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swan-of-sunrise · 4 years ago

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Spellbinding (Chapter Two)

Summary: Loki and (Y/N)’s friendship continues to grow but is soon threatened by a dangerous enemy and a life-changing secret.

Pairing: Loki X Reader

Word Count: 3.2k

Warnings/Disclaimers: Brief scene of verbal harassment

A/N: Hope you all enjoy!

Chapter Two April 14th, 2015 Avengers Tower, New York City (Previous Chapter)

As Loki walked down the hall to the conference room, he thought about how he’d much rather be in his room or the library reading his new book. (Y/N) had picked Pride and Prejudice for him the last time he visited the library, insisting that he’d love the witty banter between Elizabeth Bennet and Mister Darcy. She had proven to be right yet again; Loki could honestly say that Jane Austen was indeed a very clever woman and that (Y/N) had a true talent for recommending literature.

His thoughts drifted back to the first time he’d laid eyes on the trainee librarian almost two months ago. After complaining to Tony about the inadequate number of interesting books in his library, Steve had interrupted whatever insult the billionaire was about to utter and told Loki about public libraries, specifically the New York Public Library several blocks down the street from the tower. Needless to say, Loki was hesitant to visit; the super soldier was one of the only Avengers he could actually stand to be around most of the time, but he had a nasty habit of overlooking the more annoying traits of Midgardians. But in utter desperation for any interesting reading material, he finally caved and walked down the street to the library, feeling utterly ridiculous in the Midgardian clothes the others had purchased for him. However, his discomfort vanished the moment he stepped into the library; unlike the bustling street outside, the building was practically empty, and it was packed to the brim with enormous bookshelves.

In a trance, he strolled down the aisles and couldn’t help but marvel at the sheer number of books the Midgardians had written; it almost rivaled the palace library on Asgard. But when he turned down another aisle, he stopped cold in his tracks; standing mere feet away and busy placing books onto one of the shelves was a woman, and she was the fairest he’d ever laid eyes on. Her (Y/H/C) hair was streaked with faint strands of gold, and her (Y/E/C) eyes glimmered behind a pair of glasses that rested on her nose; he smiled a little when she had to push them back up after they had slid down. Her clothing was simple and modest, a pair of dark jeans and a light purple sweater with a pair of flats, but their plain-ness only served to accentuate her beautiful features.

When she placed a book on the shelf, she smiled brightly and looked up, but whatever she noticed made her frown. A look of determination came across her features and she reached for the top shelf, but it was far too high for her. Instead of giving up, she stood on her toes to give her more height, but as a result, she lost her balance and stumbled. Breaking out of his trance, Loki rushed forward and grabbed her elbows to catch her from falling. The moment her striking (Y/E/C) eyes met his, his face reddened, his heartbeat quickened and he decided that Midgardian public libraries weren’t all that bad. The woman had introduced herself as (Y/N), and after helping her finish her task of rearranging the bookshelf, he was recommended A Midsummer Night’s Dream and given a library card. He was quickly charmed by how enthusiastic she was about the play and he decided that a return trip to the library would be quite necessary.

And that’s how their friendship began. Every Friday, he would visit the library, discuss with her whichever novel or play he’d just read and leave with a new one. She had insights on each and every one, offering him explanations of plot or speculations of characterization, even background information on the author or the period it was set in, and he listened to her intently before adding his own views and opinions to the conversation. She was kind and intelligent for a Midgardian, and he quickly found himself looking forward to their weekly meetings. He couldn’t deny that another reason he was drawn to her was because she didn’t look at him with fear or hatred in her eyes. To her, he was simply a friend who enjoyed discussing literature with her every Friday, not the villainous Asgardian who previously tried to take over her planet. For some strange reason, she had yet to realize his true identity, which was why he had continued bend the truth and tell her that he was just a civilian consultant and not one of ‘Earth’s Mightiest Heroes’. There was one Friday, however, when he seriously questioned whether he should tell her the truth or not…

Loki hurried up the steps of the library, humming an Asgardian tune under his breath as he climbed. The week had been a long and trying one; Director Fury had announced that they were planning on infiltrating several Hydra databases, Thor had broken nearly all the kitchen appliances with Mjolnir out of frustration after attempting to cook and on top of everything, Loki was forced to go on a mission with Tony, the most infuriating Midgardian he’d ever met. So, to say that he was excited to see his new friend was an understatement; he missed seeing her wonderful (Y/E/C) eyes sparkle as they looked at him, her bright smile as she spoke so passionately about literature, her infectious laughter whenever he told her a joke…though he would never admit it out loud, he was slowly beginning to develop a soft spot for the kind trainee librarian. And although he worried about how she would react to learning his true identity, he believed deep down that she was different from other Midgardians but the only way to be sure of her reaction was to go ahead and tell her about himself. He entered the library, his mind already made up, and headed towards the bookshelves to look for her when he noticed she wasn’t sitting at her desk. As he was leaving the biography section, two voices made him stop in his tracks.

“Aw, c’mon sweetie, just one date!”

“I already told you, sir, no thank you.”

Loki peeked around the bookcase and saw (Y/N), her back to him as she shelved books and shied away from a handsome but shifty-looking man standing too close to her and staring hungrily. Rage filled him but just as he was about to step in, the man spoke again.

“I’ll treat you to a real nice meal, and maybe after we could have a little fun; I’m the best you’ll ever have, sweet cheeks. C’mon, are you sayin’ no ‘cause I’m ugly or somethin’?”

(Y/N) looked at him with a mock expression of confusion. “Facially, or are we talking about your personality? I’m confused so you’ll have to clarify yourself for me.” Loki smirked to himself, amused at her witty comeback. “Now, I suggest that you check out a book to expand that non-existent brain of yours and leave before I call the police and have them teach you all about manners as they arrest you for stalking all the female employees here.”

The man’s jaw clenched in anger. “Wouldn’t wanna go out with a bitch like you anyways.” He stormed off down the aisle and she resumed her work.

Careful not to be seen by (Y/N), Loki gritted his teeth and followed the man as he entered the men’s restroom. He tapped the man’s shoulder and when he turned around, punched him square in the jaw. The man toppled to the floor, clutching his face and moaning. Grabbing him tightly by the throat, Loki lifted him up easily and slammed him hard against the wall, causing the tiles behind him to crack. “If I ever hear of you returning to this library or harassing that woman again, I will not hesitate in tracking you down and disemboweling you.” To prove his point, he allowed his eyes to flash Jotun-red before returning to their usual green. “Understand?” Instead of answering, the terrified man’s eyes rolled back and he fainted. “Insignificant ant.” Loki threw him back to the ground roughly and left the restroom to search for (Y/N). She had moved on to the sciences, her usual gentle smile on her face as she worked. “Lady (Y/N)!”

She turned to him and her smile widened. “Hi Loki! You’re late, you know. I almost thought you weren’t going to come in today.”

Loki only grinned. “What, and miss our weekly talk? Unthinkable!” She laughed and continued shelving. “I…I actually arrived several minutes ago and witnessed you dealing with that pig. You have an astounding talent for witty insults, Lady (Y/N), I’m impressed.”

“Thank you, I’ve learned over the years that they’re the quickest way to make men like him go away.”

He felt his knees weaken when she grinned at him, attracted to the mischievous glint in her usually innocent eyes. His eyebrows furrowed, however, as he considered her relaxed demeanor. “If you don’t mind me asking, how is it that you stay so positive after being harassed and insulted like that? Does it not bother you?”

(Y/N) thought for a moment before responding. “Well…when I was little, my aunt used to always tell me this one quote from Eleanor Roosevelt; it goes something like ‘No one can make you feel inferior without your consent’. So, whenever someone tries to put me down like that man just did, I think of that quote and try to remember that life’s too short to let people believe that they can control me.” Pushing her glasses up her nose, she directed her attention to the book in his hand. “So, did you enjoy the book?”

“Hmm? Oh, yes, very much!” Loki exclaimed, hoping that she wouldn’t notice how he stared at her. “Although, I’m not sure Tolkien needed to spend five pages describing a forest.”

She laughed again. “That’s one of the most common criticisms of Tolkien, you know. But you have to admit, his descriptions…” She continued talking, but Loki was only half-listening. She had surprised him with her answer to his question, and as he watched her talk animatedly about the merits of over-describing action and locations in novels, he knew that he couldn’t bring himself to tell her about his true identity. Not just because of how she would possibly react, but because it would almost certainly put her in danger. And he couldn’t purposefully put the most kindhearted woman he’d ever met in harm’s way, not for anything. With his mind made up, he just watched and listened to her speak with rapt attention and barely-concealed admiration.

“Loki!” He was drawn out of his thoughts by his brother, who hurried to walk alongside him. “I called to you several times, is there something on your mind that’s making you hard of hearing?”

“Nothing at all, brother, except the desire to return to my room and finish my book,” Loki snapped back. Although he’d never admit it out loud, Loki was happy that his relationship with Thor was different now that he wasn’t living in his brother’s shadow. The Avengers had allowed him to join their team to redeem himself and in turn he’d slowly earned their trust, finally making him feel just as respected as Thor for once in his life. And I suppose it’s rather nice to have a brother again, he thought begrudgingly, although he can still be as infuriating as ever.

Thor only chuckled. “Are you sure that’s the only thing on your mind?” When Loki shot him a questioning look, Thor grinned. “I know that you’re thinking about your Lady (Y/N). When do I finally get to meet the woman who’s enchanted my brother?”

Groaning, Loki pinched the bridge of his nose with his fingers and avoided his brother’s eyes. “I deeply regret telling you about her, you know. As I’ve said before, she and I are merely friends, Thor, nothing more. We have intellectual discussions about literature, something you could partake in and benefit from if you ever picked up a book in your life.”

“Whatever you say, Loki,” Still chuckling, Thor led them into the conference room and they took their seats at the table. The only other Avenger there was Steve since the rest of the team was on various missions or conducting experiments in the lab. “Did Fury mention why he’s called us here, Rogers?”

Steve shook his head, his arms crossed over his broad chest and a worried look on his face. “Nope, he didn’t say anything. His text sounded pretty serious, though.” They all seemed to have thought the same thing given that they were all dressed for battle; Thor and Loki in their Asgardian armor and Steve in his red, white and blue uniform complete with his vibranium shield.

Before Loki could speak, the director walked in with files in his hands. “Okay, now that everyone’s here we can begin. The three of you are gonna go on an extraction mission here in the city. As you know, our intelligence uncovered some Hydra files recently and they include one of their next targets. This is a sensitive one ‘cause we don’t know exactly when they’re gonna make their move, but we do know it’ll be today so you’ll need to leave immediately.” Director Fury handed each of them a file and continued. “And because we’re on a tight schedule, we don’t know why they’re targeting her yet but we’ll be working on finding out the answer to that question while you’re gone.”

Loki took the file and opened it, but as soon as he saw the woman’s picture, he froze. It was (Y/N), and the photograph was taken from her library identification card she usually wore clipped to her belt. “I believe I may know why she’s being targeted.” When the rest of the group looked at him with confusion, he continued, “This woman is Lady (Y/N), my friend who works at the library down the street. I meet her there every Friday afternoon.”

“Let’s go.” Steve stood quickly and everyone else followed. “I’ll meet you two there.” Slinging his shield over his back, he jogged to the elevators that led to the entrance floor below.

Fear clenched at Loki’s heart as he and Thor hurried up the tower’s emergency stairwell to the protruding helipad; he never intended (Y/N) to become a target of Hydra and had taken every precautionary measure to ensure her safety. He’d never forgive himself if something happened to her because of him. “The library is west of the tower and three blocks down. I’ll go in first and meet you behind the building with her, all right?”

Thor nodded, a determined look on his face as he kicked open the door to the helipad. “No harm will come to her, brother, I promise.”

Without another word, Loki grabbed his brother’s arm as he swung his hammer and they shot into the air. Moments later, they landed in the alley alongside the library. Please let her be safe, he thought as he ran around the building and dashed up the front steps. Loki swiftly entered the building, ignoring all the strange looks he received because of his armor, and hurried over to the bookshelves. (Y/N) was in the philosophy section, so engrossed in her shelving that she didn’t notice him approach her. “Lady (Y/N)!”

She looked up from her cart and smiled. “Loki! Why are you wearing-?”

“Lady (Y/N),” He interrupted. “This is going to sound completely insane, but any moment now, some very dangerous men will come here and attempt to abduct you.” When she was about to interrupt, he held her shoulders and bent down so that he was eye-level with her. “This isn’t a joke, Lady (Y/N), I assure you, and I promise I’ll explain everything to you later, but we need to leave now. Do you trust me?”

(Y/N)’s widened eyes considered his for a moment before she slowly nodded. “Y-yes, Loki, I trust you.”

“All right, we need to get to the-” Before he could finish, the library door’s slammed open and they could hear what sounded like a several armed men enter as the rest of the patrons screamed and took cover. He cursed under his breath. “We need to hurry; is there another way out of here?”

“This way!” Snapping out of her shock, (Y/N) quickly led him through the rows of bookcases to a door at the back of the room, but before they could go through, they were suddenly surrounded by eight Hydra agents. The sight of the men pointing their guns in (Y/N)’s direction filled Loki with a rage unlike any he’d ever felt before; the only thing keeping him from slaughtering them where they stood was the woman standing beside him. As (Y/N) gasped in fear, Loki stepped in front of her and thrust out his hands, causing their guns to melt in their hands and transform into snakes; attention was drawn from the two of them as the men fell into a panic and attempted to untangle the serpents from their arms.

A moment later, Steve jumped into the middle of the fighting and slammed his shield into one man’s face. “Loki, get her out of here, I’ve got this!” He skillfully dodged an attack and threw his shield, knocking two of the men into unconsciousness before flying back onto his left arm.

Giving the super soldier a nod, Loki took (Y/N)’s hand and quickly led her through the door, which opened into a long hallway. “Watch out!”

He spun around as an armed man came sprinting towards them down the hallway, already pulling a gun out of its holster as he ran. Before he could raise his hand and use his magic or daggers to defend them, (Y/N) raised her own hands and the man was suddenly slammed against the wall by a purple force and knocked unconscious. Loki looked at her in shock, an emotion which was mirrored on her face as well. She looked down at her trembling hands and back up at him before her knees buckled and her eyes rolled back in her head; Loki lunged forward and caught her in his arms before her limp body could hit the floor. She doesn’t know she possesses magic, he thought in astonishment. Cradling her protectively in his arms, he hurried down the hall and kicked a door open with his foot, revealing the alley where his brother was waiting impatiently beside a cluster of unconscious Hydra agents.

“Is she all right?” Thor asked, but all Loki could do was give him a hopeless look. “I’ll take her back to the tower to Banner, you stay here and help Rogers.” Loki opened his mouth to protest, but Thor interrupted. “She’ll be safe with me, Loki, but Rogers needs assistance!”

Giving his brother a curt nod, he carefully placed (Y/N)’s unconscious form into Thor’s arms. “Take care of her, Thor.” He watched as Thor swung Mjolnir and shot into the sky, flying towards the Avengers tower with (Y/N) secure in his arms. The moment they left his vision, he hurried back inside and helped Steve defeat the men and the reinforcements they brought along. All he could think of while he fought, however, was (Y/N)’s sickly face, the incredible power she used to protect him and the fact that she seemed to have no knowledge of that power. He had a nagging suspicion about what that power meant, but he prayed to the Norns he was wrong; if he wasn’t, then it meant that (Y/N)’s world was about to be turned upside down.

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A/N: Thank you for reading! I’ve created a Spotify playlist inspired by this series, and I’ll be updating it every time I upload a new chapter. Enjoy!

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2wx8TZwpDN0l33tES3W3Nk

Chapter Three-Part One

Spellbinding Masterlist

Tagging: @nexiva @ravenclawbitch426 @cminr @confusedfandomwriter @momc95 @nickkie1129 @austynparksandpizza @brooke0297 @destructivebliss @outoftheregular @itscomplicatedx @0-artemis @vivloki

#loki x reader #loki odinson x reader #loki laufeyson x reader #loki #loki odinson #marvel cinematic universe #thor odinson #steve rogers #captain america #nick fury #director fury

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roro-mo · 4 years ago

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Love can wait

Hi all,

i posted this fanfic on fan fiction.net in the New Year and thought I should share this on tumblr for those who are looking for more ZoNa, just like me. You can find this here.

This was one of my first fanfics but I haven’t updated the story in like forever so am looking to go back to writing fanfics. Hopefully, you’ll enjoy the chapter as much as I did.

You don’t need to read the other chapters as they are not really connected - sort of. We haven’t entered the main plot at all so not connected as of yet. But reading chapter 6 may help you understand some of the things in this chapter.

Summary: What if Zoro and Nami were childhood friends? How different would their lives be? Lot's of one shots set in an AU where Zoro and Nami are childhood friends. Mugiwara crew will also make an appearance. (It’s one of those close balcony friendship - cringe i know lmao, was young when I started LOL)

Rated: M (just to be safe)

Disclaimer: One piece is not mine.

Also, Italics are what the characters are thinking.

Zoro was completing his usual workout, but from home. He groaned, lifting the 15 kg weights for the 96th time. He needed to lift the weights 4 more times and he had to do it soon or Nami was going to barge in, ruining his schedule.

"97...98...99" he counted. He was lifting it for the last time when he smelt her signature fragrance.

"100" he grunted, dropping the weights and closing his eyes in peace. He felt her soft bosom on his back and her arms around him, as she completely pushed her body against him.

A single trail of sweat dropped from his temple to his cheek from the work out. He was too tired to push her away so he stood still, just breathing in and out to stabilise his heartbeat. However, this proved to be difficult as he could only smell her with every breath, and felt her soft small hands on his abs...wait... did he just feel her hands underneath his shirt?

"What the hell witch?" he spat, as his hands automatically stopped hers from outside of his shirt.

Nami was a flirt and loved teasing men, especially Zoro. She loved taking advantage of her beauty and loved getting her way. It was either her way or the highway. She was a greedy witch and she loved every part about it.

"Zoroooo" she said with a tone, a tone Zoro knew too well. It was a tone she used to get her way. A tone that often worked in nosebleed kun, which was not going to work on him.

"Seriously, what are you doing Nami?" he said, turning his head slightly to see what Nami was up to.

"I'm helping you remove your top." She said trying to move her hands, which was useless as Zoro clutched onto them.

"What do you want?"

"To eat." Nami said cheerfully. Today both their parents were out drinking while Nojiko was at university so it was only him and her. But their parents trusted them, hell they even encouraged to utilise their alone time and do something naughty. Nami's stepfather, Genzo, loved Zoro's wisdom and the way he respected elders. He would want nothing but for Zoro to take his no good spoilt daughter as his wife. While Zoro's father loved having Nami around and would be happy if someone, anyone could accept his muscle idiot of a son.

"And what does eating have anything to do with getting naked?" Zoro said with an eyebrow.

She withdrew her hand from underneath his t-shirt, away from his well built abs. Zoro was saddened at the departure of her warmth but was glad at the same time.

She pinched her nose, "well you kinda stink."

"Hurry and go take a shower. We are going to Baratie." she said, folding her arms, knowing Zoro was going to complain about meeting Sanji-kun.

"Baratie?" Zoro said, his voice slightly louder than he intended it to.

"Yes Baratie, Zoro, Baratie" Nami repeated it twice for her words to reach Zoro's head.

"We will be meeting up with Luffy there as well. Have a nice dinner and drink something nice. Well, Luffy won't. But we can." she said, making drinking gestures.

Zoro liked the idea of drinking with Nami. Maybe, they could resume their ongoing bet as well. Their bet of who can withstand drinks longer was still on hold as they either tie or come out drunk at the end of it. But seeing that shit head took the fun out of it.

He turned around, wiping his forehead clean with his left arm, showing off his biceps in the process. Nami's eyes fluttered to his biceps, enjoying the view he presented her.

"Will we see nosebleed kun as well?" he asked.

She made a face, "who is nosebleed kun? Don't make fun of Sanji kun." She said slapping his chest. Just to feel how hard it was and oh, it was hard.

"Just answer the damn question." he said, removing his top in front of her. His whole body seemed to be living as Nami could see each and every muscle in his body ripple against his skin whilst he removed his t-shirt. His nipples whispered hello to her and oh god, his abs. She trailed a single sweat that dropped from his neck, which made its way between his collar bone, past his chest, crossed his abs and disappeared in his belly button

"like what you see?" He said smirking at how fixated she was with his abs.

She quickly looked up to see him smirking at her, with that stupid grin. She was not gonna let him be the only winner.

"Nope, not at all." she said turning, throwing her hair to his face in the process, and moving towards the door. Zoro closed his eyes naturally and as he opened his eyes to shout some vain remarks to Nami, all he saw was her ass and hips moving side to side towards the door. She didn't need to say anything because she knew he was already looking.

"Be ready by 5 and come over as soon as you're ready." She said before leaving the room completely.

"Oh and invite law." she said with a wink.

///////////

Zoro was ready in 10 mins. He put on a simple white top, jeans and a simple black denim jacket. He looked over his balcony to the other side with a frown.

She is definitely still getting ready.

He went over anyways to pressure her into getting ready quicker, only to find her putting on a skirt that didn't fit. Zoro could see the plumps of skin near the waist of the skirt and her ass as she was struggling to put it on. She was wearing a pink lace thong that illuminated the pale skin underneath. His shameful eyes drank the scene in front of him; her buns juggled as she shook her ass to try to fit the skirt. Damn, that is one big ass, he thought. His hands twitched to slap her right cheek but he shook the thoughts away.

"I don't think that fits Nami." He spoke in a low husky voice.

His voice surprised her, causing her to trip over herself and lose her balance, falling face forward. As a result, her ass was high up in the air and Nami put herself on display for him. He choked on his own spit at the scene in front of her. And that thong was not helping, it practically covered nothing with her ass high up for him to see.

With a tint of blush, he turned around to give her privacy.

"What the hell Zoro!" she turned her head from the ground and was relieved when she found him facing the other way.

She got up and got rid of the skirt. The skirt was velvet and in the colour red. It was short enough to show her smooth legs and just long enough to cover the important parts. Although the skirt didn't fit her, she got it on a 80% sale and her first instinct was to buy it. It was a bargain and was the last piece after all! It's a shame it doesn't fit as it would definitely look good on her.

She was dressed casual for today and was wearing a white cami top with lace detailed front. She was going to wear that velvet skirt with it but decided to replace it with high waisted ripped jeans. She felt a bit exposed after Zoro found her in her thong trying to wear a skirt that didn't fit! So she decided to go with something that would cover her legs.

"Just so you know," she said putting one leg through her jeans, "I'm charging you for that." She said putting the other leg in.

"What the hell witch!" he complained.

"How dare you walk in here and try to see me naked. I didn't peg you to be a Sanji, Zoro." She said walking towards her makeup table to brush her hair. Sanji is a term they use as an inner joke to call men who basically, well, act like Sanji-kun.

After what seemed to be an appropriate time to Zoro, he turned around to state his dissatisfaction.

