#didn’t know what to do for yesterdays prompts so I skipped that day

[ace-bucket]

CATWS Anniversary Day 6 - Wings

@catws-anniversary

[moonstruckme]

hi there!! i have a request for youuuu

could you maybe do spencer x bau!reader where the reader is a year clean from self-injury and they have like a little get together with the whole team for it (the original crew, season 2) and everything is happy and okay lol

THANK YOU SM!! i am in need of comfort

Hi lovely! Slight betrayal of the prompt because it's been forever since I watched the show with Gideon instead of Rossi, so I hope that's alright. Thank you for requesting honey, I really hope you're doing well <3

cw: implied past self-harm

Spencer Reid x bau!reader ♡ 1k words

These cooking classes at Rossi’s are becoming a semi-regular event. He always claims it's because every one of you could seriously use the help, but he doesn’t really bother selling the lie to your team of profilers. You all just want to spend time together, and he’s nice enough to host. 

“You’re way too excited.” Amusement livens Spencer’s tone as you practically skip up the steps of Rossi’s too-large house. 

“You’re just jealous,” you say, “that last time Rossi called me his star student and said your gnocchi was as good as mashed potatoes.” 

“They’re not really very different from mashed potatoes,” Spencer mutters, but his hand is fond on the small of your back as he reaches past you to ring the doorbell. 

JJ is the one who comes to the door. “Hi!” She pulls you in for a hug, giving your shoulder blades a happy squeeze. 

“Hi,” you say back, slightly bemused. JJ is a hugger, but usually only on special occasions. You saw her just yesterday. 

Spencer rubs a gentle back-and-forth just below your waist at your confusion, encouraging you through the door. “Hi,” he says. “Did you guys start already? It smells like garlic.” 

“Rossi pre-made garlic knots.” JJ rolls her eyes, leading the way to the kitchen. “He said he didn’t want to give us the chance to botch it.” 

You laugh. “Course he did. At least we won’t all be salivating and trying to eat ingredients this time.” 

“See, she knows exactly what I mean,” Rossi gestures to you as you enter the kitchen. “That’s why you’re my star pupil.” 

You blush at the rare praise, and Prentiss and Morgan both stand. 

“Hey, gorgeous,” Morgan pulls you away from Spencer and into a one-armed hug. You pat him awkwardly on the back. “Glad you came.” 

“Of course I came,” you laugh as Prentiss comes over with a glass of wine. “Thanks, Em.” 

“Cheers.” She clinks the rim of her glass against yours, oddly smiley. You shoot Spencer a look which he very conveniently misses, and suspicion twitches to life in your head. 

“Cheers,” you echo. “So, what’re we making?”

“Lasagna,” Morgan says. “But according to Rossi, it’s extra Italian.” 

“It’s lasagne al forno,” Rossi corrects him, pinching his fingers and bopping his hand up and down with each syllable, and you have to suppress a smile at how completely unironic the gesture is. 

“It’s beef lasagna,” Prentiss simplifies, ignoring the look of offense the old man shoots her way as Garcia comes in the door.

“Hello, hello!” She beelines for you, wrapping you in a tight, warm hug. “Ugh, I’m so proud of you! How are you doing?” 

“I’m good,” you tell her, more and more confident you know what’s going on. “How are you?” 

“I’m amazing.” Garcia releases you but not really, taking one of your hands in both of hers and squeezing. Her eyes are downright twinkly with cheer. “Positively sublime, my friend. Ready to do some cooking!” 

“Same here.” You smile, squeezing back. “I’m just going to go wash my hands really quickly.” 

You don’t have to look behind you to know Spencer is trailing you. He’s hardly left you alone all day, relentless in his doting. You’d thought he was just in one of his more affectionate moods, but now it’s clear why. 

For a few moments, the only sound in the bathroom is the smooth sound of water running out of the faucet. Spencer brushes past you to get to the soap, and you push your long sleeves up so they won’t get wet. “You know what today is?” you ask him.

You can feel him looking at you in the mirror, but you keep your eyes on your hands as you lather soap between your palms. 

“Of course I do,” he says softly. 

“Does everybody know?” 

Spencer rinses his hands, drying them on the towel. “I think so. I didn’t tell them, but I’m sure they remembered the same as I did.” His hand finds the crook of your elbow, thumb damp where it slides over a fine white line just under the edge of your sleeve. The contact isn’t anything special; it’s gentle like all Spencer’s touches, an offhand brush of his skin against yours like there’s nothing wrong with you at all. Your throat clogs unfairly. “It’s an important thing, you know?” 

“For me it is.” Your voice is smaller than you’d like it to be. You stick your hands under the faucet, relishing the feel of the hot water. “I didn’t expect anyone else to remember, though. It’s kind of…I mean, it’s just a year of doing nothing.” 

“It’s not.” Spencer’s palm slides up the length of your arm to your shoulder blade. He rubs between them, quiet until you meet his eyes in the mirror. “It’s not,” he repeats, gently emphatic. “It’s a year of not doing something, and I know it hasn’t been easy for you. It’s an accomplishment, honey. You should get to celebrate.” 

“Wait.” You narrow your eyes, a new suspicion taking root. “Is this…are we here tonight because…” You feel silly for even asking, and your gaze drops back to your hands as you dry them on the towel. “Because of my thing?” 

Spencer shrugs, borderline sheepish. “I mean, not exactly. We did all want to be with you tonight, but everyone knew you wouldn’t want a party or anything. So it’s more…more of an excuse, really.” 

You sigh, turning and resting your head on Spencer’s chest. “How am I supposed to react to that?” you ask him, voice fragile. 

His hand comes to rest on the top of your head, a grounding weight as the other continues rubbing diligently between your shoulders. “You don’t have to,” he says. “You’re allowed to feel any way you need to, everybody knows that. They all just want you to know they’re proud of you.” He slides the hand on your head down to cup your face, working your face away from his chest to look you in the eyes. His smile is small but brimming with an affection too big for words. “You’ve been doing really great, you know that?” 

You laugh a little, pressing your knuckles under your eyes to dry your lashes of tears that never fell. “Thanks, Spence. For everything.” 

“Hey, you did all the work,” he tells you, hand finding its spot on your back again as you lead the way out of the bathroom. “We’re just happy you did it.”

[greenteasnoothie]

A writer for RE! And requests are open! Sorry, I'm excited and sleep deprived lol, may I request with this prompt i found? "when you're the one they look at, even if they're at the other end of the room". What if (insert character) is the one looking at you and you wonder if you offended them or something because they look at you or watch you with a neutral or serious expression. But what you don't know is that they're trying to figure out why he can't stop looking at you. And those that know (insert character) know that the (insert character) is actually happy or smitten by reader. I don't know which RE character to choose because I like most of them 😅

“When you’re the one they look at, even if they’re at the other end of the room”

HI ANON THANKS FOR THE REQUEST!!! I decided I’m going to do two characters for this request because why not!

Parings: Leon X Gen!Reader, Wesker X Gen!Reader

♡ = time-skip

Genre: Fluff, maybe little tiny little bit of angst

Content mentioned:kissing, some swears,

Word count: Leon:445 Wesker:345

——————————————————————

Leon S Kennedy

It was like any other D.S.O meeting, talking about your next mission and OH MY GOD CAN LEON STOP STARING AT YOU?

The whole meeting Leon would not take his eyes off of you and not only that, his neutral expression is making you think he’s mad at you.

Thinking about everything and anything you have or could have done to pissed Leon off takes your attention for the whole meeting.

You Jump when Benford closes his folder particularly loud, ending the meeting and snapping you out of your thoughts.

“Gosh dammit,” Leon curses under his breath as he watches you quickly leave the room, it’s clear to him

that you noticed him staring. Leon rubs his face with his hand quickly sighing as he does so.

♡

You don’t see Leon for the rest of the day, making you think he really is mad at you.

Once you’re home you decide to call Claire and tell her, out of everyone she would hopefully know if Leon is mad at you and why…right? So you grab your phone and call Claire.

“Hello,”

“Hey Claire, you busy?”

“Nope, why whats up?”

“Well, I think Leon is mad at me,”

“What makes you say that?”

*You tell claire why you think Leon is mad at you*

Claire chuckles a little after you finish telling her why you think Leon is mad at you,

“Y/N, I don’t think Leon is mad at you,” Claire says giggling a little.

“Wha- what makes you say that?”

“I just wouldn't worry about it Y/N, I recommend talking to Leon about it when you see him tomorrow.”

“Okay, Thanks Claire i'll keep you updated,”

“You got it Y/N, anytime.”

♡

The next day at work you find Leon in the breakroom, you decide to do what Claire recommends you to do and talk to leon.

“Hey Leon,” You say as you walk up to him

“Oh, hey Y/N What's up?”

“Leon, are you mad at me?”

“Wha- why would I be mad at you Y/N?”

“Well you were staring at me for the whole meeting yesterday, and then I didn't see you for the rest of the day and-”

You get interrupted by Leon chuckling

“Y/N I’m not mad at you and I was never,��

“Then what’s wrong Leon?”

“Y/N I think I have feelings for you…I didn’t know but I’ve been thinking about it and I think I do,”

You pause processing what you just heard Leon say to you.

“Fuck sorry Y/N I-” Leon starts to say before you cut him off by giving him a peck on the lips.

(Sorry idk how else to end this!)

Albert Wesker (RE1)

Since you joined S.T.A.R.S you have noticed or at least felt that your captain always was staring at you, and when you did catch him staring he always had a hard look on his face.

♡

“I think he’s mad at me Jill,” you say as you watch your captain walk back into his office after he noticed you noticed him staring.

“Oh no what did you do this time Y/N,” Chris says in a almost mocking tone

“Shut up Chris,” you say as you playfully slap his arm

“Seriously though Y/N, wouldn’t worry about it,”Jill says empathetically

“Yeah Jill’s right, don’t worry about it, Weskers most likely got RBF (resting bitch face),” Chris says, letting out a chuckle.

You laugh along with Chris and continue with what you're doing.

♡

It’s been a few days since you got that “advice” from Jill and Chris, and well.. it didn’t really help. There’s still something in the back of your brain that is telling you that you most definitely did something to piss your captain off, and you're pretty sure your thoughts were confirmed when your captain called you into his office.

You walk over to your captains office and knock on the closed door soon followed by you walking into the room.

“Close the door behind you and sit down,” your captain says to you in a calm yet somewhat serious tone, you close the door and sit down in the seat across from your captain so you're facing him.

“Y/N what would you say about dinner tonight at (restaurant name here) around let’s say hmm 7:30?”

You are caught completely off guard by what your captain just said to you but answer to the best of your ability.

“Oh uhm.. I would love to captain!” You say sitting up a little straighter

“Albert's fine dear,” Wesker grins and continues, “so it’s a date then, see you then.”

“Uhh yeah, see you then ca-Albert,” you say as a mini smile appears on your face as you walk out.

A/N: Hi Hi thanks for reading lovely !! Anywho I was going to add Chris and Krauser but I have so many other reqs I need to do rn so I’m kinda freaking out and I didn’t know how to start Chirs’s story so I kinda gave up on him, I got midway through Krausers but also gave up so if you do want me to do both of those men I will probably, eventually 😎😎!!

IM ALSO OPEN FOR EMOJI ANONS 😈

© silly-little-fan-grll, 2023. do not repost, translate or copy my work.

[silkbab3y]

[ Therapy ] Teo x Rosie

Based on this song [Therapy by Magic City Hippied feat Tim Atlas](https://open.spotify.com/track/46IKdGs9GbDfbKBhiTwB3i?si=0bWUx91rQ6iDCopMupNmsQ)

Prompt: Teo and Rosie head back from dinner with his parents. It’s a late night drive from the city to Corland bay.

Teo belongs to @14dayswithyou

Cw: drug use/little bit of weed nothing crazy

Was it the glow

In your eyes for me

Rosie felt the breeze brush through her hair, her hand pushing back the strands that flew over her face. The night was chilly, silent, peaceful. Her seat reclined back just a bit, her knees pressed up against the dashboard. Rosie almost felt as if she’d fall asleep the moment she closed her eyes for a second too long.

Honey you shook

My family tree

To her side in the driver seat was none other than Teo, eyes focused on the road, one hand on the wheel the other on her thigh. She shifts a bit, chocolate eyes trailing his concentrated form, watched as he brought his hand on her thigh to the wheel so that the other could bring the blunt to his lips. The smell of weed normally hurt her senses, made her nose scrunch and head turn. But she keeps her head still, eyes focused before taking in a deep breath.

When you love

You lose a piece

“I can hold it for you,” Rosie offers, resting her head back against her seat, droopy eyes blinking slowly. She doesn’t even wait for a response with her hand already reaching over, slender fingers brushing against thicker ones. Plucking the blunt from his fingers, watching him inhale and exhale. Smoke fill the area around him like a bubble, dissipating into the air, and Rosie can’t help but stare. Finally breaking her gaze from him, she looks out the window again as she takes her own drag.

She being the sun

She being the sun to me

They had just got back from dinner with his folks at some 3 star Michelin restaurant— hence the silence. Acting as his fake girlfriend, putting up a facade, Teo was probably exhausted. Rosie too, always the anxious one when it came to meeting parents. Except Rosie wasn’t sure if the man sitting beside her also felt… satisfied? A fake relationship, a facade for the sake of appearance— yet it felt… nice. Rosie would be lying if she said she didn’t want it to be real.

I need therapy

Want to get you off your feet

Swallowing, Rosie turns her head back over to him, waiting for a response, anything. But it’s quiet— too quiet for their own likings, Rosie knew this. “Did I do good?” She questions, putting on her best smile, eyes squinting a bit in amusement. She’s happy to see Teo’s lips quirk.

“Mhm,” A simple noise of acknowledgement, yet it was enough to make Rosie feel so accomplished. She watches as Teo glances her way before back at the road. It’s enough to let her know what he was saying. Rosie didn’t need him to say anything to know— sitting up straight in her seat before bringing the blunt to his lips.

I need therapy

So tenderly

She could watch him all day and night if she could, though Rosie knew it was a bit creepy to. Her tongue darts out across her lips to wet them, eyes flickering to his lips as they wrap around the end before gently sucking in. Pulling the blunt away, he repeats the motion from before— breathe in, breathe out.

