#crispy cascade

[crispycascade]

i am going to suffocate myself, drew this for like, hours i was studying anatomy when making him so, srry if it looks wrong!!! <3

@glitterycrayons

[23victoria]

34 + 35

pairings: 𝖼𝗁𝖺𝗋𝗅𝖾𝗌 𝗅𝖾𝖼𝗅𝖾𝗋𝖼 𝗑 𝖿𝖾𝗆!𝗋𝖾𝖺𝖽𝖾𝗋

warnings: 𝗌𝗆𝗎𝗍 (𝗐𝗋𝖺𝗉 𝗂𝗍 𝖻𝖾𝖿𝗈𝗋𝖾 𝗒𝗈𝗎 𝗍𝖺𝗉 𝗂𝗍), 𝖿𝗅𝗎𝖿𝖿, 𝗆𝖾𝗇𝗍𝗂𝗈𝗇𝗌 𝗈𝖿 𝗀𝖾𝗍𝗍𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗉𝗋𝖾𝗀𝗇𝖺𝗇𝗍

authors note: 𝖼𝗁𝖺𝗋𝗅𝖾𝗌 𝗅𝖾𝖼𝗅𝖾𝗋𝖼 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗆𝖺𝗇 𝗒𝗈𝗎 𝖺𝗋𝖾 𝗆𝗁𝗆𝗆! 𝗂 𝗍𝗁𝗂𝗇𝗄 𝗍𝗁𝗂𝗌 𝗂𝗌 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗆𝗈𝗌𝗍 𝗌𝗆𝗎𝗍 𝗂'𝗏𝖾 𝖾𝗏𝖾𝗋 𝗐𝗋𝗂𝗍𝗍𝖾𝗇....𝗁𝗈𝗉𝖾 𝗂𝗍𝗌 𝗀𝗈𝗈𝖽 𝖾𝗇𝗈𝗎𝗀𝗁! 𝖺𝗇𝗒 𝖿𝖾𝖾𝖽𝖻𝖺𝖼𝗄, 𝗅𝗂𝗄𝖾𝗌, 𝖼𝗈𝗆𝗆𝖾𝗇𝗍𝗌, 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝗋𝖾𝖻𝗅𝗈𝗀𝗌 𝖺𝗋𝖾 𝖺𝗉𝗉𝗋𝖾𝖼𝗂𝖺𝗍𝖾𝖽!! 𝗁𝗈𝗉𝖾 𝗒𝗈𝗎 𝖾𝗇𝗃𝗈𝗒!! 🤍

𝗐𝖺𝗇𝗇𝖺 𝖻𝖾 𝗍𝖺𝗀𝗀𝖾𝖽 𝗂𝗇 𝗆𝗒 𝗐𝗈𝗋𝗄𝗌?! CLICK HERE

1k celebration f1 masterlist

The sun peeks through the curtains, casting a warm glow over the bedroom as you begin to stir. The smell of something delicious wafts through the air, pulling you from your slumber. You stretch, the soft sheets rustling around you, and that's when you see Charles standing in the doorway, a tray in his hands and a loving smile on his face.

"Good morning, baby," he says, his voice filled with affection.

You sit up, propping yourself on the pillows as he brings the tray to you. It's a delightful spread of fresh fruit, fluffy pancakes, scrambled eggs, and crispy bacon, accompanied by a steaming cup of coffee and a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice.

"Charles, this looks amazing!" you exclaim, touched by the effort he's put into making your morning special.

He sets the tray on your lap and leans in to kiss your forehead. "Only the best for you," he says, his eyes sparkling with love. "I wanted to start our anniversary weekend off right."

As you take a bite of the pancakes, savoring the sweet syrup, he sits on the edge of the bed, watching you with a look of adoration. "You have until tonight to pack your essentials," he says casually.

You pause, fork halfway to your mouth. "Pack my essentials? What do you mean?"

He grins, a mischievous glint in his eye. "I already had your BFF buy you stuff and pack everything you might need. Your job is just to relax and get ready."

You're shocked, a mixture of excitement and curiosity bubbling up inside you. "Where are we going?" you ask, your voice filled with anticipation.

You stare at him, speechless. "Wait. Charles! My hair, my nails... nothing is done. Are you serious?"

"It's a surprise," he says with a wink. "But don't worry about a thing. I've scheduled a whole day of pampering for you. Your hair, nails, everything—it's all taken care of."

He laughs, leaning in to kiss you softly. "That's what you're doing today. Just relax and enjoy yourself. I've got everything planned."

After breakfast, you get ready for your day of pampering. You’re still buzzing with excitement and curiosity about the surprise trip. Charles gives you one last kiss before you head out the door, his parting words making you smile. "Enjoy your day, baby. You deserve it."

Your first stop is a high-end salon downtown, where you're greeted by friendly staff who seem to know exactly who you are. "Welcome! We've been expecting you," the receptionist says with a warm smile.

You're ushered into a private room where your stylist awaits. She’s bubbly and professional, and she wastes no time in discussing what you’d like for your hair. After a brief consultation, you decide on a style that's elegant yet easy to manage, perfect for a surprise trip.

As she works, you relax, letting the tension melt away. The stylist is skilled, her hands working magic on your hair. She gives you a deep conditioning treatment, a trim, and styles your hair into soft, cascading waves that frame your face beautifully.

Next, you’re led to the nail section, where you choose a chic chrome white French tip with tiny jewels for a touch of glamour. The nail technician is meticulous, ensuring each nail is perfect. The process is soothing, and you find yourself chatting with her, the time passing quickly.

Once your nails are done, you move on to a luxurious facial. The esthetician is gentle, applying various creams and masks that rejuvenate your skin, leaving it glowing and refreshed. You close your eyes, letting the serene environment and soft music lull you into a state of complete relaxation.

By the time you’re finished, you feel like a new person. Your hair looks stunning, your nails are impeccable, and your skin feels silky smooth. As you step out of the salon, you can’t help but admire your reflection in the glass door. Charles is going to love this, you think to yourself with a smile.

.•☆.°.•.*₊ ♪ ♫ .• ☆.°.• .

Charles picks you up outside the salon, his eyes lighting up when he sees you. "Wow, you look incredible," he says, pulling you in for a kiss. "How was your day?"

"It was amazing," you reply, your heart swelling with gratitude. "Thank you so much for everything. But I'm still dying to know where we're going."

He laughs, a low, rumbling sound that makes your heart flutter. "All in good time, baby."

He drives you to the airport, the anticipation building with each passing mile. When you arrive, he parks and leads you inside, his hand warm and reassuring in yours. As you walk through the bustling terminal, you can’t help but feel a mix of excitement and nerves.

"Charles, seriously, where are we going?" you ask again, hoping he’ll give you a hint.

He just smiles, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "You'll see soon enough. Trust me."

You board a private plane, a luxury you hadn't expected. The interior is plush and comfortable, with soft leather seats and elegant décor. As you settle in, a stewardess offers you a drink, and you accept a glass of champagne, the bubbles tickling your nose as you take a sip.

Charles sits beside you, his hand resting on your thigh. "I arranged for dinner to be served once we're in the air," he says, his voice low and intimate. "I thought it would be nice to enjoy a meal together while we fly."

You look at him, your heart overflowing with love and gratitude. "You're so cute," you say, leaning in to kiss him. "I love you. I'm so excited but also a little nervous."

He smiles, his eyes filled with warmth. "I love you too. And there's no need to be nervous. Everything is going to be perfect."

The plane takes off smoothly, and soon you’re soaring above the clouds. The stewardess brings out dinner—a beautifully arranged spread of gourmet dishes. There's a succulent filet mignon, a delicate salmon fillet, roasted vegetables, and a variety of decadent desserts.

As you dine, you and Charles talk about everything and nothing, the conversation flowing easily between you. The food is delicious, each bite a new sensation of flavor and texture. You feel completely spoiled, each moment more perfect than the last.

"You're really pulling out all the stops," you say, taking a sip of your champagne. "This is like a dream."

He reaches across the table, taking your hand in his. "You deserve nothing but the best," he says softly. "I wanted to make this anniversary unforgettable."

You smile, squeezing his hand. "It already is. But I can't help but wonder—where are we going?"

He chuckles, his thumb rubbing gentle circles on your hand. "Patience, baby. You'll know soon enough."

After dinner, you both recline your seats, the plane dimming its lights for the evening. You snuggle close to Charles, his arm wrapped around you as you gaze out at the stars twinkling outside the window.

"I can't wait to see what you have planned," you whisper, your voice filled with excitement.

He kisses your forehead, his lips soft and warm against your skin. "It's going to be amazing," he promises. "I can't wait to share it with you."

As the plane continues its journey, you close your eyes, feeling completely content. The anticipation of the surprise destination fills you with a sense of adventure and wonder. With Charles by your side, you know that whatever awaits you will be perfect.

Several hours later, the plane begins its descent. You wake up, feeling refreshed and curious about where you are. Charles looks at you, his eyes twinkling with excitement.

"We're almost there," he says, his voice filled with anticipation.

You look out the window, trying to catch a glimpse of your destination. The landscape below is beautiful, lush and green with hints of water sparkling in the distance. As the plane touches down, you feel a rush of excitement.

Once you’ve landed, Charles helps you gather your things, and you step off the plane into the warm, balmy air. The scenery is breathtaking—palm trees swaying gently in the breeze, the ocean stretching out to the horizon, and the sky painted with the colors of the setting sun.

“Charles, this is incredible,” you say, your eyes wide with wonder. “Where are we?”

He takes your hand, leading you towards a waiting car. “Welcome to Thailand,” he says with a grin. “Our home for the next week.”

You gasp, your heart racing with excitement. “Thailand? Are you serious?”

He nods, his eyes sparkling with delight. “I thought it would be the perfect place to celebrate our anniversary.”

You throw your arms around him, hugging him tightly. “Thank you, Charles. This is the best surprise ever.”

He kisses you, his lips warm and loving against yours. “Anything for you, baby. Now, let’s get settled in. We have an amazing week ahead of us.”

As you drive towards your hotel, the excitement and anticipation build within you. You can’t wait to see what other surprises Charles has in store. With him by your side, you know this trip will be nothing short of magical.

.•☆.°.•.*₊ ♪ ♫ .• ☆.°.• .

As you make your way to the candle-lit dinner he meticulously planned, the soft glow of lanterns and the soothing sound of the waves set the perfect ambiance. The setting is picturesque—a secluded beach with a table adorned with flowers, candles flickering gently in the evening breeze, and the scent of the ocean filling the air.

Charles, ever the gentleman, pulls out your chair, his eyes never leaving yours. He looks dashing in a crisp white shirt that contrasts beautifully with his tanned skin, his hair slightly tousled by the wind. You can’t help but smile at the thoughtfulness he’s put into this evening.

As you sit down, a waiter appears with a bottle of your favorite wine. Charles pours it for you, the liquid shimmering in the candlelight. You clink glasses, and he raises his, a mischievous glint in his eye.

“To us,” he says, his voice deep and sincere. “To three amazing years and many more to come.”

You smile, feeling a rush of warmth and affection. “To us,” you echo, taking a sip of the wine.

The first course arrives—a delicate seafood platter with fresh oysters, shrimp, and lobster, all beautifully presented. You savor each bite, the flavors bursting on your tongue. Charles watches you, his eyes dark with a mix of love and desire.

“This is amazing,” you say, your voice filled with genuine appreciation. “You really outdid yourself.”

He reaches across the table, taking your hand in his. “Only the best for you,” he replies, his thumb gently caressing your skin.

The conversation flows effortlessly as you enjoy the meal. You talk about your favorite memories from the past three years, laughing and reminiscing about the adventures you’ve shared. Charles is attentive, hanging on your every word, his gaze never wavering from your face.

The main course is a sumptuous Thai curry, rich and aromatic, with just the right amount of spice. You both savor the complex flavors, occasionally feeding each other bites. The intimacy of the moment is palpable, the connection between you deepening with each shared taste.

As the meal draws to a close, the waiter brings out a decadent dessert—mango sticky rice, perfectly sweet and fragrant. Charles takes a bite, then leans over to kiss you, his lips tasting of mango and coconut.

“I love you,” he murmurs against your lips, his voice husky.

“I love you too,” you whisper back, your heart swelling with emotion.

.•☆.°.•.*₊ ♪ ♫ .• ☆.°.• .

After dinner, you and Charles walk back to your hotel, hand in hand. The night is warm, the air filled with the scent of jasmine and the distant sound of music from a nearby festival. When you reach your room, he opens the door with a flourish, revealing a scene straight out of a fairy tale. The room is dimly lit, with rose petals scattered across the bed and soft music playing in the background.

Charles pulls you close, his hands resting on your hips. “I have one more surprise for you,” he says, his breath warm against your ear.

You raise an eyebrow, curious and excited. “Oh? And what might that be?”

He smiles, a slow, sensual smile that sends shivers down your spine. “Why don’t you sit down and find out?”

You sit on the edge of the bed, watching as he moves to the small table in the corner. He lights a few more candles, their soft glow adding to the romantic atmosphere. Then he turns back to you, his eyes dark and smoldering.

He walks over to you, his movements graceful and deliberate. When he reaches you, he kneels down, his hands sliding up your legs to rest on your thighs. “You look beautiful tonight,” he says, his voice low and filled with desire.

Your breath catches in your throat as he leans in, his lips brushing against your skin. He starts at your ankle, kissing his way up your leg, his touch sending sparks of electricity through your body. By the time he reaches your inner thigh, you’re already aching with need.

“Charles,” you whisper, your voice trembling with anticipation.

He looks up at you, his eyes filled with love and lust. “Just relax,” he murmurs. “Let me take care of you.”

You lean back, propping yourself up on your elbows as he continues his slow, sensual exploration. His hands are gentle but firm as they slide up your dress, pushing the fabric aside to reveal your bare skin. When his lips finally reach your core, you can’t help but moan, the sound echoing in the quiet room.

He takes his time, his tongue teasing and tasting you with a skill that leaves you breathless. Each flick and swirl sends waves of pleasure coursing through your body, building higher and higher until you’re on the edge of ecstasy. You grip the sheets, your knuckles white as you hold on, the sensations overwhelming.

“Charles, I’m so close,” you gasp, your body trembling with need.

He looks up at you, his eyes dark and intense. “Come for me,” he murmurs, his voice rough with desire. “I want to feel you come.”

His words send you over the edge, your body arching as the orgasm crashes over you. You cry out his name, your vision going white with pleasure. Charles doesn’t stop, his tongue still moving against you, prolonging your release until you’re shaking with aftershocks.

When you finally come down, he looks up at you, his lips glistening. “You taste amazing,” he says, his voice husky.

You pull him up to you, kissing him deeply, tasting yourself on his lips. “Your turn,” you whisper, a wicked smile playing on your lips.

You push Charles onto his back, your hands moving to unbutton his shirt. He watches you, his eyes filled with anticipation and desire. When you finally have his shirt off, you trail kisses down his chest, your tongue flicking out to taste his skin. He groans, his hands tangling in your hair as you make your way lower.

When you reach the waistband of his pants, you look up at him, your eyes dark with desire. “I want to make you feel as good as you made me feel,” you say, your voice low and sultry.

He swallows hard, his eyes never leaving yours. “You always do,” he replies, his voice rough with need.

You smile, your fingers deftly undoing his belt and sliding his pants down. When he’s finally bare before you, you take a moment to admire him, your eyes drinking in every inch of his body.

Then you lean down, your lips wrapping around him, your tongue teasing the sensitive head. He groans, his hips bucking as you take him deeper, your mouth moving up and down his length with practiced ease. You can feel him trembling beneath you, his hands gripping the sheets as he tries to hold on.

“God, you’re so good at that,” he gasps, his voice strained.

You hum in response, the vibration sending shivers through his body. You take him deeper, your hand moving to stroke the base as your mouth works its magic. He’s close, you can feel it, his body tensing as he nears the edge.

Just as he’s about to come, you pull back, a wicked smile on your lips. He looks at you, his eyes filled with desperation and desire. “Please,” he begs, his voice rough. “I need you.”

You climb onto the bed, straddling his hips as you align yourself with him. “Not yet,” you murmur, your voice low and teasing. “I want to ride you first.”

You sink down onto him, both of you gasping at the sensation. You start to move, your hips rocking back and forth as you take him deep inside you. The pleasure is intense, each thrust sending waves of ecstasy through your body. Charles watches you, his eyes dark with desire, his hands gripping your hips as you ride him.

“You look so hot,” he groans, his voice filled with awe. “God, I love watching you like this.”

You smile, your movements quickening as you feel the pleasure building. “I love it too,” you gasp, your body trembling with need.

Just as you’re about to come, Charles flips you over, pinning you beneath him. He thrusts into you hard and fast, his hands gripping your thighs as he drives you both towards release. The pleasure is overwhelming, each thrust sending you higher and higher until you’re on the edge of ecstasy.

“You want me to get you pregnant?” he growls, his voice rough with desire.

“Yes,” you moan, your body arching beneath him. “Yes, Charles, I want it so much.”

He thrusts into you one final time, both of you crying out as you come together. The sensation is intense, your body shaking with the force of your release. When it finally subsides, you collapse against the bed, your body spent and satisfied.

Charles pulls out of you gently, his movements careful and tender. He reaches for a warm rag, cleaning you up with a soft touch. “You were amazing,” he murmurs, his voice filled with love and admiration.

You smile, your heart swelling with affection. “So were you,” you reply, your voice soft.

He finishes cleaning you up, then scoops you into his arms, carrying you to the bathroom. When you see the rose petals and warm water waiting, you can’t help but smile. “You really thought of everything,” you say, your voice filled with wonder.

Charles sets you down gently into the bath, the warm water enveloping your tired muscles and soothing your skin. The scent of the rose petals fills the air, adding to the romantic atmosphere. He slips in behind you, pulling you close so your back rests against his chest. His arms wrap around you, holding you securely.

You both sigh in contentment, the warm water and intimate setting creating a perfect moment of peace and relaxation. Charles nuzzles your neck, placing soft kisses along your shoulder.

“This was perfect,” you murmur, leaning back into him.

He tightens his hold on you slightly, his lips brushing your ear. “I’m glad you enjoyed it,” he whispers. “I wanted tonight to be special for you.”

You turn your head slightly, meeting his gaze. “It was more than special. It was unforgettable.”

He smiles, his eyes filled with love. “I love you,” he says softly.

“I love you too,” you reply, your heart swelling with emotion.

You rest in the bath together, enjoying the quiet intimacy of the moment. Charles’s hands gently caress your skin, his touch soothing and comforting. You close your eyes, letting yourself relax completely in his embrace.

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© 23victoria 2023-24 I all rights reserved. do not republish, steal repost, modify, translate or claim my work as your own

[luvfy0dor]

“I Can't Help But Pamper You ♡⁠˖” BSD x GN!Reader ੈ✩‧₊˚

╰┈➤ Osamu Dazai, Chuuya Nakahara, Fyodor Dostoevsky, Nikolai Gogol

warnings; kisses, sassy Fyodor,

description; pampering BSD boys at home? I dunno how else to describe it jdskskkek

A/n; Happy birthday to Dazai and happy Juneteenth!!! I've been swamped with state testing and finals and studying for them, I got three more to go, 3/6 completed. I'm kinda excited for summer but I'll feel like I have nothin' to do. idea cred to @yaeeko and Nikolai scenario inspiration from @ilovechuuy4

Dazai Osamu ★

Dazai is almost never the first one up. Every morning, you take on the responsibilities of an alarm clock by shaking your boyfriend awake from his fifth 'just five more minutes' every morning. You were blessed with weekends off, though, and one Saturday morning when you inevitably woke up before Osamu, you decided to embrace your inner chef. Maybe you're not the best cook, but anyone is better than Dazai, so you did most of the food preparation. You never really made breakfast, though. Dazai usually just took an apple or two and you never had time to power up the stove and make pancake batter or anything of the sort, so this morning, you figured you would. You whipped out a couple pans, and some boxed pancake mix and eggs and got to work. You made sure Dazais eggs were cooked just right before playing them, a long with the less-than-perfect pancakes. Sure they were a little crispy, but Dazai wouldn't mind too much. All that was left to do was grab a fork and syrup and bring the meal back to him in your room. Pushing the door open with your foot, you walked in and set the plate on the nightstand, gently shaking him awake. His brows furrow and his nose scrunched up. "'Samu, wake up, I brought you breakfast." You say, running your fingers through his messy brown hair. He stretches his limbs before peeking open his eyes and smiling. "Did you now? How romantic of you!" He sits up and lets you hand him the plate. "This is so thoughtful of you! Come sit down." He pats the empty spot next to him. You crawl over him to get there and lean onto his shoulder once your fully situated. His nimble fingers grip the fork loosely as he cuts off a sliver of the pancake and holds it up to your lips. "Go on, try it." He encourages and you bite it off of the fork, humming at the taste. "Wow, I did pretty good, huh." You say, satisfied. He nods with a grin, continuing to munch on his breakfast. "Better than that time you burnt gravy." You roll your eyes but nod, leaning your head against his shoulder. "Yeah, yeah, whatever you say."

Chuuya Nakahara ★

The second you offered a hot shower with Chuuya to unwind one evening, he was happily accepting. He wasted no time heading to the closet to grab a towel, slinging one over his shoulder for you along with his. He let you pull him in by his waist for a kiss while you leaned against the sink, and even though the shower wasn't turned on yet, the mirrors were already fogging up. Your hand creeps up to cup his face, running your thumb over his pronounced cheekbones as he sighs into your kisses. He pulls away, his face flustered and red. "C'mon, let's get into the shower before we end up distracted." He says playfully. He starts to undo his vest and meets you halfway in the middle without having realized that your fingers were fumbling with the buttons too. He chuckles quietly and lets you help him finish undressing before the both of you step into the steamy shower. He hums in contentment at the feeling of the hot water against his overworked muscles, his body immediately relaxing. Your instinct tells you to hug him from behind while the water cascades over the two of you, but you reason that it would be uncomfortably hot, so you opt to wash his body for him instead. He'd let a quiet but pleased sound out at the favor, mumbling thanks and closing his eyes, letting the relaxing water nearly consume him. Chuuya had never loved showers more than he did when he took one with you.

Fyodor Dostoevsky ★

Every night before you went to bed, you had a really quick skincare routine. All it really was was washing your face, putting on moisturizer, and using a lip scrub, but you enjoyed it and felt that it did what it was supposed to. Occasionally, Fyodor would stand by and watch, his interest piqued. Sometimes he'd ask questions or make comments on your routine, such as "that must be why your lips are so soft." Or "What exactly does it do for your face? I don't think it can really fix it." I'm a firm believer that Fyodor is actually kinda playful and teases his partner from time to time. "Its not supposed to 'fix it', dumdum. It makes the skin softer 'nd stuff." You'd reply with an eye roll. He'd fall silent for a second, watching as you apply the scrub to your lips. "Can I try it?" You put you finger on your chin and hummed pensively, turning to him and nodding. "I guess." You rummaged through the drawer in the sink for your recently discarded headband with floppy, worn out bunny ears on the top. He leaned against the sink and let you put it on him, pulling it over his head and then pushing it up again to keep his long bangs out of his face. He looked over his shoulder at himself in the mirror while you grabbed your moisturizer and scrub and grimaced. "I look much better with my bangs. This certainly isn't ideal." He'd tell you, turning back to face you, only to be spinned around once again.

"Just splash some water on your face." You say, turning the sink on for him. "Is that really necessary? My shirt is going to get all soaked-" "You can always change, go on, Fedya.' You say, your hand on his lower back as he reluctantly leans over the sink and gently uses his cupped hands to bring the water to his face a couple times. When he stood back up again, water dripped down his skin and from his eyelashes and his cheeks were very slightly flushed. "What now? I'm all cold and wet." He murmurs, standing stiffly as the droplets continue to roll down his face. You grab a small towel and pat his face dry for him, getting to his lips and stealing a quick peck. You then pump some of the moisturizer onto your hand and start rubbing it into his pale skin. The cream leaves a glossy effect afterwards and he runs his fingers over his cheek to feel the smooth texture. He watches you take out the lip scrub and gather some on your finger. "Open up." You say. He raises an eyebrow but parts his lips, slightly grimacing as you aggressively apply the product. "Okay, now rub your lips together." He does as directed and can't help but lick his lower one. "It tastes good, like artificial blueberry." He says and you nod in agreement. "My lips do feel softer, though." He says, continuously feeling them and taking in the softer texture. "Let me feel." You say, gently guiding his hand away from his mouth in order to lean in and kiss him, intertwining your fingers with his as you do so. "Yeah, I think it definetly worked." You mumble as you pull away. Maybe you should rope him into your routine more often.

Nikolai Gogol ★

"Dove, you ever see those people who put on face masks and then they do the whole 'cucumber over the eyes' thing? We should try that!" Your boyfriend calls out to you from the kitchen, searching for the cucumber you bought last week. He finally found it in one of the drawers and quickly grabbed a cutting board and knife. "Where'd that come from?" You ask with a raised eyebrow as you walk into the kitchen, standing at the counter next to him. "I dunno, it just came to mind. Seems fun though, doesnt it?" He chopped six slices off of the cucumber and wrapped it back up to be put back in the fridge. "Yeah, sure." You grab one of the slices and take a bite. "Let me go grab the face masks real quick. Do you want your robe? To enhance the experience?" He grins as he heads down the hallway to the bathroom. "Kolya it's like, a million degrees in here, it's summer and we have no ac, I'm surprised you're not already walking around naked and you wanna wear a robe? You're out your mind." You say, following the white haired man to find him in the bathroom closet, grabbing two charcoal masks. "I'll do as I please, and if that's wearing a fuzzy robe in the summer, then so be it. The cucumbers will cool me down."

