#confession 117

[star-trek-fandom-confessions]

Confession #117

"I don't think I can really forgive the ENT writers for killing off Trip Tucker and baby Elizabeth."

[selfship-vent-confessions]

Has anyone else started learning a language because of their f/o? I feel a bit embarrassed about becoming interested in Arabic through my f/o. I haven't told anyone I'm learning, even though I've been studying on and off for almost 11 months now. I think there's this valid association of fetishisation and other weirdness when someone uses media as a jumping-off point for engaging with other cultures. I'm old enough to remember when being a "weaboo" was a cardinal internet sin, haha.

I've dabbled in several languages over the years and speak 3 decently, so it wasn't like I jumped into Arabic having never seriously engaged with other languages before. I keep at my study now purely because I love the language and everything I've learned along the way (numbering systems? geography?? history?? etymology???), but I'm so grateful to my f/o and his source for being the motivation I needed to start!

-

[rededgecitycouncil]

The only sandwich I wanna be in is a Caleb and Pogue one - anon @poguexoconnor @calebwarrenpeace

[tea-time-with-london]

I don’t like Stobin, one of them is a lesbian and the other one is a dude. I don’t care if it’s platonic or Queerplatonic because it’s just another ways for the fans to ship them without feeling guilty about shipping a man with a lesbian. If it was accepted, the fandom would outright ship Stobin as romantic.

Confession #117

I personally love Stobin's friendship (except for the whole dingus nickname) but I get what you're saying 100%. There's definitely people who ship them romantically and it's an icky feeling. I think I've seen it on Tumblr, actually.

Even if Robin were straight, I don't think they'd be a good match anyway. But I'm sure there's people who secretly ship them as a romantic pairing and that's just...not cool in my opinion.

[kunikidanelson]

Kunikida nation how do we feel?

Because i think hes gonna come back to life, and even if he isnt, do you think that stops me from obsessing? Because then you'd be dead wrong. Pun intended

I dont care that he fucking died, in my head he didn't. Alternative dimensions and universes are basically canon considering beast so like, dude's alive SOMEWHERE in the bungou multiverse anyway.

Can you imagine the angst of him dying fr? And them being super devastated and shit? Thats some fire stuff guys. He went out being sexy, good for him.

[atlaskrr]

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

I WAS SCREAMING GUTURAL NOOSES AND SQUEEKING THE WHOLE TIME BECAUSE FINALLY. I JUST WANT THEM TO BE HAPLY AND TOGETHER AND LIKE- THEY DESERVE THE WORLD AJSJSYGDHSYS. THEYRE SO CUTE IM FOAMING AT THE MOUTH.

ASGEHRGYHEUDUEJDUEJEEEEEEEEE

[jttwconfessions]

lego monkie kid has no cisgender characters. they are all transgender in some way. even pigsy.

[ryniadora]

Gotta say, as much pain as I am in right now I am really enjoying being in the trenches of fandom during pivotal moments again. Been a long time.

That said, I spent my afternoon writing 2000 words of BSD-related angst instead of working. I do not need angsty Guinevere Pendragon consuming my brain again, I just got her out thanks to Dawntrail and was actually writing something else.

[madame-fear]

˗ˏˋ 𝐅𝐋𝐔𝐅𝐅 + 𝐒𝐌𝐔𝐓 | 𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐌𝐏𝐓𝐒 𝐏𝐓. 𝟐 ˎˊ˗

ೀ amira speaks! : part two of my fluff + smut prompt lists for requests, check them out here! requests are currently closed. remember to specify who says what to who when requesting! 彡 last updated : 08/03/2024 — ♡

116. (character) is talking to someone about you. they try to hide how they feel about you, but it’s quite obvious. “I like them a normal amount.” character says, “we get along, we’re just friends.” “and you’re a friend... who stares at them smiling to yourself like an idiot?” “shut up, you know nothing.”

117. lazy morning kisses and cuddles.

118. “so wet already? I barely even touched you. You must be quite needy.” (smut)

119. “Can I touch you over here?” (smut)

120. “Do you like it like this? Or should I go slower?” (smut)

121. “You’re blushing, that’s cute.” “Shut up, stupid.” (specify who says this to who)

122. “Can I please hold your hand?”

