#but for now here's an update on the guy i was talking to

[slayed02145]

so high school chapter 3

a/n: hey guys!!!! long awaited chapter three is here!!! I felt bad for making you guys wait more so I’m posting this un-edited, if you see a spelling or grammar issue no you don’t 🙈🙈🙈 also I’ve decided what I’m gonna do. So this is gonna be the last chapter of Azzi’s first day of school, every chapter from now on will probably be longer so that each chapter equates another day. Also I’m loving all the prompts and stuff if I don’t respond I’m probably waiting to add it into a later chapter!!! Also do yall want this on ao3 I had someone mention it and honestly it wouldn’t be any issue ik ao3 better then tumblr not gna lie just lmk. Thanks for all the love I hope you enjoy this chapter so far it’s my fav! Also I don’t mind if you ask for updates it keeps me motivated 😊

wc: 1.8k

shs masterlist

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Chapter 3

The gym is buzzing when Azzi walks in. The sound of squeaking shoes against the court, the rhythmic bounce of basketballs, the occasional laughter or trash talk. It’s all familiar. She hasn’t even stepped onto the court yet, but she already feels at home.

But then she spots Paige, jogging over with a grin, and Qadence’s words echo in her head. Paige is charming, yes, but Azzi isn’t here to get caught up in all that.

"Told you I gotchu," Paige says, tossing a pair of shorts and a Hopkins Basketball t-shirt at her.

Azzi catches the clothes easily, but there’s a slight hesitation before she responds. "Appreciate it."

Paige tilts her head, giving Azzi a once-over. "You sure you can hoop? Or are you just here to look pretty on the bench?"

Azzi smirks despite herself, shaking her head as she pulls her shirt over her head, revealing a sports bra before swapping it for the team tee. "You talk a lot."

Paige takes a split second to fully admire Azzi’s build before she snaps back into reality and raises her hands in mock innocence. "I just like to know what I’m workin’ with."

Azzi exhales, trying to keep her guard up, but it’s hard. Paige is easy to be around, playful, funny. The way she grins, the way she teases. It’s not just empty flirting. It’s fun. So what really is the harm in indulging in Paige if Azzi just keeps a level head and doesn’t catch feelings. Nothing right?

Azzi steps closer, lowering her voice just enough that Paige has to lean in. "You’ll see."

The way she says it, calm, confident, like she’s not even worried. It has Paige grinning wider. "Aight, bet. Let’s go."

They both make their way onto the court, where the team is already warming up. Coach side-eyes Paige, then looks at Azzi. "This the girl you said deserves a shot?"

"Yes, sir," Paige says without hesitation.

Coach studies Azzi for a moment, then nods toward the line of girls waiting for drills. "Let’s see what you got."

Azzi doesn’t disappoint. She moves smoothly through the warmups, her handles tight, her shot clean. Every time she scores, Paige watches her, trying to get a read on her game. Azzi, aware of Paige’s eyes, throws a glance her way every now and then, a silent challenge in her smirk.

Then comes the 1v1s.

"Alright, new girl," Coach calls out. "Let’s see how you do under pressure. Paige, you’re up."

The team reacts immediately.

"Ohhh, this is about to be good," Kk mutters, nudging Ice.

Paige and Azzi step onto the court, facing each other. Paige bounces the ball once, twice, eyes locked onto Azzi’s.

"You sure you can handle this?" Paige teases.

Azzi smirks. "You talk too much."

Paige starts off quick, using her size to back Azzi down, but Azzi is fast, faster than Paige expected. She cuts off Paige’s drive, forcing her to pick up her dribble. Paige spins, fakes, and goes for a step-back jumper. It soars in hitting nothing but net.

The team reacts with exaggerated “oohs,” but Azzi just smiles. She takes the ball, dribbles once, then nods. "Okay."

Her turn. Azzi moves effortlessly, her footwork sharp. She crosses over, left to right, fakes a drive, and then steps back for a three. It’s quick, clean, and it falls through like it was meant to be there.

Paige raises an eyebrow. "A shooter? Okay, okay."

Azzi tilts her head, amused. "You catch on fast."

Paige laughs, shaking her head. "Nah, I just wasn’t expecting you to be nice with it."

"You underestimate me?" Azzi steps closer, dribbling lazily between her legs. "That’s cute."

Paige blinks, caught off guard by the comment. Then, she grins. "Oh, you cocky? I like that."

They go back and forth, matching each other shot for shot, drive for drive. The team watches, the energy in the gym shifting as everyone realizes—Azzi is legit. And Paige? Paige looks like she’s having the time of her life.

Coach eventually calls it, clapping his hands. "Alright, alright. That’s enough. Azzi, welcome to the team. Paige, stop acting like it’s a damn pickup game."

Paige smirks. "My bad, Coach. Got caught up."

Azzi walks past her, just close enough that their shoulders brush. "Don’t worry. I’ll remind you next time."

Paige watches her go, biting back a smile.

***

Practice wraps up, and the team starts filing out, some lingering to joke around, others heading straight for the locker room. Paige checks her phone and sighs.No messages and no missed calls from her dad. Who was supposed to pick her up today.

She dials her dad, pressing the phone to her ear as she leans against the bleachers. The call picks up after a few rings.

“Hey, where are you?” Paige asks, trying to keep her voice even.

A pause. Then her dad’s voice, slightly distracted. “Oh, shoot. Paige, I’m sorry—”

She already knows where this is going.

“I lost track of time. We’re still out—”

“We?” Paige repeats, stomach twisting.

Her dad hesitates. “Yeah, me and—”

“The fiancée. Got it,” Paige says flatly, running a hand over her face. “It’s fine. I’ll take the bus.”

“Paige—”

But she’s already hanging up. Her jaw clenches as she shoves her phone into her bag. This isn’t new, but it still stings.

Azzi, just 20 ft away, picks up on the irritation in Paige’s voice. She wasn’t exactly eavesdropping, but she wasn’t not listening either.

Azzi hesitates, tapping her fingers against her thigh. Paige has a reputation, everyone knows it. The kind of girl who flirts just because she can, who never sticks around for long. And Azzi isn’t stupid, if Paige is nice to her, it’s probably not because she’s looking for anything real.

But still… it’s just a ride. It’s not like Azzi’s going to fall for her. She’s got too much sense for that. And if Paige tries to turn on the charm, well—Azzi can play along. Flirting with Paige is fun, and as long as she doesn’t take it seriously, what’s the harm?

By the time Paige shoves her phone in her pocket, frustration clear in the way she exhales, Azzi is already approaching her.

“You need a ride?”

Paige blinks, caught off guard. “What?”

Azzi shrugs. “I can take you home. I drove.”

Paige hesitates for a second, then shakes her head, the easy smirk slipping back into place. “Nah, I’m good. You don’t gotta do all that.”

Azzi tilts her head, unimpressed. “So you’d rather sit on a sticky-ass bus, all sweaty from practice, why?”

Paige crosses her arms, sizing Azzi up like she’s trying to decide if she’s serious. She is.

“You serious?” Paige asks hesitantly.

Azzi huffs a laugh. “Yeah”

“Aight bet”

***

They step into Azzi’s car—a sleek, spotless SUV that immediately makes Paige smirk. "Oh, so you got money money."

Azzi side-eyes her as she starts the engine. "It’s my parents’."

"Still. This thing got seat warmers?" Paige presses buttons at random until she finds them. "Ohhh, it does. Yeah, I’m ridin’ with you from now on."

Azzi shakes her head, the hint of a smile ghosting her lips. “What’s your address?” She hands Paige her phone with the maps app open.

Paige takes it, but instead of typing, she swipes out and pulls up Spotify. Before Azzi can react, the opening beats of Get you by Daniel Caesar blast through the car speakers.

