#checks the menu and finds ‘hey that memory you start with

[aquamarinebling]

isat au where everything is the same except, as the game goes on, the “memory of self” slowly decreases the amount of stat points it gives until it reaches the negatives & takes points instead

[fairyhaos]

how seventeen act with their writer s/o

requested by anon ^^

masterlist

seungcheol

he is begging. he is on his knees BEGGING you to pls let him buy you a new laptop because the one you use is literally on its last legs and makes ominous sputtering n whirring sounds like a dying cat stuck in a vent every time you start it up. you don't let him tho bc “no cheol the memories :(((“ cuz you've had it for years but he is nearing the end of his tether and who knows. in a few days ur laptop may mysteriously disappear forever and you'll be forced to let him buy a new one

jeonghan

he's like the pet cat you don't own who likes to slink into the room and make inquisitive noises as he watches you work. drapes himself over your shoulders and makes distressed huffs when you try to dislodge him. he's never usually noticeably clingy, but when you try to write, the clinginess always springs out and you can't go five minutes without jeonghan poking his head into the room to check up on you and see what you're up to

joshua

your biggest fan. buys every single novel you write, puts on his glasses, and reads them very seriously in one go on the very evening it's released with the lamp on beside him. he looks so serious every time, but he'll always peer at you over his glasses and then give you a big grin, telling you how much he loves it. gets you to sign a copy for him and brags to everyone he knows that he has your signed novels with special messages just for him that no one else can have

junhui

he's your personal general knowledge bank. when you're searching up obscure things and slowly losing hope on finding an answer, just ask junhui and he'll either a) know the answer or b) knows someone who knows someone else who knows someone else else who knows the answer. don't ask him how to spell words tho bc he's like. hopelessly bad. blinks at you going “what's an [insert word]” before you give up and google it yourself

hoshi

alwaysssss wants to know what you're working on right now. gets all whiny when you get possessive of your work and refuse to show him before it's finished bc come on, it's surely perfect already, why are you trying to hide it from him?? loves helping you do, like, the non writing stuff. writing out plot? nooo. building fantasy maps, figuring out political systems, getting lost on a tangent on figuring out the price of beans in the 1800s? hell yeah sign him up!!! 

wonwoo

knows all the grammar rules in the world. you can ask him stuff like “hey wonwoo can i put a comma here or no” and he'll amble over to peer over your shoulder and tell you whether you can or cannot, in fact, put a comma there. helps you curate all your writing playlists for the different moods you have. gently reminds you to get back to writing whenever you end up scrolling on instagram for too long

woozi

you're even more of a workaholic than he is when in the zone, so he gets to realise how unhealthy it is to be sat in front of a computer for hours straight with no break. you get to act as each other's “let's act like a normal human being now” reminders, depending on which of you is going through a work fixation. you guys both go on runs together in the mornings even though it kills you bc at least it gets both of yo brains kickstarted to spend a day being all creative in ur respective fields

minghao

you value his opinion above anyone else's. above your beta reader's, above your agent's, even above your editor's bc those are more like advice, not opinions. but knowing that minghao likes your work, and knowing which parts in particular he really likes, is so important to you because ultimately, you want the person you love to also love the things that you create. 

mingyu

brings up the fact that you're a writer in every conversation he has with anyone ever. “oh my god look, this menu has writing on it. speaking of writing, my s/o writes actual books as a job!!!!”. your agent made him sign a contract similar to an NDA bc he just keeps yapping about your books even when they haven't been released yet. loves the noises you make whilst you're writing. thinks it's the cutest thing ever when you make overjoyed “AHA!!” sounds when you finally realise what the plot is doing

dokyeom

more than willing to be your rubber duck and let you talk at him until u figure out your own plot holes. he could be in his room scrolling on his phone but the minute you call for him, he's leaping up and bounding over to you and pulling up a chair in an instant, more than willing to let you bounce ideas off him. sits there doing nothing but looking all pretty as you talk at him and work out the tangle you've gotten yourself into. beams and gives you a big kiss when you manage to figure it all out. 

seungkwan

he buys you a biiiig wheely whiteboard and a bunch of coloured board pens to help you plot your novels. when you get stuck, he comes over and stares at the board with his hands on his hips, very gravely considering your dilemma and what would be the best way to get you out of it. you two talk about plot holes like it's the most serious thing in the world and he just nods like a proud father once you both find a solution

vernon

at this point he's like. a professional tea and coffee and biscuits supplier due to the amount of snack runs he does for you. has walked in on you lying face down on the floor during a meltdown one too many times to bat an eye anymore. also great at helping you block out actions during scenes like. he's the perfect doll. lets you maneuver him into the weirdest positions in the world with zero complaints. he just loves helping you however he can, really. 

chan

reads through your drafts whilst you're in the middle of writing, accidentally gets hooked and is begging you every day to finish the novel bc he really wants to know what happens next. he's the best at spotting inconsistencies and plot holes in ur writing so before you even send it off to your beta reader, he gets to have his hands on the manuscript to check for any changes needed. also bc he needs to read the ending asap otherwise he'll probably combust. 

request guidelines

reactions tags: @weird-bookworm @minhui896 @slytherinshua @haowrld @belladaises @newgirlygirl @moonlitskiiies @mirxzii @wonranghaeee @yonabutnotyuna @crackedpumpkin @wqnwoos @kthstrawberryshortcake-main @kawennote09 @a-wandering-stay @icyminghao @valenhui @sweet-like-caramel @odxrilove @kyeomyun @chansburgah @pepperonijem @jeonride @kellesvt @kikohao @astrozuya @eightlightstar @onlyyjeonghan @aaniag @starshuas @all-american-fangirl @f1uffyjun @sea-moon-star @nonononranghaee @isabellah29 @mcu-incorrect @hrts4hanniehae @suraandsugar @pan-de-seungcheol @dokyeomkyeom @melodicrabbit @bananabubble

[lyrenminth]

Watching the sunset together

Joe Burrow x reader

I hope you enjoy this post. happy season for everyone! Wishing the best for all players and teams.

When Joe announced the vacations to Cabo, you were grateful. After a long season, you could relax and enjoy each other's company.

You stayed in a fancy hotel, eat deliciously and spend a good time walking around. At nights, you went out to eat dinner, went to bed to talk or make puzzles together or have steamy sex on every flat source you could find. It was a nice vacation overall, and you enjoyed Joe's company without the stress was nice. During the off season's beginning Joe was more relaxed, as the time went by and the season was closer he was more grumpy, and during the season you didn't have so much communication because he was so stressed and focused in keeping the team in the game. It was unreal, and at the start of your relationship was a big problem for both. You disliked his personality after a bad game, and he didn't like how incomprehensible you could be. So you talked a lot. About many things. It helped to improve your relationship and the dynamics.

So here were you, watching the sunset in the balcony. Sunsets always made you feel nostalgic for some reason. It was a beautiful sight to behold, and you didn't want to start thinking about anything at all. The balcony's door opened and Joe appeared looking for you.

"Hey" he said, freshly showered. He was a little bit red around the cheeks and forehead, and you made fun of him for it a couple times before. He sat down next to you, your arms touching. "What are we doing?" he asked after a few seconds of silence.

"Thinking about the meaning of life" you answered, seriously.

"Great, my favorite topic" he added, flat. You looked at his handsome face, smiling fondly. "You're such a beautiful shrimp" you teased him. "You won't even let me be, will you?" he answered back, the lines at the corners of his eyes appearing. "Why do you hate sunscreen so much?" you wondered.

"I applied sunscreen!" he replied, all outraged. "You need to apply it every two hours, Joe".

"I won't remember that" he decided.

You sighed, laying your head on his shoulder. The ocean was so beautiful, the red, orange and blue colors blending together, and the sun was split in half. The warm breeze caressed your face and you felt the urge to cry of happiness. It was so silly, but you felt so grateful for all things you got. Including Joe and his steady presence.

Joe always snapped you back to reality. As pragmatic as he was, he helped you to stay grounded. And as the dreamer you were, you help him to relax and enjoy. To see the other side.

Joe's hand searched for yours, his long fingers intertwined with yours. You felt your belly flutter in excitement. And you watched together the sun hide, and the moon rose and started shining. You were running your finger absentmindedly along scar of his knee while you were telling a childhood memory.

"You know what? I love this" he confessed after you finish telling the story about your first time on the beach "I like this a lot"

"What?"

"This" he waved a hand between both. "You made me feel cool"

You laughed. He wasn't romantic in his words, but you understood the meaning behind. The biggest compliment he had given to you was something about you feeling like a football match. "Thrilling, nice, intense" considering he was a football boy, you took it nicely.

"Thanks, you made me feel cool too"

"You know what I mean" he said, a bit embarrassed.

"Yes, I know love"

He kissed your forehead. "Are you hungry?"

"A little bit"

"We should order something or do you prefer to go down?" he asked. Another thing about Joe: he was very considerate about food. He always try to please you when you liked something. Once a bought ten boxes of the cookie brand you liked because you were dating Mr. Because I Can.

"I want to stay with you" you said. You didn't need to explain further.

"Okay, let's check the menu and order" you shiver from the mildly cold, and he ran a hand through your arm to warm you a little bit. "Let's go inside" he whispered in your ear. You felt something tingle between your legs.

You went inside, his phone started buzzing. It was his agent. "Can you order for me?" he apologize and left the room for privacy. You did as told. You laid on the couch, scrolling on your phone to kill time. Joe join you after a couple of minutes, he fell over you on the couch, hiding his face in the curve of your neck. His breath was heavy and warm against your skin.

"What does Matthew want?" you asked. Matt was his agent.

"He wants me to sign a new sponsor for the upcoming season" he said, kissing you neck slightly. You curled your toes, trying not to giggle.

"What type?" he raised his head at your question. His eyes were so blue under that light, and you could count every blond eyelash from there. "Jewelry. Bracelets" you ran your hands through his back, and cupping his ass. He didn't flinched, the opposite. He grinned and dive into a kiss. His tongue made its way inside your mouth, one hand running to your size, stopping at your breasts. You opened your legs to accommodate him between. You sighed feeling his erection against your inner thigh, hard and demanding.

"I'll have you for dinner" he said against your lips. Your hips started humping, looking for that delicious friction you needed. You were pulling his shirt up to undress him when you heard a ring.

And then another one.

"Fuck, who is it?" Joe said, gritted teeth.

"Dinner maybe" you whispered, frozen in place.

"Are you hungry?" your stomach took the perfect moment to answer that with a grumble. "Okay" he said laughing, sitting next to you.

"We have desert" you winked at him.

"Mmmm, I would love that" he said, standing up and reaching the door.

The dinner was delicious, and you spent a good time chatting and joking. Joe told you about his most recent reading, and you did your best to understand what he was saying. At midnight you were feeling sleepy, and so was he, both decided to skip the steamy sex session and have a good sleep.

"God, we're getting older" you mumbled, feeling him hug you from behind, and getting closer to you. He was really warm, and big and cuddly. "We choose to sleep over sex"

"It's fair" he said equally sleepy.

"Night" you whispered.

But he was fast asleep.

[hollowtones]

first yiik impressions?

Hi. Thanks for your message. I've been thinking about this for days. I wrote paragraphs. Here you go!

Everyone talks up how the game is bad, but I've never looked into it much myself, so I went in with an expectation along the lines of "people whose opinions I often agree with think it was an awful mess, I'll likely think something similar". Expectations were low. Even then I wasn't really ready.

"YIIK" is a game of tedium. I don't think it's a game about tedium, that's something different (though it could be, if it was a different video game altogether; "what if the world was made of pudding" etc). To some degree I think the tedium is by design but I'm not really sure what it's in service of.

I don't think tedium in a video game is a bad thing. "Morrowind" and "Breath of the Wild" are two video games I like very much, and some of my favourite memories of those games are of slowly wandering through empty expanses, or having to suddenly deal with equipment degrading or supplies dwindling because I forgot to prepare. Moments like that feel thoughtful! They're interesting moments of reprieve or of tension that feel thoughtfully and intentionally designed! "YIIK" feels like trudging through chest-deep molasses so it can shout "hey did you know you're stuck in my molasses right now? that's weird, why are you stuck in my molasses right now? did you notice?" directly into your ear.

You'll notice this is a pattern.

Combat is turn-based and involves completing little minigames, timing button prompts or hitting targets or some such. It's a cute idea that wears out its welcome when you start realizing how long every single one takes to resolve, especially when you have multiple party members, and sometimes multiple enemies (I'm told this part specifically gets more egregious as the game goes on). I don't think it's awful or unsalvageable but I'm not super into it as of the point we're at.

This is a pattern.

Leveling up is a manual process that you have to unlock, and it involves going to a save point (any save point? we didn't check), to enter the Mind Dungeon, to enter the actual Mind Dungeon, to walk down a set of stairs and enter individual doors one-by-one, so that you can choose how you want to allocate stat increases, so that you can walk down a different set of stairs to commit your choices and spend your banked experience to level up. I think "you can only power up at specific points / times / locations" and the granularity of stat growth are interesting ideas, and the environment they made for it are a charming idea, and I don't think it needed to be a "Hotel Mario" level that you had to slowly walk through. It could have been a menu. They could have used the resources for a nice background or backdrop for a menu that accomplishes the same thing.

This is a pattern.

I haven't really mentioned anything about the story or writing yet. The protagonist's name is Alex and he's a very self-important nerdy misanthropic dickhead white man (a very specific kind of guy that I've definitely met at least once or twice) who is obsessed with a paranormal message board populated by people like him and desperate to find out more about the disappearance of a woman he witnessed. (The woman & her disappearance are based on the real life death of Elisa Lam & aren't handled with a whole lot of tact, IMO, but other people have put this into better words than I can right now. It sucks. It keeps coming up and it makes me bristle every time.) Alex is a bad person. I know he is. You know he is. The game knows he is. I've seen some reviews say a negative point of the game is "the main characters aren't likeable", which I don't really get, because that's the point of the characters, as far as I can tell. The issue, then, is how much time the game takes to exposit at you how bad the characters are. It's exhausting. Every time Alex has a monologue, it feels like it sums up to 10 minutes of "I am a bad person. I am a bad person. Alex is a bad person. This character is a bad person. Do you get it? He's a bad person. Alex is a bad person. Do you understand yet, player? Alex is a bad person. You should know that he's a bad person. Do you get it?"

This is a pattern.

(I don't know how interested I am in bringing up the game's lead writer right now, if at all, but there's a well-known anecdote where he talks about wanting to write a story about a bad person who is forced to grapple with himself and do better, and how the reason why his game wasn't well-received was because people who play video games didn't get it & weren't ready for a story like that. I dunno. I can understand being upset about negative reception to something you poured time and sweat into, and saying something hasty because of it. "Final Fantasy 4" is a beloved RPG classic, though, and "Disco Elysium" came out the same year to overwhelming praise. I haven't played either of these yet, though, so I'll admit maybe I'm off the mark here.)

The characters we've met so far (i.e. the ones that aren't unnamed NPCs) are… well. There's a smarmy younger kid who idolizes(?) Alex & also made the aforementioned paranormal website. So far it seems like he mostly exists to go "hey fuck you Alex, you dickhead" and immediately say something even more insensitive. There's the insensitive based-on-a-real=ass-dead-woman elevator woman, who immediately disappeared from the narrative while still being an essential part of the narrative. There was a dead(?) robot in a bedroom, who had a choir of ominous hooded people monologue about how weird and sad and strange and uncanny the scene is. What the!? There's a woman who works at the arcade and has Powers. Her design's cute. (I feel like, generally, the game's visuals are Fine. The audio, too. That all ranges from Just Fine to Surprisingly Neat. I don't really have much issue with those aspects of the game, but I don't have much to say about them either.) Alex and Kid Whose Name I Didn't Care To Remember are constantly very uncomfortable to her, because she's a woman and because she isn't white, in the 15 or so minutes we've seen her on-screen, and she gets to tell them off, but then immediately kind of goes "well whatever I can smile and put up with this and hang out with you". It feels misogynistic. I know to some degree Alex is misogynistic on purpose, because the game is bludgeoning your skull in and yelling "ALEX IS SHITTY TO WOMEN! AND PEOPLE OF COLOUR! DO YOU GET IT? HE'S SELF ABSORBED IN A SHITTY WAY! DO YOU GET IT, PLAYER? YOU UNDERSTAND THAT ALEX SUCKS ASS YET? MAYBE 10 MORE MINUTES OF THIS WILL MAKE IT CLICK?" But for a woman of colour (the only one we've seen so far who isn't Probably Just Dead) to finally tell him off for being a shithead, only to turn around and go "well it's ok, you're cool now, let's hang out now because it's narratively convenient and you're the protagonist" is pretty damn egregious!

This is a pattern.

Writing in general feels stilted and long-winded. Most of the main characters feel like they don't talk like people do. Alex gets to feel like a person but that's mostly because he gets to talk to himself so damn much. Most of his monologues feel like overly flowery prose, like someone padded it out with identical adjectives to meet a school essay word count. There's an interesting idea or premise or setpiece every now and then. There's a spark. A glint of something compelling. Every single time this has happened so far I find it immediately snuffed out by an over-blown "oh my god!!!!!!! how weird!!!!!!', or a very long plot dump, or a Joss Whedon-ass quip. There can be no small moment of joy. No story element or visual element can stand on its own legs. There can be no room for ideas to breathe. No space for the player to wonder, to dream, to play in the space. The narrative is compelled to suffocate iself on itself, to take up all space, to swallow itself whole in its making. One very minor (so far?) side character has some interesting dialogue in this one dream world, and I think "oh that's neat", and then I learn they're lines taken wholesale from a book (and I think that's fine, reference is fine, but I have a bit of a chuckle over the fact that this character is the reason why the game has a giant REFERENCES option in the main menu). The literal first minute of the game is a bird telling you "oh my god, the title of this game, right? why'd they spell it like that? so fucking dumb, am I right!" It feels insecure. It reads like the writing has no confidence in itself. It has to make a comment about how silly and video-gamey it is, roll its eyes at itself, mock itself for the thing it's doing while continuing to do it without addressing it or discussing it or doing anything with it.

This is a pattern.

There's a specific part of "YIIK", at this early point in the game (we're only around the start[?] of chapter 2), that feels emblematic of the thing as a whole up to this point. Alex is getting phone calls from a stranger. They're confusing and weird and sound a little like something you might hear in a dream. They make references to some shared past, some childhood, some understanding of Alex, or maybe of you, the player. They've come up a few times. Every single time, I'm left thinking about what it could mean, how it fits in with everything we've seen so far & what the game seems to be talking about, with regards to connecting to other people and to yourself. It's a neat little thing. It's a neat idea. I'm charmed by it. As much as my thoughts on this game are largely negative, I still try to look at it fairly, to understand it, to talk about it, to let myself be surprised by it. As soon as I find myself thinking about this, my thoughts are immediately drowned out by Alex telling me how weird the phone call is, how random and uncanny and dumb this is, and how he's rolling his proverbial eyes about it, in spite of all the other paranormal happenings around him, for another period of Just Too Long. And I am sapped of all strength and I crumble to dust.

I'm genuinely transfixed. I'm transfixed! Maybe the fact that I wrote Paragraphs about the 4-or-5 hours I've seen of the game can tell you as much, even if you skip everything I wrote in them.

I can't wait to see more.

This, too, is a pattern.

[evycloudberry]

* note: I am writing this as (Y/N) being a fire fairy.

* note: I did not name the friends, so all readers can ‘personalize’ this story easily. They are mentioned according to their ability.

Disclaimer: swearing

Taglist: @slytherinambitious @ellatitanium @untalentedsideoffandoms

Back to the menu chapters

Begin Again (Part 9)

"Talk about the devil," her brother remarked, nodding towards the figure at the entrance. "That's definitely my cue to leave!"

And he hurried off in quick footsteps.

She approached him, smiling but a bit puzzled.

"I thought I'd check on you after today's events," he began.

"That's very considerate of you, Riven. You didn't have to," she said appreciatively.

"As crazy as this is going to sound, I care. I can only imagine what happened this evening, so I had to make sure to check on you," he replied sincerely.

"That's very sweet. I am fine. Thank you for taking the time to do that, especially after the hectic day you must have had yourself. You're a good friend," she replied warmly.

He chuckled nervously. "Friend... yeah. Well, this friend saw some pretty ugly shits this evening, and thought he might just take a another big risk before the next attack. We never know, I could run out of luck."

She frowned, puzzled. "I needed to make sure you know that I will fix whatever is going on. I guess it's a fucked-up way to teach me a lesson, but I am going to fight for you. Even if all our memories together are gone from your memory, even if I get erased, I will find a way to get back to normal. Our normal... now that sounded completely insane," he laughed, and she joined in.

"It absolutely did! And to be honest, I am not sure I understand" she admitted.

"Just try to remember that I love you, (Y/N)" he blurted out.

The silence hung heavily. "Your timing is very bad" she said with a low voice.

"And technically, you love me." He added

"You don't say..." she quickly responded, she wanted out of the awkward situation, and passing him, but she stopped abruptly upon hearing his next words.

"And, icing on the cake: You and I, we are dating! Or at least, we were... it's complicated."

"I can see that." She turned to face him

"I broke up with you."

"May I ask why?" she said in a harsh tone, feeling strangely hurt by the revelation

"Honestly, I'm not even sure anymore..."

"Are you doing this because you want closure?" She questioned her heart tightening, and accelerating. But she could not understand why. Could he be telling the truth? Why couldn’t she remember?

"No! I mean, honestly, this situation is fucking confusing..."

"You're a nice guy, Riven. But communication doesn't seem to be your forte. I'm going to assume this was a drunk conversation," she concluded, then turned and left for good.

As she approached her suite, she noticed a shadow at the door.

"This might be creepy, but I was hoping to see you before turning in," Zane greeted her.

"Zane, hey. You didn't have to. Funny, someone had the same idea."

"Oh. Someone I know?"

"Let's not go down that road... it's too late for heavy conversations."

"Well, let's not talk then," he smiled, opening his arms. "Sometimes all you need is a hug. And you look like you could use one right now."

She contemplated it for a moment before accepting. It felt nice—his strong yet gentle arms, his calm and soothing heartbeat, his regular warm breath on her head. It was pleasant yet oddly unsettling. As if this comforting moment was somehow wrong. For now, she decided to push those feelings aside. She was tired, emotionally stirred by her earlier conversations: her brother's warning and Riven's strange revelations had left her feeling on edge. So, she welcomed this support.

Zane started to rub her back and then her arms slowly and tenderly. She relaxed, wrapping her arms around his waist, savoring the moment. How could this be wrong? His lips brushed against her forehead, and he gave her a gentle kiss. She shifted her body slightly, just enough to look up. Only a few inches separated their faces, their noses almost touching. His eyes admired her features, eventually moving to her lips. With no opposition from her, he leaned in.

Her mind got hazy for a moment, enjoying the softness of his lips on hers, warm and gentle. She opened her eyes and gently pushed on his torso, creating some space between them. They gazed at each other, both smiling.

She broke the silence first. "I'm sorry. We have a rule about boys staying over that prevents me from asking you to stay the night..."

"Well, we could go to my dorm? Nothing frisky, I swear. It's just that... it would be such a shame to walk away right now," he suggested.

She laughed before agreeing. Before leaving together, she slipped into her room to grab some essentials for the next day.

Note: feel free to share your thoughts!

[rems-writing]

Pirate vs. rapper. Allegedly

Pairing: pirate!Hongjoong × gn!reader

Summary: Hongjoong never knew what jealousy felt like until he and you won free tickets to go see famous rapper I.M in New York

Warning(s): jealous!Hongjoong, featuring I.M from Monsta X, mayhaps I.M isn't what he says he is? 👁👁

Genre: Fluff with a bit of angst

Nets: @blossomnet @mirohs-aurora-society

"Ok Emma said it was here..."

"Yeah this is it."

You and Hongjoong were currently in New York, standing in front of the Savior's old apartment.

This is where she and Henry stayed after Regina erased their memories before Peter Pan's curse swept them up and took them back to the Enchanted Forest.

That felt like yesterday to you.

As you and Hongjoong settled in, you flopped down on the couch and he flopped down beside you before immediately putting his arm around your shoulder so you can snuggle into him.

"Want to order take out? I'm too lazy to cook."

"Whatever you want, my baby."

You could never get used to that nickname Hongjoong gave you despite him saying it multiple times. It always gets you flustered.

"What do you feel like getting?"

"I feel like getting breakfast for dinner. Like how Wanda did it in WandaVision."

You had to pat yourself on the back for introducing the cute pirate to Marvel.

"Breakfast for dinner it is. I think we passed by a restaurant that does breakfast all day every day."

"I think you're referring to Denny's."

"That's what it's called?! How did I miss the bright yellow sign with the obvious name painted in red?!"

"Maybe you were busy admiring me."

"Damn right I was."

You didn't have time to react when Hongjoong pulled you in for a quick yet passionate kiss. You had to hold onto his collar to stabilize yourself. He soon pulled away and grinned mischievously before kissing your forehead. You shook your head and had a tiny smile on your face before snapping your fingers to make a Denny's menu appear.

"Aight so what you want?"

---------------------------------------------------

The Next Day

You and Hongjoong were walking to the designated concert venue to go see your favorite artist.

Im Changkyun. Aka IM.

You were dressed in a shirt from his official merch website, blue ripped jeans, and beat up Converse. Hongjoong opted to borrow his captain's wardrobe, which would explain the black outfit.

He topped it off with black eyeliner, gaudy rings on each of his fingers, and one nail painted in black nail polish.

You had one finger painted as well but it was a light blue color instead.

You checked your tickets it, went through security, and find your spots.

Which were right in front of the stage.

You only had a few minutes until the show started so you used that time to either make a few friends

Or make out with Hongjoong.

The venue was packed and no one seemed to care so you went straight in for the pda.

Soon, the concert started.

---------------------------------------------------

It had been only a couple of hours since it started, but to you, it felt like eternity.

Hongjoong was the same way, except he felt an unfamiliar feeling growing inside him.

It wasn't dread or anger.

He thinks it's jealousy, but his subconscious kept denying it. However, it would explain why he felt uncomfortable when IM kept glancing at you and smirking as he rapped and sang.

The jealousy grew when IM directly kept eye contact with the love of his life as he sang 'Happy To Die'

You noticed the way Hongjoong's hand tightened on your hip as he pulled you closer to him. You were also unfamiliar with the pirate's jealousy since he always trusted you with his heart and soul whenever you interacted with guys like Leroy, Killian, David, and so on.

You covered your hand over Hongjoong's and momentarily broke eye contact with your favorite artist so you could kiss your partner on the cheek.

"Hey. It's ok. You know I love you and you only. Right?"

"Yes, my baby. I'm sorry. I just... never felt this way before. I love you and trust you. But throughout the night, this nagging feeling kept gnawing at me."

"It's ok to feel like this from time to time."

"It's an ugly feeling."

"I understand, but as long as you trust in me and our love, it will go away."

Hongjoong smiled his pretty smile and kissed your cheek before shouting along with the crowd for IM to do an encore. You joined in on the shouting shortly after.

---------------------------------------------------

Soon, the concert ended and you and Hongjoong waited until everyone was gone so you could leave the venue without any hassle. As you waited, you noticed a familiar figure walking towards you. Hongjoong must've noticed as well since he wrapped his arm around your waist and pulled you closer to him. A shy smile appeared on the rapper's face and he spoke.

"Hey. I just wanted to say I'm sorry for staring at you the entire night. You're honestly so attractive and I couldn't help myself. It still isn't right though so here's my apology."

You didn't know how to respond since your favorite artist just complimented you so you hid your face in Hongjoong's neck so Changkyun wouldn't see the redness grow on your face.

"And I wanted to say I'm sorry to you for the same thing, man. They belong to you and I should've stayed in my lane."

"It's fine, IM. I appreciate the apology though."

"I have these for you guys."

Changkyun handed the both of you free tour shirts and you happily accepted one while Hongjoong accepted the other. You practically sprinted out of the venue so the cool air of the New York nighttime could cool down your face after you said goodbye to Changkyun haphazardly.

Hongjoong stayed behind for a little while longer, his smile turning into a snarl. Changkyun kept up the smirk on his face.

"You may have fooled everyone, including my love, but I know exactly what you are. So I suggest you back up and not follow us back to Storybrooke. Unless you want to feel the cold sharp metal of Killian's hook pierce your skin."

"Oh trust me. I wouldn't dare go near the pirate of the most feared pirate crew in all of the Enchanted Forest. I'll stay out of your way."

"Glad we reached an understanding of this situation. Have a nice night, Changkyun."

"You as well, Hongjoong."

Hongjoong walked out slowly from the venue, narrowly missing the way Changkyun's scales shimmered under the dim lighting of the venue and the way the rapper hissed quietly as his fangs poked out and his eyes turned from brown to silver.

Good thing the pirate saved you from the clutches of a siren.

[newtthetranswriter]

PLEASE WRITE THIS WHEN U HAVE TIME. I know your requests are closed, but I wanted to request this because my memory is very bad & I forget a lot of my ideas.

transfem reader w toji fushiguro (or gojo if you’d rather write him) who has gender dysphoria about her body? maybe she does everything she can to appeal to the stereotypically feminine view—makeup, hair, heels—but when she sees the women that flirt w her boyfriend, she can’t help but feel inferior. maybe her body’s too rectangular or her chest is too small.

I can’t seem to find any fics like this, and I really like your blog 🙏🙏 again, please write this when your requests are open.

Word count: 1932

Pairing Satoru Gojo x Trans!Fem!Reader

Warnings: Self doubt, mentions of transphobia (internalized and old fashioned views), ooc gojo?

A/n: Hello Thank you so much for requesting. I know you said I could wait to write it until I opened requests again, but I just felt inspired by this so I hope you enjoy it. Also I went with Gojo mainly because I'm not the biggest toji fan. I am trans masculine so I’m not 100% sure if I captured the feelings trans fem people feel so if there are any mistakes please let me know. Anyways enjoy and remember to Hydrate or Diedrate.

Dating Satoru was a dream come true. I mean seriously never would I have thought such a high ranking member of Jujutsu society would even look my way let alone The Satoru Gojo. But I guess I got lucky, and even though Satoru is one of the most loving people I have ever met, I can’t help but to doubt myself.

Afterall life as a transgender person is hard enough as it is but add the strict and stuff beliefs of the older generation of Jujutsu sorcerers and you have a breeding ground for self doubt. Everytime Satoru and I are in public or have to interact with one of the other clans, my mind is flooded with terrible thoughts. ‘How can Satoru stand to be seen with me, there are so many more beautiful women out there.’ or ‘He’d be better off with a cis woman who is truly beautiful.’ It’s hard to quiet these thoughts when I’ve heard these comments from the higher ups in passing and sometimes I believe them.

And today of all days, the thoughts are more precisdent as me and Satoru are out on one of the few dates we get with his busy schedule. I had spent hours before trying to look as beautiful as possible to make this date perfect, I had Shoko help me pick a nice outfit and the perfect pair of heels. I spent most of the day perfecting the perfect hairstyle and make-up look for the night. Eventually with major words of encouragement from Shoko and Satoru himself I was ready, I even started the night feeling confident that I looked amazing.

But alas all good feelings come to an end. Once we were at the restaurant, I couldn’t help but notice all the beautiful women staring at Satoru and I mean I can’t blame them but it just caused the thoughts to surface again. Noticing my slight shift in mood Satoru turned to me, “Hey is everything okay?” He asked as he placed his arm around my waist. Not wanting to worry him I just smiled and nodded at him. “Okay… but you know if there’s something bothering you let me know, Ok?” He said, I could tell he was skeptical but he dropped the topic when the hostess asked us to follow her to the table.

Once seated we talked briefly about how his students were doing and how curses were becoming more annoying as of late before dropping the topic of work and just talking about tv and plans for the next couple weeks. “And I was thinking that we could go check out the new mall that opened up recently, I saw some beautiful dresses I thought you might like and would love to get you a few,” Satoru explained as he looked at the menu in front of him.

“That sounds lovely.” I responded and was planning on continuing the conversation when a waitress approached the table.

Looking at the young woman, I couldn’t help but notice how she was the picture of feminine beauty. Curvy in all the right places, perfect hair and subtle but gorgeous make-up. “Hello I’m Ally, I’ll be your server tonight, can I get you any drinks?” Hearing her speak for some reason made my heart hurt, knowing I would likely never sound as young and girlish as her. 

I noticed Satoru looked at me and I quickly wiped the look of doubt off my face before he could say anything. I guess it worked because he turned his attention back to the woman, and quickly ordered us some wine and an appetizer we had agreed on. The waitress wrote the order down before excusing herself to take care of the order. Once she had walked away Satoru turned back to me. “Are you absolutely positive nothing is wrong?” He asked as he placed his hand over mine on the table. Once again not wanting to sour the mood of the evening, I nodded and said I was fine and turned the topic back to the previous conversation.

After we got our drinks and we ordered our entrees, I couldn’t help but notice that our waitress was checking in on us more than what is normally expected. She would stop by the table every time she walked by to check if the wine was to our liking or if we needed anything while we waited for the main course. I quickly picked up on how she would get slightly closer to Satoru’s side of the table each time, it was also clear that Satoru hadn’t noticed the subtle comments being directed at him. I couldn’t help but think that he was saying anything about it because he liked being hit on by a cis woman. Maybe he secretly hates the fact that I'm trans and just doesn’t want to hurt my feelings. Eventually the thoughts got the best of me and tears started to well up in my eyes and it was taking everything out of me not to burst into sobs.

Once the waitress left again saying she would check on our food, Satoru turned to look at me, and I could see his eyes widen exponentially even through his dark sunglasses. “Hey, it’s ok. What’s wrong and don’t say nothing, something is clearly bothering you.” He said gently but sternly as he squeezed my hand and pulled his sunglasses off so I could make unobstructed eye contact. 

Not having the strength to hold it in any longer I let out a few of my thoughts, maybe a little too loud for the setting but I couldn’t hold it in. “Why are you with me Satoru? You could have anyone, so why me?” It took the white haired male a second to process what was said but before he could speak, I continued. “I’m not beautiful like every woman here, I’m not curvy in all the right spots, my make up looks like a middle schooler did it, so why do you stay with me, when you could have a real woman?” I hated saying it but it was true in my mind, or at least I believed it. I wasn’t thin with big boobs and a big butt, I’m just flat. My figure is the opposite of curvy, I have broad shoulders and the flattest chest. I can’t grasp how someone so handsome can sit across from someone like me and say that I’m beautiful when so many better people are around.

After my mini outburst it was almost silent in our area of the restaurant. Satoru just looked at me stunned, he knew I suffered from dysphoria but he thought he had done a good job helping me feel better. The six-eyes user looked down at the table before speaking. “I know you have trouble believing me when I say this but you are the most beautiful person I have ever met. I don’t care if you aren’t curvy or if you struggle with make-up sometimes, No matter what you are beautiful to me.” As he said this he stood from the table and whipped the tears that had escaped my eyes from my face. While he was focused on me I noticed our waitress coming back this time with our food in hand. Seeing me look in that direction Satoru waved over the woman. “Can you have those put in togo boxes for us? My partner and I are done here.” I looked up at him shocked, but before I could protest he spoke again. “And before that can you please have your supervisor come speak with me?” Now I’m extremely confused.

“Satoru, what are you doing? I thought we were going to eat here?” I asked, confused, as I watched a nervous looking man approach. Satoru just stood up straight, put his sunglasses on and turned to the man who I’m now guessing is the supervisor.