“You did good.” Her heart skipped a beat, her lips twitching as she forced back a dumb grin. “Yeah I did,” she almost chokes out, giggling. “What can I say, im talented like that.”

“Very.” Her smile is more sheepish, Rosie still leaning over the middle compartment. “I think I deserve an award,” this elicits a snort from Teo, the man raising an eyebrow.

“Why?” “Uh? Cause I totally played my part, duh.” “Uh huh.” They bathed in Corland Bay’s faint lights lining the boardwalks now that they were back from the city.

I need therapy

She bring the sun

She bring the sun to me

“Well?” “I already bought you a birkins just yesterday.” “Im not talking about buying me something.” Rosie was now huffing a little, wondering if this man wasn’t picking up her signal. She takes another drag before offering him a hit, still holding it between her perfectly manicured fingers.

“What, you want a date?” To date, but not what she was asking as of now.

“You’re so slow,” Rosie bites back a groan of frustration. She knew he was playing at this point, her eyebrows furrowed a bit— but there was no heat to her words.

Could you repair

What’s left of me

The music finally became noticeable to Rosie when they both fall into silence again.

“Teo.” “Rosie.”

She pushes herself more over the middle compartment, watching him inhale the smoke. They were at a red light, the Tesla slowing into a stop. Rosie can smell the expensive cologne still clinging onto him, and she just hope she still smelt like hibiscuses.

Her hand moves to his cheek, careful of the blunt as she turns his head. And Rosie is grateful he complies, or she might’ve felt too scared to continue.

“This your ‘award’?” “Mm, my reward.”

I need the cure

Not a remedy

She leans in, just before he could exhale it all, pressing her lips to his. Slow paced and gentle, yet it was enough to have Rosie feel heat coil inside her stomach. Their lips part just a breath away before reconnecting, angling their heads to kiss more comfortably.

Rosie shudders almost when the touch of his hand brush against her waist before coming down to her hip, squeezing it. His other tangles into her hair, Rosie more than happy to let him push her head a bit. Their lips move in sync, the girl’s arms coming around his neck.

Im digging for a quick fix

No I’m never gonna jump ship

Because you give me a boat

When they finally pull away, green covers their figures faintly. Teo moves to continue driving, Rosie breathing out the smoke he had pushed past her lips. They’re silent again, but she’s sure they can go a few beats without talking before the other gets bored or antsy.

Stuck in a void

You’re my destiny

Rosie licks her lips again, smiling as she finally leans back into her chair, the leather suddenly hot under her.

“That good enough for a reward?” Teo’s voice draws out, that low and husky tone that always got Rosie’s head swirling. Sniffling a bit, Rosie looks back out the window with a dumb smile on her glossy lips.

“Nah.” She can hear the man snort at her response, almost amusingly.

“I’ll give you a better one when we out.”

I need therapy

“Your place or mine?”

[fyreflys]

Prompt if you’d like it! Peeta giving his cold to Katniss on accident but since she no longer has a spleen, it turns into a more flu like illness for poor Katniss and Peeta must nurse her back to health (similar to her caring for him in the cave but ya know… #married)

Oooo this is an adorable idea! And I got another prompt that I think I can include that would work perfectly together. MERGE TIME!

Chicken Noodle Soup

(Katniss’s POV) - Love and Some Verses, Iron & Wine

Everlark period/sick-fic, just fluff fluff fluff

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to get you sick.”

Is what Peeta keeps telling her. Constantly apologizing for transferring his cold. Even though Katniss didn’t even bother trying to keep her distance to avoid getting sick, so really it’s her own fault.

Katniss is pretty sure that no one ever really intentionally tries to get others sick, it’s always an accident. Happens as a result of what being sick means. And she knows Peeta didn’t do it on purpose, he couldn’t possibly have wanted to make her sick as a dog. So the fact that he keeps apologizing, as if there’s any possibility that he did do this on purpose, is beginning to make it feel like maybe he did. That, and it’s getting annoying. Very quickly.

“Peeta,” she groans, “Just- shut up.”

She doesn’t actually mean that. He’s really the only thing keeping her sane right now. She’s been bed ridden for three days now, and if her body didn’t feel like shit, there’s nothing she wouldn’t do for a hike in the woods.

“Sorry.” He whispers, dabbing the wet washcloth on her forehead.

Yesterday Peeta dragged her to the doctor, because he’s convinced she’s dying. The doctor just confirmed it’s a bad cold, made worse by the fact that Katniss no longer has a spleen to help her immune system. He gave them some medication that “might” help, and then sent them on their way.

Needless to say, Katniss was not happy. Mostly because Peeta had dragged her out of the house when she felt like shit for no apparent reason.

Peeta was angry too. Kept mumbling something about “malpractice” and the doctor being an “idiot” and then trying to convince her that they need to go to the Capital, to see a “real” doctor.

“Peeta, I’m not sure if you have forgotten, but I’m in exile. Banned, to stay here in twelve for the rest of my life. So no, we cannot go to the Capital.”

She doesn’t mention the fact that she really doesn’t want to be re-reminded of all the terrible things that they’ve seen and had happen to them; most of which happened in the Capital.

“You’re the mockingjay. If something was majorly wrong with you, they’d have to save you.”

“I don’t want to be the mockingjay, anymore.” She’d grumbled as he tucked her back into bed, “and I’ve lived through worse than this.”

He frowned. Much like he is right now, as he looks at her with those big, blue, pleading puppy dog eyes.

“What?” She rasps.

He licks his lips. “I just…I’m so sorry you’re sick.”

She swears his heart is too big for his own good.

“You know what would make me feel better?” She sighs.

He perks up. “What?”

“Cuddle.” She whispers. She’d usually reach out to grab him, but her body feels too much like lead to exert that much energy.

He smiles. “I can do that.”

He peels back the bedsheets, and Katniss shivers at what feels like freezing air. He curls in behind her, gently squeezing her close. She melts against him. The arm around her warm and comforting. Until his hand slips under her shirt and his fingers start tracing patterns on her side, and he begins to pepper kisses to her shoulders. Despite them being small and gentle touches, her nerves feel overly sensitive with how feverish she is, and each soft graze almost feels painful.

“Stop- please,” she whispers, “that- too sensitive.” She mumbles.

“Oh. Sorry.” He places one more peck to her cheek, and then leaves her be.

She falls into sleep like a rock tossed down a ravine, skipping sleep entirely and diving straight into dreams. The world feels like it’s tilting and spinning around her as she dreams. They start out as strange and uncomfortable, but somewhere along the way they get more and more unhinged, twisted visions persisting, until finally-

She startles awake suddenly, eyes snapping open as she gasps for air. The nightmare feels plastered to her eyelids.

“Peeta?” She croaks softly, heart hammering in her chest as a tear slips down her cheek.

But she’s alone. Peeta is nowhere to be seen. She forces herself to reach across the bed behind her in search of him. But he’s not there either.

Momentarily she fears he’s abandoned her, but then she realizes that’s ridiculous. She couldn’t escape him even if she wanted to.

She tries to shake the nightmare from her head. Desperately trying to imagine something else, like- Deer. Deer and squirrels, prancing through the forest. The nightmare was not real not real not real, as Peeta would say.

She takes a deep breath. Her entire body aches painfully. Specifically her lower back and her hips and- oh.

Even sick, and aching all over, she knows this feeling well.

“Damn it.” She huffs.

She supposes it was about time this happened again. She doesn’t bother keeping track. There’s no use with how irregular she is.

“Peeta.” She calls, but her voice is weak.

He doesn’t come. Where is he? She sighs. She’s going to have to do this herself, isn’t she?

She wills herself to gather any remaining energy she has to sit up. It takes a few minutes to convince herself.

I could just wait here, until he comes back-

No.

She sits up suddenly, impulsively, not giving herself a chance to talk herself out of it. Her head spins, pain pounding through her skull. She coughs, clutching her head.

When the throbbing passes she manages to will her legs to dangle over the side of the bed. And then on the count of three she stands. She’s shaky, and the air is freezing agaisnt her feverish skin, and it’s awful.

Just get to the bathroom-

She makes it a few steps towards the door. And then she stumbles. She just barely catches the doorknob. She sends the door slamming closed as she falls.

“Katniss?!” Peeta shouts from down stairs.

She rolls over onto her back, and the world feels like it’s still spinning. He comes rushing into the bedroom, crouching down when he sees her.

“Oh my god are you okay?” Hands are immediately at her head, feeling for any bumps or bleeding, “What happened? Why are you out of bed?”

He sits and sets her head in his lap, brushing hair out of her face.

“Bathroom.” She whispers. “Just. Fell.”

“You should have called for me I would have helped.”

“I did.” She breathes, and even talking is exhausting. With Peeta right above her the world finally stops spinning.

He frowns. “I’m sorry, I didn’t hear you. I was making pasta.”

She takes in a breath through her mouth, nose too stuffy. “Bathroom.”

“Well- I think we should take a moment. You just- what, fell trying to walk? That’s pretty concerning,” He feels her forehead, “and you’re really burning up, gosh.”

She could have told him she had a fever. It feels like it’s radiating through her bones.

“Toilet,” her tongue clicks softly in her mouth, feeling dry, “Bleeding.”

“Bleeding? What- where? Why didn’t you say you were bleeding! Oh my god-“ he starts to shuffle, pulling at her clothes to find the source.

“Period.” She groans, just about fed up with him.

“Oh.” He pauses. “Right. Okay. Let’s get that taken care of then.”

He shuffles to sit her up against the wall, and then scoops her up bridal style. He carefully sets her down by the toilet, holding on as he pulls down her sweats and underwear in one fell swoop.

And yep- there it is. A massacre in her pants.

Peeta helps her sit, making sure she’s stable enough to sit up on her own. He pulls off her sweats and underwear, turning on the sink to set them in.

“Cold,” she whispers.

“Cold? You’re cold?”

Well- yeah, she kind of is. Despite feeling like she’s burning up from the inside, the floor and the toilet seat and the air is freezing against her skin. But she’s referring to the water.

“Yeah,” she breathes, “But-water. Cold water.”

“You need cold water? I can get you water. You’re probably thirsty you’ve been asleep for like four hours.”

Okay, yes, that too. She could use a glass of water.

“Yes, but- blood. Needs cold water.”

“Oh! Yeah, okay. Cold water. Right.”

She closes her eyes, slumping on the toilet as she pees. Peeta leaves to grab stuff from the bedroom. He returns with a fresh pair of clothes. He holds a cup of water up to her lips, and she sips. It feels like heaven down her throat.

“Thanks.” She breathes.

He just pecks her forehead. “How bout I run you a short bath? Luke warm. Try to get your body temp down. And you could really use a shower.”

She groans.

“I know- I know. But it will make you feel better, I promise.”

She just grumbles. He gets to work running a bath, and then scrubs the blood out of her underwear under the sink. He struggles to get a pad into the clean pair of undies, and Katniss finally wills herself to use the little energy she does have to show him. He kisses her cheek.

“Right. Got it. Now let’s get you in.”

She complains, but doesn’t have the energy to fight against him. He pulls off her sweaty t-shirt, and picks her up and sets her down in the tub. The water feels freezing at first. She yelps, clutching at him.

“I know- I know it feels cold but I promise it will help. You’re burning up Katniss. We need to cool you down.”

She holds onto him, and he presses kisses against her head. After a few minutes it starts to feel okay. He gently pours water through her hair. He scrubs in shampoo and rinses. He gently scrubs her with a warm soapy washcloth after he pulls the drain, just under her arms and between her legs, barely batting an eye at the blood. They’ve both seen enough of it for a lifetime. He turns on the shower head to rinse her off. The water feels like freezing needles against her overly sensitive skin. By the time he gets her out and finishes toweling her off she’s pissed.

She glowers at him from the toilet as he dresses her. He ignores her scathing eyes as he sprays in conditioner and brushes her hair, fumbling to put it in a makeshift braid.

“There! See, all better!” He smiles when he’s done.

She is not amused. Yes, her body feels less like a boiling fire, but she still hurts. And despite him doing all the work, she’s exhausted. But she’s too angry and stubborn to admit it, or even consider closing her eyes for some shut eye.

He chuckles. “You’re such a sourpuss when you’re sick, you know that?”

“That was hell.” She snips.

He rolls his eyes playfully. “Yeah yeah, okay Haymitch.”

He pulls her off the toilet and pulls up her underwear and pants. He gently scoops her up.

“You want to set up camp downstairs on the couch? That way it’s easier to get my attention if you need something. Also I’m making you soup.”

She gives a grunt, and winces as the pain that radiates up and down her spine and belly.

“I’ll grab you some painkillers.” He adds on.

She would usually turn those down. But at this point she’ll take them.

He gently lays her on the couch. He runs back upstairs to grab linens. He comes back down with arms full of blankets and pillows. He drops them in a heap on the floor. He leaves again. Katniss looses track of all the things he runs off and gets, eyes slipping closed.

He takes her temperature.

He hisses, “One o’ two. Yeah. You’re definitely getting meds.” Which he shoves into her mouth very shortly afterward. He tries not to look worried, but she can tell that he is. She’s worse than she was yesterday. He forces her to take the medication the doctor gave them the day before. She doesn’t have the energy to fight him.

He tucks her in under one blanket, but gives her plenty of pillows. He sets tissues and a glass of water on the side table next to her head. He kisses her forehead.

“Anything else you need?” He says softly.

Probably. But right now she’s exhausted. And talking is too much energy. So she just hums.

“Okay. Soup should be ready in thirty minutes or so. Do you want me to wake you up or let you sleep?”

Truthfully, she wants him to curl in beside her on the couch and not leave her side. Because with him pressed against her, she has a semblance of relief.

Instead she just grunts. He pecks her forehead again, chuckling softly.

“Okay.”

And then she’s left alone. And despite being tired, she can’t seem to fall sleep. The pain is just too much. Enough that she’d toss and turn, but she doesn’t have the energy to do so. So instead she lays motionless in agony, waiting for meds to kick in.

It’s possible she does drift off. But it seems like each time her eyes open the grandfather clock by her mothers old bedroom door hasn’t moved an inch.

