#but just in a sort of 'huh. what a neat opportunity to think about

[queenlucythevaliant]

Once, Always

(Edmund has an abundance of birthdays)

 .

“I say,” murmured Edmund sleepily as the fire burned low. “When do you suppose it is here? I mean—what time of year? Do you think it’s the beginning of September, the same as it was in England?”

“Summer,” said Lucy. “Certainly summer.”

Peter agreed. “I think it must be Highgrass, if I had to guess. Perhaps later. Greenroof?”

“If it’s Greenroof, then Edmund gets another birthday,” Lucy sighed. “Eleven or twelve, Ed?”

“Neither,” put in Susan. “A thousand, if you’re going to rationalize it that way. Now everyone hush, please, and get some sleep.”

.

Edmund’s birthday was the fifteenth day of Greenroof by the Narnian reckoning. Greenroof, late summer, when all the leaves were dark and broad. Narnian summers were long, but Greenroof was the last and best of the summer months. Greenroof was hunts through the dense foliage, blackberries heavy with juice, lazy afternoons, bonfires, wild romps, and the pleasant kind of sweat. Edmund’s birthday celebrations were always held on Dancing Lawn in the old days: the sort of long, laughter-bright nights that summer was made for.

. 

The second time Edmund celebrated his eleventh birthday, it was just past three months since he and his siblings had returned home from the country. Their house was glass-strewn and battered, but still standing when they arrived home. By August it was beginning to feel really safe again, but sometimes Edmund still woke in the night to find his mother standing silent in the doorway, drinking in the sight of her two sons returned to her.

The professor sent one of Ivy’s famous spice cakes for Edmund’s birthday. It arrived tied in red string, which made Lucy reminisce fondly about dear Mr. Tumnus. Edmund’s siblings pooled their allowances to buy him the new Nero Wolfe detective novel, and his mother gave him a new cap and an electric torch.

“How do you feel?” his mother asked over dinner.

“I don’t feel any older, if that’s what you mean,” he said. “Eleven feels just the same as ten did yesterday.”

. 

All four of them missed their birthdays the first year in Narnia. Too much else was going on at the time, and none of them was quite sure when their birthdays were supposed to be besides. The measurement of time was a thoroughly tangled issue.

The Narnian year had four hundred days even, divided into fourteen months of inconsistent lengths. Furthermore, the kingdom had only known winter for the last hundred years. The Narnians themselves were still remembering how the calendar worked in a world where the seasons changed. They didn’t have the words yet to explain it to their sovereigns.

. 

“Eustace,” said Edmund, ��your journal is wrong.”

“Give me that,” Eustace scowled at once. “I know it’s wrong, but there’s no need to rub my face in it. Aren’t I trying to make up for how I was?”

“No, no, that’s not what I meant. The month is wrong. You’ve got September written here, but time works differently in Narnia than it does in the Other Place. Haven’t you noticed that it’s summer, not autumn?”

“Oh.” Eustace shrugged. “I followed Occam’s Razor and assumed that the climate here was different rather than time itself.”

“Occam’s what?” This was Lucy.

“Occam’s Razor: the simplest solution to a problem is the most likely—never mind. Well, go on, what month is it?”

“Highgrass,” said Lucy.

“July,” said Edmund at the same moment. “More or less.”

 .

They worked it all out one afternoon as the second spring of their reign was ending. Peter and Susan wrote out the English calendar on one stack of parchment while Edmund and Lucy sat down with the Narnian calendar and penciled in seasonal markers as best they could manage.

“The first crocuses came up right at the end of Cleardome, yes?”

“Yes, I think so. And the snowdrops were in their full glory that month too.”

“How do you want to deal with leap year?”

“Just forget about it. Narnia doesn’t have anything similar, so I think twenty-eight days for February is fine for our purposes.”

“Magnolia in Laceveil, yes?”

“Laceveil is a good marker in general. We ought to set that as May and go from there.”

Birthdays were guesses, no matter how much counting they did. Yet as memories of England receded and Narnia’s world blossomed into everything they knew, those guesses solidified into fact. Edmund turned eleven for the first time on the fifteenth day of Greenroof. He was the first of his siblings to celebrate a proper birthday in Narnia.

. 

The fourth time Edmund turned twelve, he received another electric torch to replace the one he’d lost. He laughed for half a minute, holding that gift in his hand.

“Really, you should have expected it,” said Susan primly.

"I did."

Their mother tsked and added something about keeping track of one’s belongings, but that was alright. His siblings understood.

Edmund flicked on the light and watched the beam land on the far wall across the living room. Bright at the edges and dark towards the center where the bulb was. He moved his wrist sideways and watched the spot of light follow.  

. 

Edmund might have forgotten about his birthday aboard the Dawn Treader if Lucy hadn’t remembered. She conspired with the cook to have a spread of Edmund’s favorite foods at supper (such as could be managed at sea) and coerced Rynelf into playing jigs on his fiddle afterwards. While they were dancing, Caspian called for a cask of his best wine, and soon the ship’s whole company was making merry like only Narnians could.

“Didn’t you have a twelfth birthday the last time you were in Narnia?” Caspian asked curiously as the party was dying down.

“Yes,” Edmund replied, “and the time before that too. Confused yet?”

“Ed has all the luck,” Lucy pouted playfully. “We always seem to return to Narnia in the summer, so he gets all the extra birthdays.”

Caspian's face lit up. “How extraordinary! When’s yours then?”

“Cleardome. There’s a year and a half between Ed and me, and he never lets me forget it.”

“It’s really not as exciting as all that,” Edmund added. “We’re not living our lives backwards, or unstuck in time, or any such nonsense. It’s more like—our lives are folded in on themselves, you see? But never the same way twice.”

“I think it’s more like music than anything else,” Lucy said, a kind of fond wistfulness in her voice.

“Yes,” said Edmund. “I know what you mean.”

. 

On the thirteenth of Greenroof, the Telmarines laid down their arms and surrendered to Old Narnia. The next day, messengers were sent forth across the land with news of the surrender and with terms for the Telmarines. Caspian’s coronation followed, and then Edmund woke and it was his birthday again.

Breakfast that morning was long and languid, for Peter and Susan knew that they must say farewell to Narnia, even if the younger ones did not. They lingered round the table with Caspian and Trumpkin and the rest, and presently Peter offered a toast.

“To my brother King Edmund, who is eleven and twelve and sixty-three and thirteen hundred years old today.”

Everyone raised their cups and repeated, “King Edmund.” Caspian nodded and added, “Long live the king,” with an almost ironic tilt to his head.

Naturally, Edmund nodded back. “And to you, King Caspian. Long may you reign.”

Another round of assent followed, and then Lucy cleared her throat. “But also,” she said, “To late summer and the rebirth of Our Narnia. And to the land, the sea, the hills, the trees, the sky, Cair Paravel-by-the-sea and Dancing Lawn and all the flowers that are still in bloom. And to the color green. To all of us here today, and to those who are gone. And to Aslan.”

“Here, here.”

There were tears in Susan’s eyes now. “Happy birthday,” she whispered, and squeezed Edmund’s hand tight. Edmund looked down at his plate, fiercely overcome with love for this place and these people. In a strict, chronological sense, it had been less than a month since his last birthday, but how did the saying go? Time was just a tangled string, or falling snow, or whatever else Aslan told it to be.

. 

“Bother,” said Edmund, “I’ve left my new torch in Narnia.”

Everyone chuckled at this, but Susan said, “Wait a year. We’ll get you a new one for your next birthday.”

[adaptacy]

sissys best friend crushing and falling for johnny 🙏🙏

Johnny Slaughter x GN!Reader

"So, what, he ain't got a girlfriend?" You murmured, glancing back at the subject of conversation, your hands idly fidgeting with the stems of wildflowers in your palms. He was skinning the prey he'd gotten from his traps, maybe a good six yards away, his torso bare and practically glimmering in the sun from the sweat he'd racked up. How were you not supposed to stare?

"Oh, sugar, he don't date. He hunts! It's different," the girl next to you spoke, giggling at your question as if there were anything amusing about it. You frowned, and she tapped your shoulder, regaining your attention with a turn of your head. She held up a ring of woven stems, a neat flower crown. You looked down at your own attempt, but you weren't as good at it as she was.

"Well, yeah, I know he kills most of the people he stumbles upon, but... Surely he's interested in the idea of a relationship, right?" You asked, lowering your head so the brunette could place the crown on top of it.

"He's doin' just fine on his own. I think he'd go romancin' 'imself if he could. He don't need anyone else, or so he likes to say," she replied, taking the flower crown from your hands and gingerly repairing some of the loosely woven bits. You took the opportunity to look back at Johnny, catching him as he ran his arm across his forehead, wiping the sweat off of it.

Ugh, he was practically perfect. Sculpted by the gods themselves. You'd never seen anyone half as attractive as him. Sometimes you doubted he was a real person.

"Why, you gettin' ideas?" She teased, nudging you again as she caught you staring at her brother. You looked back at her, giving a small shrug.

"No, nothing like that. Just curious," you lied, avoiding any eye contact with her as you mumbled your response. "Figured everyone gets lonely sometimes. Thought he was the same."

"Awh, peach, he ain't like you and I. He's, uh..." She paused, pursing her lips as she thought of a response. "He's a real wildfire, y'know? Got the whole lone wolf thing goin' on. He don't wanna look silly by needin' someone else. Don't wanna look weak or nuthin' of the sort."

"Huh..." You hummed, looking over your shoulder one last time before Johnny tossed the skinned rabbits into a pail and left your line of sight, likely heading inside. With that, you looked back at your best friend, seeing she was already gathering more flowers, insistent on teaching you how to get the most use out of the weed-like growths.

-- -- --

The person who opened the door was not who you were expecting. Tall, muscular, masculine... Definitely not the girl you'd come here for. She knew you were coming, did she forget? This was her idea, after all.

Johnny looked you up and down, his eyes narrowing in suspicion. "What?"

"Is sissy here?"

"She's out back."

"Oh, okay. Can I-"

"No."

You blinked, not sure why he'd deny you so adamantly, and so quickly, too. With a glance behind him, you swore you saw movement, but it was gone before you could be sure. You looked back at him, confused. "Why not?"

"She's busy."

"Okay... can you go n' get her for me? Or let her know that I'm here? She's supposed to be teaching me somethin'," you requested, biting your lip awkwardly.

"Weren't you here yesterday?" He grimaced.

"Yes..."

"Why?"

"Why what?" You scoffed.

"Why are you here all the time? Ain't you got other stuff to do?" He pushed, stepping towards you and forcing you to take a step back so he didn't collide with you. He closed the door behind him, and you frowned, not understanding what his game was.

"Uhm, I'm here cause she's my best friend. And... cause she asks to see me. I already did all my stuff," you answered, furrowing your brows at him. "What's your problem?"

"My problem? My problem's that we got prey hangin' round our house but we ain't allowed to eat 'em. The hell makes you so special?" He huffed, and you took another step back, a little intimidated by his poorly shielded threats.

"Because..." You trailed off, searching for an answer. "Cause she said so, I guess. I dunno. Don't you have enough prey as it is? Got all the time in the world to hunt, mister lone wolf."

"The hell's that s'posed to mean? You gettin' snappy with me?" He growled, placing a hand on the wooden post beside you and leaning down, closer to your face. You scowled, doing your best not to show your fear.

"Since you don't have any hobbies aside from killing people."

"Hobbies?"

"Dates. Partners. I dunno, literally anything aside from hunting," you explained, giving a small shrug of your shoulders.

"What are you gettin' at?"

"I don't know, what are you getting at?"

"I don't see any reason why I shouldn't kill you right 'ere. Seem like a fine tasty meal. Just temptin' me, comin'round here all the time. Ain't you scared?"

Yeah. "Of you?" You scoffed, rolling your eyes. "Oh, please. Sissy would never let me-"

Your words came to an abrupt stop when you felt a knife against your throat, and Johnny grinned down at you, reveling in your fear. "You sure 'bout that? I don't see her 'round here. Ain't no-one to save you."

Despite your racing heart, you gulped, steadying your breaths. "You're not gonna kill me. You're just trying to scare me."

He seemed to tense at that, and for a second you actually failed to believe your words, hit by the realization that he probably didn't care. He could kill you. Hell, he might as well. And yet, he removed the blade, smirking as he huffed out a chuckle.

"That's not funny."

"Awh, I know it ain't, doll. Not fer you, anyhow. Name's Johnny. Sissy's said a lot 'bout ya," he introduced, though you already knew his name. He held out a hand, and you looked down at it, awkwardly reaching forward to take it, and giving it a small shake.

"Uh-huh... Can I see her now?"

"Mm.. I s'pose. You can go 'round the side yard. She's out in the sunflowers," he answered, using a thumb to point in the direction of the path he was referencing.

"Right.. Thanks, Johnny."

Huh. Bit of a creep, eh? A handsome one, but... She wasn't lyin' when she said he wasn't normal.

[oraclekleo]

33rd Birthday!

Hello my dear followers and random visitors of my blog.

I have already made a sorry announcement due to my hiatus but that’s not all I wanted to tell you.

This Monday, April 15th 2024 to be precise, is my Birthday. I’m already 33 years old! Would you believe that? I certainly wouldn’t. I feel like 16. 😂 

And how pretty the number is, right? Two threes… My life path number is also 3. How neat is that, huh?

When it comes to angel number 33, this source says the following:

“The 33 angel number means anything is possible. This powerful angel number is also known as a master number because of its double digits mirroring each other and its powerful vibrations. The number 33 is linked to themes around creative thinking, deep compassion, spiritual-level connections, discipline, and bravery. When you see this number show up it could be because it's an opportune time for a change or because patience is paramount right now in your daily life because a spiritual meaning that will have major significance is soon to be revealed.”

Nothing can be more true for me as major change is about to happen for me. I don’t want to reveal what it is just now but I will keep you informed in time. 😜

And no, I’m not dating anyone 🤣 Still happily Sexy, free and single.

I did want to celebrate my birthday with you with some sort of event but as you know I was really busy so… I guess we will celebrate my 44th Birthday properly? LOL!

Honestly, I have a lot to be grateful for in my life, you guys in my little community included. I hope we can stay together for many years that come and have some more fun with both serious and kinky tarot readings.

And those might soon become even better articulate and with much more expressive vocabulary as your girl Kleo is currently fully immersed in listening to audio erotica, which is really good! I mean… not all of it but I have already found several favourite voice actors, their voice and style really suiting me and apart from having a good time listening to it while working (yes, I do listen to audio porn while at work, sue me if you want), I also learn a lot from it. You know I can just soak information like a sponge from anything I do and well… This is a really good source. Also, I’m considering holding a voice chat once in a while with my friends now as I really want to learn to use my voice as well as I use my fingers for typing. And yes, I tested with my bestie and I nearly choked when I had to pronounce word ‘f*ck’ out loud. You wouldn’t guess it by reading my posts but I’m really talking like a lady out loud. I rarely curse or say rude words. 🤭 

I also learned about very surprising preferences through this audio erotica experience. I swear I didn’t expect to love what I love so much. It came as a shock and I truly thought my preferences to be completely different from what I actually enjoy the most. I guess there’s still a lot to learn about myself. Another great thing about my new hobby. You know how much I love to learn anything.

Anyway! That’s about my new hobby and about my approaching birthday.

Feel free to contact me through inbox or through DM or join my Discord. I don’t bite… unless you ask me to 😏 I’m also learning how to flirt better. You can be my test subject anytime. 😀 And no, it’s not to go hunt men, I’m way too old to change my ways and routines to fit another person’s lifestyle. My goal is actually much purer. I really like to make people happy and… well, I noticed people will feel happy, flattered and their self-esteem boosted when I flirt with them a little bit. Just another skill I’m learning in order to spread happiness and joy in the world. Might seem frivolous to you but… Well… I enjoy it. And that’s what counts for me.

So yeah! Happy Birthday to me! I’m not growing old, I’m only one year closer to death as my sister tells me every year since I was like 17. 😂 We are a weird family. Try not to think about it too much.

Thank you everyone who’s sticking around here. I promise I will post something soon. Maybe nothing super big but I will post. 🙂

Your forever joyful Oracle Kleo 🦄

[beanghostprincess]

I went and made myself emotional, but imagine if Buggy has this one particular chest of jewelry that he never let's ANYONE into. It's HIS, and hus crew, Alvida, his new followers, everyone is aware that Buggy is lenient as far as pirate captains go, but there are some Solid, No-Bending Rules, and touching the chest is FORBIDDEN. Nobody knows what's in there.

One day, Mihawk is searching for Buggy for whatever reason, and he barges into the clown's tent in frustration just to find no Buggy but... that chest of his is sitting innocently on his table. Suddenly whatever he was after seems a tad more menial in comparison to this opportunity.

He flips the clasp, surprised by the lack of lock, and he looks inside.

There's nothing which makes him think that any of these items are in any way, shape or form valuable. He does, however, notice an odd sort of curling energy within the box, which he can't quite place. Uninterested beyond idle curiosity, he simply closes the chest, refastens the lock, and carries on his hunt for Buggy.

When Crocodile happens across it, it's a similar situation. He's looking for Buggy, stops by the blue haired yonko's tent, and sees the chest sitting on his bed. He wonders if perhaps this might be a new avenue to get the other to fall in line, and so looks into it. He sees a few odd items, but beyond one or two looking rather aged, nothing about this seems in any way important. It's arguably a box of old trinkets, if anything.

Jump forward a few months, and Buggy is in his workshop when he hears a knock at the door. He sets aside his chemicals and gloves, rinses his hands for safety, and opens the door to let Croc and Hawk in. They had been waiting on him for dinner that night, but he'd been absolutely glued in his work. He apologizes, they smile at him, and tag along as he cleans up his work and goes to get ready. He's quick to get dressed, and The Chest is brought out, set on the table, and Buggy goes to grab his eyeliner to do his makeup.

"Hawky, can you grab my earrings?"

"Which set?"

"The ruby ones from my box!"

Both dark haired warlords pause. "The chest?"

"Mmhmm," the clown replies absently. "Be careful, some things in there are older than me, but the earrings are in a velvet bag, purple with gold tassels. Can't miss them!"