"Well, it's not my fault you're not ready yet. You're the one who told me to hurry and now you're the one who's not ready. How is it my fault that you're still getting dressed after an hour?"

"You tell me to come over and now, you tell me not to come over, make up your damn mind witch." He said with a frown.

"Zorrroooo, I'm a woman. I'm allowed to take time to look my best." She said in a haughty manner.

She stood up, happy with her hair and turned to him.

"This," she said waving at her body, "doesn't happen overnight. It takes me time to look this good."

He just scoffed. Although he wanted to disagree and say she wasn't all the hotshot she thought she was, he didn't want to make her change clothes, which is something she would do if he disagreed.

He went to sit on her bed and complained that she was slow again.

"Did you call Torao-kun?" She asked reapplying her lipstick one final time. She checked her makeup once more before spraying her setting spray.

"Yes woman, yes, I called your ride." He said with a displeased voice.

Zoro met Law as a child in a kendo club. He was 5 and Law was 10. Zoro was always working hard and stayed behind every time to train harder. He muttered about getting stronger and this piqued Trafalgar D. Water Law's interest in the little boy. Law always teased Zoro for being a little boy yet having big "goals", to which Zoro always challenged Law and they somehow ended in a draw everytime. After leaving the kendo club, Zoro was still close with Law and had been together in every stage of each other's life. Nami and Luffy met Law only after an incident that required Luffy to visit the hospital.

Luffy unfortunately amputated his pinky finger from one of his stupid antics. Nami freaked out so much that she almost fainted when she heard the pinky land on her bedroom floor with a tap. Zoro fortunately knew Law who was a medical student. Law was from a family of doctors and his dream was always to follow his father's footsteps. He would spend hours reading on human anatomy and diseases when he was a child. Law was very smart as a child and eventually skipped grades before he entered medical school.

Zoro remembered law immediately and asked him for first aid through the phone. As they both sounded so distressed over the phone, Law asked them to visit his hospital where he was working as a placement. Zoro and Nami rushed Luffy to the hospital while Luffy was wailing and sobbing about his missing finger. Law helped Luffy calm down and proceeded to ask routine questions about the incident before helping to reattach his finger with surgeons (one of them being his dad). Thankfully, it was a success due to the first aid Law provided. Law was so surprised at how Luffy severed his finger, somewhere along the line due to his interests in Luffy's case, he became Torao and Luffy's friend without his approval. All he said was "so how did you cut your finger?" And Luffy hasn't left him alone since then. Nami thinks it's because Luffy was hysteric over his cut pinky and thanked Torao for (in Luffy's term) "saving his life."

Oh but Zoro knew. He's been with Law for a very long time and they grew up together after all. Zoro knew that wasn't the reason why Law still hangs around Luffy and Nami, and sometimes without Zoro. He's seen the stolen glances and the way law looks at Nami. Law wouldn't be wasting his time to drive them to Barati if he didn't fancy her.

A car honk was heard from outside of Nami's window. Zoro didn't miss the small smile that crawled on Nami's face and wore an annoyed look on his own. Nami sprinted out to her balcony and waved at her older friend.

She turned around and said "let's go!"

Zoro followed her with heavy footsteps. But he still followed her, he was compliant every time and he didn't know why.

As they got nearer to the parked car, Law lowered his passenger window and Nami leaned in on the opened window, revealing her cleavage to the driver. Zoro grimaced, acutely aware of what she was doing. Nami smiled and whispered a sweet 'thank you'.

That's when it hit Zoro. This witch knew. She knew Law had a thing for her and was using him like a Sanji.

Law's eyes followed the top that slightly slid down as Nami leaned over and settled at the cleavage that revealed itself to him. Law smiled in response and gestured Nami to get in the car. To save Law's dignity, Zoro shoved Nami aside and got in the front seat.

"Hey, what the hell?" She asked, ticked off at Zoro's actions.

"Sit at the back." he said gesturing behind him to the back seat.

She pouted because now she would have to sit alone at the back but got in anyways as she was hungry.

Baratie was a beautiful and a fancy restaurant owned by Chef Zeff, who Sanji admires and sees as a father figure.

Upon arrival, they were greeted by a well-lit restaurant with full-length windows around the whole restaurant for natural light. At night, the bulbs that hung on the ceiling were lit in different colours - purple, red, yellow, all creating beautiful lighting during the night. The wall was painted an elegant white, which matched well with the light pink velvet carpet on the floor. In the centre of the restaurant, one could find stairs leading down to the kitchen and up for more seating.

The receptionist recognised the distinct hair colours of Sanji's friends and she didn't even have to ask them about their reservation. She welcomed them and took them straight to the table reserved for "Sanji's queen" as was directed by Sanji in the morning.

"Here are the menus."

She didn't recognise the guy with the tattoos but proceeded to ask the other two whether they would like to order the same as usual.

Nami closed her menu and sweetly smiled before nodding her head. Her usual at the Baratie was a medium steak with chips and red wine, while Zoro's was a signature bacon burger with melted cheese and chips. Law read through a couple of pages before ordering a classic carbonara with white wine. She nodded before proceeding to head towards the kitchen.

Nami was sitting across Zoro and Law was sitting in between them. Zoro saw Nami looking around and guessed she was looking for Sanji.

"Where's Luffy? I thought we were supposed to meet him here." Zoro asked Nami. Nami finally looked at Zoro, he doesn't know why but it felt like she hasn't looked his way today at all. Frankly speaking, Nami was too embarrassed to look at Zoro after the whole thong incident.

With her cheek on her palm, she responded "You'll see him soon enough! He was supposed to come with us but he said he'll already be here by the time we arrive."

Zoro munched on some garlic bread and asked, "Where's nosebleed Kun?"

"Who's nosebleed kun?" Law asked as he didn't remember anyone who was called that.

"Yes, Zoro, who is nosebleed kun?" Nami asked sarcastically, tilting her head to the side.

As if Sanji heard her, he came running with the drinks while singing "Nammmiiiii-swannnnn!"

"My love, my body has been waiting this whole day for this moment." Sanji said, skilfully twirling towards her, without dropping any of the drinks on his way.

"Ah, Sanji kun!" she said clapping her hands together.

"Here you go mademoiselle, one red wine." He said, kneeling down for her.

"Hey, where's my drink?" Law questioned, but it was completely ignored by Sanji.

"Thank you." Nami said lifting her hand gracefully and touching Sanji's cheek.

"I missed you so much." She cooed.

"I can't wait to eat the food your very hands made." she said touching his hands now.

"Namiii-swannn, I know our love was meant to be. For you, I've cooked only the finest and delicious food."

"Ahhh, but I don't have enough money to pay for the finest meals in your restaurant." She said with an act.

"And it's all free for you Nami-swan." Sanji said holding Nami's hand on his and lifting it lightly to kiss her hand.

She giggled.

"Great thank you, expected nothing less from you, Sanji-kun." She said rubbing his chin before looking at the two pairs of eyes watching her in shock.

"You're going to hell." Zoro stated.

"And you, how can you be so dumb you idiot cook."

"It's not free for you shitheads. You guys have to pay." Sanji said to the boys coming out of his love trance.

"Nami-ya, if you can't pay for it then I will pay for you. You don't need to resort to such...err…" His words died on his lips when she sent an angry look directed at him.

"No, thank you law. You guys owe me money, not the other way around. I don't mind a free meal but I don't want to owe you." She said in a pompous manner.

If this was a cartoon, Zoro's eyes would've literally come out of their sockets.

"How in the world is it any different to what you're doing to nosebleed kun?" Zoro said facepalming.

He could hear the 'ohhh, he's nosebleed kun' on the background as law finally put two and two together.

After handing out the drinks including Law's and Zoro's, Sanji lit his cigarette and looked at the tattooed man before him.

"Who the hell are you and why are you calling Nami-swan without honorifics you shithead?" He said, trying to intimidate law.

"Now now, calm down Sanji-kun. He's a friend." Nami introduced Law to Sanji and vice versa.

"By the way, Sanji-kun, do you know where Luffy is?"

"Oh, you didn't know? He's working with us to pay for his tab because he's a big eater." Sanji said taking another puff.

"Are waiters allowed to smoke here? What a terrible service this restaurant has." Law said as a little bit of jealousy stung him when he saw how close Nami was with this "nosebleed kun".

"Huhhhh, what did you say you tattooed shit head. Don't think I'll be intimidated by the word death tattooed on your dainty little fingers." Sanji said rolling his sleeves.

"Oh boy" Nami shook her head.

"He's a chef, not a waiter and yes, why are you waiting our table you idiot. Go back to the kitchen. I don't want to see your face, shitty cook." Zoro said crossing his arms.

"You asshole, you wanna fight. I'll take both of you on." Sanji said making a commotion on his restaurant, causing many customers to look his way now.

Once the customers started whispering about Nami's table, Patty, the rowdy chef in charge of Sanji, came out stomping his feet.

"What are you doing here Sanji? You should be inside the kitchen. You're making a fuss and disturbing other customers." He practically screamed at Sanji, making things only worse.

"Now come apologise." Patty pulled Sanji and apologised to others by bowing to the customers and forced his neck to bow as well.

As Sanji and Patty were apologising to everyone, a corner table got Nami's attention when both the customers started acting a little strange. Zoro, on the other hand, was watching Nami instead during the commotion and had seen the table that caught Nami's attention. Nami's attention was then taken away from said table by Luffy.

"Oiiii Namiiiiii, everyone, you guys made it." Luffy said cheerfully while waving his arms.

Nami's eyes widen in shock, "Luffy be careful, you're carrying a lot of food, it might all come ….."

Before she could finish the sentence, she heard a loud noise which now caught everyone's attention in the restaurant.

Luffy lost his balance and dropped all the plates of food he was carrying.

"Luffy you bastard, that better not be Nami-swan's food." Sanji said walking towards him.

Patty just screamed, knowing it was the wrong decision to hire Luffy as a chore boy. They were losing more money than making money!

Law was quiet as he watched the scene unfold before him. Sanji was beating Luffy and Patty was beating Sanji while Luffy just cried and said "shumimashe". But if it is one thing Law knows about Luffy, it is that wherever Luffy goes, trouble always seem to follow him.

Nami sighed. Great, yet another perfect day, well night, wasted. She thought.

She moaned as she got up from her seat, she was tired of the same shit happening each time they went out together. Before she could walk away, Zoro's question stopped Nami on her tracks.

"Where are you going?" He asked.

"For fresh air and away from these idiots." She said pointing at the two chefs and Luffy who was also beginning to fight back after shouting "I didn't want to work as well." on the top of his lungs.

Oh but Zoro knew. He knew where she was going, he had watched her the whole day after all.

He watched her as she walked past the trio, who were still arguing about the wasted food, and saw the path she was taking. She was planning to go towards the back door, which leads to Baratie's beautiful garden where one could enjoy food and nature together. But the table that caught her eye earlier was on her way as well.

That clever witch.

She walked towards the back door, her waist moving from left to right and then finally stopped when she was next to the table in question. He watched her as she turned her head towards the table, as if someone called her name and saw the smile that creeped on her face. As soon as she looked at the table, the two people visibly jumped and looked towards the window, avoiding Nami's gaze. To their dismay, Nami started walking towards their table.

Zoro chuckled and Law made a mental note never to go anywhere with these psychos. Two were still arguing in front of him, his food all spilled on the floor, and his friend was laughing at the sight like a psycho. Psychos, they're all psychos!

Zoro got up to follow Nami. He started to become extremely curious and wanted to know who Nami found sitting at the table.

"Well, well, well." Nami said hand on her hip.

"Isn't this a beautiful surprise." She said looking at the couple in front of her, their date apparently interrupted.

In front of her sat the student counselor, Nico Robin and Zoro's home room teacher, Cutty Flam, also known as Franky. Franky was hiding behind the menu while Robin nervously laughed.

Zoro's jaw dropped as soon as he caught up to Nami. "Franky, what the hell are you doing here and why are you with herrr!?"

Although Franky was a teacher and should have authority over his students, he often behaved like his students and was seen as a friend rather than a teacher by his pupil. He was always seen hanging around his students and giving life lessons to kids in school.

"So what is this, a first date or perhaps, a proposal?" Nami asked, walking towards the table, trying to work out whether this was a serious relationship.

Robin finally processed all the information and her brain switched on. She picked up her wine slowly and brought it to her lips. She was thinking of numerous ways to play this and was planning her next move. She finally smiled and held Franky's hand that was on the table.

"Yes, we are on a date," She smiled, "aren't you both as well?" She asked softly, her smile provoking Nami further.

Robin knew how gutless Nami was when it came to Zoro. Robin knew Nami could charm the whole world, yet she could not charm Zoro, with whom she's spent all her life with. Zoro was the only man that didn't fall under her spell and it ticked off Nami to her bones. Robin knew that and while Nami waits to make her move, Robin already made hers and was proudly showing off her results to Nami.

Nami frowned, recalling their first meeting. This was Robin's win.*

Nami also reached out to grab Zoro's hands before responding, "Whatever we do is none of your business." Nami did not want to disclose any information and give Robin the satisfaction of knowing whether they were going out or not.

"Let's go Zoro." Nami demanded and walked the other way, back to their table. Zoro didn't have much of a choice as she was still grasping his hand and pulled him towards her.

"Hey, where are you going? I thought you wanted fresh air!" Zoro asked while following Nami.

Nami turned around to face him. She was exhausted; she just got defeated in the battle of wits with Robin and she was hungry! She was hungry and all she wanted to do was eat and drink. She looked at Luffy who was now planning on quitting the job as a chore boy. She wanted to get away, away from all the drama and just eat, something, anything. Just as she was about to suggest going elsewhere for food, as if Zoro read her mind, Zoro asked Nami, "Wanna ditch them and go to a bar for food and drinks?"

Nami has never been happier.

"But what about Law?"

"Screw him, he'll find his way back."

Nami was happy, extremely happy with where she was with Zoro. They are good friends and understand each other well. Sure, they argue from time to time but he (yes, I said he) will always compromise for her and isn't that what a relationship is all about. She has it all and she didn't want to lose what she has with what she could have. She would rather have him near her as a friend than lose him forever. So asking him out can wait just a little longer.

"Okay."

This time, it was his turn to pull her towards the exit of the restaurant. It was going to be just him and her, just the way it should be. And the rest can starve to death, for all Zoro cares.

"Zoro, that's the wrong way!"

"Damn, it!"

/////

* Reference to chapter 6.

Hope you enjoyed it.

Hope you have a good day/afternoon/evening/night. :)

#ZoNa #Fanfic #Zona fanfic #ZONAMI #Zonami fanfic #zoroxnami #namixzoro #One piece

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tomonokazuki · 6 years ago

Photo

Translation of an interview with Kazuki Tomono from Quadruple Axel 2018

Disclaimer: Not a professional translator, not even close.

This one was so so so so long, I felt like I’d accidentally been trapped in some sort of repeating time loop of skating questions. but it’s really good, and not that long to read (lol)

A striking world debut.

A turbulent Olympic season was brought to a close by drama awakened at the World Championships. Competing as an alternate, Kazuki Tomono improved his personal best in a big way. He showed a great fight for his 5th place finish. With a striking world debut, the name “Kazuki Tomono” exemplified the depth of the Japanese men’s field. I heard his enthusiastic thoughts such as “This experience led to self confidence”

This season you competed in many events. Can you even remember them all?

Kazuki: Well, I think it was a fair number (lol). How many was it?

The Summer Cup, Us International Classic , Kinki Block, Western Japan Intercollegiate, Western Japan Championships, NHK Trophy, Japanese Nationals, Intercollegiate, National Athletic Meet, Coupe du Printemps and Worlds. That makes eleven.

Kazuki: Besides that I also entered some free tournaments and occasionally a small competition. Nevertheless I did pretty well (lol).

From your first competition at the Summer Cup (August/202.27) to your final competition at Worlds (March/256.11) your scores increase much more than one would usually see.

Kazuki: Looking back, I think experiencing the US International (September/225.30) was big. I felt good earning this score at the beginning of the season and I was able to gain more and more confidence from that point. I took every event seriously and by the time the World Championships came, I thought “If I skate perfectly I can do this”

In an interview before the season started you said “Even though I can’t participate in the Grand Prix series, I’d like to break into seniors even if just a little” and you ended up competing in the NHK Trophy and came 5th at Worlds.

Kazuki: I was surprised to participate in the NHK Trophy (as a substitute for Daisuke Murakami) but I made full use of my experience as a substitute (for Sota Yamamoto) at Junior Worlds (2016) and faced it thinking “ I will focus of the competition in front of me”. Just before the Western Japan Championships I heard that I might be called up, so I think that made it easy to adjust. For Worlds I head “Maybe you’ll participate?”, so I wasn’t too surprised. I think I was blessed with huge opportunities this season and the place where I could have a solid result was the best.

Looking back, why do you think you were able to make good use of these opportunities?

Kazuki: Somehow I was desperate and didn’t understand why, but I think I moved in a good way. At the time of Junior Worlds in 2016 I knew that there was an opportunity to be an alternate and I thought “even if I’m an alternate it’s still an important position”. I think this lead to the fact that I was conscious of my results.

The stability of your quad salchow is magnificent.

Kazuki: I think that having minimal jumping mistakes is the most reliable way to get good scores. With the way the second half of this season turned out I think I was able to grow a little.

Were you uneasy?

Kazuki: I was very very anxious. In regards to the quad salchow, there are still parts of it that are difficult, so I have to raise the rate of success even more. I should be able to jump normally without being conscious of it.

Are you considering learning new quads?

Kazuki: That’s right. I’m in the middle of learning the quad toe loop right now. Basically the core of my practice is trying to raise the success rate of my quad salchow, but when I have time I’m working on the toe loop. Rather than saying “I ought to include it” for next season, I’m working hard with the strong feeling of “I want to include it!”

What is your current feeling on it?

Kazuki: I’m finally at the point of understanding how to jump it. I’m a little bit weak with toe jumps so it’s been a big challenge, but I think I have grasped the sensation.

After participating in the World Championships does it feel necessary to add more types of quads?

Kazuki: I think new quads are necessary since I want to aim higher , I’m not satisfied with where I am, before Worlds I thought “When the season is done I’m going to challenge it”. I think eventually I’d like to take on quads other than the salchow and toe loop. It’s fun to thing “Maybe I’ll jump that” while practicing.

At Worlds you came in 3rd in the free skate. Is your small medal hanging anywhere special?

Kazuki: Nah, it’s somewhere in my room (lol). Since it’s just a “small” medal, I’m not really satisfied at this point. For those I’m indebted to, it’s sitting on top of my desk (lol).

The goal you set for this season was “I want to take in what I can from senior skaters” but what response do you feel now that it’s over?

Kazuki: Right now, instead of just being satisfied with the outcome of the World Championships, I’m switching my attitude over to being filled with the feeling of hammering in practice.

This season was a big step up, wasn’t it.

Kazuki: I really have the feeling that I’m standing at the starting line. I saw so much potential before me, and skating became more fun.

From here on, are there challenges you see?

Kazuki: Skating skills and expression I think. I feel like those sort of basics are still lacking. I don’t think this is something that can be mastered in the short term, but from here on I think important things will pile up every day.

Your performance of ‘West Side Story’ was an enthusiastic performance that fired up the audience in Milan.

Kazuki: I never thought I would receive applause like that, I was very happy. Though being able to raise the mood in the venue is a strong point of mine, I still don’t feel like I can match the top skaters, so I would like to expand it in the future.

How do you feel about contributing to 3 spots at Worlds for next season?

Kazuki: I’m happy. If we have 3 spots, it gives lower skaters like I was this time a chance to participate. This time I personally experienced that for me to have my chance, 3 spots were necessary. I think having 3 spots is really big, I would like to be able to get one next season.

Next season you won’t be a pinch hitter?

Kazuki: That’s right. I want to be the sort of skater who says “I’m one of the 3 entries”, but I want to gain it with my own strength.

Was there pressure towards you about earning spots?

Kazuki: Since I didn’t think I could contribute to earning spots, there wasn’t any pressure. it’s a feeling of an outcome from giving your all leads to a result?

You also got a “Thank you” from Uno-senshu didn’t you?

Kazuki: Because Shoma-kun and Keiji-kun were there, I was able to concentrate on my own performance. With their support I think we were able to win 3 spots. I really respect Shoma-kun for being able to perform in those circumstances, I feel like the skaters fighting for the top are really strong.

I think that the final group of the free skate was a scene in which the risk of quads became strikingly apparent, how did it feel to you?

Kazuki: I feel like it really did show the risk of quads. I also thought “Worlds is really difficult after the Olympics”. I felt how much everyone had put into the Olympics. Also, in the final group there were skaters I competed with in Juniors, so I also felt there was a generational change.

Are there times when you looked at a skater and thought “amazing”?

Kazuki: I really respect Shoma-kun, and Nathen Chen has a presence that makes me think “Is he really younger than me?”. As for expression, I really like Misha Ge’s performances, we got to practice together and I was really happy. Also, Deniss Vasiljevs, I think to get that kind of placement (6th) without any quads is really scary (lol)! I’ve always thought that was “amazing” but I think if equipped with quads he could be an unthinkable skater.

Are there any skaters you connected with?

Kazuki: Misha Ge is very friendly, and it was pretty fun to talk with him. He told me “ English is important!” and gave me some half-joking advice (lol). We had a lot of good contact and I think he’s a good person.

Misha Ge does his own choreography, do you ever think about doing your choreography?

Kazuki: No, I think it’s a little too difficult (lol). Because I haven’t mastered the knowledge of dance, choreography or presentation, it’s still unimaginable. I’m learning from professionals of various genres, so I think I could choreograph once I acquire the knowledge and skills.

You always show us fresh programs, from here on, are there any genres you want to try?

Kazuki: Nothing in particular, but but from here on I think I should show a different me, and I would like to challenge my competition and exhibition programs by opening up my personality.

From here on, it would be nice to happen across a musical fit like you had this season.

Kazuki: This season in both the short and the free I think I was able to skate to music that was a good fit. Particularly the free which I think will become my representative program. Every season I want programs like this.

Do you have plans to carry them over to next season?

Kazuki: Next season I plan to change both my short and free. I have a strong feeling of wanting to challenge new things.

I look forward to it! Choreographer Beniot Richaud left a message on your Instagram didn’t he?

Kazuki: Yes. I was surprised to have things like this follow my results. I don’t know if anything will come of it, but I hope the day will come when I can receive choreography from him.

Even in that sense, the world is expanding more and more isn’t it.

Kazuki: It is. Ever since Worlds ended, everything really changed suddenly. My awareness in practice also has changed, this time my goal really has become to aim for the top of seniors.

Did your coach, Taijin Hiraike give you any words of praise?

Kazuki: My coach doesn’t really show sensitivity on his face, so in the Kiss and Cry at Worlds for him to be pleased made me happy. He told me “ You did really well”, and I think it was good I worked so hard. I think I was able to repay my coach a bit.

That sounds like a wonderful experience. By the way, how did you watch the Pyeongchang Olympics?

