#but that's only because he felt like an outsider with the Main Three Siblings

[vampirehizzies]

kol and rebekah uniting as the babies of the family and going off on a vampire road trip together made me giggle their bond is so sweet

[wolfpackenthusiast]

Worrywart

Pairing : Paul Lahote x f!reader

Summary: reader didn’t have the best childhood, and is afraid of Paul being taken away from her, too.

Warnings: mentions of alcohol, trauma mention, bad childhood, lmk if i missed anything!

A/N: Just a random idea i thought of! First Paul fic, lmk if anything’s ooc.

—————————-

You didn’t have a very good childhood, your parents were alcoholics, not exactly abusive, but they weren’t fit to be parents. You had two younger siblings, your sister was 11 while your brother was 6. You always took care of them whenever your parents were “busy” with other things. Not too long after you turned 15, your parents lost custody of you after someone had called CPS when your parents weren’t being very.. kind.. in public.

Due to that, all three of you got separated, and you never saw them again. It was hard, you loved your siblings with all your heart, and now they’re gone, along with your parents.

Even if your parents weren’t good to you, they were still your parents, you couldn’t hate them, you physically couldn’t.

You got a small job at a souvenir shop near first beach, working with a girl named Tiffany, she was really kind, you appreciated her company.

The job was pretty easy, you worked at the checkout, and sometimes you restocked the shelves when they were starting to get empty.

You also met her son, Embry Call, he’s pretty nice guy, you guys get along, you never saw him as anything more than a best friend, though. He’s a nice guy ‘nd all! But love wasn’t your first priority.

The more time you worked there, you got to know Embry ‘nd some of his friends, you’ve met Quil and Jacob, they’re pretty cool in your opinion, you weren’t sure why Embry and his friends liked to hang near the shop, maybe cause it was near the beach? Or because you’re there? Maybe Embry did have a small, SMALL crush on you, but he knew the feelings weren’t mutual, so he didn’t say anything.

But soon, you’d were about to meet ALL of his friends, 7 guys and one girl, hey, at least there was a girl there! But still, it was going to he complete chaos, and hell for you.

The day they came, you met Seth, Leah, Sam, Jared, and..

Paul.

At first, you thought he’d be the worst one you had to deal with, but when you locked eyes with him, it was like everything else didn’t matter, only him.

You guys broke eye contact when Embry playfully shoved him “bro!” He said with feigned annoyance.

“I didn’t know it was gonna happen!” Paul defended himself, wait, what was gonna happen??

You were confused, but just decided to head back to the cashier table, leaving them be.

But Paul followed you.

You were already behind the counter when he caught your attention. “Oh, did you need something?” You asked politely, trying to ignore the fact you found him attractive, he’s definitely gonna be your new crush, though, it wad likely you weren’t going to get with him, love wasn’t your first priority, after all.

“Just wanted to talk to you, i’m Paul.” He said, seeming a bit awkward, weird, he was all casual before you guys locked eyes.

“I know.. you.. told me..” you said

“Right.”

Then there was some awkward silence, you were able to hear the boys talking outside

“Dude, i’ve never seen him that awkward before!” Jared snickered

“Well it’s not everyday you meet your-“ Jacob started before getting smacked by Quil, giving him a “small” reminder on that you don’t know about their little secret.

You ignored them the best you could, your main focus was Paul.

“Uhh.. could i.. have your number, perchance?” He asked, hope in his tone, pulling his phone to you.

You felt your heart rate speed up, for real?!?!?!

“Uh, sure, but if you’re interested, i’m really not into dating at the moment.” You say, despite him being attractive and all, you didn’t want to take things quickly. You took his phone and saved your contact to his phone, handing it back to him.

“Thanks.” He said before heading back to the rest of his friends.

—————————————-

Around a year later, you and Paul ended up dating! You found out you were his imprint, and that the Quileute legends were true, and the fact your boyfriend and his friends were shifters, despite the fact your life was beyond ordinary, not like it ever was, you were happier then ever.

Despite that. You couldn’t help but have constant worry every time Paul went on patrol, you’ve grown to care for him so much, you didn’t like the fact he could get hurt any time, even killed!

You couldn’t let another loved one slip away from you, especially not Paul.

You just hot back from the conscience store, it was just you and Paul alone at Emily’s place, since her and Sam were on a date.

“You wouldn’t believe what happened, that was certainly the craziest trip to the store i’ve ever taken.” You said, placing your bags on the table as you took everything out.

“Oh yeah? I’m sure it was.” Paul said, doing his own thing.

“Mhm, was anything but ordinary.” You said, ever since you found out wolves ‘nd vampires, nothing was ordinary.

“Nothings be ordinary lately, or I just have a nee perspective on things.” You said as you continued to put your items away.

“Mm, maybe, or you just have an awesome shapeshifter boyfriend around now.” Paul said, with cockiness in his tone, as usual.

“Oh yeah, blame it on yourself, definitely. It makes sense, my life was way more ordinary before you came along.” You said with some sarcasm.

“Well, i’m honored to be the reason you’re not “ordinary” anymore, princess.” He said with more feigned pride in his voice.

“It’s not a compliment!!” You spat back with playful anger.

“Awh, don’t you love dating a shifter? You never complain… usually.” He taunted, a smirk now on his face.

“I do, it’s awesome, jus’ the fact i could lose you any day mow is.. definitely not pleasant.” You let out a sigh, putting the last things away along with the bags, facing Paul now. He knew you didn’t like him going on patrol, but it was part of the shifting gig, there was nothing he could do to not go on patrol.

The fact he was hot headed didn’t soothe her either, she knew he acted before thinking sometimes, and acting like that could definitely get you killed one way or another, she couldn’t help but worry.

Her words made Paul frown, he hated when she worried about him. He grew serious at the topic being brought up. He knew how he was very well, as well as the dangers.

“I’ll always come back to you, okay?” He reassured, getting closer to her and wrapping her in a tight bear hug, his arms around her shoulders/upper arms.

“Yeah you better.” She threatened, though, there was no animosity in her words. She just worried for him so much, she didn’t want to be left alone again, nor did she want him suffering in some type of way.

He was well aware of her past, her trauma, her would never put her through that ever again, he’ll protect her no matter what, mentally and physically, whatever he can do, he’ll do it.

“I will princess, don’t worry about me, i’ll always come back to you, every. Single. Time.” He said firmly, the gentleness in his tone still there, doing the best he can to reassure you.

He pulled away slightly, just so he could look her in the eyes.

“If anything ever does happen, make sure you-“

“Don’t speak like that!” She interrupted him, just the thought of him gone or hurt made her upset, she may seem dramatic to some people, but after what she’s been through, can you blame her?

Her hands went to his shoulders, she shook him lightly, hoping to get her words through his thick skull that way.

He immediately noticed the anxiety and worry in her, immediately feeling guilty for even bringing it up, his hands on her waist now.

“Hey, hey, it’s okay, i’m here, ‘m sorry, princess, i shouldn’t have brought it up, i’m not going anywhere where you can’t go either,” he said soothingly, holding her tight now, rubbing her back.

Her face was buried in his shoulder, seeming his comfort. “And it stays that way,” you muttered, you didn’t know what you’d do without him, you’d grown stupidly attached, it was almost pathetic.

“it stays that way.” He confirmed, a smile back on his face, “you’re such a worrywart, y’know that?” He joked

“It’s not my fault.” You defended

“I know, just kidding around.”

—————————————-

Word count: 1.4k

[gilbirda]

Friendly neighborhood vigilante. Chapter 25

BatmanxDP crossover. JasonxJazz

[Read on AO3] [Read on FF.net]

Based on this post

First chapter || << Previous chapter || Next chapter >>

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“So you are saying that the Infinite Realms’ government is organized like a dungeons and dragons party?”

Danny snorted and patted Tim’s shoulder. “Jazz’s idea, actually.”

From where she was quietly talking with Bruce, Jazz huffed. “I never said it was a dungeons and dragons party. I only suggested the organization that fit our strengths better.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Danny made a dismissive gesture with his hand. “Potato, potahto.”

Jazz rolled her eyes, but went back to her discussion.

The group was walking towards the gardens, where a light lunch was served. Time went by as the Waynes asked anything and everything about the Realms and their rulers, now that there were no more secrets between them. They talked about Sam and Tucker and Valerie and even about Danielle, her origins and how she joined the team included.

The Fenton siblings enjoyed oversharing in a way that felt weird to the vigilantes, so used to hiding and concealing their thoughts all the time. Now that they were more comfortable, Danny and Jazz didn’t hesitate to act more inhuman around them, with the younger sibling floating when he got excited as if it was the more normal reaction.

It reminded Bruce of his colleagues in the Watchtower break room goofing around and using their powers for the stupidest reasons.

When Tim rejoined them, this time alone, he was more annoyed about losing the bet than missing the ghost royalty status reveal. Danny thought that was the funniest thing, and gladly started a new stream of oversharing information about Jazz’s princess status and all the titles she held, ignoring his sister’s attempts at silencing him.

They didn’t even notice lunch time approaching until Alfred reminded everyone in the house that they had to eat — yes, even their inhuman guests. The last part was added with a pointed glare and a short nod before the man walked away.

So now they were making their way to lunch, which was served outside given the nice weather despite being way into fall, chatting about Team Phantom and their roles in detail.

“So Sam is like the Barbarian of the team?” Tim pressed on. “And Tucker is the Artificer.”

Jazz huffed again.

“We are not—”

“Actually, is not that far from the truth,” Danny chuckled, “but not exactly just that. All of us are at least trained in one main duty and act as a backup for someone else. That guarantees that if one of us has to leave, nothing will be left unattended.”

“Like with Jazz being here.”

He nodded. “Jazz helped Tucker with all the record keeping and research in magical theory, as well as diplomacy and ghost law studies. Valerie helped Jazz with her main duties, and so on and so forth.”

“Magical theory?” Jason asked, one eyebrow arched. “Ghost law?”

“Sounds cool but it's actually just reading a bunch of books and trying to guess what they say.” Danny grumbled, rubbing his face. “I swear there is nothing that can make me pass out faster than reading those fuckers.”

“That’s because you don’t do your homework. Dorathea is a very good teacher.” Jazz chimed with a mocking smile.

Duke interrupted when Danny jumped to answer. “You said that the books weren’t Jazz’s main duty, so what is it?”

The young woman tensed for a second before putting on a gentle smile. It didn’t fool anybody, though. “I am—”

“Jazz.”

She turned towards her brother. “What?”

“Jazz, look.”

She frowned at his serious tone, the boyish glee gone completely, but turned to look at what he was pointing at.

It was a giant painting on the other wall of the room they just passed by, which was featuring a small family — a woman, a man and a child. All three were wearing nice clothes, serene smiles for the portrait.

“What’s the matter?” Bruce stepped closer to see what they were seeing, tensing when he realized what it was. “Why are you pointing at my parents’ portrait?”

The siblings looked at each other. “That’s your mother?” Jazz finally asked.

The look Bruce gave her was equal parts worried and calculating. “Indeed.”

Again Danny and Jazz talked to each other with facial gestures and looks.

“It can’t be.” Danny murmured. “Can it?”

“I don’t know.” She answered.

“Hey.” Jason grabbed Jazz’s shoulder. “What’s up?”

She glanced at her brother, frowning. She licked her lips and drew a long breath. “That’s Lady Gotham.”

One second passed by. Two seconds.

“No, that’s my mother.”

Dick giggled at the absurdity of the situation.

“Could she be wearing someone’s face?” Jazz ignored Bruce’s quiet breakdown to talk to her brother. “Or is it like ‘the Spirit passes down ownership’ kind of situation?”

Danny hummed. “I don’t think it is the second case,” he crossed his arms, “she felt like an Ancient and this woman couldn’t have been dead that long.”

“Are you saying that an ancient spirit is wearing my mother’s face?” The older man said, voice small. Even Jason frowned at the weakness in his tone.

Jazz seemed to snap back to reality and noticed that the conversation may not be the best given current company. She sighed. “We don’t know. Maybe. Was your mother special in any way for this city?”

“Are you kidding? Haven’t you heard about the Martha Wayne foundation? Or all the charity stuff in her name?” Tim scoffed. “Do you live under a rock?”

Jazz blushed. “I’m sorry.” She shrugged. “I don’t pay that much attention to current events outside my work and Crime Alley.”

Jason pretended to try to hide his smile in Jazz’s hair as he pulled her for a side hug.

Danny made a face at the pair, shook his head and turned towards Bruce. “We can’t be a hundred percent sure, but it’s not unheard of for an ancient Spirit to change their appearance. It’s usually to fit in as time passes; but taking the face of a real person from their hunt?” He tilted his head, and Jason noticed the similarity with his sister. It was adorable. “That’s a new one for me.”

“We can always ask?” Jazz tried to move past her misstep.

“Do you really think she’d want to talk about that?”

“Maybe. If we ask nicely.” Neither sibling actually believed these words.

Bruce blinked slowly and started walking again, lost in thought. The rest followed as if nothing even happened.

“Is she really that scary?” Duke asked.

“She is…,” Danny started, rubbing the back of his neck, “she is surely something else. This city is cursed, man; so it doesn’t surprise me that the Spirit overseeing this place is just as cursed.”

“What Danny is trying to say,” Jazz jumped in, “is that the Spirit of Gotham has been deeply corrupted and, well, she’s definitely in pain, and sometimes she lashes out.”

“That’s a nice way to put it,” her brother scoffed, shaking his head and not looking at anybody. “I don't know what nice and watered down version of the story Jazzy here told you guys but when we first came here, she was pissed. King or no King, she was ready to kill me.”

Jazz blushed again. “I don’t—”

“Yes, you do.” Danny rolled his eyes.

She looked like she had something to say, but chose to close her mouth and ignore the chuckles.

They finally arrived at the nice backyard patio where a table was already set up for lunch. Alfred walked around the table with his cart, setting down the plates and giving the finishing touches to the display.

Nobody missed his little smile watching them naturally divide in groups and sit down together, his eyes lingering on Jason refusing to let go of his girlfriend’s hand even under said girlfriend’s brother's snarky comments about it.

It had been a while since the Manor was filled with noise like this. It felt… alive. Like how it was supposed to be.

The old man quietly grabbed his cart and went back inside to plate the second course for the meal. He didn’t glance at the moving shadows and the trickster reflections on the corner of his eyes — after so many decades serving at this Manor, this family, he got used to not being exactly alone inside those walls.

***

“I don’t know how you are going to break it to Frighty.”

Jazz froze mid bite, frowning as she swallowed the food. “What do you mean?”

Bruce raised his eyebrows at Danny’s shocked expression. The young man looked around the table, maybe looking for support or an explanation, but he probably forgot they just met that morning.

“Are you serious?”

“What?”

“You really don’t know?”

“Know what?”

“Jazz, Fright Knight has been courting you for around a year.”

Tim froze, glancing up to see Jason’s reaction. Expecting loud shouting to start, he was even more shocked when Jason leaned back on his seat and crossed his arms with a giant smirk on his face and a raised eyebrow.

“I have absolutely no idea what you are talking about.” Jazz leaned in, glaring at her brother on the other side of the table.

“Hold on a second,” Dick pushed his empty plate aside to lean closer to Danny, “Fright Knight? The King’s right hand man? The Aspect of Fear?”

“That’s the one!”

“I don’t—” Jazz blinked, “I don’t know— How? When?”

“Uhhhh, since the first siege, I believe?” Danny's smile went from one ear to the other. “He said, and I quote, ‘I had never felt such things in battle before. Lady Jasmine’s war cries pierced my chest deeper than her lance pierced our enemies’.”

Tim shuddered. It was the way Danny impersonated this Fright Knight’s sickening dreamy voice.

“The first siege? That was more than two years ago!”

“And you haven’t noticed this guy being in love with you?” Jason spoke for the first time, grinning at his girlfriend.

“I don’t know?” Jazz threw her hands up. “I thought he was being nice!”

“For a whole year?”

“He’s been giving you courting gifts, Jazz!” Danny said, incredulous. “And you accepted them!”

“So those were courting gifts?”

“What were those gifts?”

“Swords.” Danny answered Jason. “Shiny blades. Ornamental and functional. Jazz has a collection back in the Realms.” He turned towards his sister. “Which, by the way, people keep sending gifts for you. I think they think that you are the ‘reasonable’ one of us and if they send you more swords you’d be more merciful.”

“I don’t need more swords.”

“You liar. You love swords.”

Jazz blushed, unable to say otherwise. “Still nothing he did told me he was interested.”

“Ancients, Jazz,” Danny pinched the bridge of his nose. “Everyone knew he was head over heels for you. We thought you were preferring to deal with it in private.”

Her blush became worse. She kept her gaze fixed on her hands fidgeting with her napkin. “You know I don’t do all the romance stuff.”

Incredulous, Danny just pointed at Jason. “And how do you explain him?”

“It’s…” she licked her lips, “different. Unexpected. We just— we clicked.”

“Awww.”

Danny made a face and rolled his eyes, ignoring Dick and Cass’ cooing.

“Well. I’m not going to be the one dealing with all that. Frighty is all yours.”

Jazz sighed. “I’ll talk to him when I go back to the Realms.”

“Hm.” Danny hummed, suddenly lost in thought as he sipped his water. “Maybe you don’t have to.”

“What?”

“I said: Maybe you don’t have to.” He spoke louder. “Come back, I mean.”

She did a double take. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

Danny took a second longer than what was expected. “You can stay here.” He leaned back on his seat, putting as much distance as he could from his sister. He was also evading her eyes. “Permanently.”

There was only the sounds of the birds chirping in the nearby trees and the wind flowing between the leaves for a few seconds.

“Are you—” Jazz’s voice was careful, low, “Are you firing me?”

Half the table was looking at Danny and the other half had their eyes glued on Jazz’s face. Her rage, while quiet, was familiar to those witnessing the moment — betrayals, infightings and disbelief ran though their minds as they remembered similar situations in their pasts.

“Jazz—”

“After everything you just— What the hell Danny?”

“I’m not— Could you at least look at me?” She did, and everyone could see her watery eyes. “It’s for your own good.”

That was the wrong thing to say.

Jazz’s expression turned murderous as the tears escaped her eyes. She stood up, teeth grinding, breathing deeply a few times before she opened her mouth.

“You don’t mean that.” She crossed her arms.

Danny looked like he wished he was anywhere else but in that room at that moment. “Bad choice of words. I don’t mean that.” He slowly repeated.

“Good.” Her shoulders relaxed a bit, but she was still mad.

“What I wanted to say is…” He sighed and lifted his hands in defeat. “I’m sorry. I’m not good at— You know I always mess these things up— Okay, okay I’ll get to the point.” He quickly added under Jazz’s narrowing eyes. He breathed in, breathed out. “I want you to stay here. In the living world. As long as you want.”

She processed his words, and slowly sat back down. The sounds of nature around them picked up like nothing happened, even if no one had noticed their rather unnatural silence.

“But you said…”

“I know. But things have changed, Jazz. I want you to stay. How could I not be okay with that?”

“But— But my role— And the Archives, and Walker, and—”

“Everything can wait. Or, I don’t know, we’ll deal with it.” He leaned in and took one of her hands in his. “We told you to come here because you really needed a vacation, and I stand by it. The Keep can wait for you. I can wait for you.”

“But—”

“Jasmine Fenton. You have given up everything for me. You were not meant for any of this ghost bullshit or war or fist fighting gods in a Denny’s parking lot. But you gave me a decade of that, and I appreciate it, but that’s enough. You can rest now, you can have nice things. You deserve it.”

Nobody missed when Danny gave Jason, and quick look around the people on the table, when he mentioned the “nice things” she could have.

Jazz opened her mouth only to close it again, more tears coming to her eyes. Her cheeks tinted red, maybe from embarrassment, maybe for remnants of her anger.

She yanked her hand from her brother’s and rushed to her feet, taking a shaky breath.

“Excuse me.”

Jason frowned, watching her go back inside the house and probably looking for a place to calm down.

He felt a kick on one leg.

“Go.” Danny interlaced his hands on the table and nodded in his sister’s general direction. “She needs you.”

Jason’s frown deepened, but he obliged without saying a word.

Bruce cleared his throat, suddenly feeling very self conscious under Danny’s stare. The young man didn’t look affected by what just happened like his sister was, but his eyes betrayed the conflicted emotions he hid behind his mask.

“I’m sorry you guys had to witness that. I should have waited until we got home. My bad.” He chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck, but it felt like forced nonchalance.

“That was sure something.” Dick commented after clearing his throat.

“I apologize but I need to ask,” Bruce leaned in. “Jasmine seemed pretty adamant her time here was limited, that she would sooner or later have to leave everything here. What changed?”

“Did she tell you that?” Danny made an incredulous face and scoffed, shaking his head. “I don’t even need to ask. I don’t know why I keep being surprised by her antics.”

“So it’s not true?”

What else had she been lying about? A tiny voice said in the back of Bruce’s head. He tried to ignore it, but given the drastic differences between Danny’s and Jazz’s behavior, he was wondering what was the actual picture and what was the siblings’ casual omission of truth.

