#but yeah on our break they want us to not get involved w other people so. jerking it every day will have to do!

[symbiodyke]

ough pretty sure this really cute dyke was flirting with me while I rang up their groceries.... they found a way to compliment my hair 3 separate times and were looking at me a lot........ god I can't take it

[realm-sweet-realm]

Spring Break in Unova, chapter 2: Clearer Skies

It's spring break, and the newly coupled-up BB6 have decided to spend it together. The three young couples are sure to find out that with passion comes the need for a lot of growing up, especially when families get involved.

Read chapter one here.

---

“No,” Drayton answered flatly.

Kieran sat up in his sleeping bag, trying to articulate why the whole thing had bothered him so much. “It wasn’t like you,” Kieran stated, a little sharpness in his voice. “Letting Drayden say all that stuff to you. I was expecting you to snap back at him.”

“Well, it was all true, wasn’t it? No matter what I do, she’ll always be better than me, and gramps will always love her more than me.” Drayton’s voice was cracking.

Kieran immediately felt terrible. Leave it to him to not know when to be sensitive. It also reminded him of the kind of stuff he used to say about himself, just about Florian instead of Iris. “Do you want a hug?” Kieran asked, not sure what else to say.

“Sure,” Drayton said, sounding a little defeated. The two got up and hugged, Kieran’s head resting against Drayton’s shoulder.

“Wanna head out, see Opelucid City by night?” Drayton asked.

“Sure. Why not?”

The two slipped on their coats and headed out into the cool night air. The residential streets were empty save for a few nocturnal Pokémon, giving the boys a sense of privacy as they walked through the dimly lit streets.

“Heh, it’s a little harder being who we want to be when we’re not at school, isn’t it?” Kieran said, pushing a lock of hair out of his face. “At least we’re not at my place. My grandparents would embarrass me so much.” There was a quiet moment before Kieran tacked on, “Not that I think that was embarrassing for you! Gah, I-”

Drayton chuckled and ruffled Kieran’s hair. “You’re good, Kieran. Chill out.” This is just like how things were when they first became friends, Drayton thought- Kieran being a bundle of nerves. And Kieran was so cute when he was nervous.

Before Kieran could respond, they had stepped out of the residential area and turned the corner into the bustling nightlife of Oplecid City. There were lights of every colour, and dozens of young adults going between bars, clubs, theatres, and other venues. Kieran’s yellow eyes were lighting right up.

“Woah,” Kieran said.

“Ha. I forgot you weren’t exactly prepared for this.”

“There’s more people and stuff here than at the festival at Kitakami, and this is just, like, a normal weekend!”

“Well, first weekend of Spring break, but…”

“Well, what are we waiting for? Let’s join em’!”

And so they did. They got ice cream, battled strangers at the outdoor arena- extra challenging in the dim outdoor lights- and then made a beeline for that nightclub Drayton swore he was always let into. The line was a bit long, and Drayton quickly realized why: they were actually checking IDs tonight. Still, Drayton held on to hope that he’d be let in as per usual.

“IDs please,” said the young woman at the entrance. She wasn’t one of the workers who usually let him in, but she looked cool and malleable enough.

“Uh, none. But I’m a regular. You probably remember me, right?”

“Oh, right,” the woman said, unimpressed. “You’re the guy our new management fired three people for repeatedly letting in. Yeah, go home, kid. Come back when you’re of age and have the ID to prove it.”

“Shucks,” Drayton said, putting a hand on Kieran’s shoulder and guiding him away from the front of the line and onto the relatively quieter sidewalks.

“Aw, man. I was looking forward to that! What are we gonna do now?” Kieran asked.

“Go home, I guess. We gotta sleep sometime.”

Kieran nodded. “Yeah… okay.”

The two walked in silence for a while, and soon they were back in the residential area.

“Hey, thanks,” Drayton said. “For getting me out, I mean. Helped me feel better.”

“Heh. No problem. I know how it feels to feel like you can never measure up to someone, or have what they have. It sucks.”

“Yeah, it does.” With that, they went inside. As they were navigating the dark, silent house, a light turned on, causing the boys to jump out of their skin.

“Oh, sorry!” Iris yelped.

“Jesus, Iris, I thought you were Grandpa,” Drayton gasped, holding his chest.

“I didn’t mean to make you think you got caught sneaking out. I just, y’know, heard you talking, and I felt kind of responsible for making you feel bad. I thought maybe I could make it up to you. I found something you might wanna do with your friends, and I could buy the tickets. How does this sound?” Iris turned her phone to show Drayton and Kieran what she had planned.

“Oh man, the other four are going to love this,” Drayton said.

—

While Carmine was settling down in the guest room for the night, she heard a conversation through the door. 

“You know how I told you don’t have to settle for just anyone just because you’re different? Well, I was talking about friends then, but it goes double for girlfriends. Are you happy with Carmine?” The voice was firm and serious, especially on the last question- as though she already knew, and the answer was “no.” It made Carmine’s blood boil.

“Yes, mother. I’m sorry about tonight. She isn’t usually like this,” Amarys explained calmly.

“I should hope not. Does she question other people you hang out with the same way she questioned me?”

“No.”

“Good. I’m glad she isn’t isolating you. Well, then, why don’t we spend some time together tomorrow, just the three of us, so I can see what she’s really like?”

There was a long silence. Carmine’s teeth grit. This sounded like a recipe for disaster.

“Amarys. I want to know that this girl is treating you okay.”

“Fine.”

“Thank you. I just want you to be happy.”

As Carmine lay in bed, she wondered what to do with what she’d heard. What was this woman’s play? Was she trying to isolate Amarys? Get her to doubt their relationship? Regardless, if Amarys’ mother was going to put her under a microscope as much as she was to her, it was going be a long week. But she supposed that all she could do was play smarter than her.

The next day rolled around, and the tension in the air hadn’t faded. Over breakfast, Amarys’ father tried to make conversation with Carmine to keep things light, but Amarys and her mother were all but silent.

As everyone was finishing up, Amarys spoke up. “My mother and I paint together. You’ve been asking me to teach you for a while. Maybe the three of us could paint together this morning,” she suggested.

“Sure,” Carmine said.

Before long, they were in the room Amarys’ mother had dedicated to their painting. Carmine recognized some paintings that seemed to be in Amarys’ style and many others that weren’t. Her mother was incredible, at least from what Carmine could tell with her limited art knowledge. Amarys’ paintings were more realistic, but with her mothers’, she could see all of the different techniques she was using- composition, colour contrast- to make things more visually pleasing than they were in reality.

“Did you teach Amarys how to paint?” Carmine asked.

“Yes, actually, I did,” she answered, but there was a barely-perceptible edge to her voice.

The two sat down at the table, gathered supplies, and listened to Amarys’ instructions without making eye contact. She didn’t seem like herself. Her movements were somehow even stiffer than usual, and she couldn’t bring herself to look at either of the others. Granted, both of them looked like they were fuming, which probably didn’t help.

“I- I think we’re out of blue paint,” Amarys said after a few minutes of instruction, staring down at the table. “I’m going out with my father to buy some.” Then she left the room.

Carmine’s fists shook, smudging inky black on the pine tree she’d been painting.

“You know, I heard your conversation with Amarys last night. I don’t know what you’re trying to do, but I’ve never seen Amarys this uncomfortable. Why are you doing this?”

Amarys’ mother stood up, unshaken and stern-looking. “I could ask you the same thing. You came into my house and insulted me for no reason. Between that and what Amarys has told me about your relationship, I have reason to worry.”

“Why would she tell- you know what? I’m out.”

Carmine left the room, and then, once she remembered that Amarys was gone, the apartment. She wasn’t sure where to go, so she wandered until she found Shopping Mall Nine, then went inside to window shop and be alone with her thoughts.

Why would Amarys tell her mother about their relationship? Yeah, they’d had their ups and downs and Amarys had been slow to open up, but all in all, it had been a good time. Heck, why would Amarys tell anything to that paranoid, rigid-

Carmine’s phone buzzed with a text. It was from Amarys.

I’m sorry this visit hasn’t been going well, and for leaving you with my mother. Where are you? I want to talk to you, and make things right.

Carmine typed in the mall’s address and pressed send. She tried to think of something else to say, but she couldn’t figure out what. So she just pocketed the phone and found a bench near the entrance to wait at. Minutes later, Amarys arrived.

“I’m… sorry,” Amarys started, sitting down next to Carmine.

“For what?” Carmine asked. “Seriously. This whole visit has just been confusing. Why does your mom hate me?”

Amarys shifted uncomfortably, and Carmine realized she’d probably come off as too accusatory. “My mother is very protective of me, and I’m very close to my parents. Whenever I had misgivings with our relationship, I told them. My father thinks you’re a good person, but my mother… less so. I was hoping that once she met you, she’d form a good opinion of you. But, that isn’t exactly what happened. I talked to my father, and I realized I should have just asked you a long time ago.”

“Ask me what? Misgivings…? What are you talking about? What do you need to ask?”

“Carmine… Did you befriend me out of pity?”

Carmine was shocked. “Well… n-no, of course not! Well, okay, at first, but…” Amarys’ face was flat and unreadable, but she knew this probably wasn’t what she wanted to hear. “Look, I wouldn’t date you out of pity. Yeah, I got a bad first impression of you, but you’re a great person, okay? I didn’t take long to figure that out.”

The moment of silence seemed to stretch on a long time. Carmine wondered if they were breaking up.

“Okay,” Amarys said. “I can live with that.”

“Okay,” Carmine said. “If that’s all you have to ask me, I guess we’re good.

“I also have to ask: why did you antagonize my mother? I know she’s made this visit difficult, but you accused her of pressuring me before that.”

“I was worried about you. You talk and move…” Carmine searched for a polite word and found none, “weird. And you’re stiff and serious all the time. That’s why I thought your parents might be pressuring you or abusing you or something.”

Amarys sighed. “So, you still pity me.” She made eye contact with Carmine. It wasn’t harsh, exactly, but it wasn’t soft, either. “It’s okay. You aren’t the first person to make assumptions like that. But no, I’m just… ‘weird.’ My parents help me a lot when it comes to social and emotional understanding, quite the opposite of what you assumed.” There was a short silence before Amarys got up. “Well, that’s cleared up. Let’s go home and decide what to do with the rest of the day.”

Carmine got up, followed Amarys, and looked for some sign of how she was feeling. The air was thick with worry.

“Are we breaking up?” Carmine asked.

Amarys took Carmine’s hand. “Absolutely not,” she explained. “We both made mistakes in this situation- you made assumptions about my homelife, and I left you alone with my mother even though I knew you weren’t getting along. Mostly, I’m glad you still want to be with me even though you know there isn’t a ‘normal’ healed version of me. I thought you might be disappointed of that.”

Carmine put her head on Amarys shoulder. “Never. I’m just glad you’re okay. Just, let your mom know I’m nothing to worry about, okay?”

“Of course.”

As they walked back hand in hand, Carmine got a text. It was an invitation from Drayton. Before Amarys could ask what Carmine was smiling about, she got one, too.

“We are definitely going to this,” Carmine said, grinning.

—

“Alright!” Lacey exclaimed, full of enthusiasm as she and Crispin convened for a planning session in her room. “What do we need to show Dad exactly what we’re made of?”

Crispin approached the whiteboard Lacey had pulled out, a thoughtful look on his face. “Well, food, obviously! That’s my go-to when impressing anyone.” Crispin’s eyes lit up. He picked up a marker and started scribbling on the board. “I got it! I’ll ask my uncles to let me cook something in their restaurant, and you could decorate! Then Clay’ll have to see what a great pair we are! And that I’ve got the skills to make money!

“That sounds great! My parents are overdue for a date, and I’m dying to try out some super cute romantic-themed decorations.”

The following night, Elesa and Clay were stepping off the subway to Striaton City.

“I don’t see why the kids had to drag us across the region like this,” Clay grumbled.

“Oh, come on,” Elesa replied. “We never go anywhere anymore. I don’t know what I’d do if I had to watch you come home and park yourself in front of the TV all evening again. And even if whatever they have planned falls flat, at least it’ll make them happy.”

Clay ignored her and kept walking forward. After not much time, they reached the restaurant. Clay opened the door and was immediately greeted with romantic decorations that seemed a little childish and amateurish, but charming nonetheless. Deep red paper tablecloths draped over every table, each decorated with a little vase of pink paper roses and red paper hearts. And the glitter… Clay did not envy his little girl for all the vacuuming she’d have to do to get the pastel pink glitter out of everything.

As soon as Elesa sat down, she was playing with one of the little folded paper roses. “This is so Lacey,” Elesa said. “Remember how she loved crafts when she was a little girl?”

Clay looked around the restaurant. For everyone else, it was business as usual- couples and groups of friends talking, eating, and paying their cheques, just with different decorations than usual. They seemed to be having a nice time.

“I wasn’t aware she still did.”

Elesa chuckled. “Well, then maybe you should be paying closer attention. Don’t you want to ask me how the modeling is going?”

“Well… yes, of course. It has been a while since we really caught up, hasn’t it? How’s the modeling going?”

Elesa leaned in. “I’m glad you asked.”

As Elesa started telling stories about her latest photoshoot and her crazy coworkers, Clay found himself relaxing. It really has been too long since they’d done this, hadn’t it? Soon, he was contributing crazy coworker stories of his own.

A while into their conversation, Crispin and Lacey came out of the kitchen, each holding two plates of chicken parmesan. The kids handed Clay and Elesa their food, left for another table, and left the married couple in peace.

“I think it’s working!” Lacey said, still looking at her parents. “They haven’t looked at each other like this in so long!”

“Wait,” Crispin interjected, his mouth already full of pasta, “I thought this was about showing off how we’re good as a couple.”

“It was. But I’ll take this as a cute little bonus.”

Once everyone had finished their food, Clay and Elesa moved to Crispin and Lacey’s table.

“Hey, thanks for that,” Clay said. “We needed it.”

“Heh, no problem,” Crispin replied. “Just wanted to show off my skills. I know that there’s no guarantee that I’ll be able to open my own restaurant, and that I won’t get to do it right away, but the world’s always going to need chefs. So I figure I’ll be just fine financially, even if I don’t get much stronger.”

“Hmph. That’s fair, I suppose.”

Crispin let out a sigh of relief. “Thank Arceus. So, no more mining?”

“Nope, you’re free to go. There’s more to ya than meets the eye, kid,” Clay said. “Though, a moderate amount of money isn’t going to protect her, so I still don’t want her with a wimp. I look forward to seeing you toughen up as you get older, you hear?” He gave Crispin a playful slap on the back. Crispin cringed, and that broke something inside of Lacey.

“Protect?” she said, still in her cutesy voice. “Oh, Dad, it’s worse than that. Did I never tell you about the time I jumped off a shed while playing truth or dare with Crispin and my other friends at the academy? Or when I burnt my whole hand while baking souffleés with him? Crispin’s been doing the opposite of protecting me, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

Crispin felt panic rise up in him. Why was she sabotaging them like this? “Lacey-” Crispin said urgently. Meanwhile, Clay’s face read shock and anger, both at Crispin and at her.

“No. I think it’s time that Dad actually knew about my life. You having to bend over backward to please him and me having to keep so many secrets from him? It's just not right!” She returned her attention to Clay, her arms crossed in her signature pose. “One of my favourite Pokémon to use is a slobro that shoots poison and fire. One of my friends is a slacker who was held back twice and another is a hothead who gets into fights and whose younger brother nearly ruined our battling club with his silly drama. I want to be an interior decorator when I grow up and I care more about that than getting married. And I love Crispin because we’re a good couple! I don’t need or want him to ‘protect’ me or ‘provide’ for me because I can handle that myself. And I told mom all of that and kept it from you because I didn’t want you stepping in and ‘protecting’ me from my own choices!” By the end of her rant, Lacey was angry and out of breath.

Clay’s face was flushed with anger. He looked like he wanted to say something, but instead he just got up and left.

After a few stunned moments, tears started falling down Lacey’s face. It was a long ride home, with Elesa and Crispin trying to comfort Lacey as she cried and responding to statements like, “Is he going to take me out of the academy for this?” and “We never should have done this, we should have just played by his rules.” She was inconsolable.

When the three got home, Clay was there to open the door. “I’m sorry,” were the first words out of his mouth. “I shouldn’t have stormed off like that. But I thought about what you said.” Clay sighed heavily. “You really have a whole life I know nothing about, huh, kid?”

Lacey’s face was still stained with tears. “Yeah,” she said. 

“Well, I won’t lie. I don’t like it. I don’t like the idea of you getting into situations that could get you hurt. But, I can’t stop you, and it helps no one if you can’t tell me about your life. I’m sorry for failing you.” He looked up at Elesa, and his voice took on a more serious tone. “You can’t keep secrets from me,” he looked back down to Lacey, “but I’ll try to be someone more worthy of those secrets. I promise, from now on, I’ll let you make your choices, and unless it’s something Elesa or any other parent would keep you from doing, I won’t stand in your way.”

Lacey sniffed. “Does that mean… you won’t keep being like this to Crispin?”

“Bring home any wimp you want, I won’t get in your way.”

Lacey tackled her dad with a hug, and Crispin joined in on it. Elesa joined in, too. The hug ended when Crispin and Lacey both felt their phones buzzing. Crispin broke away to check his first. There were a lot of built-up messages.

“Heh, Kieran’s been trying to get ahold of us all day about an invitation or something. Poor guy must be having a panic attack.”

“Well, hey, we were busy setting up for tonight! He’ll understand,” Lacey added, scrolling up to see the initial invitation. “Oh my gosh, Crispin! This is gonna be amazing!”

