#dad is also at the store looking for something that could maybe relieve pain over the counter for her

[ghcstcd]

I don't know how, but I need to save up money to get my dog dental work. That may be a part of the problem. This morning, she barely had interest in eating food. I called the vet yesterday, but said the vet wasn't in until monday. I'm so scared for my girl.

[onlysimpledreams]

Things I want to say (TW for Abuse)

Part 2 of 3

J2.

You ruined my life. You have made me TERRIFIED of men & so many things, I still get triggers caused by you.

You were manipulative. A liar. A cheater. A gas lighter. A sexual, physical and mental abuser. I wish I believed your ex when she tried to warn me. But at the beginning you were so nice and I never believed someone like you could hurt even a fly.

You hated me. Or maybe you just hated yourself and your life, and took it out on the people around you who you let trust you. Remember that one time we went into town, I was feeling pretty rough that day in regards to my chronic pain. You had one goal that day, and that was to find the toy store to buy Star Wars figures for your collection. As we were walking, my pain got so bad, I started to black out. I couldn't see properly, I was hyperventilating, I asked if we could go to a cafe to sit down and have a drink. You said no. You kept walking, infront of me, refusing to even acknowledge my pain or to help me. We got to the store, which was across from a cafe. I begged you to sit down with me. I asked if we could stop before going into the store. You said "No, I need to get my figures. Go and stand over there if you don't wanna come in with me" - you wanted me to stand, by myself, in a city I've never been in before, while I was half blacking out, ready to fall over. You were going to leave me alone. But, because I knew of your anger issues, I did what YOU wanted. I forced myself to follow you. We finally got to the cafe afterwards, you sat on your phone the entire time and I was left to look after myself. You didn't care that I was crying. Remember the time you cheated infront of my face multiple times and told me to mind my own business? Remember when you were sitting beside me on the bus, and you were sending/receiving nudes from your friend and passed it off as "helping her with body confidence", and got angry at me for questioning it? Remember you got mad at me and called your "side piece" in America to flirt with her and piss me off more? Remember every time you forced me into sex to get through your anger from silly things like video games, tv shows, work. My body was your stress reliever. Saying no wasn't an option for me. I tried, and when I did, you would choke me to shut me up. You would get upset with me and tell me I didn't love you. Remember you r*d me and forced me to pay for the morning after pill, and got angry at me when I asked to split the price, and also got angry when I asked you to walk me to the shop to buy it when I didn't know where I was going? Do you remember when you slammed doors, threw things around your room, smashed things and screamed like a child because something in your life didn't go right and blamed it on me when it had nothing to do with me? You lost in video games and took it out on me. You didn't get enough likes on Instagram and took it out on me. You kept me secret from your best friend, who you had feelings for, you told me every little detail about her but kept me secret and hidden, then got mad at me for befriending her and finding out. You forced me to stay in our hotel room during my first convention because you didn't want me hanging out with new friends I had made, because they were guys. They were people YOU KNEW. Yet you kept me hidden, you stopped me leaving. You guilt tripped me into staying hauled up in a room. Remember when you blamed your dad's cancer diagnosis on me? Remember when you took your anger out on me? Remember when you blamed your selfishness on your dad for getting sick? I was terrified. You scared me. Any step I took, every sentence I ever spoke, had the possibility of triggering you. The day you smashed up your entire room because I finally called you out on your bullshit was my final straw. You threw everything at me, you smashed a set of drawers, you yelled so loudly, and somehow your mum told me to "give you a chance" ?????????? You ruined me. You broke me. You made me feel like every single thing was my fault, you didn't let me breathe, you gaslit me and manipulated me into thinking all of these things were normal and should happen in relationships. I wanted to be the one to help you and bring you happiness. I apologised way too many times for way too many things that were not my fault. You broke your ex's wrist, you pushed your other ex down the stairs, women are NOT SAFE AROUND YOU. YOU HAVE TRAUMATISED ME.

[nobodyfamousposts]

Chloe's Lament Part 2

Next part of Chloe's Lament. Chloe begins to learn of the changes to reality from her Wish.

She will not be happy about this.

____________________

When Chloe woke up, the first thing that struck her was the loud banging sounds from somewhere below her.

The second thing was pain.

“I have a headache!” She called out, laying an arm over her sleep mask-covered eyes. Her butler would hear her and respond accordingly, of course. He always did.

“And get them to stop that racket down there!” She flopped on her bed with a huff, waiting for the help to return with aid.

Really, the things she dealt with!

Normally, her butler would arrive immediately, with painkillers and fruit-infused water being presented to her within a minute.

But to her growing frustration, that minute came and passed.

Then two.

Three…

Not that Chloe was counting.

Eventually, it had been five minutes and there was still no word from the man. And to make matters worse, that damn banging from below was only getting louder and increasing her suffering.

“Ugh! Do I have to do everything myself?!”

She ripped off the sleep mask, only to wince at the level of brightness in the room. She was on the top floor with the best visibility but the windows were supposed to be tinted and covered to prevent this very thing!

Once her vision cleared, several things should have stood out as odd.

But the first thing to attract her notice was the sleep mask she had just removed—some cheapo dime-store brand. She tossed the rag away with a shriek.

“Is this a prank?!” She demanded. “That is not my personalized diamond-studded satin custom made facial mask! Jean? Jean!”

There was a ruckus from below. The sound of something being dropped. Footsteps—loud and fast and getting closer. Then the opening of a door.

“Precious! Is everything okay?”

She sneered at the sound of her father’s voice.

“No! My sleep mask was stolen, it’s too bright, my head is KILLING me and no one is getting me anything to help!”

He looked confused at that. “Are you out of Efferalgan in your bathroom cabinet?”

She gave him a look. Why would she have to get up and go to the bathroom for some painkillers when there should be someone to hand them to her?

He gave her a strange look in response. Like he was confused his daughter would expect someone to do something as simple as bringing her painkillers and water.

And water.

Preferably cherry-infused.

Was that really so much to ask? Or even require asking?

“Just…hang on a moment.” He said and left her her bathroom.

Finally.

With nothing to do but wait, she glanced around, noting that…this was not her room.

Not the one she knew, anyway.

The light that had blinded her before was from a central window overlooking the room that so obtrusively settled on her bed. In addition, there was a skylight placed above a nook set behind her bed, which brought more light into the room.

She vaguely recognized the room. Well, by its floor plan, at least. The layout and decor threw her off though. The furniture and items were clearly cheaper than her usual high end designer brands. But she saw aspects that were suited to her tastes. Minute indications of her own touch in the assortment of objects around her. Yellow and white as the themes. Black cushions and aesthetic.

It was…decent. But so beneath her it was embarrassing! These were cheap models! Practically plastic! The bedsheets were…ugh…cotton of all things! The lamps were dim! She was missing her boudoir! And her shoes! And her jewelry! She didn’t even want to imagine the nightmare that was her closet—it was practically a hole in the wall! There was no way it would fit everything!

“Here you are, dear!” Her father said, returning from her bathroom with a glass of water and a pill in hand.

She fought the grimace.

Was this tap water?

Gross!

By his expectant look, he clearly meant for her to drink it.

With her continuing headache and no better option for fast relief, Chloe reluctantly took the proffered items. She was unable to help the slightest grimace before she downed them both.

“Well, if that’s all, I’ll be getting back to setting up for the morning rush. Come downstairs to the bakery when you’re ready.” He looked almost relieved to be leaving.

Chloe barely took notice now that she had what she needed. Instead, she took to contemplating her situation and her new surroundings.

All the furniture aside, this room looked familiar. Not really well known, because Chloe was sure she had never been in such a place before. But…like she had seen it somewhere…TV maybe?

And her Daddykins was here. That meant…wherever she was, it was apparently expected for her to be here.

But where was here?

The last thing she remembered was…

She closed her eyes, straining to think past the pain.

That’s right! Hawk Moth’s offer! The Bee! She was Miracle Queen! And she had just won! She had Ladybug beaten…

Her fists clenched.

Marinette Dupain-Cheng…

It hit her.

This was just like her room!

She had only seen it a couple of times. Once for sure when Sabrina had snuck into her room per Chloe‘s instructions for blackmail material. She happened to glimpse a picture of the room here or there from other people’s phones of times that they had spent in this room—that she had really cared. It was a small and dingy room that had nothing on her glamorous abode at the hotel, which of course, was superior in every way.

She was vaguely reminded of that one show that Marinette hadn’t stopped talking about which had also apparently shown Marinette‘s room, but Chloe honestly hadn’t been bothered enough to watch it, so she didn’t have that to go on. But with what she did know, it was a safe bet to assume that this was some knockoff of Marinette‘s room.

So why was Chloe here? Why was her dad downstairs?

She… she had made the Wish, hadn’t she?

…

…

…

What…is this it?

She turned up her nose at the environment around her, completely unimpressed.

Was this dinky little room with its weird setup and tacky decor what the Wish gave her? Why would she be in any copy of Dupain-Cheng’s room layout anyway?

The Wish should have changed reality, that much was clear. There was no way she would be caught dead in Dupain-Cheng’s room otherwise—much less sleeping there like it was her own room!

…unless…it was her room?

Was it?

She had found some aspects of the room to her taste, but did that mean this was hers?

It would explain why she was there. And why her Daddy had come up. He had mentioned her bathroom earlier, then had gone through the nearby door to get a tablet and water from what she could only assume was the bathroom he had spoken of.

…he had mentioned a bakery.

Eyes wide, she stumbled out of bed and to the window. Sure enough, the school was just across the way. And there was a sign out front.

“Bourgeois Bakery”

Chloe stared.

Suddenly, it clicked. The banging from downstairs. Her Daddy talking about a ‘morning rush’. And to come down to the…

…no way!

This place was a bakery! Her Daddy was operating a bakery!

And given her location, it was the same bakery that Marinette’s parents owned originally!

This…

…wait…

…did this mean she was supposed to be Marinette?

She threw her pillow in a fury.

Stupid Wish! This wasn’t at all what she wanted!

You would think all-powerful Wish-granting artifacts would do it right!

“Where are those kwamis?!” She demanded, jumping out of the bed and looking around for anywhere she would keep such important jewels. “I’m going to give them a piece of my mind!”

She had a boudoir along with the various jewelry pieces kept there ranging among a variety of gold and diamonds—all fakes, much to her disappointment. And not a single Miraculous among them.

She slammed the final drawer in with a curse.

Nothing!

If she had the Miraculous, shouldn’t they still be with her? Do they just disappear after being used?

Ugh! Those things really were useless! Utterly useless!

It was when she stood back to full height that she noticed the monthly calendar. There were the standard holidays, but also a weekly appointment every Friday evening with some ‘Bridgette’. What was that? A spa day?

She shot a glance to her reflection in the mirror and grimaced. She definitely needed one. She could just feel all the oils on her skin!

But more to the point, there was one day circled on the calendar.

‘Start of School’

She grabbed her phone—an older, obsolete model with a glittery but fake casing—and checked the date.

That…

That was today.

It was the first day of school. A…

She checked the date again, and sure enough, it was a year ago!

Had the Wish taken her back in time?

She froze, realization hitting her.

This was the first day of school. The same day as the first akuma attack.

And when Ladybug first appeared.

That meant…she was sent back in time to the day Marinette would become Ladybug.

It was a year in the past. She wasn’t at the hotel. Her room was in a bakery. Her father was working as a baker. She was Marinette now.

That meant…

She giggled, feeling a giddiness rise within her.

Today was the day she becomes Ladybug!

It looks like the Wish did something right, after all!

Chloe grinned, spinning away from the mirror and to her closet.

She had to get ready! She had to prepare the perfect outfit! Something for the day she becomes a hero!

No. THE hero!

She knew how the Ladybug worked. Hell, she knew the akumas to come. With her prior knowledge and skills, she would know how to use the yoyo and how to use the Lucky Charm better than the old Ladybug ever did! She’d have every akuma in the bag!

Hell, maybe she could force the Ladybug kwami to tell her where the Guardian is so she can get the other Miraculous, too! That way, she could have both the Ladybug AND the Bee again.

And her Adrikens would be her partner! To support her! To stay by her side! Just as it should be!

She paused, something niggling at the back of her brain. There was something she was forgetting.

A glance around the room as she wondered

Of course, the full extent of the change and just what that meant didn’t really hit her until she went downstairs and actually saw her father.

The poor man was in the middle of retrieving a pan lined with croissants from the unbearably hot oven, his hair contained in…fishnet? Latex? Whatever the cafeteria cooks wore when she had no choice but to eat from the school’s lunchroom.

Gross! He looked like a lunch lady!

He didn’t seem to notice her, too busy dancing around the kitchen and checking over the…whatever pastries those were and just looking proud of himself.

Daddykins, no. You’re better than this! How could you be reduced to such a state?

He seemed to notice her staring. “Are you feeling better?” He asked, looking concerned.

“Er…yeah.” She replied. She wasn’t, really, but she couldn’t tell him that. He could try to have her stay home and how would she get to see the fruits of her labors from there?

“Ah good!” He said cheerfully. “It is the first day of the new school year, and you certainly want to…” He hesitated, “…start off on the right foot.”

A pause. He looked at her expectantly, but she had no idea what he was getting at.

He shook his head and turned away for a moment to grab a box before coming back and presenting it to her.

Clearly he wanted her to take it, so she sighed and took hold of the box. A peek inside revealed a number of macarons.

For her? Now this was what she was talking about!

“Oh, Daddykins! You shouldn’t have!”

“Yes,” he said with a nod. “I figured it would be a great way to start off the new year by sharing them with your classmates.”

Ugh. Seriously? All happy feelings vanished in an instant and she shot him a petulant look.

“Why should I have to share?” She demanded.

He hesitated.

She glared, tapping her foot in a clear indication of wanting an answer. Or preferably for him to just say they were all hers.

“It’s a new year and a new start.” Andre said, smiling nervously. “Maybe it’s time to just let bygones be bygones?“

It was a stupid question and she sure let him know it. She stared at him flatly, causing him to wilt.

Andre sighed.

“I know you don’t like her, but…” he hesitated. “Please, just try to get along?”

She blinked.

“Her?”

Wait.

Wait…

It suddenly struck her.

If she was Dupain-Cheng now…

That meant Marinette was in her shoes!

She grinned.

Marinette would be her bully! She’d be the rich bitch daughter of the Mayor and loathed by Paris while Chloe would be—

The one everyone rallied around.

The one Adrikens adored.

The one chosen as Ladybug!

She would have it all!

Part of her hoped the other girl would know about the previous reality…just so she could shove it in her face!

“Just take it slow,” he continued, unaware of her true thoughts. “And then you can report about it to Bridgette at your counseling session on Friday.”

Wait—counseling?

Seeing her expression, he held up his hands in a gesture of peace.

“I know you don’t like it, but it was part of the agreement. You need to make a better impression this year, sweetie.”

“What?”

“She’s the daughter of the Mayor. I’m not sure we can take another…” He trailed off before shaking his head and looking at her imploringly. “You understand, right?”

Oh.

Oh.

She got it!

“Of course, Daddykins!”

Clearly Dupain-Cheng was abusing her influence, just as she thought!

She had to hand it to the girl…a part of her hadn’t been quite convinced that she would go quite that far. But that just proof that Marinette Dupain-Cheng wasn’t so perfect and that even she would be the same as Chloe once in her position!

Chloe knew she would have to bear with the mistreatment for now. No matter how much it would grate her. It would suck to have to have to accept it for any period of time.

Still, it would be worth it! It just meant even more ammunition to use against her once Chloe was Ladybug!

She didn’t even notice the look of concern he gave her or his weak goodbye as she left the bakery with the box in hand. She was too wrapped up in her own thoughts. Particularly her plans.

And what plans they were!

So what if Maribrat had Chloe’s wealth? It wasn’t like she knew the first thing about status or being a symbol. No, Ladybug did that for her and she didn’t even use it right! Not like Chloe would.

She smirked to herself, imagining the future.

Well, as soon as she got the Miraculous, taking the pigtailed down a peg would be the first thing on her list. Maybe a dip in the Seine? Or ‘accidentally’ getting her hit by an akuma or two?

Why limit it to her personally? If Ladybug spoke out against the mayor, who would vote for him? From what she remembered of Marinette’s dad, that oaf had no business being in politics anyway! Then there was the hotel, which would no doubt be a mess with him in charge anyway.

And best of all, she thought with glee, with a word from Paris’s favorite hero, Dupain-Cheng could be implicated as an ally of Hawk Moth.

Who wouldn’t believe it? If Marinette was in Chloe’s place, that meant she had to be a brat despised by Paris. Everyone would likely jump at the excuse to run her out of the city!

It was slightly disappointing that the former Ladybug wouldn’t know why the new Ladybug was so against her or that she had even been replaced, but she didn’t deserve answers anyway.

For once, Chloe was getting everything she wanted. It was like the Universe itself was on her side! Chloe would be the hero with all the Miraculous and status just as she’d always deserved. And everyone would automatically see it and love her while they would already recognize Marinette as the selfish bitch Chloe always knew she was!

It was a win/win for Chloe and all her fans—which was the best kind of win for Chloe.

Sure, it meant she would have to suffer the loss of her basic comforts like a butler, the latest in fashion and accessories, and easy immediate access to a luxury spa for now…but it would be worth it in the long run.

…maybe not the luxury spa. She would kill for the hotel’s oils and masseuse. But she would just have to deal with, ugh, scheduling with a four star locale in the meantime.

It’s for the greatest good, she reminded herself, looking mournfully at her chipped nails.

And besides, she didn’t have to suffer for long.

Today was the first day of school, which signified the first appearance of Ladybug! This was the day she achieved her destiny! Once she became Ladybug, she would be back on top!

So what if her dad was a baker instead of a hotel owner this go around? Who said it had to stay that way? Just as she could use her position to defame the Dupain-Chengs and ruin Marinette, she could endorse the bakery for free publicity. Do special promotions and deals for money. Or even better! She could make the city pay her for her work!

After all, how much was her Miracle Cure worth, really? How much would the city be willing to pay for her to fix the damage caused by akuma fights? It was only what she was owed; the least they could do is compensate her for her time.

Really, it was Marinette’s own fault for not taking advantage while she could. She could’ve been an idol or the city’s star. She could have used the Miraculous to create an army. Hell, Hawk Moth should have been nothing against her! And instead, she just…wasted her potential. On things like loose zoo animals or out of control helicopters, no less!

Chloe wouldn’t make the same mistakes.

And now that Chloe was set to be the city’s hero…

Even if Marinette was rich (for now), it would be nothing compared to what Chloe would have. She would be Paris’s hero! The BEST hero! And unlike that has-been, she at least would use Ladybug’s power and status right!

She didn’t need to be the daughter of the Mayor! Her Mother was still THE Style Queen, Audrey Bourgeois. Adrien Agreste was still her best friend. She was still Chloe Bourgeois, the best thing to happen to Paris! And now as Ladybug, she would still be back on top and ruling Paris in no time!

And it would all start once she got to school.

“Get out of my way!” She exclaimed, shoving some old fart taking his sweet time walking, sending him to the ground and out of her way.

Move aside, peons!

Her destiny awaits!

Back at the intersection, Chloe never noticed the way the elderly gentleman cast her a judging stare from his position on the ground. Or his muttering.

“No, definitely not.”

“Are you okay?” Came a voice.

“Ah, yes!” He replied, accepting the offered hand and taking stock of the girl it belonged to. She was young. In college, likely. “Thank you, young lady!”

“Of course!” She smiled, handing him back his cane. “Do you need help getting home from here? That looked like quite a fall.”

“But don’t you have somewhere to be?” He asked.

“Just school, but I can spare a few minutes if you need…?”

“There is no need for that.” He shook his head. “I will be fine, thank you for your concern.”

Yes, he decided with a smile as he watched her go, this one will do.

_________________

Ugh, walking. Who invented such a thing? She couldn’t wait until she had a personal limo again. This was so not good for her!

Chloe continued plotting as she walked, magnanimously choosing to consider this as part of the reason for revenge instead of its own thing.

And speaking of revenge! Let’s see…

She scrunched her face, trying to remember the events of the first day of school.

There had been that fight with Marinette over her seat. ‘My seat now’, she realized with glee. ‘Which means I’ll be back next to Adrikens!’

Where she should be.

And if she and Dupain-Cheng were now supposed to be switched, that meant ‘the horrible bully Marinette’ would be picking on ‘poor sweet little Chloe’.

She couldn’t wait!

‘Let’s see how you handle being in my shoes, Dupain-Cheng!’

She giggled to herself, ignoring the weirded out looks she was getting from some passing students.

Or the way the other students in general seemed to give her a wide berth.

As they should for the real Queen Bee of this school!

She was already imagining how this was going to go. And with the classroom only a few feet ahead, her vindication was already so close she could taste it!

Except when she finally arrived at the class, it was immediately clear that something wasn’t right.

Dupain-Cheng was there as expected. With her same kiddie pigtails and her pink and grey ensemble with polka-dots—what kind of designer was she anyway?

What wasn’t expected, however, was that Cesaire was already was there as well.

Originally, Cesaire defended Dupain-Cheng and they became friends. If things played out the same, shouldn’t Cesaire be coming in late? Or standing up to Dupain-Cheng here? If anything, they already seemed to be friends.

Unless Cesaire was Dupain-Cheng’s tool like Sabrina had been for her?

It made sense that this new reality would swap more around, she reasoned.

Except…

Chloe frowned. Now that she was actually close enough to the classroom, she could see the classmates gathered into a sort of half circle around Dupain-Cheng and her follower. And as she reached the doorway, she could more clearly hear what they were saying.

“—at the Le Grand Paris.” Marinette said, gesturing to Alya with a smile.

“Wow!”

“So cool!”

“That’s awesome! So you’ve just been staying at the hotel until you can get settled in?”

Alya nodded, smiling. “Yeah. At least for a little while until we could get our own apartment. Mr. Dupain-Cheng was really accommodating. Luckily, we didn’t need it for long before Mom found something. She didn’t want to take advantage of his generosity, but it’s just really amazing that he was willing to offer us room and board just to have Mom as part of his staff!”

Chloe raised a nose in disgust.

Who ever heard of such a thing?! What hotel made any profit letting people stay for free?

“We met when I was cleaning rooms and she offered to help!” Marinette explained brightly.

Chloe nearly gagged.

Cleaned?

Marinette…actually cleaned the hotel?

Why do something that gross?

That’s what the help was for! And Sabrina.

Speaking of, where was she?

Chloe glanced around, but Sabrina was nowhere to be seen amongst the classmates.

Maybe the Wish had done more than switch her with Dupain-Cheng? Maybe Cesaire and Sabrina had been switched as well? So that meant Sabrina should be the new transfer, right?

No wait, that didn’t add up. She had just walked in on Cesaire being introduced.

Sabrina was probably just her best friend, then.

She nodded.

That was good enough, she supposed. At least if she couldn’t have her necessities from the hotel, she still had Sabrina to take care of the more mundane tasks for her.

Unaware of her thoughts, Marinette had continued talking to the others unhindered.

“—said she would be coming to Francios Dupont, and I knew I had to introduce her. She’s new, so be nice.” She instructed, giving a stare to Kim in particular. “Kim.”

The taller boy raised his hands in surrender. “Fine, fine. I’ll give her a week before any challenges.”

Alya raised an eyebrow. “Challenges? Dare I ask?”

Everyone groaned.

“No dares.” Nino begged, covering his face with his hat. “Please. Kim is bad enough every year. I still can’t look at the hotel without remembering what happened last time…”

“Yeah, your dumb dare got us banned from the hotel’s pool for a month!” Alix said, pointing at Kim, who shrugged helplessly.

“Speaking of the hotel!” Marinette cut in, pulling out her tablet. “I convinced my dad to let us do this year’s work study at the hotel.” She tapped her tablet. “I have a little bit of influence over what they’ll choose as assignments, so we can try to come up with roles everyone will like.”

“Hey yeah! That sounds awesome!”

The classmates crowded the desk, chatting excitedly.

“So where will everyone go?”

“Maybe Kim and Max in security? Or Alix and Max in security, so Kim could work the pool area.”

“As a lifeguard?” Kim asked cheerfully. “I’ve done some training, after all.”

Marinette sent him a wry look and pretended to be thinking it over. “Hmm, I don’t know. Maybe as a pool cleaner?”

Kim pouted. “No fair, Mari!”

“Hey, it would do you some good to learn the cleaning process for the pools you use so much.” Mylene said, half jokingly and half pointedly, making Kim lower his head and groan.

Marinette giggled a little. “Well at any rate, I’ve set up a list of all the different jobs at the hotel so people can mark their top preferences. Between all the options, everyone is bound to find something that’ll suit them best.”

She sent Adrien a knowing look. “And of course Adrien will be in the kitchen.”

Adrien beamed at that.

Not that Chloe noticed.

“Kitchen?!” Chloe squawked. “You’re going to make my Adrikens work in a dirty old kitchen?!”

She had known Marinette would be bad, but how dare she punish Adrikens like that? She could just see it now! Her poor Adrikens, forced to slave away in a room meant for servants like…like he was a servant! Where he could get covered in grime and burn his precious skin!

Everyone frowned at her, as if she was the one being ridiculous!

The boy in question raised his hand.

“But I want to—”

“That is a flagrant abuse of power!” Chloe shouted, slamming a hand on the desk. “She’s making Adrikens work like a maid! What if his father hears about this?!”

Adrien wilted in on himself.

“The kitchen isn’t dirty or old.” Marinette said, sounding annoyingly calm with a terseness in her tone that Chloe had heard some service workers use when dealing with particularly difficult customers—though why they used it with her was beyond her. It was as if Marinette was acting like she the reasonable one dealing with an unreasonable customer or something. “They just finished the remodeling three months ago, we clean it regularly, and all of our utensils and equipment are taken good care of.”

“That’s not the point!” Chloe shouted. “How could you use my Adrikens in such a way? Gabriel Agreste would never approve when he hears about this!”

Because he would be hearing about this! Chloe would make sure of it!

“I could just explain to Mr. Agreste that this would be for good publicity.” Marinette suggested. “I’m sure he would allow it.”

She knew it! There were really no lows she wouldn’t go to!

“You’re really pushing this! And you call yourself Adrikens’ friend!” Chloe pointed at Marinette accusingly. “Just because your Daddy’s the Mayor doesn’t mean you can treat people like they’re lesser than you!”

Marinette frowned, looking uncertain as her gaze flickered between the others.

Hah! Even in Chloe’s position, Marinette still wavered easily and she couldn’t hide her insecurities to save her life. It was why she always gave in in the end! Anyone would roll over someone showing such an obvious weakness!

Hell, she may not even need to wait to see her taken down. This was a perfect opportunity to lead everyone in rising up against her tyranny.

After a few seconds, she turned back to face Chloe, no doubt to attack her for challenging her and show her true colors—

“Chloe, are you okay?”

Huh?

“My Dad just runs the Hotel. He isn’t the Mayor.”

What?!

“My Mom is. You met her at your…” She hesitated, sending the others a glance before lowering her voice, “…meeting, remember?”

She had to bite her tongue regarding the ridiculousness of Dupain-Cheng’s mother being the Mayor. Was that woman even a French citizen?

But it was the other part of Marinette’s statement that concerned her. What meeting? What was she even getting at? Why was she trying to be quiet about it.

Nevermind! She’d worry about that later!

“It doesn’t matter!” Chloe shouted, forcing Marinette to back away. “The fact is that you can’t just throw your weight around to get your way and treat people however you like! And I’m not the only one who feels that way!” She exclaimed, turning to the classmates in expectation.

…only to get a number of blank or confused stares in response.

“Um, what are you even talking about?” Alya asked incredulously.

What?

“Yeah, dude! Marinette doesn’t treat anyone that way.” Nino added.

What?

“The only one who pulls that sort of thing is you.” Said Nathaniel bitingly.

Since when does that loser talk?

And also, what?!

“And aren’t you supposed to be leaving Marinette alone?” Alix asked, giving Chloe a pointed look.