123. “You’ll have to beg for that.” (smut, specify scenario if possible)

124. “Please, if you could stay with me for the night, I would be grateful. I need you.”

125. (character)’s friends discreetly playing matchmaking by placing both of you in places where you can be alone together. You’re both oblivious to your mutual pining, so at one point they force (character) to ask you out for once and for all.

126. “They gave us... One bed?” “Don’t pretend you don’t like it.” (could end in smut, or simply fluffy teasing)

127. “I think I might be dying... These may be my last words.” “It’s a small fever. If you don’t quit whining, the only thing killing you today will be my bare hands around your neck.”

128. “Touch yourself for me.” (smut)

129. “Your breasts are cold. Can I warm them with my hands?” “No.” “Pleeeeeeaseeeeee?” “Fine, but stop staring at my with those sad puppy eyes.” (smut)

130. Pillowfighting with (character). (Character) is better at it than you, but when you complain about it, they let you win because they genuinely feel bad.

131. Drunken love confessions to you.

132. Same as 131, but with you being drunk and confessing your love to (character).

133. “Don’t you like being all marked by me? Look at you, everyone will know you’re mine.” (smut)

134. “Someone might see us!” “Isn’t that the fun of it, love?” (smut)

135. “You are one pretty little whore. My pretty little whore.” (smut)

136. (character) gently removing your hands from your very flustered face after you give each other your first kiss, finding them smiling to themselves at how adorable you are.

137. “Who hurt you? I’ll get my revenge on them.”

138. “I could warm you up... From the inside.” (smut)

139. character introduces you to someone. “this is my girlfriend/wife!” (specify). you turn to them in confusion, becoming flustered. “yeah... your girlfriend/wife.”

140. “Stop stealing the blankets!” “Gods you’re so oblivious- I want you to come closer and cuddle me to seek warmth!”

141. “Why should I look up at the stars, when you have a whole constellation in your pretty eyes?” (so cheesy, woops)

142. “How come you were in love with me all this time?!” “I THOUGHT I HAD BEEN OBVIOUS ENOUGH ALREADY!”

143. “Look elsewhere, and I stop.” (smut)

144. “You have such a pretty, delicate little mouth. You surely take my cock so well.” (smut)

145. (character) lifting you from the floor, taking you in their arms, and happily swriling you around the place after not seeing each other for quite some time.

146. “We should film this.” (smut)

147. “Go fuck yourself.” “Only if you watch.” (could be smut or not, specify!)

[ouiouibaguettt]

The Tattoo

Y/N - your name. Y/NN - your nickname. Y/LN - your last name.

request: r is new on the french squad and star struck when she meets gabby. They room together and they bond over their love for records, r ask if she could tattoo gabby if they win their games.

okay i did try my best, im sorry i didnt go with the fact that r could tattoo Gabby in case of a win.

You're POV:

You've been ecstatic ever since national team coach Jean-Aimé Toupane called you so that you could come to the Insep training camp before you had to start training for the 2024 Olympics.

At the same time, with the season you'd had with Basket Landes, how could he not call you, averaging 6.7 assists, 8.0 rebounds and 17.5 points per game, giving you an evaluation of 20.6. To say you were on fire would be an understatement.

Let's get back to the moment. You were finishing packing your bag, before heading off to the station with your clubmate Marie Pardon. Once there, and after greeting everyone, that's when your eyes met, only it's not the first time your breathing seemed to stop when you met her gaze. Gabby had the same reaction as you, breath cut off, cheeks flushed, it was Marine who helped her out of her trance before she looked like a psychopath.

During lunch, the coach assigned rooms. “Marine Fauthoux with Iliana” he said as the two girls jumped on each other making everyone laugh. “Marine Johannes with Alexia, Marie with Carla, and finally Gabby with Y/N” he added before handing you your room keys and taking your seats to let you finish eating.

Once the meal was over, the whole team decided to go back to their rooms to rest before starting training.

When you entered the room, you saw Gabby unpacking, the way her arms flexed, allowing her muscles to show. The sight immediately made you blush. However, you heard a clearing of the throat, bringing you back down to earth, and Gabby looked at you with a smirk when she saw where your eyes were blocked.

