#everyones ace until the ao3 history comes up
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Shout out to Ace Attorney and all of its angsty, dramatic, complicated, incest and pseudoincest ships!
Care for a technically adoptive (depending on which canon and how you look at it) double tsundere emotionally repressed brosis duo with an incredibly complicated (like, "turns out you didn't actually kill your dad, my dad was the real murderer") family history? Here's Miles Edgeworth and Franziska von Karma. They come with emotional growth based around examining concepts like "real justice" and "the search for perfection and why it's actually unhealthy" and also with a whip, which she uses on pretty much everyone she meets but he's the only one who both can handle it and doesn't really mind it...
Feel like tragic femslash? The Fey family is what you need! Here's Morgan, who was set up to become the leader of a whole village of spirit mediums, and Misty, her younger sister who accidentally stole that position by virtue of having been born with greater powers but then made a very public mistake that she felt brought dishonor on the whole family and ran away in shame, leaving Morgan to stew in bitterness and in plans to get her own offspring to usurp the title of Master of the village from Misty's. And here's their respective sets of daughters, too! On one side, aeriously messed-up twins Iris and Dahlia, who were taken away from Morgan by her ex-husband in the divorce and took very different paths in life, with cold-blooded Dahlia commiting one crime after another and sweet Iris becoming a nun in a temple, but who are nonetheless united by some strange codependent relationship where Iris will do just about anything for Dahlia, including being complicit in her cruel plans and even pretending to be Dahlia herself to fulfill them. And on the other side, Misty's daughters, Mia and Maya, with cool and confident Mia leaving the village to find the truth about the incident Misty was involved in and rehabilitate her name, but becoming the victim of a brutal murder when she came too close to unveiling certain important secrets, and seemingly innocent and childish but actually full of uncertainty and self-worth issues Maya, set to become the Master of the village after her dearly beloved older sister's death but always quietly comparing herself unfavorably to Mia in personality, skills and power... and capable of channeling Mia's spirit inside her own body, but unable to communicate with her in that time or even clearly remember said experiences, just to add salt to the wound.
Just want something more usual, like problematic brothers? Here's Kristoph Gavin, impeccable and courteous defense attorney actually hiding his own slew of deceit and murders, succeded or merely attempted, and his equally handsome younger brother Klavier, both a prosecutor and an actual rockstar, who wholly trusted and looked up to Kristoph... until he came face to face with the fact he'd been used as just another witless pawn in Kristophs' plans.
I can confirm that fanfictions, darker or lighter, with the incest implied or explicit, exist about every ship I've listed here. You may find a few antis complaining about them, especially Miles/Franziska or Gavincest, on Tumblr... but on AO3? It's a goldmine of gorgeous works!
Ace Attorney anon: just realized I somehow completely forgot about Apollo/Trucy!!! I think many shippers fell out of love with it after the reveal about them being half-siblings... but many others held on to the ship or even started shipping harder! They each have complicated, angsty family histories. Their mother won't tell them she's their mother (at least at the point the games left off) because she's been through all kinds of dramatic emotional upsets, including losing her eyesight and memory for a long time, so she doesn't feel ready to face the truth and see if they can be a family yet. They ave similar quirks/powers but apparently very different personalities, at least at first glance. They're both convinced they have to pretend they're fine, in their own individual ways, even when they aren't. They're technically-coworkers with chemistry even other characters point out in-universe. Her adoptive father is the only person besides their mom who knows the truth, but keeps the secret as its not his to reveal, while HIS adoptive father figure says she would be a good wife for him! And she seems quite amused by the idea, calling him "dad" in return like she's already preparing to be his daughter-in-law! In short, what's not to love?
#asks#anoymous#visual novels#first post#new canon#apollo and trucy#r: brosis#ace attorney#commentary#noiv#nr#r: brothers#r: sisters#nc
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4, 18, 39 for 'get to know your fic writer?' :)
4. Where do you find inspiration for new ideas
i either slam two things that should never really be slammed together (thinking specifically of the hamlet locked tomb i want to write at some point hopefully please god) or i get into very cursed conversations with a few specific people and the everyone has to deal with the consequences (this is how the whole kate/yaz thing got started)
18. Do you title your fics before, during, or after the writing process? How do you come up with titles?
i don't just wait to title until after the writing process, i wait to title until i'm going to post it. half the time i'll have the ao3 draft window open and still haven't titled a fic. 90% of the time, titles come from whatever song lyrics i can make fit from the playlist i'm currently obsessed with. there have been very few times where titles come to me before i'm done writing.
39. Share a snippet from a WIP
ok ok ok this is from my current (probably going to be like 10k oneshot) that i've been writing for kate and ace as paring, here's the opening, i'm-
"Kate meets Ace when theyâre both fifteen and more than a little jaded. Itâs a history that shapes her in many ways, and it goes something similar to this:
She spends a summer in Perivale with her grandparents, a dreadful, boring affair that leaves her pacing their tiny cottageâthe perfect condensation of an aesthetic thatâs meant to drive a teen to the brink of insanityâafter only a few days. Problem is, she doesnât know much of anyone here who isnât keen on bridge and knitting and the teens that hang about outside the pubs and corner shops are more than a little intimidating. Most glower when she walks past, make her acutely aware that she does not belong and each of the factors alone would be fine. Were it that Perivale were simply a boring, droll place with interesting, open people, were it that the people terrible but Perivale intriguing on its own, were it that Kate could stand bridge and knitting and learn to love the slow place, she would be alright. It wouldnât be so much of a problem."
#the kate/ace fic has been in progress for a couple weeks#and i'm very excited about it#fic talk#asks#kate stewart#ace mcshane
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when itâs too heavy to carry, remember this moment with me (they say love is a journey), ch.2
Fandom: Nancy Drew (2019)
Pairing: Nancy/Ace
Tags: Post s3 finale, undercover as a married couple, fake/pretend relationship, case fic, haunting, curse-era, angst, mutual pining
Status: in progress
Summary: Nancy and Ace pose as a married couple to investigate a haunting, after Nancyâs been ignoring him for a month to protect him.
Extract:
"Is it too small?" Ace asks her, bringing her back.
Nancy's brow furrows. "What?"
"The ring," Ace says, tipping his chin at her. "You keep playing with it. Is it too small?"
Nancy looks down. Without realizing it, she's been anxiously fiddling with her ring, twisting it around her finger. Her heart skips a beat as she remembers Ace putting it on her just before, the warmth of his hand, the heat in her cheeks. "Oh, no, it's perfect," Nancy says. "More than perfect, actually, it's stunning, Ace," she confesses, emotion overwhelming her again. Nancy runs her thumb over the cornflower blue sapphire, dazzled by its beauty and the history it carries. The love. "Speaking of, we should get our stories straight," she starts without looking up at him. "About our marriage, I mean."
"Oh, yeah, sure," Ace agrees, too briskly to sound unaffected. Nancy can't blame him; just hearing him call her his wife felt like a sucker punch. "Whatever you want to go with."
She should have let Bess deal with this part, Nancy muses. Bess would have come up with a convincing story, something worthy of ending up on the back of a book. After a brief but intense summer fling, Nancy and Ace tied the knot to everyone's surprise and their parents' consternation. Nancy and Ace found purpose, direction and meaning in each other, and thus began forever, until forever started crumbling down. Nancy and Ace are star-crossed lovers, their love put to the test again and again until they started questioning its very strength. Can love be enough, after all?
"I guess...we could go with something easy, no need to go for an elaborate story," Nancy suggests. "We got married pretty young and our parents disapprove. It takes its toll."
Read more on AO3!
#nacesource#aceandnancy#nacefanfiction#nace#nace fanfiction#nace fic#nancy drew#nancy x ace#nancy drew cw
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summary: beau says some shitty things to caduceus, and he comes to you. no matter what he thinks, you love him and you make sure he knows that he's not broken. (part 2/13 of the kindness series, a thematically connected series of c2/exu imagines)
word count: 1.6k
warnings: unintentional acephobia / arophobia (beau says some shitty things, but from a place of ignorance)
note: i am def not to the c2 episodes where cad is introduced but i love him already, so i'm not sure whether or not my characterization is on point or not, but in this house we love and respect aro/ace caduceus!!!!!
masterlist - request - support my work? - ao3
You know his feelings, and he knows yours. Thatâs why you and Caduceus get along so well, despite life on the road. Thereâs always some sort of friction in the group, even though itâs quickly smoothed over and forgotten. Things like that, though, never happen between you and Caduceus - which is something the rest like to point out with thinly-veiled jealousy when theyâre in a tuff with another of the group.
Just thinking about your frictionless relationship with Cad makes you smile. You know that he doesnât really get the way other people fall in love, or lust depending on who it is, and sometimes that makes you sad. But not sad in a way that youâd want him to change - Gods no. You love him for the way he is, and you know he loves you for the way you are. It doesnât stop you from thinking about another life, another place, though.
Thatâs mostly irrelevant. Youâll be the first to admit, when you first found Cad and he joined your merry band of adventurers, youâd harbored a rather large crush on him. That, originally, started your kindness campaign toward him. Selfish, yes, but you donât regret it. It has made you the closest friend youâre sure youâll have in your entire life. Heâd kept mostly to himself before you reached out to him, being nicer and nicer until⊠Well, until he started to return the favors.
Thatâs what makes you two work so well together. Everyone else is resistant, honestly, to the way you want to be nice to them. You know they have their reasons, so you donât push. Eventually they are kind to you and, though you donât do it just so that others will be nice to you, itâs a warming feeling to know that you have some impact on the people you travel with.
