.” Leon’s blood pressure had been increasing with his age and so had his stubbornness, so getting him to take a daily pill was a challenge.

“No. It’s not broken,” you huffed. At this point you were frustrated enough to throw a tantrum if Leon wouldn’t cooperate. “I’m gonna listen to your heart.” You took the stethoscope from around your neck and put the plugs in your ears.

First, you ‘checked his heart’ over his shirt, though it was hard to resist taking it off when Leon purposefully flexed his muscles while you touched him, taunting you with his toned chest that you knew was beneath his t-shirt.

Getting up close and personal with you had Leon’s heart racing per usual, as it was pumping out blood and sending it south. While you were paying attention to his heart (or his broad chest, imagining what it looked like under his shirt), he reached over and knocked something off your “doctor’s table”.

“Whoops,” he said, “Something fell off the table. You better pick it up."

You saw the glint in his eye and knew what he wanted, so you bent over with your ass facing him, letting him see under your dress.

“Jesus Christ,” he muttered when he saw that you weren’t wearing anything underneath the short skirt.

“What was that?” you said, turning to him.

“Nothing.” He smiled and tried to subtly adjust his pants to cover up his now-obvious erection.

“You seem very healthy. Why did you make an appointment?” you asked.

I think I’m sick in the head, babydoll. I can’t stop thinking about fucking my doctor.

“I’ve just had some aches and pains,” he decided to say.

“Where does it hurt?”

“Below my waist.” His face gave away exactly what he meant if his boner hadn’t already.

You placed your hands on his abdomen and pressed. “Right here?”

“Mm-mm.” He shook his head. “Lower.”

You moved your hands down a bit, inching towards the bulge in his pants, setting your palm on it and repeating the question.

“Mm-hmm. Right there.” Leon’s voice went from playful to raspy with need.

Momentarily, you forgot about your role as a medical professional and tugged at the waistband of his sweatpants, trying to get them off.

He raised an eyebrow at you, but stayed silent. “Sorry,” you said, snapped back to imagination, “I need you to please take off your pants or else I can’t figure out what’s wrong.”

“Of course. I’ll trust your judgment, doc. You clearly have the qualifications.” The qualifications being your lack of underwear and your tits that were practically falling out of your dress.

Once his pants came off, you began to palm him over his boxers, still working under the guise of ‘examination’. It took incredible mental fortitude to stop himself from touching you – because it’s not appropriate to grope a medical professional – but all he could think about was bending you over and fucking you in your cute little nurses outfit.

“Can I see it?” you asked, doe-eyed and smiling, and you knew he wouldn’t pass up the offer of you touching him.

“Go right ahead.”

When you wrapped your hand around his cock, it twitched, he was already fully hard with precum leaking from the tip.

“Oh,” you said as if you’d had a revelation, “I think I know what’s wrong, but I know how to fix it,” you said.

“That’s great to hear. Are you going to give me a prescription?”

Leon could go for a Percocet or even a Xanax.

“No, you just need kisses,” you said excitedly.

“Kisses?” Finally, you were getting to the fun part of play time. Fuck the pills, your mouth could do miracles for Leon.

You pressed a kiss to the head of his cock to show him what you meant, beaming when you looked up at him. The little kiss quickly advanced from kitten licks at the tip to fully taking his cock down your throat.

“Fuck, baby. I think it’s workin’ already.” He pulled your hair back into a makeshift ponytail. “Best doctor I’ve ever had. The prettiest too.”

You took your hands and placed them over his, pushing your head down further, instructing him. You met his eyes, which were practically glazing over.

“You want me to-?” He didn’t finish the sentence ‘cause there’s not really a nice way to ask if you want him to fuck your face.

You hummed in response, and the sound reverberated through his body. He couldn’t refuse you, but he forced himself to remain as gentle as possible since you’re still his little girl. You’re too precious for him to hurt your throat no matter how much you ask him to be rough with you.

When he neared the edge, he pulled your head off of him. “Baby, daddy’s gonna cum soon if you keep goin’.”

“Please, daddy, I want it,” you whined.

“I know you do, but I wanna fuck you first.”

Climbing into his lap, you hovered over his dick, and brought his hand underneath your skirt.

“Does the doctor have something she needs help with too?”

You nodded, too embarrassed about how wet you were to respond.

His fingers trailed up your thighs and met your soaking wet cunt. “I think you need kisses too. I think you’ve been needing ‘em for a while, huh?”

He looked to you for a response but you were too flustered to come up with anything but a weak ‘yeah’.

“You’re so naughty, baby,” he whispered. “Where’d your panties go? Didn’t wear any ‘cause you wanted daddy to see your princess parts?” Leon slid a finger inside you and your knees threatened to buckle, so he had to hold your thighs steady. He added another digit, eliciting an unbridled moan from you. “I don’t think you need much help, baby. I think you’re already ready to take daddy, huh?”

“Yeah,” you said, voice breaking, “Need daddy inside.”

Without another word he positioned himself at your entrance, holding your hips while you sunk down on his cock. You remained still, sitting atop him.

“I’m not the doctor,” he reminded you with a pat on the bottom. “You’re the one in charge.”

You rocked your hips back and forth slowly, your clit rubbing against the small patch of hair above his dick. You were no longer focused on Leon, only the way he was making you feel – so good it made you weak. It turned you into a whimpering mess, and you struggled to continue the movements of your hips on your own.

“Daddy, I can’t. It’s too much. Need help.”

“Yeah? Daddy can help you, baby. You’re doin’ so well for me sweetheart. Your pretty little princess parts are a cure-all.”

And when you sit in his lap weeks later, Leon stands by that. “I’m sorry I keep pushing you away when you try to take care of me.” You nod, but keep your eyes pointed down. He tilts your chin up. “I have an idea,” he whispers.

The glint in his eye makes you perk up. “What is it, daddy?”

“Remember that one time when we played doctor?” You nod, eagerly.

“Do you wanna play doctor with me?” He winks, hoping you’ll get his message – you do not need to pull out the stethoscope.

“Yes.” You smile so wide it already makes Leon feel a little bit better.

Leon runs his hand over his bandaged bicep, showing you where he needs your attention most. “Can the doctor kiss it all better for me?”

You nod, looking confident in your abilities to heal him before placing a gentle kiss on his wounded arm.

“Baby girl, you don’t have to worry so much about hurting me.”

You try again, giving him a singular peck, and looking at him for approval.

“You’re so good to me, makin’ me feel so much better already.”

“I wanna make daddy feel all better.”

He hums in response. “How ‘bout right here?” He points to a cut on his forehead, not large enough to need a gauze covering, so it remains on display.

You do as he suggests and kiss his forehead – in return, he kisses your forehead and says, “I feel so much better, baby. I just have on more place that I need you to kiss.”

“Where is it, daddy?”

In his pants, obviously.

“I think it’ll be better if I show you instead of just telling you,” he says, gently taking your hand and placing it over his now-obvious hard-on.

“Did you hurt it?”

“No.” Actually, that’s a lie. Leon beat the fuck out of it every day he was away from you while thinking about the feeling of your tight cunt squeezing him. No matter how much saliva he used, he couldn’t get his cock as wet as you could. At some point, jerking off dry began to irritate his skin, so really, he did hurt himself a bit.

When you stand up, planning to get down on your knees, Leon notices a wet spot on his thigh.

He looks at you, genuinely surprised but more aroused than anything else. Sure, you’re wearing only an oversized t-shirt and panties, but you’d have to be soaking wet to leave a mark like that.

“Does somebody need daddy’s help?” he asks playfully.

“Maybe,” you say, fidgeting with your own fingers, avoiding Leon’s gaze.

“Speak up, baby. Do you need daddy’s help with something?”

“I think I need daddy to be the doctor this time.”

“You’re not expecting me to wear that little nurse costume, right?”

“No, that’s only for little girl doctors.”

“Mm-hmm.” You try to shy away from him but he pulls you in closer and nuzzles his face in your neck. “Does this mean you need daddy to give you special kisses like you did when you were the doctor?”

“Yeah, I need daddy to kiss it all better.”

“I think I need to take you up to the examination room, right?”

You climb into his arms and he carries you upstairs, half-assing the doctor role. Once in his room, he lays you down on the bed and stands beside it, ready to give you an examination the same way you did for him all those weeks ago.

“I’m gonna look and see what the problem is. Okay, baby?”

“Yeah,” you say, pulling up your shirt to reveal your panties, already anticipating.

Leon places a kiss on your tummy, mumbling, “you’re such a good girl.”

With flushed cheeks and wide eyes, you watch as Leon hooks his fingers in the fabric of your panties. “Baby, I don’t even know why you’re wearin’ these when it’s not stoppin’ you from gettin’ me all wet.”

“I’m sorry, daddy.”

“Don’t be sorry. Baby girls just can’t help it sometimes, can they?”

Leon shakes his head and you mimic him, pouty face and all. It takes everything in him not to laugh when you get all fuzzy in the head like this. It’s too cute how you’ll follow his lead without a thought in your mind.

Leon’s fingers remain dexterous despite his injuries. He tugs your panties down in one fluid motion and spreads your legs so he can get a good look at your cunt. Princess parts. He understands why they have stirrups at the gyno now. He could do wonderful, depraved things to you with those.

“So pretty, baby,” he muses as his thumb glides over your glistening folds. “I don’t know why you need to visit the doctor when you look so perfect down here.”

“’Cause, daddy-”

He stops you. “I thought I was your doctor. Do you call the doctor daddy?”

“Dr. Daddy,” you begin and he accepts the bargain you’ve placed before him. “I need kisses.”

“Where?” He never ceases playing with your pussy while he speaks. A tease through and through.

“You know where,” you protest, too embarrassed to say the words.

“Nuh-uh. You have to use your words.”

You sigh and then whisper, “on my princess parts.”

“Oh, of course, baby. Can’t believe I missed that. I must not be a very good doctor.”

“Last time when we were playing you were a very bad patient. You gotta be good at something, or else we can’t play.”

“You think I’m not good huh?”

“No, I think you’re the best daddy ever,” you insist, the truth though you’d say just about anything at this point to get him to touch you.

Satisfied with the title of Best Daddy Ever, Leon begins your special treatment, placing feather-light kisses on your inner thighs, slowly making his way up to your core. He laps at your folds until you’re crying out for him to fuck you. (Not with such vulgar words, of course). It gets harder and harder for you to hold back.

“Need it, need it, need it, daddy. I’m too close.”

“No, baby,” he says with glossy lips. “Your condition is really bad. One orgasm isn’t gonna be enough to fix it.”

Leon may not practice medicine, but he is a well-practiced man who knows what he’s doing when it comes to sex. He knows your pussy so well he wonders if he would be a good obgyn. There’s no way all those male gynos can find the clit.

“Gonna need you to cum on my face, baby girl. Can you do that?”

“Yes, daddy.” Leon could insist on making you call him doctor but Leon has left the room, and daddy would never ask you to do anything differently.

Leon remains composed until you pull his hair - the feeling makes him groan into your core. If your eyes weren’t screwed shut, you’d see his roll back too.

Whatever you try to say while you’re cumming is completely unintelligible. Probably a mixture of toned-down expletives and ‘daddy’ chanted over and over. Leon can’t wait until you’ve calmed down, he’s waited for weeks and feels like he might truly keel over and die if he doesn’t get his dick in you stat. Before you came into his life Leon didn’t know he could get so hard it made him feel light-headed. Or maybe it’s the blood pressure medication. He can’t ask his precious doctor since your brain has left your body. Your brain cells must’ve spilled out of your drippy cunt, Leon thinks.

Before you can get your wits about you, Leon is fully-sheathed inside you. It doesn’t matter how tight you are, when you’re this wet, he can slip inside with minimal force. No words leave your mouth, only babbles and drool, and there’s nothing behind your eyes.

“Did daddy fuck you stupid already?”

Either you’re nodding or you’re letting your head loll with each rough thrust, but it doesn’t matter because you’re clearly not thinking at all. Finally. You had a bad case of the worries, and Leon’s dick is the cure.

“Where’s daddy’s smart girl, huh?” he teases.

But Leon’s wise-ass comments are short-lived because you clamp down on his dick and he can do nothing but groan as he feels his impending orgasm.

“Gonna cum inside you, yeah?” he asks urgently, and Leon finds that you might not have the words to tell him what you want but you have some semblance of thought because you wrap your legs around his hips and force him to stay deep inside you while your simultaneous orgasm heightens the intensity of his.

“Daddy?” you ask, listening to his ceaseless heavy panting beside your ear.

“Uh-huh,” he mumbles.

“Did it work? Do you feel all better?”

“I feel amazing, baby.” He sighs. “But I need a nap.”

“Being a doctor is hard work.”

“I’ll have to let you be the doctor again next time.”

“Next time?”

“Yeah. I think I pulled a muscle or two… at least. Gimme a couple hours and I’ll need another dose of kisses.”

[scary-grace]

blind date (part ii) - shigaraki x reader

After endless failed attempts to help Tomura up his game, his friends have settled on their last resort: A blind date. Even before you show up, it's not going well. No quirks AU, female reader.

Part 1

Part 2

“No.”

“Yes,” you say. You look sort of embarrassed. “Eight times.”

“No way.” Tomura studies you across the table. His eyes feel blurry with exhaustion and alcohol, but he’d prop his eyelids open with toothpicks before he’d let you think he was falling asleep. “I don’t buy it. Two, maybe. Not eight.”

“Why would I lie about this?” You take a sip of a drink. It might be yours, or it might be Tomura’s. There are so many mostly-empty glasses on the table between the two of you that Tomura’s forgotten which ones he ordered. “If anything, I’d lie the other way. Being stood up for eight first dates isn’t exactly a good sign.”

Tomura finds another drink, finishes it, and gives his verdict. “It’s a sign you met eight stupid guys.”

“I don’t think that’s it,” you say. “If it was one person, or two – but eight? At that point it’s more likely that I’m the problem.”

Tomura doesn’t think so. Tomura’s been talking to you for a while. Probably hours. He lost track of time at some point, probably around when he lost track of which drinks were his and which were yours, and there’s nothing about you that looks like a problem to him. Except the fact that nobody else is dating you, and that looks more like a crazy stroke of luck for Tomura than anything else.