Azzi raises an eyebrow as the song floods the space. "Seriously?"

Paige leans back, stretching out like she owns the passenger seat. "What? You look like you drive in silence. I’m doing you a favor."

Azzi exhales, fingers flexing over the wheel. "And this is your song of choice?"

Paige shrugs, tapping her fingers against her knee in time with the beat. "You don’t like it?"

Azzi doesn’t answer right away, just focuses on reversing out of the lot. But Paige catches the way her fingers tighten slightly, the way her jaw shifts like she’s biting back a reaction.

A slow grin spreads across Paige’s face. "Oh, you do."

Azzi shakes her head. "Just put in your address, Paige."

Paige laughs but finally obliges, typing it in before setting the phone down. Then she turns the volume up just a little, just enough to see if Azzi will protest. She doesn’t.

Azzi’s the one with a question this time. “You don’t drive Paige?

“I got my license, but I don’t have a car so it’s no use”

“Ah that makes sense”

They drive in easy silence for a bit, the music filling the gaps. Paige stretches her legs out, sinking into the warmth of the seat. Her gaze flickers toward Azzi, watching how the streetlights cast shifting patterns over her face, how her focus never wavers from the road.

"You always this focused when you drive?" Paige asks, voice lazy.

Azzi spares her a glance. "You always this much of a distraction?"

Paige smirks, tilting her head. "Maybe you just find me distracting."

Azzi doesn’t even dignify that with a response, but Paige catches the way the corner of her mouth twitches, like she’s fighting a smile. That’s enough to make Paige sit up a little, pushing just a bit further.

“You know, you’re kind of a mystery, Azzi.”

Azzi hums, amused. “How so?”

Paige drums her fingers against her thigh, thinking. “You give off this whole calm, collected, nothing-fazes-me vibe, but then I see you play, and it’s like—damn. Whole different energy.”

Azzi smirks, eyes still on the road. “That sounded like a compliment.”

“Oh, it is.” Paige’s voice drops just slightly, threading something softer into the space between them. “I like watching you play.”

Azzi exhales, gripping the wheel a little tighter. Paige knows exactly what she’s doing.

"I noticed you watching," Azzi says, voice even.

Paige grins, shifting in her seat to face her fully. "Yeah? You like the attention?"

Azzi flicks her gaze toward her, slow, deliberate. "I don’t mind it."

Paige bites her lip like she’s trying not to smirk. "Humble."

Azzi shakes her head, but there’s something close to amusement in her expression. “You flirt with everybody like this?”

Paige doesn’t even hesitate. “Nah. Just the ones worth flirting with.”

Azzi exhales through her nose, shaking her head. "You’re ridiculous."

Paige just grins, letting the moment settle.

Azzi totally gets it now. The appeal. She’s known Paige for less than a day, and yet here she is, stomach light with something suspiciously close to butterflies. It’s all just so effortless. The banter, the teasing, the way Paige makes everything feel like a game she wants to play. But Azzi also knows the reality. Paige doesn’t like her. Paige likes the chase.

And Azzi? Azzi likes to win.

So she plays along, lets the flirting simmer just enough to keep Paige chasing, but never lets herself get caught. She keeps her guard up, keeps control. She’s the one dictating the pace, not Paige.

At least, that’s what she tells herself. For now.

[svt-luna]

ʚིᵋ ⋆ INSTAGRAM UPDATE ࣪ ! ˓ ౨ৎ ࣪˖ ─── 250331: Lunacy

╰ ౨ৎ LUNA-VERSE MASTERLIST ╰౨ৎ luna's instagram

Liked by jeonghaniyoo_n, sound_of_coups, min9yu_k and 9,655,566 others

lunabae lunacy ♡ 4.30

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lunanova_forever MOTHER?! YOU CAN’T JUST DROP THIS OUT OF NOWHERE WITH NO WARNING!!!?

lunaverse_17 NO BECAUSE CAN WE TALK ABOUT THE COVER??? LUNA YOU LOOK INSANE(ly GORGEOUS)!!! I’M FRAMING THIS.

missbitch Bae Jiyeon’s favorite categories: serving cunt & breaking the internet 😩

hansolslunatic NO ONE MOVE. NO ONE BREATHE. LUNA JUST ATE EVERYONE UP WITH THIS COVER ALONE. WE HAVEN’T EVEN HEARD THE MUSIC YET.

↳ jijijiyeoniee_97 not to mention the name of the album! perfection💋🤌 Lunacy. LUNAcy. ABSOLUTE LUNACY!!

dinozoomzoom This is a whole serve. Ma’am, the visuals, the elegance, the power🫠

jeonglunaluvclub EVERYONE ELSE CAN GO HOME. LUNA JUST WON 2025.

↳ ashonashonash I feel like we have been saying that since last year… she remains winning 🤭

scoopedbycheol EVERYONE SHUT UP AND LOOK AT HER. JUST LOOK AT HER. SHE’S NOT EVEN HUMAN AT THIS POINT.

moonchildluna THE WAY THIS COVER SCREAMS “I’M ABOUT TO CHANGE YOUR LIFE” AND I’M JUST LETTING IT HAPPEN.

jeonghanbabie LUNA WE ARE BROKE!! YOU KNOW YOU GUYS ARE COMING BACK IN MAY RIGHT?? BUT GUESS WHAT?? I’M STILL BUYING. TAKE MY MONEY.

mingyusmealprep PRETTIEST WOMAN IN THE WORLD??? NO COMPETITION???

jihoonsmuse NO BECAUSE I NEED THIS PHYSICALLY IN MY HANDS. I NEED TO STARE AT IT DAIL.

↳ caratwalletscrying NOT ONLY IS SHE SERVING MUSIC, SHE’S SERVING VISUALS. LUNA WE CAN’T HANDLE ALL THIS AT ONCE.

seventeen4ever 14 SONGS??? FOURTEEN??? JIYEON, YOU’RE INSANE FOR THIS.

wonwoowrites When they ask “What was the moment Luna became a legend?” Show them this cover.

↳ jeongnadaily she’s always been a legend.

lunaticforluna THESE TITLES?! OH THIS IS FOR JEONGHAN AGAIN IT???? WE GET IT, YOU’RE IN LOVE.

dkisthesun HOLD ON. THE BOY IS MINE??? WE KNOWWWW!!!

woozi_approved Dandelion already sounds like it’s about Jeonghan. I just KNOW it’s about him, don’t ask me how, I just do. (These all could be about Jeonghan 🤗)

junhuiismydaddy NO ONE TALK TO ME, I WILL BE UNHINGED UNTIL APRIL 30TH.

vernonssi Me trying to figure out if Yes, And? is a diss track or a motivational anthem.

wonusmoonlight YOU NAMED A SONG MOONLIGHT??? THAT’S LITERALLY ME?? LUNA, YOU DID THIS FOR ME PERSONALLY (As if Luna’s name doesn’t mean moon 😴)

sebongsalute_ SEVENTEEN OT14 COMEBACK IN MAY, LUNA SOLO IN APRIL… WE ARE NOT SURVIVING THIS. PLEDIS, PLS GIVE US A FINANCIAL AID PACKAGE.

cheolliesdimple MIDAS TOUCH????? EVERYTHING YOU TOUCH TURNS TO GOLD??? OH SHE’S JUST THAT BITCH!!!

svt10thyearsoon YOU KNOW WHAT?? I DON’T EVEN NEED TO HEAR IMPERFECT FOR YOU. IT’S ALREADY MY FAVORITE.

the14thwonder Everyone freaking out over the tracklist while I’m here wondering how we’re going to survive both Luna’s album and Seventeen’s 10th-anniversary album.

joshua_hong_is_real I’M CALLING IT NOW. IMPERFECT FOR YOU IS GOING TO BE THE MOST EMOTIONAL TRACK AND I’M NOT READY.

hannieandluna4ever Why do I feel like half of those songs (if not all 😝) is about Jeonghan??? LUNA, BLINK TWICE IF IT IS.

dkbiggestfan I CAN’T EVEN DECIDE WHICH ONE I’M MORE EXCITED FOR. SUPERNATURAL??? POV??? SEOUL CITY??? 14 TRACKS ALL IN ALL?? I’M STRESSED IN A GOOD WAY.

jeonghansangel BAE JIYEON YOU’RE A MENACE. FIRST, YOU DROP THE TRACKLIST LIKE IT’S NOTHING, THEN YOU TELL US WE’RE GETTING 14 SONGS WHICH ARE POSSIBLY LOVE SONGS FOR JEONGHAN??? GIVE US A BREAK.