You roll your eyes and pull the hair tie you keep on your wrist off to bunch up and hold Nikolais bangs out of his face. "Mm, much better! Let's go, I want to lay down." He says with an excited smile, dragging out along back to the couch. He plops down and sprawls out, half of one leg hanging off the edge. You follow suit but remain sitting up and rip the mask open by the tear strip. "Oops, we forgot the cucumbers in the kitchen." He says, opening his portal and sticking his arm through, pulling it out a couple seconds later with the cucumbers in hand. "Thank you." You say appreciatively. "Now close your eyes." You say, placing two of them on his eyes. "I feel much cooler already." He says, making you roll your eyes with a smile. You squeeze out the mask and spread it onto his face with your pointer finger until it covered most of the surface area except for his lips. "This is so relaxing! I'll have to do yours for you after I'm done with mine." He says, clearly having a great time. You gently massage his scalp while you let him marinate and can't help but be surprised that he hasn't eaten the cucumbers yet. Just as you the thought floats through your head, he reaches over and grabs one of the extra cucumbers on the plate, bringing it to his mouth and practically swallowing it whole. You laugh at him quietly. "I thought those were for me?" He hums to indicate that they weren't as he chews. "Not anymore." You smiled and lean down to peck his lips quickly, feeling your heart flutter with affection for him, just like it did the day you first met. "Alright, Kolya, whatever you say."

Sigma ★

Sigma was very fond of done-up nails, always admiring his customers when they had them painted with colors and sparkles, glossy or matte. One evening, he turned in from his manager job for the night and called out your name, just to find you sitting in bed, cross-legged, painting your nails. His eyes literally up and he walked closer, sitting down next to you. "That's a pretty color. Can you do mine too?" You looked up at him and smiled, shaking your hand to get the polish to dry faster. "Yeah, just give me a second.." you say, blowing your nails and continuously shaking them. It didn't take long for them to dry and you held out your hand for Sigmas. "Alright, let me see." He quickly put his hand in yours. You unscrewed the cap and scraped off the excess nail polish and started painting his left nails. His gaze was fixated on the brush as his nails went from a pale white to a glossy red. You made it to his ring finger before stopping. "Do you want an accent nail?" You ask him. His brows slightly furrowed before a look of realization appeared on his face. "That's when one of them is different, right?" You nod. "Yeah, what other colors are there?"

You reach over to a small, plastic bag on the nightstand and pull out three other polishes, one a shade of purple, a white one, and a black one. "Can I have purple?" You smiled and nodded, unscrewing the cap. "It almost matches your hair." You say, painting his ring finger and then alternating to the red one again for the pinky. "Wave your hand so it dries faster." He does as told. "I'm so happy, I see all these people with nails like this and I've wanted to do mine for a while. Did you know?" You shrugged with a smile, starting on his right hand. "Well, I always see you admire other people's nails, so I figured I'd do mine so you'd give me that attention too, but no, I didn't." You finish up his left hand and instruct him to wave it. "Ohhh...well that's even better because now we can match." He says. His cheeks are a little pinker than before and he takes your hand in his, examining your near perfect nails. "They're so pretty." He mumbles, looking back up at you with his big eyes. "Thank you." You appreciatively say, leaning in to peck his lips. He kisses you back happily and squeezes your hand. He felt so much joy every time he looked at his colored nails, and even more when he saw yours and his together.

A/n; I wasn't gonna put a 2nd a/n but it feels weird not being here, but I don't got nothing to say 🤷

[twentyfivemiceinatrenchcoat]

WHERE YOU LEAD ME, I’LL FOLLOW ; SUGURU GETO

synopsis; opening up is hard, even under the comfort of a starry sky, seated next to your childhood friend. fortunately, suguru knows you like the back of his hand.

word count; 10k (dont even look at me i got carried away ok….)

contents; suguru geto/reader, gn!reader, mutual pining, childhood friends to lovers (eventually. probably.), hurt/comfort (mostly comfort tbh), fluffy overall!!, reader is silly and suguru is down horrendous, written with a no curses au in mind, i’m madly in love with suguru geto and it shows

a/n; nothing goes harder than sugu w/ the childhood friends trope i fear. the angst potential, the fluff potential….. the slow burn of it all……….. anyways can u tell i miss him :’3

time goes by so very quickly.

as you look up at the starry sky, the thought envelops you like a fuzzy tidal wave; heavy, suffocating, entirely unavoidable. these days, sinking beneath its weight is all you seem to do.

a sigh flows from your parted lips. soft and quiet, somewhat resigned. the midnight air tastes cold and crispy on your tongue, turning into a flurry of vapour as you breathe it out again, watching it dissipate into the summer night. beyond the boundary of your vision, stars burn in tandem. all you can see is the darkness of the cosmos, pupils dilating as you take in the immensity of the world, the little flickers of starlight that glimmer in that all-encompassing veil of black — blooming out across the galaxy. 

the moon is beautiful, tonight. 

a big blob of reflected sunlight, smiling down at you so very tenderly, so gorgeous that it makes your heart ache. shining with a hazy kind of brightness, soothing like the lilt of a mother’s voice. 

and there’s a comfort, in the familiarity of the sight. because the moon is always, always there. always shining down on you, always when you need it most, even when it’s carved into a crescent or hidden by a blur of clouds. a view that never ever seems to change, no matter how many years go by. 

what a lovely thing to be.

another second lost, as you gaze into the nothingness of space. time keeps passing you by, never stopping — seconds turning into minutes, minutes turning into months. that incessant moving of the hands of the clock; tick, tock, tick, tock. over and over again. 

and, really, it’s a little bit scary. you think you might be terrified of time. you’re so afraid, afraid of being left behind, afraid that the world will turn its back on you and then walk away. afraid that everyone and everything will change shape before you know it.

but even in this always-changing, turbulent mess of a life — 

one thing remains the same.

���ah. there you are.”

(that voice.)

honeyed and smooth, but still rough around the edges. just a little husky. deep and familiar, etched into your brain; even if you were to forget everything else, you’re sure you’d still remember it. that familiar, familiar voice. it sounds like moonlit nights, and sunkissed kitchens.

it sounds like coming home.

a turn of your head. it’s a subconscious reaction, as natural as the beating of your own heart, memorized down to the very marrow of your bones — muscle memory, to seek him out after hearing the low timbre of his voice. you do it as if it’s the only thing worth hearing.

and suguru is smiling, when your eyes meet his. that gentle upward tug of his lips, small yet sincere. the one that always puts your mind at ease.

a warmth settles in your chest, at the sight of him. hair down, cascading over his shoulders and back, a little messy; as black as the night sky. a stark contrast to the white of his shirt, old, oversized, with some indie band on the front.

his eyes glimmer like little pockets of stardust in the darkness of the night. cutting through the haze, into your very soul.

”… damn,” you click your tongue, faux pout playing at your lips. ”how’d you know i’d be up here?”

suguru shrugs. ”lucky guess,” he lies.

of course i knew, he thinks. finding you is his specialty. always has been. like that one time he found you hiding under a table at your twelfth birthday party, or the time he found you crying in the woods when you got lost on your school field trip.

finding you comes easy, to suguru. almost like he’s always seeking you out, subconsciously or otherwise, always paying attention to your movements. you go south, and he follows. you go north, and he’s already waiting up ahead.

he’s worried. just a bit, is what he tells himself, but truthfully it’s more than that. because tonight was supposed to be for you. for the both of you, a celebration of your shared graduation — but before he knew it, you had slipped away. seizing the opportunity as soon as people grew too sleepy to notice. 

(sadly for you, no amount of fatigue could ever distract him from the lack of your presence.)

you look small, suguru thinks, curled up with your knees to your chest. sitting all alone up on the roof of his home, a place you’d always go to on nights when you couldn’t sleep. together, sharing whispered secrets and hushed laughter until the sun began to rise again.

back then, it felt like the two of you were the only ones awake in the whole world.

(the safest world he’s ever known.)

the distance between you grows narrower, as suguru makes his way over to you — and it always does, at the end of the day. no matter how much time you spend apart, that uncomfortable distance always, always ends up broached. one of you always moves closer. as if it’s unavoidable, two planets spinning around each other’s orbit.

suguru plops down right next to you, crossing his legs and leaning back. his knee bumps against the side of your shoe, and his shoulder grazes yours. it’s natural, as natural as the glow of the moon, this closeness between you. it reminds you of the gentle lapping of ocean waves at your bare ankles; on mellow summer days, comforting and familiar. a warmth that never goes away.

a brief inhale, and your heartbeat settles into a tender rhythm again. the scent that always lingers on suguru’s skin drifts throughout the air, mingling with your own — it can be hard to distinguish between the two, with how often you end up wearing each other’s clothes, but you could never mistake it for anything else. cedarwood and earl gray, with a hint of coconut-scented shampoo. enveloping every single one of your senses, grounding you in a way nothing else can.

leaning just a little closer to him, subconsciously, you let a fond exhale slip from your lips. barely audible. and suguru mimics it.

”of course i knew,” he whispers, voice gone soft. ”i know you.”

(your chest tightens. it doesn’t go away.)

another tiny breath flows into the air, as you gaze up at the stars in wonder. ”… yeah.”

the silence between you is a comfortable one. always has been. a little fickle, always shattered by one of you before long — usually you, though suguru isn’t much better. 

but this time, he stays silent.

he’s waiting. you know he is, because he always does. he’s waiting, waiting for you to break the silence first. waiting for you to say something, tell him what’s wrong, explain why you’re up here instead of celebrating with the others. waiting for you to explain why your eyes have looked so tired, this past week.

(you’d like to ask him the same thing. he’s an idiot if he thinks a little makeup is enough to hide those dark circles from you.)

suguru is nothing if not patient. so he waits, unbothered by the silence. admiring the stars, and the flicker of their light. a vague worry simmers in his chest, however, and he can’t stop himself from glancing down at you every now and then.

an insatiable yearning to soothe you gnaws at his heart — but he can’t, not unless you let him.

a sigh drops from your lips, suddenly. deep and heavy, like a rock thrown into the depths of a lake. the silence breaks. 

”hey, suguru.”

the man in question doesn’t speak, only emitting an inquisitive hum. he doesn’t look at you, either; a form of respect. knowing you’ll find it easier to get whatever’s bugging you off your chest without him scrutinizing you. 

the pads of your fingers tap at the tiles of the roof. an absentminded habit, as you inhale a bit of the midnight air. it tastes like summer. ”do you remember how we first met?”

suguru glances at you, a surprised glint in his eyes. he can’t help himself — unable to resist the temptation of seeing your face, drinking in your expression.

then he chuckles.

”haha.. are you feeling sentimental?” he teases, a lighthearted sense of amusement in his voice. bubbling up like seafoam. ”did you come out here just to brood?”

the corners of his lips quirk up when he hears you huff, hugging your legs closer to your chest with a furrow of your brow. cheek squished against your kneecap as you meet his gaze.

”c’mon,” you whine, pouting childishly in a way you know will make him give in. ”just indulge me a little…”

suguru smiles. it’s soft around the edges, smoothed over with an unmistakable fondness — and he does indulge you. he always does. ”of course i do,” he assures you.

the silence that settles between your words is tender. a mutual understanding, of sorts.

of course i remember. how could i not?

”you broke into my backyard.”

a sigh. heavy and sharp, as it tumbles from your lips, and suguru has to bite back a grin. his eyes shine with something teasing, in the dark, when you shoot a glare his way.

”okay, first of all —” you begin, ”i didn’t break into anything. i climbed over the fence. peacefully.”

suguru raises a brow. ”that literally doesn’t matter? it’s still trespassing.”

”i was seven years old!”

”some criminals start young.”

another harmless little huff, as you halfheartedly try to sound annoyed. it doesn’t work. in an attempt to hide your growing smile, you tuck your face into your knees. ”whatever.”

then your gaze shifts. towards that expanding starry sky, the vibrant flicker of the moon, like a moth to a flame. helpless to its charms. it looks like a giant sponge cake, the kind you and suguru used to make when that was the only recipe you knew — you’d eat from the batter, and he’d scold you. then he’d do it too, when your back was turned.

a smile settles on your lips. in every star, you find a new memory; and the fuzzy nostalgia that engulfs you makes your heart feel bare. ”i just wanted to pet your cat,” you recall, softly.

suguru nods. gazing down at you, basking in the expression on your face — peaceful and relaxed, a little more yourself. so effortlessly pretty, bathed in moonlight. ”yeah. i remember.”

he allows the memory to sweep him away, for a second or two. recalling the sight of you, all those years ago, an unfamiliar child in his backyard. it was like you had just fallen out of the sky. quiet and meek, but looking at his cat with an excited glimmer in your eyes.

”you just pointed to her and expected me to understand,” he continues. a grin blooms on his face, hopelessly endeared. ”you were shy back then.”

a raise of your eyebrow. ”um? i’m still shy?”

suguru gives you a look. he doesn’t have to say anything — it’s written all over his face. the classic suguru look, the kind where you can tell he’s itching to say oh, really now? the kind where he tries to look judgemental, but never quite manages to hide the amusement in his eyes.

a small giggle leaves your lips, and suguru smiles, once more. so helpless in the face of your joy.

”then we watched movies at my place.”

you hum. ”it was fun.”

”yeah.”

another bout of silence. soft, terribly precious. the air is chilly, but not enough to make you shiver; a mild summer night, pleasant on your skin and light on your heart. a gentle breeze tousles your hair. in the distance, you hear cicadas buzzing — a familiar sound. unchanging.

(if only everything else could stay the same, too.)

”do you remember what movie it was?”

a lazy smile plays at suguru’s lips, when he angles his face to look at you. one eyebrow raised. ”is there a point to this, or —?”

”i just wanna reminisce.”

suguru pauses. your eyes trail across the view that stretches out before you, from the moon to the distant city lights, as you fidget absentmindedly with the strings of your hoodie. he thinks to himself that you look a little lost. gaze forgotten, within the depths of that endless night sky.

no more teasing, he decides, tactfully. instead, he opts to answer your question; softly, as if he could hurt you if he raised even a single octave of his voice. ”whisper of the heart,” is all he says.

a hum, as you nod. decisively. ”the best one.”

suguru turns his head away, and mutters something under his breath. but you can still hear him — and you know he wants you to.

”spirited away is the best one…”

out of the corner of your eye, you shoot him a thoroughly unimpressed look. he bites back a soft bout of laughter, teeth sinking into his lip gently, not enough to sting.

”you’re so basic,” you grin.

”you just want to feel quirky,” suguru shoots back, instantaneous. ”and you only like it because of seiji.”

”you only like spirited away because of haku!”

suguru closes his eyes, and leans back a little, crossing his arms in a childish fashion — and you know he only does it to make you laugh. ”i don’t know what you’re talking about,” he lies.

”oh please,” you scoff. ”you really think i don’t remember your queer awakening?”

”hm? what was that?” feigning confusion, he puts a hand to his ear. but there’s a mirth in his eyes, impossible to miss. ”you’re gonna have to come closer, i can’t hear you from here.”

another unimpressed look. you exhale, something in between a huff and a chuckle. ”if i get any closer i’ll be in your lap, dumbass.”

suguru bites his cheek, softly. gulping down the words that almost slip off his tongue.

(i wouldn’t mind.)

”sorry, say that again?”

a little push meets his shoulder, as you roll your eyes. ”yeah, yeah. whatever.”

the banter dies down, as fast as it appeared. then a smile breaks out across your faces, in tandem, the atmosphere shifting into something more sincere — and doesn’t it always, when you’re watching the starry sky with the one you love most?

when suguru continues, his voice has taken on that softer tone, again. the one he only ever really uses around you. ”i liked thinking of us as them,” he admits. ”me as haku, and you as chihiro.”

a soft blink. then your smile grows, sweet like syrup. ”.. hehe. that’s funny,” you cross your legs. palms flat against the roof, knee leaning comfortably against suguru’s. ”i always thought of us as seiji and shizuku.”

there’s something faraway, in your eyes. something suguru can’t look away from.

tentatively, his fingers dig into the skin of his palms, and he speaks. absentminded, a little uncertain.

”… they get married at the end, don’t they?”

a pause. then your gaze snaps over to suguru’s, suddenly mischievous — and he regrets opening his mouth.

”oh?” you purr, almost beaming. inching closer, like a predator sizing up their prey. ”oh shit? are you about to propose, mister geto?”

”i’m just stating facts,” he quips, hands raised in defense. desperately hoping you won’t notice the red tint crawling up his neck, obscured by the darkness of the night.

”incorrect facts,” you grin. if you notice the blush on his face, you don’t say anything. ”they get engaged. not married. big difference.”

suguru huffs. it’s small, as he tries to keep himself from smiling. the beating of his heart is faint, a tender rhythm, stirred by every move you make. he pushes the words he yearns to say back down his throat.

(i wouldn’t mind that, either.)

again, silence blooms. curling around the space between you. it feels nice, just to be like this; just you, and your very best friend, under the soft lighting of the moon. as if you’re the only ones who exist, in an otherwise empty universe — devoid of space and time. like the night could just stop, and stretch on forever. 

there’s an unspoken question in the air, though. one suguru is still waiting for you to answer. one you refuse to answer properly, until he does the same.

you’ve both noticed, of course. even if no one else has, neither of you could ever miss it. suguru has noticed the turmoil in your eyes, and you’ve noticed the fatigue under his. those little signs of stress, as everything around you keeps spinning on; as the future grows closer, with every passing day.

(it’s overwhelming, you both muse.)

— and finally, you’ve had enough.

”suguru,” you call out, and his gaze finds yours instantly. ”have they been stressing you out, lately?”

suguru blinks, eyelashes fluttering softly. a little sleepy. they.

then he smiles. maybe a bit weak, but still as sincere as always — resigned to the fact that he really can’t hide anything from you, after all.

(of course you’d notice it. he was stupid to think you wouldn’t.)

a hum, as he breathes in the air and then exhales it all. trying to formulate the words inside his head, turn the feelings into syllables. and you’re patient. silent, as you admire the way moonlight caresses his skin.

”i’ll manage.” is what he finally says, and your lips curl down into a frown. ”they’ve just been getting on my case, again. you know how they are.”

suguru closes his eyes, and you inch closer to him. barely, by a hair, just to let him know you’re still listening. that you’re waiting for him to continue.

it’s tough, for him. opening up, being vulnerable.

but he knows you won’t do it unless he does, too. so he takes that leap, despite the insistent voice in his head urging him to just keep it to himself.

”it’s just… all these expectations, you know?” he meets your eyes, a little sheepish. downplaying his troubles so smoothly, as if you wouldn’t notice. ”i’m used to it by now, but sometimes i guess it still gets to me.”

you hum, and he continues.

”i feel like i have to be… solid,” he decides on. ”put-together. responsible, and mature.” a sigh, as he wrings his hands together. ”and that’s fine — but it’s like they have everything planned out. like everyone does. how i should act, where i should go…”

suguru gnaws at the flesh of his bottom lip, so focused on verbalizing his thoughts that he barely notices your fingers curling around his. but he still squeezes them, lightly. as naturally as breathing.

”it’s like my future’s already set in stone. and i’m just expected to follow it,” he looks up at the moon. ”which is also fine. i already know what i want to do. but somehow, all of it just feels so…”

he pauses. unsure of how to put it.

”… suffocating?” you finish for him. 

there’s a second in which suguru can do nothing but breathe. as if frozen, stuck in motion, caught off guard by how deeply your minds are intertwined.

— what a wonderful thing, to have someone pluck the words you’re afraid to say from the back of your throat.

a smile blooms on his face, and a gratitude shines in his eyes. almost overflowing. 

(you’ve always been the only one who ever seems to understand.)

”yeah,” he sighs, relieved. and suddenly his chest feels a lot lighter. odd, how just the tilt of your voice when you say a certain word can chase that discomforting sensation away. 

”don’t listen to them,” you say, assuredly, so softly it’s like you’re coaxing him into believing you. it works. ”they don’t matter.”

suguru chuckles, rueful. ”they’re my parents.”

”so? they aren’t you.” you nudge his side with your elbow. ”they have no say in how you live your life. you don’t need to live up to all those expectations, you know.” 

a soft little breath leaves your lips, and suguru wonders how you seem to always soothe his heart so easily. ”you just need to be suguru,” you mumble, as if it’s the most obvious thing in the world. ”that’s all.”

a moment passes. suguru parts his lips, closing them again when no sound comes out. and then finally, he speaks.

”… yeah,” he muses. ”maybe.”

”definitely,” you huff. ”trust your best friend. i know best.”

”careful,” he teases, tilting his head lazily to meet your gaze. ”you’re starting to sound like them.” the smile on his face only grows when you gape at him, wholly offended, as if you can’t believe what he just said.

”wha — suguru…” you whine, sleepy, clinging to the sleeve of his shirt. digging your nails into the fabric and tugging on it childishly. ”don’t say that. i’m nothing like them!”

a giggle pushes past his lips. ”sorry, sorry,” he soothes, ruffling your hair with his palm. rough hands, big and warm, that always seem to find their way to your skin. ”i’m just kidding. thank you. really.”

the smile that he gives you glows brighter than the moon. he squeezes your hand, softly — a silent i love you. eyes closed, formed into little crescents, and when he speaks he sounds so painfully sincere. 

”i think i’ll be fine as long as i have you,” he says. it comes out sounding something like a prayer. 

the words make your eyes soften. melting into a mellow hue, so full of affection that you can almost taste it on your tongue. 

”everything will turn out fine,” you murmur, consoling him. still not letting go of his hand. ”you have your whole life ahead of you, you know.”

he chuckles. the sound would be sweet if it didn’t have that teasing tilt to it, the one that tells you his amusement is at your expense. ”now you’re starting to sound like my grandma,” he quips, as if itching for something to bicker about.

but you only pout, and let your fingers slip from his. the warmth that leaves you is so jarring that you’re almost tempted to take his hand into yours again — but you just frown at him. ”i can never win with you, huh?”

suguru shrugs. ”need to keep you humble,” he chirps, pulling at your cheek gently. a lazy grin on his lips. ”we don’t want that ego of yours to grow as big as satoru’s.”

trying to keep yourself from grinning with him, you slap his hand away, playfully. ”that would never happen.”

”uh-huh.”

you give him a look.

”my bad.”

a moment passes. gradually, you feel your heart beginning to melt — just a little, but enough to get your voice hopelessly soft on your tongue. the glimmer of the moon embraces every cell in your body, painting over your features with a certain kind of bleeding tenderness. it’s hard to stop it from seeping out.

”you know that i love you. right?” tumbles from your lips, breathed out into the sky, words too heavy to be held back. ”even if your parents give you trouble, and everyone else, too — i’m still on your side.”

”always,” you promise, devotedly earnest. meeting his gaze. and suguru can’t look away.

something flickers, in the depths of his eyes, like a shooting star. something delightful.

he doesn’t quite know what to say. but he nods; almost meek, in a way, and it makes your chest ache. suguru’s always been the type to keep his troubles to himself, content with never letting anyone see into his heart — even if he’d like them to deep down.

if you can be there for him, even just for a night, then that’s more than enough.

he lets the silence linger for a while longer, soft breathing and the rustling of grass filling the space where your words would be. then he looks at you with newfound determination, suddenly, eyes shining in a way you don’t recognize. 

”— and you know that i love you, too.” 

a moment passes. 

an affirmative hum buzzes in your throat, and you give him the ghost of a nod, shying away from his deep gaze. hoping to escape the intimacy of the question. but he doesn’t let you, stare so heavy that you have no choice but to meet his eyes again, after he nudges your hand with his.

the words that fall from his lips surprise you. something akin to a pout plays on his lips, but it’s more serious than that — he looks dejected.

”… do you, though?” he pushes, a troubled frown on his lips. ”do you know that i love you? just as much as you love me?” 

at your stunned silence, suguru sighs, bringing a hand up to smooth over the crease between his brows. ”sometimes i worry that you don’t,” he admits. ”you always think too much. but i don’t want you to ever have to worry about that.”

his voice is firm, when he continues. ”i don’t want you to ever second-guess my love for you,” he declares, and you cower a little under the intensity of his gaze. playing with your fingers instead of looking at him. ”— so i want your answer.”

when his hand finds its way to your face, you stiffen, just barely. but it’s soft, the way he cups your jaw; the warmth of his palm smoothing over your skin. gentle, as he forces you to meet his eyes, tilting your chin up slightly. a bold move, even though physical contact is no stranger in your dynamic. you feel your heart pick up in speed. 

”do you know that i love you?” he asks, and it sounds almost pleading. you can only find it in you to stare. 

suguru’s eyes are filled with something, something you’d like to call love. and they’re looking deep into yours, almost as if coaxing you into drowning in their hue. mesmerizing. ridiculously pretty. if you stare into them for too long, you fear that you might never be able to look away.

but they’re sweet, and warm. painted over with worried hue, something very kind. familiar. the same eyes that have soothed you for as long as you can remember. 

in your flustered state, you can do nothing but blink dumbly — gaze darting from his eyes, to his forehead, to the sky, to his lips. 

he can tell the eye contact makes you nervous, but some part of him won’t allow you to squirm away. this is important. he needs to know that you know. he doesn’t think he’ll be able to sleep at night, otherwise.

finally, you squeak out an affirmative yes. and that’s all it takes for him to relax; in one smooth motion, his hand leaves your skin, a relief having bloomed in his eyes. 

”okay. that’s good,” he exhales. 

swallowing down a gulp, your gaze drifts away from the boy to your left. suguru is terrifying, really — doing stuff like that out of nowhere. you check your pulsepoint, discreetly, just to make sure your heart is still beating. 