He's never given them permission to go into this chest before. Mihawk is careful, as he was instructed, and retrieves the bag easily. His gaze catches on a second velvet bag next to it. This one is red, faded and there are numerous repaired holes in the fabric, each one more neat than the last. It had been used for a very long time, it seemed...

"You okay?"

Both men look over to Buggy. He blinks before his painted lips make a small o. "Ah, I never explain, huh? Here, scoot over a little..."

They never make it to dinner together that night, but they do have a calm, warm, intimate time talking about their pasts and treasured items. Buggy's Chest is full of gifts he had gotten either from Roger or from his family. He has very little left of them, of either, but he covets what he does have with all he can muster.

Buggy was about 4 when the Roger's brought him to sea - Shanks had been five, and the two had clicked immediately, for better or worse. They oscillated between thick-as-theives and mortal-enemies. Buggy didn't remember much of his family before he'd lost them - just a whisper of a memory of his mother, maybe a brother or sister. He'd had a gold arm band from someone, an heirloom he thought. It had engraving once upon a time, but the metal was worn and tarnished by the time he learned to read, and the script was blocky and ineligible. Oden would later remark that it looked similar to the writing of the poneglyphs, but not even he could read the worn writing. Buggy learns the tongue and language, hoping to decode this mysterious message. It doesn't help, but it keeps his interest, and it comes to him more naturally than anyone anticipated. It makes a few of the adults consider hik with a glint in their eyes before carrying on, but there is no definitive answer in his features or lack of memories. The answer is lost to everyone, though they never quite dwell on it overmuch.

Roger, seeing both cabin boys as his own, his children, his sons, passed his culture along to them. He departed from Loguetown, the place his parents had settled, but his lineage came from farbeyond the horizons of that transitional town.

Language and traditions, folklore and stories were passed to Red and Blue, and Buggy kept them all close to his heart. When Roger became sick, Buggy turned to paper and pen to scribe as much as he could. Those papers, the trinkets, the gifts and memories- all of it was closed in that chest of his.

It is amid this conversation that the three grow closer, sharing pieces of themselves and their stories in the flickering lantern light, forging connections never before conceived or considered.

((And if perhaps maybe some stories remind others of tales of their own youth, well... who's to say...))

((One of Buggy's favorite mementos is a necklace on a plain brown leather cord. The memories tied to it are many, but the first is fuzzy with time. Tiny hands finding a strange stone on the beach, toddling over to a giant man with a bright smile. Thundering chuckles and large, warm, calloused hands guiding smaller, scarred fingers through tying it, a warm timbre recalling a story of faries and witchcraft and gifts from the Sea to those who worshipped Her and Hers. Big hands helping loop the cord over Buggy's head, and helping him peek through the hag stone hole to look for the fair folk or magical secrets, a fatherly voice telling him how these stones are protective and ward off bad luck and evil.

Buggy would wear this necklace often in his youth, under his shirt, pressing kisses to it in the dead of night when the past came banging on the inside of his brain, when nightmares wracked his ribcage or terror froze his veins.

He'd lay it over the support to Shanks' hammock when the redhead had nightmares or panic attacks, would share its magic with his best friend as best he could, protecting his companion, his other half, his Shanks with stone to ward off, with his guard to be attentive to the shadows which lurked in their shared room.

He'd recall one late night, when Captain was wracked with fever and bubbling, bloody cough, that he'd taken off his necklace and laid it over the headboard, a silent sentinel of stone. It warded off bad things, and this sickness was the worst. Buggy hated himself for wondering if Death was Bad in this case or a mercy - if the stone would ward that off too or if it would be kinder to let it come.))

Buggy never lost his faith in things unseen, but this is the first time he's shared it with others so freely.

And if the trio, on a walk one early morning, find three hag stones in a small little pile on the shores of their island, well... Buggy cried and the other two wore their new necklaces with pride.

It felt something like approval.

Okay, now I'm crying-- I adore this. So so so so so so much-- Sometimes I even wonder why you send ME these things when you could easily post this yourself!!!!!!!!! It's so beautiful, I can't even find the words to describe it. Roger's bond with Buggy and Buggy remembering his past always makes me so emotional- Also, buggy opening up with Cross Guild and telling them all of this kills me. I will be thinking about this forever, thank you <33

[the-consortium]

Dear, Mr. Saqqara,

I think you are very neat and would like to know if I may have a hug? As you seem very huggable and it is an idea which brings me delight and I would give you a hug at your earliest convenience.

If this request is amicable for you, then please let me know.

With much affection,

The Hugger.

"Huh. I could have sworn I put it here!" Saqqara looks around frantically, pushing aside a few piles of paper, a stethoscope and a small, roll-up tool bag on the desk. "Arrian?"

The World Eater lifts his eyes from his reading, looks absent for a moment, one corner of his mouth twitches and he wipes a slightly bloody thread of saliva from his chin with a curt gesture. "What's going on?" - "The datapad with the mail … I left it on the table!"

Arrian shakes his head, closes the book, but leaves his finger between the pages as a bookmark. "No, it wasn't here when I came in." - "Who steals mail?" - "Well … You." - "No, I'm doing the sorting! I'm doing an important job, separating the wheat from the chaff, like the prophet Hekledd in the Tchul desert when he parted the grasses of the oasis." - "Sounds exhausting," Arrian opens the book again, obviously trying not to learn more about the prophet Hekledd in some desert somewhere on Colchis than he absolutely has to.

Saqqara flips a few more papers back and forth, as if a datapad will magically manifest itself, but he is disappointed. "I bet that was Duco! He has too much fun writing about the birds. I preferred him when he was just killing Beastmen!"

With a frustrated growl, the Word Bearer finally turns away from the table and heads for the door.

Arrian looks after him. "You want to get on Duco's arse now?" - "I have to at least try to get the datapad back!" - "Hmm. Fine by me. Have fun!"

When the diabolist's footsteps have faded in the corridor, Arrian closes the book with a very determined snap and reaches for the voxunit lying next to him. "Matriarch?" A short hiss, a crack, then Igori's voice: "I'm only doing this because I like you. You know your diabolist gets on my ovaries." - "Yes, I know. And I'm very grateful and I owe you one." - "To me and the pack!" - "To you and the pack. Okay, okay. So, you find out where this sender is. That's all. I'll do the rest. That's my business." - "Of course it is. Although I want to watch." Arrian snorts a laugh. "Seriously?" - "You bet! I love to learn. And it's a rare opportunity!" - "What's rare about it?" - "I didn't even know you were capable of feeling jealousy. That's why it's rare." - "I'm not jealous." - " 'f course. Of course. Not jealous. Yep. I'll get down to some detective work."

A crack, then again just the quiet static hum of the inactive vox.

[atmymercy]

Everything you mentioned was actually so on point, I'm definitely kind of wasting sm of my time on phone/screen and most of the above always distracted with something which does allows me to Focus especially recently. You are so right that i need to take a moment alone and he with myself, I've been seeing synchronicities but I'm too much in my brain/distracted to actually realise what's happening. So I'm definitely going to sit down and meditate for few minutes to relax my mind and see what's coming up!! As I'm definitely sort of pushing my emotions away. About someone's energy reaching me out..I feel hugs sometimes honestly but i think what if I'm just delusional? Like last night I was just feeling as if someone is hugging me from behind? While I wasn't even thinking about any romantic interactios with anyone or fantasizing. Like lately my brain has been in this energy of being in someone's arms or just experiencing romance..? It's actually so strange because my focus is definitely not at all on relationships or i actually have any interactions with someone in real life as I'm staying home most of the time and away from people. And the lovers card in the bottom of the deck? I'm definitely sort of confused but it's okay I'll find what's happening while i meditate. Have a wonderful day ahead lovely, your energy is really beautiful and sweet. Thankyou so much for being so kind to me and giving me this opportunity. I really appreciate you sm and also the reading was totally accurate and on point!! Thankyou for your messages and also i loved hearing your opinion about seasons.

Sending love 🫶🏻🤍✨🧿

hello jasmine!

omg! this feedback! i love it! you really do have a way of explaining your thought process that really makes me feel like i'm there while you're going through it! i'm so glad you connected with it! and it's so easy to fall down the rabbit hole of staring at a screen all day! don't be hard on yourself! sometimes it feels good to turn on your brain and give it a break too! lol

oh interesting! so you are feeling this connecting force than too, huh? something is for sure trying to connect. feel free to tell me if you have any luck with your mediation! i always love discussing spiritual stuff so i always love hearing more!

you have a wonderful day too, honey! and thank you! it's so nice to hear that my energy is beautiful and sweet! i can see that you have a tendency towards reading sensations through energy, which is neat! i wouldn't be surprised if that's what you'll be tapping further into!

and it was my pleasure, honey! i really enjoyed getting to chat with you! you really are so sweet and getting to do a reading for you again! woot!

love & light!

-tea

♡ message me for details/questions & to book a reading! ♡

[booksandchainmail]

Pale 8.6

Rather than fold the clothes as she got sorted, Verona smoothed them out and rolled them into tubes, then stacked the tubes together, side by side.

hey same! I find it wastes less space and travels better than folded, especially in a bag rather than a suitcase

“I’ve got a sock of yours in the gap between mattress and the footboard of the bed, here,” Avery noted, throwing it at the side of Verona’s head.  “How?”

socks go where they will

“I think your judgment of how okay you are is a little suspect, Ronnie,” Lucy said.

yeah

Turns out that people who both know about the practice and who can teach are few and far between. We kind of offed one of the teachers who knew their shit and who could teach half decently, too.

I will never stop loving the comedy of the Kennet Trio going off to magic school and promptly killing off two headmasters

“They- the stupid people, they came over and they saw opossums the first time!  The guy opossums have two- two heads, forked!  So clearly, bahahaha, they think it has to go in the nose!”

I could have lived a long life not knowing that... time to go tell my friends

Avery jogged off with Snowdrop, as Verona turned to head into the library.  She pushed the door open, and came face to face with the entire library of books she hadn’t been able to read.

I think one of things Verona isn't correctly judging how okay she is about is leaving the school

She stroked the back of Verona’s head.  It felt like a big sister or mom thing, and that made Verona feel weird, because she’d never had much of either.

It's stuff like this that originally made me think Verona's parents divorce happened when she was little, but what we've seen in flashbacks puts it at within the past couple years. It seems like her mom was just checked out of parenting all along.

Lucy shrugged.  “Booker’s home.  I can look forward to that.”

I'm looking forward to that

“I know some of you have expressed some interest in visiting the Shedding Tree, the Corridor Market, the Doll Alley, and other landmarks. We will not be doing that. As appealing as the idea of visiting key locations is, I have taken on the responsibility of guiding you, and I am focused on safety and stability. Those landmarks are tourist traps of a sort, emphasizing the traps."

I love the concept of Faerie tourist traps. How much traffic do they even get? Or I guess it's not just humans, Fae from other courts can visit.

Your long and storied experience with siblings or friends is more material for them to work with, the nuances between you are subtler, and you will lose in that subtlety. No, I’ll pair you off with people you barely know.

oh, this is a good chance to build alliances. I'm sure this is a good precaution anyways, but I wonder if Estrella is going to pair the Kennet Trio with people she thinks could be allies, given that she helped them before.

“Lucy Ellingson, Tymon Leos,” Estrella called out.

yeah, that's someone they worked well with before. I don't think lucy had any issues with him the way she did with Corbin?

“Huh,” Zed frowned.  “I wonder if we can work in some gentle talk about tricky parent stuff.”

there was a mention earlier about this trip giving Estrella a chance to show that she could be a good teacher/mentor, but looks like it'll also give Zed that opportunity. He is inclined towards helping people.

“Avery?  Fernanda.” “Of fucking course,” Avery said.  “Don’t you say anything.”

hahahaha

but she was also one of the people I thought could be an issue, so this could be helpful

“Raquel?  With Verona Hayward.”

and Raquel is dissatisfied with her family, and is one of the people they had Alpy work on

Raquel was wearing a dress, her hair up in a swirly sort of bun that wasn’t super neat, but seemed un-neat in a way that was very designed, with locks of hair peeling off intentionally. Strands of hair ran down in front of her ears, which had pearl studs in them.

I wouldn't be surprised if the Mussers are a few decades out of date in how teenagers dress

“In my family, and families of those close to me, twelve or thirteen is the cut-off point.  You need to figure things out by then.  You own whatever happens after that.”

which explains why she's already dressed as a (somewhat old fashioned) adult woman

“Okay, so is there anything about all this that you get excited about?  Practices you love?  Stuff you’re into?”

So far these two seem like polar opposites. I don't know if Verona will want to get into her own family, but that seems like a point of connection: that the practice, which is an escape for her, is Raquel's stifling day-to-day

“I think she might have paired us off like she did so we’d temper each other.  Each of us being impatient with the other’s shopping.”

I can definitely see that with Avery and Fernanda

There was art to it and that simple fact made her ache for what her world lacked.  That nobody would pave the footpath of a bridge with colored stones in a way that made it beautiful.  That murals like that one they’d left behind didn’t exist except maybe as graffiti.

things Verona needs to experience/witness in the mundane world:

Adults with fulfilling jobs and lives

Aro communities

Relationships with no interest in kids

Places with lots of public art

“Soft implements.” “Which means?” “Indirect use.  Like your friend’s earring.  Or chalices, or talismans, or books.  Less swords and wands, which are good at doing.”

this is so much better than what I thought it meant, which was organics

“I think there’s some link between hair whorls and autism,” Verona mused.  “But I don’t think you’d want to jump to using autism as cover for being nonhuman.  That’s gross.”

things Verona needs to experience/witness in the mundane world:

5. tumblr

“Tell me about the knife.” “It’s a key, it’s a way in, you see. A violent means of entering the person stabbed. You’ll get one breath to do as much harm to them as possible, while walking around in the temple of their Self.”

any sharp object can be a key if you define the lock as "the squishy bits on my opponent"

She stepped a bit back, surveying the crowd and keeping an eye on America, as America held out something that was clearly goblin-made. The children from earlier sat and reclined on the rooftops on either side of this market, the girl with the bird mask and coin-eyes draped on the downslope from a roof’s peak, on the verge of tipping over and falling the full way down, the lightweight boy standing on a peak.

is America going to bribe some Fae to attack them?

She turned, and saw a child, about ten, of indeterminate gender and shaggy hair, inside a birdcage.  The person carrying the cage on a pole tugged, and the child hung on, resisting. “Help,” the voice was reed-thin, sonorous. “I didn’t think they sold children in these markets,” Verona observed, her heart in her throat.

this is fucked! not really much more to say, I don't know if there's any way to intervene. Can't help thinking of Shellie, or that woman from one of the extra materials books whose mother made cursed items

“A ruse,” Raquel said.  “It’s bait on a hook, I think.  To pull us in.  It’s good you care, but don’t fall for it.”

... yeah. Probably. But I don't think there's any way to know for sure.

[icharchivist]

good idea. what would your ideal a3/ gbf crossover event look like? :3

oh my god.

i actually have a tag for this with a few posts in it already that should help out, with a main post with most of my major headcanons at the time here!

rereading the post though i.

I want Hisoka to meet Troue because i think between the sleepiness and memory loss Troue goes through, Hisoka’s protective bone will tingle and it’ll be a neat plotline.

@ past me i'm so sorry, i'm so sorry this happened to us, i don't even know what to say anymore to replace this HC, this aged like milk.

Troue would be a representation of Hisoka's greatest nightmare: that under all the amnesia there's actually someone who would be willing to hurt everything they thought they cared about.

help.

ANYWAY adding to that list since it's a list i made years ago already, i absolutely NEED, like, NEEED!!!!! Michael to meet Juza.

I've spent the full reading of the Mole Troupe losing my mind because their arc is the SAME THING. Lost in life, unsure what to do because people have always projected a role on them, one that comes with them having to fight, and as a result they come off as scary and have issues showing their true emotions. But deep down, they're gentle souls who get completely shaken by theater, who finally find themselves there, because by acting they can be something different than what was projected on them. And their acting is wooden and they struggle a lot with it at first, but their passions shine through regardless and it touches people enough that you know the more they'll work on it the more they will shine, and the more they'll be able to leave behind the "scary face" they had to carry for a long time.

also Michael's "try out cute bunny bread pyon pyon!!" in the most threatening voice possible is not so unsimilars to Juza, wearing a bear costume, with the most wooden of voices, going "what sound does a bear do again? huh. BEAAAAR"

Michael and Juza being best friends is all that matters to me i want that in an event so bad.

Similarly to the Mole Troupe stuff, Falsch and Tenma need to meet i don't make the rules. Child Actors prodiges with a passion for acting, but with Falsch now being a burnt out adult who lost all of his friends and just keep seeking desperately for connection, it would probably be a good insight for Tenma who is still a teen figuring out his future and navigating how much his troupe means to him versus the expectations that are thrust on him as a a child prodige.

And still Mole Troupe, therefore Guy and Sariel would probably get along on the same ground of, being set all of their lives into being a weapon of sort, so much so they have forfeited connecting with their emotions and don't even know how to acknowledge them anymore, but thanks to getting into theater, they start to understand their feelings a lot more. Guy has made so much progress ahead and i can only wish the same for Sariel on the long term, and i feel like if they met and discussed it, Sariel especially could do a lot of progress in his recovery.

......

COUGHS

that's for some specific character i'm adding to the list of "having to meet each other" but honestly i feel like there would be fun opportunities for any of the granblue charas to meet any of the cast of a3.

In a more general mindset, the problem is that i want all 24 of the a3 cast to be able to interreact with granblue characters, and there's no way a gbf collab could actually explore it the way i want them to unless they run 4 collabs for each troupes :( and it means also giving up on some crosstroupes dynamic and stuff.

the more realistic way for a gbf x a3 event to happen would be to have the a3ders, the leader of each troupes, to be sent to the world of Granblue. And i could imagine that then, like in the love live's collabs, their fate would rest on making a good play, and the a3ders have to band together to really show people their love for theater.

and as such the most ideal characters to bounce of to for them would be the Romeo&Juliet cast, the Mole Troupe cast, Makora, and maybe also Cupitan.

But i'd be so interested into seeing each troupe in focus with their own particular brand of nonsense brought into the gbf world.