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[sherewrytes]

𝔹𝕣𝕠𝕜𝕖𝕟 ℙ𝕚𝕖𝕔𝕖𝕤, ℝ𝕪𝕠𝕞𝕖𝕟 𝕊𝕦𝕜𝕦𝕟𝕒 14

↳ Sukuna x f! black reader

Summary: After the death of his grandfather, Sukuna Ryomen is left to shoulder the weight of his family, caring for his younger brothers, Yuuji and Choso. As he withdraws into grief, his relationship with Y/N, his girlfriend of a year, begins to crumble. When Y/N discovers the truth about his grandfather’s passing during a heated argument, it leads to a painful breakup. Now, both are navigating life apart, but Sukuna’s heart aches for Y/N. Determined to win her back, he must confront his pain and find a way to break through the walls he’s built. Can he rekindle their love, or is it too late?

contents: heavy angst, modern au, 18+, smut, dark romance, drug use, talks of depression and similar topics. (a lil )

fic warnings. ooc, profanity, mental health issues, toxic relationships, cheating, explicit smut, serious drug use, mentions of depression + more to be updated as story progresses.

Please read with proper discretion. this is a work of fiction. all characters are written to portray roles that are necessary to the plot and are in no way a reflection of their canon counterparts.

Taglist: @for-hearthand-home@clp-84@thelightknight21@favvkiki  @helightknight21@dylsw@ria-s-writes@sleepymothafterhours@sukunasstomachtongue@cosmic-lovr@imm0rtalbutterfly@kyo-kyo1

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Masterlist

Chapter 14: New Beginnings

Toji's POV

I ran my fingers over the rim of my glass, staring into it as if it held the answers I was searching for. Why the hell did I sleep with Y/N? I knew damn well how Sukuna felt about her, and I wasn’t some stranger to the guy. He was my best friend, and no matter how much I tried to push it down, I knew it wasn’t right.

Y/N, though... she was like the fucked-up version of everything. She was beautiful, smart, and so damn unpredictable. Just when I thought I had her figured out, she’d pull some move that’d leave me reeling. And it wasn’t like I didn’t feel something for her. But that damn feeling of guilt always came crawling back to me, clawing at my chest.

She was too close to Sukuna, too much of a reminder of who he was—the guy who had a hold over everything, even me. And now, here I was, caught up in a moment of weakness that I knew would bite me in the ass.

Sukuna deserved better than this, I thought. Hell, I deserved better than this.

I dragged a hand through my hair, frustration simmering beneath my skin. I was just playing games with myself at this point, trying to convince myself I didn’t care. But the truth was, I did.

“Fuck,” I muttered under my breath, leaning back in the chair. What the hell had I done?

I caught sight of Y/N again, this time laughing with Mei Mei and Shoko. Her smile tugged at me in ways I couldn’t explain. Maybe it was the alcohol, or maybe it was just the reality I had to face.

I wasn’t just caught up in a game anymore. This was real. And the consequences? Yeah, I had a feeling they were gonna hit hard, whether I was ready for them or not.

Geto's POV

I sat down next to Toji, feeling the tension in the air between us like a thick cloud. He was drinking, and I didn’t blame him. Hell, I wanted to drink too. But the atmosphere felt like it was getting heavier by the second. I couldn't ignore the way he was acting—like he had his hands tied in a situation that was just... wrong.

"They're grilling Y/N over there about fucking you," I started, my voice low, trying to keep things casual. "I mean, Sukuna isn’t shit—well, I won’t say that. He's a fucked-up guy, but he's our friend, and we... hmm, you... out of all the girls, Y/N, man?"

Toji didn’t respond immediately, but I could see it in his eyes. That guilt, that confusion. I knew him too well. The guy had always been good at hiding it, but he wasn’t fooling anyone. Not me. Not anymore.

I took a drag from my cigarette, letting the smoke curl up between us before turning to face him. “You know what you’re doing, right? I get it. Y/N’s... Y/N. But you don’t want to be the one who messes with her heart. Not when she’s already been through enough shit with Sukuna. And if you think for one second he won’t notice, you’re lying to yourself.”

I looked at him seriously, watching his reaction. There was more to this than just a quick fuck. Toji wasn’t stupid—he knew the implications of what had just happened. Hell, everyone in this damn room probably did.

"You’re gonna have to figure out what the hell you want, Toji," I said, my voice quieter this time. "But don’t drag her into this mess if you don’t plan on keeping her close. Because Sukuna? He’s not gonna let this slide."

I let the silence hang there, hoping he heard me loud and clear. The last thing I needed was more people getting hurt in this fucked-up cycle we had going on.

I leaned back in my chair, the weight of my words sinking in as I watched Toji’s expression shift. There was something in his eyes that told me he was processing everything. I wasn't sure if it was guilt or regret, but it was there, and it wasn't a look I saw often from him.

"Yeah," I continued, my voice steady but firm, "if you guys keep going down this path, someone’s gonna have to tell Sukuna. We don’t need him finding out on his own, randomly."

I paused, feeling the atmosphere around us grow thicker. Toji shifted slightly, his fingers drumming on his drink, but I could see the flicker of concern in his eyes. I wasn’t here to tell him how to live his life, but damn, he had to know what the consequences would be if this went south.

“I mean, you were there when I checked on him that first time, right?” I said, my tone quieter now, remembering the chaos that had unfolded. “When I found him passed out from an overdose... you all saw the state of his room. It wasn’t just the drugs. It was everything. He was spiraling hard.”

Toji’s eyes flickered to the floor, and I could tell he was thinking about it—thinking about what kind of person Sukuna had become, the lengths he’d gone to try to cope with the mess of his life. And the more I talked, the more I realized that even if Toji didn’t say it out loud, he was starting to understand.

“I don’t think anyone here wants to deal with that again,” I said, my voice softer now, almost a warning. "And yet, if we keep pushing this, if we keep letting things spiral... it’s gonna happen again, and none of us are ready for it."

I watched as Toji’s jaw tightened, but he didn’t say anything right away. We were both stuck in a moment of clarity, a brief second where reality settled in.

“I’m just saying,” I continued, dragging on my cigarette before flicking the ash off the end, “we can’t keep pretending like everything’s fine when it's obviously not. Either we handle it like we should, or we let it blow up in our faces. It’s on you to decide what’s next."

I leaned back in my chair, letting the smoke fill the air between us. I knew this wasn’t an easy conversation to have, but if anyone could get through to him, it would be now. Because when Sukuna found out, if he found out in the wrong way—things wouldn’t just get messy. They’d get ugly. And none of us wanted that.

YN POV

It’s 11 PM, and just as I’m about to close my eyes and finally get some rest, there’s a knock on my door. It’s been three days since I saw Toji. Three days of quiet, of nothing happening between us after that night. And honestly, part of me was relieved. I’d been second-guessing everything, wondering what the hell I had gotten myself into. But now, hearing the knock, I felt my stomach flip.

