#but clearly imitate it at the start of stories

[landwriter]

last ten fics meme!

Rules: Post the first lines of your last ten fics posted to AO3. (Sort by date posted.) If you have fewer than ten, post what you have. 

Thank you for tagging me, @softest-punk! <3 Reminded once more I have yet to post ten fics on AO3 or write a first line that isn't in truth a first paragraph (or at least a First Two Lines). Nearly all of these are meant to be in a huddle of other short sentences and it's funny seeing them on their lonesome!

The Death of Translation Hob Gadling loves the way living language changes.

Just Like Love It’s just like love, but it's not.

Flower King Once upon a time, there was a boy born in the summer, whose destiny was winter.

Emissary of the Night It was not, actually, love at first sight.

Oaths Hob tipped his face up to the sun and shut his eyes.

Black Shore The sound of waves lapping against the shore makes it seem like they’re saying hush hush hush, but you are hearing it wrong.

Border Country There are two things that Dream does only once a century.

Saint Morpheus Hob stood alone inside a lovely limestone cathedral.

Unsent Letter It may surprise you to hear that many in my life think me unfeeling after my outburst tonight, but I am certain you will wish they were right by the end of this letter.

Tagging @teejaystumbles, @arialerendeair, @mandolinearts, and anyone who sees this and wants to do it! <3

[senascoop]

┊ WHAT'S AFTER LIKE? . . 엔하이펜 ☁︎

ꣀ꣒ things #ENHYPEN does to embarrass you

mean enhypen ! × embarrassed female ! reader : : fluff + established relationship [ARCHIVE]

♫︎ REBLOGS + FEEDBACKS ARE ALWAYS APPRECIATED

. , LEE HEESEUNG ☁︎ 이희승 !

Heeseung is just, well, Heeseung—playful, sweet, and a little too good at embarrassing you. He adores your laugh, finding it both cute and amusing, and he can’t help but imitate it at every chance he gets. At the dinner table with your mutual friends, he lets out a loud, exaggerated "Hahaha!" that perfectly mimics your unique laugh. Your eyes widen, cheeks flushing red as everyone’s attention turns to the two of you. “Heeseung, stop,” you mutter, nudging him lightly with your elbow, but he’s already caught up in his antics, repeating the laugh with a cheeky grin. He laughs even harder, clearly enjoying how flustered you are. “I can’t help it, babe. Your laugh is just too cute!” he teases, squeezing your hand under the table.

read rest of the members below !

. , PARK JAY ☁︎ 박종성 !

Jay’s made it his mission to finish your sentences in the most dramatic way possible, especially when you’re in the middle of a conversation with others. You’re out with friends, recounting a story about your recent mishap at work. “And then I said to my boss—” you start, only for Jay to cut in with a deep, overly dramatic voice, “—‘I CAN HANDLE IT, NO PROBLEM AT ALL!’” You shoot him a look, but Jay just grins, clearly pleased with himself. Your friends burst into laughter, while you try to compose yourself, cheeks heating up. “Jay, seriously?” you groan, but he just winks at you, unfazed. “What? I’m just helping you tell the story with a bit more flair,” he says, nudging your shoulder.

. , SIM JAKE ☁︎ 심재윤 !

Jake loves his nicknames for you—maybe a little too much, especially when he knows it makes you blush in front of others. You’re shopping at the mall together, casually browsing through racks of clothes when Jake spots you struggling with a decision. “What do you think, babe?” you ask, holding up two dresses for him to see. Jake smiles, but instead of answering, he decides to turn up the embarrassment level. “Hmm, I don’t know, my little sugar plum fairy princess,” he says loudly, drawing curious glances from the people nearby. Your eyes widen, and you quickly glance around. “Jake, keep it down!” you hiss, feeling your face heat up as you try to shush him. But Jake is having none of it. “Why, my precious snuggle muffin? You know I love when you’re all flustered,” he teases, giving you a cheeky grin.

. , PARK SUNGHOON ☁︎ 박성훈 !

One of his favorite tactics is showing off old, less-than-flattering photos of you—usually the ones you wish would just disappear. It’s a casual gathering at your place, with some of your mutual friends. You’re busy preparing snacks when you suddenly hear Sunghoon's voice from behind you, “Hey guys, look what I found!” Your heart sinks as you turn around to see Sunghoon grinning, holding up his phone with an old photo of you. It’s one from a few years ago—a particularly awkward phase where you were experimenting with a questionable hairstyle and had a goofy expression. “Sunghoon, no!” you protest, rushing over to grab the phone from him, but he’s too quick, holding it just out of your reach. “Aw, come on, isn’t she adorable?” he teases, flipping through a few more equally embarrassing photos, much to your horror. Your friends are laughing, but it’s all good-natured fun, even if you feel your cheeks burning.

. , KIM SUNOO ☁︎ 김수누 !

You’re out at a café with Sunoo and a group of your mutual friends. Everything is going smoothly until Sunoo decides it’s the perfect moment to share a story about your shared inside joke. “So, remember that time we were at the amusement park and you were too scared to go on the roller coaster?” Sunoo starts, grinning as he looks at you. “You said you’d rather face a herd of wild animals than go on it!” You feel your face flush as the group bursts into laughter. It’s a funny story, but it’s one that you thought was private and only for the two of you to laugh about. “Sunoo, stop,” you say, trying to cover your face with your hands as you feel the heat rise. “It’s not that funny.”

. , YANG JUNGWON ☁︎ 양정원 !

Jungwon has a knack for turning the simplest moments into grand gestures, often leaving you blushing and slightly embarrassed. You’re at a café with Jungwon, enjoying a quiet date. As the barista brings over your coffee, Jungwon suddenly decides to make a big show of his affection. He stands up, grabs your hand, and exclaims, “I just have to say, my favorite person in the world is sitting right here with me!” The other patrons glance over, some smiling, others trying to stifle their laughter. You can feel your face heating up as Jungwon continues, “She’s the most amazing person, and I’m so lucky to be with her.” Despite your attempts to shush him or pull your hand away, Jungwon just keeps going, completely oblivious to your growing embarrassment.

. , NISHIMURA RIKI ☁︎ 리키 !

Niki finds immense joy in teasing you, and he takes it to another level by making one of your most awkward selfies his phone wallpaper. You’re lounging in Niki’s room, casually scrolling through your phone, when you glance at his phone resting on the coffee table. You turn to Niki, who’s lounging on the sofa, scrolling through his own phone. “Niki,” you begin, your voice filled with disbelief. “Why is my most embarrassing selfie your wallpaper?” He glances up, trying to stifle his laughter, but the mischievous sparkle in his eyes is unmistakable. “What? That old thing?” he replies nonchalantly. “I thought it was hilarious!” Your cheeks flush with heat as you cross the room to grab the phone, but Niki grabs it first, holding it out of your reach. “Come on, it’s just a funny picture,” he insists, his grin widening. “Every time I see it, I think of how cute you look even when you’re being silly.”

© senascoop | tumblr

[yawnderu]

Lorelei — Simon "Ghost" Riley x Reader | Part V

1 2 3 4 5 6

Synopsis: Aware of the way his lifestyle doesn't align with your dream life and unwilling to quit his life as a soldier, Simon breaks things off with you. It isn't until a year later that he sees you again, a tiny carbon copy of him held in your arms.

This chapter can be read as a one-shot without having to read the whole story! :)

"Are you staying for Christmas?" You ask casually, decorating the cookies you baked with Simon's help. Your daughter is sleeping peacefully in her crib, a small Santa Claus onesie on her, preparing her for the celebration even when there's still a few hours left.

"You want me to?" He asks with a raised eyebrow, brown eyes fully focused on decorating the head of one of the cookie figures, steady hand drawing a skull pattern with ease.

"It's her first Christmas, I think she'd like having her father around." I want you around as well. He's lucky you're focused on decorating your cookies, missing the way his face lights up with a proud smile. It's a lot of progress.

''Right. I got you both some presents in the car.'' He washes his hands on the sink, giving his daughter one last look before leaving the house, trying to gather as many of the gifts he bought as possible. ''Some presents'' was clearly an understatement— he has been building a pile of gifts for months, his car full of boxes and bags for both you and your little girl.

''Jesus Christ.'' You wash your hands and go help him as you see him struggling to carry the pile, taking some from him and putting them under the Christmas tree.

''There's more in the car.'' He seems almost sheepish as he confesses, giving him a small pat on the arm as you go outside to help him. You almost laugh as you look inside, the entire backseat full of presents. It's almost ridiculous, yet so charming how much he wants to make both of you happy, knowing how much it the holidays mean to you, especially now that you have a daughter.

''Isn't this... a bit overkill?'' You joke, earning you a playful pat on the ass now that your arms are busy. You miss the kick thrown his way, jogging after him with a smile when he playfully gets on the other side of the couch to avoid you getting revenge.

''I still got one more present coming, but that's for later.'' He walks back to the kitchen once he made sure you weren't going to kill him for patting your ass.

''I swear to God, Simon, if it's another d—'' He interrupts you by smearing frosting on your cheek, shooting you a cheeky smile that gets erased the moment you do it back— smearing way more than you should have all over his cheek.

''Bastard.''

Your baby was up by the time it was midnight, excited to see her mum and dad opening up presents and even joining in, tiny hands clearly struggling with the wrapping paper, yet somehow managing without help.

''Strong girl, like her mum.'' You smile softly at his words, looking at the way your daughter stares curiously at one of her last presents; a cactus activated by sound.

''Say 'hello'.'' Simon says, getting closer to the toy until it activates, dancing around and lighting up. Astrid looks confused as she looks at it, brown eyes looking up at you before looking back at the toy.

''Hello.'' He repeats, a warm smile on his lips when the toy starts dancing again, much to your daughter's confusion. She babbles at it, tiny hands reaching out to touch it once it starts moving and playing back her sounds, giggles escaping her lips as the toy imitates her laugh.

Simon's phone vibrates in his pocket, getting up from the couch before looking down at his phone with twinkling eyes.

''My mate's here, I'll be right back.'' He doesn't wait for you to reply, already out of the house before you can even say anything. Your focus is back to your daughter, happy that she enjoys playing with the toy rather than being scared of it like you've seen in videos online. Brave girl she is, not a single lick of fear in her.

Simon comes back a minute later, holding a big German Shepherd that can definitely walk on its own. You give him a questioning look as he sets it on the floor, holding his collar just in case.

''Absolutely not.'' You try to protest, yet your gaze softens when you see Astrid crawl to the dog.

''Wa-wa!'' She points out, tiny hands reaching up to pet the dog the same way you've taught her, gentle. The dog doesn't react much besides laying down on the floor for your daughter to pet it, making it much easier for her.

''His name's Riley, he's a retired K-9. Look, I'll pay for his food and even for someone to come take care of him when I'm not here, I just... want you to be safe.'' There's hints of pleading on his tone, eyebrows slightly furrowed as he looks at you.

''... I'll take care of him.'' You say with a small sigh, knowing Simon wants nothing else than for both of his girls to be safe, especially when he's deployed.

''We gave him extra training to deal with kids and emergencies. Big geezer's patient and good.'' He keeps trying to sell it as if you didn't say yes already, a small giggle escaping your lips before giving him a reassuring smile.

''We'll keep him, don't worry.'' You crouch down to pet the dog, who is clearly enjoying the attention from your daughter, allowing her to rest on his side while petting his head.

There's a smile on his face as he looks down at his family, hands fumbling with the small box in his pocket.

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[ohnoitstbskyen]

I know it would probably bring a lot of hate comments but I am begging you to roast the hazbin character designs because I'd love to have someone properly articulate why they don't work so I could send it to people who won't believe me when I tell them. 🫠 Understandable if you don't want to get into it though.

I don't think there's that much there to roast, honestly?

Those designs are clearly an extremely specific stylistic choice, and because that style is consistent throughout the show, it ultimately feels coherent with itself.

There are trade-offs being made. Because Hazbin's design style is SO stylized and so heavy on decoration and detailing, because it puts a lot of emphasis on costuming, it isn't as good at communicating specific character storytelling as a more grounded style could be (it's kind of the same tradeoff that stuff like Genshin Impact makes).

Like, why does Sir Pentious' hat have an eye and a mouth on it that makes its own expressions? Apparently not for very much reason at all, except that Pentious has a bit of an eyes-motif going on in his design and it was one more place to put an extra eye. And that's a valid criticism of his design, but also the entire show is designed like that, so frankly it would be weirder and more out of place if his design alone didn't have that kind of overelaborate decoration going on.

It does create a situation where I have a hard time "reading" the character designs sometimes. For example, Vox, Alastor and Pentious all wear a similar style of suit with upwards-turned shoulders, butterflies and pinstripes. Now, am I meant to read that as Vox imitating Alastor due to his crippling need to replace and outdo him, and Pentious imitating the style of powerful Overlords because he thinks that possessing their level of power will finally give him relief from his paranoia and self-loathing?

Or is it just a design fixation of the creator who keeps putting their characters in suits because that's just what they like? I can't really be sure, because sometimes design elements are used to intentionally tell stories about how characters relate to themselves, their world and one another, but plenty of other times designs look the way they do Because Of Vibes.

But again, that lack of clarity is clearly an intentional trade-off - and the benefit of that trade-off is a design style that is extremely varied, wild, expressive and memorable. Hazbin Hotel seems like a very easy show to draw fanart of, and a very fun show to draw fanart of. Those designs (especially the hyper-expressive faces) are begging to be the subjects of traumatic headcanons, unbearably cotton-candy soft fluff fantasies and weird, taboo, homoerotic power dynamics. Slaps roof of character design, this bad boy can express so much vicarious emotional intensity.

It's very exuberant, very excited about itself and very self-indulgent, it's a style that prioritizes visual impact and visual interest over readability (something which the animators of the show navigate with real skill, props to them) and individual aesthetics over worldbuilding.

And I don't blame anyone for being turned off by that (I certainly was the first time I started seeing those designs going around), but I would struggle to call the show's designs "bad" when they are clearly achieving exactly what they want to achieve.

I have some criticisms, especially re: how the show treats skinny bodies as an unquestioned, desirable default, and employs fatness as a means of alienating and abjecting the audience. That sucks very badly, and is a serious disappointment, and one of the few places where the show feels like it is being cowardly in its design philosophy. But I don't have it in me to do some kind of Hazbin Hotel Sucks And Here's Why takedown, its problems are not unique or extreme enough to warrant it, at least not as I currently understand them.

[rockatanskette]

So, I've written before about how our relationship with predators would probably intimidate aliens, but I just pictured another way we interact with predators that is honestly just as scary from an outside perspective: we pretend to be predators and even make up new ones, all just for fun.

Now, we also adopt predator patterns for utility: wearing striped makeup for camouflage, imitating roars and bird calls, etc. But I'm specifically talking about the video I just saw from Creature Bionics of creature rigs designed for a human actor to better do motion capture. I'm talking about voice actors and sound designers creating new and terrifying clicks and roars and growls because lions' roars just aren't scary enough. I'm talking about adults dressing up as plush monstrosities to entertain sports fans and children. Gritty is terrifying, objectively.

One day at an early meal, human Janet seems confused when her alien crewmates start asking about a shape-shifting monster that they keep seeing in human culture. They ask her what it's like to live on a world with "dogjons;" animals that can shift from a fan-headed creature with eye-covered wings to an amphibious eel-like figure, humanoid but not human, to a death-pale monstrosity that chases anyone who dares get near its food. Human Janet is confused until they say that the pale figure has eyes in its hands; bloodshot, and glassy.

"Oh, Doug Jones! No, he's not a monster, he's just a really good actor. Too good—the Shape of Water awakened something in me, specifically."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, let's just say the lady 'mating' with him isn't a horror story, it's a fantasy." Human Janet says, like it's nothing. Then something seems to occur to her, and her eyes brighten with what the aliens are quickly learning is mischief. "Oh my god. Am I the one who gets to explain monster fucking?"

Elsewhere, an alien accompanies xis human friend on a day out with their young. There's some kind of show being put on for human youth and Xlibthar is excited for this insight into how humans get Like That. Imagine xis surprise when the lights go up on the entertainment platform and a horde of creatures rushes up. They are large and bright yellow, with big black eyes as dark as singularities, with bright red spots on their heads that clearly indicate venom. Xlibthar shrieks and shields xisself behind Akio and Hinata, sure that something has gone terribly wrong.

"What are those?!" Xlibthar demands, quaking in xis shoes.

"Those? Oh, they're just Pikachus." Akio does not seem even the slightest bit distressed, and five-year-old Hinata is absolutely losing her mind with excitement at the sight of these garish monstrosities.

"What. On Earth." Because this could only happen on Earth. "Is a Pikachu?"

"It's a Pocket Monster. It's a series about monsters that battle with each-other. Pikachu is a mouse that can shoot electricity out of its body."

Xlibthar stares at Akio, wondering if this is an example of what humans call "gaslighting," because keeping monsters in your pockets sounds too insane even for humans. And, "you bring these things around your CHILDREN??"

"I mean, they're not real." Akio puts his hands over Hinata's ears. "They're just people in costumes. Though Nintendo would never let you see one with its head off."

Xlibthar has many questions: why? What? How? What? But one question has been answered: if this is what entertains human youth, it is exactly why Humans are Like That.

[pandora-writes-one-piece]

The Meet Cute - Law's Story - 11

Source for pic

The Great Pretender 11

Word Count: 3616

Tags For The Whole Story: Fem!Reader; Law is a soft dom; you have bratty tendencies (not all the time); voice kink; praise kink; cursing; very suggestive behaviour and innuendo from the start; sexual tension; teasing; so much flirting; romance; slow-burn; fluff; slight angst; mature audiences (though explicit NSFW moments will be properly tagged on the chapter); possessive Law; protective Law; soft Law; teasing Law; manipulative Doflamingo; inappropriate Doflamingo; fake relationship trope; only one-bed trope; reader has some anxiety issues; reader is a control freak and perfectionist; modern day AU; Mention of ex mentally abusive relationship;

Special Warning: English is not my first language, I apologise for any possible spelling or grammar mistakes.

Summary: After moving away from the hustle and bustle of Grand Line City to help your father around the property following a horse-riding accident - and in the hopes of healing your broken heart after your asshole ex-fiancé cheated - you settle into the country calmness of the Calm Belt. You and Law (your father's doctor) start to build a flirty friendship because of your father’s procedure. So much so that when he’s invited to Baby 5’s wedding (his cousin), he asks you to be his date. His uncle Doflamingo - who is filthy rich - is very adamant on finding a suitable wife for him. Seeing as he wants to avoid that, he asks you to pretend to be his girlfriend for the weekend.

Notes: For those of you who caught my earlier post, you already know why this chapter is on the smaller side. For those of you who didn't, I intended to add a bit of spicy fun to this chapter, but with 2k (of smut!) already writen and (maybe) another 2k to go, I decided to split the chapter. I still hope you enjoy this one!

Masterlist |Chapter 10🔞| | |Chapter 12🔞|

Despite Law's lie to Baby 5, you still find five minutes to fix your hair and makeup before heading down to the garden in search of the photographer for the photo shoot. You're only ten minutes late, but Baby 5 curses at Law as if she were a member of a pirate crew. Luckily, she's soon diverted by Sai and you and Law head to the greenhouse for your private session. 

Though there's another private session you would much rather be indulging in. 

Still, the photographer introduces himself and after exchanging a few words, he starts directing you both in what you can only assume are romantic poses. Yet, the photographer seems bummed and you can't help but feel as if you're posing for a prom photo. 

“Let's take five guys, okay? Try to relax a bit.” The photographer says before he turns and starts to fidget with his camera. 

Law grumbles and rolls his eyes, clearly wishing to be doing anything else other than this. Perhaps even finishing what you started earlier. You smile at him. “You're too wound up, Law. You need to relax. The faster we give him the photo he wants, the faster we can leave.” He nods and you look at him as you bite your lower lip, deep in thought. “Take off your coat.”

“Why?” 

You smirk smugly and deepen your voice trying to imitate him. “Just do as I say, sweetheart.”

Law's chuckle is full of warmth and mirth but his gaze darkens as he sizes you up. “Careful. You're too close to being a brat.” Yet he removes his coat and sets it aside, on top of a metal bench. 

“Hmm, you knew what you were getting into before you proposed this arrangement.” You whisper as you size him up, assessing his looks. Then you grin and start to roll up the sleeves of his white dress shirt. 

“Did I? No, I didn't. Not entirely.” He lets you do what you want, moving his arm to help you and smirking at you. 

“What do you mean?” You finish one arm and move to the next one, but your eyes are fixed on his warily. “Are you… disappointed?” You try to ignore the slight tremble in your voice and focus your gaze on the shirt sleeves and not on his amber gaze. 

“Not at all.” His hand reaches out, and he tilts your chin up with his thumb and forefinger. “I'm positively surprised.”

“How so?”

“I knew you were special before this, and I knew I wanted to spend time with you to get to know you better. But now I am certain that I want to spend all my time with you.”