Tomura might not be good at this shit, but he’s not naïve. He keeps checking in with himself, trying to make sure his interest in you isn’t just because you’re a woman who’s talked to him for longer than five minutes without looking at your phone. He hasn’t seen you take your phone out except once, and that was to put it on silent. Which was – hot isn’t right, but Tomura doesn’t really have a better word, except nice, which isn’t right, either. It’s not just because you’re a woman who talked to him or held his hand or ran to meet him even though you were late. He likes a lot of other things about you, too.

He likes that you showed up looking the way you actually look most of the time, instead of dressing up like Magne told you to. He likes that you don’t try to pretend to be something you’re not. When Tomura started talking about video games, you didn’t act like you knew something about them – just like he didn’t pretend he knew something when you started talking about horror movies or novels or manga. You’re funny, but not on purpose. Or at least that’s what Tomura thought, until he glanced at your face after you’d said something that made him laugh and realized that it was what you’d been hoping to do.

“Sorry,” you say, and Tomura snaps out of it. “Talking about past dates on a first date is kind of a red flag, isn’t it?”

“I asked,” Tomura says, wondering if you called this a first date because you’re hoping for a second one. You shrug. “If you’ve met that many shitty guys, how come you agreed to this? What did Magne tell you about me?”

“What did she tell me.” You finish one of the drinks and grimace slightly. “Um, she said you were my age.”

“Okay.”

“She said you have a job,” you continue, “and friends.”

“Yeah,” Tomura agrees. “We have an apartment. We were friends before we had the apartment. It’s not just because we have an apartment.”

“Magne said you’ve all known each other forever,” you say. You smile slightly. “It sounds nice.”

It’s a good thing Tomura’s known them forever. He hasn’t had a lot of luck making friends as an adult. The closest he’s come to making a friend as an adult is probably Dabi’s stupid fiancé, and that’s only because he never leaves. Toga keeps saying that she thinks he’ll like her girlfriend, but she also never lets her girlfriend within a kilometer of the apartment. One time Tomura asked her why not and Toga gave him the weirdest look he’s ever seen. “You’re all boys,” she said. “You’re gross.”

Maybe that’s true. Tomura’s never been in a woman’s apartment, so he doesn’t really have a way to confirm. How gross could it be, really? He should probably ask Toga for specifics. “Did Magne say anything else?”

“She said online dating and the apps weren’t really working for you,” you say. “You do better in person. I don’t know what you’re like online, but – I feel like she was probably right.”

Tomura’s face flushes. He finishes another drink to cover it up. “Your turn,” you say. “What did Magne tell you about me?”

“Uh,” Tomura starts. He finds another drink, but can’t quite stomach finishing it just yet. He’s already about to screw this up, and it’s going to be worse if he throws up on you afterwards. “Not much. Just that you were a girl and you were my age and that you agreed to it.”

You laugh at that. “That’s the important stuff,” you say. “She did a good job managing your expectations.”

“No,” Tomura says. You blink. “She should have told me more.”

“She doesn’t really know more,” you say. “I only see her at work. She got my number so I could tell her when I’m on shift and my boss is off.”

“What’s your boss’s deal, anyway?” Tomura asks. “Just an all-purpose asshole, or –”

“He’s not great to us. The employees, I mean.” You don’t like talking about this. Tomura can tell. “But he makes things really hard on customers who have certain prescriptions. HRT and stuff like that. He doesn’t do anything they can report him for, but he makes it so miserable for them that they don’t want to come in to pick their meds up.”

Tomura knows that type. Magne runs into that type a lot. If it happens when all of them are out together, Tomura and the others take care of it, but they can’t be there every second. “A few people have my number,” you continue. “I give them a heads-up when their prescriptions are in and he’s out.”

“Why didn’t she tell me that?”

“She did,” you say. Tomura meant before, and says so. “Maybe she thought you’d think I was too nice.”

Tomura snorts. “That guy who tried to cut us in line didn’t think you were too nice.”

If he’d been by himself, Tomura would have let it slide just because he doesn’t care enough, but you blocked the guy’s way with your arms crossed, and when he told you to move, you stared at him until he backed off. “Okay, so not too nice,” you say. You pick up another glass, see it’s empty, and wince. “But if she’d told you more about me, you’d have found a reason not to show up.”

“If she’d told you more about me, you’d have said no.” Tomura feels pretty confident in that, and more so with however many drinks under his belt. “She told you I was bad at app dating.”

“Lots of people are.”

“So bad at it that I’ve never been on a date.” Tomura feels pretty good about one-upping you right up until he sees your eyes widen, but his mouth is way ahead of his brain. “Beat that.”

It’s quiet for a second. Tomura stares at you, feeling his face heat up with embarrassment, while you peer into glass after glass, trying to find one that hasn’t been emptied yet. “I don’t know,” you say. “I think being stood up eight times is worse.”

“No, it isn’t.”

“My record is terrible,” you say. You find one more glass and drain it. “Your record, on the other hand – you’re one for one. I’d say that’s pretty good.”

“One for one on what?” Tomura asks.

“Dates,” you say. “This one’s going well.”

“Yeah?” Tomura’s mouth goes dry. He looks around for a glass with something in it, so that he’ll be able to speak without swallowing his tongue, but he comes up empty. You slide your water glass across the table to him and Tomura gulps half of it. “You think it’s going well?”

You looked pretty calm until he said that. Tomura sees you getting nervous. He slides the glass of water back across the table to you in case you want to drink it, but you leave it alone. “I mean,” you start, “we met up at five-forty-five, and it’s almost last call. Maybe it’s just me, but I wouldn’t spend eight hours hanging out with somebody if it wasn’t going well.”

“Last call?” Tomura says, like a dumbass, only for the bartender to shout it out to the room at large a few seconds later. “Eight hours? Really?”

You nod. “So either it’s going well,” you say, “or you just didn’t have anything better to do.”

If Tomura doesn’t want to be somewhere, he goes home even if there’s nothing better to do. He’d rather spend hours watching the most boring vintage simulation game streams in history than spend two seconds longer being social than he wants to. Eight hours hanging out with one person is a record, even once Tomura subtracts the bathroom breaks he had to take because he was dumb enough to break the seal four drinks in. Has he ever spent eight hours doing nothing but talking with someone without getting bored? No. Not even close.

“It’s going well,” he says, and you look relieved. Not happy, just relieved. That’s – not good. “They’re kicking us out now.”

“Yeah.” You get to your feet and stagger a little bit. You probably drank at least as much as Tomura did, but you’re shorter than him, and you’re a woman. Are you okay? “I’m going to go pay. We should figure out rides home. The trains don’t run this late.”

Tomura fucked up somehow. He can’t figure out how, but he’s pretty sure he did. But you’re still about to get kicked out, and somebody has to pay the tab – and somebody has to figure out how you two are getting home. He gets to his feet, too. “I’ll get it. It can’t be that much.”

You look back at all the glasses on the table. “I think it’s going to be a lot. We’ll split.”

Even with the split, it’s more than Tomura’s spent on a night out, ever – and the longer he spends upright, the clearer it is that he’s trashed. You’re trashed, too. Maybe less than he is, because you’re still trying to work out how to get home. “It’ll be cheaper if we split a rideshare,” you say, and hold out your phone. “Put in your address.”

Tomura forgets his own address for a second. Then he types it in, and you take your phone back. “Okay. It’ll drop you off first, then me. Let’s go.”

Tomura follows you out, only weaving a little bit, and then the two of you are on the sidewalk again. The air’s still warm and humid, but at least there’s more of a breeze than there was before. You lean against the boardwalk railing and Tomura copies you. He leaves one hand open at his side in case you want to reach for it. You don’t, so Tomura goes for yours instead, and you look up at him. “Tomura?”

“It’s going well,” Tomura says. Your eyes slide away from his, and he asks a question that’s been on his mind since an hour or so in. “Want to do it again?”

“Stay out until two am on a work night and blow five times my hourly rate on drinks?” You shake your head. “Go on another date? Yeah.”

Tomura hears all of that in the right order, except the thing in the middle that he actually asked about. “It’s a work night?”

“For you, too. You said earlier.” Your hand moves in Tomura’s, unfolding your fingers to lace them together with his. “We should have called it quits four hours ago.”

“Yeah, well, I didn’t want to.” Tomura shouldn’t have had this much to drink. He’s saying stuff he probably shouldn’t. Or should he? He doesn’t see the point in lying about shit on a regular basis. Why start now? “I still don’t.”

Next to Tomura, you take a deep breath, then let it go. “Okay. Give me your phone.”

Tomura fishes it out of his pocket with his free hand and passes it to you, then has to take it back to unlock it. He watches as you navigate to his contacts and add yourself to them – your first name, plus the words “blind date”, like Tomura’s going to forget who you are. How many women do you think he has in his phone? You hand it back to him after saving your contact and Tomura waits for you to hand yours over so he can add his number to yours. You don’t. “I need your phone. You need my number.”

“If you text me, then I’ll have it,” you say. “If you don’t, I won’t need it.”

Tomura feels weird about that. “Is this some kind of test?”

“I’ve gotten stood up eight times. I’m done chasing after people who don’t want me.” You loosen your grip on Tomura’s hand, like you’re giving him the chance to let go. “I ran sixteen blocks to meet you. You can send me a text.”

Tomura can see where you’re coming from. Sort of. The rideshare shows up, and the two of you slide into the backseat. Going from standing up to sitting down gives Tomura some kind of drunken headrush, and he slumps sideways against you. “Sorry –”

“It’s fine.” You shift around in your seat until Tomura’s cheek is resting on your shoulder. You’re still holding his hand. “I don’t mind.”

Tomura doesn’t mean to fall asleep, but the next thing he knows, the rideshare’s coming to a stop outside his apartment building and you’re shaking him awake with the hand that was holding his. “We’re here,” you say. “It was nice to meet you, okay? I had a really good night.”

Tomura nods. His mouth tastes like something died in it, and his mind feels foggy, but not so foggy that he can’t figure out how he wants to say goodbye. Maybe you know. “What do we do?”

“How about a hug?”

Sounds good. Tomura’s mouth tastes too bad for kissing, anyway, and his lips are gross enough to make you wish you’d never met him. He reaches out and drags you awkwardly across the backseat and into his arms, and you – fit. Tomura normally hates touching people, and he hates it even more when he’s drunk, but you fit, still and quiet with your head tucked in against his shoulder and your eyelashes brushing the side of his neck when you blink. Tomura could go back to sleep like this, easy. He’s having a hard time keeping his eyes open.

“Hey,” the driver says from the front seat. “Are you staying or going?”

“Are you in a big hurry or something?” Tomura pulls away from you with an effort and gets out of the car. The door shuts behind him, and Tomura turns to say goodbye, but he’s too slow. All he gets is a glimpse of your face through the window as the rideshare drives away.

Tomura should text you right now. The thought occurs to him, but then a mosquito bites him, and he slaps it a second too late. He’ll get inside the stupid building and get to his room, and then he can text you. It’s a good plan. Whether Tomura will remember it by the time he gets to the apartment is an entirely different story.

Tomura and his friends live on the top floor. The entire top floor. It used to be a penthouse, back when both the building and the neighborhood weren’t shit, but now the rent is cheap enough that the seven of them can afford it together. They all get their own rooms, three bathrooms is usually enough for everybody, and usually there’s at least one person who’s willing to cook dinner and let the rest of them mooch. Tomura and his roommates all keep weird hours, but by two-thirty in the morning everybody’s usually in their rooms, even if they’re awake. He’s not going to bother anybody as long as he’s quiet.

Or at least that’s what Tomura thinks. He’s dead wrong, because when the elevator doors open, he finds all the lights on in the living room, and most of the people he lives with sitting in there, wide awake. It looks like they’re waiting for something. It occurs to Tomura with slowly dawning horror that they’re waiting for him.

He makes the first move out of shock more than anything else. “What the fuck?”

“We decided to wait up for you. Since it’s baby’s first date and all,” Dabi says with a smirk. His stupid fiancé is here, too, perched on the arm of the chair Dabi’s in. “So how’d it go?”

Tomura doesn’t want to talk about this when he’s drunk. He wouldn’t want to talk to Dabi about it stone sober. He shakes his head. “Come on,” Twice announces from where he’s sprawled out on the rug next to Toga. “Nobody comes back from a date at three in the morning and gets to shake his head about it. Spill. No, don’t spill! I don’t want any nasty details.”

“I want all the nasty details,” Magne says. “What happened?”

“Perhaps we shouldn’t quiz him,” Sako says from the other chair. “Shigaraki will tell us what he wants to, when he wants to.”

Sako is officially the only person Tomura’s not pissed at right now. “No, he has to tell us now,” Toga says. “We’ve all been working on this for a month. We have to hear how it went!”

“Give us at least a few details,” Dabi’s idiot fiancé says. “We need something to base our wild speculations on.”

“You don’t live here,” Tomura says. Dabi glares at him. “I don’t want to talk about it.”

“Wait, it was bad?” Spinner runs the opposite way with it. “Why didn’t you just come back? Or you could have called us – we’d come drink with you –”

“It wasn’t bad,” Tomura snaps. “I got her number.”

He was hoping that would shut everybody up. Instead they all trade glances. “That’s it?” Dabi asks, incredulous. “You get back an hour after last call and all you got was her number?”

That’s not all Tomura got. “She said we should go out again. And we held hands.”

“Are you thirteen or something? That’s so lame,” Dabi’s idiot fiancé says. “Was she like, not –”

“She’s not that kind of girl,” Magne says. She reaches over from the couch to punch Dabi in the arm, even though it was the goddamn fiancé who said it. “You think I’d set Shigaraki up with that kind of girl?”

“Yeah, because that’s the kind of girl he’ll be dealing with in Vegas. Did you time-warp back to the fifties when I wasn’t looking?” Dabi grimaces. “You’re supposed to be upping your game. This is a setback.”

Tomura finally gets his feet under him. “No, it isn’t,” he says. “I had fun.”

He feels weird saying it, even though it’s true. He had fun walking around with you trying to find a bar you both wouldn’t hate, because both of you hate when things get too loud. He had fun talking about any of the fifty things the two of you talked about over the course of the eight hours you spent together. He liked seeing you square off with the asshole who tried to cut you both in line and he liked seeing you order the weirdest drink on the menu, even though it was disgusting and neither of you could finish it. He liked that he didn’t notice you trying to make him laugh until it already happened. He liked holding your hand.