“You must be the supervisor. I would like to file a complaint about the waitress who served me and my lovely partner here.” Satoru spoke in his formal tone he reserved for the higher ups, it was clear he was upset but he sounded so calm. “I was just trying to enjoy one of the rare occasions when I can pamper my Love, and your waitress spent most of the night hitting on me. Now I tried to be understanding and let it slide, but after numerous comments that clearly made my partner upset, I have decided that we will be taking our food to go and we will not be returning to this establishment.” While I didn’t expect that, I wasn’t expecting the look of concern that washed over the man’s face at my boyfriend's comment. “I will also be pulling all support from this restaurant that is provided by the Gojo estate.” With that final comment Satoru turned to me and offered his hand for me to take, as I stood up, the waitress from before brought our food now in to-go boxes and handed it to Satoru.

With food in hand we started to exit the restaurant, but before we could reach the door, the supervisor ran after us calling for Satoru. “Mr. Gojo please reconsider, I’ll fire this woman. Flirting with customers is against restaurant policy. Please do not pull the funding.” At first It seemed that he was actually upset about what the woman did but with the last sentence it was clear he was actually more worried about the money the Gojo clan apparently provided the business. 

“No, I will be pulling the funding. You clearly care more about the money then how your employees are treating your top investors.” Satoru said not even looking at the man. With that we left and went home.

Once we were home and finished with our food, we laid down in our large bed and just cuddled with each other. Breaking the silence I asked a question I had been thinking about since we left. “Why did you do that?” I felt him looking at me clearly confused by the sudden question. “I mean tell that guy you were pulling the funding from the restaurant, I didn’t know the Gojo clan had investments in such things.” I was confused.

I felt Satoru chuckle as I laid on his chest before he spoke. “First, The Gojo clan has investments in a lot you don’t know about. Secondly I told him that because I meant it.” I lifted my head to look at him. As if reading my mind he continued, “I’m not going to support a business that only cares about the money and only has a problem with staff being disrespectful when their funds are threatened.” I nodded and was about to say something before he stopped me. “Plus I could tell you were uncomfortable the entire time and were just holding back for my sake. I want you to know that if there is ever a problem I will deal with it.”

“Thank you Satoru.” I said laying my head back on his chest. I decided it was probably time to go to sleep when I let out a small yawn. 

As I drifted off, I heard Satoru speak one last time. “I love you, Y/n, don’t ever forget it. And I mean it when I say you are the most beautiful person I have ever seen, I could never wish for more.” With that he placed a kiss to the top of my head and we both fell asleep enjoying each other's embrace.

[poonammsharma]

The Ultimate Wedding Checklist: From “Yes” to “I Do”

Hey there, all you lovely couples ready to take the plunge into wedding planning madness! Poonam Mayank Sharma here, a top wedding planner in Bangalore with the ultimate scoop on navigating the crazy rollercoaster ride from that heart-fluttering "Yes" to the tear-jerking "I Do." So, grab your notebooks and let's dive into The Ultimate Wedding Checklist: From "Yes" to "I Do"!

1. The Dreamy Proposal Stage:

First things first, that magical moment when you say "Yes!" Keep the memory alive by snapping those adorable engagement photos. And don't forget to flaunt that rock on social media – after all, you're officially off the market!

2. Set the Budget Like a Boss:

Before you go all out with your wedding day dreams, let's talk numbers. Sit down with your partner and figure out how much moolah you're ready to spend. Trust me, it's the ultimate stress-buster when you know exactly what you're working with.

3. Picking the Date – Let's Get This Party Started:

Choosing the perfect wedding date is like finding the right puzzle piece – it's got to fit just right. Consider the season, your favorite time of year, and any significant dates. Oh, and make sure Aunt Sally and Uncle Bob can make it too!

4. Call in the Pros – Hello, Top Wedding Planners in Bangalore:

Now, I may be a tad biased, but hiring a top wedding planner in Bangalore (yours truly, anyone?) is like having a magical unicorn by your side. We've got the inside scoop on everything from Bangalore wedding decoration to planning destination weddings that'll make your jaw drop.

5. Destination Daydreams:

If you're all about that jet-set life, consider a destination wedding that'll have your guests swooning. From the beaches of Bali to the castles of Europe, the world is your oyster. And yes, you can trust us destination wedding planners to make it all happen without a hitch.

6. The Guest List Dilemma:

Ah, the guest list – a puzzle of emotions and relationships. Make a list of must-invite folks, nice-to-invite folks, and "Do we really have to invite them?" folks. And don't forget your second cousins and your childhood bestie – they might just show up in your dreams if you don't!

7. Venue Vibes:

With the guest list in hand, it's time to hunt for the perfect venue. Whether it's a glamorous ballroom or a rustic barn, let your personalities shine through the space. And don't worry, I've got a knack for finding hidden gems that'll leave you swooning.

8. Dress to Impress:

Alright, let's talk outfits! Your wedding attire should make you feel like the absolute superstar you are. So, grab your entourage and embark on the dress-shopping adventure of a lifetime. Gentlemen, don't you worry – you've got the groom's game on point too!

9. Foodie Fun:

Now, let's tantalize those taste buds. Choose a caterer who can whip up a menu that'll make your guests go "Mmm!" From appetizers to that mouthwatering cake, your wedding day should be a feast to remember.

10. Dance Like No One's Watching:

Last but not least, it's time to celebrate! Plan the playlist that'll have your guests grooving all night long. And hey, who said you can't have a choreographed first dance? Show off those moves and have a blast! So, there you have it, lovebirds – The Ultimate Wedding Checklist: From "Yes" to "I Do." Remember, this journey is about more than just checking off boxes; it's about creating memories, embracing the chaos, and celebrating your unique love story. Whether you're swooning over Bangalore flower decoration ideas or dreaming of a destination wedding that's pure magic, I've got your back every step of the way. Cheers to love, laughter, and happily ever after!

[kingkatsuki]

Ready Player One | Bakugou Katsuki x Reader

This is my submission to the BNHArem Valentines Day collab! The prompt was romance tropes so I decided to do my own spin on long distance relationships. I hope you enjoy it and please check out the other amazing creators here.

Once again a massive thank you to @katsukikitten​ for reading through more of my shit and being so supportive (as always!), and also a special thank you to @mindninjax​ for being so sweet when I was talking about this idea to them and to @tiphandoms​ for giving me the incredible idea for one of the naughty Bakugou scenes in the middle!

Summary: You’d moved to Musutafu to get a fresh start, hoping to create fresh memories to repair the past. What you didn’t expect was for it to be so lonely and isolating, finding it difficult to make new friends in a new city. Deciding to pick up a copy of the latest gaming craze ‘Equilibrium’ in the hopes that you might find some people to help you through the lonely nights or at the very least distract you from feeling so alone. What you don’t expect, however, is to fall in love with Bakugou Katsuki.

Warnings: 18+, m!masturbation (Bakugou has a lot of dirty thoughts about you), f!masturbation, phone sex, sending nudes, cockblocking, sex with feelings, cunnilingus, fingering, praise praise praise, spanking (only a few taps), Bakugou picks us up (we think we’re too heavy, but he’s a pro hero), cumshots, creampie, sweat, overstimulation, multiple orgasms.

Pairing: Bakugou Katsuki x f!reader. 

Word Count: 34.4k

It had been daunting moving to a completely new city where you knew no one, a feeble attempt at starting afresh and hopefully gaining a source of independence. Convincing yourself that you’d try harder to put yourself out there and meet new people, but instead, you found yourself staring out into the coastline each evening. The view from your apartment really was the best part about it, picking it solely for the location. You’d decided to move to the Takoba region of Musutafu, hoping that it would give you the serenity of the coast while still remaining close to the busy hustle and bustle of city life. It helped that the apartments were more than half the price here, although that could also be because your new home was quite literally falling apart.

Your friends from your small hometown kept asking whether you’d met new friends or even found love but you brushed them off each time, telling them that you were talking to a lot of people and enjoying your time here. When in reality the only people you spoke to during your week were the unsociable colleagues at your new office job or the sweet man who ran the Yakitori restaurant downstairs.

The one thing you were glad to have in your new apartment was your gaming setup. A large custom tower computer, paired with your comfortable gaming chair and over-ear headphones. You’d seen numerous advertisements for the new craze online when looking up cheat codes for Legend of Zelda, noticing players everywhere raving about this new MMORPG called Equilibrium. You’d managed to pick up a copy on your way home from work as you placed the disc inside the CD drive, much preferring this method of gaming to digital copies as you began to download the important parts of the game onto your desktop. “Equilibrium” flashed up on the screen as the software booted up, immediately shifting your mouse to select the female avatar as you picked your cosmetics. Choosing a hairstyle not far off from the one you currently had, matching your eye colour and moving on to choosing the perfect outfit.

Once your avatar was created and you joined the home city, you were surprised to see so many players for such a new game. Quickly scrolling the menu to find a team of people to play with as you submerged yourself into this new world. Finding out quickly that the large majority of people playing this game were men, and they’d decided to slide straight into your inbox unprompted.

Vegetasama: Hey, sexy. Are you looking for a good time?

Was he serious? On an MMORPG game? You thought that shit died out in the early 00s, rolling your eyes as you immediately moved to click the ‘block’ button, his avatar instantly vanishing from the city lobby.

Lighteningbolt: I bet you’re even prettier than your avatar.

This is what you hated about these games, the social chat once you’d formed a team made it so easy for these guys to try and chat you up when you just wanted to unwind. It had been fun at first, but your avatar seemed to garner you too much unwanted attention. Sure, you were lonely and could do with the company, but why did they all have to be so crass?

You decided to ignore him as the countdown ran down to sixty seconds, waiting patiently for the game to begin as you gripped your mouse. Hoping that the guy would give up and just play the game with you so you could at least beat the floor boss at this level and make it to the next stage.

Lighteningbolt: Hello? Are you there?

You weren’t expecting the guy to be the best player, one look at his stats board showed him as an average player at best— but you definitely didn’t expect him to die in the first two minutes. Groaning as his avatar disappeared and left you alone to try and beat the boss. Almost impossible now you’d lost your teammate. You sat back in frustration as you watched the large creature loom forward, giving a swing of its axe as it sliced you open.

Lighteningbolt: I’m sorry, I’m not usually that bad.

Lighteningbolt: Let's go again? I’ll do better this time.

Lighteningbolt: Please.

Lighteningbolt: Hello?

You moved the cursor to block him too, debating on whether to just do some training floors alone before closing the game for the night when you noticed a male avatar standing in the corner of the large cityscape. Hovering your mouse over him to see his level.

Level 20.

A pretty low level for him to have custom content already, the sword he was wielding was larger than his avatar, holding it against his back in a similar fashion to a Final Fantasy character. Checking his information to see extremely high stats, the number of hours clocked was also high considering how long the game had been out. It seemed strange that someone with that level was still on the lower floors with you though, looking over at your level 5 indicator. Maybe he was just practising in the meantime to rack up items and points.

You were almost too shy to message him, nervous that he’d brush you away instantly when he looked at your stats- but it wasn’t your fault you were stuck with players that cared more about jacking off than playing the actual game. And it helped that he seemed to be one of the only active players on this level that hadn’t tried to chat you up. Chancing your luck as you clicked onto his avatar-

You: Hey, are you looking for a teammate for the raid boss? :)

LordExplosion: Can you keep up?

You furrowed your brows at his response, this prick really thought he was better than you. Probably yet another guy that took one look at your avatar and assumed you were here for aesthetics and not the actual gameplay.

You: Can you?

LordExplosion: Rich from someone that just lost their last battle.

You groaned, remembering Lighteningbolt that had ended up dying in the first round.

You: That was because of the guy on my team, not me.

LordExplosion: If you think I’m just going to help you coast time the higher floors you’d be wrong.

You: Just one fight, if I’m shit you can drop me.

LordExplosion: Damn right if you’re shit I’m dropping you.

Most of the guys online were trying to start convos with you because of how your avatar looks. Joining a team with other people and the only person that hasn’t tried to chat you up is this guy, in fact, he’d done the opposite. Pretty much insulting you as you joined the lobby with him as your teammate.

LordExplosion: Just keep your eyes on the boss

You: I know how to play.

LordExplosion: Do you?

The clock slowly counted down to zero as the smoke began to clear and the floor boss was revealed once more, noticing the way he stepped forward almost to protect you while you held your scythe. Managing to kill any of the smaller monsters that tried to attack him while he focused on hitting the floor boss with his sword. The length made it easier to hit with long-distance attacks whilst avoiding the arms that reached out to swipe at him.

You watched the health bar continue to fall as your fingers repeatedly pressed the “s” key, rolling the cursor to select a potion as you offered it to LordExplosion, boosting his health when his bar went below thirty. His avatar was huge in comparison to your own, the male character over double your size as he completely towered over you. Trying to stop your imagination from running wild as you continue healing him, your eyes skim the screen to check the countdown before looking back to see other characters already knocked out by the villain.

Pure adrenaline coursed through your veins at the sight of the villain's bar nearing zero, this was the closest you’d ever come to defeating any floor boss, continuing to try your hardest to protect your teammate, finally killing all of the smaller monsters so you could help attack the main boss. Watching as you both landed a strike that had the health bar going to nothing, the villain breaking into a million glittery pieces as he disappeared from your screen. The reward splash page showed up to reveal your rewards as you grinned at your bounty.

LordExplosion: Alright, I’ll give it to you extra, you’re not bad.

You: I practically saved your ass in there. If I hadn’t have healed you, you woulda died!

LordExplosion: I fucking had it.

You: I’m sure you did :)

LordExplosion: Piss off. You’re probably just button smashing anyway.

He was crude and cocky, but at least he wasn’t flirting with you the same way the other guys were. It was almost humorous the way he bit back at you with his own petty comments.

You: So have I done enough to form a team with you, LordExplosion sir?

LordExplosion: Whatever. Just make sure that wasn’t a fluke.

You were excited to discover a new area as you both began to run through the basic trials on this floor, collecting supplies as you continued to both increase in level.

LordExplosion: What the fuck is up with your avatar anyway?

You: What’s wrong with it?

You glared at the screen in confusion, you’d spent so long creating your avatar you wanted it to be perfect and you thought it was- the little extension of you was really cute.

LordExplosion: It’s usually fat single old losers that have avatars like that.

I mean, he did have a point. The few people you’d talked to in-game with female avatars had all turned out to be creeps that tried to flirt with your avatar and you.

You: Yeah, well I picked it because I thought it looked cute.

LordExplosion: Course you did.

You could hear the condescension through the keyboard as you watched him continue to type.

LordExplosion: Surprised you didn’t pick the bikini too.

You remembered seeing that outfit in the custom shop, part of the premium content that made up the game. The outfit made for female avatars consisted of a black one-piece suit and a hefty utility belt that held grenades, guns and knives, paired with a thigh-high pair of boots that actually looked like something you’d want to wear- if you could pull them off. Scoffing when you’d noticed the price for it was around 1500¥, a ridiculous amount to spend on something that wouldn’t enhance gameplay much outside aesthetics and thinking about the number of men that probably purchased it without a second thought just to see their avatar wearing it. There was no way you’d ever pay that for a custom outfit, no matter how empowered it would make you feel.

You: I would’ve if it was free content.

LordExplosion: You sure you’re not a guy?

You: Piss off.

LordExplosion: Whatever.

LordExplosion: You better upgrade your weapons if you’re gonna fight with me, a scythe will only get you so far.

You: It’s got me this far.

You scoffed, he was the one fighting with an over the top sword like this was Final Fantasy and he wanted to make fun of your scythe.

LordExplosion: I think you’ll find I got you this far, sweetheart.

You: I would’ve got here without you, asshole.

LordExplosion: Oh yeah? With who?

He had a point, you’d been struggling to find someone competent enough to reach this level for days, becoming tired of the game when you realised how heavily it relied on having friends that played with you or purchasing custom content.

LordExplosion: Bet you watched one episode of Soul Eater and decided on that hah? No wonder you couldn’t find a partner.

You: I found you didn’t I?

You smirked in satisfaction when he didn’t reply for a moment, clearly lost for words as you navigated back to the game to scroll through the available lobbies again, trying to find one that you could both do in this new unexplored area.

LordExplosion: Felt sorry for you.

You: Yeah, right. I’m the best you’ve had, don't lie.

LordExplosion: Tch, whatever princess. Hurry the fuck up and heal yourself there’s a new raid starting in five.

You couldn’t help the elation inside you when he’d call you princess, your eyes rereading the message as you felt a heat begin to rise inside you. Forgetting to click the room link he’d sent on the screen as you committed the words to memory.

LordExplosion: Oi, hurry the fuck up.

You: Sorry.

You quickly clicked into the room as you watched the timer beginning to decrease, looking at the other teams that sat in there with you. Noticing even these players were still lower levels than LordExplosion was, even though some of them also wielded custom content. Taking a chance before the raid began you moved back to your chat to ask him one final question.

You: Why we’re you still on the lower floors? Your level is way higher than everyone else’s.

LordExplosion: Hadn’t found the right person to play with yet.

LordExplosion: What the fuck was that?

You: What do you mean?

LordExplosion: You nearly got taken out by an NPC and you’re asking me what do I mean? You know what I fucking mean.

You’d learned early on playing with Bakugou that he got quite heated during gameplay, often ignoring any messages you tried to send in your chat in favour of what you assumed was button smashing on the other side of the screen. His character doing moves you weren’t even sure how to execute, even after playing for the few weeks you had together. Although you had learned to tell the difference between when he was annoyed and when he was angry, his uppercase rants a clear indication of the latter. He’d even ragequit the game one evening after he’d accidentally sent his character hurdling off a cliff when he jumped to avoid the swing of an axe by an NPC.

You: I didn’t see him coming, it’s not my fault he was disguised as a tree.

LordExplosion: You've gotta be fucking joking.

You: Are we not even going to talk about you dropping the sword? I didn’t even think that was possible in these games.

LordExplosion: SHUT THE FUCK UP

You: Oh upper case, I’m so scared.

LordExplosion: Maybe if you weren’t so shit at the game I wouldn’t have done it.

You: Why don’t you find another partner then?

You know he wouldn’t, not after the number of floors you’d managed to pass together in the last few weeks. You genuinely enjoyed playing with LordExplosion, it was refreshing to find someone just as invested in the storyline as you, as well as being completely reliable. He was always online, no matter what time of the day you logged on. Often asking him what he’d been doing in terms of gameplay when you hadn’t been online and he’d always reply the same “training”. Often giving you extra items he’d managed to find on his side quests so you could add them to your inventory just in case.

The more time you spent online with him, the more you managed to forget the crippling loneliness moving to this city had brought you. No longer trying to think of ways to find new friends in your area, or spending nights feeling alone. You were more than content spending every evening with LordExplosion, and you’d become genuinely grateful for his friendship- even if he was blunt, crass and frankly irritating at times. He’d made you feel less alone when no one else had. Maybe it was the fact that you’d made absolutely no progress on making friends in the city, maybe it was the loneliness and isolation you felt in the moment but you wanted to know more about him.

You’d created this idealised picture of him in your mind over the last few weeks, the lack of information about him affording you the luxury to fantasise about what he looked like or how he sounded. Thinking up romanticised scenarios in your mind about what it would be like to meet him in real life and actually go out together, or maybe even just play the game side by side so you could see how he looked when he played. Whether he had a gaming set up like you, or he just lounged on the couch using a laptop. It was silly really, thinking up these scenarios in your mind because none of it really mattered if you were never going to meet him. Just another stranger online to help you feel a little less lonely and isolated, but thinking up these scenarios made you feel warm inside.

Convinced he was probably located on the other side of the world to you since his schedule seemed to be so erratic. No matter what time of the day you logged on he was there, and he had to sleep at some time right? But either way, you’d still wanted to know more about him… What he did for work, how old he was, his favourite foods. Things that friends should know, and he was your friend now right?

You: Where do you live?

LordExplosion: Why? You being a creep now? Are you sure you ain’t one of the pervy old fuckers you were trying so hard to avoid?

You: I was just trying to find out more about you since we’re friends now.

LordExplosion: Who said we were friends?

You: Don’t try and lie, you know you enjoy my company. Why else would you be indoors on a Saturday night?

LordExplosion: Maybe I just like my own company, princess.

You: Then why talk to me?

You waited for him to respond but after a few minutes, you began to feel guilty. You could understand his trepidation in not wanting to disclose too much information to you. After all, even though it had been a few weeks since you’d started communicating, you were still very much a stranger online. He knew next to nothing about you, and you knew nothing about him.

You: Sorry for being too personal :(

You sat up from your gaming chair as you stretched your arms above your head, trying to help the blood flow through to your stiff joints as you made your way into your kitchen to grab a drink. If LordExplosion didn’t want to disclose any information about himself to you, you supposed it was okay. You were still grateful to have him to talk to, helping you feel a lot less alone. And it was like having someone you could talk to about anything and it didn’t matter because he didn’t know who you were. Complaining to him about your job, your recent move, how hard it had been to try and make friends. And he’d listened to everything.

Coming back to your desktop to sit back down you were happy to see that he’d replied, taking a sip of your drink as you read across the screen.

LordExplosion: I know you only wanna know so you can stalk me, ya little creep.

You: Trust me, I have way better things to be doing than stalking you.

LordExplosion: Like playing games online?

You: You’re doing the exact same thing before you start thinking you’re cooler than me!

You sent the message back to him paired with an angry emoji.

LordExplosion: Oh, I know I’m way cooler than you princess, just look at me.

You could see him twirling his avatar in the game as the character brandished his sword back and forth, rolling your eyes as you grinned.

You: Oh yeah, SO cool.

LordExplosion: That’s right, sweetheart.

You: If I ask you something else are you going to reply?

LordExplosion: Depends what it is.

You: What about your favourite food?

LordExplosion: Why?

You: Well we’re friends now. I'm just trying to ask more about you, get to know each other better since we’ve teamed up a lot.

LordExplosion: Found a raid lobby.

A splash screen appeared with a team battle against an NPC, clicking into it as it immediately added your avatar into the lobby along with his as you moved back to the chatbox.

You: You’re not going to try and ignore me asking your favourite food now, are you? I’m hardly going to show up to your house to kill you with takoyaki balls.

LordExplosion: Get your head in the game, the lobby closes in 30 seconds.

You smiled at his response, it was okay if he didn’t want to tell you anything about himself. He didn’t know anything about you either, to him you were probably another stranger on the internet and he was only interested in teaming up for the game. And if that was all it was then you supposed it was fine, you still appreciated the contact each night. Being able to talk to someone that wasn’t trying to grab your socials or dirty talk through an online game. You prepared the cursor to start the battle when you noticed a final notification ping, signalling a new message.

LordExplosion: Mapo tofu, extra spicy.

You grinned at his response as the countdown ticked down to zero, the screen slowly opening up as the fog cleared and your avatar sat beside his on the world map. Noticing the way he stepped in front of you as he always did when the battles commenced, as though he was trying to protect you with his life. Even though he knew exactly what you were capable of in battle, you’d shown him time and time again.

LordExplosion: Are you there?

LordExplosion: Fucks sake.

LordExplosion: I swear to god.

LordExplosion: FUCKING MOVE DUMBASS.

You panicked as you let your focus go back to the game, just in time to have a giant swing its bat towards your avatar, blocking it with your scythe as you jumped back.

You: Shit sorry.

You tried to type a response at the same time as fighting.

LordExplosion: Just fucking focus.

You tore your attention from the chat box to try and redeem yourself in battle, wincing when you realised your health bar was already halved. Managing to dodge an attack from a rabid looking goblin as you swung your scythe, hitting it in the side as it fell to the ground. Glancing back up to see your health bar now back at one hundred, realising that LordExplosion must have stopped to help you heal yourself.

LordExplosion: What the fuck was that? You decide to paint your nails halfway through?

You: I’m sorry, I was thinking about something.

LordExplosion: Like what?

You: It’s nothing.

LordExplosion: Yeah, well nothing almost cost us. It would be a lot easier to talk on mic while we play.

Was he asking you to voice chat?

You: You want to voice chat with me?

LordExplosion: That’s what I said, dumbass. For the game.

You couldn’t deny hearing him say that it was just because of gameplay hurt, wishing that he wanted to talk to you just as much as you wanted to talk to him.

LordExplosion: At least that way I can make sure you’re paying attention.

During the day you found yourself missing him, spending hours at your desk hoping the clock would move faster so you could get home to log into the game, just to chat to him again. It became less about playing and more about him, giving you something to look forward to instead of the mundane reality of life. There wasn’t an app or mobile version of the game yet so it meant the only times that you could talk to LordExplosion was when you were both online. Wondering if this was how he felt about you when you were at work if he missed you the same way.

Noticing a soft melody began to chime out from your speakers as he initiated the call, both your avatars were now on the screen as it showed a bright green button for ‘accept’ or a dark crimson for ‘decline’. Hovering your cursor over the green for a moment before you clicked, listening as the sweet jingle turned to a soft rustle.

“Bout fuckin’ time,” The voice on the other end rasped, “I thought you’d gone to bed.”

“H-hey,” You couldn’t believe you were stuttering, suddenly feeling completely vulnerable and exposed, even though he couldn’t see you. Nervously worrying that he didn’t like the tone of your voice, or that you’d say something stupid.

“Finally I’ll be able to tell you what to do and make sure you ain’t slacking.”

“I wasn’t even slacking, Lo-” You were about to call him by his gaming handle and it made you feel so stupid, “Can I ask what I should call you? I feel stupid referring to you as LordExplosion every time.”

“I dunno, sweetheart. Kinda like the sound of it coming from you,” You could hear the cocky tone to his voice through the speakers, “Makes me feel important.”

“Shut up,” You laughed, easing back against your chair as you lay your head back against the headrest, “Lucky you didn’t make your handle LordExplosion-sama.”

“That was my next choice,”

“Stop it,” You scoffed, unable to hide the smile on your face as you took another sip of your drink, “There’s no way I would’ve called you that.”

“That’s what you think, princess.” He scoffed.

“It’d take some real convincing,” You let out an airy laugh as you heard him ‘tch’ on the other side of the line.

“There’s still time.”

“Yeah, good luck with that.” You were surprised how easily he’d managed to steal your nerves and pack them away, freeing you from the aching swirl of trepidation in your stomach.

“Bakugou.”

“What?” He’d spoken so softly you weren’t sure you’d even heard him. The word caught you off guard as you suddenly found yourself sitting forward in your seat, moving closer to the screen as though that would help you hear him better.

“You can call me Bakugou.”

“Bakugou.” You repeated, testing the name on your tongue. Was that his name? You felt so silly that finding out this little piece of information made your heart speed up, quickly giving your name in return, but of course, he didn’t use it.

“Yeah okay, dumbass. Can we get back to the game now? There’s another lobby open.” You could hear him typing on the other side of the line and he’d already sent you the invitation that you were quick to click on.

“Oh, yeah sure!” Watching as your avatar was teleported into the waiting room beside his avatar.

“Are you watchin’ the clock this time, sweetheart?” Bakugou grunted, “You know what you’re doing? You gotta get the big, bad monster over there.”

“Shut up,” A laugh left your body in the form of an embarrassing snort, cringing at how unattractive you probably sounded to him.

Why were you even worried about sounding unattractive? It’s not as though it mattered, he knew absolutely nothing about you save for the limited information you’d given him over the last few weeks.

“If that fuckin’ prick with the shuriken comes in again I’m gonna lose my fuckin’ shit,” He growled, watching as the raid lobby began to fill up with other teams, “Last time he threw them at a tree and nearly took me out from behind.”

“I didn’t know he was gonna be so terrible,” You smiled, remembering the way Bakugou had shouted at you that you should’ve helped to protect him, “I don’t even know how he got this high up.”

“Probably leaching off other players,” Bakugou scoffed, “Or spending mummy and daddy’s money. Fuckin’ kids.”

“It’s alright, if I see him again, I’ll accidentally knock him with my scythe.” You laughed, watching as the clock began the familiar countdown to zero.

“If I don’t get him first, stupid prick.” He sneered.

“Alright, let's go.” You smiled when the arena opened up for you, immediately falling in line behind Bakugou’s character as you made your way towards the edge of the board.

“The guide said there’d be some chests to collect in the cave, so we better get ‘em before anyone else.” Bakugou’s avatar gave a fast swing to a tree that tried to reach out to grab him, breaking its foliage as he led the way.

“You actually read a guide for this?” You laughed, “I didn’t realise you were such a nerd.”

“Shut up, dumbass.” You could hear the embarrassment in his voice, “You should be grateful I am so I can level us up faster.”

“For us?!” You replied sarcastically, laughing when you heard him groan on the other side, “I’m so thankful, LordExplosion. What would I do without you?”

“Yeah, yeah. Pay attention, I don’t wanna have to waste any potions on your dumb ass.”

“It’s just through here,” Bakugou made a beeline for the cave that sat in the centre of the screen, quickly moving behind him as you noticed a hoard of bats begin to tumble from the darkness.

“Oh, shit- WHAT THE FUCK WAS THAT?” You heard Bakugou scream on the other side of the line, the scared high-pitched tone to his voice had you breaking out into roaring laughter.

“B-Ba-akugou,” You managed to get out between fits of giggles as you heard him begin to grumble on the other side of the line as you tried to catch your breath back, your vision blurry with wet tears as you kept your hands on the keyboard. Trying hard to pay attention, but it was difficult when you heard the man muttering on the other side of the screen.

“I didn’t know that was gonna happen, shut the fuck up-” He grunted, noticing movement as trolls begin to run towards the pair of you, “Oi, pay fuckin’ attention- heads up.”

You tried to calm yourself down to focus on the game, your cheeks ached from how much you were smiling as you swung your weapon towards the creatures. Each of them were low level so relatively easy to defeat as Bakugou slipped by and went towards the chests, your scythe still swinging in motion as you protected him from any more possible ambushes.

“Oh, fuck yeah.” He grinned as he began to collect the bounty, packing it into his inventory to share with you later as you kept an eye on your health.

“Have you almost got it all, the timer is running down?” You noticed the clock turn red as it began to countdown the final sixty seconds on this raid.

“Yeah, yeah. I’m goin’, I’m goin’, princess.” He opened the final chest just in time for the clock to hit zero. Your rewards flashed up on the screen as you looked at the volume of gold you’d managed to amass from such a simple task.

“Oh my god, that was so fun.” You had tears in your eyes as you wiped at them with the sleeves of your oversized hoodie, “I can’t believe you screamed when the bats flew out of the cave.”

“They just caught me off guard okay. It didn’t say anywhere there was gonna be fuckin’ bats.” He grumbled, and you were certain if you could see him on the other side of the screen he would be pouting.

“It’s a cave, what did you think there would be? Butterflies?” You laughed even harder when you heard him tell you to ‘fuck off’ on the other side of the line.

You couldn’t remember the last time you’d felt this happy. Bakugou seemed to be able to elicit these feelings inside of you without even trying, your face ached from smiling so much and you almost felt sick from the sheer number of butterflies that were erupting in your stomach.

“Bet you like having this as an option, hah? So you can talk back to me in real-time.”

“You love it though.” You hummed.

“Love what? Shouting at you? Yeah, I do.” His voice softened, lowering an octave as he left a comfortable silence on the line. The gentle sound of him click-clacking against his keyboard filled your headphones and you let it soothe you as you sat back in your computer chair.

You glanced up at the clock as you were shocked to find out it was already two in the morning, groaning internally when you realised you had to be up for work in less than four hours. You didn’t want to leave, debating whether you should stick around for one more game, but your body was screaming for rest.

“I’ve gotta go, it’s getting kinda late.” You spoke into the mic softly, hearing Bakugou exhale on the other side of the screen as though he’d realised how late it was but hoped that you wouldn’t.

“I get it, I’ll talk to you tomorrow.” He rasped, “Goodnight.”

“Goodnight,” You repeated.

You had to do a double-take as you replayed his last words in your mind— he’d actually called you by your name. Smiling softly as you shut down your computer, padding across the room to climb into bed. Snuggling beneath your duvet you wrapped it tightly around you, falling asleep to thoughts of him.

“Behind you.”

“Shit,” You squealed, smashing the buttons on your keyboard as you were hit with the swing of a troll’s club.

“I thought you knew how to play.” Bakugou scoffed as he continued slashing his sword in front of him, “This fuckers a sponge, can’t kill ‘im.”

“Aim for the eyes,” You swung your scythe, trying to hit but missing the mark.

“Don’t tell me what to do,” He growled, “Remember who’s the higher fuckin’ level.”

“Aww, is LordExplosion sad? You gonna ragequit again?” You laughed as you dodged the swing from his sword as it flew by the troll, “Oi, watch it!”

“Oh, sorry about that, sweetheart.” He replied sarcastically, “My bad.”

You’d been lucky to find Bakugou- In the weeks since you’d first voice chatted for the first time, you’d learned a lot more about him, the comfort of hearing a voice on the other side of the screen made it easier to reveal more information to each other about yourselves. Like another layer had been peeled to help you become that much closer, finding out things about him that he hadn’t wanted to share before. He told you that he lived alone, although his friends would often come round to pester him frequently. Completely removing the thought that he was still a forty-year-old man living at home with his parents, although you wondered how he could afford his apartment and all the extra paid in-game content without a job. Sharing more about his favourite movies, favourite games, the things he enjoyed doing outside playing with you and more importantly he listened. It felt good to finally have someone that you could be yourself around, someone that didn’t know you in real life so you didn’t have to try and put up a facade to make yourself sound more interesting than you actually were. And you’d levelled up. Clocking so many hours of the game, you’d both managed to hit the higher floors, unlocking more of the free content as you began to increase your inventory.

It was honestly comforting to have him to talk to, you would’ve called him a friendly voice if half his time wasn’t spent shouting during gameplay. But it was still a comfort to you, someone actually acknowledging you when you felt so alone in this new town.

“Do you wanna do one more?” You smiled, already scrolling the lobbies to find another suitable one for you both.

He’d helped you upgrade your scythe, complaining that “if you’re going to keep using that fuckin’ scythe you might as well make sure it’s the best one.” Gifting you the item one night so it sat in your inventory when you woke up one morning. Immediately sending a message to him in-game that he shouldn’t have spent money on you, that you were playing just fine with the equipment you had. “Don’t fuckin’ fuss, princess. I had a gift card.” You rolled your eyes at the response but still felt your heart warm at the sentiment.

“You know it’s four your time, sweetheart. Don’t you have work in the morning?”

“Oh shit,” You picked up your phone to check the time, noticing the screen illuminated at 4.05am. You hadn’t realised it had got so late so quickly.

“Don’t you have to go to bed too?” You coaxed, hoping he might give some indication on where in bed world he was based. You’d told him your timezone quite quickly, explaining why you were always online outside work. But of course, you tried to make it sound better than it actually was- telling him you didn’t really like partying and much preferred to stay in during the cold winter months. Musutafu amassed a lot of snow in the winter, and paired with the coastal breeze you weren’t exactly lying. You’d found out Bakugou also fiercely hated the cold too, much preferring warmer climates as you tried to guess where he lived. Time Zones usually the easiest way to guess someone's location- but he always seemed to be online. Whenever you logged in he was there, leading you to believe he was probably another one of those nerdy gamers that lived with his parents and played constantly. But you almost liked that about him? It meant he was always there when you needed him, when you felt lonely.

“Nah, I’m okay.” He hummed.

“I realise I never asked you what you do for work?” Maybe he was one of those entrepreneurs that had their own business from their bedroom, or maybe he worked from home as call centre staff or support techs. He definitely knew a lot about computers, and he typed at an obscene pace. Either way, you still felt guilty that he was spending money on you because the salary for those jobs couldn’t be the greatest.

“I’m just takin’ some time off.” He went quiet, and you felt like you’d hit a sore spot for him, wondering if he didn’t have a job at all and he was just trying to cover it up.

“Oh, like a holiday?” You played off, suddenly feeling even worse that he was continuing to purchase in-game content for you.

“Something like that.” You heard the pause before he answered, obviously debating the right thing to say.

“What did you do for work before?” You were curious what kind of fields he worked in, hoping that it may give you an indication of what he was actually like.

