#but it's so unobtrusive that i didn't notice it until the end of the second ride home i was given

[green-and-grey]

on occasion, my team lead at work will give me a ride home. she got a new car last week and while she was proudly geeking out about its features ("i never knew I wanted a heated steering wheel until i happened to get one with this car!"), i myself was geeking out about the tiny dim light in the inside door handle.

i have never seen a car that had that before and i am now obsessed with it! you can see where the handle is without having to turn on the overhead light! and it's dim enough to not be distracting or annoying in the dark! it's juuuust the right amount of illumination to find it without drawing attention to it otherwise.

it's the little things, truly

[ghost-bxrd]

So, I was skimming the Fae!Dick tag, looking for Dick's reaction to Bruce's "death" and Tim's trip around the world and this happened when I found it.

(I left a bunch of these as a reply but also realized that your activity might be very overwhelming and you wouldn't see it. I don't want you to stress of that, but, like a cat, I move my present to your pillow/inbox where you are sure to see it. Hope you like it more than a mouse. Though I'm leaving off the stuff not directly related to the scene.)

Tim goes on BruceQuest without telling Fae!Dick.

Tim had known that Dick would come for him. Probably... He'd had his hands full keeping Jason and Cass in the house and Tim could be unobtrusive. He had NOT considered what it would be like to be hunted by his older brother. Benignly hunted. Nothing that could hurt him, but Tim knew the instant that Dick noticed he was gone because he could feel an unearthliness nipping at his heels. The baying of the deer. The way trees where ever he went leaned towards him, reaching for him. But he had to keep going. He couldn't let Dick catch up to him until he KNEW for SURE. Not until he had proof that Bruce was really alive. Because if he wasn't and Tim told Dick that he was... Tim had no idea what would happen. But he couldn't be responsible for breaking Dick's heart like that (his own would be enough weight to bear).

He stuck to cities and museums when he could. Places it was harder for Dick to reach him. The League of Assassins tried to join him, they wanted him for something (and to know if he was right). Tim KNEW it was a bad idea, especially for them, but they kept trying. Even though they looked more and more wary and haunted every time they met up. Tim eventually allowed them to accompany him just to protect them from Dick's eventual wrath... His final destination was the desert. If he was right, this was the final location that could prove to him, to Dick that this was real. It didn't matter that the natural beauty of the desert would allow Dick to find him. If Bruce was out there, flung back in time, Tim could show him... if not then he was wrong and he would have to come up with an excuse for why he'd run off and accept the house arrest and benign smothering and being the primary target of Dick's... 'security features' for the foreseeable future.

From there, I can't decide if Dick shows up as Tim is being stabbed or before... if it's before Dick can join Tim in the cave and Tim can show him the bat carving, kind of a pleasant emotionally satisfying moment though I'm not sure that Dick would take his time instead of just grabbing his wayward brother. If it's as he's being stabbed, it's more action packed but I don't think Tim would have even a second to tell Dick about Bruce. Everything around them would be utterly destroyed.

Also, Tim will be experiencing house arrest and benign smothering right or wrong. Yes, it's good that he worked out Bruce is alive. THAT IS NO EXCUSE FOR LEAVING DICK'S SPACE, TIM. AND YOU WILL HAVE TO SUFFER THE OVER PROTECTIVE CONSEQUENCES. (Dick might even put him in an enchanted sleep when he has to wrangle the others. Just to make sure that he doesn't go anywhere. Is that in his wheelhouse? No clue. But I have faith that Dick would find a way.)

oof yeah sorry about that. This blog has grown so much since I started it I have trouble remembering and replying to everything sometimes >.<

I love this idea! Though I think that, as a fae tied to the forest, Dick would have a hard time entering the desert. He would manage for a short while (especially for his family) but it would also drain him pretty quickly. Much like a regular human who isn't used to the harsh sun and climate.

But yeah, I totally agree it would end with Dick dragging Tim back home with SEVERAL lectures waiting to happen.

Good luck to Tim trying to leave the manor--- ever, after that. (Jk, Dick would cut back on the smothering protectiveness eventually). But for several months every turn Tim tries to take that would lead him to the outside ends with the hallways suddenly branching off back to where he started.