Finally Peeta reappears, with a steaming bowl in hands.

“Chicken noodle soup, for m’lady.” He bows, just for the dramatics.

He helps her sit up, and carefully spoons it to her lips. With how much pain shes in, the thought of food makes her nauseous. But Peeta coaxes her to eat. And she does. One small spoonful at a time. With how stuffed her nose is she can barely taste it, but what she does taste is good.

And it reminds her of the cave, in their first games. As she spoon fed him. Monitoring his leg. Trying everything she could think of to keep him alive.

Thankfully, now is nothing like that. This is peaceful, and warm, and safe.

With food in her belly she realizes how hungry she is. And she just about scarfs down the rest of the bowl, along with the hunk of bread he dips in the broth. And she feels like she has a little more energy.

“You want more?” He asks softly.

She shakes her head. She feels too full. Any more and she might puke.

“Your appetite is back. That’s a good thing.”

“I feel like I’m going to puke.” She grumbles.

“Like- actually?” He freezes, shifting as if ready to grab a bin.

“No- just- a lot of food. Nauseous from the pain.”

He frowns. “The pain meds should have kicked in already. You look better. Less pale.” He feels her forehead. “You don’t feel as hot.”

She winces. “Cramps.”

His face relaxes. “Oh.”

She closes her eyes. With a full belly she’s ready to pass out.

“What if…I tried to rub them out?” He says softly.

Her eyes flicker open lazily. “Please. And- my back- please.”

“Yeah, yeah of course.” He leans in press a kiss to her forehead.

He gently pushes her to lay down. He tugs up her shirt and pulls the waistband of her pajama pants lower.

“Where does it hurt?” He asks softly.

She slowly moves to touch, fingers almost feeling numb against her own skin as she traces just inside of her pelvic crests, and down below her belly button. His warm hands are still almost too much against her feverish skin when he reaches out. But she needs this.

He’s far too gentle.

“Harder,” she whispers, “like bread.”

He’s good at kneading bread.

“Are you sure? I don’t want to hurt you-“

“There’s no way you could make me feel worse than I already do. Please.”

And finally his palms and thumbs press in. She urges more, and more, and finally gets impatient and shifts his hands to press right there and- oh. It feels so good she actually moans.

His eyebrows shoot up in surprise. “Oh?”

“Shut up.” She gasps.

He grins wickedly. But doesn’t comment on any more of her breathless gasps as he digs in and finally gives her relief.

“When- you’re done,” she breathes, “gonna need- bathroom.”

He pauses, “Do you have to pee? I’m literally pressing like right on your bladder-“

“No- new pad.” Because he’s quite literally kneading the blood right out of her. Which would usually be disgusting, but right now the relief feels too good for her to care.

“Oh. Okay.” And he keeps going.

She nearly falls asleep with his hands on her stomach. She still hurts, and the pain still radiates through her bones, but the stretch of her cramping muscles is almost heavenly. She closes her eyes, and Peeta presses kisses to her shoulders, trailing down to her stomach. He rubs softly after he pulls back, hands sliding over her hips.

“You want me to do your back?” He asks softly.

She hums. He helps flip her over. His hands and fingers roam over her skin, pressing and pulling all the way up her spine and between her shoulders. She practically melts into the couch as he soothes her aches. His lips ghost over her skin in subtle kisses, and she never wants it to end.

Eventually he pulls away, tugging her shirt back down.

“Bathroom?” He asks.

She grumbles. “Don’t wanna move.”

He hums. He forces her off the couch anyways, and drags her to the bathroom. She changes things herself, and then he helps her back to the couch.

“I’m gonna eat and then we can snuggle. If you want. I can turn on the TV.”

She just grunts. He turns on the screen above their fireplace mantle, and flips through channels. He lands on a show they’ve binge watched over the years, and then leaves for the kitchen. She zones out the sounds and clatter that he makes. Finally he sits down by her feet with a bowl of soup, and her eyelids feel heavy. She drifts halfway between awake and asleep, until he curls up with her. He presses a kiss to her temple.

“Thank you.” She whispers. He’s done more than enough for her. And she knows he’d do everything if he had to. And she is thankful.

“Of course.” He breathes. And pecks her lips.

She smiles, and uses the little energy she does have to snake an arm around him and hold him close. Their foreheads knock together.

“I love you.” He breathes softly.

She hums, “Love you too.”

[multifandomfanficss]

Home Is Wherever You Are P2

Adrian Chase/Vigilante x Reader

With a very heavy emphasis on platonic!Christopher Smith/Peacemaker

Part 1, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7

Adrian Chase Masterlist

Prompt: You take Adrian, Gut, and Chris school shopping. It might be harder to keep the timeline in tact than you originally thought.

Warnings: mentions of/implied child abuse, panic, meltdown, crying, divorce, mentions of August Smith, cannon typical Peacemaker violence and language, homophobia

A/N: I’ve decided to start with biweekly updates! I’m post on Saturday and Wednesday. I’ll also be posting on my new AO3 adriansglasses. I’ve actually added all of my old work there as well. Hope you guys enjoy!

“You’re the most attractive person I’ve seen in my entire life.” Adrian smiles at you.

“Shut up. No, I’m not.” You blush hiding your face from your boyfriend.

“Don’t hide.” He pushes your hands away from your face. “Please don’t hide your pretty face. It’s like the prettiest face I’ve ever seen and even if it wasn’t- which would be totally absurd like have you even seen yourself? You’re so hot- anyway more to the point. Your personality is so attractive to me that you’re automatically that much hotter. That’s just math babe. Do two wrongs make a right?” You laugh at his comparison. To someone else that may not make sense, but to many people Adrian never made sense. To you, he always made perfect sense.

“You’re too nice to me.” You say smiling at him.

“Well you’re the only one who’s nice to me sometimes period and your pain in the ass loves you very much.” He kisses you.

“I never said you were a pain in the ass!” You laugh. He gives you a look.

“Okay, I may have said it once or twice, but I didn’t mean it. I was just teasing you.” You kiss him on the cheek as he holds you close.

“It’s okay. I know I’m annoying and hard to deal with sometimes.” You turn his face to look directly in your eyes so he knows you’re serious.

“Not to me.”

September 1st, 1994

You woke up to the sound of the chunky alarm clock on the nightstand. You could hear somebody cooking downstairs. You used the bathroom and made your way to the kitchen to find Diane making breakfast.

“Morning! I’m running a little later than usual this morning, so all I could really manage was toast and eggs. Hope that’s okay.” She gave you a sympathetic smile.

“That’s more than okay. I usually skip breakfast half the time anyway.” You admit.

“You shouldn’t do that. Adrian’s always trying to skip breakfast. He doesn’t like most breakfast foods. I’ve been trying to make sure he eats more of them.” You have to bite back a comment about how his future self is still just as annoyed by the concept. You think back to all his rants about how breakfast doesn’t make sense because it’s foods you can only eat in the morning. He was always annoyed that he couldn’t order pancakes at dinner time or a burger for breakfast unless he was in a diner. It just didn’t make sense to him. ‘What?! Suddenly diners don’t have to follow the rules?! It’s all just a bullshit societal construct!’ You could hear his voice now.

“You could have called me down to help.” You say as the food sizzles in the pan.

“You were sleeping. You had a long day yesterday. I need your help with something while I’m at work anyway.” She says, turning to take the toast out of the toaster.

“What can I do for you?” You ask without debate. She’s helped you a lot and she is Adrian’s mom after all. You never thought you’d get to meet her outside of an ouija board. It’s the least you can do in your current situation.

“I have an envelope in my room for you with back to school money in it. It’s mostly just tip money I’ve been saving up from the restaurant. If you could bring the boys into town to get school clothes that would be wonderful. Adrian needs a little bit of everything. He just went through a big growth spirt. Dorian mostly needs new sneakers, but he should get a pair of jeans and maybe a couple shirts. There’s enough money in there to get a few things for Chris because God knows his father won’t do it. There should also be a little leftover if you want to get anything for yourself.” She says, beating the eggs.

“For me?” You question.

“You showed up with no clothes. You can have some of my old clothes, but I doubt you have the style of a divorced mom with two and a half kids. You should get one or two things you actually like.” She laughs.

“No, Diane I- I couldn’t-“

“Yes, you can and you will. This is basically just payment for the nannying gig.”

You smile at her. “Okay, fine. Thank you. I really appreciate it.”

After cooking breakfast and saying goodbye to the boys, Diane was off to the office for the day. She was a secretary at a nearby law firm. Waitressing was only her second job to help pay the bills after her husband left for another man.

“Dorian, do you know where Adrian’s shoes are?” You ask as you chase Adrian around the living room, trying to get him ready to leave. He had so much energy. You couldn’t say you were surprised.

“That’s not my name.” He sat there with his face in his gameboy, barley giving you the time of day. He was just radiating 12 year old angst. Honestly you couldn’t blame him. He was 12, Chris was 13, and they were both about to enter 7th grade. That’s hard enough on its own. It’s probably a lot harder when your mom is asking you to help look after your 3 year old brother because your dad just left because he’s gay. It’s 1994 in Evergreen, Washington and his best friend’s dad is the biggest homophobe in the country. None of this must be easy on him.

“What do you wanna be called?” You ask. He tears his eyes away from his gameboy to give you a look. It’s almost like nobody’s ever asked him or cared for his opinion.

“Gut.” He answers.

“Yeah that’s a much cooler name. My dad says Dorian is a pansy name.” Chris says, continuing to channel surf.

“Christopher Smith that is not nice and will not be tolerated when I’m around. Understand?” You know you can’t tell him his dad is wrong. You know if he challenges his dad now he might not make it back alive, so you hold your tongue for now.

“You can’t tell me what to do.” He huffs.

“Actually, as your babysitter, I can.” You turn to Gut. “Okay Gut, where’s your brother’s shoes?” You try again.

“By the door, under the bench.” He informs you.

“Thank you.” You smile, bringing Adrian to sit on the bench, so you can put on his shoes. There’s two pairs under the bench. You lift them up for him to choose between. One pair has dinosaurs on them and the other pair lights up. He very excitedly points at the light up ones. You can’t get him to sit still long enough to put on the shoes, so eventually you inevitably drop one.

“Motherfucker!” Adrian exclaims in his loud toddler voice.

“Adrian!” You say in shock. You want to laugh because this is so him, but you don’t wanna be blamed for this one. He’s only 3. He giggles at your reaction of the forbidden word.

“Motherfucker!” He says it again in a fit of giggles.

“Buddy, you can’t say that. That’s a grownup word. If you say it too many times you have to go to work and pay taxes.” You try to persuade him against the word.

“What’s taxes?” He asks.

“Taxes are what grown ups have to pay to people. They give a lot of money that you don’t have, so you shouldn’t say that word. Also not paying is a crime. I don’t wanna pay taxes, so I’m not gonna say it.” You try to bargain with him using toddler logic.

“But Dor and Chris say it!” He objects.

“Well, Dor and Chris are gonna have to pay taxes soon.” Adrian begins to cry. “Why are you crying, buddy?” You wipe his tears.

“I’m scawred!” He cries.

“Of what?” You ask.

“Taxes!” He cries.

“It’s okay. You didn’t say it enough times to have to pay taxes.” You pull his small, hiccuping body into your arms, not quite sure what to do. You feel kinda bad. Parenting is fucking hard. They say never parent your boyfriend, but you were taking it to a whole new level. You don’t think this is what they meant.

Finally you had wrangled the boys together and you were on your way to the store. You had to walk because Diane had the car at work and you obviously didn’t have one, but the store wasn’t far.

“Why do we have to walk? This is fucking stupid.” Chris complained.

“Chris, knock it off. We’re at the repeating age.” You gesture to Adrian, who was jumping around the cracks on the sidewalk. Luckily he wasn’t paying attention.

“Hey, Adrian!” Chris grabs his attention.

“Chris!” Adrian runs up to him, on his wobbly little legs.

“Don’t you fucking dare-“ The words came out of your mouth before you even had the chance to realize it.

Gut laughs. “You’re the one who actually said fuck in front of him.”

“Fuck!” Adrian repeats.

“No no no no no!” You try to stop him.

“Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!” He says as he hops up and down with each fuck.

“No! I said…duck! I said duck!” Gut and Chris break into a fit of laugher.

“Rey’s lying, Adrian.” Gut tells him. Adrian stops giggling and his entire body language changes. He starts to cry, trying to walk away. His little legs don’t carry him very far. You turn to Gut and Chris.

“Please just stop! I just wanna get through the day. Would it kill you to just be nicer to him?!” You don’t mean to lose your temper with the boys, but you know this is only the start to a lifetime of bullying and provoking Adrian. You sigh, dropping your attitude. They’re all just kids. “Stay here for a minute.” You turn in Adrian’s direction and start racing after him.

You try to scoop his little body into your arms, but he screams at you. “NO! NO!” Okay. He’s not great with words, but he totally has no down. You decide to give him some space. Even if he’s not his adult self yet, he’s still a person. You know how easily overwhelmed he gets as an adult. You can’t imagine how upset his 3 year old self is.

“Buddy, I’m really sorry.” You apologize. Your heart breaks. You hate knowing you made him cry.

“P-p-pweas don’t weave!” He begs you not to leave through his tears.

“Hey…what’s going on? Why do you think I’m gonna leave?” You question him.

“Daddy lied to m-mommy and now he’s not here!” Adrian cries. Oh fuck. Of course he couldn’t fully grasp that his father had an affair and that’s why he’s gone.

“Adrian, listen to me. I will never leave you for something like that. I’m sorry I lied to you. Lying isn’t nice, but I’m here for you. I will always be there for you. Even if I’m not here with you, right next to you, I promise I will always love you.” You try to keep yourself from crying now. You can’t help, but think of your version of Adrian at home without you. You try to keep your tears in and stay strong for the younger version of the man you love right in front of you. They feel like different people, but they’re not. This is Adrian and you need to help him.

“Lying isn’t nice!” Adrian repeats, sniffling as his tears slow.

“You’re right. It’s not. Do you want a hug or do you not want to be touched?” You ask.

“Hug!” He cries, crashing into your open arms. You hold his little body as he cries.