Kazuki: I was glued to the TV during the men’s event. Seeing all the skaters so lively in the tense atmosphere I thought “everyone’s amazing”, I saw how important the mental aspect is to competing in the Olympics. There were also skaters who fell apart, but it was a competition where I think the mental strength of top skaters like Yuzuru Hanyu-senshu and Shoma-kun was prominent. Even though Hanyu-senshu was injured, he had an unbelievably amazing performance.

Despite not having much time to train, Hanyu-senshu’s short program was magnificent, wasn’t it?

Kazuki: It was astounding. It gave me goosebumps. I think it was truly amazing. Shoma-kun as well, to be able to have such stable performances through the season is amazing. When I was in circumstances to practice with Shoma-kun, I felt it was an amazing thing, and I thought that I want to become a skater like him.

Were you motivated by the thought of “me too”?

Kazuki: I was. I had a strong feeling of “I want to participate in the Olympics”. Now the feeling of distance I had when thinking about the Olympics back when I was a junior is different, My view has changed to “It’s not a dream that won’t come true”.

Did you have feelings of regret about not being able to go to the Pyeongchang Olympics?

Kazuki: I did, definitely. Though when those thoughts would come out I would try to be positive and think “ I can still grow”. After nationals were over I did have feelings of “still a ways to go” and “just a little more” mixed together, but after my experience at Worlds I thought seriously “ If I work really hard during the next 4 years, I maybe can go”, with that sort of sense I think from here on I can surpass my first senior year.

It’s good to face next season with confidence.

Kazuki: I think it’s really good. I’m happy that I’ll have two Grand Prix series assignments next season, I think I’ll be able to start with a completely different feeling from last season.

I’ll be cheering for you. Finally, please give a message for your fans.

Kazuki: At last I’m standing on the start line, and I have the feeling “Next season I will finally start the skating career I’ve been aiming for!”. I feel like it’s going to be an important season, I think I’m working hard to aim higher and higher. From now on I look forward to your continued support!

Original Japanese text by Junko Kuroo

#kazuki tomono #友野一希 #quadruple axel 2018 #translation #team japan #figure skating

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chimswae · 6 years ago

Text

Chapter 3

Untold: Tale of a Luminary

Foreword:

Some stories are better left unsaid.I couldn’t change anything for the world, although the fame part of this industry is tough to handle.Do i have a life? Yes I have my fans.Do i have friends? Yes the members that I cherish. Do i have love? No I have to let go.Life always offers you a second chance. It’s called tomorrow. But do i have any tomorrow?

Pairing: Jimin x OC (Other characters: BTS, OCs, Lee Taehwan)

Genre: Idolau, Fluff, Romance

Word Count: 2,650

Author Note: I crosspost this story from my Asianfanfic account. Mind you, clicheness OVERLOADS

Disclaimer: I dont own any of the gif used at the end of chapters. Neither do i own any of the characters, this fic is not related to any of the characters in real life.

1 | 2 | 3

Chapter 3: One day or day one, you decide

“Give Minyeol back”

“No”

“Jiminie….”

“Just no and no, sit down comfortably Tae tae. He doesn’t want you”

“Park Jimin..” Taehyung stomped a little with a slight pout tailing Jimin who appeared to whisper something in little Minyeol’s ears.

Yeoul blinked in confusion but she managed to raise her hand as if she was asking permission from a teacher “Mmmm..That is my son that you are fighting for” she joked earning light chuckles from the members.

“Noona..These hyungs can be childish I apologize” Jungkook flashed his handsome smile while giving a light caress on Yeoul’s head. A faint blush spread on her cheeks and she quickly lowered her face to ensure no one see her crimson red cheeks.

Jin rolled his eyes “ Seriously Kookie, you are not allowed to flirt someone’s wife” he shook his head. Jungkook flustered acknowledging his mistake however Yeoul was quick to mouth “it is okay” before he apologized and feeling bad over that.

Yeoul decided to move the albums from Jungkook’s hand to the next person, she felt bad for holding up the line even though there were only two fans left behind her. After she had a light chatter with Jin mostly about Minyeol he moved to Taehyung and Jimin who were still fighting over Minyeol.

‘At least, Minyeol knows how is it like to be closed to his own father’ Yeoul smiled inwardly. She almost forgotten the guy in front of her was the man that he used to love until Jimin froze in his spot not moving any inch while they exchanged look.

‘Na Yeoul…’ deep down inside he really wanted to pull the girl into a tight hug. He was missing her so badly and he never stopped thinking about her. Taehyung took the cue to take Minyeol off from Jimin’s lap and played with the kid by himself.

Averting her gaze, Yeoul cleared her throat as she awkwardly rubbed her back neck “How have you been” his voice was low. He didn’t want to drive any unnecessary attentions and worst questions from fans, no matter how curious he was.

“I am fine..Thank you. You look good… mmm Minnie” Yeoul felt like burying herself deep in the ocean for sounding too friendly. Jimin bit his lower lips holding back his smile upon hearing the nickname that she used to call him back then.

Jimin smiled “So..are you married?” he wished she said no though it was her right to actually get someone better in life after their failed relationship. But judging from Minyeol’s age, wouldn’t he be too old to be one if she just got married few years ago. Questions after questions left unanswered, he refrained himself from asking one. There were eyes and ears everywhere, he couldn’t risk it.

It took her few seconds to find a perfect answer and she finally broke the silence “I..guess so..” Jimin raised his eyebrows with a baffle look. It was not the answer that he expected from Yeoul. He wondered what actually happened to her.

“Mommy..This weird hyung is actually nice but I like pinkie hyung better” Minyeol grinned. He slid down from Taehyung’s lap and went to give Jimin a bear hug. Everyone awed in amusement seeing how overly attached the boy was with Jimin.

“Why is everyone leaving me” Taehyung let out a fake sob while giving his full attention on the girl in front of him venting his so called frustration after being rejected by a five years old kid.

“He is your biggest fan Jimin” Yeoul nodded with a genuine smile. She cursed in her head not to cry or even showing a sign that she was about to cry, it would be so screwed up if anyone noticed that. Her posture remained cool though her heart was making so much noise inside, as if it was about to explode.

Jimin chuckled softly “Oh, so Minyeollie is hyung’s biggest fan? That makes hyung happy” he lifted Minyeol to sit on his lap again.

The younger boy gladly gave him a soft kiss on the cheeks “Mommy said she will reward me if I win the game that we play” he exclaimed.

“And what kind of game is that?” Jimin stroked his hair. Just before Minyeol about to answer him, they heard voices from the crowd.

“Park Jimin…Minyeol is the mini you”

“Oh my god you are right, they resemble each other”

“Jimin oppa… You and Minyeol look cute together”

Fans were expressing their excitement and showering compliments to Jimin and Minyeol which was not wrong. Firstly, yes both of them resembled each other. Secondly, Jimin could make a good father. Thirdly, Yeoul didn’t expect fans to spot the similarity between them. Bangtan fans were really sharp, there was no doubt.

As much as Jimin wanted to keep Minyeol closed to him, he had to let him go at some point. Therefore, he decided to snap a selca with Minyeol to store it in his memory and who knew he would be able to meet Minyeol and Yeoul in Busan during his visit in the near future.

“Yeolie come here, we have to go” Yeoul reached out her hand motioning Minyeol to move away from Jimin. Jimin stood up and helped to transfer Minyeol to her arms, she mouthed him a thank you. A simple thank you got him worked up for no reason because the lingering feeling for Yeoul still existed. He wouldn’t deny that.

Jimin was not a guy who dated recklessly and as result he really dated a few number of girls before they debuted. The only girl that he loved so dearly was, Na Yeoul not until they had to crash that dream of being together to chase his dreams.

“When can I meet pinkie hyung again?” he questioned with a pout. Yeoul placed him on ground allowing him to bid last farewell, only god knows when he would be able to meet Jimin again.

Jimin leaned over the table, giving his small hand a light squish “Do attend our concert, hyung will let you see sit in front” he planted a soft kiss on his head with a wink.

Minyeol beamed “Yay, I will bring mommy to meet hyunggie again” Yeoul nodded and smiled meekly. She didn’t like the fact that she had to lie again and again, just how long they had to live this way.

“Be a good boy Minyeol-ah..” Jimin had this strange feeling which drifted him closer to Minyeol. He felt upset to let him go but why would he feel that way when they were not connected at all. Minyeol nodded frantically “See you in television screen da-Hyunggie” he giggled at his own mistake. He almost lost the game.

“Oh yes before I forgot, the album” she placed the album in front of Jimin, as he stole a glance at their close proximity. Yeoul was standing and bent down to his level with Minyeol in front of her, he felt a sudden rush in his body.

He did his signature anyway without shaking as he carefully slipped a small note inside the album without anyone notice, Jimin hoped she would actually read it.

“Say thank you again Yeollie” the boy followed and bowed politely before moving to the last person who had been bored to death alone at the corner. She took the cue to say her last word before this hazy dreams ended “Thank you Jimin. Don’t skip your meal and good luck” he passed the album to Yeoul and purposely grasped her hand softly; she was taken aback at the sudden contact.

‘Remain calm Na Yeoul.. Don’t stutter or blush or just stay still’ her breath hitched when he leaned a little closer to her, just near her ears. She heard him whisper awfully low but she managed to grasped what he tried to utter “I miss you Na Yeoul..” he slowly let go and leaned back in his seat as if nothing happened.

Yeoul froze in her spot ‘Darn it Park Jimin. You still don’t change’ her lips were pressed into a thin line, careful not to crack a fool smile. Jimin gave her a small wave with a wink and that startled her even more.

‘She is so jumpy. How adorable’ Jimin was delighted to see familiar faces again though for a short period of time. He was still grateful to see Yeoul after years.

Yeoul and Minyeol got off from the stage for real after Minyeol had a light chatter with Min Yoongi, he seemed unapproachable at first but he was surprisingly cute and soft with kids. She had fun watching Yoongi teasing Minyeol and he gave him a pink lollipop before they left the stage.

“So was it fun?” she hold onto his hand tight and he replied with an excited nod.

He whispered “I got to meet daddy. He is really handsome” for a kid at his age, Minyeol could be acting abnormally as compared to his age. That was his utmost charms, witty Minyeol.

“I know right he is” she gave Bangtan one final glance with a soft sigh. She saw Jungkook and Hoseok waving at her way followed by others members, and Yeoul gave them a slight bow with a grateful smile.

‘It was nice seeing you again Park Jimin. I am praying for your success’ she noticed Jimin was staring at her with a deep and meaningful look. How she wished she could read mind, he was penetrating to her deepest soul. It was breathtaking yet the more she stayed, she wouldn’t have any control over her bipolar emotions.

‘You will never know how much I miss you. When will I see you again Yeoul-ah.’ Jimin sighed in his head as he watched her figure disappeared between the crowds. Missing someone got easier everyday because even though he was one day further from the last time the last time he saw her, Jimin believed that he was one day closer the next time meeting her again.

---------------❤

“Tell me the truth”

“What in the world, I was about to sleep”

“No just tell me honestly. I saw it all”

“Hyung.. go away don’t bother me. I’m sleepy” he rubbed his eyes with a deep yawn.

“Park Jimin I am talking” Yoongi frowned as he demanded answers from him. He knew what he saw so Yoongi was confident that Jimin actually knew Yeoul, and it wasn’t his first time meeting her.

“The girl from our fansign earlier, do you happen to know her?” Jimin groaned in frustration. He didn’t know this hyung of his would ask so many questions tonight. He wasn’t the type that would poke nose into other people’s affairs.

Jimin moved his hand off his face “Which one? There were bunch of girls we saw earlier just how on earth I remember everyone” he raked fingers in his hair.

“ There is this girl a special kind one, she came with her son. I reckon you can’t remember her, you were ogling her and sticking with her son like you are the daddy” Yoongi rolled his eyes. Jimin’s eyes now wide upon and Yoongi took that as the answer to his questions.

“So you do know her. Who is she? Schoolmate? Cousins? Or your ex girlfriend?” he bombarded him with questions.

“She is just someone that I know from my past” Jimin muttered softly.

“That won’t answer my question. I saw the way you looked at her those eyes didn’t reflect she-is-just-someone-from-my-past. There is something more. Is she that ex-girlfriend that you told us before?” Yoongi really knew how to pry answers.

With a heavy sigh he nodded without uttering anything for few minutes. Yoongi too was shocked to find out his prediction was real. That gave him a major goosebumps. All of them used to exchange stories from their past, and that made them even closer than just a friend. They were brothers.

Yoongi coughed to ease the tension in the room “So..how’s it to see her again?” he mumbled.

“Weird. I miss her though..” Jimin did not know how to begin since his emotions was a total mess. He didn’t expect to see Yeoul today.

“She is pretty” Yoongi smirked and continued “Too beautiful for you” he joked again.

“Yah, I am offended….But..Yes..She is getting prettier” Jimin placed a hand over his thumping chest. Yoongi could see a fool smile plastered on his face, he really sucked in hiding his feelings.

“But she is married right since she has a son” Jimin smiled died down as it replaced with a frown and soft sigh. He had been thinking about that ever since they parted ways earlier. That was the question that lingered in his mind, was she married?

“I am not sure. Her answer was ambiguous. Neither did she admit nor she denied” he mumbled.

“Minyeol her son, he resembles you a lot. Are you sure he is not your secret son? Did you sleep with her? ” Yoongi teased the younger boy earning a smack on his thigh. However, when Jimin thought about again it was pretty obvious that Minyeol looked almost exactly like him except he had Yeoul’s eyes.

It couldn’t be his son right but if that was his, she would have told him instead of keeping it as a secret for years. It didn’t make sense. Jimin had no idea why he let Yoongi’s words got through the deepest core in his brain, now he was thinking hard.

“ Are you ransacking my sex life now hyung?” he snorted.

Yoongi chortled “Just wandering, if you ever slept with her. So that might answer my curiosity why Minyeol looked so much like you duh” he shook his head.

Jimin seemed to take the bait “Now I remember.. we did urmm sleep together?” he scratched his not so itchy head.

Yoongi gasped in horror as if it was the greatest sin ever committed by Jimin “I did not expect you to admit to that! You are no longer virgin Jimin?” Jimin clasped his hand over his mouth asking him to tone down his voice or he would wake others up.

“We were teenagers with raging hormones, of course we experiment things. Stop judging me like you never sleep with your ex girlfriends” he disagreed with Yoongi outrageous reactions.

“Yah of course not, I’m civilised unlike you. Oh mochi Jimin, so you are not so mochi and innocent then. That is new” a proud smug could be seen on his face. He really knew how to make things sounded so unfitting in this conversation, and again who could stop Min Suga.

“We used protections though, and being really careful. I don’t think I ever get her pregnant” his inner thought doubted his own statement.

Why was he feeling this way? This was absurd.

“That doesn’t guarantee anything Chims. Condoms are just a better and high class version of balloons” Jimin cringed at the possible resemblance and shot the older boy a glare.

“If you are going to continue this condom talk just get out hyung, I need sleep. And so are you, just sleep already will you?” he shoved a pillow on Yoongi face as he glowered in protest. Yoongi gave up digging more in depth of Jimin’s past . He sulkily exited the room to hit the sack.

For an odd reason, Jimin couldn’t sleep after what Yoongi told him. The possibility of Minyeol as his son, was it really there? His stomach churned in fear if turned out it was the truth, which could be so screwed up. Why couldn’t he forget Yeoul for one second, he was so sick indeed.

There were so many questions that he wanted to ask to Yeoul. If and only he could fly back to Busan right away and looked for her. It would solve all the misery and mystery.

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#bts #bts fanfic #bts series #bts fluff #bts romance #bts idolau #bts jimin #park jimin #bts taehyung #bts jungkook #bts namjoon #bts jhope #bts suga #bts jin #lee taehwan #untoldseries

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renaroo · 7 years ago

Text

Expecting the Best

Disclaimer: Red vs Blue and related characters are the property of Rooster Teeth. Pairings: Grimmons Warnings: Language, Canon-typical violence Rating: T Synopsis: [Reverse Big Bang Entry!] Grif and Simmons prepare for an award ceremony for themselves and the rest of the Reds and Blues, but those pesky expectations keep getting in the way.

A/N: An entry in on the wire! My apologies everyone, but I was having an absolute blast with this entry which I got to do with the amazingly talented @st-franz! And what better to add to the fandom at large than some Grimmons goodness?

Maybe he should have expected a little more.

As a mandate of sorts, Dexter Grif did not allow himself to carry many expectations. He hadn’t bothered to have any for himself, and he certainly hadn’t held any for the people around him. The day he was shipped out to Blood Gulch and was cementing his time with Red Team, that nonexistent bar had been perfectly place.

If he’d raised the bar, he was pretty sure they were readying to trip over it.

So Grif didn’t set expectations, didn’t raise himself to them, and he definitely didn’t exude confidence in them of any sort. Yet, when he looked in the mirror, and he wondered about whether or not there was enough of that monkey grease hair gel Donut had given him, if he’d be able to drop the look of utter shock from his face before he went out there and made an ass of all of them.

Probably not. He probably didn’t have it in him to be unsurprised anymore. Not even after negotiations and settlements and all sorts of other legal jargon that was being thrown their way before the day had come.

They were free.

And as a draftee, Grif meant that on all accounts.

Free of expectations, free of responsibilities, free of active duty, free of…

Free of duty.

It sounded so fake, even bouncing around inside his own skull. The more Grif looked at his war scarred face, the heavy bags under his eyes, and the mess that his hair was even as he smoothed it down with the gross monkey grease again and again. It wasn’t the face that had been drafted into a backwards, stalemated war. It wasn’t even the face that had stumbled into saving the humanity that was left after the Covenant was brought to a daw.

It was…

It was just him, looking like he had never expected the day to come where he was wearing stripes on his uniform.

In truth… he didn’t even know what the stripes meant.

Giving up on calming down his hair, Grif reached up to his uniform and felt over the stripes with his fingers, pressing hard so that the cool curves of the metal could be imprinted on his fingertips.

Recognition had never been a driving force for Grif. He wasn’t looking in life for promotions or handouts or anything. Again, those were expectations. Grif had none.

But there was something… strangely warm about the feeling he got looking at those stripes. There was something nice about knowing that in a few hours he would be standing in front of all the people in the galaxy who mattered, and a lot more who, to him, didn’t, getting ready to recognize those long ago earned markings.

If he was a sentimental man, which Grif really didn’t want to be, he might have had something profound in his mind at all that.

A speech? A toast?

Dexter Grif was a simple man, though, so instead of profundity or nonexistent resolution in his spirits, he waited until the bathroom door opened and he turned around to face his partner in crime and point at his stripes.

“Fucking finally, am I right?” he said sardonically.

Simmons — because of course it was going to be Simmons — stopped short and raised his eyebrows at Grif’s statement. But the surprise was momentary and he quickly returned to a near stoicism.

A near stoicism with an additional presence of sass.

“Do you mean finally I’m done taking up space in the bathroom or do you mean finally someone’s going to make me leave because I’ve been hogging up the bathroom?” Simmons asked dryly. He then moved forward, lightly pushing Grif out of the way as he got to the mirror. “Seriously, what’re you even doing in here? Putting your head in the sink? Your hair’s soaking wet!”

“It’s — no,” Grif scoffed at the very idea. “You know I don’t wash my hair before big events. It’ll just make it easier for sweat.”

“Which I still tell you is not how human bodies work, but go on,” Simmons replied, straightening his already pristine lines of a uniform.

it was only a few steps from infuriating how used to Simmonsisms that Grif was, he didn’t even bother to make fun of the uniform business.

“Seriously, Simmons, my hair’s not wet. It’s this stupid hair moose that Donut gave to me! It won’t keep my hair down no matter how much I add to it!” Grif explained, irritably running a hand through the slick but still distinctively standing hair. “Believe it or not, I actually don’t want to be a complete jackass at this event tonight.”

“Tonight? It’s in two hours,” Simmons scoffed. He then turned and looked at Grif, really looking at him. “Wait… are you nervous?”

“Pfft, no,” Grif said rotating his wrist candidly. “I’m the complete opposite of being nervous. I’m… bored. Everything about award ceremonies are boring.”

Simmons squinted at him. “Then you admit that the ending to A New Hope is boring and not as good as Empire?” he asked pointedly.

Scandalized, Grif put a hand over his chest and shook his head. “Did you hear me say that? No. Of course you didn’t hear me say that because saying that would be complete bullshit and against everything I’ve ever stood for as a soldier.”

“I’ve never seen you stand for anything,” Simmons needled further, a sly smirk growing at the corners of his mouth. He was definitely enjoying riling Grif up.

What a fucker.

“No, that award ceremony was great and you’re never going to ruin it for me,” Grif said firmly. “But everything is great with Star Wars and everything is crap in real life. So I can totally argue that this thing tonight—“

“In two hours.”

“—is boringly dead on arrival.” Crossing his arms, Grif glanced around Simmons, looking for anything to freshen him up or otherwise explain why he was in the bathroom but coming up with nothing. “Simmons, what’re you even doing here?”

“Besides moving you along for the sake of everyone who wants this thing to run smoothly and us to get discharged without further complaint from the UNSC?” Simmons asked sarcastically. He paused, eyes rolling up in thought, then he shrugged. “Actually, no, that’s pretty much it. Why?”

“Because I don’t see any confetti on you,” Grif replied in equal sarcasm.

Simmons’ brows knitted together. “Confetti? Grif, what the hell are you going on about?”

Letting out a fake gasp, Grif leaned back and away from Simmons in feigned horror. “Why, Simmons! Surely you’re not serious! You forgot the confetti?”

Though Simmons’ face put on a good front — all scowly and unimpressed — the red tinge to his ears and the general way he seemed to grow tense was giving Grif an entirely different story. “What confetti? You’re not making any sense!”

“Wow, Simmons, this really isn’t like you,” Grif continued to joke. “Don’t you remember? Back in the day, Sarge promised after the war was over I’d be a big war hero! Sarge’s going to drive the float, and you’re in charge of confetti!”

For a moment, Simmons seemed to doubt the entire structure of the universe as he knew it, but he quickly snapped back with, “You’re not a big war hero!”

“Uh, I did save you and everyone else a little big ago, or did you forget?” Grif pressed.

“You mean how you saved us after abandoning us on a mission to save the world?” Simmons asked. “Which was the only reason you weren’t captured alongside us?”

There was a twinge of guilt that Grif couldn’t help but flinch back from when he heard it, but he was then determined to see through the charade just for the accusation. True as it might’ve been in some people’s perspectives.

“Uh, yeah. What else would have made me a hero of this story?” he asked. “Seriously, Simmons, I’m going to be pretty disappointed if there’s not any confetti at this thing tonight.”

“It’s not tonight, it’s in two hours!” Simmons cried out.

“Well, then. You better get moving on that then,” Grif shrugged in return.

He might’ve been going a little too harsh, but Simmons more than anyone should have known about Grif that pushing him into a corner did not yield any expected results. So he shouldn’t have been too surprised to open his eyes and see the swinging of the bathroom door as Simmons headed out in a hurry.

“He… wouldn’t really be getting confetti…” Grif tried to reason with himself. He then snorted at the ridiculousness and shrugged. “Nah, Simmons knows me better than that.”