I open the door to find him standing there, looking like he hasn’t slept in days. His eyes are dark, and there’s an edge to his posture. He doesn’t say anything at first, just stares at me for a moment.

“You couldn’t just text?” I ask, trying to keep my tone light, but it comes out a little more harsh than I intended. I step aside to let him in.

Toji walks in without saying a word. He looks... stressed. More than I’ve ever seen him, and that’s saying something. He starts pacing the living room, his fingers raking through his hair like he’s lost his mind.

“I got a call,” he finally says, his voice rough. “Well, Gojo and I both got calls from Sukuna’s therapist. They wanna extend his stay. They think he’s been getting pills from someone. He’s resisting them... in a sense. But it’s bad, Y/N. I don’t know how bad. I don’t think he’s gonna come out of this on his own. Not without help.”

I watch him pace back and forth, his anxiety growing by the second. I know that Sukuna's been spiraling, but hearing it from Toji like this, in such a frantic state, makes the weight of the situation hit me harder than ever.

I stand up slowly, unsure of what to say. The uncertainty of everything we’ve been avoiding hangs thick in the air between us. As I watch him pace, I feel this pull to do something, anything to help him. But I don’t know where to start.

I reach out, my hand instinctively touching his arm to stop him. He freezes, his body going rigid at my touch. He looks down at my hand, and for a split second, our eyes meet.

His gaze is intense, conflicted, and I can see the weight of everything he’s carrying. “What does this have to do with me?” I ask quietly, my heart racing in my chest, unsure if I want to know the answer.

He stares at me, a flash of pain flickering across his face. He opens his mouth like he’s about to say something, but then he just exhales deeply and shakes his head.

“Nothing... and everything.” His voice cracks slightly, betraying the calm front he’s trying to keep. He reaches up to touch his face, dragging a hand down it, clearly struggling to maintain his composure. “I just needed to tell you... needed you to know.”

I’m not sure what he’s trying to say, or why he feels the need to tell me now. But as I watch him, I know something in him is breaking. And it feels like I’m standing on the edge of something dangerous—something that could change everything.

The silence stretches between us, thick and heavy. I want to reach out to him, to say something comforting, but I know I can't fix this. I can't fix him, and I definitely can’t fix the mess that’s been created between us all.

Finally, Toji speaks again, his voice barely above a whisper.

“I’m sorry, Y/N.”

The words hit me harder than I expected. And for a moment, I don’t know what to say back. He’s not just sorry about what happened between us. He’s apologizing for everything—for Sukuna, for the situation, for the way things have played out.

I open my mouth to respond, but before I can say anything, I realize that the only thing I really want to do right now is make sure he’s okay. Even if it means stepping into a mess I’m not sure I’m ready for.

“You’re not alone in this, Toji,” I say softly, the words coming out more like a promise than anything else.

I watched him pace again, his movements frantic, like he couldn’t settle. Then, just as quickly, he stopped. His whole body seemed to freeze, tension building in the space between us. He took a few steps closer, and suddenly, he was right in front of me, towering over me.

I barely had time to react before he spoke, his voice low, rough, carrying an edge of something... regret? Pain? I couldn’t tell. “I can’t forget about that night,” he said, his eyes locked onto mine with an intensity that made my breath catch.

My pulse quickened, and for a moment, I couldn’t form any words. I didn’t know how to respond to him, not after everything that had happened. After the way I had kissed him, after the mess we had created.

But he didn’t seem to need a response. He just stood there, looking at me like he was waiting for something. Like he was waiting for me to either pull away or lean in.

“I didn’t mean for it to happen,” he continued, his voice softer now, almost pleading. “But I can’t stop thinking about it. About you. About how everything feels so... wrong right now. This whole situation. What the hell are we doing, Y/N?”

His words hit me like a ton of bricks, and I felt the weight of them pressing down on me, suffocating me in a way I wasn’t prepared for.

I opened my mouth, but the words wouldn’t come. What was I supposed to say to that? How could I even begin to make sense of the chaos we’d created between us?

“I didn’t mean for it to happen either,” I finally managed to say, my voice barely above a whisper. “But we can’t just pretend it didn’t.”

He sighed heavily, raking a hand through his hair, and I could tell he was trying to piece together something that made sense. “I know,” he muttered. “But this—” He gestured between us, “—this isn’t just about what happened. I’m... I’m worried about Sukuna. He’s messed up, Y/N. And I’m just making it worse.”

I took a deep breath, trying to keep myself steady. "We're all messed up, Toji. But we can't keep ignoring it. We have to figure out what comes next. For all of us."

He nodded slowly, as if processing everything I said, but there was still a heaviness in his gaze. Something unresolved. Something we both knew we couldn’t ignore anymore.

“Maybe,” he said quietly, his voice almost a whisper, “but I can’t keep pretending that that night didn’t mean anything. I can’t just... move on from it.”

I swallowed hard, looking up at him, my heart pounding in my chest. "Neither can I."

Toji leaned in, closing the space between us in an instant. His hand gently cupped the side of my face, his thumb grazing my skin in a way that made my pulse race. The air between us was thick with unspoken words, the weight of everything hanging over us, but in that moment, I couldn’t pull away.

When his lips met mine, it was different this time. It wasn’t the frantic kiss from before, the one fueled by confusion and desire. This one was slow, deliberate, like he was trying to make sense of everything that had been building between us. There was no hesitation. No second-guessing. Just the undeniable truth of what we had shared, and what was still lingering in the air.

His kiss deepened, his hands finding their way to my waist, pulling me closer. I let out a soft breath against his lips, feeling the tension that had been building up between us crack and fall away, piece by piece. I couldn’t tell if I was doing this because I wanted it, or if it was the weight of everything—Sukuna, Toji, the mess we had made—that drove me into his arms. But at that moment, it didn’t matter.

I kissed him back, matching his pace, letting him take control of the moment. For once, I didn’t feel guilty. I didn’t feel like I had to choose. I just let myself feel everything—the pull, the desire, the storm that had been brewing inside of me.

When we finally broke apart, both of us breathless, I knew that something had shifted between us. I couldn’t say this was a mistake anymore. The connection between us felt too real, too raw. It was as if we had crossed a line we couldn’t uncross, and neither of us was ready to turn back.

Toji’s forehead rested against mine as he caught his breath, his hands still resting on my waist. “This... we can’t keep pretending, can we?” he whispered, his voice rough.

“No,” I replied softly, my voice barely above a whisper. “We can’t.”

I closed my eyes for a moment, letting the weight of his words settle in. The air between us was thick with everything unsaid, every lingering emotion we had tried to bury. I wasn’t sure what it meant, what would come after this. But the intensity of his gaze, the way his hands felt on me, told me there was no turning back now.

Toji pulled back slightly, his hands still resting on my waist, his eyes searching mine as if trying to read my thoughts. “I don’t know what the hell I’m doing,” he admitted quietly, his voice filled with a kind of vulnerability I hadn’t heard from him before. “I shouldn’t be here. But I can’t stop thinking about you.”

I swallowed, my heart pounding in my chest. “Toji,” I said softly, my voice shaky. “This... whatever this is, it’s not just a distraction for me. I don’t want to hurt anyone. Especially not Sukuna or you.”

He winced at the mention of his name, and for a second, I saw the guilt flash in his eyes. “I know. I know, but fuck, Yn. I can’t stand seeing him like this. And then you... you show up in my life, and all I can think about is you.”

I looked away for a moment, trying to gather my thoughts. “Sukuna... he’s not well. And you’re right, he’s been spiraling. But I can’t just forget him. He’s part of this—part of me.”