“Before?” He growled, “Are you tryin’ to call me a bum? I’ve got a fuckin’ job.”

“I didn’t mean that-” You mumbled, “I just meant like what were you doing before your time off-”

“I told you, I’m just takin’ leave.”

“Okay, but what do you do?” You couldn’t help it, you wanted to make sure that he wasn’t making himself financially unstable in order to buy things for you.

“What is this? A fuckin’ interrogation?” He snarled, “You sure you ain’t a cop?”

“No, I’m sorry.” You mumbled, “I didn’t mean to get too personal.”

“Tch, whatever.” He went silent on the other side of the line, but you could hear his fingers angrily jabbing at his keyboard and mouse as you both sat in silence.

“I just like spending time with you a lot, Bakugou.” You murmured, “It was real hard moving here alone, but you’ve made it so much better.”

“You should go out more, try and meet people-”

“But I did meet people, I met you.”

“You ain’t got a clue where I live, or what I do sweetheart.” He scoffed, “I could be a mass murderer for all you know.”

“I doubt that,” You smiled, “You spend all your time online with me.”

“You don’t know, could have my victims here with me right now.” He smirked.

“Is that why you don’t wanna talk about your job? Because you’re a murderer?”

“You got me.” You could hear the teasing tone to his voice as static played through your headphones, a subtle rustling on the other side as you heard him adjust in his chair.

“So we can play one more game?” You moved your focus back to your game as you began to look for a raid to do together.

“Go to sleep,” You heard a tired exhale of breath on the other side of the phone.

“But you’re not going to sleep are you? I can do one more game-”

“Don’t you have work in the mornin’?” He questioned.

“It’s okay, if I’m late, I’m late.” You were convinced the office manager didn’t even know you were there most of the time anyway, but you didn’t want to pull yourself away from him.

“Don’t be losing your job because of me, princess.” He scoffed, “You’ll make me feel like an asshole.”

“I thought you said you were an asshole anyway.” You teased.

“Yeah, I fuckin’ am.” He scoffed, a laugh suddenly filling your earphones and you felt your heart tighten. He sounded so fucking good.

“So one more game?”

“Nah, go to bed,” He rumbled, “I should probably take a nap too anyway.”

“Oh, okay.” You couldn’t hide the sadness in your voice.

“Anyway, I’ll be home when you’re finished with work tomorrow if you wanna get a few early games in?”

Your heart picked back up in excitement, that sounded perfect.

“Yeah, I’ll be there.” You smiled.

“Alright, night.” He spoke softly.

“Night, Bakugou.”

You’d spent your entire day clock watching, managing to stumble into the office on time after getting two hours sleep. Your entire body aching from being shoved into the corner of a train carriage as it journeyed into the city, doing your best to find some space in the overcapacity carriage. The commute was the worst part about living out by the coast, no matter what time you ventured to work you were always sandwiched against the multitude of people following you into the city for work or school.

The clock had tortured you the entire day, seemingly ticking a fraction slower as though it knew you were especially excited to leave work on time today. Trying to distract yourself with the tower of paperwork that had been left on your desk overnight, thumbing through it to try and organise the pile in order to make your day a fraction easier. There was no denying that working at Manual’s agency was exciting, being able to say you worked for the old Pro who was very much still in the top 50 rankings was exciting. But his and his sidekicks' ability to do paperwork left much to the imagination, grimacing when you lifted up a piece of paper with the tips of your fingers. The surface was stained in a green shade of mucus as it stuck to the pages below it, heaving a sigh as you set it to the floor to the side of your desk– you’d deal with that one later. Taking a sip of water before you chanced another look at the clock, only ten minutes had passed by since you last checked. It was going to be a long day.

Trying to focus on the paperwork in front of you as you glared at the date, two months ago and it had just appeared on your desk today. It was an old report from the building collapse in Gifu prefecture, the event so catastrophic that it had made national news. Manual and his team had been sent in to assist with the cleanup and rescue of civilians since it was one of the closest to the implosion, reading through the report as you read through the events that took place that day from the point of view of one of Manual’s heroes.

Pro-Hero Red Riot managed to hold the building off as long as possible while backup and emergency services made their way to the scene. Dynamight was present but managed to get hit by falling debris that caught his leg, rendering him immobile. We managed to use our quirks in order to extinguish the fires that had been set due to Dynamight’s quirk and help Red Riot to apprehend the villain who was taken into custody-

You stopped reading as your eyes widened in surprise. You’d moved into the city recently, but you already knew how popular Dynamight was as a Pro-Hero. It was impossible to avoid the news that he’d been taken out of action by this attack on the city, the news plastered on every available tabloid and magazine, as well as page after page of information online. It felt surreal to be in such a position to read up on what had actually happened at a crime scene instead of reading second-hand accounts from people that weren’t even there. Those keyboard warriors trying to elaborate on every story in order to sell more papers, but this was so real.

Thankful to those heroes that were keeping the city safe for people like you.

Red Riot left the villain with the local police department as he accompanied Dynamight to the local hospital. Medical files updated with injuries for Ba-

“Hey,” Your colleague called out to you as they stepped back inside the office, “I’m back so you can head for lunch now if you want.”

“Oh, great. Thanks.” You smiled, piling the paperwork up again as you moved to file it away, grabbing your bag as you made your way towards the gardens outside the agency building to eat your lunch.

You: Bakugou?

You: Are you on?

You: Is your status just set to offline to fuck with me, asshole?

You: Very funny.

You: Hello???

You glanced at the clock, you were home a little later than usual thanks to the excessive crowds at the train station, but you weren’t that late. Bakugou had told you that he’d be home the entire day today, so maybe he was just messing about.

You: Come on Bakugou, stop being a dick.

You: Are you scared of losing? ;)

But the more messages you sent him, the more you began to worry, he was always online when he said he would be. That was the one thing that drew you to Bakugou, and that he said drew him to you. That you were both reliable.

You: Bakugou, are you okay? You’re always online and now I’m worried.

You: Look, I’m sorry I asked too many personal questions last night.

You: I didn’t mean to upset you.

You: Please don’t stop talking to me. I promise I won’t ask anything about you ever again.

You: Bakugou?

You: I’m sorry.

You felt so embarrassed over the sheer number of messages you’d sent a stranger online, but after all these weeks he felt like more than that. You’d found so much comfort in him when it felt like you were ready to break down and head back to your hometown, a disappointment to your friends and family. Yet another thing you’d tried to do and failed, but you’d felt so much comfort with Bakugou. He’d made you feel a little less alone, and far more empowered than you thought you could ever be. He was the reason that you got yourself out of bed in the morning and began your day, the reason you were smiling in the evening when you weren’t just sitting there alone watching reruns of trashy reality TV shows. It felt ridiculous to be upset over this, because to him you were probably just another player two online, someone that he could replace in a couple of minutes just by scrolling the city map. Leaving the game running as you moved to a more comfortable seat, switching the television on as you flopped back against your couch. Snuggling against the fabric as you felt your eyes get heavy, the lack of sleep from the night before finally catching up with you as you fell into slumber.

LordExplosion: 20 messages? Jesus christ, sweetheart. What the fuck is going on?

LordExplosion: I know you’re there, it shows you online.

LordExplosion: You better not be playing with someone else.

LordExplosion: For fucks sake.

The ring to indicate an incoming call from the game woke you up, blinking blearily as you squinted at your phone screen, thinking it was the source of the noise. The time showing 1.23am, turning your head towards your desktop computer as the screen illuminated with an incoming game call invitation from LordExplosion. Scrambling out of bed to answer it as you let his voice ring out over the speakers, your headphones lay forgotten beside the computer as you used the desktop microphone.

“Bakugou?”

“Yeah ‘m here, sweetheart.” His familiar voice rasped through your ears, glad to hear him after you’d begun to think the worst.

“I thought you didn’t want to talk to me anymore.” You felt tears begin to well up in your eyes as you thought about the chance that he may not want to talk to you again after prying too much.

“I can fuckin’ see that. So many messages.” He scoffed before going silent for a moment, hearing your sniffles on the other end of the line, “Are you crying?”

“No,” You mumbled shyly.

“You fuckin’ are-” He rasped, “What you fuckin’ cryin’ for?”

“It’s just good to hear from you, I was worried.” You sniffled, using the sleeve of your oversized sweater to rub the moisture from your eyes.

“Yeah, I got called back into work today. Last minute.” He heaves a sigh, rubbing his face.

“Oh, it’s good they asked you back in.” You smiled, trying to hide the sadness in your voice that this meant that you might not be seeing as much of him as usual, “Did they give you a schedule?”

“I don’t get a schedule like most people, sweetheart.” He scoffed, “I could be called in at any time, and I work days and nights.”

“Oh, that’s a lot.” You worried your lip between your bottom lip as you tried to work out what kind of job would require that. Maybe he was a nurse or something similar in the medical profession? Or a cop-

“Yeah, it can be.” He shrugged, “But I’ll be glad to get out of the house. It’s been a long fuckin’ time coming.”

“I’m happy for you,” You smiled, “Whatever your job is, I hope you enjoy it.”

You both sat in silence for a few minutes after this, bouncing your knee slightly as you tried to think of something else to say to fill the quiet.

“I’m a Pro-Hero.”

“What?” You raised a brow, confusion evident in your tone as you had to repeat what he’d said in your head. A Pro-Hero? There was no way.

“I know you been askin’ me over and over what my job is,” He sighed, “Been putting off telling you for a while.”

You smiled that he’d felt comfortable enough to open up to you and tell you his profession now, imagining how draining a job like that must be.

“I was off sick with an injury,” Bakugou rasped, “Someone bought me this game to help take my mind off it,”

He’d been recovering from an injury at work, which is why he was always online- you weren’t even sure if you believed him at this point. You’d seen the sheer number of hours Manual clocked at his agency, there was no way he’d find the time to play so many hours of an online game. Even when he’d been taken out of action for a few weeks, you’d seen him constantly on his phone at the office, trying to micromanage everyone. But you wondered why he’d lie to you.

“Wasn’t even gonna fuckin’ play,” He said to himself more than you, “The people in the game are annoying as fuck.”

“So why did you?” You held your breath as you waited for his answer.

“Had nothin’ else to do,” He chewed the inside of his mouth.

He’d been feeling lonely and useless, just like you.

“I was literally gonna quit until you messaged me in the lobby.” He scoffed, “Was sick of playing with shit people, thought I could roast you before leaving.”

“Hey, I told you I was good-”

“Yeah, you were.” He smirked, “You were the reason I kept playing.”

You were the reason he kept playing the game?

“Why?” Your heart sped up as you asked the question, hoping desperately the answer would be the one you wanted to hear.

“I like spending time with you.” He spoke so softly, a stark contrast to his usual rasp that you blinked softly before replying. The swirling in your stomach ached as it flittered against your ribcage, flowing through your body as static electricity as you felt the heat beginning to rise within you.

“I like spending time with you too,” You smiled.

“Yeah, yeah. I know ya do.” You could hear the cocky tone to his voice returning as his seat creaked from beneath him, adjusting himself as his voice became louder, “Even bought the fuckin’ user guide because of you.”

“You did?” That put a smile on your face, no wonder he knew the best ways to reach the higher levels, “Who’s the nerd now?”

“Fuck off,” He scoffed on the other end of the line.

“Do you wanna play a game?” You asked hopefully.

“It’s late, sweetheart. I shouldn’ta even called you, but you seemed worried.”

“I was,” You admitted, “I’m glad you called.”

“You fuckin’ worried me.” He had a slight lilt to his voice that made you smile, “I thought something bad had happened.”

“So did I,” You spoke softly.

“Get some sleep, okay?” He replied, “I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”

“What if you don’t?” You sounded so childish, here was this stranger online, that didn’t owe you anything, and yet you expected so much from him.

“I didn’t leave you this time, did I?”

“Well, no-”

“So get some sleep.” He cut you off, “Can’t keep stayin’ up late for me.”

“Okay, night Bakugou.” You hummed softly, not reaching for the end call button in hopes of spending a few more seconds in the call with him.

“Night, sweetheart.” He ended the call for you, the screen disappearing as you sat back in your desk chair, smiling at his avatar on the screen as it turned from online to offline.

LordExplosion: Hey, princess.

LordExplosion: You online? There’s a raid starting in five.

LordExplosion: Are you trying to get me back for the other week? Cause I said I was sorry, dumbass. I ain’t saying it again.

LordExplosion: Sweetheart?

LordExplosion: I swear to fucking god if this is a prank I’ll-

LordExplosion: Please just message me if you’re there. You got me acting like a fucking creep over here.

LordExplosion: Shitty woman.

LordExplosion: Are you there?

LordExplosion: Hello?

Bakugou shoved his keyboard back as he slammed a closed fist onto the desk, growling in frustration as the scent of his quirk began to fill the room, subtle sparks flared from his palms as he began to worry that something had happened to you.

Shit, if he’d just been more open with you before he might know where you lived, that way he could search if there had been any accidents or incidents in the area. Trying to rub his sweaty palms on his thighs as his knee bounced in frustration, chewing the inside of his gum as he tried to stay calm. The worst part about being a Pro-Hero was not knowing what to do, and in this situation, he didn’t have a clue. Hoping that maybe you’d just stopped for food on your way home from work, or maybe you’d met up with someone for drinks. But you’d told him before you didn’t have any friends in the area, recently moving had meant your friends all lived miles away. Unless you weren’t out with friends, you were out with a boyfriend-

Bakugou stilled, the idea alone filling him with a fit of dark green jealousy that permeated his body, weighing him down with irritation and resentment as he tried to block out the possibility of you with someone else. No one deserved you, you were far too good for any guy. Far too good for him-

Bakugou hated the way you made him feel, bringing out all these emotions inside him that he’d never truly experienced before. Emotions that he would often try and conceal to other people, things that he would so freely reveal to you. It seemed to be a certain gift of yours, to make him feel completely at ease with just a few words. It was embarrassing really, just how much he missed you when you were gone even if it was just for a few hours. This is what you’d done to him, what you’d turned him into.

LordExplosion: Look, if you’re there can you just let me know you’re okay?

Heaving a sigh he took his headset off, throwing it down onto the desk roughly as he glared at the screen. It was so out of character for you not to show up on time in the evening, the only times you’d ever been late to gameplay had only been less than an hour later than usual. Pushing his chair back from the desk as he got up to make dinner, pots loudly clanged in his kitchen as he tried to distract himself from the thought of you.

Three hours later he heard the familiar ring of an incoming call from his desktop computer, standing up from his couch as he made his way towards his setup, sighing in relief when he saw it was your name flashing against the screen as he picked up his headset.

“Fuckin’ hell, shitty woman,” He growled, “I thought something happened to you.”

“I’m fine,” You sounded out of breath, the slightest pant to your voice that had Bakugou’s cheeks turning pink as he imagined what you might look like making those sounds beneath him. He was such a creep, thinking about this when minutes earlier he’d been worried you could’ve died, “I was just late to work so I had to stay late.”

“Late because you overslept?” Bakugou felt so guilty finding out that he’d been the reason why you were late to work.

“Well yeah, but the trains were fucked up too. That wasn’t my fault, I had to wait until the third train to even get on to get into the city.” You groaned.

“You need to get more sleep,” He shook his head, “You’re fuckin’ your body up.”

“I sleep plenty.” You rebutted.

“Yeah, right.” That’s why you’re stumbling in late to work after a few hours.

“I said it wasn’t my fault!”

“I was fuckin’ worried about you, dumbass.” Bakugou growled, “I thought something bad had happened.”

“Well it’s okay, I��m sure a big strong Pro-Hero would’ve come to save me.” You were only teasing, but the words stung. Bakugou hated thinking about anyone else coming to your aid, protecting you. It should be his job. The reality of the distance between you was becoming more apparent the more he spoke to you, the more he longed for you-

“Hey, if we were in the same city, maybe you’d be the one coming to save me one day.” You mused.

“Yeah, you’d like that wouldn’tcha?” He scoffed, finally relaxing enough to actually speak to you.

“What? A big strong Pro-Hero coming to save me? Course I would.” You teased back.

“How’d you know I’m big and strong?” He flexed his arms at the subtle compliment you’d inadvertently given him, trying to coax more words out of you.

“You’re a Pro-Hero, you gotta be strong.”

“Tch, I promise sweetheart. There are some weak-ass Pro-Heroes.”

“But not you right?”

“Not me.” He smirked.

“Did you wanna play a game? I’m sorry I kept you waiting-”

“Have you eaten?” Bakugou ignored your question completely.

“No, but-”

“Go and fuckin’ eat.” Bakugou growled, “Stop ruining your body.”

“I’m fine, I can eat in a bit-”

“I’ve gotta get ready for work, sweetheart.” Bakugou sighed, “Got the graveyard shift.”

“Oh,” He could hear the sad tone to your voice, and it had his chest aching. Wishing he could stay at home and talk to you for a bit longer.

“I’ll talk to you tomorrow, yeah? Please eat something for me?”

“I will,” You smiled, “Stay safe, Bakugou.”

Bakugou ended the call with a sigh, swaying side to side in his desktop chair as he debated sending you a final message.

You moved to shut your desktop off when you noticed a notification in your chat with Bakugou, navigating the mouse to open it as you raised a brow in confusion.

LordExplosion: LordExplosion#0420

You: What is that?

LordExplosion: My discord. In case you wanna message me next time instead of getting your panties in a twist- plus the audio is way fuckin’ better on there anyway.

You: Weren’t you the one getting your panties in a twist, thinking I died?

LordExplosion: I’m sorry for not wanting to see you six feet under, sweetheart. How horrible of me.

You laughed at his words before rereading the username he’d given you, remembering the numbers as you picked up your phone. You couldn’t believe he was giving you his discord, your heart so full it was ready to burst as you immediately opened the app on your phone so you could input his ID to send him a friend request, something he quickly accepted.

You: See, I can annoy you on here too now.

You added a silly emoji at the end of it before hitting send, smiling when it showed him typing back almost immediately.

LordExplosion: Yeah, good luck with that dumbass. What the fuck is that?

You: He’s cute, right? You added another cute frog emoji with wide eyes for emphasis as you smiled at his reaction- he must have had your chat window open because he replied again almost immediately.

LordExplosion: I regret this already.

You: You love me, don’t lie!!

It was then you noticed his discord profile picture, clicking onto it as you noticed it was a picture of Cloud Strife from Final Fantasy. Of course, this had to be why he’d chosen one of the largest swords available in Equilibrium. An attempt to try and replicate the buster sword that Cloud used in the game, grinning as you typed a message.

You: Your pfp!! I knew you liked FF, that's why you’ve got the huge sword.

LordExplosion: Shut up, dumbass. Stop being nosy.

You: I’m not being nosy, it's your profile pic, dummy!

LordExplosion: Yeah? Well look at yours, I knew there’d be a shitty fucking reason you picked the scythe.

You: The scythe is an elite weapon, you’re just jealous.

LordExplosion: Yeah, that’s it. I’m jealous, sweetheart.

You: You think I can’t read your sarcasm over text by now, but I can :((

LordExplosion: I wasn’t being sarcastic.

You: You’re such a liar!

LordExplosion: Weren’t you going to bed?

You: Yeah, I’m going :( talk to you tomorrow?

LordExplosion: Yeah. Goodnight.

You: Night :)

Bakugou[5.04AM]: Morning, princess.

Waking up to a message from him on your phone put the biggest smile on your face, grateful that you no longer had to log into the online game to talk to him. It felt like with this you could carry around with him in your pocket and talk to him about your day, you wouldn’t have to worry about either of you being late or something coming up. Grinning at the screen as you sent him your own message back.

You[6.05AM]: Morning, Bakugou :)

You left your phone on the bedside table after a few minutes with no response from him, assuming that he was finally getting some rest as you made your way towards your bathroom to get ready for work.

You’d become used to waking up to texts from him in the morning, whether he was just getting home from work or on one of his breaks he always managed to leave you something to wake up to. The more you began to message each other, the more you found him beginning to open up to you. Telling you more about his work, his friends, his family. You really felt like you were beginning to learn about the man behind the screen, the real Bakugou.

You[1.01PM]: I’m about to go on lunch, today is dragging! :(

You[1.02PM]: I think this is the worst day I’ve had at work in forever.

You placed your tupperware box into the microwave as you set the timer, moving to fill your water bottle as your phone began to vibrate with an incoming call.

“Bakugou?” You asked in surprise, wondering if something was wrong.

“Hey, princess.” He hummed.

“Don’t you have work?”

“Yeah, but you said you were having a bad day, so I thought I’d give ya a call.” Your heart melted at his words, he’d taken a moment out of his busy day to make you feel better?

Hearing the faint sound of police sirens in the background as you deduced that he must be on one of his patrols of the city.

“Are you on patrol?” You moved to retrieve your food from the microwave as you sat it on the table in front of you, grabbing your chopsticks as you lay them flat against the top of the container.

“Yeah, it’s pretty quiet out here today, though.” Bakugou continued, “Kiri’s keeping an eye so we’ve got a few minutes.”

“Say thank you to Kiri from me,” You grinned, from what Bakugou had told you about his best friend Kirishima seemed like a really good guy.

“Well, you know about my job now, princess. What’s yours?” Bakugou asked curiously.

“I actually work for a Pro-Hero too.” You smiled.

“Oh yeah, which one?” You couldn’t be certain, but you were sure you could sense an underlying tone of jealousy to his voice, the slightest increase of pitch in his questioning tone.

“I dunno if you would’ve heard of him-” You murmured.

“Try me.” Bakugou was almost on the edge of his seat as he waited with bated breath for you to tell him your boss.

“Normal Hero: Manual.” You smiled.

“Wait? You work for that old man?” Bakugou raised a brow at your answer, “That must mean you live in Musutafu.”

“Oh, so you know who he is?” You felt slightly vulnerable that he now knew your location, but you’d been asking him where he lived for weeks so you supposed it was only fair, “Have you worked with him before?”

“Tch, yeah.” His boots kicked at the dirt on the ground, “A few times.”

“Wait, so are you in the same city?” You widened your eyes in surprise as your heart began to race.

If he was in the same city- that meant the potential of possibly meeting him someday. You couldn’t believe your luck, instantly imagining what it would feel like to see him face to face for the first time, maybe he lived in the exact same area as you. Although he probably earned far more than you did, so he could afford to live in the centre of the city, right where the action was. His commute was probably a couple of blocks, without having to take the packed train each day.

“Yeah, princess. Looks like we do-”

You hadn’t even turned your desktop computer on this evening, starting a voice call on discord instead with the Pro-Hero. Your earbuds in and connected via bluetooth as you made yourself dinner, laughing when he criticised your cooking even over the phone.

“You can’t cook for shit, can you?” He laughed as he heard you chopping ingredients.

“Hey, I’m not bad,” You smiled, picking them up as you placed them into the warm pan, “I haven’t killed anyone yet.”

“Yet.” He scoffed, “You ain’t fillin’ me with confidence, sweetheart.”

“What did you grab for lunch?” You smiled as you heard him rustling on the other side of the line, the sound of tupperware opening filling your ears.

“Just gyuudon from a little place down the street, it’s pretty good.” He hummed as you heard him break his chopsticks.

“That sounds good,” You agreed, your stomach growling as you imagined sharing a meal with the Pro.

“Hold on, I’m gonna switch to my desktop.” You ended the call for a moment on your phone before taking out your earbuds, placing them into the charging case as you pulled on your pink headphones, opening discord on your computer as you rejoined the call again, “I’m back, did you miss me?”

“Oh thank god,” He replied sarcastically, “I didn’t know what I was gonna do without you,”

Making you laugh into your bowl of ramen as you began to blow at the broth to cool the temperature down.

“You don’t sit down to eat at a table?” Bakugou raised his brow as he shovelled his gyuudon into his mouth.

“I don’t actually have one, you glanced around your tiny apartment,” lifting some noodles up to your lips as you slurped on them softly, “But my gaming chair is actually super comfy.”

“Bet you have the pink gaming chair and everything.” He scoffed.

“Duh.” You grinned, “And pink kitten headphones.”

“Of course you fuckin’ do.” He laughed on the other side of the phone, “Typical princess needs her pink headphones and gaming chair.”

“Kitten headphones, get it right.” You joked.

“I’m sorry, kitten headphones.” He corrected himself, “Because, of course, you do.”

“Am I too stereotypical e-girl for you?” You laughed.

“You might be” He smirked, “Thin fuckin’ ice.”

“You love it really, don’t lie.” You smiled.

“Since you’re on desktop check your inventory, I got ya something-”

“Oh, yeah. What?” You raised a brow as you sat forward in your chair, moving your attention to the game as you opened your ‘gifts’

“Just look for yourself, princess.” He hummed cryptically.

Your eyes widened in surprise when you noticed the new addition to your inventory. The black bikini set that you’d mentioned to him during one of your first conversations together, the outfit that you swore you’d never purchase for yourself because it was just unnecessarily expensive. Especially when it held absolutely no benefit towards levelling up or gameplay, it was just pure aesthetics.

“Bakugou, you didn’t have to get this for me.” You shook your head, “I told you you don’t need to spend money on me. It costs too much-”

“Tch, I wanted to.” He shrugged, “I’ve been picturing what it would look like on your avatar.”

“Hey, have you been perving over me?” You joked, moving towards your wardrobe to customise your avatar so he could see the outfit on you.

“Not you, shitty woman. Your avatar.” He joked back, “And if you didn’t want me to perv over it, you shouldn’ta made it hot.”

“When I made my avatar I tried to make it look a bit like me.” You replied, remembering when you’d first started the game as you tried to pick qualities as close to your appearance as possible.

“Oh yeah?” His ears perked up, “Shit,” He muttered beneath his breath.

“Yeah, I don’t think I’m quite so pretty though.” And definitely not as skinny, you thought to yourself.

“I fuckin’ doubt that.” He scoffed, “Hurry up and put it on then.”

“You’re not even online to see it.” You rolled your eyes.

“You’re actin’ like you can’t screenshot it and send me a picture.”

“Fine,” You laughed, changing your avatar into the outfit as you took a picture. Sending it across to him via discord as you heard him reach for his phone, unlocking it to see the picture.

“See, I knew you’d look fuckin’ hot in it.” He smirked.

“Oh, god.” You groaned, “I already have some creep in my inbox trying to talk to me about it, you moved to block the guy immediately.

“Tell ‘em to fuck off, you’re mine.” The possessive tone to his voice had your cunt throbbing as you squirmed in your chair, “Give me their handle.”

“You don’t need to-”

“Give me the handle.” He repeated as you typed it out to him, hearing him mutter under his breath about some men having “no fuckin’ respect.”

“I just blocked him,” You laughed.

“Good.” He growled, “Fuckin’ prick. I’m gonna message him later. He won’t bother you anymore.”

“My hero,” You pretended to swoon as you picked your bowl of ramen up again.

“So what about you, huh? Why don’t you tell me what you look like.”

“What do you think I look like, sweetheart?”

“I dunno-” You hummed, feeling your face flush as you thought back to all the fantasies you’d had about him before.

He had to be just as attractive as his voice, dreaming up a fantasy version of him in your mind. Big, strong hands moving over your body as he held you in his arms, soft lips pressing against yours as he trailed a path down towards your neck. Trying to imagine him towering over you as he caged your body against his own, a subtle possession with his actions as you longed for someone to treat you like that, to love you like that- His large palms moving lower to press against the heat between your thighs as you felt your heart begin to race, your lips parting in a silent moan until-

“Oi,” Bakugou’s loud tone broke you from your fantasy, “You still there sweetheart?”

“Oh, sorry.” You replied sheepishly, realising you’d zoned out. Embarrassment quickly flowed through you as you realised how close you’d been to moaning on call to thoughts of him.

“I was just about to tell you how pretty I think you are,” Bakugou smirked, feeling a heat rise in your cheek at the words, “Until you started ignoring me.”

“I wasn’t ignoring you,” You pouted.

“Yeah, yeah princess.” Bakugou scoffed, “You weren't the one calling your name for five minutes.”

“It was not that long,” You shot back.

“Well, I think you’re really pretty.” He replied and you had to stop yourself from squealing on the call. Even though he’d never seen a picture of you so he couldn’t say for sure it still made your lips curl into a big smile.

“I mean, you still don’t know,” You teased back, “I could be an old man.”

“Tch, don’t sound like an old man with your pink gaming chair, pink kitten headphones.” Bakugou laughed.

“Oh, and not the fact that I don’t talk like an old man?”

“Could still be a guy with that voice-” He teased.

“Oi, are you saying my voice sounds manly?” You feigned a gasp.

“Well-” He pretended to trail off.

“You’re such a dick, oh my god.” You pouted.

“I’m only messin’ with ya, sweetheart.” He grinned, “I meant what I said, I think you sound real pretty.”

“Yeah, and what about you?” You tried to hide your elation, glad he couldn’t see you grinning like a madman.

“What about me, hm?” He replied coyly.

“What do you look like?” You were genuinely curious to know what he looked like, the thought constantly plaguing your mind.

“Doesn’t matter,” He shrugged.

“It does, I wanna know!” You wanted desperately to know what he looked like after speaking to him over the last few weeks, to put a face to the name, “Do you think you’d ever send me a picture?”

“Pfft, more than enough pictures out there of me already, Princess.” He scoffed, “I’m surprised you haven’t googled me yet.”

“Why?”

“Well you know I’m a Pro-Hero, and you know my name.”

“How do I know that's your real name?” You hummed, “Could’ve given me a fake name to throw me off the scent.”

“Tch, it’s real.” He shrugged, “Got no reason to lie to you.”

“Okay fine, I’m googling you right now.” You put your bowl down on the side of your desk as you opened up your web browser, typing in ‘Pro-Hero Bakugou’ to see what came up.

“Dynamight?” Your eyes widened as page after page of photographs of the explosive hero came up.

There was no way that you were currently talking to not only a Pro-Hero but one of the most attractive men you’d ever laid eyes on. Unable to stop yourself from scrolling through picture after picture, shamelessly stopping on the few images that were clearly from advertising campaigns that showed off his physique. A particular photograph from the front of Men’s Fitness that had him completely topless as he gave his signature glare towards the camera, your eyes drinking in the exposed skin as you began to feel self-conscious all over again because he was so attractive and you were just, you.

“You finally got it, dumbass.” He chuckled, “Can stop pestering me about it now.”

“But how do I know you’re not lying.” You pressed, there was no way you were talking to one of the Pro-Heroes in the top ten. Thinking that he was a smaller, local hero that just happened to enjoy online games in his free time.

He scoffed in response, your eyes widening in surprise when the familiar tone of discord sounded in your headphones, he was trying to initiate a video call.

Swallowing thickly as you looked at the outfit you were wearing, an oversized sweatshirt and baggy pyjama pants. Your hair was a complete mess, and you were certain you had bags under your eyes. Paired with the ridiculously difficult lighting discord video calls had to purposely make you look bad, and the terrible angles that would make it look like you had six chins you suddenly felt so insecure.

“I can’t video chat right now,” You panicked.

“Why not? It’ll only be for a few minutes, my break is almost over.” He shrugged.

“S’okay,” You mumbled, “You don’t have to do that.”

“Why you gone all quiet?” He hummed, “You was so desperate to see me a second ago, what was it you said? Prove that I’m real-”

“Yeah, it's okay. I believe you.”

“Shitty woman,” He muttered beneath his breath, and you were almost certain you’d upset him from the tone of his voice before a notification popped up on your screen with one new message in the chat.

A picture that was hidden behind a spoiler blur, clicking onto it gently as you let out the breath you hadn’t realised you were holding in. Behind the blur was a picture, one that looked like it could’ve been taken moments earlier- an angry bright fluorescent light above his head as it almost obscured the entire top of the photograph, his phone obviously held below him peering up. A black hood pulled up over his messy mop of blond hair as a few stray spikes peeked out of the fabric, Vibrant red eyes peering down at the camera, the corner of his lip raised into the slightest hint of a smile as you took in the picture. Did he just take this for you now while he was at work?

He was gorgeous.

“You still there, sweetheart?”

“Y-yeah, sorry. I’m here.” You felt your face flush with heat, “Did you just take that for me now?”

“Yeah,” He replied simply.

“You look really pretty,” You murmured, saying the first word that came to mind when you looked at him.

Really you could’ve gone for gorgeous, handsome, ethereal- any word could’ve tried to describe just how much you liked how he looked but somehow none were quite enough to explain how perfect he was.

“Pretty?” He teased, “You think I’m pretty?”

“Yeah,” You breathed.

“Ain’t ever had someone call me pretty before, princess.”

You wanted to take a picture for him like he just had for you, an up to date look of exactly how you looked right now. So he could get the same picture in his head of you that you had right now, but that dark cloud loomed over you as it always did. The devil on your shoulders telling you that you weren’t good enough, you weren’t pretty enough. You’d never be enough. The insecurities pelting you from all angles when you imagined the type of women that he was probably used to being around, the type of women that would often flirt with him or try to court him, the type of women he’d probably dated before. Certain that none of them looked anything like you. You were just– you.

You’d felt so comfortable on the phone with him before you’d discovered what he looked like, who he was. But you suddenly felt so insecure now you realised that the man on the other side of the line wasn’t a sleazy, desperate guy twice your age- but an attractive Pro-Hero. And not just any Pro-Hero, the explosion hero Dynamight. The current number eight.

Looking through your camera roll to try and find the most attractive picture of you that you could find, stopping on one you remembered uploading to Instagram just before you’d left your hometown for Musutafu. The lighting hit you just right as you smiled at the camera, clicking onto it as you paused to assess it once more, debating whether this was a worthy picture to send Bakugou for his first real look at you. Ignoring the fear that brewed in the pit of your stomach as you scrunched your nose and hit send, letting the picture appear in your chat with him free of any spoiler blurs.

“What the fuck.” He muttered, and the words had you recoiling in fear, did he think you were ugly?

“What?” You felt yourself begin to panic at his reaction, instantly wishing you could take back the picture. Maybe you should’ve tried to put a filter on it to smooth your skin or lessen the bags beneath your eyes. What if he thought you were ugly? What if he stopped talking to you? What if-

“You’re so fuckin’ pretty.” He hummed, “And you said I was the pretty one.”

Did he just call you pretty?

“You do kinda look like your avatar, you know?” He mused, was he still staring at your picture?

“I tried to pick something similar,” You mumbled self-consciously. Remembering back to when you’d first joined the game as you deliberately picked something that looked similar enough to you.

“That’s cute.”

“Bakugou-” You heard someone shouting his name in the distance, the voice muffled slightly as Bakugou swore beneath his breath.

“I’m sorry, princess.” He grumbled, “Gotta get back to work.”

“Oh, okay.” You couldn’t hide the sadness in your voice, “Text me when you finish?”

“You’ll be fast asleep,” He rasped, “Or you better fuckin’ be.”

“I know,” You smiled, “I don’t mind.”

“Okay, I’ll text ya.” You could hear the grin in his tone, “Night, sweetheart.”

“Night, Bakugou.”

Bakugou’s entire body ached when he finally gets home from patrol, shouldering through the door into his high rise apartment in the early hours of the morning. The sun began to rise over the skyline as he toed his boots off at the door, dropping his gauntlets beside them before padding along the hallway. His muscles ached from the strenuous shift, having to chase down a petty villain with a laughter quirk. The irritating sound still rang in his ears as he made his way towards his bedroom, unbuckling his belts before letting his pants pooled around his feet. The heavy utility belt still lined with his grenades dropped to the floor as he moved to tug his vest up and over his head. His bones cracked from the movement as he allowed himself to flop down onto his bed for a few moments before he knew he’d have to shower. The scent of ash which was a side effect of his quirk stuck to his sweaty skin as he felt for his smartphone, unlocking it to send a quick message to you.

Bakugou[5.04AM]: Morning, princess.

