#disgraceful. i want to set a car on fire

[moonchild-in-blue]

This just in: Specialest local woman experiences the worst pain known to mankind (period cramps) and contemplates death. Doctors claim it's "natural" before facing decapitation by a chorus of women.

[ilyregulus]

"I love you, but you're not mine." — Starchaser.

A/N: Hii, this is my first time writing something like this and english is not my first language, so forgive me for any mistakes and pls be kind.

The story is based on the movie "Corpse Bride" so some quotes are from there. I hope you guys like it :)

Word count: 2.9k

TW: they talk a lot about death.

“I'm not doing it.” Regulus said angrly while his mom forced him into the car.

“Oh but you so are, it's not like we asked for your opinion.” She replied risply, and to be honest, it's not like he had any hope of changing her mind, his parents never really cared about him, they cared about money, and right now, Regulus was just their way of getting it.

“What if we don't like each other, won't that be a problem?” He asked knowing that it would change nothing.

“As if that has anything to do with marriage. Do you suppose your father and I like each other?”

He actually never thought about that, in fact Regulus never thought about love at all, especially not his parents. But deep down he supposed they liked each other, at least a little. The thing is he didn't get how someone could do it, he understood very well about making alliances and how the rich must marry each other so they keep getting richer but shouldn't they like the person they were marrying or at least meet them first and have the right to choose?

Every step taken towards the mansion that would host the ceremony felt like a step towards the gallows, so while his parents talked to his soon to be parents in law, Regulus decided to take a walk through the large hall, enjoying his last minutes of his so-called freedom.

“Shit. You scared me.” A nice looking girl who was sitting by the piano said as he entered the room.

“I do apologize…You play beautifully.” He added sincerely.

“Thank you, mother won't let me near the piano, too passionate, she says…Anyway, I'm Victoria.”

“Oh.” It was all he could say for a while. “I'm Regulus.”

“I guess we weren't supposed to be seeing each other then.” She laughed.

“I suppose not.”

“Well, I always dreamt about this day, about getting married and finding someone I was deeply in love with, someone to spend the rest of my life with.” Victoria started saying.

“KILL ME” Regulus thought, what on Earth did he do to deserve this.

“Silly, isn't it?” She continued

“Yes, silly” He replied too fast.

He could apologize and he almost did but why would he? It's not like he was trying to make Victoria like him, in fact it would be really great if she didn't and somehow stopped this bullshit from happening. But she didn't stop anything and so the day arrived and there he was, standing at the altar, with his ganancious parents looking straight into his soul and there was nothing he could do.

Regulus didn't really put much effort into memorizing the vows and the amount of times he got it wrong and had to start again was getting annoying.

“This boy doesn't want to get married. How disgraceful!” Victoria's mom screamed.

“Enough! This wedding cannot take place until he is properly prepared. Young man, learn your vows.” Her father added.

He couldn't stand another minute of this, but he was going to learn it, it's not like he had another choice, and he really just wanted this day to end as fast as it could so, Regulus told everyone he would go for a walk in the woods nearby and would get back prepared, which seemed to satisfy both their families.

It really shouldn't be all that difficult. It's just a few simple vows.

“With this hand, I will take your wine. No. With this hand...I will cup your...Oh, fuck, no.With this…With this candle, I will...I will set your mother on fire.”

Oh, it's no use, he needed to do this. And so he said clearly.

“With this hand, I will lift your sorrows. Your cup will never empty, for I will be your wine.With this candle, I will light your way in darkness. With this ring...I ask you to be mine.”

“I do.” He heard a whisper as everything went dark.

“What..? What the hell happened?” He asked as his green eyes adjusted to the light once again.

“Looks like we've got ourselves a breather.” An old man said.

“Does he have a dead brother?” Asked a weird woman.

“He was very much alive last time I checked.” Regulus replied not really sure why.

“A toast then. To the newlyweds.” The first man raised his glass.

“Newlyweds?” Seriously Regulus thought, what the fuck was going on???

“In the woods, you said your vows so perfectly.”

“WHERE THE HELL AM I?” He asked without any patience.

“Well, that's a long story, a tragic tale of romance, passion and murder.”

“Look, I don't…” Regulus started saying but then he saw him.

He was standing there, with a suit falling into pieces, but Lord, he was beautiful, he had those eyes, deep and warm, that was like staring right into the sun and begging to get burned by it, and, oh, how Regulus would beg.

“Our boy was a beauty known for miles around” Continued a woman who looked like she was dead for ages “When a mysterious stranger came into town, she was plenty good-looking but down on her cash, and our poor boy here, he fell hard and fast.”

“Whatever, let me go straight to the point, the green eyes here doesn't look like he's a fan of long stories” The man interrupted. “He was about to get married and woke up in the graveyard”.

He was dead??? Oh…now he got why they all looked a little blue and weird, and the breather thing and everything else but how could…Regulus was not dead, at least he didn't feel like he was.

“So he made a vow…” He realized the man was still talking. “To wait for his true love to come set him free, and then you came.”

“Yeah really heart touching, what a shame I'm nobody's love so how do I get the fuck out of whatever this place is?” Regulus said but not really sure if that was what he actually wanted.

Don't get him wrong, it’s not like he was loving this whole being dead thing, but he didn't really have anything worth living for up there.

“Regulus, right?” Said the good looking boy, who now appeared to be his…fiancé?

“Yes but look, that's a mistake, I'm alive and you wouldn't want to be married to a man anyway”. He didn't know why but he felt so awkward near him.

“Well, I wouldn't mind.” He smiled.

Regulus wanted to curse him in any possible ways, how could someone murdered on his wedding day be so nice and…handsome.

“But I would.”

“You would mind getting married to a boy? I thought alive people were getting more open minded.”

“They aren't, which sucks, I get it, that wasn't my point.” Why was he explaining himself to a dead boy anyway?

“So you would marry a boy?” He lifted an eyebrow.

“Does it matter?”

“It does, Reg, since we are in fact married.”

REG.

He felt weak and Regulus Black does not feel weakness, he could feel his legs shaking and his lungs gasping for air, he has never, in his entire life, felt this way. There was something so magnetic about this boy, so charming and inviting that Regulus could almost hear their souls asking to collide. But Regulus didn't believe in love, did he?

“Look, I am terribly sorry about what's happened to you...and I'd like to help, but I really need to get home.” He said, trying not to look too much at the boy.

“This is your home now.”

“I don't even know your name and that's not a great way to start a marriage so I really should be going.”

“It’s James.”

Five letters had never made such a beautiful sound, Regulus could swear this name was made to be on his lips, he was sure he dreamed about it before. Who was he trying to fool, his parents weren't there to see anything and it's not like someone could hear his thoughts, Regulus Black did believe in love, he wanted it so badly, but he just couldn't, it's not what he was made for, love was not for him, besides, he was falling for a dead man, how ridiculous does that sounds?

“Does it hurt...dying?” He asked without thinking it would be disrespectful.

“No more than being alive.” James replied.

Regulus smiled, as horrible as it sounded he felt some kind of comfort in that.

“I almost forgot, I have something for you, a wedding present.” James said happily, giving him a black box with a red ribbon on it.

“Scraps?” He sounded confused as he looked at an amount of bones that was turning into a dog “Scraps! That's my dog Scraps!”

“I imagined you'd like to see him again.”

“He was my best friend…My only friend.” Regulus said with a sad tone in his voice. “Mother never approved of him, so she gave her way, but then again, she never approved of anything, and she always gives her way.”

James was hurt to see the boy like this, he wanted to hug him, to comfort him and say that with him he could have anything, James could love him, indeed he could, he wanted to. But instead he just asked a friendly question.

“Do you wanna go back home, Reg?”

No. He didn't want to, there was nothing up there for him and his mother was probably so furious that he would go back to where he was right now really quickly.

“Yes James, I must go.” Was what he replied.

“There may be a way of doing it.” James handed him a tiny bottle he took out of his pocket.

“Really?” Regulus said almost as if he did not believe it was that simple. “You have a magic potion with you all this time?”

“Well, I like to visit the living world sometimes…”

“And couldn't you tell me sooner?”

“I wanted you to stay.”

“You know that's selfish of you right?” Regulus asked, frustrated. “You're dead, I'm alive and besides that you don't even know me, we are not married James, can't you see that?”

If he knew the amount of sadness that would appear in James’ face he would've never said that because in Regulus' mind a boy like James was not meant for sadness, he was.

“But I could know you…” Was all he heard before drinking the potion and waking up in the woods again.

When he opened his eyes he realized he missed the fresh air in his skin, the smell of grass and the sounds of living nature, but deep inside he felt like he was letting something behind.

“Victoria?” He asked, entering the piano room once again.

“Regulus!” She exclaimed. “I was so worried, what happened? You're as cold as death.”

He thought it was funny that she said that.

“I'm sorry…I didn't want to get married and you deserve someone who does.” He was sincere when he said that, she seemed like a nice girl who was unfortunate to have the same fate as him.

“I know I do.” She replied with a smile. “And you deserve to do it only when you're ready to, but I don't think we're this lucky.

“This is going to sound really unexpected but…I guess I am already married.” Regulus told her.

“You what?”

“To me. He's married to me.” James said coming out of nowhere.

“He's dead.” Regulus hurried to say as if this could possibly make things better. The truth is he was feeling kinda euphoric to see James there, he doesn't deal well with emotions and this whole situation was very confusing. One of the reasons he left in such a hurry was that he didn't know what to say to James, and seeing him there was making his brain collapse.

“You lied to me.” James said betrayed. “You have somebody else.”

“Victoria is not somebody else, actually, you are.” He corrected.

“But you married me first”. What can he say, the boy got a point.

“This is not going to work, James.”

“Why not? It's my glasses, isn't it?” He asked worried.

“No, it's not your glasses, they are fine, they look…attractive.” Regulus hadn't thought about that before but the glasses did give James kind of a sexy look. “Listen, under different circumstances, well, who knows? But we're just too different. I mean, you're dead.”

“You should've thought about that before you asked me to marry you.” James seemed offended.

“Why can't you understand? It was a mistake. I would never marry you.”

Once again sadness became part of his face and once again Regulus regretted saying that. He was so divided between what he was supposed to do and what he wanted to, but he said one thing right, they were too different, they didn't even belong to the same world.

That was the thing about fate, this treacherous and invisible little thing that seemed to have so much power over him, he couldn't control it, and Regulus hated not being able to control things.

“Perhaps you do belong with her. Little Miss Living, with her rosy cheeks and beating heart.” He replied before disappearing into a cold and sad mist.

“Victoria, I don't know how to explain…” He began but was interrupted by her.

“You don't need to, I saw it in your eyes.” She said softly. “You want to be with him.”

Maybe she was right. He had never felt his heart beat that fast, ironic how James could make him feel so alive. But how could they do this? It was impossible for them to be together, it seemed like no one listened to the amount of times he told that he was alive while James was not and he was almost certain you couldn't bring someone back.

“I know what you are thinking, and you're right, but there's a way, you can be the one to join him.” She said as if it was a normal thing to say out loud.

“You're saying I should die?”

“For love, I would.” She explained how it should be done and left him alone to think.

Regulus sat by the piano and started playing some notes to distract himself, how could he make such a decision?

His life was lonely, empty, and surrounded by darkness, he knew that his only purpose was to serve his parents' orders and carry on the family legacy, but how much did that cost him? His freedom for sure, and maybe his soul was just fading along with it. There was nothing he could proudly say it was worth staying alive for, but maybe, just maybe he had something, or someone, worth dying for. And just like everything else that happened in his life, that was some dramatic shit.

And there he was, standing at the altar, with hungry eyes fixed on him, but with Victoria's kind and supportive smile telling him it was okay. And so he said.

“With this hand, I will lift your sorrows. Your cup will never empty, for I will be your wine. With this candle, I will light your way in darkness. With this ring, I ask you to be mine, James.”

“I now pronounce you man and wife…wait what?” He heard the priest say before his vision blurred and he woke up on the other side.

“Reg?” James asked kindly looking at his newly opened green eyes. It was like staring at the great wide ocean, full of beauty and mysteries, and James was desperate to dive in. He wanted to fill himself with his water, let his salt heal his wounds, and more than anything, he wanted to be part of it, just like Regulus was part of the dark sky. “You can't be here. I love you, Regulus. But you're not mine.”

“But I want to, James. I really do. You and Victoria made me realize that sometimes you need to take the threads of fate and trace them yourself, and so I did it, and now I am yours.” He declaired taking James hands.

“That was too much for me to ask, I couldn't have done this.” The boy answred sadly.

“You didn't. You just showed me that I do have feelings in my heart, deep ones, and I want to be embraced by it, I should be allowed to it, shouldn't I? I know now that there's love and beauty in death as much as there's pain and horror in living. I wasn't living James, I was destined for the void, I didn't even have a soul to call mine, and with you I have everything. You didn't asked me to do it, you just showed me the way and I was the one who decided to take the path.” Regulus didn't even know he had all those things inside him, all those words and those feelings, but now it was like he was meant to say it, he had never felt lighter, and nothing has ever felt this right.

“I thought I would never see you again.” Was all James said as he got closer and give him one small kiss pulling way for an instant, just so he could see a smile appearing in Regulus’ lips, and then doing it again.

When two worlds collided it felt like they were always one, like the stars and the sea were all just one big thing embracing the one who was meant for them, fate didn't look that treacherous now, it looked beautiful and it tasted like hope, like not even death could pull those two forces of the universe apart, because if Regulus was a star than James was the biggest one. For him, James was the sun.

“You set me free.” Said James.

“You did the same.” Regulus replied. “And if a heart can still break once it's stopped beating, please don't break mine.”

[leleamo]

okay, back to our heroes, everything was ready

"as there will probably only be Hard Drive there, Feral and Felina will deal with he, and me, Razor and Michelle will go to Dalila, and brats, you stay in the Turbokat flying over the bunker in case things get out of control" said T-bone hat for everyone

"and we set it on fire!" said Foll excitedly "ehh... no Foll.." said U-bone "ah.. I wanted fire.."

"Michelle, can't you just send Dalila to the future from here?" asked Blaze "I think it would cause a bigger mess if she disappeared out of nowhere..."

"and we stayed here! safely!" said Manx, smiling

"yes! I think I need to sit down..." said Letícia, sitting on the floor

then the Hero team ran to the Feral's car, the Swat Kats and Foll to the Turbokat and left for the bunker!

"good luck guys!" shouted Garlie, waving at them

"be careful Swat Kats!" Callie shouted, smiling...

so... they arrived at the bunker and entered without thinking twice!!

when they entered they saw: Dr. Viper, the Metallikats and Hard Drive!

"whoa! we have company!" Razor said.

"Michelle.. let's try to go to Dalila.. she must be inside..." whispered T-bone to Michelle who agreed, then the fight began!

Hard Drive attacked Razor and the Metallikats on the Feral's, and Viper tried to attack T-bone and Michelle, but Michelle hit Viper on the head with her giant hourglass, making him faint.

"wow..." said T-bone, shocked

"I already did this to you in my dimension!" she said with a smile, as they entered the Bunker's basement...

slowly entering... there she was, sitting on the floor, surrounded by her Creeplings, Dalila...

"she looks like a princess..." said T-bone, in disbelief...

"the princess is going to return to her tower..." Michelle raised her hourglass but!

"NOT SO FAST!" Dark Kat appeared behind them, and grabbed T-bone by the neck and threw him against a wall, then grabbed Michelle, choking her "do you really think you're going to kill me that easily?"

"kill you?!" said T-bone.. getting up..

"yes..." Dalila slowly stood up, her eyes exuded hatred as she stared at T-bone... "you killed my father, on that same day, in that same place... but today... that changes... you won't kill my father..."

"YOU ARE GOING TO DIE!" Dark Kat shouted as she threw the already unconscious Michelle away... approaching Dalila "I have a bomb here, and if it explodes, the only blood it will spill is that of all of you!"

T-bone, still dizzy, slowly stood up... "I would never kill anyone, even if it was someone as disgraceful as you... Dark Kat..." slowly trying to raise his hand with the Glovatrix... to take control of the bomb out of Dark Kat's hands with one shot...

"oh yes you would kill... even more so if he had a bomb... or not, which was the case..." Dalila said, calmly approaching T-bone

"what...?"

"that day... my father didn't even have the bomb in his hands... a long story... believe me... hehehe... but you killed him... without thinking twice... I don't know if you regretted it... But I don't think so, right? Hehehe.." She spoke with sarcasm... and hatred, while T-bone was scared by what she said...

"I... killed someone...?" T-bone was shaking, he was a vigilante, not a murderer...

"oh.. you don't want this... you'll regret it... beautiful, I like it.."

"you'll regret it...? what do you mean daughter...?"

"You'll understand, dad... Would you feel sorry, T-bone? feel sorry for kill someone..." Dalila laughed as T-bone started to get furious

"SHUT UP!!"

"oh accept it! it's not so bad! you killed a terrorist! You should be smiling! you are the hero! Hahahahaha!! HAHAHA!!" she smiled and laughed, as she moved a little away from T-bone, who covered he ears, Dark seemed surprised and perhaps scared for a while... while Michelle slowly regained consciousness...

"SHUT UP! SHUT UP!" T-bone screamed with hatred, he hated that, and because of his fury, he pointed the Glovatrix at Dalila and... shot her in the chest... a huge hole started to bleed... and she... smiled...

"that's what I wanted..."

[ash-and-books]

Rating: 1/5

Book Blurb: A disgraced soccer exec reluctantly enlists the help of a retired soccer star in coaching a children’s team in this smalltown love story in the vein of Ted Lasso and It Happened One Summer —from the New York Times bestselling author of The Spanish Love Deception. Adalyn Reyes has spent years perfecting her daily routine: wake up at dawn, drive to the Miami Flames FC offices, try her hardest to leave a mark, go home, and repeat. But her routine is disrupted when a video of her in an altercation with the team’s mascot goes viral. Rather than fire her, the team’s owner—who happens to be her father—sends Adalyn to middle-of-nowhere North Carolina, where she’s tasked with turning around the struggling local soccer team, the Green Warriors, as a way to redeem herself. Her plans crumble upon discovering that the players wear tutus to practice (impractical), keep pet goats (messy), and are terrified of Adalyn (counterproductive), and are nine-year-old kids. To make things worse, also in town is Cameron Caldani, goalkeeping prodigy whose presence is somewhat of a mystery. Cam is the perfect candidate to help Adalyn, but after one very unfortunate first encounter involving a rooster, Cam’s leg, and Adalyn’s bumper, he’s also set on running her out of town. But banishment is not an option for Adalyn. Not again. Helping this ragtag children’s team is her road to redemption, and she is playing the long game. With or without Cam’s help.

Review:

A disgraced soccer exec finds herself being exiled after her scandal to coach a girls soccer team with a retired soccer star who gets on her nerves in this small town romance with a touch of Ted Lasso and It Happened One Summer! Adalyn Reyes was determined to make her dad proud, she’s a former model and daughter of the owner of the Miami Flames soccer team...however after a video of her attacking the mascot goes viral and her father essentially fires her, she finds her entire life turned upside down as she is now exiled to the middle of nowhere North Carolina where her dad tasks her with turning around a local soccer team... the Green Warriors. Yet the moment she drives to her new space she hits a guy with her car and basically runs over his pet chicken all the while crashing and then refusing any help and not giving any apology... and said grumpy neighbor? The current coach of the Green Warriors and a famous retired soccer star, Cameron Caldani. Cameron and Adalyn immediately get off on the wrong foot, they both hate being wrong, refuse to acknowledge that they might be wrong, and get under each other’s skin, yet when they are forced to work together and spend time together, they begin to realize that all the animosity between them might lead to some very real sexual tension. Can they find a way to help their team win while trying to work out their feelings for each other? This one unfortunately fell off the mark for me, I found myself disliking Adalyn and Cameron so much, they were just so insufferable and I really was not rooting for their romance at all. They were giving me Rebekah and Roy from Ted Lasso vibes but without any of the charm of either of the characters. The romance was bland and honestly, I was happy I even finished reading this book. I really wanted to DNF it but just kept reading it until the end and honestly, I just did not have a good time. While this one didn’t work for me if you enjoy romances with two characters who get under each other’s skin and has a soccer team, give this one a go, maybe you’ll have a better time with it than i did!