“Even if you can’t see me, I’ll always be with you. I love you.” Everything about this is so fucked up. You shouldn’t even be here. You’re messing with Adrian’s life. You’re messing with Chris’ life. Everything about this feels so wrong, but when he’s crying in your arms like this all you can think about is the restless nights when you’d cuddle with your boyfriend and he’d shed a tear or two about his childhood. You knew how much it effected him even now and you just wanted to protect him from all that was to come and heal all that had already happened, but you knew you couldn’t do that. Time had to run its course.

After you helped baby Adrian collect himself you joined Chris and Gut back on the sidewalk and continued your way to the store. Town was small, so the walk wasn’t long, but luckily you had a new Walmart nearby. In your day this Walmart was shitty, but in 1994 it was new. You let Gut and Chris walk around on their own with the promise they’d meet you in the men’s clothing section. You were going to take Adrian to the toddler section. Toddler clothes were cheaper and he was growing fast, so you picked out a couple different outfits for him. You grabbed some basic pants and socks that would match everything and let him pick his own shirts. He settled on a shirt with a spaceship on it that said ‘I’m so cute it’s out of this world’. He also picked a Barney shirt and an Aladdin shirt after making a comment on how both Jasmin AND Aladdin were pretty. You then brought him to your side of the clothing department to grab a shirt or two you liked before meeting up with the boys. After settling on some basic shirts, you were on your way to meet Chris and Gut when you passed the electronic isle and you caught Chris staring at a tape recorder. Even from a distance you could tell he was about to cry as he put it back on the shelf. Gut was nowhere to be seen, probably waiting in the men’s isle like was supposed to. He usually listened better.

“Hey, Chris…”

“I’m not crying!” He wipes his eyes.

“I know.” You give him a smile.

“I just got dust in my eye. They need to clean these shelves better.” He crossed his arms across his chest. You crouched down in front of Adrian.

“Hey, Ade. Why don’t you go pick out a movie for us to watch tonight from the clearance bin?” He wiggled excitedly before taking off towards the bin of cheaper VHS tapes.

“Stay where I can see you!” You called after him. He did just as you said and stayed in your line of vision as you talked to Chris more privately.

“Level with me. I know you weren’t crying, but if you had been crying…hypothetically of course…you could tell me anything. You know that, right?” You weren’t sure if you were breaking the timeline, but at this point you didn’t care. Chris deserved to be able to trust someone in his life.

“I wasn’t crying.” Chris tried to walk away from you, but you caught his arm in your hand.

“Chris, wait-“ He hissed as you made contact with his shoulder. Your jaw drops and you can almost feel tears in your eyes. You pulled up his sleeve to reveal small, circular burn marks. They were burns left behind from where his father had put out cigarettes in his arm.

“Stop starring at me like I’m a freak and just let me go.” He pushes you off of him and he walks away. You knew this job would be hard, but it’s a lot worse than you expected. You had no idea it would be this awful constant moral battle between letting these kids get hurt and keeping the timeline in tact. After realizing you were all alone and you could still see Adrian, but he wasn’t paying attention to you, you started to cry. After taking a deep breath you wiped your tears and picked up the tape recorder, putting the shirts for yourself on the shelf. Fuck it. Chris deserved something his dad couldn’t ruin. So what if you had to wear Diane’s maternity clothes and any clothes her husband left behind? You knew how much he loved music. He deserved this. Timeline be damned he deserved one fucking thing in his life untouched by his father. You hid it in the cart under some of Adrian’s clothes before heading to him digging around in the clearance vhs section.

“Rey!” He called for you as soon as he saw you.

“Adrian!” You called back, pretending to be happy. “Did you pick one?” You ask.

“This one!” He says, excitedly shoving the tape in your hands. You couldn’t help, but smile a real genuine smile. In your hands was a copy of the movie Adrian told you was his favorite growing up; The Brave Little Toaster.

“Have you seen this one?” You ask.

“No!” He smiles, hardly able to stand still.

“You’re gonna love it.” You smile, placing it in the cart. You take his hand and you both head to the men’s section to get clothes for Gut and Chris. Gut picked out a Green Day shirt, while Chris picked out a Nirvana shirt. You were happy when Chris didn’t pick up the Green Day shirt because you knew having that might get him in trouble in the next 10 years when they come out with American Idiot. His dad’s gonna hate that. These were of course considered hot new bands and most of their most famous songs weren’t even out yet. After picking out a couple more clothing items you headed to checkout. You were thankful Adrian was being such a distraction because Chris didn’t even see you put the tape recorder in the bag. With the remaining money, you took a bus to Fennel Fields for dinner where you told Diane you’d meet her on her night shift.

“Mommy!” Adrian yelled running up to her as soon walked through the door. It was nice to see him with his mother.

After grabbing a pizza you headed home. When you got there you pulled Chris aside and gave him the tape recorder.

“Happy birthday.” You said handing him the Walmart bag.

“It’s not my birthday.” He gives you a strange look.

“I know. Just think of it as an advance on your birthday gift.” You smile as he starts to open it.

“Is this mine?” He asks in shock. You nod. “Why did you do this?” He asks.

“Because you deserve something that’s yours that you enjoy.” You say as you watch his eyes well up with tears again.

“I’m not crying.” He says again.

“I know. But even if you were…it’s okay…” He stares at you for a moment before bringing you into a wordless hug. You stand there for a moment, shocked. You never expected this from him, but you wrap your arms around him anyway.

“Thank you.”

“Of course. You deserve it.” You remind him. You know it won’t change the timeline much, but this time, you hope it does something.

After tucking Adrian in, you leave Gut and Chris to play video games until Diane gets home. You head to your room, flipping onto your bed with a sigh. You just hope you did the right thing. You open your phone and head to your voicemails. This has almost become routine.

“Hey babe, it’s me. I’m just calling because I know you had a bad day today and I was thinking…” You close your eyes, as the voicemail plays and you begin to cry. You’ll see him again one day. You have to. You didn’t know how or when, but you had to. You’d figure it out. You’d make a plan.

[siriuslysatorusimping]

Random Question (Another Level Extra)

Summary

“So, no marriage for you, huh?” Gojo asked, tilting his head to the side as he teased her. “No budding romances? No sweet non-sorcerers waiting to sweep you off your feet?”

“Non-sorcerers are definitely out of the question.” Rinko scrunched her nose. “I don’t wanna have to lie to someone until I know they’ll stay, ya know? Not exactly the best foundation for a possible lifelong commitment.” She paused, meeting his eyes again with a smirk. “And none of the sorcerers I know are marriage material, either.”

“Hurtful,” he teased, lifting up and putting his hand over his heart. “I’m offended, baby. You don’t want me to wife you up?”

“Especially not when you say it like that,” she deadpanned.

-

Kiko note: One of my favorite things about writing these two is the serious conversations they have while they fuck. This is set the day after Let's Get Lost and their conversation references Hollow Echoes. This is also posted on AO3

If you haven't already, you can read Another Level on AO3 💕

2013

“Kinda curious ‘bout something.”

Rinko’s eyes narrowed at Gojo, prompting him to grin as he rolled his hips teasingly.

His words made her tense in suspicion because him being curious while he was balls deep was typically not a good sign.

They’d spent most of the day in bed, just like he’d asked of her yesterday while they showered. She couldn’t describe it as lazy because he’d barely allowed her any time to rest since they woke up. Their current position was the most relaxed they’d been all day.

“S’pretty random, actually,” he admitted, his hips keeping their steady pace as he filled her over and over. “That date you skipped, why’d you do it?”

“Huh?” Her eyebrows shot up before dropping, furrowing in confusion. “What the fuck are you talking about?”

The question was very random. But such a Gojo question to ask when he’d spent the entire day ruining her in every way he possibly could.

“Told you it was random,” he said, grasping her leg and wrapping it around his waist so he could thrust deeper. Her back arched in response, a strangled moan ripping from her throat. “Fuck, that’s it.” He sped up briefly before settling back into his relaxed, lazy rhythm. “The date you didn’t go on last year. Y’know, when I-”

Showed up at her apartment drunk and acting like a jealous idiot? That date? She couldn’t even say she was surprised he’d ask now of all times.

Rolling her eyes, she yelped when he slammed into her once, his eyes glinting playfully.

“S’rude to roll your eyes at me when I’m fucking you this good, Rinko-chan,” he chided. Because bringing up the night he showed up at her place drunk and jealous while he was inside her wasn’t rude. Or the very fact that he’d shown up drunk and jealous in the first place when it was supposed to be casual. His grin grew at her indignant squawk, leaning down to capture her lips, biting her tongue gently when she released a breathy moan. “Keep your bratty comment to yourself just this once-”

“Don’t really see how it’s bratty to point out you being a-” she choked off when she felt his cock stab her cervix, “-an asshole.”

Gojo just snickered, moving his lips to her neck, nuzzling the ticklish spot there.

“Come on,” he murmured, sucking a bruise onto her skin. “I’m actually curious.”

“You’re talking about the time you showed up drunk, right?”

He nipped her skin in warning, and she sighed.

“Multiple reasons,” she relented. “Was a bit stressed. I’d had a long week already, and I’d just gotten a text from you telling me to send you my address because you apparently wanted to come spank me like the asshole you-”

“You liked it,” he argued, lifting his head to give her a smug grin and laughing when she clenched instinctively at the memory. “‘Least your pretty pussy did. Squeezed me so good then, still squeezing me now. Oh, fuck.” He groaned low in his throat. “Not the point, though. You’ve had to miss dates for shit, obviously. But I thought you always rescheduled ‘em. Was surprised you didn’t reschedule that one.”

She let her head fall back as she released a heavy sigh mixed with a whine.

“Ever meet someone and- fuck, right there- just know they’re too nice?” she breathed, arching her back when he rolled his hips to graze her gspot teasingly.

Maybe nice wasn’t exactly the word but it was the best she could think of now. She knew he’d understand, though. It was why he didn’t usually see people more than once. Thank fuck he’d decided she was the exception to that rule.

“Not really sure what you mean,” he admitted, sucking on her neck again. “But I think I follow.”

“S’why you have your little ‘no repeats’ rule, yeah?” she pressed. “Because you don’t wanna risk someone getting attached?”

“Obviously. S’also why I only fuck non-sorcerers now, too. Gets messy.” He paused, leaning back to meet her eyes as if he just knew she was making a face. “You are, so far, not messy,” he said, giving her a wolfish grin. “Well, at least not in a bad way.”

She couldn’t contain the eye roll at how stupid he was sometimes.

“Pussy is fuckin incredible, too,” he continued cheekily. “So it’s a win-win for both of us.”

“If only your cock was- wait!” she giggled, wrapping her arms around his neck when he narrowed his eyes at her. Licking up the side of his throat, she nipped his jaw playfully. “A win-win. Can’t deny the guarantee of a really good fuck is nice. Might need to make a copy of your map-”

She squealed when his hands found her sides, fingers digging into her ribs relentlessly.

“Such a goddamn brat,” he growled, lifting her leg to his shoulder and grinding his hips before speeding up. He made sure to tease her gspot with each thrust, his lips latching onto her neck as her cries rose in pitch. “Not a single goddamn thing that could help anyone fuck you as good as me, and you know it. S’why you act like a fucking menace so much.”

“I would never,” she breathed, whining when he moved one of his hands between them to rub tight circles around her clit. “Fuck- don’t- don’t stop-”

“Yeah?” he taunted, digging his teeth into her neck and pulling a strangled moan from her. “My little slut gonna cum for me like a good girl? Hm? Come on, Rinko-chan. Show me you can be a good girl.”

He pinched her clit hard, and a broken scream wrenched free as she came. Whimpers and moans fell uncontrollably as she convulsed, thrashing against him when he sped up.

“Just like that,” he cooed, his tongue soothing where he’d bitten. He moaned quietly in her ear, his hips stuttering briefly. “Such a good girl for me.”

She just whined as she felt him twitching as he spilled inside her, releasing a long, guttural groan before he released her leg and dropped his weight on top of her. His arms wrapped underneath her tightly, his lips tracing random patterns along her shoulder.

“Never answered my question,” he mumbled, and she nodded. “Said somethin’ about people getting attached?”

Catching her breath, she blinked around the sleep trying to pull her under.

“Yeah. Just- when you meet someone and kinda just know they’re looking for the whole thing. Date, fall in love, have kids type thing, ya know?”

He lifted his head curiously, meeting her eyes.

“You don’t want that?”

Pursing her lips to the side, she shrugged as best she could.

“I- maybe someday,” she admitted quietly. “But- this life doesn’t really let that happen. Name one happily married couple you know of?”

The snort he released made her chuckle, and he nodded.

“Can’t,” he said. “Parents weren’t exactly the happiest. They weren’t miserable, but they sure as hell weren’t happy.”

“Probably had something to do with having you as their kid,” she teased lightly. “I imagine it wasn’t easy. There were a lot of hits out on you pretty young, right?”

His scoff was paired with a dramatic eye roll before he leveled her with a bored look.

“Took care of those pretty easy,” he deadpanned. “None of ‘em had the guts to try anything. Parents were just… distant.” He shrugged again. “Guess I can’t compete much with you, though. Your old man’s a real piece of shit.”

She definitely didn’t need that reminder.

“So, no marriage for you, huh?” he asked, tilting his head to the side as he teased her. “No budding romances? No sweet non-sorcerers waiting to sweep you off your feet?”

“Non-sorcerers are definitely out of the question,” she replied instantly, scrunching her nose. “I don’t- I don’t wanna have to lie to someone until I know they’ll stay, ya know? Not exactly the best foundation for a possible lifelong commitment.” She paused, meeting Gojo’s eyes again with a smirk. “And none of the sorcerers I know are marriage material.”

“Hurtful,” he teased, lifting up and putting his hand over his heart. “I’m offended, baby. You don’t want me to wife you up?”

“Especially not when you say it like that,” she deadpanned. “Be honest, you never intend to settle down, either. Too busy, yeah? It’s why you don’t wanna deal with anyone getting attached.”

His teasing grin shrank a bit as he nodded.

“Yeah,” he agreed. “Got a lot of shit to take care of. Not like there’s anyone who could keep up with me.”

As expected. She’d assumed as much.

“Ever been in love?”

He snorted, and she snickered at his bored look.

