#but his reaction he's a chaotic child I love him

[ilikaicalie]

Loved the tags so I added them all! Chaotic child indeed!

Jared getting a rim shot | dallascon 2023 | [click for bigger]

[lovely-p-issues]

Fic idea - Astyanax in Ithaca

for times when my English will become acceptable because writing this in Polish feels not right sample of the story under the summary c:

Of course, I was thinking about Penelope's reaction to Odysseus showing up with a new kid (10/11 years old, give or take, Astyanax) at their doors.

I imagined it as the Game of Thrones scene when Ned Stark comes home and shows Catelyn a baby who, he claims, is his bastard. If I were her, I would lose my mind.

But I think that Odysseus explained himself chaotically, yet truly and Penelope didn't fight with the idea of raising the little prince as their own.

But Telemachus? Well, that's a hell of a different story.

He spent his childhood without his father, missing his presence and hoping to meet him one day. He lived in his shadow, as the problematic son of the absent king that everyone wanted to kill, or as a painful reminder to his mother that Odysseus wasn't around anymore and that she needed to be there for the two of them.

Now his dad is back but with a new child.

A new child who knows his father so well. Odysseus was his only parent for ten years (if we forget about 600 uncles, but they died after like 3 years? if I get it right?) and they just get themselves on an impossible level.

Odysseus knows Astyanax's nightmares (they share them).

Astyanax knows his father's past and doesn't need to ask many questions, and Telemachus does. He hates to do it because he sees Odysseus's pain, he sees Astyanax's reproachful look, like he is going to fight Telemachus if he doesn't leave their father, and-

and he sees the sad, concerned eyes of his mom.

So he doesn't ask much about those 20 years. And somehow it's even worse.

Because Telemachus doesn't know Odysseus. Because it feels weird and not home, like they are forced to be close, but they are not. Because he knew his father from songs, stories and legends, and this man is not who he heard of and he doesn't know how can he fix it.

Telemachus doesn't like to think about it but feels like he gives up on Odysseus. He spent the last 20 years of his life trying to reach that man and- Telemachus is tired.

Besides, Odysseus has another son anyway, right?

The prince of Troy, cursed boy, son of Hector, Astyanax, who also turned out to be a pain in the ass.

He knows that he can't blame the kid for his existence or even for the fact that Odysseus took him to their home.

For that Odysseus often takes Astyanax for horse rides to show him the island. The thing that Telemachus did alone.

For that, Odysseus teaches the boy how to use a sword and they laugh a lot during that. The thing that Telemachus did with strangers, got dozens of bruises, always trying to do everything he could to impress the person that wasn't there.

He doesn't blame Astyanax.

He just can't stand him.

But the boy seems to love the idea of going after him whenever Odysseus manages to pull him off for a moment. It's okay when Astyanax watches him during the trainings with eyes shining with excitement. However, it's bad when Astyanax starts to talk.

Father said I'm getting better at parrying-

When I was with father on Calypso's island-

Father does this completely differently-

Telemachus is a patient man. He waited for his father for 20 years. But sometimes he asks himself if Astyanax knows that all this talking about Odysseus, the man he missed but can't actually get to know, is such a trigger for him.

Maybe Astyanax teases him to show how much more of a son Odysseus is?

With every day Telemachus is more and more irritated. He does his best to hide it, but he can't ignore this fire burning him from the inside.

The reason for this fragile peace collapse is, relatively, very stupid.

Telemachus was tired after all day when he met Odysseus.

"The situation in the city is now calmed down,’ he informed his father, combing through his wind-tangled hair."

Odysseus nodded and put a hand on his shoulder.

"Thank you, Telemachus. Well done."

Telemachus froze, not knowing what to say. He couldn't even move. Finally, he nodded, wincing slightly at the awkwardness of his every interaction with his father.

"Of course, father."

Odysseus seemed equally perplexed. However, the whole situation changed when Astyanax appeared in the courtyard where they stood.

Or, he ran into it, almost toppling over, just to get to Odysseus faster and embrace him around the waist.

"Dad, you will never believe what I found with mother in the garden!"

Telemachus watched with unhealthy interest as his father's face lit up with a smile as he listened to Astyanax's excited chatter.

A sudden anger, though senseless and petty, flared his veins. He had to avert his gaze and drive it into the ground so that no one could see his anger. His jaw was clenched tightly.

Twenty years of life based on a vague memory. An entire journey to find his father. His faith, his efforts and his devotion. All this to not be able to have one real conversation with his father. All this to watch both his parents melt down over his new, little brother. All this to stand by and watch his dreams fade away.

He no longer watched.

He walked away before he could do something stupid. Something that would distance him even further from his father.

He holed up in one of the cool and dark corridors of their palace. He concentrated on his breathing and massaged his temples.

He was an adult and knew how to deal with his feelings. Not that anyone had ever taught him that.

"Telemachus, what's wrong? You don't even know what we found in the garden, you went too fast!"

He didn't know shit about how to deal with his feelings.

"Could you, for five minutes, let me live as I lived before you came along? Five minutes without your constant footsteps and shouting behind my back. Five minutes of peace and quiet! That's all I'm asking for!"

But Astyanax took a few steps back as if frightened by Telemachus' sudden outburst. A grimace twisted his face and he squinted as if Telemachus was an extremely difficult puzzle for his quick mind.

"Why are you so angry? I don't understand."

"At this point? I'm not sure anymore. All I know is that I wasn't this angry even once before you dragged yourself home with father and decided to act as if it had all been yours forever."

Telemachus had to calm down. For bloody hell, he had just shouted at the eleven-year-old as if he was guilty of anything.

‘Are you angry about your father bringing me with him?’

Damn it.

It wasn't true. To be fair, he did not want Astyanax to die that night in Troy or be lost in the depths of the burning city.

Still, did he want him here? He let his thoughts wander before he could finally admit it to himself.

Astyanax, essentially, was not the problem. Everything else was. Telemachus was as well.

"No. There are many other things I'm angry about, but not this."

He sat down on the floor and leaned against the cool wall. He hid his face in his hands and let the anger leave him with his next breaths.

"Forgive my shouting. You got me at the wrong time, brother."

And he heard the boy slowly slide down the wall and sit down a few steps away from him.

"You should be grateful, you know?" suddenly said Astyanax. "He travelled all the world to see you and Mom."

You won't scream, Telemachus said to himself. He took a breath.

"Yeah, he didn't really know me, so. I don't know if that counts."

"That's even better. I mean, he loved you anyway. All this time, he was thinking about you"

This logic was wrong, but Telemachus doesn't find enough strength to fight over it.

They stayed silent for a few minutes.

"He didn't want me, you know? He just didn't want me dead and I reminded him of you. He was also scared of what I would become if he just left me alone. And you are so awful but he wanted you from the beginning and he loves you and he was so proud and-" Astyanax put his arms around his knees, his voice breaking as he spoke his next words: "You're a terrible idiot, you know. But he still wants you."

Telemachus needed a few seconds to see that every now and then, Astyanax would rub his wet eyes with his little fists.

He wasn't ready for this, even after months of training he wouldn't be ready. He stays silent for a moment. Slowly, he puts his arms over the crying mess and draws him to his side.

"And you think that father carried you all over the world because he doesn't like you?"

"Because he's kind and he would be ashamed to tell uncle Polites what he did."

"As far I know he wasn't so nice all this time, right? But he never turned his back on you. If you don't trust me, trust that. Odysseus came with you to Ithaca, because he wants you."

Astyanax did not reply but rested his head on his side. Telemachus let him.

Later that night, Telemachus carried a tired Astyanax straight to his parents' bedroom and knocked. When confused Odysseus finally opened it, Telemachus threw the sleepy child at him without hesitation.

"Hug your bloody kid."

And he walked away. This was his moment to avoid uncomfortable questions.

Let me know what do you think. And yes, Telemachus and Odysseus have a proper conversation about being father and son, but later.

BTW sorry for all the errors, I'm so sleepy right now I barely see my screen

[ninibeingdelulu]

So much jealousy

synopsis-> Walking in the streets with your boyfriend, a little boy come to compliment you.

The afternoon sun beat down in blazing streaks across the crowded city sidewalk causing a sheen of perspiration to glisten along your exposed collarbones.

You didn't mind the balmy heat one bit, chattering away merrily while clinging to Sukuna's side as the two of you navigated through the chaotic foot traffic.

"Y’know, babe, I'm actually kinda stunned you agreed to come wandering around in public with me today," you hummed cheerfully, pointedly ignoring his trademark frigid glower currently fixated dead ahead.

"Could it be the great and terrible Ryomen Sukuna might actually enjoy being out amongst the ‘humans’ with his girlfriend every once in a while--"

"Tch. As if I'd ever willingly suffer through that particular circle of hell for any reason other than appeasing your incessant nagging, woman."

His glacial growl easily carried over the dull roar of nearby pedestrians.

Without even glancing your way, one rough calloused palm snaked around your hip to yank you snug against his towering frame.

"Careful you don't get yourself trampled like the weak, insignificant gnat you are while bumbling around daydreaming about nonsense."

You scoffed under your breath, deliberately digging your elbow into his rock-solid ribcage without remorse. "Excuse me for attempting some lighthearted small talk on this lovely afternoon stroll, dear."

The sarcastic endearment practically dripped with saccharine disdain meant solely to rankle his easily riled temper further.

"Hey ! Pretty lady!"

That sweetly boyish shout pierced straight through the dull din surrounding you both, prompting your steps to falter slightly mid-stride.

Sukuna's steely grip around your waist instantly constricted like a vise, head whipping around to zero in on the source of the intrusion.

A young boy no older than perhaps five or six stood beaming up at you from beside a nearby storefront.

His chubby features positively glowed with open childlike awe while eagerly beckoning you closer with one waving hand.

You couldn't help the instinctive upwards curving of your mouth in response to such an earnest, unfiltered reaction. Adorable didn't even begin to scratch the surface--

Before you'd even begun stooping down, Sukuna abruptly wrenched your frame flush with his, effectively halting all forward momentum.

The thunderous look contorting his chiseled features could've curdled fresh dairy as he aimed that full formidable presence like the razor-sharp edge of a katana directly at the innocent child.

A furious retort was already forming on your lips only to catch in your throat at the heated intensity singeing from those red irises glaring murderously.

You knew better than anyone else the full depths of Sukuna's unrestrained power and depravity when provoked - even over such a seemingly trifle matter.

This side of him was still a raging tempest you had yet to navigate carefully at times.

"Hey...whoa there, big guy," you murmured while splaying one hand soothingly up his tensed chest.

"I know how much you despise other humans around me and all, but this little kid clearly meant no harm..."

The lethally coiled lines of his musculature remained etched in grim steel cables beneath your gentle stroking while that smoldering glare refused to abate even a fraction.

"Sukuna, I'm serious - it's not nice when you get like this over noth--"

Your calming words came to an abrupt halt as he suddenly bent at the waist, fingers encircling your wrist in a vise-like manacle while hauling you down with him until your faces were mere scant centimeters apart.

You glimpsed something visceral and undefinable glimmering in those crimson depths before Sukuna growled out his decree in a low thunder:

"Wait until I have you home, woman...and then we'll see how much of a nothing it truly was getting such pitiful, unwanted advances from those lesser beings."

[amongemeraldclouds]

But Daddy I Love Him

Mattheo and the Slytherin boys rescue you from your father who held you captive one day before your wedding.

Mattheo Riddle x f!Reader ft. The Slytherin Boys

Warning: fluff, one use of y/n, cursing, the boys being chaotic. Inspired by the Taylor Swift song with the same title.

✿ Masterlist | 872 words

“Can’t this bloody car go any faster?” Mattheo asked gripping the leather seat, straining against his seatbelt as if he could steer the car faster out of sheer will.

Draco scoffed, ��it’s the latest model of flying cars, of course it can. The car is not the problem.” He was insulted that Mattheo would even question the calibre of cars they kept at the Malfoy Manor. They borrowed it from his father without asking, but he didn’t think he would mind.

“We already went over this,” Theo grit his teeth, trying to hold on to the last dregs of his patience. He drove the car over the roofs of buildings and clouds blurred past them. He was going as fast as he could without compromising their safety. “If we let you behind the wheel, you will drive us all straight to a tree. You can’t have a wedding if your corpse is busy rotting in a tree, huh?”

“I’m not some foolish Gryffindor who would do that!” Mattheo argued.

Blaise sucked in his breath, tired of having to play peacekeeper. “Arguing would not get us to her any faster, okay Matty? When has Theo ever let you down?”

Lorenzo chimed in, also eager to diffuse the tension. “What’s next, mate? You just roused us all out of bed to rescue your girl the night before your wedding, what happens when we get there?”

Mattheo narrowed his eyes, “I only roused Theo then Draco offered his father’s car when he overheard us. The rest of you tossers invited yourselves.”

“That’s besides the point,” Enzo continued knowing Mattheo would do the same for any of them if they ever needed help. “What’s your genius plan?” 

“When we’re close enough to the estate, I’ll signal y/n. She says she has a plan to escape and we’ll swoop in as the getaway driver.”

“Sounds simple enough when you say it like that,” Enzo mused.

“But daddy I love him!” You declared, losing track of how many times you’ve had to defend your fiancé to your father.

“He’s the Dark Lord’s son-” he begins, his favorite line whenever he tried another argument to dissuade you from you marriage plans.

“Father, I’m having his baby!” You spat out, tired of his same old lines. That shut his mouth.

Your news drained the color from his face as he opened his mouth again to say something and closed it. This was going to bring shame to the family name. He was too stunned to speak.

You tried to hold it in, but burst out laughing. Your father was a man hardened by business and the ways of the world. He was not easily shaken so this reaction was priceless.

“Oh father!” You held your stomach to control your laughter. “You should see your face! I was just joking! See, there are worse things that could happen? Father, I promise this is not as bad as you think. He is nothing like the Dark Lord. He’s doing his best to be better than him.”

Your father mumbled incoherently as if holding back a string of curses. “Dear child, you will send me to my funeral! These white hairs will turn even whiter than snow.”

“Please,” you approached him, holding his hand. Trying to appeal to his affections, the way you did when you asked for a pony when you were younger. “He’s the one I want, if you could just give him a chance and get to know him.” “What about our family name? It will put us to ruin, think about us,” he responds coldly.

“I’m taking his last name, father. You won’t have to worry about that. My name is mine to do with as I please.” You were losing hope, nothing was getting through to him. You just needed to wait for the signal.

As if you summoned it by your thoughts, you saw a light flash three times and you grabbed your wand from a hidden compartment in your dress. That’s on your father for underestimating you, he couldn’t just lock you in - you were no longer his little girl. You saw the car approach the window and withdrew the wand.

“Well father, I wish you would come around. Come to the wedding tomorrow in peace, the cake is fantastic,” you bid him goodbye with those words and you cast an explosion with your wand, bricks flying and dust spraying through the air. You took one last look at your father as he stood to catch you, but you moved faster.

From the clearing that once formed the east wing of your father’s mansion, you grinned at Mattheo and your friends. 

“That’s your escape plan?” Blaise broke through the silence when the car was near enough.

At the same time, Mattheo cheered, “that’s my girl!”

You shrugged, running towards them and taking Mattheo’s hand. You sat on his lap in the front seat of the car as there was no other vacant seat. But you could hardly complain at the chance to snuggle with him.

“It worked, didn’t it?” You simply said as Theo drove you away from the mansion.

Theo just chuckled and shook his head, “you two are really meant for each other.”

✿ Masterlist

A/N: I was listening to TTPD when this whole scene came to mind. It’s the fastest I've written and uploaded a fic so far.

[phyrestartr]

Divine Favour | Sukuna x Kitsune!Reader (TEASER)

#full is NSFW, mild yuuji/reader, yuuji and gang are v early 20s, heian sukuna, male reader, typical kitsune shapeshifting, mentions of abuse, typical canon violence, morally grey reader, sukuna has FEELINGS but is BAD AT FEELINGS

A/N: this fic is so long rn lol I just have to release a piece of it into the wild :sob: feel free to reply if you want to be tagged for the full story when it's ready

☆☆☆

You were never supposed to be anything more than a trinket. You were a gift from some family trying to show off for Sukuna, so much so that they offered him a delicacy, something he surely didn't have yet–a yokai. A kitsune, to be more exact. One with peculiar black tails. 

Sukuna found it interesting, and similarly desperate, to be brought such a creature as tribute. Certainly, it was meant to be seen as a high honour, yet somehow it felt…off. Why would humans give up something so powerful? 

Unexpectedly, it'd be you who told him. 

They submit me for the sake of convenience and mockery, your withering voice whispered where no one else could hear. You sounded weak. Tired. Maybe afraid, yet brave enough to reach towards the king and unveil the intentions of the men who brought you before him. 

Sukuna's eyes flicked to you, his feigned interest in what the sorcerers said falling straight into dismissal. You were much more intriguing. 

“Oh?” Sukuna asked, a smile creeping onto his face. The speakers ceased their jabbering and stared at your back with fierce intensity. Sukuna grinned wider. Oh, how he loved the way fear twisted mortal faces. 

You didn't shift or crumple into yourself under the eyes of so many, however. You pushed on with what little energy and life you had, so intent on dragging that clan through the mud. 

What I say is true, you assured simply. I expect to die today–

“Speak so everyone hears you, fox,” Sukuna commanded.

“--so I–I–” you coughed and cleared your throat, trying to rid your voice of the scratchy, weakness it struggled through. “I wish to not die with regrets.

“They have rendered me ill and unable to produce children, they see the black of my tails and regard me as an ill omen; yet they bring me to you, daring to spin sweet tales about the value of such an offering. But they lie,” You hissed. Your eyes glinted with molten malice, and Sukuna fell captivated. “They throw me to you as they would diseased meat to dogs.” 

The courtyard fell silent, and Sukuna basked in it. You really were such a little troublemaker. A quietly chaotic force of nature. 

The king stood, rolling his shoulders as he did, and his pride flared as you dropped to your knees before him in respect. He walked to you and patted your head as one might a child's before appraising the sorcerers stood before him. 

“What a disappointment,” Sukuna sighed, raising another hand. The couple took up position, pooling their cursed energy in hopes of fending off the monster standing before them. The effort was quite cute. “Here I thought your clan might actually earn my mercy.” His hand dropped as the two lunged. Then, the two clansmen fell, too, both in neat, vertical halves. Quite overkill, yes, but he had a point to make. 

Where he expected a reaction from you, he got nothing. Only panting and poorly-stifled coughs came from you, racking through the entirety of your skin and bones frame. Sukuna could see it up close now, the way your body trembled from fatigue, the sickly greying of your skin, the scent of disease clinging to you. 