*Thanks Netgalley and Atria Books for sending me an arc in exchange for an  honest review*

[kiss-my-freckle]

– Caverns of Chaos –

Elena Gilbert: Run run run run run run run!

Rebekah: Um, Elena? I grew up in these caves. And I can smell you. And hear your heartbeat. And see in the dark. And outrun a car.

Elena Gilbert: Yeah, but you can’t come into the Magic Cavern of Vampires Not Invited, can you?

Rebekah: …Bitch.

– Meredith’s Murdertorium –

Meredith Fell: Well, you’ve got a concussion, several contusions, a broken rib, and a bruised ego.

Alaric Saltzman: So … sympathy sex?

– Mystic Falls Home for Immolated Wiccans –

Stefan Salvatore: Wait, so how do we know they’re going to be here?

Damon Salvatore: Because this is the only other set we could afford. But before we go storming in snapping necks and taking names, let’s discuss the idea of actually letting Esther carry out her plan. I mean, all of the Originals would die, you’d get your revenge, and the only thing we’d lose is Elena. And let’s face it, you don’t care, and she’s a suicide bunny.

Stefan Salvatore: Yeah, but then we wouldn’t have a love triangle, and then we wouldn’t have millions of teenage girls tuning in every week, and then we wouldn’t have jobs, so …

Damon Salvatore: Right! Bennetside it is! So who gets to do the deed?

Stefan Salvatore: Eh, flip a coin or something. It’s not like I care.

Damon Salvatore: Okay, heads you kill her, tails I sit this one out!

Stefan Salvatore: Wait a second …

– Caverns of Chaos –

Rebekah: Hi Elena! You’re right, I can’t get into the Magic Cavern, so instead I thought I’d douse you with petrol and throw lit matches at you!

Elena Gilbert: …

Rebekah: Petrol? Matches?

Elena Gilbert: …

Rebekah: Oh Jesus it’s gasoline! I covered you in gasoline and now I”m throwing fire at you and if you don’t come out here I’m going to burn you to death! God, what does Damon see in you?

Elena Gilbert: Oh! Well, now that I understand your plot, allow me to counter! Instead of killing me now, why don’t you keep me alive and torture me for years and years!

Rebekah: You are truly an idiot. But you have a point.

– Mystic Falls Home for Immolated Wiccans –

Elijah: Hi mom!

Kol: Beautiful moon, right?

Klaus: Pleasant evening, isn’t it?

Esther: Well, I see you have discovered my plot to rid the world of the evil I unleashed, by turning you human and then telepathically killing you. But! You did not foresee me creating a Magic Circle of Not Entering, with me and Finn in the center, where we are protected from your unclean hands! Even you, Elijah, with your claims of nobility, are a disgrace and an abomination!

Elijah: Can’t we just throw rocks at her until she’s dead or something?

Klaus: Nah, it’ll be more dramatic if one of the Salvatores has to murder a Bennet.

Kol: He’s right, let’s go with that.

– Mystic Falls Home for Immolated Wiccans – Suit of Slaughter –

Stefan Salvatore: Hi Bonnie! Elena’s in danger, and I need you to stop Esther’s spell!

Bonnie Bennet: Um, yeah. About that. You do realize that I can’t light candles reliably, and you want me to go toe-to-toe with the oldest, baddest Mother on the planet?

Stefan Salvatore: Yeah, you’re right. Well, I guess I’m just going to have to find another way …

Bonnie Bennet: D-:

The Lady of the Manor: Snap her neck! Snap her neck!

Thomas: You are the ripper. You’ve spent the entire season establishing your badass rep, your lack of morals, and your willingness to murder anything that got between you and Klaus. Do not pussy out now. Do not back down. Do not toss out an entire season’s worth of character development. God damn it Stefan, you are the ripper, and now is the time to break. Her. Goddamn. Neck.

The Lady of the Manor: Snaperneck snaperneck snaperneck!

Damon Salvatore: Yeah right, like my brother is every going to be anything more than Elena’s lap dog. Super Damon feeding Abby my blood and snapping her neck and making her a vampire powers activate!

– Mystic Falls Home for Immolated Wiccans –

Esther: “I should have let them die from SIDS, but Bennets help me kill my kids!”

Elijah: …

Klaus: …

Kol: …

Esther: Oh, poop.

– Caverns of Chaos –

Rebekah: Okay, Elena, the Salvatores stopped Mommy from being the next subject on Nancy Grace, so you’re free to go!

Elena Gilbert: Yay!

Rebekah: Also, you’re right … it’s going to be a lot more fun slowly torturing you over the next seventy years!

Elena Gilbert: Poop!

– Bennet Bungalow – Trundle Bed of Transition

Caroline Forbes: Hi Elena! Abby is transitioning and Bonnie is mourning, so you should probably go away now! And also stock up on anti-wiccan plot devices, because the chances of Bonnie seeking vengeance on someone for this is about 100%!

Elena Gilbert: But I don’t understand! I got everything I wanted! Why is anyone upset?

– Castle Salvatore –

Stefan Salvatore: Hey Damon! Thanks for murdering a Bennet for me, even though I lost that coin toss!

Damon Salvatore: Oh, it’s cool. I mean, I could tell you haven’t had a drop of human blood since …. ?

Stefan Salvatore: I threatened to drive Elena off Dead Parent Bridge and I had an epiphany and realized what a monster I had become and I swore to atone for my evil ways and become a better man and protect Elena and love Elena and do sex to Elena and Elena Elena Elena!

Stefan Salvatore’s Hero Hairdo: Hi guys! I’m back!

Damon Salvatore’s Eyebrows: Oh Jesus, not him again.

Damon Salvatore: Anyway, I’m better off being the bad guy, and those sorority chicks aren’t going to bang themselves, so …

– The Gilbert House – Notes from Nobles –

Elijah (in a note): Dear Elena, Sorry about the whole “trapped in a cave and nearly immolated by Rebekah” thing. Totally my bad. I hope you can forgive me. I also hope the producers can see fit to give me my own show, tentatively titled “The Elijah is Better Than You Hour.” -xoxo Elijah

– Mikaelson Mansion –

Rebekah: Hi guys! Wanna see the photos I took of Elena in the cave? The ones where she had to pee but was too embarrassed to go in front of me are priceless.

Elijah: Yeah, I’d love to, but this show doesn’t have enough angst or brooding, so I’m going to go in the corner and glower for a few episodes.

Klaus: I, on the other hand, could really use something to distract me from thoughts of murdering Caroline in her sleep.

Rebekah: Great! Check this one out! It’s … a painting of the White Oak of Vampire Slaughter?

Klaus: And a Aztec Jewish Viking Moon Calendar that says this drawing was done three hundred years after we “destroyed” it?

Rebekah: We’re still in danger!

Klaus: I knew we shouldn’t have used an off-brand herbicide!

Rebekah: Curse you Grow-No-Mo!

– Meredith’s Murdertorium –

Alaric Saltzman: That’s odd … medical files from all of the murder victims, police records, a blood covered knife, dossiers on the Mystic Falls Watcher’s Council … wait a second …

Meredith Fell: Oops! I let all my incriminating evidence laying around again! Tee hee! Bang!

lmfao!!

[hypersonicxd-blog]

Day 2 of Kinktober

Day 2 of Kinktober - Wet Dreams

Day 2 of Kinktober based on Zaidee (Eyrine)'s Kinktober list; https://archiveofourown.org/works/28671480

Wet Dreams - You have wet dreams about a certain one of your brothers friends. He takes the opportunity when it presents

Warnings: Explicit, F oral (Receive), M oral (Receive). Unprotected sex, breeding kink (Minor). Somnophilia (Tiny bit)

Minors DNI.

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The annual Zemo camping trip had come around, at 24 years of age you'd think the tradition would be long over by now. But no, they still happen, every year. Much to your disgrace. You'd much rather be at home getting ready for a wild party, your bestie, Dylan would be dragging you too. Where you would inevitably end up going home with someone that could fuck you six ways from Sunday.

What's worse about this trip in particular, is your brother's best friend James will be coming along. Having recently had a falling out with his roommate over his bitch of a girlfriend, according to your brother anyway. That wasn't the problem though, you just wished it was anyone but James.

For as long as you can remember, you've always had a crush on the older man. In high school you'd blush yourself silly around James and Steve, his previously mentioned roommate. They were both delicious specimens of the male population, providing you late night fuel for wet dreams, that plagued your mind whenever they were near.

"Hey doll." James voice draws your attention from your thoughts. "James." You greet, gritting your teeth. Trying not to look at him. "Awh, such a cold greeting for your bro's best friend. I'm sure you can do better than that." He says softly, walking towards you. You finally look at him, really look at him.

You bite your lip as you roam over the built physique. The shimmer of metal attracts your focus for a second, reminding you of when your older brother told you about James' accident, where he lost an arm. Thanks to a successful clinical trial the metal arm they replaced the missing limb with practically gave him back a normal life.

Except for a few broken cup and phones, once he adjusted to the strength of the artificial arm it was smooth sailing. You looked over James' shoulders, taking in the bulky expanse of him. Fuck, he'd gotten beefy, and even fucking hotter. How is that possible? What I wouldn't give to be able to put my legs over his shoulder as he eats my pu-

"Doll you got a bit of drool, right about there." A soft thumb wipes the side of your lip. You eyes watch, transfixed as he brings the thumb that just touched your mouth, to his lips and sucking on it softly. You eyes widen as your breath hitches.

"Mmmhmm, this is going to be a fun camping trip." James purrs, laughing as you continue to stare at him. "Don't worry, I had my time to drool over you earlier, when I saw you at the house, getting into the car in your tight little short shorts. Fuck. You grew up good. Real good." He says, before he turns and walks away.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

The rest of the day passed by quickly, James and Bart - your brother. You only called him Bart cause you knew it annoyed the shit out of him. They went to collect fire wood earlier after all the tents had been set up. You had your own, thankfully your parents realised enough that you were too old to be sharing a tent with your 28 year old brother and his friend.

Your body was already on edge after Jam- Bucky as he told you to call him repeatedly - had told you that he drooled over you, your mind racing at what he could mean by that. You core throbbing every time you would lock eyes with his intense stare. Biting your lip every time he drew your attention to his ridiculously big muscles.

Or his hands, oh god his hands. You wanted them on you, in you, wrapped around your throat. You wanted him to give you everything and it scared the shit out of you. When you were younger, you had more chance at controlling everything cause you knew he wasn't interested in you. He had a girlfriend, queen bee of the school.

Then a few years later, you were with Brad and he was with Mindy, his girlfriend at the time. Now you were both finally single or at least you thought he was. Bart hasn't told you any differently. Shaking your head, you try to clear your thoughts. Needing to settle down and actually sleep because knowing your parents, they've probably planned family activities for tomorrow.

Laying down on the blow up double, you toss and turn, trying to find a comfortable position. You huff as you feel your body ache for release, groaning in frustration you roll onto your back and spread your legs. Trailing a hand over your breasts you pull your tank under them, setting them free. Your nipples hardening at the cool air.

You trail your hand further down, slipping it into your panties. You find your clit, using your wetness you begin to rub circles. Mind racing to thoughts of Bucky. You quickly reach completion, moaning softly at your ride out your high. Your body finally sags against the bed, sleep taking over you quickly. You fall asleep with your tits still out and you hand cupping your pussy.

"Hey doll." James voice draws your attention from your thoughts. "James." You greet, gritting your teeth. Trying not to look at him. "Awh, such a cold greeting for your bro's best friend. I'm sure you can do better than that." He says softly, walking towards you. You finally look at him, really look at him.

You take in his appearance before smirking at him batting your eyelashes. "Oh yeah, and what kind of greeting would you like Mr Barnes." You purr, strutting towards him, swinging your hips as you saunter closer.

"I have a few ideas, doll." He says breathlessly, eyes widening in shock and desire. "Get on your knees for me baby." He orders, watching as you obey him. He looks at you on your knees, basking in the power he feels over you. "Fuck. You have no idea how good you look on you knees."

"I'm still not understanding how this is a warmer greeting James." You say coyly, looking up at him through your lashes, while edging ever so closely to his crotch and the bulge growing there. "Do I have to spell it out for you? I know you're not that innocent. I remember all the times I would hear you breathlessly moaning mine or Stevie's name, along with the slick sounds of your dripping pussy." He moans as he unbuckles his belt.

"Yo- you heard that?" You ask shyly. "Both me and Stevie did. We used to argue over you all the time. Who of us would take your virginity. We knew you'd let us. But then you went to prom with that Stark kid and wham bam went that plan." He scoffs.

"But I'm over that now, I've got you here on your knees." He purrs as your hands reach for his button. You quickly roll his pants and underwear down to his ankles, drooling as his hard dripping length bobs in front of your face.

"Fuck Bucky." You moan as your core clenches around nothing, reminding you of just how empty you are. You manoeuvre a hand into your pants, making contact with your clit. "Fuck look at you, so desperate, I bet your soaked for me. Only me." He growls as his metal hand grips the back of your head, pulling you so your lips touch the tip of his erection.

"Open up for me." He orders, you obey him immediately. Feeling that if you don't get him inside your mouth soon you'll die. You take him into the back of your throat, still circling your swollen nub in time with your bobs. "Fuck your mouth is heaven." He moans, throwing his head back. You groan around his shaft as you insert a finger into yourself, clenching around the digit.

A high whine escapes your throat, the finger not reducing the ache in your pussy. You feel your orgasm fast approaching, drawing your finger out and circling your clit frantically.

"That's it doll, cum for me. Cum all over my face." The voice drags you out of your sleep, the pressure building in your core. "Fucccc-" A hand slaps over your mouth, smothering your moans as you tip over the edge, feeling a cold digit enter your heat.

"Good girl." Bucky's voice growls against your centre. He laps at your clit as you ride out the wave of the orgasm, lapping up all the escaping juices. "Fuck doll, thought I was dreaming when I walked past your tent, to hear you moaning my name." He purred as he sat up on his knees.

"Then I walk in here to find your tits on display and you fucking yourself with your fingers. Fuck I nearly came on the spot. My name on your lips. I couldn't stop this time." He growls surging forwards to draw you into a bruising kiss. "It was hard enough, when you were younger, you needed to have a life. Before me."

"But now, I can't help myself. You're mine now. Tell me you're mine baby." You gasp as you feel Bucky's cock nudge your entrance, arching your back you spread your legs wider, begging him to enter you.

"I'm yours James. Only yours. Always have been." You moan as you feel him enter you, stretching you so deliciously. "Fuck doll, so tight." He growls. "I'm sorry but I need to be buried in your right fucking now." With that he slams his hips into you, capturing your lips to cover the shriek that leaves you throat. The burn and ache clawing at you.

He's fucking huge, bigger than anything you've had before. "So big Buck." You moan into his lips. "Biggest you've had?" Bucky asks cockily, you nod against him. "I can tell, you're so fucking tight." He moans, trailing kisses down your neck, before placing little bites here and there. His thumb travels down your navel, before resting on your clit.

He flicks your bud. "Want you to cum with me, when I fill you up doll." He moans, circling his thumb as he picks up the pace, sliding in and out of you with more ease, thanks to your slick. "Buck, I'm not on anything." You moan out, feeling the fireworks in your body build. "Good, can't wait to see you round with me." He groans as he bites your collarbone.

"Now cum for me baby girl." He orders as he slams his hips, hitting the spongy spot inside of you. "Oh fuck, - Oh god Buck." You squeal as you gush around his cock. "Fuck that's it baby, milk me. Fuck so good." Bucky slams into you a few more times before stilling and flooding you with his seed.

He finally rolls over and settles next to you, pulling you to his chest.

"I can't believe you're finally mine Y/N"

[hotdamnhunnam]

Raymond Smith. 👿👩🏻‍🦰💪🏻

Thanks for your request for my Emoji Fic Fest! 💗

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The Devil Wears Nada

Pairing: Raymond Smith x F!Reader* Warnings: smut, swearing, reference to some scumbag drugging your drink (you don’t drink it) Word Count: ~1k Emoji Prompt: 👿👩🏻‍🦰💪🏻 (key words are in bold)

* Note that reader is a redhead – that just made sense given the emoji prompt requested for this! So if your hair isn’t red, plz just imagine that it is 😅

Raymond Smith is a handsome devil of a man who always minds his own damn business.

But if ever there’s a wrong against a woman that he just happens to witness… he won’t hesitate to make that business his.

At present Ray is seeing red. Not just the fiery tresses of the gorgeous girl he spots across the bar—you have bewitched him just by sitting there as lovely as you are—he’s never set his eyes on such a ravishing redhead… yet more importantly he’s seeing red because some scumbag dared to drop a little something in your drink, while you weren’t looking, and now Raymond wants him dead.

It’s not an angle just to get in your good graces. He’s aware of that cliche: the knight in shining armor saves the fucking day, and whisks his ladylove away. But he just wants to show that poisonous piece of shit where his place is. It’s a bonus if he gets a glimpse up close of just how breathtakingly beautiful your face is.

When in the middle of your date from hell this strapping stranger suddenly appears… you have no clue just what he’s doing here. You’d noticed him from far across the bar too—which was why your eyes weren’t glued to the cocktail you’ve got in front of you. In closer view, you see his gaze is the most dazzling shade of blue.

Behind those sapphires, there rages quite a fire. This delectable dish of a man appears now as the damn devil incarnate, glaring darkly at the prick who’d ordered you a drink you never really wanted, to be honest. Everything about this date so far has been offensive and unfortunate. You’ve been desperate to get out of it but don’t want to piss off this creep who’s leering at your body like he’s got some kind of claim on it.

Meanwhile the gentleman who’s now standing beside you at the bar is radiating such a mix of noble chivalry and total big dick energy it’s honestly ridiculous. “I beg your pardon miss, but I’d advise you against drinking this.”

The snake seated across from you attempts to make a mockery of Mr. Smith’s finesse. “And I’d advise you mind your own damn business.”

Flicks his forefinger against the stranger’s tie, as if he thinks that he can shoo him like a fly. The devil’s not to be so easily dismissed—and in a flash your date is finished. Was a fool to even try. Next thing you know he’s doubled over with a broken jaw and starts to fucking cry.

“Touch me again, I’ll cut your fucking arm off.” Ray points his finger in the bastard’s sobbing face, watching him whimper in disgrace, then turns to meet your gaze where you’re frozen in place. “You can be sure this sorry little bitch won’t ever dare to do you harm, love.”

All you want now is for him to take you out into his car or throw you down across this bar and kiss you wildly till all your clothes come off…

He wants that too, but wants to make sure you feel safe before he starts coming at you. The perfect gentleman in him decides he’ll wait to make a move until you ask him to.

***************

It doesn’t take you long to ask. To fucking beg.

You’re in the backseat of his car with one of his masterful hands squeezing your ass, over the fabric of your dress now as the other hand slides slowly up the bare skin of your leg.

His power over you is so pristine and pure. Here you are straddling his lap before you even know his name, without the faintest bit of shame—you’ve never wanted a man more—the passion in his touch just feels so righteous and so clean that you don’t even feel to blame, for being such a desperate dirty little whore.

He could go on and whip his massive throbbing cock out of his pants right in this instant. Shove it up your soaking cunt, before the two of you have taken off your clothes.

That’s what you want—and yet it’s not, because you’ve never been with somebody so maddeningly hot—you need to feel him and take in the stunning view… and since he feels the same about you, stripping naked is important for you both.

You want this handsome devil naked, when you beg him for his dick and fucking take it.

Doesn’t matter if this damn devil wears Prada. You just want him wearing nada.

Thankfully he’s done a speedy job of throwing off his coat and jacket. Takes his time now with your body though a part of him is raging to attack it. Tames his inner beast, for this first time at least—controlled and calm—he doesn’t doubt that you’ll be doing this again in nights to come, so he’ll have more than time enough, to take you hard and fast and rough. For now he wants to have you soft.

“Good Lord you’re gorgeous, love,” he murmurs in a heated little huff, nipping your gasping neck and kissing down your collarbone, making you moan, your smooth skin tingling beneath the sensuous scrape of his scruff. Slipping the straps of your dress slowly down your shoulders as you unbutton his vest and strip it off.