[the-firebird69]

There's a couple more things that ours need to be aware of these people are not nice to our son he's getting abused he needs assistance with everything and I describe it before but if he had a wheelchair you need someone to wheel around who's there so we can't afford him to do that he has to be whole body they say out of the blue they're talking about a wheelchair and he got mad so we're going after them for it I want everyone in for a meeting because nothing's really changed in a situation and everyone thinks that he's hunky dory hes stuck Hera is going mad now we have a whole bunch of stuff to do but we're going to have a meeting right now and he's going to list a couple things happening here one is little teeny egg rolls that's what he's got to do and little teeny pot stickers probably the same thing but he didn't want to go through this crap so it works out okay. We have a few things we're talking about tonight and they're important and they're trying to jam itself without dumb stuff so going after him for the dumb stuff to do it and bringing up and boy they stupid. John remillard got pushed out of there and he's getting chased and his warrants on him for what he did at the courthouse and they don't want him around anymore and it's on TV. And the judge the judge is going to put on the TV that he's sheriff Carmel who did it and he says if you do you did so he's saying it back to him and that's what's going on and he's going to take the a****** and trash him and people seen it happen to people all you have to do is burn the body it's not really a complicated affair so there's other things going on

-there's about 15 million people who are involved in drug deals in Florida each and every one of them is going to be arrested tonight that's what they said. They brought down 20 million troops and they're going after a lot of people there's a huge number of them that are afraid and they said they got a little marijuana in the system they put me in the mental hospital 10 times you're endangering my life over and over you're a bunch of f****** idiots it doesn't do anything get on my face you're f****** idiots. Now they're thinking about it and it says it doesn't do anything what you're doing at all and they start to see this we lost a friend and they're saying crap and then also and a bunch of them left more of them are leaving momentarily they want to come back and say hello and that's what they're up to there's a huge number of people who are sitting outside of their houses wondering what's going on yes they're stupid people here they need to give it a break and they don't so that's going on

-you have about 4,500 people who are listening to our son complain all day long and yeah that these idiots they don't do anything and they sit there and laugh and say we're doing better now cuz we complained more and our son says yeah you are and starts telling them off and they say that's what we wanted I say everybody wants that for me and they start getting mad they said you're easiest and of course I'm easy that's why your whole race is getting killed it's a wicked easy thing and John Reema Lord can do it of course he can I took over 90% of his businesses practically personally so they stop talking and they said we probably should shut up I said you probably should that you probably won't and that's actually helping you because everyone around starts killing you for money or getting you because you're an idiot I understand you people are stupid but holy s*** what a tragedy you are for just about all of you and they started laughing they said we don't know how you're going to cover that at all I said I am in just a state of panic you haven't seen since like Saigon and isn't that John Reema lord's name and sigh will be gone please start the panic and they went up to him and said does this mean this and he said no what is this mean so he gets upset and he starts saying this we're telling people a ton of s*** and they're really mad at us so we get our sons idea wants to cut to the Chase and tell people what's going on what happens is this guy gets arrested and he gets out and bothers people goes around hurt someone so now as people are trying to invade America and they're getting killed huge numbers of them and they're sending assassins and they're killing them overseas pretty soon there won't be any of them for the most part and he doesn't get that and he doesn't believe it but also it's a movies are starting up because of the Savage invasion attempt and they're going to go into high gear tomorrow tons and tons of people please complaining wildly about being fired from the sheriff job tons and tons of people going to get fired overseas it's a madhouse here these people are completely insane and they should have been put down day one they're led to wander and roam around our son piss him off Non-Stop they lost tons of businesses huge dollar value out the window Master numbers are dead and they're still d****** around with it playing with it but they need some solid changes today we need to know what they are and our people need to know we know already and I'm going to let you know

Thor Freya I'm coming up soon

Well in this together and I hope everybody knows it my husband is sticking out and he's doing the best he can and I'm worried about him he's getting grumpy and short-tempered with me a little bit too usually isn't but he says I'm trying to do things and everyone interrupts me and then we do and I need people to be conscious to that and I'm starting to be conscious of it okay he's trying to write something and then say it's important or anything but it is me and it's him who's important is not really that great psychologically because he's doing things and he's it's important and he's no John remillard and it has no correlation but the idiot spaz is right there again so we kill them over there and he keeps coming back and he's going to burn pretty soon everyone else is and it'll be cleared but boy this is damned annoying what these people are doing so I want change and I don't want anybody to say he's hanging on like John remillard we have solutions and we're going to apply them so we don't have to listen to this the next time

Hera

Hell Hara and that is very good news and we believe it's true and we do agree wholeheartedly

[vrmxlho]

ahh i feel the same!! my whole family comes from croatia and we often go down for holidays, but only during summer. until then i'm literally freezing my ass off 😭

hadhjhdj the way i get that- i've been procrastinating my skincare for some time, like i do it every second evening or smth and my skin is breaking out again LIKE- STOP BEING AN IDIOT

but i'm just being lazy and yeah :(

lmao i don't mind, i can tell you more about the drama in future, cuz we literally have a whole lore page and so many screenshots, it ain't normal. and i've known this person like,,, a bit over a year now?

and your former best friend sounds like a bitch, i'm so glad and proud that you cut her off. i know this is super hard, especially when you don't wanna upset the people around you (which isn't even the one who fucking has the drama with you)

yeah that's so true!! i'm doing so much better now that i've cut them off and only after i did that, i actually realized how bad they were for me and i'm just very glad the whole thing is behind me

and this is so true!! i love listening to drama but i don't wanna be involved LMAO

OMG CROATIA IS SO SO GORGEOUS i'm sure you've heard this before many times but i genuinely love croatia so so much. zagreb, pula, porec are like the only three places i've been to but they were so beautiful.

also so real with the skincare, i do not want to admit how many times i've skipped showering cuz i'm too lazy to take my fucking clothes off like girl you stink bffr 😭 i remember when i was younger my cousin convinced me to stop brushing my teeth w him cuz "animals don't brush their teeth" spoiler that was so fucking dumb

THE FUCKING LORE PAGES THAT'S SO FUNNY HELP 😭 my friend had a meme account on insta back when we were still friends w that bitch where we just made horrible memes of her and that was our way of coping.

i have so much drama from uni cuz i have friends in other unis who tell us everything since we don't go to the same uni as them and we can't like tell on them ig??? it's actually wild +++ also from high school cuz i went to school w these insanely rich kids (not saying i'm not as well) but they were like actual aristocrats/royalty and they were actually insane

[dreamiesformula]

Dilemma pt. 1 - Charles Leclerc

{Slow burn & series}

Warnings: mentions of cheating, harassment, sexism, swearing and for those of you who don’t like imagines that involve non F1 related themes there is some K-pop written into this. (Y/n is adoptive sister to a K-pop idol nothing romantic related).

Disclaimer: I am hoping people like this enough to turn it into a progressive series, so please if you liked the content, writing or anything like that let me know. Sorry if it’s shit I’m still getting back into writing after 2 years away from actual stories.

Love always ❤️

———————————————————

Y/n spent a long time working for this pulled from the W series after just her first season, to be a driver for Haas who were down one driver before testing rounds for the new 22’ car they needed someone and Gunther was please with the pick his very own “breath of fresh air” as he put it. She worked so hard to prove him right and going into the first race all looked promising, she was determined to prove not just for Gunther but all fans that she could race just as well as any man on the grid it was now the day of the Bahrain Grand Prix and to say you were anxious was an understatement. You had grown close with a few drivers on the grid them wanting to protect you your big brother squad if you will which consisted of Daniel Riccardo, Sebastian Vettel, Valtteri bottas and George Russel. They never gave you any advantages on track as they knew you wanted to race fair plus they wanted their jobs, but they did all grow to love you like family, Daniel in particular he could tell when you were anxious, hyper, depressed, drained or on verge of breaking down. Unbeknownst to you so could a driver you barely interacted with Charles Leclerc, he had taken interest to you while an eligible bachelor it was funny how he wasn’t interested in anyone else until you came onto the grid he knew he wasn’t the only one but he was here to race and that’s what he’d do! Apparently so were you, P5 in your debut F1 race the garage erupted you swear you could hear them even as you crossed the chequered flag.

Y/n’s perspective

It was a high like no other while P1,2&3 were a dream coming P5 cemented what my point was, I was here to race and race my little heart out I would. The whole garage including my teammate group hugging revealing is what we both achieved P5 and P11 in a Haas, fucking mental. Mick came over and hugged me while I knew there was pictures I didn’t care “you killed it” I hear him whisper I shove him back pointing towards both of our bodies “no we killed it” laughing pulling him in for another victory hug.

It was a nice sight to see drivers happy however I noticed some weren’t so happy, I know how much racing means to them all so I make my rounds congratulating and trying to cheer up where possible. They seemed more astounded by me coming to hype or cheer them up than I expected it was just what I was used to doing, after all we are all humans and feeling down on yourself was the worst. I go back to the team shortly after for briefing and team meetings, then to media for interviews nothing but supportive questions so far which made me calm a lot and then finally a shower and change into my clothes I wore a baggy graffiti style tee that had the tag ICON and black ripped jeans with white airforces. On my way out I see the gang aka the brother squad talking in the paddock I go up to them putting my bravest face on “I can’t believe him of all people” I hear Daniel scoff “hiii” I surprise them all “oh shit” seb let’s out before they burst into laughter “whatca talking about” I ask only to be shut down but bottas “nothing important” he shrugs nice I’m being left out of gossip how rude “we were gonna go for a few drinks and dinner want to come?” Danny asks wide eyed and hopeful “yeah sure why not, I’ll go get changed” I smile and they scoff in sync “nothing fancy please keep as you are, we’re starving we want fast not fancy” George pats your back and you nod “we’ll hurry I’m hungry” I stomp my foot tryna fake anger only for them to laugh at me. Unbeknownst to y/n boys were all sharing a knowing look being that close with the girl that quickly they knew she was having a hard time, her boyfriend cheated on her, she moved to F1 and she was falling hopelessly in love with a driver who had some seriously pressing love life issues. They vowed to protect her from any hurt from anyone outside F1 or inside it, she was quite literally their happy virus she was too fragile and precious to them to be ruined, she was the type to fall hard a quick they learnt that quickly.

We arrived at a restaurant and I felt really under dressed so much for nothing fancy “bro I look homeless compared to these other girls” I look around at ball gown, formal and sequence dresses “you look fine, you just finished a race I bet half the girls here couldn’t do what you did today” Daniel pats my back my phone buzzed and I see the contact name ‘do NOT answer’ my best friend back home Chris did that so I wouldn’t pick up my exs calls real easy to remember when drinking “whose that” Daniel whispers “cheating ex” I choke out why wouldn’t he leave me alone I broke it off 2 months ago “block him?” He suggests “calls me off other phones and numbers” I sigh “dude that’s harassment” I laugh dryly “oh trust me I know” I roll my eyes my ex was back in South Korea now, it was confusing for many reasons one being I was adopted, my adoptive brother was a K-pop star in a popular group and I don’t know my real parents, I never wish to either. He got me into karting when I was 6 and from there I fell in love with speed and racing, he was my guardian angel he saved me, gave me a second chance at life. The boys were yet to know this yet, my first language was Korean, then English which I learnt with help from my friend Chris who was Australian and now here I am Daniel Ricardo’s mini me according to most the McLaren team already, same vibe different body I guess. Dinner was accompanied by drinks and quite a few of them more than needed considering we would be having to be up the next morning at 8 am for a flight at 10 am to Saudi Arabia I was on the same plane and Daniel, Seb and George to my knowledge, I was happy hanging out with my friends feeling like I fit in until I heard a certain shocked monegasque enter the establishment “oh hello” he stands in front of our table some Ferrari higher ups and Carlos with him great now I wanna die in a hole, “hello winners” I smile my phone rings again and Daniel checks it “Christoper🐺” is calling I answer quickly excusing myself “Channie!” I smile through the phone “you killed it out there, we had a schedule but I just watched your race, I am so proud of you” I was gonna cry “thank you Chan I love you” I missed home “when do we see our little star again?” He asks his accent seeping deep telling me he was tired “probably not for another 3 weeks” I sigh they were so busy preparing for their comebacks “we will be here okay” I smile at his reassuring words “I better go back before the guys think I’ve been kidnapped, I love you Channie. Take care of yourself please” I hear him sigh slightly “love you too y/n/n” and with that he hung up. I walk back inside “superstar there you are” bottas smiles laughing along side the boys.

Charles perspective

I shouldn’t be so hung up over another driver let alone one looking this strong early on sure she wasn’t gonna be in the championship running in a Haas but any driver is competition, Carlos must have noticed my far away gazes “you’re gonna make it obvious if you stare any longer” he whispers as he nudged me. “What do you mean?” I laugh away the burning as I watch her get closer to Daniel and whisper something in his ear “you’re little fascination with the Haas girl” Carlos was being dead serious he wasn’t letting this one go. “Dude it’s nothing don’t worry” he chuckles painfully it wasn’t nothing right now she was his everything in way he wanted to win to show off, partially for her partially for him. “Just talk to her, the sex eyes aren’t going to work on this one” he pats my back and I knew he was right she wasn’t gonna be easy to make mine but I was determined, I should maybe actually talk to her before falling stupidly in love. However he knew it was a bit too late for that you had him aware of it or not. After seeing you make friends, smile, laugh act silly and carefree during testing he was sold. Oh boy did you have him. They enjoyed dinner with the team mangers but Charles was in another world for half of it “thank you for meeting us again, congratulations let’s continue to do Ferrari proud” they shake us drivers hands and leave Carlos grabbing me by the shirt over to where the gang of drivers still sit chatting “mind if we join?” Carlos smirks at the group “come on sit down boys” Daniel laughs shoving over as we squish in I am somehow sat next to y/n thighs touching arms almost interlocked, fucking Carlos. “How’re you feeling after your win?” I hear the angelic like voice to my side ask while the table is entertained in their own conversations “pretty good, weirdly lonely but it feels good to be up their” I smile being uncharacteristically open with her, “well trust me I’ll always be here if you need” she smiles and I feel comfortable but she’s simply being friendly “what about you P5 is amazing” looking for excuses to hear her talk “honestly I can’t believe it still, I just wanna make everyone proud. I gotta fight extra hard to prove myself” she looks down to her chest and I think I know what she means, it must be tough “you’re setting an amazing example for race fans and future racers around the world” I put my hand in hers “thank you that means more than I can explain” I felt like the world stopped when I spoke to her gosh I was 24 acting like a kid in love.

The night ended shortly after a few more drinks, some laughs and we all headed back to the hotel. When I let go of her hand I realised I missed the close feeling of her skin on mine, as weird as that sounded. She wasn’t the most of that made sense, I’d dated models, famous content creators the lot but she was just so real for a racing driver she wasn’t the slimmest, not that had much to effect on how I felt but I could already imagine the articles. I went on my own tangent in my mind to didn’t realise I was sitting beside her in the car back to the hotel until I felt a head on my shoulder, upon looking down I noticed the girl asleep on my shoulder smiling to myself. “Don’t get too comfortable, you’ll be lucky if we let you near her again” seb warns a serious tone telling me he’s not joking “what?” I question confused “you’re not using the new driver and our friend as a rebound” Daniel quickly interjects it became clear what they meant after his break up he stupidly admitted to some the the driver he was looking for someone to fill the time until his ex realised he was the one and come running back. But he knew that not to be the case now, “I promise it’s more than that” but they just scoff are me clearly I had to work to gain the trust of her gate keepers.

Y/n’s perspective

I wake up in my hotel room alone and confused as my alarm sounds I don’t remember coming back, maybe I had one too many. My phone was on charge there was water and pain killers on my table, who put me to bed? Anyways I check the time and it’s 7:00 am I had to leave in less than an hour I showered and got changed into some green joggers, my white airforces, white oversized shirt and matching green bomber jacket. When I go to do my hair however there’s a knock on the door and I see Charles standing there “good morning” he smiles how is he so put together at this god forsaken time “hiya” I mumble letting him in “you look nice” he smiles and I feel my insides flip “thanks not too bad yourself, lord knows how you’re awake right now” I chuckle to myself “I brought you a toasted sandwich ham, cheese and tomato Daniel said it was your favourite and a iced mocha” he had the purest of looks on his face “you’re an angel Leclerc” this wasn’t helping how I felt though the act of friendship getting twisted in my stupid little head. “Only for you mon chéri” boom there goes my sanity “I appreciate it a lot, I know we aren’t close but it’s sweet of you to do this for me” I smile looking him in the eyes as my heart beat picks up what was he doing to me “ayo kiddo you awake” I freeze for a second as Daniel’s voice booms “ayo old fart what’s up” I chuckle opening the door to him near hugging me “we gotta head soon you have 20 minutes let’s move it, move it” he swats me away with his hands to tell me to pack my shit. Forgetting about the Ferrari driver currently in my bathroom I start cleaning like crazy “oh hey Daniel” I hear Charles awkwardly cough “h-hi” he stuttered like we was afraid “Charles is too sweet danny he brought my brekkie and checked up on me” blushing clifhtly as you say it out loud “how friendly of him” Daniel says as a pang hits your heart but your phone interrupts it ringing loudly with the cursed “do NOT answer” appearing on screen “not this prick again” Daniel groans “just another day in my life danny it’s fine” I dry chuckle he couldn’t just fuck off he was the one who cheated. “He’s getting out of hand” Daniel puts his hand on my shoulder to comfort me “you can only tell someone to stop so many times I can’t force him to do anything, just like he can’t force me to pick up. It’s been almost 3 months he’s seeing me thriving he wants money that’s all” I smile bitterly.

Charles felt out of place listening in on this, but he gained an amazing insight into who you were. You were clearly in a position of moving on you didn’t seem sad or hurt more angered and distressed, you confirmed to him you were single and that was a positive he took with great care.

You had forgot he was there again for a minute “Mon Ange, I’m gonna go I’ll see you later” he came closer to me and hugged me good “have a safe flight Charles I’ll see you later” the heat rising to my cheeks “okay what the fuck was that” Daniel says a little too loudly I just continue packing up “dude don’t ignore me” he whines “you and charles?” He questions “did nothing, I don’t think he’d take advantage of a drunk girl, plus he just came to check on me” I smile blissfully unaware of the nicknames he’d called me but thinking they sounded so cute coming from him his accent gosh I could listen forever. “Be careful of him kiddo. He’s not all he seems” with that he grabbed your full suitcase and put it with his in the hallway you have your wallet, passport, phone, keys and AirPods with you in you’re jacket pockets and grabbed the duffle bag having everything packed drinking the last of the mocha you’d sipped throughout the ordeal and devouring the sandwich both of which were surprisingly tasty. “Let’s hit the road riccy” you stroll past him collecting your suitcase from the hallways and striding toward the elevator, “do you like him” Daniel gave you once chance to be honest he knew the answer but wanted to confirm it “more than I should” I sigh hoping it’d go unnoticed.