Pausing on the app once he’d pressed send as he noticed your picture peeking out at the bottom of the message thread. He’d already saved it in his phone gallery, but he opened the file on discord as he took in your features again.

You really had no idea how beautiful you were, did you?

His fingers pinch the screen to zoom in on your face, your pretty eyes gazing into the camera as you gave him a small smile. The pink kitten headphones sat on top of your head as you sat back in your gaming chair, giving him a small insight into your life, what it looked like on your side of the screen.

He couldn’t help but move the image lower, focusing on the slight pout to your lips as he immediately began to think of how much he’d love to kiss you. Wondering how soft they’d feel against his own, thinking about how they’d feel on other parts of his body too-

“Fuck,” Bakugou rasped beneath his breath, feet planted on the floor as he rolled his hips, trying to give his twitching cock some slight relief as his thoughts began to wander.

If you knew this was what he was thinking about you probably would call him a pervert or a creep, getting off to the photograph you’d sent him, and such an innocent one at that. His hand slid down his chest as calloused fingers mussed the blond hairs that scattered along the scarred surface, leading a trail that disappeared beneath the hem of his boxer briefs. Palming his semi-hard cock through the thin fabric as he let out a soft groan. Thinking about what your hands would feel like wrapped around him, how pretty you’d look on your knees for him as you sat between his parted thighs. Those lips pressing a soft kiss to the tip of his cock before taking him inside your wet heat-

Shit, a deep growl reverberated from deep in his chest, feeling the wet stain beginning to form on his underwear as he thought about you. Raising his hips just enough to tug the fabric down his thick thighs, kicking them off carelessly as he lay back against the mattress completely naked. His free cock now lay flat against his pelvis, the weight of it making it impossible for it to stand up as it pointed towards his hip. Fresh pre oozing from his tip as one of his large hands moved lower to palm his balls, feeling the heavy weight beneath his touch as he tried to imagine you instead.

Bakugou’s gaze slipped lower, coming to rest on the curve of your neck and your oversized sweater, even though the item of clothing shouldn’t have been provocative it had his cock twitching desperately. His thoughts immediately navigated to what lay beneath the fabric, imagining his palms holding your breasts as your nipples hardened beneath his touch, the sweet sounds you’d make as he wrapped his lips around one to suckle at it. Hissing as he wrapped a hand around his cock, giving himself a teasing pump before running his hand along the length until he got to the engorged head. Pressing his thumb against his slit to gather the pre that collected at the tip as he smoothed it along his girth. Lubricating himself as he began stroking himself languidly, trying to imagine that it was your hand around his cock instead, imagining how much better you would feel.

His red eyes still focused on your picture, half-lidded as he imagined pushing his cock inside your saccharine lips, thinking about how good your tongue would feel pressed against the underside of his cock while the thick tip hit the back of your throat. Wondering how much of his length you’d be able to take inside that sweet mouth. His breath hitching in his throat at the image, his hips canting off the bed as he fucked his fist to the thought of you.

“Fuck, princess.” He groaned as his mind went to the panties that you were wearing beneath that sweater, what colour they might have been, what style. How wet your needy little pussy would be for his thick cock, thinking about how wet he could make you as he delved his fingers between your thighs. Parting your folds like the red sea as his calloused pads brushed through your slick, catching against your clit as he tried to imagine what you would sound like moaning his name.

Tightening his grip around his thick cock as he began to pump himself with more fevour, feeling the familiar tension beginning to build in his abdomen as he tried to think of the last time he’d actually done this. Bakugou couldn’t even recall- it was as though you had specifically done something to him, ignited a fire within him that made him hungry for you. An insatiable desire inside him that he couldn’t quite recall he’d ever felt before, twisting his wrist each time it reached the tip of his cock as he smeared fresh pre along his length. Tightening his grip to try and recreate the sensation of your velvety walls wrapped around him, imagining how much more you’d be squeezing him once he sunk himself into your slick wet heat.

“God,” Bakugou grunted, your name tumbling from his lips like a dull prayer as he increased his speed, the crude sound filling his bedroom as his balls began to tighten between his thighs. Dropping his phone to the side as his eyes clamped shut, trying to imagine you sitting on top of him as you shamelessly used him for your own pleasure, rolling your hips in a circular motion as you splayed your hands on his pectorals.

“Good girl,” He mumbled under his breath as his tongue slipped out to wet his lips, wishing you were here so he could have a taste of you. Holding your thighs apart as he feasted on your angel cunt, holding you down until you screamed for a moment's respite. Burying his tongue between your silky folds to have every single inch of you.

His other hand moved down to squeeze his balls, fondling them roughly as he began to rock himself into his own touch, imagining that he was holding your hips steady as he fucked himself up into your eager cunt. Bakugou’s thick cock began to throb in the telltale signs of his release as he let out a sharp groan, jerking himself sloppily as he teetered on the edge of his climax. Now all he could think about was where he wanted to cum- imagining how pretty you’d look covered in his release, showing everyone that you belonged to him. Thinking about how much prettier you’d look if you were filled to the brim with his cum, holding your thighs apart so he could watch it spill out of your fluttering hole as he slowly pushed it back into you- completely stuffed with his release.

“Katsuki,” He tried to imagine how you’d sound uttering his name like he was the only person on this earth that mattered, cursing himself that he hadn’t told you his given name yet just so he could hear how it sounded coming from your lips.

His mouth parted in a deep, guttural groan as he felt himself coming undone. Calling out your name as his hips jerked against the mattress, emptying his balls all over his stomach and pelvis as his thick cock shot hot, white spurts of cum in ropes against his skin. His chest heaving as he tried to come down from his high, his cock still hard as he gave himself a few more teasing pumps to try and bring himself down from euphoria. Looking down at the mess he’d made all over himself as he sighed deeply, slipping straight back into reality when he glanced around his empty bedroom.

God, he wanted you so fucking badly.

Grabbing his fallen shirt on the floor to wipe off some of the cum residue against his skin to prevent it from falling to the hardwood as he stood from the bed, pattering into the bathroom to have a shower. Cursing beneath his breath as he felt his cock twitch at the thought of you wet and soapy in the shower with him. Heaving a deep intake of breath as he tried to calm himself down, turning the water a little colder than usual to help ease the ache between his thighs.

Stepping out with a towel wrapped around his waist as he used another to dry his hair, making his way back into his bedroom to pick up a fresh pair of underwear, slipping them on before dumping his towel and his dirty clothes into his laundry basket. Slipping beneath the sheets of his bed as he finally allowed himself to relax, his head resting against his plush pillows as he felt himself falling into slumber. Taking the chance to send you one final message before he went to sleep.

He held his phone up above his head, ensuring to get his body in it as you could see the defined muscles and just the hint of his boxers peeking out from the bottom of the frame, giving a subtle smirk to the camera as he snapped a photograph. Sending it to you as he attached a message.

Bakugou[5.41AM]: Been thinking about you a lot this morning, princess.

You woke up feeling refreshed as you felt the sun shining through the window in your bedroom, the warmth radiating against your skin as you stretched, reaching across to your bedside table as you checked the time.

8.43am.

You were glad you’d finally managed to have a lie-in after the long work week, but you were disappointed you’d seemingly missed Bakugou. His messages flashed across the screen to show he’d messaged you just like he said he would when he got home. Unlocking your phone as you opened up discord, not even able to read any of his messages when you were suddenly struck with the photograph of him, completely different from anything he’d ever sent you before.  

Holding your phone tighter as you clicked on the photo to increase the size, taking in the sight of his completely bare torso as he lay down in tousled sheets, his vermilion eyes staring directly into the camera had your clit throbbing needily between your thighs as you shamelessly ogled his naked skin. There were plenty of topless pictures of Dynamight online, from the photoshoots to the times where his shirt was completely disintegrated in battle- but this? This was completely different.

Your eyes drank in every single inch of pure muscle, flitting down to the prominent veins that scattered across his bicep and forearm to the scars that littered his body. Each one probably had a completely different story to tell as you zoomed in closer, thankful that the morning sunrise shining into his bedroom gave the perfect lighting to see everything. From his darkened areolas to the messy blond hair that trailed along his torso, disappearing beneath the grey pair of Calvins he wore. Disappointed that the camera wasn’t angled just a little lower so you could see everything, feeling your cheeks heat up as you continued to shamelessly stare at the photograph.

You then began to think about whether he’d expected you to send one back- of course, you wanted to. There was nothing more you would enjoy than Bakugou finding you attractive, complimenting you and reacting the same way that you had to his picture. But the doubt and insecurity continued to grow inside you, what if you sent him a picture and he didn’t like what he saw? What if he found you ugly-

You tried to push your insecurities to the side as you got up from your bed, opening your underwear drawer as you began to rummage for the perfect thing to wear in return. It was a simple black lace one-piece suit, something that covered your stomach but opened in a v-shape at the chest to expose your chest, and the back made your ass look perfect. The colour is flattering enough to make you feel slimmer than you really were and focus on all your positives, certain you’d be able to find an angle where you didn’t look completely awful. Pulling your pyjamas off as you changed into the outfit, checking yourself out in your full-length mirror as you began to try to find an angle you thought would bring out the best parts of you. Angling your phone in the same way that Bakugou had as you held it slightly higher, hoping to hide your face from the photographs as you began to take a few in quick succession. Slowly changing the angles so you had a variety to select from, moving to the floor on your knees as you pointed the camera at your reflection in the mirror, trying to find that perfect pose.

You sat there as you rifled through them, deleting the ones that were absolute nos and putting a little heart beside the ones that had become maybes. Narrowing it down until you found a couple that you thought you looked okay in, your favourite had been one where you were standing with your back facing the mirror, showcasing your ass and the side of your breasts beneath the lingerie. Taking a deep breath as you attached the photograph to the discord chat you had with Bakugou, hovering your finger over the send button as you tried to work up the courage to send it to him.

You[9.36AM]: Morning to you too Bakugou ;)

You hit send and watched the message appear in your conversation, trying to avoid deleting it as you locked your phone. Throwing it onto your bed as you made your way into your bathroom to take a shower, hoping that he would like what he saw when he finally woke up.

Bakugou[1.51PM]: Good afternoon princess. I definitely wasn’t expecting to wake up to that.

You were nervous when you checked his message, he hadn’t really said anything about the photograph aside from not expecting it. You began to panic that he truly didn't like it and was trying to be polite, that you’d overstepped a line you didn’t even realise was there.

You[1:53PM]: I thought I’d return the favour.

You paused for a second when he didn’t reply right away, taking a deep breath before sending another message.

You[1:54PM]: Did you like it?

The dots below appeared to indicate that he was replying almost instantly, your heart hammering in your chest as you awaited his response.

Bakugou[1:54PM]: Did I like it? You have no fucking idea what you do to me, do you?

You felt warm at his words, was he talking about what you thought he was? The thought had you woozy as you tried to type back with shaky fingers.

You[1:55PM]: Why don’t you tell me.

You goaded him on, trying to get him to explain to you exactly what he had meant by his words.

Bakugou[1:55PM]: Let me show you.

You sucked in a breath as you reread his message, what did he mean he was going to show you?

A moment later your phone buzzed with another incoming message, it was another picture from Bakugou. But this one was different. The camera was angled towards his lower half this time, his legs concealed beneath the plain white sheets as he pulled them down just enough for you to see his grey boxers and the hint of his muscular thighs. His hand wrapped around his thick girth that was concealed beneath the fabric to indicate what lay beneath. You paused for a moment to take it in, he looked huge.

Bakugou[1.59PM]: You still there, princess?

You[1.59PM]: You’re so hot.

You found yourself rubbing your thighs together to try and create some much-needed friction, instantly saving that image to join the first one in a special album on your phone.

Bakugou[2:00PM]: Says you, you’re the reason it's like that. I woke up to your picture and couldn’t help myself.

His words ignited a fire within you, feeling your clit throb as you reread his words. He was like that because of you. It was a unique sense of power that suddenly filled you from the thought of bringing such a strong, powerful man down to his knees with just one picture. His words making you feel pretty, confident, desired, wanted. Giving you this new sense of confidence as you found yourself typing back to him.

You[2.01PM]: Do you wanna see some more?

Bakugou[2.01PM]: Fuck.

Bakugou[2.01PM]: Of course I do, princess.

You opened your gallery and went back to select more of the pictures you’d taken this morning, attaching them to the discord message as you watched them load into the conversation. Nervously biting your lip as you waited with bated breath for the notification at the bottom of the screen that he’s typing a response... But it doesn’t come.

Instead, you almost jump when the familiar tone to signal a discord call begins to play, flustered as you grab for your headphones, the bluetooth connecting as you press ‘accept’.

“Hey,” You whisper, releasing the breath you hadn’t realised that you’d been holding in.

“Do you have any idea what you’re doing to me right now, sweetheart?” Your heart was racing from his words, the familiar heat flowing through your core as you recognised the subtle rasp in his tone, “I’m fuckin’ hard as a rock.”

“Oh,” You gasped at his blunt words, squeezing your legs together to try and satiate the desperate ache between your thighs.

“If you get on video chat with me I’ll show you.” He rasped.

You chewed the inside of your cheek as you took in his request, it wasn’t like you didn’t want to. You did, so desperately. But the thought of him seeing you like this terrified you, looking down at the baggy oversized band shirt you were wearing that was faded from the number of times it had been through the wash, worn holes scattered through the fabric and there were still stains from when you’d experimented with box dye. Not to mention trying to hold the camera so he got a good angle of your face whilst attempting to maintain your composure when he was talking to you like this?

You couldn’t.

“Maybe another time,” You hummed, “I look terrible.”

“Impossible,” He scoffed, “I’ve seen what you look like, ain’t a single part of you that looks bad.”

“I haven’t done my make-up or anything-” You rambled.

“You know I don’t give a fuck about that shit,” Bakugou grunted, “Doesn’t matter to me.”

“It matters to me,” You sighed.

“You got nothin’ to be scared about, princess.” He pressed, you could hear him shuffling on the other side of the phone as he settled himself against his sheets, “I bet you’re perfect.”

“Another time, please.” You begged, hoping that he’d drop the subject, “Just not now.”

“Okay, sweetheart.” He groaned, “But you still wanna talk to me, yeah?”

“Yeah,” You repeated breathlessly.

“Are you going to show me what’s underneath that pretty set in the pictures?” You could hear his smirk in his tone, obviously imagining you were still wearing the same lingerie.

“Are you?” You countered.

“Tch, you’re such a fuckin’ tease.” He groaned, the line went silent for a moment as you could hear his gentle breathing on the other side. Your heart beating in your chest as you felt your phone vibrate, looking down at the screen to see another picture.

One of his large veiny palms wrapped around the base of his hard cock, holding it upright. You’d expected him to be big, but nothing had prepared you for the sight of him for the first time. The tip of his cock a blush pink colour as you managed to make out the slightest glisten of pre leaking from the slit, your eyes following the length of it as you recognised the hint of it bulging in the middle, moving lower until you met his hand holding the base. The hairs around it were neatly trimmed as you suddenly imagined what it would be like to see it in the flesh, wondering if your hand would even be able to wrap around it. You couldn’t help but let out a breathless moan at the sight, moving your hand between your thighs to cup your clothed heat to try and quell the ache.

“Did you just moan?” You heard his smug voice on the other side of the line, “You like what you see, sweetheart?”

“Yes,” You whispered breathlessly.

“I’m thinking about what it would be like to put it inside you right now,’” He grunted, “You gonna show me what you look like right now?”

“What do you want to see?” You hummed, you weren’t even sure what he was asking for, what kinds of pictures did he want you to send him?

“How about you show me those pretty tits?” He goaded, “Wanna imagine my hands coverin’ ‘em.”

You took a deep breath before you raised your shirt up, pushing your breasts together with your arms to try and make them seem rounder than you thought they were are you took a few pictures. Sending one through to Bakugou who cursed just as the image finished loading.

“Oh fuck, sweetheart,” He groans when you send the picture across, hearing his breath hitch in his throat, “God, you’re perfect.”

“Says you,” You hum, he literally had a body that was carved by the gods, you completely paled in comparison.

“I wish I was there.” You heard his breath hitch and you wondered whether he was touching himself to your pictures, “I’d make you feel so good.”

“Yeah?” You murmured, turning the volume up on your headphones to try and catch the breaths that left his lips.

“Fuck yeah,” He groaned, “I’d start with those pretty tits, wanna suck on ‘em so badly. Would you let me, princess?”

“Yes,” You mewled, moving your fingers down to your breasts as you massaged them in your palm, catching your nipple between your thumb and forefinger as it stiffened to a hardened peak. Trying to imagine it was his hands on you instead of your own, slightly rougher with your actions in a feeble attempt to mimic his motions.

“Oh, fuck.” He rasped, “Are you touching yourself right now?”

“Mhm,” You mumbled, feeling your cheeks heat up as he caught you red-handed.

“That’s so fuckin’ hot,” He growled, “Shit.”

His crude words on the other side of the line had your entire body convulsing, your hips rolling in a circular motion as the sound sent a throb directly to your clit, clenching your cunt as it begged for your attention.

“Wanna leave my mark on them, make sure everyone knows that you’re mine.” He continued, his voice pure sin as pressed further, “What are you thinkin’ about, sweet girl?”

“I-” You were embarrassed to tell him, you’d never done anything like this before and you weren’t sure exactly what you were supposed to say.

“It’s okay, just tell me.”

“You touching my pussy,” You groaned, cupping your hand harder against your clothed heat as you felt the dampness against the crotch of your panties.

“Oh, fuck,” He groaned, “You’re gonna make me cum in seconds if you’re not fuckin’ careful.”

You gasped at his words, floored that you had such an effect on a guy that surely had far more experience and stamina than you ever thought you could possess.

“I wish I could be there with you to do that, princess.” He continued, “Are you touching that pretty pussy for me?”

“Yeah,” You murmured, tugging your panties to the side so your fingers dragged through the creamy slick that was now gathered between your folds, gasping when you brushed against your sensitive clit.

“I wish I could see,” He groaned, your fingers beginning to tease your tight entrance as you slipped one inside to the first knuckle as you began to languidly pump it in and out of you.

“How many fingers are you using right now?”

“One,”

“Shit,” He rasped, “Good lord, I want to fuckin’ ruin you. Think you can add another one for me, princess? Stretch yourself out for me-”

You whined at his words, pushing your forefinger in to join your middle finger as you felt the slight ache from the stretch as you began pumping them in tandem, pulling more pretty sounds from your lips that had Bakugou groaning on the other side of the line.

“Good girl. “He continued, “Gonna let me stretch you out on my cock, yeah?” You heard him spit crudely on the other side of the phone and it had your walls throbbing around your fingers, the lewd noise filling your headphones as he began to move his fist along his cock, “Fuck you into the shape of me.”

Your eyes clenched shut as you imagined how he looked on the other side of the phone, fisting his cock because of you. Trying to imagine those same vermilion eyes staring up at you from between your thighs as he used his own fingers to split you open, how much better they would feel being able to find all the spots inside you that you couldn’t quite reach. Curling your fingers to try and replicate how he’d touch you, the palm of your hand now pressed snugly to your clit as you began to grind against it.

“You sound so fuckin’ pretty, you know that?” He continued, “Keep that up I ain’t gonna fuckin’ last.”

“Oh,” You gasped when you pressed against the spongy spot inside you, feeling your walls quiver around your digits as you brought yourself closer to your release.

“What you thinkin’ about now, sweet girl?” He continued between a deep moan, “Tell me.”

“You fucking me,” You whined truthfully, picturing how his fat cock would look disappearing inside your tight walls, doing exactly what he said and moulding you to the shape of him. Claiming you as his.

“Oh, fuck- I can’t,” He grunted, “Gonna make me cum, sweetheart.”

His tone had you moaning in return, increasing your pace as the soft sounds of your fingers pumping inside your slick heat filled the room, wondering if he could hear the crude noises as you hovered on the edge of your release.

“Wish I was there right now,” He continued, rambling in a hazy sea of lust that clouded his mind, “Would make you feel so good, burying my fat cock inside that pretty little angel cunt, fuck you into the shape of my cock.”

His words did nothing to ease the tension between your thighs, the coil tightening as you hovered on the cusp of your bliss, grinding yourself harder against your palm as you felt yourself about to fall over the edge, “Bakugou, I’m gonna cum-”

“Katsuki, call me Katsuki.” He rasped desperately, the sound of him pumping his cock furiously filled your ears as you felt yourself falling-

“Oh fuck, Katsuki-” You moaned breathlessly, the tightness inside you finally snapping as you found yourself tumbling into your bliss. Your mouth parted in a loud whine as your walls began to clench around your fingers, your orgasm flowing through you in harsh waves.

“Fuck, shit, princess-” Bakugou rasped at the sound of his name leaving your lips so needily, convulsing against his sheets as he jerked his cock through his release, joining you in euphoria.

“You got no clue how much I loved hearin’ my name coming from your lips, do you?” He groaned, breathing heavily on the other side of the line as you both began to come down from your highs, “So fuckin’ good.”

“Katsuki,” You repeated it again, feeling how the name sounded on your tongue as you heard him curse.

“Fuck, don’t. You’ll make me hard again.” He grumbled, “Already came all over myself.”

“Can I see?” You’d surprised yourself by even asking, immediately feeling self-conscious at how weird you probably sounded to him.

“Fuckin’ perv,” He rumbled and you were about to play it off when your phone vibrated with another attachment.

His torso was covered in glistening globs of cum that trailed almost as high as his pectorals, imagining what it would have felt like for him to cover you in the same way. Your walls still fluttered around your fingers in the aftershocks of your climax as you reluctantly pulled them out of your quivering cunt.

“Like what you see, hah?” You could tell from his tone that he was smirking on the other side of the line.

“Maybe,” You teased back.

“Maybe?” He growled, “Just maybe? Looks like I’m gonna have to step my game up.”

“I need to shower again because of you,” You pouted, already feeling messy between your thighs as your fingers still glistened with your slick.

“Me too, clearly.” He scoffed, “I’ll talk to you in a few?”

Your heart panged at the hopeful tone to his voice as it made you feel so wanted, unable to hide the grin on your face as you replied.

“Yeah, I’ll be quick.”

“I mean, if you wanted to send me a few more pictures of you in the shower I wouldn’t complain-” He trailed off.

“Who’s the perv now?” You grinned, hearing his own raspy laugh fill your headphones.

“What can I say, sweetheart?” He groaned, “This is what you do to me.”

“Okay, I’ll be back soon?”

“Me too, talk soon.” He smiled, neither of you wanting to hang up as eventually he pressed the ‘end call’ button.

Just as you’d grabbed a towel ready to hop in the shower you heard your phone vibrating against your bedside table, unable to resist checking it before you went into your bathroom you looked at the new notifications from discord that flashed against the screen.

Bakugou[3.15PM]: My phone number. Just in case.

You couldn’t believe he’d finally entrusted you with his number, the digits clear on the screen as you quickly saved him as a new contact before sending him a text back with your own.

A simple ‘x’ in reply to show that he’d received your message as you grinned at the response. Reluctantly putting your phone down as you moved to climb into the shower.

Bakugou[5.25PM]: I’m sorry princess, I won’t be around much tonight. Shitty hair is dragging me out for drinks and I probably won’t be back until late. Don’t wait up for me.

You[5.26PM]: That’s okay, I might have to stay late at the office. There’s been a mix-up with paperwork that I’m currently trying to fix, wish me luck.

Bakugou[5.27PM]: You better not stay too late for that prick, or I’ll be giving him a call.

You[5.28PM]: Don’t worry, I’ll be home soon. I’ll text you so you know I’m okay?

Bakugou[5.29PM]: Good.

Bakugou[5.30PM]: I’ll make it up to you tomorrow, I’ve got the entire day off. Maybe we can try the new forest level?

You[5.31PM]: I’d really like that :)

You[5.32PM]: Have fun! <3

“Hurry up, Bakubro, we’re late already.” Kirishima poked his head inside Bakugou’s office, noticing the way he instinctively shielded his phone from his prying eyes.

“Yeah, yeah, shitty hair. ‘m comin’.”

Stepping into the bar to find the gang already there with beers, placing his phone down onto the table in favour of snatching a bottle from the bucket in the middle as he took a large swig.

“Hey, slow down, Kacchan. We got the whole night ahead of us.” Kaminari smirked as he took a drink from his own bottle.

“Yeah, you never hang out with us anymore, you know.” Mina shoved his shoulder playfully, “It’s been ages.”

“Got better things to do than to be seen with you dumbasses.”

“Aw, you know you love us.” Mina swung an arm around his broad shoulders to pull him into her side, “We love you too.”

“Get off,” Bakugou growled, wrestling himself from her grip as she moved a hand into the messy, grown out hairs of his undercut as he took another drink of beer.

“Who is that?” Kaminari looked down onto the table to find the source of the buzzing, his eyes focused in on Bakugou’s phone that now illuminated with a new text message from you.

You[7:02PM]: Hope you’re having fun! Just heading home! <3

Bakugou’s swift reflexes were no match for two friends working in tandem, as he was so distracted by Kaminari’s quick hands, almost knocking over Mina’s cocktail in his haste, Kirishima grabbing the glass to keep it upright as Sero managed to slip beneath the pair to seize the phone.

“Oh, she’s real pretty.” Sero grinned like a cheshire cat as he looked at the screen, the first selfie you’d ever sent Bakugou sitting pride of place, “Is this your girlfriend?”

“Ooh, ooh, let me see-” Kaminari made grabby hands for the phone as Sero turned it to face the table, giving everyone a view of Bakugou’s lock screen. The angry blond’s palms sparking in fury.

“Give me the fuckin’ phone or I’ll blow your face off-” Bakugou snarled as Kirishima tried to calm the situation down, but even he couldn’t deny he was curious who this mystery woman was. Noticing that his best friend was spending a lot more time on his smartphone for someone who vehemently spoke about his distaste for the devices, much preferring the brick phone he carried around in his pocket on patrol.

“Did you meet her on that game I got you?” Kirishima asked, the new information now opening the floodgates even more to his nosy friends, “Ain’t no way she’s real.”

“Wait- you met her online?” Sero’s eyes widened, “Come on man, the first rule of the internet.”

“What?”

“Everyone’s a catfish.” Kaminari deadpanned.

“A what?” Bakugou ran a hand down his face in frustration as his hand tightened around the beer bottle, the heat from his palm warming the liquid as he glared across the table.

“A catfish, man.” Sero shook his head, “Where did you meet her?”

“He met her on that new online game he’s been playing,” Kirishima answered for him, causing Bakugou to grind his teeth, fucking shitty hair.

“Oh god, dude. Tell me you didn’t-” Kaminari shook his head, “And I bet her avatar was a pretty girl too, right?”

It was, but what did that have to do with anything-

“I got talking to someone on that game a few weeks ago, thought it was a hot ass chick and it turned out to be a fifty year old from California.”

“Yeah, but you’re a fuckin’ idiot.” Bakugou scoffed, drinking his beer.

“No, Bakubro. I mean it! That-” Kaminari pointed at the phone, “Is a catfish.”

Bakugou made a final swipe for his phone, managing to get it out of Kaminari’s grip as he shoved the device back into his jeans pocket, hunching over the table as he finished off his beer.

“Have you seen any of her social media?” Sero asked as Bakugou thought about the question. He hadn’t, aside from your discord. But he also had never asked, he was barely on social media himself anyway. Apart from his main Pro-Hero accounts that ended up being controlled by his PR team after he lost access to them.

“No,” He scoffed, “Don’t use social media anyway.”

“Okay, what about her friends?” Kaiminari continued, “Have you spoken to any of them?”

“Has she spoken to any of you?” Bakugou rebutted.

“Fine, fine. What about money?” Kaminari pressed, “Has she ever asked you for money?”

“Never.” Bakugou scoffed, this was one question they couldn’t have on him. In all the months you’d been talking to each other you’d never once asked for a single yen from him.

“But have you bought her anything, dude?” Sero asked.

Bakugou thought about it for a moment, prepared to reply with a harsh ‘no’, but he remembered the things he’d gifted to you. It was nothing to him really, short change in comparison to the hero salary that he was bringing in now that he was ranked in the top ten. Although the number was leaps and bounds from the wage he was used to as an up and coming sidekick- and even further away from the money that the average person would make in a year.

“Gems and shit,” He mumbled, “It’s whatever.”

“Gems?” Mina raised a brow, “Like jewellery? I thought you didn’t know where she lived?”

“No,” He grunted, “Like in the fuckin’ game.”

It sounded so stupid talking about it now, embarrassing even that he was explaining to his friends about buying you fictional gifts, things that wouldn’t help a single person on the outside world. But it meant something to him, and it obviously meant something to you too. It was the feeling he got whenever he spoiled you, the appreciation in your voice when he was able to surprise you with these random gifts. It was his way of trying to show you that he cared about you on a deeper level, to show that he loved you. Fuck, did he love you?

“How much have you spent?” Kirishima asked curiously.

“None of your fuckin’ business.” Bakugou’s shoulders slumped over protectively, a subtle way to try and shield himself from the incoming questions flying towards him like bullets.

“That much, huh?” Kaminari scoffed, “Bet she’s enjoying the ride.”

“It ain’t like that,” Bakugou snarled.

“How many other guys do you think she’s doing this too as well, dude.” Sero sighed, “You know it happens.”

“She isn’t.” Bakugou knew you couldn’t be talking to more people, you spent virtually all your free time talking to him, you didn’t have a single second to talk to anyone else.

“What do you think she’s doing when you’re at work?” Kaminari deadpanned, “You think she’s sleeping?”

“She’s got a job,” Bakugou scoffed, “She works with finhead.”

“You mean Manual?” Kirishima asked.

“Oh, how convenient. She works for one of the biggest agencies in the city.” Kaminari continues, “I’m telling you Kacchan, she’s saying that to give herself time to talk to other guys.”

“She ain’t fuckin’ doing that,” Bakugou grunted, wondering why he was even listening to them anymore.

“I mean she could be talking to other guys, you just might not know?” Mina shrugged, “I had four guys at the same time when I downloaded that dating app one time, you just gotta pick the best option.” She took a sip of her cocktail as Kirishima tried to give his friend a reassuring look.

“We told you, man, catfish.” Kaminari persisted.

“We just care about you,” Mina gave him a sympathetic look.

“Mina’s right, Kats. We just don’t want the same thing that happened to you last time happening again.” Kirishima placed a palm on his shoulder, squeezing reassuringly.

Shrugging Kirishima’s hand off his shoulder as he shoved his chair back roughly, the legs scraping against the wooden floor. Bakugou made his way to the bar for something stronger, bulldozing through the crowd. Teeth grinding together to try and stop himself from exploding inside the dive bar, his palms sweating with irritation as he rubbed them against his jeans. They didn’t have a clue, they didn’t know you like he did. They knew absolutely nothing about you.

There’s no way you were a fucking catfish after everything he’d found out about you, how long he’d spent talking to you each evening even during work. He wasn’t an idiot, he wouldn’t allow himself to fall for someone who was deceiving him like that, he was a Pro-Hero for fucks sake. He’d spent years of his life training himself to understand when people were being deceptive, and he had never felt that way around you.

But he began to think back to all the times he had asked you to video chat with him and you’d refused. Replaying the different excuses that you’d given him each time, each one slightly different than the last. Something that never really bothered him until now, wondering if this was the reason why you didn’t- because you couldn’t. If you were really who you said you were, why wouldn’t you video call with him?

Holding his palm out as he waved down the bartender, trying to distract himself from thoughts of you as he pulled his wallet out from his back pocket.

“Whisky, neat.”

Bakugou grunted as the door to his apartment swung open, seconds away from falling face forward onto the gangway as he steadied himself on the doorframe. Stumbling into his apartment as he closed the door behind him with far more force than necessary. The loud bang reverberated into his quiet apartment as he kicked his shoes off, already fuelled by spite from the night out with his friends.

They didn’t know what they were talking about, they knew nothing about you.

Pulling his phone out from his jeans pocket as the screen illuminated in the dark apartment, your photograph flashing on his lock screen as his expression calmed. The deep lines from his frown softened as he felt his heart begin to speed up at the sight of you. Even if they didn’t believe you were real, he did. He knew that there was no way to fake the interactions you’d both had together, even if he’d never been able to meet you before. Fake people were so easy to spot, easy to catch- and that wasn’t you.

Squinting as he tried to unlock his phone, the face ID not working due to the darkness in the room as he haphazardly typed in his passcode, swiping against the screen until he found your phone number, uncaring that it was almost two in the morning in his drunken haze as he pressed call. The familiar sound ringing as he waited for you to pick up, grumbling beneath his breath as he continued to navigate through his apartment, making his way towards his bedroom.

Fuck, he grunted, shouldering the doorframe to his room as he stumbled inside. Flopping back onto his bed as the call went through to voicemail.

“Pick the fuck up, baby. Wanna speak to you-” He spoke into the phone, leaving the message before he went back to redial.

Trying a voice call this time, the different ringtone played out as he squinted at his phone in the darkness. Barely able to see his face as the camera filled the screen, the slightest hint of his eyes and nose visible as he waited for you to pick up. The call ringing out as he grumbled beneath his breath.

“Katsu?” You murmured groggily, not even realising that it was a video call until you huddled back beneath your duvet. Using it to conceal your face as you saw the angry blond on the other side.

Bakugou’s eyes tried to focus on the screen to get a better look at you, his gaze meeting yours as his heart began to throb in his chest, an uncharacteristically big smile appearing on his face as he heard his name coming from your lips.

“Baby,” He breathed, “I fuckin’ missed you.”

“I missed you too,” You smiled on the other side of the phone, realising that he was clearly intoxicated, “Did you have fun?”

“Tch, was fine.” He slurred, “Woulda rather been with you.”

“Me too,” You smiled, “You gonna get some sleep now?”

“Wanted to talk to you first,” He rasped, “Wanted to hear your voice.”

“Drink some water before you go to sleep,” You cooed, “Can you do that for me?”

“Course I fuckin’ can. I’m a Pro-Hero,” He puffed out his chest as you saw him drop the phone to the side, leaving you staring at darkness as you heard him shuffling on the other side of the phone.

“You okay, Katsuki?” You asked as he held the phone back to his face a few moments later.

“Took my clothes off.” He slurred, “Too hot.”

“You are too hot,” You laughed, cuddling back against your sheets as you watched him flop back down onto the bed.

“I love you, you know.”

“What?” Did he really just say what you thought he’d said, even in his drunken state there must be some kind of truth to the words or something that had prompted the admission. Liquid courage was often a blessing and a curse.

“I said I love you, dumbass.” Bakugou grumbled, “And I really fuckin’ do. You’re so perfect. Too good f’ me.”

“I’m really not,” You smiled softly, watching as his eyes began to droop in the low light.

“Just needed to tell ya-” You listened closely as he became quieter on the other side of the line, his breathing flattening as he’d clearly fallen asleep on the other side of the line.

He was definitely not about to drink some water, you mused as you continued to watch him. Soft snores began to spill from his lips that brought a sense of comfort to you, your heart racing in your chest as you watched him. Placing your phone on the bed beside you as you snuggled into your pillow.

“I love you too, Katsuki.” You whispered, closing your eyes as you allowed yourself to fall asleep to the sound of him.

You hadn’t expected Bakugou to come online quite so early the next day, waking up to see the phone call disconnected as you felt a slight twinge of sadness in your chest. Hoping that you might have been able to catch a glimpse of his sleeping face in the early hours of the morning as the sun began to rise.

Making yourself a cup of coffee as you settled into your gaming chair, hoping to occupy yourself on your day off work until he was up and ready to join you. Sending him a good morning text message before logging into the game.

You’d managed to clear one of the forest areas by yourself, using the Scythe’s that Bakugou had helped you upgrade, the levels improving its stability and power as you collected the achievements at the end. Excited to show him the new content that you’d managed to snag as you took a sip of your drink.