Caduceus is the one that goes out of his way the most for you, though. Heâs the one that will prepare your meal in the way that you prefer, but Caleb hates, and adjusts Calebâs accordingly. Heâs the one that will listen to you and Jester fawn over Oskar, even though heâs not interested in the romantic or sexual aspects of Tusk Love. Heâs the one that will hear you having a nightmare and wrap his large, warm body around yours to comfort you in the middle of the night. He is your best friend, and youâre his. (After the Wildmother, of course. Youâd never get between them. Itâs so clear how fond he is of her, and how fond she is of him.)
But all of these things, the history the two of you share and how close you are compared to the rest of the Mighty Nein, are the reason Caduceus comes to you late at night, tears wetting the fur on his face. Itâs late, and you were asleep, but your door is open to anyone in the Might Nein. Cad knows this, which is why youâre surprised that he is knocking.
âCaddy,â You reach for his hand and guide him into your room, âWhatâs wrong?â He doesnât say anything, opting instead to drape himself over you in a warm, strong hug. You feel his breathing stutter and then pick back up, a telltale sign heâs been crying for some time. Your stomach drops like a stone, âHey, letâs sit down on the bed, okay? And then we can talk if you want or we can just sit.â He lets you lead him to the bed, but as soon as heâs at, he curls up with his back towards you and shields himself as much as possible with his arms. Itâs like heâs afraid of you, sobs returning to jostle his body on your bed.
You let him have his space, stepping back but reminding him that youâre here - for him, in the room, for the long haul. You canât let Caduceus think heâs alone in whatever heâs going through, because heâs not. Heâs not alone, never, not with you around. Your heart breaks as he whimpers and rolls over, reaching a hand out for you. Thereâs no hesitation in your mind when you crawl into bed and let Cad fold himself around you, holding you so tightly that youâre afraid that heâll break. âCaddy, I need you to calm down,â You wrap your arms around his middle, scratching lightly at the fur on his back to try and comfort him.
âAm I broken?â
âWhat?â
âAm I broken?â And then he says your name, pleading and so filled with sorrow, that it chokes you up for a second. âI think I might be broken.â
âCaduceus Clay, you are not broken,â You whisper, voice shaking as you pull him impossibly closer, eyes cresting with tears as you look, unseeing, at the wall over his shoulder. Heâs buried his face in the crook where your neck meets your jaw. âI donât know why you would think that, but I know you are not.â
He sniffles. âBeau saidâŠâ But he cuts himself off, jaw snapping shut with an audible sound as he squeezes his arms around your waist. You can feel his hands shaking as they clench in your sleep clothes.
âBeau says a lot of shit,â You turn your head to nuzzle your nose against the back of his large ear, hoping to bring some sort of comfort to him. Whatever she said to him has gotten him more worked up than anything youâve ever seen, âShe says a lot of shit and sometimes she doesnât mean it, and sometimes she doesnât really get what sheâs saying. Sheâs an empire kid, Caddy, theyâre sheltered and unsure and kind of⊠Well, theyâre assholes. Beau is not immune to Empire Kid Asshole Syndrome, just like Caleb isnât.â He shudders, a fresh round of tears wetting your neck and the fur on his face. âCad⊠Caddy, come on, what did she say?â
âWe were in Jesterâs room,â He begins, voice calm but small, âAnd she was talking about Tusk Love again. Nott asked a question - about, I donât know, I think our first time, but I donât⊠Iâve neverâŠâ You press a kiss against his fur when he begins to work himself up again. He sucks in a shaking breath, âAnd I told them, and the Beau asked why and⊠Thereâs not a reason, I donât suppose.â
âThere doesnât have to be a reason,â You whisper, âBut if you want a reason, the reason is that this is how youâve chosen to live.â
Caduceus continues like he doesnât hear you, âShe said that thereâs no point to having friends, to being so close to you, if nothing will come from it. She said that life is about love and sex and finding someone to share it all with. She said that I was leading you on. That youâre in love with me.â
You whine low in your throat and push on Cadâs shoulders so heâs looking at you. You want him to not only listen to what youâre about to say, but hear it. He looks so sad, ears pulled back and eyes glassy. âI am not in love with you, Caduceus Clay. I love you. There is a difference. Once, yes, I thought that I might have been able to fall in love with you, but I know how you feel. What you feel is real, do you understand?â You pause for him to respond, but he just looks at you. âYou do not need love and sex to live life, okay? And love - you have so much of it. I love you. The Mighty Nein loves you. The Wildmother loves you. You have so much love in your life, and if that is enough for you then thatâs enough for you. Nobody has any say in what you want from life except you.â
âAm I hurting you? By not being able to fall in love with you?â
âNo,â You say firmly, âYour worth is not measured by your ability or desire to fall in love.â Cad shifts on the bed, and you pull him closer, settling your forehead against his, âIâll talk to Beau in the morning, okay? She will apologize to you - either this is a misunderstanding, or she was being intentionally malicious, but there will be an apology.â
His eyes slip closed, and the sigh that follows shakes as it leaves his body. Some of the tension melts away and you let one of your hands move up his body - making sure he knows youâre aiming for his face - until your thumb can rub soft circles in his cheek. âDo you believe me?â You ask, voice soft as he begins to come down.
âWhat?â
âDo you believe that youâre not broken? That you just are who you are? That itâs okay?â You press your nose against his for a brief second. Just a moment of comforting intimacy, but you donât press it. âDo you believe what I said?â
âIâm not sure,â He stutters a little bit, frown tugging slightly at his lips, âI think that I could come to believe it because you wouldnât lie to me.â
âNever,â You promise in a strong voice, despite whispering to him, âI would never lie to you. Iâm not lying to you.â You shift a little, twisting your legs with his long and lithe ones, âLetâs get some rest tonight, and Iâll set Beau straight in the morning, okay?â You know heâs already tipping off toward sleep, his body warming and becoming pliant in your arms. Caduceus only hums and nods, one of his ears twitching as your breath hits it when you chuckle. Tomorrow, youâll bring your wrath down upon Beau - lightly, because youâre almost positive she didnât mean what she said and probably phrased it horribly wrong. Tomorrow, youâll set it straight with the rest of the Mighty Nein, too - that not wanting romantic love, or sexual things, does not make someone broken. Youâll educate them and, if you get any pushback, youâll make sure they know that if Cad walks, you walk.
Youâre sure he feels the same way.
#critical role imagine#c2 imagine#cr imagine#caduceus imagine#caduceus clay imagine#caduceus x reader#caduceus clay x reader#caduceus / reader#caduceus clay / reader#campaign 2 imagine#critfic
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June 17: Chengxian đđ€đ
childhood friends to lovers/QPPs, ace Jiang Cheng, bi & aro Wei Wuxian, modern AU
(A/N: If you're wondering about a certain other someone, he will have a wonderful, full life of his own in Suzhou in this AU but is not in this story. đ There are some brief mentions of offscreen ace-antagonism, not by anyone we know.)
Read on ao3
Jiang Cheng had been Wei Ying's best friend in the whole world for his entire life.
Okay. Well, not quite his entire life, but certainly since Wei Yingâs parents moved to California when he was little little, which was about as far back as Wei Ying could remember anyway. Wei Yingâs baba and Jiang Chengâs baba had grown up in Wuhan together and been best friends when they were kids, so naturally, when Wei Yingâs family moved into the same neighborhood as the Jiangs, it made perfect sense for Wei Ying and Jiang Cheng to become best friends too.
It was Jiang Cheng who had taught Wei Ying that he didn't have to be afraid of dogs, by introducing him to Princess, Jasmine, and Lil' Love. Lil' Love lived up to her name, coming and quietly sitting in all her fluffy glory on Wei Yingâs lap every time he went over to play.
It was also Jiang Cheng who Wei Ying got drunk with for the first time. They snuck booze from the cabinet where Wei Yingâs parents kept it and laughed at the faces each other made with every shot until they stopped tasting the harsh burn, and then laughing more just because.
(Wei Yingâs mom had not laughed, not at the time, when the two teens had been sick as anything the next morning, but instead made them a gloriously greasy late breakfast and gave them lots of advice about proper hydration.
Then she told Jiang Chengâs mom and let her scold them.)
It was Jiang Cheng who came out first, their first semester in college, when he told Wei Ying he didn't think he wanted to have sex with anyone, ever, and asked if Wei Ying thought that meant no one would ever want to date him. Wei Ying hugged him tight and told him he didn't know about everyone out there, but he knew Jiang Cheng was the best guy in the world and would be an awesome boyfriend, and he'd fight anyone who said differently.
Jiang Cheng found a group on campus for third culture LBGT kids, and Wei Ying went with him, as a supportive ally.
Which was how Wei Ying figured out that he was not just a supportive ally.
In listening to the others talk about orientation and identity and attraction and cultural expectations, Wei Ying realized that what he'd always assumed was normalâfinding all kinds of people physically attractive, regardless of their genderâwas actually his bisexuality. So that was kind of cool.
"So yeah, now we can be queer together!" Wei Ying said, when he excitedly shared his newfound realization with Jiang Cheng.
Jiang Cheng snorted. "Yeah, 'all' and 'nothing,'" he joked.
It was Jiang Cheng who'd helped him practice what to say to his parents when he wanted to change his major at the end of sophomore year, and Jiang Cheng who reminded him to eat and sleep and "take a fucking break, Wei Ying," those next couple semesters when he took way too many hours so he wouldn't have to rack up a whole extra year's worth of student loans to finish his new degree plan.
It was Jiang Cheng who graduated first, on a gorgeous blue-skyed sunny day in May, and Jiang Cheng who suggested Wei Ying keep living with him at his new apartment, so he wouldn't have to try to find a one-semester lease until he finished in December.
(They renewed the lease together every time.)
Jiang Cheng ribbed him playfully each time Wei Ying met someone new, but he was always there each times things fizzled out after a few months for reasons that never quite made sense to Wei Ying.
Jiang Cheng occasionally dated too, and Wei Ying was glad he never did have to fight anybodyâthough he did drive Jiang Cheng to the emergency room the time he came home with split knuckles from punching a guy who, "seemed to think I didn't know my own mind about certain things."