Tomura had fun on his date, end sentence. “You guys are assholes. I’m going to bed.”

“We’re not assholes! We want to help,” Twice protests. “You don’t need our help! You’re doing fine.”

“Yeah, I’m with Twice,” Spinner says. Twice starts arguing with him, but Spinner ignores it. “It’s a win if you say it’s a win. Hanging out with somebody who’s not us for that long is definitely a win.”

“It’s not a game,” Toga says. She rolls over on her back and stares up at Tomura. “Are you going to text her?”

Right. Tomura was going to do that. He fumbles his phone out of his pocket. “No,” Dabi and his fucking fiancé say at the same time. Dabi keeps talking. “It hasn’t even been an hour. Are you trying to look desperate?”

“I texted Ochako while I was on the train home from our first date,” Toga says. Toga’s the only one other than Dabi who’s in an actual relationship, rather than a bunch of situationships, friends-with-benefits things, and hookups they block the next day. “I wasn’t desperate.”

“You’re the most desperate person I’ve ever met. But you’re a girl, so it’s cute on you,” Magne says. “It’s not cute on guys. It’s weird.”

“I don’t think it is,” Spinner says. Tomura adds Spinner and Toga to the list of people he doesn’t hate right now. “Sending a dick pic or begging for nudes would be desperate. Just saying something is – nice. I’ve never had a date text me the same night before. I wouldn’t mind.”

“In that case, your date would be a girl,” Magne points out. “Cute when girls do it. Weird when guys do. I’d know.”

Tomura lost the plot a few sentences back. “I wasn’t going to send a dick pic. I don’t even have a dick pic.”

Dabi’s fiancé wheezes. “What?”

“Okay, that’s enough!” Toga pops up off the floor. “Tomura-kun has work tomorrow and so do I – and so does Spinner – so we’re all going to go to bed.”

“We are?” Spinner asks, then yelps as Toga yanks him off the couch. “Hey!”

“That’s right,” Toga sings out. She grabs Tomura’s arm, too, and Tomura barely manages to avoid getting yanked off his feet. He stumbles down the hall after her, colliding with Spinner a few times. It’s all he can do to keep ahold of his phone.

Toga’s bedroom, Spinner’s, and Tomura’s are all along the same hallway, sharing the same bathroom. Once they’re in the hallway, Tomura plants his feet. “Why are you kidnapping me?”

“We’re not kidnapping you. Your room is right there.” Toga points, like there was any way Tomura was going to forget. He’s drunk, but not that drunk. “They were being mean. I’m happy for you. So is Spinner. Right, Spinner?”

“Like I said. A win’s a win.”

“It’s not a game.” Toga elbows him. Then she looks at Tomura. “They’re making it sound complicated and it’s not. If you like her, text her. If you don’t, don’t. Easy. Now go to bed.”

It’s not a puzzle game. It’s a yes or no question. Tomura likes that a lot better than whatever the hell the others wanted him to do. Still – “Do I need a dick pic?”

It’s quiet for at least a minute. “You know what,” Spinner says finally, “we’ll cross that bridge when we get to it. I’m with Toga. Go to bed before you get yourself in trouble.”

Tomura’s tempted to tell them both that he’s doing it because he wants to, not because they’re telling him to, but then he decides not to waste the air. The sooner he goes to his room, the sooner he can send you a message without everyone bothering him about it. He shuffles back to his room, flops down on the bed – which he didn’t make this morning, because he’s just going to get back in it later – and pulls out his phone. When he taps the contact icon, the first thing he sees is the contact you set for yourself.

Your name (blind date). Tomura opens a message and gets stuck trying to think of what to say. Short is probably better. His mind is off on some weird paths right now, a lot of which have to do with you and his dick and all of which would be a lot more of a problem if he wasn’t still drunk. And none of which you need to know about. You also don’t need to know about the ambush his friends set up for him when he got home. Or the fact that Tomura’s friends only sent him on this date so he could get better at women before the trip to Vegas in two months.

That might have been why Magne set you and Tomura up, but that’s not why Tomura’s texting you. this is tomura. i want a second date. That gets the point across for sure. If you texted Tomura that he’d count it as a win, so he sends it. But Toga said it’s not a game. Spinner said it would be nice to get a text from a date. What would Tomura want you to say, if he got a text from you?

Tomura overthinks it. He overthinks it so hard that he falls asleep, and only wakes up when he drops his phone on his face. You haven’t texted back yet, but it’s only been fifteen minutes since he sent the message, and you’re probably asleep. What kind of text would Tomura want to see from you when he woke up in the morning? That you liked him. That you had fun. Maybe you’d say something funny, too. Tomura doesn’t do funny. He almost falls back asleep again, then hauls himself up to wakefulness hand over hand, sitting up in the bargain. One more message. It should be easy.

sorry I fell asleep on you is what Tomura says. He barely manages to plug in his phone before he falls asleep for good.

He wakes up to his alarm howling, right on schedule. He can hear Spinner’s alarm doing the same thing from across the hall. Tomura’s mouth tastes like he threw up in it in his sleep. He fumbles for his phone to hit snooze on the alarm, but in the split second before he does, he sees a text notification. Everybody he texts has been asleep for the last – Tomura looks at the time and groans – four hours. So who –

Tomura unlocks his phone at warp speed and taps the message icon. He remembers texting you last night, but he didn’t remember how stupid he sounded. Sorry he fell asleep on you? You’re probably texting him to fuck off. Tomura glances down at your message. His head hurts badly enough that he has to read it five or six times to process it all the way.

You gave his first text a thumbs-up, then asked what he wants to do on the second date. But you replied directly to his stupid second message. it’s okay. next time it’s my turn.

Tomura’s lips split as an uncontrollable grin crosses his face. He got four hours of sleep. He’s got a full day of work and a hangover to go with it, and the instant he sets foot in the living room, his friends are going to start up on him about how he’s handling this all wrong. But Tomura must not be handling it all that badly, because he’s got a second date, and for a few seconds, the hangover and work and everything else doesn’t matter at all.

[threepandas]

Bad End: Kept Safe

[Art by Miu_A]

You ever give someone advice, knowing full well they aren't going to take it? Even AFTER they have begged and pleaded and WHINED at you, for hours, for it? Even after they poured their heart and soul out to you? And you, a good friend, carefully and tactfully, tried your best to help? LIKE THEY ASKED?

Ever find yourself the designated "run too dramatically weep in the arms off" friend?

I have.

It is hell. I am in hell.

This is my punishment for all those hours I spent reading and playing Otome Isekai junk instead of, I don't know, solving world hunger or something. Because it HAS to be. I am clearly being punished. Repeatedly. By some sort of petty, petty, anime God.

Fuck you too, buddy.

A fresh round of highly dramatic Protagonist sobbing peirces the air. Dear lord, she has a set of lungs on her, does she? It's like an air siren. But more... upset toddler. It was bizarre. I'd LIKED her as a character. I HAD. Bright and cheerful, determined with a good heart. She'd been a bit naive, yes, but she'd grown. Love had changed her for the better.

But THIS?

This was some middle school "he threw away my secret note, that I didn't sign, so that means he HATES MEEEEE~" bullshit. It went on and on and ON! God, it'd been MONTHS! Years!

I made friends with the Protagonist when we were in The Royal Academy. The story's setting. It SHOULD have finished by graduation. SHOULD. HAVE. But DID it? No! This nonsense had spilled into the COURT! The general population! Actual political factions were starting to get involved!

All because my "friend" COULDN'T PICK A MAN.

And she didn't listen. I tried. God, how I TRIED! No matter HOW I phrased "just fucking TALK to them" it didn't get through her dense fucking skull. I tried taking a break. To calm down. She HUNTED ME DOWN with her little Harem of political trainwrecks!

That poor port city STILL has yet to recover from the chaos they unleashed.

I don't... God, I don't even LIKE her anymore. I've just been reduced to her HANDLER. Forced into girlish tea parties devoid of any taste, because no one ELSE will come. Followed by winces and pitying looks by every lady in all of polite society. The sacrifice to keep HER distracted, lest her gaurd dogs decide its a good idea to do something unhinged again.

It's exhausting.

I'm not even listening.

She seems to have worked through her usual cycle of "cry, mope, what about meeeee~, then I going to go be Plucky at them! Tee Hee~♡!". Good, good. You go have fun, you little train wreck. I'm going to go find an actual ADULT to hide behind.

I have my maids change me out of an outfit that, frankly? I am too old for. I am not sixteen. We are not GIRLS, for the heaven's sake. We are WOMEN. It was a cute outfit. I enjoyed wearing it, back when I was physically young enough that it was appropriate. But even THEN... that's the down side of the whole "isekai" thing.

You keep your mental age.

Everyone around you? INFANTS. Fresh faced babies. You are being flirted with by fourteen year olds and? It is DISGUSTING. They can never be anything more then "cute kids" to you. The characters you once thirsted over? Reduced to actual, living, breathing, pre-schoolers.

There's no going back after that. I'll NEVER unsee it. Can only continue to age, even as they simply... grow up. And then? When they started behaving like FOUR YEAR OLDS? Forget it! I'm beginning to share my parents fears I may die single.

At least I have a refuge. A place of SANITY and SENSE.

I grab the imported wine I had purchased. I'd noticed him drink it before on special occasions. Found a tea seller that was willing to also bring some back. Mother LOVED the tea and my friend was going to love the wine, I could just tell.

Cautiously poking my head out of the guest apartments i was staying in, I checked the hall. Left. Right. Left. Thank god. No Protagonist in sight, she hasn't come back yet. Better hurry though.

I walk fast and keep close to the wall. Ducking into alcoves at every new female voice. Passing servants, Nobles, and the occasional Knight either murmur what they know of Protagonist's last known location or politely pretend not to see me. For anyone else, this would be scandalous behavior. For ME? Well... everyone knew EXACTLY why I was being driven to such extremes.

I thankfully reached the governance wing unmolested. It was far quite and none of the pack of fools ever really set foot here. Not ever the ones who were SUPPOSED to be busy learning their future roles as leaders of this country. God, I could only hope the third prince somehow quietly pulls a coup.

Not that I'd SAY that.

The gaurds don't even bother to announce me, I'm here so often. Merely opening the door. I maintain my decorum none the less. JUST long enough for the doors to finally close and I am able to drop my social mask like whipping of my bra after a long day. Oh thank fuuuuuuck. FREEDOM!

A familiar chuckle, like incense smoke, wafts from the second floor of the office.

"Oh my~, so tired?" My friend muses, his voice that ever lilting purr. I hear him closing whatever heavy tome he's currently studying. "And so early in the DAY! Was it the little nuisance again? Surely she must have SOMETHING better to do?"

Gently putting the wine I'm gifting him on his desk, I then throw up my arms. You would THINK! Wouldn't you?! It's an old complaint. And frankly? I'm glad he still let's me vent about it. It HAS to get old. Yet? He let's me complain anyway.

I met the, roughly translated, "Keeper Of The Shield" at one of the Crown Prince's many ridiculous parties. I was dragged along as Protagonist's plus one. Because GOD FORBID she bring one of her suitors! That might lean towards CHOICE! Can't have THAT!

It was an overly dramatic, gaudy, slow motion trainwreck from beginning to end. I? Got very, VERY drunk. I knew I shouldn't. It was wildly inappropriate. But I was HORRIFIED. Hid near the balconies and drank to forget. Contemplating jumping.

Was likely the only one there my age NOT in ten layers of bows and fabric flowers. It was probably why Crevan decide to talk to me. That and the look of abject suffering. He informed that, sadly, the balconies were locked. But if I planned to maim my self to escape, he could probably boost me up enough to reach the upper windows.

I choked on my drink and guffawd like an idiot. It was SUPER flattering. Very pretty. And honestly? The best conversation I'd had in YEARS. He was droll. Witty. Snarky. In just as much hell as I was. We gleefully narrated the drama playing out before us in as cutting a manner as possible. Grown adults, government officals! Behaving like fucking CHILDREN.

Only after, did I learn I had been chatting with the equivalent of the minister of the Defense. THE commander of our nation's defensive forces. All of them. Knights, army, spies. All of it. And the poor man had been dragged from his desk to play party prop by a glorified teenager. I was horrified. Appalled. Fucking OUTRAGED to learn that it was just... normal!

This country was a nightmare! Otome games are HELL. Lacey, sparkly HELL!!!

But at least I had Crevan to keep me sane. He was always willing to listen. Advise when he could. We had HOPED that Protagonist would start maturing... I'd even mentioned it, but it just seemed like she back slid again and again! Trapping me. Isolating me! Ruining my chances to move ON and have a LIFE!

I don't know what went wrong! Is it me? Am I too hand holdy? It's starting to destabilize the country! Not that the royal family even seems to notice! God no, if it weren't for Crevan, the whole PLACE would have collapsed!

I flop down on my couch. Technically it's not "mine", but honestly? He's fooling no one. The man barely had ANY guest furniture before we became friends. It's totally my couch. (He even got a tea table for us, the softy.)

"Oh? A gift? How thoughtful, dear~" It's only months of friendship that keep from jumping these days. I should get that man a BELL. "Would you like some?"

I can't help but huff a laugh. He always looks to PLEASED when he gets the jump on someone. Startles them. A mischievous asshole, that one. Touchy, too. Forever cupping my cheek or earnestly taking my hand. Patting my head. Guiding me by the elbow or shoulder. He has so few friends... I am certain he is touch starved.

A thought occurs to him, as he pours two cups. A sly grin stretching across his face as he turns to offer me a cup. The wine's scent mixes, burning and delicate, with the ever present smells of incense and his favorite herbal cigarettes. Blurring the senses and relaxing. It's a pretty strong drink.

"You KNOW... it just occurs to me! Darling, if you want to avoid that pest? Why not spend the day HERE? I'd love to have you. " his voice becomes low and serious for a moment, almost catching me off gaurd, bouncing back before I can really think about it. "You could trash my shelves again! Camp out on my couches! It'll be like a little party~ Just you and me! Not a care in the world. You won't have to worry a single thing~"

He grins, glasses catching the light, toothy like the old scheming fox he is.