No one knew him as well as Simmons, and it didn’t exactly take knowing Grif well to know that he wasn’t a man who carried many expectations with him.

If Simmons had to narrow down all of his problems to a single entity, it would probably be overwhelming expectations.

It was something that he had been struggling with before he was even able to put it into terms. And it was something that was putting a stranglehold on him in that moment. But with an hour left before the big award ceremony that was supposed to put some relief to his gnawing feelings of anticipation and claustrophobia, he was in the passenger seat of a car with Agent Washington behind the wheel, taking him to the nearest supermarket.

Man, he hoped there was a confetti aisle in supermarkets.

“Can we move any faster through this traffic?” Simmons half whined, looking to Washington as the man simply stared ahead almost lazily.

“Yeah, let me turn on the propulsion system so this car can fly us above the traffic and take us to the local H-E-B,” Washington answered without even glancing toward Simmons.

Blinking in wide eyed surprise, Simmons tilted his head. “These models can do that?” he asked, his brain already working out the schematics for the vehicle they were in which could account for those additional systems and what mechanism would be responsible for making the transformation.

Washington’s eyes squinted slightly and he actually glanced Simmons’ way before refocusing on the road and traffic ahead. “This is a minivan. No.”

Despite his immediate disappointment, Simmons tried to keep himself from shrinking back into his seat and instead crossed his arms in aggravation. “Right, I didn’t think so. Really, I was testing you. I knew that… well, statistically, most minivans aren’t going to be awesome James Bond cars. Because most of them are Aston Martins and not… Nissans? This is a Nissan right?” Listing off car things was about the most stereotypical bro thing Simmons could manage to make himself do, and there was no denying that Agent Washington was totally going to respect the amount of faux bro that Simmons could pull off.

Or, at least, in Simmons’ ideal scenario that was the case.

Instead, reality served him with a bored looking former special operations agent driving a minivan with an unnatural amount of concentration on the road ahead of them.

“I’ll be honest, I don’t really know that much about cars,” Washington said almost thoughtfully.

Simmons then allowed himself to sink back into his carseat and look at the unending traffic ahead. A high pitched groan came from him almost accidentally as he saw what little progress they had made. “Do you know enough about cars to make them go faster?” he asked irritably.

“I know enough to obey the law,” Wash answered. “If you wanted a maniac behind the wheel, I seem to recall Carolina offering to drive you to the supermarket instead. You know. The person who got us a speeding ticket on the way to the auditorium.”

“I said faster, not deader,” Simmons argued, shifting in his seat. “Ugh, we only have fifty-five minutes.”

“Probably should have thought about that before you started demanding someone take you to the supermarket for…” Washington paused thoughtfully before glancing back to Simmons curiously. “Sorry, what are we going to the supermarket for again?”

“Confetti,” Simmons answered flatly.

Washington was already looking at the road again, nodding a bit to Simmons’ words probably before even fully hearing them. Then, as the words really made their impact, his brows furrowed and a frown teased at the corners of his mouth.

After a few sideways glances toward Simmons, Washington surprisingly put on the turn signal and began to pull off the road just as Simmons could utter any objections.

“What— Washington! We’re not at the store yet, and unless gravel is a substitute for non recyclable and incredibly wasteful plastics, I can’t imagine why we’d be getting confetti from the side of the road!” Simmons shouted at a tone that was high pitched even by his own ears. Which, of course, was truly saying something.

“I have learned to let a lot of truly strange and unusual tendencies from you guys fly over the years, usually against my better judgment,” Washington answered as he changed the gear into park. “But sometimes I get the good sense to question something that is unusual even for you guys and usually when that happens, I either listen to it or we end up getting shot by someone we stupidly trusted. The latter happens too much, so I’m going to question this time around.” He tilted his head slightly, looking at Simmons expectantly — as if expectation was the ingredient Simmons’ life needed added to its misery stew. “Simmons, why are we going to a store to get you confetti? And why can’t it wait until after the award ceremony that will try to make the past few years of ridiculousness mean something to our permanent records?”

Simmons blinked a few times in surprise. “Well, when you put it that way it sounds like no amount of confetti could really be enough to ;put some semblance of reason behind what we’ve been doing for, like, fifteen years now.”

“You see my confusion then,” Wash replied with a wave of his hand. “Seriously, though, what’s going on?”

“It’s…” Simmons trailed off before pinching the bridge of his nose and letting out a long, heralding sigh. “Okay, you know how most of what we do doesn’t make any sense on Red Team but holds us to some loose interpretation of logic because of dumb conversations we’ve had?”

“Sure,” Washington said, apparently wanting to move past that point more than anything else.

“It’s one of those,” Simmons tried for subtly.

“Confetti has to do with some conversation you had ages ago that Red Team now wants to uphold,” Washington clarified.

“Not all of Red Team,” Simmons answered, feeling his face heat up for reasons utterly beyond him.

Washington kept staring at him for a good few minutes before he leaned back and began to reach for the gearshift. “So this is for Grif?”

“Ha! Grif Me doing favors for Grif. I mean. Why would you even make that assumption? That’s so weird! And not necessary! I mean, think of all the times I do really weird things for Donut! Or for Sarge! I can’t even make a proper list of all the weird things I’ve done for Sarge!” Simmons then added a rather awkward laugh. “Ah, Agent Washington. You… kidder.”

For a moment, Washington looked like he was just going to let the details pass by, but he shook his head and asked, “Does the confetti have glitter in it?”

“What? No,” Simmons answered.

“Does it explode on impact with something very specific and unhelpful, like banana peels?” Washington continued.

“What’re you talking about, of course it doesn’t!” Simmons scoffed.

“Hm, sure doesn’t sound like it’s for Donut or Sarge,” Washington answered easily.

Realizing his own folly, Simmons felt his face heat up even more. “I… Well. Don’t think that that makes you some kind of expert about Red Team! You.. you dirty Blue!”

The words were so flustered, even Simmons had a hard time listening to them.

Washington didn’t seem overly offended, however. “You good? That out of your system?” Wash pressed.

With a long and frankly disappointed sigh, Simmons eased back into his seat again. “Yeah. I guess.”

“Great, why does Grif want confetti?” Wash continued.

“It’s not that he wants it,” Simmons responded with a shrug of his shoulders. “It’s that it’s… well it’s something we talked about forever ago, and not getting it would basically be, like, admitting that I don’t expect us to be the same people we were all those ages ago back in Blood Gulch when we talked about nonsense and had all these… I don’t know, expectations for what the future was going to be. You know. Before everything was bad.”

Washington showed a bit of concern. “Are things bad now?” he asked.

“No, I don’t think so,” Simmons answered, glancing away from the intensity of Washington’s need for answers. “No? Yes? I don’t know. It’s just… Things are never the way we expected them to be.”

“What’d you and Grif expect them to be?” Washington asked. “And is confetti really going to make the difference on whether or not you’ll ever achieve it?”

“Maybe?” Simmons responded, worrying his lip. “I mean. It’s so hard to read Grif sometimes… It’s like he expects me to be some kind of mindreader and just… know him? Like, how am I supposed to live up to those kinds of expectations? Why can’t he ever just say what he actually means instead of asking for me to get confetti and then getting annoyed when I give him exactly what he said instead of exactly what he wanted?”

The silence that filled the minivan after the outburst was stifling and Simmons took it as an opportunity to sink so low that his shoulder blades were almost resting in the seat. He was certain that his uniform was misshapen and creased in ways that were totally unbecoming of an award ceremony, but the sudden rush of existential panic took over for the generalized anxiety in his bones.

Whether or not it was a worthwhile tradeoff had still not been determined by the time that Washington was pulling them back onto the road.

“We only have forty-five minutes to get confetti,” Simmons informed him before he looked up enough over the dashboard to see that Washington wasn’t merely pulling them back onto the road toward the supermarket but was crossing lanes to get them turned around completely. “Agent Washington!? What are you doing? We haven’t gotten the confetti!”

“Of course we’re not. You just said it yourself, it’s not about the confetti.” Washington answered. “So we’re heading back.”

“Why?” Simmons demanded.

“Because you need to get Grif exactly what he wants and not the thing he says he wants.” Washington said flatly. “Also so we’re not wasting either of our time or my money.”

Simmons scowled in return. “I would have paid for it!”

“You didn’t bring a wallet,” Washington answered. “There’s nothing in your back pockets.”

“I don’t like the way fabric feels against my ass when it’s being pulled taut!” Simmons cried out in defense.

“The rest of the world usually uses that as evidence that someone doesn’t have an ass,” Wash replied with a shrug.

“Hey!” Simmons protested, though he wasn’t entirely sure how else to counter the accusation. Instead he crossed his arms and glared at his driver. “Besides! Didn’t you hear me? The problem is I don’t know what Grif wants! That’s why he drives me crazy!”

“You know he doesn’t want the confetti,” Washington reminded him. “So I’d say the real problem here isn’t that you don’t know what Grif wants, but that you definitely know what you want. And you’re frustrated with Grif and yourself for not doing anything about it.”

Simmons stared at him, somewhat aghast. “What are you saying?”

“I’m saying you guys need to talk or something. Preferably after not making asses of all of us at the award ceremony or making it so that our honorable discharges are brought into question by… Basically all of humanity. It’d be stellar if we didn’t have either of those to contend with, honestly,” Washington replied.

At first, Simmons couldn’t even believe what he was hearing, he scoffed at the notion, turning in his seat to swivel away from Washington and his utterly ridiculous charges.

Obviously, the Freelancer had no idea what he was talking about. He and Grif were just fine. And no one was bringing unreasonable expectations to their situation. Definitely not Simmons himself.

It was so ridiculous that it was making Simmons’ entire face heat up once more, like a schoolyard misunderstanding between two kids who hadn’t learned how to talk to one another yet.

And then Simmons almost felt his heart stop.

Fortunately being partially cybernetic made that a relative impossibility even for his organic body parts so his heart kept chugging along even as Simmons’ voice got trapped in his throat in an excruciating manner.

Washington glanced over, seemingly concerned at the noises being made. “Simmons?”

“Oh my god,” Simmons gasped at last.

“See,” Washington said a bit eagerly. “Told you. I’m an expert at Reds and Blues now! I know exactly how you all think. And… Well, honestly, when I say it out loud like that it makes me think I’ve had some pretty regrettable choices in my life to get us here, actually.”

Simmons couldn’t even hear Washington as he continued to slowly sink into his seat much like his stomach was sinking through his person.

His carefully curated expectations for the evening suddenly and dramatically changed in a moment.

Grif might have, over the years, for reasons beyond him and definitely not within his control, allowed himself to have a single expectation. The kind of trapping that would ruin a man of lesser caliber.

Of course, Grif wasn’t really of any caliber, so the situation was just annoying the hell out of him more than it was trapping him in anything.

“Sarge!” he shouted over the stage despite the already mostly gathered audience surrounding their stage.

For maybe the first time since Grif had met the man, Sarge was dressed in completely proper order with the sort of rigid lines to his uniform that would have made every single one of Simmons’ ninety-nine problems absolutely jealous. He was also holding a rather dramatic pose with his cap under his stiffly held right arm and his forceful, toothy smile drawn back so tight his eyes were lost behind wrinkles. Even when he turned himself — as in his entire body so as to not take himself out of his stiff posture — he did not lose a bit of his smile, if anything it grew and his eyes were further lost in the clench. “Private Grif!” he shouted between clenched teeth in what was, ultimately, a rather impressive maneuver. “We are preparing for an award ceremony that you most certainly don’t deserve! All I ask is that you don’t ruin the most important part — the part that’s for me! Your esteemed leader!”

There were many, many opportunities to lampoon his commanding officer that Grif was passing up in the heat of the moment. “Yeah, honestly, don’t care, this is important.” But he then paused and allowed himself at least one response to Sarge’s mania. “Also? Totally a captain now. And it’s in the earned way, not in that whole stupid fake way you became a colonel. But that’s not important right now—“

Sarge’s smile dropped just enough to allow his right eyebrow to shoot up, exposing a bloodshot, unblinking eye at Grif. “The hell it’s not!!!” he shouted before coughing and immediately reestablishing his previous expression, if not scarier. “Goddammit, Grif! See what you’re doing? Making me lose my composure is what you’re doing!”

“Fuck composure!” Grif shouted. “Where the hell’s Simmons? It’s almost fifteen minutes ’til! And Simmons has never been less than forty-five minutes early for something in his entire life!”

“Aw,” Caboose cooed from behind Grif, making the Red jump in place before whirling around to face him. How someone so huge and so dumb could manage to constantly sneak up on other people was completely beyond Grif. “You’re worried about Simmons!”

“Ew, no,” Grif scoffed. “Worried about Simmons? Don’t be ridiculous, Caboose! I’m not worried about Simmons! Who would be worried about Simmons? Definitely not someone like me who was ready to attack Locus if he touched Simmons. That’s fucking ridiculous, Caboose! How could you even ask me something like that?”

Caboose blinked at him and shrugged. “Oh, my bad. Sorry. I thought that was why you were talking about Simmons. And why you always talk about Simmons. And why you always talk to Simmons. Usually about Simmons. Yeah. You’re very close.”

“No, not close!” Grif countered heatedly. “I’m asking about Simmons because I’m worried if he’s not here then we’ll never be discharged from the fucking military and I’ll be stuck doing this stuff with you idiots for the rest of my life!”

Sarge once again dropped his composure and whirled around to face Grif, a serious look on his face. “You mean if one of us accidentally screws the pooch today, that’s an option? Indefinite military solitude!? Well Laaahhhhhrrrrdddeeeee! Why didn’t someone say so!?”

“No! I’m not saying that! No one was saying that and no one would ever say that, except you,” Grif snapped. “I just don’t want this ceremony to be postponed for any reason!”

“But it can’t start before Simmons and Agent Washington come back!” Caboose cried out in concern. “They promised it would not take long! They said they’d come back and it would be because they had to be here for the thingie with the things and the scary people with frowns!”

Grif turned to Caboose with a bit of wonder. “Wait, Agent Washington is with Simmons? What the fuck is he thinking? Doesn’t he know the first rule of Reds and Blues? Going with a Freelancer always leads to problems! That’s why we always kick them over to Blue Team and make you all deal with them and your stupid team kills and backstabs and generally idiotic stuff. Like alien fucking.”

Caboose put a hand over his chest and grew a big, watery grin. “Grif! You are the reason for Blue Team always having new teammates!? I always get new friends because of you! Thank you, Grif! Oh, thank you!”

“I’m not responsible. If anyone’s responsible, it’s you and your constant team kills,” Grif snapped back.

A bit put off — more by Grif’s tone than anything else, most likely — Caboose tilted his head back and sniffed. “Well then! I will just be thanking myself for all my bestest friends! And you can stay with only having Simmons!”

“Good! All I need is Simmons anyway!” Grif snapped back, turning to march off and get to the bottom of the missing Simmons issue, but much to his aggravation, the moment he did so he ran face first into a uniformed chest. It was with enough force to nearly knock them both over, but they managed to save it.

“Hey! Watch it!” Simmons groaned. “Grif, can’t you at least bother to see where you’re going!”

“No, fuck you!” Grif retorted automatically before shaking his head profusely and really accepting the revelation. “Simmons! There you fucking are! What the hell were you doing, taking off right before this whole shindig? I was going to fucking haul you back! And disappearing with a Freelancer of all people! You’re lucky you weren’t killed and then had your body bombed by Mister Destructo himself!”

There was an uncomfortable cough that drew Grif’s attention to Simmons’ side where Agent Washington was standing.

“I’m right here,” Washington pointed out plainly.

“What do you want, a cookie?” Grif demanded in annoyance.

“Grif, I’m here,” Simmons answered, looking at Grif like he was imparting some kind of deeper meaning.

One that was far too deep for Grif to comprehend so he just looked at Simmons in annoyance. “Of course you are! The problem is you almost weren’t! Like what the fuck Simmons?”

“No, Grif! I mean… I’m here!” Simmons restated. “I’m… I’m trying to say… What I mean is…”

Grif squinted at Simmons, uncomprehending. Unsure what Simmons could ever mean by any of it. Which was super annoying since, well, for a man who had lived his life to that point priding himself on living without the burden of expectations, he had — for better or worse — allowed himself to experience one expectation above all of his stoicism and near nihilism.

And that single expectation, his road to certain ruin, was that no matter what happened going forward, he had Captain Dick Simmons there by his side.

“You finally decided to show up to the award ceremony that’s for everyone? Congratulations,” Grif responded thickly, scratching at his chin as he only then realized that he had not shaved despite all that wasted time in the bathroom. “Son of a…”

“No, you big idiot,” Simmons half laughed, a breathy, nasally noise that — no matter how many times he heard it — Grif never felt like he had heard enough. “I’m trying to say I’m here for you. Awards and stuff, sure, but I mean more generally… more… bigger… I’m always gonna be with you. On your side. All that stuff.”

Grif looked at Simmons, brows raising high toward his hairline.

“What? Like… metaphorically? You’re metaphorically showing up to the award ceremony from A New Hope which totally isn’t lame at all and now that we’re pretty close to it, being knighted as a space knight hero is pretty fucking rad?” Grif tried to clarify. “Because if that’s our takeaway I have to say — no fucking duh, and welcome to the right side of the Force. Which, we all agree, is the Gray Jedi.”

Simmons gave what had to be at least in the top ten of the universe’s largest eye rolls before coming forward. “Shut up, Grif.”

“You’re metaphorically here to tell me to shut up?” Grif continued only to be taken by complete surprise when Simmons surged forward and landed a kiss on his lips.

Blinking a few times, Grif wasn’t sure what to do, even as Simmons began to nervously back away. But before he was going to allow any of that, Grif reached forward, grabbing Simmons by the shoulders and bringing him into a deeper kiss, one that was beyond any sort of expectations.

The kind of thing that caused a dozen camera flashes all at once and earned some cheers and jeers from the other gathered award recipients.

“HA!” Sarge howled. “Kept the smile for the pictures! Hot dog!”

#RvB Reverse Big Bang #writing #rvb fic #Grimmons #Dexter Grif #Dick Simmons #Agent Washington #Colonel Sarge #Michael J Caboose

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mbti-analysis · 7 years ago

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MBTI types: the Analysts

Based on the people I know

Part Two. (Read Part One)

Not really as sheltered and socially anxious as most people think.

Kinda thought of nerds/geeks/”the quiet kid”, and more often than not, they don’t really fight the idea because honestly, who has the time?

They are quite the contradiction in my opinion. INTPs are Ti-dom, so of course they’re thinkers, but they’re not prone to overthinking the things most people overthink like awkward interactions with someone

^ So I guess you could say they have their priorities sorted out pretty well

Never ever gossip. You tell them something in confidence, and they will not only not tell anyone; they’ll probably also forget about it, so that’s reassuring

If you share an interest with them, honestly the best to talk to because they don’t hide their excitement like some thinkers, but they also come up with the best theories, interpretations, and connections like parallels.

Can be a little bit lazy

Not really that studious overall, but if they genuinely like a subject, they’ll want to learn it and research it themselves ie. History.

The kinda people where if they’re around other INTPs or other people they share an interest/element with, they can communicate without words. Like if something reminds them of a reference/meme/inside-joke, they’ll immediately look at each other and just know. This sounds like Ni, I know, but it’s more that their Ne starts working in sync.

Really fun sense of humor. Like I swear, they communicate 90% through their eyebrows, and it’s the most hilarious thing.

Really fun to interact with

Never take themselves too seriously

Kinda compulsive liars, and by kinda, I mean 100% almost definitely

Have a lot of “what if” moments. Like you’ll be talking to them about what kinda drink you like, and they’ll just go “what if drunk was like our natural state, and when you had alcohol, you’d become sober and be able to think clearly, and you had all these scientists and stuff drink and work, while the rest of the world just went crazy? I think about that a lot.” It’s kinda amazing.

Come up with really creative but often not really insulting insults

^ Pretty sure the guy who said “Your mother was a hamster and your father smelt of elderberries” was an ENTP.

Give really good constructive criticism

Like smirking and winking

Flirt with pretty much everyone because that’s just their way of communication

Also pretty lazy. Usually half lying down in the chairs in class

Don’t really talk as much as some of the people annoyed by them say? Like it’s not that they never shut up. It’s more that they make a lot of comments, like during class or movies or whatever.

Have a killer sense of humor usually, so talk as much as you want tbh.

I had a group of friends back in high school, like 3 people, who all thought of themselves as INTJs, and while they were first assessing my type, they typed me a possible INTJ as well, but in reality I think only one was an INTJ, so my perception of them might be a bit off, but...

Usually like history and are fascinated by historical figures, even bad ones like Hitler

Like to think from a morally gray perspective

Honestly the “True Neutral” of all the MBTI types.

Are good at debating, but they talk more than they listen during debates. Too much offense, not enough defense

^ Sometimes turn debates into arguments tbh

They offend people during arguments when they don’t really mean to and will insist that “it’s not an argument; it’s a discussion, jeez.”

Into things like personality theories because their Ni is very open to theories, and ones like MBTI are compelling to them because they’re in a neat little box

They like to keep themselves busy

Have a kind of dark humor. Or even if they don’t, they’ll still say dark things just to freak you out

If you ever get an INTJ pissed at you, may God help you

^ Cause they won’t really say much or shout at you ever, but they’ll back off a little, look at you with a stare that stings, and say exactly what they need to break you

Not very easily satisfied with anything

Tend to be the type who spend a lot of money for something that will last such a long time that it’ll be more favorable in the end

Into technology

Expressive when it comes to things/people that bother them -- sighing, scoffing, raising eyebrows, rolling their eyes, etc.

I’ve noticed them do the jaw thing a lot too tbh

Like mystery and crime shows and especially intrigued by shows like Dexter

Their insults sting a little, but they’re so good, I can’t even mind?

I wouldn’t call them stubborn about their opinions, but like if you make an argument against something they said, they won’t say you’re wrong, but they definitely won’t say you’re right either

Will admit themselves if they’re wrong, but won’t tell you you’re right ever

Very competitive. If you wanna get their attention, just challenge them at something.

^ Person: “I hear you’re the best here at pool” ENTJ looks up *-* “I’m not, but now that I have that title, I will defend it.”

Kinda always give off a serious or cool vibe, but have a silly sense of humor. Like they’ll just laugh at anything when alone. Will do their absolute best to hide it in front of others tho

Again, I would like to post a few disclaimers:

I haven’t had positive relationships with a person of each type, so if I post negative things about a type, it’s not because I think badly about the type; I’ve probably only known toxic people from that type. I’m just describing the people I know.

I have told some of my friends about MBTI, and they have taken the test. I don’t, however, always agree with the results, so I type people myself based on my own understanding of the functions. That is what I’ve based the descriptions upon.

All textures used in the image headings are by Z-GrimV on Deviantart.

