#cause i need more info on mint eye

[gifti3]

i started playing mystic messenger in 2017 so its been forever since i first experienced everything and reading ur liveblogging of it reminds me how wild this game is so.. its great to read ur liveblogging im so excited for u to see what comes next

Ahh im glad!

Im so so late to the party cause i finished half of the routes all the way back when mystic messanger was new but stopped after jumins route so a lot of the heavier lore, im experiencing it myself for the 1st time

And i heard a major spoiler about rika some time ago but out of context i didnt think much about it

But now im like "oh wait this is crazy actually" lol

[goszixx]

Evergreen

✧༺♡ ༻∞ ✧༺♡ ༻∞ ✧༺♡ ༻∞

Note ❈° ≫ Yes, there will be a part two.

Warning ❈° ≫ humiliation, degrading, dom sukuna, sub reader, grinding cause why not, I think that’s it for now.

Part 2

✧༺♡ ༻∞ ✧༺♡ ༻∞ ✧༺♡ ༻∞

One finger traced around the edge of the folder beneath them. The vanilla scolded your stare, knowing what had to come next. It’s the only way. You keep telling yourself that over and over and over again. But, that still didn’t change the tingle curling at your nerves. You could almost taste it, the evergreen mint that always overwhelmed your senses.

One bulb lit the room, a long black table was placed in the center. The one sided glass being the only thing that consumed your attention. The man on the other side sat still, his body hunched over as his hands rested behind the back of the chair. Even in chains the cockiest smile rested on his face.

Ink traced along his skin, leading down his face and disappearing in a prison jumpsuit. He shifted, his chin pointing up as if he knew you were looking at him. A smirk spread across his busted lip as he opened his legs a little wider for your viewing pleasure.

Your stare held its cold tension. But you couldn’t help your teeth tearing into your bottom lip. The precinct was closed. Only you and him stood in the building. Your own morals were crushed by what you were about to do. It pulled at your heartstrings but was scorched whenever his eyes met yours. Even though he can’t see you, he can feel you.

Need. You need him. For your case of course, nothing else. To be fair, your fate was skewed ever since your life got tangled with the info broker years ago. How many times have they met like this? Five? Maybe six. It always ended in one way.

A heavy sigh left your lips as you picked your body off the metal chair. Your morals were isolated in the room as soon as you shut the door behind you. A burning heat spread across your chest, you wanted to blame it on guilt, but you knew the truth.

Your fingers wrapped around the metal door knob, the silver sent a spark through your skin. Cold air hit your face along with the hungry stare belonging to the infamous Sukuna. “How long as it been? 2 years?” Sukuna scoffed in amusement. His smirk only grew from the death glare you sent his way.

“I see your ugly mug hasn’t changed…” He trailed off as his eyes traced around the curves of your body. Oh how he missed your figure.

You kept your scowl, even though the air held his intimidating aura. “How’s prison life, Sukuna?” You leaned against the wall in front of him, crossing your legs and making the heel of your boots tap the ground.

The prisoner hummed, his hands gently tugging at the cuffs that held him still. “Could be better. But let’s cut to the chase, what information do you want from me? Or have you missed our sex that much?”

Your tongue clicked the roof of your mouth in annoyance. Maybe if he stopped speaking you could try to bare his presence. “Kenjaku, I want to know his where abouts on October 19th.”

Sukuna blinked a few times before his lips stretched into a grin. “That's pretty top secret information, sweetheart.”

Sweetheart. You cringed at the name, your teeth grinding together as your hand buckled on the small windowsill behind you. Exhaling, and unballing your fist you spoke, “I’m aware.”

Your hands fell by your side to bunch up the ends of your shirt. You pulled the black material, getting a surprised hum from the prisoner. But, he was intrigued nonetheless, “want to get straight down to business, I see. Did your prissy personality change or did you miss milking me that much?”

Amused laughter radiated from the prisoner, but you kept your composure. Your boots and jeans came off next. Sukuna’s eyes stuck to you like glue, your exposed skin teasing him too much for his liking. You trudged closer, taking in more details about the man. The small scars littering his neck, the slight bruise of his bottom lip.

Water droplets scattered in the messy pink locks from his shower. The water droplets also ran down the ink on his chest. You pulled at the jumpsuit until it exposed as much of his body as it could. The black rim of his boxers peeked out while his chiseled abs stretched before you.

Taking a finger, you traced down the ink. Your touch ran across his flesh, down his chest to the first mound of muscle making his abs. The heat stimulated his hot skin, making him hiss as it contracted with the cold feel of your digits.

Fabric hung high on your waist, the pretty lace gracing your skin In a mocking way. “Sit.” The words grumbled in the back of his throat. They dripped off his tongue, giving away the pure lust bubbling up inside him.

Blush spread across your cheeks from the command. Your legs shifted together as the lace on them seemed to get tighter. The urge to bite back was so apparent it made Sukuna smirk more. But, he knows you love it. The humiliation, the lack of physical touch he’s given you. The nickname.

“Sit on my lap, Sweetheart.” He repeated, putting the nickname to add more to the fire. Begrudgingly, you sat. The curve of your ass squished off the meat of his covered thigh. While adjusting yourself, Sukuna’s eyes trailed down to the small wet patch growing on your panties. The panties he bought you. The ones he makes you were before and after he fucks you.

Seeing your plush thighs all but shake in anticipation on his lap made him lick his lips. “Kiss me.” Another command, but this one stung you less then the rest.

“Yes, Sukuna.” Your voice came out timid, strained in nervousness. Six years and you couldn’t get him to drop this rule. Every time he gives you a command you have to respond with that. At first you thought it was because it turned him on, but.

Your legs tried to shuffle together as embarrassment leaked to your core. The chill of your palm pressed on the curve of his shoulder, sliding up to his neck while the other pressed flat on his abs. You leaned forward, Sukuna watching as the window behind you caught the wall your back arched. Before your lips met, Sukuna’s minty breath consumed your senses.

Damn that evergreen. “No grinding on me, understand Sweetheart?” Your lips parted in embarrassment as the heat of his mouth engulfed yours. He took advantage of your shock, forcing his tongue past your lips. The softness of his tongue slid past your own, causing you to whimper. Your nails dug in the curve of his abs as your legs shook on his thighs.

It was torture. His mouth invaded yours with so much ease. Touching every part of your mouth as if he owned it. It took all the willpower you had to keep the movement of your hips in check. Your back arched more the longer the kiss continued.

He’d only let you breathe when he felt like it, causing you to pant with your tongue lolled out, a dazed stare meeting his. “Did you like it that much? You're panting Sweetheart and we haven’t even started.”

You didn’t give an immediate response, you couldn’t. Sukuna clicked his tongue, his amusement cut short. He picked up his thigh, causing it to grind right into your soaked core. A choked moan broke through your lips in pleasure as you pressed your chest against his. He kept his rhythm until your face buried into his neck, your whimpers filling his ear. “Ye-s Sukuna. Y-yes Sukuna.”

The movement stopped, leaving your legs quivering on his thigh in need. Sukuna’s stare drifted around your body. From the grip you had to his skin to the arousal leaking from his panties. His eyes then flickered to the bra he bought you, how he made it a tad too small so your boobs would spill out whenever you made the smallest movement.

Once again, the prisoner licked his lips. “Are you ready to continue, Sweetheart?”

[sillyfudgemonkeys]

to get right to the salt, do ya think P5 and the spinoffs lowkey ruined theorizing for ya? at least for atlus games?

Damn beat me to it! I was thinking of making a post bitching about how stupid it was to that we had to leave Sae's dungeon because of a "blockade" but like....that area is open to the public why is there a blockade???? TT0TT You just wanted a blockade for blockade's sake. Would've made more sense to have Mako do something at the house than the fucking court room you dinguses. orz*coughs* Moving on......

Anyway happy new year!

Yes and.....no. For both.

P5's made it hard to want to keep theorizing with P5 central games. P3R is in a spot of "why even bother, I'm setting myself up for more disappointment if I do." I had absolutely no want and desire to theorize P5T (even P5S I had SOME thoughts, but the Sophia char, you know being based off an aeon being, not getting the Aeon arcana.....kinda killed it for me. :'D PQ2 was a diff issue, tho it came out before P5S iirc so it was before P5 killed it, and P3/5D didn't have much to theorize over....P3D a bit more so but only by a bit, and P5R....well P5R gave me SOMETHING to work with at least). I think the most I wanted to do with P5T was figure out the place in the timeline exactly (which is something I love to do :3) and if it was going to have a memory wipe. Other than that nothing really.....stood out to me. TT0TT

I am interested in P5X and have a theory post buried somewhere (mostly it showing it's an alt reality, tho I subscribe to it REPLACING P5 rather than it being part of certain P5 endings). I'm just having a hard time keeping up with all the info atm so I don't talk about it.

Right now it's a waiting game for P5X to release and the announcements after P3R. (obvie excited for Refan but I'm talking about predictions and stuff and I'm not really doing that for Refan cause....I dunno what to expect TT0TT)

But as for P5(X) theories I have one now:

Timelines of P5. P5 has the original vanilla, the Kasumi version, and (Cognition?) Wonder ganking him. I'm thinking it's Cognition bc the one "Joker" That fought Wonder evaporates and it might mean it's a cognition of some sort (god I hope it is, I want P5X to have it's own timeline). But that's all I've got, I need to catch up on older stuff cause I'm not sure if this contradicts other existing info (then again info keeps changing atm, such as the 109 building TT0TT).

C!Joker I believe says "resist" to Wonder at the end of the new trailer (going off the chinese char, I don't think I'm hearing the Japanese correctly tbh). It makes me wonder (hehe) if Silly's about to get her 3rd star crossed lovers-ish/trans dimensional timeline pairing/duo (first Tats and Maya, then Hams and Mints/Kita, and now Joke and Wond 8U)

As for in general, not really, I've just been busy/needing to consume/refresh more of certain media before I find myself more comfortable to talk about it. But here's some theories I have that fit this description but I know the fandoms will kill me for reasons. (spoilers for Bleach, Naruto/Boruto, Frozen, Netflix's Wednesday 2022, Far Cry 5, Ju-On/The Grudge):

Bleach 1: I'm subscribed that the "happy ending" they got at the end isn't actually happy (despite the surface level). Because unlike Kishi, I think Kubo is a mean troll. TT0TT I don't think anyone won with him. Anyway, my theory is Ich*ka isn't R*nji's daughter because the ONLY aspect she has of him atm is his hair color and that's something that can be dyed. 030 And that Kaz*ui is some weird clone of Ichigo rather than a real son (the only thing of Oreo he has that Ichi doesn't, bc they both have orange hair and brown eyes......BUT Ichi had the same eye shape as a child so......even that can't be ONLY tied to Oreo TT0TT). Kaz*ui is a little monster I don't trust him. Plus that ominous opening in the Hell chapter w/the gold fish, him sending a soul to hell, and then stomping out Ya-badaba (Yawach? Idc.....)....I just don't trust him, and Kubo's a troll so :'D Whatever hurts the fandom the most I guess.

Bleach 2: I don't think Kubo has positive feelings the Tanabata, or at least it's mythos. I mean it's about two star crossed lovers who fail to do their job and that's why they are separated. TT0TT Between I*H receiving L after L in the series (like confirming Ichi didn't have feelings for Oreo until after the series was over, White attacking her and so on), both do fail to do their job (fighting off Yawach-ababa, both get stomped before someone else has to come in and help iirc, anyway a very twisted parallel off of Tanabata), but her also wanting to BE THE RAIN to connect heaven and earth. You know. Rain. The representation of Ichi (and Ruki's) depression. Rain. The thing that keeps the lovers apart in Tanabata.......WHY???? TT0TT (also the fact they end up together even tho it's a star crossed lovers story, and when that couple WAS together they were doing a bad job with their jobs which meant they NEEDED to be separated and...I dunno man I don't trust Kubo he's mean kfljaskfljsdl)

Naruto/Boruto 1: Sarada is actually Karin's daughter, but Kishi is too scared to go that route/not as mean of a troll as Kubo is....atm. (At least Kishi had the guts to admit he wanted a love triangle/considered N*S for a brief second, but just didn't have the chops to make the love/triangle aspects more focused in the story. Aka I don't blame N*S for being tricked by his red herrings). I dunno he keeps giving the S*S couple L after L after L I'm wondering if he's trying to ease more people into the idea of SK. TT0TT

Naruto/Boruto 2: this is what I think the Kaguya line looks like (aka where the Gold/Silver bros and Kimimaro's Kaguya clan fall, cause I haven't seen a tree like this, and The G/S bros could totes be from Indra's side tho. But I firmly believe the Kaguya clan is from Indra, since I think the madness they went through could be similar to the Curse of Hatred)

4. Naruto/Boruto 3 (I'm in the middle of a Naruto rewatch sue me TT0TT): What I think the eye evolution looks like (I don't think the Jogan's been explained yet? I still need to catch up, the byakugan doesn't evolve into a Rinnesharingan, it's that they obtain it later along with rinnegan's too in some of the designs, but I was mostly looking at Kaguya's since that's what most of these are derived from, Rinne can become Rinneshar aka you gotta activate it kinda like Sharingan to MS but it still requires you to evolve it):

5. Frozen theory 1: Ahtohallan is not a good place. It's constantly putting Elsa into danger (either Ahto it'self, or it's ways of making her look into the past). It's almost killed her twice: Once in F2 by going too deep and almost freezing, and once in the dubious canon sequel novel Polar Nights where she falls into a raging river and Anna has to jump in to save her TT0TT It also seems so good at driving a wedge between the sisters >_> Cause that's totally what they need >_>

6. Frozen theory 2: Partially related to the above, because of Ahto's influence, I think Elsa will slowly evolve into the Snow Queen from the original fairy tale. Unless Anna can rescue her that is. TT0TT

7. Frozen Theory 3: Oldie but a goodie, Anna has powers. It's super strength. Be it yeeting a bust, punching a grown man in the face w/o recoil, full swinging a bat lute into a wolf's face w/o recoil, easily tanking hits from a horse/falling down the stairs/falling off a cliff/Elsa's Ice magic, literally pulling her sister out of a RAGING RIVER (Polar Nights only, I'm pretty sure it was raging I don't care to look it up again). They need to play into this more as a running gag tbh. "Oh she's the normal sister *lifts up a insanely heavy object with ease* Yup totally super normal, so sad. :(" jkldjsfkajf

8. Wednesday 1: In the original comic stripped canon of Addams' Family, her brother (then unnammed) was titled a "Hyde" in his character description. I feel like that's going to come into play in the later seasons (esp with how much mystery is around the "hydes")

9. FC5 (I think this is confirmed in other entries, but it was my theory as I was playing): Faith is also a victim via drugging and brainwashing. They physically and chemically fucked with her head. Like the other cult members that are brainwashed similar to her, if they detox they'd realized how much of a fucked situation they are in. TT0TT I also like to think she's out there, alive. In some bunker. TT0TT

10. Ju-On/The Grudge: I prefer to think Takeo killed Toshio. I know the US ver made it more explicit that he did. But I also mean the OG Jpn vers (I know one of the novels might contradict this theory). It just makes more sense for Toshio to die at the same time/the same way as his cat (and we see what's implied to be the cat in the movie). I mean their souls are merged for crying out loud! And IF Kayako was involved, it was maybe to deliver a mercy kill for her son, after Takeo left him for dead (similar to Kayako). And maybe she didn't want him to experience the same slow death she did. I know it kinda implies all the evil is on Takeo and less on Kayako (oh no shocker I hate the guy who started it all, at least Kayako wasn't a killer until the curse was made u_u) in this case, but I just want the soul merging to make sense is all. TT0TT

Annnnnnd yeah I think those are all/most of the eh theories I have going on. Again I need to rewatch most of this stuff (well except Frozen/Wednesday/Juon klsjfdkljafjsa I'm good on those). My issue with Naruto and Bleach is how much of/what of the supplementary content is canon. TT0TT And if Anime original, what about if the creator approves of it *glares at Kubo* I've seen your likes and comments you little stinker. Let alone if it's crafted by the creator (RTN/The Last/Boruto Movie, tho RTN I've heard contradicts some of the manga's events TT0TT) Like I'm trying to fine tooth comb this stuff but lkdjflksjfja orz

[canned-pears]

Mystic Messenger 707 route & Secret Endings AU!

[Repost] I decided to change some stuff to sound a bit more cohesive cause my dumbass didn’t proofread the other one lol

This AU doesn’t stray too far away from the original story. I just changed and added some bits that I thought would make the story more realistic and interesting.

Things to keep in mind: I haven’t played ray or V’s route so things regarding Saeran (like personality or characterization) are done without knowledge of what happens in those routes. I don’t think my AU treads on those grounds, but just in case

My MC goes by they/she

(Spoilers)

Prologue and Saeran:

Why did Saeran choose MC in the first place and why did he go after her?

Everything begins in early May: Saeran tried to gain access to the apartment registration because it’s under V's name and Rika didn’t want that anymore. By that point she was trying to get him out of her life, including getting back stuff that was hers that V now owned. Since V owned the apartment, only he had access to the party guest files that Rika wanted.

 In addition to changing the apartment registration and making it seem like the apartment complex fucked up on ownership data, she wanted the bomb completely removed. Saeran couldn't infiltrate the apartment himself yet without knowing how the bomb security system works so MC was his Guinea pig.

Saeran made the apartment building appear as though V/Rika’s apartment was available on the website (to make it seem like a mistake on their end) and whoever bought it would be the new person who the apartment is now registered under.

MC happened to be the lucky one that day and so Saeran gave her the code and everything (acting as the landlord).

He wanted to see if MC would set off certain alarms so he could see which alarms or sensors he needed to disable.

Once MC got into the apartment, she saw that someone else's stuff was there, and an alarm went off and she freaked out. She tried looking for the landlord (Saeran) but he was nowhere to be found. She left the room and Saeran came out of hiding to shut off the alarm. He tried to get as much info about the rest of the system as he could, but MC returned with the real landlord before he could finish.

Saeran leaves without a trace, only getting the job half done.

Real landlord contacts V and V and MC meet to discuss (much like the mm manhwa!). V sympathizes with MC’s position and lets her stay there until she can move out. It is also because V suspects dangerous hacker activity and worries for her safety-he suggests downloading the rfa chatroom for his contact and that’s where she meets the gang :)

MC was supposed to be this disposable confused victim that wouldn't matter in Saeran's eyes but she got more involved with the rfa than he expected, which was a problem.

V says to Mc can keep the money from the initial payment to afford personal items and food so they don't have to worry about rent until they save up.

Saeran wanted MC to leave in some way after he figured out how to navigate the security system-was pressured by Rika constantly (it took long intervals of time for him to act on anything due to Rika's abuse). He tried to make MC a follower of Mint Eye (by sending her those ominous ass emails+pamphlets in the mail etc.), but MC wasn't falling for it & Saeran was getting more frustrated the longer she stayed

MC stays there for a couple months, going to Uni and her job at the local bakery.

After getting settled and getting familiar with the RFA, the local bakery shuts down and they lose their source of income.

The RFA had mentioned Rika’s job to her a few times and since they were really friendly with her, they decided to offer Rika’s job position.

MC gladly took it since it would be a new experience for her and she desperately needed money-didn't want to impose on rfa any longer since they’ve been so kind to her.

Now they're officially working with the RFA YAYY!

After another few months of getting settled, mc and seven get closer, becoming bffs ( literally share once brain cell lol)

December approaches and the Christmas dlc happens! This is where the two officially meet for the first time and they’re able to share personal things abt each other now (ofc Seven does so in his own vague way)

They see each other irl more often after that

Fast forward news years and Valentines day comes up. RFA+ seven have a lil get together. Everything is platonic and it's a very sweet event.

Now the main story kicks in! it takes place almost a full year after RFA met MC

Saeran successfully gained full access to the bomb (after testing the system several times remotely), and decided to go in person to get the info Rika desired and deal with MC

💥(It's worth noting that when MC entered the apartment and the alarm went off in the beginning, Seven never got notified that it went off because of Saeran's hacking & MC never mentioned it to him because she didn't think much of it at the time. Little did they know...👹)

Main Story aka 707’s route

BOMB SCARE!!! 707 TO THE RESCUE!!

MC hides in the closet after hearing the apartment alarm go off cause wtff was that noise lol

Keeps phone close by, calls RFA for clarification cause seven is being vague as hell

Searan breaks the window and doesn’t spot her for a good while.

Eventually he finds her and tries not to intimidate her (talks about paradise and shit) and when he sees that she’s not buying it, he becomes more threatening 

“You can either join me or die” 

MC tries to stall by being slow, but Saeran gets impatient and grabs her, getting equipment ready to jump out the window with the data & files for Mint Eyes

This is when Seven barges in. He has the confrontation with Saeran, MC bites Saeran’s arm to break free, and Seven pulls MC into his grasp, away from all the glass

Mc has no injuries. Only minor nosebleed from shock.

Saeran leaves (without the info he came for) and there’s a moment of silence between MC and Seven. The silence is broken when they share a hug cause that was traumatic and u gotta support your bestie yk

At this point, seven confronts that he finally needs to completely distance himself from everyone to keep them out of danger.

He breaks the hug, and they begin to clean up. MC pieces together Seven and Saeran’s connection to each other from the bits of dialogue that they exchanged.

They try to talk to him about it and after he confirms it, he says in a very sad and stern tone that he’s going to distance himself & set a boundary from now on to protect MC and the RFA.

MC can’t rly argue with that, the most she could do was hope he would come around. Throughout his stay she tried to make sure he ate, took breaks, and took care of himself w/ little gestures & reminders.

I don’t really like the idea of MC being pushy about anything, and if she is it’s not in a weird romantic way cause it’s the wrong time for that

Instead of bugging him for small talk, they go out of the apartment to buy him chips and small gifts to make him feel better. Seven gets scared ofc (referring to that one phone call where MC leaves). Once he realizes what she's trying to do this makes him feel sooo bad because mc's not doing anything to cope with what just happened to them-instead they're focusing on helping him.

Seven in my AU doesn’t get super mad, if anything, he’s more depressed & irritated and tries to keep it in- looking emotionally constipated throughout the whole thing

He knows that making her hate him is dumb since it won’t change the sympathy she has for his situation

Eventually (on day 9 I think it is) they have the confrontation where Seven compares MC to Yoosung (in the fact that they both want to help him in some way and want to remain friends) and he keeps making a point about how he’s different from what MC thinks.

 after the “Then let me understand the person in front of me” line hits it causes Seven to have his breakdown.

Both start ugly sobbing and hug each other. They begin to unravel all their pent-up emotions.

After that the rest of that day is clearing up information abt the whole situation (floppy disk). At night, Seven decides (on his own accord) to be emotionally vulnerable without sugar coating anything or leaving out details. He and MC spend the whole night talking to each other, trying to figure things out and trying to come up with solutions to Saeran and the Agency (and also Seven’s name reveal!) They both end up falling asleep and wake up late the next morning. The tense air leaves the apartment room and the rest of the day they take it easy. Seven begins to search for mint eye info w/ a clear head

Towards the end of that same day, the robo cat wakes up from Seven’s backpack after being on sleep mode for a while and reveals Seven’s secret aka his crush on MC. The way this happens is MC accidentally triggers a voice recording of seven talking to himself. Seven didn't realize the cat recorded him.

It’s a little awkward for a while because of everything that happened, but it’s a sweet kind of awkwardness where MC admits she does too but wants to stay friends for now so they can get through the Saeran & Agency stuff.

After seven finishes freaking out, he gives her a choice of if she wants to join him or wants to be relocated. It’s completely up to her and he respects any choice they decide to make.

MC chooses to go with him and the secret endings follow after

* Now that the cats out the bag (wink wink) they’re friends but can openly flirt with each other (lol)

* Think of the little interactions they have on day 10 in the outgoing calls.

Secret Endings:

The secret endings happen pretty much exactly as told in the game, with the exception being that Jumin distances himself a lot from the rest of the RFA for Saeran shooting V (RIP bestie)

He continues to support everyone in any way he can, but since V was a close friend of his, it’s hard for him to be around Saeran and Seven.

Eventually this changes after Saeran is more stable and in rehab

MC and Seven’s relationship is still up in the air by this point, and MC continues to be an active person in Seven’s life, helping him with Saeran

When things are more stable, they decide to officially get together!!!!!

They decide to move in together + Saeran and Vanderwood (cause poor Vanderwood doesn’t have anywhere to go lol) and it’s a really warm ending for them :D!

I have more in store for this AU (relationship charts, character dynamics, profiles & art) but I’ll get around to it eventually! School is kicking my ass >_<

[bump1nthen1ght]

Pack Tactics (Werewolf x Reader)

Pairing: Fem!Reader/Male!Werewolf

Genre: Urban Fantasy, Established Couple, Angst with a happy ending

Warnings: None

Word Count: 2896 words

Summary: You are in a wonderful relationship with your sweet partner, Gray. But this far into the relationship, you’ve yet to tell him you have no intentions ever of having kids. You can’t help but wonder, how will your child-loving werewolf boyfriend will react?

Request: I live for very specific comfort! No pressure if this doesn’t inspire you or if you just don’t want to write it obvi.... but could I have a f!reader x m!werewolf where the reader is 100% sure she doesn’t want to have kids ever never ever in any capacity and is worried about how her werewolf bf is going to react, worried she’ll be dumped or something (ya know cause idk I feel like werewolves are built with a breeding kink and like into the whole having a lot of pups) there can be smut if you want!! I love me some dramatic angst comfort :)))))))

A/N: Sorry this took so long y’all, school and stuff has been kicking my ass. But writing this sweet little fic has been a nice reprieve from my work. Hope you enjoy!

“Alright, I’ll get the chicken, the asparagus, and the pasta. You’ve got the wine and the dessert?”

“Sure thing.”

The two of you nod, Gray stepping away from the grocery cart before you call out to him.

“And not one of those huge tubs of ice cream.”

Gray emits a dramatic whine, pouting.

“But the big one is 25 cents cheaper than those little pints. It’s practically free!”

You furrow your brow and pat him on the shoulder.

“Not if we don’t finish them, they aren’t. Now go.” Gray rolls his eyes, clutching his heart and throwing his head back. You playfully push him, walking away with the grocery cart and towards the deli section. You can see the top of Gray’s wild brown hair as he moves into the next aisle, his 6’5” form towering over all the little old ladies who usually crowd the store.

You’re browsing the chicken, trying to decide between 2 breasts or a full rotisserie, when a familiar sound reaches you.

“Oh! If it isn’t ____.” You forcibly paint a smile, fingers automatically clenched around the stellafoam package as you turn to see your next door neighbor Mrs. Star. Her teased, bleached blonde hair teeters on top of her head, bobbing back and forth with the clack of her neon blue heels. While you can respect the 60-year old for digging her feet in and refusing to update her wardrobe from the 80’s, her pension for gossip is a little less admirable. “Shocked to see you out and about, what with that big ol boyfriend of yours.” She says, blue eyeshadow crinkling into a wink and nudging you with your elbow. You wheeze a bit, quickly covering it with a laugh. “Back in our honeymoon phase, Richard and I barely left the bedroom. And he was half-way balding back then, not the babe-a-rama you got going over there.” Mrs. Star’s laugh reaches a pitch almost too high for your human ears to pick up, maybe even giving Gray 2 aisles over a headache.

“Well, y’know, gotta keep our energy up.” You wince, immediately berating yourself for that comment. Mrs. Star throws her hand up in a “oh, you” gesture, letting out another half-whistle half-screeching chuckle.

“Oh I do, honey, I do.” She sends you another dramatic wink, which you return with a shaky smile. The corner of your cart bumps into hers as you begin walking along the meat aisle, trying to forcibly end this interaction. But Mrs. Star pulls off an impressive turn with her cart and strolls alongside you. She does little to hide her wandering eyes, trying to piece together any juicy info from your groceries. “So, are you two trying for kids yet?”

The wheels squeal to a sudden stop, forcing you to choke on your saliva as the shopping cart’s handle digs into your stomach. You keep your gaze locked on the frozen steaks  and turkeys, already way past the chicken you meant to grab.