"I'll keep you nice and safe~"

[nonbinary-octopus]

another concept that I think would be interesting to explore in fic, is What do the Rimworld colonists think of the player?

What are you to them?

You design the colony, and they will build everything you lay out, no questions asked.

You decide what their priorities should be, and even if you make stupid decisions that put their lives in danger, they will follow that order without question.

You can give them a long to-do list, and the only reason they'll stop before completing it (aside from you telling them to stop), is if they physically cannot continue, because they're ready to collapse of hunger or exhaustion. Or are in such a bad mood they have a mental break.

Why are they so willing to obey you? What are you, that they trust you so unflinchingly, and let you dictate their lives?

You are capable of being in multiple places at once, as demonstrated when part of the colony is in a caravan several days' travel away, and yet you can instruct both groups in the same moment.

Time does not flow over you the same way that it does the colonists. There are times where you notice things too late, yes, but there are also times when, the very moment disaster strikes, you have a plan as though you were able to deliberate for hours during the span of a breath.

You have not aged. You were here when the first pod crash-landed, you bore witness as their children were born, you watched over them as they grew into adults, and you were there still, as they reached reached old age. You will be there for as many generations as exist in this land.

What are you?

[littleocean-rose]

Zoo Outing

Summary: Your boyfriend San has been overworking himself lately. So to help him relax, you decide to take him out to the zoo.

AU: non-idol, hybrid au Pairing: house cat hybrid!San x gn!reader word count: 3,902 Warnings: sliiiight discrimination for hybrids but that should be it. reader calls san kitten once or twice. no beta we die like ice cream under the summer sun A/N: it didn't turn out quite how i wanted it to so i hope it's okay! i based what kind of cat sannie was on the poll i posted earlier san will always be a snow leopard in my heart, so thank you to everyone who participated in it!

As a hybrid, San was restricted from going to a lot of places without a human “owner.” And despite the fact that over the last ten years hybrid laws have started to become more lenient, it still had stopped him from doing a lot of things in his life. He could remember the day the government decided to allow hybrids into grocery stores on their own, his hybrid mother nearly crying as she watched the tv. He was a child then, he couldn’t understand what a huge accomplishment it was to hybrids all over the world. He understood now, as an adult, and he cherished what little freedoms they let hybrids have.

But with you, a human lover, by his side, so many more opportunities were open to him now.

You both had agreed early on in the relationship that you would sign off as San’s “owner,” though the title left a bitter taste in your mouth. You saw hybrids as equals, because that’s what they were, really. Equals. The main difference being their animal traits and their instincts, which even then weren’t very different. Sure, dog hybrids tended to get distracted by balls easier, and yeah cat hybrids tended to love sun naps. But to some people, well… maybe they needed a harsh shove down an escalator.

A year into your relationship now, you wanted to surprise San for all the hard work he’d been doing. Between his job as an assistant in a floral shop and online classes, San had been running on empty for a couple of weeks now. Exhausted from his job only to sit in front of his computer for several hours straight was really starting to wear on him, and try as you might, there wasn’t much you could do to improve his mood. Which is why today, on his day off, you broke the news to him.

As your sleepy kitty continued to snooze away in bed, sleek black tail wrapped around the blankets bundled up in his arms, you snuck out to the kitchen to start making breakfast. Pulling out a pan, you started to take out the ingredients for some kimchi pancakes. As you began to cook, your mind wandered to the plans you had made for today. A smile tugged at your lips, a feeling of eager excitement taking place in your chest. You knew San was going to be ecstatic, imagining the way his eyes would widen and his ears would go straight up. You couldn’t wait to see his reaction.

As you finished plating the pancakes you made your way to the bedroom, jittery with happiness as you took a seat on the edge of the bed. You ran your fingers through your boyfriend’s black hair, gently scratching behind his soft ears. He shifted, hugging the blankets closer as he let out a quiet mrrrp as his eyes slowly fluttered open. You couldn’t help but coo at how adorable he looked, face swollen with sleep as a little pout formed on his lips.

“Mm, what time is it?”

“It’s a little after 7am.” His brows furrowed together, a little whine escaping his throat as he buried his face into the soft pillow beneath him.

“Why are you waking me up so early on my day offf,” he whined, his words muffled. You couldn’t help but giggle, your fingers running through his soft hair. He leaned into your touch, the slight vibrations of tired purrs could be felt in your hand, pulling a gentle smile from you. “Can’t I sleep a little more? Please?”

“I know, baby, you’re tired. But I made plans for us today and I promise you’re going to love them.” With a groan, San pulled himself into a sitting position, hair mussed up and eyes still closed.

“But I was just gonna stay in today…”

You gave a hum in response. You knew your boyfriend loved staying in, as an introvert he didn’t mind spending days locked away in the house. He gave you another tired pout, but this is one time you knew you couldn’t cave in. He’d thank you later, you knew that much. “Sorry, Sannie, but trust me, okay? Breakfast is already made and waiting for you.”

His tail thumped against the blankets, clearly unhappy about the fact he had to get out of the very comfy bed. Cute, you thought. You gave an exaggerated sigh, looking down at your lap with a pout. “I mean, I guess we don’t have to go to the zoo today…” You peeked up through your lashes, noticing the way San’s eyes suddenly snapped open and his ears were instantly on alert.

His mouth fell open. “Th-The zoo?”

You smiled. “Yeah, I already bought us tickets. The zoo opens at 9:30.” For a moment the feline didn’t move, frozen in his spot as the information registered in his mind. Then, you were tackled, nearly shoved off the bed as he wrapped his arms around you. You gave a surprised squeak which very quickly turned into a laugh as he pulled you against his chest; nuzzling your neck like his very life depended on it, his tail wrapping around your waist as the sounds of his purrs increased tenfold. So much for being tired.

“Y/N! Oh my god, I– The zoo?! I get to finally go to a zoo!! Thank you, thank you, tha–“ You managed to pull away enough to land your lips against his, silencing him. He was all too eager to kiss back, his hands cradling your face, pouring all his passion and emotions into action.

“You don’t need to thank me, Sannie. I know how badly you’ve always wanted to go to the zoo. With you working so hard lately I figured it would be a nice surprise for you.” San’s eyes turned glassy as you cradled his face, thumbs brushing over his cheeks. “I love you so much, and seeing you overworked these past few weeks have been hard. Hopefully today will help you relax and unwind.”

You felt the soft fur of his tail brush against your wrist, watching as the hybrid turned and kissed the inside of your palm. San had always expressed the want of going to a zoo, watching wildlife documentaries with such fascination, and you always felt bad that you hadn’t had the time to take him sooner. Because hybrids weren’t allowed to go to a zoo without a human companion. With you and San both being busy, on days off the two of you would usually relax at home or, if anything, go to a park or beach to unwind. The zoo was on the other side of the city, a long drive for you two, which was why it wasn’t always the first option to come up for activities.

“I don’t care, I’m going to thank you anyway,” San said, breaking you out of your thoughts. He kissed your cheek, then your other cheek, then your nose, and finally forehead. His eyes practically sparkled, filled with so much love for you. “Thank you so much for doing this for me.”

“Of course, Sannie.” You pressed a kiss back to his nose, and finally his forehead. “I love you so much, I just want you to be happy. I’m sorry I couldn’t take you sooner.”

He shook his head. “Don’t you dare apologize. I’m just happy I get to go today. With you.”

Your heart melted. “Yeah,” you breathed, looking at him with love in your eyes. “With you.”

~

To say San was excited would have been an understatement.

San was practically bouncing in his seat the entire ride, the end of his tail wagging slowly in happiness. Before you had met San you hadn’t known that cats could sometimes wag their tails in happiness, thinking that they only did it when annoyed. It was cute, really. As soon as he parked the car he practically jumped out, trying his best not to dash all the way to the entrance. It reminded you of a cat when it got the zoomies. (Which San has had before, on several accounts. It was always quite amusing when it happened, even if it did end with him giving a sheepish grin and an embarrassed apology.) His excitement was practically palpable as he held your hand, gushing about all the animals he couldn’t wait to see.

Cute.

As you showed the booth employee your entrance tickets, you looked over San. He was wearing a denim shirt and pants, looking so soft and comfortable as he bounced on his toes, so full of energy and excitement. A little house cat excited to be on an adventure. As soon as you were given the clear the employee handed you a wristband for you to fill out. Once you wrote down your name and phone number, you put it on San’s wrist before grabbing his hand, threading your fingers through his. “Are you ready?”

San’s smile grew bigger. “Yeah.”

~

“Y/N! Look!!” The hybrid pointed to his right, eyes wide as he focused on the animal in the distance. You were currently halfway though the primate exhibit and San finally got to see a monkey. He instantly raised his camera, taking several pictures of the lazying animal. As he lowered his phone, he looked over his shoulder at you. “Do you see it?” He had the biggest smile on his face, and it had been so long since you’d seen him this happy. It was a nice change, and you were already making plans to take him to the aquarium next week. “Y/N, do you see the monkey?”

“Yeah,” you said, looking at San as you fought down a smile. “I’m looking at one right now.”

He blinked before he registered your words, giving a pout, his ears falling flat for a second as he rolled his eyes. “Meanie,” he mumbled, and you laughed.

“Sorry.” You kissed his cheek, his ears flicking back up into their normal position. “Yeah, I see the monkey. What kind is it?” Yeah, you knew there was a sign a few feet away that gave you the name of the primate and some fun facts about the species, but why would you read that when San could tell you all about the the animal? His face lit up, and he began to spew several random facts about chimpanzees, gesturing wildly as he gave you all the information he had on them.

He was such a nerd.

You wouldn’t want him any other way.

~

“Giraffes!” He ran over to the railing, looking over the tall ungulates with a peaceful expression. San stopped to watch them for a while, watching their every move as they ate some leaves off the lower-hanging branches from the trees in their exhibit. “They’re so graceful,” he murmured, resting his chin on his hands. You ran your hand across his broad back, let it come to a rest at the base of his neck where you played with the hairs hanging there. It brought some purrs out of San as the two of you stood in silence. Resting your head on his shoulder, you savored the peaceful moment.

“Even from this distance, they look so tall,” you said.

“They average around 16 feet if I recall, with the males reaching up to 18 feet,” San instantly replied. “They’re so pretty.”

“Are you having fun?” You knew you didn’t need to ask, but you still had the need to. San looked at you, eyes brimming with love and affection. No matter how times he would look at you like that, it would never fail to make your heart skip a beat.

“Yeah, I really am.” He reached for your free hand, giving it a squeeze. “Thank you, Y/N. So much.”

“Of course. Anything for my kitten.”

The smile San gave was blinding.

~

It was finally time to go through the exhibit San was looking forward to most. While he loved the bird exhibit (the way his eyes got so wide the entire time was beyond amusing, you had so many pictures of his dilated pupils and several videos of him chattering at the birds) and was fascinated with the canine exhibit (he thought the fennec foxes were the cutest things around and even decided to name one Wooyoung after his fox-hybrid friend), nothing could compare to his excitement for the feline exhibit.

He took his time with every animal.

The tigers were up first. San, eyes wide, went up to the railing and watched in fascination as the giant feline groomed his mate. They were beautiful, both Siberian tigers, one of them being white. It was such a contrast to the other, a pale white against a light orange. “Did you know tigers are the largest of the felines?” You did, but you pretended you didn’t so San could continue with his info drop. “There’s nine subspecies, but only six remain today. These guys, Amur tigers, are the biggest of the tigers.”

“They’re beautiful.”

“Aren’t they? Tigers are amazing. They’re so big, I wish I could cuddle with them.” You chuckled—of course San would want to cuddle them, but then again you wouldn’t hesitate to cuddle with them either.

Next were the snow leopards. These were probably San’s favorites. They were silly little animals, the smallest of the big cats as he informed you. They were playful, and quite the bouncers. They were unfortunately asleep up in their little house, San pouting at that, but you promised him you’d bring him back here next month. He lit up at that, giving you the biggest kitten eyes in the process, and you swore he was about to tear up at your promise.

The jaguars, too, were asleep, and San gave a quiet whine. “It’s okay, next time,” you said.

He nodded with determination, though his pout didn’t fall. “Next time.”

Caracals were next, and you couldn’t help but coo at the the tufts on the ends of their ears. This was one feline you did know quite a big about. While they weren’t your favorite, they did remind you of San. You told him as much, and he raised his eyebrows in surprise. “They remind you of me?”

“Yeah! They’re able to jump up to 10 feet in the air! And I know you love to jump, too.” He at least had the audacity to look sheepish, cheeks turning pink as he looked away with a pout. San loved to jump, so much so that his friends had banded together and made a jump-ban specifically when San was around. You didn’t mind it though, even encouraging his behavior. You’d see him eye a low-hanging branch on trees during walks, and you’d give a sly smile. “I bet you can’t touch that branch,” you’d challenge, and his eyes would narrow, a smirk on his face as he would instantly prove you wrong by leaping into the air to swat at the leaves. It was one of the many reasons that made him fall for you.

The pumas were after the caracals, and thankfully they weren’t asleep. Like the tigers, they were grooming each other, or simply staring over the crowd, giving large yawns. Despite not being very active, they still held San’s attention, drinking in every detail of the beautiful animals. You knew by the end of the day your phone would be full of mostly San, but you couldn’t help it. He was so enamored with all the animals, how could you not take so many photos and videos of him?

Next up were cheetahs, which happened to be your favorite. This time it was your turn to nerd out, spouting off fact after fact of them to San, you happily listened to you as he watched the feline pace back and forth in front of the fence. He squeezed your hand when you scratched your cheek, apologizing for ranting, but he shook his head. “No, please, go on,” he smiled. “I wanna hear more.”

San, ever the supportive boyfriend, never failed to make your heart flutter. You knew he knew all the information you were telling him, but still he coaxed it out of you, happy to see you enjoying the trip here as much as he was. At the end of your four minute long rant, you turned to San with a smile. “And while they may be my favorite species of cats, you still hold the title of being my favorite cat.”

In return, you never failed to make San’s heart flutter either.

~

Finally, the last one was the lion exhibit. You two had lucked out, a total of three lions were lazying around right near the glass, so San got a real nice close up of the cats. A look of wonder crossed his face as he crouched down, face nearly pressed against the glass. Unsurprisingly, San had a deep love for felines. They left him in awe every time they appeared on documentaries. Perhaps it was because he was a simple house cat, finding his larger, distant cousins simply awe-inspiring.