Jason and Cass would be entirely unsympathetic to Tim's plight. (they were also worried)

[coyotescribbles]

Thunder vibrated through the Nemesis' hull, but Corona hardly seemed to notice.

She was just so tired.

The mask she wore was starting to weigh heavy on her, but she didn't dare take it off. Not even for a second. Not even in the quiet dark of the Pole Star's hold.

How much longer, she thought bitterly, before "Corona" is lost and only Eclipse remains?

She'd been scanning this world for months, methodically and painstakingly searching for the Vindicator's crash site. So far, she'd found the remains of the Harbinger, but there was no sign of the ship she needed to find.

But it had to be here. It had to. This was where its last known coordinates had placed it. This was where its transwarp trail ended. No other world in this planetary system had shown signs of occupation, only this world had, so this was where it had to be… right?

What was she going to do if she was wrong?

(She didn't want to think about that.)

Dragging her hand down her face, she stood up from the Pole Star's pilot's seat and disembarked the small ship, crossing the hangar deck to the massive doors that led outside. R1D3R and D34N, the guards for that shift, nodded to her; she nodded back in acknowledgement as the barrier slid away into its frame and a howling wind filled the space.

She let it rush over her, then strode purposefully out into the stormy darkness.

Just outside the doors, Shockwave's Predacon lounged beneath the overhang; at first, he seemed to be asleep, but as she passed by, he opened his brilliant yellow optics and raised his head with a curious sound. Idly, barely even thinking about what she was doing, Corona reached out to pat his shoulder. "Just passing through, big guy."

(The beast dwarfed her, and could have easily bitten her in two with no effort whatsoever… so she thought it best to be as nonthreatening and unobtrusive as possible.)

She walked until she reached the end of the landing platform - and once there, sat down with a heavy sigh. Letting her legs dangle over the edge, she leaned back on her palms and lifted her optics to the sky, watching the boiling black clouds that swirled around the ship. Lightning flashed and flickered, and every once in a while a great BOOM of thunder would rattle the hull beneath her.

I can't keep this act up forever, she thought wearily. The longer I stay here, the more likely it is that I'm going to slip up and get caught, and then…

And then it would all be over.

She thought about ducking out and setting up shop in the Harbinger, using its scanners instead - but dismissed that plan almost immediately. She didn't have the energon to sustain an independent operation, couldn't secure any on her own. Plus, in its stationary state and half-decayed condition, the Harbinger was far less useful than the Nemesis.

Nor could she just take the Pole Star out and search from there. Without a supply of energon or the Nemesis' cloaking device, she would be easy pickings.

And there was no way she could rely on the Autobots for help.

With a groan, she let herself collapse back against the hull, draping her forearm across her optics.

What am I gonna do?

For what felt like a long time, she just lay there, listening to the wind and the thunder and feeling lost for options.

A rush of hot air startled her out of her melancholy, and when she lifted her arm to see who could possibly have snuck up on her so soundlessly, she was surprised to see the Predacon blinking curiously down at her.

"…Oh, hello there." Sitting back up again, Corona half-turned to face the beast and watched as he settled back onto his side, propped up on one elbow as he watched her. What he might have been thinking, she couldn't have guessed; maybe he was wondering what a flightless little ground-pounder was doing, dangling themselves over the void like so.

She just smiled crookedly, letting out a single quiet laugh. "You probably wouldn't understand even if I could tell you," she sighed, almost wistfully; "but that's okay. Nobody would, so you'd be in good company."

He let out a snort that almost sounded sarcastic, and rumbled wordlessly as he stretched out to rest his head beside her. When she reached over to run her hand across those gleaming armor plates, he purred.

Her smile softened, despite herself.

"We're both pretty uniquely lonely beasts, aren't we?" She murmured. "I guess it's nice to have a little company in that, at least…"

[terichii]

Stalking | Haitani

Warnings: clumsy english text, typos

Can I just write something before I see these beautiful boys in the new episode?