“Uhhh, no. We’re not really in the phase of our relationship yet.”

Mrs. Star clicks her tongue, pressing her hand to her chest in a show of embarrassment. “I’m sorry, dearie. Old habits you see, whenever a new couple moves in together I assume they’re halfway to the wedding already. You young kids like to take it slow, huh?”

You nod, hastily grabbing a package of buffalo wings, hoping for an excuse to escape this conversation.

Mrs. Star continues to walk by you, her cart blocking off any convenient means to leave unless you significantly pick up her speed. Her eyes glance over the sweats sat in a display in the center of the aisle, humming a small tune.

The end of the aisle is approaching, you’re almost home free! You ready your feet to book it with an excuse, but Mrs. Star clears her throat and begins to speak.

“Now dearie, I don’t mean to pry-”

What do you call these last 3 minutes, Star?

“But I’d at least pop on a ring on that finger soon. Someday someone’s going to snatch that boy up like a piece of meat, saying all the right things. Men got all those suspicions about over-the-hill pregnancies, his eyes might start wandering. That’s how my first divorce went, so I should know.”

You pull your cart to a stop, breathe catching as you look at Mrs. Star, shocked. You can handle some inappropriate questions, but to question your boyfriend’s loyalty and insulting your relationship is crossing another line. Your brows furrow with a simmering anger, your cheeks heating up as you're ready to let loose.

“Well, Mrs. Star, if you must know I have the most wonderful boyfriend on this side of the planet, and unlike your deadbeat first husband, he’s as loyal as they can be.” Mrs. Star looks at you, eyes widened and right hand halfway to grab a pack of oreos. You huff, pushing your cart away from hers and towards the cash register. Right before you leave her sight, you turn back to her with a simpering smirk. “Have a great day, Mrs. Star!”

Your heart is heaving with anger, prepping a rant to Gray about the horrible interaction you just had. On the other side of the store, you spot Gray, his curly hair all tussled, holding a large Rosé and a package of ice cream sandwiches. Just the sight of his back calms you a bit, excited for some delicious food and late-night cuddles. You jog a little towards him, but slow down when you see him crouch down, looking at something hidden from your sight.

You turn your shopping cart slightly, trying to peer behind his massive form, and freeze.

Gray’s sticking out his tongue, pushing up his nose, and making many more silly gestures to a baby in a stroller. The baby laughs, it’s chubby cheeks bright red as Gray blows another raspberry, thrashing its arms up and down with joy. The dad is laughing at Gray’s antics, leaning down and patting his kid on the head.

Gray promptly stands up, sending another big smile to the kid, before waving goodbye. The six-month-old waves back, uncoordinated and decidedly adorable. Gray laughs, turning away and walking towards you.

Your feet feel cemented to the floor, heart down in your stomach.

He’s a natural, you think, nausea building up in your throat.

Gray was the oldest of eight, not a large number for a werewolf family. You adored them, and they you, but Gray had a way of dealing with his youngest siblings. Whether it was letting them climb all over him like a jungle gym, or attending imaginary tea parties, Gray was a pro. He was the guy to cram himself into a tiny chair at the kids table, eating tiny cookies and cracking jokes. ‘Dad’ seemed to be stamped into his very being, the cuddly werewolf with a love of children. He’s any mother-in-law’s dream.

But all those sweet things turn sour when you think about what Mrs. Star said. Gray, moving on without you.

Gray’s eyes light up when he sees your cart, jogging over and holding up the bottle of wine like a prize.

“Hey!” He says, quickly sliding an arm around your waist and giving you a peck on the cheek. “I got your favorite, and those delicious mint-chocolate sandwiches.”

His happy voice and comforting touch help abate whatever it is your feeling, but the way Gray’s brow furrows tells you your  discomfort is present in your eyes. “Is everything okay?” His large hand comes up and rubs your shoulder. You give him a shaky smile, fighting away negative thoughts with a bat.

“Yeah, let’s go home.”

---------

Wet fur presses up against your bare neck as you lazily stir the boiling water, Gray’s shifted muzzle now snug in the crook of your shoulder, the white flecks across his dark fur peeking into your periphery. Your free hand instinctively goes back to scratch between his ears, causing him to let out a satisfied huff, hot air blowing across your chest.

“That smells good baby.”

“It’s just salt and water Gray. The pasta’s barely al dente.”

Gray laughs, turning his head  slightly so he can press a small kiss onto your cheek.

“You could make even that taste delicious, ____”

You dramatically roll your eyes, pushing away his chin as he continues to peck and nip at your neck. After showering Gray always made sure to rub in some cherry-blossom leave-in conditioner into his fur. The artificial perfumes just lightly touch your senses, but the mental connection they have to Gray make them smell that much sweeter. You turn and give him a quick kiss on the lips, patting his shoulder once more.

“Do you mind setting the table? Maybe get started on those messy dishes?”

“No problem.” Gray mumbles, reluctantly pulling away from you and tugging up the towel that hangs loose on his hips. He barely needs to reach for your fancy plates on the top shelf, his chest muscles flexing and bicep taut. Even with his thick fur, you can see the bone of his clavicle which accentuates his long neck.

God, he’s so hot.

You think, smirking a bit as you continue stirring.

And all mine.

You hum, but the cheery mood you’re in quickly sours once you remember your conversation with Mrs. Star. That small seed of doubt seems to grow and leech from your chest.

2 years into this relationship and the two of you have only danced around the conversation of the future. You of course had agreed on living together, what your career paths looked like, even the potential of getting married in a couple years, but never kids. As two 20-somethings, you felt like you had all the time in the world.

But the thing was, you didn’t really need all the time in the world.

You didn't want kids. Even with your family or your neighbors needing that your opinion “might change some day,” you were confident in that decision. Not that you hated them, you just could never picture yourself being a mom. A fun aunt, maybe, but never a mom. It wasn’t even a point of contention in your own mind; The picture of you, your partner, and maybe a couple of pets thriving into your elders was bliss enough.

You sneak a glance to Gray, now clothed and back turned to you as he sets the table. He’s diligently folding the napkins into  fun shapes, a ritual he does every date night. From the hole in his jeans you can see his tail wagging, content as he hums to the low radio playing on the window sill.

A smile crawls onto your face, a small giggle escaping you as you watch Gray’s hips bob to the beat, silently mouthing the words. You snort as he does a dramatic little shoulder shift, Gray’s head whipping back towards the kitchen as you throw your hand over your mouth.

“What, don't you like my moves?” Gray says, shimmering his shoulders again, a large grin across his face.

“They could use some work, Kevin Bacon.” Gray clutches his chest, throwing his head back in mock pain.

“You wound me. After all these years, you would cut me so deep?”

“Sure would.” You turn back towards the simmering pasta, setting the wooden spoon on the rim and brushing your hands on your jeans. “Oof!” You squeak as you yanked away, Gray wrapping his arms around your waist, twirling you in a stumbling circle.

“And how ‘bout now, m’lady?” Gray simpers, eyebrow cocked. Your hands slap his chest as you laugh. He lets your feet back down on the floor, but keeps his arms locked around your waist. The two of you slow dance to the beat, and when the chorus hits, Gray gives his worst rendition possible. You bemoan and feign plugging your ears, but find yourself singing along anyway.

Everything about Gray is warm and bright, from his goofy grin to his excitable tail to his two left feet. He adds that pep of energy to your daily routine, pulling you out of an exhausting cycle for a quick jog to the beach or an episode of your favorite drama. Gray fills out all of those little spaces, makes them a little less gray.

Your head rests against his chest, feeling the fur through the fabric of his t-shirt as the two of you sway back and forth.

You want it to stay this way.

But that pestering weed squeezes your heart again, forcing images of Gray with a kid on his shoulders. Showing up to little-league football games with a big cooler and a “#1 dad” T-shirt. All those little moments, all without you.

You can’t fight the deep sigh, pressing your face even deeper into Gray.

Just let me have this. Just this moment, just for now.

-------

“Ugh, I think my stomach is going to explode from excess-pasta.”

Gray huffs, laying his head on your lap as the two of you slump onto the couch. His tail wags lazily, flickering back and forth as his legs swing over the coach's side, his long torso bunched up as he curls into you. The fur of his head is soft as you twist your fingers into it. “But I gotta say, what a way to go out.”

You giggle, losing your thoughts in his soft fur. Gray lets out another deep breath, nuzzling his face into your hand. You brush over his cheek with your  thumb, admiring the cheekbone you feel just underneath.

But that burning question refuses to leave your mind, and you ask it without even thinking.

“Do you want kids, Gray?”

Gray’s eye’s stay closes, his posture relaxed as he sinks into your massaging fingers.

“Hmmm, maybe. Never really thought too much about it. Why?”

Your throat dries up, mind reeling. It wasn’t even a definitive yes, but your heart is still reeling. Your fingers pause and Gray's eyes open. He shifts his head when he sees the look on your face, concerned. “Babe?”

You nod, eyes still wide, trying to fight off the inklings of a panic attack. Gray pushes himself up on his elbows, paw quickly coming to caress your cheek. “Baby, is everything alright?”

You find the energy to breathe, and suck in deeply. Your heart begins to slow down as you look into Gray’s yellow wolf eyes. You dig your cheek into his large palm, smelling the perfume of his conditioner.

“Yes, sorry, I just-” You pause, taking another deep breath. “I ran into Mrs. Star in the grocery store, and-I’m sorry I’m overthinking things.” You mutter, patting yourself  on the cheek as to snap yourself out of your mood. Grays other hand rubs the back of your neck.

“It’s okay, baby, I’m here. Did she say something?”

“No-Well, yes. It’s silly, typical Star things. She just brought up how ‘ought to get started having kids, and it just-” You let out a shaky sigh, pulling away Gray’s hand with your own and looking him straight in the eye. “I don’t want to have kids, ever.”

In Gray’s eyes, you expect to….something. Confusion, disappointment, maybe? But instead, all you see is relief. Gray rests his paw on your thigh, squeezing it.

“_____, is that what you’ve been worrying about?” You nod, throwing your eyes back down, but Gray tilts your chin towards him. “If you don’t want kids, we won’t have kids. Simple as that.”

Your eyes widen and you pull your face back.

“Seriously? But-what if-”

“____, I grew up with eight siblings. I’m going to have to deal with more nieces and nephews then I can count on my fingers and my toes, I think I can handle not having kids.”

A weight lifts off of your chest and you slump forward into Gray, pressing your forehead against his clavicles as you let out a long, relieved sigh. He laughs, patting your back and kissing the top of your head. “I’m sorry you had to deal with this all day, I didn’t even realize you were so upset.”

You slap his chest, letting out another frustrated sigh. With him? No, but yourself, and Mrs. Star, for stirring up nightmares for no damn good reason.

“It’s not your fault, it’s mine for being so paranoid.” You press your chin up, pouty lips admiring your boyfriend's face. “I’m sorry for freaking out. She really got me into my own head.”

“No apologies needed baby.” Gray says, giving you a small peck. You send him a cheesy smile, chasing after his lips with a couple of small kisses. A low rumble growls out from his chest as you nip at his jawline. Behind him, you hear his tail begin to hump on the floor.

“Hmm, does that mean you feel better?” You nod, pressing another kiss into his pulse point.

“Yes, thank you for letting me get that out.” Another kiss, now on his Adam’s apple.

“Welp,” Gray says, quickly adjusting himself. In another second, you yelp as he picks you up by your butt, legs quickly wrapping around his waist, “Let’s give Mrs. Star something to talk about, hmm?”

You throw your head back with a laugh, clinging tight to his chest as Gray blows a raspberry into your neck. “That good with you, my lady?”

You nod, giving him another kiss on the lips as he carries you off into the bedroom.

Yeah, you have it good.

[asphodel-storm]

So. If Cobra Kai were DC.

First off, the man who is the source of most problems, John Kreese:

Kreese’s mentor was an agent of the League of Shadows/Assassins planted within the military. Kreese was invited to take his place after his death. He trained with Ra’s al Ghul after the war and then left to found Cobra Kai as a covert recruitment operation for the League (not every Cobra alum became an assassin, only the ones Kreese saw that potential in). Johnny was on the path to recruitment and it was the loss against Daniel and resulting fallout that changed that. Kreese has been on League business every time he’s been ‘dead’. 

Mr. Miyagi:

Mr. Miyagi was a Green Lantern. The ring chose him a while after he received his medal of honor and he was protecting the universe secretly during the Karate Kid movies. When Daniel overcomes his fear in TKK 3, Miyagi retires and the ring chooses Daniel.

Daniel LaRusso:

Daniel was a Green Lantern for years (a secret from everyone except Amanda and Miyagi), but the lantern’s power never replaced karate for him because karate is part of the balance that allows him to use the ring in the first place. The ring started to reject him during the period where his resentment of Johnny was overpowering his will (season 1-ish). It chose him again when he got a handle on that, but by then he had already turned his attention to teaching and empowering young people. He gave it up and it chose his daughter after she overcame her own fear at the end of season 3.

Samantha LaRusso

Samantha LaRusso was chosen by a Green Lantern ring after overcoming her fear and facing Tory at the end of season 3. She enters season 4 as a newly minted super hero. 

Tory Nichols 

Tory witnesses Sam as a Green Lantern early on. She has a lot of anger inside of her and seeing her rival - the girl who in her opinion was handed everything in life - chosen by cosmic power pushes her over the edge. Kreese encourages and feeds this anger, of course, though he does it with the intention of making Tory a better assassin. When a Red Lantern power ring chooses her that’s honestly a bonus. 

Johnny Lawrence 

Johnny was nearly recruited to the League of Assassins as a teenager - he would have been shipped off to official league training after highschool if he hadn’t lost to Daniel (and, likely, if Kreese hadn’t impulsively burned that bridge before remembering the larger plan). Instead, he was approached by the representative of an anonymous east coast billionaire after high school and paid to use his connection to the ‘late’ John Kreese  - and pre-assassin training - to infiltrate and sabotage some activities the League of Shadows had going in the Valley. He never learned the full extent of what the League was or his or Kreese’s connections to it during this time (like, he probably could have if he’d tried, but he’s Johnny). He was inconsistent at best in his vigilantism after that, putting on a mask and patrolling more when he needed an outlet than based on the needs of the community. He was briefly the ‘Batman of the Valley’ when Batman first franchised out into Batman Inc. He’d given that up for years by the time he met Miguel, but dusts off his cape when he learns of new League operations in the Valley in season 4 (likely being run by Terry Silver). 

His ‘cape’ is actually a red leather bodysuit. He definitely calls himself something like DeathFist or DeathFang or whatever in the long tradition of people in red bodysuits being called stuff like that (DeadShot, DeathStroke, etc.). 

Miguel Diaz

Miguel will hit the streets patrolling with his mentor, but the transition to vigilantism also hits him at a time when he’s realized he probably shouldn’t have Johnny on such a pedestal so he’ll also use the opportunity to strike out alone or with friends. The transition also comes at a time when Miguel has noticed certain changes about himself he can’t explain - like how he destroyed Demetri’s tv with lasers that shot out of his eyes when he got a bit too competitive about Mario Cart.

Yeah, the bad man Carmen moved them to escape was not connected to organized crime. He wasn’t Terry Silver. He was General freaking Zod. Why does General Zod live in Ecuador? He’s building up forces there. Anyways, Miguel is half Kryptonian and just awakening to his powers since his body has been healing from the school fight. The injury was a kind of catalyst and as he heals he’s also becoming invulnerable. So much for his rivalry with Robby, right? Nope, that’s still on. 

Robby Keene

Kreese thinks a mistake he made with Johnny was not bringing him into the fold sooner and getting him excited about the prospect of the League of Shadows. He knows very well that Robby will march out of Cobra Kai forever if he mentions anything about assassins before he’s ‘ready’, but he does start letting him know about the secret society of warriors and introduce him to some alumni who are with the league now. Maybe show off some missions where they actually intervened for good. Essentially, he makes him feel like he could be part of something - something that feels like family - which is bigger than himself (which is already an established part of his schtick). 

As part of this pre-assassin buttering up, Kreese procures something special for Robby - gloves laced with kryptonite. He told him it would only level the playing field between him and Miguel, but it is enough to weaken Miguel enough to be killed. The plan is for Robby to go in thinking ‘Miguel is pretty much indestructible even with these gloves’ so he goes all out and kills him and then while he’s dealing with the trauma of having killed him Kreese can pull him fully into the League. While the plan won’t work, the path to it will see Robby getting a lot more weapons/assassin-specific training than Johnny did.

He will eventually take over Johnny’s suit and code name.

Eli ‘Hawk’ Moskowitz

Kreese’s plan for Robby is a more elaborate and thought out version of his original plan for Hawk. Hawk was never really a top priority for Kreese, but he spiraled so nicely that it seemed he could be plucked off into assassin-dom early. He saw Tory and Robby as better prospects than Hawk for long term use in the valley in part because he expected to have Hawk shipped off to train under Lady Shiva by now. He just had to rip the murder bandaid, and the plan was to push him until he killed Demetri. 

Because Hawk was on the fast track, and because he was so good at convincing himself he didn’t care what he’d done to Demetri’s arm, Kreese actually already let him in on the true nature of Cobra Kai. He didn’t know for long before leaving and its not like he had any strategically vital info, but he knows enough to make him a loose end. Kreese sends the Cobras (minus Robby, but possibly including a Tory who isn’t quite used to her new power yet) after him. Hawk is murdered. And isn’t that a waste? 

Kreese set it up, but when the likes of Tory and Robby almost leave over it he pins it on Kyler ‘going overboard’ and says it’s fine, they can save him. Hawk gets thrown in a Lazarus Pit and rises confused and angry. Under the grips of Pit Madness he temporarily forgets a lot (like leaving Cobra Kai and reconciling with Demetri and Miguel, but also things like his parents. Kid is a very angry blank slate.) and since most people think he’s dead its pretty easy to send him to the League. He’ll turn up again a few months later, when the League sends a squad to secure their interests in the valley. He breaks off when he can’t quite kill Demetri in a fight, but he doesn’t remember why and roams around the valley causing trouble or helping out as he sees fit until Demetri can get through to him (Demetri’s eternal struggle). 

He doesn’t call himself Red Hood, but you get the gist. Hawk is already a code name. 

Demetri [Insert Surname]

Got Eli back only to lose him for good. He thought. Until Not-Red Hood shows up and causes problems. But the slippery assassin keeps getting away before he can really talk to him! Miguel is steadily developing Super Powers and wants to help, but things are also heating up over in the Main Conflict and Demetri is left chasing Hawk alone a lot of the time. 

Maybe it’s that determination that causes his latent metagene to activate. 

Demetri only ever thought super speed was the second best superpower, but he rethinks that after he has it. In hindsight, his smart ass does fit the speedster profile and Eli definitely can’t get away now! 

His lightning when he runs is blue.

And yep, that’s all for now. I’ll never write a fic for this ‘verse it’s just fun to think about. More so about how after the San Fernando branch of the League of Shadows is destroyed the kids can all make up and form a cool super team. Also, if I were to write fic, it would be Demeli. As I'm sure anyone I've interacted with in this fandom knows.

[mythicamagic]

The Colour of Love: Sesskag oneshot

This oneshot is dedicated to @chierafied​ as thanks for all her hard work and organisation in the sesskag community, particularly on tumblr for sesskag week and monthly prompts. She's also a wonderful sesskag author and always offers advice or a kind word ^^

Rated T

Summary: Shippo puts a spell on Kagome that allows her to see emotions in colour. It's fun to test out on her friends, but why is she seeing an awful lot of magenta around Sesshoumaru whenever she comes near? Sesskag oneshot

The Colour of Love

"I just need to test it on someone. You'll help, won't you?"

Kagome eyed the ominous glowing beverage in the fox's hands dubiously. She winced and picked up a basket, walking away with every intention of weaselling out of the conversation.

"Shippo, no offence, but the last time you tested something on me for class, horns sprouted out of my head and green pimples covered my face for an entire week. I'm not super keen on being your guinea pig this time, buddy."

His tail twitched and lowered, but her words did little to deter Shippo. He followed the miko as she attended to her chores; freeing swaying sheets from where they'd been hanging out to dry and folding them neatly into a basket.

"Oh pleeassee, Kagome! Sensei oversaw my casting process this time- there's no danger, honest! It's not even that cool of a spell."

Kagome arched a brow, lifting off another sheet and smoothing the cool creases. That was odd, Shippo always preferred the flashier spells. "What does it do?"

"It would let you see everyone's emotions in colour."

She tilted her head, "in colour? How would that work?"

Shippo grinned mischievously, holding up his cup and shaking it gently. "Wouldn't you like to find out?"

Giggling, she thought for a moment, biting her bottom lip. "I guess it sounds pretty harmless. And this is for a grade?"

"Yes!" he nodded rapidly, eyes widening as his tone became pleading. "Sensei already graded all the other kids! I'm the only one who hasn't passed yet, and everyone else in the village refuses to help me! I'd owe you big time, Kagome. Please?"

Giving a large, put-upon sigh and folding the last of the sheets, Kagome squatted down before him. "Alright, alright. I just have to drink it?"

Green eyes brightened, and he handed the cup over eagerly, the contents nearly spilling. "Mhm! The effects should only last for a few days~!"

The glowing blue shimmer within her cup didn't exactly fill Kagome with confidence, but she didn't want to stifle his progress. It was wonderful that Shippo could advance in his magic at a kitsune school. Secretly, she felt somewhat guilty about the subject. She hadn't been able to witness his growth for three years after being stuck in the future.

Steeling herself and deciding to support him, Kagome downed the foul-tasting concoction. Coughing and blinking away thick tears that stung her lashes, her tongue roved around in her mouth as though trying to escape the taste of sour candy mixed with spices and mint leaves. What an odd combination. Shaking herself and noticing Shippo watching her worriedly, blue eyes widened as a faint shade of grey coiled and moved around the outline of his body like a shining aura.

"I-I think I see it?" Kagome gasped, reaching out and trying to touch the thing, though it had no solid form.

"Really?" Shippo lit up, the colour immediately becoming a tentative yellow, which only shone brighter into a canary hue when she nodded.

Giving a happy cheer, Shippo asked her about any side effects, which were none as far as she could tell.

They then decided to walk around Kaede's village together, Kagome noting any people they passed by and the colour of their current emotions. Shippo hurriedly took notes.

"There's Miroku meditating-" Kagome pointed to the quiet meadow they passed where the monk sat calmly, having gained two pupils to teach. Monks in training. Inuyasha had voiced his doubts that it would last long once the monks witnessed Miroku's less than savoury habits.

"His aura thingy is lavender and seems controlled," she observed in a hushed tone.

The little kitsune made a noise of affirmation, writing that down on a trailing scroll. "I think purple must be linked with spirituality then? This is great info!"

Giggling, she nodded, noticing how faint the pupil's auras were. She wondered if her own focus on spirituality would be strong or weak.

Moving on, noticed Sango outside her hut, who seemed absorbed in rocking her infant son while he dozed. Her twins were playing with some spinning tops that Shippo had given them.

"What do ya see, Kagome?" he tugged at her pant leg.

She hummed, gaze gentling. "Sango is radiating a kind of baby pink glow. The twins are like yours earlier- yellow and excited."

"So I guess love is pink," Shippo nodded.

Noticing something, Kagome waved a hand slightly. "Hold on-"

"Hm?"

Kaede and Rin were walking towards them, engaged in conversation. The little girl chirped on about something or other, while Kaede nodded indulgently.

"Kaede and Rin have pink auras too, but it's different. It's a pale pink, more like a pearl."

Shippo tapped his small chin with a pen Kagome had lent him. "Hmm…"

"I guess it makes sense since there are different types of love, don't you think?" gently prodding him, she smiled.

"Oh! So like they're feeling something kinda similar to Sango, but different."

"Right," Kagome grinned wider, proud of him. "Familial love for Sango, and platonic, friendly love for Kaede and Rin."

The old miko and her charge stopped to greet them on the path. "What are ye both up to today?" Kaede's single eye slid down to the scroll questioningly.

Kagome waved it off. "Just some schooling."

"Yeah, but it's fun! We're testing magic!"

Rin gaped at Shippo, aura turning green. "Aww, can I help them?" she turned to Kaede with a pout, clasping both hands and making big brown eyes even wider.

"Ye have your own training to attend to, Rin. Come along," the old woman kept walking with a dusty chuckle.

Whining good-naturedly with a now agitated orange glow about her, Rin trudged after her guardian, giving a despondent farewell to Shippo.

At that moment, foul cursing filled the air. The loud, booming swear caused nesting birds to take flight from their trees near the village.

The miko and kit shared a dry look.

"Inuyasha," they sighed in unison.

Needless to say, their former travelling companion's emotions glowed a vibrant red- outshining even the robe of the fire rat. He held his sore thumb, having accidentally hammered it while fixing a neighbour's chicken coop. Kagome wisely hid her laughter, feeling a plume of affection for him, since he'd taken it upon himself to help a neighbour.

I wonder what colour surrounds me when I look at Inuyasha, she wondered, fishing out a small mirror. Unfortunately, she couldn't see the colour. Though they'd broken up after a couple of weeks of dating, that candle of first love between them wouldn't be snuffed out completely. Since she couldn't coax that flame any higher than a tiny, nostalgic flame, she wagered it to be a kind of pastel pink colour.

After a few hours, Shippo looked down at the list of emotions they'd observed. "I think I got most of em' for now. We did great today, Kagome! Thanks so much!"

She giggled and ruffled his hair. "Don't sweat it, kiddo. I need to collect some herbs now, so if I see some new ones while I'm out, I'll let you know," Kagome grinned, leaning a basket against her hip. "I'll be able to see these emotions for a few more days, so no sense in turning in your test results early."

Shippo gave her a brief hug, before racing off to go organise his notes. Beaming with pride, Kagome walked out of the village and up a hill towards Inuyasha Forest with a small skip in her step. She'd helped! And luckily there'd been no side effects or worries of any kind.

Maybe I should help him out more often, she mused, noticing a certain Daiyoukai step out from beneath the shade of trees, powder blue shifting around his aura calmly. Smiling amiably, Kagome lifted a hand in greeting as their gazes met- before freezing.

Sesshoumaru's expression didn't change from its usual combo of placid, haughty and stoic. However, the energy surrounding him immediately dyed a deep, vibrant colour.

Kagome's breath hitched, eyes widening.

It plunged into a bold magenta hue, becoming a solid outline that coiled and thrummed.

She did not understand what it meant, but that she could elicit a change in emotion from him at all felt startling.

He stared at her, unblinking. As he drew closer and closer, Kagome tried to make sense of what he could be feeling, but his guarded eyes refused to risk any secrets being revealed.

"Miko," he acknowledged in his usual crisp, silky baritone. His way of a greeting.

"Sesshoumaru," she said, muscles tensing as he passed by, the silk of his billowing sleeve brushing the hypersensitive skin of her arm. Kagome blinked rapidly, reeling.

Shifting to watch him leave surreptitiously, she watched the magenta remain long after they'd parted ways, spying him duck into Kaede's hut to pay Rin a visit.

What the heck was that about?

Maybe it wasn't anything worth noting. Surely, just like anyone else, the Daiyouki had various emotions linked to things. People elicited different feelings from him; that was perfectly normal. But his mood had changed so swiftly upon seeing her that Kagome couldn't help but feel curious. What did magenta mean? Had she offended him? Did he always feel that specific emotion around her, or was it a one-off?

Turning on her heel, Kagome dismissed her task of fetching herbs in favour of seeking Shippo out again.

---

"What does magenta mean to you?"

"To me?"

Kagome nodded seriously.

Thinking for a moment, Shippo hummed and nommed on a lollipop, leaning back on the log he'd perched upon outside. "I dunno, it's a pretty colour but not a favourite. Can't get much use outta it with my crayons."

"No, I mean like - surely there has to be some demon opinion of magenta? Is it associated with a powerful emotion or something?"

Shippo shook his head, consulting the forgotten scroll. "My guess is- since purple is spiritual stuff, Sesshoumaru feels uh...like you remind him of holy things?"