”alright, then,” he suddenly proclaims, breaking the fleeting silence. ”your turn.”

a blink. your eyelashes flutter in confusion, as you gaze up at him, a question painted on your features. suguru glances at you out of the corner of his eye.

”you’ve been stressed, lately,” he remarks. stating the obvious so you don’t have to. with a soft gaze, eyes that shimmer with understanding. ”i can tell, you know?”

(yeah. he always can, can’t he?)

”… uh,” you croak. clearing your throat and attempting to gather your thoughts, hoping the words will find their way to your lips. ”well. i dunno, really...”

suguru emits a low, affirmative noise, not looking at you. opening up like this makes you feel so uncomfortable. but it’s suguru. you trust him. and you know he won’t let you get away from this, either; he’ll stay up all night if he has to. just waiting for you to put your faith in him.

a sigh leaves your lips, finally, and it comes out sounding just a tad exhausted. ”i… guess i’ve just been thinking, lately.”

and, really, it’s an understatement. thinking is all you’ve been doing, for these past few weeks. thinking of this, and of that. the past and the future. him and you.

suguru hums. an unspoken encouragement.

”everything is just so…” you move your hands, haphazardly, hoping they’ll make the words easier to say. but nothing comes to you. everything is all jumbled up, inside your mind, and it’s just — 

”overwhelming,” you finish. the word falls off your tongue like a tidal wave. ”everything passes by so quickly, and…” you bite your lip. ”i feel like i can’t catch up. i can’t visualize the future at all, and that’s…”

(it’s scary.)

”— it just makes me feel confused.”

suguru waits. patient, attentive, making sure you get all the words out before he speaks. as grounding as the moon, as warm as the sun. 

when you don’t elaborate further, avoiding his gaze, he opts to finally soothe you.

”that’s understandable,” he chimes, voice buzzing with care. ”you don’t have to think about the future right now. living in the present is enough,” a breeze drifts by, tousling his black hair. ”.. it’s for the best, really.”

a smile. it’s a little sad, as you wring your hands together. ”i know,” is all you can say. because you do. it just doesn’t change anything.

the sensation of your nails scraping against the tiles of the roof is discomforting, but you don’t stop. when you part your lips, your voice comes out tiny. barely above a whisper.

”i’m so afraid of change.”

suguru looks at you. his gaze softens, impeccably.

”everything keeps changing. all the time,” you bite into the flesh of your cheek, harshly. ”i hate it.”

”that’s understandable, too,” suguru soothes. tentative, as his hand goes to rest on your head, smoothing down your hair gently. ”change is unavoidable. but you get better at dealing with it.”

”mm, i know.”

”and some things stay the same, too.” 

you glance up at him, and his eyes crinkle. there’s something unspeakable in them, something that’s always been there. light and heavy, all at once. something a little bit too wonderful for words.

suguru smiles. almost a little shy, as he looks into your eyes. ”like you and me.”

…

a deep love unfurls in your chest, warming you up from the inside out. fuzzy and tingly. but with it comes a deep sadness, bittersweet, that you can’t chase away no matter how hard you try; like a piece of gum stuck to the bottom of your shoe, no matter how many times you try to scrape it off against the concrete.

like you and me.

(he doesn’t know that’s what scares you the most. the thought of that one thing changing, while you just stand there, helpless to stop it.)

”yeah,” you breathe. a wounded little breath.

suguru notices it, despite your vague attempts to act like nothing’s wrong. he notices the fear in your voice, the uncertainty. and once again, he gets the impression that you look a little lost. like you aren’t sure where to plant your feet.

it bothers him. an itch he wants to scratch away. but before he can get to the bottom of it, you begin to speak, once more.

”with you, it’s like…” a breath flows from your lips, as you try to find the words. but this time, they come to you with relative ease. ”if i could do my life over again, and make everything turn out different… then i’d still always keep you.”

silence. you continue, suddenly a little embarrassed at the honesty in your tone. but it’s too late to back out now. 

”and even if everything else changes, if i could pick just one single thing to keep — then it’d be you, too.” the smile on your face is small, a little sheepish. “that’s how it is, so…” 

you trail off. not sure what else to say. suguru isn’t, either; he feels just a little bit stunned, in the face of your sincerity. yet he parts his lips, softly, words making themselves manifest before his mind can even begin to catch up.

”i don’t think i’ve ever told you this,” he begins, not entirely sure where the words will take him. blinking up at the sky, entranced, whilst you look at him quizzically. ”you always call me your guardian angel, right?”

the question makes your lips curl up. it’s a habit of yours, one that’s become almost muscle memory. you don’t remember how it started, but it’s in everything suguru does; from the way he can always tell when you’re feeling overwhelmed, to the way he never fails to bring you a coffee right before your exam starts. 

suguru is always looking out for you, even when you’re apart. like a guardian angel. yours.

you nod. ”because you are.”

suguru smiles, breathing out a fond chuckle, and then shakes his head. ”it’s the opposite.”

you turn to the man beside you, and he’s already looking at you. with his pretty, soothing brown eyes, the barely visible dark circles beneath them. his gaze is warm and fond, grateful in a way that makes your chest squeeze tight. you melt a little, under its weight.

”you’re my guardian angel,” he says, sickeningly sweet. ”always have been. even back then.”

inhaling the mild air, suguru lets his eyes flutter shut. the taste reminds him of the summer vacations you used to have as kids, when you would ride your bikes to the nearest river and play all day. stopping by any ice cream stand you found on the way there; you always took a bite out of his without asking, and he always tried to get angry at you. but he never could. 

on your way back home, the sky was always dark. a soothing blue hue, stars glittering in the distance, while the moon looked close enough to touch. a night just like this one. you’d walk, together, talking about everything and nothing — sometimes he’d carry you on his back. not once did he drop you. 

a breath, deep and drawn out as he exhales, basking in memories you aren’t privy to. a saccharine smile painted on his lips.

”without you…” he muses, voice a little breathless. fond, and somewhat helpless. but he’s smiling. ”i don’t really know what i’d do, to be honest.”

a moment passes.

”it’s the same for me,” you echo, words escaping your throat before you even get the chance to realize their weight. gaze stuck to the stars, as always. ”i can’t imagine life without you.”

suguru doesn’t speak, afraid that his heart may crawl out his throat if he does. the honeyed smile on his face says more than words ever could, anyway. 

a small bout of laughter leaves your lips. sudden, sad, dripping with longing. it surprises you, catches you off guard — like something within you just overflowed. 

“you know what my biggest fantasy was?” you grin, ruefully. maybe just a little manic. ”i used to think about it all the time, when we were kids.”

suguru looks at you in silence, but there’s a confusion in the way he tilts his head.

there seems to be a knot of some kind, stuck in the very bottom of your chest. something that makes it hard to speak. ”i’d get on a train, and just kinda… leave,” you breathe, hoping it’ll unclog your throat. it doesn’t. ”you know? to somewhere far, far away.” 

and suddenly, the world grows just a little blurred. suguru can see it, in your eyes — you’re someplace else now. gaze trained on something he can’t see. there’s an amused touch to your voice, but also something rather pitiful. a childish wish that never came to fruition.

there’s regret, there, suguru thinks; something close to pain.

”maybe, like… a small port town,” you continue, closing your eyes. “with a cute little café close by, or whatever… somewhere you can see the sea.” 

another breath. you pretend it tastes like salt, like an ocean breeze. then you swallow the lump in your throat, and whisper. ”with you.”

when you finally muster up the courage to meet suguru’s eyes, they shine with nothing but pure understanding. he doesn’t say anything, but he understands. he’s always been like that. not a single word is needed for him to ground you, the way a rock always meets the bottom when it’s thrown into the depths of a lake. 

suguru’s comfort is as natural to you as the gravity that keeps the stars up in the sky.

the voice you’ve grown so used to hearing reaches your ears again, and it’s a low sound, a little raspy. but soft. achingly so, enough that you could almost miss it if you weren’t always so aware of every word that falls from his lips.

suguru looks up at the moon, in tandem with you, and lets the ghost of a smile show. ”… you know what my biggest fantasy was?”

his gaze is sincere, a little forlorn; hopelessly softened, as you meet his eyes. they’re painted over with something sweet, and something that looks just a little bit like regret.

a tilt of your head beckons him to continue, and the corners of his lips curl up further. 

”running away with you,” he breathes. ”anywhere at all. wherever you wanted to go, i’d follow.”

for a moment or two, all you can do is stare. 

you feel your lips part, but no sound comes out, nothing at all. suguru’s hair sways with the breeze, softly, and the light of the moon makes him look somewhat ethereal. like he could disappear if you blinked. 

the silence that blooms in the space between your words is fragile. precious, if a little overwhelming, as it stretches out before you — growing heavier with every passing second. so tender that it makes you feel sick to your stomach, as if the sound of the wind whistling could shatter it into pieces. 

(your heart aches, aches, aches.)

a weak laugh bubbles up from within your throat, something raw and tender hidden behind a veil of faux amusement. something vulnerable you're trying to cover up, like the glassiness of your eyes.

like a memory that never got to happen.

”what, so you’re saying we could’ve been by the seaside by now…?” you groan, forehead slumping against your knees with a bonk. ”what the hell, dude…” 

suguru lets out a chuckle, resting his jaw on the heel of his palm and looking down at you with a smile on his face. one that reaches his eyes, glimmering with something akin to starlight.

”we can still go there,” he consoles you, reaching over to tousle your hair with a palpable softness. ”to the seaside, i mean. i’ll take you.”

for a while, you don’t say anything. a pout plays at your lips, as you attempt to get your emotions under control. 

then you lean back, to lie down flat on the roof. the movement is so sudden that it stings a little when the back of your head meets the tiles, and you wince — a soft but exasperated murmur of careful comes from the boy on your left.

your elbows go to cushion your head, as you take in the immenseness of the sky. ”alright, then,” you hum. ”take me there sometime soon.”

suguru blinks. then his lips curl up. ”got it,” he chirps. mentally mapping out a nice spot, trying to remember the timetables at your local train station.

(next week, maybe. a picnic by the sea. he’ll make those sandwiches that you like.)

then he follows your lead, and goes to lie down on his back. right by your side, so close he can smell the fading scent of your shampoo, curled up right next to you. breathing out a sigh as he takes in the night sky in all its glory. 

there’s something tender, in the air. something that doesn’t need words. a kind of comfortable silence that you’ve learned to treasure, whenever suguru is with you.

so you simply stare at the dark veil over the city, in tandem with him — a pitch-black blanket sewn with stardust.

everything expands, before your very eyes; an infinite cosmos, with all the light you could ever want. the stars blink down at you, as if saying hello, mapping out the galaxy. you try to find the constellations you’re familiar with, the ones suguru have taught you about in the past, but nothing really comes to you.

it’s nice, though. just staring at the stars in wonder.

an exhale, as you breathe in, and then out. you part your lips to whisper, breaking the sleepy silence.

”the stars are so pretty….” 

suguru hums, the sound buzzing right by your ear. a soothing summer lullaby, that only you get to hear. ”yeah,” he whispers back.

a moment passes.

then you both part your lips to speak; smoothly, in a fashion that would be embarrassing if you didn’t feel so terribly safe in each other’s company. simultaneous, as the sentence tumbles from your throats.

”and so are you.”

silence. the seconds stretch on, and on. everything goes quiet.

you’re the first one to burst into laughter — deep, the kind that comes from the very bottom of your stomach. almost wheezing, as you try to catch your breath, arms snug around your shaking body. suguru follows close behind, trying to contain his laughter, but you can hear his little chuckles clear as day.

”eww, what the fuck?” you grin, shifting to lie on your side so you can get a good look at his face. ”you’re so corny!”

suguru snorts. ”i heard you say it too, dumbass.”

a little giggle flows from your lips, and you slump against his shoulder, still trying to control your breathing. suguru curls an arms around your midriff, bringing you closer. muscle memory, to make it more comfortable for you.

”haah…..”

the smile on your face shines brighter than the stars, suguru thinks, looking at you with a bleeding kind of fondness. as if you’re the only thing worth looking at.

”i hope things stay like this forever.”

the light of the moon shines down on the roof, bouncing off the white of your teeth. your canines shine in the dark as you grin, youthful — but there’s a sadness in your eyes, now. one that suguru will never fail to notice.

(one he’ll always yearn to smooth away, the same way his thumb always goes to wipe at any stray eyelashes on your skin, or crumbs at the corner of your mouth. muscle memory.)

”they will,” he assures you, reaching over to find your hand. enveloping it in his bigger one, cradling it, linking your fingers together and squeezing them softly. ”i’ll make sure that they do.”

a chuckle leaves your lips, but suguru thinks it sounds a little meek. like you still don’t believe him.

”i mean it,” he reiterates. more serious this time.

”i know,” you grin. ”but, i mean —”

a moment passes, and then your grin falters. ”you can’t promise that, though.” the expression on your face seems sort of pained, now, troubled by something. ”maybe we’ll move away from each other, or just drift apart, or —”

”that would never happen to us —”

”maybe you’ll meet someone.”

…

”a nice guy, or girl…” a sigh, as you run a hand through your hair. ”and then you’ll… i dunno. get married, i guess. and then eventually you’ll have kids, and buy a house, and —” 

a pause. in a smaller voice, you continue. almost childlike. ”you’ll leave me behind.”

suguru bites back a scoff. it takes concentrated effort. he turns to look at you, but you won’t meet his gaze, and a frown finds its way to his lips. ”… do you honestly think that’s what i want?”

another moment passes you by. more seconds lost, never to return. ”… isn’t it?”

suguru sighs, a little exasperated. maybe just a little hurt, too. ”marriage and kids aside…” he mutters, burning holes into your skin with his steadfast gaze. determined, self-assured. the tilt of his voice leaves no room for doubt. ”there’s only one person i love.”

resisting the temptation to keep your eyes away from him becomes nearly impossible — so you let your gaze trail over, and take him in. in all his glory, silky black hair framing his face, a soft look painted over his features. looking at you as if you matter, as if nothing matters except for you.

and again, something breaks out across the scope of his iris, a shooting star you don’t know what to do with. he looks so hopelessly sincere. 

for a second, all you can do is stare.

then you nod, solemnly. ”satoru, right?” you hum. ”you’re gonna break my heart if you keep bringing him up when we’re together, sugu.”

you don’t need to see his face to know that he’s giving you that unimpressed look, again. the suguru look. he rolls his eyes, and you bite your cheek to stop yourself from smiling.

”i love him too, but that’s different,” he huffs.

”how so?” you prod, eyes crinkling. but there’s something a little meek about the question. he notices it, of course, because what doesn’t suguru notice?

something soft curls around his features, and a hum buzzes in his throat. a heavy tenderness bleeds into his voice. ”i wouldn’t die for satoru,” he says, simply.

a moment passes.

”… you totally would.”

”huh?” suguru blinks. ”no, of course not. are you insane?”

”suguru,” you sigh. ”you are literally the most self-sacrificial bitch i’ve ever met —”

”well, obviously i’d take a bullet or two, but —”

”what do you mean obviously —”

”— you’re the only person i’d die for.”

suguru is smiling, now. amused, sincere. almost on the verge of laughter, the sweet and soft kind that always turns your heart into a puddle. his eyes almost seem to glimmer, in the night, and it’s all you can see for a while. as you try to gather your thoughts, get the right words out.

”… always so dramatic,” you murmur, at last, a little gruff. his smile grows. you shift a little more, lying on your side to face him with a serious expression. ”don’t tell satoru that, okay? he already has it out for me. at this rate he’ll kill me and steal you away.”

a chuckle rumbles through his chest, deep and fond. you continue, a frown tugging at your lips. ”… and i wouldn’t want you to die for me, anyway.”

suguru lets a giggle slip, a bit too sleepy to hold it back. ”mm, i know. but if it ever came down to it, then i still would.” he shifts, too, lying on his side to face you properly.

”to me,” he exhales, and he’s so close you can smell the mint off his breath — ”as long as you’re by my side, i can make it through absolutely anything.”

the smile on his face is boyish. all teeth and crow’s feet, blooming in the light of the moon, a flower just for you. it’s perfect, you think. you don’t want a single day to pass without you seeing it. 

”me too,” you mumble, linking your pinkies together. a silent promise. ”so don’t die. ever.”

suguru’s eyes soften. 

then he hums, absentmindedly. ”… well. i mean,” he clicks his tongue. ”eventually i will. that’s not really something i have a say in.”

a roll of your eyes. ”alright, smartass,” you scoff, and suguru’s eyes crinkle with humour. ”just don’t die before i do, then.”

a hand comes to touch your skin. and it’s sudden, warm, but you don’t flinch away. suguru smooths over your cheek with the back of his hand, seemingly unable to stop himself. soothing, as he exhales a soft breath.

”… i think i’d prefer that to the alternative, honestly,” he admits.

you furrow your brows, softly. a part of you wants to protest, to call him a selfish prick — for even thinking the thought of leaving you behind without a best friend.

but something in you knows he won’t budge, on this one.

(it’s childish, in a way. stubborn, for him to take a joking conversation so seriously. but suguru doesn’t think he could even jokingly suggest that he’d survive without you.)

”seriously, though,” his voice takes on a firmer tone. ”i wouldn’t leave you behind like that. it’s us we’re talking about. you and me.” 

he says the words like they’re undeniable — because they are. there is no him without you. that’s always been the case, hasn’t it? 

suguru stops to think. do you not feel the same? there’s still a crease between your brows, a sign of worry that’s impossible to dismiss. he can’t help but wonder just how long you’ve been thinking about this; how many nights have you spent sleepless, thinking of the future? of the possibility that it entails your parting?

(the thought makes him feel a little bit nauseous.)

”are you afraid that we’ll grow apart?” he asks, into the haze of the summer night. it resounds in the air around you, softly spoken, gentle but coaxing. almost pleading you to open up to him.

and it’s a stupid question, really. 

of course you are. it’s the only thought that really scares you.

time moves so, so fast — always leaving you behind. who’s to say that suguru won’t do the same? that he won’t be taken away from you, swept away by that flow? into the future, while you stay glued to the past — stuck on the roof of your childhood, while he moves on to better things?

the night sky is infinite. sometimes, on nights that are a little too long, when your mind has grown a little too muddled, you think of suguru as a star in that sky. blinking down at you, while you can do nothing but watch. hopelessly out of reach.

gaze trailing down to rest on suguru’s collarbone, you swallow the lump in your throat. a little too vulnerable to feel comfortable with looking into his eyes, afraid of what you’ll see in them.

but he’s patient. waiting, always waiting, for you to catch up. for as long as it takes.

”… of course i am,” you mutter, at last. a weak little thing. farther down the street, a car swooshes by, drowning the sound — but suguru still hears it clear as day. ”i mean, it’s just…”

a meek intake of breath. you blink, desperate to chase away the glassiness forming in your eyes. trying to grasp control over your wavering voice. ”even if you say that we won’t… it’s not like there’s any guarantee. you can’t know for sure.”

suguru wants to stop you, right there. wants to ensure you that he does know, that it’s the only thing he’ll ever know for sure. just that one fact; you and him. never one without the other.

wherever you’d go, he’d follow — that’s how it’s always been. that’s all he’ll ever need.

but he knows you. knows you better than he knows himself. and he knows that he needs to let you speak freely, without interruption, until you’ve gotten every last worry off your chest.

so he settles for simply looking at you, curled up and biting his lip to stop himself from speaking. wishing he could smooth away the moisture in your eyes, already — but the tears need to fall first. he knows it’ll make you feel better.

”i love you,” you whisper, and suguru’s heart claws its way up his throat. ”i love you, and i want to be with you forever — but…” a shaky inhale. ”but i can’t get rid of that fear. the idea of losing you… i just can’t deal with it.”

”don’t you think i feel exactly the same?” he cuts in, softly. 

a beat. you glance up at his face, for a split second, and then back down to his collarbone. a little fragile, curling into yourself as if hiding. ”i don’t know,” you sigh.

(suguru’s heart breaks.)

”i know that you love me too, and all. and i trust you. but…” you trail off, swallowing thickly. ”you already have your future planned out, and everything. maybe i just… don’t have a place in it.”

suguru scoffs, unable to bite back the sound any longer. it’s soft, but frustrated. ”there’ll always be a place for you in my future,” he vows. ”i wouldn’t accept anything less.”

you cower a little, under the warmth of his gaze. sweet, but stern. so distinctly suguru that it makes you falter.

”besides,” he clicks his tongue. ”i don’t need to follow the future that’s been planned out for me. i just need to be suguru.” a warm smile. ”right?”

at the sound of your own words, a light flush blooms on your skin. but for once, suguru isn’t teasing you.

”and you just need to be you,” he continues, arm still wrapped around your midriff. trailing up slowly, so that his hand can smooth over the back of your head. ”that’s all.”

”as long as both of us do that — we’ll always be together.” he looks into your eyes, and you think you spot a constellation inside his iris. ”won’t we?”

another moment of silence, the familiar comfort that settles between you. there’s no pressure to continue — but you do so, anyway. muddled mind still spinning, worried about this and that, despite suguru’s soothing words. 

a part of you can’t put your faith in that kind of future. one where the two of you are together, that you could envision so clearly when you were younger — when him and you was all that you knew for certain. it’s not as simple as it was back then.

(but another part of you desperately yearns for him to prove you wrong.)

”… but,” you mumble, shaky. ”what if it’s not that easy?” a chuckle pushes past your lips, humourless. ”i mean, you can’t possibly… always stay by my side, you know?”

there’s something childish, in the way you say it. like you’re still kids, and you’re whining for him not to leave you behind. selfish, in a way.

what right do you have to chain him to you?

suguru emits a hum. his eyelids flutter shut, for a few seconds — and then he opens them again. 

”… alright,” he drawls. ”let’s make a promise, then.”

confused, you glance up at him. he just smiles — responsible, dependable. your very best friend.

”have i ever broken a promise i made to you?” he asks, and you pause.

”… no,” you answer, hesitant. voice still a tad meek, a little helpless.

(and it’s true. not once has he broken one. when suguru makes a promise, he keeps it. you’ve always, always admired that about him.)

”right?” he grins, tucking a strand of hair behind your ear. admiring your moon-lit features. ”so let’s do it.”

a frown tugs at your lips. furrowing your brows at him, your voice flows out, uncertain. ”promise… what, exactly?”

the moon glows, big and bright. hanging in the sky, a beacon of light, the same as it’s always been. suguru thinks you look radiant, under its illumination — even though you’re nervous, and a little teary eyed. just a single glance at your expression is enough to make his heartbeat soften.

you look like what home feels like. 

he could never bear to let that go, to let you go. his very best friend; the one thing in his past he has no qualms about. the one thing in his future worth hanging onto, cherishing fully. no matter what.

suguru parts his lips, smiling. he links your hands together. ”keep being you,” he implores, steadfast. ”and stay by my side.”

a moment passes. 

something crumbles, inside your chest. unable to break away from his gaze, all you can do is fall deeper into the hue of his eyes, crinkling softly — in the same way they always have. he squeezes your palm in his, tightly. a silent promise not to let you go.

— and then you realize something. the same realization that always comes to you, at the end of the day.

the man in front of you is just the same as the boy you met, all those years ago. the same boy who saw you climb over his fence, and let you pet his cat, and watched whisper of the heart with you even though he wanted to start with ponyo instead.

the same boy, always the same boy, no matter how much time passes. even though he’s all grown up now, features more defined. voice deeper and huskier. hands larger, with rougher skin.

he’s changed, just like you have — but he’s still just suguru. just that cool, sweet boy. a dorky guy who never, ever lets you fall too far behind.

a tremendous softness seeps through your veins. a kind of love, old and matured, carefully nurtured. the blinks you indulge in are slow, and your eyes shine with tears. it’s overwhelming, seeing him so up close, but you still can’t look away. he’s so beautiful it hurts.

”suguru…” is all you can sniffle, meekly.

your best friend is still smiling, fondly. wrapped up in you, as close as he can be. a familiar warmth, like a big fuzzy blanket draped over your shoulders; smelling of cedarwood and earl gray, and just a hint of coconut-scented shampoo. tailor-made just for you.

suguru never breaks his promises.

”but… you can’t,” you croak out, gasping as if searching for air. ”you don’t know if —”

”i do,” he cuts you off, gently. ”i do know.”

a breathless inhale of air, as you grasp tighter onto his nimble fingers. you feel meek, lost. not sure where to put your hands, or what to believe. ”how?” you ask, terribly fragile.

suguru takes a deep breath. oxygen enters his lungs, exiting as he breathes out. a soft flicker of life. his thumb goes to wipe away the stray tear that trickles down your cheek, his touch delicate. and then comes his response.

”— because i need you the way i need air.”

and, really, it’s a sappy thing to say. a little pretentious. he’d feel embarrassed if it wasn’t for the soft flicker of the moon, the intimacy of the moment. he simply couldn’t bear not to tell you the truth — even if you end up bringing it up tomorrow, just to tease him. he can deal with a little embarrassment, every once in a while. just for you.

fortunately for him, no thoughts of teasing run through your mind. maybe if you were in a better headspace, a little less of a wreck, you could muster the will to make fun of him a little. who do you think you are, shakespeare? i knew i shouldn’t have lent you that copy of romeo and juliet. — something light and amused, just to distract him from the rapid beating of your heart. 

but right now…

all you can do is take a deep breath. and you think you understand what he means, when that breath of life courses through your lungs.

”i’ll never leave you behind,” he continues, words so very self-assured that it leaves you reeling. rubbing comforting circles into the skin of your palm, without thinking. muscle memory. ”can you trust me on that?”

connected to his gaze, you stumble for something to say. anything. 

but then he smiles, again. that familiar, familiar smile. as soothing as a mother’s caress. and only one single word makes it past your lips.

