#dragon ball - catalyst

[kakushusband]

Ok ok I'm planning an art piece for my exam and it's themed around Coralia and Baby at the very, *very* beginning of the Brood Parasite Saga - when Baby is "born" (aka hatching from his scary tube on earth). And I just wanted to point something out about their relationship bc I've been thinking about them, a lot —

Feel free to rb if you like my writing! I sure could use the encouragement :3

A "Brood Parasite" is a term most well known for being used towards animals like the cuckoo – those that leave their young in the care of another species. The cuckoo, in particular, is known for being extremely aggressive and killing off his nestmates so there won't be any competition.

Whenever you hear about this, there's always this narrative that the parents "don't know any better" and are raising this "evil, murder machine" because it's what their instincts tell them to do. And that ties in with Coralia really well – if he'd known what Baby really was, would he have chosen to raise him? Would he have accepted him, as he is?

And my answer is yes.

I've been thinking about this comic a lot, too. It's so somber, the way it paints the nature of brood parasitism as something the hatchling itself has no control over. That's what it was born to do. It doesn't know any better.

But... At the same time, in a way, this works because the birds who are being taken advantage of sometimes either don't notice they're being taken advantage of... Or they, simply, do not care. (This is by no means scientific, this part is chock full of poetic liberties because I'm writing scifi here).

All in all, in the end, Baby does not harm Coralia (intentionally) out of guilt. He's sorry, truly, that he had to take advantage of his parent like he did. That he was born to hurt others, and with a singleminded goal to seek revenge and destruction. He regrets being born not knowing any better, and that it took so long for him to love Coralia back.

Coralia's response... Is that it's fine. They don't regret any of it. Their love for their son holds no less merit simply because he's a monster. On the contrary – it's the fact Coralia loves him so deeply that finally convinces Baby to stop rampaging. The realization that, even after all the harm he's done, Coralia still sees him as their son.

Were this story canon to GT, 30 or so years back, that would not have been clear from the start. It would've been ambiguous whether or not Baby was controlling Coralia from the start – the fact they were never under any mind control would've been a twist, for sure.

Baby may have been born to take advantage of others. But it's ok, because Coralia was born to love him.

[cockyroaches]

What's the Dragon Ball Blood Parasite AU 👀? That's sounds super duper interesting and cool. .!!

Clears throat. Hacks up a ball of lint. OK SO to keep it simple the Brood Parasite saga is my rewriting of the baby saga from dbgt bc I'm a chronic selfshipper and am always finding ways to get my nosy ass involved in the general lore.

It involves This Oc (genuinely my deus ex machina, I know – that's not what I Made him for, but hey, since he's there!) sending the Tuffle parasite (in his fetal form) to Earth to be raised by This Other Oc because Coralia is basically Pluto's favorite for better or worse (they're EXTREMELY similar, too).

The gist of it is a parallel to Goku's backstory (by accident. Somehow.) wherein this Murder Machine is saved and kept from killing absolutely everyone by being raised by some human guy. Baby is 100% self aware by the time Coralia meets him, though – but he's weak, so, regardless of how much he hates it, he needs... Help.

And it's also my favoritest bit of the whole AU bc it's an excuse to showcase how parental love can be *truly* absolute... No matter the consequences. It doesn't matter if Baby kills everyone – it doesn't matter if Coralia gets used as just another host – he's still Coralia's son, and as long as he's happy, his father will be happy.

Baby is my favorite dragon ball character of all time, but he's sadly wasted potential in a story that'll never explore his grey areas. Sigh. And thus I dream.

This saga in my AU is called brood parasite specifically bc, if it was canon to GT in any way, I'd like for it to spark debate as to whether or not Coralia is already infected and caring for Baby solely because of that. Does he truly believe his child is innocent? Is he doing it with the knowledge hes not? Only time will tell.

[magenta-racer]

Commission Art - Snowy Radish

Ayeeee artwork done by my friend, AnaLee94, who just opened commissions! So glad I could finally order a drawing from her, she's a great artist. 🥰

Raditz sharing a tender moment with Suno in Jingle Village. Their relationship is ambiguous at first, Suno first meets him wounded at the woods near her village, when she goes out to hunt, and Raditz only sees her as an inferior being to toy with. He tries teasing, messing with and tempting her, then gets amused as she dodges his advances and refuses him, though she starts getting attracted to him. The game of cat and mouse backfired on him, however, because he grew attached to her. Reazling this, Raditz fled her village without telling her, then decides to gather the Dragon Balls in order to get a wish to get back at Vegeta and Nappa for abandoning him.

It backfires again because he got defeated by Piccolo. Once again, he was back at Suno's place, the only one who he trusted to nurse him back to health, while still struggling to understand and accept his feelings for a human, specially after all the losses he suffered in his life. Sadly, Raditz only accepts his feelings when it's too late: Vegeta and Nappa arrive on Earth, and upset by Raditz's failure at gathering the magical orbs, they kill Suno as a punishment. This made something inside Raditz completely break, he was hellbent on getting his revenge from then on.

Suno gets brought back by Porunga after Frieza Saga, thankfully, but that doesn't ease Raditz's vendetta. Despite having her back and opening up about his feelings for her, Raditz is still determined to make Vegeta pay for everything he took away from him. Suno becomes his balance, and he's deeply grateful for having her in his life, Raditz would have likely lost himself completely if it weren't for her. She gets greatly frustrated and disappointed by his screw ups, though can't bring herself to hate him, even though it could be warranted sometimes. The things she puts up with for the man she loves. 😂

That's the summary of how their relationship came to be. 🤭 My AU is based on this fanfic, Dragon Ball Z: The Catalyst, which is totally worth checking out! :D

(Also, it's funny how Raditz's outfit reminds me of Chris Redfield in Resident Evil 8. 👀)

Art © AnaLee94.

Raditz and Suno are from Dragon Ball franchise © Akira Toriyama/Toei Animation.

[diejager]

Hi! In your Only Human AU what would happen if TF 141 + König and Horangi go into a something like a “rut”? Or is that possible in this universe? If it is would they ask Y/N for help? If possible can it be in the form of a Drabble🥺?

Rut Cw: rut/heat cycles, mention of sex, possessive behaviour, obsessiveness, mention of knotting, implied smut, tell me if I missed any.

Ruts were odd phenomenons, it reduced hybrids and monsters to desperate and horny men, clinging onto the person they considered their mate for relief and pleasure. Some hybrids had ruts, like canid and felid shifters or shifters in general, a monthly cycle that incapacitated them. Others were luckier, having a few ruts per year, sometimes once every few month or once a year; these could range from a dragon to a harpie or from a percht to a gorgon. There, however, were some exceptions, spectral beings and the undead were without ruts, their body long dead and able to function without it, yet they could impregnate and be impregnated as any other hybrid and monster could. They suffered from bouts of occasional arousal, little flares of pleasure when faced with a situation that turned them on or by strong emotions towards someone or something.

You were unfortunately enough to be thrown into a group of rutting hybrids - with the sole exception of Ghost - unprepared and without a forewarning on how to deal with them. You had to deal with a clingy werewolf, howling at the moon and whining in utter heartbreak because you told him off for humping your leg in the rec room, huffing and gasping down your neck. A hissing and possessive tiger, stalking you down the halls and jumping you whenever you were alone to ravage you against the wall, mouthing and nipping at your neck, making sure his scent would stick over the wolf and nagual musk. And a protective nagual, looming over you like a shadow, arm slung around your shoulder and ready to start a fight with the other shifters if they tried masking his scent.

Luckily, their ruts never overlapped, it might’ve been a fortunate coincidence, but one that you wouldn’t take for granted. You had a schedule drawn up in the first year after they accepted you into their pack, Soap’s was always after the full moon, the silver disk being the catalyst to his urge; Horangi had his in the later days of each month, oftentimes beginning on the last day of the werewolf’s rut; and Alejandro took the first week of the month, starting slowly on the third or fourth day and ramping up on the following day.

Unfortunately, you hadn’t put in consideration for the others. Price, Gaz and König also had their moments in the yearly cycle, falling victim to the throes of instinctual need. You thanked your lucky star that Gaz rutted once or twice a year - thrice on rare accounts - with little to no change in his character. He might’ve been more hands, wanting to keep a hand around your waist, to give you soft and loving kisses on your lips as much as he did on your cheek, nose and forehead.

Price and König were a handful, one hoarded you to his office and had you follow him wherever he went, and the other was deathly possessive and deep into his instincts. König was on the extreme side of his type, breaking out nearly six to seven times a year, stuck mid shift with broader shoulders, red eyes and a monstrous appearance, and he had half the mind to stay considerate to other. A danger stumbling on two feet. Price was the medium, a perfect balance with three or four ruts yearly and a the self control to let you go if the situation demanded it. Despite his self-control, he was still a dragon, controlling and possessive, ordering you to come straight back to him whether or not you were knotted to Soap or Rudy was balls deep inside of you.

Despite Rudolfo being considered a monster, he was simply a human with the ability to control cadejos, as vulnerable and as resilient as one. And being human meant that he got aroused, coaxing you into his room for the night and taking care of the heat brewing between your legs. Much like Rudy, Ghost retained his bodily function - human wise - and came back as a monster, but he was a stranger to ruts, scoffing at the neediness and vulnerability of one. That, however, never stopped him from indulging in his sexual kinks and dark fetishes, having you as the subject of his exploration if no one else hit their cycles.

They were a handful, from Soap’s mutt-like character to Rudy’s calm demeanour, they had you exhausted, wringing you dry and panting, always ending up face down or backed against the wall. You were grateful - truly - that the others would willingly jump in and take over for you, helping whoever it was spend his rut. Now, you’d have to redraw your calendar, tired and clinging to your bed to stand up.

Taglist: @craxy-person @crowbird @dead-cipher @iwannabealocalcryptid @iizx7y @mxtokko @yeetusspagheetus @capricorn-anon @perfectus-in-morte @sae1kie @yeoldedumbslut @bvxygriimes @distracteddragoness @konigsblog @havoc973 @angelcakes-22 @cassiecasluciluce @ramadiiiisme @ramblingsofachaoticthinker @ki-cant-spel @im-making-an-effort @love-dove-noora @jinxxangel13 @daisychainsinknots @0alk0msan @mul-pi @danielle143 @virginalsacrifice @beau-min @makayla-666 @urfavsunkissedleo

[thelargefrye]

BECAUSE I'M HIM ... mature one - shot (21+) | PART II

pairing : supe!ateez x supe!villain!f!reader ( ft. supe!villain!sanhwa x supe!villain!f!reader )

genre : dark, mature, heroes and villains, demon slayer x mha inspired, angst

word count : 17k

warnings : language, a lot... a LOT of fight scenes 😮‍💨, death / murder, blood / body gore, suicide, choking, attempted murder, the government wouldn't do that to you - oh yes they would, mass killing (a whole island gets wiped out – not in detail and only mentioned), MAJOR character deaths, cannibalism (kind of), mention human sacrifice, any korean that appears might be inaccurate

smut warnings : unprotected sex, threesome, mxm, noncon voyuerism, double v penetration, slight cum play

listen to the official soundtrack here

note : for topaz's @sanjoongie YOTV collab – had so much fun planning this and writing it, thank you for allowing me to be apart of this collab and i hope you enjoy it! please make sure to check out the other fics for this collab with the masterlist!

also thank you to @anyamaris for letting me word vomit this to you!

with the hero association struggling to take down the villain alliance, they and the government force death row villains to team up with some of the world's greatest heroes in order to hunt down and defeat them. you are one of those villains.

READ PART I HERE

ACT IV: THE DRAGON GOD

new ateez compound – members’ private rooms corridor – night

yunho walked through the corridors of the new compound. his footsteps soft against the polished floor. the air was heavy, thick with the tension of their recent losses and the faint, fragile peace that had come in the aftermath. if he could even call it an aftermath, everything happening all at once made yunho feel like this was just the catalyst for something bigger to come. 

this new compound gave off that same feeling, it was nearly identical to the one they’d lost, yet it felt foreign – a remainder of everything that had been torn away. from him, the team. the memories of their original compound were the only thing that kept him grounded. it was his home after all, and now… he was expected to call this new compound home. it made yunho feel uneasy. 

as he approached the row of private quarters, something stopped him in his tracks. a voice. hushed, soft, and unmistakably familiar. 

you. 

his heart stuttered in his chest as he turned towards your door, which was slightly ajar. light spilled into the hallway, warm and flickering, and yunho could just faintly hear the hum of a conversation – no, it wasn’t a conversation. your voice sounded different, breathy and tinged with something he couldn’t place at first. 

they say curiosity killed the cat, and perhaps it was that, or something deep, the pulled yunho towards your door. he should stop. whatever was happening inside your room wasn’t his business, yet his feet betrayed him. carefully, he leaned closer, peering through the crack in the door. 

the sight he saw made his breath stop and heat travel all over his body.

you bent over the edge of your bed, naked, with san on top of you. his hips creating powerful thrusts as he pounds away into your pussy. yunho can see how san’s cock easily stretches your pussy, filling you up and causing you to let out breathy wines. san’s thick hands dig into the meat of your hips, holding you up as the vigor sounds of skin meeting skin fills the room. 

yunho couldn’t tear his eyes away, from the sight of you and san. san’s balls smacking lewdly against your ass had san tossing his head back slightly, never once stopping his unrelenting pace. 

“s-sannie–” your nails claw at the messy sheets, yunho’s surprised you don’t rip them from the vice grip you have on them. you let out a ramble of words that don’t make any sense and san can only laugh at how fucked out you are. 

“she’s so fucked out, her pussy might as well be talking,” a new voice says, but yunho recognizes the deepness of it. seonghwa appears right next to san, just as naked. one of his graceful, yet lethal hands run down the expanse of san’s back. 

“s–so fuckin’ tight,” san pants out as he bends over to press his chest against back. his thick arms wrap underneath your legs and yunho can hear a wet smack! smack! smack! sound throughout the room, followed by a cry leaving your lips. 

you’re making a mess, juices drooling from your pussy, around san’s cock, and onto the bed and floor. san has completely mounted you at this point and yunho would be surprised if san didn’t break the bed from how hard he was going. one of his hands pressing your face into the mattress as san turned to look at seonghwa. his face just as fucked out as you sounded as he reaches out for the older male. 

“hy–h–hyung~” san calls out, causing seonghwa to laugh as he walks closer. stepping up on the bed, san’s eyes lit up as seonghwa’s cock was at eye-level with him. his mouth dropping open without seonghwa having to say a word. 

“you’re just as fucked out as her,” seonghwa teases, the head of his fat cock tracing the lip of san’s lips. his tongue swirled around seonghwa’s tip, eyes rolling into the back of his head as his cock was shoved into his mouth. san let out a gagged groan of some sorts as seonghwa fucked his throat. yunho was surprised that san never once stop fucking you. 

“s–so good,” seonghwa moaned out, eyes closing and eyebrows drawn together as his head tilted back. seonghwa pulled out of san’s mouth with a sick, wet pop! seonghwa fisted his cock a few times so san’s tongue was covered in his precum. “go ahead, share.” 

san tangled his fingers within your hair, dragging you up like you were nothing. yunho couldn’t see your face, nor what san was doing, but he assumed the blood user was kissing you. the image of the two of you doing a nasty french kiss while swapping spit and precum made his own dick hard. 

yunho felt a wave of heat and coldness wash over his body as his hand trailed down to where his own cock was. an obvious tent growing and he was trying to resist the urge to touch himself, here in the middle of the hallway. his eyes remained glued to how san pulled out of you and manhandled you onto further on the bed. 

seonghwa kneels on the bed as both him and yunho watch san tug you into full nelson. your body on full display, pussy leaking and creamy as san wastes no time in shoving his cock back into you. the two of you moaning and yunho swears he can see the bulge of san’s cock appear underneath your belly button. fuck, that’s hot. yunho feels his dick twitch at the sight of seonghwa running the tip of his cock along your stuffed pussy. the mixture of your and san’s sticky seed and juices easily coating his cock. 

his head teases your clit that’s red and swollen and yunho figures san smacked it earlier. you let out a cry, fat tears running down your cheeks as you try to close your legs. but san’s arms and legs keep your pried open for both his and seonghwa’s pleasure. 

“‘s too much!” you cry, but both males laugh at your words. san pulls out slightly open to immediately thrust back into you. his hold on you, keeping you place, breasts bouncing at impact. san repeats the action a few more times as seonghwa lazily nudges his cock against your clit. 

“you can take both of us, can’t you, doll?” san questions, pulling out slightly as seonghwa began to slowly enter you. 

“please–” you beg, head thrown back, panting and a layer of sweat beginning to cover you. seonghwa reaches between the two of you, the head of his cock slowly nedging itself into your dripping pussy. your glossy juices coating his fingers “p–please, too–too–” 

“if you can take san’s fat cock all at once then you can take mine with it,” seonghwa cuts you off, his hands gripping your thighs, nails digging into your thighs leaving crescent shapes in your skin as he inches his cock further inside of you. 

then, with a rough grunt, seonghwa eventually shoves himself further into you. both his and san’s cocks pressed against each other surrounded by your gummy walls that clench around the both of them. moans leaving both males as san starts thrusting up into you. his cock rubbing against seonghwa’s cock, which makes the older male groan in pleasure. 

“t–two cocks an–and you’re still this tight,” he pants out as he also starts moving his hips, him and san establishing a nice rhythm that is the opposite of when san was just inside you. 

you’re rendered to just a moan, babbling mess as your lovers continue to fuck you. your orgasm building up more and more. the head of their cocks take turns abusing your g-spot and filling you up even more with their hot precum. san’s sturdy hands come to grope your breast, squeezing them, along with pinching and pulling at your nipples causing you to let out a cry. your cry is quickly swallowed by seonghwa’s tongue shoving itself into your mouth. 

“fuck– fuckfuckfuck ‘s good,” san moans as he watches you and seonghwa. his thrusts causing his balls to smack against seonghwa’s as he feels himself grow closer to his own orgasm the more you clench around him as he continues to ram into your melty insides. he can’t deny how good seonghwa’s cock feels up against his, he loves when seonghwa or himself force their cock inside of you while the other one is already taking up so much space. 

stuffing you even more than what you claim to take makes him just want to never stop fucking you. and the thought alone is what makes him finally cum. he lets out a string of cussing as his cock paints your insides white. his seed immediately starts dripping out of you and onto the sheets below you all. san pulls out, even more of his seed dripping out, but seonghwa wastes no time in fucking it back into you. 

san holds you in the position he’s had you in as seonghwa drills into you with the full purpose of both him and you coming next. you cry out seonghwa’s name the harder he fucks you. 

