#end result: i love tower shields

[devilofthehounds]

[image id: The top of the image has black text on a white background reading “The research originated at Anagura, after all.” Below that is a still, three-panel rendition of the “Blinking White Guy” meme. /end id]

Was anybody gonna tell me the Far East Branch has a name besides "The Far East Branch"?

Anyway, if there's an official localization for "Anagura", let me know because I couldn't find one instance in all of Resurrection and Rage Burst.

Edit: Turns out "Anagura" is the equivalent of the localization using "the Den". See the notes for details.

[vbecker10]

Hi V!

How are you? I have add and i havent seen very many fics with someone who has add/adhd so i wanted to send this to you since i know you will do amazing with it! I have a fic idea request for you:

You are a new recruit to join the avangers one day you are in the gym with steve learning a new skill but you can't focuse or follow details instructions thanks to your add/adhd later on you are in your room trying to get a list of to dos but you get frustrated/can't get the chores done/distracted

Easily Distracted (Part 1)

Part 2 / Part 3 (in progress)

Pairing: Steve Rogers x female reader (Y/N) - reader has ADHD

Summary: You've recently graduated from the SHIELD Training Academy and you couldn't be more excited or more nervous to start working as a probationary agent. You study and train, trying every way possible to prepare yourself for your evaluation in three months but your ADHD threatens to derail your progress, and so does Loki. Captain Rogers sees you struggling to succeed and steps in to help you in any way he can.

Warnings: Self-doubt, Loki being an ass, mild swearing (which Steve does not approve of), feeling like giving up

Background: Female reader has ADHD (Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder) with the following symptoms: inattention, hyperactivity, difficulty listening and finishing tasks, losing important things frequently, becoming distracted or sidetracked easily, trouble following instructions, difficulty staying organized and managing time

A/N: Thank you so much for sending this request @animnerd! I absolutely love it. Sorry it took me so long, I kept getting distracted while I worked on this one which I think is super ironic lol. We talked about this a bunch and I ended up tweaking the ask a bit to make it a longer story 🙂 I really hope you like this 💚

Thank you so much for these amazing dividers @jiyascepter I absolutely love them!

Also, this is officially my first Steve Rogers x reader fic so I hope you all like it! I just ended up tagging a few people from my Loki list cause I don't have a Steve list 🫣

Day 1

You take a seat in the middle of the bus and huff a sigh of relief that you are finally on your way. The Avengers Tower is just under half an hour from your small, one bedroom apartment but it's all you can afford right now. It's only for a few months, you remind yourself with a hopeful smile.

Pulling your backpack onto your lap, you unzip the largest pocket and begin to double cheek that you have everything. One of the more annoying parts of your ADHD is how unorganized it can make you feel, this often results in you forgetting or losing things. The more important the item is, the easier it is for you to misplace it apparently. You mumble to yourself quietly as you feel around for your laptop, pens, ID badge and various other items you thought would be helpful today.

You sit back, bag still unzipped with your hands frozen as you think, I can't believe it's actually my first day as a probationary agent for SHIELD! I'm going to meet the Avengers and train with them, go on missions with them- your thoughts suddenly shift and you slump in your seat. If I make it to the end of the three month probationary period.

You survived the two year long SHIELD Training Academy, but just barely. Having ADHD made following detailed instructions, focusing on long lectures and completing multi-step tasks extremely difficult. You struggled daily but never gave up, passing all of your exams and earning one of twenty probationary positions available in the New York office.

I can do three more months, you think positively, looking out the window of the bus as the city passes slowly. The next three months will be full of nonstop procedural meetings, group and one on one training sessions and skill assessments until your written exam and field evaluation. Three months to find out if I'm assigned a post as a field agent, an analyst or if I'm going to be fired and have to work mall security for the rest of my life, you think as the bus comes to a brief stop.

You're mind has wandered so far that you don't notice the announcement the driver makes until the bus starts moving again. Looking up from your still wide open bag, you see the Tower get further away and you immediately panic as you realize you missed your stop. You zip your bag quickly and run up the aisle. The driver rolls his eyes at your plea to be let off and opens the door at the next red light. You thank him and take off running the five blocks back, knowing you were already late when you left your apartment.

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

You push through the most annoying revolving doors ever designed and step into the lobby of the Tower. Without stopping, you head for the elevators but a security officer gets up from his desk and yells for you to stop.

"Sorry," you walk back towards him, opening your bag as you dig around for your temporary ID badge. "I work here, I'm new," you explain with an awkward smile.

Happy sighs, sensing your nerves and says, "You need to take a breath and slow down. Scan your badge here then put it on, picture out and don't take it off while you're inside the building."

You nod, trying to take a deep breath as you set your ID badge in the scanner. It flashes red and Happy motions with his hand for you to flip it over. You laugh nervously and flip your ID but the screen lights up red again and you look at him with an awkward shrug. He takes the badge from you, rotates it, scans it and hands it back to you.

"Thanks," you put the lanyard around your neck, fidgeting with it immediately.

"Probationary agent orientation is on the tenth floor with Captain Rogers," he tells you and you nod, looking towards the elevators. "Good luck," he waves at you when you take off and you hear him mutter, "You're gonna need it."

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

"You're late," the tall, blonde super soldier says, crossing his muscular arms over his chest when you open the door to the small conference room. The nineteen other probationary agents in your unit turn to look at you as you stand frozen in the doorway.

"I know, I'm sorry, I-" you try to explain, panting hard from running down the hallway.

"I don't want excuses. You are expected to be on time," Captain Rogers says sternly, cutting off your words. He motions to an empty seat in the front of the room, his eyes tracking your path to the chair.

You nod and sit quickly, nearly knocking over the vacant chair with your bag. "Sorry," you offer a hushed apology to the surrounding agents who mumble and whisper to each other. You know most of them from the academy, although not well as you had been too focused on trying to pass to make any friends. They are clearly surprised you were accepted into this program and to be honest, you still are too.

"Agent Y/L/N, is it?" he asks, looking up from his clipboard as he flips back and forth between the pages. You are too absorbed in unpacking your laptop from your bag to realize he is speaking to you. He takes a few steps towards you, waiting for you to look up and acknowledge him but you don't. "Agent Y/L/N," he says a bit louder, towering over you.

You let out a startled gasp and sit up straight, nearly knocking over the coffee of the person next to you when you bump the table. "Yeah?" you ask without thinking and he raises his eyebrow in response, waiting for you to correct yourself. "Um," you clear your throat. "Yes sir, Captain Rogers."

He grips the clipboard tightly with one hand and leans down towards you, his blue eyes never leaving yours. "You will not be late again, understood?"

"Yes sir," you nod in agreement, looking up at the super soldier.

He sighs and turns away from you, clearly annoyed but ready to move on thankfully.

By the time you've set up your laptop, Captain Rogers has started to erase all the information that was written on the large white board. You hold back a groan and try to type the remaining notes as quickly as possible, already knowing you'll need to reorganize them later.

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

By the end of the day, you have officially gotten lost 3 times, been late to all but one of your meetings and left your ID badge in the woman's bathroom twice because the lanyard annoyed you.

You sigh deeply, placing your bag on one of the desks in the furthest corner of the library. You pull out the chair and prepare to settle in for a long night of review like you did every night in the academy. You need to organize all of your notes and study the map of the Tower. You take out your headphones and search on your phone for the right playlist, hoping the music will help you focus.

You open your laptop and think, tomorrow has to be better than today or I won't even make the 1 month mark.

Day 2

A loud banging sound wakes you suddenly and sit up right in surprise, breathing rapidly. You look around, your hands gripping the desk and you spot Loki leaning against a nearby bookshelf with an open book in his hands. He looks down, flipping through the pages slowly seemingly unaware of whatever woke you. You rub your eyes and wonder what made that sound then suddenly it occurs to you that you are still in the library.

"Good morning agent," Loki says, closing his book and tucking it under his arm.

You stretch your back and use one hand to hide a yawn before realizing he smiling at you. "Oh, morning," you respond a bit wary of his friendly expression. You hadn't met Loki yet but you had heard stories about him, everyone in the academy had. You look around for your phone but it's not on the desk, you must have knocked onto the floor while you slept.

"I would have thought you had somewhere to be this morning," he says in a smooth voice.

You see your phone on the floor, pushed back to the wall. "What?" you ask, barely paying attention to him as you get up from the chair and crawl under the desk to reach for your phone.

"It's nearly 10am agent," he says and you lift your head quickly, slamming it on the underside of the desk.

"Fuck!" you yelp and rub your head with one hand, the other grabs your phone and you get to your feet. You gather your belongs as fast as you can, shoving everything into your bag without noticing the smirk that spreads across Loki's face.

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

The second the elevator doors open, you run down the hall towards the gym for your first one on one training session with Captain Rogers. You were already terrified about it, you didn't need to be late too.

You arrive at the gym, completely out of breath and swear when you pull on the door handle and it doesn't budge. "What the hell?" you ask, pulling the handle again then remember you need to swipe your ID badge. You reach for it but the lanyard is missing from your neck. "You've got to be kidding me," you mumble then kneel on the ground, taking off your bag and setting it in front of you. Pulling the contents out, you quickly lose hope that you'll find it.

The door opens and you look up from the ground at Captain Rogers. "Oh, you're here early," he checks his watch.

"I'm early?" you ask utterly confused, sitting back on your heels. You check your phone which you realize you haven't done yet. It's 7:45, an hour and 15 minutes before you even need to be at the Tower.

"Why are you on the ground?" he chuckles a bit, asking his own question in response.

"Oh, sorry sir," you look around at the mess surrounding you and haphazardly shove everything into your bag for the second time in fifteen minutes. "I can't find my ID badge," you admit, getting up off the ground. "Please don't report me, sir, I know where it is," you are suddenly filled with dread.

"I-" he starts to answer to but your attention is pulled away by the sound of two sets of approaching footsteps. You turn your head to see the two Asgardians heading towards you.

Loki smirks devilishly, "Nice to see you again agent."

"You've met?" Steve asks and you almost think he sounds a bit worried as he looks between you and Loki.

"Not formally, no," Loki says, "I ran into our young recruit sleeping in my favorite section of the library."

"You told me it was almost 10," you fold your arms over your chest as your annoyance bubbles to the surface.

"I have been known to lie, little one," he winks and you take an uncomfortable step away from him.

"Leave her alone, Laufeyson," Steve says, stepping between you and Loki. The God of Mischief shrugs, quickly losing interest in you.

"Well I haven't met her yet," Thor says cheerfully. He reaches out to shake your hand, gripping you tightly but not enough to hurt, "Thor."

"Yea, I know," you giggle a bit nervously as the God of Thunder continues to shakes your hand. "I'm Y/N," your eyes flicker to Captain Rogers and you correct yourself quickly. "Agent Y/L/N, probationary agent at the moment."

"Ah, one of Steve's recruites," Thor laughs warmly and pats Steve on the back hard enough to make the super soldier wince. "He'll take good care of you." Thor turns towards the door to the gym as Loki scans his ID badge and the door unlocks.

"Shit," you mumble under your breath, remembering that you misplaced your ID badge. Your outburst draws Steve's attention back to you.

"Language, please," he rubs his shoulder where Thor hit him.

"Right, sorry," you bite your lip knowing that's not the worst swear word you'll use today. "Ah, I mean, sorry sir," you correct yourself again. You had been terrible at remembering to speak properly to officers in the academy and it got you in a lot of trouble.

"You don't need to do that if we aren't in a formal setting," he says and you realize he seems much more relaxed and less terrifying than yesterday. "But why do you keep swearing?"

"I left my ID badge in the library," you point vaguely down the hall even though that's not the way to the library, "But I need my ID badge to get in the library and anywhere else for that matter."

"I'll go with you," he responds in a friendly tone, bending down to hand you a pen you had missed when you were cleaning up your belongings.

"You don't have to, I know you're busy," you tell him but he just smiles. "I'll just... stand awkwardly outside the library until someone shows up," your voice trails off.

"Right, that's a much better idea," he laughs as he starts walking towards the elevator and you put your bag over your shoulder, trying to catch up to him. "I have a feeling you're going to get lost if I let you go by yourself," he looks down at you as you move next to him.

"It's a big building," you try to defend yourself but he just laughs again, shaking his head lightly.

Day 7

"Agent Y/L/N, I would like to speak with you a moment," Loki says when everyone gets up at the end of his lecture.

"Me?" you ask nervously as you freeze in place.

"Is there another Agent Y/L/N here?" he asks in response and a few of your fellow agents laugh quietly.

"No," you answer sheepishly and he nods. You finish packing your laptop into your bag and put it over your shoulder, trying to swallow your fear. Loki makes you uncomfortable even at a distance so saying you're not thrilled about being alone with him is an understatement. The other agents file out of the room, talking amongst themselves, no doubt about you.

You slowly make your way to Loki, dread building with each step. He leans on the desk at the front of the room, his arms folded as he watches you approach. Your anxiousness makes him smile and you break eye contact first when you stumble over your own dragging feet.

"I have been watching you, agent," he tells you and you feel your heart pounding in your chest, "And you do not belong here."

"What?" you ask, you had no idea what Loki wanted to talk to you about but you didn't think this was it. "Yes I do. I-"

"You will not succeed here," he interrupts you and your mouth hangs open at his harsh statement. "I have seen how easily distracted you are, how confused you get with even basic instructions. You are late to everything, you still wander this building utterly lost and you cannot focus."

"I can do better," you tell him, your voice shaky as he lists all the flaws you've been trying to manage. "I made it through the academy, I can do this," you say, trying to convince yourself and the God of Mischief.

"I don't believe that is true," he says.

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

You wipe your eyes with the back of your hand, sniffing as you reread the email you've typed on your phone. The bus stops at a red light and you look out at the city, lowering your head when it begins to move again.

Sighing deeply, you adjust a spelling mistake then add your name to the bottom of the email. Closing your eyes for a moment, you remember your conversation with Loki a few hours ago as well as the whispered comments from the other agents in your unit. You open your eyes, wiping your tears once more and hit send.

Day 8

"What can I do for you Cap," Agent Hill asks from behind her desk.

"Have you seen Agent Y/L/N? She's usually late for our morning training session but it's been nearly half an hour," Steve says, stepping inside her office.

"Oh, you didn't hear?" she asks, then takes a sip of her coffee.

"Hear what?" Steve shrugs.

"She quit," Agent Hill informs him.

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

You click through the pizza delivery app and order your usual, a TV show you're barely paying attention to plays in the background. You hit the order button and sit back, picking up a fidget cube you keep on your end table.

There is a knock on your door and you laugh as you get up, "Either the pizza guy is getting a big tip or-"

Your voice cuts off when you open the door and see Steve Rogers standing in the hall of your apartment building. "Hello Y/N," he says, his smile warm but it does little to calm the nerves that suddenly spread through you.

I hope you liked this!! Please like, share and comment if you did 💚💚 Please let me know if you want to be added to my taglist!

@soubi001 @mochie85 @lokiswife-dark-fox-queen @animnerd @cabingrlandrandomcrap @lulubelle814 @goblingirlsarah @alexakeyloveloki @siconetribal @jiyascepter @eleniblue @muddyorbsblr @alyeskathewave @loz-3 @firedrakegirl @km-ffluv @biodegradable-glitter-fest @wolfsmom1 @hopefuldreamers-world @dracoswhorexx @anukulee @latriacy @trojanaurora @babygirl-panda19 @catsladen @stargazer-luna @gruftiela @bolontiku @scrumptious-finicky-illusion @crimson25 @lokiandbuckysdoll

[mischiefmaker615]

Go Away

Summary: Enemies to Lovers 

Rating: R 

Requested By: Daddy_Dracos_Slut (wattpad)

Note: Sorry for the long wait, real life stuff can be a pain sometimes but i hope the length of this one makes up for it *sweats*

i curse under my breath as the elevator seems extra rough going up the floors today. my hand clutches the rail while i keep my eyes closed, focusing my energy on my breathing rather than my stab wound that left a pretty nasty gash on my side. What happened?

SHIELD loves to throw me into fights they know they don’t have enough man power for. Why? “Your training should be enough to help you handle it just fine” okay dip shit- not against HYDRA! The mission was successful but of course they had to throw in a rookie for me to bring along as well. Result? Saving their ass cost me the next couple of days to heal.

“you should go to the medical bay-‘’

‘’it’s fine, I’ll just have Loki heal it.’’ the biggest lie I’ve ever told.

There was no way in hell i wanted to get near the psycho that attacked New York, but i hid my resentment well for SHIELD to buy my answer and not force me into a pointlessly long medical appointment.

Ironically as soon as i arrived back at the tower, the ‘not so bad’ wound in my side decided to give me a lot more pain than what i was originally feeling earlier. i probably just needed to clean it and it would be good as new.

Finally the elevator granted me the mercy of reaching my floor and i got out, my body crouched and hunched as i took a deep breath and looked around. No one around.. good. i didn’t like to show weakness, even though in this business you all get hurt, its nothing new, but my stubborn ass still tried to tough it out. Which is why as soon as i heard someone coming, i sucked in a breath and straightened up to my height, making sure my jacket was hiding my blood-stained shirt while Loki turned the corner, and we both shared the same expression. Of course, he probably didn’t enjoy my company just as much as i did for him, but he still took the opportunity to tease me whenever he could to get a reaction.

‘’why are you walking like that?’’ he asked, just a question, no concern in his voice.

‘’why do you look like that.’’ i say as i took a scrolling pace down the halls while he pressed the button to the elevator. i didn’t even look back at him but i felt his eyes on me.

‘’you’re hurt.’’

‘’and you care?’’

Loki’s eyes narrowed as i cast a glance over my shoulder at him in annoyance. ‘’I wish to make sure you are in proper health so you can get out of my way in a sufficient pace.’’

‘’oh, you do care.’’ i say in a sweet voice, placing a dramatic hand on my heart for effect which only revealed my bloody shirt where his eyes flicked down. i could have sworn his gaze changed to something else.. but for a split second until he looked like an asshole again.

‘’you’re bleeding.’’