That wouldn't do. Sukuna liked his things to be in good shape. 

“Uraume,” Sukuna droned as he stared down at you, “fix this.”

[solargeist]

i keep mistaking some of ur kidxelqua art for ur grian art so i have to stop and read the captions/tags every time 😭😭 is there a fundamental difference im missing that would make it any easier

hi !!!!!!! no i understand it can be pretty confusing !! its pretty messy on my blog ahahah i'll try to explain them and their place in the AU

All the kid drawings are Xelqua ! Originally it was Grian, but as the character Xelqua developed, I changed it to him. When people send requests for kid Grian, i'm drawing Xelqua, as that is the AU.

This isn't 100% accurate as I forget to do it, but Grian and Xelqua part their hair differently, kid Xelqua does too. Xelqua's hair is always a bit longer. (Grian got a haircut when he joined the Watchers, thats why his hair parts different now in evoAU and HC, he just kept it shorter ! Xelqua used to wear his hair in a ponytail during his time with the Watchers.)

The reason why i say they're "technically the same" is bc Xelqua is just another Grian from a different timeline, he just has a different name. Xelqua only exists because this one Grian joined the Watchers, new possibilités opened new timelines, ones where he died, ones where he's a Listener instead, or ran away to different servers, or stayed. Xelqua is the only one to have reached Sainthood.

Because of this, Xelqua can hop around timelines, he usually just bugs other versions of himself, helping them, giving them tnt. He finds This Grian during s8 of HC, bugging him through the boatem void, briefly possessing him later, but hey ! water under the bridge !

Xelqua's timeline doesn't exist anymore after becoming That, but by becoming That he has essentially rewritten history in other timelines, solidifying himself as a saint of destruction, a destroyer, this is what the Watchers know him as, this is what evo Grian knew him as, even if Grian caused it--It already happened--Xelqua has always been here. (It makes Grian's head hurts when Xelqua explains this to him.)

Basically: Grian set off a chain reaction when he joined the Watchers, and that opened new universes, and in doing that, Xelqua is made.

Xelqua is powerful, but also very lonely and has a lot wrong with him, which is expected he spent many years with the Watchers. Xelqua can mimic any version of Grian he wants, but if he stays in that form for too long, he'll start to forget himself and instead think "Xelqua" is a patron, rather than himself. This is why kid Xelqua will usually praise the Saint Xelqua and be proud of his own name, he just doesn't know ! It takes a little while to remember himself and change back. This also happens in high stress, (bc of course it does, i love when a character loses control of their powers hahaha,) the memory is much worse if it happens from stress. You can't talk kid Xelqua out of this, it'll stress him out further and you'll just have a little god child throwing a temper tantrum then, never a good idea.

After s8 in HC EvoAU, Xelqua hangs around, popping up sometimes in s9, mostly in his adult watcher self. They don't get along too well at first, Xelqua has a little bit of bitterness over Grian having such a fun life, all these friends, needed, wanted..... But whatever ! Xisuma doesn't know how he keeps getting in, but Xelqua has been on good behaviour, so...... Shrug... Just let him visit sometimes....

Xelqua's version of the Watchers are gone, the unfortunate conséquences of becoming a destroyer, you kinda rip your own timeline apart. This, added with the fact that he is a cautionary tale in every other reality to Watchers, means if he tries to visit other versions of his Watcher family, they won't really know who he is, and just see something destructive and chaotic. If he wants to see Aether, he'll just... hop in a timeline and change himself into a kid and quickly forget what he's done. He's lonely, ok !!

Xelqua starts doing this kid bit on HC (late s9/early s10) too, he doesn't exactly mean to, but he does feel safe there. He eats Grian's food and takes over his couch and no one can get mad at him bc he is just a little kid--grian puts him in the corner. timeout. a few dead birds hit the roof as a result.

[oliviablancmom]

"Pedriiii - Part III"

Pairing: Pedri Gonzalez x singlemom!OC

Themes: Fluff, Angst.

N/A: So, it's finally here!!! I'm sorry for the delay, but it was hard to write this chapter, either because I piled up my work, or because the characters took a while to talk to me, now they can't stay quiet. I know I said this would be the last chapter, but I can't do math, so this is probably the penultimate one and the next one will be the last (or not, idk). Anyway, enough talking because you guys waited a long time for this. Enjoy!!!!

Pedri was a patient person, his profession demanded it. During the 90 minutes or more that he touched the ball on the field and created plays in anticipation of goals, he knew he needed patience to reach the right moment to achieve his objective. He knew patience because of his injuries and the recovery time he had to deal with, as well as the hurtful comments that cast doubt on his talent, effort, and dedication. Patience sometimes eluded him during a game when a referee made a wrong call or overlooked something on the field. Patience sometimes eluded him when the boys teased him during training.

But lately patience eluded him when it came to her... Isabella Harver was driving him crazy, and that, at the moment, was beyond his clear attraction to the woman since the first time he saw her. It had more to do with the fact that she had been ignoring him since the last night they spent together, where everything ended chaotically, with no explanation from her. And that was bothering him, not the lack of explanation itself. Pedri could deduce how complicated the situation was from what he witnessed, but not knowing how Axel was, how they both were, hurt him more than he expected. Pedri wanted to understand what was happening, wanted to help in some way, and wanted to understand how someone could leave a child like Axel in that way. The player himself didn't understand his obsession with the incident; he didn't have the right to explanations. But something inside him tightened every time he remembered the child's anguished cry and Isa's frightened look.

"You know, if it were me receiving the news that I could play again, I'd be more excited than this," Gavi pointed at Pedri. "Is Isa still keeping you in the dark?" Pedri looked annoyed at Gavi. " What? You're pretty obvious about your feelings towards her. Your luck is that you don't run into her much around here," Gavi shrugged, and Pedri threw a towel at his face. "Your reaction just proves my point..."

"There's no feelings, it's just..." Pedri couldn't finish his sentence as he was interrupted by Gavi bursting into laughter, causing Pedri to roll his eyes.

"Dude, you've been drooling over her since the first time you saw her. I'm your best friend, you can admit it to me," Gavi said after calming down.

"It's complicated," Pedri says after a few seconds of silence.

"I think you guys are making it more complicated than it is," Gavi concluded patting Pedri's shoulder and letting him alone with his thoughts. Pedri thought Gavi was right, but he also had a point. It was true, that the woman had a strange magnetism that attracted him, but there was everything else that made their relationship complicated that he couldn't simply ignore.

**********************************************

Isa was sitting at her father's kitchen table, watching Axel bake a cake with Gianna, or rather, his "Gigi" as the little boy called the older woman, his grandfather's girlfriend, who despite loving the child, joked that she was too young to be called a grandmother, yet. Isa loved the affection she had for Axel, and was grateful for her presence in her father's life, and theirs too, after all, who else would teach Axel to cook considering Isa was a disaster in the kitchen?

"Can we add M&Ms? My friend Pedri loves them, so I can bring him some cake tomorrow," Axel suggested eagerly.

"Of course we can, it's your cake," the older woman said, kissing the child's head as he celebrated excitedly.

He didn't even seem like the scared child from two nights ago when she picked him up from his paternal grandparents' house. Just remembering the state he was in made Isa feel sick to her stomach. The situation had gone too far, and she wouldn't allow it to happen again.

"Axel talks a lot about Pedri," Isa looked at her father, who had approached quietly, and as she faced him, she just knew he wanted to ask something, but he would never do it directly.

"He befriended with some players." She shrugged backing her attention to her son.

"He also told me he was the one who brought you guys home that night," the man continued in his not-so-subtle attempt to extract something from his daughter.

"Yes, we were at a barça event, and I needed a ride, and he was the only sober one..." The man smiled gently at his daughter; he knew her better than anyone and knew her ways of avoiding a subject.

"When are you and Axel going back to your house?" He asked.

"Are you kicking us out? Don't you love us anymore?" Isa pouted dramatically, earning an eye roll from the older man.

"I adore having you around... Especially when it's by choice and not because you're running away from someone, even though, I don't know from who you are hiding," Isa turned to the man, confused.

"You can't let that man and his family continue to torment you and Axel, Isabella. You shouldn't even be trying to get close to those people."

"Those people, are Axel's family too."

"They don't care about him, and you know it. They only care about making your life a hell"

Isa didn't answer, not knowing exactly how she should respond even though she knew her father was right, she tried to have a good relationship with them because of Axel, but since that night some days ago, she was willing to give up on that, her child didn't deserve all that stress.

"He's going to invite him to his birthday," Isa looked confused at her father. "Pedri!" He exclaims. "I'm just informing you that I won't tolerate any trouble in my house, if this is going to cause trouble, it's better to tell Henry and his family not to come." Isa looked surprised at the man, as if she had been caught doing something, the older man's eyes indicated that he knew something, and that made the woman feel a strange feeling.

"There won't be an trouble, why would be?" She asked nervously as she got up.

"My beloved and favorite daughter..." The ironic smile on her father's face made Isa roll her eyes.

"It would be strange if I weren't, been your only one" she responded mimicking his tone.

"I know you think you're subtle, but you have the most emotive and transparent eyes there are," he said, kissing Isa's head, who didn't respond.

Her father's remark left a bitter taste and a strange sensation in her core. Isa was aware of her not-so-small attraction to the player, but it was just that, attraction. She couldn't develop feelings, let alone be expressive about them. She sighed in frustration as she drove to the training center, just hoping not to encounter the player.

**********************************************

"Hey, guys," Ferran says as he enters the physiotherapy room. "Look, Pedri. Who I bumped into on my way here," Pedri lifted his eyes from his phone towards his friend. "Mini you."

"Pedriiii" Axel said, running into the physiotherapy room, but stopped and walked slowly to the bed where Pedri was lying.

"Hey buddy, I didn't see you these days," Pedri said to the little boy, who leaned against the bed, resting his head and attentively watching every move of the physiotherapist. "Are you okay?"

"Mom is looking for schools for me," he said rolling his little eyes, eliciting laughter from the players.

"I feel you, buddy," Ferran said, running his hand through Axel's hair. "Can I do it too?" Axel asked after a few minutes of silence while watching the physiotherapist tape the small electrical wrist electrodes onto Pedri's leg to start the treatment. The physiotherapist looked at Pedri as if asking for permission, and the player felt his chest warm at the thought of being responsible for the little boy.

"Won't it be too strong for him?" Pedri asked, concerned. The man smiled at him, shaking his head.

"I'll set it to a low frequency. It'll feel like tickles." Pedri then looked at Axel, who was looking at him expectantly, waiting for the player's response.

"Alright, let's do it, buddy," Pedri laughed as the little boy jumped excitedly. The doctor picked him up and placed him on the bed next to Pedri.

"If only all my players were this excited about physiotherapy sessions," the older man said with a sigh, making Pedri laugh.

"I'm quite cooperative."

"I won't comment, so as not to embarrass you in front of the child."

"I'm not worse than Gavi," Pedri said offended.

"You're impatient, and Gavi is... Well, Gavi," Pedri chuckled. "Come on, little buddy, I'm going to turn it on, let me know if it hurts."

Axel nodded, reaching out his hand for Pedri to hold, and the player promptly held. Axel closed one of his eyes in expectation, but as soon as it started he let out a laugh.

"Aw, it tickles," Axel laughed with wide eyes looking at the player.

"Oh, I wish mine was just a tickle..." Ferran sighed as he lay down on the examination table. Pedri nodded in agreement and then turned his attention to Axel, who seemed frustrated.

"Is everything okay, buddy?" The little boy looked at Pedri and made a face.

"This is boring, can I take it off?" Pedri chuckled at the child's impatience. In the short time he had known Axel, he knew Axel was too energetic and talkative for a physiotherapy session.

"Of course, let me help you." Pedri leaned over to remove the equipment from Axel's leg. Once he finished, the little boy jumped off the table excitedly and began walking around the room, examining every detail.

Pedri and Ferran laughed as they watched him carefully follow the physiotherapist, curious about the man's work. Then Axel grabbed a band and went over to Pedri, mimicking the therapist's movements.

"You've lost your job, Mattia," the older man chuckled as he watched the scene unfold.

After exploring everything in the room and asking about each piece of equipment, Axel grew tired and went to sit on the same examination table as Pedri, his little legs on the player's lap. He casually recounted to Pedri about the schools he had visited with his mother. The little boy didn't seem as scared as when Isa had found him that night, but he also wasn't the same boy the player had gotten used to, which intrigued and worried Pedri.

Before he could continue the conversation with the boy, the scent of the perfume that had been etched in his mind hit him, and immediately his eyes darted to the door. And there she was, three days since he last saw the woman, and she looked even more beautiful. Realizing where his thoughts were, he shook his head. He was angry at her; she had put him in various kinds of situations and simply disappeared, leaving him in the dark, confused, and distressed with a whirlwind of emotions.

"Axel... What did I say about you wandering around?" Axel jumped in surprise at the woman's voice. The reaction made Pedri laugh.

"Hi, Mommy... But it was just a little bit, just to get here, then I sat down, right Pedri?" Axel said in a sweet voice, clearly attempting to deceive his mother, and Pedri had to bite the inside of his cheek to keep from laughing at the boy's excuse. "Right, Pedri?" He repeated, poking Pedri.

"Oh sure, he sat the whole time," Pedri said, looking at Isa, and noticed she was also holding back laughter.

"Oh, great. You found someone else to cover for you besides your grandpa. You can't be friends if you're going to be against me," she said, crossing her arms. Axel shrugged with a mischievous smile. "We need to go home, baby," she said, and Axel's smile faded. He stood up and moved behind the player, hugging his neck.

"No, I want to stay here," he said in a whiny voice. Pedri looked at Isa as if seeking answers. The woman sighed and sat on the examination table next to the player, her mere proximity already causing sensations in Pedri.

"Axel, sweetheart. You need to let Pedri get back to his physiotherapy; you don't want him to get back to playing?" She said softly.

"He can stay, I don't mind," Pedri said quietly to the woman, who simply nodded and leaned against the wall. Pedri and Isa's gazes didn't waver, both maintaining eye contact as if engaged in a silent conversation, seeking answers.

Isa looked away when the physiotherapist returned to the room, giving a brief smile to the woman.

"Five more minutes, and I'll let them go," he said to Isa, who just nodded, confused. "Your boys were very cooperative, one doing the exercises correctly, and the other helping me treat the other players." Upon hearing this, Pedri saw the woman's face turn red, her eyes widened, and then she began to cough. "Oh, dear. Are you alright? Would you like some water?" Mattia asked, approaching and patting the woman's back.

"It's the excitement of seeing her two boys," Ferran's voice, which Pedri thought had been sleeping until now, startled him, and the woman's coughing increased as she looked at him with a deadly glare.

"I'll wait outside," she said, leaving the room. Pedri looked at Ferran, who had a mocking smile on his face, and grabbed a bottle and threw it at him.

"What, I'm lightening the mood; the tension between you two is palpable. I was sleeping and could still feel it." Pedri decided to ignore his friend since Axel was looking at both with curiosity.

"Hey buddy, why don't you go see your mom? I'll be there in a bit." The little boy nodded and hopped off the examination table, running out of the room just as Mattia returned to release Pedri. The player then left the room, a bit apprehensive that they might have already left, but to his surprise, both were waiting in the hallway. Isa was crouched down at Axel's height, helping him search for something in his backpack.

"You can give him his later or ask Pedri to give it to him," Pedri heard Isa say to the boy.

"Hey," Pedri said, stopping beside them. "Is everything okay?" Isa just nodded.

"Here, is an invitation to my birthday party. You're coming, right?" Axel said, handing the envelope to Pedri, eagerly awaiting his response.

"Of course, buddy," Pedri said, tousling Axel's hair, who smiled excitedly and hugged Pedri's leg.

"I'll go deliver Ferran's," the boy said, turning to his mother, waiting for her approval, and as soon as she agreed, he ran back to the physiotherapy room. Pedri turned his attention to the woman who was staring intensely at him, feeling his heart race at the intensity of her gaze.

"Do you want to come with us to have some birthday cake?" She said, breaking the silence between them, and God, the softness of her voice... If she used that tone to ask the player anything, he would gladly accept.

"Is his birthday today?" Pedri asked, concerned. The boy had mentioned his birthday, but hadn't mentioned dates.

"Tomorrow. The party will be next week because of the game this weekend, but he has a cake to sing 'Happy Birthday' at midnight, it's tradition. He'll be happy if you're there;" she said, leaning against the wall. Pedri took a step towards her, coming face to face with the woman, their faces just inches apart, and he could feel her heavy breath.

"Just him?" Pedri asked, and he saw the woman furrow her eyebrows in confusion. "Will only he like it if I'm there?" he asked eagerly, Isa swallowed, her eyes scanning the player's face. "Oh... You're so beautiful" Pedri says taking a good look at her face, he lowers his face towards hers his lips brushing against hers. Pedri thought his attraction to the woman was just a result of a night out at a club. Even though he hadn't had a single drop of alcohol in his body, the atmosphere of such places always had something extra. But whether it was now, or when he caught a brief glimpse of Isa as he saw her through the training center, he knew it was something more.

"Mom, we'll need an invitation for Mattia too..." Axel's voice emerging again in the hallway causes Pedro and Isa to abruptly pull away, and Pedro is thankful because he is inches away from forgetting where they were and doing something with the woman right there.

"We'll bring it tomorrow," Isa says, her breath heavy. "Shall we go home now? We still need to stop by Pops to get your cake."

"YESSS," Axel says excitedly, then turns his attention back to Pedro. "Do you want to come to eat my cake?" Pedri smiles at the question, not at the question itself, but at the way he asked it, with the same intonation that his mother had used earlier. Isa smiled proudly at Pedri as if she understood what he was thinking.

"Of course, buddy. I'd love to."

"YAY," Axel exclaimed excitedly, jumping onto the player so that he could lift him. Pedri smiled at the little boy, planting a kiss on the top of his head, and as he walked down the hallway, with Axel in his arms and Isa by his side, his only thought was that he could and wanted to get used to this... definitively.

********************************************

The way to her father's house, it was silent, well, at least on Isa's part, considering that Axel and Pedri were engaged in an intense conversation about Axel starting at Barça's football school. Isa had even tried to join the conversation but soon stopped trying, feeling like she was intruding on something of theirs. And if she didn't know how much her son loved her, she would start feeling jealous of what he had with the player. Speaking of him, Isa was feeling nervous about his presence, and she began to wonder where her head was when she invited him to eat Axel's birthday cake, but before she knew it, the words were already coming out of her mouth, so now she has to deal with his presence, and that makes her nervous.