“gonna fill you u–up with s-so-so much. stuff my pretty girl with a–all the cum,” seonghwa murmurs in a fucked daze. with one finally thrust you both are coming. seonghwa stills inside of you as he also paints your insides white. 

seonghwa pulls out, eyes locked on how your pussy overflows with the mixture of his and san’s cum. you let out a whine when seonghwa runs a finger through your creamy folds just as san finally releases you from the position he had you in. you watch seonghwa bring his cum-coated fingers to his lips to lick them clean. san presses a kiss to your shoulder as he moves to sit you both up. 

yunho feels his chest tightened, eyes focused as he watches you three. he knew he should leave, he already stayed and watched more than he should have. enjoyed more than he should have. 

what kind of teammate was he to intrude on such a private moment, but damn did it not turn him on watching the three of you. yunho feels a rush of emotions – guilt and jealousy being the main two that he felt. he took one last look inside your room; you, san, and seonghwa sharing light kisses between each other, before he’s turning on his heels and walking down the corridor. 

once yunho is in the safety of his room, he closes his door and finally lets out the breath he had been holding the entire time. every time he blinks, all he can see is the image of san or seonghwa pounding into you. the noises you made echoing in his mind and his hand absentmindedly finds his crotch. he winces when he feels a wet patch on his pants. fuck. when did he come in his pants? 

he feels heat rush to his face as once again thinks about the three of you. his own cock taking no time in getting hard again. 

his ears burn as he lets out a huff, unzipping his pants and pulling his cock out. his other hand comes up to rest against his face, “you’re better than this,” he mumbles to himself. 

yet he can’t help but touch himself, coming all over his hand at the thought of san, seonghwa, and you. 

jeju island – forest path – day

jeju island was a lot denser than you expected it to be. you’ve heard about how this island usually kept to themselves, isolated themselves from the mainland. so officially, they wouldn’t make it easy to get to their village. a boat dropping the two of you off on the island made the dense and thick forest the first thing you see. the dirt path also winding as you both began walking through the forest. you could still hear the sound of distant waves crashing against the shore fills your ears and mixes with the crunching of leaves under your boots. 

hongjoong told you and wooyoung that jeju island refused to have any relations with the hero association. the only reason you both are here is because the association they sent to the island over two weeks ago has been m.i.a. 

speaking of wooyoung, you’re eyes drifted ahead of you where wooyoung is. shoulders stiff and his expression dark. the tension between the two of you is colder than the island’s breeze.

wooyoung throws a glance over his shoulder, gaze sharper than ever. you know he can’t stand you. still bitter about you, san, and seonghwa joining the team. letting himself even be tricked by wonyoung – a demon. he hated you, that much was obvious. 

you remain calm, despite his hostile gaze, hands tucked into your jacket pockets. wooyoung suddenly stops in his tracks, causing you to halt a few steps behind him. 

“i can’t do this,” he says, voice sharp, back still facing you.

“do what?”

“this!” wooyoung finally turns, gesturing between and around you both. “pretend like everything’s fine, like you’re one of us, like you belong on this team!” 

you remain silent, but your silence only fuels his frustrations. 

“i don’t get you,” he snaps, stepping closer. “you’re not suppose to be helping people – saving lives! you’ve fucking killed people, destroyed lives. and yet, here you are, playing pretend hero because the association told you too. you act like you care about the team; yeosang, mingi – grieving him even. but how do we know you mean it, that you aren’t just pretending!”

even if you won’t admit it outloud, his words cut deep. saying you don’t care about yeosang or even mingi. that your grief wasn’t real. you didn’t say anything back, once again remaining silent. showing him any emotions wouldn’t change anything at this point. 

“say something!” he yells, voice echoing throughout the empty path. “anything!” 

but you still wouldn’t say anything to him. wooyoung’s fist clenched tightly, knuckles surely turning white from the force. and before he could stop himself, he lunged at you. 

your eyes widened but you didn’t fight back as he tackled you to the ground. you hit the dirt with a grunt, wooyoung straddling you as his hands wrapped around your throat. despite the death collar, wooyoung dug his fingers into your skin. attempting to cut off your airways. 

“do you even feel anything?” he growls, grip tightening even more. you could feel both bitter heat and coldness seeping from his hands and into your skin. burning you with both fire and ice. “do you even care about anyone? about mingi? about us?”

your expression remained unchanged, eyes staring up at him with a certain emptiness. your face turning unnatural colors from the lack of oxygen. you weren’t fighting back, wasn’t struggling – you were simply… accepting it. 

the sight truly unsettled wooyoung. his breathing coming through in ragged gasps as he stared down at you. then the realization hit him. you weren’t resisting because you didn’t care. you weren’t resisting because in that moment, you truly didn’t mind if you died. 

a sharp pain suddenly shoots through wooyoung’s head, making him release your throat and clutch at his temples. the throbbing pain seared through him as his vision blurred, static buzzing in his vision and ears. wooyoung felt an overwhelming sense of unease flood through him as disjointed and static images flashed through his mind. 

the figure below him shifted in the static, face unrecognizable as he hovered above them. lips moving but no sound coming out. he stumbled off of you, falling to the ground, clutching his head as he tried to make sense of what just happened. “what the hell…” he mutters, voice barely audible.

you sat up slowly, rubbing your throat but choosing to say nothing. you watched him with an unreadable expression, your gaze calm despite the red and purple marks now blooming above your collar. 

for a long moment, neither of you spoke as wooyoung slowly felt the pain subside. the only sound was the wind rustling through the trees. finally, you stood, brushing dirt off your clothes. you took a step towards wooyoung and extended a hand. 

wooyoung’s eyes looked up to meet your calm ones before they flickered down to your outstretched hand. he hesitated, just staring at your hand. then, with a scoff, he pushed himself to his feet on his own, completely ignoring you. 

you weren’t surprised. you nodded your head before turning and continuing down the path towards the town. “let’s keep moving.”

wooyoung now followed a few steps behind, tension between you two thick and palpable. his mind racing, images he’d seen – your empty eyes – still haunting him. he glanced at your back, his frustrations mingling with a strange, yet unfamiliar feeling he couldn’t quite register.

by the time you two reached the outskirts of the town, the silence between you both was deafening. the air heavy and full of unspoken words, unresolved emotions, and something seemingly darker – a tension you couldn’t deny. 

jeju island – town – day

cobblestone streets making winding paths that led the small town as you wandered through it. the ocean breeze carrying a salty tang that mixed with the earthy scent of wet dirt. you could also smell something more… unnatural. like something had been burnt not too long ago and the scent still lingers in the air of the town. you brushed it, after taking several glances around your walk and not able to find anything to support the smell. weird. 

the townspeople were friendly enough on the surface, but you could tell that your appearance in their town made them uncomfortable. not because you were a villain, or had a blink, metal collar around your throat, but the fact that you were just… an outsider. whenever you asked them about the missing hero they were tight-lipped, saying they didn't know anything. faces turned wary, and voices hushed as they avoided your questions.

“excuse me,” you say softly, approaching an older woman, “i’m looking for information about a hero who was here recently. do you know anything?”

you notice the older woman’s face stiffens at the mention of the word ‘hero’. she shakes her head quickly, “we don’t meddle in the hero business here.”

“why not?” you couldn’t help but be curious on why they separated themselves from the rest of the country. 

the woman looked nervously towards the town’s center, you followed her eyes only to find nothing too out of the ordinary. “this is a place of peace,” she begins, speaking lowly so you could only just barely hear her, “heroes bring chaos. you should leave before the dragon god grows angry.”

the woman mutters something else under breath and inaudible to your ears, turning away and leaving before you could ask her anything else. 

“dragon god?”

after that encounter, any other encounters you would be met with cryptic talks of a “dragon god” but the locals refused to explain what, or who, this dragon god. you also heard mentions of a priestess, but again the townspeople would become tight-lipped and turn away when you try to ask them more. it was honestly starting to piss you off.

you approach a younger man, who offers more details as he gathers firewood. but his details only give you more questions than answers. 

“the dragon god protects us… or punches us when we stray.” 

“and what about the priestess?”

the young man pauses for a moment, glances around nervously before speaking in a hushed tone, “she serves the god. keeps the balance. don’t ask too many questions.” before you could press further, he then hurries off back down the path he came from. 

caw! you look over to see a crow sitting on top of a stack of firewood. tilting your head you make eye contact with the bird who seems to mimic your movements. the crow let out one more loud caw before taking off, heading towards the mountains.

“what are you doing here?” you say to yourself before turning and making your way towards the town inn.

jeju island – town inn – evening 

you’re surprised by how warm and small the inn is, with creaky wooden floors and flickering lanterns lighting the inside of the room you and wooyoung booked. you enter the room to find wooyoung sitting by the window, staring out into the night. 

“you’re late,” he says rather flatly, but you ignore his tone. 

“i was asking questions.”

he lets out something that was a mix between a huff and a laugh. “let me guess – no answers?” you don’t need to look at him to see he’s smirking at you, trying to rile you up. 

“they kept talking about a dragon god,” you tell him as you go to sit down on one of the beds in the room. your weight making the mattress slightly sink. 

wooyoung turned to look at you, eyebrow raised, “a dragon god? that’s original.”

“and a priestess, but no one would tell me more about either of them.” 

wooyoung moves from the window to lean against the wall, crossing his arms, “i found out more than you, apparently.”

it was your turn to raise an eyebrow at him, “oh? enlighten me then.”

“the town’s been dealing with a lot of weird stuff. illness spreading for no reason, crops dying out of season, farm animals losing their minds.” 

“sounds like they think their dragon god is punishing them,” you say quietly. 

“or,” wooyoung says, interrupting your thoughts, “it's a villain. or worse – a demon.” a beat of silence passes between the two of you as you exchange a look thanks to his words. seems like he was thinking the same thing you were. 

“if its a demon, the town wouldn’t even realize it. they’d just… worship it.” 

“exactly,” he agrees, “which means that if we find the villain then…” he hesitates for a moment before continuing, “then we’ll probably find our missing hero.”

“or we’ll find his body,” you finish for him. he grimaces a little before nodding. this mission just got a lot more complicated, you think to yourself.

after the discussion, you find yourself settling into a rather tense room. the tension from earlier in the day with wooyoung is still heavy and thick between you. the flickering of the lanterns is the only warmth in comfort in the otherwise cold room. you sit on the edge of the bed, fingers running along the pages of the book you had brought with you. face impassive, but your eyes clearly hold a storm within. 

wooyoung leans against the wall, arms crossed, his gaze burning into you. the silence between you both is thick, but his patience wearing thin. like he can tell that you aren’t fully invested into the book that sits in your lap. 

“does the guilt get to you at all?” wooyoung says, finally breaking the silence. you don’t bother to look up at him, continuing to – at least – attempt to read your book. “does it bother you? eat you alive?”

“i don’t have to answer you, wooyoung,” you say, turning the page of your book, “i don’t owe you anything.” your tone is calm as you speak. 

wooyoung pushes himself off the wall, voice rising slightly as he speaks, “that’s your problem. you don’t owe anyone anything, do you? not an apology, not an explanation – nothing,” with each sentence he moves closer to you. “you think you can just breeze through all this, leaving chaos in your wake.” 

you stood, dropping your book onto the bed, “and you think yelling at me is going to fix anything? you think your anger gives you some kind of moral high ground? grow up.”

wooyoung’s eyes narrowed, fist clenching at his sides, “my anger gives me more moral high ground than you! at least i haven’t killed people out of my anger! how can anyone like you feel anything? or maybe that’s the point – you don’t.”

you feel your jaw tightened, but you refuse to let his words fully penetrate you, “believe what you want. i don’t have to prove myself to you, i’ve done enough already for you and the others.”

“then why are you still here if you’ve proven yourself?” he demands, voice rising. “why don’t you just go back to prison? why pretend to give a damn about any of this?”

your eyes flash with frustration, “you’re the one who keeps pushing, wooyoung. you hate me so much, yet you’re always the first to pick a fight. what do you want from me?”

“i want you to admit it!” he yells, stepping so close that your faces were mere inches apart. “admit that you don’t care, that you’re just waiting for the moment to stab us all in the back!”

you stared at him, you chest heaving from the restrained emotions. don’t lash out, don’t lash out, don’t lash out. “if that’s what you really think,” you say quietly, quieter than what wooyoung would have expected. “then why haven’t you done something about it?”

wooyoung froze, breathing ragged. for a moment, the room was silent except for the sound of your breaths. then, as if something inside him snapped, he surged forwards, hands gripping your face as his lips crashed into yours. 

the kiss was feral, a mixture and collision of anger, tension, and even need that sent a jolt of heat through your body. your initial shock by his sudden action melted into raw desire as you kissed him back just as fiercely. your hands clutching at his shirt and pulling him closer. 

wooyoung let out a low growl from his throat, lips moving hungrily against yours. his hands sliding down to your waist and pulling you flush against him. the heat of his body seeping through the material of your shirt, warming your own body. he pushed you back until your knees hit the edge of the bed, you fell onto the mattress, dragging him down with you. 

the weight of him against you sent a shiver through your body. his heat and ice powers send waves of heat and ice through you. his lips left yours, trailing along your jaw and down your neck, his teeth grazing your skin before he sucked hard enough to leave a mark. you gasped, nails digging into his shoulders as your hips bucked up against his instinctively. 

“damn it,” he muttered against your skin, voice rough and filled with frustration. “you drive me insane.” 

“good,” you say back, voice breathless and laced with slight defiance against him. 

his hand slipped under your shirt, his fingers both lithe and calloused, veins bulging from his forearms as he brushed them against your bare skin. he traces the curve of your waist, his touch firm yet somewhat teasing as he pushes the fabric of your shirt higher. a familiar heat pools in your stomach, your body almost aching for more as he leans up to kiss you again. his tongue tangling with yours in a battle for dominance. 

your mouths moved against each other, tongues tangling and teeth grazing as you both sought to dominate the other even if for a moment. your hands slid under his shirt, nails raking down the expanse of his back. wooyoung let out a groan that your lips hungrily swallowed as his hips pressed into yours. you let out a soft moan, legs shifting to wrap around his waist, pulling him even closer than what you thought was possible. 

“y/n,” he moans out, voice filled with a mixture of desire and restraint. he pulls back slightly, lips trailing over your jaw as you both try to catch your breath for a moment. his hands lingered on your bare skin, his fingers trailing dangerously close to your bra before settling on drawing lazy circles just below.

the moment was broken by a sharp noise coming from outside. the two of you froze, breathes heavy and mingling together as you strained to listen. the muffle sound of voices and footsteps filtered in through the window. wooyoung seemed reluctant to push himself off of you, but did so chest heaving. 

“someone’s out there,” he says, voice still thick with the remnants of your heated exchange. you sat up, face feeling flushed and lips swollen. 

you shake your head in an attempt to clear it as you stand up from the bed, “we should check it out then.”

wooyoung nods, jaw tight as he watches you make your way over to the window. eyes lingering on you for a little longer than he probably should have. he snaps out of it after a moment and comes to join you over by the window. 

outside, you see a group of townspeople moving down the street, their lanterns casting an eerie glow. at the center of the group was a young woman dressed in head to toe ceremonial attire, her expression solemn. 

“that must be the priestess,” wooyoung says quietly, almost calmer than it was moments ago. you watch with narrowed eyes, mind racing in an attempt to try and piece all of this together. what in the world could they be doing this late at night with the priestess. why did they all look so solemn and… mournful even.

“this doesn’t feel right.”

“no kidding,” wooyoung says before the two of you are exchanging a glance. then without another word, you two slip out of the inn and into the shadows, following the line of townspeople.  

jeju island – mountain base – night

you managed to follow the townspeople from a distance, careful to stay hidden in the shadows. eventually, the people reached the base of the large mountain, where a cave entrance stood. the entrance was set up like some type of shrine or altar. the villagers then begin chanting, preparing the young woman for what you can only assume to be a sacrifice. 

an unease chill runs down your spine as you watch, “we have to stop this,” you hastily whisper to wooyoung, moving to try and stop them, but he stops you by grabbing your arm. 

“not yet,” he replies quietly. 

“they’re going to kill her– or– or sacrifice her, wooyoung.”

“and we don’t even know what we’re up against yet,” he says harshly. “we need to draw back and come up with a plan. haven’t you said before not to act on anger or emotions?”

you bite your lip, reluctantly going along with his words, fist clenched as the two of you made your way back to the end. once back at the inn, you find yourself sitting on the bed, book in your lap. 

“tomorrow,” you say, turning to look at wooyoung, “we’re going to kill their dragon god.”

“tomorrow.” 

jeju island – town inn – dawn

the glow of dawn seeps through the curtains, lighting up the room in warm tones. you sit on the edge of the bed, tying your boots together. your fingers move like they are on autopilot, your mind going through what feels like ten-million other things all at once. across the room, wooyoung is once again leaning against the doorframe. his gaze heavy as he watches you, clearly conflicted. 

for a long moment, the only sounds in the room are the faint rustle of fabric and the occasional creak of the floorboards as the building settles. 

“so you’re just going to pretend like nothing happened?” he asks, voice almost uncharacteristically soft. 

you freeze for a brief second, fingers halting mid-motion. you swallow hard, tongue wetting your lips before you continue as though he hadn’t said anything. 

he moves forward, voice a little louder, “y/n.”

you finish typing your boots, standing up from the bed to dust some invisible dust off, but you refuse to look at him. “we’ll talk about it later.”

wooyoung lets out a dry laugh, clearly not buying what you said, “later? and when is that? after we deal with this so-called dragon god or maybe if one of us dies then we won’t have to talk about it at all,” his tone is sharp, sharper than what he intended and he notices when you stiffen slightly. 

“we have a mission, wooyoung. personal issues afterwards,” you say still not looking at him. 

wooyoung frowns, stepping closer, “did it not mean anything?” 

you finally turn to him, your eyes meeting his, and for a moment he falters. there’s something almost raw in your gaze, like for the first time since joining the team he’s showing you a clear vulnerability. it only lasts for a split second though before you are trying to cover it. 

“it’s not that it didn’t mean anything. we can’t afford to lose focus right now. not when the townspeople here are in danger.”

“y/n…” 

you look away, jaw tightening as you feel a jumble of words caught in your throat. you feel like you have so many things you want to say to wooyoung, but you can’t find it in yourself to say them. the feeling of his body pressed against yours had lingered in your mind longer than you would have liked to admit. 

you finally let out a sigh, shaking your head as you spoke, “don’t make this harder than it already is.”

your words hang in the air for a moment, cutting through the room like a knife. wooyoung steps back slightly, hand running through his hair as he exhales deeply. before he could say anything; however, you speak up once more. 