Now, a sarcastic comment would have just proven he was right. Not that he would tell anyone, he probably didn’t care. this was all just probably going to be used to call me a weak mortal or whatever who doesn’t know how to properly fight. So the only unfortunate answer that spilled out of my mouth was ‘’spilled ketchup.’’ Smooth.

His eyes slowly traveled down to the ‘ketchup stain’ again before they flicked back up to mine. ‘’hmm.’’ He hummed, turning back to the open doors now for the elevator before his gaze could get a chance to make me nervous- wait what?

I make sure I walk as casually as possible, regardless of how painful it may be until I heard the elevator doors close before I hunch over again and draw in a sharp breath and resist the urge to clutch my side. Judgy bastard.. looking at me as if I’m scum in his way.. but what was that split second look? Never mind- just need to get the first aid kit and see exactly what I’m dealing with.

After it seems forever until I get into my room, I shut the door behind me and throw my jacket to the side, glad to have it off before I fold the end of my shirt up so it was over my chest, almost like a make-shift crop top. Damn.. it’s pretty deep, going to need minor stitches.. clean it up..

I slowly make my way now to the bathroom, my balance thrown off with the lack of blood and I could already tell before my eyes hit the mirror how pale I am. Nausea comes in mild waves as well but anger and frustration takes over when I open up the cabinet to find my first aid kit was missing. What the hell! I used it a couple days ago and I’m to OCD to not put things back..

I run a hand through my hair as I think about what I need to do. We have vodka at Tony’s bar downstairs, it’s the best thing we have currently to clean a wound. Another first aid kit in the kitchen, not to far from the bar cabinet. Not to bad- if people weren’t awake. I check my phone, it’s 8pm. Its usually quiet and people head to bed in 30 minutes do to the fact that we need proper rest in this field.

Grabbing a small towel, I run it over warm water and nearly cry out as I begin cleaning what I could, pain shooting through my body as I push through until I feel like I would faint. Setting the towel aside, I carefully.. carefully manage to change my shirt but put on an actual crop top so nothing had its change at touching my new body scar soon-to-be. Only 10 minutes pass.. 20 might be to long as I stay on the bed trying to control my breathing. I’m stupid, I know..

Once I check the time and hear more doors close in the hall, indicating people are hitting the hay, I go over to the door. No point in hiding the wound if everyone is in bed and the less clothes I ruin the better. However I nearly woke the whole house if I didn’t shove a hand over my mouth to find Loki waiting outside my door, leaning on the wall with a now smirk by my reaction.

‘’the hell are you doing here like a creeper?’’ I hiss at him but realize hiding the wound was to late as his eyes dropped and so did his expression as he straightened.

‘’norns Y/N- how did you manage that?’’ somehow there was no emotional indication in his voice, let alone his expression so I shrugged to see if he was actually concerned or about to laugh.

Figured there was no use hiding as I walk around him with a hand on the wall to support myself. ‘’comes with the job sometimes.’’

‘’and I’m sure they taught you how to properly take care of it- which is why it’s strange that you find yourself here’’ he says and walked along side me, making me raise a brow in wonder at why he was following.

‘’I can take care of myself, thanks.’’ Sarcasm was potent as I side eyed him, indicating I wished to be left alone before my body jolted at a wave of pain, making me practically double over with my nails digging into the wall.

‘’you need a doctor-‘’ Loki started, his hands quickly returning to their sides as I took a sharp breath and looked at him.

‘’I said I’ll be-‘’

‘’Y/N!’’ Barton greeted as he turned the corner, his smile fading as he glanced at Loki before he smiled again at me. ‘’you should have been here hours ago- I thought he would have healed you by now-‘’

‘’I don’t know what you are talking about-‘’ I panic, giving him a sharp look to shut up while Loki raised a brow.

‘’earlier when you said you’d just ask Loki to-‘’

‘’I’m handling it Clint, I’ll see you tomorrow though good as new’’ I fake smile, looking like I’m about to punch him as I feel Loki’s eyes on me in amusement.

‘’don’t you worry Agent Barton, she’s in good hands.’’ He said gently, lacing his fingers behind his back as Barton gives him a hard look.

‘’I’ll see you tomorrow then Y/N’’ he says, never really registering Loki whenever they did have to speak and brushed past him on his way to his own room. Most of the time that type of rude contact would have earned an almost-fight between Loki and Clint, but I suppose Loki found himself to busy smirking at me to really be concerned about it.

‘’so what is it exactly you wished to ask me Y/N?’’ Loki said sweetly, milking the opportunity to tease me as I roll my eyes and make my way down the halls towards the elevator before I could be any more embarrassed.

‘’go away.’’

Loki’s eyes narrowed as he watched me walk away from him but I busied myself with waiting for the damn doors to open. I heard nothing behind me, and I made the mistake to believe he had actually listened so to my annoyance, he slipped into the elevator with me before the doors could close.

‘’you were going to ask me to heal you?’’ he asked, no emotion indicated in his voice as I made myself busy by pressing the correct floor.

‘’I merely said that to have everyone off my back, apparently it seems to be doing quite the opposite.’’ I mutter and lean myself against the wall, drawing my eyes closed as I focused on my breathing.

Even with my eyes closed, I could tell Loki was staring at me. He’s annoying, but I’m sure he wouldn’t be half bad of a person if it wasn’t for the fact that he attacked new York. That’s probably where our enemy relationship stems from.. could I be nicer? Sure, he just.. draws something out of me.. he’s not a bad looking guy either, my emotions run different when I’m around him compared to the others. Tony teased me once and called it denial of something perhaps more I was feeling towards him, but there was no way I would have fallen for someone that attacked-

‘’if you would just let me heal you then perhaps your mind will stop being so loud.’’

My eyes snap open as Loki rubbed his temple as if he had a headache. If it wasn’t for the damn gash in my side, I probably would have killed him right then and there as I gawked at him.

‘’the fuck were you-‘’

‘’Y/N,’’ he starts, sincerity in his eyes and voice that somehow made me still. ‘’yes I’ve done those things in the past, I should hope that the time I have been spending here has given me a good chance to have changed and perhaps provided a door for a fresh start..’’ he starts, his eyes darting to the floor and slowly back at me as my muscles tensed by another wave and I hold my side, staying silent still. ‘’I do not blame you for your negative emotions towards me, and I am not asking for a second chance,.. all I’m asking is to just heal you.’’

My eyes slowly travel up to his after they had descended to the floor. God of lies, it was taught to tell if he was being honest or not. Though honestly, what did you have to lose? Nausea was already hitting your gut and light headedness was already reminding me how much blood I was losing. Yet the fact of the matter is,..

‘’..why do you care?’’

Loki almost genuinely smiled and I noticed his muscles were straining. Raising a brow, I noticed the elevator had not once moved since the doors had been closed. My eyes were next to narrow at him.

‘’what are you-‘’

‘’ask me Y/N.’’

I blink at him, knowing exactly what he wants me to ask but even now he’s being a stubborn ass??

He gave me a look at the name and I immediately just decided to focus on the pain instead to block him out. He was just as stubborn as I was, there was no point in asking him about the elevator, let alone avoiding the question. Taking a deep breath, I clutched my side and looked at him with all the dignity I was clinging on too.

‘’fine.. w-would you-‘’

My words cut short when my vision blacked out and all I remember is falling to the ground.

~

A cold hand pressed to my forehead, the temperature feeling cool where I practically lean into the touch before opening my eyes.

And then I want to die.

My cheeks heat up as Loki sat by my side as I lay in the bed located in our medical bay- aka Tony’s sometimes hangover room.

‘’how are you feeling?’’ he asked, looking a bit drained himself as I took in the scene.

I felt no pain.. something in my chest stirred, something that was hard to identify as I glanced down at myself. The gash in my side was completely gone- not so much as a scar behind! I look up at Loki wide eyed and he merely gave me a gentle look as I tried to speak but shut my mouth quick as redness heated in my cheeks.

How could I thank him? .. I never shared a kind word to him before, we had a sharp relationship.. and yet he still went out of his way to do this..

‘’Loki I- .. I.. I don’t know what to say..’’ I say pathetically as he chuckled.

‘’glad you are looking like your regular self again love.’’

Love.. that nickname.. why did it make me feel.. something? I glance at the clock, seeing how a couple hours have passed since I most likely had passed out. Leaving plenty of time to make sure it wasn’t a trick, a spell, or some type of cruel joke.. he really did help me..

‘’norns Y/N, I’m not that cruel to just leave you to bleed or taking your injured state into advantage for mischief’’ he sighed and leaned himself against the side rails of my bed, his body still sat close enough where I found feel him pressed against my side and I give him a tired, irritated look.

‘’before I thank you, I would request you stop reading my mind from now, call it an exchange for some future moments where I will take it easy on you.’’ I lightly joke, leaning back in the sat up bed as I hear him laugh.

‘’an exchange then? Alright, I will leave your thoughts be for some decent time from your kind heart,’’ he said with a tease. ‘’but is it hardly a fair exchange when our moments have been clearly even?’’

I sigh, knowing regardless of it all, he’ll always he so stubborn. ‘’and what is it that you want?’’

‘’a proper thank you.’’ he said calmly with a smile, it widening as I raise my brows.

I was half expecting a sarcastic, clever comment, but all he wanted was a true thank you? easy. ..or was it.. he clearly saved me from bleeding out to death, I’m pretty sure a ‘thanks’ wouldn’t be good enough as my fingers played with the fabric of my blanket mindlessly. ‘’..in what way?’’

‘’that is for you to figure out love.’’ He said gently, the mischief fading from his eyes as he seemed to stare at me like an honest man.

What? Buy him lunch as a thank you? a hug? A good word to Fury to help his probation at the tower? From his eyes, it seemed like he was just expecting words of affirmation, a from the heart type of thank you. yet why didn’t that feel like enough? My mind raced, everything seeming to be shouting things all at once as I tried to calm my emotions. What was this feeling? My mind paused as I felt him move and my eyes looked up to see him beginning to stand.

‘’it’s alright darling, you are tired and its been quite a long da-‘’

He stared at me with the same shocked expression as I had on my face as my hand grasped his before I even realized what he happening. He was still, his hand making no move to grasp back but remained still as I held on. My heart was pounding, and before I knew it, my arm was pulling him back and down.

His expression was now unreadable, as was mine I hope.. but something felt right about it- and I prayed I wasn’t reading the room wrong because despite his unreadable expression and closed off personality.. there was always something off between us, off where there was almost a secret enjoyment to our fights and banter.

So I took a gamble and pulled my hand towards me and his boots could be heard slowly moving towards me, allowing his hand to be guided before he came closer to my side on the bed. Our gazes never left each other, almost daring each other to look away but neither of us did.. not even as I pulled his hand a bit down to where he now slowly bent his height down and I lean forward. All movements were careful, my hand slowly releasing his as he moved it beside my arm and moved his other hand to do the same on the other side- caging me in.

As he leaned down, our eyes fell slightly closed, expressions relaxed as we seemed to melt in the moment. my lips slightly parted, our soft breaths could be heard as he leaned down and my hands moved to his shoulders to take over and guided him down finally so I could kiss him.

My lips brushed against his gentle, finding them soft and welcoming. He let me set the pace, my arms bringing him closer so I was able to deepen the kiss in which he eagerly returned with restrained gentleness. He gently moaned against my lips, as did I as we seemed to fit perfectly like a glove. My mind went still- relaxed, as if nothing mattered anymore, all quarrel forgotten and memories faded.

With my eyes closed, I felt his knee gently rest beside my thigh, followed by the other one as I felt his presence hover above my now. There was a strange temperature to him, not frost bite necessarily but a lack of human warmth. Well.. he’s not human anyway. His kiss became more needy as he ran his slender fingers through my hair and I couldn’t help but tangle mine in his. His locks are silky, not at all oily like one would think at the mere look of them. I hear a low growl as I tighten my grip on them, the mere vibration sending a wave of arousal through my body as I feel the need to close my legs.

‘’L-Loki.. I need.. we need..’’ I pant, staring up at him as he gazes back down at me, his pupils dilated with arousal himself as I feel his bulge just barely pressed up against me. If I were to raise my hips right now, I’m sure it would be like touching a boulder.

‘’I know darling, I know’’ he whispered, his thumb stroking my cheek as he lowered himself ever so slightly so our bodies were almost close to touching. ‘’are you sure you want this?..’’

My mind was in complete submission, my sharp tongue completely dulled to how I see him now. I wanted him.. this had all been denial.. but now I’m sure. I want him. my eyes gently looked up into his and my head nodded.

‘’use your words darling..’’ he held back a smirk but I knew it was there. Even now his personality didn’t change much, he probably enjoyed seeing me submit as my cheeks reddened as I look up at him.

‘’I want you’’ I whisper, eagerness being held back as my body began shaking in anticipation. That earned a small brush of his body lowering to feel mine, my hips rising for more of him but he raised up again.

‘’not yet darling, I don’t think you’re ready for me.’’ He sighed, almost as if saying ‘oh well’ and I look up at him in shock.

‘’no I’m ready-‘’

‘’you need a good amount of prepping first love, if you don’t want to be torn apart’’ that last part he whispered against my ear, I could feel his breath brush against my skin where it sent chills over my body.

‘’what are you-‘’

My words cut off when his hand gently began kneading my breast over my clothes, the action catching me off guard where a gasp left my lips and he took that opportunity to insert his tongue.

He was a skilled lover, one would assume so just by the mere sight of him but the thought was always shook off when I didn’t want to accept my true feelings.. any type of relationship causes me to panic, the mere doubt or thought of me messing up always just made me want to push all of it away.. but I suppose hate is what grew this connect. A sick, sad way of bonding but it got us here, it only took me getting stabbed for me to stop denying myself.

He was reading my mind again, the feeling of like a poke in my brain as he pulled up my shirt to place his mouth over my breast to ease my thoughts away. I think to much, and this was a damn good distraction as he moaned against me, my back arching as gasps left my lips. His other hand gave my other breast attention, pinching and kneading before his hand and mouth switched to give equal attention.

‘’you don’t know how long I’ve been waiting for you Y/N..’’ he murmured against me, his lips navigating up my chest to suck just above my collarbone that was a promise to leave a mark.

‘’i.. I thought you hated me..’’ I struggled out as my hands gripped his shoulders, a tingling under my fingertips as I glanced down to see the remaining shimmer before noticing his armor was off, leaving him just in his leather and cloth.

‘’I went along with your denied feelings but I sensed the truth way before I decided to enter that naughty little mind of yours’’ he smirked, his eyes flicking up to my own as his finger tips played with the button of my jeans.

My cheeks heated up as my nails practically dug into his shoulders out of shyness, almost as if I was curling up if I didn’t feel his knee between my legs to prevent them from closing. ‘’how long have you been doing that?’’ I whisper, shuddering as he began rubbing his knee gently against my sex, even with the blanket still between us.

‘’whenever I felt like it. primarily when you walk away after using your sharp tongue and yet your thoughts betrayed you, thinking the complete opposite of me. I was able to glance into your true feelings just enough before you pushed them down.. but I think we both know the truth’’ he whispered, his lips caressing my neck now while his hand gently moved my hair away to give him more access while his other unzipped my zipper.

‘’it was only a matter of time but I couldn’t wait forever.. I was going to perhaps wait longer on telling you how I truly felt about you but after you got injured..’’ his movements paused at the memory, raising his head slowly to meet my widened eyes. ‘’I thought I wouldn’t have gotten the chance to tell you if I lost you..’’

Of gods.. norns I think I love him..

A small smile spread across his lips as I look away from him. ‘’stop that..’’

‘’as you wish darling, I’m sure things are clear now nevertheless’’ he chuckled, attacking my neck again while my head was turned, earning a squeak to leave my lips when I felt him begin to nip and his fingers slowly dipped passed my panties.

My lips part as my eyes flutter close, making no moves to stop him as his finger tips ghost over my sex ever so slightly to take my breath away. I feel his tongue against my neck and his teeth now and again before his lips begin to suck and mark. Just before I could even think to rise my hips to find more friction, his finger tips begin playing with my clit, causing me to shudder and the knot of pleasure to begin forming within me.

‘’so sensitive.. so responsive.. how long has it been since one has touched you properly..’’ he whispered, not asking a question and I probably wouldn’t have been able to answer it anyway.

He began rubbing circles, a slow pace that began picking up when I began rising my hips, practically trying to shamelessly hump his hand if his other didn’t grip my hip to hold me down. a silent gasp left my mouth as I raised my head back and my back began to arch. His thumb took over on my clit so his two fingers could tease my entrance, dipping ever so slightly in and pulling out when my hips strained to rise.

‘’patience darling, be a good girl and take what I give you’’ he practically growled against my ear before he began to nibble on my lobe.

Goosebumps rose on my arms and I began to squirm until he slowly inserted his two fingers, causing me to moan his name slowly and shamelessly. I didn’t even care where we were or who could walk in but I was sure somehow Loki would have used magic to somehow provide us with a bit of privacy. I could feel his rock-hard bulge against the inside of my thigh, rubbing himself against it to match his rhythm while his fingers thrust into me In a faster pace.

‘’gods Loki…’’ I moan, feeling my orgasm get closer and closer and my eyebrows furrowed with my eyes fluttering closed. I was so close..

‘’cum for me darling.. ‘’ he whispered, his pace quickening on my clit as he pushed his fingers into me to the knuckles, causing me to tip over the edge as I reached my orgasm.

‘’LOKI!!’’ I practically scream as I moan and hold onto him, my body fluttering and clenching down on his fingers in a vise grip that has him practically moaning while he presses his lips to mine once more.

His movements slowed down ever so slightly, helping me ride it out as I was a panting mess, my body shaking and my eyes drunk like before he slowly pulls his hand out of my pants, his mouth licking my essence with no shame and a smirk where my cheeks heat up again.

‘’shy not darling, you taste absolutely wonderful.’’ He purred and adjusts himself as he backs away down my body while a hand slowly removed the blanket.

I slowly sit up as I catch my breath, just seeing the mischief in his eyes as his hands grip my pant legs and I give him a smile.