When she stopped in front of her father's house, she was immensely grateful that his reaction was just that of a Barcelona fan, not that of a curious father, or it would add even more to her nervousness.

The player and her father spent about 10 minutes talking about soccer, Pedri's injury, and his return to the field. Of course, the conversation between the two eventually led to Axel casually asking his grandfather, "But pops, I thought Gavi was your favorite." The question made the man choke in embarrassment, and Pedri laughed at the situation. But Isa knew her son, and for him to be "against" his grandfather, considering how close they were, the only reason was that her child was jealous of the player.

As soon as they arrived at the apartment, Axel insisted on showing the player his room, who wasn't at all surprised to see that it was all decorated in Barcelona colors. Isa listened to their interaction from the kitchen until the player's surprised tone caught her attention, and she sneakily walked to the boy's room.

"Axel, what's this?" Pedri was facing the wall, looking at Axel's photo mural, and Isa knew exactly what had caught his attention. "Is Gavi your favorite too?" he asked indignantly.

"Nooo," the boy said laughing, and Pedri turned to him with narrowed eyes.

"You're not being convincing laughing like that," the player concluded, taking a photo with his phone, probably to send to his friend.

"Show him your shirts, honey," Isa said, appearing in the doorway, catching the attention of both. Axel ran to the closet, pulling the player with him, and Isa saw the player's surprised face; Axel had several Barcelona shirts, all with the number 8 and the player's name.

"Okay, I can forgive you now, buddy," Pedri laughs, tousling Axel's hair, as he bends down to pick something from the drawer. "Of course, there's one to ruin the fun." He shows Isa the shirt with Gavi's number, making her burst into laughter.

"It's a gift from pops, I told you Gavi is his favorite," Axel says, finding the situation amusing as well.

"Axel, sweetheart, go take a shower so we can cut your cake," Isa says to her son, who eagerly runs to the bathroom. Isa was thankful every day that he hadn't yet reached the phase where children dislike bathing.

Her attention returned to the player, who was looking at her expectantly once again. Isa wasn't sure what to do; she had never brought anyone to her apartment before, and the player made her nervous.

"Let's go to the kitchen," she said in a lower tone, and Pedri nodded, following her out of the room. Along the way, he examined the various photos scattered around the place, stopping in front of another photo wall in the living room, and analyzing each one.

And Isa took the opportunity to observe him. God, he was so handsome, she thought. Everything about him, the hair, the beard. Isa had seen many comments from the player's fans asking him to get rid of the beard, but she would protest against that.

"Earth to Isabella," Isa snapped out of her thoughts when she saw the player standing right in front of her. "What were you thinking that made you blush like that?" Pedri had a playful grin on his face, that made Isa distance herself abruptly from him.

"What were you talking about?" She asked breathlessly.

"You have a photo with Gavi too," he showed the Polaroid to Isa. "Does he spend a lot of time with you guys? I'm starting to think your whole family has a not-so-subtle crush on Gavira," Pedri tried to say nonchalantly, but his clenched jaw gave away a flash of jealousy, making Isa laugh, and then she approached the player.

"Are you jealous of Gavi?" Isa felt the player's hand on her waist pulling her closer, once again her face just inches away from his, Isa could feel her heart beating so fast she was sure the player could hear it, and that was very new for her. "I took the photo to make my dad jealous. Axel and I don't joke when we say he's his favorite. Also, he spends a few days in the office after his physiotherapy and recovery sessions. He's too impatient to just watch you guys training," Isa also suspected that this wasn't the only reason he visited her in the administrative part of the training center, but she wouldn't talk about it now.

Pedri nodded and leaned in towards the woman, Isa held her breath, and before she could feel the player's lips, her phone rang. She stepped back, and Pedri muttered a curse word. As soon as she saw who it was, all the ecstasy and calmness of the moment vanished. She hung up the call, and it didn't take long for the device to beep, indicating the arrival of messages.

"Answer the damn phone!!!"

"What are you thinking!!!! Are you out of your mind? First, you invade my parents' house and take my son, and now you're hanging out with teenagers?"

Isa felt her body go cold when Henry sent numerous photos taken by fans showing her leaving the training center with Pedri and Axel in the player's arms.

"I'm coming right now, that damn player better not be with you, or I'll do something stupid. We're still married, and the judge will know that"

Isa felt her whole life being sucked out of her; she knew Henry didn't care about Axel, it wasn't about him but about her, and the mere possibility of her being with someone else.

"Pedri, you better go," Isa said, turning to the player who was looking at her attentively.

"What happened?" He asked, concerned. He tried to approach, but Isa stepped back, feeling tears rolling down her face.

"Isa... You're just like that night, you need to tell me what's going on." He tried to get closer again, and once again Isa backed away, she saw the hurt expression on the player's face, and it hurt her own heart a little.

"This can't keep happening, you leaving me in the dark like this... Seeing you like this, seeing how Axel was that night, it's tormenting me," Pedri said impatiently.

"This is none of your business," Isa said firmly, wiping the tears from her face. Pedri opened his mouth to say something, but nothing came out, he ran his hand through his beard in an irritated gesture. Isa saw her phone vibrating again, and another message from Henry appeared

"Is this why you're asking for a divorce? Oh baby, if you think I'm going to let that boy near you..."

"Go away, Pedri," Isa repeated. Pedri didn't respond, he just turned and left the apartment.

"Pedriiii" Axel's voice calling the player from the room was all it took for Isa to collapse into uncontrollable tears.

**********************************************

Pedri was relieved to be back on the team's list for a match after his injury recovery time. The medical department was still cautious about clearing him, and with the Champions League quarterfinal games coming up, he would have to endure one more match before being on the field. But just being able to be on the bench with his teammates already felt like a huge weight lifted off his shoulders. However, he couldn't ignore a certain heaviness weighing on his chest, and it was ruining his mood, with the person responsible just a few meters away from him in the tunnel leading to the field, too focused on her phone to notice anything around her.

"Dude, she's gonna melt if you keep staring at her like that," Ferran said, approaching his friend. "I thought HR was clear with you guys, and you're not being subtle at all."

Pedri rolled his eyes at the memory of what happened. After leaving the woman's apartment, his phone received a flood of notifications with tags on his photo with Isa and Axel, leading them both to explain to HR. Well, Isabella explained, claiming they were just colleagues, and that her son was a big fan and happened to run into the player in the parking lot, and that was their only interaction. Pedri was shocked at how easily the woman lied, or rather, omitted information, as she left out that a large part of their interaction occurred when they both were naked.

Pedri could feel the same irritation he felt on the day of the meeting returning at that moment, especially when he saw a man in Atlético's coaching staff approaching the woman. Pedri saw the woman's entire body language change suddenly, assuming a more defensive posture, and this intrigued him.

Pedri could hear Ferran talking beside him, but he wasn't paying attention to what he was saying exactly, his focus completely on the woman. And when the man grabbed Isa's arm forcefully, pulling her towards him with his finger in her face, Pedri saw red, his legs moving before he could think to do so. He heard Ferran calling him, but his voice was already distant, Pedri pushed the man hard, getting him off Isa.

"Look, one of your kids is here," the man said in an ironic tone, and that was enough for Pedri to punch him in the face, and soon they were grappling with each other. And that was enough for a general commotion to start in the tunnel, players pushing players, coaching staff from both teams trying to break up the fight. Pedri felt a hand on his arm, squeezing it tightly, pulling him away from the crowd.

"You can't do this!" The woman's voice brought him back from his trance suddenly, he was alert to everything around him again, notice that he was in another room, he looked at Isa, who had a furious look on her face.

"Are you okay?" Pedri asked, approaching the woman, holding her face between his hands, Isa looked at him confused.

"If I'm okay?" She asked incredulously, Pedri lowered his eyes to the woman's arm, which bore the marks of the man's grip, and again he felt anger consuming him. "Do you have any idea what you've done? The trouble you've caused me, that you've caused both of us?" She asked, getting agitated.

"I was defending you!" Pedri shouted back.

"I didn't ask for that, I didn't ask for your help!" Pedri raised his arms mockingly.

"Can you stop with this nonsense? You can't sleep with me, tell me 'it's not like that,' use your sweet tone of voice with me, claim my skin and thoughts, and then say it's none of my business." Isa opened her mouth to respond, but before she could say anything, the door swung open abruptly, instinctively Pedri pulled Isa behind him.

"What the hell was that? Have you gone crazy?" Pedri relaxed when he saw it was just Xavi, a very angry Xavi, and he knew he had messed up. The coach looked at Pedri's hand holding Isa's wrist. "Don't tell me you got into a fight over a woman, Pedri. Over a woman you and her swore was nothing when HR asked." He said in a calmer tone of voice.

"I was just defending min..."

"I told you not to tell me!" Xavi exclaimed annoyed. "Do you know the mess you've caused? This could cost us a lot. You're not gonna be on the bench, you're suspended, go home, Pedri." Pedri tried to say something but was soon stopped by Xavi, who was furious again. The door swung open again, and a member of the communication team entered the room.

"Isabella, we need you here, the match referee wants explanations, but the Atlético communication team wants to talk to you first," the girl called for Isa, who untangled herself from Pedri, before leaving the room she gave one last look at the player, and then left for good. Pedri turned around angrily, kicking the chair that was there.

"I guess your brother won't be able to deny this rumor on social media, right?" Xavi said breaking the silence, Pedri looked up to see his coach and could tell the older man had a slight smirk on his face. "Did you at least hit him properly?" Pedri just nodded, and Xavi gave a proud smile, patting the player's shoulder. "Go home, kid," said the older man leaving the room.

Pedro was soon escorted out of the stadium by a member of the coaching staff. Pedri didn't see Isa anymore, and that annoyed him, his phone soon beeped indicating a message from HR, for a new meeting, he rolled his eyes and before he could block the phone, a message from an unknown number arrived.

"I appreciate what you did, but this can't happen, things like this can ruin my, and especially your career. This was a mistake from the beginning, and whatever is happening or has happened between you and me, it's over here. Everything between us will be strictly professional. Please respect my decision, and I hope this doesn't ruin your friendship with Axel!!"

Pedri felt his heart tighten, and his breath caught in his throat, he always reassured his friends and himself, that everything between him and the woman was just a physical attraction, but at that moment, with that message, he was sure there was something more, and as much as she denied it, Pedri knew there was something more from her side too, but if she wanted to run away from it, and wanted everything to be professional, then, so be it.

**********************************************

N/A: Again, I apologize for the delay. I hope you liked it. I've revised this chapter many times, BUT as I promised to post it today, something must have slipped, I promise to review it during the week. Thank you for all the comments, likes, reblogs, and asks, I LOVE seeing your reaction and opinion, it warms my heart!!

[onlyjaeyun]

𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐈𝐂𝐓𝐋𝐘 𝐁𝐔𝐒𝐈𝐍𝐄𝐒𝐒 – 𝟔𝟎

𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐒𝐈𝐗𝐓𝐘: 𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐝

↬ 𝐩𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠: 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐤 𝐉𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐬𝐞𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐱 𝐅𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫

↬ 𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬!𝐀𝐔, 𝐂𝐄𝐎!𝐉𝐚𝐲, 𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐲!𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫

↬ 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭: 𝟐.𝟕𝐤

"Y/N, honey, where are you?"

The sound of Sora's voice makes its way through the now empty hallways of your new home, just loud enough to reach you.

"I'm in the kitchen, doing the dishes!"

You let out a soft sigh of exhaustion as the events of today finally get the best of you and you actually catch yourself craving absolute silence.

The housewarming party went exactly as planned and you couldn't have been more grateful. After weeks of living such chaotic days one after the other, you're simply relieved that not a single thing went wrong tonight. The food was amazing, your guests were only the people closest to you, everyone had a great time and there was not an ounce of negativity.

When the girls had basically kidnapped you to go and get yourself all dolled up only ghree hours before the first guests were set to arrive, you couldn't help but feel stressed and anxious but now after not only receiving a compliment to your look of the night from basically every sinfle guest, but also realising just how much more comfortable you were once you felt a little bit more presentable and didn't have to worry about that part yourself, you're that much more grateful for your friends' thoughtfulness.

Seeing your boyfriend's sweet and genuine reaction was just a bonus to it all.

Now that most of the guests are gone and it's just your closest circle, you feel a little less stressed and a lot more relaxed than about an hour ago.

You know subconsciously hiding yourself behind household chores isn't the most mature way to get yourself the few minutes of aloneness you've been craving for the past twelve hours but at this point you're way too exhausted to even care enough.

"Oh, goodness, you really are doing the dishes!" Sora's sweet giggles fill the soace of your kitchen with this certain type of warmth and as soon as your eyes meet the sweet gaze of Jongseong's mother, you know the exact reason behind the sudden change in atmosphere.

Sora, Nayeon's mother and your boyfriend's bonus mom, as well as Mirae, have been giving you the motherly love you've never experienced in your life and as they come to stand next to you, it definitely takes a lot of self control and willpower for you to suppress the urge to just burst into tears. Their constant words of reassurance, affection and appreciation are simply something you're not used to and with each time they smile at you with nothing but love and adoration in their calm eyes, you can physically feel yourself heal from everything your inner child has been through.

"Do you need any help, sweetheart?" Mirae asks oftly and caresses your hair softly, something you'd usually feel incredibly uncomfortable with yet with her it's never bothered you, not even on the day Jongseong had introduced the two of you to each other.

"No, thank you", you reply calmly and shoot her a quick smile back, "I'm almost done anyway. The dishwasher's running and I finished most of the pans and pots the chefs had used."

"You're amazing", Sora is quick to praise you for your hard work, "but how about we help you with the drying so you can come back and join everyone on the balcony for some wine, hm?"

"Jay's asked about you at least four times since you disappeared and I'm pretty sure Yeonie's gonna punch him very soon if he doesn't stop." Mirae's little comment has you all burst into loud laughter as memories of the two siblings actually physically fighting each other during the traditional saturday brunch because of the most random things.

The fact your boyfriend not only grew up but still very much maintains the close bond he has with the women in his life makes you incredibly happy and grateful to be a part of. You never knew what it felt like to have a loving mother, a sister or a sibling who not only appreciates and loves you, but also enjoys your presence and makes you feel special and valued.

With Jongseong, you didn't just find the love of your life but he actually gave you the one thing you've always been missing: a family.

The longer you think about the actual kmpact and influence your boyfriend has had on you and your mindset despite the rather short amount of time you guys have known each other, the more you find yourself falling in love with him.

He's the first man in your life who kept all of his promises, who gives you the love you're giving him, even more at times, who cherishes and appreciates every little thing you do, be it for him or yourself. Jongseong has managed to heal the deepest wounds in your heart and your soul, sometimes with nothing but a simple look of gratitude and happiness.

You know that to some people you might be exaggerating, but you know deep down in your heart, that Park Jongseong was always meant to be yours, it just took him a little to find you.

"You've got lost in your thoughts, hm?" Mirae smiles and starts rolling her sleeves up before she reaches for a towel and then one of the pots you had just finished washing.

To Jongseong's luck, it seems like you're perfectly occupied, since he hasn't seen you in about twenty minutes, giving him and everyone else involved enough time to secretly set up the baclony for the proposal.

The past four hours felt like a whole decade to the young business man. Every time he talked to you or literally anyone who has absolutely no idea about the little black box he hid between his socks right before you came back from your hair appointment, Jay felt like losing his mind.

Keeping this to himself turned out a lot harder than he could have ever expected. Of course the guests had managed to distract him well enough, but every now and then, especially when you found your way to him, Jong couldn't help but panic.

He really wanted everything to go as planned, not because of his perfectionist nature but rather because he wants to give you exactly what you deserve. The best and nothing but that.

Thankfully his boys and your friends had managed to take care of everything, even going as far as subtly sending the last guests home just to make sure it's only the people you both care the most about.

Jongseong nervously allows his eyes to roam the little set up his sister had organised in under an hour, saving him and his one perfect opportunity the way she's done it one too many times already.

Jaeyun and Sunghoon quietly carry the last two lighted letters to their designated spot, while your best friends are busy throwing rose patels all over the floor and Heeseung takes care of giving the surprise its last touch ups by lighting the little candles, which are basically leading the way from the door.

"Moms are distracting her just a little longer", Nayeonie suddenly says and appears by his side out of nowhere, "how are you feeling?"

For some reason, Jay struggles to find words to answer that particular question.

He's excited and nervous, of course in the best ways possible. Yet, there's still that little voice in the back of his head which has been spitting the worst, most frustrating things for the past few hours and has easily turned all of his joy and happiness into worry and anxiety.

Jay knows you're going to say yes. But then again – does he, really?

You two have talked about this multiple times and each time you made sure to let him know that you'd definitely not reject him if he ever asked you the big question, regardless of the timing.

So why is it that his head is filled with scenarios of you being disgusted, horrified and at one point even angry at him for doing something like this?

"Stop overthinking it", it's Yeonie's soft voice yet again, one of the few people in his life who're not only able to read him like an open book but also find their was through those messy thoughts of his.

"I'm nervous", Jay finally says and lets out abloud sigh as his fingers nervously fumble with the ring box in his pocket, "what if she says no?"

"Oh, shut the fuck up", Yeonie rolls her eyes and lands a firm slap on the back of her brother's neck, eliciting a round of laughter from everyone around, "you guys talked about this like ten thousand times. Plus, you're disgustingly in love with each other. I promise you, she's not going to reject you."

"And if she does, I'll take the ring, brother!" Jaeyun is quick to make a random comment to lift his best friend's spirit and before he can actually laugh about it, Jay and the other two boys basically form their well known choir as they question the young man's mental stability.

"Sim Jaeyun, what the fuck?"

"Anyway", Nayeon laughs and comes to stand in front of her younger brother with the proudest expression in her eyes and a huge smile on her face, "let's do this."

And as you're casually refilling Sora's wine glass, the women can't help but smile at how awfully unaware you are of what's been going on on the other side of your apartment.

You don't even notice the way one of them pulls out their phone to respond to a message, too lost in your own thoughts and the feeling of exhaustion overwhelming your body after such an eventful and social day.

Jongseong knows you're at a point in your day where all you can think about are your pyjamas and sleep, which is why he's pretty sure the surprise is going to do exactly what it's supposed to do.

"Let's go and join the others, hm?", Mirae says and smiles at you ablittle bigger than just a few minutes ago, leaving you a little gonfused why she'd be so enthusiastic all of a sudden but you're way too tired to even question it as you nod and follow them into the big living room.