“It was true, but only because she herself sets those limits. Jazz is…,” he sighed, deflating on his seat, looking at the sky, “I love my sister, and a lot, but she takes everything too seriously.”

Or you don’t take things seriously enough, Bruce thought, but chose not to say it.

“I never said she had a time limit, or that she had to turn her back on the living world for the rest of her life. We sent her ass to the Arkham internship because she doesn’t know how to take a break.”

“Arkham is a break?” Tim asked what had been lingering in everyone’s heads. The siblings kept referring to working at the worst psychiatric criminal facility, a vacation and a break.

Danny scoffed again, turning his eyes towards the young man. His smile wasn’t kind. “You guys haven’t put it together? The kind of role Jazz has in the Realm. The kind of person she… The kind of person I asked her to become.”

There was deep guilt in his voice, and in the way he couldn’t hold his gaze. Danny fidgeted with his napkin, letting the birds sing the tension of his silence away. They were waiting on him to elaborate, and he knew that, but was building the courage to speak.

“Do you guys know how powerful I am? No, you don’t,” he answered himself with a shrug, “because there’s no one like me. I could— If I wanted to, I could bring this city, the whole city, into the Infinite Realms. Just like that.

If I wanted to I could end the war with a snap of my fingers. I could Order every ghost-adjacent being to follow my every command and bring peace via total domination. Or,” he stopped his fingers, sighing, “I could just rip their cores with a thought and crush them with another and be done with Vlad and with every stubborn ghost that thinks I don’t deserve to be King.”

He finally glanced up at Bruce, as if he knew all these scenarios passed though the man’s head as he spoke. “Imagine that — Every conflict, every war, I could wish it away in seconds.”

The older man nodded, following his speech. “And yet you are here.”

Danny’s vulnerable smile reminded him so much of Clark’s. “I can’t. I can’t do that. If I— If I just eliminate every little thing in my way, what kind of person would I be? I’ve seen it happen, Bruce. I know what I could be if I lose perspective of who I really want to be.”

Cass lifted her hand like she was in a classroom. “Jazz. She’s your anchor.”

Danny went back to looking at his hands, shoulders sagging. In shame? In defeat? “All of them keep me grounded, even when I feel like I’m drifting away from who I used to be. But Jazz? She knows what needs to be done, what I’m scared to do. She knows she can handle the guilt and the nightmares and the horror.”

He took a long breath to calm himself. “Jazz is what I can’t— what I won’t be, and she took that burden like it was nothing. She has always done that, taking the bad things and dealing with them for me. It’s just… This time, the ‘bad things’ are a little bit more permanent.”

It made sense now. How she avoided talking about it, how Jazz tensed when she was asked what her role was. How she was so comfortable at Arkham.

“She’s your Executioner.”

Danny flinched at Bruce’s words. “She’s that and more. She became a counterpart for me, a shadow, so I could shine in the spotlight. A symbol.” He said the word like it was a curse. Bruce didn’t miss the twitch in his eyebrow. “Do you know why her armor is bright red?” His smile wasn’t kind when he looked up. “The Infinite Realms are green. She stands out and attracts all the attention in battle so the rest of us can be the heroes of the hour.” He chuckled. “She never wanted any of this. She didn’t defeat the previous King, she wasn’t even there. I know my childhood could have been way worse if she wasn’t in my life, and I’m grateful, but I kept asking more and more from her and now—”

“Do you really think I didn’t want this?” Jazz’s voice cut through Danny’s rambles. “I chose to stay, Danny.”

He didn’t react when he saw her walk in, her face puffy and her eyes still wet. Did he know she was listening? Of course he did — from what the vigilantes could gather so far, Danny’s abilities were up there with Superman’s. Maybe even more.

“Don’t.” He frowned. “I can see right through your bullshit, Jazz. There wasn’t that much of a choice and you know it.”

She bit her lips, but didn’t deny it. Instead, she pulled on her joined hands with Jason’s so they approached the table and sat down.

After settling in her seat, she breathed in, breathed out and smiled. “You are making me sound like some kind of demon or something.” Nobody bought the lightness of her tone.

Danny caught her deflection and chose to follow. He scoffed. “And you are not?” He made a gesture with his hands, placing them on the sides of his head with his pointer fingers up, imitating his sister’s headpiece.

She rolled her eyes. “I am not—”

“Jazzy, fear incarnate is in love with you. He let you ride his horse!” He smirked at Jason. “Not an euphemism.”

He caught on what the siblings were trying to do and turned towards his girlfriend. “You never told me about any horse, darling.”

“Nightmare was a strategic move. Frighty knows I can’t fly like the rest of you and it could give me an advantage during battle.”

“Nightmare? Seriously?” Jason asked.

“Big black horse with wings.” She quickly explained with a shrug. “Breathes fire.”

“Are you serious? Fright Knight doesn’t let me even touch his horse and I’m the King!” He threw his hands up in the air. “That being said, he doesn’t challenge me as much as he does with you, and thanks the Ancients for that.”

“Wait. Wait a second. Are you saying—”

Danny’s smile grew like a Cheshire Cat’s. “Ooohhhh. You didn’t know? Did you forget the one basic fact about ghost nature, Jazzy-pants? Ghost’s love language is fighting.” He said the last part imitating her voice, like she was giving a lecture of some kind.

“Oh? Tell me more?” Jason leaned towards Danny, head leaning on one hand, completely enraptured by the information his girlfriend’s brother shared so easily.

“And he wasn’t pulling any punches either. Before I learned he was formally courting her, I wasn’t sure if he wanted to fight her to death or marry her!”

“He could do both if he’s not a coward.” Jason shared the smile with Danny, ignoring Jazz’s hands pushing his shoulder away from her.

“Hey!” Jazz protested, but there was a small smile on her lips. “Don’t encourage him!”

“Wait until I tell you about The Ballad of the Red Demon.” Danny also ignored his sister, and the eyes of the rest of the Waynes, as he summoned a notebook with more green flames. He cleared his throat, opened the notebook and started reading:

“The fire in her eyes burned brighter than any sun, as the sharp edge of her blade pierced your chest to meet your untimely end.

Don’t provoke the Red Demon, for her burning fury will consume you in a blaze hotter than the Realm’s Core.

There she rides the winged Dark Horse as her cries call for the blood of her enemies, bright green eyes already searching for the next target.

Don’t provoke the Red Demon, for her siren’s call will be the last thing you hear before you draw your last breath.”

“What in the Ancients is that?” Realization came to the young woman. She slapped the table and stood up. “Ghost Writer?”

Danny nodded. “He gave me the first draft to approve before getting into editing.” He shook the notebook closer to his sister. “There’s a chapter for each of us, don’t think it’s just about you.”

He rolled his eyes and reopened the notebook, getting ready to continue reading, but Jazz jumped and reached across the table trying to snatch the notebook before he continued. He managed to float away just in time to prevent her from taking it from him, and quickly flew high enough that she couldn’t reach him, but close enough that he was almost within reach.

“Awww, you don’t want our new friends to know about your feats during the last siege? About—” he glanced at the text, quickly murmuring words under his breath, “‘Her fiery hair glows like a damned halo’ and ‘sharp blade like a gentle kiss of death’ something something ‘crushing enemies under her foot’.”

Jazz was trying to jump high enough so she could catch her brother, her face crimson red as the others chuckled at the scene.

Finally, taking pity on her, Jason reached for the book as Danny was distracted reading the next stanza and seized it away from the floating Fenton.

“Thank you.” She breathed in relief, extending her hand so he could give her the notebook.

With a tiny smile, he opened it and tried to read too, but it was written in symbols he felt he recognized but couldn’t read.

“Do you have an official translation yet or do I have to wait?”

---

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[quiet-place-for-thoughts]

!Their Younger Sibling!

Summary: You had successfully escaped you're older brothers and you one and only friend Azul(Or how reader calls him Zuzu). You had were texting Yuu about meeting him with his friends, the ones you met before heading for you're brothers, and Azul. What will their reactions be?

A/N: Part 1 There's mention of a bag, you pick how the bag looks and what type of bag it is. Debating on making a series of the octavillene trio having reader keep running off and befriending the main cast. Remember to look after yourself and get rest!! Enjoy.

You put you're phone in you're bag as you looked around you making sure you're brothers nor Azul were near. You weren't worried about the other students too much since you have similar speed and strength to you're brothers, although abit weaker than them. Once you were sure they weren't near you stood up and ran for the botanical gardens, keeping an eye out for any of the first years you saw with Yuu or Yuu himself.

You eventually reached the botanical gardens, looking around for Yuu and the rest of his friends. Spotting them not to far you walk up to them.

"Hey, Yuu!"

Yuu turned around to see you smiling at him as he waved at you.

"(Name), You got here fast!"

You chuckled abit as the other first years saw and recognised you from earlier that day. You remembered each of their names roughly, the one you think was juice?? No, Deuce!

"Hey There, Your (Name), the leech twins younger sibling, right? We met you earlier on today!" Deuce smiled at you and extended a hand for a handshake.

"Yes, that would be me! You're Deuce if I'm correct." You shook his hand as he nods confirming you was right. It was bit awkward for you, not because of the people but because of the socializing. The only friend you'd ever had was Zuzu, so it felt awkward but they all seemed pretty laidback.

They all introduced themselves, Sebek seems to be loud constantly, though you were used to Floyds random yelling so it wasn't too bad. They are a lively bunch, it was quite enjoyable, your awkwardness and anxiety went quickly as you hangout with them.

"Hey (Name)."

You look over at Jack as he approaches you, you've noticed he is quite sensible probably the most sensible here.

"Yea? What's wrong?" You stare at him confused as he scratches the back of his neck and looks away.

"Don't take this badly towards you're brothers but, you're not really like them, you know? I mean it in the sense you not as terrifying as you're brothers make themselves nor do you try and make you're self unsettling like them."

Jack was now looking at me in an almost confused manner as you laugh abit at the statement Jack made. You weren't offended to be honest, you just found it funny how right he was. Epel had joined the conversation and agreed with Jack, you replied to them.

"Well, I try not to appear unsettling or anything of the sort. I'm here for abit and my brothers are protective of me. I've never actually had a friend that wasn't Azul. Its only been us four basically my entire life..."

You look at Jack and Epel sheepishly, it felt weird to tell others about you're brothers way of looking after you. It almost felt wrong to be talking to these guys, but you pushed those feelings away and looked at them. The others had at some point had joined the conversation as they looked at you with pity.

"You've never had anybody out of those three??! That must be tough...We're your friends now! Therefore you now have people out of those three!" Deuce wrapped an arm around you're shoulders as the others seemed to agree.

"Yeah, you don't seem so bad, what harm could it do?" Yuu smiled at you confidently.

You smiled at them all, this was nice. Having a group of friends like this was nice...Your phone buzzed ruining the moment of happiness you felt, you only had 5 contacts outside of the people currently around you, 2 of those contacts were your parents but they had already told you they wouldn't text you until you did a week at NRC, the other 3 were you're brothers and Zuzu. You got caught, shit.

The others look at your panicked face as you run over to your bag, they question what's wrong.

"My brothers and Azul know I left the monstro lounge. They said I wasn't to leave due to the people at this school not being trustworthy enough for me to even talk to."

The others looked at you with concern, until Ace spoke up.

"They do that?! They stop you from interacting with people like at all?!"

I nod my head as I search my bag for my phone, you grab it quickly and look at their texts.

After you had read their texts and you felt sick to you're stomach you shoved you're phone into you're bag and threw the bag onto you're shoulder as Sebek yelled.

"THATS UTERLLY WRONG. YOU'RE STRENGTH OUT DOES THE NORMAL HUMANS STREGTH. THERES NO REASON FOR THEM TO DO THAT!!"

You don't stay around much longer as you bolt for monstro lounge. You slam open the door but make sure not to scare any customers, you dint need those three anymore angry than they already are.

You think back to what Sebek said about being inhumanly strong like you brothers, it does make sense why they d-, you're thoughts were stopped by the tap on you shoulder looking at the person to see you brothers. Floyd grabs you and drags you into the V.I.P room and puts you on the couch as he starts going on about how you weren't meant to leave this place and you could have gotten hurt. Jade interrupted Floyd and looked at you.

"Elver. Did you speak to anyone?"

Jades voice was stern, you knew damn well that you couldn't avoid answer him. Not with Floyd and Azul right by.

"Yes..."

You watched there faces morph into disbelief. Now Azul and Floyd were yelling about how you're meant to stay by their side and not run off to talk with others. That's all they could yell about, not only did you leave monstro lounge like a normal human but you talked with others. Jade just let them go off at you, you don't think you've see him so angry. You knew this was the punishment, you knew they would tighten security on you.

You decide that, they aren't gonna stop you. You were 16 for fucks sake! a year younger than them. You not gonna sit idle by their side and alone, not when you now have friends. Of course you weren't gonna tell them that you just looked at the floor and listened to their yelling.

This will be an interesting time at NRC...

[cinnamonsakura666]

The holidays had finally started to arrive, mountains of snow appeared all over the land and a group of toons decided to spend their holiday together this year. They all spent time with each other a lot but also, complications for some would come up and this kind of gathering wasn't always as easy to do. So, here they were now, making snow sculptures and throwing snowballs.

"Cuuupheeeeaaaadd….." A lil' devil named Bendy said through a shivering tone. Cuphead, as his name implies, turned to see his friend, chilled to the core, walked up behind him and rested his head on his shoulder, the other male flinching at the sudden contact. "I'm coooollldd…."

Cuphead stopped making a snowball for a second. "Oh yeah…..Yer a demon so you musta be freezin' because you ain't use ta' it!"

"Of course he is, Cuphead!" Mugman, Cuphead's twin sibling, stated. "Even I knew that! That's why I suggested he stay inside!"

"Well, excuuuuuuuse me! I wanted ta' have em' join in on ta' fun!"

"Cuppy~" Bendy cooed, Cuphead flared up at the contact, feeling like he was grinning like an idiot as Bendy traced his shoulder. "Come on~ Let's go inside, please?~" Cuphead immediately nodded a yes, looking at Mugman.

"Ya heard em', Mugsy! He's cold! We gotta take em' in!" The red male decided to pull Bendy in for a hug in-order to keep him warm, Bendy happily returning the embrace. "We can continue ta' snowball fight later!"

Mugman tried to protest but was stopped by another person speaking.

"Leave em', Mugman. No use arguing against em' at this moment." Oswald the Lucky Rabbit said, alongside with his brother, Mickey placing the top hat on top of the snowman he and Oswald were working on.

Mugman sighed, understanding what the rabbit had said. Mugman swore that everytime Cuphead and Bendy came into contact with each other, Cuphead would be more willing to listen to Bendy than his own brother. It was slightly getting annoying at this point.

"Yes, Mugman, it's about time we went inside anyway." Mickey, Oswald's younger brother and main voice of reason among the group, responded, having finished the snowman.

The three headed inside, the house that the holiday festivities were held at was Mickey and Oswald’s home (For Oswald, it acted more as a temporary place to stay while in the toon world and not in Wasteland).

“Hey! Welcome back! How was it out there?” Felix the Cat turned the corner, holding a small tray with three decorative glasses, a dark liquid in them, as he greeted the three who were now inside, taking off the extra layers of clothing by the door.

“Cold.” Mickey chuckled, taking a glass before handing it carefully to Mugman and then to Oswald. Finally, with all drinks distributed, the mouse took one for himself.

Felix snorted at the response; “Cuphead and Bendy mentioned it being cold outside when they came in.”

“Where did they go, anyway?” Mugman asked.

Felix nodded towards the couch, Mugman walking over to peer over it. There the two were, Cuphead, looking completely out of it and Bendy laying on his body, head resting on Cuphead’s shoulder as the two were cuddling close to each other, watching a Christmas themed movie.

The blue male returned to the kitchen, looking back with a feeling that felt familiar but foreign at the same time. 

“Hey, Mugs, why don’t you help me out with making cookies?” Felix called out to Mugman. The younger toon came over to help, putting on an apron. “So…..” Felix began; “What’s got you looking that way?” 

Mugman glanced back over through the doorway. He could see the couch Bendy and his brother was on but couldn’t see over it. “Mmm…..I dunno….Bendy is the only person Cuphead easily got along with other than me when it came to seeing that person over and over again but as much as I trust them, I can’t help but distrust Bendy’s intentions with Cup. It’s confusing….” 

“How so?” 

“Bendy is a demon and from the books I’ve read through to study how to deal with demons since me and Cuphead have run into a few different ones, it mentioned that the type of demon Bendy is, an imp, it’s said that many of them are succubi, demons who feed off affection and love. I feel like that when Bendy comes near Cuphead and uses his charms, Cuphead can barely speak and goes along with everything Bendy says! It’s crazy! He barely listens to anybody, why would he listen to him?!” Mugman explained. 

Felix didn’t respond, simply smirking to himself as he snickered. “No, I get that feeling of worry but honestly, you don’t have anything to worry about! It’s completely normal!” Felix handed some raw gingerbread dough to Mugman and the latter got to work on kneading the dough. Felix, meanwhile, mixed the new batch. 

“Alright, Alright. If it makes ya feel better, I’ll monitor em’ ta’ make sure no funny business goes on for yer sake, Mugman.” Oswald walked up behind the young cup sibling and took a gingerbread man to snack on. “Oh! By ta’ way, great cocoa an’ cookies, Feels. Tastes great!” Oswald followed that up with putting a hand on the cat’s shoulder, squeezing it beneath his grasp.

Mugman almost laughed at the fact that once Oswald had fully gotten out of the kitchen, Felix reacted the exact same way his sibling did near the lil’ devil.

Mickey seemed to have noticed as well, covering his mouth so he wouldn’t laugh out loud.

“See? Perfectly normal for everyone! No magic involved, just love for someone.”

Mugman chuckled, acknowledging that fact but the doubt still lingered. “I got it, Mr. Mickey.”

Mickey smiled and patted the young toon on the head with a smile. “You’re a good brother, Mugs.” Mickey wandered back into the living room, not before he tapped Felix on the shoulder. “Back to earth, Felix.” Felix shook his head, realizing that he was just standing there, lost in his thoughts.

“Heheh, sorry! Anyway, where were we, Mugman?”

The two fixed more cookies as the Disney siblings hung out in the living room, glancing every so often at Cuphead and Bendy, asleep and warm.

“They’re kinda cute, aren’t they?” Mickey whispered to Oswald. Oswald nodded in agreement, returning to whisper in Mickey’s ear. “Yeah but ya heard ta’ blue mug.”

Mickey smiles as he nods. "Yeah. I did. Just something I thought about."

Sooner or later, Felix and Mugman finished up, heading out to the living room. Felix hesitantly sits next to Oswald, glancing at the rabbit to see if he's going to be pushed away.

"Excuse me, Oswald. M-May I share the blanket with you and Mickey? And Mugman would like that too…." Felix blushes as he looks at Oswald.

Oswald looks at him, curious but he eventually sighs and offers his blanket to the two. Felix gets close to Oswald but the rabbit pulls the toon cat closer with an eyeroll.

"Come 'ere. I won't bite." Oswald mutters. Felix looks away, extremely flustered as Mugman cozies up to Felix. The mug snorts at Felix's reaction.

He really had nothing to worry about, did he?

(Btw, Bonus pic! Bendy got a Tattletail for X-Mas this year. He named it "Furball", "Furby" for short.)

[little-paperboat]

What We Owe To Each Other (2&3)

HELLO ROLAN NATION

I come bearing gifts for the very patient readers and to make amends for my three-months break, namely 7,000 words split into two chapters, a fight, a hug, and lots of emotional rollercoasters.

I am very sad that it took me so long to finish this part of the story, but I am very relieved that it's finally out - I can now focus on the main story and bring more Tav and Rolan into everyone's lives. I'm not too sure when I will be able to post next, maybe in a week or two, but I will let you know. You can follow the tag “series:forbidden fire” here on tumblr to not miss when it comes out! :)

In the meantime, a little sneak peek under the cut, as usual.

It's good to be back :)

Read on AO3 (2 & 3/3)

Read Part 1: Wild Winds Are Death To The Candle (2/2)

Read Part 2: Through Shadows To The Edge Of Night (3/3)

If the sun failed to rise today, Rolan didn’t think he’d care.

It was still dark outside when he woke up from another sleepless night; his body sore and aching, heart barely beating anymore, the overwhelming bitterness of desperation the only tangible proof that he was still alive.

His fingers grazed his cheekbone and he flinched at the pain, a sharp hiss leaving his lips. If Lorroakan kept beating him like this, he’d surrender his last breath before the next tenday.

Another day meant another torment, and it was becoming increasingly difficult to simply take it. To say, yes master, sorry master. To keep up the charade, to pretend that he couldn’t break Lorroakan in two by snapping his fingers. Day after day he felt it: his magic growing, pulsing; yearning to break free and to flood every cell of his body. It would surge and soar, a blinding wave of power that would annihilate everything around him, calling the Weave to his aid so intensely that Mystra herself would have no choice but to command him for it. A part of him feared this— if the dam were to break, he’d be pulled under the tidal wave too and would drown in it, overwhelmed. But a part of him craved it: to tame the storm and to unleash his rage, to ride the high of his wrath and take revenge on the tyrant.