‘’in fact, I think I should help myself to a proper taste..’’

[stellar-solar-flare]

Hey, this is my first time sending you a request. I'm so glad that you're getting back in to writing.

Can I request Steve Rogers × reader based on Taylor Swift's Champagne problems but with happy ending please 💖 (I'm a sucker for happy endings)

Thank you for sending a prompt! I hope you like what I spun up. I'm definitely a sucker for happy endings, too, and I love Taylor Swift's music too, so this prompt was right up my alley.

Worthy - Steve Rogers/Reader

Mature - 18+ only!

You and Steve Rogers have been dating for a year. When a journalist is out to get you, you will have to stand together and come out stronger.

Romance, angst with a happy ending, fluff & hurt/comfort, protective Steve Rogers.

Word Count: 2,045 words.

Warnings: Press being nasty. Reader has unspecified past trauma and unspecified mental health issues as a result. Self-esteem and self-worth issues. Sexual content (not very explicit).

Alternate Universe: The Avengers Initiative (AI) continued SHIELD's work after its collapse to corruption, with Steve as the Head Strategist and Tony as the Director. The Avengers are living together in the Tower - Bucky has healed, and Civil War never happened because Tony and Steve worked through their differences like adults.

I do not own anything Marvel related or the Taylor Swift song. This is an unofficial fan work. No copyright infringement intended. This is a work of fiction. Any similarity to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events, is purely coincidental.

AUTHOR MASTERLIST | AO3

You heard the door of Steve’s floor of the Tower open and close and curled yourself up tighter against the corner of the couch as if doing so would make you disappear. You hugged your knees tight against your chest and hid your tear-streaked face from the world and your boyfriend, whose steps you now recognized even without seeing him.

Despite its impressive size, the piece of furniture refused to swallow you, and when Steve’s footsteps reached you, you were still there. Shame burned your cheeks. He’d come after you, even after you’d practically run out of the lovely, loud New Year’s Eve party upstairs, leaving mid-conversation while he’d been at the bar getting drinks. He would’ve had the courage to stand up. He wouldn’t have just run away.

“Oh thank god you’re here,” he breathed out, and you felt a pang shoot through your heart.

Steve deserved better than this. Wasn’t that the whole point?

“I’m sorry,” you murmured to your knees.

“Love, please, look at me,” he said, and the sheer pain in his voice gripped your heart and squeezed tight.

You managed to lift your face up to him and weren’t sure what to make of his expression. Sternness, as if he was preparing for an impact. Sorrow. Despair. God, you had done this to him. It was supposed to be a fun evening, with both of you dressed to the nines, Steve in a navy three-piece suit and you in a matching evening gown and in professionally done hair and makeup, which you were fairly certain had not budged even now.

“Can I sit down?” he said, and you nodded.

He lowered himself on the couch, and reached a hand towards you, stopping mid-air, and then letting his hand rest in his lap.

“What did she say to you?” he asked, and as you shook your head, continued. “Love, I need to know.”

You did not want to talk about this. You did not want to remember the journalist’s gleeful face as she’d oh-so-innocently dropped the fact that she had somehow gained access to all the things you had never wanted to become front-page news in the kind of gossip rags you certainly didn’t want to be featured in.

“She knows,” you sniffled. “She knows, and next week everyone will know I’m not worthy of you.”

“Hey,” Steve said. “Hey, come here. Please. Please don’t talk like that about yourself.”

You should not. You should let him go, be grateful that you’d been his for over a year, be grateful for everything you had been given, and accept that he deserved better than someone like you. As the journalist had so kindly said in between the lines. Someone with your history certainly wasn’t worthy of being the girlfriend of Captain America, or god forbid, Mrs. Rogers.

And yet, it was impossible to stop yourself, to rob yourself of the solace only Steve could give, the warmth, the safety. You went to him when he opened his arms, crawling into his lap and burying your face against his neck. For a few minutes, his palm just ran over the jewel-covered back of your dress. You’d felt so beautiful today, and now you felt thoroughly rotten.

“I’m sorry,” he finally breathed out after you’d stopped shaking — you only realized you had been shaking when it stopped.

He was sorry? What the hell was he sorry for? The sheer surprise at his statement made you lift your head and shift to straddle his lap so that you could meet his gaze properly. His hands settled to rest on your hips.

“Steve?” you asked, and the sigh that left him seemed to originate from the very depths of his soul.

“It’s my fault,” he said. “I… If it wasn’t for me, they wouldn’t be infringing your privacy. I’m a public figure, whether I want it or not, and you shouldn’t… You shouldn’t have to cope with anything like this because of that. There’s nothing, nothing to be ashamed of about what you’ve gone through. And I am certainly not ashamed of you. But you should get to choose whether you disclose it or not. And now you can’t, because of me.”

He was gritting his teeth, his jawline so sharp it could’ve cut bulled-proof glass, and it occurred to you that of course this would happen. Of course he would end up blaming himself for this, for failing to protect you from the bad side of being a superhero in the limelight.

“Steve…”

It broke your heart to look at him. You knew he was right about the fact that there was nothing to be ashamed of for having a bad past and having struggled with mental health and having needed therapy and other medical assistance because of that. But he was also right that it should’ve been your choice to talk about in public, if you wanted to.

“It’s not your fault,” you murmured. “I just… I shouldn’t be ashamed but I am. And I’m ashamed of that. And I just… When she started talking about it, I just panicked, I just had to get out of there. I’m sorry I left so suddenly.”

“It’s okay,” Steve said, the back of his hand gently swiping the tears on your cheeks away. “It’s okay. It’s private; I am so proud of you for everything you’ve conquered, and since there is no putting this genie back in the bottle, I will be so proud of you if you want to spin this into you becoming an advocate for it. But I will be just as proud of you if you don’t want to do that. It’s tough, having the public eye on you, and I’m sorry I pulled you into this out of my selfishness. She had it the wrong way — it’s me who is not worthy of you.”

“Steven Grant Rogers,” you huffed. “You stop that nonsense at this instant. You couldn’t control it any more than I could. I chose this. I am here because I love you, and I’ll be damned before some stupid gossip rag writer takes that away from me.”

He looked at your stern face, and his forefinger trailed the edge of your jaw — as if he didn’t quite believe you were there. There was an awestruck expression in his eyes.

“There she is,” he breathed out. “I love you so much. You are so strong. And you very much are worthy of me. More than I could’ve ever wished for.”

You swallowed. There was a light on his face, something so kind and pure that it was impossible to resist, breaking through the clouds of the earlier conversation.

“So you aren’t mad at me?” you said with a tiny voice, and the shock on his face shot through your chest — before he could ask, you offered an explanation: “I ruined our night.”

“She ruined our night, and I’ll make damn sure her press privileges to AI events will be removed,” Steve said through gritted teeth, and a very, very pleasant — if out of place — shiver shot down your back. “But I am not mad at you. Not in the slightest. I want to be with you — I loved you before you told me, and nothing about that changed then, or now. It isn’t something that defines you. And I’m sorry I wasn’t there to protect you.”

You let out a soft breath, resting your forehead against his. Adrenaline was draining from your body, the panic reaction settling as Steve’s comforting presence made its way into every cell in your body, leaving a tingling warmth in its wake.

“You can’t protect me from everything,” you murmured.

He closed his eyes for a brief moment, a sigh leaving him.

“I know,” he said. “Sometimes I just wish I could. But what we will do is get the legal department on this, to see if there’s any way we can stop it — and see if they can find out how the hell she got access to it in the first place. It’s the kind of personal medical information that probably can’t be just aired out.”

You nodded, but you also knew that stuff like this tended to find its way through the grape wine, even if the legal department was able to stop it from making front-page news. Steve seemed to read your thoughts from your face and gently brushed your cheek with his thumb.

“But regardless of what happens, I’ll be there every step of the way. I’ll always be there for you, honey.”

You leaned your face into his hand and let the knowledge of that wash away the bad emotions still lingering inside you. You would have to live with your past, but Steve was right: it wasn’t something that defined you, and he would be there.

“I know,” you whispered. “And I’m so grateful I have you, love. You’re the best boyfriend I could hope for.”

Something lit up in his eyes; it seemed like he was almost grinning, even as his smile changed only a little, and his thumb brushed over your bottom lip. He trailed the movement with his eyes before meeting your gaze again.

“Well, I was actually wondering if you would give me a promotion?” he said, and now he was grinning even as your brow furrowed.

A promotion? From being a boyfriend…?

Oh.

Oh.

You swallowed, and you were fairly certain your eyes were the size of saucers when he reached for the inner pocket of his suit jacket. But could he mean…? He would never joke about this but this was ridiculous and silly after what had just happened and…

It was just right.

When he produced the little blue velvet box from his pocket, your eyes were brimming with tears for an entirely different reason.

“I actually had a little different plans for us tonight,” he said softly, snapping the box open with one hand and taking your hand with another. “I did intend to take you to the roof when the fireworks started and get on one knee there, but I… It’s about us, love. It’s for us and for no one else, and I think you know I wouldn’t just ask this to make you feel better. But I think the right course here is to not let anything ruin our night.”

Your heart raced in your chest. The oval blue sapphire, flanked with two smaller colorless diamonds in a platinum band — and really, smaller was a bit of a stretch here, with how the ring would likely be visible from Jupiter — glimmered in the soft light of the living room. It was gorgeous and your hand was shaking just a little in his grip. You managed to tear your eyes off the ring and look into a different kind of glimmering blue in Steve’s eyes. He swallowed, his voice just a little thick despite the soft smile on his face.

“You’re the one I want, love, and I love you more than anything. You make me a better man every day, and you give me a reason to fight. Would you do me the honor of becoming my wife? Will you marry me?”

Somehow, you managed to speak. Somehow, even as the world was spinning, your throat felt thick, your eyes were glazed over with tears, and your heart was exploding.

“Yes. Yes, Steve, I will. I would. I do,” you babbled, and he laughed like a spirit of a cloudless summer day when he pulled you in for a kiss.

“That last one you’ll have to wait a moment to say,” he whispered between the kisses. “But I look forward to hearing it, more than anything. I love you.”

“I love you too.”

And after he slipped the ring to your finger, he stood up from the couch with you still on his lap and carried you to the bedroom. And when he took you apart again and again with the meticulous care of a strategic man, when he whispered words of love and desire into your ear, when he murmured praise onto your skin, you felt like you were exactly where you belonged.

With him.

In his embrace, it was impossible to feel anything but worthy.

[arcadia-of-pluto]

Twist of Fate; Twenty-Three

Pairing(s); LADS OT4 x reader

Word count; 3,420

Themes; isekai, slowburn (eventual smut), canon divergence

Warnings; swearing and eventual mature themes

Notes; Hey guys, finally done with Foreseer Zayne's story and back in the present with Sylus! But only for a moment before we're thrown right back into our mind palace to Lightseeker Xavier!

I'm gonna be completely honest, I already tried to post this once and Tumblr decided to say "fuck you" and eat my post, so I'm redoing all of this for a second time :( it's so upsetting, but i can't remember what all i said before so I hope this suffices. I hope you enjoy this chapter!

prev || next

☆ masterlist ☆

Cradled in Zayne’s arms, the woman lies still, her cold warmth lingering. The body he’s holding cannot be considered one that belongs to a mortal.

Under her clothes, blue lines manifest at an alarming rate. Astra warns the Foreseer in the form of an eerie indigo gleam from the Creatio Protocore on his scepter. The Foreseer is forbidden from peeking into his own destiny…or else Astra shall give unto him the sweetness of Death’s embrace.

Even so, the Foreseer must see the future of this woman whose fate is so deeply intertwined with his.

As he follows destiny’s golden thread, he unveils the truths hidden in enigmatic mist.

Along his long journey through the silky threads, Zayne notices that the ends are frayed and red…as if someone snipped a piece off…

He learns that he has met this woman time and time again. He always falls in love with her, becomes a witness to her changing fate, and then watches her die. There is never a good ending for her.

For Astra’s tools can never fall in love.

And so Astra manipulates his memories of her, plunging them into an incomprehensible mystery; a jasmine bud that never blooms and is just out of reach.

…You slowly open your eyes. Your arm moving up to shield your face from the moonlight coming in through the window of your darkened room.

Why…were you here? Weren’t you just with Zayne? What happened?

Before fainting, you recall a flash of indigo light and Zayne’s concerned expression…Did Zayne put you here? How long were you out?

You struggle as you get up to your feet. Your hand shakily grips the wooden bedpost to keep your balance. You felt so weak…You stagger out of your room in search of Zayne.

You hold a makeshift cane in your hand as you make your way through the entire Tower, looking for the man in question, but you couldn’t find him. He wasn’t seated on his throne…nor was he on the roof with the jasmine flower. Eventually, you find a hidden staircase behind his throne and you follow it to a wooden door at the very top. You can hear muffled noises from inside the room.

You put all your weight into opening the heavy door and once inside, your eyes widen. There was only one window, ice all across the room…It felt more blisteringly cold than the winter wonderland outside of the Tower. Chains hung from the ceiling and old pieces of iron were scattered across the room.

You finally notice Zayne shackled to the wall in the corner of the room.

This…was a prison.

From the walls to the floor, even the ceiling…the ice approaches hounding like a living, ravenous beast. Black as night, its glow is ominous.

“Zayne?” You try to rush over to him, lightly hopping over some of the moving ice. “What happened to you?”

With not a tinge of emotion, Zayne’s eyes are scarlet. His hand emits a white glow, and as he clenches it, the black ice suddenly elongates and stabs his body. His face was still as neutral as ever, but you hear a noise of pain from him and your brows tightly knit together. “Why are you hurting yourself?”

“Astra’s…punishment…”

Fuuck this dumb mother–

Okay, breathe.

As you examine Zayne’s body with your eyes, you realize his body is moving on its own. You recall seeing him bare, scarred body a little while ago…Were those scars also a result of his “self inflicted” injuries?

You tentatively take a few steps closer to Zayne, your body crouched low as if you were approaching a wild animal. His wrists were chained above him and his head was hung low.

His blue robes were torn in some spots and he had a spiked ice crystal nestled in his chest. His body was iced over- almost appearing to be freezer burnt.

“Zayne?” You step closer before kneeling before him. His breath was coming out in ragged grunts, and if this were any other situation, you might have been a little…excited, but he was in pain- this was no time to be sexually charged.

You needed to find a way to remove this ice from his chest or warm him up.

As you reach toward him, he finally lifts his head to look at you. His expression a mix of pain and concern. “...It’s too dangerous.” He speaks through gritted teeth. “I won’t be able to control…Leave. Now.”

But his actions contradict his words as one of his hands moves to cup your cheek. He jerks his hand back and closes his eyes.

You slowly reach your hand out to touch the frost across his cheek. “I cannot die. This agony I’ve experienced before.” Even as he tries to show you his strong side, you can hear the pain in his voice. His quick gasps with every word spoken.

“You being tortured is worse than death itself!” You pull your hand back, clenching it tightly into a fist as your eyes trail back down to the crystal lodged in Zayne’s chest. It gives off a faint white glow.

There has to be a way to remove it.

The ice pulses as if alive, frost spreading further across Zayne’s body. You sit down next to him and reach out to grab it, but he stops you. “I can’t stop the ice…You’ll get injured.”

But you can’t stop. You won’t stop.

It’s sweet that he’s worrying about you right now, but that is not a healthy mindset. If anyone is going to hurt, why can’t you both hurt together?

You take a deep breath and grab hold of the crystal. A sharp hiss slips from your clenched teeth as a chill bites into your palm.

The pointed edges of the ice dig into your hand, but you pay no mind to the pain as you feel the ice slowly dislodging from Zayne’s chest. The man lets out a pained shout as you finally pull the crystal free.

The area where the ice was is perfectly fine. There’s no ripped clothing nor gaping wound to be seen.

As Zayne collects himself, he grabs your arm in a tight grip as he gazes upon you with a worried expression. “Does it still hurt?” You quickly ask, momentarily stunned by his actions. Your hand throbbing in pain by your side.

“The ice will not relent…Leave this place. Please.” His voice becoming much softer as he practically begs you to leave him. But you can’t.

Not like this.

“We have to stop it. There’s got to be a way.” You shake your head, unwilling to just leave him here like this. With tears in your eyes, you wrap your arms around him and rest your head against his shoulder.

One of your hands gently cradles the back of his icy neck in an attempt to give your warmth to him. 

“Why didn’t you leave…Compared to the previous trespassers of the Tower…You truly are the most audacious.” 

The black ice has finally ceased its movements, but the prison is still freezing cold. You glance around the room and spot a key resting on the stone windowsill, just out of Zayne’s reach.

Once you get a hold of it, you unshackle his hand. Sorrow nips at your heart at the sight of his bloodied wrist and your teeth sink into your bottom lip as you attempt to hold back your tears.

“Zayne, I…” Your breath comes out in a foggy sigh. “I approached you so I could take the Creatio Protocore, but…” You squeeze your eyes shut, heart feeling heavy in your chest as you worried for his response. Your voice caught in your throat.

“I know.”

Your eyes open in surprise and a wayward tear streaks down your cheek. You open your mouth to speak, but Zayne continues with what he was going to say, “While you were unconscious, I divined your fate and the reason you visited the Tower.”

Your head tilts to the side in confusion. If he knows everything, then why…Why does he still care for you so?

“I…But why did He punish you?” Your hand grips at the man’s robes as you press your lips into a thin line. There’s no way…Did he…

Zayne’s gaze is calm.

“Our fates are intertwined on a red and golden thread.”

“...What?”

Red threads usually mean soulmates…right? So this would mean the original protagonist and, at least, Zayne are soulmates…and if they’re soulmates, then why are you even here?

“I bear the name of Foreseer. So, Astra punished me for defying my own fate.” After Zayne says this, you stay quiet. Your head resting against his shoulder as he held your hand, both palms stained with blood.

“Come then…We have one more place to be.”

The two of you finally stand. His footing is a bit steady, but you allow him to prop himself up on your shoulder as the two of you walk up the long and winded staircase leading to the top of the Tower.