A few hours later you saw the familiar notification that Bakugou had logged into the game, the status symbol turning green as you moved to send him a text message. Not wanting to pull him into a voice call as you could only imagine how much his head throbbed after last night, wondering if he remembered anything from the early morning events. Bakugou, however, beat you to it when you saw the familiar call screen appear, immediately accepting with a smile on your face.

“Morning, Katsuki.”

“Hey, sweetheart.” He groans, his voice husky from sleep and the previous night's activities.

“How you feeling?” You hummed.

“Fine,” He grunted, “Drank too fuckin’ much.”

“Do you remember anything from last night?” You wondered if he did-

“Got home and tried to call you fifty fuckin’ times, apparently.” He scoffed, “I woke up at like five and the call was still connected, sorry about that-”

“It’s okay, I didn’t mind,” You smiled, “It was cute.”

“Cute?” He scoffed, “Ain’t nothin’ about me cute, princess.”

“Well, you were last night.” You did feel slightly forlorn that he didn’t seem to remember his confession during the phone call, wondering if it had just been him drunk and nothing else.

“Hope you didn’t lose too much sleep because of me.”

“Nah, I actually liked it,” You hummed, “Made me feel like you were thinking about me.”

“I was,” He shrugged.

“I was thinking about you too.” You smiled, “And at least I found out something new about you last night.”

“Oh yeah? What’s that?” He replied curiously.”

“That you can’t hold your drink,” You laughed, hearing him tell you to "piss off” on the other side of the line as you scrolled your cursor to the world map, “Are you sure you’re okay to play this morning? You can take a nap or grab some food first?”

“‘m fine, got some water.” He brushed you off, “Did you find a lobby for us?”

“Yeah, this one- it’s closing in a few minutes.” You dropped the link as you watched his avatar appear beside your own, “It feels like ages since we’ve played together.”

“Aww, you miss me?” You can hear the cocky tone to his voice as you check your inventory, making sure you’re still stocked up on potions as the timer continues to count down.

You end up playing three more raids with Bakugou in a row, making up for lost time as your busy lives have kept you away from the game. Trying to maintain your level as you prepare yourself for the next floor boss.

“I need to go and take a bath, I’ve got a few errands to run but I’ll be back in a few hours?” You smile, stretching your arms above your head, “That way we’ll have the entire evening to try and beat the boss together with no distractions.”

“A bath?” Bakugou groans, the only words he’s picked up on in the entire sentence, “You tryin’ to turn me on, sweetheart?”

“I wasn’t,” You hummed, “But are you?”

“Fuck,” He rasped, feeling his cock begin to stir between his thighs, “Just thinkin’ about you like that’s gonna have me hard.” He groaned.

“Maybe I’ll take some pictures for you,” You smirked.

“Better not be teasin’ me, woman.” He goaded you.

“Would I do that to you?” You cheekily replied.

“I think you would, gonna prove me wrong?” He teased.

“I’ll speak to you in a bit, Katsuki.” You smiled, moving to end the call.

“Course, sweetheart.”

Bakugou groaned as he moved his focus back to the game, hoping to try and clear some levels in return for you by the time you returned from your bath. But now all he could think about was you completely naked and covered by the warm, soapy water. Imagining how your body would look covered in that wet sheen as you ran your hands all over yourself, cleaning every single inch of yourself.

“Fuck,” He rasped, glancing down at the now visible hardness beneath his grey sweatpants.

Leaning back in his computer chair as he reached for his phone to take a picture for you, hitting send before moving a hand down to palm himself in order to grant some sweet relief.

Bakugou[11:45AM]: Fuck, princess. Look what you do to me. Got me so hard for you.

He squeezed his cock, feeling it throb beneath the fabric as he raised his hips enough to pull it down his thighs, letting it hang slack around his calves as he wrapped his fingers around his drooling length. Sucking a hiss through his teeth at the sensation as he moved to open the risque nudes that you’d sent him before, holding his phone in a palm as he began to work his cock with the other. Leaning forward to spit down onto the tip as some of it landed on his fist, using it as lubrication as he began to languidly pump himself.

Crude thoughts of you flooded his mind as he imagined the look you would give him as you sat on your knees for him, those pretty tits in perfect view as he’d move to press the fat tip of his cock against your pouty lips. Groaning as your tongue would slip out to lap at the slit, tasting him before slowly taking him inside your wet heat. Tightening his grip on himself as he tried to replicate how it would feel, your tongue brushing against the prominent veins that forked along his length as the head hit the back of your throat, imagining how much of him you’d be able to take before you were gagging around him. Spluttering as a mixture of his cum and your spit dribbled down your chin, making you look so debauched for him.

“Shit,” He continued, closing his eyes as he began to imagine what your pretty pussy would look like wrapped around his cock. The bulging tip bullying its way between your folds to nudge your clit as he made you cry out for him, imagining how desperate you’d sound as you called his name. The sound of it spilling from your lips now ingrained in his memory, though he wished he’d recorded you saying it so he could play it whenever he pleased.

Speeding up as he found himself getting closer and closer to his climax, teeth grinding together as more grunts reverberated from deep in his chest, the crude sound of his hand working his cock filling the quiet room.

But then his mind began to wander further, replaying the words that Sero and Kaminari had said to him the night before, “Ain’t no way she’s real.”

Bakugou scrunched his nose as he tried to ignore the sound of Kaminari’s voice playing in his mind, instead opening his eyes to glance back at the photograph you’d sent him of you in the pretty lingerie for him, focused on the curve of your ass as he began to imagine how it would look when you were bouncing on his cock-

“We told you, man, catfish.”

Snarling in frustration as he felt his cock begin to soften at the words, his mind now plagued with scepticism and disbelief as he felt his climax slip away from him. His heavy balls aching with the desire to empty his seed, but now all he could think about was the fact that you may not be who you said you were.

What if they were right? He’d only ever seen photographs of you, and what if you’d sent these photographs to everyone you were speaking to online? What if you’d been sent them from a friend who was in on it too, and you were only after his money. What if they were pictures of a victim that didn’t even know her pictures were being used, and he was being a disgusting pervert getting off to them.

Fuck, he felt so confused. Letting his head fall back against his gaming chair as he moved to text you one-handed.

Bakugou[12.10PM]: We need to talk.

You wrapped a warm, fluffy towel around you as you climbed out of the bath, letting the water slowly swirl down the drain as you made your way back into your bedroom. Almost embarrassed by how quickly you found yourself missing Bakugou as you moved to send him a text, surprised to find however a slew of texts from him first.

Bakugou[12.10PM]: We need to talk.

Bakugou[12.10PM]: I’ve been doing a lot of thinking.

Bakugou[12.12PM]: Can you just text me when you’re back so we can talk.

Bakugou[12.15PM]: I’ll be waiting.

His tone made you feel nervous as you read through the messages he’d left you, nervously raising the phone to your ear to call him but you were left with no response. The call forwarding to his voicemail as though he’d let it ring out.

You[12.17PM]: I’m here, can you pick the phone up please I’m trying to call you?

Nervously trying to call him again, but being left with the exact same voicemail message as you cut the call before the familiar beep.

You[12.19PM]: Katsuki?

You remembered that he had promised to wait online for you so you moved towards your desktop computer, noticing that his avatar still showed that it was online and in green, so you chanced leaving him a message on there too.

You: Katsuki? You wanted to talk?

When you looked closer you noticed that his character was currently in play, clicking onto it to look up the stat as it showed what lobby he’d entered. He was taking part in one of the one-on-one fights, battling another opponent, someone that you didn’t recognise. Moving your character to the lobby of the fight where spectators could watch you noticed the level of stamina he was using was completely unnecessary for the opponent he was up against, his sword slashing forward in rapid succession as he set out a frenzied attack on the other player.

Waiting as he threw the final hit towards the other avatar as ‘VICTORY’ flashed up on the screen in a bright blue font, hoping now that he would notice your messages and call you back as you waited with your phone in hand.

Picking up on the first ring as you saw him finally call you, the phone going straight to your ear as you didn’t bother with headphones.

“Katsuki, are you okay?”

“Yeah,” He grunted, you could hear his chest heaving on the other side of the phone.

“What did you want to talk about?” You weren’t even sure you wanted to know.

“Are you real?” He asked.

“Wait, what?” You were caught off guard by the question, what did he mean were you real?

“It’s a simple fuckin’ question.” He spat back, the rage slowly building inside him, “Are you who you fuckin’ said you are.”

“Yes, of course I am.” You were so confused, “Why wouldn’t I be?”

“So why are you sending me fake fuckin’ pictures?” You were at a loss for words, wondering what had led him to think you were sending him pictures that weren’t of you. Wondering if you’d accidentally sent him a picture of one of your friends instead, or something random from your camera roll.

“I’m not though, Katsuki.” You replied, wondering if you should go back through your conversations to try and find out what he meant.

“Don’t lie to me,” He growled, “How many other guys are you doin’ this to?”

“Can you just tell me what you’re talking about?” You huffed, “What other guys?”

“Answer the fuckin’ question.” He sneered, “Do I have to dumb it down for you, sweetheart? How many guys are you talking to?”

“Just you?” You answered as though it was the most obvious question in the world, of course he was the only guy you were talking to. You spent almost every free minute you had with him outside of work and sleep.

“Oh, so I’m the lucky one this time, hah?” He jeered, “Lucky me.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about, Katsuki.” You’d heard of Dynamight’s volatile temper, the media portraying this side of him frequently. But you never expected to hear it firsthand.

“Stop fuckin’ callin’ me that.” He growled, “You’re the one out here whoring yourself out and for what? A few extra gems in the game?”

“I’m what?”

Did he just call you a whore?

“Wastin’ your fuckin’ time for a game that doesn’t even exist, pathetic.” He continued.

“I honestly don’t know what you’re talking about, Bakugou.” You felt tears pooling in your eyes at his harsh tone.

“Who’s the girl in the pictures?” He pressed.

“Me?” You’d scrolled back through your conversations, the only pictures you’d sent him were pictures of you.

“Tell me the fuckin’ truth.” He snarled, “I don’t have time for your bullshit.”

“What bullshit, Katsuki.” You shouted back in exasperation, “If I was a catfish, don’t you think I’d find better pictures to send you?”

“What are you fuckin’ talking about?” He spat scornfully.

“Prettier pictures.” You mumbled, thick tears began to fall down the apples of your cheeks as you tried to brush them away with the palm of your hand.

“Okay, if you’re not lying, video chat with me right now.” He deadpanned.

“W-what?”

“It’s that simple.” He growled, “If you’re really who you said you are, you'd do it.”

“I can’t-” You pleaded, it wasn’t that simple-

“It’s a fuckin’ video call, why won’t you do it with me?” He barked, his tone dark.

Your ex-boyfriend's words repeated in your mind at the request, reminding yourself why you could never allow yourself to be comfortable enough to accept the video call. “Wow, I wasn’t expecting you to look that bad on video,” the words were like a stake to the heart when he’d said them to you, every single insecurity you had now slowly piling up. You hated your skin, especially when you’d just got out of the shower. Not to mention the tears that were beginning to pool in your thick lashes, giving you puffy skin around your eyes as you tried desperately to keep them inside. You didn’t want him to see you like this, you couldn’t handle that kind of rejection again. Especially from someone who you were so deeply in love with.

“I just can’t right now-” You mumble, “If you give me time-”

You were going to try and put makeup on and find somewhere in your house with better lighting, preparing yourself to be vulnerable for him.

“What?” He grunted, “So you can come up with more excuses.”

“It’s not an excuse.” You mumbled, even though it was. Your insecurities were always your biggest downfall when it came to relationships or even just life in general. The thing that always seemed to hold you back the most.

“I should’ve fuckin’ known you were only talking to me because of my money.” He scoffed, “You’re like all the rest.”

“Wait, what?” Now you were confused, the money?

“You can’t even do this one thing for me.” He continued, “One simple fuckin’ thing.”

“Look, plea-”

“Fucking bitch.” He snarled, cutting you off, “Delete my number now.”

“Wait, Katsuki. What?” Tears continued to spill down your cheeks.

“Don’t talk to me ever again, I didn’t want to believe them, but you proved it.” He continued on, his voice getting louder the more enraged he became, “Fuckin’ dunceface was right, you’re just another bitch tryin’ to get my fuckin’ money.”

“I wasn’t-” Is that really how little he thought of you?

“What was it gonna be next- A bag? A car?” He scoffed, “Or maybe you were just lookin’ to sell your story to the papers, hah? Another fuckin’ whore tryin’ to get rich off my back, well I ain’t letting it happen again.”

“I really fucking liked you Bakugou Katsuki,” You sniffed, tears now dropping onto the towel you were still wrapped in as you shivered silently, soaking into the damp fabric as you stopped trying to rub them away, “I really thought I was falling in love with you.”

“Falling in love with me or my money?” He sneered.

“You’re such a fucking asshole.” Your voice was so quiet when you spoke, barely a whisper as you ended the call.

Blocking his number first as you moved to discord to block his profile, tears dripping from your cheeks and onto your chest as you sat there wrapped in a fluffy towel, uncaring that you were still slightly damp as you climbed back into your bed. Pulling the duvet over your shaking body as you let the tears flow freely, soaking your pillow as you tried to process what had just happened, what Bakugou had accused you of.

You didn’t expect it to end like this.

It had been three weeks since Bakugou had talked to you last, and everyone at the agency was experiencing the aftermath. Bakugou’s temper reached a contentious boiling point, one that threatened to erupt like hot burning lava from a volcano each time he stepped into the office. Even petty crime had decreased in the area, villains terrified of being at the end of one of Bakugou’s explosive outbursts. The Dynamight agency now a volatile battleground as he picked up as many shifts as possible, completely surrounding himself with his work in a feeble attempt to take his mind off you, if only just for a few moments.

You’d done this to him, turned him into this bitter creature that was still full of so much love for you even after everything. He couldn’t take away the bitter taste in his mouth when he reminded himself what you’d done to deceive him, the lies you told. Bile thick in his throat as he remembered the way he’d opened up to you, just to have you throw it back in his face.

He had to stop himself unblocking you after the first night, whether it was to throw more insults at you or to tell you he was sorry he was unsure. Either way, he missed your voice. The only thing that dulled the ache slightly was work, even sleep only brought him memories of you.

Bakugou hadn’t touched the game since he stopped speaking to you, not even wanting to go online to see more memories of the times with you, the old snapshots and messages of the nights you’d spent together, the moments he’d spent falling in love with you.

He’d been foolish, he’d let his guard down and allowed himself to fall for you, but he wouldn’t let it happen again.

His heart was already a fortress, guarded with gates so high that no one could break through, or so he thought. The gates opening with a key that you seemed to hold as you broke through, stealing his heart as you held it in your hands. Taking everything until the fortress was completely barren.

“I fuckin’ told you what enhancements I wanted on the gauntlets, why isn’t it ready?” He snarled on the phone to a poor member of his technology department, “I don’t fuckin’ care what excuses you have, just get it done-”

Bakugou slammed the phone down in fury as Kirishima loitered near the entrance to his office, giving him a soft smile as he closed the door behind him, watching his friend card a hand through his messy blond hair, heaving a sigh.

“I know you miss her, Bakubro.” Kirishima started before he was cut off by his best friend.

“I don’t miss shit,” Bakugou grunted.

‘You don’t have to lie to me.” Kirishima continued, “She was a big part of your life. I know how you felt about her.”

“You don’t know shit,” Bakugou growled, the more he thought about you, the fierier he became.

“Well, I remembered you telling me that she worked for a hero agency,” Kirishima began, choosing his words carefully.

“Yeah, another fuckin’ lie,” Bakugou grunted, sitting back in his chair as his leg bounced beneath the desk to try and stop himself from exploding.

“Well, man.” Kirishima came around the desk to stand beside Bakugou, holding his phone out to his best friend, “I thought you might want to see this-”

Bakugou’s eyes roamed the screen as he saw your name in the middle, your job title below it along with the agency you worked at and your contact number. The exact same digits and area code as the number you’d given to him-

“It probably wasn’t the best idea, but I know the database has information for all Pro-Hero Agency employees in the country in case of emergency, and I figured I’d take a quick look. There’s one, in particular, that has information on employees for shared missions. And she came up-”

“This don’t prove shit,” Bakugou grunted, “Just means she’s pretending to be whoever this is.”

“I thought that could be a possibility too, so I searched her name online and found this-” Kirishima’s fingers slid against his screen clumsily as he closed the photo he’d shown Bakugou, moving it to Instagram to show him the page, “This was her right?”

Bakugou snatched the phone from Kirishima’s hands as he began to scroll through your feed, clicking on certain photographs where you were the main focus. A few candid ones where you were laughing at something, and some were where you were sitting in the same gaming chair with the pink headphones he recognised.

“Has she sent you any of these pictures before, man?” Kirishima asked as he continued looking over Bakugou’s shoulder, “Some of them are tagged by friends too, it looks legit.”

He felt like an asshole.

Bakugou continued scrolling through the phone, his finger stroking over your cheek on the screen as he read through some of the captions. A lot of them seemed to be about you missing home, missing your friends. Some of the photographs he’d seen before, remembering when you’d showed them to him and the stories behind them. Others he’d never seen until now, looking through pictures where you looked so happy, so free. But he’d also seen some that you hadn’t posted on here at all, remembering your words when you’d told him that they’d been for his eyes only.

“See, man.” Kirishima gave him a small smile, “She’s real.”

“Fuck.”

It was probably too late to fix it, he’d already ruined any chance he had of being with you. Dumping the phone onto his desk as he sat back in his chair, brows set into a firm glare.

“Are you not gonna go and find her, Kats?” Kirishima asked, he hadn’t seen his friend look this defeated since high school.

“No fuckin’ point, I already fucked it.”

“Just go and tell her how you feel, man.” Kirishima squeezed his shoulder reassuringly, “At least then you can say you tried.”

Bakugou scoffed, shaking his head as he continued staring forward. He didn’t deserve you anyway, people like him didn’t deserve happiness.

“Sometimes it isn’t just about you.” Kirishima continued, “What about her feelings?”

“She’s better off without me.”

“That isn’t your decision to make.” Kirishima pushed, “You can’t keep being a coward-”

“I ain’t a fuckin’ coward.” Bakugou sneered.

“Then tell her how you feel.”

Bakugou stood from his chair, deliberately shouldering Kirishima out of the way as he stormed out of his office. It was probably too late, but Kirishima was right. You were the best thing that had ever happened to him, so he had to fucking try.

“There’s someone here at reception for you.” You looked from the paperwork on your desk to see one of your colleagues calling for you from across the room.

“For me?” You wondered if they’d got you confused with someone else, you didn’t know anyone in the city. And even if your friends had come to visit you here, there’s no way they’d turn up at the agency unannounced.

“You can’t just come in here Dynamight, sir—” Your eyes widened in surprise when you saw the Pro-Hero standing in the doorway, his eyes roaming over the office through his black mask as he sought you out. Immediately stilling when his gaze met your own as if it was your look alone that calmed the hurricane that blustered towards you.

“Bakugou,” You mumbled beneath your breath.

You’d spent so long and tried so hard to push him to the back of your mind that now he was finally here the emotions threatened to come bubbling back to the surface. Your throat seized up as you felt tears threatening to spill from your glassy eyes, watching him as he made a beeline for you. The entire office was silent as they watched the interaction with absolutely no subtlety, the realisation causing you to feel even more uncomfortable.

“What are you doing here?” You felt so self-conscious beneath his gaze for the first time, unsure where to look as you focused on the bright orange ‘x’ that sat across his chest. He was so much taller than you, making you feel so small in comparison. No longer having the screen separating the both of you which gave you the confidence to talk to him, instead of feeling so nervous in his company. Especially when he was clad in his signature hero outfit, everything apart from the large gauntlets he usually carried. As though he’d made it over to Manuals Agency in a rush, forgetting them in his haste.

What made it worse was the fact that you were still struggling to sleep even though it had been weeks since you’d blocked him, the pain of your last conversation with him still weighed heavy on your mind as you willed the ground to swallow you whole. The silence was deafening as you could feel his eyes drinking in the sight of you, you couldn’t recall the last time you’d felt so hideous.

Wishing that you’d had some sort of divine intervention this morning when you’d woken up for work and put some make-up on to try and hide the darkened bags beneath your eyes or your slight uneven skin tone.

“I needed to talk to you,” Bakugou spoke simply, his gaze unwavering.

“You haven’t wanted to talk to me for weeks and suddenly you show up at my office?” You crossed your hands over your chest, trying to grant yourself some comfort as you held your own.

“I-” He paused, as though trying to think of the words first.

“You can’t just show up at my job unannounced after what you did,” You raise your voice in a mock whisper as you look around the agency at your colleagues, feeling sets of eyes on you as the Number Seven hero Dynamight stood tall in their office, looming over everyone with that same domineering energy he conducted each time he entered a room.

“I needed to talk to you, please,” He continued, “Will you come outside with me?”

“No,” You shake your head, trying to push back the tears that threaten to fall, “You don’t get to come in trying to control things when you’re the one that fucked this up.”

“I know I fucked up, I know.” He sighed, “Please will you at least talk to me in private?”

You chewed the inside of your lip, wishing that you’re resolve was stronger. If there was one thing you knew about Dynamight from the media it was that he didn’t beg, but the pleading look that you saw on his face now said otherwise.

“Wait here,” You heaved a sigh as you moved back to your desk to pick up your bag, switching your monitor off before walking towards your boss' table to let him know you were taking lunch.

“Isn’t it a little early for that?” You turned your head to the side slightly as you watched his gaze meet Dynamight’s stoic stare as he glanced back towards you with wide eyes, “Oh, I see- take as long as you need.”

Moving back through your office as you walked straight past Bakugou, leaving the same way he came in as you took him around the Manual Agency building, coming to a small square with an understated water fountain outside. A mock version of the Normal Hero stood in the middle as it shot out streams of water in various directions, a simple ode to his quirk.

“I eat my lunch out here sometimes,” You mumbled softly, moving to sit on one of the vacant benches around the fountain as you smiled softly at the water feature.

“S’nice.” Bakugou whispered, standing awkwardly beside your seated figure before he dropped down beside you. Pulling his black mask up over his face until it lay against the top of his forehead, pushing some of the blond messy spikes from his face. Hating the way your body betrayed you as you looked at how attractive it made him, your eyes flitting towards his lips and the stubble that shadowed his jawline before averting your gaze.

“Why are you really here, Bakugou?” You asked, chancing a glance at the blond, “You made your feelings pretty clear already.”

“Why wouldn’t you video chat with me?” He murmured softly.

Biting your lip as you tried to work out how to explain to him why you couldn’t, why you didn’t. Suddenly feeling the vulnerability of not having a screen to hide behind or a keyboard to use. This time face to face with the object of your affections, your heart felt like it was caught in your throat as you took a deep breath.

“I was scared, okay.” You exhaled softly, “I’ve never looked good on video, and I didn’t want you to think I was ugly.”

“You- what?” Bakugou couldn’t believe what you were saying, why would he think you were ugly?

“I was with my ex for a while,” You smiled bitterly, “Used to think he was the love of my life.”

You almost laughed looking back at the memory, it felt like worlds away from where you were now.

“We used to video chat a lot, especially when he had to work late or I picked up extra shifts,” You continued, “But he used to say I looked horrible on video, that the camera picked up all my worst angles.”

You could feel the tears beginning to build up again, and you sniffed, looking up at the sky as you tried to stop them from falling. Trying desperately not to cry in front of Bakugou, exhaling softly as you continued.

“And then I found out who you were, and how attractive you were, and how many beautiful girls you’ve probably been with and I couldn’t do it.” You shook your head, “I just kept hearing those same words from my ex, and I couldn’t bear hearing them from you.”

“Wouldn’t have called you ugly,” He scoffed, “There’s no way.”

“No, but you would’ve thought it- and that’s almost just as bad.” You sniffed, tears clinging to your lashes as they blurred your vision.

“Ain’t an ugly part of you.” He mumbled, chewing his lip. The words causing you to scoff as you shook your head in disagreement.

“I saw your Instagram,” He continued.

“Oh god, there are some horrible tagged photos of me on there,” You groaned, willing the ground to swallow you whole as you pictured Bakugou’s face as he went through your page. A look of pure disgust on his features as he found the ones where you were making silly faces with your friends, or coming home from a long night out.

“I didn’t see a single ugly photo.” His eyes met yours, tugging one of his gloves off as he dropped it onto the bench beside him. Raising his thumb to brush the tears from your cheek.

“You believe me now?” You smiled woefully, moving away from his touch. Certain that if you leaned into it you’d melt back into him.

“I shouldn’t have acted like that.” Bakugou shook his head.

“You’re right, you shouldn’t have.” You could feel the anger building inside you. “We could’ve just spoke about it like adults, but instead you decided to come in on the defensive-”

“I-” He began, but you cut him off.

“You fucking thought I was the one lying to you, when you’re the one that said he was a Pro-Hero.”

“I’m sorry.” He whispered, so quietly you weren’t even sure you’d heard it.

“I just don’t know why you couldn’t just talk to me.” You mumbled.

“My ex,” Bakugou began, shifting on the bench to stare at the water that danced across the fountain, sparkling in the bright afternoon sunlight, “Ended up leaving me and selling a story to the papers.”

He raised his thumb up to his lips, biting down on the pad as he continued to avoid your gaze, staying quiet beside him as you allowed him the time to continue his story.

“Turned out she was only with me for the money, not because she actually wanted to be with me,” He lamented.

“But you’re Dynamight, why wouldn’t she wanna be with just you?” You raised a brow, there were thousands of women out there who would’ve killed to be in her position.

“‘m just an asshole, I guess.” He shrugged, “When she left me she actually said that no one would love someone as cold as me.”

He scoffed as he shook his head, letting his palms drop back onto his lap, “She was probably right.”

“I mean, you are an asshole.” You smiled softly, “But I still like you.”

“Yeah?” He replied, a small smile on his face as he turned his head to face you.

Returning the gesture as you slipped your hand into his upturned palm, lacing your fingers together as you squeezed softly, feeling the palm slick with sweat as you took note of how much bigger his hands were compared to yours.

“I should’ve been the one thinking you were a catfish,” You laughed, “You’re a fucking Pro-Hero.”

“I know,” He groaned, hesitating for a moment before he continued, “Please just let me make it up to you?”

“It’s gonna take a lot of making up,” You gave his palm another squeeze, “And Mapo Tofu.”

Bakugou smiled at the words, “You got a deal, princess.”

You shyly met his gaze as you leaned forward, keeping your grip on his hand as you met his lips in a gentle kiss. His gloved palm moved up to cup your cheek as he deepened it, swiping his tongue against your bottom lip before delving forward. Brushing against your own as you melted into him, tilting your head to the side as he deepened the kiss. This was exactly what you’d been fantasising about ever since you’d first met him all those weeks ago online and you couldn’t believe that it was actually happening here and now. Wondering if you were going to wake up and it would all be a dream. Reluctantly breaking the kiss as he lay his forehead against your own, his gloved thumb stroking your cheek as you both basked in the intimacy of the moment for a little longer.

“Come to my house for dinner,” He asks gruffly, noticing the hesitation on your face as he chews his lip.

“What, now?” You raised a brow.

“Tch, yeah.” He shrugs, “Lemme make it up to you.”

“I’ve gotta get back to work, Bakugou. I just walked out-” You began but he cut you off.

“Manual owes me so many fuckin’ favours I’m cashin’ in on this one right now.”

Jumping up to sit on his kitchen counter as you watched him begin to gather the ingredients he needed to cook for you, a soft smile on your face when you noticed how comfortable he looked. A completely different face to the usually bold and brash Pro-Hero Dynamignt.

“What you statin’ at?” He rasped, looking over his shoulder at you as he placed a pan onto his stove.

“You.” You replied with a grin, your legs gently swaying from side to side as he turned to face you.

“Be careful, princess.” He rasped.

“It’s just nice getting to watch you cook,” You hummed, “I’m so used to just hearing it over voice chat.”

It felt so surreal that you’d not only met the man you’d been talking to for weeks but you were currently sitting in his huge apartment in one of the tallest high rises in the city. You’d expected the inside to be lavish and overstated if the ride up in the elevator was anything to go by. You were afraid to touch anything because everything looked expensive, terrified of leaving a mark on the perfect building. It almost made you feel out of place like you weren’t supposed to be here, that people like you didn’t belong in places like this.

Relieved when you’d stepped inside Bakugou’s apartment to find it looked relatively homely. The large, lavish furniture that you’d been expecting to fill the huge space was instead understated pieces that you could see yourself purchasing. Immediately giving a humble quality to the top ten Pro, although there were still a few examples of wealth that sat around the apartment. Multiple gaming consoles beneath a lavish television, his gaming setup looked custom-built and held his signature colours, and the subtle All Might merchandise that sat in key places around the room— all signed. He was still worlds away from your life, and the thought scared you slightly as you tried to push it to the back of your mind.

“Well,” Breaking you out of your thoughts as he came over to you, resting his large palms on your waist as he looked into your eyes, “If someone had video chatted with me, they would’ve seen me cook a long time ago.”

Even from your position on the island, your head was still lower than his own, your eyeline meeting his collarbones as he squeezed your hips softly.

“Yeah, yeah. I know,” You pouted, Bakugou unable to resist as he leaned forward to steal a kiss, “But I was scared.”

“I can’t believe you thought I’d think you were ugly,” He shook his head in disbelief, “Ain’t a single part of you that’s ugly.”

“You have to say that,” You sighed.

“You callin’ me a liar?” He raised a brow, if there was one thing Bakugou wasn't, it was a liar.

“No,” You shook your head, reaching up to wrap your arms around his broad shoulders. Spreading your thighs slightly to create more space so he could slip between them, bringing him closer to you.

“Good.” He leaned forward to steal a kiss, smirking when your head tried to follow his lips when he pulled back, “Better not be.”

“I still can’t believe you came into my office,” You smiled, playing with the hairs at the nape of his neck, “I’m pretty sure you gave my boss a heart attack.”

“I just knew I fucked up,” He grunted, “Had to fix it.”

“I thought you didn’t want me anymore.” You mumbled.

“I swear to you,” He raised one of his large palms to cup your cheek, leaning into his touch as he met your gaze, “I gotcha now, ain’t ever gonna let you go.”

“You promise?” You felt your heart begin to speed up at his words.

“I promise,” He stroked his thumb over your cheek.

“But what if you find someone better?” You mumbled.

“Whatcha mean ‘better’?” He scoffed.

“I dunno, like nicer, prettier-” You continued feebly.

Bakugou grabbed your wrist in one of his large palms, bringing your hand between your bodies as he pushed it against his crotch. Opening your hand as you lay it flat on top of the fabric, feeling the prominent bulge beneath as your lashes fluttered at the sensation.

“Do ya feel that?” He rasps, “That’s what you fuckin’ do to me, princess.”

Your lips parted in a silent moan as you felt his hips languidly roll into your touch, giving himself some needed friction as he pecked the corner of your mouth, his nose nuzzling your cheek.

“So don’t ever convince yourself that you’re ugly, or that I don’t want you because I really fuckin’ do.” He groaned, his warm breath fanning your face as you became bolder.

Using your grip on his shoulders to bring him down into a soft kiss, your fingers carding through the short hairs at the base of his undercut as you became bolder, pressing down harder on the bulge between his thighs to add to the friction. Your fingers tried to curl around his length through the fabric as he shamelessly began to rut his hips into your touch.

“You’re irresistible.” He growled against your lips, his warm palms sliding along your thighs as he found the curve of your ass. Squeezing your cheeks roughly as he pulled your ass to the edge of the island, moving your hand from his crotch to his shoulder to steady yourself as you gasped in surprise. Your thighs squeezed around his hips as you felt his crotch pressed snug against yours.

“Fuck,” He groaned, feeling the heat radiating from your core, your skirt riding higher up your thighs as all that was between him and your cunt was the thin fabric of your panties.

“Katsuki,” You hummed when you felt him begin to leave wet, open-mouthed kisses along the column of your neck. Stopping at your pulse point as his teeth latched on, biting down as he felt moans vibrating in your throat. His tongue slipped out to salve at the mark that was certain to darken as he continued lower, pressing his lips into the junction of your neck and shoulder as he repeated the action. Feeling your body grind against his in response as he began to stroke the apex of your thighs. Dipping his thumbs between them as he massaged the soft skin, moving dangerously close to your outer labia as listened to the way your breath hitched in your throat each time he neared your heat.

Dragging the back of his knuckle against the crotch of your panties as he heard you gasp in surprise, a cocky grin on his lips as he sought out your clit beneath the thin fabric, feeling your body throb from his ministrations.

“Don’t tease me,” You mumbled, rolling your hips into his touch as he pressed his thumb against your slit, pressing down on your panties as he pushed them between your folds, dragging the digit lower as he moved towards your tight entrance. Deliberately pressing against it through the fabric, knowing that he wouldn’t be able to slip inside you. The tip of his thumb barely pressed against your walls as he felt them flutter around him in anticipation.

“What was that, sweetheart?” Your slick now soaking your panties as he watches your reaction, continuing to circle your needy hole.

“Don’t tease me,” You almost whined, glancing up at your face to see your lashes fluttering as your pupils dilated, his cock twitching beneath his pants as he swore under his breath, “Please, Katsu.”

“Fuck,” He groaned, it was so damn hard to resist you.

Bakugou moved his fingers to the hem of your panties, tugging them down your hips as he helped ease you off the island just enough to pull them down your thighs. Almost ripping the fabric in his haste as he let them fall forgotten to the kitchen floor, dropping to his knees between your thighs as he brought you towards the edge of the counter.

“Fuckin’ hell.” He groaned, feeling the heat rise in your cheeks at the way his vermilion eyes were staring between your thighs.

His thumbs slipping up to spread your outer labia as he took in the creamy lines of slick that were glistening against your folds, gazing towards your entrance where your essence was pooling from. Inhaling thickly as you found yourself becoming more self-conscious beneath his gaze, trying to close your thighs to hide your intimacy.

“Stop,” He murmured, dilated pupils looking up at you as he held you open, “You’ve got no idea how many times I’ve thought about how perfect you’d look here-”

His thumb moved forward to brush a line along your slit, deliberately pressing against your clit to pull a sweet whine from your lips as he playfully tapped it.

“How many times I’ve fucked my fist to the thought of your pretty little pussy.” His words were like liquid sin, flowing through your veins and evoking the desire that brewed deep inside you, making every inch of you feel like you were on fire.

“Katsuki,” You whispered his name, feeling his breath ghosting your slit as he brought his lips closer to where you wanted them most, “Please-”

“I can’t resist you when you say my name like that,” He rasped, nostrils flaring before he moved forward. Laying his tongue flat as he licked a stripe along your slit, the sensation causing your body to jerk as he immediately held your thighs to stop you from moving away. Repeating the motion as he shamelessly slurped at your slick, tasting you on his tongue as he began to delve deeper. The tip of his tongue catching your tight entrance as his nose nudged your clit, bullying his way inside your quivering walls as you moved your hand to the messy spikes on the top of his head as your nails scratched at his scalp. Pushing the hair back from his forehead so you could get a better look at him feasting on your cunt like a man starved, the crude slurping that filled the kitchen had you throbbing. The sound should’ve been depraved, embarrassing but it had you intoxicated on him as you listened to how desperate he was for you.

His tongue lashing against your inner walls, pushing it as deep as he could inside you as you continued to cry out for him, one of your thighs over his shoulder as you pressed the heel of your foot into his back. Bakugou dragged his tongue higher to focus on your clit as a thick finger pressed against your needy hole, slipping inside you as he curled it towards the spongy spot inside you. His tongue flicking your clit as his lips wrapped around it, feeling just how tight you were on his finger— how much tighter you’d feel stretched around his cock. The thought alone had him throbbing between his thighs, rutting his hips to try and create some friction against his pants as he added a second finger inside your dripping heat. The subtle stretch had you calling out his name, tightening your grip in his messy hair as you pushed his head harder into your cunt.