You fumble with the sleeves of the shirt as your heart skips a beat and your lips turn into a smile. “I want to spend all my time with you, too.” You whisper. There's a hint of a blush on your cheeks and you can feel them getting hotter. 

You can almost feel yourself melt into his gaze, so you take a deep breath, avert your eyes and unbutton two buttons on his shirt, leaving just a peek of his chest piece showing. “Now you look more at ease. Though…” You start as you give him a final once-over, and then reach with your fingers to tousle his hair a little bit. “Perfect. That out of bed endearing look suits you.” You smile sweetly at him. You're not even kidding a little bit. He looks really endearing. “Now me. Fix me up.” You smirk as you stand very still so he can contemplate you. 

Law's gaze softens as it travels over your body. You don't feel self-conscious but rather wanted, appreciated, valued. “You’re perfect, sweetheart.” You beam at him but then he places his hand on his chin as if in deep thought. “There's just a tiny thing.” He speaks softly and you arch your brow. 

“A tiny thing?”

“Your makeup.”

“What?”

“There's a smudge on your lipstick.” He takes a step forward, closer to you. 

“A smudge? Impossible! I just fixed my makeup!” You say, your hand instinctively reaching towards your lips as Law takes another step. His hand cups your cheek and he smiles gently. 

“Exactly.” Then his lips press softly against yours and this time it's something new. It's a slow, tentative kiss, where he moves his lips in tandem with yours. It's not demanding or hungry. It's soft and full of promises. It sets something aflutter in your stomach and a maddening pounding in your heart. 

Even while your hands travel to his chest and climb his neck, or when his fingers tangle in your locks, clenching your hair, even as you deepen the kiss, you still feel all of it. It’s different. It’s not a kiss fueled by desire, or want, or teasing, it’s a kiss with much deeper meaning. Something far softer, something… real.

You part slowly, both slightly flushed and gazing lovingly at each other. So he felt it, too. The raw intensity of it all, the way it clicked, as if you finally understood that this is not pretence, it’s much, much more. 

“Law, is this real?” Your words are barely a whisper, too afraid to break the moment, too fearful that this is somehow a dream of your desperate little heart. 

“It is for me.” He says, his hand reaching for your cheek again to place a small caress on your soft skin. 

“For me too…” You murmur back with a smile. Suddenly, the world is filled with possibilities, suddenly there is so much more than a broken girl with a hurtful past in need of mending. Suddenly there’s you and him but you’re together, you’ve found each other and you’ll be damned if you let him go. 

“Aaaaand that’s a wrap!” The photographer’s voice rattles you both and you’re forced back into reality. “You guys looked so much more natural now. There was no need for directing, these photographs are filled with emotion! Thank you!” His attitude from the start of the shoot to now has turned completely. He loves you both. Before he leaves, he promises to develop the pictures and deliver them to you as part of your prize, and you're actually quite curious as to how they turned out. 

When you're both alone again, Law takes your hand in his to lead you to the tents that are set up for the rehearsal dinner. He whispers your name as you lock gazes again. “We'll talk about this later, when we're alone?”

You smile giddily and nod. “Yes.” Even if you wanted to stop smiling, you couldn't. Everything feels far too perfect, far too flawless and you bite your lip hard to check again if this is not some dream. 

It's not. 

It's reality. And it is perfect. 

-*-

The rehearsal dinner is going great. There has been no awkward moment with Doflamingo - he's seated very far away, near the bride - and you and Law have been exchanging subtle touches throughout the whole meal. A touch on the leg, on the shoulder, on the arm, or the cheek. A lingering gaze, a whispered word, or a complicit smile. It's bliss. 

Speeches were recited and alcohol flowed freely. The night is still young, and though you wish nothing more than to be excused to your room, so you and Law can have a private moment, it finally appears that Doflamingo has decided to test you both once more. 

“Law, princesa, how's your evening going?” He speaks to both of you but his eyes are fixed on you. 

“We're fine, Uncle. Everything is perfect.” You smile at Law's words in agreement. 

“Wonderful.” There's a long pregnant pause where he keeps staring at both of you, then his grin deepens into something quite menacing. “Law, Vergo wished to speak to you about the business you were discussing yesterday.” Law's brow rises. “Now.” Doflamingo adds. 

“Uncle, we're at a party. Do you think it's appropriate to speak of business matters at a time like this?” Law's voice is still cool and calculated, but you can see the ticking in his jaw, giving way to an underlying unease towards his uncle. 

“Well, dear nephew, if you were more invested in the company's business and more committed to board meetings, we wouldn't have to practically ambush you so we could talk shop.” The jab is there, and it's also true. So Law curses between his teeth and screeches his chair on the floor to get up. But before he leaves, he leans forward and presses a kiss to your cheek. 

“I won't be long. I'm sorry.” He does seem resigned, and though the last thing you want is to be left alone with Doflamingo, you know he has to go. So you assure him you will be fine. 

As soon as Law gets up, Doffy saunters to his seat and sits down, crossing one leg over the other with one foot over his knee. He's wearing a light pink suit - which he actually pulls off - with a white shirt but what never ceases to amaze you - even if for the wrong reasons - is his unhinged expression as he pierces you with his red gaze. 

“Alone at last, cariño.” He deepens his smile, showing off his canines and you feel that cold sensation on your spine. You're about to be tested again. “I've seen you with Law today. You seem much more connected than yesterday, more at ease.”

Doffy takes a sip of his red wine and you clear your throat before speaking. “Yes, sir. I sometimes suffer from anxiety, and meeting new people always leaves me more anxious than I would like. I'm more at ease today because everyone has been so welcoming.” There, if you lace lies with truth, it becomes more believable. 

“Oh, that makes sense.” He agrees easily and you take a deep breath, trying to steady your heart. “Though, there's one slight issue.” He scooches his chair closer to yours in three jerking motions, and leans over your ear with a warm chuckle that makes you cringe. “I know who you are.” He whispers, and then leans back in his chair, his hand covering his lips as if he said something he shouldn't. 

Your heart thrums faster against your ribcage. What does he mean? What does he know? Does he know you and Law are in a fake relationship? 

Lying rule 101, don't babble! You don't know what he knows, so don't go spilling secrets. 

“I'm not sure I follow, sir.” There. Simple, calm, confident. 

“Mi querida… darling, darling. Drop the act.” His grin disappears and a menacing scowl overpowers his lips. “When I first saw you, I knew I recognized you from somewhere - or from someone - influential.” A cold shiver travels down your spine, freezing you in the spot. You feared this. “At first I didn't care. But last night it suddenly hit me. I've seen you with the Vinsmokes.” A dry chuckle leaves his lips but it doesn't reach his eyes. “A little background check got me the info I wanted, and boy was I surprised. Ex-fiancée to the Vinsmoke darling? You belonged to Ichiji himself? Who knew?” He gasps dramatically. “I mean: does Law know?”

Your breath hitches and you clench your fists against your lap, opening your mouth ready to answer him, except he doesn't let you. 

“I know what you want. You were with Ichiji for influence and money, but something went wrong. So now you turn to Law, who's not so directly involved with the company, but has enough money and influence to satisfy your needs. If you play your cards right with my nephew, he might even grant you the last one you seek: power. All the while, his poor little heart gets broken again. Am I right, princesa?” 

He's not right. Thank God, he's not right. Though the fact doesn't stop the tightening of your chest or the dampness on your forehead. You have no control over this situation and it's daunting. 

“You are terribly wrong, Doflamingo, sir.” Calm, cool, collected. You inhale deeply and force a cold smile to your lips.

“I'm wrong?” His chuckle sends another wave of unease through your body. “Don't tell me you were with Ichiji for his charming personality?”

You purse your lips and take another inhale, completely ignoring the off-hand commentary. “Ichiji and I met in college, our relationship grew naturally and it had nothing to do with money. Furthermore, I became interested in Law even before knowing who he was. I knew him merely as my father's doctor. He could've been living under a bridge and I would have had no idea. That did not stop the way I immediately felt about him.”

There can be nothing wrong with the truth. Not even Doflamingo himself can find any flaw there. 

“That is very heartwarming, darling. But is it really the truth? I mean…” He chuckles, leaning forward again and pinning you under his gaze. You have to force yourself not to move away from his stare. “It's so easy to lie about a relationship, isn't it?”

The implication is there. But what does he know, really? 

“Maybe, but I wouldn't know.” You hold his gaze, ignoring the pounding of your heart that seems to be beating in your ears. 

“I'm back. Uncle Doffy, you're in my seat.” Law says firmly, his hand resting at your nape, fingers squeezing slightly and caressing in reassurance. 

Doffy laughs softly, a manic laugh that starts low and then becomes increasingly louder. “Oh, forgive me dearest nephew. I wouldn't want to take anything from you.” Doflamingo rises, his long legs uncrossing slowly as he deliberately stares at you, licking his lower lip. “Think about what we discussed, princesa.”

When he leaves, Law sits down next to you. The familiar crease between his eyebrows brings a sort of comfort, knowing he's worried about your well-being. Even before he asks, you're already telling him. “Your uncle seems to think I'm only with you for money. Which is good, I guess, because he couldn't be farther from the truth.” Your chuckle comes out forced and weary. 

Should you tell him about Ichiji? You must tell him now. Doffy knows, so it's only a matter of time before he uses it against the both of you. And it's not as if it's a big secret, you just don't want to face that kind of judgement. 

But then again, since when has Law ever judged you over anything? And the more you postpone telling him, the more it seems as if you're withholding information. And that's not true. 

“Law, he also-...”

“There you are, Law. We still need to discuss a few more topics. You said you were just going to the bathroom.” It's Vergo and he sounds annoyed. Law sighs at the same time as you but you nod in understandment. 

“I'll wait…” The words leave your lips with a pout and Law waves Vergo off, telling him to go ahead. Then he leans forward on his chair, fingers gripping your chin to lift your eyes to him. 

“Sweetheart, I won't be long.” The kiss he places on your lips is, somehow, both soft and demanding. It's as if he's assuring you of his care and attention towards you while, at the same time, making you realise he also needs you. “See you soon.”

The kiss leaves you so rattled that you can't even say anything else before he leaves. 

-*-

‘See you soon.’ That was over an hour ago. You know it's not Law's fault, it's much more likely Doflamingo’s doing, just another stupid, silly test to see if you're really with Law for who he is or for something else entirely. But you're damn bored. 

You stare at the assortment of paper figures you already made with the napkins - very crooked and ugly-looking things - and sigh for the umpteenth time. Where is Law? 

“You look lonely, care for some company?” You flick one of the figures with your finger and lift your eyes to the stranger, one of Sai’s guests you met sometime during the day but can't quite place the name. 

“Ah, no, thank you. I'm fine. Law is…” You sigh inadvertently. “Coming back soon. Thanks.”

Lowering your gaze again, you flick another figure, trying to chase the boredom away with silly things. But a screech of the chair next to you as the man sits has you raising your brow. 

“Sure, sure. You're so fine that you already used up all the napkins on the table. I'll buy it.” He chuckles softly. “I'll just keep you company, nothing else, how about it?”

“Sure.” You shrug. It's not like he's going to leave anyway. But you keep toying with your paper figures, trying your best to be polite but not engage fully with the man. 

“So you're with the bride?” You nod. “I'm Sai’s friend.”

“Yes, we've met earlier.”

“I know. I wouldn't forget you.” You suck in a breath, maybe it's time to get up and search for Law? Or get some refreshments? You don't want to indulge in this conversation anymore. Yet, before you speak, the man leans, placing his hand over yours with a light squeeze. “What kind of man leaves his beautiful girlfriend alone for so long?”

“One who trusts her, and doesn’t need to keep watch every second, because he knows exactly who she’s going home with.”

The man pulls back his hand with a start when Law’s voice fills the space between you. His presence is commanding and threatening but his expression is cool and collected. Law’s amber gaze locks into yours, and though he stands with a hand in his pocket in the most casual of ways, the tension oozing out of him is enough to make the man sitting in his chair start to sweat. 

“Look, man, I didn’t mean to disrespect, I was just–”

“Wasting your time. I got it. You can go now, she doesn’t need your company.” Law finally breaks eye contact with you, takes one step closer to the man and stares him down. A fierce intensity in his gaze, even though he doesn’t even slightly raise his voice. 

“Alright, I’ll leave.” The man quickly takes the hint and leaves you both alone. When Law’s steely gaze settles back on you, it softens, and so does his expression. 

“Was he being an ass?” Law pushes a different chair and sits by you with a smirk while you shake your head. Law is a bit possessive, you’ve realised that. What you didn’t realise was that him being that way makes you feel wanted and needed. It’s in his little touches, a hand to the small of your back, a glare if someone’s eyes linger too long, his intimidating presence to whoever dares approach. 

“Not really, though he was starting to be inconvenient.” You sigh and take his hand in yours, gently tracing the tattoos on his fingers.

“I’m sorry I was gone for so long, my uncle…”

“I know, Law. Don’t worry. We have time, right?” Your eyes meet his and all you see is tenderness. When you said ‘we have time’ you meant after the wedding, because you want for that after to exist, does he want the same?

His hand cups your cheek and the warmth that fills you comes from far more than his touch. “All the time in the world, sweetheart.” How can one man consume your thoughts so completely? He’s under your skin, inside your heart, in your mind, he’s everywhere. And you want him there. You want him there forever.

You never felt this way with Ichiji, even when you thought you loved him or that he was it for you. You never felt like you’d lose a part of yourself if you weren’t near him, or the need to constantly touch him. And Law makes you feel that. You don’t mean to compare, but when your biggest relationship was also the worst, the comparisons are inevitable. 

Ichiji!

“Law, there’s something that–”

“Law! I’m so sorry to interrupt you both –you look so adorable, I swear, you bring out the best in him, honey– but I need your help with Baby 5’s gift.” Cora interrupts with the best intentions and you can’t help but smile at his cheerfulness. Then he lowers his voice. “Doffy bought her one of those ‘Fabergé Eggs’ and–” Cora exhales with a slight panic. “I dropped the box and I’m too scared to look.”

Your eyes widen at the admission but Law’s amusement is evident. “Really, Cora?” His tall uncle whines with a grimace and Law gets up with a weary smile aimed at you. “The party is dying down, anyway, guests are leaving.”

You look around and notice that the tent has emptied rather quickly. It’s nearing two in the morning and you’re all expected early tomorrow for the wedding, so it’s natural. Cora takes a step back as you and Law get up. Law leans in, his mouth near your ear as he whispers. “Why don’t you go up to our room and I’ll meet you in a few minutes?”

His words send a heat wave down your body as your stomach flutters with the wings of thousands of butterflies. He didn’t say much, but his voice and the gentle caress of his fingers on your hip spoke of hushed promises and yearning. 

You nod at him, a small blush already creeping up your cheeks. 

This is it.

The night you finally tear down those boundaries, no longer blurring the lines but completely erasing them. 

The night you stop pretending and finally make it real.

Tag list: @rosidaze @beachaddict48 @armiliadawn @jintaka-hane @sprinkklz @baby5555 @hopelesslover06 @mars-mizuko @sleepykittycx @nerium-lil @eustasscapitankid @ren-ni @jqperi @lycoriskalmia @rainbow2312 @alexturnersgirl

|Chapter 12🔞|

[thezombieprostitute]

The Arrangement - Part 5

Summary: Jake's done a lot of things to keep his sister, and then his niece, safe from his parent's influence and manipulation. If he wants to keep them safe, he has to marry you.

Warnings: Bad parents, Implied physical abuse. Let me know if I missed any!

Chapter 4 -- Chapter 6

Series Masterlist

You're in the hallway when you hear Clay say his goodbyes to Jake with a promise to visit. It's now just the two of you, the part of the night you've been dreading. You step out to where Jake can see you, keeping your head down.

Jake takes several tries to start talking. Seeing you like this, he gets what Clay saw. It's a splash of cold water on the rage he had initially felt during your "wedding". Where he thought he had seen disappointment and coldness he now sees timidity and fear. Jake has been perceived as many things, annoying, intelligent, dorky, but never scary. He definitely doesn't like that you're scared of him.

"I, uh, I guess we should choose our rooms?" he finally says, making your brows knit in confusion. "I...I know we're..." he gestures at the two of you. "But you...I...we don't have to do anything you don't want." Your eyes widen in surprise and he's quick to add, "it's not because I don't want to, you're beautiful, and I'm sure you're great in bed, and I shouldn't have said that, and I'm sorry, but I'm just so nervous, but I think we'd both sleep better in separate rooms? If that's what you want? Or we can share a bed, if you want, I promise no touching that you don't explicit consent to, and I'm going to stop talking before I make myself look even more awkward than I feel."

He's rubbing the back of his head, cheeks pink, eyes down, clearly uncomfortable. He almost looks more like a teenage boy trying to ask out a pretty girl as opposed to the angry, hateful monster you were certain you'd married. You want to chuckle but the suddenness of the transformation leaves you even more on edge. Is his offer of separate rooms genuine or a trick? You want, so desperately to believe him, but can you?

Remembering the layout of the penthouse, however, gives you an out. "There's only one bed," you inform him. "The other rooms have couches or chairs, but no beds."

"Seriously?" Jake asks. "Why would they do that?"

"My...my guess is that they want to...ensure...that, that we..." you imitate his earlier gesture indicating the both of you and his eyes widen in realization.

"Well, damn," he mumbles. "I'll go ahead and sleep on the couch then, okay?"

"Are you sure? They look like they're meant for looks more than comfort."

Jake gives a soft huff, "I spent enough time in the military that I can sleep anywhere, I promise."

"You're in the military?"

"Formerly," Jake replies. "It's how I met Clay. And it's a very long story that can wait for some other time."

"It's impressive," you admit. Most of the men in your life were the type to act tough but would never actually go through with something as harsh as military training.

Jake blushes again, "well, it's no Masters Degree in ecology. That's a lot of hitting the books! Never was my forte, preferred hands on learning, which is why I never did well at school and I'm rambling again. Sorry about that."

You feel the heat rush to your face. No one's ever acknowledged your degree outside of claiming it was a waste of time and money. You really hope his compliments are sincere, but are still careful to not take them fully to heart. It could easily be another manipulation tactic.

"Thank you," you tell him. "I'll be happy to split the bedding and make sure the guest bathroom has toiletries."

"You don't need to do that," he shakes his head. "I've made do with a lot less and, most importantly, you're not the maid. You don't have to take care of me like that." You open your mouth but kind find the words to respond. He continues, "oh, did you want me to cook breakfast in the morning? I doubt it'll be as good as you cook, that pasta was awesome, but I can do some cooking and you shouldn't have to cook everything, especially not for someone who can cook for themselves, but I also don't want to intrude because you know where everything is and if you prefer to have the kitchen to yourself I completely understand, I just wanna help you out because we're in this together and..." Jake's face scrunches up in a wince, "and I'm rambling again. I'm so sorry."

"Whoever wakes up first makes breakfast?" you propose.

"I like it," he nods.

You go to get some blankets and pillows for him and he waits outside the door to the bedroom. When you give him a quizzical look he replies, "it's your room. I'm not entering without permission." Giving him a contemplative nod, you thank him before handing him everything.

"Goodnight," he tells you. "I hope you sleep well."

"You too," you tell him as diplomatically as you can.

He heads to one of the other rooms and you close the door to the master bedroom suite, your bedroom. As tiring as the day has been, you're not sure you're getting sleep any time soon. Your husband has given you much to think about.

Chapter 4 -- Chapter 6

Series Masterlist

Tagging: @alicedopey; @ashdoctor; @delicatebarness; @ellethespaceunicorn;

@icefrozendeadlyqueen; @lokislady82; @ronearoundblindly

[discordiansamba]

there's a boy standing in the garden.

iroh doesn't recognize him. he's probably a good ten years older than iroh. he's not dressed like one of the servants, and he certainly isn't dressed like a visiting noble. it's an unusually cold winter this year, and the boy is clad in the kind of parka he's only seen worn by the water tribes- but he's clearly not tribe. his features are too fire nation for that- even marred as they are by an ugly burn scar on the left half of his face. he's staring at the turtleduck pond, as if transfixed by it.

"...hello?"

iroh isn't sure why he calls out to him, but he does. the strange boy looks up, and blinks at the sight of him.

"hello," he says, "-are you iroh?"

iroh frowns, but slowly nods his head. he doesn't call him a prince. it's beyond rude. the boy just faintly smiles and introduces himself as zuko. iroh has heard that name before. his father had a brother who disappeared at the start of the war with that name. iroh has seen portraits of him before...

...they look like unscarred versions of the stranger.

"...who are you?" iroh asks.