Rolan had never been a violent man. Truth be told, he despised violence: one should know how to behave. To resort to fists was most unbecoming of a wizard and any self-respecting gentleman: if he ever fought, it was out of utmost necessity - to protect his siblings, or himself. He wasn’t too proud to admit that he had had a few altercations back in Elturel, but there had been no other choice. Once to defend Cal from a vengeful human who assaulted him, blaming the Descent on his infernal heritage. And before that, when he had been a child himself with no one to look after him. The memory of brutality he experienced back then had never fully disappeared, even after so many years; faded but never forgotten. Now, it was back in full force, and in him stirred a dark, maddening urge to burn.

He sighed, anxiety tightening his chest, his unsettling thoughts adding to his unrest. Mornings like this, he wondered what was the point of it all; to walk out there, take the spot that he hated so behind the wooden counter to let the world see his shame, for his master wouldn’t let him heal nor conceal. If they ask, you’ll tell them the truth: that you are a careless, worthless apprentice who should learn his place before he can pretend to learn real magic.

The humiliations blended together: fresh bruises replaced the older ones, and the light in his eyes dimmed with every rising sun.

But surely he could endure a little longer.

Just a little longer. For Cal. For Lia. To show them he was brave, to prove to them that he would still make it.

With a groan he got up, taking off his nightclothes with care to not reopen the wounds on his ribs. Despite his pain he refused to give up and kept putting on a set of respectable nightclothes after sunset, out of principle, because it still mattered to him. Whatever was left of his dignity, he had to preserve it.

Yes. He could endure a little longer. If anything, because Tav had asked him to.

Tav.

Annoying, meddlesome, infuriating Tav, who showed up out of the blue to turn his world upside down once again.

Frustrating, vexing, obstinate Tav, who couldn’t take “no” for an answer and bent the rules of the universe to do as she pleased.

He used to think he hated her; now he couldn’t remember why. But maybe it would be better if he still did, for hate was such an easy emotion to feed and such a great outlet for all his sorrows. He could never do that anymore though; not when she was the reason why he was still alive and his family too. Not when she had been so kind while he had been so rough, not when she had made a point to prove him wrong twice. Not when she had planted the seeds of hope back in his heart, to which he held onto with all his strength with a desperation he didn’t know he had.

A few days, at most.

With every sunrise he waited to see her walking back in the shop, fierce and proud, with her signature shit-eating grin and that lovely pout of hers.

Back for him, somehow, to save the world and his sorry self at the same time.

But every sunset dashed his expectations. How long were a few days supposed to be?

— Read the rest on AO3 :)

(c) divider by saradika

[teecupangel]

was reading through your claudes tag and came across this tag "at this point we’re only missing petruccio and we will have all the auditore siblings x desmond headcanons XD" and it made me think of an au where desmond is reborn around the same time as petruccio is born so they become childhood friends after they hit it off after tthye "coincidentally" meet on one of petruccio's rare days out

so they grow up together with desmond feeling guilty about using petruccio to get closer to petruccio's family not realizing that he's started thinking of them as petruccio's family instead of ezio's and that his motivation has shifted to saving petruccio instead of sparing ezio the pain of seeing his family die

meanwhile petruccio has a puppy crush on desmond forever because desmond while protective of him doesn't coddle him like his family does and also being very understanding about changing plans because of petruccio's disability like "oh we had planned to play outside today but now you're not feeling up to it that's cool lets go play cards, or read together, or play whatever board games existed in renaissance italy"

side tangent had the thought of desmond apprenticing to a woodcarver so that he could learn how to make some of the few board games he can remember from the future to play with petruccio

also i feel like demond would have to have petruccio's crush pointed out to him a la white aster before he has his oh oh moment probably by one of petruccio's siblings letting something slip by accident

The post from the #claudes tag where I did write in the tags that we’re only missing Petruccio from the Auditore family.

With this ask, Desmond now have the complete set XD

Okay, let’s talk about this childhood friends-to-lover setup for Petruccio and Desmond!

Why not just make Desmond be reborn as the son of a carpenter? That would give Desmond easy access to what can be considered as ‘trash’ and he could just start trying to carve it because he keeps on talking about board games he remembered playing and Petruccio always looked interested in playing them but then Desmond would remember that they wouldn’t be invented until later on.

We can even make Desmond’s father a descendant of the Vikings so he could teach Desmond how to carve out his first Orlog set so Desmond would have something to practice on.

From there, Desmond could start bringing his own board games to play with Petruccio.

So in this scenario, Desmond would have played lots of board games. Maybe one of his coworkers in Bad Weather liked board games and would invite his coworkers to play during the weekend or something and Desmond enjoyed it because it felt like he was connecting with people without lying about who he was.

In this situation, I think it would be funny if Desmond making board games he remember to play with Petruccio would lead to Leonardo discovering him as a genius ‘game maker’.

How?

Because a lot of the board games Desmond remembered needed more than two players (although Petruccio does love Patchwork and they play that a lot) so the other Auditore siblings (and sometimes their parents) get roped in to play with them as well.

The Auditores are competitive kids and even Petruccio shows his fangs during this time (even if the main reason why Petruccio is being competitive is because he doesn’t want to lose in front of Desmond and, really, the three try their best to support their youngest brother's puppy love but their thirst for victory superseded any familial love they feel for one another).

So Leonardo gets roped in to the weekly (biweekly? Triweekly?) board game night and he sees all of the many board games Desmond had made and he starts to interview him about them and Desmond tries to answer all of them, admitting that a lot of the board games are actually versions 2 or 3 because he had to tweak the game balance (since he didn’t remember all the rules) a lot of times which embarrasses him. This only makes Leonardo think highly of him because admitting that it’s not perfect meant that Desmond strives to keep upgrading his work.

Leonardo’s sudden interest in Desmond makes Petruccio jealous though and he already had to be make peace with how Desmond seem to be ‘like’ Ezio (in Desmond’s defense… he’s bias to Ezio thanks to his life as Desmond Miles).

But he can’t do anything because Leonardo is a friend of the family and a loyal friend for that matter and…

Well…

Leonardo was also trying to help Petruccio try to get Desmond’s attention.

It all comes to a boil when in one of the more stressful board games (I’m thinking maybe Nemesis or maybe even Werewolves/Blood on the Clocktower), someone (probably Claudia?) calls out Petruccio’s actions as less of him playing to win but playing to make sure Desmond wins and that’s cheating because he can’t let his love for Desmond be the reason why he’s willing to lose the game and drag everybody with him.

And everyone just grows quiet…

And Petruccio runs away.

While Desmond’s just sitting there, having his own “Oh my god, he loves me! Why didn’t I see that? Oh Jesus Christ, I’m so dumb! Why didn’t I notice it???” and “Do I… Do I love Petruccio??? Have I fallen for him without realizing it???” breakdown on the inside while he just looked at the board game blankly.

This would happen when Desmond and Petruccio reached like maybe 18 or 19 (so yeah, no Auditore execution event because Desmond had been busy).

Leonardo would actually be the one to talk to Desmond and he would talk about how the real reason why he fell in love with Desmond’s board games (which they’re working on selling soon) was because it was made with love.

Each carving done by the same pair of hands each time…

Each stories engraved in the board…

Each rules to ensure fairness…

Desmond wasn’t just making them for fun.

They had always been a labor of love.

But the question then becomes…

Who was Desmond thinking of when he was making all of these board games?

And Desmond just stares at Leonardo before he goes, “Thank you.”

Leonardo just smiles back as he asks, “I’m not the one who needs to hear the truth about these board games now, am I, Desmond?”

“Yeah…” Desmond stands as he agrees, “I should… I need to talk to Petruccio.”

Leonardo nods and watches as Desmond rushes back to Palazzo Auditore.

Ah… young love…

[doyouknowthemossinman]

I accidentally manufactured a royal family in HollowClan. so. here's them <3 elaboration below the cut

so here we start with the woman, the myth, the legend, Gorgespeck! she's not a founding member of the clan, but joined on Moon 11 so i often mistake her for a Clan Founder. A medicine cat with ambitions for family, she just kept. finding. kittens. She only kept 5 of them herself tho. She found Mossymouse, Shardsplash, and Yewdapple abandoned by their twoleg within the same moon of joining the Clan, and then had half-Clan kits Rainbowjay and Sprucekit. She died of old age after many moons of service to HollowClan.

Jumping ahead a little because her bloodline is shorter, we have Rainbowjay! Sprucekit is here too. (She died from being carried off by a hawk at 6 moons old.) Rainbowjay was a loyal HollowClan warrior, if a bit average. She died giving birth to her only son, Rootpelt, who she had with Spiderstrike. (I didn't want to draw mates because holy hell that would be a lot.)

Rootpelt's only personality trait is having a million cousins thanks to both his parents' littermates: Mossymouse on his mother's side and both of Spiderstrike's siblings. The man has a total of 0 siblings and 17 cousins.

Speaking of which.... THE MAIN EVENT. THE ADOPTER EXTRAORDINAIRE.

Mossymouse!... and her siblings Yewdapple and Shardsplash. Taken in as 5-moon-old kits, these guys really made names for themselves in the Clan. Well, Mossymouse did, anyway. Yewdapple was carried away by a hawk at age 23 and Shadsplash suffered the same fate at age 48. Mossymouse herself died on patrol at age 89.

In the meantime, Mossymouse was finding children left, right, and center! She was very involved in her kits' lives, even mentoring her daughter Hazyfeather. Being mentored by kin was something that tended to carry through the rest of the bloodline as well, as aunts and uncles mentored their nieces and nephews.

Shardsplash did mentor Coniferwhisker during her warrior apprenticeship, before she was forced to retire due to her paralyzation. After spending a moon feeling quite useless, Coniferwhisker took up the mantle as one of HollowClan's mediators. She is still able to do her work with help and exercise from the medicine cats, and she trains her apprentices well.

Hazyfeather was very close with her family, going on to give lives to her stepfather Ripplestar and her brother Mousestar. Icyseeker did much the same, being mentored by Ripplestar and then giving him a life. Kitehowl was mentored by the previous leader, Ibisstar, and went on to be a fierce warrior. The three sisters died to poison and yellowcough, respectively.

Oh, Mousemask. He never felt like he deserved the title of leader at all, and the guilt was doubled when he received lives from all three of his dead sisters. When pressed to choose a new deputy, he panicked, and chose his younger adopted sister, Patchrumble. He later stepped down from leader due to the stress and his age, wishing to spend the rest of his life with his mate, medicine cat Driftshade. He has one kit, an experienced warrior named Flickerfox.

Mossymouse became mates with Ripplesnow, later Ripplestar, and decided that he was allowed to share custody of the second litter that she found.

This litter was found by Mossymouse as newborns, and as such, they've never known any world outside the Clans as their older siblings might have.

Claypaw and Patchpaw were close during their apprenticeship, and Patchpaw went into deep grieving when Claypaw was killed on patrol. The grief hardened her, and she honestly swore off being as openly close with her brothers after that. Luckily, lesbians exist, and she now has a small family as leader of HollowClan, with her mate Honeyheart and adopted daughter Cinderpaw.

Pebbledapple's boldness mixed with Smokechaser's arrogance make for a dangerous combination. They get along by causing trouble, as brothers do. They're honestly lucky that they have the respect of their Clanmates to fall back on.

Mossymouse's third and fourth litters were small and short-lived, unfortunately. Cragstripe was a newborn found by the Clan, like his older siblings. He had a long apprenticeship due to the death of his first mentor, so Mousemask finished his training. He was a serious, no-nonsense warrior. He drowned alongside a Clanmate while on patrol.

Highfeather and Kestrelstripe were abandoned by another Clan, and their scent was well-disguised enough that HollowClan couldn't tell who had left them on their border. Kestrelstripe was mentored by Patchrumble, and the two grew close both as sisters and as teacher and student. She was honored for her kindness as her graduation ceremony, and went on to be a masterful teacher and lorekeeper in the Clan. She was found dead on the PythonClan border at age 41.

Highfeather was trained by one of the Clan's founders, Pantherfeather, in the ways of a mediator. She was distraught at her sister's death, and the next moon, set out to find answers. She presumably went in PythonClan's direction, but HollowClan never found her body, nor heard a peep about her from any PythonClan warrior.

This family could be so much bigger if I also wanted to include cats that Ripplestar adopted but Mossymouse did not. (because he did that. he had 3 kits with a cat from another clan before he became mates with mossymouse) not to mention, Spiderstrike has an entire side of her family that could be royalty as well, with her siblings having half-Clan kits of their own.

as a bonus for making it all the way through this post, you get.... a screenshot of rootpelt's 17 cousins!

[citrus-cactus]

for the character ask game: any assortment of 7, 14, 15 for Eri and 13, 13 and 30 for Dokamon? (appmon)

ERI AND DOKA-CHAN! Oooh, interesting! For reference, the ask game is here.

Eri:

7. A quote of them that you remember

HMMM, not so much a quote, but imo the most memorable Eri moment of the series was her giving a righteous, impassioned speech to YJ-14 on Haru's behalf and then proceeding to fight him with explosive... kicks. AFTER AN ENTIRE SERIES, when the chips are down... it turns out she's a kicker, not a puncher. Amazing XD Say hello to my little friends: Common Sense and Reasonable Discourse!

14. Best storyline they had

I will always love that they stopped the show for two whole episodes to give us the Appliyama election and results, and I will never shut up about Eri being such a badass on Knight's yacht. It was all just really fun. Even though the show never addresses the unhealthy ways in which Eri pushes herself, I do like how this arc gave us probably the most it ever has of Eri's authentic, non-idol self: her code of honor, her grace after falling just short of her goal, her trust in her friends, her unwavering dedication and strength, both in body and spirit.

15. Worst storyline they had

It would be easy to pick her showdown with Beautymon, but I'm not going to do that. I think it had the makings of something interesting; if the focus hadn't been solely on physical appearance, but more about losing yourself to popularity, manipulating the masses, or the impossible standards of influencer/idol culture. No, instead I'm going to pick her intro episode, because it felt like such a baffling way to introduce us to her. She just... does not come off as sympathetic or likable in the slightest to me. Episode 6 is a much more enjoyable episode and gives us a bit more interesting character material to work with, but my first time through the series as I was still trying to decide if Appmon was worth watching, neither Eri or Astora made the best first impression. I really do love her though!

Dokamon:

13. Your favorite friendship they have

This is such an interesting question, because I'm struggling to recall if he even has meaningful relationships with most characters, besides Eri, Mariperi, and Gatchmon (and even then, those relationships are all pretty unbalanced). He'll do anything for Eri (or to get Eri to notice him). He certainly developed feelings for Mariperi, and Gatchmon is his "aniki"... but most of the time, Eri exists firmly in the center of her own universe, Mariperi appreciated the time he spent with her but basically rejects him, and I seem to recall instances where Gatchmon enjoys Dokamon looking up to him and agreeing with him, but is any of that what you could call a mutual friendship?

His relationships outside of those three, to my recollection, are almost non-existent. Regardless of whether Eri and Astora are in "bite each others head off" or "we're more similar than different" mode, does Dokamon ever have much to say to Musimon? I'm not sure he's even that close with Eri's other Appmon, even the ones he fuses with... iirc, they make a pretty dysfunctional team in the Appmon Games. The situations where he does interact with other characters, I think it's almost exclusively on behalf of Eri (i.e. doing whatever he thinks she wants), and it's often antagonistic in nature. "Don't get in Eri's way!", "Listen to Eri!", etc. I think Offmon looks up to him and he certainly worries about Offmon, but that feels more like a sibling relationship than a friendship.

Off the top of my head, I do think the only 'mons he would acknowledge as friends might be Gatchmon and Musimon. I do like the episode where they all run away together and end up helping that kid. I think that's the closest we see of Dokamon hanging out with those he considers his equals, and it did result in some great moments with the three "main" partner Appmon. But it's also possible I'm overlooking some more obvious friendship moments, and if so, I apologize Doka-chan! T^T

30. The funniest scene they had?

All that said (and it might sound like I'm negging on Dokamon through all of this, but I'm not!), my favorite Dokamon moments are when he's comedy relief... specifically, the instances where the joke is that he's too... well... stubborn and/or oblivious to care about whatever the MotW's silly shenanigans are. I'm thinking about Episode 14 (Puzzlemon), where his solution to being trapped in a room with giant heavy marbles is just to start punching them indiscriminately, physics-based repercussions be damned (Dokamon, NO!). And when Calcmon is depowering everyone using the power of math, Dokamon gets so angry that it just doesn't matter what numbers are coming up on Calcmon's screen; Dokamon's gonna punch that creepy nerd, and it's gonna hurt, full stop. Is it that he's not, strictly speaking, the brightest bulb on the Christmas tree? Is he so blindly optimistic in his own abilities? Or is he 100% loyal and willing to throw down for Eri to such a fault that it turns around and becomes an asset again? Maybe all of the above, and I kind of love him for that.

These were all interesting questions to think about, thank you!

[bluejaysandblackbats]

You're Just Like Quicksand

Fandom: DC Comics, Batfam, Batman Beyond

Summary: Jason Todd is ready to go into semi-retirement after fifteen years working with troubled youth, but one case in particular forces him to confront the sins of his youth and painful memories from his past.

Chapters: 3/?

Characters: Jason Todd, Terry McGinnis, Warren McGinnis, Mary McGinnis, Matt McGinnis, Bruce Wayne, Original Character(s)

Relationship(s): TBA

Additional Tags: Protective Jason Todd, Good Sibling Jason Todd, Retired Jason Todd, Multiple POV, Hurt/Comfort, Parent-Child Relationships, Canon Divergent AU, Angst, Mourning Jason Todd

Chapter Three: The Thunderclap (Jason Todd's POV)

I woke up looking for them again. It still happens sometimes. I get out of bed, checking the bedrooms before realizing that they are never coming home. That night was particularly terrible. I made myself a cup of tea and stared at the ghosts on my wall. Photographs of times long past. I could almost hear them laughing sometimes.

I looked at the clock in the hallway and tried to catch my breath. My alarm would go off any minute, so I showered to settle my nerves. Cold water. Always cold water in the morning. I washed my hair, slowly turning the water up to lukewarm, and scrubbed my skin once more, crying as I ran the towelette over a tattoo I got for them. I felt ill, as I always did when I thought of them. Sometimes I felt so sick I thought I'd die, but I pushed through because it was better than stopping. It was better than feeling.

I dressed in an embroidered green silk shirt and black pants. Then, I tossed on a thick cotton jacket. It wouldn't be chilly outside, but I ran cold enough to need it. I shifted my focus to better thoughts. Hopeful thoughts. I don't think I could've retired even if I wanted to. The case files kept me going. Their faces in the dossiers. Their stories. I slipped on my loafers and spritzed cologne in the air. It wasn't until I put on my seatbelt that I broke down. I leaned over the steering wheel, sobbing as if just moments ago I'd found out...

I only felt grief that instant because I had work to do. I collected myself and drove to the juvenile detention center. Warren went in to identify himself in the pickup area, and I waited quietly with Mary. "You didn't have to wake up so early—."

"I was up anyway... Besides, I think it's vital that he's surrounded by people who care about him. Most parents perceive this as the end and feel it's their time to let out a sigh of relief, but this is the most painful transition Terry will ever make in his life," I explained. Mary looked up into my eyes, and I took a breath. It was so early that the sun hadn't risen yet. We stood in the cold and the dark, waiting to hear Terry's voice.

"Terry tells me you're schway," Mary whispered. I chuckled. "He never stops talking about you."

"Schway," I smiled as I shook my head, "Kids are funny, aren't they? They go through rough patches, and we wonder if they'll ever get through it, and they surprise us every time... Terry's gonna surprise us all. I've got a good feeling about him... And not just 'cause he called me schway."

Mary smiled. "I hope so... He was such a sweet boy growing up. You should've seen him then, but he's always prided himself on his honesty. I don't think he's ever lied to me. Not once. Even when he was running with that gang, he never lied. He'd tell me not to ask. Terry's never been a liar," Mary whispered.

"I can tell... You and Warren raised two great kids. How's Matt?" I questioned. Mary grinned.

"He's doing fine. Matt told me to ask if you could come with Terry to see his play," Mary recalled.

"Sure. What's the play?" I grinned.

"Chicken Little. He's Foxy Loxy," Mary replied. We glanced at each other and started laughing. "I can always make something up—."

"No way. I love the theater. Even if it's in the elementary school auditorium," I joked. Then it happened. Time froze for her.

Warren walked beside Terry out of the main entrance. Mary stood on the tips of her toes, and I leaned over to whisper, "Go ahead. I'm sure he needs it."

Mary ran to him and nearly swept him off his feet. He staggered back into Warren, who kept Terry upright until he embraced Mary in return. "Mom," Terry mumbled as he hid his face in her shoulder. Warren took his glasses off and wiped away his tears.

Warren placed a comforting hand atop Terry's head. Terry turned to his father and embraced him. Warren's shoulders relaxed, and he wrapped his arms around his son. I tried to stay present in their moment, but I felt a chill, and my stomach lurched. I swallowed hard, shutting my eyes to push the feeling down, but it persisted until I felt a pair of arms wrap around me. I looked down and met eyes with Terry. I smiled and hugged back. "Thanks for coming, Jason," Terry replied.