”… okay.”

you do trust him. more than anyone else in the world. so you take that leap, no matter how frightening it is —

and the world narrows down to just the two of you.

just you, and him, in this one single moment. illuminated by the light of the moon, lying side by side and looking into each other’s eyes, on a roof you always find yourselves at one way or another. laughing and sharing secrets until the sun begins to rise; a silent promise that needs no words. 

(the promise of tomorrow. a summer that never quite seems to end.)

suguru cups your cheek. his touch buzzes with warmth, trickling down his wrist and through his veins — and you melt into his palm, eyes fluttering shut instinctively. the sight makes the corners of his lips curl up, hopelessly.

leaning close, he plants a kiss on your cheek. delicate, tender; his lips against your skin, a silent whisper of i love you. fervent, full of devotion. of a love that’s as steady as the sea.

”i’ll always, always be by your side,” suguru repeats, like a mantra. hoping you’ll feel his conviction through the whisper. ”you’ll always have me to fall back on. i promise.”

a little smile breaks out across your lips, meek and teary. as fragile as a sheet of glass, but still persisting in the dead of night. your voice wavers, as you raise your pinkie, right in front of his stupidly pretty face.

”pinkie promise?”

it’s a childish gesture. something to lighten the mood a little, make it all easier to chew. you expect him to roll his eyes, or raise an eyebrow, or tease you a bit. but he doesn’t.

instead, suguru raises his own pinkie, and curls it around yours. then he smiles. sweet and boyish, painted over with a rosy, tender nostalgia.

”— pinkie promise.”

and you believe him.

you believe him, because suguru has a way of making you do so, even when he has no idea what the hell he’s talking about. with that confident tilt of his voice, that makes it sound like he has all the answers in the universe — that flicker of genuine faith, in every word that falls from his lips, that tells you he truly does believe in them.

you believe him, because suguru is the only person in the world who’s never once broken a promise he made to you. not a single time. and some part of you suspects that if he ever did, he really would be okay with you cutting his pinkie off. a little frightening, the depths of his devotion. the pure loyalty that courses through his veins.

so you believe him.

you believe him because he’s suguru. and, just like you can't exist without him, he can't exist without you. never one without the other.

on instinct, you inch a little closer, wrapping your arms around his waist and squeezing him extra tight. face hidden away in the crook of his neck, just like you used to do when you were kids. he’s bigger now, harder to properly embrace — but still so very, very warm. 

and he squeezes you back, just as tight. comforting and grounding, and so, so secure. tugging you closer, like he needs to have you near to properly breathe. like he needs to feel that you’re there to relax, melting into the hug with a soft sigh. relieved, that you’re still with him. relieved at the promise that you always will be. 

wherever you go, he’ll follow. to the roof of his home, to the seaside, to the ends of the earth. the same way every star in the sky orbits around the center of the galaxy, endlessly, before burning out into the night.

the smell of cedarwood and earl gray floods your senses, filling your lungs as you nuzzle into his neck. he’s warm, and soft, and your very best friend. 

you close your eyes. indulging in his body heat, every familiar sensation that’s been etched into your bones for as long as you can remember. and you can tell he’s doing the same — breathing you in, arms resting securely around your back, pressing his cheek against the top of your head.

and maybe it’s true, after all. maybe suguru really does need you, just as much as you need him.

and maybe that’s all you really need to know.

the moon rests in the sky. smiling down at you, unchanging. a living proof that some things really do stay the same. 

— you hug suguru tighter, and decide that his presence is proof enough. 

[yanderenightmare]

this doesn’t need to be a full story I’d just love to see some of scummy kirishima trying to refrain himself from forcing himself on his darling but she makes it .. so hard

BNHA ! THIRST

Kirishima Eijirou x darling

TW: NSFW, yandere, noncon/dubcon, misogyny, prohero au, inappropriate thoughts in the office… 

I took liberties - made darling a supervisor-type from the Hero Commission fsr

It's as though every inch of you begs him to pounce. From the free-fall of crispy-done curls that cascade down around your shoulder to the perfectly placed red-lined lips you smack once talking down to him about proper hero protocol and the subsequent punishments that follow insubordination and how you'll have his license revoked if he doesn't start playing by the Hero Public Safety Commissions rules.

You make him want to gather your expensive haircut in a tight-knit fist – smudge all that red over your pretty face when taking his cock so far down your bratty throat you choke on all the prissy words kept on your tongue for him.

Strutting in that tight black pencil skirt that cinches your small waist – making it look so perfectly receptacle for his large hands – above those firm hips and those doughy thighs he wants nothing more but to squeeze into and make jiggle as he buries himself deep between them. You make his balls itch every time you stomp away from him – with the cruelly tall peekaboo slit splitting your skirt open – teasing him with every loud step you take in those slick black stilettos - showing ankles and legs and knees and thighs, up and up but not far up enough to quench the feral hunger it edges deep down in his gut.

He'd shuffle on his knees – bite his knuckles in restraint – all to cop a feel of that ass and how you sway it with the same sass of an alley-cat. He can imagine it receiving his greedy hands so well – letting him carve in so far he might see his fingers completely swallowed in the fat. Leave his handprint in stinging welts that make you weep for kindness, bent over his lap with your wrists in his fist – only to be answered by his sharp teeth sinking deep into the supple flesh – making you scream.

You don't make it easy for him… being so tiny and snatchable. It would be the easiest thing – to take and tame you – to pull your much smaller body right off your feet and push you tight against the nearest wall – all your important documents on the floor beneath his dirty boots as you take his cock between your ribs and choke on the moan it gives you.

He can barely listen when you berate him – telling him his pay will be redacted if he doesn’t try harder at keeping the wreckage of private and government buildings to a minimum – unable to block out all the impure thoughts that go bubbling from his balls, making his throat tight as you stand there so primly in your glossy silk shirt with buttons so flimsy he bet they'd pop off on the slightest little tug. He imagines it as you continue your rant – your finger pointed at him strictly, and all he’s able to think about is how your breasts would spill out and he’d get to see whatever chic lace brazier you have on underneath.

Gnashing his teeth together, gritting them tight at how painful his boner is, kept inside the strict confines of his boxers while he imagines chewing on the pretty pearls you keep around your throat – thinking about tugging the necklace tight in a strangle, making you squeak and groan as he pounds you harder and harder from behind.

He bets only one of his big hands in your hair would have you completely humbled. Bet you'd cower in cries and do exactly whatever he'd tell you in fear of having your pretty body hurt.

He bet he'd get away with it, too – that's the worst part – that the crime he wants to commit the most is one without consequence. He'll think about it until his abdomen feels like it's about to burst – until his head's so hot and pounding it hurts, and he might very well blackout and give into all of it without further thought.

It would be as easy as pulling on a ski mask. He knows exactly how he’d do it – has your entire routine mapped out and knows exactly what empty building is still under construction in exactly what shortcut you go through to reach your apartment. Knows exactly which slab of still dusty concrete he could bend you over and push your little tear-stained face down against – watching the chub of your cheek squish against the cold stone as you moan on hot cries and plead out fruitless whimpers for his mercy. 

He imagines taking his sweet time with you – getting you real nice and ready for him, playing slippery patterns between your folds where he has your feet kicked apart in a spread. He'd rest his pained and pulsating meat between the valley of your asscheeks as you shake and whine – rubbing against the soft plush skin with a rumble in his chest until you're perfectly puffy and wet for him – tight cunt suckling lewdly on three of his fat gravely fingers stuffed inside it.

He knows you don't get around much – knows you're too busy and otherwise too stingy to let any random person fuck you, so he can only imagine how sweet and sensitive you'd be for him – so needy for the attention, you'd probably start cheering him on once feeling how good he stretches your cock-starved pussy out. 

He imagines your moans are real girly, too – that you'd squeal so nicely once split apart on him. And how your thighs would quake, receiving every inch of his length inside you – toes curling in your stilettos once he's completely bottomed out – nudging his fat cockhead right up against your cervix.

You’d clench on his shaft – milk him for cum – desperate for it.

And he’d give it to you – paint your walls thick with it – cream your tight little cunt so full of it you’d moan out the prettiest breathless thank you as it spills in beady pills down your thighs into your expensive power-heels – properly put in your place.

tip-jar: Kofi

[bloodylullaby]

Author's Note: It's been a while since I wrote Smut, so I am a little rusty.

Parings: Noah Sevastian x Reader

Word Count: 1739

Warnings: 18+: heavy making out, sex

MasterList

Today marks your and Noah’s four-year anniversary, and boy, did he go all out. As a man with golden retriever energy, his love language is giving, and he certainly showed it today. From the minute you woke up, he was pampering you. Your day started with brunch in bed; Noah served you your favorite breakfast foods along with his version of bottomless mimosas. The tray was filled with freshly baked pancakes, fluffy scrambled eggs, crispy bacon, and a small fruit platter that looked like it belonged in a magazine. He refilled your glass with a smile, ensuring you had everything. Every detail, from the freshly squeezed orange juice to the perfectly chilled champagne, was meticulously prepared to make you feel cherished and adored. As you enjoyed the delicious meal, he sat beside you, his eyes shining with joy and affection, soaking in every moment of your happiness. This was just the beginning of a day filled with love and surprises.

After your giant breakfast, he hurried you into the shower, where he joined you. The warm water cascaded over both of you as he gently helped you wash your hair, his fingers working through the strands tenderly. He gave you a scalp massage that felt like a full-body experience, his hands skillfully kneading away any tension. Every touch was deliberate, ensuring no part of you was left untouched or unworshipped. He moved with loving precision, his hands gliding over your skin, leaving a trail of warmth and relaxation. The intimacy of the moment, combined with the soothing rhythm of the water, made you feel cherished and adored. This was more than just a shower; it was an act of love, a celebration of your bond.

After begrudgingly leaving the shower, you both got dressed for a day full of fun and laughter. He took you everywhere, and anywhere you wanted to go. Your first stop was a romantic trip to the aquarium, where you marveled at your favorite sea animals. The gentle swaying of the jellyfish, the otters' playful antics, and the sharks' majestic glide captivated both of you, filling your hearts with wonder. 

Next, you had a picnic lunch in the botanical gardens, surrounded by your favorite flowers. The air was filled with the sweet fragrance of blooming roses, and the vibrant colors of the garden created a picturesque backdrop. You sat on a cozy blanket, enjoying the delicious food Noah had packed, from sandwiches to fresh fruit and homemade baked goods. Laughter and conversation flowed easily, making the moment feel magical.

The day's final stop was a pottery place, where you got to pick pieces to glaze together. You opted for a mug, imagining cozy mornings sipping coffee, while Noah chose a dog bowl for your puppy. As you both carefully applied the glaze, you couldn't help but giggle at the splatters of paint and the creative designs you came up with. The experience was fun and intimate, a perfect ending to an incredible day. 

Once you got home from your long but fun day, you found a little black dress on the bed. “Put it on,” he gently said with a smile. As you slipped into the dress, feeling the luxurious fabric against your skin, Noah quickly dressed up alongside you. He looked dashing in his suit, his eyes twinkling with excitement. Hand in hand, he led you to the nicest restaurant in town. The ambiance was perfect, with soft lighting, elegant decor, and the gentle hum of live music in the background. The host greeted you warmly and escorted you to a private table adorned with candles and fresh flowers. The evening unfolded like a dream, with exquisite dishes, fine wine, and heartfelt conversation.

As the night progressed, you both eventually made your way back home. Noah sat on the bed, looking more beautiful than ever. After all the effort he put into making today so unique, you wanted to do something special for him. You start to make your way over to him seductively, ensuring every move catches his eye. His gaze follows your every step, filled with anticipation and admiration.  As you finally reach him, you straddle him and feel the warmth of his body beneath you. You lean in and give him a kiss filled with pure passion and hunger, your lips melding together in a fiery dance. Running your fingers down his arm, your hands interlock, creating a connection that sends shivers down your spine.

“I want to make you feel good,” you whisper, your breath hot against his ear. He gently moans, a sound that stirs a deep hunger within you. You continue to kiss him, your lips trailing down to his neck, tasting the salt of his skin as his heartbeat quickens. Your hands roam over his chest, feeling the rise and fall of his breaths as you both lose yourselves in the moment. Noah's hands move to your waist, pulling you closer, his touch igniting a fire within you. 

The room fades away, leaving just the two of you in this intimate bubble. Your whispered promises and his soft responses create a symphony of desire, filling the space between you with a palpable energy. You pull back slightly, looking into his eyes, seeing the same hunger reflected in them. "Let me take care of you tonight," you murmur, brushing a strand of hair from his forehead. His eyes close as he leans into your touch, a contented smile on his lips. 

You guide Noah’s hands to the zipper on the back of your dress, encouraging him to undress you. He takes the opportunity to tease you, his fingers lingering at the zipper before slowly, tantalizingly undoing it. Each inch the zipper descends feels like an eternity, heightening your anticipation and driving you wild. He peppers your neck with soft kisses and gentle nips, his breath warm against your skin as he continues. The combination of his deliberate touch and the sensual assault on your neck sends shivers down your spine, making your pulse race. His hands glide over your exposed skin as the dress loosens, adding to the electric charge between you.

It was your turn to undress him. Slowly, you unbuttoned his shirt, your fingers lingering on each button, grazing his skin with every movement. His breath hitched with each touch, his eyes locked onto yours with anticipation. You slid the shirt off his shoulders, letting it fall to the floor, and trailed your fingers down his chest, planting soft kisses along the way. You savored the moment, enjoying how his body responded to your touch. As you reached his belt, you looked up at him with a mischievous smile, taking your time to undo it and then sliding his pants down. Once the both of you were entirely naked, you both locked lips again. 

With one hand traveling down between your thighs, Noah put his other hand on the back of your neck and pulled you down so he could kiss you deeply. Despite the intensity of his kiss, you could barely concentrate as his fingers continued to move with delicate and expert precision on your clit. The sensation sent waves of pleasure coursing through your body, making it hard to focus on anything else but the overwhelming ecstasy building within you. Noah's touch was both tender and skillful, his every movement sending you closer and closer to the edge of bliss. With each stroke, each caress, he brought you higher until you were teetering on the brink of release, lost in the intoxicating rhythm of his touch and the passion of his kiss.

You pulled back a little to look into his eyes. “Lay back,” you said. Noah complied, propping himself up on the pillows. As you climbed back on top of him, you positioned yourself at his entrance. With slow, deliberate movements, you began to sink down onto him, feeling the exquisite sensation of being filled. As your bodies joined, you both moaned in unison, the shared pleasure amplifying the intimacy of the moment. He placed both hands on your hips, guiding your movements as you rocked back and forth, each motion sending waves of pleasure coursing through you. The sensation of his touch, combined with the rhythmic friction between your bodies, heightened the connection between you, deepening the intimacy of your lovemaking.

The more you continued, the harder it was for him to sit back. Sensing his increasing urgency, he changed tactics and pulled you closer to him, his grip firm yet tender. You felt him slightly lifting off the bed, his hips rocking back and forth in a synchronized rhythm with yours. The new angle intensified the sensations coursing through your bodies, heightening the pleasure and deepening your connection. Lost in the moment, you moved together in perfect harmony, each movement bringing you closer to the peak of ecstasy.

He changed positions swiftly yet gently, flipping you onto your back. He positioned your legs on his shoulders with precision and care, creating a new angle. You gazed up at him, feeling a rush of anticipation and desire as he leaned in closer, his eyes locked with yours. In this new position, every touch and every movement sends sparks of pleasure coursing through your body, igniting a fiery passion between you.

In the heat of passion, you and Noah lose yourselves in the rhythm of your affectionate intimacy. With each thrust and caress, your connection deepens, as if every touch speaks volumes of unspoken words. The room fills with the sound of your shared moans and the symphony of your bodies moving together in perfect harmony. As the intensity builds, you feel yourselves teetering on the edge of ecstasy, on the brink of release. Noah's movements become more urgent, his touch more vibrant, as he strives to bring you both to the highest level of satisfaction. And then, with a shared gasp and a final surge of passion, you both reach the peak, exploding in a cascade of blissful release.

Breathless and spent, you collapse into each other's arms, your hearts racing synchronously. In the quiet aftermath, you bask in the warmth of your shared intimacy. As you lay there, entwined in each other's embrace, you know that this moment will be a testament to the depth of your love and the beauty of your connection. Nuzzling closer to Noah, you drift into a peaceful slumber, eagerly anticipating the next four years' adventures.

[peach-princess-snz]

Baizhu Snzfic (Part 1)

This is a repost from the sf forum (I have just discovered this side of Tumblr). Let me tell you, I did not care for Baizhu until I finished his story quest and oh. my. lord. 😳 I CANNOT get enough of this man!! He pushes through his chronic illness to save others, can share his life force with his patients, and even takes on their diseases? Like, come on 💕

Pairing: Baizhu x OC

Includes: cold, buildup, stifles, let out snzs

Art by SongJiKyo

"Master!"

*knock, knock, knock*

"Master Baizhu! Are you here? Master Baizhu!"

The voice came from the other side of the door, accompanied by a rushed knocking. Baizhu reluctantly opened his eyes, struggling to determine whether the knocking was in reality or his imagination. The warm, fading sunlight let him know that he had slept through the day and woke up around the golden hour right before the sunset. His head didn't hurt anymore, but it felt woozy and heavy like it was stuffed full of cotton. Baizhu cleared his throat and groggily asked the door: "Gui?"

"Yes! Master Baizhu, w-we have a patient who needs your help." Gui's voice sounded shaky.

Baizhu got up, feeling a wave of heat wash over his head, blurring the dark outlines of the back room of the pharmacy; then it was gone as quickly as it came. Baizhu blinked. His vision was clear again, and other than feeling terribly exhausted, he was quite alright. 

----------

The patient was a young man in his late twenties. His bronze skin and long, dark hair exposed his origins to be from Sumeru, and his clothes were reminiscent of a traditional Akademiya gown, white and green with a gold trim, but their silhouette was inspired by the more practical clothes of the Adventurer's Guild. The man was lying on the floor, unconscious.

"He came in here asking for some herbs for his headache and dizziness. He said that he came from the mines in the Chasm..." Gui began to explain as Baizhu sat down next to the patient.

"He was awake and he seemed to be okay when we were talking, then he extended his hand towards me and started falling. I caught him right before he passed out." Gui hurriedly finished, extending his own hand as if reenacting what had happened.

Baizhu found the man's pulse — his heartbeat was within the normal range. Baizhu continued checking the man's vitals when the patient let out a small groan. His eyelids slowly opened and he lifted his head. 

"Where... Uhh..." The man looked around and saw Baizhu. The man's eyes studied the doctor for a moment, gliding over his elegant facial structure before moving on to the reptilian pupils of his bright amber eyes hiding behind thin glasses, then to Baizhu's soft, long green hair gathered in a loose braid cascading down one of his shoulders. Finally, the man's gaze met a pair of big red eyes belonging to a white snake resting around the doctor's neck like a loose scarf. 

"Doctor?" the man finally asked.

Baizhu smiled softly and sniffled. The contrast between the stale air of the back room and the crispy evening air coming through the open entrance of the pharmacy was making his nose itch. Baizhu cleared his throat. "Hello, I am Baizhu, a practitioner of medicine at Bubu Pharmacy. Can you tell me your name?" Baizhu's voice had its usual elegant and professional quality to it albeit sounding a little weary. The air outside was filled with the scents of late summer herbs, glaze lilies, and silk flowers. Mixing with his patient's musky, slightly sweet perfume, the scents were starting to get overwhelming for Baizhu's sensitive nose. The small tickle that started at the tip of his nose was now climbing up, and Baizhu sniffled again in an attempt to get rid of it.

"My name is Ehsan," said the man weakly, getting Baizhu's attention away from his nose. "I am a researcher from the Akademiya studying the effects of the Chasm on the surrounding area, living organisms, and...err its relation to the incident." He gave Baizhu a difficult to interpret look.

"Ahem... snf!.. Ehsan, what symptoms... snf!.. are you experiencing?" The tickle in Baizhu's nostrils was getting difficult to ignore. The doctor pressed the back of his hand firmly against the bridge of his nose. The itch went away for a moment only to come back even stronger.

"Well, you see, I am not a cartographer," Ehsan smiled sheepishly, exposing the dimples on his bronzed cheeks that reflected the soft golden glow of the setting sun. "I had the maps, but they were all made before the Chasm was closed, of course. I assume that the geological features of the caves have changed significantly since then, and so did the environment in the area. I got a little lost in the caves when I finally found something worth examining – a weird black ooze, like mud..."

Baizhu's nostrils twitched, and his mouth opened ever so slightly as his breath hitched. "Hiih..." Not now, concentrate! What do you know about the dark mud? It has to be related to the Abyss Order, probably highly toxic to humans... Baizhu's thoughts were interrupted as his breath wavered again, and he swiftly raised a gloved wrist to his mouth.

"It was pitch black and it had an unnatural purple glow. It felt… ominous..." Ehsan continued.

Baizhu pressed his nose firmly into the back of his hand, hoping to alleviate the persistent tickle that was now settled deep inside his nostrils. His chest rose as he took a long, shaky breath and his eyes glazed over.

"... and dizzy. The air was thin, and I felt short of breath. Then I felt a kind of a heat wave as I was going deeper, but..."

"Huuh...heh... Hh! Huh'KGT! Hh-Hh... Hh'NGxt! snf!.. ugh..." Baizhu suddenly turned away and ducked into his elbow, letting out two muffled yet forceful stifles that jerked his body forward. "Oh archons, I'm... snf!.. very sorry about that. It must be from all the scents outside, the flowers are in bloom this time of year," Baizhu explained.

"Oh, err... Bless you, doctor! As I was saying..." 

Damn it, the itch was back, and now his nose was running like an opened faucet. Baizhu sniffled wetly and tried to concentrate on Ehsan's story.

"... and when I came here, the dizziness and nausea came back and suddenly I felt like I was back in the caves."

Damn it, damn it, damn it! Baizhu's nose was getting more irritated by the second, and the doctor felt another sneeze coming. Baizhu hurriedly fished out a silk handkerchief from his pocket and massaged his nostrils a little before turning away from the Sumeru scholar and blowing his nose as quietly as he could. The handkerchief quickly absorbed the moisture, but the massage seemed to only irritate Baizhu's sensitive nose, making him audibly gasp "Hiih!.."

"Dr. Baizhu?" Ehsan asked with a mix of worry and confusion in his voice.

"Hiih... Hih.. Hh.. Hh..." Baizhu felt paralyzed, embarrassed by being seen in this state by his patient and Gui (who was diligently writing down Ehsan's symptoms on his left), yet unable to regain control over his body. His breath kept hitching, and the itch in his nose was growing stronger and stronger until... "

"Hih... Hh.. Hh'nsSCH! Heh-heh-hh gk'SCHHH!" Baizhu turned away and pitched forward, muffling two more restrained sneezes into his elbow. The stifles seemed to irritate his nose even more, and the doctor could feel another fit coming up. Why, why does his body have to fall apart like that in front of his patient! Baizhu blinked through teary eyes and caught a glimpse of Ehsan's toned arms peeking through the cropped sleeves of his Akademiya gown. His skin looked smooth and tan against the thin white fabric. In the last rays of the setting sun, the man seemed almost ethereal as he gently brushed his thick glossy hair away from his face and tucked the unruly strands loosely behind his ear.

"Your condissshn..." began Changsheng, making Ehsan jerk away as he noticed the snake's glowing eyes staring right into his own, "...seems to be turbulent due to the toxic effectsss of the dark mud. Dr. Baizhu has to consult his books on this ssubsstance before prescribing an appropriate treatment."

Baizhu stopped dabbing the handkerchief at his eyes and took it away from his face, accidentally brushing the tip of his nose, which immediately caused it to twitch. "Ah, yes, of course... Ehsan, Gui, please excuse Changsheng and myself... snf!.. for a muh-moment." He shot both men a reassuring smile and quickly got up, trying not to sway as he did so. He calmly made his way to the back of the pharmacy. Once out of the sight of his patient and Gui, Baizhu darted out the door, greeted by a gust of chill air and gentle scents of glaze lilies that made his nose scrunch up as he drew a sharp breath.

"You're welcome!" Changsheng was tightening and loosening her grip as she moved her head to the other side of Baizhu's face which was growing red with embarrassment.

"Th... Hiih... Thank you," he breathed out and heavily dropped his weight onto the railing of the wooden terrace outside of the pharmacy.

"You know, you don't alwaysss have to be so ssstrong for everybody," Changsheng said calmly. "Gui is quite capable of taking care of the patients, and Qiqi can take over making the medicines."

"Hiihh... Hh-Hh!.. Hh-GGKX'schh! Hh-eKSCHh! Hh.. Heh..." Baizhu took a step back away from the railing, then jerked forward muffling another strong double into the crook of his arm. His elbow was now glistening from tiny droplets of moisture, and Baizhu winced at the sight of it. His long green braid fell over his shoulder and was now slowly rocking in the air as the doctor was trying to regain his composure.

"And you know, I don't sss-think it's just your "condition". I ss-think you had exhausted your life force so much that you caught a cold as your body's defenses dropped... And be more careful for Rex Lapis' sake, you almost got me!" Changsheng lifted her head to get out of the way of Baizhu's trembling arm that was still covering his face.

"I'm... Hiih... Sorry... Hh... Hh... I can't help it..." He looked up at the evening sky feeling defeated, his breath hitching uncontrollably as his eyebrows darted up again.

"Hiih-eeKSCHhh!" He stifled another sneeze into his elbow, stumbling from its force.

"And I doubt your patient can hear you through the walls, so perhaps you could stop threatening my existence with your attempts to save face?!" Changsheng's coils loosened around the doctor's neck as she slithered down and settled around his chest.