Huffing out a sigh, she flopped down beside him, placing her chin in her hands. "Doubt that. He didn't seem calm," she mumbled, remembering the vivid intensity of his unblinking stare. "Hm, maybe since red- which is anger- and darker blue- which is sadness- has to mix to make the right shade of magenta, that means Sesshoumaru is both angry and sad when he looks at me." Kagome's stomach dropped. "Oh God, do I make him smad?"

Shippo snorted and tossed his lollipop aside to shake her arm, noticing the dazed look of worry glazing her eyes. "You don't make him smad."

Kagome remained unconvinced. The kit groaned, hopping up and grabbing her hand. "You don't! I'm sure it was just a coincidence he was feeling magenta around you. Let's go see!"

The miko stumbled after the exuberant fox, not fully realising where he intended to go until it clicked they were heading toward Kaede's hut. Kagome's heels abruptly dug into the earth, dragging. "Shippo!" she hissed. "He's visiting Rin- I don't want to interrupt."

"You won't be, it looks like they're saying goodbye already."

Blue eyes widened and her attention snapped up from the fox to land on some distant figures up ahead. Even from far away, Kagome could see the pearl pink aura coiling around Sesshoumaru as he lay a gentle hand upon Rin's head of brown hair. The girl beamed, giving off her own warm shine.

Kagome bit the inside of her cheek, heedless of her own approach now. She realized then just how personal and vulnerable the emotion spell could be- how rare and revealing it was to witness Sesshoumaru experiencing such a wholesome bond, free from violence. Enemies could potentially use it on each other to find out secret information easily.

The Daiyoukai seemed to inhale- abruptly stiffening and lifting his hand away from Rin as claws twitched, curling into his palm. Kagome witnessed the moment his aura bled darker, slipping from innocent pink into the strong shade of magenta- just as he turned his head in their direction. Golden eyes pinned her in place. Sesshoumaru seemed to grow tense and watchful, showing none of his previous warmth.

Shippo paused when they weren't too far away, glancing up and noticing Kagome's pale expression. "Uh... has it happened again?"

"It's even worse than before," Kagome whispered.

"Kagome, Shippo!" Rin called over to them, waving. "Are you still playing with magic?"

This seemed to catch Sesshoumaru's attention, ripping his heavy gaze away to land on his ward. "Magic?"

"Mhm! They're doing some kitsune homework with a spell," she smiled, seeming to gain a devious expression and hurrying over to grab Kagome's freehand, pulling her the rest of the way towards her lord. "Kagome! You should take a quick break and sit with Lord Sesshoumaru. Share some tea together!"

Horror churned fierce and fast through Kagome's system. She didn't want to make him uncomfortable, and prolonged exposure to her would no doubt suck for him if magenta was an irritated colour.

"That is unnecessary, Rin," Sesshoumaru uttered, confirming Kagome's suspicions. She winced a little anyway, wondering why it stung. "This one was just passing through, I will leave now."

Making a noise of complaint, the girl's grip tightened. "Well then, she should accompany you! W-we need medicinal herbs and you didn't gather any earlier, did you Kagome?"

She willed the earth to swallow her whole. "N-no…"

"Then it's decided! She can walk you to the forest since she's heading that way." Rin poked and prodded them to get moving. In all the confusion, Shippo slipped away to make some notes, giving Kagome a thumbs up- which she returned with a death glare.

Wondering what had come over Rin but being trapped by politeness to refuse, Kagome grimly started walking alongside Sesshoumaru, picking up a basket from Kaede's hut.

I shouldn't feel guilty or weird around him, she thought, trying to ease her worry. If he's getting bent out of shape just from seeing me, that's his problem. I'm pretty confident I haven't insulted him recently.

Kagome nodded silently to herself, endeavouring not to let Sesshoumaru's secret magenta emotion matter so much-

"You appear well."

Jumping, Kagome whipped her head up to the regal demon. "Huh?" she blinked, heat touching her cheeks. "Oh! Thanks!" the magenta outline grew bolder, much to her chagrin. "You look nice too. Aha-! I mean not nice- well, you look handsome- but in a good health way! Not a 'compliment on your looks' way. That's totally what I meant. "

Open mouth, insert foot.

His aura only seemed to fluctuate more, and Sesshoumaru's lips thinned. Kagome inwardly groaned. No doubt he hated her even more now!

She decided an attempt to smooth over everything was in order. "Sesshoumaru," she said, taking a breath. "I know we might not be what you'd consider close, but I'd be totally fine with talking about anything that might be bothering you. Even allies can talk about that stuff."

Sesshoumaru blinked languidly, looking as though she'd blurted out a foreign language. He then faced forward, features becoming tightly controlled. "Nothing unsettles me, miko. It is a foolish, human sentiment that I should be 'bothered' by anything."

Kagome rolled her eyes, mouth twitching. Proud, stubborn guy. She didn't know why she found it kind of endearing.

"Why are you so certain I am troubled?"

Her steps faltered before she strode on, biting her bottom lip. "I have a knack for feeling out these things. A woman's intuition," she grinned, noticing his stare rove lower, south from her eyes.

"Hn," golden eyes lingered. Kagome wondered if she'd gotten something stuck in her teeth. "Your intuition is certainly lacking if you are only just noticing something amiss."

A victorious noise escaped her and she immediately swooped in on the slip-up. Sesshoumaru seemed to wince. "Aha! So something IS wrong!"

"Miko-"

"It's just that you've been dealing with it for such a long time that it's become almost normal to you. That about right?" she grinned.

Kagome took his moody silence as a 'yes.'

"I'm sorry I didn't pick up on it earlier. Shippo's um...spell...has made me extra sensitive to how others are feeling," she revealed a half-truth. "I just can't work out how you're feeling. Heh, you're mysterious even when I've got magic to help me understand you."

"You wish to understand me?"

"Well, yes? You're our ally. As established; I'd like to be your friend too."

"I see."

"Sooo...?" Kagome hedged as they arrived at the border of the trees. The Daiyoukai stopped and turned to her once they were beneath the branches, having stepped under cool shade. Kagome quieted, wondering at the assessing, guarded look he pinned her with. Why should the mighty Lord Sesshoumaru guard himself against her of all people?

Pale lips quirked, and he hummed, giving a haughty, arrogant smirk. "Figure it out yourself."

Her mouth fell open. Ire immediately simmered real and hot beneath her skin. "That's not helpful, Sesshoumaru! The whole point of having friends is to share stuff! You can't expect people to know how you're feeling without you telling them, I'm not a mind reader."

He moved in slightly closer then, leaning down. Kagome swallowed but tensed her legs to keep from bending back, holding her ground and straightening her spine. It proved difficult. Sesshoumaru's cold features had a way of unnerving even the most hardened warriors. It was the lack of empathy or emotion in his animalistic gaze; the terrifying sense that something was missing; humanity.

But...

Kagome's eyes strayed to the magenta aura that only blazed thicker and larger, practically drowning her. The spell revealed, albeit without his consent; that Sesshoumaru was a man of feeling. In fact, whatever emotion plagued him, it roared stronger than any other persons she'd seen that day. Besides all that, she'd witnessed his care of others before. Been on the receiving end of it when he'd saved her a few times.

In the shade's hush, he tipped his head slightly, silver hair falling free from behind a pointed ear. "I am not a being that 'tells' other's information freely. Demons can glean enough from my body language, scent and actions enough to understand my feelings."

"And I appreciate that," Kagome said in a softer tone. "But I'm not a demon."

"Rin-"

"Is a child who has spent a lot of one-on-one time with you. I'd also wager that while she understands a lot of your intentions...she doesn't always understand you either."

Sesshoumaru begrudged her point, though seemed ever unwilling to let his mask slip to reveal anything.

Searching his gaze, she wet her dry lips. "What does the colour magenta mean to you?"

His aura flared, and Sesshoumaru surprised her by leaning back and stepping away. His features became a mix of things, the colours changing for the first time around him- grey, yellow, black, fluctuating on magenta and orange before settling on a particular shade of red that made her squeak.

No way- is he embarrassed?

"Why ask that?" he asked in a removed, steady tone. If she focused though, Kagome could pick up on the faint slip in his voice.

Kagome for once couldn't answer, heart hammering in her ribcage. She wasn't sure what to interpret from his reaction, but the colour obviously meant something to him. Shaking her head, Kagome waved it off.

"Never mind. I'll take your advice and work it out for myself."

He blinked and arched a brow, seeming to recover from his surprise. "Oh?"

Kagome made a noise of affirmation, turning on her heel and taking a few steps away. Pausing, she flashed him a smile over her shoulder. "And if I guess correctly, you agree to start telling me the important stuff. Deal?"

Sesshoumaru's face flashed with intrigue. Slowly, thin lips curved. His expression transformed into something quietly eager, the colour aura deepening into blazing magenta once more.

"Hn."

---

After asking near everyone she could think of for their input or ideas, Kagome ran into a brick wall, utterly stumped. That was- until she heard a certain irritatingly high, grating voice.

"But WHERE did Lord Sesshoumaru go?"

"I don't know, he said he was just passing through."

Jaken.

If anyone had insight into Sesshoumaru, it would be the little green imp. Kagome hurried in the direction of the helium sounding voice.

Finding Rin and Jaken by the village well, and struggling to pull a bucketful up together- Kagome quickly lent a hand, hefting the bucket up onto the side. The little girl grinned and thanked her, while Kagome crouched before Jaken, causing him to squeak.

"W-what is it? What do you want?!"

"I need to talk to you," Kagome said seriously. Resting her hands over her knees and leaning forward intently. "Magenta. Tell me your thoughts on that colour."

Bulbous yellow eyes widened. "Hah? Have you lost your senses, strange girl?"

Rin pouted and lifted the heavy bucket down, spilling some water. "Just do it, Master Jaken. If Kagome is asking, it must be important."

Kagome smiled a little, before schooling her features back into complete seriousness.

The imp sighed and squinted, before thinking for a moment. "Hmm, well. I would of course associate it with the most illustrious Lord Sesshoumaru!"

"H-huh? Why?"

"His cheek and wrist stripes are that exact shade! Don't you pay attention to anything?"

Kagome realised he was entirely correct. They matched up perfectly. Excitement built in her chest, feeling like she was FINALLY getting somewhere with the big mystery. "So it's linked with him… I see. What do you think the colour represents?"

"Haven't the faintest idea," he tilted his head back with a haughty sniff. "But since they adorn Lord Sesshoumaru, I can only conclude that it must be a royal, prideful colour."

Her elation fizzled out. Kagome wilted, sighing and standing once more. That didn't fit at all. No way would Sesshoumaru feel pride while looking at her.

Stepping away with the dismal thought that she was back at square one, she paused upon noticing a tugging on her sleeve. Rin clutched the trailing end of it, looking up at her in quiet earnest. She bit her lip and seemed to struggle with something. "I-I'm sure the answer is there if you just try asking more questions, Kagome."

The miko softened and petted her wild hair, smoothing the locks back from her face. "You really think so, kiddo? Because I'm kind of stumped right now."

"Mhm! I don't know what homework you're helping Shippo with, but if its causing you to take an interest in Lord Sesshoumaru, I encourage you to dig deeper!"

Kagome wasn't sure why she felt so strongly about the subject, her smile becoming a little confused. Nonetheless, she decided to take the advice and try again.

The right question…

Grabbing the back of Jaken's robes and tugging him back before he could walk off, Kagome knelt down. She decided to shift her focus. "Those markings on Sesshoumaru's face and wrists- I was wondering if they mean anything."

"Bah! Such things have a multitude of uses! Ahem!" he lifted up a tiny green claw. "Firstly, they are to show that he is poisonous."

Kagome stifled a giggle behind her hand, smiling with her eyes at Rin. "So he's like a flower."

"No! Nothing like a flower! He is deadly!"

"Poisonous flowers exist- but never mind that," she waved off. "What else?"

"Second, the positioning of the markings represents various things. The ones on mi lord's cheeks represent superior jaws, the wrists and ankles represent superior strength in his arms and legs, while the hips represent that he will produce superior offspring."

Kagome turned steadily red, wondering how low those stripes hooked down his hips. She hadn't even known he possessed hip stripes and was now picturing him half-naked. Kagome quickly shook the fantasy away. Rin didn't seem to understand that last part but thankfully remained quiet.

Jaken continued on, bolstered by such a captive audience and happy to talk about his favourite subject. "Lastly, they are to catch the interest of a mate."

"They... are?"

The imp nodded with vigour. "If you were the slightest bit observant, you'd notice that the vibrancy of his markings has emboldened recently. This means he is displaying for a female."

She had noticed that, actually, but Kagome hadn't thought anything of it. She felt close to a conclusion then, so achingly near to the truth. Swallowing to moisten her suddenly dry mouth, Kagome soldiered on.

"I saw that the ones on his cheeks had become bolder. What about his crescent moon?"

Jaken waved a tiny hand, "the moon is just to show which clan he belongs to. In relation to your original question, it is the magenta markings that are paramount. They are intrinsically linked with all that I noted; intimidation signals and mating."

Kagome nodded, inwardly reeling. She mulled this over and thanked him for the valuable insight. Magenta obviously meant more to Sesshoumaru than she'd ever thought.

In light of Jaken's words, Kagome found herself having to observe a certain set of emotions. Since mating was on the list, she reluctantly wandered in search of a known pervert.

Sweat beaded on her forehead as she took Miroku to one side. After explaining the situation in a succinct manner, she took a breath.

"I need you to get horny for your wife."

Miroku stared. He then pushed back his sleeves, clearing his throat and righting his collar. "My time has come."

Kagome's eyes widened and she held up her hands, "wait- I'm not asking to be weird or anything. M-maybe I should explain more."

He lay a comforting hand on her shoulder, patting. "No further explanation necessary, Lady Kagome. If this is in service of deeper understanding between allies, I am more than happy to help. Observe."

Miroku breezily walked away, gravitating towards Sango who had set down their son, attention on the crawling toddler. Kagome groaned and buried her face in her hands- shifting some fingers aside to witness the moment Miroku's calm blue aura darkened.

For a moment, panic leapt down her windpipe as it deepened into purple, hovering over magenta- before the aura settled on a lush hot pink.

The sound of a slap sounded out, Sango moving away from Miroku's groping hand. "I've told you before; not in front of the children!" she hissed.

Her husband laughed airly, stroking his cheek and giving her a fond smile. Kagome's heart warmed slightly, witnessing the hot pink glow into a warm pinkish red.

I think that must be the colour of love.

This, unfortunately, didn't answer any of her questions.

The possible things Sesshoumaru could be feeling toward her made the miko's stomach twist into knots. She went over what to say in her head a dozen or so times- and then a dozen more. It was no easy feat to wait on pins and needles for the demons' return. Inevitably though, word of his return reached her a few days later.

---

Sesshoumaru had been spotted by the trees bordering Inuyasha Forest so she'd set off alone immediately.

Since the sun beat down mercilessly, Kagome was unsurprised to find him by water. Elevated temperatures were likely brutal on those who regularly wore armour- evidenced by the fact that she walked in on him very much without it. Sesshoumaru knelt by a river, eyes closed and hankimono parted- exposing a thin sliver of firm, pale muscle. His head slightly dipped forward, hair held over one shoulder as one hand cupped cool water and splashed it over the back of his neck. Droplets ran down the length of his throat to dip around his collarbone- some sliding down his back. Sesshoumaru massaged the base of his skull, before cupping more water and repeating the process, long fingers running over the back of his glistening neck.

Kagome stared. She'd suddenly never been so thirsty in her life.

His lashes fluttered open to glance at her. His continued silence prompted her to clear her throat and murmur; "I'm not sure if I've got it right."

"Explain."

Kagome felt a blush rise to her cheeks and panic erupted in her chest. She suddenly wasn't ready. She wasn't nearly as ready for this as she needed to be. Approaching the Daiyoukai dressed in a white tank top and dungarees had not been the plan but she'd impulsively sought him out without thinking about it.

His voice turned softer, almost coaxing. "What conclusion did you reach?"

Kagome bit her lip and felt the need to explain her process of elimination. "First off; I feel like I should be honest with you. I can see the colours of people's emotions around them due to a spell Shippo used on me. That's why I was asking about magenta. It's...it's the emotion you keep feeling whenever you see me- I just had no idea what it meant."

Golden eyes cracked a fraction wider, exposing the liquid honey swimming inside, glinting in the afternoon sunlight with interest.

"I asked Jaken about the colour since he has an insight into you more sound than other people. He told me that magenta was linked to your markings- which can represent intimidation signals and m-mating interest."

He arched a brow, something unnamed flickering over his expression. Kagome began pacing back and forth before him. "So! The first thing I did was follow Inuyasha into a fight. There was a weasel youkai bothering a farmer. I noticed Inuyasha's aura turned a brownish, orangey-red during the fight and concluded that was likely aggression! So I figured you weren't feeling defensive around me," she gave a nervous giggle. Why was the sun so damn bright? The humidity only elevated the spike of nerves pricking the back of her neck.

"Next came the... other thing," her voice dimmed and Kagome evaded eye contact. "I noticed Miroku feeling uh...frisky around his wife. His aura turned hot pink- so it wasn't magenta- not that I thought you could ever feel that way about...me," she babbled. "Hell, I've consulted Shippo's scroll a thousand times. I've run through all the emotions we could find and- gah! I couldn't find anything that explained magenta. I guess I failed in figuring out what's bothering you," her shoulders slumped in defeat.

"You went to all that trouble?"

Kagome lifted her gaze to his, loosely holding her arms. "Well, yeah. I kind of realised that I wasn't being fair to you the other day. You shouldn't be expected to verbalise your problems if you're not comfortable doing so. It's a different method than what I'm used to in order to communicate- but if you're happy doing that I won't push you to open up to me."

Since she'd failed to work out his problems, however, Kagome grimly figured there was no hope of them being friends. The thought somewhat bothered her. Sesshoumaru was a solid, assuring presence to have around. It would've been nice to have a deeper insight into the inner mechanisms of his cerebral mind.

Maybe priestesses and demons just can't understand each other.

A shadow fell over her, bathing Kagome in shade. She looked up, finding his curious, burning gaze bearing down on her.

As usual, magenta coiled and expanded around him. So large and encompassing.

Sesshoumaru tilted his head slightly. "Some actions do not require words in order to understand them."

Kagome could only blink, face heating as he hooked a finger beneath her chin and tilted it up- before her heart burst into overdrive in time with lips pressing against hers.

Her squeak came out muffled, hands scrambling uselessly and finding his shoulders, quickly lurching away from the firm muscle to hover uselessly in the air. Sesshoumaru grabbed one of her hands and forced it to his broad shoulder, holding it there as he explored her open mouth.

The miko reeled, dazed eyes picking up the shining magenta aura before her lashes slid shut. Kagome let out a breathy noise as his tongue slid over hers, reciprocating for a moment before her mind caught up with the situation and- WHAT THE HELL WAS SHE DOING?

Kagome's palm pushed against his broad shoulder, ripping her mouth away from his and panting. Sesshoumaru remained close, breath shuddering slightly, gaze hooded.

"That-" she started, having to lick her lips. "That requires MANY words, buster. So many words are needed to explain what the hell just happened."

The Daiyoukai managed to look put out, eyes turning flat. "It seems your ignorance requires a lack of subtlety, but I do not mind. If it is necessary to have you- I will adapt and explain myself."

"To... have me?" Kagome's breath hitched. Somehow magenta was all she could see- his cheek markings so bold and bright.

Sesshoumaru's jaw ticked, eyes squinting and attention shifting away as he seemed to gather his thoughts and construct them onto his tongue.

"Magenta is the colour of love to inuyoukai."

He said it so easily. After all that confusion and so much second-guessing, Kagome was almost angry with him. Almost. The rest of her brain was too focused on processing the unthinkable thing he'd just said and the implications behind it.

"But...your markings…" she croaked.

"Have little to do with it- though Jaken's explanation was not incorrect."

Kagome shook her head, searching his face. "I just...I'm struggling to understand h-how? I mean, you can't feel that way about me."

"Why not?"

"B-because!" she squeaked, cheeks blazing red. "Isn't love a bit of a leap? You barely know me."

Sesshoumaru huffed, placid features shifting to become slightly guarded. He didn't know when it had started happening for he was in the middle before he even knew he had begun, but more and more, he sought her opinions and company. She spoke well and intelligently after all- had destroyed Naraku and the jewel with such power and finesse that had made his instincts stir. "I know enough. This is not something recent. I have watched... and wondered for some time."

"Wondered... what?"

"If it was possible to bridge the gap between us. Perhaps it was foolish to think we could be compatible."

He had a point. Even a spell hadn't helped her understand him any easier. But when Sesshoumaru slowly stepped back, quiet disappointment simmering behind his blank mask yet clear in his eyes- something like panic possessed her. Kagome grabbed his sleeve, blushing harder.

She wasn't sure why alarm had shot through her- but the idea of losing their soft, hopeful flickering flame before they'd even coaxed it brighter to see what heights it could reach felt like something she'd regret forever if she let him go.

Kagome stepped closer. "Not foolish. This is just really unexpected for me."

Golden eyes roved over her face questioningly.

"The colour of love is different for humans, so it never even crossed my mind that THAT was what you've been struggling with. Jaken mentioned you were displaying for a female but- wow," she murmured, gentling. "Thank you... for telling me. No one's ever said that to me before."

Sesshoumaru's expression warmed, just a touch. He inclined his head slightly and Kagome felt an odd flutter in her belly.

"I'm not in the same place as you emotionally but- if- if you'd want to try this human thing called 'dating' we could give it a shot and get to know each other better."

"Hn," Sesshoumaru gave her a considering look, and she almost thought he might decline before the ghost of a smile tilted up his lips. "What is 'dating?'"

Kagome's face burst into a grin, and she took his clawed hand. "You're gonna love it. It involves a lot of talking."

He gave a mock groan, aura glowing brighter.

Naturally, Shippo passed his test with flying colours. His sensei was particularly impressed by his observation of both human and inuyoukai emotions in particular.

He decided to use the spell on himself several months later, laughing and chasing Rin around the village, happy to see the yellow aura dancing around her. Something of note he noticed when rushing by was a certain miko and demon lord practising archery together in a field. As Kagome corrected his large stance, hand guiding his elbow down slightly as he aimed, the warm colours of pinkish red and magenta entwined, lacing like long, seeking fingers gently interlocking.

End

[precuredaily]

Precure Day 208

Episode: Yes! Precure 5 Go Go! 10 - “It’s Here! The Power of the Blue Rose!" Date watched: 16 April 2021 Original air date: 6 April 2008 Screenshots Transformation Gallery Project info and master list of posts

~mysterious~

Scorp knows his days at Eternal are numbered if he doesn’t get his act together, so he and Bunbee conspire on their most devious plan yet, pushing the Precures to exhaustion. But at the eleventh hour, a savior appears.... let’s dig in!

The Plot

The girls are hanging around at Natts House on a day off, goofing around, when suddenly the Rose Pact starts to glow intensely. The group assumes it’s King Donuts at first, but he’s already standing beside it. Instead, Flora emerges, and the opening credits play.

After the intro, she warns them that darkness is gathering its strength to tear apart the Red Rose, and they’ll need to bring together the power of the Red and Blue Roses. Somehow, her message manages to be both literal and cryptic at the same time. As quickly as she appeared, she disappears back into the Rose Pact, leaving everyone to stew on her words.

Meanwhile, at the Eternal Mansion, Scorp comes to deliver his report to Anacondy and finds Bunbee eavesdropping outside of her office. Bunbee mentions he heard her say something about an underground storehouse, which scares Scorp. After handing over his report, he talks privately with Bunbee and explains that Eternal is unforgiving to employees who fail to perform, condemning them to an underground labyrinth for all eternity. Bunbee freaks out hilariously, but Scorp tells him that he has a plan to save both of them.

We rejoin the girls at school, tending to the lawn with the rest of the student body (cultural note: Japanese students are usually responsible for the upkeep and general maintenance of their schools). They discuss Flora’s prophecy, somehow having a conversation despite all being a considerable distance from each other and facing different directions.

They recognize that the Red Rose being torn apart refers to them, but they still don’t know much about the Blue Rose. Nozomi assures everyone that everything will be fine, because they always pull through. She gathers her friends to hold hands in a circle, hearkening back to when she rescued them from the Kowaiina masks in the previous season.

Syrup and Coco show up to further discuss the warning. Syrup is very cynical but Coco, who knows firsthand the kind of trials the girls have overcome before, reassures him, and they agree to walk home together with the girls after school. The wind blows, scattering some rose petals, which leads to a transition to Natts House where Nuts picks up some rose petals of his own. He flashes back to an earlier conversation between the fairies about Flora’s prophecy, where King Donuts warned them that her predictions were absolute and the Precures should be extra cautious. Although not directly confirmed, this is probably why Coco and Syrup were so concerned. Nuts stares at the darkening sky in concern.

After school, the girls wait for their escorts home, but Scorp appears first, sarcastically offering to take them himself. They transform into Precure, but instead of fighting them, Scorp teleports to a short distance away. The team gives chase, and Scorp teleports again as it begins to rain. He continues to teleport, leading the team further and further away from the meeting point. The farther they chase him, the more intense the rain gets. Meanwhile, Coco, Nuts, and Syrup appear at the meeting spot, confused about where the girls are. Suddenly, Bunbee appears before the human fairies, saying that his business is with them as he transforms in an intimidating manner.

Scorp ultimately leads the Precures to an open field, where he finally stops and declares this should be far enough. The girls barely have enough time to ask him what he means before Bunbee teleports beside him, holding Coco, Nuts, and Syrup in their fairy forms, all looking a bit worse for wear. Scorp remarks that they are a part of the collection after all, just not very high on the list, and the two villains laugh. The Cures are all aghast at what’s unfolding, but Dream is the first to snap and charge at the villains, ready to kick their asses and retrieve her friends. However, when she tries to punch Scorp, he teleports out of the way, causing her to lose her balance and fall on the wet ground. Rouge and the other girls rush in to save her and get the fairies back, but they all slip and slide on the wet grass. Scorp and Bunbee just block and repel their attacks and throw them about. It’s a pretty brutal throwdown. At one point Mint charges Bunbee, demanding he give the fairies back, so he maliciously complies by swinging them directly into her trajectory, forcing her to stop her momentum. He takes advantage of this to punch her away. After a thorough trouncing, the girls are in shambles. Scorp remarks that he doesn’t understand their cause at all, because the fairies are too weak to even protect themselves. Naturally the heroines rebut this, saying he wouldn’t understand their bond and the way they support each other, regardless of their physical limitations. Their words fall on deaf ears though, and Bunbee tells Scorp he’s going to go ahead and return to Eternal HQ with his captives (probably should have done that to begin with). Dream and co attempt to give chase, but Bunbee bombards them with his stinger missiles, and the girls are unable to withstand the barrage. Feeling too weak to move, all they can do is stare hopelessly as their old enemy flees with their precious comrades.

Suddenly, the sky clears and a gentle breeze blows, carrying blue rose petals. The source is quickly revealed to be a mysterious girl standing on the peak of a nearby rooftop. The camera slowly pans up, allowing the audience to absorb every detail of her costume before revealing her face. It’s an outfit vaguely reminiscent of the Cures, similar enough to signify that she’s not just an ordinary person. She has long purple hair and if there was any lingering doubt about her identity, she wears a blue rose right in the middle of her chest, as well as smaller ones on her forehead and the backs of her gloves. Her entrance is backed by celebratory triumphant music, making it clear that she’s on the good side.

She orders Bunbee to release Coco, Nuts, and Syrup. When he doesn’t, she jumps over and kicks him hard enough to make him let go. She grabs the fairies in midair and safely returns them to the Precures, who are still taken aback by her sudden appearance. Their mysterious savior doesn’t mince words though, scowling at Dream and telling her she isn’t good enough. Before she can continue her lecture, Bunbee tries to divebomb her, but she turns around and stops him with one hand without batting an eye. She then performs a kick, a block, and an elbow thrust that knocks him backwards into Scorp.