Fast forward to Saudi Arabia pre race

“What’s your home Grand Prix?” The interviewer asked me as I sat in the hot seat for some video they were doing I had been here for a good 10 minutes answering weird questions “ah I don’t have one” I smiled the boys were all watching they’d assumed I was something I wasn’t I guess sure I was born Australian not that I knew until I was 20 but I raced under the South Korean flag cause when you’re adopted you have to become a citizen I had nothing that tied me to my actual life. “I was raised in South Korea, with my adoptive father, adoptive mother and older brother, I don’t race under my birth countries flag cause I’m not a citizen anymore I haven’t been since I was like 2.” I chuckle I look behind the camera to see the reactions of my fellow drivers most just look shocked as for the most part I did not appear Korean but that’s what happens when you’re adopted into a family of a different culture than your birth one, it didn’t hurt anyone and I loved my family. “Okay then moving on, what’s your birthday” what were these questions man “ah it’s y/bd” I was grow more uncomfortable by the second “wait you’re only 21?” The interviewer himself seemed shocked “ah yeah for you all I’m 20 however korean age I am 21, Daniel calls me kiddo for a reason” I laugh “a literal child” he calls from the back of the camera causing everyone to laugh “final question?” Before he can ask “hit me with it interviewer man” I say ready to get this over with “if you could date any driver on the grid who and why?” I looked dumbfounded “excuse me?” I had to clarify I heard what I did he goes to repeat it “I heard your question, I’m not answering it.” I look him dead in the eyes “bipolar much, you’re lucky you have tits or else everyone would be sick of your attitude” he mutters thinking I couldn’t hear and with that I stand up “you wouldn’t ask a male driver who they’d fuck on the grid so why should it be okay to ask me?” I raise my voice to get my point across taking my mic pack off and leaving the studio my press officer hot on my toes “y/n you can’t do that” he said I turned around seeing red “no. No you don’t get to stand there and say it I don’t care how it looked ask them to edit it, make them take it out but I will not be treated different in interviews just because I have tits” I set my ground down “I understand trust me I get it I have a daughter and if this was her I’d be just as upset, but we have to uphold and image of you, I’ll do my best to get it out. But please know I am not going to scold you I just want to protect you okay” he smiles and I feel bad for going off at him “I’m sorry and thank you Tony” I felt awful so I just disappeared for a while crying in my drivers room and listening to sad songs I had in my playlist probably way too loudly, it was bound to come eventually the sexist question just didn’t expect it this soon.

I had to stay at the track for free practice and so exhausted from sobbing for an hour I must’ve passed out, *knock knock* I wake up sometime later to a banging on my door “mon Ange, can you let me in we’re worried about you” I stood shell shocked “please y/n, let us in” I heard a aussie accent call it wasn’t just Charles I open the door to a decent chunk of the drivers on the grid I looked like shit. Tears stained my cheeks, my eyes were red and I looked pale, I could hear Gunther in the hallways yelling “they asked her what?” He was furious but it didn’t sound like he was gonna rip me a new one “come on y/n, let’s go to catering…” Charles lightly grabs my hand and I freeze the boys stare at what’s occurring as they all realise quite quickly this was more mutual than they thought but your phone buzzing interrupting everyone as massive letters “do NOT answer” appear on screen I decline the call quickly and grab my ID pass, secretly placing my hand back into Charles’ and let them lead the way “we are all gonna have lunch with you” George pats my back knowing if I was alone I wouldn’t eat the part at least 12 drivers strong and me pile in I notice Lewis is sitting down already a long empty table accompany him “hello Lewis” I bow out of instinct he was my senior after all everyone was actually he just laughs and pulls me in for a hug. I didn’t realise everyone could be this close without it being competitive, they quite literally were all here to stand by me, with me as a driver and a human being. We all actually had a good time laughing, chatting and just being friends it was a rare and beautiful moment, Yuki and I were talking Japanese for a bit since we hadn’t really ever spoken how ever I only knew a bit of Japanese English was hard enough.

Charles’ perspective

“You’re gonna make everyone suspicious you know” Mick taunts “what?” I snap my head around to face the boy “quit heart eyeing my team mate Ferrari boy” he laughs was it really that obvious “she’s intriguing to you” Lewis adds noting the man’s fascination towards the new driver from just a few seats beside him “I know Lewis I don’t need a lecture on grid etiquette, dating a rival driver isn’t good I know I know” Lewis stops for a second “mate, as long as you’re happy” he shrugs “as long as it doesn’t effect your driving I don’t think anyone can say anything” Mick adds I guess they were right but it’s embarrassing they all could tell. “For what it’s worth I’m sure it’s mutual” Lewis whispers while passing by to get water, “I wish” I mumble in French before I know it we had to go back to our teams.

The car with me in it is dragged into the garage I finish practice “Charles what’s going on out there” my engineer asks there was nothing wrong with the car I think I was just preoccupied in my thoughts, this girl was messing with my driving and I can’t allow it I had to focus “just a bad day won’t happen again” I smile leaving before I can cop an earful. I’ll go have a shower and get changed maybe that’ll clear my head… but all I could think about was her, if this didn’t change it was gonna be awful.

Y/n’s perspective

Daniel hadn’t left my side since he returned from practice “kiddo let’s go eat, you need food” he smiles gently putting his arm around me as we walk to catering “stop calling me kiddo I’ll take your knees” I snap back playfully as he ruffles my hair. We sit down for dinner and I notice two red Ferrari shorts walk to the counter “kiddo I’ve been thinking about what you said at the hotel room” I hush him quickly and the two drivers sit behind us “what about?” I whisper “number 16” I could tell he was scheming “that, was nothing okay” he chuckles I was panicking and he knew it “y/n you can’t hide from me, you like a guy it’s natural” he rubs my shoulder. “He’s my competition if I give into my feelings everything that interviewer and any hater could say comes true. I will have dated someone on the grid purely because I’m a female” I shake my head I simply couldn’t allow to be a cliché “if that’s what you’re worried about kid, you’ve got a lot of growing up to do. You’re feeling typically don’t pass. You’re not gaining anything by being with him, respectfully you compete for survival he competes for glory” he was sincere I could tell and right yeah, he was right. “I’m just scared” but I knew he knew that “if you’re serious about this, who gives a fuck what anyone says… y/n you’re allowed to like a guy” he ruffles my hair ruining the moment in true DR3 style “way to ruin it” and with that we burst into fits of laughter eating our food finally after a heart to heart.

Charles’ perspective

“Can I just say Charles, what’s stopping you?” Carlos breaks me out of a daydream state “reality” yet he just scoffs “if you were any of us 18 other drivers looking over you, you would realise there’s more to this than unrequited love.” But his face brightens up with an idea “what do you like about her?” He asks me typing on his phone to someone.

Charles was didn’t need a minute to make a list but took his time, unaware that his friend and teammate was texting Riccardo just in front of them who Charles hadn’t seen when they walked in.

Y/n’s perspective

“Carlos wants us to be quiet and listen to what they’re saying” Daniel whispers too me so we do Charles was speaking probably louder than he intended to “y/n, mate where do I begin. She’s beautiful but in a real way, she’s not fake, an amazing driver obviously it’s amazing how she’s not scared to push boundaries, she makes me feel like the only man in the world and I barely know her… that’s sounds creepy oh gosh. She has a style like no woman I’ve met before, she doesn’t try make herself like a princess and I find it so attractive, I don’t know Carlos I really just wanna hold her after a win or a loss, I wanna be in her life” I was shocked “you’re shitting me” I whisper to Danny “I told you kid, but if he hurts you I’ll kill him” with a worryingly happy smile “he actually likes me?” Still shell shocked before I can have time to think I’m lifted off my seat and stood in front of both the Ferrari boys “y/n” Carlos grins wider than the Cheshire Cat himself I look at Charles whose yer to break eye contact with the chair in front of him. “I uh, I have to go” and with that Charles pushes past me and out the door “well that didn’t go to plan” Daniel huffs I turn around running after him I see him run to his driver room at the last second follow knocking gently on the now closed door “go away” I hear snapped at the closed wood and a crash I wiggle the handle and it comes loose I pear in to see a huffing Charles Leclerc and a smashed plate laying on the ground. My feet move before I can think and I go to see if he’s alright “are you okay, are you hurt, cut?” I look at his hands no blood or cuts thankfully “this is so embarrassing” he mumbles and I take his hand “there’s nothing to be embarrassed about Charles” I smile trying to bring him out of this space “yes there is you heard all of that, all of it” he sulks preparing himself for rejection “yeah and, what about it?” I shrug “if you came here with reject me just get it over with, I’ve had a shit day already” he groans I laugh a bit to myself grabbing his face with my hands “just kiss me dummy” and he does just that fireworks go off I swear “I like it when you smile you’ve got cute little dimples” I huff placing my forehead on his “in case you didn’t get it from the blushing I like you too stupid” I can’t tell when it happened but it felt right “I’m sorry I’m all over the place” he frowns “hey it’s alright, everyone is a bit. We won’t do anything until you’re ready. Racing comes first okay charles, you’re gonna be a champion” I give him a peck on his cheek turning to clean the smashed plate with just some paper and a broom no dustpan in sight “hey hey careful you’ll hurt yourself” he tried to stop me “it’s okay I’ve done this a lot” I smile “just sit down and chill for a bit you’ve had a big day” and you didn’t know it but in that moment he knew you were it for him, no one had ever tried to take the load off his shoulders. “Mon Ange, what are we?” He asks quietly almost too quietly “whatever you want us to be Charles, you’re the one with the most at stake here. I’m not coming between you a glory” I smile and he doesn’t say anything “can I take you out to dinner after the race?” How could I say no “of course charles, oh and this is all cleaned up I’ll be on my way I’m expecting a call from my brother soon!” I go to leave but he gets up grabs my arms lightly and spins me into his chest for a hug “thank you for not leaving my love” he whispers I look at the closed door “I’ll always support you even from the shadows” I look up at him and he kisses me again it felt too good to be reality. “I’ll make you mine just wait” I nod leaving him alone and me slightly confused what the actual fuck just happened?

TBC…..

[rayshippouuchiha]

Pro hero Deku is asked a lot if questions about his love life (no he's not dating kacchan, no he's not dating shouto, no he's not dating ochako she's married what the hell) and at some point he decides to get himself a boyfriend just for it to stop. Fake ofc, but no one needs to know that. He just wants some peace and quiet.

But of course the questions dont stop, if anything they're starting to get worse, only his mom seemed so happy that hes dating someone and now he's committed damn it, and the stories keeps getting more elaborate and like, maybe this was a bad idea but he's in too deep.

And he's also sort of growing attached to his fictional boyfriend, cause he seems like a cool and competent dude, izuku would not mind dating him if, you know, he actually existed.

Plot twist: hizashi is always one to stay on top of hero news, he loves and lives vicariously through gossip with nemuri any chance be gets, so he definitely keeps track of all the clues deku gives about his secret boyfriend (bc the nr 1 hero having a secret boyfriend is Grade A Gossip, and hizashi is intrigued and yearns to know more) and it's all fun and games until hizashi starts to grow suspicious that he KNOWS this secret boyfriend, that he is BEST FRIENDS with this secret boyfriend, and why the hell hasn't shouta told hizashi personally??? How dare???

Oh oh yes yes this is perfect.

And it gets even better because of course Hizashi is gonna confront Shouta. Of course he is. Shouta’s breaking some sacred best friend rules by not telling him that he’s been dating the #1.  Like, Hizashi understands the want/need for some level of privacy, really he does, but surely he should be exempt from that. Bro Law and everything.

So of course this means Shouta gets a phone call at like 5 in the afternoon when he’s actually trying to get some sleep.

“SHOOOUUTTTAAAA,” Hizashi screeches down the line so loudly that, even though he’s laying down alone in his own apartment, Shouta can’t help the way his quirk activates on instinct.

“What.”

“WHY DIDN’T YOU TELL MEEEE?” Hizashi sobs dramatically down the line.

“Probably because you always act like this,” Shouta huffs. “But I also have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“I’m your best friend,” Hizashi prattles on.  “You could have at least told me, I can keep a secret you know?  I wouldn’t have told anyone, probably.”

“Hizashi,” Shouta breaks in.  “What. Are. You. Talking. About?”

“You’re Deku’s secret boyfriend!!” Hizashi announces victoriously. 

Shouta pulls his phone back enough to stare at the screen for a moment, brows furrowed, before he brings it back to his ear.

“Have you been kidnapped?” he practically barks the question out.

“W-What?” Hizashi sputters.  “NO! Sho what the hell?”

“What’s your safe word?” Shouta demands.

“Meatloaf,” Hizashi replies instantly. “Wh-”

“Are you trapped, currently bleeding out, injured, or in need of backup?” Shouta spits the questions out rapid fire.

“No, no, no, and no,” Hizashi answers back just as quickly. “I’m perfectly fine and at home, just wondering why my best friend hasn’t told me about his secret affair -”

Shouta hangs up.

Hizashi’s in no danger which means he doesn’t have to humor his ridiculous bullshit right now when he could be taking a nap.