The two of you stand atop the Tower once more.

Under the gentle moonlight, the jasmine wilts petal by petal. They fall to the ground like paper, ready to scatter to the wind. “How…It shouldn’t be wilting already..” You drop to your knees and pick up the fallen petals with trembling hands, fathomless sadness washing over you.

Your head turning toward Zayne as he speaks, “Before you were willing to defy Astra to free me…”

“I’ve made my choice,” You say firmly, your injured hand clenching into a painful fist. “I’m more relieved than scared.” You rise up to your feet to look him in the eyes. “I no longer fear the pain caused by my illness or my inevitable death. I also don’t need to be mired in indecision.”

“When?”

“When I saw you were being tortured in that prison? No…I’d say even before then.” The tiniest of smiles tugs at your lips before you shrug. Within Zayne’s placid gaze, a sliver of emotion escapes, flashing in his eyes. “You should have taken the Creatio Protocore.” He looks away from you.

“But you must tell me your answer.”

“...My answer?”

He’s just as confused as you were internally. You don’t recall asking him anything…

“Back in the illusion, you wanted to ensure you didn’t lose me again. So…are you certain now?” You ask as you tilt your head to the side, your thumb anxiously dragging across the wilted petals in your palm. Zayne is startled at first, but then he slowly smiles.

“I, too, made my choice back in that prison.” Light flashes in his hand and his scepter appears. “Your illness stems from your resonance with the Creatio Protocore. It is as if it’s connected to you somehow.” He moves the scepter, and the Creatio Protocore glows brightly when it touches your arm.

Then he takes the scepter, dragging it along your arm to your chest. “The Creatio Protocore grows stronger by draining away your very life.”

You can feel your strength fading away. Your heart struggles to keep beating, yet rather than being afraid, you are anxious.

“What are you doing?”

“This would be your fate after meeting me.” Zayne stares at you, a strange determination in his eyes. He lifts his hand, and the Creatio Protocore floats from his scepter to his palm.

“Zayne…” Your panicked gaze meets his and you shake your head. “I don’t want the Creatio Protocore anymore. Don’t—”

Light bursts from it, refulgent enough to illuminate all of the Tower. In Zayne’s hand, white light encapsulates the Creatio Protocore.

“The power of Astra can curse destiny itself. And it can be used to ruin His plans. The Protocore is connected to you, somehow, so think of it as it’s returning to its rightful owner.” The protocore’s light is contained in the crystalline sphere and he puts it against your chest.

The light dissipates into your heart. Power floods in, coursing through every part of your body.

“It's…so cold, Zayne!” You wince, your hand twitches and the wilted jasmine petals scatter from your palm before being uplifted by the wind. A warm light flows from Zayne’s hands into you, encouraging your weakened heart to beat once more. Frost starts to creep along Zayne’s face.

The Tower begins to shake, its foundation crumbling. Serpentine ice crystals emerge, lunging toward you both.

Zayne wraps his arms around you, his head resting atop your own as the light from his hands shields you from the ice.

“Why would you…I wasn’t going to live for much longer…” You had already given up on your fleeting life, instead preferring for Zayne to live but…You knew how this was going to end.

Accompanying a desperate resolve is a deep pain in Zayne’s eyes. “Your destiny is not written in stone…” Even though you have a limited view, you know that Zayne is being bombarded with frost, ice embedding itself in his back.

Though, the man doesn’t let out a single noise, refusing to acknowledge his pain; knowing you’ll try to stop him.

“Zayne!” Your panicked cry reaches his ears, but he shakes his head with a faint smile.

“I won’t forget you. Not this time.”

“No—”

The light gets brighter and brighter, surrounding you until all you can see is white. “Zayne! ….Zayne?” You squint your tear filled eyes, trying to find him through the light. Desperate to see him one last time.

For him not to leave you.

When the light finally fades, the ice, the Tower, and the Creatio Protocore are gone. Only a familiar figure stands before you.

“You’re hurt…!” You rush toward him and reach for his hand, but Zayne grabs yours instead. “The Creatio Protocore exists inside of you. Astra’s power is yours to wield. This place is bound to collapse. I’m here to bid you farewell.”

“If Astra’s power is my own then– then…I can keep you with me, right? Please, don’t leave me.” You quickly shake your head as the tears you so desperately tried to hold back fall. “I want to stay by your side.”

Zayne’s gaze softens and he looks content. Happy even.

“Don’t cry.”

“I thought you said you didn’t want to lose me again…” Your hands tremble as you wrap them around his waist, head buried in his cold chest.

“I will never lose you as long as you are alive and well. The riddle I’ve struggled with has an answer. At long last…I shall never forget you.” Zayne gently lifts your face from his chest, his thumbs wipe the tears from your cheek. “I wish to end it on my own terms. May I?” He slowly smiles and it’s like watching the first sprout break through melting snow.

You know that no matter what you say, this has always been his plan. If the two of you cannot be happy together, he’d rather die than have you suffer…

Zayne leans down and kisses you for the first…and last time.

Light washes over you akin to waves lapping the shore. You desperately try to reach out to him, a choked sob escapes from your lips, but he smiles and slips away like sand falling between your fingers.

“No– No!”

You fall to your knees, hands sinking into the grass and dirt as your fingers dig into the soil. “Zayne…” Your voice is small…broken. You barely even notice that the scenery around you has changed.

The unforgiving winter and snow-capped mountains were no more. In their place, a seemingly endless array of nature- or plant life. Grass and trees as far as the eye could see. Different species of flowers…

It was like the illusion inside of Philos: Floral Inquiry. 

Your dirt and blood stained hands cup around a lone jasmine bud as you dip your head down to place a small kiss against it. Then, you sit up to look around.

A field of jasmines…Jasmines in blossom with the sun shining down upon them.

“Are you alright, Miss?”

At the elderly woman’s question, more tears stream down your face.

No…You were not alright. Not at all.

Through your teary eyes, you spot a small sphere of white light and your bottom lip trembles.

“Please, promise me you won’t cry anymore.”

A scoff slips from your lips as you wipe your eyes with the back of your hand. “Why should I listen to you? I’ll keep crying until I see you again.” Your fingertips twitch as you gain more and more control over them, and you look up at the sky with a smile.

“Which…I have a feeling I’ll be seeing you again very soon.”

You wake up on your own terms. The light from the sun almost blinding once you finally open your eyes. You lift your cheek from the back of Sylus’s leather jacket and yawn. You try to stretch your arms out, but that’s when you notice the man’s evol was wrapped tightly around your body.

“Sy, how long was I out?”

You were tired as hell, all things considered, but there’s no use being upset over it. Sure, your cheeks felt wet and crusty from tears, but you were done crying and freaking out– at least, for now. Maybe you’d allow yourself a panic attack once you were alone.

“Thirty minutes.” Sylus cuts the engine to his motorcycle as he parks at Meow’s cafe. “I thought we could get you a drink and something to eat before I drop you off. Does that sound alright, sweetie?” He releases you from his evol and steps off the motorcycle to hold out his hand. You run a hand down your face before graciously taking his hand, because you doubt you’d be able to walk straight.

You felt so weak and helpless. All of the emotions from your past dreams were really catching up to you. The mental exhaustion was carrying a heavy toll onto your body.

“That sounds great.” Your voice comes out a bit croaky, so you quickly clear your throat as you step into the cafe. “I’ll get a tea and a coffee cake.” Sylus pulls out your chair for you and ruffles your hair with a nod before he walks up to the counter to place your order. Once he does this, he comes back and sets down the number in front of you.

There’s a moment of silence between you both before you speak, “Did I say anything in my sleep this time?”

“No, but,” Sylus cuts himself off with a sigh, then grabs your wrist to pull your arm toward him. “What–”

“You have a cut here…” His fingertips trail down your bicep, along your arm until his palm is flat against yours, “...and here from seemingly nothing. I had to stop and patch you up. Then, your body felt cold as ice. I thought you died for a moment, Y/n.”

Was this the first time Sylus had ever said your name?

Either way, it’s not often that he says it, so it seems he was definitely worried about you.

“I’m sorry for worrying you…Seriously. I didn’t think my injuries would carry over.” Your hand rests over the bandages on your bicep and you frown.

You had so many questions…Like why do you have the necklace Rafayel gave you or how did your injury follow you back…but you’re snapped out of your thoughts when you hear the server call your order number.

You slap your hands on the table, determined to stay awake this time. So you can eat and not worry Sylus anymore.

“I’ll get it.” You flash him a smile, but when you look toward the cafe employee, you don’t recognize where you are.

There’s a beautiful blue sky, a white limestone building made with intricate detail, paned windows with metal designs, and an endless array of stairs and railings.

“Sweetie?”

You can faintly hear Sylus, but you don’t see him. You realize you said you were done panicking, but this was before…well, all of this.

You didn’t know if you were daydreaming or asleep, if you were just going crazy and seeing things…but then, you feel a headache pounding its way through your skull like a steel drum.

After hearing the Starhunters had returned from their space expedition, you rushed out of your dorm and sprinted down Astroscience Avenue to the Holy Sword of the Goddess statue. Students were huddled in small groups, listening to Vice Captain Jeremiah brag about his adventures.

Jeremiah?

Ohhh…So this was Xavier’s myth…

Here we go again.

If I'm honest, this was one of my favourite chapters so far! This and the upcoming chapters are some that I really enjoyed writing...

I hope you liked this one, and just remember that I do changes tiny bits of the lore (not much to make a difference so far–), but for example, whenever Zayne said "don't cry" or whatever, the original protagonist obviously wasn't like "???". She had a different reaction, but that's because she wasn't from the past or future like our current mc is. So it makes sense for their actions to differ every so often.

Taglist; @orphicmeliora , @yoongi-tunes , @mitzkooni , @hiqhkey , @tanspostsblog , @shypotatoes013-blog

[sunvmars]

fireworks | s.r.

pairing: steve rogers x fem!reader

pt. 2 | masterlist

word count: 3.7k

warnings: smut mentions, some light swearing and some fluff. oh, and i have no timeline in the mcu for which this takes place so keep that in mind. i also did minimal proof reading :)

summary: everyone but you and steve realize you like each other.

Before you were an Avenger, you were Steve's friend and roommate. For half of the year that you'd lived together, you considered Steve to be more than a friend- you were head over heels in love. The team noticed how you brightened when he was around. They noticed how you were always taking short glances at him at meetings. You were always the one tending to any of Steve's injuries on the jet after a mission. The only one who didn't notice your pining was Steve.

Steve would do anything for you just as you would him. You weren't sure if you would ever tell him. If there was even a possibility of him not feeling the same, you didn't wanna ruin your friendship.

But just like he didn't notice your feelings for him, you never noticed his for you. To everyone but you, it was obvious Steve followed you around like a lost puppy. During team dinners he was sitting right next to you. In training he always picked you to partner up with. When it was your turn to make dinner, he was always in there helping you. And on missions, Steve always made sure to be near you.

Not that you needed Steve to protect you, and he knew this, as you came from generations of the strongest witches. You were strong on top of having your abilities. So far, you've discovered you have telekinesis, you can read and control people's minds, and control elemental factors.

After Steve found out that you had special abilities, he'd pushed you to get you in contact with Tony Stark. SHIELD decided you'd be a great asset and got you set up in a room in the Avenger's tower. Soon after you moved into the tower and out of your shared apartment, so did Steve. In fact, he was only three rooms down from you.

That was almost two years ago. And today was the day before Tony's New Years Eve Party. You all but forced everyone to decorate the place. Not that you truly cared this much about New Years, but you were a sucker for extra time with the team. And that's how you ended up spending your evening putting up decorations and assigning jobs for who puts up what and in which area.

"Come on, Buck, it won't be that bad," Steve smiles, patting the brunette's back as he passes him on the way down the stairs.

"If you stop complaining, it'll get done faster," Sam adds, giving Bucky a blank expression.

A frown crosses your features, "this is supposed to be fun, don't look so miserable!"

You watch Bucky and Sam struggle to wrap a gold and black tinsel garland around the stair rail, your frown quickly being replaced with a smirk. Steve, little to your knowledge, watches with a smile as you giggle at them bicker over who's wrapping the wrong way. After a few seconds, Tony jumps in to break it up- only resulting in all three of them arguing.

"How many Avengers does it take to put a damn garland up?"

"Apparently more than three," Steve responds to you with a chuckle, "should I break it up?"

"Of course not. It's entertaining. Wanna come hang balloons with me?"

Steve nods with the same lovesick smile plastered on his face.

Soon enough, the whole living room was decorated- after hours of bickering between the team and multiple drinks, of course.

"See! That wasn't so bad," you declare.

"Speak for yourself," Sam says, side eyeing Bucky.

Bucky returns the glance, but remains silent.

"It wasn't horrible, but I won't be working with those two idiots again," Tony looks back at Sam and Bucky as he ruffles your hair and heads off to his room.

"I had fun," Wanda smiles, hoping to reassure you.

Nat gives you a slight smile, "it wasn't so bad."

After everyone goes off to their rooms, the only people left in the room are you and Steve putting up the unused decorations.

"So, Steve, do you have anyone in mind that you plan on going to the party with tomorrow?"

His face reddens just barely as he looks away from you for a moment to conjure up an answer, "I... No, not really. What about you?"

"I guess I could say the same."

You nod and attempt to cover the disappointment on your face. He only offers a hum in response as his lips curl up to form an empathetic smile. Your eyes linger on his for a little too long, both of you waiting for the other to fill the silence.

"Well, I should probably go put these back and head to bed," you blurt out, mentally cussing yourself out for not asking him to be your date to the party.

"Of course. Goodnight, y/n."

You turn a little too quickly and start walking towards the elevator. Once in your room, you change into pajamas and climb into your bed. Just a few doors down is Steve laying comfortably in his bed, and also berating himself for not asking you to go to the party with him. See, he has a plan to tell you how he feels tomorrow. He even found a balcony on the tower that gives a perfect view of the fireworks. His nerves are getting the best of him though. Sometimes he feels like you have the same feelings for him as he does for you, but he always dismisses the thought. He takes note of every move you make towards him. All the times you've hugged him and let your hands linger a little longer around him before pulling away. Every time your cheeks have brightened when he reassures you with compliments after a shitty date. Steve notices everything you do. And everyone notices how the two of you endlessly and hopelessly chase each other.

When you wake up, the first thing that you notice is the smell of pancakes. The second thing is the small box you feel by your feet. Your eyes hesitate to open, trying to adjust to the sunlight. Slowly, your body allows you to sit up. You pick up the small white box wrapped with a pink bow. Attached to it is a small card that simply reads, "From Tony." With a cocked brow you gently tug on the pink bow and allow it to come undone. The box opens to reveal a piece of folded up fabric.

It unravels to reveal a dress that's hardly an actual dress. Sure, it's not that bad, but it's a little much for a casual party. It's slightly below the knee length dress with thick off shoulder straps. It's red with a black mesh over it making it appear a dark maroon color. The cups are a practically see through black mesh, the back zips up to just barely above your ass, and it has a long slit on the side that looks like it'd stop right at your hip. Not that you needed his approval, but you wondered if Steve would like you in this particular dress. After wrapping the dress back up into the box, you make your way out of the room and into the kitchen.

"Good morning, y/n," Steve smiles.

He hands you a plate with a stack of pancakes, a few pieces of fruit, and a little cup of syrup on the side.

"Thanks, Stevie," you return the expression and make your way to the table after getting a drink.

Plopping down in your usual seat between Bucky and Steve, you start to dig in. A few minutes later and everyone's almost done cramming down their breakfast. If anyone's learned anything from the time's when Thor visits it's that he eats, he eats a lot and he eats it fast. First day he was there it was like a pack of animals fighting over the last drop of water out of a pond. Per usual, you and Steve shared small talk until you decided to go back to your room.

Within a few hours after breakfast, it was time to get ready for the party. For the last two years you've gotten ready for events like this with Wanda and Nat. Being the only girls in the tower, they were your best friends in the compound.

A sigh leaves your lips after carefully observing yourself in the dress one last time. You put a red bra on under it to make the cups look the same color as the rest of it. The dress left nothing to the imagination.

"Thoughts?" you ask as you step out of the bathroom.

Nat and Wanda exchange a glance.

"That's the one," they blurt out in unison.

"Are you guys sure? It doesn't feel like a little much for a regular, boring party?"

They quickly shut down your thought. After a quick pep talk, you take another glance in the mirror at yourself, you start to ponder it. They were right. It's beautiful and, to be honest, you wanted to tell Steve how you felt tonight so you had to look good.

"Oh, what the hell. Why not," you step into your closet to pick out a pair of shoes to go with the dress.

The three of you headed down to the living room only to split up after a few minutes of chatting. You went straight to the bar after exchanging a goodbye with them. As you placed your clutch on the bar, you leaned over the counter. Tony turns to look at you, shaker in hand and a smirk on his face.

"You actually wore it."

"You wouldn't leave me alone if I didn't," a small laugh escapes your lips, "you're cheap for somebody so rich. And it has kinda grown on me. So thank you, Tony."

"Ah, no problem kid," he pours the drink into a chilled glass, looking back up at you, "besides, it's not really a gift for you specifically."

Confusion racks your brain and you try to piece together what he means. Your bewilderment must've been evident on your face as Tony pushes the drink towards you with a grin.

"It's a gift for him," he nods behind you.

You pick up the drink and take a sip before turning to make direct eye contact with none other than Steve. His expression is almost stoic until he catches your gaze, offering a smile and wave. The gesture is returned by you before turning back to look at Tony's smug face.

"I knew you were up to something."

"Maybe soon enough you'll find out what that something is."

"He does not think of me like that."

"Sure," he scoffs as he makes his way to the end of the bar to grab more glasses.

After a few hours into the party, you're starting to feel socially drained and really just defeated. Two hours and you have yet to find the right time to pull Steve aside, and he's having the same problem. You'd hardly talked at all except for when he bought you a drink earlier in the night. Most of the conversation being made tonight was small talk with some people who sat next to you at the bar, and a few desperate men.