"believe it or not," zuko says, "-i'm your uncle."

iroh blinks. he almost doesn't believe it. but his mother has always said he's more attuned to the spirit world than most. if he squints, he can feel something different about zuko- like he's not quite bound to the mortal world the same way everyone else is.

his uncle invites him to come feed the turtleducks with him. iroh hesitantly joins him. he tells him this used to be his favorite spot in the palace, and that he's glad it's still here. with an impish smile on his face, he tells him a story of how a mother turtleduck had chased azulon through the garden after he'd accidentally gotten carried away with firebending practice, and bent too close to the pond.

iroh laughs. he can't even imagine his stern father acting in such a way.

his uncle asks him if he's a firebender, and iroh nods. he just started bending last year, in the summer. his father said it was a very good sign- that he would be a strong bender. zuko asks if he'll show him what he's learning- away from the pond, of course. iroh nods and is happy to. he goes through his forms, only stumbling once or twice.

zuko tilts his head once he's done, and asks if he'd like to learn a thing or two from him. he says he's not nearly as strong as his father, but he's spent a lot of time with the dragons lately, so he's picked up a thing or two from them. iroh's eyes are practically glittering when he says that. of course he would!

the firebending forms his uncle shows him are like nothing iroh has seen before. he's fascinated. he imitates them the best he can, and his uncle smiles and pats him on the head as he praises him. it's far more warm than father's own praise.

eventually, his nanny comes and finds him. he starts to tell her about zuko, but when he looks back, his uncle is gone.

his father is not happy when he tells him about uncle's visit.

"you are not to speak to him again," azulon instructs, "-my brother is a traitor."

(iroh does anyways. he's always had a bit of a rebellious streak.)

[apollogeticx]

✧˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳ LABOUR ♡·˚

— [♡] ; souls tied by fate will inevitably cross paths again. ｡°. gojo satoru

tags: endgame gojo satoru, afab!reader, slow burn, pregnancy, regret, hurt/comfort, angst, co-parenting, vulnerable gojo satoru, past suguru geto x reader, past rejection, longing, bittersweet, I'm dramatic so I write dramatic shit, chapter nine of ten

wc. 3.1K

prologue | part 1 | part 2 | part 3| part 4 | part 5 | part 6 | part 7 | part 8 | part 10

It began slowly, almost imperceptibly, but the shift was undeniable. As the weeks turned into months, and the twins grew stronger, you found yourself laughing more often. The weight of grief still lingered, but it no longer suffocated you. And Gojo—he had started to slip back into the version of himself you remembered. The one who made light of everything, who could turn even the darkest moments into something bearable.

It started with small things. Jokes about the children, their habits and quirks. Gojo, ever the playful one, was a natural with them, making up ridiculous stories that had your daughter giggling uncontrollably. His presence in the hideout had become a steady, comforting rhythm in your life, and slowly, without even realizing it, you began to joke with him again—just like you used to.

One evening, after the children were asleep and the quiet settled over the hideout like a soft blanket, you found yourself sitting with Gojo at the kitchen table. The day had been long, and you were exhausted, but there was something comforting about sitting across from him, sipping tea and allowing the silence to be filled with easy, casual conversation.

“Your son,” Gojo began, a smirk playing on his lips, “is a menace.”

You raised na eyebrow, knowing full well which of the twins he was referring to. “Oh? What did he do this time?”

Gojo leaned forward, his eyes sparkling with mischief. “He spent a solid ten minutes staring at me like he was planning my demise. I’m telling you, he’s going to be a sorcerer to reckon with.”

You chuckled, shaking your head. “He’s just curious. Maybe he’s plotting something, though—you are pretty annoying.”

Gojo clutched his chest dramatically, feigning hurt. “You wound me. Here I am, helping you raise these kids, and this is the thanks I get?”

You laughed, a sound that felt so natural, so easy now. It surprised you, how comfortable you had become with him again. The banter, the teasing—it was like slipping into na old, familiar rhythm you hadn’t realized you missed.

“Maybe he’s just imitating you,” you said, a playful smile on your lips. “Plotting, scheming… sounds like something you’d do.”

Gojo grinned, clearly enjoying the back-and-forth. “Oh, definitely. I’ve taught him well. He’s going to surpass even me one day.”

You rolled your eyes, but the warmth of the conversation lingered. The ease with which you spoke to him now felt like a bridge between the past and the present. You had spent so long carrying the weight of everything that had happened between you and Suguru, but now, with Gojo’s presence, it felt like you were rediscovering parts of yourself you had thought were lost.

The banter between you began to grow more personal over time. You’d tease him about how easily he got the children to sleep—“It’s the voice,” he’d say with a wink—or how your daughter had become attached to his ridiculous stories. And then, one evening, the conversation took a slightly more personal turn.

You were both sitting in the living room, the twins asleep in the crib nearby, your daughter already tucked into bed. You were feeling particularly tired that night, your body still recovering from the strain of carrying and giving birth to the twins. As you shifted uncomfortably in your chair, you caught Gojo looking at you with a raised eyebrow.

“Rough day?” he asked, his tone light, but there was genuine concern in his eyes.

You sighed dramatically, leaning back. “Rough body, more like it. Two pregnancies… Let’s just say my body is not what it used to be.”

Gojo’s expression softened, though his lips quirked into a smile. “You still look amazing,” he said casually. “Two pregnancies and all.”

You snorted, waving a hand dismissively. “Yeah, well, if anyone’s to blame for how I look now, it’s Suguru. That man was insatiable. I swear, he was like a rabbit.”

The words came out before you really had a chance to think about them, and for a brief moment, you felt a flash of embarrassment. You hadn’t meant to be so candid, but the comfort between you and Gojo had lulled you into letting your guard down.

To your surprise, Gojo burst out laughing, his head tilting back as he let out a deep, genuine laugh that filled the room. It was a sound you hadn’t heard in a long time, and it warmed your heart.

“Oh, I believe it,” he said between laughs. “Suguru always had that… intense energy about him. I guess it carried over in more ways than one.”

You couldn’t help but laugh along with him, the ridiculousness of the conversation pulling you out of your initial embarrassment. “It’s his fault my body is a mess,” you said, grinning now. “Two pregnancies back-to-back? It’s like I’ve aged ten years.”

Gojo leaned forward, a playful glint in his eyes. “You know, I always wondered why you two were so… close. Now I get it. Suguru just couldn’t keep his hands off you.”

You rolled your eyes, swatting at him playfully. “Oh, please. You’re just jealous.”

Gojo raised na eyebrow, his smirk widening. “Maybe a little. I mean, look at me—how could anyone resist all this?”

The exaggerated confidence in his voice had you laughing again, the tension that had once existed between you all but forgotten. It felt good, this easy banter, this lighthearted teasing. It was like a piece of your old dynamic had returned, and it was a welcome relief from the heaviness that had defined your life for so long.

“Yeah, yeah,” you said, shaking your head. “Keep telling yourself that, Gojo.”

He leaned back in his chair, the smile on his face softening into something more genuine. “But really,” he said, his tone more serious now, “you’ve been through a lot. And you’re still here, still strong. That’s more than most people could handle.”

You looked at him, his words sinking in, and for a moment, the weight of the past felt a little lighter. “Thanks,” you said softly. “I guess I didn’t really have a choice. I had to keep going.”

Gojo nodded, his eyes meeting yours with na understanding that went beyond words. “You’re not doing this alone anymore,” he said quietly. “You’ve got me. And I’m not going anywhere.”

The sincerity in his voice made your heart ache, but it was a good ache—one that reminded you that, despite everything, you weren’t alone. You had Gojo now, and even though your relationship had changed, even though you had lost so much, there was still something between you. Something that was worth holding on to.

You gave him a small smile, the playful banter between you giving way to something deeper. “I know,” you said softly. “And I’m glad.”

As the night went on, you continued to tease each other, the lighthearted moments slowly weaving themselves into the fabric of your new routine. It was different now—your relationship with Gojo had evolved into something more mature, more grounded in the reality of your shared experiences. But the familiarity, the comfort, was still there.

And for the first time in a long time, you felt like you were beginning to heal.

The hideout was unusually quiet that evening, a soft, serene atmosphere settling over the space like a warm blanket. Outside, the sun was beginning to set, casting a golden glow through the windows, the last remnants of daylight filtering into the living room. The twins were asleep, their soft breathing filling the room with a rhythmic calm. Your daughter was nestled beside you on the couch, her head resting in your lap as she dozed off, exhausted from a day of play and mischief.

Gojo sat across the room, leaning back in his chair, his long legs stretched out in front of him as he watched the peaceful scene unfold. You were absentmindedly stroking your daughter’s hair, your own eyes heavy with the weight of the day’s exhaustion. It was a simple, domestic moment—one filled with a quiet kind of contentment that had become more frequent lately.

Gojo didn’t say anything, but his heart ached as he watched you, his mind drifting to places it rarely went. In moments like these, when the house was still and the world felt far away, reality dawned on him in ways that made it impossible to ignore. He had spent years running from these thoughts, avoiding the painful questions that came with them. But now, with you and your children woven into his life, the thoughts were unavoidable.

This could have been his life.

The thought hit him with a quiet intensity, and for a moment, Gojo closed his eyes, letting the weight of it wash over him. He had always been so sure of himself—so sure of the choices he had made, the life he had built. But here, in the warmth of this quiet moment, he couldn’t help but wonder.

What if?

What if he had accepted your confession all those years ago? What if he hadn’t pushed you away, hadn’t kept you at arm’s length, thinking he was protecting you? What if, instead of rejecting you, he had let himself love you the way you had wanted him to?

He looked at your children—the twins and your daughter—each of them a reflection of the life you had built with Suguru. They were beautiful, perfect in every way, and yet, Gojo couldn’t stop the pang of jealousy that twisted in his chest. Those children could have been his. They could have been running around with blue eyes and white hair, just like him.

He tried to imagine it—your children with his features, his laugh, his mannerisms—but it felt surreal. It was a life that never came to be, one that had slipped through his fingers the moment he had pushed you away. The life you had built with Suguru had been real, tangible, while the one he was imagining was nothing more than a daydream.

He opened his eyes again, watching as your daughter shifted in your lap, her small fingers clutching at your shirt. You were so gentle with her, so patient. You had grown into motherhood in ways that he never expected—ways that made him realize just how much time had passed since those early years.

Gojo let out a quiet sigh, running a hand through his hair as his mind wandered back to the past. He thought of you as you were back then—young, full of life, with wide eyes and a heart that beat too fast whenever he was around. He had been your teacher, the person you looked up to the most, and at the time, he couldn’t see you as anything but a kid. Someone he needed to protect, someone too young to understand the weight of the world around them.

You had confessed to him, your heart laid bare, and he had turned you away. He had thought he was doing the right thing—keeping you safe, keeping things simple. But now, as he looked at you—older, more worn, but stronger than ever—he realized how wrong he had been.

You had left Jujutsu High soon after that rejection, running straight into Suguru’s arms. And then, not long after, your first pregnancy. Gojo’s heart clenched at the thought. You had been so young, still so fragile in his eyes. He couldn’t even imagine what you had gone through during that time—adjusting to your new life with Suguru, carrying a child before you were even ready to fully process what that meant.

What had it been like for you? Had you been scared? Alone? Did Suguru comfort you in ways Gojo hadn’t, hadn’t known how to? He wasn’t sure, and the not knowing hurt almost as much as the reality of it.

You were still just a kid to him back then—at least, that’s how he had seen you. He hadn’t realized how quickly you had grown up, how quickly you had been forced to grow up. By the time he understood, it was already too late.

Gojo leaned forward slightly, his elbows resting on his knees as he stared at the floor, lost in thought. He had always believed he was doing the right thing by keeping his distance, by not allowing himself to care too deeply. But what had that gotten him? A lifetime of regrets. A lifetime spent watching from the sidelines as you built a life with Suguru—a life that could have been his, if only he had been brave enough to accept it.

He glanced at you again, watching the way your fingers gently stroked your daughter’s hair, your soft breathing matching the rhythm of the room. You looked so calm, so at peace in this moment, and yet, Gojo knew the weight you carried. The loss of Suguru was something that would never fully heal, but you were moving forward, day by day, and Gojo found himself wondering if he could ever be part of that forward motion.

Could this be his life, now? Could he truly step into the space Suguru had once filled, not to replace him, but to support you in a way he hadn’t before? He wasn’t sure. It felt like an impossible line to walk, but here he was, in your life in ways he never expected to be.

The children were part of that life now. He had accepted that much. He couldn’t imagine not being there for them, not being a presence in their world. But when he thought of your first pregnancy—the one that had happened so soon after you left—his chest tightened with a deep, aching sadness. You had been so young, too young to handle something like that alone. He wondered if you had been scared, if you had wanted to turn to him but couldn’t.

He hated the thought of you suffering without him.

Gojo shifted in his seat, glancing at you again. The soft rise and fall of your chest as you rested with your daughter made his heart ache. He knew he couldn’t change the past. He knew he couldn’t go back in time and accept your confession the way you had wanted him to. But the present—this moment right now—was something he could hold on to.

Maybe this was his second chance. Not to rewrite history, but to make sure that, moving forward, you wouldn’t be alone. That he wouldn’t let you carry the weight of everything by yourself.

In these soft, domestic moments, Gojo allowed himself to imagine what could have been. But more importantly, he began to wonder what could still be.

Maybe this life wasn’t the one he had imagined, but it was the one that was in front of him. And for the first time, Gojo wasn’t going to run from it.

He looked at you again, his heart full of unspoken words. He couldn’t bring himself to say them yet, but he knew, deep down, that this was where he was meant to be—by your side, with your children, in this fragile, beautiful life you had built together.

Over the past few weeks, the space between you had changed—mended, perhaps, in ways that neither of you had anticipated. The laughter had returned, the easy banter, the shared moments of comfort, but beneath it all, there were still things unsaid. Things that lingered, unspoken, between the two of you.

You both sat in the kitchen, a single lamp casting a warm glow over the room. Gojo was sitting across from you, his hands resting on the table as he sipped his tea. He had been quieter than usual tonight, more thoughtful. You could feel the tension in him, like there was something he wanted to say but didn’t know how to begin.

You knew what it was. You could see it in the way his gaze lingered on you, the way his lips parted slightly, as if he was about to ask but then thought better of it. You waited patiently, knowing that this was a conversation that would come eventually.

Finally, Gojo set his cup down, his fingers tapping lightly against the table as he looked at you. His usual confidence was missing, replaced by a quiet vulnerability that made your heart ache.

“Can I ask you something?” he said, his voice low and uncertain.

You nodded, already knowing what was coming. “Of course.”

He took a deep breath, his blue eyes flicking up to meet yours, searching your face for something—reassurance, maybe. “How was it? With Suguru… after you left. How did it all happen?”

His voice was soft, but the weight of the question hung heavily between you. This was something you hadn’t talked about in detail, something you hadn’t even fully admitted to yourself. But now, in this quiet moment, with Gojo sitting across from you, waiting for na answer, you felt the truth pressing at your lips.

You closed your eyes for a moment, gathering your thoughts. When you opened them again, Gojo was watching you closely, his expression gentle, patient.

“It was… odd,” you said slowly, your voice trembling slightly. “We didn’t love each other at first. It wasn’t like that.”

Gojo remained silent, listening intently as you continued.

“It was more like duty,” you admitted, your heart aching at the memory. “I had just left Jujutsu High, and everything was chaotic. Suguru… he wanted a kid. He believed it was part of his plan, his vision for the future. And I—I didn’t know what I wanted.”

Gojo’s eyes softened, his expression filled with something like sorrow. He opened his mouth to speak, but you shook your head, needing to finish the story.

“It wasn’t love, that’s for sure,” you said, your voice growing quieter. “At least, not in the beginning. We were together because it made sense. Because he needed someone by his side, and I… I was lost. After you rejected me, I didn’t know where I belonged. And Suguru… he gave me something to hold on to, even if it wasn’t what I expected.”

Gojo’s face twisted with regret, his hands tightening into fists on the table. “I’m sorry,” he whispered. “I didn’t—”

You raised a hand, cutting him off gently. “It’s not your fault. I made my choices.”

There was a brief silence, and you could see the turmoil in Gojo’s eyes, the way he wrestled with the guilt of what had happened. But you weren’t finished yet.

“When it happened,” you said, your voice softer now, “when I found out I was pregnant with her, it changed things. Before that, it was just… duty. But Suguru was kind when it mattered. He was patient and gentle, especially after everything that happened. He made sure I was taken care of. I didn’t know what I was doing—I was so young, and it all happened so fast. But he helped me. He made it easier.”

Gojo looked at you with na intensity that made your chest tighten. “Did you love him?” he asked quietly, his voice barely above a whisper.

You hesitated, the weight of the question heavy in the air. It was a question you had asked yourself many times over the years. The answer had always been complicated.

“Eventually,” you said softly. “We grew into it. It wasn’t the kind of love that sweeps you off your feet. It was more… slow. Steady. But it was real, in the end.”

Gojo’s gaze dropped to the table, his fingers tapping against the wood again as he processed your words. He didn’t speak for a long time, and you could see the conflict in him—the regret, the sadness, the wondering of what could have been.

You swallowed hard, knowing that you couldn’t leave this part unsaid. It was the part you had always hidden, the part that still made your heart ache.

“Some nights,” you said quietly, your voice trembling, “I wished it was you.”

Gojo’s head snapped up, his blue eyes wide with surprise. You saw the shock on his face, the way his lips parted as if to speak, but no words came out.

“It was easier that way,” you continued, your heart pounding in your chest. “When things were hard, when I felt alone, I’d imagine that it was you. That you were the one by my side. I was so confused, and I missed you, even though you had pushed me away. It helped to pretend that maybe… maybe things could have been different.”

The silence between you was deafening, and for a moment, you thought you might have said too much. You hadn’t meant to admit that. You hadn’t meant to open that door, but now it was out there, and there was no taking it back.

Gojo stared at you, his expression filled with na emotion you couldn’t quite place. Regret, yes, but also something deeper, something raw.

“But then I stopped,” you said softly, your eyes drifting to the table. “I stopped pretending when I found out I was pregnant with Kaori. It happened soon after. Suguru was… he was overjoyed. And I couldn’t pretend anymore. I had to accept the life I had chosen, even if it wasn’t the one I had imagined.”

Gojo let out a long, shaky breath, his hands running through his hair as he leaned back in his chair, staring up at the ceiling. He looked overwhelmed, like the weight of everything you had said was crashing down on him all at once.

For a long time, neither of you spoke. The truth between you hung heavy in the air, raw and painful, but there was a strange sense of relief too. You had finally said it—finally admitted the truth about your relationship with Suguru, about the complicated feelings that had haunted you for so long.

Finally, Gojo lowered his gaze, his eyes meeting yours again, and when he spoke, his voice was barely above a whisper. “I wish I could go back,” he said, his voice trembling with regret. “I wish I had seen you. I wish I hadn’t been so… stupid.”

You shook your head, tears welling up in your eyes. “We can’t go back, Satoru. What’s done is done.”

Gojo’s jaw clenched, and you could see the frustration in him, the helplessness. “I know,” he whispered. “But I hate that you went through all of that alone.”

You smiled sadly, brushing a tear from your cheek. “I wasn’t alone. Not really. Suguru was there, even if it wasn’t perfect. And now… now I have the kids. I have Kaori, and I have the twins. I’m not alone anymore.”

Gojo looked at you, his eyes filled with something close to admiration. “You’re stronger than I ever gave you credit for,” he said softly. “I’m sorry I didn’t see that sooner.”

You smiled, a soft, bittersweet smile, and for the first time in a long time, the weight of the past didn’t feel so heavy.

“I’m here now,” Gojo said quietly. “And I’m not going anywhere.”

The sincerity in his voice made your heart ache, but this time, it was a good ache—na ache that came with the knowledge that, even though the past couldn’t be undone, you weren’t alone anymore.

You had Gojo. You had your children.

notes: if you wanna be tagged just let me know! <3

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©apollogeticx ⋆ all rights reserved.

[ivelle-serenity]

Skateboard 13

Wind breaker

fem bodied reader | smut | action | pwp | jayjo/fml | vinny/fml | wooin/fml | joker/fml | hyuk/fml | owen/fml | enemies to lovers | angsty | the other woman (?) | reverse harem | fluff | SLOW BURN! | all characters featured are 18+

author's note: thank you all for waiting!

✧˖° — windbreaker men

✧˖° — mdni, smut, description of not safe for work content.

✧˖° — this is a story not one shot.

I knew right away that something had happened earlier while Mia and I were away. From Dom's behavior and the way they looked at us when we arrived, they seemed uneasy. I didn't let on that I noticed their actions. I sighed and ran my fingers through my fake blonde hair. Why do I have the feeling that Gramps told them something about me? Frustration was written all over my face as I walked out of the school with Mia. We immediately saw the boys waiting for us outside by the car.

"I just realized that blonde suits you, Demitra. You look different!" Dom said, watching me as I walked. I glanced at Jay, who was now avoiding looking at me. Relief washed over me; he better keep avoiding me because I literally don't trust myself around him. I can't even control my actions when I'm near him.