“Have you ever been in love?” he countered, grinning when she snorted just like he had. “You can say you’re in love with me, Rinko-chan.”

“Sorry, Gojo,” she hummed drily. “But you really aren’t the kinda person I want to fall in love with. Emotionally constipated would be an understatement.”

“Again, hurtful,” he chuckled. “But nah. Never been in love. Kinda don't ever wanna be. Fucks people up, yeah? S’what causes some of the nastiest curses. Like the one from your exam.”

As if she could forget. She’d almost fucking drowned. A curse born from the hatred of a scorned wife. A scorned lover.

“My mom used to say she loved Naobito at one point,” Rinko noted, gnawing on her bottom lip. “She loved him when they were together. Dunno what the fuck about that asshole could be lovable, but she meant it. It- it fucked her up pretty good. She- always said she didn’t regret it because it gave her- me. But- not so sure I could do it. Be as strong as she was.”

Almost two years without her and it still felt like yesterday. Her chest ached at the realization.

“You miss her.”

“Well, yeah,” she said, feeling small. “She was- my favorite person. The only one I had for most of my life.”

Gojo nodded, understanding coloring his expression.

“Well, you got me now, Rinko-chan,” he stated firmly. He wrapped his arms underneath her again, holding her tighter than before. It made the weight in her chest lift a bit. “And Nanamin. Got a lot of people here for you. Hell, you can even say you’ve got Fushiguro’s brat now, too. Since you fuckin bribed him with those damn cookies-”

“Not my fault you didn’t think of that before me,” she argued, unable to fight the grin at his pout. “Don’t be jealous, Satoru.”

He just rolled his eyes and dropped his head down, burying his face in her neck.

“Thank you,” she murmured, twisting his hair around her fingers gently. “You- I dunno if you need or want to, but you have me now, too.”

His breath fanned across her neck as he hugged her tighter.

“‘Course I want to, Rinko-chan,” he replied, groaning when he shifted, and they both seemed to remember that he was still inside her. “Mm, fuck. I need a fuckin nap, and then I’m gonna keep you tied to this bed until one of us has to leave.”

He chuckled darkly when she couldn’t contain the quiet moan, licking her neck teasingly.

“Rest up, baby.”

[thebibutterflyao3]

Day 10 - Prompt: Good @wolfstarmicrofic

January Daily Series - 568 words

<<<Previous Part OR Start Here

Remus wasn’t entirely sure what was happening to his body because his mind was on another plane entirely. It could be skipping merrily, attempting somersaults, or rolling in the grass, and he would be none the wiser. The two were no longer functioning as a combined unit.

Sirius kissed him.

He’d never been kissed like that before. At least, not that he could remember. It was only on the cheek, but still sent his mind spinning in circles. No one touched him with such care, as if he was delicate and worthy of preservation. As if he was…good.

He should feel guilty for allowing that impression, but he didn’t. If this man wanted to search his soul for a speck of goodness and cradle what he found in his impossibly soft hands, Remus would let him. He wouldn’t even correct him if what Sirius held up to the light as proof of his “goodness” turned out to be nothing more than a reflection of his mother. A hint of the man that she wanted him to be, perhaps.

I refuse to fuck this up.

Remus would be the last person on Earth to interfere in whatever this was, or what it could become. He wasn’t foolish, or stupid. A bit out of his league, but that couldn’t be helped. Sirius was speaking to him, looking at him, and now kissing him for fuck’s sake. Nothing else mattered.

He brushed his fingertips over his bruised cheek and snarked, “Suddenly, I feel so much better. You must have magic lips.”

Sirius grinned, then visibly forced himself not to respond. His lips pressed so tightly together that Remus’s fingers itched to pry them apart. He needed to know what sarcastic remark or witty retort was hiding in there.

Lily was clearly of the same mind. She tossed her plait over her shoulder and eyed Sirius expectantly. “He left the door wide open, Sirius. Are you really going to let it slam closed?”

“Yes.”

Remus faltered, dropping his hand and looking away. The back of his neck flushed with an uncomfortable prickle of heat. Sirius didn’t flirt with him like he had with Lily at the ice rink. That was twice now that Sirius avoided flirting back when it was obvious that his natural instinct was to do so.

Why the mixed messages? His interest, or lack thereof, didn’t match the tenderness of that kiss or the intimacy of their conversation yesterday. Remus wasn’t sure what to think, but he refused to give up. He had to find a way in.

“Well, this isn’t awkward at all,” Lily said, folding her arms over her chest. She glanced along the shoreline, then down at Padfoot. “Mind if I take him for a walk? He’s staring at the water.”

“It’s alright, I can-”

“Great. Come along, Padfoot.” Lily tugged the leash from Sirius’s hand and clicked her tongue at the dog. Immediately, Padfoot lumbered after her with an eager grin.

Remus opened his mouth, unsure exactly what to say to navigate them back to the comfortable comraderie they’d found the day before, but hopeful that he could, when Sirius abruptly turned on his heel and chased after Lily. His words died on his tongue as he watched the bloke’s long, dark hair sway with every step. Disappointment seeped into his chest as he forced his feet to follow.

One chance. Give me one chance.

Next Part>>>

[pocket-sized-nightmare]

my first entry for @mcyt-yuri-week!

prompt: break

ship: pearl/gem (hermitcraft)

Tap, thud, click. Tap, thud, click. Tap, thud, click. 

The soft noise of blocks falling into place echoes in Gem’s elven ears. She loves almost everything about building, but the satisfying sound of the blocks in her hands has to be her favorite part. It forms a beat that calms the racing thoughts in her head into a steady rhythm. She quietly hums along to it as she builds.

Tap, thud, click. Tap, thud, click.

Gem hasn’t stopped to check her progress in ages. She’s so absorbed in her work that she barely even notices she’s doing it anymore. Of course, this isn’t an uncommon occurrence for her. When she slips into a hyperfocus state, she can go through a whole shulker’s worth of materials without realizing she’s running low on them. The feeling of bouncing between blocks and crafting things with her hands makes her feel productive and connected in a way that she never feels while doing anything else. It doesn’t matter that she’s a little tired or that she hasn’t eaten in a while – it feels like she could keep at her task forever.

Tap. Thud. Click. Tap–

“Gem, love, what are you doing?” Pearl’s voice echoes from below the tower.

“Building,” Gem says, brushing the dirt off her hands.

“All this?” Pearl asks in amazement. “That’s twice as much as you had yesterday.”

“I’ve been focused!” Gem checks her inventory. “Oh, wow, I went through two shulker boxes.”

“Two? Gem, how long have you been working?”

“I don’t know. I kind of lost track.” Gem sits down on the wall and dangles her feet over the edge. “I started a little after lunch, so not too long ago.”

“Not too long?” Pearl shakes her head in amazement, then flutters her moth wings to fly up and sit down next to her. “Gem, look up.”

Gem does. To her surprise, the mid-day sunlight has been replaced with the moon and stars. “Oh. Wow. It’s night.”

“You honestly didn’t notice?” Pearl laughs. “Gem, it’s been hours. No one’s seen you all day!”

Gem sighs, then joins Pearl’s laughter. “Okay. I just need to finish this one thing, and then I’ll come down–”

She’s interrupted by her stomach growling loudly. Right – she skipped dinner. She blinks and yawns. “Yeah, no, you’re right.”

“I thought so.” Pearl wraps her arms around Gem and flutters down from the wall, managing to land them both (somewhat) gracefully on the grass. Gem blushes. Pearl is too proud of herself to notice. “Oh, hey, I’m getting better at that!”

Gem stays in Pearl’s embrace for just a little too long, both of them refusing to let go of the other. Pearl finally lets go and starts down the path back to her alien base, dragging Gem behind her. “Alright, let’s get you some food.”

“Food sounds good,” Gem concedes as she’s led away from her project and into Pearl’s kitchen.

As Gem sits down, Pearl begins to gather ingredients from her (impeccably organized) kitchen cabinets. “Do you want mushroom soup? I went mushroom picking the other day, and I think I found some really good ones. I know it’s silly to get excited over mushrooms, but-”

“Are you kidding? A great mushroom is a treasure.”

“I knew you’d get it.” Pearl smiles as she finds the mushrooms at the back of a cabinet. It feels strange to say, but Pearl feels like she and Gem have the same kind of brain. They have the same sort of humor and energy. It’s like they just fit together, like puzzle pieces, or like how Gem fits perfectly beneath Pearl’s wing when they sit next to each other and watch the stars. Like how Pearl’s hand feels just right in Gem’s hand when they’re leading each other to the next adventure or picnic they’ve set up. Like how even their names fit with one another: Pearl and Gem. They’re a treasure chest together.

Pearl returns to the table a moment later with two bowls of warm soup and two tiny loaves of bread. “There you go.”

Gem doesn’t realize how hungry she is until she takes a first bite of the bread and proceeds to inhale it. Pearl bursts out laughing as Gem blushes to the tips of her deerlike ears. “Gem, oh my goodness, you were hungry. Have some soup, too.” 

Pearl takes a sip of her own soup, and Gem follows suit. Gem’s eyes widen. “This is so good.”

“We’re not called the Soup Group for nothing!” Pearl grins.

They sit and talk for a few more minutes as they finish their (very late) dinner, both trying to hide the pink blush in their cheeks. Eventually, Pearl decides it’s far too late to send Gem home – she’ll either get killed by a horde of mobs or just fall asleep on the grass halfway there. “No, I’m serious. Did I tell you why I found you in the first place? I got shot out of the sky by a skeleton.”

“You’re kidding!” Gem yawns. “Oh, that’s the worst. I hate when skeletons sneak up on you.”

“Yeah. I was fine, though. Just a little annoying.” Pearl sits down on her bed. Gem lays a sleeping bag out on Pearl’s floor, then sits down next to her.

As Pearl continues her story, Gem flops over and lies down on Pearl’s bed. “I’m just glad skeletons can’t use tipped arrows,” Pearl jokes. “I think I’d probably die once every two minutes-”

A soft snore from Gem interrupts her – she’s already fast asleep.

Pearl laughs quietly. “Told you so, Gem.”

She gently tucks Gem into bed, then lies down next to her. Gem rolls over and presses herself up against Pearl, not once waking up. This time, it’s Pearl’s turn to blush.

Pearl whispers a soft “good night” to Gem, then wraps an arm around her and drapes her wings over them both like a delicate blanket as she drifts off to sleep.

They’re still cuddling when they wake up the next morning.

[demo-dragon]

Preview for Chapter One

Spring; 2001

Ms. Tattles's 4th-grade class

“Alright, everyone, settle down,” their teacher declared, standing at the front of the classroom with a commanding presence. The air was thick with anticipation as students exchanged angry glances. “The class trial is now officially in session for the accused, Phoenix Wright.” She gestured toward Phoenix, who sat at a makeshift defense table, looking anxious and teary. 

“Phoenix,” she continued, her voice steady but firm, “do you have anything to say for yourself before your classmates hand down their verdict?” The murmur of whispers filled the room as all eyes turned to him, awaiting his response with bated breath. The atmosphere was electric, a mix of tension and curiosity, as the weight of his fate rested heavily on his shoulders. 

“(My name is Phoenix Wright, and I’m a fourth-grade student. Today marked the beginning of a class trial because I was accused of stealing my brother Miles Edgeworth’s lunch money. The incident started yesterday when I was feeling unwell, prompting me to skip P.E. and stay alone in my homeroom to work on my class assignment. That turned out to be a big mistake: on that day, I found an envelope that belonged to Edgeworth, but I noticed that the envelope that contained his money was empty. Earlier this week, we received an envelope with $38 for lunch since the public school we attended was quite small. One of the students walked in and saw me holding the envelope, quickly assuming that it was I who took the money. And now here I am, the defendant in a crime that I never committed.)”

“Well? Phoenix? Do you have anything to say or not?”

The spiky-haired boy was tearing up as he cried in front of the whole class. “I didn’t do it! I’m innocent; I didn’t take Miles’s money!”

“Ms. Tattle, it’s clear that he’s not telling the truth. We, as the entire class, have concluded that he must be guilty,” declared one student with confidence, glancing around to gauge the reactions of their classmates, who nodded in agreement. The air was thick with tension as the group rallied together, united in their belief.

The young child’s eyes brimmed with tears as he stood trembling behind his desk, surrounded by his agitated classmates who had formed a tight circle around him. “I swear I didn’t do it!” he cried, his voice quivering with emotion. “I’m telling the truth; it wasn’t me! Please believe me!” His small hands clutched the edge of the desk, his knuckles turning white with the intensity of his plea. His fear was palpable, his need for protection evident to all.

“Liar, you’re just a dirty thief,” one kid called out, pointing an accusatory finger at him. “Where’s the money that I let you borrow, huh?”

One of the students pointed at Phoenix and exclaimed, "Yeah! Tell us the truth, you thief," while another student looked on with suspicion.

Another student, with a look of disbelief on her face, pointed a finger and exclaimed, “You’re such a meanie!” The frustration in her voice was evident as she expressed her emotions.

A young boy holds tightly onto his football, his face contorted with anger. “I refuse to play with him any longer. It’s obvious that he’s guilty!”

One student displayed an appalling lack of empathy by directing extremely hurtful words toward him, implying, “What’s next, stealing things from your dad too?! I wouldn’t be surprised if you did!”

“He shouldn’t be allowed to participate in the relay race! Or be part of the library committee!” another classmate yelled.

As every single one of his classmates chanted “guilty,” Phoenix felt the weight of their judgment. To add insult to injury, his teacher made her way to him, her disappointed tone cutting through the air. “Now, Phoenix, you know you shouldn’t take people’s money. It’s not right,” she admonished. “I’m shocked that you would go so far by stealing money from your brother.”

“B-but I… I didn’t take his money,” Phoenix sobbed, tears streaming down his cheeks. Even his teacher was convinced of his guilt. “Why? Why doesn’t anyone believe me?” his voice broke as he struggled to make sense of the situation.

Ms. Tattle quietly muttered to herself, “This is getting us nowhere.” She let out a heavy sigh and crossed her arms. “Please apologize, say you’re sorry.”