“Kats- oh, fuck.” You trailed off, feeling the calloused pads of his fingers focused on the same spot inside you as he gave quick, deliberate flicks of his wrist, “I’m gonna-”

“Come on, baby.” He goaded you, his voice rumbling against your clit. Eyes staring up at you from between your thighs as he wanted to watch when he made you come undone, “Cum for me.”

You felt your release surge through your body in harsh waves, your lips parting in a squeal as your body jerked. Your toes curling as you pressed harder against his back, his tongue unrelenting on your clit as he continued flicking the sensitive nub helping you to ride out your release.

“Oh my god,” You mumbled, your chest heaving as you felt tremours continue to ebb through you, your tight walls clenching around nothing as Bakugou pulled his soaked fingers from your dripping folds. Shamelessly bringing them to his lips to clean your slick from them as he slipped his tongue between them. The sight alone was lewd, erotic as it had your clit throbbing for more.

“You are pure sin,” He groaned, pressing wet kisses against your inner thighs as he watched you come down from your high. Moving back to wipe the mixture of your slick and his spit from his mouth and chin with the back of his hand.

Your hands grabbing for him, trying to pull him back up to you as you pulled his lips to yours in a sloppy kiss, tasting yourself on his tongue as you clung to him for some semblance of reality, unable to truly believe that this was really happening right now.

“C‘mere.” He slurred, giving a rut of his hips to your soaking core, uncaring that your slick left a wet mark against his pants as he gripped your ass. Lifting you from the counter as you squealed, wrapping your arms around his shoulders to steady yourself.

“Please, Katsuki.” You squealed, “I’m too heavy.”

“Shut up, woman.” He scoffed, “You think I can’t carry ya?”

He deliberately squeezed your thighs, using them as leverage to push your body into the air. A scream left your lips as you felt yourself leave his grip for a moment, gravity bringing you back down into his arms as he bounced you in the air. Your hands scrambling for his shoulders as you held him tightly, ensuring he didn’t try and repeat the action as he let out a hearty laugh.

“You’re so damn cute,” He stole a kiss as he carried you through his apartment towards his bedroom, keeping you in his arms as he lay you on the soft sheets beneath him.

Your legs still wrapped around him as he brought you into another sloppy kiss that was all tongue and teeth, no sense of urgency as he languidly rolled his hips into you, leaving more lines of your slick against the material, the movement causing delicious friction as he kept pressing himself against you.

You caged his face with both palms, fingers brushing against the stubble that decorated his jawline as you brought him into another sloppy kiss. Languidly lapping your tongue against his lips with no real sense of urgency, just enjoying the moment with him.

The slow, sensual movement was not enough for the man above you as you felt him growl deep in his chest, capturing the sound with your mouth as he pulled back. Fingers slipping down to the hem of your shirt to pull it up and over your head, leaving you in your basic black bra. The fabric caged your breasts as he raised a large palm up to massage the soft mounds, looking at the size difference between them and his palm.

“I’ve been thinkin’ about these a lot too,” He groaned, pressing hot, searing kisses along your sternum. His hands pushed their way between you and the mattress as he felt for the clasp, roughly pinching and tugging at it until he felt it go lax, “They’re even prettier than the pictures.”

Smirking as he pulled back from your chest to remove the unnecessary obstacle as he threw it haphazardly to the floor.

“My pretty girl,” He hummed, his hands skirting up your sides as calloused thumbs brushed the underside of your breasts, teasing the supple skin as his eyes continued to drink in the newly revealed territory. Circling the pads of his thumbs around your darkened areolas as he heard the breath hitch in your throat, grazing your nipples as he watched them stiffen to hardened peaks beneath his ministrations.

Moving down to engulf one of your nipples between his lips, his tongue rolling over the surface as his teeth bit down slightly. Groaning around it as he tugged, pulling more sweet sounds from between your lips as your fingers found purchase back in his hair. Holding him against your chest as your nails grazed his scalp, pressing kisses between the junction of your breasts as he moved to give the other one more of the same attention.

“Katsuki,” You whined, shifting your hips as you tried to push your crotch against his, “I wanna touch you too,”

“Yeah?” He smirked, pulling away from your nipple now soaked with his spit as he playfully blew cool air on the sensitive peak. Watching the way your lashes fluttered for him as he kissed it softly.

“Please,” You reached out to grab his belt, the utility belt sat forgotten in his kitchen as he was left with the one holding up his pants as he helped you to unbuckle it. Sliding off the bed to tug the fabric down his thick, muscular thighs.

You shamelessly sat up on your forearms to watch the display as he kicked the forgotten garment off carelessly, your eyes instantly zoning in on the darkened stain against his boxer briefs. His pre soaking through the fabric as the thick length of him lay flat against his pelvis. Moving onto your knees as you came to the edge of the bed, watching him pull his vest up over his head as you saw his bare chest face to face for the first time.

You’d always known he had a body carved by the gods, every inch of him pure muscle as a result of the constant training for his job. Scars and marks gracing his torso as signs of the downfall of his career, things that should’ve made him look less appealing but somehow those imperfections only served to make him more perfect.

Reaching out to run your hands against the exposed skin, allowing your fingers to press into every dip and curve of his torso as you navigated towards his bulging pectorals. Watching his eyes flutter as you brushed your thumbs against his stiff nipples, hearing his breath hitch in his throat as he stroked the back of his hand against your cheek. Moving lower as you did everything you’d imagined doing to him when he’d first sent you those naked pictures, running your hands through the blond, silvery wisps of hair that scattered his chest as you followed them towards the hem of his boxers. Your hand reaching out to palm him through the fabric, fingers barely able to wrap around him before he had your wrist caged in his large palm.

“Don’t,” He growled low in his throat, holding your hand away from his cock.

“I want to make you feel good too.” Uncertainty in your tone as you worried that it was something he didn’t want you to do, the insecurities beginning to form in the back of your mind as you looked up at him with wide eyes.

“Another time, princess.” He rasped, watching his Adam’s apple bob in his throat, “You touch me like that I won’t fuckin’ last.”

He leaned forward to press his thumb against your pouty lips, holding your chin in his hand as he dragged down.

“Especially with those pretty lips wrapped around my cock.” Your lips parting for him as he pressed his thumb inside your mouth, groaning as he felt your tongue wrap around it. Hollowing your cheeks as you sucked it hard, glancing up as you watched his eyes roll. Pressing down on the flat of your tongue as he eased your jaw open, his cock throbbing at the thought of slipping inside your mouth, but it would have to be saved for another time. Already feeling himself close to his limit just by being this near to you, your scent intoxicating as it overwhelmed his senses. Unable to remember the last time he’d been with another person, the tension that had built up since he’d first met you still swelling inside him as he tried to calm his racing heart.

You moved your hands to your skirt as you unzipped the fabric, easing it down your hips to leave you naked in front of him for the first time. His hands moved to lay you flat against the bed before you stopped him, pulling him down onto the bed beside you as you straddled his torso.

“At least let me make you feel good like this,” You whispered, placing soft kisses against his collarbone as he felt your slick soaking the hairs along his pelvis.

“Oh fuck, baby.” He groaned, reaching back to grab a pillow to prop his head up so he could get the perfect view of you on top of him.

His thick cock lay flat against his abdomen as you watched fresh pre leaking from the slit, oozing onto his skin as you moved yourself on top of him to sit on it, your folds parting as you felt the warmth of his length against your most intimate place. Your wetness soaking his length as you began to languidly roll your hips on top of him, shamelessly grinding yourself against his thick cock. Your clit caught against the underside of his tip with each roll of your hips as you used him for your own pleasure.

Your hands trailed over his torso as your fingers began to follow the lines of scars that littered his skin, some of them darker than others. An indication of which ones were new and which he’d had for a while, fading over time but still leaving rough skin in their wake. Your fingers brushing one that sat dangerously close to his heart, wanting to ask the story behind it as you stored the sight for later. A time and a place for everything, your hands trailing lower as you began to brush your fingers through the light blond hair that scattered against his chest, following it on its path until it went to his pelvis. Your fingers brushed against the tip of his cock as he let out a sharp gasp, his chest caving slightly from the sensation as goosebumps began to appear on his skin.

“You’re determined to make me cum all over myself, aren’tcha sweetheart?” He groaned, running his hands along your thighs as he watched you grinding against his cock, “God, you’re so fuckin’ pretty.”

You moved to sit back on his thighs before moving to wrap your hands around his cock now slick with you, causing Bakugou to hiss before his hand moved down to hood the base of his cock. He watched as you slowly moved to sink down on his length, the first roll of your hips had the blunt tip of his cock missing your hole as it caught against your clit, causing you to groan in surprise.

“Shit,” The erotic sight had Bakugou groaning as you repositioned yourself, his other hand holding your hip tightly as he helped you sink down on his length.

“Oh, fuck Katsuki,” You mumbled, feeling the fat head of his cock slip past the first ring of muscle as he began to stretch you out around him. Unable to recall the last time you’d ever had something so big inside you, if ever.

“I know, baby. I know.” He cooed, his thumb moving to rub messy circles against your clit to help ease the ache as you began to rock your hips against his cock. Slowly taking more of him inside your eager walls as you felt the dull burn slowly morphing into pleasure, a gasp leaving your lips when you felt the fatness of the middle of his length stretching you out. The prominent veins dragged against your inner walls perfectly as you finally buried him inside you to the hilt. Sitting flat on his pelvis as you adjusted to the intrusion, your walls fluttering around him as he moved both hands to your thighs, “Takin’ me so fuckin’ well.”

You splayed your hands against his stomach for leverage as you slowly began to move your hips, lifting yourself up before dropping yourself back down on his length.

“You like that?“ He hummed, smirking at the euphoric look on your face as you let out a shameless moan, “Yeah, you do.”

Admiring the way your body looked above him as you used him for your own pleasure, rolling your hips to have your clit catching against the neatly trimmed hairs at the base of his cock. Only adding to the friction as you set a steady pace, biting down on your bottom lip as you sought your own pleasure.

There was something about the way that Bakugou was looking at you in this position, like you were some sort of ethereal goddess. Eyes full of lust and adoration as he stared at you like you were the only thing on this earth that mattered.

Even though you were on top it was clear that Bakugou still maintained all control, a domineering force through every aspect of his life.

“So messy, sweetheart.” He groaned as his thumbs moved to the dip of your pelvis, pushing your body back slightly to the creamy rings of slick that you left around the base of his cock, matting into his pubic hair.

“‘m close,” You mumbled, your pace becoming sloppy as you tried to angle your hips so his cock hit the same spot inside you each time. You looked so debauched like this for him, your bruised lips parted in a moan as you gazed down at him through glassy eyes.

Bakugou’s hands moving to the curve of your ass as he squeezed the cheeks roughly, his fingers digging in the supple skin as he pulled back to spank you hard. Feeling the way you spasmed around him as he repeated the motion, causing you to cry out for him as he alternated cheeks, holding you steady as he spread your cheeks, adding to the stretch as he felt you becoming restless on top of him.

“Are you tired, pretty girl?” He cooed softly as you nodded your head pathetically, a pout on your lips as you teetered so close to your release. Moving your body so you were pressed chest to chest, burying your head into the curve of his neck as you continued to feebly roll your hips. You just needed something to help you over the edge-

Bakugou smoothed his hands along your spine, feeling your soft skin before holding your hips steady, fingers dipping into the plush as he set a steady pace. A sheer display of strength as he began to rut his hips up into you, your breath fanning his skin as you moaned into his neck.

“Come on, sweet girl.” He mumbled softly, pressing a kiss to your shoulder, “Cum for me.”

“Fuck,” You cried out, feeling the coil inside you so close to breaking as Bakugou moved his thick thighs behind you, feeling then press against the curve of your ass as he planted his feet flat on the mattress. Using the new position to add more force to his movements as he fucked up into you, the sound of skin against skin filling the air as you found yourself tumbling into your climax. The power behind his thrusts, even though he was beneath you. Crying out his name as the noise was muffled by his neck as your walls began to quiver around him, milking his cock as you rode out your release.

“Good girl,” He groaned, messily rutting his hips up into you as he felt you continue to tremble around him.

“Katsuki,” You whispered shyly, tilting your head to the side to catch his gaze, “You didn’t cum.”

“I know, baby.” He continued stroking his hands along your back, warmth from his quirk radiating from his palms as he held you.

“I wanna make you cum too,” You whined, planting your hands on either side of his head as you pushed yourself up. Your breasts hung in his face as he couldn’t resist reaching up to fondle them, squeezing gently as he felt you throb around his cock.

Whining when he moved his grip to your hips to lift you off his cock, moving your body to lay beside his as he settled himself between your thighs, pushing them back towards your chest as he glanced down at your stretched hole, still fluttering in the aftershocks of your release.

“Gonna let me use your sweet pussy to make me cum?” He tapped his cock covered in your slick against your slit, watching you nod your head as he slowly began to push himself inside you.

“You have no idea how perfect you are.” He groaned as your walls greedily sucked him back in, “It’s like you were made for me.”

Your walls clinging to him, even tighter after your release as he selfishly used you for his own pleasure.

“God, I’m not gonna last much longer.” He rasped, trying to contain himself to focus on your pleasure. But you had to make it so hard, with the way you were squeezing around his cock, convinced if he met your gaze you’d have him coming undone in an instant.

“Think you’ve got one more in there for me, sweetheart?” He grunted, slipping his fingers between your connected bodies to press sloppy circles against your overstimulated clit.

“I can’t,” You cried out, the sensation causing your body to shake, “S’too much.”

“Shh, I know you can, sweetheart.” He cooed softly, his voice a gentle rasp, “Be a good girl for me.”

“Shit, I can feel you squeezin’ me, I know you’re close-” Bakugou tore a guttural whine from your lips as he stole another climax from you, your release rippling through you in harsh waves as you cried out his name.

“That’s it, baby.” Moving his hand from your clit to reposition it on the back of your thigh as he began thrusting into you with renewed vigour, hungrily chasing his own end as he felt you continuing to clench around him, “So good for me.”

Your breasts bounced with the ferocity of his movements, feeling the blunt head of his cock deep inside your tight cunt as it kissed your cervix with each forward motion, creating a delicious ache inside you. His balls slapping against the curve of your ass as the lewd sound of him fucking into your stretched heat filled the room.

“I’m gonna fuckin’ cum,” He groaned, adjusting his hips as he prepared to pull out, ready to paint a pretty picture against your skin the way he’d fantasised about more times than he could count.

“Cum inside me,” You manage to rasp breathlessly, Bakugou’s vermilion eyes meeting your gaze as he felt himself falling over the edge. Your nails left crescent-shaped moons against his shoulder blades as you held him to you, not wanting him to leave your slick heat.

“Oh, fuck.” Bakugou rasps, the words have his cock throbbing as he cums inside you with a grunt. His hips snug against yours as his heavy balls press against the curve of your ass, his thighs quivering as he shoots white, hot ropes of cum inside your eager walls as you continue clenching around him.

Bakugou leaned down to press a gentle kiss to your lips, a thin sheen of sweat coating both your bodies as it had you sticking to him comfortably, pushing the sweaty hair from his brow as you cupped his cheeks. Basking in the afterglow together as your tight cunt continued to clench around his cock. Shifting his hips as he felt himself begin to soften inside you.

“No,” You whined with a pout as you felt him slowly start to pull himself from your tightness, his eyes immediately focusing on the mess between your thighs as his cum began to seep out of your trembling walls.

“You’re gonna be the death of me, princess.” He groaned when he slipped his fingers towards your folds to press his drooling cum back inside your fluttering hole, the action causing you to cry out as he teased your overstimulated sex, “‘m sorry, you just look so pretty like this.”

He flopped down beside you as you felt his cock soft against your thigh, leaving lines of your slick against your skin as he pulled your body against his.

“Shall I run you a bath?” He whispered, pressing a soft kiss to your forehead.

“Mmm, in a little.” You gave him a small smile, “Can we just lie here for a bit?”

“Course, baby.” He held you against his firm body as his fingers continued drawing absentminded patterns on your skin.

“Did you think we’d ever meet?” You asked softly, staring up at the ceiling.

“I wanted to,” He rasped, stroking your hair gently as you lay together basking in the afterglow, “But I wasn’t sure if we ever would.”

“I’m glad we did,” You smiled softly, leaning into his touch as he pressed warm lips against your temple.

“Me too, princess.” He whispered against your skin, “Me too.”

“Katsuki,” You mumbled, feeling the man beside you becoming drowsy as his breath became shallow.

“Hmm,” He replied softly, exhaling through his nose.

“What are we?” You tried to find the right words to use, “You know- after everything.”

“What do ya mean, princess?” He raised a brow in question as you paused.

“I mean-” You took a deep breath before answering, “What would you call our relationship right now?”

“You’re my girlfriend,” He replied as though it was the most simple question in the world.

“Girlfriend?” Butterflies fluttered around your heart at his admission, unable to hide the grin on your face.

“Yeah, unless you don’t wanna be?” He opened his eyes slightly to see your reaction.

“No, I wanna be.” You smiled softly, “I was just worried that-”

“What? That we’d do this and I’d let things go back to how they were before?” You smiled as he took your cheek in one of his large palms, meeting your gaze, “I just got ya, you think I’m letting you go that easy?”

You smiled at his reaction, leaning forward to place a soft kiss against his lips as you felt his grip around you tighten.

“I mean someone’s gotta look after you,” He pulled you tighter into his arms, “Your weapon of choice is a scythe.”

“Hey,” You tried to move out of his grip, but his hold was too strong as you struggled beneath him. Both muscular arms locking you in place as he let out a husky laugh, “I could beat your ass any day.”

“Yeah, yeah. Sweetheart. I’ll hold you to it, you wait.” He snuggled back against his pillow, “I’m no match for you.”

“You talk the big talk, Dynamight.” You laughed when he shot you a glare, “Promising me dinner and instead you took me to bed.”

“Hey, if someone hadn’t jumped me in the kitchen we would’ve been enjoying my food right now.”

“I didn’t jump you.” Your mouth opened in mock offence, gasping at him, “You were the one that started it.”

“I was just trying to make you dinner,” He shook his head, “Anyway, we already know I’m the one that’s gonna be cooking since you can’t cook for shit, sweetheart.”

“Hey,” You furrowed your brows as you poked his side, “I can too.”

“Ramen packets don’t count,” He scrunched his nose, moving a hand to squeeze your hip.

“Pfft, after I beat your ass in Equilibrium, I’m gonna make you the best meal you’ve ever eaten.”

“I’ll believe it when I see it, princess.”

“To your right,” Bakugou’s voice cried out from your headset as you squealed in surprise, button smashing as you tried to avoid the mountain troll that was coming towards you, “Fuck-”

“A bit more warning next time, maybe?” You shouted back, your character ducking as the troll swung his bat towards you. Brandishing your scythe as you lunged forward, chancing a swipe at it.

“Oi, I fuckin’ told ya, didn’t I?” He rasped, “What more do you want from me?”

“Maybe some support?” You yelled back.

“I can’t save your ass every fuckin’ time sweetheart.” He took out a potion to refill his own stamina, just as he saw your avatar run straight by him brandishing your scythe, “What the fuck are you doin’?!”

He watched as your avatar jumped directly towards the troll, spinning in a circle as the blade of your scythe flew out. Barely able to move his own avatar back in time before the force of your swing hit its target. Knocking directly into its middle as the beast fell backwards.

The blue ‘VICTORY’ splash screen illuminated as you pumped a fist in the air, dancing in your chair as the game showed your rewards and achievements unlocked.

“Did you do that on purpose?” Bakugou pulled his headphones off as he dumped them onto his desk, swivelling his chair to face you, “I thought you were gonna get us both killed-”

“I just like keeping you on your toes,” You spoke back, keeping your headphones on as you kept your focus on the game.

“Think it’s about time I found a new gaming partner,” He shook his head, “One that doesn’t have a death wish.”

“You’d never replace me,” You smiled, swirling in your chair to face him as he stood, walking towards you.

Your own gaming set-up now takes pride of place inside his apartment, not long after meeting Bakugou had asked you to move in with him. One look around your apartment by the coast he’d already decided the best part about it was the view, and there was no way he was allowing you to stay there a moment longer.

“I dunno, maybe I could find someone that picks a better weapon than a fuckin’ scythe.” He sneered playfully.

“My boyfriends so mean,” You pouted as he pulled your pink kitten headphones down off your ears, letting them sit around your neck as he held the handles of your gaming chair, unable to resist stealing a kiss as he bent down to your level.

“Yeah, yeah.” He rolled his eyes, “You love me, don’t lie.”

“Yeah,” You breathed, staring up at him, “I really do.”

“Tch, I love you too. Shitty woman.”

After moving to Musutafu, Equilibrium had been a great distraction from your less than perfect reality. Helping you to avoid those lonely, isolating moments of life that you despised. Creating your own online world where you could be yourself without the doubts and insecurities that life would often throw at you, giving you a moment to be yourself and find happiness in this virtual world.

It had also helped you find the love of your life, the man who was now the reason you no longer needed the same distractions. Spending more time in the real world with him now instead of world-building online with your avatars. You both still enjoyed the time when you could log into the game together, those moments online together were a welcome distraction from the stresses of life. But you much preferred your new reality— Because now you’d found your happiness in Bakugou Katsuki.

[moodyclouds89]

Mikey x gn!reader

Angst

Part 2

@imshittingforyelena

@tamkislover

(I hope y'all got tagged because I was having some trouble tagging y'all😭)

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You woke up in the middle of your room. For a second you were confused until the memories from yesterday hit you.

Ah, him and Sora got together…

You thought. You went to grab your phone and saw that it was around 2am. 

"Ugh I feel like shit. Sleeping on the floor is not comfortable." You said before getting up from the floor and stretching. You made your way outside your room and decided to check if your mom was back. Slowly making your way to her room you opened the door quietly only to see your mom peacefully sleeping. You closed the door and made your way downstairs quietly.

"Didn't eat anything when I came back, my stomach hurts now." You said to yourself. Opening the fridge to see the food your mother made for you, you decided to take it out and heat it up for you to eat.

Taking a seat you started scrolling through your phone while waiting for your food to heat up.

You saw messages that hina and takemichi sent you. 

*I heard the news:( 

*I hope you're okay y/n, just know that you will find someone better!

You chuckle to yourself. At least you have good friends who care about you.

"Yeah I'll find someone better…" you whispered to yourself. But the thing is..how? You have liked mikey since you guys were 9 so how will you move on so quickly? You sighed before you heard the beep of the microwave making you get up and get your food.

After you finish you wash your plate before going upstairs. You decided to go back to sleep for a few hours since you still had some time.

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"Hey y/n!" Hina yelled while making her way towards you.

"Hi hina." You said while smiling at her.

"So um how do you feel?" She asks quietly. "Oh...um I feel okay." "Don't lie to me y/n! I'm your best friend so I wanna know do you feel okay?" She asks with concern. Honestly you don't feel good at all. I mean you cried yourself to sleep and still feel your heart arching when mikey and sora name are mentioned. 

"No...I don't feel okay." You said. Tears are threatening to fall but you manage to hold it in. Hina could see you in pain so she decided to think of something to make you feel better. Until she got an idea.

"Let's get out of here, I wanna treat you to some lunch! I don't like seeing you sad and in pain so I wanna help you get your mind off of it." She said before grabbing your hand. You looked at her in shock.

"Y-you wanna ditch school? Like now?!" You said. She only looked at you with a smile.

"Yeah! And we only have like 1 hour left until classes are over anyway..so let's go!" She said with excitement before successfully dragging you out of the school building.

"Wait but my motorcycle!" You said, she looked at you and then at your motorcycle before looking at you again.

"You think we're going walking? No hun you're driving us there" she said with a smile on her face. You rolled your eyes playfully before telling her to follow you. You got on first before hina got on behind you, her arms wrapping around your waist.

"Hold on tight." You said before heading off and on to the road. You could hear hina yell in excitement.

"WOAH This is cool!" You heard her say which only made you laugh. 

You guys finally made it to your destination and got off.

"I'll pay for our food since it was my idea." She said,

"Wait hina you don't-" "no I will pay." She said before walking inside the restaurant. You just signed and followed behind.

"You can get whatever you want and don't worry I have enough money on me." She said and then looked at the menu to decide what to get for herself.

"Fine. But next time I'll pay." You said before looking at the menu, you could hear her giggled before a waiter came to take both your orders.

Once the waiter was done taking both your orders and left, Hina began talking.

"So...what do you want to do after this? Wait, we can have a sleep over at Emma's house!" She said with excitement before she realizes who else lives at Emma's.

"O-oh well at my place!" She said with an awkward smile on her face. Which made you laugh.

"Sure." You said.

"Alright then it's settled! I'll text Emma later and also invite takemichi!" You nodded before the waiter came back with both of your guy's orders.

You drop hina off at her apartment before going back to your place to get some things and also tell your mom that you're going over to a friend's house. 

Making your way to your room to get out of your school uniform and put on some comfortable clothes before grabbing a bag to put some stuff you'll need for the sleep over. Once you were done you went downstairs with your stuff and saw your mom watching tv in the living room.

"Oh where are you going?" She ask

"Oh I'm sleeping over at a friend's house." You told her with a small smile. She nodded before telling you to be careful and stay safe.

It only took you 8 minutes to get to Hinata's apartment since it wasn't too far from your house.

"Ah! Y/n your here!" Emma said when she opened the door for you. She quickly grabbed your hand and took you to hina room.

"Y/n here!" She said while slamming the door open. "Great! Now we can start the movie!" Hina said.

"What are we watching?" Takemichi curiously asked.

"We're watching a horror movie! One of y/n favorites." She said while getting everything ready. You could see both Emma's and Takemichi's faces go pale.

"O-oh..that's nice" he said nervously. Which made you chuckle and you decided to tease him.

"What? Don't tell me you're scared michi." You said in a teasing tone.

"Me scared? No!" He said but you can literally see him shaking a bit. After hina was done setting everything up you all sat on her bed and began watching the movie.

The whole night was filled with Emma and Takemichi screams and laughter from both you and hina.

This totally helped me take my mind off mikey.

You were scrolling through your phone before you got a notification. You saw that it was smiley.

*hey y/n! My brother and I want to hang out so come meet us at our usual hideout*

The text read. You decided to go since you were getting a little bored. You got up and put on your shoes before quietly making your way downstairs hoping your mom doesn't wake up. Successfully getting downstairs without the stairs creaking you let out a breath that you didn't know you were holding.

You walked towards the door and quickly but quietly opened the door before stepping foot outside and locking it. You have a spare key so you don't have to worry about getting back in when you're back. You looked at your phone and saw that it was 1am. 

"Why the hell are the twins up at this hour?" You asked yourself before walking to where they said they would be. 

It was only a 20 minute walk but you didn't mind. It was honestly peaceful just taking in the beautiful night sky and stars. Finally arriving you saw the twins sitting down on some boxes. Souya noticed you walking towards them before telling Nahoya that you were here. 

"Oh y/n!" Nahoya said with his usual big smile on his face. You smiled and waved back.

"The hell are you two doing up at this hour." You said before taking a seat next to nahoya.

"Eh we weren't tired so me and souya decided to go out!" He said cheerfully which caused his brother to scoff.

"More like you weren't tired and decided to drag me out here." Souya said. This made you giggle before they both turned to look at you.

"You too, what are you doing up this late?" 

"Eh, I wasn't that tired either." 

You three just spend the rest of the night talking and joking around mostly nahoya teasing his brother.

You and the twins were friends but after that night it made you three closer then before. 

5 months have passed and Mikey and Sora are still together. You moved on with the help of hina, takemichi and Emma and you and the twins started hanging out more and getting closer.

During these 5 months you could feel yourself starting to gain some feelings for an orange head male. Your heart would flutter when he would grab your hand to run away when you both would end up in some trouble with another gang. Or when that one time he said he liked your outfit you wore when you and your other friends hung out. Heck even when his name is mentioned! 

"/n y/n!" Someone yelled which made you snap out of your thoughts.

"Oh sorry." you told emma. 

"Something on your mind?" Hina ask. You thought about the orange head male which made you go red.

"Ohhh someone has a crush." Emma said in a teasing tone. That made you look away and out the window.

"No I don't." You said while looking at the people walking the streets. Emma and hina both looked at each other smirking before turning to look at you.

"Spill." The only thing Emma said before you sigh knowing that you can't escape this one.

"Woah! Nahoya?! How cute!" They both said which made you look away from them both.

"Please don't tell anyone." You said while looking at them both. They nodded their heads while pretending to zip their mouths shut and throw the imagery key away which caused you to laugh.

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"Hey Sora I bought some-" entering his girlfriend's room only to see the horrible sight of her on another man's lap. Mikey felt his heart drop.

Sora and the mysterious male both quickly got up from their position they were just in a couple of seconds ago.

"I thought you said you were single?!" The boy yelled in a panic thinking he just now ruined a relationship. 

"I- well.." she was completely in a panic. Hurrying up to quickly button up her shirt she ran to Mikey who was just staring at them with a blank face.

"Mikey...um look-" before she could say anything else he left her room and left the house. 

He was walking for some time. Just thoughts go all over his head. He looked around and recognized the street that he was in.

Y/n neighborhood is close by

He thought to himself, he continued walking before your house came into view.

He knocked on your door and waited until someone would answer. He was about to knock again before the door opened.

"Oh mikey? What are you doing here?" You ask confused.

"Can I stay here for a bit? I have some taiyaki." He said while raising the bad from his hands. You nodded still confused but didn't mind.

"I'm sorry to hear that mikey." You said after he told you why he was here. It was horrible that she did that and also lied that she was single!

"It's fine." He said while taking a bite of his taiyaki. "Is your mom home?" "No, she had to run some errands." You said while eating. He only hums and continues eating. 

"I've seen that you and the twins are close..especially you and nahoya." He said while looking at you. "Oh yeah we've been hanging out more you could say." You both started chatting for a bit and mikey then later left.

"That meeting was long." You said to the twins while walking down the stairs.

 

"It kinda made me hungry." Smiley said to you both. He dragged you and Souya with him to get some food and you only agreed when you told him to pay for his own food and to promise not to run off like last time and make you and Souya pay for his food.

"You almost ran off again and if it wasn't for y/n we would have had to pay for you." Souya said to his brother.

"And the amount of food you order would make my wallet cry."

"Stop being dramatic, it wasn't that much." He said before you and his brother looked at him like he was crazy.

They both drop you off at your house. But before going nahoya said he had to tell you something.

"What is it?" You ask confused. 

"I like you." He said. You were in shock. Heart beating very fast and palms already sweating. All thought it didn't look like it you could see nahoya getting a little nervous when you didn't respond.

"It's not funny joking like that nahoya." You told him. "I'm not joking though." He said, and you stared at him for a little before you realized that he wasn't joking. 

"You actually do?" You asked again. He nodded and grabbed your hand.

"I like you..I really do and I hope you do too." He said while staring at you. You pulled him in a tight hug before saying.

"I like you too nahoya!"

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"Wait wait! So you and nahoya are together now?!" Takemichi said while staring at you to see if you were joking or not.

"Yep! He asked me out last night." 

"Oh how cute!" Emma screamed

"I'm so happy for you y/n!" Hina said before pulling you into a hug.

While you four were talking you heard someone yelling your names from a distance. You all turn around to see Mikey and draken. 

"Well you guys look extra cheerful, what happened?" Draken asked.

"Of course we will! Y/n has a boyfriend now!" Emma screamed which caused you to go red in embarrassment.

"Boyfriend?" Mikey asked.

"Yeah!"

"Who is the boyfriend?" Draken asked you.

"It's nahoya." You told him and avoided making eye contact with anyone. He laughed while also patting your back and saying congratulations. While everyone else was asking questions and other stuff about you and nahoya, mikey was quiet.

Boyfriend?

Y/n and nahoya?

Was all he was thinking. He didn't know why but his heart felt broken for some reason. His heart aches knowing you're in a relationship now. With someone who isn't him. 

Why do I feel like this?

He asked himself

[viacursecasting]

Sonadow Scenario #53

{ Requested by @premingeracdc }

"This town is so small I'm fairly certain we've all breathed each other's air at some point."

Rouge's laugh emitted from the agent’s communicator as he waited in line at the grocery store. "Hang tight for a few more days, hun. We just want to check every nook and cranny."

I highly doubt we'll find him here, Shadow wanted to say, but there was no point in complaining...

Deep down, he had already mourned the loss of the hero, who had sacrificed himself to save Shadow after defeating the Finalhazard.

He suppressed the memories of his late partner's breathtaking super form before addressing the bat. "I understand."

After they said their goodbyes and hung up, Shadow set his items on the conveyor belt, scanning his shopping list to make sure he got everything he needed. He mumbled to himself, "Damn it, I forgot bread..."

"Want me to grab a loaf for you?"

Shadow huffed, looking up from his list. "What makes you think you're fast enough to—"

He froze.

It was... No... It couldn't be—

"Sonic...?"

"Ah, actually it's Stanley," the blue hedgehog corrected as he pointed to his name tag.

Shadow furrowed his brow. "Don't you... recognize me?"

"'Fraid not." Sonic then said with a wink, "I think I would've remembered someone as handsome as you."

Shadow turned rosy before shaking his head. "Sonic, this is no time for games! Everyone's been searching for you—!"

"Whoa, Hot Stuff," Sonic said, hands up in surrender. "I think you have me confused with someone else."

Shadow crossed his arms. "Then grab that loaf of bread for me. Whole wheat."

Sonic was gone and back in a streak of azure, grinning widely as he presented the loaf like he pulled a rabbit out of a hat. "Ta-da~!"

Shadow slapped the bread out of his hand. "It is you, you dumbass!"

A customer behind him piqued up. "Hey, you're holding up the—"

Shadow shot them a seething glare. They scrambled back to their cart to retreat to another lane.

Shadow then returned his gaze to the hedgehog. "You and I need to talk."

Sonic chuckled as he finished ringing him up. "Believe it or not, this isn't the craziest way I've been asked out..."

~

As Shadow made his way to the restaurant, he thought about disclosing their past relationship, but decided against it. If Sonic truly lost his memory, it was probably best not to overwhelm him.

Shadow was surprised to find Sonic—ah, Stanley already seated at the table for two. The blue hedgehog waved him over excitedly.

Shadow hesitantly took a seat. "You're early." For once...

The hedgehog thought nothing of it, showcasing the menu with enthusiasm. "They have my favorite Italian dish here!"

"I know. Spaghetti—"

"Ravioli!"

The night seemed to be filled with double takes for Shadow. When he thought Sonic would say soup, he said salad. Water instead of soda. No cheese instead of extra.

As they waited for their meals to arrive, Shadow asked him about subjects that were typical for a first date.

"Favorite movie genre?"

"I mostly watch documentaries."

"Favorite hobby?"

"Knitting is my go-to."

"Cats or dogs?"

"Dogs, definitely."

That felt like a punch in the gut to Shadow.

He started to question himself. Maybe he didn't know his partner as well as he thought he did? But that couldn't be the case. He knew every detail. He knew his favorite flower. His favorite type of music. His favorite scent. Maybe this guy was just a doppelganger? But that couldn't be the case either, for when he gazed at the hedgehog...

He knew how he got each and every battle scar.

Their meals came, but the agent didn't even reach for his fork. Sonic regarded him with concern. "Are you okay, Shade?"

"It's Shadow," the lifeform corrected. "You don't even remember my fucking name," he muttered, more annoyed at the circumstances rather than Sonic.

But it didn’t make a difference to Sonic—Stanley. "Well, excuse me," he retorted. "It's not like you've been calling me the wrong name all night.