"Yeah, but I think I still need to wear a mask. Shelly and I don't have the same features, obviously," I said with a laugh, which Dom awkwardly echoed as he scratched the back of his neck. I looked over at Minu when he held out a hair tie. I furrowed my brows.

"Shelly ties her hair when she rides."

Oh! Of course. How could I forget that?

"Oh, noted. I thought she just liked to show off her beautiful blonde hair to the audience," I joked as I tied my hair. The three guys remained silent, which annoyed me. They know something, I just know it.

"And also, she always wears these gloves. They're her favorite," Mia said excitedly, handing me a pair of black and blue gloves. I almost scoffed. Do I really have to completely imitate her?

"You know, if Shelly were here, she would have liked you as a friend." I felt as if a bucket of cold water had been dumped on me at Mia's words. I froze, staring at her before quickly looking away. I almost tore the gloves I was holding.

"Uh, Mia? Come on, let's head to the car," Minu interjected, though I could hear the panic in his voice and didn't understand why. Confusion was evident on his girlfriend's face, but she went along with him. They had their own car, and I guess I was riding with Jay in Dom's car.

"We should go. We can't be late, guys," June said with a smile as he opened the door for me. I smiled at June. When I noticed that Jay was also getting in the back seat, I immediately moved away.

"I'll sit in the front," I said, opening the door to the passenger seat. Dom's driver looked surprised.

"kid, that's my master's seat—"

"hey, it's alright," Dom said to his driver. "Are you sure you want to sit there? You could sit in the back; it's safer there—"

I cut Dom off when my eyes met Jay's. I laughed and shook my head. "I'm fine here, Dom. Don't worry."

When the car started, I heard June clear his throat. I looked at him through the rearview mirror. I saw Dom and June exchanging signals, seemingly deciding who would speak up. Meanwhile, Jay had his eyes closed, head tilted back, resting against the seat.

"Demitra..." I glanced at June. "Uhh-we've decided that we need to keep you out of sight from the audience, since what we're doing clearly breaks the competition rules," June said cautiously. "We just don’t want you to get into trouble," he added, his concern unmistakable. I felt a comforting warmth in my chest and hoped that his concern was sincere. I didn’t want to jump to conclusions about how much they cared for me, just because they wanted to protect me.

"We know you're really talented, and we can't deny that. Like, come on, you could probably win this right away," Dom said. "But I think it would be better if you stayed behind June, you know..." He couldn't finish his sentence.

"You mean to be just a display, I got it." I chuckled. "And besides, I don’t really plan on taking this too seriously because, as you said, your team is relying on me. One mistake, and I could jeopardize the Hummingbird," I said with a nod. June sighed with relief while Dom watched my face, trying to read my reaction. I avoided his eyes.

"And after this, you won't need me anymore, right? Hopefully, in the next round, they won't require a full team."

"Yeah, we hope so. We don't want to take advantage of your kindness. This is more than enough," June said, and I didn't respond. I could feel my chest tightening. After all of this, I would be out of their circle. Why does it hurt? I don't even talk to them that much. Maybe I'm just used to their presence, their friendship, the laughs, the jokes, everything. I bit my lower lip as I remembered seeing Nick earlier.

There's no way I would stay at that school. I came to Korea specifically to distance myself from anything related to her, so why would I willingly remain in a place that constantly reminds me of that part of my past? Being here was supposed to be a fresh start, a way to escape the shadows of my history.

My mind was a mess. I had no idea what to do after this race. Should I transfer to another school? But where would I go? Or should I leave Korea, knowing that Shelly might come back? Yet, I can’t just pack up and leave with my debt to Wooin still unpaid. It’s not as simple as walking away—I have responsibilities here that I can't ignore

I didn’t realize we had arrived at the League of Street Racing venue until Dom opened the door for me. I thanked him as I stepped out. It was odd that Yuna wasn’t with us—perhaps she had classes to attend. As soon as I exited the car, I was met by a sea of people. I bowed my head and adjusted my face mask, staying close behind Dom and June, who seemed to understand that I preferred to be shielded by them.

I noticed that Jay was standing beside me, so I subtly moved away while looking at the other crews. I couldn't see the Sabbath team, which was a huge relief. I knew Wooin would be furious if he saw me here.

"Stop it." Jay suddenly spoke next to me, startling me. He had been so quiet earlier. What's up with him now? Wait, was he talking to me? "You’re supposed to stick close to me." His cold voice sent a shiver up my spine. My ears grew warm, and I looked away.

"So she's clingy, huh?" I teased.

He glared at me, but his eyes weren’t angry. It was just...there was no emotion. As usual. "Don’t avoid me. It’s too obvious." He turned his gaze away from me. I almost let out a sigh. I had no choice but to move closer to him. Our arms touched. I looked up at him, checking if what I did was okay, but he had no reaction, as if he expected me to do it.

"Why did the crowd suddenly get bigger?" Dom asked irritably, running a hand through his hair.

"GO HUMMINGBIRD! WE LOVE YOU!" Girls were cheering, obviously for Jay, not the whole crew. How did I know? They were literally looking at Jay with stars in their eyes. Damn, this boy is popular.

"I know. That's why we need to be careful," June whispered to us. I just nodded.

"Isn't it just me, or has Shelly shrunk?" I winced at the comment.

"Ha," I scoffed. "They even memorize your team's height. Can you believe it?" I murmured to Jay. I didn’t expect him to respond because I knew he wouldn’t.

The MC took to the stage, and the crowd erupted with excitement. I glanced at the big screen, which was showing us and the other crews. The Monsters were here, and I’d heard they were quite skilled. If I weren’t here to replace Shelly, I’d love to compete against them. They seemed interesting.

"ARE YOU ALL EXCITED FOR THIS NEW ROUND?" the MC shouted, prompting the crowd to yell even louder. "I know, I know. It's been so long, and I know you’ve all been waiting for this to happen again. And let me tell you, this round is not just any round. It will make your jaw drop!"

Everyone screamed in excitement. I straightened up, my eyes narrowing as I noticed a box in the middle of the stage. It seemed the MC was about to draw a name. My mind immediately started hoping that Hummingbird wouldn’t be chosen, even though I didn’t know what it was for yet.

"As you can see, there's a box here. I'm going to draw to see which team will face the most challenging and dangerous test where they won’t have an opponent! YES! YOU HEARD ME RIGHT! They won’t be racing against anyone else; they just need to complete the bloodiest race of all!"

My heart stopped at the announcement. My eyes widened as the screen showed the narrowest path I’d ever seen in my life. Not only that, but there were massive vehicles there, and there was a bowl where the bike had to ride along the wall to get out. You can only see it in a skatepark. This is...weird. Out of all the videos I’ve watched about the League of Street Racing, none of the rounds were like this.

I glanced to the side of the stage and saw a man in a black hoodie and facemask. When he noticed I was looking at him, he turned away. I poked the inside of my cheek with my tongue in frustration. I smelled something fishy here.

“We're so dead,” Dom muttered under his breath.

"The mechanics for this race are simple: you must reach the finish line within the given time, which is only 3 minutes! Every member of your team needs to make it to the finish line, and if even one is left behind, your team will be immediately disqualified. The crew will not be able to continue to the next round," the MC said with a grin, swirling his hand inside the box filled with papers.

"Are they crazy? Why would they do something like this?!" I hissed, frustration etched across my face. June looked troubled, while Dom seemed deep in thought. I glanced at Jay, who was now watching the MC prepare to draw the first team to race.

"You're the only one with experience for this," Dom said, drawing everyone's attention. "I know it sounds like we're asking a lot, but you're our only chance to get everyone across the finish line—"

"Dom—" Jay tried to interrupt, but Dom spoke again.

"Jay, can't you see that? That's a race of death. Demitra is our only chance, so stop complicating things. Come on, man," he snapped at his friend. I was taken aback by his urgency and raised my hand to stop them from arguing.

"Hey, what's going on here? Just chill. We're at a race," I interjected. "I may have experience, but that's not the only key to reaching the finish line." I sighed and looked at the big screen. "All we need is to help each other. Dom, you're our sprinter. Do you remember what I taught you last time about the positions to control your speed better?" I asked, and he nodded.

"The top tube safe is a position you can use to get out of the bowl section quickly. I know you're scared of the curve, but believe me, once you do this, you'll be on the surface in no time," I explained. I got on the bike to demonstrate the position to June. "This position can increase your speed by 17%. It may look scary, but it's safer on a bike than on a skateboard."

"Noted. All I need to do is get into that position and close my eyes, right?" I sensed the fear in his voice.

I shook my head in amusement. "I mean, you can try, but I don't think you can close your eyes. It would only make your fear worse."

I turned to June. "Don't worry about me, Demitra. I was listening while you were teaching Dom. I've got it."

I sighed in relief. I was startled when Jay approached me and tightened my helmet on my head. "You may excel at this, but you still need to be careful. This isn't a skatepark," My heart raced faster.

"I don't need to teach you, right?" I whispered with a teasing tone. He held my gaze.

"All I need is to finish this race and for you to be careful. We don't want you to get hurt." We? Or him? It's like he's using his friends as an excuse. Oh, come on! I can't believe I'm thinking this way. What is he doing to me?

"I'm more capable than you think." I wanted to tell him that I've experienced more dangerous races than this one, but he doesn't need to know that.

"I know." I froze and stared at him. His words seemed to carry deeper meaning, as if he was hinting at something.

[bellysoupset]

Alright, if you follow the plot of my OCs, this one is not an optional story! 🙈

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

"Yeah?" Leo picked up his phone already frowning, since his screen displayed Wicked Witch of the West as the caller, "Wendy?"

"Hiii..." Wendy's voice was sugary and his frown deepened, causing Leo to stop chopping vegetables, "are you busy...?"

"Is something wrong? With you? Vin?"

"No, no, nothing is wrong! We're all fine!" Wendy was quick to say, her voice going a note up and Leo squinted, annoyed.

"Then I'm busy."

"Ah," she sounded so defeated, "okay..."

He was not going to feel guilty. He was not going to feel guilty. He was not going-

"What do you want, Wendy?"

She let out a little squeal and Leo rolled his eyes so much they nearly got stuck, "soooo, uhm- are you free tomorrow night?"

"Jonah's in Paris, yeah, I'm free," Leo said bitterly. He was being the world's most supportive fiancé to Jonah's face, but to Wendy he could let out his full bitchiness show.

"Great," Wendy was clearly smiling, "I need you to be my partner in something."

"No."

"You don't even know what it is!"

Leo let out a groan, "what is it?"

"Ballroom dancing," she said it quickly and before he could tell her that absolutely not, Wendy continued to speak, "look! It's just one experimental class, I just wanna know if I'll like it! Please! Bella said she won't go and Vin is away."

"Ask Lucas," Leo scoffed, "he'll love it."

"He already knows how to ballroom dance and Bella's super jealous of him, no thanks," Wendy whined, "please? Hell, I'll pay you-"

"I don't want your money," Leo wrinkled his nose, "can't you just wait until Vin is in town? He's coming over Friday night."

"No, the classes are only Tuesday and Thursday nights..." Wendy was doing her best imitation of a kicked puppy, he knew without even looking at her, "please, Leo."

"It'll only be one class?" he asked, cringing as he heard her celebrating.

"Only one class, I promise!"

"Alright," he started to wipe his messy hands to grab his phone and hung up as Wendy continued to speak: wear track pants! And comfy shoes!

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

Leo was standing outside of Wendy's building, questioning his life choices, when his frenemy walked out. Unlike him, who had come straight from work and was wearing exactly what she told him to, Wendy was clad in a red flowy dress, with layers and layers, reaching just past her knees.

She lit up as she saw him, "I'm glad you came!"

Leo raised an eyebrow, "am I gonna regret this?"

"Do you know how to dance?" Wendy circled his car to get in the passenger side and Leo scowled.

"No..."

"Then what a better time to learn than now? You know Jonah knows how to waltz, right?" Wendy entered the car and Leo squinted at her, getting in the driver's seat as she typed the address in her phone's GPS.

"So what if Jonah knows? He knows a bunch of shit I don't, it's not a competition," Leo drummed his fingers against the steering wheel and Wendy let out a heavy sigh, as if he was stupid.

"So you're marrying the guy. Couples typically have a first waltz when they marry and Jon said you wanna do the whole traditional thing, so I'm guessing that as well?" Wendy smiled at him smugly, "you want to keep up with him, right?"

Leo knew he was being manipulated, that didn't stop it from working. He clenched his jaw and turned up his music, causing Wendy to let out an amused huff and look out of her window.

The dance school was across town, a brown building with a brightly lit sign hanging over the door, of a couple dancing. The metal gates were open, so was the front door and a very old receptionist was sitting in the cramped entry hall.

"You must be the Marshall's?" the woman opened a sweety smile when she saw them, "here for the experimental class?"

"God, no-"

"Yes," Wendy squeezed his arm, glaring at him, "Wendy Marshall and Leo Wagner."

"Oh, forgive me, I just assumed," the woman shook her head in an apologetic manner, "they're already warming up, so you better hurry. Down the hall, up the stairs."

"Thank you", Wendy was all smiles as she dragged Leo forward and he started to feel himself lagging behind. He hated doing new things, meeting new people. How did Wendy convince him to join this public humiliation, he wasn't sure.

The second floor had a huge ball room, with mirrors up against a wall, very similar to a ballet studio, except for the couples scattered around and the lack of the support bars along the walls.

"Wendy!" A woman in her late forties said from across the room. Leo turned to look at her, then froze.

She was a tall, skinny woman, with incredibly light blonde hair and striking blue eyes. A severe face, but the illusion was shattered by the smile stretching her thin lips.

"I'm so glad you came!" The woman, probably the teacher, said, crossing the room to meet up with them. She frowned as she felt Leo's gaze on her, blonde brows meeting, "is this the boyfriend you mentioned?"

"No, that's just my friend, Leo," Wendy cleared up, turning to look at him and shake the woman's hand. Leo gulped down around nothing, feeling the air stop in his lungs.

The United States was huge. It was a twenty seven hour drive from Oklahoma to Maine. And out of every fucking place that Amelia could be in, she was there. Standing in front of him, not recognizing him.

"Leo?" Wendy shook his shoulder and Amelia's frown deepened.

"Is he okay?"

"What- What are you doing here?" Leo glared at the woman in front of him. His voice didn't sound like his own. He didn't feel like himself, it was like he was watching the scene unfold out of his body.

The woman looked at Wendy, then at him, "I'm the owner of the studio... I'm sorry, have we met?"

Leo let out a hysterical chuckle.

There were many times he had wondered how it'd feel to see his mother again. Would he feel anger? Resentment? Sadness? Shock?

It had never crossed his mind that she wouldn't recognize him at all. Sure, he had long shed his baby traits, the man he was at nearly twenty six was a completely different person from the tiny ten year old with nearly white hair and too big ears he had been... But he was still her son, how could she not recognize him in the least, when he could easily pin point her through his blurry and faded memories.

"Leo?" Wendy was up in his face now, on her very tip toes and hands cupping his cheeks, sounding concerned, "sweetheart, what is it?"

The fact Wendy, of all people, was using a pet name caused another blubbering giggle to come up. His eyes stung, his hands were clammy and shaky as they closed around Wendy's wrist-

"You said your name is Leo?" Amelia repeated, moving closer and Leo took an instinctive step back, bringing Wendy with him.

It was a split second, but suddenly Wen's dark brows met and her bright green eyes widened, her heart shaped mouth falling into a comic O. She shook her head, glanced between Amelia, then Leo, then raised an eyebrow, "She's not-"

Leo felt like he couldn't breathe. He nodded and Wendy turned around quick as a wip, shoving him behind her as if she was not half his size, "we're leaving," her voice was a whole note louder, "don't even think of coming after us, you've done enough."

Amelia looked distraught and confused, blinking quickly, "no, I- I- Leo? Leo- Edward's Leo?"

It had been at least seven years since Leo had heard his father's name and the word caused his head to spin. He stumbled back and Wendy's grip on his shirt tightened, as if she could and would hold his whole weight in case he collapsed.

"C'mon, Leo, let's go," she turned around, clutching his bicep and shoving him to start moving. Leo took a couple stumbling steps back and Amelia followed, the rest of the class entirely forgotten, looking a bit drunk herself.

"You can't- What are you doing here? In Maine-"

"Stop," Wendy's tone was sharp as she glared at the woman, "Leo, let's go, we need to go-" with another push, he allowed himself to turn around and be all but dragged down the stairs. Ignoring the shouting of his name in the background, the iron grip Wendy was keeping in his bicep-

They stumbled out of the building and he fell like a drunk to his car, bracing against the metal door and trying to catch his breath. Wendy's hand was in the middle of his back, rubbing, and he could feel the nervous energy emanating from her, like a light bulb on the corner of his eye.

"She- Oh my fucking God-" he hyperventilated, not missing the fact this was a horrible place to stop, right in front of the dance studio.

"I know," Wendy couldn't possibly know anything, but her voice was like a lifeboat in the storm and Leo clung to it, nodding along her rambling, "we're leaving, you can't stay here-" her hand entered his pocket without warning, fishing out the car keys and then Leo was ushered inside the passenger seat, despite the fact Wendy had pulled at it earlier and made the whole place cramped.

She shut the door, then ran around the car and got in the driver's side, not even bothering to fiddle with the seat and sitting at the very edge in order to drive.

Leo leaned back against the leather, tugging on his shirt with such a force he ripped the first button, gasping for air. He looked up, at the car ceiling, mind spiraling.

Amelia was in town. Amelia lived in his town. This whole time- Had she been there before he even arrived? Had part of him, somehow, known she'd be in Weston and that was why he picked that scholarship out of all the others? How-

"I thought-" Leo choked up and he hadn't realized he had started to cry, but now he noticed there were tears running down his cheeks and his throat was so tight it nearly hurt, "I thought- Fuck-"

Wendy let out a little wounded noise, almost a mew, and reached without looking, her small hand finding her way to his knee in order to comfort him. Leo wrapped his hand on top of hers, squeezing her fingers and trying to ground himself.

What he could hear? The honks of traffic. Wendy's soft cursing, in full yankee. His own hiccupping sobs. The car humming-

What he could smell? Wendy's sweet perfume. Sea salt, because they were near the port area of the city- Trees.

"Pullover-" Leo slurred, whole body jumping with a heave as his stomach threw the towel, "Wendy, PULL-"

The car came to a screeching halt on the side of the street, in some half empty residential area, and Leo threw the door open hastily, barely managing to hang his head out of it before his dinner made a nasty reappearance over the humid tarmac.

He coughed, the sobs turning into gags once more and spat up another mouthful of acidic sludge, his nose and throat burning, whole body shivering violently.

"Shhh-shhh, I got you," Wendy whispered softly and Leo squeezed the door handle, his other hand in the partition between the front and backseat, white knuckling it. He felt her one of her hands coming to cup his forehead, Wendy squeezing his shoulder in a sweet manner, "get it up, you're okay, sweetheart-"

Leo spat the bitter taste, sniffling grossly. His whole head was pounding, warm... "Fuck," he said eloquently, straightening up and falling back against his seat. Wendy let out a small snort, pushing his hair back and waiting patiently for him to be able to say a whole sentence.

"I didn't- I didn't think I'd ever see her again," he admitted, after a good handful of minutes passed. His head was still spinning and Leo wasn't sure if he felt... Angry or relieved or sad. Right now he just felt nauseous, defeated... Empty.

Wendy didn't say anything, continuing to pet his hair and Leo closed his eyes to avoid her concerned gaze. He pressed his lips into a thin line, swallowing down the knot in his throat that he didn't know if it was nausea or more tears, "I hoped I'd never see her again," he whispered, then wiped his mouth and nose with his sleeve, "I can't believe she didn't even-"

"Fuck her," was Wendy's first coherent sentence since they had left the studio and it was startling enough to cause Leo to open his eyes and chuckle, "fuck her so much," Wen repeated, glaring at him to show how serious she was, "she doesn't deserve you, she never did."

His watery laughter very quickly morphed into tears and Leo folded in half, all but falling straight into Wendy's arms, hiding his face against her neck as she hugged him sideways in the side of the road. He could feel his sobs wrecking through her, as Wendy pressed her lips to the top of his head, squeezing him closer.

[plutoswritingplanet]

Vicarious (Homelander x Female!Reader) pt. 6

a/n: Mama a new chapter behind you (had to reupload this, because it didn't show up in the tag for some reason), this chapter might seem like a blurb of bs but it's important to the story guys please believe me. Cross-Posted on AO3

Warnings: Creepy Behavior (wow, a shocker), Discussion around some Non-Con situations (nothing explicit though), Smoking, Cussing, the regular

Summary: Finally, you get your phone back... And make a promise which will haunt you forever

Vicarious Masterlist

- What the fuck did you do? - Stillwell asks through gritted teeth, her expression frozen in a tight smile. 