There is a tremendous amount of power in her strikes, even by Precure standards. With the villains indisposed for a moment, the girl in purple returns her attention to the Precures. She sternly reminds them that the most precious treasures are easily lost, and they need to work extra hard to protect them. There’s a sense that she has an attachment to the fairies but it’s not dwelled upon here. As Scorp and Bunbee recover themselves, Dream and the other Cures launch a final attack as well. Lemonade separates the two generals from each other with her Prism Chain, and then Mint and Aqua use their special attacks on them as well. Bunbee teleports out of the way and tries to attack the mysterious girl from behind, but she grabs his arm and yeets him across the field. As Scorp swoops in for another pass, the purple heroine prepares to retaliate, but Dream leaps over her and performs Shooting Star instead. He resists being crushed, but he’s barely able to hold her back. Bunbee urges him to retreat and they reluctantly disappear, leaving Dream to crash head over heels on the ground.

“I’m okay!”

Rouge, Lemonade, Mint, and Aqua rush to her side along with Coco, Nuts, and Syrup. She says she’s fine. The mysterious girl glares from afar, before turning her back and walking away. Dream notices that she’s gone, and everyone is silently questioning who she was. Some blue rose petals blow past again, and Nozomi ponders whether this girl was the Blue Rose. The scene fades to black and the ending theme plays.

The Analysis

At long last, the payoff to the Blue Rose arc! It’s far from over, but for now, the warrior with the power of the Blue Rose has debuted and that’s what counts. I have a lot to say about our new heroine, but much like the episode, I’ll build up to that.

The pacing in this episode is excellent, it almost feels longer than what it actually is. The suspense builds up throughout the first few scenes as we’re told that the Precures are going to be split, and then separately that Scorp and Bunbee may be condemned to a fate worse than death if they don’t shape up. There’s uncertainty on both sides of the fight, and we soon see the girls ruminating over it in the garden scene. However, after a healthy conversation and considering all the obstacles they’ve overcome so far, they choose not to let it bother them. The team’s unshakeable confidence is enough to reassure Coco, though Syrup is less certain. This is consistent with their differing history with the team. Coco has seen firsthand what the girls are capable of, from overcoming the depths of despair to defeating Despariah by appealing to her humanity, and rescuing the lost citizens of Palmier Kingdom. Meanwhile, Syrup has only more recently gotten involved with the girls’ activities and isn’t aware of everything that they accomplished before he met them when they battled Nightmare, only some of their fights against Eternal, and he’s not sure they can fight back forever. Nonetheless, the callback to the pinnacle moment of the previous season is wonderful and a great reminder of everything the girls have overcome before now, including previous attempts to separate them. They’re stronger than that.

history shows that yes, you will be okay

With the tension being assuaged by the girls’ moment of solidarity, it is quickly reinjected by the following scene, where King Donuts cautions about Flora’s prophecies to the other fairies, and then we are shown Nuts being concerned about everyone, emphasized with some looming clouds. This cues to the audience that it’s not going to be just another battle, so it brings all the fear and concern right back to the forefront, and from there it’s all high stakes. The non-fight with Scorp as he leads the girls away from the school makes it clear that something unusual is afoot, and the next thing we know the fairies are being kidnapped. All of this tension culminates in the intense fight scene in the rain.

However...I found the actual battle to be a bit lacking and underwhelming. Obviously, the writers had to give Eternal the upper hand to allow for the Mysterious Girl to save the day with a badass entrance, that’s just the rules of the genre. Even so, all the Precures made at best one strike each and then fell to the combined force of the villains, when we know from numerous instances of them fighting MOTWs and generals alike that they can tank more than that. Is this the same team that burned the incarnation of despair herself with their power of hope? The same group of girls who defeated the strongest executives of Nightmare? The same Nozomi who befriended her evil clone? (okay that’s technically not canon but I am not letting Dark Dream be forgotten.) Those same legendary heroines, now succumbing to two punches from a mid-level manager? It doesn’t sit well with me. Bunbee’s strategy of using the captive fairies as a shield, knowing the girls wouldn’t want to hit them, was clever. I can understand Mint getting flustered at that moment, but the other Cures I’m less forgiving of.

The wet, slippery ground was a cool idea but the writers/animators didn’t do enough with it for my liking. And not to poke too many holes in Precure villain plots, but if Bunbee had just teleported back to Eternal with the fairies to begin with, they would have had a stronger bargaining chip to get the girls to hand over the Rose Pact. Things do turn around fast when the Mysterious Girl shows up, but even then she also only gets a few good hits in and spends half her screentime lecturing the Cures. Effectively, this is more of a tease of her abilities, her proper debut is in the next episode. I would rather this entire battle, from start to finish, had been a bit more desperate so as to not undersell the main heroines, even when introducing a requisite powerhouse of a new character.

Conversely, from a villain standpoint, Scorp and Bunbee going at it so desperately plays very well. They’ve had an interesting dynamic throughout the show so far, but despite his irritation with Nightmare’s former lackey, Scorp knows both of their jobs are at stake and he explains this to him plainly. After a great comedic overreaction, the next time that we see them when they hatch their plot to kidnap the fairies, they’re all business. You get the sense they’re giving their all for this fight in a way they haven’t before, and that could contribute to the Precures having such a hard time (though they should still be able to do more than they did). The next episode will show that Scorp still has a trump card to play, but he’s trying very hard here to avoid doing so. It’s a refreshing level of intensity for the duo, which in turn makes it incredible when the Mysterious Girl still tosses them around like ragdolls.

One plot point that was a bit unclear to me was Flora’s prophecy about evil attempting to scatter the Red Rose, because that’s not really what happened in this episode. I skimmed summaries through to the mid-season climax and didn’t see anything specific, so it may be more of a general warning that Eternal will try to break them apart, and that they should work with the Mysterious Girl for assistance, as she is the inheritor of the power of the Blue Rose.

Let’s talk some more about the Mysterious Girl. She fights HARD. She single handedly sends Bunbee flying across the field twice in about 4 minutes, and the weight of her blows is tangible. They make sure you know she stands apart from the Cures. She can hold off the recurring general with relative ease after he laid out the entire team, and this isn’t just a case of wanting to show how cool the new character is, although that is part of it. She’s going to remain strong and powerful throughout the show, and even in future crossovers. I dare say she’s unrivaled in Precure canon, inasmuch as power levels mean anything (they don’t). I’d also like to note for the record that the reason I only call Milky Rose the “Mysterious Girl” in this review is because that’s how she’s credited.

That’s her credit on the bottom: 謎の少女 (Nazo no Shoujo), literally “mysterious girl”, and her actress is anonymous, which immediately suggests that there’s something to hide. Watch this space over the next few episodes. (I mean, yes, I know who she is, and you probably do as well, but for the time being I’m going to limit this to in-universe knowledge.) Related to the mystery of her identity is her connection to the fairies and the Precures. She seems to be familiar with them at least, as she offers a kind, knowing smile when she rescues Coco, Nuts, and Syrup, then turns around and lectures Cure Dream about protecting him. Maybe I’m reading too much into the subtext, but I picked up a hint of implicit “You’re always like this”. For some reason she’s always glaring at the Cures, especially Dream, which conjures to mind another less than ideal relationship Nozomi has. When combined with the preceding episodes, there’s just enough evidence to suggest who the Mysterious Girl is without making it completely obvious, and when you do know, you can identify more key patterns, and her fight against Bunbee becomes much more personal.

Her outfit bears similarities to the Precure uniforms, but is also distinct enough from them to carve her out as a unique entity.

She wears a white two piece dress with magenta trim on the skirt and shoulder straps, as well as some lacing down the front in lieu of the jacket of the team’s uniform. I already mentioned the number of blue roses on her dress, but if you think that’s on the nose, wait until next time. She is not subtle. The separation between the top and skirt forms a V shape that exposes her navel, a la Cure Black and Cure Dream from their first seasons. She shares the color-coded shorts under skirt design sensibility of the main five, also inherited from their predecessors Cure Black and Cure Bloom. She has three-tiered shoulder pads that again are more reminiscent of those worn by the various Futari Wa Cures than the style of the current team. Her arm guards are two pieces, with the portion from her palms to forearms being the same style as the Precures’, but she also has a  white sleeve underneath it that extends all the way up to her bicep, and again has magenta trim. Most uniquely, she wears a thin, wire-like tiara that extends to the sides and back of her head, which along with some ribbons splits her hair off into two side sections that augment the main portion. It still all flows downward, but the side sections have a visible divide at their point of origin and give her a unique silhouette, somewhat like a set of ears, before the hair recombines down her back. She also wears pearly teardrop (or perhaps flower petal) shaped earrings, in contrast to the butterfly earrings worn by the main five. As usual, her eye color matches her theme color, in this case magenta eyes that are a shade lighter than the accents on her dress. All put together it’s a striking look and as a big fan of the color purple, I admire the outfit.

In the art and animation department, this episode is fairly good. There’s a few really standout shots, such as the one below, while most of the episode falls into average territory, and there’s a small number of sequences that are really lacking. Unfortunately, the fight in the rain is among these. However, some visual gems make up for it. The entire garden sequence is pure delight. It’s well-lit and places the girls in a welcoming environment, which helps to offset the doom and gloom of the rest of the episode.

This arc shot is a wonderful piece of animation. That’s not easy to do. Famously even The Lion King struggled with a similar shot, so while Precure doesn’t pull it off amazingly, there’s still effort. They change the angles on the characters slightly rather than just doing a lateral tracking shot with a loop, which is something they have been known to do before. Last episode in fact. However, there’s one aspect that stretches the imagination, in this show about middle school girls transforming into superheroes in frilly dresses to fight an evil corporation of monster people. And that aspect is that they are way too far apart from each other in the garden scene to be able to effectively communicate. They’re all facing different directions and are easily several feet (or meters) apart, their conversations would either be lost in the wind, or they’d have to call out loudly enough for everyone around them to know what they’re talking about.

Okay yes this is a stretch but it was funny to me.

Put everything together and you’ve got a tense, moody episode with an upbeat middle section that technically ends positively, but finishes with a hollow ending. This is an effective tool that leaves you wanting more without being an abject cliffhanger. It starts strong and ends well but has a subpar climax, being unable to fully deliver on its own promises. Nonetheless I like it, it’s a dramatic turn from the laid back last few episodes and a transition into the meat of the series. It’s not Precure at its best, but it’s quite solid.

Next time, it’s Scorp’s final stand and the Mysterious Girl’s first true fight. You won’t want to miss it!

Pink Precure Catchphrase Count: 0 kettei!

And now at long last, after 620 days since I started writing about YPC5 on the blog, and 244 days since my first Go Go review, I can finally uncover Milky Rose on my banner! Rejoice!

hopefully I can get to Fresh by 2022

[immortalcoelacanth]

Between the Walls, Chapter 2: Salutations and Explanations (Dream SMP fic)

... Although, I should probably tag this as more of a Sleepy Bois Inc thing given the content... Anyways, onto chapter 2!

Word count: 5356

Summary: At it was at this moment that Tommy knew, he fucked up. 

“Let me tell you one thing, you pig bitch-”

There was a tiny child in his walls.

“And I bet your mum ain’t all that-”

A tiny child who was yelling at him, insulting him.

“So, you better listen up! Motherfucker-”

Techno was almost impressed.

He wondered if the kid was aware of how absolutely not intimidating he sounded at the moment. His voice cracked and broke occasionally as he cursed, he was visibly trembling in what Techno assumed to be fear, and he looked like he was moments away from crying with those wide eyes and that terrified look on his face.

The kid reminded him of a cornered animal, terrified and lashing out to try and protect itself. He was doing the same thing, trying to scare the hybrid off with harsh words and false bravado.

Techno quietly thought about how young he must be. It was a good thing Phil was nowhere nearby since nothing would have saved both him and the kid from the ensuing lecture and interrogation period. Questions about where the kid was from, who he was, what he was doing here…

Questions he should probably be asking before the kid broke down crying. He had a feeling it would happen eventually when all that adrenaline wore off and the reality of the situation fully sunk in, so the currently shrinking window of opportunity was the best chance he had for finding out what he needed to know.

“And do you know what the fuck a breath mint is?”

… But first he had to shut this kid up.

“You got anything to say? Huh? Or are you just gonna-HEY!”

The tirade was cut off when, without warning, Techno reached out and pinched the back of his shirt, using that to lift him up in the air and out of the shelter that had been provided by the wall.

“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?!” The kid squawked as he struggled and squirmed in an attempt to escape Techno’s grip. The hybrid rolled his eyes as he continued looking the tiny being over, occasionally turning him so he could inspect the rest of him. The only thing of note he found was the belt the kid wore that had various tools hooked onto it.

Nothing that really posed a threat to him, but it was still good to take note of it.

“Trying to find the off button.”

“The-OFF BUTTON?! EXCUSE YOU, YOU BITCH-”

“Damn, doesn’t seem to be one.” He noted in that same, monotone voice. Of course, this ended up enraging the kid further, his shouts and curses growing louder.

His wild, frantic eyes growing wider.

Well, now was as good as time as any to start asking some questions before he ended up pushing the kid too far. He swore he could hear that tiny heart pounding away in the kid’s chest, and the hybrid realized it was entirely possible for the tiny being to pass out on him, or worse, have a heart attack from the stress.

Double time on that interrogation, then.

Techno changed his grip, wrapping his fingers around the kid and getting bit in the process-

This child was absolutely feral. He’d probably need a rabies shot by the end of the day.

Eventually, and with some careful maneuvering to make sure didn’t drop the struggling figure, Techno was able to place him down on the top of the small shelf located near the entrance of his house. It was right in front of a window, too, and he saw the way the kid’s eyes flickered between him and the possible escape route.

Nope.

Not a chance.

The hand placed between the kid and his freedom earned him a scowl and being flipped off once again, though he was quickly getting used to this brash and foolish behavior. In a way, it reminded Techno how he had acted when he was much younger. How cocky and overconfident he had been before the world brutally showed him where his place was.

Now, his confidence was backed by years worth of training. By the lives he had ended and the blood he had spilt.

It made him smile at the memories, oddly enough. Naturally, the kid immediately took his smiling to be about something far more sinister, and he started shouting once more.

“What the fuck do you got planned, huh? Got some creepy shit planned? You… you gonna need a bone saw or some crap like that for me-”

“Oh please, all I’d need is a decent nutcracker.” Techno scoffed, completely oblivious to the look of horror that passed over the kid’s face before it was quickly replaced by that false bravado.

“Can’t believe you’d threaten me like that-”

“Not what I was talking about!” The hybrid quickly interrupted, visibly shuddering and in turn making the kid let out a loud laugh.

Just how in the hell was something that small so loud anyways? Weren’t there rules about that sort of thing, mass being proportionate to how loud something could be. There was a reason why he had hated hanging out with kids when he was younger.

… Except for Wilbur, he had always been the exception.

Not wanting to take an agonizing trip down memory lane back to when his family had been whole and alive, Techno decided it was time to start asking the questions he wanted answers to, beginning with the most important one of course.

“And why are you in my house, anyways?”

“Your house?” The kid scoffed and crossed his arms. “It’s mine! I called dibs!”

“Heh?” Techno found himself at a genuine loss here as he tried to comprehend the logic behind that statement. “You can’t claim-I built this place.”

“Doesn’t mean you called dibs, bruv, and you did a shit job of buildin’ it, too. It could use more decorations that aren’t you! And music!”

The hybrid let out a frustrated groan while dragging a hand over his face. Why had one of the most annoying, obnoxious, and loud people he had ever met decide that his base was the perfect place to invade. Why had this kid picked him instead of somewhere else, like L’Manberg.

… Actually, that was another good question to ask-

“So, when are you gonna clean up this pigsty?” The kid asked, completely derailing Techno’s train of thought.

“I fear for your brain cells if all you can come up with are pig jokes and saying fuck over and over again.”

“... Fuck you-”

“And my concerns are proven to be valid.”

“My brain works perfectly fine! It’s just yours isn’t big enough to get it!” He snapped back.

“Suuuuure, pipsqueak, whatever you say.” Techno sarcastically drawled. It seemed as though either the aloof expression on his face or the nickname he had granted the boy only enraged him further, as he watched the kid start stomping the ground as he continued shouting.

He was witnessing a literal tantrum.

“I’m not a pipsqueak! You’re the one who's freakishly tall!”

“Like I couldn’t tell with you calling me big man every five seconds, and I’ll just keep calling you that since you seem to like it so much.”

“Then just call me Tommy! It’s not that hard!” The now named Tommy exclaimed, and it was only when a smile appeared on Techno’s face that he realized he might have messed up.

“Uh… I mean-”

“So, that’s your name.” Techno interrupted, grin growing as he leaned forward and rested his chin on a closed fist. He was enjoying messing with this kid. It was almost as fun as terrorizing Quackity. “Got any other important info you wanna share? Credit card number?”

“No! No, no way!” Tommy let out a nervous giggle and took a step back. “C’mon, man, let’s see some manners! I told you my name, so you should tell me yours-”

“Technoblade.”

“... What?”

“Or Techno for short.” The hybrid continued, not caring about the stunned and confused look on the kid’s face. He was used to people looking at him weird, especially when they heard his name. “No pig-pun name here.”

“... You were so close to having a cool name.” Tommy bluntly said. “You’ve got half a cool name. Now Blade, that’s intimidating! Big man Blade-”

“Never call me that.”

“Alright TechnoBitch-”

“Your insults are getting worse by the second, I fear you’re undergoing cellular brain death.”

“Are you making up fancy words to sound all smart now? Cellular?” Tommy scowled. “What’s next? You gonna start talking about other made up stuff, like leprechauns, or dolphins?”

“... Dolphins are real-”

“That’s just what the dolphin believers want you to think! The… the dolphevers!”

Techno threw his head and started laughing, the noise surprisingly loud. It made Tommy jump as he winced at the volume. Discomfort ran through him, and he started to slowly realize how dangerous the situation he was in might be.

He had always been warned to stay away from humans, and while this guy didn’t look all that human, he was sure the same warning applied. He could be trapped, hurt, tormented…

Why, why had he decided to stick around instead of just running off, or trying to barter for his freedom? He had always lived his life on the edge, flirting with danger instead of women. The thrills and excitement of interacting with a human could have driven him to do this.

Or perhaps it was that quiet voice within him that begged him to interact with Techno, to reach out and be social and finally interact with someone after all the days he spent alone.

A voice that kept insisting that things would be alright, that he would be okay.

A voice that could result in his demise if he listened to it.

He would never see Tubbo again...

His mind made up, Tommy slowly backed away from the hybrid, one hand raised while the other behind his back towards the belt that Techno had noticed earlier. “Well, this has been fun and all but I’ve got to head out and you’ve got some cleaning to do, roomie.”  

Techno’s eyes narrowed as his bout of laughter finished, aware that he had something planned that would probably cause some problems, but before he could act on his suspicions, Tommy made his move.

And chucked a fist full of sand in the pigman’s face.

Immediately, Techno let out a shout and recoiled, lifting his hands up to his eyes in an attempt to scrub the gritty substance out of them. Tommy took his chance and pulled out his grappling hook, attached it to the side of the shelf, and quickly slid down the rope. In his haste, as well as the movements caused by the hybrid’s thrashing, the grappling hook came loose, and he dropped the rest of the way to the floor.

Tommy landed, cringing as agony raced up his legs, and did his best to ignore it as he shot off towards the space under the shelf, knowing he would be hidden from sight and have a better chance at escaping.

He had to escape since he doubted his captor would be that nice to him again.

Meanwhile, Techno was currently battling every urge he felt to lash out and kill the kid. His mind and soul screamed for blood, for death and revenge for the humiliation and pain he had been put through. It took all of his willpower to stop himself from grabbing his trident and slamming it into the floor in an attempt to find, and kill, Tommy.

The main source of his restraint came from a voice that sounded a bit too much like Phil’s calmly whispering that there were other ways to do things, that he did not have to resort to violence.

This was then converted to make him pay, but not with death. Death is a release, not a punishment.  

His eyes burned.

He let out a pained hiss and blindly reached towards the nearby brewing station, managing to get the bottle of water he had placed in it for potion brewing. He uncorked the top, looked up to the ceiling, cracked his eyes open, and quickly flushed them out to get rid of the sand.

All in all, only a couple seconds had passed since the sand had been thrown and Tommy had escaped. He could not have gotten far, but the more time the hybrid wasted sitting here, the further the kid would get.

Techno tossed the bottle to the side and quickly crouched down, still aching eyes scanning the wall as he tried to figure out where Tommy had gone. He spotted a flash of blond ducking behind part of the wooden shelf, and he quickly moved the wooden panel that covered the bottom part of the shelf. It was like a box of sorts and that could be used as storage space, but he had never put anything there and just left it closed.

So, naturally he had not at all been expecting to lift the panel up and find a tiny hole in the wooden floor, the perfect size for Tommy to fit through. His mind ground to a halt as he processed what he was seeing.

THERE WAS A HOLE UNDER THE SHELF?!

WHEN HAD THIS HAPPENED?!

Okay, okay, now was not the time to get caught up on. The kid was under the floorboards, possibly heading towards the basement. He rushed over to the ladder, slid down it, and jumped onto the stone flooring. He looked up at the ceiling, not seeing any obvious sign as to where the kid must have gone and decided that using another one of his senses might pay off.

Techno shut his eyes, ears twitching, and listened carefully. Listened for that one, signature noise that would tell him where Tommy was.

The sound of someone running over wood.

There!

On instinct, he swung the axe towards the sound, the blade chopping into the ceiling and exposing the hidden passage that had been carved into, and the boy who had been sprinting through it.

Now, this was where things took a bit of an interesting turn.

You see, despite the fact that Tommy had spent his life in a borrower settlement, he was quite experienced in building structures and had frequently challenged Tubbo to speed bridging contests. The adults always hated whenever he did that, claiming that the flimsy structures would alert humans to their hidden home, but Tommy had always ignored them and kept building.

… Until they resorted to hitting him. Then he stopped, but the skills he had developed over the years stayed with him, so the second he started falling he also started building. He had managed to place a couple blocks down as he fell and grabbed onto the little outcropping he had made. He was vaguely aware of Techno moving below him but was far more focused on trying to pull himself back up into the remains of his tunnel.

Can’t fall, gotta stay up! Have to run!

Unfortunately, his hand slipped off the planks, splinters sinking into his skin as he started to fall. Falling, and-

Landing on the top of Techno’s head. Surrounded by the crown the hybrid always wore and with no escape in sight, he decided to cling to the strangely soft, pink hair below him. It smelled… weirdly nice. There was a hint of a herbal scent he could not place, but it didn’t smell super flowery or anything like that.

“You’re pretty fruity, aren’t you big man?” Tommy impulsively asked, and he felt Techno freeze below him as the hybrid realized what the sudden, impossibly light weight belonged to. Seeing an opportunity to get another jab in, he immediately went for it with little regard to how precarious the situation was. “Lookin’ all… all flamboyant with your fancy dye!”

“I doubt you know what that word means, and it’s not dye.” Techno dryly retorted, tilting his head upwards so he could try and glare at the kid.

Seeing that nothing bad had happened, the hybrid had not tried to crush him, nor had he been grabbed and flung towards the nearest wall, Tommy decided to take a risk and started speaking once more.

“.... Hehe, guess things are fine then, big man-” He nervously laughed before he was cut off by Techno picking him up once again. The kid immediately started thrashing, squirming, and cursing as he tried to break free.

The hybrid rolled his eyes at the unnecessary dramatics and made his way over to the collections of chests on the other side of the room. A quick search resulted in him easily finding the item he was looking for.

A bottle.

He caught a glimpse of Tommy glancing between him and the bottle, his face shifting between pure rage and fear, but before he could object to what Techno was planning on doing, the cork in the bottle was removed and Tommy found himself being trapped inside.

“LEMME OUT YOU PRICK!” He shouted as he slammed his fists into the glass wall, wincing as his hands started aching.

Techno just chuckled and put the cork back in, preventing the kid from escaping and making it much harder to hear his shouting. A blessing in disguise, really. “Think of this as karma for the sand from earlier.”

Seeing no way to get out, Tommy flipped the hybrid off and slowly slid down the side of the bottle until he was resting on the ground. His arms crossed, knees were tucked to his chest, and he looked down so his face was hidden from sight. At least his silent moping made it easier for Techno to think.

What to do next…

He had the kid who had been borrowing through his house like some oversized termite, and he knew the kid’s name. There was still so much information he was missing that he wanted to know. What the kid was, if there were any more of him nearby-

An infestation was the last thing he needed.

… Perhaps the librarian back in the village would know something about this tiny kid. He knew that the somewhat eccentric villager had a large collection of books about all sorts of topics, so there was a chance he might have some kind of information he could dig up.

It was worth a shot.

He mentally debated on whether it would be worth it to bring Tommy with him, and ultimately decided he would in case he needed to show him off to the librarian, or one of the other villagers who might know about him. Without bothering to warn the kid, he quickly scooped the bottle up and fastened it to his belt.

He faintly heard the sounds of someone shouting and cursing, and decided to ignore it as he left the house. Techno hummed to himself as he made his way over to the nearby village, not bothering to waste any ender pearls since he still lacked a consistent source of them. No villagers were able to trade them, so his only option was relentlessly hunting down Endermen until a pearl was dropped.

Annoying, but necessary for now.

Speaking of annoying, he spared a glance down at the bottle on his hip that contained the furious Tommy, taking note of how the kid was smacking the glass walls and trying to find a way out. The red hue that had taken over his face also made it clear that he was still screaming.

He let out an exasperated sigh and picked the bottle up off his belt, lifting it up so it would be easier to talk to the kid. Now that he was up close, the hybrid could easily see the look of frustration on the kid’s face, as well as how red his eyes were.

It looked like Tommy had been crying.

“Calm down. I’m not gonna kill you.” Techno grumbled. “And stop screaming before you lose your voice.”

“You’re a bitch!” Tommy spat, not at all paying attention to what he was saying. “Fuckin’ dragging me out to who knows where, planning on doing who knows what-”

“I’m not going to sell you.” The hybrid interrupted, lifting a brow as he watched pure shock cross Tommy’s face. “... You really thought I was gonna sell you-”

“Well yeah!” Tommy sputtered as he flailed his arms. “The fuck else would you be doing?!”

“Interrogating people.”

“The fuck-”

Those were the only words Tommy was able to get out as the bottle was clipped back onto Techno’s belt. He shifted his arms a bit so his cape hid more of his body, and in turn the bottle, from sight. When that was finished, he strode into the village.

Children ran to and fro, some pausing to wave at him or whisper among themselves. He ignored them, as he always did, and continued on towards his destination. He also steered clear of any of the villagers he normally traded with, not wanting to get caught up in some unwanted conversation. He kept walking, picking up the pace whenever he heard someone get a bit too close to him until he reached the library.

It was far from your traditional library, much more of a home with a massive collection of books available for people to read. Techno didn’t bother to knock on the door, opting to instead open it and walk inside. A somewhat large, sparsely decorated room with simple shelves greeted him.

A moment later, the sound of rustling in one of the small side rooms filled the air and the familiar face of the local librarian popped out of it. He resembled your typical villager, though the spark of curiosity made his eyes glint and shine. He was obviously curious as to why Techno had shown up, but before he could ask the hybrid spoke.

“So, what do you know about tiny people?”

“I’m afraid you’ll need to be a bit more specific than that.” The librarian cheerfully replied, not at all phased by the seemingly random question. “Are there any particular features you can describe? Do you have an example?”

Immediately, Techno’s hand moved to his side, ready to grab the bottle and use Tommy as his example. However, just as he was about to snag the bottle-

He froze.

Dread coiled in his heart, an uncomfortable sensation that he had not felt for many years. He grit his teeth as he struggled to sort out exactly what he was feeling, what his instincts were trying to tell him.

Tommy’s wide eyes, tears still lingering in the corners-

Was… was this guilt?

There was no way he was feeling guilt! It couldn’t be. He had felt no guilt when threatening the kid earlier, didn’t really care all that much about him. So, why did the thought of showing him to someone feel…

Wrong.

He was unable to come up with an answer, feeling frustrated with himself. It was a stupid emotion, a weakness, but at the same time his instincts, those same feelings, had gotten him out of dangerous situations in the past. He’d be an idiot if he didn’t keep listening.