Shadow slammed his fist on the table, jostling silverware and making other patrons turn their heads. "That's because Sonic is your real name!" he yelled. "You're the one who's saved the world countless times, the one who’s always there for his friends! You're the one I fell in—!"

He stopped himself; he didn't know when he rose from his chair. He slowly sat back down, staring at his spaghetti. He suddenly had no appetite.

But Sonic/Stanley stared at him wide-eyed. "Shadow, were you and I...?"

The lifeform averted his gaze, trying not to let his tears spill.

Stanley/Sonic took that as a yes. "Oh," he uttered, slightly tinting. "Now I get why you're so riled up."

When a moment of silence passed, Stanley spoke. "Just out of curiosity, what was it about... Sonic... that you loved?"

Shadow let out a shaky breath. "I loved... everything about him. I loved his yearning for adventure. I loved the way his eyes lit up when talking about the latest video game, the way he laughed at his own stupid jokes." He flexed his fingers. "I loved the way his hand felt in mine.

"People say I'm the Ultimate Lifeform, but Sonic... was the ultimate life."

Stanley breathed in awe. "That's very poetic."

It seemed that there was nothing else to confess. But Shadow just wanted to try one last thing.

"I know this is very forward," he asked, "but... may I kiss you?"

Stanley blushed. "S-Sure."

Shadow leaned across the table, stroking a lock of the hedgehog's quills back, before pressing tan lips against peach ones. He started slow before moving deeply, passionately. While Stanley wasn't a bad kisser, he wasn't in the same rhythm, didn't reciprocate as strongly.

It just wasn't the same.

Shadow broke away, finding rivers flowing from emerald eyes. He spoke as if sharing a secret. "Why are you crying?"

Stanley sniffled. "I'm sorry I'm n-not... I wish I-I could..." He gave up. How could he explain that he felt like he stole a kiss meant for someone else?

Shadow seemed to understand, though, wiping the hedgehog's flushed muzzle with his thumb. "It's alright. You're not at fault."

Then he stood. "If you don't mind, I'm going to take care of the bill, then head home." After receiving a nod, he left soon after. He wanted to cry in peace...

To mourn a second time.

~

Shadow waited on a bench at the subway station, face buried in his hands.

"Aren't you afraid of missing your ride?"

Shadow recognized the speaker without looking up. "I'm not in the mood, Knuckles."

The echidna crossed his arms. "Well, I'm not leaving until you tell me what's wrong."

Shadow sighed, muttering, "I found him."

Knuckles' eyes widened. "Him!? As in—"

"Yes, but it's not him!" Shadow cried. "Not really..."

Knuckles crinkled his brow. "You're not making any sense—"

Suddenly they heard a call in the distance. "...adow? Shadow!"

Shadow stood eagerly—a hard habit to break when it came to this particular voice. He called, "Yes?"

Stanley waved at him, running over with a take-home bag. "Hey, Shads. I'm glad I caught you. You forgot your—"

"Sonic, you imbecile!" Knuckles intervened as he shoved Stanley’s arm, though tears were welling in his violet eyes. "We... We thought you were dead!"

Stanley rubbed his arm, letting out a nervous chuckle. "You must be Shadow's friend?" he surmised.

"'Friend' is a bit generous," Shadow stated as he took the bag.

Stanley laughed, a twinkly noise. Then he set his gaze on the agent. "Hey, before I go, there's something I wanna ask you."

Shadow's ears perked at attention.

"I've been thinking about everything you've said and... well..." He took the agent's hand in both of his. "I think I'd like to give us a chance. I-If you want," he quickly added.

Shadow froze. Did he hear him correctly? Being with Sonic again was the only thing he had ever wanted.

He tightened his grip. "I..."

.

.

.

Sigh. Damn it...

"...I can't."

"What?" the other two said in unison.

"I'm sorry, Stanley," Shadow explained, "but truth be told, I would spend the rest of our relationship trying to turn you into the person I used to know. And that's not fair." He released his hold as the echidna continued to stare in disbelief. "You were given a fresh start. I think you should take it."

Stanley's features fell, though he tried not to show it. "Ah, I understand." Then he added, "Maybe you can visit if you ever get the chance?"

Shadow gave a small smile. "I think I'd like that."

~

Two years passed and Shadow found himself in that grocery store once again. He remembered the bread this time.

"I'm just making a pit stop," Shadow said to his wrist communicator as he waited in line, "then I'm heading straight home."

"Good," a magenta chameleon responded. "I can't wait to see you."

Shadow tinted slightly. "And I you."

They logged off after saying their farewells. Just then a familiar voice made him raise his head: "Did you find everything you were looking for?"

The hedgehogs locked gazes. Stanley's eyes were as lively as ever, his grin as wide as ever. The smile was contagious.

"Yes," Shadow replied. "I did."

[frenchpuppycormier]

fluff 10 and/or 11 + supercorp for the sentence starters pls 💞

"Are we on a date right now?" / "I think I'm in love with you."

—

Saturday signals the best day in Kara's book for one simple reason: the farmers market. It's the perfect place to buy fresh produce directly from the grower at a lower price than those pesky retailers. Not to mention, it's fresher and it's a great way to support local communities.

Kara enjoys it most in the early morning between 8 and 9 when the California heat hasn't bombarded its citizens yet. One of her favorite memories of going to the market was when she first arrived on earth, and Eliza and Alex took her to the one in Midvale. Eliza bought her the sweetest miniature doughnuts which practically melted in her mouth. She's been a huge (understatement of the year) fan ever since.

The farmers market is located 20 blocks from her apartment, just a short jaunt or flight for the hero.

Today she decides to walk and enjoy the nice cool breeze, and the warm sun spilling on her face. She can already hear the acoustics of a folk band covering a Fleetwood Mac song at the end of main street. The leaves are starting to change, indicating the beginning of fall, and the ones already on the ground crunch beneath her feet.

Her reusable cloth bag with the words, "Okey Dokey Artichokey" and a cartoon artichoke with a smiley face and tiny stick arms, is slung over her shoulder. Lena had given it to her as a gag gift, but Kara uses it the most out of all her bags. Any gift from Lena is special and she will always treasure it.

As she rounds the corner to the market, she sneaks another look at her list to remind herself what she needs, when she bumps into someone. Hard. Fortunately, Kara manages to grab the other person's arm before they fall.

"Oh my gosh," Kara cringes. "I'm so sorry, I wasn't watching where I was—" she interrupts herself when she sees, "Lena?"

"Hey there, slick," Lena laughs and nudges the hand latched on her arm to tangle with her fingers.

Kara responds by swinging their arms back and forth, like what friends do when they haven't seen each other in months. But Kara and Lena just saw each other yesterday. This is normal, right? Kara thinks. The fluttering in my chest is completely common whenever I see my friends....Right?

"Wh-what are you doing here?" Kara speaks before her brain can catch up with her.

Lena's face lights up with a sly grin. "Can't a woman go to the market every once in a while?"

"N-no no, of course you can," Kara laughs awkwardly, "I meant, gosh I'm not sure...I guess I just didn't expect to see you here. You live all the way on the other side of town."

"Relax, love," she chuckles and squeezes her hand and releases it, Kara immediately missing the warmth. "I'm teasing you. But to answer your question, I'm in desperate need of fresh kale, and I heard this particular stand has the best in the city."

Kara feigns gagging and Lena playfully shoves her shoulder. “I still don’t understand how you can eat that stuff.”

“Who knew the green stuff that incapacitates you was kale.”

“More like your eyes,” Kara mumbles.

“What was that?”

Kara’s eyes widen. “N-nothing,” she rubs the back of her neck. “Um, so….do you care if I join you? Wandering aimlessly through the market checking out food stands with my best friend sounds like the perfect way to spend my Saturday morning.”

“I’d love nothing more,” Lena replies, smiling brightly.

—

“Oooh, look! A food truck!” Kara points.

Lena laughs at her zeal. “Let’s see what they have.”

Kara reaches for her hand and twines their fingers together before dragging her toward the truck. Lena’s stomach swoops at the action, but she calms herself down enough so Kara doesn’t notice her rapid heartbeat. Not that she would, considering food is the best distraction when it comes to the blonde.

Little does Lena know that nothing can distract Kara from Lena, especially considering 98% of the time Kara is listening to the constant thumps and quivers of Lena’s heart, but Kara doesn’t say anything.

Kara looks up at the man in the truck and politely rattles off her order, then looks at Lena and asks, “What do you want?”

“Um,” Lena quickly glances at the menu and says, “I’ll have the Avo Smash, please.” She moves to hand the man cash, but Kara stops her and insists she'll pay for it. "My treat."

Once they give their order they move to the side and wait until their names are called.

When they get their food they move to a shady spot on the sidewalk and admire how delicious it looks.

“What’s that?” Kara asks.

“Oh, it’s a piece of toast with smashed avocado, egg, and tomato,” Lena replies, noticing how Kara turns up her nose. Lena rolls her eyes and gestures at her hands, “What’d you get?”

"Uh, only the most scrumptious and melt in your mouth-watering food you can get here," she replies, eyebrows pinched, incredulously. Lena raises her eyebrows in a get-on-with-it kind of way. "French toast bites," Kara finishes, exasperated at Lena's lack of enthusiasm.

"Sweet food for a sweet girl."

Kara's cheeks grow a slight pink. Instead of replying, she dips a piece of her toast in the syrup, and shoves the whole thing in her mouth. Lena simply hums and takes a bit of her own food. Kara smiles like a chipmunk with cheeks full of goodies.

When Lena's finished with her slice of hipster toast, as Kara calls it, a small body runs into her legs from behind. She looks down and finds a small boy with sandy blonde hair and big, blue eyes looking up at her with a toothy grin.

"Hi, there," she smiles at him.

"Henry!" a woman in a flowy maxi dress and brown sandals comes running toward them. She picks him up and gives him a stern look. "I told you not to run off like that!" The woman adjusts him on her hip and shyly realizes she has an audience. "I'm so sorry! He gets too excited about their french toast."

"Oh, no worries," Lena reassures her. She carefully grabs Kara's elbow and says, "This one does too."

Kara acts hurt by placing a hand over her heart. "Well, can you blame me? They're delicious! Aren't they?" she smiles at the boy and waves. He giggles and hides his face in his mother's neck. "Someone's a little shy, huh?"

"He is, isn't he?" the mom kisses his cheek. "I think he has a little crush on you."

"Who, me?" Kara laughs. "No, I think he has eyes for Lena. As most people do." She steps forward and tickles his stomach so he looks at her. Kara holds out her hand for a high five and whispers, "Good choice." He gratefully slaps her hand.

When Kara steps back, Lena is blushing, but rather than call her out on it she ignores it out of respect. Kara smiles at her and Lena smiles back, but then she's suddenly laughing through her nose.

"Darling, you have a little," she gestures at her own face.

"What? I have something on my face?" Kara touches her cheek, but completely misses.

"Here," Lena's fingers tenderly touch the side of her jaw while her thumb swipes her lip. Lena's completely focused on what she's doing, but Kara only has eyes for Lena.

Lena pulls back her hand, thumb now sticky with syrup. Instead of wiping it on the napkin Kara knows Lena has in her bag, she sticks it between her lips and licks it clean.

Kara completely stops breathing.

"How long have you two been together?" a voice snaps her out of her reverie.

Kara gapes at her with wide eyes and stutters, "Um...we, we're uh, just friends."

"Oh," the woman almost looks upset. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to presume. Well, I'll let you get back to your morning." She smiles at them and walks away, leaving a flabbergasted Kara and quiet Lena.

They don't say anything and choose to ignore it while they continue down the street.

—

"Lena, you have to try this," Kara doesn't give her a chance to respond before shoving a spoonful of gelato in Lena's mouth.

Lena gasps and nearly chokes on the ice cold dessert enveloping her tastebuds. She hisses and nods, as she lifts her hand to hastily catch the dribbles of melted chocolate trickling down her chin. Kara winces, "I'm so sorry!"

"No," Lena shakes her head as she swallows, "I just wasn't expecting that."

"Well? How was it?"

"Y'know, I'm not gonna lie...it was pretty fucking delicious."

"Right? Marco really knows his stuff."

"Um," Lena holds her hand out, fingers spread apart to prevent more sticking, and shakes it like she doesn't know what to do.

Kara jumps to action and runs off. She's back in two seconds with a wet wipe and cleans Lena's hand. "Where'd you find that?"

"Don't ask."

"Okay?" Lena laughs breathily. "You're a mystery wrapped inside an enigma, Ms. Danvers."

"I aim to confuse," she jokes.

Lena shakes her head, and eventually says, "Thank you."

"Don't mention it," Kara smiles at her, their eyes locked onto each other. She's finished cleaning her hand, but rather than letting go, her hand stays curled around Lena's, not wanting to ruin the moment.

—

“Oh Rao, you didn’t,” Kara gasps.

Lena turns around and frowns at her. “What?” Kara gestures to Lena’s bag. Lena looks down and chuckles when she realizes what she’s talking about. “In my defense, I was drunk. You know how my shopping brain acts when I’m drunk; I buy things I don’t need.”

“Hmmm, well maybe your alcohol-addled brain just remembered how funny I thought it was and wanted to impress me,” Kara teases with a twitch of her eyebrow.

“I’m sure that’s exactly what happened,” Lena deadpans. She glanced at the words on her bag again and fondly shakes her head. It reads: Oh Kale Yeah, with a bunch of kale on both sides.

“I think so,” Kara steps closer and smiles.

“Oh, really?” Lena raises her eyebrows.

“Yep,” she ends with an extra pop of the ‘p’ and boops her on the nose.

Lena opens her mouth in surprise, a protest on the tip of her tongue, but a voice interrupts her from in front of them.

“You two are such a lovely couple,” the vendor gushes.

Lena and Kara startle, forgetting they’re standing right in front of a stand selling various vegetables and fruits and jars of honey. Behind the table is an older woman, most likely in her late 70s, with streaks of gray hair, crinkly eyes and facial lines as if she’s smiled her whole life.

“Oh, we’re not—”

“Thank you,” Kara answers, smiling bashfully. She pushes a lock of hair behind her ear and says, “I’ll take one bunch of radishes and one spaghetti squash.”

“Coming right up,” the woman replies.

Kara glances over at Lena and gives her a shy smile, before handing the woman a $10 bill and thanking her. She grabs the veggies and carefully drops them in her bag.

“Thank you two, have a wonderful day.”

“Of course, you too!” Kara places her hand on the small of Lena’s back and guides her forward.

As they make their way to the next stand, Kara laughs, remembering their conversation, “I can’t believe you bought that bag. You’re such a giant dork.”

Lena whips around and eyes Kara curiously. Kara’s hand shifts from her back to loosely rest on her waist. Lena’s eyes are squinting from the bright sun, but Kara can see the speckles of gold in them and thinks she’s never looked more beautiful.

“Are we on a date right now?”

Kara's heart quickens and she opens and closes her mouth a few times, until finally she clears her throat, "Did you want it to be?"

"I thought—”

"Because I do," Kara states. "Want it to be a date. But only if you do, of course. I don't want you to feel pressured or like I forced you to hang out with me," she retracts her hand. "That's the last thing I—”

Lena grabs her hand as she pulls it way, not wanting Kara to close herself off. "Hey, I want this just as much as you do."

"Really?"

Lena lightly presses her thumb into the grooves of Kara's knuckles, and absentmindedly plays with them. She smiles, fully dimpled, and says, "I do. Actually, I uh..." she lowers their connected hands and looks off into the distance, mind seemingly elsewhere.

"What is it?" Kara asks. She playfully shakes their arms back and forth to get her attention.

Lena looks at the ground before completely focusing on Kara and those baby blues she's come to know and love. She takes a deep breath and her voice shakes when she whispers, "I think I'm in love with you..." Lena stumbles and shakes her head, "No—I am in love with you."

Kara inhales sharply and Lena thinks she's made a giant mistake. She starts to turn and do something stupid, like run away, but Kara keeps her hold on her and pulls her forward.

Smiling, Kara slowly inches closer leaving the opportunity for Lena to stop her. When Kara's lips press into hers she welcomes it completely. Kara's hands come up to cup Lena's jaw until she moves one to tangle in her hair.

Kara disconnects from her lips, but stays wrapped up in her, their foreheads touching. "I'm in love with you, too," she whispers against soft lips.

"Good," Lena smiles and kisses her again.

[shemarmooresfedora]

Rebuilding Family

Summary: Y/N and Spencer were college sweethearts at Cal-Tech but once Spencer got accepted to the FBI Academy, he ended things deciding it was not fair to make Y/N wait for him. When they meet again years later, he discovers something unexpected.

Pairing: Spencer Reid x Fem! Reader

A/N: this may be my favorite chapter yet. i originally was going to delay this chapter a day but the wonderful comments gave me motivation to write. i beg of you to play the song when i write it starts playing...enjoy!

Masterlist

Chapter 12

“Yes, yes, yes!” Spencer excitedly left the hospital, immediately calling you.

“Y/N Y/L/N” you answered, having not checked the caller ID first.

“Guess what?” Spencer smiled.

“Hi Spence. What?” your tone instantly became lighter across the phone.

“The doctor cleared me. I don’t need crutches anymore!” Spencer exclaimed.

“Oh my god, that’s great! I know how much you hated them,” you responded.

“Yes, I did not like not being able to help you with Jo as much. But do you know what this also means…” he prompted.

“What?” you asked.

“I will actually be able to walk around and

take you on a real date ,” he beamed.

“Looking forward to it,” you grinned.

“How about tonight?” he asked excitedly.

“What about Jo?”

“JJ’s,” he replied quickly.

Clearly, he had already thought this through completely.

“Okay. I’d ask you what time you’re picking me up but we are both living in the same place right now so I’ll see you at home,” you giggled.

“See you at home,” he repeated with a massive smile plastered on his face.

-

“Mommy, why can’t I come?” Jo pouted, clinging on to your neck as you brought her out to the car.

“Me and Daddy are going to do BORING adult things,” you pretended to snore, “You don’t want to come, Baby J. You get to go have a fun playdate with Henry. I’m so jealous.”

You buckled her in and closed the car door, feeling arms wrap around your waist.

“Boring?” Spencer asked, feigning hurt.

“So boring,” you teased, giving him a kiss.

“You look beautiful by the way,” Spencer earnestly looked into your eyes.

You opened your mouth to respond but there was a faint knock on the car window.

“The princess is getting impatient,” he chuckled, climbing into the driver’s seat.

-

“Hi!” JJ greeted the three of you at the door as you set Jo down who immediately ran inside in search of her best friend.

“Thank you for watching her,” you said.

“Oh, of course. Don’t worry about it! Now, go! Don’t waste any more of your night off talking to me,” she ushered you away.

“Bye! I’ll text you when we’re on our way back to get her,” Spencer waved.

Spencer then grabbed your hand, interlocking your fingers and pulling you back towards the car as your head fell back in delightful laughter.

-

“You know it’s funny,” JJ said to Will as they were watching you two out the window, “Before I even knew that they had a history together, I was considering setting them up together.”

“What made you think that?” Will questioned, “I mean they’re both very nice people but I wouldn’t have thought about that.”

“I don’t know. I just felt like there could be something between them...turns out there already was,” she smiled.

-

Spencer pulled the car up to a beautiful patio dining area overlooking a lake. It was dusk and the sun was setting so stringed lights were hung up all around the tables.

“Spence, I heard it takes like a year to get a reservation here,” you looked at him incredulously.

“I have my ways,” he kissed your hand, “Come on.”

You walked up to the hostess with your hands interlocked.

“Dr. Spencer Reid for two,” he politely said to her.

“Right this way,” she guided you to your table with menus in her hand.

Spencer, ever the gentleman, pulled out your chair for you. You thanked the hostess but your eyes never left Spencer.

Once Spencer was seated, a silence fell over the two of you.

“This is kind of an awkward first date because we already know everything about each other,” you admitted.

“Yes, we are doing things a little backwards but at least I know I already love every single thing about you,” Spencer smiled.

You blushed, “Ditto.”

“Hey there,” the waitress approached your table, “What can I get started for you both?”

“I’ll have a glass of red wine please,” you said.

“I’ll just have water, thanks. Also, can we get spring rolls as an appetizer,” Spencer asked.

“Sure thing, I’ll be right back with those,” she wrote your order down in her notepad and left the table.

“Why am I surprised you remembered my affinity for spring rolls?” you laughed.

“I know it’s technically impossible for me to forget anything but even if I didn’t have an eidetic memory, I still wouldn’t forget a single thing about you,” he spoke.

You felt your cheeks heat up yet again.

“You have always had a way with words, Dr. Reid,” you took a sip from the wine glass that the waitress placed in front of you to hide your bashful grin.

-

You were headed back to JJ’s after a wonderful dinner. You were on a backroad and it was starting to drizzle. The radio was playing softly as you played with Spencer’s fingers in your hand.

Signed, Signed, Delivered by Stevie Wonder began to play through the radio. Spencer excitedly turned to look at you.

“This is our song, remember?” he beamed.

“Yeah, I remember,” you giggled.

Before you know what was happening, Spencer had pulled the car over and turned the radio up loudly.

He let go of your hand and exited the car.

“Spence, it’s raining!” you laughed.

“Good thing we have a dryer at home. Come on!” he walked around to your side, opening your car door and offering his hand.

You accepted and he pulled you out of the car, twirling you around. You danced around hand in hand, splashing in puddles without a care in the world.

You and Spencer were both singing at the top of your lungs, occasionally breaking from the lyrics to let out a joyous laugh. As the song faded out, he dipped you down, smiling widely. You slicked his wet hair back as he pulled you in for a kiss.

You didn’t know how long the kiss lasted but you finally pulled apart when there was a loud honk in front of you. A car was stopped in the road, waiting for you to finish your makeout session in the middle of the street.

“Sorry!” Spencer called out to the driver as you both giddily ran back to your car.

You kissed him once more once you were back inside the safety of the car.

-

You were grinning like fools when Will opened the door.

“Do I want to know?” Will chuckled, gesturing at your soaked clothes.

“I think it’s better if we keep it to ourselves,” you smiled.

JJ came around the corner with a sleepy Jo in her arms.

“Well it looks like you two had fun,” she said as she handed Jo to Spencer.

“Thank you again. If you guys ever want to go out, we can watch Henry,” you offered.

“It’s really not a problem but we may take you up on that some time. Have a good night, guys,” JJ smiled.

“Daddy, why are you wet?” Jo asked curiously.

“Mommy and Daddy had to walk in the rain back to their car after the long meeting,” Spencer pretended to sound unamused as to not let the child know about your fun night without her.

“Me and Henry had mac and cheese for dinner and then we played dinosaurs and then we watched Finding Nemo,” Jo informed you both on the drive home.

“Well it sounds like you had an exciting night,” you smiled.

Once you got home, Spencer offered to tuck Jo into bed while you changed out of your damp clothes.

You peeked into the room just as Spencer was giving her a kiss on the forehead and getting up from the bed.

“I should go,” Spencer spoke softly.

“Or...you could stay,” you offered quietly.

Spencer smiled, “The latter sounds much better.”

“Now go change into sweats from my closet before you catch a cold,” you ushered him into your room.

You went downstairs to give Spencer some privacy, turning the kettle on to heat up and taking out two mugs.

You slowly made your way back upstairs with two warm mugs of chamomile tea. You tapped slightly at the door before entering.

“Thank you,” Spencer accepted the mug into his hands, giving you a quick kiss.

“I’m going to put our clothes in the dryer and then I’ll be right back,” he said, taking a sip of the tea before setting it down on the nightstand.

Spencer returned a few minutes later, getting in under the comforters and wrapping one arm around you. You both sipped your tea in a comfortable silence as the rain continued to pour down outside.

“Chamomile tea’s health benefits include protecting against diarrhea, nausea, stomach ulcers, and gas,” Spencer stated.

“Ever the romantic, Dr. Reid,” you giggled, resting your head on his shoulder.

[works-of-fanfiction]

“He’s the Best.” - 90s!Graham Coxon x Reader

Summary: Graham struggles with his self-esteem within the band and the reader tries to cheer him up.

Requested by: Anon. I hope you like this <3

Warnings: Swearing (literally once).

Word Count: 3.3k - a bit of a longer oneshot from me! I didn’t mean for it to be this long.

A/N: I’ve been writing this and putting it off for days because I just don’t know if I like it, but I don’t want to restart it. Argh… I hope someone enjoys this cheese fest.

* Gif credits to the linked creator

_______________

No one in this life is born ‘better’ than anybody else. It’s not a competition or a game of comparison. Every single human on this planet has their own unique qualities that make them interesting and most importantly, worthy. However, humans sadly aren’t wired to see those qualities in themselves. They spend the majority of their lives obsessing over others; wondering if they’re as talented as the next man, or if they’ll ever look as good as whatshername. Sometimes, it gets to a point where even the deepest of friendships can become strained due to one or more parties comparing themselves to another’s achievements.

And seeing Graham go through exactly that, has been killing me. There was a time when everything Graham and Damon did together, was truly that - together. Every single melody, riff, lyric - it was theirs. Neither one did more work than the other, neither was more musically talented. They were both kids crammed inside a Portakabin with their very first instruments, strumming and plucking and making probably rather bothersome noise. They had no idea what was to become of their lunchtime jam sessions and after school practices. Both were just excited to have a friend that liked the same things as them, and enjoyed the noise the other was making.

But Graham has since become a shadow of who he once was around Damon - he’s become Damon’s shadow. Or so he thinks.

Being in a band with a boisterous frontman like Damon was bound to become hard work for the other members at one point or another, but I never thought it would affect Graham like this. It’s getting harder to communicate with him, and I know it’s not his fault but I’m running out of things to say to fill the silences. There’s only so many times I can ask if he wants a cup of tea, or tell him about the encounter I had at the bus stop earlier that day. I’m sick of hearing my own voice, so I can’t imagine how he must feel. The silence seems to be the only thing he wants; he doesn’t write anymore, he hardly plays guitar outside of work commitments, and he hasn’t picked up his sketchbook in weeks. He just seems to stare at the TV or sit on the sofa with his head buried in a book that’s stuck on the first chapter. I watched him the other day and in forty-five minutes, he turned the page once. I bet if I asked him about the story he wouldn’t be able to recall a single character’s name, never mind the plot.

Watching him struggle with his self-esteem is crushing, and I don’t want him to live another second feeling the way he does. I know it may take a while for him to find himself again, but if I can do anything to help move things along, it’s worth a try. I’d drop everything for Graham in a heartbeat.

“I dropped those music stands off today. Did you get them?” Dave asks, his voice a little crackly on the other end of the phone.

“I did, thank you!” I chime, balancing the phone between my shoulder and ear as I assemble the very same stands.

“Oh, good. I was a little worried about leaving them outside. I thought somebody would take them… What do you need them for anyway?”

“That’s something for me to know and you to find out, Dave.” I laugh, tightening one last knob on the second stand and straightening it out. I stand back and admire my handy work, smiling at the prospect of what they are to become.

“Alright, alright. Well, I hope they come in handy! I’ll see you later.”

“Thanks again. See you next week!”

We both hang up and I grab the stands, climbing up the stairs and into the spare room, placing them in their desired places. Grabbing two pieces of sheet music, I slot them onto the stands neatly and adjust them until they’re perfect. With one last thing to check, I turn on the projector I borrowed from an old university friend and let the film play out on the blank wall opposite. I mess with the sound a little, making sure it’s loud enough before rewinding the footage to the beginning and turning it off until later.

Standing in the middle of the room, I turn around and admire everything on the walls. Everything from lyrics to old album art concepts, to still life paintings from Graham’s time at Goldsmith’s. Beside the music stands, there’s crates filled with records, decorated with lyrics scribbled onto scraps of paper, some in Graham’s handwriting and others in mine. I of course, couldn’t resist writing them out in various colours and covering them in star-shaped stickers. The finishing touch is a large beanbag against the wall for us to sit and watch the projector from. I fluff up the beanbag for the thousandth time before heading downstairs to wait for Graham to get back.

It takes around two hours for Graham to arrive home. As soon as I hear his taxi pull up outside, I jump up from the sofa and head into the kitchen to flick the kettle on. Nerves bubble through me as I anticipate his entry. It’s impossible to predict how Graham’s going to be feeling on any given day. He could come through the door and speak to me as normal, or he could disappear into his studio until he’s tired enough to head to bed. Through the rumbling of the kettle I listen out for the door, fingers impatiently tapping on the counter as my gaze fixates on a magpie outside, shakily balancing on the washing line. A second joins it and I smile, muscle memory taking over as I pour the boiled water into two cups, not taking my eyes off of the birds.

“Hi.” Graham’s voice peeps behind me. Putting the kettle down, I turn around with a warm smile on my face. Despite everything Graham has been going through, seeing him come through that door every day is still my favourite sight. Having him come home to me will simply never get old. I don’t know what I’ll do when he has to go out on tour again in a few months.

“Hey.” I breathe, the sides of my face already beginning to feel sore from the ridiculous grin stuck on it. He smiles back, the expression not quite reaching his eyes but I know he means well. He’s trying. “You go and sit down. I’ll bring these in.” I gesture to the brewing teas on the counter and he nods, hanging his bag on the nearest kitchen chair and leaving the room without another word. I finish the drinks as quickly as possible, grabbing the stack of takeaway menus from the junk drawer and bringing them with me, the pieces of paper clamped between my teeth as I concentrate on carrying the two steaming hot cups in my hands.

Setting the cups down on the coffee table, I toss the menus onto the sofa next to where Graham is very aggressively, trying to pull his Docs off. “Need a little help?” I ask, laughing as I kneel down and bat his hands out of the way. “It would help if you untied them.”

“It’s easier to leave them tied.”

“Oh, really?” I scoff, gesturing to his feet still stuck in the cherry red boots. The laces are a complete mess with three bulky knots in them. I sit down cross-legged on the carpet, carefully plucking and unravelling each knot whilst Graham buries his head in the takeaway menus. “How do you even - “ I struggle, pulling at the frayed shoelace whilst trying not to damage it further, “- get these things on?” With one last tug, the first lace loosens and I’m able to slide the boot off with ease. Graham’s face pops out from behind the menu, a side-smile plastered onto his lips and a cheeky glint in his eyes. I know he wants to laugh.

“Shall we get Indian tonight?” He changes the subject, flipping over the tatty piece of bright orange paper as he squints at the options. He always orders the same thing, yet still insists on reading the whole menu front to back. He does it for every restaurant.

“Indian sounds good.” I nod, pulling the second boot off and shoving them to the side. “I’ll call them now.” Jumping up to grab the phone, I type the number in from memory and hold it up to my ear.

“What’s the rush?” Graham mouths and I hush him when somebody answers. I order the usual along with some extras and give them our address, despite them not even really needing it anymore. The phone call is no longer than a minute and Graham sits staring at me, nose scrunched in confusion. “Are you going to tell me what’s going - “

“Follow me.” I blurt out, stretching my arm towards him and rising onto my tiptoes out of excitement. He stands slowly, shrugging off his jacket and leaving it on the sofa. “I was going to wait until we’d had our food, but I have to show you now.”

“Show me what?” He asks as I grab his wrist and drag him up the stairs. We squeeze up the narrow staircase, almost tripping each other over a couple times until we stop on the landing, feet overlapping one another’s on the small square of carpet.

“I know you haven’t really been yourself lately.” I start, my fingers slipping from Graham’s wrist to entwine with his. He looks down, sucking his bottom lip between his teeth. His eyes watch our hands as I lightly stroke the back of his thumb in an attempt to relax him. He has a habit of tensing up whenever I broach the subject. “So I wanted to remind you just how great you are.”

I watch his face intently, the corners of his mouth twitching and trying to smile. With my free hand, I open the door and flick the light on, pulling Graham into the room with me. His hand slips from my grasp and I back up to stand against the wall, watching as he takes in the room around him and everything in it.

He walks to the music stands first, fingers tracing the notes on the pages, flipping them over then back again. He walks towards the canvas on the back wall - a woodland painting he’d won a prize for back in college - running his hand over the textured patch of paint that forms the trees. I nervously bite the back of my thumb as he kneels down to sift through the records in the large black case below, flicking through every Blur album and single released to this day. My favourite lyrics are scattered on sheets of paper all over the ground, and he picks up the second verse from Coffee & TV. “You’ve always loved this one.” He says, turning to me and smiling.

“I happen to really like the guy who sings it.”

“He must be pretty good then.”

“Oh, he’s the best.” Resting my foot against the wall, I kick my body forward and stand straight, joining Graham beside the projector.

“What’s this for?” He asks, hands hovering near the buttons but not daring to touch anything. I take his hands in mine and give them a loving squeeze.

“Sit down and I’ll show you.” I chirp and he sinks down onto the beanbag. I mess with the projector until the sound starts to creep in, stretching over to switch off the light. Graham shuffles to the side to make some room for me on the beanbag and I flop down beside him, nestling into his side.

The image from the projector is surprisingly clear against the wall, although could’ve been improved had I borrowed a screen from somewhere. A variety of different clips play out in front of us, ranging from Graham performing onstage to snippets of his band members talking and praising their guitarist. I try my hardest to focus on the film in front of me, but I can’t help glancing over at Graham to see his reactions. His brows are furrowed, but not necessarily in a bad way - he’s focused, fully concentrating on everything he’s seeing and hearing.

I fidget with my hands, twiddling my thumbs and quietly cracking my knuckles. Graham notices this and grabs my left hand, squeezing it tightly and bringing it over to rest in his lap. Laying my head on his shoulder, I press a kiss onto his sleeve, rubbing my head against him and breathing in his familiar scent. He lays his head on top of mine, but never looks away from the video playing on the wall. Absentmindedly, his fingertips dance on the back of my hand, the drumming following the beat of Song 2 as it plays from the projector. I too can’t help bopping along to the beat, my foot tapping softly on the carpet.

The video closes with one final clip, a message I recorded for Graham. Too embarrassed to watch myself, my focus stays on him as I squeeze his hand a little tighter and snuggle up as close as possible. The picture begins to fade and the sound plays out until there’s no footage left, and the whirring of the projector becomes background noise in the room. Graham doesn’t say anything at first, but as I try to stand to turn the projector off, he pulls me back down onto the beanbag and rotates his body to face mine.

“Hey.” I whisper, my right hand supporting his cheek as he leans into me, his eyes closed and lips pressed into a line. Our bodies slot into one another’s on the beanbag, the very little space between us growing warmer by the second.

Graham releases a deep breath, his eyes slowly opening again with a small smile spreading across his face. It’s hard to see him properly in the dimly lit room, but I could never mistake those big brown eyes staring at me. “I can’t believe you did all of this for me.” He says, his voice low as he leans in close to speak like we’re the only two people who matter inside a crowded room.

“I wanted to show you how incredible you are. You’ve been so hard on yourself and I just - “ As I speak, tears start to well up in my eyes and I look up to the ceiling to try and stop them from falling. I’d already told myself earlier that I wouldn’t cry, because I don’t want Graham to think he’s upset me. I press at my eyes lightly with my fingertips in an attempt to push the tears away. “I can’t stand seeing you this way because you don’t deserve to feel like this. If it wasn’t for you, Blur wouldn’t exist! Everything you’ve all achieved wouldn’t have happened.” My voice begins to shake and I feel Graham’s hand on my arm, rubbing it gently to try and calm me down.

“Y/N.” He starts, before reaching up to turn on the light. It takes a second for my eyes to adjust, before my gaze falls to the ground to avoid his. If I look at him properly, I know I’ll start bawling. “Look at me. Please.”

“I can’t. I can’t because I’ll cry, and then you’ll get upset and I don’t want to make you feel any worse than wha - “

“You won’t upset me. Y/N, I’m sorry I’ve - “

“No, Graham. Don’t apologise.” I grip onto his shirt tightly, my fingers tangling in the fabric. Graham bows his head and nudges it against mine, edging closer until he pushes my head up with his and our noses are almost touching. We both open our eyes, our faces too close that my vision is distorted and I’m seeing double. I pull back, sniffling once and dabbing at my eyes again, still not allowing any tears to actually emerge.