Ran

You knew for sure that you had already seen this guy. By a stupid accident, one day he helped you collect your things that were scattered all over the street. Since then, he surprisingly often began to catch your eye. You noticed him on the way to and from work when you went to the store or just walked around the city. Sometimes he was passing by you and smile, which was confusing, but sometimes you noticed how he was watching from afar. In the end, it was like being paranoid. It seemed that you were about to see these two braids that callused your eyes, sitting on the sofa in your living room.

And you've come to terms with it. Almost. Until something happened.

"You've been finishing up pretty late lately."

"Eh?...",- the familiar voice sent shivers down your spine. You froze, unable to move. But you didn't want to turn your head because you probably knew it was him. Now it was just like a terrible dream that did not want to let you go.

"Do you need a ride?"

Swallowing, you turned around. Yes, it was him. That creepy guy with those stupid braids that you hated. Leaning on the steering wheel of the bike and propping his chin on his hand, he looked at you with a narrowed eye and a grin.

"Uh...n-no, thank you, I'm not far here...", - but you're lying and it seems that he understands this. The time was really late, and you live far away. But right now you were thinking about how to escape from him. You walked further along the street, periodically glancing at him and speeding up your pace. If you had the opportunity, you would have run with all your might now, but you knew that this opportunity was not there. You definitely can't overtake a bike.

The guy caught up with you, looking right into your face, the grin became even wider when he realized what was going on, it seemed that he felt you too well, - "Are you afraid of me?"

"What?? Of course not", - the words, full of indignation, literally burst out of you. No, you weren't afraid of him, you were already sick of seeing him. Isn't that right? Right? ...

From your harsh words, he looked thoughtfully somewhere up into the night sky, before turning back to you, - "That's how...but…"

But you're already gone.

Pausing in mid-sentence, Ran began to look around, peering into the depths of the dark streets. He pursed his lips when he realized where you went – to a remote alley. The place is not the safest.

Your rapid footsteps echoed hollowly from the concrete walls of the narrow alleys. Hoping to take a shortcut and get out of here as soon as possible, you wound through unfamiliar courtyards until you once again came to a dead end.

"Damn",- your thoughts began to get confused again, a tight lump rose somewhere in your throat, you felt panic. If you go back, he will be there. But you're tired of looking for a way out.

"Hey, baby, are you lost?"

Lost in your thoughts, you did not notice how three criminal-looking guys turned out to be nearby. One of them came up to you with an imposing gait, unceremoniously grabbing you by the waist, the disgusting type pulled you closer to him.

"Why are you so tense, relax, we can help you with this, right, guys?", - the guy looked at his friends and laughed, they also took up his initiative.

Unpleasant laughter causes a headache, for a second you thought that you could just give up, that this is not happening to you and it has gone too far.

"Take your hands off!!", - pushing him away from you with a sharp jerk, you jumped back a couple of steps.

The guy staggered, but stood on his feet, although an unpleasant aching pain spread over his chest, which caused his cheerful mood to instantly evaporate, giving way to anger, - "Catch this bitch."

After these words, you immediately slipped back into the narrow alley along which you came, when the others ran after you. Out of the corner of your ear, you heard threats flying after you. You ran, running out of strength until you found an even narrower alley with containers behind which you could hide.

Footsteps and voices echoed past your shelter, sweat broke out on your face, and your legs were buzzing because of the heavy load, but you were still sitting stiffly on the cold, dirty asphalt, unable to move and breathe calmly.

But the panic again covered you when the steps were approaching in your direction, and the shadow fell on the wall of the building opposite. But you breathed a sigh of relief when you saw the tall figure of a guy you already know. It seems that for the first time you were happy to see him.

"Are you okay?", - an excited expression appeared on his face as he looked you up and down and held out his hand to help you up.

"Yes, I was just a little scared...", - you accepted the help and got up on your numb legs, brushing off your clothes from the dirt, - "Thank you for...oh...you have blood on your cheek", - you didn't understand why you were worried about him, seeing only a small scratch on his face, but...from this angle, you noted that your pursuer was very cute, which made your cheeks turn pink.

"Hmm?", - passing his hand over his cheek, he looked at his fingers, which really had smeared blood on them, but..- "It's not mine", - the guy smiled gently, which caused you confusion, but you were calm.

"Do you see how many problems there are just because you didn't agree to my offer?", - a light chuckle eased the tension between the two of you as he held out his hand to you again, - "So can I give you a ride?"