But dating sucked for everybody, right? It wasn't like Wei Ying or Jiang Cheng were in any hurry to settle down and do the whole spouse and kids thing or whatever. Wei Ying tried to imagine it and just... couldn't, though the image of Jiang Cheng with a baby was admittedly pretty cute.
~
It was not Jiang Cheng, but Jiang Yanli, a few months after she proposed to her girlfriend and they started planning their wedding, who Wei Ying finally asked, "Yanli-jie, how does a person decide someone else is their person?"
Jiang Yanli looked across the room to where Jiang Cheng was showing her soon-to-be-wife how to put side spin on a billiards ball and smiled. "I think you just know," she said. "You meet someone and you get to know them, spend time together, then one day you realize you love them and want to build the rest of your life with them."
Wei Ying wrinkled his nose. "I dunno if it works that way for me. Just some random person? I've never met anyone I can imagine wanting to live with all the time. Well, besidesâhuh..." he cut off suddenly and darted a look over at Jiang Yanli, who just calmly sipped her drink.
"Have you ever told him that?" she asked, after a moment where Wei Ying reassessed his entire life and dating history. "I think he might appreciate hearing it."
"I... huh. Yanli-jie, you're kinda blowing my mind here," he complained.
"I gathered," she said wryly, before fixing him with a smile that made all the hair on the back of his neck stand up. "Of course, I trust," she told him, "that I do not need to explain to you of all people how very dearly I hold my didi's happiness and well-being."
He swallowed and raised three fingers in the salute he'd used ever since the summer thatâhahâhe and Jiang Cheng had decided as kids that they would make their own oath of brotherhood like the heroes of their favorite show. "I, Wei Ying, swear to you that I would kick my own ass before I did anything to hurt him."
Jiang Yanli leaned over to knock her shoulder against his and nodded. "That's what I thought."
~
Turned out, dating Jiang Cheng didn't suck at all.
It felt easy in a way Wei Yingâs past dates never had, less like trying to keep up with a game whose rules everybody knew except him, more like... well, like spending time with his best friend in the whole world, but on purpose. There was also a tension in the back of Wei Yingâs mind that seemed to have lifted, though he couldn't quite pinpoint what it was that had gone.
It was Jiang Cheng who helped him figure it out.
"I think it's that now I'm able to count on this. On us," he said, when Wei Ying brought it up. "Before, whenever you went out with someone new, I wondered if this would be the time you'd find someone to fall in love with and leave me behind."
"Aww, Chengcheng! I would never!"
Jiang Cheng huffed and rolled his eyes, but his cheeks were pink. "Well, I know that now," he said, a pleased little smile breaking through his attempts at a scowl.
"As long as you're sureâ" Wei Ying began, still getting used to thinking about himself with the word "aromantic." Still a so very sure that Jiang Cheng deserved to be fallen in love with.
"Hey!" Jiang Cheng cut him off. "None of that. I know you. And I know you don't see it this way, but I personally think it's pretty damn romantic that you choose to love me, on purpose."
"I simply have exquisite taste in life partners," Wei Ying sniffed, embarassed the way he always got when Jiang Cheng declared something he'd done "romantic."
"You do," Jiang Cheng agreed. "Someone told me a long time ago I was the best guy in the world and would make an awesome boyfriend, and that he would fight anyone who said differently."
Wei Ying laughed. "That's you and your sister I've promised to kick my own ass if I ever break your heart, then. Guess I'll just have to keep you forever."
"Damn right, you will," Jiang Cheng agreed, grinning smug and happy and breathtakingly beautiful. Wei Ying leaned across the couch to give him a sweet, closed-mouth kissâthe kind Jiang Cheng had shyly admitted he actually did like, a lotâand smiled too, at how lucky he'd gotten to be with his best friend in the whole world for his entire life.
đ€đ
Today's (extremely long!) thread was inspired by this WONDERFUL art of ace Jiang Cheng and bi & aro Wei Ying! Go give Midori some love on Twitter!
I spent a nonzero amount of time googling to double check when various terms and flags came into vogue, so if you're wondering, WWX & JC were in college in the early 2000s, before the ace and aro flags were designed. By the time they get themselves figured out, they can get their cute wristbands.
...which, yes, means these dingdongs spent about a solid decade living together before realizing that was what they wanted to do forever. đ
This also means Jiang Yanli and her unnamed wife here are getting married between when California started recognizing same-sex marriages in 2008 and the Obergefell v. Hodges ruling in 2015! THIS SHIT'S RECENT!!!
Happy Pride, thank you for reading, check out more LGBTQIA+ sweetness on my #PrideMonthSnippets Masterpost!
#PrideMonthSnippets#chengxian#westie writes#mdzs#the untamed#asexual pride#aromantic pride#asexual jiang cheng#bisexual wei wuxian#aromantic wei wuxian#queerplatonic relationship#queer relationships#love has a lot of shapes
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Worthy of Being His
whoaaa lune is multi fandom now! Thatâs right folks, @yanderebloodlust got me into Twisted Wonderland, and now Iâm in too deep. This is also a thank you for a gift they gave me, haha.
Itâs Yandere! Vil Schoenheit/Reader! I had a lot of fun with this one, but BOY, did I go overboard
Word Count: 5k
Warnings: yandere, emotional abusive behavior, stalking, kidnapping, probably inappropriate uses of curses
Also, Read on AO3!
It started with lip balm. He had noticed how it was left on the table, picking it up after he had gotten up to get himself some water. Vil wasnât the type to be eating after a certain time of night, but sometimes even he too woke up with a dry throat. It probably wasnât something he shouldâve noticed, it sort of just⊠Stood out. It wasnât his brand, so what was it doing here? He had already given everyone what they were supposed to use.Â
Of course, his answer would come soon enough, as you bounded down the stairs, looking around wildly, only to brighten up when you saw your precious lip balm in Vilâs hands, jogging on over to him.
âAh, thank god you found it! I was tearing apart my room for it. Can I have it back?â You asked, looking up at him. He was shorter than he usually was, those thirteen centimeter heels really giving him a boost, but he was still a lot larger than you wouldâve expected. Arenât pretty boys supposed to be on the shorter side?
âLip balm? Shouldnât you be asleep, why are you worrying about this?â Vilâs voice was so sharp, to the point where you wanted to cower. You swallowed, looking away and letting out a nervous laugh. His presence was always so imposing, commanding respect that you wanted nothing more but to run away.Â
âAh, well, I was reading over some of my notes for magical history, so I stayed up. When I was finally getting ready for bed, I realized my lip balm wasnât anywhere to be found. I put it on every night before bed. I had to clear out all the stuff I usually just keep in the bathroom since you all are here, so I just misplaced it..â You told him, finding yourself unable to meet Vilâs eyes, instead just looking at the ground. Why was this feeling more like an interrogation than a normal conversation? Vil just paused, looking over the container, reading it. It was just some cheap, drugstore lip balm. Nothing like his products, but it was something. He never expected that out of all the people here, you would be the only one who at least paid SOME attention to that sort of thing.
âWhy use this? If you need something, you couldâve just asked. I can get you some of my lip cream, I have more than enough. This must have only cost two hundred madol, and probably only works that well.â He replied. You laughed a bit, shaking your head.
âIt was one hundred fifty, actually. But I canât accept it. That lip balm is important to me.â You said. Vil raised an eyebrow, as if shocked you would dare to tell him no, before you quickly tried to explain yourself. âI-Itâs not like Iâm rejecting your kindness, I just⊠I earned that. I bought it with some money I earned after helping out at Monstro Lounge.â You told him. Vil scoffed at that, crossing his arms.
âYou actually work at that place? I thought you would be a classier person than that.â He scolded. You held back a small sound of fear that you wanted to let out.Â
âI mean, Iâm not a regular employee or anything! They were just busy, and I uh⊠Well, money is money. The Headmaster gets me what I need, but I really donât need much. I have clothes and shoes and notebooks, but that lip balm⊠Thatâs something thatâs entirely mine, not just a uniform and notes everyone else takes. Does that make any sense?â You told him. Vil paused for a moment, before dropping your lip balm into your hands.
âNo.â He said flatly, before walking off. Suddenly he wasnât so thirsty. âGet to bed. We have practice early tomorrow, and Iâm not going to tolerate it if you donât get up in time.â He told you as he started to climb up the stairs. You looked down at your precious thing, holding it to your chest. Thank goodness, Vil had given it back. You watched as he walked up the stairs, going off to his room. Why was he like that?
The second incident was after the VDC, while you were walking to class after breakfast. Epel had joined you along with everyone that morning, since class 1-A and 1-B were having a joint session for alchemy.Â
âBy the way, Prefect. You need to stop picking at your face, itâs going to burst open and then scar.â Epel told you, leaving you to immediately put your hand down. You couldnât help it. Every time you spoke, you felt the pimple that had developed right under your lip.Â
âYou should just pop it. Itâll get it all over with, and then you can wash it out.â Ace told you, leaving Deuce to shake his head.
âYou learned nothing about your skincare training camp, did you?â He scolded Ace, leaving Ace to shrug.
âCome on, it canât be that bad, can it? Thereâs whole Magicam accounts about pimple popping, you just need the right technique.â He said, before looking down at you with a mischievous grin. âCome on, Grim, hold them still. Iâll pop it right now.â He said, only for Epel to laugh as you stepped back, giggling all the while.
âIâm not letting you anywhere near my face! You probably didnât even wash your hands!â You said, laughing as you started to jokingly run away from them, both Ace and Grim chasing after you.
âCome on, itâll be easy! Like bursting a bubble!â Ace teased.
âYou say that only after watching videos of it on Magicam! Epel would definitely be the expert, not you!â Grim told Ace, leaving you to laugh, you didnât even notice he was there until you ran right into his chest.