“I’m sorry,“ he starts and I sigh at his words, but he hushes me by holding his finger up to my face, “for putting you through this. I was so caught up in my own head that I didn’t realise how it was making you feel.”

“Graham, this isn’t about me.”

“But it affects you. Bloody hell, if I had to live with this miserable twat - “ he points to himself and I scoff, slapping the back of his hand playfully. “ - I’d have given up by now.”

“I would never give up on you.” My voice is barely above a whisper, the lump in my throat making it difficult to speak. Graham goes silent again, staring down at our joined hands and moving his thumbs around. I nudge his head with mine in the same way he did previously and he sniffles, his chest rising and immediately falling again. “Graham?” I bring my hand to his chin and push his face up to find his eyes watery, and cheeks significantly more red compared to a moment ago.

“God, look at me. What the hell are you still doing with me, ay? I’m a bleeding mess.” He sniffs, roughly wiping tears off of his cheeks with the backs of his hands.

“Because I wouldn’t want to be with anybody else.”

“Not even - “

“Ah! Stop right there. There’ll be no more of that.” I take his hands away from his face, holding onto them loosely. “Graham Coxon, you are the best thing to ever happen to me. And I’ll give you a free pass to slap me silly for being so cheesy.” I laugh, his grip on my hands tightening as he awkwardly slides closer on the beanbag, his body sinking into it at a strange angle and pulling me with him. “I love you.”

Within a second, Graham’s hands are on both sides of my face, pulling me in for a kiss; the kind of kiss that feels like the person is pouring their entire heart out to you. Like the kiss between the main characters of a movie, when they’ve just ran across a field or a busy road to collide with another at the centre. His lips messily press against mine and I can feel the stray tears running down his face as they dampen my cheeks. My hands rest on his legs, holding on firmly as his thumbs dig into my face a little. It doesn’t hurt, but he soon pulls away and swipes at my face softly as if to apologise for it. He uses his sleeve to dry my face and I do the same for him, small gasps of laughter exchanging between us.

“Thank you for doing this. If you can’t tell, I really love it.” He says sincerely with a genuine smile, the biggest smile I’ve seen from him in weeks. The expression is infectious and I can’t help mimicking him as I grin back like the Cheshire Cat. The faint sound of knocking from downstairs pulls us out of our romance film-esque daydream and we both clamber to our feet.

As we approach the stairs, Graham stops and spins me around, pulling me into him. I land against his chest with a huff, before adjusting my hair and looking up at him. “After we eat, can you show me the film again?” He asks, his hand meeting mine to help me fix the loose hairs falling in my eyes.

“We can watch it as many times as you like.”

[malachaiparkerimagines]

do-over

word count: 4.1k

warnings: angst, sad kai :(, sappy sex

summary: seeing your old partner in crime in a diner was enough for both of you to yearn for each other once again.

The diner that Bonnie had chosen for dinner was quaint, a little way outside of town but the journey there had been a familiar one. Bonnie spent the drive over talking about a new grimoire she’d acquired, you'd been listening a majority of the time but as you pulled into the diner, your attention shifted.

Damon’s car was one you would recognise anywhere but for a second you failed to register that his car was parked just outside the diner you were about to enter. It shouldn’t have mattered but curiosity got the better of you and you couldn’t help but wonder.

“What’s Damon doing here?” you mumbled cutting off Bonnie’s rambling. She quickly spotted Damon’s car but didn't share the same concern, simply shrugging her shoulders and getting out of the parked car, immediately heading for the entrance.

The warm smell of waffles and bacon wafted out of the glass door Bonnie had held open for you and the soft murmur of conversations filtered into your ears.  

Any previous worries you had about Damon invading yours and Bonnie’s free time dissipated the moment you felt a low rumble emanate from your stomach. A waitress, a teenage girl with a warm smile, promptly seated you both at a table just by the window and handed you menus with a smile before briskly walking off to serve another table.

“I’m starving” you breathed as you looked over the choices on the tattered menu, your eyes flicking over a few that you knew you would enjoy. “What are you getting?”

Bonnie seemed too preoccupied staring at the stools at the front of the diner to acknowledge you, repeating the question seemed to catch her attention but now you were far too interested to find out what she’d been looking at.

“I-, um,” she stumbled, fumbling with the menu as she tried to gain your attention back but it was long gone, too focused on the two men sitting on the stools in the direction Bonnie had been staring at a few moments before.  

Damon was expected, you’d seen his car parked out front so you weren’t surprised to see him occupying one of the worn stools. However, you hadn’t expected to see Kai sitting adjacent to him.

To say you and Kai had history would be an understatement, you were practically joined at the hip for a time. The warmth and endearment he expressed in your presence was enough for the rest of the group to finally accept him; not as a friend just yet, but not as an enemy.  

That was a while ago though since then he'd drifted from you to the point where any acknowledgement of your existence was unheard of from him. You wanted to be angry with him, you had every right to hate him for the way he made you feel when he brushed you off but it broke your heart far more than it infuriated you.  

The diner was busy enough that he hadn’t spotted you yet but you knew it was just a matter of time, a simple glance behind him or Bonnie speaking a decibel too high would alert him to your presence.  

“Can we go?” you whispered, feeling your heart sinking more than you could physically handle. Bonnie’s eyes met yours and you could practically feel the pity radiating from her stare.

“No,” she stated, holding her head high but the look of sympathy was still painted on her face. “You can’t run from him forever, he’s not worth the trouble.”

She was right, of course, she was right, but that didn’t mean you had to like it. So, with a deep sigh and a shaky breath you picked up your menu and decided what to eat. With a proud smile, Bonnie imitated your actions and started to list off what she wanted to eat.

After a while you almost forgot that Kai was in the same room as you, you'd been so engaged in conversation and your food. What you'd failed to notice as a result was that Kai and Damon had finally realised that you were there.  

A slightly louder than usual laugh from you alerted Kai of your whereabouts, your laugh was so familiar to him and yet he almost forgot what it sounded like. As if it was second nature, his heart yearned to go and talk to you, ask you how you'd been but a hand on his shoulder grounded him into his seat.  

For a moment he thought Damon had returned him to his senses until his eyes shifted to the dainty hand that had slinked down and taken a hold of his bicep before they finally moved to the face of the woman who was smiling at him. Damon moved to focus on the milkshake in front of him, a smirk growing on his face.

“Can I help you?” Kai questioned, taken aback by the proximity of the woman who he didn't recognise. She was pretty, no question about it, she had light eyes and short blonde hair but Kai couldn't care less, his hearing focused on you and the mindless conversation you were having.  

The conversation between you and Bonnie had slowed, words were just mumbled between the mouthfuls of food. Somehow, your gaze returned to Kai and Damon, the sight instantly put a damper on your mood.  

You hadn't expected to see someone brazenly flirting with Kai, her hand was wrapped around his upper bicep and she was ever so slightly leaning into him. It wasn't her actions that had tears brimming your eyes but rather his, the lack of effort to move away was what hurt most.

Bonnie’s gaze had moved to the direction that had caught your eye and almost immediately she was waving over a nearby waitress.  

“Hi, could we maybe get some takeaway boxes and the bill?” she asked a grateful smile on her face when the waitress nodded and headed behind the register. “Are you okay?”

Tearing your gaze from the scene took a moment, you simply nodded and took a deep breath.  

“He can do whatever he wants, I don't care,” you said in an attempt to not only convince Bonnie but also yourself. You were never even dating but the way your heartstrings snapped at the sight made you reconsider just how much the whole affair had affected you.

It took about 5 minutes for both of you to pay, box your food up, and leave. The drive home was significantly quieter than the drive there had been and you cursed both yourself, and Kai, for letting him ruin your time out with a friend.

Honestly, you wanted to curl up in bed and forget that he even existed, the idea of asking one of your friends to compel you to forget the memory crossing your mind at one point.  

You dropped Bonnie off with as much reassurance as you could that you would be fine, desperately convincing her that it was nothing and the whole ordeal just caught you off guard. After a while, she seemed convinced and with a warm hug and a promise that she was there if you needed her, she left you alone.  

The soft music that played on the radio meant that you almost missed the notification that appeared on your phone. You had just parked up when you checked your phone, your heart skipping a beat when you read over the short message.

kai: are you busy?

Almost every fibre of your being wanted to ignore the message, block his number and move on with your life. But despite any intelligent thought telling you it was a bad idea, you typed out a simple no and sent it before putting your phone down.

Barely a few seconds passed before your phone lit up with another notification, you took a deep breath before picking it up again and reading the message.

kai: can you come over?

Any sensical thought you had left evaporated when you read the message, your body buzzing with dread and excitement at him wanting to talk to you. As if you had no control over your body, you said yes and started the car up again to make the almost habitual drive to his apartment.  

The drive there was quicker than you remembered, it might have been due to your racing thoughts that meant you were barely paying attention to the drive, the action almost unconscious.  

It seemed as though you were dreaming the whole time until you stood in front of his door. The reality of what you were doing came crashing down onto you and you almost decided to just turn around and go home, the door swinging open in front of you stopped you from doing that.  

“Hi,” you breathed out, your heart about to spring from your chest at the speed it was beating.  

“Hey, come in,” he said as he moved out of the way of the door, the familiar apartment coming into view.

It was exactly as you remembered, his apartment was dark and moody just as Kai intended it to be and you couldn’t help but let your heart warm at the smell of old books that Kai’s apartment always seemed to smell like.  

You turned to face him awaiting whatever reason he has asked you to come over after months of radio silence. The stoic look you presented did not at all mirror the turmoil you felt inside, you'd missed him immensely but prayed he didn’t know it.

“I saw you today, at that diner. I heard you leave and I can guess why you left but uh-” he stumbled over his words; he was never nervous which is why this side of him was such a shock to you. “I’ve missed you.”

The words made your skin erupt in goosebumps and your stomach fill with every type of butterfly. Meeting his eyes made any semblance of the strong facade you had presented crumble and you couldn't help the ways your eyes softened.

“Why?” you asked, your hands curling and uncurling into fists at your side, a presentation of your nerves.

“Why did I miss you? Why wou-” he started before you cut him off.

“No, why did you start acting like I didn’t exist?” you asked, the tremble in your voice evident but you didn't let yourself slip up.  

“I was scared,” he stated, his eyes falling to the ground as your eyebrows scrunched and your head tilted ever so slightly. “I’ve never felt like that about anyone in my entire life. I got scared and so I decided it’d be best if I left you alone.”

To any sane person, his logic made no sense, if you felt like you were falling for someone or anything remotely close then you would do anything in your power to keep them around. To Kai, it made perfect sense. He was so scared of hurting you or inevitably not meeting your expectations that he failed to realise that leaving you with no explanation would only hurt you more.  

“I thought you hated me,” you mumbled, the words bringing some kind of relief to your mind. Almost instantly, Kai’s head shot up to look at you and began to rapidly shake his head, muttering ‘no’ under his breath whilst taking quick steps towards you.  

His warm hands came up to brush your hair from your face before coming to rest on your cheeks. The eyes that met yours were swimming with both hurt and sympathy, he couldn’t bring himself to feel bad for himself when you stood in front of him looking so broken.  

“I could never hate you,” he whispered, “I’m so sorry, I didn't mean to hurt you.”  

Sincerity seeped into his words, the small cracks in his voice as a result of his emotions overwhelming him made it evident he was being truthful. You knew emotions easily overwhelmed him since his merge with Luke, he struggled to deal with them and you had tried to help before he pushed you away.  

The genuine show of feelings that flowed between you made you want to pull him close, tell him it was okay and that you forgave him but fear took over. It was impossible to know whether he was prepared to deal with those emotions again or if he would decide to leave the second it got too much.  

His eyes scoured yours, searching for any reaction he could work off of, anything that would tell him that you forgave him but he came up empty. His hands were just about to move off you, he was so close to apologising for being a bother and letting you go for good. Until you spoke up.  

“I want to try this again, I do,” you started, taking a moment before continuing, “but please don’t leave me again.”

Kai’s heart sunk in a way he’d never felt before, he’d never felt guilt to that extent. He’d done some truly heinous things in his lifetime but nothing made his heart shatter like the despair in your voice.  

“I don’t think I could leave you alone again if I tried,” he uttered, a breathy laugh escaping him and both of you knew he was telling the total truth. A sudden warmth filled you, a feeling of solace taking over and you finally allowed yourself to sink into his hold.  

One hand slid around the back of your head as you rested against his chest, his other hand slinking to your back and pulling you as close to him as humanly possible. The arms that slinked around his waist brought him comfort that he’d never felt within his lifetime.  

Gently, he looked down at you causing you to bring your chin to rest on his chest so you could look up at him. With a soft smile, he leaned down ever so slightly to meet your lips, gracing you with a tender kiss that sent your heart into a frenzy and your mind blank.  

He pulled away for a moment, a small smile gracing his lips before he began to place small kisses on your lips again, pulling away for just a second to see the small pout on your face. After doing this for as long as he thought you could take he pulled apart completely.  

“Come on,” he mumbled, grabbing your hand and pulling you through his apartment until you reached his bedroom. Effortlessly, he pushed the door open and span you around to push you onto the plush mattress.  

Nerves washed over you, the reality that you were actually in Kai’s bedroom, on his bed with him hovering over you suddenly crashed onto you. His hands returned to your waist but he looked over your face for a moment, as if he was reading your thoughts.

“Are you okay?” he asked, concern washing over his face at your sudden stillness considering how eager you were to be close to him just moments before.

“Yeah,” you struggled to find the words to describe how you felt so you settled on saying, “it’s just new.”

Kai knew what you meant, sure you’d been close before but him having you in his bed was uncharted territory. He hadn't intended to make you uncomfortable at all, he wanted to show you how much he’d missed you, how sorry he was.  

He began to push off of you, suddenly feeling as though he’d pushed your boundaries far too much for one night. Emotions had gotten the better of him and he already felt guilty for dragging you into his bedroom, his mindset on his own desires.  

Before he could leave you, warm lips met his once again, dainty fingers pulling at the hairs on the nape of his neck as he settled on top of you once again. No words needed to be said, all of your feelings being expressed through the soft smile he could feel against his lips as you allowed yourself to indulge in him.  

Relief washed over him and he finally let the desires free again, any previous hesitations being wiped clean and replaced with the sensations that now overwhelmed him.  

One of his arms rested by your head, propping himself up above you whilst the other skimmed across your waist, the light movements pulling at your shirt and revealing your skin.  

“Can I?” he mumbled against your lips, his fingers gingerly tracing the bottom of your ridden up shirt. A soft nod from you was all he needed to push the shirt up slowly before eventually pulling it over your head and leaving it to the side.  

The eyes that explored the now exposed skin were filled with adoration and lust. “You’re beautiful.”

The words erupted your skin into goosebumps, the lower tone of his voice sent your mind into a haze and the only thoughts you could formulate related to how lucky you were.  

A heavy sigh from you pulled Kai from his less than pure thoughts and back to you. He sat up straight, resting on his knees between your thighs and despite being devoured by his eyes in your half-naked form for the last few minutes, you suddenly felt exposed.  

As if he could sense your unease he removed his shirt as well, tossing it to the side more haphazardly than he had treated yours. The sight of him hovering over you, the only clothing covering him being his sweatpants, was something you wish you could engrain into your memory and relive on any dark or lonely day.  

Your hands unconsciously reached out to grab him, the need to feel him against you taking over. Almost instantly he was hovering about you again, the skin to skin contact making the feeling of lust more intimate.  

Your legs hugged his hips in a plea to have him closer, the soft kisses he placed on your exposed neck adding the dreamy state you’d been pushed to. His hands traced the cup of your bra, his hands gliding to your back and unclasping it with no trouble.  

Every movement he performed was soft and gentle as if you were made of glass. The fingertips that traced your skin and pulled your bra off your arms were featherlike and left a warm trail across your cold skin.  

A light touch to your nipple elicited a sharp intake of breath from you, a sound that made Kai shiver. His hands massaged your breasts carefully, all of his attention on the soft whimpers you made whenever his fingers played or pinched at the sensitive skin around your nipple.  

“P-please, more,” you whimpered, pushing your hips into his. The soft graze of you against his crotch caused him to abandon his attack on your neck and his face dug into the crook of your neck, his breathing deep as he attempted to calm himself.  

He was back to sitting up straight, between you, his hands grasping at the waistband of your leggings and underwear and pulled them off, the position was awkward and had your legs in the air but Kai managed to do it seamlessly.  

With a second, his eyes returned to your face, not leaving even as he tugged his sweatpants down his thighs, leaving them hanging around halfway down as his length slapping up against his stomach before gravity brought it down.  

Once again, he returned to you, his cock resting against your exposed pussy and you couldn't stop the soft whimper that escaped you.  

Kai’s eyes looked down between the two of you, his heart jumping at the thought that you had allowed him to see you exposed. Almost painfully slowly, he grinned into you, not yet allowing himself to indulge completely but the sight alone had his stomach in knots.

Small mewls of his name returned him to reality and he was on your lips once more. Any soft moans were muffled by his lips, the kiss was soft yet sloppy and you could feel the desperation rolling off the both of you in waves.

The teasing was becoming insufferable and you needed him more than you needed oxygen. “I n-need you.”

The words were mumbled against his lips and he would’ve missed them if he wasn’t so enraptured by the noises you were making. Before you could utter another syllable he has slipped into you, stretching you out to where it was almost painful.  

He gave you a few moments to breathe and accommodate him, a consideration that was much appreciated. The air in the room was suffocating and you could only bring yourself to let out shallow breaths in an attempt to keep yourself calm.  

It took him a few more moments to move, only gently thrusting as your breathing slowed to the point that he deemed ‘safe’. His movements were cautious, afraid to break you despite you showing him time and time again that you wouldn't be broken so easily, but you enjoyed the loving pace regardless.

You pulled him down ever so slightly, attaching your lips to his neck as he began to build a rhythm to his movements. His cock stroking against your sweet spot with every single thrust, each time it elicited a soft whimper.  

The pace sped up as he began to let his desires overwhelm him, his hips slapping against yours in a chase to his end. The hand that rested on your waist slid down your stomach and landed on your clit, rubbing small, soft circles that had you writhing.  

He was desperate for you to reach your climax first, knowing that seeing the ecstasy he caused would send him into a high that he could only ever dream of recreating alone. Your face was completely dug into the crook of his neck but he wanted to see you, he had to see you.  

Carefully, he pulled away, your head rolling back onto the bed and gave him a full show of your face. The way your eyelids were hooded and your lips puffy, it almost threw him over, but he remained hellbent on you getting there first.  

The angle of his hips changed slightly, barely noticeable if it hadn't made the tip of his cock hit your sweet spot with accuracy. The feeling made you let out a small cry, and every thrust after that wound your stomach into a tight knot.  

“Kai, K-Kai,” you started before you could finish your sentence the knot unravelled. The feeling overwhelmed you in a way you’d never felt before and you could only feel the way your body buzzed and writhed and the warmth from the man hovering above you.  

Watching you quiver and shake beneath him was enough to send Kai over the edge, his body near collapsing on top of you as a guttural groan erupted from him. His hips stuttered inside of you, pleasure clouding his mind and he allowed himself to pump you full of him, feeling the way your walls clenched him and held him in made pulling out feel impossible.

A few moments passed before he slid out of you, his cum spilling out of you as your pussy couldn't hold everything that he had to give. The sight made his mind hazy and his cock twitched, desperate to feel the warmth of your tight pussy again.  

He switched his gaze to you, your eyes had fluttered shut and the way you were peacefully sprawled out on his bed made you look ethereal. He stood onto shaky legs, his orgasm knocking the energy out of him and seeing you like that was enough to make his body tremble.

Gently, he picked you up, his arms and carried you to the bathroom, the movement woke you from your daze and you giggled slightly at his affection.  

“C’mon, let’s clean you up,” he whispered, scared to break the warm atmosphere. The care he provided you with broke him from his usual character, careful hands traced over you as to not stimulate you any further and he guided you through every action that would require no thought from you anyway.  

Finally, he returned you to his bed, pulling the covers up for you and allowing you to settle before joining you. The moment he crawled into bed next to you, you wrapped around him, your head rested on his chest and you wrapped your leg around his waist.  

The action, despite being as simple as cuddling, made his heart jump in its cage and he found himself completely and utterly enamoured with you.  

Watching you drift off to sleep was never the plan but how could Kai possibly sleep when all he could think about was you?

[moonlit-imagines]

The Doctor Is In

Stephen Strange x reader

Bruce Banner x reader (platonic)

warnings:

a/n: hey! idk how to build stairs guys. i didnt feel like researching it. i dont care if it’s wrong. leave me alone. part 2/2.

prompt:

Out (1)

There was no hope of Stephen coming back. Every truth you had to face was harsher than the last. Even when you got home and realized that Wong was among the vanished...and he didn’t fix the stairwell.

Maybe the stairwell was a good thing. It gave you something to focus on in these hard times. Sure, it’d been a month since the incident, but that still wasn’t enough time for the world to heal. That meant that contractors were hard to come by. But the roof would have a tarp over it for some time. No way you’d deal with that.

So you took a trip to the hardware store, you stocked up on wood and nails, lacquer and wood stain. Anything else you needed for the project. Anything to keep you busy.

There were so many sleepless nights. You hated being alone in Sanctum, hated being alone in your bed. Every so often you would nap on the couch, but then you’d get right back to work. Weeks on end you spent on the stairwell. How long will you stick around while I talk about the stairwell?

Doctor Banner called you from time to time. His voicemails were kind, heartfelt, but you couldn’t stop now. The gutted stairwell from a couple weeks ago was coming by very nicely. As nice as it could when worked on my an amateur. Alright, it looked awful, but you couldn’t stand using a ladder to get to the second floor.

As you were staining the wood, you played a message from Bruce:

“Doctor L/N, it’s Bruce. I hope you’re doing alright, but you know that if you’re not, I’m here for you. All the remaining Avengers have kind of...gone their separate ways for the most part, they’re pretty broken up about everything. I just want you to know that because you don’t...have to be strong right now. I understand if you can’t be. Just call me back whenever you can? I want to make sure you’re alright. We’re survivors, we should stick together.”

Bruce hadn’t known you long, but he was still a great person and friend. You should call him back, but if you lost focus, you may lose yourself. So you continued to wipe against the grain of the fresh stairs and moved to the next step. And the next. And the next.

The last step was the lacquer and seal. You were scared to finish up. What would you occupy yourself with once this was over? You thought about the answer until the very last step and admired your shabby craftsmanship. It’ll do. Or maybe you should tear it all down and start over? While you were thinking over your newest thought, your phone rang again. Bruce Banner.

“Hey, Bruce.” You answered the phone as you normally would and sat on the floor in front of your work.

“Y/N?” Bruce asked in disbelief. “Y/N, hey! How are you? I don’t know if you’ve been getting my calls..?”

“I have.” You quickly replied.

“Oh.” He quietly nodded to himself.

“I’m sorry, Bruce.” You realized your mistake and knew you may have come off as a little rude. He’d been nothing but kind to you, but you’d just realized you were alone today.

“No, no! It’s okay! I understand, don’t worry. What have you been up to?” His effort to start a conversation may be successful this time around.

“I fixed the stairwell. All of it. That’s what I’ve been doing the past few weeks. I just finished a few minutes ago.” You felt awkward talking to him. Not because of him, not at all. Just because you hadn’t really had any human contact in a while.

“I didn’t take you for a carpenter, Doctor.” Bruce was genuinely surprised with your skillset, you could hear it in his voice.

“And you still won’t once you see the job I did.” You actually managed to let out a chuckle. You didn’t know you could still do that.

“Oh, I hear ya loud and clear.” Bruce laughed, too. I wonder if he was having the same thoughts as you. “Y/N, do you want to go out to lunch like, now? I could use some company, maybe you could, too.”

“Yeah,” you checked the time on your watch, Stephen’s watch, and realized you worked through the night and day, “text me an address, I’ll meet you anywhere. See you soon.” You hung up pretty quickly, only to get ready ASAP. You were sort of covered in “stair supplies” and smelled like...not good. You’d take a quick shower, put on some clean clothes, and take off. Unfortunately, the stairs weren’t dry, so it was another round up the ladder.

—————

You finally took a trip back to your bedroom and shuffled through the closet filled with your...late husband’s clothing. It still smelled like him, surprisingly. You wondered just how long it would last. You hoped it’d be forever, but you grabbed your own clothes and quickly got dressed, then checked your phone to see that Bruce was running “a little late.” It’s okay, you were, too.

You took a seat on Stephen’s side of the bed and decided to snoop. Did it count as snooping if he was no longer here? You knew that he didn’t keep secrets from you, so what was the worst you could stumble upon? Books, books, and more books. But some were important books, ones detailing mystic arts. Maybe...maybe it was time to pick up a new skill. You stuffed the book in your bag and decided to head out now before you got too comfy in an actual bed.

—————

You and Bruce sat at a booth in the empty diner, awkwardly gazing over the menu while trying to stir up some conversation. It’d been a while since either of you had visited someone, you didn’t even know what to talk about.

“So, home renovations, huh?” Bruce asked while peaking over the fold of the laminated list.

“Something like that.” You sighed and set yours down and aside. “I know what I’m getting. What about you?”

“I just need a minute.” The only noise besides your bland conversation was the rustling of dishes in the back, which didn’t last for long. “Got it. A burger. That’ll do it.” Bruce announced and got the attention of the waiter.

Ordering took a second, but soon you and Bruce were alone again and ready to talk.

“How are the other Avengers? I know you said they went their separate ways, but...” You inquired and were surprised to see a smile crack on Bruce’s face. “What?”

“At least I know you listened to my voicemails.” He chuckled and took a sip of his iced tea. “They’re dealing with it. I don’t exactly know how. Nat’s staying at the compound, I’m sure she’s glad to have a home again. Cap went out on his own. Thor went back to his people. Tony and Pepper are trying to separate themselves from the world, I think. I don’t blame them. That’s all I know.” You stayed silent, but nodded along to his outer thoughts. “You alright?”

“I’m sorry, Bruce.” You started. “I didn’t mean to ignore you, leave you hanging. I just still don’t know how to take this. I keep thinking about what Stark told me when he came back. His whole ‘this will all make sense soon’ thing. Nothing about this makes sense to me.”

“Well, Strange was different, wasn’t he? He had that Stone, he had those powers, he might know something we don’t.” Bruce explained to you, an attempt to comfort you. “We’ve tried everything, y/n. Maybe it’s time to wait, maybe in time you’ll see that he sacrificed himself...for you.” You teared up at the scientist’s words and quickly wiped your eyes as the food was placed before you. “Thank you, sir.” Bruce said as the waiter walked off. “Hey, y/n? It’s okay that you’re hurting. I get it. But please don’t act like you’re alone. I’m gonna be here for you, okay?”

“Yeah,” you sniffled while hiding your wet eyes, “Me, too, Bruce.”

—————

When you got stressed out when you were younger, you threw yourself into your studies. Maybe that was why you were such an accomplished scientist. But what studies did you have now?

You had a library full of knowledge. It wasn’t your usual knowledge, but it would suffice. Now, the book that you’d snagged from Stephen’s bedside was a bit advanced for you, but that was okay. You had options.

Where would you even begin? This place was bigger than you remembered. Was this another spell? Did you know what you were talking about? Stop thinking, y/n. Start reading.

You picked out a book. You just ran with it. You recalled stories from Stephen. You remembered you needed the ring. What did he call it? Song ring? Sink ring? Slink ring?

Sling ring.

Not a problem, you could find one. Sanctum probably had tons. Maybe in Stephen’s study? You wished you had asked him more about his arts before, you just didn’t get it at the time.

One was stashed in a drawer. It was Stephen’s ring. The one he used himself. And it was the only one you could find, so it’d have to do. And so you got to studying.

The first time the air sparked by your hand was magical. Literally. But it made you feel something for the first time in nearly three months. And that was just the beginning. It felt like you were carrying on Stephen’s legacy in a way. You’d never be “Sorcerer Supreme,” but you didn’t have any intention of that. You just wanted his memory to live on, even if it were through you.

So you’d practice and you’d learn and you’d practice and you’d learn. You’d see Bruce whenever you could, and he soon noticed your mood change.

“I’m glad to see you happy for a change.” He told you while you walked through the park.

“Yeah, it feels great.” You told him while watching construction vehicles cleaning up the debris that had been lying around for months.

“I’ve been meaning to ask. What’s with the ring?” He looked at your hand and you lifted it closer.

“Oh...it’s Stephen’s.” You simply stated.

“Is it like a wedding ring?” He took a closer look and let you laugh it up for a quick second.

“No, no!” You shook your head at the ridiculous question. “I might as well show you. I haven’t told anyone yet, but that’s because you’re the only person I talk to.” You stopped in your tracks and shooed him back to give yourself enough space. “Ready?” Bruce looked terrified, but nodded a response and watched you raise your hands ahead, concentrating on the small portal you had began to open. Bruce recognized the opening since he’d fallen through it before.

“You’re one of the sorcerers?” Bruce’s eyes widened. “Why didn’t you ever tell me?”

“I just started learning!” You exclaimed with a bright smile. “I needed something to get me through this all...and I wanted to protect Sanctum like Stephen and Wong had always stressed doing.”

“That’s...amazing, y/n. Self-taught magic? By a scientist, no less. Look at you go!” Bruce had a knack for being supportive. You were glad that he crashed through your roof and into your stairs.

“Thanks, Bruce. Maybe in time I’ll be able to cast a spell that fixes my roof.” You shrugged.

“Oh? Come on! I said I was sorry!”

—————

And then five years went by. Flew by, actually. You’d become a skilled sorcerer and used your skills around Sanctum. There wasn’t much to do here on Earth. It was a bit quiet.

Bruce was still a close friend of yours! You’d advised him in his quest for balance. He was no longer at war with himself.

The roof was fixed! You had Bruce spectate your very own spell to repair the damages he’d inflicted, but all was forgiven.

Then one normal day you got a call from him.

“Hey Bruce! How’s it going?” You answered, even though it interrupted your meditation.

“Can you meet me at the diner ASAP?” He sounded a little off, but still upbeat, so you opened a portal and stepped through to find yourself right out front. It was easy to spot him through the window, but there were others with him. Avengers.

“Hey, all.” You took a seat beside an unfamiliar one. “Hi, I’m y/n.” You told him as a plate of food was set in front of you.

“I ordered you your favorite. Hope you’re hungry.” Bruce smirked at you and let you get to it.

“So, it’s been a while, huh?” You asked the two Avengers across from you.

“It has.” Natasha sighed. “I wasn’t aware you were...also a sorcerer.” She began.

“I had a lot of free time.” Last they saw you, you weren’t as cool, calm, or collected. They were glad that you’d found peace. “I have a feeling this isn’t a social lunch.”

“I’m sorry to pull you from your calm, Doctor L/N—” You cut Steve off.

“Y/N is fine.” You replied.

“Scott here,” Steve motioned to the awkward man sitting alongside you, “was stuck in the Quantum Realm for some time, if you’re familiar. He thinks that there’s a way to...to undo what Thanos did.” You peered over at Bruce and watched him shrug as your heart started to beat faster and stomach started doing turns. You hated the thought of getting your hopes up, but you still dearly missed your husband.

“What can I do?”

—————

You had a hand in opening the dozens of portals around the ruins of the Avengers Compound, but you weren’t the only one. Stephen, Wong, and hundreds of other sorcerers were assisting to bring an army to combat the troops of an outdated Thanos, and you were so close to Stephen.

Using your magic to create a pathway to the sky, you leaped from step to step to get a clear look of the battlefield. And to let Stephen see you. He did. And so did the cloak.

You’d never used your powers to fight, so you’d have to step it up out here. But you knew Stephen wouldn’t let you get hurt. And you believed that you could handle this yourself.

“Y/N!” Stephen called to you as he flew to your altitude and held you in a special embrace that you’d nearly forgotten the feeling of. “It’s so good to see you.”

“Are you kidding me, Stephen?” You chuckled through tears that you just couldn’t hold in, tears that dragged through the dirt and dust on your face, clearing small lines down your cheeks. “I have missed you every day since the moment you left. I am so glad to have you back.”

“I’m sorry I couldn’t say goodbye, y/n. I truly am. But I knew that you would manage without me. You always have.” He explained to you in such a heartfelt way, admiring your capability to still be standing in the air.

“You knew I’d become a sorcerer, didn’t you?” You cocked a brow and watched him smirk.

“I had an inkling.” He joked with you as the firefight below was still rampaging.

“It’s very unprofessional of you to be talking to your s/o during times of crisis like this.” You chuckled and broke your spell to fall back to the ground, stopping yourself before it was too late in what could only be described as a “superhero landing.” Now that you were on the ground, assistance was required for your own side of the battle.

You and your fellow sorcerers had to defend more than anything. Shields popped up across the battlefield in an effort to keep your people alive. There were too many close calls and you wanted to survive long enough to go home with your husband.

“Y/N, over here!” Stephen beckoned you to the flood that would have made this fight much harder, and you were delighted to defend alongside him. The cloak rushed to you and gave you a fast track to the edge of the water, you couldn’t help but that it for it’s kind service. “Ready?”

“Of course.” You lifted your palms and motioned towards that water, redirecting it and keeping it at bay for the time being. “I love you, Stephen.” You remembered to tell him.

“I love you, too, y/n.” He replied with his focus still on the flood. “And I’m proud of you. So very proud.”

“Couldn’t have done it with you.” You joked and stabilized the rushing waters, giving you a true load-off before the end was clear. Dust passed through the sunken hole you all stood inside. Dust of your enemies that had finally lost. You and Stephen stared at each other in disbelief, yet couldn’t help but run into each other’s arms. “This is real? We won?”

“In a way.”

—————

Stephen and you dressed in all black were standing in the back yard of your savior. Tony had given his life to give others a life. You were just sorry that it had to be him.

Bruce stood alongside you with a long face and an injured arm. It was time for you to be there for him like he’d been there for you.

“Thanks for bringing back my husband, Bruce.” You whispered to him while holding Stephen’s hand tightly. Over the past few days, you just couldn’t seem to let go of him.

“Oh, yeah? That was nothing.” Bruce playfully answered through his sorrow.

“How’s your arm feeling?” You asked him, making sure the sling wasn’t twisted up an any way.

“Not the greatest, but I’ll be okay.” He assured you and watched as you leaned your head onto Stephen’s smile with a sense of relief. “I’m really happy for you, y/n...”

“But?” You raised an eyebrow with a hint of worry.

“But you better still hang out with me.” He smiled at you and you even heard a chuckle escape Stephen’s lips.

“You can count on it, Bruce.” You lifted a hand for a fist bump and collided your knuckles with his, even if they were a bit oversized.

“Shall we get going, dear?” Stephen asked you while he hooked his arm around yours and opened a portal home. You waved goodbye to Bruce and went on your way, stepping right into Sanctum as the way closed behind you.

“So you really meant it, huh?” You asked your husband while setting your belongings down.

“That I love what you’ve done with the place?” Stephen laughed at your oncoming smirk and walked forward, wrapping his arms around your waist and pulling you forward to kiss the top of your head. “Of course, dear.”

“Even the stairs?” You peeked your head up to look at your husband and watched his smile grow. You’d never bothered casting a spell to properly repair them. Maybe you were just too proud of your work. Maybe it was a reminder that you got through these five years on your own terms.

“I do.” He leaned down to kiss your lips. “It adds character to this place.”

“More character than the magic?” You prodded at him.

“I think you mean ‘sorcery.’” He corrected as you leaned into his chest and slightly swayed back and forth, taking in his presence for the 50th time since he’d come home.

“Oh, of course. Silly me.”

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