“back on the train… mingi promised we would go eat some good food. after we kill this demon…” you pause for a second, wondering if you should continue. “let’s go get something good to eat. and then– and then we can talk like you want.”

the vulnerability in your voice catches wooyoung off guard for a moment, making him pause. his earlier frustrations slowly fade away as he looks at you. its weird, he thinks, in this moment you don’t look like the monstrous villain the hero association has made you out to be, but instead… just a young woman. 

it makes his stomach churn as this mind tells him that maybe this is just a trap, that you are so monstrous that you are faking everything. your true emotions hidden underneath a facade. 

“whatever,” he says with a huff and you turn to him with narrowed eyes, ready to say something, but he cuts you off, “i get to pick though – don’t trust you to know what good food is.” 

he makes his way back over to the door and his words catch you a little off guard. you nod your head and follow after wooyoung who waits at the door. he gets close to you, face inches away from yours. heated eyes looking into yours, “don’t think that one of us dying will stop this conversation, you hear?”

you nod your head once more, before the two of you are stepping out of the room and inn altogether. the situation of last night will remain unresolved for the moment. after all, you had a dragon god to kill.

jeju island – mountain base – morning

the path leading you to the mountain reminds you of the path you took that led you to town. dense with trees, but the air was… colder and heavy fog surrounded the area that you didn’t quite notice last night. you and wooyoung eventually stand at the base, staring at the dark opening of the cave at the base of the mountain. 

“this is definitely the kind of place you’d find something messed up in,” wooyoung mutters, referring to the shrine that stood in front of the cave’s opening. you remember seeing the priestess walking up to it last night. 

“sure is creepy,” you say, looking as an eerie chill running down your spine. 

wooyoung can’t help the smirk that paints his lips at your response. without another word, the two of you move forward, stepping into the shadowy mouth of the cave’s entrance.

the echoing of your footsteps inside the cave gave the place almost a haunting feel. wooyoung’s fire sweeps across the area, illuminating the strange markings on the stone walls – scratches and streaks blood. you both round a corner, flickers of fire catching a horrific sight – a pile of corpse, young women all torn apart and half eating, missing limbs as they drap lifelessly over the rocks. their faces frozen in terror, everything about them was unnatural. 

“oh my god,” you gasped out, stepping back. you press a hand over your mouth, eyes wide. wooyoung grabs your arm gently but firmly, pulling you away from the grotesque scene. this is what was happening to their priestesses? did the townspeople knowingly sacrifice the young women knowing their fate?

“don’t look, just keep moving,” wooyoung says, grip firm. you feel your chest rising and falling rapidly, but you nod and allow him to guide you away from the scene. you both press on deeper into the cave. the haunting chill in the air grows heavier with every step.

jeju island – cave chamber – morning

eventually, you and wooyoung enter a part of the cave that opens up into a vast, dimly lit chamber. at the center of the chamber was a woman who perched lazily atop a group of jagged rocks. from a first glance she appears just as human as you and wooyoung; however, the black smoke that coils around her from her mouth says otherwise. her aura is something that is both dangerous and alluring. 

she opens her eyes and tilts her head to lazily look over at you both who remain rooted in place at the chamber entrance. her eyes are a cloudy white color and you can just faintly read the 상위네 – upper four – in her eyes, like the words were faded and no longer held any meaning. 

she looks at the two of you with an amused face, “well~ what do we~ have here?” her words are droopy and slurred almost, dragging some of the syllables out. she blows a ring of smoke out of her mouth and you watch it change colors before turning to black.  

“she has to be it,” wooyoung says quietly to you, but you refuse to look away from the humanoid looking woman. the woman stretches gracefully like a predator sizing her prey up. 

“i wasn’t expecting guests~ especially~ not from the hero association. you’re far from home, aren’t you?” she speaks like she’s talking to two friends and not her enemy. 

“are you the one they call the dragon god?” you ask steadily, taking a step forward. 

the woman tapes a clawed finger to her chin as if thinking, “dragon god~ is that what they call me? humans are so interesting~ no, the name i was given is soojin,” she then descends from her perch with unnatural fluidity, circling closer to the two of you slowly. “i suppose i can’t blame them~ after all, i do keep them rather… entertained~ sacrifices, prayers, reverence… it’s all very flattering,” she added, voice soft yet dripping in mockery. 

“and the dead woman? was that your idea of some sick entertainment too?” wooyoung asks snapping at soojin. 

she stops, tilting her head before letting out a dry laugh, “oh them~ a necessary inconvenience, i say, power requires fuel, after all~” 

“you’re killing them to sustain yourself,” you say, voice trembling with disgust. 

“of course~” she replies back with a smirk, “isn’t that what survival is? you take, consume, and live.”

“what about the hero? the one who went missing her?” wooyoung asks, that’s right the missing hero was the whole reason you came to this damn island to begin with. 

soojin tapes her chin thoughtfully, “oh, right. him.” she grins, her sharp canine teeth glinting in the dim light. “got a little too nosy for his own good~ the townspeople didn’t like that much, so they dealt with him in their… own way. i could still smell his flesh burning whenever i close my eyes.” 

she spoke so casually it was like a slap in the face, especially to wooyoung whose fists clench at her words. his body trembling with just barely contained fury. soojin’s gaze flickers to wooyoung, smiling slyly, “you’re angry. i can feel it, go ahead, hero boy. give in to it.”

her words are like a spark, igniting his fire. with a growl, wooyoung lunges forward, his fist ablaze as he aims to strike her. 

“wooyoung, wait––

suddenly, soojin stops wooyoung’s fist as if it wasn’t on fire and in turn burning her own hand. both you and wooyoung are in shock, but don't have time to think about it as she grabs wooyoung and flings him across the room like he weighed nothing. wooyoung lands beside you, dusting himself off as he stands. 

her eyes locked onto the two of you, a sharp, predatory smile gleams with a mixture of amusement and malice. “did you think you’d come here and leave unscathed? let me show you why the villagers worship me.”

the air in the chamber thickens, charged with an almost suffocating, oppressive energy. she raises her hands, her claw-like fingers curling unnaturally. her eyes glow – the cloudy white color sends a chill down your spine as you watch the glow slowly begin to burn. black veins crawl across her skin, her body pulsating even more with power. 

the sound of cracking bones echoes through the chamber as her spine arches unnaturally, her body twisting and elongating. a sickening rip accompanies her shoulders expanding outward, massive, jagged wings covered in scales sprout from her shoulder blades. the scales are so light that they seem to absorb what little light there is in the cavern. 

she continues to transform, skin splitting open and instead of revealing flesh, reveals armored scales beneath. horns spiral from her temples, curling upward and her face takes on more dragon-like features. 

the transformation reminds you of when seonghwa turns into his wendigo-form. terrifying and something out of nightmares. 

suddenly, her neck splits with a grotesque tearing sound, forming a second head, then a third. it continued and continued until she was a massive dragon, towering over you and wooyoung with seven vicious heads snapping with power and looking down at you both. her tails lashes violently against the walls of the cavern, shattering several jagged rocks with ease. her wings unfurl and span the width of the cavern, their movements creating powerful gusts of wind.

soojin lets out a roar, her voice amplified as all seven heads speak at once, “kneel before your god!”

the two of you stand frozen for a moment, the monstrous sight before you far worse than what you originally thought. the cavern shakes once more due to her presence alone. debris crashing to the ground as her claws dig into the stone. 

“we’re so screwed,” wooyoung mutters breathlessly and under his breath. 

soojin lashes out with her multiple heads, each one targeting a different area. you and wooyoung are just barely dodging the attacks that come at you one right after the other. 

“wooyoung, we need to take out the heads one by one!” you shout, summoning your sword and easily having one manifest next to wooyoung who tears it out of the ground. 

“great idea,” he says sarcastically, and you stop the roll of your eyes, “which one first, genius?”

before you can respond, one of the heads fire a blinding beam, forcing you to cover your eyes. another head follows with a powerful gust, slamming the both of you into the cavern wall. 

you struggle to your feet, “damnit, we don’t have time for this. why did it have to be seven!? hey, follow my lead.”

you raise your hand, energy flaring as roots and vines erupt from the ground and snake around one of the heads that spits purple smoke. at the same time, wooyoung hurls a torrent of fire at the head that breathes ice, easily melting and stopping its attack. 

“wooyoung! your fire!” you shout through gritted teeth. 

wooyoung nods before channeling a massive flame and you manipulate the roots, turning them into blazing whips that lash at the poison head, severing it with a deafening roar. black blood spills onto the ground, sizzling against the stone. 

“you’ll pay for that!” soojin roars. one head surges forward, lightning and electricity sparking from its mouth which hits wooyoung square in the chest. he collapses to the ground, clutching his chest as smoke rises off his body. 

“wooyoung!” you shout, panic overtaking you and you rush over to him, deflecting another bolt with your sword. 

“i’m fine. i’m fine, just… keep going,” he says grimacing as he attempts to stand. 

another head lunges for them, but you raise your hand, bending the shadows that roll off that head to instead hold it back. 

that’s when you notice the head you severed regenerates. a new head sprouting from the stump and you watch in disbelief as it shakes around, knocking into the two on either side of the regrown head. the other two heads hiss at the newly grown one before turning their attention back to you and wooyoung. 

“are you fucking kidding me?” you pant out. 

“looks like our job just got a little harder,” wooyoung says from next to you. the two of you continue to press on, targeting the heads. wooyoung using his fire and ice powers in rapid succession while you counter and slash at the elemental attacks. 

the chamber is in complete chaos as the battle rages on. the rocky debris rains down, the air thick with smoke and the stench of sulfur that comes from soojin’s fiery breath. you and wooyoung are beginning to feel the effects of the battle weighing down on you both. your uniforms are torn and blood seeping from your wounds leaves the both of you panting and even struggling to stay on your feet.

soojin looms above you, her seven heads rearing back in unison. each head pulses with its own power. her laughter, layered and distorted, echoes through the cavern. 

“is this all the hero association has to offer? you’re weak, pitiful. just like the ones who came before you,” she mocks, voice filled with venom. you grip your sword tightly, knuckles white and your body trembles, not from fear but from exhaustion. you feel your energy pulse through you as you begin to channel what energy you have left. 

“we need to hit her together… y/n?” wooyoung begins to say weakly before glancing over to you. 

but you don’t respond, gaze locked on soojin. your eyes narrowing with unrelenting focus. the air around the cavern begins to shift, distorting like heatwaves. suddenly, the ground beneath you all cracks as a pulse of energy surges outward. your sword begins to flow, vines and roots snaking up from everywhere and even around your blade – as if coming to life. you start to feel weightless, hair lifting slightly like it was caught in an unseen breeze. your eyes glowing faintly with an otherworldly light. 

“what… is this?” soojin snarls, noticing the shift in energy. 

you lift your sword and the cavern seems to respond. jagged stones on the floor rumble, cracks spider webbing outwards. roots erupt from the ground weaving together in haunting patterns, twisting and coiling like serpents, growing rapidly and snurging towards soojin’s monstrous form. 

wooyoung can only watch you as the realization hits him slowly, “she’s… bending reality.”  

soojin’s heads lash out, each one attacking with its unique element. lightning strikes towards you, but a wall of twisting roots rises and absorbs the impact. fire rains down, but vines erupt from the ground and smother the flames. one of the heads lunges for you, only to be impaled by a massive jagged root that bursts upward like a spear. 

you take deliberate steps forward, glowing eyes fixed on soojin. the dragon thrashing against the relentless assault of roots and vines, but they continue to grow, binding her limbs and even snapping her heads back. immobilizing them and her body all together. 

“no more,” you speak, voice otherworldly and with a sudden roar, you thrust your sword into the ground. the entire cavern trembles violently as an enormous tree begins to grow. its trunk spirals upward, thick branches erupting outward and becoming one with soojin’s massive body, legs and wings included. 

the tree branches impale several of soojin’s heads, red energy surging through your body. the demon screams, her monstrous form convulsing, but the roots tighten their grip and drags her body down. 

“what are you–– no! this can’t––

with one final surge of energy, you raise your sword high before slashing downward in one fluid motion. a massive surge of energy courses through the tree and the roots, and ends with a blinding burst of light. 

when the light fades, soojin’s massive dragon form is no longer a threat. in her place is a massive wooden statue, the shape of a seven-headed dragon captured in a grotesque, writhing pose. the statute shines with an unnatural yet intricate patterns – as if the tree itself had absorbed soojin’s essence. 

you collapse to your knees, body trembling from the sheer full force use of power that you haven’t done in a while. the glow in your eyes fades, leaving you looking drained. 

as your vision begins to blur, you feel strong arms catch you before you can fully hit the ground. “y/n… hey, stay with me,” wooyoung says softly. 

you try to speak, but your body refuses to respond. all you can hear is wooyoung’s voice, filled with an uncharacteristic concern as he holds you closely. 

“you scared the hell out of me, you know that?” he whispers, voice shaking slightly. you can only manage out a faint hum as your consciousness fades, but not before you feel the faint warmth of wooyoung’s hand brushing against your face. you hear his voice before you officially pass out, “i’ve got you. good job.”

██████ – inn – morning 

the room was dimly lit, the soft glow of the morning light shining in through the curtains. you stir, body feeling heavy, every muscle aching as if you had been thrown against a wall repeatedly. which wasn’t far from the truth honestly. your eyelids fluttered open, and for a moment you wondered where you were. 

as the haze cleared, the events from the mountain and jeju island flooded back. soojin. dragon god. the battle. and wooyoung…

you attempt to sit up, a sharp pain shooting through your body – your ribs – and you let out a quiet groan. your hand brushes against the coarse sheets of the unfamiliar bed as you glance around. the room was small and sparse with a singular chair pushed against the wall and a small table covered in what looked like rather hastily gathered medical supplies. 

the door creaked open, and wooyoung stepped inside, his presence filling the room in an instant. he froze when he saw you awake, eyes widening slightly before his lips curled into a familiar smirk. 

“well, look who finally decided to stop being a lazy ass,” he says, voice light in a teasing tone. 

“you try fighting… a seven-headed dragon and see how you feel after,” you says hoarse, voice still showing your exhaustion. 

wooyoung’s smirk softened as he shut the door behind him, “fair enough. you’ve been out for three days, had me thinking your were just starting to milk it at this point.”

“yeah, because i love waking up feeling like i got hit by a truck,” you say dryly. wooyoung chuckled, stepping closer and there was something in his expression, though – something softer than usual. he set a glass of water on the table next to your bed, movements slower and more deliberate than what they usually are. 

“where are we?” 

“mainland, some small town with a port. the jeju townspeople weren’t exactly thrilled to see us coming back from the mountain.”

“why not?” you ask frowning. 

wooyoung hesitated, his jaw tightening, “your… power caused a bit of a scene. let’s just say they thought we pissed off their dragon god.”

“of course they do,” you say with a groan, rubbing your hands over your face.

wooyoung chuckled again, voice low and rough, and the sound sent a ripple of something through you. he sat down on the edge of the bed, his weight causing a dip in the mattress. his closeness made the air feel heavier. 

for a moment, neither of you spoke. wooyoung was close enough that you could see a faint bruise on his neck and dried blood on his knuckles. you swallowed hard, the memory of you both fighting together flashing through your mind. 

“can we…” he pauses, voice soft, “talk now?”

“yeah, i guess we should,” you sigh, shifting slightly to face him. 

wooyoung’s gaze dropped to his hands, his fingers fidgeting as if suddenly nervous to speak, “back at the inn… when i kissed you…” he trails off.

you raise an eyebrow at him, lips twitching into a faint smirk despite the bubbling tension that is slowly beginning to resurface. “what, you think it was a ghost or something that made you kiss me?”

wooyoung’s head shot up, startled and for a second you saw the faintest hint of vulnerability in his eyes. then, he laughed – a short breath sound as he shook his head. 

“i’m serious, y/n,” yet there’s a grin on his face. 

“so am i, people do things in the moment. maybe it wasn’t that deep.”

his brows furrowed as he looked at you, voice dropping to an almost whisper, “it felt deeper. like… like something i couldn’t control.” 

you felt your chest tightened, the weight of his words sinking in. you studied him, your teasing energy completely gone now. 

“why are you telling me this? i thought you hated me?” you ask quietly.

wooyoung’s eyes meet yours, the intensity in them making your stomach flip, “because i can’t stop thinking about it. about you, you really do drive me crazy.”

the air between you both thickened, the tension that had been building up between the two of you now fully at the surface. wooyoung leaned in slightly, his hand brushing against yours where it rested on the bed. the touch sent a jolt through you, but you didn’t pull away. 

“wooyoung…” you say breathlessly.

“tell me to stop, and i will,” he says softly, but you don’t. instead, you close the distance between the two of you, lips crashing into his in a way that stole your breath away. wooyoung responded instantly, his hands cupping the back of your head as he pulled you closer. the kiss felt intense as a series of emotions spilled out from the both of you at once. 

wooyoung’s free hand slides down to your waist, his fingers gripping you as if you would disappear at any moment. your hands fisted his shirt, pulling him closer, basically needing him closer.

when you finally broke apart, gasping for air, wooyoung rested his forehead against your. breathes mingling in the, for the first time, comfortable silence. 

“so… about that food you promised me?” you asked breathless, faint smirk painting your lips. 

wooyoung let out a soft laugh, as you separate a little bit, “later. definitely later.” 

“at least the jeju people are safe now,” you say, leaning back against the headboard, looking at wooyoung. you notice how the hero has a sudden grime look on his face. “wooyoung… what’s wrong?” 

he doesn’t say anything for a moment and it has to be the longest moment of silence as you wait for him to speak up. a hand runs through his hair as he lets out a stuttered sigh, “about that…”

“wooyoung?” 

“the hero association sent out an order two days ago,” he begins to explain, standing up from the edge of the bed. “i think… it's better for you to come see it for yourself.” he says, holding a hand out for you to take. 

you look between his hand and his eyes, which avoid yours like the plague, and back down to his hand before taking it. 

██████ – dock – morning 

“what the fuck,” you say, voice trembling as you look out at the sea before you. wooyoung stands next to you also looking straight ahead. “wh– what, what did the association do?”

in the distance where jeju island use to be instead housed a large crater in the center of the sea. jeju island was completely gone, no trace of the island left. 