âMy my. Is this anyway to act in front of your Upperclassmen?â You looked up, only to see you had bumped right into Vil. You gasped, backing up a bit, but before you could get back to your respective personal space, Vil grabbed you by the chin, looking over the blemish on your face.
âWell, the Prefectâs dead.â You heard Ace behind you, and you just felt yourself go pale, averting your eyes. You never felt like you could meet his eyes.
âI⊠Iâm sorry, Vil, we were just fooling around, I didnât see you thereâŠâ You told him. Something about the way you spoke made Vilâs heart speed up, but he ignored it for now.
âItâs inflamed because you wonât leave it alone. What kind of cleanser do you use that allowed this to happen?â You said, before getting even more nervous.
âUh⊠Just soap. But I try not to touch my face, so it uh, evens out, right?â You said, before Vil gave you what was possibly the most disgusted face you had ever seen.Â
âIs this⊠The example that you are giving? After all Iâve taught all of you, this is what youâre doing.â Vil said, letting you go.
âHey, itâs not their fault! The Headmaster only gives them the bare minimum! Half the time, theyâre taking in laundry just to buy new pens!â Grim complained. Vil raised an eyebrow, looked down at you, but you refused to meet anyoneâs eyes.
âI⊠I have everything I need. Iâm grateful for everything that I have now.â You said, turning away. You hated thinking about that, hated talking about that. It didnât matter. You didnât need anything here. You could survive off the bare minimum, bide your time until the Headmaster finally found you a way home. So, why did you feel your eyes watering? Vil just looked down at you, still holding onto you, until you finally pulled away when the bell rang.
âIâm going to be late. Excuse me.â You said, running off. Vil saw that Ace the others quickly came beside you, trying to comfort you, but you just shook them off, You didnât need their comfort. And Vil watched you, remembering how he saw your eyes water. It shouldnât bother him. He was used to making underclassmen cry at this point. But for some reason, he felt⊠Bad.
Later that day, you let yourself cry. You could long for home when you were alone. When you heard the doorbell ring, you almost wanted to just let them sit there, but you just wiped your eyes and went to the door. But when you opened it, no one was there, only a box with your name on it. You looked around, but you didnât see anyone. When you opened it, you gasped, blinking a bit as you opened it up, only to find fancy skincare products in it. You gasped, looking around to try and find who gave it to you, mostly so you could give it back, but no one was there. Well⊠It would be a waste not to use it, right? You brought it inside, and let yourself enjoy the small luxury. The next day, Epel even commented on it.
âIt does look a lot better than before. Just make sure it doesnât get infected.â He told you. You just smiled.
âItâs all thanks to you. Please, you have to let me repay you somehow.â You told him, but he just raised an eyebrow.
âWhat do you mean?â He asked. You just laughed.
âYou donât need to play coy with me. I know youâre the one who left that box outside of my dorm. None of those idiots would ever actually remember what it is to treat this sort of thing.â You told him, but Epel just stared at you, bewildered.
âI didnât leave any box for you, I promise.â He told you. You blinked, opening your mouth to respond, only to hear Epel get called out to by Rook.
âAh, sorry, I have to go. I hope everything works out with you and your face.â He told you, grabbing his books and running off. You watched him leave, sitting and thinking to yourself. If it wasnât Epel, then who couldâveâŠ
You didnât ever notice Vil around the corner, watching you, trying to force his heart to calm. He was disgusted, this was something he expected someone like Rook to be doing, and here he was. You were ugly, a potato, not worthy to even be looked at by him. And yet, he couldnât look away.
The third incident left you laying your head over the textbooks as Deuce looked over your test.
âWow. You did even worse than me. I didnât think that was possible.â He said, leaving you to sigh.Â
âI know, I know. You donât have to state the obvious. I really need to study this, or elseâŠâ You went pale, pulling yourself and staring down at your textbook.
âIâm surprised. Usually you do really well in school. Did something happen?â He asked. You sighed. You couldnât just⊠Say what you felt, because it was stupid. You couldnât just say that you felt like you were suddenly being watched by someone without proof you were actually being watched. It was stupid. You were stupid.
âI guess my mind was in other places. Donât worry, Iâll just study hard, and then ace the makeup. I got this, really.â You told him. Deuce just sighed, giving you a worried look.
âAre you sure you donât want me to sit and study with you?â He asked, but you just smiled, shaking your head.
âItâs not fair of me to keep you. I donât mind if you go on, really. Besides, you only scored a few points higher than I did. Letâs face it, you probably are as clueless as I am right now.â You said, only for Deuce to wince.
âYouâre blunt to the point of being unkind. Alright, but⊠Just text one of us if you need anything, alright?â He told you. You just smiled and nodded, watching as he walked off, before burying yourself back in your readings.Â
Maybe you shouldâve accepted his help. Two hours in, and you felt like you had gotten nowhere, sitting and looking over the same words over and over again. God, what now? Maybe you could beg Deuce to try and make a joint study session with the two of you and Riddle? He always knew what he was doing in Alchemy. Ah, but you werenât sure if you wanted to subject yourself to that sort of⊠Study techniques. You were so lost in thought on what to do, that you didnât notice as he came up to your table?
âNot running through the walls today?â You looked up and saw Vil glaring down at you, immediately looking away. Maybe it was for the best that you didnât look at Vil, for that way you didnât notice the dark, strange look in his eyes.
âAh, no. Iâm in the middle of studying. I have a makeup test tomorrow.â You told him. Vil actually scoffed at that.
âA makeup test? Youâre the Prefect for your dorm, you shouldnât be having to take things like that. Itâs shameful.â He scolded. You just let your nails dig into your palms. God, why was he always so mean to you? You tried to let it roll off your back, but with how stressed you were about this exam, it really wasnât working.
âWell, it canât be helped. I canât do anything about it now, so I just need to study hard and do well tomorrow.â You said, looking down at your textbook, just staring at the pictures in hopes that it would drill something into your brain. Vil looked over your papers, before sitting down, grabbing one of your notebooks and looking it over. You gasped as you looked at him, how his eyes pored over your notes, before he sighed.
âYour first problem is that you take bad notes. You try to write down everything the book says, instead of figuring out what the meat of work is and going from there.â He told you, before grabbing your textbook right from under you. âChapter 12, huh? Luckily for you, I got a perfect score on that test. As long as you promise to put in the effort, I can help you. But Iâm not going to go easy on you either.â He told you. You blinked as you looked at him. Vil. Cruel, awful Vil, was going to help you. You couldnât help but ask.
âW⊠Why are you-â But before you could finish your question, he answered it for you.
âDonât think Iâm doing this for you. Next year, if more students get sorted into Ramshackle Dorm, then youâll officially be a dorm head. That means, your actions and behavior now reflect your dorm, and thus, the school as a whole. I wonât let your lack of effort be something that brings our schoolâs reputation down.â He was oh so good at lying too. He was so good at pretending that this wasnât just an attempt to spend some time with you, that he wanted nothing more to bask in your presence. Why? Compared to him, you were nothing. Nothing but one of the hundreds of faces that he had seen. But ever since that night at the dorm, you wouldnât leave his mind. This was all just something of a phase. Once he spent some time with you, it would wear off. But the way you looked at him, before smiling, was wellâŠ
âWell then, Iâll be in your care, Vil. I promise to do my best!â It was just too damn cute! He barely was able to keep his blush down at your words, before looking over the textbook and getting a vague outline of what it was he needed to go over with you.
And god, you were just so attentive to him when he spoke. You wrote down what he said, despite him already scolding you to paraphrase, but you asked earnest questions, and you did your best to try and understand. By the end of the evening, you were able to recite the contents of any potion he threw at you, leaving him to smile. Perhaps⊠Well, if you were able to put in the effort like this, then you too could be polished into something marvelous.
âGosh, thank you Vil, really. This is the first time Iâve felt completely prepared for a test in a while. You really are a great teacher.â You told him, and he couldnât help but bask in your praise. Why? He got praise from people like you all the time. So why did yours affect him so much?
âWell, weâll see. Do tell me how you do on the exam tomorrow.â He said, standing up as he looked at the clock. âItâs late. Iâll walk you back to your dorm.â Vil told you, but you just shook your head, gasping as you saw the clock.
âGod, Grim is probably worried sick! And the cafeteria is closed by nowâŠâ You sighed, before looking over at Vil as you packed up your things. âDonât worry, Iâve kept you late as it is, with all my silly questions. When I get my test results, youâll be the first person I go to! Is there anything I can do to repay you?â Maybe⊠He wasnât as bad as you thought. Sure, his personality was poisonous, but he had a good heart underneath it all.Â
âHmm⊠Iâll think about it. But yes, show me the results. Weâll see if you actually paid attention.â Vil said, smiling as you waved goodbye, running off back to your dorm. He held a hand to his chest, noticing that after everything, his heart did not slow. So this⊠This was the true thing. It was said that the curse of the princess in legends was broken by true loveâs kiss. Was it possible that love couldâveâŠ
âYouâll be mine. Youâre the one who cursed me with this, youâll have to take responsibility.â
The fourth incident was a week after the exam, when you got your results back. You grinned as you looked it over.
âPerfect marks. It seems even bad puppies can become obedient. You did a very good job, Prefect. You should be proud.â You smiled at Crewelâs words. When he had called you after class to âtalkâ about your makeup exam results, you expected the worst, not praise. But you werenât going to throw it away.
âItâs all because I had an amazing teacher.â You told him, letting him preen under the misunderstanding. If he wanted to believe you meant him and not Vil, that was fine.
âOh, you do know just what to say. Go on now, youâre released. I expect to see this level of achievement from now on.â He told you, leaving you to run off. You had to find Vil, you had to tell him just what you got. You even zipped past Ace and Grim, telling them that you would talk to them later. You just ran to the Pomefiore dorm, zipping past other students, before finally getting there. You saw Rook, taking a deep breath, before jogging over to him.Â
âAh, La petite souris has come to visit us. What is it that you need today?â He asked, only to leave you to smile.