The very second he has announced, the photoshoot would have to be postponed due to your "health problems", he could practically hear her heart drop right down to her tight, corporate ass. He decided not to comment on the sudden flood of adrenaline in her veins, but the moment she turned to him, demanding an answer, an explanation, he could feel the vein on his temple start to pulse.

Because how dare she, look at him like that? Like she actually cares about that ungrateful lowlife, he left wheezing on the floor, in some forgotten conference room? 

- She's not feeling well - he repeats, his voice becoming tense - Last night must've worn her out. 

Stillwell scoffs at his pathetic attempt at sounding sympathetic. Her eyebrows crease, as she takes a long, steadying breath, her shoulders slumping slightly. He likes that expression, likes the way people give up around him. The feeling of breaking someone down always gives him such a rush, it's unparalleled to anything else. 

He wonders how your face will twist and turn, when he finally manages to wrench himself under the layers of masks and disguises. He got close, he got a whiff of blood, and like a starved shark, he needed more.

The team of photographers continues to hassle about the place, setting things up, as if the photoshoot will take place. Which, it won't, he made sure of it. 

- Is she alive? - Stillwell asks with a resigned sigh, and Homelander rolls his eyes. 

- Yes, of course she's fucking alive, I'm not...

- Hey, y'all. Sorry for being late. 

Your voice shoots through him like an arrow of some fucked up, drunk cupid. His entire frame goes rigid, as his head all but snaps with the quickness he turns around. 

There you are. 

A plastic imitation of a laid-back smile plastered on your face, as you regard every person in the room with a nod of greeting. Not a hair on you seems out of place, even though he can clearly see, through the tissue and the muscle, that your ribs are only beginning to heal, the fragments of bone connecting with each other at a snails pace. It can't be pleasant, but your eyes shine nonetheless, as your platform boots carry you in their direction.

Stillwell looks just as shocked as he feels, her eyebrows nearly touching the perfect hairline on her forehead. 

- Miss Stillwell - you greet her with a pleasant smile - Homelander. 

- I see you're all better now - he comments after a beat, his eyes scanning your form.

He doesn't like the way your expression doesn't even budge. It feels insulting, your refusal to show your true colors to him, especially since he has seen you. He knows there are thoughts brewing under that blowout, and when you direct that fake smile at him, it feels like a personal jab.

 A small middle finger, pointed straight at his smile, stuck like glue to his face. The word "Bitch" echoes in his mind, and his eyes start to burn at the corners. 

- Ah, that party last night must've tired me out more than I anticipated - you shake your head in a rather forced attempt at looking bashful - I hope I haven't inconvenienced y'all too much. 

It's a blur from then on. Stillwell directs you towards the makeup booth, swallowing around her shock, before she comes out as too relieved. 

Homelander doesn't register any of her words, silently stalking to his own chair, where he lets some intern cake his face with makeup. He keeps his eyes on you, all the time, imagining all the horrible things he could do, will do, once this charade is over. 

He notices, with the accuracy of a starved hawk, how your breathing is still quite shaky, how your lungs aren't expanding as much as they're supposed to. Then, there's the tremble in your hand, as you curl your fingers around the armrest, nails digging into the plastic, when the makeup artist glides her brush over your collarbones. His eyes catch the smidgen of glitter, and his lip quirks up, seemingly on its own. 

A fitting camouflage, for the carnage he's left underneath. 

You suck in a sharp breath, as one of the ribs clicks back into place, and mask the sound with a cough. Which brings another wave of pain, crashing over your chest. He has to admit, the way you pretend to be completely unaffected is admirable. If anything, it gives him some hope regarding the future movie you're supposed to do together. In a month or so, he doesn't remember the details. Doesn't care for them. 

And then, you're up. 

Solo shots first. The photographer ushers you in front of the green screen, where you stand on the mark, shuffling on your feet awkwardly. Homelander watches, his head tilting, as you let yourself be posed, like a doll for the entertainment of millions. For his entertainment. 

It's the same, boring series of poses. The same, ass-and-tits-in-the-same-shot bullshit. He's seen it on practically every female superhero, and yes, perhaps at first it was exciting. Right now, however, it feels like licking off a plate after reheated leftovers. Still, he has to admit, there's something intriguing about the way your body twists and turns to accommodate the photographer's artistic vision. 

Despite that, despite the way your thighs peak almost too scandalously from under your plaid skirt, or the way your chest practically waves at him from beneath your corset top... 

He feels nothing. No familiar tightness in the lower parts of his suit. No fidgeting, no sudden wave of heat. He looks at you, and sees... Well... You. 

Even when your painted lips pull back into a flirty, curling smile, as you wink at the camera (as instructed), he can't really see Fireball anymore. It's like those couple of minutes ago, when he left you writhing on the floor unlocked some deep truth, some unexplainable dam, which has burst completely.

For a moment, he doesn't know what to think. The photographer thanks you, motions for him to take his place, and with limbs, which are suddenly much too heavy, Homelander makes his way in front of the camera. 

Your gaze follows him, eyes shifting under ridiculously large fake eyelashes. He feels them, burning the back of his neck, and for some unknown reason, it makes him feel... Almost pleased. He's always been a slut for attention, for admiration, for the looks of awe. And while there's nothing on your face which would suggest the latter two, you're still looking at him.

It makes his chest puff out a bit more, his back straightening, his smile cutting even more than usual. And the camera clicks, and clicks, until it's time for your paired shots. 

The chair squeaks, when you stand up, and Homelander swallows, listening to your platform boots, as they click on the linoleum flooring. Soon enough, you're in front of him, the photographer maneuvers you to his liking, and Homelander looks down, takes a whiff of  your perfume. That lingering, suffocating scent of jasmine. It swirls in his nose, cements itself into his brain, and his chest makes a quick up and down movement, his lungs refusing cooperation for just a second. 

The photographer turns you around, makes you stand closer to him, chests almost pressing together. And then, he places your arm across his shoulders, and Homelander freezes.

He doesn't know why, not really, but the feeling of your plush flesh against his sends a wave of paralyzing shivers down his spine. Surprisingly, not of arousal, but something else entirely. Something he refused to recognize. 

Your eyes flicker to his, eyebrows twitching in a display of curiosity, as you feel him tense under your hand. He doesn't like it, the way you seem to see right through him, like he's made of glass. Like you can sense his thoughts, his very soul. 

Annoyingly perceptive.

His mouth opens, so close to a biting, threatening comment, but before anything comes out, the pressure on his shoulder lessens, before disappearing completely. Eyes flickering to the side, he can see the way your hand hovers, just millimeters from his costume, maintaining the illusion of contact. 

Anger is his natural reaction, embedded into the very core of his being. He doesn't want to recognize the flood of relief at the lack of contact, he doesn't want to understand the implications. And most importantly, he absolutely hates, that it's you. Once again, you've managed to read him like a fucking book, and took it all in without even moving a muscle. 

Thoughts swirl inside his brain, and he's so focused on the noticable lack of your touch, that he doesn't hear the photographer until the third time.

The next couple of poses go in that exact manner. The photographer tells you how to pose, and you do so, keeping your body hovering over Homelander's. 

He refuses to recognize the flicker of gratitude in his gut. He's never grateful, he's a fucking superhero, and physical touch is not something he's shied away from. Yet, he can't deny, that small show of respect, not directed towards his power, but rather, his own preference... Strange.

You're strange, you're infuriating. Your hair looks so soft, despite the gallons of product they dumped onto it.

He gravitates towards you after the shoot ends, when all the staff is slowly packing up, flickering out of the room in a river of insignificance. You're standing by the makeup table, Ashley at your side, explaining something with that same 'i'm going to have a heart attack any moment', terrified stare. He watches with mild interest, as your presence alone seems to slow the ginger's heart.

Your ribs seem to be healed over by this point, he watches some lingering, floating pieces of bone, as they fit into the puzzle of your insides. He takes a step closer, suddenly mesmerized by the way your blood vessels connect, reaching towards each other. Joining hands.

The sound of your laughter cuts through his thoughts like a knife, and he blinks up towards your face, noting deep in his brain the different types, different sounds of your joy. It's such a strange observation, he stuns himself for a moment. But then again, there's no one but himself to police his thoughts. What goes on in his mind, stays within. No corporate restrictions, no paparazzi, no Stillwell. Just him, and the soft chuckle you just let out, light, breezy, barely a sound really. 

He's caught in the middle of replaying the way your voice carried above the music, back at the party, where he listened to you, and only you, floating above the roof like a dark omen. That cracking, unrestrained sound, which both irritated him, and brought a strange feeling of confusion, swirling in his stomach. So different from your Fireball persona, from the soft, high-pitched sounds you were emitting while in the Tower, constantly under surveillance. 

- Just don't blow it - Ashley sighs, a swan song of her professionalism, and the wink you give her is nothing short of diabolical

- I never blow jobs without a "please" first - you shoot back, stunning both the redhead, and the lurking Homelander into silence.

It's almost a relief to him, when the familiar tightness around the lower section of his suit manifests itself at your words. He greets it like an old friend. 

Would he ask for it? Would he twist his face into a pleading expression, would he guide you down, a steady hand on your shoulder, as he repeats "please" like it's a prayer? He shudders at the mental image, his fingers curling into fists so tight, the leather of his gloves starts to creak. 

When your conversation with Ashley finishes, he follows you out the room, a small distance behind, and he truly doesn't know what compels his legs to move forward. He doesn't understand the need, that's suddenly manifested itself somewhere in the darker parts of himself. All he knows, is that he walks behind you like a shadow, through the corridors of the ground level of the Tower, ignoring the looks of awe and inspiration from all the inconsequential workers. 

They filter like ants around the two of you, faces rising from their computers, abandoning their lunches in favor of gaping at the unexpected pair, that's slowly but surely making it's way towards the smoking area. 

All the while, that ridiculously short, plaid skirt sways to the sound of the only two words, rattling around in his brain, as he observes your movements.

Ripe. Plump. Ripe. Plump. Ripe. Plump.

It would be so easy, he thinks again, to just pull you away. He knows every nook and cranny of this place. Every shadowed broom closet, every blind spot of the cameras. He has used and abused all those places, burned their existence into the mind of many, many women. 

There are walls in this building, which are most definitely lacking your body pressed into them. His hands itch. They would fit so nicely under the plush flesh of your thighs, sinking into them, holding them apart. It would be child's play at this point. 

And he knows Madelyn made you sign an NDA, he's seen the intricate lines of your name on the white paper. No one would stop him, and yet...

The smoking area is relatively empty. You find a spot at a table near the large window overlooking the street, and he says nothing, as he slinks into the chair opposite yours. Finally, you look up at him, tilting your head to the side, like you're trying to read something out of the schooled, passive expression on his face. He doesn't like it, the way your eyes drill into him, like you're peeling away some layers he doesn't even know are there. 

He's supposed to be the one doing the peeling. 

- So - you start, and he immediately snaps his attention to the tone of your voice - That was fucking exhausting, wasn't it?

Higher register, breathy quality. You're talking to him like he's one of them. One of Vaught, one of the press, like he didn't see your trembling body on the floor of the office.

Anger flares within him at the revelation, and your breath catches in your throat as without warning, the sound of a chair scraping roughly on the tiled floor fills the air. Homelander pushes himself right next to you, his hand clamping down like a vice around your wrist, holding it tightly on your lap, the leather of his gloves squeaking in protest.

Your eyes widen a fraction, muscles tensing at the unexpected proximity, and your gaze darts around the smoking area, taking in the noticable lack of other people.

- The fu...-

He cuts you off quickly, his grip tightening to an almost bruising intensity.

- Don't ever use that voice with me. - his voice is low, a hint of a warning hidden in every syllable.

For just a second your eyebrows furrow in plain confusion, and then, realization hits the both of you like a freight train. 

This isn't you. You're not here.

You didn't know. You didn't notice until he pointed it out. Slow horror blossoms on your face, breath catching in your freshly healed trachea, as you blink up at him. 

A mixture of emotions swirls in his gut. 

They almost got you. For just a second you were completely immersed in the fantastical, corporate creation, this hellish place wanted you to be. So immersed in fact, you forgot your own voice. Fireball, like a greedy parasite, has taken root in your system, sucking away your person hood. Just like he is trained to always smile towards the camera, his face twisting every time, like a compulsion he can't get rid of. 

Your shoulders sag, this unexplainable heaviness returning to your bones. He will remember this moment for years to come, long after the contract has ended, this small flicker of understanding, however damning it might be, will forever cement itself into his very being. The first time you've ever recognized, that there's more to him, that he knows he's not the only thing you're fighting.

Because in this small moment, despite the animosity, the tension, the downright horrible thoughts and actions he's taken against you, will take against you, both of you know the horrible truth. The price to pay for stepping a foot in his world, even momentarily. 

- You will never lie to me - he says like it's an universally accepted fact, not a request.

And you nod, a sudden jerk of your head, hair jumping around your face, because there's no other way. He'll sniff out lies from the very essence of your being, but more than that, you're slowly growing more desperate to maintain this flicker of kinship. Your only chance at establishing a connection, at worming yourself into his brain as something more than just a piece of fuckable meat. 

You will take any crumb at this point. Any way to ensure he sees you as something more, than a toy to play with and discard. To earn your safety amongst his heated stares, and pages upon pages of contracts. Stillwell won't protect you from him anymore, that much has become obvious, the moment she made you sign an NDA. Now it's your job to make sure it'll never be used against you. 

Which is why, your lips part, tongue running over your teeth, as if chasing the lingering taste of Fireball's voice in your mouth. So you can recognize it earlier, cut it out like a tumor, before it consumes you. 

- Thank you - he shudders, as that phrase leaves your lips once again, so reminiscent of your time in his penthouse, and yet so distinctly different. 

His jaw twitches under his skin, eyes blinking in rapid succession, and you can almost feel the way the bones of his hand creak, as he detaches himself from your wrist. There are indents in your flesh, in places where he pushed just a bit too far, but as soon as the pressure's gone, you can feel your skin spring back into its original state.

The chair scrapes once again, a shrill sound in the silence of the room, and with a terrifying mixture of emotions, your eyes glue themselves to the image of the American flag on his back, as he all but flees the place. For the first time, since you've landed here, he's the one retreating. But it doesn't feel like victory, it feels like the executioner's axe.

The next day, you spot your friend sitting at that same table, right in front of the window overlooking the street, where just yesterday he sat in that very chair. They notice you immediately, face twisting into a bright grin, as your heavy boots thud against the tiled floor. 

You absolutely, viscerally hate seeing them here, in this suffocating, terrible place. Alas, Stillwell made herself clear. This meeting is arranged during your working hours, and as such, must take place in the Tower. Despite that, you can't help the heartbreaking feeling, that tears your chest apart as they wave at you.

You've missed them, so incredibly hard, for just a moment you're willing to forget, that the walls of this building quite literally have ears. That there's always someone watching your every movement. That he's watching, listening in.

- Good God, look at you - your friend huffs a laugh, and wraps their arms around you, finally making the faux leather of the corset somewhat bearable - You look like an industry plant.

- That's cause I am an industry plant - you smile against their cheek, revelling in the way your voice finally sounds like it's supposed to.

Ignoring the gnawing feeling of unease, you sit back in your chair, forcing the image of Homelander to the very back of your mind. You might never be safe in here, but this  small reprieve, you'll take in stride. God only knows, you need some familiarity.

- How are the wedding preparations? - you ask, grabbing your phone from their hand, reunited at last 

- Well, I had no idea there's so many flowers to choose from, lemme tell you that much - they huff, and your lips pull back into a smile on their own accord.

It's so easy to forget where you are, when they're near, when they're teasing the Smirnoff out of you. It's like their sheer presence here stomped hard on��Fireball's neck, forcing her to stay down, to know her place. 

You needed that.

With practiced ease, your fingers fish out a pack of cigarettes from your cleavage, the only place you could've hidden them, considering your super suit doesn't have any pockets. And with an even more practiced smirk, your friend produces a lighter. The exchange happens naturally. They pluck one cig from the package, light yours up, and then their own. 

The scent of smoke fills your nose, biting and grounding at the same time. The feeling of nicotine slowly trickling into your system, a tightness in your lungs, makes your shoulders sag ever so slightly. 

- I'm surprised they let you smoke - your friend muses, cloud of gray curling around their mouth - Not very 'superhero of the people' of you.

You scoff, your eyes rolling.

- I swear, everytime I pull one out, they all look at me, like I'm snorting coke in front of a fucking preschooler.

You're well aware just how bitter your voice sounds, and as much as your friend tries to maintain the easy going smile, there's a flicker of deep-rooted concern. 

- They really made you into something else, huh? - they ask, voice quiet and almost mournful

- Five more months - you sigh, trying to take some consolation in the passage of time, however hopeless it may be. - "Life is a Cabaret, old chum..."

The quote hangs heavily between the two of you, twisting your faces into mirror images of sardonic smiles, as the utter ridiculousness of your situation falls on you like a weighted blanket. Smoke fills the space, lingering around your heads, before inevitably it gets sucked away by the ventilation system. For a second, you wish, you could ingrain this scent, this nauseating stink of chemicals into your very being, somehow sink it into your blood.

 Perhaps this way, you'd finally feel safe. Perhaps it would make him repulsed enough to leave your shadow.

It's quiet for a moment. The hum of the air conditioning, and the distant sounds of lively New York streets combining into a harmony of your current life, drowning you in the unchanging rhythm of the big city. Your mind starts to wonder, towards the ever-seeing eyes of your mentor. If he sees you now, what is he thinking? Is he planning some elaborate way to twist your very being to his liking? 

No. Not after your last conversation. 

Surely, it would be easier, if he had just accepted Fireball as your ultimate, perfect image. You were a good actress, and exceptional liar. You could've pulled it off. But of course, he wants you. He wants Smirnoff. And by God, that thought twists your guts into a mixture of fear and disgust. 

Why won't he just let you pretend?

- So, how's Mister America? - your friend's voice brings you back, pulls you away from your darkening thoughts, and wrenches a heavy, tired sigh right out of your lungs. 

You can't tell them. 

You're contractually obligated never to say a word. Still, they can read you like an open book, having spent years of their life getting used to the twists and turns of your expression. So, when you look up at them, through haze of cigarette smoke and unspoken words, they understand without a second of delay. 

Their face falls, that smirk you've known so well, trampled by an image of pure worry. It doesn't take a genius to see the undercurrent of fear, the acceptance of the inevitable flowing from your eyes like a broken faucet. 

- Oh...

Yeah. Oh. 

What else is there to say? What words could bring you comfort in this mess? Truth is, as much as you'd hate to admit it, you've brought this upon yourself, the moment you sat in Stillwells office. The moment you saw the CCTV footage, and still decided to sign that damned non-disclosure. You should've ran for the hills. Pack your pride, pack your bleeding heart, and hide back in your house, between boxes of your mother's belongings, between your sister's old posters. Under your old diploma, and all the other trash you're never going to use again. 

But here you are. Waiting for the other shoe to drop.

- You have no idea... - the words seem to run out of your mouth on their own, carried away on the hands of cigarette smoke.

- Did he hurt you?

Now you laugh. A bitter, grating sound that hurts both your ears, and your heart. Because yes, of course he did hurt you. But how can you explain, that in that very moment you felt more seen, more alive, than you've had for years of your life? How does one even begin to comprehend such terrible truth, not to mention saying it out loud. 

And how do you explain, that physical violence is not the part you're worried about?

- That's... - you pause, raking your brain for something, any phrase that wouldn't endanger the contract, while still describing your hopeless situation - That's not the worst thing, that can (will) happen to me here.

There. You can see, by their sharp intake of breath, that suddenly they understand in fullness. Their throat bobs around a nervous swallow.

- What's your plan? - your friend asks, leaning closer, their elbows sliding on the glass table - You have to protect yourself somehow, this can't... You can't. 

- I don't know - the admission feels both hopeless and cathartic - I thought I did, but I don't. All I know is, I need to make myself irreplacable. I need to be entertaining enough, without loosing the last fucking shreds of dignity I have. Damned if I do, damned if I don't otherwise. 

Another moment of heavy silence falls between the two of you. The tiles on the floor start to merge together, as tears spring into your eyes. Pathetic, really. You promised yourself not to cry, and yet, despite still being inside the belly of the beast, your friend's presence brings out, well... You. 

Their tone of voice is soft, measured, when they say your name, and your eyes flicker towards them, wetness gathering on the ends of your fake eyelashes.

They hold your gaze for a moment, something akin to determination flowing in tides across their face. 

- So, saying "Yes", and saying "No" are out of question. - they muse, and you nod, a single, tense jerk of your head - Then there's only one answer. 

You blink, confused. The cigarette sizzles, as they chuck it into a half empty paper cup of black coffee, smoke rising into the air, before it's extinguished completely. Elbows slide across the glass table, as they lean in closer towards you, as if sharing some incredibly juicy secret. 

You can see the small mole on their cheek is dusted with a bit of makeup powder. 