I just want everyone to meet up :(

hope it was a nice read for you ;D

Take care!

[bl0ssomized]

╰┈➤ ❝ [ 𝐈 𝐉𝐔𝐒𝐓 𝐆𝐎𝐓 𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐌𝐄𝐒𝐒𝐀𝐆𝐄𝐒 ✉︎ ]

Prefect, it looks like you’ve received three Valentine’s messages from Leona Kingscholar, Vil Schoenheit and Lilia Vanrouge… Each of them have also left a gift on your doorstep.

“Herbivore,

So you herbivores in your world have a day dedicated to spending time with your lover? Stupid, shouldn't that just be every day? Well, Ruggie kept nagging me to send you something, but don't you think it's better to see each other in person? come to the savanaclaw dorm asap, I'm getting sleepy.

—Leona”

Gift description:

In front of you is a plain brown delivery box that has a few scratches here and there, the way the tape barely held it all together just screams "Leona did this". Inside however, you find a box of limited edition caramel chocolates. It's the ones that has been trending for a while, it's extremely hard to get your hands on one of these. Makes you wonder how much of a trouble it was (for Ruggie, poor him) to get them... Guess being rich makes everything easier huh.

You also find a cute little lion plushie! It seems like someone has drawn a scar on it's right eye. Perhaps it's Leona's way of reminding you he's the best one to cuddle with at night. Just make sure you don't replace the real Leona with this little guy, he might become jealous.

“Dearest,

I've heard from Rook that you celebrate something called "Valentine's Day" back in your world? From what I've heard it's a day to appreciate your loved ones and spend time with them right? It's a shame you haven't told me about it yourself. Have you forgotten what kind of a bond we share?

I don't like sappy words with no meaning, so I can assure you what I'm going to say now is how I genuinely feel. I must say I never expected myself to get this attached to you. You don't appear to be special at first glance, but you've proved your worth multiple times already. Every moment I spend with you is precious and I wish to cherish them for as long as I can. I also want to note that I'm sorry that we don't get to spend as much time together as you might want, I'm a celebrity after all and my schedule is quite packed as you might know already. I'll make sure to make up for the time I have kept you waiting someday.

Of course I've got many more things to say and do, but I prefer talking to you in person, so why won't you visit me in pomefiore? My door is open and I don't have anything else to do today so I'd love to spend this special day with you. .. I'll be waiting

Love,

Vil”

Gift description:

A rectangular violet box with white flower decorations and a deep purple ribbon that was tied into a neat bow. It's as elegant as anything else Vil does. Open it to find heart shaped macarons in all sorts of colors! There's red ones, pink, purple, purple with red spots, blue ones, they look as though Vil himself made these with how perfect they were. Did he..?

There's also a bottle of perfume. The purple color and diamond shape of the bottle are unfamiliar to you, but reading the note that was attached to it confirmed your suspicions.

“this perfume is one I developed especially for you. I thought it'd suit you well”

“To my dearest love,

How naughty you are to not tell me about the concept of 'Valentine's day', and here I was thinking you love me.. Alright alright, jokes aside, i wouldn't dream of letting this opportunity slip by just like that, so I'm here to remind you of something that should be obvious already;

I have seen many sorts of people in my life, but you truly are one of the few who manages to catch my eye like that. You're an interesting little one, there are tons of mysteries around you yet you act like you're nothing special.. What I thought to be simple curiosity grew to become something much stronger and more complicated, and I won't hesitate to admit that it's love. I love you, I really do. I love the way you squeak in surprise when you're startled, the way you pout after defeat, I love every single part of you and it makes me wonder since when exactly I was able to love like this. I'm really grateful for all the fun things I got to experience with you and I hope we'll continue to be by each other sides for many more years

Yours truly,

Lilia

P.S: I found a few more games we can play together. Please hop by diasomnia when you get the chance, I'd love to spend this special day with you”

Gift description:

Open a pitch black box with white and magenta spots on the bottom half to reveal a bunch of suspicious smelling chocolates. Don't tell me he made these himself... Well, if you're brave enough, try to pop one in your mouth, but there's no guarantee that you'll stay conscious. There's also 2 of his self made plushies, one shaped like a lamb and one shaped like a bat. Aww, doesn't it remind you of the two of you?

[sagurus]

Regarding a Common Misconception of Hakuba Saguru

Lately I've been doing some reflecting on Saguru & the various ways I've seen him portrayed, as well as the ways I've portrayed him in the past. And then I was rereading some MK manga, and had some realizations. I've been feeling like rambling about them! So here I go, rambling.

[Disclaimer: I'm not personally taking issue with anyone's interpretation or impression of Saguru - just sharing my own impressions! This is just for fun <3 ]

Misconception: Saguru is constantly accusing Kaito of being KID

It’s a generally accepted fact in a lot of fics I’ve read (and honestly, maybe some fics I’ve written -- I used to hold this belief too!) that Saguru just unendingly insinuates that Kaito is KID--alone, in front of other people, always.

I won’t cite any here, but I’ve seen nods in fanwork to Aoko feeling a little stressed/frustrated about the fact that Saguru thinks Kaito is KID and makes it known. I’ve also seen fanwork where Saguru explicitly calls Kaito KID, presses Kaito for information, or otherwise makes his beliefs clear, even when others are around.

There are only five scenes in the Magic Kaito manga where Saguru makes direct indication toward his knowledge of KID’s identity.

First, of course, we’ve got chapter 17 - the first chapter where Saguru puts together that Kaito is KID.

For a long time, when I’d consumed more fic than MK canon, I recall an image born in my head of Saguru singling Kaito out in class and making the claim that Kaito is KID in front of everybody. I don’t know if I ever read any such allusion in a fic, or if it’s just an assumption I drew based on portrayals I read, but imagine my surprise when he does nothing of the sort.

Now, to be fair, Saguru is A LOT in this chapter. MK is still heavily in gag manga territory, so his behavior is extra extra played up. But if we take away the visuals, the dialogue between Saguru and Kaito can be summed up thusly:

[First scene where Saguru makes direct indications as to KID’s identity]

Kaito: You look so tired. Haven’t gotten enough sleep after chasing KID for three nights In a row, huh?

Saguru: Hmph. Aren’t you tired as well?

And then, a few beats later in the conversation:

Saguru: I’d like to invite you to the Ochima Art Museum tonight, where KID’s declared his next target. Kaito: Eh? Saguru: Then, you’ll understand why I’m so tired. Or, do you have other plans tonight? Kaito: Okay, I accept your invitation. It’ll be great to see your work in action!

And that’s it, that’s the big class confrontation. Aoko is present for it, but she’s more interested in joining in on the fun, and while I do think Aoko pieces together that Kaito is KID, she prefers to live in willful ignorance of it until it becomes impossible for her to ignore. She’s bright enough to pick up what Saguru’s implying, but because he never brings it past implication, there’s no reason for her to look at it too hard. Anyway, I digress. That’s conjecture and headcanon talking. My point is that Saguru never makes any explicit claims, just invites Kaito along to the heist.

Another neat thing about this scene is that--while certainly not motivated by mercy in this case, Saguru does give Kaito an out: “Or, do you have an excuse not to go tonight?” Of course, if Kaito took it, it would be rather damning, but I do think it would have been enough confirmation for Saguru. I don’t think there would have been any arm-twisting to get Kaito to agree.

But Kaito and Saguru are competitive bastards, so here we are.

Let’s move on to the heist!

Once again, the manga certainly plays up the whole ordeal. Saguru is intense and waiting for his moment, and Kaito’s being, well, Kaito.

At the heist, there are a few points where Saguru has opportunities to make allusions to Kaito being KID in a way others would pick up on, or otherwise make his suspicions known, but he doesn’t.

First of all, is this exchange:

Nakamori: Why are you guys here? Aoko: Hakuba-kun invited us! Nakamori: What’s the meaning of this, Hakuba-kun? Saguru: I thought she might like to see if KID is arrested tonight. Nakamori: You’ll fail if you’re too cocky! Saguru: We’re well-prepared. Besides, who knows… KID may already be here.

Saguru does imply KID could be present, but he makes no indication that he means Kaito. His next opportunity to hint at Kaito being KID or otherwise make accusations is when Nakamori asks him to consult as a magician.

Nakamori: Kaito, since you’re here, do you want to use your magic against KID? Kaito: [laughing sheepishly] Saguru: Oh, I want to see that fight, too. If you really can do it.

Needling, yes. Saguru knows what he’s saying and so does Kaito. Accusations, no. This is well within the realm of something Saguru would have said even if he didn’t suspect Kaito, considering their dynamic up until this point.

And then, the most explicit Saguru ever gets in terms of literally calling Kaito out as being KID, beginning when Kaito excuses himself to go to the bathroom right before the heist:

[Second scene where Saguru makes direct indications as to KID’s identity]

Saguru: [handcuffs himself to Kaito] Kaito: Huh? Saguru: I won’t let you do that, Kuroba. Kaito: What do you think you’re doing?! Saguru: I got the report back from the lab. The hair I got from KID indicated that he’s a high school student. After I compared KID’s data with other high school students’ data in the database… Kuroba Kaito came up in the final list. Kaito: That’s a coincidence. Saguru: Really? We’ll see soon enough. Let’s wait until the time KID is stated to come. [Some heist hubbub occurs as officers get into position even though KID hasn’t arrived at the heist time] Aoko: What? KID’s not coming? Saguru: Ha! It looks like I win! You’d better confess who you really are.

And from there, of course, ‘KID’ (Akako in disguise) swoops in and takes care of the heist. That more or less wraps up chapter 17, the first chapter where Saguru understands that Kaito is KID. And I would argue this is the most aggressive Saguru ever is. In fact, rather than persist in trying to accuse/capture/implicate Kaito as KID, he straight up vanishes from the narrative for several chapters.

Saguru doesn’t show up again until the Chat Noir heist, in chapter 25, when he calls from France.

It’s also important to note that at this point, Magic Kaito’s narrative has experienced a slight tonal shift. At the very least, while still often comedic, it reads less like a gag manga. Between the last time we saw Saguru and now, we’ve learned the apparent motivation behind Toichi’s murder, we’ve met Snake (an albeit rather incompetent villain) and Kaito has faced down gunfire and the danger posed by Snake and his men.

The way Saguru is portrayed has also shifted to reflect the shift too. Instead of a hulking antagonist-like character in a Holmes cosplay, he’s dressed primly and presents more as a cheeky but polite character. He’s also more effectively emulating the charm that the story tried to imply he had early on (“Hakuba Saguru, at your service!”, the girls in class fawning over him, the newspaper calling him out as a famous detective making a long-awaited return to Japan).

The interaction is entirely less antagonistic, too. For reference, I’ll paste the exchange (sans Saguru’s massive info dump) below.

[Third scene where Saguru makes direct indications as to KID’s identity]

[At the heist for the golden eye] Kaito: [Hiding in a bathroom stall while putting on a disguise] [His phone starts ringing] Hello…? Saguru: Hi, it’s been a while. Are you still alive? Kaito: [Thinking] This sugary yet obnoxious tone of voice is... Hakuba?! Saguru: You’ve made quite the stir in Paris. They’re all talking about how France’s Chat Noir is going to go up against you in Japan. Kaito: Idiot! It’s not me. It’s Kaitou KID! Saguru: Ha… it doesn’t really matter. I’ll share some information that I gathered over here. [Info dump cut from dialogue] Well! That’s about all I have to say. Do your best. I don’t want to see you lose to anyone until I capture you myself. Kaito: Like I’ve been saying, I’m not KID! Saguru: Oops, it’s almost time for the Paris Fashion Week. See you! Kaito: H-hey…

The only part of this conversation that I could consider to fall into the territory of antagonistic is when Saguru says “I don’t want to see you lose to anyone until I capture you myself.” And more than anything, I think this is less reflective of a real desire to capture Kaito, and more reflective of his competitive nature. Not to mention, within the context of the conversation, it feels much more like teasing than anything.

Saguru’s motivation for making the call is clear: He doesn’t want Kaito to lose, and he wants to help ensure Kaito’s success.

And most interestingly (although I’d like to see the raw manga to confirm this, or otherwise a more literal translation) he never explicitly calls Kaito KID either. Outside of alluding to KID’s actions, Saguru doesn’t explicitly say Kaito is KID or mention KID at all. It’s Kaito who does that.

When Kaito points out that he is not, in fact, KID, Saguru doesn’t argue. He simply brushes off the denial and shares the information he’s collected.

So, to summarize what we’ve covered so far: after Saguru failed to arrest Kaito during chapter 17, he stopped troubling Kaito so thoroughly that the next time he features in the story isn’t until he’s calling from overseas to try to lend Kaito some helpful information. He’s not even playing a part in trying to capture this thief he allegedly wants to catch.

And then, Saguru dips back out of the narrative, although for a shorter period this time. The next arc he appears in is a few chapters later--the Nightmare Heist which he arrives in the middle of. But, there’s not any interaction between him and Kaito, nor any allusions made by Saguru about KID’s identity, so we’ll move on.

The fourth time Saguru makes any indication that Kaito is KID is during the Corbeau arc, when KID is being challenged by a clad-in-black KID lookalike.

Before jumping into that specific scene, though, there’s another interaction I’d like to call attention to--between Saguru and Nakamori. Not because of something Saguru says, but because of what he doesn’t say.

Nakamori: Hahaha! Looks like you let your guard down because you thought I was at home with a cold! Saguru: Our plan succeeded, it seems. Nakamori: But I only told Aoko I had a cold, so how does KID know…? Saguru: Hm...

If Saguru were wanting to make some kind of accusation, even a non-explicit one, he would have made some remark. Instead, he doesn’t say anything at all, which continues to speak to the fact that he isn’t really interested in implicating Kaito.

Anyway, the next time Saguru makes any sort of implication that Kaito is KID he is, once again, trying to help. Last time it was over the phone, so the conversation was private. This time, the conversation is in a classroom, although based on the panels, it seems like Saguru and Kaito are alone at the beginning--or at least, no attention is being paid to them.

[Fourth scene where Saguru makes direct indications as to KID’s identity]

Kaito: [Talking to himself] It must be the case, there’s no other way. There must have been some trick with the case.

Saguru: [Eavesdropping, apparently alone in the room with him] The case didn’t contain any hidden mechanisms. Kaito: Eh? Saguru: No hidden doors or things like that, as are often used in magic tricks. Kaito: W-what on earth are you talking about? Saguru: A new notice from Corbeau arrived this morning. ‘I’ll come and take the real Midnight Crow tonight.’ My name is Hakuba--so I don’t want a ‘white’ person to lose to some ominous black crow. [From here, Akako and then Aoko jump into the conversation.]

Surely a classroom is a risky place to have a conversation about KID, but the nice thing is that Saguru--once again--doesn’t bring up KID at all beyond saying that he doesn’t want the ‘white[-clad] person’ to lose to the black crow. From the outside looking in, all he’s doing is sharing information about the case with Kaito. It may also seem unwarranted from that perspective, but not at all implicating.

Also, another thing I’d like to call attention to is that when Akako joins the conversation (and seemingly blindsides Saguru, as if he wasn’t expecting anyone else to join), Saguru stops talking. He continues to be quiet when Aoko chimes in, and he doesn’t have any relevant dialogue for the rest of the scene.

Once again, Saguru’s clearly motivated to share information in the interest of helping Kaito. He has to share with Kaito’s civilian identity, since he can’t exactly arrange a conversation with KID, and this is likely the easiest way for him to do it. He makes no accusations, and this time he doesn’t even imply he wants KID caught.

So--Saguru is a part of the narrative again, but since rejoining the narrative he seems less interested in actually catching KID and far more interested in helping Kaito. And no accusations or incriminating allusions have been made since chapter 17, before Saguru’s first hiatus from the story.

The final time Saguru nods to Kaito being KID is from the Sun Halo arc. This is probably the interaction that’s closest to what fanon tends to depict when it comes to Saguru making subtle accusations that Kaito is KID. And even then, I tend to take this arc with a grain of salt if only because it felt less like Gosho was trying to add to the story and more like he was just trying to make a Magic Kaito addition that hit various fan expectations while still being wildly disappointing, lmao.

[Fifth scene where Saguru makes direct indications as to KID’s identity]

Saguru: [approaching and commenting on Kaito’s motorcycle] I see, a Suzuki GSX 250R. Akako: Ah, Hakuba-kun… Saguru: You’ve shown me something interesting. Perhaps this might help the police tonight. And could it be that you’ve forgotten… that the only motorised bikes we’re allowed to ride to school are scooters? Kaito: Eh?! For real?!

Once again, Saguru doesn’t explicitly mention KID at all--and segues from his mention of the police to pointing out that Kaito is breaking the rules right now, actually, which helps blend this teasing comment into the conversation.

Yes, later in the chapter Saguru does show up with a team of motorcycle experts. But that also means there’s more disguise opportunities for KID and more factors to account for, thus complicating things for, well, everyone--not just KID.

Also, I tend to dismiss that as Gosho throwing in some comedy, and as less to do with Saguru’s character. Call it cherrypicking if you like :P

To recount--there are five times where Saguru implies Kaito is KID.

The first two are in chapter 17, when Saguru first puts it together, and it is during this chapter that he gets the most explicit about calling Kaito out as KID, as well as the most aggressively he behaves about it. And he backs off so hard after that doesn’t work, that we don’t see him for several chapters.

The next two times he implies Kaito is KID are both in order to help him. No aggression or accusations, just the sharing of information. Even when teasing or suggesting he’s interested in catching KID, he’s good-natured about it, and when he realizes there are potentially people witnessing the conversation, he stops participating.

The final time he implies Kaito is KID is a tiny comment about finding something Kaito has shown him ‘interesting’ and ‘helpful for the police’ before smoothing into gently teasing Kaito for bringing an illegal vehicle to school.

In conclusion, Saguru may start off apparently aggressive in part thanks to early Magic Kaito’s overall tone, but rather than persevering in trying to catch Kaito after cornering him in chapter 17, he actually seems to back off. Once he’s playing a part in the narrative again, when he interacts with Kaito it’s almost exclusively to help him. Yes, he is on the task force and participating at heists, but where it matters, he’s less interested in catching the thief and far more interested in those the thief is opposing (excluding the police force).