Phoenix felt a surge of frustration as his teacher’s stern expression told him that further argument was futile. The expectant and disapproving gaze of his classmates only added to his unease as they silently waited for him to apologize. As tension mounted in the classroom, one brave student slowly rose from his seat, but before he could speak, another beat him to it.

"OBJECTION!"

The entire class fell silent, their eyes fixated on the figure of the victim. Miles Edgeworth stood resolute, his outstretched fingers drawing the attention of the room as he passionately defended his younger brother, akin to the way his father had commanded the courtroom in the past. Phoenix stared at him in shock and then said, “I’m sorry, Edgeworth.”

Miles reassured his client, “You don’t have to apologize. It wasn’t you that stole the money, right?” As he spoke, his gaze remained fixed intently on the individual before him.

“N-no!”

“Then there’s no need to be ashamed.” The young boy clarified. “Just because everyone else says you did it doesn’t mean it is true.” He then glares at his classmates, crossing his arms. “Besides, this class trial needs proof, but they don’t even have a single piece of evidence to back up their claim. Tsk, amateurs.”

“B-But Miles, it was your money that was stolen!” exclaimed their teacher, with a look of bewilderment and concern on her face.

“Yeah! Yeah!” The classmates nodded in unison, showing their agreement with their teacher’s statement.

“He did it! He’s the one!”

“Who needs this so-called evidence!”

“Why don’t you all just shut up!” shouted a student, his voice cutting through the chatter in the room. He wore a yellow and white striped shirt that contrasted with his light orange hair, which stood out brightly against the dull classroom walls. “You all seem to enjoy ganging up on someone innocent, like Nick here, just to make him feel total crap! It’s not right to pick on someone like that!” His eyes scanned the group, hoping to make them understand the impact of their actions.

Phoenix wiped his tears away, saying, “Thanks, you guys.”

“As I was saying, there is a lack of any concrete evidence to declare his “guilt.” Therefore, I hereby declare my client innocent,” Miles announced as he crossed his arms. “After all, this is nothing more than a baseless kangaroo court.”

Fun little detail: The full name of their 4th-grade teacher is Ms. Tattle Tale, which is fitting because some students tend to tell on others for no reason.

[l2bbocsstuff]

HAVE LOVE WILL TRAVEL

Another drabble from prompts I get on a Discord server I belong to.

Asami answered her cell phone on its third ring.  Opal was on the other end of the call and she blurted out, “Where the hell are you right now?  I tried the mansion but no one answered.”

“I’m never home on Sundays…at least I haven’t been since Korra’s down south.  I thought you knew that.”

“I guess I didn’t put two and two together, sorry!!  How long has she been gone?” Opal questioned.

“She’s been gone for two months and I’m going crazy without her.  She tells me all the time how much she misses me and I miss her too.  I mean we talk every second day but I’m just not sleeping well without her.  I just need to feel her next to me.  Plus, our anniversary is coming up and I don’t know if she’ll be home or not.  I feel like I’m losing it Ope.”

Asami knew that the confession she had just made would have Opal’s problem-solving skills kick into overdrive.  It did not take long for Opal to respond.

“Aren’t you the CEO of a multi-billion yuan company?”

“Yes, I am and that’s why I’m in the office right now.”

“And you’re missing your wife?”

“More than the three years she was gone.”

Asami could picture Opal raising one of her eyebrows as they spoke on the phone.  “Oh My Raava.  You’re the boss.  You’re allowed to say, ‘Fuck it’ and just leave the city to go see your wife you know.  I mean if I was you, I would book a first-class ticket to Harbour City right now and screw the consequences.  You have great people who work for you and they can take up the slack.  You did train them.”

Asami couldn’t argue with that.  “I so hate it when you’re right.”

“No, you don’t.  You love me!!!”

“Yeah, I guess I do.  Thanks for the pep talk.  I’ll book right now and I’ll send some emails to my team while I wait for the flight.  Thanks, Ope.  See you in a week.”

With that Opal and Asami hung up and Asami opened a travel site on her computer.  It took about fifteen minutes to get her flight and car booked.  The flight was leaving in three hours.  Plenty of time to get everything done.

___

Four hours later and in the air above the Mo Ce Sea, Asami was very glad for the tasty food she was being served by the cabin crew.  She hadn’t eaten anything since the bagel she had before she left for the office.  She could hear Korra in her head saying that she shouldn’t skip meals.  Asami smiled to herself and began to read the in-flight magazine.  She blushed because it was the newest edition of “Life in RC” and she was on the cover.  The story was about the new 3D printing machines that Future Industries had designed for home use.  Asami continued to peruse the magazine until the aircraft's captain came on the speakers.

“Ladies and gentlemen, we are beginning our descent into Harbour City.  We are encountering some turbulent weather so it might get a bit bumpy.  We should be on the ground and at the terminal in a little under thirty minutes.”

Asami put the magazine back into its proper place and tightened her seatbelt.  Although the landing was a little choppy, she was relieved and grabbed her carry-on luggage from the overhead bin.  After thanking the crew, she stepped out of the aircraft and headed directly to the car rental place.  Asami knew that winters in the Southern Water Tribe could be wicked so a top-of-the-line Satomobile vehicle with all the bells and whistles was what she had booked.  As she got to the counter, the attendant was smiling.  He began, “Hi, I’m Kasen.  Are you here to pick up a vehicle?”

“Nice to meet you Kasen and yes, I’m here to pick up the SUV I booked.”

“Name?”

“Asami Sato.  I booked a new Scorpion XL this morning online.”

“Yes, ma’am.  I see the reservation right here.  I’m glad you picked this vehicle because the weather yesterday was pretty horrendous.  There were whiteout conditions in the town; subsequently, the roads were impassable.  With this machine, you will have no problems on the roads today.  May I please see your driver’s licence and credit card.”

Asami handed over what was asked for and was relieved that she wasn’t recognized this far south.  Once the transaction was complete, she walked out the front of the terminal and strode over to her ride.  She was very thankful for the heated seats and heated steering wheel.

As she drove through Harbour City along the waterfront she was amazed by the large chunks of ice washing up on the beach.  I guess it really was one helluva storm.

The trip to the Chief’s palace took about forty minutes and when she arrived, she was met at the door by the security staff.  Asami was escorted to the front door of the Chief’s living area.  She knocked.

She heard “Coming” from behind the door.  It was Korra’s voice.  Asami’s pulse began to race as she waited.  She was almost frantic.  The door was flung open and there stood the Avatar in all her glory.  Korra’s brow furrowed for a second and then a 1000-watt smile burst from her lips.

“Asami!!  What are you doing here?  I mean I love that you’re here but why.”

Asami’s voice came out as a squeak.  She pleaded, “I needed to see you.  I needed to hug you.  I needed to kiss you.”  The CEO’s eyes filled with tears. 

Korra lifted her hand and wiped the droplets away from her wife’s cheek.  Asami leaned in, embraced Korra and kissed her fiercely.  The relief she felt was almost overwhelming.  The couple's weeklong vacation brought them both the comfort and support they each needed.

[nocturnalghoul]

Keep the Vibes Alive - Whump Month Day 1 "Are you okay?"

New ghoul only wants to be helpful and utilize his quintessence to help out a panicked sibling, but ends up pumping so much quintessence into the siblings mind that he almost melts their entire brain leaving them unresponsive until Aether swoops in to fix everything.

I said that whump month was gonna be a two month activity to me as a crawl through it and apparently I meant is as I post this 4 days late. Great start.

I have no clue why this is how this prompt turned out, but it was so...

Words: 1485

Rating: Teen?

Warnings: Mind control/ Mind Manipulation, listen new ghoul almost melts that dudes entire mind and while it turns out okay if you are at all sensitive to any sort of mind fuckery please skip this.

Read below the cut or on AO3 here

Astro hears a squeaky “You’re a quintessence ghoul correct?” and turns to see a shaky chihuahua of a sibling of sin quivering next to him. Their eyes seem unreasonably large with unshed tears and he is pretty sure a stiff wind could knock that remaining strength out of their trembling legs. 

“Are you okay dude?” is all he can think to say, having never been approached like this before. Typically he was more widely recognized for his earth side, his control of quintessence magic historically not the best. Sure he picked up rhythm guitar no problem, but the magic tended to be a weak point. 

This is Astro’s chance to prove he’s got what it takes from both aspects though. “How can I help you?” he finally tacks on awkwardly, laying a singular hand on the siblings shoulder. They start blabbering, asking if he knows where Aether is, and he feels himself sink a little. So they didn’t want him for his magic, only his proximity to Aether. 

“He’s really busy right now, but I am his protegee. Maybe I can help you?” Astro offers hopefully, allowing a singular spark of quintessence to sink into the siblings shoulder to calm them down. 

It seems to have the desired effect as they do take a deep breath and stop crying long enough to explain that normally Aether or one of the other quintessence ghouls help them whenever all the overwhelming anxiety and fear inside their mind becomes too much. 

“Well, lucky for you Aeth gave me lessons on how to help with that yesterday. Would you be willing to let me try and help ya?” he offers with as much confidence as he can muster. Technically Aethers exact words were “Do not try this without me, yes you have the concepts down but you aren’t ready to put them into practice kiddo” but that seemed like an overreaction in his mind. 

Aether was an amazing guitar teacher, but Astro thought he tended to baby him when it came to his quintessence magic. It had been getting stronger and while his control left something to be desired this was super simple stuff, or so he thought. 

He walked the sibling over to a more private room and texted Aether to meet him there whenever he could. While he felt relatively confident about the helping part, it still wouldn’t hurt to have Aether there to give some pointers about how to pull the magic back. That seemed to be the piece of all this he struggled with the most. He looked at the typing bubble appear and disappear a few times before Aether finally responded with a “be there in 10”.  

As soon as the sibling seemed comfy in the big chair they were curled up in, Astro pulled up a seat next to them and got to work, slowly letting thin tendrils of quintessence flow out of his fingers and into where he was stroking up and down the worried siblings arm. 

Their breathing seems to even out rapidly, a slight haze taking over as he keeps going. Astro digs into their mind, pushing past the almost overwhelming amount of negative emotions soaking their entire psyche like tar. The resistance keeps increasing which is worrying, but whenever they check in with the sibling, asking questions to make sure they are still present and responsive like Aether showed him, everything seems okay. Their overall vibe seems to have mellowed and they look happy.

With one final hard push of quintessence, he manages to crack through the thick gloom. Something feels off. There are splinters of that anxiety that seems to explode through the siblings mind, ricocheting and slicing the calming tendrils of quintessence. 

Astro inhales sharply and focuses all his effort on reconnecting the threads and making sure no loose magic goes into a part of the siblings psyche he isn’t supposed to be in. Faintly in the back of his brain he suddenly remembers Aether droning on and on about how important building a strong foundation of magic was. That you had to take your time and lay the road brick by brick for the quintessence to return back along. 

Astro checks his connections and realizes that they are about as strong as wet tissue paper. There are little globs of magic shredding off and littering the siblings entire psyche. 

He lets out a panicked “fuck, shit, where is Aether” under his breath and taps his phone to check the time. There is still another 5 minutes before the more experienced ghoul arrives, but he needs him here now. It’s okay, he thinks to himself. He can get a handle on this before Aether gets here. All he has to do is fix the connection. 

Astro sends large waves of quintessence through the magical tether in an attempt to strengthen up his shoddy internal construction work. As long as there's a strong connection Aether can probably play clean up of all the free floating magic he rationalizes. 

He doesn’t realize what is happening until the sibling slips forward, almost tumbling out of the chair before he catches them. One look at their eyes and it’s clear that they are no longer present. Astro attempts the check-in questions from earlier with no response, save the thin line of drool falling down the siblings chin. 

Panic truly starts to set in as Astro attempts to begin recalling any of his magic, and feels that same negative sludge from earlier. While he was checking on the sibling and not minding the connection it had pulled the tethers he just built deeper into their psyche, rooting his magic even deeper into their brain. It’s almost like the thick sludge was actively yanking on the connection, pulling his magic deeper.

Okay maybe he has no clue how to fix this, he finally admits to himself. New plan, try to keep his magic from sinking even further and hold out until Aether gets there. 

He tries not to let any of his own anxiety slip through the magical tether, knowing that it will only make everything so much worse than the clusterfuck it currently is. As long as he keeps his own mind calm and collected and focuses on a positive tranquil time, everything inside the siblings mind seems to stay in stasis. 

Astro attempts to recall every boring meditation Mountain had taught him. It briefly dawns on him that they were also an option to try and help the sibling, but focusing on the idea for too long sets off a twitch of magical movement inside the siblings psyche again and he stops. 

After what feels like years, Aether finally rounds the corner into the room, eyes landing on the pile of a person that was originally the sibling of sin. “What the fuck did you do Astro” he spits out, throwing down everything he was holding onto the remaining free chair. 

“I really don’t know Aeth, but every time I freak out it gets worse, so can we maybe save the berating for later” Astro practically sings, attempting to summon the last remaining crumbs of positivity inside of him. As mad as Aether looks, it is somewhat comforting to have his mentor there to help him. 

Aether crouches down, laying a hand on both of their knees while attempting to access the situation. Astro can almost feel the soft comfort of the older ghoul poking around gently, experimenting to figure out how to best fix this. 

“Alright, good news is it seems like you sent in too much magic too quickly, but still stayed rather surface level in their psyche so I can fix it.” Aether sighs heavily. 

“Bad news?” Astro prompts. 

“Bad news is this is going to take a while, you’ll be without quintessence magic for at least a week, and Mountain and I are gonna have a stern discussion with you later.” Aether grits out. “For now though I guess listen while I explain what I am doing and the myriad of ways you seem to have gone wrong.”

Astro sits in tense silence all the way up until Aether gets the sibling responsive again. Sluggishly they begin to answer to the sound of Aether’s voice, words clumsily falling out of their mouth taking firmer shape as time moves on. Finally the sibling seems back to their normal self, but Aether sets an appointment to meet up with them at the infirmary later that evening so that he can triple check no lasting damage was done. 

“Are you okay kiddo? I know that was scary, but luckily it's fine now” Aether reassures him, a kind smile tugging at the corners of his mouth as the siblings skips off like nothing happened.

“Uh yeah, sorry Aeth” Astro manages to spit out. Sure it turned out okay but it will be a while before he tries anything like this again.