“I hope you're enjoying the view?” she said, laughing a little, not wanting to be the only one in this position you replied ‘It's the best view I've ever had’ you said, winking at her before unpacking your suitcase, leaving her speechless.

However, she snapped out of her trance when she heard the rhythm you were whistling. “You listen to The Neighbourhood too?” she asked. “Yes, I have almost all their CDs in my apartment” you replied. “Which one did you like best?” she added as she lay on her stomach, head resting on her hands, looking up at you. “Hm, I'd say 'Reflections', it's very close to my heart” you replied before adding ”And you? Which one do you prefer?” Gabby took a moment to think about it before saying “I'd say ‘Reflections’ too”. After debating for a while about your rather similar musical tastes, your tattoos, it was time of training.

TIME SKIP

Since the day you and Gabby were put in the same room, each day brings you closer. If you both were unaware of the feelings that were starting to grow more and more. Your teammates were all aware, some had even placed bets on when you would confess your feelings to each other.

Before, your first two preparation games against Finland, you had made a bet with Gabby. If Finland scored less than 100 points in two games, you let her choose your next tattoo while if Finland scored more than 100 points in two games, you would have to choose her next tattoo.

Spoiler alert, you won the bet. By winning the first game 129 to 50, and the second 117 to 59, Finland had therefore put 109 points in total in two games which made you the winner of the bet. However, you and Gabby decided to wait until the end of the Olympics to get her tattoo.

TIME SKIP

After qualifying for the final following the victory in overtime against Belgium where you and Gabby were on fire. The whole team celebrated well with the public, and in the locker room. Finally, when the celebration stopped, the players came out one by one to greet the public one last time before returning to the hotel. Once back at the hotel, you and Gabby decided to stay a little in the common room, you were showing each other tiktoks. However, when you looked up from her phone to her, you noticed how close her face was to yours and how beautiful she was.

When Gabby looked up, her eyes were going back and forth between your eyes and your lips, unable to wait any longer, Gabby kissed you gently, she placed one of her hands on your cheeks and the other on your hip while your hands ended up around her neck. Wanting to catch your breath, you separated a little but you left your hands where they were. "Wow-" you said still amazed by this kiss. "I really like you Y/NN, I like everything about you, your musical tastes, your tattoos, your smile, the way your eyes shine with determination in the middle of a match" Gabby confessed. "I really like you too Gabby" you confessed to her. "Would you do me the honor of being my girlfriend?" she asked you. "Of course I would do you that honor" you answered her, a big smile on your lips.

However, just as you were about to kiss each other again, Marine Johanness arrived in the room, she saw the position you were in, your faces betraying you since you were both red. Marine understood immediately what had just happened. "Did you just kiss?" she asked excitedly, you had turned red with embarrassment at the idea of ​​a teammate interrupting you, that's when Gabby answered "Yes but-" she didn't have time to finish her sentence that Marine was already on the phone with Alexia. "Alexia you owe me 20 euros" she exclaimed. And then, she went back to her room. "It was super random" you told Gabby once calm had returned, "Yes really" said Gabby starting to laugh at the situation.

After this beautiful moment in the common room, you and Gabby decide to go back to your room.

TIME SKIP

With only a few seconds left, you managed to send your pass to Gabby, who caught it and scored immediately. The basket being awarded, the referees went to see the video to see if it was a 2-point or a 3-point. The score being 67 to 64 in favor of the USA, a 3-point would allow you to snatch overtime.

However, the referee having viewed the video, declared that the basket was a 2-point, and blew the final whistle, declaring the USA the winner. Gabby collapsed in tears, you brought her in your arms to try to comfort her as best you could.

Once she was 'calm' enough, you went to congratulate the opposing team and greet the public before going to the locker room to prepare for the medal ceremony.

After the medal ceremony, Gabby seemed at peace with what had happened earlier, that's how you ended up in a tattoo parlor to finally choose her future tattoo.

Being the nice girlfriend that you are, you decided to get the tattoo too. After showing the tattoo artist the design, he first started with Gabby, and ended with you. Gabby was surprised but was very pleased with the tattoo you had chosen.