You long to tell him that he’s just as gorgeous too, but now he’s kissing all your goddamn words from you. You’re such a breathless mess, just so desperate to have this man undressed… and when you finally do, you pretty much die from the view. There are no words that can come close to doing justice to the specimen in front of you. This sex god of a gentleman who seems to really truly fucking want you…

Now that you have the devil stark naked on top of you… looking so angelically beautiful… you cannot wait for him to take you to the darkest pit of hell, and paint it heaven as he makes all of your deepest dreams cum true.

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Emoji Fic Masterlist

Emoji Fic Tag List – below; if you’d like to be added or removed, just let me know!

@happyhunnams @band--psycho @est11 @edonaspanca @starbooty @innerpaperexpertcloud @i-love-scott-mccall @six-camelot @alexa-rae-dreamz @coffeebooksandfandom @thesuicidalflower @flaireandsynch @helloheyhihowdyheya @gemini0410 @waywardodysseys @zozebo @bettergetusetoit @emilykjh @little-diable @rocketqueen @mrspeacem1nusone @miss-smutty @rayslittlekitten @abby-splace @chubbychubbs28 @miraclesoflove @tegggeeee @hunnambabe @missusnora @kesskirata @vixenrebellion @thexhostess @pomegranatearildreams @kandii395 @severewobblerlightdragon @itspdameronthings @niki-xie @cind-in-real-life @saweetspoiled @poge-life @few-proud-emotonal @samanthaisnthome @melodranas @soaharleys @charlie-hunnams-old-lady @simpmasterjr @nataliewalker93 @lovebarefootblonde @marvelousmermaid @tsukuyomi011 @sciapod @midnight-dreams-23

[chazukekani]

SPOILER ALERT 

Here is the quick summary of the first 60 pages of Stormbringer that just revealed today. 

Special thanks to Nika, Amir, and my discord server members for proof-reading!

— That is, the 169th possibility

— ‘You are late, my brother.’

Content

Prologue

Code:01 A programme with 2383 lines, just an idea from a group of researchers

Code 02: Dead people do not possess any form of emotion

Code 03: I want to observe Chuuya’s suffer as a human

Code 04: Grantors of disgrace, you need not wake me again

Epilogue

Afterthought

Harukawa Sango ‘Stormbringer’ Character Setting Gallery

-

Pre-prologue

Fate whispers to warriors,

‘You cannot go against the storm.’

Warriors whisper back

‘I am the storm.’

— Cao Zhi ‘Luo Shen Fu’

-

Prologue

It began in a forest at midnight. It was supposed to be a peaceful night, but suddenly a beam appeared in the forest. It’s a huge fire. The forest was on fire. People who lived in the village nearby ran to the forest to see what happened. It was a wrecked airplane that just fell from the sky. People used hammers to dig the airplane to see whether there are any survivors.

Suddenly, a man walked out from the airplane. He seemed fine, but the crowd was shocked.

‘Apologies for my courtesy. In accordance with civil society, I should introduce myself,’ said the man. He pulled out a badge on his chest. The badge was black and words on it were engraved with silver. One of the teenagers from the village read off the words on it

‘I am a detective from Europole (Europe Detective and Police Organisation), which I am an office equipment. Category number 98F78195, made by ability technician Dr. Wollstonecraft. The first ever humanoid computer that serves for worldwide police facilities. Code name is Adam, Adam Frankenstein. It is my pleasure to meet you. I should carry out my mission now, see you.’

Before Adam left, he asked ‘Do you know a person called Nakahara Chuuya?’

-

Code:01 A programme with 2383 lines, just an idea from a group of researchers 

Chuuya couldn't see his dream. Everytime he woke up, he felt like he was in a swamp of mud. Today, Chuuya woke up in his apartment. Just like other’s morning routine, Chuuya took a shower, cleaned himself and left his home.

Chuuya was 16 years old. Since a year he had joined the mafia, Chuuya excelled in his job with the most outstanding performance, and was well recognised in the organisation.

However with all the money and status he got, Chuuya was not satisfied. The thing that he wanted the most was to know his past. Chuuya knew nothing about it. The earliest memory he had was being kidnapped to a military facility 8 years ago.

There was already a branded black car waiting for Chuuya outside his apartment with a group of men in suits and sunglasses. ‘Please go to the regular store,’ said Chuuya.

Chuuya was in charge of supervising the jewel/gemstone transaction within the Mafia and black market, which had been an important source of income for the mafia.

He arrived at the store. Before entering it, a gun was pointed on Chuuya’s head, while there was another gun pointed onto his chest. Bang! What a big sound. Yet there was no blood, but a bunch of colourful ribbons came off.

‘Congratulations to your 1st year since joining the mafia!’, said those men.

Today was the first anniversary for Chuuya joining the mafia, and his friends held a party for him. People who joined the party all belonged to the ‘young club’ of the mafia, which were all 25 years old or younger.

The party-planner was called ‘Piano Man’. He was called Piano Man not because of his black and white outfit, but his way of killing. He liked using the strings of piano keyboards and strangled people to death. Piano Man was very tall, his fingers were long and thin, and always put a smile on his face. He was by far the man who was closest to the position of the Port Mafia executive.

The second man who came to congratulate Chuuya was called Albatross, a man with golden hair. He was a teen that loved smiling and was very talkative. Albatross was in charge of the transportation aspect of the mafia, and was complimented as very efficient and speedy in completing the missions, and was currently living in the same neighbourhood as Chuuya in a high-ended area. He previously belonged to an organisation called ‘Wheelman’.

Albatross proposed a toasting, but Chuuya was not in a good mood. “Did you have a nightmare?” Albatross joked, but Chuuya turned furious after hearing the word ‘nightmare’. Everyone was horrified. ‘No I wasn’t!’ Chuuya shouted. When Chuuya was about to leave the shop, yet another man came in. He was holding a champagne glass, and on his other hand, he was holding a medical drip stand that had a drip injected into his arm. His name was Doc.

Different from other doctors in the gangster industry, Doc graduated in a Northern American university and was awarded with a Doctorate formally. Doctors were highly demanded within the mafia because members could not simply walk into regular hospitals with injuries that were caused by gunshots. Doctors in the PM were treated nicely and respected, thanks to the boss, Mori-san, who was also a former doctor. The reason why Doc became a doctor was because he wanted to get closer to God. ‘The more lives you save, the closer you get to God’ is the motto of Doc. The Bible once wrote that God saved two million lives, so Doc’s goal was to save a similar number of people, which was why he joined the Mafia.

Chuuya still wanted to leave.

“The first year was the toughest, so we need to celebrate that you got through it,’ a gentle voice said. It was a man who had an extraordinarily beautiful appearance. The first year of joining the Mafia was the so-called ‘Deadman Curve’, so a celebration is needed,” said Lippmann, the guy with a pretty face. The work of Lippmann was probably the most unique one out of all of them. He was in charge of the public relations of the Mafia, such as negotiating deals with enterprises, or having meetings with the government. It is more difficult to kill him than killing the Boss of the Mafia because Lippmann was also a famous actor, thus every single action he made would be reported by the media. Hence it was really difficult to get him.

Another man came in, and his name was Ice Man. Unlike Chuuya’s other friends, he was quiet, and wore a simple outfit. Ice Man did not show much emotion, and was low profile. His job was simple, to kill. He did not use an ability, guns or knives to kill. Instead, he used objects that were nearby to kill. Anything, regardless if it’s a pen, wine bottle or the wire of light bulbs could become a murdering tool, hence Ice Man could kill anywhere.

The gathering continued. Chuuya was gradually having a better mood, until Ice Man asked Chuuya ‘where were you born?’ Chuuya immediately grabbed Ice Man’s shirt, and there was such a tension among the guys. Piano Man then revealed that he knew why Chuuya was mad, because Mori told him about Chuuya’s past that he was just an artificial ability experiment that was created by the military. Hence Mori asked Piano Man to invite Chuuya into the younger’s club, in order to have a surveillance on Chuuya. Piano Man pointed out the reason why Chuuya was mad today because he was actually not able to dream. Suddenly, the tension was back. Everyone had their weapons already, but Piano Man took out a present for the 1st anniversary from his coat, and gave it to Chuuya.

It was a photograph, a picture of two people, and one of them was five year old Chuuya.

The picture was taken in an old village in the Western region, Piano Man said. The area was abandoned afterwards but Doc found this picture inside the medical record of the village. Lippmann then added that he had asked a woman to check all the military-related databases, in which she found out that the military once held a recruitment experiment in the Western region. Still, Chuuya’s friends were able to find the family tree of Chuuya, his school, his report card and his birth record. However, such an investigation must not be known to Mori because Mori thought that if Chuuya’s background remained a secret, Chuuya would not betray the Mafia.

Chuuya did not understand why his friends did this for him. Lippmann said because they were companions. He then proposed why not they name the younger’s club as ‘Flags’.

The Flags then went to a billiards bar. All of a sudden, apart from the six people playing the billiards, there was the seventh person who joined the game. He had long arms and legs, and of course very tall. Black hair with brown eyes, and was standing by the table seriously.

All of a sudden, Albatross used his Kulric knife and sliced on the seventh person's head, which produced an uncomfortable noise. Yet, that person escaped from the attack. A fight then broke out because the Flags thought this seventh person was an ability user, and suspected his intention for coming to the Mafia’s facility. However, Ice Man pointed out that this person was not an ability user, but the fight continued.

During the fight, Adam grabbed the legs of the table, and something grew from his hand. It was a small-scale dinosaur, that grew from Adam’s hands as if it were a plant. The battle was intense. Someone shouted Chuuya’s name out of nowhere, and Adam noticed something.

‘Chuuya-san’, Adam greeted Chuuya politely.

‘I am here to protect you,’ Adam replied. Adam introduced himself, and explained his mission. Adam was sent here to arrest an assassin called Paul Verlaine.

When Chuuya heard the name Verlaine, his facial expression changed.

‘Why do you know this name?’ asked Chuuya

‘Chuuya-san, you cannot defeat Verlaine on your own. That’s why I am here. Verlaine was not only an assassin. He is the king of assassins. He is your brother.’ said Adam.

The misconception was relieved, and the Flags, together with Adam, played billiards happily afterwards.

-

The story continues on 27th Feb

[ilooklikeaburntchickenugget]

Porcelain Doll

A/N: My first Steve story on Tumblr! And I think my first every Mafia AU for Steve ever... lets hope this goes well. Enjoy! Pairing: Mafia!Steve x F!Reader Word count: 2,909 Warnings: Mentions of weapons, swearing, angst.

(I don’t know the owner of this Gif, but it’s not mine. Just wanted to mention that.)

Being weaved within the world of mafia was a choice that you had willingly made.

When you said 'I do' you vowed to be with Steve til death do you part. Literally. Divorces were not only unheard of within the culture of bosses, it was a death wish. No secret could be leaked by an unhappy wife.

Granted, you had never dreamed of leaving Steve. The perfect man, who was stubborn at times, but you could always break past those barriers of ignorance he occasionally put up. In fact, you could bulldoze right through.

And you were the only one that could. Not Bucky, Sam, or Nat could compare to your ability to have that man breaking down every little secret he had stored in that mind of his. At the snap of your finger with him, your wish was his command.

You only had one duty to do, other than be faithful and loving to your husband: you had to oblige by mafia rules that were set for you. They weren't too overwhelming, it was a very limited amount. But it was enough so Steve could watch you like a vulture, if he wanted to.

And technically speaking, you could play his puppet whenever he pleased, and you wouldn't have the option to say no. He never enforced such power, always honoring your freedom and independence. But right now, he didn't have a choice.

"Babe, I need you to do this." He begged from behind his large wood desk, his study lit by antique lamps which cascaded their light onto polished mahogany surfaces.

"Steve, I will not be in another man's arms." You stated, fighting right back. Your arms over your chest, bottom lip easing out of it's hold with a pout.

"Sweetheart, you have to do this!" He elaborated, on the verge of defeat, his face now looking at the floor as his blue eyes scanned over his two feet, contemplating his next move.

"Do I have to though? Why not Nat, or- or someone else!" You threw your hands up in frustration. "I mean, seriously Steven, you cannot be for real right now-"

"Enough!" He rose his voice, the lion's roar booming through the room and ricocheting on the books and stained glass right into your chest. "You will be doing this. And you do not have an option." He emphasized, slamming his fist down. You flinched at the 'thump' that came as a result of the impact. He took a deep breath settling down, his gaze still facing downwards.

He took a few more breaths, moving his head up to meet your face. His eyes filled with a black void of heartlessness and atrocious intentions transitioned into a wave of calming blue, his pupils frantically searching your face as he realized he had scared you beyond your wildest thoughts. "Baby I-" He began but you stopped him soon after.

"I- I will do it." You choked out, your voice barely above a whisper, eyes filling with warm tears that began to fall gracefully down your cheeks, smudging your perfectly done makeup. You took a deep breath yourself, sniffling just a bit, before turning around and walking out of the study, arms now crossed tighter across your chest, and your feet setting off small pitter patters as you hurried yourself across of the rustic hardwood flooring.

Closing the grand doors behind you, Steve let out a sigh and a huff, turning around "Damn it!" He yelled, taking his large fist to the wall. He never intended to hurt you in any capacity, just like he never intended to punch that now crumbling hole in the plaster wall behind his desk, but mistakes happen. Only this was a grave mistake on his part.

You were rushing to your shared bedroom, quiet sobs leaving your mouth. Covering your face as best you could to try and prevent anyone from knowing, your ran up the glass stairs and to the second floor. "Y/N/N?" You heard Bucky's voice coo. You chose to ignore him and moved even faster than before to your room, where you locked the door. Crashing on the Egyptian cotton sheets, which swallowed you in great warmth and comfort, you sobbed into one of your sleeves, choosing not to subject your pillow to such a burden.

"What the fuck did you do?" Bucky marched into Steve's office, uninvited but not giving a thought to it. Looking behind where his boss and best friend sat, head in his hand, was the very hole in the wall Steve had just caused. “You idiot!” He scoffed, walking over and leaning over his desk. “Why was Y/N just running down the hall sobbing?” Steve took a heavy sigh, not looking up.

“I fucked up, big time.” Steve explained. Bucky rolled his eyes.

“So you told her?” He asked and Steve nodded. “How did you do it?” “How do you think, Buck?” Steve fired back.

“Judging by your crying wife and the whole in the wall, you fought.” “Yes, I fought.” He clarified, “I yelled at her. She fought back saying she didn’t wanna do it, I lost my patience.” “You stupid Punk.” Bucky laughed a bit, Steve looking up with a confused look, “You thought she would react any differently?”

“Well, maybe more cooperatively-” Steve began, but was interrupted.

“You’re asking your wife to go and flirt with your rival in a sleazy little dress that’s basically lingerie with a few pieces of fabric connecting it.” He sighed, “You’re asking the woman who loves you, who would literally die for you to go out with another man, and you expect her to be on board? If she reacted positively I would be more concerned.” “Well I didn’t think she would react positively, per se.” Steve rebutted, “Maybe just a little more willingly.” “You still don’t know a damn thing about women.” Bucky sighed, “You have the most loyal, loving, beautiful wife probably sobbing in bed right now because you scared the shit out of her. And you’re gonna sit here and just act like a fool?” He asked, “Why don’t you go apologize? That would be a good place to start.” “I probably should.” Steve leaned back in his chair, getting up and marching out.

He powered through your spacious and modern penthouse, making haste knowing the time was ticking. Approaching your bedroom door he took a deep breath, standing outside and giving it a soft knock. “Baby?” He cooed outside, leaning into the door to hear you soft sobs, “Doll?” He twisted the knob on the door, noticing it was locked. He sighed with annoyance. “Baby, c’mon now let me in.” “No.” You responded, holding your pillow in your lap like a child.

“Baby doll,” He softly said, “C’mon now, I just wanna apologize.”

“I said no.” You repeated again, this time more aggravation in your voice. He took a sigh.

“If you don’t willingly open this door up, I’ll open it up for you.” He warned. You huffed, still firm on your decision. “Fine.” He murmured, running back downstairs and into one of the side rooms, where he went in one of the drawers, picking up a key. Running right back, and up stairs, he placed the small metal object in the key hole, turning it and letting himself in.

You groaned, sitting back on the back of the bed, rolling your eyes. “Fuck you.” You spat out at him. He scoffed.

“C’mon babe, we both know you don’t mean that.” “Please,” You scoffed right back, “If I didn’t mean it then why did I say it?”

“Baby doll,” He sighed, smirking at you, “I love you. And I came here to apologize.” You pouted at him, keeping a straight face.

“Do you mean it?” You questioned, raising one of your eyebrows, looking at him. He nodded. “How do I know?” Your husband walked over to you, laying in bed on his side. You scooted further over to yours, trying to expand the space between you two.

“Baby,” He said softly, his words sounding like music to your ears, but you refused to look at him, “Sweetheart.” He said again, you still refused to move. He took your chin, softly in his large, warm hand. Moving your head to face his, he bent down and kissed you softly. Fireworks of tenderness exploded in your chest, as you hummed out of instinct. He smile lightly into the kiss.

“Because I love you, more than anything in this world.”

“Fine.” You reluctantly sighed, “I forgive you.” You stated, swallowing roughly. “I’m sorry I fought back, I should have gone with the plan.” “No, I understand why you did.” He nodded, “I shouldn’t have lashed out at you and let you see that side of me. You don’t deserve anything near that.” You nodded, leaning your head onto his shoulder. He tenderly kissed the top of your head, taking your smaller hand in his.

“How do you feel?” Bucky asked with a heavy sigh of disapproval as you looked in the mirror at this tiny black fabric that was a disgrace of a dress.

“Exposed, slutty, sleazy, whore-ish, should I continue?” You turned back to he and Steve, your husband clearly enjoying the view, taking his bottom lip in his mouth, “Hey!” You snapped at him, to which he escaped his trance, “Eyes on mine, not my ass.”

“C’mon now.” Bucky got up, sighing again in frustration. “We gotta go.”

You rolled your eyes, crossing your arms and walking out feeling beyond embarrassed for this apparel. A lot of mafia wives wore similar outfits to the one you had on, borderline stripper. You preferred classy and elegant, this was far from your cup of tea.

Getting out of the solid black car, you took a final deep breath, stepping out to begin playing your loose persona. Black pumps pattered on the ground as your walked into the mansion, your red lipstick curling up into a nice smile as you began greeting people.

The women were green with envy, their eyes filled with both red flames of jealousy and blue waves of fear. The men acted like dogs and pigs, looking you up and down like the cheap piece of meat you were acting out. You hated it, you truly did. Everything about the ordeal was already wrenching enough.

You were greeted by one of the server’s and a glass of much needed champagne. You wanted to down it, let the pain simmer away, but you slowly sipped as a proper lady would. Ironic with the outfit.

Looking around at the large ball room of people chatting, you finally found your target. His ridiculously untamed black hair, barely shaved face lined with wrinkles and harsh eyes were enough to let you know that was Brock Rumlow.

You walked over to him, a small smile on your face despite the pure growl underneath it. Making sure to jut your hips out a bit more, you immediately caught his attention.

“Well, well, well,” His voice echoed to you, as you kindly smiled now across from him, his suit not fitted well you noticed. “If it isn’t Mrs. Rogers.” “Please, Mr. Rumlow.” You played your character, “No formalities needed, Y/N, is just fine.”

“Hm,” He hummed with brief thought, “I thought the Rogers’ clan always took great pride in the name.” “Well,” You sighed, taking a sip of your drink, “Some things change.” “Oh?” He asked, “Like what?”

“Loyalty, trust, one’s pleasure.” You smirked, he clearly caught on. Fast.

“Pleasure, you say?” He inquired.

“You heard me right.” You sighed.

“So why’d you come to me?” He asked again, trying to act dumbfounded.

“You know why, Mr. Rumlow.” You stated. He hummed and nodded once.

“Follow me.”

He guided you through the winding whirlwinds of people, up one of the various grand staircases. Down the darkly lit hallway and into one of the bedrooms.

You didn’t want to jinx yourself, but so far this was too easy. Granted, it was Brock Rumlow. He was a loose cannon, the opposite of Steve. Steve ran a tight ship, the organization was established with concrete and stone foundations. Rumlow was some sticks put together. He left paper trails and greasy fingerprint all over his business, leaving Steve a laundry list of reasons to get rid of his rival.