"I... Heh..." Baizhu didn't have time to think about her request as he took a deep breath tilting his head up and jolted forward, his arms still raised in the air helplessly.

"Hiih'IISSSHeww! Hih... Hh-IISSHiuu! Heh... Heh... Hh'eeSCH'ah! EeSCHH! EeSCHh! EeSCHuh! Heh... Ugh... snrf!.." Baizhu blinked a couple of times and grabbed his stomach, bursting into a violent coughing fit that sounded painful.

"What did I tell you? You need to take care of your body and let it do its job trying to heal itself. Go on, get it out before we can go back and save your ssweet ssscholar boy." Changsheng's voice changed intonation in the end, teasing Baizhu's fragile ego.

"Huh-Hh!...... Ugh..." Baizhu shook his head, trying to scratch the itch still burning deep inside his nose. Being able to sneeze openly helped alleviate the tension a little, and he felt light-headed from the fit. Baizhu blew his nose, making a wet sound, and grabbed the terrace railing.

"Maybe you are right," he finally said, disregarding her sassy remark. "Maybe... snrrf! snf!.. I could take a day off once in a while..." Baizhu looked at the scarce stars that were starting to appear in the sky, still light blue and feathered with thin airy clouds. He sniffled again, trying to locate the cause of the itch in his nostrils, then rubbed the bridge of his nose forcefully. The vibration seemed to make the itch worse, and Baizhu squinted at the sky, filling his lungs with air as he lunged against the railing, gripping it with both hands as if his life depended on it. 

"Hh... Heh... Eeh'sSCHew! EeSCHHh'iuu! EeSCH! EeSCHh! Uh... Huh... Hh-Hh! Hh'EeeTSCHEW!! *cough* *cough* heh... Hh! Hh-eKSCHH-iuuu!!" Baizhu sniffled and straightened his arms, his shoulders still shaking with tension. He blew his nose into his damp handkerchief, rendering it useless, and slumped over the railing, exhausted.

"All better?" Changsheng asked cautiously, struggling to get a good grip on the doctor's chest. 

"Yeah... snrf!.. Yes, you can come back now." Baizhu let out an audible sigh. "Well, apart from the doctor looking like an absolute mess..." – he opened his arms inviting the snake to assess his sorry state, his green hair spilled out from his braid and caught by an evening gust of wind, his glasses hanging from one of his hands limply, – "...at least we know what is wrong with the patient."

Changsheng gave the doctor a curious look. 

"He just needs some rest," Baizhu coughed and smiled at the snake, readjusting the glasses on his face and giving his nostrils one last rub, making sure the awful itch was gone for good. "And the herbs to help the poison leave his body before it does any lasting damage *cough*"

----------

Bubu Pharmacy was illuminated by the warm light of the lamps lit by Gui when Baizhu stepped back inside. 

"Master Baizhu! Are you alright?" Gui asked, studying the doctor's face quizzically. 

Baizhu cleared his throat. "I apologize for my absence, but I assure you that there is nothing to worry about. It's just some chronic problem I have flaring up again, I simply need a little rest and I'll be good as new." He smiled, trying to make his voice sound calm and nonchalant despite getting raspy. 

"My dear Ehsan, I have good news... *cough* The poison from the dark mud of the Chasm can only affect you while you are in its proximity. However, prolonged exposure to its toxic fumes can slow down your recovery time. You should start feeling better within a couple of days, but I’m afraid you’ll have to postpone any further explorations until you are fully recovered. Meanwhile, I will have Gui bring you some medicine to help with your symptoms."

The Sumeru scholar was now sitting in a chair holding a cup of tea, the rising steam swirling in front of his face, his dusty adventuring backpack propped against the counter. His dark eyes reflected the dancing flames of the lamps, emanating a warm glow. He smiled gently, mimicking Baizhu's soft smile, which made the doctor blush as he cleared his throat again. 

"Thank you, Dr. Baizhu! I appreciate your dedication to your patients and the fact that you are helping me despite your... umm... condition..." Ehsan stumbled trying to find the right word, sending a jolt of electricity through Baizhu's body as the doctor questioned the thickness of the pharmacy walls. Baizhu coughed and smiled, shaking off the embarrassment. 

"I tend to anyone who comes to Bubu Pharmacy seeking medical attention," he said softly. "I treat all of my patients fairly, and I do my best to heal them. You needn’t worry about me; if anything, I would be worried about being more careful next time you venture into the Chasm – it is a very dangerous place, after all." Baizhu met Ehsan's eyes and smiled, his gaze lingering a little longer before sliding down the scholar's strong jawline and long neck. "However, as you have kindly noticed, I have indeed been working overtime lately and might benefit from a short break. You are free to stay in one of the patient rooms here until you feel better or continue your treatment at home." Baizhu's voice sounded confident and professional, dropping ever so slightly as he invited the Sumeru scholar to stay over. 

"Thank you, Dr. Baizhu. I would hate to discomfort you tonight, but I would be delighted to see you again in a couple of days to, err, assess my condition when you are feeling better."

Baizhu cleared his throat and sniffled, nodding as his cheeks flushed again. The yellow light and the warmth of the room were getting to Baizhu as Gui went to get the herbs for Ehsan's medicine. Baizhu's head lowered and he closed his eyes, but was snatched away from his slumber by Changsheng's tail flicking his neck from behind, which made Ehsan chuckle. Baizhu gasped, blinked, and muttered a quick apology before retreating into the back of the pharmacy and collapsing on his bed, falling asleep as soon as his head hit the soft pillows.

[stargirlygirl]

Upgrade pt.3

Pro Hero Midoriya Izuku x fem!reader

Part 1 > Part 2 > Part 3 > Epilogue

Summary: Izuku gets severely injured during a rescue mission. As a result, most of his left arm is amputated. You, being a mechanical and biomedical engineer (and his loyal girlfriend), decide to build him a cybernetic arm to replace the arm he's lost.

Word count: 4k

Other character appearances: Todoroki Shouto + Bakugou Katsuki

🚨Disclaimer & Warnings: Izuku has most of his left arm amputated and it is emotional + swearing

A/n: Sorry if this is a little jumpy. I was struggling with the flow of the chapter.

------------₊✩‧₊˚౨ৎ˚₊✩‧₊------------

It’s 3am and you jolt awake, realising that you had dozed off mid-construction.

It’s been three days since the fight where Izuku lost his arm, and you’ve barely slept since. You’ve been busy, juggling sourcing materials and building Izuku’s robotic arm with visiting him daily and remembering to eat and shower. You look like a little rat to be honest, hair in a low messy bun, welding mask tilted up so you can see. The huge gloves make it hard to meld all of the parts together, but you know that they’re for your own good.

It’s coming together well. You’re supposed to be putting on the last attachments right now instead of dozing off, so it will be ready for testing tomorrow. Luckily, Izuku’s wound hasn’t developed an infection yet and yesterday, you were able to meet with the orthopaedic surgeon who will be attaching Izuku’s replacement arm. You two discussed the design and attachment in detail. He was open-minded and asked you various questions about how the arm would work once attached. You felt grateful that Dr Kita had chosen such an enthusiastic surgeon for Izuku’s second surgery. You were confident that he’d be in good hands.

Looking over to your empty Shoto mug that Izuku scored you for your birthday earlier that year, you decided to take a little break to freshen up before continuing on with welding. You grabbed your mug and made your way to the kitchen, basking in the quietness of the night permeated by the sound of the kettle boiling. You made yourself another coffee and took it out to the balcony attached to your living room.

You loved sitting on the balcony. It always left you in awe, seeing the world below. Usually, Izuku would come out and sit with you in the morning.

You normally sat down in the plush chair to the right and journalled, coffee on the small table next to you, but tonight, you took your coffee leaning over the metal fence. You sighed in a mix of relief and exhaustion. You closed your eyes, feeling the crispy night breeze cascading across your warm skin. You stayed like that for a while until you felt those familiar jitters and headed back inside to continue your work.

…⊹₊⟡⋆…

It was around 7am when you finished adding those last touches. You stared down at your work, proud and relieved. The first part was finished now. You had been working over a low table, cross-legged on the floor with a lamp overhead. Your feet had pins and needles and it was such a good yet painful experience to finally stand up. You went to shower and get ready, washing your hair and moisturising with your favourite lotion. You wrapped the arm in a thick cloth before stuffing it with care into the largest tote bag you own. The clothed hand was still visible, peaking out from the top of the bag, but it was good enough.

The trip to Central Hospital was uneventful. Or maybe, you were just too tired to notice anything that had happened. Your brain was working on autopilot, taking you up to level 5 and walking you to Izuku’s room, hand knocking on the door. You didn’t hear any response, so you gently opened the door and slipped into the room.

Ah, he was still asleep. Your sweet angel. Which was strange because Izuku was an early riser. Nevertheless, you came over to his side, placing your bag down on the table by his bedside and sitting on his bed. Your right hand stroked the side of his face, gently cupping his cheek. You leaned over and placed a kiss on his forehead. He groaned groggily in response, rocking his head slightly.

You giggled, “Good morning, sleepyhead.” He groaned again, eyelids slowly fluttering open to reveal those beautiful green eyes that always take your breath away. A lazy smile spread across his face upon seeing you, and he turns his head to place a brief kiss on your palm, rasping into it, “Morning, honey.”

You chuckle lightly. Gosh your man is so handsome! What a heartthrob. You just love it when he just wakes up.

You move your palm away, now resting it on his thigh. “Did you sleep okay?” He rubs his face with the back of his remaining hand. He yawns and stretches a little, wincing in pain from his still open wound. “I was up most of the night,” he breathes out. “Just thinking.” You stay quiet, looking at him tenderly, hoping he’ll continue. He knows that look well. Sighing, he brushes it off, “Really, it’s nothing to worry about.”

You shake your head, scowling lightly, “Izu-chan. Don’t get like that with me. Tell me, what’s been on your mind?” He looks away from you momentarily, focusing on sitting up. You lean back over to help him up. Once he’s upright, you’re running your fingers through his unruly curls. You laugh at how messy they’ve gotten. His hair is always a struggle to tame in the morning. He moans softly at the feeling. You stop once satisfied with how they look. They’re still messy, but he looks a little more presentable now.

“Come onnnnnnn. Or fine, don’t tell me. That’s cool too.” You whine. He chuckles, “Honey, I just don’t want to make you worry.” His self-sacrificial behaviour begins to get on your nerves. Your brows furrow as you say, “It’s my job to worry. I’m your girlfriend after all. Whose going to take care of you if I don’t?”

He doesn’t like it when you look him that way, upset. He hates making you feel upset. “I’m sorry. It’s just…um,” he starts. Your practically begging him with your eyes to just keep talking. It’s something you’ve been working on together for years, Izuku being more open about talking about how he feels with you. It’s not that he can’t, it’s just that he just doesn’t want to burden you, which is why he tries to keep the worst of his thoughts and emotions to himself. But, he knows how much it irritates you, so he usually ends up divulging it anyways.

“Is it about your arm?” You ask as your tilt your head to the side, nodding toward it. Apart from the cry you two had together that first night, Izuku’s been avoiding the topic of losing his arm like the plague. You’re pretty sure that’s what has been on his mind. I mean, what else could be keeping him up at night right now? And this assumption is confirmed when his eyes widen and mouth drops open slightly. He regains his composure quickly, laughing airily as he looks away from you and starts rubbing the nape of his neck. “Maybe.”

You raise an eyebrow, “Maybe?” Your stare is quite intense and he’s not too sure how long he can withstand it. Apparently, not very long as he gives up trying to hide this from you any longer. “It’s just… hard.” You nod, squeeing his thigh gently above the blankets. “It’s like…” You can see that his eyes are already becoming glassy. “A part of me is gone now. It doesn’t f-feel real. I-it—” He’s struggling to hold back the tears. You move so that you’re curled up into his right side. His right arm is around you, your knees on his lap, arms around his shoulders. He lays his head into the crook of your neck, sniffling. You can feel his tears drip onto you.

You two stay like that for a while as he cries and hiccups. You stroke the top and back of his head as he let’s it out. You hate knowing that he’s been crying all alone, thinking it was better to be by himself than with you. You’re about to start crying too, so you opt to rest your head on top of his, looking upwards every so often to blink those tears back. Once, he’s calmed down and taken some deep breaths, he continues, “I-I don’t know if I’ll e-ever be me again. sniffle I k-know that I’ll sniffle have another arm b-but sniffle it’s not the sniffle t-the same.”

You hum. “I-it’s like I’ve hiccup l-like I’ve been r-robbed of sniffle a part of me. sniffle I’m n-not whole anymore.” You squeeze his shoulder. You know that right now isn’t the time to tell him how wonderful you think he is. He just needs the space to express his emotions and fears first. He continues to cry into your neck until the neckline to the shoulder of Izuku’s All Might shirt you threw on is drenched. You start, “You know, maybe this isn’t such a bad thing—”

“Honey,” he interrupts you immediately, his voice stiff and cloudy. “sniffle What do you mean this isn’t ‘such sniffle a bad thing’.” His tone tells you everything you need to know. You silently promise him you’re not being a dick and continue, you press on, “What if this is a neutral thing? Something that’s just happened. And you get to decide if it’s a bad thing or if it’s something challenging that you’ll overcome.” You continue running your fingers through his hairs, those green curls bouncing back every time.

“S-something I’ll over- sniffle overcome?” You nod, giving the back of his neck a rub, “Yea, like how you’ve overcome the challenge of One For All and learnt how to master it.” He’s quiet for a few moments. “But I haven’t. Y-you heard what Kacchan said. sniffle I shouldn’t of used One For All at 100%. hiccup I know I-I shouldn’t have but—”

“Forget about what Kacchan said. You did what you did because you wanted to save her, right?” Izuku nods slowly, head still resting on your shoulder. “That’s because your a hero.” You plant a kiss on top of his head. “The best hero ever, okay? And you got hurt. It happens to all heroes. I mean, look at what’s happened to All Might after his years of being a hero. But he’s still strong, right? So you can be too.”

You two let things settle for a few more minutes. By now, Izuku’s stopped sobbing and sniffling altogether. His breathing is much calmer now. You let out a deep breath, “I’m gonna need to borrow your quirk to test your arm.” You point at your bag on the bedside table, Izuku following your fingers. He nods, lifting his head back up. His arm comes down to your waist, hand giving it a squeeze.

You see, the way this quirk stealing thing works depends on the intensity and emotions of the kiss (because you borrow quirks via kissing, remember?). You say that you can ‘steal’ someone’s quirk for up to 24 hours but in reality, you don’t actually know how long you could have someone’s quirk for. It would be temporary of course, but 24 hours is the longest period yet that you’ve ‘stolen’ someone’s quirk. Actually, you’ve never taken Izuku’s quirk before, so you were curious about if you could and how it would work with the wielders. Would you make contact with them? Could you even ‘steal’ Izuku’s quirk? You were going out on a bit of limb when you told Dr Kita that you could. I mean, you’ve never had any issues with other people’s quirks before. Would One For All be any different?

The time you’re able to borrow a quirk for depends on two factors: 1) how strong the quirk and/or quirk user is and 2) how intense and emotional the kiss is.

You rest your forehead on Izuku, activating your quirk, before he brings his lips up to yours. The kiss is soft at first. Either party uncertain of how deep things were going to go. But, you throw caution to the wind and tilt your head more, pressing hard into Izuku’s lips. He meets your enthusiasm, teeth catching lightly on your bottom lip. You moan into it, fingers now tugging at his roots. Soon, tongues are entwining and tasting each other. Boy hasn’t brushed his teeth yet so it’s not exactly pleasant, but you push through. This has gotta give you at least 12 hours with his quirk, right?

A simple peck on the lips or kiss on the cheek could already grant you 3-5 hours depending on how strong the quirk and it’s user were, so this has gotta give you at least 10 hours due to how strong Izuku was and how deeply connected he was to his quirk.

At last, you two pull away, gasping for air. His hand now rests between your shoulder blades, his thumb gently caressing the space there. You feel that familiar, bubbling sensation all over your body, meaning that the transfer of his quirk was successful. You smirk and give him a brief kiss on his forehead, “Thanks, broccoli boy.”

You get up, already missing the warmth of his body, and walk around to the other side of the bed. You’re about to grab your bag when suddenly, you realise, “Izu-chan, you wanna see the arm I built you?” You’re already fishing it out of your tote, placing it on top and unwrapping it from the thick brown cloth protecting it. He hums in agreement.

The morning sunlight glints on the dark green metal. You pick it up with both hands and show it to him. It’s actually not that heavy, maybe 3 kilos, but you don’t want to drop it. “Do you like it?” You look up and he’s wide eyed, staring at your creation in awe. He stutters, “I, Honey, yea, I… Wow, you’re so incredible. It looks great!” He’s grinning and you feel so happy that he likes it.

You begin turning it over and explaining all the different parts and how the arm works, what it can do including normal arm stuff and other stuff. You’ve included a gun barrel, which has already been loaded with bullets, and a small canon that (hopefully) fires electrical bursts of energy generated by his quirk (which one idk man you pick, there’s too many), in the arm. “You make a fist and tilt your arm right for the gun or left for the canon.” He nods.

Once you’ve explained everything that you can think of about the arm, you give him another small kiss before saying goodbye.

You took the elevator down to ground floor and after exiting the hospital, you began walking to the station. Now, you had to test the arm. You planned to go to one of the wooded areas on the very outskirts of Tokyo. You’ve never used One For All before so you had to figure it out before you began testing the arm. Damn! You should of asked him for some tips before you left.

…⊹₊⟡⋆…

Izuku’s eyes widen and he jumps in his bed as the door bursts open, clipboard on the back rattling. A scowling Bakugou walks in, Shoto in tow stoic as usual. Broccoli boy immediately relaxes and a small smile comes to his face. Most days, Bakugou and Shoto stayed with Izuku during the day, after you had left. They usually sat down on or beside his bed, talking about anything and everything; the future, their All Might trading card collections, reminiscing about UA.

Today, Bakugou plopped down on Izuku’s bed, where you had been moments earlier while Shoto dragged a chair over and sat on broccoli boy’s other side. The conversation centred around starting an agency. Bakugou was sick of working under Best Jeanist. Meanwhile, Izuku was happy being part of an agency, but had been thinking about starting his own after his rise to the top. And Shoto had joined Endeavor’s agency after leaving UA and worked as a pro hero under him.

“When Endeavor retires, I’ll take over his agency.” Shoto’s voice was calm, but the boys knew how tense it was beneath that smooth surface. “Tch. Thought you didn’t like your old man.” Bakugou folded his arms, furrow between his brows deepening as he stared icyhot down from across the bed. Shoto shrugged, “I don’t have to like him to inherit his agency.”

Izuku pouted, “But Todoroki-kun, I thought you were working on it.” At this, Shoto shrugged again. “OI!” The two boys looked back to the blond. “I DON’T CARE IF YOU INHERIT AN AGENCY, MINE’LL BE THE BEST ‘ERE!” Bakugou had that sharp, lopsided grin on his face as he glared at Shoto, challenging him.

Izuku chuckled, “I’m sure it will be.” He looked down, shaking his head while laughing lightly. Bakugou scoffed and rolled his eyes. “WHAT’S WRONG WITH YOU DEKU, EH? DON’T TELL ME YOU’RE GIVIN’ UP ALREADY!” The fiery blond had locked onto a new target to express his aggressions. He was pointing at Izuku who just rubbed his neck sheepishly. “Sorry, Kacch—” Izuku’s voice was quiet, almost a whisper.

“AH? I CAN’T HEAR YOU.”

Izuku continued looking down until he eventually chuckled. He met those fierce eyes with his own much puffier and gentler ones. “You’re right, there is something wrong with me. But, I’m not giving up yet.”

“Tch. Whatever.” Bakugou looked away, rolling his eyes again.

It was quiet for a bit before Shoto broke the silence, “Should we get some lunch?” At this, Bakugou grinned, “Oi, let’s get it from that café we took pipsqueak to.” He was already standing when Izuku tilted his head to side, questioning, “Who’s pipsqueak?” Bakugou barked out his laughter, “YOUR GIRLFRIEND DUMMY.” Izuku’s mouth hung open slightly for a moment, confusion leaving his mind blank, “Oh.”

Shoto got up from his chair and walked around to stand beside Bakugou. He kept his distance thankfully as Bakugou turned around, glaring at him. “You, stay ‘ere. I’ll get us some coffee and sandwiches. You want iced coffee?” Shoto nodded. Bakugou left the two of them alone, walking out with his shoulders hunched as per usual. There weren’t any stupid pockets on the gown to stuff his sweaty palms into.

Shoto came to sit where Bakugou had been, on Izuku’s bedside. Izuku shifted slightly. “So,” he started nervous-curiously, “is that where they went after leaving my room? To the café?” Shoto remained impassive, “I don’t know. I was already at the café when Bakugou and [y/n]-san walked in and joined me.” Izuku gave Shoto that look. That ‘tell me everything’ look. Shoto shrugged, “She seemed stressed. She told me that I was her second favourite hero and Bakugou got annoyed. He bought her a coffee and a sandwich.”

Izuku nodded at this new information. You hadn’t mentioned to him that you went for coffee with Bakugou and Shoto. He assumed that this was because you were focused on constructing his cybernetic arm (which in part was true, but also because he’s already going through so much, you didn’t want to burden him or make him feel insecure about your relationship. He was the only one for you, after all.).

“She’s cute. Quite talkative. You two seem like a good match.” At this, Izuku perked up, “You think?” Shoto nodded. Izuku brought his right hand back to his neck and began rubbing it again. It went quiet again. “I think�� I-I think I might propose at the end of the year. What do you think?”

Those heterochromatic eyes hid their surprise well. Izuku? Get married? Soon? He was the only one in a long-term relationship out of the dekusquad. It made sense for him to be thinking about marriage. Shoto could see what a catch you were. If you were his girlfriend, he’d be thinking about it too.

“I think you should do what’s right for you. She clearly loves you very much, and if you love her,” Shoto paused, trying to find the right words. “If it’s the right time, then you should propose.” The boys looked at each other for a few moments, a faint blush spreading across Izuku’s cheeks. “Y-yea,” he stuttered, “I really do love her.” He was smiling foolishly. Shoto nodded.

The peace of this moment didn’t last long though, for Bakugou slammed the door open soon, arms full with a coffee cup tray and paper bags of deserts and sandwiches. The boys ate up, remarking that this café food was something else. The rest of the afternoon went by a smoothly as possible and soon, Izuku was left alone again, inevitably thinking of how much he loves and admires you.

…⊹₊⟡⋆…

It was a bright, clear morning. Perfect for a somewhat experimental surgery.

You had delivered the tested and refined cybernetic arm to the orthopaedic surgeon’s office on the cusp of 8pm last night. You had spent the first half of the day communicating with the wielders of One For All and learning how to use it. Because of your quirk, your body was able to transform (if a heteromorph quirk has been ‘stolen’) and withstand intense quirks of all types, so you didn’t have any major issues using One For All at full capacity. Sure, it was very tiring (which you made up for with a good sleep last night. The first in four days.) but, Izuku was your partner and technically, your client. It was your duty to rigorously test the arm to ensure functionality, durability, and safety.

Izuku had been informed early that morning that the surgery was to be performed at 8am. And so had you over a phone call that had woke you up and had you tumbling out of bed to pick up.

“Hello,” you grumbled. A clear, deep voice spoke from the other end, “Miss [L/n]?”

“Dr Kita?” You’re stumbling to your feet now, using the bed to help you up. You plonk down, listening to him continue, “I’ve just spoken to Mr Midoriya. His second surgery will be taking place at 8am. It’s expected to take around 60 minutes. Should I let reception know that you’ll be coming to wait in the recovery room?” You’re rubbing eyes with your free hand, trying to wipe and blink all those morning eye crusts away. “Yea. Yea! I’ll be there soon. Thanks Doc!” He tells you it’s fine and hangs the line.

You fumbled around, showering absent-mindedly and throwing on whatever looked decent (which was another of Izuku’s All Might shirts and a pair of low-rise baggy jeans).

And now, you were waiting anxiously in front of the recovery room. You wondered where Bakugou and Shoto were. Maybe, they didn’t know. Probably. Or maybe, they had been released yesterday as they didn’t have any major injuries. You checked your phone every few minutes for the time as you paced up and down the corridor, like last time. It was just hitting 9am now.

Were they finished yet? Did the arm attach okay? Was something wrong with it? Did Izuku’s wound get infected? Were there any complications? You kept asking yourself these questions and more. Time seemed to slow and stutter as you waited to be called in. 9am turned into 9:15 turned into 9:30. You were getting worried now. Even more worried than before.

But you couldn’t bask in it for long as— “Miss [L/n]?” A nurse was poking her head out from the recovery room doors. Different from the one that did the first time. You stopped in your tracks, running down the remaining length of the hallway to meet her. “Mr Midoriya will see you now.” You nodded frantically. She opens the door, holding it for you as you push past her. See me now? What do you mean ‘see me know’? Had he been awake this whole time? If so then why— It didn’t matter. You shook your head, seeing those untamed green locks peaking out from behind Dr Kita’s slim frame. You let out a sigh of relief.

There was your hero. Safe, sound, and smiling. There was nothing more you could ever ask for.