- The answer is, "Maybe."

[truffle-worm]

Now that I’ve finally read Night of the Nindroids I've decided to make a little analysis on the way Zane is portrayed in that comic. I know it technically isn’t canon but I just found it so interesting, I couldn't stop thinking about it.

Spoilers up ahead!

The comic starts off with the ninja telling each other jokes. Frustrated with Zane’s lack of humor, Jay makes a somewhat rude comment towards him and then immediately apologizes. What really stuck out to me is how Zane responded. He said “I am not sure I have feelings to be hurt”, which tells me that Zane himself seems to doubt his own personhood.

Next night, Zane gets caught by the Nindroids and faces the Overlord. The Overlord rhetorically asks him what he’s afraid of, immediately following by a statement that Zane is incapable of feeling anything. Not love, not hate, not fear. Everything he ever experienced has been an imitation of real feelings. He's only a robot. The Overlord uses extremely manipulative language in order to make his offer sound more tempting. That offer being: turning Zane human. Transferring his mind to one of his friends’ bodies and killing them in the process. Zane of course rejects that idea, but the Overlord continues to push, pointing out how he’ll never be like his friends, how he’ll never truly understand them. Zane fled, but the narrator points out that those words really stuck in his head. 

Next day, Zane asks Cole about doubts and fears and Cole responds, saying that pretty much everyone has those and that Zane is lucky he doesn’t have to worry about them. Zane hesitantly agrees, though you can see by his face that he’s clearly bothered. Honestly this conversation characterizes Cole in a weird way imo, almost like he’s denying Zane’s feelings? I know Cole acted way different in early seasons and this comic is very old but even then it feels a bit out of character? Idk just my opinion.

Now, Zane does end up taking the Overlord’s offer, choosing Kai’s body as his future vessel, but it’s later revealed that he only pretended to betray his friends. In reality, Zane and the ninja hatched an elaborate plan together to take down the Nindroid army. They pretended to have a serious fight and then they pretended to be defeated by Zane. Honestly I wish we got to see a flashback of that conversation. I mean, in order for them to hatch that plan, Zane would’ve had to reveal the Overlord’s offer and therefore expose his deepest insecurities, which would've inevitably lead to a serious conversation about the way he viewed himself in relation to others. It’s a shame we didn’t get that, it could’ve been really interesting.

Now, Zane didn’t tell the ninja the full extent of his plan (I’m assuming it’s because he was constantly being watched by nindroids) but in order for it to work, Kai had to get really close to losing his life. It was a pretty reckless plan and at one point Zane even marked how he was unsure about whether it would even work. I think it could’ve been interesting if Kai held a bit of a grudge towards Zane afterwards, but then again, this story is about trusting your friends so I understand why he didn’t.

In the end though, Nya helped save the ninja, revealing that Zane had asked her for help. To keep it secret from the nindroids, Zane used a code that him and Nya had created together one time. I think it’s sweet how they have their own code. I love their duo.

Anyways, when Zane triple-crossed the Overlord, the Overlord started yelling about how Zane had forfeited his chance at humanity, to which he responded with “If I had done what you asked, I might have had a human body, but I would have been far from human”, which might be one of my favorite Zane lines. It's powerful. It’s a stark contrast from the beginning of the comic, when he seemed to question his personhood and the reality of his feelings. Now he’s confident about them. Because he knows he cares about his friends. And no matter whether he’s a machine or not, they will always have his back. And he will always have theirs.

Overall, Night of the Nindroids wasn’t perfect, but I still find their portrayal of Zane pretty compelling. The comic dove down some pretty interesting topics regarding his insecurities, which is something I wish was more elaborated on in the show. I also wish the comic gave us a heartfelt moment between him and the ninja, where he reveals his insecurities to his friends and they give him reassurance, as I think that would really cement their mutual trust.

If you think I’ve missed something, feel free to add on.

[lucagray813]

Shadow - Chapter 15

Title: Smile Like You Mean It

Rating: T

Word Count: ~10,000

Characters: Wukong, Macaque

Minor Characters: MK, Mei, Red Son, DBK, Gōngzhǔ, Bǎi Hé

Relationships: Macaque/Wukong

Minor Relationships: MK & Mei & Red Son, Macaque & Bǎi Hé

Summary: Macaque has a run in with an old "friend", a very unserious "What are we?" talk, Bǎi Hé's big day and the story of how Macaque and Bǎi Hé's friendship came to be.

Additional Tags: Developing Relationship, Acquired Disability, Slice of Life, DBK is called Niú, PIF is called Gōngzhǔ

CW: swearing, very brief hint at past depression/suicidal ideation

Link to AO3 Version

Chapter Navigation: First | Prev | Next

----

Macaque had many smiles and only about half of them were the kind that Wukong was always happy to see.

Some of the more mischievous smiles could go either way, depending on whether he was the victim of said mischief and just how diabolical the scheme was, and unfortunately he didn't always figure it out before it was too late.

This particular smile had made him instantly wary - his face brimming with delight but with a spark of something knowing in his eyes - and he was almost afraid to ask what Macaque had gotten up to that had him in such good spirits.

Especially when it was accompanied by a, "You'll never guess who I ran into today."

He stopped preparing dinner long enough to grimace, "Please don't tell me it was someone looking for me."

Honestly, sometimes he was surprised Macaque or MK could do anything off of the island without tripping over the swarms of demons that held a grudge against him, justified or otherwise.

He was exaggerating, after the defeat of the Lady Bone Demon, very rarely did a demon from his past try and pick a fight but that didn't mean there weren't a decent number that had plenty to say about him to his successor given the opportunity.

Macaque's grin only widened, "Nope. It was actually someone from my chequered past for a change."

Colour him intrigued, he had zero idea who it could have been then. He turned and gave him his full attention, "Alright, I'll bite. Am I actually supposed to guess? Do I know them?"

Macaque's tail swished deviously, as he made his way to the couch, "I've technically told you about them but I'd say the chances of you actually guessing are slim to none. Although, maybe if I paint you a picture of the day it might ring a bell."

He grabbed the bag of peach chips he'd been snacking on and joined him, and once they were both suitably comfortable on their respective ends of the couch, he nodded, "Let's hear it then."

Oh, you knew Macaque was excited about a story when he broke out the shadow "puppets". These ones stood as little 2D creatures on top of the coffee table between the couch and the TV and he could easily identify Macaque, Niú and Gōngzhǔ on one side and MK, Red Son and Mei on the other.

He had a feeling he was going to be tearing out some fur to make some popcorn once the peach chips were done.

His eyes bounced between Macaque and the table as he started to tell his tale.

"So, I was catching up with Niú and Gōngzhǔ just like I had been planning to when I just so happened to catch wind of what the rugrats were upto and it was simply too good an opportunity to pass up on."

The Macaque shadow puppet perked up, clearly eavesdropping before slinking away to spy properly, much to the annoyance and amusement of Gōngzhǔ and Niú, respectively.

He wondered what he told them he was up to, if he made up some excuse or just left without warning - he wouldn't put either past him.

With a frankly terrifyingly accurate imitation of everyone's voices, Macaque paraphrased the conversation he had overheard, starting with Red Son.

"My scanners picked up something of note the other day when we were flying over Gāngchá and you two are coming with me to investigate it."

Mei stretched, clearly unbothered, "What kind of "something of note" are we talking about here? Because if it's anything like that useless brick we found last time then you can count me out."

She delighted in his indignity, "Useless-! That was a genuine artefact of the Liù Yǎn Civilization! Do you have any idea-!"

She interrupted him, "Yeah, yeah, yeah. Add it to the pile of genuine artefacts from lost civilizations. It didn't try and bring about the apocalypse or anything! Totally boring!"

MK piped up, "I like when we go treasure hunting and the world doesn't almost end! Makes for a nice change of pace!"

Mei wasn't won over, "Sure, it's fine every now and then but I'm not in the mood to hang about in some dank cave with no phone signal while Red drools over some rocks."

During this time, Red Son had been angrily digging through a box and once he'd found what he was looking for, he dramatically slammed a severed bull clone head on to the table, "Does this look boring to you!?"

There were twin cries of anguish from MK and Mei, "Bullford!"

MK picked up the head and hugged it to his chest, "It's going to be ok, buddy! Red Son is going to fix you up and then I'll take you out for Diesel Boba Tea! And it'll all be ok!"

Mei had Red Son by the collar, "Who did this!? How could you let this happen!? Is he going to be ok!? Why haven't you fixed him yet!?"

Red Son had begun to reply as he wrestled out of Mei's grip when his head whipped around to MK, "Stop giving my bull clones diesel! That's not what they run on!"

MK pouted, "But they like it! And it's just for a treat every now and then! They deserve something nice for all the hard work they do!"

Red Son successfully escaped Mei so he could yank the head out of MK's arms and put it back on the table, "How many times do I have to tell you? They are machines! They don't like anything!"

This resulted in a small uproar and Wukong was a little impressed at how quickly Macaque could switch between all three voices as they argued.

Red Son eventually shut them all up as he slammed a fist on top of the severed head and caused camera footage to project from its eyes, "Both of you shut up! This is what I brought you here for! You care so much about my bull clones? Then help me figure out what happened to this one!"

The shadow of the projection revealed as little to Wukong as the original probably had for Macaque but thankfully Red Son was able to provide exposition.

"I sent it to investigate and it didn't even manage to catch a glimpse of whatever tore it apart and threw it out like garbage!"

Nervously, MK asked, "Er, is that a tomb?"

Mei was much more enthused, "A haunted tomb, you say? Why didn't you lead with that? What are we standing around here for? Let's get ghost hunting! Don't worry, Bullford! You will be avenged!"

MK looked to Red Son for reassurance, "It's not haunted, right? There's a perfectly logical and scientific reason for whatever's going on in there, right?"

Red Son huffed, "Of course, there is!" He then admonished, "But you well know that ghosts are entirely within the realms of possibility."

MK had never been a massive fan of ghosts but he'd had plenty of terrible experiences with them over the past few years that had really exacerbated that fear. It didn't help that the incorporeal could be exceptionally difficult to fight.

Confident he already knew where this was going, he turned and looked at Macaque disapprovingly, "You didn't."

The innocent smile said it all, "I didn't what?"

"You seriously tagged along just so you could terrify the kids?"

Macaque pretended to be wounded, "Would I do something like that?"

"Yes. Because you're literally the worst."

Macaque laughed, totally unoffended, "I confess that was the initial plan but it turns out there really was someone haunting the place, and doing a damn good job of it, but it wasn't a ghost."

The scene on the coffee table changed, the background that of the tomb as Red Son led the way for an alert Mei and a skittish MK. Red Son, himself, was looking very annoyed at the nonfunctioning device he was holding.

Macaque's shadow was slinking behind them, looking unexpectedly thoughtful, as the real Macaque explained, "As soon as I stepped foot in that tomb, I had the craziest feeling of déjà vu and while I was trying to figure it out, the show started. Honestly, it was pretty masterfully done. Every little sound or movement crafted to build tension."

He watched as all three of the kids became increasingly more nervous, even if they were trying to pretend otherwise.

Wukong couldn't help but frown, "Did they just forget about their powers? Why isn't MK using his golden vision? Why isn't Red Son turning up the brightness? Mei could be zipping through there at lightning speed! What's going on?"

Macaque snorted, "You give them all way too much credit sometimes but Mei, I'm pretty sure is into being cast in a real life horror movie. Red Son, is actually trying to use his fire but there're some impressive illusions at play swallowing up any extra light. And MK? I think he's just as afraid of what he'll see with his Golden Vision as he would without. To be fair though that might very well have been the case here."

He made a mental note to talk to MK about it later. He had a feeling Macaque might have already given them all a hard time over their performance already though.

He gestured in exasperation at the table, "They split up? Really?"

At least it didn't look like it had been by choice but still this was just getting embarrassing now.

Macaque grinned, "At this point, I figured I better go find out who the mastermind was, just on the off chance anyone was actually in danger but honestly my gut was telling me they'd be fine."

The kids continued to run around in the background like headless chickens while Macaque came face to face with a truly massive demon that looked like it'd been pulled right out of one of MK's nightmares.

The vast length of its body was like a bulbous centipede with spider-like legs, and while from the torso up was vaguely humanoid in appearance, it was a mishmash of limbs and features from a variety of creatures. The shadow puppet probably wasn't even doing it justice.

Macaque appeared suddenly in front of them and commented, completely blasé, "Eight out of ten for the atmosphere but this is a little excessive don't you think? All subtly straight out the window."

Their surprise at the intrusion quickly morphed into anger, and they loomed over Macaque as they responded, "Eight out of ten! I have mastered the art of fear! Everything here is designed to perfectly entrap mortals in a world of terror! Eight out of ten!? Where do you get off critiquing my performance?"

As they ranted something started to glow in their chest that made Macaque frown before his eyes widened, "No way... Pàhǔ?"

The creature did a double take, "What did you just say?"

Macaque laughed, "Holy Shit - it is you! What are the odds? And what the hell happened to you? You're massive!"

Pàhǔ's arms hung comically, as they stared uncomprehendingly down, clearly at a loss as to who this tiny demon was.

Macaque teased, "Aw, don't tell me I was that forgettable. Although, I have gone through some pretty serious changes myself. Here, maybe this will jog your memory."

He opened up a portal beside him that opened up right in front of Pàhǔ's face and poked his head through with a grin, "Remember me now?"

Pàhǔ reared back and exclaimed, "Macaque!?"

Macaque dismissed the shadow portal and took a bow, "The one and only."

Pàhǔ's expression twisted into one of joy as their top half morphed into something a little more coherent, shrinking it, as well as a portion of their body, so they could get on eye level with Macaque, "Well, I'll be damned - the Six-Eared Macaque! Should have known it was you the moment you started talking shit!"

The scene paused and Wukong looked up at the real Macaque who grinned, "Ringing any bells?"

Wukong frowned and looked back at the table, "The name doesn't sound familiar? I know them?"

"Nah. I told you about them once a few years ago but I didn't go into any detail. I think you can get it though. Something "of note" drawing people in, a horror show, a shapeshifter..."

He thought hard about it for a minute but he had to shake his head, "Nope, I've got nothing."

"What if I told you that they were a shape-shifting empath, one that fed off of emotion, any emotion. Fear, anger, happiness, lust..."

It clicked.

He pointed at the shadow play in disbelief, "That's the shapeshifter you slept with!? The one you lost the bet to!?"

It had been years ago now that Macaque had told him about the frankly unbelievable run-in he'd had with the shapeshifter that had opened his eyes to the wider world of sex and he'd almost all but forgotten all about it.

Macaque laughed, "Wukong, neither of us could believe it. The odds of us running into each other again? And like this? Crazy. And it's a good thing I never won that bet because that same artefact is the one now embedded in their chest. That's the reason they're so huge now - they were at least a twentieth of that size when I first met them! We got talking about it, it's actually a huge hassle but I'll get to that later."

Wukong stared at the shadows for a long moment, "Man, it's a small world." He then noted in this freeze frame, the tiny versions of the kids, frozen in terror. He brought a hand to his face, "Don't tell me you two caught up and just let those three carry on screaming in the background?"

Macaque pinched his finger and thumb together for emphasis, "Only for a little bit. Once the pleasantries were out of the way and I'd gotten us some drinks, Pàhǔ let them find us."

The scene fast forwarded to the kids tripping into the room and falling into an undignified heap only to look up and find Macaque and Pàhǔ sitting demurely and drinking cups of tea.

Admittedly, their faces of bewilderment and betrayal were pretty amusing.

Red Son was the first to recover, up on his feet in a flash, outraged, while he pointed at Macaque, "I should have known you had a hand in this! What do I need to do to sound proof my lab from you!?"

MK had apparently decided he was just going to curl up in a ball and stay there, Mei was nice enough to pat his arm comfortingly for a moment at least, before also standing up and shouting at Macaque, "You are literally the worst! Do you just get off on being a total creep? What is wrong with you?"

None of them had even acknowledged Pàhǔ, who looked completely bemused by the whole thing.

Macaque shrugged, "Hey, everyone's got to eat. Just so happens Pàhǔ here eats fear, I was just letting nature take its course."

They all suddenly seemed to realise the still somewhat terrifying looking Pàhǔ was in the room with them.

MK whimpered.

Macaque didn't give them a chance to get introduced however, "You can all get to know each other another time. For now..." He clicked his fingers and let shadow portals appear under the three of them.

He could easily imagine the screams of outrage and exasperated he asked, "Did you at least send them back home?"

"Hey, I know when enough is enough. I sent them back to Red Son's lab with a promise to fill them in later."

"Has later happened yet?"

"Oh no. They're going to need a little more time to calm down than that. Maybe tomorrow."

He shook his head, "Whatever revenge they're planning, you deserve it."

Macaque seemed entirely unbothered and was instead rather excited to tell him more about Pàhǔ, "Yeah, yeah, I'm shaking in my boots but honestly this might actually have been a great thing for all of us. So, as you know, I might have a tiny inclination towards terror myself."

Oh, he did know.

Macaque had always taken delight in giving people a fright, and it was pretty easy to do when you had powers like his, but that "inclination" had really been kicked up a notch in his second life and while he largely restrained himself around friends, he would mercilessly terrify his enemies.

Which unfortunately, had included him, and by proxy MK and his friends, at one point and they were all very glad that was no longer the case.

Warily, he asked, "Where are you going with this?"

Macaque responded, "I'm getting there. So Pàhǔ's preferred food is fear, right? But that body of theirs is actually causing them a bit of difficulty when it comes to finding it. See, they can change shape but they can't change their overall mass and that makes it a little difficult to navigate the world without heroes or mobs taking issue. And believe it or not Pàhǔ isn't actually looking for trouble - they just want to eat what they need to survive and that's it. With me so far?"

He nodded slowly, still not entirely sure where this was going.

"Good. Now, you know what makes commuting a hundred times easier?"

He thought about it for a half a second before guessing, "Your portals...?"

Macaque's smile was pleased, "My portals. Exactly. So, Pàhǔ got a decent meal out of the kids but next month we're going to hit the town and see if we can't find some deserving targets to scare the shit out of. All going well, we can make a thing of it and meet up every once in a while and have some fun."

His eyes were brimming with devious excitement and Wukong wondered out loud, "Should I be worried about this?"

Macaque held a hand up to his heart, "You have my word we'll only go after people that deserve it, real pieces of work, we won't even hurt them. Well... maybe we'll hurt them a little but the only permanent damage will be purely psychological."

He stared at him for a long moment before asking genuinely, "Why are you like this?"

Macaque pretended to pose thoughtfully, "You know, I want to blame it on some sort of trauma but I think I was just made this way."

Well, the trauma probably hadn't helped.

He sighed, "Alright, see how it goes, I guess. Try not to be totally unhinged about it, will you?"

He should probably be more concerned about this but honestly if he really was giving bad people a bad time then... Well, he could look the other way once a month or so.

If he didn't think too hard about the reasons why then it was nice to see Macaque so excited, "Pàhǔ and I were brainstorming ideas all afternoon. I actually can't wait."

Curious, he asked, "So Pàhǔ's pretty decent then?"

Macaque's excitement diminished slightly as he shrugged, "Seems that way but only time will tell. We literally spent one night together over a thousand years ago and spent half a day talking horror today so who can really say. But, y'know, hopefully they're as cool as they seem."

Wukong didn't miss the way he rubbed at his arm a little self-consciously.

Macaque had never been very good at making friends, for a variety of reasons, and while he did have a meaningful, albeit complicated, relationship with Gōngzhǔ and Niú and some more casual friendships with the likes of the Tailor Trio, his interactions with people tended to be very calculated affairs.

But it sounded like he'd had so much fun just talking with Pàhǔ, he'd let himself be a fair bit more genuine than he normally did with strangers.

Obviously, Macaque outperformed him in most social aspects these days but that didn't mean he didn't have his own issues and insecurities in that department and Wukong found himself hoping that Pàhǔ actually was super cool.

He tried to be reassuring, "I'm sure they will be, pretty good sign if you were both chatting away the whole day. Although it wasn't, er, awkward or anything running into an old one night stand?"

Macaque perked back up again at that, "Well, they were a little put out to hear that I was giving this whole monogamy thing a go. But apart from some flirting to test if I was serious it was swept under the rug pretty quickly in favour of talking about their upgraded horror game."

Monogamy thing?

That gave him pause for a moment.

He'd never really considered before exactly how their relationship was defined, outside of jokes about them being married, that was. And he wasn't even sure how he would begin to describe what he had with Macaque.

Monogamous certainly felt like it was an applicable descriptor, just the thought of having anything remotely similar with someone else made his nose want to scrunch up in disgust and he was surprised how glad he was to have Macaque, sort of, confirm it was the same for him.

It was pretty undeniable that they were in a relationship but he couldn't even pinpoint exactly when that had happened. It just felt like they had naturally transitioned from something platonic without ever really questioning it.