Confused, even more, you looked uncertainly into his eyes and, not seeing the danger, carefully put your hand in his, - "I think...yes."

Rindou

"I think it's starting to rain...", - a familiar voice drawled thoughtfully to your's right, while you were standing at the intersection and was waiting for the green light.

From surprise, you turned around and shuddered – in the crowd of people waiting for the signal, there was him - a guy with blond hair and a very ordinary sharp face. The purple eyes shine a little, brazenly looking at your's face. Without turning around, he opens his umbrella right at the moment when the first thunderclap sounds somewhere in the distance.

"Aren't you afraid of getting wet?", - It became obvious that this guy was talking to you, taking a light step past those standing around.

"No", - you whisper, taking a step back.

Suddenly, a beep is heard behind him. The cars on the road freeze, and the flow of people rushes forward, carrying you away. Your thoughts were confused as your legs desperately carried you somewhere ahead. You had already passed the crossing, but something made you turn around. Your heart stopped for a moment, then began to pound wildly – you saw him among the huge mass of heads. His blond, disheveled hair shone like the sun from under a black umbrella. It seems that he also noticed you – a friendly smile appeared on his face. Lifting his umbrella, he waved vigorously at you with his free hand.

This innocent gesture caused a wave of icy goosebumps to run down your back, and you hurried to escape from a crowded place to some courtyards.

You ran for a long time, ragged breath coming out of your mouth until the strength left you, and you stopped. You needed to catch your breath. The rain was beating harder and harder on your head. Your hair and clothes were soaked through

"You'll catch a cold if you keep running like this," - he suddenly heard very close to your ear.

You jumped on the spot and turned around. It's him again! And how does he manage to catch up with you, while maintaining an absolutely calm appearance?..

The guy came closer, taking advantage of your confusion. He held out his hand. Cold…

His angular hand slid onto your forearm and, moving up, pulled uncomfortably on your wet sleeve.

"What do you want from me?...", - you whispered very softly. Your voice was hoarse, frightened. You were shaking all over.

A real hurricane of thoughts was spinning in your head. The first meeting was on a clear evening, a sweet, promising conversation. When did everything go wrong? Now he was following your constantly. At first, he seemed unobtrusive and courteous – he met you, accompany you through dangerous streets to the house. But...after one of the meetings, everything changed. Or not?

"I just want to walk you home", - as always, he smiled warmly with his simple smile, as if he did not understand how creepy he looks now, in their "accidental" meeting. - "Yes, and this rain is so not at the right time. And I see you don't take an umbrella…"

"Fuck off already!", - you screamed and started running again, leaving the frightening interlocutor in slight confusion.

The rain was falling harder and harder, blurring the view with a solid wall. Where did you run to? You didn't care anymore. A straight section, a turn, another turn, a wide street that you run diagonally, ignoring the indignant shouts in the back. The lights of the signs and windows dance around you. Everything merges into a strange nightmare, where bright colors are just decorations. Your heart continues to pound wildly, the noise of blood in your ears is deafening.

That's when you bump into someone's thick carcass. An elastic blow throws you to the wet asphalt. Your hands are burning with pain, and you finally come to your senses.

You were now sitting in some dark alley, where neither lonely windows nor the black doors of various eateries do not go out.

A moment of confusion.

"S-sorry", - you rise, leaning on a skinned palm. It stings. – "I just…"

"Are you lost, beautiful?" - A high-pitched adult voice was heard.

You lookup. In front of you is a heavy man significantly exceeding you in height. He chuckles slightly as he looks at you. And now he was reaching out to you

"Let me examine your hands...", - a hard grip shackles your right wrist, pulls forward.

You are overwhelmed by panic, you can't resist it, are absolutely tired. From despair and pain, you began to howl softly.

"Well, well", - the man encouraged you, smiling maliciously, continuing to pull you to him. – "There's nothing terrible here, dear, now I'll help you get rid of the pain…"

The other hand was also close to your body. It seemed that something irreparable was about to happen.

"Don't...please let me go!", - you whimpered and squeezed your eyes shut in a fit of hopelessness.

And then something happened.