That is, until a man approaches you, "I'm sure you've heard this a lot tonight, but you're absolutely gorgeous. And I'd love to buy you a drink."

His hair is short and dirty blonde, he's got baby blue eyes, and he's definitely handsome. Although he's no Steve, and this isn't something you do often, you could use the cheering up.

"Thank you..?" your voice trails as you wait for him to offer his name.

"Lucas," he grins.

"Lucky for you, I'd love another drink, Lucas. I'm y/n," you smile and pat the seat next to you.

The two of you chat for the next hour and, unbeknownst to you, Steve has the perfect view of you from where he's standing. He can see the beautiful smile you're giving him and the way the man is looking you up and down. Soon enough, the jealousy coursing through him was all he could focus on. That should be him that you're smiling at like that, it should be him down there making you laugh, it should be his eyes practically undressing you. All it took to push him over the edge was the guy putting his hand on your lower back. Now he was even more determined to tell you how he feels.

It's getting late and right as you're about to tell Lucas that you have to go, his phone rings. He quickly excuses himself and leaves to take the call.

A few seconds later, your attention is grabbed by Steve taking the seat next to you. And God he looks even more handsome close up. He's got on a dark blue, fitted dress shirt paired with equally fitted black dress pants. The darker blue is a perfect contrast to his eyes and hair. The shirt brings out the definition of his arms in the best way possible. Thoughts that are the farthest thing from wholesome run through your brain before he even gets a chance to speak.

"Having fun," he smiles at you.

"A little. You ignoring me, Rogers? Haven't talked to you all night."

"Of course not," Steve chuckles, "you were talking to your arm candy. Who would I be to interrupt?"

"That was nothing. It definitely wasn't like that."

"Well, you talked for awhile. Seemed like you were having fun and I just wanted to wait my turn, that's all."

His choice of words makes you giggle, "We're adults, you don't have to standby like a kid waiting for their mom to get off the phone. It's not like there's a long line to speak to me."

And Steve can safely say he's surprised there isn't a long line to talk to a girl like you. You're looking absolutely gorgeous tonight although he's way too nervous to express it to you.

Steve doesn't like the thoughts going through his head at the moment. He tries not to think about you inappropriately, but in times like these it's not easy. You're leaned over the bar counter with your ass practically poked all the way out, the cutout on the back of the dress gave the perfect view of your back, and the fabric fit your figure perfectly.

"That dress is stunning on you, sweetheart," he smiles, taking a sip of his drink.

If it were possible for a heart to do flips, yours just did it.

"Oh! Thank you, Stevie. Tony got it for me."

"Tony, huh? I guess I'll have to thank him, then."

To be honest, Steve was being very blunt and it was making it hard not to kiss him right then. Sometimes you guys would jokingly flirt but something about his tone was hinting that he wasn't joking this time.

"Come with me," he flashes a smile at you, "I wanna show you something."

"Is it important? It'd be rude to run off on Lucas."

Another pang of jealousy makes his stomach turn. He wants to tell you to forget about him, but he knows he doesn't have the right to do that. You're just being your usual sweet self and he knows that. But he can't get rid of the image of the way Lucas was looking at you; he knows what kind of thoughts came with that look because he gives it to you all the time. Like when you're training and your shorts start to roll up to reveal more of your thighs. Or when you're in your suit on missions and your sweat makes it cling to your body. That guy was eye fucking you, and even if Steve hadn't said it to you yet, you were his.

"It's important, it's almost midnight, and I have a surprise for you that's midnight exclusive."

"Alright, alright. It's not like I'll ever see him again anyways," you sigh.

As soon as he sees the corners of your lips turn up, he takes your hand and leads you to the balcony on the top floor. There's no one else up there and he silently thanks the universe for that. Quiet electronic pop music can be heard coming for the speakers. You both sit down on the couch and turn to look at each other.

"So, what's the surprise?"

"Just give it a few minutes," Steve smiles gently at your impatience, "you'll see it after the countdown."

"You know I like surprises. Don't tease me, Steven."

"So," he starts, "I'm sorry you won't get your kiss with Lucas tonight. But I think you'll like my surprise."

"Me? Kiss Lucas? Oh, no, no, no. I don't like him like that. There's...someone else."

He wants to let out a sigh of relief but stops himself. His eyes stay on you as you're looking up at the skylights. The different colored lights on the balcony make your eyes light up, and it also gives him the perfect view of your cleavage. Guilt washes over him at the thoughts he's having again. Then he decides it's the perfect time to tell you- you're alone, it's quiet, and he simply can't hold it in anymore.

"Y/n?"

"Hm?"

"I love you."

"I love you too, Stevie," you say as your face lights up, "you're the best friend I could ask for."

He laughs for a second, thinking of how to explain, "no, not like that. I love you. I'm sorry if this ruins our friendship, but I've been wanting to say this for a while. I have loved you from the moment I met you. Isn't it obvious how infatuated I am with you?"

Your heart stops for a second and the speed at which it beats picks up. After this long, Steve is finally saying the words you've only dreamed of hearing. A few seconds go by and you still can't conjure up a response.

"Listen, I understand if it's alot to take in. I'll leave you alone for a bit if you want," he starts to stand up but your hand pulls him back down.

"Steve-"

A loud crash of thunder stops your sentence early. As if on cue, rain starts pouring from the dark clouds above you. The rain is pouring fast, soaking both of you after only a few seconds.

"Shit. Let's go inside, I don't want you to get sick."

He gets up again but this time you stand up just as quick.

"No! I have been waiting to see this and I'm saying it now."

Your tone of urgency makes him laugh as he waits for you to continue.

"Steven Grant Rogers I have loved you for the last two years. I love you isn't even good enough to express how I feel for you," your smile widens as you keep talking, "you are the only one I can bring myself to think of. I. Love. You."

You stare at each other for a moment, smiles never fading, and then he places his hand on your lower back to draw you closer, "I am-"

This time, it's him being cut off. The sound of people on the balconies below you counting down and cheering is too loud to talk over. Laughter erupts from the both of you and he takes this image of you in. Your hair is wet and sticking to you, the water is making your dress stick to you too, and you've just told him you love him too.

"Can I kiss you?" he yells when they get to 5.

"Please."

His free hand comes to rest on your cheek and he pulls your face to hips. Your lips connect in a slow, passionate kiss. The rain no longer bothers you. Nothing could ruin this.

The sound of fireworks makes him pull away and turns your bodies towards them, "this was your surprise. Best view in the house."

For the second time tonight, your face lights up because of him. He swears there'll be no better feeling than seeing himself make you happy.

"Oh, Stevie... It's beautiful."

"And you're breathtaking, sweetheart."

His hand rubs your back, tracing circles into your skin. The thoughts from earlier start to come back. All he wants to do is bend you over this railing, lift up that short dress, and show you how much he loves you.

You move in to kiss him again. This time, the kiss is needier. It's rough and desperate. A gasp escapes your lips and Steve takes this opportunity to slip his tongue into your mouth. His tongue explores your mouth as he tries to pull you closer. He finds it in himself to pull away, both of you trying to catch your breath.

"I'm sorry if I'm a little bad at that, haven't done it in a while."

"No, sweetheart- it's not that. Trust me. I'm just doing everything I can to avoid losing control. If I'm honest, I've been having horrible thoughts about you since I saw you in this," he admits, motioning down at your dress.

"Who says I want you to hold back?"

His breath catches in his throat before he can respond. He opens his mouth to try again but stops again when you start to reach around and unzip your dress with a smirk on your face.

"What are you doing..?"

"It's cold, and I'm wet," your eyes glance up to meet his, "and you won't make the first move, so I'm doing it for you."

He steps forward and grabs your hand to prevent you from unzipping it any farther.

"Absolutely not. If I'm gonna fuck you, I'm doing it where nobody will see you. I'm not letting anyone else see you like that. As much as I'd love to take you right here on that couch, you're mine, baby," his confidence is evident in his tone.

Steve scoops you up with ease as you giggle, trying to get down, "put me down, I can walk."

"And I can walk faster. I need you."

All you can feel is immense joy. He was finally yours, and you were his. As it turns out, Steve would have to thank Tony for buying you that dress.

[lizstory]

The mistake

Satoru Gojo x Fem reader

Warning: angst, death, slight ish spoilers? Not really

Wordcount: 1.3k

What happened to you was only a mistake



————————

Dating in the sorcerer world was always deemed scandalous, especially with Gojo Satoru. The one and only legend himself, the strongest sorcerer. It was never forbidden for him to date, but with all the responsibilities he carried, it was nearly impossible. That was until he met you.

You weren’t, say, the strongest out of the bunch, but your healing abilities were unmatchable. You were still, however, a sorcerer who went on missions but acted as the nurse. Though it was never a rule, the higher-ups never put you on special-grade missions. You’d either heal the injured people as they returned or work as a first responder in bigger missions with groups of sorcerers.

Gojo knew this much and refused to let you come along with him on his missions, even the small ones where he’d be a supervisor. He enjoyed having his personal nurse waiting for him at home.

He laid in bed, your body curled next to him. The size difference always made him smile. He loved that he could tower over you, acting like a shield. He played with your fingers, rubbing gently across your palm.

“It's nice to have a day off,” He mumbled into your hair.

You smiled, beginning to respond, but were interrupted by his phone ringing. “Spoke too soon”

He groaned, wanting to let the call go by and stay in this moment, to stay with you. But that wasn’t the case. Not when you weren’t here.

“Gojo,” Nanami called, his voice ringing in Gojo’s ear. “Did you oversleep again?”. He grew concerned for his friend. Ever since he lost his love, he hasn’t been the same. He’s refused to go on missions the higher-ups assign him, resulting in multiple lives being taken.

Gojo grumbled, still hazy from the too-realistic dream. “What do you need, Nanami?”

“The higher-ups need you.”

“And tell them I need Y/n back.” He immediately ended the call. His head pounded, the consequences of last night's drinking finally dawning on him. His elbows dug into the mattress; pushing himself up, he stared at the empty side of his bed. The side you’d always sleep in. Your figure still wrinkled the sheets. Somehow, that simple detail helped him sleep.

Slowly, you disappeared not only from the world but from his mind. He wasn’t an idiot; he knew how fast he’d forget you if he drank, but the pain was too much. You weren’t supposed to be there that day. It was supposed to be him that people mourned, not him mourning.

“Satoru, calm down,” You sighed, clenching his hand. You two had been arguing for the past thirty minutes about you attending a special grade mission with him.

“Why did they even assign you with me?” He groaned, his hands running through his hair. It was better than hitting or going straight to the higher-ups and hitting them. “You aren’t a sorcerer.”

The once happiness that filled your chest was gone. Gojo might not have agreed with these arrangements, but it was one of the best things that happened. You were seen as the weakest, and now the higher-ups are noticing that you can do more just for Gojo to rip it away.

“I am a sorcerer.” Your voice dropped an octave, either from hurt or anger. That much wasn’t clear at the moment. “Or am I just not your idea of what a sorcerer is?”

His hand came to yours. “You know what I mean.”

You pulled away, stunned that not only your friend but your lover could think this low of you. “Frankly I don’t.”

He sighed, squeezing your hand. “I just don’t want you to get hurt.”

A small smile cracked against your lips. It was hard to stay mad at Gojo. He was a caring person, protected the ones he loved, charismatic and thoughtful, and those were just a few things that made you fall so deeply for him.

“I promise I’ll be ok.”

That smile. He knew that it was dangerous and knew what the possible outcomes could be, but he could never say no to that smile. “Ok”

But Gojo should have known. He never gets the things he wants, not after how much he fought for them. Knew that he could never be happy. Not when he's Gojo Satoru.

He carried your body to Shoko. She was practically desensitized to the dead, but your body? No, she needed a second to process your presence there. You were a kind soul, and now this earth had to carry on without you. Her bottom lip quivered at your curse technique markings slowly fading. She knew what those markings meant.

“What happened?” She asked, not entirely sure if she wanted to know the truth.

“She used what little life she had left to save me,” Gojo choked as he stared at your peaceful face.

Shoko took a deep breath. “She died saving who she loved.” it was a reminder for him, not her.

He left the one instantly. He didn’t want to see what she would do with you. Either way, he needed to have a small talk with the higher-ups. He was in pain, and they put him there. It was the same story, different time. He was forced to watch yet another loved one leave his life, forced to watch them take their last breath. And in every story, it was his fault. It was his fault when he was 18, and it was his fault now.

He burst into the meeting room. It didn’t matter who was in there, how important they were, or how much he needed to respect them. He wanted answers. “Why!” He yelled

Masamichi sighed. He was one of the first to hear the tragic news of your passing, so he knew at some point Gojo would be coming. “Satoru,” He mumbled, his voice treading carefully around the grieving boy. “I’m sorry for your loss.”

“Why’d you send her with me?” His voice only grew louder, and yet everyone didn’t seem to be in shock. They had to witness this same scenario.

Masamichi stayed silent. He knew Gojo deserved the truth. “It was either you or her.”

Numb, that was the only way to describe what he had felt. His body went stiff, his brain yelling at him to do so many things, but all he could do was stare. Not again, not the ultimatum. It was always him or them. Every chance he was given, he fought so hard to save them, fought so hard to save what he treasured. He was strong enough to save the world but couldn’t keep his world.

Why’d the universe always have to choose him…

“You knew she wouldn’t make it?” He whispered, his vision bluring with every blink

“Think of it as collateral damage.”

He turned too quickly, not pinpointing which mouth those foul words were said from. He only leaped for the nearest old man.

Gojo stood at your grave, the rain dripping down the engraved stone. Of course, he wasn’t getting soaked at all. He always had his infinity on. He learned his lesson, only if it didn’t have to come to another life lost for it to get through his head.

“I’m so sorry,” He mumbled, wanting so much to hold you, just to touch you one last time. He needed it. You were the one thing that kept him human. Took care of him when that was the last thing on his mind. You were the person he couldn’t sleep without. Your scent was the only thing that brought him comfort; your touch gave him life, your smile gave him reason, and your love gave him hope. You were his entire world, and you were gone. How could he ever continue without you?

"I love you."

[kyred]

I'd like to hear more about your dnd characters, I love their designs

Aight, first up the main 2! Shriek, my Kenku Death Cleric! He wields a cursed longsword that seals away the souls of those killed by it and gains power from that. On his other arm is a tower shield that's nifty. He wears adamantine armour and is VERY tanky as a result.

His entire deal is he was from a kenku village in the woods distant from most major civilizations/cities, so his hometown has a kenku made sign language! He was banished after stumbling upon a dark secret within the church, sold off into slavery, his home being burned down as he was carted away, and the head priest smiled towards him cruelly. He was branded and discarded when he lost his use, thrown off a cliff and left for death. Clinging to life, somehow, he was saved by a small group of travelling clerics, awaking in their church, bandaged and healed up. His wounds healed overtime, save for the branding which was done in the middle of his back.

After that, he went on a journey of vengeance, planning to burn down his former town. Which usually lead to him getting lost and turned around as he didn't know much of where it was since he never left it before so.

Eventually he ends up going to court, alongside a few others for random and petty crimes, and talked not only his own, but everyone else out of going to jail.

Over the year he's known them all, he's gone from edgy and murderous to a dumbass who casts ray of sickness when he can. Oh also he went from skin and bones to a borb so there's that.

Curtis!

Angry, grump raccoon, former orc(pig orc cause we love them more) cursed into racc. Now he's on a quest to undo it all! Time paladin with the hopes he can rewind himself if he gets strong enough.

But wait, there's more!!!

Esper, Kobold Bard, Former pet looking for his family.

So, his egg was bough by a rich family as a gift for their kid, and was raised in a decent situation. Him and the kid are buds, despite the. Power balance of master and pet. Kid grew up and went "hey, do you want to be free? find your clutch, even?" and esper went "yeah sounds neat!" so yeah. Never really got to play him past a few sessions..

Grizz, Ursine Artificer, Trying to find a way home.

A wanderer who found himself in a world not quite like his own, left with questions on how or rather IF he can even get home. Currently making a device to blast a hole into the fabric of reality to see if that works or not, regardless of the cost.

Silver, Tabaxi Barbarian!

Not much with him, he was kinda made for a dungeon crawl but he was hot so I want to give him a proper background besides idiot who left town to go on adventures.

Bahmet, Dragonborn Rogue, went on an adventure as a young adult and realized OOPS IT ISN'T FUN.

In the campaign he was in (like most of these, the DM either abandoned them part way or they died/off screened left), he became a highway bandit after years of hardships from trying to be an adventurer. He was in a terrible state when he tried to mug a sea captain but was later taken in, be it out of pity or genuine interest he doesn't know. This happened to him like a decade after he left his cozy village.

Bahmet had a loving family who was supportive of him going off on adventures and he just ended up sucking at it really bad!!! The captain taught him how to NOT suck and, another decade later became the ship's boatswain. He now writes letters to his parents and several siblings about how his adventures are going and how he misses them...

THERE, the lore on almost every DnD character I've had. The other 2 I've played were never fleshed out so they're just, a half orc, and dragonborn ranger. Kinda wish I had but, the games they were in were dropped by the DM pretty fast, alas. I had a tabaxi sorcelock prepped incase of emergency but never needed to pop him out.

I REALLY love making new characters, and sometimes even end up making them based on songs. Shriek, for example, is based upon the mind electric! He was a stable, happy lad until he was subjected to abuse after being delivered and carried away.

Grizz is, tbh, based on Mr. Grizz in a lot of ways.

Curtis honestly came to me by accident cause I wanted to play a furry in a campaign but didn't want to be weird even if it was with other furries. He was originally a HUMAN turned tanuki!

Esper and Bahmet were both just, I wanted to be a funny lizard man planning classes that do NOT compliment them AT ALL.

And Silver was just made over a week when Shriek died in a previous campaign (from the same DM who had a tendency to drop campaigns partway through...)

Not sure if I went on for a little too long but, yeah! That's all my boys that really matter tbh. Love em all pretty equally and hope to give them all a chance in the spotlight someday.