His hands grabbed your hips, and as much as you wanted to pull away, you had to let him have you, if even for the next minute. You pretended to be okay, but no enjoyment was very much visible. He didn’t seem to notice. His hands reached down along your curves, moving and grabbing your ass. You could feel his breath reach your face, his lips inches away from yours.

It all happened so fast. One moment you were about to engage in a kiss with a man you despised, the next you were held at gunpoint in a headlock by the very same man. You opened you eyes calmly, looking around to see a dozen of Steve’s men from all angles, guns pointed at Rumlow’s head. The cool point of the weapon was on the side of your head, your hands tightly at your sides. “Let her go, Rumlow.” Steve walked in, staring at him. “If you wanna make it out alive, let her go.”

He harshly laughed, “Oh please,” He stated, “It’s not like I’d want to make it out alive by your dirty hands anyways.” “I’m pretty sure I’m not the one stealing other peoples property.” He barked, “So stop touching mine.” You remained calm, keeping your breath steady just like Steve had always told you to do.

The room fell silent. You could feel Rumlow’s fingers move on the gun ever so slightly, prompting you to know he was cocking it. With one easy move, you took your left elbow, smashing it into his chin behind you. He fell back with a groan, gun being thrown which you managed to catch with ease, like Nat had taught you. Cocking it yourself, you pointed it at the man now on the ground.

Looking back, Steve stood in partial awe and confusion at the site. You with the very gun you were threatened with now pointed at your attacker. “Take ‘em.” Steve stated, as numerous men went and grabbed him up, tying him with duct tape as he wailed for help. You walked over to Steve as he walked over to you, his fingertips tracing your jawline, “Are you alright?” He asked, face turning to concern. You nodded.

“Yeah, I’m okay.” He grabbed your waist, giving you a deep kiss, using one of his hands to run it through your once perfectly done hair.

“Where did you learn that?” He muttered, you lightly laughed.

“Nat.” You smirked into his ear.

“Doll you could’ve hurt yourself-” “Steve.” You insisted, placing one of your hands on his chest, “I’m not a porcelain doll. I married into mafia, I can’t be.” He sighed, looking away only for a brief moment of thought before turning back to you.

“I know you’re not.” He muttered, “I’m just worried.” You nodded.

“I know.” You caressed his cheek with your hand, “You always are.” You both lightly laughed, smiling at each other and lost in each other’s passion for one another despite little to no conversation taking place.

“Uh, hey boss.” Sam walked in somewhat awkwardly, knocking on the door. Steve turned around, hands still placed on your hips as your attention was now on Sam as well, “We might wanna go, like, now, so no one suspects anything.” “Yeah, right.” Steve dropped his hands from you, grabbing one of yours to lead you out one of the secret back doors and into one of the cars. You squeezed in next to Steve, him placing a hand on your thigh lovingly.

“So, when do I get a raise?” You gazed out the window at the various cars passing by.

“Your raise?” Steve scoffed, “What raise?” You sighed heavily.

“I did most of that job for you.” You rolled your eyes. “Got the target, took his weapon, got him on the ground.”

“Doll, it wasn’t that easy-” “It seemed that easy.” He sarcastically laughed.

“You’re insatiable sometimes.” He rolled his eyes.

“Using big words now, are we?” You turned to him, “I could use a bigger pay too.” “Fine.” He gave in, “What do you want.”

“A long weekend, just you and me, no work, in Napa Valley.” He gave you a confused look, “You heard me.” “Doll that’s a little much don’t you think-” “Four days.” “Sweetheart-” “Five.” “Honey I can’t-” “Six.”

“There’s not even that many wineries, I-” “One week.” “Fine!” He huffed, “One fucking week in Napa, no work no nothing. Excluding emergencies, where I will make it up to you somehow. Good enough?”

“Nat and Bucky need to be there too.” You retorted, “Staying at a different house, keep in mind.” “Babe, where will they stay?” “Steven, you have three houses out there, figure it out.” You scoffed.

“Fine. But that’s it.” He began, “This is your reward for your hard work.”

“Hard work? I would describe it more as flawless.” He eyed you, shooting a glare. “I love you.” You kindly smiled, giving him a kiss on the cheek. “Now when we get home you’re gonna plan that trip, right?” “What do you mean I-” “Well, it’s not like it’ll plan itself.”

[passivenovember]

Ok this is silly I had this thought and didn’t know what to do with it so since I know you’re from the midwest too here you go lol; no one explaining to billy the concept of testing tornado sirens after the move to Indiana so he’s just sitting in class on a sunny Wednesday morning when the sirens go off and he’s the only one freaking out (does Indiana even get tornadoes? idk)

Being born on the coast, right on the water, practically on a surfboard grants Billy wings. Flying high on the surf of tsunamis and hurricanes--tropical storms that lay palm trees flat when the wind blows just right--Billy knows that whatever monsters exist in Hawkins probably lie dormant under the weatherman's bed, or something. Completely harmless save for two weeks out of the year.

But.

Butbutbut--that doesn't stop him from preparing. He's got half a brain for self preservation, being raised by Neil, so Billy does the math. Scans a few Farmer's almanacs the week after they move into their cozy little shit shack on Cherry Lane and finds that Indiana has had 32 tornadoes in the last year.

Thirty fucking two.

And 1,015 people got hurt. And 32 Midwesterners died trying to rescue their hay bails from landing dick first in Oz, or something, but no one ever seems to be talking about it. No candles line the streets. No public vigils are held, Chief Hopper disgracing the dead just as he does the living.

Nope.

Things continue on with regularly scheduled boredom, until second period History. Billy's relaxed. Loose limbed, leaning into the blunt he smoked on the way across town this morning, and he's happy, for a Wednesday.

Counting the seconds until lunch, staring at the back of Steve Harrington's head, just. Salivating over waves of barley falling to rest against the collar of Harrington's stupid little shirt...when the wailing starts.

Typical.

And Billy's fingers go white-knuckle on the desk in front of him, carefully highlighted notes fading in and out of focus as his throat dries up.

Billy's never heard a noise like this in all his life.

It's a fucking nightmare. Cosmic punishment--nails on the black board, and screeching children, and road burned tires rolled up in one.

Billy thinks the skies have cracked open for the angels to sing with their high, scary voices. He thinks the walls must be vibrating with it. Humming in tune, as the wind whips a hole into the cosmos--

"Hey, are you alright?" Steve Harrington asks.

Mrs. Decker's gone.

Everyone's gone.

Billy tries to make sense of it, eyes blinking in rapid succession. One, two, three. Onetwo three twoo--

"Where did everyone go?" Billy tries, sounding. A lot weaker than he means to.

"You look like you're gonna hurl." Steve says, shuffling awkwardly. "I could, like. Grab a trash can for you, if that'd help?"

Billy tries to breathe in through his nose, and. Out through his mouth, or something.

Steve waves a hand in front of Billy's face, all, "Look, dude, if you're gonna ralph just tell me and I'll get the trash can."

"I don't want to--"

"Connor O'Murphy blew chunks in the one by science hall last year and it smelled like peanut butter." Steve says. Mean, like Billy's trying to be difficult. "It's not a big deal."

He waits for Billy to say something.

Billy doesn't.

Steve gets on his knees, leans back on his haunches, and. He looks kinder up close. Worried. "Hey." He says again.

Billy frowns. "I'm not deaf, alright, don't talk to me like I'm--"

"Okay."

"--I heard you the first fucking time--"

"Alright," Harrington snaps. "Jesus, you're not sayin' shit. And you're frozen in time or something. Freaking out." Steve tosses his hair.

Right out in the open like that, like. Billy didn't need the air in his lungs anyway.

Steve frowns. "You alright?" He tries again.

And Billy's had enough. "Where the fuck is that noise coming from?"

Steve looks over his shoulder and back again, like, "What noise."

Billy lets out a sound. It's rough. Hurts, a little.

Steve touches his knee. Billy smacks his hand away. "That noise," He says, as the angels hit another high note. "What the fuck is that, It sounds like a bomb's gone off somewhere."

Steve makes that stupid face again. The one with the doe eyes, and the puffy pink lips, and the flop of hair across his forehead.

The one that sets Billy's blood on fire. The one that makes him mad. Harrington eases the burn with a frown. "The tornado siren?" He supplies.

And.

Billy's whole ass, fucking. Drops into the gymnasium below.

"There's a tornado?" He whispers, chest staging a riot. "Why is no one doing. Anything. Why is no one--"

"Woah, woah, hey--"

"Why aren't we finding shelter?" Billy demands wildly. "There were thirty-two tornadoes last year, and 1,015 people got hurt and thirty two died and--"

"Listen, you gotta breathe, Hargrove." Steve makes a big show. Puckers his stupid pink lips and demonstrates how to do it.

Like human's aren't conditioned to breathe on impulse. Like Billy even could, with Harrington's lips looking like that--

Billy slaps the hand away that finds his chest. Gasps, too, like the room is filling with smoke. "Shouldn't we be finding shelter?"

Steve shakes his head. "No, man, 's a test siren." He says easily.

Too easily.

Billy stares at him. Watches him breathe in and out until his own breaths match up, just. Naturally.

"What?"

"Yeah." Steve's hand finds his knee again. Billy wishes he'd stop doing that, as Harrington's fingers toy with the rip in his pants. "Every Wednesday--"

"Bullshit."

"Let me finish." Steve says, almost. Fondly. "Every Wednesday from February to May they do practice drills."

"Who does practice drills?" Billy says thickly, trying to breathe. "Who's they, why would they do that--"

"How should I know?" Harrington snaps. Then; gently. "The power plant? The mayor? Channel 15? Who's to say."

Practice drills.

Billy goes back to monitoring his breathing even as Steve crowds into his space and immediately backs up. Looking like he wants to touch. More than just a knee.

"I hate the Midwest." Billy stands. Gathers his shit into a pile before thrusting it into his bag.

He can feel eyes on him. Soft, soulful brown eyes that pin him down. Hold him hostage.

"Look," Harrington says. Billy does, heart thumping in a way that has nothing to do with the sirens. Steve watches him for a moment before grinning softly. "I got a joint in my car." He says.

Billy frowns. "Yeah? And I got a will to live."

"I told you, it's not a real tornado--"

"But it could be." Billy finds the strength to stand smile. "If I'm gonna die in a natural disaster I don't want it to be because the corn swallowed me whole."

"I'll protect you." Harrington says fiercely.

And Billy's got half a brain for self preservation. Like a boy scout who couldn't pass the D.A.R.E course.

Turns out? He'd sacrifice it for a pair of brown eyes.

Typical.

[snowe-zolynn-rogers]

Pairings: None

Word Count: 1,929 Words

Summary: The beginning is always rough introductions, huh?

Warnings: Orphan Mention, Disownment Mention, Death Mention, Fire Mention, Trans Character, Food Mention, Sexism Mention, Broken Bone Mention, let me know if I should tag anything else.

Notes: All credit for Momo, Toru, Mina, Jirou, and Ochako's outfits goes to ohkoh-blog, their redesigns have always been my favorite ones.

Aizawa, We Agreed No More Cats: Chapter 1

3:45 PM

Aizawa has started the group chat

Aizawa has added Aoyama, Hagakure, Shinsou, Tokoyami, Kuroiro, Tsunotori, Monoma, Shiozaki, and Honenuki to the group chat

Aizawa: Alright, kids. The Opening Ceremony is done being held. Since you're staying in the dorms, you need a way to keep in touch with me in case you need things.

Aoyama: I wasn't aware there'd be this many new ✨friends✨ in the dorms!

Tsunotori: Oh yeah, I'm international!

Aoyama: Me too, Madamoiselle!

Tsunotori: International besties!

Aoyama: Why is everyone else here? Surely there can't be this many international students.

Shiozaki: The sisters sent me to the dormitories to allow me quicker access to school grounds since our monastery is quite far away in Fukuoka Prefecture.

Shinsou: I got into high school so my orphanage signed over my rights to AU.

Kuroiro: My parents were paying me to stay in an apartment down in Kamino away from them because I'm apparently a disgrace, but they stopped paying when I got into UA, so I can't pay for my apartment anymore. Nezu forced me to move into the dorms.

Tokoyami: Both sets of my parents are in Sōya Prefecture so my commute would have been awful every morning.

Monoma: My mother is moving back to France now that I'm enrolled.

Honenuki: My parents disowned me when they found out I took the entrance exam. They don't want me to be a hero.

Hagakure: The school insisted I have housing so I don't need to have a job anymore because it could conflict with my hero training.

Aoyama: Why did you have a job, Hagakure?

Hagakure: Because I've been on my own for the last year. My parents died when I was a baby in a car crash so my granny and papa raised me. They both passed on a year ago after a villain accident resulted in a fire that burned our house down while they were sleeping and I was at a friend's house for her birthday, so I had to work and pay for an apartment for the last year.

Aoyama: Hagakure wins the sad backstory contest.

Aizawa: This isn't a contest, no trying to one up each other's sad backstories.

Shinsou: What's your sad backstory, Mr. Aizawa?

Aizawa: Well, my mom died when I was born, my dad got my custody when I was five but sent me back to my Aunt Miya because hated my of quirk. And my Aunt Miya died when I was six and my dad denies I'm his son still. I grew up from 6 to 18 in foster care. I was housed in the UA dorms during my stay here, just as you all are, thus why I'm the teacher assigned to be in this chatroom with you all.

Hagakure: Mr. Aizawa's out here having a sad backstory holding out on us?

Tokoyami: Should we introduce ourselves? We have like three different classes here. I know maybe two people and the teacher.

Aizawa: Yeah, that would be smart.

Aizawa: Shouta, he/him, I'm gay, divorced, depressed

Shinsou: Hitoshi, he/him, I'm gay

Monoma: Seiko, she/they/he, pansexual/genderfluid, if you have a crush on me, you're some kind of gay

Hagakure: Toru, she/her, lesbian

Aoyama: Akemi, she/they, trans mtf/lesbian

Tsunotori: Pony, she/her, lesbian

Shiozaki: Ibara, they/them, asexual/agender/aromantic

Kuroiro: Kageya, she/her, trans mtf/bi

Tokoyami: Fumikage, he/him, trans ftm/bi

Honenuki: Juzo, she/her?, bi

Aizawa: You're not sure.

Honenuki: I just...I think I'm trans? But I don't know, I guess. I can use he/him if you'd feel more comfortable with it.

Aizawa: Honenuki, three other people just told us they're trans, what makes you think I wouldn't use your preferred pronouns just as much as I would with theirs?

Honenuki: All my teachers in the past never listened to me.

Aizawa: Well, I'm not them. And if she/her makes you happy and comfortable, I'm glad to use those pronouns for you.

Honenuki: I'm gonna cry in this classroom.

Kuroiro: Hold on, hold on. I'm coming over there.

Kuroiro: juzocryingandhuggingkageya.jpg

Kuroiro: She's fine.

Aizawa: Ask her if she has a preference in her name change. As a teacher I can change her paperwork if it makes her uncomfortable to have her birthname on her paperwork.

Kuroiro: She says she can't decide. She likes a few names. She says she wants help deciding. She likes Sachi, Kiyomi, and Aika.

Hagakure: I vote for Aika.

Aoyama: I vote for Sachi.

Tokoyami: My vote is for Kiyomi.

Shinsou: Kiyomi

Tsunotori: Sachi!

Shiozaki: Kiyomi!

Monoma: Sachi

Aizawa: So I guess I'm a tie-breaker, huh? I'll go with Kiyomi.

Kuroiro: Ah yes, our girl, Honenuki Kiyomi.

Aizawa: I'll go change her paperwork for her now.

Aoyama: I have quite a number of dresses that aren't my size she can borrow if she wants.

Kuroiro: She said thank you, she'll come by your room after school's over.

Aoyama: I'll await her!

Tokoyami: I'm getting her cute clothing right away. You can't stop me. I have so much clothing I've made that people no longer intend to pay for in order to pick up. I'm giving her cute clothes once I get back to my dorm. What color does she like?

Kuroiro: She said black and orange.

Tokoyami: Yes, I have a lot of black and orange stuff.

Tokoyami is now offline

Aizawa has changed the group chat name to Existence Is A Prison

5:05

Existence Is A Prison

Tokoyami: Me and Aoyama have made five outfits for our best girl, Kiyomi, until we take her out shopping.

Aoyama: kiyomiinanorangedress.jpg

Aoyama: kiyomiinadifferentorangedress.jpg

Aoyama: kiyomiinblackjeansandorangecrophoodie.jpg

Aoyama: kiyomiinablackskaterdressandorangecorset.jpg

Aoyama: kiyomiinanorangeskirtandblacktop.jpg

Hagakure: She looks so nervous.

Honenuki: That's because I am.

Monoma: You're beautiful, Kiyo.

Honenuki: Thank you, Seiko.

Monona: No problem, gorgeous.

8:00 PM

Existence Is A Prison

Aizawa: I made dinner by the way, you kids need to come down and eat with me. You need your strength for your training.

Tokoyami: What's dinner, Mr. Aizawa?

Aizawa: Donburi with choice of topping. Yes, I went overboard toppings. No, I don't take criticism. It's your first dinner at UA. The leftovers will be forced upon the other teachers unless someone wants to keep them.

Shiozaki: Which toppings, Mr. Aizawa?

Aizawa: All of them. Yes, this includes three vegetable options for you and Hagakure, Shiozaki.

Shiozaki: Much appreciated, Mr. Aizawa!

Tokoyami: He bought tuna. I repeat, he made tuna.

Shinsou: I love Mr. Aizawa.

Hagakure: I've only had Mr. Aizawa a day but if anything happened to him, I would kill everyone in this chat and then myself.

Aizawa: No killing, more eating, kids, you need your strength.

7:50 AM

Existence Is A Prison

Hagakure: God, why are the gnats blocking the gates? I can't even get through, they keep knocking me around. And, now that they know I exist because I told them off for pushing me, they're asking me questions!

Shinsou: I'll be out there in a sec, hold on, Toru.

Aizawa: Shinsou how exactly do you plan to get through that crowd?

Shinsou: Nothing illegal.

Hagakure: shinsouhelping.vid

Video Transcript

[Shinsou is seen pushing through a ring of news reporters to get to Toru to get her away from them while they keep asking her questions]

Are you hero course? -Unknown

[barking] -Shinsou

[phone shaking and laughter] - Hagakure

Oh my! -Unknown

Now get out of my way. -Shinsou

[reporters let Shinsou get Hagakure through the UA barrier and the video cuts on a look back at the gates still being swarmed by reporters.]

Transcript End

Aizawa: Oh my god, you barked at reporters.

Shinsou: See? Nothing illegal.

Aizawa: No, but I wish I thought about doing that sooner.

Aizawa: Smart thinking, kid.

Hagakure: Shinsou's my new bestie.

Shinsou: Yeah, Toru even had to go visible so people would see her and stop hitting into her.

Aizawa: Wait, you can be visible and you never told anyone?

Hagakure: Well, I can't control it well. Once I first turned invisible, I liked it because people used to make fun of how I look, but they never made fun of me if they couldn't see me, so I just stayed invisible so much it feels like that's my normal skin now but I can turn myself visible, Mr. Aizawa.

Aizawa: Okay, I need to take up some questions with your hero costume right now before class. Bring your breakfast to the classroom if you're getting it from Lunch Rush. I feel we need immediate changes to your costume.

Aizawa: I'd also like you to know that you can be visible in class 1-A because if anyone and I mean ANYONE, makes fun of you will get immediate suspension and detention. The Hero Course isn't a place for harassment.

Aizawa: While we're at it, I'll call the other girls and ask them aside and personally talk about if they'd like immediate changes to be made for them for the training later today.

Hagakure: Thanks, Mr. Aizawa, I just thought it'd be better not to bring it up since I thought the designers would know best.

Aizawa: Toru, this is your outfit, not theirs. From the concept, to the making of it, to the finished product. This is something you get full creative decision with and I won't have this company making my female students purposefully sexualize themselves and even putting themselves in danger with their outfits not being practical on my watch.

9:45 AM

Existence Is A Prison

Aizawa: All the girls officially have new costume designs. The new costumes will be personally worked on by the companies that make mine and Present Mic's costumes as they're the two most qualified and least sexist companies.