You opened one eye, unable to restrain a strange curiosity. The man let go of your hand, and all his attention was now focused on the guy standing almost between them. With one hand he continued to squeeze the umbrella, the water from which was just trickling down the rough man's neck, and with the other, he was squeezing his fat wrist.

"I think they told you to let go," - he said seriously, looking straight into the small, surprising beady eyes.

"What?", - that's all the boar said, after which he tried to crush the stranger with his mass, stepping forward.

What happened next, you remembered vaguely. More precisely, you just didn't have time to remember exactly what happened. The guy only smiled rapaciously at the fat man's movement, after which he made several blows so fast that you simply did not catch them all. Just sharp shadows under the light of a lone lantern suddenly crashed into a thick carcass. The pig didn't even say anything, just fell back, collapsing on the garbage bags against the wall.

Realizing that it was all over, you turned her gaze to your pursuer and were amazed. He stood there, absolutely calm, smiling affably and holding out his hand to her.

"It's dangerous to go home alone. Can I walk you out?"

A lump rose in your throat, but you immediately overcame herself and took the stranger by the hand. - "Yes, I think I should agree"

You smiled sweetly back at him, then obediently stood under a wide umbrella, and together you moved to the exit of the alley.

[nothing-but-dreamy]

BLACK TIE

A/N: Thanks again for this idea @mindlessstories

I hope you have fun with it

Pairing: LEON KENNEDY x READER

Words: 1.736

Warnings: fluff, cursing, Leon in a suit

Synopsis: Yn and Leon are on a mission with fancy clothes. But somehow the mission is not the most interesting thing...

"W-What the bloody... What are you wearing?", Yn asked as she checked the appearance of the man in front of her. The guy was neatly dressed in a white suit shirt, black suit pants and a black jacket. Even a black tie was bound around the man’s neck. Quickly, Yn checked the number of the hotel room once again in fear she had mistaken it and might stand in front of some stranger. No, it was the right room and actually, it was also the right guy. It was just … even if it was part of the mission, Leon S. Kennedy had swapped his typical, casual leather jacket with a tuxedo. It was a sight for sore eyes. Unusually and at the same time, perfectly fitting as if Leon would be some kind of secret undercover supermodel instead of an agent.

Leon, amused about Yn’s big eyes and astonished expression, chuckled and stepped aside, letting his partner in who was still watching him as if he would be an alien. A handsome one but still. Leon closed the door, "It's a tuxedo. That's what you wear on a bow and tie event.", he explained and watched how Yn rolled with her eyes.

“I know what it is but to see you in it… and by the way! Black Tie, Kennedy! It’s called Black Tie! And not ‘bow and tie’.”, Yn explained for maybe the hundredth time since they both got assigned to this secret mission. In fact, the job was easy. A rich weapons dealer had started to ‘extend’ his sortiment with some BOWs. His business was flourishing. But instead of just catching him, Yn and Leon had decided it would be better to bug the dealer to get information about his clients as well. Therefore, they were able to dig out the whole nest.

“I don’t care what these events are called. They’re all the same. It’s just to show off how rich and important everyone is.”, Leon said and leant with crossed arms against the doorframe.

“I know how much you hate these things.”, Yn said, grabbed her bag and aimed for the bathroom to change her outfit as well, “But I have to admit, you look good in this tuxedo. It suits you.”, she said through the half closed door.

Leon smirked, “Oh, really? You know, maybe you could show me how much you like my outfit?”, he asked flirtatiously.

Yn opened the door again and stepped out, “Focus on the mission, Kennedy.”

Leon was hearing her words but his mind went kinda blank as he saw her robed in a floor-length, backless, black dress. The silky-soft fabric hugged all her curves perfectly and gave much input for many, many x-rated fantasies. Slowly, Leon’s eyes wandered upwards until he met her challenging glance. Slowly, he stepped forward with a smirk, “I might hate these events but I could get used to seeing you working in such a stunning outfit.”, Leon said low.

Yn saw dirty thoughts glittering behind his steel-blue eyes and smirked, “Take a picture, it might last longer. Come, we have to go.”, she said, passed Leon and knew that he was staring at her back all the way.