What even was that about?

“I thought that was the agreement.” Mylene said quietly.

Seriously?! Was everyone on her side?

They were supposed to be silent! Or judging the Mayor’s brat! That’s what they did with Chloe! Instead, they were jumping to her defense!

“Are you serious?” She demanded. “Like she doesn’t abuse her power and authority to push people around!”

“Of course not!” Marinette insisted. And then to Chloe’s rage, seemed to draw herself up even more, actually looking confident and self assured in a way Chloe herself had never felt in her place. “As the daughter of the mayor, I have to set a good example.”

Ex…

Example?

What even was that?

Unaware of Chloe’s short-circuiting, she continued. “And Chloe, I wouldn’t force anyone to do a role that they don’t want. That’s why I brought the list here for the class to review first.” She gestured to her tablet. “That way everyone has a chance to pick what roles they want and we can avoid the ones no one wants to do. How is that a bad thing?”

It wasn’t, admittedly. But Marinette wasn’t supposed to be the one doing it! That was the problem!

“And who put you in charge?!” Chloe demanded of Marinette. “Why are you deciding where we’ll do the work study? What, are you using the Class Rep position to flaunt your family’s hotel?”

It would make sense. Chloe had been the Class Rep for years originally. If Marinette was her…

Marinette just gave her a strange look.

“No. I’m not Class Rep, remember?”

Chloe balked.

“What?”

“Chloe, did you hit your head?” Marinette asked, sounding worried. She held a hand out in offering. “Do you need to go to the Nurse’s Office?”

Chloe jerked away from the girl’s outreached hand. Why would Dupain-Cheng still be acting…nice?

Clearly she must still be pretending!

“Nevermind that! If you aren’t the Class Rep, then who is?”

“Your benevolent dictator is here!” Came a voice. A familiar voice. The last one Chloe expected.

“Hey, Class Rep.” Marinette said, giving Chloe a pointed look while waving to the person behind her.

Chloe turned slowly. She had to force herself to move. The strain made it feel like her bones were creaking.

Behind her, Sabrina stood tall with a tablet in hand and looking…surprisingly well for a new reality as a lackey of someone other than Chloe. She almost didn’t recognize her.

Chloe stood straight, expecting the standard greeting.

To her shock, Sabrina didn’t even look at her, instead moving past her to…

“Wow, Marinette! Nice jacket!” Sabrina said first thing in greeting as she moved over to the other girl in interest.

Marinette blushed at the praise. “Thanks! My dad got me some new fabric and I was inspired to try this style!” She gave a wink. “Now this is just a test run to see how it works out.”

“It certainly looks comfortable.” Sabrina said in awe.

Were…were they ignoring her?

“I have some of the material left.” Marinette said. “I could make you your own for your birthday if you want?”

Oh gag! Why would anyone want Marinette’s tacky creations instead of the latest in season creation?

And there was Sabrina looking like that was something to be excited about!

Oh no! Without Chloe to guide her, she had lost any sense of fashion! No matter how much fuller her hair was or how she no longer looked like a strong wind could blow her away!

Clearly, her life was a tragedy without Chloe!

“And I checked like you asked.” Marinette continued, unaware of Chloe’s glare. “My Dad said we could do the work study at his hotel.”

“Thank you!” Sabrina cheered. “That’ll be one less thing to worry about.”

“Yeah, we were talking about that when you came in.” Marinette explained.

Chloe glared pointedly at the girl over the way she was blatantly ignoring that they had been in the middle of Chloe calling her out! Seriously, what was the point of getting to tell people off for their flaws if they were going to ignore you and pretend it never happened! Really! You can’t just ignore the truth like that!

“We were discussing what positions everyone wanted.” Mylene said. “Even if we can’t get the exact ones we’d like, there’ll at least be options.”

“Juleka and I can clean the ball room!” Rose exclaimed. “It will give us a chance to check the acoustics of the room. We’ve been wondering about the effects and what to expect if our band ever plays in such an area.“

Nino looked intrigued at that. “Hey, that does sound like a good idea. Maybe sign me up for that as well?” He asked, turning to Marinette before mumbling to himself about the echo effect on his beats.

Marinette gave him a nod before turning back to Rose. “I heard you guys just started, didn’t you?“

Rose nodded, beaming. “It’s so much fun!”

Marinette smiled and marked it down on her list. “Then I’ll suggest that for you.”

She paused for a moment, hesitating in clear unwillingness to continue before giving a strained smile.

“And Chloe...”

“How about trash cleanup?” Alix snarked, giving the girl a dark look.

“Excuse you?!” Chloe shouted in outrage. “Do you know who my daddy is?!”

The looks she was given were completely unimpressed.

“A baker?”

“And not even a good one.”

"Hey, his croissants are all right."

Chloe blanched, remembering that her father wasn’t the mayor in this world.

He wasn’t even rich.

He was just a baker now. A simple ordinary not even very good baker who was barely keeping his head above water trying to maintain his business and manage his teenage daughter.

And that made Chloe…

Nothing.

Her go to tactic now had no power.

But…but Sabrina! She realized in a flash that her minion was apparently the Class Rep! She could have her back her!

But when she spun around to look, the girl had actually just abandoned her and the gathering altogether to sit next to Mylene of all people! Mylene! And they were just…chatting! Since when did those two spend time together! And why wasn’t Sabrina there for her?!

“Chloe!” Came the only voice worth listening to.

Oh, Adrikens! Of course you would always be there for her!

She spun to him in expectation. Because of course her Adrikens would be on her side! Her savior! Her only ally against such cruel tyranny—

But he didn’t look happy. Or in any way amicable to her. “Don’t forget!” He whispered sharply to her. “You’re still on probation! You can’t start another commotion before the first class of the school year has even started!”

Chloe blinked.

Pro…

Probation?

…

…

…

Her?!

“How am I on—?!”

It was impossible! She had never had a criminal record! She’d never even committed a crime! Or anything that warranted getting in trouble over!

Regardless of what Ladybug said, since she clearly had it out for her.

“Just leave Marinette alone.” Adrien whispered, turning her away from the rest of the group and…her. “Please.”

She didn’t want to. There were so many questions and so many things she wanted to demand right now. She was very well inclined to make demands regardless, because she didn’t know what was going on and she needed answers.

But it was her Adrikens asking.

And she didn’t have much chance to say anything else as Bustier had chosen that time to arrive.

“Welcome back, everyone!” The woman greeted cheerfully. Her arrival cut off all other discussion as the students made their way to their desks. “I hope everyone had a good break and that we’re all ready to start the new year.”

A chorus of affirmations followed as everyone took their seats.

Everyone except Chloe, who was glancing around the room in confusion.

None of this was right.

She had expected to fight with Marinette over her seat to get to sit behind Adrien, but he was sitting at the back next to Nathaniel. And Marinette was sitting in the mid row on the other side from him, pulling Alya to sit next to her. But if she wasn’t sitting behind Adrien, what was even the point of challenging her for her seat?

…where even was Chloe’s seat?

She would have sad next to Sabrina, but that traitor hadn’t moved from her spot next to Mylene and left no room for Chloe! And nobody else was calling Chloe over—so if someone else had taken Sabrina’s place as her best friend, she had no way of even knowing who it was!

“Chloe,” Bustier called to her, ever so gently. “Your seat is up at the front, remember? As we discussed the last time we met.” She gestured to the bench at the front.

It was across the one Chloe had sat at previously, being the front desk closest to the door. And to her frustration, there was no one sitting with her! How else was she supposed to get her assignments copied? And wasn’t that the seat that loser, Nino, had been put in because he got in trouble? Chloe wasn’t in trouble though!

Adrien’s words about probation hit her, making her wince.

…was she?

She wanted to ask. She wanted to stomp her foot and demand the answers she deserved.

But Bustier was staring at her expectantly. And she could hear some giggles and snickering from behind her the longer she waited. She glanced back to Adrikens, but…he wasn’t even looking at her! He was conversing with Nathaniel over something on his sketchbook!

How could a sketchbook be more important than his best friend?!

With little other choice, Chloe slid into the front desk, blushing furiously in humiliation and trying to ignore everyone behind her.

It didn’t matter.

None of them mattered!

None of this would matter once she got the Miraculous and put Dupain-Cheng in her place! Then everyone would know SHE was the Queen Bee!

She was sure of it!

[i-cant-sing]

Okay, Moon anon was able to contact me and I'm gonna post their chapters 3-6 here.

Daniel and YN 3 🌗🌗

Rainy days are crazy. Some of YN’s best and worst memories were on a rainy day. It was a rainy day when Daniel was born. His parents overjoyed when he decided to join the world early. The Sunny morning turned rainy when they saw something was wrong. The sky was so dark when the doctored explained that their baby didn’t get enough oxygen in the womb or when he came out. That his brain was impacted by the trauma. It took four years for Daniel’s mother to stop blaming herself, four years for her to understand that she couldn’t have known that something was wrong in her womb. Four years when they had their second child. It was a rainy day when YN and Daniel got lost. Holding each other’s hand, tightly they wandered the Kamino Ward. Hoping that their parents would be right down an alley or around the corner. That was a terrible 6th birthday for YN. The steps Daniel left in the dirt started to get deeper and more burnt. The boy slightly started to tremble. “Daniel.. it’s gonna be ok. Momma and Pop are going to find us we just have to-“ “Are you two lost?” A very tall man in a black suit asked. YN couldn’t remember his face, but his voice was eerily calm and smoothe. His head had snow white hair on it. A look at him would’ve left even the hero All Might scared. “ye…Yes. My brother and I can’t find our parents..” “Oh dear. Well I can help you. They couldn’t have gotten far.” He held his hand to Daniel. And he almost took it had YN not stepped in. “We’re not supposed to touch strangers.” “Oh yes, that’s a very good rule. Well my name is.. Shigaraki. Now what are yours?” “…yn.. and daniel..” “Now we aren’t strangers. Let’s get you two somewhere safe. Your brother’s quirk might level the neighborho-“ “YN! DANIEL!” The relieved voice of their father shouted out. And the two quickly turned away, toward his calls and open arms. Tears running down their faces, swearing to never wander off again. The day was saved. When YN went to turn to Mr Shigaraki to tell him it was fine, he had disappeared into the crowd. But one question lingered in her head. How did he know Daniel’s quirk could be dangerous? It was a sunny day at first when YN and Daniel went out to the park for their Day out. YN had already planned to tell her parents that she wanted to come back here for her 12th birthday in a few months. Daniel kept over-stimulating himself with every single thing that caught his eyes. The anthill, the trees, the way the wind carried the leaves, when he and YN jumped around over the hopscotch drawings. When the rain came down they didn’t want to leave. They wanted to splash in the wetness like a couple of ducks. But Momma was insistent it was time to go back to the apartment. Inside the car YN immediately put on her headphones to listen to nightcore covers of popular songs. It wasn’t until she noticed her mom’s terrified expression and felt her dad’s fear did she take them off. “-I DONT KNOW ITS NOT BREAKING!” “WE’RE GOING RIGHT INTO TRAFFIC! DO SOMETHING!” “..momma?..” “DANIEL! YN GET DOWN!” That was the last thing her mother said to her. The rain hit the car harder. Daniel was quick to cover his little sister as the car swerved towards a large truck. YN felt her brother shield over their bodies. The last thing she heard from her father was a yell. Before they crashed into the truck. Before YN and Daniel were flung out into the side of the road. Scratches beginning to litter their arms and cheeks. YN felt the rain on her face as she tried looking up. Tried finding her parents. It was a rainy day when the last image of her parents was the crushed front end of the car. 🌗🌗

Daniel and YN 4 🌗🌗

The incident at the cafe left a bigger mess then was intended. Of course the waitress didn’t say a word about who caused the mess, still terrified of the threat, but the manager still called the police. At the moment it was being investigated as a break in. It wasn’t until they started to bag the broken vases as evidence did they think to call a hero as they believed this was a terrorist villain trying to strike more fear. When the first cop touch the broken vases he immediately fell over and started seizing. Like someone had sent hundreds of volts up through his gloved fingers and into his blood stream. The second cop tried picking up the glass with prongs so that she wouldn’t get the same effect. But she still felt some pain and volts. Even the glass windows were giving off static. When they were examined no one could find a point of impact. It was almost like they spontaneously exploded. Worse and more confusing yet was the fact that the material seemed to give off radiation spikes. From a computer screen image, it was like a red glow was emanated from the glass. When the police tried to check the cameras, all the footage was either ruined, too melted to gather anything. It left them in a stump. So they had to make a plea to the hero society to get fresh eyes and help on the case. Not expecting any big response. Some heroes wanted to solve the mystery because it stumped them as well. This quirk residue was something unseen before. Calls and emails were left. All saying they would look into it. And it seemed like this would just be a mysterious case left forgotten. That is until the All Might showed up in the station one morning. Along with his protege Deku. They said they wanted to solve the case because if this person left such a dangerous residue after using their quirk, then they were a danger to themselves and others. No on saw the real intentions in their eyes. When they asked about the only other patron in the cafe the police said that they tried tracking them down, but they were gone into the wind. The only other patron at the cafe made their way into a compound. Holding treats meant for a little girl. But first he had to make a stop at his boss’s office. “Hey.. Kai. You won’t believe what Just saw.” Meanwhile in the station two separate rats made calls to two separate people. “Put me through to Shigaraki…. Hello. I have something interesting to tell you. Something that might please you and your Sensei.” “Oh hey there Aizawa. Detective Tsukauchi here. Look I you know about that cafe destruction a week ago? Yea well I think you outta here about this.” Indeed the cafe incident left a bigger mess than intended. 🌗🌗

Daniel and YN part 5 🌗🌗

They’d been gone for at least two months. YN’s feet hurt and Daniel missed his own bed. But they had to keep going, with no intended final destination but a goal to keep away from the previous home they ran from. After the morning at the cafe, YN and Daniel had kept to the shadows for the rest of the day. But they couldn’t keep going like this. They needed to eat today but not at a restaurant. There was only one dreaded… dreaded option. The grocery store. So after they checked in at the latest motel with kitchens in the rooms, the siblings ventured off to the store.YN couldn’t leave Daniel alone yet. He’d panic and probably have a fit. The store was minimally packed. Since it was still early in the day it seemed like they would zip in and out with relative ease. After grabbing the bare essentials, and what she could pack in a backpack without much drag, it was time to go to the candy aisle. It was a long journey thus far, a journey deserving of some sour candies. But of course there had to be another person there. Invading space and looking right at her favorites. She wanted to just grab and go. But her hand and the stranger's hand touched as they reached for the same one. “Sorry. I should’ve watched where I was going heh..” The tall redhead said. A small blush on his face as he rubbed the back of his neck. “It’s fine. Lemme just grab and go here.” She looked back for Daniel, luckily he was close by staring at the varieties of pocky they had. Turning back she noticed his uniform. UA, that might prove to be a complication. But YN was desperate for some kind words and a brief moment to talk to someone her own age. “So you go to UA? Are you a general student or a hero course student?” “Oh hero course definitely! I even have my hero name chosen!” “Wow that’s great. I hope in a few years I get to be saved by…?” “Red Riot!” “Like Crimson Riot?” “Exactly! I really admire him and I hope I live up to his-“ “OI SH**TY HAIR! WE’RE GONNA BE LATE! GRAB YOUR CRAP AND LET’S GO!” A blonde kid shouted down the aisle, also wearing a UA outfit. YN couldn’t place why but she felt like she’d known him before. That volume felt very familiar, but it startled her brother who jumped in fear causing the pocky he saw to fall off the shelving. Time to go now. “I should go anyway. It was nice meeting you.” “Wait, we could walk you and your brother to your school if you guys want?” “We have to go.” The blonde got closer and she could tell something was perpetually up his ass. “Bye.” “Wait! My name’s Eijiro Kirishima. What’s yours?” “YN. Just YN. That’s my brother Daniel.” And before he or his companion could ask anything else the two siblings fast walked toward the checkout and were out the door before they got another chance to talk to them. “YN… huh she was pretty cool right bakubro!” “What ever. Let’s get going before we show up after Deku.” But that name was familiar to him. The girl had long since faded from his mind, but how could anyone forget the day when a quirkless kid tried bashing your head into the dirt. He planned on apologizing the next day for his comments but she was gone. Gone and almost forgotten. It could be possible that this was just someone who shared the same name. But maybe.. possibly.. the universe was giving him the chance to apologize. “YN.” 🌗🌗

Daniel and YN part 6 🌗🌗

YN never really liked her neighbors. She never outright loathed them, but she was uncomfortable with how Inko kept trying to be her mother, and how Izuku had this strange obsessive stare when he looked at her. As long as they stayed in their apartment and never bothered them it would all be fine. But their parents couldn’t watch them all the time. So on days when momma and pop went out Miss Midoryia would graciously watch them. YN never liked pity. So when Miss Midoryia tried to pity and feel sorry about YN’s quirkless status, that just made her dig her heels in longer. She didn’t need people to fuss over her like she was a glass doll. At least with Izuku she could’ve had a companion. She did try to get along with him. But he was so weird. Just because they both were quirkless didn’t mean they’d would be close. “So why are you homeschooled?” “I get into fights.” “Why?” “Because people are mean and they think they’ll have no consequences to their words. I proved them wrong.” “Were they mean because you’re quirkless or because Daniel is… different?” Now obviously he didn’t mean any harm by that. But an emotional 10 year old girl is not someone to mess with. So with a sharp glare to his face the conversation quickly died. In the dining room, Daniel would usually be coloring. Or playing with his legos. Something to stim and distract his mind. Sometimes he’d just pull out a old painting his dad got him, and he’d spend hours looking at the strokes and would mentally add a new feature. Twirling the hair on his head whilst sucking/biting his thumb. “Daniel? Would you like some water?” “No miss. I want momma.” “I know sweetie but she won’t be gone forever. And you call me Inko” Though she’d prefer him to call her something more affectionate. Throughout the night Inko kept trying to mother them. She hovered over YN’s neck and tried petting her head which resulted in a swipe from the little girl. By the time YN’s parents got back, she was relieved and spent the rest of the night complaining to her mom about how she didn’t want to go over to the neighbors anymore and how she felt uncomfortable. Across the hall the two greenettes were enamored with the two kids. Inko adored how sweet Daniel was, how shy he looked to her. Izuku was star struck at this girl without a quirk who was so quick to fight against the norms put in place by a society against them. They'd soon make it a habit to try to talk to the family in the hall, or bump into them on the street. One day, after the family had been gone for a couple weeks, they saw the two with several police officers and a social worker packing away all their belongings. It didn’t take a genius to figure out that something terrible had happened. When Inko offered to watch them, the social worker confirmed the worst and took the children away. Three weeks later, as her son was at school Inko kept trying to find the legal way for her to gain custody of the kids when her door was knocked. Her husband, AFO, on the other side. She tried telling him to go away. Tried saying that he had no part in Izuku’s life anymore. But he had a bigger role than known. “How can you be so cruel my love? Especially now that I’ve opened the door for you to gain what you want?” “What do you mean?” “I’ll help you gain custody of the two children you are craving. I happen to have a fascination with them as well.” “I can’t ever guarantee that we’ll be a whole family ever again.” “Of course not. I wouldn’t expect you to. But let’s try something for now.” So Inko made a deal with the devil, to gain two angels. 🌗🌗

Now that AFO is in the story, I'm like so excited! Great work, Moon anon!

[yourgalaxy]

Pairing: Taehyung x female O/C

Genre: Fluffyest Fluffy Fluff, a little bit of angst if you squint really hard.

Summary: After getting used to the idea of just being her and her little daughter against the world. Autumn is proven wrong once again when fate has different plans for them.

Warnings: None

A/N: The original prompt is from @hybridfanfiction ( their prompts are the cutest, check them out!) This is my first attempt on sharing some of my work and is also my first hybrid fic. I love the reader inserts but not a fan of the Y/N type thing so feel free to just imagine your name instead if you prefer! I have material to make this a series but will leave it as a one shot for now to see if you guys like it! I totally don't own the gifts.

Disclaimer: English is not my first language. Read at your own risk 😂

Ch. 1 Ch. 2 Ch. 3

A smile spread across her face as she listened to her little beam of sunshine’s effusive explanation of her adventures with her imaginary hybrid friend Tata, the girl’s imagination never ceased to amaze her mother. It was definitely a trait that she got from her Father, she thought with a certain melancholy in her eyes.

‘’ And then, last time, Toby was being really mean, he said that I was weird and pulled my hair, but Tata growled at him a little bit and he ran away. Isn't he the best Mama?" - Her little eyes twinkled with adoration, Autumn's first instinct was to coo at her cuteness but something of what she said sent alarms to her mind.- "Haneul, honey, are kids being rude to you at school?" - Having her daughter being bullied at school because of her heritage was one of her biggest fears-

" Mmm… sometimes, but after Tata saved me, they haven't! - She smiled the brightest smile, and Autumn felt a knot clog her throat and dread wash over her stomach. She forced a smile at the best of her ability while nodding and made a mental note to talk with the teachers at the end of the day. She would transfer her daughter to another kindergarten if needed.- ‘’ Ok, honey bear, we are here. Remember that I’m picking you up earlier today for your dentist’s appointment. - Haneul immediately sulked at the prospect, murmuring indecipherable complaints under her breath, but she still kissed her mom’s cheek before running off when she caught the sight of her favorite teacher.-

Autumn waved at the teacher, answering to her smile with one of her own as the teacher was dragged away by an enthusiastic Haneul. Just for the time being she decided to put her worries aside and tend to some of the urgent matters at hand. Jimin and Jin were driving her insane by the minute, her phone buzzing every 2 minutes as if they were taking turns to annoy her.

‘’ You know perfectly fine that I need to drop Haneul at school every day, Jimin!’’ - Was her response as she heard the whiney complaints from the other side of the line, she assured that she would be there in a few minutes with a roll of her eyes before she hanged up.

She loved her friends with her whole heart, they were the ones that pulled her through when Haneul’s dad decided to abandon her while she was pregnant with their daughter, If it wasn't for them and Haneul herself, she wouldn’t be where she is at… But they were, a lot of the time, pains in the butt.

The store was a battlefield once she got there, flowers and decorations scattered everywhere, and a very stressed out Jungkook running around under the direction of an even more stressed out Jimin. They looked at her as if she was some kind of savior before throwing themselves to her arms once they realized she had arrived. She could just roll her eyes at their antics before getting down to work.

‘’ Ok, I’m out!’’ - She announced, after they finally handed out the last piece of arrangements for the wedding, the event was a really big project and she was relieved that everything turned out ok, the customer was more than ecstatic with the results, and there were really few things that gave Autumn more satisfaction than a happy customer.-

‘’ But Noona…’’ - Came Jimin’s protest as an instant response. But it died out quickly when she turned around sharply and Jin put his hand over his mouth to quiet him down. She could be a little scary when tired. Jin thought the younger boy should know better, having been her friend for so long. - ‘’ Go ahead, and bring Haneul over to my place afterwards, we miss our little bundle of joy, I’ll cook dinner for all of us! Maybe I could convince Yoongi to come and bring Hobi with him’’ - Jin requested and the other two agreed with eager nods, Autumn smiled lovingly, she truly had the best of friends. She assured that she would be back quickly as she made her way out of the flower store that Jin and her had opened together. The last thing she heard, a chorus of ‘’By noona’s’’ and ‘’I love you’s’’ ringing one over the other, that made her smile grow even bigger. She truly loved the punks.

‘’ I’m here to pick Haneul up for her dentists appointment’’ - The teacher nodded knowingly, with a small smile, apparently HaNeul had been complaining to all that would lend an ear about the terrifying encounter with a robot monster that she would have to go through that day. Autumn could just chuckle at her daughter's dramatics. - ‘’ Also, is Mrs. Lee, around today? I need to talk with her about some worries of mine’’ - The teacher sent her a worried look as she sensed the discomfort in Autumn’s tone but after she assured her that it wasn’t something too serious, she explained that the principal wasn’t available at the moment. Autumn would have to call her. She had known Mrs. Lee for a long time anyways.-

Following the direction of the young teacher that had to leave her on her own to attend one of the kids with a little potty emergency, Autumn made her way to the playground where all the kids were taking lunch break. After a few minutes, she spotted the light haired girl sitting over one of the farest corners close to the fence. Her heart dropped as she started to come closer and noticed who her little girl was talking so excitedly to, she couldn't believe her eyes, the school was not just reckless about bullying but they also let the kids unsupervised where they could be approached by strangers?

The stranger was munching on a half sandwich, the other half on Haneul’s hand remained untouched as she bounced on her place, there was a soft smile on the man’s face as he seemed to intently listen to her daughter. As Autumn came closer, her steps slowed down as she realized that HaNeul was actually talking with a hybrid, the male seemed to be younger than her, probably around Jimin’s age, but he was so skinny and dirty that he could easily pass for someone younger. Her heart hurt for him.

She noticed some movement that made her nervous but before her quickening steps took her close enough, a scene that horrified her took place before her eyes.

A group of kids came running with piles of mud gathered on their hands, one of them quickly throwing some in Haneul’s direction. A scream died on Autumn’s throat, unable to really comprehend what had happened before the kids ran away from the scene. The man that her daughter had been feeding for weeks now, the same one that she thought was just an imaginary friend, had jumped over the fence standing in between the projectile of mud and her daughter’s little body, staring down the mean boys until they had left the scene running.

‘’ MAMMA!’’ - Before having much time to react, Autumn felt the little body crash against her leg. HaNeul’s flushed little face was stained with drying tears as she explained how the mean boys had attacked her friend and asked her to help him out. Autumn took her in her arms, hugging her and whispering comforting words to calm her down. She started walking towards the Hybrid who was awkwardly standing in the same spot, mud dripping down his right leg, she noticed now that he was standing, how much taller than her he was. Once Haneul noticed her mom wasn't moving any more, she turned her head to face her friend and dedicated a watery smile towards him that he struggled to reciprocate. Autumn could sense the fear emanating from him.

‘’ Look, Tata! It’s my momma, isn’t she super pretty?!’’ - Haneul’s eyes sparkled with innocence, the hybrid timidly nodded in response and Autumn noticed a cute blush spreading across his cheeks. -

‘’ Hey there…’’ - Autumn started but was quickly interrupted by the terrified hybrid’s frenetic attempt to explain himself.- ‘’ I’m really sorry, I tried to refuse but she was so kind and her sandwich smelled really good. I… Please don’t report me, I’ll take any kind of punishment, but please don’t call Hybrid control.’’ - His deep voice ended up as a whimpery whisper as he begged her. Autumn felt her stomach drop and her mouth dried out, she felt like crying for the pitiful state of the boy in front of her. -

‘’ Sorry, but I have no intention to report or punish you whatsoever. I actually wanted to thank you for protecting Haneul, It makes me happy that she has a friend like you.’’ - His fluffy ears twitched in her direction as soon as she started talking but as she called him her daughter’s friend, his eyes jumped to her face, trying to look for any sign of hostility, a small smile playing at the corner of his lips as he took in the soft smile that she was dedicating him. - ‘’ I’m Autumn, an it’s a pleasure to finally meet you Tata!’’ - She extended her arm, patiently waiting for him to shake her hand. He hesitated for a few minutes before timidly taking her hand in his for a second of two. - ‘’ My name is actually Taehyung’’ - He softly corrected, the blush coming back to his sunken cheeks, making Autumn smile even brighter -

‘’ Well, Taehyung, if you don’t have anything else to do today, I would love to invite you for lunch to thank you for helping Haneul, you could come and wash out all the mud from the attack too if you would like.’’ - She suggested but he was nodding before she could even finish the idea. -

‘’ ¡Oh, my gosh! Mrs. Kim, I am so sorry, I don’t really know how he got here, the kids told me about what happened, I’m calling Hybrids control right now.’’ - The panicked voice of Haneul’s teacher caught their attention, Taehyung immediately flinching back with a loud whimper at the mention of hybrid control, pleading no’s flowing out of his mouth incessantly as he started backing away slowly. Haneul started crying out to him,but before things escalated too much, Autumn, lowered the teacher’s hand that was holding the phone. -

‘’It won’t be necessary, Miss Kang. Taehyung here is a friend of ours’’ - Autumn assured, making both the teacher and the Hybrid freeze on spot. She then gestured for Taehyung to come closer, Haneul reaching for his hand as soon as he was close enough. - ‘’ If you could just let Mrs. Lee know that I will be calling her, that would be awesome! - She requested before leaving the scene with the boy that already felt like the new addition to her family. 