“they made the order to wipe the island out,” he says grimly, “in order to… stop any of the evil from the island to escape. they said the whole island was a liability and we couldn’t take the chance.”

“and you just let them do it!” you turn, rage boiling over as you look at wooyoung with a heated glare. “we stopped the evil that was on the island! those townspeople weren’t the evil, wooyoung! that fucking demon was!” 

the ground beneath the both of you and the dock shook with your anger. the people on the dock screamed and ran for safety away from the water. wooyoung looked to see a large wall of water building up in the distance, panic set in as he looked back at you. 

“y/n! stop it, i understand you’re upset but please!” he says, grabbing your hand, eyes shaking in fear at the large wave coming towards the dock. it would surely wipe the dock – if not the town – out in one swoop. 

suddenly, a pain shoots through wooyoung’s head, “not… now,” he hisses out as his vision is clouded with static. wooyoung then falls to his knees, his nails digging into your hand as images of a faceless figure – covered in blood, stood in front of him. 

“...young! woo… wooyoung! wooyoung, hey, are you alright?” your voice breaks through the static as it begins to fade away. wooyoung lets out a sharp gasp, eyes wide as he meets your concerned ones. in a panic he looks around the two of you to see…

everything is calm around you both. no one running and screaming and no large wall of water rushing towards the docks. he must have imagined it, he thinks as he looks to meet your eyes. 

“you okay? scared me there for a second,” you say standing up, wooyoung didn’t even realize he was still clutching onto your hand as tightly as he was. 

“sorry,” he says, shaking his head. he tries to stand but notices you holding your hand out for him. wooyoung hesitates for a moment before taking it and letting you help him up. “we should head back, an agent should be meeting us here soon.” 

“okay,” you say, softly, following next to wooyoung. the hero looks behind him one last time, the large water crater being a haunting reminder of your mission together.

ACT V: SUNRISE COUNTDOWN

██████ compound – outside area – night 

the forest around you was eerily still, the crunch of boots on gravel and the occasional crackle of the a comm unit the only sounds breaking said silence. you and the other seven members of ateez had fanned out, moving carefully through the dense brush towards the perimeter of a hero compound that had become radio silent about a week or two ago. 

“i bet i can make it to the compound first,” you hear san’s voice through the comm, and you knew he had a smirk on his face. 

“in your dreams. i’m already halfway there,” wooyoung snickers. 

“focus,” jongho says, he tries but fails to hide his amusement. 

“enough,” hongjoong’s commanding tone comes through next, “we’re not here to play games. stay vigilant.” 

“relax, captain,” you say teasingly. “i’ll beat them all there and scope it out for you.” 

“y/n, don’t rush in alone—

your comm went silent as you crossed the final stretch to the compound’s perimeter. quirking an eyebrow, you stepped through the broken gate and into the seemingly abandoned facility. 

“victory is mine,” you say smugly over the comms. you hear the other’s voices crackled in protest, but then hongjoong’s voice cuts through. 

“y/n, be careful. something’s off,” he says sternly. you can’t help but roll your eyes, brushing his concerns aside. 

“relax, i’ve got this,” you say casually. you enter the compound, and can immediately feel the atmosphere shift. the air was thick, oppressive, and carried a faint metallic tang that sent a chill down your spine and churn to your stomach. you knew that smell a little too well. the hallways were bathed in a dull, pulsing red glow of the emergency lights. casting ominous shadows that moved and danced with every step you took. 

quietly, you spoke into your comms, feeling as if you weren’t alone, “something happened here.” your voice crackled through the comm, but before anyone could respond, the connection distorted and faded. 

“y/n��– what’s—- on?” san’s voice is faint, cutting in and out. 

“y/n, get — there. — for backup,” hongjoong’s voice is next, coming in just as distorted and urgent. 

their voices dissolved into static. alone in the red, dim corridors, you pressed on. the destruction became more evident with each step: walls scarred by scorch marks, debris littering the floor, and even deep gouges in the metal that you knew were the results from a violent fight. 

you’re starting to think the heroes at the compound didn’t make it out of this fight alive. 

when you finally reached the commons room, you couldn’t help but freeze, breath hitching. the sight before you was nothing short of a nightmare. 

a woman sat on the couch, her posture relaxed, a faint, chilling smile on her lips. you couldn’t deny how extremely beautiful she was. almost inhumanly so. what was around was not as beautiful though, the heroes who once inhabited the compound lay sprawled on the floor, their bodies mauled and lifeless. blood pool beneath them, limbs separated from their original bodies and scattered about. the metallic scent now suffocating at the source. 

“ah~ you must be y/n,” the woman asks smoothly. you feel your throat going dry, heart pounding in your ears. 

“who… who are you?” you asked. 

the woman rises gracefully, when she speaks, you can tell she is mocking you, “i’ve been dying to meet you. nicha yontararak. at your service.” 

that name… you feel a chill go down your spine. “you’re the leader of the villain alliance,” you say firmly, trying to mask your previous shock, “why are you here?” 

nicha stepped closer, her movements deliberate, almost predatory. “why~ to offer you a place among us, of course.”

“i thought you wanted me dead,” you say, sending a glare her way.

nicha laughed, the sound cold and detached, like she never learned how to properly laugh. “oh, i did. but then i realized… killing you would be such a waste. you’re powerful, y/n. more powerful than you even realize. more powerful than those weak heroes you have been forced to work for. let me help you unlock that potential. join me, i can turn you into a demon. imagine the strength you could wield.” 

you could only stare at her, mind racing before you decided to speak, “i’d rather die than become a demon.”

you watched the smile fade from her lips, expression hardening as she spoke. “what a shame.”

without warning, the air around them rippled with intense energy. nicha raised a hand, and a deafening explosion ripped through the compound. fire and debris consuming everything around you and for a moment it all felt like it was going in slow motion. 

until it suddenly wasn’t.

the rest of the team were closing in around the compound when the explosion shook the ground beneath them. shockwaves of energy and debris on fire flew around them, catching the trees around the compound on fire. 

“y/n!” san shouted, eyes wide as he felt his heart begin to pound in his chest. legs carrying him and the rest of the team faster towards the blown up compound. debris raining down as fire roared into the sky. 

yeosang was the first to reach the heart of the wreckage. his eyes scanning the devastation before landing on two grotesque figures amidst the rubble. 

“no…” he says horrified, “no! no! no!” he screams as he sees you lay motionless, body burned and disfigured from the explosion. yeosang felt bile build up in his throat as he slowly begins to register that you’re dead. 

beside you, nicha’s body was regenerating, the grotesque and gory process of bones reconstructing with muscle wrapping around it, and flesh and skin slowly knitting it together in an unnatural display of power. 

san appears next to yeosang, when he appeared yeosang wasn’t sure, but the hero could easily feel the rage rolling off of san in waves. 

“YOU’LL PAY FOR THIS!” he roars, charging towards nicha, blood particles wrapping around his fist, but before he could land a blow, the villain leader snapped her fingers. 

hanok doors appeared beneath their feet, the doors sliding open and engulf each of the members of team ateez into the infinity castle. 

“i’d like to see you try!” she said laughing. her laugh echoing throughout the area and even deeper into the infinity castle as it swallows the team whole and sucks them deeper and deeper into the endless dimension. 

infinity castle – all members

the team was descending through the endless void of the castle. their bodies suspended in an endless descent. around them, walls of the castle stretched and twisted, a labyrinth of shift platforms, endless staircases, and hanok doors that lead to both nowhere and anywhere at once. the air shimmers around them with an unnatural, oppressive energy that seemingly pressed against their chests and dulled their senses. 

from the holes in the walls, demons and villains alike peered out, their faces illuminated by the faint, mockingly warm glow from the castle. some of the demons had glowing eyes that followed the falling heroes and villains with predatory curiosity, while the villains whispered to one another, voices echoing eerily. 

“what is this place?” yeosang whispers to himself as he can’t even begin to take in everything around him. 

“nicha! face us!” san yells, his voice angry and bouncing off the labyrinth walls of the castle. eventually, being swallowed by the ever-shifting platforms. 

as yunho fell past a platform, his eyes meet with a familiar figure, breath suddenly caught in his throat. from one of the millions of platforms, yeonjun stood watching, his eyes burning. their gazes locked for a brief moment, enough for yeonjun’s lips to curve into a cruel smile before yunho could no longer see him. 

“yeonjun…” he whispers, remembering the name you told him and the file that the association had on yeonjun before he joined the villain alliance. before yunho could even dwell on it further, the falling abruptly ended. 

the team separated within the castle’s labyrinth as they landed on different platforms. the ground solid but unnervingly warm beneath their feet. some of the platforms floated in the air, connected by narrow bridges or staircases that seemed to shift and move on their own accord. no group could see or hear the others, the vast emptiness of the castle stretching endlessly. 

infinity castle – yeosang and jongho

the air was heavy and stagnant as yeosang and jongho stood back to back. the infinity castle’s unnatural energy sending a faint hum through the otherwise silent area. 

“what even is this place?” yeosang asks, looking around.

jongho didn’t answer immediately, his eyes scanning the area. they soon began walking cautiously across one of the only few usable bridges. yeosang pointed ahead of the two of them, jongho following the older’s finger and gaze. 

“look, a crow,” yeosang says quietly. the black crow perched on a railing ahead, beady eyes fixed on them. watching them. “how does a bird end up here?” 

“probably a spy. let’s be careful around it,” jongho says and yeosang nods, not fully able to take his eyes off the animal. 

the bird then let out a loud caw, flapping its wings before disappearing into a hole in the wall. the two of them continued forward until they reached a large platform. 

the sound of someone walking, their footsteps echoing around the area, has both heroes snapping their heads to the sound. that’s when they see a figure emerging from the shadows – a young man with silver hair and a lopsided smile. his unnatural, bright blue eyes clearly show off the fact that he is a twelve moon. his eyes reading 상위다섯 – upper five – and the fact sends a chill down both jongho and yeosang’s spines. 

the demon lets out a deep laugh, “well, well,” he says cheerfully, “look who’s wandered into my little corner! welcome to my domain!” the lighthearted tone of the silver demon caught the two of them off guard.  

“who are you?” yeosang asks, immediately on the guard. the demon was too relaxed, but then again him and jongho were technically the intruders. 

the demon lets out another laugh, running a hand through his hair to brush it out of his face, “felix, upper five, and i’ll be your entertainment for tonight.” 

infinity castle – yunho

yunho printed down a corridor, watching as it shifted and changed with every turn. the walls around him twisted and contorted with doors appearing and vanishing as he continued to run. his sword cutting through weaker demons with such ease that he didn’t even need to blink twice. yunho was so focused that he didn’t even hear the shrieks filling the air from the demons as they dissolved into nothing. the infinity castle swallowing them up.

his focus was so narrow it was a surprise that he could even still see what’s ahead of him. his fists clenching the hilt of his sword tightly. he remembers when the hero association delivered swords to everyone – at the time he didn’t think he would ever need to use it. demons weren’t something anyone saw, a myth. 

how wrong he turned out to be. 

“yeonjun…” he says quietly. the name sounds like a curse, but yunho is determined to find the demon.

as he rounded another corner, the corridor opened into a vast hall. he paused, chest heaving, knuckles white around the hilt of his sword. yunho could feel the presence of something stronger. something waiting for him deeper within the castle’s labyrinth.

infinity castle – seonghwa, san, and wooyoung

the three moved as a unit, their fighting instincts clearly taking over as they cut through and battled hordes of demons. wooyoung’s fire and ice burning through the weaker ones, while seonghwa’s brute strength and san’s precision strikes with his blood made for quick work with the rest. 

the platform they fought on was massive, platforms above platforms along with stairs and bridges stacked high above them and stretched into the void. from the shadows of one of the platforms, a figure watched them, unmoving. their multi-colored eyes watching them with almost peaked interest. 

“stronger than i expected…” they said, none of the three noticed the figure, focus locked on clearing the enemies around them.

infinity castle – hongjoong

hongjoong landed in a vast, open space, the air seemingly cracking with energy. the platform beneath him was circular… different from all the other platforms and structures he passed when he was original falling. he took cautious steps forward, his senses on high alert. 

he needed to find the others; hopefully, they were okay. at least as okay as anyone could be in the hellish place. 

a voice cut through the silence, smooth and almost familiar. 

“looking for someone?” 

hongjoong spun around, eyes narrowing as they landed on…

“no way… hyunjin? the– the hero association reported you as k.i.a almost a year ago?” hongjoong took in the sight of hyunjin before him, he was clearly no longer the high ranking hero, but instead a demon dressed in deep crimson robes. his unnatural yellow eyes burning with the words 상위하나 – upper one – sent an agonizing chill down his body, and his stomach twisted with the slow realization of what hyunjin has done. 

hyunjin smirked at hongjoong’s reaction, eyes glowing faintly as he spoke, “the hero association only makes reports for their own convenience. you out of everyone should know that.” 

the tension between the hero and former hero was thick as they sized each other up, the faint hum of the infinity castle’s energy glowing louder and louder. 

infinity castle – yeosang and jongho

the platform trembled beneath jongho and yeosang’s feet, the vast endlessness of the infinity castle stretched around them. felix stood a few feet away, his silver hair catching the faint orange glow that illuminated the castle. the demon’s demeanor was relaxed, almost amused, as he spun his blade in lazy circles.

“you two look tense. don’t worry,” he says with a sick grin, “i promise to make this fun.”

jongho steps forward, voice hard as he speaks, “we’re not here to play.”

“you’re not walking out of here, demon,” yeosang says just as firmly. 

felix chuckled, his posture unchanging, “big words for little heroes. let’s see if you can back them up.” 

without warning, felix thrust his hand forward, water surging from the ground in a massive wave, crashing towards jongho and yeosang. jongho braced himself, planting his feet as the water slammed into him. his indestructible body held firm, though the sheer force pushed him back slightly. 

“yeosang!” jongho yells through gritted teeth. 

yeosang raised his arms, eyes glowing as the ground beneath them cracked and split. skeletal soldiers clawed their way to the surface, jagged weapons gleaming against the lanterns of the castle. they surged forward, intercepting felix’s second wave of water. 

felix lets out a hearty laugh, “oh, that’s adorable. you brought friends!” felix twirled his blade, water surrounding him forming into sharp tentacles. with a flick of his wrist, the tentacles lashed out, slicing through the skeletons like paper. 

“he’s faster than i thought,” yeosang says with a frown, eyes watching the upper fifth rank demon closely. jongho charges forward, his fist glowing with raw energy as he aimed a punch at felix. the demon sidestepped effortlessly, his movements fluid as water. 

“nice try, but you’ll need more than brute strength to touch me,” he says with a grin. felix countered with a spinning kick, a blade of water slicing through the air and catching jongho across the chest. the force sent him stumbling back, blood seeping from the wound. 

“i’ve taken worse,” the younger hero says through gritted teeth. 

yeosang unleaded another wave of skeletal warriors, their bone weapons clashing with felix’s water tentacles. he darts around the chaos, focus sharp as he tries to find an opening. felix moved like a dancer, weaving through the attacks with a grace that bordered on supernatural. well… he was a demon after all. 

“is this really the best the heroes have to offer? no wonder you all are killed so easily,” felix says with a mixture of teasing and mocking tone. 

the taunt hit a nerve, making yeosang clench his fists, summon a massive skeletal knight that charged felix with a thunderous roar. felix narrows his eyes, smile fading for the first time. he spins his blade, a torrent of water swirling around him like a shield. the knight’s sword struck the barrier, shattering it but losing momentum because of the attack. felix lunged forward, driving his blade through the knight’s chest and having it crumble into ash. 

“you won’t take us down that easily!” yeosang says, voice trembling with determination as he raised his hands higher. the glow in his eyes intensifying. the ground erupted again and even more skeletal soldiers clawed their way up. they immediately charged at the demon in coordinated assaults, giving jongho the opening he needed for his own attack. 

jongho surged forward, ignoring the pain in his chest, and landed a solid punch to felix’s side. the demon’s body jerked from the impact, and he let out a grunt in surprise. 

“not bad,” he said breathlessly and with a smirk, “but not good enough.” felix retaliated with a surge of water that struck jongho square in the chest and sent him flying into one of the main moving walls. the crack of impact echoed in the empty space. 

“jongho!” yeosang called out with worry for his teammate. he then sprinted towards the younger hero, throwing up a barrier of skeletons to block felix’s next attack. he knelt beside jongho, who was bleeding heavily but still conscious.

“don’t… stop…” jongho says weakly. felix approached, his blade dripping with water. 

“how touching,” he said mockingly, “but you’re only delaying the inevitable.”

yeosang stood, his jaw clenched. “the only person delaying the inevitable is you,” he says before drawing on every ounce of power he had, his body trembling with strain. the skeletal soldiers around him grew larger, their weapons sharper. the air around them all seemed to darken as yeosang unleashed his full strength. 

jongho attempted to stand up, to help his teammate, but yeosang stopped him. “stay down. i’ll handle this.” 

he charged felix, a skeletal army following close behind. the demon’s expression shifted to one of focus as he met the attacks head-on. the platform trembled under the intensity of all the power and fighting. jongho, despite his injuries and what yeosang said, still pushed himself to his feet. 

“i’m not letting you do this alone.”

he joined the fray, fists glowing as he struck felix with everything he had. together, jongho and yeosang managed to push felix back, their combined strength surprising the demon 

“you’re persistent, you bastards… i’ll give you that.”

felix unleashed a devastating wave, catching both heroes off guard. jongho shielded yeosang, taking the brunt of the attack, the force left him barely standing. felix, seeing this, took advantage of their weakened states, driving his blade through yeosang’s side. blood sprayed the ground as yeosang let out gasp, collapsing to his knees. 

“jongho…” yeosang called out weakly. jongho let out a thunderous roar of his own, connecting his fist with felix’s jaw in a final, desperate attack. the impact cracked the demon’s neck, making felix stumble back, blood dripping from his mouth. in an effort to make sure he stayed dead, jongho took felix’s sword and made a clean cut through, serving the demon’s head from his body. 

felix’s head rolled along the ground, “not bad… heroes…” his body then dissolved into ash. 

jongho staggered over to yeosang, collapsing beside him. both of them were covered in blood, breaths shallow. 

“hyung… you did it,” jongho says softly, placing a trembling hand on yeosang’s shoulder. 

“we did it,” he replied back weakly. 