On her left forearm, and on your right forearm, rests forever, the upside down house, the symbol of the group The Neighbourhood.

[frogaroundandfindout]

“I’m talking about you. You’ve been trying to kill yourself for the past six months.”

“No—I—Bruce it’s not like that.”

“You know how I feel about killing, and you know why. And you know the difference between shooting a bullet and failing to step in front of one. You lost sight of the value of Roland Desmond’s life. If you need me to forgive you for that, I probably can. But it won’t mean anything until you forgive yourself. And you have no right to expect me to excuse you for losing sight of the value of yours. You made a mistake. Are you going to let it be your last?”

After passing out from radiation exposure, dick wakes up in the cave to Alfred treating him. He confesses to not saving blockbuster when he could have and Bruce walks in to ask him why he didn’t. Dick admits it was because for just a moment he didn’t want to. He then rushes to assure Bruce he never wanted anyone dead before that (save joker and Zucco) and Bruce tells him that he can forgive dick for losing sight of the value of blockbusters life. What he can’t forgive is dick losing sight of his own. (Nightwing Vol.2 #117)

[unboundprompts]

Angst Prompts

↳ a masterpost for writing prompts with angsty themes.

↳ (#) is from my collection of random prompts, (list) contains multiple prompts.

If you like what I do and want to support me, please consider buying me a coffee! I also offer editing services and other writing advice on my Ko-fi! Become a member to receive exclusive content, early access, and prioritized writing prompt requests.

I also have a Patreon! Become a member to gain access to a Member's Only Community where you can chat and message other members and myself. Also gain access to my personal writing, which includes completed short stories, chapters from novels in progress, as well as completed scenes.

Romantic Angst Prompts:

God, I'm Going to Miss You (#59)

Don't Say Things You Don't Mean (#61)

Character in Love with Someone who They Think Hates Them (list)

Love Confession after an Argument (list)

Being Shocked After a Kiss (list)

Character that Pushes Away the People they Love (list)

The People Who Don't Care if I Live or Die (#159)

Grief / Depression Angst Prompts:

Faked Death (#37)

Prompts for a Character that is Alone (list)

A Character Dealing with Grief and Drug Use (list)

Prompts for Being Left Out (list)

Prompts for Losing Someone (and having Self-Guilt) (list)

Prompts for a Character Having a Breakdown (list)

Reuniting with a Missing Friend (list)

Unforgiving Fist (#103)

Meaning Without You (#170)

Oblivious Friend (Angst no Comfort) (list)

Fantasty / Sci-Fi Angst Prompts:

Bigger than the Both of Us (#5)

Can't Remember My Name (#20)

The Visions (#65)

My Head is Filled with Ghosts (#89)

No-Longer Human Character Reuniting with Friends and Family Part 1 (list)

No-Longer Human Character Reuniting with Friends and Family Part 2 (list)

Character Getting Thrown into a Volcano (list)

No-Longer Human Character Regretting What They've Become (list)

Non-Human Character Revealing Themselves (list)

My Design Was Never Good Enough (#129)

Hero and Villain Angst Prompts:

You're Sick (#1)

Responses to "I'm Going to Kill You" (list)

Not the Best Idea (#62)

Responses to "Let's Die Together" (list)

Alone in the World (#42)

Hero is told by Villain that their Friend Betrayed them (list)

I Can't Control It (#146)

Anger/Argument Angst Prompts:

One Character Has Been Lying to the Other (list)

You Betrayed Me (#97)

Been Like This (#121)

Betrayed Your Kind (#123)

The One to Beat (#171)

Family Angst Prompts:

Different Ways to Describe Emotionally Distant Parents

Single Parenting Prompts (list)

Responses to Finding Out You Have a Secret Sibling (list)

Meeting a Parent After Abandonment (list)

Other Angst Prompts:

Prompts about Re-Entering Society (list)

Character Has Been Poisoned (list)

Describing a Car Accident (list)

You Don't Remember? (#117)

Responses to "I'm just tired." (list)

[arainmorn-art]

Deciphering - Masterpost

And here we are, kittens! 