Shinsou: Toru, what does your concept look like?

Hagakure: newcostumedesign.jpg

Hagakure: Yaoyorozu is making her outfit from her hair like Lemillion did so she can now make things through her clothes and doesn't need to expose herself. Ashido's getting rid of that stupid fur and getting gauntlets for more control of her acid. Uraraka no longer has a skin-tight suit and is upgrading to rocket boots. Asui is happy with her bodysuit since she actually needs skin-tight things to move about easier, but she's getting a layer of padding and armor on top of it and more utility from it. It's also being made from her hair because she can actually camouflage herself and it would be easier. Jirou is getting amps and pitch shifters plus better boots.

Hagakure: I have single-handedly made the UA hero girls' outfits more practical and useful. I'm kind of proud.

Aizawa: I'm proud.

Hagakure: I'll need time to properly control my quirk, though. I'll probably go invisible without knowing it since I'm so used to it.

Aizawa: That's fine, take as long as you need. I think we need to hold a quirk regulatory class session, anyway. Especially since Midoriya is so insistent on breaking himself.

Aoyama: I heard him say something about his quirk coming in at the exam to Bakugou, Mr. Aizawa. It seems he's a very late bloomer in terms of quirk.

Aizawa: I'm going to keep him after school today and get some proper quirk training. His broken bones is likely because his quirk is full-strength but his body isn't ready for full-strength yet. I'll also speak to him before the training exercise today in case.

Hagakure: Please don't single him out. At least keep me after with him.

Tokoyami: Me as well.

Shinsou: Can I stay with you while I exercise?

Aizawa: Of course.

Aizawa: In fact, join us in quirk training as well. I know your quirk is quite strong, I'd love to train it to be stronger.

[fruitcoops]

coops - remus gets recognized in public on his own for the first time and he goes home and tells sirius about it (I feel like it could either be a really nice fan who is really excited OR some angst and it’s some homophobic piece of shit who recognizes him from the pictures and gives him shit about it but then sirius comforts him)

I combined both your ideas for this prompt--hope you enjoy it! Credit for Coops goes to @lumosinlove!

TW for homophobia, but no slurs

The man was staring, and Remus was pretty sure it wasn’t because of the apples. He’d had his fair share of unwanted publicity over the past few months since the pictures were released, but honestly he rarely had enough free time to be recognized in public. That didn’t mean it was easier to deal with the backlash, but at least fewer people were saying it to his face.

He put another apple in his bag and heard a scoff. “Can I help you?” he finally asked, thoroughly annoyed. “There are plenty here to go around.”

“Fucking sinner.”

Oh, so you’re that kind of asshole. Remus twisted the bag closed and turned around. “Right, we’re done here.”

“Hey! I’m talking to you!” the man said, raising his voice a little. A few other people on the sidewalk glanced over at them. Just keep walking. “Oh, sure, run home to your sugar daddy.”

Remus stopped in his tracks, closed his eyes, and inhaled deeply. “Sir, I think you have the wrong—”

“You disgraced the best hockey player in the league,” he sneered. Several people had begun to whisper and Remus was grateful for the rumble of passing cars that muffled their words. “We all know you’re just using him for his money.”

“That’s not true,” Remus said quietly, facing the man. “You’re not part of Sirius and I’s relationship, so why don’t you just mind your own business and enjoy the farmer’s market, okay?”

An ugly snarl twisted across the man’s mouth and he spat out a slur; Remus just barely held down a wince. He wanted to fire back with something smart, something snarky, but he only felt ashamed.

Someone came out of a nearby produce stall. “Leave him alone.”

“Excuse me?”

“We don’t tolerate hate speech at this market. Leave him alone.” The speaker was a young woman, probably around nineteen or twenty.

“Who the fuck are you?”

“I’m the person who’s going to call the market moderator and have you banned if you don’t leave right now.” She was gripping the cuffs of her flannel hard, but her voice was steady.

The man looked between them, muttered something under his breath, and stormed off with a final glare in Remus’ direction. Once he was out of sight, the woman leaned against her stall and let out a slow breath. “Are you alright?” Remus asked.

“Me? I’m fine.” She seemed surprised at his concern. “Are you?”

“Believe it or not, it’s happened before. Thanks for stepping in, though; that was brave.”

“Well, I couldn’t exactly just stand by and let my hero face a homophobe alone.”

“Still, I appre—your what?” Her words registered in Remus’ brain a second too late and he paused.

A bright pink flush tinted her face. “Oh. Um, it’s just, when those pictures came out, my family made a bunch of jokes. They didn’t know I’m…y’know.” She gestured at her flannel, heavy boots, and rainbow pins with an awkward smile.

“I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay. What you and your boyfriend did, how you responded to everything…” She shook her head. “That was brave. It kind of gave me the courage to come out to my folks. They’re working on being more accepting now and they’ve stopped with the jokes. I figured that if the great Sirius Black could do it, why couldn’t I?”

Remus blinked rapidly and tried to ignore the growing lump in his throat. “Oh.”

“Yeah.”

Say something, say something, say something. “I’m—I’m proud of you.”

“What?” The young woman’s eyebrows nearly disappeared into her hairline.

“I’m proud of you. For coming out to your parents and for accepting who you are. That’s a tough thing to do.” Remus tried to give her a thumbs-up and nearly dropped his apples. “Shit—sorry—is there anything I can do to thank you?”

“Stay proud?” Her voice was quiet, as if she was afraid the request was too much. “You’re an inspiration to a lot of people, even if idiots like that guy make it seem impossible.”

“Idiots are often louder than the rest,” Remus agreed. “I will. Thanks again for lending a hand.”

“Any time.”

As he biked home, his attention drifted more than once and he considered pulling to the side for a moment to collect his thoughts. An inspiration, she had said. A young woman he had never seen in his life thought he and Sirius were an inspiration. After the threats and hatred and vicious hashtags, her words were a breath of fresh air.

“Baby, are you home?’ he called as he unlocked the door and braced for Hattie’s welcoming tackle. He heard the TV click off and heavy footsteps coming down the stairs.

“Hey, love, how was the—”

“It’s worth it,” Remus blurted, setting his grocery bag down by the door. A look of confusion overtook Sirius’ smile.

“What is?”

“Everything that happened. What we did. It’s worth it.” Remus held his arms out and Sirius wrapped him in a hug immediately, giving him a tight squeeze of comfort that nearly crushed his ribs with love.

“What brought this on?” he murmured into his ear.

“There was a homophobic idiot at the farmer’s market.” Sirius went still. “I’m fine, don’t worry. One of the vendors made him leave right away and then said we were an inspiration.” Remus’ voice hitched and he cleared his throat. “She’s like us, and seeing our response to the media helped her come out to her parents.”

“Really?”

“Yeah,” Remus laughed around the tears that threatened to fall. “Yeah, she—she said that a lot of people looked up to us, even if the idiots were the loud ones.”

Sirius pulled away from their hug and kissed him full on the mouth, slow and soft. “It is worth it,” he said. “Everything we went through was worth it for this. For them. I’m proud to be with you.”

Remus pulled him in for a fierce kiss.

[imagines-by-a-typical-fangirl]

The Perfect Bad Boy (Pt. 11 of 18)

Pairing: Billy Hargrove X Reader

Word count: 3 K

Summary: Working as a lifeguard in the Hawkins Community Pool, you try to fit in after moving from New York. Things were going pretty well when you notice you've been under someone's stare. Billy Hargrove, Hawkins' bad boy, has been staring at you since day one. You never intended to have anything to do with him, judging by the reputation he has. But Billy won't leave you alone, determined to show you his feelings are different this time...

As if your heart flooding you with confusing feelings wasn't enough, there are weird, strange animals lurking in the woods... But those have to be just part of the wild live of the woods surrounding Hawkins... Right?

<- Previous part (10)

Next part (12)->

{Stranger Things Masterlist}

×

Nightmares and Promises

Your mind is a blur, as is the street ahead. The engine complains as you force the damn car to go faster and faster. You get the feeling that Billy never lived as far as he lives today. You're suffocating, the noises you heard through the phone playing back in your mind. Max's voice, weak and scared. Billy's screams, the curse words from Neil... What can you do? What could you possibly do to help?

“Damn it.” You hiss when you make a sharp turn left, hitting a mailbox. “C'mon.”

Every time Billy tells you about his father, about the rude words, the beating, the humiliation, you see the little boy in his eyes. Scared, sad, trapped inside a house where he was forced to live a nightmare. You see yourself too, despite being hit by your mother only once. You know how he felt, but it was much, much worse. And now, after he finally grew out of it, living his life, completely apart from such memories, his father comes back.

You know what you'll do. You'll beat the shit out of Neil, drag him out and tell him not to come back.

Your knuckles turn white on the steering wheel, and your heart beats like a drum in your years. When you finally reach his street, you push the car to the very limit, hitting the breaks when you're by his place. You forgot to put the seat belt on, and judging by how madly you were driving, it's a miracle you're still alive.

The moment you step out of the car, you hear it. The yells. Max is by the window, and her eyes go wide when she sees you. You're moving to the front door with your whole body burning with anger. When you grab the handle, you take the deepest breath you can before swinging the door open. The noise it makes hitting the wall brings a sudden silence, but on the moment you step in, an old man comes from the kitchen, followed by Billy. Max immediately comes to your side, and you can see that her face is covered in tears.

“Who the hell are you?” The man asks as Billy walks around him, hiding you behind his back.

“Leave her out of it,” Billy says, and you notice his muscles are all tense. “And get the hell out of my house.”

“Your house? You mean the house Susan gave you?” He roughly gestures around. “She pities you, Billy. She only allows you to live here because of Max. Or do you think she or anyone would move a finger for you? You're a disgrace, a boy who thinks he's a man who will never leave this screwed uptown, and you know why?” The man steps closer, face to face with Billy. “Because you're nothing. You have always been nothing, and you will always be.”

Neil's yells are deafening, and you can feel your heart breaking. He's wrong. He's so damn wrong. “Stop talking like you know him!” It's your time to yell, pushing Max further back and stepping aside to have a look at Neil's face. “Billy is ten times the man you'll ever be! And despite your attempts to break him, to destroy and drag him down to this dirty, filthy pit you live in, he's still here! He's still here and he overcame you and your shit.”

“Another of your sluts, Billy? Why am I not surprised?” Neil barks, a wicked smile on his lips. “You're just another plaything, don't you act like you're not.”

“Don't talk to her like that.” The tension suddenly explodes, and Billy moves forward, hitting a hard punch in Neil's face.

You're frozen again, noticing through the corner of your eyes that Max ran off to her room. Maybe you should follow her, search for a safe place from this chaos. Like you used to. When it got too much to handle, you used to lock yourself in your bedroom, both hands covering your ears, trying to block the shoutings that came through the door. And you're just about to move when you get a glimpse of Billy's face. The whole fight happening in front of you is too fast to follow. But in his eyes, as he hits his father and gets hit back, you see it. Fear. Desperation. Anger. Hate. A mix of countless feelings, some of them too deep to name.

You know you can't run. You won't run. You know you have to do something, anything.

And suddenly, Billy falls to the ground, his hand immediately coming to his face. Niel stands tall, feeling victorious. “You son of a bitch!” You burst out, not quite in control of your body anymore. You just move, blindly, towards Neil, aiming a punch on his already bleeding nose. But in a movement you can't follow, you see it coming, too fast for your mind to process, and he hits you hard with the back of his hand.

You're violently pushed to the side, like hit by a brick, your body collapsing to the floor and hitting the coffee table hard. Your head spins around and you feel tears involuntary rolling down from the pain. Your left cheek burns like it was set on fire, and a sting spreads through your skull. Your side hurts too, from where it connected to the table. When you look up, back at Neil, Billy isn't on the ground anymore.

“Don't you ever–” He hits Neil like a plane, pushing him so hard the hits the wall with a deafening sound.“–touch her.” A kick in his stomach, making his body jerk forward. “Don't you–”

He's cut short when Neil grabs his throat. “Let go of him!” You say, but you can't hear your voice. Neil changes side with Billy, pinning him against the wall.

“You never learn, do you, kid?” Neil mutters, his voice dark and wicked.

You have to do something. Anything. You're moving to get up when you see Max, in the hall, eyes fixed on Neil and her brother. She's holding a baseball bat so tightly that her hands are shaking.

That's it. In an adrenaline jolt, you jump to your feet, running over to Max, and taking the bat from her hands. “Go back to your room, Max,” you say, suddenly feeling overprotected of her. You see yourself in her right now, and you're doing for her what Diane did for you. Fixing the problem so she can have a happy, normal life away from evil people.

No time to think, no time to make a strategy. You just do what you want to. You want to hurt Neil, for everything you've heard about and for this. So you raise the bat and bring it down with all your strength, straight to his legs. It makes him lose his grip immediately, letting go of Billy and falling down with a guttural groan. But that wasn't enough, so you raise the bat again, bringing it down, over and over, aiming for his legs. The tears are clouding your sight, so you blink to push them away. The sounds the bat makes when it goes Neil makes you sick, but you don't care. He deserves it. You only stop when Billy gets on his knees, leaning over his father as he starts hitting him, over and over and over, turning Neil's face into a bloody mess.

“If you ever–” A hard, heavy punch. “–come back again–” Another one, right on his eye. “–I swear to God I'll kill you.”

“My whole family is made of lawyers so if you ever set foot in Hawkins again I'll get you a restraining of so many miles that you won't be able to come to Indiana again,” you yell, hitting him with the bat once more, right on his ribs, careful this time not to hit Billy.

He then stands up, grabbing his father by the collar of his shirt and dragging him towards the door, then across the porch, and through the sidewalk. You follow him, watching as Neil can't do anything but awkwardly crawl backwards. “Get the hell away.” Billy lets him fall, and you stand back a couple of feet, still holding the bat. Your eyes follow Neil's every move as he stumbles up, then into his car, trying and failing to clean the blood off his face with his hands. You're sure his nose is broken, it's turned into a weird shape, as probably is his leg. He doesn't look back when he speeds away, his car disappearing downstreet.

You don't know what the silence means. You see some neighbors peeking through the windows, eager to see what happened, but never to help. You need to take Billy away from their sight.

Carefully, you walk over him, his eyes fixed on where Neil's car went as if making sure he won't come back. “Billy,” you call, as softly as you can, letting the bat fall and touching his arm. “Come inside.”

When he looks down at you, it breaks your heart. The blood on his nose and lower lip is mixed with tears. Bitter, countless tears. “I hate him. I hate that son of a bitch.” He mumbles, his voice still heavy with anger.

“He's gone, Billy. He won't come back.” You wish you could promise that, but you're too scared. Your heartbeat is still insanely fast, and you feel a little numb as if it was just a terrible nightmare.

His eyes go wide suddenly, and his hand comes to your cheek. “You're bleeding.”

“Babe, listen.” You take his hand, placing a soft kiss on his fingers. “I'm alright. It's over now, come inside.”

“I'll kill him.” He starts moving towards his car, but you move faster, both hands on his chest, trying to make him stop.

“Billy, don't.”

“I'll kill him!” He shouts, making you jump.

“Billy, kiss me!” You raise your voice to match his. He stops abruptly, his eyes meeting yours. “You said you wouldn't kiss me until I asked for it. I'm asking now. Please, kiss me.” It's the only thing you could think about that would startle him enough to make him stop. But you want to kiss him, so bad, to hug and hold him until he's well again. Until Neil is nothing but a long gone memory. “Please, babe.”

Then it happens. Billy pulls you close, his arms around your waist as you tiptoe and let your lips finally meet his. And it's like everything fades away. It tastes like blood in the beginning, but as your lips start dancing together, at the same pace, the same need, his taste overcomes anything else. You wrap your arms around his neck, trying to pull him even closer until there's no space between you. He holds on to you as if you're the only thing keeping him grounded, and it's a weird feeling to know that's probably true. But you can do this. You want to do this. If Billy wants you, you will be there for him, no matter what. You'll face his father a thousand times over. You'll overcome, together.

You break apart when it gets impossible to hold your breaths, but he doesn't let go. “Come inside, please,” you whisper, relieved when he nods.

You silently walk back in, and you close and lock the door. The living room is a mess and so is the kitchen. “I'll clean this.” He mumbles.

“No. We'll clean tomorrow. Come.” Taking his hand, you pull him to his bedroom, sitting him on the edge of the bed. Max stands by the door, tears still staining her face.

“Max, get me a damp towel,” you ask her and goes to Billy's bathroom.

“No, let me take care of you.”

“Billy–”

“(Y/N), please. It's enough that you got hurt because of me.”

“Don't you dare blame yourself, Billy.” You hold his hand, eyes locked on his blue ones. “I would face a hundred Neils for you. And I know you'd the same for me so don't do this. Don't blame yourself. I stepped in because I wanted to.” Max comes back with the towel and hands it over to you.

“Are you hurt, Max?” Billy asks, taking the towel from your hands. Max shakes her head no but doesn't move.

“Come here.” You open your arms and Max immediately comes, sitting beside you as you hug her. She hides her face on your neck, and you rub her back. “I'm sorry you had to see that, Max. I know how you feel.” You glance at Billy, a sad, devastated expression on his face. He treated Max like trash for many years, he told you, but now you see that he loves her as a sister. It warms your heart. “Honey, do you want to sleep here with Billy and I?” You decide to ask when she sobs.

“No, I'm ok.” She clears her throat and pulls away. “Are you going to sleep here?”

“Yes,” you assure her.

Max smiles a little and nods. “Thanks. I'll give you two some space.”

“If you feel bad, or anything, please come here, ok?” You smile when she nods, leaving the bedroom.

Then you turn to face Billy again, but his eyes are already on you. He brings the white towel to your cheek, and you flinch a little under his touch. “Sorry.” He mumbles. “Neil had a ring. It scratched your skin.”

“I know.” You simply say, frozen, unable to look away.

“There will be a bruise by tomorrow.”

“I know.”

“I love you.”

“I...” Everything slows down for a moment, and you wonder if you heard it right. The word you've been keeping a secret, the one you've been so scared to say. “What?” You whisper, your heartbeat drumming in your chest again. “A-are you sure?”

“One hundred percent.” He moves closer until his forehead is touching yours. “I love you, (Y/N).”

“I love you too, I... I've been in love with you for a while, but I was scared to tell you.” Wrapping your arms around his neck you move to sit on his lap.

“Don't be."

You kiss him, slowly because of the wound on his lower lip. How could you wait so long to do this? You have no idea how the hell you managed to control yourself. The feeling of his soft lips are your favorite thing in the world, addictive, and you get a little mad that you have to break apart to breathe. “Be my girlfriend.” He says in a low voice.

“Yes.” You burst out with a giggle and a smile.

“Finally.” He says.

“Hey... (Y/N)? Your aunt is on the phone.” Max mumbles from the door frame.

“I'll be right back,” you tell Billy before standing up.

It takes a few minutes to explain to Diane what happened. She was pretty worried about how altered you were when you left. You apologize for scaring her, letting her know you're fine and that you'll stay here for the night.

Billy already washed the blood off his face when you're back in his room, lying on the bed. Smiling, you walk over him. “I'll make a question, but if you make fun of me, I'll give up the idea,” you say, trying to lighten up the mood a little.

“What?” He raises an eyebrow.

“Big spoon or little spoon?”

His lips break into a bright smile. “Big spoon, obviously.”

Rolling your eyes, you lay down, facing away from him. It takes half a second for Billy to move closer, an arm around your waist pulling you into his chest. It feels like heaven, to feel his breath on your neck. You lay your arm on top of his, holding his hand. Life is good now, here, in this small town. And you don't want this to end. You want it to be like this every day. “Billy... What are we going to do when summer is over?”

“Mmm...” He mumbles, tightening his grip a little. “Isn't it obvious? We'll wake up early on Mondays, drive to Indianapolis and spend the week there. Then drive here on Fridays.”

That was your plan, and you remember telling him a while ago. “It sounds like a rough routine,” you warn him.

“Why don't you... Why don't you come to live here?”

That makes you turn a little, just enough to look into his eyes. You know what it means, moving in with him. “Billy, I don't–”

“I didn't mean it like that.” He cuts you off. “I'm saying this because it makes sense. And it feels right.” He gives you a quick peck in the lips. “But I'll wait for you. It doesn't matter how long.”