“rest now, hyung, you’ve done well,” his voice breaking in the process.

yeosang’s eyes fluttered closed, his breathing stopping. jongho let out a shuddering breath, tears running down his cheeks, his own body finally giving out as he slumped beside his teammate. the platform fell silent, the glow of the castle dimming around them. 

infinity castle – yunho

yunho moved through the ever shifting halls of the infinity castle. his boots pounded against the floor, each step echoing with determination. the castle seemed alive, walls writing and corridors twisting as if purposely trying to confuse him. weaker demons emerged from the hidden shadow filled nooks, their grotesque forms screeching and attacking him. 

they didn’t last long. 

with every swing of his sword, yunho craved through them effortlessly. his indestructible body easily ignoring their claws and teeth. blood splattered across the walls as he tore through all the creatures, his breath steady but his heart still pounding wilding in his chest.

his mind felt like a whirlwind of memories and emotions, each step driving him deeper into the castle – deeper into his own grief. 

memories of mingi – the two of them becoming heroes together and fighting together. he remembers first meeting mingi. it was back at vanguard college, right after–

right after you were arrested by the association. 

he regrets not living a better life with either mingi or you. the two of you deserved better. mingi deserved better parents that accepted his hero status and you… you deserved to have been treated better by everyone else. 

he was the top hero and yet he couldn’t protect either of you. he regrets it a lot, he felt like he hadn't even gotten over griefing mingi before you were killed by nicha. 

suddenly, yunho was ripped out of his thoughts as he stumbled into a large chamber. he took a deep breath in an attempt to steady himself, grief still clawing at his throat. not now. he barely noticed the faint sound of something – someone – landing behind him until they spoke. 

“lost in thought, golden hero?” 

yunho turned around, eyes narrowing as he faced yeonjun. the demon was lounging against a pillar, his lithe form cloaked in a faint red, dangerous glow. his smirk is sharp and predatory. 

“yeonjun,” yunho hisses his name out angrily. yeonjun pushes off the pillar, clapping his hands mockingly

“you made it further than i thought, you’re strong. i’ll give you that, but strength doesn’t bring back the dead, does it?” he says mockingly and even tops it off with a laugh. 

yunho’s fists clenched, his anger flaring around him, “you killed mingi,” he says coldly. the grip on his sword tightened the longer he looked at yeonjun. his crimson eyes that read 상위삼 seemingly mocking yunho’s very existence. 

yeonjun tilted his head, mimicking like he was in thought, “he put up a good fight – too bad he died so easily.”

that was the final straw for yunho. he charged, ground cracking beneath his feet. his blade collided with yeonjun’s outstretched arm. the impact sending a shockwave through the chamber. yeonjun grinned, his own strength pushing yunho back.

the two of them clashed, each strike reverberating through the infinity castle itself. yunho’s punches and slashes of his sword were fast and relentless, easily switching between the two attack types thanks to his high combat skills. his indestructible body also allowed him to take yeonjun’s brutal counters without faltering. 

yeonjun was like a blur as he moved, his demon-enhanced speed and skill making his a vicious opponent against yunho. the hero has honestly never gone up against someone who matched his strength. he watched at the demon dodged and weaved, landing precise hits that would have shattered bones if it was anyone else. 

“you’re good,” yeonjun teased, grin never fading, like he was enjoying the fight, “better than i expected, but you’re not unstoppable.”

yunho didn’t respond, his focus razor-sharp. he had to kill yeonjun. he had to avenge mingi. he landed a blow to yeonjun’s ribs, the crack audible. yeonjun barely even winced as he quickly countered it with a roundhouse kick, the force sending yunho skidding back a few feet. 

blood dripped from both of them as the fight dragged on, neither one refusing to give up. yeonjun smirked, bloody fangs being proudly shown off. 

“you’re burning out, aren’t you? heroes always do.”

yunho’s chest heaved, he could feel his energy flicker slightly. he gritted his teeth; however, forcing himself to stand tall. 

“you don’t get to win, not after what you’ve done,” yunho says through clenched teeth. 

yeonjun laughed, circling the hero like a predator. “and what are you going to do? die like your friend?”

the mention of mingi seemed to reignite yunho’s fury. he drove forward, his movements fueled by determination. he managed to catch yeonjun off guard, landing a devastating punch that sent the demon crashing into a wall. an outline of his body appearing in the wall, showing off the sheer strength yunho used in that punch. yeonjun pushed himself up, wiping the blood that seeped from his lips. 

“not bad,” he was still grinning, but more weakly now. 

yunho held his sword, blade shining against the lanterns of the castle. he lunged, aiming for yeonjun’s neck. the demon dodged, yunho’s blade and yeonjun’s fist clashing together. as the fight continued to rage on, yunho felt his strength slowly begin to leave him. his vision blurring a little, muscles screaming in protest. 

yeonjun clearly noticed, smirk widening, “looks like you’re out of time.” a crow’s caw echoed through the chamber, drawing yeonjun’s attention for a fraction of a second. 

it was all yunho needed. 

with a roar, he drove his sword down through yeonjun’s neck, the blade covered in blood that splattered across the floor as he severed the demon’s head from his body. 

yeonjun’s eyes widened in shock, blood running out of the corner of his lips. “impossible…” 

the demon’s body began to disintegrate, head and body fading into ash. yunho collapsed to his knees, sword clattering to the ground next to him. blood poured from his wounds, breathing shallow. he smiled faintly, vision growing dim. 

“i’ll… see you guys soon,” he says softly as he falls to the ground, eyes closing.

infinity castle – seonghwa, san, and wooyoung

the walls of the infinity castle pulsed and shifted once more, again and again, as seonghwa, san, and wooyoung pressed forward, their steps heavy with determination. san’s fists were clenched, using his blood powers to tear through any demon that got in their way. his way. 

“i’ll kill her. i’ll kill that bitch nicha for what she did,” he says through gritted teeth. 

seonghwa placed a comforting hand on san’s shoulder, his voice calm but laced with sorrow, “we’ll make her pay, but don’t let your anger consume you. y/n wouldn’t want that.”

san’s jaw tightens as he turned to seonghwa, his red-rimmed eyes filled with anguish. “i just… i can’t believe she’s gone. she was stronger than the both of us, of all of us,” he says, quietly. 

seonghwa’s expression softened as look at his lover, “she wouldn’t want us to give up,” he says softly, yet firmly at the same time. 

the three of them continued deeper into the castle until the air suddenly grew heavy, colder. a figure emerged from the shadows – a young man with surprisingly soft features and an unsettlingly carefree grin. his multi-colored eyes shined bright with 상위둘 – upper two – was written across his eyes. 

“oh,” he began to say amused, “i’ve been waiting for you three. not every day the upper ranks get so many visitors. i’m beomgyu, upper rank two~” 

san’s eyes narrowed as blood covered his fist, “get out of our way,” he spits angrily. 

the demon tilted his head, grin widening, “and miss out on the fun? not a chance.”

san didn’t wait for another word, lunging forward with a surge of crimson energy. his blood whip lashed out, aiming for the beomgyu’s throat, but he sidestepped effortlessly. 

“is that all you’ve got?” he said, laughing.

san, seonghwa, and wooyoung began to fight with coordinated attacks. san’s blood weapons slashed through the air, seonghwa shapeshifting his fist into clawed weapons and enhancing his speed and strength, while wooyoung unleashed blasts of fire and ice that alternated. 

beomgyu was a blur of motion, evading their strikes with almost playful ease. like he wasn’t taking this fight seriously at all. like the three were just entertainment for him. when wooyoung landed a fiery punch that scorched a large hole into beomgyu’s side, the demon laughed as his skin regenerated almost instantly. 

“you’ll have to try harder than that,” he teased. 

san sent a wave of blood spikes towards beomgyu. the demon’s hand transformed into a ice blade, slicing through the spikes as if they were paper. beomgyu retaliated, slashing at san’s arm with blinding speed. blood sprayed as san’s arm was severed at the elbow, coating the ground beneath him with blood. 

“san!” seonghwa yelled panicked. 

san staggered for a moment before using the blood pouring from his wound to form a massive spear. “i’m not done yet!” he hissed, fiercely. 

he then hurled the spear with all his strength, the attack forcing beomgyu to dodge. seonghwa and wooyoung seized the moment, striking at the same time in almost complete unison. seonghwa’s claws raked across beomgyu’s torso and wooyoung’s icy fist froze a portion of the demon’s chest. 

for a moment, it seemed like they had the upper hand. 

but beomgyu’s grin turned vicious as his body adapted and easily regenerated. his movements became even faster, his strikes more precise. icy tendrils erupted from his back, one of them impaling seonghwa through the shoulder. 

“damnit…” seonghwa grunted out. 

wooyoung then notice san swaying, his face pale. “san, you’re losing too much blood,” he says alarmed. 

san clenched his teeth, shaking his head, “i can’t… i can’t die here. not before nicha– 

wooyoung cuts him off, “rest. both of you.” wooyoung steps forward, his flames flaring brighter than they ever had. 

wooyoung launched himself at beomgyu, whole body ablaze as each punch a wrapped in a deadly combination of fire and ice that seemed completely impossible to achieve. beomgyu grinned, dodging and taunting him. spurring wooyoung on with each attack. 

“you’re persistent, i’ll give you that~ but you’re really starting to bore me,” he says mockingly.

with blinding speed, beomgyu slashes through wooyoung’s defenses, his icy blade carving deep, deadly wounds into the hero. 

“this was fun~ but it looks like our time is over,” he says with a bored expression as he throws his ice blade against the floor, letting it shatter into a million ice shards that go flying around the area.

he turned, leaving the three behind as his laughter echoed against the halls.

the air was thick with the stench of blood. the once vivid flames of battle that engulfed the area was now reduced to faint embers. the fire being quickly and unexpectedly put out by an icy blade. seonghwa’s trembling hand reached for san, his body dragging across the blood-slicked floor. his vision was blurry, strength fading with every breath. 

“san…” he trailed off weakly, voice cracking as he calls out to his lover. 

san stirred, his remaining arm twitching as he forced himself to look at the seonghwa. blood dripped from his mouth, his face pale and somber. tears streaked through the grime and sweat on his cheeks as he looked towards the silver-haired villain – the ends of his hair dyed with blood. 

“hwa… i couldn’t… i couldn’t protect you… or y/n…” he chokes out, voice hoarse. 

seonghwa coughed violently, crimson staining his lips as he mustered the last of his strength to reach san’s hand. he intertwined their fingers, his touch weak but grounding to the both of them. 

“you did your best… you always do,” he says softly, a faint smile painting his lips. 

san shook his head, tears continuing to fall freely. “don’t say that,” he pleads, “don’t give up! we– we can still fight. i just… fuck– i need to get up. i need to… kill nicha. we can’t let her win!”

seonghwa’s thumb brushed over san’s knuckles, a slow and deliberate motion. “sannie… it’s okay. you don’t have to fight anymore,�� seonghwa says soothingly. 

san’s sobs wracked through his body as he leaned forward in order to rest his forehead against seonghwa’s. “hwa… do you think we’ll see her again? do you think… y/n will be waiting for us?”

seonghwa’s smile wavered, his voice just barely steady as he spoke softly, “i know she will. she’s probably scolding us already for taking so long.”

san let out a weak, tearful laugh that quickly changed into a choked sob. seonghwa coughed again, breaths shallow and uneven, but he still managed to lift his free hand to san’s face. caressing him softly as he wiped the tears away with his thumb, his own eyes beginning to close. 

“i’ll find you, both of you,” he whispers to san, “in the next life… we’ll be together again.”

san’s cries grew quieter as seonghwa’s hand fell limp, his head resting against san’s shoulder. 

“don’t leave me… please hwa…” he pleads with a whisper. his tears slowed as his breathing weakened. his head tilted back against the wall, eyes gazing into the shifting void of the infinity castle. 

“wait for me, hwa… y/n.. i’ll find you too,” his voice soft, yet fading. his final breath escaped in the a faint sigh, his body slumping beside seonghwa, their hands still clasped tightly together.

a short distance away, wooyoung laid sprawled on the cold, blood-covered floor. his chest rose and fell with labored breaths. blood pooling beneath him. the fiery determination that once burned in his eyes has dimmed. instead replaced by a deep, aching sorrow. 

through his hazy vision, a figure appeared above him, like an angel bath in an ethereal light. what is an angel doing in this hellscape? his heart clenched as he recognized her. 

“y/n…? is it really you?” he asks weakly, voice trembling. you smile was soft and warm, eyes filled with a kindness that felt… almost familiar and something he hasn’t seen in years. you knelt beside him, your hands gently cradling his face. 

“it’s me, woo,” you say softly. tears slid down wooyoung’s face, mixing with blood and grime. 

“i’m sorry… i couldn’t save them… couldn’t save you,” he says brokenly. 

you shake your head, thumbs brushing over his cheeks gently. wiping his tears away as you spoke, “you did everything you could. you were so brave, wooyoung. i’m so proud of you.” 

he let out a shaky breath, as static suddenly filled his vision. seeing images from a time he doesn’t remember. are these memories? no, they can’t be, yet… why do they involve him? involve you? 

unless…

“y/n…” he calls out softly, lips trembling into a faint smile as more tears run down his face. “i… i’m so sorry,” he wanted to reach up and touch you, but he knows you aren’t real. “i’ve… i’ve missed you.” 

you smiled down at him, leaning to press a featherlight kiss to his forehead, “i’ve missed you too, but it's time to rest now. you’ve done enough, woo.”

wooyoung’s tears continue to fall as he closed his eyes, your presence comforting, “i’ll see you soon,” he says before he body grew still, the tension melting away as peace finally claimed wooyoung.

the infinity castle seemed to hum with a strange, mournful silence. the three bodies lay motionless, their sacrifices imprinted onto the wood of the castle’s many, many platforms. somewhere in the ever-shifting corridors, a faint echo of laughter sounded, a grim reminder that their sacrifice and battle was just one of many that have happened. 

infinity castle – hongjoong

hongjoong’s chest heaved as he face hyunjin, the former hero cloaked in an eerie calm was the complete opposite of hongjoong. hyunjin stood a short distance away, blade gleaming even in the dim, shifting light of the infinity castle. 

“hyunjin… you were declared dead! what happened to you?” hongjoong asks, voice trembling with disbelief. 

hyung tilted his head, his face void of any emotion and his voice calm as he spoke, “i needed more. more power, more recognition. i was tired of being overshadowed by you and yunho.”

hongjoong’s brows furrow, anger bubbling under his shock. “so you threw everything away!? betrayed the association – the people who trusted you?”

hyunjin looked at hongjoong, expression remaining neutral. “the association doesn’t trust any of us. lady nicha showed me the truth, offered me power beyond anything i could achieve as a hero.”

the confession struck hongjoong like a physical blow, his heart clenching at the words. hyunjin… so easily becoming a demon, giving up his humanity… it went against everything hongjoong thought heroes stood for. only villains were able to become demons – not heroes! 

he looked at the demon with clenched fist, “you’re nothing but a coward. power without purpose is meaningless.” 

hyunjin’s grip on his sword tightened, “i think you’ll change your mind when you’re lying at my feet,” he says menacingly. 

hyunjin striked first, his blade slicing through the air with unnatural speed, propelled by gusts of razor-sharp wind. hongjoong just barely had any time to react, diving into the shadow – body disappearing in the darkness as hyunjin’s attack shattered the floor where hongjoong once stood. 

hongjoong re-emerged behind him, shadows born from the light of the castle lantern’s lashed out like whips, aiming to bind hyunjin in place. the demon however was faster, blade transforming in a scythe as he slashed through the shadows with ease. 

“so you can reshape your weapon now…” hongjoong said, voice grime. 

hyunjin smirked, twirling the scythe in a graceful turn before it retracted back into a sleek katana. “ impressive, isn’t it? becoming a demon has greatly enhanced my powers to lengths you wouldn’t believe.” 

the battle soon continued on, sound of clashing steel and shadows echoing through the castle’s endless corridors. hongjoong conjured a sword entirely forged from shadows, blade sleek and black which glinted against the orange glow of the castle. he charged, movements swift and deliberate, striking at hyunjin with calculated precision. 

hyunjin parried the strikes with ease, his blade cutting through hongjoong’s defenses like he was cutting paper. a particularly vicious slash caught hongjoong’s side, drawing blood that quickly soaked his uniform. hongjoong gritted his teeth, refusing to show weakness in front of hyunjin who seemed to thrive off of wanting to see him fall. 

the fight only grew more brutal, the hero and ex-hero exchanging blow after blow. at one point, hyunjin’s sword shifted into a massive broadsword, its force cleaving through hongjoong’s shadow blade with ease. the momentum carried through the giant sword cleaning slicing through hongjoong’s arm. 

a scream tore from hongjoong’s throat as he stumbled back, clutching the bloody stump continuing to drip with blood – where his arm had been. 

“still standing? impressive, but it’s time you stay down,” hyunjin says. the hero’s vision blurred from the pain, but he forced it away as he made himself stand upright. 

“i can’t… i won’t. i have people to protect – my team, my family,” he says through gritted teeth, “you wouldn’t understand.”

for the first time, hyunjin hesitated, a flicked of an emotion crossing his face. “family? that’s why you’re still fight?”

hongjoong nodded, breathed labored, “that’s why i’ll never stop.” 

hyunjin’s expression only hardened as he adjusted his grip on his sword, “just as i thought… so weak fighting for others. let us end this.” 

the two charged at each other, their weapons raised. shadows and wind collided in a flurry of darkness and light – a juxtaposition of good and evil competing with each other. the sheer force of their clashes sends shockwaves through the castle. 

hyunjin’s blade found its mark, piercing through hongjoong’s chest in a devastating blow. the hero’s shadow blade clattered to the ground, dissolving back in the shadows below them. hongjoong staggered, blood pouring from the fatal wound. hyunjin withdrew his blade, taking a step back. 

“it was an honor to fight you, hongjoong.” 

without another word, he disappeared into the depths of the infinity castle, his figure swallowed by the ever-shifting doors and shadows that surrounded them. 

hongjoong collapsed onto his back, weight of his injuries finally overwhelming him. he stared up at the shifting ceiling, hanok doors coming and going in ways he could comprehend in the moment. his chest rising and falling with deep, ragged breaths. 

a soft caw drew his attention. hongjoong turned his head slightly to see a crow perched beside him, its beady eyes fixed on his bloodied form. 