âUm, is Vil here? I have something I need to tell him about. Itâs good news, donât worry!â You smiled. Rook just gasped.
âOh? Could it be about your makeup exam? How did you do?â He asked, leaning to look over at your paper. âAh, toutes nos fĂ©licitations! Heâll be very proud of you.â Rook got up, but you just tilted your head to the side, blinking.
âHow did youâŠâ It seemed everyone was answering your questions before you could finish them.
âVil told me about it. I like to know why my dorm head breaks his own self mandated curfews, after all.â He chuckled, before pointing you down the hall. âHe should be in his room. Youâll know the door when you see it, trust me.â Rook smiled, and you couldnât help but smile back. Something about his positivity was infectious.Â
âAh, thank you! Iâll be seeing you!â You told him, running off down the hall as Rook watched, smiling to himself.
âAlors la souris va Ă la rencontre du chat.âÂ
You really could tell when it was Vilâs door. It was decorated to really suit him. Normally, you would be scared to just knock on his door willy nilly, but this was a special occasion. So you knocked proudly, standing and waiting.
âGod, what is it that you need that you couldnât text me Roo-â Vil said, before his eyes landed on you. He stared down at you, wide eyed, before taking a deep breath, looking down at his phone to check himself over. Good, he was fine. âItâs⊠itâs just you. What is it?â He asked, only for you to grin and hold up your test.
âLook! I told you that you would be the first person I would come to, right?â You said, grinning as Vil looked over your test. Hmm.. You actually did very well. He smiled, before making a decision. Then, it was finally time. It was earlier than he planned, but you came to him. No one could fault him for that. âWell then, come in.â He told you, walking inside and expecting you to follow. His dorm was actually nice, well kept. You noticed some textbooks out, leaving you to gasp as you shut the door behind the two of you.
âOh, did I disturb your studying? Iâm sorry, I can go if youâd like.â You said, but he just motioned for you to sit, opening up a cabinet.Â
âYouâre lucky. I just brought a pot of tea in here for my studying. Itâs lemongrass, perfect for studying while keeping in good form.â He told you. You just smiled as you watched him pour the tea, but you were still quite concerned with looking over the room, admiring his silken sheets or beautiful curtains. Maybe if you had paid attention, you wouldâve noticed him whispering out a spell, before handing you the teacup. You took a sip, before your eyes widened at Vil.
âWow⊠This is really good! Youâll have to give me your source on the tea leaves, Iâm so jealous.â You told him.
âDo you drink a lot of tea?â He asked. He was realizing that he really didnât know a lot about you. He had been able to weasel information out of Epel after his obsession started, how you were from another world, unable to use or detect magic, but you were hardworking and occasionally weak willed to other peopleâs whims. You really were perfect.
âI used to be indifferent, but ever since I came here, Iâve ended up drinking a lot of it. I guess since a lot of my friends are in Heartslabyul, I just got accustomed to it. Riddle doesnât let you off the hook if you arenât a dorm member, haha.â You told him, taking another sip, unnoticing about how Vil clenched his fist. That was another emotion that you caused. Whenever he saw you with another student, even one of his own dorm members, there was something⊠Ugly that fluttered. Something that hated how you spoke to kindly to them, how you spent your precious time with them. Your time should only belong to him-
âI see. Well, certain teas supposedly can help you become more beautiful, according to some. I donât believe in any of those diet teas though. Thereâs no shortcut to beauty, only hard work and perseverance.â He said, taking a sip of his own tea.Â
âAha, yeah. Thatâs Vil for you. No one can ever say you donât work hard.â You said. This was his chance. He smiled as you, placing his cup down and looking at you. There was a warmth in his eyes, making you feel at ease.
âYou know, if you were to work, you could be beautiful too. Iâve already seen such record improvement after you started using my gift.â He told you. You gasped, looking at him wildly.
âAh, so you were the one that left me those creams?! You didnât have to do that, please, Iâll pay you back for them-â You started, but Vil held up a finger, silencing you.
âYou should let your upperclassman finish speaking before you reply. Thatâs a habit weâll have to work on.â He told you. You paused, before nodding. You wanted to appease your upperclassman, just like you did with any other upperclassman and your teachers. You really were such a good Prefect.
âBut thereâs still work to be done. Even now, I can see breakage in your hair, chewing on your nails, wrinkles in your uniform, and so on.â Vil told you, you felt shame rise to your face, looking down into the tea, seeing your reflection. Did you⊠Really look that bad? âThat doesnât mean there isnât hope, however. I can start the paperwork so youâll be an official member within a week. Sure, youâll start at the bottom rung, but youâre a first year. Itâs not like you wonât move up, and I promise youâll be a lot happier here than in that poor, Ramshackle dorm. The room right next to me is open, so Iâll be able to keep a nice eye on you.â He told you. Your eyes widened as you stared at him, trying to process what he had said. You⊠A member of Pomefiore? It was something you couldnât even imagine, but still⊠The idea of being in a dorm, a regular dorm member like everyone else was nice. You could have built in friends, a group of people you could rely on, and Vil would help you. No more ghosts, or having to constantly try and work to keep back cobwebs. You could be a respectable student, rather than someone everyone gawked at.
âI wonât put you through any special rituals, youâve already proven youâre more than worthy to be here. So, what do you say, Prefect?â Vil said. He could see the want in your eyes. It was a good idea for him to start earlier, to give into his instinct to have you sooner rather than later. With this, he could finally give into the beating of his beautiful heart.
â... Iâm sorry, but I canât.â Then why did you say that? He stared at you as you looked down at your tea, smiling softly to yourself. He loved that smile, but why were you smiling now?! âEven if it sounds nice, I canât give up my duties at Ramshackle Dorm. What would Grim do without me? And besides⊠Iâm going to leave this world one day. It would be terrible to have to disappear on you all.â You told him. Vil just sat there, staring at you dumbfounded. He wasnât used to people telling him no, that was for sure. And it made him mad, but he couldnât just go off and say it. Instead, he laughed. It was a hearty, jovial sound, something that made you nervous.
âYou really are a great Prefect, arenât you? Iâm surprised more people havenât made this offer to you. But then again, you wouldâve rejected all of them too.â Vil chuckled. His word put you at ease, making you sigh as you set your teacup down.
âIâm sorry to disappoint you. Iâll let you get back to your studies.â You told him as you stood up, collecting your things and moving onto the door. Vil still chuckled to himself, but you just ignored it, until you stepped to the door. You just⊠stood there. You didnât know why you stood there, but before the door, you couldnât move a muscle. You couldnât reach out to the doorknob, with Vilâs laughter only becoming louder in your ears.
âW⊠What did you do?â You asked, turning back to Vil, staring at him as he gave you a wild look, in a way that you could only describe as deranged.
âAnyone who drinks this tea will be unable to leave this room without the permission of Vil Schoenheit. Itâs a simple curse, but quite effective.â He told you. Your blood went cold as you tried to step back, trying to reach out beyond all hope to the doorknob, hoping beyond all hope that this was nothing but a sick prank, that he was just messing with you. And yet, Vil let himself drape his arms over you, pulling you close to him as he touched you, finally able to touch you without any regrets. You were warm, as warm as you were when you bumped into him that day. He reached and touched a piece of your hair, relishing in this without any regrets.
âItâs fine if you donât accept it now. Iâll simply keep you here until you do.â Vil purred, leaving you to struggle against his hold, looking for some sort of escape from the beautiful room that was quickly becoming a personal hell.
âYou canât do this. You have to let me go, people will be looking for me.â You begged, but Vil just shook his head.
âIdia only shows up to class via a phone half the time, and Malleus is a famous no show. Itâs practically tradition among dorm heads not to show up. Itâll be awhile before people really look.â He told you, rubbing small, soothing circles along your back. âIâve already prepared a schedule for us, so youâll begin your training as soon as I finish setting up my curses on you.â Vil told you. You gave him a look of despair, but even that, in a way, was beautiful, wasnât it? Your lips, that you had taken so well care of with that lip balm you loved you so much, were prime to be made his, and he would let himself relish in it, pressing his against yours and he pushed you ahead the door, pressing his body against you in a fervour. Vil couldnât help but drown in you, and you had no choice but to accept it, whether you liked it or not. When he pulled away and looked into your fear ridden eyes, he just smiled.
âIâll turn you into a person worthy of being mine.â
#twisted wonderland/reader#twst/reader#yandere/reader#yandere fic#yandere x reader#vil shoenheit x reader#yandere! vil schoenheit#sfw
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an absolutely massive Haikyuu!! fic rec pt. 1
I went through my entire ao3 history because Iâm insane, AND hereâs my favorites. (Thereâs not a lot of aus because Iâm not a huge fan of them, and thereâs no sad endings. Iâm a hopeless romantic leave me alone. There is angst though! Lots)Â
Beginning with SakuAtsu (Iâm a hoe for Atsumu):Â
Hide and seek, by badreputation (10k. E. canonverse)Â
It sure is a good thing Atsumu doesn't have a latex allergyÂ
Itâs just a fleeting infatuation. As long as he pushes through it heâll manage. So what if nowadays there isnât a night where he doesnât dream of Sakusa pinning him down on his own bed, in the shower or make Atsumu go down on his knees in the hallway? Those are just pesky details.
Some Memories, We May Keep, by mika60 (31k. T. canonverse)Â
This is canon, fight me on it.Â
The missing panels, the missing games, the missing moments.
The them we never saw.
*Now complete! :)*
 every action has an equal and opposite reaction, by akanemnida (10k. T. canonverse)Â
Miya Atsumu gets a modeling contract with Calvin Klein, which sets Kiyoomi's heart in motion.