[aneenasevla]

Devil's Food - Chapter 4

MasterList /Ayami’s Profile/Previous

Chapter 4 - Concerning Rumors

Even though she had a restless sleep, and was woken up twice by the cell phone alarm, she didn't wake up in a bad mood the next day, not even when Fusui appeared and gently shook her while she was lying down.

“Good morning” she smiled from ear to ear “did you sleep well?”

“Hmmm… I think so” she opens her eyes, yawns.

“That's great! Come on, it's time to wake up!” she pulls the other's sheets and Ayami lets out a yelp “come on, I'm on vacation and I want to take the opportunity to show you the house!”

Still groaning, she sits up, hair mussed and still looking sleepy, stretching, massaging her face. Fusui laughs.

“You take time to wake up, huh?”

‘No... I wanted to sleep more this time” Ayami gets up, adjusting her sleep dress “as I said, yesterday was a mess.”

It had even taken a while to sink in that she was now in some sort of hideout full of Kures, and honestly, part of her didn't want to get out of bed and sleep for eternity, another part feared for her life, so the two of them agreed to stay.

“It's understandable” the assassin smiled tenderly “come on, I'll help you get ready, you don't need much, just some casual clothes, breakfast is already on the dining hall.”

“You are all early risers, apparently…”

“Well, just the ones that don't go around or the ones that are currently unoccupied. What is the majority, so it is.”

“Hnm…” she then remembered yesterday and remembered that she was a Candidate there, so she had to show good impression “so, I'll organize myself. I don't know anything about you, so I believe this invitation is irrefutable.”

“Yes, I'll wait here” Fusui watches her going to the bathroom. When she was out of sight, she surveyed her room. The suitcase was open, but her belongings were still stowed on the table, and yesterday's clothes, she recognized, were neatly arranged. She wondered if the girl had some sort of neat quirk or if it was just the fact that she was tidy, or even good manners that she still considered herself a guest here. Either way, it was good, but something told her she might be uncomfortable. What was normal, few outsiders saw the Kure at home and were comfortable with their presence.

But it got worse when she remembered who the girl was committed to, even more so when this guy was none other than her brother. The girl was both curious and distressed by Miss Yamagami, so she took it upon herself to make her at least like the clan, with all its quirks.

She waited for the girl to get dressed and come out of the bathroom.

“I had noticed before” Fusui says “but I'm kind of watching better now, you're kind of chubby, right?”

“Ah…” Ayami blushes, hiding behind the screen to change clothes “Y-yes… I used to play sports but now that I got busy with work, I can't reduce this silhouette.”

“I have nothing against that, I already said, I think you're cute” she shrugs “people who have this crazy training since childhood so it's hard to have a fatter Kure, but you should see one of my uncles, he's practically an ox, ahahaha…”

Suddenly Ayami felt self-conscious. Not that she minded much, but still, if that was a problem…

“I imagine he doesn't mind being called that, right?” she asks cautiously.

“No, he's nicknamed ‘the devil ox’, so he's proud of it.”

“So I guess I don't need to worry, huh?”

“No, not at all” Fusui smiles “as long as you show yourself strong, then no one will say a peep about you.”

“Oh, right” she comes out of the screen in a blue dress shirt and a pair of gray leggings, and leaves her used clothes folded on top of the others “I'm ready.”

“Let's go then!” Fusui stands up, and holds her hand, almost dragging her out in excitement.

…

Ayami had to admit, the place was huge.

And it wasn't just a mansion as she suspected, it was several and several houses and housing projects, a real village hidden in a forest, between mountains and thick walls.

She had actually been surprised at the treatment though, when she thought she could have been thrown in a prison cell on bread and water, when in fact she had been placed in a rather luxurious room by her standards. And from what she had understood, despite having a luxury, the house she was still in was not the main one, but a smaller one, where there were other branches of the family.

And of course, unsurprisingly, a lot of them, practically one in three people she counted, had dark sclera like her guide (and possibly sister-in-law) had. It made her feel a little better. The cafeteria in the central part of one of the complexes, where Fusui and several others gathered, was already practically full. Several long traditional low tables with cushions for people to sit on. They were given bowls of rice and natto from the serving girls, and soon went to sit down.

They ate in silence, but Ayami felt that she was noticed. She saw several dark eyes in her direction, and a few whispers, but couldn't make out what they were. A young man approached, and stopped on the opposite side with a platter as well.

“Hello ladies, can I sit here?” He smiled. He wore a bandana on his head, and he also had black hair.

“Ohh, Henzo! Take a seat” she indicates the space “this is Yamagami Ayami, our new guest…”

“Ahhh, the Yamagami girl that Hollis and Reichii brought yesterday” he smiles, nodding slightly “pleasure. I'm Kure Henzo. Are you here on business or visiting, miss?”

“She's the first Candidate” Fusui smiles, and Henzo's eyes widen, two silver dots in the middle of the black background.

“Ohhh” he winks, and then lowers his head “I'm sorry for that…”

Ayami raises an eyebrow “uh, why…?”

“Ahh, nothing, Ayami, right?” She glares at the other and he smiles awkwardly. If she heard the guy's worst side before she even met him, she'd be a bad prejudice, so less chance of her being interested. And that was not in Fusui's interests.

“Oh, no, nothing, I just don't like her brother” Henzo corrects himself “actually, many people here, but it's... it's nothing…”

“It's just that my brother is the strongest of us, and that generates envy, right?” Fusui shoots the guy with his gaze again, and the boy turns his head.

“I wouldn't say envy, but it's more of a common irritation…” he grumbles.

“I see” Ayami nods “I think he's also the arrogant type, to have people who don't like him in his own family…”

“Ah… yeah, you can see that, right…” Fusui blushes.

“But if that's the case, I don't think you think so often about the consequences of his actions either.” seeing that the two were interested in what she said, she continues “Because a man who gets into trouble in his own family is nothing more than a fool, getting knives waiting to be stabbed in his back.”

“She speaks beautifully, doesn’t she?” Henzo observes. Fusui nods.

“Wow, you’re pretty, cute, smart, have a voice as sweet as your eyes… look, if Raian doesn't want you, I do!” she comments, looking at Ayami.

And for the first time since she had left the firm, at home, Ayami smiled.

“Hahah, I unfortunately don't have this relationship preference, and even if I did, I'm not available either, miss. Apparently not for a while… I'll be busy taking care of private matters.”

“What subjects? Ah, if you want to tell…” Henzo smiles.

“Oh, it's just that I intend to continue my father's business until my younger brother takes over, if he prefers. And I also intend to do my work as a lawyer, I just passed the last exams to exercise the position.”

“Ah, you're a lawyer, that's why you speak so beautifully” Henzo nods, starting to eat “So polite, you know…?”

“Not every lawyer speaks well” Ayami blushes, while eating “but I do like to express my ideas clearly.”

“And it's really a good thing” Fusui nods “I want to see how it goes in a little while. My brother's got a mission next week, so he won't be here, but that's great, because then we can have some fun.”

“And… I’m afraid of what you guys do for fun here…”

“Ah, normal things, like everyone” Henzo shrugs “the only difference is that we also add things like intensive workout, fighting training and also firearms.”

“The latter ones are definitely not my choice of entertainment” ​Ayami gives a negative sign with her whole hand “although I have practiced Kenjutsu in the past…”

“Oh, so you're a swordsman?” Fusui is interested “well, it makes sense, his family is swordsmen, it's tradition.”

“Yes, it is, but it's not my preference, so I dropped out of high school. I prefer to focus on my career. My brother Akito is better at Kenjutsu than I am, and he thinks about going to college on a sports scholarship. But we have had enough talking about me, please tell me how I can be useful while I'm not busy.”

The conversation in the cafeteria was pleasant. Fusui introduced Ayami to others of the Kure who lived in the area, and more and more times she saw them smile, but without exception, they all gave her rueful looks when they told her what she was to the clan, as if she was being promised to some kind of monster. Gradually she began to wonder why. Of course, she wasn't an idiot, she knew the guy was probably prominent and well known in the clan, but none of the smiles directed at her looked happy. Either he was too good to be envied, or he was extremely arrogant.

She knew she shouldn't stick to opinions before she met him, but one thing she always learned from her mother, God rest her soul, was that the family was the first thing that denoted who a person was.

Was he really that bad?

…

Ayami also knew that if this guy was really bad as they said, she would need support, so during the week she decided to look for things to do nearby to help, and also research what would be interesting for someone like her to do, only Fusui insisted. to ask her out.

“Ayamiiii!” she arrived with a basket “let's get some fruit! It's a beautiful summer day, we can go bathing in the lake!”

“Oh, I” she points to some ladies who were hanging clothes “I was going to help them…”

“Don't worry miss” the older woman said “young people have to have fun, and it's a really beautiful summer day. Leave the service to us…”

“All… all right,” she sighs, “but if you need more hands…”

“We will call all the rest of the clan, dear, you are still our guest, you don't have to worry. Go play with the other kids.”

She blushed at being called a child, but there was nothing she could do “Yes ma'am” and bowed slightly, turning to her ‘future sister-in-law’ next her “pick fruit, did you say?”

“Yea! It's something me and some cousins ​​do every now and then in the summer. You can meet them too.”

“Could be.” She goes with the assassin, deciding to carry the basket just to have something to do with her hands.

“So, are you having fun staying here?” Fusui comments, halfway.

“Well, if I said no, I'd be lying” Ayami nods. The truth is, she was enjoying the little vacation, but she couldn't quite relax, both because of not knowing what was going to happen, and because of the real reason for being there. It had been five days now, and not even a cell phone message, or a call, or any news from her father and brother. And she also felt a little homesick.

The thought made her stop walking, her heart sank again, and she shivered. Would I ever see them again?

“Hey… oh girl, what happened?” Fusui sees that she had stayed behind, with her head down “are you worried about something?”

“I'm… I mean, I'm fine, but I think I'll follow you more, and walk. I don't think I'm up for swimming” she tries to say. Then she straightens up, taking a little deep breath, and looks at the other”Would you… Fusui… would you judge me if I was a little scared?”

“Scared?”

“Yeah… it's normal to be nervous, right? I still don't know him.”

“Ah yes, it is…” the assassin sighs “of course it's normal, honestly I can't even think about judging you. But you know how people exaggerates everything. It's not like you're going to die, or be tortured in interrogation…”

“Don't try to sugarcoat it” Ayami makes a little grimace “I know that this Candidate, even though he's your brother, is a rather unpleasant person. I know that I'm here to…” She breaks off. I wasn't there to suffer, I was there to keep a guarantee that the business between the families would go well, that's all... there wouldn't need to be torture in the process “anyway, you don't have to say anything, I'll see with my own eyes, and I'll see what happens.”

“Okay” Fusui shrugs “but at least you're warned, and we also want to show support... but well, we're used to morbid things, so when we see someone from the outside who looks as delicate as you…”

"Hey, I'm not that delicate…”

“Said the girl who doesn't have a wrinkled garment fold or a hair out of place. Even your room is cleaner than mine, are you sure?”

“Yes” Ayami crosses her arms.

“Well then, prove it!”

“Give me a Katana and I'll show you.”

“Oh, damn, I don't have one…” Fusui pouts.

“Yeah, I would love to play Fruit Ninja with you, but by the way…” she shrugs.

“One day I'll get one and then we'll play!”

“And you took it seriously?”

“Of course, it's cool as hell”

“You are crazy,” Ayami laughs. She even had some skill, but doubted she could actually slice fruit in midair with a Katana. In fact, she was out of practice, but at least the subject served to liven up the conversation “okay, since we don't have the sword, let's go get these blessed fruits. One can't play Fruit Ninja without fruit, right?”

“No, we can't,” Fusui laughs, returning to accompany her new friend. “I bet they'll love meeting you, Ayami. They're pretty nice when they're not killing someone.”

“Yea, I guess so…”

Next Chapter Here

[five-rivers]

Danger First

Chapter 3

@pocketramblr (also please let me know if you would like me to stop tagging you on these, I don't want to be annoying. :))

"WAIT!" shouted Nana abruptly, as Izuku was talking to his (weirdo) teacher. "I know who that is! Quick, get ready to turn everything off!"

"Turn what off?" asked En. "We live in a formless mental void. We don't even have electricity."

"The quirk! That's Eraserhead!"

"Oh, yeah," said Yoichi, while everyone else (sans Second and Third) scrambled to grab onto the quirk. "I remember Eight meeting him, now! So, he's a teacher, huh?"

"How do all of you forget the one person who might be capable of one-shotting All for One?" demanded Nana.

"Doesn't his quirk not work on mutations?"

"Stop daydreaming and get over here, Yoichi!"

The quirkspace began to glow faintly, ominously red, and the ghosts pulled hard on the quirk, holding it temporarily out of Izuku's reach.

Then, the red glow abated and they dropped it back into place.

"Well, that was exhausting," said Banjo. "So, we'll have to be constantly ready for that, huh?"

"As long as he's around, yeah," said Nana.

"Why did we just do that, anyway?" asked En.

"So we can continue to masquerade as a normal, non-haunted quirk?"

"We could have just let him think he didn't have a quirk, or that the anxiety-"

"Super anxiety."

"-isn't part of it."

Yoichi gasped, as if scandalized. "You'd want us to lie to Izuku?"

"Okay, seriously, what is up with you and Nine?" asked En.

Despite not having a body, Yoichi began to visibly sweat. "Nothing, nothing at all. I just... think he's neat?"

"If you're going to lie to us, can you not do it with archaeomemes?" asked Nana.

"No, no, actually, I can get behind this," said En. "Would you say Izuku has... vibes?"

Yoichi nodded solemnly.

.

"Young Midoriya!"

Izuku shrieked and jumped back from the sudden sound as All Might suddenly emerged from an otherwise innocuous bush.

Both of them froze, staring at each other.

"Are you..." said All Might, hesitantly, sounding much more like he did in his small form than usual, "alright?"

"I... think so?"

"That's good, then." All Might coughed slightly into his fist. "I was wondering if you had a few minutes."

"Of- of course!" said Izuku, immediately.

"Then allow me to lead the way!"

All Might led him through a door labeled 'staff only' and immediately deflated. "All the staff know about my condition," explained Mr. Yagi.

Izuku nodded. Then a thought occurred to him. "Mr. Yagi?"

"Yes, my boy?"

"Why, um, why don't you teach, um, as Mr. Yagi? Instead of as All Might? Wouldn't it save your time?"

Mr. Yagi stopped and scratched his head. "I hadn't really thought about it before," he admitted. "But part of the reason I took this job, other than wanting to help train the next generation of heroes, of course, is that I want to get people used to the idea that I am going to retire." He tugged on one of his bangs. "Also, ah, I'm not sure if my qualifications to teach are quite up to par without my reputation."

"I'm sure it would be fine! You're the best, after all!"

Mr. Yagi chuckled. "I'm glad you think so," he said. Then he reached behind him and opened a door. "In any case: my office."

"Wow," said Izuku, quietly, stepping in. "All Might's office..." Who knew when he'd get another opportunity like this again? He kept his eyes wide to drink in the details.

The rather sparse details. The office was rather bare. Which made sense, seeing as All Might was a brand-new teacher. It was sort of... disappointing, as thrilling as it was.

Mr. Yagi sat down behind the desk and gestured for Izuku to take one of the other chairs. It had a lot of cushioning. A lot a lot. Izuku sank down into the fluff as Mr. Yagi fiddled with a drawer on his desk. He got the drawer open, and pulled out a notebook. A notebook of the same brand Izuku liked to use, actually.

"Since your experiences with One for All are so different from mine, I thought it might be a good idea to do some research into past holders and take a leaf out of your notebook, as it were." He passed the notebook over to Izuku, who took it with shaking hands and a slightly open mouth.

"I'll treasure it," he declared, voice wobbling.

"Not so much that you don't use it, I hope," said Mr. Yagi. "As it is, it's only an overview. The earlier holders, especially, don't have many records associated with them. Consider it a starting point. I haven't had much time to work on it."

"I can't believe you found the time to write this at all," said Izuku, flipping through the pages. The information was sparse, but each holder had a basic profile, all the way back to the fourth. "I mean, between being a hero, training me, and preparing to be a teacher, I'm stunned nothing fell by the wayside!"

Mr. Yagi proceeded to turn a very interesting color.

"Uh, nothing fell by the wayside, right?"

"Why don't you take a few minutes to skim through. If anything jumps out at you right away, we can talk about it. And then I'll let you go get changed and go home, and we can discuss more later, after you've had more time with it."

"Okay!" said Izuku. He'd start with just the basic profiles. Name, date of birth, date of death, quirk... wait, those ages... "They all died young," he said, softly.

"Hero work is dangerous," said Mr. Yagi, hand going to his side.

"There's something else, isn't there?"

"Not something you need to worry about. I took care of it, years ago." The hand holding his side spasmed slightly.

"... Six years ago?" asked Izuku, aware he was pushing his luck. But this sounded both important and relevant.

There was a long pause. "Yes," said All Might, finally. "A villain with a longevity quirk. He... had a history with the first user."

Izuku got the feeling that was an understatement. It also seemed unlikely that the only application of the villain's quirk was longevity, given what he'd done to All Might. But the subject was clearly making All Might uncomfortable, so he dropped it in favor of burying his nose in the notebook again.

(Social fumbles aside, this was the most secure Izuku had felt for... a while.)

"The sixth user had a smoke quirk?"

"Yes, it seems so. Although it doesn't seem to have been actual smoke, but a biological compound."

"I wonder if that has anything to do with all the steam you release when you deflate. Actually..." he flipped back through the quirk. "I wonder if you're using Float, too, subconsciously, when you jump."

"What?"

"I- I mean," said Izuku, "I noticed, when, um, when I grabbed your ankle and also in videos of you- Your hang time is kind of messed up? You're in the air for longer than you should be, but it isn't, like, consistent? Plus, you can change direction mid-air, which I thought was because you were shooting out blasts of air pressure with your quirk, but with me on your ankle, you definitely didn't do that. There was- there was a forum I was on where some people thought your quirk tapped into magnetic fields, somehow, but that doesn't make any sense, because you'd expect a lot more electronic interference and that similar locations would produce similar results, given the Earth's magnetic field, but they don't. But subconscious, low-level use of a telekinesis-based flying quirk would explain everything. If we take into account what you said about my anxiety after the entrance exam, then that's minor expressions of three out of four of the quirks listed here, not counting the base stockpile and enhancement quirk. Do you think the unknown quirks of the second and third users might have partially manifested for you as well? Have you experienced anything else that's atypical for a strength enhancement quirk?"