So, he dropped his hand and opted to explain instead. “Short, couple inches tall. Uses tools like grappling hooks to get around. Lives-”

“In houses?” The librarian finished, that sparkle in his eyes growing brighter. Looking a bit thrown off, Techno nodded.

“Yeah. How’d you know?”

“You have perfectly described a borrower!”

“... A borrower?”

“Yes! Humanoid beings who are only a few inches tall! Generally, they tend to live in already inhabited homes, or with other borrowers in hidden settlements! They’re signs of good fortune.” The librarian explained as he scanned the shelves, looking for a specific book. “It is said that there is a powerful connection between borrowers and humans, their companionship offers a kind of peace and feeling of completion that we cannot hope to feel on our own-”

“I’m assuming that doesn’t apply to hybrids as well.” Techno interrupted, brow raised in a combination of curiosity and disbelief.

Borrowers… so that’s what Tommy was. And the kid had chosen to live with him? Why? And what had he been doing in a frozen wasteland before that? Was there one of those settlements nearby, or was there some other factor that had driven the borrower into staying with him.

So many questions, and so few answers.

To his surprise, the librarian quickly shook his head. “Your assumption is incorrect, Blood God. On the contrary, borrowers and hybrids have been known to share settlements in the past, working together and helping one another out-aha!”

A book was pulled out of the shelves, cover worn and title nearly illegible. After the book was given a quick once over, it was presented to Techno. He immediately took it, held it up in the dim lighting, and read the title aloud.

“A Historical Investigation into Borrower Society…?”

“Indeed! That should be a good starting point for your research on borrowers, and I can search for other texts if you wish to read them.”

“... That would be helpful, thanks.” Techno nodded while adding the book to his bag. He then pulled a couple emeralds out of it and looked at the librarian. “How much do I owe you?”

“Nothing at all! It warms my heart to see someone else taking an interest in borrowers,” The librarian exclaimed while clapping his hands. “And for my library to be blessed with the presence of one.”

Ah, Tommy.

He must have either spotted the bottle the borrower was in, or one of the other villagers must have and then passed the information along to him. Either way, the hybrid felt…

Annoyed.

His eyes narrowed and he unconsciously shifted so the side of his body the Tommy was on was further away from the librarian. He also flared his cape out, so the borrower was completely hidden from sight.

He was unaware of how Tommy had pressed himself against the side of the bottle upon realizing he had been seen. Unaware of how the borrower had tried to take shelter in his presence despite the rough start to their meeting.

Unaware of the wide, confused eyes that stared up at him, trying to comprehend that his captor was protecting him.

The librarian, seeing the change in Techno’s mood, quickly backed up and lifted up his hands. “Fret not, Blood God, I would do no harm to your charge.”

… Charge?

Before he could question what the librarian meant, the robbed man quickly ducked into some side room and started rummaging around in it.

“The next time you visit, I shall have something to give you! I promise!”

Had… had he just been given the signal to leave? Techno stood around awkwardly for a couple more moments as he waited to see whether the librarian would make another appearance. When he did not, the hybrid decided it was time to go.

Social interactions had always been a critical weakness of his. For how intimidating and threatening he could be, that mask would dissolve in an instant if he started floundering while talking to someone.

Wilbur had always teased him about it…

The walk back to his house was, thankfully, silent and allowed him the perfect opportunity to think about what he had learned in the village. Tommy was a borrower, a tiny being that lived in houses and stole for a living. He had no real magic or other noteworthy skills, aside from the advantages brought to him by size. He could be sneaky.

However, he still had to think about what to do with the borrower. Let him stay, or kick him out.

Soon enough, the hybrid found himself making his way up the stairs to the front of his house, letting out a relieved sigh once the door shut behind him. His shoulders loosened, the tension he had been carrying since he first entered the village fading in an instant.

He hated talking to people, so much.

Techno glanced at the nearby table and then looked down at the bottle on his hip. He promptly lifted it up, met Tommy’s eyes, and spoke.

“If I let you out and you don’t behave, I’m gonna fill the bottle with water and stick you back in it. Got it?”

Tommy shuddered and quickly nodded.

Stupid, he was so stupid for getting himself into this situation, and now he had no idea what Techno was going to do with him! Of course, he could always try to escape again, but he doubted he would get far, and if he got caught…

Nope. He was just going to sit, wait, and try to be as quiet as possible.

Upon seeing that Tommy was listening and actually keeping his mouth shut, Techno uncorked the bottle and tilted it towards the table so the borrower could easily slide out. Once he was settled on the table, the hybrid walked over to the other side of the room and started thinking.

Thinking about what his options were and what he should do.

Was it worth it to keep Tommy around? To have to deal with an annoying presence constantly in the place he had created as his retirement home. Would the aggravation be worth it? What would he get out of it, anyways?

They’re signs of good fortune.

Borrowers and hybrids have been known to share settlements in the past, working together and helping one another.

…That librarian had a point.

It would be useful to him to keep Tommy around, or kill him, even if the kid didn’t give him any good luck. He definitely couldn’t let the borrower leave, lest someone from L’Manberg snag him and get him to spill everything he knew about Techno, and if he kept the borrower around there was always the potential to use him in the future.

To have a tiny spy on his side could be quite the valuable tactical advantage, especially for when L’Manberg came after him.

He doubted Quackity would stay down for long.

So, with a plan properly in mind, he directed his attention back towards the borrower who was, thankfully, still sitting on the table. It looked like the kid had been zoning out until he heard the sounds of Techno’s approaching footsteps. He got back to his feet and glared at the man staring down at him.

Was… was he trying to be intimidating?

Techno let out an amused snort, ignoring the resulting remark about him really being a pig, and started explaining his deal.

“Alright, tiny-”

“TOMMY!”

“ Tiny.” Techno insisted, and to his surprise Tommy actually shut up.

It was probably due to the fact that he wasn’t really in any kind of position to argue or make demands. His life was on the line and he knew. All he could was hope the human would show him some mercy and not chuck him out into the freezing cold.

Whatever it was, it worked in Techno’s favour.

“So, here’s the plan. I’ll let you stay here, give you food and shelter, but you have to give me something in exchange.”

The deal was simple, with the benefits to Tommy being obvious. Something that he hoped would distract the kid and prevent him from questioning what Techno got out of their agreement.

Or what he would get, that is.

“What the fuck do you mean, big man?! Give you something in exchange?! I don’t have anything to exchange!”

“Well, since you said you don’t have anything to exchange,” The hybrid began, taking another step forward so he was closer to the table, already witnessing the real purpose behind his plan coming to fruition.

Tommy paled and took a step back as Techno loomed above him, shadow engulfing his tiny frame as that scheming smile crossed his face. Okay, it was clearly an awful decision to agree to his idea. Abort, abort-

“You’ll just have to work for it, then.”

                                         xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Techno's character arc for this fic is literally him going from exploiting one orphan to two XD

[beelsnack]

Let's Continue This Elsewhere - Commission for mc-reborn (NSFW)

Alright, first batch of commissions is done! This one is for mc-reborn (who Tumblr isn't letting me tag for some reason) featuring their adorable MC Stiina. They wanted an NSFW continuation of the Devilgram "Buffing Up Belphie." They were amazingly patient with me because it took me 84 years to get this done, so thank you so much for commissioning me!! ^^

I'm still open for commissions, if anyone is interested! You can check out all of my info here!

-----

“...Please say it.”

Stiina could feel the roughness of the tree bark through her cardigan as Belphegor backed her against it. The demon’s hands settled next to her head, and she could faintly hear his almost-claws digging into the tree as he leaned in closer. His breath fanned out across her face, and she could smell the mint of his toothpaste combined with the chocolate she had snuck him while Beel let them take a quick break.

“...I want a kiss.” he muttered, eyes flicking down to her lips.

It wasn’t like Belphie hadn’t been obvious about what he wanted the whole time they were making their way through the forest. There had been a few times when Stiina thought he was going to pounce on her, but he waited until they were far enough into the forest that Beel wouldn’t be able to track them down. Sometimes she just needed the confirmation that she wasn’t imagining things, that Belphie wasn’t just humoring her.

He made a soft sound of surprise in the back of his throat when Stiina cupped his jaw and brought their lips together. It was chaste, and probably not what Belphie had been after. Her suspicions were confirmed when she pulled away to see the childish pout on his face.

“Hey,” he huffed. “I was going to kiss you first.”

Stiina giggled. “Sorry.”

Belphie bumped their noses together affectionately. “Fine, it’s my turn now.”

One of his hands slipped behind her head, preventing her from smacking it against the tree as he kissed her. Just like everything else about the demon, Belphie’s kisses were full of quiet intensity. It was hard to imagine the Avatar of Sloth doing anything passionately, but Stiina couldn’t think of another way to describe the way his mouth moved against hers. He kissed her like she was the air he needed to breathe.

“Mm…” he mumbled as they broke apart, licking his lips. “I’m taking the driver’s seat today...you better be ready for a wild ride.”

“You don’t usually take the initiative.” Stiina raised an eyebrow at him, but he just shrugged before leaning down to mouth at the sensitive spot where her neck and shoulder met. A shiver ran up her spine, and she could feel him smirk against her skin.

“We’ll call this a thank you for sticking with me all day,” he nosed at her jaw, urging her to tilt her neck to give him more room. “I think the only one who actually wanted to be there was Beel.”

“He did seem to be enjoying himself.”

“If it was anyone other than him I would think they were trying to torture me.”

Belphie’s hands dropped from their position on either side of her head to squeeze her waist. She squirmed, making a noise that was somewhere between uncomfortable and surprised. She knew she wasn’t exactly a supermodel, and she kept waiting for a snide comment about her weight. It wouldn’t be the first time.

“If you overthink any harder, smoke will come out of your ears.”

She jumped. “Sorry…!”

“I’ve told you already,” Belphie murmured, lips hot against her neck as he pulled her closer by the hips. “Whatever hangups those silly little humans had about your body don’t bother me in the slightest.”

He broke away from her throat to kiss her properly, and she forced herself to relax as he softly ran the tips of his nails against the dip of her hips. Old habits died hard.

“Don’t worry,” Belphie smirked, backing away just enough to speak. “You won’t be thinking of anything besides me for a while.”

Stiina pouted. “You’re not allowed to be that smooth.”

“Why not?”

“Because I can’t be, so it gives you an unfair advantage!”

He laughed softly, gently dragging the tips of his nails along the dip of her waist. “A demon taking advantage of a poor, innocent human. Tale as old as time.”

“True as it can be~”

“I’m not singing Beauty and the Beast with you.”

“Boo,” she giggled, squirming around as his hands traveled up beneath her shirt. “Knock it off, that tickles.”

“Hm, that’s not quite the sensation I’m going for.” His voice had got husky. “The shirt’s in the way.”

It took a minute for Stiina to realize what he was implying. “Whoa, whoa, wait a minute.”

“What?” Belphie wasn’t the most patient demon, so she wasn’t surprised when he got a little huffy with her. “You were all in a second ago.”

“Well, for one, we just spent the day working out with your beast of a twin, so both of us are sweaty and gross.”

“As opposed to how squeaky clean we’re going to be afterwards?”

“Belphegor!”

“Fine, fine,” he backed up to let her push herself off of the tree, but almost immediately laced their fingers together. “But we’re going to your room. I don’t want Beel bursting in.”

The hot water felt good on Stiina’s sore muscles. After the adrenaline had worn off, she felt like she had been hit by a truck. Even her hair hurt.

...And there were leaves in it. Courtesy of Belphie being an impatient bastard.

After finally detangling the last leaf from her curly brown hair, she sighed, letting her arms drop. She was going to ache for days.

She reached over to load up her wash cloth with strawberry-scented body wash and got to work. The soapy water came away brown from all of the dirt and sweat, and she grimaced. Yeah, a shower had definitely been a good idea.

Suddenly, she heard a noise. It was hard to figure out what it was over the sound of the shower. It happened again, slightly louder this time. She only realized what it was after the locked bathroom door swung open.

“Will you stop picking my locks, please?”

“I didn’t pick the lock,” Belphie’s silhouette appeared on the shower curtain. She couldn’t see, but she would bet any amount of money that he was smirking like a little shit right now. “I opened it was your student id card.”

“Still technically picking it!”

The shower curtain slid open, causing Stiina to yelp and drop her wash cloth. There stood Belphie, completely naked. And smirking, called it.

“Are we going to argue semantics right now?” he stepped into the shower behind her, closing the curtain behind him.

“Seriously, Belphie?”

“I couldn’t wait,” he hummed, sliding his arms around her waist until she was pressed against his chest. “You were taking too long.”

“I’ve only been in here for, like, five minutes.”

“You’re lucky I didn’t jump you on the way here.”

“Absolutely feral.”

She felt his grin against the back of her neck. “You love it.”

Stiina spun around in his grip. There was alway one sure-fire way to get the demon to shut up.

He moaned softly as she cupped the back of his head to bring him in for a kiss. He loosened his grip around her waist to bring his hands around to her ass. He used his grip to bring their bodies flush together, and she gasped into his mouth.

“I’m really worked up,” Belphie murmured. “Maybe it’s the adrenaline.”

“Or it could be that your totally naked girlfriend is making out with you in the shower.” Stiina shot back.

“I guess that might have something to do with it.” he laughed, dragging the knuckles of one hand down the side of her face in a surprisingly sweet gesture. “You do make me feel strange things, after all.”

“Like what?”

“Warm and fuzzy things,” his hand continued to trace itself down her body, grazing over the sensitive spot on her neck. She shivered. “Things that demons probably shouldn’t be allowed to feel.”

“Oh, now who has hang-ups - ah!”

His hand had made his way down to her breasts, long thumbnail flicking at one of her nipples. “Don’t ruin the moment.”

“Jerk.” She was smiling.

His hand continued it’s journey south, rubbing a soothing circle against the crease where her hip met thigh. Then, finally, his index finger slipped over to her entrance.

She sighed, eyes fluttering. For all of her talk, she was pretty worked up as well, and Belphie’s words made everything that much sweeter. He could be nice when he wanted to.

“Belphie…” she exhaled, looping her arms around his shoulders like they had been in the forest. Again, they met for a kiss, tongues twisting together as Belphie slid another finger inside of her. Both of them were panting, and she could feel his dick become very interested against her.

He hooked his fingers at just the right angle and she whined into his mouth. He swallowed her noises like they were a sweet drink, pressing against her clit just this shy of too hard. In a vain attempt to get him to hurry up, she rolled her hips against him.

“And you say I’m impatient?” he broke away from her mouth with a wet pop, an impish grin on his face.

“You’re insufferable, is what you are.” she panted. “Please, Belphie, come on.”

“Well, since you said please…”

He reversed their positions so she was the one pressed up against the shower wall. From this position, the ceiling light shined from behind him, giving him a halo and making him seem like the angel he used to be a few millennia ago. For a moment, she was struck by just how beautiful he was.

“You’re staring.”

“You’re pretty.”

He looked surprised, a blush dusting across the tops of his cheeks. “...hm.”

Belphie leaned down to kiss her again, softly and gently, as he lined himself up with her entrance. He was breathing heavily, and Stiina could feel his core muscles tensing and flexing as he tried to resist the urge to thrust into her with wild abandon

She internally snorted. ‘Demons can’t resist temptations,’ my ass.

Little by little, he inched his way into her until he was buried up to the hilt. Neither of them could tell what was sweat and what was water, but they were both so flushed and turned on that the steam in the bathroom very well could have been coming off of their skin.

“I’m...moving now.”

And that was all the warning she got before he pulled almost completely out and slammed in.

He set a brutal pace from the get go. Turns out that the Avatar of Sloth can be very enthusiastic during certain activities. But, there was one problem that was making itself very apparent: their height difference. Belphie was by no means the tallest of his brothers, but that still made him one of the taller people Stiina had ever met.

“...damn it…” he growled. She whimpered when he pulled out, but there was a method to his madness. He grabbed the backs of her thighs and hoisted her up, pinning her to the wall with his torso. She had no choice but to wrap her legs around his hips, and they were back in business. Looks like the workouts were paying off.

The shift in angle was exactly what they both needed, and Belphie returned to thrusting into her with vigor. “Mm...nngh…!”

“B-Belph--a-ah!” She bit her lip almost hard enough to draw blood, and he dropped his head into the crook of her neck. His hips were stuttering, and each of his breaths was ending on a little moan.

His stomach tensed, and he bit down hard into the junction between her neck and shoulder as he came. She followed not too far behind, fingernails leaving long red scratches on his shoulder blades as she sought something to anchor her. She threw her head back almost hard enough to knock herself out when it hit the wall.

For a few moments, there was nothing but the sound of their labored breaths and the shower. Eventually, the afterglow faded and Belphie pulled out, releasing Stiina’s legs. She slumped back against the wall and the two of them slid down to sit on the floor. Belphie practically melted in her lap.

“...I think you left a mark.” she finally murmured, carding her fingers through his wet hair.

“Good. Show it off.”

“Absolutely not.”

“No fun,” he smirked, before his sense of touch returned and he shivered. “The water’s gone cold.”

“Turn it off, then.”

“You do it.”

“Then get off of me.”

“Don’t wanna.”

“You are such a brat,” Stiina grumbled, just barely managing to stretch over and shut the water off. As soon as it stopped, Belphie stood from her lap.

“Really?”

“Yup.”

She sighed, letting her body rest heavily against the wall as Belphie went rooting around in her cupboards for a clean towel. “You know, I think this endurance training is paying off.”

“Yeah?”

“You never would have been able to hold me up during sex like that before.”

Belphie paused, eyes widening briefly before that familiar sly grin spread over his face.

“Guess I’ll have to keep at it then.”

[msmarvelwrites]

The Winter Ghost - Part 5

Info: A Devastating car crash causes you to lose your memory and start over. The only thing left in the wreckage was the horrific nightmares which plagued your mind. If you knew what today would entail you would have just stayed in bed. But you didn't and because of that, everything you knew was about to change.

Pairing: Bucky Barnes x Y/n

Warning: language, PTSD, anxiety, violence, fluff.

W/c: 3.5K ish

A/n : oooh getting serious. Im having so much fun writing this you guys! Shout out to @cutie1365​ for all her support! Go read her fic A Kid From Queens, but dont say I didnt warn you. Its addicting! 

Everything happened really fast after that day in the common room with Wanda. Shuri worked tirelessly in the lab trying to develop a softer approach to bringing back your memories. She believed if she could restore them fully, we would have the last piece of the puzzle.

Becoming the perfect war machine seemed like the most obvious use for the serum, but Steve reminded you Hydra always had something up their sleeve.

You really enjoyed living in Wakanda. Most days were spent in the gym training. Trying to harness the team's abilities was not so enjoyable. You worked with Wanda most. It helped that you were only 4 years older than her. She was younger than most of the team and had a dark past that seemed to mirror yours.

Most of your nights consisted of you, Wanda and Nat settling into the couch and cheesy eighties movies on the plasma TV. Bucky would often come out of his room and sit with you.

You really enjoyed Bucky's energy. Something about him just drew you to him. Maybe it was his smile, or the way he smelled like mint and nicotine, or that he read the newspaper and drank black coffee in the mornings. You weren't sure. One thing was for certain, the more time you spent together, the harder it became to leave him. Bucky would tell you about his past and how he used to have to bail little 'Stevie' out of bar fights and ally brawls every other day. He made you laugh like no one really did. When he told you about his time with Hydra and how they would control his mind you would rake your fingers through his hair and whisper to him he wasn't alone anymore.

As the days melted into weeks, the horrific nightmares began to grow legs. It was one of the many side effects from Shuri’s digging. Some days it felt like Hydra knew you would try to remember and this was their fail-safe. Every time you began to drift off you'd see Tommys pale face, blood oozing from the corner of his mouth. You swear, right before he stumbled off the edge of the bridge you saw him say something. You could never remember when you woke, nor could you recall any other detail other than Tommy. It felt wrong. You felt wrong. Like he wasn't yours to grieve.

One particular bad night, you remember waking up screaming. Your whole body felt like it was on fire as your tears seared down your cheeks. The only thing that grounded you after that was the small knock that echoed from the other side of your door.

“Hey, doll. Let me in?” His voice was soft and smooth and the only thing that seemed to bring you back to the dimly lit bedroom. You stared at the ceiling for a solid minute before slowly rising and crossing the room. Gently, you opened the door just a crack and looked up. There stood a sleepy-eyed Bucky. He sported a baggy pair of grey sweats and an old beat up tank, his arms on full display. In normal circumstances, you believed that that was enough to knock you out of any state. You wondered if Bucky knew the effect he had on people. Or worse, if he knew the effect he had on you.

“Can't sleep, keep me company?” He spoke, huskily. You could tell he had just woken up. Sleep still clouded his eyes, and the yawn he tried to stifle gave him away. You appreciate what he was trying to do, so instead of calling the man out, you opened the door, and welcomed the Super Soldier in.

You talked for hours that night. He didn't ask about your nightmare, which you appreciated. You had recited the images to Shuri about thirty times in the past week. It was the only memory that seemed to come back. It replayed over and over on a continuous loop through your mind. This moment with Bucky was a welcomed break.

“Can I ask you somethin’?” You finally spoke. Bucky and you had found your way onto your bed at some point. His right arm draped around your shoulder, as you leaned on his chest. He cracked his neck to look down at you.

“Of course.” He offered, shifting onto his side so he could really look at you.

“Does it ever stop? I’m so exhausted, all I want to do is sleep but I- I'm so scared. I don’t want to see it again… What if it never-” Your voice broke off, shutting your eyes tight to stop a tear from escaping.

“Hey, hey. You're not alone anymore. Remember? I went through it and came out the other side. And look how well adjusted I am.” Bucky smirked, sarcasm laced his last remark. You couldn't help but smile at that. You didn't know if anyone but you and Steve really knew how funny he was. Maybe he liked it that way. Maybe he was only that way with you? You knew it had been awhile since Bucky had really been this way around others. It warmed your heart how quickly the two of you got along.

“Listen to me, doll.” He started, seriously, lowering his stare to meet yours.

“I’ll be here. Whenever you need me. I know what it's like, to feel out of control. To feel like a prisoner in your own body. To answer your question, yeah I think it gets better. I mean,” He paused then, looking you up and down in a way that made you blush. He started again, words laced with that old Brooklyn charm the ladies used to love. Granted, that worked back in 1940 - something and he had been out of the game for quite a while.

“I’m in bed with a smart, complicated, frankly beautiful dame. I’d say it gets better, wouldn't you?” He gently tucked a strand of your hair behind your ear. His touch sent shivers down your spine. Bucky's stormy eyes bore into yours making your breath hitch in your throat. There was a moment, so brief that when you recanted the memory you weren't sure it really happened. But you thought maybe for just a second he wanted to-  

“Up and at it, Y/n! Training starts at 0700!” Caps voice droned through your bedroom door suddenly, knocking you out of your thoughts and back to the bed you resided on. Your hand reached out for Bucky, who since that night spent most beside you. He would stay with you until you fell asleep and more often than not, when you woke, he’d be beside you, fast asleep. His side of the bed was cold, however. He had been up for a while.

You looked at your phone on the nightstand. 6:15 am it read. You groaned, rubbing your hands over your face and slinking out of bed. Pain screamed from your muscles as you opened the bathroom door. Carefully, you started the shower, steam quickly filled the room and calmed your aching bones. You stepped in and autobly signed.

Fifteen minutes later you met the rest of the team in the kitchen. You couldn't help but notice Bucky wasn't in attendance. Everyone looked like they had been awake for hours while your wet hair was pulled up in a messy knot on top of your head. Nat was pouring herself a cup of coffee when she noticed you come in. She smirked, instantly grabbing another mug and gesturing to the pot in her hands. You nodded quickly. ‘Coffee fixed most everything’. That's what Your Dad used to tell you before he left for work and you lived by that.

“Look who's finally up…” Cap announced. You had no idea how he was so chipper in the mornings. Even the sound of his booming voice made you cringe. The man must have coffee running through his veins. Maybe that should be Hydra’s next serum idea…

“I have risen. Just for you, Rogers.” You muttered sarcastically, taking the mug of coffee from Nat. You smiled and mouthed thank you, taking a big swig. Ugh, you grimaced, swallowing the brown substance much to your dismay. You didn't know what this brown water was but it definitely wasn't coffee.

Wanda laughed at your disgusted face, "It's decaf, Y/n '' she rolled her eyes, "Cap thinks decaf is better for the team. That coffee will mess with our 'performance' or whatever." She shrugged. What's even the point? You thought.

“Excuse me young lady.” Cap began, scolding Wanda like she was his teenager. Wanda smirked, turning towards his voice.

“Young lady?” Nat mocked her friend, nudging him out of the way as she reached for the piece of toast she had put in the toaster. She took a bite and over chews laughed, “You're really aging yourself, Cap.” She finished, hoisting herself up onto the kitchen island beside you.

You really liked Natasha. You thought she must have been the most beautiful person you'd ever met. Her red hair always curled around her soft features perfectly. You honestly didn't know how a human could look that perfect and be so deadly. Over the past few weeks, Nat had taught you a lot. You mostly trained with Captain Rogers and Wanda, but occasionally Nat would step in. She was small in stature, but she helped you learn how to use that to your advantage.

“What’cha say we go get some real coffee, babe?” Nat nudged you with a small smile. You looked up at her with a wide eye gaze. She truly was a hero.

“God, yes please.” You beamed as she jumped off the island.

“If you're skipping out on training then count me in! I” Wanda chimed.  Rogers looked frustrated as the three of you started towards the door.

“Nat, you heard what Shuri said. Y/n cannot leave the premises until we know what she's fully capable of. She’s dangerous.” Cap stated firmly, but unmoved from the kitchen. You looked at the floor uncomfortably. He was right. You were a ticking time bomb. You all knew it. Shuri explained with the presence of the nightmares it was only a matter of time before something snapped. And no one really knew how that would look when it happened. For the most part, everyone treated you like a normal person. An honorary member of the team. But Rogers often reminded you that you were anything but. Just an experiment and a means to an end.

"Comeon' y/n. I know a place we can get some real coffee."  Nat spoke, louder than Cap. Venom seeped from her words as she glared at the Captain. She shook her head disapprovingly. Wanda took your hand, pulling you gently out of the kitchen. When you touched you felt your skin sizzle, absorbing the power that surged through her body. You made a conscious effort to steady your breathing and push her power to the back of your mind. As you left you heard Natasha’s booming voice coming from behind you but decided to ignore it, as the two of you headed for the garage.

“Are you fucking kidding me, Steve?” Nat snapped at him. Steve opened his mouth and closed it trying to find the right words. “She’s a person, you ass! You can't keep treating her like some unhinged science experiment. She’s just a person. Just like me. Just like Bucky.”

“She’s nothing like Bucky!” He thundered. Nat took a step back, snaking her head disapprovingly. “I can’t keep thinking, what if we had it wrong. I mean, she can’t remember anything. What if her memories come back and she's not really on our side. I don't think we thought this through, Nat.” He huffed, running his hands over his face in frustration.

“I trust her, Steve. Bucky trusts her.” She started, taking a few steps closer to him. He shook his head in annoyance and scoffed.

“Bucky thinks the girl’s a doll. He’s totally smitten, that doesn't count. I think the guy would trust anything she said at this point-”

“Do you trust me?” Nat snapped, a brow arched, hands on her hips. Stever huffed, pinching the bridge of his nose.

“You know I do, but-” He began.

“Then it's settled. You gotta’ let the girl out. She's been locked up here for weeks. I promise, I’ll keep her safe. Besides, I’m getting pretty tired of her stealing my clothes. Coffee, and shopping and then we’ll be back, yeah?” Nat offered, voice dripping with sweetness. She knew she had won this battle. She always did.

“Two hours, Romanoff. That's all you get.” Steve grumbled. Nat smirked, rolling her eyes and spinning on her heel to meet you and Wanda in the garage.

“See ya later, Grandpa. Don't wait up.” She offered over her shoulder. Steve only shook his head and chuckled, hoping desperately he hadn't made a huge mistake.

Nat strutted victoriously out of the kitchen, and almost ran right into Bucky's large frame. She stumbled back, regaining her balance quickly. Bucky raised one brow curiously.