[lamemaster]

Beyond Reason

Request: @liar-anubiass-blog Can I request some Glorfindel? Period, with a happy ending. I just want to hug this Lord so tightly🤗 "The reader is from a super closed people (like Martin's Valyrians). But she somehow meets Glorfindel and they fall in love. But this is completely unacceptable for her family, so much so that they would rather kill her than allow her to mix blood with a stranger. After learning about this and after attempts at negotiation, the elf helps her escape (the reader helps and completely agrees). And so Glorfindel, one evening after the wedding, worries that because of him, the reader is cursed by his own people and family.

Genre: fluff

Summary: Loving the Lord of the Golden Flower was a act beyond reason.

AN: Thank you for requesting this! I loved coming up with the reader's backstory. That said, I did make some changes to the story, but hopefully you like it!

Next up- Yandere Maglor/Maeglin x Reader Fall trope event list

Of all Middle-earth’s secrets, the Thilnar remain the most elusive to both the short-lived Secondborn and even the immortal Firstborn of Ilúvatar.

In days long past, before the Quendi ventured west to the Undying Lands, five great Elven clans shaped their histories: the Noldor, Sindar, Vanyar, Teleri, and the hidden Thilnar.

Unlike their kin, the Thilnar were known as masters of the mind. Skilled in enchantments and illusion, they alone escaped the clutches of Melkor, concealing themselves beneath his gaze in the vast, shadowed plains of Rhûn. They were the unheard note of Ilúvatar’s song, a secret strength hidden even from the Valar.

The Thilnar bore the beauty of the Firstborn, yet with bodies hardened by labor and hair like fire, a fierce, unearthly red.

Among their number, Mahtan and his brood were most renowned, clever enough to blend in among the Noldor, disappearing into legends that shielded their clan’s existence.

It was perhaps this connection to distant kin that led the eldest Fëanorian to seek his mother Nerdanel’s clan. And there, amid a colony of redheads so like himself, he found a piece of himself he’d long forgotten. A jarring sight even for him.

“Oldon, what do you have for me?” you ask, stroking your eagle’s soft feathers. He shifts on his perch, his talons clicking against your arm, but his claws are empty.

No letter. Again.

It’s the second month without a response from Glorfindel, much to your irritation. Huffing, you bury your frustration by coddling Oldon, who, unlike a certain someone has at least not forgotten you.

Your meeting with the Balrog Slayer had been an unexpected affair, a result of an errand the elders had entrusted to you.

It began with a letter from Rivendell’s Lord Elrond the Peredhel, whom your cousin Maedhros had once, rather broadly put, “fostered.”

The letter was abrupt, a somber summons. Armed with a small fortune in protective amulets, you had set off westward to check on distant kin.

But what awaited you was hardly a simple family visit. Instead, you found your nephew a wraith-like Maglor, mind shattered, wandering as if Ilúvatar himself had abandoned him. The amulets did their work, silencing his pained wailing, much to Rivendell’s collective relief, Elrond included.

You were halfway through securing your maddened nephew to your saddle when he twisted with surprising strength and bit another horse’s ear, sparking mayhem in the stables.

“What the fuck, Maglor?” you yelled, shoving a scroll between his teeth to muffle his groans of “Maedhros,” as his grimy hands tangled in your hair.

Distant kin, you mused bitterly, were an absolute nightmare.

That’s when you met him—Glorfindel, the fabled Balrog Slayer, storming towards you with the wrath of an oncoming tempest. “Have you no sense?” he thundered, moving to calm the distressed horse with one hand, his gaze burning with barely-contained fury.

He was… huge. Towering and golden, every inch of him exuding a presence that seemed to fill the stables, leaving barely any space for anyone else. Had he consumed the Balrog to achieve such a size? Or was this simply the nature of Western Elves?

You found yourself staring longer than polite, only to snap back to reality as you glared at Maglor, silently cursing him for sabotaging the grand first impression you’d hoped to make.

“It wasn’t me,” you muttered, gesturing toward Maglor, now conveniently gagged with the scroll and feigning innocence.

Glorfindel cast you a quizzical, unimpressed look, his arms crossed, brow arched.

So much for a romantic first meeting.

“Where the hell have you been?” you demand now, gripping his collar and pulling him toward you. Glorfindel stumbles slightly, his composure slipping under the unexpected intensity.

“I thought you’d died once again or something,” you mutter, heat rising to your cheeks as frustration and embarrassment mix, a maddening hindrance to your carefully held anger.

By Eru’s grace, you’d found the perfect excuse to venture to the Valley of Imladris, claiming you were merely escorting Maglor to visit his foster son.

After successfully entrusting a much more manageable Maglor to Elrond’s care, you wasted no time tracking down your elusive lover the golden-haired lord now looking at you with a sheepish, almost boyish expression, a soft hiccup escaping him in a nervous tick you’d come to know well.

"I... forgive me," he stammers, his usual commanding demeanor nowhere to be found. His voice catches as he shifts uncomfortably, unable to meet your eyes. He looks down, studying his own hands as if seeking some answer there. "I was being an idiot."

You cross your arms, though your heart aches to close the space between you. "What’s brewing in that stubborn mind of yours, Glorfindel? Just tell me." You take his hands, feeling the weight of them in your grasp.

Despite everything, you feel giddy, like an elfling beneath the open sky. Being with him did it to you.

He hesitates, then speaks, his voice barely audible over the steady rush of Rivendell’s river. “The Thilnar don’t… they don’t marry outside their clan, do they?” He glances up briefly, his bright eyes veiled in pain.

“Elrond told me… about excommunication, about the abandonment of kin,” he continues, his voice breaking. “How they erase you strip away your name, your home, your family…”

He pauses, struggling for words, his lips trembling. "I can’t do that to you,” he whispers, voice choked with unshed tears. "How could I knowing, I would be the one to take you from them? You would lose so much to be with me. Your people, your birthright everything you’ve known and loved, everything that shaped you." He bites down on the words, as if they burn, his gaze dropping back to the ground.

He pulls one hand free to swipe roughly at his eyes, the Balrog Slayer reduced to a vulnerable figure standing before you, every layer of armor stripped away. "I would never forgive myself if I caused that pain." He lets out a tremulous breath, and his voice is softer, raw, almost pleading. "But I can’t stop wanting this. Wanting… you."

It wasn’t an unfounded fear. Mahtan himself had faced it when he wed a Noldor. Others had been scrubbed from the clan scrolls, their names erased, exiled from history.

The Thilnar bound themselves closely to their own, and to step beyond those bonds meant forfeiting all ties to kin and clan.

The thought had crossed your mind, too. You loved your people, their ageless ways, their wisdom, their tradition. The surviving Thilnar were older than the decaying ruins of Utumno itself, and you bore the weight of their history with pride.

But truthfully, all the glory and mystery of the Thilnar paled beside the Lord of the Golden Flower.

If the choice was between eternity with your clan or with Glorfindel, you knew without question where your heart lay.

Years spent studying amulets and spells had taught you many things, yet no magic or incantation could sway the heart’s will. Cupping Glorfindel’s reddened face, you wipe away the tears from his cheeks, which are now flushed in embarrassment.

“I chose you long ago, you beautiful fool,” you whisper, your voice breaking slightly as laughter and warmth slip into the words.

You watch hope flicker to life in his eyes, and the sight stirs something deep within you.“It was always you. Beyond the Thilnar, beyond the Sun and Moon, beyond any reason or tradition that dared to stand in my way.”

You pause, letting your thumb brush over his cheek, grounding yourself in the quiet strength of his presence. “Even if it meant leaving behind every part of my past... my choice would never change. You are where I belong.”

A tremor runs through you as the confession spills out, unguarded and fiercely true. “There is nothing I would not give up to be with you, Glorfindel. Not my clan, not my name, not even the home I once thought was everything. You are my home now. And I would choose you, again and again, across every life and every star.”

Not the first confession, nor the last, but perhaps the truest.

Like a blooming sunflower drawn irresistibly toward the Sun, Glorfindel pulls you into a kiss, his touch warm, golden, as though catching fire from within.

Of your kin, at least, you still possessed the ones who were beautifully, gloriously doomed. Though whether Maglor could bless a marriage was doubtful; he’d sooner curse it by proximity alone.

[thatlightningbtch]

I fell that it is practically consensus that Nere is a sorcerer (or would be if he were recruitable), since it is reasonable for a new companion to provide the benefits of a new class to the party. But as I looked at our favorite True Soul's character sheet for the thousandth time I began to consider another class, based on three small elements: the Dissonant Whispers spell, the Extra Attack feature and Nere's resistance to Psychic damage.

Extra Attack: a passive feature which can be acquired at level 5 (Nere's level) by several classes, like: Barbarian, Fighter, Monk, Paladin, Ranger, and Warlock (with Pact of the Blade). But no mention to Sorcerer.

 Dissonant Whispers: a level 1 enchantment spell which can be learned by Bards and the Great Old One Warlock subclass. Again, the Sorcerer class isn't included.

Resistance to Psychic Damage: This one I recognize is a personal deduction of mine due to my interpretation of the previous topics. At level 10, a Great Old One Warlock gains the passive feature Thought Shield: Psychic Resistance, a gift that may have been brought forward for gameplay purposes. However, the subclass also gains the feature "Thought Shield: Psychic Reflection" which reflects psychic damage inflicted by an attacker, but none of Nere's abilities confer a similar effect.

So far one can notice that the Warlock class is mentioned twice and it is specified a Boon Pact and a subclass that could both easily fit Nere's character. Of course these are just tiny details with dubious narrative value, but by following these clues we could infer that Nere had THE reputation in the Absolute's cult, indeed. Not even Disciple Z'rell (another warlock) was blessed with so many custom-made gifts. It's intriguing that he remains a True Soul instead of being a Disciple (unless he has been demoted, which is quite unlikely for no other NPC in Moonrise Towers mentions this).

The question is: is it possible to consider The Absolute, an Elder Brain, that much later evolves to a Netherbrain, as a Great Old One? And if so, what could happen if the connection between them is interrupted? His desertion would just simply result in the loss of all special features granted to him, or could it be that his ceremorphosis would be completed instantly as punishment? One way or another this is an interesting possibility that can offer a narrative arc directly tied to the main plot, one that is not limited on just seeking revenge over the respective Chosen who recruited him (sorry Minty. Still love you, tho. You deserved better than what you got 😭). That's it, the end of my eccentric piece of useless considerations that would not be possible without a generous amount of overthinking and free time. Thank you ♥

Note: I edited this post to make it more succinct and to add a few things I forgot to mention when I first wrote it. However, if I happen to find something else that complements what was written here, I think I will make another post so this text does not become too long and boring.

[tactician]

leaving alola behind him, reides the kingdra headed for generation 8 of the pokemon games in his quest for more ribbons! gen8 of these games feature the galar region (via pokemon sword and shield) as well as the sinnoh region (via pokemon brilliant diamond and shining pearl)! this leap to gen8 was super alarming, as my beloved kingdra moved from the 3ds to the current nintendo console - namely, the nintendo switch! it's crazy to think about how this whole journey began on my copy of emerald version, slotted into my pleasantly clunky brick of a grey ds.

reides' journey through the generations has been filled with its highs and its lows, but once he arrived safely in pokemon home, it meant that i could be a bit flexible with my approach to the ribbons available in swsh and bdsp! (it also meant bidding farewell to my shoddy photos of my (3)ds screen for these posts... they will be missed...)

anyway, before i get into the story of reides' gen8 journey, i gotta do my customary shoutout to all the other parts of his ribbon master quest. it's really easy this time around, as i finally put together an index for these posts on my personal site! you can find it here! that page also has a lot of information about the challenge itself, along with some helpful resources if you'd like to take it on. as always, you can also peek in my ribbon master tag on this blog, too.

if you're all caught up with the story so far, it's time to get started on a brand new chapter.

transferring reides into my copy of pokemon shield was a really emotional experience. kingdra looks absolutely gorgeous on the switch, and i was blown away by how awesome the shiny form looks, too. this moment on the beach at sunset - with a galarian slowpoke and a kingler lurking close by - felt pretty cinematic. it was also really nice to see my trainer character again! i absolutely love all of the different fashion items available in swsh. immediately, i knew that i had to make my ribbon mastery team a big ol' pot of curry for all of their hard work thus far.

we also played together while we camped out. i was really glad that i was already in shield's post-game, as it saved a whole lot of time on this ribbon master journey AND meant that i'd have tons of toys for my pokemon at my disposal.

after goofing around for hours, i finally decided to take on the first ribbon available in galar. this ribbon was the galar champion ribbon, which your pokemon receive upon entering the galarian hall of fame. i ended up needing to play through the galarian star tournament first, though, as i had procrastinated on doing that for the longest time... so reides ended up taking part in a few more battles than one would think!

it was absolutely awesome to see dynamax in action with reides! it made me wish that kingdra got a gigantamax form, but i guess that would be a bit too amazing for anyone to handle, huh? while taking on this ribbon, i also realized just how much i missed the vibes of the gym challenge in the galar region. the wide stadiums, the cheering crowds, the MUSIC... all of it is so incredibly top-tier and it really got me pumped up! not to mention seeing the absolutely INCREDIBLE cast in action. shoutout to everyone but especially piers. all hail the reigning king of the pokemon punks.

anyway, reides was eventually able to sweep his way to victory in both the galarian star tournament as well as the league battles. he joined the hall of fame and got the galar champion ribbon!

with that handled, it was time to take on galar's battle tower. according to most, this battle tower is an absolute cake-walk, as you can dynamax while most of your opponents (barring leon) can't. it was just a matter of buckling down and spending the time required to amass your wins. as a result, i ended up abandoning the tried and true durant strat and instead took the og trio of albatross, origin and reides, himself, along for the ride.

hilariously enough, i ran into ONE road-block in this tower in the form of a shedinja which i could literally not attack. i had NO moves that could get past its guard... sobs. but another nice thing about the galarian battle tower is that it isn't streak-dependent, instead swapping over to a system relying on ranking up or ranking down. so i brushed off this shedinja encounter without letting it get to me all that much, haha! i also taught albatross shadow ball... just in case.

ribbons also got a bit of an upgrade in the switch games of pokemon. no longer limited to just being pretty graphics on the ribbon screen, you can now equip one ribbon on your pokemon and give it a little title every time you send it out in battle. i equipped the ribbon that reides got for mastering all of the contests in omega ruby, which granted him the title of 'shining star'!

it was so nice to see it every time i sent him out, but i can definitely see myself swapping between all the various titles at reides' disposal!

my climb to the master ball rank was fairy uneventful, though i really understood this child's plight. it's how i felt many times while in various battle towers during this ribbon master journey.

eventually, i made it through the rank itself and got to the final battle against leon. though i had faced him at the end of each rank prior to this moment, it still felt very intense to encounter him knowing that this was my very last battle tower match for the forseeable future. also, his battle tower outfit is SO DRIPPY. love him so much.

not gonna lie, it was pretty funny seeing him say something so inspiring while looking so sad (and the snowscape from one of dynamax-form reides' attacks really added to it). leon is an absolutely amazing character and one of my fav champions ever, though, so i was thrilled that he got to be the final match in my battle tower saga!

even though the swsh battle tower was WAY easier than the others that i faced, i was still so happy to be done with it. my goodness. i really went from ignoring the battle towers in the series to gaining streaks of ~50 in each and every one... it's kind of unreal. reides truly earned the title of 'tower master'!

upon getting the tower master ribbon, we were done with galar. i was sure to make my pokemon team some more curry before they set off for sinnoh! but i honestly wasn't too torn up about leaving galar, as pokemon home lets us shift pokemon between the switch games however we'd like. after so many one-way transfers out of prior generations, it felt kind of surreal - and was also a huge relief.

this cute curry wasn't the only treat that got eaten, either! i made some pokemon cookies in Real Life to celebrate, as well. i used cookie cutters from the official pokemon store to make these pikachu and munchlax cookies!

i then set my sights on the remake of diamond version... pokemon: brilliant diamond!

the last time reides visited sinnoh, he did so via my childhood copy of diamond version. as i wrote in my post about the gen4 part of reides' journey, this copy of the game was already in the post-game, so i didn't have to play through any of diamond's plot whatsoever when he arrived. however... for this sinnoh visit, i actually didn't have a post-game available! despite owning brilliant diamond since the day it released, i had barely played it. (fun fact: in my first run of the game, i ran into a shiny bidoof on my very first night playing it. i ended up transferring all of the pokemon in it - bidoof included - to pokemon home and restarting it, though, as i was toying with the idea of doing a shiny starter hunt... and then i simply never touched it. so i guess restarting it was actually a waste of time. weeps.) i knew that i'd need to play through its plot to get the ribbon that reides needed, so... you know what that meant.

it was time for a whole other adventure to begin.

i decided to keep reides in the pc for the storyline part of this playthrough. i wanted to raise a team of pokemon from the sinnoh region, and i knew that reides' status as a fully ev and iv trained pokemon at level 100 meant that he would absolutely STEAMROLL the plot. we still went on walks together very often though, and he had his pal hammer the garchomp in the pc for company! (i usually raise a garchomp for my sinnoh teams, as it's one of my fav pokemon in the sinnoh region, but i decided to try to resist this time around and limit myself to pokemon that i had never raised before!)

i absolutely loved my brilliant diamond playthrough. the art direction is a point of contention in the pokemon fandom, but i'm a big fan of it! it seems like people either love it or hate it, and, thankfully, i'm definitely in the 'love' camp! the chibi style is endlessly charming, and the environments were just gorgeous. something about the lighting in brilliant diamond is just SUPER pleasing to me, and re-visiting sinnoh like this allowed me to really appreciate it. since my diamond file was in the post-game, i guess needing to play through this one in its entirety actually kinda worked out in my favour, huh?

i was super delighted to see that the ribbons screen is absolutely gorgeous in this game, too! i really like the status screen featured in bdsp. it's so nice and colourful.