To your surprise, the lights are turned off, the only source of light coming from the balcony and with your brows furrowed in confusion, you don't even wait for your boyfriend's morhers and quickly make your way to see what's going on.

It takes your brain a whole minute to process what you're currently looking at and as soon as your eyes meet the gaze of your lover again the end of the candle way, a thick veil of tears blurrs your vision.

"Oh, my God", you whisper and read the lighted letters behind him over and over again, just to make sure that you're actually reading them right.

Both Mirae and Sora come to stand next to one of the boys a little further away from you as all of your loved ones watch the shock take over your body with big smiles and emotional eyes.

Jongseong, on the other hand, is basically about to pass out. The sught of your pretty eyes filling with tears the longer you look at him makes his heart slam even harder against his rib cage and for a moment it feels like his lungs are hyperventilating.

Your body moves to approach your lover before your mind can follow and by the time you come to stand in front of him, tears have already stained your cheeks.

"Hi, Baby", Jay sighs and chuckles when he notices the look of pure shock in your usually so excited eyes.

"Hi, Jongie", you respond almost instinctively, your voice breaking at the end of your greeting and if it wasn't for the fact that this is about to become the best moment in yojr life, you would have been a sobbing mess already.

For a short moment, Jay allows himself to stop and just look at you. He carefully and attentively takes in the way you're looking at him, the details of your beautifully crafted facial features, his gaze dropping to your quivering bottom lip and right back up into the eyes he's found home in.

"Y/N", he begins softly, knowing (or hoping) the usage of your name is going to make it feel a little realer, a little less like a dream, "my one and only love. My everything. My home."

Just as usual, Jongseong's words are carefully chosen, well thought through and hit the deepest parts of your heart in a way only he's ever been able to.

"I always wanted to believe in love and soulmates, fairytales and romance but the older I got, the more I started losing hope. Until you stepped into my office and looked at me with those breathtakingly beautiful eyes", Jong lets out a shaky sigh, not quite used to being so vocal about his feelings in front of others but right now, nobody but you matters to him.

"My sweetest angel, my sweet souled girl", he deeply inhales and reaches for your shaking hands, gently holding them in his own to calm your racing heart down and in that moment, you're reminded of just how beautiful Park Jongseong is.

"You're my best friend, my soulmate, the one person I've waited for all my life. I don't think you have a clue what your love has done to me", with each and every single word falling past his lips, another tear of joy and happiness finds its way down your cheek, yet you never once dare to avert your gaze away from his. Too mesmerized by the love and adoration gleaming in the sweetest shade of brown you've ever had the privilege to look at.

"You saved my soul, Y/N. With every joke, every pun, every single sassy comment and comeback you've brought me back to life just a little more. And here I am, Baby. Alive and happy, because of you. Before you came into my life, I never really knew what I wanted or what I was working so hard for. But now I know", Jay whispers as the rawness of his words get the best of him and tears start pricking at the corners of his eyes. But before you can even reach for his face, he lifts your hands up to his lips and places a row of soft kisses on your knuckles.

"Everything I do, everything I own, everything I am belongs and is dedicated to you, my sweetest angel. You make me want to become the best version of myself, a better man, a better human, a better friend and son. Loving you, being by your side is my joy, my happiness, my biggest achievement and privilege I've ever received."

Just when you think your heart has reached its capacity, Jongseong looks at you with gentle eyes, slowly lowers himself on one knee and smoothly pulls out a little black ring box from his pocket.

However, he doesn't say anything until he's made sure to hold your right hand in his again, the skinship easing his thoughts, calming his soul just how he needs it.

This is it. This is the moment he's been dreaming about and waiting for all his life.

"You're my best friend, the love of my life. My home. It'd be an honor to make you my wife and spend the rest of my life loving, appreciating and cherishing everything you do. So, will you marry me?"

For the very first time in your life, there's not a single doubt, worry or an ounce of hesitation in your system and without missing another beat, you start nodding your head.

"Yes, yes, yes", you say and finally throw your arms around his shoulders as nothing but happiness and the feeling of being completed in a way you've been craving for far too long finally takes over you.

"I love you so much", you whisper against his lips, Jongseong's breathtakingly beautiful face firmly placed in your palms as he looks at you with literal stars gleaming in his dyes.

"I love you so fucking much", is the only thing he says before you go in for another tight hug, knowing life has finally given you exactly what you've been waiting for all this time.

All those dark nights you spent by yourself, all alone, unloved, heartbroken and abandoned will now forever remain in the past. They can't hurt you, not anymore.

You've finally found your missing piece.

← 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬 — 𝐦𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭 — 𝐧𝐞𝐱𝐭 →

(A/N: i don't even know what to say exceot excuse the spelling errors pls it's 2am and im stressed bc SB is now officially finished im gonna go cry..see you guys for the epilogue tomorrow 🤕 thank you SO much for everything babies. i love you.)

TAGLIST CLOSED: @soonigiri i @xrr-s4sha @kwiwin @heelcvr @deobitifull @kpoprhia @doodlelibrary @abrazosolorcereza @certifiedmoa @sleeping-demons @heerinnie @ohmy-moonlightx @heeswif3y @hoonieluv @fakeuwus @jongszn @cheybabey @ineedsomezzz @super-amberlynn @kshoshi @tinie03 @jseongies @mimikittysblog @primroselover @heebrry @jebetwo @donghyckl @07myonlylove @enhamysunshines @quemirasboboandapaya @lostwonderwall @seuomo @enhaz1 @teawithbucky @beomgyusonlywife @dammit-jjk @lhsvibez @azurez @boutyouwonu @finchyyy @ocyeanicc @jaylaxies @in-somnias-world @zerasari @spookyauthorspopmusictrash @capri-cuntz @fluerz @3amstarlight

[adventuringblind]

Hi, I hope you are doing good 🧡

Could you do a Lando x gf where she isn't used to feel loved (for example she isn't used to hearing compliments, receiving thoughtful gifts or affectionate gestures) and when he does one of those things she doesn't know how to react and gets emotional? Like an overwhelming feeling of being loved. Thank you!

Nothing but Love

Lando Norris x Reader

Genre: fluff

Reguest: yes and I'm taking hurt/comfort and angst prompts. I'm actually looking to do specifically mental health prompts because I think it's comforting to read things like that 🤷🏻‍♀️

Summary: Read the request. I'm so proud to have followed it because I was wanting to make it angsty and I stopped myself.

Notes: This is a 4+1 thing.

Masterlist

Gift Giving

Affection had never been something she got much of. It's something her parents struggled with to the point that it seemed like they were always distant. Both with each other and her.

She is affection starved. It's a fact Lando knew about before they even started dating.

He knew it was going to be difficult to warm her up to it at first. He just needs to find her love language and use that to his advantage.

First on the list: gifts.

Lando, in all honesty, does not think this is her favorite thing. He's seen her at Christmas almost die at the thought of people spending money on her.

But he has money, and he wants to use it on her.

He starts out small with things she needs and doesn't make a big deal out of it. She mentions a snack she's craving, and he has it for her the next day. If she complains all her socks are starting to get holes in them, there are new socks in her drawer the next morning.

He keeps it small, and she appreciates it.

Acts of service

Lando isn't expecting her reaction to this one to be so overwhelming. He purposely makes it a point to do small things like clean up around the house and check of tasks on her to-do list.

She doesn't know how to act at first. It's like she's a robot with no programming or direction. Eventually she warms up to the idea and she learns she can just thank him, be grateful, and move on with the day.

It takes a while to get there, and he has to remind her several times that she doesn't need to try and do everything on her own.

Plus, Lando finds it nice doing mundane tasks when his world is so chaotic and crazy most the time.

Quality time

This one is something they both do on the regular anyways. It's one of Lando's major love languages. He himself needs quality time. The difference here is that Lando makes it a point to do her favorite things that she struggles asking him to do with her.

He takes her to see movies she's been talking about for months. They go to the concerts of her favorite bands that maybe he doesn't like as much. He plays her favorite games with her that he sucks at and watches her smile when she wins.

In a way, it's like watching a child get to do all the things she never got to. Always too busy trying to take care of herself growing up. It's one of his favorite things to see.

Her childish smile makes him fall deeper every time.

Physical touch

Everyone knows Lando is clingy. Every moment of everyday he is touching somebody. Not in a weird way, mind you. Simply hugging, holding, cuddling, shoulder patting, anything that keeps him in close proximity to the people he cares about.

It was something she wasn't used to at first. His touch starved human had no idea how to reciprocate his endless bouts of physical needs.

She caught on quick. A fast study. Now she may even be as clingy as him.

People are so disgusted by their constant public displays of affection. It's a never ending well of tight hugs and stolen kisses.

If she goes to him for affection, he never turns her away. It doesn't matter what he's doing. He could be streaming, and he will not hesitate to either turn it off or if she's comfortable will let her cuddle him while he's gaming.

Words of affirmation

This is the one that got her. He wasn't expecting her to be so shocked when he said he was proud of her for eating three meals that day. Or stutter and blush when he said she's the most gorgeous person he has ever placed eyes on.

He makes it a point to remind himself to say things like that to her. Even the littles compliments.

Sometimes she cries and tries to tell him he's wrong. How he's the only one who has ever said such things about her. Oh, how he wishes he could go back and meet her sooner and tell her all the things she deserves too here.

He is constantly showering her in compliments and reassurance. He reminds her she is worthy of praise and affection. She cries about it sometimes and he just holds her and tells her that she's worthy.

He does it daily and as often as he can. He would start every sentence about her with a compliment if he could.

Her parents may not have given her the affection she deserves. But he will, and he'll make sure she gets all the affection he can give because she deserves it.

[donkeys-waffles]

I love it when people make Izuku a peaceful baby, a true angel. But it's even better when he's just a little chaotic. Like he is now, a force of chaotic good.

Baby Izuku would NOT be a quiet baby. He'd be making a lot of weird, horror movie noises like those babies in grocery stores that want to test out the range of their vocal cords.

Inko would be completely calm as Izuku went from complete silence to a weird eldritch noise that sounds like a squeaky door hinge. While AFO would have one of two reactions complete concern and horror, like, oh no, my baby is broken. Because that man is a helicopter parent. Like nothing can calm him down. It's either that or it'll give him flashbacks to when he was a rabid child on the streets with his brother. He'll either be proud of that fact or try to teach Izuku how to speak as soon as possible. I can imagine it now.

Inko: Alright, Izuku, can you say hi Papa. *holds the baby up to AFO*

Izuku: *screams like a banshee in his father's face*

[rurann]

Ruthless x Empathetic (Geshu Lin x Reader)

Chapters:

Previous: Chapter One

Next: Chapter Three

Tag list

Summary:

All you wanted was to help the wounded, to be a healer in a chaotic world. But after a fateful encounter with the cold and feared General Geshu Lin, your life takes a dark turn as he becomes dangerously obsessed with you.

[I made this because of the lack of Geshu Lin fanfics.]

Tags: Explicit

Love Triangles, Obsession, Obsessive Behavior, Stalking, General x Medic, Yandere Geshu Lin

[Tags will be updated as the story goes but I intend to have this story rated Explicit.]

Chapter Two

Under His Care

The next day began with an uneasy tension gripping your chest as you cautiously approached the base’s cafeteria. The lingering nerves from your interaction with General Geshu Lin the previous evening gnawed at you. You couldn’t get a good night's sleep as you tried to make sense of why it still left you feeling so unsettled. After all, the general hadn’t scolded you or even raised his voice. So why did the mere thought of crossing paths with him again fill you with apprehension?

Well, maybe not apprehension. Maybe you were just too shy to see him after the way you were being persistent with him.

You shook your head, trying to brush off the anxiety as you approached the cafeteria. Peeking around the corner, you scanned the room like a mouse surveying for danger. A few soldiers sat at scattered tables, laughing and eating breakfast as if there wasn’t a war looming over their heads in just a few hours. Everything seemed calm.

But you weren’t looking for just anyone. You searched for the tall, imposing figure with the long white hair. Your heart raced as your eyes flitted over each face, but the cafeteria appeared tranquil. If Geshu Lin had been there, you would have known. The air would be thick with tension, and the soldiers would sit in silence, careful not to draw his attention.

You sighed in relief, stepping out from behind the corner, ready to walk in—

“This is amusing.”

You nearly jumped out of your skin, spinning around so fast you almost lost your balance. Your wide eyes landed on a familiar face, and your heart skipped a beat.

Jiyan’s tall form loomed before you, his expression dripping with amusement. He raised an eyebrow, clearly entertained by your reaction. “Didn’t know you were such a jumpy one.”

You let out an exhale of relief. As you tried to compose yourself, you said, “Jiyan, you scared me.”

He chuckled, crossing his arms over his chest as he leaned casually against the wall. “Looks like you were scouting the cafeteria like you were preparing for battle. Expecting someone?”

Your cheeks flushed, and you quickly looked away, embarrassed at being caught sneaking around like a child. “No, I was just… making sure if there is a good seat.”

The tip of Jiyan’s lips curved in a subtle smile. He pushed himself off of the wall and stepped towards the cafeteria as he told you, “In that case, why don’t we find a table? I hope there is an empty one.”

You finally shook off your nervousness and followed Jiyan into the cafeteria, the breeze of his presence calming your jittery thoughts.

As you both found an empty table near the window, you sat down and tried to relax. After all, you had been so tense recently, caught up in the intensity of your heavy duties. Maybe it was time to loosen up a little.

Jiyan sat across from you. He had a natural ease to him, serious but approachable, as if he could carry the weight of the world without letting it crush him. You admired that about him, though you'd never say it out loud. You’re just getting to know him.

“I couldn’t find the right time to get to know you during the training,” Jiyan began, his voice a low rumble. “I was surprised to see your profile. It says you have just turned eighteen and have gotten your Tacet mark when you were much younger. That’s impressive.”

You averted your gaze bashfully. “I didn’t know they’d put that detail into my profile.”

Jiyan began tearing into his breakfast with his chopsticks. “I apologize if it’s an invasion of privacy to you-”

“It’s alright,” you cut him off with a rueful smile. “Such details might be important to the higher-ups.”

“But the details aren’t that specific,” Jiyan pointed out. “It did not state at what age your Resonance manifested.”

You stared at him in contemplation. “Hmm. I think I was ten when I got it.”

As you finally took the first bite of your breakfast, Jiyan blinked his eyes at you in amazement. “Were you scared?”

You smiled at his thoughtfulness. As you chewed your meal properly, the teal-haired man before you finally had his first bite as well. He made no indication to rush the conversation, even though time was limited for all of you. Not when the war against Tacet Discords was looming over everyone’s head.

“I was frightened,” you stated, gazing at your breakfast. “I couldn’t control my Glacio at that time. I was scared that I would end up freezing my parents in a panic.”

Jiyan stared at you for a long while, chewing his breakfast soundlessly. His silence provided you ample time to respond. “Thankfully, there was another veteran Resonator nearby, and he taught me how to control it.”

“That’s good to hear,” commented Jiyan. “Was that the moment when you finally decided to use your Resonance as a support?”

You nodded your head, although you knew you had dreamt of it even before you got your Tacet mark. “Yeah. It feels nice to see someone you heal get back on their feet. I hope my support as a rearguard contributes greatly to the battlefield.”

Jiyan spoke, “I’m certain it does. Every ranger you tend to will come back to the war stronger. You and the rest of the support help a lot.”

A genuine smile blossomed on your face like a sunflower to the sun. Jiyan never failed to amaze you with his comforting choice of words. Talking with him was so easy and calming. He was like a cool breeze in a warm season.

“You say that as if you’re not a rearguard yourself, Dr. Jiyan,” you teased with a grin.

Jiyan chuckled. “I am just a normal doctor. Compared to a supporting Resonator like you, I am just a normal man.”

You laughed softly at Jiyan's modest words. “A normal doctor who’s highly respected among the Midnight Rangers. I don’t think ‘just a normal man’ fits you very well.”

Jiyan smiled, a hint of amusement in his eyes. “I believe you got the wrong man regarding highly respected. You’re probably referring to General Geshu Lin.”

Something dawned on you the moment the general’s name was mentioned. With your smile slowly dropping, you asked curiously, “I haven’t seen him in the cafeteria yet. Is he always this late to breakfast?”

“He never comes to the cafeteria,” Jiyan apprised. “The cook will prepare breakfast for him at five in the morning, and a ranger will deliver it to the general’s tent.”

Your eyes widened in astonishment. “At five in the morning?”

Jiyan replied, “He usually wakes up early and trains after breakfast at five. Everyone can see him training at a hidden spot just northeast of the base, but no one dared to disturb him.”

Taking in that information, you harrumphed, “Hmm, I see.”

The calmness of the morning was soon replaced by the hum of soldiers preparing for the battle ahead. The cafeteria quickly emptied as the Midnight Rangers moved with purpose, heading toward the central courtyard where everyone was expected to gather. You and Jiyan joined the steady stream of soldiers, and the air grew thick with tension as anticipation for the day’s war against the Tacet Discords loomed overhead.

Once outside, soldiers were lined up in their respective formations. You stood among the rearguards, a smaller group that would stay back to heal and provide support when needed. Despite your efforts to stay calm, your heart thudded in your chest as you looked around. Everyone was so focused. Even the lighthearted conversation you shared with Jiyan earlier now felt like a distant memory, replaced by the cold reality of war.

The moment was broken when you spotted a shift in the crowd. General Geshu Lin had arrived.

Your eyes were instantly drawn and glued to the imposing figure moving through the ranks. There he was – the general himself, tall and commanding, with his long white hair flowing as he walked. His presence rippled through the assembled soldiers, their backs straightening, heads turning as if drawn by an invisible force. The air around him seemed to crackle with tension, and it was clear that even the most battle-hardened rangers were on edge in his presence.

It was hard to comprehend that this was the same man whom you tended to last night. You were being an annoying little medic to him – he even muttered ‘insolent’ to you – and yet he did not chew you out or yell at you for overstepping. It was then you realized that, yes, he was cold and unapproachable, but you had never once seen him raise his voice to anyone. He merely intimidated everyone around him.

Geshu Lin wasted no time. He headed straight for the veterans and battlefield strategists who had already gathered in a small circle nearby. A hologram of a specific spot in Norfall Barrens was prepared beforehand. It appeared that that’s the site where everything would go down. You, standing close enough with the rearguards, couldn’t help but overhear bits of their discussion.

“—Intel confirms their movements near the northern valley. They’ll likely use the terrain to their advantage,” said one of the strategists, his voice clipped and precise.