His phone rings for the next ten minutes straight before Trash comes toddling into the room and curls up on top of it to go to sleep.

~~~

It doesn’t end there. Because of course it doesn’t.

Hizashi keeps badgering him about his supposed love affair with Deku of all people, the #1 hero Shouta’s never even met in person before.

Mainly he ignores Hizashi whenever he starts in on the topic or tries to badger him for detail that don’t exist.

But then...

Then it comes to a bit of a head when Shouta gets dragged out for drinks with Hizashi, Nemuri, and Tensei like they normally try to do every other week or so if possible.

Only this time they’re not the only pros at the dive bar they end up at.

Because Joke is there, because of course she is, because the universe officially hates Shouta.

Joke is an excellent hero, a good teacher from what he’s heard, and overall a nice person but Shouta only has enough spoons for a select group of people in his social life and sometimes even that’s pushing it.

Joke with her constant laughing, her attempts at comedy without her quirk involved, and her insistent need to constantly hit on Shouta is someone who drains him faster than should be possible.

Only this time it’s different.

They’re a few drinks in when Joke tries to slide her way into the booth beside him, a grin already stretching her mouth.

And while normally the others would just laugh and smirk and leave Shouta to suffer, this time Hizashi steps in.

“Yeah, no,” Hizashi slides the drinks he’d gone to collect onto the table and then shimmies his way in between Joke and the booth to steal the seat right beside Shouta instead.  “Seats taken.”

“Awwww,” Joke pouts, “don’t be like that.  Why’re you trying to get in the way of me and Eraser’s love story?”

"Find someone new to hit on, sweetheart,” Hizashi tips a look at her over his shades.  “Nemuri’s always free you know? Our Shouta’s a taken man now.”

There’s a sort of collective spit take around the table.

“What?” Nemuri croaks from where she’s trying to clean what looks like cream off of her face.  “Are you two ...?”

“Oh no, not us, we’ve told you that before.” Hizashi waves a hand in front of him with the ease of an argument they’ve all had more than once over the years.

“Then?” Tensei prompts.

Hizashi leans forward across the table, expression turning sly and secretive, the rest of the group leaning in as well, anticipation practically wafting off of them.

And Shouta immediately knows where this is about to go.

“Our Sho’s been keeping secrets,” Hizashi sing-songs.  “But honestly I can’t believe it took me so long to put it together when the clues were right there.”

“Get on with it man,” Nemuri orders.

“Our unkempt goblin friend is dating none other than the adorable and stacked force of nature that is our #1 hero Deku,” Hizashi throws his hands up in a ta-da sort of gesture.

For a long moment there’s silence.

And then every head at the table swings in Shouta’s direction all at once.

For a split second Shouta debates on nipping it in the bud, putting an end to this ridiculousness once and for all.  But then he stops, thinks about it, flicks a look towards Joke and quickly runs through the list of advantages having a fake SO could provide him with, and immediately course corrects.

“It’s a secret,” Shouta deadpans.  “We’re deeply in love.  Tell no one.”

Which, of course, means that by the time Shouta rolls out of bed the next afternoon everyone knows.

[arvinsescape]

Pregnancy Support.

A/N: Sorry it’s been a while since I posted! I hope you all enjoy!

Warnings: None, i don’t think.

W/C: 1.4K

You were due in six weeks and you couldn’t be more excited. You were excited to meet your baby but you were also excited to be able to sleep comfortably, walk comfortably, just do anything comfortably. Tom was due back from filming in the next week, he’d been unable to get out of it and had to work hard and to a tight schedule so that he could get himself home to you.

It hadn’t been all bad, you missed him, massively, and you wished he could be here but you understood that this was part of his job. You’d been left under the supervision of the boys and you’d gotten somewhat of a routine going that helped you through the late stages of your pregnancy, each of the boys played a different role in catering to your wants and needs.

Sam made you whatever combination of food you needed and craved and always managed to make it tastes utterly amazing, Harry was there to help you eat it all, he tried all of your strange food combinations and was always there at half four in the morning to eat with you. Harrison and Tuwaine became your source of comfort, helping you get around the house and helping you out with all your pregnancy issues, like not being able to reach things or carry things. So to say you had a routine going was an understatement.

When Tom returned home he didn’t really know how to fit into that routine, you all seemed to have it down quite well. It wasn’t that you excluded him in any way you were all just so used to the way daily life was now. Tom was somewhat taken aback when he’d returned home and you’d cried because you were so happy to see him, sure you’d gotten emotional when he’d been away for a while but never had you almost broken down with happy tears.

“Are you okay?” Tom asked as he stroked through your hair, you were crying into his chest, almost uncontrollably.

“Yeah, just happy to see you.” You said as you clung to him like he’d disappear in an instant, amused look on Harrisons face.

“She okay?” Tom asked his best friend, wondering if there was any reason to be more concerned for his fiancée.

“Yeah, daily routine this. She has a good cry and then an hour later behaves like it never happened.” Harrison laughed. “Hormones are everywhere, have been for a good month.”

“She’s definitely okay though?”

“Yeah.”

Tom watched as you waddled towards the couch and before he could act Tuwaine had appeared to hold your hand make sure you made it safely onto the cushions. Tom raised his brows at how effortless it all seemed. You thanked Tuwaine and he smiled before disappearing into the kitchen, passing Harrison on his way in, Harrison had a cup in hand.

“Your 4 o clock green tea.” Harrison said as he handed you the cup to which you gladly accepted.

“Thanks Harrison.” You smiled as you blew the top of the cup. Tom couldn’t help but smile at the level of attention the boys had paid to your needs.

“And what are we eating today?” Harry asked as he sat down on the couch next to Tom.

“I don’t know, I’m fancying something really greasy like fried chicken.” You mumbled.

“Something relatively normal, I like it.” Harry joked. “Maybe we could give Sam a break and go to KFC, Tom you gonna come?” Harry turned his attention to his brother.

“Sure.” Tom said as he turned his attention to you. “Do you need anything else?” He asked and you shook your head.

“No thank you.” You smiled as you sipped your tea. “Wait actually could you pass me the remote?” You changed your mind and Tom smiled as he handed you the remote, it felt like the first helpful thing he’d done since he got back.

You mindlessly watched TV for the next hour and a half, cuddled up the best way you could be with a bump in the way. Harry came in shaking his keys, excited look on his face.

“Come on let’s go. I haven’t had a KFC for months.” He said excitedly as he held his hand out to you. Tom was happy for his brother’s and friends involvement but he was starting to feel a little useless and couldn’t help himself as he stood and spoke.

“It’s all good bro, I got her.” He said as he took your hand in his, Harry shrugging before disappearing towards the door. Tom helped you get up, placing a kiss to your head once he was successful.

**

This continued on for a good week or so, Tom just wasn’t fast enough for the boys, every time he decided he’d be the one to help one of the other boys had already done it. The only thing he has managed to take over on was the foot rubs you’d usually receive from Tuwaine.

“Mate, Can I talk to you?” Tom asked Harrison as he watched him brew your herbal tea.

“Absolutely you can.” Harrison mindlessly answered.

“I feel a little, I don’t know useless.” Tom sighed in defeat, Harrison turned to look at him, furrowed brows.

“What do you mean mate?”

“Well with Y/N/N. I just feel like you guys have a routine and I don’t really know where I fit into that.” Tom admitted and Harrison smiled.

“You’re doing more for her than you think.” Haz said comfortingly.

“How’d you mean?” Tom asked, his eyebrows furrowing.

“She doesn’t cry as much for one.” Haz grinned.

“She cries a lot.” Tom said matter of factly, the memory of a few hours ago filling his mind, you’d watched a kitten get rescued on a facebook video and gotten emotional.

“Not like she did, some days it wouldn’t matter what we did, she just wanted you and you’re here now.” Harrison comforted. “Listen,” Harrison sighed, “you help her in ways we can’t and haven’t been able to. So what we run around after her? You offer her emotional support that she needs. We don’t mind running around after her, running around after both of you now that you’re here. Anything to make this easier.” Harrison said as he placed a comforting hand on Tom’s shoulder and Tom felt himself relax.

“I guess I never thought about it like that.” Tom admitted and Haz smiled as he passed Tom your cup of tea.

“Give her this. Don’t beat yourself up. You’ve got this. Just think in a few weeks it’s gonna be your hand she’s practically breaking, you that’s gonna be there for her and none of this will matter.”

Tom smiled as he took in his friends words, he was right, Tom offered you something that none of the other boys could.

“It does matter, all of this does. You have no idea how grateful I am that you guys have done this for her.”

“You know what I mean.” Haz laughed and Tom joined. “Now go, her tea is now almost ten minutes late, get your skates on or we’re both gonna get our heads ripped off.” That made Tom laugh harder as he thought about your short fuse these days.

“Thank you.” Tom said as he made his way out of the kitchen, your tea in hand, he smiled as he took in your expression, you looked so content and happy. “I’m sorry baby, I was talking to Haz.”  He handed you your tea and you smiled wider.

“Thank you, I love you so much.” You beamed and Tom smiled as he sat next to you, kissing your cheek.

“I’m tired.” You grumbled and he laughed.

“Want me to take you upstairs to bed?” He asked and you shook your head as you practically face planted his chest, Tom grasping the tea before it went all over the two of you. He put the tea to one side as he wrapped his arms around you as you snuggled further into his chest. He smiled as he watched you sleep, thinking about your little family and the support you’d both get from the people around you.

[ordinaryschmuck]

I'm not sure if you're still accepting suggestions for drabbles, but it would be great if you made a thing for Skara spending time with Willow and Gus.

Loving Support

At a lunch table, Luz and Amity were doing the same old schtick they've always done in the past few weeks. They took turns in sitting in each other's laps, playing with one another's hair, and sharing bites of food, one giving the other a kiss between each bite.

About two tables away sat Gus and Willow. They had their own routine, which involved looking at how cutesy their friends were and getting disgusted by it all.

"Remember the days when Luz was our best friend?" Gus asked his compatriot.

"I do. But, in fairness, this is probably Luz and Amity's first real relationship," Willow argued, "They're going to milk this cute stuff for all it's worth by spending as much time as they can with each other. It's just that they're unfortunately doing the worst of it at lunch when people are trying to eat."

"I miss having an appetite."

"Me too."

And as if things couldn't get any cuter, Skara slid right in front of the view Willow and Gus had of the sickeningly sweet couple.

"Hey, guys!" Skara waved happily.

"...Hey, Skara?" Willow waved back, confusion apparent on not only her face but also on Gus'.

"Why are you sitting here, exactly?" Gus was the one to ask, "Just out of curiosity."

"Well, after Boscha tried to break Lumity up--"

"Lumity?"

"Luz and Amity," Skara explained as if it was obvious, "It's their couple's name. Some try to say that it's Luzity, but those people are idiots, so just ignore them."

"...Uh-huh."

"Anyway, after Boscha tried to break them up, I did the most responsible thing anyone would do in my position and unhesitantly broke her kneecaps. Unfortunately, that ended both a friendship and a usual spot for lunch. So, I thought I'd sit here!"

"Hang on, let's back up a second," Gus said, now looking more nervous than perplexed. "You broke Boscha's kneecaps?"

"I wouldn't say broke. More like shattered nearly beyond repair. Good thing for modern medical magics, because otherwise, Boscha'd be in a wheelchair for the rest of her life, right?"

The way Skara said that with a sweet smile on her face did nothing but send a chill down Gus and Willow's spines.

"...Sure."

"And besides," Skara turned to look at Luz and Amity, "How could anyone want to break those two up? They're so cute together!"

"Uh-huh."

"So cute."

"And that's why I figured I'd sit here," Skara smiled back at the two witches she sat across from. "You two have to be their biggest supporters, due to being their best friends and all."

"Obviously!" Willow smiled back. Even though hers was much more nervous than Skara's.

"We totally don't miss our best friend and wished she cool it with the attention she gave Amity!" Gus added with a nervous smile of his own.

"I knew it!" Skara squeed. "You got to tell me, HOW CUTE are they in person. I only see them during lunch and in the halls, but I bet they're even better after school."

"Oh, they're so cute," Willow obliged, "Like, they even give each other pet names."

"OMT! What do they call each other?!"

"I...don't want to say them."

"Why not?"

"Because they're gross--"

"--Grossly a disservice coming from us!" Willow said for Gus, "I mean, us saying their pet names are nothing compared to Luz and Amity saying them."

"Oh, yeah, I guess you're right," Skara nodded, "I knew it was a good idea to sit here. Finally, a chance to talk to people who get how adorable those two are."

"But, if I could suggest," Gus said, "Why not just go over and sit by Luz and Amity?"

"Oh, I could never do that. It's fine to gush about Lumity from a distance, but to do it in their personal space would make them uncomfortable."

"...That...makes sense."

"So, what other cute things do they do? I want all the details."

"And we...are happy to offer them," Willow said before muttering under her breath, "Mainly because we love our kneecaps."

***

"Bye, guys!" Skara waved as she skipped down the hall once lunch was over.

Willow and Gus, however, sulked their way to class, energy sapped away from them due to the barrage of questions Skara asked to Lumity's biggest "supporters."

"Since when are you two friends with Skara?" Luz asked as she and Amity walked up to their friends, hand in hand.

"We're not," Willow said.

"She just wanted to know more about you two," Gus explained.

"Why does she want to learn more about us?" Amity questioned.

"Because you two are just so cute together!"

"Aw, that's sweet," Luz cooed, missing the sarcasm. "And smart, too. Who's better to ask than our biggest supporters?"

"...Sure."

"Let's go with that word."

[darlingpetao3]

House of W (Multiple!Wells x Reader, Chapter 9)

Rating: T

Summary: After having to deal with the deaths of an infinite number of Harrison Wells in the Multiverse, you, a magic-wielding meta, have a breakdown and unwittingly create a happy, fictitious sitcom life with some of your favourite men. In a world of comedy and cameos, can Team Flash and an out-of-town magician break through your powers to save you? And what if you don’t want to be saved...?

A/N: Well folks, it’s the final chapter... I’m not sure it’s actually all that great, but here it is and I hope it’s well received, nonetheless! Thanks for coming on this crazy ride with me <3

Tag List: @fandomdancer​ @bluesclues-1234​ @crissymadlock @firstofficer-tilly​ @disneyoncerlover815​ @marvel-lady10 @thecaptainsgingersnap​ @noctvrnalmoth​ @alexxlynn @dontbedumb3​ @heyl0lwhatsup @ryou-cosmos​ @arianalilyblack​ @sonnensplitter​ @imagine-yourself-happy​ @stuckysdaughter​ @wintersire @i-dont-care-lol​ @booksandfandomsarelife1 @marvelhastakenovermybeing​ @marisughh​

PROLOGUE | CHAPTER 1 | CHAPTER 2 | CHAPTER 3 | CHAPTER 4 | CHAPTER 5 | CHAPTER 6 | CHAPTER 7 | CHAPTER 8

Eobard Thawne clutches his fist down beside him, surely feeling the surge of Speed Force energy running through his entire body once more. He looks like he’s just taken a hit of the most addictive drug—eyes flashing a dangerous crimson, his whole being vibrating at the speed of sound before everyone’s eyes.

The Reverse Flash turns to Libby and Belle—who both remain frozen in place out of sheer shock after realizing that this man isn’t who he claimed to be—and gives them one of his iconic shit-eating grins.

“Thank you, girls,” he says smugly. “I couldn’t have achieved any of this without you. The next time I have your real uncle under my boot, I’ll think of you wonderful girls.”

“What have we done…?” Belle whispers rhetorically to her sister. A speechless Liberty only shakes her head in reply.

Eobard locks eyes with Barry, who stands in the doorway to the kitchen. The villain smirks before he bolts off, running upward along the diminishing forcefield wall and out through one the holes forming in it. Barry watches on as he decides to let his adversary go. He’s learned by now it’s never the last time he’ll see Eobard Thawne. That bastard always seems to find a way back into everyone’s lives. He’s like a cockroach that won’t stay dead.

Yes… Barry will come face to face with the Reverse Flash again. He may not know when, but when he does, he’ll be ready.

Because right now, you need him.

Your world is falling apart.

Again.

The forcefield continues to fall slowly from above. Your time is limited. You know that in mere minutes, everything will disappear, including the people you love. 

“Mom, we’re so, so sorry,” Belle tells you desperately. “We thought he was just teaching us how to perfect our powers. It felt like a game!”

“My dear, sweet girls,” you look them straight in the eyes as you explain to them, “I assure you both, it’s not your fault. Okay? You had no idea who he really was or what he was capable of. It’s not your fault, do you understand me?” They nod through their tears. “You two may have grown up incredibly fast, far too fast for my liking, in fact, but I am so thrilled that you were- are mine. You will always be my little girls. No matter what.”

“Thank you for being our mom,” Liberty says to you in all seriousness.

“No one is cooler or stronger than you,” Belle adds with a smile very reminiscent of her fathers’. If these two aren’t careful, you’re going to completely lose it in front of them.

Off in the distance, you spot Barry watching this heartfelt scene play out. You wave him over to meet his nieces, so he can see what you’ve created for yourself up close and personal. Libby and Belle should meet their real uncle, a true hero, before they’re…

Barry places a hand each on the girls’ shoulders. See, Barry? They’re real. And I’ll lose them too. Do you feel my pain now? This is what I live through all the time.

Barry’s eyes begin to glisten until the tiny bulbs of tears hold still, unwilling to fall just yet.

“It’s so nice to finally meet you both,” he tells them. “You’re both such bright stars.” They give bittersweet smiles up at him in silence. You don’t think they fully understand what will come to pass in mere minutes, but you do. You can feel it in your bones.

Barry steps back from your family unit so that you all can have one more last moment together. You take this final opportunity to bring your girls in close for a tight hug, letting a sob escape you despite trying to keep it together for your family. You wave a hand over to your husbands as if to gesture for them to get in on this family group hug, and quickly. They do so promptly, all four of them enveloping you, Liberty, and Belle as if to form a loving hug shield.

“I love you,” you make sure to say these three precious words, making eye contact to each and every one of those you have magicked into being here with you today… before they disintegrate before your very eyes.

And soon enough, you can’t even feel them anymore. The forcefield has vanished within the Lab’s basement, along with the Wells and the twins.

You cry. You shake and your body wracks with the sort of sobs that hurt your throat. Barry makes sure he holds you tightly. Caitlin approaches carefully and ends up holding your hand. Then it’s Cisco who puts his own hand on your shoulder as everyone else in the room looks on at your despair.

***

After some much-needed rest in the Medbay, you awake to a spookily quiet Labs. You’re not sure of the time (or day, even), but regardless, you figure it’s best to head home. Goodness knows it’s probably still in shambles. That’ll need to be fixed.

You heave a sigh as you leave the Cortex.

“Come on, you can sigh louder than that.”

You turn around to find the unexpected voice belonging to Zatanna. You imagine she must have had to recoup as well from the amount of magic she would have used to break through to your world.