“so… are you my guide to the afterlife?” he asked it weakly, a faint smile painting his bloody mouth. 

the crow cawed again, tilting its head as if answering the hero. hongjoong chuckled weakly, a single tear sliding down his cheek. “i did my best… i hope the others are okay.” he says quietly to himself, as if trying to comfort him. the others are strong, they will make it out of the battles alive. he knows he can leave it in their hands. 

he turned back to the ceiling, his breathing beginning to slow. “do well… everyone.” his eyes fluttered closed, body going still, the faintest trace of a smile on his lips. the crow cawed one last time before spreading its wings and disappearing into the endless corridors of the infinity castle, leaving hongjoong to rest. 

infinity castle – the inner chamber 

the dark corridors of the infinity castle twisted endlessly as a crow flew through them, its wings cutting through the deadly silence. it passed shattered platforms, blood-soaked remnants of battles, and the unnatural shadows clinging in every corner. at last, it finally reached the most secluded part of the castle – whether on purpose or accident that remains unknown. 

lady nicha’s chamber was vast a illuminated by the same lanterns that light the rest of the dimension. in the center, nicha sits in a chair – a surprisingly simple chair considering her powerful status – her legs crossed in a relaxed pose. a low chuckle escaped her lips as she watched the final moments of hongjoong’s battle with hyunjin. 

“so~ the heroes have all fallen… how delightful. with him gone, the hero association is crumbling. soon, the world will bow before me, its last hope finally extinguished.” she glanced to her left, where karina sat on a low cushion, plucking delicate, mournful notes on his bipa. “karina, summon the remaining upper ranks. a new era is about to happen.”

karina nodded, her fingers trailing over the strings of her instruments – plucking a certain note that immediately had to two upper moons arriving: hyunjin and beomgyu. the two appeared in the chamber, expressions neutral as the awaited nicha’s orders.

nicha couldn’t help the wicked smile that graced her lips, “you’ve done well to survive this far, my moons. with the last of the great heroes gone, nothing stands in our–

her words are cut off as an unsettling silence fills the room. nicha turned to look behind her, karina sitting motionless, her bipa laying untouched in her lap. 

“karina, why have you stopped playing?” nicha asks, a frown now settling upon her lips. 

instead of saying anything, karina slowly rose, turning towards nicha to reveal that it wasn’t the female demon sitting on the cushion. the figure looked that nicha with a calm, confident expression. no, instead dressed in a flowing hanbok identical to the demon’s was you, your presence commanding and cold.

for the first time nicha was caught off guard, shocked to see you standing before her and her upper moons, “you… how are you alive!? i killed you– i saw you die!” 

you took a step forward, expression unchanging. “did you kill me? or did you just believe what i wanted you to?” you asked her quietly, voice hiding a hidden edge to it. 

nicha’s eyes widened in realization, breaking slowly becoming uneven, “you… you bent reality… our memories.” 

“smart girl,” you say cooly, “it wasn’t hard really. you wanted so badly to believe you’d won that you didn’t notice the cracks in your own memory.” 

nicha stumbled back as you drew closer to her, clutching her chest in both realization and disbelief, “this is amazing! what is the true extent of your power? not even the hero association could comprehend it! you truly are––

before she could finish, you moved with blinding speed, hand plunging into nicha’s chest. blood sprayed along your face and clothes as you ripped the demon’s heart out. your expression remains unchanged yet deadly. nicha collapses to her knees, her hands trembling as she pressed them to the gaping wound in her chest. panic begins to settle in when she notices how she’s not regenerating like she’s supposed to. 

“w–what ha–have you done t–to me?” 

you studied the still-beating heart your hand, tilting your head slightly. “oh, nothing much. just taking back the power i gave you. you didn’t think someone like you would’ve been created by the hero association and allowed to live past an hour, did you?” you say casually, bending down to look at nicha in her eyes. 

her eyes widened, face pale. “c–created by the he–hero association?” 

“did you think anyone’s powers came naturally? that your powers came naturally? the association has always created its superhumans. none of us were ever ‘born special’ like how they advertised.” nicha gasped, blood pooling beneath her. “and you? you were just my little pupper, a figurehead to distract the world. a convenient excuse for the association to let me out of prison. i had thought – well, if they can create superhumans… why can’t i, so i did. amazing isn’t it.” 

the reality of your words hit nicha like a physical blow, and with one final shuddering breath, she collapses to the floor, lifeless. you looked down at her lifeless body, expression devoid of sympathy. more of disappoint – surely as the strongest demon she would have put up more of fight. guess not. you stood up and with a flick of your wrist, tossed the demon’s heart aside, blood splattering against the chamber floor. you turned to the remaining upper moons, beomgyu and hyunjin, who remained frozen in place at your display of power and knowledge. 

as the silence stretched, they eventually dropped to one knee, bowing their heads in submission. “...master,” hyunjin says, both unsure and sure of calling someone other than nicha that title. but… weren’t you lady nicha if you had created her? 

your lips curved into a faint smile as a crow fluttered into the room, landing next to the demon’s heart. the bird picked at it a few times before flying up and landing gracefully on your shoulder. you reached up to stroke its feathers, “i guess you done well too,” you say to the small creature.

the crow cawed softly, head tilting as if acknowledging your praise. you turned to face the vast, pulsating walls of the infinity castle, smiling coldly. “the hero association needs to be destroyed and now… nothing stands in my way.” 

you couldn’t help the laugh that bubbled from your chest, laughter that echoes through the chamber. the crown spread its wings and took off, disappearing back into the endless maze. the two upper moons rose, standing at attention behind you as you began to walk towards the castle’s exit. your hanbok trailing behind you like a shadow.

END.

[radiance1]

I've been thinking about it for a good bit and, well. I've realized that because of my status as the originater of said idea I, in fact, can make an alternative route to said idea.

Alright, so we know that Danny can turn into an eastern dragon, and that prince Aragon, who can turn into a western dragon, wants to marry him because of that and also political power and status.

So, what if Danny lost that battle? The battle that nailed it in the coffin that he had to run away from the life he was currently living because Aragon somehow managed to get on a level of strength where he could beat Danny and marry him?

Danny quite literally had to be dragged kicking and screaming when the day he had to marry Aragon came. He didn't care who it was, he clawed, bite, hit and wailed at every ghost who came to escort him, so much so that the Observants called Aragon to put him back into submission.

Sure, before this Danny didn't have a great opinion of them, nor a terrible one. But after this, whatever opinion he had of them took a nosedive through the earth so hard it appeared in the depths of outerspace.

Not physically but still, you get the point.

Prince Aragon basically acted like he was the Ghost Prince and Danny was his consort. Even though it was the other way around. He used his newfound political power to take back over the kingdom his sister stole from him.

(They did have to form new crowns, though. Since the Crown of Fire and the Ring of Rage wasn't even royal property but stuff Priah Dark just, well, had and nobody wants to wake him up again either.)

Aragon was a cruel, arrogant and ill-tempered man, he wasn't great to his sister and he wasn't great to Danny either. If Danny disagreed with him, he would just force him to agree though physical might.

Danny could not care less about that man, and if he could he would kill him. But since you can't kill ghosts he just had to deal with it. Aragon refused to let him leave the zone, a decision that Danny didn't agree with and with all the things Danny didn't agree with when it came to Aragon, it came to a fight.

Which Aragon wins.

(Danny hated that man with a passion, he put a goddamn collar on him. One that prevented him from speaking, prevented him from wailing.)

So Danny had to stay in the Ghost Zone, in Aragon's Kingdom. Unable to see his family and friends, unable to go to school, unable to live a normal life.

The only ally he felt he had was Dorathea, who was basically stuck in the same position he was. They grew a great deal closer, stuck under Aragon, since they were family now at least it was with someone Danny could say with certainty he liked.

His family and friends tried to get him out of this, they failed, Aragon was much too powerful for them to fight, even if he was with them, he lacked the one thing that proved a massive threat to Aragon. He didn't want them to die, so he quite literally pleaded and begged for Aragon to spare them.

Aragon did.

He liked seeing one of the catalysts that put into motion his fall from grace begging beneath him. Pleading with him to spare mere humans, it was all the sweeter and amusing to watch him do so when not a sound could leave his lips.

Danny just holed himself up in his room, it was a lavish room, really. With a giant bed, fluffy pillows and sheets, and decorations made of probably expensive stuff. Danny couldn't really find it in himself to actually care about whatever was in his room, he just slept, ate occasionally, limited the only person to enter his room being Dorathea (Not that Aragon cared, if he wanted something he would just force his way in, really.), and unwillingly attend whatever ball or party Aragon would throw, be sad about how Dorathea was sent prevented from seeing him.

That was how it would be for no doubt eternity. The husband of a certified asshole who didn't care for him and saw him as an accessory at best.

He cursed the Observants, who condemned him to this fate.

Until one day, like any other, were Danny laid around. He got summoned, how? He didn't know. No one was even supposed to know he existed since he never did anything to put himself out there or any options to summon him.

He was in human form when he appeared on the other side. He wasn't in the ghost zone anymore, he knew, yet it still seemed like a fantasy. He didn't who summoned, why or how they managed to do so, he was just happy.

Another group busted through the doors and into the room, fighting against the people who summoned him. It was a quick fit, the summoners folding easily under the assault of the other group.

Want to know what the funniest thing was?

The people who summoned him, did so on accident trying to summon Pariah dark.

It was, so funny to him that he just. Broke down laughing. Sure, it sounded more like pained wheezing perhaps, but he couldn't help but laugh at the absurdity of the situation he found himself in, he laughed and held onto his stomach, curled into a ball, even.

Because hey, some guy who smokes in a brown coat just told him that he was summoned on accident!

And then promptly started crying.

[bixclowart]

💛Bulma Dragon Ball Fanart

In Latinoamerica I think Dragon Ball defined the childhood of most people my age! And my favorite part of Dragon ball (Although it has so many moments) Is the beginning, you know the sense of adventure!! I liked Bulma a lot in the beginning. She was the catalyst of everything after all! And she was so independent and shameless 💛💛

[seraphicyamchalover77]

Desert Dust & Dragon Ball Dreams: A Deep-Dive Of My New Headcanon;

---

*“Headcanons are where fandom and imagination collide in a glorious explosion of ‘what if?’ and ‘why not?’”—Me, probably.

---

✨ Intro: The Seed of a Headcanon

From the moment I saw Yamcha stalking travelers in the blazing sands of the Diablo Desert, I felt something click. That shade of brown on his skin in *Path to Power* wasn’t just a sun-kissed tan to my younger self—it signaled an origin story begging to be told. Over years of re-watching, sketching, and daydreaming, I wove together a personal narrative: Yamcha as a bridge between two rich heritages—half Chinese, half Navajo.

This isn’t an activist manifesto, nor a declaration of *official* Dragon Ball lore. Instead, it’s my playful framework, marrying childhood nostalgia with cultural textures that resonate deeply with me.

---

🌄 Chapter One: Roots in the Middle Kingdom

* **Name & Nuance**: “Yamcha” literally means “drink tea” in Cantonese—a nod to Chinese culinary tradition. In a universe peppered with puns (Capsule Corp’s Bulma = “bloomers,” Master Roshi’s “turtle hermit” vibe), this feels *deliberate*, almost an invitation to see Yamcha as part of the East Asian mosaic.

* **Martial Arts & Mythos**: His Wolf Fang Fist, martial discipline, and wandering ronin-esque trajectory echo wuxia archetypes: lone warriors treading shifting sands, balancing honor and survival.

* **Philosophical Threads**: Beneath the bravado, I imagine him steeped in Daoist ideas—embracing yin and yang, seeking harmony in chaos. His early posture of “take what I need and vanish” mirrors the hermit sage drifting between worlds.

---

🦂 Chapter Two: Desert Winds & Diné Dreams

* **Visual Catalyst**: That scene in *Path to Power*, with Yamcha’s deep russet complexion under the midday sun, sparked my “not just a tan” theory. To me, his hue wasn’t transient—it was ancestral.

* **Why Navajo?**

* **Landscape Parallels**: The Diablo Desert’s ochre dunes & spiky cacti felt uncannily like Monument Valley vistas.

* **Wolf Symbolism**: The Diné’s bond with wolves as clan guardians resonates perfectly with Yamcha’s signature technique.

* **Survival Skills**: His desert-hardened resourcefulness—the ability to find water, set traps, read the wind—mirrors traditional Navajo teachings about living in harmony with a harsh environment.

* **Spiritual Undercurrents**: I picture him whispering traditional chants under the moon, seeking guidance from ancestral spirits, balancing his chi with the rhythms of the land.

---

🤝 Chapter Three: Collision of Cultures & Identity Crises

Being biracial in Yamcha’s world would add layers of tension and yearning:

1. **Dual Allegiances**: Torn between the stoic discipline of Chinese martial lineage and the ceremonial wisdom of Navajo elders.

2. **Outsider Syndrome**: Neither fully embraced by the desert clans nor by urban martial academies, he becomes the eternal drifter—trusted by few, admired by fewer.

3. **Fear of Connection**: His infamous stage‐fright around women? A manifestation of cultural dissonance: unspoken etiquette from two worlds, colliding and silencing him.

---

🔍 Chapter Four: Plot Holes & Self-Roast

* **No “Real” Earth**: We’re on *Dragon Ball* Earth—no USA or China flags here. So my headcanon exists in a delightful vacuum.

* **Maybe It’s Just a Tan**: I get it. But childhood logic is ruthlessly literal: if his skin looked darker, it *was* darker.

* **Canon vs. Creativity**: I’m aware that blending real-world cultures into Toriyama’s playground can feel clumsy. Yet, headcanons thrive on charming imperfections.

* **Yamcha’s True Heritage?** Could be entirely Japanese..who knows

---

🎉 Outro: Salvation for the Underdog

Yamcha never married the girl he was so much in love with, never landed the knockout punch, and became the punchline for decades of memes. In my fan-crafted universe, he’s more than a desert bandit—he’s a man woven from two proud legacies, seeking belonging. Half Chinese warrior-poet, half Diné wolf-spirit, fully underappreciated.

So here’s to Yamcha, the scrappy nomad with a heritage as blended as his fighting style—still chasing Dragon Balls, still chasing acceptance, and forever proof that headcanons are where the heart meets the horizon.

[jessiemeows]

Finally made her :333

I'm getting her off the ship and then playing with her till night 1 is over (I realllllllllllllllly want to play with Amaya, which is why I'm only playing with Nevie for a little)

But her name is Nevea Mizzrym, she is an ex-lolth drow, a dragonic ice sorcerer, and my Wyll kisser :3

Most of my characters are always going to be durge's, but my one and true durge is Amaya. For some reason, I like to think all my OC's are in the same universe, so anything that happens in-game with Nevie, actually does not happen to her lmao. But I do think whoever they end up partnered with in-game, they actually do end up with that said partner in the 'Amaya cinematic universe', lmfaooo. But basically she is like a tav in real life but I'm playing with her as a durge for fun lol.

Since she is just a tav I'll give you a little rouuuughhhh backstory in the undercut:

Nevea moved to Baldur's Gate about 5 years before the mindflayer evasion with her twin brother, Nas, when they had just turned the age of 100. They had both lived in the 4th House of Menzoberranzan, called the House of Mizzrym, so they were both nobles. They lived as happily as you could be in Menzoberranzan, but the twins were always very different from the other drow in their city, they were kinder to others, and they always questioned things/rebelled from typical drow culture, which would get them in a bunch of trouble (especially her brother).

Theeeennnn Nevea started to sprout scales and could wield magic without study, especially ice magic (unlike any other mage of their house). That's when they realized they had draconic lineage that only seemed to affect Nevie. Their mother, Aunrae Mizzrym, a priestess of the House, wasn't the nicest lady, and finally learned about the lineage after spotting a few scales on Nev. Their mother immediately tried to kill her because she assumed that Nevea would try to outrank her, thinking that she might be more powerful than her, but luckily, her mother failed, and both of them still lived (the first attempt happened when Nevea was 48).

The catalyst for them to move to BG was when their mom tried to kill both Nevie and Nas AGAIN when they turned 100. Their mother was still jealous of how powerful in magic Nevea was and wanted to get rid of her (her brother was always close by to Nevea and basically acted as her bodyguard- despite their house being known for magic and illusions he was a skilled swordsman........ if i had to pick a class for him, it would be an Eldritch Knight). But after the second attempt, Nas and Nevea finally moved out of the Underdark and moved to Baldur's Gate where one of their cousins planned to move as well (their cousin was evil and died there lmao). Nas became a bodyguard at the counting house, and Nevie became an apprentice jeweler at the Glitter Gala (the jewelry place right next to Figaro's). Nevea, being a former Noble, knows a thing or two about jewelry and anything that glitters, so her working there made sense:333 (she loooooooooooves jewelry). She typically used her magic for everyday use and to enchant items, which she loooooved to do. Miss girly was never a fighter, but if she had to use her magic to kill, she would.

This is how I think Nevea and Wyll meet in the actual timeline:

Nas and Nev were both 105 when the mindflayer evasion was happening, and ultimately, both lived. Due to everything being ruined (Glitter Gala included), Nev (and her brother) decided to make their own small shop called 'Ice Crystals', and it became a well-known small jewelry/enchanted gem shop. About 4 years later, Wyll had been back at the Gate for over a year now bc Karlach's heart was fixed up (Wyll and Karlach had a relationship for quite a while and were engaged! But they broke up bc Wyll decided to look more into politics due to his father getting older, and Karlach still wanted to travel around the Sword Coast. She also wasn't a fan of the ball/dinners that came with the politics as she felt out of place, so the two decided to break up but it was very mutual and they are still the bestest of friends... sometimes you and the person you love changes over time and grow differently where you no longer are compatible which is what I think happened to them.

Anywaaaays, Wyll was picking up some rings for himself and an enchanted gem for his nephew (Amaya and Astarion's baby.... yes they have children lol) but it was at the Ice Crystals shop and he meets Nevea instantly tjhinking she was really pretty and then after visiting the shop 20 times in one single week, debating on how to ask her out, he finally did and asked her on a date :33 from then on they become a couple, got married and have like 8 kids lmfao.

Her personality:

Due to her brother always getting in trouble, and being treated MUCH differently/even abused as children, she developed a soft heart despite how drow are usually raised in Menzoberranzan. She didn't understand why he was treated less than her and would always protect him, which would then get her in trouble as well (this is why her brother basically became her bodyguard as they got older when they lived in the Underdark to return the favor). She still struggles with typical Drow culture and will sometimes say the most out of pocket things, but for the most part, she is lawful good.

Just a fun fact, but Nevea and Nas' names in some way both mean snow :p

Anyways thats my new baby. Please excuse this very messy way of writing :333 Im not trying to write a story/be grammatically or spelling-wise correct and this was very rushed lol just trying to give the gist of her, and how she came to be

[kakushusband]

Happy father's day, here's Coralia with his little miracle :3 this was for my art exam originally, I just took so long to Actually finish it </3

[cockyroaches]

U guys should ask me about my dragon ball selfship au btw you should ask me about the brood parasite saga btw you sh

[the-crimson]

I think my favorite and most fascinating thing about theory bros x2 assassination of ElQuackity is how each assassination was received.