[dmitriene]

Heyyyy 😽 it's me again 👺👹 I was thinking, if you're up for uh take this order, or just skip it. I always see people writing about re4 Leon (And I really appreciate it OF COURSE) how handsome he is with his features, scars and such (and they are more than right) and so I was thinking about RE2 Leon this time, mainly because a few days ago my period arrived and I was literally crying at how "innocent" and adorable he was 😭😭 idk, just a thought of maybe *loving* how cute he was😭just adoring him, like waking up one morning with him (I also see people writing about this at the time of re4 with him, so I was inspired by that) and I think he would just be a sweet person, a sweetheart 😓😓😿❤️‍🩹🖐️😭

If it doesn't bother you, it could be a female reader? Tysm

Well, like I said, request this if you want or just ignore this nonsense, but if you're up for it, thanks in advance, I really *really* appreciate your writing 🥰😸🫶🩷🩵

(sorry for so many emojis, I got addicted)

꒰ 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘰 𝘴𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵! 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘮𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘳𝘦𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘴𝘵, 𝘰𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘪𝘯 𝘢 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘢 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘧 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘦, 𝘪 𝘩𝘰𝘱𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘪 𝘥𝘦𝘱𝘪𝘤𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘢! 𝘥𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘢𝘱𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘨𝘪𝘻𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘫𝘪𝘴, 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺'𝘳𝘦 𝘤𝘶𝘵𝘦, 𝘪 𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘢 𝘭𝘰𝘵 𝘵𝘰𝘰!🤍 ˑ༄ ꒱

❝𝘵𝘪𝘵𝘭𝘦❞ 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘢𝘥𝘦. ❝ 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘵 ❞ 𝘳𝘦2 𝘭𝘦𝘰𝘯 𝘬𝘦𝘯𝘯𝘦𝘥𝘺 𝘹 𝘧𝘦𝘮 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳. ❝ 𝘵𝘢𝘨𝘴 ❞ 𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘧𝘭𝘶𝘧𝘧, 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘵 𝘯𝘰 𝘩𝘶𝘳𝘵, 𝘬𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘴, 𝘩𝘶𝘨𝘴, 𝘥𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘤 𝘭𝘦𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱.

 ✎ 𝘮𝘢𝘪𝘯 𝘮𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘵. 𝘳𝘦𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘴𝘬𝘴. 𝘢𝘰3. ˑ༄

Leon had the ability to brighten up any room he entered with his infectious smile, it was a smile that could chase away the darkest shadows, a beacon of warmth and kindness that shone even in the face of the horrors he witnessed and the pain he held deep within himself.

The morning sun streamed through the windows, bathing the bedroom in a soft golden light, the soft, warm sheets tangled around you and you couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction wash over you.

Leon lay peacefully next to you, his tousled blond hair spilling across the pillow, his lips curled upward in a blissful smile even as he slept, a testament to the serenity he brought with him wherever he went.

You couldn't resist the urge to lean closer, your heart filled with love as you looked at him, the way he slept so peacefully despite the nightmares that often plagued him made your love for him burn even brighter.

Carefully, you slipped out of bed, your feet touching the cool wooden floor, a soft, lacy robe clung to your form as you tiptoed out of the room, your heart racing with excitement.

Today was the day you would show Leon how much he meant to you, the day you would let your love shine as bright as his smile.

The aroma of brewing coffee and the sound of sizzling bacon filled the kitchen as you hummed a soft tune to yourself, moving with grace and purpose, anticipation building within you.

Leon always spoiled you, made every day a special event, but now it was your turn.

In the kitchen, you stood wearing an apron over your pajamas, your hair cascading down your face and you couldn't help but chuckle softly, imagining Leon in his own apron, nothing but underwear beneath, the mere thought sent a delightful shiver down your spine, but you focused on the task at hand.

With practiced precision, you flipped the pancake, the batter in the pan sizzled, the sizzling sound was music to your ears and your heart filled with pride at your culinary skills.

Leon would be proud.

Finally, breakfast was ready — a feast of crispy bacon, fluffy eggs, golden pancakes and a steaming cup of freshly brewed coffee.

You arranged it all on a tray, making sure everything looked perfect, just like Leon would have done.

The tray felt a bit heavy in your hands as you carried it back to the bedroom, your excitement growing with each step, you couldn't wait to see the look on Leon's face when he woke up to this surprise.

Pushing open the bedroom door gently, you set the tray down on the bedside table, the room was bathed in the soft, golden light of morning, and Leon stirred, his smile deepening as he caught a whiff of the delicious breakfast.

— «Morning, sleepyhead» you whispered, your voice filled with love as you leaned down to kiss his nose softly.

Leon's eyes fluttered open, and he blinked at you in surprise, his blue orbs filled with sleep and wonder, he looked absolutely adorable in that moment, his cheeks tinged with a faint blush.

— «What's all this?» he muttered, his voice still hoarse from sleep.

Your heart skipped a beat as you leaned closer, your lips hovering just above his earlobe — «I wanted to surprise you» you admitted barely louder than a whisper — «You always do so much for me, Leon, i wanted to do something special for you»

Leon's gaze softened as he looked at you with an expression of pure love, he pushed the tray aside, not bothering with the food just yet, and pulled you into his arms, his warmth enveloped you, and you couldn't help but giggle.

— «What's so funny?» he asked, his lips curling into a playful smile.

— «You» you replied, your heart swelling with affection — «You're just so…adorable when you're surprised»

Leon chuckled, his fingers lazily drawing patterns on your back «Well, you've definitely succeeded in surprising me» he admitted — «And I couldn't be happier»

You smiled and nuzzled into his chest, relishing the feeling of being in his arms, the room was filled with an aura of love and comfort, and for a moment, it felt like the rest of the world didn't matter.

Leon sighed contentedly, his fingers trailing down your spine — «You know, I don't say it enough, but you mean the world to me» he whispered, his voice filled with sincerity.

Tears intuitively welled up in your eyes, but you blinked them away, not wanting to ruin the moment — «You mean the world to me too, Leon» you replied, your voice equally heartfelt.

Lying in each other's arms, you couldn't help but run your fingers over the scars and moles that adorned Leon's chest, each mark telling the story of the trials he faced, the horrors he endured, but they also showcased his resilience and bravery.

— «You're worth every moment, Leon» you whispered, your voice filled with swirl of emotions — «Every scar, every tear, every smile, you're worth it all»

Leon's grip on you tightened, and he pressed a soft kiss to the top of your head — «I'm the lucky one» he said, his voice filled with gratitude — «Having you by my side makes everything worth it»

The two of you lay there for a while longer, wrapped in each other's warmth and love, breakfast might have gotten cold but neither of you minded, what mattered most was the connection you shared, the unspoken words that passed between you and the love that enveloped you like a warm, comforting blanket.

In that moment, you knew that you were indeed the luckiest girl in the world, and you wouldn't have it any other way.

taglist: @roseglazedlens, @scar-crossedlvrs, @daydreamrot, @valsthea, @kennedyswhore dm me if you want to be tagged in my works or open my taglist.

[crispycascade]

the meat man,,,officer, i love him a lot...... @glitterycrayons

[winters-mistress]

The Tenderness of a Wolf

Normally, Ciri wakes up in cold sweats, shaking from the memories of the fire and the smoke and the feeling of Lazlo's body slumping over her, of the feeling of Calanthe's blood underneath her fingernails, of Eist kissing her forehead before he went to war, or of Mouseack's poor body mutilated somewhere as somebody wears his face like a child wears a mask just before the winter frost.

She normally cries when she wakes up, her body so exhausted from her dreams but her fear keeping her from reliving those horrible few weeks, when her heart and her home were taken from her. Normally, she will compose herself and wipe her face clean and cover it in ice cold water to soften the puffiness of her cheeks and rejoin her new family of burly mutated men who have gruff voices and big muscles yet tender hearts she's only now beginning to see.

But today is not like those days. Today she wakes up and the first thing that happens if not a cascade of salty water flowing warn down her cheeks, it's a coughing fit so hard that it shakes her entire body, loud and barking and sore on her already ravaged throat, tasting the horrible bitter thick fluid that flies put of her chest in thick yellowish-green slug shapes, her chest and ears cracking with every motion.

She's too hot and she's too cold at the same time, her body burning from the inside yet the air around her is so cold she wants to burrow into the heat behind her. Her head hurts and she's confused and her temples pound and there's weight against her ribs and she doesn't understand what's happening and she coughs and coughs and coughs and she can't breathe and-

"Shh, cub." A low voice rumbles in her ear. It takes her a stupidly long time to realise who it is and why he's there.

It's Geralt. Of course it's Geralt. He had stuck by her the whole night when all of the witchers had noticed how her skin had started to pale and her body body begin to sweat despite the freezing cold temperatures of the keep, when Vesemir had placed a hand to her forehead when she had refused her favourite dinner of venison steaks with crispy, salted potatoes with winter greens and sweet roasted carrots, and had promptly sent her to bed with hot tea and a shit ton of water. He hadnt liked the sound of her cough, and when they all sensed her breathing begin to be more laboured with her congestion, all the wolves had agreed to lay off her chores and training when her breathing began to crackle and her chedks beginning to redden.

That had been last night, and her fever and chills and cough had apparently only gotten worse since then.

And of course, through it all, the famed white wolf had never left her side.

He does some sort of Axii, she can barely recognise the hand symbol when her bleary eyes open and try their best to focus on his hand. Her breathing eases and her coughing stops, and suddenly there's a smooth, crooked, hollowed stick in her mouth.

She trusts Geralt, Ciri loves him, so she drinks whatever he deems safe and sighs with relief when it lessens the tightening in her chest and the pressure in her ears. Her eyes flutter closed again, and he places a hand on her forehead.

"Still burning up." He mumbles. "In and out all night."

Is he talking to her, or is someone else in the room? Is Vesemir in the chair next to her bed, the great protector of all his pups, that now includes her? Is it Eskel, with his knowledge of things medical and scientific. Or is it Lamb? Who could be gathering ideas for a concoction to make her feel better? Is it anyone, does it matter?

"Mmm." She tries to speak, but she can only make a vague squeaking sound that cracks in the middle. Good gods, she sounds rediculous with her throat and nose so congested as they are now, but all she manages to do is roll over and push her face into Geralt's chest, whining in misery. She feels so sick, sicker than ever before, and just wants to feel better.

She opens her mouth, ready to beg for water, but for all of his accusations of telepathy in the past, it is Geralt who reads her mind now, as he gently -oh so gently, the physicans were never so gentle with her as a child, fearing the lioness' wrath should anything happen to her cub- lifts her with him, pressing her against his chest as they both sit up. She sags against him, lips parting again.

Her body aches all over, in a way it hadnt ever done when she had ran the killer or trained until her muscles screamed. He seems to read her mind again, resting all her weight on his chest, and that combined with his arms that dwarf her little body, brings tears to her eyes as he brings another cup to her lips. This time it is water, and she gulps greedily until it's all gone, opening up to beg silently for more again.

Ciri downs three glasses before her stomach hurts, and he says nothing as she belches slightly as her stomach accustomed itself with having something inside.

Good gods, she's never felt so sick before. Not in the skelligan snowstorms, not anywhere. Her stomach aches, her head pounds, her throat hurts, breathing is a struggle, and she reaches back to touch Geralt, to make sure he's still there despite the fact she's laying against him.

He humms for her, voice blessedly soft. "You've slept in an our for a day and a half, managed to get some broth down you early this morning. Kept up a mightily impressive fever."

She blinks, too many words for her to comprehend, and swallows thickly again. He takes hos opportunity, pouring thick, sweet fluid into her mouth, and Ciri had no choice but to swallow it down.

The effect is almost immediate. Her chest feels lighter, her breathing easier, her eyes become heavy, and she sags into his arms.

"Sleep, little one. I'll be here when you wake up."

[apteryxparvus]

L ♡ V E R ⇌ L ⦻ S E R — chapter 1

Chapter one — Let the witch-hunt commence

Pairing — Scaramouche / Female Reader

Content warning — mentions of bullying

Summary: In a twist of unfortunate events, you find out that being exposed as the target of Kunikuzushi middle school bullying escapades was just the beginning of your troubles. To your dismay, you’re thrown even deeper into the glamorous but artificial world of celebrities. Oh, and the cherry on top? You’re forced to pretend to be in a long-term romantic relationship with none other than said ex-bully. All because of a careless misclick by his social media manager.

prev • masterlist • next

As you pack your scattered notes — messy scribbles and doodles on the margins of the torn notebook pages — there’s a light commotion at the entrance of the lecture hall. The heavy door opens, and Alhaitam’s presence fills the room. From the corner of your eye you notice one of your classmates blush. Your friend’s heterochromatic eyes lock into yours, his lips forming a thin line. He silently beckons you to join him, the gesture almost impossible to see.

“Goli,” you call out to the girl sitting beside you. "I'll send you the document link tonight, and maybe we can start working on the research question over the weekend.”

“Yeah, whatever,” she waves you off dismissively, brown hair cascading around her shoulders as she swiftly rises from her seat.

Biting your lip, you fight the urge to confront her — not in front of the professor and the rest of the class at least. The underlying tension surrounding the two of you and her cold demeanor is nothing new. You know it stems from your close relationship with Alhaitam and the bad blood between the two of them.

Navigating through the rows of the lecture hall, you make your way towards Alhaitam. He stands next to your professor, engaged in conversation, but as he notices your presence, he bids farewell to the elder with a curt nod.

“Kaveh is already at the garden,” he says, leading you across the crowded Akademiya hallway towards your lunch spot. From a distance, you catch Goli and her boyfriend, Siraj, glaring at the two of you. You curl your lips in distaste. But you know it’s best not to initiate any arguments in the middle of the packed hallway, and definitely not in front of Alhaitam, who will undoubtedly end up lecturing you on proper Akademiya etiquette throughout the day.

The scorching summer sun greets your face with its warm embrace as you exit the building. Numerous students linger around the courtyard of the main building, some weighed down by hefty tomes of books. Tighnari, followed by two younger looking students from his Darshan, waves at you and Alhaitam. Moments later, he disappears into the crowd of students hurrying to their next classes.

Arriving at Razan Garden, you’re greeted by Kaveh’s beaming face as he indulges in a pani puri piece. He sits on a small picnic blanket, surrounded by takeaway containers and soda bottles.

“Did you buy all of this?” you ask, turning towards Alhaitam with a quirked eyebrow.

“Hey!” Kaveh yelps from his spot, cheeks puffed out. “Do you think I’m incapable of buying food?”

“More like incapable of saving money,” the gray-haired male retorts.

“Alhaitam, you… you!,” Kaveh grumbles, crossing his arms.

A small laugh escapes your lips as you settle onto the blanket. Kaveh went all out with the food — the snacks range from sweet and sticky pieces of baklava and crunchy pani puri accompanied by a delightful blend of sweet, sour, and slightly spicy chutney, to his favorite fatteh, with the biscuit’s crust intricately arranged to resemble a palace. 

Grabbing a pani puri, you dip it into the sauce, ready to take a bite. Just as you're about to devour it, Kaveh interjects.

"So, um," he starts, a hint of awkwardness in his voice. "How are you feeling?"

"Good," you respond quickly, stuffing the crispy ball into your mouth. The flavors explode in your mouth, and you wait for the slight tingling sensation to subside so you can continue talking. “Could be better for sure. I really can’t put up with Goli, but it is what it is.”

Kaveh looks concerned for a brief moment. “No, I mean… with the whole 6reeze thing.”

"Breeze?" you question, your confusion evident. Alhaitam and Kaveh watch as you raise your arm and wave it around in the air. "It's almost forty degrees, Kaveh. There's no breeze."

“6reeze as in the Inazuman band!” Kaveh exclaims, growing increasingly exasperated.

You glare at him, now even more perplexed. He’s not making any sense, and in typical Kaveh fashion, he’s getting annoyed over nothing.

“Why would I care about some Inazuman band? Kaveh, are you sure you’re okay? Did you get a heat stroke or something?”

Kaveh lets out another frustrated noise, as Alhaitam interjects, handing you his phone. Curiously, you take the device and start scrolling through the Twitter page opened.

“Oh. Oh. Um… well, that’s interesting,” you manage out. Your attention is caught by another tag with your name attached to it, but before you can click on it, Alhaitam swiftly swipes his phone back from your grasp.

"I… uh… am not really feeling hungry anymore," you mumble, your voice barely audible as you push the barely-eaten takeaway containers away. The taste in your mouth has turned ashen, and swallowing feels like an impossible task, as if each gulp is met with resistance. Anxiety slithers around you, wrapping its tendrils around your heart and throat, choking, squeezing tight.

You feel vulnerable, exposed and raw.

"I'm gonna go home… and… um… chill a bit and think, yeah? Don't mind me," you manage to stumble out, mustering a forced smile that doesn't quite reach your eyes. As you begin to retreat, Kaveh sits up from his grassy spot, concern etched on his face. He’s about to follow you, but Alhaitam swiftly grabs his wrist, shaking his head.

He knows you better than anyone. And he realizes that in this moment you need to be alone to collect your thoughts.

Author's note: here's the first chapter with a long written part, sorry about that 😅 next chapter will be out on tuesday hopefully

40 degrees celsius is around 100 in fahrenheit. also goli and siraj are two npcs from alhaitam's story quest

Taglist — @scaramoo @bananasquash @yukiipc @theblueblub

[perhaps-in-anotherdream]

[CN] Victor x MC - S2 CH 44 - Part 2 (Eng Translation)

“This smile is not pretty, and I have a feeling that I’ve seen this man smile even more beautifully before.”

“The falling fireworks are as gorgeous as the reminiscence of tears cascading down from the galaxy.”

Do remember to read PART 1 first: Here!

⌚ This post contains detailed spoilers for a chapter that is yet to be released on the global server. ⌚  

•─────⋅◍♡◍⋅─────•

—

【CH 44-9】

The car comes to a slow halt, and the familiar décor of Souvenir comes into view.

After pushing the door open, we are greeted with an exquisite and meticulously organized hallway. Bright lights illuminate the pristine floor, and the tabletops are smooth. Additionally, there is also a pleasant fragrance in the air.

Souvenir likely wasn’t open for business during the time Victor was away, but Mr. Mills still took care of the place attentively.

Seated in the dining chair that exclusively belongs to me, I rest my face on my hands and suddenly sigh for no apparent reason.

Victor: What’s the matter?

MC: Nothing… It just occurred to me that we only have three days now, so shouldn’t we prioritize the investigation?

Victor: Haven’t we already started the investigation?

MC: But…

Victor: Although the other party seems to have gotten the head start, they have also divulged some information.

Victor: They are in a rush.

Victor: That’s why they hurried to take action when Meng Chang took office. 

Victor: The more critical the situation is, the more important it is to remain calm. If you allow yourself to be controlled by the other party, you will only end up in a disadvantageous position.

Victor: What we need to do now is to get the other party to follow our rhythm.

MC: I see…

As I listen to Victor calmly analyze the situation, my inner restlessness gradually subsides.

The current situation is impossible to unravel, and it’s difficult to discern the opponent’s true intentions. So, the best course of action at the moment is to wait patiently for opportunities to present themselves.

After completely abandoning my worries, I can’t help but gesture at the empty tableware on the empty dining table in front of me.

MC: So we didn’t come to Souvenir just to look around, did we?

Victor’s gaze carries a slight hint of helplessness within as he lifts the corner of his eyes.

Victor: I’ve already got the ingredients prepared, so it won’t take long to cook.

MC: So that means, I’ll be able to eat pudding soon?

I look up at Victor, my eyes brimming with expectation.

Victor: Unfortunately, the pudding couldn’t be prepared in advance.

Victor: However, I do know a way to get a certain someone to eat her pudding faster.

Victor walks a step closer to me and slowly takes my fingertips in his hand.

Victor: Let’s head to the kitchen and help me out.

—

Along with the familiar aromas wafting from the brightly-lit kitchen, I see that many dishes are already prepared on the spacious table.

Victor skillfully flips the steak in the pan, and the unique aroma of the seared meat continues to stimulate my sense of smell.

Although my stomach is rumbling with hunger, I’m still holding onto the mixer and diligently stirring the egg yolks I just added to the bowl.

I glance at the exquisite food on the table, emitting a tempting aroma, and quietly move closer.

The refreshing and sweet basil sauce paired with the perfectly crispy texture of the shrimp makes it hard to resist the urge to dig in.

Using my fingertips, I pick up a shrimp tail buried at the bottom of the dish, and while Victor isn’t paying attention, I pop it into my mouth.

Victor: Aren’t you supposed to be helping? How come you’re sneaking a bite?

MC: …!

Caught in the act, I guiltily wipe my hands in haste and frantically continue to stir the ingredients in my hand, pretending nothing has happened.

Victor: …if you continue beating it like that, the good pudding will be turned into the batter for a cream cake.

Victor helplessly takes the mixer from my hand.

With great effort, I swallow the food I have just eaten on the sly, then put on a dignified and righteous look.

MC: After all, you haven’t cooked in such a long time, so I was just checking if your craftsmanship had become rusty.

Victor: Even after all this time, the dummy’s excuses are still as peculiar as ever.

—

The lights on the windowsill shimmer brightly, and Souvenir finally welcomes its guest after a long absence.

The table is adorned with a variety of food items arranged with great care, and the exquisite color combinations are reminiscent of pieces of art. In the center of it all is the pudding I have just “made an effort to participate” in making.

We are the only two people in the spacious hall, locking eyes with each other. Even our breathing comes to a pause momentarily.

I blink my eyes slowly, and in this moment, it feels as if this image is being etched into my mind to remain there forever.

Victor: Why are you in a daze again?

The swaying lights softly trace Victor’s contours, haloing him in a blur of colors. I smile and squint my eyes.

MC: Souvenir without any customers… it feels like this dinner has been prepared just for me.

Victor’s brows arch slightly at my words, and he slowly walks up to me. He takes my hand, his warm fingertips caressing the back of my hand.

Victor: Has there ever been a lack of times when I prepared just for you?

The sentence falls heavily on my ears, stirring up ripples of the past. By the time I snap out of it, he has already led me to my seat.

Victor: The only thing you need to do right now is to enjoy everything.

–

The moon gradually conceals itself behind the clouds, and the night deepens.

I’m bored to death as I remain seated in my seat, waiting for Victor, who has gone to get something from the car.

The door of the restaurant suddenly opens. Thinking that it’s Victor who has come back, I lift my eyes to see but am met with the sight of a stranger standing at the doorway.

Customer: I apologize for bothering you, but is the restaurant officially open now?

The other party has a polite and inquisitive look and seems to be a diner who dropped in by chance.

Considering the challenges LFG has been facing recently, Victor will surely be particularly busy, and Souvenir probably won’t be open for business for the time being.

With this thought in mind, I apologize on my own initiative.

MC: I’m sorry, it will take some time before Souvenir can open for business.

Customer: Oh, I see. I was passing by just now and saw you having a meal, so I thought the restaurant was already open for business.

MC: Um, I… I’m the chef’s assistant. I just came over with him today to clean up a bit. That’s why we had a simple meal together.

Customer: You were just having a meal with the Souvenir’s chef?! What a shame that I didn’t get to see him! I’ve been here so many times and still haven’t met the legendary chef!

Customer: Since the restaurant isn’t open yet, I’ll ask again next time I visit. I’m sorry for bothering you guys.

The other person expresses their apology and leaves with a regretful look. After a while, the door is opened once again.

Just as I’m about to tell Victor about the arrival of a guest, my attention is diverted by the large and small bags he is holding in his hands.

MC: Why did you buy so many things?

Victor: As this business trip was relatively long, I brought along a few gifts for my family members.

The plain tone sounds as if he’s saying, “These are still not enough.”

Victor: So, one of the purposes of coming to Souvenir was to seek your help in distributing these gifts.

MC: You want me to distribute the gifts? What if the recipients don’t find the gifts to their liking?

Victor: It doesn’t matter.

Victor pauses for a moment, then adds with a smile.

Victor: If worse comes to worst, I won’t tell them who picked the gifts at first. So if they aren’t happy with their presents, I’ll be the one to blame.

I also giggle and curiously open Victor’s gifts, which unveil various objects of different sizes that we spread out on several tables.

The bags are adorned with exquisite decorations and have logos written in various languages from around the world. The gifts inside include intricate handmade knick-knacks as well as a diverse selection of luxury items that are not commonly found in the market.

While the gifts are very much in line with the “Victor-style,” the assortment of items demonstrates the level of care he has invested in them.

After careful deliberation, I help Victor choose a handmade teapot for his father and a necklace for Aunt Grace. I also advise on gift ideas for the other people on his list.

However, after tallying up everything, there are still a bunch of gifts that haven’t been assigned to an “owner.”

MC: What should we do with these extra gifts?

Victor: Has a certain someone forgotten something?

The warm-toned lights reflect in his eyes, setting off an endless series of ripples.

Victor: While making all these distributions, how come you didn’t count yourself in?

In the next second, the piles of gifts are naturally pushed in front of me. Amid the hazy lighting, there is an indescribable tenderness in Victor’s expression.

Dumbfounded, I sweep my gaze over the table. All kinds of intricate and bright colors are shining brightly on the tabletop.

Ultimately, my attention is drawn to a handkerchief that is not particularly noticeable.

The soft and delicate fabric flows through my palm, and the embroidered design at the edge creates a perfect curve as it moves through the air.

MC: I’ll choose this handkerchief then.

Victor: …just this one?

MC: Mm, just this one.

MC: Sometimes, the simplest option is the best choice~

Victor gazes at me as a mixture of helplessness and amusement surfaces on his face, and a small smile graces the corners of his lips.

Victor: …that’s indeed the dummy’s style.

MC: Since I’ve already chosen my gift, it’s your turn!

Victor: Have you ever seen someone buying a gift to give themselves?

MC: What’s wrong with that… I do it all the time.

Victor must have put a lot of thought into preparing so many things. But, the person who deserves to receive a gift the most is Victor himself.

My gaze sweeps over the assortment of gifts on the table, then I glance down at the handkerchief I have just chosen in my hand. Suddenly, an idea pops into my head.