“The Discords won’t move in a predictable formation,” another chimed in. “They’ve shown signs of erratic behaviour. We need to prepare for an ambush.”

Geshu Lin’s voice cut through the conversation like a blade, calm but with a quiet authority that demanded attention. “They’ll try to flank us at the first opportunity. We’ll divide the forces into two main fronts. One to hold their attention in the valley, and another to sweep in from the east.”

You swallowed hard, absorbing the gravity of the situation. The Tacet Discords were dangerous, unpredictable creatures born from the chaotic disruptions in frequency energy. They appeared to be creatures with nothing on their mind but kill. You had seen some of them before and noticed how mindless they behaved. Annihilation was the only thing in their head.

As the discussion continued, another veteran spoke up. “What about the rearguard unit, sir? We have advanced further into Norfall Barrens, where the rearguards’ camps were miles away from the site. Our wounded soldiers will have a problem reaching the medics.”

Geshu Lin’s cold eyes flickered with thought before he declared, “Five rearguards will join each vanguard unit. They will stay close enough to provide immediate support but out of sight. This way, they can tend to the wounded before the Discords have time to overwhelm the frontlines.”

You felt a sharp pang of anxiety as you processed his words. This meant some of you would be much closer to the battlefield than anticipated. You exchanged nervous glances with the other rearguards, who had overheard the same decision. This was how it felt like being in a war. You did not know what would happen. One day, you could be at the back, providing support. The next day, you could be at the very front with a greater risk of death. A war had always been unpredictable and merciless. You could not say no. It was your duty, after all.

One of the more seasoned strategists, an older man with a scar running across his cheek, frowned profoundly and said, “General, with all due respect, that area is riddled with uneven terrain. There are countless places for the Tacet Discords to hide. If we send rearguards with the vanguard, they could be ambushed from behind. We’d be putting them at risk.”

Geshu Lin’s eyes were steady, unwavering as he turned to face the strategist. “We’ll use the terrain to our advantage.”

A murmur rippled through the strategists, a mixture of surprise and curiosity at the general’s unshaken confidence. Geshu Lin continued, his voice firm but calm as ever.

“We will claim the terrain before the Discords can. If we take the high ground and secure key points along the ridges and slopes, we deny them the chance to use it for ambushes,” he said as his gaze swept across the group. “The rearguards will hide in the natural alcoves and rock formations. That will give them the advantage of cover, and they’ll be prepared to receive any wounded rangers immediately. At the same time, other troops will ensure there are no blind spots. No place for the Discords to flank.”

The room fell silent as everyone absorbed his plan. It was risky, but the more you thought about it, the more sense it made. By taking control of the terrain quickly, the Midnight Rangers could turn the area’s natural features into their stronghold rather than leaving them as potential hiding spots for the enemy.

The older strategist, after a long pause, nodded his head slowly. “Understood, General. We’ll adjust our formations accordingly.”

Geshu Lin gave a curt nod in return, and without another word, the strategists and veterans dispersed to relay the new orders to the rest of the troops. One of the strategists relayed the plan to Changmin, a senior medic, right away.

In the latter’s hands, he held a list, the paper slightly crumpled from being rolled and unrolled several times. He studied it for a moment, his brows furrowed in concentration. Then, taking a pen from his pocket, he began marking off names with quick, decisive strokes.

After a few minutes of marking the list, he straightened up, his stern expression giving nothing away. He turned to face you all, his voice loud and commanding as it rang out over the crowd. “Five rearguards will be assigned to each vanguard troop, including the main force led by General Geshu Lin himself.”

You held your breath, nerves coiling tighter in your stomach as you waited to hear the names. The silence was almost unbearable as he began reading from the list.

“Yin Lei, Liang Mei, Hua Jin, Bai Yu, Song Lin,” he called out in a firm tone. One by one, each rearguard whose name was called stepped forward with varying expressions as they joined their assigned troops.

Changmin continued down the list. “Feng Li, Xian Zhi, Chen Min, Zhou Ping, and (Y/n).”

Your heart skipped a beat as your name echoed in the air. You weren’t sure whether to feel proud or terrified. All you knew was that you were now among those selected to stand closer to the frontlines. Your legs felt heavier than usual as you stepped forward, joining the others who had been named.

There was a slight murmur in the crowd as those not selected exchanged glances of relief or disappointment. You couldn’t help but glance over at Jiyan, whose name had not been called. He stood silently, his gaze meeting yours for a brief moment, offering a silent nod of encouragement. The calm steadiness in his eyes was reassuring, even as you felt the weight of your new assignment settle on your shoulders.

Changmin continued, “The other rearguards will stay with the secondary line or wait in your tents. Dr. Jiyan will be in charge of all of you. Listen to any incoming orders. You might be asked to provide backup for the primary troops. Stay alert and be ready to move if necessary.”

Jiyan nodded his head, prepared to take on the new duty. With that done, Changmin turned to the selected rearguards and said, “Now, to those who are selected, I have chosen which troop you will be assigned to.”

Changmin cleared his throat as he began assigning the selected rearguards to their respective vanguard troops. His eyes scanned the list once more before he started.

“Yin Lei, Liang Mei, Hua Jin, Bai Yu, and Song Lin,” he announced. “You will join the main force under General Geshu Lin’s command. You are to follow closely, provide medical support from enemies’ sights, and remain hidden until called upon.”

The five rearguards nodded solemnly. They gathered their gear and stood off to the side, ready to integrate with the main troop led by the formidable general himself.

Changmin moved down the list, his pen tapping against the paper as he assigned the rest. “Feng Li, Xian Zhi, Chen Min, Zhou Ping, and (Y/n), you will be assigned to Vanguard Troop Two, led by Captain Shen Xue. This troop will be stationed to the east of the battlefield. Your task is the same – stay close, provide support, and be prepared for any unexpected developments.”

You nodded before you and the rest hurried to meet up with Vanguard Troop Two. Captain Shen Xue, a stoic man with short, dark hair and sharp features, was already waiting for you in the queue. He gave each of you a once-over with a quick, assessing glance.

“Rearguards,” he greeted with a curt nod, his voice steady but firm. “Feng Li, Xian Zhi, Chen Min, Zhou Ping, (Y/n), I expect you to stay vigilant and act swiftly. We’ll be stationed in a high-risk zone, so there won’t be much room for mistakes. Do your job, and we’ll keep the frontlines intact.”

You and your squadmates nodded in unison, absorbing his words. The captain didn’t linger on formalities or small talk; he was straight to the point. After a few more brief instructions, Shen Xue gestured for all of you to line up with the rest of the troop.

It didn’t take long before the familiar figure of Geshu Lin strode to the very front of the gathered forces, his presence as commanding as ever. The general’s long white hair moved gently with the wind, and his cold, piercing gaze swept over the assembled rangers.

Geshu Lin stopped in front of his main troop’s line and blinked, something shifting in his expression as if realization suddenly dawned on him. His sharp voice cut through the silence. “Rearguards, raise your hands.”

The rearguards assigned to his main force obeyed immediately, raising their hands without hesitation. The general’s eyes narrowed slightly as he scrutinized them. After a moment, he asked, “Are any of you a Resonator?”

The rearguards exchanged brief, uneasy glances before answering in unison, “No, sir.”

Geshu Lin’s expression remained unreadable as he processed the rearguards’ response. Then, without warning, he walked past his own troop and strode down the lines of assembled rangers. His long hair trailed behind him as his sharp gaze swept over the troops. His eyes moved purposefully, scanning each soldier with an intensity that made the air feel even heavier.

You watched him carefully, your curiosity piqued. What is he looking for? You could feel the tension ripple through the ranks as he approached closer to your position. You braced yourself, hoping that whatever was on his mind didn’t involve you. Yet, as if drawn by some unseen force, the general’s footsteps led him directly toward Vanguard Troop Two.

He moved with quiet precision, his eyes glancing past several of your fellow squad-mates. For a moment, it seemed like he would continue walking, passing your troop without incident. But then, just as he neared, his gaze landed squarely on you. Your heart skipped a beat, anxiety shooting through your veins as he suddenly stopped and stood right in front of you.

You looked up at him, your wide, startled eyes meeting his cold, piercing gaze. His towering presence made you feel impossibly small, his expression giving away nothing. You wondered what you had done to draw his attention. Did you make a mistake earlier? Did he disapprove of something? Your mind raced as you tried to decipher the reason for his sudden focus on you.

Then you realized. Is he going to scold me in front of everybody for being insolent to him last night?

Before you could react further, Captain Shen Xue noticed the interaction and quickly approached. He stopped beside Geshu Lin and asked, “What’s the matter, General?”

For a moment, Geshu Lin didn’t respond. His cold gaze remained locked on you as though he were assessing something beyond what you could comprehend. The silence stretched uncomfortably, your anxiety climbing higher with every second that passed.

“You,” Geshu Lin said to you, his voice cutting through the tense silence. “You will join my troop. Your Resonance skills are better suited for the frontlines.”

Your breath caught in your throat. The shock of his words hit you like a wave, and for a moment, all you could do was stare up at him, unsure if you had heard him correctly. You, reassigned to the main force? His troop at the frontlines? A whirlwind of thoughts spun in your mind, and you couldn’t decide if this was an honour or a punishment.

Geshu Lin paused, his cold gaze flickering away from you as he looked elsewhere, his sharp voice ringing out again. “Who was in charge of reassigning the medics?”

Changmin, the senior rearguard, cautiously stepped forward. His posture stiffened as he spoke, “It was me, sir.”

Silently, Geshu Lin turned his back on the assembled troops and began walking toward his main force. His long white hair breezed after him as he moved. Over his shoulder, he commanded, “This Resonator will be in my troop. Swap her in.”

“Yes, sir,” Changmin replied, his voice steady as if he was glad he didn’t get scolded.

As the general disappeared into the distance, Changmin pulled out the same list and scanned through it. With a quick pen stroke, he made an adjustment, then looked at you and gestured for you to follow him. Still reeling from the sudden change of events, you found yourself moving without thought, your feet carrying you forward as if on autopilot.

You ended up standing in front of the main force, your heart pounding in your chest as the weight of your new reality began to sink in. This was no ordinary assignment. You were now in the presence of Geshu Lin’s elite. The responsibility, the danger, all of it felt heavier than before.

Changmin offered a brief explanation. “Song Lin, you have been reassigned to Vanguard Troop Two. (Y/n), you will take over her place.”

Song Lin, one of the rearguards originally assigned to the main force, stepped forward. Surprise was vivid on her face. She gave you a slight nod before heading off to join Vanguard Troop Two, leaving you standing in her former spot.

You swallowed hard, trying to gather your thoughts. This was happening. You were now part of the general’s troop, standing at the very front of the battle line.

You couldn’t help but glance at Jiyan, who was standing in the rearguards’ queue. He was already looking at you. Once you two made steady eye contact, he mouthed to you soundlessly, “Be careful.”

You nodded, feeling pale all of a sudden. You couldn’t believe this. One moment, you were back there, and now you were at the very front. You felt your heart being seized by a cold, gripping sensation. Fear. Anxious. Horror. What did you do to have brought yourself here? Was it because the general had seen what you were capable of last night? Is this called a butterfly effect?

A noise from the front snapped you out of your thoughts. You lifted your head, and there he was – Geshu Lin, standing before you, his back broad and imposing. He had a large, deadly broadblade in hand, its cold metal gleaming in the dim light. You watched in awe and nervousness as he calmly attached it to his back, his movements precise and practised. The blade seemed almost too large for one person to wield, yet in his hands, it looked as natural as breathing.

Then, his voice rang out, commanding and unwavering. “Rangers, it’s fight or die. We move forward.”

The response from the troops was immediate and unified. “Yes, sir!”

With that, the entire troop began to move, marching steadily toward the battlefield. You felt your legs moving, too, but the cold grip of fear hadn’t loosened its hold on your heart.

As you approached the site, a vast stretch of rugged terrain came into view. You recognized it from the hologram you saw previously. It was an unforgiving landscape, littered with jagged rocks, uneven slopes, and scattered ridges that would be perfect hiding spots for the Tacet Discords. The wind howled through the valley, giving a sense of foreboding.

But the Discords had yet to appear.

A senior strategist, a man with greying hair and sharp eyes, quickly approached Geshu Lin’s side. Keeping his voice low, he said, “General, TDs are nowhere to be seen yet. This could be the perfect opportunity to set up our formation.”

Geshu Lin, who had been surveying the landscape with a cold, calculating gaze, nodded slightly. Without a word, he moved ahead, his broadblade still resting on his back as if anticipating the moment he would need it. His presence, as always, felt larger than life, keeping your gaze glued to him almost all the time.

The strategist began issuing commands swiftly, relaying the formation plan the group had discussed earlier. As planned, the vanguard troops were divided into two main fronts – one to hold the Discords in the valley and the other to sweep in from the east.

You were part of the rearguard that would stay close but out of sight, hidden in the alcoves and rock formations along the ridges. It was a strategic position, covering the injured while keeping you near enough to assist when needed. But it also placed you dangerously close to the front lines, and that frightened you. You might not show it, but you were terrified.

As the troops began to take their positions, you scanned the horizon, searching for any sign of movement. The Discords could strike at any moment. From the corner of your eye, you saw Geshu Lin moving with purpose, positioning himself at the forefront of his main troop.

The wind picked up, carrying a distant, unsettling sound. You weren’t sure if it was the TDs or just the valley playing tricks on your ears, but it made you shiver. Beside you, one of the rearguards muttered under their breath, “It’s too quiet…”

You couldn’t agree more. Every second of silence felt like the calm before a storm. You glanced at Geshu Lin again, feeling reliant on him now. He stood motionless as though he was waiting – listening.

Just as the silence began to stretch, a piercing scream shattered the stillness, causing everyone to jump. Instinctively, you turned to see a gigantic, mayfly-like creature burst forth from a hidden crevice, its iridescent wings glistening in the dim light.

Panic surged through you as the Tacet Discord, known as a Cruisewing, zeroed in on Hua Jin, one of the medics selected for Geshu Lin’s troop. It swooped down with a terrifying speed, its long, stinger-like appendage aimed straight at him.

Time seemed to slow as you watched in horror. The creature stung Hua Jin in the ribs, and he gasped, collapsing to the ground in an instant. Chaos erupted as soldiers shouted, their voices mingling with the frantic beating of wings. You could feel your heart racing, adrenaline coursing through your veins.

Without a second thought, you instinctively dashed forward, urgency propelling you toward Hua Jin. You had to reach him; you had to heal him. But the Cruisewing loomed dangerously close, its wings buzzing ominously. You knew you had to act quickly, but fear gripped you tightly.

Then, something shot past you, a blur of motion that made your breath hitch. It was General Geshu Lin. He appeared beside Hua Jin in the blink of an eye, his cold demeanour unshaken even amidst the chaos. With a swift and practised movement, he drew his broadblade and swung it with deadly precision. The Cruisewing barely had time to react before the blade sliced through the air, cutting it in two.

The creature crumpled to the ground, its body collapsing lifelessly beside Hua Jin. You stood frozen for a moment, disbelief washing over you as you processed what had just happened. Everything was too fast. Your poor medic self couldn’t keep up.

That was the first time you had gotten so close to a Tacet Discord. And that was also your first time seeing a powerful Resonator in action before your eyes. General Geshu Lin… was outstanding in his own way.

Hua Jin's pained groan finally snapped you out of your trance. Your heart raced as you rushed to his side. Kneeling beside him, you inspected the wound. The Cruisewing's sting had left a deep gash, and you could see the traces of venom spreading around it, dark and pulsing ominously against his skin.

“Rangers, bring him behind that boulder,” Geshu Lin commanded. He pointed to a large boulder nearby, its sheer size providing a potential shelter. “And get back to your formation. Enemies incoming.”

You glanced up, following his gaze, and your heart dropped. A horde of Tacet Discords surged toward you from the distance, their grotesque forms moving with a disturbing grace. They poured down the hill like a dark tide, some of them massive, their bodies armoured and imposing. One of them stood out with thick, shell-like plating, a true embodiment of terror that sent a chill through your bones.

This was the first time you had seen such a horrifying army of Tacet Discords up close, and the sight was enough to make your blood run cold. The sheer scale of their numbers and the brutal power they exuded filled you with dread. If there were no Midnight Rangers and no Resonators, this army could take down Jinzhou easily.

You joined the other rangers as they lifted Hua Jin, struggling to keep him steady as they manoeuvred him toward the boulder. Your heart pounded in your chest as you felt the ground tremble beneath you, the approaching Discords growing nearer with every passing second.

Once you reached the boulder, you quickly set Hua Jin down and crouched beside him. The rest of the rearguards were about to tend to Hua Jin with their tools, and you quickly interjected, “It’s okay. I can handle him from here. Save your tools.”

The rearguards gave you a nod of acknowledgement before they moved to another location, readying themselves for the next wave of wounded. You turned your attention wholly to Hua Jin, your hands already glowing with the familiar resonance of your healing ability. The cold energy surged from your palms, sinking into his flesh, gradually closing the venomous wound inflicted by the Cruisewing. Hua Jin winced but gave no further sign of pain.

Suddenly, a deafening roar reverberated through the air, followed by a blast so powerful it nearly knocked you off your feet. You jerked your head toward the battlefield, eyes wide with shock. Dark purple flames crackled and danced across the ground, leaving scorched earth in their wake. Geshu Lin had unleashed his Resonance Liberation – an overwhelming surge of power that ignited the battlefield just as the Tacet Discord army closed in.

The war had begun.

The vanguards met the advancing horde of Discords with fierce determination, their guns firing like crazy at the twisted monstrosities. The air was thick with the sounds of battle – metal against bone, the screeches of the Discords, and the shouts of rangers giving orders and rallying each other.

You poured more of your Resonance into Hua Jin, sealing his wound completely, leaving behind a pale, icy scar of Glacio. He studied it briefly, then looked at you with a grateful nod.

“Thanks,” he murmured before getting to his feet. His eyes were wide, scanning the battlefield as he hurried off to another boulder, ready to assist the wounded as they came.

You remained behind, pressing your back against the gigantic rock that provided you with a great hiding spot. This was your spot now. You had to stay here, waiting for the inevitable flood of injured rangers needing your healing. The sounds of battle raged on, and you couldn’t help but steal glances at the chaos unfolding before you.

Geshu Lin was at the forefront, his movements precise and deadly as he cut down Tacet Discords left and right. The purple flames from his Resonance Liberation still lingered on the battlefield, creating a scorching barrier between the vanguards and the incoming horde. But despite his overwhelming power, more Discords poured in, seemingly endless.