The first assassination was a spectacle. Everyone on the server was watching and each popcorn while they did. They put it up on a tv on Foolish’s dragon with all the eggs and people not even really involved present. Even leading up to it everyone was so much more relaxed and going with the flow. It wasn’t real. There weren’t any real consequences because ElQ still had one more life and no one perceived him as a threat.

The second assassination was entirely the opposite. The tension leading up to the explosion was so palpable. No one was laughing and joking around. Max and bbh were the only ones in the know and they knew this was different. This decision would have irreversible consequences. All the eggs were terrified. Dapper and Pomme were hiding in her panic room for far longer than necessary because they were terrified they’d be targeted in ElQ’s rage long after he logged off the server. Roier spoke with Max and Bbh for a good 20 minutes about how this might have unleashed something horrible onto the rest of them.

The first assassination was a joke

The second was a catalyst for unknown and irreversible change

Bbh and Max. The original theory bros. These two grabbed the federation by the balls and refused to play by their rules at the exact moment we discover Cellbit has been dancing on their strings this whole damn time.

Todays streams from tazercraft and foolish to theory bros and elq to cellbit’s enigma… today feels like a turning point.

There is a storm on the horizon and when it hits… I dont think any of us are going to be ready

[wannab-urs]

Outtakes - multiples vol 1

AO3 | Kofi | Main Masterlist | The Spreadsheet Masterlist | Vol 2

Howdy folks!

Here's all the fics on my spreadsheet featuring multiples - that's MMF, MFM, FMF, FFM, and more! All of these fics feature a reader character + 2 or more other characters, usually 2 pedro boys but not always!

Summaries and tags are, in most cases, provided by the author - please be sure to read them as some of these fics may have content you do not wish to read.

Updated 5/24/2024

Possession a Din/Cobb one shot by @prolix-yuy

Summary: In a city called Mos Pelgo, soon to be named Freetown, a Marshal, a Mandalorian, and a Guild member sit for a drink. They also sit with a question - how to get rid of the adrenaline coursing through their veins, remnants of tearing a krayt dragon in two. You have some ideas. Tags: Smut, MMF threesome, descriptions of male and female bodies, penetrative vaginal sex, fingering, oral sex (male and female receiving), anal play, rimming, cum eating, creampie, unprotected sex, fingers in mouths, rough sex, M/M, M/F, M/M/F, the helmet comes off, slight sensory deprivation

A Little Lipstick Never Hurts a Max P/Dieter series by spacegayofficial (AO3) / @max--phillips

Summary: (part 1) Max tries to skip his morning inspection, but gets caught breaking one of the rules you set for him anyway. A punishment is in order. (part 2) Max realizes a fantasy, and you enlist Dieter Bravo to help you deliver. (part 3) You receive a very hot video from your boyfriends while you are at work. The making of said video requires Max to break some rules you'd previously set out for him. He and Dieter make it up to you very easily. Tags: Forced Feminization, but it's consensual, Femdom, Chastity Device 24/7,  D/s dynamic, Sex Toys, BDSM, reader referred to as Mistress and Ma'am, Impact Play, Riding Crop, Bondage, Anal Fingering, Pegging, Butt Plugs, Degradation, Deepthroating, face fucking, gagging, spit, ruined orgasm, Nipple Clamps, Cum Play, Cum Eating, Oral Sex, Aftercare, there is NO misgendering, Max's ass does get referred to as his pussy and his dick his clit, but that's as far as that goes, MMF, threesome, PIV, double penetration, cock cages, ball gag, choking, max is a vampire, blow jobs, sex tapes, cum swapping, rule negotiations, fluff

Behind The Velvet Rope a Joel/Dieter Series by @psychedelic-ink

Summary: A grumpy bodyguard, an eccentric actor, and you, who is thrust into the limelight. What can go wrong? The three navigate the challenges of Hollywood, tensions may arise and conflicts may occur but they'll always have each other to lean on. Tags: Smut, MMF threesome, forbidden romance, age gap, unprofessional situations, thigh fucking, intercrural sex, brat taming, oral sex (male receiving), Dom/sub dynamics, mlm dynamics, messy two-person blowjob, praise kink (Dieter), hair pulling, BDSM dynamics, drug use, high sex, pet names (good girl/good boy, sweetheart, darlin', honey), guidance kink, handjob, facesitting, inexperienced!reader

Fuse a Din/Ezra two shot by @marisferasiop

Summary: Din and reader are working as a Guild crew living on the Crest (and quietly pining for one another). Din picks up a bounty on a harvester dodging creditors who had fronted funds for prospecting work and finds a surprise: someone who looks exactly like him. While on the way to drop him to the client, the three of you are accidentally dosed with a pollinating spice strain meant for cold blooded biologies! Now you three have to ah- "get it out of your systems" somehow! Tags: Sex Pollen, Marathon Sex, Anal Sex, Oral Sex, Rough Sex, Kissing, Boys Kissing, Din Djarin Removes the Helmet, but only in the dark, Force-Sensitive Reader, Ezra loses the arm, no y/n, Hurt/Comfort, Domestic Fluff, oh no we got feelings in our sex pollen smut, Everyone in star wars is bi til it's proven otherwise, Ezra is definitely a mouthy bottom, Switch Din Djarin, MMF, MM

Catalyst a Joel/Frankie series by @ezrasbirdie

Summary: After falling into bed together on the night of Frankie’s 40th birthday party, you, Joel, and Frankie start a relationship. Tags: smut, MMF, fluff, POV switch, they're all very hot for each other, one minor instance of pussy slapping, kind of double penetration but not really, a little voyeurism, some brief jealousy, Joel loves to show off, Frankie loves to watch, squirting, bossy Joel, very sweet Frankie, too many uses of the word soft, MM, feelings, fluff, angst, oral sex, handjobs

Unusual Situation a Din/Ezra one shot by @absurdthirst

Summary: Time for a space cowboy threesome. Tags: Smut, MMF threesome, oral sex (male and female receiving), PiV sex, cum eating

Of Gorgons and Gardens a Din/Ezra series by @concussed-to-pieces (this starts off basically pure smut and gets really cute)

Summary: Din, raised by the Death Watch, is looking for a quarry named Ezra. Tags: Smut, MMF threesome, sex pollen, breeding kink, bodily fluids, dubcon

With or Without You a Javi P/Frankie series by @jksprincess10

Summary: You ask your partner, Javi, to join in on a bad idea.  Tags: MFM, bi!Frankie, pet names (hermosa, bonita, baby, good boy, alcohol, cigarettes, no home!javi, flirting, dom!javi, switch!reader, sub!frankie, consent, praise kink, oral sex m receiving, oral sex f receiving, deepthroating, fingering, masturbation, javier talks you through it, squirting, unprotected piv, creampie, using cum as lube, cum eating, pwp, switch!reader, MMF, couch sex, pussy eating king!Frankie, 69, face sitting, riding, dirty talk, jealous!javi, ass slapping, spanking, rough sex, degradation, slut, double blowjob, anal MM, voyeurism, cum play, fluff, angst, pet names: frankie baby, cocaine, drugs, food play, polyamory, miscommunication, somnophilia, mild dub con

Adversity a Frankie/Ezra series @the-ginger-hedge-witch

Summary: On your own and far from the home you once knew, you find unlikely allies right when you least expect them and soon learn that they have plenty to teach you. Tags: Western AU, Age Gap, Explicit Smut, MMF relationship, inexperienced/virgin reader, references to violence and death (it’s the old west).

Shore Leave a Frankie/Santi one shot by @theywhowriteandknowthings

Summary: Young Frankie and Santi and you have a threesome when they're on leave Tags: MMF Threesome, some degradation(mild), anal, anal play, butt plugs, blowjobs, pussy eating, DP sex, poly mentions(?), Frankie is a menace. 

a court of fangs and foxgloves an Oberyn/Max P one shot by @psychedelic-ink

Summary: After you left the court and hence Oberyn, no one is eager to forgive you for your betrayal. Especially those closest to you. Tags: Smut, MMF threesome/orgy, voyeurism, mlm dynamics, Dom/sub dynamics, sub!Max, switch!reader, dom!Oberyn, rimming, ass play, anal sex, penetrative vaginal sex, biting, mentions of blood, vampirism

Group Therapy a Frankie/Tommy one shot by @beskarandblasters

Summary: Frankie Morales & Tommy Miller are both sent to a veteran’s support group by their doctors where they meet and become friends. Both men take a liking to you, the group therapist. And instead of getting angry with each other Tommy comes up with a fun little idea after therapy one night. Tags: alternate universe, canon divergence, no outbreak, age gap, drinking, MMF threesome, vaginal fingering, oral sex (male and female receiving), penetrative vaginal sex, semi public sex, pet names (darlin', sweetheart, good girl, dirty girl), therapist!reader, degradation

Desires and Complications a Marcus P/Dave series by @ezrasbirdie

Summary: Marcus has been with you for a while, but knows you hold back in the bedroom. He tracks down an old flame of yours—Dave—to show him how to please you. Tags: Smut, daddy kink, anal play, cumplay, unprotected penetrative vaginal sex, oral sex (female and male receiving), rimming, humiliation, MMF threesome, anal sex, mlm dynamics, angst, established relationship, double penetration

Euclidean Geometry a Frankie/Jack/Pero one shot by @leslie-lyman

Summary: They make no attempt to define what this is, who they are to each other. All they know is that now they are together. Tags: smut, MM and MMF; some implied D/s dynamics; allusions to the lingering trauma of military service

The Impaler a Tim Rockford/Max Phillips one shot by @kiwisbell

Summary: Chief Detective Tim Rockford makes a breakthrough in New York City’s latest serial killer case. The mysterious culprit is in the mood to share more than information. Tags: vampires, gothic architecture, slightly dubious consent, implied mind alteration/control, murder, death, blood, threesome, lots of biting, spanking, spitroasting, masturbation, DVP, fingering, unprotected PIV (wrap ur vampire dicks pls), wife sharing, free use kink, oral sex (f and m receiving), exchanging fluids, spitting, disgusting and filthy, max using cringey nicknames for reader’s pussy but it’s charming bc it’s max, handcuffs, light bondage, hair pulling

Tommy's Hard Day a Joel/Tommy one shot by @toxicanonymity

Summary: Tommy had a hard day, so Joel asks you to help him feel better Tags: free use, blow jobs, MFM threesome w/ Tommy & Joel Miller (they don't touch), cuckolding, unprotected P in V sex, creampie, Pre or non-outbreak. 

Three's a crowd a Marcus P/Javi P one shot by @agentmarcuspike

Summary: Your boyfriend Marcus watches Javier Peña fuck you Tags: established open relationship (reader and marcus), cucking, threesome (mfm), oral (f and m receiving), fingering, swallowing, subtle hugh grant reference, exhibitionism, voyeurism, unprotected penetrative vaginal sex, one (1) light ass slap, eiffel tower, marcus king of aftercare pike, javi secret softie peña, reader is v bold and confident, made-up stuff about the fbi lol, bit of sappy fluff (they love each other, ok)

Something wretched about this a Joel series by @covetyou (Chapter 3 - The Dark Caress of Someone Else is the Joel/Tess/Reader threesome)

Summary: Your father has been medicating his long term illness for as long as you can remember, and he'd always been grateful to find medication suppliers even after the world went to shit. When he can't pay up, what lengths will you go to to protect your entire world?  Tags: Smut, PWP, dubcon, penetrative vaginal sex, vaginal fingering, oral sex, anal sex, anal play, spanking, MFF threesome, medicinal drug usage, vaginal fisting, praise kink, sex toys, post-outbreak, creampie, debts, cumplay, pussy slapping

The Saint, the sinner, and the devil a Joel/Javi P Series by @joelsgirl

Summary: Joel and Javier are two sides of the same coin, the dark and supposed light of an unrelenting war - but in this room, they were predators and you, their prey. Tags: Mafia alternate universe, Narcos and TLOU crossover, mafia DBF!Joel Miller, corrupt Javier Peña, smut, age gap, size difference, dirty talk, threesome, name-calling

Le Trio De Fleur a Din/Paz Vizla one shot by @absurdthirst

Summary: You are a bounty that the Mandalorians have been sent to capture. They track you to an uninhabited planet where you have crashed  your ship. You’ve killed the other bounty hunters that have been sent after you, seemingly including another Mandalorian, but they find you in a much more precarious situation due to the local fauna. Tags: Dubious consent due to sex pollen. Vaginal fingering, vaginal sex, unprotected sex, oral sex (male receiving), cream pie, threesomes, cum eating, double penetration, anal sex, thoughts of violence.

All our candles are burned out a Dieter/Frankie one shot by @psychedelic-ink

Summary: dieter needs helicopter lessons for an upcoming role and santiago finds you the perfect man for the job.  Tags: established relationship between dieter and reader, threesome, a very messy blowjob, edging, teasing, mlm dynamics, vaginal/anal fingering, piv, creampie, single dad!frankie, competency kink  

Blackmail a Javi P/Joel one shot by @milla-frenchy

Summary: in exchange for his help to let Joel and you out of the QZ, a new soldier, Javier, asks him for something more than just ration cards Tags: Dubcon. Cucking, praise kink, oral (f/m receiving), unprotected piv, rimming, anal, threesome, double penetration, creampie

Closure a Marcus P/Din one shot by @javier-pena

Summary: Marcus, Din and you used to be best friends. Now you're on opposite sides of the law with a decade worth of grudges between you. But hate can quickly become something else ... Tags: angst | canon-typical violence | mentions of food and alcohol and smoking | they’re all mean to each other and they have a difficult relationship | (a lot of) dirty talk (by my standards) | slight power imbalance | reader has hair that can be grabbed | threesome m/f/(m) (kinda) | ecouteurism | voyeurism | exhibitionism | a bit of edging | fingering | competitiveness | (unprotected) piv sex | creampie | a tiny, tiny bit of degradation

Good Boy a Dieter/Javi P one shot by @ramblers-lets-get-ramblin

Summary: Dieter gets cucked. That's it. That's the fic. Tags: cucking, PIV, creampie, oral sex f receiving, cum eating, PWP/plot what plot?, dom!Javi, sub!dieter, idk what reader is... having a good time?

Intimidation Tactics a Dave/Marcus P series by @whataperfectwasteoftime

Summary: You and your partner, Marcus Pike, are investigating a case that brings you far too close to something much more dangerous than your average art thief. Tags: Mentions of previous abusive relationship, enemies to lovers, idiots to lovers, eventual polyamory, smut

Apple a Frankie/Santi/Will one shot by @romana-after-dark

Summary: You are married to Santi and you and him dabble in CNC scenes. This time, Santi enlists the help of Will and Frankie. Slowly, things start to devolve, and things get heated between the three men that was not discussed prior. This culminates when you try to safeword and you find Will's fingers in your mouth. Tags: Smut, dead dove; do not eat, consensual non-consent turned noncon, bi!Will, bi!Santi, bi!Frankie, dark fic, mlm dynamics, size kink, painful sex, degradation kink, petnames (puppy), edging, premature ejaculation, bukkake, unprepared penetrative vaginal sex

To be explored later a Frankie/Santi one shot by @legendary-pink-dot

Summary: You and your boyfriend Santi fuck his best friend Frankie and it's a little more MMF than you were expecting -- much to your delight Tags: Swearing, dirty talk, rough-ish sex, hair pulling, oral sex (m receiving), a couple of spanks, edging if you squint, also yearning m/m if you squint, unprotected PIV, snowballing, threesome, dom!Santi.

Under your skin a Jack/Javi P one shot by me

Summary: You’ve worked on Chucho’s ranch since you were 15 years old, grew up with Javi, loved Javi… He comes back after nearly 20 years to find you hooking up with a certain former secret agent. He’s jealous, for sure, but of who? Tags: post season 3 of Narcos, AU where Jack gets kicked out of the Statesmen instead of burgered, Javi being bi and repressed, Jack being a bisexual slut, SMUT, MMF dynamics, oral (f receiving), javi being a dick, oral (m receiving), javi tries to hit jack, gay kissing (!!!), making out, face sitting, reader kinda gets used and likes it, nipple play, throat fucking, Eiffel tower moment, brief f masturbation, brief m masturbation, pet names (sugar, cowboy, baby, hermosa), truly unreasonable amounts of cursing i’m sorry i talk like this, and also unreasonable amounts of southern phrasing, again sorry I talk like this, unprotected PIV, creampie, cum eating, teasing Javi, actually 90% porn with like a little backstory, kind of enemies to lovers, they’re all ranch hands technically, also they’re all romantically into each other but also javi is dumb and jack can’t believe anyone would want him for more than sex haha oops :)

do i really have to chart the constellations in his eyes?a Frankie/Santi series by moonknightly (AO3)

Summary "Neither of you want the night to end. That’s the only reason it takes you ten minutes to put your clothes back on and the only reason he offers to share his tequila after he’s gotten you out of them." Tags: Cheating, Infidelity, Post-Break Up, Angst, Smut, Cuckolding, sloppy blowjobs, Dom/sub, Threesome - F/M/M, Spanking, Pain Kink, Choking, You're mostly fucking Santi here

------

Happy Reading!

[drarryspecificrecsdaily]

2023.11.01

Complete fics posted on AO3 this day

1. generosity by odessities [E, 6k]

►Since the adoption of their son Leo, the Potter-Malfoys’ lives have ventured into the overtly vanilla. Particularly in the bedroom. Although Draco says he's perfectly fine with how things have changed, Harry has made it clear that he is willing to try anything to re-ignite the passion they once had.

2. Midnight Love by blood_bank [E, 9k]

►One night at a Halloween ball becomes the catalyst for Draco and Harry's breaking point.

3. Starting Over by Justlikewriting [M, 19k]

►When - after his divorce - Harry moved back into number 12 Grimmauld Place, the house didn’t exactly welcome him, seemingly making every effort to push him out again instead. And it didn’t get any better, either. In fact, over time it only got worse. Which meant that something needed to be done. By an expert who knew how to deal with this kind of thing. So, eventually, there only seemed to be one viable option: Harry had to invite Draco Malfoy. Into his house. On purpose. Surely, that would work out for the best.