Mr. Yagi stared at Izuku.

Oh, no, he'd gone too far.

"Nothing immediately comes to mind, my boy," he said, faintly. "But... magnets? Really?"

"I told you it didn't make any sense."

Mr. Yagi rubbed his chin. "There might be something, but... it's too unclear to say either way. I'll keep an eye out. It's just... a lot to take in. I thought One for All was done surprising me."

"When has it surprised you before?"

"Oh, under the influence of certain mental quirks, you can wind up hallucinating the previous users."

"Hallucinating?"

"Yes. But being under the influence of a mental quirk is always the larger issue, so..."

"Mr. Yagi," said Izuku. "That's really the kind of thing you should let people know about up front."

"I- is it?"

.

The ghosts all stared at Nana.

"Hey, don't blame this on me! None of us explained that kind of stuff before passing One for All on."

"In our defense," said En, half raising a hand, "we were usually dying when we passed it on."

"More importantly," said Hikage, "do you think Ninth is right about the quirks?"

"It would make sense," mused Yoichi. "Although then we'd have to wonder why Blackwhip didn't manifest similarly."

"Is it too much for me to get someone to use my quirk? My extremely awesome quirk, that has no downsides?"

"It is powered almost exclusively by rage."

"No downsides."

"You-"

"No. Downsides."

.

Aizawa passed him an envelope labeled 'quirk counseling' along with the standard schedule and orientation packet he was handing to everyone else. It didn't look like any of his class mates had noticed, though, for which Izuku was grateful. He didn't want to be known as a weirdo who didn't know what his own quirk was.

He heavily suspected he was tapping into Danger Sense, somehow, but he didn't know how, and the fourth user of One for All had lived so long ago there weren't any records of him. Not easily and publicly available. Everything Mr. Yagi had written in his notebook (that Izuku had probably stayed up way too late reading... and texting Mr. Yagi about it... and comparing it to his notes... and texting Mr. Yagi about that... and reviewing old All Might compilations and theory threads... and having Mr. Yagi threaten to call his mom if he didn't go to sleep...) about the fourth user had been retrieved from the journals Mr. Yagi's mentor had passed down, according to one of the source notes in the margin.

(Mr. Yagi had really neat, small handwriting, which Izuku wouldn't have ever expected from his large, dramatic signatures as All Might, and his notes were meticulous and carefully cited. If Izuku didn't know better, he would have thought it belonged to a secretary.)

But despite Izuku's suspicions, he didn't actually know. He didn't know it's range, what it defined as danger, whether or not it 'ranked' dangers, how to distinguish it from normal anxiety, or- Well. Anything, really. And he would really like to.

He opened the envelope quietly. Inside was a handwritten note instructing him to pick one of three schedules for quirk counseling and return it to Aizawa by the end of the day. The other pages were printed, with times and possible locations. Options for both before and after the school day.

Izuku felt his eyes tearing up. This was easily the nicest thing a teacher had ever done for him... Although he was nervous about being alone with Aizawa. Some of his other teachers, when they asked him to stay after class it was... not good.

Nothing bad happened, not like in movies or TV shows or the awareness videos the school had shown sometimes. The teachers didn't hurt him, really, didn't do anything to him, other than talk or yell, mostly, but it still wasn't good.

Maybe he could ask Mr. Yagi or Recovery Girl to sit in... But he already felt bad, taking up so much of their time.

He picked one of the after school schedules. He was already staying late on the other days to work with Mr. Yagi, and if something did go wrong, he wanted to have the night to recover before he had to face Aizawa again in class.

He put it to the side, so he'd remember to give it to Aizawa before he left, then looked over the class schedule. Homeroom, Math, Hero Art History, History, and English in the morning. At least this morning. The history classes alternated with something called Heroics-Applied Science and Hero Law and Ethics. Afternoons, meanwhile, were entirely occupied by Hero Basic Training.

And every class would be taught by a pro hero. He wondered if it would be rude to ask for their autographs...

.

Shouta grunted as Hizashi flopped down onto the couch next to him on the couch in the staff breakroom. "What a morning! I just love seeing all those bright little faces at the beginning of the year. Anyone have a favorite first year yet?"

Shouta kicked Hizashi through his sleeping bag. Sadly, this had no effect on the man.

"I think mine might be the little green guy. He's the only one who was actually paying attention, and you know how rare that is, when everyone is anticipating their first heroics lesson. The rest of us just pale in comparison."

Shouta attempted to kick Hizashi again, this time for an entirely different reason. Midoriya was already All Might's favorite (probably)- he did not need more pull with the staff.

"I know who my least favorite is," said Kan. "Kid's certainly dedicated and competitive, but I wouldn't be surprised if he threatened his middle school teachers into giving him those glowing reviews. His personality needs a lot of work. How did you get Nezu to saddle me with Bakugo, anyway, Eraser?"

"I had nothing to do with it."

"Don't give me that, I was going to have Monoma. At least he's a team player."

"You're being illogical," said Shouta, zipping his sleeping bag closed over his face.

"How about you, Nemuri?" asked Hizashi, cutting off Vlad King vs Eraserhead round five hundred.

"It's hard to choose! They're all so cute and eager! Full of the passion of youth! I think they're all my favorite."

"You always say that..."

The door opened and closed.

"All Might! What about you? Any favorites yet?"

Yagi coughed. "I've only had the one class of third years so far. Don't you think that's rather... premature?"

What an incredible nonanswer.

"How did that first class of yours go, anyway? They didn't sour you to the whole idea of teaching, did they?"

"Not at all! The students were wonderful. The third years are very advanced, aren't they? For some of them, I wouldn't be shocked to see that skill level on an active sidekick."

"What can I say? We start them off right," crowed Hizashi.

"They did seem a little surprised by the scenario, however."

"So was I, t'be honest," said Snipe, who was in charge of the third years.

"Ah, was it no good...?"

"It was fine. Lesson plan was a bit rough around the edges, but you and Nezu'll be goin' over that later. But... quirk traffickin' doesn't quite seem like your thing."

"Ah, well, set-pieces," he said, using the slightly derisive underground slang for large-scale spotlight hero battles, "may be what I'm known for, but before my injury, the majority of my battles and investigations weren't publicized."

"Shield laws?" asked Nemuri.

"Generally, yes, but some of the investigations were tied to others, so we were using the organized crime secrecy laws to keep those under wraps. Simply put, my popularity isn't the only reason I keep the number one spot despite Endeavor having more completed cases than me on paper."

Shouta had known there was more to All Might than 'punchy, over-the-top, eyestrain-causing, bombastic muscle guy,' but part of his stupid, illogical brain was annoyed at Yagi for pummeling that image into imaginary dust, anyway. It seemed like the man's only two flaws were horrible interpersonal skills when not using his public persona, and his vast suite of health issues, the latter of which all heroes who operated long enough picked up.

Oh, and a possible inclination towards bribery.

Made it hard to dislike him, which Shouta wanted to do, because he was loud, flashy, and gave him headaches, literal and metaphorical. He ignored the fact that Hizashi was the same way, and had forcibly become Shouta's best friend. Clearly, there was no connection here.

"By the way, why is young Aizawa completely zipped in like that?"

"Nap time," said Hizashi, solemnly.

.

"Sir?" said Iida, raising his hand.

"Yes, young man?" boomed All Might.

"There are nineteen of us. How are we handling the odd person out?"

"Excellent question! In other exercises, we may handle it differently, but for today, one of you will be working alone! Occasionally, a hero may find themselves isolated when they originally expected help. However, for better balance, I have also arranged it so the odd hero out will be taking part in the last battle, so you'll have more time to strategize!"

But the other team would also have more time to strategize, Izuku noted. He really hoped it wouldn't be him... not that he wanted to force it on any if his classmates! He just didn't want yet another handicap on the first day of training.

All Might walked around with the box of ballots, pausing for each student to take one. He reached Izuku and held the box out to him with a wink. Izuku smiled back, reached in, and grabbed one.

A chill ran up his back and he froze, fingers wrapped tightly around the little ball. Something told him this was definitely the cursed, single-person ballot. Could he let it go? Would it be considered cheating if he picked a new one?

But All Might was already walking away. Every part of his body tense, Izuku turned his hand over and forced his fingers apart.

J.

The tenth character of the Latin alphabet. For the tenth, last, team.

He watched as everyone else started to pair up, and All Might looked at him apologetically.

Izuku approximated a smile. Plus ultra, right?

[bokunoheroanalysisforthefuture]

Last chapter of this volume! Can’t believe we’re already through four volumes, and we’re not even done with the second full arc yet. I mean, later arcs are gonna be even longer, but like. Yeah.

[No. 35 - Battle On, Challengers!]

We move on to the next match - Kaminari versus Shiozaki! I’m actually kind of marveled that they were able to thaw out that entire glacier in any sort of timely manner. That’s quirks for you!

Present Mic announces Shiozaki as class 1b’s assassin, and also reveals that he apparently either doesn’t know the full quote for ‘every rose has its thorns’ or started to say it, only to realize she didn’t have roses and scrambled to compensate. Kaminari, meanwhile, gets announced as a ‘sparking, killing boy.’ Really kind of morbid on this round, huh?

Shiozaki turns around to object to Present Mic’s descriptor as an ‘assassin’, stating that she’s merely come this far seeking victory. Present Mic apologises, and Kaminari just kind of watches while admiring her. He takes notes of her eyes, and then thinks about how strong she is. He then sort of counters his previous admiration of strength by asking himself if he really has to hit someone so pretty with a full discharge, then concludes his ‘battle plan’ by determining that he’ll ask her out once all this is over.

Present Mic starts the match while Shiozaki is still focused on talking to Mic - which means she’s facing away from Kaminari. Which is kind of a dick move on Mic’s part, but eh, I guess ‘heroes have to be ready for anything,’ yarda yarda etcetera. 

Kaminari asks Shiozaki if she wants to grab something to eat when they’re done there, and that he’s happy to console her if she wants. She turns to stare at him in confusion, just in time to see him charging up his whole body with his quirk. Kaminari makes a quip about this match probably being over in an instant - and then we cut to the immediate aftermath, where Present Mic comments on how it’s already over while Kaminari wheys out in the grasp of Shiozaki’s vines. Shiozaki was both able to create a shield against the electricity and yank Kaminari into the air and away from her, thus causing him to short-circuit.

One on patrol, Mount Lady comments on Shiozaki being a promising one, and another plant user. Kamui Woods amits he wishes he could’ve seen her up close, but that they need to get back to work. 

Back in the stadium, Midnight announces Shiozaki moving on to the second round. Shiozaki is relieved to have no wasted the opportunity bestowed upon her, and the narrative finally gives us an informational blurb on her quirk. 

...A strange ending note there, but sure. Some of the crowd - or possibly Izuku? Since he’s sinking into a muttering fest right after - comments on the ‘match’ and the participants. Shiozaki’s ability to use her quirk is something else, between building walls, binding enemies… Kaminari’s quirk was no use against her. She countered him well. He might’ve had a chance if he could maneuver better, but he panicked and short-circuited after one attack.

Ochako hears muttering besides her and is a bit alarmed, looking over to see Izuku in the middle of an analysis fugue. Izuku mutters about thinking Kaminari’s quirk would be stronger, but Shiozaki got fourth in the entrance exam, and she’s the real deal. The vine moves are similar to Kamui Wood’s binding attacks, and binding types are always strong, to the point where you almost never see someone break out. It’s pretty much impossible to dodge all the vine attacks, so the only counter is to rip them apart with brute strength - ah, but to prevent that, they tend to go for the hands first.

(...and I just NOW realized that this specific commentary about binding-type quirks and the counter being brute strength is literally something that comes into play when Best Jeanist binds Gigantomachia with those steel cables during the Jakku arc. Holy shit, I don’t think Hori intended it, but what a callback. Or it’s just good worldbuilding, which would also be neat!)

Ochako eventually cuts into Izuku’s muttering - startling him in the process - by commenting on how his match just ended, but he’s already thinking ahead strategy-wise. Izuku denies it, saying that it’s just a hobby of his, and that they finally have a chance to see the quirks of people outside their class in action. He then eagerly shows her his open notebook, stating that he has everything she’d need to know about class A in there - even her ‘zero gravity’. 

Me, staring down the people who have the class unaware of the contents of Izuku’s notebooks when writing suspected traitor fics: 

Anyways! Ochako is kind of impressed despite herself, stating that she thought Izuku was amazing from the day they met, but this sports festival has brought him to a whole other level. Izuku is confused by the complement, but there’s no time to ask, since Present Mic is announcing the participants of the next battle: Tenya versus Hatsume.

Some of the students are chattering about how the match is going to go, with one asking what is that - which seems to be referring to the support items Tenya is wearing? Midnight comments on it as well, noting that they’re forbidden for hero course students, and that a special request has to be put in for those things beforehand. Tenya admits he forgot, seeing as Aoyama was wearing that belt of his. Midnight reminds him that Aoyama applied for an exception.

Tenya apologies, stating that he’d been touched by Hatsuma’s sense of sportsmanship. Although she’s a member of the support course, she came to him and said that if they’re to be seen as equals, then they should fight on equal footing. She gave those items to him; her earnest spirit… he could never look down on it. That was his thinking. 

Midnight apparently is now all for this, calling Tenya naive. Mic says that it’s good enough for him, and Aizawa says that if both parties are fine with it, he supposes it can be allowed… right? Izuku, up in the stands, is looking concerned, wondering if Hatsume is really the type to offer that. Hatsume, of course, is chuckling as she flips down a microphone right as the match starts.

Mei immediately starts going into her spiel, commenting on Tenya’s speed - much to the confusion of both Mic and Tenya. She then points out how Tenya’s legs should feel lighter than usual, and that that’s what one can expect with her custom leg parts, which keep up with their user’s speed! However, dodging is no problem for her with her hydraulic attachment bars! Which she deploys just before Tenya reaches her, causing him to trip over one of the bars and flail.

Mei checks for where the support companies were seated, her quirk zeroing in on the faces she’s looking for - which, to her pleasure, are eating her words up.

Tenya catches himself and spins on his heels, wondering what she’s going. Hatsume complements it, noting how her auto-balancer makes those sorts of tight movements possible. Meanwhile, up in the announcement booth, Mic and Aizawa are both so put out, with Aizawa facepalming and calling her a born saleswoman. 

The game of tag, along with a completely play-by-play sales pitch, goes on for another ten minutes. Eventually, however, Hatsume steps over the line, sweating but proud of managing to get through everything she wants to show off. Midnight states that Tenya’s moving on to the second round, while Tenya is just in despair at the deception.

Ah, the face of someone with zero shame. Hatsume gives a completely insincere apology for using Tenya, which Tenya replies to by stating his extreme dislike of her. 

Izuku is also a bit dismayed as he notes that Tenya is just too serious, so it wasn’t hard for her to get him to play her game, and that at least she’s honest about her under-handed methods to get what she wants. Ochako herself is looking a bit down as she gets up, quietly noting to Izuku that she should get to the prep room. Izuku notes that she left her still-full drink behind, glancing back to her in concern as she walks away.

As other matches run in the background, we shift over to prep room two, which Tenya is just entering. Ochako, already waiting in there, tells him good which, which startles him out of his funk as he recognizes her. Of course, the first thing he notes is her furrowed brows, which Ochako admits is probably from her being a bit nervous, and how it’s probably showing on her face. Tenya remembers her match is against Katsuki, and Ochako admits that she’s really scared. But, seeing Tenya out there, she…

Well, before she can finish her thought, Izuku bursts into the room. Ochako is confused, since he should be out there watching the other matches. Tenya to the side asks about the story behind the support girl. Izuku ignores the latter, telling Ochako that another two matches are already over, and now Kirishima and some class 1b guy are duking it out. Mina managed to damage Aoyama’s belt, he panicked, and she knocked him out with an uppercut to the chin. Then Tokoyami won his match in a flash - he didn’t give Momo the time to use the objects she made… he’s one of the strongest guys here in a one-on-one. Ochako realizes this means her match is up soon, her heart pounding in her chest.

Tenya can’t imagine that Katsuki would give it his explosive all against a female opponent, but Izuku cuts in, staring very firmly that Katsuki will. Everyone is competing here with the dream of becoming number one. No one’s holding back - Katsuki least of all. However, Ochako’s already helped Izuku so much, so he thought he might return the favor…

He really just stores his notebooks anywhere he can. What a legend. He offers the notebook, stating that Ochako needs a counter-strategy against Katsuki - one that uses her quirk. He came up with it on the fly, but it might work! Tenya is relief, stating how fortunate Ochako is. Ochako thanks Izuku, but says that it’s okay. Both Izuku and Tenya are startled by the reply. 

Ochako states how amazing Izuku is, and how he does amazing stuff all the time. During the cavalry battle, she thought the easiest strategy woul be to team up with friends. But when she thinks about it, she was just putting her faith in Izuku. That’s why Tenya said ‘I challenge you’ and all that, which left her feeling a little embarrassed about herself. 

She pushes herself to her feet, moving past them to get to her match as she says thanks, but no thanks. Everyone here is fighting for their futures, so doesn’t that make them all rivals? That’s why she’ll see him in the finals!

Ochako, sweetie…

Kirishima and Tetsutetsu knock each other out at the same time. Present Mic comments on the mirror image quirk matchup, and how the winner is… neither! They have a tie, since both are down. Midnight clarifies that in the event of a tie, they’ll determine the winner after the two recover, probably with an arm wrestling match or the like. The crowds comment on how they’re equal in strength, and how that was great though. They kind of hotbloodedness would be a great morale boost, and how they’re desirable as sidekicks. 

Shouto watches on as the final two contestants of the first round enter the arena. Tsuyu states her worries about the match, and Jirou addson how she doesn’t want to watch it. Izuku quietly hopes for Ochako to do her best. 

And so the final match is announced: Ochako versus Katsuki.