"You must be starving. Tell your parents that breakfast is on me," I whispered as I nudged him. He nodded and returned to his parents. They looked at me, and I nodded insistently. They got in their cars, and Terry got in with Warren. I'd parked beside Warren and told them where we'd get breakfast.

I waited for him to tell Mary, and I led the way. Terry had French toast, eggs, and bacon. Mary and Warren had pancakes and bacon. I had an omelet and pancakes. It made me feel like a kid again. I loved breakfast time. It made me think of Bruce, half-asleep, tolerating the morning's light to humor me until school. I remembered the smell of his coffee. Nutty, heavily roasted, black.

I thought of Alfred's gentle reminders to Bruce to mind his manners. When I looked up, Mary and Warren asked if I'd stay with Terry while they spoke outside. I nodded. "You've been smiling this whole time," Terry noted, "I thought you were gonna be sick when I saw you earlier. What's up?"

"I've been stuck in my memories today. Everything reminds me of the past today," I confessed. Terry squinted at me, and I nodded. "I'll tell you about it some other time."

"Promise?" Terry asked. I chuckled. "I'm not joking." Terry smiled as he sipped his orange juice. The kid was persistent. I'll give him that.

"One story for every meetup... How about that?" I asked. Terry nodded.

"You've got a deal, Jason," Terry replied, "My dad doesn't get off work until five most days, so can I do my homework at your office?"

"We can discuss that with your parents... If they say it's alright, I'll keep the office open as long as you need," I answered. I didn't mind the company. It beat spending time alone going over case files, hoping that I wouldn't be bombarded with images of the past. Sometimes they laughed. Sometimes I heard them call out to me. All those sweet little helpless voices. Glass shattering as their innocence was torn away forever. Terry tapped the table. "Terry, do you like sports?"

"Mhm... Jason, can I ask you a personal question?" Terry requested. I nodded. "You said you're in your fifties... When'd you start doing this?"

"Twenty years ago," I answered. I didn't think I was impressive by any means. I was intentionally bland. But Terry was genuinely interested. "Cage fighting wasn't gonna cut it for career day at the kids' school."

Terry laughed, and when he saw my face, he grinned his little half-smile. "You're not kiddin'?" Terry asked.

"Jason 'The Thunderclap' Todd," I replied, "You should look up my matches. I was pretty good in my heyday."

"Do you miss it?" Terry asked.

"Nope... Medical bills were insane," I half-joked. Terry smiled at me.

“Why’d they call you The Thunderclap?” Terry questioned, raising his eyebrows.

“You’ll have to watch my matches to find out, Terry,” I chuckled.

[ficklecat]

8 ball!

Thank you so much for the ask!! :3 I’m going to answer this for Finn since he's had the “closest calls” (he's just a traumatized little guy he’s working on it)

🎱 8 Ball- What situation was your OC lucky to escape from or get out of? What or who helped them unexpectedly?

MAJOR TW: suicidal thoughts, pedophilia, assault and abuse

Main answer: Finn’s entire childhood was pretty much one long traumatic experience, save for a few moments of goodness, but one of the most dangerous situations he was in was when he was living with Harry O’Donovan. Harry fostered Finn from age 12-15, as well as three other younger boys (including Kenny, the only foster sibling Finn stayed in touch with). He lived in an affluent neighborhood by himself with the boys, and on the outside, he seemed like a charming and selfless man. He did volunteer work and was active in the church, which is how he obtained connections to foster programs. However, behind closed doors, Harry was a monster.

Finn always fought Harry in an attempt to protect the younger boys - since he was the oldest, he'd "aged out" of Harry's abuse after a while - but it was often to no avail. By the time Finn was moved to a group home for teen boys at age 15, he'd developed insomnia alongside his suicidal thoughts and worsening PTSD. Unfortunately, no unexpected help came for young Phineas - his saving grace was only the system that had placed him and moved him once more, and the ever-present support of Manny and his father, but he never disclosed what happened to him there to either of them. Below is an excerpt of a situation where luck seemed to be the only thing keeping Finn alive in that house. Though "luck" is open for interpretation here.

Please proceed with caution.

It was a night like any other.

Finn curled beneath the comforter and kept his eyes on the door, waiting for shadows to appear in the slice of light beneath that seeped into their room. He listened, ears alert and poised to hear the familiar sounds - the soft creak of the third to last step, the low huff as he turned the corner and leaned on the bannister, the slow, lumbering footsteps to the bathroom. Water running, splashing, a cough or two, the cabinet opening and a rattle of pills. Then there would be a quiet space, only breathing to be heard, before the footsteps would return and the sliver of light would be darkened and the knob would turn.

Finn waited. He waited and waited, his heart racing in his chest, sweat dampening his brow. Beside him, Kenny lay still, sleeping lightly. He slept in Finn's bed most of these nights now - a small safety measure he'd convinced the young boy would be a fun "sleepover" activity. Beside them, the twins slept soundly, curled into each other, their little hands gripping their stuffed animals and each other's arms tightly. Finn chewed his lip and looked back to the door, breathing deeply, fighting himself to stay calm. He would do better this time, better than last night, better than before. He was stronger now, older, he could do better. He wouldn't get the closet again. He would bite and scratch like he did at school to the boy who threw rocks at him on the playground. He would go for the eyes like he'd tried to before Emmanuel had pulled him off the boy. He would do better. He would win.

The sounds started with the creak, and Finn braced now, body stiff, fists clenched. He breathed and he listened and he waited, waited, he would do better, he'd do better. The light beneath the door disappeared, the knob turned. Finn felt his heart racing so fast in his chest he thought for sure he was vibrating the bed with his pulse, but he didn't care. Kenny would sleep tonight, he'd sleep soundly, he'd be safe.

The door opened...

...

It went so wrong so quickly. Finn had tried, tried with everything he had. He'd sprung from the bed the moment Harry got close but it went so wrong, it went so wrong, because Harry was always bigger, faster, stronger than he was, stronger still, a hulking man with big hands and arms that wrapped around him like a vice as Finn squirmed and growled and gnashed his teeth. He kicked and kicked and Harry simply held him, crushed him, breathing heavily, jerking his head away when Finn tried to bite him. He wanted to scream but he knew the boys wouldn't run if they awoke, they were too scared, too little. It was up to him to save them, and it went so wrong, like every other night, it went so wrong.

"Settle down."

"Fuck you!"

"Settle down or I'll make you."

"Fuck you!"

Harry reached up and yanked Finn's hair, pressed his lips to his ear. Finn yelped softly and froze briefly, panting, eyes wide. He heard the boys in the room shuffling in their beds, awake now, watching, waiting for what was to come. He felt tears gather in his eyes.

"I said settle," Harry said. His breath smelled of cigarettes beneath a layer of Listerine. "Why can't you ever be a good boy for me, Finn?"

Finn felt fingers tighten in his hair and he whimpered, pushing against him, pushing away, uselessly, desperately, hot angry tears streaking his face

"Everyone else does as I say," Harry went on. "You're always the one causing problems." They were moving now, turning, out of the room - good, good, maybe this would go right, maybe there was a chance, maybe he'd saved them this time.

Harry moved into the hallway and Finn struggled once they left the room, squirming and wriggling and kicking his legs until suddenly he felt them kick the bannister. With a quickness, Harry shoved his body forward, thrusting him out over the staircase over the bannister, gripping his t-shirt with his arm. Finn yelped as his legs dangled in the air and he suddenly reached out and grappled Harry's arm, clinging now, hatefully clinging as he felt himself sliding out of his shirt. He panted and gasped, watching Harry's face.

The man stared at him with a calm, neutral expression, but in his eyes Finn could see it so clearly, could see it always, unlike all the useless people around him in his life who smiled and doted and praised Harry for being so wonderful, so selfless, so caring to ‘take care of these boys all alone.’

In those eyes, Phineas saw the truth.

I can do whatever I want to you. I am in control. You are nothing. You are mine.

Finn sneered, arms burning as he held onto Harry's arm, nails digging, digging, digging hard into his skin. Harry didn't flinch.

"Drop me," Finn dared him then. "Drop me. Do it."

Harry cocked a brow, his gaze looming curiously now, eyes narrow, as if he were searching for something. Finn let his grip loosen, felt himself sliding further out of his shirt, felt the jolt of panic in his body - nothing to catch him, nothing to break his fall, nothing but broken limbs or possibly even death awaiting him below. He didn't care. If he was nothing, so be it.

Harry smiled, a toothy, yellowed grin, seemingly satisfied, as if Finn had done the exact thing he'd wanted him to do. Finn swallowed, pulse ringing in his ears. Harry yanked him up over the bannister then and grappled him to sling over his shoulder. Finn kicked and screamed and pounded his fists against his back, flailing, cursing, crying out. Harry said nothing, and turned back towards the room.

It was a night like any other.

Finn sat sobbing, wailing, screaming until his voice was raw, huddled in the small closet of their bedroom, the one that smelled of mothballs, the one that had all the stiff old acrylic wool sweaters and coats hanging around him, making his skin itch as they brushed against him. He hugged his knees and cried, shivered, occasionally kicking the door until exhaustion finally took hold and he let his voice give out. He curled into a ball on the floor and sniffled softly, watching shadows move from the wood slats in the door, listening with a numb sense of dread and horror to the animalistic sounds from the other side.

It was a night like any other. He'd do better tomorrow.

[fanfic-inator795]

**Random fandom related rant incoming regarding ROT//TM//NT, don't like don't read**

Okay so, if any of you have followed me for a while, you know that I was in the Rot//TM//NT fandom for like three years before eventually leaving for the most part, save for occasionally peeking in on things (and taking part in the second Fashion zine, which is still in-progress if anyone's wondering).

When I left the fandom, my major point for WHY I left was that I felt like the fandom was becoming way too angst and gore heavy, being way too obsessed with post-movie stuff regarding the Kraang, the apocalyptic future, characters getting brainwashed/mutilated/going through ptsd/disturbing scenarios in general, etc.

This is still my main reason for why I'm still (and probably will always, regardless of how often I end up revisiting the show in the future) keeping my distance from the fandom. However, my other main reason is just the sheer fact that the fandom has a favoritism problem when it comes to the turtles - specifically the fact that Raph is essentially pushed to the sidelines in fandom works I'd say 85-90% of the time.

Just a reminder that I do not - and have not - check the tag every day so maybe my view on things is skewed, but of the ROT//TM//NT stuff that still makes its way into my Tumblr view space or YouTube algorithm, this is definitely how things seem to be.

In general, when it comes to art and fics and edits and all that, pretty much 8 times out of 10 it's going to be focused on either Leonardo, Donatello or both. Without a doubt, when it comes to fan creations involving the turtles, these two get the most solo-pieces. Like- at this point it's not even close. It cannot be denied that they are the fan favorites.

Mikey is next in line, because he's the funny and cute and chaotic youngest sibling, and then Raph is dead-last, getting the least amount of solo-pieces. Hell, half the time when I see Raph included in an art piece/fic/edit, it's only because it's centered around ALL the turtles, making him seem like an after thought. (and even then I've seen plenty of stuff where the artists/writers/editors focus solely on 'the twins' and Mikey, and then either don't include Raph at all or give him very little focus)

What's more, adding onto my frustration at just how angst-focused the fandom was when I left (and, from what I can tell based on my brief pop-ins, still seems to be) is that whenever you DO manage to find a Raph-focused fandom thing, it's him in these angsty or depressing scenarios/AUs, or he's crying over one of his brothers, or he's being the one giving comfort to his brothers.

Because that seems to be all the fandom sees him as! He's the protector, the Big Bro/Mom of the group, the one who dies first in the bad future, the one who we can project bad childhoods onto - though that's not to say that the others don't get projected onto either, they all absolutely do.

As such, you could argue 'oh well, this is just a part of the fandom, it's not a slight against Raph specifically' except it IS because while yes, all the other Turtles get plenty of angst art/fics/edits too, they also get plenty of fun stuff - memes and silly lighthearted scenarios and works where they get to be cool and badass. And as far as I can tell, Raph - for the most part - doesn't get that. At best, he'll get the fandom making jokes about how he's the dumb one or the emotional one. I remember coming across this one Hippoworm fic where all the other turtles got to participate in their wedding and form bonds with Warren and Hypno, meanwhile Raph was the one who ended up being the 'bad guy' of sorts, crashing the wedding because he was too oblivious to catch onto what was happening. This is what I mean when Raph just gets either horribly sidelined or shoved into the roll of support whenever he's not the one getting tortured or brainwashed.

Outside of specific 'Raph is best Turtle' fans/creators (who were already pretty rare back when I was still in the fandom...), you don't see the art of Raph being cool or wearing cool outfits like you do with Leo/Don/Mikey. You don't get fics where he's the full focus and gets to go on this big adventure or have this big interesting arc (AND IT'S NOT CENTERED AROUND TRAUMA, I feel like I have to emphasize this because again this fandom is just so angst heavy). What's more, you go to AO3 to find ANY non-angst/lighthearted Raph-centered fics and it's nearly impossible because, to fans, it seems like he's always got to be attached to one or all of his brothers. It can't just be him or, hey, I'll even take him and a side character/one of the villains (excluding the Mud Dogs because come on now those are literally just his brothers again). Just SOMETHING that lets him be an individual outside of his family - something that, again, literally every other character seems to get!

Even when it comes to something as simple as headcanons - I'd say 95 percent of people view the 'Donnie is autistic' headcanon as canon. But you could argue that Raph has just as many moments that come off as him having autistic traits, but most fans seem to either ignore these bits or see them as jokes, once again seeing Raph as the dumb one whenever he's not the group's shield or responsible one.

On the one hand, I can't fully blame the fandom for this as the show itself often shoehorned Raph into constantly being in a support role for his family. Going by the number of spotlight episodes he gets, it's really just "Mrs. Cuddles", "Sparring Partner" and "Raph's Ride Along", maaaybe "Mystic Library" (even though most fans only remember that ep for the Donnie Rap, let's be real here) and "Man VS Sewer", though the latter still has quite a bit of focus on the other turtles - otherwise he's strictly used as co-protagonist at best and sidekick to one of his other brothers at worst. He does get to land the final blow in "Evil League of Mutants", and gets a bit of extra spotlight in both season finales... buuut then gets kidnapped by the Kraang in the movie (which, regardless of how much it makes sense for the story, it still sucks to see Raph get tortured and put out of commission for more than half the film, essentially being used as a catalyst for Leo's development).

So yeah, hard to build off canon when the canon gives you so little. On the other hand, I still can't help but side-eye the fandom every time Raph - a large/plus-sized and not conventionally attractive character - is either pushed aside completely or strictly used to uplift or prop up the other three skinny 'pretty boy' turtles. Slotting him in strictly as the 'parent' of the group and essentially adultifying him or, even worse, putting him through tons of pain or killing him off so that the others can go through a guilt arc isn't that much better.

Now, could a lot of my feelings towards... all this be personal biases and my own bitterness at my fave being seemingly slighted by the fandom? Sure, you could argue that if you really want to. But from what I've seen, experienced and recalled from my days within the fandom, I feel confident that the points I've ranted about are founded in evidence. The fandom has a huge favoritism problem in my opinion, and it's this plus a distain towards all the angst and torture/gore-fics that have really soured my feelings towards Rise as a whole - and that feeling hasn't gone away.

That's the main reason why I wanted to just get all my feelings out (hence why I'm not tagging this rant), not to attack anyone in particular but just for my own personal benefit. I do hope that eventually I'll be able to rewatch the show (though probably not the movie) and fully enjoy myself without being reminded of all the fandom hang ups and other small annoyances I have with Rise. But for now, gonna be honest, I don't really regret leaving the fandom.

[wickedsrest-rp]

Name: Gideon "Sully" Sullivan Species: Human (Non-powered) Occupation: Kindergarten Teacher Age: 29 Years Old Played By: Chandler Face Claim: Noah Centineo

“Well, I for one know everyone's a little different. We all deserve an equal chance.”

Gideon Sullivan grew up in a coastal town with his parents and older sisters, an average life for an average human. As a child, he and his siblings would roam the streets and beaches, and as long as they were home by nightfall they had free reign to do as they pleased. They thought themselves to be regular explorers, the simple roads and shores were like unknown land for them to discover. 

There was a house by the beach that they all avoided, and not just them, but the entirety of the town seemed to give it a wide berth. No one knew who lived there, or if anyone did at all, but it gave everyone the creeps. Something about it just felt… off. And of course, when something seems off limits, the children of the town made it a game to see who could get closest, who could touch the door, who could look in the windows. But no one dared to enter.

One day, as the sun was beginning to descend in the sky, Sully and his siblings were hanging out on the beach with some neighborhood kids. And, of course, their fun turned to the classic truth or dare. When it got to Sully, they dared him to not only open the front door of the house, but to go inside. He looked at his siblings, wondering if he should switch to truth, but knew that they would never let him live it down, and turned to walk to the house. He walked up the creaking steps to the door, and it was as if it was waiting for him, because it simply swung open when he tried the handle.

Going inside, the place looked completely abandoned. It was a tiny home, a few doorways leading off to different rooms, but what really interested him was the hundreds of water logged books in the main room. They were scattered around, stacked in piles in a large semi-circle. He crept forward to look at them, entering the circle, not noticing the worn out chalk lines on the floor, and as he did everything stopped. He heard a sound like thunder under water, as of waves were crashing around him, and everything went dark.

When he woke up, he was soaking wet, his sister's shaking him and looking terrified. The house was dark as the sun had set outside, and they had obviously come looking for him. With him awake, they took him home, and they never went near the house again.

His life seemed to resume normalcy after that. It wasn’t until he was in middle school, pulling an all-nighter for a history project, that he realized something might be… off. He went into school that morning, exhausted, and sat down in his first class of the day, only to look at his teacher and see scales. And teeth. He rubbed at his eyes, trying not to stare, but he couldn’t believe his eyes. In the end, he chalked it up to his exhaustion, thinking it was only a hallucination. But then it kept happening. Any time he was tired, any time he stayed up a little too late, he would see things. Monsters. People he had seen for years, strangers, people just passing by. They would all suddenly be different.

This continued through high school, and into college. He even took a minor in mythology to try and make sense of it, and it did help, at least a little. It didn’t exactly give him a reason, but it made it easier to accept. And it gave him direction. Every so often he would hear mention of a place called Wicked’s Rest, and if he was going to find out why he could see the things he could, he figured he might as well start there.

Character Facts:

Personality: Compassionate, enthusiastic, empathetic, paranoid, timid, stubborn, naive, soft, ambitious, selfless

He is the youngest of three, he has two older sisters named Agatha and Magnolia. They are fraternal twins. They love making his life hell.

He has been writing a children's book called "Everybody is Special" over the past year.

He has two cats named Atreyu and Falkor. They are his best friends.

His last relationship ended badly, with his long term partner

[deeptrashwitch]

My head is filled of snippets of my boys and many more, but I blame the music. I'll try to post some of them, and definitely tomorrow there'll be a new chapter of Ashes of Freedom. So here's the first, a random snippet where the Marchant siblings are abroad and their parents continue living in Colombia!

Camila Marchant arrived to the airport, tired because of the almost twenty-four hours of trip. She felt the cold and smiled, a big comparison with the heat of the Korean summer. And once she turn on her phone, she called his brother, who also was arriving home that day.

"Hey Nico, how was your flight?" she asked with a smile

"Hey kiddo, to be honest I'm tired" he answered with a chuckle "I had to read many documents during the flight"

"Are you already on land?"

"Yes, wanna meet in front of the international departures doors?"

"Deal, coffee is on you"

"I know, I know. When do you think Lici will arrive?"

"I hope she arrives soon"

"Me too, anyway, see you outside"

"Yep, see you!"

The younger sister almost ran towards the main doors, smiling widely before stay there waiting, and soon saw Nicolas arrive. He looked a bit older, but he stills handsome as all of them, even with some white hair. She ran with her enormous bag behind her, throwing herself into her brother's arms to hug him.

He laughed and gave her a bear hug, kissing her forehead before smiling with kindness. Nicolás looked at her, winking before going for the coffee, or at least for Camila, he bought a hot chocolate for him.

"No more coffee for you?" she joked while driking her big latte

"Hell no, I've been surviving on it all the month! I'm fed up with it"

"Seems like La Haya is way stressful that I thought"

"It is, but what about Busan? Too busy?"

"A bit, although it's really interesting"

"Good to know, I was worried you would find it boring"

"Nah, it is not"

Then a laugh called their attention, and when they looked to the right, they smiled. Alicia was walking towards them with a smile, just with a medium bag hanging on her shoulder. Once she got near, they stood up and hugged the middle sister, who giggled and hugged strong enough to make them complain. She went to buy something to drink and soon the three of them were sit together, laughing and telling some anectdotes.

"How? I mean, look at our bags! And yours is...so little in comparison" Camila complained with a frown "and you always take more clothes with you than us!"

"That's a trick I learned as a rookie" Alicia said with a side smile "useful when you only have a bag for a deployment of months"

"You have an uniform, it doesn't count"

"I still need clean clothes from time to time, genius. We're soldiers, not animals"

"Anyway" Nicolás intervened with a cough "how are the boys?"