**

Thirty minutes later, Yn and Leon were entering a huge, pompous decorated ballroom. Chandeliers bathed the room in dim, atmospheric light. Soft jazz music played in the background. And obviously a whole diamond mine had exploded because it was sparkling and twinkling in each corner. The room was filled with high-society and in the middle of it two special agents who tried to fit into this kind of world.

“Shall we split up?”, Leon asked low.

Still with a wealthy smile on her lips, Yn shook her head, “Let us take a round together and then, if necessary, we split up.”, she said and linked her arm with Leon’s.

The idea had been good but quickly, they had to admit that the room was too stuffed with people. And because they searched for a guy, and everyone looked kinda the same in their black suits, they had difficulties finding their subject.

Evading into a quiet corner, Yn looked up at Leon, “That’s not working. There are too many people here. Alright, we split up. I walk around a bit. You could monitor the guys who are without women like the group over there at the bar.”, she said and nodded unobtrusively into the said direction while putting a small intercom into her ear to activate it and gave Leon the other earpiece who mirrored her move. With a serious expression, her eyes met Leon’s, “If one of us finds him, the other one comes to the position.”, she said and was about to leave.

Leon held her back, “Be careful, okay?”, he said and looked her caringly but serious in the eyes.

She smirked, “Of course. I’m not the one with the reckless moves like fighting against infected dogs on a motorbike.”, and with that, she stepped back to vanish in the crowd.

Leon chuckled about her boldness and shook his head before he followed her idea to aim for the bar. He ordered a drink and while waiting for it, Leon looked left and right to check out the people around him if their target would be with them. Leon was just about to check an older man with salt-and-pepper hair as fragments of a conversation waved over to him, catching his attention.

“These women are all the same. Rich, wealthy and absolutely boring.”, one tall man said before taking a sip of his Whiskey.

“Yeah, or ugly. I mean, how many surgeries are really necessary? I get the impression that all these women here are just made out of plastic and silicone.”, another man said. He was a bit smaller than the first one.

Leon was just about to leave as the third guy said something that caught his attention to the point that he fully turned over to them, “You might be right except with this pretty thing over there. What? None of you haven’t seen her yet? Okay, then, she’s mine.”, the guy said and let it sound as if the woman was just a piece of meat and he was the lion to hunt it down.

Leon knew he had to focus on the mission and he really was about to leave the group of idiots behind but then, he noticed the way how the guy looked at the unaware victim. It was a lust filled glance that even Leon felt disgusted by the sight. The guy was pretty sure about himself that he would be successful to win the woman over this evening. The guy, tall, dark haired and looking like a lot of money, licked over his lips while his eyes showed that he looked at a point that was lower than the woman’s waist. Now more interested in who the innocent lamb might be, Leon followed the guy’s glance and felt how his blood ran hot and cold at the same time.

Yn stood there, talking with an older lady and facing the group of guys with her back. The dress gave a beautiful sight of her flawless skin. While she talked, her body moved beautifully and she even swayed a bit to the soft tune of the music so that her hair fell over her bare back, dancing a little through the air.

“You can’t have her! I saw her first. I just couldn’t say anything because I became speechless by her eyes.”, the first, tall guy said.

“By her eyes? Forget them! Look at her god damn ass. So round and juicy.”, the guy said and his eyes became filled with raw, sexual hunger.

That was enough for Leon to forget the mission for a moment as he walked over to the group, “I couldn’t miss hearing how you were talking about this young lady.” Leon said low, getting the attention of all three men at the same time, “Stay away from her. All of you. Or otherwise, things will turn ugly.”, he said with a kind of threat lingering in his voice.

One of the men stepped closer to Leon, slightly towering over the agent and looking down, “Who do you think you are, huh? Nothing we do is your concern.”

Not impressed at all, Leon stepped forward, holding the man’s glance, “She’s mine, get it? Therefore, yes, it concerns me how you are talking about her. So, do yourself a favor and stay away from her or I will become your worst nightmare. And trust me, I know what I’m talking about.”, Leon said threateningly, leaving no room for any further arguments.

The guy stared at Leon for several more moments and considered his best next step but in the end, the guy saw something in Leon’s eyes that told him to better back off. And after another few seconds, the guy stepped back, nodded to his friends and disappeared somewhere else.