And with that, volume four is done! I’ll be getting up the character sheet first, and then digging into the bonus material. Hopefully y’all enjoy!

[kravkalackin]

Lup had told him that sneaking into the gala at the palace was only a bad idea if he got caught. Taako had agreed at the time, but now he was willing to adjust that claim slightly. 

This was only a bad idea if he got caught and wasn’t able to get himself out of it. 

He was desperately looking for that out now as the security guard had him cornered in the hallway, up against some wallpaper that probably cost more than their entire apartment. The stuff he currently had shoved in his bag definitely cost more than he could afford if this douche decided to search him. 

“I told you, I’m just waiting for my fiance,” Taako insisted, and the old guard didn’t look like he believed him any more than he did the first two times. 

“And I told you that visitors are not allowed in this part of the palace. Now please show me some sort of identification or I will be forced to remove you from the premises,” the guard said, his hand resting oh so casually on the hilt of his sword now. Taako nodded quickly, moving like he was going to grab an ID out of his bag. 

“Of course I can show you some- oh!” he stopped, something akin to hope starting to come back to him as he heard someone walking towards them from further into the castle. He’d mostly been hoping for a distraction, but when he saw the guy who turned the corner Taako figured that yeah, okay, he could work with this. 

“I told you I was just waiting for my fiance! Babe, tell him this is all just a huge misunderstanding,” Taako said, and the guard turned to look at who Taako was speaking to. He was probably the most handsome man Taako had seen tonight, which had so far been a night of some exceedingly handsome men. His hair was braided back into a neat bun, decorated with gold that matched the rather modest make up he had on. His suit was also simple, but Taako wouldn’t have been surprised if it out cost everything in Taako’s bag. 

He also looked thrown completely off guard by the situation, which Taako couldn’t blame him for. Still, Taako flashed him what he would consider a very winning smile, winking as the guard was still looking away. 

And then the old guard dropped to a knee, and it was dawning on Taako that he might have miscalculated here. 

“Prince Kravitz, I am terribly sorry for the disturbance. I do not know who this is but I will remove this liar from the castle immediately,” the guard said, and oh yeah, this was not his best move. Taako couldn’t do anything as the guard quickly got back to his feet and went to grab him. 

Before he could though the prince walked forward, an amused grin on his face as he put a hand up for the old guy to stop. 

“There’s no need for that,” he said, walking right up to Taako now. “Darling, I thought we both agreed to keep the news to ourselves until the public announcement,” the prince said, and it took a few long, dumbstruck seconds for Taako to realize what was happening. 

He was actually playing along. 

“I know, but he wouldn’t stop pestering me!” he whined, pouting a little and moving to wrap himself around the prince’s arm. Because hey, he wouldn’t get another chance at this, might as well take advantage for all it’s worth. 

“I apologize my liege, I did not know,” the guard said, and Prince Kravitz turned back towards him. 

“That’s quite all right Leon. Your dedication in keeping the castle safe is appreciated,” he said, and Taako stuck his tongue out at the guard while the prince wasn’t looking. He quickly schooled his face back into something more mature than a six year old when he turned back towards him. “We haven’t had a chance to introduce you to the security staff yet, have we?” he asked, and Taako grinned as he shook his head. 

“Yeah sorry, the uh, chariot traffic was real bad on the way over,” he said, turning back towards the guard with as smug of a look as he could muster. “I’m Taako, from uh, New Elfington,” he added, and the guard did not look very impressed. 

“Shall we get to the party Taako? I’m sorry to keep you waiting, they like to insist on the royal family entering last,” he said and Taako grinned at that. 

“Don’t even worry about it babe, let’s go,” he said, and well this day had certainly turned around. As they walked the guard followed along, and Taako got the sense he still didn’t entirely trust him yet. They were walking arm in arm though, and Kravitz seemed to take that as an opportunity to lean down, whispering in his ear. 

“New Elfington huh? I wonder what kind of trade deals our marriage could arrange with such an exotic place,” Kravitz said, the sarcasm clear in his voice. Taako didn’t expect the prince to have such a sense of humor, he was into it. 

“I’ll tell you all about em over some fancy cocktails, what do you say?” he asked, and Kravitz grinned at that. 

“I’d say we have quite a bit to discuss, yes,” he said, which was fair. Taako was lucky as fuck that the dude was apparently willing to just fuck with some random guard instead of throw out an obvious criminal. 

When they got to the entrance to the ball the guard quickly stepped in front of then. 

“My lord, allow me to introduce the both of you to the guests,” he said, and the panic was starting to come back again. 

“Oh that’s not-” he started, Kravitz quickly shaking his head as well. 

“There’s really no need,” the prince insisted, but with a pointed look at Taako the guard quickly went through the door, and the two of them were left frozen in place as they heard the guard loudly announce to the ballroom full of the most powerful and influential people in the surrounding kingdoms. 

“Everyone! Please welcome your Prince Kravitz,” he started, and Taako should run at this point but all he could do was listen in horror as the guard continued.  “As well as his fiance, Taako of New Elfington,” he finished, and even on the other side of the door they could hear the shocked murmurs. 

“My mom’s going to kill me,” Kravitz muttered, a dread in his voice that Taako could feel down in his soul. Before he could commiserate on his similar upcoming death at the hands of his sister the large double doors were opening in front of them. 

Standing at the top of a staircase now, Taako could see that quite literally every eye in the ball was on the two of them. Kravitz put on a clearly fake grin and Taako could do nothing but follow along as he led them both down the stairs. 

He was starting to think this might have been a mistake. 

There was no fucking way he was getting out of this one. 

[elysiadjarin]

Sword and Shield 6

Tags: Bad Batch x reader (you), fem!coded, poly!relationship, multi-part series, nonhuman!reader, Echo later on

Part 5: https://elysiadjarin.tumblr.com/post/655170472428830720/sword-and-shield-5

Warnings: none really. 

Without further ado, I present to you the moment you’ve all been waiting for. *bows deeply* *backs away*

6: Confessions

You snorted to yourself. Not act on it, that’s for kriffing sure. You sighed, shaking your head. Even if someone wanted to get into a relationship with you — already dangerous territory — why would they even consider accepting you harboring feelings for others? Ridiculous. Everyone you’d ever known besides your Vod’ika had been fiercely possessive of what they viewed as their own — and besides, even the 501st had been super protective and jealous of you in most aspects.

Letting out a heavy sigh, you resigned yourself to suffering in silence as always. They would never know, and you’d simply continue to work with them. Hopefully, best case, your crush would pass and fade away in time. After all, maybe this really was just a reaction to the kindness the Bad Batch had shown you after you’d been neglected for so much of your life.

You staunchly decided that you didn’t want to look further into it than that. Best not fan flames of false hope, after all.

Having made a decision, you refocused on humming and popping the finished three pans into the oven. You moved onto the icing you’d decided to put on the cupcakes. The team ate a lot, after all, and it’s not like you got sweets a lot on missions. The sugar might be a nice pick-me-up or reward for their hard work. Plus, you decided, the ship smelled nice now.

Whisking away at the icing in the chilled bowl, you let the contentment settle over you. Humming to the music, you started to sway a little and step lightly in time to the beat. The ship was warm; you felt content for the time being; and you were where you wanted to be.

“Whoa, what’s that smell?”

You almost started, turning around to see Wrecker in the doorway, staring at you with wide eyes. You felt your face burn as you realized that Crosshair, Hunter, and Wrecker had caught you dancing as you baked. Setting the bowl down, you gave them an embarrassed smile.

“Welcome back. I figured I’d make you some cupcakes-?” You offered, tugging at your hair that you’d put up and out of the way. “I just put them in the oven: I’m making frosting right now.” You picked the bowl back up.

Wrecker blundered into the kitchen, clearly a bit tipsy. His eyes lit up. “Whoa, seriously Shiv?” he exclaimed giddily. “Cupcakes? You’re making them? For us?”

You had to laugh at his flushed cheeks and childish grin of excitement as he plopped himself down on the floor and watched you. “Yes, I know we don’t really get sweets or anything on missions usually, so I figured I’d just... you know. I mean, you all work really hard, you deserve something for it. Plus, I owe you a snack, remember?”

Hunter nodded at you from the door. “Appreciate it, Shiv. I’m going to go back to my quarters for a while,” he mumbled, clearly on sensory overload.

You nodded back. “I’ll leave some for you in the cooler whenever you want some,” you promised. “Please get some rest.”

He nodded, trudging off.

You hesitated, glancing at Crosshair. “Would you... would you like to join, or... or should I just save you some?” you asked tentatively, unsure if the quiet and usually sullen sniper would want to be around.

He glanced at you, and you couldn’t tell if he’d even drunk anything or not. Then he grunted. “Too warm in here. I’ll be in the common room. Thanks for the... stuff.” With a curt nod, he headed off.

You blinked, then took it as a sort of thanks. Crosshair had always been short with everyone, so you took no offense to it; but you’d also realized over time working with him that the fact that he was never outright rude to you was his way of being personable. And the fact that he even sat in the same room as you for periods of time was another silent proof that he, at the very least, didn’t hate you. He normally never complained about working with you either, only making constructive suggestions that, while sometimes terse, weren’t overtly or purposely vitriolic.

You shook yourself and refocused to see Wrecker staring up at you with a sort of stupid grin.

“Are the cupcakes almost done?” he asked eagerly, turning to look at the oven.

You laughed. “Not quite, I just put them in a few minutes ago, so it’ll be another fifteen minutes or so.” You offered him the mixing bowl. “My arm is getting a little tired, can you help? I just need to mix this a little more.”

He took the bowl and started to whisk, still careful even in his tipsy state not to spill too much. Well, he tried, you had to note with some amusement. He still splashed a little, but you weren’t really bothered by it. You’d purposely put extra in there anyway, just to be safe.

“Did you have a good time?” you decided to ask, turning the music down and going to check the timer.

“Yeah! The drinks weren’t too bad, and I got to see a couple of familiar faces,” Wrecker said, still diligently stirring away at the icing. “I mean, I was a little sad when you left, but I knew why, you know? I kinda hoped you’d have fun, not have a bad time.”

You almost froze, desperately trying to calm your heartbeat that had picked up. Straightening, you sent him a jittery smile. “Th-Thanks, Wrecker. You were there, so it wasn’t all bad. It was just one guy.”

He notably cheered up at that. “Good, good,” he said with a decisive nod.

“Oh, can I see the icing? I think it should be done,” you said, trying to change the topic. Your newly-discovered feelings could absolutely not handle any sort of encouragement.

He held it out, glancing into it. “Is it supposed to look like that?”

You peered into the bowl, noting with satisfaction the peaks of the icing. “Yep. Could you put it in the cooler please? Once the cupcakes are out and cooled enough, I can put the icing on.”

He nodded and got up, carefully putting it away in the cooler. He rather gingerly sat down on a chair, then accepted the glass of water you offered.

“Thanks. I think I maybe had one too many,” he said, gulping down the glass.

You gave him a sympathetic smile. “Well, the water should help,” you encouraged.

“Do you drink, Shiv?” Wrecker asked curiously, peering at you.

You blinked, then shook your head. “Never really started in the first place,” you admitted. “I mean, I understand the draw, but I never was allowed to before, and then it just sort of... I don’t know, I figured that after all this time, why start? Caf is my poison of choice, and I don’t fancy the hangovers, not after taking care of the 501st with Kix too many times.” You rolled your eyes fondly at the memory.

“Huh. Makes sense,” he conceded with a nod.

The timer went off just then, so you grabbed the oven mitts and opened the oven. The toothpick came out clean, so you grabbed the trays and set them on the cooling racks, turning off the oven.

“Are they done?”

You hummed and nodded, poking at one. “Yep, they’ve baked all the way through and the top is spongy,” you said in satisfaction. “I knew it would be a good batch.”

“What flavor are they?” Wrecker tilted his head at the trays curiously.

“I made one flavored Nabooian chocolate, the second vanilla, and the third mint,” you answered.

“Whoa, Nabooian chocolate? Isn’t that pretty expensive?” Wrecker looked surprised.

You shrugged. “Yeah, usually, but the GAR usually gets things a little cheaper in bulk and I decided it was worth it this time around. Sometimes you just... need to indulge while you have the opportunity, you know?” You gave him a smile.

He smiled back and nodded. “Yeah... makes sense.”

Once the cupcakes had cooled enough, you carefully lifted them out of the tins and set them on the racks. Grabbing the bowl of icing from the cooler, you started applying it in neat swirls. Wrecker shuffled up behind you, peering over your shoulder at the process.

“They look nice,” he remarked encouragingly.

You glanced up at him with a smile. “I’m glad. I chose a buttercream icing so it would pair well with the flavors.” Once you were finished, you licked your fingers clean of the icing that had gotten smeared in the process. Cleaning out the bowl, you set everything away and began placing the cupcakes in containers. Grabbing a few, you took three plates and placed a few on them to go take to the others. Turning, you smiled up at Wrecker.

“Help me carry these?”

He grabbed two plates, letting you get the other one for Hunter. He followed you down the hall, and you stopped briefly at Hunter’s room. You knocked lightly on the door.

“It’s open,” a voice came from within.

You slipped through the door, then placed the plate on his bunk. “Here you go,” you whispered, trying not to agitate his senses.

He glanced from you to the plate, then nodded. “Thank you, Shiv.”

You just nodded back, then slipped back out and closed the door. Following Wrecker down the hall, you went into the common room to find Tech and Crosshair still there.

“Yo, Cross, Tech, Shiv made us some snacks!” Wrecker said, putting the plates down.

“Oh- the one with more on it is for Tech and Crosshair,” you said quickly, “and the other plate is for you, Wrecker.” Everyone knew that Wrecker ate more than the rest of you, due to his size and genetic mutation.

He grabbed his and sat down, gleefully beginning to tuck into his cupcakes.

“There’s Nabooian chocolate, vanilla, and mint,” you repeated for Crosshair and Tech’s benefit, twisting your fingers in your sleeves. “I hope they’re okay....”

“They’re so good,” Wrecker all but groaned around his mouthful.

You noticed that Tech was still engrossed in his work, so you decided to go and gently tap on his shoulder. He started slightly and looked up at you owlishly.

“Oh, Shiv.”

You gave him a gentle smile. “I know you’re doing good things, but please take a little break? You haven’t eaten or drank anything in a while.” You offered him water and a cupcake.

He blinked down at it, then seemed to automatically reach out and take it. “Oh. Uh... th-thanks, Shiv,” he said hesitantly, looking up at you with a sort of surprise buried in his eyes.

Impulsively, something in you drawn to his wistful expression, you reached out and brushed your fingers briefly through his mussed hair, smoothing the wild strands. “I thought you might be a mint type of person,” you said, giving him a smile.

He took a bite of the cupcake, chewing it thoughtfully. “I do like mint,” he confirmed, then began tucking into the cupcake, almost wolfing it down. He didn’t remark on your gesture, so you decided not to address it and instead turn around.

Crosshair was already halfway through a chocolate one. Glancing up, he lifted the cupcake in a sort of half-salute of acknowledgement.

You smiled back, glad that the sullen trooper seemed to enjoy the treat.

“Hey Shiv, come sit!” Wrecker motioned next to him. He offered you a cupcake once you sat beside him, but you shook your head.

“Oh, I’m okay, thanks. I sort of scraped the batter bowls when I was making them, so I’ve already had a taste.” You shrugged, picking up your datapad. “You enjoy them.”

“Boy am I,” Wrecker enthused, grinning. He polished off the others on his plate, smacking his lips. “These are super good.”

You briefly glanced up at Tech, noting that he’d absently begun on another cupcake while tapping away again at his screen.

“Do you think they’re going to put us through a battle simulation soon?” you asked warily, frowning down at your datapad.

“Statistically, probably,” Tech answered. “It’s been a while since our last one, and they do tend to keep up with us as a modified unit.”

You sighed, shoulders hunching on yourself. “And now I’ve been added to the force,” you concluded glumly.

“Is somethin’ wrong, Shiv? I like the simulations, they’re fun.” Wrecker glanced down at you curiously.

You sighed. “Well, I’m... I’m a weird factor in the whole mess. I’m usually either told to sit out on a simulation because they’re testing the functionality of the troopers, not me; or I’m limited to stun-only weaponry, which is really difficult to hold as a form. I’m made to be a lethal weapon, so my default is to use live ammunition, not training weapons. I can, of course, but it’s an extra thing for me to remember when I’m utilized in a simulator. The Kaminoans really don’t like it when I mess up and damage either their training units or their equipment.”

Tech tilted his head, brushing crumbs off of his lap. “I hadn’t realized it before, Shiv, but what relationship exactly do you have with the Kaminoans? You never really said how you came to be a weapon for a clone unit. Why wouldn’t you have been assigned to a Jedi or an officer?”

You grimaced, tucking your legs up to your chest. “That’s... a long story, Tech. Not that I wouldn’t tell you, but... I don’t think right now is the best time. Besides, I think Sergeant Hunter should be here to hear it, too, as my leader. But for now, I think it’s safe to say that the Kaminoans are interested in replicating my DNA, so using me with a clone force to see how I would react to and mesh with their clones is a convenient experiment for them.”

Tech conceded. “I suppose that’s fair,” he said with a nod. “But we will most likely be asked to participate in a training regimen soon.”

You reached up and brushed hair out of your eyes, feeling the exhaustion creep up on you. “I think I’m going to go to bed.” Standing, you sent everyone a tired smile. “Get some sleep, if you can.”

“Thanks for the cupcakes, Shiv. I’m gonna eat more tomorrow,” Wrecker declared, waving at you.

You nodded and stepped out, shuffling down the hall to your small room. You might have to spend the next couple of nights in the GAR barracks, considering the probable training regimen you’d be called in for tomorrow plus the report you’d have to give to Commander Rex.

You quickly fell asleep, exhausted at the mere thought.

~

Commander Rex raised an eyebrow in vague amusement as he faced you. “You didn’t have to send me an entire comprehensive report, as much as I’m sure the command base will appreciate it.”

You shuffled your feet sheepishly. “Sorry, Commander,” you laughed self-deprecatingly. “You know me.”