Deciphering is a detective surrealistic love story about our loveable walking disaster of an ex-attorney trying to confess to his best friend prosecutor. The story also touches sensitive topics as: alchoholism, suicidal ideation, psychological and physical abuse, depression and self-sabotage. And a murder, of course. It is a detective story too after all.

Chapter 1: It won’t be easy - 1-10, 11-19, 20-23

Chapter 2: I want to help you - 24-29, 30-37 

Chapter 3: Duel -��38-46, 47-49

Chapter 4: Call of the Void - 50-51, 52, 53, 54, 55-57, CW:58-61, 62, CW:63-68 new (OLD - 63-68)

Chapter 5: Charming - (full chapter 69-97), 69, 70-73, 74, 75, 76-79, 80, 81, 82-84, 85-89, 90-91, 92, 93-94, 95-97, 98-99

Chapter 6: Watch me drown - 100-101, 102, 103-106, 107, 108-110, 111-113, 114-116, 117-119, CW:120-124,

________________________________

♥ [FACADE] - Deciphering’s little sequel - 1-4, 5-9, 10-13

• NaruMitsu BONUSes: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10,

________________________________

• And my other Ace Attorney drawings: Phoenix pencil sketches, Beanix and Trucy, Franziska, Godot, Merry Christmas, Klapollo 1 & 2, Gumshoe, kids, investigating,

________________________________

Дешифровка на русском: [VK], [acomics], [SelfManga]

Фасад на русском: [VK], [acomics], [SelfManga]

DeviantArt - https://www.deviantart.com/arainmorn

Insta - https://www.instagram.com/arainmorn/

Twitter - https://twitter.com/ArainMorn_art

VK - https://vk.com/arainmorn

[empresskadia]

Fractured [Master Chief | John-117]

I seriously can't stop thinking about this man, ugh, he deserves the world. I didn't know what to write, so this happened. I have John's Gentle Touches chapter kinda planned out but it's gonna be a hot minute before it gets written and posted.

Post Halo: Escalation

It was one thing to be ordered to take R&R and another to get dragged away for it, or rather, as close to R&R as one could get on a massive ship. John was sure that Kelly was going to tease him as soon as he saw her next, but he couldn't tell you no. Not when he was glad to see you alive and unhurt.

That, maybe, he didn't fail you like he did Cortana.

It was after the third mission since he had reassigned Blue team that he noticed the UNSC Infinity had added to her crew, more specifically when you had marched right into the hanger, hands placed on your hip and Kelly let out a low whistle. "Someone's in trouble." She had teased that made Linda give a short snort as they passed by.

Though it was Fred who placed a hand on your shoulder. "He's all yours, [Y/n]." The Spartan patted your shoulder gently, the request in the movement evident. 'Take care of John.' and your small nod was answer enough.

Your brow raised as the green armor approached, he was glad, no, happy to see you again. This felt like the one thing that didn't seem to have gone wrong, but it had been four years since he had last seen you. Maybe everything between you two had changed.

"Hello, John." You said with that soft smile you always give him.

Or maybe it hadn't. 

The Master Chief simply nodded in acknowledgement; he wasn't sure what to say. Where to start? The loss of Cortana was still too fresh and if he was being honest with himself, a part of him hadn't tried to find you as soon as possible. Perhaps it was the fear that you would see him differently now.

He had failed.

His thoughts were circling when he felt two taps on his chest plate. "Come back to me John. I can hear your thoughts running from a mile away."

"I-I lost her," He admitted.

You were quiet for a moment staring into his visor like you could see him through the helmet, a sad smile tugged on your lips, "I know. I'm sorry." You really were. Cortana had been your friend, one who would tease John with you, one who would help you with your projects and have late night chats with you in the lab, one who always kept you up to date on John's missions regardless of if she was supposed to or not.

"She told me to tell you goodbye. And thank you-"

"And to take care of you?" You guessed, cutting him off before you tapped his chest armor again, the clink vibrating through the air. "Let's get you out of this. I wanna see you, John." And he couldn't tell you no, whether or not he wanted to take off the armor.

He complied.

He could do orders.

He could share this loss with you.