“Where ya’ going in such a hurry?” He asked, watching her carefully.

“I’m taking your girl out for a much needed shopping trip. Anything particular you'd like to see her in?” She quipped, sarcastically, flipping her hair over her shoulder. Bucky choked on a cough, clearing his throat and trying to turn it into a laugh. He failed, of course.

“I- ah, I don't know what- uh, what?” He finally got out. Nat smirkled, and patted him on his stiff chest. It was literally too easy. The man was such a ball of stress. Nat thought it was honestly cute. She’s never seen Bucky like this before. Nervous and blushing. She thought you were really good for him. Maybe you’ll finally take that stick out of his ass. She thought with a smirk.

“Have a nice day, Sergeant.” She cooed, pushing past his rigid body leaving Bucky in shock.

“You ready, babies?” Nat grinned, putting the key in the Jeep’s ignition. You sat in the back seat while Wanda sat in the passenger, both nodding vigorously.

“For the love of coffee!” You shouted, pointing forward. Both women laughed and with that you took off.

……………………...

You practically skipped through the Wakanda market. Beautiful earthy colours melted into the scenery practically taking your breath away. Wanda and Nat had stopped at a small coffee shop, but you wandered around, looking at the beautiful handmade clothing. The smoky smell of something cooking from a nearby street grill filled your senses. It was complex, sweet and spicy and sour all at once. It made your mouth water. Foreign and delicious. You followed the smell to a small hutch where people gathered around, eating and laughing.

“Beautiful isn't it? How food brings us all together.” A man spoke beside you. You recognized him as T’Challa, Shuri’s older brother and also the man who is letting you and your new friends stay in Wakanda. You had only really met him in passing, but never really spoke. Bucky always describes him as a kind, gracious friend. You smiled up at him.

“It is… Really beautiful.” You repeated.

“How are you liking Wakanda, Y/n?” He asked. His voice was deep and rich. Almost melodic. Just by speaking he had commanded the attention of the people around you. The new eyes on the two of you made you feel uneasy and small, but you took a deep breath and relaxed yourself.

“It's so gorgeous here. Thank you for having me, T’Challa.” You spoke his name and it made him smile. You froze unsure if that was the right thinking to call him. He was the King, sort of, but Bucky had always referred to him by his given name.

“Breath, my friend. You have nothing to fear here. You are with good people. Your friend Bucky speaks very highly of you. And any friend of the Sergeants is a friend of mine.” He voiced, placing a warm hand on your shoulder as you relaxed. From behind him you could see Nat and Wanda walking towards you. Wanda waved chaotically making you smile.

An old beat-up SUV made a loud popping noise as it pulled up somewhere behind you. The noise made you shudder. The familiar sound of gunshots rang through your ears as you grabbed your head, trying to make the noise stop. You looked to T’Challa who seemed only concerned, reaching out a hand to steady you.

“Is everything okay, Y/n?” He spoke, trying to gage what was wrong by your actions. The loud deady blows echoed through your head, unrelenting as a scream erupted through the crowd. You weren't sure if you had made the noise of if it was someone else. Everything seemed to fade away and your vision became blurry.

“Y/n, Y/n! Can you hear me?!” You heard a woman yell over the crowd. You tried to focus on her voice, but it was too late. Everything suddenly went black and you felt your body go numb.

You woke up in the dark cement room that plagued your nightmares. A man's eerie voice echoed off the walls.

“Еще раз!” Again! He shouted. Usually when you relieved these memories you didn't know what the man was saying.  But for some reason, this time your brain was translating for you. You didn’t question it as you looked around the room. You felt your body scream as an excruciating electric shock ripped through you. Tears burned down your face as you begged incoherently for it to stop. As fast as it came on, the shock stopped, and you could breathe again.

“Ты сама во всем виновата, дитя мое.” You brought this on yourself, my child. The man cooed, wiping a bead of sweat that ran down your forehead. You winced at his touch, the feeling of him on you making you nauseous.

“Если бы ты только сделал то, о чем тебя просили. Если бы вы только слушали. Может быть, все было бы по-другому, хотя я сомневаюсь в этом.” If only you had done what you were asked. If only you have listened. Maybe things would be different, though, I doubt it. He spat, chuckling as he motioned for the other outside of view to start again.

“Please, don’t do this, Zemo. Обещаю. Возьми мою память. Заставь меня забыть, только не делай этого.” I promise. Take my memory. Make me forget, just don't do this. You begged. You tried to move your arms but they were secured down. The man only laughed at your feeble attempt, building a rage inside of you.

“Oh, don't you worry, мой ребенок. All in due time. When I’m done with you, you won't remember your own name.” He grinned a crooked smile as the machine you laid in whirled on again, sending a volt of electricity through your body. You clenched your teeth and stifled another scream.

Your eyes burst open, scolded by the sun and the tears that now streamed down your face. Gasping for air you tried to sit up, but your body shrieked with pain. On your left Nat sat beside you, Wanda was on your right holding a phone to her ear yelling something you couldn't quite make out.  Your breath slowly began to return and the sunspots in your vision cleared. You looked around, the market was now almost empty but the small street grill was now billowing with smoke and flame. Nat helped you up, body still aching. You looked around, horrified by the mess that was once the lively market.

“Are you okay, Y/n” Nat started, her hands on either side of your arms. You blinked at her, terrified.

“What happened?” You asked, horrified to actually know the answer. She gave you a nervous look and tucked a loose hair behind her ear.

“It wasn't your fault, Y/n. No one was hurt, everyone got out. It’s going to be okay.”

“It most certainly is not going to be okay!” Captain Rogers' voice boomed from behind the three of you. Wanda spun around startled, while you just hung your head low. Whatever lashing he was going to give you, you deserved. It couldn't be any worse than what Zemo had done…  You paused, eyes a gape.

“Oh my God.” You gasped, alerting the others. Steve looked at her angrily, impatient for your next words.

“I remember something… I think- I think I remember who did this to me.” You choked out, eyes glassy as you remembered for the first time the man who made you a monster.

................................

A/N: Thank you for reading! Hope all have a great weekend! As always, feel free to leave me feedback! My inbox is always open!

@projectcampbell​

[straylightdream]

part two: the rose garden

featuring: Mob Boss Kim Junmyeon x reader, Bodyguard Oh Sehun x reader

Cold, wicked and ruthless we’re all words that people used to describe Junmyeon, but when it came to her he made an oath to protect her. Sehun was assigned to watch over her, he never expected for her to break down his walls.

warnings: angst, mentions of violence, injuries, death, blood, ptsd, future chapters will contain sexual conteny.

word count: 9.8k another long one

AN: I would like to know which of the two guys you’re rooting for.

previous > next

series masterlist

Two weeks have passed since you hurt yourself. In those two weeks Sehun has been glued to you following you around the compound. He follows you everywhere you go, never letting you out of his line of sight. The only time he leaves you alone is when you sleep or either of you need to shower. Things have felt different since that night. There seems to be a tension whenever Sehun is around. Your stomach twists in knots thinking about how your carelessness ruined everything. The short period of time when Sehun leaves you alone so he can either attend a meeting or to shower he always leaves you under the watchful eye of Kyungsoo. He’s by far the most relaxed of the group. He has no issue sitting in the library reading a book with you. Or sitting in the TV room watching a rerun of an old show. Out of all the men Kyungsoo feels the most normal. From what you have heard some of the men say when they need someone to get info out of someone they send Kyungsoo in. You aren’t sure if that means he’s ruthless or maybe that calm and collected enough to get the info out of them. You can’t help but wonder if any of these men date. You’ve barely ever seen any of them leave the compound if they aren’t with Junmyeon.

Sitting in the library under the window on the overly expensive couch your eyes scroll the pages in front of you. Kyungsoo is sitting next to you flipping through a vintage book he’s told you is his favorite. Glancing out the window you watch as trees move in the distance. You’ve grown to forget what it’s like to feel the breeze in your hair. Closing the book you turn on the couch staring out the window. You wonder what it would feel like to go outside and feel the spring breeze.

“If you want to go out there I’ll take you or if you feel more comfortable Sehun or one of the other guys can take you,” he closes his book and looks out the windows next to you.

“I haven’t been outside since that night,” you sigh, pushing away the vivid images of that night that are trying to play in your brain.

Someone clears their throat and you look over to see Sehun standing in the doorway. His hair is still wet from his shower he’s just taken. He nods his head at Kyungsoo. Automatically Kyungsoo stands up and nods, sees that as his signal to leave. Sehun walks over and stands by the couch watching you. You glance up at him and give him a smile.

“Would you like to sit,” you pat the couch next to you. He hesitates for a moment before sitting down next to you. You look out the window with childlike wonder. Even though the outside world terrifies you, part of you wants to go out there.

“Are you stuck here because of me?” you say with your eyes still locked on the outside world.

“No. I’m able to leave. There are seven other men fully capable of watching over you if I need to leave for something. I chose to stay and watch after you.”

“I don’t mean to be a burden to you,” a sigh passes your lips.

He reaches over and lightly rests his hand on your knee. A warmth washes over you at his simple touch. He hasn’t touched you like this in two weeks. Since you fell he’s been treating you like you’re made of glass. Too afraid to touch you.

“Please stop saying you’re a burden. You aren’t by any means.”

Glancing over at him he has a tender expression on his face. There is something about the way he’s staring at you that it takes everything in your not to reach out and touch his soft face.

“I want to go outside,” you admit even though you’re still terrified.

“Okay. When do you want to go outside?” He asks with his hand still resting on your thigh.

“Can we go now? I just want to see the garden,” you turn so you’re fully facing him.

He nods.

Leaving the library you go to your room to grab shoes that aren’t just the house slippers you normally wear. Pulling on your light jacket, you have a nervous feeling in the pit of your stomach. It feels as if you’re a child getting ready for their first day of school. Walking into the hallway you find Sehun waiting for you. Your eyes automatically go to his waistband to see he’s carrying his gun. You lead the way as you walk through the compound. Once you reach the door you find Baekhyun, Jongin, Jongdae, and Minseok waiting for you. While you were getting ready Sehun must have told them you were going outside.

You stop dead in your track as the fear washes over you. Your body tenses up as you have the sudden desire to turn around. A calming hand rests on your shoulder and you don’t even have to turn around to know it’s Sehun’s. Taking a deep breath you attempt to center yourself. You know you’re strong that you can do this. You repeat to yourself over and over nothing outside will kill you.

Leaning down Sehun whispers in your ear just loud enough for you to hear, “I’m gonna be there to protect you. You can do this.”

Closing your eyes you take a deep breath and nod your head.

His hand moves so it rests on your lower back as he guides you out the front door.

The feeling of the warm sun on your skin is a friendly hello from an old friend. You stop five feet from the door and close your eyes taking in the sunshine. It’s been too long and you know that. Sehun's hand leaves your back as you step forward.

Taking a deep breath, the fresh air fills your lungs. Looking back you find Sehun watching you intently and behind him Baekhyun's hand is on his gun and Jongin, Minseok and Jongdae are standing at full attention next to him. Your eyes go to Baekhyun's gun and you visibly swallow. Sehun steps in front of your line of vision capturing your attention.

“Nothing's gonna happen. They’re just out here for a layer of comfort.”

You nod and turn around looking at the garden that constantly catches your eye. Stepping forward you walk across the pavement. Your eyes roam around everywhere checking your surroundings. The sound of a cracking noise startles you. Stopping in your tracks you look over at the noise to see Jongin’s foot stepping on a twig. Your eyes are wide as your body is frozen in place.

Sehun moves so he’s standing in front of you. He reaches out resting his hand on your shoulder. Your eyes snap to his and your eyes roam his face rapidly. He must read the look of fear in your eyes. His other hands lift gently and rest on your cheek.

“You’re okay. Nothing out here will hurt you,” his words are low, just loud enough for you to hear.

Nodding your head lightly you close your eyes and take a deep breath. Stepping back he removes his hand from your skin.

Stepping around Sehun you slowly start walking down the path toward the garden that is in the back of the compound. With each step you take you hear the echoes of Sehun and the four men walking behind you. Stopping in front of the garden you hand reaches out to touch the blood red petals of a rose bush near you.

A cool breeze pushes your hair out of your face. Looking around you can’t help but knowledge how beautiful all the flowers are.

In a sea of madness these flowers are something beautiful. Your eyes brim with tears, you feel so overwhelmed by everything surrounding you. You feel incredibly overwhelmed as the watchful eyes of Sehun and the four men stayed locked on you. They’re watching every movement. Nothing you do goes unnoticed.

Ever so slowly Minseok and Jongdae walk further into the garden. You know that these men must think you’ve gone insane. Being outside isn’t supposed to be this overwhelming.

The whole time you stayed outside wandering around the small garden against the back wall you felt Sehun presents right behind you. He was always about a foot away from you, while the other four were no further then five feet away.

Stepping back into the compound a wave of relief washes over. The short trip outside leaves you feeling exhausted. Walking off toward the foyer you look back and see Sehun behind you. He gives you a soft smile as he slowly walks behind you.

You know all too well that if it wasn’t for Sehun you would have never been able to step outside. Your bodyguard has been your main source of moral support through all this. Even though you don’t talk nonstop, he’s always there with gentle reassuring touches and letting know he’s there for you. You need him like air in your lungs.

“You okay?” he asks.

“Yeah I’m just pretty tired,” you were mentally drained from your short trip.

“Did you want to take a nap?”

It was the middle of the afternoon and you probably shouldn’t take a nap, but you were so tired you thought it might be a good idea.

“Yeah that sounds like a good idea.”

Walking up the stairs towards your room Sehun stops at your room and holds the dark door open as you enter your room. He stops in the doorway and watches as you walk over towards your bed. Sitting on the mint comforter you suddenly feel safe in the comfort of your room. Sehun watches you carefully as he walks towards you. A heavy sigh passes your lips as you push your fingers through your messy hair. Your eyes brim with tears and you aren’t exactly sure why. It might have to do with the overwhelming feeling of the safety of your bedroom. Resting your face in your palms you start to cry. The tears keep coming and you can’t stop them. The feeling of Sehun pulling you into his chest is a friendly reminder you aren’t alone. The feeling of your chest tightening causes you to fight to breathe as sob into his shirt. He rubs your back and whispers over and over, “you’re okay.”

You want desperately to believe him but you can’t. The world feels like it’s spinning as you soak his shirt with your tears.

“You’re safe,” his voice is so calming as he speaks to you.

You open your mouth to speak and nothing comes out. You sob into his chest for too long, he never releases his hold on you. The sweet words continue to fall from his lips.

The tears finally stop and you’re exhausted. Pulling away you look at him to see the sad look in his eyes. He reaches up and ever so gently brushes away the tears from your cheek.

“Thank you,” your voice is hoarse from crying.

“I’m always here for you,” his hand lingers on your cheek and your heartbeat picks up.  

“Sehun I can’t do this without you.”

“I’m not going anywhere. I’m always going to be here. You’re never alone, you have me and the rest of the group and Junmyeon.”

Leaning forward you rest your head against his chest and take a deep breath trying to calm down.  

Pulling back away from him you stare at him for a long moment before rubbing your face, “I think I should sleep.”

He pushes your hair behind your ear and nods softly. He doesn’t say anything as he stares into your sad eyes for a long moment.

“I’ll be close by. If you need me I’ll be here.”

Laying down you curl up into a ball and stare at the wall for a long moment. Sehun stays sitting on your bed. Looking at him your eyes stay locked on him until your eyes grow too heavy to stay open.

Sleeping had never been easy for you, even before losing your brother. Most of your nights now were filled with nightmares. In your hazy state you saw visions of your brother alive and well. Sitting by the garden at your family home you grew up in. The sun was bright and warm against your skin as you laid in the tall grass. Your brother is sitting next to you playing with a daisy found. Slowly picking off each petal tossing them in into the summer breeze.

The sound of your mother's sweeting voice is humming in the background and you look over at your brother. Your mother’s voice grows closer and you look up to see her standing over you holding her homemade lemonade. Everything feels so right and so perfect. Sung-Ho stands up holding his hand out for you. Standing up the warm breeze pushes your hair out of your face. You turn to walk towards your mother and Sung-Ho then suddenly everything goes dark

Your body is gently being shaken when your eyes open to see Sehun gently shaking you awake.

“What’s going on?” A heavy yawn passes your lips.

“You’ve been asleep for three hours and I think you should probably eat something,” he pauses like he’s trying to figure out what he should say next. “Also Junmyeon wants to check on you.”

Tilting your head you’re surprised to hear that he wants to check on you, “okay.”

“He’s standing outside. He didn’t want to startle you.”

“Okay he can come in.”

He nods before he stands up and walks towards your bedroom door. Opening it he signals for Junmyeon to walk in. Sehun gives you a small smile before he shuts the door.

The room is completely silent as Junmyeon stands there watching you for a long moment. You can’t help but feel like you must look crazy or something the way his watchful eyes are monitoring you.

“I heard you went outside,”Junmyeon says, finally speaking as he steps closer to your bed.

You nod. You’re still shocked that he came by your bedroom to talk to you.

“Minseok said you seemed very overwhelmed,” he stops at the foot of your bed looking down at you with soft eyes.

“It’s a lot to take in. The outside world still scares me,” a heavy sigh passes your lips. “Did Sehun tell you about my breakdown?”

He silently nods standing by your bed.

“May I sit down?” His eyes are focused on your mint colored comforter.

Silently you nod.

“Are you afraid of the outside world or are you afraid of the people who hurt your brother?” His voice sounds even, but his facial expression looks like he’s trying to restrain himself.

“I'm nothing more than a loose end.”

Reaching out he softly rests his hand on your knee. He shakes his head and says, “they aren’t going to come for you. The Choi’s know that I won’t hesitate to end their whole gang.” Those two sentences are a strong reminder of the power Junmyeon holds. People and other gangs fear him. He’s ruthless when he wants to be and he rules with an iron fist.

“The Choi’s made a mistake when they took out your brother. They know what the consequence is if they touch someone else in my inner circle,” he looks angry.

Your stomach twists as you watch him speak to you. You know his anger is in no way directed at you but seeing him like this lets you know that he can be scary when he wants to be.

“I’m not a part of your inner circle,” you look down at your leg where his hand still rests.

“You are considered a part of my inner circle now. People now know that you are not to be touched,” his words soften as he stares at you. He must have realized that seeing him mad scared you. His thumb tenderly brushes your leg, “I’m sorry if I scared you. I don’t like you seeing this side of me.”

Reaching your hand out you mindlessly rest your hand on top of his. He takes a deep breath and closes his eyes for a moment. You can’t help but stare at him, he’s so beautiful.

“I want to keep you away from all this mob stuff. I don’t want you to worry about it,” his tone has softened significantly.

“Okay,” you slowly lift his hand and flip it over so his palm is resting up on your leg.

You feel his watchful eyes on you as you stare at his calloused palm. You glance up at him and he gives you a timid smile. You’ve been at the compound for almost three months now and you realize that you’ve seen another person enter the compound other than Junmyeon or the inner circle. You can’t help but let your mind wonder if Junmyeon had a girl outside he saw. If he had someone who loves him. You hesitate before reaching forward and dragging your fingers across his calloused palm. He doesn’t say anything he just silently watches you touch his skin. You’ve never been this physically close to him, and you wish you had long before this moment.

“You’re a very kind man Junmyeon when it comes to me,” you don’t look up at him. Your eyes remain locked on his hand.

“I’m not a good person,” his voice is filled with guilt.

Looking up you see his small smile has fallen. The corners of his mouth are tugged down. “People say I’m ruthless.”

Raising your eyebrow you whisper, “you aren’t with me or the guys.”

“This is my family. All the men in this house are my brothers.”

“Am I your family?” you aren’t sure why you ask him this.

He nods, “yes you are. Your brother was my family, and that night four years ago when I handed you that card, you also became my family.”

You swallow and think back to that night you woke up to a banging on your apartment door. If you would have known what your life was going to become you might have begged your brother to walk away from EXO.

“Your brother cared about nothing in this world more than he cared for you. He was the one pulled me aside and asked for me to take care of you if something happened to him. He was the one who asked me to give you that number,” his voice is soft as he lays everything out for you.

Placing your hand flat on top of his you stare at him blinking back tears.

“I didn’t mean to upset you.”

Shaking your head you lie, “I’m fine.” The tear that slides down your cheek lets Junmyeon know that isn’t true.

Reach out his thumb and he brushes the tear away as it slides down your warm cheek.

“I think I should leave before I make you feel anymore uncomfortable.”

Before he can even move you hold onto his hand desperately. You don’t want him walking away thinking he hurt you. Shaking your head you say, “I’m okay.”

“Promise me if you’re not okay you’ll tell me?” His eyes are so soft as he looks at you.

“I promise.”

“Would you like to go to the garden with me tomorrow?”

You nod your head and smile.

“Okay tomorrow morning let’s go outside together.”

You release his hand and he stands up. He brushes off his pants before giving you another soft smile. “I have a business I have to take care of at the office. I won’t be home for dinner, but Sehun, Kyungsoo, Jongin and Jongdae will be eating with you.”

“Okay.”

You watch him open your bedroom and walk away. He leaves the door open and a moment later Sehun walks in.

“Are you okay?” Sehun asks, walking towards your bed. He must notice that your eyes are glossy after your conversation with his boss.

You nod and slowly crawl off your bed, “we talked about my brother, and I always cry talking about him.”

“Junmyeon said that you’ll be having dinner with us tonight,” says as he looks down at his boots.

-

Sitting at the long mahogany dining table. Kyungsoo cooked everyone a delicious dinner and the boys were happily eating. Your appetite most days felt nonexistent, your body seemed to only want to eat enough to get by. You kept telling yourself over and over this is your way of dealing with guilt. Taking a deep breath you try to gather your thoughts as you attempt to eat more. Bringing a bite up to your mouth you feel a pair of dark eyes on you. Setting your chopsticks down, you glance up to find Sehun staring at you. His eyes bore into you as he studies you. Even before Junmyeon assigned Sehun to be your bodyguard you knew he was constantly watching you. You’ve always seemed to hold his attention, but then again you’ve always been interested in the youngest member of the inner circle.

“Are you full?” He knows there’s no way you’re full, but he still asks you.

Shrugging your shoulder you look back down at the bowl in front of you. How are you supposed to tell him that food isn’t appealing to you.

“Can you please try to eat more?”  his voice is so soft as he speaks to you. He rests his warm hand on your arm and gently brushes his thumb against your skin.

Nodding you reach down picking your chopsticks again. You pick up a bite of kimchi bringing it to your lips. Glancing over at Sehun you see his lips have pulled up into a small smile.

There’s something about being around Sehun that he comforts you, but also makes you feel like you’re not completely alone while being surrounded by the chaos that is this compound. His soft smile and gentle voice makes you forget that Jongin, Kyungsoo, and Jongdae are sitting at the table having a loud conversation about something completely random.

“Thank you.”

You hope one day you won’t feel like such a burden to Sehun and the rest the men. You hope one day Sehun will be able to have a real life away from being your babysitter.

-

Standing in front of the sink you’re cleaning your yellow coffee cup that was just filled with tea. Sehun is leaning against the island checking something on his phone.

“Would you like to watch a movie or some tv with me?” Junmyeon asks while walking into the kitchen catching you off guard. He was home earlier than you expected him.

Knitting your eyebrows together you’re surprised to hear him asking to do such a mundane thing together. You guys have started talking way more recently and you’ve made plans to go outside in the morning, but he’s never really asked to spend time with you.

“I would really enjoy that.”

“Did you want to get changed into your pajamas to get comfortable while I eat a quick dinner?”

“Yeah I’ll do that now.”

Walking out of the kitchen Sehun follows you. You can’t help but wonder if he’ll ever grow bored of following you around. It wasn’t like you were entertaining by any means. He probably felt awkward sitting in the library being forced to watch you read.

He stays in the hallway while you go into your room to change into something more comfortable. You decide since Junmyeon still had to eat dinner you would wash your face and brush your teeth before leaving your room.

Walking back into the kitchen you find Junmyeon leaning against the island eating instant ramen. You can’t help but find it slightly funny that this extremely rich and powerful man was eating instant ramen dressed in a suit.

He must notice the smile spread across your face because he raises an eyebrow and shakes his head at you.

“Give me a few more minutes and I’ll join you in the TV room,” he says before taking a huge bite of his ramen.

Walking over to the fridge you pull out a bottle of water before walking into the TV room. Entering the larger room has two plush sofas and large TV, you find Jongdae and Yixing watching some romantic drama. They both seem very wrapped up in whatever they’re watching. They both look at you for a short moment before looking back at the TV. It’s interesting to see men who carry guns around for a living watching a romantic movie.

Sehun stays put as you join them on the extremely comfy sofa.

Sehun's watchful eyes stayed locked on you as you stared at the TV. You can’t help but wonder if Jongdae and Yixing know that Junmyeon asked you to watch a movie. Maybe he had asked them to join as well.

The movie plays for about twenty more minutes when Junmyeon walks into the TV room wearing a pair of lounge pants and a grey shirt. He gives Yixing and Jongdae a single look before they silently leave the room. He looks over at Sehun who hasn’t moved from his position and says, “you don’t have to watch her tonight, I’ve got her. If she needs anything I’ll have Chanyeol get you.”

Sehun stares at his boss with an emotionless look on his face. His lips are pursed together as he silently nods his head before walking out of the room. Junmyeon looks at you and gives you a soft smile, “are you okay if it’s just us?”

You didn’t understand why he thought you wouldn’t be okay with it just being you and him. He sits down on the sofa next to you leaving a little space between you.

He scrolls through Netflix before deciding on a romantic comedy to watch. You can barely seem to focus on the movie as it plays. You only seem to be able to pay attention to Junmyeon. You can’t help but notice how relaxed he seems. It’s the first time in a while he doesn’t look like the weight of the world seems to be on his shoulders. Just being next to him in his relaxed state helps put you at ease.

The movie continues to play and you aren’t even sure you can remember the plot. Towards the end of the movie your eyes have grown too heavy and you’ve fallen asleep with your head resting on the arm rest.

The feeling of your body being moved wakes you up. Your eyes slowly drift open and you find Junmyeon staring down at you. He holds you in bridal style as he carries you towards the stairs.

“I could have walked,” you murmured, still barely awake in a dazed state.

“It’s okay I got you.” He sounds so calm as he speaks to you.

Closing your eyes you rest your head against his chest. This whole thing feels like a dream. You hear the sound of your door opening but Junmyeon’s hands don’t leave your body. Slowly opening your eyes you see Sehun at your door.

“I got her. You can go to bed,” Junmyeon says softly.

Your body is gently laid on your soft bed and you look up to see Junmyeon standing above you. Reaches out he tenderly pushes a piece of hair away from your face. His warm eyes are as soft as they stare at you. He still seems very relaxed almost as if this is a normal situation for him to be in.

“I’m sorry I fell asleep,” you say before letting out another yawn.

“It’s okay, we can watch a movie another night together.”

He doesn’t move as he stares at you silently. He is still standing above you watching you carefully. You want to say something to him but you are sure what to say. You’re so tired you can barely hold your eyes open as you blink trying your hardest to stay awake for a few more moments.

“Goodnight Junmyeon.”

“Goodnight YN.”

-

Pulling your coat against your body you take a deep breath staring at the door. You know Sehun is standing on the other side waiting for you. Just like he’s always there waiting for you. You’re attempting to gather yourself before stepping out. You hate that just going outside feels like such a big deal to you. This shouldn’t have to be such an ordeal. You shouldn’t need at least four men to feel safe. You shouldn’t need Sehun to be within five feet of you to make you feel safe.

Opening the door Sehun is standing there waiting for you. He’s dressed in a sweater and jeans with a pair of boots. He’s wearing a holster with his gun in it. He gives you a soft smile as you stand completely still in the doorway.

“Ready?” He tilts his head slightly to the side.

Nodding you follow him down the hall towards the stairs. You take each step slowly telling yourself in your head that this is going to be okay. That this is a step in the right direction of fixing the things that make you feel broken.

Walking into the dining room you find Junmyeon waiting for you. It’s surprising to see him dressed in a pair of jeans and sweater as well. He looks so casual and you can’t help but smile. Normally by breakfast time he’s already dressed in his suit getting ready to go to the office.