[wisheduponastar]

Drunken secrets aren't so secret (2k words, M/m)

For Day 18 of @danganronpashipmonths Saioma month. Inspired by the prompt : Drunken Confessions

Invited to a reunion, Kokichi and Shuichi of course opt to go. The one problem is that they're dating, and don't want anyone to know. So they go - in secret

Read on Ao3 or below

Opening the car door, Shuichi smiled as Kokichi immediately sprang out into his arms, smiling. Briefly reaching back in, Shuichi grabbed the bag on the floor before paying the taxi driver - looking up at the house in front of them. It was decedent, to be polite about it. Or, as Kokichi put it while squinting up, “Wow - Rantaro really is a rich asshole.”

“Kokichi!”

“I’m just being honest,” he looked up at Shuichi, grinning, “That’s what everyone wants me to do, riiight?”

Shuichi shook his head, “Your lies are… what make you; you”

“Awww, you’re so sweet, Shumai.” There was a second or two of silence before Kokichi looked back up at the house, “You excited?”

“To see everyone again?” Shuichi asked, “Of course.”

“You aren’t,” Kokichi paused for a second, mouth twisted into one of his slightly creepy smiles, “Worried?”

“No.” Shuichi said firmly, “I know that we haven’t told them about… us, but that doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy the night.”

“Well, I might just have to tell them,” Kokichi let his smile become a usual, more mischievous one, “Or maybe I’m just lying!”

“You are.”

“Nuh-uh!”

“Kokichi…” “You gonna arrest me, Mr Detective?”

“How many times do I have to tell you… that’s not what a detective does.”

“Nishishishi, your job’s so boring Shumai,” Kokichi paused for a second, suddenly looking thoughtful, “Y’know, maybe I can finally get everyone to join D.I.C.E!”

“Seriously?”

“Well it’s a party, riiight?” Kokichi grinned, “People are known for making good decisions there.”

Shaking his head, Shuichi began to move towards the door and away from his boyfriend, “I’m just going to leave you outside, you know.”

“M-My Shumai would abandon me?” Kokichi rapidly began gulping, “You’re so mean!!”

“C’mon,” Shuichi said, opening the door and giving him a smile, “Everyone will be waiting.” “Miu’s probably late,” Kokichi declared, instantly cheering up and skipping to Shuichi’s side, “Have you ever been to Rantaro’s before?” “I… don’t think so,” Shuichi looked down slightly, smiling at Kokichi’s excitement. “Why don’t you tell me about it?”

After a few minutes' walk (Kokichi hadn’t been kidding when he said Rantaro’s house was enormous) they both came upon the door. As Shuichi reached out to know, Kokichi instinctively grabbed his hand, giving a little tug to get Shuichi to look at him. “We’re not… telling anyone about us, are we?”

“No… not for now,” Shuichi confirmed. It had been a difficult decision, but they had decided against it. Neither of them could pinpoint a specific reason, but they didn’t want their friends to know just yet. Besides, it wouldn’t make that much of a difference - and they could keep it under wraps. Shuichi was fairly sensible, and Kokichi was a skilled liar, when he wanted to be. At this point, Shuichi was fairly certain that Kokichi could announce to everyone they were dating - and almost no-one would believe him. Maybe Rantaro and Gonta would?

Giving Shuichi’s hand a small squeeze before letting go, Kokichi brought his hand up to the door, knocking rapidly and as loud as he could. Almost immediately, Rantaro opened the door, a welcoming smile on his face.

“My beloved!” Kokichi instantly greeted, throwing himself in Rantaro’s arms, “We’ve been waiting out here since yesterday, y’know. I think you’ve given us hypothermia.”

“Really?” Rantaro said, gently putting Kokichi down, “So odd that I didn’t see you when I opened the door to let everyone else in.”

“Maybe everyone else pushed past us,” Kokichi said, cheeks slightly puffed out, “Afterall, people are horrible.”

“Thank you for inviting us,” Shuichi interrupted, internally wincing at the use of ‘us’. They weren’t supposed to be going together after all. But if Rantaro did notice anything, he didn’t say so, instead just knocking and leading them further inside, “No problem. We’re just waiting on Kaito and Maki.”

“Do you have somewhere you can store these?” Shuichi asked, holding up the pack of Chuhai Kokichi had made him bring.

“Yeah, I’m keeping all the alcohol in a cooling…” Rantaro thought about the word for a second, “In a fancy, glorified icebox. I’ll show you it.” “It’s not going to have to share with other drinks, is it?” Kokichi put his hand over his heart in mock offence, “But Rantaro - my babies are precious!”

“So precious you let Shuichi carry them?”

“Well…” Kokichi grinned, “I am the Ultimate Supreme leader. Such tasks are below me, but they’re perfect for my underlings!”

“I am not your underling.”

“Silence, peasant.”

But as Kokichi said that, he turned around slightly, giving a softer (if more genuine smile) to Shuichi. “I’ve decided to become benevolent, underling. Give me back my drinks.”

Shuichi resisted the urge to roll his eyes, instead just handing them over and trying to contain his laugh as Kokichi almost buckled under the sudden weight. Rantaro was slightly less successful, and a low laugh came from him, before he asked, “You okay?”

“Yep…” Kokichi tried not to sound too strained, “It’s whatevs.”

As they kept walking, there was another knock at the door (much calmer than Kokichi’s). Rantaro turned around, “Ah, that will be Maki and Kaito. I’ll let them in and catch up with you guys, yeah?”

“Leaving us?” Kokichi said, almost trying to move his hand to his heart again before remembering the drinks, “You shall not be forgiven for this, Amami.”

Keeping going, their host just waved them on ahead, leaving Kokichi and Shuichi alone in the corridor. For a second a glint entered Kokichi’s eyes, before he remembered where they were, “Aww, and this lighting is perfect make-out lighting…” “Kokichi!” Shuichi tried to control his blush, but he felt it flare up anyway.

“Nee-heehee, that was just a lie!” Kokichi grinned again, although he stepped slightly closer for a second. Shuichi could feel his heart beating slightly faster, his cheeks becoming even more red. That slight hitch in his breath as he looked at Kokichi again. Before Kokichi suddenly pulled away, “You’re so easily flustered Shuichi.”

“Hey, Shuichi!”

Immediately, Shuichi spun around to see the final members of their group; Kaito, Maki, and Rantaro. He was caught in a mixture of embarrassment and relief, so opted for a slightly awkward smile in greeting and then, “Hi Kaito, Maki. It’s good to see you guys.”

“Spaceboy, Maki-roll,” Kokichi greeted from behind him, moving slightly slower because of the box, “It’s been so long, almost like you guys don’t appreciate the joy that is my presence.”

“We don’t,” Maki immediately deadpanned, before Kaito elbowed her slightly. She glared at him for a second before (somewhat) amending her declaration by saying, “Fine. We do, but not very often.”

“Awww,” Kokichi shot her a grin, “You’re so horrible.”

“Hey, don’t insult my girlfriend,” Kaito shot back, without too much threat but a sterner face. Kokichi stuck his tongue out, “Bleh. Love, who needs it?”

“Everyone deserves love,” Kaito put in, “I’m sure one day you three will find someone.”

“Us three?” Shuichi questioned, “Why did me and Rantaro get dragged into this?”

“Well, you just,” Kaito seemed almost awkward for a second, “You sometimes have crushes, and then you pine while seeming a bit like a sad puppy. But you actually seem to be doing pretty well now - you seeing someone?”

“Oooh!” Kokichi smiled as well, innocent sparkles in his eyes, “Yeah - are you seeing someone Shuichi.” Resisting the urge to stare Kokichi down, or at least roll his eyes, Shuichi took a deep breath before saying, “No.”

“Really?” Kaito had the decency to look sheepish, “My bad, man.”

“Let’s just go already,” said Maki, trying to break the tension while moving forward. Shuichi immediately began to follow her, looking back briefly at Kokichi (who had tried to hoist the drinks up and strained slightly). Kaito and Rantaro followed as well, with all of them smiling as they finally began to hear the small talk of the party already.

“Kaaaito, will you carry these?” Kokichi whined, trying out puppy-dog eyes that made Shuichi’ heart melt slightly.

“Absolutely not.”

“Awww c’mon.”

“Dude, it’s literally about ten steps.”

“My arms are dying, do you want me to die Kaito?”

“You’ll be fine…”

“Shuichi!! Kaito’s being mean to me!”

Getting to the door, Kaito eagerly pushed it open - most of their class immediately greeting all of them. A few steps behind, Kokichi went into the room as well - suddenly speeding up and putting the drinks down onto Rantaro’s counter. Breathing a sigh of relief, he mimed wiping sweat from his brow and then scowled at Kaito, “You’re such a meanie, y’know.”

He didn’t even bother replying, instead opting to smile at Kaede and striking up a conversation with her. For a while, there was just general conversation between everyone - occasionally getting heated, but all fun between friends. Shuichi had gone over to Himiko, and was somewhat enjoying her silence, the two of them sipping out of oddly fancy glasses that Rantaro had got for them. Himiko only moving to get a new snack bowl, which she begrudgingly offered up to Shuichi; even if it was with a small smile.

Eventually, after observing most of the party - his eyes slid back to Kokichi. Currently, his boyfriend had taken out one of the cans they got and was drinking it, talking cheerily to Gonta. Smiling, they talked (rather quietly for Kokichi) for a while before Gonta left to talk to Angie, and Miu sauntered up to take his place.

“Hey crotchrot.”

“Bitch,” Kokichi greeted, just as politely, while maintaining a pleasant smile.

“The hell are you drinking?”

“Wouldn’t you like to know?”

“I can just read it off the can, y’know.”

“Omigod, you can read?”

“Tch.” Miu reached over, grabbing a can and reading off it aloud, “Grape flavoured alcohol. What are you, twelve?”

“With your looks,” Kokichi paused, his eyes briefly looking over her, “You’re what, sixty-two?”

“Take that back you gremlin.”

“Nuh-uh.”

“Yes.”

“Nuh-uh.”

Miu rolled her eyes again, missing just how much joy sparked in Kokichi’s expression as she did. “I was gonna ask you to join us in a game, but I don’t think I will.”

Almost immediately, Kokichi smiled, “Non, non. Do go on.”

“Wanna take shots with me?”

“Yes!”

“No,” Shuichi spoke without realising, before trying to backpedal, “Shots are just irresponsible, you know.”

“Don’t be a fuckin’ loser Shuichi.”

Kokichi looked at him, “Want to join?”

“You think he would?” Miu looked him up and down, and then wrinkled her nose slightly. “I mean fine, you wanna join Poo-ichi?”

“I- no,” he shook his head, “Who else is doing this?”

“Me, crotchrot, spacefreak, and his girl,” Miu said, counting everyone off on her fingers. “Kirumi’s judging.”

“Maki agreed to do it?” Shuichi asked, somewhat in disbelief.

“Kaito joined and she called him an idiot, then he challenged her,” she explained, “Cause some fuckin’ losers do shit for people they love. And have shit like insecurities.”

“Well, you should have plenty of insecurities,” Kokichi pointed out, “No-one really likes you, after all.”

“H-heh?” Miu immediately seemed to deflate, glancing around nervously before trying to scowl again, “W-well, you’re pretty ugly too!”

“I’m actually very beautiful,” Kokichi turned slightly, suddenly giving Shuichi a smile that set his heart on fire, “Riiight Shuichi?”

“Why,” Shuichi tried to avert his eyes, “Why are you asking me?”

“Yeah, why are you askin’ him?” Miu demanded, eyes going between the two of them, “You two bone or something?!”

“Of course!” Kokichi said, “Or maybe that was just a lie! Or this was a lie!”

“Whatever,” Miu groaned slightly, “Hey Kirumi - it’s just the four of us doin’ it!”

“Of course,” Kirumi bowed slightly, “I am afraid I did not bring any alcohol with me, Rantaro - I beg your pardon, but may I use one of your tequila bottles?”

Rantaro smiles, “Of course, go wild.”

“Thank you,” reaching briefly into cupboards and drawing out glasses and alcohol uncannily quickly, Kirumi quickly filled up four shots and placed them on the table in front of everyone. With a grin, Kaito and Miu both walked up to the table, hands taking the glass while waiting for the others. Kokichi skipped up as well with equal enthusiasm, taking his glass and shooting a grin at Maki, “Scared?”

“Of course not,” with that, Maki walked up to the table; moving up it and grabbing the shot before drinking it quickly and without flinching. Following suit, the rest of them quickly drank their shots - slamming the glasses down with varying levels of firmness. Looking around and grinning, Miu declared, “Round two!”

Almost instantly, the glasses were filled up again - and almost instantly the four downed them. Shuichi could see them all get progressively, if not dangerously, drunk. On the fifth one, where both Kaiot and Kokichi managed to miss the table when trying to put their shot glasses down, Kaede stepped in frowning, “Right. Everyone’s drunk now, please stop.”

“You scared, titlessss?” Miu asked, laughing slightly.

“Yeah, c’mon Kayayday!” Kokichi almost whined, “Me and Maki-roll are finally bonding, right Maki-roll?”

With the declaration, he clung onto her arm slightly, grinning cheerily up at her. Moving quickly, Maki removed her arm from his grip before moving steps away to evade his grasp. Staring at her for a second, Kokichi looked almost like a kick puppy before he began to gulp, eyes quickly filling with crocodile tears.

“Makiiii - you’re sooooo mean!” His tears rolled remarkably fast, and he threw himself into the nearest person's (Kaito’s) arms, trying to bury his face in Kaito’s jacket.

“Shut the fuck up Kokichi!” Miu said loudly, “And why the hell are you getting all handsy with gel-hair? Don’t tell me he’s fuckin’ you and Maki?”

Kokichi wiped round almost immediately, “Next time, Miu, keep your dumbass thoughts in your dirty mouth, you got that?”

He waited a second as she nodded before he smiled again, eyes continually straying to the kitchen table. Finally extracting himself from Kaito’s grip, he instead skipped around to one of the table’s chairs, trying almost unsteadily to get up onto it. With a surprising amount of grace and elegance for a drunk person, Kokichi climbed up onto the table, surveying everyone.