"Good, but also stressing me sometimes"

"At least I'm not the only one who has white hair, huh?"

"I guess that's right, we're already old..."

"C'mon, quit that face!" Camila said with a pout face "you're good! Also, let's go, didn't we say we will surprise mom and dad?"

The three of them went to take a taxi to go to their parents house, soon arriving and trying not to laugh. Nicolás opened the door with his own key, and they got inside the house in silence, holding back a laugh. Soon they saw their parents, who froze once they noticed them.

"Hi ma', how you doing?" Camila said while her siblings rolled their eyes

The older woman sobbed before standing up and running to hug her kids, now adults, in the middle of her cries. Soon the older man also shook his head to exit the shock, going to cup his son face before hugging him, then also hugging his daughters. He whispered over and over how he missed them, also telling them how proud he was of them, making them laugh with happiness.

It will be a great time at home.

[edenesth]

So Wrong, It's Right

Pairing: foster brother!Jeongin x fem!reader

AU: non-idol au (forbidden love)

Word Count: 17.6k

Summary: Jeongin knew it was wrong to harbour feelings for his adoptive elder sister, but it wasn't something he could control. Convinced that the silly crush would fade as he aged, he was proven wrong when the feelings he fought hard to bury resurfaced years later. What happens when the lines between foster siblings and something more begin to blur?

A/N: Based on a wild ass dream I had of Jeongin being my brother. You won't believe how upset I was because of that lmfao.

MAIN MASTERLIST

"Honey, come over and say hi to Jeongin." Your parents called out, standing beside your new brother.

The adorable 14-year-old boy fixed his gaze on you with wide, awe-filled eyes as you descended the staircase of your home. A radiant smile graced your face, and you waved excitedly at him, exclaiming, "Hi, Jeongin! It's nice to meet you. From now on, I'll be your sister. Just call me noona, okay?"

He nodded, the rapid thumping of his heart resonating in his chest as he admired your striking presence, "H-hi, noona," He stammered, his cheeks turning a rosy shade as he met your gaze, "It's, um, really nice to meet you too."

The decision to adopt Jeongin might have been a sudden one, but you wouldn't have it any other way. Looking at him now, you understood why your parents felt the need to take him in.

Your parents stumbled upon him at a nearby bakery one day, they watched as he stood pitifully alone.

With a sense of curiosity and kindness, your parents struck up a conversation with the young boy, who had been gazing longingly at a display of freshly baked bread from outside the shop. They noticed his hesitant demeanour and asked, "Why aren't you going inside, young man? The bread is delicious!"

Jeongin hesitated at first, but he saw the genuine concern in their eyes. He admitted with a heavy heart, "I don't have any money, and I can't afford to buy anything."

Concerned, your mother inquired further, "Did you run out of pocket money your parents gave you?"

It was then that Jeongin felt compelled to share his difficult truth. With a tremor in his voice, he confessed, "I don't have parents. I live in a nearby orphanage, and we're all struggling. There isn't much money for anything, really."

Your father decided to take matters into his own hands. He bought Jeongin all the bread he had been eyeing, as well as some sweet pastries, and the three of them sat together, sharing stories and laughter in the bakery.

Jeongin had never felt such warmth before.

The couple sat there, fully absorbed in the boy's passionate storytelling about his aspirations.

He spoke animatedly about his dreams of becoming a kindergarten teacher or a social worker, eager to extend his help and care to children who, like him, were in need of love and guidance. His eyes sparkled with unwavering determination, and it was evident to them that he was not just a good kid but a remarkable young soul deserving of so much more in life.

After they left the bakery, your parents escorted him back to the orphanage, where the bleak conditions of the place broke their hearts. It was a stark contrast to the loving home they created for you. The poor children there were deprived of even the most basic necessities.

Later that night, after a long and heartfelt discussion with you, your parents decided to extend their love and generosity to Jeongin.

They welcomed him into your family, providing him not only with a loving home but also the opportunity for a brighter future. The decision was a life-changing one for all of you, as you opened your hearts and home to the young boy who had touched your lives so profoundly.

To your parents' absolute relief, you and Jeongin got along extremely well. He may have been a little shy at first, but with all the initiative you took in getting him to open up to you, he eventually did.

One afternoon as the school bell chimed the end of another gruelling day, you and Jeongin found yourselves making your way home together. High school had been a whirlwind of challenges, but the bond you'd formed with your brother made it a little brighter. You were a senior, and he was a freshman, but your connection transcended the age gap.

As you walked along the tree-lined path that led to your neighbourhood, you reminisced about how this friendship had all begun. It was that very path where Jeongin first opened up about his dreams of becoming a kindergarten teacher or a social worker. His dream resonated with you and became a shared vision.

You looked over at him, a glimmer of excitement in his eyes as he recounted a funny moment from class, and you smiled at that. The two of you started this journey as siblings, but over the course of a year, your relationship deepened into something more, a friendship that was founded on trust and shared experiences.

You remembered the days when you invited Jeongin to join your lunch group, which consisted of your close friends, Chan and Minho.

They welcomed him with open arms, treating him like a little brother. Chan, the ever-protective and caring friend, had taken Jeongin under his wing, offering advice and guidance. Minho, the laid-back and funny one, had been the source of laughter and camaraderie that made Jeongin feel right at home.

Together, you formed a tight-knit quartet.

Lunch hours became a time of shared laughter, stories, and secrets. Chan would often share stories of his younger sister and brother, which allowed Jeongin to see that sibling relationships could evolve into something deeper and more profound.

The year passed by in a whirlwind of exams, late-night study sessions, and adventures. And in that time, the bond between you and Jeongin had grown stronger. As you approached your house, you felt grateful for the way your friendship had developed.

You knew that this shared journey was just the beginning of an extraordinary chapter in both of your lives.

As the days turned into weeks and weeks into months, Jeongin did his best to navigate the tumultuous waters of his feelings. He knew, deep down, that it wasn't right to have these emotions for you, even if you weren't biologically related. You were his adoptive sister, and the societal norms made it clear that such feelings were taboo.

But the heart, as they say, has a mind of its own.

Jeongin was determined to suppress his romantic feelings and focus on the friendship that blossomed between the two of you. He took every measure he could to see you as nothing more than his friend and big sister.

When you invited him to hang out with your friends, he eagerly participated in the activities, valiantly trying to blend in with the group. He laughed at their jokes, shared their interests, and offered his own opinions to the conversations. In the midst of it all, he felt himself slipping into the role of your little brother without a choice.

Late-night study sessions were another challenge.

As you worked together on assignments and helped each other prepare for exams, Jeongin had to remind himself that this closeness was borne from a shared pursuit of knowledge, not an opportunity for romantic connection. He focused on the task at hand, suppressing the romantic thoughts that occasionally tried to intrude.

His determination to maintain the purity of your sibling relationship was fueled by his admiration for you. You became his role model, a paragon of kindness and ambition. He appreciated the way you always had his back and the encouragement you gave him in pursuing his dreams.

Despite the occasional flutter of his heart and the way his cheeks might flush when you smiled, he persisted in viewing you as the friend and sister that you were meant to be.

He took comfort in the warmth of your friendship, hoping that with time, the inappropriate feelings he struggled with would fade away, leaving behind a bond that was deeper and more profound than any fleeting crush.

Time flew by, and the next thing you all knew, the day of your high school graduation arrived.

As you walked across the stage, beaming with pride, to accept your diploma, Jeongin watched from the audience, sitting with your parents. It was a bittersweet moment for him, and his heart swelled with a mix of pride and sadness.

Seeing that beautiful smile on your face as you held that symbolic piece of paper in your hands was a moment he would treasure forever. Your success meant the world to him, but at the same time, he felt a pang of sadness. You were about to leave for Seoul City to pursue your dreams of becoming an author, leaving behind the life you've known.

He knew that the upcoming separation was inevitable. In a way, he believed it might be for the best. This time apart could serve as a respite, a chance for him to reflect on his feelings and, hopefully, come to terms with them. The intensity of his emotions had not waned, and he understood that it was time to face the reality of his situation.

The idea of missing you was painful, but he knew that he needed to work on getting over his romantic feelings.

He hoped that in your absence, he could focus on his own personal growth and, perhaps, redirect his ambitions toward becoming the kind-hearted and supportive person you've always been for him.

Jeongin made a silent promise to himself that he would use this time apart to heal and grow, while always cherishing the special bond you had as siblings. Your graduation marked the beginning of a new chapter for both of you, and he was determined to make the most of it, both for your sake and his own.

As the day of your departure arrived, you stood at the entrance of your home, a mix of excitement and sadness in your heart, with Minho by your side helping you load your luggage into the car's trunk while Chan was already seated in the driver's seat.

The three of you had been accepted into the same college, which felt like a stroke of luck, even though you were pursuing different degrees.

Your parents hugged you tightly and repeated their words of advice and affection. They wanted to ensure you were prepared for the adventures and challenges that awaited you in the big city. It was a heartwarming scene filled with warmth, support, and love.

When it was Jeongin's turn to bid you farewell, he didn't hesitate. He wrapped his arms tightly around you, burying his face in your neck. The embrace was filled with an unspoken fear of the unknown. He didn't know when he would see you again, and he wanted to hold you as close as he could at this moment.

You smiled, even as tears welled up in your eyes, and you gently stroked the back of his head to comfort him, "I promise I'll come back during breaks, Jeongin-ah." You reassured him.

He pulled back slightly, his eyes glistening with unshed tears, "You better, noona. I'll miss you."

You chuckled, your voice filled with tenderness, "I'll miss you too, cutie pie. Take care of mum and dad for me, will you?"

He nodded, holding onto your hands tightly, ignoring the rapid fluttering of his heart. With a reluctant smile, he waved at Minho and Chan before watching somberly as you got into Chan's car. The engine roared to life, and you all began to drive away, leaving your childhood home behind.

Jeongin's gaze remained locked on the car, a mixture of sadness, longing, and hope swirling in his heart as he silently wished you a bright and fulfilling journey.

Over the next four years, life took you and Jeongin in different directions.

You immersed yourself in the college experience, pursuing your passion for literature and growing as an aspiring author. The bustling city provided the backdrop for your personal and academic adventures. You met new friends, experienced new cultures, and even dated a few guys during your college years.

But, no matter how much your life expanded, a piece of your heart always remained at home.

On the other hand, Jeongin was making his own journey through high school, diligently focusing on his studies. While you were away, he thrived academically, often being the top student in his class. He poured himself into extracurricular activities and helped out at the orphanage whenever he could.

The multiple confessions from girls at his school came and went, but he politely declined each one. He was determined to bury his feelings for you, convinced that by the time he graduated high school, he could move forward without the weight of an unrequited love.

The two of you had your share of brief reunions during semester breaks. Each time, you were greeted with a warm hug and that familiar, heartwarming smile from Jeongin. Your family remained the constant support system in both of your lives, and it was always a comfort to come home to their open arms.

Despite your separations, the bond between you remained strong. You would often talk late into the night, sharing stories of your college experiences, the people you met, and your dreams for the future. In those moments, it was clear that your relationship was built on something more profound than mere biology.

Jeongin's determination to let go of his romantic feelings for you was evident in his endless support and encouragement.

He wanted nothing more than to see you succeed, and the happiness in your eyes was all that mattered to him. With each passing semester, he hoped that he was one step closer to the day when his heart would finally let go of the unattainable dream that had haunted him since he met you.

On one of the weekends when you returned home for a traditional festive celebration, the house was filled with the comforting aroma of home-cooked meals and laughter. After a hearty dinner with your parents, you and Jeongin retreated to your room.

As you sat side by side on your queen-sized bed, you couldn't contain your excitement, eager to share all the fun and exciting things that happened during the semester. Your eyes sparkled, and your voice was filled with enthusiasm as you recounted your adventures. Jeongin, being the attentive and caring brother he's always been, listened intently, hanging on your every word.

He noticed how happy you appeared, and he couldn't help but comment, "You seem really happy, noona."

You blushed slightly, a shy smile playing on your lips, "Well," You began hesitantly, "There's this guy I've been seeing. I really like him."

Jeongin's expression remained neutral, but a pang of heartache pierced through his chest. He accepted the truth that it was forbidden to love you in a romantic way, no matter how deeply he felt for you. He knew he could only be happy for you if you found someone who was genuinely right for you.

He continued to watch you with endearing affection as you mumbled sleepily, exhaustion finally catching up with you, "I missed you so much, Jeongin-ah." You whispered, the words barely audible as you began to drift into slumber.

Gently pushing a strand of hair away from your face, he let out a soft, wistful sigh. His unspoken emotions remained trapped within his heart as he watched over you, the love in his gaze too deep and too forbidden to ever be shared.

Jeongin muttered softly, his voice barely above a whisper, "I missed you too, noona, more than you could ever know." His heart ached with the weight of unsaid words, with emotions too heavy to bear. He leaned down to press a gentle kiss on your forehead, a silent promise of love and protection, before tucking you in with great care.

As he left your room, he did so quietly, as if trying to keep the sanctity of the moment undisturbed. The sadness that had been gnawing at his heart began to intensify as he returned to his own room, which suddenly felt much emptier than usual.

He sat on the edge of his bed, the turmoil in his heart almost unbearable. He wondered if he would ever truly move on from the feelings he had for you. Every time he felt like he made a little progress, it all crumbled when he saw you again, heard your voice, or felt your presence. It was a constant struggle, a daily battle against the emotions he tried so hard to suppress.

He knew that the path he had chosen, one of being content with being your brother and nothing more, was the right one.

But the ache in his heart, the longing that seemed to grow stronger with every reunion, made it painfully clear that moving on was going to be a lot harder than he'd ever imagined. Jeongin rested his head in his hands, lost in the torment of a love that could never be, hoping that someday he could find the strength to truly let go and move on from the impossible dream that held his heart captive.

As you entered your final year of college, the weight of schoolwork and academic responsibilities pressed upon you, leaving little room for anything else. This time, you couldn't make it home for the traditional festive celebrations, and the absence of your presence left an undeniable void in your family's hearts.

Jeongin, in particular, felt the absence keenly.

But he saw an opportunity in your absence, an opportunity to create some distance and try to avoid thinking about you. He decided to dedicate all his thoughts and focus to his own senior year of high school. He filled every available moment with extracurricular activities and volunteering, immersing himself in various projects, and contributing to his school and the orphanage.

The idea was to keep his mind preoccupied, to allow himself to grow and develop independently, far away from the influence of unrequited love. Although your absence was painful, Jeongin believed it might help him in the long run.

During this time, the only updates he received were through your social media. He saw photos and stories of you with a guy named Mingyu, whom he assumed was the one you mentioned that night. The pain of seeing those updates, the envy that welled up inside him, and the realisation that you've found happiness with someone else was like a bitter pill to swallow.

Yet, that pain became his driving force.

The hurt and envy he felt served as a catalyst for him to finally let go of the romantic feelings that had haunted him for so long. He used these emotions to motivate himself to move forward and to continue building a future that didn't revolve around you.

With each post he saw, he allowed the heartache to be a reminder that his heart needed to heal and that it was time to focus on his own dreams and aspirations. It was a painful process, but he was determined to emerge from it stronger and ready to embrace a life without the burden of unrequited love.

Towards the end of that year, Jeongin began to feel like a weight had been lifted from his shoulders.

It was as though he could finally breathe again, no longer haunted by the painful emotions that had plagued him whenever he saw anything you posted with Mingyu. He made remarkable progress in letting go of the feelings he once thought he had for you.

As the final months of his high school life passed by, he realised that he could genuinely be happy for you. Seeing you with Mingyu no longer stirred up jealousy or heartache. Instead, it brought a sense of contentment, knowing you've found love and happiness.

On Jeongin's graduation day, he stood proudly on the podium as the valedictorian, delivering a heartfelt speech that moved not only his fellow graduates but also your parents, who watched with pride and tears in their eyes. It was a day of celebration, a recognition of his hard work and dedication.

While he knew you weren't able to make it due to your final exams, he wasn't too upset. In fact, he couldn't wait for the surprise he had in store for you. You didn't know it yet, but Jeongin had been accepted into the same college as you. He would soon be near you again, and he couldn't wait to see the look of shock and joy on your face when he finally revealed his plans to be near you.

It was the beginning of a new journey for both of you, one that held the promise of rekindling the bond you shared as siblings and exploring the infinite possibilities of the future together.

On your college graduation day, you hugged your parents tightly, your heart filled with pride and accomplishment. As you held them close, your excitement couldn't be contained, and you couldn't help but ask, "Where's Jeongin? I can't wait to see him."

Your parents exchanged a cheeky grin, and you noticed their mischievous smiles, "He has a surprise for you," Your mother said, her eyes twinkling with anticipation, "He'll be coming to see you soon."

Your curiosity was piqued, and you pleaded with them to reveal more details, but they remained resolute, sharing only vague hints about the surprise. Your parents had a knack for keeping secrets, and they weren't about to give away the surprise before the right moment.

But as the graduation ceremony drew to a close and your fellow graduates reunited with their families, there was no sign of Jeongin. You felt a mix of emotions, a blend of anticipation and disappointment.

Eventually, it became clear that you wouldn't get to see your brother on this special day. Your parents had to leave to return home, and you remained in Seoul where you were set to start your new job at a well-known media organisation. It was a bittersweet ending to the day, filled with both professional excitement and a sense of longing to see your family, especially Jeongin, who had promised a surprise.

Looking out at the cityscape, you wondered what the surprise could be and when your brother would finally reveal it.

As the clock struck 10pm, you sighed, realising that it was time to retire to your bedroom. The disappointment of not having seen Jeongin on your graduation day weighed heavily on your heart. You missed him terribly, especially after an entire year of separation.

With a heavy heart, you got up and prepared to turn off the lights in your apartment's living room. You were about to retreat to your bedroom when, suddenly, the doorbell rang. You froze in place, and your heart skipped a beat. The unexpected sound sent a jolt of excitement through you.

Without a second thought, you hurried to the door and pulled it open. Your breath caught in your throat, and you felt tears welling up in your eyes at the sight of the person you've longed to see. It was Jeongin, standing before you, a shy smile playing on his lips.

You cried out his name, overcome with emotion, and without hesitation, you jumped into his awaiting arms. He held you close, his arms wrapped securely around you. The feeling of his presence, the warmth of his embrace, and the sound of his voice whispering, "Surprise, noona," was like a dream come true.

Tears of joy streamed down your cheeks as you held onto him, unable to believe that he was here, in the city with you, after all this time.

The longing for him had been replaced with an overwhelming sense of happiness and love. Your heart felt complete as you held your brother close, knowing that this surprise reunion was a moment to cherish for a lifetime.

Settled in your living room, you finally had the opportunity to take a proper look at Jeongin. You noticed just how much he's grown over the past year. He looked mature, and it was evident that he was no longer the cute little boy you once remembered.

He became undeniably good-looking, and it was clear to you that he must have been a heartbreaker during his final school year. You couldn't resist teasing him about it after you told him how proud you were of him for graduating as valedictorian, which only made him blush and shyly dismiss your compliments.

After a round of lighthearted jokes, you turned serious and asked the question that's been bothering you, "Why did you miss my graduation, Jeongin-ah?"

He finally decided to tell you the truth, "I'm starting my early childhood education degree at the college you just graduated from," He admitted, "I had to settle into the dormitory during the day, and I couldn't make it to the ceremony."

Your eyes widened, realisation dawning on you. You gasped, "You're going to be here, near me from now on?"

Jeongin's face broke into a bright smile, his eyes filled with excitement, "Yes, noona. I'm going to be here, and I can't wait to spend more time with you."

The thought that your brother was now living in the same city and attending the same college as you filled you with joy. You felt a surge of protectiveness and a desire to look after him, now that he was here. You excitedly volunteered, "You know what? You're not going to be alone in this big city. I'll take care of you now."

His smile widened, and he happily accepted your offer.

As the night wore on, you and Jeongin spent hours catching up, sharing stories, and reminiscing about old times. The bond you shared felt as strong as ever, and you both enjoyed every moment of it. The laughter and conversations flowed seamlessly, bridging the gap that a year of separation had created.

Eventually, as the hours passed, it became clear that there was no way Jeongin could head back to his dormitory at this late hour. You insisted that he spend the night at your place, assuring him that you'd drop him off at the dorm the next day.

The two of you settled in your cosy living room, reminiscing about your childhood and discussing your plans for the future. But as the night grew quieter and the two of you sprawled on your bed, the conversation took a more serious turn. Jeongin, his head propped up on his arm, mustered the courage to ask you about Mingyu.

Your smile faltered, and you gazed at the ceiling for a moment. You softly admitted, "We actually broke up just before graduation."

Jeongin couldn't deny the mixture of emotions that washed over him upon hearing the news. He tried to keep his expression neutral, not wanting to show any trace of his own feelings.

Truth be told, he knew he was hopeless from the moment he saw you again. You looked even more beautiful than he remembered, and his heart ached with longing. He tried to keep himself in check, to focus on being a good brother and a friend to you. But when you admitted that you were single again, a spark of hope ignited within him.