Toji’s hand gently tilted my chin up, forcing me to meet his gaze again. “I know. And I’m not asking you to forget about him. But we can’t keep pretending like nothing’s changed between us.”

I nodded slowly, a knot forming in my stomach. “I don’t know how to fix this. I don’t know what we’re supposed to do.”

Toji’s thumb traced the outline of my lips, his eyes darkening slightly as he watched me. “We don’t have to fix anything right now. We just have to figure out where we go from here.” His voice dropped to a near whisper. “And if you’re not ready for that, I get it. But I can’t keep pretending like this doesn’t matter.”

I felt the weight of his words settle heavily on my chest. This wasn’t just about a kiss anymore. It wasn’t just about the confusion or the mess we were all tangled in. It was about something real. Something raw.

“I don’t know if I’m ready,” I said, my voice barely a whisper, but I wasn’t sure if I meant it for him, for myself, or for the situation we had found ourselves in.

He nodded, his lips curling into a small, almost sad smile. “I don’t think any of us are ready. But we’ll figure it out.”

And for the first time in a long while, I wasn’t sure about the future, but I was willing to take the next step forward, whatever it might mean.

His words hung in the air between us, heavy and charged, as his body loomed over mine. The sound of my heart pounding in my chest filled the silence. His green eyes, intense and searching, locked onto mine, awaiting my response. I could feel the weight of his presence, the heat radiating from him, but there was something else too—uncertainty, a need for reassurance that this wasn’t just a momentary lapse, a distraction.

But I couldn’t push him away, not when every part of me screamed for him. I needed this—whatever this was. The confusion, the hurt, the guilt—it was all too much, and in that moment, being close to Toji felt like the only thing that could keep me from falling apart.

I reached up, my hands trembling slightly as they found the back of his neck, pulling him closer. My breath caught in my throat as our lips met again, but this time it was different. There was no hesitation, no waiting for permission. It was raw, desperate—a need to forget everything else, if only for a moment.

Toji responded in kind, deepening the kiss as his hands slid under my shirt, his touch hot and urgent. I gasped as his lips moved down to my neck, the sensation sending shivers down my spine. My hands tugged at his shirt, wanting to feel his skin, to drown out the noise in my head with the heat of him.

"Stop me if you don't want this," Toji repeated, his voice low, rough against my skin.

I didn’t say anything at first. I couldn’t. The words were stuck in my throat, swallowed up by the intensity of the moment. I didn’t know what I wanted anymore, or if I even cared. I just knew that in his arms, I didn’t have to think. I didn’t have to be anything other than this—us, right here, right now.

I pulled him closer, my body responding to him without a second thought. There was no turning back from this, no avoiding the consequences. I didn’t know what this would mean for Sukuna, for Toji, for me. But at that moment, none of that mattered.

I kissed him again, deeper this time, letting go of everything I had been holding onto.

the warmth of Toji’s body against mine was the first thing I felt when I woke up. His arm was draped around me, his fingers lightly grazing the skin of my waist, his breathing slow and steady as he slept. I could feel the weight of his chest rising and falling against my back, his presence grounding me in a way I hadn’t expected.

But as I lay there, staring at the ceiling, a wave of realization hit me. Last night. Everything that had happened—it wasn’t just a blur. It wasn’t just a mistake. I had given in to the moment, to the need to feel something other than the pain, the uncertainty. But now, with the morning light spilling into the room, I was starting to question everything.

I slowly shifted, trying not to wake him, but his grip on me tightened. He mumbled something unintelligible, pulling me closer, his lips brushing against my neck. A shiver ran down my spine, but it was mixed with guilt. What had I done?

Toji had been my friend, and I had known the consequences of what could happen between us. But last night... I had thrown all of that away. For what? To fill the emptiness? To escape from the mess of emotions I had been avoiding?

I wasn’t sure.

I stayed still for a moment, letting the calmness of the morning surround me, but as the seconds ticked by, I couldn’t help but feel the weight of what had happened, what was still to come. Toji was here, tangled in the mess of sheets with me, but there was someone else I had left behind. Someone I had failed in more ways than one.

Sukuna.

But as I glanced at Toji, the one person who had been here for me in ways I hadn’t even realized, I couldn’t ignore the pull I felt toward him. Despite everything. Despite the situation we had both gotten ourselves into.

I closed my eyes for a moment, letting out a breath I didn’t realize I had been holding. I didn’t know what came next, but right now, I couldn’t change what had already happened.

And when Toji’s hand moved from my waist to my chest, his touch lingering a little too long, I let myself sink back into the warmth of his embrace.

There was no turning back now.

Toji had been staying over more often these past few nights, though we didn’t call it anything official. It wasn’t a relationship, not really. We just... fucked around. There was something easy about it, something that kept me distracted, kept my mind from wandering to darker places. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t drawn to him—his strength, his presence, the way he seemed to pull me in without even trying. But there was always that gnawing feeling in the back of my mind.

Sukuna. I hadn’t heard from him since our last encounter, and while part of me felt relief, another part of me felt an undeniable worry. I knew he wasn’t doing well. I knew his struggles—he’d made it clear how much he hated being in that psych ward, how much he despised needing help. And now, Toji... Toji said he would talk to Sukuna when he was in a better place, when he had the right words to explain what had happened between us.

But how could he? How could he explain the mess we had made of everything?

I sat on the couch, staring blankly at the television, though I wasn’t watching it. My phone buzzed on the coffee table—another text from Toji, checking in. He’d stayed out late last night, and I had been left alone with my thoughts, pacing around my apartment, replaying the same questions over and over.

Was I wrong for what I had done with Toji? Was it worth it? Would Sukuna ever understand?

I sighed and picked up my phone, typing out a quick response to Toji.

“I’m just worried about him. He’s not doing well, and I don’t think anyone’s taking it seriously enough.”

The text was sent, and I leaned back against the cushions, my fingers tracing the edges of my mug. I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong, even if I didn’t want to admit it. I had distanced myself from Sukuna for so long, but now it felt like that distance was growing wider every day.

Toji had mentioned that Gojo and Geto had been giving Sukuna a hard time for being around me, which only made me more anxious. I knew that things had always been complicated between us, but now it felt like everything was falling apart in ways I couldn’t control. Toji had reassured me that he’d handle it, that he’d figure out how to talk to Sukuna once he was better, but I couldn’t ignore the worry settling deep in my chest.

I was afraid of what Sukuna might do when he found out. I was afraid of losing him, even though I didn’t know what we were anymore.

The apartment was eerily quiet, the kind of silence that felt suffocating. I could hear the faint hum of the refrigerator and the ticking of the clock on the wall, but my mind kept racing with every thought I tried to suppress. The past few days had been a blur of emotions—guilt, confusion, desire—and I couldn’t help but feel lost in it all.

My phone buzzed again, interrupting my spiraling thoughts.

“We’ll talk to him when the time’s right. I’m not worried about Sukuna. I’m more worried about us, YN. About what you want.”

I stared at the message for a long time, unsure of how to respond. What did I want? I wasn’t sure anymore. I didn’t know if I could keep going like this, bouncing between Toji and Sukuna, trying to hold on to whatever connection I had left with either of them. I knew I needed to make a decision, but the fear of making the wrong one kept me paralyzed.

I glanced up at the clock on the wall—11:30 pm. Another hour until Toji would likely show up after his shift at the tattoo shop. I couldn’t stop myself from thinking about what had happened between us, how I had allowed myself to get tangled in this web of uncertainty.

I hadn’t intended to hurt Sukuna. I hadn’t meant to betray him. But every time I tried to justify my actions, I felt more and more like I was fooling myself.

The door clicked open, and I turned to see Toji walk in, his usual smirk playing on his lips. For a moment, I almost forgot everything that had been weighing on me. I stood up to greet him, but the doubts in my mind crept back in, taking root once again.