Leon went back to his drink and emptied it in one big sip. As he placed the glass back on the counter, Yn stood already next to him, leaning against the bar with a smirk on her lips, "So, I'm yours, huh?", she asked low.

With a shock filled glance, he stared at her and swallowed thickly, "Oh, uhm... Well... I- I didn't like the way he looked at you.", he stammered with an apologetic glance.

Yn nodded, "Yes, I heard that.”, she said, tapping at her ear with her index finger to remind him of the intercom. As Yn saw his awkward smile, she stepped forward, “You know, to see you jealous and protective was kinda cute. But it was unnecessary, don't you think? I'm not your girlfriend."

Leon also stepped forward, a smirk was playing on his lips while he snaked his arm around her waist to bring her even closer, "Actually, we're just one date away that I can call you mine."

"Oh, really? Then, I would say we count this evening as a date, what do you think?", Yn suggested whispering against his lips which were just inches away.

"Deal.", Leon breathed before he kissed her. It was a deep kiss. Filled with hunger to show off to whom Yn belonged to. Yn tugged on his suit jacket to bring him even closer, knowing exactly where these clothes would land later this evening…

[goodlucktai]

Takashi gets into some kind of trouble and shibata finds himself a part of the natsume protection squad (which he didn't know existed, but he's all for it). Takashi is oblivious.

this got heavier than i anticipated

x

Katsumi can count on both hands the number of actual, physical fights he’s been in, and still have several fingers left over. He was a bully growing up, and maybe he still is one a little bit, but he would sooner use words to hurt than fists. He’s always held himself just above sinking to that low, that ‘stupid, belligerent guy’ low. Smart people aren’t into stupid guys, after all, and Katsumi likes dating smart people. 

But today, as the shadows stretch across the ground and the skyline burns dark orange in the dusk, the knuckles on his right hand are bruised. There’s blood in his mouth, dripping from a split lip. 

Today, he threw the first punch. And the second, and the third. Outnumbered, and angry enough not to care, seething with it to the point that no words were heavy enough to hurt the way he wanted those strangers to hurt. 

His fingers are folded tight around Natsume’s and he refuses to let go, even when Natsume’s friends catch up, and the odds go from three on two to three on six. Even when Tanuma and Kitamoto and fearless Taki move into the middle of the conflict and refuse to give ground, diffusing the tension with steely eyes and steadfast voices until those unfamiliar high schoolers turn around and leave. 

Nishimura is tipping Natsume’s face to one side, looking over the impressive bruise forming along his cheekbone. His eyes are wide and worried but the words that spill out of his mouth are, “It’s not that bad, Natsume. It’s barely even noticeable. We’ll get you some ice and you’ll be good as new.”

His gaze darts to Katsumi, down to the broken skin on his hand. Katsumi’s fist aches when he clenches it. “I’m fine,” he bites out. Tension is strumming hotly through his whole body. “Who the hell were those guys? Do you know them?”

He’s not sure who the question is for. Natsume tugs him silently toward a bench by their joined hands, and he sits down mechanically next to the shorter boy. 

“I know one of them,” Natsume replies. His voice is quiet, almost swallowed up by the chatter of insects and the wind brushing through the leaves. “He’s a – cousin, I think. I lived with him and his mother once. The other two must have been friends of his.” 

Kitamoto, Taki and Tanuma join them when they’re sure the strangers are gone. Kitamoto taps Nishimura on the arm and gestures over his shoulder, in the direction of the convenience store they passed earlier. Nishimura surrenders his seat to Taki, and she takes Natsume’s free hand in both of hers and scoots over until there isn’t an inch of empty space between them, and puts her head on his shoulder. 

“Let me see your hand,” Tanuma says, and it takes Katsumi a minute to work out that he means him. He offers it without thinking, too busy trying to wrap his mind around what Natsume considered an explanation to argue the point. 

“Wait, so – he’s related to you? He’s a member of your family. And he – and you – and that’s, what, that’s normal?” 

Natsume doesn’t answer but Taki says “Shibata” in a low voice, warning Katsumi away from this off-limits door he’s trying to pry open. Tanuma sits back when he’s certain nothing is broken in Katsumi’s hand, and meets his incredulous gaze unflinchingly. 