“Oh, hey,” you say tiredly. “I take it you’re on your way, then?”

“Yeah, I have a show in Coast City in two days, so I better head off.”

“Listen, I’m really sorry to have brought you into all this madness.”

“No, please. If anything, I should thank you as well as offer my condolences... Your magic is something I've never seen before. Honestly, I’m still intrigued by it.” Zatanna hesitates. “Would it be weird if I gave you my contact information? I don’t come across many others with true magic. I’d love to keep in touch. Maybe we could learn from each other?”

“Yes, of course,” you agree. “I think that’s a great idea.” She hands you her card—a glittery black business card with her name and number.

“So, hey,” she says, “You going to be okay?”

You take a few seconds to think her question over.

“I think, in time, I could be,” you answer truthfully.

“I know it may not be much,” Zatanna says, “but one of my powers involves granting wishes. Before I go, is there anything I can do for you? You’ve been through so much. I’ve seen it. And everybody has something they're hoping for. Something they wish they could change…” She pauses, waiting for your answer, but also seems distracted. You wonder what kind of life this woman has led. What has she done in her past that she regrets or wishes for from the bottom of her heart?

“I only wish for Harrison Wells to be in my life,” you answer honestly. Is that so much to ask for? It seems to be that way.

“Is that what your heart most desires?”

You sigh. “More than anything.”

There’s another pause.

“You know, sometimes you’ll find that our wishes come true on their own, even without magic,” the magician points out ominously.

“That’s code for “I just can’t make that wish come true,” isn’t it?” you joke, somewhat.

“The people that we love—they’re only gone when we stop carrying them with us. How you choose to carry Harrison Wells is up to you.”

You let that sink in and press a hand to your heart. He will always be here with you. Right here. You’ll make sure of it.

“I wish you all the luck and magic in the world, (Y/N),” Zatanna says kindly. “It was nice to meet you.”

You nod in thanks, unsure of how to respond to that. With her aged, thick book under her arm, Zatanna Zatara walks down the S.T.A.R. Labs corridor, but you swear her body vanishes before she rounds the corner…

Despite all the trouble you’ve put her through—everyone, really—with all of this, you can still take comfort in the act of making a new friend.

As you walk through the empty hallways of the Labs, you make it to where the elevator lies. You go to press the button to summon the machine when a ding sounds before your finger even touches the button. The doors slide open, and the face that greets you shocks you to your very core.

“Hello, there,” he says.

In fact, you are so stunned that you take a step back, but in doing so, you stumble and begin to topple over. Luckily, a certain someone’s quick arms catch you in time.

The face you know all too well, Harrison Wells, that is, glows with a calm happiness as he looks down at you in his arms. Behind immaculate see-through frames, his pretty blues eyes twinkle like the stars. He smiles like he knows you. You stare up in disbelief, in relief, and in love.

“Hello… Harrison.”

[xxreader-writerxx]

Study Buddy (Part 3)

3.4k Word Count

Fred Weasley x Fem Reader

Warnings: Cursing, Drinking, Dom/Sub relationship, humiliation kink, sir kink, degradation, bondage, sense deprivation, unprotected sex (there's fetus deletus in this world not ours so USE A CONDOM AND STAY SAFE YOU RABBITS unless like- there's a plan and stuff-) Blindfold, Gagging, use of a vibrator, choking, overstimulation,

Y/N= Your Name L/N= Your Last Name Y/H= Your House

I walk into the Gryffindor Common Room passing Fred and George and feel a light tap on my bum. I jump a little and Fred winks at me covertly. I walk over to the couches blushing. Me and Fred have been dating for about 5 months secretly. We have a bet going to see who finds out first, my friends or his. He strongly believes he will win but I’m firm in that George’s smart enough to solve the case. I sit next to Hermione drinking the butterbeer next to me and stop seeing her looking at me accusingly. “What?” I ask and she shrugs. “Just Fred slapping your ass...” She mutters and I cough surprised at her accusation. “W-what?!” I ask and she chuckles. “You two...” She mutters going back to her book.

George and Fred run back in grabbing me, Lee, Hermione, and a few others dragging us to their dorm. “Yes?” Hermione finally asks and they hold up firewhiskey chanting happily with the other boys. Me and Hermione just laugh shaking our heads. “What y/n? Scared?” Fred asks and I chuckle. “No. I just don’t think anyone in here can handle their alcohol.” I explain and they scoff.

***

A few hours and a few drinks later I am proven correct by a bunch of drunk teenagers presented in front of me, and myself only a little tipsy. Fred and George are giggling with Lee. Hermione and Harry are cuddling under a blanket. And I’m just watching this mess giggling. Fred moves over to me and I laugh as he lays his head on my thigh humming lightly. “Lets- play truth or- dare.” He says hiccupping through his sentence. “Yeah!” George slurs out and I laugh shaking my head.

A few rounds go by and Fred is still playing with my hands goofily. I keep pulling my hands from his chuckling and he finally whines putting his head in my stomach. “Why won’t you hold my hand….” He whines in my stomach and I look up to see the group isn’t paying attention. I pull him up and kiss his temple. “Darling they don’t know we’re dating...” I hum into his ear and he still whines reaching for my hand. I chuckle, finally giving in hiding our hands behind him. “Ok Fred.” George says, catching our attention. “You can either take a sip of the Veritaserum and confess your feelings about y/n… Or… Y/n has to sit on your lap for the rest of the game.” He tells him and my eyes widen. He gets up to grab the bottle but I swing my legs around him facing away from the group. “Well we know what y/n wanted...” George scoffs and I hold up a middle finger behind me making the group laugh. Fred smiles nuzzling his head against my neck as I do the same. “I love you...” He whispers in my ear and I perk up looking at him. He widens his eyes and starts stuttering. “I love you too...” I whisper in his ear and I can feel him smile against my neck.

An hour later everyone's asleep but me and Fred. He’s whispering cute things in my ear as I giggle lightly and he nips at my neck making more giggles spring from my mouth. “You’re so pretty… You should always have your hair like this.” He whispers quietly and I giggle playing with his shirt. “It is always like this.” I reply and he smiles goofily. “Even better.” He mumbles. “God you're hot… Are you single?” He says and I laugh shaking my head. “Freddie… I’m your girlfriend...” I tell him and he smiles silently celebrating. I kiss him to stop his excited noises from waking everyone up and he immediately melts into my kiss closing his eyes softly. I move to his neck as he lightly moans pressing his lips against my skin to muffle it. I nip the side of his ear as he lightly groans against my skin. “Darling can we please leave? I can’t handle this anymore… I need to touch you...” He whimpers into my ear and I chuckle. “Aw… But we can’t… They would notice...” I say. He’s usually very dominant but in his tipsy state he is acting as if he was always a submissive partner. I want to see how long this will last before he decides to take the dominant role back.

He groans in my ear as I kiss his neck. “T-they won’t notice I p-promise...” He whimpers into my ear and I nod pouting a little. “But you're all intoxicated… It would be taking advantage.” I tell him and his face is now red as he tries to keep his moans down. “I promise… Please let me touch you... and your drunk too!” He mumbles and I bite my lip. “One, I'm buzzed. Two, we need to get you to bed before you get all horny.” I whisper, taking his hand. I get up walking him out and he follows.

We get into my room and I help him inside the bathroom. “Strip.” I say and he scoffs. “You… don’t tell me what to do.” He retorts falling a bit. “But I do.” I say and he scoffs. I nod and walk over peeling his clothes as he whines. I kiss his cheek shoving him inside the shower once it warms up. When I try to walk out he whines louder. “What bubba?” I ask and he crosses his arms. “I want you..” He mumbles and I laugh. “Freddie… You’re drunk I’m not going to get naked with Drunk You.” I tell him and he pouts. “I won’t get handsy. I promise!” He tells me and I kiss his cheek softly. “I know… I just don’t trust myself.” I tell him with a wink. “No no no you can’t say that and leaveeeeee.” He whines and I laugh. He pulls me and I yelp. I get immediately drenched and start laughing at the feeling. “Fred!” I yell at him and he chuckles pulling me in for a kiss. “I shouldn’t be in here...” I say chuckling and he laughs. “The last time you said that you ended up giving in...” He hums with a giggle hiding behind his voice. I laugh nodding and he kisses me. The kisses are sloppy but still perfect as he tries his best to stand up. He keeps trying to get to my neck as I giggle trying my best not to give in but sadly my boyfriend is far too hot for that.

“Godric… I wish I could always hold you like this… No hiding… No stolen kisses… I don’t have to smack your arse with people assuming the truth… I just want us to be known ya know? No girls flirting with me… No boys always chasing you… Just us...” He mumbles into my neck and I pull away smiling at him. “You mean that?” I ask and he nods kissing me. “I love you y/n…” He tells me and I kiss him jumping up to wrap my legs around his hips

***

The next day I wake up beside Fred who looks a mess. “Fred...” I sing and he mumbles something digging his head into my chest which he was using as a pillow. “You need to wake uppp.” I whisper in his ear and he mumbles again. “Freddie… What will get you up?” I ask and he raises his head a little squinting at me. “A potion to make this hangover go away...” He tells me and I nod getting up. He quickly tries to get me back but I’m too quick and he groans. “What happened last night?” He asks after moments of silence. “Nothing much… You were dared to either confess how you truly felt about me or I had to sit on your lap...” I tell him as I gather herbs from my drawers. “Oh?” He asks sitting up. I nod and he watches as I make the potion. “Well… What did I do?” He asks and I laugh. I start to grind the herbs together as I pour in some oils. “You were going to confess that you loooved me but I sat on your lap.” I tell him and he chuckles shyly. “You were so handsy too. Couldn’t keep your hands off of me.” I tell him and he gets up worried. “I’m so sorry. Did I make you uncomfortable. Godric, I’m so sorry.” He tells me and I laugh shaking my head. “It was cute. And you would always stop- usually when I had enough.” I tell him and he nods. “I drank way too much- and I am good at handling my drinks.” He tells me and I laugh. I finish the potion and motion for him to sit against the headboard.

I start to rub the solution on his temple. It glows for a second and disappears. I kiss him and he smiles against my lips, sighing contently. I nod in agreement and he kisses me again. “So… Anything else?” He asks and I chuckle sitting on his lap. “Nothing really… You were adorable.” I tell him choosing not to involve the drunk ‘I love you’ and his upset rant about wanting us to be public.

***

I walk into the party and Fred immediately locks eyes with me. He walks over and eyes my short skirt that barely covers my bum. “Aren’t you supposed to be a cute follow the rules girl?” He asks and I laugh. “Why are you asking?” I ask him and he smirks. He moves me into a secluded area where you can only see inside at an angle lifting my chin. “Y/n… That skirt is extremely inappropriate. I don’t remember breaking any school rule… So why are you breaking mine?” He asks and I chuckle. I jump a little feeling him grip my thighs. “Darling. You need to listen to my rules.” He tells me as he massages my bum. “Well… I wanted to dress nice today.” I tell him and he picks me up wrapping my legs around him. I laugh looking around shocked at his boldness. “Godric I don’t care I need you...” He mumbles kissing me passionately. I kiss him back and feel his tongue slip past my lips. He takes his time exploring my mouth as I moan to every movement.

“Freddie...” I mumble and he looks at me through his long hair smiling. “Yes bunny?” He asks using the nickname he saves for special moments. “We are going to get caught.” I tell him laughing and he nods sadly. “One more kiss?” He asks pouting. I laugh nodding as he kisses me again. We take longer to separate and finally do, needing some form of oxygen. We laugh out of breath placing our foreheads together smiling goofily. “I love you Fred Weasley...” I mumble and he smiles. “I love you Y/n L/n” He replies and we hear George nearby. He drops me and I pull out my wand apparating across the room. I see George catch Fred and he walks out flattening his button down.

I watch as George introduces Fred to a girl I know from my house. She always talks about a new boy every week. Annoys the hell out of me. I walk over to grab a drink. When I turn around I catch eyes with a familiar ginger. He smiles winking at me and George taps my shoulder. “Y/n- Y/nnnn you’re staringggg.” He hums and I snap back. “Hm?” I ask and he scoffs. “You need to tell him how you feel.” He tells me and I laugh. “Please. He doesn’t like me like that.” I lie and he shakes his head. “If you continue ignoring your feelings for him he’ll get snatched up.” He tells me and I sigh. “That girl? Fiona? She asked me to introduce her to him. She fancies him.” He tells me and I nod sighing.

A few drinks and dances later I’m keeping my eyes on Fred as he talks with a few girls. A few guys have hit on me but I reject their advances. I see Fiona finally drag him to the dance floor and my blood boils seeing it. A few more minutes later a guy comes up to me smiling and Fred’s still dancing.

“Edward.” He tells me, holding out his hand. “That’s a lovely name, am I to assume it's yours?” I ask with a small laugh. “Sorry… That was a bit random huh?” He asks and I nod laughing lightly. “You are… Beautiful by the way.” He tells me and I smile warmly. “Thank you… If a boy this handsome thinks I’m pretty, wow.” I say and he smiles a bit wider. “So… Do you have a date hanging around?” He asks and I glance over at Fred and he’s staring directly at me cocking his head with his tongue in his cheek. “Actually… I don’t think so… There's this boy but he’s off dancing with a girl.” I tell him and he looks as if he witnessed a cosmic event. “Why?! If I had you I’d never even look at a girl.” He tells me and I laugh placing my hand on his knee. “You are too kind.” I reply and he smiles at me.

I talk with Edward for a while and I hear Fred getting everyone's attention. “For everyone's knowledge! Severus Snape has officially gotten what he deserved for those horrible grades.” He yells to the crowd and George stands up with him. “Thanks to yours truly.” He says with a bow. “What did you do?!” A girl in the crowd asks and he snaps at her. “Let’s just say, he’ll have the hiccups for a while.” Fred yells out and George nods laughing.

I look at Edward who is laughing his arse off. “Those two...” I say. I excuse myself and walk over. Fred looks at me challengingly. “Yes?” He asks me and I scoff. “Pranking a professor?!” I ask and he nods smiling. “Best prank yet.” He tells me and I scoff. “What the hell got into your mind to do that?!” I ask and he nods at Edward. “How was your boyfriend?” He questions and I scoff. “You hypocritical, jealous, bastard!” I tell him and he looks at me angrily. “Do I need to do graffiti? Do not try me. No cursing.” He tells me pointing at me and I scoff. “Fuck. Damn. Shit. Pussy. Cunt. Dick.” I tell him and he shakes his head. “Bedroom. Now. You better be stripped naked sitting like a princess when I get there.” He spits in my ear and I look at him angrily. “No.” I say stomping my foot. “You bratty little...” He mumbles and I stomp over to Edward. “Lets dance.” I tell him, grabbing his hand. “O-Ok!” He replies as I drag him to the dance floor.

He holds my hips against his as I dance and I see Fred eyeing me angrily as Fiona fawns over him. We dance for a while as Edward grinds against me and we just move in sync. I look over and he’s walking over done with my teasing. He grabs my arm dragging me to a table pulling me up. “What- What are you doing Fred?!” I ask and he looks at me. “Sir.” He corrects and I blush. He pulls me in and kisses me harshly in front of everyone. I pull away shocked and he smirks. I finally crash my lips into his as he holds my arse keeping me where I was. “I knew it!” I hear Hermione yell and we laugh continuing the kiss. “Sir… I need you...” I whisper in his ear and he smiles.

We get to his dorm deep into a kiss as he shrugs his button down off quickly, mumbling the spells to silence and lock the door. “Get undressed. Now.” He growls and I nod. He sits on his chair rubbing up and down his cock as he watches me get undressed. I sit down between my legs looking at him through my eyelashes innocently. “Go on… Lay down.” He tells me and I follow his orders.

He moves each hand to tie them to the corners of the bed. “What’s the safe word my dear?” He asks with a hint of concern. “Avocadoo. Which I highly request we change. Its idiotic.” I tell him and he chuckles. “You know the other idea...” He hums chuckling. “I will not ever say Mischief Managed during sex.” I tell him and he chuckles kissing me and slowly going down to my neck leaving small bruises all over my skin from his lips. I slowly turn my light demeanor to moans and begs as he massages my chest lightly kissing my shoulders. “You were a bad girl today weren’t you?” He asks and I nod biting my lip and he grabs my chin. “So you know you were being bad.” He says sternly and my eyes widen shaking my head. “And… I broke zero rules… I think my bad girl needs punishment.” He tells me and I gasp lightly as he places a blindfold on my eyes but I feel his warm lips kissing me to calm me a little. “Just a blindfold darling...” He tells me and I nod.

I hear a vibrator and start moving my legs trying to get free until a slap against my bum tells me no. “Good girl...” He mumbles watching me calm. “Now continue being a good girl while I fuck you senseless.” He tells me and I feel him place the vibrator on my clit and I try fighting his hold moaning loudly at the extremely high setting. “Now… You are going to get this until I feel you’ve learned your lesson. So my question is… What are you darling?” He asks and I don’t listen. “What. Are. You?” He demands and I ignore him again only to earn him to raise the vibrator to its highest setting.

“I’m a slut!” I moan loudly and he laughs. “What are you?” He asks again and I moan begging him. “A slut!” I moan again and he holds my throat. “Who’s slut? Edwards?” He asks and I shake my head. “I’m your slut!” I moan and he tightens his hold a little. “Say it again. 5 more times.” He tells me. Just as I begin moaning out the sentence again he shoves a gag in my mouth making me gasp. I try to say it through the gag and I almost finish when he plays loud music and I feel tears well up in my eyes. “Please sir!” I moan and he ignores me either not hearing or not caring.

A few minutes later I’ve came twice, he finally turns off the music. “Are you my slut?” He asks and I nod. “Can you try one more time, my perfect toy?” He asks and I nod tired. He pulls off the vibrator cleaning it with a spell and removes my blindfold kissing my small tears from my cheeks untying the ties on my legs. “Are you sure? You could cause an earthquake with those legs… And you're really shaky.” He says cheekily and I chuckle leaning my head back. “You have me in bed Weasley, I think you can stop flirting.” I tell him and he laughs kissing my neck as I moan still tired. “But I love flirting with you...” He mumbles and I feel his legs go on either side of my hips. “Ok. Last time: You are sure? Cause I can wank off on my own if you’re tired.” He asks and I laugh. “Freddie I’m ok.” I tell him and he nods, kissing me softly. I feel him place a pillow under my hips aligning himself with my entrance.

“Fuck...” He moans as he slides inside. He lets me adjust then slowly starts to go back and forth speeding up until he’s at a good speed. He kisses my breasts leaving bruises as he rams into me. He finishes quickly, probably from wanking off while I was under the vibrator. He collapses on my chest kissing me lightly. “I love you...” He mumbles repeating it after every kiss. He unties me carrying me to the bathroom. “Bubble bath?” He asks and I nod excitedly.

After the bath we walk out in new clothes to see George and Hermione smirking at us. “KNEW IT- THEY WERE!” Hermione says as he hands her a sack of money. “What the hell Fred?! Couldn’t you just be a pussy and not ask her out?!” He asks and we laugh. “Hey darling? Hermione found out.” He sings in my ear and I laugh walking over to my purse grabbing the money. I shove it into his chest and he smiles at me goofily. He pulls me in and I yelp as he kisses me. “I hate you both.”

[notmrskennedy]

Friendliness