He tried to explain this to Macaque when called out on his stunned silence and he looked like he was trying not to laugh, "Are we seriously about to have a "What are we?" talk? Really?"

A little embarrassed he bit out, "No! I know what we are! I... just don't know the words to describe it, is all!"

Macaque raised an eyebrow, eyes sparkling with amusement.

He covered his face with a hand, "Shut up."

Macaque just laughed, "I didn't say anything!"

A little flustered in his embarrassment he looked up and responded, "Well maybe you should! You're the wordsmith here! Go on, Romeo, what are we then?"

There was a split second where the urge to tease him clearly almost won out but instead Macaque huffed fondly and held out a hand. With that gentle expression on his face, Wukong didn't hesitate to place his hand in his, curious as to what he would say.

There was so much contained in Macaque's smile, ranging from wonder to grief, "Wukong, I could write poems and ballads until the end of time and I would still never be able to put into words everything we are."

And yet that smile somehow said it all.

Even as he leaned in close, charmed, he still responded, "You basically just said what I said!"

Macaque chuckled lowly, leaning in closer too, "I said it better though."

"As if that was hard."

The atmosphere building around them was tantalising and while he was tempted to indulge in it, he wasn't quite ready to leave this conversation yet.

So after placing a somewhat apologetic kiss on Macaque's lips he pulled back, "Putting a pin in the romantics for just a minute, I still have questions."

Macaque pretended to be very put upon as he sighed, "Of course, you do. Well, don't let the mood stop you."

Wukong flicked his tail at him playfully, "The mood can be brought back but I want to know - how would you introduce me to someone?"

"You can't be serious."

"No, no, I am. "This is Wukong, my blank". What's the blank?"

Macaque's face suggested he thought he was an idiot.

"You want to know how that would go? Fine." Macaque cleared his throat, ""Hello, this is my- Oh my god! Is that Sun Wukong? The Monkey King? Oh my stars and garters!" Or alternatively, "Sun Wukong! You're going down!"."

He laughed a little sheepishly. It was a fair point, as possibly the most famous and recognisable demon in all of China, introductions were generally not required.

But still he complained, "You know what I meant! If someone asked you what your relationship with me was, you'd say...."

Macaque pondered over it for a second before responding, "Depends on the situation and what I want to get out of it. If I was trying to embarrass you, for example, then I'd probably lay it on thick and tell them that I was the love of your life and you were just too pathetic to turn down."

He really should have known he wouldn't get a straight answer, "First of all, no-one would believe that. And second, stop being so obtuse! Pick a title - husband, partner, boyfriend..."

Ok, definitely not that last one. His nose had started scrunching up in distaste even as he said it.

Macaque grinned however, "Boyfriend? Sorry but that position has already been filled, you can't have that one."

As if.

But he didn't even have a chance to question that nonsensical statement before Macaque continued, "You know, I really should introduce you two, I think you'd get on great. His name's Jiāng, he's a mechanic over in the city. Big fan of MK's."

"Jiāng" was Macaque's preferred disguise for him whenever they went into the city and his backstory at this point had gotten unnecessarily detailed.

He hoped his expression got across how utterly unfunny he thought Macaque was, but just in case, "You're the worst."

Honestly, that was probably the highest compliment you could give Macaque.

Macaque responded easily, "If you don't like my answers then why don't you give it a shot instead? How would you introduce me?"

"With a warning."

Macaque laughed, apparently delighted, but Wukong tried to give it a bit more thought.

He pictured it in his mind, he was standing in front of someone with Macaque and he said, "This is my..."

He grinned widely as the answer came to him, "If I had to introduce you, I would say, "This is my best bud, Macaque. Run while you still can."."

Macaque clutched his chest dramatically, "Best Bud zoned? Oh, however will my heart recover."

Wukong pretended to ignore him as he muttered to himself, "I need to workshop that warning. It's already too late if they've met you. Maybe I should tell them to find a therapist they can get on speed dial...?"

Macaque poked his cheek, "Hey, what's it say about you that your best bud "traumatizes" everyone he meets?"

"There was literally no need for air quotes. You do traumatize everyone you meet. You were just talking about how you're planning to go out with your new buddy and scare people for fun!"

Macaque leaned into his space, "You're dodging the question! And don't act like you've never done any traumatising!"

He crossed his arms and turned his nose up snootily, "I've mended all my ways, thank you very much! I'm basically a saint!"

"A saint with a deviant for a best bud."

He shrugged, "Well, nobody's perfect."

Macaque snorted, "Oh yeah, because that's all that's stopping you from being perfect. But best bud? Really?"

He pretended to pout, "Are you trying to say we're not best buds, bud?"

"I think the word "bud" is starting to lose all meaning. But terribly uninspired word choice aside, I can get behind the sentiment."

"Hey! Just because the words aren't fancy doesn't mean they're not meaningful!"

"Yeah, and that's why I was agreeing with you, bud!" A gleeful look then came to his face, "Actually, I think it might even be the perfect way to describe relationship."

He raised an eyebrow, "Oh?"

"Can you imagine the next time Chóu or Niú call you my husband and I correct them and tell them we're "best buds"? And if I can time it for when the kids are listening? Oh, it's a masterpiece of chaos waiting to happen."

Why did he get the feeling this was going to end badly for him specifically?

Although, on the other hand, he countered, "I bet they don't even react, they'll just think it's another one of your pranks."

Macaque's eye sparkled, "A bet, huh?"

Oh no.

He waved his hands frantically, "No! No way! Not this time! I lose no matter what happens! I'm not falling for any of your tricks this time!"

Macaque's grin said otherwise.

----

Bǎi Hé's big day had finally arrived and while Wukong was as anxious and excited as everyone else for her, he was actually slightly more concerned about Macaque than the woman of the hour.

You wouldn't know it looking at him right now but Macaque had barely slept at all in the week running up to Bǎi Hé's entrance exam and Wukong was the lucky one that had gotten to deal with his increasingly erratic mood while trying to force him to take care of himself.

They'd even had a fight over Macaque trying to avoid going to the Void because he had been concerned that Bǎi Hé might need him while he was there. As if anything was going to come up the rest of them couldn't handle in the course of a day. And it wasn't like Wukong couldn't have astral projected to him if, for some reason, that had been the case.

That had ended up being a lot more bitter an argument than expected and while exhaustion and stress had definitely contributed to that, it was definitely one they were going to have to have a proper talk about once this was behind them.

Bǎi Hé, he was sure, was none the wiser as to how stressed Macaque was about her exam as he had been the picture of cool and collected mentor around her at all times - his faith in her ability completely unwaivering.

And that faith wasn't just for show, in the unlikely event that Bǎi Hé failed this exam, he knew Macaque was going to blame himself for it.

But while it wasn't impossible that she'd fail, he thought the odds of it were exceptionally unlikely, she had worked unbelievably hard to prepare for this day and no-one doubted she had what it took to become a member of the Huǒ W��jī.

So confident were they that, unbeknownst to Bǎi Hé, everyone that wasn't currently here to support her was back at Niú's palace preparing a celebratory feast for once she had passed.

In the waiting room with her now however stood Niú, Gōngzhǔ, Red Son, MK, Mei, himself and, of course, Macaque.

Bǎi Hé was doing an admirable job of hiding her nerves and seeing her stood cool and collected next to Macaque, there was no need to guess who she'd picked up that skill from.

Gōngzhǔ and Niú were currently conversing with Qǐ Zhēn, the demon that would be their guide while Bǎi Hé sat her exam. While Red Son, MK and Mei, unintentionally, competed to see who could be the least helpful in preparing Bǎi Hé before she went in - giving her last minute tips or information to remember.

He stood loyally on Macaque's other side, feeling a little like he was here for him rather than for Bǎi Hé. Not that he didn't smile reassuringly at her every time she looked his way or hadn't offered his own words of advice earlier but everyone was here to support her right now, and he doubted anyone else was aware of just how stressed Macaque was about this whole thing.

Everyone fell silent as soon as the doors leading to the examination hall opened. And all eyes were on Bǎi Hé as the demon that had walked through them called her name.

She took a deep breath before walking forward.

MK, Mei and Red Son whispered their final reassurances but she only acknowledged them with the barest of nods, her eyes completely focused on the demon in front of her.

She stopped a respectful distance away and bowed before perfectly reciting the poem that acted as an oath of honest conduct and an acknowledgement of the hardships that she would be facing through those doors.

Essentially, a fancy way of agreeing to the terms and conditions and signing a disclaimer.

It was the only part of her exams that they were permitted to see, and it was the easiest part at that, but it was obvious how proud everyone was to witness her pass it with flying colours. She didn't even falter when the demon in front of her tried to psyche her out by staring her down disapprovingly for an unnerving amount of time.

Finally, however, they inclined their head and gestured for her to proceed to the next room.

She didn't look back as the doors closed behind her.

For a moment, they all just stared, each lost in their thoughts and concerns, but the silence was broken as Mei threw an arm around MK and Red Son's shoulders, "C'mon, what's with those faces? She's totally got this! Did you see how cool she was just now? Man, I wish I could have filmed it!"

Qǐ Zhēn smiled, "I have seen Gàn Shīfu reduce hardened warriors to tears with just a glance, yet Bǎi Hé did not give away even a hint of doubt or discomfort under her scrutiny, very impressive for one so young."

Red Son looked remarkably like his father as he puffed up proudly, "As if she would have ever faltered at the first hurdle. She'll pass these exams with record results."

Qǐ Zhēn looked pleased at such a bold declaration, "Well, I'm afraid there's quite a long wait ahead of us before we find out how she fared. Let's move somewhere more comfortable and I will explain the itinerary for the day over some tea."

Macaque simply sat down on the floor, for all the world looking like he was about to meditate, "You all go ahead. I'll wait here."

Gōngzhǔ beat everyone else to the punch, "She's going to be in there all day, what good are you to anyone sat here doing nothing?"

Macaque's voice gave nothing away, "I'll be here if you need me."

He already knew there was no point trying to reason with him. But he was also keenly aware that Macaque wasn't sitting here doing nothing. Those doors were sealed so that nothing could see through them but while they could stop Macaque seeing what was going on with his magic or his ears, he doubted anyone had ever taken into account a spy that could feel the shape of every shadow for miles around.

Really, it was a bad idea, the shadows wouldn't give him the whole picture and he could drive himself crazy trying to figure out what was going on but short of knocking him out and carrying him away, he wasn't going to be moved.

Qǐ Zhēn skillfully interrupted anyone from trying to dissuade him, "You would not be the first to wait here for the duration of the examinations but should you change your mind and wish to join us, even for a short break, simply ask the guards stationed here and one of them will escort you to us."

Macaque nodded in acknowledgement, ignoring the disapproving look Gōngzhǔ was sending his way.

Logically, he could understand that while primarily they were all here to cheer on Bǎi Hé, this was also an excellent networking opportunity and Gōngzhǔ was no doubt annoyed that Macaque was squandering it here instead of helping her make the most of it.

He didn't really give a damn about what Gōngzhǔ wanted however and moved to block Macaque from her line of sight, declaring cheerfully, "Well, what are we waiting for? It's not every day you get the honour of experiencing the hospitality of the Huǒ Wǔjī. And I've heard their Fire Leaf Tea is out of this world."

In such prestigious company, Gōngzhǔ was forced to dial it way back on the hostilities but oh, could he feel her absolute distaste for him.

He almost relished in it.

MK diffused the tension, "Fire Leaf Tea? Oh man, Sandy is going to be devastated he missed it!"

Mei responded, "I bet he's already tried it. I don't think there's a tea out there he hasn't tried."

MK waved his hands about emphatically, "It's not just about the tea, Mei! It's everything! It's the full experience! Seeing where the tea is from and learning about the specific culture around it! Getting to talk to the people that dedicated their lives to this craft and truly appreciating everything that went into the cup of tea you're drinking!"

Everyone stared at him for a moment in various levels of bewilderment, even Macaque raised an eyebrow at his impassioned argument, before Mei laughed, "Wow, MK. How many times has he made you listen to his tea seminar?"

The conversation stayed centred around tea as they followed Qǐ Zhēn out of the room and Wukong allowed his tail to subtly graze Macaque's shoulder before he joined them, feeling satisfied at the gentle zing of magic that acknowledged the action.

He felt the need to tell one of the guards as they passed, "Don't be alarmed if he doesn't so much as twitch the whole time he's sitting there - unless he falls over or something there's no need to check in with him or anything. He won't appreciate it anyway."

They nodded dutifully, apparently not at all alarmed at such strange behaviour. Although given the sheer number of demon types that made up the Huǒ Wǔjī, there was probably very little that surprised them at this point.

----

Yīnmíng Shān was the home of the Huǒ Wǔjī, an active volcano that was said to bend to the will of Shāo Jiāo, the founder and leader of the Huǒ Wǔjī. Very little of their territory was open to outsiders but they did have designated areas on the outskirts of their land for meeting with visitors.

A lot of care and attention had clearly been put into their guest's experience - with an impressive variety of art, entertainment and recreation available to cater to just about anyone's tastes and Qǐ Zhēn was something of an expert at deducing how each of them would prefer to pass the time.

Although to be fair, it probably wasn't that hard to guess.

So they'd spent the majority of the morning sparring with various members of the Huǒ Wǔjī and were now enjoying a frankly incredible complimentary lunch while making friendly conversation with everyone that had joined them.

He had a feeling that not everyone received this much attention when they came to visit but then most weren't quite as legendary as the six of them.

He wasn't quite as antsy as he might usually be around this many people and that was partly due to the fact that the kids were keeping most of the attention away from him and partly because he was currently part of Niú's conversation with a high ranking official.

On the surface it was boring politics talk but if you knew the lingo it was pretty hot gossip. Unfortunately, he was a bit out of touch so he was only able to fully appreciate about half of it. But he was doing his best to remember it all so Macaque could fill in the gaps in his knowledge later.

After lunch they were ushered into a quieter room for some tea and it was at that point MK asked, "Do you think Macaque is still waiting outside for Bǎi Hé? Should we, like, take him something to eat or check up on him or something?"

Qǐ Zhēn replied, "He's still there and as per Monkey King's predictions he hasn't moved at all. The guards are actually getting a little concerned but as per instructions they have not tried to interact with him."

MK frowned, "Do you think he's alright? Like, he's missing out on all this cool stuff!"

Red Son was dismissive, "He'll have ample opportunity to experience the Huǒ Wǔjī's hospitality once Bǎi Hé is accepted into their ranks. Leave him to his eccentricities."

MK clearly wasn't convinced so Qǐ Zhēn tried to soothe him, "It's not unheard of for parents to remain in the waiting hall for the entirety of the exams. Although, I admit they do tend to at least look like their breathing."

He coughed awkwardly, "Well, actually, he's not her father. Unfortunately, her parents... Couldn't make it today."

A billow of smoke left Niú's nostrils as he huffed but he refrained from commenting.

No-one was happy with the fact that Bǎi Hé's parents weren't here to support her but neither were they surprised. He was pretty sure they hadn't even wished her good luck or seen her off yesterday before she left to spend the night at Niú's place.

She'd put on a brave face about it in front of everyone but he knew that she'd called Macaque in the middle of the night, understandably, very upset about it.

Qǐ Zhēn bowed her head, "My apologies. I should not have assumed. Would he be her teacher then?"

He responded, "For lack of a better word, yes. He was the one that introduced her to martial arts and has been helping her prepare for her exams."

He realised just then that he'd never actually gotten the story as to how they had met after the Lady Bone Demon was defeated or how that had developed into Macaque teaching her how to fight.

He and Macaque had barely been on speaking terms at that point and by the time they were, it was already a well established thing that the two spent time together occasionally.

He was distracted from his musings as Red Son cleared his throat pointedly and he rolled his eyes as he amended, "He was the one who spear headed her training. But she, of course, was helped by everyone you see here and then some."

Red Son grumbled, "Some of us helped more than others."

Qǐ Zhēn pandered to him, "Of course, of course. It's just rather noticeable the mannerisms the two share."

Mei groaned, "She has his exact "You're all morons" stare and it's the worst! Every time she does it's like I'm looking at Macaque!"

MK grinned, "You remember back at the start when she would just outright copy him. If he crossed his arms, she would cross her arms. If he glared at someone, she would glare at them too. It was so cute! It also really ruined Macaque's whole serious, broody vibe! Hard to be intimidating when you've got a kid right next to you earnestly copying everything you do!"

This was the first he'd heard about this! He leaned forward, "Tell me you have photographic evidence of this. I cannot stress how desperately I need copies if you do."

Mei started scrolling through her phone, "Oh, you know that I do! Hang tight, it was a while ago but I'll send them to everyone once I find them!"

Qǐ Zhēn's delighted laughter was cut short by a very particular knock on the door. She stood abruptly, looking a little alarmed, as she hurried over to it. She addressed them all before opening it, "I would ask you all to stand and show your respect to Shāo Jiāo Zǔshī."

She gave them a moment to rise from their seats before opening the door and immediately taking a step back and bowing low.

There was a slight scuffle behind him as Red Son no doubt forced MK and Mei into the correct form but while Gōngzhǔ lowered her gaze, he and Niú remained standing tall.

Shāo Jiāo was a demon bear that stood even taller and broader than Niú and it was only when she was through the door and the three of them had had a chance to look each other in the eye and size each other up that they bowed their heads to one another respectfully.

Her voice was low and melodic, "I do not often meet with the attendants of testing candidates but for the Demon Bull King and the Monkey King I felt it wise to make an exception."

Niú responded, "A rare honour, indeed. It's been some time, Shāo Jiāo."

A ghost of a smile came to her face, "Let us make the most of such an occasion then, Niú." She addressed him, "And Sun Wukong, I have, of course, heard much about you. You'll forgive me, I'm sure, that I find it fortuitous that we have not met sooner."

He couldn't quite resist a small grin, "Oddly, you're not the first one to say that but likewise I've heard talk of your legends too. My apologies, had I known we would be meeting I would have prepared a gift accordingly."

He, and Niú, had in fact brought gifts as tokens of their respect but those had already been offered to the demons that had initially received them and the etiquette was different when meeting with a prestigious clan leader.

There was a knowing look in her eye, "Perhaps there will be cause for us to meet again in the near future and at that time we can rectify any failings to follow proper etiquette."

He exchanged a subtle look with Niú before responding, "Sounds good to me."

She nodded, "I thought it might. Now..."

At a wave of her hand a column of flames briefly appeared in a flurry, before disappearing and leaving behind a chair capable of accommodating her size. Once she had sat, she gestured for everyone to do the same.

Before Red Son permitted MK or Mei to raise their heads, he whispered urgently to them, no doubt trying to impress upon them the rules they should follow for this meeting.

Out of the corner of his eye, he watched as they both tried to school their reactions and figure out where to look once they were finally allowed to.

Shāo Jiāo had burn scars that covered almost the entirety of her face, and if rumours were to be believed, they covered just about every inch of her body too.

There were many myths and tales about her scars and her relationship to the ancient spirit of this volcano.

Some said her scars were the price that needed to be paid continuously to the spirit to keep the volcano calm. Others claimed that they were lovers, and these scars were the result of being unable to resist embracing one another. And others insisted that she was simply a vessel for the spirit and that either the real Shāo Jiāo had died millennia ago or that the two shared the body.

He was sure very few people knew the truth and they certainly weren't going to be included in that number any time soon.

But all that MK and Mei really needed to know was that this was not a demon to be crossed, although given her reputation for accepting demons of all walks of life into her order, he had a feeling she would show some leniency if they weren't aware of all the proper etiquette, providing, of course, they weren't intentionally disrespectful.

Apparently some of the stories that the kids had told over lunch had reached her ears already and she encouraged them to share them with her directly. It took a couple of minutes of anxiously glancing at the adults in the room to assure themselves they weren't speaking out of turn but eventually they settled into the excited storytelling they were known for.

It was a fairly casual affair but eventually conversation did turn to Bǎi Hé as Shāo Jiāo showed an interest in how she had gathered such a notable collection of friends. She was no doubt aware of some of the details of the incident with the Lady Bone Demon and no-one felt the need to relive that harrowing experience so they focused on sharing stories of their friendships had developed - everyone making sure to paint Bǎi Hé in the best light possible.

It was impossible not to mention Macaque in all of these stories and Wukong didn't like the thoughtful look in Shāo Jiāo's eyes when he was mentioned, especially not when she said, "The demon outside of the examination hall... I have heard rumours of the shadow of the Monkey King and the Demon Bull King."

He resisted the urge to snap that Macaque was no-one's shadow.

He could tell Niú wasn't happy that she was bringing this up either, and he responded in a low rumble, "Rumours from a time long since passed I'm sure."

The warning to drop this topic was clear but Shāo Jiāo no doubt already had her answer. Although why she wanted to know bothered him immensely, and he was suddenly itching to return to Macaque's side.

The kids looked very curious as to what was going on but there was no way anyone was going to enlighten them.