(Or: Sakusa Kiyoomi realizes that the rules governing the universe are absolute rubbish at explaining matters of the heart.)
 Ass-fingering as a prelude to relations of the emotional kind: a case study, by neverwere (2k. E. canonverse)Â
Fucking hilarious, the imagery is absolutely hilarious.Â
"Marry me, he thinks, as he comes around Sakusa's fingers and all over himself.
This. This is exactly why you don't let strangers or very attractive teammates finger you out of the blue.
Everyone knows that the ass is the shortest way to the heart."
Or
When it comes to sex, Atsumu has rules. Guidelines! SOPs! He swears they work, they've always worked.
Until they don't.
 parallax error: angle of inclination, by min_mintobe (10k. T. canonverse)
But now there's the one person Atsumu'd promised himself never to touch. His eyes leave Atsumu breathless with guilt at seventeen, and he spends the next six years safe in the satisfaction of making things right.
Feelings, of the physical kind, and one kiss.
ft. competitive spirit, childishness, and late night conversations.
Atsumu POV.
 autumn ends, but we remain, by wolfsbvne (5k. T. canonverse)
Author says in their ending notes that they're not an âauthorâ, but methinks they should write more and pursue that career path because this was wonderful. Â
atsumu stares at his ceiling at 2am. he stares until he can make out designs in his popcorn ceiling. a cat there, an onigiri here, and then something that suspiciously looks like a mop of hair, triangle eyebrows, and oh those two bumps are moles right above what atsumu just mapped out as an eye.
(or, atsumu is in kind of in love. sakusa is maybe in like.)
I left a taste in your mouth, by emso (26k. E. bodyguard au)
Because obviouslyÂ
Sakusa fixes him with a vague expression of something like distaste. There's a scathing edge to his tone when he speaks. "Contrary to what you seem to believe, not everyone who meets you is instantly dying to get into your pants, Miya."
"Lucky I don't really care right now what 'everyone' wants to do, then." Atsumu swivels his mug around on the tabletop a few times, and then brings it to his mouth to drain the last few dregs of his latte. Over the rim of his mug, he adds casually, "Just you."
Whoa hey Bodyguard Omi, I think Spoiled Rich Kid Tsumu might possibly have a teensy crush on you.Â
 How do you know you're in love?, by spiritscript (12k. T. canonverse)
Pure art
âSo, how did you know you were in love? How did it feel?â Atsumu felt nervous asking this, a slight wiggling in the pit of his stomach, unable to look at the man beside him who rolled his shoulders in an attempt to reset his posture. âI mean, you didnât resonate with what I said, so, what is love to you Omi-kun?â
Atsumu thinks he must be in love with Hinata Shouyou and so asks the best person he knows to help him understand his feelings
 san'yo expressway, 6:17 pm, by yamabota (13k. T. canonverse)
Of violent forethoughts, and handheld car vacuums.Â
Atsumu tilts his head to watch a slice of orange light bend over the impassive planes of Sakusaâs face. He is absolutely, ruthlessly beautiful. It makes Atsumu want to punch somethingâput his foot through the windshieldâscream, maybe.
Kiss him again, maybe.
They have 344 kilometers to figure this one out.Â
Different Kinds of Dysfunctional, by DeathBelle (Series, 5 works. T-E. Canonverse)
Honestly, I think this one is kind of famous amongst Sakuatsu readers but I canât not include it. If I recall correctly, this is the fic that got me into Sakuastu, so thanks, DeathBelle. The characters are portrayed really well (i.e. Sakusa is disgusted and confused, and Atsumu is a little shit). Youâve got a good balance between conversations and descriptive thoughts and all-in-all itâs just a really good read.Â
 Atsumu said into the heavy silence, âYou canât say youâve never thought about it.â
"Thought about what?" said Sakusa.
Atsumu smiled to himself, smug. "You know."
"No, I don't."
"You know. Of course youâve thought about it. Thereâs no reason to be ashamed, Omi-kun. Iâm a real catch.â
Sakusa was appalled. "You're disgusting."
"You flatter me. I'm not judging you. I can't lie and say I haven't thought about it, too."
Sakusa shifted, slowly, to peer over his shoulder. He wasnât scowling, but his expression was unreadable. âPlease tell me youâre joking.â
Atsumu wasn't joking, and he was about to get more than he bargained for.
i'll do anything you say (if you say it with your hands), by liliapocalypse (7k words. T. canonverse):
Oh, god. This one was so cute. Super fluffy. Loved the metaphors and symbolism. Sometimes you just canât say things out loud.Â
When a bad injury shocks the whole V. League, Sakusa finds himself paired with Atsumu for more rigorous assisted stretches before every training. Atsumu then finds himself writing random letters on Sakusaâs skin to soothe the spiker, forcing Sakusa to reevaluate how his touch aversion became an irresistible yearning for more, and how the boy with the annoying hair somehow brought that hunger to life.
Or, the fic where Atsumu mindlessly writes a confession on Sakusaâs back when he thought Sakusa wasn't paying attention. Sakusa always did.
 mortality is found is the flesh of your sins, by novrik (10k. M. canonverse)
This is literally my favorite fic of all time. Not just of Sakuatsu, not even of the Haikyuu fandom. Ever. Favorite fic ever. Listen, Iâm an atheist, but this fic took me on a religious experience that I haven't come down from yet. The symbolism had me actually shivering, and I had to put my phone down quite a few times. Just, oh wow, just read it. Iâd like to share my favorite line; âAnd if Sakusa is Eve, if he takes a bite, what then? Perhaps, he is a little afraid of the knowledge he will gainâ. My god, author, if you ever see this, this is not only a plea for you to continue writing, but also an offer of marriage. Your hand, author?
 dickhead one, sakusa kiyoomi. dickhead two, miya atsumu. neither understand how to communicate.
Pray tell, why are you drawn to him?
Are you drawn to him in the way he looks beautiful even when crying?
When his eyes are red, shiny tears streaking down, lips quivering, is he beautiful?
 sakuatsu domesticity simulator, by pseudoanalytics (75 words. T. canonverse)
75 words because it's actually a digital art simulator. An interactive fic! How frickinâ cool is that? The art is so beautiful and I love the plotline and ugh, just everything. Please read, or watch, or click around, yes. Good.Â
Update: artist created another interactive fic and of course it is wonderful. SunaOsa this time! https://newttxt.itch.io/cheesecake honestly just check out @newttxt their work is amazing and I love everything they do.Â
a vaguely interactive mixture of fic, art, and html, where you too can experience the inherent romance of a big fat jerk and a too-blunt jerk attempting intimacy
***
(this is the result of letting the sakuatsu brainworms really get to you...)
 Pas De Deux, by hatsuna (19k words. T. Ballet/college au)
There's just something about prim, proper ballet Sakusa and human-benign-tumor Atsumu that makes my heart burst. Seriously gorgeous writing style, loved every second. By the same author who wrote âliminal spacesâ (which is also just perfect) so that should give you a good idea of the style.Â
The mystery athlete gives Kiyoomi a once over in the mirror. âYer pretty tall,â he observes. The twang of an accent rasps low in his throat. His brazen eyes drift to Kiyoomiâs legs, and something like exhilaration glints gold in his gaze. âGood quads, too. Ya ever played volleyball?â
 Ah. So itâs volleyball.
âIâm a dancer. Ballet and contemporary, mostly.â
 the affective presence of our black and white reruns, by kozumess (19k. E. canonverse)
Beautiful, classic misunderstandings, my heart actually physically ached at that one scene (youâll know the scene when you come to it). Kiyoomi is so refreshingly relaxed(? Is that the right word to use? We all know Omi never truly relaxes).Â
but the want, it's always there, constant like the static playing on every television channel, present even when the station disconnects.
 cut the conversation, just open your mouth, by meeksoo (E. 16k. canonverse)
Absolutely filthy...BUT WITH FEELINGS! Completely nails the Sakuatsu dynamic, and protective âTsumu? Love it.Â
Sakusa opens the door. He always does.
 Theyâre teammates first, barely even friends. But they hook up on the regular and it works. Itâs simple, easy. But then a fan gets too close, Sakusa reacts, and Atsumu is swept up in how quickly things can get complicated.
__
As Atsumu palms himself over his briefs, still feeling off, he realizes itâs because he still wants it. Him. Sakusa. Even after already having him earlier.
He should probably feel self-conscious, mildly ashamed even, that heâs panting âOmi Omiâ into the dark beneath the steady thrum of the AC unit when Sakusaâs right down the hall, probably good for it if Atsumu ended up back at his door. Instead, he lays there, writhing and sweaty, alone in his hotel room bed thinking about Sakusa and touching himself.
Afterward, as cum begins to cool on his chest, Atsumu really canât help but face the fact that things may be getting complicated.
 the hands that beckon me to come, by Ellieb3an (4k. E. canonverse)
So hot, what the fuck!Â
The toss, the run, the spike-serve at the end of it allâSakusa sees it happen in perfect clarity as if time has slowed and his vision narrows to the center where just Miya exists, all powerful muscle and extraordinary skill and that air of confidence.
Sakusa isnât one of the best receivers in the league for no reason, so his body moves on muscle memory, forearms absorbing the sting of the hit. Itâs not enough. But his eyes are still on Miyaâon the way his shorts ride up his muscular thighs as he lands, on the bead of sweat dripping down his forehead, on the clench of his fist thrust into the airâwhen the ball ricochets out of bounds.
***
Atsumu stays late at practices to work on his new third serve, even when his frustration with it starts throwing off the rest of his game. Sakusa notices and starts hanging back to secretly watch him from the gym doors. Heâs fascinated with Atsumu's determination... and more than a little turned on by it, too.
 you're the flame i use (when it gets dark), by starkartifices (55k. M. canonverse. Ongoing)
Everything is the same except the Sakusas are super rich.Â
âOh, if you want dear, you could bring a plus one. Though, I doubt you have a partner yet.â
âI do actually.â
âWhat was that, dear?â
"I do have a partner, I mean."
alt title: crazy rich sakusasÂ
 the inherent romance of classical conditioning (or; the fine art of emotional recognition), by pseudoanalytics (13k. E. canonverse)
Ah, yes. A Pavloved sex life. A Pavloved LOVE life??Â
It's stupid. Atsumu isn't a romantic, no matter how many times he's imagined laying Sakusa out and finally really touching him.