A/N - ha so i just wrote this - no editing we die like men. here’s the alternate ending to my other post Likeability (this one is the more predictable one y’all will probably like whoops) if you’ve read the other one, just skip to the end it’s all the same in the middle 

Summary - The Team meets a very unfriendly scientist which Spencer’s taken a fancy to

W/C - 2.9k (whoops)

Warnings - Mild Anatomy/bones/etc discussion, a pinch and change of swearing

----

Luke is holding his stomach in his hands. He could usually pride himself on keeping his cool, keeping his head—and stomach—together during a case. He’d seen enough dead bodies that this shouldn’t have thrown him like he’d just sailed twelve foot waves in a dingy. 

But he is, after all, standing over a mass grave. Watching a too giddy scientist dig up the bodies. 

You’ve captured everyone’s attention, for various reasons. Rossi is vaguely amused by your joyous shouting of bones and your rat moustached assistant. Luke can’t tear his eyes away from the car wreck—are you supposed to swing bones around like baseball bats? Reid seems more interested in your bad jokes and coveralls than he is in solving the case. 

The rat assistant—Stewart Walsh—squeezes between Luke and Reid, scuttling like some kind of diseased turtle. “Doctor Y/L/N!”

You barely stop pouring over the mud covered pelvis in your hands to even acknowledge him. 

“I just thought you should know that Dr. Evanston just got here.”

You look up, toss the bone to him, and snort. “Tell him the soil samples are four miles due east from here.”

“What’s wrong with Evanston?” Luke asks to no one in particular it seems, waving Stewart off to run for a group of approaching nerds in coveralls. 

Ignoring the question or maybe Luke, you just turn back to your search. Elbow deep in mud, being nice must not have been on the to-do list. Reid leans over, hands in his pockets, and whispers, “Evanston stole one of her research papers. I thought he was going to get his teeth kicked in—“

“Skull!” you holler. Luke isn’t stupid enough to miss the glare reserved for the sheepish Dr. Reid.

He clears his throat. “Thoughts so far, doctor?”

“I’m thinking beetles,” is all you say before turning back to your skull. Luke might not know many scientists, but he doesn’t think that most of them look at human skulls like its the Mona Lisa. Like this fat piece of bone held the answers to the universe inside its empty eye sockets. 

“Beetles?” Luke coughs. Rossi just shakes his head. Pretends this isn’t a conversation he’s having. Reid is still studying you like Luke might study infiltration schematics. Stewart runs up, out of breath, very rose coloured. 

You’re eyes are sparkling as you wade over to them with a new radius bone in your hands. Everyone bends like they know what they’re looking at and you point along the edge of the bone. “It’s a subtle difference but these bones have been cleaned before being buried. My guess is carrion beetles. They’re very hard workers. And—“ you switch to pointing at the radial head— “minute scoring and kerf marks. These look pretty old, so I’m assuming we’re getting close to the bottom.”

“So our unsub dismembered his victims,” Rossi begins, “then cleaned the pieces?”

You nod and hand off the bone to a very blushing Stewart. “I won’t know for sure until I’ve had a chance to examine all the bones. There’s nothing definitive yet. What a hobbyist though, right?”

You chuckle to yourself and dive back into fishing out more finger and wrist bones. Luke turns, runs his hands over his face, and hikes a thumb over his shoulder. “Where did we find her?”

Rossi shrugs, “FBI easter egg hunt.” Luke blinks, while Rossi chuckles at his gullibility. “Come on, the doctor’s the best in the field. Good kid, I can tell.” 

“Y/N’s great,” Spencer absently adds on, too busy staring at you. You’re explaining different types of dismemberment to Stewart like you’re discussing the rain. Luke grips onto his stomach just a little tighter. 

“Y/N, huh?” Luke teases, momentarily forgetting the unsettling feeling in his gut about you. “You two, uh, friends or something?”

It’s Reid’s turn to stumble. “Yeah, but it’s—we’re just—we’re just—.” 

Rossi shakes his head, slaps Reid on the shoulder. “Oh yeah, just friends. So, tell me. Do you talk about dismemberment before or after you make out?”

#

JJ wants to beg Emily not to make her go down into the basement. You’re down there. She knows it’s childish to be this avoidant—you are just a person after all. A creepy, psychopathic weirdo that makes JJ’s gut churn. She gets why Spencer’s taken to you—shared love of science and random trivia. She does. But that doesn’t mean JJ enjoys the cold ass morgue, smiling along as you ramble. Most of everyone’s limited contact with you has involved random facts and Stewart’s too intimate knowledge of fracture patterns. 

There had been ten minutes of reassurance from Emily that you were, in fact, not a horrible person. Ended with JJ making the cold and dark trek down to the morgue. She couldn’t imagine working down here all day long. No one to talk to, no one to strategise with, no where to go. Maybe it suited you. No one would have to listen. 

“—don’t know what to do!” echoes across the bottom of the stairwell, the morgue’s doors cracked open. The distress breaks JJ’s heart. Your voice stops her dead in her tracks.  

“They don’t hate you,” Spencer’s voice comes after. Gentler, softer. “They—they just don’t know you yet.”

“They don’t want to, Spence!” and JJ winces with the words. It always hurt more when the truth came out in that tone. “I get it! You know? I work with human remains and don’t bring my people skills with me when I’m on the job, but—that shouldn’t matter!” 

JJ winces again, tries to ignore how those are nothing short of teary sniffles echoing through her ears. She leans back against the wall and has no idea what to do. Spencer had obviously been down here for hours. Knew you well enough to get the teary truth. What could she do now? Interrupt? 

She’d walked into hostage situations less freakin’ stressful than this. 

“You’re right,” Spencer soothes, steadfast and strong, “it doesn’t matter. This isn’t—“

“It’s not your fault,” you sigh. JJ doesn’t want to hear the strangled touch to your voice. Doesn’t want to hear the break. “They’re your friends and I’m just your—“ 

 “Doctor!” Stewart calls and JJ could scream. You’re his what? 

At least, it’s as good as any moment to intrude. 

“What, Stewart?” you snapped, already broken away from Spencer with wet cheeks and stained glasses. You wipe them off haphazardly with the tail end of Spencer’s sweater sleeve—JJ couldn’t help but smile, even if it’s a little strangled. 

Stewart jumps like a wet cat and tosses a bundle of files into your hands. “Beetles.”

One word snatches the tears from your face. Snatches you away from Spencer’s side for one of the dozen skeletons on the tables. There was no reason to think that she’ll get her report from you now. With a rib bone in one hand and contemplation in your features—JJ can’t decide how unnerved she is—you’re a little too concentrated. 

Stewart scuttles around you. A little too attentive. A little too cherry tinted. Yep. No reports to be had from either of you. JJ turned to Spencer instead, hoping that maybe he’d be helpful. Plastered up like a billboard, JJ knows that saccharine smile isn’t going to get her anywhere. 

“Spence?”

He hums, halfheartedly tearing his eyes away. “Yeah?”

“I need the latest report for Emily, but I don’t think—“

“I’ll—just a second, JJ.” Spencer grins, sugary sweet, and slips away. JJ doesn’t miss how he places a hand on your shoulder as he passes. How you barely even notice that quite intimate contact. She also doesn’t miss how Stewart’s face sours at the action, how his eyes narrow enough that Spencer feasibly should’ve noticed. 

Reports in hand a minute later, JJ leans over to Spencer. Elbows him in the arm. “Stewart seems pretty jealous. Any reason for that?”

Spencer shrugs. “Wouldn’t know a thing about it.”

#

Rossi doesn’t have an opinion. Everyone keeps asking—oh Rossi, you’re the wisest of us all, what should we do about poor little Y/N? He doesn’t know, doesn’t care. You are just some scientist who is doing a thousand percent better job than any other forensics ‘expert’ he’s had the pleasure of working with. 

Your lab doesn’t smell. You don’t smell. Is there anything more to ask for? 

But he does get the brute of having to make the trek down to the morgue—god, his knees alone—and receives most of the reports from the not as horrible as everyone thinks Dr. Y/N Y/L/N. Who is joyfully humming while squinting over one of the skeleton’s hands. 

“Hey, doc,” he calls and you look up at him with an adorable sort of grin. “Got anything new?”

“Sure,” you chirp. Hesitate to wave him over. “If you want the details, that is.”

Rossi shakes his head, pulls up a stool to sit next to you and your subject. “I like to have as much knowledge as I can. You never know what will lead you to your un-sub.”

You settle your elbows on the table, straighten a stray finger bone. The team shouldn’t be worried about you being a psychopath. You’re dedicated, careful, attentive. Rossi hopes that if he ever gets turned into human remains, you’re the one looking over him. There’s been more care put into one skeleton than into his three combined marriages. 

“You’re in luck,” you answer, “I’ve got a lot to tell you about our attacker. You’ve got time, right?”

Rossi nods, smiles. “Plenty.”

#

Penelope still hasn’t met you and that kind of pisses her off. You haven’t made it upstairs once? She flies into some dingy Wyoming hovel of a police station for like a week and no one’s thought to bring you upstairs? Rude. 

She’s sitting in JJ’s desk chair, waiting for her and Luke to get back from interviewing a potential lead—some ex-felon who fit your makeshift profile. Reid’s scouring over some boring geographical profile, trying not to get annoyed as she nervously—angrily—rants about the case to him. She knows he’s tuning her out, but her work’s been put on the back burner until someone comes up with something to give her. 

There’s only so much a computer can find and she’s no profiler. 

It’s about five minutes after Reid snapped and left to get a coffee refill, when she picks up a call from the desk. “Hello?”

Creaking metal and shuddering breathing comes first. “Set the scalpel down” comes second.  She swallows, silent, and panicking. What the heck is she supposed to do? Paying attention to those hostage negotiation seminars that she definitely didn’t go to would’ve come in handy right about now. 

Said scalpel clatters onto some metal table, followed by a strong, “You really don’t want to do this. Please put the gun down.”

Oh god, this is happening. 

“You just—“ a male voice snips, bellowing out, “YOU DON’T LOOK AT ME.”

“I do look at you, Stewart,” you plead just as JJ and Luke clamour through the bullpen’s door. Penelope puts the call on speaker, mutes it, and screams for them. 

“I don’t know what to do,” Penelope sobs professionally, “someone’s got a gun.”

JJ runs for Emily’s office while Reid returns heedlessly. Luke puts a soft hand on Penelope’s cold one and squeezes. Newbie or not, it’s appreciated as the man’s voice returns. “I’ve tried for so long to get you to—to just—just look at me! I’ve done so much!”

“I know, Stewart,” you ease and Reid tenses. Nearly drops his coffee. “It’s not your fault. You’ve worked so hard.”

“Yeah,” Stewart sobs; Penelope can only imagine how crazy this kid must be. 

“Did you leave all those bodies for me, Stewart?” you question and everyone holds their breath. Luke squeezes harder on her hand. Reid’s twitching like a rabbit’s nose, a death grip on his mug, frozen as a Michigan pond. 

Stewart sniffles. Probably nods. Penelope doesn’t know whether to run or sit or cry. She decides it’s probably cry, but instead her fingers start moving to record the call, trace the office origin. 

“It was a great puzzle, Stewart, it was really genius. It was a fun case to follow, you know that.” You swallow hard, metal tinkles through the speaker. Please, Penelope begs, don’t let them kill each other. I haven’t met the doctor yet!

“Why did you kill these girls, Stewart?” your voice is so gentle and lulling Penelope almost forgets that she’s listening to you try to save your own life. 

 “I wanted you to look,” he says, sniffles. “I wanted you. I want you, Y/N. I want you to love me.”

It’s either her computer beeping or someone falling through a table or a gunshot. She doesn’t know. She’s crying too hard to care. 

#

Tara doesn’t know when she started to run—probably just after JJ, Luke, and Reid barrelled passed her by the bathroom shouting about the situation—but she’s almost to the morgue doors, right on Reid’s heels. Lord almighty, she feels so stupid. She’d had enough little one on one chats with Stewart to know he was some sort of psycho in disguise. To know that something was wrong with that kid. No one could last more than three minutes with your grad student assistant without wanting to take an eyeball out—his or theirs it didn’t matter. She’d let herself believe you when you told her that all forensic anthropologists seem like that. That there was nothing to worry about. 

Nothing to worry about her ass. 

Luke’s the first to storm the morgue, expecting what Tara is: you, dead, on the floor with Stewart on the brink of killing himself. But they stop and they stare and Reid beams on with the absurd look on your face. 

You’re shaking with rage, pointing a gun at a very unconscious, crumpled, bleeding Stewart Walsh. Your teeth are bared in what Tara would consider out of a comic book—ludicrous and of someone who’s completely lost their mind. JJ makes the mistake of asking if you’re alright.

“Alright?” you chirp, feral and ravenous. JJ and Luke shrink back as you shout, “I lived in Honduras for three years! This isn’t even the worst thing that’s happened to me. It’s my third fucking kidnapping!”

“T-third?” Luke croaks. 

“Third!” you shout again and recklessly set your gun on the table. Spencer grins, which sets you off further. “I’ve been nice. I’ve been accommodating. But this is my fourth psychotic grad student! I fucking swear—!”

Stewart groans—thank god he’s alive—and Spencer, thankfully, rushes forward to catch you before you can take anything else out on the kid. Tara’s heard rumours about mysterious other instances of your being under arrest. Illegal transportation of goods was one thing, police brutality was another. The scalpel sticking out of his knee is bad enough. 

She helps Luke haul Stewart to his feet, reeking of desperation and a much needed psych eval. JJ follows close behind, closes the morgue doors behind them. But not before they hear your muffled sobs and Spencer’s smiling. 

“You got him, Y/N.”

“No, Spence,” you correct, and Tara can’t help but be proud, “I kicked the snot out of him.”

#

Emily is barely awake when she sees it. JJ’s soft breathing next to her is lulling by itself, let alone if you add in Rossi’s rhythmic snoring and Luke’s idle whispers of sleep talk. Emily could do with some sleep and maybe a few days off. They could all use a few days off, especially after coming to terms with the fact a grad student had killed 12 women just to get a little action. 

From a scientist who freely admitted to enjoying the company of bones over real people. 

Alive people. 

No wonder Stewart had done what he’d done. 

Emily turns in her spot, lays back against the wall of the airplane and the seat. After nearly five decades—she’s never thinking about that again—of plane rides, she can comfortably say she can sleep anywhere. With any amount of noise, or cold, or pain. 

But her eyes are accidentally open when she peaks around the seat cushion. Spies the Wild Dr. Reid in his natural habitat, reading some ridiculously long book and…carding his fingers through your hair? He’s got a lock curled up around his finger, gently twisting it as he reads. You’re sleeping—knocked the fuck out—in his lap, gripping loosely onto his leg. 

You deserve the sleep, Emily decides with a smile. You’d worked the hardest on the case, up for nearly four days with as little rest as you can manage. How Stewart managed to stay awake enough to attack you is beyond Emily. She’s missed out on a few hours just today and she’s losing the battle with her eyelids. 

No one ever asked her opinion of you. Probably didn’t have to. You were not the easiest to like, but you’d captured her respect and a bit of her heart when you’d said at the beginning of the case: “I’m an excavator by trade—I’m at archeological digs most of the time—so it’s hard to wrap my head around the fact that these ladies are murder victims. I don’t think I’ll sleep until I’ve got names for them. And maybe the murderer on my table.”

Emily understood the unease, the apprehension. Why everyone was relieved when you’d turned down the plane ride she’d offered you. How they all bit back groans when Emily had insisted. But they’ll have to get used to it, Emily thinks and she settles again. Because they’ll see you again. No doubt about it. The way you’re wrapped up around Spencer, how you hold tighter when the jet bounces a touch, says just that much anyway. 

[izzyizumi]

DigiAdvs AMV ~ “Forget About Love” featuring Duo/Pair: Koushiro(u) Izumi x Taichi Yagami {KouTai}/{TaiKou}/{Taishiro[u]} Music from : A.l.a.d.d.i.n - The Return of Jafar Finished around 3:15 A.M. on 2-14-22 (originally started on 2-13-22)

Original Posters [Mine] Commentary: (Please excuse the random preview shot; it does kind of capture the exact feeling Taichi has throughout this A.M.V. on his face tHO)- {in that specific shot of Taichi anyway}

* Uses various moments of (mainly) Koushiro (w/some Tri!Koushiro), (also) Taichi, Tri!Taichi; + (some moments involving both from the Tri stage-play!); and mainly also Adv & 02 for major segments (+Our War Game!)Koushiro; Taichi; & Taishiro[u] aside from those and moments from: Adv + 02; (various Koushiro, Taichi & Taishiro moments) Tri; (Saikai [Movie 1] & Kokuhaku [Movie 3] Taishiro-relevant moments); + some Taichi (non-spoilery, more just because it fits the lyric) & Taishiro moments from Kyousei [Movie 5] - some Taichi moments from a significant final moment of Tri Movie #6 {without full spoilery contexts or other chara involved} Kizuna; (Koushiro and Taishiro-significant moment from final battle); + Koushiro from the ending credits; 2020 reboot (Eps 01 + 03 Taishiro moments; & 36 - 2020!Koushiro mainly) - also a few small shots of both from the 4th 2020 ending theme - the biggest spoilers are probably Koushiro-relevant moments from Kizuna.

(More details & Commentary + Lyrics under the ‘read more’!)

So there's a funny conversation / pattern that tends to happen around Valentines Day with me, and fans who are unfamiliar with my works, like so -

”Oh, you’re a ‘creator’ for {insert Fan-fav ships here} too!!” ”...Yes, though-” “Have any Valentines / ship-themed fan-works to share today??”

mE: UuuhhhHHH- {insert Koushiro-esque reaction}: (Also made by me pls dont steal):

So yes if you were expecting ultra-cutesy romantic fluff from me, specifically, (of basically any ship you might have expected) today this silly A.M.V. of my ~rarepair~ TM ship is all you're gonna get.

(It's kind of meant as overall fluff {if with touches of angst} but mAYBE not exactly the kind of fluff you were maybe expecting!)

* AKA, this is fully intended as to be viewed as a “crack” work * Despite this, a scary number of canon-compliant implied scenes and their personality traits fit the lines of this song almost scarily well * I can’t believe it actually fits them + Koushiro THIS well * So yeah, this ...turned into a mini-Koushiro & KouTai manifesto?? * Even this A.M.V. took me the span of 2 days to make (be KIND)

{Lyrics Preview}

Forget about THAT GUY! Forget about the way you fell into his eyes Forget about his “charms”! Forget about the way he “held” you in his arms Walking on air's - obnoxious, The “THRILL”, the chill ...Will make you nauseous (And you'll never get enough)... JUST FORGET about "Love"!

I CAN'T FORGET about my heart (I can't forget about my heart) (And how it felt) To fall for you (right from the start) I'm STILL Falling WHATEVER we may do (Whatever we may do...) You ARE HERE for me, And I'LL be there for YOU... I'll be there -

To WISH, to WANT, to WANDER... To FIND THE SUN Through RAIN and Thunder

A “cozy” “rendezvous” (Yes, please!) "Candlelight for two?" (Oh, geez!) Enough is enough!

(We can't)[?] (JUST!!) Forget about Love!

{LIKES/COMMENTS Ok/Preferred} [Please be respectful if interacting / re-blogging] (I block people who break my interaction rules) {see below}

[cerastes]

Among many things in Darknight’s Memoir, I love how the themes, and their effect on the cast, get touched upon in a manner that isn’t entirely explicit but isn’t as crystal clear as you’d expect.

For example, at one point, W was entirely willing to blow herself up to take out the enemy. She didn’t particularly want to, but she was going to do it if it came to it and if she had no other way out. When Ines understandably asks her “are you serious?”, W simply answers “well, if there’s no other way out of this, a kill is a kill, right?”. Contrast this with her attitude later, where her demeanor is as playful and caustic as we’ve come to expect from her, but her decisions, however, her courses of action, change entirely. No more thrill-seeking by riding the Catastrophe’s wind, no more gambles, no more unnecessary risks, she’s come to put a value on her own life beyond being a mercenary in the endless war game of the Kazdel barrenlands, she’s got a mission, something she less needs to accomplish and more that she wants to accomplish.