He could see the change in my expression immediately. “What’s wrong?” he asked, his voice soft but with that same intensity I was starting to expect from him.

I shook my head, forcing a smile. “Nothing,” I said quickly, though my voice betrayed me. “Just thinking.”

He walked over to me and placed a hand on my shoulder, his gaze softening. “I told you I’ll handle it, YN. Sukuna, the guys... they’ll all understand eventually. But you need to be honest with yourself. About what you want.”

I swallowed hard, his words cutting through me in a way I hadn’t expected. He was right. I couldn’t keep pretending that everything was fine, that I didn’t have to face the consequences of my choices. But even if I did face them... what was I supposed to do?

“You’re not the only one who’s confused,” I finally said, my voice barely above a whisper.

Toji’s eyes softened as he took a step closer, pulling me into his arms. For a moment, I let myself lean into him, savoring the comfort of his touch, but in the back of my mind, I couldn’t stop thinking about Sukuna. What was he doing? How was he feeling?

“Everything’s going to work out,” Toji murmured, pressing a kiss to the top of my head.

But as I closed my eyes, I knew that nothing was certain anymore. Not with Sukuna. Not with Toji. Not with me.

And I wasn’t sure I had the strength to fix it all.

The morning light filtered through the curtains, casting a soft glow across the room. Toji and I had the day to ourselves, and for once, I felt like I could breathe without the constant weight of my thoughts pressing down on me. He was lounging on the couch, his usual relaxed demeanor on full display as he scrolled through his phone. I was getting ready to make breakfast, the quiet hum of the apartment offering a brief moment of peace.

"So, what do you wanna do today?" I asked, glancing back at him.

Toji looked up, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. "Nothing really, just enjoy the time. We’ve got the whole day."

I chuckled, turning back to the stove. "That’s one way to say you’re lazy," I teased, flipping the pancake on the pan.

He raised an eyebrow. "I’m not lazy, just... selective with how I spend my time."

I laughed, shaking my head. I set the plate on the table and joined him, taking a seat across from him.

Toji’s phone buzzed, pulling his attention away from the moment. He checked the screen and sighed. "Geto and Gojo are gonna visit Sukuna today. They’re going to check on him, see how he’s holding up in that damn place."

I felt a pang in my chest at the mention of Sukuna’s name. I hadn’t seen him in days, and the uncertainty surrounding him weighed heavily on me. I didn’t want to keep avoiding him, but the whole situation was complicated. Toji seemed to sense my hesitation, watching me closely.

"You should go," I said quietly. "Sukuna needs someone who gets him, someone who can really talk to him."

Toji’s gaze softened, but he didn’t respond right away. He ran a hand through his hair, looking slightly uneasy. "I’ll go another time," he finally said, not meeting my eyes. "He’s in a better place now. Geto and Gojo can handle it today."

There was a strange tension in the air. He wasn’t saying much, but I could tell he was conflicted. Sukuna was his best friend, after all, and yet... there was something that kept him from going today. Something he wasn’t saying.

I took a deep breath, trying to push aside the gnawing feeling in my gut. "Okay, but just don’t wait too long. He needs you, Toji."

He looked at me, his expression unreadable for a moment before his usual smirk returned. "Don’t worry about me. I’ll deal with it when I’m ready."

I nodded, but the unease didn’t go away. I wasn’t sure what exactly was stopping Toji from going, but I could feel it. And more than anything, I was scared of what would happen if Sukuna continued to spiral and no one stepped in.

We spent the rest of the day together, trying to forget the heaviness of the situation. Toji kept the mood light, teasing me about everything from my cooking skills to my tendency to overthink. It helped, for a while. But in the back of my mind, I couldn’t help but feel like something was slipping out of reach.

At the end of the day, I knew I would have to face the reality of everything eventually. The growing distance between me and Sukuna. The confusing mess that was my relationship with Toji. And the fear that I might lose them both.

But for now, I let myself enjoy the quiet moment, the soft rhythm of the day passing by with him at my side.

Toji ordered Chinese food and I was heckling him for finally ordering something other than pizza. 

I was halfway through my spring rolls when Toji’s phone rang, the familiar tune of Gojo’s contact flashing on the screen. I raised an eyebrow as Toji answered, casually leaning back in his chair, but something shifted in his expression. It was subtle at first—just a quick tightening of his jaw—but it was enough to catch my attention.

“What’s up, Gojo?” Toji asked, his tone still relaxed but with an edge I hadn’t heard before.

I went back to eating, but I couldn’t ignore the way his body tensed. His eyes flicked over to me as he listened, and I could sense something was off. I swallowed hard, trying not to stare, but the feeling of impending tension was hard to shake.

Toji’s calm demeanor began to slip as Gojo spoke, and my eyes narrowed. I caught the words, “What did you say?” and then, “You told Sukuna what?!”

My heart dropped into my stomach.

I didn’t need to hear more. The way Toji’s face hardened, the darkening of his expression—it was enough to know that something big was happening. I leaned forward, mouthing What’s going on? as he continued to listen, his hand tightening around the phone.

“Are you fucking crazy, Gojo?” Toji snapped, his voice low, a mix of frustration and disbelief. He stood up, pacing back and forth, and I was left watching him, my mind spinning.

I tried to steady myself, but the knot in my stomach only tightened. The silence on the other end of the line hung heavy, punctuated by Toji’s muttered curses. I had no idea what was going on, but I had the sinking feeling that it wasn’t good. Not for me, and certainly not for Sukuna.

Toji ran a hand through his hair, shaking his head, still listening intently. His eyes flicked back to mine. “Sukuna said what?” he asked, a sharp edge to his voice.

I stood, unable to sit still any longer. Whatever it was, whatever had just happened, I felt the weight of it crushing down on me. My stomach churned as I waited for Toji to respond.

“Gojo,” he said after a long pause, “you better not be playing with me right now. He said, "What about Y/N?”

There it was. My name had slipped from Toji’s lips like a warning. The tone of his voice was low and serious, a far cry from the carefree man I’d spent the afternoon with. I swallowed hard, the realization slowly sinking in.

I moved closer, now standing beside him, waiting for his next words. Toji’s eyes flicked to mine, the tension in the air palpable as the conversation continued. He didn’t say anything to me, but his expression told me everything I needed to know: whatever had happened, I was right in the middle of it.

Finally, Toji hung up the phone, his face drawn with frustration. “Gojo’s an idiot,” he muttered, pinching the bridge of his nose. “But I guess... Sukuna knows now.”

My heart hammered in my chest. “Know what?” I asked, the words barely coming out.

Toji’s eyes met mine, and I could see the guilt swirling in them. “Knows about... you and me. He’s not taking it well, Y/N. Gojo told him everything.”

[ingo-ingoing-ingone]

Emmet was put into a coma after being separated from Ingo, and in a coma he would stay unless medical science progressed enough. What if it did? Waking up in a new body had to be frightening, Drayden figured; was it worse than not waking up at all? That remains to be seen, but for this moment, things would be okay.

Hi guys! Yesterday was my 3 years of submas anniversary, and today, the 29th, is my 3 years of posting submas fics anniversary!

Originally I was gonna update ABYS today but that's taking longer than expected, so. Y'know the coma dream chapter section where Emmet is a robot?

That's a whole spinoff now. :D I've been poking at this on and off for months but! Here is is! Definitely going to be poking at this more, my friends can attest to just how much I talk about this one lmao

Enjoy! :)

[writingtraumaforever]

Uncontrolled Chaos: Chapter 46

Notes: Sorry about not updating last week! I sort of was dogsitting. And had migraines because of the weather and pressure and shit. And I just got glasses, so my eyeballs have been adjusting and it makes my head hurt. BUT ANYWAY! Here ya go. And you all will be glad to know I already have chapter 47 typed up and ready to post, so woohoo for for sure updates next week!