One of the armoured beasts, its hide impenetrable like stone, charged at a group of rangers. Its massive, clawed limbs dug into the earth as it barrelled toward them, and for a moment, you feared for their lives. But just as it was about to reach them, Geshu Lin was there, his broadblade flashing in the air. With a swift, decisive strike, he cleaved the monster's head clean off, sending its body crashing to the ground.

You watched in awe, barely comprehending the sheer power of the man leading the vanguard.

Before you could gawk any longer at the general’s skill, movement from the corner of your eye snapped you back to reality. Wounded rangers were limping toward the rearguards, struggling to reach safety. You blinked, refocusing, and quickly rushed to meet them. The battlefield thundered around you, but you blocked it out, setting your focus entirely on the task at hand.

With a deep breath, you called upon your Glacio Resonance, feeling the familiar cold energy surge through you. Your hands glowed faintly as you began healing the wounded soldiers, patching them up one by one.

“Another army of Tacet Discords incoming from the left!” someone shouted, their voice hoarse with alarm.

Your head snapped toward the left. Eyes wide, you spotted it – another wave of Discords charging from that direction. Larger. Fiercer. Your stomach dropped.

Fear coursed through you like ice, but you didn’t let it take hold. Not now. There were soldiers in front of you, hurt and bleeding. You couldn’t waste time.

You pressed your hands against a ranger’s arm, sealing his wound shut. You couldn’t afford to think about what was coming. The only thing you could do was keep healing. Keep them alive.

The ground trembled again as the new horde grew closer. You could hear their shrieks now, their guttural howls mingling with the cries of your fellow rangers. But you forced yourself to stay calm, to keep working.

“Stay with me,” you told another ranger, his breathing ragged as you closed a nasty gash on his leg. He nodded, though his eyes were glazed with pain.

All around, the sound of gunfire and metal clashing with Discord flesh raged on. You cast a quick glance at the battlefield, spotting Geshu Lin once more. He hadn’t stopped, still cutting down Discords like a force of nature.

But that didn’t make the army charging from the left any less terrifying. They were coming, and fast.

The sight of the monstrous horde surging toward you made your heart pound painfully in your chest. Panic clawed at the edges of your mind, threatening to overwhelm you. You quickly averted your gaze, focusing back on the wounded soldiers at your feet.

One breath. Then another.

Suddenly, a blast hit the battlefield with a force that shook the ground beneath you. It was so powerful that even the rushing rangers halted in their tracks. A hot breeze followed, washing over you and filling the air with heat and dust.

Your head snapped up, curiosity sparking through the fear. What was that?

It was Geshu Lin.

The general had unleashed another wave of his Resonance Liberation, an attack so fierce it obliterated half of the incoming Tacet Discord army in one devastating blow. Dark purple flames coated the ground where his energy had struck, their eerie glow lighting up the chaos.

You stared in awe as the aftermath settled, and Reverberations of the fallen Tacet Discords flickered faintly, ghostly echoes of their defeat. But what struck you most was Geshu Lin himself. His broadblade now burned with those same dark flames, and the air around him charged with energy, almost crackling. He looked unstoppable.

But it wasn’t over.

The other half of the Discord army still pressed forward. You felt the tension in the air shift, the other rangers glancing warily at the oncoming monsters. Even with Geshu Lin’s power, the fight was far from won.

You turned back to the soldier beneath you. His wounds were closing, but the exhaustion was beginning to wear on you. Each use of your Resonance drained you a little more. But you couldn’t stop. Not yet.

Another wounded ranger stumbled toward you, blood running down their arm. You waved them over, saying, “Please lie down. I will tend to you in seconds!”

There was no time for fear. Just survival.

Hours blurred into each other as you worked. You barely noticed time passing. Your focus was on the wounded soldiers in front of you, one after the other, each needing your Resonance to close their gashes, mend their broken bones, or seal deadly stings. The battlefield was a blur of chaos and noise, but you had no time to let it sink in.

Every now and then, you’d feel the familiar surge of energy in the air – Geshu Lin unleashing yet another mighty blast of his Resonance. The waves of dark energy crackled across the battlefield, buying precious seconds for the rangers to regroup, though each blast seemed to echo a grim truth. The Tacet Discords weren’t stopping.

You were exhausted, barely catching your breath between wounded rangers who stumbled toward you, bloodied and broken. Still, you pressed on, the icy Glacio Resonance flowing from your hands like second nature. You had to keep them alive.

And then, out of nowhere, a soft beep cut through the din. A message.

Your Terminal buzzed at your back, and you quickly wiped the growing Glacio and blood off of your hands on your uniform before tapping it. A small hologram popped up, floating in the air beside you. Jiyan’s message. You checked the time, your eyes widening in shock. Six hours had passed since the battle started.

His voice was calm, but the urgency in his message was apparent.

“Intel reports the waves of Tacet Discords aren’t stopping anytime soon. I’ve been cleared to move the other rearguards closer to the site. Let the injured know they can head to our makeshift tent, just down the road from the battlefield.”

You quickly glanced around, spotting more wounded rangers struggling to move, some on the verge of collapse. Relief washed over you. Finally, backup. But the never-ending onslaught of Discords meant the battle was far from over.

You sent a brief verbal response to Jiyan before you turned to the nearest ranger. His arm – which was bent abnormally – was devoid of pain for the time being since you had tended to him using your Glacio skill briefly. It helped him withstand the pain as you helped the other injured rangers who were in a much more critical condition. You spoke quickly, “There's a makeshift tent down the road. Can you walk?”

He nodded weakly.

“Good. Head that way. More medics are there, and they’ll take over.”

One by one, you began directing the wounded yet capable soldiers toward the tent while you received those with critical conditions. As you watched them stagger toward safety, you couldn’t help but feel a knot of dread forming in your chest.

The waves were unrelenting. What if they never stopped?

Then, out of the corner of your eye, you saw a veteran strategist sprinting toward the centre of the battlefield, weaving through the chaos. He halted just shy of Geshu Lin, who was locked in combat with a swarm of massive Tacet Discords, their grotesque forms looming over him. The general, undeterred, was carving through them like they were nothing.

“General!” the strategist shouted, voice strained as he fought to be heard over the clamour. “Intel reports the waves won’t stop! More are coming! We need to pull back and regroup our forces!”

For a moment, you held your breath, watching as Geshu Lin dispatched the last of the ten towering Discords with a few lethal swings of his broadblade. Dark flames still clung to his blade, crackling ominously. He didn’t even glance at the strategist when he spoke, voice low but resolute.

“No retreat,” he said. “We reclaim this site at once.”

The strategist’s face paled, but he didn’t argue. You felt the weight of Geshu Lin’s decision settle over the battlefield like a heavy fog. Retreat was not an option. Not under his command.

Your heart pounded as the enormity of the situation sank in. The Discords kept coming, their numbers seemingly endless. But retreat wasn’t on the table.

You continued tending to the wounded, hands trembling as your Resonance took its toll. The constant use of Glacio was wearing you down, and the signs were showing. Ice crystals began to form at the tips of your fingers, slowly creeping toward your palms. You tried shaking it off, clenching and unclenching your fists to restore warmth, but the frost always returned.

With each passing second, the cold intensified.

A sudden scream cut through the chaos, sharp and panicked. It wasn’t far from you. Your heart skipped a beat, but you kept your hands pressed against the wounded ranger in front of you, your Glacio healing him just enough to stabilize the bleeding. Still, your gaze darted to the battlefield.

There, not too far away, a ranger had fallen, sprawled on the ground in a heap. Standing over him was a Tacet Discord you recognized all too well – a Fusion Warrior.

The monster was humanoid in shape, but its arms were grotesque, massive limbs made of Fusion-infused rock that tapered to a sharp, deadly point, like a giant spearhead. It moved with terrifying speed, faster than anything its size should. You’d seen these before. They didn’t just attack. They targeted. They locked onto their prey and struck with a speed that made escape nearly impossible.

The wounded soldier scrambled to his feet, sprinting toward safety, toward you. But then you saw it – just behind him, the Fusion Warrior braced itself to strike.

"Behind you!" you screamed, your voice raw with urgency.

The ranger barely had time to turn before the Fusion Warrior zipped forward, faster than anything that large had a right to be. Its jagged, stone-like arm pierced him straight through the abdomen. His scream tore through the battlefield as the Tacet Discord lifted him off the ground, his body hanging limply from the monster’s spear-like arm.

Panic surged through you. Without hesitation, you shot to your feet, heart hammering as you darted toward them. The battlefield felt different once you stepped into its heart – a visceral wave of death, blood, and decay hit you all at once. The stench was suffocating, but you pushed through. Your mind was fixed on saving the ranger.

With a swift motion, you summoned your weapon. Your rectifier materialized in the air beside you, its form glowing with the icy blue of your Glacio Resonance. You didn't waste time. With a sharp flick of your wrist, you unleashed a gust of Glacio, a chilling blast that slammed into the Fusion Warrior, shoving it away. The monster released its grip, and the ranger fell to the ground, blood pooling beneath him.

You rushed to his side, quickly forming a Glacio shield around you both. The shield shimmered, a translucent barrier of ice standing between you and the horrors outside. You barely had time to breathe, hands already embracing him in an attempt to help him get on his feet.

Then, you felt it – a sudden impact. Your shield shuddered but held. You glanced up. The same Fusion Warrior. It had recovered quickly, and now it was striking at your shield, trying to pierce through. Its rock-hard arm bounced off the ice, but the cracks spreading through your shield told you it wouldn’t hold much longer.

"Get down!" one of the rangers shouted.

You didn’t hesitate. Instinctively, you ducked, grabbing the injured man beside you and pushing his head down with your hand. Your heart raced, pounding in your ears as gunfire erupted around you. The nearby rangers unloaded their pistols at the Fusion Warrior, bullets bouncing off its stony form like pebbles against a mountain.

It didn’t flinch.

A golden light began to seep from the monster’s body, a faint glow that quickly spread across its jagged surface. Your stomach dropped. You knew that light. This wasn’t just any Tacet Discord. This was a Phantom. Rare. More robust than most, with a resilience that bordered on invulnerability.

You didn’t have time to think. The Fusion Warrior locked onto you, its glowing form charging up for another attack. You watched in horror as it prepared to strike, so focused on you like a predator eyeing its prey. Your Glacio shield flickered, barely holding.

And then – it zipped forward.

The world seemed to slow as the Fusion Warrior’s rock-hard arm slammed into your Glacio shield one last time. There was a sharp crack, like ice snapping in a frozen river, and your shield shattered into a thousand glittering pieces. The shards evaporated in the air before they could even touch the ground.

Your breath caught in your throat. The Fusion Warrior braced itself, ready to strike again. There was no time to react, no time to form another shield. You were defenceless.

But before the monster could land its fatal blow, a broadblade, dark and deadly, pierced through its abdomen with brutal force.

You blinked, stunned. The Fusion Warrior froze in mid-attack, its body impaled by the blade. Slowly, it was lifted off the ground, suspended in the air by the sheer strength of the one who wielded the weapon.

It’s the general.

With a swift, ruthless motion, the general slammed the Fusion Warrior back down into the earth. The monster let out a low, echoing shriek before its form disappeared in an instant, enacting a loud ‘poof’ sound. In its place, the faint echo of its presence – the Reverberation – flickered unmovingly.

You exhaled a breath you didn’t realize you were holding. The danger was gone, just like that. The ranger you were shielding groaned, still in pain but alive. You firmly held him to your side as you began to head towards your spot, knowing he needed immediate attention.

Still, you couldn’t help but glance over your shoulder at the man who had saved you. Geshu Lin moved with the calm precision of someone born for this kind of chaos. His broadblade gleamed, still carrying the eerie glow of the monster’s end. He didn’t hesitate, didn’t slow down. Just strode right back into the heart of the battle as if he hadn’t just saved your life in a single, devastating blow.

You tore your eyes away. Focus. There are more lives on the line. More wounded rangers need your help.

The injured ranger at your side groaned again, his weight sagging heavily against you. He was in bad shape, barely conscious, and his breathing laboured. You shifted your grip on him, pulling his arm tighter over your shoulder, and forced yourself to push through the exhaustion.

“You’re going to be fine,” you murmured to him, though it felt like you were saying that to yourself too. To convince yourself. Your body was screaming, your Glacio Resonance draining your energy with every passing second. The icy numbness creeping up your arms was spreading faster now, and your fingertips had long since lost feeling.

But you couldn’t stop.

You managed to get him back to your spot behind the boulder. You eased him down carefully, and your hands moved on instinct, channelling more Resonance you had left into healing him.

The ice crawled up your palms, biting at your wrists. You grit your teeth, suppressing a shiver. The cold was relentless, but so was the battle raging around you. It felt like it would never end.

An hour crawled by. Grueling. Endless.

Your hands trembled from the effort of healing, your body aching from the constant drain of Resonance. The numbness was spreading past your wrists now, ice biting deeper with each spell you cast. Still, you kept going. You had to. There was no other choice.

Then, a voice rang out over the battlefield – clear, commanding. It was the veteran strategist again.

“This will be the last army, everyone! Stay strong!”

The words echoed like a lifeline.

A chorus of cheers and battle cries rose from the Midnight Rangers, their spirits lifting despite the exhaustion etched into their faces. Even you, buried behind your boulder with your hands freezing solid, felt a spark of renewed energy.

The end was in sight.

You could do this. You could hold on. Just a little longer.

The ranger lying down behind the boulder with you stirred, his breathing steadier now. You glanced at him, relieved to see the colour returning to his face. He’d live. He might not walk right for a while, but he’d live.

Your eyes scanned the battlefield, catching sight of the new wave approaching. The last wave. It was bigger, more ferocious than any before, but something about knowing it was the final one made it bearable.

“Hang on, everyone,” you whispered to yourself.

As you prepared to brace for the oncoming horde, a blast of heat swept across the field, accompanied by a deep, rumbling roar. Your head snapped toward the source, and you spotted him once again. Geshu Lin.

He stood at the front lines, flames erupting from his Resonance Liberation, his broadblade ablaze with the fire of battle. His presence alone was like a beacon of power, a promise that this was the final stand.

But the Discords were relentless. You could see them closing in, their grotesque forms twisting and screeching as they rushed forward.

Your muscles tensed, cold sweat mixing with the icy numbness spreading through your limbs.

One more push.

And so, you pushed through, your focus narrowing to the wounded soldiers at your side. The biting iciness that had crawled up your arms was a distant, muted ache now. Your hands were nearly numb, but it didn’t matter. Not now. You just had to keep going.

The sounds of battle raged on in the distance – the clash of metal, the shrieks of Discords, the roar of flames. But you forced yourself to block it out. The rangers in front of you needed you more. Their bloodied bodies and their laboured breathing all demanded your attention. You couldn’t let them down.

Minutes dragged into what felt like hours. The cold was creeping into your bones, making every movement feel like a battle in itself. But you didn’t stop. Not until the last wound was sealed, the last breath stabilized.

Then, something changed.

The sounds of battle began to fade, bit by bit. The furious din of clashing steel and monstrous howls ebbed away, replaced by…silence. Almost eerie at first. But then, you heard it – the distant cheer of voices rising in unison.

You paused, blinking in disbelief. Is it over?

Looking up from the wounded ranger beneath your hands, your eyes scanned the battlefield. The Tacet Discords… they were gone. Annihilated. Where once their grotesque forms had filled the landscape, only the shimmering echoes of Reverberations remained. The Midnight Rangers were erupting in cheers. Some of them embraced, others patted each other on the back. The relief was palpable, like a wave of hope washing over the field.

We won. A tired grin tugged at your lips. We actually won this time.

The weight of exhaustion hit you all at once. Your half-frozen and tired hands threatened to fall to your sides. The battle had been brutal and relentless, but it was over – finally.

Then, the veteran strategist’s voice cut through the noise. “Everyone, let’s head back to base! Bring the wounded on stretchers so they can be treated properly. The rearguards off-site will come to retrieve the bodies.”

You exhaled a shaky breath, the tension leaving your body all at once. Slowly, you stood and began organizing the rangers under your care, helping them onto makeshift stretchers.

And as you watched the last of the injured being carried off toward safety, a quiet, weary sense of victory settled over you.

Fortunately, you survived another war.

That’s when you heard your name being called. You turned, catching sight of the rearguards in the same main troop with you rushing over. Their eyes flickered to your half-frozen arms; concern etched into their faces.

“Are you okay?” Liang Mei asked, her voice edged with worry.

You tried to wave it off, quite literally, lifting your arm into the air. But the action felt ridiculous. Your limb, encased in ice, barely moved, the frosty layer clinging stubbornly to your skin. You attempted a reassuring smile as you said, “I’m fine. A proper rest will thaw these out.”

Liang Mei raised an eyebrow, unconvinced. Beside her, Yin Lei shook his head. “Let’s get you to the base. The sooner we reach it, the sooner you can rest.”

Hua Jin stepped closer, his brow furrowed. “I’m worried about your hands. Is this... because of your Resonance? Too much usage?”

You nodded, still flexing your fingers, trying to regain some sensation. “Yeah. It’ll go away, as long as I don’t use my Resonance again for today.”

Liang Mei took a step toward you. “Can you walk? I can help.”

You smiled at her, appreciating the concern. “I can walk, thank you. Now, let’s go.”

With that, the group fell into step, letting you follow behind. Most of the Midnight Rangers had already begun the long trek back to the base. Some rushed, eager to leave the battlefield behind. Others moved more slowly, burdened by their injuries or simply drained of strength. The trail of soldiers stretched far ahead, a sombre line of survivors.

You fell into the rhythm of walking, your breath coming out in short, cold bursts. The icy numbness still crawled up your arms, but you clenched your hands into fists, trying to push it away. You could make it. You just needed to hold out a little longer.

As you trudged forward, lost in your thoughts, a sudden warmth radiated from beside you. A familiar broadblade engulfed in dark flames appeared near your side. Startled, you glanced over and saw him – the formidable general, Geshu Lin, walking next to you, his weapon still burning with the intense heat of his Resonance.

You faltered, coming to a stop as surprise and confusion flooded your mind. The rest of your group continued ahead, but you stood still, your gaze locked on the imposing figure beside you. Geshu Lin, too, halted, his broadblade still ablaze with those strange, dark flames.

You stared up at him, unable to read his expression. His towering frame cast a shadow over you, and his face remained as indifferent as ever – cold, detached, as though the chaos and destruction of the battle hadn’t fazed him at all. Even when he had obliterated the Tacet Discords earlier, and when he had saved you from the Fusion Warrior, his demeanour hadn’t changed.