So there's no explanation for why Atsumu is constantly stuck thinking about brushing his fingertips against the meat of Sakusa's palms or the prominent tendons in his freaky wrists.
There's no explanation for why doing dishes sets off a warm burn in his ribcage, or why when he smells disinfectant he inhales like he's walking past a bakery.
Yer doin' this to me, he thinks furiously, as Sakusa derails his thoughts with kisses that come more and more frequently now. Yer conditionin' me, and I can't stop it.
 flutterbird (a collection of sakuatsu oneshots), by wordstruck (5 works. T-E. canonverse)
Works 1-3, I think follow a linear story, whereas the last two don't.Â
All sakuatsu works are just the angstiest, most miscommunication filled pieces of absolute gold and this one is no exception. Wow. These men are assholes and they bring out the worst in each other, but Iâll be damned if theyâre not soulmates.Â
Collection of SakuAtsu fics. Several fics are loosely set in the same storyverse. Not necessarily directly connected and can all be read as standalones.
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*sigh* catch me projecting on a Saturday.
I read this post ( @lazybakerart you wizard - ALSO ITâS YOUR BIRTHDAY?????? HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!! đčđčđčđčđč) and am now thinking about a sugardaddy!Billy with an ace!Steve. (*emphasis on grey ace*)
* Please nobody attack me for writing about leather fashion. Iâm vegetarian and itâs fiction. Live a little. *
Read on ao3 ~
đč đč đč đč đč đč đč
Steve just kind of stared at the box on the restaurant table. It wasnât a ring box, but it was velvet. Goodness knew how many of these heâd seen in his life.
Steve knew wealth. He knew money, and all of the material variations therein.
Heâd gotten pedicures with his mother before his father declared such a thing unfit for a boy coming into puberty. If you look like a man, act like a man. As if men didnât have feet, or something.
Then he went to the salon. That wasnât so easy to take away. Ventures with her son seemed to be the only things keeping Mrs. Harrington from being connected to her husbandâs hip, so Mr. Harrington let them both have this one. Steve, fresh out of graduation, being given a hairdresserâs chair to accomplish summer-fresh highlights.
Mrs. Harrington was also the type of woman to enjoy shoes. Everyone has a thing. For some, they had bags. Others, jewelry. Vintage furniture. Designer wallpaper. Mrs. Harrington enjoyed shoes. It was where Steve learned to carry a womanâs bags, but he didnât stay outside of the store. He learned how to clean suede, the difference between a 130 So Kate and an ordinary heel. What fetish meant in terms of fashion. He can convert heels sizes in millimeters to inches faster than a cashier calculating change.
Tommy and Carol had joked about Steveâs father having a different kind of fetish. Nothing to do with fashion, and everything to do with sex. Steve had foolishly let them into his motherâs bedroom and they were having a field day with a shoe closet that cost more than both of their houses combined. Still smelling of Nancy and pool chlorine, Steve as good as ended that friendship right there.
Because they didnât get it.
Mr. Harrington certainly didnât get it. Could never have such a sexual inclination because he didnât understand pampering or indulgent interests.
He understood favors. Material apologies.
Mrs. Harrington had a collection of pearls and diamonds that she never wore.
Steve knew she liked opals and pink, pink rubies, because Steve liked opals too. Because he used his fatherâs money to buy ruby studs his mother actually wore. Because he gets her oldest, broken bracelet with green amber fixed, and she wears it until it breaks again. And then she presented Steve with a thin, gold chain to go around his ankle. With a gleaming, green amber stone flanked by two opals.
The green goes with our eyes, she said. Someone special will see the green in all that brown. Itâs why we look good in reds.
Steve was still looking at the box on the table.
âItâs not going to catch fire, the longer you glare at it.â
His dark hazel, creek water eyes slanted up to the man sitting opposite him.
Billy Hargrove.
Stubborn to a fault. Gorgeous as Lucifer with wings freshly burnt off. And just as dangerous.
âI thought I said no more gifts.â
âAnd I ignored you. Open it.â
Steve went about it like ripping off a bandaid. He sighed at the window beside their booth, wrenching the thing open to see -
Diamonds.
He shut it with a loud clap and set it on Billyâs placemat. âNo, thanks.â
The manâs features froze in tolerant stoicism, but he eased the box inside his suit jacket pocket. âYouâre a hard one to shop for.â
Steveâs eyes widened dramatically over his wine glass of water. Not because he was sober - heâd willingly pay for an overpriced red, himself, if the handsome asshole werenât trying to wave his wallet everywhere. âYou can stop trying to buy your way into my pants any time you want.â
âIf thatâs all I wanted, I wouldâve stopped three months ago.â
Three months ago,
When Billy breezed into Steveâs life as easily as he had senior year of high school. The two of them certainly deserved some kind of award for having a bizarre history.
Within a handful of months, Billy had arrived upon a turbulent time in Steveâs life, and then left nearly as quickly. Billy witnessed Steve and Nancyâs break-up, Steveâs fall from Hawkins High grace, and even beat his face a little bit. Because thatâs what teenage men with bad emotional processing and even worse communication skills do.
Now, almost ten years later, Billy had some kind of empire behind him and Steve, well, didnât. He had no idea what Billyâs job consisted of, but he got little hints. Mostly the negative space from Billyâs lack of discussing his job told Steve a whole lot.
Steve, who worked two jobs and occasional gigs wherever he was needed. During one such time, while Steve managed the cables and sound boards for Robinâs band, Billy Hargrove sauntered up to him with just as much charm mixed with hauteur as heâd ever displayed.
It wasnât like meeting an old friend, because they had never been more than acquaintances, and roughly ten years was enough time for a personality to evolve ten different ways.
Steve couldnât say how much he and Billy had evolved, really, but there was a point in there somewhere.
Maybe it lived in the, âI never expected to see you in a dyke club, pretty boy,â since it was all the coming out either of them needed.
Or the wanton kisses and fervent hands underneath the neon rainbow on the venueâs wall.
Maybe the point sat in the things Billy wanted, and what Steve was reticent to provide. Because Billy was a king who knew what he liked, and seemed particularly talented at walking into Steveâs personal crises like an anniversary.
Steve craved.
But he didnât know what he craved. What he yearned for. He knew Billyâs kisses made his brain go molten and fuzzy. He knew Billyâs smell brought him just as much comfort, excitement, and anxiety. He knew finally being outside of sex-crazed high school had deflated something in him. The expectations to perform. He knew losing Robinâs stupid game of You Rule / You Suck gave him a secret gift of relief.
But he still craved. He wanted touch but he wanted to be alone. He wanted companionship but he didnât want sex. But he did enjoy sex, except he didnât want the expectation of it.
Well.
That was it, wasnât it?
Billy Hargrove, who could have anyone he wanted plastered to his stupid, unbuttoned chest, had sought out Steve. Steve, king of mixed signals, Harrington. It was only a matter of time before he got his face beaten again. For wasting Billyâs time. For refusing Billyâs advances even though Steve clearly enjoyed Billyâs lips on his neck, and Billyâs hand on his inner thigh. For wanting Billyâs company and flirtation without the rules that finished in the bedroom.
So Steve refused the gifts. The material favors he couldâve sold for a better apartment. Fucked his way to owning a house that his mom would feel comfortable visiting. Be an unfeeling toy who could pay for his motherâs shoes and his own pedicures.
âSteve?â
He turned away from the window and the cityâs electric constellations. âHm?â
âWhereâd you go?â
The back of Steveâs throat ached. He looked down at their appetizer plates and decided, âI think Iâm going home.â After a second of them both hearing it out loud, Steve said with more conviction, âI need to be home right now. Iâm sorry. Thanks for dinner.â
He almost reached for his wallet to pay for his half of the artichoke dip, but reconsidered. He took his old prom tuxedo jacket off on the way to the elevator, waiting for the doors to close before he pressed his face into the old fibers.
It would be easier if Steve didnât know money. If wealth were a foreign pillow he had never slept on; could be spoiled into never giving it up again.
Like a true mother with a sixth sense, Steve withdrew a package from his mailbox when he returned to his apartment building. Mrs. Harringtonâs versions of care packages were fashion magazines, a subscription to The New Yorker, polaroids of her latest closet pieces, and Steveâs favorite candy.
He loved it all. He didnât need laminated recipes, bags of rice, or resupplied hair products. He went up to his bedroom, stripped down to nothing, and fell into bed with the hefty parcel. Fruity hard candies fell out like confetti, and he stuck a green apple square inside his cheek while he looked through her baggie of polaroids.
Peach suede 130s. Steve felt a warm tickle in his belly at that. She only wore 130s if she was pissed at his father. A woman in 130s walked with the force of a storm, mostly because the damn things were nearly intolerable to wear without a platform.
Another pair of diamond earrings. One of these days, people were going to realize how boring clear rocks were.
Dark, amethyst Miu Mius with the heel and toe encrusted with pearls. Steveâs dad mustâve really pissed her off to warrant that apology.
The magazine subscription had piled up, so he had three New Yorkers to read, but he opened the tome of Vogue first. His mother dog-earred her favorite articles, scent samples, and spreads. She often favored the androgynous and male fragrances. Steve liked that a whole lot. He wasnât sure if she did that for him because he liked them, or if he liked them because she did that.