[mintchocolateleaves]

Cost of Freedom (43/52)

Summary: In which a mistake is made.

A/N: For the forseeable future the fic will be updating monthly! Hope you enjoy the update! xx

[CoF chapter list]

Leaving the station with her heart beating heavily against her ribcage, Ran finally lets herself breathe. She glances up at the sky, cloudy but with a faint sheen of gold where the sun manages to peek through small gaps of cloud and forces her shoulders to relax.

It hurts to have her shoulders so bunched like this, agitates the cuts from the glass.

“Ran-san?” Saguru says, glancing towards her as they walk down the steps. He’s moving more slowly now, a clear indicator that she’s going to have to force him to sit down for a while and take some more painkillers.

Knowing him though, Ran wouldn’t be surprised if Saguru insisted they return to Sonoko’s like they’d planned, before taking anything else.

“Are you alright?” She asks, rather than answer his unspoken question of whether she’s okay.

“I’m fine,” Saguru says, even as he pales, failing to hide another wince as he stumbles slightly on a step. “Nothing that I can’t handle.”

“It’s hurting again, isn’t it?” It’s phrased like a question, but they both know it’s nothing less than a statement. “We can just go to a store and grab some drinks, you can take them now…”

Saguru shakes his head, frowning. “Not yet…”

“Saguru-kun…”

“Let’s get back to the station,” Saguru says, “I’ll take them there. But not so close to…”

To the station. Where people might be watching, where people know that this would be out of the norm for Hakuba Saguru.

“Alright,” Ran says. Leaving behind the police station, they make their way down the street towards the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications building. Glancing to her left down the road, Ran takes in the lush green of Hibiya park nearby. “…Was it just me, or did the station feel different today?”

Saguru falls quiet, considering. When she glances at him, he’s frowning, deep in thought. “It did,” he agrees, “it felt more oppressive. Less… safe.”

“How odd,” Ran notes, her tone falling quiet, “that a police station no longer feels like a place of safety.”

“Quite odd,” Saguru agrees. He shakes his head, the thought away. “Knowing what we do though… it does make sense. After the murders and especially after yesterday.”

“I can’t help but wonder how deep it goes,” Ran says. “It’s difficult to know who we can trust.”

Saguru’s frown deepens.

Ran supposes it’s natural for them to worry. Knowing now that there’s corruption within the police force, there’s more difficulty in getting their case listened to. To know who to go to about the trouble they’ve found themselves trapped within.

She’s not used to mistrusting others. There’s a limit to her distrust in others that Ran finds is slowly becoming larger and larger.

If only Shinichi were here by her side, maybe then with Saguru the three of them would be able to figure out who’s worth trusting, which members of the force they could turn to. Until then though… Ran supposes that she and Saguru are stuck on their own–

“Ran-san,” Saguru says, voice dropping to a whisper as they continue walking down the street. He practically pulls her from her thoughts, from how she’s been staring at the cracks in the pavement as they walk.

It’s not a tone that suggests things are alright. It’s the kind of tone that implies something is wrong, a tone that floods her system with instant adrenaline. She’d look around to look for whatever must have happened to illicit such a tone, but that’d give them away.

“What is it?” She asks, keeping her gaze straight ahead instead and trying her best to keep any rising worry from showing on her face. It filters into her tone though, leaving the ends of her voice shaking.

“There’s a car parked nearby us,” Saguru continues, and if it weren’t for the whisper, his voice would seem entirely conversational. It contains a calm that she can’t replicate. “If my memory serves us correctly, it was parked outside the apartment yesterday.”

Ran has to force her body not to freeze over, to keep moving despite the slosh of slush that her blood becomes. To act like she’s never felt cold in her life.

“I.. I don’t remember taking note of any…” Ran stumbles over the words. Walking past another building, she moves her gaze towards the window, scanning cars in the reflection that meets her.

There’s a car nearby that could look similar, but most of them look like cars she’s seen before. She recites the plate number, unable to keep from shivering as Saguru nods.

“That’s the one,” he says. “Now, it could just belong to the waitress that we saw earlier, but…”

But the car isn’t empty.

Ran’s relieved she thought to look at the reflection in the window and hadn’t turned. Details may be hard to make out of who is inside the car, but at least neither of them had blatantly given away the fact that they knew.

“You think we’re being watched?” Ran asks. “Followed?”

“I think,” Saguru says, “that I don’t want to weigh anything up as a coincidence on the off chance that we’re wrong. And… that anyone smart enough to frame Kudo-kun for his crimes, would also be thorough enough to know the identity of his girlfriend and close friends.”

Ran breathes in deeply. At her sides, she balls her hands into fists, nails digging into her skin before loosening them again. She repeats the movement, the sharpness of her nails against her palms reminding her of the glass Sonoko had removed from her back.

“So,” Ran breathes, “we should probably try to lose them when we reach the station.”

“No,” Saguru says, voice low. “We should lose them now.”

Ran turns to him – the paleness of Saguru’s face doesn’t look like it’s caused by pain, but rather, by rising anxiety and a sense of impending doom. Like something’s about to go entirely wrong.

“They’ll know we have something to hide then.”

He shakes his head, walk picking up in speed. Ran, naturally, speeds her footsteps to mimic his. “I don’t know if it’s simply paranoia, but I think I saw a glint of something from the car.”

It could easily be just the sun’s reflection on the metal bonnet of the car, or the rearview mirrors of the vehicle. But… it could just as easily be something more sinister.

“They wouldn’t do anything in broad daylight,” Ran reasons. “Would they?”

“I don’t know,” Saguru admits. “But I find that I’d rather not risk it again. All it takes is a few seconds and  we’re not in a dark room beneath windows now, Ran-san. We wouldn’t see any targets on our backs.”

Again, Ran shivers.

“Alright,” she breathes. “The park. We can cut through Hibiya park and head to a different station. We should be able to lose them there.”

-

“How exactly are we going to find a motorbike?” Aoko asks as they begin to head closer to the outskirts of Osaka. She doesn’t doubt that Kaito has a plan, and that there’s a high likelihood that they’ll be able to find access to a motorbike in no time at all, but she is curious.

“Magic,” Kaito says, letting out a low laugh when she punches him on the shoulder. “Hey! I’m injured you know.”

“I don’t care,” Aoko says, “you deserved it.”

And it’s not like she’d punched him anywhere close to his injury, she’s not a sociopath or anything.

“You monster,” Kaito complains, and Aoko offers a faux innocent smile in response, letting out a sharp laugh as he offers a pout. Always so charming, isn’t he? “Now I refuse to tell you.”

“Come on,” Aoko whines. “I just want to know.”

“I know a guy,” Kaito says. “Or well… Jii knows a guy, and I helped him out in the past. If I phone Jii, he’ll be able to smooth things over.”

“No questions asked?” Aoko asks.

Kaito’s grin is sharp, cunning in a way that makes Aoko think of heists and being able to lead people around in circles with hardly a thought. She feels her lips tugging up in response as she waits for his response.

“No questions asked.”

-

They make it into Hibiya part with little issue. Obscured by the sight of trees and shrubs, Ran feels her heartrate begin to settle slightly.

“If they’re following us, they’ll either be watching the exits,” Saguru breathes, “or they’ll come after us on foot.”

Ran feels uncertainty slither into her bones. “Or both.”

“Or both,” Saguru agrees.

Maybe they’re overreacting, but Ran doesn’t want to run the risk of what could happen if they’re not. There’s a certain appeal to being wrong, of being able to laugh about how paranoid they’d been later, but right now it’s too dangerous to pretend otherwise.

They should’ve been more careful. At the apartment, with Shinichi’s case in general.

“So, what now?” Ran asks. “We could double back before they surround us, head to Kasumigaseki station like we were originally planning…?”

Saguru considers it, before shaking his head. “If we double back, we’re nearer to the station, and even if we could trust them, we have just stolen a lot of case files.”

Ran sighs.

This is true, she knows it is – but still there’s trepidation at the thought of everything building more and more.

“For now, lets head to Shinji pond,” Saguru says. The pond sat past the park’s fountain, opposite to a flower garden. While the idea of being in a more open space only adds more nervousness, Ran knows that the typical crowd would help them lose any potential tails that might follow them in.

“And then?” Ran asks. “Hibiya station is right there, we could get on a train there… Or… Yurakucho station is only a minute or two away from Hibiya station.”

Saguru nods. “Yurakucho station has a direct connection to Tokyo station. We should head for there and catch whatever train out of here that we can.”

Ran falls quiet, only offering a nod as Saguru notes that they should move faster. The first train out of here, meaning… Tokyo?

It makes sense – they’re well known in Tokyo; police know their faces and now they’ve been faced with the likelihood that the people who framed Shinichi know who they are as well. Staying in Tokyo makes no sense, not for them.

But still, Ran feels guilt well in her at the idea. Her dad would worry, would lead himself into panic and can she… can she really do this to him, without so much as an explanation?

It seems almost like they might not have a choice – she’ll phone him when they’re somewhere safe, somewhere hidden, but for now, Ran will just have to live with the fact. Of all the things to be worried over… how silly for her to be worrying about this.

“Come on,” Saguru says, leaning back to grab her hand and pull her forwards as he breaks into a run. His breathing sharpens, small gasps as he moves that leaves Ran frowning – there’s no doubt that he’ll have reopened his stitches once this is over, but… she supposes that’s something they’ll have to deal with when they have a moment of calm.

Running leads the pair to receive many strange looks – Ran is carrying a backpack, neither of them are in sportswear – but there’s little point in taking notice of these things. Instead, Ran looks for any signs of red, anyone looking suspicious, or focusing too heavily on them.

It’s hard to take that sort of information in when running so quickly. Ran isn’t used to processing so many people, registering them as potential threats and trying to see whether they’re to be immediately worried over or not.

It doesn’t take them long to reach the fountain plaza. They weave their way through the crowd, heading closer to the fountain, slowing in their movements as they take a moment to catch their breath.

“Notice anyone?” Saguru asks, voice strangled as he curls in on his side, arms protectively going over the wound he’d received the day previously. “Anyone worth remembering?”

She wishes that he would take the prescribed painkillers – he looks like he had when they’d made their way to Sonoko’s, ghost-like with an almost feverish sheen to his face, looking like he’d pass out from the pain but was holding on purely for her sake. Ran wouldn’t be surprised if he is.

Despite her wishes, she also knows he’ll refuse again if she mentions it. That he would claim the situation ‘too urgent’ to take even a few seconds for himself. She sighs.

“I don’t know,” Ran admits. “There’s… there’s so many people, it’s hard to take note of all of them. To know who we’re looking for.”

There’s some benefit for them in a crowd too, but they don’t have the luxury of not being known the way that their captors do.

“I know,” Saguru breathes, “we’ll… we’ll figure this out, Ran-chan.” He straightens back up, trying to keep the hurt from blending into the rest of his features. “Let’s keep going.”

Ran nods. They continue towards Shinji pond.

-

The sun sets with a kaleidoscope of pink and purple hues, the night sky illuminated by stars twinkling in and out of existence. Sitting on the bank and watching the road for any signs of Kuroba and Nakamori, Heiji’s fingers tap against his motorcycle helmet in an unsteady rhythm.

After the paranoia had ridden itself from his system, purged by logic and rationality, he’d returned home long enough to drop his school bag off before heading out.

Driving had helped settle his nerves. He’s always enjoyed having the freedom to go wherever he wants when on his bike, being able to survey the area around him, feeling the force of the wind against him as he drives.

And it’s not like it hadn’t been useful, either. It’d given him the opportunity to scout out the roadblocks that have been set up around Osaka to catch Kudo. Knowing which routes were cut off where, and which back streets were blocked off.

Heiji would’ve marked off the blocks on a map if the act of being caught with something so suspicious didn’t leave him nervous of being caught. He glances at his watch – they’re not exactly late, considering their leeway of thirty minutes, but Kuroba and Nakamori haven’t showed yet.

“If they’ve run into some sorta trouble…” Heiji mumbles, shaking his head. They’ve still got twenty minutes.

He’s lucky that it’s not too cold – the path is obscured by trees that keep the wind from assaulting him, and his bikers jacket keeps any remaining cold from creeping in.

Another five minutes pass, and then there’s the outline of two figures coming into view. Heiji pushes himself up, reaching for his helmet as he watches the motorcycle come to a stop.

It looks second hand – nothing particularly flashy about it. The body isn’t heavy, capable of reaching higher speeds, something that can easily help them get away quickly if the need arises.

“Hattori-kun,” Nakamori says as the motorcycle comes to a stop. She lifts her visor, and beneath it, is a face more recognisable, previous mask removed. Her eyes crinkle with faint amusement. “Sorry we’re late.”

“It’s time to go meet Shinichi,” Kuroba says.

-

Shinji pond isn’t too far, but as they keep moving, Saguru’s movements become more unsteady and pained. Ran bites the side of her lip, considering whether he’d be offended by any offer to help.

“Saguru-kun,” Ran says, as she tries to catch her breath.

“I can keep going,” he hisses in response. “We have to keep moving, just in case.”

Ran isn’t happy about it, but she agrees. She pauses, before making her way to his side, and lifting his arm to rest over her shoulder. “This should help.”

Saguru lets out a small sigh but otherwise makes no effort to protest. It’s easier to move together like this, they can move quickly while Ran is aiding him like this, keeping him balanced whenever a footstep sends a small spasm of pain rushing through his body.

“I told you,” Ran breathes, “that you should’ve taken those pain killers.”

“Wouldn’t have kicked in yet anyway,” Saguru protests, just as breathlessly. He shakes his head. “Doesn’t matter now anyway.”

They don’t quite continue sprinting, but they do manage to fall into a faster jog. Again, Ran ignores any looks they might gain, keeping her focus on Saguru and their immediate surroundings.

Saguru stumbles again, letting out another gasp as the pain wracks through his entire core.

“Shinji pond isn’t too far now,” Ran says, an attempt at reassuring him. Seeing him in so much pain, unable to help, makes it hard to focus on anything else.

“I know…”

Another step forwards and Ran’s back feels like it’s burning. Not a physical sensation, but as if there’s a weight of someone watching her, following them. Her speed slows slightly as she turns, glancing around the path they’re heading down.

Nothing.

“Ran-san?” Saguru asks.

There’s no one in this area – it’s entirely quiet compared to the other areas of the park they’ve passed. No tourists, no one sitting at the benches that they pass.

The route seems altogether wrong. Unnaturally quiet.

“Doesn’t this… feel too empty for how the park usually is?” Ran asks, scanning for any signs of movement in her peripheral vision. Saguru pauses, going still as he glances around too.

“…It does.” He agrees, after a brief pause. “Let’s keep going before anything–”

It takes less than a second for Saguru to yank her to the side. Despite her initial response, Ran falls into the movement, moving out of reach as dirt explodes in a plume around them accompanied by a sound that ricochets inside her ears.

Ran catches herself as they fall to the side, rolling into the movement to return easily to her feet. Saguru, less graceful, doesn’t find his feet as easily. He collapses in the dirt with a pained yelp and Ran barely manages to pull him up to his feet before the next shot fires towards them.

“Shit,” Saguru hisses. “Ran-san, he’s on your left. Eight o’clock.”

Ran turns, moving from reach of a third shot, to look towards their attacker. She supposes she should be less surprised by how unrecognisable they are to her – a man with shaggy brown hair hid beneath a black cap, eyes covered by shades.

She doesn’t know why she’d been expecting them to be known to her.

His expression is blank as he swings the gun to follow after their movements.

“Saguru-kun,” Ran whispers, “promise me you won’t get hit.”

Not again.

“I’ll try my best,” Saguru whispers back. Ran releases the fabric of his clothing, side stepping away from him as she glances towards their attacker. She doesn’t know much about guns – but there’s some things that Ran has picked up after years of surrounding herself with detectives.

Most traditional handguns hold five to six bullets – So far, they’ve used three.

That means they just need to dodge three more.

Ran rushes forward. The fourth shot seems to go wide, missing her completely as she begins to move in a zig-zag formation, trying to keep it hard for any aim to hit her. It’ll be harder, she knows, the closer she gets towards him.

Saguru moves behind her, but Ran doesn’t pay him notice – trust that he’ll keep himself safe.

The fifth bullet takes a second longer to fire. The gun moves in her direction and Ran lunges to the side, hoping to avoid the bullet. A sharp searing burn forms in her thigh, but adrenaline seems to be a temporary balm soothing it from setting her leg alight.

“Ran-san!” Saguru shouts, and he’s closer than she’d been expecting.

The sixth shot is aimed higher – aimed towards her chest.

Ran dodges, throws her body to the left, twisting in an attempt to keep her body from being a larger target. She can practically feel the bullet brushing past, just millimetres from her body. Their attacker takes a step back, lips pressing into a tight line, brows furrowing down beneath the curve of his lenses.

He doesn’t say a word.

They both know he’s out of bullets.

“Wait–”

Ran takes a millisecond to ground herself as she gets even closer. She begins to lift her leg, tensing her muscles for a kick–

“That gun has eight rounds,” Saguru cries as he pushes her to the side.

A seventh gunshot bursts through the clearing.

Ran turns just in time to watch Saguru stagger backwards, falling to the ground. His hands lift up to his head, quiet, silent.

“Saguru-kun!” She cries, voice choked and raw.

It feels like she’s living in slow motion as she rebalances herself. The gun raises, aimed solely on Saguru, and Ran feels a guttural scream building in her throat.

“No!”

She brings her leg up – quickly, harshly – to the man’ s side. Caught off guard, he doesn’t move with the momentum, taking a second to reorientate himself.

Ran realises that a lot can happen within a single second.

Her leg returns to the ground. With the momentum, Ran propels forward, hands going up around the man’s wrist, tightly as she begins to bend the joint back. There’s a faint grunt of pain from her attacker, but Ran’s ears are still vibrating from each gunshot to make any notice.

The gun clatters to the ground before he can take another shot.

Ran kicks it away, before bringing her foot back and using it to swipe the man’s feet out from beneath him.

It’s not enough to get him to fall – not until Ran throws herself forwards, pulling on the back of his shirt to skew his balance. He falls back, and Ran falls down with him, moving to pin his wrists against the floor.

The hold doesn’t stick. The man bucks beneath Ran, knee moving up into her side as he proceeds to throw her to the side. Ran rolls at the impact, wheezing slightly as she pushes back up.

“Fucking kids,” the man hisses, as he pushes up to his feet. Ran rises to a crouch, before advancing again, each hand balled into a fist that strikes out. He just barely manages to dart back from each one.

When it comes to speed, it seems they’re evenly matched.

“Never understood Gin before,” the man mutters as he darts back, eyes narrowing. His hand disappears behind his back, towards his waist – reaching for something. Ran narrows her eyes. “Why he always said to bring a second.”

Ran freezes, waiting. She knows not to take any sudden movements when there’s an unknown variable. If something shows up now…

Well. Ran doesn’t want to make any other mistakes.

“Didn’t need to understand to follow orders though,” he continues, pulling out an identical handgun to the other. Sunlight catches the end of the barrel in such a way that Ran winces at the brightness, at the sight of it.

She’s beginning to feel the blood trickling down her thigh.

Ran grits her teeth, lifting her chin up as she considers. The gun moves quickly in her attacker’s hands, arms straightening preparing for the recoil of the weapon. Finger hovering over the trigger as Ran prepares to jump away from the aim of the barrel.

Another gunshot.

Blood spurts onto Ran’s shirt, her eyes widening as she stares. Her attacker staggers backwards, neck blooming with red as he crumples down to the ground. Ran stumbles back, horrified, turning towards the origin of the sound.

Staring at the body, eyes blown with dread, Saguru lowers the handgun, letting it drop into the dirt. Ran doesn’t know where she should be focusing – the body twitching on the ground, not dead but dying, as blood spurts from the neck. Or at Saguru, as he slowly pushes himself up.

“He… was going to kill us both,” Saguru says, quietly. He’s entirely too ashen, the colour only further highlighted by the red of his blood dripping down his chin from just above his ear. “It… I didn’t know how else…”

Ran’s voice is caught in her throat. It’s like each bullet, each deafening gunshot has left her unable to create sound in the vacuum left behind. She turns back to the body. Takes a step closer.

“I didn’t…” Saguru continues, barely breathing. The panic hasn’t just entered his voice, it’s consumed it, leaving him shaky. “I’m – I’m sorry. I… he was going to murder you.”

Ran blinks tears from her eyes, turning to Saguru. Away from the body – she can’t keep looking at it, doesn’t want to burn the image even further into her mind. She’s going to have nightmares of this moment. Ran just knows she will.

One step closer to Saguru. Then another, until she’s basically stumbling with the way she’s running towards him. Her arms wrap around him, and if the faint stutter of his breath is any indication, she’s squeezing as she hugs him close to her.

I thought you were dead, she doesn’t say.

“I know,” she whispers, instead. Ran closes her eyes, leaning into him, trying to catch her breath as the adrenaline and shock begins to subside. “I know.”

Saguru falls quiet, leaning into her. She can feel his exhaustion – despite her own pain, from both new and older injuries, she’s exhausted too. She wants to lie down and sleep for a lifetime, but she can’t. They can’t, not yet.

They shouldn’t be here.

Ran pulls back, glancing back to the body. “Saguru-kun… we need to go.”

Saguru glances at the corpse, flinches, and focuses back onto Ran. “Yeah… Here… wear this – it’ll… it’ll cover the blood you have on you.”

He unzips his jacket, shrugging it off awkwardly as he tries to keep from twisting too much. Ran takes the offering, shrugging it on over her shirt with a faint sigh.

“Thanks…” Ran turns, looking to the handgun that Saguru had dropped. His fingerprints will be on it – they… they shouldn’t leave it behind. Collecting the gun, she pushes the safety on, before stashing it at the very bottom of her bag.

“Ran-san?” Saguru asks, quietly.

“Everything they did to Shinichi,” Ran says, “they did with no evidence. Imagine what they could do with this.”

The only possible way Saguru could grow paler than he is now, Ran thinks, is through exsanguination. He nods, slowly.

“We’ll… have to find a way to get rid of it,” Saguru mumbles.

“Later,” Ran says. “Come on, we… we need to get out of here.”

[monsoonblooms12]

Detectives By Chance: Chapter 5- Buried Remembrances

A/N: Hi, how is everyone doing? Honestly I don’t know how I am doing. I had a massive breakdown just now and my mom is still yelling at me. Everything has just been a mess. So, please ignore any mistakes, and I am really sorry if it is not good. I am just not in the best state of mind rn and if I don’t post it, I will never get it done. Sorry for the ramble and I hope you still enjoy reading whatever this is 💛

Series Summary: It was supposed to be a usual weekend for the four. Coffee, fun, friends and love. But an unexpected case changed their lives in a way they had never imagined. A mystery - a murder - many secrets… Will Ethan, Pooja, Alexandra and Mark, be able to survive? Or will the circumstances twist and break their lives forever?

Pairing: Ethan × f!MC (Dr. Pooja Sharma)

Disclaimer: PB owns most of the characters. I only own the OCs and my MC.

Word count: ~2K

Triggers: Mentions of blood, murder

But the memories that hang heaviest are the easiest to recall. They hold in their creases the ability to change one's life, organically, forever. Even when you shake them out, They've left permanent wrinkles in the fabric of your soul.

Ethan, Pooja and Alex were stupefied on seeing Mark's condition. He was the jolliest man they have ever known, his happy-go-lucky personality and on-point sense of humour acted as a charm on the surrounding people. This was one of the qualities which made him an amazing doctor because he could relieve patients from their sorrows and pain and make them open up.

But seeing him like this, so broken, so fragile made them realize that a smile sometimes hides a thousand scars behind it.

"Mark, listen to me!! I cannot see you like this. Please calm down. I am damn worried" Alex said, keeping tears at the brink.

"Lex, I love you. You are my strength, my power. Hell, you are my everything. Don't cry. If you cry, I won't be able to tell what I want to. And the pain will again kill me inside." Mark pleaded.

"Okay, I will try to keep as calm as possible. But, promise me, if matters start getting out of hand, you will stop." Alex said.

"Yes, Mark. If someone knows something about painful childhoods that is Ethan and me. So if you can't talk about it, you won't talk about it. We are heck worried about you, man!" Pooja said.

"I Promise. If I feel like having a nervous breakdown, I will stop. But please hear me out. These memories have stayed hidden for so long that now they feel like a burden. I need to get them out."

Then Mark began continuing his story,

"Remember when I told you in the car that I had a brother?"

"Yes, you said that. I suppose your pain was caused by your brother's death?" Ethan asked

"Ha Ha Ha" Mark let out a bitter laughter. "No, that man is not dead. Yes, my pain is caused by my brother but not by his death. By his deeds."

"He was my favourite person in the world. He was my best friend, my study partner, the person who would listen to my endless rambles. He was the only person who understood me and my thoughts. Or, at least that's what I th-th-thought."

Mark paused, face pale. Something was not right.

"Mark, are you alright? MARK!?" Alex exclaimed.

Mark was slowly losing consciousness. He said slowly, "P-P-Please t-t-take m-me-home... I-I c-can't stand b-being here."

The three sprang into action. Ethan helped Mark in the backseat of the car. Alex sat beside him, placing his head on her shoulder. Pooja sat in the passenger seat. Ethan got behind the wheel and drove to their penthouse.

After reaching, they seated Mark and tried to change the topic for him to feel better. The tension cooled down, and Mark felt better.

"You all are the damn best people in the world. I could never imagine anyone to be so concerned for me. Everybody used to see a happy face and think I am fine. But no one understood my pain like you three do." Mark said, gratitude and love shining in his eyes.

"But, I need to complete my tale. Now that I am feeling better and that we are home, I am sure there will be no more troubles."

Mark continued his story.

"Also, did I tell you that my brother was my inspiration to become a doctor? He was the first doctor in our family. When he was in Med school, he used to tell me the things he learnt. He built that interest for medicine in me."

"Wait a sec!" Pooja stopped him abruptly. "Stop me if I am over-stepping, but your brother is a doctor?! But, But-" She couldn't complete the sentence, but everyone understood what she was thinking.

"Baby, we should not jump into conclusions. Let Mark complete." Ethan stopped her from putting out her thoughts.

"Yes, my brother is or at least was a doctor. B-Before he, he..." Mark stuttered.

"Before he was arrested."

The three gasped. Mark's brother, was arrested?!

"Wait what, he was... arrested? But why? " Alex said, surprise in her tone.

"He, he was arrested for prescribing the WRONG DOSES OF MEDICINES TO HIS PATIENTS" Mark shouted, anger boiling and tears welling up in his eyes. "HE FREAKING MURDERED AT LEAST 3 OF HIS PATIENTS BECAUSE HE PRESCRIBED THEM SUPER HIGH DOSES OF THEIR DRUGS" The tears left his eyes.

"A-And he didn't stop there. He tried to k-k-kill our dad. He...He tried to inject a heavy dose of benzodiazepine to our dad." Mark completed. The horror and shock was evident on the other three's faces. Mark's brother, tried... to kill his dad? But why?

"But why in god's name did he ever do that?" Ethan asked.

"No one knows. The police questioned him for days, months, but got no reply. The only thing he used to do was laugh on their faces and tell them that he will get his revenge." Mark said.

"The day he was arrested, since that day he was considered dead by our family. But the news had a devastating effect on our family. Patients called, hurled abuses, threatened to kill. The neighbours threatened to throw us out. With my dad being sick, me and my mom had to bear it all. All this broke her. So once I got into residency, I took my mom and dad out of that horrid place and brought them to NYC with me."