For a short moment, neither of you spoke. You couldn’t understand what he was doing or why his broadblade was so close to you. But the warmth... it seeped into your frozen hands, offering a relief you hadn’t expected.

Then, in that low, commanding voice of his, Geshu Lin finally spoke. “Warm your hands with these.”

His words, though unexpected, held no room for argument. You hesitated only for a second before slowly extending your hands toward the fire. Once your frozen hands were raised over the flames, the warmth hugged around your fingers, melting the ice that had encased them. Relief flooded through you as the numbness faded.

You cast your gaze up to meet his, still unsure why he was offering this small kindness. The general didn’t strike you as the type to concern himself with others, least of all a medic like you.

“Thank you,” you murmured, unsure what else to say.

Geshu Lin didn’t respond. His expression remained unreadable, but he kept the broadblade steady, letting the warmth flow toward you as you absorbed the heat. The silence stretched between you, thick with the weight of unspoken words.

As you stood there, you felt the ice around your hands thawing at a steady pace. You flexed your fingers repeatedly, willing the warmth to spread faster. The general watched quietly, his grip on the broadblade steady, ensuring its flames remained just close enough to provide relief.

In no time, the last remnants of ice disappeared, and you pulled your hands away from the heat. Geshu Lin also withdrew his weapon, the dark flames flickering out and dissipating into the cool night air. He strapped the broadblade securely to his back, a seamless motion that spoke of years of practice.

That’s when your eyes fell on his left arm. You froze, your heart sinking at the sight of several long, open cuts marring his skin, each one a stark reminder of the battle. Scars crisscrossed over old wounds, a testament to the violence he had faced. You couldn’t help but gasp, your concern spilling out before you could rein it in. “General, you are hurt.”

“It is nothing,” he replied, his voice flat and dismissive.

“Sir, I can heal you,” you insisted, urgency creeping into your tone. “It’ll only take a moment.”

He turned to you, his expression as unreadable as ever. “I refuse.”

You blinked, taken aback by his stubbornness. “But-”

“Not every injury requires treatment,” he interrupted, his tone brokering no argument. “Focus on yourself. Your Resonance ability will be needed in the upcoming battle. We might go to war tomorrow again.”

You fell silent, contemplating his words. Maybe his stubbornness came from knowing you had pushed yourself too hard today. If you heal him, the biting ice will materialize again, and his effort to warm your hands will go to waste.

You flexed your fingers again, feeling the sensations return slowly. As your breath steadied, you looked up and caught the general’s gaze. He was watching you quietly. But when your eyes met, he turned his attention to the horizon, where some of the Midnight Rangers faded into the distance.

Without another word, he resumed walking, his broadblade resting casually on his back. You fell in step beside him, your legs moving almost on autopilot as you kept pace with him. The remaining soldiers of Midnight Rangers were behind you two, heading toward the base as well.

It felt strange. Surreal, even. Here you were, walking alongside the most formidable figure in the army. The general didn’t seem bothered at all by the fact that a typical medic was at his side. A twinge of discomfort crept in. Did he see you as an equal, or was he merely indifferent?

Fearing you might be annoying him, you instinctively stepped to the side, increasing the distance between the two of you. The last thing you wanted was to be an unwelcome distraction, especially to the man who had saved you.

As you and the general walked toward the base, the night seemed to grow quieter, the weight of the recent battle settling in. Every step felt heavy with unspoken thoughts, but neither of you broke the silence. It wasn’t long before a few veteran Rangers made their way toward Geshu Lin, falling into step beside him.

One of them, a tall, grizzled soldier, cleared his throat before speaking, “General, what are your orders for tomorrow? We’d like to prepare ahead of time.”

You watched them, walking a careful distance from your side. Geshu Lin didn’t respond immediately. His gaze remained fixed on the path ahead, his face as unreadable as ever. He seemed to be lost in thought, though whether about the question or something deeper, you couldn’t tell.

Then, his voice cut through the stillness. “We’ll rest tomorrow. Full rest.”

The soldiers around him exchanged surprised glances, clearly not expecting that response. Geshu Lin continued, his tone firm but calm. “Those who wish to return to Jinzhou will be granted leave. But station a troop at the reclaimed site. We can’t risk a Tacet Discord ambush.”

One of the veterans blinked in disbelief before responding, his voice filled with gratitude, “Understood, sir.”

The veterans intentionally slowed down their walking pace to let the general walk ahead. As you kept up to pace with the white-haired general, you processed the discussion. Rest? It wasn’t a word often heard in the general’s vocabulary. The soldiers had clearly been taken aback too, and you couldn’t blame them. Geshu Lin was known for pushing his forces – and himself – beyond the limits.

You glanced at Geshu Lin, his focus still trained straight ahead. His long white hair fluttered slightly in the wind, a striking contrast against the night. There was something you wanted to say – needed to say, really. He had saved you from the Phantom Fusion Warrior. You owed him more than just your thanks.

But the words stuck in your throat. You were shy, and for a very good reason.

The Midnight Rangers surrounded you, still marching back to base. Their presence made you hesitate. You knew they'd wonder why someone like you would dare speak to the general. Would they mock you for it later? Or worse – would Geshu Lin himself dismiss you?

Still, you couldn’t shake the growing need to express your gratitude. You owed him that much. Just say it, you urged yourself.

Minutes later, the base’s outline appeared on the horizon, its flickering lights casting shadows across the barren landscape. As you approached, the familiar clatter of soldiers preparing for rest or practice broke the quiet – metal against metal, boots on gravel, and the occasional sharp bark of commands.

One by one, the Midnight Rangers peeled away, disappearing into various corners of the base. You glanced around and realized the two of you were nearly alone. It was now or never. But before you could work up the courage, you noticed Geshu Lin was already looking at you.

His eyes locked with yours for a heartbeat. Then, without a word, he broke the gaze and veered off, taking a different path.

Something snapped inside you.

“Sir!” you called after him, the word escaping before you could second-guess it.

Geshu paused but didn’t turn around immediately. The silence stretched, making your heart race. You wondered if you had made a mistake, if you had crossed a line. But then, slowly, he turned his head just enough to glance at you over his shoulder.

You took a breath. “I just… wanted to thank you. For saving me earlier. I don’t think I’d be here… if not for you.”

The words tumbled out faster than you intended, your nerves making your voice a little shakier than you’d hoped. For a moment, you felt the weight of your words hanging in the air between you, vulnerable and raw.

Geshu Lin’s expression remained unreadable. His sharp features held that same indifferent, almost cold look, eyes fixed on you with an intensity that made your stomach flip. For a long, unbearable moment, he said nothing. The silence stretched, and you began to second-guess yourself, a knot of regret tightening in your chest.

Then, out of nowhere, he spoke with his voice low but clear, “From now on, you will no longer be stationed with the rearguard in upcoming battles.”

Your heart sank for a second, misinterpreting his words. Had he decided you were a liability? Were you being removed from the battlefield altogether?

But then he added, “You will maintain your position as a medic... in my main troop.”

You blinked, stunned. Your eyes widened in disbelief as the weight of his words hit you. Main troop? The general's own unit?

“I’ll inform the person in charge about your reassignment,” he continued without waiting for your response. His tone was matter-of-fact, as though he hadn’t just upended your entire world with a single sentence.

Before you could gather your thoughts, before you could process the implications of what he’d just said, Geshu Lin turned and resumed walking, his broadblade gleaming faintly in the dim light as he disappeared into the camp.

You stood there, rooted to the spot, the realization slowly sinking in. The main troop. His troop. It was an honor, one reserved for the most elite soldiers and specialists, those the general trusted with the most critical missions. And now, somehow, you were one of them.

Your hands trembled slightly – not from the cold, but from the sudden rush of adrenaline and disbelief. The steady life continued around you, oblivious to the monumental shift in your fate. It was hard to comprehend. One moment, you were thanking him, and the next, he had placed you in the heart of the battlefield, under his direct command.

Why? The question burned in your mind. Was it a test, or a show of faith? Or was this simply his way of repaying a debt for the lives you’d saved?

Worry gnawed at you, a sharp edge of fear creeping in. The front lines. It wasn’t just a promotion – it was a death sentence in disguise. The gruesome Tacet Discords, with their twisted forms and relentless attacks, would be your new reality. Every battle would place you face-to-face with them, and every moment would carry the risk of not coming back. Your life, fragile as it was, would be hanging by a thread.

You were scared. Terrified, even.

Your hands trembled again, this time from the weight of that realization. Could you handle it? Could you really survive in a world of constant danger, where hesitation could get you – or worse, your comrades – killed? Doubt clawed at your mind. For a moment, you wanted to march right back and beg Geshu Lin to reconsider.

But then, somewhere deep inside, a small voice whispered.

You’ll be fine. Just like how he had saved you back then, he would save you again.

That thought somewhat calmed you down. Maybe, you will survive under his care.

Please leave a comment on what you think about this story/chapter. I really want to know your thoughts on this.

[cinnabun-faerie]

FFXIV: Your child dresses up as them for All Saint's Wake

A/N: I hope you enjoy! Sorry, I really do love adding these moments with Y'shtola, Thancred & Urianger. These three are so chaotic and iconic. Note: Y/C/N = Your/Child's/Name I imagine they're either a toddler or a young child

Characters: Alisaie, Alphinaud, Estinien, G'raha Tia, Thancred, Urianger, Y'shtola, (Bonus) Emet-Selch

Frightfest 2024 Masterlist

She's shocked at first

but she is in awe

your kid wanted to dress up like her?

she's honored

and the costume looked so well done! Tataru must have made this for them

"Hey Y/C/N, let's go bother Alphinaud together."

"Is Y/C/N dressed like me?"

he's stunned and impressed

"You've got the braid and my sage gear as well!"

No doubt his mother had a hand in this

she would be more than thrilled to give Y/C/N an outfit to match his

When he sees Y/C/N in mini-dragoon armor, he does a double take

"What do we have here? A little dragoon?"

Y/C/N shakes their head and points at him

and Estinien doesn't miss a beat

"You're dressed as me are you? I should have known."

he's impressed by the attention to detail

there's a tiny lance that is nearly identical to his as well as a plush version of Vrtra

He knows right away

"So this is where my scarf went"

he felt so happy when he saw Y/C/N's costume

he must mean a lot to Y/C/N if they wanted to dress up as him

"Shall we go to the library, Y/C/N? Perhaps I could read to you."

Bonus: If your child isn't a Miqo'te, I could see them wearing a pair of fuzzy cat ears that wiggle every now and then like G'raha's

He's smug

"You're dressed as me? I knew I was your favorite."

He would parade Y/C/N around and declare to everyone what their costume is

honestly, he's proud

he's always tried to be a positive role model to them and this really shows that he is important to them

He would smile fondly at Y/C/N

"You have outdone yourself this time, Y/C/N. I pray this is your best costume yet."

not to mention the attention to detail on the costume

their Astrologian costume sparkles and sways just as his does

not to mention they even have the holder for cards

if there were no cards, he would give them a deck of their own that would be small enough for their hands

though he does chuckle at the facial hair Y/C/N has, the squiggles are very thoughtful

She could recognize that outfit anywhere

"Y/C/N, what is your costume?"

"I am Master Matoya! The avatar of destruction!"

Of course

She'd turn and glare at you, Thancred & Urianger

cue the reaction in Endwalker when Thancred looks away and Urianger hides his face behind his cards

She will deal with the three of you later

regardless, she was flattered

"If I didn't know any better, I'd say I were looking in a mirror."

He'd look at Y/C/N and then at you

"What is this?"

yeah, he supposed that the costume was good

nothing was wrong with it

Y/C/N even had the duel hair colors

and how in the world did you manage to get the eye color exact-

why was Y/C/N scowling like that

"Well, one of us has to go home and change, Y/C/N."

Surprise Pikachu face when Y/C/N points to him and makes the gesture to shoo him

this mini version of you had quite the nerve

honestly both he & Y/C/N would try and out-sass each other

even if Y/C/N could only babble

[imtryingbuck]

From Then To Now

~ gif not mine credit to owner ~

Pairing: Steve Rogers x fem!Reader

Summary: When Steve and Y/n takes the next step in their relationship he thinks about the day they met.

Word count: 883

Warnings: fluff. smidge of angst. 

Masterlist

Steve had a habit of overthinking things ever since he was just a young scrawny boy who couldn’t run down the street without wheezing and gasping for breath, his overthinking tendencies haven’t changed unlike his body and health. Always overthinking and worrying about the smallest things.

Like right now he paces back and forth, up and down, around the bed and every now and again he would lightly tug at his hair. He knew himself that he was overthinking things once again but he just couldn’t help it. The thought of things going wrong had his mind racing, trying to think of all the ways he could fix each scenario that could happen.

He finally had something good in his long existence that he did not want to mess up, he was finally happy and he wanted that happiness forever.

“Stevie are you ready?” Oh the way his heart fluttered hearing the voice belonging to his other half. “Steve?”

“Yeah… no I’m not ready, sorry love”

“That’s okay, I can help you if you want?” He’s always loved that about her, no matter what or who you are she would help you. That’s how they actually met.

Four years ago Steve and the rest of the Avengers were downtown fighting against the aliens that were destroying their city. It was chaotic. The terrifying screams of civilians rushing and shoving each other trying desperately to escape, the loud screeching from their enemies, the surrounding buildings being destroyed and crumbling down around them.

Steve’s eyes bounced around the area trying to find a way to get the upper hand when his eyes land on a woman running towards one of the creatures who had its back to her. His first reaction was to frown, it was just him and his found family that were crazy enough to run towards the fight whilst everyone else ran away so why on earth wasn’t she? He watched as she picked up the bumper of a wrecked car, pulling it back and swinging it, striking the creature in its side getting its attention on her, she stumbled back as it came towards her just as he went to throw his shield she shocked him again by raising the bumper above her head bringing it down on the creature’s head. And again. And again. And again.

Once it was finally down and no longer moving she ran over to where the alien was going over towards, his heart clenched when he saw her picking up a little child. Steve could hear the little boy crying for his mommy and the woman telling him that she was going to take him to her.

It wasn’t the last time he saw her that day, no he found her after they defeated the enemy, she was tending to the people who had been injured in the attack.

“H-hi ma’am” he stuttered out behind her.

“Hi? Oh, Captain America, hi!”

“That little boy? From earlier, is-is he okay?”

“Thankfully he wasn’t injured, I found his mom they got separated when everyone started running. But I’m happy he’s okay”

“Is he your nephew or something?”

“No, I just saw him crying on the ground and that thing trying to get him.”

“You’re a good person.”

For the rest of the day Steve stayed by her side helping with the clear up, they laughed and joked about everything and anything Steve appreciated that she took his mind off of things that happened only a couple of hours prior. Just as she was about to leave Steve shyly asked for her number.

After weeks of texting back and forth each smiling and giggling like schoolgirls Steve gained the courage to ask her out on a date which she replied instantly and eagerly with a yes.

Asking her if she would be his girlfriend was the best day of his life especially when she said yes and then she kissed him.

“Steve?”

Her voice cuts his trip down memory lane off. “Yes love?”

“Are you okay? D-do you-are you having second thoughts about moving in together?”

A year into dating Y/n brought it up to him one night when the were cuddled up in bed about the prospect of him living with her, it made sense since when Steve wasn’t on missions or training he was there at her home. The blond agreed happily.

“What? No Y/n-“

“It-it’s okay if you are-“

“Y/n, love I’m not having seconds thoughts I’m just overthinking about things, but I swear baby I want this” wrapping his arms around her waist he pulls her into his chest, placing a lingering kiss to her forehead.

“Are you sure?”

“I’m more than sure my love. You want to help me pack the rest of my things?”

“Of course but you’re carrying everything, mister.” Laughing and agreeing with her, they began packing the remaining of his things.

Looking around at the apartment that his things now occupied alongside his other half’s he was watching as she rearranged the photos of them on the shelve above the fireplace.

“I love you Y/n/n”

“I love you Stevie”

He finally found his place in this world, right here in the apartment he now shared with his love, and there wasn’t anywhere else he would rather be.

Tags: @imcinnamoons | @pigeonmama | @capsbestgirl77

[ajbullet]

My thoughts on episode 4 of PJO: spoilers (chaotic edition because I JUST watched it and the thoughts are so fresh)

-First off: AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

-Ok, good. Had to get that out. Second: best 30 minutes of my life

-I don’t think you guys will ever be able to fully comprehend how much I love Annabeth Chase and seeing Leah as her has only heightened that love. So imagine how elated I was to watch an episode full of my girl. She slayed, owned, and ate this episode. Whatever you want to call it. She did it

-“Are you awake?” The long-ass pause before Annabeth answered. As soon as Percy spoke, I was so hoping he was talking to her and not Grover (sorry I love him but). And then she answered

-She finally opened up to him!! We got some of her backstory!! She’s finally feeling comfortable!!!

-Percy’s face when she said she was seven. He was so surprised. I think he realized instantly how long this girl has been going through so much. They are only twelves years old. But she was a child when this began for her. Like you could tell he couldn’t believe it

-Grover mocking Annabeth was probably my favorite line from him yet. He’s so unserious I love him. Also, the food part was too relatable

-Small detail but the sky was so freaking pretty in the background. Such a unique thing to add and I loved it

-“Can I ask a dumb question?” As soon as he said it I knew Annabeth was gonna be the one to respond and she did not disappoint.

-“little girl” Annabeth’s reaction. I got chills. Leah deserves an Oscar/Emmy (whatever the actor award is) for that scene alone

-Loved Enchilada (don’t know how to spell her name and don’t feel like going back to check) but she talked too damn much. I was like get back to my kids please. Oh and back the hell up

-My BOY GOT STABBED NOOOOO. Oh he’s fine (plot twist: no he’s not)

-Annabeth took that mf DOWN for a second

-The monument!!! It was so cool!! Interesting that it’s a monument to Athena. I think I remember that from the book but either way that’s cool

-The. Entire. Conversation. Between. Percy. And. Annabeth. Oh. My. Gods.

-The fake accent??? Where did that come from?? I had to rewind twice just to make sure I heard right. Like what in Percy’s mind told him to do that? What wires crossed or came undone? How far had that poison reached? Because that was so unserious and I fell even more in love with his character

-He likeeeeeeeeeeees her

-Annabeth’s smile!! I’ve been waiting to see her smile like that and it was so cool to see! My girl is finally happy! for a second

-“You’ve done more for me in the past two days…” “If I had to pick someone, I’d…”

That required my BRAIN

-Plot twist: (again) Percy is not fine

-The splashing water was so funny. Like I get why but come on that was something else.