He nodded. “I think I do, which is how I also knew that giving you time to compile a report would result in me being able to see data for myself.” Standing, he sighed and clasped his hands behind his back. “I personally see your integration as a success, Shiv. You seem to be integrating into the team very well, and the team seems to accept you. But you also know that my report of success will have a natural repercussion.”

You looked down at your feet. “Tipoca,” you said resignedly.

“Yes,” Rex confirmed with a nod. “Tipoca. The Kaminoans have already requested the presence of Force 99 for checkups, especially since your integration has been considered a success.”

“I figured, Commander,” you said quietly. “I also mentioned it to the team last night. I might have to... tell them.”

“If you think it’s prudent.” Rex left it up to you. Then he sighed, reaching out to place a hand on your shoulder. “It was good to see you again, Shiv. You seem to be thriving in the Bad Batch. But I do have a word of warning.”

You blinked up at him, a little surprised. “Y-Yes?”

“You know that most Regs don’t look on defective clones very... positively. And you already know your own reputation on Tipoca. Keep your head up.”

You nodded. “That’s another reason I’m going to tell them, sir,” you admitted. “They’re probably going to say something, but...” You shrugged your shoulder.

Rex nodded. “General Skywalker asked about you the other day. He seemed pleased to hear that you had found a place with the Bad Batch.”

You had to smile at that, grateful that he’d remembered you. “If you see him again, tell him thank you for thinking of me. I didn’t think he’d remember me.”

“Will do. Go on, Shiv. You probably have to leave soon to get to Kamino on time.”

You nodded. “Have a good day, Commander. And-“ you paused before you headed back out, turning briefly to glance at him. “I hope to the Maker that you see nothing but success on your missions.”

He nodded. “Same to you, Shiv. Take care of yourself and your team out there.”

You left, letting the door slide shut behind you. Walking down the hallways and corridors, you sighed heavily and tried to think about how to tell the Bad Batch about your past. They deserved to know, not only as your teammates but also considering they wouldn’t otherwise understand the routine you’d have to go through once you arrived on Tipoca.

As soon as you got back to the ship, Hunter found you. “Good, you’re back, Shiv. We’ve gotten commands to go to Kamino again.”

You nodded resignedly. “I know. Um, Sergeant, would it be possible to talk to the whole team? I have to explain a few things before we arrive at Kamino. It has to do with why we’re being called there.”

He paused and stared at you for a moment, then nodded. “Gather in the common room once we’re up in the air.”

You nodded, heading off to the common room and trying to think of the best way to go about it. Everything felt... distant, in a strange way. You had to figure out how to distance yourself, at least enough to explain the standard procedure you were always subjected to on Kamino, not to mention what they’d have to look forward to.

Everyone shuffled in once the ship was in hyperspace to find you curled up on one of the seats, staring blankly at the floor. Wrecker plopped himself next to you, while Tech took his usual seat and Crosshair and Hunter sat opposite the three of you.

“So what’s all this about, Shiv?” Hunter asked evenly, opening the floor.

You sighed, uncurling enough to not hide your face. “I know I haven’t said that much about my past, or how I even started working among clone troopers. And now that we’re being called to Kamino, I figured this is probably the best time to tell you about it, since... it’s going to be important.”

You grimaced, reaching up to pull a hand through your hair. “I’ve already said that I’m a weapon, and that there aren’t many of us throughout the galaxy. I’m not the only one, but... definitely one of the few left. I... Since I can remember, my earliest memories start with me being a slave.” You didn’t even flinch, used to the memories. “I was bought, sold, traded off, moved hands throughout my earlier years, until I fell into the hands of a well-known Separatist leader who bought me to be trained as a personal bodyguard and weapon.”

Wrecker grunted, clearly displeased as he frowned thunderously.

Leaning back, you wrapped your hands around your knees pulled up to your chest. “I was... well, there wasn’t that much known about my kind or species, still isn’t. So naturally, I was... poked and prodded at for a long while until I was about... ten? That’s when my formal training began.” You rolled your eyes. “As if I hadn’t been forced to kill since I was six,” you said tiredly, shaking your head. “All that was different was that I was forced into a grueling regimen for three years.”

“You were forced to kill when you were six?” Hunter frowned, eyebrows furrowing as he stared at you intently.

You nodded. “Yes, that’s the earliest kill I can remember. I don’t even know what might have happened before that. My memory has been proven to be faulty concerning anything before seven.” Glancing around, you felt the familiar knot twist in your stomach. “Anyway, those three years were not just for combat training but also for etiquette training. I was groomed to be not just a weapon but an ornament for a rich, upper class noble that liked to flaunt his money and... eccentricity. After all, I was a rare commodity.”

“A very clinical outlook,” Tech remarked, tilting his head at you.

You glanced at him. “It was the only way I knew to view myself. I’d been taught since I could remember that I was a slave, that I lived solely to be a slave to someone else, whoever that may be. I was to be bought and sold freely at my master’s whim, passed from hand to hand. After all, I was just a weapon, right?” You shrugged, the bitterness twisting your lips. “It was all I’d known for most of my life. I was to stand still and look pretty staring at the ground unless my current master decided to use me to either protect himself or... reaffirm... his power.”

Wrecker cracked his knuckles. “Let’s go find him,” he suggested darkly, glaring.

You smiled at him slightly, patting his arm. “Thank you, but unnecessary. The War broke out, and after another three years serving as a weapon for the Separatists, my former Master was unfortunate enough to run into General Skywalker and his squadron, the 501st.” You shook your head. “Once my Master was defeated, I was freed from his control. I didn’t know what to do except offer myself to Commander Rex, since he’d basically won me in combat. One Master for another. Their confusion turned to horror once they managed to access the surviving information about me and figured out what and who I was.”

Despite yourself, you had to smile down at your knees at the memory. “Looking back... it’s almost funny,” you sighed, shaking your head. “The way they lost their minds trying to figure out what to do with me and how to interact with me. Long story short, General Skywalker decided that for the time being I should stay with the 501st and Commander Rex, since I’d latched onto him instinctively and refused to leave his side. It was my conditioning, so it was all I really knew. I’ve spent the past... four or so years with them until now. But there was a long process for me in those years.”

You winced. “This is where Kamino comes in. Not knowing what else to do with me at the time, Commander Rex and General Skywalker decided to send me to Kamino in order to figure out more about my biology and my mental conditioning. I’d been fitted with several inhibitor chips at the time, including a microchip that reinforced my obedience to whatever master held the other half of the microchip. Since my former Master had been incapacitated, the chip damaged, I’d reverted to the other inhibitors and latched onto Commander Rex. Kamino... was very excited to discover me.”

Crosshair snorted. “Of course they were,” he sneered.

You just nodded. “Of course they were,” you sighed. “I was another opportunity to look into for their scientific experiments. After removing my inhibitor chips, they put me through a long reconditioning process that re-taught me a sense of individuality and being. Since I had nowhere else to go, I decided to make myself useful and pay back my debt to the 501st by agreeing to subject myself to Kaminoan jurisdiction just like the clones. Clones became... my new identity.”

You took in a deep breath, closing your eyes for a moment. Bracing yourself, you continued.

“I chose to allow the Kaminoans to continue experimentations on me as long as I could stay under the command of Commander Rex unless he decided otherwise. Commander Rex was kind enough to take responsibility for me, and I was reconditioned to learn to work with clone troopers. The Kaminoans are interested in studying me in order to decide if it’s worth using me as a new DNA template for cloning.”

“An endless supply of versatile weapons,” Crosshair deduced cynically. He had his arms crossed, toothpick clenched between his teeth.

You nodded. “Yes. Once Commander Rex decided that I would work better with a smaller group... well, I’m here now. But that also means that as soon as he reported that my integration into the Bad Batch had been successful...”

“We’re going to be going through tests in order to test us now that you’ve been added,” Tech concluded. He nodded, adjusting his glasses. “Makes sense. After all, this could be the proof that they’re looking for that one of you in a group of four enhanced is worth an investment.”

You nodded. “I’m sorry. I did mean to tell you, I just... didn’t know when would be the best time, and...” you sighed. “Commander Rex did warn me that I’d have to tell you, especially since I’m not... I’m not very well favored among the Regs, especially on Tipoca.” You uncomfortably shifted, looking away.

Hunter sighed. “Well, that won’t really be a problem. We’re not well accepted among the Regs either.” He shook his head. “As long as you’re one of us, you’ll never be accepted.”

“I guess they’re right when they talk about being in good company,” you said with a weak smile. You already felt exhausted just trying to sum up the weirdness your life had been in general.

“Well, while it’s interesting and valuable data, it doesn’t really change much,” Tech said, looking down at his datapad. “It’s not like we weren’t an unusual unit in the first place. It’s just another added member and test.”

“Yeah! Don’t worry, Shiv, we’ll take care of ya,” Wrecker cheered, patting your shoulder. “Anyone talks bad about ya and we’ll take care of it.” He cracked his knuckles again.

You had to breathe a laugh. “Thank you, I appreciate that. But I am used to it, so please don’t get into too much trouble.”

“Wrecker’s always looking for a fight anyway,” Tech said, the eye roll clear in his tone.

Hunter stood with a nod to you. “Good to know, Shiv. We’ll just have to keep it in mind once we’re there, but I don’t think it really changes all that much when it comes to procedure. We’ve always been put through training anyway every time we go back.”

You nodded, relieved that the talk had gone well. “Thank you. I’ll... continue to do my best.”

“You’re going to need to if you’re coming in with us, this time,” Crosshair remarked, standing. He just glanced at you. “Wrecker, come with me to the cockpit.”

Wrecker patted your shoulder again, then stood and headed toward Crosshair. “What? Why? Did Hunter need us again for something?” His voice trailed off as he went off down the hallway after the sniper.

You blew out a breath, letting your forehead rest against your knees. The knot in your stomach had loosened, relief spreading through you in a sudden rush. You had, in the back of your mind, worried that the team might resent the added scrutiny your presence would bring. But it seemed as though they’d just accepted it as inevitable. Sometimes, it was still hard to accept the kindness and acceptance you’d been shown.

“Are you alright, Shiv?” Tech spoke up from his seat.

You looked up at him, feeling the shadows pool under your eyes. “Oh... I’m fine, Tech, thanks. Just...” You shrugged. “Telling that story is kinda exhausting for me. Always has been. Plus, I always feel tired whenever I try to remember anything that happened before I was seven.”

He tilted his head. “Did the Kaminoans figure out why?”

You shook your head. “They couldn’t tell if the damage to that part of my memories was a natural biological reaction to some trauma or an after effect of the myriad of inhibitor chips that had been implanted in me. Thanks to their conflicting effects at times, the Kaminoans decided that using an inhibitor chip in me was an unnecessary risk. Besides, I’d been so willing to stay that there was no point except for conditioning to reinforce my... loyalty, I guess.”

“I understand.” Tech nodded. “Do the questions bother you?”

“No.” You shifted, turning to better face him. “Besides, you guys deserve to know. I mean, I’m basically in your head most of the time anyway. I’d say we’ve passed the point of being afraid to ask personal questions.”

Tech glanced down at his datapad. “I know that our inhibitor chips are mostly disabled because of our mutations. You say that you don’t have one?” he asked curiously.

You subconsciously reached up and rubbed your head. “No, all of the older ones were removed. And the Kaminoans didn’t put one in. Too much risk without enough data. All I have right now is a high-grade birth control implant,” you said thoughtfully. “I’d been outfitted with one during my time as a slave, though I could never figure out why.” You furrowed your eyebrows. “I mean, they never intended to use me in that sense. I was strictly an ornament and a weapon; and besides, they’d conditioned me thoroughly with the implants to never seek out any sort of physicality in that sense, so why put the implant in?” you puzzled wonderingly.

“Perhaps as just an added measure of protection? A sort of security of the purity of a possession?” Tech suggested without malice.

You shrugged. “I’m not sure, though that might be a good guess,” you agreed. “The Kaminoans asked if I just wanted it removed, but I figured I’d just ask for a safer and better replacement just in case,” you said dismissively. “It was offered, why not. Besides,” you said with a dark sense of amusement, “I don’t plan to procreate, but I did have to sacrifice my virginity for a mission.” You rolled your eyes at the memory. “Kix and Fives almost lost their minds over that one.” You snorted.

Tech looked a little flushed, the tips of his ears stained with color as he shifted.

“Sorry, Tech,” you had to laugh a little. “Didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable.”

He glanced at you. “It’s alright. But, uh, why were they upset?”

“Oh, not at me,” you said, shaking your head. “They’ve always been my brothers, so they’ve been protective of me. I guess I worried them when I told them about it because they thought I’d maybe been forced into it.” You shook your head with a sigh. “I just... I’ve never really been allowed to make any of my own choices, you know? It was one of my first big decisions I made, albeit kind of stupidly. Anyway, it’s not like anyone would want a relationship with me.” You shrugged, leaning back in your chair.

“Why not?” Tech sounded surprised, staring at you. “I mean, I’d think that choosing a weapon as a partner might be beneficial. Not that you’re just a weapon,” he added.

You smiled at him. “Thanks, Tech. But I mean... I am a weapon,” you pointed out. “I’m meant to be used as one, and... I mean, even now, I’m the weapon of a team. I don’t know that anyone would want all the baggage I come with, or even be able to handle sharing me with four other people — it’s just. A lot to ask.” You fiddled with your shirt. “Besides, I don’t know who’d be interested in me anyway.”

Tech seemed to open his mouth, then closed it. Then he opened it again as though he couldn’t help himself. “Wrecker is.” He jerked a little as though cringing.

You blinked, looking up at him. Telling your brain to shut up, it’s not what it sounds like, you tilted your head. “What? I mean, I’m glad he likes me, but-“

But Tech shook his head. “We’ve all noticed it. Wrecker definitely likes you. He pays a lot of attention to you, and he’s super protective. I probably shouldn’t tell you his feelings, but I...” He fiddled almost nervously with his gadgets. “It sort of just came out before I could stop it,” he admitted.

Your mind fairly spun. “I- I don’t-“ your entire brain short-circuited. Wrecker liked you? No, no, that had to be wrong. “What?” you choked out, feeling your hands start to tremble a little.

Tech grimaced. “Sorry, Shiv, I shouldn’t have said anything. Don’t worry about it-“ ”How could I not worry about it, Tech?” you exclaimed, your chest tightening. “I’m always in you guys’ heads, and- it’s not fair for me to know that when he’s been so kind to me and protected me so much that I-“ you choked on your own words, tears welling in your eyes. You rocked back and forth with a little whimper, reaching up to dig at your eyes. “It’s not fair.”

Tech looked like he didn’t know what to do, face pinched. “Shiv- I’m sorry, I... I don’t know what to do. I-“ He looked toward the door. “I should go get-“ “No, please-“ you blurted, trying to gasp for breath. “It’s not- not your fault, I just-“ You shivered, swiping tears away. “I’m sorry, I’m not being fair to you either.” You drew in a rasping breath. “I- I really- I just...”

“What can I do to help you?” Tech asked, his hands nervously moving as though trying to figure out what to do.

“I... it’s not fair,” you whimpered, not looking up at him. “I... I’ve grown so close to all of you, and... and I’m being stupid.” A hiccup wrenched out of you. “I- I realized last night, at the 79s... I realized that I- that you all have been so kind to me and it- it’s made me so selfish, Tech,” you half-sobbed. “I just want to do everything I can to be- to be a good teammate, a good friend, a- a useful weapon to you all, but I- it’s just that- I’ve been stupid and allowed- allowed myself to- to wish for more than I should.”

Tech sucked in a breath, straightening. “Shiv-“ ”I’m sorry!” You flinched, sure that he would be upset that you’d allowed yourself to blurt out the feelings you’d promised yourself would stay hidden. Sure that he’d remind you that you’re just a teammate. Sure that he’d tell you that Wrecker shouldn’t have formed... something.

“No, Shiv-“ Tech reached up and ran his hand through his hair. He abruptly stood, then placed a hand on your knee. “Wait right here for a minute. I’ll be back.”

You didn’t have the strength or presence of mind to stop him, the anxiety starting to seize you with a force that left you gasping. Hands shaking, you clutched at your chest with tears dripping down your face and tried to just breathe. This had to be it. They would find out, they would be upset about it, they’d decide that they didn’t want you as part of the team because what mad person is shown basic kindness and latches onto it to the extent of forming feelings for not just one but four people-

“Shiv!? Maker, Tech, what happened?” Hunter’s voice curled through the air, washing over you. A warm hand landed on your knee, making you flinch with a gasp.

“Shiv!” Wrecker’s voice made you feel even worse. Two giant hands landed on your waist, and you gasped as he lifted you up and sat down, setting you in his lap. “Shiv, what’s wrong?”

Despite yourself, you had to curl into him for the warmth he radiated through his blacks, desperate for some kind of grounding strength. Anything to help you calm down.

“I... I may have made a mistake,” Tech admitted, his voice laced with distress. He relayed the conversation as you let out a sob, shoulders shaking.

The way Wrecker stiffened made you abruptly try to push away, almost launching yourself off of him. Only his firm grasp on your hips stopped you.

“I’m sorry- I’m sorry- please-“ it wrenched out of you, leaving you raw and shaking. “Please, I-“

“Why are you apologizing?” Wrecker’s voice asked, sounding confused. “Shiv, don’t apologize.”

You looked up at him through watering eyes. “But I-“

He tilted his head at you, still keeping a tight hold on your hips. “Tech is right. I do like you.”

But it only made you feel worse. “Wrecker, I don’t- I- I’m always in your head through the Bonds,” you pleaded, trying to explain. “I- your kindness toward me- I- I don’t want to take advantage of that. It’s not fair for me to- to ask you to return my feelings just because- because I’m with you all the time or anything, I- I shouldn’t have even said anything, I told myself I wouldn’t-“

“Why not?” Wrecker demanded, a frown curling his lips.

You squeezed your eyes shut, burying your face in your hands. “Because I’m in love with all of you!”

A silence fell in the room, only broken by your hiccuping sobs. Everything was wrong. You’d never meant to say it, never meant to do this.

“Say it again.” Hunter’s voice was low, demanding in a way that made you instinctually obey.

“I’m- I have feelings for all of you,” you whimpered, curling in on yourself in absolute misery. The truth of it resonated through you, a blessed sting of lovely pain.