this simple little screenshot is also really important to me. you see, when i was a kid, i got diamond version as a gift from a family friend. he'd gone abroad and generously brought back it back as a present for me. back then, the country that i live in didn't get pokemon games in a timely manner at all (we'd get them in video game stores months after they released in the u.s.), and i actually had no idea that diamond version even existed. (not knowing that a new pkmn generation dropped was a recurring experience in my childhood, LOL.) so playing this game for the first time made for a really magical experience. i have a very, very clear memory of playing it for hours and hours on the night that i started it up... until i could barely keep my eyes open. i trained my team a whole lot and was exploring this route right outside of jubilife, and i thought that the small island on the water was very pretty. i saved there for the night, imagining my trainer setting up a little camp for herself and her pokemon... and now, every time i'm on that route, i can't help but smile at the memory. so you can imagine just how happy i was to take a photo with reides there, with the updated graphics and everything!

furthermore, on the course of my sinnoh journey, i ran into lots of old friends... including none other than riley!

thanks to the way he helped me out in the gen4 battle tower, riley is a really special character to me now. so i was really happy to see him and play through iron island with him! after thwarting team galactic, he surprised me with a little gift.

i actually wasn't planning on raising a riolu - much less a lucario - on my main team AT ALL... but, upon receiving this egg from riley, i knew i had to. as silly as it may sound, i thought it would be a great nod to our time in the battle tower all those generations ago! and so, on that note, here is the storyline team that i journeyed through sinnoh with, and who helped reides get to where he needed to be:

as you can see, there's a bit of a theme going on with their nicknames! i decided to name each member of my brilliant diamond team after in-universe berries. i thought it'd be cute!

anyway, the berry bunch and i had a fantastic time exploring sinnoh. days passed, and, eventually, we faced what i believe to be the most difficult league in any of the pokemon games... including the most daunting champion battle ever.

cynthia lived up to her status as the most skilled champion in the pkmn franchise thus far. we had a battle for the ages, knocking 5 of each other's pokemon out. i actually almost lost to her - she had me completely backed into a corner. but my team pulled through, as kelpsy the glaceon MIRACULOUSLY toughed out an attack that should have knocked him out (via the affection system - namely, if your pokemon really loves you, they can occasionally 'survive' attacks that'd knock them out with 1hp instead) and managed to land a single ice beam on her garchomp. this clutched out the win, and my team was added to the sinnoh hall of fame.

now that i had access to the post-game, i could focus on reides once more. to get his ribbon in brilliant diamond, we'd have to foray into the brilliant contest scene.

brilliant contests are a calibre above the typical condition contests and are linked to all of your contest stats rather than just one. you actually don't gain access to this category unless you've achieved a master rank win in all of the solo-stat categories. luckily, ribbons from oras are recognized in bdsp, so reides didn't have to prove his worth to the judges and could instead get right to competing in the brilliant contests.

in addition to this category, bdsp also introduced some new contest mechanics, too. your final contest score can be split into three parts: 'visual', 'dance', and 'move'. these all seem pretty self-explanatory; the visual part is linked to your pokemon's contest condition/sheen, the dance part is linked to how well you perform in the rhythm game, and the move is linked to your timing in executing the one contest move that you're allowed to take in with you during the contests. but the visual part actually has an element of added complexity in bdsp, as it also involves a new mechanic of placing stickers on your pokemon's pokeball so that cool effects play when you send them out. (this feature was also in the gen4 sinnoh games, albeit not incorporated into those games' contests.)

the effects which these stickers play have a direct impact on your pokemon's visual score. however, for brilliant contests, normal stickers don't really cut it. instead, people recommend grinding out champion stickers (from taking on cynthia's rematch team post-heatran plotline) and showstopper stickers (from beating the other master rank contests) in order to get a decent appeal score. since reides didn't need to take on the master rank contests, i didn't have any of those - and i wasn't all too interested in grinding for more. i figured that grinding out champion stickers would work out better, since they give more points in the visual portion of the contest, anyway.

before starting that grind, i decided to give the brilliant master contest a try with nothing but the base-game stickers. given reides' perfect contest stats from omega ruby, i wondered if his contest skills would be enough to scrape through and secure a win.

as it turned out...

...they were not. people are NOT exaggerating when they talk about the difficulty of the brilliant master rank contest!! i was pretty shocked that my lovely kingdra was getting absolutely terrible visual ratings. (LIKE, LOOK AT HIM!! LOOK AT HIM!!!!!!! HE'S SO CUTE!!!!!!! AND PERFECT!!! AND SWEET, TOO!!!!!!!!) anyway, my outrage aside, it turns out that using those two types of stickers to boost your pokemon's visual rating is pretty much a necessity. the rhythm game portion of it is also not to be underestimated and typically requires a bit of practice. luckily, i'm fairly decent at rhythm games, but i knew that i would have to get those stickers from cynthia after all. i played through the pre-requisite bit of the post-game - catching heatran in a premier ball! - and made my way back to the league. with my storyline team vibing in the pc and my ribbon mastery team ready to FIGHT, i got settled and began grinding out the battles.

initially, i intended to get 20 champion stickers on the ball so as to fill it up entirely with them. after getting 8 stickers in one night, though, i was kind of worn down and decided to give the contest another try. i also taught giga impact to reides, as it's SUPER good in the bdsp contests (your pokemon gains a big boost to its score when you use it while you have a positive 'jam' score in the dance game) and can be easily bought in the veilstone department store. i was delighted to see that my protag's mother - johanna - was there for this contest, as well as gym leader fantina. both johanna and fantina are great at contests in-universe, so i was excited at the prospect of at least succeeding on this contest round, even if reides didn't manage to clutch out the win.

...however, by some miracle, reides managed to do just that!! not only did i finally manage to succeed in the brilliant master rank contest, but reides also secured the win. at this point, it was, like, 4 in the morning for me. i was absolutely astounded; i actually wondered if i was somehow hallucinating. the twinkling star ribbon was the one and only ribbon that i needed in brilliant diamond, and after so much work to get to this point...

...it was finally granted to reides!!!

upon recieving this ribbon, reides acquired all of the ribbons that he needs in order to be a ribbon master... save for ONE. one (1) single ribbon stands in his way... and that ribbon is the one that's granted to a pokemon for emerging victorious in a master ball ranked online battle. now, i can technically get this ribbon by putting reides back in pokemon shield and trying to climb the ladder in gen8... but, as you likely know, the current gen (as of me writing this post) is gen9. that means that the gen8 battle servers are... well...

empty.

okay, no. they're not entirely empty. but people have stories of waiting for hours to get into one single match, and i'm not sure if i want to put myself through that unless i absolutely must. and i might just have to, as kingdra hasn't been officially announced as part of the generation 9 pokedex... however, with indigo disk on the horizon (3 more days!!!), i figured i'd wait to see if kingdra would be included in its national dex before subjecting myself to gen8's very delayed match-making times. if it isn't, i'll just devote another post to my competitive climb in lieu of a gen9 one. (tbh, i'm considering making a totally seperate blog post for my very first foray in the vgc realm regardless - but we'll see how it goes!)

either way, i really, really enjoyed my time with reides in gen8. it has been so awesome to see him in games that i can play with the most up-to-date nintendo console, and kingdra's models across the switch games have just been so incredibly snazzy. i said this at the start of the post, but it truly is crazy to see just how far my little shiny horsea from emerald version has journeyed. i love reides so very much and i couldn't possibly be more proud of him!!!

so let's keep our fingers crossed that reides will be allowed into gen9 so that he can explore the paldea, kitakami, and unova regions! thanks again for cheering him on, and i'm looking forward to writing another update soon!!! that update may very well include reides finally achieving full ribbon master status at long last, so i'm already excited for it! :D

[illarian-rambling]

Character introduction: Twenari Undetasib, the Blessing of House Tunnel Wasp

With a feeling like jumping from a great tower, Twenari reached forth into the great corpse of magic. For an instant, her body went into shock. Trying to cast without energy nearly always resulted in, if not always death, then at least some severe brain damage. However, she had no choice but to plunge ahead.

A moment later, Twenari latched onto power. The girl gave a ragged scream as the ancient magic poured into her, lighting her very bones with bloody fire. It was too much! It was beauty incarnate!

There was a second where Twenari could have been the most powerful mortal mage on the planet. Ten thousand years of runoff magic from what could have only been the work of something tantamount to the gods themselves flowed through her, around her. It became her.

Magic is as central to Twenari as air or food might be to another person. It's her purpose, her true love, and her greatest ally, even when it sometimes burns her from the inside out.

Twenari’s path began with the unique circumstances of her birth. She is the only daughter of Undeta Idansib, smuggler queen of the infamous House Tunnel Wasp, as well as a prodigy sorcerer. Though she only learns of this later, it is heavily implied that Undeta sought out a powerful sorcerer for the sole purpose of having such a gifted heir. Life with the Tunnel Wasps, spent mostly on her mother’s flagship, was one of brutality and subservience. Twenari was expected to be a perfect smuggler princess; educated and polite, ruthless and cunning. Her duties, which she began at the age of eight, included warding priority shipments, acting as an intimidation tactic, and reading the minds of any enemies her mother might torture for information. All while keeping up with her rigorous studies.

Obviously, this wore on the kindhearted girl. After delving into the mind of an innocent pawn in a game between crime syndicates whom her mother killed regardless, Twenari fled the Tunnel Wasp flagship. She ended up on the shores of a rural, out-of-the-way island called Saaz, and running right into a certain pair of seafolk in hiding. However, Twenari’s mother is not one to easily let go of anything valuable, especially not her main source of magic.

That is where the story of Honor's Outcasts picks up. As Twenari soon learns, her mother’s pursuit may be the least of her worries in the wide, wild world.

As a person, Twenari carries a pragmatism and maturity well beyond her years. She is insatiably curious about everything from cooking to divine magic, yet she approaches all of these interests with methodical precision. Some would be quick to call her cold. However, a righteous heart hides beneath the shield of aloof severity. She cares deeply for the family she's come to choose and will help them with their own problems in any way she can. Acts of service is very much Twenari’s love language.

As for what she looks like, there's a four year gap between books one and two, so that changes a bit. In book one, she's a messy-haired twelve-year-old with absolutely zero meat on her bones. In the later books, she's a tall girl of sixteen with many piercings in her ears. She has dark skin, short locs she keeps under a kerchief, bright tawny eyes, and prefers skirts to pants. There is a tattoo of a stylized tunnel wasp on her wrist.

Now for some fun facts!

Twenari loves to cook. She cooks most meals for the quartet.

She's unimaginably terrible with kids her own age.

She has resting crazy eyes.

Despite her natural sorcerous gifts, she wants to go to school to study runic magic and alchemy. Every sort of magic will bend to her will one day, or so she hopes.

She's an amateur arborist.

Being 12/16, she swears the least out of my main cast, however, she's picked up a lot of Halawema’ishi curses from Izjik. Most of these are eel-related.

And that's a wrap! I hope you all enjoy this absolute freak of a prodigy middle schooler raised by the fantasy cartel. Lmk which outcast I should do next!

Have a bitchin day <3

(Tag list @amandacanwrite @elsie-writes @riveriafalll @kosmic-kore @kaylinalexanderbooks @bard-coded @carrotsinnovember @patternwelded-quill @somethingclevermahogony @whatwewrotepodcast @goldxdarkness @the-angriest-author)

[riieks]

Imagine: Tony comforts you.

Desperate sobs escaped you unstoppably and the tears shot out of you in torrents. There was absolutely nothing you could do to hide or quell the sadness. You had had a bad feeling for a few days and now it was confirmed.

But probably the worst part was seeing your first love make out with another chick in bed. What did you do to deserve that? If the relationship wasn't worth anything to him anymore, why on earth hadn't he ended it before?

No. Instead, he broke your heart again. So that it splintered into pieces. But did you really blame him?

You had been blind the whole time and just didn't notice certain signs... Now you had your result.

You were so incredibly angry. Which was then simultaneously overwhelmed by pure disappointment. As a result, you curled up in the blanket and silently release your emotions. Nobody should get wind of this. It would just be embarrassing if one of the Avengers saw you like that. So you grabbed the fabric under your fingertips and escaped from the huge living room, which by the way was just one of countless in Stark Tower.

As one of Shield's best agents, you had been invited, or rather asked, to live in the gigantic base. Since you still always had your freedom, why shouldn't you live there?

Actually, you even thought about moving in with your boyfriend.. well.. ex-boyfriend. But that was finally over now. Thinking about it again gave you a dismal headache and made you run. Just hoping that no soul found out about your stress.

However, fate really wasn't kind to you and you heard muffled footsteps coming straight at you. You abruptly pushed your body behind the nearest wall and waited for the person to pull away. Your pulse rose automatically and you were even afraid that your hectic breathing could be heard.

"I know that you are hiding back there", came an amused voice and the blood froze in your veins. Why couldn't something just go the way you wanted it to for once? Ironically, the man you least expected had found you and you promptly wished you were somewhere else. What should you do now? Run away so your boss doesn't see you? Childish and at the same time stupid idea. There was only one way forward and it was being blocked by Tony Stark. The situation was cursed.

So you slowly came forward with your head down so that your face couldn't be seen and quickly apologized before you tried to get away.

But the brown-haired billionaire remained skeptical and didn't want to let you go so easily. He gently grabbed your arm and looked at you expectantly. "Are you all right?" he asked cautiously, not really knowing what to do.

You shook your head silently, because it wouldn't do any good to lie now anyway. Nevertheless, you didn't want to look bad in front of him, which is why you wanted to leave vehemently. However, Tony took a different view and gently ushered you into his office, where he kindly offered you a drink. You promptly accepted the glass and took a long gulp of the alcohol. Maybe that was what you needed right now. You weren't a big drinker, but in that moment you were just grateful for the desired effect and for the company.

With a still tearful voice, you just started talking and told him everything that was on your mind. Why you were so damn miserable and why you were so worried. The fact that you were chatting with Iron Man himself blurred with the tense feeling you had towards him. It had become a side issue. And it was just good that you had someone by your side who listened to you without ever interrupting you. When you finished your story, Tony smiled at you and put his hand on yours.

"You know, I've never been good at anything like this, but... I'd like to put it this way, you're one of the best I employ here and that's saying something. You have so much potential and you are a wonderful person. It's not going to help you, but there's no way this guy deserves it."

You returned the cute grin and nodded. "Yes it does. Thank you Mr Stark."

"Tony. Call me Tony," he said generously, draining his glass before beginning to bring music to his office to cheer you up even more. You had to chuckle at his attempt at drunk dancing.

[www-findringo-com]

From Afar

Yuno Grinberryall x Fem!reader

Since i changed my theme i think my banners and things should also change color, let me know what you think!

Cw- unchecked

Plot: Y/N Hanabi is a commoner who has always hated her fireworks magic even though the townsfolk have always praised her. As she grew up, a woman in her life changed her view completely, making her appreciate and slowly understand her "silly" magic.

Even if she started using her magic more, she had no interest in joining the magic knights, and yet during the elves' reincarnation, she helped save the people of the Clover Kingdom. This resulted in the Sorcery King noticing her and convincing her to join the knights, which, after many rejections, she. In the end. Took on the request and participated in the entrance exam a year after getting her grimoire. Once she joined the Blue Rose Knights, something or more like someone was going to completely change ,what once was, her daily routine.

Previous

Next

 The warm sunlight creeps in through the curtains and hits my eyes, making me wake up.

I groggily sat up straight, and as I rubbed an eye, I looked outside the windows, and I gasped. Dandelions. Everywhere. My mom ran into my room shouting : "Y/N, it's late. Wake up! You're gonna miss the grimoire acceptance ceremony!"

I groaned. I was happy to finally receive a grimoire, but couldn't it be in the afternoon and not at 8 in the morning! Hastily, I got ready. It was the middle of march, but the wind was as strong as ever, so dressing lightly was out of the question. Once I got dressed, I ran down the stairs and precipitated out of the door. Being late today of all days was just a big no-no.

The acceptance ceremony was held in a huge library just outside of my town on a hill filled with flowers. It was a sight for sore eyes. I loved hanging out on that hill. You could read in peace or also just admire the sky and take in the smell of the flowers and nature itself. I really liked that place. Since I was running late, I used a spark under my feet to make me jump up in the air and land on top of the hill next to the library as fast as possible. The breeze hitting my face was a nice way to wake me up. As I thought of that, I got distracted and landed face first on the back of someone. I fell to the ground, and the person I hit quickly turned around.

"Oh god. Are you okay?" I looked up to see a pretty girl with shoulder-length wavy golden brown hair, gentle green eyes, freckles, and the sweetest smile on earth. As I stared at her every detail, she faked coughs as a way to wake me up from my trance. I grabbed her hand quickly and answered: "Uh, yeah! I'm fine, but are you okay? That was a pretty heavy hit, " she chuckled as she pulled me up from the ground. She winked at me and said: "Oh, that was nothing really, I'm blessed with mana, so it was easy to shield!" I giggled alongside her, but as she said that, I couldn't help but notice the overbearing amount of mana pressuring me down. Who was this girl?

"Uhm, I'm Y/N Hanabi. Nice to meet you. " With the hand that was interlocked with hers, I shook it, awaiting a response. "Oh! I'm Serene. It's a pleasure to meet you Y/N, so can I consider you my friend now?" I gave her a smile and a nod in response as she chuckled and started jumping around. Soon after, we noticed everyone had gone inside. I tensed up, grabbed Serene's hand, and ran inside the library not to miss the ceremony. Inside, it was full of people from all around the kingdom. Poor them. They probably had to journey for many days to get here. Luckily, I lived right next to it. Perks of the common realm!

"Welcome youngins! Today, for everyone here, starts a new, meaningful way. I wish for each of you Loyalty, Hope and Love."

An old guy with a pointy hat and a huge beard showed up and spoke to us, to announce the ceremony.

" I am the master of the Grimoire Tower." And that's who he was. Wow, thanks. "We've never had a wizard king from around these parts before or even anyone who stood out for their work in the magic knights. I hope with all my might, that one day one of you will become the wizard king." That was a nice thought of his wasn't it, except right after he lashed out like a crazed animal "REALLY THOUGH, I HOPE IT HAPPENS!" Everyone stood silent for a few seconds before the Tower Master announced the beginning of the actual grimoire acceptance ceremony.