I walk up to Victor and neatly fold the handkerchief in my hand, placing it in his breast pocket.

MC: If you don’t want to choose one for yourself, I will assign this gift to Vic (Xiao Li)!

Victor: …

Victor: This is what people call “presenting Buddha with borrowed flowers.”

Despite saying so, he doesn’t decline the gift. He runs his slender fingers over the handkerchief on his chest and lapses into silence for a moment.

For a while, neither of us speaks. I just gaze at him quietly, watching as the corners of his lips part slightly and the complicated, deep emotions in his eyes become evident.

Victor: You took all that trouble, but you’re not leaving anything for yourself in the end?

MC: Who says I haven’t left anything for myself?

I lift my head and, with an earnest expression written on my whole face, wrap my arm around his.

MC: I left Victor for myself. Doesn’t it mean that I already have everything?

Victor remains silent, his deep gaze fixed on me. The distant moonlight reflects the shimmering specks of starlight in his eyes, and it seems as if something is quietly surging within him.

Eventually, a smile still tugs at the corners of his lips.

Victor: Yes, it does.

—

•─────⋅◍♡◍⋅─────•

—

【CH 44-11】

To avoid Meng Chang’s surveillance, at Victor’s suggestion, I choose to stay at his place for a few days.

The following day, we get into the car ahead of time and prepare to head to our respective workplaces.

Since Victor’s reminder yesterday, I’ve begun gathering information on Meng Chang as soon as possible.

News: Mr. Meng Chang, who came to the city yesterday, conducted a visit and thorough investigation into the measures related to the redevelopment project of Loveland City.

News: The locations involved include not just landmark buildings within this city but also newly-built public welfare facilities such as nursing homes and kindergartens.

News: Mr. Meng Chang’s action aims to drive forward the long-stagnated redevelopment work in this city. Additionally, he also conducted a comprehensive investigation of the enterprises involved in the redevelopment. 

News: According to reports, several companies have already undergone investigation, among them being [MC’s Company Name], a participant in the redevelopment project, as well as the celebrated LFG.

News: Although the investigation findings have not been disclosed yet, it is reported that [MC’s Company Name] is involved in a major financial issue.

News: As an investor of [MC’s Company Name], LFG also seems to be heavily implicated.

In the video, the picture changes into the LFG building, while the projects in which LFG participated in Loveland City are also displayed on the side.

The Cliff Villa, nearing completion, is still decorated with celebratory balloons. But at this moment in the picture, it appears unusually chilly.

I tightly purse my lips, and my fingertips touching the screen feel slightly cold. Even though we took emergency measures yesterday, I didn’t expect the situation would ferment so rapidly. 

City Hall Bodyguard: Miss MC, we’ve arrived.

As the car comes to a slow stop, the company’s building appears in front of me. The spacious entrance, which is usually unobstructed, is now crowded by a swarm of visiting journalists, causing an impenetrable blockade.

The camera lens in the far-off distance is flickering, reminiscent of an innumerable number of eyes.

“The more chaotic the situation is, the more important it is to remain calm and not get caught up in the opponent’s rhythm.”

Victor’s words from last night replay in my mind, giving me an invisible confidence boost.

I take a few deep breaths before raising my hand and opening the door.

—

By the time I see Victor again, the night has already fallen.

Although there is no one at the company entrance, those cameras remain hidden in the shadows, reminiscent of vultures waiting for their prey.

I quickly get into Victor’s car, and upon seeing his familiar figure seated beside me, my anxiety alleviates to some extent.

MC: Victor, how was the situation at LFG today?

Victor: The same as usual.

The uncharacteristically cold and distant tone catches me off guard for a moment, and it looks like he doesn’t intend to continue the conversation.

MC: Victor…?

I turn my head to look at Victor. Without changing his expression, he gently holds onto my hand while keeping his gaze fixed straight ahead.

My mind stirs slightly, but I swallow back the question that’s about to escape my lips and imitate his posture instead as I lean back against the seat.

The urban scenery slowly recedes on the window glass in silence until a familiar building appears in my sight.

Victor: Park the car by the side of the road.

The bodyguard complies with the instructions, and Victor motions for me to get out of the car first. He then crouches down and fumbles around at the crack of the door a few times.

Shortly after, he lifts his hand, and between his fingers is a bugging device that had been planted there at an unknown time.

Victor: The glue is quite fresh. It seems to have been attached only recently.

He simply states it plainly, but it’s enough to make the faces of Meng Chang’s bodyguards turn deathly pale.

City Hall Bodyguard: Th-that…

The bodyguard in front of the car seems to want to say something in defense, only to be responded with the sound of Victor closing the door.

Victor: If something like this happens again, you guys must be aware of the appropriate course of action.

—

After returning home, I battle with all my willpower to keep myself seated on the sofa. The eavesdropping incident just now is merely a microcosm of what we’ve been experiencing lately.

If the root of the problem is not tackled, such situations will continue to emerge endlessly.

I lightly tap myself on the forehead, trying my regain my vigor as much as possible and focus on the investigation report sent back by Victor’s team on the table.

Almost all of the previous suspects are eliminated in the report, down to the extent that the entire focus now is drawn toward the missing accountant, Chen Hui.

However, among the information we’ve received, in addition to confirming that his previous work experience was completely fabricated before he arrived, another noteworthy point is that - he is an Evolver of the space department.

I carefully analyze the connection between the fragments of information before me, and gradually, a web that has been laid out for a long time appears before me.

The fact that Chen Hui is kept hidden in this way suggests that the mastermind behind it all must have a great deal of trust in him, and it’s likely that Chen Hui also knows the identity of the other party.

In other words, if we can find Chen Hui, not only can we clear the public’s opinion outside, it will increase our chances of uncovering the person behind him.

My mind is filled with chaos, as if slicing up every part of the past few days of my life into tiny fragments.

It’s not until the sound of a soft voice accompanied by the aroma of milk reaches my ears that I’m snapped out of my trance.

Victor: MC.

I lift my eyes to look at Victor, who’s already been sitting beside me without even me noticing when he came over. He leans in and calmly places a glass into the palm of my hand.

Victor: There’s no need to be so anxious.

He takes hold of my wrist and quietly leads me into his arms. His palm, warm against my back, gently pats me up and down.

Miraculously, my restless emotions slowly calm down. It feels like as long as he is by my side, all the anxiety and worries will become insignificant in his presence.

Victor: Loveland is not a big city. No matter how hard you try to hide left or right, there is always a limit.

Victor: I had already sent people to conduct a comprehensive investigation throughout the city from the moment I was being investigated. The purpose was to exert pressure on the other party.

Victor: As long as the opponent senses this, they will undoubtedly take the next step of action before we find this person.

Ding, ding – Victor’s phone suddenly rings. He answers the call, and as he listens to the voice on the other end, a stern expression appears on his face.  

Victor: Chen Hui has appeared.

Chen Hui: The Loveland City redevelopment project that everyone has been looking forward to is progressing so slowly, and the main culprit behind all of this is LFG! 

Chen Hui: Under their coercion, I had no choice but to comply with their demands to become a tool for transferring assets.

Chen Hui: I know that they have sent people to catch me, and I may be caught soon. But I believe that someone will eventually stand up for justice on my behalf!

In the video playing on the phone, Chen Hui, who has been missing for a long time, is actually sitting calmly in the hall of the villa.

The room is adorned with gorgeous vintage furniture, and even the walls are covered in exquisite patterns.

Although the scenery outside the window is somewhat blurred, a vague sense of familiarity emanates from it.

MC: Is this… the Cliff Villa that LFG was in charge of reconstructing before?

I stare at Chen Hui in the video, my brows involuntarily furrowed together into a frown.

He speaks with calmness and composure, as if he is not the slightest bit worried about his whereabouts being known by others, seemingly suggesting that he is not the culprit behind framing [MC’s Company Name], but rather an innocent victim.

MC: But why would Chen Hui suddenly appear out of nowhere? Could there be some conspiracy behind it?

Victor: Rather than a conspiracy, it’s a blatantly laid out trap.

Victor: Moreover, the other party is confident that we will walk right into their trap.

Victor’s tone is serene, his deep voice laced with a solemn undertone.

Although Chen Hui’s actions appear to expose himself, he has actually garnered significant social attention. If he is allowed to continue unchecked, it will likely trigger even greater waves in public opinion.

The other party has used retreat as a way to advance, putting us in a difficult situation where we are stuck between a rock and a hard place.

I flip through the investigation document on Chen Hui again, and an idea suddenly comes to mind.

MC: Before we set off, I’m gonna make a quick phone call.

—

•─────⋅◍♡◍⋅─────•

—

【CH 44-12】

By the time Victor and I arrive close to the villa where Chen Hui is located, bodyguards are already stationed around the vicinity as per Victor’s arrangements.

The curtains at Cliff Villa are swaying, indicating that someone might be trying to peek outside from within.

Victor: How is the situation now?

Bodyguard: We’ve confirmed that the person is currently inside the villa.

Bodyguard: We just attempted to break in, but the other party is an Evolver in the Space Department. He can directly teleport anyone in their line of sight, and he teleported many of our comrades out of the area.

Bodyguard: The last encounter with him was in the master bedroom on the west side of the second floor, and we didn’t take any further action after that.

After a brief moment of contemplation, Victor asks again.

Victor: What is the approximate range of his distance control?

Bodyguard: About four meters.

Victor: Got it. Ask the ones who are injured to step aside and rest for a while.

As I watch the injured bodyguards being assisted in departing, I wrinkle my brows into a frown.

It’s evident that Chen Hui has the ability to teleport a large number of people, so why is he insistent on staying here?

Moreover, despite knowing that there are people outside the door, he still seems unconcerned.

MC: Could it be that… Chen Hui never had the intention of escaping in the first place?

Victor: It’s highly likely.

Victor: Based on the current situation, it seems highly probable that the other party is stalling for time.

MC: Could he be waiting for backup to arrive?

Victor: It’s unclear, but…

Bodyguard: CEO Victor! Take a look at this!

Before he can finish his words, a bodyguard hurries over holding a phone that is playing a news broadcast.

News: “——Mr. Meng Chang is currently en route to the villa reconstruction area for an inspection, and the media is vying to cover the story.”

MC: Hold on…

I vaguely feel that a gear that is not quite wedged in the event flashes through my mind.

MC: That’s too much of a coincidence… did Meng Chang know that Chen Hui would be here beforehand?

I lift my gaze towards Victor, who calmly surveys the villa before us, while his facial expression betrays a touch of solemnity.

Victor: Regardless of Meng Chang’s purpose for coming here, we need to capture him first.

Victor: Otherwise, things will become more troublesome.

I clearly understand Victor’s point. Meng Chang’s coming here must be accompanied by a large amount of media coverage. Should he witness Chen Hui being captured,  the media will undoubtedly report it without restraint.

As I’m feeling extremely agitated, the phone in my hand suddenly rings.

Zehn (on the call): Haha, boss, I’m here!

Zehn (on the call): I was actually on vacation, but I rushed back as soon as you called. Aren’t I very loyal?

Zehn’s voice comes through the phone, causing my hanging heart just now to be lowered halfway.

As a Space Evolver, Zehn understands the weakness of this ability the most. As long as he strikes when Chen Hui is off-guard, we can capture him.

I briefly explain Chen Hui’s ability to Zehn, and he bursts into laughter.

Zehn (on the call): Only four meters? That's far less compared to my ability. However, I'm currently on a different slope, and it will take me around ten minutes to get there.

MC (on the call): There’s not enough time. Can you see the villa in front of me from where you are?

Zehn (on the call): Um, I can barely see half of the corridor.

Upon hearing Zehn’s words, I can’t help but furrow my eyebrows.

At this moment, Victor walks up to me.

Victor: Are you trying to make him leave the room and go out to the corridor?

MC: Hmm, but that seems difficult…

Victor: Give me three minutes, and I’ll help you with that.

Victor looks at me with certainty, as if this is merely a trivial task for him to accomplish.

Victor: I’ll leave the rest to you once he is out in the corridor. Alright?

I nod. Although it’s a somewhat audacious move, it’s worth a try at this point.

MC: Sure, absolutely.

After his words, Victor bends down slightly and helps me put on the earpiece. His fingertip lightly grazes my ear, leaving a slight warmth in its trail.

Victor: Go.

I take a few deep breaths and address Zehn.

MC (on the call): Send me to the corridor.

—

After a momentary distortion in my vision, I find myself in the corridor. I know that in just three minutes, Chen Hui will be leaving his room.

Although Victor didn’t explain his plan to me, I have faith in him.

Four meters. Only four meters.

I look calmly at the hallway ahead of me, while continuously envisioning what might happen later.

Not long after, I seem to hear intermittent sounds coming from my earpiece.

Exactly three minutes have passed.

Accompanied by the steady voice in my earpiece, Chen Hui, who is yelling furiously, bursts out of the door, stumbling and crashing.

Victor (through the earpiece): He is out.

Victor (through the earpiece): I’m leaving the rest in your hands.

I nod my head, then shout vigorously at the other person.

MC: Chen Hui! You must know who I am, correct?

The other party’s body visibly freezes for a moment before he turns around to face me.

MC: I know you’ve been monitoring me all along, and I’m also aware of your true conspiracy.

Immediately after I speak, a gradual sound of footsteps approaches from the end of the corridor.

One step, two steps, every time his feet land, it feels as if he is treading on my breath.

How far is he from me now? And how far is Zehn from him?

Chen Hui: You can’t possibly know…

MC: Is that so? Would you like me to tell you then?

MC: At first, you figured out a way to infiltrate the company, bided your time for an appropriate moment, and concurrently kept monitoring me.

MC: However, even after a long time, you did not receive any corresponding instructions until a particular event occurred.

MC: Meng Chang took office.

Chen Hui lapses into silence as the sound of footsteps echoes through the corridor once more, only this time, they are much faster.

MC: You guys knew Meng Chang’s style, so you deliberately provided him with leads.

MC: Your aim was to implicate LFG, wasn’t it?

I try my hardest to suppress the nervousness in my chest and sustain my confidence.

The shadow of the corridor streaks across his face, dividing his footsteps in two. Now all he needs to do is step across the boundary between light and dark on the ground to succeed.

But Chen Hui stops walking.

He holds his hand up and looks straight at me, and there seems to be some kind of subtle fluctuation in the air.

Chen Hui: Your life is now in my hands, and I can throw you off the cliff at any time.

My heart begins beating uncontrollably, but I try my best to remain calm so my voice won’t tremble when I speak. 

The victory or defeat will be decided in the next instant.

MC: Then why haven’t you taken any action yet?

Tightening my lips and suppressing my racing heartbeat, I take a step forward with determination. I want to force him into making a choice.

MC: Or is it that the person behind you won’t allow you to do this?

Chen Hui: …

Chen Hui’s eyebrows jump suddenly, and the calm composure he had on his face in the video disappears, replaced by a dark expression.

He steps half a pace forward and lifts his hand abruptly.

Chen Hui: Who said I’m unable to take action?

At this moment, as the distance lights illuminate his side profile, the balance of victory is slanted toward me.

MC: Zehn!

The intense wave of dizziness shatters the trailing sound of my call, and as my vision spins, Chen Hui’s figure suddenly vanishes from my line of sight.

Simultaneously, I’m also flung out of the corridor by strong inertia and abruptly fall into a brilliant light.

Splash––

Amidst the dizzying whirl, I stagger to my feet from the neither-too-deep-nor-too-shallow pool, and my blurry vision gradually regains its clarity.

The setting sun slowly sinks toward the horizon, painting the figure approaching at this moment with a red glow.

MC: Victor, look! I did it!

MC: I didn’t expect that I’d actually succeed!

Victor: [heavily doting sigh mixed with inexplicable relief]  Hmm, I heard everything.

Victor walks to the edge of the pool and bends down, reaching out his hand towards me naturally. But then, he pauses for a moment before discreetly lowering his arm.

He parts his lips, as if there is something very important on the tip of his tongue that needs to be released, yet he never speaks it out loud.

But I know it’s not a criticism, and perhaps it’s not even a compliment.

It’s simply a sentence he wants to say but is unable to find the words for.

I blink my eyes at him in perplexity. However, before I can say anything, he has already bent down and retrieved the handkerchief I’ve given him from his chest.

The soft fabric dabs away the droplets of water on my face, and I can still feel the warmth radiating from his chest.

The action of his wiping is slow, as he does it with great care and cherishment.

My heart suddenly feels an inexplicable pang of sourness, but I quickly lift my head and give him a big smile.

MC: See~ this gift is very handy, isn’t it?

The fingertips resting on my cheek pause briefly, and I seem to hear a soft, almost imperceptible sigh.

Victor: [istg that sigh shaved off a few years of my life]  Dummy.

–

───── [Narrator’s POV Begins] ─────

The sky darkens, and the moonlight caresses the contours of Victor’s sharply defined face, leaving behind the trails of an unfathomable emotion.

He gazes quietly in the girl’s direction, while the “dummy” he couldn’t hold back just now echoes in his mind.

Obviously, he doesn’t have the count of how many times he has called her “dummy.”

However, this time, he feels an indescribable sentiment lingering in his chest.

In fact, she has always been capable of exceeding her own expectations, and he has long known this fact better than anyone else.

She always says that he is her confidence. But the truth is that she may have already found it within herself to walk forward without even realizing it.

When that clear line stood between them, he had witnessed her proudly proving herself to him.

He just didn’t know which expression to put on, so he chose to adopt his usual demeanor.

It turns out that she had already achieved it long ago, and it was just that he couldn’t bear to let go.

It turns out that he himself had acted like a dummy without even realizing it.

───── [Narrator’s POV Ends] ─────

—

─────

【CH 44-13】

Reporter: CEO Victor? Why is he also here?

Reporter: CEO Victor, would you mind answering a few questions if you have time?

Wearing Victor’s coat, I sit on the steps next to the villa, watching Victor standing in the distance before the media who came after hearing the news.

He adeptly responds to all the tricky and blunt questions raised by the journalists, just as he has always done in the past.

Meng Chang: What a coincidence! Is CEO Victor also here for the inspection of the project?

The crowd parts ways on their own, and Meng Chang walks out from the center. He speaks in an amiable tone and doesn’t seem to think that the group of journalists he’s brought has caused any inconvenience for Victor.

Victor: I’m simply here to attend to some personal matters.

Hearing Victor’s words, Meng Chang nods in understanding.

Meng Chang: I apologize for the delay caused by my untimely arrival, CEO Victor.

Meng Chang: However, judging from CEO Victor’s appearance, the matter should have already been resolved, right?

Victor: I believe Mr. Meng will soon find out.

Victor turns his head, and his gaze drifts casually toward Chen Hui, who is sitting in the car and is unable to use his power due to restrictions.

Meng Chang nods with a smile, and Victor turns around to leave. However, just then, another reporter steps forward.

Reporter: I’m from the City Hall’s Publicity Department. Would you two please take a photo together?

Meng Chang: I don’t mind. I’m simply curious about what CEO Victor thinks…

Victor: As an ordinary citizen, it’s my duty to comply.

Victor: I also hope that Mr. Meng remembers the obligations of the City Hall.

After Victor finishes speaking, he takes half a step to the side and makes a gesture of invitation.

Meng Chang: …of course, I remember.

Meng Chang turns around with a smile across his whole face, and for the first time, takes off his leather gloves.

And as soon as their hands meet, a slight crease forms on Victor’s otherwise composed brow.

However, his expression reverts to its normal state in the next second. The flash of the cameras lights up in due course, bearing witness to this scene of “friendly exchange.”

—

After changing out of the soaking wet clothes, Victor and I proceed to drive home.

MC: It’s a pity that Chen Hui was taken away by City hall, but we had no reason to keep him back in their presence either…

MC: Thankfully, once the accounts are disclosed to the public, the previous climate of opinion should be resolved quickly.

MC: Although I’m not afraid that Meng Chang will play tricks after having Chen Hui in his grasp… after all, we still have the archives. But I still feel a little anxious for some reason…

MC: Say, will Meng Chang really solve the subsequent problems? And about the mastermind behind Chen Hui… [realizes she’s been chattering all alone so far]  Victor?

After muttering to myself for a long time with no reply, I turn to look at Victor, who is driving beside me, only to find that he too has turned his head at this moment.

Victor: What were you just saying?

This guy was actually absent-minded! I can’t help but pull the corner of Victor’s clothes and reply to him in a tone of dissatisfaction.

MC: I was talking about that Meng Chang….!

Victor remains silent for a while, fixating his gaze on the road ahead.

Victor: Meng Chang appears to be amiable on the surface but is actually very shrewd.

Victor: There will likely be further troubles down the road when dealing with him in the future.

Victor furrows his brows, and his words reveal an imperceptible anger.

Victor: Moreover, there is a certain uneasiness that comes with him.

MC: What kind of uneasiness?

Victor: It’s hard to say. Anyway, you should be more careful around him from now on.

MC: In fact, you are the one who needs to be more careful around him! Although he appeared to be targeting my company, he was actually aiming at LFG.

Victor: Mm. Moving forward, I…

Midway through his sentence, Victor suddenly swallows back his words and lapses into a certain silence.

The streetlights on either side of the road shine down, casting a faint glow of quietude. I move closer to him and adopt a half-joking tone.

MC: By the way, you haven’t told me how you got Chen Hui to come out!

MC: I just know that it had to be done within those three minutes.

Victor: Is the answer really important?

MC: I’m simply curious…

Victor’s gaze falls on the road ahead, and he says in a deep voice:

Victor: I did the math that if everyone present at the time went to capture Chen Hui, the maximum limit would be three minutes.

Victor: After three minutes, either my people would rush in and succeed, or it might result in failure.

MC: So, you were taking a gamble?

Victor: Yes.

Victor: But I don’t seem to be the only one who took a gamble.

He arches his eyebrows slightly. It appears he had already seen through my audacious plan at that time. And even though he knew this, he still chose to trust without a second thought.

MC: So what was going through your mind when you saw me falling into the pool? After all, a certain someone seemed to be hemming and hawing when he came running…

MC: Victor, do you have something you want to say to me but feel a little embarrassed to say out loud?

Upon hearing me say this, Victor freezes momentarily.

MC: Rest assured. Even if CEO Victor praises me above the moon, I can take it~

Victor’s gaze drifts slightly toward me, and a barely perceptible smile appears at the corner of his lips.

Victor: [heavenly laughter but somehow pricks you in the heart]  I do have something to say to you.

Victor: But for something so important, does a certain someone really want to hear it in the car?

MC: Since when did CEO Victor become so adept at “diverting the conversation”?

Victor: Being with you all day long… this is called seeping in through osmosis.

Victor: Also, have you forgotten something?

MC: Hm?

Victor: The two lantern festival tickets that were placed inside the proposal, were they simply for me to take a look at?

—

[Tidbits]: It’s a subtle nod to their “Night Cherry Date” (on EN), and how MC placed the play tickets inside the proposal, but he missed them cause Goldman thought those were for him since MC didn’t leave a note lmao~ T_T

—

Upon hearing him say this, I immediately open the proposal and, sure enough, find the tickets inside.

Victor: I even thought that perhaps it was a special surprise you prepared.

Victor: But now it appears that a certain dummy herself has forgotten about it.

Feeling embarrassed, I glance down at the tickets and notice that the designated time for the festival is 6:00 pm to 8:30 pm.

MC: It’s almost 8 o’clock now. I don’t know if we can make it in time if we go now…

Victor looks at his wristwatch and steps on the accelerator.

Victor: At my side, you will always have enough time.

—

•─────⋅◍♡◍⋅─────•

—

【CH 44-15】

[Tidbits]: It’s wholly unnecessary to mention, really, but yeah, we will see the “travel back” back to their “Lantern Date” here~ Should also mention his chapter tagline at this point because— ༼⁠;⁠´⁠༎ຶ⁠ ⁠۝ ⁠༎ຶ⁠༽

“And like that, he walks through the cracks of time, illuminated by his own wounds.”

───

The streets are adorned with colorful lights, zigzagging ahead reminiscent of a galaxy on the ground.

Victor and I stroll along the path decorated with colorful lanterns, surrounded by a bustling crowd.

As if to completely forget the worries that have risen over the past few days, we both slow our pace down in tacit agreement.

Holding his hand in mine, we walk through the streets and alleys, as if we are stepping across the waning light of time.

Looking at the multitude of lanterns lining the street, I can’t help but stop in my stride. For some reason, memories from the distant past come flooding back to me like an overwhelming tide.

Memories of that dazzling starry night surge back, along with the wish he and I had written together for all wishes to come true.

Back then, I thought wishing for “may all wishes come true” was too greedy. But now I know as long as I’m able to be with him – this alone is my wish come true.

Victor: Are you planning to write “may all wishes come true” again?

MC: How did you know!

Victor points at my face, his expression brimming with a smile as if saying, “All your thoughts are written on your face.”

MC: Humph, this time, I’ll definitely make a wish that you won’t be able to guess!

Victor: Let’s hear it then.

MC: For instance… my wish is to have ice cream now?

I stick my tongue out and deliberately make a tangential wish.

Victor looks at me with an imperceptible smile, giving my finger he is holding a gentle pinch.

Victor: Sure, what flavor do you want?

MC: You’re actually saying yes? I was just joking around. I don’t think they sell ice cream here...

Victor: There isn’t any here, but let’s go and check out the place up ahead.

Victor: The path ahead of us is still very long.

We walk leisurely onto the lantern-lit bridge adorned for the festival, and the crowds grow increasingly dense. The lights soften Victor’s features, and the flickering candle-lights embellish the entire long dark night.

Today, he seems to be more silent than usual, but the smile on his face is also a little wider than usual.

I remember the words he didn’t say in the car earlier, and I sway the hand I am holding with him.