"But their joy lasted less. My mom, she died within six months of transferring. My dad stayed a little longer. T-The last day of my residency was the last day of is life. And you know what were his last words?"

"What?" The other three asked in unison.

"Don't become Miles" Mark says, tears flowing down his eyes. But, as the three observed, a sense of calm spread through his face. As if a weight had been lifted, from his soul.

"So your brother's name was..."

"Miles, yaa."

"Mark, I hope you are feeling better now. Getting that all out, it must have been a hell of a pain." Pooja asked, remembering her painful childhood.

"Yes, it is. God, I needed to do this. Now I am feeling so fresh, so new. I can finally leave those dark times behind me and start leaving a new life." Mark spoke with a flicker of new hope, new life.

All the while, listening to Mark's story, Pooja was thinking about her pain. Her tale, her own story. She saw how calm and peaceful Mark was after getting it all out. Even after trying, she couldn't remember him being this peaceful, anytime before. She realized that today or tomorrow, she had to take it all out. No matter how hard she tried to bury it, it would come out.

"Mark, do you think, you-your brother could do..." Alex asked with a bit of uneasiness.

"Nothing impossible for a man who tried to kill his father. And also, I am damn sure if the card brought us to my childhood neighbourhood, it would lead to his private clinic. Only he had his practice set up there." Mark scoffed.

"We should look into that. But first we need to check on the questions we had written in our notebook. We need to complete the research as soon as possible. Mark, Lex, can you stay here for the night, we could finish it today itself if you two could be here." Ethan said.

"Yaa, we surely can. No, we would love to. You know, whose is a better tension-calmer than me, hmm? I am a humour boss." And with that, old Mark was back.

"Sure, Mark, sure. But maybe the points to the best sarcasm goes to Lex?" Ethan chuckled.

"Ohh, Ramsey. That's what makes me and Walton soulmates." Mark said, trying to pull Alex into a hug.

"Mark, SHUT UP! You know I hate hugs. I hugged you earlier because I was hecking worried. Now, hush!" Alex said, trying to hide a giggle and spectacularly failing

After a few more moments of laughter, the four set to work. They thought they would not find much about their questions on the 'net, but what they read shocked them more and more. As they got the information, they started writing it down below the respective questions.

1. Who is Mr Davis? Why was he targeted?

Richard Davis. 43. Investment banker. Originally pursuing Medicine, later went on to pursue his interest in investment banking.

2nd part: No answer

2. Why did no one from his associations never come to question about him?

No answers

3. Why did the murderer target Pooja and Alex? How does he know them?

No answer. But speculating that the murderer is Miles Danvers.

4. How was the murder committed?

Acute cyanide poisoning. Throat slit afterwards.

5. Addresses.

Address No. 1 checked, the MedMinders Store. Not checked Address 2 but is possibly Miles Danvers's private clinic.

6. MedMinders Drug Store

Checked. Valuable information received.

7. D.I.B.S.15

No Idea.

"So far, so less. We are beautifully lacking on information." Mark remarked.

"Agreed. Agreed. But wasn't this man supposed to be high-profile?" Alex said

"Maybe high-profile with full pockets. Not fame." Pooja said.

Ethan however, did not partake in the discussion. He was busy thinking something.

"Ethan? What are you thinking?" Pooja asked on seeing his furrowed eyebrows."

"I think I might know what D.I.B.S.15 means," Ethan said

"What? I mean, how? That could mean anything" Alex said, visibly surprised.

"No, not anything. I think it means, 'Davis, Investment Banker, Scam 2015" Ethan put out his thoughts.

"D, understood, I.B, understood, but S and 15? How did you deduce them to be scam 2015?" Pooja asked.

"I remember reading about it. It was one of the biggest investment scams ever. And it was speculated that some high-profile investment banker was behind it. But the real culprit was never caught." Ethan laid out his thoughts.

"So, this man is a fish of the deep waters. He is so much more than what we thought." Mark said

"And that also means that if somebody had come to know about it, then he had enough enemies. This mystery is getting tangled with every passing moment." Alex said.

While talking and discussing possible theories, they looked at the clock. 2 at night.

"Oh, dear! We have work tomorrow. God, let's get some sleep, otherwise we will be like living zombies in the halls tomorrow." Pooja said, giggling.

The four tidied up the living room, said their goodnights and went to sleep.

The nightmares began again. Pooja couldn't sleep an ounce. She was too afraid to close her eyes. The memories terrified her.

Enough. No more nightmares. No more suffering. No more sleepless nights. She was tired of feeling so powerless.

"Ethan, Ethan" She gave him a jerk.

"What is it, Poo? Are you okay, is it the nightmares again?" Ethan woke up with a start.

"I need to tell you. All about this. I cannot bear it any more." Pooja said.

"I am all ears, baby. Tell me everything. If this can make you sleep, I am ready to wake all night to listen to you." Ethan said, pulling her in his arms.

Enclosed in his arms, she laid it all in front of him. The way her mother was murdered. The way she was kidnapped when she was only 11. The terror she felt when she was all alone. The horror when she saw the bloody knife. And the heartbreak and pain she felt when it was found out to be her aunt, her mother's sister was behind all it. The disgust that she felt towards her when she revealed her sinister plans, her hunger for money.

At last, everything was out. As if she was free. As if now, there were no troubles in her life. But what happened till now was only the taste of a sinister plan. The actual dish was yet to be served.

PS: If you have come this far, I am truly grateful to you. I just hope to be at a better place the next time and be okay. But I will stop this ramble now and I hope you have a great day ahead💕   

Tags: @bbrandy2002 @kaavyaethanramsey @ohramsey  @hopelessromanticmonie @trrfanaddict @nervoussaladsludgeopera @imonlybibecauseofethanramsey @lovablegranny @bellcat2010 @gkittylove99 @kingliam2019@3riche @chetachisblog @starrystarrytrouble @arcticrivers @aylaramseycarrera @drariellevalentine @mvalentine​ @aestheticartsx​@angela8754​ @schnitzelbutterfingers​ @ao719​ @choicesstan1 @nikki-2406​ @neotericthemis​ @openheartfanfics​ @choicesficwriterscreations​

[babybakuu]

how to mend a broken heart

Pairings: Bakugou Katsuki x Reader & Todoroki Shouto x Reader

Warnings: Cursing

Word count: 8424

A/N: my first time posting on tumblr so pls be gentle lmao thanks

It was strange- the way his crimson eyes linger over the cute bubbly girl off in the distance. Was he even looking at her or was he staring off in her direction? Did he even notice he was zoning out? “Earth to Katsuki.” You say, eyes never leaving his face. You could see it. His eyes following her every move and when she smiled- a faint pink dusted his cheeks. Did he even notice you next to him? “Katsuki.” You say a little louder this time, giving him a poke on his arm. 

“Holy fuck!” He growls, head snapping around, eyes glaring but instantly softening as soon as he realizes who it is. ���Don’t sneak up on me like that!” 

“You like her?” You tease. It wasn’t possible right? The Great Bakugou Katsuki has a crush on Uraraka? “Shut the hell up.” 

Oh. He didn’t deny it. 

“So..you do like her?” He doesn’t reply, instead he kind of just stands there- hands shoved deep into his pockets, his pink dusted cheeks now the color of Kirishima’s hair, and even though he never answered the question, it was painfully obvious. 

“You two would look cute together.” 

His ears perk up at the comment and a faint smile is slowly spreading across his face but how could he not notice the hurt in your eyes? You two had been friends for as long as you can remember and he knew you better than you even knew yourself. 

Maybe love really did blind people. 

“Me and round face?” He scoffs but it’s obvious he’s pleased at the remark. The way he attempts to hide his smile behind his words could never get past you. You spent years learning his language and now those years were easily tossed down the drain. But when his eyes light up with the faintest hint of a smile tugging at the corner of his lips and the goofiest expression on his face, you can’t help but wonder what kind of Katsuki was this? You knew angry Katsuki, determined Katsuki, even sad Katsuki but never had you seen in love Katsuki. 

“Want me to help you?” You have no idea why those words slip past your lips. Maybe it was the expression he wore on his face- it was so vulnerable (another Katsuki you’ve never seen before) or maybe it was because he looked so..happy? 

Yeah. 

That was it. 

He looked over the fucking moon happy. But guilt settles in your stomach. Why were you so hurt, so bitter about his new found happiness? He deserved to be happy even if you weren’t in the picture. 

“Do whatever you want.” He mutters. 

Translation- yes please. 

As your heart aches and eyes gloss over, you find yourself attempting to smile but failing miserably. “Shit.” You mutter rubbing your eyes. “I think I got something in my eyes.”

“You fucking idiot. Let me see.” He moves closer, hands on either side of your face as you blink away the tears. “Stop blinking already.” He scolds, leaning in even closer. Was he just chewing mint gum? 

He pries your eyes open with his thumb and index finger- hands extremely warm and a little clammy, but you don’t mind. Maybe he would notice how sad your eyes look or maybe he would notice you crying over some imaginary dust in your eyes and ask you what had you so upset? 

“I don’t see anything.” He huffs.

“But it really hurts.” You mutter pushing his hands away and rubbing your eyes. Well, it wasn’t a complete lie. Your heart ached and seeing how seeing how in love he was- it fucking hurt. 

“I’m taking you to Recovery Girl.” He reaches to grab your hand but you jerk backwards. The feeling of his touch lingering on your face was something you once loved but now it only felt empty. 

“I think I’m okay now.” You instantly stop rubbing your eyes, blink back the tears, and grit your teeth.

“You sure? Let me see-” He reaches for your face again but you swat his hand away.

“No. I’m good.” 

“You sure?” His eyebrows are furrowed and concern is written all over his face. You nod and with that, you both make your way back to the dorms. You, uncharacteristically quiet. And Katsuki? Too wrapped up in his own thoughts to even notice. 

Your heart aches. 

The next morning you don’t feel well enough to go to class but he still stands at the front of the dorms waiting, blowing up your phone, ready to storm up to your room until Uraraka steps out. You were busy spying on him from the comfort of your bedroom window- first class seats to the Katsuki and Uraraka love show. “Bakugou? You waiting for (F/N)?” 

“Yeah.” He mutters, his shoulders slumped over a little more than usual and was he looking at his feet? He never did that. 

“She told me she’s not feeling too well.” She says, brushing a piece of hair behind her ear. “Did you want to walk to class together?”

He nods. 

Your heart breaks for the millionth time that hour and you sigh. What could you do besides cry? So you throw yourself into your bed, curl up under the covers, and desperately try to erase his goofy love sick face out of your mind. 

After school, you could hear people trickle into the dorm (curse being on the 2nd floor closest to the entrance!). Izuku rolls in with Uraraka, Todoroki closely behind with Iida, and Katsuki nowhere in sight. Was it bad you were slightly relieved? From the events that transpired this morning, you thought they were probably dating already. I mean, who wouldn’t want to date Bakugou Katsuki? He was handsome, strong, smart- everything anyone could ever want. 

Knock, knock, knock. 

You debate on whether or not you should open the door. Did you want someone to see you like this? Swollen eyes, a nose irritated from constant wiping and blowing, and hair tied up in a day old messy bun.

Knock, knock, knock. 

There was silence. You hope whoever it was left- you wanted to stay under your covers, in the dark, alone. 

Completely alone. 

“Oi! Open the fuck up!” There was only one person that harsh but caring tone belonged to. You mentally groan. 

“Of all people.” You mumble under your breath. He was definetly the last person you wanted to see right now. 

“You have 5 seconds before I blow this door open!” 

“Coming!” You practically had  no choice. He really would obliterate your door in to a thousand bits and pieces. With one quick movement, you swing the door open two be greeted with a set of crimson eyes and a set of big brown orbs. Your heart drops. 

“You look like shit.” 

“Thank you captain obvious.” Your eyes are automatically rolling at the comment. 

“You feeling better?” Uraraka questions, her face filled with concern. 

“Just sick but uh- thanks for stopping by. I would really like to go back to bed.” Your attempting to close the door but curse Bakugou Katsuki and his fast reflexes.  He shoves his foot in the crack of the door and his eyes narrow in on you. “You sure you’re okay?” His voice is soft and it makes your heart skip a beat. You’re practically melting at the sound but you piece yourself back together and fake a smile. 

“I’m fine.” You reply sternly and for a second he believes you but when your voice cracks and your eyes water, his eyes narrow in on you even more as if he’s analyzing. 

“Well, Bakugou and I went to go get you some medicine.” Uraraka says, holding a bag up to the door quickly taking his attention off of you. “We also got you some of your favorite snacks. Or I supervised while Bakugou grabbed everything.” She laughs. 

And the first thing that crosses your mind is that she’s sweet. An angel really. But when did they have the chance to go to the store together. Was it this morning? Or the little time they had before they came back to the dorms? But they didn’t walk back together? Your mind is racing 100 miles per hour. 

“You gonna take it or what?” Katsuki questions, snapping you out of your thoughts. You reach out, taking the bag, and muttering a small thank you. 

“I hope you get well soon!” She exclaims and with that, you give both of them a curt nod of your head, the smallest smile, and close the door. But you swear you catch a glimpse of Katsuki contemplating something. 

You miss school again the next day but on the third day, you decide to pry yourself out of the comfort of your bed and go to class. Aizawa would probably pardon 2 tardies but 3? He would personally escort you to class himself. Purposely you woke up late, texting Katsuki to head off first with his new walking buddy, and you’ll be there later but besides that, everything was normal. Mina throws her arms around you as soon as she sees you crying about how she hasn’t seen you in forever, Kaminari is still telling those old dad jokes, Kirishima is a sweetheart like always, Sero still has that big grin on his face, and Katsuki? He’s still love struck. 

Ouch. 

But you push through, attempting to numb the pain by distracting yourself. Throughout the day you hardly look at him, made only light conversation and that made everything bearable, until cooking class rolls around. You thought it would be easy since you were paired up with Mina and Kirishima. You thought they would distract you. You thought, you wouldn’t have to even think about those two together. Until you turn around to glance in his direction out of habit. And as if fate would have it, they were paired up together. 

Mina was first to notice. 

The way you grit your teeth, the way you held that rolling pin in your hands a little too tightly, and the way your eyes look like they were ready to sprinkle the dough with tears, she could tell something was wrong.. “Are you okay?” She whispers her voice full of concern and worry. But you don’t say anything, instead, her eyes follow yours and land on the blonde boy. Did he just laugh at something Uraraka had said? You turn away and go back to rolling the dough out. “Oh my god no way. He likes her?” 

"..Yeah.”. 

“I told you to tell him how you really feel!” She half whispers and half shouts. You shoot her a look and she instantly lowers her tone. But she stands there for a minute watching you roll out the dough and attempting to hold back your tears. “(F/N).” What was that? That tone of voice? Her face? “Let me know if you need anything.” 

You merely nod, too scared to say anything because at this point you were one step away from sobbing in the middle of cooking class. “Ladies! We’re here to make the best cookies in town- not stand by and idly chit-chat!” Kirishima playfully scolds while holding a rolling pin in one hand and hitting it against the palm of his other hand. “Those girl scouts aren’t going to beat us this year! Let’s get back to work!” 

Mina rolls her eyes and folds her arms against her chest. “And what have you been doing? (F/N) and I have basically done everything.” 

“Supervising.” He states with a big shit eating grin on his face. “I mean if you want I can help-”

“Wait actually nevermind, we don't need another fire in the kitchen.” 

There’s a prominent pout on Kirishima’s face and a small giggle erupts from your lips. Out of habit you glance back at Katsuki while giggling but surprisingly his eyes are already on you. He shoots you the softest smile that makes your insides warm and fuzzy and you can’t help send one back. In that moment you were okay again, even if it was for a little while. 

The uncontrollable crying stops after a week. You’ve gotten into the hang of faking your emotions, numbing yourself, and pushing those bitter thoughts out of your mind. But then they started dating. It had been only 2 weeks of them getting to know each other and they already got together. Katsuki always moved fast. 

He no longer walked to class with you, spent half of his lunch with his friends and the other half with his new girlfriend, and even after school they hung out together. You didn’t complain though, it made the healing process a little easier if he wasn’t around. Mina on the other hand was constantly around you even if you mentioned several times you were okay. She offered her shoulder to cry on and her room if you wanted to have a slumber party. She was a saint but she did drive you crazy sometimes. You were glad no one else besides her knew how heartbroken you were, or so you thought. 

At night, when it was a little too quiet and your room seemed to suffocate you, you walked downstairs into the common area with a blanket draped over your shoulders- your mind tired and your heart aching. Maybe you just needed a change of scenery and some fresh air. 

“Can’t sleep?” A voice questions. Your head whips around and there stands Todoroki with a cup of tea. When the hell did he get there? And what the hell was he doing down in the common area at 2 in the morning? 

“You almost made me shit myself.” You mutters, slipping on your shoes at the front door. “But yeah, I can’t sleep.” 

“Where are you going?” 

“I need some fresh air.” 

“Can I join you?” 

You hesitate. All you really wanted was to be left alone for now. You were tired, heartbroken, and not sure if you were going to cry or not. How embarrassing would it be if you just busted out crying in front of him for seemingly no reason? “Sure.” You say, its a bit reluctant but he seems to just brush it off. 

He slides on his shoes at the front door and follows you outside, tea still in his hands. “What has you up so late?” You question as he sits down next to you on the front steps of the dorms. 

“Same as you, can’t sleep.” He replies simply taking a sip of his tea, you pull your blanket closer. 

A few minutes slip by and there’s an comfortable silence in the air. You’re enjoying the evening brisk wind, the quiet chirp of the crickets, and then like always your mind wanders off to the blonde. 

He was taken. 

He was happy. 

He was with her. 

“You want some tea?” Todoroki offers, holding the cup towards you, steam rising from the top. “My mom said warm things are good for a broken heart.” 

“W-what?” 

That completely catches you off guard.

“Warm things are good for a broken heart.” He repeats, not missing a beat. He motions for you to take the cup with his eyes.

“I thought I was doing pretty well at hiding it.” You sarcastically laugh, taking the cup from his hands, and taking a sip. The warmth from the tea fills your entire body, something a bit foreign to you for who knows how long. “What gave it away?” 

“The way you look at him.” He states, eyes soft. “And I hear you crying sometimes so I kind of just put two and two together. The walls are pretty thin you know.” 

“You’re really observant.” You laugh, it’s not like one of your wholehearted laughs. It’s small and there’s the tiniest hint of sadness in it. 

“I only observe people I’m interested in.” 

Wait. What? 

“Yeah, I like you. I have for a while.” Did he read your mind? Or did your expressions give it away? “You don’t have to say anything.” He chuckles, taking the tea back into his hands, his fingers grazing against yours for a second. He takes a sip. “I know this really isn’t the best time but..” He just shrugs and for a moment it’s silent. You’re attempting to wrap your mind around everything and he’s sitting there sipping his tea. But when a cold wind hits leaving you shivering, you glance over at the boy next to you. He’s not really phased but you scoot over next to him anyways, your thighs touching the slightest bit, and toss the extra blanket around his shoulder so you’re now both sharing it. 

“Thanks.” 

You nod. 

“Maybe, when I get over Katsuki..” Your voice trails off, eyes slowly glazing over as you stare forward into the void. “..we can revisit? I’m just not sure now, you know, with everything being so fresh. It kind of just hurts.” 

“I’d like that.” He smiles and for the first time without Katsuki on your mind, you notice how handsome he is.

“So, what else did your mom say about mending a broken heart?” You question slightly cocking your head to the side. You swear you see a faint blush on his cheeks under the moonlight. 

“Well, there’s warm things.” He states, he offers you the tea again and you take it. “She also said funny movies, the beach, and lots and lots of sweets but usually I just settle for a cup of tea. I feel like that one works best. A hug really works wonders as well.” Your eyes are a set a little too intensely on his face because you can see him shift uncomfortably in his seat but your expression softens once a thought pops into your head. 

Was he heart heartbroken over you?

“What?” He chuckles. “Boys get heartbroken too, especially when a pretty girl won’t even give them the time of day because she’s too caught up on some loud mouth boy.” He eyes you teasingly and you look away, the color pink shooting straight to your cheeks. “Or were you staring because you wanted a hug?” A playful smack lands on his leg and you roll your eyes but he simply removes the cup from your hand, places it on the ground next to you, and wraps his arms around your frame. 

He was right. A hug really did help. 

A week flew by. 

Having Shouto around eased the pain and made it bearable. He provided lots of warm tea, hugs when it was really needed, and dumb movies that always got a laugh out of you. You two were also planning on going to the beach tomorrow, another thing you could cross off of his mother’s list. 

Knock, knock, knock. 

“Come in!” You yell, while laying on your bed, watching another movie Shouto recommended. He said this one was his favorite. The door swings open revealing a blonde boy that you certainly weren’t expecting to see. “K-Katsuki?” You stutter, instantly pausing the movie on your laptop and sitting up. He cocks an eyebrow. “Why the fuck are you so shocked to see me?” His tone is harsh and rough around the edges as he sends a typical Katsuki glare your way.

“I just didn’t expect you? I thought you would be out with uh..Uraraka.” You weren’t sure if you were ready for this. Sure it had been a few weeks since this whole fiasco but you weren’t sure if your heart could take this. 

“I’m not allowed to hang out with my best friend?”

Ah. Yes. 

You were his best friend. 

Emphasis on the friend part. 

“What are you watching?” He asks as he makes himself comfortable on your bed, just like he always had done before. 

“A comedy Shouto suggested.” 

“IcyHot? He likes comedies?” Katsuki scoffs in disbelief. “You two have gotten really close recently huh.” His eyes narrow on your face and there’s a unreadable expression on his face. “You trying to replace me or something?” 

Yes. Yes I am. 

“No? What are you talking about?” 

“You.” He says as he flicks your nose “Getting a new best friend behind my back.” For a minute as your eyes water and you cover your nose with your hands, you forget that it’s been weeks since you last really talked to him, you forget that he’s interested in someone else, and you forget that he’s dating Uraraka. 

“That hurt!” You cry, hitting him with a pillow. “Asshole!” 

“Glad to see you’re back to normal. You’ve been off the last few weeks.” You stop your ruthless beating and turn back to the computer screen. Maybe Shouto was right, all the tea, the stupid movies, and the warm hugs, maybe they were mending your heart. “And when the hell did you get on a first name basis with the half and half bastard?” 

“A couple of days ago.” You mumble, as Katsuki stares you down. Were you blushing? Or did you have a fever? Your face felt hot. “He’s really nice.” 

“You like him?” 

“Not sure.” 

“Hmm.”

Wait. What the hell was that? It was brief but for a second he seemed almost..annoyed? 

“How are things with you and Uraraka?” You ask in an attempt to change the subject. Honestly, after asking you weren’t sure if that was the smartest idea. There was a sharp pain in your chest. 

“Whatever.” He states. 

Translation- fucking great. 

He clicks his tongue. 

Wait a minute. He only did that when he was really irritated. “I’m not sure if I like her. I mean, thinking she’s cute from afar and getting to actually know her are two fucking different things I guess.” His eyes hesitantly lock with yours. “I was thinking about it all day yesterday and I think I fucked up.” 

You cock your head to the side with your eyebrows furrowed and that’s when that goofy love sick smile you saw for the first time a few weeks ago appears on his face. But why the hell was he looking at you like that? “You don’t like her?” 

“I think I was projecting.” He’s blushing now and eyes staring anywhere but into yours. 

“Projecting..?”

“You know what? Forget I said anything.” He drops the subject, reaches past you, and hits play. When Katsuki says to drop something, you drop it. You don’t pry, you don’t ask him for more details, and you don’t mention it again. But as you sit next to him, eyebrows furrowed, watching the movie but at the same time not really watching the movie, he wished you pushed him just a little more. 

Katsuki stayed in your room uncharacteristically late that night. Mr. I-Knock-Out-At-8-PM was there until at least 1 am. Was he feeling guilty for spending all his time with his new girlfriend instead of his best friend? Or was he attempting to hide from her? His phone went off a few different times and each time he read the text, let out an annoyed huff, and then ignored it. 

“Let’s go out tomorrow.” He yawns while burying his face into your pillow. “I don't want to be here.” 

“Sorry, I’m busy.” You reply. “And you should go to bed, it's late.” His head snaps out of your pillow and his eyes meet yours.“Who the hell do you have plans with?” 

“I have other friends too.” You roll your eyes. 

“Is it IcyHot? Where are you two going? What are you two doing?” 

“We’re just going to the beach.” 

“Why?” 

How stupid would it sound if you told him it was because it mended broken hearts? Would you spill everything? Would you tell him you like him? Scratch that, you were in love with him for countless years. But would that even change anything? Would he choose you over Uraraka when you were just..you?

“Just wanted to go.” You shrug trying not to cry, you had honestly gotten pretty good at it in the past few weeks but with him here in person it was a little harder than usual. “Maybe ask Kirishima or Kaminari if they’re doing anything.” 

Katsuki scowls. “I can’t come with? Is it a date or some shit?” 

You frown. What the hell was wrong with him? He had a girlfriend didn’t he? Even if he wasn’t sure that he liked her, they were still dating right? Why was he suddenly so interested in your love life? “No, you can’t come with.” 

“So it is a fucking date?” What was with is tone? Why was it so harsh? 

“I already said no.” You reply, firmly. “What’s up with you Katsuki? Why are your panties in a bunch when you’re the one who hasn’t spent time with me ever since you got a girlfriend?” 

“Well I’m trying to spend time with you now and you got a fucking date.” 

Unbelievable. He was really un-fucking believable. 

“What’s your issue?” 

He clicks his tongue and practically storms out of the room. You get up. Softly closing the door behind him, locking it, and crawling back into your bed. He was being irrational, annoying, childish. Why the hell was he so caught up over this so called date of yours? You sigh, bury yourself under the covers, and hit play.

Ten minutes pass and there was a knock on your door. Maybe it was Katsuki coming back to apologize for whatever the hell just happened or it was God himself coming to apologize for making you like someone so..Katsuki. You let drag yourself out of bed and open the door. Nothing in sight except for a cup of hot tea that sits on the floor. A smile appears on your face and that night you go to bed feeling warm. 

The next day you wake up and it’s the first time in awhile you wake up not thinking about a certain blonde but instead your mind was occupied with thoughts of the beach, playing in the sand, and..Shouto. Lots of Shouto. You roll out of bed hitting the floor with a thump and let out a small groan. From the other side of the wall you swear you could hear Shouto laughing. Heat rises to your cheeks. 

Damn, he has a really cute laugh. 

He knocks on your shared wall and stifles his laughter as he speaks, “You okay in there?” 

You could hear him loud and clear. How thin were these walls exactly? 

“I’m ok!” You exclaim, clearly embarrassed. You imagine him shaking his head with a smile on his face. Your heart skips a beat. 

It was 10 am when you open your door. Your head automatically shoots straight to Shouto’s door. You hadn’t heard him leave his room, in fact, you never heard him do anything. Was he just naturally super quiet? Or maybe he went downstairs first and is waiting for you? 

“Looking for me?” He’s standing at the top of the stairs, back pressed against a wall, a book in hand. 

“You should’ve told me you were waiting for me. I would’ve been out here sooner.” 

“It’s okay.” He smiles and for a second, you were a little bit starstruck. Who would’ve known the boy had a smile that could melt Antarctica itself? Was he the reason global warming was at an all time high? “You got everything?” You nod. With that you both make your way downstairs into the common area, making small conversation about the movie you watched last night, and failing to notice multiple eyes on the two of you. 

“Where are you going dressed so cute?” Kaminari questions, breaking you two out of your own little bubble. Sero raises an eyebrow and Katsuki is just sitting in between Mina and Kirishima, not even attempting to glance your way. Was he still angry? 

Your heart aches at the thought. 