Also, while I have you! I recently updated my Masterpost on my profile to include my art as well as the art of other people who have made things from my stories!! Including some UC Fanart! So go check that out if you want!

Summary: Knuckles can't get out of his head.

UC Masterpost!

Link to My AO3!

Start:

Knuckles has truly grown more in sync with the Master Emerald over the years, he feels. Even despite his recent travels and adventuring the world off of Angel Island, he still felt that deep rooted connection between himself and the gem. Having Rouge check up on it now and then along with Sonic, he had been able to dive more into his inner archeologist and go treasure hunting around the globe. Not to mention learn so much more about the ancients and where the chaos emeralds were first found on this world..

After Starfall Islands.. he realized there was still so much more to know and discover about the emeralds that.. he hadn’t even thought about.

Always so closed-minded, he was. Narrow-headed. Only seeing one path rather than the multiple set before him. It made him miss many opportunities. Easily manipulated, tricked into things he regretted or robbing him of a chance at a higher knowledge. 

It was something he was working on in his journey of self-discovery. Truly assessing a situation and his surroundings before barreling in not knowing what to expect or how it may affect those around him.

Thank Chaos for Sonic and Rouge, though.. as much as each of them liked to pretend they were fine on their own, he knew it hadn’t been easy on either of them. Part of him feels guilty especially for leaving Sonic after such a taxing adventure as Starfall Islands had been.. but Sonic was a tough guy. He could handle it and take care of himself. And Chaos knows if Knuckles ever did offer a shoulder to lean on or a helping hand, Sonic would deny any need of it with a wide grin and thumbs up. 

Can’t help what won’t be helped.

Rouge on the other hand..

Now she was a complicated one.

Perhaps part of his motivation to become a more complex-aware fella was her. 

She was an enigma to him. A true mystery. Every time he thought he might have her even a little figured out, she proved him wrong.

Though, he certainly thought his absence during his recent travels had oddly made them grow.. closer.

The predicaments causing him to have to call her nearly daily, or at least text. Checking up on Angel Island and the Master Emerald.

He still remembers asking her to watch over it for him.

‘Me?? You want me to watch over the Master Emerald?? You’re kidding.’

��I wouldn’t joke about this. I need someone I can trust who knows and respects the emerald like I do. And while I know you joke about stealing it a lot.. I also know you understand its importance and value.’

‘…Well damn. Alright then, Knucklehead, I’ll keep an eye on your rock. But no promises it’ll still be there when you get back~.’

‘It will be.’

The texts started out pretty basic..

Him asking for an ME update.

Rouge usually sending some ridiculous picture that would get him red in the face of her perched on top of it taken at an angle that was often far too suggestive. 

And then the texts went from updates to chatting..

And then the texts went to phone calls..

And then they just.. talked. All the time. Knuckles simply trusting Rouge would tell him if something was wrong with the Master Emerald, and calling her because..

Well.

Because he just missed her he supposed..

What’s that they say about absence and fondness??

But now that they were reunited again?.. 

Well..

Things felt awkward. Like neither of them knew how to act around one another anymore.

Right back to basking in their mutual tension and dancing around each other.

Knuckles wanted to blame their current situation. Say that Rouge is simply emotionally compromised right now with Shadow gone and they’re both occupied with the stress of the world’s potential end.

But he knows it’s bullshit.

Knows it’s more than that.

They’re both simply… not good at this.

Maybe they’re not cut out for it..

His eyes shut a bit tighter, sitting criss-crossed before the Master Emerald with a small frown. Brows furrowed in annoyance at his inability to concentrate. He needed to get his shit together. The world was ending for Chaos’ sake! 

It was wild to think such things and realize that only their little group of friends even were aware. So many innocent people were counting on them.. and they didn’t even know.

How many times had that happened, though.

They don’t do it for the praise, of course. They do it because it needs to be done.

And right now, Knuckles needs to be able to find out where the remaining chaos emeralds are. But it’s rather difficult when his mind just keeps wandering back to that—

“Just tell me who the hell you think you are?!”

Bat.

Knuckles’ eyes open with a sigh, slowly standing himself up because he already knows he’s about to get nothing done with her here.

“Sleep well??”

“I don’t need you looking out for me, redhead!” she scolds as she lands at the base of the shrine, crossing her arms and jutting her hip out as she glares at him from the bottom of the stairs, “You should’ve woken me up the moment you got the message about the whole damn world ending!”

“You were tired and pushing yourself too hard,” Knuckles frowns. No one else may have noticed it, but he did. The way her feet were dragging, her wings sagging a bit on her back, the extra concealer she patted under her eyes to try and hide the dark circles, the droop in her tail.

She was exhausted.

Both physically and emotionally.

Which is why he was trying really hard to be patient with her right now despite the way she’s storming up those stairs like she’s ready to sock him.

“I think I know my limits a little better than you, Knuckles-For-Brains!”

He closes his eyes.

Takes a deep breath.

She’s not angry with him.

Just taking it out on him.

He’ll be her punching bag for a bit if that’s what she needs to feel better.

Reaching the top of the stairs, she stomps towards him in her heeled boots with her finger up and pointing at him accusingly, “You should’ve woken me up the minute you knew. Not told the others to leave me be to sleep.”

Her voice was mixed with a growl and all the huffy sass in the world, Knuckles opening his eyes again when he felt her finger press to his chest and poke.

He frowned heavier. 

“The world is ending, you idiot! Now isn’t the time for sleep, it’s the time to get the fucking job done!” she huffs and crosses her arms then, retracting her finger from his chest.

“There’s nothing you could be doing right now anyway other than aimlessly looking for the last emeralds like the others—“

“Then I should be looking!!” she huffs, throwing her arms in the air, “I should be out there searching along with the others—“

“Then why aren’t you??”

She stops. 

Blinks at him.

“Wh-..What??”

“Then why aren’t you looking?? You came here instead. Why? Why waste time yelling at me when you could be scouting out for a chaos emerald??”

Knuckles crosses his own arms now, eyes remaining on hers as he waits expectantly for an answer. She just stares at him, looking as though she’s searching for some sort of snarky comeback or smartass answer.. but she doesn’t have one.

So she huffs and crosses her arms instead, turning her nose up and closing her eyes.

“Because I needed to get it out of my system. And needed you to know I don’t need you babying me. I’m a grown woman!”

“I’m well aware..,” he murmurs under his breath, eyes rolling as her own snap back towards him narrowed and looking for a fight.

That’s what this is about.

A fight.

A distraction.

She’s needed something to blow off some steam with since all this mess started. She just won’t admit it.

“Then why don’t you start treating me like it! Instead of trying to force some sort of sleep schedule on me like I’m a toddler!”

“You needed the rest, Bat. Now you’ve got it, and you can go on looking like the others—“

“You’ve got some nerve telling me what I can and can’t do—“

“I’m just saying—“

“Well don’t ‘say’!”

“I was just trying to help. You’ve got no one looking out for you right now, and Chaos knows you don’t look out for yourself like you should during shit like this—“

“I’m plenty fine on my own!”

“Not when I don’t even remember seeing you eat since I got here! Not when you’ve been living off coffee and cat naps here and there!”

“I’ve slept fine—!”

“Don’t bullshit me! I saw you take your laptop up to the room last night! If you think I’m so stupid as to not figure out you’re just going up there to worry yourself to death instead of sleep, you’re wrong!”

She locks her jaw at this, glaring at him.

He sees it. Her walls rising, her going on full defense.

“…What- so because we’ve texted a few times and had a couple phone calls, you think you know me all the sudden??”