Kirumi immediately positioned herself behind him, arms open in case he should fall, before asking, “Kokichi, what are you doing?”

“Silence, peasant,” Kokichi declared dramatically, looking around, “Dear and esteemed friends-”

“Well, he’s definitely fukcin’ drunk.”

“Shut up Miu,” Kokichi sniffed haughtily, his eyes suddenly going to Shuichi, “ I have an announcement.”

All at once, understanding hit Shuichi like a bullet; but before he could say anything to stop this, Kokichi continued to talk.

“As I said, gentlemen, ladies; listen to what I have to tell you. Me and Shuichi are dating!”

“Excuse me?”

“What?”

“He’s lying!”

Everyone began talking at once, generally refuting it - as Shuichi just stayed still, cheeks slowly becoming more and more red. The only ones who weren’t talking were Kirumi, Maki, and Rantaro - all of whom were looking critically at Shuichi. Eventually, Tenko’s voice rose above the rest, “You’re lying - Shuichi would never date someone like you.”

“I have proof!” Kokichi said dramatically, beginning to walk towards Shuichi. Unfortunately, being so focused on… Shuichi’s face, Kokichi continued to walk forward - and not onto the chairs, instead onto air. Beginning to fall, there was a second of worry in his face before Shuichi moved forward immediately - catching him in his arms.

Kokichi simply grinned, “See - and now my final proof!”

And then, leaning forward slightly, Kokichi pressed his lips to Shuichi in a kiss. Like always, fireworks exploded in Shuichi’s chest, both incredibly happy and embarrassed. For a second, he let himself lean into it - almost taken away by bliss and happiness. Then the reality of everything crashed down again, and he gently pushed Kokichi off looking up at everyone.

“Surprise?”

[mxxnlightwriting]

Writemas 2024 Day 23

Thanks to @agirlandherquill for hosting this wonderful event!

Tari’s Note: Tomorrow, I share the last chapter with you! I can't believe we're super close to the end, but I'm excited too. As always, this has minimal editing so you’ll probably spot typos and grammar inconsistencies. Thanks for understanding! I have a masterlist for this challenge if you want to read this story from the beginning!

Prompt(s): the charm of a smile Synopsis: Emily and Rae wake up next to each other but they're unsure of what to do with the day ahead. Warnings: Slightly suggestive (so if you're not comfortable with that, please consider skipping this one!) Genre/age group: adult contemporary sapphic romance Word Count: 0.7k

The bed was comfortable, but Rae’s presence next to Emily was far more comforting.

As the sunlight filtered through the parted curtains in the bedroom, she noticed how it greeted Rae’s features, drawing a golden line across her skin that extended from her nose to her shoulder. She had a soft smile on her lips, and Emily couldn’t help but wonder if she was the reason for it. Or maybe it was a dream? If it was, she hoped it was a good one. She also hoped she was in it.

“I can feel your eyes on me,” Rae said, her voice a groggy whisper. She turned in bed and leaned on her elbow, keeping one eye shut as she stared at Emily. “Good morning. Did you sleep well?”

“Better than I expected.” Emily smiled and snuggled closer to Rae until she felt her arm over her shoulders. “And you?”

Rae kissed Emily’s forehead. “I slept very well. I’m surprised you didn’t talk in your sleep this time around.”

Emily slapped Rae’s shoulder, looking up at her with narrowed eyes. “I don’t talk in my sleep!”

“Yes, you do.”

“No, I don’t.”

“Yes, you do.” Rae lowered herself so she was on the same eye level as Emily. “It’s more like a rumbling, but it’s adorable.”

Before Emily could say anything, Rae closed the distance between them with a kiss, her hands sliding down Emily’s arms until she found her waist and hoisted her so she was lying on top of her. Cold greeted Emily’s shoulders as the blanket fell from them, and she burrowed her head into the crook of Rae’s neck, keeping her knees on each side of her hips.

“I don’t want to leave,” Emily whispered into Rae’s skin, planting a small kiss under her jaw. “Can we stay here all day?”

“I think we can stay for a while,” Rae said and Emily closed her eyes, smiling. There was something quite wonderful about feeling the rumble of Rae’s voice through her body. “Do you want to have breakfast at my brother’s bakery? I can call him to ask us to save some pie slices.”

“He’s working today?”

Rae hummed, and Emily sighed. She thought that, since yesterday had been the big holiday town party, today most people would stay at home and enjoy their warm environments. Emily was tempted to stay in bed all day with Rae, if only to feel her rough hands running up and down her naked arms and back. She loved the feel of her skin on hers. It electrified everything within her.

“Does he do home delivery?” Emily asked, and Rae laughed. A full laugh that shook her body. Emily couldn’t resist the smile that spread across her features as she watched Rae in her morning glory laugh with the most charming smile on her lips.

She was gorgeous.

And she was with her.

“I think my brother won’t start a home delivery service anytime soon,” Rae said. “Especially not when the bakery is within walking distance from here. I can go there and grab us the pie slices and bring them here.”

Emily pouted. “But you’ll leave me alone here! We can go together. And if there’s no pie, we’ll eat something else. Just… Let’s just stay here for a little bit, okay?”

“Okay.” Rae kissed Emily’s temple, her thumb drawing lazy circles in her upper arm. “You know I don’t plan on leaving, right? I’m with you for the long haul, Ems.”

She knew that, but it always reassured her to hear that from Rae. She spoke more of her feelings than Emily did, and she loved how direct and honest she was. Emily slipped from over Rae’s body and sat on the bed, wrapping part of the blanket over her shoulders. Rae's eyes roamed Emily’s body as if she were seeing her for the first time until their eyes met. She also sat on the bed with her back against the headboard, her focus entirely on Emily.

“You know I love you, right?” Emily said. Rae’s smile widened and she nodded. “Good. Because I’m with you for the long haul, too. And that starts with staying in bed for ten more minutes.”

“Only ten?”

“It’ll probably be more like thirty.”

With that, they lay back in bed, bodies pressed against one another, while they shared nothing but silence, and the comfort of knowing that in each other’s embrace, they’d always find love.

[previous] ● [masterlist] ● [next]

© mxxnlightwriting 2025 All Rights Reserved. Copying, reposting, translating and/or modifications of my work are strictly prohibited.

[eldritchazure]

It’s Day 3 of Dominionweek!! I know I skipped yesterday but I might make it up later. Enjoy today’s prompt, which is Reunion!!

••• There is something different about this Lizaan, Marza remarked to herself while sitting across from him in the cafeteria early one day cycle. The Founder whom Lizaan served was visiting to inspect the research station Marza was currently assigned to. Marza wasn’t overly worried; this station was one of the best-run installations she’d had the privilege of being stationed at. Usually, Attendants didn’t leave the side of the Founder they served, but Lizaan informed her that this particular Founder didn’t often require his service and graciously allowed him to “wander about” on his own when he wasn’t needed.

She watched Lizaan out of the corner of her eye as the they made idle, polite smalltalk over their modest breakfast of grayish ration blocks and water. The rations were tasteless, as was most food, but it had a nice crunch to it that Marza was fond of.

Lizaan’s previous clone hadn’t enjoyed it nearly as much. Every time she saw him, he told her the rations they served on the research installations had the wrong kind of crunch. She told him she had no idea what he was talking about, that all the rations had the same kind of crunch. This Lizaan made no disparaging remarks of any kind about the food. This Lizaan didn’t hadn’t yet made many remarks at all.

While the Lizaan line had always been more passive than confrontational, Lizaan-2 had been quite opinionated by Vorta standards. Lizaan-3 was much quieter. He wore a new uniform as well. He had been reassigned to serve a different Founder than the one he’d served in his two previous iterations. He offered no explanation for the transfer, and Marza did not ask. She’d heard that something had happened with Lizaan-2, which was why it had taken so long for Lizaan-3 to be activated. She hadn’t been worried. She trusted in the Founders’ ineffable wisdom in all things. But she had been… curious. It wasn’t a common occurrence for there to be so much time between the destruction of one clone and the activation of the next. Her curiosity derailed her thoughts often, even keeping her from rest some night cycles. But she hadn’t been able to find out what had happened with Lizaan-2. It had been as if nobody knew, which she found hard to believe.

Lizaan, oblivious to her musings, asked Marza how she’d been, what she’d been doing since the last time he saw her. It had been quite some time. She told him about her various assignments since the end of the Kalantai Conflict. (That’s what they had been ordered to call it nowadays: a conflict. As if it hadn’t been a long, terrible war that had decimated the Dominion. She still remembered how it felt to burn to death as the cloning facility went up in flames all around her. But Marza knew it was not the place of a servant to question the orders of the Founders, only to obey. She trusted in the Founders’ ineffable wisdom in all things.) For a while, she had been a part of the crews rebuilding the cloning facilities. After that, she’d been assigned to various research expeditions. She’d been able to visit many different planets, and the work was varied and almost always interesting. She told Lizaan that she was thoroughly enjoying her work, and that she thanked the Founders ever day for the opportunities They had blessed her with.

Lizaan smiled at her as she spoke, and she knew it was genuine. It often was, when it was just the two of them speaking. But she noticed there was a slightly nervous edge to his features that hadn’t been there before. His eyes were a little wider, and they darted over his surroundings every so often. He seemed twitchy. She didn’t know if he even realized he was doing it.

She vaguely remembered a very young Lizaan-1 looking like that, at the beginning of their Aspirant training. The two hadn’t yet made their fateful alliance, but she’d seen him around the cloning facility a few times. However, by the time they’d been properly introduced to one another, he’d had the visible nervousness trained out of him.

It wasn’t so clear on this current Lizaan’s face, thank the Founders, but Marza had known him long enough to recognize it. She knew others would as well. She made a note to herself to inform him of the return of his bad habit and to advise that he correct his body language promptly.

[khthepowerofmemories]

True Timeline Bonus Chapter

Prompt: Anything But Ordinary (Avril Lavigne)

Central character: Tori

Words: 900

Short summary: Akio chose to take a break from training that day, but Tori chose to, regardless of her fears and rather because of them, that she would train solo.

Also available on Ao3 within the main story

Chapter 9 (Bonus Chapter)

(Tori)

At the end of this day, this was what she had always wanted. She had wanted to be something—someone. Someone who was worth standing in the light. That wasn’t why she befriended Akio, no, but she had always wanted to be someone strong. Anything but ordinary.

All her life, she had been ordinary, no matter what she tried. Typical Tori, the wildest thing she’d ever done was when she buzzed her hair, and by now, most of that had grown back. She knew that she didn’t deserve any of this by right of birth, but in the end.

Maybe it was okay to feel proud. Happy. Happy to be training, to be someone besides just Typical Tori, anything but to be in the shadow of Akio and Haru. It was okay to listen to them all…to believe them when they called her brave, because…

She had been the one to save Akio. She had saved him. She was terrified then, but she wasn’t going to let him hurt the ones he cared about…She hadn’t followed them to save him, she’d followed because of this greedy desire to be unordinary. But if she hadn’t, then…

Akio would be gone. Maybe alive but gone. Akio would have hurt those he cared about beyond repair. And…

Now here she was, Keyblade coming to her hand the moment she willed it, because of that bravery. She hadn’t saved him for any reward other than to see his real eyes again, but…

Here she was. She wasn’t ordinary any longer.

Tori made her way up the stairs and to Master Yen Sid’s study. She knocked lightly on the door before entering, without waiting for a response. Master Yen Sid looked up at her.

“Ah. Tori. I believe I told you that we could skip your lessons for the day if you wanted.”

“I don’t want to. I’ll admit that I’m a little shaken after yesterday, but…” She sighed. “I want to keep going. I want to fight for myself, my own life and heart…” She put a hand to her heart. “I don’t want to fight only for Akio. I want to be something more.”

“Very well, then. We can train. You still could use work in areas involving combat. I can create a few more drills.” Master Yen Sid studied her. “Tori…what is it that you’re so afraid of?”

“Is it really written on my face?”

“Perhaps it might not normally be, but without Akio to hide from…”

Tori let out a shaky sigh. “I don’t want to lose him.”

“Go on.”

“What if this…what if this is some new part of him. A part that isn’t good? I know that I’m the only one who will stand up to him. I know that no one else has it in them.” She looked at the floor. “If the time comes, I have to be able to stop him. So…I want to keep training.”

“Very well, then. That is a commendable reason…But do you truly believe that is something to be cautious of?”

“I don’t think so,” Tori said. “I think he’s strong—I think he has enough hold over whatever darkness might lie within him. But…something did change. I know it.” She closed her eyes. “Master Yen Sid, please don’t use my words to end his training…I would never forgive myself.”

“Not at all, Tori,” Master Yen Sid said. “Rather, I believe it makes training all the more important. If this is something you fear, then we must work together to prevent such an occurrence from coming to be in the first place.”

“Huh?” Tori perked up in surprise.

“I have learned many things from my mistakes and failures. The paramount of which is to turn away someone who is struggling, and to not turn a blind eye to such things…” Master Yen Sid paused. “I suppose it would be more honest of me to say that my mistakes have led to me not to make the same decisions, to not turn away someone who wants to learn, to not dismiss them so easily. That is why I have chosen to train you, Tori.”

“Because you didn’t want to dismiss someone easily?”

“Indeed. I dismissed someone’s abilities as inferior due to their method of winding up with a Keyblade, for their susceptibility to the darkness, for throwing themselves away, over and over…”

“Sora,” Tori realized.

“Yes.” Master Yen Sid paused. “I had forgotten some lessons I learned long ago. I had forgotten how I was where I was. Someone saw that there was something worthwhile in me, even crippled by injuries.”

“And so when Akio came to you, Sora’s son, injured in heart and body, with everyone with any choice in the matter believing he was too fragile, you wanted to help him, not dismiss him as you had Sora.”

Master Yen Sid was quiet for a moment. “Tori, I have no thought in my mind that Akio will lose himself. However, I understand why you would worry of such. And, I do think it valid that perhaps no one else would have the strength to stand against him.”

“And yet…?”

“I believe that there is not a ‘yet’ in those statements. Instead, let us continue our lessons.”

Tori nodded. “Yes. Let’s keep going.”

She’d keep going forever if she had to. And she would never, ever stop.