“Good morning,” he says, giving you a soft smile.

“Morning.”

Looking around the dining room you find the seven other men standing around waiting. Chanyeol is right behind Junmyeon towering over him. Baekhyun is leaning against the arc that leads to the foyer.

“You ready?” Junmyeon asks, stepping towards you.

You turn on your heels to walk out of the dining room but before you can move you’re frozen in place for a moment. A sense of fear washing over you.

“Junmyeon can I ask you something before we go outside?” You turn to face him. Your stomach twitches slightly. You aren’t exactly why you get nervous talking to him.

“Yes.”

“Do you have your gun?” Your voice is low and slightly shaking. You have a nervous feeling in the pit of your stomach.

Reach behind him into his waistband he pulls out his gun. He flashes it to you before putting it back. You feel a sense of relief wash over you. He must notice something is up because he steps forward and gently rests his hand on your shoulder, “I’m gonna protect you. Nothing will happen to you. Sehun will be with us along with Chanyeol, and the rest the circle will be outside.”

Looking around the dining room you find all of the men who are closest to Junmyeon standing around. You keep telling yourself that it would literally take an army to get through Junmyeon and all his men. You’ll never be safer than when you’re surrounded by all the men in this room.

“Okay let’s go.”

Junmyeon leads the way walking through the foyer walking towards the front door. He stops in front of the dark door and turns to glance at you. You’re standing behind him taking deep breaths trying to calm yourself down. Opening the door slowly the warm sun peaks into the mansion. A hand rests on your lower back and you don’t have to look to the side to know that it’s Sehun letting you know you’re gonna be okay. He guides you as you slowly follow Junmyeon outside. You need his guidance at this moment. You need to know that he’s by your side and he’s not going anywhere. You never feel safer than the way Sehun is touching you.

The boys must have told Junmyeon about your fascination with the rose garden because it’s the first place he goes. You closely follow right behind him, making sure you don’t fall too far behind.

He stops in the middle of the garden and turns to face you. He gives you a soft smile as you stop in front of him. He turns and walks towards a rose bush. His hand gently runs across the petals before he stops and stares at the flower.

You’re literally surrounded by nine men all carrying loaded guns and you still don’t feel safe. It doesn’t make sense to you and you can’t go on living like this. You hate the feeling of fear overtaking you. You know deep down inside you need help. If you’re ever going to get better you need someone to help you, someone other than the nine men you live with.

“Junmyeon?”

His hands are in his pockets as he walks and stands in front of you. “Yes?” He looks so stoic as he looks at you.

“I think I need to talk to someone,” you want to fully get over this fear you have of the outside world. You can’t go on living in fear.

“Okay. I told you I would get you someone to talk to. You can either go to someone or I can bring someone here,” he says.

“Can you have someone come here?” you know this is a much needed step you need to take. The outside world is never going to stop scaring you.

“Of course. I’ll find someone today and I’ll have them here by this week.”

“Thank you.”

A soft smile tugs at his lips as he steps closer to you, “I told you I would do anything to protect you and to look after you.”

You walk side by side with Junmyeon as he leads you through the beautiful garden. He tells you about when he bought this place there wasn’t any landscaping.

“There wasn’t a single flower, and I didn’t like it,” he says stopping in front of a rose bush. “I want this to feel like a home, and a home should have flowers.” He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a pocket knife. He flips it open and moves to cut a stem of the roses. He holds it gently as he cuts away the thorns before holding it out towards you. Without even a second thought he removed the thorns that could hurt you. Taking it in your hand you stared at the beautiful rose.

“It’s beautiful,'' you say softly.

He opens his mouth to say something but looks away instead. With the rose in your hand you follow him throughout the garden. There’s a warm breeze pushing your hair away from your face as you watch Junmyeon casually walking through the garden. Seeing him like this almost makes you forget about what his job is. He seems so normal walking through the garden.

Your trip is cut short when Junmyeon has to take a phone call. He apologizes as you walk back into the compound together.

-

The following day you’re slow to get up. You woke feeling extra tired. Maybe it has something two do with the two nightmares that kept you up. Sitting on your bed a yawn passes your lips as someone knocks on the door. You tell them to come in assuming it’s Sehun.

“I have to go take care of some family stuff today. Jongdae and Kyungsoo are gonna watch after you,” Sehun says walking towards your bed.

A weird feeling washes over you knowing that Sehun will be leaving your side for the first time.

“Okay,” you aren’t even sure what exactly else you can say.

“If you need me I’ll be back quickly, but you’re safe with those two and the rest of the men will be near.”

“I’ll be okay,” you aren’t sure if you’re saying it more for him or more for yourself.

You go about your morning taking a shower and getting dressed before heading downstairs to get some breakfast. You find Junmyeon sitting at the table with a cup of coffee in front of him and an omelette.

“Morning,” he says looking up from paperwork he was studying.

“Good morning.”

“Kyungsoo bring her some breakfast please,” Junmyeon says.

Before you can even say anything Kyungsoo leaves the dining area heading off to the kitchen. He comes back quickly with an omelette and your yellow coffee cup that’s filled with coffee. He takes a seat in Sehun’s normal seat and it feels like something is missing with Sehun gone.

“I found a therapist who can come by today to speak with you. Kyungsoo will go pick her up and you’ll stay with Jongdae while he’s gone,” your eyes go wide. You didn’t expect him literally to find you someone to talk to with in twenty-four hours. You just nod your head as he continues on, “I have to go to the office today but I won’t be gone too long. I’m only taking Minseok, Chanyeol, and Jongin with me.”

You realize right away that he’s leaving Baekhyun and Yixing with you. Baekhyun is someone who always travels with Junmyeon. It’s an extremely well known fact that him and Sehun are the best shots in the group. It leaves you feeling safe but also strange that he’s left the best shot and the medic with you.

It’s not long before Junmyeon leaves with Chanyeol and Minseok.

After eating breakfast you sit in the library on the same leather couch reading a book. Around noon Kyungsoo leaves to go pick up the person Junmyeon scheduled to come talk to you. Jongdae replaces him sitting in the chair by the door. Jongdae makes small talk with you for a little while before he starts scrolling through his phone. You can’t help but miss Sehun as you sit there. Even if he didn’t say much to you, you find his company comforting.

“What did Sehun have to do today?” You asked, breaking the silence that’s formed between you and Jongdae.

Closing his phone he looks up at you, “he went to see his mother. He doesn’t see her very often and asked him to come see her today.”

There is a guilty feeling in your chest. Were you the reason he hasn’t seen your mother in a long time.

Soon Kyungsoo walks into the library catching both yours and Jongdae’s attention.

“YN are you ready?” Kyungsoo asks.

You nod and stand up. Jongdae takes this as his cue and heads out of the library.

Kyungsoo walks closer to you so he’s standing right in front of you. “YN you can openly speak to her. She’s not going to tell anyone about what you say. Don’t worry about keeping secrets. Junmyeon says that you can say anything to help you get better,” Kyungsoo says.

“I won’t say anything about what Junmyeon does,” you’ve told yourself that you won’t specifically bring up EXO gang. You just want to talk about your brother.

“Miss come in,” Kyungsoo says, walking towards the door.

A beautiful woman dressed in a turtleneck and tight slacks walks in. He black high heels click against the hardwood floor as she walks closer. Kyungsoo bows his head to her before walking out of the room. She sits down in the chair Jongdae has been sitting in. There’s a long moment where you just stare at her completely unsure of what you should do. This whole situation is very foreign to you.

Sitting on the leather couch you stare at the beautiful women. You can’t help but find it strange she’s the first woman you’ve seen in months.

“YN, would you like to talk about your fear of the outside world?” she says crossing her legs.

You blink at her silently and tilting your head trying to figure out where to even begin. Opening your mouth to speak nothing comes out. You’ve only ever really told Sehun and Junmyeon about the nightmares that haunt. Chanyeol woke you up a few times in the beginning, but none of them knew the full details of what haunts you. Five minutes have passed and you still can’t bring yourself to speak or figure what to say.

“YN I’m here to listen. I’m here to help you get better.” You know she’s right in order for you to get better you need to talk about this.

You’ve barely opened up to anyone. You weren’t sure how you were exactly supposed to trust this pretty woman sitting across from you.

“YN?” Her calming voice catches your attention. “I’m here to listen and help you.”

“It all started when Sung-Ho was killed in front of me,” you sigh. Like an avalanche you spew out the trauma of that night. You relive the details of Sung-Ho being killed in front of you. With each word you say tears fall down your cheek. Your chest hurts from sobbing as you tell her about the nightmares that keep you awake at night. Then you start talking about Sehun and the tears stop.

“He’s the only thing keeping me from feeling like I’m falling apart,” reaching up to push away the tears.

“You’ve grown extremely codependent on Sehun. It’s normal after a tragedy to latch on to someone,” she doesn’t sound like she’s judging you as she speaks in an even tone. “It’s natural to cling to him. Especially if he’s with you every waking moment.”

“How is your relationship with the other men that live here?” You haven’t really thought about your relationship with the other boys or how they even see you.

“I’m closer to some of them and then other ones I don’t exactly speak with often. Some of them are very busy helping Junmyeon.”

She nods and gives you a moment, “tell me about the ones you’re close with.”

“Sehun is one I’m closest with and Jongdae, and  Kyungsoo are with me pretty often as well. I think Jongdae is kind, but he’s worried around me constantly. As if he’s worried he’s going to say something wrong to me. Kyungsoo by far treats me the most normal. He also feels the most normal in all this chaos. He has no issue just sitting with me while I read. Then there is Junmyeon,” you pause unsure of what you can even say about the man in charge of everything.

“What about Junmyeon?”

“He’s gone out of his way to make sure I feel safe, but he doesn’t realize that I feel safe just being around him. I’ve spent a little alone time with him and when it’s just us he seems to relax. He puts me at ease when he’s relaxed,” you wish you could explain your feeling towards Junmyeon, but you didn’t know how to put them into words.

“From the little I have spoken to him, Junmyeon seems like he cares deeply about you.”

The rest of your hour you talked to her about guilt you have over feeling like you’ve ruined Sehun's life by him having to constantly babysit you. The therapy session feels like a blur as you spill all your emotion. The beautiful woman ends the hour by telling you she would like to speak with you twice a week. She says she’ll see you again on Thursday.

You walk out of the library to find Jongdae and Kyungsoo waiting for you. Kyungsoo escorts the therapist out of the compound leaving you once again with Jongdae.

“How did it go?” Jongdae asks, breaking the silence.

“Okay.”

“Would you like some lunch? we can make something.” he seems almost unsure on how he should interact with you. He must realize that your emotions are high after what you just experienced.

“No thank you. I’m extremely tired. I'm going to take a nap.”

He nods and follows you towards your room making sure you get inside okay. He parts ways with you telling he’ll be nearby if you need him.

Laying in bed you attempt to shut your wandering mind off. Even after talking about your nightmares to the therapist this is still no easy task for you. You think about Sehun before your eyes grow too heavy to stay open.

In your hazy state this is the first time you’ve dreamt of something other than your brother. Your vision is filled with a sea of red roses. In the middle of the sea you Sehun standing there waiting for you.

The gentle feeling of your body being shaken wakes you up. Opening your eyes you find Junmyeon standing over you.

“Sorry if I scared you,” he says softly.

“No you’re fine,” a soft yawn passes your lips as you sit up.

“I’m back from the office early and I wanted to see if you wanted to have dinner with me.”

You’re surprised to see him. When he left today you didn’t actually expect to see him back in time for dinner. You fully planned on eating with Jongdae and Kyungsoo.

“Yeah I’ll have dinner with you.”

-

Sitting in the dining room Junmyeon asked you if he could sit where Sehun normally sits. He sounds nervous about asking to sit closer to you.

Kyungsoo walks in and sits dinner down in front of you and Junmyeon and you patiently wait expecting the rest of the boys to join you. You look around surprised you don’t even see Chanyeol who is always around his boss.

“Is everything okay?” Junmyeon asks, picking up his glass of water.

“Yeah. Where are the boys?”

He raises his eyebrow and tilts his head giving you a confused look. “They aren’t joining us,” he pauses. “Is it okay if it’s just us?”

You’ve never eaten dinner alone with Junmyeon. From the moment you’ve moved in every meal has been shared with at least two other men. He gives you a small smile as he watches you, waiting for you to respond.

“Yeah it’s fine. I was just curious.”

You start eating your delicious food Kyungsoo prepared. You notice that Junmyeon instantly relaxes once you start eating. The more time you spend with him the easier it seems to feel. He’s starting not to just feel like a protector any more. He feels like a friend, you’ve grown to deeply care about the man sitting next to you. He’s done nothing but go out of his way to not only make you feel safe, but also make you feel like this is your home.

There’s an awkward silence between you and you aren’t sure how you’re supposed to make small talk with the man sitting next to you. You can’t exactly ask about the weather since you barely go outside and you can’t really ask about his job being in charge of a mob. Knitting your eyebrows you stare at the dark wood table.

“Is everything okay?” Junmyeon asked, raising an eyebrow. Looking you a crook smile forms in your lips. He instantly smiles back at you. “What’s on your mind?”

“How are we supposed to make small talk?”

He shrugs his shoulders, “we don’t have to make small talk. We can talk about literally anything you want to talk about.”

Your mind races with all the possible questions you could ask the powerful man sitting next to you. You settle for asking something that will help you learn more about the man sitting next to you. “Have you ever been in love?”

His bottom lip is captured between his teeth as he stares at you processing your question. “As a teenager I was. Why do you ask?”

Shrugging your shoulder you aren’t exactly sure why you asked him. That was probably too personal of a question to ask him. “I guess I’m just curious. I’ve never really seen any women around here or heard any of the other guys mention them.”

“I haven’t exactly had time for personal relationships up until now,” there’s something about him saying now that makes your stomach flutter. “The boys have all had girlfriends at one point of another. A lot of them don’t want to worry about maintaining a relationship.” You quickly wonder what the women were like that dated the guys. You assume Kyungsoo dated a smart girl who’s quite like him, and Baekhyun and Chanyeol probably dated women with big personalities to match there’s. There's a moment that stings a little thinking about who Sehun dated. He’s a quiet but very caring person, he’s extremely handsome so you know whoever he’s dated in the past must be beautiful.

“Have you ever been in love?” he asks, breaking you away from your consuming thoughts.

“I don’t know,” you were never the type that really dated. You had always been so wrapped up in school you never really focused on trying to date. It also didn’t help that you had an older brother who was literally a part of one of the most powerful mobs in the city.

“Maybe one day you’ll know what it feels like.”

You swallow staring at him. He smiles to himself before taking another bite of his dinner. Maybe he’s right, maybe you will know what it’s like to love someone.

“I’ve cared deeply for people, but I don’t know if I’ve been in love,” you start to ramble.

“When you’re in love you have this feeling you can’t live without them. When you see them the sun seems to rise and set in their eyes,” his warm eyes are locked on you as he speaks.

“Being in love sounds amazing.”

“It is,” he smiles looking down at the table.

There is a long moment where you both sit there eating before, Junmyeon sits down his chopsticks. He takes a deep breath before saying, “pardon me for asking but how did therapy go?” He must have been dying to ask about your therapy session.

“It went really good.”

“Do you mind if I ask what you spoke about?” he seems nervous asking. Almost afraid you’ll reject him.

“We talked a lot about Sung, but don’t worry I didn’t bring up what you do or what Sung’s job was.”

He shakes his, “she knows what happens here and she knows not to tell anyone. You don’t have to hold back speaking to her.”

“Myeon, what you do for a living isn’t the reason I need to speak with her. I just need to talk about losing my brother,” your eyes start to brim, but you quickly hold back the tears that are trying to fall.

“Okay.”

“She asked about my relationship with all of you.”

He raises his eyebrow and cocks his head, “what did you say?”

“I just talked about how kind you all are to me, and how you make me feel safe.” You’ve decided against bringing up that she told you you’ve grown to be codependent on Sehun.

“My goal is to make sure you feel safe,” he reaches out resting his hand on the table next to yours.

“I greatly appreciate that. When you gave me that business card years ago,” your mind flashes back to Junmyeon sitting on the couch next to you in the middle of the night. “I know you didn’t plan on having to take care of me, and I’m sorry that I’m now a burden for you.”

“Stop,” he says catching you off guard. “You aren’t a burden. You lost your brother because of his job. It’s my duty to protect you and make sure you have a good life.”

“Am I only here because you feel guilty?” you know you shouldn’t ask him this, but you need to know.

He shakes his head, “no. Even though I vowed to look after you, you’re not only here because of that. YN I want to see you happy. I want to be one of the reasons you’re happy again,” his words make you feel like your world started spinning. You weren’t exactly sure what he meant by everything he’s telling you.

“Don’t overthink everything. Just know I want to help you in any way possible,” he rested his hand on top of yours for a short moment before removing it.

You hear Sehun's familiar voice calling your name from outside the dining room. Your eyes pop up and watch as Sehun walks into the dining room. He had an emotionless look on his face as he looked between you and his boss.

“Hi Sehun,” you say breaking the sudden silence that’s fallen over the room.

“I’m home,” he says shoving his hands in his pockets.

Junmyeon stands and pushes his chair before resting his hand on your shoulder. Looking up at you he gives you that same soft smile. There’s a fluttering feeling in your stomach as your eyes lock on his warm ones.

“Thank you for having dinner with me. I’m assuming Sehun wants to talk to you.”

“Thank you for inviting me, and also thank you for getting someone who could come here and talk to me.”

Reaching up he pushes a stray piece of hair behind your ear, “of course.”

He walks away from you and stops next to Sehun. “She’s been safe all day, you can relax,” he says with his hand on Sehun’s shoulder.

Junmyeon walks out of the room and Sehun stays in the same place staring at you for a long moment before he moves to sit where Junmyeon had just been sitting. There is a long moment where you both stare at each other almost like the other one doesn’t know exactly what to say.

“How did therapy go?” he finally breaks the silence between you.

“It went good. It was nice to hear that I haven't lost my mind. That what I’m feeling is normal,” your eyes are locked on the table.

“I knew you hadn’t lost your mind,” he reaches out resting his hand on top of yours. A warmth spreads across your skin taking in the moment between you. You desperately want to tell him that you talked about him but you couldn’t. You didn’t want to remind him you’ve grown to be codependent on him.

“How was your day?” you change the subject no longer wanting to talk about you. You have talked about yourself enough for the day.

His eyes drop down to you his hand that is still resting on top of your. He stares for a long moment as he says, “it was nice. I went to see my mom and helped her with some things. How did things go with Jongdae and Kyungsoo?”

“They went well. Kyungsoo was in charge of driving the therapist, and Jongdae sat with me in the library.”

He nods and the corners of his lips tug up into a small smile, “okay good. You felt comfortable with them right?” He clearly was worried while he was away with you.

“Yeah I felt comfortable. I also had dinner with Junmyeon which was relaxing,” the small smile on Sehun’s lips fell as you mentioned his boss's name.

“Okay that’s good. I want you to feel safe and comfortable even when I have to leave.”

Tilting your head to the side you process the fact he’s worried about leaving you alone. You hate that he must feel trapped staying in this compound with you. Taking your other hand that Sehun is touching you reach forward and take his hand laying it palm side up resting in your hand. You slowly drag your index finger across his calloused palm. His eyes stay locked on your movement watching you. This air between you feels strange. Sehun is always touching you whether it’s simple touches such as his hand on your shoulder or the slightly more intimate touch such as his hand on your lower back as you walk, but you never really touch him. You aren’t really sure what it feels like for your fingers to linger on his skin. Your bottom lip is caught between your teeth as your skin moves against his. Glancing up at him he seems like he’s holding his breath almost afraid to move.

“I did miss you being here though,” you don’t mean to say this out loud it just slips out. You don’t want him to feel tied down to you, but you would be lying if you didn’t say you missed him being around.

“I missed you too,” the words passed his lips and your eyes snapped up to his dark ones. Your heart races and you can feel your pulse pounding in your ear. He slowly licks his bottom lip as a long beat passes between you. The air is thick and suddenly and breathing feels strange. “Did you want to go to the garden tomorrow morning?” He asks with his voice low.

Silently you nod.

“Okay. Maybe it can be us and just Jongdae?” You know he’s suggesting this so you start to grow more comfortable being outside.

“Okay.”

There’s this long moment between you. There seems to be a strange tension but it isn’t uncomfortable by any means. “I should probably take a shower,” you say awkwardly.

“Okay.”

You remove your hand from his and stand up. He stands and follows you as you walk towards the stairs towards your bedroom. His hand moves so it rests on your back as you walk upstairs. Stopping in front of your room you turn to look at Sehun who is right behind you. He smiling again, seeing him smile is something that rarely happens but it makes you happy. It makes you want to smile.

“Are you going to go to bed after your shower?” he asked.

You would much rather spend time with him, but you’re pretty tired and you should probably get some rest. “I’ll probably try to sleep.”

“Okay. If you need me for anything don’t hesitate to get me,” he reaches forward opening your bedroom door.

Stepping inside you stare at him for a long moment before saying, “goodnight Sehun.”

“Goodnight,” he smiles.

Shutting the door you lean against it and take a deep breath. You feel strange and you can’t really explain the emotions you’re feeling.

Pulling yourself off the door you walk to the bathroom. You turn the warm water on and strip away your clothing. stepping into the warm water the steam engulfs your body.  Standing under the water you mind wanders to thoughts of the two men who you’ve started to grow attached to. Mindlessly you go through the act of washing your hair and using your strawberry scented body wash. Even after washing your hair you stand under the water just staring at the wall. Your mind seems to be stuck on all the things Junmyeon had said to you, and the feeling of Sehun’s warm skin.

After showering and getting ready for bed you lay under your covers attempting to shut your mind off. Staring at your bedroom door you can’t help but wonder if Sehun is still standing out there or if he went to his room. You would like to spend more time with him tonight and actually get to speak with him. You want to ask him more questions about his day. You want to know more about his mother, the woman who raised a kind and protective man. There is a part of you that also wants to speak to Junmyeon more. You want to learn more about what it felt like to be in love. You can’t help but wonder what the girl was like that held his heart. Who was the woman who knew what it was like to be loved by Junmyeon? These are the little thoughts that won’t leave your mind as you lay in bed.

Closing your eyes you pray to dream about something other than your lost family. You pray to dream about things and life that can bring you joy, maybe even the two men who protect you and seem to occupy all your thoughts now.

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* the taglist is open send a message or send an ask if you would like to be tagged*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧

@questiontotheanswer @green7eababy @kriswu46 @sheepish-xing @airiguk @sehunsyn @defsoul15​

[cloveroctobers]

(A/n: this might be a little biased since I’m in love with this man & I’m basing the relationship parts of this on my mc/myself so hope y’all don’t mind 😬)

IG info/bio: @/lucas.koh | 93.1k followers | for business inquires please visit: kohptr.com

LUCAS KOH —

27 (28) years old

From Oxford, England

Father is Korean & a car salesman at a Nissan dealership, he’s a strict/serious man who has high morals but beyond that he can actually be a softie in rare moments (+ that’s who Lucas gets his height from 🤤)

Mother is actually Chinese but lived in Korea studying abroad and eventually became a successful chiropractor (s/o to doctor mondragon on YouTube who I watch to help me sleep some nights and wish I could see! Lol) with her own practice. She’s a firecracker, intelligent, and quick to say what’s on her mind and doesn’t care if you like what she’s got to say. Most patients like that about her, she’s honest and her family is used to her ways but in the same way it’s more loving than offensive? (Smol woman but will remind you when she’s cracking your body she’s got enough power in her)

Either he’s a only child or he comes from a family of all boys with two younger brothers (they’re all in their 20’s) or he has one younger brother and one younger sister idk you decide

I’m feeling like he’s a Sagittarius? Carefree in the terms of he wasn’t viewing finally getting with MC when she’s dating someone else as cheating. Mans was READY to risk it all for me okay and I was down for it but ofc I had to react realistically and NOT “cheat.” *sigh* one part of me was debating ‘are we really dating tho bobby? We’re on reality tv. We’re not gonna die without each other if we hang out in seperate rooms’ *cough* Nope. but I’m a woman about her loyalty

He’s definitely adventurous. I don’t see him as the type to want to stay home all the time even tho his work definitely keeps him busy/exhausted. He’s down for road trips 💯

Occupation? Physicotherapist. His mother inspired him to get into the field and watching sports + the way players got their injuries always intrigued him? So to provide the best plan to have someone heal was something he loved to do plus being hands on while teaching/helping was a passion for him + I feel like he would also use a massaging technique instead of the usual exercise part of it

Now as someone who suffered a ACL & Mensicus tear & is STILL dealing with this BS pain years later, I would be so thankful to have him around! I feel like he’d have a optimistic attitude towards his patients and that’s what people need not someone that’s insensitive (like my surgeon/PT’s I had)

He models from time to time, when he was first approached about it he was upfront about not wanting to do it. It was much different than getting your picture taken for the office. That’s usually quick, the whole modeling process felt longer but somehow he was talked into it by his brother who’s a photographer and his mother. “Do you think you’re ugly? ‘Cause I’m not and you’re a part of me, so therefore there’s no such thing. Just look at your cheekbones, your jawline! I gave you those. The only good thing your father gave you was height.” Which filled the house with snickers while Lucas’ father just rolled his eyes and continued reading his newspaper for breakfast

Has a motorcycle and some luxurious car—not a Tesla those are basic now 🤷🏽‍♀️

Loves his motorcycle so much he’s got a tat of it on his right bicep

He has two available parking spaces in his parking garage at his penthouse but keeps his bike away in a storage unit due to a neighbor scratching it after his girlfriend broke up with him? Saying she was off to date Lucas? But that wasn’t true at all. He barely knew the girl, they didn’t live on the same floor. People were crazy but if you push him his temper might come out

Owns a leather jacket that he paid a lot for

Believes in “treat yo self” if it means in quality when shopping and has no issue being a big spender but he knows how to manage it well (his father told him all about how his own father dealt with bankruptcy)

Since he’s often at the office the whole day, he’s usually a night owl. He loves night drives and night dining. That’s usually when he finds the best places to eat

There’s this one pho spot that he loves and it’s his go to spot when he wants something quick on the way home

Cannot sleep with his entire body covered in covers, either his arms/shoulders have to be out or his legs, which would be a issue for me/mc since I sleep with the covers over my entire body...yes even in hot weather with the AC cranked up😂

He also makes great kimchi fried rice & loves Italian food

Will wine and dine. I believe it. I envision it! He loves going out on dates with his significant other (If he’s single and not with me, I think he’d try out speed dating)

Will dress to impress, will buy you a new fit he wants to see you/us/mc in especially if it’s your anniversary

Loves taking bubble bath’s with infused oils or flower petals with significant other

He’s the type that takes long showers & it brings him a true sense of freedom. He’s never able to take a quick shower, he gets lost in his ideas of what to do next in this world & it’s limitless

If he’s in for the day, which usually doesn’t last long—he’s either in sweats or in a robe all day

Only drives his bike on the weekend or if he’s going out of town but if he’s going on a trip for a couple of days with MC & if she’s got a bit of anxiety like me? He’ll stick to his car to make them comfortable

I feel like he enjoys the winter season. Maybe if it’s a slushy rainy winter more than a blizzards/snowy season. He loves bundling up, much to people’s surprise. He’s more than just his good looks and body love island fans!!!

Doesn’t post much on his socials. If you need to see what he’s about then you should do so in person or already know who he is. The internet can’t tell you much, in his opinion

Keeps himself in good health, I mean duh what kind of PT would he be 😉 goes on night jogs with reflector clothes on & occasionally morning jogs & at home workouts

Probably will date someone younger than him. Not by much, I don’t think he can take immaturity well. (That maybe how he views it) The most is 4 years younger than him

Henrik is his best bud from the show. They hang out all the time, crash at each other’s places, and vacation together all the time. They will be each other’s future best men forsure

Doesn’t go out of his way to talk to the rest of the guys from the show but if he happens to browse his feed and sees something he wants to comment on then he’ll carry a conversation of course

Far as the girls? He talks to Hannah & Priya from time to time. He also follows Hope and they like each other’s posts but not much communication is there either?