MC: Mr. deliberately being mysterious CEO Victor, can you tell me now? 

MC: What was it that you wanted to tell me earlier?

Victor: I don’t need to think about what I want to say for so long.

As we talk, our pace slows down, and we stop in the middle of the small bridge.

Victor’s gaze firmly locks onto mine, as if his eyes have been on me from beginning to end and have never strayed away.

—

[Anika’s Tidbits]: I do want to talk about the grammar of this sentence here since it’s a very important detail. The 2nd half of the sentence is “仿佛从始至终就在那里, 不曾离开,” the writers could have added a pronoun (他), or a subject (他的目光) to make it more definite, but I can see why they didn’t. The sentence is structured in a way that you could interpret it as either the one I translated or “he has been there from beginning to end and has never left.” I chose the former because it keeps in pace and conveys the intensity of emotions more heavily– « that this person’s eyes have always been on you, which means, they may have a thousand things going on in their life to distract them, but you’re still the center of their world, and they will always return home to you », which again, is a recurring theme for Victor x MC, and crucial for the upcoming part~ ༎ຶ⁠‿⁠༎ຶ

—

But he still doesn’t tell me what he wants to say. Instead, he raises his hand and points his fingertips toward under the bridge.

Victor: It seems that a certain someone’s wish is about to come true immediately.

I glance in the direction his finger is pointing and vaguely see an ice cream sign at the distant end of the bridge.

MC: There really is…!

Although I intended to deliberately make things difficult for him, it ended up being more like a trap that I’ve thrown myself into unwittingly. This causes me to foam at the mouth and clench my fists.

Victor: I’ll never break the promises I’ve made to you.

Victor: So, before that, let’s satisfy the wish of a certain dummy first.

His voice becomes a little more serious, causing my heart to soften.

MC: Then you wait for me here~

Victor: Do you really need a sense of mystery to buy ice cream?

MC: Hmm! If you can correctly guess the two flavors I bought, I’ll share one with you. After all, this is my wish.

Victor: [i can’t with his voice anymore––]  Childish.

Victor can’t contain his laughter, and the corners of his eyebrows curve into a beautiful arc.

Victor: Then remember to walk a little faster. The lantern show is about to start.

MC: I’ll be back very soon! You wait for me here, and don’t wander off too far!

Weaving through the crowd, I turn my head several times to confirm Victor is still obediently standing in place, then hurriedly run towards the small shop by the bridge.

MC: Boss, give me one strawberry-flavored and one milk-flavored. And please make it quick~

Milk and strawberry – he will surely be able to guess that I got these two.

Carrying the prepared ice cream, I walk towards the bridge, and from afar, I can see that familiar figure.

He stands quietly in place, his silhouette hazed by the lantern lights. Even though the distance makes it hard for me to see him clearly, I have a wonderful intuition that he is gazing at me.

I subconsciously quicken my pace and walk up to the bridge. Perhaps because the lantern festival is about to start, the crowd around me is so tightly packed that it seems like a barrier.

The lanterns on the bridge ascend gradually, reminiscent of a resplendent galaxy on the earth.

I try hard to find Victor’s figure, only to realize that his face is obscured in the dimming lights of the lanterns.

MC: Victor!

I shout loudly across the sea of people, as if trying to grab his attention. He turns his head slowly, but then a lantern happens to block his face.

The candlelight traces the lines of his contours on the fine material to create a shadow, gradually flying upwards.

At this moment, that face I couldn’t be more familiar with slowly becomes hazy in my eyes.

The strawberry ice cream, which has begun to melt, drips into my palm, feeling slightly sticky. I glance down and can’t help but frown.

The overwhelming joy in my heart instantly dissipates into a boundless sense of stillness.

Endless cheers and shouts are jumping around in my ears, but they seem to have nothing to do with me.

Why am I here? Am I here to see the lantern festival?

Feeling lost and confused, I blink my eyes in a daze.

It seems like something is disappearing little by little.

MC: …who is Victor?

The moonlight is misty, coating the lake’s surface with a cool temperature.

The joyous laughter creates ripples in the moonlight, while the lake quietly observes the hustle and bustle of the world.

The bridge is still bustling with crowds, packed and congested.

But amid the crowd, a person stands exceptionally tall and straight, and my gaze can’t help but be drawn to him.

The surrounding clusters of flames emit a bright glow, and the slowly rising lanterns encircle the man. It seems as if he is a god descending from the heavens.

He gazes at me quietly, his eyes churning with turbulent emotions that I’m unable to comprehend.

I seem to hear the frequency of his breathing and see the slightest movement of his Adam’s apple.

Victor: MC, remember to continue doing what you have to do.

MC: …do you know me?

MC: Who are you?

I feel that I should know him, yet for some reason, his name eludes me.

The call of his name is like a lump in my throat. No matter how hard I strain to pronounce it, I remain unable to do so.

I find myself instinctively moving forward. I don’t know why I’m insisting on moving forward, but every step I’m taking leads me closer to that person.

I feel as if something has been ruthlessly gouged out of my heart, violently tearing my soul apart. And then it has been scattered in pieces and concealed in the hubbub of time.

My breathing inexplicably becomes urgent, and I grasp at my chest, as if stopping my heartbeat at this moment could prevent everything from slipping away.

MC: Vi…ctor.

I don’t understand the meaning of these six letters, but I find myself simply murmuring them over and over again.

Seemingly hearing my voice, his lips twitch slightly, and he slowly pulls out a smile.

This smile is not pretty, and I have a feeling that I’ve seen this man smile even more beautifully before.

Victor: That’s fine.

Victor: I’ll leave now.

I don’t know why this man is saying this to me, but he shouldn’t leave first.

Because he has never left first before.

Dazedness and sourness flood my chest, yet I can only feel an inexplicable sense of bewilderment.

Bewildered because I clearly shouldn’t have any memory of this person.

MC: Wait… you––

The next second, the lanterns soar to their highest point, and the surging crowd completely submerges the person.

Dappled light and shadow fall into my eyes, and I stand rooted in place, staring blankly at the two ice creams in my hands.

The strawberry jam slowly trickles down the ice cream cone and drips into my hand as I tightly grasp the crispy outer shell.

I look at the lively atmosphere in front of me, where everyone has a smile on their face except for me. I feel at a loss and bewildered, like a child who has lost sight of their parents.

MC: I… why…

Why am I feeling anguish?

Isn’t today supposed to be the lantern festival? I even bought some ice cream there that was very hard to find.

But why did I buy two ice creams?

“If you can correctly guess the flavor of the ice creams I bought, I’ll share one with you.”

Out of nowhere, a sentence echoes in my mind. I instinctively try to listen carefully, hoping to discern the person I’m speaking to.

However, even after exerting some mental effort to remember, I can not conjure up any memory of the person’s appearance or voice.

I gaze blankly at the end of the bridge, finding myself incapable of moving forward.

I should continue to move forward. I should start walking.

But… someone was supposed to accompany me on this journey.

The noise around me continuously rises and falls, until there’s suddenly a loud noise––

The lanterns are scattered in all directions, while the fireworks ascend into the sky.

The dazzling fireworks illuminate the joyous faces of everyone.

Tears inexplicably keep streaming down my face in big drops, and I can’t help but lift my head and look around.

The falling fireworks are as gorgeous as the reminiscence of tears cascading down from the galaxy.

—

The moonlight shines on the messy straw hat, casting dappled shadows on the young and tender face peeking through the crack.

The young boy is wearing a brightly reflective sweatshirt that shimmers with white light, and he is holding a stream of sand in his hand. The fine sand gradually trickles through his palm, forming a tiny heap on the ground.

A broken hourglass lay among the heap of sand, with its sharp glass edges reflecting a cold and white glow.

Little Boy: Are you ready to bear the price?

─────

────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────

✧ [Conclusions] ✧

—

[maysoulrose]

The Thief and The Moon chpt 1

You guys i’m doing it. I’ve been writing a fanfic about one of my skyrim oc’s and her relationship with Brynjolf because i’m a sucker for the man. I posted the first chapter on Fanfic . net if you’d rather read it there, but I’mma try and post here too!!!!!!!!!!! I finally finished enough chapters to where I feel like it could be at a stopping point, in case I take a long break or something, so here they come! I’ll try to link each chapter on every post for convenience sake!

here’s my story on the website of the fiction : @ maysoulrose

ALSO this whole thing started because I stumbled upon THIS STORY ABOUT FARKAS AND I’M DYING. it really inspired me to write my own.

it’s freaking steamy as HECK so get your eyeballs READY.

Chapter 1

“Pay up.” Brynjolf held out his hand in anticipation. The two guards at the front gate of Riften eyed each other. Bashfully, the one on the left scratched the back of his head before confessing.

“Sorry Brynjolf, the only person who came through today saw right past our scheme… and…”

“She scared the pants off of us!!!” the other guard burst out. Brynjolf gave his eyebrow a good raise.

“Really?” He folded his arms in thought.  “What did this person look like?” 

“Terrifying” The guard on the right said, followed by a smack on the back of the head by the other.

“He wants physical features, dimwit.”

“Oh. uh…” He collected his thoughts for a moment. “Tall, really long hair, like, super long. Dark elf… I… I think.” 

“... Fine.  But I expect payment later. Don’t mess the next one up.” Brynjolf jabbed the closest guard in the shoulder.

“Yessir” the two say in unison. Brynjolf swings open the giant gate and enters the city. 

It was just past midday. The market was gathering the usual attendees. Brynjolf scoured the crowd. No sign of this mysterious Dark elf. He had been meaning to find a new recruit or two for the guild and since she caught his little shake down, maybe this elf would be a good fit. She’s probably still here in the city since the guards hadn’t seen her leave. 

“Better take my usual spot at the snake oil counter and see if she shows.” He muttered to himself. He adjusted the quilted fine hat that sat atop his head and straightened out the matching tunic.  He felt a little uncomfortable in the getup he wore, for his merchant ploy to lure In a possible victim- I mean… Customer.. But it helped with the whole … ‘outfit.’

He leaned his hips against his booth and took in the crowd. Grelka was her usual angry self. Marise was over there, chiming about her crispy carrots.  Brand-Shei…  just waiting to be framed. 

“Where’s my little guinea pig…” he whispered. Balimund was working away at the forge. That one fisherman walked by, who definitely was having secret love affairs. He scoffed at the thought, then glanced back over toward the front gate.

An unfamiliar figure was making their way across the bridge and over the canal. That had to be her. Probably just coming from a visit to the town alchemist. 

Brynjolf ran through his mental list of introductions and tried to pick the best one for her as she approached the market. 

"Here we go."

His eyes traced her form from head to toe. She had a fur hood and covered most of her face with a scarf. A pouch of coin strapped around her waist. She definitely wasn’t afraid of showing a little skin. She wore a set of fur armor. Bare shoulders and arms with a thin strip of fur across her chest. Her hips draped with assorted pelts and skins. 

He continued his gaze downward… Through the fabric shifting as she walked,  Brynjolf got a glimpse of a dagger strapped to the inside of her thigh. Already promising to fit in with his crowd. 

The woman pulled back her hood, revealing a fountain of white hair, cascading down her chest and past her hips. A very small hint of purple shimmered off the waves when the sun hit it just right. 

“Wow. They weren’t kidding.” Brynjolf recalled the guard’s description of her. She then tugs on her scarf and tucks it under her chin. Brynjolf felt his heart twinge with excitement. 

She was beautiful. The closer she got, the more he felt himself entranced by her. She was elegant in the way she held herself. She was tall, and all of her features seemed to be just a bit longer than your average passer by.  Her skin is on the lighter side, for a dark elf, and a bit warm in tone. Almost purple, rather than gray.   A hint of pink revealed itself on her cheeks and the tip of her nose. Her skin seemed to have a velvet texture that shimmered like glitter. As if a diamond was crushed into pure dust and was sprinkled all across it.

By the time he realized he was gawking at her, she had caught his eyes. Hers were white, with only a hint of a pupil if you looked closely. Brynjolf snapped his jaw shut and approached her. 

"So… you're the little lady that sniffed out my scheme at the front gate."

The elf stopped in front of him; he had her full attention. 

It's a good thing he was skilled in the art of speech otherwise her otherworldly eyes might've made him stutter. 

"I admire how you were able to catch that shakedown, and even more with how you handled the situation."  He continued. "How about doing a little job for me, eh? Should be easy for a Lass like you." He paused for a moment, but she just kept her eyes on him. White lashes lining her lids. 

"... not much of a talker, I see." He clears his throat. "I have a bit of an errand to run, But need an extra pair of hands. And in my line of work, that extra pair of hands always gets paid. Handsomely." He waited for a response. 

She shifted her weight to the other side, extending out her leg slightly, and folding her arms. 

"I'm listening." Her voice was smooth and low, almost a whisper.  Brynjolf grinned at her response. 

"See that argonian over there?"

————————————————

"EVERYONE, EVERYONE!" Brynjolf stood at his makeshift booth, waving his arms. "Please! Gather 'round. I have an AMAZING new product." 

Everyone in the market groaned and shuffled over to him.

"What is it this time?" Brand Shei huffed.  Murmurs and eye rolls were plentiful among the onlookers. 

The mysterious elf watched the crowd and disappeared into it the moment everyone had their attention on the presentation. Quite literally it seemed. One moment Brynjolf was giving her the nod of approval, the next it was as If she never existed.

She slipped away, disappearing into wisps of shadowy smoke. The Argonian had left his booth, just as Brynjolf had planned. She tackled the lock of his cabinet and the Strongbox within. As expected, there lies a silver ring. Swiping the piece of fine jewelry, and softly closing the cabinet behind her, She made her way to Brand-Shei. 

The dunmer had sat his rump on a pile of crates next to a couple of barrels.  She reached an arm between two of them, just behind his back, and slipped the ring into one of his pouches.

Brynjolf continued on about his new "limb growing serum". He scanned the crowd, and almost jumped when he saw those moonlit eyes staring right at him, as if she had never left.

"Uh, that's all from me for today! Please! 20 gold per bottle. It'll change your life!" He shook around the tall potion container, appealingly. 

Once the crowd dispersed, he jumped down from his platform and approached the mystery woman. 

"Done without a hitch! You continue to impress.. Here's your share." He handed her a small pouch of gold, holding about 200 septims. She took the bag and dumped the contents into the satchel already on her hip.           

Just a few paces behind them, sounds of a guard promptly arresting Brand-Shei for the planted ring filled the air. Brynjolf took a step closer to the lady elf and lowered his voice. 

"Listen, if you're interested in doing more jobs like this, come meet me in the ratway. Just a test to see if you really have what it takes. We could use somebody with your skills." He smirks at her. 

She ponders the invitation for a moment and shuffles around her freshly filled coin purse. 

"Sounds like a deal~" flashing him a smile. 

Brynjolf exhaled a breath of relief. He was really hoping she'd say yes.

"Good on ya. Do you have a name?" He asks. It takes her a moment to respond, like she's considering if she should trust him with it.

"... Allustria." She whispers with her alluring voice. Brynjolf smiles.

"Fitting"

chapter 1 | chapter 2 | chapter 3 | chapter 4 | chapter 5 | chapter 6 | chapter 7

read it on the fanfiction site

[doorrobloxstuff]

Seekgure fanfic prompt:

Figure gets crucified for the first time and manages to escape, but is hurt and seek needs to take care of it

Fun fact! I like to imagine that Seek was the one who taught Figure how to break/corrupt the chains. To keep this fic from being too similar to the Rush helps A-60 one though it’ll be about that.

“Just relax.. Just RELAX- my sweetness-“ CRASH! “A- o-oh dear- that’s not- that’s definitely…- struggling is going to make it worse. Come here please. Come here- PLEASE-“

The cascading and plead-filled whispering did nothing to sooth a wailing and thrashing figure. Dark hands darted outwards from the hotel walls in a fruitless effort outwards to grab a panicking entity.

“IT BURNS! IT BURNS! GET IT OFF! GET IT OFF! PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE!”

Figure slammed it’s body into a nearby wall, its bleeding teeth dug into searing chains. It felt the flesh on its tongue melt away and rearing back it’s head back it released a bloodcurdling scream that made Seek’s stomach clench.

But thankfully, the pressure from its teeth being just enough to shatter the already eroded chains.

With a cry of relief, Figure collapsed into a pre-prepared soft lump of darkness. A thousand hands reaching outward to tend to the now weeping entity laying within its shifting body.

Seek didn’t say a word as it carefully examined Figure’s lanky form. It gently lifted one of Figure’s gargantuan arms whilst moving some of its arms to survey what damage could’ve been caused its back. Its eyes widened briefly in surprise.

Despite smelling like burning flesh, Figure’s body remained relatively undamaged. It didn’t even have trademark burn scars. Just raw, crispy burns with hideously charred edges that reminded Seek of the time it cooked a human corpse.

Seek put its head in its hand. It couldn’t help but feel a sense of morbid curiosity. How resilient WAS Figure?

Most entities have been disfigured in one manner or another and some have even dropped dead from being exorcised due to its strength or from the sheer agony. Yet Figure seemed to come out relatively unscathed.

Not to mention all the times it’s been burned, shot, stabbed and slashed with all manner of intruder weaponry and still have managed to recover in a timely manner. Not to say that Seek particularly enjoyed seeing its partner in any manner of duress but-

Soft whimpering interrupted Seek’s thoughts. Instinctively it placed a hand on Figure’s cheek and stroked its face before pressing its own in a “kiss” of sorts that illicit a distorted purr out of figure.

- It admired its strength.

Seek carefully set the entity on its stomach. “Can I have a peek inside your mouth dearest? I saw it get quite burnt there..”

Figure stuck a finger inside its mouth, released a sharp trill of pain and then profusely shook its head.

“Tho... Ith thurts.”

Seek nodded and dissipated its body into the ground to join the lump of darkness that Figure had nestled itself into. A small glob of pure darkness blinked open on Figure’s shoulder. The eye darted around for a few seconds before an interesting thought bubbled to the surface.

“You know-…I could teach you how to get free easier..?”

“Huh? How?”

“Well, that’s the thing. I don’t really..know.” Seek confessed. “At least I don’t know how you’d be able to do what I do.” "Thwell, twhat thoo you thoo?"

Seek stayed silent for a moment, trying to string together words that would be comprehendible to figure.

"..Do you hear..me? Perhaps it’s not me but..That Buzzing..tingling feeling that surrounds me? It's like liquid almost but not. It’s like this strange red tinted glow that is apart of my being..for a lack of a better word.”

Figure's head snapped up in recognition.

"Thike..thenrgy?"

"Yes." "I think i thave that. It's juthst inth my mouth."

“Well..I move mine down to my hands and into the chains. I make it..burn itself instead of me.”

“Canth..yoth showth me?” Seek produced a hand from its mass and gently set a hand on Figure's shoulder. Figure trilled a little bit in surprise and Seek pulled its hand away. "Ah- Sorry, May I-?"

Figure slowly nodded and jutted its shoulder out to meet Seek's hand. There, it felt something move next to its shoulder. Not the hand itself but something else entirely. A strange, buzzing feeling came over it's being. Familiar yet equally as foreign and strange to it all the same. It cascaded like waves and felt cold, hot and all in between.

Figure trilled curiously and tilted its head from one side to another.

"Ith think.. Ith couldth do thath..can I thry..?"

"Of course."

Seek adjusted itself and allowed Figure to sink it's teeth into its shoulder. Seek winced a bit which Figure felt and made an apologetic trill before going completely silent.

Seek felt a knawing feeling burn into its mass. Like hundreds of wriggling, searing maggots boring their way into its mass ripping and tearing into its very being. It saw an orangey sheen slowly creep in and overtake its red one.

Seek’s eyes dilated.

That’s when Figure heard a ‘Splat!’ and then felt its sticky cushion deflate into the floor. It withdrew its teeth from the now sticky mess.

“Seeth?! Arth you othay?!” It trilled with a hint of distress.

Seek took a moment to respond, as it was busy scraping itself off a wall nearby with a hand.

“..A t-tad melted, but I’m fine dear.” Seek looked back at its partner with equal part curiosity and fear perhaps..just a hint of excitement.

“Imth sotthy, I’llth..”

“Hush. It’s simple trial and error.”

Seek reassembled itself and nestled back on Figure’s shoulder.

“Besides, this establishes you CAN send..this ‘energy’ as you call it into a target. So, I consider this a win in my book. Perhaps we can practice later…? I happen to know the locations of quite a few crucifixes around the hotel and I’LL demonstrate myself!”

“Seeth thath ith a territhle idthea. You’ll burnth..”

“Nonsense! My form is practically fireproof so it rarely even gets to SINGE me! Besides, it gives us something actually important to do around here for once!”

“I doth imporanth thinths..I sorth my booths. I protecth themth..” Figure trilled with a hint of sadness.

Seek shrank a little into Figure’s shoulder.

“Ah- p-point taken! Your job is very important!”

“I wouldth..mind thoughth..justh..doneth hurhf yourseth pweath.”

Seek nervously chuckled.

“Alright alright dearest i won’t. Maybe we’ll try after you’ve rested a little. After all, my name isn’t usually pronounced as “Seeth.”

“SEE..K!”

“See! Your getting better already!”

—-

IM ALIVE

Also the weird red-tinted light that surrounds Seek and the orangey one in Figure’s mouth are the reasons they can escape/corrupt crucifixes.

I headcanon it as pure energy??? Also this is more of a dating Seekgure. Not a married Seekgure so hence the awkward apologies galore.

Also rare Figure being the voice of reason w. I absolutely agree with the headcanon that figure is the sweetest thing to non-tresspassers.

[anosci]

selected albums ive listened to in 2024

this year I'm just posting the highlights so itll be shorter

[1] [2]

January

1/ VHS Head - Phasia (2023) first new album of '24 for me! "Strange Food" that zap pew beat is a delight! title track is p good, floaty. "Phocus" this is very vaguely leaning into…funk? i really like it. possible highlight? wondering why it shares the title of a different album.

---

4/ VA - FM Synth 2 (2017) yeah i love fm "Mach 5 Fusion Force X" is a god damn tour de force. insane! "Work Without Rules" second fav of mine for its smoov smoov swingy wobs

---

7/ Skee Mask - C (2024) first 2024 album in the list! dusty, crispy, chillout. analogue. deep bass when needed, never too thick of a presence. delightful chillout music. at worst, its a bit varied, as if it were an anthology. probably because it is. highlight: "Bassline Dub"

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12/ (all OCRemix posts from 2017) all over the place ofc some insano selections: "Multi-track Drifting" N R G!!! "Big Room Gobi" funny but in a goes hard way also: Star Salzman's Katamari mix!!! i keep coming back to that in particular

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15/ VA - Adventure Time, Vol. 1-5 (2019) they have extended versions of some sc cuts!! "Party With the Chief" esp(!) the biggest thing I noticed overall: this soundtrack is so…wack. meandering. ADHD in control of a quirky ensemble. continually amazed that this's from a hit show

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16/ Diverse System - JAPAN 2 (2023) a mostly rly good grab bag of bangers with a japan flavor! i adore the koto mixed in with tight electric beats. big big standouts with "灯火" !!! and the much more electric "Amatsu"

---

17/ Patricia Taxxon - Bicycle (2024) laid back (mostly) textures n vibes. instant fav in "Frat Claws" and "I Do" specifically! i really like the FEEL within the sounds. i keep coming back to "Chipshop" and "Boys". visceral.

---

23/ Aleksi Perälä - Starlight 1 (2018) surprisingly solid, albeit a bit all over the place much love for the smooth sounds of "UK74R1823040" much love for the stepfiltered "UK74R1823090" not as much a fan of the techno flavors this time but still!

it's hard to recommend this artist in general but ive been listening to a lot of AP music. just give those two highlights a try and see what you think.

---

February

25/ BT - The Secret Language of Trees (2023) THE GOOD STUFF Producer's Cuts especially!!! "k-means clustering"……. the clicks in "Time Moves So Fast"…. if you ever wished ppl made more music from 2007, here it is. a return to the binary universe.

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40/ Tom Bragl - Regainable (2024) a few crunchy niceities, but just a few imo. "Klamra" f.ex. feels very 2007, which IS a delight. for anyone who wishes they made more music from 2007. here it is. funny it's marketed as "80s esque" lol. i hear it tho.

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43/ µ-ziq - 1977 (2023) mike has a very distinct style that stands out from a lot of his peers imo. i wasnt sure about this but the reverbed minimalist drum machine in tracks like "4am" and "Belt & Carpet" win me over. I think those two and the weirdly hazy house of "Houzz 13" are my favs. "4am" especially, with those ethereal (newage?) chopped vocals

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44/ Autechre - 2005-4-15 Glasgow (live set) apparently there are some old soundboard recordings laying around!!! this is super good. quaristice stuff. i love love love the multiple variations of chence9! the fast version of IO is rly good too. ez fav but still.

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March

47/ STAFFcirc vol. 9: MIDI MODULE FANATIX (2024) oh hell yes, midi AND rompler!!! "Thunder and Strawberry Wine" is otherworldly. i get how it was made but also. How? ooooghhh… "30 Domcaster St" delightful ooooghhh… "Cascade rev.2023" authentic zest "Yakumotatsu" god i love this trend of pushing msgs midi to the max "tunnel7_r35b" listen i love chimeratio and he brought his slapping

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57/ Fields Of Mist - Biospore Farmers (2024) try not to compare to boc challenge: impossible. it's lush damnit. but the perc is way way more analogue drummachine. its wall to wall good. that opening track would have blown my mind in 2007. they dont make it like that anymore, except i guess they do!

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60/ pilotredsun - Achievement (2016) an album misplaced in time. pristine early 00s bedroom musician vibes.

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