“Thanks, I thought I was dressed normally.” Shouto replies, maybe it was the stoic expression he always had on that made people believe he was a little bit of an airhead but in all honesty, he was funny. You stifle a laugh. “But we’re going to the beach.” 

“Beach?!” Mina jumps up at this. “Without us?!” 

“Yeah! Without us?!” Kirishima repeats, also jumping out of his seat. Katsuki has this smug expression on his face and a cocky grin. Did he plan this? Did he purposely wake the Bakusquad up at 10 am instead of their usual 2 pm to intercept your day at the beach? 

“Not fair Todoroki!” Kaminari whines. “You can’t keep this cute girl to yourself!” 

You glance over at the boy next to you and notice he’s staring intensely at something, or rather someone. Your eyes follow his gaze and you end up at a set of familiar crimson red eyes. But why was he staring Katsuki down so hard? And why was Katsuki reciprocating? 

“(F/N)!” Kaminari whines again but this time shooting out of his seat, taking your hand into his, and dropping onto his knees. Maybe if the whole hero thing didn’t work out Kaminari always could become an actor. “Your highness,” He says as kisses your hand, “I, your humble servant, would like to escort you to the beach. I’ll protect you from villains, evil-doers-” 

“Those are literally the same things.” 

“(F/N)!” He cries. “Please?” 

You sigh and look over at Shouto. He gives you a look that basically says its-up-to-you and shrugs. “Yeah whatever.” You sigh. Cheers erupt from the Bakusquad and they all quickly run to their rooms to get ready. Meanwhile, you pull out your phone, dialing a number. 

30 minutes pass and you and Shouto are sitting in the common area, drinking tea, and chatting about whatever. “You sure about this?” He questions, brows furrowing. 

“Yeah, I have you with me.” You smile. “You always make me feel better.” For a moment, you could see that love struck look on his face. The way his eyes soften, the way a smile tugs at the corner of his lips, and the his face looks so tender and sweet, it almost makes you want to lean in and place a kiss on his lips. But you quickly resist the urge and for a moment, you too return that love sick look. 

“BEEAAACHHH!!!” The Bakusquad minus Katsuki pterodactyl screeches as they come running down the stairs full force with enough stuff to last them a year at the beach. You let out a small laugh as Kaminari flings himself down the stairs and lands face first onto the floor. Sero trips, landing on top of him and Kirishima throws himself onto the boys because why the hell not? Mina simply laughs and Katsuki walks past them rolling his eyes. “Let’s go.” He barks, hands shoved deep into his pockets, in that Katsuki manner of his. 

“Not everyones here yet.” You say. Katsuki raises an eyebrow at you. 

“What do you mean by ‘not everyone’s here yet’?” He glares at you and a lump forms in your throat. You swallow.

“Ah, there they are.” Katsuki shoots you a no-you-fucking-didn’t-look and you muster all of your strength to shoot him a smile. If your day at the beach was going to be ruined, you were going to make sure his day wasn’t so pleasant. 

“Sorry did everyone wait long?” Uraraka asks, strolling down the stairs alongside Izuku and Iida. She runs over to Katsuki and places a kiss on his cheek. 

Oh. 

You weren’t expecting that.

Mina looks over at you to make sure you’re okay. Iida simply rounds everyone up and ushers them towards a nearby train. Shouto steals glances at you every now and then just to check in, and you wish you could just throw yourself into his arms and ask for a hug. But would that be weird? The only time you two actually hugged was in private, sometimes when you were crying, sometimes when you just really needed someone to hold you. It almost felt like a secret you needed to hide but would Katsuki even care? 

The train abruptly stops, sending you flying into the half silver half red haired boy in front of you. “Gotcha.” He chuckles lowly, only loud enough for you to hear. A few groans and what the fucks echo through the train and for a minute you forget you’re not in public and bury your face into his chest. 

He’s warm. 

He’s what you needed. 

He pats your back almost too lovingly and you melt into his arms. “That’s like something out of a drama.” Kirishima laughs. “Real smooth Todoroki.” Now all eyes are on the both of you and you reluctantly let go of him. 

“Yeah Bakugou, you should take notes.” Kaminari states.

You look over, Uraraka was in Izuku’s arms, both of them a bright red. Katsuki is standing over to the side a scowl on his face. Was he upset about his girlfriend falling into another’s arms? 

“Shut the hell up.” He growls but you’re not even paying attention to them. 

Shouto reaches out, plucking a fallen eyelash off of your face, and holds it up to your mouth. “Make a wish.” He smiles and at this moment, everyone could see how much he liked you. His eyes soft, tone sweet, it was almost as if he didn’t see anyone else. 

“Is that something else your mom taught you?” You giggle, brushing a strand of hair behind your ear. He nods and you close your eyes, blowing the eyelash away. 

“What did you wish for?” He asks. You don’t even notice his hand around your waist at this point, his touch was normal to you now. But Kaminari instantly slaps a hand over your mouth and pulls you out of his grasp. 

“Don’t tell him or it won’t come true!” 

You laugh but it’s muffled by Kaminari’s hand, Shouto smiles, Mina pries Kaminari off of your face while Sero beats him to a pulp for ruining the moment. Kirishima is talking to Katsuki but Katsuki just looks distracted, Uraraka is apologizing to Izuku, and Iida is attempting to get everyone out of the train in an orderly fashion. It was chaotic but at the same time, you didn’t regret inviting them. It made your heart ache a little less. 

You and Shouto trailed behind the group pinkies secretly interlocked. It was a small gesture but it made you feel better, safe, and taken care of. Katsuki and Uraraka were a couple feet in front of you two though. You could hear how she carried most of the conversation. Was he even trying? Was he even paying attention? You grow irritated. As much as you didn’t want them together, seeing him brush her off like that made you angry. Would he treat you the same way if you two were to start dating? Would he even care?

“Oi.” His head snaps around, eyes meeting yours and breaking you out of your thoughts. “Remember when you almost ate shit over there?” He jerks his thumb in the direction of an ice cream store with a smirk on his face and you almost wanted to throw a flying kick at his head. 

“Don’t bring that up!” You cry, instantly breaking interlocked pinkies with Shouto to run over and beat the blonde’s chest. “You asshole! You promised you would never mention it again!” He laughs. It’s low and soft. You can feel his chest vibrating with each punch and it brings you back to a time where it was just you and him. Young, naive, and still so in love. He grabs your arm and pulls you into a headlock like he did years ago. 

“You asshole let go!” But it’s too late. He noogies the hell out of your head and eventually lets you go after you bite him. “Asshole.” You repeat under your breath as you fix your hair. He has this smug expression on his face as he walks away with his girlfriend closely behind him, you and Shouto decide to catch up to the rest of the group. “So,” Shouto says, a small smile forming on his face, “You almost ate shit?” 

You groan and that smile grows bigger. “I don’t wanna talk about it?” 

“Like real shit or..?” 

“Shouto.” 

“Come on-“ 

“I don’t want to talk about-“ 

“I’ll just go ask Bakugou then.” 

“A bird shat on my ice cream and I didn’t notice until Katsuki pointed it out. But I didn’t eat it!” Shouto laughs. His is a little higher pitched then Katsuki’s. It’s warmer, heartier, and it echoes in your mind. “I didn’t eat it!” You repeat. He laughs again and raises his hand to your head, softly ruffling your hair. His touch was so much more tender than Katsuki’s but you wince anyways and a scowl forms on your face. Your head is sore but when no one is looking Shouto sneaks a kiss on your forehead. 

“My mom said kisses make a lot of things better.”

You’re red, flustered, and your heart is beating fast. “Well, she’s not wrong.” This time his heart skips a beat and he swears he sees pink on your face. Or did that kiss have him hallucinating? Either way, you looked pretty. 

“Race you to the beach?” 

“Get ready to lose IcyHot.” You playfully shove him and both of you take off running past the group. The confused expressions on your friends faces has you laughing but you yell, “last one in the water has to clean Kaminari’s room for one week!” and almost set off a stampede. Everyone reaches the beach and time becomes crucial. You’re ripping your clothes off revealing your bathing suit underneath as you run towards the water, you come in first, Shouto now shirtless, in second, Katsuki in third, and last? Poor Sero. Kaminari tripped him, yelling something along the lines of “you can’t force me to clean my own room!”. Kaminari always played dirty. 

“Fucking idiot.” Katsuki laughs. This time it’s booming and it shakes your core but you can’t help but laugh too but in the sea of people his eyes meet yours and you hesitate. Maybe it was the sun or maybe it was just your imagination but his cheeks were pink. “What are you looking at?” He questions with a toothy smile that almost made you melt. You stick your tongue out at him and instantly regret it. He lunges at you, pulling you under the water with him and a little yelp escapes your mouth. Uraraka uncomfortably laughs, Shouto just stares, the rest of the group doesn’t even notice. 

“Izuku!” You yell as you break for air. The green haired boy whips around and within seconds he’s on top of Katsuki and you’re both on your knees holding him under the water. Just like when you were kids. 

“Tell me where you hid the fucking drugs!” You pull his head out of the water, hands gripped tightly on his shoulders. Izuku’s the good cop. 

“Fuck you pigs!” Katsuki coughs with a smile on his face. “I won’t tell you shit!” 

“Shouto. Freeze him.” Izuku declares and you let out an exaggerated gasp.

“We’re both the bad cop?!” The green haired boy nods enthusiastically. “What a fucking plot twist.” You both look up at Shouto, he’s hesitant, unsure, but at the same time he seems to be enjoying it. 

“Do your fucking worst.” Katsuki growls, a little too into his character. Shouto raises his eyebrows and looks down at the blonde. 

“You sure about that scum?” You and Izuku squeal out of excitement and hold Katsuki down. He thrashes around in the water and Shouto reaches out, freezing both of his nipples. 

Katsuki.exe has stopped working. 

You and Izuku double over in pain from laughing so hard, Katsuki sits in the water eyebrows furrowed while his hands attempted to melt the ice, and Shouto? A smug as shit grin on his face. 

And for once in a long time you were happy. Spending time with your friends, crying from laughing so hard, and acting out movies in the water. Shouto’s reenactment of Frozen was scarily accurate, Kaminari’s Detective Pikachu was pretty bad, Mina reciting Mean Girl’s word for word had you seriously impressed, and Sero’s version of Spiderman was pretty good as well. You laugh as Izuku attempts to copy some All Might moves while Sero and Kaminari make sound effects in the back and you can’t help but think how Shouto’s mom hadn’t been wrong yet. The beach really did help mend a broken heart. 

The sun was setting now. You were sitting on the beach blanket next to Katsuki as the others played volleyball. Shouto’s face illuminated by the golden sun almost had you breathless. He was just so..pretty. 

“Sorry for inviting Uraraka.” You say out of nowhere, catching the blonde off guard. He shakes his head. “Sorry inviting the entire friend group.” 

“I knew it you jerk.” You mutter, sending a punch straight to his arm. He didn’t even flinch. Kaminari jumps up, catching the ball with his face and the both of you laugh, followed by a “what an idiot”. 

“Jinx you owe me a soda!” You both yell. 

“Jinx you owe me a house!” He gives up this time, chuckling, and shaking his head. He calls you an idiot under his breath but he really doesn’t mean it. It became an endearing nickname. “So round it all up.” He says. “Give me a list of what I owe you.” 

“2 sodas, 5 houses, 1 car, and what else?” You question, a finger tapping on your chin. 

“I remember there was a coffee shop in there somewhere.” He rolls his eyes.

“Ah! 1 coffee shop, 4 movies, and 2..” Your voice hitches in your throat. 

“Kisses.” He finishes. “You were a weird ass kid.” Your cheeks are burning crimson but your heart aches. 

“Yeah. I was.” You bring your knees close to your chest, eyes fixated on the volleyball game in front of you two. It gets quiet and for a minute, you’re sad again as you see Uraraka off in the distance. For a minute, you forget everything as he leans over, too close for comfort, and flicks your nose like he always does. And for a minute, before you could open your mouth to protest as your eyes watered, you feel his lips on yours.

Was it what you always imagined your first kiss with Katsuki would be like? No. His lips were dry from the sun, even though you had scolded him several times to put on chapstick with SPF 15 on. It was too short, too rough, but it still made your heart skip a beat and your face flush. 

But what the fuck? 

You’re staring at him eyes wide and there’s a cocky grin on his face as he turns to his attention back to the volleyball game. “Now I only owe you one.” 

“What the fuck Katsuki.” You growl punching him straight in the arm. Your eyes dart to the game in front of you two, scanning everyone’s faces, and then your eyes fall on Uraraka. Her mouth agape, expression hurt, and tears already forming in her eyes.

“What?” He asks nonchalantly. 

“That’s not fucking cool!” You hit him again, harder this time, and the expression on his face changes. 

“The fuck are you talking about?” He barks, getting defensive. Uraraka runs off, Mina shortly behind her even if she had no idea what was going on, and Shouto? He marches over, hands balled into fists, looking like he wanted to freeze the bastard. In the moment he’s so heated, so angry, he pulls Katsuki up by the collar of his shirt and Katsuki simply scoffs. 

“Lay your fucking hands on me IcyHot.” He dares, a smirk appearing on his face. And he does. Shouto lands a blow straight to his face and Katsuki rushes him, knocking him on his back, getting in a few good blows before everyone else runs over to break them apart. 

“What the fuck are you doing Katsuki?” You pull him off the half silver half red haired boy and drop his ass in the sand. 

“He fucking hit me first!” 

What a fucking child. 

You’re rubbing your temples and trying to sort through all the thoughts in your mind. 

“What the hell is going on?” Kirishima questions. You don’t say anything. Instead, you walk over to the now bloodied Shouto. 

“Jesus Christ.” You hiss, leaning down with your hands outreached to exam his face but he pushes you away and you’re frozen in your tracks. Did he really just do that? Your heart aches. “Shouto-” 

“I’m fine.” He gets up without even looking at you and Iida rushes him to the bathroom to tend to his bloody nose. 

You turn on your feels, facing the blonde in the sand and you’re fuming. Your teeth are gritted, fists clenched, and eyes watery. “The fuck was that Katsuki?” 

“Don’t know what you’re talking about.” He really could be a kid sometimes. 

“No, don’t fucking play that game with me.” You snap with a finger pointed in his direction as if he were a child getting a good scolding from his mother. “The fuck was that?” 

“I already said I don’t know what-”

“Why the hell did you kiss me?” You’re angry, upset, hurt. You didn’t want your first kiss like this and you definitely didn’t want to hurt one- scratch that- two of your friends. 

“Because I fucking like you dumbass!” He yells, face red, eyes not able to meet yours. 

“What the fuck bro? You kissed her?” Kaminari questions. Sero throws a hand over the blonde’s mouth, whispering something along the lines of “shut the hell up” and Kirishima and Izuku are standing there with mouths wide open. Your world is spinning, you’re confused but at the same time..happy? 

“You have a girlfriend.” 

“I don’t fucking like her. I don’t think I ever did.” He states matter of factly. “I was fucking projecting you on to her because I didn’t want to ruin our friendship!” With that, Izuku runs up to the blonde, throwing a couple more punches and everyone once again, breaks up another fight. 

What the hell was going on? 

“She deserves so much fucking better than you.” Izuku spits. You’re taken aback. Izuku? The sweet baby boy? Cursing? Venom dripping from every word? But you had to admit, Katsuki deserved it. Izuku runs off towards Uraraka- she locked herself in the bathroom while Mina stands outside trying to coax her through the door. 

“I’m..” You're standing there attempting to find the correct words, “..disappointed in you.” And with that you run off but you don’t hear the sound of his heart shattering.

First, you were going to explain to Uraraka that you didn’t mean to kiss her boyfriend. He kissed you. You would never do something to disrespect her like that. 

Second, you were going to talk to Shouto. Explain the situation a second time and hopefully he wouldn’t be so upset but that was only if he wanted to speak to you. 

Third, you were going to beat the crap out of Katsuki when everything was squared away.

“Solid plan.” You mutter as you run towards the girl’s bathroom. 

Uraraka was easier than you expected it to be. She mentioned that she knew he liked you, apparently it had been super obvious to everyone except for you. She was just shocked, a little hurt, but mostly shocked, she thought he would at least break up with her first. After ten minutes of her reassuring you several times that she was okay, you ran off to Shouto. Uraraka really was a sweetheart. 

Shouto was a little more difficult. You asked Iida from outside the men’s restroom if you could talk to him and he apologetically shook his head. “Shouto let me explain.” You sigh as you push past the blue haired boy. 

“(F/N) what are you doing?” Iida gasps. “This is the men’s bathroom! You can’t just walk in like that!” He grabs your arm, pulling you back and you fight him but when you finally get free you run in and collide face first into Shouto’s chest. 

“Can you give us a minute?” Shouto says looking straight at Iida as if he didn’t even see you there. You rub your now sore nose. Iida sighs and walks off, giving you two your much needed space. 

“Geez.” You mutter as you take his face into your hands, delicately touching the black eye on his scar. He doesn’t look at you. You frown, knowing the feeling all too well and remove your hands from his face. He leads you out of the men’s room and you stand outside, the sky now dark and the wind cold. 

“He kissed me.” You say. 

“I saw.” You’re searching his face for any trace of you don’t know what, but just something. 

“I didn’t ask him to.” 

“Did you like it?” He blurts out like a little kid. It was so endearing. 

“Honestly.” You sigh, taking his injured hand into yours. “I did.” You place a kiss on his bloodied knuckle. Just how hard did he hit that boy? “But my first thought was you. I was worried about you- worried about what you would think.” 

“Tell me.” His voice his soft as he lifts your chin up with the pad of his index finger. “Do I even have a chance against him? Do you even like me? Or are you just stringing me along?”

“Yeah.” 

“Yeah what?” His voice comes out a little irritated, as if he couldn’t wait for the answer. 

“Yeah, I like you but..can we stay friends?” 

He sighs and leans down. This time the kiss is soft. Everything you hoped your first kiss with Katsuki would be like- warm, fuzzy, it made your heart swell. He pulls away with a big stupid grin on his face and you giggle and tiptoe so you can kiss his swollen eye. He lays another kiss on your forehead and your heart skips a beat. 

“Yeah, we can.” 

Katsuki feels his heart drop at the sight.

Everyone crowds into the train and when you reach the dorms it’s already 30 minutes past curfew. Aizawa is fuming but his eyes soften as he sees a beaten up Shouto and Katsuki. At this point he could already tell it was an exhausting day so he lets it slide with a warning. 

“Good night.” Shouto mutters as he walks you to your door. 

“Night.” You reply, completely exhausted. He swings you around and places another kiss on your forehead. You smile and he does too but it’s sadder than usual, you make him a cup of tea and leave it at his door.

A few days past and the tension in the air died down. “You think I should talk to him?” You sigh, while shoving a spoonful of whatever you were eating into your mouth. 

“I think so.” Uraraka smiles. “He apologized to me the other day and he kind of looks really sad, like a kicked puppy.” 

“Well I’m still angry.” Izuku pouts. Uraraka just laughs a places a kiss on his cheek. They’re dating now. “What do you think Shouto?” He shrugs, stabbing his cold soba noodles with his chopsticks. 

“I don’t like him.” He states, his voice as cold as his soba. “But he’s your best friend right?” 

You sigh again and run a hand through your hair. “Yeah you’re right.” Iida changes the subject and while your friends around you chat, you decide to talk to the blonde later that day. 

It was after school now and you’re standing in front of the blonde’s room holding your breath attempting to mentally prepare yourself for whatever talk was coming. “Katsuki?” You mumble as you knock on the door a few times. “Can I come in?” He grunts in response and you open the door. He’s lying on his bed, arms behind his head, just staring at the ceiling. “Can we talk?” 

“No.” He says but he scoots over on his bed, leaving enough room for you to lie next to him. You giggle and a small smile forms on his face at the sound. You lie down next to him and his smell fills your nostrils. It’s familiar, it left butterflies in your stomach, and it made you feel warm. “I heard you apologized to Uraraka.” You’re staring at the ceiling too now. 

“So what?” 

“Proud of you my little Katsuki, you’re growing up so fast.” You imitate his mom, turning over to pinch his cheek, and he scowls at the action. Your breath hitches in your throat as you look at him. He looks so..heartbroken? “You okay?” 

“Why wouldn’t I be?” 

“You look sad.” 

“The girl I’ve been in love with for years has been ignoring me for 3 days.” He states. “And I think I ruined a really good friendship.” Your heart is racing now. You knew he liked you but for how long exactly? How hung up over this was he? 

“You idiot.” You sigh. He cocks an eyebrow in your direction. “Do you know how much of this could’ve been avoided if you just told me?” He stays quiet. “Uraraka and Shouto wouldn’t have been pulled into the middle of this whole fucking mess if you just told me you liked me too.” 

“Too?” He questions. Why the hell did he look so shocked? “Wait, hold the fuck up. You like me?” He sits up, staring down at you. 

“You didn’t know?” There’s a silence in the air and he’s sitting there dumbfounded. 

“I thought you were dating IcyHot? Didn’t you two makeout by the men’s restroom at the beach?” 

“That was a peck on the lips you idiot.” You hand a smack on chest. “And I came to the conclusion I wanted to stay as friends- but what the fuck Katsuki, I’ve dropped so many hints over the years that I liked you and you’re telling me you didn’t pick up on any of them?” 

It suddenly becomes obvious now and Katsuki slaps a hand against his forehead. “I am a fucking idiot.” He laughs has he throws himself back onto the bed. “Why didn’t you tell me directly?” 

“I uh..wasn’t sure you liked me too..” 

“You’re a fucking idiot. Who else do I treat this fucking well?” And suddenly it becomes obvious to you too and you can’t help but laugh. So there you are, two idiots in love, laying there in a comfortable silence. There’s something in the air that’s warm and it’s making the butterflies in your stomach flutter.  “What now?” He asks. “You wanna date or something?”

For a moment, you forget about Shouto, you forget about the broken hearts club, you forget about how he kissed you outside of the men’s room and how much you actually liked it. For a moment, you only want to feel Katsuki’s lips on yours again and you realize how actually in love you are with the boy. For a moment, he’s patiently laying there, waiting for your answer. You suck in a deep breath and sit up. He shoots you a confused look but then you lean down and kiss him. 

This time it’s softer, its tender, and there’s the tiniest bit of tongue. His lips are no longer sunburnt, they’re like two small squishy clouds. He smells like caramel and tastes even sweeter. It reminds you of home, it makes your heart burst and the butterflies swarm. “Wait that doesn’t count if you kiss me.” He says suddenly, your eyebrows furrow. “I still owe you one kiss.” You laugh and you land a playful hit on his chest. He pulls you down for another kiss. 

You’re warm. You’re content. You’re happy. 

Bonus scene: 

“Am I better kisser than IcyHot?” 

“You’re ruining the moment.” 

[bellakitse]

Ooh I love this prompt list! How about “Ah, the puppy dog face. Check mate, huh?”

Pancakes and Coffee Syrup

Opening the bathroom door again, he stops, freezing like a deer caught in the headlights when he finds his boyfriend’s father standing just outside the bathroom. From the way he’s dressed, it’s obvious he’s just come home from the overnight TK told him he was on.

“Good morning, Carlos,” he greets him calmly. Like this is a regular occurrence for them to run into each other outside his bathroom, and instead, not the first time ever that Carlos has spent the night in his house.

*

Carlos spends the night at the Strand household, Owen makes him breakfast in the morning.

30 days of Tarlos - Day 15

Carlos wakes up with a pleasantly warm body next to him. He opens his eyes to find soft green walls instead of his dark navy ones; it takes him a moment to realize he’s not in his bed, and therefore, not his apartment. The night before comes back to him in flashes like a dream. He remembers showing up at the Strand household, TK opening the door with a mischievous grin on his face before he pulled him in by his shirt, his mouth on Carlos’ before he could even say hello.

They’d stumbled towards his bedroom, touching and giggling like schoolboys as they kissed any inch of skin they could reach. When they got to his room, TK had pushed him on the bed, and all Carlos could do was watch in awe as this beautiful man smiled down at him. His green eyes shining as they crinkled at the corners before he climbed into his lap, stealing his breath with every kiss he gave him.

They’d spent the night making love, taking turns pressing into the deepest parts of their bodies until they shook with pleasure.

Carlos has always enjoyed sex, and knows he’s a good and considerate lover who knows how to please his partners. Yet he can honestly say he’s never had sex like the kind of sex he has with TK before. Everything is heightened with TK; his want and need for him are more intense than he’s ever felt with anyone else.

He looks down at the man in question; there are locks of soft brown hair in his face as TK sleeps with his head on his chest, his mouth parted in his sleep to the point that there is a small trail of drool from the corner of his mouth.

Carlos rolls his eyes at himself when he finds it adorable, he’s stupidly gone on this guy, but there’s nothing he can do when his heart thumps funnily over him.

He starts to move, shifting from under TK slowly and quietly, he’s unable to stop his smile when TK whines in his sleep and tries to cling to him. He considers staying for a moment, but he really needs to pee.

He heads for the bathroom to relieve himself. After washing his hands, he splashes some water in his face and steals some mouthwash.

Opening the bathroom door again, he stops, freezing like a deer caught in the headlights when he finds his boyfriend’s father standing just outside the bathroom. From the way he’s dressed, it’s obvious he’s just come home from the overnight TK told him he was on.

“Good morning, Carlos,” he greets him calmly. Like this is a regular occurrence for them to run into each other outside his bathroom, and instead, not the first time ever that Carlos has spent the night in his house.

“Captain Strand,” he croaks out, swallowing hard under the embarrassment he feels at getting caught half-dressed by his boyfriend’s father.

“I think if you and TK have progressed to having sleepovers here, instead of just at your apartment, you can call me Owen,” he says with an easy smile.

“Right, of course,” he answers, trying to be polite. “I’m going to get my clothes and get out of here; I’m sure you want to get some sleep, sir.”

“Are you saying if you stayed, I wouldn’t get sleep?” Owen questions, there is an amused twinkle in his eyes that makes Carlos wince. “Is that how loud you and my son are? I’m not going to get any complaints from the neighbors, am I?”

Carlos stares at him, his mind going completely blank.

How do you even answer that?

If it’s with honesty, then the answer to that would be yes, he and TK are very vocal in bed, but even though it’s obvious Owen is messing with him, he’s pretty sure that’s not the answer the man wants.

“Uhh – “ he tries, but nothing else comes out.

Owen chuckles amused with himself, and with him, it seems.

“I’m joking,” he assures him. “I don’t want to know at all if that’s the case.

Carlos presses his lips together and gives him a nod.

“I don’t go to sleep right away after an overnight,” Owen starts, he jerks his head towards the rest of the house. “I was going to make some breakfast. TK will get up when he smells the food. Why don’t you join me?” Owen continues with a smile and then looks at him up and down. “After you put some pants on, of course.”

Carlos can feel his face go hot from the root of his hair to his chest; it doesn’t help that Owen’s mouth twitches like he’s seconds away from laughing. He nods one more time.

“Good,” Owen says pleased, clapping his hands once. “I’ll see you in the kitchen.”

Carlos goes back into TK’s bedroom; his boyfriend is now spread out like a starfish, still dead to the world as he sleeps. He considers waking him up in a moment of panic, but in the end, with a sigh, decides against it. He puts on his clothes from the night before, grateful that his shirt didn’t have any buttons for TK to snap off in his usual impatience to get Carlos out of his clothes.

Walking over to TK, he leans down to press a kiss on the side of his face, smiling at the soft sound TK makes in his sleep before taking a deep breath as he leaves the room.

He likes Captain Strand, both professionally and personally, just because he also happens to be the father of the man he’s quickly falling in love with, doesn't mean he needs to be afraid.

Walking into the kitchen, he finds Owen stirring ingredients in a bowl.

“Do you like blueberry pancakes?” he asks, looking up from what he’s doing.

“Yes, I do,” he answers; honestly, he likes any type of pancakes.

“Great,” Owen says with a smile. “Blueberry for you and me, then, TK isn’t really a fan, he prefers – “

“ – Banana chocolate chip,” he says, shrugging when Owen looks over at him surprised. “I’ve made breakfast for him when he spends the night; he has a sweet tooth in the morning.”