As soon as he finished talking, some of the books from the shelves started glowing with different colors such as red, green, yellow, blue, purple, orange, gray, and different shades of the same colors. A red light landed near my face, and a grimoire with a dark red cover and golden details and three-leaf clover enlightened my face. The details were the same as the ones on the kimono the foreigner had left me. As I looked at it, I could feel my eyes swell in tears, but I quickly washed them away. It was stupid to cry for such a stupid thing anyway.

People started cheering when they noticed two grimoires emanating lots of mana and having printed on the front and back a four-leaf clover. One grimoire was green with golden details, while the other was black with lots of silver details and drawings on it, almost as if it was a royal's. The green one landed on this peasant kid, the guy was tall, skinny, with black messy hair and golden eyes. If I hadn't gotten distracted by the oo-ing of Serene, I would have kept staring at that handsome kid. As I was saying, I was distracted by the oo-ing of Serene. When I turned to face her, the black grimoire was in her hands. She started screeching and jumping around like a child. She turned to me all happy and shouted, " Y/N! Did you see this!" I giggled at her child-like behavior. It was refreshing to see someone like that even though we were the same age. But, unlike her, the other four-leaf clover grimoire holder wasn't as enthusiastic. As soon as she held the book in her hands, the other guy started aiming a wind shot at her. Once it fired, Serene's grimoire floated off her hands and lit up. Immediately it opened and a spell wrote itself under her eyes. The wind arrow was so close to her, and suddenly, she put her hand out and absorbed it, transforming it into a ball of magic. She did a twirl and launched what once was an arrow of wind, and now became a ball of fire in the air. The magic scattered, transforming from free fire into little fire butterflies and sparkles that floated around the tower, leaving the rest of the grimoire receivers in awe at the sight.

"What a magnificent display of magic from our four-leaf clovers!" The old geezer chuckled. Creepy. "It's people like them that will make it and become wizard king one day, i know it!" The guy kept speaking and suddenly Serene shouted .

"Even if I have no care about becoming wizard king, I will protect this kingdom with every single drop of my magic. Until my mana dissolves my entire being, I will not stop helping the people of this land. So you can count on me!"

Oh, she's so cool. People cheered at Serene's speech, and just like a spell, everyone's magic seemed to rise just thanks to it. The other four-leaf guy just shook his head and rolled his eyes. What a jerk, a handsome one, but still a jerk. This was a very inspiring and beautiful moment and after a bit everyone started leaving. But, suddenly, someone spoke up.

"U-Uhm! My grimoire hasn't come yet!"

We all turned to face the origin of that squeaky voice only to be met by this pretty short kid with dirty silver hair and green eyes, still in a weird pose with his hands up in the air. As if expecting something. I couldn't help but chuckle. I was cursed with this lowly magic, but from him, I sensed no magic at all. Was it really possible, in a world where magic meant everything, to be born without it? I pitied him. Soon after, the old guy spoke to answer him, "Uhm- You can try again next year!"

And the other kids around us started laughing at him. Absolute jerks, come on, poor guy! Well, I was about to chuckle before, but I would never laugh in his face. That's just mean. I was about to tear up for him. He looked distraught, almost as if getting his grimoire meant his whole life. As the guy had his reality check, I could hear that the voice of some of the kids who laughed got muffled. I turned around to check why, and I was met with an angry Serene using her magic to cover the mouths of the jerks who were laughing at him. That girl was so nice she should have become the icon of good people, she was just amazing!

After some time everyone started leaving, and so did Serene and I. "Poor guy, I hope he gets an easy life. " I spoke up, but Serene quickly countered: "You know, I have a feeling he's going to become a pain in the ass for the nobles of this kingdom. He'll become the greatest I’m sure of it!" In her eyes, there was a shine that could make the biggest star seem invisible. She stopped and faced the hill. After a while of standing in silence, she sat down and gestured for me to sit next to her. I got behind her, and my breath hitched. The view in front of us was majestic: the wind made dandelions fly across the sky, and the sound of the trees rustling was all I could hear. Everything was picturesque, adorned with a background of the prettiest pink sunset. I turned my head to look at Serene, and if the view wasn't already breathtaking, she would have been the cherry on top. The wind ruffled her hair, letting her pretty green eyes be the focus of the beautiful painting in front of me.

I was gawking until she spoke up: "You know why I think that manaless kid is going to surpass everyone?" She turned to face me, and I could see that her face had this small grin printed on it. The gentle light of the sunset hit her face, making her look very golden-ish. Her beauty was at the same level as the foreigner, and I could feel my heart flutter. Only then did I realize she was asking me a question, so I answered: "U-uhm... No?" She chuckled.``Well, it's because I can tell he strives for more. He'll work more than anyone and get so much more than he expected, I feel it in my soul!" She kept giggling, and I sighed. In the end, she is still a child at heart. We spent another hour on that hill, talking and laughing about stupid stuff. It almost seemed as if we had known each other since forever, yet i had met her that same day.

Once it started to be really dark, Serene walked me home, and from there, we parted with the hope of meeting up again soon. I opened the door to my house, only to be met by confetti and balloons. Congratulations, Y/N! Was written on the festive banner hanging on the wall right in front of the door. "Congrats!" My family chirped in, all smiley. I gave them a smile and walked in, letting myself be showered with praise and compliments by my family and our neighbors. It was hard to admit, but I really enjoyed all that attention. "Big sister Y/N, can we see your grimoire!" One of the kids from my town spoke up, and then everyone joined in asking for me to show my magic. And so I did. My grimoire lit up in a shade of red, and, just like Serene, a spell wrote under my eyes. I quickly read it, and without a second thought, I shot like a string of fire that caught the kid who had asked to see my grimoire. The spell had him sit on it as the string of fire took the shape of a cross. It flew out the door and up into the air before exploding into a big cross-like firework, and the kid slowly fell from the sky, admiring the sparkes it was releasing. Then I lifted my arm up, and coloured clouds formed right under the kid, making him stop from falling and slowly bringing him to the ground. The townsfolk sat in awe at my magic, and I could tell that they were impressed. "This has always been my magic, but with the grimoire I'm going to be able to do lots of things!" I gave them a grin from ear to ear that made everyone lit up. And with that the party started. As we were eating and playing, one of my neighbors walked up to me and asked me something: " Are you going to join the magic knights now?"

I sat there in silence for a few seconds until I uttered something that I may regret: " No actually, it would be a waste of time. But if the kingdom needs it, I'll gladly protect my people!" I smiled and went off to play with the younger kids.

The celebrations went on for the whole night and the next morning I was exhausted. But the rest of the town? Oh they were JUST FINE?? I mean good for them yeah, but that energy is draining to just look at.

And that was the first chapter!!! I hope you guys will like. If you do enjoy the series and wish to see more stuff written by me please follow me and feel free to send requests! Anyways on the other note i feel like there might be something hidden between y/n and serene like a zing.....

I decided to publish once a week on sunday but maybe next week i won't be able to post because i'm going on vacation, but I'll do my best!!! Don't forget to leave me your thoughts of the chapter. Bye-Bye

- Ringo

[saitama-division]

UNITED EMCEEZ -Enter The Hexagon- (Femme Fatale & CodeX Ver.)

Lyrics made by @uenodivision !

Bring The Beat!

[Sayaka:]

Attention, please!

We are the United Emceez!

Listen to us now!

Let's go!

(Enter the hexagon!)

Yo, I'm the guardian, the voice of Saitama's streets

Spittin' bars to a beat, protectin' my peeps

Family and friends, they're the core of my rhymes

Shielding them from harm, through the hardest of times

Butterflies in the sky, they be spreadin' the peace

My words are my cocoon, from the chaos, release

Ritsuko you wouldn't understand, cause you just spread discord

I swear, at the end, you will not win this war!

[Ritsuko:]

Oh, sister dear, you flutter high, a butterfly so frail

I'm the spider in the shadows, weaving life's morbid tale

Your dreams of peace, they dance in your naive, little head

But I see the world for what it is, a place devoid of dread

I rap to paint the void, the stark and ruthless truth

No concern for life, that's the spirit of my youth

My plans, they simmer, a poison waiting to bloom

I'll keep spinning my verses, 'til I bring about your doom

[Sayaka:]

Saitama's Femme Fatale, you won't see us with a frown!

[Ritsuko:]

Oppose Shinagawa's CodeX? What a foolish clown!

[Sayaka:]

Best believe, at the end, we will seize the day!

[Sayaka & Ritsuko:]

I'm not stopping now, I'm still on my way!

[All:]

Go louder, UNITED EMCEEZ!

The words that were scattered will link up into breakbeats!

[Sayaka:]

We do our best and get through every day

Who’s gonna go and show the results tonight?

[All:]

We are UNITED EMCEEZ!

The words that were scattered will link up into breakbeats!

[Ritsuko:]

All eyes on me, you’ll forget to blink

Raise your hands higher and higher!

[Sayaka:]

Enter the hexagon!

[Lola:]

We’ll build the greatest that is now!

[Miho:]

I won’t wait; I’ll create my own miracle!

[Kureha:]

Get ready! Our time is now!

[Sumire:]

We’re reaching for the rap game’s pinnacle!

[Lola:]

Call me Aphrodite, goddess of the divine

Beauty and love, in every line I design

I live in the lap of luxury, my life is so grand

Wealth flows like rivers at my command

I see you, "Bronze" Maiden, with your suit and your frown

Judging my vanity, but you can't bring me down

Your empire of numbers, oh how very droll

While I reign supreme, a living work of soul

[Miho:]

Reign supreme? Bitch, I'm a queen in my high-rise tower

I built my empire on ambition, not just seeking power

Blood, sweat, and tears are the foundation of my reign

While you settle for attention, I secure my domain!

My fortress is this business, my crown earned, not bought

I rap about determination, the battles I've fought

You waste time seeking the spotlight, but I command respect

Your path of ease and beauty, I utterly reject!

[Lola:]

Say what you want, bitch, but Femme Fatale is by my side!

[Miho:]

Mess with CodeX, and you won't leave here alive!

[Lola:]

I've come to far to give up at the end of the day!

[Lola & Miho:]

I'm not stopping now, I'm still on my way!

[All:]

Go louder, UNITED EMCEEZ!

The words that were scattered will link up into breakbeats!

[Lola:]

We do our best and get through every day

Who’s gonna go and show the results tonight?

[All:]

We are UNITED EMCEEZ!

The words that were scattered will link up into breakbeats!

[Miho:]

All eyes on me, you’ll forget to blink

Raise your hands higher and higher!

[Kureha:]

I paint my life with a palette of second chances

Brush strokes bold, my art advances

Like Van Gogh's stars, I swirl through strife

Monet's lilies bloom, a new lease on life

To my friend, Sumire, know my resolve is firm

For Femme Fatale, for Saitama, I stand and affirm

Though love for art and peace is what I profess

In the battle of verses, I show no finesse

[Sumire:]

I'm the voice in the dark, the truth's crusader

Rappin' 'bout the corrupt, those power-hungry traitors

A new world order, that's the vision I chase

I'd sell my goddamn soul to win this human race

Kureha, you're my friend, but hear this clear

If you block my path, I won't shed a tear

I'll summon the strength, from demons below

To protect my goal, I'll be your fiercest foe

[Kureha:]

Not a fan of the name, but I'm Femme Fatale for life!

[Sumire:]

Fucking with CodeX is a sure way to die!

[Kureha:]

I'll fight with all my might to see a brand-new day!

[Kureha & Sumire:]

I'm not stopping now, I'm still on my way!

[All:]

Go louder, UNITED EMCEEZ!

The words that were scattered will link up into breakbeats!

[Kureha:]

We do our best and get through every day

Who’s gonna go and show the results tonight?

[All:]

We are UNITED EMCEEZ!

The words that were scattered will link up into breakbeats!

[Sumire:]

All eyes on me, you’ll forget to blink

Raise your hands higher and higher!

[Sayaka & Ritsuko:]

Look up at this hexagon in the night sky

[Lola & Miho:]

Always go where the light leads you to

[Kureha & Sumire:]

Our future can be changed in the blink of an eye

[Sayaka:]

Now welcome to the new world

Rhopalocera!

[Lola:]

Aphrodite!

[Kureha:]

Eclipse!

[Femme Fatale:]

Femme Fatale!

[Ritsuko:]

Strychnine!

[Miho:]

Iron Maiden!

[Sumire:]

Diabla!

[CodeX:]

CodeX!

[All:]

Go louder, UNITED EMCEEZ!

The words that were scattered will link up into breakbeats!

[Ritsuko:]

We do our best and get through every day

Who’s gonna go and show the results tonight?

[All:]

We are UNITED EMCEEZ!

The words that were scattered will link up into breakbeats!

[Miho:]

All eyes on me, you’ll forget to blink

Raise your hands higher and higher!

[Ritsuko:]

Enter the hexagon!

[Sumire:]

We’ll build the greatest that is now!

[Kureha:]

I won’t wait; I’ll create my own miracle!

[Lola:]

Get ready! Our time is now!

[Sayaka:]

We’re reaching for the rap game’s pinnacle!

[just-here-with-my-thoughts]

It’s so hard to pick from your WIP list!!! Can I hear more about nightmares, diamonds, and bdhb-fairground date? (And bdhb-smut if you wanna 😂)

It seems greedy to ask about FOUR options for the WIP game (that is more than a third of the options on offer!) but seeing as @probadbatch also asked about the Beach Days and Hair Braiding series, I shall indulge you :P

Nightmares is your own request anyway, so you know the premise! It's based off a throwaway line in "Forget I asked", and will eventually result in Hunter being there when Crosshair wakes from his nightmares, even if their own relationship is still rocky at the time. But you can't have Crosshair being comforted by Hunter without contrasting it with the time he has spent alone...

Crosshair woke with a flinch, arms instinctively coming up to shield his head. Protect his eyes. His enhancement made him useful, an asset. It was the only thing keeping him from decommissioning. No. Wait. This wasn't Kamino. Panting to full wakefulness as tremors of adrenaline shot through his limbs, Crosshair peeled himself up from the hard cot and steadied himself with a palm on the wall. The sleek rasp of durasteel scraped under his clawed fingers. Breathing through his mouth, he tasted the chemical tang of disinfectant in the recycled air. If he listened, he could hear the erratic night-cycle breathing of other prisoners in cells out of view of his own. Blinking away the last vestiges of the nightmare, his vision cleared enough to focus on the barred gate that sealed him in. He let his gaze track over the scuffs and pits he knew by heart, those small details intimately familiar to him. He’d had nothing to do all this time except stare at the wall, trying to stay sane even as despair eroded his will to do so.

TechPhee Diamonds is inspired by a conversation/challenge to find a way to feature my own Specialist Subject in a fanfic somehow! So what better way than to have Tech and Phee debating the merits of natural vs synthetic diamonds?

Of course Tech is arguing that chemically, physically, optically, a synthetic diamond is identical to its naturally occurring counterpart. Phee just doesn't see the romance in it - not compared to a natural treasure of the earth, grown millions of years ago under the ground, then brought to the surface in a volcanic eruption and weathered from it's host rock for some lucky person to find.

In the end, she promises that if he gets her a big enough diamond, she won't even ask where it came from :P

Beach Days series below the cut! (Cloneshipping here, don't like? Don't click!)

I mean firstly credit also goes to my co-creator @ninjadeathblade because you wouldn't have had this series at all without them!

I was asked about the BDHB series last time this game went round so you can find a bit more info Here :)

As for my current WIPs? We're half way through Fairground Date; the rest of the planned chapters are 5: Drop Tower, 6: Splashdown/Sideshow Games, 7: Tunnel of Love and 8: Fireworks. Sneak peek for upcoming chapter 'Drop Tower' below :P

“Remind you of waiting to drop into a combat zone?” the other clone asked, his voice a low rumble, Hunter could only pick his words out thanks to his enhanced senses – this was clearly a comment Crosshair was making for his ears alone, not as general conversation. He shivered as Cross’ long fingers skimmed across the skin of his palm, sensitive despite years of callouses. Despite how small the point of contact was, it set up a delicious feeling throughout his entire body. “That’s how I felt… waiting to come and see you today,” the sniper continued, lips barely moving. He was facing straight ahead, but the gentle action of his hand tracing Hunter’s told him he had his full attention. “How I’ve felt every time I thought about you since… that night.”

Interlude (505) and Laundry Day are officially in development as the next 2 stories after Fairground Date. It's probably going to be a while before any of the disparate snippets in the WIP doc currently titled 'BDHB smut' reach the story but I certainly don't plan for it to stay as cute hand-holding forever...

"Fuck." Hunter bit out the oath, tears welling and beading on his lashes as he scrunched his eyes closed. "Cross, it's too intense..." Crosshair stilled their bodies, waiting for a moment as Hunter gasped. "Do you want to stop?" "No," he whispered brokenly, pressing his forehead to Crosshair's. Fighting the urge to move, Crosshair stayed where he was, long fingers pressing divots into Hunter's hips but waiting for the signal to continue. After a moment Hunter hiccoughed something that sounded on the edge of a sob, and Crosshair drew his head back in soft horror. "You're crying," he rasped, voice curling with guilt. "Hunter, we don't have to do this-" "I want to." Hunter cut him off, a laugh shuddering through him as he lifted his arm from Cross' shoulder, swiping his forearm across his face to dry his tears. "I want you." There was a note of self-frustration as he shook his head. "It's just..." He trailed off, lifting his face to fix Crosshair with a gaze that glowed with devotion. "It's you. It's really you." After a moment Crosshair moved his hands on Hunter's sides, a soothing stroke. "You're okay. I've got you."

Listen smut is just a vehicle for two characters to have a really strong connection to each other, by the time they reach this point the boys have been through a lot together to get this far. I have been staring at this for far too long agonising over what to share from this wip; there's definitely *sexier* stuff than this but their eventual, emotional, long-awaited first-time seemed like the best option :)