“What?? No, I—“

“Well, you don’t! You don’t know me! Not at all, you dumb Knucklehead, and if you think for a second that you’ve got me figured out or— or that you have any right to me or my choices, you don’t!”

“I don’t think that—!”

“I worked for years on my own!! Since I was a child! I’m a big girl, I can take care of myself! I know when I’m pushing myself too far!”

“I know that, Rouge, but—!”

“No buts! You think just because Shadow isn’t here to babysit me that I can’t handle this on my own?! That because the only friend I have— the only family I have is gone that I can’t keep my shit together!! Is that what it is?!”

Knuckles frowns at this, brows going from furrowed in frustration to knitting up in realization.

She thinks she’s alone.

She isn’t angry because she thinks he thinks she can’t handle being alone..

She’s angry because she is alone.. or so she believes..

“…Rouge..,” he says softly, and that seems to just work her up more.

“No! No, don’t do that! Do do the whole ‘big purple doe-eyed’ shit and feel sorry for me! I’m grown! I don’t need anyone! I can get by, I can handle myself, I—!”

Knuckles moved without hesitation, arms wide and wrapping tight around her as he pulls her in against him. His chin hooks over her shoulder, hugging her firm and close and with all his strength so she had no chance of escaping.

Which she absolutely tries to after initially freezing up.

“Let go of me!” she huffs out, squirming in his arms and trying to use her wings to fly herself out of the embrace.

He just holds her tighter. Keeping her grounded right there on the shrine by the Master Emerald. She pulls and pulls, fighting against him until she can’t fight anymore and instead starts swatting at him.

Open hands pushing and shoving at his chest and shoulders as she growls, “Are you deaf, I said let me go, you- you—!”

“You aren’t alone, Rouge..,” he says softly against her soft fur hanging over her shoulder.

She freezes up, exhausted tension keeping her stiff as her ear flicks on her head to hear him.

“You’ve got friends.. we all care about you and see you— I see you.. I know a lot of the attention has been on Shadow and Sonic in all of this, but I know you’re struggling too.. and I’m here.. I didn’t come back for them, I came back for you because you called.. and.. I know you can handle this on your own.. that you’d make it through this strong and brave and all the things you always radiate.. but-.. you don’t have to.”

She sucks in a breath. Biting her lower lip beneath her fang as it begins to quiver.

“Just—I’m here. You’re not alone..”

It’s the straw that broke the camel’s back— well.. the bat’s back.

She collapses against him, her weight draping against his chest as her growls turn to whimpers and her knees give out from all that tension they’ve been holding. Her shoulders loosen so her arms can lift to ever so limply hug around Knuckles’ lower waist, draping right above his jagged tail and clinging there as she buries her face in his neck.

And she cries.

He’s never seen that of her..

Never seen her vulnerable.

But he finds himself honored in that moment to be trusted enough to cradle her through it.

So he does.

He stands there with her as she lets it all out.

He isn’t sure how long that is, but he never falters in the way he rubs her back or brushed his mit through her hair.. over her wings..

He stays as long as she needs.. feeling her tension slowly cry out of her body until she’s wrung dry of it. Left tired and a bit surprised herself at how she just crumbled.

When she eventually does pull away, Knuckles loosens his hold to let her do so, eyes watching her closely as she keeps her head dipped down and wipes at her dripping mascara with her gloves.

She sniffles, black streaks down her cheeks from her tears, offering a tiny and pitiful laugh as she rolls her eyes—

“Sorry… I-.. I don’t know why I did that.. any of it.”

He offers he a small smile and shrug.

“Because you needed it..”

She looks at him then, aquamarine eyes shimmering from crying, “Yeah.. guess I did.”

She snorts then, lifting her hand to his shoulder she had been crying against and rubbing at his red fur, “I got mascara all over your shoulder and neck— shit- I must look like such a mess right now..”

“No..,” he smiles soft, a light blush dusting his own cheeks as he raises a mit to tenderly rub at the mascara streaks on her cheek, “..You’re beautiful.”

She sucks in a breath at that, eyes lifting to his again and staring at him for a long moment before she melts and smiles..

“…Can I-… maybe stay here for a bit?… I guess I-.. could probably use some more rest.. if that’s alright.. crying kind of tuckered me out..”

He smirks a bit at that, biting back his instinct to tell her ‘I told you so’ and instead nodding his head and, “Of course. Stay as long as you need.”

He gives her shoulder a gentle squeeze before turning from her then and moving once again to sit before the Master Emerald. Criss-crossing his legs and closing his eyes as he tries to focus..

He hears her heels click against the stone of the shrine.. then the sound of her sitting down next to him, wings closing behind her.

Something she rarely does.

He always chalked it up to the fact she can never stay in one place too long, always needing to feel free to fly off if she so pleases..

Guess she plans to stay this time.

He smiles a bit to himself, taking a deep breath and sighing it out as he finally feels he’s at peace enough to focus on the Master Emerald—

Only to feel a soft kiss pressed to his cheek.

His eyes shooting open and muzzle growing red to match his quills as he bristles slightly in surprise.

He looks down to see her laying down beside him, her head settling in his lap..

A hand tucked beneath her head and the other draped over his knee..

Her eyes shutting with a little smirk on her lips and a light blush of her own..

He smiles. Dopily.

Snorts and shakes his head as he closes his eyes again with a grumbled, “Batty..”

She pinches the skin to the side of his knee.

“Ow!”

[osaemu]

so uh funny story guys. i lost interest in anime men

[bitchfitch]

I've started playing Potion Permit, and so far it's one of my favorite games I've messed around with, but the most big brained move the devs made was giving you a dog on day 1, and then making that dog able to track NPCs and lead you directly to them no matter where they are in the town.

[twinklingwatermellon]

also I think it’s time for a little Elly Lore Update because I feel like I mention so many people on here and y’all need to understand who I’m taking about when you attend the virtual sleepovers 😌

[jils-things]

by the lighthouse.

dividers

[faerygardens]

With the way twitter is crashing and burning right now I am actually begging people (companies, creatives, small businesses, etc) to get their own fucking websites to share information about their projects/events/business instead of giving important updates and information via social media because it’s now literally impossible to see any of that information if you don’t have a twitter account anymore

[em-b-sides]

I think about that tiktok trend where you like paint your partners eye color on your nails or make a bracelet or something with the color a lot actually

[blizzardfluffykpop]

alright~ a few updates about everything! so this weekend I'll be seeing changkyun in chicago- so I prolly won't be posting until after I'm alive again from that 😂😅 (I am vv excited about it- I just know I'll be vv tired when I return home). Anyways, I have a few fics in the works~ one of them that is a request 🤭 I'm vv excited to work on them! But I think I'm going to change my masterlist a bit when I come back. I'm going to retire a few groups from the main masterlist and I've been debating for the past year about it... But I think I'm going to add a yearly masterlist- So it would go from most recent to the beginning of this year~

I'm also thinking about changing my pfp- I haven't been really into stray kids for uh... years- But I will be sure to make an update about that if I go thru with that too- (It may be ji changmin next 🫣🤭)

Anyways those are my few updates 🥰💖

[tealvz]

unfinished stuffff heyyy guys hahaha...

[angelssfeathers]

Reorganized my F/O list a bit, dropped down like 20 f/os and am back in the double digits #mentalhealth #recovery

[daisybell-on-a-carousel]

Talia saying Jason with 24 hours and a survival kit, fresh from the pit, couldn't be tracked by Ra's is interesting

And oopsies I liveblogged all of lost days in the tags of this post

[sinnettini]

the REAL tragedy of having my phone stolen is that i'm gonna have to rebuild my meme folder from scratch 😔😔😔😔