One particular lioness, the one closest to the glass, pressed her paw up against the glass, and San’s eyes went comically wide. Without hesitation he pressed his thumb against the glass, comparing the size of it to the lion’s large beans. “Woah,” he breathed, and you had to agree. You crouched down and pressed your hand to the glass, amazed by how small it looked compared to the fuzzy paw. You knew big cats were, well, big, but it never failed to surprise you by just how big they were. Until you saw it in person, it was always hard to imagine the scale of the cats.

As the day went on the crowd began to thin out, and you both knew that the zoo would be closing soon. The date would be ending, much to San’s disappointment. Before leaving though the two of you hit the ice cream shop. While they didn’t have chocolate mint, San ended up going with regular vanilla, you doing the same to match him. As the two of you sat at the table, munching away on the delicious treat, San reached over and grabbed your hand.

“I know I’ve said it so many times already, but thank you. Today was… it was amazing. The zoo was everything I thought it would be. And it was all the more special because you were by my side the entire time. You planned this, just for me, and I can’t tell you how much that means to me.”

You squeezed his hand, giving him a soft smile. “Oh, Sannie. I told you, you don’t need to thank me. Today was wonderful, I had so much fun finally visiting the zoo with you. Seeing you so happy, it was the break you needed. We made so many good memories today, and I hope to make more with you next month when we come back.”

San gave a big smile, dimples popping out and fangs peeking out. He looked so happy, a light blush dusting his cheeks. “I love you, jagiya.” Your heart soared at the pet name, this time your cheeks heating up a little.

“I love you, too, jagiya,” you replied quietly, and San beamed.

After you both finished your ice cream, you headed down to the shops before they closed. As San looked over at the snow globes, you quickly grabbed a snow leopard plushie and ran to the cashier to buy it, shoving it in your bag seconds before San turned and declared he was purchasing a tiger snow globe. You couldn’t help but aww at the cute little globe, watching as snow descended over the two tigers sitting on a rock.

“Do you want to get take-out tonight?” you asked as you both exited the zoo. San’s stomach rumbled loudly, yours doing so too. As yummy as the ice cream was, it hadn’t been very filling, and the only thing you two had eaten was the pancakes from breakfast.

“Could we get bulgogi…? Or mandoo?” You thought for a second.

“I could go for those, yeah.” San let out a happy mrrp sound, dimples popping out once more as he got into the car. The drive home was mostly the two of you talking about your favorite moments of the day, and San gushing about how seeing the animals in person was an amazing experience that he would never forget.

After you two got home and ate dinner, you both showered and crawled into bed; San snaking his arm around your waist as he pulled you close, pressing a kiss to your hair as his tail made its way to its usual spot wrapped around your thigh. “Thank you again for today,” he murmured, voice thick with sleep. After such a long day out, you weren’t surprised by how exhausted he was. You smiled, knowing there was one more surprise you had for him.

Reaching down over the side of the bed, you pulled up the plush you had bought from earlier. “I got this for you.” San gave a gasp, quickly pulling the plushie into his arms.

“Oh, she’s so cute! She’s so soft, too! Oh, I love her so much!” He instantly began to pet the plush, low purrs filling the silence as he cooed over his new baby. Eventually he began to gently knead it, a true sign he did, in fact, love it. “She’s sleeping with us tonight,” he declared, not asked. It made you laugh, turning over to face him and patted the space between you two.

“She can sleep right here tonight.”

He tucked the little plush under the blankets, as if she really was his child, and it made emotions swirl in your chest. Before you could stop yourself, the words came tumbling from your mouth. “You’d be such a good dad.” San stopped his actions, looking up at you with wide eyes. It made you flustered, tripping over your words. “I-I mean, like, I don’t want kids right now, or anytime soon, I’m nowhere near ready for that, but I just– I think you’d make a great dad,” you rambled, looking down at the plush with anxiety. You two had never talked about kids, but you just couldn’t help but think the hybrid would be such a soft dad.

“Thank you.” You peeked up at San, a bright smile on his face, his eyes turning into crescents. “I’m not ready for kids yet either, but… hearing you saying that, it helps quell any anxieties I had about it before. Maybe one day we can sit down and talk about it, but until then…” He placed a kiss on the plushie’s head, and then placed a kiss on your lips. “My only babies are gonna be Byeol and these plushes.” His eyes slipped shut, a content sigh leaving his lips. “But you’d be a wonderful parent, too. I know it.”

Warmth bloomed in your chest as you closed your eyes, visions of a family one day playing in your mind. “Thank you, Sannie. Goodnight, my love.”

“Goodnight, jagiya. I love you, so, so much.”

“I love you, too.”

The two of you fell asleep, your new baby tucked in between you two, a souvenir that you both would keep in bed for many years in the future.

A/N: aaaand that's it! have a good day~ please leave some feedback if you liked it~ ♥︎

[i-drop-level-one-loot]

If you want to could you please write more puppyboy hybrid? It can be NSFW or SFW (which ever is easier to write) Thanks! Btw i love your work!

-🩷

Thank you so much! Sorry for taking a bit to respond, I've been receiving more messages than I thought I would ❤️

(Reader) stumbled as their pet? roommate? friend, Buddy, a golden haired puppy hybrid pulled them by their hand excitedly, dragging them from the car into the grocery store. (Reader) figured that Buddy was always excited to leave the house because of his canine instincts, when in actuality it was because he considered any time they went outside to be a date. Shopping dates, car ride dates, taking a walk around town dates; even though (Reader) never said it, Buddy knew they loved him. More than loving him, he knew they were in love with him. Just as he was them.

Buddy excitedly jumped into the basket of the shopping cart, beaming with joy at the exhausted adult. They didn't argue, however, just sighing and pushing the cart down the isles they needed. It wasn't going to be a long shopping trip, they only needed a few things, but Buddy had insisted that he needed to go with them. (Reader) just hoped that he wouldn't cause the trip to last longer than it needed to be, wanting to be at home snuggled up on the couch.

"(Reader)?" A voice called out behind them, turning to find an old friend from high school.

"Peter! My God you've gotten old! How are ya?" (Reader) joked, reaching out to grab Peter's hand.

The shopping cart squealed as Buddy jumped out of it, dashing between the two reuniting friends. His back was arched and his stance was wide, his ears pressed back in a threatening way as he growled at the other man.

"Buddy, what are you doing?!"

Buddy turned back to (Reader), grabbing them by the hand to leave, his ears still flattened and his tail straight. "Let's hurry up and go home."

(Reader) tried to pull back, to argue, but everytime they tugged against his grasp it only tightened, baring his teeth.

This continued until they got home. As (Reader) closed the door of their apartment behind them, Buddy shoved them against the door, trapping them with his body.

"What do you think you're doing?"

"What do you think you're doing?!" Buddy snapped back, tears glistening at the corners of his long eyelashes. "How dare you think about flirting with someone else while we're out on a date?"

Before (Reader) could become offended by his attitude, Buddy bit down on their neck, causing them to cry out in pain.

"Buddy, stop! That hurt!"

He growled pulling down the neck of (Reader's) shirt, the threads in it snapping as he stretched it out. Sharp teeth grazed their neck, threatening to take a deadly bite.

"This only happened because he didn't know you were my mate..." He kissed their neck passionately, pressing his body into theirs as he licked and sucked down to their collar bone.

(Reader's) face flushed as something hardened, pressing into their thigh. Buddy pulled himself away from the forming hickies, his face looking feverish as his breathing became uneven.

He grabbed (Reader's) hand, leading it down to his crotch, forcing them to feel his erection. "I've been good waiting for you.. now I need you to be a good little mate for me."

[stxrrydreamss]

How they hold your hand in bed.

Dabi/Aizawa/Hawks/Bakugo/Deku/Shigaraki

💙 Dabi 💙

Dabi desires to experience a sense of total authority and dominance. He would firmly hold you down on the bed beneath him as he fucks you roughly into the mattress. A little sobbing mess, how he likes you. He will use his other hand to either steady you or to roughly grip your face while forcing you to make out with him until neither of you can breathe.

Dabi takes pleasure in belittling others. “You’re such a fucking whore for me.” “What a dirty little slut.” “You naughty little bitch.” Occasionally, he would emit low, guttural growls, punctuated by the occasional primal groan. His gaze would be wild, filled with an intense bliss as he fixated on you. “Do you feel every piercing on my dick rubbing against your insides, doll?” His face was adorned with a cocky smile as he moaned out.. “Don’t you love how my dick stretches you out?”

When he cums he is very vocal. The air was filled with the sound of moans, groans, grunts, and growls, punctuated by curses escaping from his lips like fuck, shit, and god damn. His figure looms over you, taunting your tear-stained, flushed face, smudged with evidence of your distress. “Did you enjoy that princess?” He enjoyed teasing. Even though he seemed self-assured in bed, it was a mask for the depth of his feelings for you and the insecurity he held inside. He hasn't expressed this to you yet, but it's something he carries within him, tucked away from view.

Referring to him by his true name, Touya, triggers a feral response in him. His eyes widen and his focus intensifies, and he starts obliterating your insides.

🖤 Aizawa 🖤

In moments when he is not weighed down by exhaustion and not on his usual night watch, you find yourself ensnared by his scarf. He relishes the sight of your bewildered reaction to the unexpectedcabgen in his demeanor, and you embrace it wholeheartedly.

On the nights when he comes home and decides to lovingly fuck you, he has you doggy style as he leans in, resting his cheek in the curve of your neck, whispering endearing words and gently kissing the skin while creating affectionate marks and leaving behind gentle bites. One hand holds you firmly in place as he slowly and rhythmically rams himself into you while the other is tightly gripping your wrist. He favors this particular position because it conceals his embarrassed and pleasure-stricken face.

Shouta moaned, "You're such a good girl," as his eyes started to glaze over. “Such a well-behaved little feline.” He struggled to maintain a steady voice, his words coming out in a strained, unsteady manner. “Fuck!” He grunts as his hold on you crushes your wrist, and you feel his other hand tug you closer to him as his cock twitches inside you, releasing his cum. He continues to let out choked and restrained groans as he thrusts slowly until he completely stops. He stays still for a few moments before pulling out as cum immediately starts spilling down onto the bed from your glistening cunt. “Holy shit.” His breath is warm against your skin as he draws you near, pressing his face into the curve of your neck.

❤️ Hawks ❤️

Keigo loves making eye contact while lovingly fucking you into his mattress. He relishes the feeling of wrapping his fingers around your wrist, gently but firmly the other is around your throat, gently choking you. In his infatuation, he is completely smitten, evident as he gazes adoringly and unconsciously drools at the sight of your pleasure-stricken face with streaks of eyeliner and mascara smudged by the tears streaming down your cheeks. God, does that turn him on. Your other hand scratches at his back, making Keigo growl in pleasure. His expression appears almost frenzied, reflecting the deep emotional turmoil within him. The torment he suffered during childhood has molded him into a person who finds pleasure in pain in the bedroom as an adult. Doesn't it mean they love him, right? He also relishes being so physically near to you, especially since he's been deprived of touch.

“Oh fuck.” Keigo moans as his grip on your wrists grows ever tighter. “Shit!” He cries out, tears welling in his eyes, as a loud, choked moan breaks free from his beautiful lips. His body tenses up and begins to shake as he buries his face in the crook of your neck, expressing a mix of emotions that reverberate through his entire being. Keigo is left grunting and choking back moans as he cums inside you. “Fuck!” As much as he tried, he couldn't utter anything else, only managing to let out soft moans repeatedly. After the tension dissipates from his body and he returns from his euphoric state, he'll eagerly pull you close, showering you with endless kisses. In that moment, you'll feel the depth of his love for you and sense just how much he longs for physical affection.

🧡 Bakugo 🧡

This man loves taking you doggy style. One hand is working on your clit while the other pins your other hand down tightly against the mattress. "You‘re not going anywhere, princess," he said with a cold, menacing tone, his eyes locked onto hers with unwavering intensity. He chooses doggy style because he knows you won’t be able to see the glistening moisture in his eyes and the unmistakable look of pleasure on his face. His eyes were shut tightly, his mouth slightly open, and his face nearly as red as his crimson irises.

“Fuck baby, you feel so goddamn good.” He’d praise you. “Does that feel good, baby?” He’d question as he worked his fingers like a pro around your clit. You were unable to reply, but you expressed your agreement with an approving whine. “You take me so fucking well.” He groaned as he slammed his hips roughly into you. You’d be a drooling moaning mess, unable to hold yourself up without him helping you.

When he cums he slams his hips as hard as he can into you and bites hard onto your shoulder as he groans in complete bliss. You can feel him shake and his cock twitch inside you as the warmth of his cum fills you up. The abrupt surge of warmth also pushes you past your limits. He embraces you tenderly, wrapping his arm around the back of your head, and uses his other hand to gently massage all the achy areas of your body, especially where he left dark bruises, teeth marks, hickeys, and fingerprints.

“Sorry, babe. You felt too fucking good.” He’d tease.

He would also definitely pull your hair as he fucks you from behind.

💚 Midoriya 💚

In bed, Izuku is incredibly attentive, showing a gentle and affectionate side that is both caring and tender. He's not choking you; he's not biting you; he's just fucking you gently in the missionary position. He adores the feeling of entwining his fingers with yours and holding your hands firmly. "I love you more than anything, my love," he would softly utter while looking down at you. His eyes are partly closed, and his body is covered in a thin film of sweat.

He's very vocal and can be somewhat submissive. Izuku would whimper and moan as he thrusts into you while muttering phrases like “Oh my god.” “This feels good, puppy.” “Baby.”

When you dominate him, riding cowgirl with your arms positioned on either side of his head, you hold yourself up; his eyes are squeezed tightly shut, filled with tears, one hand covering his mouth, his face flushed, and his other hand gripping onto your waist with desperation. It only turns you on more. "Please, puppy!" Izuku would plead, his voice filled with whimpers and squeals, at times barely containing moans and gasps.

When he's close, he holds you tightly as he trembles, and tears leave his eyes with a loud, choked-out whine. As he comes down, he shivers and whimpers as he continues breathing heavily into your. He would sheepishly bury his face in his hands, his neck reddened with embarrassment. "I'm sorry about the mess," he would whisper. Your laughter would fill the air as you gently maneuvered yourself off his cock and admired the condom filled with his cum. He’d stare at you and then at his dick before covering his face with one hand and holding the other out defensively. “Please don't stare.” He’d beg.