Lastly, if any of you have different experiences with the types or if you yourself contradict any of these descriptions, let me know!~

#mbti #myers briggs #myers briggs type indicator #mbti theory #mbti types #analysts #entp #intp #entj #intj

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gigsoupmusic · 5 years ago

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White Reaper 'You Deserve Love'

White Reaper are incredible at surface level. Across their first two studio albums, the Louisville rockers have excelled at the hard-to-capture fusion of sincerity and humour. Their debut album is called 'White Reaper Does It Again'. That, in itself, is brilliant. The 2017 follow-up, 'The World's Best American Band', speaks for itself. It is almost an annoyance having to listen to the songs or albums because the titles are too good. Thankfully their songs are good. Really good. With albums one and two, White Reaper positioned themselves as a digestible variation of a Bad Boy - the songs are greasy, slightly one-dimensional and not to be taken seriously in the slightest. The five-piece were like the rebound boyfriend you had in college that you knew you were better than, but kept going back to. Disclaimer: that may be a massive disservice to a band that are remarkable at churning out great songs at a great rate (one album every two years). If the album titles are any indication of the side of White Reaper you are getting, then 'You Deserve Love' is the band at its most heartfelt. Album three is a step to a slightly more serious, if controlled, White Reaper. Here, the band have signed to Elektra Records - making this their major label debut. They take to the challenge with reassured confidence that the band who proclaimed themselves (ironically perhaps, although...) 'the world's best American band' still exists, only this time with polish and a shower. You can figure out, just by looking at the album titles, that 'You Deserve Love' is White Reaper's coming-of-age album. The title alone (surface level, again) is a strong enough indication. The songs only further that belief. 'Headwind' is a clear example of the band expanding. It is a chunky introduction: heavy but melodic, it lures you in. The song is nowhere near as instantaneous as their previous two album openers, but with its twinkle keys laced upon the thick guitars, you will be smiling from the off. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=31jvtk3Z8AU The first track continues one of White Reaper's longest tropes: distinguishable lyrics. Denim-rocking, head-shaven vocalist Tony Esposito has an incomparable knack for being cool. If his look does not sell it, his performance will. Esposito, on occasion, does not sing words, he sings attempts at words. Throughout the verses on 'Headwind', he closes each stanza with a recital of the song's title. However the end result is less, "headwind, headwind", more, "hay-wee, hay-wee-yeah". It might sound tame if it weren't for the confident rocking going on behind it. It is that big, heavy sound where White Reaper thrive. 'Hard Luck' - the album's longest song at four minutes - rides a sleazy riff. It is on electric overdrive, only to be fluffed up by some power piano chords. The song is absolutely huge - far bigger than the airy introduction would suggest. With a chorus to strain your neck to, 'Hard Luck' is also one of the most emphatic numbers. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KV855omW9n4 The short blast of 'Raw' swiftly follows. A major tempo change, the song closely resembles a bar fight. The album stand-out is like a turbo-charge through the night sky. While the two-note riff gets a little repetitive in its 150-second runtime, the second half is one of the album's strongest moments, thanks to Nick Wilkerson's drums. The combination of the aforementioned two songs is a one-two punch to grip you and throw you around. White Reaper, as they have teased on their first two records, are comfortable showing their sentimental side. The garage rock has morphed into power pop over time, but the heart is in the same place. '1F' (a highway exit near Cincinnati) is a genuinely sincere song, almost surprising in its sweetness. Covering topics such as a lover and cars, it is very much the American Dream - if White Reaper wrote 'Getaway Car'. The very personal number ("Sing songs to each other 'cos we're all we can get") shines in the chorus; the backing vocals sound Grease-like while the ballad-pop unfolds. White Reaper's relationship with the audience is detrimental. The album titles, the ballsy swagger, the look: they only work if fans are in on the joke. The relationship is tested with 'Eggplant'. The song is not, as one would expect, a sex organ-centred lament. Instead, an organ-centred sex lament (that is the best this writer can do, he apologises greatly). It is surprisingly the best song on the album: a schmaltzy number ripped straight from a disco in the '80s. 'You Deserve Love' will not have quite the same lasting effect as their other projects, namely their previous album. Be it the similar song structures (the consistently brilliant keys from Ryan Hater dominate most songs) or the same topics, everything begins to blur into one after a while. And not in the classy, coherent manner that 'The World's Best American Band' boasts. Songs come and go - they are short, enjoyable and then just move on. The third album does still feel like a continuation of the White Reaper story. Power pop is a natural fit for them: the big choruses, racy presence, determined songwriting. Nonetheless they make space for the guitars that shaped the band's early days. The title track may not end with the same fulfilled energy that previous records offer, but the strong guitar lead drives it home. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iHGsRJhhKEM Make no mistake, White Reaper know how to have fun. 'Ring' and 'Saturday' are fine figures of a new, bigger sound that still resembles the past. The former is a foot-to-the-pedal stampede - the energy is maintained right to the thrilling (albeit abrupt) ending. The latter is, of course, a song for the weekend. The three-minute rocker is an album highlight - catchy, tight and exceedingly fun. With keys that are winking at you and a fine head-banging chorus, this is a song crafted for the car. 'You Deserve Love' finds White Reaper in stride. The quintet maintain that bite, that charm and, most importantly, the relationship with the listener. They are still that short-term rebound boyfriend, only now they are on the right path. They are washed, healthy and determined to evolve. Their third is not their best album, but an important reminder that even on their mildest days, they can put on a show. One day White Reaper will make it. Even if they don't, their messages will matter to those who encounter them. 'You Deserve Love' by White Reaper is out now via Elektra Records

Read the full article

#review #WhiteReaper

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auroraphilealis · 8 years ago

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The Summer (26/33)

The Summer (26/33) | Dan Howell has spent the last three summers at Camp Bergamot, but it’s never been quite like this before. This year, he faces a summer full of new friends, a new relationship, and an entirely new view on his own sexuality. Perhaps Camp Bergamot should be renamed camp self discovery for all the changes Dan has gone through, but one thing’s for sure - despite all the hiccups and the drama, he just might have found the love of his life. | Phan | Mature | Smut, Misunderstandings, Insecurity, Panic Attacks, Bullying, Minor Violence, Physical Fight | 400,000+ Words

Disclaimer: In no way do I claim that this is real or cast aspersions on Dan or Phil.

This Part: 11,598 Words

For reference, @phansdick is Dan, @insanityplaysfics is Phil.

(Previous) (AO3) (Masterlist)

Warnings: sex jokes, competition, physical injury, misunderstandings, hurt, insecurity, sick (vomit)

Chapter Twenty-Six

Phil woke up the next morning feeling absolutely terrified, because that night was the talent show, and he might have had a mini freak out for a few moments before getting up that no one but himself needed to know about. He emerged late for breakfast as usual after a quick shower, and didn't eat very much, his nerves were so bad, but he did drink much water which resulted in him having to rush off to pee in the middle of a story by Clarice. He felt really bad, especially considering he already hadn’t spent very much time in her actual company, but he also kind of wanted to throw up, so he didn't say anything to anyone as he left, rushing off like a dog with it’s tail between it’s legs. Luckily enough for him, he didn’t end up throwing up, but he did end up washing his face and staring at the pale, tired features that stared back at him, murmuring quiet reassurances to himself that he was going to be okay. And he would be, he knew he would be, it was just - well, stage fright, kind of. Mostly, he hated the idea of being made fun of once again.

Dan felt amazing when he woke up that day, as he usually did nowadays. However, that quickly faded to worry when Phil showed up late to breakfast. The entire morning, Dan could tell that Phil had something on his mind. He wondered if he did something to make Phil upset, but knew that wasn't the case because he didn't actually do anything. When Phil rushed off to the loo, Dan worriedly nibbled on his lip, contemplating running after him. "He okay?" Clarice asked, cutting off her own story to make sure Dan's boyfriend was doing alright. Dam ran a hand through his hair, shrugging. "I don't know what's going on. I'm going to check on him." He stood up, chair creaking across the floor, drawing many pairs of eyes towards him. He could feel Valerie's eyes on him, but he ignored her, instead focusing on making sure his boyfriend was alright. He arrived at the restroom and hesitated. What would he even do? Knock, obviously, so he did. "Phil?" He called. "Can I come in?" The bathroom was stall based, but Dan still felt uncomfortable just letting himself in when he already knew that Phil wasn’t feeling so well.

Phil jumped when he heard the sound of someone knocking on the bathroom door, and was about to rush out of the bathroom to avoid any strange questions when he heard Dan's voice calling to him. He relaxed by a little, and moved to open the door, realizing belatedly that it wasn’t locked and Dan could have easily of just walked in, but didn't speak as he moved back to the sink and tried to breathe normally again. He heard Dan come in, but he was too embarrassed to face him, and ended up shoving his face in his hands out of embarrassment. "Sorry," he muttered as he heard the door shut again. "I'm just nervous about tonight. I- I'm not used to doing things like singing in front of lots of people."

As soon as Phil pushed the door open for Dan, he quickly stepped inside. He was greeted by the sight of Phil leaning over the sink, his skin a pasty white, and his expression completely terrified. At first, Dan thought he was going to puke. But then he was speaking, explaining himself with a hand ruffling through his hair, and Dan couldn't help but feel guilty. It was ultimately he who had caused Phil to be so panicked in the first place. He was the one who wanted to do a duet, not Phil. Phil was just doing it to make Dan happy, not because he actually wanted to do it. Dan frowned and slowly walked over to his boyfriend. He rubbed a hand over Phil's low back, feeling his sweaty skin through his shirt and pressing a kiss to his hair. "Hey, it's not all that bad," Dan murmured. "I know it's a really scary thing to do, but nobody is judging you. It's all just for fun. Besides, I'll be right by your side at all times. If you think you'll look like an idiot, then I'll be right there with you."

Dan's touch on his back was a comfort, and Phil leaned into it, managing a smile when Dan leaned in to kiss his head for good measure. He couldn't help the embarrassed little chuckle, and let out the breath he'd been holding. "Yeah," he agreed simply, not because he actually thought Dan would look silly, but because he didn't know what else to say and he didn't want Dan to think Phil wasn't trying to take his advice seriously. "It's all just new to me, that's all. I'm used to making an idiot out of myself - just not usually for fun," he added, finally turning and facing Dan properly with a slightly terrified smile. "But I guess if I have you there, it can't all be bad."

Dan beamed at his boyfriend, his stomach flipping when Phil mentioned that it couldn't be too bad if he had Dan there with him. It wasn't like Dan didn't understand the terror of going on stage - it was just that he was used to it. He did drama at school so he was used to having all eyes on him, used to having the attention. But Phil was not. Phil was used to staying in the shadows, of blending into the crowd as best as he could. Dan made a promise to himself that he would make this the best thing in the entire world, and that Phil would have fun. He wouldn't forgive himself if Phil went off stage feeling worse than starting off. "We'll only be on stage for a short amount of time, so I'll make sure that you have a lot of fun." Dan giggled and leaned forward to kiss Phil's cheek. "I'll even give you a kiss afterwards!" Dan would probably already have kissed him anyways, but he just wanted to see Phil smile properly so he was trying his damned hardest to do just that. "We'll be great, we make a great duo."

One of Phil's favorite things had always been when Dan kissed him on the cheek, and he flushed a dark red even now. He wasn't embarrassed so much as... warm, his heart doing strange things in his chest at the feeling of such open and honest affection, all for him. He found himself smiling before he knew it, and then he was laughing and rolling his eyes playfully at Dan, but secretly, deep down, he couldn't wait for a kiss as a reward after their performance, preferably where everyone could see it, maybe right at the end of the song... Phil wondered if he could convince Dan of it, and found his smile growing even larger, until he was reaching out to proper hug Dan and pressing his lips to Dan's while he was at it. Dan made a surprised noise, but then he was sinking happily into it, and Phil found that this was all he'd really needed to calm down. “Okay,” he eventually ended up agreeing, kissing Dan once more for good measure. “But I’m holding you to that promise of a kiss after.” After that, they returned to their friends, holding hands once again with matching smiles on their faces, and Phil didn't miss the way that Valerie's eyes followed them, looking disappointed like she'd been convinced they were in the midst of a breakup she could take advantage of. Phil was tempted to stick his tongue out at her, but he didn't. Just the thought of her still made his blood boil, and he didn't want to think about her any longer than he absolutely had too. He had Dan, and that was all that mattered.

Much to Dan's relief, Phil seemed to calm down after they kissed. Dan stored that in his mind for future reference and made an effort to be extra clingy that day. The talent show was happening later that night in place of the usual camp fires, allowing the campers to have an entire day to prepare and get some extra practice in. So even during activities, Dan made sure to be extra affectionate to Phil. It made Phil relax some, relax into him and to stop thinking about the show later that night. Dan was so grateful that he had the opportunity to calm Phil down, and he made sure to place extra little kisses on his lips and cheeks whenever he saw the chance. They still practiced a little during workshops, using the little theatre room, but Dan made sure to make it as fun as possible. As they sang, Dan took Phil in his arms and began to sway them back and forth. When he got a bit more into the song, he was then twirling Phil around, the room filling with their giggles. They knew how ridiculous they looked, but they found that they didn't care because they were having fun. Phil's smile was wide, and that was all that mattered to Dan. He would do anything just to make Phil keep smiling.

Practicing with Dan was... suddenly less terrifying and a lot more fun that afternoon, and Phil found himself giggling in the theater room as Dan insisted on distracting him from all of his lines to dance around the room with him. Phil couldn't bring himself to mind, when Dan kept catching him and twirling him in his arms, making a fool out of both of them all for the sake of a good laugh. Phil found himself relaxing before he knew it, really getting into it then, and dancing with Dan back, spinning him because he could and giggling into his mouth when he stopped in the middle of the song to kiss him full on the lips. Dan kissed him back, even as he complained afterwards, and was just as much to blame for having such a tempting mouth, but it made Phil happy, and it helped him to calm down, until finally, he felt so comfortable in the whole situation that he was singing it all on his own - under his breath, of course, but his ears weren't completely red and he wasn't entirely terrified anymore, and Dan was hanging off of his arm, so what did Phil really have to be afraid of? Nothing, it turned out, because when the talent show began that night, right outside in front of the largest camp fire, Phil found that most people were taking the mickey out of themselves just as much as they were the rest of them, and suddenly, the whole thing seemed a whole lot easier. Just before they moved to take their turn up on the stage, Phil turned to Dan and whispered in his ear, "I want you to dip me, at the end, and kiss me, right there in front of everyone," he insisted, and then their names were being called and Dan didn't have a chance to deny or confirm or argue or anything like that. The nerves were back, but they were partly excitement, and Phil's heart felt like it was going to burst right out of his chest, but how could he complain when he had Dan right here, right now - the music started, Phil's voice cracked, and then they were on.

Phil's words made Dan's eyes widen in surprise. He wanted Dan to kiss him? In front of everybody? Not that Dan was complaining because he would love that, but he would have thought it would make Phil even more nervous or something. But Before Dan could speak, all eyes were on them and the music was starting. It was Dan who had to start first because he was Gabriella, and he played it up as a nervous girl who had no idea what she was doing on stage. When Phil began to sing, his voice cracked, but Dan then saw him turn his attention away from the audience to look at Dan instead, probably as a way to cope. So Dan grinned and began singing again. By the time the chorus came, the entire audience was forgotten. They were absolutely jamming, hearing the screams of the audience and the nostalgia hitting Dan right in the feels. He was grinning, laughing, as he and Phil spun around the stage, much like they had earlier that day, and his chest swelled with pride as Phil seemed to be getting over his stage fright as well. The last notes were fast approaching and Dan didn't want to disappoint. As soon as they sang the last words, he grabbed Phil, dipped him (earning a few cat-calls), and kissed him. Right on stage. Right in front of everybody. Dan couldn't stop grinning.

Phil didn't know for sure if Dan was going to kiss him, but the whole idea of it was kind of gone in the moment, because within the first few lines, Phil was turning his attention to Dan, and there was just something calming about his boyfriend's face that helped to relax Phil quite a bit. Somehow, they ended up getting the loudest cheers from the other campers as Dan took Phil in his arms and spun him across the stage, something un-Gabrielle like but still cute nonetheless. Phil did it back, a little more clumsily, but laughing through the words of the song, and having the most fun of his entire life. He'd never been one for the stage, too afraid of making a fool out of himself, but in this moment right then, he was living for it. As the song came to an end, the two leaned in to smile at each other and look in each other's eyes, and that was the exact moment that Dan reached over, dipped Phil, and kissed him full on the lips, Phil full on melted, going soft in Dan's arms and feeling his heartbeat go erratic in his chest, and while he knew it was something he'd requested, knew it was partially for show, Phil felt so loved in that moment that he couldn't stop himself from reaching up to cup Dan's cheek and kiss him back just as sweetly.

Dan didn't want to pull away from Phil. The kiss only lasted seconds, but Dan wanted it to last for hours. His heart was beating wildly in his chest and he was giddy with emotion, happy that he could finally perform a duet like that with someone that he truly loved. But even though Dan didn't want to pull away, he knew he had to because the kiss was getting to the point where it was holding on for too long, making it a bit more awkward and a lot less sweet (in the audience's eyes at least). So he pulled away with one last peck on the lips, grinning wildly at Phil as they turned to bow. The audience went crazy, and Dan had to wonder if it was because they actually did well, or if it was because they crushed the heteronormativity of the song with their own gay asses. For some reason, Dan couldn't help but like to think it was the latter.

The kiss was over far too fast for Phil's liking, but he understood the need for it as Dan pulled away and helped to pull Phil back up until he was standing. Feeling a little woozy from the head rush, but grinning none the less, Phil bowed with Dan to their audience, and couldn't help his breathless laughter in happy wonderment that people were actually clapping for them. Phil turned to Dan with the brightest smile of his life, and the second they managed to get away from the front of the bonfire, as soon as their act had been replaced by another and the attention dragged away from them, Phil yanked Dan into the best hug of his life, squeezing the life out of him as he laughed. "That was amazing!" he managed, voice high and squeaky in his excitement. "I can't believe we did that. Dan, you're amazing!" he said, still laughing as he jumped a little with Dan in his arms and dug his happy face into Dan's neck, laughing there and feeling Dan laugh against him in response.

Phil was so happy, and his laughter was honestly contagious. He was clinging on to Dan for dear life, laughing nearly hysterically with his face buried in Dan's neck. Dan was happy. He was ecstatic. He couldn't believe that Phil had such a wonderful time to where he was jumping up and down with excitement, and it was the most precious thing in the entire world. "They loved us," Dan agreed, giggling and doing a little dance with Phil in his arms. "You did so well, I knew we were going to be the perfect pair." He ignored how their friends were sidling up to them, walking towards them, and instead took both of Phil's cheeks in his hands. His eyes were soft as he looked at his boyfriend, watching how Phil's cheeks were flushed from happiness, his blue eyes shining. Dan leaned forward and pressed their lips together slowly, his heart stuttering in his chest. If it was even possible, he thought that he fell even harder for Phil then. They truly were an amazing pair, and Dan couldn't believe how lucky he was.

Phil was always going to love it when Dan kissed him, and today was no exception. He hummed in surprise and contentment when Dan pressed their lips together, and all other thoughts of their success or friends flew from his mind in preference of thinking of Dan and how perfect his mouth fit against Phil's. It didn't take long before he was threading his fingers into Dan's hair to deepen the kiss, but that was also when their friends caught up to them and started complaining. "We had enough of that on stage you attention seeking love birds," Mariaha complained playfully, causing Phil to release Dan with another happy giggle. He pressed his forehead to Dan's for added grossness and said "You're just jealous."

Dan didn't want to pull away from Phil, just like he never wanted to, but he didn't complain when they had to anyways. He didn't want to make their friends uncomfortable and he knew that he would be able to kiss Phil all he wanted later. Hell, he'd be able to kiss Phil forever if he had the chance. "Jealous my ass," Mariah muttered, and Dan giggled because she was totally jealous. Out of their entire friend group, Mariah was now the only one who was single. He couldn't help but feel sad about that. So he separated from Phil, instead opting to entwine their fingers and practically lean into his side. "I say we party for a job well done tonight," Dan suggested, grinning. "It's the last few days before camp is over. Let's fucking wreck this place."

Phil rolled his eyes, because his boyfriend was as dramatic as always, but couldn't bring himself to disagree with the sentiment. His fingers tightened around Dan's at the reminder of how little time they had left, however, and he felt his stomach swoop once again as he realized that things were... getting closer to an ending. Phil didn't know how to be with Dan outside of camp, as silly as that sounded, and he was scared everything was going to change in a not so pleasant way. For now, though, he was just going to cling onto Dan and all the firsts they'd treasured together, the way Dan made him feel, and how he brought things out of Phil Phil hadn't even realized he had in him. Their friends dragged them off for some well deserved fun, and before Phil knew it, they were swimming in the lake in nothing other than their undergarments. Phil was shaking in the cold of the water, but it was fun as they took turn after turn after turn shoving each other off the bridge, jumping in and teasing each other, having so much fun that Phil didn't have another chance to worry. More than once, Phil felt Dan brush against him, and more than once, Phil brushed against him back, but for the most part, they focused on their friends because they were sure the others would give them the last night to themselves - and Phil had a few ideas in his head about skinny dipping.

Swimming in the lake late at night with his friends was something that Dan would never get tired of. They were all laughing, the moon illuminating the surface of the water, small ripples interrupting the smooth expansion before them. It didn't even matter that they were all in their underwear- The girls were unashamed of their bodies and their bras were technically like a bathing suit anyways. Besides, Dan was gay as fuck for Phil and Caleb's girlfriend was with them so there was no need to worry about the boys coming onto them. Dan liked the way Phil's body felt against his in the water, and he had to hold himself back from just dragging him away, but he was sure they'd have more time to themselves sometime soon so he wasn't worried about it in the slightest. The entire group was just having a good time, spending their last few nights together and trying to make the most of every moment together. Not for the first time, Dan was thankful that he had met this group of wonderful people, and as the night came to an end, shivering with curled hair, Dan couldn't stop smiling.

It was on the way back to the cabins that Phil finally brought something up to Kim, later that night, that had been bothering him for a few days. He’d seen how close she and Mariah were getting after all, had seen the way they’d teased each other in the water tonight, and it was worrying Phil, who hadn’t spent very much time recently properly catching up with his best friend. So, once they’d all said goodbye to each other and taken off in different directions for their cabins, Phil reached over and took Kim’s hand in his. “Hey, so uhm. What’s like, going on with you and Mariah?” he asked, ever terrible with managing to act casual in anyway. Kim’s turned to look at him, her brow furrowed. “What do you mean?” she asked. Phil found himself blushing and ducking his head, wondering if he was making a big deal out of nothing, but pushed on anyways. “It’s just - you seemed like you’d been getting really… close, recently, and I was just wondering -” Kim cut Phil off before he could continue, a grin stretching the corners of her lips, “If anything was going on between the two of us?” she finished for him. Blushing even harder, Phil nodded his head, and was relieved when Kim merely started to laugh at him. “Ah, Philip. There’s nothing going on between us! We’re just really good friends, and since everyone else in the group has gone and paired themselves off, we’ve really only had ourselves to bond with. She’s just a good friend. I have a girlfriend, you know,” she explained, nudging Phil gently, to which Phil laughed. “I know, I know, and it’s just, in the beginning of camp you missed her so much that I just wondered if - not that I think you would cheat, but sometimes…” Phil hated himself for even suggesting it, but to his relief, Kim merely snorted at him and shoved him for good measure once again. “Shut up, you goof. Yeah, I miss her, but that’s just it. I miss her, not the like, affection or whatever. Stop worrying so much. It’s possible to love different people in different ways, you know,” she reassured Phil, and then knocked into him once more. “Just like I love you, but the last thing I ever want to do is have sex with you. Ewwww,” she whined, and then they were both laughing, the part of Phil that had been scared suddenly reassuringly soothed.