And that’s an important narrative thread in Darknight’s Memoir: To want. Sarkaz mercenaries, by and large, fight for the next paycheck more than anything, to get by, a client that pays is a good enough client. W herself initially came to Hoederer with the intent on killing him and claiming the bounty on his head. Seeing her prey firsthand and noticing she can’t kill him, she joins him instead. And that’s just natural: Why take on a foe that will likely injure you irreparably or even kill you? Better join up, and go for bigger fish. There’s literally no stakes in that fight. There’s nothing beyond the paycheck, but that also means there’s nothing except the paycheck: You can take it, but you can also leave it. The longer lived Sarkaz know when to take and when to live.

W, at this point, Wanted Nothing. Just being able to go through the motions, through whatever fights came next, was good enough. One of the first scenes we are treated to involves W throwing a team of her own mercenary corps under the bus to make it out alive. As a reader, our first reaction most likely is “wow, what a bastard”, but then you see Hoederer and Ines’ reaction, and it’s simply “oh, yeah, that happens”. It’s completely normal. That just happens in Kazdel and among Sarkaz, it’s the norm. That’s not to say it isn’t appalling, but in the context of Kazdel, that’s just another day in the job.

There’s no Want. Or technically speaking, there’s a very superficial, utilitarian, soulless Want: The next day, the next paycheck, the next meal, the next fight. Who cares about whatever the trillion of ‘noble’ Sarkaz clans are fighting for or peddle? They have their flags and their sigils and their plastic speeches, but they are all the same: The same warriors, the same traitors, the same devils. Whichever pays you, it’s all the same.

That changes when W meets Theresa. The full breadth of their dynamic is not explored in Darknights’ Memoir, but it’s made very clear that seeing the King of Kazdel, the sovereign of all Sarkaz, the noblest of nobles herself, Theresa, hunched over clumsily trying to fix a janky door, had an effect on W. Well, that, and their subsequent dialogue. Theresa was likely the first Sarkaz W met that wasn’t at least romancing a few ways to kill her, that simply wanted to know her name, and a little more about her. To us, Theresa showed the barest of cordialities with a kind demeanor, but to W, it was likely something that sent her brain into a blue screen of death state. She took an interest in Theresa, unlike she ever did with any other Sarkaz, or noble, or even any other person, and she observed her and served her.

And that there is when a pivotal change occurs: Want.

There is now Want. W No Longer Wants Nothing. She wants to see Theresa interact with others, she wants to see her alone, she wants to see how she does this and that, she wants to see her ideals through, she wants to actually believe in what she has to offer, because for the first time, it’s not a paycheck on the other side of the table that’s motivating her, it’s being able to see someone sincerely working towards a noble goal without ulterior motives and without betrayal, someone who actually believes what she preaches. Not long before this particular cutscene, Hoerderer mentions having killed someone that was trying to assassinate him, a guy he knew and that called him his friend, that even said he’d love for him to marry his daughter. This is the Sarkaz Normal. Literally everything is meaningless to the Sarkaz, even camaradeire. Not on Babel, not on that landship. W might as well have seen paradise in Babel, and in Theresa, a Messiah.

And, see, this is what I love about Darknights’ Memoirs: W doesn’t suddenly turn soft. W doesn’t do a 180. W supports the lofty goals of Theresa in the ways she knows, no doubt dyed by Theresa’s colors, but nonetheless using the skills and temperament that comes natural to her. W was born and nurtured by the battlefield, it’d make no sense for her to suddenly discard all of it, but the colors of Theresa are evident from this point on, even after Theresa’s passing.

W never becomes any less ruthless to her enemies, but there’s clearly a change to the melody of her percussive explosives. It’s no longer about the next battlefield, it’s no longer about the next paycheck, no, every move, from there on, has one clear objective: Kill Theresis, for having Theresa killed.

Now, revenge is nice and cold, but there’s a difference in how she’s going about this: As Hoederer mentions he wants out of this sordid lifestyle, W’s first reaction is to lament the loss of a capable hand, but to otherwise tell him that, if he’s getting out, he might as well Take This Specific Route She Knows Is Safest. It’s not the first farewell she’s given her blessing to: In this very conversation, Hoederer muses that W’s turned soft for letting Flamebringer leave without repercussions. While W’s Sarkaz ended up directly killing Scout’s team, Ines herself outright says to Scout that W didn’t have the heart to kill her old Babel ally (and this is an important distinction: Remember that W is loyal to Babel, not Rhodes Island), with W likely half counting on The Ghost of Babel to be able to make it out with his considerable skills (although if we recall what Scout had to say in Operational Intelligence, he seems to have been pretty aware he was going to die one way or another, and accepted this; his lack of regrets make more sense when you consider he IS the reason why RI was able to rescue Doctor at all, thanks to his deal with W so she’d let Rhodes Island pass). W, at this point of Want, is at that point where she’s not losing any sleep if she has to off someone so her cover in Reunion is believable and isn’t blown, but if she can avoid killing RI Operators, she’ll try and take that road (such as her not killing Adnachiel). Obviously, it’s not exactly the most altruistic or heroic of attitudes, but it’s about as good as it gets for, again, someone who used to believe that using her own teammates as cannon fodder to cover her retreat was perfectly normal and expected, even.

Recall the talk Ines and Hoerderer had about flags. Hoerderer says he’d rather forget about their flag, because it’s an empty symbol, and there’s no real flag for him to believe for... Instead, he believes in the flagpole: You could take that to be a very pure representation of Kazdel as a concept, as this eternal, meaningless warzone, where meaningless people wage meaningless conflict for meaningless rewards, create meaningless bonds and ultimately die a meaningless death: The very same man that throws his arm around you, calls you his friend, and tells you to marry his daughter will take a contract on your head the next day. It’s just the flagpole. It’s meaningless. It holds nothing but useless air. A flagpole with no flag is representative of something that has no meaning and no essence, a lone flagpole is exactly that: An ode to being devoid of, bereft of what should be there, but isn’t.

In many ways, as you may have noticed, Hoederer is meant to be a foil to W, and this is no exception: W has a flag, and again, it’s extremely telling that W’s affiliation as an Operator is not Rhodes Island or Kazdel, it’s Babel.

If we can consider Kazdel to mean more than just a physical location, if we can consider Kazdel to represent that meaningless, cruel, harsh style of life and way of death, then so we can consider Babel to be more than simply “Rhodes Island before Rhodes Island”, we can consider Babel to mean the ideology of Theresa, that style of life and way of death, full of meaning, with a clear objective, with a rocky path well worth the bloody trek.

If whenever Hoederer talks about about wanting to “leave Kazdel” as wanting to leave this sordid lifestyle behind once and for all, then thus, W being a part of Babel, despite her contact with Rhodes Island’s Kal’tsit, despite her undercover status as Theresis’ representative of the Sarkaz in Reunion, despite all affiliations, then that means something. And it’s changed her to some degree, sure, but the important change here is not W as a person, but rather, what W chooses to do with what she is and what she can do, successfully breaking out of the endless cycle of meaningless, vapid warfare, participating in it only in order to eventually crush it. Whereas W initially joined Hoederer because she saw herself outgunned, W is actively going against Theresis, even if she is more outgunned than ever, because now she has something she Wants. She could very easily submit to Theresis, but that’s what the past, Want-less W would do, not the current W, driven by Babel.

Because maybe, that’s all that the Sarkaz needed: Not something to believe, because words are cheap and nobles have those a dime a dozen, but someone to believe in. And not just anybody, but someone that can actually promise you more than a meaningless battle the next three weeks, and then deliver with their actions.

Maybe all they need is to Want.

Because sometimes, many times, Wanting is what breaks the stagnant cycle, but do not underestimate how easy it is to forget to Want... Or to never have learned to Want, in the case of the Sarkaz.

[inkdemonapologist]

SESSION TWELVE of the BatIM Call of Cthulhu game, aka Continuing to have a Great Time At The Masquerade! : )

Joey and Bendy destabilised early on, meaning Joey went through the ENTIRE masquerade UNABLE TO STOP SMILING

getting some mixed messages here, Joey

Sometimes u dress ur characters up as rabbits for fun but then you have a lot of emotions about them losing their minds and then u gotta draw them losing their minds while dressed as rabbits... anyway Jack being mind-controlled did NOT help Sammy hold onto his mental stability at this nightmare party in case you were wondering,

ANYWAY HAVE, MORE OUT-OF-CONTEXT QUOTES, UNDER THE CUT

[Sammy is played by me, Joey is played by Boo (inkyvendingmachine), Henry is played by Maf (inkcryptid), Jack is played by Mochi (whatyouwantedmetosee) and Thren (haunted-hijinxer) is our GM!]

[GM] Joey, make a POW roll also... [Joey] Oh, boy, [GM] ...because Bendy was also told to enjoy this party, and you guys just passed a plate of food, and he wants to eat! [Jack] FEED YOUR SON! [Joey] No!!! [Henry] HES A HUNGRY BOY! [Sammy] A GROWING BOY!

[Henry] Henry will look back to see if Moonlight is trying to follow them! [GM] He will see that Moonlight has grabbed onto the railing of the stairs and is hobbling slowly down them. [Joey] *extremely evil-sounding cackling*

[Jack] All Cthulhu Official Dice actually come weighted, to make you fail.

[Henry] Gotta try harder than that, bitch! [Henry] ....that wasn't in character. [Jack] It's in character, but he's only thinking it. [Sammy] That's the golden text you see on the wall if you use the seeing tool

[Henry] My Luck is 68, I don't know what y'all are doing! [Jack] We're spending Luck so that we'll fail! [Sammy] BEING UNLUCKY! I've barely spent any Luck, I'm just NOT A LUCKY GUY

[Henry] Oh, Avedon's here, [GM] There's a gunshot, and he tries to shoot Fowler! [Joey] Um, well, uh, whoops!, rest in peace Fowler! [Sammy] Yeah, that'll sort itself out, let's go! [GM] Moonlight seems to reconsider from telling people to grab you guys, to grabbing Avedon instead. [Joey] Oh! THANKS AVEDON, your sacrifice will, not be thought about in the slightest!!!

[Sammy] Is... weird question, does this room look like it matches the architecture of the rest of the house? [GM] [GM] [GM] ...make a sanity check.

[Sammy] It would be a like, Come on Jack, do you know where you are, shake it off, snap out of it, kind of thing. [GM] Why don't you make a... a.... oh boy, [Sammy] One of my REALLY persuasive social skills?

[GM] This probably just registers to Jack as, Sammy griping about a party, which isn't that strange. [Jack] Yeahhhh, he wants to leave. He always does that. I wanna stay at least a little longer! [GM] That just means it's Jack's job to find them something fun and good to do. [Sammy] Oh boy, [GM] I don't think Jack is being compelled to be aggressive about this necessarily, he just feels like he's Jack at a party, doing the things Jack normally does, and trying to have a good time! [Sammy] Ah, and everyone else is being weird, [GM] Yeah! Everybody's being really weird! You're at this nice party, and now you're in this weird room? The party's back there somewhere! [Jack] I mean not that he's opposed to bein' dragged into side rooms at parties by cute boys, but,

[GM] The table looks like a table that Henry has in his house, actually. [Sammy] Have I ever been in Henry's house? These are questions I didn't expect to need to ask tonight.

[Sammy] Jack, this is weird! You see this is weird, right?! [Jack] Well yeah, it is kinda weird that we're in-- what are we doing here? [Joey] Joey is going to grab Jack's arm, and point to the next door, and go "Party is this way!"

[GM] Peter looks worried... [Sammy] Sammy looks worried too! Well, Sammy looks angry, but in a worried way.

[Joey] Joey is going to scream frustratedly. [Sammy] Is there ink in this room? [GM] There is not. [Jack] Is there a party in this room? [GM] Definitely no, only the party you bring with you.

[Joey] Joey is going to scream again. [Joey] He's also going to kick the door. He might stub his toe. [Sammy] Through all this, Joey is smiling. I just need us all to remember that. [Joey] YES. Also his tail is furiously going. [GM] Bendy is also upset! There is nothing to eat here.

[Joey] Joey is going to try to feed Bendy some ideas, [GM] He doesn't want ideas, he wants food!

[Joey] So.... what happens if you fumble a sanity roll?

[GM] See, here's the silly part. At this point, right? At this point, the best place to do the tasks you want to do, involve either getting the stone out of the room with the safe, or having the staff that Henry is currently holding. [Sammy] So you would arrive, by completely different means, to the same place that we are! [GM] Clearly Joey is inside the safe.

[Jack] Bad and naughty Joey Drews get put in the safe to atone for their sins!

[Henry] Henry is going to channel his inner Joey Drew and round the corner and say "No, sorry about him, we're just here on inspection, we need to check the safe." [Henry] Which is probably a Fast Talk, which I hope it isn't, because my Fast Talk is a 5. [GM] Unless you wanna try to turn that into a persuade somehow? [Henry] I'll do Persuade! [GM] What are you doing to persuade them, rather than just lying? [Henry] *rolls* I failed... I'm gonna push it... [Sammy] *uneasy noises* IF YOU PUSH IT AND IT GOES BAD, IT GOES WORSE [Henry] AH! HAHA! I ROLLED A SIX! [Sammy] THAT'S STILL NOT LESS THAN FIVE! [Henry] WELL IM DOING PERSUADE! [Sammy] That means you have to NOT LIE! [Henry] ....Fuck. [Henry] Okay, uh, there's an emergency, we need the contents of that safe. [Sammy] THATS STILL A LIE??? [Joey] NO actually, THAT'S TRUE! [Henry] It IS an emergency!!

[Sammy] Sammy cannot believe that this is working.

[GM] Bendy does wonder what his plan is for getting out of the safe. This does not seem like a fun party place. [Joey] Um, [Joey] Joey says it's a surprise.

[GM] Henry, the safe does indeed open! And there's a Joey! [GM] Bendy says "Oh wow!" [Henry] Henry tries his best to keep a straight face, like yes! this is exactly what he came here for! [Sammy] (Sammy is NOT keeping a straight face) [Jack] (Straight? In this party?)

[Jack] He's probably saying something like, "What are you doing, he's one of us!" [Jack] And that could go either way. That could mean "No, he's chill, I will persuade you to stop!" Or that could mean, "We are also criminals!"

[GM, as the guards] Then why does he look like the Yellow King's messenger? [Henry] *not missing a beat* We get that a lot.

[GM] Something falls from the sky and lands in front of him. And it's a person! [Joey] Is he alive? [GM] Very much not. [Sammy] How... how Illusion of Living canon-compliant is this Joey...?

[Jack] So... it would probably occur to Jack that this is weird for a party,

[Henry] Joey don't touch it! [Joey] Why not? [Henry] There's runes around it. I don't know if you can touch it. [Joey] Joey's gonna touch it. [Henry] *long-suffering sigh* If you get zapped, I'll tell you I told you so!

[Jack] Jack really wishes we were just back at the party right now, you guys... [Jack] Only bad things have happened. [Jack] Pete's traumatised, Joey's goopy, the Lurker ate all of the snacks,

[Sammy] Can I try to break free from Henry? Sammy's gonna try to run over there. [Henry] At this point, Sam can go, if he wants. [Sammy] Okay, cool. Then Sammy's gonna go and put ink in his mouth! [Henry] Goddammit. I was hoping you were going to check on Joey!

[Joey] You can’t take all of the sanity hits! You have to leave some for other people! [Jack] Says you! You got so many temps!! And an indefinite!!

[GM] Bendy probably is complaining loudly about WHY DID HE WALK THROUGH THE RUNES??? [Joey] Oh! I thought he was going to complain about the party, or lack thereof, [GM] That’s part of not having fun at the party, he’s not into that! [Joey] Well, [GM] This is not a fun party activity!!

[GM] But he doesn’t think it will destroy either of them, if you do it right! [Jack] That’s a nice, way to end that sentence,

[Sammy] Let us hurry! May I take the stone? [Joey] Joey shrugs. [Sammy] Sammy will, uh, attempt to reach inside of... whatever this is, and find the stone. [Henry] Reach INTO your LOCAL boss, and you will find A Friend And Boy,

[Sammy] Is there anything in this room that I can pick up, and then hit him in the head with? [GM] Henry has a stick... uh....there’s a projector.... [Sammy] Can I pick that up? [GM] No, you cannot. [Sammy] It would be REALLY funny if Sammy dropped a projector on someone else’s head. [Sammy] HOW THE TURNTABLES!!!

[GM] ...Can you impale with a rocking horse...???? [Sammy] I don’t want to impale, I want to knock him in the head so he passes out!!! Rest your head, it’s time for bed!!!

[Jack] I don’t think Jack has any plans after this! [Jack] I meant that in the sense that he doesn’t know what he’s doing next, but the way I phrased it, now it just sounds like he’s hitting on Fowler, like, he doesn’t have anything to do after this, are you free? That’s not canon.

[Joey] I don’t know how this will go, [Sammy] Good luck! [Joey] But Joey would like to-- [Sammy] Sammy believes in half of you! [GM] w-which Sammy? wHICH HALF?!

[Jack] I know you said “note.” But my brain at first processed that word as “milk.” [Henry] *laughing* “Did you get my milk, Fowler?” [Jack] He drank the last carton and he didn’t buy more! [Sammy] “I’m going to the store, want me to get anything? *jumps into the lake*”

[GM] Combat Jack! [Jack] *exasperated* He’s not a Combat Boy! Jack is soft and warm, like mashed potatoes!!!

[GM] Norman is wondering to Henry if he oughta be concerned about you all getting what you want out of this. [Henry] .....Maybe.

[dialovers-translations]

Diabolik Lovers DARK FATE ー Laito Dark [09]

ー The scene starts in the living room of the Tsukinami manor

Yui: ーー Laito-kun...

Laito: What’s wrong? Why are you making that face?

Selection

→ I’m a little scared (♡)

Yui: Carla-san is very intimidating, so I’m a little scared...

Laito: Nfu~ Don’t worry. I’m here with you, okay...?

*Rustle*

Yui: ( He grabbed my hand rather than making fun of me...I’m so happy. )

→ Keep quiet

Yui: No, it’s nothing.

Laito: Really? Okay then.

Laito: ーー So, you’re going to tell us what this is all about, right? I’m listening.

Carla: ...

Laito: Well, I do have a solid guess about the big picture.

Carla: I suppose I shall give your presumption a listen then.

Laito: Hmー You’re allowing me to speak? I suppose I’ll announce it then.

For starters, the two of you are Founders, the clan which lost the war and as a result was banished to the very edge of the Demon World.

However, through a series of events, you made it out...

And now, you are trying to defeat Karlheinz, the man who may not be the Demon Lord, but has played an active role in the destruction of this world.

I guess that pretty much sums it up?

Carla: Hooh. Just as I thought, you are no fool.

Laito: Nfu~ Right. While I’ve been established as a freak by both others and myself, I’ve never been called stupid before.

Shin: Oi, you. Don’t try and be funny now.

Carla: Shin, it is fine. Keep quiet.

Shin: Ugh...!

Laito: Fufufu. Sorry, Shin-kun~

Shin: Shut up!

Laito: Nfu~ So, how’s my assumption? Did I get it mostly right?

Carla: I suppose I could say you’re not too far off...

Laito: ...By the way, if you’re trying to accomplish something by using me, you’re simply wasting your time.

Holding hostages is completely ineffective against that guy.

He’s not the kind of person who will be swayed by his emotions because ‘family’ is involved.

Yui: ( Laito-kun’s making a really scary face somehow... )

Carla: ...

Laito: I’m sure you’re aware, but there have been many people in the past.

Who tried to indirectly harm him in a similar fashion. 

So? Did that break your morale?

Carla: Hmph. What a shame.

Laito: ...A shame? What is?

Carla: While you are no fool, I cannot call you clever either.

Laito: ...

Carla: ーー You were correct in assuming that our goal is the downfall and death of Karlheinz.

However, we never thought we could get him by taking hostages.