His eyes are dark and cool and his voice is mild when he says, “You’re smarter than this. You can put one and two together.”

Natsume’s breath hitches, and Tanuma touches his knee in something like apology. Taki’s expression burns with empathy and love and a wounded sense of fairness, and a pit forms in the bottom of Katsumi’s stomach when he finally gets it. 

Little Natsume, who came to school in the morning with the same ugly marks he left the playground with. Who never lifted his head when his caretaker came to get him, quiet and unobtrusive and always a conscious arm’s length away. Who moved to Katsumi’s neighborhood in the middle of the school year, and moved away again before the term had finished.

He swallows hard. The rage from earlier has cooled rapidly into something else, something that makes him want to be sick. 

Katsumi is no better than Natsume’s cousin, at the end of the day. He’s no better than anybody. Because Katsumi, brazen idiot that he is, has been holding himself above a low he’s reached already. A low he sank beneath as a child, that very first time his voice reached across the schoolyard to Natsume with the sole intent to hurt him. 

He tips his head forward into his bruised hand, hiding burning eyes behind a sweaty palm and biting his broken lip so he won’t do something awful, like cry. The hand still holding Natsume’s tightens, curling so hard around his slender fingers that it probably hurts.

“I’m an idiot,” he manages, voice wobbling dangerously. “I’m such an idiot, Natsume, I’m sorry.”

He has no idea why he’s allowed to be here. No idea why Natsume let Katsumi anywhere near him, that day Katsumi hunted him down to this small town. 

“You’re an idiot, all right,” Natsume says without missing a beat. His voice is hoarse, but it isn’t harsh. He nudges Katsumi’s shoulder amiably, as easily as if he’s never been hurt by him. “Taking on three guys, all way bigger than you, is the stupidest thing I’ve seen you do yet.”

“Yet,” Taki agrees with a smile Katsumi can hear. 

“Looks like I attract your type. I have no idea what that says about me.”

“You don’t want to know,” Tanuma assures him kindly, and Natsume huffs out a quiet laugh. “Shibata fits in with the rest of us just fine, doesn’t he?”

“I’d say he does,” Kitamoto says at that point, and when Katsumi lifts his head, it’s to find the missing two of their party grinning at him from where they’re sitting in the grass beside the bench. “Shibata’s the first one of us who’s actually picked a fight, but – “

“Only cause you wouldn’t let me that one time!” Nishimura says hotly, rooting through one of the plastic bags they brought back from the convenience store. “I could totally have taken that guy. And I totally will if I ever see him again. Waltzing into our town, talking trash about our friend…”

There’s a shifting of bodies, and Shibata is tugged off the bench onto the ground with the rest of them, and finally lets go of Natsume’s hand to catch the cold compress Kitamoto tosses at him. It’s followed by a can of tea and then a package of ice cream, both brands he doesn’t recognize. 

He blinks down at them, and then up at his friends. Taki rolls her eyes and reaches over Natsume to direct the compress up to his sore mouth. “You’re smarter than that,” she says, taking the sting out of Tanuma’s earlier words. She follows it up with a sincere smile, and only moves her hand away when Katsumi lifts his own to hold the compress in place. 

Nishimura is passing Natsume a candy bar, and Katsumi catches the middle of something like “–was awesome by the way. I mean, not awesome that it happened, and your cousin is a huge jerk, but Shibata really knows how to throw a punch and that was cool – “

“You’re one of us,” Kitamoto says, toasting Katsumi with his own canned drink.

“Is this some sort of weird club I’m not aware of?” Natsume says dryly. 

“Yes,” everyone else says in perfect unison, followed by Tanuma’s helpful, “Just drink your tea.”

Katsumi’s first thought is, I don’t deserve this. 

His next one is, But I could. 

He can count on both hands the number of fights he’s been in, and still have a few fingers left over. He’s always held himself to a certain standard, has always held himself above a certain low, but after tonight he doesn’t really care what people think of him.

Maybe he doesn’t have to earn Natsume’s forgiveness, because he has it already, but he wants to. 

He wants to be good enough, he wants to be better. He wants to deserve it.