And while he laid in your arms, out of his armor, in the silent room that was broken by your humming, your fingers slowly dancing across his bare back, John almost felt like he was home, like he could survive this loss. His arms were wrapped around your waist, his face pressed against your stomach as your nails continued their movements, gently caressing over the pattern of scars as if you were rememorizing the old ones and studying the newer imperfections. "I missed you," you whispered as your lips pressed against his shoulder, right onto a scar he received from the Didact like you knew where it had come from.  The confession was so quiet that you took in a steady breath as if you were grounding your feelings. "I thought you were gone." He could hear the small quiver in your voice.

John lifted his head a fraction, his eyes meeting yours in a silent understanding. He had missed you and feared the worst. As he looked into your eyes, he understood your fears, a mirror image of his own. The thought of losing you, of facing the galaxy without your presence, was a fear he couldn't bear to confront. John's arms tightened around your waist, not enough to hurt you but to remind him you weren't going to disappear, that you were indeed alive.

"I'm here," he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. He leaned in, pressing a tender kiss to your forehead, a silent vow to never let you go again. The warmth of your embrace, the gentle rhythm of your breathing. With you, he felt whole, as if all the fractured pieces of his being had finally found their place.

[novasintheroom]

117. Never Let You Go

♡ Pairing - Vash x Reader

♡ Word count - 0.6k

♡ Warnings - none

♡ Description: You're both drunk and singing. It leads Vash to a confession.

Now part of the 150 Bullets drabble series on AO3

A/N: Please listen to "Leave Her Johnny" from Assassin's Creed 4 for the tune of the song sung here!

“Oh leave her, Johnny, leave her! For the voyage is long and the winds don’t blow, and it��s time for us to leave her!” Vash stumbles up the cobbled hill toward the inn, singing the song of the night at the Briny Barns tavern. You laugh beside him, feeling your own pleasant buzz from the alcohol. You’re both leaning on each other, trying your best to stay upright and not spend the night in an alleyway.

Shaky, you loop your arm through Vash’s and continue the song, albeit mumbling and washy. “I hate to sail on this rotten tub, leave her Johnny, leave her!”

“Never!” Vash proclaims, tugging you close and planting a big smooch on the side of your mouth. “I’ll never leave you!”

You giggle at his antics and sloppily shove your hand at his face. “But that’s the song! You gotta leave her, Johnny!”

“Ah, right.” He takes a one-two stumbling step before he suddenly reels back and falls on his butt. Your snorting laughter chases him down, and soon you’re crouched beside him, trying (and failing) to get him back up.

“No, no, leave me Johnny, leave me!” He says, laying down on the street and sighing dramatically. “That fireball whiskey is…woo. That is…somethin’.”

Giving up, you lay down beside him. Thankfully there’s no tomas droppings nearby. Vash points up at the stars above, other arm coming around your shoulders to pillow your head. “See that? That’s…uh…wassit called…”

You squint, trying to see through the double-vision you have. “What’re you pointing at?”

“Shhh,” Vash says, putting a finger to your lips. “I’m trying to remember…ah ha! It’s Gillespie’s Ring! See?”

You swat his hand away. “No.”

“Aw.” His arm flops down to his chest, and you both lay there for a moment in silence. In the distance, the sound of the tavern can still be heard, with villagers and travelers and who knows who else singing and dancing. Vash halfway wants to turn around and go back to the party, but knows you’ve both hit your limit for the night.

It gets him thinking. You’re a pair. A partnership. Lovers. You’ve been through thick and thin with him, and he’s so used to you dogging at his heels that it’s strange now to be alone. His heart swells.

Carefully, he leans over and kisses you on the temple. “You know I’ll never let you go, right?” He whispers, plum dark sky the only witness to his words.

You’re drunk enough to take a moment before responding. “I know, birdie. Just like – like I’ll never let you go.”

“Yeah,” he says, grinning at you before kissing you on your nose. “You’re my girl. You’re my forever.”

You cross your eyes in exaggeration and snort. “And what you are is a sap.”

Vash laughs, never denying it.