His concern was evident in his eyes as he asked, "Are you alright? What happened with Mingyu?"

You sighed heavily, the weight of your recent breakup still lingering in your heart, "I'm still working on healing from it," You admitted, "Mingyu got an opportunity to work abroad, and he didn't want to have a long-distance relationship. It was a mutual decision, but it's been really tough."

As you spoke, the disappointment and heartache came rushing back, and tears welled up in your eyes. The emotions you've been trying to hold back finally overflowed, and you started to cry. Jeongin didn't waste a moment. He pulled you close into his arms, kissing the top of your head and held you tightly as you sobbed into his chest.

Through your tears, you heard his soothing words, "I'm here for you, no matter what happens. You can always rely on me."

Nodding against him, you felt the warmth and comfort he provided. At that moment, you realised that your little brother wasn't so little anymore. He's grown into a dependable and caring presence in your life. With him by your side, you felt less alone.

In the quiet of the night, Jeongin watched as you gradually found comfort and rest beside him. He pulled the duvet up and tucked you in gently, ensuring you were warm and snug. As he gazed at your peaceful face, he couldn't resist leaning in to kiss your forehead softly, his lips brushing against your skin with tenderness.

With great care, he settled down next to you, the events of the day and your emotional conversation lingering in his mind. Seeing you so upset and heartbroken, he felt the need to help you find happiness again, even if it meant putting his own desires and feelings aside.

As he closed his eyes and began to drift off to sleep, his thoughts were filled with one singular purpose: to be the supportive, loving brother you needed to overcome the pain of your breakup. With determination, he silently vowed to be by your side, offering his love and comfort, ready to help you heal and find happiness once more.

The next day, you took Jeongin to his dormitory, pulling up to the entrance of the building. As he gathered his things and prepared to get out of the car, you shared a warm hug with him, leaning in to kiss him on the cheek before you drove off, a fond smile on your face.

Unbeknownst to both of you, Jeongin's roommate, Felix, had been standing by the entrance, watching the entire scene with a hint of amusement in his eyes. He grinned smugly as he saw the blush forming on Jeongin's face.

As he climbed out of the car, Felix couldn't resist teasing him.

"Whoa there, Jeongin," Felix said, crossing his arms and wearing an amused expression, "Already found yourself an older girlfriend here, huh?"

Jeongin's smile faltered slightly as he considered Felix's words. He hesitated for a moment before deciding to clear things up, "No, Felix. She's my foster sister."

Felix's playful demeanour quickly shifted to one of surprise and apologetic understanding. He realised that Jeongin's feelings for you might be more complex than he initially thought, and he decided not to press the matter further.

Jeongin's situation was a delicate one, and Felix respected that. As he stepped into the dormitory with Jeongin, he silently hoped that his roommate would find happiness and navigate the complex emotions he felt for his foster sister in his own way.

A few months passed since you started your new job, and Jeongin has settled comfortably into college life as well. You both made an effort to meet up during the weekends, cherishing the time you could spend together when neither of you had prior commitments.

This particular weekend, he came to your apartment for a cosy dinner and movie night. Before the night's activities, you decided to go grocery shopping to stock up on all the snacks and ingredients you needed. You grabbed a couple of bags, and together, you headed to the local supermarket, laughing and chatting along the way.

Jeongin accompanied you as much as he could, always by your side, not wanting you to be stuck alone with your thoughts of Mingyu.

In the grocery store, you both carefully selected the items you needed for your movie night, exchanging playful banter and sharing smiles as you navigated the aisles.

As you reached for an item perched on the top shelf of the aisle, you found yourself struggling to grasp it. Your fingertips barely brushed the edge of the product, and you huffed in frustration. Out of the corner of your eye, you noticed Jeongin snickering at your predicament.

Unwilling to give in to your momentary defeat, you stretched on your tiptoes, hoping to reach the item. But it was futile, and you sighed, admitting defeat.

Just when you were about to abandon your mission, you felt a presence behind you. Jeongin moved close, his warm breath brushing against your ear as he whispered, "Let me help."

He reached up effortlessly, plucking the item from the shelf with ease. As you turned your head slightly to look up at him, you were met with the close proximity of his face. The moment felt charged with unspoken tension, and your breaths hitched as you gazed into his eyes.

You couldn't deny how manly and handsome Jeongin has become. His features matured, and there was a quiet confidence about him that made your heart race. It seemed that he, too, was affected by the close proximity, his eyes flicking briefly to your lips.

Before either of you could react to the electric moment, an elderly woman passed by, and her eyes twinkled with amusement as she cooed at the two of you, "Aww, young love is so adorable."

You blinked rapidly, caught off guard by the unexpected comment. You moved away from him, shaking your head, "N-no, we're not—"

But the elderly woman waved you off before you could explain, her knowing smile intact as she walked away, leaving the two of you with a moment of embarrassment and the unspoken awareness that perhaps there was something more to your bond.

Despite the pounding of your heart and the replay of that intimate moment in your mind, you chose to continue on as if nothing had happened. It was the safer route, the one that preserved the comfortable sibling relationship you've cherished for so long.

As you moved through the store, your conversations and laughter returned to their usual ease.

You picked up groceries, playfully teased each other, and shared stories about your week. It was as though the elderly woman's comment had never happened, and you felt a mixture of relief and uncertainty about the unspoken tension that lingered between you and your brother.

For Jeongin, that quick glimpse he saw in your eyes has stirred something within him. He knew, even if just for a moment, that you didn't see him as just a brother.

It was a tiny glimmer of hope, a spark of possibility that he couldn't ignore. He tried to keep his own feelings in check, not wanting to jeopardise the relationship you shared, but the knowledge that there was a chance beyond being just siblings remained in the back of his mind.

After your grocery shopping adventure, you and Jeongin returned home to prepare dinner together.

You decided to make your mother's famous soybean stew, hoping to recreate the comforting flavours of home. As you began cutting up the ingredients, you found yourself struggling with the knife, and a momentary lapse of concentration nearly resulted in a close call as the blade neared your finger.

Before any harm could befall you, Jeongin rushed to your side. He gently took the knife from your hand, placing it aside. Like a mother hen looking after her chick, he instructed you to take care of the simpler tasks, ensuring your safety.

As you carried out the tasks he assigned you, you watched his back as he expertly worked on preparing the stew.

His competence and caring nature were on full display, and you couldn't deny that you liked what you were seeing. For a brief moment, you found yourself thinking.

I could get used to this.

But you quickly snapped out of your trance, realising the implications of what you've just thought. You've always seen Jeongin as your little brother, but now you wondered if your feelings for him were evolving into something more complex. The realisation left you feeling a mix of emotions, both uncertain and intrigued about the uncharted territory that lay ahead.

As you both enjoyed the homemade dinner, you finally took notice of his attentive actions.

They were hard to miss as he carefully blew on the stew to cool it down before feeding you the first spoonful. His gaze was unwavering as he watched you savour the flavours, and he didn't hesitate to wipe the corner of your lips when a grain of rice got stuck there. He even made sure your bowl was filled with all your favourite things and took the items you liked the least for himself.

In that moment, you wondered if he'd always been this attentive or if these actions were only becoming more pronounced recently. You questioned if you were overthinking it or if there was a possibility that Jeongin could see you as more than a sister.

Recalling what the elderly woman said about you two in the supermarket earlier, you realised that he hadn't bothered to correct her at all. He simply smiled shyly to himself when he thought you weren't looking. It was a small but significant detail, and it left you with an unspoken question that hung in the air between you and your foster brother: was there something more to your relationship than mere sibling affection?

After dinner, you find yourself doing the dishes in the kitchen, trying to focus on the task at hand and push those silly thoughts to the back of your mind. Jeongin has been your little brother since the day you met him, and it wasn't right to entertain such thoughts. You squeezed your eyes shut and told yourself not to give these emotions any time of the day.

Determined to shake off those uncertain feelings, you quickly finished the dishes and got cleaned up.

You made your way to the living room, where you found Jeongin laying out the snacks you bought earlier, preparing for your movie night. It was a cherished tradition for you both to play rock-paper-scissors to decide who got to pick the movie. You always fought hard to win because Jeongin loved horror movies, while you avoided them like the plague.

When the game ended and Jeongin won, you groaned loudly, preparing yourself for the horror flick that awaited you. But to your surprise, Jeongin handed you the remote instead, "I'll let you pick the movie just for tonight."

Little did you know, he had a hidden motive.

He was willing to sacrifice anything, even his own movie preference if it meant he could make you smile and forget about Mingyu, even if just for a little while.

Feeling a twinge of guilt that Jeongin had willingly given up what he wanted to watch for you, you decided to pick something that could please both of you. After some consideration, you chose a psychological horror film. It didn't have the typical jump scares, but it contained enough eerie and mysterious elements that you knew he would enjoy.

As the movie began, he couldn't hide the grin that spread across his face. He leaned over to tease you, saying, "Oh, a horror movie? Trying to toughen up, huh?"

You playfully slapped him on the arm, retorting, "Shut up and focus on the movie before I change my mind."

With a mischievous chuckle, he left you alone to enjoy the movie. But deep inside, Jeongin couldn't deny the happiness he felt. Your choice of the film was a thoughtful gesture. It was a simple act, but it spoke volumes about how much you cared for him.

As the movie progressed, you began to regret your decision bit by bit. The suspense and tension had you inching closer to your brother for comfort. He was focused on his snack when he felt your warmth getting nearer, prompting him to turn and check on you.

His heart melted at how adorable you looked, your eyes wide with anticipation and fear, as you worried about what was going to happen next in the movie. Unable to contain his amusement, he snickered and teased you, "Are you scared, noona?"

You scoffed and tried to act tough, "Psh, of course not." But your trembling hands and the way your eyes darted around the screen told a different story.

As Jeongin finished his snack, he cleaned his hands and opened his arms, "Come here."

This time, you didn't bother to keep up the facade. You gladly went into his familiar embrace, seeking the comfort and safety he offered. He pressed his cheek against the top of your head and muttered, "It's alright, I'll protect you."

You whimpered and snuggled even closer to him as the climax of the movie approached, seeking refuge in his comforting presence. Jeongin smiled, tightening his hold on you. This was precisely why he loved horror movies so much; they provided the perfect excuse to hold you close like this every time, and he cherished these moments more than anything.

After the heart-pounding horror movie, you decided to wind down the night with a cute animated film. You started to get up from your cosy spot in his embrace to change the movie, but he gently stopped you, his arms wrapped snugly around you.

When you looked up at him in question, he gave you a sheepish smile, "I'm too comfortable like this. Can't I keep my teddy bear a little longer?"

You chuckled and shook your head, realising that his hold was indeed quite comfortable. You settled back down in his arms, finding that perfect spot for your head between his neck and shoulder, and felt yourself relaxing.

As the animated film played, the warmth of his embrace and the steady rhythm of his heartbeat were incredibly soothing. Somewhere towards the end of the movie, your eyelids grow heavy, and you end up falling asleep.

Jeongin relished the moment, feeling your soft breathing against his neck. He pulled the throw blanket from the couch over your frame and nestled your head into the crook of his neck. It was a feeling of contentment he's longed for, and he held you closer, realising that it was becoming more and more difficult for him to hide his growing feelings, especially now that you were both away from your parents.

More time passed, and you experienced new emotions the more you spent time with Jeongin. He made your heart flutter more than once, and you found yourself having feelings that went beyond the bounds of sibling affection.

It was a bewildering and confusing experience, one you didn't dare voice to anyone, fearing the judgement and misunderstanding that might come with it. It felt like a taboo, a secret that was too delicate to share with anyone.

You kept these thoughts to yourself, trying to sort through your feelings. It was an emotional journey you were navigating alone, unsure of where it would lead.

The weekend arrived, and it was a perfect time to have Chan and Minho over to catch up. Jeongin was just as excited as you were to reunite with your friends, having built a strong bond with them over the years. Your living room was the designated hangout spot, and you all gathered there with bottles of soju.

As the evening progressed, stories flowed freely, punctuated by laughter and shared memories.

Jeongin was animated and engaged, contributing his own anecdotes to the lively conversation. It was one of those nights when you could forget about the complexities of life and simply enjoy the company of your closest friends.

But the tranquillity was shattered when Chan unexpectedly brought up your ex. He leaned back on the couch, one arm resting on the backrest, and casually mentioned, "Oh, by the way, I saw Mingyu in town the other day. It looks like he's back for good."

The room fell quiet as his words hung in the air. You didn't know how to feel about this revelation.

It has indeed been a while since you'd thought about Mingyu. His absence from your thoughts had been telling, but now it was all coming back. A swirl of emotions welled up within you, and you realised that your mind has been preoccupied with someone else recently, someone who has taken up more space in your heart than you'd ever expected.

Jeongin, sitting beside you, sensed the shift in the atmosphere and exchanged a concerned glance with Minho. You took a deep breath and tried to push those feelings aside, but the growing confusion and uncertainty about your emotions weighed heavily on your heart.

Realising how insensitive he must have sounded, Chan quickly offered an apology, "Gosh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to bring up any bad memories or anything."

You offered him a reassuring smile, "It's okay, Chan. I'm fine, really. I've moved on." It was a half-truth, for you have indeed moved on, but your heart was now muddled with feelings you weren't sure how to process.

Trying to steer the conversation away from yourself, you asked, "How's Mingyu doing, though? Is he alright?"

Minho shot his friend a stern, warning glare.

Chan understood that he needed to tread carefully when discussing your ex, so he nodded and replied, "Mingyu seems to be doing okay. He's back in town, but... he seems different, more regretful about certain things. It seems like he's returned to make amends."

Jeongin, who had been quietly observing the conversation, grew increasingly concerned for you. He worked tirelessly to help you move past your previous relationship, and the last thing he wanted was for that guy to hurt you again. He checked on you, a mix of worry and protectiveness evident in his gaze.

As the night came to a close, you hugged Chan and Minho goodbye at the door as they prepared to leave. After they departed, you returned to the living room to start cleaning up the remnants of the evening – empty soju bottles and scattered snacks.

Jeongin, however, couldn't help letting his concern show. The thought of your ex returning seemed to be bothering him more than it was you. He approached you as you worked, his eyes filled with a mixture of worry and protectiveness.

"Are you really okay, noona?" He asked, searching your eyes for the truth.

You smiled warmly and reached out to ruffle his hair, assuring him, "I'm alright, Jeongin, don't worry."

But before you could retract your hand, he gently held onto it and brought it to his chest, his heart beating steadily beneath your fingers, "Noona," He implored, "Promise me you'll always come to me, no matter what happens."

The touch of his hand and words sent a rush of emotions through you. You nodded, squeezing his hand, "I promise, Jeongin-ah."

He took a step closer, his voice a little more earnest, "I'll always be your favourite boy, right?"

Your heart raced in your chest, and your pulse quickened at his words. You smiled, though it was tinged with a hint of nervousness, "Of course, silly. You know it."

The atmosphere between you two grew charged with unspoken emotions, feelings that were beginning to spill out of the boundaries of your sibling relationship.

As the days passed, you found yourself growing more and more conflicted about your feelings. Jeongin's actions had taken a bolder turn recently, and it was becoming increasingly difficult for you to convince yourself that his concern and care were purely brotherly.

You sighed, pushing those thoughts aside as you enjoyed a meal alone at a restaurant you frequented during your lunch break.

The pleasant atmosphere was disrupted when the entrance bell chimed, signalling the arrival of a customer. You instinctively looked up and froze in your seat when you saw who it was. Mingyu scanned the room and, upon spotting you, made his way to your table.

"Hi," He said, hesitating slightly, "Mind if I take a seat?"

You gulped, feeling a mix of surprise and uncertainty, but you nodded, saying, "Please."

You blinked and tried to regain your composure, continuing to eat as he settled in at the table with you. Eventually, he mustered the courage to break the silence and ask, "How have you been?"

Taking a deep breath, you managed a smile, "I've been great, thank you. And you?"

Mingyu's expression turned more serious, and he confessed, "I haven't been fine."

His regret was palpable as he continued to speak, "I shouldn't have broken up with you, not like that, not when there was nothing wrong with our relationship. I've spent all this time thinking about it, and I've missed you so much."

He leaned in a little closer, his gaze fixed on you, as he continued, "Since graduation, I haven't been able to stop thinking about you, and I realise now how much I've missed you. I've even transferred back to the local headquarters to be near you, to seek your forgiveness, and to make things right."

His words hung in the air, and the sincerity in his eyes was hard to ignore. It was clear that he was struggling with his own feelings of regret and longing, and he hoped you might be willing to give him another chance.

You sighed deeply, your heart heavy with the mixed emotions his reappearance has stirred within you, "Mingyu, I appreciate your honesty, but you need to understand that I've genuinely moved on from our relationship." The words were difficult to say, and they pierced his heart like knives.

He couldn't accept the fact, his voice tinged with desperation as he asked, "Is there someone else?"

Your eyes widened when Jeongin immediately came to mind, and you shook your head, "No, it's not about someone else. It's about the fact that from the moment you made that decision to end our relationship all those months ago, things changed, and they will never be the same again."

Feeling the need to distance yourself from this uncomfortable conversation, you pushed your chair back and rose from your seat. Mingyu chased after you, his expression filled with regret and apology, "I'm sorry for coming on so strong. I understand how you feel, and I know I deserve this, but I will work to earn your trust and forgiveness again."

Your emotions were all over the place, and you were caught in a whirlwind of feelings. Trying to escape the situation, you told him, "I have to go back to work."

With a heavy heart, you left the restaurant, leaving Mingyu standing there, knowing that he didn't deserve your forgiveness so easily after how he abandoned you.

When you returned home that day after work, your exhaustion was still lingering from the tense encounter with Mingyu. As you entered your apartment, you raised your brows in surprise to find Jeongin already there, bustling around the kitchen, and making dinner. He wasn't supposed to come over until the next day.

"Jeongin-ah, why are you here already?"

He turned to you with a warm smile, "My professor let us off early today, and I thought I'd come over and cook us a proper dinner. You always end up eating unhealthy instant food when you're alone, and I wanted to take care of you."

You managed a half-hearted smile, still feeling somewhat distraught after Mingyu's sudden reappearance and his desire to reenter your life. But Jeongin was perceptive, and he could read your emotions well. He turned off the gas and approached you, gently helping you take off your shoes.

When you told him it wasn't necessary, he sat you down on the couch and kneeled in front of you, taking your hands in his, making your heart flutter, "Are you okay, noona?" He asked, his eyes filled with genuine concern.

You let out a tired sigh, feeling comforted by his presence and deciding to be completely honest despite your initial intention of keeping this from him. You knew it would worry him, but you couldn't hold it in any longer.

You recounted what happened with Mingyu during lunch, and Jeongin tightened his hold on your hand as he listened.

His frown deepened, and he told you in a protective tone, "You should call me the next time he dares to bother you again. I'll make sure he doesn't trouble you."

You patted his head affectionately and reassured him, "Mingyu won't do anything to hurt me. He just wanted to talk, that's all."

Unable to resist the growing curiosity in his heart, he finally asked, "Noona, be honest with me. Do you still have any feelings for him?"

You contemplated for a moment, weighing your emotions before answering honestly, "No, Jeongin-ah, I don't."

As you looked properly into his eyes, your heart racing, you assured him once more, "I have truly moved on from Mingyu." If only Jeongin knew, it was him who has been occupying your thoughts lately, taking over every corner of your mind.

He sighed in relief, his fingers tenderly tucking a loose strand of hair behind your ear, "I'll always be here for you, noona."

You smiled at his words, the warmth in your heart growing as you replied, "I know."

In an effort to lighten the mood, he gently pulled you up from the couch and led you into the kitchen. Your heart swelled with gratitude and affection as you watched him cook and take care of you, realising that, despite your initial intentions to care for him, it seemed like he was the one taking care of you more.

The following day, Jeongin decided to take you cafe hopping to help get your mind off your ex.

And it worked like a charm.

From the moment you stepped into the first cafe, you were fully distracted from any thoughts of Mingyu just by being near Jeongin. The day was filled with visits to countless cafes, each with its own unique concept and a menu of delicious, inventive desserts.

As you entered what felt like the fifth or maybe sixth cafe of the day, you'd lost count, but it didn't even matter. It was all about enjoying the moment with Jeongin. You giggled with delight as he ordered a drink served in the shape of a cute cartoon character, and he couldn't stop telling you how it resembled you.

Taking a sip, you didn't realise you'd gotten some foam on your lips until he leaned closer to gently wipe it away with his thumb. His touch lingered, and you found yourself staring up at him with wide eyes. The gaze you shared in that moment told you that there was so much more to your relationship than mere sibling love. It was a feeling that you couldn't ignore any longer.

Before you or Jeongin could say anything, a voice suddenly interrupted, "So this is what you've been so busy with? And you said there wasn't anyone else?"

Your head snapped up to see the person standing behind your brother, staring straight at you, and you stuttered, "M-Mingyu?"

Jeongin's eyes immediately narrowed as he got up from his seat and turned to face your ex, his protective instincts kicking in, "And what's it to you? Have you forgotten you were the one who wanted to break up? She's no longer your girlfriend, so don't make it seem like she's cheating on you. If you're apologetic, then at least act like it."