Phil took a shower that night, exhausted as he was, to warm up from the cold lake water he'd spent far too much time swimming in for how late it had been. His thoughts were all focused on Dan, though, especially know that his concerns about Mariah and Kim had been laid to rest, and he couldn't stop thinking about the way Dan’s skin had shimmered under the moonlight, the way he'd smiled and laughed, and how it had felt to have him touching Phil even that little bit that night. He couldn't help this feeling of moroseness suddenly growing in the pit of his stomach at the thought that they'd be leaving here in just two more days. Just two more days of being with Dan. Two more days… As Phil pushed his fingers through his hair to wash it, he couldn't help thinking of all the missed opportunities he'd had with Dan that they could have shared before they'd be forced to go home. Maybe it was silly, but Phil was terrified that things were going to change once they left here, and he just wanted to cling to Dan as tightly as he possibly could. His mind was a bit of a sad mess when he went to bed that night, but the warmth of the shower at least kept him from shivering his way to sleep, and he dreamt of Dan not for the first time.

Dan wasn't prepared to wake up that morning. He made a huge fuss about it, even as Mariah was the one trying to get him out of bed. "Dan, come on! You're going to be late for breakfast!" Mariah snarled, tugging on his arm and trying to get him out from his blanket cocoon. Dan groaned unhappily and burrowed himself in further. "But I don't wanna," Dan grumbled. He was just so comfortable, and he absolutely did not want to move. Why would he leave his warm cavern into the coolness of the cabin? He would be crazy if he did so. Mariah jostled him a bit more, sighing in annoyance. "I swear to god if you don't wake up I will have to get Phil in here to force your pale ass out." Dan snorted but didn't move. "Now you're just making me want to stay in bed." He could practically feel Mariah's glare on him as she scoffed. "Fine, I warned you!" She told him, and Dan sighed in relief as he buried himself back in his covers, trying to cling onto the last bits of sleep.

It seemed to be an unusual morning, as Phil had only just finished getting dressed when Mariah of all people stormed into the boys room of his cabin, and marched right on over to Phil before gripping tight to the sleeve of his shirt and dragging him from the room. Phil didn't even have a second to ask her what was going on he was so busy trying not to trip and fall as he followed after her. "Dan won't get his lazy ass out of bed, so you have to do it. No silly business, Phil Lester, today is a friend day! You can have Dan all to yourself tomorrow for all I care, but this is the last weekend of camp, and I won't have it if you're both late to breakfast, Mister!" Mariah was saying, to which Phil could hardly croak out a comment of consent before he was being pushed into Dan's cabin, the door slamming shut behind him. The other campers milling about in the small lounge like area gave Phil strange looks, to which he blinked blearily back at them before smiling, waving, and fast walking away to the boy's side of the cabin to go wake up Dan. There was a small smile on his face from Mariah's words, though, and he felt warm and loved knowing that she wanted everyone to spend the day together in order to say goodbye. It didn't' take long for Phil to locate Dan's bunk, and he smiled even sweeter as he took in Dan's curled up form on his bed. He looked so warm snuggled up like that. Phil sighed. He wanted to wake up to this sight every day. Leaning over Dan gently, Phil pressed his lips to Dan's cheek and murmured "Wake up, sleepyhead. The kids want breakfast."

True to Mariah's word, she actually did get Phil to come and wake him up. Dan was just about to drift back to sleep, his mind going blissfully numb, when a pair of warm lips pressed to his cheek. Dan melted under the touch, but whined when Phil told him to wake up. "Don't wanna," Dan pouted, peeking up at Phil sleepily. He couldn't hide the smile that found his lips when he saw Phil's soft expression as he looked down at Dan. So instead, Dan reached out of his blankets, grabbing Phil's hips, and effectively pulled his boyfriend into his little warm cocoon. "Why would I wake up when I am warm?" Dan muttered, tightening his arms around Phil's middle section and nuzzling his nose into Phil's neck.

Phil honestly hadn't been expecting Dan to reach out and grip tight to his hips before dragging him into bed with him. For the second time that morning, Phil had to catch himself before he lost his balance and tripped over nothing, falling into the bed nonetheless and far too pleased by the way Dan wound himself around Phil for it to be normal - he just really loved the way that Dan clung to him. It was the best feeling in the world, and soothed some of the parts of Phil terrified that things were going to change as soon as they left camp. Phil shivered a bit at Dan pressing his nose to his neck, but reached up to hold him back anyway. "Well, mostly because you want to spend the day with me, but also because our friends are waiting," Phil returned, pressing another soft kiss to Dan's head. His hair was soft and curly, and Phil loved having it pressed against him like this. He loved having all of Dan pressed against him like this.

"But we can spend the day together here!" Dan argued. At this point, he knew he was being ridiculous, but he really just liked being surrounded by warmth. Having Phil snuggling against him wasn't helping his want to stay in bed either, and he found himself curling around Phil, throwing one of his legs around Phil's waist to pull him closer, trapping his boyfriend in his grip. He was pouting even as Phil kissed his forehead, trying to urge him out of bed. "You're comfortable," Dan whined. But then he cracked open his eyes and sighed, peering up at Phil. He couldn't keep his upset facade for long because Phil was looking at him with an expression of pure love that was driving Dan insane. "Fine, I'll get up," Dan told him begrudgingly. "But only if you kiss me first and agree to be mine forever."

Phil couldn't stop giggling when Dan insisted they stay pressed together by wrapping his leg around Phil's waist and dragging him ever closer. Phil didn't actually mind, and he laughed as Dan snuggled him closer, seeming to want nothing more than to stay pressed tight to Phil. "I'm not a pillow," Phil complained back, smiling fondly at Dan, and surprised when his boyfriend actually bothered to move and looked up at Phil's face with the softest pair of brown eyes in existence. Phil's smile grew softer still, until he thought surely Dan could see just how much Phil loved him, and then Dan was agreeing to get out of bed, but first - with a roll of his eyes, Phil reached up and cupped Dan's cheeks gently. "I promise to be yours forever, Dan. To have and to hold, in sickness and in health..." he trailed off in favor of kissing Dan, lips melding together in that perfect way they always did now, eyes closing as he hummed and sunk into Dan properly.

Phil's words made Dan's entire chest tingle, and he shivered at the depth of them. He hadn’t realized how much he’d needed to hear those words until Phil was saying them, voice warm and soft like velvet. "Didn't know we were getting married now," Dan managed to choke out, voice teasing, but Phil didn't let him go on because then he was kissing him, lips moulding together with such familiarity that Dan's entire body went limp. Yes, he would love to be able to do this together forever. He kissed Phil back just as softly, humming as Phil's fingers stroked through his curly hair. They allowed themselves to bask in that feeling for a moment, until Phil pulled away and Dan was whining, trying to chase after his lips. "We should go," Phil whispered to him, making Dan pout. But he had promised, so he kissed Phil once more before moving to get up.

When Dan pouted, Phil was almost tempted enough to lean back in and kiss him again, push him over in his bed and snog the life out of him before doing... potentially other stuff. They hadn't fooled around yesterday, Phil could be convinced to do so today... but then Dan really was getting up, pressing another quick chaste kiss to Phil's lips and getting dressed, so Phil resolved himself to getting up and going to breakfast as well. Besides, Mariah had promised Dan and Phil could spend tomorrow together, and they couldn't very well just completely ignore their friends. Mariah and Caleb were quite a bit further away from Dan and Phil than Dan and Phil were to each other as well, so really, there were no more excuses left. Phil yawned as he stood, and then he went over as Dan pulled off his sleep shirt to wrap his arms around Dan's waist and drag him close. He hadn't missed what Dan had said before Phil had kissed him, and he could still feel the butterflies in his stomach at the idea of it. "I could marry you one day."

It was a lot harder to get up from his warm burrito than Dan had anticipated, and he huffed, rubbing sleep from his eyes as he turned to rifle through his luggage, looking for something to wear for the day. He was a bit excited for their activity that day because he was going to finally finish the painting of Phil. He wanted to see Phil's reaction when he saw it for the first time, how his eyes would light up and he would probably kiss the daylights out of Dan. The thought made Dan smile as he tugged off his bed shirt. Immediately, a pair of arms were wrapping around his bare abdomen, and Dan hummed, leaning into Phil's warm embrace. The words Phil uttered made Dan's breath catch, and he could hardly believe what he'd just heard. So he turned around in Phil's grip, grinning down at him, just to make sure he’d heard him right. "You mean that?" Dan asked softly. His entire body felt warm. "You'd really marry me?" It was a bit sickening considering they were so young and talking about marriage already, but Dan didn't care. The thought of marrying Phil one day put a grin on his face and made his stomach flutter. He wondered who's last name they would take, if Phil would want kids. But they weren't there yet. They were sixteen and had the entire future ahead of them. Still, Dan could dream.

There had been a time where Phil had thought he'd never be that guy, talking about marriage two weeks into a relationship - to be fair, he'd been with Dan for three, but that was besides the point - and yet here he was, determined to marry Dan in the end. Phil didn't imagine it would make any sense for him to date Dan if he didn't want to hopefully marry him one day, so he smiled at his boyfriend and nodded his head before he leaned in to kiss him, one hand coming up to cup Dan's cheek gently. Yeah, Phil wanted to marry Dan one day, if this all worked out, and it was kind of a promise. Phil thought he could marry Dan easy, and if he had his way, it would happen. Their mouths came together softly, with Dan humming against Phil's lips and kissing him back passionately while Phil just kind of held him, cradled his jaw in the palm of his hand the same way he wanted to cradle Dan's heart and keep it forever. When Phil pulled away, it was with tender eyes as he said "I love you, Dan."

Phil wanted to marry him. Phil wanted to marry him. Dan, of all people. He wondered what his past self would think of this moment, of how he was getting giddy over the possibility of marrying another man. He thought back to the very first day he'd laid eyes on Phil, how he’d thought he was intriguing although he didn't know why. How he couldn't take his eyes off of Phil no matter how hard he tried. Dan grinned as he thought about that. Turns out, he thinks he'd loved Phil ever since he first laid eyes on him. When Phil kissed him, Dan couldn't help but to melt into his touch, to kiss him so passionately that he could feel his heart in his throat. "I love you too," Dan whispered, trailing kisses all over Phil's face, from his cheeks to his nose to his jaw. He never wanted to stop kissing him. "I'd be honoured to be your lovely housewife one day," Dan snickered, because he just couldn't give up a chance at joking around. Phil just made him too damn happy that he could hardly contain himself.

It always felt wonderful to be peppered in kisses, and Phil was admittedly happy to have Dan being the one to want to do that to him. He laughed at the feeling of it, and rolled his eyes as Dan teased him, because he knew it just meant that Dan didn't know how else to express his own feelings of happiness right then. "Yeah? Alright, then, I guess I'll have to be the one to get a job and take care of you, then," he replied, and nuzzled at Dan a little more before pulling away, fully intending to let Dan go so they could go and have breakfast, but ended up stopping and leaning back in for one last kiss. Dan laughed at him, but Phil didn't mind, and he kissed him sweetly once more before pulling away. He didn't want to leave this moment, because he knew his worries about what was going to happen after camp would only come swooping back at him the second they were given a chance, and Phil didn't want to think about the possibility of their relationship crashing and burning the minute they were back in the real world. "Come on," Phil said, clearing his throat and pushing those thoughts to the back of his mind. "Let's go have breakfast."

"I mean I don't mind if you have to take care of me and our twelve kids," Dan shot back. He couldn't stop giggling at the image of him being a housewife, cooking dinner in an apron for when Phil got back home from work. It was just too endearing and he couldn't help leaning into Phil as he kissed him again. It was then time to leave their little sanctuary and head to breakfast, and Dan pouted as they left the cabin. Right away, he was grabbing Phil's hand, entwining their fingers together and swinging their arms happily between them. He didn't think anybody could ruin his good mood. "Took you long enough!" Mariah groaned when they found their group of friends in the cafeteria. "I thought we'd lost you to the land of sex again." Dan glared at her, his cheeks turning red. "Shut up! We wouldn't do that this early," he shot back. But that only made his group snicker a little more, Caleb muttering that yes, they would, under his breath. Okay so maybe they would do that, but it was a friend day. and Dan was not that much of an asshole.

Phil didn't even bother trying to defend them from their friends accusations, and he shrugged his shoulders with a light laugh instead, smirking when Caleb and Clarice realized Phil was looking at them specifically. He waggled his eyebrows a few times, and then discreetly fixed the color of his shirt. Immediately Clarice's eyes were going wide and she was adjusting the collar of the button up she'd chosen to wear that morning, while Caleb spluttered and tried to avert everyone's attention away. The others caught on quite quickly, however, and the taunting turned from Dan and Phil to Caleb and Clarice while the six of them wandered off to the breakfast hall. They settled in for breakfast quite quickly, with Caleb and Clarice talking about sneaking off to join them for painting today, and Mariah rolling her eyes but agreeing. The whole camp was sure to be a mess now that they were down to the last weekend, the last day of proper structured activities.

Dan was pleasantly surprised when he found that Clarice and Caleb had been doing some of their own messing around. Don't get him wrong, he figured something like that would be going on, but sometimes he forgot about anything else but his and Phil's relationship. Just goes to show how far he had his head up his ass in his own relationship. He just reminded himself to taunt Caleb about it later, just like they'd been doing to him for the past month. Breakfast went by quickly, everyone just shooting off snide comments about each other's sex lives, until it was time for workshops. Dan was completely antsy the entire time, excited to be getting back to his painting, but he did his best to pay attention to his friends while they all played ping pong. Dan, of course, had to get rather competitive, resulting in a deathly match between he and Mariah while the others watched on in silent horror. They were flinging the ball at each other hard and Dan even got hit in the face, leaving a bright red spot in it's wake. That only compelled him further though, until he was throwing out taunts and refusing to let Mariah win the match.

So Dan was competitive. Phil had already known that, but watching him go after Mariah the way he was, was... well. Terrifying. And Phil had thought his ping pong match with Dan had been scary, but this was on another level. Phil didn't ever want to face Mariah now. He was so intent on watching though, that he flinched violently when Dan got hit with the ball, about ready to walk on over there and make them both stop when Dan went after the ball determinedly and went back to his game. Phil was horrified, and he wasn't afraid to admit that he pouted a bit, concern for Dan brewing all the way until the last swing, when Mariah broke the tie and won. Dan looked pissed, Phil was relieved, and he immediately walked over to fuss over his boyfriend. "Come here," he insisted, taking Dan by the arm to draw him close. He was as careful as possible as he examined Dan’s cheek.

"No!" Dan screeched just as Dan missed the ball and felt it whir past him. Mariah let out a triumphant laugh, gloating about how she'd won, and Dan was about ready to throw the biggest temper tantrum of his life. He was so competitive it wasn't even funny, and Mariah was the only person who was just as competitive as he was, making them a terrifying match. "You bitch!" he sneered while she spit her tongue out at him, and he was tempted to just throw the stupid paddle at her. He was interrupted by Phil walking over to him, grabbing his cheeks in his hands and examining the spot on his cheek where he was hit with the ball. Dan had been so into it that he hadn't noticed the sting of the wound, but it was apparent now as Phil ran careful fingers over it. He allowed himself to relax, turning to putty in Phil's hands, and just let Phil look at him. "I'm fine," he insisted, smiling at Phil. "I promise it doesn't hurt that bad."

Phil didn't believe Dan in the least bit, tutting at him as the other boy winced a little at the feeling of Phil's fingers passing over the dark red mark on his face. Phil had seen the ball hit, he knew it was far worse than Dan was letting on, and he wasn't going to let him just ignore his injury. "It's not fine. You're face is getting swollen. It's going to bruise," Phil complained, examining the small wound carefully. He couldn't help feeling protective, couldn't help the way his stomach flipped in concern, and he winced again at the memory of seeing the ball strike Dan. "You're an idiot," he complained, tutting at Dan again and then pulling away. "We should get some ice," he decided, and flashed Mariah a quick smile when she seemed to start growing concerned. "He's fine. I'm just overprotective," he decided, taking Dan's hand in his and tugging him away. Dan was fine, Phil knew it, but he was still upset that Dan had gotten hurt in the first place.

Dan grumbled a bit as Phil insisted that they get him some ice for his face. He hadn't been lying, it wasn't that bad. It did hurt a bit, but not much at all, and Dan didn't think he needed any ice for it. "I promise it's not that bad," he said as Mariah looked at them with concern, and he flashed her a smile to prove it. Phil was so concerned that he didn't have it in him to complain when he started to pull him away towards the nurse's office, most likely. He liked when Phil was overprotective of him, like when he showed just how much he cared for Dan. It was nice and Dan didn't have it in him to argue. "This was just a ploy to get me alone, wasn't it?" Dan asked teasingly, winking.

Phil rolled his eyes, lips pursed as he dragged Dan off to the nurse's office to ask for some ice. As much as he knew he was being ridiculous, he definitely hadn't done it just to get Dan alone. He just.. he really couldn't get the sound of Dan being hit in the face out of his mind, and just thinking about it was upsetting Phil now. He shook his head, and bit his tongue, and didn't reply to Dan until they were safely locked away on a bed in the nurse's office with Phil pressing a bag of ice to Dan's face. "You're an idiot," he complained, then, because he felt ready to burst with incredulous indignation that Dan would let himself be hurt at all.

Dan giggled at Phil's words. His cheek was nearly frozen now where Phil was pressing the ice to his face, but he tried not to let it bother him. He knew just how much it meant to Phil to take care of him, so he tried to just allow him to do as he wished and baby him until Dan was all better. "I may be an idiot, but at least I'm your idiot," Dan told Phil, grinning widely. He threw a wink in there before sighing, glancing around the room with a small smile on his face. The nurse's office held a lot of memories for them and Dan could feel his heart swell just thinking about it. "Remember when I got punched in the face and ended up in here with you?" Dan asked quietly. His eyes found a loose thread on Phil's shirt and he stared at it in interest. "How we ended up really close, and I almost kissed you but didn't because I was scared?" Dan chuckled, shaking his head fondly. "I was so enamored with you, I could hardly believe you thought I didn't want to be with you. It was all I could think about. I was just too scared to act on it to protect my heterosexuality."

Phil swallowed thickly when Dan turned his gaze downward, playing with a loose thread on Phil's shirt as he spoke, reminiscing about the moment they'd gotten together. Just thinking about it still made Phil's heart race, made him ache with longing and fear, because in the back of his mind he was still so terrified that he was about to lose it all. They were going home in two days. Two days. Two more days to be with Dan unconditionally without the constant fear and pressure that everything would change the minute they were back home. This was Phil's first proper relationship, his first proper everything, and he didn't want it to end. There was no point in dating if you weren't in it for the long run, and yet... what happened when Dan had to come out to his family? What happened when he had to tell them he was dating Phil? "I remember," Phil murmured gently, eyes glued to the ice pack pressed to Dan's face so he wouldn't have to look into Dan's eyes. He was afraid Dan would see the fear there. "I was so scared... I'd started thinking, maybe he likes me, maybe he really likes me, and he's just going through a sexuality crisis. So when you asked me on the horse... I thought, I could help him, here, and maybe, I could even have a boyfriend out of it. But you wouldn't kiss me, you pulled away and I thought... I thought of course, just my luck."

Phil wouldn't look Dan in the eyes, instead keeping his gaze firmly on the ice pack on Dan's face. Dan had a sneaking suspicion that Phil was upset about something, but he didn't really know what. He frowned, mind racing. Why did Phil sound so sad? That moment was the best moment of his life. It was the moment he'd realized that he could have Phil, that he could be with Phil, and that he didn't have to do anything he was uncomfortable with just to prove that. He reached out and grasped Phil's hand in his, trying to catch his boyfriend's eye. "Realizing I wasn't straight had taken it's toll on me for a while. I was in denial about the whole thing for a while, but that moment on the horse made me realize that I had nothing to be afraid of." Dan cleared his throat, cheeks turning pink at the thought of just how he'd realized his sexuality, but he didn't bring it up. "I wanted to kiss you so bad, but I was just scared. It was like I'd woken up one day and suddenly had a thing for a pretty boy with the most beautiful blue eyes. It was pretty scary, but the best thing that's ever happened to me. I'm glad I didn't let myself get scared and run off." Dan grinned at Phil. "It got me you, and that's all I could have ever asked for."

Phil couldn't help it - as soon as Dan assured him that what he'd said to Dan on the horse had helped, he found himself smiling. He squeezed Dan's hand, the one he'd reached out to grab Phil's free hand with, and kept his eyes trained on the ice pack he was still holding to Dan's face. Phil was kind of surprised Dan was letting him draw this out when he was certain Dan must think it was ridiculous and unnecessary to begin with. "I'm glad I could help, then," Phil murmured, heart beating hard in his chest, and tears beginning to prick at his eyes, because what was he going to do if Dan got scared off once they were free of the camp? Was Phil still going to be everything he wanted, the boy with the pretty blue eyes who had won his heart, or was he just going to be that fling he’d one time when he was experimenting before his parents set him right? Phil bit his lip. He didn't want to cry. "I'd just been waiting so long for... for someone I could truly like. For someone who I could fall in love with. And then you were there, and so close, but I just - I thought you were rejecting me. When you told me you weren't, when you said you just needed time... I was so happy, Dan. I was so happy." Phil was sure he sounded choked up, and he removed the ice from Dan's face for something to do. He placed it gently next to him on the bed, and removed his hand from Dan's grip, and then leaned in close to peer at the red mark, still somewhat swollen, but definitely not as bad as Phil had made it out to be. He sighed in relief.

It was as if Dan's words triggered something in Phil because suddenly Dan could see tears glittering in those beautiful blue eyes. Phil's voice was choked up as he spoke, and Dan couldn't help but panic slightly. Was it something he'd said? Was Phil upset with him? Phil's words showed nothing but happiness and thankfulness, but there was something in his tone that wasn't quite right, and Dan couldn't figure it out. His hands fluttered nervously by his sides and he bit his lip before bringing the hand that wasn't gripping Phil's hand and placing it on his cheek. He swiped his thumb under Phil's eye, even though he wasn't crying, in a soothing motion. "Well you have me now, don't you? And I love you so much that I don't think you can even comprehend." Phil was taking the ice pack from Dan's cheek, and he just then realized how numb his skin was from the cold. He'd hardly even noticed but he shivered now. "I could never reject you. You make me the happiest man in the world, Phil. And I can't wait to get out of this camp so I can finally bring you on a proper date. I can't stop thinking about it. Finally free to do as we please." Dan smiled softly at Phil. "It'll be amazing."