4. Tricks and Cupcakes by Adora_Slytherin [E, 9k]

►Harry decides to get some air from the Eighth year Halloween party. Finding Draco Malfoy sitting alone in the courtyard with a tray of cupcakes wasn't something he expected and neither getting stuck to him.

---

Fest/Exchange

1. Ten Visits to Fire and Flight: The World of Dragons by Anonymous [E, 17k]

►A decade after the war, Draco Malfoy has made a new name for himself, running the dragonology department at the British Museum of Magic. And in spite of his cranky assistant (and her rude drawings), the other department heads (jog on, Janet), and three untamed children (menaces), it’s brilliant. Or it would be, if Harry Potter didn’t have so much bloody free time after his morning show (which Draco does not and will not listen to). ★ Harry/Draco Career Fair 2023 | @hd-fan-fair

[juuls]

Multi-Fandom Fic Recs

The @fanfic-reading-challenge gives me the opportunity to explore tons of fandoms I normally wouldn't, and I wanted to share some of my favourite so far this year!

Game of Thrones

and in the night, you'll hear me calling by shawsdavid | T | 10k | Jon/Sansa/Margaery: When you met your soulmate, touched them for the first time, you would see everything in all its colorful glory.

A Knight's Watch by DolorousEdditor | M | 670k | Jonsa: Jon Snow is forbidden to take the black by his father. Instead he sent to squire for a famous knight, beginning a long arduous journey that causes him to cross paths with characters he never would have. Along the way he learns truths long hidden and discovers love in the most unlikely of places. All of this in the shadow of the War of Five Kings and the coming of the Others.

Potterverse

Dancing with Draco by diamonddaydream | T | 19k | Dramione: Retelling of the Yule Ball segment of Goblet of Fire as a Dramione story. Hermione Granger needs a dance tutor before she embarrasses her partner, Viktor Krum, and herself at the Yule Ball. Draco Malfoy needs a good deed to make amends for hexing her teeth. Both of them need to keep everyone else for finding out what's going on between them. Fluffy romance with just a touch of angst. NOTE: story continues in "Draco Takes a Mark."

All I Have Never Known by LittleSixx | M | 32k | Dramione: The Ministry of Magic requires all magical people to marry someone of opposite blood status by 25. The Malfoys host a ball to help Draco meet a non-pureblood witch, and the one he falls for isn't who she claims to be.

Divination for Skeptics by olivieblake | M | 98k | Dramione: The latest in magical advancements is an enchantment that reveals the bearer’s romantic compatibility with another person. Effectively eliminating uncertainty from dating, the charm can tell you whether or not you’ve found The One with a precise, Hermione Granger-approved calculation of traits and preferences. It’s a foolproof method of predicting relationship happiness. It’s also, for Hermione, positively dreadful news. Dramione, post-war, soulmate AU.

The Black Rose by DarkCloud190, Rijaya83 | E | 166k | Dreomione: After years of a rocky relationship, Hermione Granger is single again, and for the life of her she cannot stop staring at her two friends. Draco Malfoy and Theo Nott both work with her at the DMLE and she is analyzing everything they say, do, or breathe. Surely, she is just imagining it. They have been dating each other for a year now and couldn't possibly be interested in her. Hermione's troubled love life aside, there is a killer targeting a specific group of people, putting both Hermione and Theo at risk.

Hermione Granger, Demonologist by BrilliantLady | T | 47k | Hermione & Theo: Hermione was eight when she summoned her first demon. She was lonely. He asked what she wanted, and she said a friend to have tea parties with. It confused him a lot. But that wasn’t going to stop him from striking a promising deal with the young witch.

The Accidental Courtship by Lomonaaeren | T | 14k | NottPott: Harry gets a soul-mark during his eighth year at Hogwarts, and is hopeful that he can finally be sure he’ll have someone who loves him for himself. When Theodore Nott rejects him, Harry steps back and goes to live his own life. Theo, who doesn’t want to be trapped in the limelight at Potter’s side, finds himself falling in love anyway.

A Star and Her Dragon by Lizzie_carlile | E | 256k | Theomione, Drarry, Hermione & the Malfoys: “The order took everything from me,” Lucius spoke again. “Now I’ll become the monster they always feared I would be.” The Death of the Malfoy Daughter was the catalyst for Lucius Malfoy becoming the man that everyone feared he would. With a second war brewing and secrets finally coming to light, one girl holds the key to turning the tides of the war.

Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves

Odd Little Family by chimneystacks | T | 1.7k | Xedgin: "Kira found it practical to believe that her father would someday remarry, and even more so to believe that it would be to the woman who was already a trusted, guiding figure to his child. Therefore, it was much to her surprise when a tall, handsome man interrupted her lute practice to ask her blessing in his proposal to her father."

House of the Dragon

The Falcon Becomes a Dragon by MichelleGz | T | 28k | Daemyra & Aemma: What if Rhaenyra and Daemon “woke up” during the tourney that was hosted for Baelon’s impending birth, both remembering their future life. What if Aemma’s labors were not so far along. What if there was time to save her? Will Aemma believe that her beloved husband was going to kill her for the child in her womb?

you and i are made of fire by aur_el_ias | M | 8.6k | Daemyra: Soulmarks are no trivial thing. Indeed, the words inscribed on the wrist are far from frivolous—they are the most important words heard in one's life, spoken by another. Unfortunately, save for a few exceptions, most highborn marriages are not soul-bound marriages. This is the story of one of those exceptions. OR In 105 AC, Daemon Targaryen finds his soulmate.

Viable Alternatives series by madina | T | 375k | Laenor/Rhaenyra, Daemyra, her children, and Viserys' children: So much could have been solved and so many could have been spared if a universe with dragons, magic, wargs and White Walkers had artificial insemination—and if the characters tried to be anything else but a dysfunctional family.

lodestar by aramblingjay | M | 43k | Daemyra: A Targaryen destined for a soulmate is a strange, broken creature, alone in a way that lives in their very bones, waiting for the half that will make them whole. Daemon waits sixteen years for her, and then a whole lot longer. A soulmates share scars au.

From Ashes to Embers by ladyalianora (AmbitiousWitch) | M | 185k | Cregan Stark/Rhaenyra, Daemyra: After burning by Sunfyre's flames, Rhaenyra Targaryen wakes up in her maiden bed, five and ten once more. With her mind broken and a determination to not relive the life she left behind, in a court that still presents a danger and with a father that keeps tripping her path. Can she change the future? Can she give up enough to take her crown? Or will she once again lose to her father's mistakes, her enemies' schemes and her own errors? (Juulna: One of my all-time favourites.)

A Woman Scorned by Shadow_Monarch_14 | E | 96k | WIP | Daemyra, Aemma/OC: After Prince Baelon Targaryen was a miscarriage, Queen Aemma Arryn tells King Viserys I Targaryen that she will have no more children. She has given him a daughter (a heiress) and that should be good enough. Viserys, pressured by his Small Council and his dream of a male heir as well as manipulated by Otto, makes the decision to set Aemma aside and marry Alicent. Aemma, betrayed by the love of her life, agrees… after taking her daughter, Dragonstone and the Islands of the Narrow Sea and the dragons from Viserys and his Small Council. If Otto Hightower wants a dragon King with his blood on the Iron Throne, he'll have to another thing coming.

Ancient Fire by AnaWayne | NR | 198k | WIP | Rhea/Daemon, Jonsa: Bran Stark knew that it wasn’t enough. So he decided to use his sister’s dormant yet growing magic to change the history of the House of Dragons before its fall.

put down that gravestone by darkgods | E | 249k | WIP | Daemyra: they have his mother's eyes, these would-be velaryon boys. not those of their own mother, but his. the king stretches limbs and smiles wide, heedless of his brother's fury mingled with agony, his daughter's frozen gaze. fire and blood has reunited. all must be well. the king thinks nothing of the prince's lack of mourning blacks, for the whole kingdom knew the wife daemon targaryen sought was never found in the vale. ten years after the godsforsaken night in the brothel, daemon targaryen makes his return to court to find it infested with vipers that threaten to coil lethal bodies around his niece. his niece and the nephews that bear his features yet claim the name velaryon. the rogue prince has returned, and a reckoning is set to begin.

Marvel

Some Things Shouldn't Be a Chore by scifigrl47 | T | 22k | Stony, Phlint: Steve takes things like personal responsibility and respect seriously. Tony's got people he pays to take care of that kind of thing, and anyway, he's pretty sure that he's going to die of some exotic disease in his workshop, because Dummy's still a little spotty about what is 'clean' enough to put on an open wound. The rest of the Avengers are in this for personal gain, except for Clint, he just enjoys being a dick. And some things shouldn't be a chore.

Basic Rules by StrivingArtist | T | 7.9k | Tony & Avengers: It said something about Toni’s life that she had an established system in case of kidnapping and torture, and while there had been tweaks, it was still basically the same as from when she was a kid.

Let them underestimate you.

Don’t fight back until you have an exit.

Lie from the start.

Protect what matters.

Assume no one is coming to help.

Tony and the Falcon by ArcticVulpix | T | 10k | IronFalcon: Steve introduced Sam Wilson to Tony Stark after the Fall of SHIELD. He grows to regret that. He grows to regret that very much.

Ramblings by TheSovereigntyofReality | G | 34k | Pepperony, Tony & Peggy: The problem with Alzheimer's is that sufferers sometimes ramble…often with no idea who is sitting with them. Peggy says something that sends Tony Stark on a legal manhunt.

Five Things Darcy Loves About Working for SHIELD by teand | M | 49k | ShieldShock, Phlint: The Bronx was up, the Battery was down and thank freaking Thor that SHIELD provided housing or Darcy suspected she wouldn't have been able to afford to live closer than Vermont.

I (created from fantasies) exist solely for you by Mizzy | T | 62k | Stony: Six years ago, without the Avengers Initiative there to save the day, scientist Dr. Eric Selvig sacrificed himself to save the world, the almighty demi-god Thor was lost to a terrible storm, and vigilante Iron Man – spotted with a nuclear weapon trying to take advantage of the situation – was forever labelled an enemy of SHIELD. This is a comic book office AU, where Steve is defrosted a year too late, Thor has forgotten who he is, and no one knows Tony is Iron Man. Also includes: office pranks, inappropriate post-it notes, and superheroes who like pina coladas and getting caught in the rain.

The Mechanic, The Soldier, and The Captain by AvocadoLove | M | 6.4k | Stuckony: HYDRA need a replacement for Zola’s genius, and they have years worth of experience breaking and brainwashing a good man into something they can control.

The Evidence by StrivingArtist | T | 16k | WinterIron: Didn’t notice. Right. Sure. Two brilliant minds, two super spies, and a god didn’t notice when the chattiest man they knew stopped making sound. They just seemed happier than before. Brighter and more cheerful than before. They just seemed like they were more comfortable with him around when he was stone silent. Fuck it. He knew they noticed. And he knew they liked him better this way.

In Which The Winter Soldier Might Just Be Wooing Darcy by Out_Of_Custody | T | 28k | WinterShock: Exactly what it says on the tin. (Prompt-Fic) (Juulna: I adore this fic!)

Blood Stained by QueenVee1 | NR | 313k | WinterShieldShock: With a war on the horizon, the Avengers mend bridges that had been burned, relationships are rebuilt, and new friends forged. After a chance encounter with Steve Rogers, Darcy Lewis figures she's had her fill of Avenger-related activities. Turns out she's more entrenched than she ever thought possible. When she forms an unlikely friendship with James "Bucky" Barnes, she thinks her life can't get any weirder. Spoiler alert: IT CAN! A (double!?!?) meet!cute and secret!sibling story! They said it couldn't be done. B**** YOU THOUGHT!

Shadow & Bone/Six of Crows

Quiet Miracles by goatsandgangsters | G | 10k | Darklina, Zoya & Nikolai & Alina & Aleksander: Alina knew miracles. She was no Saint and no savior, she knew this. But she knew the light in someone’s eyes when they smiled. She knew the warmth of an arm slung around her shoulder, the squeeze of a hand, the elbow in her side, the tight squeeze of an embrace. She knew the moment the room held its breath and then broke into the brilliant cascade of laughter. She knew the glimmer of tears wiped from her cheeks by careful fingers. Alina knew miracles. Ravka had never been so full of them. Or: sometimes a government is the beloved sun saint of the people, a young king determined to fix what has long been broken, the eminently practical head of the newly formed Grisha council, and the heretic who’s no longer going it alone.

Without a Mouth I Can Swear Your Name by tothewillofthepeople | T | 32k | Wesper, Kinej | Helnik: Kaz looked at Matthias coldly. “What do you want?” “I want to know where Wylan Van Eck is,” Matthias said. (A Six of Crows Hogwarts AU)

Star Trek Discovery

Respite series by Alethia | E | 22k | Michael/Pike: The Terran Pike comes to visit the newly-resurrected Captain Burnham on the Shenzhou and things get…heated.

Stargate Atlantis

Desert Rose by mific | E | 18k | McShep | John, a downed Hurricane pilot in WWII, is rescued by Rodney who's tracking strange energy readings in the Sahara. And in another life, their story makes another John and Rodney unwilling Atlantis celebrities.

Ted Lasso

At the Right Time by Annaelle | E | 25k | RoyJamie: Roy doesn't like to think he's taking advantage of Jamie. He's making him better, stronger, faster, a better player, and now that he's got the fucking muppet actually behaving for him, he'll be damned if he lets him go. For the PepPerVerse Bottom!Roy Challenge.

The Hunger Games

The Victors of District Twelve by DustyAttic | G | 49k | Everlark & Lucy Gray Baird & Haymitch: night What if Lucy Gray survived that night in the woods with Snow? What if she made it up north, found those people rumored to be surviving without the Capitol, and realized District Thirteen wasn't quite as obliterated as she'd been taught? And what if, sixty-five years later and after watching a certain Mockingjay end Snow's reign, she came back to District Twelve? This is the story of Katniss and Peeta meeting Lucy Gray Baird, and learning her story-- the story that Snow so desperately tried to erase.

The Locked Tomb

Your Necro Questions Answered by Magichorse | T | 8.8k | Griddlehark: Syndicated columnist "Nav the Cav" offers a sympathetic ear to cavaliers across the galaxy and dispenses practical, no-nonsense, real talk advice on how to properly manage and care for your necromancer.

Cake by the Ocean by zoicite | T | 15k | Griddlehark: Okay, so the thing was, Gideon had always been shit at plans. She knew that. Everyone knew that, but this--she really didn’t think it would be this hard! Gideon’s voice was like the least memorable thing about her. Bargaining her voice for a well-shaped set of human legs--that really should have worked in her favor.

who ya gonna call? by igneousbitch | E | 24k | Griddlehark: (Casual sex and paranormal investigation. Not necessarily in that order.) (Or: the Buzzfeed Unsolved AU in which Gideon is ready to fight a ghost, and Harrow just wants to be haunted.)

Behind the Locked Door by UnseelieWench | T | 98k | Griddlehark: It figures that the only college with the badass Cavalier program is also the college that Harrow Nonagesimus wants to attend. Oh well. Campus is big, right? She'll probably never see that pointed little face again.

The Mummy

Best Laid Plans by kyaticlikestea | T | 6.6k | Ardeth Bay/Jonathan Carnahan: After 20 years of being subjected to more yearning than any sister should ever have to witness, Evy decides that enough's enough.

Wednesday

A Torment of the Mind by cherrybirch | M | 58k | Wenvier: In which Wednesday and Xavier sign up for Hermione’s course in Legilimency. Two overdramatic darkness-loving teens with crushes on each other, trying to master their psychic powers by learning to read each other's minds… what could go wrong? NOTE: Canon non-compliance has been tagged for three things: Hermione’s presence at Nevermore, Larissa acting as principal (as if nothing happened), and the complete removal of the stalker subplot. (I find stalkers terrifying and don’t want to write about one.)

[changelingsandothernonsense]

Pumpkin 🎃 and Moon 🌙 for the writing ask game (moon for the sole purpose of hearing more depressing josh lore 🤭)

Helloooo! 🎃 pumpkin: do you have any favorite brainstorming techniques? how do you like to gather ideas for your wip?

I play Morrowind if I'm finding I don't know where I'm going with a story. Usually my ideas come after i've played through a particularly interesting quest. The Arkanis series (which is getting a third fic soon) is a result of Josh dying about 8 times as I tried to get him go through Kogoruhn. I don't really write notes outside of a stream of consciousness lets play on one of my discord servers. Most of my ideas are filed in my head.

🌙 moon: do any of your OCs have dark backstories or secrets they’re trying to keep?

Josh rarely speaks of his past and goes to great lengths to hide what he is. He's kept his face hidden in public since the outbreak of the Oblivion Crisis and hasn't been back on Vvardenfell since Red Mountain erupted. His story was quickly co-opted by the growing New Temple and he hates it. None of it feels like him and he laments how Erra's contributions were largely forgotten, yes he's a saint but Teldryn doesn't think its enough.

He feels guilty that his actions were the catalyst for Baar Dau falling into the Norvayn Bay and the subsequent eruption that followed. He had been seeing this destruction in bits and pieces of his dreams for years. He just didn't make it in time. He curses himself for not figuring it out sooner and only managed to save a small group of immediate family and the Ashlanders who still followed him off the island in time.

Josh makes up stories about his Corprus scaring, for a while he could get away with blaming Red Mountain for it but as the decades dragged on and Josh still looked 57 he found that blaming the eruption would start to garner questions. As of 4E 199 he has a story about getting on the wrong side of a pyromancer which Sydari doesn't believe. Eventually he would change this story into "Dragon Attack" until his past finally catches up with him after Sydari finds a very thick dossier at the Thalmor Embassy with prints of a very familiar looking Dunmer scattered through it.

Josh had been hiding who he was for two hundred years when Sydari found out about it. Within a few months the Blades (whom he defected from after having his Corprus infection 'cured'), leaked his identity- Josh won't play ball and Sydari listens to Josh more than she listens to Delphine and Esburn. He knew the reaction to his return would be mixed. There's a lot of distaste towards him from the Dunmer who see his disappearance during both the Oblivion Crisis and Red Year as a betrayal. There's an equal amount that see his absence during those times as a part of the Dunmer's atonement as they return to worshipping the Three Good Daedra. The truth was Teldryn was mourning.

He still tries to hide his identity where he can, being recognised in public isn't something he'll ever be comfortable with. He was lucky that his name had been lost when the New Temple was forming their doctrine and reproductions of his visage gradually lost their likeness as the years went on. He doesn't speak about what happened and unless you are close to him (and that is a very small section of people) you will never get it out of him. Eventually, his youngest son will write a book. It is banned in Morrowind.

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