Izuku is incredibly attentive and caring. If you're thirsty, he's quick to fetch you some water. If hunger strikes, he'll dash out to get your favorite snacks. And if you're sore, he'll skillfully massage your tired and achy muscles. As you both drift off to sleep, he showers you with kisses, holding you close while expressing his feelings of immense luck, deep love, and unwavering devotion to you.

Shigaraki

Even though your superpower renders his abilities ineffective against you, he keeps his gloves on. One of his hands gently caresses your face while the other hovers nearby as if afraid to make contact. To reassure him, you take hold of his wrist, causing shivers to run down his spine.

Tenko held an intense and passionate love for you; anyone who dared to harm or speak ill of you would face dire consequences. You were his cherished princess, beloved, and everything in his eyes. He considered you the greatest blessing in his life, and you were his utmost priority outside his goals.

Tenko would have you with your legs pushed back in the missionary position as he thrust slowly and deeply into you. He used his one free hand to hold your legs as he leaned forward to make out with you, leaving you both a panting, breathless mess. His pale, ashen hair brushed against your face as he leaned in, while his piercing crimson-red eyes met your radiant, celestial smile.

Oh fuck.

As he catches sight of your smile, he feels an overwhelming surge of emotion wash over him. A deep groan escapes his lips, and he hastily uses his hair to conceal his tightly compressed face. “God. Damn.” Tenko's voice was barely audible between deep groans and heavy breaths, almost resembling a growl. He’d then pull out and let your legs fall back down for a break. He gazed back at you with a lovestruck and dreamy expression in their eyes. "Shall we have another round, my player, two?" he chuckles before tenderly kissing you and gaining the courage to use both of his hands to cradle your face, gently pressing you back onto the bed.

He doesn’t stop fucking you round after round; the two of you continue until you are both sweaty, panting messes, wrapped up in an intimate embrace, already drifting off to sleep from the sheer exhaustion of it all. Tenko’s semi-hard cock is still deep inside you.

[nightlyrequiem]

hello sweetheart! have you ever thought about writing valeria x fem!reader who is prone to crying? this idea suddenly came to me after spending a lot of time in my day reading and re-reading your valeria x reader fanfics. i don’t know if you still take requests, but if not, consider this a writing idea for the future X3

(btw, i love you and your works so so muchhhhhh! your tumblr is clearly a paradise for valeria garza fangirls 😭💕💕💕)

Sweetheart? Oh my, I'm swooning!

I love it when people say they re-read my fics, makes me feel all warm inside. Yes stranger on the internet! Fuel my ego! Give me that instant dopamine hit! As someone who cries a lot, I needed to write this

I love you too, anonymous asker! Doing my civic duty of providing Valeria content

(Name has nothing to do with the fictional creatures.)

Tags/Warnings: WLW, Emotional Hurt, Comfort (Kind Of.), Valeria is Mean but regrets it, Sensitive reader

Weeping Angel

You're crying again. Valeria had returned home later than usual and when you asked about it, her tone was slightly different. Not as soft as usual. It doesn't take much to make you cry. Saltine tears swiftly well up in your eyes as you fall silent. Valeria feels frustrated. She is someone who rarely cries, who is used to being around stronger people. She still isn't sure how to handle you and your endless fountain of tears.

You turn your head and wipe at your eyes with your sleeve. Valeria sighs and rubs her face, trying to reel in her temper. She has to remind herself that you're more delicate than she is. You aren't trying to manipulate her with crocodile tears, you're just truly, very sensitive. She both hates and loves that about you.

"Look, I told you I have a lot to do." She says, attempting to soften her voice but even she can hear the irritation seeping through her words. Valeria just doesn't understand how a grown adult is unable to regulate their feelings.

"...Okay." You reply passively, voice thick with sadness.

Valeria wishes you were stronger.

"Stop crying." She says sternly. "I hate it when you do that. I didn't even do anything, why are you trying to make me feel bad?" Valeria knows that's not what you're trying to do, and she knows she's only making things worse. You look at her with wide, wet eyes.

"Why are you yelling at me?"

"Why do you take everything so personally? I'm not yelling." she grits out.

Your lips twitch down into a frown. It would be almost comical if she didn't have to deal with you and your dramatic tears.

"God. I can't deal with this." She continues. Venting all her frustrations that have been slowly growing like a malignant tumor. "I don't think you understand how hard it is to deal with you. I can't say anything without offending you." You just stand there and take it. Tears running rivers down your cheeks. "It's like walking on eggshells around you. It's exhausting."

"Don't talk to me like that." You say. frowning at her.

"'Don't talk to me like that'?" Valeria growls, getting up in your face. Out of the corner of her eye she can see your hands shaking. She knows confrontation isn't your strong suit. "You're allowed to whine and bitch but the second I do it I'm the bad guy?"

You struggle to find the words to respond and for the first time, Valeria feels a small tingle of guilt. Not enough to stop though, Valeria has never found it easy to back down. She's just so tired of your tears. Of always having to console you. You can barely function. You spill a drink and cry, if you don't succeed at something right away, you cry. The stray dogs on the street make you cry.

"Just get out of my face, okay? Go be somewhere else because I can't stand you right now." Valeria says dismissively. Turning her back to you.

She hears your hiccupping breathes disappear down the hall. She leans against the counter and puts her head in her hands. She doesn't like fighting with you, and she doesn't like making you cry, but it's practically inevitable with how volatile the both of you are. You always bring down the mood, Valeria can never truly relax around you because she's always expecting something to set you off. Sometimes she feels more like your therapist than your girlfriend.

As hours pass by, her anger cools into quiet sadness. Valeria is less upset by your crying then she is by the fact that she can't ever seem to help. She can't ever find the right words to comfort you. Valeria is frustrated with herself because she doesn't understand. Valeria has never cried over a spilled drink, or a single off-handed joke at her expense, or when she failed at something.

What she does understand, is that she loves you. Valeria sighs and stands from the couch. Heading to the bedroom. she gently opens the door, seeing you curled up in bed. Your side slowly rising and falling with each breath. She sits down next to you. Looking over your tear-stained face. Your eyes are closed, having worn yourself out with your crying. Valeria isn't good at apologies, but she reaches out a hand and pets your hair. Smoothing her fingers over the strands. You're not awake to hear the awkward, murmured apology falling from her lips. You cry over everything, but Valeria doesn't want to be among the reasons. She may not understand you, but she doesn't need to. She just needs to be there for you.

[rileysluvr]

where simon comes home to you. this was gonna be cute but i’m allergic to writing anything without smut :( nsfw!!

When Simon came home from deployment, he felt horrible.

Stepping through the front door of your shared condominium for the first time in months, the familiar smell of vanilla from your earlier baking flooded the house and his every sense as he left his bags and gear at the door, quietly locking it behind him. He always arrived late at night, exhausted, and tempted by every bar he passed on the cab ride home, but reminded by his aching muscles and worn polaroid photo between his fingers of why he was still breathing, what was waiting at home for him. How he thought of you every second of his deployment, wishing every question and command coming at him was instead a laugh, or whimper, even—he knows he shouldn’t be having these thoughts in such a setting or position, but he couldn’t help it—from your sweet lips, and every fresh bruise to be replaced with the lingering feel of your kisses on his bare skin.

How your pretty voice ate away at his mind, the image of your body under his stature teasing him almost painfully, no matter if he was five-thousand miles from home, or standing behind you in the kitchen, arms tight around your waist as you struggled to continue cooking breakfast with the weight of him almost toppling you over. Your giggles, caused by his lips on your neck, driving him to taking the pan from your grip and pushing it off the burner, spinning you around and picking you up by the thighs with ease, carrying you to the bedroom to have his first and favorite meal of the day as you playfully protest.

These small memories played back in his head as he crossed the hall to the master bedroom, softly pushing the cracked door open. There you laid, sleeping atop the covers, only wearing one of his large t-shirts to combat the summer heat. It warmed his old heart, seeing how much you truly loved him, despite how many times he had told you, Love, you deserve better.

Someone who didn’t have to leave you for months at a time, appearing at the strangest hours at night, only to be gone again sometime within the next few weeks. Someone you could actually talk to about their job with, share interests and experiences of the life of a young adult with. I don’t want anyone better, you batted with a frown.

And you stayed, for some odd reason he couldn’t bring himself to understand, but by God, did he feel disgustingly good for it, because you were his, and he could indulge in your every want.

He sighed when he noticed the way you were curled up, facing his side of the bed as you had fallen asleep with a pillow held tight in your arms. His chest tightened, breathing shallower than usual. Guilt; a feeling he had grown quite used to, though it never got easier. Leaving you alone for such long periods, knowing you were most likely thinking of him just as much as he was of you. Hanging out with the friends you didn’t seem to think of much when he was home, practically glued to each other’s hands and lips.

Christ, how you were probably— no, surely touching yourself to the thought of him fucking you like he always would. The thought of your fingers being replaced with his own, his mouth, begging the silent space around you for release like he was actually there with you; as would he, on the extremely rare occasion he was alone on base and without another demanding task calling his presence. Imagining the way your pretty face would contort, the sweetest whimpers slipping from your lips as he ate you out, making you cum quick, again and again each time, no matter if it’s been weeks or mere hours since he had done it last. He’d expect nothing in return—if you got off, he did too, simple as that—still, he’d never turn down the way you sat up on your knees, thighs weak and shaking, lips quivering and eyes pouting as you begged him for his cock you craved so badly.

You would always confess your lusting to him when he came home, cheeks heating up under your already rosy blush with the way he’d pry you to tell him more. Exactly how you touched yourself, and how often, before he would lean in closer and admit to you his own sins, until you were a soaked mess from only his words. Squeezing your thighs together, closing your eyes and nearly grinding against the material under you, pathetic and desperate for his touch. He’d give in so easily to his sweet girl, bringing you onto his lap and planting his heavy hands on your hips, guiding you back and forth on his thigh until you came in your panties. All warmed up, and he would rid you of your clothes as you work to take his cock out. Relentlessly though unintentionally teasing your entrance with the fat, velvety tip of him with the time it takes for you to get readjusted to something so big. Stark contrast to your fingers, of which could never fulfill your needs, hold you quite like how he could. A man born to serve and not wanting you to work one bit, he assisted you in riding him, gentle with you in this position as he held you oh-so close, needing more and more of you by the second.

Your arms adjusted around the pillow in your sleep, burying your face in the plush fabric, and he was suddenly snapped out of his daydream. He had been standing there, leaned up against the doorframe, staring at you for Christ knows how long. How could you have such an affect on him?

He left to clean himself up, changing into some fresh clothes and downing a cold glass of water before joining you in bed. He carefully slipped the pillow from your grasp and replaced it with himself; bless you, for how heavy of sleeping habits you have. His arms engulfed your small body and pulled you impossibly close, and you snuggled into his hold, any part of you that wanted to wake up immediately being cooed back to sleep with his strained and soft voice telling you, It’s alright, Love ‘t's just me. I’m home. Go back to sleep.

[yumeka-sxf]

Even though today's new chapter was pretty funny, it also reinforces how Damian's need to act indifferent and even hostile towards Anya stems from emotional baggage from his family - whether it's brainwashing, strict discipline, or something else, we see how he's so afraid to show even a minute trace of feelings towards a "commoner" that he has to go through hoops just to ensure no one else sees him give Anya a gift.

What could the Desmond family have instilled in him that gives him such aversion to anyone of a lower social standing? I hope we find out someday. But at the same time, this chapter also gave me the impression that Damian doesn't like having to put on this jerk act in front of everyone. He seemed annoyed and exhausted that he had to do all this just to repay a debt, a debt which no one was demanding of him. Despite all the insults he hurls, the kid has morals and dignity. So it's a shame he feels such a strong need to supress that (he and Twilight have a lot in common in that regard. Twilight is simply better at hiding his real feelings since he's an adult and has been doing it much longer).

However, Damian seems okay with showing only Anya his softer side (when no one else is looking of course). Probably because, unlike all the other Eden kids, she's not from a high-class family with whom the Desmonds have to put on airs with.

While I'm not nearly as into Damianya as Twiyor, I can appreciate them as a cute future couple when they're older, with the seeds of that future relationship slowly sprouting in the series (though nothing romantic now of course as they are only 1st graders). Endo brought back Damian's "shojo filter" in this chapter, which was at maximum strength! (Is Damian secretly a CLAMP fan? 😂)

It's only at the end of the chapter, when the debt is repaid and Damian can finally relax, that he's able to see Anya's natural cuteness, without the shojo filter (his expression here looks like one of Twilight's...they really do have a lot in common!)

What's also interesting is that, compared to some of their early confrontations, Anya never returned Damian's insults until recently, maybe around the end of the bus hijacking arc. In the beginning of the series, she seemed to not know how to act when faced with bullying and was just focused on getting Damian to be friends with her. Now she openly returns his jabs with her own.

This could be because she's confident that they're friends now, so she doesn't have to hold back and can match his insults without worry. Or maybe she's just learning how to better deal with hostility her own way? Or she's just copying his bad manners...hard to say 😅

I like how Endo brought back Damian's promise to repay Anya for the handkerchief incident. From what I've gathered reading the manga fanbook, he tries hard not to leave plot points unaddressed. Which brings me to another highlight of this chapter - mention of Melinda again!

I knew Endo wouldn't forget about her, but I've also been wondering when she would return as a prominent figure in the plot. This chapter raises the question of why she's so intent on Damian and Anya becoming friends...is it simply because Yor would like that, and she wants to be good friends with Yor? Or is there some ulterior motive behind the scenes?

Even though stories focused on the Eden kids aren't typically my favorites, I actually really enjoyed this chapter! It had the great SxF comedy I love of misunderstandings between the characters leading to hilarious moments - Emile and Ewen think Damian wants to duel Anya, Becky thinks Anya wants to spend alone time with him because she's in love, Damian just wants to give Anya the gift to clear his conscience, and Anya just wants to eat the cakes!

(I love how Endo made Anya's mouth slightly watering throughout the chapter whenever she's thinking of the cakes!)