You panicked when you saw Mingyu's nostrils flare, "Wait a minute, I know you. Aren't you her brother? Why are you—"

You got up and stood between the two men, not wanting him to finish that sentence, "That's enough. Let's not do this in here." Realising what you said, Jeongin and Mingyu looked around to see the other customers staring at the three of you, bewildered by the dramatic scene.

In a hushed tone, you continued, "Let's talk outside."

Jeongin nodded, ready to protect you from any potential confrontation, while Mingyu reluctantly followed.

Outside, the chilly breeze hit your face, and you felt a mixture of emotions swirling within you, as the two important men in your life stood in front of you, ready to face whatever was coming next.

You let out a deep sigh and pressed your face into your hands, gathering your thoughts before facing your ex with an unhappy expression, "I'll be honest, I didn't appreciate your accusatory tone earlier," You looked straight into his eyes, "We've already broken up, Mingyu, and you don't have the right to question me like that."

Sensing that Jeongin was about to step in and add more aggressive words, you held onto his hand and shook your head, signalling for him to stay silent, and he gave in, squeezing your hand in support.

Mingyu looked remorseful and admitted his fault, "You're right. I let my jealousy get the best of me, and I'm sorry. I just... I really want you back."

Your heart ached at his words, but you knew you had to make it clear that there was no turning back this time. Letting go of Jeongin's hand, you moved to stand in front of Mingyu, locking eyes with him.

"Look, Mingyu, you need to understand something," You told him, your voice firm, "Our relationship was always on your terms. You decided to end it, and I respected that decision, even though it was hard for me. And now, just because you want me back, you can't expect me to drop everything and go back to the way things were. What about what I want?"

Your words hung heavily in the air as you challenged him. Mingyu looked taken aback, realising that he'd never considered your feelings and desires in your past relationship. The silence between you was palpable, and you awaited his response, hoping that he would finally understand your perspective.

The realisation of his past actions and selfishness hit your ex hard, like a tidal wave crashing over him.

He could now see how one-sided the relationship had been, always revolving around his feelings and desires, without ever considering what you wanted or needed. He felt a deep pang of guilt for being so blind to your feelings.

His hands trembled as he let out a shaky breath, his eyes reflecting the inner turmoil he was experiencing. Slowly, he nodded, his voice filled with remorse, "God, you're right, I've been so wrong. I've never considered what you wanted. You deserve someone better than me, someone who will prioritise your happiness above all else."

His apology was sincere, and he continued, "I'm so sorry for not being that person for you, for not treating you the way you should have been treated. I... I promise I won't bother you again, if that's what you want. You deserve to be happy."

You nodded in response, feeling a mix of relief and sadness, "Thank you, Mingyu, I appreciate it."

His words seemed heartfelt, and you hoped he would find the self-awareness to grow and change. With a heavy heart, you wished him well and turned to rejoin Jeongin, who was still standing by your side.

As he watched you walk away with Jeongin, your ex felt a bittersweet mix of emotions. The sight of you with someone else, whether it was your foster brother or a new love interest, weighed heavily on his heart. He knew he didn't have the right to be upset, for he was the one who had ended your relationship, and he understood that you deserved happiness, even if it was with someone else.

Mingyu noticed your interactions earlier in the café, and at first, he misunderstood them.

The way you looked at Jeongin, and the comfortable way you interacted, gave him the impression that there was more to your relationship than just sibling affection. He'd been so sure that he was witnessing a new romantic connection in your life, only to later realise that it was your brother.

Deep down, Mingyu recognised that it wasn't technically wrong for you to have a romantic relationship with Jeongin. After all, you were not blood-related, and your sibling relationship existed mainly on paper. The legal and technical aspects of your relationship didn't diminish the deep bond you shared.

With a heavy sigh, he turned and walked away, understanding that he needed to accept the reality of the situation and focus on his own growth and self-improvement.

Meanwhile, your walk home with Jeongin was filled with a heavy silence, broken only by the soft rustling of leaves in the wind. As the streets grew quieter, your mind grew louder with thoughts of the encounter with Mingyu.

His words echoed in your mind: "You deserve someone who would prioritise your happiness over anything else." It struck a chord within you, and you felt a twinge of fear. The realisation that followed scared you even more—the first person who came to mind was Jeongin.

Lately, you noticed that your interactions with him were blurring the lines between sibling affection and something more. It was a feeling you've tried to suppress, but it was becoming harder and harder to deny. The way he cared for you, the moments that felt more intimate than they should be for siblings, it was all starting to blur the boundaries.

The weight of it all settled heavily on your chest.

You worried about the implications of these feelings. What would it mean for your relationship with Jeongin, for your family, for your future? How would your parents react if they knew? What would your relatives and friends say?

The fear of it all consumed you, and you couldn't shake the unease that settled deep within. It was a battle between your heart and your rational mind, a conflict that left you feeling lost and uncertain about the path ahead.

Jeongin was incredibly perceptive, and he understood that you needed some space and time to process your thoughts and emotions. He didn't press you for conversation, instead remaining a supportive presence by your side, offering a comforting hand or a warm meal when you needed it.

The weekend passed in quiet contemplation, and you were grateful that he respected your need for solitude.

As Sunday evening approached, the time for Jeongin to return to his dorm drew near. The car ride was quiet, with the radio providing the only sound in the background. He was worried but wanted to give you time to come to terms with your own feelings.

When you arrived at his dormitory, he hesitated before getting out of the car. He squeezed your hand and said, "Noona, remember to—"

You cut him off with a weak smile and understanding eyes, "Yes, I know. I'll come to you if I need anything. You'll always be my favourite boy, Jeongin-ah."

His heart swelled with affection at your words, but a hint of unease remained. The way you said it left him feeling unsettled. You leaned over and pressed a lingering kiss on his cheek, causing his cheeks to flush with warmth. Before he could say anything else, you gestured towards the outside of the car where his roommate was waiting.

"Go on, your friend's waiting," You said softly, your eyes filled with tenderness, "I'll see you next weekend."

He nodded, his emotions swirling within him. He stepped out of the car and closed the door, turning back to look at you once more before heading to meet Felix. The conflicting feelings within him mirrored your own as he left, and he knew that your relationship had reached a pivotal crossroads that neither of you could ignore.

Jeongin couldn't shake the feeling that something was off.

Ever since the evening at the cafe with Mingyu, you'd been acting distant and aloof. He'd been eagerly anticipating the next weekend, hoping to see you and spend time together as usual, but his heart sank when he received a text from you telling him not to come over because you had a date. It felt like a punch to the gut, and he couldn't understand what changed.

In the days that followed, your interactions became more strained. You only contacted him when it was necessary, and you'd been spending your free time outside of work on dating apps and meeting new people.

Jeongin couldn't make sense of it.

He thought you shared his feelings, and he'd been more than willing to take that next step. But your behaviour now was pushing him further away, and he couldn't bear the thought of being relegated to the role of a mere brother.

Jeongin has kept his feelings to himself for too long. He was tired of the secrecy, the unspoken words that hung between you. He'd been convinced that you felt the same way, but your recent actions left him bewildered and hurt. He couldn't understand why you were suddenly treating him like a brother when it felt like there was something more between you.

The frustration was building within him, and he couldn't hold back any longer. He needed to confront you and get to the bottom of this, no matter how difficult the conversation might be.

His heart ached with the uncertainty of your feelings, and he had to find out what changed between you. He decided to go to your place, leaving you a text to inform you of his visit. He watched as the message was marked as "delivered" but received no response. The coldness of your silence stung him, but he couldn't abandon his mission.

Arriving at your door, he knocked several times and called out your name, but there was no response from within.

Panic started to bubble up as he called your phone and heard it ringing on the other side of the door. You were undoubtedly inside, so why were you not answering? Fear for your safety began to creep in, and he decided to use the spare key you'd given him to unlock your door and enter.

He cautiously moved through your apartment, searching for any sign of you. When he reached your bedroom, he noticed the door slightly ajar. He called out to you softly but received no response.

Jeongin pushed the door open gently, and relief washed over him when he saw you lying on the bed. But the relief turned to alarm as he got closer and realised that you were drenched in sweat, your face pale, and your body burning with fever.

You were sick.

Frowning with concern, he touched his hand to your forehead, wincing at the intense heat radiating from your skin.

Worry was etched across his face as he whispered, "Noona?" He knew he needed to take care of you, and at this moment, any confusion or doubts about your feelings faded into the background. Your well-being was what mattered most to him now.

Jeongin hurriedly grabbed a tub of water and a washcloth, gently wiping the sweat from your face and forehead. The cold water offered some relief from the fever that consumed you. He pulled the duvet up to your chin, ensuring you were snug and comfortable. Your slightly improved condition eased his worries, but his heart still raced with concern.

As he turned to go to the kitchen to prepare a soothing soup for you, your weak voice stopped him in his tracks. You reached out, your hand grasping his arm, trembling. The vulnerability in your voice broke his heart as you whispered, "Don't go, Jeongin-ah... I'm sorry, I know I hurt you..."

Sitting down beside you, he held your hand in his and wiped away a fresh tear that slid down your cheek, "Then why, noona?" Your eyes locked with his, and he saw the anguish in them. You continued, your voice shaky with emotion, "I'm scared..."

His heart constricted with a mix of emotions, understanding your hesitation. He knew exactly what you meant – you were afraid of the new and unfamiliar feelings that developed between you two. Your attempts to push him away and maintain boundaries had been out of fear, but now you realised it had only hurt both of you.

He squeezed your hand gently, a reassuring presence by your side, "Noona," he whispered softly, "You don't have to be scared. We'll figure this out together, step by step. You're not alone in this, and I'm not going anywhere."

You let out a shaky breath, finally allowing your emotions to surface as you nodded. With his support, you began to understand that maybe, just maybe, you didn't have to be afraid of your own heart.

As the evening light casts a warm glow in your room, you lay there, your mind finally free from the tumultuous thoughts that have been plaguing you for weeks. In the quiet space of your bedroom, you let your heart's true feelings wash over you, unencumbered by doubts and worries.

For too long, you've tried to suppress your emotions, viewing Jeongin as nothing more than a brother, even though you knew deep down that your bond was evolving into something different. The time you spent apart from him had been torturous. The realisation hit you like a tidal wave – you were in love with your foster brother.

It was a complex emotion, a mixture of joy and fear, excitement and apprehension. You couldn't believe this was happening, but you couldn't deny it any longer. You knew that you couldn't keep pushing your feelings aside.

Taking a deep breath, you made a decision.

You were going to face your emotions head-on and confront the truth about how you felt. The journey ahead might be difficult and filled with uncertainties, but one thing was certain – you were ready to explore the depths of your heart, and you knew you wouldn't have to do it alone. Jeongin would be there, beside you every step of the way.

After your recovery, your shared understanding of the unspoken feelings that have been growing between you became impossible to ignore. The day has come when you know you need to address the elephant in the room.

Jeongin had taken care of you during your illness, staying by your side and nursing you back to health. His caring actions only made your feelings for him even more evident.

With newfound clarity, you decided that the time had come to talk about your emotions. You stood alone on the balcony, feeling the cool breeze as the city lights twinkled in the distance. You gazed out at the vast cityscape, the view offering a sense of perspective and contemplation.

Jeongin, on the other hand, busied himself in the kitchen, tidying up the dishes. He insisted on taking care of everything after your meal, leaving you free to gather your thoughts. He knew this conversation was important, and he wanted to make everything as comfortable as possible for you.

Unbeknownst to you, he quietly approached.

You turned to him as he gently draped his oversized jacket over your shoulders, his familiar scent enveloping you. A warm, fond smile graced his lips as he broke the silence, "Wouldn't want you to be sick again." He said with a touch of humour in his voice, although his eyes held a deeper understanding.

You both settled into a comfortable silence, leaning against the balcony's railing and allowing the city's sights and sounds to wash over you. It was a peaceful moment, one where the unspoken words were about to find their voice.

After what felt like an eternity of shared silence, you finally found the courage to break the ice, "Jeongin-ah," Your voice trembled slightly, "There's something I need to talk to you about." You turned to look at him, and he met your gaze with a reassuring nod.

He moved closer, his shoulder brushing against yours, "I've been thinking about it too," He admitted, his voice soft but filled with hope, "There's something I want to tell you as well."

Taking a deep breath, you began, "To be honest, I... I didn't plan for any of this. I never thought I'd feel this way," You paused, trying to find the right words, "You've always been my little brother. But lately, something changed, something shifted."

He listened attentively, his expression a mixture of curiosity and anticipation. He was clearly eager to hear what you had to say.

"Maybe it's the way you've grown, how mature you've become," You continued, your voice gaining more confidence, "Instead of me taking care of you, I find myself relying on you, more and more every day."

Your heart was racing as you admitted your feelings, the words you never thought you'd say out loud, "Jeongin, I've been feeling different around you," You confessed, your eyes glistening with emotion, "I don't know when it started, but recently, it's as if our interactions are more than just brother and sister. And when Mingyu told me that I deserved someone who would prioritise my happiness above all else, it was you who came to my mind..."

Now, in a small, vulnerable voice, you finally let it out.

"I think... I think I'm in love with you."

The weight of your feelings hung heavy in the air between you, your heart pounding in your chest as you waited for his response.

Jeongin's smile began to bloom, and you felt his warm hand encase yours. The softness in his eyes mirrored the affectionate grin playing on his lips, and his words tumbled out, as if he'd been holding onto them for far too long.

"You have no idea how many times I've dreamed about hearing you say that," He admitted, his voice gentle and sincere, "I've felt this way for so long, and it's been... difficult, to say the least. Noona, I've loved you from the moment we first met." His thumb caressed the back of your hand as he continued.

You let out a small gasp at that. It was news to you; you had no idea he felt this way for you all along.

"I spent the first year trying to suppress these feelings," He confessed, "I thought I could get over this silly crush by distancing myself from you, but every time I saw you again, it just became impossible. The time I spent apart from you, like my final year in high school when I didn't see you, made me think maybe I could move on from these romantic feelings."

Jeongin's gaze never wavered from yours, "But then, I came to Seoul and saw you again. After a whole year of being apart, I knew it was hopeless. I realised that I'll always be yours, noona."

As his words settled in the air between you, you felt a profound sense of relief and contentment. The unspoken emotions that simmered beneath the surface were finally out in the open. Your connection was no longer confined by the boundaries of a sibling relationship.

The nights turned into days, and the two of you decided to keep your newfound love a secret. It was a shared agreement, a whispered pact, born out of caution and a desire to be sure before revealing your relationship to anyone.

The days that followed were marked by an unspoken understanding that you'd take things slow, allowing your feelings to deepen and grow organically.

You enjoyed every stolen moment together, experiencing the joy of love without the scrutiny of prying eyes. You ventured out on quiet dates, exploring the city together, building new memories while keeping your budding love hidden from your friends and family.

As you navigated this uncharted territory, you both acknowledged that taking the time to nurture your relationship in private was important. It allowed you to be absolutely sure of your feelings for each other and ensured that when the moment came to share your love openly, you'd be standing on a solid foundation.

Your relationship was something you were willing to protect and cherish until the right time came to reveal it to the world. It was a journey you were excited to embark upon together, and you were both determined to savour every moment of this beautiful, hidden love story that was just beginning.

Jeongin sat at the table one weekend, immersed in his assignments, determined to get as much done as possible while you buzzed around, ensuring he had everything he needed to concentrate. Cold water in his favourite glass, a bowl of fresh fruit, and some snacks on a plate were all arranged neatly on the small table next to him.

Every once in a while, you'd glance over to check on him, making sure he was comfortable. He couldn't help but admire your care and attention, which has become such an integral part of your relationship. The sight of you bustling around, making sure he was well taken care of, was heartwarming.

As dinner time approached, you busied yourself in the kitchen, preparing a delicious meal for both of you. The fragrant aroma of your cooking wafted through the air, making Jeongin's mouth water. He bit his lip as he watched you, feeling so lucky to have you in his life.

Finally, dinner was ready, and you both sat down to share a quiet, intimate meal. The conversation flowed naturally, your laughter filling the room as you talked about your day and the little things that's been on your minds.

After dinner, you moved to the living room, where movie night awaited. You settled on the couch next to him, and as the movie began, you leaned into him without hesitation. He wrapped his arm around your shoulders, pulling you closer, and you nestled comfortably against him. The warmth of his embrace felt like the most natural thing in the world.

Jeongin's heart swelled with contentment, realising that he didn't have to think of ways to keep you close anymore. You were already there, right where you both belonged, in each other's arms, a silent promise of love and companionship that's been growing stronger with each passing day.

As the romantic comedy movie played on the screen, a particularly passionate kissing scene unfolded before your eyes. You were engrossed in the storyline, the characters' connection so palpable that it tugged at your heartstrings.

Beside you, Jeongin has been fighting an internal battle, and the sight of that on-screen kiss has only intensified his yearning. He'd been patient, respecting your boundaries. You'd both held hands and exchanged countless cheek and forehead kisses, but that was it. The thought of sharing a first real kiss with you has crossed his mind many times, but he never wanted to rush it.

But this moment, with the movie's romantic ambience and your hearts aligned, felt different.

His heart raced as he shifted slightly closer to you. His hand, previously resting on your shoulder, inched toward your cheek, his fingers softly grazing your skin. He swallowed hard, the warmth of your proximity igniting an intense longing.

With a tender smile, he tilted your chin upward, his eyes searching yours for reassurance. Your breath caught in your throat as your faces drew nearer. You met his gaze with wide eyes, your heart pounding with anticipation.

His warm breath ghosted over your lips as he whispered, "Do you trust me, noona?" Your nod was all the confirmation he needed, and the radiant, almost boyish smile that lit up his face was nothing short of breathtaking.

Finally, the distance between you vanished.

Jeongin leaned in and gently pressed his lips to yours for the first time. His heart soared in his chest when he felt you kiss him back; your lips were even softer than he imagined. He still found it hard to believe that he was actually kissing you; his dreams were finally coming true, one by one.

As the kiss deepened, your worries and doubts melted away, leaving only the warmth of your love for each other. It was a sweet and heartfelt exchange, a testament to the trust and affection you've nurtured throughout your journey together.

After that first kiss, Jeongin decided that kissing you was his new favourite thing to do. But as much as he loved your kisses, he never failed to seek your consent before pressing his lips against yours. At first, you admired his respect for you and found it adorable whenever he felt the need to ask before kissing you.

But over time, there were moments when you wished he'd act on his own impulses, and let spontaneity guide your affection.

And today was one of those days.

You'd been playfully dancing around the living room, lost in laughter and movement until a slow song came on. As the music swelled, Jeongin gently pulled you close, his eyes locked onto yours. He leaned in, but before your lips could meet, he paused and asked, "Can I kiss you, noona?"

You chuckled, cupping his face in your hands, "Yang Jeongin," You whispered, your breath mingling with his, "You don't ever have to ask me again. Just kiss me."

His heart somersaulted at your words, and his hesitation melted away. At that moment, he leaned in without any more questions, capturing your lips in a sweet and passionate kiss. The music continued to play, but you had both entered your own world, a world where you didn't need words to express the depth of your love for each other.

He pulled away slowly to catch his breath, the lingering warmth of your kiss still hung in the air, and your eyes remained closed as you revelled in the delightful sensation.

When your eyes fluttered open, you found Jeongin staring down at you with a loving gaze, his fingers tenderly brushing a strand of hair from your face. You couldn't help pouting at him, curiosity dancing in your eyes, "Are you sure you've never dated around before?" You playfully inquired, unable to contain your amazement.

His eyes widened at your question, and he quickly shook his head, responding with fervour, "I swear, noona, you're the only one I've ever loved. You're my first girlfriend, my first kiss, and—"

Before he could finish his sentence, you interrupted with a light laugh, "Oh no, you silly boy! I meant that you're just so good at kissing, it baffles me that this is your first time."

His cheeks flushed a deep shade of red, and he hid his face in your neck for a moment, embarrassment creeping in. As he pulled away slightly, he managed to mumble, "Wait, am I better than Mingyu?"

You blinked, not quite expecting this question, but after a moment's contemplation, you nodded slowly, "Yeah, you are."

He immediately broke into a triumphant grin, thrilled at the idea that he was a better kisser than your ex, "Yes! Take that, Kim Mingyu!" He exclaimed, playfully taunting the ghost of your past relationship.

You scoffed, rolling your eyes with a chuckle, "Alright, alright. That's enough."

But Jeongin had mischief in his eyes, "No, it's not enough." He leaned in, capturing your lips again with newfound boldness, clearly intending to prove his point once more.

Many months have passed, and your relationship with Jeongin has evolved and become quite stable. You both decided to take things slow, enjoying your time together and strengthening your bond, all the while keeping it a secret from everyone.

But now, things were changing.

Jeongin was ready to open up to someone he trusted, and he believed it was time to let his roommate in on the truth. Felix had been a little suspicious for a while, especially after witnessing a near-kiss between the two of you when you dropped Jeongin off one day.

He took a deep breath and finally admitted, "Felix, you know that time you saw us nearly kissing... Well, we're actually together."