Finally, after a few more attempts to point out constellations, you feel your butt go numb from the hard ground. “Alright, we gotta get to bed. C’mon, to bed.” You stagger to your feet, and Vash follows, slumping on a nearby building for leverage. He quickly melds to your side, though, and starts singing again as you walk. “Oh, I’ll never leave her, Johnny! I’ll never leave my girl! ‘Cause the winds are fierce but her heart is too, oh I’ll never leave my girl!”

[raineandsky]

#117

tw: gun violence, murder

The hero gets out of bed, folds their sheets back the same as always, and starts their day.

They put the TV on for the background noise, but it’s far beyond that now. The hero can recite this news story word for word.

“—and what’s to say this fiend can be stopped? I’m joined here by villainy expert Joyce Peterson for a glimpse into what may be….”

The hero pulls a box out of the cupboard, throws some cereal into a bowl. The same flake as always bounces off the edge and escapes onto the floor. They eat in silence, the buzz of the TV enough to fill the space for dread in their mind, and think over their plan again.

It’s been like this for two weeks now. The same news story, the same breakfast, the same glum look on the superhero’s face when the hero walks into the agency. The same “[Hero], a word, please”, the same confession that their villain is going haywire.

The hero wants to say they’ve lost their mind. They’ve tried everything—don’t go to work, don’t talk to the superhero, don’t accept the mission they’ve been given every day for the past two weeks. Even the inconsequential stuff: don’t have breakfast, don’t turn on the TV, don’t go in through the front door. Every day has brought a new attempt to break themself out of this time loop, and so far every day has remained exactly the same.

They look up a little too early when the superhero approaches them at the door. “[Hero],” he says predictably, “a word, please.”

The same as always. The superhero ushers them into an interrogation room for lack of a better place to speak privately. They have the same conversation, the words practically rehearsed in the hero’s head like this is some fucked up theatre performance. Your villain is going off the rails, the hero thinks along with him. You need to bring this to an end before they destroy everything.

The same walk down the corridor, the same idle suit-up, the same wish of good luck from the superhero.

The hero turns to grab the same pair of cuffs before they falter, caught in instinct. They let their hand drift a little further to unlatch a handgun from the wall. Something new. Another attempt at freedom.

Not that it’ll work. It never does.

The hero goes out there to face the villain, as always. They laugh at the hero’s presence, throw themself into the same grand monologue. The hero points their gun at the villain and, without a thought in the world, pulls the trigger.

Killing people is a lot easier than trying to catch them. The hero’s never wanted to kill someone—god, they can’t imagine what it’d be like to want to kill—but it’s a curiosity sated. It feels bad. They hate it. The villain is dead, the gun is hot in their hand, and this will all reset tomorrow.

The hero returns to the agency with the news. The superhero doesn’t seem to know whether this is good or not. “It’s another evil off the streets,” he says, but his brow furrows as he says it.

The hero goes home that evening, their routine slightly altered with their new line of action. The water of the shower is cold, their dinner made when the streetlamps outside the window are already flickering on.

They tumble into bed without a care. What will they try tomorrow? Maybe they can try just incapacitating the villain this time. Shoot them in the leg or something. They go to sleep and dream of another day of the same.

Morning. The hero gets out of bed, folds their sheets back the same as always, and starts their day.

They put the TV on for the background noise, but it’s far beyond that now. The hero can recite this news—

Wait.

“—No one’s sure what happened. The public has gathered here to celebrate this victory, but not everyone is so pleased about this. I’m joined by a citizen, who wished not to be named, who was there at…”

The hero stumbles into the kitchen, wrenching their usual box from the cupboard. They pour it into a bowl, and all the flakes stay inside.

The drive to work is a blur. They stagger in through the doors and another hero bounds up to give them a pat on the back. “Someone needed to put the trigger on that one,” she says brightly. “They weren’t going down without it. Good job.”

Their routine is shattered; they cringe away from the other hero’s touch. This is wrong. They weren’t meant to get out. They were in a time loop. Where’s the superhero? Where’re his usual concerns about the villain’s destruction?

They know they’re meant to be glad. They broke out of the same loop they’ve been in for two weeks. The relief of a new string of events should be palpable. All the hero can seem to feel, though, is overhanging, gnawing dread.

They’re free. They’re a murderer.