Shāo Jiāo bowed her head, "Of course. Why talk about the past when there is so much to celebrate in the present? Speaking of which, I do believe it is time for you to return to the waiting hall. I'm sure we will have a chance to reminisce another day."

After the appropriate amount of formalities, Shāo Jiāo left them in Qǐ Zhēn's capable hands. The kids eagerly followed after her, while he, Niú and Gōngzhǔ followed at a more sedated pace, and he knew the two of them were as keen as he was to discuss Shāo Jiāo's interest in Macaque but it would have to wait until they were somewhere where the walls didn't have ears.

He was very relieved to find Macaque exactly where they'd left him. The kids immediately tried to update him with everything that he'd missed but he ignored them, completely unhurried as he stood up.

He made his way over to him, his tail grazing his for just a moment, before standing beside him and asking quietly, "Anyone try and get your attention?"

His nod was almost imperceptible, and equally quietly, he responded, "Talk about it later but yes, exactly who you think it was."

His tail gave a small, irritated flick. He wasn't usually a stickler for all the intricacies of demon politics but Shāo Jiāo shouldn't have approached Macaque before formalities with him and Niú. He wasn't upset at the slight, Macaque was his equal, after all, but he didn't appreciate the subterfuge.

If there was cause for immediate alarm however Macaque would have already let him know so he put it to the back of his mind for right now.

It wasn't long before the doors opened to reveal Bǎi Hé and the severe looking demon from earlier. Bǎi Hé's teary eyed grin already told them everything they needed to know but they all managed to restrain themselves until Gàn Shīfu officially announced her success and declared that she was permitted to join the Huǒ Wǔjī as a student.

The cheers and roars of celebration that rang out the second she finished speaking were deafening and he was sure Macaque must have reduced the range on his hearing to almost nothing in anticipation.

Gàn Shīfu wisely stepped out of the way as the kids, and Niú, rushed forward to offer their congratulations. Niú was teary eyed as he lifted her up onto his shoulder, proudly declaring that he had never doubted her for a second and clearly resisting the urge just to march her around the compound and show her off to everyone.

A little surprisingly, he wasn't exactly dry eyed either, and he felt himself glow with pride at her achievement. Macaque had probably been the only one that hadn't screamed in victory at the announcement, but the tears running down his face spoke volumes.

Macaque took a deep breath before slowly making his way towards the rabble.

Bǎi Hé easily slipped off Niú's shoulder in response and any kind of decorum or composure was clearly beyond her at the moment as she all but ran towards Macaque and tackled him with a hug, which he returned just as tightly. The pair of them were a babbling mess of "I did it."'s and responding "You did it."'s.

They'd have to finish having their moment later because almost everyone was powerless not to get in on in this hug, much to the amusement of all the members of the Huǒ Wǔjī present.

----

Bǎi Hé's congratulations party was one for the history books, and he likely would have followed Niú into drunken oblivion if he wasn't so aware of how increasingly withdrawn Macaque was, choosing to sit on the sidelines and watch everyone else have a good time.

And despite the smile on his face, to him, at least, the look in his eye was so achingly sad.

And he just couldn't stand it, so ignoring the protests from everyone, he said their goodbyes, and wisped him away on Nimbus.

They flew back in silence, Macaque's head on his shoulder, as they sat side by side, and as much as he wanted to ask what was on his mind, Macaque looked like he needed this moment of silence.

When they touched back on the island, he asked, "You need some time alone?"

A little dazed, Macaque responded, "Yeah... Just need to process. I... I think I'm going to head up the mountain for a bit."

Trying not to sound too concerned, he said, "Sure. I'll go fill the monkeys that are still up in on the good news."

Macaque nodded distractedly before heading for the mountain and he watched him go before jumping back on Nimbus and making his way to the house.

Macaque was probably just crashing a little after such a prolonged period of stress, and he and Bǎi Hé were probably so exhausted they would sleep through the next two days at least. But Macaque's sad smile made him think there might be a little more to it than that.

He'd give him a couple of hours to decompress and get his thoughts in order though before trying to coax him into sharing. In the meantime, he had plenty of monkeys that were eager to hear all about the big day.

He focused on all the fun things - the kids' antics, Bǎi Hé's success, the party.

He didn't tell them about Shāo Jiāo or the interest she had taken in their other king. He, Macaque, Niú and Gōngzhǔ had found a little time after returning to the palace to briefly discuss the matter and Macaque informed them all that he'd exchanged some private words with her too.

She had sent the guards away in order to inform him she was aware of his spying and she had seemed to imply that she knew something about what he was. Macaque hadn't reacted to anything she'd said and had given her non-answers in response but they were all wary of what she might know and what she wanted.

While it was a potential cause for concern, Shāo Jiāo was not known for being malicious or cruel, and it was possible she had just been fishing for information in order to safeguard her order now that a connection had been created between it and Macaque.

They'd have a proper discussion about it in the following days, no doubt.

In the present however he had decided it was time to find Macaque and thankfully he was exactly where he said he would be.

He would follow Macaque's lead on this one, so he simply sat beside him and looked up at the moon as he waited to see how this would play out.

After several minutes of silence, Macaque said, "Did I ever tell you how this whole thing with Bǎi Hé started?"

He shook his head.

Macaque sighed, pausing for a brief moment to gather his resolve before explaining, "After the Lady Bone Demon was defeated, I was at a loose end. We still weren't on speaking terms, I was too much of a coward to face Niú and Gōngzhǔ and I... Wasn't in a good place. You'd think I'd have a lust for life after everything but... Well, I didn't. Honestly, if it weren't for MK reaching out..."

He shook his head as if to rid himself of the memory, before he continued, "Anyway, he invited me to some get together and I figured I had nothing better to do so I showed up. And there was Bǎi Hé, clinging to Sandy's leg and trying her hardest to pretend she was fine. MK insisted that I say hi to her and I hadn't even said two words before she burst into tears."

Macaque dragged a hand down his face, "It was awful. I started making my excuses to leave there and then but all of a sudden this kid is clinging to me and begging me to stay and telling me how happy she was to see me. She never let go of my scarf that whole evening and eventually we ended up talking alone on the roof and it was like the dam had finally broke and she was just telling me everything - how she had lied to everyone and told them she couldn't remember being under the Lady Bone Demon's control, how scared she still was, how sorry she was for what "she'd" done."

He laughed humourlessly, "Like, could she have picked anyone worse to open up to? But, y'know, I did my best to encourage to tell her parents the truth, told her it wasn't her fault and I figured that was my good deed done and that would be the end of it. But then she asked if she could see me again and I don't know what came over me but I said yes."

There was something raw in his voice as he confessed, "And before I knew it, I had a purpose again. There was someone that needed me, that was actually happy to see me and- and I-"

He choked on a sob as he brought a hand up to cover his eyes and Wukong was powerless not to move closer and pull him into his side.

Macaque managed to get out, "I wouldn't have any of this without her."

He squeezed him tightly, "I bet she thinks the exact same thing about you."

There wasn't going to be anymore coherent conversation until Macaque had calmed down but he thought maybe he could begin to see the volatile cocktail of emotions that he was trying to process.

On one hand he was likely so proud of her he didn't even know what to do with it all but he had a feeling some old fears about not being needed might also be a factor. Being left behind in general was a fear of his but he could remember how down he used to get whenever Bǎi Hé specifically had to cancel on him for whatever reason.

And now she was moving on to a new chapter in her life and how he would fit into that was likely weighing heavily on him.

He didn't doubt that he would still be a part of her life but things would be different. They wouldn't get to see each other as often any more and Bǎi Hé was going to be making new friends and have new teachers and Macaque would have already taken all of that into consideration.

His fear wasn't totally unfounded.

But at least he'd have him to help him work through it.

--Chapter End--

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LMK Fanfic Masterlist

[mask131]

Other Odysseys: Mission Odyssey

This one is sort-of a follow-up to the "Ulysse 31" cartoon. You'll see what I mean...

Do you know Totally Spies, or Martin Mystery, or Team Galaxy? Those quite specific cartoons coming from a specific set of studios and a quite specific era, with their very distinctive style? Well, there was a fourth cartoon part of this set, so to speak... one adapting the Odyssey. A Franco-German cartoon first aired in 2002. In France we just call it "L'odyssée", The Odyssey, but in English the titled got changed to "Mission Odyssey" (probably to be more appealing to kids?).

This cartoon is another production of the company Marathon Média of the early 2000s pushing forward what has been called the "franime" - a French animation style trying to imitate Japanese anime, or rather marrying some manga visual elements with a more European animation tradition. Where Totally Spies was dealing with the "spy" genre, Martin Mystery with the "horror for kids" and Team Galaxy with "sci-fi space-travel", "Mission Odyssey" actually is meant to tackle a more "traditional" fantasy. And... that's kind of the main problem of this cartoon.

Because when you look at this cartoon... You will see how it clearly was meant to be a D&D-like fantasy show X)

Don't get me wrong, I enjoy this cartoon and I have positive stuff to say about it... But let's get the bad things out of the way. And the first bad thing is that, if you are looking for a faithful adaptation of Greek mythology, turn away because its handling of the Greek myths is very very loose.

The core story is still the same as the Odyssey: Odysseus tries to return home to Ithaca after the Trojan War, but is pursued by the wrath of Poseidon, and must wander from island to island, monster to monster, encounter after encounter, with the final episode seeing him defeat the suitors harassing Penelope (the show is 26 episodes of 24 minutes). And don't get me wrong: unlike "Ulysses 31" which invented out of blue entire episodes completely unrelated to Greek mythology whatsoever, Mission Odyssey ALWAYS takes its elements from Greek mythology, always. But A) In order to provide some padding and extend the story, Odysseus encounters a LOT of monsters and characters NOT part of the Odyssey - Pegasus, the Minotaur, the Amazons, the Gorgons, centaurs, harpies , Lycaon and the Golden Fleece are all at the program. B) The show has an habit of... reimagining the monster and entities of Greek mythology in WILD and bizarre ways.

The Minotaur? He is actually the king of his island and much more human than planned. The Gorgons? They are now two witch-sisters instead of a trio of monsters. Charybdis and Scylla? They are cursed lovers who must be set free from the spell that trap them. The sirens? They're your typical fish-mermaid kingdom. The harpies? They are now an entire kingdom and matriarchy of bird-women, instead of random evil spirits. The Titans? Oh they're just horned-bluish humanoids living in a Norse-inspired frozen land, but very much regular mortal folks. Zephyrus? The human son of Aeolus who ran away from his father's celestial palace to live with other mortals. Etc, etc etc... This show has some of the most unfaithful and misinformative and just plain weird takes on Greek mythology I have seen in kids' cartoons.

The very crew of Odysseus' ship was entirely reinvented. Of course, it is to limit the number of protagonist and make it easier for kids to follow, but outside Odysseus, all of his companions are original characters to the show, and that's where I talked about the D&D vibe: these characters feel like a D&D party the more your think about it. Putting this under this perspective, it starts of make sense why some of the reimaginations are so strange and so unlike Greek mythology: it seems the show's project had some sort of past as a more "fantasy" show before settling for Greek mythology.

Anyway, enough of the bad stuff! What about the good? Why do I enjoy this cartoon and still advise people to go check it out despite its unfaithfulness?

Because - on the one side, it is VERY imaginative and creative in its reimagination. Sure it is not at all like the legends to have Charybdis and Scylla be doomed lover cursed into monstrous shapes to never be together... But you can't deny it still feels like something out of Ovid's Metamorphosis. Yes it is bizarre to have the Minotaur be the king who built the labyrinth instead of the monster trapped in it, but you see how they play with the legend around. And there's a lot of VERY striking visuals and concepts (like the Moirai spinning their web like creepy old-spider-ladies, or Lycaon trapped at the bottom of a well and sweet-talking people nto letting him out). And it does lead to some crazy scenarios that I quite enjoy: there's an episode about the group GOING DOWN INTO TARTARUS TO FREE POSEIDON OUT OF KRONOS CLUTCHES! How wild is that?

But here's the actual "good" point: while it is takes the "creative freedom" to the max in certain areas, when it decides to stick to the Greek myths, it sticks to it in a wonderful way. It's little details here and there, but they are very much appreciated. For example: the entire story of the Odyssey is here framed as actually some sort of contest or bet between Poseidon and Athena, who are the two main gods dealing with the story, and while the cartoon doesn't linger on the concept of the Trojan War (it's for kids after all), they do replace Odysseus' torment in the line of the Athena-Poseidon competitions, with Odysseus as Athena's champion opposed by Poseidon's own minions, monsters and servants.

There is an episode where the crew of Odysseus gets to the Underworld, and here Hades is not the bad guy, which is VERY interesting for an early 2000s cartoon: he is depicted, like in the myths, as a neutral though frightening entity who honestly will be a pleasant host to visitors as long as they don't stay, and follow his rules, but will become an absolute merciless terror if anyone break his law or tries to commit a crime in his domain. In fact, they do juxtapose him with Poseidon precisely to show how unlike Poseidon who is the bad guy here, Hades is much more benevolent than his brother.

Another little detail I particularly enjoy: Penelope and Telemachus are not forgotten, and every episode begins with a scene about them. Most beautifully: each episode's main theme, monster or MacGuffin is foreshadowed by the motif of Penelope's tapestry. Each day a new tapestry, echoing the adventures her husband will have to face...

But my favorite of this cartoon is, of course, Poseidon.

I like to say that if you want a complete idea of Poseidon in Greek mythology, through modern kid fiction, you need to look at both the Percy Jackson books and this cartoon. The Percy Jackson books did a great job at showing the good and benevolent side of Poseidon, but they lacked his evil and dangerous side - which is what this cartoon is all about.

It might just be me, as I am a big Poseidon fan, but Poseidon is here an excellent traditional villain. Of course, it is all the codes we know today - he is this over-arching villain who works only through minions, underlings and indirect attacks (because, as per the rule of the gods' games in this show, deities cannot directly attack or influence or protect the humans and have to work through side-ways), he always comes up with a new evil plot each episode, and at the end of it he goes all "I'll catch you next time!". But it works with the character and material, and its a delightful classic move.

You clearly see here Poseidon as the father and ruler of the monsters and dangers of the sea, and I adore his design which is literaly a mix of Disney's Hades and Ursula with some elements from Bai Tza from the Jackie Chan Adventures. He is this blue-skinned, blond, octopus-man whose size constantly shifts and changes from a tiny thing to a giant because he keeps manifesting himself through various bodies of water and so can appear as much out of the ocean as within a cup of water you try to drink. He is clearly shown as cruel and petty, vengeful and destructive, cunning and filled with dark magic... In fact he is even seen trying to cheat repeatedly throughout the series, only for Athena to step in and be like "Nah, not on my watch".

However there's a bonus point: we have a nuanced Poseidon here. The very episode with the Cyclop is quite interesting, as it actually explores Poseidon's relationship with his son Polyphemus - Polyphemus who is here actually more of a dumb idiot and honestly a bit goofy at times (he is still a man-eating giant, but at least he is polite and timid about it), and while Poseidon is short-tempered and get VERY annoyed by his son's idiocy... He doesn't actually lash out at him, he tries to cajole him, and he even conforts him at the end by promising him to create a new eye (in this version, kid-friendly, Polyphemus' eye is a glass-device). Which is a great contrast with how Poseidon threatens and terrifies his other underlings. In fact, many times in the show we see people who are genuinely pleased and happy to see Poseidon, see him as a benevolent and friendly guy and are more than willing to help him - only to realize too late what he asks from them is actually nefarious. It is made VERY clear that, if it wasn't for Odysseus, we could get to see more of Poseidon's good side, but since he is Poseidon's unwilling enemy, all turns against him.

Even more so: this cartoon had the genius idea of analyzing how Poseidon becoming the main villain and the persecutor of Odysseus in this story ends up ruining him. Because as the episodes pile up and Poseidon is more and more foiled by Odysseus, we see him get increasingly frustrated and mad and vengeful, becoming obsessed with this guy. He keeps telling those who think of him as a benevolent god and nice patron to go kill this guy who turns out to be just an innocent traveller or a nice person (oh yeah, Odysseus in this version is your ur-good guy, no blame whatsoever, he is just Superman without the powers, you know), and as a result he loses all the support he had gathered. It is very interesting how it works by the gods: because a few times Poseidon will use the trust and respect other gods put in him to try to turn them against Odysseus, or trick them into attacking him. It happened with Hades, and with Aeolus, and with Hephaistos, and each time, Poseidon's treachery was revealed, leading him to be banished from their realm and earning their enemity. The result is that... As the show progresses we realize how Poseidon's obsession with Odysseus, destructive grudge and desire to cheat to finally beat Athena lead him to become a hated and humiliated god among mortals and immortals, and I think it is a quite a nice twist.

They do enjoy analyzing the ambiguity and ambivalence of Poseidon - for example the Pegasus episode has Odysseus meet Bellerophon, and the hunt for the Chimera is actually put aside in favor of Odysseus trying to give therapy to poor Bellerophon who is in a sort of passive-abusive relationship with his father. In a similar way, the Cronos episode is all about how Odysseus and crew have to rescue Poseidon because, even though he is their enemy, hates them and will see them dead, he is a needed part of the world and removing him literaly kills the sea (all the sea-waters turn into a strange sand-colored crystal), for ultimately he is the sea, violent and stormy, and cunning and filled with monsters, and never making it easy on sailors.

Though my favorite part is definitively how by the end, once Odysseus gets his happy ending, we cut back to Athena and Poseidon concluding their bet... Only for Poseidon to try to convince Athena to take another bet and begin another "game", begging her like some sort of friend with dares like "Okay but what about him not returnign to the sea, not leaving Ithaca? Don't you want to bet on that, on him not resisting the call of the adventure? Please, Athena, let's just have another game. Let's just bet on anything, pleeeaasse". And... it leaves you with this very strange and still kind of happy note that ultimately Poseidon is indeed, not really a bad guy, but just a short-tempered gambling addict doubled with a very sore loser X)

[hearvex]

can i ask for this Juan guy lore :v i saw his tweet when it had like 3k and thought it cant be good but i dont know anything about him. its upsetting to see 12k likes tho like why are people fighting against human fights tho

oh this is a long one, who's Juan Guarnizo, the streamer who has recently tweeted against the french union in regards of the qsmp.

juan guarnizo is a colombian streamer (who now lives in mexico with his wife). he's participated in Tortillaland, a roleplaying minecraft series, as a wizard of sorts. He then decided to create a "spin-off" series (more cinematic/pre-planned) called "El Dios de Todo" (The God of Everything, his character's catchphrase). So he partnered with Euphonia, a popular Minecraft Studio that has created games such as SquidCraft, Dedsafio, SawMinecraftGames, and more.

He announced he was looking for several roleplayers for this project, and people started complaining on twitter because some of the requirements were pretty much insane.

Some include, full availability for 6 hours a day everyday for an entire month, good quality microphone, not being able to livestream the content, just record it to be used after the proyect was released, knowing how to rhyme/rap/sing/imitate voices and animals/general voice acting talent and being able to improv. All of that for the price of 0$. The payment? The enriching experience of being part of this unpayed proyect with your favorite content creator.

Well turns out people still didn't like this idea, justifiably so, and continued to call him out on twitter. His initial response was as follows:

(Hello, I understand that you know little about the project so I'll explain it to you: The God of Everything is a series based on a story that we will tell in the most cinematic way possible, therefore it is only possible to have one pov and not 40. Participants will be able to take advantage of the series on different social media platforms but not live. How much benefit they decide to get out of it is up to each person. The 6 hours a day thing is insurance, because there will most likely be days where your participation is half an hour and that's it. Also making it clear that professionals such as voice actors who will also be in the series will be paid for their work. We are creating an experience never seen before for me, the roleplayers and the audience, whoever wants and can experience it will enjoy it very much. It is something that we are putting all our heart and desire into for those who want to see the story. Communities that are not going to see it at all, at least don't fill it with your toxicity or bad vibes.)

Basically excusing himself by "I'm doing good by allowing you to join, please don't let toxicity ruin this". Which was still off, because professional voice actors would be getting payed but somehow the rest wouldn't, weird overall. Several POVs would be recorded but only one would be able to broadcast it, Juan. "we'll pay you with exposure" ahh deal

I haven't followed him since this happened, some claim he then did pay the actors, but even if that were the case, that would've never happened if it weren't for people calling out his exploitative bs. Which is exactly what's happened with the qsmp, only this time it's not a cancellation on twitter dot com, but a whole entire french union.

What I think their fans don't understand is that this is not a mob campaign against their faves, it's about protecting the working class from the privileged who refuse to pay them correctly or sometimes never at all, granting them rights to defend themselves when cases like these arise. This goes for people who claim Juan learned from his mistake, he clearly didn't if his immediate reaction to the union was:

(It's good that they formed a union, so they all hold hands together and fuck off)

So either he's forgotten his "lesson", or he only payed them (if that even happened) because he got caught and wanted to prevent a future cancelation).