Felix's eyes widened with surprise, and he shot up from his bed, grinning from ear to ear, "I knew it!" He exclaimed, thrilled to have guessed right all along, "Man, I've had my suspicions for ages! Congrats, buddy! I'm here to support you every step of the way."

Jeongin couldn't help smiling, thankful for having a friend like Felix who would stand by his side.

Later on, you both discussed breaking the news to your friends, Chan and Minho. It was a decision that weighed on your minds for a while, and you felt that it was time to share your secret with your closest friends. The idea of keeping this from them had begun to feel more like a burden than a protective secret.

One weekend, the two came over for your usual catch-up session. They noticed that you and Jeongin seemed even closer and more affectionate than before, exchanging quiet jokes and smiles, leaning in to whisper to each other, and laughing about private little things.

Finally, unable to contain his curiosity any longer, Minho, with his arms crossed, demanded, "Alright, I know we're idiots, but even we can tell there's something different about you two. Tell us now, what is it?"

You exchanged a knowing look with Jeongin, and after a brief pause, you decided it was time to share your secret. Your voice trembled slightly as you began, "Well, there's something we've been keeping from you guys. Jeongin and I... we're dating."

There was a moment of shocked silence as the two processed this revelation, their eyes widening in surprise. Finally, Chan broke into a wide grin, "No way! You're together? That's amazing!"

Minho, after recovering from the initial shock, couldn't help laughing, "Honestly, it makes sense. You two have always been so close. It's about time you figured it out."

Seeing your friends' positive reactions brought tears to your eyes, but they were tears of relief and gratitude. You were deeply moved by their understanding and acceptance of your relationship with Jeongin. When Chan noticed your tears, he immediately expressed concern, "What is it? Did we say something wrong again?"

You shook your head, your voice filled with emotion, "No, it's just... I didn't think you'd both accept it just like that... Jeongin and I, we've been so worried about what other people would think."

Minho shook his head with a reassuring smile, "Look, I know it might seem wrong without proper context. But you two aren't biologically related, and Jeongin joined your family relatively late. It's not like you grew up together as siblings and then fell in love. There's technically nothing wrong with this. You have our full support."

The weight on your shoulders felt even lighter as your friends' understanding and approval washed away your concerns. It was comforting to know that your closest friends saw your relationship for what it was, a deep and loving connection that had grown naturally between two people who cared about each other deeply.

The tears in your eyes transformed from those of worry to those of happiness, and you gave a sincere smile of gratitude to Chan and Minho for being there for you.

As Jeongin's semester break approached and the return home to visit your parents became imminent, you found yourselves lying in bed beside each other one night. Your head was resting on his chest while he drew comforting circles on your back. In the midst of the quiet moment, you gathered the courage to voice your thoughts.

"Innie... we've been together for a while now, and our friends in the city all know about us. Should we..." You looked up at him, seeking his thoughts, "Should we tell mum and dad?"

He leaned down to press a reassuring kiss onto your lips before responding, "They'll have to find out sooner or later. We might as well get it over with once and for all. If our friends are so accepting, maybe our parents will be too..."

You smiled at his supportive response and nodded, "Let's hope so."

He closed his eyes, pulling you even closer, and you both tried to fall asleep that night with your minds wandering to how your parents would react to the news of your relationship.

It was a mix of excitement and nervousness, but you knew that whatever happened, you had each other to lean on.

As you both packed up for the trip back home after informing your parents of your return, there was a noticeable tension in the air. You carefully loaded your car's trunk with your belongings while Jeongin watched closely, his perceptive eyes not failing to catch the slight trembling of your hands.

Before you could make your way to the driver's seat, he reached out, taking hold of your hand and gently pulling you closer to him. He circled his arms around your waist, concern in his eyes as he asked, "Hey, what is it?"

You swallowed hard, "I'm just nervous, Innie. What we're about to tell them might change things forever. I'm scared."

He pressed your head onto his shoulder, holding you close as he placed a gentle kiss on your head, "I'm scared too," He admitted, "But whatever happens, we're in this together, right?"

You nodded against him, feeling the reassuring warmth of his embrace, "Right."

With a determined resolve, he squeezed you gently, "Then let's do this."

You took a deep breath, wiped away the threatening tears, and got into your car. As you started the engine and began your journey back home, you felt a mix of fear and hope.

Upon your arrival at your parents' home, you and Jeongin went to hug them. They expressed how proud they were of both of you for doing so well taking care of each other in the city. A slight falter in your smile betrayed the internal turmoil you were feeling. Would they still be proud once they found out the truth about your relationship?

Jeongin looked over at you and gave you an assuring nod. He understood your apprehension but was there to support you. For now, you followed your parents into your childhood home, deciding to wait for the right moment to break the news.

In the meantime, you caught up with your parents, sharing the latest updates and stories from your lives in the city.

The evening passed pleasantly as you all settled back into your family routine, but in the back of your mind, the knowledge that you needed to reveal the truth was a constant presence. You were both determined to face whatever would come next, knowing that honesty was the only way forward.

As you all settled down at the dining table, dishes filled with your and Jeongin's favourite food in front of you, the atmosphere was warm and comforting. Laughter filled the air as you enjoyed the meal.

Then, out of the blue, your mother turned to you and asked, "Honey, tell us about your love life. Have you met any nice guys or do you already have a boyfriend without us knowing, hm?"

The question hung in the air, and you stilled, your hand reaching for a dish in front of you halted mid-air. You threw a sidelong glance at Jeongin, who met your gaze with a nod, silently encouraging you to seize this moment.

You knew it was time to reveal the truth.

Setting down your utensils, you cleared your throat, "Mum, dad, there's something that we have to tell you both."

The cheerful atmosphere shifted, and your parents set down their utensils, their expressions curious. Your father asked, "What is it, honey?"

Your voice shook slightly as you began, "I do have a boyfriend," Your parents' faces lit up with excitement, and your mother asked, "Oh, that's great! What does he do?"

You held up a hand to pause their assumptions, "Wait, I'm not finished, mum. You... you both know this person incredibly well," They paused, clearly puzzled. Your father guessed, "You're not dating Chan or Minho, are you?"

Shaking your head, you lifted your hand, placing it over Jeongin's on the table, "He's right here, next to me."

Your parents froze, their eyes widening as they tried to process your words. They watched as Jeongin laced your fingers together before adding, "It's me... we're together."

The room fell into silence as your parents absorbed the revelation, their expressions shifting through a range of emotions.

You jumped in your seat when your father slammed his hand on the table, his voice filled with anger and disbelief, "What is this atrocity?! You're siblings, for god's sake!" Tears welled up in your eyes as his outburst shattered the room's silence.

Jeongin nervously gulped, "But dad... Noona and I, we really love each other. We hoped you could accept our relationship."

Your father stared at Jeongin with an incredulous look, "Are you out of your goddamned mind? She's your sister!"

Feeling a mixture of anger and sorrow, you couldn't stay silent. You stood up from your seat and implored, "Stop, dad! Don't yell at him; he didn't do anything wrong."

Your father, however, seemed beyond reasoning. He rose from his seat, his tone unyielding, "I don't care. You two better stop this madness, you hear me?" With those words, he stormed out of the dining hall and into his room, forcefully slamming the door shut.

Feeling overwhelmed and heartbroken, you collapsed back into your seat, overcome with emotion. Jeongin immediately gathered you in his arms, planting a comforting kiss on your head.

Amidst the turmoil, your mother finally spoke, her voice wavering, "Tell me, do you two truly love each other?" You both nodded, and Jeongin answered her, "I know this might be a lot to take in, but we wanted to be honest with you. Our relationship developed over time, and we've been together for a while now."

Your mother nodded slowly, taking a deep breath before responding, "It's alright, you have my support," Her words brought you both a sense of relief, and you looked at her, surprised, "Really?"

She smiled, her eyes filled with warmth and understanding, "Yes, honey. You're both my children, and I love you no matter what. I want to see you both happy. Besides, it's not like you're actually siblings. Your father... he just needs a little time to sort out his thoughts; he'll come around, I promise."

You breathed a sigh of relief, grateful that at least your mother understood and supported your relationship. While your father's reaction was hurtful, you hoped that, in time, he would come to accept the love between you and Jeongin.

The next two weeks at home were emotionally challenging as your father continued to give you both the cold shoulder.

Despite the fact that Jeongin wasn't even his biological son, your father's refusal to accept your relationship felt like a heavy weight on your shoulders. Every time he turned away from you or acted as if you were invisible, it hurt you deeply.

One day, after he walked past you and ignored your presence, you couldn't hold back your frustration any longer.

"Are you really going to behave like this forever, dad?" You asked, your voice laced with disappointment. He stopped for a moment, seemingly contemplating your words, before continuing to walk away from you.

Sighing heavily, you returned to your old room.

Lying on your bed, you cried silently into your pillow. The rejection and disapproval from your father felt unbearable. Eventually, you heard footsteps entering your room, and you felt a dip in your bed. A familiar hand landed on your trembling shoulder.

You turned to see Jeongin, and you didn't waste another second. You melted into his warm embrace, crying into his neck as he held you close. His presence was your anchor in the storm of your father's disapproval, and he whispered soothing words into your ear, promising that things would get better with time.

He couldn't bear to see you so upset and decided he needed to confront your father. After you've cried yourself to sleep in his arms, he gently laid you down and tucked you in.

Determined, he went in search of your father.

Jeongin found him sitting alone on the front porch, contemplating the turmoil within his own heart. With a deep breath, he sat down beside the man who had raised him as his own son.

"Hey, dad," Jeongin began, his voice steady but filled with determination.

Your father grunted, refusing to meet his gaze, "If you're not here to tell me you've come to your senses and realise what you're doing with your sister is wrong, then don't bother starting."

Jeongin sighed but decided to go on.

"I understand that this situation is difficult for you, and I appreciate everything you've done for me all these years. I came here to talk, not to argue. I know that we aren't blood-related, but we've lived under the same roof for years. You're the closest thing to a father I've ever had, and I love you as if you were my real dad."

He continued, "Noona and I didn't plan for this to happen. Our feelings developed naturally over time. We've tried to be respectful and considerate of your feelings and our family's reputation. But we can't change the way we feel."

Jeongin's eyes softened as he concluded, "We just want your understanding and acceptance. Noona and I are in love, and we don't want to hide our relationship from our family. I hope that, in time, you can find it in your heart to support us and be happy for our happiness."

As your trip home came to an end and you prepared to return to Seoul, you and Jeongin loaded your car trunk with your belongings. Your mother stood alone, getting ready to bid you both goodbye. Your heart ached at your father's absence, but you knew it was a step-by-step process.

You hugged your mother, tears glistening in your eyes. Just as you were about to enter your car, your father's voice rang out, "Wait up!" You turned and chuckled tearfully when you saw him approaching with a container full of kimchi that you'd watched him prepare just the day before.

He held it out to you, and Jeongin helped you take it, "Thanks, dad." You said, touched by the gesture.

Your father scratched the back of his neck sheepishly before he finally smiled, "Promise me you'll continue to take good care of each other, alright? And... I wish you both happiness."

Your eyes widened, and Jeongin smiled knowingly, "Does this mean you... you accept us, dad?"

He nodded, his smile growing, "I might have overreacted a little... but deep down, I know neither of you are doing anything wrong. It was just too sudden, and I needed some time to digest it."

You nodded, smiling through your tears, "Thank you, dad. It means the world to us." You hugged him tightly, relieved that the toughest hurdle was over.

You could both finally be together openly now.

With a warm farewell from your parents and the promise to visit again soon, you and Jeongin drove back to the city, hand in hand.

As you both settled back into your apartment that night, you couldn't stop smiling. All the most important people in your life had accepted your and Jeongin's relationship, and there was no more reason to keep it a secret.

But there was one thing you couldn't figure out: why did your father change his mind so abruptly? Did something happen?

Jeongin found you deep in thought as you brushed your teeth and crept up behind you to wrap his arms around your waist, "What's on your mind, beautiful?" He asked, his voice warm and comforting.

You blushed and quickly rinsed your mouth before turning around to face him, "I was just wondering what made dad change his mind so suddenly..."

He grinned knowingly, his eyes sparkling with mischief, "I may or may not have said something to him."

You softened, realising that Jeongin had played a part in bridging the gap with your father, "Of course, it's you... seems like I have to rely on you for everything now."

He nodded, a hint of playfulness in his eyes, "Guess you do." Then, he caught your lips in a loving kiss. Seeing you happy was enough for him, and he was determined to support you through all the challenges and joys life had in store for both of you.

A few years have passed since the night you finally revealed your relationship to your parents and the world.

You and Jeongin have been living your lives openly and happily as a couple, surrounded by the love and support of your friends and family. By now, everyone who mattered in your life was aware of your relationship, and they celebrated your happiness alongside you.

One day, you both decided to spend a leisurely afternoon shopping at the local mall. As you walked hand in hand through the bustling shopping centre, a familiar face caught your attention. It was Mingyu, your ex. He seemed surprised and intrigued as he watched you and Jeongin together.

His suspicions were soon confirmed as he observed Jeongin leaning down to press a kiss on your lips. He chuckled to himself before making his way over to the two of you, a friendly smile on his face.

"Hey there." He greeted you warmly. This time, there was no tension or unease in the air.

You beamed, not at all hesitant as you introduced the love of your life to your ex-boyfriend, "Mingyu, I'd like you to meet my boyfriend, Jeongin."

As the three of you chatted and shared stories of the past and present, Mingyu noticed the way Jeongin looked at you. The love and affection in his eyes were undeniable, and Mingyu realised that you've found someone who truly cherished you. At that moment, he felt genuinely happy for both of you, knowing that if Jeongin was the one who made you happy, that was all that mattered.

Weeks later when Jeongin's graduation day arrived, you were bursting with pride and excitement. Together with your parents, you cheered loudly for him as he walked across the stage to receive his degree. It was a moment of immense joy and accomplishment, and you couldn't have been happier for him.

After the ceremony, as the four of you stood together, Felix helped capture the joyous moment in family photos.

Your heart swelled with happiness as you looked at the man you loved, knowing that you've come so far together. What once felt like an impossible dream was now a beautiful reality. Jeongin, too, felt the weight of the moment, still somewhat surprised by the fact that you were finally his. It was a dream he has long harboured, and now it was his reality.

You both exchanged a knowing glance, understanding that this love you shared was your endgame. It was always meant to be, from the beginning until the end, and that's all that truly mattered.

Not long after, as Jeongin prepared for his first day at his new job, you helped him tidy up his work attire with a smile. He was about to start working at a kindergarten for refugee children near your office, and you were both thrilled that you'd be able to travel to work and back home together daily.

"Alright, now you're all set." You said as you straightened his collar and gave him a proud smile.

He beamed back at you, feeling grateful for your support, "Thanks, noona. Love you."

You leaned up to kiss him gently, "Love you too, Innie. I'll see you after work."

Watching him walk into the building with excitement, you drove away to your own workplace, feeling content and blessed. Life was going great, and you couldn't have been happier with how things have turned out.

The day went by rather slowly as you wondered how your boyfriend was liking his new job, feeling incredibly proud of him. Guilt washed over you when you realised you'd spent most of your day thinking about him more than getting any actual work done. Even after years of being together, he still had the ability to make you feel like a teenager in love at times.

You jumped in joy when the clock finally struck 6pm, signalling the end of the work day.

When you went to pick him up from work, it seemed he wasn't done just yet. So, you decided to park your car and take a look around the area. That's when one of Jeongin's colleagues, Jisung, quickly smacked him on the arm to get his attention, gesturing toward you.

"Dude, is that your ride home?" Jisung asked, curiously.

Jeongin nodded quickly, realising you've arrived. Jisung boldly stated, "Yo, dude, your sister's hot."

Before he could respond or clarify your relationship, his colleague was bounding towards you, sweeping a hand over his hair in an attempt to look cool, "Excuse me, noona. Do you have a boyfriend?"

Your eyes widened in surprise at the unexpected question, "Umm, hi," You greeted him, "Well, yes, I do have a boyfriend," Jisung sighed dramatically, pouting, "Of course, you do! You're so pretty; your boyfriend is one lucky guy."

Jeongin came up behind Jisung, clearing his throat, "I sure am," Jisung rolled his eyes, thinking he misunderstood, "Not you, doofus. Her boyfriend."

You stifled a laugh as you watched the exchange. Jeongin stared at his colleague, unamused, "I am her boyfriend, you idiot," Jisung blinked rapidly as he tried to wrap his head around the fact that he'd just attempted to hit on his new colleague's girlfriend, "Oh shit, dude, I'm sorry—"

Jeongin shook his head, trying to hide a smile, "It's fine. You're not the first one. Bye, Jisung. I'll see you tomorrow."

You waved at Jisung, and both of you chuckled as you walked away, Jeongin's arm wrapped protectively around your waist to mark his territory. He sulked slightly as he muttered, "You're too pretty, noona. Guys are always hitting on you."

You laughed, "Is that my fault?"

He scratched his chin thoughtfully, "I guess not."

You softened, cupping his jaw to make him look at you, "What does it matter, Yang Jeongin? In the end, I'm yours."

His smile returned, "That's right, you're all mine."

This is my failed attempt at staying loyal to Minho, all thanks to Jeongin's disrespectful ass for wrecking me lately, goddamnit.

No regrets though lmfao, this is probably one of my personal favourites. It's my first time writing for SKZ, and I didn't think it'd be for baby bread, but here we are.

Anyway, hope y'all enjoyed! As always, I love reading all your thoughts, reviews, and feedback, so feel free to leave as many replies as you want! Thank you, my lovelies! <3

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[berlifamille]

Name: Berlioz Bonfamille Age: Twenty-three Occupation: Concert pianist for Moulin Rouge (currently) Sexuality: Unsure Pronouns: He/Him Currently Playing: Clair de Lune by Claude Debussy Big Three:  Capricorn sun, Libra moon, Gemini rising

Headcanons:

Berlioz has always felt like the black cat of his family, both literally and figuratively. Though the three were born within minutes of each other, being the youngest of the group made him feel like a bit of an outsider, which really just made him a bit mean as a kid. The easiest to make fun of was their butler, Edgar. He wasn't a bully, but just a bit of a tease to Marie and Toulouse, and remained that way until they had the worst week and a half of their lives.

Though they were all artistically inclined, Berlioz's best instrument has always been the piano. His mother started him on lessons when he was a child, learning the classics from a young age. Though Marie and Toulouse knew how to play a bit, Berlioz's interest in perfecting the instrument was greater than the two of them, and he often found himself correcting them whenever they played a wrong note. It resulted in a lot of bickering, which was always corrected by his mother, who reminded them just what kind of children they were supposed to be. Sticking to classical music made Berlioz feel like he was the refined young man his mother had hoped for him to be.

Despite never really telling her, playing for Marie has always been one of Berli's favorite things to do. Accompanying her was what inspired him to want to train to play for singers. He loved sitting and conducting her while he played when they were children, so, he figured he could perhaps do just that for a living. He was supposed to go to Juilliard in New York for college until their lives were upended by Edgar, the very butler he used to make fun of as a child.

Berlioz has no idea what happened to his siblings when they were trapped at Edgar's: he didn't want to ask, and he still isn't sure he wants to know. For him, the nine days were ones spent hungry--Berlioz was a thin kid, and leaving him with minimal food left him weaker than ever when they left. If he didn't feel like the runt of the litter before, he surely did when they'd left. Berlioz doesn't like to think about Edgar's much, particularly because he blames himself for it: had he been nicer to him when they were children, perhaps he wouldn't have felt angry enough to treat the three they way he did.

After they were set free, moving to Echo Isle was an adjustment. Berlioz started to be nicer to Marie and Toulouse, stopped picking fights with them, and put his head down to focus on his craft. Pouring himself into the piano was the only way he knew how to handle the trauma of being pulled away from their homes and betrayed by someone who had held such a large part in their lives. Over time, Marie and Toulouse have seemed to become more of themselves again, while Berlioz has remained a more subdued version of the kid he once was.

Though he never made it to Juilliard, Berlioz has still been able to find some version of his dream. After auditioning to be a practice pianist when they first got to the Isle, Berli worked his way up to become a sub, then the full-time accompanist for one of the main theatre directors on the island. He's perfectly content being on the island for now, not just because of the borders closing, but also he knows that Marie and Toulouse plan on being here for a while. With Moulin Rouge just opening, it reminds him a lot of home and his mother, leaving Berli with a strange sense of personal connection to the show.

He knows Marie and Toulouse are physically better prepared if something is to happen to them again, but Berlioz has shoved the thought of that far, far away. Though his body has recovered to where he was before getting taken, he's still by far the weakest of the three.

Has probably never dated anyone. He's extremely quiet and shy, and doesn't have a flirtatious bone in his body. That doesn't mean he doesn't want to, it just has never happened.

Learning that his father lived on the Isle and actually died before they knew who he was didn't affect Berlioz as much as it could've. In fact, he doesn't really care at all. As far as he's concerned, his siblings and his mother are his family, and he doesn't really need anyone else. The new half-siblings he's supposed to have won't ever know what they went through, so he doesn't really a see a point in trying to pretend.