Owen nods, the corners of his mouth quirk upward. “He does,” he says softly. “When we lived in the city, he would have a donut, a Danish or a bear claw, and some frosted monstrosity he likes to call coffee every morning. Even when it’s plain black coffee, he puts some kind of flavored syrup in it.”

Carlos makes a face as he agrees with him. “I know, there is caramel, french vanilla and hazelnut in my cupboards now," he tells him. “I dragged him to the store the other day to buy some things for dinner, and he was eyeing a bubble gum flavored syrup, I had to put my foot down.”

“Did he pout?” Owen asks, grinning when he rolls his eyes. “You caved, didn’t you?”

“He gave me the puppy dog face,” he explains, scowling when Owen laughs.

“Ah, the puppy dog face,” Owen chuckles, shaking his head. “Checkmate, huh?”

Carlos lets out a loud sigh, even though he doesn’t mean it. He has no problem caving to TK; he likes to make him smile, even if it’s over something gross like bubble gum syrup.

“Don’t feel bad, kid,” Owen says as he starts to pour the batter on a skillet. “TK perfected that face before the age of two, he’s a pro, and we’re all suckers for it.”

“That would explain why he’s so good at it,” he murmurs. “He makes it, and I find myself saying yes to whatever he wants.”

“He gets that from his mother,” Owen explains as he looks back at him with a sympathetic face. “It’s the green eyes; she has them too. She would turn them on me, and I would be putty in her hands.”

Carlos smiles at the tidbit of information; he doesn’t know much about TK’s mom. He doesn’t speak much about her, except when he does, he does it with deep affection, so he knows they’re close, maybe not as much as TK and his dad, but it’s obvious he loves her.

“Accept your fate now,” Owen continues as he warns him. “It makes life easier.”

“I have,” he answers, he stops for a moment before continuing, his heart jumping as he speaks. “Fact is, your son has me wrapped around his little finger.”

Owen looks at him for a moment, studying him, and Carlos lets him, not hiding away from the man’s scrutiny. He doesn’t want to hide his feelings from TK’s dad; he wants him to know how much he cares for his son and that he’s not going anywhere.

“From what I can see, the feeling is mutual,” Owen starts to say, giving him a meaningful look as he turns serious. “You know about New York and before we came here?”

Carlos nods, swallowing hard as he remembers TK telling him everything the night of the solar flares. TK didn’t want to start anything with him before Carlos knew what he was getting into, he told him about his ex, the pills, and the OD before asking him if he still wanted to be with him. Carlos had gotten out a broken yes before pulling TK into a tight hug, grateful that life hadn’t taken him away before he got a chance to know him, to love him.

“I didn’t think my son would be happy anytime soon after that,” Owen tells him quietly, the pain he feels for TK etched into every line of his face. He gives him a small smile after a moment of quiet between them. “But he lights up when he’s around you, doesn’t matter where, at the firehouse, the bar or a call, you show up, and he smiles. I don’t have the words to thank you enough for that.”

Carlos opens his mouth, trying to find the words around the lump in his throat. He wants to tell Owen that he doesn’t need to thank him, that it’s his privilege and honor to make TK happy. He wants to say to him that it’s all he wants to do, to make TK smile and joyful. He wants to tell him that he’s the one that’s grateful because having TK in his life is a blessing, one he’s thankful for every day.

He wants to tell the man before him that he’s in love with his son.

The look Owen gives him tells him he doesn’t need to say any of it, Owen already knows.

A moment later, Owen looks over his shoulder, a smile on his face, and that’s all the warning Carlos gets before arms wrap around his waist.

“I thought you had left,” TK mumbles into his back, his voice still thick with sleep. “But then I saw your shoes.”

Carlos turns, lifting his arm over TK’s head to wrap it around him, bringing him to his side. He looks down as TK cuddles into his chest and sees he still has his eyes mostly closed. “Your dad offered to make me pancakes.”

TK cracks open an eye, looking over at his father suspiciously. “Banana chocolate chip?” he questions, getting an eye roll back from Owen.

“For you, yes,” his dad tells him. “Carlos and I will be having blueberry pancakes.”

“Weirdos,” TK mumbles, now leaning more heavily on him.

“How about I get you some coffee,” he suggests walking TK over to the kitchen table and sitting him down.

“Hmm, yes,” TK moans appreciatively. “With two pumps of hazelnut, please.”

Carlos shakes his head at him before turning towards the coffee machine, Owen points at one of the cabinets where Carlos finds familiar bottles of coffee syrups. With two pumps into the coffee, he turns back to TK, who is finally looking more awake.

He smiles brightly at him as he gives him his coffee. TK takes a sip, letting out another pleased sound.

“Good?” he asks, smirking down at him.

TK bobs his head as he reaches for his shirt, tugging him down as he tilts his head up. Carlos lets him, closing his eyes as TK gives him a light kiss.

“Sweet, just like you,” he says, grinning up at him. Looking over at his dad as he starts serving the plates, he lowers his voice. “Everything okay? He didn’t give you a hard time, right?”

Carlos shakes his head as he thinks back to everything Owen just said to him, he looks over at the man to find him watching them with a soft look on his face. When he catches his eyes, he sees the joy and, once again, gratitude in his expression. Looking at TK, he sees the care for him in his.

“No, sweetheart,” he says, leaning down to kiss his forehead. “He was great.”

TK smiles brightly at him in response, happy just like Owen said, and it fills him with warmth to know he’s the cause.

“Everything is great.”

[sprnklersplashes]

heirlooms

Robin is already home when Theo comes in. More specifically, he’s stretched out on the bed, his textbook in one hand and a pen in the other, his hair falling in front of his face and the pen twirling around his fingers, like he normally does when he’s concentrating. Theo pads over to the bed after he hangs his jacket up, his backpack dangling from his hand. Robin doesn’t even look up, so deeply buried in his work, and while a pout forms on Theo’s lips, a thrill runs down his spine at the same time. Will this be what it’s like if they’re living together someday? They’re technically ‘living together’ now, but he means in the future, in their own place, out of Greenedale, and Robin doesn’t have to hide under his bed from his dad. Will they still be like this, gently occupying each other’s spaces, being as close as they want, whenever they want? The idea freaks him out a little, but it excites him even more.

He climbs onto the bed, deliberately being a little rough, and the shaking of the bed drags Robin out of his thoughts and his eyes over to Theo’s, his face breaking into that dimpled smile that makes Theo’s heart skip a beat.

“Hey, you,” he says before pressing a sweet kiss to his lips. “How was practice?”  

“Oh, it was fine,” he says. He leans into Robin’s side, his head resting on his shoulder and his leg thrown over his. “Managed to avoid getting hit in the face this time.”

“Well that’s good.” Robin hesitates for a moment before his hand reaches up to Theo’s face, his finger ghosting across the fading bruise on his cheekbone. He had hit the roof when Theo had shown up with that shiner on his face last week, courtesy of a basketball flying too fast and Theo simply being in the wrong place at the wrong time. It was an accident, he knows it, and Kevin, who hit him, was more than apologetic about it. It took a little more convincing for Robin to believe it, and even now his arm tightens around Theo’s shoulders when Kevin walks past them.

“What are you working on?”

“Chemistry test,” he says, accompanied by a heavy sigh. “The same chemistry test you have this week too, you know.”

“Oh, that test,” Theo says. He nestles closer until he can just about make out Robin’s notes, or at least attempt to read the thin scrawl across the pages, as well as the diagrams drawn with painstaking care. It’s not that Theo doesn’t care about school, he does, and his grades show it, but Robin’s enthusiasm for it knows no bounds. He’s eager to learn everything he can, often going beyond what that week’s homework is asked of them, and teachers adore him for it. It’s probably helped by the fact that he can write at the speed of light if he wants to. Theo shrugs and kisses his cheek. “Hm, you can tutor me.”  

Robin’s hand runs through his hair, still damp from the shower at school, and chuckles, the sound rumbling in his chest. Theo leans into him, the hour and a half of basketball practice taking a toll on him. Robin begins running his fingers gently through his hair, his touch feather-light, and his eyes drift closed on more than one occasion. His backpack sits beside them, but to get it would mean to disturb the peace that's guilt up around them and he really doesn't want to have to do that. Especially not when Robin presses a kiss to his head and seemingly  abandons his own work too. Theo prepares himself for a night spent cuddling each other until his dad calls him for dinner, which could be a while yet. He could fall asleep here and be more than content to do so.

That is, if it weren't for Robin suddenly moving and pulling Theo out of his half-sleep.

“I got you something,” he says out of the blue. Theo frowns and lets out a small groan, but sits up on his knees as Robin gets off the bed and grabs his backpack.

Theo bites his nail, watching Robin get whatever it is. He looks through his bag with more purpose than Theo would expect, his jaw clenched and muttering something under his breath. He's uncharacteristically serious, and Theo can't get why. They’ve gotten each other gifts before, of course; an arcade teddy bear that Robin won him sits in the corner and Robin still carries around the wallet Theo got him for his birthday. Gifts are common for them, and they’ve never come with the anxious half-smile Robin wears when he comes back up. “Here.”

Robin sits himself next to him, holding a small wooden box in his hands. Whatever it is, it’s clearly precious to him, if the careful, almost revered way he holds it is anything to go by. Like it could shatter if he’s too reckless with it. It’s a small box, fitting neatly into the palm of Robin’s hand, and there’s only so many things it could be. Theo suddenly remembers seeing a similar box on his mom’s dressing table, years ago, and when he makes the connection, his heart almost stops.

“This isn’t the part where you get down on one knee, is it?” he asks, his throat like sandpaper even though he’s half-joking, and Robin actually laughs at it.

“No,” he says. “No, no, not that.” He takes a deep breath then and Theo’s hand moves instinctively to his shoulder, his thumb rubbing circles onto his neck. “It’s um… I wanted to give you this for a while, I just didn’t know… here.”

He opens it, his touch so, so delicate, and the sight inside leaves Theo breathless. It’s a ring, the colour of oak but cold and smooth as stone when he touches it. Intricate patterns of leaves and flowers chase around the perimeter, linking into each other with no beginning or end. They don’t look carved or cut in at all, rather they were part of it from the beginning. Robin moves his hand ever so slightly and the ring shimmers under the light, and the flowers and leaves turn from dark brown to sparkling gold. If he wasn’t amazed before, he sure as hell would be now.

“Woah,” Theo breathes. “Robin… it’s beautiful.” It honestly is, and the only thing rivalling its beauty is the smile on Robin’s face. Among other things, he looks completely relieved. Like can breathe again.

“May I?” he asks, his hand holding Theo’s.

“Sure.”

Robin takes it out of the box and slips it onto Theo’s finger. It’s lighter than it looks and slips on with ease. He loves it, loves how it feels and loves how it looks against his pale fingers.

“I knew it would look good on you,” Robin murmurs. The smile drops and severity creeps into his eyes however when he turns to look at him, their fingers joined between them. “What do you think?”

“I think it’s gorgeous,” Theo replies.. “Robin, I-thank you so much!” He pulls his boyfriend into a tight hug, letting his fingers tangle in his hair and his body press against his. His heart swells when he looks at the ring again, touched by his boyfriend’s gift. And admittedly, curious about it. It’s not manmade, or at the very least, not mortal made. It’s like an itch that begs to be scratched, and not just for him. He can read it in Robin’s face, the way his mouth opens and closes without words, the faraway, slightly sad look in his eyes as looks at it. It’s not something store bought either. It carries history, and Theo feels the weight of it around his finger. And it’s a complicated one to say the least, he knows that much. He nudges Robin’s shoulder with his own and laces their fingers together, his touch as gentle as can be. Robin is more than entitled to his secrets, but Theo can’t help hoping he lets him in.

“It was my father’s,” he says after a while. “Not Carcossa’s. My-my real father’s.”

“Oh,” is all Theo can say. He can count the things he knows about Robin’s family on one hand. He knows they died when he was young, that they didn’t see eye to eye on some things with the other hobgoblins, and that Robin gets his double dimples from his mother and that’s it. Every new piece of information feels like a new step forwards in their relationship, and this is no exception.

“He um… he wore that ring every day,” Robin explains. “And one day he told me he’d give it to me when I was older. And he said ‘Robin… you’ll only have one chance to give someone this ring. Make sure it’s the right person’.” He swallows thickly, tears glistening in his eyes. “After the… after the accident I went back and got it off him. I couldn’t bare the thought of leaving it behind.” He lets out a soft exhale, his hand shaking a little as it holds Theo’s, all the while Theo digests the story bit by bit.

“And you gave it to me?” Theo looks down at his hand and traces the ring with his finger. He doesn’t see it exactly, but he feels what this ring means to Robin, to his family. There’s no magic in it per say, not like the kind of enchanted jewellery the Spellmans might own, but it holds power all on its own. The right person. That’s what he thinks he is. Of all the people he could have given this to… he chose him. “Robin… thank you.”

The words feel far too weak, and so Theo pulls him into a kiss to make up for it. A tear mingles between their lips and Theo can’t tell if it’s his or Robin’s, or maybe it’s both. He runs his hand down his face and along his chin, following Robin’s lead as he falls back on the bed, his hands cupping Theo’s face. The homework and notes are pushed off the bed, and they instead fill the time by getting lost in each other, lost in kisses and caresses and silent ‘I love you’s, gentle nose rubs and tangling limbs. Eventually they come down together, cheeks flushed and eyes bright, and Theo wraps himself around Robin, his boyfriend’s chin on top of his head, and the ring shining in the early evening sunlight.    

This ring comes with a lot of history, one that holds a lot of love but also so much pain. But it also promises a future, and while he can’t guarantee it’ll be perfect, he knows it’ll be brighter for them.

[snowdice]

Road Trips and Missing Persons (Part 2)

Fandom: Sanders Sides

Relationships: Patton & Virgil, Virgil & Deceit (more to be added)

Characters: Patton, Virgil, Deceit, Remus, Roman (more to be added)

Summary: Patton was just getting groceries. The next thing he knew, there was a knife at his throat and he was an unwilling uber driver. Virgil’s on the run after the murder of his dad, and it’s not just his paranoia that’s telling him he’s being chased down. He has to get somewhere safe, somewhere he can trust, and all he has is a couple of stories from his dad and a name: “Green Bellow Foods and Dispensary.”

Notes: Secret Agents AU, knives, carjacking, kidnapping, murder mentioned, guns mentioned, pepper spray, blood mentioned (more to be added)

This is a fic I’ve been writing on study breaks that you have probably all already seen at this point. I’ve affectionately named it the Goblin Brain Fic because it’s helping my brain actually get motivated for studying. I’ve slightly edited it for wording and grammar, but not for content from my previous posts. Feel free to send in asks to direct it because I’m not 100% sure where this is going and you can help decide if you feel so inclined! You can see the process I went through to build this at this link.

Part 1

It had always been a quaint little house that his little brother and the boy’s father had lived in. It was a little thing with two bedrooms, one bathroom, and a kitchen that faded into the living room/dining room situated in a little neighborhood with a small park and a medium sized grocery store. At one point in his life, Janus had wondered why his brother preferred to live in such a small space rather than in their mother’s much grander house that edged on a mansion, but as he’d grown, he’d come to understand.

Mom was a bitch.

And even more of one than he’d thought apparently. Really? The father of your child? The father of your 15-year-old child? He knew there wasn’t exactly any love between the two of them, but he’d hoped there was at least enough respect not to murder the man.

God. Virgil was going to be crushed when he found out.

He shook off the thought. There was no time for emotions. First thing first. He needed to get Virgil out of here before mother deigned to remember his existence. Then he’d deal with the emotional fallout.

“Virgil!” he called into the house. There was no answer.

Janus frowned. It’s fine. He was probably just listening to his music like the angsty teenager he was, right? Except… Janus was pretty good at picking up when something was amiss given his current career and something… seemed… amiss, though he couldn’t place what.

That in mind, he paused to listen. He couldn’t hear any sounds in the house, so he started to walk forward a bit. He ducked his head into the kitchen and froze. The window above the dinning room table had been broken, leaving glass shattered across the floor. Fuck.

Had mom remembered Virgil’s existence. He hadn’t thought she’d outright send someone to kill the boy, but what if she had?

Janus took a breath and then quickly set about investigating the rest of the house. Other than the broken window, most of the house looked normal until he got to the only room in the house with the lights still on: Virgil’s room. The purple and black spiderweb comforter usually on his bed had been flung to the floor across the room and both of his lamps had been knocked over along with some decorations. Also, there was some radio like device on the floor and a bottle of pepper spray which, judging by the smell, had recently been used.

There was also still drying blood on the carpet, though thankfully not enough to indicate there’d been a murder. Janus swallowed. Okay.

Maybe mom had sent someone after him, but that didn’t mean he was dead. He smoothed his face out even though no one was there to see it and took out his cell phone. He found his mother’s contact in his phone and pushed the call button.

“Yes?” she answered on the third ring, her tone already bordering on annoyed.

“Good evening mother,” Janus spoke smoothly even though he could feel the blood rushing in his ears. “I heard about the tragic,” he made a point to subtly color his tone with sarcasm, something he’d learned from her, “death of Remington Gates about half an hour ago.”

He could hear the single eyebrow raise even from over the phone. “Yes,” she replied, “and?”

“Well I was just wondering if I needed to clean out my room at the house or if there would be another solution for the man’s son?”

“Ah yes, well,” she said, “that has been a… frustration.”

“Frustration?” Janus asked. Curious tone. Not scared. Curious, not scared.

“I had sent one of my men over to pick him up and bring him to me shortly after Mr. Gates’ death. However, he apparently resisted going with a stranger.”

Janus shivered at the thought of what one of his mother’s people would do to a kid who fought him when he was trying to follow her orders, but at least he (probably) wasn’t dead. “So, he’s been taken by your man and is on his way to your house now?”

“No.”

“No?” and as much as he tried, just a bit of panic seeped into his tone. He wasn’t sure if she noticed.

“No,” she confirmed, with an angry tsk. “Honestly, I know he’s my blood, but one would think Kinsley could handle a 15-year-old child.”

“Wait… then, where is he?”

“That is the million-dollar question,” she scoffed, “The last I knew Kinsley was whining about washing pepper spray out of his eyes before he could track him down.”

“So… he’s on the run?” Janus asked. On one hand, good for Virgil. On the other hand… where the fuck was his baby brother?

“Unfortunately, yes.” The way she said ‘unfortunately’ made it clear that she was far more unhappy about her orders not being fulfilled immediately than worried about the fact that her teenage son was missing.

“Perhaps,” Janus hedged, keeping his voice level. “You should send someone more competent. I would be willing to step in if you believe it’s necessary. Not to mention, he knows me.”

“You’re volunteering?” she asked.

“If it would be of help to you,” he said smoothly.

“Very well,” mother said. “I’ll send you Kinsley’s information. You can work with him.”

Shit. “Must I?” he asked in a bored tone. “It sounds as though he is quite incompetent.” He waited with his breath held.

“At least meet up with him to get the information he has but then you can send him back or shoot him for all I care. He’s proven himself to be useless.”

“I will do as you instruct,” Janus replied, relieved.

“I know you will,” and then she hung up.

Janus collapsed on Virgil’s bed when he was sure the call was actually disconnected with a groan to wait for the information on Kinsley to come through. While he waited, he pulled out his second phone. He considered it, knee bouncing up and down and then opened the text app.

‘Virgil is missing. Help?’ he texted and sent his location before stuffing it into his pocket again.

A few second later, details about Kinsley popped up including his current location using the tracker on his phone. He was in the park down the street.

Janus didn’t know if he was following Virgil or guessing but getting him out of the way would be a good starting point either way.

He pushed himself to his feet and after a moment’s thought, grabbed the stuffed spider Remy had given Virgil when he was eight off the boy’s bed. He’d… probably want that wherever he ended up.

He shoved it into the inner pocket of his coat and then left the little quaint house behind to head to the park down the road.

He glanced at his phone and brought up a picture of Kinsley. In theory he could just text the man and ask where he was as he’d likely been informed someone else was coming to find him, but it would be much more satisfying to surprise bash his face in.

He needn’t have bothered looking at the picture though as Kinsley was fairly easy to spot seeing as he was the only grown man crying with his head in a water fountain.

Janus could help but let his lips curl in amusement. Serves the bastard right. He walked straight up to him and grabbed him by the back of the hair. He squealed as he was pulled back and tried to fight back blindly.

“I’m your replacement,” Janus said coolly, and the man froze at his tone. “Where’s the kid?”

“Fuck. I don’t know man. He ran off. I’ve been trying to check the park, but my eyes,” he whined.

“Oh, boo-hoo,” Janus growled. “Maybe you shouldn’t have let a 15-year old pepper spray you.”

“He was prepared somehow, alright. Already knew his daddy was dead and was ready to fight.” How the hell had he… didn’t matter right now.

“Tell me exactly what happened,” Janus demanded, yanking on his hair harder.

He made a pained sound. “I broke through the window and found the kid in the bedroom. He refused to go with me and said screw his mom because she killed his dad. I smacked him good to get him to cooperate, but that just seemed to piss the little bastard off because the next thing I knew he was pepper spraying me.”

“And then?” Janus asked calmly.

“Then he ran. I don’t know where. I’ve been trying to find him. Assumed he ran to the park. Kids like parks.”

“I see,” Janus said and then slammed his face into the edge of the water fountain. “You know,” he informed the unconscious body. “I was given the option to shoot you.”

“Before you do that,” a voice said casually. There was the unmistakable sound of a gun’s safety clicking off. “I’d like to have a word.”

Janus turned slowly to look in the direction of the voice and, at first, thought he recognized the man, but then realized he didn’t have a stupid mustache and also the man he was thinking of probably would have (maybe) had enough sense not to point a gun a Janus when his brother was missing.)

Great. It seemed the other side also sent people looking for his brother. He’d thank Logan, but actually, screw Logan. He eyed the man pointing a gun at him idly. “Do you even know how to use that thing?” he scoffed. The moment indignation flashed across his face, Janus ducked down and charged at him, twisting his arm behind his back and kicking the gun away when it fell.

Yet, as soon as the element of surprise was gone, it became clear that Janus was physically outmatched as they grappled with each other for an edge. He was brought to the ground but rolled out of the way and kicked him in the stomach. Yet that didn’t deter him. Instead he kept coming at Janus, grabbing his arm and twisting it. Janus clocked him in the face and drew blood.

“Fucker!” the man spat but didn’t retreat at all. They continued to wrestle on the ground a bit when they were interrupted by another voice.

“Ooo! A fight! I wanna join!” Then another body slammed into both of them knocking the wind out of Janus as Remus threw Roman off of him only to pin him himself. “Hi JJ!”

“Remus, get off of me!” Janus said, shoving.

Remus did not seem inclined to oblige. “Hey, Ro.”

“You two know each other?” Roman asked, wiping off the blood coming from the side of his mouth.

“We’re double secret partners,” Remus replied with a wink.

“Oh…” Roman said seeming to get what he was implying.

“Great,” Janus said. “Now will you get the fuck off of me?”

“I don’t know,” Remus said in a sing-song tone.

“Remus,” Janus said lowly.

Remus blinked at the sudden darkness of his tone and then his eyes widened as he remembered what was happening. He was off him in seconds. “Right,” Remus said. “Jay, this is Roman. Ro, this is Janus. His brother’s missing.”

Want to read more? Click below!

AO3 Part 3 My Master Post

[when-they-write-stuff]

Sheriff Stilinski’s Guide to Courting

pairing: sterek

word count: 3.3k

notes: written for an ao3 requested prompt of sheriff stilinski and his attempts at giving derek dating advice in regards to his son. i might’ve had too much fun with this.

John was pretty sure this shouldn’t be his problem.

He would rather not actively participate in his son’s love life, thank you very much. Especially when he was pretty sure his son’s ‘love life’ consisted of chaotic pining after the angry werewolf that the Sheriff had been working to put behind bars two years ago. 

See, John was pretty sure said angry werewolf might be pining after his son too. Just not as chaotically. In fact, there was no chaos. Just longing looks and angsty glares that made even John want to groan.

He was pretty sure this wasn’t his problem. His time should never be spent actively participating in his son’s love life.

But then the Sheriff realized the only way he was ever getting any mental peace again would be when his son and Derek Hale were no longer dancing around each other. And so, with a sinking heart, the Sheriff realized he was going to have to take part in making sure that happened.

First of all, he would like to say he did not ask for this. 

Second of all, it was hard.

It started when John walked past his son’s room one day, paused, and then quickly backtracked to see Derek sitting on his son’s bed.

Stiles was nowhere to be seen. The kid was still at lacrosse practice if John remembered right, and probably wouldn’t be home for another hour or so. But here Derek was, sitting. On Stiles’s bed. Alone in an empty room with his leather jacket sitting on his lap and his face always perpetually scowling. Until he saw the Sheriff staring, that was.

John blinked at him and Derek blinked back. The man had gone shock-still, looking like a deer caught in headlights, and his eyes were full-blown wide. Leaning against the bedroom door, John raised one eyebrow and sighed.

“Hello there, Derek.”

“Sir.”

“Do I want to ask what you’re doing here?”

The man shifted uncomfortably. “I’m waiting for Stiles.”

“He’s at the school.”

“I know.”

“And he won’t be back for a while still.”

“... I know.”

The Sheriff pressed his lips together and nodded. He really didn’t think he wanted to press, but he was pretty sure he couldn’t leave Derek sitting alone in his son’s bedroom either. Because that would be wrong, right? That would probably be wrong.

“Might I ask why you’re waiting for Stiles?”

For a long moment, he didn’t get an answer. Then Derek ducked his head and mumbled the word “Research” so quietly, John almost didn’t catch it. Because unlike Hale, he wasn’t a werewolf. He didn’t have super hearing, dammit. 

John made a mental note not to remind himself it was a werewolf— not just a man— sitting in his son’s bedroom. Because he was pretty sure that would create a whole new list of problems.

“So, research,” he said, almost enjoying the look on Derek’s face. “That’s all?”

“Yes sir.”

“There’s nothing else going on here?”

Derek’s face turned bright red and he quickly shook his head. The Sheriff pressed his lips together and nodded. There were a lot more things he could say; a lot more things he should probably say. But John decided that was enough interference for the day. He’d have a conversation with Stiles when he got back from practice. 

You know, about how werewolves probably shouldn’t be camping out in his room on a school day.

“Okay then,” John said, and Derek looked both shocked and relieved. “If you want a cup of coffee while you’re waiting, the kitchen’s wide open. And if you made Stiles a snack for when he gets home, I’m pretty sure he’ll be much more receptive to this… research.”

Derek stared at him with wide eyes before nodding. John chuckled and turned away, continuing back down the hall. He thought he’d handled that fairly well. Or… as well as possible, at least. How was he even supposed to address something like that?

John was pretty sure he didn’t want to get involved. He really didn’t want to get involved.

He just didn’t realize yet that he didn’t have a choice.

-

The next time John stumbled across things he didn’t mean to, he started to realize he either went along with it or moved to another town. Because Derek Hale was always there. And it seemed his son was too.

John liked when he got to do the grocery shopping because that meant he could buy the things he wanted to. Stiles never let him buy steak or frozen meals or anything actually edible when he tagged along, and when the boy went out by himself, he never came home with anything other than vegetables and whole wheat pasta. So John cherished the days when he could do the shopping himself.

The moment he entered the store, he made a beeline for the frozen meats section. But John didn’t expect to pass the ‘Personal Care Products’ aisle and see two figures standing there that he recognized very well. 

Moving slowly back, John peered at Derek and his son, and then glanced at the different packages of bandages that Stiles was holding.

“These might be cheaper, Derek,” the boy said, waving one through the air. “But they also sop up less blood. When one of us is bleeding out, Sourwolf, which would you prefer? The bandages that last five seconds and then let you bleed to death, or the ones that basically hold you together?”