Phil startled a bit when Dan reached out and swiped a thumb under his eye, soothing him and wiping away imaginary tears that weren't so imaginary when Phil could feel them still there, prickling at his eyes. He had a hard time meeting Dan's eyes, but he did it, because Dan was speaking and looking at him with an earnest expression of absolute love and adoration. He seemed confused by Phil being upset, but determined to push through, to make him feel better. At the mention of finally being free of camp... the tears fell. Phil felt his lip wobble a bit, and tried to hold himself back, but he couldn't stop it now that it had started. Dan stared up at him in confusion and worry, managing a quiet "Wha - Phil?" before Phil was kind of just... collapsing. He let Dan go to sit down next to him, and pressed his face into his hands with a silent shudder as he held back the sobs in his chest. He didn't want to cry, didn't want to look so weak and dumb, but he couldn't help it. Dan sounded so... hopeful about their future outside of here, and Phil? Phil was convinced everything was going to fall apart. Dan put an arm around his shoulders that Phil nearly shrugged off, but instead, he found himself collapsing sideways into Dan and removing his hands to stare into his palms instead. "I don't want to leave here," he whispered, voice sounding thick with tears.

Dan had just been trying to make Phil feel better, and he was sure that he was going to. How wouldn't Phil feel good when Dan was promising him that he loved him and that they were going to be able to spend time together outside of camp? It was all that Dan had ever wanted, and he was sure that Phil wanted that to. So when Phil was suddenly collapsing, loud sobs racking his entire body, Dan couldn't help but be horribly confused. He didn't know what to do or what to say because everything that came from his mouth just seemed to make Phil feel worse. What a useless boyfriend he was if he couldn't even make Phil feel better. He wrapped an arm around Phil and brought him in close, wanting to press kisses to his hair but refraining in case Phil wasn't in the mood or didn't want it. To hear that Phil didn't want to leave camp shocked Dan, and his entire body tensed on accident. He took a deep breath. "I- why don't you want to leave camp?" Dan asked, choking out his words. "Don't you want to go on real dates and stuff? I... I don't really... understand?" At that, Phil started crying harder and Dan felt absolutely helpless. "Phil, please tell me what's bothering you," Dan begged, squeezing Phil's shoulder comfortingly.

He just couldn't stop. He wasn't trying to be insanely obnoxious or annoying, wasn't trying to confuse Dan, and yet it seemed they were both causing a mess between each other now. Dan kept trying to say that he wanted to go on dates and stuff with Phil outside of camp, and Phil had gone and convinced himself that they couldn't have that. Hearing Dan get all choked up in confusion wasn't helping in the least bit, as it made Phil feel worse, but he didn't know what was going to happen outside of camp and that was what was upsetting him the most. Turning as Dan squeezed his shoulder, Phil moved to wrap his arms around Dan and dragged him in as close as he could. Dan let out a surprised sound, but otherwise hugged Phil back easily enough. Phil sniffled against his neck, trying to calm down, to find his words, but found that he couldn't. He just wanted to hide here and pretend that everything was going to be okay.

Phil wouldn't stop crying and it was making Dan upset as well. Suddenly, he was getting extremely self conscious, as if he wasn't good enough, like Phil actually didn't want to do that stuff with him. As soon as they were out of camp, did Phil want to break up? Is that why he was crying? Did he not want to go on dates and hang out with Dan? Dan's heart was sinking with each heavy sob from Phil's chest, and he did his best to bite back his own tears. He absolutely didn't want to lose Phil, but he couldn't help but feel as if he was. Phil was suddenly miles away from him, no matter how close they were in proximity. Dan let out a surprised noise when Phil suddenly turned and barreled into his chest, hugging him close. He didn't push Phil away, instead burying his nose into Phil's hair and inhaling the familiar scent of raspberries that he'd gotten used to over the past month. Even though they were hugging, Dan felt distant. He didn't know what was wrong with Phil, but he could feel himself building walls around his heart. Dan may be inexperienced, but he knew that a crying boyfriend wasn't a good thing after talking about their future together. So where Dan would normally be kissing Phil all over, he didn't. He just stayed frozen, waiting for the moment when Phil was going to tell him that he didn't truly want to be with him outside of camp.

It hurt, when Dan didn't try and fight to calm Phil down. It hurt, when he sat there frozen while Phil sobbed into his neck. It hurt when all Phil wanted was for Dan to hold him back, to mean it in his embrace, to be certain that what he wanted was a future with Phil. It hurt so, so much that Phil just cried harder, trying to cling tighter to Dan, his fingers twisting up in his shirt as he sobbed. He pressed his nose to Dan's neck, kissed him there, made a strangled sound when Dan still didn't respond, and then just kind of... let himself cry himself out. Dan never really clutched him back the way Phil clutched Dan, and all he could think was this is it. He already doesn't want me anymore. By the time Phil had stopped crying, there was a small hiccup in each of his breaths, and his nose was so blocked up that he was sure he wouldn't be able to speak properly if he tried. His hold on Dan loosened until he was letting him go all together and turning his body away. He wiped under his eyes, but he still didn't speak, because Dan - Dan didn't want him anymore, and it felt like that was it. All those false promises, and for what? What reason could he possibly have wanted to pretend like he wanted Phil after camp? He sniffled, and then stood up on shaking legs, shoulders slumped as he turned his back to Dan. He didn't know what to say. "I feel like I've ruined everything," he managed to get out, coughing because hi voice sounded rough and hoarse in all the worst ways. "This camp was - is - has been like a safe place, and I don't - I don't know what's going to happen when we leave, but - but you - do you even want me after? When everything goes back to normal? When - when you're back home, before you - before me? It doesn't - it doesn't even seem like you do."

Phil was a mess on the outside and Dan was a mess on the inside. He could feel his heart straining against his chest, beating so hard that it hurt. His hands were shaking, his hold on Phil loose, and he stared blankly at the wall as Phil cried himself out. He couldn't really feel anything at this point. He didn't know what he'd done wrong. He had thought he'd been a good boyfriend, someone that Phil could depend on, but here was Phil sobbing in his arms after Dan admitted to being excited to having him after camp. He didn't know what to feel, didn't know how to respond. How do you react when the same person you love so much is about to break your fucking heart? Dan didn't meet Phil's eyes when he finally backed away. Instead he stayed slumped in the chair, his eyes moving to stare glumly at his hands. His lips were set in a firm line, waiting for Phil to just tell him that he didn't want him anymore. So when Phil spoke, Dan was surprised. He was worried Dan didn't want him? It was a mix of emotions for Dan at that. First, he felt surprise. Surprise that Phil apparently didn't want to break up with Dan. Then came the anger because he was accusing Dan of not wanting him. And finally, the hurt. Because apparently he didn't trust Dan enough to believe that Dan would want to be with him even outside of camp. Dan felt as if he was going to puke. "I- why wouldn't I want to be with you?" Dan asked slowly, his voice quiet. He could tell that his hurt had seeped through and he didn't try to stop it. He felt like a right mess. "I wouldn't just give myself away to you only to throw you away as soon as camp is over. I'd like to think I'm better than that. I'm not- not Valerie, Phil." He took a deep breath and scratched at a spot on his thigh. "Just because I had a sexuality crisis doesn't mean my feelings for you are going to change. I'm still- still Dan. I'm still your Dan. Whether we're in camp or not wouldn't change that." Dan cleared his throat, his voice small. He couldn't look at Phil. "I love you and you should know that by now."

When Dan finally spoke up, his voice was so hurt that Phil spun on his heel immediately, staring at Dan with a tear stained, red face and a nose so stuffy he probably looked like a goose. He couldn't even began to pretend that he cared about how he looked, though, not when Dan's' voice was so small and he was avoiding Phil's gaze the same way that Phil had avoided Dan's earlier. Suddenly, Phil felt like the biggest idiot on the face of the planet, because somehow, in the midst of his own panic and unease and pain, he'd managed to hurt Dan. Phil felt his heart plummet to his feet, felt himself want to start crying all over again, and could do nothing other than stare as Dan spoke. It hurt, hearing Dan have to defend himself, hurt to realize that Phil had done that, had put that pain and hurt there, had caused something deep to press between them. He could practically see Dan curling into himself, drawing away from Phil, even as he said that he was still the same Dan, Phil's Dan, that he loved Phil and that he'd expected Phil to know that by now. Phil's bottom lip wobbled, and he pressed a face to his hand all over again to cover the tears. Fuck, fuck, how had he messed this up so spectacularly. "I -" he tried to say, but there were no words to fix this. What was he even meant to do? "I love you," he managed, and let himself collapse to the floor and curl into himself as well, arms wrapped around his legs. He pressed his face to his knees and tried to quiet the new tears as they came. "I - I do know that, I do," he tried to argue weakly, but even he knew that it hadn't sounded like it just then. "I'm just - I'm so scared. I - I don't know what's going to happen after all this, when we're not - when you have to come out, and - and be with me in public, and I -" Phil cut himself. He wasn't meant to be making excuses, what was he doing. "I didn't - I'm just -" insecure. He wanted to say he was insecure, but he couldn't make the words come out, and before he knew it, he was going quiet again. He heard Dan stand up, felt him move around Phil, knew he was leaving, and managed one more broken "I'm sorry," before Dan was gone.

Phil had started to cry again and Dan could feel the crack between them begin to deepen just a little bit more. He was trying to defend himself, trying to say that he loved Dan and that he knew Dan loved him too, but it just didn't sit right with Dan. If Phil trusted him, then why was he sitting there talking about how Dan was going to lose feelings for him as soon as they were out of camp? Dan wasn't like that. He loved Phil, he fucking loved him and it hurt to hear that Phil didn't trust him. He would cross any bridge as long as it meant he would be with Phil. He would come out to his parents and walk down the street holding Phil's hand. He would shout it from the fucking rooftops if he could. So why was his own boyfriend sitting there telling him that he wouldn't make these sacrifices when Dan was completely sure of what he was getting himself into and was ready to cross these bridges for their relationship? He couldn't listen to this. He felt like he was going to throw up. His own boyfriend didn't trust him because Dan had a fucking sexuality crisis, and Dan thought he was going to actually be sick. Without thinking about it, he stood up. His legs were shaking and his entire body was shaking, and there was bile rising in his throat. He didn't even get out any words, couldn't, before he was out the door, Phil's apology ringing in his ears. He needed time to think. Dan got approximately twenty steps away from Phil, just outside the nurse's office, when he leant over and retched right into the bushes. It left a bitter aftertaste in his mouth and he couldn't help but chuckle dryly at the irony.

(Next)

#phan #phanfic #phanfiction #phansdick #the summer #snowbunnylester

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artsyneurotic · 8 years ago

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Unfiltered Mass Effect: Andromeda Trial Reactions

Okay so I hit the gate on the main story in the Mass Effect: Andromeda trial already (just under 3 hours in... was hoping I could play a bit further before they cut me off), so I felt now would be a decent time to summarize my thoughts from my trial experience. As a disclaimer, these are my honest-to-god truthful reactions to the game so far; I am not going out of my way to be mean or snippy or whatever, but I want to be honest. I know that for some reason some fans take it incredibly personally when someone criticizes this game, but realize that there are actual issues I had with the game, as well as some good things.

I haven't tried multiplayer yet, so all of this is purely based off of Story experience, but let's start with positive things first and then work downwards...

The Good-

- Vetra is great. First impression of her is very positive, and I know she'd be one of my main squadmates.

- Drack is also great, from what little I saw. Great intro. I already like his sass.

- Liam's a cool guy. He unfortunately reminds me a bit of my brother and thus I'd be too weirded-out by that to try and romance him, but he'd be a cool pal.

- Combat feels fun so far. I like the addition of the jump jets, and being able to use them so quickly helps movement feel more dynamic than past games. I like being able to zip around and quickly reposition myself. I also like being able to freely outfit myself with a whole bunch of different biotic and tech abilities off the bat, rather than specific ones being limited to certain character types.

The Bad-

- Someone seriously needs to re-evaluate what keys they use in the customization screens... at one point there was “Esc to Confirm” ... who the fuck uses the Escape key to confirm something?? So many times in the character or outfit customizing screens where I thought I was confirming my choices and it reset all my shit back to default. There’s a ton of confusing counter-intuitive design choices in there.

- The Character Creator... I knew it was going to be limited, but I actually got mad at how limited it ended up being. The problem is this game is following Inquisition in terms of Bioware games I've played, and to go from that level of customization to this is.... well, it just really sucks. Eyes and noses are tied to the preset faces. There's no way to select a different set of eyes or nose for the base face you choose, and that’s so depressingly restrictive. Not to mention you can't rotate the eyes / noses, so I couldn't give my character a convex nose, and I couldn't rotate the eye corners to get at least some kind of variation on the eyes. The sliders they do give you are too minimal to have any real impact, aside from giving your character a giant nose or one too high up / low on the face. Every preset face had at least one facial element I disliked. Now this is more of a personal preference for me, but it basically made me hate every preset face in some way. And instead of more customization options for facial features, they gave us too many options for ugly face paint. I don't need 10 kinds of unappealing eyeliner... I’d rather have 10 kinds of eyes. I'm sure there are a lot of people complaining about the character creator, so if Bioware patches in some fixes or more options, then I'd be willing to revisit this, but as of launch, it's severely lacking and very disappointing.

- Now that I'm playing it myself, the crazy-eye thing is still distracting. I can kind of tune it out a bit for other characters, but my Ryder is still 90% wide-eyed at any given moment. I read a post on here that the sclera being so bright white and not having enough shading could be a big contributor to that, and I think that if they patched in a fix to that it would help immensely. But as of right now, the startled eyes and lack of expression make it very hard for me to connect with my character.

- Animation is still bad... and when I'm talking animation I'm referring to the cinematic animations. Creature/animal AI animations and a lot of the combat stuff looks fine and passable, they aren't the problem. It's the cutscene stuff that is frankly embarrassing. Obviously Bioware has a history of not having the most amazing animation in general, and I acknowledge that... but this game is actually looking a bit worse than ME3 and DAI in terms of expressions, automated phonemes, and general body animation. Before someone starts bitching at me, I am a cinematic animator in videogames, I know a lot of the pipelines and procedures for this stuff, so I can see where they've cut corners or just outright decided this wasn't a priority for them. And yes, I know there's a high volume of animations needed for a game like this, and it’s a big workload... but keep in mind there are still main-story cutscenes that will always be visible regardless of player choices that should've gotten at least a layer or two of polish. A lot of body animation in the cinematics look like they barely got a first pass of polish; hands are posed poorly, there are pops in some transitions, and body posture is poor in some locomotion anims. Look whenever an alien walks on a ramp in a cutscene; their feet are often smashed. Facial animations are the most noticeable and suffer the worst of the bunch, eyes often track weirdly and unnaturally, and the phoneme shapes look like they need another go-around to make them more accurate. For as cartoony/stylized as it looked, I still think DA2 was the high-water mark for me in terms of effective phonemes and expressions in a Bioware game. People looked appropriately happy/sad/pissed, and the mouth shapes were more accurate than some other Bioware titles. Basically, what I'm trying to say in all this is if you were a self-respecting cinematic animator in this game, you wouldn't use anything from this game (at least everything I've seen in the Trial) in your demo reel. If you submitted this to a AAA company to get a job, they would laugh at your reel behind closed doors. I'm not joking. Anyone who thinks otherwise is in for a rude awakening in this industry (unless they're applying at Bioware apparently, lol)

- I'm not sure how I feel about the absence of Paragon/Renegade and more polarizing conversation choices. From what I've seen so far, a lot of choices can feel rather samey or have similar results, and even with the new categories it was easy to accidentally select a dialogue choice that was different that what I intended to say. It's like they want the personality thing from DA2 but it doesn't look like it's working as well as it did in that game. ... But yeah there's a couple points in the Trial where I REALLY missed Renegade. You'll probably know which ones I mean, lol.

So.... yeah. I’m still in this weird grey area where I honestly don’t know if I’m getting the full copy or not. My first impressions of this game were of the low lukewarm variety. Like, I know I could play it and pass time, but it’s not feeling like a must-play game to me just yet. Perhaps that will change? Time will tell.

#mass effect: andromeda #me:a critical #first impressions #artsy rambles

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sasusakufestival · 8 years ago

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Cooties

Summary: As the years inch by, the competition between them becomes more and more apparent. It’s entirely good-natured on Sakura’s side, but the same can definitely not be said for Sasuke. He is as intense in his dislike of her as he is in his love for his brother and parents. [SasuSaku Festival 2017 – Day 10 – Prompt: “SasuSaku Rivals”]

Disclaimer: This story utilizes characters, situations and premises that are copyright Masashi Kishimoto, Shueisha, Shonen Jump and Viz Media. No infringement on their respective copyrights pertaining to episodes, novelizations, comics or short stories is intended by the author in any way, shape or form. This fan oriented story is written solely for the author’s own amusement and the entertainment of the readers. It is not for profit. Any resemblance to real organizations, institutions, products or persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental. All fiction, plot and Original Characters with the exception of those introduced in the books, manga, video games, novelizations and anime, are the sole creation of KuriQuinn and using them without permission is considered rude, in bad-taste and will reflect seriously on your credibility as a writer. You will be pecked to death by a hawk should you be found plagiarizing.

Warning:Spoilersfor pretty much everything up to Chapter 699.

Canon-Compliance: Takes place during Part I. Team 7 goes from ages 5 – 10 over the course of the story.

Fanon Compliance: Could conceivably take place in my Meanwhiles and Neverwheres non-massacre AU timeline

AN: This is unedited. I basically powered through it in between interviews with parents tonight and scrambled to get it done. Edits will happen when they happen, maybe this weekend if I and my beta have time.

Sasuke Uchiha is convinced that Sakura Haruno is a demon.

From her ridiculous coloured hair to her too-bright eyes, to the way she walks around with a straight back, exuding total confidence in a way none of the other kids do. Unlike the other girls that silently clamour to sit beside him their first day at the Academy, she chooses a seat at the very front of the class, and reads what looks like an instructional scroll until their instructor arrives. When she notices him staring at her, she looks up and smiles in a way that makes the whole room feel uncomfortable and warm.

Like he’s her very favourite person in the world, even though they have never actually met.

Sasuke decides right then that there is something about her he doesn’t trust.

It turns out his instincts on this one are good, because she's weird.

Several mornings into the new academic year, Sasuke waits in the classroom, anticipating the moment when the first students start to trickle in and another tedious day of lessons begins. The peace of the morning is abruptly broken by hurried footsteps and a slamming door. Before he can react, he is cornered by a flushed and panting girl, who boldly plants herself barely two feet away from him.

He, of course, knows her from class, but they’ve never even exchanged two words before. Yet she addresses him as if they know each other well.

“Sasuke, I don’t have a lot of time, so there’s something I have to tell you because I might not get another chance,” she declares without preamble or even introducing herself. For a moment she hesitates, like the words are stuck in her throat, then she squares her shoulders. “I have feelings for you –” Which brings him up short, because theirs is a short acquaintance, and it’s the first time any member of the female species has said something like this to him, “ – but I can’t spend my time chasing after you. I have to become a powerful shinobi, and if I’m focussed on you right now it will take me longer. Just remember that, okay?”

And then she takes off again, leaving him utterly perplexed.

And annoyed.

Sasuke doesn’t have much patience for practical jokes, if this is what her outburst was, and he has even less for people that waste his time. Her little declaration serves no actual point that he can discern, and yet it feels like there is a significance to it. Something beyond the strange confession, like she’s trying to offer him some secret message.

Something more than a notion as ridiculous as feelings.

He spends an entire hour puzzling over it, before gravely deciding he’s too important to be thinking of such things. She’s said she won’t pay attention to him, and he takes that as an indication he won’t be bothered by any more of her strangeness.

The matter is safely stored at the back of his mind, phased out in favour of wheedling training sessions from Itachi and telling his parents about his successes in class.

But Sakura Haruno has the inconvenient, irritating talent for being noticed. And it’s not just because of her hair, but her general temperament. During breaks, she is kind to everyone she speaks to, breaks up disagreements and quietly re-explains Iruka’s lessons if her seatmate (usually Naruto) begins to flounder.

At first, he resolutely pays her no mind – she’s no challenge to him, after all. From what he hears, her parents never made it past chūnin, she’s not from an official shinobi clan and being nice isn’t going to make her a good ninja. Sure, over time, he becomes aware that she’s one of the other students Iruka tends to compliment on ability or efficiency – Ino and Shino are as well – but that’s it.

But then Iruka starts to ask her to come to the front of the class to demonstrate problems on the board. Or show other students how to perform proper kunai-throwing technique. In fact, in this respect, their teacher praises her more than he does Sasuke.

And that needles at him.

The fact that it’s someone he doesn’t like who excels as well as he does is vaguely irritating, but it’s still something he can shrug off. After all, he supposes blood doesn't always determine ability – look at Naruto. He’s the son of the Fourth Hokage and an Uzumaki, a clan known for their immense power, and yet he’s a talentless loser. And Shikamaru is probably smarter than all of them put together, but has the lowest scores in the class.

The whole issue with Sakura Haruno is a fluke, nothing worth acknowledging.

Until their first evaluations come in.

Sasuke fully expects to be at the top of the class – in fact, by his calculations he is. Except when Iruka gets up to announce the results, it’s Sakura’s name that he proudly writes on the blackboard, and not Sasuke’s.

It is as if his stomach has turned to lead.

While their classmates congratulate the flustered girl, Sasuke tries desperately to figure out how she beat him. She’s talented, sure, but he's Uchiha. His father is the police captain, and his mother was a skilled jōnin, and his brother was the youngest graduate from the Academy since the hero Kakashi Hatake. The way of the shinobi should not come more easily to her, so why is this nobody proving a challenge to him?

No answer presents itself other than the fact that maybe, just maybe, he hasn’t been putting the right effort into achieving his potential.

From that moment on, Sasuke vows to beat Sakura at all costs.

He flings himself into his studies, something he never expected to have to do, and increases his training regimen. He observes her during taijutsu exercises, cataloguing her (admittedly few) weaknesses, and races to complete classwork faster and better than she does. He even takes to sitting up front with her, if only to keep track of her progress in relation to his own. It means sitting with Naruto, too, because for some reason she’s friends with the idiot, but he accepts this as a necessary evil.

It always makes him look better by comparison, so it works out.

At first Sakura seems confused by his attention, even puzzled, but over time she starts to react to his obvious ire with something like…delight? It’s strange and weird, and not knowing why she has that reaction makes him even angrier. He thinks she has an ulterior motive of some kind, perhaps she isn’t as nice as people think, because no one is happy to have someone dislike them.

As the years inch by, the competition between them becomes more and more apparent.

It’s entirely good-natured on Sakura’s side, but the same can definitely not be said for Sasuke. From a young age, he had a tendency toward grudges, and his feelings radiate from the core of his heart to the tips of fingers. He is as intense in his dislike of her as he is in his love for his brother and parents.

“I don’t get it,” Naruto says one day in class when Iruka partners them together for sparring. “She’s nice to everyone, even the girls that make fun of her. How can you not like her?”