Laito: Hmー Then how will you use us if we’re not hostages?

Carla: You will kill him.

Laito: Eh?

Yui: ( W-What...did he say just now? )

Carla: End his life.

Laito: ...

Carla: What seems to be the matter? It seems you had not considered that possibility.

Laito: ...Do you truly believe I could do that?

In the end, he’s still my father, you know?

Carla: Exactly. Because you are father and son, it gives you a chance to kill him.

Laito: In other words, you’re implying that I should play upon his feelings and use that opportunity to strike...?

Carla: ...

Laito: In that case...You picked the wrong guy.

If you had gone for Shuu or Reiji, you wouldn’t have been too far away from your goal.

Besides, if you want him dead that badly, why not kill him yourself?

I’d say you have a pretty good shot?

Carla: ...

Yui: ( What’s this intimidating aura coming from Carla-san...? It feels as if he can look straight into your soul. )

Laito: Say something...

Carla: ...So, will you do it?

Laito: ...Kuh...

Shin: Che. How annoying.

You don’t even have a choice to begin with. After all, that’s whyーー

ー Shin approaches Yui

*Rustle*

Yui: Kyah...!!

Shin: This woman is here after all.

Laito: ...Kuh...So she is the hostage, huh...? I see how it is now...

Yui: L-Laito-kun!

( He obviously shouldn’t go kill his father simply because he’s being threatened. )

Carla: You do not need to answer right away. I shall give you some time to think it over.

Shin: Nii-san...!

Carla: Shin. We cannot deny that we are asking him to kill his own parent. It would be unfair to force him to make his decision on the spot.

Even if the decision is already clear, you will be given some time to decide on your answer.

Let go of the woman.

Shin: Che...!

That’s your weak spot, isn’t it?

Carla: ...

*Thud*

Yui: Kyah...!!

ー Laito rushes to her side

Laito: ...Bitch-chan, are you okay?

Yui: Yeah...

Laito: ...To be honest, if you want that guy dead...

ーー I don’t mind killing him.

Carla: ...

Yui: ( ...Laito-kun...? )

Laito: Even if I end up sacrificing my own life in the process, I wouldn’t exactly mind if he’s the one who delivers the final blow.

Yui: ...No way...

Carla: ...

Laito: ...Is that all you had to say?

Carla: We are done here. Get back to your room.

ー Carla and Shin leave

Laito: ...

*Rustle rustle*

Laito: Let’s go.

Yui: S-Sure...

( Laito-kun said those words so easily just now... )

( Saying stuff like ‘I don’t mind if I’m killed’ almost makes it seem like he doesn’t value his own life at all. )

( I was very shocked to hear that... )

Monologue

The proposal Carla-san made,

was something far beyond anything I could ever imagine.

He told Laito-kun to kill Karlheinz (カールハインツを殺せ) ーー

There is just no way he could do that. 

However, Laito-kun ultimately,

put up an accepting facade.

As he spoke with a tone which alludes to very little attachment to this world...

I was horribly shocked (ショック).

What exactly is he thinking...? 

ーー TO BE CONTINUED ーー

→  LIKE MY TRANSLATIONS? SUPPORT ME ON KO-FI!

<- [ Dark 08 ] [ Dark 10 ] ->

[teawaffles]

The Fugitives from the Fire: Chapter 5, Part 1

Note: This is a long chapter too!

Gregson squared his shoulders as he walked.

“I don’t really want to team up with you; but anyway, we have no choice but to solve this quickly. Now it’s time for me to show my stuff after fighting crime day after day in this capital.”

“I’ve thought about it every time we’ve met — but where do you get that confidence from?”

Sherlock narrowed his eyes as he followed behind him. Then, Gregson turned around.

“Oi, that big attitude of yours is probably because the inspector called you in; but I’m the one who messed up here, so I have to take responsibility myself. Don’t butt in unless you’re needed.”

“I know, I know.”

More than anything, the personality of this assistant inspector he’d come to know all too well brought Sherlock a sense of relief. In addition, his words and actions revealed his pride as a police officer, and Sherlock quite liked that.

“Come to think of it, did you really not find out anything during the interrogation?”

Gregson replied without slowing his pace.

“Well, I can’t say that we didn’t learn anything. He told us how he’d come to hide in that building, but refused to say a word on where his accomplice was.”

“So how did he arrive at the inn?”

“From what we heard, after they escaped, the two of them had been moving from place to place in the slums. They first laid low somewhere, but quickly got wind that the Yard was searching the area; hence, they ran off searching for a new place to hide — and ended up at that inn.”

“So does it mean that at the time, the Yard had been able to track them down to some extent?”

Gregson snorted in displeasure.

“Not a whit. It’s disgraceful, but so far, we haven’t been able to trace their whereabouts one bit. Right now, our only lead is that tip-off; in other words, the two of them were just misled by rumours that the police were coming.”

“…………”

Gregson seemed to be pitying the fugitives for the days they’d spent in fear, but Sherlock’s mind was elsewhere.

The criminals had been flushed from their hideout using false information, and ended up at a particular location. At the same time, information had conveniently come the Yard’s way, as if someone had meant for them to arrive at the same place. His intuition told him the situation could not be written off as a mere coincidence.

——Could the Lord of Crime be involved in this case? But if he was, then for what reason?

Sherlock began to think over that question; but before he could reach a satisfactory answer, the two of them had arrived before a different inn, located a short distance from the site of the fire.

“Now, the suspects have been gathered here on the ground floor — please be quiet.”

“Yeah, yeah.”

Temporarily switching his focus, Sherlock replied half-heartedly. Then, with his sullen expression still intact, Gregson stepped into the inn.

Inside, there were several police officers, three men with bandaged faces, and a tall middle-aged woman, who stood firm with crossed arms.

Looking over everyone in the room, Gregson cleared his throat, and spoke in a loud voice.

“Well then, I’ll cut to the chase. ——The culprit is among us.”

“…………”

However, not one person reacted. He was simply stating a fact, but perhaps his entrance had been too sudden, and that pronouncement a tad abrupt.

Looking a little embarrassed after his brave proclamation, Gregson cleared his throat once more, and started again.

“……That’s what we’ve concluded after careful discussion. To begin with, let’s start from these three men gathered here.”

“——Hold on, Inspector! Before that, don’t you have something to say to me?”

“Hm?”

The middle-aged woman took a step forward as she raised her voice, and Gregson turned to face her.

“You are… the owner of that inn.”

“The very one that got burned down, yes! My name is Hillary Weaver — you’d best remember it, since it’s the name of the victim who'll eventually charge you people for expensive repairs.” [1]

Her high-pitched voice was almost akin to that of a witch casting spells. Gregson flinched, taking a step back.

“W-……Why do we have to pay for damages?!”

“Of course you do: the moment all of you came along, my inn disappeared.”

“That’s not true! The one at fault here is the arsonist — the Yard had nothing to do with that!”

“What’re you saying? I’m sure you people sparked it all off. Quit whining and give me back that place of comfort!”

“What part of that wretched inn could be called comfortable?! It’d be more pleasant being buried in straw! When we were interrogating the other man, the floorboards were creaking so badly I thought we were going to fall through the floor any moment!"

“That’s because all of you came in at once! Spare a thought for the building capacity!”

“Are you telling me your rooms reach their limit after just a few people step inside?!”

“…………”

As Gregson and Hillary — the inn’s proprietress — were engaged in a row that was completely beside the point, Sherlock turned his attention to the three suspects.

The first was a burly man. The left half of his face was wrapped in bandages, and his long sleeves were rolled up.

The second was a slim young man with short sleeves. The lower half of his face was bandaged down to his neck.

The last was a tall man of indeterminate age. He wore a thick coat, and his entire face was swathed in bandages.

Three men, three suspects. Right as the detective used his powers of observation on them, Gregson signalled his men to get Hillary to back down, forcing the argument to a close.

“……Dammit, was she silver-tongued. Now I’ve wasted energy.”

His shoulders were heaving, and Sherlock flashed him a cold smile.

“If the talk show’s finally over, then let’s get on with the questioning. We’re short on time.”

“I know! ……Well then, let’s start from the big man over there, and proceed in order.”

Gregson addressed the burly man.

“Tell us your name, the room you were staying in, and what you were doing when the fire broke out.”

“My name’s Mike Myers. I was in room 203, on the first floor. When the fire broke out, I was in my room reading a book. It was from one of my favourite authors, but all my belongings were destroyed in the blaze.”

The man answered in a deep voice that matched his appearance.

Gregson took down the information on a notepad, and moved on to the next man.

“Next, the slim man over there.”

The young man promptly sat up straight.

“Y-Yes, um, my name is Bruno Campbell. My room was…… number 301, on the second floor. At the time of the fire, um…… I was sleeping right until it started. Sorry.”

“There’s no need to apologise. Next.”

Gregson turned to face the last man.

“……Jerry Dorff. Room 101. I was asleep.”

The man who called himself Jerry murmured that in a low voice, uttering only the minimum number of words.

“101…… The ground floor, huh. So all your rooms were on precisely separate floors.”

Once he’d ascertained the suspects’ rooms, Gregson quickly sketched the inn’s floor plan on his notepad.

According to his diagram, on the ground floor, there was a staircase next to the reception desk, and three rooms in a row behind it. Starting from the one closest to the front desk, the rooms were numbered 101, 102, and 103. Further to the back, there was another set of stairs. The other floors had the same layout; it had been a simply-structured inn.

The reception desk, the front stairs, three rooms in a row, and the rear stairs. All the rooms had their doors on the south side of the building, and their windows on the north side. Sherlock craftily took a peek at his drawing, memorising the layout, and applied the locations of the three suspects to his mental picture.

“It seems all of you were in your own rooms when the fire started; but before that, did you stay in your rooms throughout?”

Mike spoke up.

“I never even took a step outside my room after you bobbies entered the building. After all, one of the criminals from that attack on the department store was lurking inside, right? I wouldn’t be able to bear it if I made a wrong move and ended up getting suspected.”

“I-It was the same for me: I tried to avoid moving around as much as possible.”

“Me too.”

The timid young man, Bruno, and the taciturn Jerry both agreed with Mike.

“So you all didn’t leave your rooms, let alone the inn. ——Is that certain?”

Gregson asked one of the officers standing beside him, and the man responded with vigour.

“Yes; I was standing in front of room 303 at first, and two others were standing watch in the ground and first floor corridors — we didn’t see a single person leave their room.”

Sherlock had been listening from the side, and now he pointed to the officer and Gregson in turn.

“So during the break in the interrogation, Gregson took over from you in standing watch outside the room.”

“Indeed.”

“Oi, Holmes. I told you not to butt in.”

Ignoring Gregson’s complaint, Sherlock made a deduction.

“So no one was moving around during the interrogation. Then during the break, the man was left alone in the room. Since no one heard any suspicious noises, it would be difficult to conclude that there had been movement inside the room. In that case, as I thought, the criminal must’ve made his move after the fire began.”

“A-As I was saying, don’t talk without permission.”

“……We don’t have time for that kind of thing. From what you said earlier, it seems you were standing outside the room until the fire began — were you also standing watch throughout after it started?”

Reluctantly, Gregson revealed his actions at the time.

“……No, when I got news of the fire, I went to the stairs nearer the reception to check out the situation. I climbed down until I could see the ground floor, and saw that the corridor there had already been covered in flames; so I quickly shouted for everyone to evacuate as I went back up to the second floor, in order to free the man we had arrested.”

“Did you go door to door when telling people to evacuate?”

“There wasn’t any time for that: the best I could do was to shout in every corridor as I rushed up the stairs.”

“I see. By the way, do we know where the fire originated?”

One of the officers standing to the side responded.

“I was outside the building at the time, but back then, part of the ground floor’s exterior north wall suddenly burst into flames. Though, I can’t say I had witnessed the moment the fire was set.”

“……Oi.”

The officer had readily given information to the detective he so hated, and Gregson glared at him. But as expected, Sherlock continued as if nothing had happened.

“Even so, the mob had surrounded the inn at the time, didn’t they? Was there really no one who saw exactly what happened?”

“The crowd had been rather large, so we couldn’t interview everyone who was there……” the officer responded briskly. “But we didn’t receive any eyewitness accounts of the arsonist.”

Even as he threw a displeased glance at his subordinate, Gregson thought hard.

“In that case, what if he used a device that automatically ignited the fire after a certain amount of time?” he offered.

“That’s one possibility,” Sherlock added. “It doesn’t have to be automatic either; he could’ve sprinkled flammable oil around the area beforehand, then sneaked out the window, climbed down the wall, and thrown a tiny spark — like the cinders of a match — through a window. Just like this, he’d be able to ignite the fire without drawing attention. It started from the north wall, right?”

“Yes, the wall where all the rooms’ windows are lined up,” the officer replied.

Sherlock gazed at the three men.

“In that case, that means any one of you could be the arsonist himself. But the question remains: after the fire began, how did the culprit manage to kill his accomplice in room 303, and create a locked-room murder case without anyone noticing?”

“…………”

In a way, this was the biggest ‘riddle’ in the case; all the officers, including Gregson, fell silent. In this situation, how should they proceed? Sherlock too pondered that question.

——“Oi, Sherlock. This is just my opinion, but……”

Amidst the long silence, the voice of Sherlock’s partner rang out in his mind.

——“When the fire started, Inspector Gregson went down the stairs until he was almost at the ground floor, right? During that time, there probably wasn’t anyone in the second floor corridor. Since Bruno-kun was also on that floor, I think he’s the most suspicious……. Hold on. If Mr Mike climbed up the rear staircase from the first floor, he would’ve been able to avoid the inspector and reach the second floor. Moreover, Mr Jerry was on the ground floor to begin with, so you could say he was in the most convenient location to start the fire……. Oh my, I’m starting to think all of them are suspicious.”

Sherlock could easily picture John getting confused by his own theories; gently, the corners of his mouth creased into a smile.

Then Gregson flashed Sherlock a bold grin as he spoke.

“Oi, Holmes. When I went down the stairs till I was nearly at the ground floor, there probably wasn’t anyone left in the second floor corridor. In that case, since he was on the same floor, Bruno would be the most suspicious. Fufu, as I thought, there was no need to bring you on this ca…… Hm, hold on. If Mike used the other staircase, he could’ve reached the second floor without me noticing. But Jerry’s room was on the ground floor, so it would’ve been easy to start the fire there…… Dammit, now we can’t narrow it down.”

“…………”

Strangely enough, the assistant inspector had unfortunately put forward the same theory, erasing John’s face from Sherlock’s mind once again.

Then, Mike also put forward his own theory.

“Hey, certainly, it makes sense that any one of us could’ve went up to the victim’s room. But wasn’t the door locked?”

“H-He could’ve been shot or stabbed through the door, but from what I heard, there wasn’t any evidence of that, right? M-Maybe after he killed him, the murderer locked the door again from the outside?”

Bruno also proposed a theory, but Mike was sceptical.

“The fire was going to burn everything down anyway, so why would he bother to do that?”

“I-In that case, maybe the killer opened the door to attack him, b-but the victim suddenly closed the door to try and protect himself?”

“Yeah, that might be possible. So when the wound proved fatal, it ended up looking like a locked-room murder. That makes a fair bit of sense; well, what do you think?”

“……I don’t know.”

Mike’s words had started a frank exchange of theories among the three suspects. Sherlock seemed to be listening with great interest, but Gregson seemed annoyed.

“Oi, don’t talk as you please: this is a matter for the Yard to examine. In the first place, it’s not clear whether it was a stab or shot wound……”

Hearing that, Sherlock spoke up.

“If he’d been done in with a gun, there probably would’ve been the sound of a gunshot. Though with a bit of effort, the sound could’ve been suppressed…… Did anyone hear any strange sounds?”

Bruno, who by chance happened to meet Sherlock’s gaze, responded.

“I heard someone shouting ‘Fire!’ from the outside, then flew out of bed, but I don’t remember anything after that…… Oh right: during the commotion, I think I heard something breaking once or twice.”

The timid young man had given an important testimony, but the burly man disputed that.

“Is that so? I was awake the whole time, but I didn’t hear anything?”

Even Mike’s usual appearance was intimidating; hearing that, Bruno shrank back.

“R-Right. It was probably just the sound of the wood snapping as it burnt.”

“……I can’t say either way. After all, everyone was confused and in chaos.”

Jerry also gave a vague testimony, and Gregson ruffled his hair in frustration.

“We don’t even know if there was a gunshot — it feels like we don’t have a single lead at all.”

“But if the killer had fired a gun in room 303, since he was on the same floor, Bruno probably would’ve heard it — though he himself isn’t clear on that.”

“……I knew that already; you didn’t have to say it.”

“Even though you’re making a face like that was a revelation?”

Sherlock poked a little fun at Gregson, then continued questioning the suspects.

“All of you are bandaged up rather pitifully — are they injuries from the fire earlier?”

“Yeah, I got burned while escaping; It’s not life-threatening, though.”

“It’s the same for me: when I reached the ground floor, it was already covered in flames, and when I tried to escape, I tripped and fell…… It was just my luck that the spot I landed on was aflame, so I ended up getting burned around my neck.”

Two of the suspects had explained how they got their injuries, but only one person remained in silence, his gaze slightly lowered. Of course, the detective probed further.

“Mr Jerry. Is your story the same?”

The man looked up at him. Then, after hesitating a little, he muttered briefly.

“……These are from an accident a long time ago. They have nothing to do with the fire.”

Saying that, he pulled his thick coat closer, obscuring his mouth. That caught Gregson’s attention.

“I’ve been thinking about this for a while now, but only you’ve seemed rather reluctant to speak. It feels like you don’t want to have anything to do with this case.”

Sherlock had also gotten the same impression; in contrast to the other two, who had even made their own deductions, it seemed this man was trying to withhold information about himself.

As both the detective and inspector fixed their gazes on him, eventually, Jerry explained himself in a low voice.

“I don’t like people prying into my affairs. But that’s because of my own personal situation; it has nothing to do with this case.”

“Why’s that? Could you be hiding important evidence from us?”

“…………”

Gregson tried to press him further, but Jerry remained silent, his intentions unreadable.

His actions were clearly suspicious, but Sherlock’s intuition told him the man had definitely been telling the truth. Jerry had answered all their questions properly; in addition, he couldn’t sense any hostility to the police emanating from the man.

However, Gregson tended to interpret such behaviour in the wrong way. Sherlock had to steer the conversation down a different path before the inspector made any needless accusations — so he called out to the inn’s proprietress, who had been waiting silently in a corner.

Footnotes:

[1] No relation to Jackie Weaver, the unexpected star of the Handforth parish council: this book was published end-2020, and that incident was in early-2021. (The Guardian)