-Percy seeing what Annabeth has already sacrificed for him and his quest: her relationship with her mother. He sees what he has already cost her and what helping him means to her and omg it was heartbreaking

-One thing I absolutely adore about the books is that Annabeth’s intelligence is never in doubt by the reader. It’s not Percy or other characters saying she’s smart again and again with no proof. It’s not the narrative shoving the fact that she is smart in your face over and over. She proves she is smart. She proves she is inventive and strategic and intelligent by her actions and thought process and it’s almost never mentioned verbally. That whole idea of show vs tell? It’s perfectly shown through Annabeth acting intelligent instead of people talking about how intelligent she is.

Like how she splashed Percy with water or pulled the fire alarm. The viewers are shown she is smart, not just told.

-Annabeth’s willingness to sacrifice herself for her friends. Her only caring about Percy being poisoned, bot the monsters, and helping him. She knew she would die going up against the Chimera, even calls it the “demigod killer”, yet she does it anyway so her friends can succeed. She opened up to these boys and now she was giving her life for them

-Percy doing the same. Exact. Thing. The trick with the sword. The whispered words against the door, even as they shouted at him to open it. He knew for sure he would die and wanted it to be for a good cause. He didn’t even know if he could fight the chimera, but it was better him than Annabeth

-That boy looked so sick someone please help him

-oh, someone did.

-Dude I told my dad about the whole “Rick not knowing the River wasn’t right under the arc” thing and I was so excited to see how they did that and honestly it worked. Poseidon’s first way of helping Percy was by pulling him into the water, showing him to “just breathe”. My dad laughed when we watched it.

-oh I forgot! I love the first scene with Sally. Had some ptsd from swimming lessons but got to see young Percy so it was worth it

-Also the fall was shot so cool. I felt like I was falling with him

-He can breathe underwater! We knew this! But it’s still awesome!

I can’t even wrap my head around next episode. We are going to be fed so well after this short-ass episode and I am so ready. This episode already gave more Percabeth than I was expecting all season and I wanted to cry it was so adorable. This show is the only thing getting me through each week.

(Also, if you couldn’t tell, I finally figured out how to do italics instead of just capitalizing everything. Go me!)

[oneforthemunny]

gone fishin' |dad!rockstar!eddie munson x nepo baby!reader|

prompt: doing my own prompt again from #munnysummergame. domestic fluff with dad!rockstar!eddie :)

🐙- domestic blurb!! any of the dad!eddie’s take their kids to stay with wayne for a mini vacation (or staycation if they’re in hawkins). I love grandpa!wayne and dad!eddie make my ovaries cry.

contains: fluff lol. that's it no warnings just sweet dad!rockstar!eddie and grandpa wayne :)

"I mean... if you want to." Eddie's grimacing face says it all, eyes darting from his uncle back to his youngest.

Vega bounced on the tips of her toes, a grinning, bubbling ball of energy, ecstatic to be back with Grandpa Wayne. The summer trip back to Hawkins, before spending the remainder of July in the Hamptons, was annual for the Munson family. Wayne traveled to you when he could, but in his older age you wanted to make it easier on him, more accommodating; the opposite of keeping baby Vega.

At four years old, she was...energetic, and that was generous. Eddie had invested in a leash after her dash down Rodeo Drive, the ever chaotic child that kept you all on your toes. While you didn't doubt that Wayne would take care of Vega, you knew he would, you worried, truthfully, if he could.

Wayne lifted a brow. "Well, of course I want to, boy." Wayne gruffed, eyes rolling over Eddie's rigid frame. Even as a grown man, a father, he could tell when he was uneasy about something, read him so easily. "You don't want me to?"

"No," Eddie shook his head. "It's not that. It's just...I mean as long as you feel up to it-"

"I feel fine, Ed." Wayne rolled his eyes with a huff.

"Yeah, Ed." Vega parroted with a far greater attitude than she should at four. You blamed Persephone, Vega was observant- copying the seventeen year old's every move.

"Vega Jo," Eddie glared at her, a stern warning glare that had her giggling, hanging on Wayne's leg, laughing maniacally at his expense. Not quite the reaction he was hoping for, only praying that the name didn't stick. Not the way 'mother fucker' had- the drop off line at the elementary school is brutal, ok?

Wayne pressed his lips together to fight back a smile. "You go on. Go to Mike's party, and I'll take care of this one." Wayne petted Vega's unruly curls, already puffing and frizzing in the Hawkins' humidity.

"Are you sure?" Eddie asked again.

Wayne huffed in annoyance. "We're goin' fishing', Miss Vega. Tell you Daddy and Mama bye." Wayne glared at Eddie lightly, pushing off the wall to head towards the garage.

"What's going on?" You emerged down the hall, lipstick in hand. "Where's Vega going?"

"Grandpa's taking me fishing!" Vega cheered excitedly, a wide toothy grin dazzling up at you.

"Is he?" You asked, brows raised and voice lilting to that high octave you fell into when you baby talked. "That sounds like so much fun, baby. Is it just you and Grandpa?"

"Yes." Vega lisped, swinging her arms back and forth by her side. "Jus' me and Grandpa. Not you, or Sicily, or Sephy, or-or Ed." She giggled wickedly.

You hid your face to hide your smile. Fuck, kids were funny sometimes. It was hard not to snicker at Vega every now and then, especially at Eddie's expense. Sicily and Sienna didn't hold the same courtesy, doubling over each other in the hallway. Eddie glared at them, turning back to Vega.

"You better stop that, Vega. Or you're not going anywhere. I'll make you come with me." Eddie pointed at her in warning.

You watched it unfold in slow motion, the same scenario. Vega's little grin melting into a sweet smile, swaying until she scampered and hugged Eddie's legs tightly.

"I jus' kiddin', Daddy." Vega grinned, chin resting against his knee to look up at him with a sweet look. She patted his calve with childlike gentleness, the final nail in his own coffin.

You could practically see Eddie melting before your eyes, reaching down to hoist her on his hip. You hid your eye roll, shaking your head lightly. Your heart swelled nonetheless. How was this the same man you met nearly twenty years ago? The same rough and mean and nasty man, who now could be so gentle, not just with you and the girls, but with himself.

Eddie gave her an exaggerated mean look. "You better be kidding, Vega Jo. Better be good for Grandpa Wayne."

"Yes," You nodded, your hand rubbing over the cotton material of her little shirt. "Look at Mommy, baby. You have to be very, very good for Grandpa, ok? Listen to him and no running, Vega. That's not a funny game at all."

"I won't." Vega sighed heavy, like she was bored of the conversation.

"Vega, I'm being serious. You gotta stay close to Grandpa. Do what he says- are you listening to me?" You watched her tip back in a backbend, Eddie's arms holding her in place on his hip. She looked up at you, upside down with a grin.

"I'll be good." Vega repeated. "I'll listen."

"Yeah, right." Kensington muttered, passing the two of you to get to the kitchen.

"Kensie." You grit, eyes cutting to the fifteen year old, so angsty and moody all the time.

"I am good!" Vega growled, scowling at her older sister with a furrowed brow, a scrunched nose- the same expression she got from you. The look on Eddie's face told you that.

"Ok," You held your hands up. "You are very good. Very, very good, and you're gonna have so much fun catching fish with Grandpa, aren't you?"

"I-I'm gonna catch a big fish, like this big Mama." Vega stretched her arms out wide, nearly smacking Eddie's nose in the process.

"Yeah? You gonna bring it home? We can fry it up tonight. Dinner's on you." Eddie teased, tickling her sides so she shrieked.

"Ready to go?" Wayne called, holding a tackle box and two fishing poles- an old, black one and a bright pink one with various Disney Princesses on it.

Vega squirmed out of Eddie's grasp, flip flops smacking against the hardwood of the lake house towards the front door. "Be good, Vega!" You shouted after her, nervously pressing your fingers to your mouth. "I have my phone, Wayne, if you need anything-"

"-I got it, darlin'. You all go have fun. Don't worry 'bout us." Wayne gave you a warm smile, shutting the door with his foot behind him.

You hesitated for a moment, looking over at Eddie carefully. "She'll be good, right? He's got it."

"Vega? No way." Eddie scoffed, shaking his head. "But he's got her. He won't let anything happen to her." You frowned, lips jutting in a pout. Eddie sighed heavily. "I'll go check on them after a little bit, ok? In case it gets too much."

***

Eddie wasn't sure if it was the heat or surely someone had slipped something in his drink. He'd felt fine, pressing a kiss to your cheek before excusing himself, climbing in the car to go check on Vega. The best part about Hawkins was everywhere took ten minutes to get to, at most. The lake house was on the outskirts of town, a farther drive, but nothing he couldn't get to quickly.

Eddie didn't hear shrieking or crying or cackling, only hearing the eerily quiet sound of the breeze through the trees and the water rippling. His heart lurched, heavy steps pounding towards the back yard. The lawn that backed up into the lake, the bank meeting the soft grass where he saw them; Vega and Wayne, sitting in their own little chairs.

Vega was calmly sitting there, watching the bobber in the water, her own little pole slipping while she chatted with Wayne softly.

"...You don't like them Webkinz anymore? They not doin' it for ya?" Wayne asked gently, reeling in his line.

"No. I don't-I don't really like them anymore, because I like to play on the Wii. Me and Zarah play Just Dance a lot, but she alwaaayyys beats me." Vega sighed heavily, shoulders deflating. "She's so good at it. She can hit all the moves."

Wayne snorted lightly. "Yeah? You'll get there soon, Vega. She's a lot older than you, bigger. She's got more coordination."

Vega paused, nose scrunching when she looked over at Wayne. "What's coorginmasion?" She stuttered out the word with a grimace.

Wayne laughed. "Coordination. Means you can move quick. You'll get there. You're still little bitty. Got lots more growin' to do."

"Daddy tells me that too." Vega hummed. "He's really tall. Got lotsa co-or-di-nation." She sounded it out slowly, in between deep breaths that had Eddie grinning.

Wayne grinned. "Yeah? You'd think he would. Your Daddy can be a little clumsy sometimes."

Vega giggled loudly, nearly dropping her pole. "Yeah..." She sighed, far too heavy to be four. She'd definitely heard that from you or Eddie.

"Catch any big ones yet?" Eddie asked with a grin, arms crossed over his chest when he stepped forward.

Vega perked, curls whipping her face. "Daddy! You sneaked!" She giggled, swinging her pole around, ripping it through the water to point at him accusingly.

"Easy, Vega, easy. Gotta be gentle. Scarin' all the fishies, baby." Wayne cooed calmly, maneuvering his own pole away. "What're you doin' here, boy?"

"Just came to check on you. Make sure everything was alright." Eddie hummed. "Catch anything yet, Vegie?"

"No." Vega pouted, shaking her head. "No big ones. Grandpa said they're probably in the middle of the lake 'cause that's where all the sunshine is."

"Yeah?" Eddie grinned in amusement. "He's probably right."

Eddie sat down on the cool grass next to them, under the shaded trees, a hand on Vega's back to steady her on her makeshift chair, a turned over bucket. "Guess no dinner then, huh?"

Wayne huffed at him. Vega shrugged. "Grandpa has honey buns so we're good." She said easily, eyes cutting over to Wayne's, copying the way he slowly reeled his line in.

"Honey buns?" Eddie gasped. "And you didn't share any with me, Grandpa?"

"No. They're just for us." Vega declared.

"That's right." Wayne nodded. "Vega said we should use 'em for bait. The fish might like 'em." He grinned at the younger girl.

Eddie watched in awe as Vega sat peacefully, not fidgeting or bouncing or trying to jump off the bucket. She sat, chatting with Wayne, calmly and slowly, careful with her reeling and casting- well, as careful as a four year old could be.

Eddie felt his phone buzz in his back pocket, a text from you, no doubt. "Well, if you two are good, I'm gonna go back." Eddie hesitated, standing slowly.

"We're alright." Wayne nodded, eyes not leaving the water.

Eddie hesitated, leaning down to press a kiss to Vega's head, before ducking over to Wayne. "Did you... Did you give her something?" Eddie asked quietly. Wayne's head snapped to him in question. "Like to calm her down? I don't care if you did just-"

"Boy, get out of here." Wayne scoffed, shaking his head at Eddie. "We're just having a nice, relaxin' fishin' day, right, Vega?" He glared at Eddie.

"Yes." Vega chirped, tongue poking out in concentration, turning the gears around.

"I got it handled." Wayne nodded. "Handled you for many years, boy, think I can handle this one."

Eddie nodded, raising his hands lightly. "Just call me if you need me." He said, backing away slowly.

"I got it." Wayne huffed. "Get outta here so we can get another honey bun. Let's see if them fishies like it, Vega. Maybe that'll help 'em bite."

Sure enough, Vega was bounding towards the two of you hours later, buzzing with excitement to show you what she caught. A bass in the bucket, swimming in the half filled orange container.

Wayne grinned proudly, patting her back while she rambled and showed off her fish to you, Eddie, and her sisters.

"She caught this?" Eddie asked, lifting a brow carefully.

"With her pink fishin' rod." Wayne laughed. "Caught that damn fish. Wouldn't touch it and didn't want it to die, so we put it in the bucket 'til you got back. She wanted to show ya." He boasted.

"Damn honey bun trick worked. 'Bout to use that one on my next fishin' trip with Roy." Wayne laughed.

[in1-nutshell]

IM GETTING EVERY IDEA I GOT OUT WHILE REQUESTS ARE OPEN IM SORRY

also I'm sorry i keep bringing up chaotic teen Buddy and Megatron, but i love seeing this fucker suffer through forced adoption.

I'm still kinda trucking through the comics, but i know that at some point Megatron is essentially yeeted into a whole ass different dimension and spent 300 years there (i could be totally wrong, if so ignore.) long story short, i have been stuck on the idea of Megatron getting stuck there for 300 years, mourning his funny little human child after 80 years, cause he figures even if he does get back home, they wont still be there.

Luckily for everyone involved, that 300 years was just a few months for the lost light. unluckily for everyone.

Buddy - "My father is gone, therefore I am no longer responsible for the consequences of my actions."

Hello again! Don't feel bad for asking/ requesting. Requests are fun to do for me and I can write almost anything someone asks, almost. Still, ask if you want something written. It is time for the return of Fearless Buddy!

Hope you enjoy!

Fearless Buddy reaction to Megatron coming back from the other dimension

SFW, platonic, familial, bit of angst here and there, Human reader

MTMTE/LL

Buddy had conveniently slept when Megatron had left. Don't blame them, they had been running off of little to no sleep for weeks and their body finally had enough.

Rodimus had to break the news for Buddy.

"What do you mean Megatron is 'gone'?!"--Buddy

"He left, he just up and escaped! But don't worry we'll get him back on board in no time."--Rodimus

"He... He really just left?"--Buddy

"I'm afraid so."--Rodimus

"Well, you know what? Who needs him anyways! The big sorry pile of scrap can go rust in space for all I care!"--Buddy

"Buddy--"--Rodimus

"Who needs him! Thanks for letting me know Roddy, really. Now if you'll excuse me, I have some important things to go over with Whirl."--Buddy

"What important things? What could be more important than this right now?"--Rodimus

"We are going to put a bumper sticker on Minimus saying 'Kachinga'!"--Buddy

"... Carry on!"--Rodimus

Rodimus really wishes now that he had stopped Buddy from making it to Whirl's. The ship had become the two's playground for pranks and sillies.

No one was spared from their wrath.

Many bots on board got mad at the two. But it was the bots closest to Buddy to realize something was deeply troubling them.

Their enthusiasm seemed forced most of the time. Their laughter almost seemed... Robotic almost. And their eyes... they looked so hollow and lacked the usual twinkle they had before.

Whirl appointed himself Buddy's guardian in the meantime. There wasn't much argument there as being Buddy's Amica, it was probably for the best.

Whirl lost count of the amount of times he caught Buddy going into Megatron's habsuite and crying over some of his poems. He wants to hurt Megatron so badly for the pain he inflicted on Buddy. They became Rung's most frequently seen patient after talking with Whirl.

"You really think this is going to help?"--Buddy

"I'm sure of it! If Eyebrows here can stand me, then you'll be like a walk in the park!"--Whirl

"... Thanks Whirl. I mean it, you're the best Amica a friend could ask for."--Buddy

"Hey now, don't get soft on me yet. That's Rung's job. Now get in there and punch those feelings in the face!"--Whirl

The day when Megatron comes back after everything is settled Whirl is one of the first in line to deck him across the face.

"You sorry excuse of a tyrant!--"--Whirl

"I know you're upset Whirl... Buddy passing must not have been easy..."--Megatron

"Passing? What are you talking about?"--Whirl

"Surely they have already passed it's been more than 80 years."--Megatron

"Megs, it's been a couple months since your little disappearing act."--Rodimus

"...Is Buddy alive?"--Megatron

"Of course they are! Why--Hey!"--Whirl

Megatron sprinting pass him and to Buddy's habsuite.

Megatron had never sprinted as fast as he did at that moment. For the past 200 or so years he had been in a constant state of mourning. He thought he had lost Buddy forever. The biggest regret he had was not at least telling them good bye.

Now here he was... He almost backed out of knocking on the door, but he did it. The doors opened revealing Buddy in all of their morning glory.

"... Buddy?"--Megatron

"Ah man it's one of those dreams again. Listen fake Megs, I'm not in the mood right now. So if you'll just come back next week that'll be great."--Buddy

Megatron finally snapped out of his dazed and scooped up Buddy into his servos and held them close to his spark.

It took Buddy a solid second to realize this wasn't some fever dream.

"Megs?"--Buddy

"I'm here now. I'm here."--Megatron

"...How... How dare you! YOU LEFT ME HERE ALONE! YOU DON'T JUST CALL SOMEONE THEIR KID THEN LEAVE THEM HIGH AND DRY! WHY DIDN'T YOU TAKE ME?!? OR AT LEAST SAY GOOD BYE!? TELL ME! TELL ME WHY?!? DAD WHY DID... why did you leave me...*--Buddy

"...I am so sorry..."--Megatron

"...you better be... I will never leave your side again... You're worse than a toddler getting lost at a Walmart..."--Buddy

It wasn't an easy transition at first. Buddy had their friends always within arms length from Megatron. Buddy themselves put up some walls to avoid getting hurt again.

The two eventually decided to seek counseling to try and mend their relationship. Thank goodness that happened.

Now Megatron was sitting in his habsuite with Buddy telling him all the latest news on the ship while reviewing their latest poems.

These were the little things he missed most and was glad he had gotten a chance to get them back.