Either has a mint or black phone case, probably a Samsung galaxy user

Likes pistachio frozen yogurt but he’s lactose & doesn’t want to believe it :(

Smokes cigars when he’s out with his boys

Has a tight knit group of friends, majority of them are from the medical field since they all went to uni together + most of them are also married so the pressure is so on

*He’s the oldest out of his sibs so according to his parents he’s expected to be married first yet his baby sis is engaged and she’s 23*

wants a family...eventually. Probably will happen in his early thirties? The max for children is 2 for him. He knows they can be a HANDFUL due to his own friends who have kids + he’s a godfather and he’s babysat before so he knows how it goes!

enjoys his freedom as stated which further proves he’s a sag lol

Enjoys going to saunas to cleanse his pores/ get rid of toxins. It’s the easiest way for him to do so even tho his brother clowns him for it

His love language is deff physical touch. He loves hugs and resting his chin on top of your head, forehead to forehead, his nose pressed in between the space of your neck and shoulder, gentle squeezes, sitting next to each other with your legs touching, cuddling, sleeping on top of you or you on him, etc

He loves kissing. It’s automatic for him and it can also easily rile him up

Has strong opinions & will show them but will feel like he’s being attacked if it brings on a confrontation/argument

Will forgive and forget

Plays strategy board games

Makes his own natural healing creams & gives samples to his patients depending on their needs

His fav colors are: blue, white, & grey

Will grow a bit of facial hair in the cooler months if it’ll make mc happy (I’m a sucker for facial hair but hate it on myself lmao) but if he dislikes the feeling on his face he will shave and finds he likes a shaven face better, the facial hair makes him look a bit older—which is okay but that’s just his preference

When he stops putting gel in his hair/styling his hair in a quiff hairstyle it shocks fans with mc commenting on one of his pics, “you’re welcome x”

Likes going to the Hard Rock Cafe on causal weekends

also likes getting freaky in public, down for whatever 🤪

He’s a traveler so if he leaves the UK, I’m seeing him land in Toronto, Canada first and falling in love with it. I feel he would vibe well with the culture there, might even consider getting a vacation home in that location

Celeb crushes? Anne Hathaway, Beyoncé, Lupita Nyong'o, Anna Diop, Imaan Hammam, Jodie Comer, Megan Fox, Shay Mitchell, & Cassie Ventura Fine

Oh Lucas. I feel like we have similar tastes? Somewhat. He probably listens to more rock than I do? Maybe 80s rock moreso? & He listens to: WALK THE MOON, Allen Stone (his fav) , Emily king, Gavin Turek, Melanie Fiona, THEY., DPR live, & Sik-k

Anthem = Young the Giant, “Something to believe in”

[xyuniconnijix]

A folk troll named Alexander

"Soon send away into the shadow realm, was nevee been seen away"

"That make no sense" we encounter a troll reading a book, with a chocolate brown fur color and mint hair, this member of the folk tribe who spend hours on the library, Alexander the younger brother of the captian Gaby, who was reading a book about the leyend of the curse of the forest, a growing darkness under the name of a troll named "noctury" but there was just many mistakes out of the book and many missing pieces.

"Bollito let's go" he call his pachong, his trusty companion for searching info "i need to get the book i left on home" he walk as his little chubby companion walk on his side

"Hey book rat!" Mother tree why, the little folk think as he turn to see on of the strongest member of the guard "did you finally get over those stupid books?"

"Umm, they not stupid, we must learn history to learn from the past and prevent tragic events to happen again" alexander answer as some of the folk tilt their heads

"...you know, it came to no use.. cause"

"We don't talk the same lenguaje" Alexander cut him "yeah that's pretty clear as you and me don't even think the same as all of you just think in fight and fight and...Oh! Fight" he said as he walk of a but fatser to avoid a fight.

After all, it was out of the average for a folk troll to read that much as alexander, the folk tribe were warriors, the best warrior of the farlands, overall his sister, who was the strongest and on his eyes more clever folk trolls of the tribe, nothing better for commanding the tribe.

Then he was..the young brother of the captian, Alexander never shine for anything among his tribe, he was more of the outcast, even when his fathers told him that he was especial his own way, that was not for the other folks, who always felt sorrow for hamilton that his little boy was a weaklyn, afterall Alexander was not stront, was not a fighter and never learn to use a weapon properly.

"Why is soo wrong to me to like books?" He ask to his companyon "it's cause i am not bulky like gaby?..should i make more excersie???.. but i will got no time to read then.." Bollito held his owner hand making him look at him, with out word Alexander give a smiled "you right , i won't change who i am, let's go! Daddy must be on home right now"

After getting the book and eat a little snack with his father, the little folk troll give a little walk around town, he saw at both griffin and folk living a normal life, as most were getting their day duties by Gaby, Alexander smiled and run hugging his sister.

"Well look at that! It's my little book worm out for a walk" gaby said a she scoop his little brother face on her hands laughting

"Hi gaby!" The little folk laught at getting his face squish "what you doing?"

"Nah, just organizing thus group of idiots" both siblings let out a laught "and you? What you doing little guy?"

"I found a new history about a guy named noctury, apprenetly he is related what happen to the Queen Sereday and our ancestor, as well as he coud be the one who make the darkness apperead and the shadow magic" he stop and lool at his sister "i am boring you?.."

The older folf troll laught and tell his brother to go on, aside his fathers Gaby was one of the only person who listen to him everytime she was free, as you know, guard captian, Tribe alpha, she not always has free time but always make sure to listen to his little bro and his passion over books, they talk for a couple of minutes more until Gaby was call for an inccident between to folk soo she got to leave, Alexandef smiled and continue walking to the library.

He sit down as bollito curl up on the little bed alexander brought to him, as the folk sit down to cheek on the book pages that were a little damage, well no problem for him who activites his magic trait to start fixing the pages, but he actually never cheek the library with his magic, why not? He look around and notice a book who was glowing, curiosity peerk over his ears and get close to pull the book openning a whole new secret room, the eyes of the little folk glow with all the joy of the world as he enter and found book he has never seen before, just wait until who tell everyone his discovery.

He walk over to found a book with black pages, he cheek on but for some reason reading the book make him feel sick, like a heavy force on his chest soo quickly put the book down caching his breath "i should take this book to mister posseidon.." he said as he lool around the rest of shelter and take another book, opening his eyes wide when he see what the book was about.

"And then, we his blood free him from the realm, a new age of darkness and missery will be brought to the land!" He finish as all the people who was listening run away screaming "uh..but" Zeta burst out of laughter as Alexander looks confused

"Now that's an horro story al!" He said laughing "good one"

"No, this is not a horror story it's true!" Zeta raised an eyebrow on doubt

"Like  the bergens?" Zeta ask looking him

"They are real, we never see them cause of magic core is toxic for them to eat" alexander answer "but this is different, don't you see? This is a real treat! There's lots of proof!"

"Yeah alex, i don't thing that a legend like that exist" zeta said picking up his blade

"You will believe if you read more books" alex said holding the book close to him

"You should read less books" with said words the folk put his ears down and look away "look alex, i love you, you are one of my best friends, but..you spend all day on the library..maybe you should, put the boons down and have fun, hey Lindsey and me will go to a party on manticore canyon, wanna come?"

"No, i, i have to give boliito dinner, and...yeah" Zeta put his fears down as he gets closer

"Hey, al i am sorry i didn't mean to-" alex cut him

"It's oke Z, i already forgive you, okey?" The folk said with a smiled as he walk with the books on his hand and look to the sun going down "...i will make them believe..oneway or another!"

[katsukikitten]

Irritated part 5

A/N I had to split this chapter for tumblr so have part V early while I work on VI

A heavy rock song rings out in the dead silence of the room. Pulling a growl from two opposing bodies. Bakugou's growl lasts to the chorus as he curls into the body in front of him. Pressing his forehead into the cool and smooth skin of the person beside him, shrinking in an attempt to hide from his alarm. The person relaxes at his heated breath, both parties starved of physical affection. Emotions were exhumed this morning, ones that were thought to be long forgotten suddenly burning in the too bright sun.

Suddenly the two of you jump simultaneously as if shocked. Pops of explosions dance over deadly fingers as items begin to rise around you.

You both hold each other's gaze, like two big cats following the same prey, before he stops activating his quirk and items float gently back into place.

You blush when you see what he is wearing, biting your lip when you see a certain outline. Your cheeks flush further when you remember what you're wearing. Low light paints people in more gentle tones, the sunlight beams heavily past the partially drawn curtain highlighting the harshness that is Bakugou.

Maybe he thinks the same of you.

He tilts his head and cuts you with his gaze.

"We never fucking speak of this again." He says swiping the air as if dismissing it all. His alarm breaks the silence between you two, easing some of the tension as he slams his fist against his phone.

"Get dressed Princess. We're gonna be late with how long you take." He growls, motioning towards the sliding glass door as he makes his way towards the shower. You follow him with heated eyes.

"First off I don't really take that fucking long." You lash out, angry for whatever reason that he provokes, last night clearly dying with the moonlight, "You're impatient Bakuou!"

He stops next to you, harden shoulder bumping harshly into yours. He wants to grab you by the throat, to push you against the wall if anything to feed his dominant desire to tame the brat that is you.

But he saw the way you recoiled from his sudden touch before.

"Keep your voice down. When I have women screaming my name it sounds much more pleasant than that. Now get. Out."

"Fuck off." You snarl with flushed cheeks as your insides twist and boil.

Stop bragging about previous conquests is what you want to scream but you bite the inside of your lip instead.

Why did it matter to you who he's fucked? Who he has woken up with and snuggled close to? Why did it fucking matter?

Well it didn't.

You climb over the three feet between the two balconies, scraping your knees along the rough concrete before righting yourself to stare into the ominous room.

Had someone broken in? Worse yet were they still there if they had? You ease the sliding glass door open silently. Slinking in like a cat and feeling for anything organic within the bedroom, bathroom and even the closet.

When your search of the dead space in the textured four walls comes up empty you sigh with relief, shoulders literally sagging away the tension as you begin to gather a fresh suit from your bag heading for the bathroom.

Until the sunlight bounces off something that is placed on your still made bed atop the pillows.

You hadn't remembered any stupid mints being laid out in your room or in Bakugou's for that matter so when you approach to get a closer look your body seizes.

You fight the scream that roars up your throat as you shake, struggling and falling to restrain yourself as your eyes take in the horror.

A belly button ring with a dangling gem in forest green, a doll's eye that mirrors your own stunning eye color and a note smiles smugly at you.

You huff and puff as you snatch the note from the bed. The words burning into your retinas as you almost hear the voice in your ear.

*"You'll be with me soon. In the meantime wear this for me? I'd love to see it peaking through your suit."*

Your hand flies to your belly button ring now with a black gem, your fingers curl around it quickly and you pull until a small arch of blood follows in its wake. Your breath is labored as you stare at the items, the belly button ring on the pillow shatters as does the TV as you shake with rage.

Finally you stop vibrating and force yourself to move to get ready. Barely able to stomach the thought of how irritating Bakugou is going to be today and the last thing you needed was another parasite crawling under your skin. You shower quickly although you want to scrub your skin raw as you think of that man rummaging through your items, taking the time to write some freakish note onto the hotel stationary before leaving.

You imagine him doing what you caught that asshole doing on the night that almost ruined everything. Sitting upright in your bed hugging onto your pillow, an unwashed hero suit on his exposed lap now covered with several milky stains as he waited for you.

You stared at yourself in the mirror as it replayed over and over and fucking over again.

"FUCKING PATHETIC!" You scream at your reflection. Blaming her for all the misfortune that has come your way. You bring your fist back and slam it hard into the glass cheek causing the mirror to reflect a number of you.

But this does not stop you and you slam your fist over and over into the glass until nothing but glue and old unpainted drywall stares back at you. You huff, having hoped the physical exertion would ease your racing mind. But if anything the glass shards protruding from your skin provoked you further.

You do not regret ripping out your belly button ring as you slide into your suit, careful to avoid agitating the now sensitive skin. Dressing quickly so you can properly address your bleeding knuckles that are currently wrapped with a hand towel. The gauze in your bag is easy to find, switching it for the hand towel bloomed with red hastily as you think you hear one of your neighbors emerging from their room. It is a poor wrap job but something is better than nothing as you hear foot steps stop at your door.

You open it with cold eyes just as Deku was about to knock lightly.

"Ah Y/N!" He sounds startled and looks well rested, "Are you ready for today? We have back to back interviews and q&as."

"As ready as I'll ever fucking be for this bullshit." You growl pushing past the chipper man to start your, hopefully, final day in hell.

Your mood soured quickly although that seemed like an impossibility. Yet here you were arms crossed over your chest as you were guided backstage by your two coworkers. Bakugou spies coffee and sugared pastries as he makes he way to the table. Actively avoiding you the best he can. He stares down at the two iced coffees looking perfectly blended that sit along side breakfast sweets. He wondered if he shared this favorite thing with you too. His hand hovers over the second coffee, glancing over his shoulder, debating if he should bring it to you. Images of last night rush to the forefront of him mind.

*"Please stay Katsuki."*

His heart pounds in his chest.

*"We never fucking speak of this again."*

His own voice haunts him as he snatches a chocolate croissant sipping on his coffee. Thinking better of taking you breakfast it's not like he was your fucking boyfriend or anything. Hell could you guys even be called frenemies? He isn't certain anymore. He hates that he can no longer label you as *just* irritating, loathsome, or annoying that new adjectives have popped onto that list.

Adjectives like alluring, soft, sexy.

A vein pops in his forehead as he watches you talk to Izuku. He looks worried, probably asking you if you're alright and you look mad. As if Izuku was the cause. He watches your bandaged hand gesture as you speak with heated eyes. He sips his coffee, you hadn't had this mysterious injury last night nor did you have it this morning before you left his room. He thought he heard thumping coming from your direction this morning but he wasn't sure as he was blasting music to get the sound of your voice out of his head.

Izuku pulls you into a hug and you look stunned, pretty face pressed agaisnt a harden chest. The croissant begins to be reshaped with deep grooves as the chocolate melts from suddenly heated air. He looks down at the smushed pastry with a grimace before tossing it in the trash.

"Oi." He steps close to the two of you, coffee still in hand, "No time for you love birds to kiss face. We start soon morons."

"Shove it Bakagou." You snarl, shoving past him hard enough that his coffee tries to slosh past the lid.

Hot ember eyes stare after you.

"This isn't helping her turn her day around. She's clearly upset." Izuku scolds as he walks past his childhood friend.

××××××

You sit beneath the harsh lights, sweat from their heat collects on the nape of your neck mixing with the irritation you have for the man that sits to your left.

Why the fuck where the three of you collected on a love seat as if this were someone's living room and yall were having a fucking chat over tea?!

You hated that most about interviews but right now you hated most how Bakugou was touching you.

His arms are crossed, arms long enough that even leaning away his elbows dug into your bicep.

Or maybe the damn love seat was too fucking small for three people.

Worst of all he was scowling over the crowd avoiding questions as best he could.

Izuku on the other hand has greatly improved on his interview skills, so much so you've come to rely on him to speak with the media.

I guess Bakugou has come accustomed to it too.

Unfortunately you begin to naturally mimic Bakugou's body language as the interview drones on.

Stupid questions about previous missions, "back stage info" and dissecting WHY he liked Katsudon so much.

"Its just always been my favorite meal that my mother made." He smiles warmly at the memory and the women in the audience swoon.

"Bakugou your favorite meal?"

"Spicy." Is his one word reply and you roll your eyes.

"Well Y/LN. We haven't heard much from you but I have to ask the question everyone has been dying to know." The host smiles from ear to ear leaning closer as if he had a secret to share.

"Are you dating anyone?"

You pause for a moment.

Was this bitch fucking SERIOUS. You want to hold back, need to hold back but you're irritated.

Angry and at the fucking world. He just happened to leave an opportunity for you to let go, especially since you've answered this question before.

"In the past forty minutes of this interview that was the only question you could think of for me?" The host blinks slowly as if stunned before leaning back. Attempting to regain his composure. Deku gives you a small nudge that you choose to ignore.

"W..well it was the most fan voted question!" He retorts but little did he know you saw the Twitter polls this morning on your walk over.

"Oh is that so? It's funny because the most fan voted question for *me* was if I used my quirk to get ready in the morning. You know like levitate my hairdryer. Sometimes, is the answer by the way." You turn to the audience for the answer before returning to the host, "That question you asked me was meant for *Bakugou*"

He visibly begins to sweat, a cat smile forms on your face as you watch him squirm.

"You just knew I would have a better chance of answering that again before Bakugou ever admitted if he had someone in his life or not." You laugh and it echos back to you with a hint of cruelty, "Hell Bakugou would commit seppuku before he *ever* admitted to any emotions aside from rage."

People in the audience agree and the host blanches before the timer dings.

"W...well that's all for today folks. Don't forget the Q&A with the top three heroes and more later this evening. In that portion, you the fans will be voting live and having some time to ask face to face with your hero!" The crowd erupts with cheer as you stand abruptly.

More than done with this bullshit.

Izuku follows you quickly, Bakugou's steps are stunned.

I guess that was how people saw him huh?

"Really?!" Izuku for once loses his temper with you, well if you could even call it that. He takes a deep breath before reining himself in

"Why would you say any of that?" His tone comes out as a disappointed dad and you sigh audibly.

"Its not like she lied or said anything untrue." Bakugou chimes in arms crossed staring at you.

"See even Bakuhoe thinks it's okay."

"Watch it."

"Fuck off yea?" You snarl with venom that for once actually stings, Bakugou takes a step for you. Large palm outreached.

He has a lot of questions for you and if the only way to get the answers was to beat the shit out of each other then so be it.

"Stop!" Izuku steps between yall, huffing with redden cheeks, "Neither of you were helpful during this interview! And yall were doing so well what happened?!"

Both of your minds flash to last night. Your weak, sleep laden voice echoing.

*"Please stay Katsuki."*

"FUCK!" You hiss, pulling at your hair as you turn away. Both men look to you and your abnormal behavior.

Sure you've lost your temper, been irritated or straight up pissed.

But never....distressed.

Izuku swallows what little anger he felt, maybe it was more annoyance than anything as a gloved hand reaches out to you.

But it never makes it.

"Katsuki, Izuku and Y/N!" A sharp toothed smile approaches, "I've been looking all over for you three!"

"What do you want shit hair?" He snarls before Kirishima smiles wider, so used to his abrasiveness. He spies you and wraps his arm around your shoulders.

"I'm starving and fate demands that we have lunch!" He squeezes you closer and you smile widely as ruby red winks.

He is your new partner in crime after all.

The four of you eat order far too much food. Kirishima helps to lighten your mood and ease the tension with you and Bakugou again.

Even daring you to steal his fries while looking him in the eye.

You do, as does a cat when they knock picture frames off of shelves. Katsuki retaliates by snatching your last chicken nugget that he dramatically savors.

You laugh aloud, suddenly forgetting your problems in the middle of the fast food restaurant.

But the feeling couldn't last long enough.

[precuredaily]

Precure Day 192

Episode: Yes! Precure 5 43 - “Komachi’s Resolve and Nuts’s Future” Date watched: 9 June 2020 Original air date: 9 December 2007 Screenshots: https://imgur.com/a/iT40izm Transformation Gallery: https://imgur.com/a/6k6SzS0 Project info and master list of posts: http://tinyurl.com/PCDabout

Poor Komachi. She was once so eager to write her love story, inspired by her feelings for Nuts and his unconditional support for her. Now she’s struggling with it, because she’s started to realize what her real-life conclusion is going to look like...

The Plot

Komachi is in the library, trying to write, but the words won’t come, and she looks very forlorn. Karen sympathetically suggests she talk to Nuts for advice, but she hastily rejects that idea, insisting she needs to finish the story herself. When they get to Natts House, Urara asks her about her book, and Komachi gets flustered and embarrassed talking about it. Urara asks if it’s based on anything, which Komachi ardently denies as she steals a glance at Nuts, and then she hastily turns around and goes home. Karen noticed Komachi’s wandering eyes and turns to look at Nuts as well, starting to put the pieces together.

Over in Nightmare, Kawarino bemoans to Hadenya about how he has to present the black paper to someone, and she says whoever it is should be glad because it enhances their abilities and they’ll surely be able to bring down Precure. Kawarino is so relieved to hear this, and he reveals it’s for her. Her mood changes instantly, as she swats away the black paper and storms out of Nightmare, insisting that she doesn’t need it. However, when we next see her, sitting on a park bench, she admits she didn’t really have a plan when she left and she needs a way to follow up that dramatic exit. Just then she sees a pigeon pecking at a Pinky, right in front of her, and she gets an idea...

At school, Komachi opens up to Karen about her specific problem. She explains how she used to be overflowing with ideas but now they’re gone. She wants to make “his” dream come true, but she knows that when she does, he’ll have to go far away. She tries to explain she’s talking about the characters in her story, but it’s clear she really means Nuts. She admits that if their farewell never arrived, she’d be fine with that, and Karen insightfully says that she may not know about the last scene, but it does sound like how it plays out will be up to Komachi. In the story, of course.

Later, at Natts House, Nozomi and Urara are berating Nuts for not going out of his way to help Komachi. He insists that giving unasked for advice is being nosy, while they say he needs to understand her feelings. Karen arrives and gently assures everyone that Komachi can find her own solution to her problem.

Nonetheless, Nuts shows up to find Komachi sitting on a park bench (what is it with park benches lately?) and he talks to her, promising to do anything he can to help. They have a really heartfelt conversation where he explains he’s nice to her because he’s powerless in other ways, so he does what he can to help her because she’s fighting so hard to help him. Komachi breaks down in tears, upset that he’s so nice while she was only able to think about herself, and she admits that she was afraid to talk to him about her concerns, because talking about it would make it real to her, and her potential future would crumble away with the knowledge that he has to leave.

Nuts placates her, saying she’ll find an ending that works for her, and she should stop worrying. (it sounds insensitive but in context it’s very sweet)

At that moment, Hadenya shows up and scoffs that she’d be happy to crush whatever future they have together and shows off the Pinky she’s captured. Nozomi, Rin, Urara, Karen, Coco, and Milk all show up and transform while Hadenya is in the middle of gloating. Annoyed, she turns the Pinky into a Kowaina, which takes the form of a giant concrete block that immediately falls on top of everyone. They avoid it, and Dream, Rouge, and Lemonade fight the monster while Mint protects all the fairies from Hadenya, who is trying to snatch the Dream Collet from Nuts. Hadenya continues to degrade Komachi’s dreams of happiness, and Aqua joins Mint in fighting the villain. Hadenya and the Kowaina manage to overpower Mint and break her barrier, leaving her exhausted. Hadenya scoffs some more at the idea that they’re protecting Coco and Nuts’s “worthless” dream, but Dream, Rouge, and Aqua show up to defend their friend and explain how reviving Palmier Kingdom is their shared dream. Komachi looks at her teammates fighting so hard for her sake and finds new strength within her, and manages to restrain Hadenya long enough for Dream, Rouge, and Lemonade to destroy the Kowaina mask and save the Pinky. Lemonade and Aqua notice Mint’s shield has appeared over her head as she blocks and fights Hadenya, suggesting she’s channeling her barrier powers into her body to overpower the villain. Hadenya tires to use strong air currents to outclass the Precures, but Mint holds her ground. Aqua uses Aqua Tornado to halt Hadenya’s charge, and Mint summons the Mint Leaf directly in front of her, unleashing a point-blank Mint Shield on Hadenya that blows her away as it expands.

Hadenya flees and when the smoke clears, a huge crater is left in the ground. Dream collects the Pinky.

A later date, at school, Karen visits Komachi again and realizes she isn’t writing anything. Komachi admits she’s decided to put her story aside for now, but she’ll be sure to find a conclusion that suits her, and the two share a half-hearted smile.

The Analysis

This is a good episode, but it’s a bittersweet one. Komachi seems to be the frequent subject of bittersweet plots, because they really want to emphasize to the audience that hey, writing is difficult, and so is navigating your emotions. When these struggles meet, well, the results aren’t pretty. Obviously, Komachi’s novel has always overlapped with her relationship with Nuts, and as she’s gotten to the departure and farewell scenes, she’s starting to realize what Coco realized a few episodes ago: that the closer they are to finding all the pinkies, the closer they are to saying goodbye, and Komachi is afraid and unsure how to put that into writing. She is afraid to write a conclusion, because that means acknowledging that her own relationship will come to an end, which she isn’t ready for. It’s a moving exploration of writer’s block, which is a particularly resonant phenomenon to me as I’ve been struggling to write this particular review. Anyway, her choice to simply set the book aside for now is somewhat astonishing. It’s a mature and somewhat sad direction for a generally optimistic kids’ show to take, but I respect it that much more for not taking the easy road and saying “Komachi magically found a solution to her ongoing troubles with little difficulty.” Sometimes there aren’t easy answers to complex problems, and since the matter of her book was causing her far too much emotional stress, Komachi decided it was best for her mental health to shelve it. Telling suggestible audiences that this is sometimes an acceptable solution is important.

I do love the positive message, though. The uplifting and encouragement she receives from Nuts especially is really inspiring. His explanation for why he helps Komachi so much is emotionally resonant, as he says he’s weak in other areas so he helps where he can. He is still plagued by guilt for his role in the destruction of Palmier Kingdom, which informs his actions now, and he wants to do everything he can to help Komachi since she’s helping to restore his home. His support for her, and his reinforcement that all of her friends support her allows her to overcome her self-doubt in the battle against Hadenya. It’s also a clever reversal of her role in the team. Normally she wants to protect everyone, but in this episode, she’s the one who needs to be protected while she’s emotionally vulnerable, and the others are happy to help lift her spirits. Karen, her oldest friend, sees Komachi hurting and makes it a point to help her during the fight, double teaming Hadenya when Komachi can’t take her alone, and offering her the last push of encouragement she needs to power through.

Speaking of the fight, it’s a good battle. The Kowaina that just bodyslams indiscriminately is hilarious and what I expected out of the Kowaina from ep 40. Dream, Rouge, and Lemonade have to get creative when fighting it and it results in cool moments like Dream being trapped as it falls and the others having to save her before they hit the ground.

Obviously the main event is Mint’s fight against Hadenya, and it’s intense, with the general mostly having the upper hand despite being assaulted by both Mint and Aqua. When Hadenya kicks the barrier hard enough to break it (with some help from the falling Kowaina), it’s a visual metaphor for Komachi’s spirit breaking, but the follow up where Aqua encourages her turns her mood around results in a fantastic scene where Mint effortlessly blocks Hadenya’s attacks and then uses Mint Shield on her at point blank range, launching her into the atmosphere and creating a huge crater in the ground. THAT is badass.

I love this kind of creative use of their abilities and I wish we’d see it a bit more often. Between the emotional resonance and the incredible physical fighting, this might be one of my favorite battles from this season.

I want to briefly mention that Karen clearly understands the root of Komachi’s concerns, and knows she’s not just talking about her book. I think Komachi knows that she knows, but continues to describe it in terms of her novel for plausible deniability. This might be Karen’s first time realizing Komachi has feelings for Nuts but she definitely knows, and all her advice to Komachi is predicated on helping her friend with her real relationship woes. She’s a good friend to have around. I also love the use of lighting during most of their conversations, the twilight scenes are always beautiful and of course it lets them play with light and shadow in creative ways. When they’re talking in the library, Komachi is mostly seen in shadow, representing her sadness and uncertainty, while Karen is in the light, as the beacon of hope that can help her. After Karen offers her advice to Komachi, she is half-lit, as she’s beginning to come out of her sadness.

And lastly some bookkeeping. Hadenya was given a black mask today, but rejected it, and then failed when she went out to try to collect the Dream Collet. This is typical of her bravado and pride, but suffice to say this isn’t going to end well for her in the next episode.

Next time on Precure Daily, Milk tries to figure out just what a good caretaker is supposed to be like, and the answer may surprise you. Look forward to it!

Pink Precure Catchphrase Count: 0 Kettei!