It's hard to tell if this was just a stand-alone chapter or if it will lead to a continuation of the "plan C" thing brought up a while back. I hope it does if it means we get to learn more about Melinda and the Desmond family overall!

[ravencincaide]

Desperate times call for desperate measures 

Summary:  You leave your small twins with Dazai and Chuuya and hope the two of them can manage their fatherly-duties while you take an hour of much needed ‘me time’. Scratch that, you just needed long enough to take a shower in order to feel human again before going back to being a mom.

Pairing: Dazai x Chuuya xfem! Reader 

Inspired by Sweetober prompt 8: Napping together

Warning: Cursing, hints at depression/ postpartum depression, New parents/exhausted parents.

Enjoy~

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You were going to kill Chuuya. 

No, you decided as you paced back and forth around the house, rocking the fussing twins in your arms. You were going to kill Mori for dragging your Chuuya out of his parental leave to deal with whatever shit Dazai had gotten himself into. You had thought the suicidal maniac of a lover would have gotten more efficient on missions- or at the very least more considerate. Nope. Still, somehow, if one part of twin dark was sent on a mission, he’d get in sufficient shit to need the second one's assistance. 

Responsible adults, your ass.

You sighed as the wailing continued with no amount of rocking, hushing, singing and pacing doing much to ease the tears. You were also silently cursing Chuuya for getting you pregnant with twins, why couldn’t it have been one to start with? Though you admitted as you looked down at the two crying balls of ginger, they were adorably cute; both took after their father in appearance,inheriting Chuuyas ginger hair and stunning blue eyes. With the only seeming resemblance to you being in their chins and petit nose. 

You definitely picked the short straw you mused bitterly as another loud cry made your ears ring. 

The ginger haired girl was crying and waving her doll around every now and then, getting it tangled in your hair or hitting you on the head with it with a surprising amount of strength. Her twin, an almost identical copy of her with slightly fluffier hair and larger eyes, was just gripping onto you and crying. He wasn’t wailing as loudly as his sister but the teardrops that rolled down his cheeks were larger, almost comical. 

There was no doubt in your mind that they were setting each other off. And all this mess because you got distracted and missed nap time. 

God you could feel yourself reaching your limit. What you’d give for just a little bit of time to yourself- a few hours was all you asked for. Something you hadn’t seen much of- if any after giving birth. As soon as the twins were born you got to spend a month in the hospital recovering before you and the babies were allowed home. Then it went downhill from there. First the wonderful nanny that you had picked out had to leave your services. The agency you hired her through was quick to send a replacement, but that woman got killed in an unfortunate plane crash. Getting another replacement was proving more challenging. Then almost directly after, despite being barely at home Dazai pulled from parental leave due to ‘emergencies’; first several back-to-back abroad missions where he’d only come home for a few days tops and then his last one for which he left over two months ago. You had Chuuya but even he had to go back into the office several times a week.In the best case.  If that wasn’t making your existence miserable, suddenly Dazai needed backup out of the blue, forcing Chuuya to leave without warning in the middle of the night. 

For the last two months you were completely alone. 

You had to do everything; from childcare to household chores, to different parenting classes and doctors visits with the two. In the evenings after putting them to bed you’d be sitting and going through reports and reviewing mission statements to keep your lovers workload manageable and the department not at a standstill. It became your job to ensure subordinates were still sent out on missions and nothing critical, that couldn’t wait until their return, got missed. Then you’d get a little cleaning and food prep done,  shower if you managed to do that before the babies woke up for their nightly feedings. When you’d crawl into bed you’d shut your eyes for twenty minutes at a time, plagued by nightmares of your partners drying and being a failure as a mother. When you’d finally calm your demons, the twins would get hungry again so you’d be up to warm the bottle for them before changing them and rocking them back to sleep. Sometimes you’d fall asleep right on the soft carpeted floor with both of them cuddling to your chest, sleeping a few hours longer than in their own beds. 

Those mornings were your salvation. 

You let out a loud groan, looking up at the ceiling as you felt tears sting your eyes. You didn’t know if children were meant to scream and cry so much. You didn’t know if you were doing this right or wrong. You didn’t know what you were supposed to do. You just wanted them to be healthy and happy- why couldn’t you do that? You brought them closer to your chest and pressed a kiss to each of their foreheads. “ Mama’s trying her hardest” you muttered as you continued to rock them “Mama would really really need a helping hand though.” 

-

It seemed gods took pity on you just this once. 

You nearly broke down crying or screamed out in joy when you heard the car pulling up to your driveway. Then silence before a key pushed into the lock followed by the door swinging opened. 

“ Sweetheart we’re back!” Chuuya yelled as he kicked off his shoes. You heard Dazai’s voice muttering something to him, the bickering overshadowed by the twins' cries. You made quick way towards the hallway. The moment Chuuya and Dazai came into sight, new screams filled the house; excited cries of “ Dada” and “ papa” which bounced off the walls, a bitter reminder that you children were never this excited to see you. 

You could see Chuuya chuckling, a bright expression on his face full of love and happiness. He didn’t seem the slightest bit bothered by the yelling- if anything it seemed to fill him with contagious happy energy and an eagerness to get his damned coat off so he could come to the children. Dazai, dressed in completely white attire, which resembled something between a prison uniform and the dresscode of asylum patients seemed less happy about the screaming. But even he had a smile playing on his lips as he hurried towards you at the same time as Chuuya, who had given up on hanging his coat and just threw it on the ground. The two were practically tripping over each other, with each ‘papa’ and ‘dad’ cry getting more and more eager to get to you, limbs frailing; hands, arms and snappy remarks at each others inability to get out of the others way. 

Finally they seemed to remember how to walk and the bottleneck in your hallway was replaced by two adult men rushing towards you. 

“ How are my loves?” Chuuya cheered looking far too happy as he hurried pressed a kiss to your children's heads. First the boy then the girl. Dazai did the same in the opposite order, both ignoring you and your puckered lips. 

For a second a pang of jealousy hit your heart. You hadn’t seen your partners in over two months and before greeting you, their attention was on the children. Picture perfect fathers. Shitty lovers. And the second the thought entered your head you felt your heart drop to your stomach with guilt. In what sane world was a mother jealous of the attention her babies were getting? You should be happy and proud that both of your partners- not only the biological father- cared so deeply for the balls of joy you created. Though, you added almost bitterly, right now these two brought you anything but joy. 

“ Here” you stated in a slightly bitter tone as you pawned over one kid per partner “ Do everyone a favour and act like fathers for longer than 30 seconds.  I need some ‘me- time’ before I murder someone” 

Chuuya and Dazai shared a look of bewilderment between each other as you stepped away from them. They had expected kisses, hugs and a warm dinner but got a kid each and a blank stare in return. Dazai stared at your retreating form with agap mouth for a moment before he stretched the little girl towards Chuuya; “ Here Chuuya be a good dad, me and Y/N have some catching up to do.” 

You pretended to ignore what he said, the same way he ignored your comment about ‘me time’. Though you wondered if you should at the very least make them dinner before taking out that ‘me time’ moment. 

“ Heeh stop being so bitter and just hold her, Mackerel.” Chuuya snapped trying to get the boy to settle in his arms “if your swimmers could actually swim they’d be your kids” 

“ Don’t be such a slug about it” Dazai declared as he turned his attention away from Chuuya as the boy began sobbing again making Chuuya curse before attempting to pacify him. Zero attention to either Dazai or the girl in his arms. 

In the process the girl-child who had just settled down, amusing herself by pulling on strands of Dazai’s grown out hair, turned her attention away from him and towards her crying brother. Seeing him cry, her eyes began to water.

 In seconds Dazai’s attention was back to you; “ Ohh Belladonna you’d not be so cruel as to demand your newly returned partner whom you haven’t seen for months to be a father without sleep or proper meal “ Despite his dramatic words he shifted the girl to his other arm so her back was to her brother and began rocking her more quickly. His second hand was trying to keep her attention on the doll she had abandoned in favour of his hair. The very doll she had been hitting you with not even ten minutes earlier.  Scratch your earlier thoughts. They were adults and older than you- they knew how to order in or warm up leftovers! 

You sighed heavily before you went towards the kitchen and the fridge. “ Then you boys are in agreement that we stop at two right?” You questioned  when you returned with a cold rattle for the boy. He was quick to grasp it in his hands before beginning to chew on it. The relief it brought was sufficient to stop the tears. 

For now. 

When you got no reply, you motioned between the two of them and then to the children in their arms. If you weren’t so tired you’d have laughed at the look of horror drawing of Dazai’s face as he realized you were serious, and then the very hurt expression at the mere idea of not having any children of his own with you. That look melted a piece of ice around your heart.  “ Or can you manage to look after them for an hour while I take a shower in peace?” 

Your lovers nodded eagerly, both giving you a salute before shuffling off towards the baby proofed living room with toys, a playpen and floor covered in soft playmats. Your eyes lingered long enough until they were out of sight before you headed upstairs to your bedroom. Once there you dragged yourself towards the chair by your make up table which had a thin layer of dust over your make up palettes. Serving as a bitter reminder of just how ‘much’ time you dedicated towards yourself in the past months. The thought plastered a bitter smirk on your face; no wonder you didn’t get as much as a kiss-hello from either Dazai or Chuuya. 

You dropped in the chair with a heavy sigh and buried your head in your hands. You didn’t understand what was wrong with you. You didn’t understand where you were making mistakes; how could other mafia women manage to do so much more? More time with children, more work, more chores- many would even visit headquarters to spend lunch with their husbands. 

Husbands- the word brought a bitter taste to your mouth. How long have you three been together already? How many milestones have you celebrated? Missions, promotions, twins. Plans for extending the family with at least one more kid- Dazai’s. And still your ring finger remained bare. In fact after the icy greeting today you doubted your relationship would ever move anywhere positive from this standstill. 

You heard steps outside your bedroom, irritated and heavy before the door to your bedroom swung open with Dazai’s usual dramatic appearance “ Ahh my sweet Belladonna my heart-”

You didn’t need to turn around to know the look he was wearing.” One hour” you stated “ Or no more kids. Your choice” 

The door closed as quickly as it had opened. 

The peaceful silence didn’t last for long. Though you didn’t know how long you were sitting in your thoughts, salvaging a moment of being alone, you knew it couldn’t have been longer than five minutes before you were interrupted again. This time the footsteps outside your door were calmer and more confident. Their owner opened the door very gently. You closed your eyes biting back the frustration as you heard Chuuya’s half hesitant whisper “Sweetheart..” 

“ What is it, Chuuya?” You still didn’t have it in you to face him. 

“ If you want to soak in the bath, it's ready any minute now” You nodded, feeling a wave of guilt wash over you. Maybe you shouldn’t have been so cold to him. Especially when he went out of his way to do something nice for you. “ Also, do you know where the nursing bottles are?” 

There it was. 

“ There are some prepared bottles in the fridge; just place them in boiling water for a few seconds until they’re body temperature. Not too hot.” You rubbed your temple as you spoke, fighting off the want to cry and scream much like the children downstairs. These were things he as their father was supposed to know. Or at least be able to figure it out on his own. He could lead an entire faction on his own, why couldn’t he handle a baby or two? 

After your reply you heard Chuuya linger in the doorway for a few moments. You pictured him opening and closing his mouth, hesitating as he thought over what to do. A hopefully side of you hoped he’d come in and wrap his arms around you and just hold. Just fucking hold you for a moment without the children being present. Then another cry from downstairs and he was gone; the door shutting quietly behind himself. 

You waited for a moment, gathering your strengths before leaving the safety of your room, rushing quietly through the small hallway, trying not to waver at the sound of the children's cries. Once in the bathroom you closed and locked the door before leaning your back against it. Why did no one tell you that when you’d become a mother you’d become so alone while constantly surrounded by others? 

Shaking your head you stripped before climbing into the baths. You let out a low moan as the feeling of bath salts soothed your skin. Then salvaged the moment of humanity as you dipped your head underwater with the realization you didn’t need to watch anyone while you washed. Then you reached for the shaving blade and shaving cream, getting rid of the hair on your body that annoyed you more than you’d ever wish to admit. 

When you got out of the bathtub and showered off, you felt human. Like a sliver of being a woman was returned to you. Dressing in clean clothes only reinforce that.  Now then you were feeling more ready to tackle the rest of this cursed day.

Coming out of the bathroom you noticed how quiet it was. The silence filled you with dread; anyone with children knew that the only time they were quiet was either when something was wrong or they were up to something, while anyone acquainted with Dazai and Chuuya were very aware that the two together were constantly either bickering or yapping.

Silence like this filled you with dread. 

Throwing your dirty laundry carelessly to the side you rushed downstairs, heart in your throat. When you made it down the stairs you stopped, shocked as the sound of snores reached your ears. More carefully you made your way towards the livingroom being cautious to remain light on your feet. 

Once there you leaned against the wall, your eyes falling on the heartwarming sight before you. All four of them were on the soft playmat. Chuuya was lying stretched out on his back on his coat, an arm dropped over his eyes and loud snores resonating around the room. On his chest lay your daughter with his hat covering her head from the light. His hand was on her body keeping her close to himself. Dazai was lying curled up into a ball on his side, beside Chuuya. His messy head on his thigh. Your son laying in his arms, held close to himself through a make-ship baby-carry out of his bandages. Although he wasn’t snoring you could tell he was fast asleep by the rise and fall of his shoulders. 

Going over to the couch you picked up the warm covers before gently placing it over them. You saw Dazai stir, a sleepy eye opening just long enough to register that you weren’t a threat then he shifted slightly, creating a space between him and Chuuya for you. “ Don’t be a stranger Belladonna” he whispered as he beckoned you to lay down between them. 

Once you did, he wrapped one arm around you, the second one still holding your son in place, before he buried his face in your hair. He took a deep breath in and out, his hand finding yours and squeezing it once before interlocking your fingers together. “ I’ve missed you” he muttered, his eyes sliding shut in tiredness “ Lets rest now and when we wake up I wanna give you a proper greeting Bella” 

Before you could answer he was fast asleep. Which was probably good because it saved you the embarrassment of explaining why his one sentence brought you to tears.  

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Author note: Craving part 2?

Check out We need to talk for the sweeter version, and Happy Unhappy home! For more angst.