“I guess that’s good for us, then,” Crosshair drawled, a smirk tilting his lips up.

Wrecker let out an excited whoop. “Did you hear that, Hunter? She said she likes all of us!”

Nothing was making sense. You looked up, trying to understand. Why weren’t they upset?

Wrecker grinned down at you, squeezing your hips in a way that made your stomach flip. “We all like you, Shiv.”

You gaped up at him, mind spinning. What?

Hunter reached out, using a finger to tilt your head to him. “Shiv, all of us have feelings for you, too. We had to discuss it because... normally partners aren’t comfortable with being shared. We Clones are used to sharing things, especially with each other. We didn’t think you’d want to be with all of us, so we decided to step back and let Wrecker have a chance, since you seemed to accept his attention. Not to mention, we’re not normal in any sense.”

You swallowed thickly, breath hitching as Wrecker’s hand came up to brush tears away from your cheeks. Your lashes felt heavy with them, and you sniffled, fingers unconsciously curling in his sleeves.

“You’re- you’re not angry with me?” you asked tremulously, peering through your eyelashes up at Wrecker.

“Course not, Shiv.” Wrecker’s ever-present grin had softened at the corners, his one good eye focused on you unwaveringly. “We’re super glad that you like all of us.”

Lips parting, you turned to look at the others, hope starting to bloom in your chest. You could feel heat starting to creep up into your cheeks as you realized. You’d confessed. They’d actually accepted and... returned it?

The corner of Hunter’s lips tilted up, dark eyes focusing on you. “You’ve taken care of us ever since you joined, Shiv. You’ve tried your best to acclimate to us, worked with us without complaining about anything, took responsibilities you didn’t have to, made food for us, even on the very first mission took damage for Tech and I. Why wouldn’t we appreciate that at the very least? We want to take care of you, too.”

This time, the tears that welled up weren’t because you were upset. Reaching up, you brushed them away shakily. “You... you like me?” you repeated, almost dazed. Surely you’d been hearing wrong. All of them? Liked you? Liked you?

Hunter chuckled. “Yes, Shiv. We do.”

You sucked in a breath, trying to grasp it. “I...” Your mouth seemed to insist on betraying you. “No one has ever liked me before.” You flushed. “Sorry, I-“

“Better for us, then!” Wrecker cheered. He practically crushed you to his chest, laughing. “So does this mean we get to call you ours now? Oh, does that mean I can kiss you, Shiv?”

“Wrecker,” Tech spoke up, sounding a bit alarmed.

But you stared up at Wrecker with a blink. “You... you want to kiss me?” you asked, surprised. The one fling you’d told Tech about had been just that— a stupid, hasty fling with no feeling to it, done to keep cover on a mission.

“Yeah.” Wrecker sobered. “But only if you want it, too, Shiv.” His honest brown eyes gazed down into yours.

You swallowed, fingers clenching against his chest. “If... If all of you... if you like me, then... then what does that mean for us?” you asked quietly.

“It means we all want to be part of a relationship with you, Shiv,” Hunter said firmly. “But only if that’s also what you want.”

You looked up at him. “I am your teammate and your weapon,” you said honestly, feeling a little lost. “I... I don’t want to be hurt more than I already have. If you- if you’re serious, then— then I’ll give you whatever I have,” you said, looking down at your hands. You closed your eyes, swallowing. “I’ll give all of you my all, equally, wholly. I’ll be a teammate, a partner, a weapon for all of you, as much as I can. But you have to know,” your voice cracked, “that if I do... you’ll have the power to completely break me. And I- I’m willing to take that risk. But you have the right to know that, before you— before you decide that you want—“

“We want you.” Hunter spoke lowly, confident.

“We love you, Shiv,” Wrecker pitched in.

“We don’t want to break you or leave you,” Tech said, shaking his head.

Crosshair met your eyes and nodded slightly, gaze fixed on you with an intensity that sent a shiver down your spine.

You decided to continue to trust them. “Then... I’m yours,” you said shyly, suddenly very aware of how closely Wrecker had pulled you.

Wrecker grinned widely. “Can I kiss you, Shiv?”

You flushed but nodded, giving him a shy smile. Your eyes fluttered closed as he bent forward.

Wrecker’s kiss was... so distinctly him. His mouth burned, breath hot against your own lips. He tasted like the buttercream of the icing you’d made for the cupcakes, and his hands clenched eagerly around your hips. Still, it was gentle in his own way, and you found yourself dizzy from the heat when he finally let go.

“You okay, Shiv?” Wrecker asked, hand sliding up to your lower back to support you.

You took in a breath, leaning against his chest. “Y-yeah- s-sorry,” you stuttered, “it’s just— your breath is so warm.” You swallowed, closing your eyes.

“Is it?” Wrecker quizzically looked down at himself, breathing on his hand. “Huh.”

“Can-“ you sucked in a steadying breath. “I-“ The Bonds, usually passive in the back of your awareness, were lighting up with emotion. Wrecker’s pure elation was coursing through you, making you lean your forehead against his chest for a moment. You let out a soft whine. “Wrecker, you- you’re broadcasting so much-“

“Huh?” Wrecker paused, then let out an “Oh!” The elation quelled a little after a moment. “Sorry Shiv. Is that better?” he asked sheepishly.

You looked up at him, still feeling a little punch-drunk from the overflow. “You- you’re happy?” you asked, tilting your head at him. He grinned, a wave of adoration crashing over you. You shivered, collapsing against him and burying your face into his shoulder with a soft cry.

Hunter let out a quiet, husky chuckle. “I think you’re overwhelming her, Wrecker.”

“Sorry Hunter,” Wrecker said sheepishly. “Can’t help it.”

You felt yourself being moved, and the flow of emotion slightly slaked off, enough for you to try to look up. You found yourself gazing up at Hunter, who had pulled you into his lap instead. He reached up, brushing his thumb under your eye.

“A little better?”

You stared up into his eyes, noting hazily how much darker brown they were compared to Wrecker’s. While Wrecker’s Bond had stopped being so overwhelmingly loud, it was still present. Instead, you started feeling a new trickle of emotion from Hunter’s Bond. A muted sense of pride, of fondness that ran deep in its strength.

Your hands braced you against his arms, wrapped around your waist to keep you steady. “I-“ your eyes fluttered as you lost yourself to the emotion, lips parting with quick breaths. It was so clearly directed at you, meant wholly for you to feel. It washed over you with a warmth in its strength that you had no defense against.

Hunter bent, his mouth briefly pressing against your shoulder. “Can I kiss you, Shiv?” he asked lowly.

You just nodded, barely registering the question, completely pliant. Wrecker’s kiss still burned against your lips, only the feeling of Hunter’s arms holding you grounding you still.

Hunter’s kiss, you thought fuzzily, was as sure as he was. The care was there, certainly, but the way his mouth slanted against yours and the way his tongue brushed against your lower lip held a confidence that Wrecker’s hadn’t. His kiss gave as much as it took, a soothing coolness trickling between your lips in exchange for stealing your breath.

Your fingers tangled in his sleeves, and once he let go, you had to helplessly collapse against his chest and gasp for breath. Your mind whirled, simultaneously drowning in the projected emotions as well as your own. This was really happening. They really— they really cared for you. Accepted and returned your feelings.

The Bonds didn’t lie; and they refused to allow you to doubt the reality of it all as they continued to pour affirmation into your starved soul.

“Please-“ your voice was a weak cry, tears hovering on your lashes. “I— it’s so much-“

“Do you believe us, Shiv?” Hunter murmured into your ear. “Can you see how much we care about you?”

You looked up at him through blurred vision and sticky eyelashes. “Hunter,” you whimpered, desperately trying to focus. He bent and simply pressed a brief kiss to your parted lips.

“I think Cross wants some attention.” He smirked at you briefly, then turned you around.

Crosshair’s fingers grasped your chin, tilting your head up to him. A single emotion crossed your Bond with the sniper before he bent.

Crosshair’s kiss was possessive. Far from cold, the brief flash of fierce want underscored the fiery way his lips caught yours. He demanded entrance, quickly staking a claim on your mouth as soon as your lips obediently parted without question. It was the least distant he’d ever been toward you, and he pulled away to leave you almost cold.

The corner of his lips curled up in a smirk as he observed you with dark eyes, the pad of his thumb briefly brushing across your lower lip. “I think I’ll find a way to bruise you a little more, Shiv.” The promise made you realize that your lips had swollen, bruised by his kiss. He let go, turning to walk back to his seat.

You reached up to rub at your eye, still dazed and flushed. Everything felt so... surreal, yet not. Taking a moment to try to gather yourself, you swallowed and turned. Hunter helped you up, and you teetered your way to Tech’s chair.

Tech caught you, easing you into his lap. “Are you alright, Shiv?” he asked.

You nodded. “I’m okay,” you murmured, almost dreamily. You reached down, touching his hand that rested on your waist gingerly. “Do you— do you want something? I always feel like-“ your eyelashes fluttered as you started to feel his emotions bleed over your Bond. “Like you keep wanting to ask me something.”

He swallowed. “I—“ He glanced nervously at you, then down to his hands.

You tilted your head. “You can tell me, Tech. Tell me through the Bond,” you murmured, reaching up to touch his cheek.

He shuddered, eyes closing. A hesitant thought slunk over the Bond. Can I... can you please... A non-verbal image bloomed.

You smiled a little, then reached up and pulled Tech’s head down to your chest as you leaned back a little. You brushed your fingers through his hair, gently letting your nails drag across his scalp.

He shivered with a quiet groan, his hands unconsciously clenching around your waist.

Leaning down, you pressed a soft kiss to his forehead. “Is this what you want?”

His head moved jerkily in a nod. “Please,” he groaned.

You let your hands move down his neck, dragging your nails across his shoulders, sweeping back up to bury in his hair. “Thank you, Tech,” you whispered softly, gratefully.

He looked up at you. “What? Why?” He sounded genuinely confused.

Your hands rested against his shoulders. “For always being honest with me. And being kind.” You offered him a shy smile.

He stared at you for a minute, seeming to drink in your face. “Do you- are you happy? I mean, with me?” His eyebrows furrowed uncertainly. “I did sort of... blurt-“

“Tech.” You closed your eyes, then, and reached out to all of the Bonds. “This is how I feel. About all of you.” You let your own feelings pour into all of them, returning the flow of emotion.

You bared yourself, showing them. How deeply you trusted them. How much you respected them, looked up to them. The things that you admired about them: their strength, their acceptance of you, their uniqueness. How much you wanted their attention, how much you loved their kindness. How deeply they’d managed to crawl into your very soul, how much you belonged to them already.

Tech shuddered, almost collapsing into you, head leaning against your shoulder. Wrecker sighed from somewhere behind you. You could hear Crosshair let out a quiet huff of breath, and Hunter grunted.

Your fingers gently cupped Tech’s head against your shoulder, assuring yourself that he was okay. It took you by surprise when his head abruptly tilted up, his lips finding yours. You let out a little noise of surprise, hands still cupping his cheeks. The desperation that colored Tech’s kiss had your heart fluttering as you hummed softly with contentment.

“Shiv,” Tech mumbled against your lips, his nose brushing yours.

“I’m here,” you murmured back.

His eyes closed, and he tilted his head to kiss you again. His kiss was hungry, needy, full of a soft sort of desperation that made you want more. His mouth begged you for attention, opening against yours in a way that pleaded for you. He almost whined into the kiss, and you had to brush your fingers against his cheeks as you answered.

“You’ll stay with us, Shiv?” Tech asked thinly, as though making sure before he surrendered.

You nodded. “As long as you want me... I’ll stay,” you promised.

“Forever, then,” Wrecker piped up, clearly pleased.

You fell asleep against Tech, lulled by the lingering emotions.

Forever.

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[lunar-wandering]

i don’t wanna fight alone anymore - Chapter 2

...don’t ask me how I wrote this so fast, because I honestly have no idea either.

Word Count: 1k

read on ao3

-

"Welp, here we are!" Wukong said, hopping down out of the ship and landing on the ground in front of the house.

Or, well, if MK was being accurate, it was more of a mansion than anything.

"You know, when you said you had some place we could get supplies from, I was expecting a cottage, or another cave or something." MK said, gesturing at the giant house in front of him. "I did not expect a mansion! How did you even get a mansion???"

"Well. Interesting story about that-" Wukong started, and Pigsy sighed.

"Monkey King, please tell me that you purchased this house legally." He said, and Wukong offered him a sheepish smile in response.

"I kinda made the previous owners think it burned down?? A bit of illusion magic on it and all that." He explained, "I just took up residence once they'd left."

"How does it still have electricity then?" Mei asked, "If you're not paying for it, then how do you get it?"

"Oh, well that's just a spell I put on the house to keep it running." Wukong said, opening the doors of the mansion and letting everyone finally walk inside. "Pigsy, the kitchen, pantry, and all that is two halls down on the left. You can take whatever you want out of there."

"...And what about your clothes?" MK asked.

"Ah, for that, we should probably go to... the closet." Wukong said, turning and walking down another hall. Mei and MK hurried to follow him, Pigsy and Sandy heading towards the kitchen area, while Tang slowly snuck off on his own. (It was, after all, the Monkey King's mansion. He was sure there was probably some cool artifacts he could look at hidden somewhere.)

Wukong shoved open a door, and MK and Mei look at the room in shock. There was thousands of clothes hanging up- as well as chests and various items strewn about the floor.

Mei and MK found that they couldn't even see the back of the room.

"Dude, how big is your closet?!" Mei asked, breezing past Wukong and taking the opportunity to open one of the chests, finding even more clothes. "Like, seriously, this almost looks like it could be a whole mansion in and of itself!"

"I magic'd it a little so that I could fit everything." Wukong said, pulling a loose golden shirt off of a nearby hanger, and pulling it on over his head. "I... tend to collect things, clothes included."

"Yeah, no kidding." MK said, thinking back to the room filled with piles upon piles of magical artifacts back on Flower Fruit Mountain. "You should really sort through your stuff at some point, at least. If you're going to keep all of it, you should at least be neat about it."

"Heh, don't try that MK, I'm pretty sure both me and Mr. King over here have seen what your room looks like." Mei said, rummaging around in another pile of stuff. She paused, a look of confusion briefly flashing over her face, before she pulled a wedding dress out of the pile. "Hey, Monkey King, what's the story behind this, huh?"

Wukong, who had been ignoring MK's 'advice' by rummaging around in his own pile of clothes, pulling out and setting whatever he figured he should take with him to the side, looked over, registering the dress.

"Ah, that's from when I help out an.... acquaintance of mine. Y'know, one of those whole arranged marriage kind of scenarios." He said, "She let me keep the dress she'd been given afterwards."

"But did you ever wear it?" Mei asked.

"Once, a while ago, mainly just to see if it fit." Wukong answered, shrugging, figuring the conversation would end there.

He definitely didn't expect Mei to all but shove the dress into his arms.

"C'mon, try it on!" She said, an excited grin on her face. "I want to see you wear it!"

Wukong glanced at MK for help.

"....I mean, I am kinda curious too." MK said, and Wukong sighed.

Admittedly, he'd rather get what they needed and leave, he didn't really want to waste any time.

...But it had been a rough past few weeks for MK and Mei, so Wukong figured he could allow them this.

Which was how Wukong found himself practically running an impromptu fashion show, MK and Mei pulling out random articles of clothing, asking for the story behind them, and then getting him to wear it.

It was... surprisingly fun, honestly. There were some clothes he'd nearly forgotten about, so it was nice to revisit them and how he got them.

...Most of them were fun to revisit, at least......

-

MK found himself wandering, alone, deeper in the closet. Mei and Wukong had started arguing over whether or not an outfit he owned was actually fashionable, and MK did not feel like getting dragged into that, so he'd wandered off, walking through the lines of clothes.

He was starting to wonder if the closet even had an end to it, when a glint of something in the corner of his eye caught his attention. He pushed a few coats out of the way-

There was a purple scarf, hanging there. It looked like it'd been torn a little at the edge.

MK had no doubts as to who it had belong to.

But his attention wasn't on that at the moment, no, it was on the object that rested on the ground underneath of it.

The golden circlet stared up at him innocently, as though it was just a simple accessory, and not something MK had easily recognized as a punishment. He knelt down, intending on picking it up-

"There you are, kid! I was starting to wonder where you'd-" Wukong froze as he registered the scarf, and then winced as he realized what MK was looking at.

"Monkey King-" MK started, but Wukong interrupted him, leaning forwards and picking up the circlet himself.

"Ah, you found this old thing I see." He said, lazily spinning it around on his finger, as though it didn't carry the weight of a fourteen year journey.

"....Why did you keep it?" MK asked.

Wukong was silent for a moment as he pondered the answer.

"....To remember old lessons, I suppose." He eventually said, throwing the circlet carelessly over his shoulder as he did so. MK could hear it clatter some distance away, but didn't get much time to think on it as Wukong wrapped his tail around MK's waist, dragging him back towards the entrance. "Pigsy's said he got everything he needed, so it's time to go. We can probably come back here some later day if you want to hear some more of the fun stories."

MK let Wukong drag him out, and helped Pigsy and the others carry the various supplies onto the ship.

If he noticed a small piece of a purple scarf dangling out of the pile of clothes Wukong carried onto the ship, he didn't mention it.

-

"Ah, there's just one more thing I have to do, before we go." Wukong said, turning out of the ship and running back towards the house. "I promise I'll be quick!"

"If you're not back within 6 minutes, then I'm going to be dragging you back here myself!" Pigsy threatened, and Wukong smirked back at him.

...That smirk faded off of his face the moment he closed the door to the house shut behind him.

He breathed out a sigh, glancing around the house.

And undid the magic that kept it running.

The whir of electronics and appliances shutting down filled the house for a few moments, and Wukong felt the slightest amount of power be fed back to him.

It wasn't much, but it should be enough to keep his powers running longer than they would if he didn't.

Hopefully, just hopefully, it'd be enough for him to protect the others, if push came to shove.

Putting a smile back on his face, he waltz out of the house and back onto the ship.

"What did you need to do that was so important anyways?" Tang asked him, once they'd taken off.

"Oh, just made sure all the lights were turned off." Wukong said, waving off the mild concern. "Didn't want to waste energy, you know?"