“What if... What if I want to wait until the wedding night.” You speak low, afraid that the mention of it will frustrate him. Maybe you're stiff, but you don't have to change your point of view in things just because the rest of the world has.

“Then be it. As long as I have you by my side, I'm the happiest man alive.” Biting your lip to hold back a smile, you try to turn around to face him. “No, no.” He holds you, forcing you back into position. “Stay still, little spoon.”

“It was my idea,” you whine, but move back to where you were. “So... You want me to come and live here?”

“Yes. The house is mine, thanks to Susan, and since you're planning to live in Hawkins... It makes sense. Diane wouldn't have to keep driving to Indianapolis every day, and you'd save the money for the rent.”

“You mean moving here now? I thought it was supposed to be when summer ended.”

“I know, but I'd love to have you here all the time.”

“This is a big step, Billy. And I don't want you to get tired of me.” You can't help but give voice to your thoughts.

“I just said I love you, and I'm pretty sure you got that I implied I want to marry you one day so I can't believe you're saying I'll get tired of you.” He speaks fast, faking an annoyed tone.

“Oh my God, Billy. Fine. I'll come live with you. Are you happy now?” Your cheeks are burning at what he just said, and you're thankful that you're facing away. “But you'll have to come and tell Diane. And help me carry my stuff here.” Did you just say that? Did you just agree to move in with Billy? “You know this is crazy, right? We're dating for half an hour and I just agreed to move in with you.”

“I've been wanting to date you since the Monday when I first saw you.” He whispers on your ear.

“Well, you got me when you punched David. Then when you kissed me by the front door.” You knew something was off from that day on, but of course, you would never admit it back then.

“I knew it. You got all nervous and as red as a tomato.”

“It was dark, Billy. How could you possibly know I was red?” You let out a humorless laugh.

“Well, you did try to open the door several times before noticing it was locked.” He lowers his voice, pulling your hair away so your ear and neck as exposed. “Weren't you? All nervous because of me?”

“Stop it!” You lightly elbow him in the ribs. “Let's get some sleep. We'll talk to Diane tomorrow before going to work.”

“As you wish, princess. I guess I can call you princess now, right?”

“Uhum,” you mumble, thankful that he can't see the smile coming to your lips.

×

@chloe-skywalker @dpaccione @tilesandtokens @dreamin-of-dacre @funeral-7 @uncookspaget @youhavemyfantasticbeasts @dontxfearxthereaper @halloweenbitch2764 @redlovett

[prettyyoungandbored]

Becoming Mrs. Wayne [The Dark Knight] Five

Pairing: Christian Bale!Bruce Wayne x OC

Summary: Demetria Gallagher knew her cozy life would change the second she became engaged to Bruce Wayne. But what she doesn’t know is she’s getting more than what she agreed to. (I am trash at summaries.)

Warning: Sight panic attack, mentions of anxiety and panic attacks

Taglist: dragonballluver , disgraceful-marvel-trash, barikawho (Let me know if you want to be tagged in this!)

Previous

It was around 2 AM when Demetria found herself once again outside on the balcony. She leaned over the railing, looking out at the view before. The sounds of sirens filled her ears as she eyed the bright lights of the city.

Bruce had managed to calm her down about what happened at the orphanage. Demetria apologized profusely to Sister Mary, who told her she’d done nothing wrong and in fact, appreciated what she’d done and was rather impressed.

Demetria sighed as she leaned up, her hands over the railing. It wasn’t until she heard tires squeal followed by a crash of metal that she looked down. While she was far up, she still had a decent view of the street.

She leaned forward to see a car smashed into a pole. A male figure wearing what appeared to be a purple trench coat exited the car, looking around, before throwing a lit match into the car, setting the car on fire.

Before Demetria could react, she felt herself be pulled back. She went to scream when a hand covered her mouth from behind. She began kicking, squirming, and attempting to scream despite it sounding muffled.

She then felt herself be turned around, coming face-to-face with Batman. She stopped screaming as he took his hand off her mouth.

“The fuck is wrong with you?!” she cried.

“I told you to stay inside,” he growled.

She rolled her eyes. “Jesus Christ. I’m not in any danger, ok?”

“How do you know that?”

“Well I haven’t received any death threats yet.”

“Doesn’t mean you aren’t in any danger.”

She blinked. “And what kind of danger am I in then.”

“You’re a public figure with ties to other public figures.”

“I’m not really a public figure.”

“You’re engaged to a billionaire and your best friend is the DA.”

She chuckled and threw her hands up. “You got me there.”

“Does he keep you safe?”

She tilted her head. “Who?”

“Your fiancé.”

She opened her mouth to respond, when her lips curved into a grin.

“You know it’s actually pretty scary to have a bunch of people taking photos of you all at once, following your every move. Makes you feel like an animal in a zoo enclosure or something. Everytime they get too close or scream questions at me, my throat closes up and my heart is racing and there’s this sharp pain and it’s unbearable. It’s like I’m drowning. But when he-Bruce-holds my hand...well, it’s not a total fixer, but it really helps.” Her face softens. “I don’t think he knows that.”

“That you have panic attacks?”

“No, he knows that. He just hasn’t seen them. He knows when I get anxious, but not when I have a panic attack.”

She turned around when she noticed off in the distance, a light with a bat symbol cast on a grey cloud.

“So that’s how they get your attention,” she remarked, her eyes still on the bat symbol. “You see that signal and you go out?”

“Yes.”

“Where’s the signal coming from?”

“A rooftop.”

She scoffed, looking over her shoulder at him. “You could be a little more specific.”

“It’s not important where it’s coming from.”

“Does Batman not work alone?” 

“You ask a lot of questions.” 

She shrugged. “Just curious.” She glanced over at the bat symbol before tucking a strand of hair behind her hair. “You know...there are some people who are grateful for what you're doing, right?”

“Like you?” 

She nodded, a wide smile swept across her lips. “Like me.” 

“Good to know.”

With that, he jumped off the building, Demetria watching him as he made his way down.

“You’re welcome!” she called down to him.

_________________________________________________________________

The next morning, the sound of her cellphone ringing awoke her from her sleep. She groaned, wondering who the hell would dare interrupt her slumber. She felt a heavy presence over her, looking over to find Bruce’s head curled up right behind her and his arm swung over her body. He was still fast asleep, thankfully.

She gently moved his arm and grabbed her phone, answering it without bothering to look at the caller ID. 

“Hello?”  

“Hey girl, it’s Alicia.” 

Alicia was a reporter at GCN and one of the very few friends Demetria had there. She had been the one to overhear about the photographer who was outside ready to photograph Demetria leaving and helped her escape the building without being seen. 

“Hey, what’s going on?” Demetria yawned. 

“I’m sorry to wake you, but I wanted to give you a heads up that ‘Gotham Times’ is working on a piece about you.” 

She shot up. “What do you mean?”

“They’re doing a whole article on you, about your life, you know, the works.” 

Demetria’s heart sunk to her stomach, eyes bugling open. This had to be a nightmare, had to be. Her body tightened, hoping maybe she’d wake up but was unsuccessful. 

“Oh my fucking god,” she whispered. 

“What’s going on?” Bruce asked, his voice groggy and barely awake. 

Demetria put her hand on his arm, mouthing “one second.”

“They have a reporter in the newsroom trying to get a few people to talk. So far only Walter and James have talked to them. They tried to get me and Molly to talk, I guess because someone had told them we were friends, but both of us said ‘no comment’.” 

A tiny wave of relief crashed over her. “You’re both saints. I owe you both a big one.” 

“Don’t worry about it. Just call your brother and mom and give them a heads up.” 

“Will do. Thanks again.” 

She hung up and buried her hands in her face. “Jesus fucking Christ.” 

“Babe, what’s going on?” Bruce asked putting his hand on her shoulder. 

“That was a friend from GCN. She says ‘Gotham Times’ is doing a piece on me and is asking people there about me.” She shook her head. “I’ve gotta warn Mom and Henry.” 

Bruce watched as Demetria got up from the bed and made another call. Guilt weighed over him as he watched her talk into the phone. He never meant to drag her into this limelight. He’d tried desperately to keep her private, to keep them private. He was fine with being in the spotlight and he’d been ok with being photographed with women in because, frankly, they lasted barely a week. 

With Demetria, she could be hunted and gunned down just like his parents. He refused to let that happen. 

“I left messages for both of them,” she said hanging up her phone. 

She set her phone back on the nightstand and let out an exasperated groan as she crawled back into bed. She scooted in closer to Bruce as he collected her into his arms. His warmth was enough to keep her at bay, but she couldn’t deny the pain in chest and the millions of thoughts running amok in her mind.

“Why can’t they leave me alone?” she exhaled.

“I know, sweetheart,” Bruce mumbled, his lips pressed against her temple.

“I just want to write a press release that simply says ‘Fuck off’.” 

“I endorse that.”

“But if I do that then they’ll run with it and suddenly it’s ‘Oh Mrs. Wayne has mouth on her!��” 

“A pretty mouth that I get to do this to.” His lips pressed against hers, cradling her face with his hands. When she pulled back, she rested her forehead on his. 

“What did I do to deserve you?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. 

“I ask myself the same thing.” His fingers ran through her hair. “How can I make this easier for you?” 

Her heart warmed at his words. She knew he had a lot of power and that one simple request from her could make this all go away...at least temporarily. The press would hound her even more if Bruce were to step in and help, claiming she relies on him to do everything for her.

She let out deep sigh, resting her forehead against his. “Just...just be you. Just love me. That’s all you can do.” 

His eyebrows furrowed. “Are you sure that’s it? You know I am more than willing-.” 

“That’s all. Just be here.” 

She pecked his lips and removed the duvet cover from her body. “I have to meet Rachel for lunch but I’m going to Harvey’s office beforehand.”

She felt him grab her hand. Her eyes turned to find him smirking at her. “Hmmm, why don’t you stay here in bed with me?”

“Don’t tempt me, Wayne.”

=================================

Demetria had heard about the wig shop from Molly, who bought a wig for her mom after her mom had to shave her hair due to chemotherapy treatments a few months ago. 

The store had head mannequins surrounding the entire area with different color wigs in different styles. Her eyes scanned the store as she lifted the sunglasses from her eyes, placing them on top of her head. The wig had to be realistic looking, but one that wouldn’t draw attention.  

She was looking at a honey blonde bob with thick bangs when a voice broke the silence.

“Can I help you find anything?”

Demetria jumped, looking over to see a blonde saleswoman smiling at her.

“I’m just looking,” Demetria answered.

Demetria and the saleswoman stared at each other, a silent understanding between them. The saleswoman nodded and held up a finger. “One moment.”

She went toward the back of the store, Demetria watching her every move. The saleswoman reached on one of the shelves and grabbed an auburn colored long bob with bangs. She then brought it over, presenting it to Demetria.

“The auburn would suit you well,” she said before turning away. “It compliments you without drawing attention.”

She handed it to Demetria and then reached over the counter to grab a wig cap. “May I?” 

Demetria nodded, using the hair tie on her wrist to pull her hair back into a low bun. The saleswoman adjusted the cap on Demetria’s head before gently placing the wig on top. After a few minor adjustments, the saleswoman handed Demetria a wig to take a look. 

“What do you think?” the saleswoman asked, crossing her arms against her chest, leaning back onto the counter. 

Demetria marveled quietly. The saleswoman was right - it suited her enough without drawing attention. 

“I’ll take it.” 

———————————

Demetria wore the wig walking out of the store and for the first time in a really long time, she felt like everyone else. A weight lifted off her shoulders as she walked on the crowd Gotham streets with a big smile on her face. 

As she made her way inside Harvey’s office, she realized she’d need ID to get through security to get to the elevators.Even though they all knew her, and she was given clearance to come and go as she pleased thanks to Harvey, she still needed to show ID as a formality. She cursed under breath when she remembered the bathroom that was nearby. She reached into her purse and put her sunglasses over her eyes. 

She walked in, making eye contact with Hank, the old security guard. 

“Do you mind if I use the bathroom?” she asked, making her voice higher than normal. “I really have to go.” 

He gave her a kind smile and gestured toward the bathroom. She hurried inside and went into a stall. Closing the door, she threw off the wig and cap, throwing them inside her purse. She grabbed the tie, sliding it off her hair and onto her wrist. She shook her hair, smoothing it out with her fingers. Taking off her trench coat, she threw her purse over her shoulder and trench coat over her arms and made her way out of the bathroom. 

She approached Hank smiling. 

“Hi Hank, how are you?” she greeted him. 

His face lit up. “Demetria! Good to see you! I didn’t see you walk in earlier, but you know, people come and go in here so fast so it’s hard to tell, especially with my old brain. Doesn’t work as well as it used to.”

“Oh, you’re fine! I followed a crowd and quickly had to use the bathroom.”

“I assume you’re here to see Harvey?” 

“You’ve guessed correctly. Let me grab my-.” 

“Not necessary. You go right ahead now.” 

She pouted. “Are you sure?” 

He waved his hand. “You're fine. You go along now. Oh, and congratulations on the...you know.” 

She smiled. “Thanks, Hank. You take care now!” 

“You do the same!” 

She made her way into the elevators, pressing the top floor. The doors closed and she sighed, waiting for them to open again. 

When they did, she was surprised to see there was barely anyone around. Normally, people would be walking around everywhere. 

She went up to Harvey’s assistant, Grace. Grace’s eyes smiled. 

“Demetria, great to see you!” she greeted. 

“Good to see you as well! How is everything?”

“Oh you know, the usual! How are you? How’s...you know?” 

Demetria leaned down to show Grace the engagement ring. Grace took her hand gingerly, letting out a gasp as she admired it. 

“Look at that,” she marveled. “It’s gorgeous! Oh, congratulations hun!” 

“Thank you so much! It’s just so-.” 

“I thought I heard your voice out here.” 

She looked up to find Harvey poking his head out the door. Demetria smiled, thanking Grace one last time before walking into Harvey’s office. 

“So...what brings you into my office?” Harvey asked, taking a seat at his desk. 

She eyed the photo frame on his bookshelf of the two of them at their college graduation. She rembered the day clearly - the two of them grabbing breakfast at the local diner before going to the auditorium. Their mother snapped the photo, having bought both of them flowers.

She walked over to the bookshelf and picked it up. 

“Aww, look at us,” she pouted. “We were babies.”

“Hungover babies,” he corrected.

“It was-.”

“Your idea,” he reminded her. “I told you to stop after the sixth vodka shot.”

“We still made it on time to the ceremony.” 

“No thanks to me. Now are you going to tell me why you’re here?”

She set the photo frame back and sat on the edge of his desk. 

“I went to the orphanage yesterday-.” 

“So I saw.” 

She tilted her head when Harvey pulled out the newspaper that had a photo of Bruce holding her back as she yelled at the camera. The headline read “Future Mrs. Wayne LASHES Out!” 

Her stomach dropped, mouth wide open. “That son of a bitch,” she seethed. She threw down the paper and began pacing the office. Her blood boiled as anger succumbed her body. 

“It’s not that bad,” Harvey reasoned. “The orphanage actually released a statement defending you. It’s in the article.”

“I had a great time at the orphanage,” Demetria spoke up. “I got a tour, I got to meet the kids - the kids! Harvey, the kids are awesome. They’re kind and cool and I even got to play basketball with them!” 

Harvey stared at her, unsure of where she was going. 

“I was doing great until that-that fucking asshole started taking photos!” 

“That’s what they do, Demetria. That’s their job.” 

“Alicia called me this morning to tell me ‘Gotham Times’ is doing a piece on me. They called people I worked with.” 

“Did they call your mother and brother yet?” 

“I don’t know. I left them a message but they haven’t called me back.” 

“Well for the record, they did call me.”

Her face froze. “What did you say?” 

“I said I wouldn’t comment on our friendship without your permission.” 

She threw her hands up. “Why can’t they leave me alone?!” 

“Because you’re-.” 

“Because I’m getting married to someone?” 

“You’re marrying Bruce Wayne, one of the richest men in-.” 

“Why does that matter?! Why should that deprive me of living my life in peace?” She reached into her purse and pulled out the wig, showing it to Harvey. “I have to wear a wig just so I can walk around and feel like a normal human being again.” 

Harvey let out a chuckle. “Demetria, you’re not serious.” 

“I want to be able to go wherever I want.”

“What about credit cards? Debit cards? Id?”

“I don’t buy alcohol and pay with cash.”

“What about the pharmacy?”

She snapped her fingers. “Fuck! I didn’t think of that.” 

“Here’s a question for you, why are you so up in arms about all this when you of all people know there’s nothing you can do to stop it?” 

“Because I don’t want people or Bruce to see who I really am!” 

Harvey’s face softened. 

“If the reporters dig any further, they’re gonna find out about the mistakes I’ve made and about....it.” 

“It?” 

“My anxiety and panic attacks. I’ve had them in public places before, remember?”

“Why does that matter?” 

She threw her hands up. “Are you fucking kidding me right now, Harvey? Why does that matter? It matters because if people find out that I’m a thirty-something woman who suffers from anxiety and panic attacks, they’re going to eat me alive. They’re going to see that I’m worth nothing. They’re going to say ‘she’s crazy’ and that I’m joke and I’m scared Bruce is going to see it too and he’s going to--.” 

Her throat started closing, chest tightening. 

“I am a difficult person,” she continued, her breath hitching. “You know that better than anyone else. I have always been difficult with...with the depression...anxiety...with everything. And because of that, I have managed to screw up my life multiple times and ruin so many relationships.I’ve tried to change it. I’ve worked on it with God knows how many therapists and I can’t change it. So when the one guy - who is so far out of my league - who loves me as much as I love him and who goes to hell and back just to be with me, I don’t want...I can’t mess this up...”

“Hey, hey, hey,” Harvey hushed her as he hugged her. “You’re not gonna mess this up. He loves you for all that you are and-.” 

“He’s never seen me have one.” 

Harvey pulled back. “What do you mean?” 

“Bruce has never seen me have a panic attack. He’s only heard me.” She sighed. “The one night he stayed over my place, I was woken up by gunshots from outside. I started getting...you know...and I ran into bathroom. I took medicine and practiced my breathing and I was shaking and crying...and I heard him knock on the door and I told him to stay out there. I didn’t want him to see it. He tried to reason with me, but I told him I couldn’t.” 

She ran a hand through her hair. “I don't know what I’m getting myself into and it scares the shit out of me.” 

Harvey placed a reassuring hand on her back. “I know it does, Dem. But I’m telling you, as someone who has to deal with this everyday, at a certain point  you’ve got to learn that you’re a public figure now and that you’re up for grabs by the media. Some days they’ll be nice and other days they’ll rip you into pieces. You are a human being, you’re not perfect and no one is expecting you to be. Not even Bruce.” 

Demetria nodded, acknowledging Harvey’s point. She was human and Bruce never asked her to be anything other than herself. Still, she wasn’t completely relaxed about the issue with the press, but it seemed best to drop it. 

“Hey there!” 

Demetria turned to see Rachel enter the office with a big smile. Both Demetria and Harvey smiled, both relieved to see her. 

“Sorry, was I interrupting something?” she asked. 

“No, I was just telling Demetria that she’s human and that the press are nothing to be concerned about,” Harvey responded. 

Rachel nodded knowingly. “They called me too. Then again, they call me anytime they do a piece on Bruce or the Wayne family in general.” 

“Well here’s hoping they don't find out about the drunk karaoke Harvey and I did in college,” Demetria remarked, smirking at Harvey. 

“Drunk karaoke?” Rachel inquired, interested. 

“You guys should probably get going,” Harvey brushed it off. 

“No I want to hear more about drunk karaoke!” Rachel pleaded.

“We’ll talk about in the taxi ride to the store,” Demetria assured. 

“No you won’t,” Harvey called out. 

“It was ‘Black Balloon’ by Goo Goo Dolls,” Demetria told her. 

Rachel’s eyes widened in delight. “Goo Goo Dolls?!” 

“Leave now, please,” Harvey demanded, annoyed. 

============================================

Inside the luxury department store, Demetria stayed close to Rachel as the two eyed the gowns. 

“Exactly what the hell am I supposed to wear?” Demetria asked, her eyes scanning the dresses. 