All fics are unique works by ©ravencincaide 2024. Do not copy/repost/translate or spread my work(s) without my explicit permission. If you see any of my work(s) reposted/copied anywhere else without my consent, please inform me!

[elleloquently]

the wretched and joyful : ellie williams

life in jackson has been life with ellie williams, your best friend that you've spent nearly every day with. it was easy to ignore the butterflies or shaking hands, until ellie starts to pull away and you're left with untangling the feelings all on your own.

| a/n - excited to finally share the intro for my new multi part fic! i have so much planned for this. had to have an intro showing cute friendship stuff before it all gets destroyed. if you enjoyed reading this, please consider commenting/reblogging! <3 | c/w - general themes : ellie williams x female reader. mentions of violence, jealousy, best friends (to enemies) to lovers, angst, mutual pining, slow burn. this fic is purely for fun. with that being said, every single detail will not be canon compliant. if that may bother you, this might not be the fic for you! thank u!

you had almost died before you had made it to jackson.

you didn't really know why you weren't dead. you weren't really sure why the man with the gun took pity on you that day. maybe it really was your weakness that had saved you.

weakness, or plain stupidity. it didn't matter anyway.

when you were surrounded by a group of people on horses, you were fighting for sensibility. the lower halves of their faces had been covered with scarves acting as masks, and you didn't know if they were the bandits that assumably slaughtered your previous group or members of a rumored safe haven.

you had been scared and exhausted, fighting for your life even though you weren't even sure if that was what you wanted anymore. you yelled and spat out threats to spite the tears in your eyes, anything to defend yourself before your lungs would surely give out. driven purely by nerves, you continued waving your weapon around even when the man leading the group ordered you to drop it.

it was practically a death sentence. it should've been a death sentence, but it wasn't.

their promises of safety fell on deaf ears until you actually saw the place. even then, it was months until you got a decent night of sleep.

the man who was the first to point his gun at you, tommy, was also the first to lower it. you don't know what made him save you that day, but when you arrived at jackson he almost seemed amused.

in passing, he spoke to another man that you later learned to be joel.

"get ready for a case of deja fucking vu," tommy had muttered.

you didn't know what it meant, and you didn't know how to decipher the look that plastered itself onto joel's face.

you were the last surviving member of your group before jackson, or at least that's what you had to assume. nobody really believed that you had made it that far on your own, especially considering the state that you were in. you knew that they were weary about another group coming and looking for you, despite your honest confessions.

before jackson, before you were alone, you had been taken in by a group. the QZ was threatening to fall any day, and they had heard whispers. talk of safe communities throughout the states. with the information they had compiled across time, one of the rumors was bound to be true. you weren't admittedly close with any of the adults but on the night of chaos, they convinced you to join them.

you wanted to believe that they cared for you, but the truth lingered in the back of your mind. you knew that they knew that you wouldn't make it out. you wanted to believe that they were truly good, but when you shared your story with tommy, maria, and joel, you noticed the glances. the looks they shared. you didn't understand it until you were older, and even then it took awhile to come to terms with the truth.

your group wasn't saving you. they weren't looking out for you. they were using you. you were bait.

on the day that you had lost them, they told you to stay put in the woods. they told you that you would be safe there, because they weren't sure about what was up ahead. if the coast was clear, they would come back for you.

it wasn't true.

they had thought that they were heading into safety, and leaving you behind was a distraction to the bandits that had been hot on your trail. they had been wrong. they walked straight into trouble, and you went undetected.

and they had thought that you didn't stand a chance.

well, they were wrong. now all of them were dead and you were still here.

if only they stayed put, maybe they would've been saved too.

you were just about sixteen on the day that jackson opened itself up to you.

now, a few years later, you were proud to call jackson your home.

you had your own home, a house (though you swore that if the day ever came and jackson's population grew dramatically, you would be the first to offer it up. it was a compromise for allowing you to live on your own) to call your own, and friends. a community.

there weren't many people your age compared to the QZ, considering, but still somehow more than you had expected.

your first friend was dina, sent to check in on you days after you had first arrived in jackson. maria was concerned that you wouldn't be a good fit after you had stayed inside, hesitant to show your face. dina had knocked on your door, introduced herself, and by the very next day you had been out and about.

then came jesse. and then ellie. and then cat. and then there was less of cat, until your little group had solidified into yourself, dina, jesse, and ellie. you would thank your lucky stars every single day that you had people to relate to, people that you could talk to and really trust.

dina and jesse were great. so was ellie, just... differently. not in a bad way though. never in a bad way. joel had originally warned you that she could be a little rough around the edges, but you didn't get that. you talked about a lot of things pretty quickly. you never really knew what it was like to have a best friend, but you were pretty sure that ellie was it.

you were practically attached at the hip, once upon a time. though it became lesser and lesser as time went on, you still had a certain fondness for ellie in your heart that no one else seemed to match.

it's not that you stopped being friends, because you still hung out just about every single day. she just seemed a little different. less comfortable maybe, and a little more jaded. not that you blamed her. it was just difficult trying to decipher how she would feel each day. sometimes, ellie made you feel as though you were the most important person in the world. other times, she always seemed to keep you at an arm's length. more so lately than ever before. maybe she was getting a little sick of you, or maybe she was just drained from patrol. whatever it was, your feelings never seemed to waver.

"you're late," you observed, squinting over at the figure approaching you.

"hardly. patrol took longer than we thought. don't get picky," the figure warned, reaching a hand out to you.

you ignored the gesture, pulling yourself up from the curb in which you were sat.

"a plan is a plan, williams."

the tone of your scolding was half-hearted and the crease on ellie's forehead eased.

"any chance at a rain check?" ellie asked.

the softness of her tone made you do a double take, scanning her features for any sign of unhappiness. ellie looked fine though, just tired.

"i promised addie that i'd bring you. she's been wanting to talk to you, you know."

"i don't know what for," ellie muttered begrudgingly, but you knew that it was only because she was feeling shy.

adeline hollis was an older woman residing in jackson. you had grown close throughout your time spent there, pretty much depicting her as a familial figure in your life. besides dina, she was one of the first people to actually talk you.

mrs. hollis was quick-witted, kind-hearted, and exceptionally good with a needle. she fixed up clothes for you often, and managed to turn any stray fabrics into articles of clothing that you actually felt proud of. you felt safe around her, allowed to be vain and wish for pretty things despite the state of everything else.

you shrugged and took a few steps, allowing ellie to decide whether or not she was going to follow after you.

"doesn't matter," you brushed off. "besides, she was fixin' up joel's boots, you can play delivery girl."

"you're annoying today," ellie complained, and you knew that she was following you because the sound of her voice was pretty close.

"i'm in a good mood," you replied, frowning as the words left your lips. were you?

you could never give yourself much time to think about it. it wasn't worth a second thought anyway, not now.

"right," ellie snorted, finally appearing at your side.

the sun was so bright that it felt warm, the feeling of late spring tangible wherever you went.

you glanced at ellie briefly, not trusting yourself to look more than once. her cheeks were turning pink from the sun and she looked sleepy. it made your heart swell.

you didn't knock once you had made it to the familiar front door - you knew that you didn't need to.

"addie!" you called into the home, leaving ellie to follow in after you. "we're here!"

you were quickly greeted with a hug, made to feel like each visit was a special occasion despite how frequent they were.

"there you are!" adeline beamed, catching ellie extremely off guard by greeting her with a hug as well. "i'm so glad you girls are here."

"hi mrs. hollis," ellie mumbled, a bashful smile adorning her lips. ellie's cheeks were red from the interaction and you cleared your throat to stifle a giggle.

"do you have it?" you inquired, prompting ellie's confusion from the way in which your eyebrows danced with the question.

"you'll love it," adeline assured, swiftly exiting the room and leaving you to bounce on your feet.

ellie managed to scoot her way closer to your side, leaning into you as she spoke. "what are you-"

"don't you love it?" adeline expressed confidently, holding up a long, flowing piece of fabric.

except, it wasn't just a piece of fabric anymore. adeline had worked it into a skirt for you, and your eyes widened in adoration.

"addie!" you squealed, rushing forward and hugging the material against your chest. ellie's presence was momentarily forgotten, nearly, until you spun around and held up the skirt to her.

"don't you love it?" you gushed, and ellie looked robotic in the way that she bobbed her head.

you examined the fabric closer. the faded, dainty floral pattern covering the skirt was more than you could've hoped for.

"i love it," you breathed, looking to adeline with wet eyes. if ellie didn't feel so uncomfortable, she probably would've snickered at you. "truly, thank you so much. this is beautiful," you admired.

"please," adeline waved a hand. "it keeps me busy. and you," she faced ellie, singling her out. "i don't know what that man does all day to put those godforsaken shoes in such a horrible shape."

ellie looked dumbfounded, and this time you didn't shy away from releasing your giggles.

"joel's boots are by the door," adeline sighed.

"right. thank you," ellie responded, moving to collect them as quickly as she could.

you bid farewell to adeline, expressing your gratitude about five more times until she all but pushed you out of the door. lovingly, of course.

ellie begrudgingly carried the boots as you twirled and skipped and admired your new article of clothing.

"we gotta go out now, do something special," you joked.

"yeah? what's the occasion?"

a quick glare shaped ellie up quickly.

"don't you think it's pretty?" you asked, desperate for a compliment despite the fact that you weren't even wearing it yet.

"i do," ellie agreed, quick to please you. "it's perfect for you."

"it is, isn't it?" maybe you really were in a good mood today. a real one. "what about dina and jesse?"

"what about them?" ellie mused, watching as you held the skirt carefully in your hands, not allowing it to drape on the ground.

"off?" you questioned thoughtfully, wrinkling your nose in ellie's direction.

ellie shook her head.

"really?"

"really. dina and jesse are back on. as of... yesterday?" ellie contemplated.

"wow, news travels slow i guess," you joked, causing ellie to nudge your arm.

"don't worry, they'll be broken up again before we know it. it's no use even keeping track anymore."

"ellie! that's mean," you laughed, shaking your head.

ellie felt a little guilty for teasing behind their backs but really, it was getting ridiculous. besides, the sound of your laughter eased the guilt pretty damn quick.

"come back with me," ellie changed the subject.

you faltered, nearly tripping over your own foot. "what?"

"to mine," ellie clarified. "give joel his-" she swung the boots at you, acting as if she was going to throw them. "-disgusting old new shoes."

your heart skipped a beat from the invitation and you had already known that you were going to say yes. ellie could have invited you to help her clean out shimmer's stall and you would've said yes without hesitation. speaking from experience, just once or twice...

"sure," you grinned.

if you went with ellie, you would probably spend hours listening to her as she went through her comic collection again. and then you would probably end up falling asleep. and then you would probably stay the night. you would share the bed, normal, and get a sick feeling in your stomach whenever her leg accidentally grazed your own, not normal.

determined to cling onto the feeling of a good day, you swallowed down the not normal feelings, as you usually did.

ellie looked at you and smiled, like genuinely grinned, and your fingertips went numb.

"last one there cleans shimmer after patrol," ellie taunted, the reason behind her smile no longer feeling pure.

"what?" you laughed in disbelief, just before ellie took off.

"ellie!" you shouted, fumbling to quickly catch up to her. "ellie williams! i don't even do patrol!"

*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧

"-this one's my favorite though. i mean, look at the cover. isn't it sick?"

ellie shoved the worn comic book in your direction, causing you to blink and raise your head to get a better look.

"it is really cool," you murmured. you knew it was her favorite issue, and you already knew what the cover looked like. still, you loved to hear her talk.

ellie sat up, peering at you. you were laying on your stomach, cheek buried in the blankets of ellie's bed.

"you're just agreeing with me," ellie grumbled, suddenly twinging with annoyance at the way your tank top strap was sliding down your shoulder.

"i'm agreeing with you because i agree," you huffed, wrinkling your nose at her.

ellie placed a firm hand on your hip, shoving you to the side.

"ellie!" you exclaimed, rubbing your eyes in an attempt to wipe the sleep from your system.

"scoot over," ellie instructed, pulling up the blankets.

"hm?" you questioned while you obliged anyway. you wanted to sleep over, to stay with your best friend for as long as possible but you didn't want to be a bother.

"you're sleeping over, aren't you?" ellie acknowledged, holding the covers up for you. the room was dark but lit lightly from the window. ellie prayed that you couldn't see the way in which she held her breath.

you adjusted your body, looking curiously at ellie. "do you mind?"

ellie shook her head, patting the spot next to her. "'course not."

that was all the confirmation that you needed. you slid your body under the blankets, next to ellie but mindful of the distance between yourselves. if you adjusted again you would be touching, so you stayed still and didn't move.

it was quiet, and you couldn't tell if it was awkward or comforting. maybe a little of both, and that was okay.

"are you tired?" you questioned, turning on your side to face ellie.

ellie copied, turning to face you and scanning your features in the dark. "yeah. is that okay?"

"yeah," you whispered. "do you have patrol tomorrow again?"

ellie nodded, and then realized you might not be able to see her. "yeah. with dina. but don't worry about leaving early, okay?"

you sighed, allowing your body to sink further into the bedding.

sleep was enveloping you quicker than expected, but it didn't surprise you based on how comforting you find it to be in ellie's presence. you were nearly off, until ellie's voice broke the silence and threw you out of your sleepy trance.

"it is pretty," she whispered.

"what?"

"your new skirt," ellie replied softly, earning a sleepy grin from you.

you muttered a quiet thank you, cheeks burning and mind whirling. you wanted to say more, but you could tell that ellie was already falling asleep and you didn't want to deprive her of it.

she was so honest, so sweet sometimes. you forced your eyes open, studying the girl sleeping next to you. it made your eyebrows furrow, the way your heart pounded when ellie was this close.

shit.

turning away, you shut your eyes again and willed sleep to come.

it must've, at some point, because before you knew it the sun was causing you to blink awake and you were stretching in an empty bed. the absence never failed to make your stomach drop, even though you already knew where ellie was.

laying alone in your best friend's bed made you feel a certain level of pathetic that was almost unknown.

you could've waited around until she got back, but you forced yourself up and away.

you would see ellie again later anyway, so it was better to have some space to yourself for awhile.

it wasn't anything that you could really make sense of, you just needed to clear your head before ellie was back consuming nearly all of your senses.

it wasn't a big deal, you would tell yourself over and over.

over and over until it felt true.