“I would rather not have either of us bleeding out at all,” Derek said flatly, and the Sheriff decided truer words had never been spoken. He’d never thought he’d be listening to his son talk about his possible injury and death, but no father should have to hear something like that. Ever.

He stepped forward, clearing his throat, and both Stiles and Derek whirled around.

Derek’s eyes went as wide as saucers. But Stiles only went shock-still for a moment before putting a bright smile on his face and straightening up.

“Pops, dad, father-mine! What a coincidence to see you here!”

“Coincidence indeed,” the Sheriff said, looking at the bandages and then back at his son. “Can I assume someone is not currently dying?”

“Not yet!”

“Not… yet.”

“Stiles,” Derek hissed, elbowing the boy in the ribs. Stiles made a protesting noise of pain and elbowed the man back, and the Sheriff resisted the urge to facepalm.

This was his son, ladies and gentleman. And the Alpha werewolf he had somehow come to tame.

“So,” John said. “This is what you do in your free time?”

“Only when necessary.”

“Do I want to know what that means?”

Stiles ran a hand through his hair and shrugged, a sheepish look replacing the one of amusement on his face. “Only when we run out of bandages.”

The meaning behind that was obvious. John really questioned everything sometimes; like maybe his decision to not lock Stiles in his room and make him study online until graduation. Then he could let him back out into the world and make sure he went to college somewhere far, far away from Beacon Hills.

The Sheriff really lingered on that fantasy sometimes. Even though he knew he’d never be able to tear Stiles away from the supernatural. Not today, not tomorrow. He hoped maybe one day the boy would finally get some peace, but that didn’t seem to be in the near future.

Derek’s face was scarily pale beside the boy. John only sighed.

“You’re going to be the death of me.”

“I will not,” Stiles said, dropping the more expensive bandages into the basket that Derek held and moving forward to snoop through the Sheriff’s cart. He wrinkled his nose and picked out a bag of chips, a container of cookies, and a loaf of white bread that the Sheriff had put in there earlier. “But these will. This is why you’re not allowed to go grocery shopping alone.”

“It warms my heart when my son tells me what to do.”

“Only because I care,” Stiles said with a grin, putting the items in Derek’s basket instead of back in the Sheriff’s cart. John was sad to see the cookies go. “Now you may go check out, pops. And don’t even think about making a pit stop in the frozen meats section.”

“I deserve steak,” the Sheriff mumbled. Stiles snorted.

“You deserve to live a nice long, full life without any heart problems.”

“You’re a heart problem.”

“See,” Stiles said, glancing toward Derek. “You think you have it rough dealing with me. When my dad gets hungry, he’s like a pouty teenager. Even though we all know he’s much too old to ever be considered a teenager again.”

“Okay,” the Sheriff said, grabbing his cart and starting past them. “And now I’ve had enough of my own son for the day.”

“I love you, pops!”

John only huffed. But before he moved fully by, he hesitated and grabbed a bottle of hydrogen peroxide, setting it in the basket next to the bandages. Derek’s face did fifty more things, finally resting on blank terror, and the Sheriff was quietly pleased that he could incur such fear in a man like Derek Hale.

Because Derek Hale was a werewolf. John was pretty sure that when he was shifted, even a bullet to the chest would take its time stopping him.

But clearly John’s mere presence made Derek tremble in his fancy leather jacket. 

“Quick tip,” John said quietly, leaning closer so Stiles couldn’t hear. “If you buy him a packet of Reeses at checkout, he’ll be well behaved for the rest of the day.”

Derek’s eyes snapped to the Sheriff’s face and he just stared for a moment. Then, still pale, Derek nodded. The Sheriff smiled and moved back away. He didn’t glance back, but he could feel Derek watching at him the entire time he moved down the aisle.

John didn’t buy himself any steak, mourning that loss. But he did pick up a packet of Reeses for his own self at checkout. Because he was a simple man and chocolate was therapy.

And John had no doubts he was going to need a lot of chocolate before this was all over.

-

See, the Sheriff didn’t know why he was going along with all of this. He was pretty sure it would make his life easier in the end but with a son like Stiles, he couldn’t know that for sure. 

It just seemed once the Sheriff started stumbling across things, apparently he couldn’t stop.

He tried to sneak into the diner and found Stiles laughing in a booth with Derek at his side. The man had looked like he was about to pass out when Stiles had gone to the bathroom and John had crossed over, offering a wide smile and pointing out that Stiles liked milkshakes, so Derek should attempt that.

Not a week later, Derek was arrested for standing outside the Stilinski house at night (not by John, of course. He’d gotten used to Hale and his strange habits by now) and the Sheriff had been the one to let him off, saying maybe he should consider talking to Stiles instead of silently lingering in the shadows.

One month passed and the Sheriff realized he was criss crossing paths with Derek and his son everywhere. At the movies (‘pack night’ without the pack), out in the preserve (‘stakeout’), and back in Stiles’s bedroom for a second time (except it was 2 am and Stiles was there too. John would believe ‘research’ when pigs started to fly). 

And the thing was John was pretty sure this shouldn’t be his problem.

He hadn’t asked to be caught in the middle of his son chaotically pining after Derek Hale and Derek Hale aggressively but silently pining back. Nothing John had ever experienced had prepared him for this.

And in the end, he realized it came down to him. John didn’t think that was fair at all.

To his surprise though, he didn’t have to make the first move. John didn’t expect to hear his doorbell go off that day and he really didn’t expect to see Derek Hale on the other side when he opened the door. Because Hale never rang the doorbell. In fact, John had always thought he didn’t even know that was a thing.

Derek shifted from foot to foot with his hands stuffed in his pockets. John raised a brow.

“Good afternoon, Derek.”

“Sir.”

“Stiles isn’t here.”

It was so similar to their first conversation, the Sheriff didn’t know why they hadn’t just had it months ago. Derek’s face turned bright red and he ducked his head, nodding. “I know.”

“So is there anything I can help you with?”

If possible, Derek’s face turned even brighter red. He looked at the ground for a moment before raising his eyes. “I came here to talk to you, sir.”

“You don’t have to call me sir, Derek.”

“... Sheriff?”

“John is fine, son.”

John didn’t know what he was expecting, but for Derek to look shocked and then terrified wasn’t it. For a moment, he truly thought the man would make a run for it. But then Derek cleared his throat and nodded, and John stepped aside, opening the door wider.

Derek stepped inside, glancing around. He shuffled his feet and John was pretty sure he had never seen the man look so nervous.

“So, Derek. You came to speak to me?”

“I don’t know what you’re doing, sir.”

The Sheriff blinked at him. That also wasn’t what he was expecting. “Sorry?”

“Stiles is… always around lately, sir,” Derek said quietly. “And I like him being around. But I’m… not good with that. Until you’ve helped me be good with that. But I don’t know why you’re helping me be good with that.”

Oh. Oh.

“I’m sorry,” Derek said quietly. “I can go and make sure he doesn’t come back to the loft again. I didn’t mean to—”

“Derek, what the hell are you talking about?”

Derek looked up and his expression could only be described as shocked confusion. The man glanced around the room, toward the door, and then back at John. “If you don’t want me around him. If that’s not what you meant to do. I can make sure it doesn’t happen again—”

“You will do no such thing.”

Derek’s mouth snapped closed and he just looked surprised. The Sheriff rubbed a hand over his face, sighing. “Derek, you like my son, don’t you?”

“... Sir.”

“Stop calling me that.”

“Sheriff.”

“Derek.”

“John,” the man said quietly. “I’m sorry.”

“Please stop apologizing.”

Derek looked like that’s the last thing he had been expecting. John resisted the urge to go to the kitchen and grab a beer. He thought he deserved one, but he didn’t think Derek deserved the terror that would probably follow such actions. So instead, he gestured to the couch and, as Derek slowly moved over and sat down, sank into the armchair opposite of him.

“The last thing I want for you to do is push Stiles away,” John said. Derek’s eyebrows shot up and John waved a hand through the air. “Don’t get me wrong, I wasn’t excited about it at first. But he’s… happy. More than he has been in a while.”

Derek didn’t move. Didn’t say a word. John studied his face.

“Will you ever hurt my son, Derek?”

“Of course not.”

“Will you ever put him in danger or put yourself before him?”

“Never.”

“Then I don’t know what you want me to say, son,” the Sheriff said, tilting his head. “Do you want me to tell you not to see my son anymore?”

Derek actually looked like he was considering that for a moment. And suddenly, all John could see was the fifteen-year-old kid sitting in the Sheriff’s station, wrapped in a blanket, covered in ash, and staring blankly at the floor. The very image hurt him.

Finally, Derek shook his head. “No, sir.”

“John.”

“No… John.”

“Then let me get you a drink,” John said, pushing himself up and moving toward the kitchen. He stayed in there longer than was probably necessary, but he was still trying to figure out the man currently sitting on his couch. Derek Hale was… well, he was something.

When the Sheriff came back out, Derek looked like he’d been sitting stock-still the entire time. John passed him a beer and sighed.

“So what do you need?”

“Si— John?”

“What is it called when a werewolf courts a human, Derek? Do I even want to know?”

Derek’s face turned bright red. “It’s just dating, sir.”

“And are you planning on doing that?”

Derek stared at him; silent and blank faced. John sighed for what felt like the hundredth time, rubbing a hand over his face.

“Are you planning on dating my son, Derek?”

He might as well have threatened to shoot the man. Derek tensed up and glanced toward the door and once more, the Sheriff wondered if he’d genuinely make a run for it. He quickly raised his hands like he was trying to calm a startled animal.

“I asked the question, Derek, I’m not going to shoot you for answering.”

“I… I don’t know, sir. Sheriff. John.”

“Are you wanting to?”

Derek glared at his beer as if it had personally offended him. But he still nodded. The Sheriff wondered for a moment how he’d gotten into this position before remembering he’d basically let Hale into his house in the first place. Technically, this was his fault.

“Just get him curly fries before you ask, Derek. Curly fries put Stiles in a state of euphoria.”

Derek’s eyes snapped up. “What?”

“Curly fries, Derek.”

“You’re giving me permission to date your son?”

“If you hurt him in any way,” the Sheriff said, pointing a finger at the man. “I will personally stock up on wolfsbane bullets and make good use of them.”

Derek’s face whitened. He nodded silently.

“You’re a good kid, Derek,” John said, dropping his hand. “I don’t expect that’ll ever be necessary.”

“No, sir.”

“Though it might be if you continue calling me sir.”

“No, John.”

The Sheriff smiled at that. This was progress, he thought. Not that he’d ever seen himself giving ex fugitive and literal werewolf Derek Hale advice on how to court his son. He wondered if Claudia would be exasperated or proud of him.

Probably both.

“So,” the Sheriff said. “Anything else?”

Derek glanced from his bottle, to the Sheriff, and then toward the door. Shaking his head, he pushed himself up and set the bottle on the coffee table. He hadn’t even touched it. “No, John. Uh… thank you.”

“Please never mention this to Stiles.”

John could’ve sworn Derek nearly smiled. He hadn’t thought that was possible (did it come with being a werewolf or was that an eyebrow thing?) but John was pretty sure he knew what he saw. Derek Hale smiling. In his house. What a trip.

This entire visit was unexpected from one point to the next. 

The Sheriff followed him to the door and Derek looked like he was going to say something else, but then he turned and quickly exited the house. John watched him all the way to his Camaro before shutting the door with a long, heavy sigh.

He would like to say first of all, he did not ask for this. 

Second of all, it was hard.

And third of all? Well, the Sheriff needed some chocolate. Maybe a few steaks. But he also thought that could have been worse; and he was never doing it again.

His time should never be spent actively participating in his son’s love life.

Never again. 

- -

(if you enjoy my writing, consider supporting your underpaid student writer? You can also request a prompt if you’d like!). https://ko-fi.com/rh27writer

[ineverlookavvay]

donuts

Summary: Between s02e01 and s02e05, Michael and Liz bond over light bulbs and donuts.

Day 1 of Michael Guerin Week 2020 - Fic prompt: “You don’t have to stay”

read it on ao3 Michael watched Liz pull up in front of his trailer with a healthy amount of trepidation.  He’d had a long night—a string of long nights, really—and Liz showing up unannounced was either good news or bad news.  Michael wasn’t sure he could handle bad news. 

“Hey,” she called, climbing out of the car and walking towards him.  She was still wearing her waitressing uniform, which was another odd leaning towards bad sign—she’d obviously left in a hurry, in the middle of a shift, and Michael would take odds that meant something had happened.  No one ever came driving up to him to tell him good news.

“Hey.”  He stood up from the chair he’d been slouching in, dropping the papers he’d been looking at on the ground and slipping them under a bottle.  “What’s up?”  Michael forced his voice to sound light, like he wasn’t anticipating her dropping some doom and gloom all over his day. 

“I need a favor.”  

Michael squinted at her against the sun and tried to steel himself for whatever it was.  “What favor?”  

“Oh, no it’s nothing bad,” she said quickly, stepping closer to him.  He could see now that she wasn’t frowning, didn’t seem afraid or panicked or upset—if anything, she just looked a little anxious, but not to any degree that would worry him.  Michael knew how it felt to be as smart as Liz was, and a little anxiety was basically a constant personality trait.  She took a deep breath.  “Or at least not worse than a few exploded light bulbs...”

Michael nodded. 

“Well, every light bulb in the house, actually.”  She frowned.  “It’s getting kind of expensive.”

“So what do you want me to do about it?  I’m not an electrician.” 

“No,”  Liz said carefully.  “But I thought maybe you could make some kind of alien-proof light bulb?  It would help me—us—a lot.” 

"Right."  Michael wasn't entirely inclined to spend his free time working on something odd and trivial like that, but at the same time, Liz was giving him hopeful puppy dog eyes, and he could use something light to spend time with, instead of the normal life-or-death stuff.  Everything with Max was hard, things with Isobel were hard, with Maria, with Alex, everyone, and Liz was giving him something easy.  Michael needed something easy.  Not that he was going to admit that.  "I can try, if it’ll help that much,” he said nonchalantly, "but I can't promise anything."

Liz beamed like he'd promised anyway.  "Thanks, I owe you."  

"Yeah, you do," Michael replied, just to see her "yeah, right" expression, because that felt more normal than the pained way they'd both been looking at each other recently.  Michael needed some normal, too. 

“Come by the Crashdown when you have something?" Liz called as she swept back towards the car.  

Michael nodded.  He scooped up the papers he'd been working through and carried them down with him into the depths of his workshop.  He'd been slowly making his way through the plans he had, slowly figuring things out, but it was painful and Michael was almost glad to have a reason to put it aside for a bit.  

Reverse engineering a light bulb to make one that Rosa couldn’t explode was a challenge, and he sat down to wrap his mind around it with something close to excitement.   Maybe he could use the alien biotech he'd collected.  The material wanted to be together, he knew that, and that might translate to some resistance to exploding at the smallest surge of energy.  Also, it would look pretty damn cool. 

He carefully unscrewed a light bulb from one of the lamps above his table to take apart.  This was the way Michael liked to work—with a visible end goal, with ideas and plans that actually made sense, that didn't put anyone in danger, that didn't make his chest seize up at the choices he'd have to make if he actually finished.  He could visualize the steps of testing, the intricacies of it, before he even touched anything, and that was satisfying, in a deep buried way that felt like himself.

The actual work was somewhat more complicated than the idea, and he went through all the light bulbs he had except one before he realized he'd never get anything done completely in the dark, and had to swing by a hardware store.  There was something about exploding light bulbs. almost intentionally, that made him feel young, like when they were first trying to figure out their powers, and that feeling came with the expected pain but also a surprising stream of nostalgia.  Michael would never want to go back to the time before he was an adult, before he could take care of himself instead of looking in fear at the people who were supposed to do that for him, but it was kind of fun to make the bulbs pop without any fear of repercussions, the same way it had been fun to move things with his mind before he knew doing it would make adults angry.

By the time he figured it out, it was late afternoon a few days later.  He'd ended up with normal light bulbs that were adapted, re-engineered until they wouldn't break, or at the very least, they would knit themselves back together.  It was a little cheesy looking, like tiny lava lamps, but it was effective.  He was pretty sure Liz would hate it, but hey, that was her own fault for asking him.

Packing all of the adapted light bulbs into a little cardboard box, Michael drove to the Crashdown, relieved that Liz had wanted him to meet her here instead of at Max’s house, and aware that she’d probably done that on purpose.  

Michael pushed the door of the diner open with his elbow, holding the box and scanning the place for Liz.  He didn’t see her, which wasn’t a great sign, since he was holding a box of really weird looking light bulbs.  

Arturo nodded at him as he stood there trying to figure out the best next plan.  “Looking for Liz?”

“Yeah.  She here?”

He pointed at a set of stairs going up to the apartment above the diner and beckoned Michael up to the counter.  The place wasn’t too busy, the dinner rush past and the late night rush not yet started, but Arturo still leaned forward, lowering his voice conspiratorially.  “Up there, keep going until you hit the roof.  She thinks I still don’t know she goes up there, but,” he shrugged, “I know everything.”

Michael grinned and nodded thanks, heading up the stairs.  At the top of two flights, he pushed open the door and stepped out onto the roof of the Crashdown, juggling the box he was holding between his hands as he looked around.  He stepped around the sign and saw Liz sitting there, holding a bottle, with a white paper bag sitting next to her. 

“Hey,” he said appraisingly.  He sort of hated Liz for being able to look put together when he knew she was as much of a mess as he was.  It hurt more for not being either of their fault, but sort of being both of their fault; it hurt more that there was nothing to do but wait, when both of them would rather keep their hands busy. 

“Hey.”  Liz put down the bottle and considered him, like she was coming out of a daydream.  “How’d you find me?”

“You dad told me.”  Michael tried to smile.  “Not your best hiding place.”

Liz shrugged and took another sip from her bottle.  “Rosa and I used to come up here, so… blame her.”

“Yeah, speaking of.”  Michael held out the box to her and Liz took it tentatively, raising her eyebrow in a question.  “They’re prototypes, so we’ll have to piss her off and test it, I guess.”

Liz laughed, harsh and short, like he’d surprised it out of her.  She put the box down by her feet.  “She’s at the house, I think.  I hope.  We can test it tonight.  I’m good at pissing her off.”  She paused for another drink, peering inside the box.  “You’ll have to tell me how you did it.”    

“Tell me it works first.”  Michael shifted uncomfortably on his feet.  He’d done what he came here to do, delivered the box, and he really had no business staying here.  But leaving Liz and her dwindling bottle of tequila on top of a roof felt like a bad idea.  He looked at the empty space next to Liz, considering asking if he could sit. 

“You wanna sit?” Liz said, apparently reading his mind.  “You look like you could use a drink.  And,” she pulled open the paper bag, “I have the unsold donuts.”

“Well, if you’ve got semi-stale donuts…”  Michael walked over and sat tentatively next to her, taking a donut from the bag when she held it open for him.  He didn’t really want it, didn’t really even like sweets that much, but it felt meaningful.  Like, a breaking bread together to seal a pact kind of donut.  Like a friendship donut.  

It was really stale, though.  Michael gladly took the offered bottle to wash down the crumbs that stuck in his throat.  

“Do you ever think about what you would have done differently?” Liz asked, staring out at the sky, looking melancholy.  “If we’d all known the truth about…everything?”

Michael laughed humorlessly, a soft huff of breath.  He thought about that constantly.  What could have been different if they’d known about Rosa, about Noah, about Isobel, about the Manes, about Caulfield.  He thought about all the choices he’d change, if he had any idea of their consequences, any idea of what truths led to the choosing; and he thought about all the choices he wouldn’t change, all the things he’d do exactly the same, to his own detriment, no matter what he started off knowing.  And none of it mattered, but that’s just who he was, still staring at the past, no matter how much he wanted something different in the future.  He just couldn’t stop looking behind him, counting the footprints. 

“Constantly.” 

Liz hummed in response.  “Yeah.  You know, Guerin, for two very smart people, we are not that smart.”

Michael laughed for real this time, taking another pull from the bottle.  “Tell me about it.”

They fell into a companionable, if slightly awkward silence, both of them trapped in memories they couldn’t talk about, not yet, maybe not ever.  Michael nodded at nothing, kicking his feet.  He could feel Liz’s eyes start tracing him, taking in his expression, his moving feet, the way the silence hung around them.  

“You don’t have to stay,” she said abruptly.  “I mean, I appreciate the company, but…I’ll be okay.”

Michael frowned.  “I can leave if you want me to.”

“No, I didn’t mean that.  But I’m sure you have better things to do than sit here with me.”

Michael scoffed.  His plans for the evening were the same as every evening had been since Noah had died.  Get drunk, cause trouble, hurt the people who wanted to hold him close.  He didn’t want to hurt Liz, though; she didn’t want to hold him, or change him, or anything—she was drowning in the same water as him, and there was solace in the sinking company.  He realized he didn’t want to leave.  Or at least, he didn’t want to leave as much as he wanted to stay.   “Yeah, my regular barstool’s really missing my ass right now.”

Liz squinted at him.  “You have a regular barstool?”  

“You hide out on the roof of your restaurant with stale donuts?”

Liz nodded.  “Touché.”  She grabbed the bottle back from him.  “You know what the worst part is?”

“What’s the worst part?” he asked obediently, even though he had some ideas of his own. 

“The waiting.”  Liz pressed her hands together, exaggeratedly twiddling her thumbs.  “People like us, we have to keep moving, keep working, or it all just…catches up.”

Michael didn’t have to ask what she meant.  It was exactly how he lived his entire life.  Keep moving, keep working, even if the movement wasn’t linear, and don’t stop, not for anyone—stopping meant thinking, meant looking too closely, feeling too strongly, it meant leaving time to take in the things that threatened to break him, that he could only avoid by not looking directly at them.  Happiness kept moving in front of him, happiness and contentment, like rabbits pulled on a string around a track; he wanted them, he wanted to be happy, to be satisfied, so so badly, but he knew he’d never catch them if he stopped running.  He wouldn’t wish that life on anyone. 

“So keep working, keep distracted.”  He offered it like it was easy, like he wasn’t constantly, every day, warring with himself because if he let himself change goals, if he let himself really know that he was working towards something new now, it meant admitting that things really were the way they were, and that he couldn’t do anything to fix it.  Michael was a verified genius who could move shit with his mind, but he couldn’t do anything useful, he could only break things.  

“Or drink,” Liz amended, and Michael had to admit, that often did seem like the best choice. 

They lapsed into silence again, but it was less awkward now that they’d felt out each other’s sense of duty versus actually wanting to be sitting there together.  It was kind of nice. There was no pressure to be or do or say anything, both of them sitting with their small victory, content to be distracted from the larger issue for a moment—until it came careening back into view to throw any comfort off again. 

“You want another donut?” Liz asked, pulling one out for herself and then offering the bag to him. 

Michael looked from the bag down to the half eaten donut in his hand, a laugh bursting from his mouth unexpectedly.  He hadn’t been laughing a lot recently, at least not genuinely.  She waggled the bag.  He realized it wasn’t about wanting another donut, or even about whether or not he actually ate them or just stockpiled them next to him, it was just about sharing something, about being able to give each other some small moment that felt good, or at least that felt okay.  There was comfort in a box of light bulbs, there was comfort in a donut.  

Michael nodded and took another donut from the bag, taking a bite just to prove he appreciated it.  

“It’ll be okay,” Liz said, and it sounded like she was trying to convince both of them, it sounded like a question. 

“Yeah,” Michael replied, infusing his voice with nonchalance, and taking another crumbly bite of donut.  “You’re a great scientist, and Valenti is a good doctor, and I’m—”  He trailed off.  Just trying to hold it all together.  

“You’re a good friend,” Liz replied, and Michael wondered if he had underestimated the level of her drunkenness.   Up close, she was less put together than he’d thought—she looked tired, mostly, her eyes red-rimmed and her smile failing to reach them. 

“And you’re a little bit drunk,” Michael replied, trying to diffuse the earnestness of the moment.  He couldn’t really do earnest right now, it was too close to honest, and that was too close to sad.  “Need a ride back there?”

Liz nodded, smiling a little more genuinely, and stood up, wobbling just a bit.  Enough that Michael took the box for her, not eager to test the quality of his light bulbs by dropping all of them accidentally off a roof.     

Climbing into Michael’s truck took a bit of an effort.  Liz flipped on the radio when he started driving, swiveling the knob until it moved away from his normal station and landed on one playing 90s music that she, somewhat implausibly, remembered every single word to despite how drunk she was.  Michael knew the song but not that well, and he smiled as he drove, as Liz swayed and sang and nudged him to do the chorus with her.  

Michael pulled up the truck in front of Max’s house, and took a deep breath.  He had tried not to come by here, because it hurt too much, and because he was an expert at running away from problems he couldn’t readily fix.  Liz followed his gaze to the house, looking wistful.  Michael couldn’t imagine living there, now.    

Liz opened the passenger door, looking a lot more stable, and Michael wasn’t surprised—being here was sobering.  She held out the donut bag, still containing a few remaining semi-stale donuts.  “Donut for the road?”

Michael gave her an amused look.          

“You know,” Liz said, dragging the light bulb box onto her lap, “when we were in high school, people would kill for one of the leftover donuts.  But,” she paused for emphasis, and Michael smiled in spite of himself, “only my friends actually got one.”  She waggled the bag at him.  “Want another donut, Michael?”

Michael sighed, ducking his head away from her, and then back after he’d taken a breath.  It was…surprisingly nice, actually.  The explicit acknowledgement that they were friends, that he could be part of something, even if he couldn’t have when they were in high school.  He didn’t want to think about any of that too hard, because it was just a stupid donut, but there was something there that made Michael feel a little less like he had to hold everything together completely on his own.  

“Fine, gimme a donut,” he said, grumbling so that he wouldn’t do something ridiculous like affirm how much the whole donut thing actually meant.  

“Good,” Liz said, like that settled something, and she slid out of the truck, gripping the box and the bag and the bottle tightly.  “Thanks for the ride.”

Michael took a bite of the dry, too sweet donut.  He thought about this, sometimes, how his life might have been if everything was different—if he’d been adopted, if he’d been less bitter and protective of himself, if he and Alex had found each other sooner and hadn’t been so afraid—if he’d have had a group of humans, a group of friends, that actually wanted him there, instead of just feeling bound to him.  It didn’t matter, because it wasn’t true, but he still thought about it, and wondered if he somehow had stumbled into that now, when he was old enough to know better, to do without it and yet, still secretly, desperately wanted it. 

Liz waved from the door and Michael reversed the truck away from the house, the small pile of donuts sitting on the seat next to him like a monument to something. 

[doof-doofblog]

"He's My Brother?!"

Tuesday 16th March 2021

Part One

Hello again everyone, hope you're all doing well! I wanted to share some personal news with you, I received my first Covid-19 vaccine yesterday, we're slowly on the path on getting things back to some form of normality! Who knows, maybe soon EastEnders might be able to go back to its original 30 minutes, even though I'm enjoying it and don't care how long the episodes are, it'll just feel normal, right? Anyway, I've seen a few spoilers regarding these two episodes, I'm really intrigued to write about these episodes. Tuesday aired two episodes of EastEnders so I'll be doing two posts to review each one.

Monday's episode ended on such a cliff-hanger, it's only right that I start this blog with mentioning Lucas and Chelsea first. The episode opened right there Monday left off, Chelsea and Lucas are at the airport preparing to go to Ibiza with suitcases full of drugs. Chelsea's suitcase is currently being checked, she's stood in absolute panic about what the security guard is going to find. Only when he reveals a bottle being over the correct amount she's allowed to take, I got really confused! I was completely and utterly convinced that Lucas had given Chelsea the drugs as a way of teaching her a lesson, and not in a bad way but in a cruel-to-be-kind kind of way. But as soon as Lucas begins to walk through with his suitcase, Chelsea hears commotion from behind and Lucas is surrounded by armed guards. The interesting thing is, Lucas doesn't hesitate, calmly and willingly, he drops the suitcase, opens it up to reveal the amount of drugs stored inside it, Chelsea watches on in dismay as her Father basically gives up on the whole job. Lucas looked over at his daughter, but the look on his face, I couldn't quite tell what he was doing? Was he doing this to save his daughter?