“Considering Bruce is throwing it, you’re going to want to wear a gown,” Rachel remarked. “But I’m sure you could show up in sweatpants and a shirt and he would still show you off proudly.” 

Demetria eyed her. “If you’re serious, I might consider it.” She shook her head. “Don’t get me wrong, I’m excited about dressing up but...I don’t know. I feel like there’s an expectation for me or some quota I have to fill for these people to take me seriously and I hate that.” 

Rachel laughed. “I wouldn’t worry about that. Bruce hates the people he’s inviting.” 

“Which doesn’t make sense to me! I mean, why waste your time pretending?” 

Rachel pulled her lips back. “Listen, I didn’t mean to...but I kind of eavesdropped on yours and Harvey’s conversation and...” She turned to Demetria. “I’ve known Bruce my entire life. I’ve seen him with every kind of woman and have had the unfortunate pleasure of having to meet them. But I see the way he is with you. I know it’s cliché to say, but it’s true. You bring out the Bruce I’ve always known and loved. I know how happy you make him and how much you mean to him.” She paused. “Don’t worry about the media or everyone trying to pick it apart. Take control of the narrative. Show and tell them what you want. Just don’t let it eat you alive.” 

Demetria smiled, her heart swelling. She wrapped her arms around Rachel, much to Rachel’s surprise. 

“Thank you,” she whispered. “I needed to hear that.” 

And in her mind, an idea began to unravel. 

[rhaenyratargeryn]

Exit Wounds (Cyberpunk 2077)

Pairing: Takemura Goro x (female) V Rating: Mature Summary: When his plans for revenge fail, V and Takemura are left right where they once started. A dying thief and a disgraced soldier, with as much in common as they lack and an improbable bond that holds them to one another. Notes: Post-Canon, Nomad ending. Spoilers for post-game! Read on AO3

They’d picked up a tail somewhere around the border. Whomever it was, they were skillful and cautious, but even still the Aldecaldos were able to lose them in a sandstorm across the Mojave. After a few weeks, it seemed that maybe they had even died out there in the hot sands.

Panam had taken V to a few experts along their trail, people who had done work for the family but so far, there had been little more than additional pills to take. She was swallowing a pharmacy every morning just to keep blood out of her mouth, but the worst of the seizures were under control and well— there was still time. Six months Alt had said, but maybe more. One had already passed and V felt better. 

Well. Physically at least. 

Inside her head things had changed, for better or for worse, was an academic argument that V hadn’t the time to ponder. She had, god forbid it, gotten used to having Silverhand in her head. The lack of Johnny’s familiar presence in her mind had left a strange sort of… loneliness in her. A feeling that wouldn’t leave her, a gnawing sensation that something was missing.

She had Johnny’s memories still and her own of him, though it did little to console her. She sat on the dusty fender of one of the trucks, rubbing a smudge from Johnny’s aviators, one of the handful of tangible mementos she kept of the old rocker. The sun above was already searing hot, the heat like a burn on the back of V’s neck.

“How far out did you spot um?” Mitch’s voice cut through her thoughts and V squinted against the bright daylight up at the two younger nomad drivers, Fiona and Tiger. They’d been sent out on a water run, returning from the nearest town several miles out with gallons full to keep the Aldecaldos going further across the desert.

“Cut us off. Started a fire fight. It was fuckin’ dicey, Mitch. We got lucky. Fiona clipped him and then his hood. Whole ride started smoking and then died under him.”

“Was it Arasaka?” V asked, replacing the aviators over her eyes.

Tiger and Fiona shared looks and then with a tentative nod, Fiona answered in the affirmative.

“We think so. He moved like a damn one man army, even with how fucked up he seemed.”

“Fucked up?”

“The guy was a monster, but it was like… I dunno. Like he was hurt?”

“Never corner a wounded animal…” Panam offered cryptically from where she sat alongside V, shooting her a worried look.

“Wounded animals got nothin’ to lose,” V said in agreement, then got up with a sigh, “You said you shot him? His car broke down too?”

“Yeah, probably right where we left um… you want us to go back, Panam? Make sure he dropped?”

“I’ll tag along. Hitch over with you both.” V said, Panam frowning at the suggestion, “I could jack in, find out what info he has got. I know Arasaka, Panam, I’m the best to check it out.”

“You don’t need my permission, V—”

“But?”

Panam scowled, turning her eyes to the other Aldecaldos and jerking her head to the side in a silent scram. They left, Mitch stayed, crossing his arms.

“The guy is toast. Why not just leave him?” Panam said, a sigh in her throat, “I dunno. I don’t like this, V. Arasaka hasn’t made a peep since we left. Thought we were keeping under the radar…”

“Clearly not.” Mitch said with a shrug, “And he might be toast. Or he mighta had back up. He might be on his way back to the NC to give up our location. We should make sure he is flatlined, if anything.”

Panam was the head of the family now, her word given final weight of law, but more often than not they had worked together as a sort of “council”. Panam was still getting used to Saul’s absence, an empty void that no one attempted to fill, because no one could ever do so. She looked to V and Mitch for guidance and right now it was obvious in the way she worried her bottom lip and flashed a look up and down V that she wished Mitch had agreed with her.

“You’ll keep outta trouble?” Panam said and V couldn’t help but crack a smile.

“I’m already dyin’, what other shenanigans could I get up to?”

Panam scoffed, clearly not liking the answer.

“Ugh, just be safe! Come back in one piece... or this shitty ass trip has been for nothin’.”

This was what having a family was all about though. Caring. Scolding. And now that she had it, V wouldn’t trade it for anything. Not for all the eddies and fame in Night City.

“Be back soon then.” V said, meeting back up with Fiona and Tiger with a short wave behind her.

---

It wasn’t a long drive to the spot where they had tangled with the possible Arasaka soldier and that actually genuinely worried V. They’d gotten close. Too close.

“There it is, can you see?” Fiona said, pointing her cigarette towards the ever larger growing mass of grey smoke.

“Pull off up here… Fiona, you stay with the car and I’ll take Tiger with me. You hear shots or us hollerin’ you peel outta here and go get the others, alright?”

“Yeah, yeah. Got it.” Fiona flicked ash unto the sand as she pulled the car up slowly to the patch of dried red earth, hidden in the shadow of a high rock and threw the gear into park.

Tiger followed V out, his rifle at the ready as he hung back a few steps. V had Johnny’s— no, her pistol. It was strange how well it fit in her hand, a perfectly balanced weapon that she loaded and readied with the familiarity of one who had used it for years, not a few weeks.

The remnants of the enemy jeep were still burning, fire crackling faintly from beneath the blackened and smoke streaked hood. The thing was already doomed before it took a few good shots to the metal, the paint peeling from the sides everywhere from overexposure to sunlight and rough sands. It was a junker, not exactly the kind of thing an Arasaka soldier would drive.

V came up around the drivers side while Tiger kept back, rifle ready for longshots. No one seemed to be in the car. V checked the handle with the back of her hand, feeling only the heat from the sun on it. She opened it quickly, hand going back to hold her pistol ready as she checked the passenger seat and back. 

No one.

Frowning, she noticed blood on the driver’s seat, smeared across the old cracked leather. The trail continued on the ground, darkening the already caked red dirt with splotches. Any rations or water the truck held were taken and whomever was driving had begun to walk, following the tire tracks Fiona and Tiger had originally left behind.

V felt her blood run cold as the depth of her mistake fell on her.

“Tiger! Turn ‘round, get back to Fiona!”

“W-what?” the young man sputtered, gun up and ready as the panic in V’s voice clearly showed through.

“Get back to the damn car!”

V broke out in a run, leaving him behind as she tried not to let her heart surge with panic. Her eyes caught the blood trail on the ground… making its way to the same rock, the only place of shade, where they had parked the car.

By the time V was back in the shadow of the dark rock formation, her fear was confirmed.

Fiona was out of the car, her eyes wide and fearful and her hands behind her head as the man behind her pointed a gun to her temple.

A man whose cold, mechanical grey eyes cut right through V’s chest and threatened to suck the breath from her lungs.

Takemura’s lips twitched into a smile that was more sneer than anything. Surprise registering just for a moment on his features, or maybe it was more like shock.

“The very woman I have been looking for.”

Tiger had been right. Takemora was a mess. Even without the gunshot wound bleeding sluggishly at his side, his usual immaculate bun was loosened, strands falling across his sun-scorched face, darkening his already warm complexion with deep reds.

He was indeed a wounded animal, a wounded wolf, snarling and ready to take its prey with it to the grave.

V brought her hands up, holding her pistol out and quickly ejecting the clip and then the bullet in the chamber. Carefully, she set the pistol on the ground.

“A wise choice.” Takemura said, accepting her silent surrender.

“Let her go, Goro.”

“You insult me.” he spat, Fiona crying out as his grip tightened and jerked at the back of her neck.

“Fine! Fine— Takemura. Let her go. You came out here for me, yeah? Don’t need the kid.”

“What is one more life to you, V? You already have so many to answer for.” Takemura said, but despite his words, his grip relented on Fiona, “I am here only for one. One that mattered most…”

Takemura took the gun from Fiona’s belt, tossing it far off into the dirt before shoving Fiona away from him dispassionately.

“Do not move.” was all he said to Fiona, his eyes never leaving V’s. Takemura staggered forward. He tried not to let the pain show, but it was obvious he had lost too much blood. He wouldn’t survive that wound without help, but something in his eyes made V think… he didn’t intend to.

V didn’t run, didn’t even struggle as he reached out and grabbed her throat with a hand, sticky with dried blood. He dragged her in close, close enough that she could smell the smoke on his clothes and feel the heat of his breath.

A quiet seemed to come over him, an almost peaceful stillness. His eyes were half lidded as he looked down at her, his hand moving to hold the back of her neck more gently, almost in an embrace as the other held the pistol close to her head.

“... you should have left me to die that da-”

Takemura’s words were cut off with a strangled cry of pain as Tiger’s rifle thundered and a shot grazed over his shoulder and tore fabric and flesh from him. The impact was enough to throw Takemura off balance, giving V enough time to force him back onto the ground, scrambling for the pistol in his hand.

It was a dirty fight— more of a scuffle than anything as blood loss and dehydration seemingly had already sapped the former Arasaka bodyguard of much of his strength. V did him the favor of knocking him across the head with the butt of his pistol before he could get up and risk another shot from Tiger. Somehow, V felt the younger man wouldn’t miss the second time around.

Tiger clamored down from the rockface, rifle still up and ready for another shot.

“No! He’s down!” V hovered over Takemura, shielding him from Tiger’s barrel.

“I missed um, V! Fucker still breathing.”

Fiona had scrambled up from the dirt, rubbing away the clean spots where her tears had made trails down her cheeks.

“Yeah and he’s gonna stay that way, alright? Just… just check on Fiona and get the damn car going. We’re taking him back to camp.”

“V, what? No. No, no way. We can’t take some Arasaka spy back with us!”

“He ain’t Arasaka.” V said behind clenched teeth, straining to haul up the dead weight of her former partner in crime, “Eh… hey, help me here will ya?”

Tiger stared, dumbfounded as his rifle went lax in his hands.

“Look, we need to know what he knows. We can do that better somewhere safe and with him not leaking to death so help me get him in the damn car.”

--

If V had thought Tiger and Fiona put up a fuss on the drive back, she had not fully imagined how Panam would react. V wondered to herself if Saul had ever yelled at Panam this way before, because it certainly matched the kind of ferocity she had seen between the pair.

“Are you listening to me, V?!”

How could you miss it?

V’s inner voice, which sometimes still sounded a lot like one Mr. Silverhand, provided in his deadpan voice. It was an imagined voice, but it still brought a smile to her lips as V let herself indulge in the fantasy that he remained with her.

“Jesus… completely ignoring me. V. You brought an Arasaka spy to the camp. We can’t let him go now! Our best bet is to put two in his skull and burying him in a sand drift and hope his friends don’t come looking!”

“No one is gonna come lookin’, Panam. He’s former Arasaka. Outcasted. Exiled— whatever you wanna call it. He doesn’t got any back up. They don’t even know he is here and would kill him as surely they would any of us.” V said, leaning back in one of the camp’s creaky metal folding chairs.

Even in the firelight it was easy to see the lack of faith in Panam’s expression as she paced around the firepit, raking her hands roughly over her face.

“Former Arsaka, current Arasaka. Shit, V, you think that matters? I got a half dead highly trained killer in this camp who wants to off you.”

V shrugged.

“Oh my god, you are impossible!”

“I’m the only one he is a danger to, so I don’t know why—”

“Do not finish that sentence. You know damn well why.”

Still managing to piss off everyone, I see. Fucked off to the furthest outer reaches of the net and Johnny’s words still somehow played in her head. 

“Sorry.” V said with a grumble, resting all four legs of the chair back to the ground, “He might know something. And if he does or doesn’t, we can just patch him up and drop him at the nearest town.”

“Oh, yeah. Real nice, V. So he can come after us again?”

“I’m not gonna kill him.”

Panam sighed— well. It was more like a half assed hoarse yell from the back of her throat, but V thought she meant it as a sigh.

“... they manage to fix him up at all?”

“Yeah… yeah it looks like he had one shot of Bounce Back left. Kept him from flatlining when he took that hit to the side. He was already healin’ up. Bullet was through and through. Tiger only managed to graze him. Kid got nervous or else your old friend wouldn’t have a face right now.”

Panam crossed her arms, still fidgeting from side to side.

“That ain’t even his worst problems. Guy probably hasn’t eaten in days and his water ran out long off too. This… well. I don’t think he was planning on going back to NC.”

After a moment, V stood, rubbing both hands up behind her neck and then back down with a groan.

“I don’t think so either.”

“You… gonna see him?”

“You got him restrained?”

“Yeah, V. He’s in and out. Was delirious for a bit, but they managed to get some water in him. V… he’s in a bad way.”

“...s’my fault.” V said, words a half mumble, “You heard on the radio. Our plan got Hanako Arasaka killed. I… didn’t want that, but Alt had her own plans, ya know? Christ, at the time I didn’t even think to know, I was just trying to keep alive.”

Panam shook her head, “We lost people too. Saul. Teddy. Bob. … fuck, nearly lost more. You didn’t know Alt was going to stage a hostile god damn take over. He can’t blame you.”

“He will.” V said, her voice quiet, “I… I’ll try to talk to him. At least keep him from doing anything stupid thinking we got plans to flatline him.”

“Yeah, just… be careful, V. Like I said. The sun does weird bullshit to your head out in this place.”

V only nodded, gripping Panam’s shoulder just briefly as she passed towards the tent where they were keeping Takemura.

---

Two armed nomads were outside the tent while another two had been inside while Tom, a former ripperdoc and current nomad senior, had worked on Takemura. The three had left to give V some space, but the other guards remained outside nearby.

Takemura was laid out on one of the cots, his ruined shirt cut and stripped from him, leaving him bare from the waist up except where bandages were wrapped tightly around his middle and then up around his shoulder and back. V had always seen the exposed trace of chrome that wrapped around his neck and along his jaw, but now she could see where cyberware traced across his bare arms and lined one side of his ribs. Their purpose, V couldn’t say, and most likely, they didn’t work anymore given Takemura’s burned status with Arasaka.

The rest of his body was, at least by appearances, organic. Smooth olive complected skin over toned muscle. Takemura’s face gave away his age. The lines on his forehead and around his mouth indicated years of deep thinking… or deep scowling, but otherwise he had kept himself at peak condition. A work requirement no doubt of being a top Arasaka bodyguard.

His breathing was sharp, but steady enough. His eyes were closed, but a grimace rested permanently across his features even in sleep.

V pulled up a chair, turning it backwards as she straddled it and leaned her arms against the back frame.

“... you look like shit, man.” she said, not expecting an answer. She didn’t get one either, not a vocal one. Instead she got the faint clatter of metal against metal as Takemura moved and the cuffs holding his arms to the bed rattled against the frame.

She had flinched at the sound, embarrassing herself.

His eyes opened, the pale grey like moonlight slicing through darkened clouds. He looked hazy, drugged up… his eyes looked over at her with only the vaguest recognition.

“... V?”

“Yeah, it’s me.”

“I am… not dead. A dissapointment.”

“Sorry— you were hoping we’d put two in your head while you slept?”

Takemura made a gruff sound that V took as an affirmative.

“Would have made it easier.”

“Uh huh, you know they got hotlines for this kinda thing.”

Takemura groaned, “I remember. You said same thing in Night City.”

“I’m sure someone in camp would be happy to help you out if you try shooting me again.”

Takemura went silent at that, turning his eyes upwards towards the top of the tent with a deep frown. Like he was remembering something he had, for a moment, forgotten.

“I will kill you, V. For what has been done.”

“I didn’t have anything to do with Hana-”

“You insult her by speaking her name.” his voice was harsh, pain straining the words as he tried to sit up and found himself unable to bear his wounds.

“...I’m sorry, Takemura. I didn’t— it wasn’t— I didn’t want anyone to get hurt… I was dying. Like literally in that moment fucking flatlining. I did what I had to try and sever that relic from my head and… and that AI did what she wanted.”

“You let it in. It turned systems against Arasaka. Hanako-sama— Hanako-sama was shredded by hacked mech units. Beyond recognition! And you tell me you didn’t know? You knew it would be nothing good.”

“... when I was there, when Alt took over… she was only attacking soldiers who attacked us. I don’t know what happened with Hanako-sama, but—”

“And now I have told you what happened to Hanako-sama.” Takemura said, his words clipped, “Get out— better still, let me die having done my duty.”

V swallowed thickly, rolling her lips together before she said quietly, “I’m not gonna do that.” 

Takemura did not respond. He shut his eyes, as if he refused to even give V the dignity of looking at them. His brow was tight, pained and yet still grimly determined. 

There were things she still needed to ask him— did Arasaka know where he was? Did he still plan to bide his time and kill her? V felt her heart throb at the very idea that this man who she had trusted, had worked with, had saved her… now utterly hated her.

He had sent her one message after she had left Night City, standing among the rubble and ruin of Arasaka Tower.

Rot in hell, クソ野郎.

In all honesty, the way he had spoken, the things he said… well, she hadn’t expected to hear or see him again. V had done with that knowledge what she did with most things… hit delete on the message and then buried it in the back of her thoughts with Jackie and the other countless people she had let down. These things were all just part of the sins she figured she would pay for in six months when her body finally succeeded in killing itself. A part of her had even wondered if the agony of that, the pain of each seizure, the waking exhaustion, nausea and memory loss… if her suffering could tip those scales even the slightest. Make it even. 

Just another fairy-tale dream. Johnny’s voice scoffed in her imagination.

Maybe suicide was still his intention, but it was obvious now to V the means of that demise had changed. Takemura couldn’t get Yorinobu now, but he could get her. The one who had promised to help him gain his revenge and then denied it for him forever.

V stood and quietly left through the tent flap, barely giving an appreciative nod to the guards out front as she staggered off to her own tent, feeling sick from the faint throb that had begun to pulse in the back of her neck… from regret. From guilt.

Her vision cut, lines of static racing across her sight and making shapes turn into nothing more than incomprehensible blurs. V felt the world shift and jerk from side to side, the ground rising up to meet her as she tripped over her own feet and fell with a thud to the dirt.

Even laying there, voices of alarm tuned out and far away, faces blurred and unidentifiable, V could feel the churning turning sensation as the Earth spun slowly through space. Falling, through silent cold space.

Like Jackie, like T-Bug. Like Johnny.

Like all the dead that had come before her. 

Breathing deeply, V curled her fingers into the red sand, and held on.

Not yet, V. Not yet.

[redhawtriot]

Caught in The Act (Bakugou x Reader x Todoroki)

Tip Jar ☕- Not expected but always appreciated💞

Thanks so much to all of you who have followed this story! I remember that I started this series this month to celebrate my first 100 followers, but now I am up to 1000 of y’all? The fuck?

You guys are so supportive! I couldn’t ask for a better group of people to share my art with! Again, thank you so much!

HnM💕

Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5

Finale:

She did not just call you crazy. And a bitch.

Fae’s eyes wildly flashed between you and her sister, “C-crazy bitch? I—"

“FIRST OF ALL, who the HELL do you think--” you cut yourself off before gently inhaling a pocket of air. You were sounding way too much like a certain explosive disgrace for your liking. You closed your eyes as you breathed out all of your frustrations.