Which Sasuke doesn’t answer, instead soundly pummelling the Hokage’s kid to the ground.

He’ll probably get reprimanded for it later – Father will look disapproving, and Mother complain that she now has to apologise to Aunt Kushina on his behalf. And the next time Sasuke sees him, Cousin Obito will give him some long-winded lecture about friendship and respect and a final, “try not to kill my sensei’s kid, okay?”

But it’s worth it. Besides, it’s not like the popular boy can’t take a beating every once in a while. And answering Naruto would mean admitting out loud that Sasuke considers Sakura a rival, which would mean acknowledging her existence. He refuses to stoop to that level.

But the enmity is there nonetheless, and the rewards thereof fluctuate between them.

One day, Sasuke is at the head of their class in substitution jutsu, but the next Sakura produces not one but three consecutive substitutions during a game of capture-the-flag, thereby securing a win for her team. Another day, Sakura has all of her mathematics homework done perfectly, and Iruka has her name up on the board again. So, Sasuke stays up the whole night wrestling wildly with the confusing symbols and equations until his sums are perfect, earning the coveted spot as top student. He even managed to repeat this for three weeks straight.

The girls praise him and the boys mutter, and he pretends like it was no effort at all. Sakura shrugs, and goes back to whatever scroll she is studying this week.

Sasuke’s streak comes to an end when they begin learning about chakra control. Here, he finds a difficulty that can’t be fixed by mere memorization and repetition. Here, Sakura is the clear master, and again Iruka has her go around to the other kids that need help; she spends almost her entire afternoon trying to explain to Naruto what he’s doing wrong.

Sasuke resolutely tunes out everything she is saying, insistent that he will figure it all out on his own. When she comes by to offer him assistance, he barks out, “I’m fine. Go help someone who needs it.”

“Well, if you’re sure,” she tells him, and then moves on to one of their other classmates.

She doesn’t even get mad? What the hell is wrong with this girl?

By the end of the day, he manages to get a handle on it – not as well as she can do it, but better than the rest of his class – and he feels some small measure of vindication.

Then there’s the day when they both achieve a perfect score on their latest evaluation module – word problems and taijutsu forms and even a Rope Untying Jutsu. After announcing their joint results, Iruka puts both their names up on the blackboard beside one another. The boys hoot and make catcalls, the girls whisper mutinously, and at lunch some idiot (he’s pretty sure it’s Kiba) draws a heart around their names.

Sakura appears mortified, and Sasuke is furious.

The girls throw a fit and are quick to erase the offending drawing, turning on Sakura as if she is responsible, and Naruto spends the walk toward the Compound (he sometimes stays with Obito and Rin when his parents are away) loudly complaining to Sasuke, as if it's his fault it happened.

“She’s the only girl in the entire school you actually remember the name of,” he rants. “Of course people are gonna tease you! Which makes it harder for people who actually like her to get noticed!”

Naruto’s crush on Sakura is pathetic, and Sasuke tells him so.

Which may or may not result in them pounding the hell out of each other and arriving at his cousin’s house a mess of bruises and cuts.

“I feel like I’m reliving the past,” Obito laughs, while Rin heals the worst of the injuries. Sasuke is thankful for this, because he doesn’t relish the idea of having to explain them to his mother. “The only thing missing are a pair of goggles and those crappy books!”

“What books?” Kashi pipes up curiously from where she is playing with a stuffed dog.

“Books you can read when you’re eighteen,” Rin tells her daughter sternly, and the youngest Uchiha shrugs, unbothered, before going back to her toys.

Naruto sniggers. “If they’re about girls, then maybe Sasuke should read them now. That way he can learn not to be an asshole to S – ow, what the hell, you bastard?!”

“Sasuke!” Rin snaps. “That was utterly uncalled for! Do you think your father would approve of that behaviour? And Naruto, if I hear language like that coming from you again, I’m going to have a conversation with your mother, and I guarantee you won’t like the results.”

Both boys turn pale at the respective threats.

“Oh, I have a feeling this is going to be the norm from now on,” Obito muses, both too amused and too knowing for Sasuke’s liking.

But the subject is dropped, and Sasuke makes a mental note to spend less time at his cousin’s house from now on.

In class, his exploits continue.

Every month they have a progress test to check their skill levels. Waiting for the results always ends up feeling like a week of pure torture. Especially because for three months straight, Sakura ends up coming out just ahead of Sasuke.

This fact is now a topic of dinner conversations, much to his mortification and fury.

Fugaku has been asking questions, wondering distantly why Sasuke isn’t at the top of his class like Itachi was. Sasuke refuses to use the excuse of a civilian girl being better than him. Instead, he accepts his father’s belief that he isn’t working hard enough, and redoubles his efforts. Every day, he wakes up even earlier, forces himself through any subject that he finds difficult just for the possibility of overtaking her in class.

Slowly, it pays off.

More often than before, Iruka stands at the front of the class, congratulating Sasuke on being the top student of the week. Then for the term. And it happens again the next month, and the next, and by the end of their penultimate year at the Academy, Sasuke is named Rookie of the Year.

He is smug and satisfied with the news. Finally, he has done what he set out to do, and expects to be treated accordingly. On the day the news is announced, he expects Sakura Haruno to be devastated.

But his moment of triumph falls utterly flat when after class, Sakura comes up to him and beams. Her eyes shine with something that looks strangely like pride.

“Congratulations!” she says, with genuine and obvious pleasure. “I know you worked really hard for this! You deserve it.”

And his chest feels warm and the blood rushes to his cheeks and he is angry.

He expected her to be resentful, or even annoyed. Maybe he was hoping she would declare her own efforts to out-do him, or get angry at him – hoping she would do something that shows she feels the sting of defeat the same way he does.

But there is nothing there but joy, and for whatever reason, this enrages him, and the words are out of his mouth before he even understands what he is saying.

“Don’t be annoying,” he tells her coldly. “Your congratulations mean nothing to me. I beat you, therefore to me, you don’t exist anymore.”

There’s a long, horrifying beat of silence.

And there it is.

Her face falls, the brightness in her eyes fades, and the smile disappears. Her lips purse, and for a brief, brief instant, he sees an angry shadow cross her features.

He waits for her to lash out at him – she’s done it before, to Kiba or Naruto when they say something particularly obtuse, and she doesn’t hold back a tongue-lashing when it comes to Ino. But then she smiles –

Fake!

– and quietly tells him. “I’m happy for you anyway, Sasuke.”

And then walks away.

He tries to ignore the fact it feels like she takes all the colour of the room when she leaves.

He doesn’t see her for the rest of the day, or the next. She is not in class, or the hallways, and there are whispers from the other kids that he pretends not to hear. A tiny, niggling feeling that might possibly be guilt begins to pick at him.

Even if it didn’t, everyone he is on speaking terms with seems to have an opinion on the matter.

“I’ve never seen Sakura as upset as she was yesterday,” Naruto tells him that morning. “She didn’t say a word the rest of the day, and she didn’t even wait for me to walk her home like she usually does.”

“That just means she’s finally gotten tired of your voice,” Sasuke insists, but he is off-balance enough to succumb to a clumsy uppercut from his friend.

And Ino corners him around lunch, shoving a finger in his face and snapping, “Just because I like you doesn’t mean you get to be a jerk to my friend! You should apologise to Sakura!”

He turns and stalks away. “Hn.”

Kashi, who has been attending classes at the Academy now since the beginning of the year year, runs into him as he is heading home. With total solemnity, she informs him that he is a moron.

Because, of course, Sakura is hugely popular with the younger students.

I don’t care what they say, he insists to himself, even if the words in his head are beginning to sound less and less certain.

He walks home completely alone, realising that without Naruto or Kashi tagging along, he’s alone with his thoughts. It’s more than a relief when he encounters Itachi and his cousin Shisui in the courtyard outside the house.

“Sasuke,” his brother greets, a gentle smile on his face. “I heard you made it to the top of you class this year.”

Sasuke’s heart lifts. He doesn’t even question how his brother found out. “Yeah.”

“Well done.”

“Yeah, kid, that’s pretty cool,” Shisui tells him with a grin. “I guess you finally showed everyone that you’re as smart as your big brother, huh? I bet you impressed that crush of yours, too.”

Sasuke’s brief elation evaporates.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he growls.

“Your little girl friend. Aunt Mikoto says –”

“Shisui,” Itachi warns, noting Sasuke’s expression, just before he snaps, “I don’t have time for girls and definitely not one who is so weird and smiles so much!”

Shisui sniggers, obviously not taking him seriously, and Itachi offers him a pandering smile.

“There’s nothing to be ashamed of, Sasuke. You could do a lot worse.” He says this with a faraway, thoughtful look in his eyes, and Sasuke realises there’s no point to defending himself further.

So he decides to leave, but not without a parting shot and meaningful glare at Shisui. “You mean like you?”

The sound of two chokes of disbelief when he turns his back are totally worth it.

The victory is short-lived, however, because at dinner it starts again.

“I had tea with Mebuki Haruno today,” she chats brightly as she doles out second helping to her husband and sons. “She’s mending our good clothes for Inabi’s wedding next month. She was telling me about how excited Sakura is for summer. She’s in your class, isn’t she, Sasuke?”

“Hm.” He shoves a tomato in his mouth to avoid a proper answer, but off his father’s raised eyebrow, he swallows quickly and mutters, “Yes.”

“We should have them over one afternoon,” Mikoto continues. “They’re such a nice family. And talented, from what I hear. Iruka says she and Sasuke are usually neck and neck in class.”

Fugaku snorts.

“She isn’t from any known clan,” he points out, sipping his tea. “I would hope Sasuke isn’t going easy on her because she’s a girl. That dishonours your abilities and hers.”

“Oh, Sasuke would never do that,” Mikoto protests. “I mean, maybe if he liked her, but – ”

Sasuke jumps to his feet at his.

“May I be excused?” he asks, but doesn’t wait for the answer, before stomping to his room. Upon shoving the shoji door closed, he proceeds to throw himself face down on his bed in a sulk.

Even my parents!

It’s beyond frustrating, like everywhere he turns today, he is destined to be reminded of Sakura. And the expression on her face when he said those words earlier.

Growling, he shoves his pillow over his head, as if that will drown out the memory of it. This is how Itachi finds him ten minutes later. He gently pries the pillow away.

“Are you alright?” he asks, and though his voice is quiet and without the expectation that Sasuke will actually answer, it’s as if he has given permission to open the floodgates.

“I don’t understand why everyone is making such a big deal over this!” he cries, clenching his fists. “Everyone tells me how I feel and they don’t listen when I tell them I don’t like Sakura! She ruins everything She’s always in the way, and when I finally beat her – when I finally get what I’ve been working so hard for – all anyone can talk about his her! Just for once, I want someone to…to…”

He trails off, words utterly failing him in his frustration.

“Acknowledge you?” Itachi supplies.

Sasuke blinks. “…Yeah.”

“May I ask you something?”

“Of course.”

“When you were named Rookie of the Year, how did Sakura react?” Itachi questions. “Was she upset?”

“No,” Sasuke mutters. “She congratulated me.”

“That was rather graceful,” Itachi says mildly. “It’s a measure of character when someone can accept defeat with ease. And even be magnanimous to the person who has beaten them. Can you think of anyone else who would react in such a way?”

“No…but that doesn’t matter!” Sasuke protests. “She’s weird! She never reacts how normal people react! And the whole time, it’s like she was happy that I was beating her, and that’s just not normal!”

“She was happy for you,” Itachi repeats. “Proud, even, would you say?”

“I…yeah, I guess.”

“Isn’t that what you wanted from the beginning? For her to acknowledge you?” Sasuke opens his mouth to correct him, but Itachi goes on, “Acknowledgement doesn’t have to mean ceding to a superior in battle. Sometimes it can be as simple as a kind word.”

Which Sasuke can’t think of a way to argue against.

Now the guilty feeling is back, and with a vengeance. He shifts uncomfortably.

“Hey…Big Brother?”

“Yes?”

“Did you ever have this problem before? With Izumi?”

A rare expression of discomfort passes over Itachi’s face.

“That is a story for another time.” He reaches his hand out and waves his fingers, indicating Sasuke come closer. Sasuke frowns suspiciously, but inches forward, only to jerk back when – of course – Itachi pokes him in the forehead. “For now, little brother, I think there’s someone else that you owe at least a conversation.”

Despite the last word, Sasuke knows his brother actually means apology. The trouble is, he’s never actually had to give one, so is unsure what to do. Maybe there’s a way he can get around actually giving one, but whatever he does, he’s going to have to face Sakura.

At the brief feeling of doubt, he frowns at himself.

He is to be a shinobi one day, and if he can’t handle talking to one girl, then he might as well give up on the whole thing now.

He wastes no more time slipping out of his room – he doesn’t think his parents will be so keen on letting him go anywhere given his abrupt departure from dinner – and heads for her house. He has never been there before, but Naruto has pointed it out to him on more than one occasion over the years, and he’s memorized the location against his will.

When he knocks tentatively on the door, he is barely given a moment to prepare a story, before it is flung open and a kind-faced woman with blond hair stands before him.

“Yes?” she asks, and then blinks at him. “Oh, goodness, you look just like Mikoto. You must be Sasuke, then – come in.”

Before he can marvel at the speed with which she comes to this conclusion, he is ushered into the house.

“Sakura talks about you a lot,” Sakura’s mother tells him cheerily, “so even if you didn’t look the spit of your mother, I’d know who you are. I hear you just got top of the class – that’s great! She was a little upset yesterday – I guess no one likes to be bumped down to second place – but she’s real happy for you. I personally think it’s good for her – she needs to take some time away from the books, you know? Go out and have some fun, but she’s so studious all the time! And she’s always down at the hospital, asking questions, wandering around the library. I don’t know where she gets it from – I hated classes, and her dad, well, he’s brilliant of course, but the attention span of a gnat. Have you eaten, sweetheart?”

Sasuke mouths wordlessly at this. “Uh…yes.”

“Well, you look like you haven’t. Do you want something?”

“I just…need to speak to Sakura,” he manages to get out.

“Oh, she’s upstairs. She should be resting, but I bet she’s studying one of her scrolls again. You go tell her to knock it off,” Mebuki tells him. “I’ll fix up some tea and biscuits for you two, okay?” She nods into the hallway. “It’s up the stairs, second door on the left.” When he continues to stare at him, she makes a waving motion. “Well? What are you waiting for? Shoo!”

Sasuke decides he doesn’t want to be subject to another barrage of rambling, and hurries up the stairs, shaking his head.

No wonder she’s so weird, with a mother like that!

He reaches the door to Sakura’s room quickly, and for a moment pauses in front of it. A sudden, overwhelming feeling of doubt hits him, and he wonders if this is what he is supposed to be doing after all. Maybe he should just wait to see her in class…

The idea of being watched apologise to her in front of their classmates makes his skin crawl.

No. Here is good. Simple and quick and then I’ll go home.

And so he takes a steadying breath, and pushes open the door.

There is a brief image of Sakura – her face red, and wet – and is she crying? He did not sign up for her crying, maybe he should just –

“KYAAAH! Don’t you knock?!”

A pillow is tossed at him, and would hit him right in the face if he didn’t duck.

“S-Sasuke?” he hears her say, tentative. When he recovers himself, he sees her face go from indignant to shocked to mortified. “Oh, my – I’m so sorry! I thought you were my mom!”

“So you threw something at her?” he inquires, studying her. He realises the reason her face is wet because it’s covered in sweat; perspiration actually soaks through her tunic. She is also positioning her body in front of something, which he thinks must have held her attention before he entered the room.

When she notices his eyes trying to see around her body, she frowns in consideration, then motions for him to close the door. When he does, she shifts aside, and gestures to the desk behind her. Or rather, what is on the desk behind her.

Sasuke realises that what she’s been hiding is a bird.

A hawk, actually.

It’s right wing is twisted at an odd angle, and some of its feathers are badly bent. The creature is arranged in a makeshift nest of a shoebox, papers and cloth, and every now and then makes feeble cooing sounds. When Sasuke takes a tentative step forward, it turns a distrustful yellow eye on him.

“It flew into my window yesterday,” Sakura explains. “I tried to heal him, but I put too much power into it and had to stop it before I accidentally hurt him. But that kind of knocked me out, so that’s why I wasn’t in school today. Mom’s been freaking out at me because I wouldn’t tell her what happened, but he’s not back to normal, so I thought I’d try again, only a little less because I really don’t want a lecture again and…and why are you looking at me like that?”

He is staring at her in amazement, the kind that only just overrides his usual jealousy, because healing and medical ninjutsu are incredibly advanced and how does she even know what to do?

“There is something wrong with you,” he informs her.

She tenses up. “What do you mean?”

“I mean, how are you real?” he demands. “People aren’t like this, they’re aren’t so…you’re always nice and helpful and how do you have time to be like that when you’re so busy doing stuff like this?”

He gestures to the bird on her desk, which makes a weak noise of indignation.

Sakura smiles now, that odd, almost patronizing smile of hers, like she’s somehow more mature than him. And not just in a four-months-older kind of way, but the way he’s seen his brother and older cousins look at him.

“I study a lot,” she tells him. “Not all of us are born geniuses, right?”

He can’t think of a thing to say to this.

“Was there something you wanted?” she goes on, and then a sharper note enters her voice. “I thought I didn’t exist to you.”

He shifts uncomfortably at this.

“I…might have…I mean…I shouldn’t have…” Sasuke cringes, because it shouldn’t be this hard to get the words out. Taking a steadying breath, he blurts out, “I’m sorry.”

An expression of absolute shock overtakes her features, and he finds – oddly enough – that it’s not a bad look on her. When it morphs into genuine pleasure, a sense of relief fills him.

“I never thought I’d hear you say that,” she says softly, a faraway look flitting through her eyes. “Thank you.”

Sasuke can’t help frowning at this, because this all feels very backward. He feels as if he should be the one who is thanking her. And not just for congratulating him the day earlier.

Why does she always make me feel like things are out of order?

Noticing the way he is watching her, and she prompts, “What?”

“You’re not like any of the other girls,” he tells her, a minor accusing note in his voice.

She smirks at this. “Because I don’t throw myself at you?”

“No,” he insists quickly, the back of his neck turning red because he sort of means ‘yes’.

She laughs.

“I told you almost the first day we started at the Academy,” she reminds him. “I have feelings for you.” This time, hearing those words makes his stomach flip a little. “But I can’t let that get in the way of my training again. I’m going to become the most powerful kunoichi in the world one day. I’m going to help heal people, and protect the ones who are precious to me, and if I’m going to be ready, I have to put in the work now.”

And that at least is something he can understand. The need to become stronger, the need to live up to expectations – either one’s own or one’s family’s.

It’s possible that maybe, just maybe, he and Sakura have more in common than he considered.

“Besides,” she adds, matter-of-factly, “if I’m going to marry you one day, I have to be the best.”

Sasuke’s brain stalls at this, and he has to mentally repeat her words in his head. “…What?”

“Well, you’re an Uchiha,” she shrugs. “They’re not going to let you marry just anyone. I have to be better than everyone else, even all those talented Uchiha girls in your clan.”

Sasuke scowls and crosses his arms. “No one is going to let me do anything. I can marry whoever I want, and even if I cared about that sort of thing, it wouldn’t be you.”

She shoots him a taunting look of disbelief, and he straightens up, fists now clenched.

“In fact, I’m going to become an even better shinobi – much more powerful than you’ll ever be. And then you’ll never be able to marry me!”

It’s not his strongest argument, he’s aware, but he just wants to provoke a reaction.

Instead, she considers him thoughtfully, the way his mother and brother look at him when he is being stubborn or ridiculous. Then she tosses her hair and says, “Well, I guess there’s always Naruto.”

Sasuke sputters out an incomprehensible word, and Sakura dissolves into a fit of giggles.

“Your face – !” she cackles.

And Sasuke his entire body turn warm, and he should be annoyed – because no one mocks an Uchiha – but at the same time, he likes the sound of her laughter. It occurs to him he doesn’t hear it very often – she is generous with her smiles, but he’s never seen her actually laugh around anyone in their class.

Slowly the peals of laughter subside, and she calms herself.

“Don’t worry,” she tells him. “I wouldn’t want you to do something you don’t want. And who says I’ll ever get married? Lady Tsunade never got married and she’s a Sannin. Maybe I’ll be like her. There are worse things.” Something dark and pained crosses her features here, and in a quiet voice she adds, “I just want the people I care about to be happy.” Then she brightens up. “And that includes you, whether you like it or not.”

Without waiting for his reply, she turns around and refocuses on the bird, reaching down with her tiny hands and checking its wing.

Sasuke really has no idea what to say to this.

This girl – this strange, utterly mystifying girl – keeps tripping him up. Just when he thinks he’s figured her out, she says something or does something that completely alters his perception of her.

It’s still utterly annoying.

For once, he wants to say something or do something that puts her off balance. She’s always so resilient, always sure of everything around her, as if she already knows exactly how everything is going to turn out.

Perhaps that’s why he gives in to the first rash idea that comes to mind.

“Hey. Sakura.”

“Hm?”

She turns to face him, and quick as a snake, he leans over, closing the distance between them and pressing his mouth to hers.

It’s a brief peck, and it’s clumsy – he only catches the corner of her mouth – but she freezes, entire body going utterly tense, and he can’t help do the same because he just kissed a girl on the mouth.

He pulls back, half-shocked, half-impressed by his own daring, and stares at her. Sakura’s eyes are wide, and slowly – ever so slowly – her face turns darker and darker, steadily matching her hair.

“S-sasuke,” she whispers, like she isn’t sure how to use her voice, “why did you…?”

“I don’t know,” he snaps, all of a sudden feeling the pressing need to get out of there. He begins to back away from her, narrowing his eyes threateningly. “If you tell anyone…”

“I-I won't…” Sakura still seems too surprised and disbelieving. Maybe, if he’s lucky, she’ll think she imagined the whole thing.

Just in case she doesn’t, however, he jabs a finger at her when he reaches the door. “And this doesn’t mean I’m ever going to marry you!”

Without waiting for an answer, he yanks open the door and runs down the hallway – nearly knocking into Mebuki as she carries a tray of snacks up the stairs – desperate to get out of this weird house, with it’s even weirder women. Away from the strange girl that makes him do strange things.

Out the door and down the road, Sasuke coaches himself to run faster, to not stop until he’s back home where things always make sense. His mouth tingles oddly – not unpleasantly – and he feels the blood rushing to his face. He knows it’s not because he is running.

He doesn’t know what school is going to be like from now on. She might not say anything – he doubts she will, Sakura isn’t the type to embarrass people – but how is he supposed to look at her from now on? Was a brief moment of her being utterly stunned worth trying something so…ridiculous?

He casts his mind back, the image of her shocked, flustered expression permanently imprinted on his mind. A wan smirk of satisfaction tugs at the corners of his mouth.

Yes. Yes it was.

終わり

I hope you enjoyed the story! As part of the SasuSakuFestival, please go to the ssfest page and vote, like and/or reblog, it would be majorly appreciated!

クリ

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