Frantically, Chelsea later arrives home, informing her Mum that Lucas has been arrested and he plain and simply gave up the drugs as if he'd planned it. Denise is visibly shook to hear but she's more relieved to know that Chelsea is safe and no harm has come to her, as far as she's concerned, Lucas can look after himself, whereas Chelsea needs her family around her. However, Chelsea seems to think that Lucas has given up the job on purpose, and now because the job hasn't gone through, Chelsea and the rest of the family could be in danger.

Returning to the airport, Lucas has been taken to side room, there he is begging the officer to allow him one phone call. At first the officer seems to think he's part of a drug gang and is wanting a call to let his comrades know about his arrest, however when Lucas mentions that it's to do with his family and that they could be in danger, it looks as if the police officer suspects he could be telling the truth and allows the phone call. As Denise and Chelsea are at home, Jack is there trying to keep them calm and discuss what actions could be taken due to Lucas's arrest, but of course his main concern is to keep Denise and Chelsea safe, if Caleb finds out the job hasn't been done, he knows that the Fox family could be in huge danger, he instructs them to not go on their phones and don't answer any calls or answer the door to anyone but himself. It's then that he receives a phone call from Lucas, pleading to for his help. What on Earth could Lucas be asking of Jack? Will Lucas be okay? (Of course some of you may have already seen the second episode, but as I haven't, I'm going to be speculating, please no spoilers, thank you!)

--

The next thing I want to mention is Bailey and Bernadette. The sisters are still deeply saddened by Bronson's passing, but as they sit in the park with Mitch, they continue to discuss Bronson's personality and his favourite foods. Always the best way to remember a happy doggo! Unfortunately, as the family reminisce about their beloved pup, Mitch has devastating when he hears a job opportunity had fell through, which he was hoping would keep him going until the winter. Are the Taylor family falling on hard times? Are they really struggling for money so much right now?

Bailey however tries to reassure her Dad, informing him that he has to keep positive as something will come up eventually, but she also drops the bombshell that he wouldn't have to pray for Astronomy Camp for her as she didn't win her competition, both Bernie and Mitch voice their disappointment for Bailey as she begins to feel sorry for herself.  But suddenly a little surprise makes the young girl begin to smile, a little dog approaches her as she holds food in her hand, it appears to not be wearing a collar and no one is around to claim the dog, must be a stray. Happily Bailey interacts with dog and smiles to her Dad that it's a sign from Bronson.

Seeing the little pup bring a smile back onto his daughter's face, he later approaches Karen about the possibility of keeping the new found dog. I also just want to mention how adorable the new dog is, I know not many dog last for long on the Square, but it would be nice for them to fill the void of Bronson. I don't think EastEnders have ever had a better dog since Wellard. They need a pet who's going to become memorable, and with one as adorable as this new pup, it could really work. Karen unfortunately is against the idea of getting a new dog, mainly because they can't afford it. But something tells me that maybe she's just not ready to get over Bronson, maybe? I feel if you've been able to afford a dog before, there's no reason why you can't get another one after? Right?! Mitch really wants to cheer his daughter up, I'm hoping Mitch will go and find the new dog, adopt him and bring him in to their family.

--

The next thing I have to mention is Ash and Suki, after finding her daughter at home alone with Peter, Suki takes it upon herself to confront Ash about the fact that she's been suspended from work, of course she has no idea why, but we all know it's because of Peter begging her to give him pain medication whilst off duty. As the ladies begin to argue, Ash tries to reassure her Mum that everything will be fine when she attends the hearing, she'll be able to explain and she'll get her job back. But Suki begins to fret, considering how much she cares for her family, and more so their reputation, I reckon?

Peter takes it upon himself to interrupt, informing Suki that Ash wouldn't have been suspended if it wasn't for him, this makes Suki realise that it's all Peter's fault, but the devastating blow is that her daughter could potentially lose her job because of a boy! Later on, as things begin to cool off, Suki is alone at the family business as Ash visits her, without Peter in tow. She begs her Mum to not worry and let things slide as she and Peter have a plan of way of getting her job back, but Suki seems to really struggle as the realisation sinks in, she voices that the reason she's so upset is that was she so proud of her daughter for getting so far with her career, for the job role she took on in life, how she has become successful in life, and now she fears that because of Peter, everything could be taken away from her! For me, I found it interesting to see this side of Suki, we know she loves the idea of power and success, but to actually hear that she's proud of one of her children, seems that maybe she really just wants the best for her family.

--

Okay, now the main event! After hearing the news that Gavin has passed away, Kathy and Sharon are discussing whether to attend the memorial. Of course, Sharon isn't interested in sharing memories of her biological Father, needless to say she doesn't have any fond memories of him, Gavin did have a bad reputation after all. Kathy however, considering as she was married to him once - I'm assuming, we know for sure she loved him and/or dated him, is considering going, whether Sharon joins her or not. As far as Sharon is concerned he can "Rot in hell!"

However, after a few wise words from Callum about Dad's in general, regardless whether they were pigs or not, it's always best to be the bigger person, Sharon then decides to tag along with Kathy and attend the memorial. As the arrive Kathy realises that she recognises a few faces, where of course Sharon knows nobody. Sally, Gavin's sister approaches them and thanks Kathy for coming, regardless of the awful things Gavin did, she makes the valid point that she did love him once.

As they look around the room, there is one bloke in particular who seems to be downing a lot more alcohol than others, he seems to be banging to people and knocking into the bar, eventually this man decides to make a speech, but it's not one of the speeches you'd expect. But however, to Sharon's interest, he seems to be saying things which she would actually agree with. Gavin was the scum of all scumbags. This speech however doesn't sit well with other family members and the young man dashes over chairs and tables to escape the angry mob!

As Kathy and Sharon make their exit, they watch as everyone gathers in the parking lot. However Sharon seems to have somehow managed to get her hands on Gavin's urn, without a second thought she simply dumps it into a litter bin, much to Kathy's shock. Looking for the drunken, suspicious man who rudely corrupted the memorial, both Kathy and Sharon seem to notice that their car has been left un-open. Realising that the young man could be hiding in their car, they make a subtle entrance and sit in the front seats. This scene looked like something out of a comedy, the young man appears between them in the backseat, shushing them not to give away his hiding place. Unfortunately, for the young man, the angry mob begin taking their anger out on his sports car - I did find this pretty comical as Kathy and Sharon both describing the damage being made to his car as he hides on the backseat. After the angry mob seem to finish off the last of their damage and head back into the building, Kathy asks the young man his connection with Gavin, how did he know him? Why was he at the memorial? Were they business partners or something?

But then as he walks away, he drops the big bombshell, introducing himself as Zack and that Gavin was in fact his Dad! As he walks away to his damaged car, both Kathy and Sharon look at each other in their shock as they come to realise Sharon has a brother she never knew existed!

Now I just want to say, most of us recall what happened when Sharon found out about another long-lost brother, however, I have to make the valid point that Dennis was in fact an adoptive brother. Den Watts was her adoptive father, so technically Sharon and Dennis were never really blood related, which I guess is why their romance can be looked to one side, however, Zack would be Sharon's Half-Brother! People might think history will be repeating itself if Zack was to become Sharon's new love interest, but I'd hope that EastEnders wouldn't go down the route of incest. It would be interesting though to see how Sharon will come to terms with knowing about her secret brother, will she want to build a relationship with him? Will he want to know her? Could they bond knowing that they've both had such a horrid man for a Father? Who knows?

I'm really looking forward to seeing the second episode following this one, I will be posting about it tomorrow, but in the mean time please no spoilers for me. I'll look forward to blogging about it tomorrow! Thank you again for reading! Love you all xXx  

[thedreammweaver]

Split Personality part 3 (Burton-schumacherverse/Gotham crossover)

Part 2

(A/N: so things don’t get confusing outside of the characters themselves referring to eachother by name Burton-schumacherverse characters are going to be referred to as penguin, riddler, and Catwoman while their Gotham counterparts just have their normal names)

Warnings: sexuality struggles, Ed’s dad being an asshole mention

As they left the interrogation room Oswald noticed that Penguin’s waddling limp was more pronounced than his yet he wasn’t leaning on the umbrella he carried as Oswald would have. Even with his cane his leg was beginning to ache terribly from standing for so long. As soon as they were in the main part of the precinct Jim made a beeline for Oswald “What the hell-“

“We’re leaving, Jim, they’ve done nothing that warrants you holding them here.” Oswald stated. “Absolutely not-” Jim paused “Wait, where are the other-“

“Jim!” Bullock called from the upper level “Your favorite little delinquent and that freaky cat lady just blew up a store downtown.” Jim looked like he was about to have aneurysm “How did they even get out- I don’t have time for- Okay, you know what,” he turned back to Oswald “you can go just for the love of god behave!” He instructed before sprinting off to deal with the current situation.

     Selina and Catwoman were laughing as they ducked into an alley, hiding from cop cars. “This is the most fun I’ve had in a while,” Catwoman panted “Who knows, maybe I should get a kid.” She joked. “You’re not too bad yourself.” Selina chuckled.

        Not really knowing where else to go Oswald had taken the group back to the Van Dahl mansion. As soon as they’d arrived Riddler said he wanted to have a private chat with Ed and they’d ducked off somewhere. Oswald’s leg was lit up with pain by the time they’d gotten there and he was just grateful to see his armchair. “What happened to your leg?” Penguin asked as he surveyed the decor, judgement in his eyes. “Oh...” Oswald hadn’t actually recounted the tale to anyone before, though he didn’t exactly want to open up to the odd man he felt a pull like he had to “Someone broke it, I was in a sticky situation of sorts and couldn’t get it set...it just healed wrong, I suppose. I’ve never actually had it looked at, come to think of it...”

“You kill the person who broke it?”

“Yes..” Oswald chose to leave out that Fish hadn’t stayed dead.

“Good.” Penguin growled. “Don’t ever let anyone get away with doing shit like that to you..” he trailed off as he set eyes on a portrait of Elijah that was above the fireplace. “That’s your old man?” He asked. Oswald struggled to keep pain out of his voice as he too looked at the portrait “Yes, it is.”

“Christ, he looks like mine.” Penguin muttered.

“My father was a good man,” Oswald assured “He would never throw a child into a river...I apologize for my snide remark about that, I just...can’t imagine parents being so cruel.”

Penguin laughed “I can’t imagine parents being so loving. To be perfectly honest with you I...killed mine, my parents I mean.” He admitted. Oswald found himself chuckling “I’d say that’s fair.” he shrugged.

      Ed didn’t know why he was letting himself be led into a spare bedroom by his counterpart but he was. “Alright,” Riddler said carefully shutting the door before leading Ed more into the middle of the room and grabbing him gently but firmly by the shoulders “You said you’re straight.”

“I am-“ Ed’s insisting was interrupted.

“How many times do you rehearse that?” Riddler asked, letting go of Ed and surveying the room curiously.

Ed’s face fell “How did you know that..”

“Because I used to rehearse it too, silly. Now, can you be honest with me?”

Ed sighed and nodded there was an odd sense of complete trust he felt with the other man. “Do you like boys or girls?” Riddler asked as he absently fixed his hair in the reflection of a vase. Ed looked at the floor and inhaled “...both.” he mumbled. “Hmm..both.” Riddler repeated “I’m willing to bet your dad said some pretty nasty things about that.” Ed didn’t answer, which prompted Riddler to turn to him and walk back over. Seeing that Ed looked to be on the verge of crying, Riddler open his arms in a hug offering gesture. He didn’t expect Ed to actually accept so he was surprised when the man walked over and practically melted into his arms as he cried softly. “There, there, dear repressed one.” Riddler cooed, gently rubbing Ed’s back “I’m going to tell you what I wish someone told me when I was younger. There is nothing wrong with you and all the horrible things your dad ever said are not true.” He hugged Ed for a few moments more before pulling away “Now, you said you like boys, does boys include Oswald?”

“Y-Yes..” Ed admitted, wiping his eyes “But he’s...out of my league, I could never-“

“Oh, please.” Riddler interrupted, he grabbed Ed’s arm and took him into the bathroom and stood him in front of the mirror. He lifted Ed’s chin up to make sure he was looking at himself “That’s a handsome boy, hmm? You should be milking those cheekbones for all they’re worth.” That made Ed chuckle. Riddler moved some of Ed’s hair out of his face “Maybe if you tried more green it would bring out your features more..but that aside, you’re plenty worthy enough of Oswald.”

Ed blushed and shook his head “He probably doesn’t feel the same way.” Riddler smirked “I’m willing to bet he does.”

     “That is ingenious.” Oswald said in awe as he watched penguin shoot a tree in the backyard with his umbrella again. 

“Wanna try?”

“Really?? Yes, please.” He said, taking the umbrella from the shorter man. The glee on his face was childlike as he quickly figured out how the thing worked and made another hole in the tree. “I also have one that shoots fire.” Penguin said taking his umbrella back from Oswald. “And a few that fly, those get broken a lot though.. I was working on one that shoots acid but Eddie made me take a break from that little project after I burned myself..on accident of course.” Penguin sounded both annoyed and in love. “You guys really care about eachother..” Oswald mumbled. “You need to tell your Ed that you’re in love with him.” Penguin said frankly. Oswald’s face went bright red “What?! I-I’m not-“

“Don’t bullshit me. You’re head over heels for him, I can see it. Even if I didn’t see it..I’d know.”

“I can’t tell him..”

“You have to!” Penguin insisted “There cannot be a universe where he and I aren’t together, do you understand? I won’t allow it.” Oswald anxiously considered the prospect of confessing his love to Ed “Okay..I’ll tell him.” He relented. Penguin looked relieved “Good...good.”

       Oswald felt a chill run down his spine as he, Ed, Selina, Penguin, Riddler, and Catwoman walked through the halls of Indian Hill. They were being lead by Jim who was being led by Hugo who had gotten done with whatever he’d rigged to get the misplaced counterparts back to their dimension faster than he’d predicted. He came to an ominous looking door at the end of the hall and stopped “Those from this Gotham can leave now, the rest of you proceed with me.” He instructed. Before Catwoman could start walking Selina hugged her “This is weird but I’m gonna like...miss you or whatever...” Catwoman quickly recovered from her surprise and hugged Selina back “I’ll...miss you too, kid.” Hugo looked at Jim pensively as he opened the ominous door  “I must be a complete fool to let such a perfectly well preserved case of complex syndactyly slip through my fingers. You owe me for this, Gordon.” He lamented, looking Penguin up and down “God, what I’d give to dissect you..” Oswald was struck with a type of terror he’d never felt before and he moved to hide behind Ed who guarded him protectively as they both walked through the door. Catwoman looked at Selina sadly before following. Hugo was about to enter but paused looking at Oswald, Ed, and Selina “Oh, I should probably tell you there’s a certain margin for error with this that could actually send you to-...you know what never mind, that most likely won’t happen.” He said cryptically before disappearing into the room, slamming the door behind him. Wanting to just get out of there Jim pushed past Oswald and Ed, Selina soon followed. Ed and Oswald lingered for a second, there was a strange feeling about them now..something pulling them together. Both remembering their counterparts’ words they took eachother’s hands as they started walking out..together.

To be continued....

[purplerose244]

Thinking journal for season 12 Prime Empire 😎😎😎 (1/2)

So, I'm keeping this during all of season 12 to put down my thoughts as they appear. It's mostly for not ranting every single time a new episode comes out so please don't mind me too much 😅 I'm following the English release so please no spoilers 😙

I'm gonna split it in two, since apparently the season has 16 episodes. So this is the first part, enjoy my rambling 💜💜

It's the 30th of March and here we go!

IN GENERAL

I'm so, SO HAPPY, we have a theme for this season. For my experience apparently silly themes (tech ninja, ghosts, pirates) had brought very surprising results so I'm SO DOWN FOR THIS 😍😍

It seems that they fixed the mood, there is a specific mystery and a specific mission to follow. I like it too

THE NEW WHIP IS DOPE AS ALWAYS

I'm really glad there are plenty of references to past episodes, comebacks are my jam

The only thing that still kinda bothers me is the length of the episodes. It's not all bad, I just think the 20 minutes format was better. One thing is splitting 20 in 10 minutes, another is putting together 11 minutes of important stuff. Doesn't bother me too much, I just wish there was more time for my favorite show 🤷‍♀️

WOULD YOU LIKE TO ENTER PRIME EMPIRE?

Is it normal for me to feel really old after they made the "what is a VCR?" joke? Like, I'm a uni student so still pretty young, but I lived through the transition from that to the DVD so... eh, I laughed anyway👵

Jay is smart, I really believe he is. Yet I saw him putting a possibly corrupted motherboard into a legendary game randomly found into a villain's lair, and I was like "Of course he did that, I love you you dumb*ss" raising my glass of juice towards him 😎

Okay, I'm down for this Lloyd. I'm down for a season with Lloyd being creeped out just because, being silly, just a ninja helping his friends and- (remembers there's a Harumi avatar in the sets) I'M NOT READY

The ending was actually nicely creepy. Cool nods in approval

DYER ISLAND

THAT INTRO THOUGH, THAT WAS EPIC! Love the techno sounds, love the clear gaming connection, I rate it 10/HECK YEAH LONG LIVE THE FOLD

I was scared about how the shorts were supposed to play along with the season, but it looks fine so far with the mechanic and later for Scott. Good 👍

Ah, Fist to Face, that game came all over from the nostalgic season 1. That's what I'm talking about 😎

So they just associated that Unagami is probably Dyer's avatar like that? Like sure, I thought about it, but it looks a little rushed. Mm, I wonder if there's something more behind it?

LEVEL 13

Cyrus Borg is back and he TALKS!!! Finally, he gets some action! Go tech dad!

I'm so happy he referenced the Digiverse, I would have been very disappointed if he hadn't. Time flies Borg...

Not gonna lie, I thought the next to follow up Jay's spot as best in videigames was going to be Kai or Lloyd. It's not disappointing though, since pretty much all the ninja have been seen playing, and to be honest I like the implication that Cole and Jay probably played a lot together. As bruiseshipping or as BrOTP, I still love them together no matter what 💙🖤💙🖤

Ooooohhhhh, that's why Zane and Pixal are left behind. It makes sense, sure, but I don't understand the implication of the plan: they saw Dyer entering Prime Empire, so why looking for him in real life? Mm, maybe they will investigate about his life and what happened... PIXANE ON THE CASE 😍

Already saw Prime Empire's world in the shorts, of course it looks DOPE, still very happy to finally being there!

SUPERSTAR ROCKIN' JAY

I don't know why, but Kai questioning the double jump made me laugh. Also poor him, he just got his powers back from last season and they're already gone again 😂

And of course. Them. Wow. It must be the most amazing and CURSED thing I've ever seen so far, the League of Jay 🤯 I'm so happy they exist and they freaking use past seasons' suits!!! Awesome!!! Never thought I was going to see Jay's old plain haircut again... yeah, he got better with the curly one, but I'm feeling nostalgic 🤷‍♀️

Their nick are histerical omg, Jaybird, Dee-Jay, Jaywalkin, I'm loving this way more than I should 😂 Also they freaking screamed "JAY-NJA GOO!!!" and I don't know what to do with that, it's too great for me to comprehend 👏👏

And then, THIS happened:

Your Honor, I would like to confirm this as THE MOST SECRET DREAM I'VE EVER HAD FOR THIS SHOW FINALLY COMING TRUE!!! A NINJA FROM NINJAGO DOING THE NARUTO RUN!!! 🤯🤯🤯 Done, I'm done, conclude the season, this is more than enough for me 😍

First Kai gets hit and fall from a building, DYING, then Lloyd gets desperate for his brother (MY BROTP 💚❤💚❤), then Kai respawns and Lloyd looks so relieved and Kai is all panting while slowly realizing it's a game and MY HEART CAN'T HANDLE THIS MUCH OKAY???

As a very passionate Kai fangirl I always expect the cringy moment, it really is inevitable for my favorite hothead. I love that idiot so much it's unbelievable, even if it's an absolute and costant suffering 😅 Holy Garmadon it was painful seeing his VERY slow realization that in this game you only have four lives

... SO HE HAS ONE NOW!?! NINJAGO CREW YOU ALREADY KILLED ZANE, NYA AND LLOYD ONCE AT THE END OF A SEASON, DON'T YOU DARE PLAY WITH ME AGAIN 😱😱😱

Okay, I did not expect to hear about Mr. Cuddly Wamp ever again since Hands of Time and BOY if I'm happy it was actually a password, I love this show 😂

SCOTT FINALLY!!! YESS!!! 😍😍😍

Okay, for as long as it is not debunked, I will hold onto the Scott is Jay's brother/twin theory. I'm sorry but: his jacket has dragons AND lightnings on it, they have very similar skin in avatar mode, he said he was waiting for him in the short, he could very well have his same hair under cap and hoodie and he's a mechanic too. I know, I know, they could have the same skin because Scott helped him for the avatar, and there might be shadier reason behind the 'I was waiting for you' thing, and there are tons of good mechanics in Ninjago... STILL HOW COOL WOULD THAT BE??? 😍

SCOTT HAS ONE LIFE POINT TOO??? NO! NOOO!!! NOOOOOOO!!! Don't you dare appear and steal my heart only to die at the end of the season, come on!! 😭

So for now it seems like he just wants to survive. Can we actually confirm he's an avatar and not an NPC? I mean he could be, but I don't see the point of an NPC self aware of his life points. Idk, maybe I'm overthinking this 🤷‍♀️

Lol, Kai is the only one weirded out by the Jay-con all around him. Probably because he hasn't heard from his fans since Skybound 😅 (I'M STILL HERE MY FLAME BABE, ILY ❤❤❤)

And in all of his glory, freaking Superstar Rockin' Jay!!! 😎😎 Okay, I loved the design since the first time I saw it, but it looks possibly even better in the show 😍😍😍 And Jay looks absolutely adorable in it, and he's got a guitar, and he was waiting for his friends, and he hugs them (I'm weak for LEGO hugs for some reason) and he is so happy and AAAHHH 💙💙💙💙💙

I'm very curious about how Scott will play into the situation, clearly he will provide some kind of insight about Prime Empire. I can't wait to know more about him!! 😍

I AM OKINO

I did not expect this when I saw this Okino guy in the trailer... and I'm so happy I was surprised, I love him 👌

And he's voiced by Alessandro Juliani?? HECK YEAH!!! With all the hype about the DnD 13th season, and consequentially the knight theme, I really miss Nexo Knights and having Aaron's VA around makes me happy... any hope to have Giles Panton as well? I miss Clay the most 💙💙

This is what I'm talking about, the game theme needs this stuff! I was already happy to see life points, double jumps and respawns, but this? The NPC guide? Awesome 👍 It's nice to see the take on the matter, the guide seeing so many players getting killed, first because they did not listen, then because they were actually just unlucky. The touchy matter I always expect watching Ninjago 👏👏

At least I THINK he's an NPC? For now I don't really see a way of knowing, and it doesn't look like it matters. He didn't show life points so maybe? Does this mean he can't die? I have questions people

Which brings me to the cube thingies. That's what happens to the dead players? I mean, I would understand if they just become pixels, but there's also the drone that takes the datas every time. Idk, feels like there's more behind it. And honestly? It looks like great material for angst, like one of the ninja dies but then they discover they just need to get where Unagami stores all of the players! I hope it's something like this!

They designs of the players are really cool, I already saw them in the other episodes, but seeing them this close just confirmed it. Between this and Jay's awesome avatar, I see lots of great cosplay ideas coming 😍 I wonder when will Kai and Lloyd use their avatars, and why would they since I'm guessing Jay did for disguise and to distinguish himself from his fans

PLEASE TELL ME WE'LL SEE SCOTT SOON, I ALREADY MISS HIM!!! 💙💙💙 I have too many theories about that tech dude, I'm so excited about who he might turn out to be!

I was a little skeptical about the new ninja suits, but seeing them in the show convinced me, very cool! Especially on Nya 💕💕💕

THE GLITCH

Alright, Okino is indeed an NPC. Cool the fact that at first he could not understand the fact that he was in a game, but when reality changed he was forced to. Welcome into the crew! 😙

I'm kinda worried about it though, either they will shut down the game and he will stay inside or he will sacrifice for them. He's a very loyal samurai, I can see that happening and I'm SCARED

I WAS SWEATING BULLETS AT THE AMBUSH!!! I 100% saw it coming, we all freaking saw it coming, even the ninja did but where like 'we can walk and die or we can risk and die so might as well'. But still, my babies DYING and respawning so fast was not pretty 😱😱

Nya got the scariest death until now in my opinion, holy Garmadon Dyer DOES have a twisted mind...

Seeing Kai so scared of being in a new situation and with one HP reminds me A LOT of the Digiverse, and that's actually a nice touch. Give him a cellphone, hothead is a social media expert, but put him in a game and... huuhhh... 😅

Have I mentioned I love the ninja's new emoji masks??

BECAUSE I DO!!! 😂😂😂😂

So Unagami knows about them trying to stop him and he sent the rat people because of it. Considering how little we know about this guy, I'm wondering what we are about to discover

Alright, going to the next challenge, very curious about this adventure. So... beware of the rats, ninja? Still not sure what I think about the rats 😅

THE CLIFFS OF HYSTERIA

I would like to say Okino is the edgiest character of the show I've ever seen... but I've seen MORRO. But still poor guy, he got a case of the Matrix

Oooohhhh, the major question in videogames: better go grinding for more money to get the better stuff but while losing lots of time, or get the least expensive just to go on with the story but definitely risking to lose lives?

Ah there we go, so the energy cubes mean something! Also reference to the Sushimi guy of the set (gosh that name, I can't 😂). So do people actually die in Prime Empire or they are just kidnapped kinda? Can the ninja just bring back? ANGST POTENTIAL

Cole please don't die please don't die please don't die for the love of Garmadon please don't die somebody help-

HOLY FSM KAI I MEANT HELP FROM SOMEONE WITH MORE THAN ONE LIFE DON'T DO THAT BE CAREFUL PLEASE I FREAKING LOVE YOU YOU RECKLESS HOTHEAD ❤❤❤

Nya giving Kai a sweet look after seeing her brother is okay, that's what I live for 😍

So apparently Unagami is trying to build some kind of device using the energy cubes of the dead players (sounds kinda creepy like this 😱) to create some kind of portal? To Ninjago? I don't understand, if Unagami is Milton Dyer then why this? Just to bring his army and conquer? I mean I guess, sounds a little simple though. Then again, if it turns out it's not Dyer, it could be Unagami wanting to be real and get into his creator's world? Mm...

I like the message, having the ability to choose your own path. Very fitting for a game themed season, I hope it gets explored even more!

More for the "I love the ninja emoji masks of this season"'s compilation 😂😂😂

THE MAZE OF THE RED DRAGON

Duuuude, Jay being good at mazes comes all the way from Possession, the Tomb of the First Spinjitzu Master! 😍 ... or maybe I just rewatch this show too much... could be both really 😅

Unagami is NASTY!

Confirmed the thing about going into the real world, what scares me is how much powers Unagami seems to actually possess. Like, can he do the block thingy whenever he wants? Just straight up pause and do whatever? Wow...

Jay being extra 😎

I mean, of course he is, he's got better statics! 😂 I like how he seems so focused and in charge, I still hope we see more of him... and Scott... WHERE IS SCOTT???

I love dragons, this metal one is cute 😍

So now we have two ronin: a samurai looking for a path on his own in a digital world... and a shady guy named Ronin 😛 Total respect for Okino, he really showed the values he believes in. No matter he was programmed his way, I hope he finds what he's looking for. Better come back for the final battle!

One Keytana down, two more to go. I know one is the price of the race, while the last one... I don't really know.

More of the masks because I love them 😂 Here we have Vegeta Lloyd and Kawai Cole ✌✌