“Hey, hey! What’s going on?!” Fae protectively shifted to fill the space between you and her little sister, “Farrah, there must be a mistake. This is my roommate, Y/N.”

Farrah.

A pretty name forever ruined by a slut.  

God, you wanted to beat her ass more than anything. It was as if all of your nerves were on fire and screaming a you to just do something.

Was this what Katsuki constantly felt like?

The violent beating of your eardrums was deafening and your vision was beginning to blur as you scowled at Fae’s sister.

Everything in your being yearned for you to switch to “instant kill mode”, but you couldn’t physically move. It was as if a small piece of you held your fury under control like a rabid dog on a chain-- or a parliament of higher beings had voted for you to keep your cool.

You sucked in one more time as your heart began to slow down. You gave one last, gentle huff as you continued to glare.

Farrah sent a scowl of her own back at you, “She is the one who—”

“This is the trash that slept with my boyfriend,” you deadpanned very flatly as your eyes slightly narrowed at her.  Fae’s jaw fell immediately at your words, but you continued talking despite her shock, “I just don’t see how she, of all people, could be upset in the situation. If you're upset at all, it should be at yourself. You have no class or self-worth, sleeping with an engaged man,” you crossed your arms as you reprimanded her and dared her to say something else as you intensified your stare.

You felt your heart jump as she stepped forward towards you, past Fae. It was as if it were excited by the idea that she may attack you so that you thoroughly beating the snot out of her would be justified.

Shit. What was wrong with you.

You kicked the persistent, animal-like thoughts off your leg as you continued to eye Farrah.

“You’re psychotic!!” she gasped as she threw her hands up, “I totally didn’t know Ground Zero even had a girl! psycho ass!”

Bull shit. You and Bakugou had both been plastered everywhere since your first sports festival at U.A. when you were fifteen. Since then you had both been in the eye of the media. It was pretty common knowledge that he wasn’t single. Your face scrunched up in disgust at her blatant lies as she continued, “She kicked me out of the apartment with nothing but my bare ass!!!”

“Yeah, you left your cheap ass, ratty ass clothes and your dignity that night too,” you rolled your eyes as the words flew out of your mouth.

“Woah, woah, woah! Calm down, everybody,” Fae looked as if she was on the brink of crying, “Farrah, I think you should leave for now, Okay?” She fiddled with her fingers.

“Yeah, I think so too.” As you pettily used your dancing fingers to wave, astonishment flashed across Fae’s expression. Honestly if your heart wasn’t thrumming against your chest so crazily right now, you would be horrified at how you were acting too, but the adrenaline that coursed throughout your body at the sight of the whore in the room numbed your mind.

Farrah struggled against her older sister as she tried to lead her away from the would-be battlefield, “No!! She is the one that needs to leave. You’re the one who pays rent around here, Sis!”

“Farrah, stop it!” Fae pleaded.

“WHY??” Farrah blurted before throwing a finger in your direction, “Newsflash, she is the one who is stealing your man from you now!” her voice raised an octave as she screeched, “Talk about hypocritical!” All of the color drained from Fae’s face as she threw horrified glances between you and her sister. Her mouth stumbled over itself as she tried to find words.

Your eyebrows congregated to the middle of your forehead as you tried to decipher the meaning of Farrah’s words.

Todoroki? Is that Fae’s man?

As if on cue, the front door to the house casually slid open, revealing a tired Todoroki.

All of the chaos that had been ensuing inside immediately halted as Todoroki froze in the doorway. His eyes snapped around as he saw the loose papers from Fae’s books that you hadn’t even noticed that you had thrown around with your quirk in your frustration, your completely furious expression and defensive stance, and Fae’s horrified form struggling to hold onto her crazed sister.

It was a lot to interpret.

“What… is going on,” he calmly questioned before he was assaulted with a boom of feminine screams.

“TELL HER TO LEAVE!”

“NO, TELL HER TO LEAVE! SHE DOESN’T EVEN LIVE HERE.”

“FARRAH, STOP!”

“NEITHER DO YOU, WHORE.”

Todoroki blinked in shock at the words that flew out of your mouth. He had never heard you used such a tone or choice of words with anyone—not even when you were against villains at U.A.. He hated to see you so upset, but he had no idea what to do with all of these women yelling at him, “Uh, Y/N...? Should we talk?” He questioned, causing Farrah to roll her eyes before she mouthed the word “see?” To her sister.

You huffed once more as you stormed towards the man, “Okay...” You begrudgingly agreed as you walked outside of the door, not even bothering to look him in the face. You couldn’t bring yourself to. Something just didn’t sit right with you.

As soon as he shut the front door behind him and walked down to the driveway a bit to meet up with where you had stormed off to, you threw a curve-ball at him,

“Just what is Fae to you?”

The question completely caught him off guard, but he immediately answered anyway, “Our roommate?”

“Obviously. But like. Did you and her… ever you know…” the thought alone made you feel queasy, “have something romantic.” You could have thrown up right then and there.

But his lack of reply made you feel a different type of sick. You blinked in surprise as the silence ensued before you spoke up, “You’re kidding,” you blurted.

“It’s not at all what you are thinking. There was chemistry for sure, but nothing ever happened. It wasn’t strong like you and I. When you came back there was no doubt in my mind that me and her were nothing.”

“That’s not what I’m upset about,” you threw pinched fingers to the brige of your nose and shook your head, trying to clear your thoughts, “Jesus, that poor girl.” So you really were just as much of a homewrecker, huh?

You thought there was one whore in that house but there were two.

“Fae is fine,” Todoroki moved to place a hand on your shoulder but you shifted away. He looked a bit shocked as he continued, “She had been dating here and there. She’s unaffected by the situation,” he calmly argued.

“God, Todoroki. That’s not the point,” you searched around your jacket pocket for your car keys. You had to get out of here. Even if you were in your house shoes.

“Im sorry, did I do something? Where are you going?” Todoroki’s calm demeanor slightly cracked as panicked undertones filled his question.

“I need to think,” you simply replied. Upon seeing his worried expression you immediately changed your answer, “I’ll… be back, okay? I just need a drive. We are still cool, okay? Friends,” you tried to sound enthused at the word.

“Okay… be safe.”

You slightly nodded at him before getting in your car and driving off.

You couldn’t believe it. You were slowly becoming everything that split you an Katsuki apart.

Your phone violently vibrating against your leg sent you flying out of your thoughts. Jesus, Kiri. He always called when you were trying to drive your frustration away—literally.

You groaned as you answered the phone.

“Hey!” His chipper voice had a slight undertone of panic to it, but your frustrated mind completely ignored it,

“What,” you deadpanned.

“Oh god, this isn’t a good time is it…?” he nervously laughed, causing your face to instantly shrivel up into a scowl,

“Just tell me what the fuck you want, Kirishima!” you blurted. A long silence filled the line, causing you to breath out heavily in a deep sigh. Way to go.

It was as if you were taking notes straight out of Katsuki’s book today. You just cursed at the sweetest guy on the planet. I mean, you might as well have just stomped on a puppy with both feet, “Look. I am sorry. I didn’t mean that... it’s just a long day…”

A pathetic excuse really. You realized this as soon as it came out of your mouth.

Kiri, being the happy souled fool he was, wholeheartedly accepted your pathetic excuse, “Maybe I should call back then...?” he suggested kindly.

“No, its okay, Kiri. What’s up?” you tried to smile as if he could see you—as if this gentle gesture would make up for how much of a colossal bitch you had just been.

“Well...” he dragged,  “Don’t you think maybe that it is about time you picked up your things from our apartment?”

You sighed, “…it’s really not a good time for me. I just..”

“WE CAUGHT THE HOUSE ON FIRE,” he cried out suddenly.

You held the phone closer to your ear as if you hadn’t heard him correctly, “Um. W-hwhat…?”

As soon as you spoke it triggered a tangent from the redhead, “Bakugou was really mad because he found out about you and Todoroki a few hours ago and he came home and wanted to vent his frustrations out, and we both know what that means, so we got to fighting and I punched him really hard, totally not manly of me by the way, and I pissed him off and then he exploded me and we set the house on fire!” he gasped for air, “I am so sorry!!” he exclaimed in a higher tone.

Your mind spun as you tried to take in all of the information that was being thrown at you at once. Finally it settled into your brain, “Oh my god!” you gasped, “Is he… is Katsuki okay?!”

“Yeah he is fine. He’s is in the hospital,” he brushed off.

“What!?! Where?!”

He quickly corrected himself at the sound of your heartbroken voice, “No, no! Not like that!” For some reason the concern in your voice for Bakugou made him happy, “He just needed a few little burn treatments! Anyway, we will probably be released tomorrow morning or night from the hospital, but—”

“We?!” you screeched.

“Yeah, I—”

“Kiri please tell me you did not just call me from a hospital bed,” you shook your head furiously.

“I just wanted to tell you that you should go pick up your things while Bakugou isn’t there, well what’s left of it anyway,” he gave an uneasy chuckle.

“Isn’t it still hot?”

“One of the firefighters had a cold quirk so everything turned out okay after they showed up. No other apartments were affected at all actually!” You still couldn’t believe this was all happening. You honestly hadn’t planned on grabbing your things from the apartment so soon. Then again, it had been months hadn’t it?

“So, are you going?” Kirishima snapped you back to reality.

“Yeah, yeah. I’ll head over there right now,” you absentmindedly nodded even though he couldn’t see you. You hung up the phone after the two of you had spoken your farewells, but you could hardly remember the rest of the drive as you stood in front of your old home.

Your mind felt entirely numb as you gawked at the tall, polished building.

The crime scene—where the dreams that you had been building since you were fifteen years old came to die a gruesome death. You swiftly ducked under the fitting yellow tape as you made your way into the scorched portion of the home—your old room.

It was pretty much the only area that had been affected by the disaster as the rest of the home basically look exactly as you had remembered it to be—well minus the manly mess that Kiri tended to leave behind. You assumed Katsuki had been more strict on house rules since you left.

You walked up to what was left of your grandmother’s dresser and traced your fingers along the crumbling edges of the wood. You ended your trail as your fingers found their way onto an old frame. You couldn’t tell if picture was okay since a film of ash painted the fractured glass, but the frame seemed fine, as it resided in an area that hadn’t been touched by the inferno.

So then why was the glass cracked?

That’s when it hit you—it must have been the object that you had thrown at Farrah that night. You remembered that you threw something at her that shattered, but you never bothered to find out what.

Why the hell didn’t Katsuki fix it?

You curiously, but cautiously wiped the glass with the edge of your shirt.

What was revealed was the first picture the you and Bakugou had ever taken together. He was tied to a pole with a muzzle on at the U.A. sports festival award ceremony your freshman year. You had been standing next to him as he stood on the first-place podium on your very own third pace spot.

The memory quickly flooded into your mind.

That day when you fought him was the first time that he had ever acknowledged you. He actually congratulated you in his own way you supposed. He told you that you put up a really good fight. You couldn’t help but to shake your head at the recollection as a smile dared to pull the corner of your lips up.

“Y/N?” A loud, rough voice caused you to jump suddenly before you whipped yourself around. What you saw surprised you,

Katsuki? But he’s not even supposed to be here! Especially with bloodied bandages placed throughout his scratched up body!!

He looked just as surprised as you, “What the fuck?!” he exclaimed.

“That’s my line, you ass! I thought you were in the hospital!” you cried out as you hurriedly dropped the frame into a bag you had been using to gather some of your things.

“I’m fine,” he quickly readjusted his face from the previously shocked expression, “They’re crazy if they thought I was gonna stay overnight.”

“Jesus, Katsuki,” you shook your head in disappointment.

“What?!” he barked.

You simply continued to shake your head as you attempted to rush past him, “Nothing. I’m leaving.”

“Wait! Don’t,” he suddenly reached out to grab you but you harshly shrugged him away before sending a glare at him,

“Why? Have something to say?” Of course he didn’t. He hadn’t reached out to you in all of this time. Not since the day everything went down. But then again, he hardly talked with you when you lived together, so why would he even bother speaking to you after you broke up.

Still, a piece of you yearned for him to care about you enough to speak up as you searched his eyes for an ounce of affection. You saw none—just hurt and a splash of his usual flavor of rage.  

“That’s what I thought,” your voice surprisingly croaked as you spoke. You turned away from him and began to walkaway, halting as he called out to you once more,

“You and Icyhot? REALLY?” he roared behind you, “I bet you were just waiting on me to fuck up so you’d have an excuse to crawl back to him, weren’t you?”

You whipped yourself back to furiously scowl at him. Of course that’s the first thing he wants to talk about after all this time, “You have zero right to judge me for moving on quickly even if I was fucking him!”

“So you’re not?!” he didn’t sound very convinced as he stormed up to you.

“Bakugou, that’s none of your business!” you didn’t back away as you challenge him. He hated it when you used his last name, “So what if I am?!” you exclaimed as tears pricked the backs of your eyes.

“I gave you a damned ring—we were getting married next fucking month!!” as his voice cracked your eyes were drawn to his arms that he intensely held on either side of him. His hands were quietly quivering in rage as he continued, “Of course it’s my fucking business!”

You snapped back regardless of his dangerously pissed off state. He is still trying to defend himself like he did nothing wrong after all this fucking time, “I gave you my ENTIRE being Katsuki!! I gave you my trust and my whole heart and everything else I could muster up and more!!!” You screamed at the top of your voice. Tears freely rolled down your tired cheeks at this point,

“So fucking what if you gave me a hunk of metal with a few gems?! What else did you give me? Huh?! What else did you offer up to me? Affection? Consideration? Loyalty??” your voice heavily cracked on the last word as you stared at the seemingly unphased man in front of you.

He held a glare as if it were permanently plastered onto his expression, yet he didn’t say anything in return, so you continued speaking after shakily gathering up a spare breath,  “God, I still think about you in practically everything that I do…” you cried as you pathetically stared at the ground in front of you. Bakugou’s fierce red eyes continued to burn holes into your image as you spoke,

“…but you probably only care that some other man is stomping around on your territory. You haven’t even reached out to me past the initial weekend when shit hit the fan,” you looked back up to see him still glaring at you intensely. You couldn’t tell if he was judging you or if he hated you. Probably a mix of the two.

What a condescending asshole.

“What?! Stop fucking looking at me! Say something dammit!” you pushed him away from you and was surprised by how good it felt, “Anything!!” you pleaded as you pushed him back again towards the living room.

He still said nothing as he threw his glare away from you and toward the ground. You groaned in annoyance before shoving him back again. Why was he always so damn quiet when you actually wanted him to speak up?

“Fight me back, dammit!” you didn’t even care that you sounded like him anymore. Maybe it’s what he wanted from you the entire time as his mastermind meticulously chipped away at the persona that you had been building all of your life. Well, if it’s what he wanted, you would be more than happy to oblige in this case, “You like to pick fights don’t you?!” you screamed as you used your entire body and shoved him once last time, actually tripping him.

The two of you fell and you toppled on top of him as your tears transformed into sobs, “Just do something, you grimy ass bastard! I know you want to!” you weakly pounded against his chest as sobs continued to tear themselves from your throat.

Bakugou truthfully had no words to speak as he watched your heartbroken form collapse on his chest.

He wanted so desperately to say something.

He wanted to tell you everything that he was feeling, and more than anything he wanted to hold you close to him and comfort you.

But it was as If something in the fibers of his being stopped him from doing so as you laid broken on top of him.

It had always been that way with you.

Every time he had opened his mouth to say something affectionate to you, something vile and downright disrespectful would fly out instead. Every time he wanted to reach out to you and touch you gently, all of the wrong muscles spasmed and he would do something completely erroneous.

It had been easier to neglect you at the time, rather than face you and hurt you, or fix himself even. But it was beyond fixing himself now.

Even so, he wanted to show you at least once that he was capable of doing something fucking right.

He owed you at least that.

He closed his eyes and he sharply grabbed your face and pressed it down onto his own as gently as he could. His hands were still shaking, not from anger as you had assumed, but from fear. He was terrified that you would completely abandon him without ever knowing how much he cared about you.

You whimpered into his mouth out of pure surprise as he continued to move his lips against your own, but you almost instantaneously settled down against him as relief surged throughout your body.

It felt as if a weight had been lifted from your being.

You found yourself kissing him back for only a moment more before you yanked yourself away from him, “No… no, no Katsuki….” You softly cried with wide eyes as you scooted away from him, “What are we doing!?”

“I know it’s over,” he said very flatly, “Between us, I mean.”

The sentence unexpectedly sent your heart falling deeply into your chest, “Wha—”

“Just shut up a moment and listen to me,” he interrupted you sharply. A thick silence enveloped the two of you for a beat as he seemed to internally kick himself for his harsh wording before he awkwardly shifted himself to sit next to you. His arms struggled to find their way around you as he lamely gathered you into his arms and pulled you close to him, “Just…. don’t look at me,” he grumbled, “I won’t be able to say the shit that I mean if you look.”

You couldn’t even find the time question what he had meant as he quickly continued,

“You... are the best thing that’s ever happened to me. I know I didn’t always act like it, but it’s true, dammit. I know that I couldn’t show it to you. It’s like my mind and my body were split on what to do. I wanted to hold you like this every night, but my body just wouldn’t let me… It’s just so damn confusing,” he finished with a croak.

He shook his head at himself before continuing, “I should have fucking done it anyway. I should have woken up early to make you breakfast more than just the once. I should have worked less so you wouldn’t have to spend days without me. I should have given you that ring sooner. I never should have slept with that woman. Drunk or not—but that goes without saying. I am so sorry, Y/N. You did not deserve this.”

You couldn’t help but to look up at him, but your heart broke as you saw heavy tears falling from his eyes.

He could feel your eyes on him but he found the resolve to continue regardless, “Anyway, I know it’s over now. I can feel it. What we had is over,” he fought himself from sobbing, “I’ll never see that ring on you again, and I don’t deserve to either. I didn’t deserve a lot of things I got growing up, but I definitely didn’t deserve you,” he sounded as if he was trying to convince himself, “I don’t think I can change who I am to be what you need me to be. You deserve more than what I can give you right now. And....” he tried to pull the words out of himself, “if Half n’ Half can do it, then I should let you go that way.”

He sighed. You weren’t sure if you had ever heard him sigh before. It shocked you as he continued, “I used to think you were keeping me from winning, and I was stupid to think that,” he rested his head on top of yours, “I’m just dragging you down onto my level at this point,” he shook his head, “but I won’t let that shit happen,” he finally dropped his face to look you in the eyes, “I love you so much, Y/N,” he whispered to you before pressing a painful kiss onto your forehead.

Was this even the same man you had known for almost half of your life?

“I-I love you too. I really do,” you stuttered as astonishment enveloped your body. The two of you sat in a bittersweet silence for a few moments before his gruff, substantially more put together voiced sounded once more,

“As much I hate to say this,” he lowly began as he moved you over and stood up, “you should go,” he held a hand to you to help you up.

Your hand faltered toward his own before you reluctantly accepted his gesture, doubts filling you mind. Bakugou, ever perceptive, noticed your reluctance and immediately cleared the air as he opened the front door for you,

“If Mismatch ever treats you half as bad as I did, I will set him on fire,” he lowly stated. The Bakugou you grew up with suddenly reappeared.

“He has a fire quirk… I don’t think that will work,” you tried to joke, but honestly your heart was hurting so much.

“Fucking watch me,” he smiled at you.

Genuinely smiled.

Your heart melted at the rare scene in front of you and your weak legs could barely make it out of the door.

After moments of staring at each other, you returned a small, sad smile at him before you walked out of the apartment and shut the door behind you.

What... just happened? You turned back around to face the door and placed your hand on the knob. You let it sit for a moment before you slowly retracted it, cursing under your breath.

On the other side, Bakugou knew that he had made the correct decision letting you go to Todoroki, but the pain in his heart begged him to follow after you.

However, the doubts and reluctance to do so further solidified his decision. He wasn’t ready to be the man you needed. Yet.

He had a lot of maturing to do before he could truly love his soulmate.

Soulmate.

The thought sent flutters into his worn down heart.

A reminder of the faith that he had that you two would find your way back to each other one day.