He held the magazine to his face as he went to the kitchen, smelling the first fragrance sample while he reached for his cache of boxed cake mix. It was a funfetti kind of night. He rattled the package of sprinkles in his hand while reading about some summer collection where the runway happened in a Greek ampitheatre. Sounded fun. Sounded like a great vacation. Beach, wine, and then modern art fusing with ancient architecture.
Steve didnât excel in chemistry, but he knew a different kind of magic.
Which didnât actually include baking. The cake emerged a little dark, but he cut off the burnt top, iced it to glorious, sugar perfection, and took a slice to bed with him. He turned the parcel upside-down for the last of the candy to come out so he could throw the envelope away -
Two bottles of nail polish landed heavily on the bed. Steve lifted the darker bottle to see a purple so ebony he thought it was black until he opened it to see the paint up close.
Purple and peach. To match his motherâs shoes.
Not many people understood his parentsâ methods of producing or avoiding affection. But Steve did. He shook up the poison violet and painted his toenails in between forkfuls of cake.
He didnât hear from Billy the next day.
Or the next.
As bad as Steve felt, he couldnât say he minded. Nor would he be surprised if Billy never called him again. The idea brought a lonely peace during the commute to work, reading his magazines on the train before keeping them safe in a folder that he stuffed inside his backpack. Even if Steveâs chest felt like a cold balloon, with its latex worn thin and tired, he had his little things to keep him warm.
Then a knock on his apartment door.
Steve answered it with a cheek full of cake, interrupted from making his grocery list of actual nutritional value -Â
Billy had never visited before. Steve stared at him long enough for him to ask, âAre you going to let me in?â
Steve glanced at the box under his arm and turned into his apartment with a sigh. Billy closed the door behind him as he remarked, âYou donât know whatâs in it yet.â
There wasnât exactly anywhere for Steve to theatrically storm off to. His kitchen was also his living room, and a half-wall partitioned the bedroom off to the side. His apartment was one long rectangle, and Steve remained stuck in the middle of it.
âBilly, I donât know what you want from me that you think you can get from expensive things.â
âI donât recall asking for anything in return,â he drawled while removing his coat.
âDonât take that off,â Steve retorted.
âIâm taking it off.â
âThis isnât going to be a long visit.â
âWould you at least open the damn thing first?â Billy presented the box on the flat of his hand like a waiterâs tray.
Steve knew a shoe box when he saw one. He swatted the lid off the box before he even meant to. He was so tired of this game. Of these rules. He doesnât want to see some snotty designer sneaker that isnât to his taste. Some item the rules would dictate he accept without complaint. Or some chunky, foamy plastic, glorified tennis shoe that is over hyped . . .
He sees the red first.
Itâs not a sneaker.
Hot Chick heels. 100mm. Black suede on top, red bottom. The leather around the heel scallop-cut like minimalist flower petals.
Steveâs breath has stopped in his chest. The pad of his thumb moved across the soft, matte leather before he stops himself. He tries to look stern when he dares to peek up at Billy, but those water-turquoise eyes are steady on him, absorbing his every reaction.
âThese donât exist in suede.â
Because they didnât. Hot Chicks came in patent leather only.
âThey do now.â
âLouboutin sizes down.â
âThen weâll have them stretched.â
Steve is losing. Billy knows heâs losing. Billy - he -
âHow - ?â Steve begins but stops. He closed his eyes and swallowed, only to flinch a little when Billy grasped his chin, holding him in place as he leaned in to lick the corner of his mouth free of icing.
âWill you try them on for me?â
Steve feels a mixture of defeat mixed in with petulance and vulnerable glee as he warily takes the box to his humble couch. Billy looked at his bed, and then to the kitchen on the other side of the apartment. He strolled into it and lifted the knife for a slice.
Steve, meanwhile, took his time. He opened the paper from where it had floated back over the shoes. He lifted the box to inhale the leather. He took one shoe out just to...see it. Look at it. Read the number stamped on the red arch.
Steve had to remove his socks, revealing his lacquered toes as Billy sat next to him with a plate. He eased the coffee table out of the way, giving Steve room to wiggle his foot into the severe 100mm heel.
They were hardly glamorous under his old, cut-off sweats.
But.
Heâd never actually seen his feet in heels before. Never bothered to try to find his size.
Billy handed him the other shoe, and stood up with a ready hand. Steve wiggled into it and accepted his hold as he stood up.
How do you walk in those? heâd once asked his mother.
Trust the heel, my love, sheâd answered, strolling around her bedroom in her 130s. If youâve paid enough for it, it better hold up your entire form, and your dating baggage.
Steve had laughed, but listened to her every word. Move like a wheel barrow. You pivot on your toes, like the wheel, and rest on the heels.
âIâve got you,â Billy purred when Steve teetered. Just a little.
âWhy did you get me these?â Steve had to ask while he began to ease his arm off of Billyâs shoulders.
âMightâve had a look inside your mail,â he admitted shamelessly. âI thought you mightâve ordered something and I could finally see what you liked. Instead, itâs the one thing Iâve seen you accept.â
âYouâre a creep,â Steve declared, but he couldnât look away from his feet as he strolled around the coffee table.
Billy laughed and sat down to his cake. âThis is good.â
âItâs from a box.â
âItâs still good.â
Things . . . changed, after that. Billy came over just to come over. And he pestered Steve with endless questions.
âDo you like these?â he asked with his nose against the magazine pages.
Steve towered over him in his heels, but heâd wash dishes in whatever he wanted, thanks very much. And leather needed to be worn, as his mother taught him. Plastic is trash. If it comes from a living creature, it lives on a creature.
Steve snorted beside him. âMy mom crimps those pages.â
âBut do you like them?â
âTheyâre fun in magazines, but perfumes were never really my thing.â
âWhat is your thing?â
âRight now? You, elbows deep in here.â
Billy perked right out of the magazine only to lock onto the sink. âBecause youâre having trouble reaching it now?â
Steve meant to have a witty come-back, but he got caught up in his own giggles. âYeah.â
Then,
âCan I stay the night?â
Something must have flashed across his face, because Billy added, âNot for sex. Iâve taken the hint, all right?â
Steve slowly unfolded his socks where he sat on the foot of the bed. âWhy do you want to?â
Billy wiped his hands on the dish towel and padded across the room to sit beside him. âBecause I want to taste you before I sleep. And I wanna taste you when I wake up. I want your snark in my ears all the time - â
âAll the time?â Steve repeated, deadpan.
âYeah, all the time. I canât believe it either.â
Billyâs features were warm, unbelievably warm as he watched Steve laugh. âOf course I want to have sex with you. But I miss you when... I miss you all the time. Itâs embarrassing.â
Steve rolled his eyes onto him, to which Billy defended, âI have things to do.â
âYeah, âcause youâre the big man in town,â Steve babied, pushing his chest so he toppled backward.
âI am, actually,â he crooned, his hands finding Steveâs legs easily when he straddled him. âIâd work better with you on my desk.â
âMy hairy legs and scraped up heels?â Steve threatened breathily, holding Billyâs cheek and jaw in one hand while he leaned over him so all Billy could see was Steve.
âAll of it,â he exhaled, and pulled Steveâs head the last inch for a kiss.
Billyâs next gift was a pair of slippers. Plush, soft, and perfect after an afternoon in 100s.
Then he gave Steve a massage. Steve could accept those with ease. The balls of his feet hurt and even blushed a faint indigo from being so unused to heels. The warm attention of Billyâs hands on the arches of his feet, heels, and ankles; as well as the cold tennis balls he stored in Steveâs freezer to roll along his feet.
By then, heâd seen Steveâs anklet. So the next shoe box Steve opened were dark green suede, as poisonously dark as his motherâs violet heels. The toe was bare, but the heel was encrusted with opals. The milky stones flashed green and orange as Steve walked in the 120mm heel.
âHow do they feel?â
Steve, with far more mastery over heels now, pivoted on his toes and planted one on the couch in between Billyâs thighs. His warm hand cradled Steveâs ankle immediately.
âWhat if I shaved for these?â
âThen Iâd never take my hands off you.â
âSo nothing would change,â Steve giggled, teasing gone as he landed on Billyâs lap. The man underneath him hummed his mirth into Steveâs mouth, his other hand burying in Steveâs hair while he let Steve control the kiss, explore his mouth.
âI thought theyâd go with your eyes,â he said when the kiss petered off and Steve kissed his nose. Billy touched the pad of his thumb high on Steveâs cheek. âThereâs a little bit of green there.â
Steve let Billy fuck him in those shoes.
Because he finally craved all the way, beyond fear of rules. Beyond the existence of toys. He craved Billy deeper than skin, and Billy gave it to him.
And when Billy got him a pair of 130s . . . blood red and spiked with tiny, crimson points, he let Steve fuck him.
#everything i know about shoes i learned from Violet Chachki#harringrove#ficlet#asexual!steve#sugardaddy!billy#sugarbaby!steve#neonponders#pondermoniums#lazybakerart#happy birthday love!!!#no i don't know billy's job#cover a plot hole with an unreliable narrator~
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Duke Thomas/The Signal Fic Recs
This is for @capttain-emo who saw me reblog this wonderful rec list by @stories-from-the-batcave , and asked if I knew any more. (I highly recommend those, btw, I love all the fics on that list! Yes, that includes the one I wrote in there) Duke Thomas is my favorite Batfam member, so I have a bunch! Unfortunately, there isnât as much Duke content out there as Iâd hope - people just donât seem to like him as much for some reason? Itâs sad. So, there are gonna be a couple here written by me. Rest assured, I have way more Duke content on the way - including a WIP coming out this week! (Ao3 linked out at the top of my blog)
I love recommending Fics, so hit me up in my inbox if thereâs a trope or character or relationship (platonic or not) that youâd really love to read! I also write fan fiction, and my requests are always open!
1. Siblings: The Truth of the Matter by Me!
Rating: General Audiences Category: Gen Relationships: Duke & his siblings
Duke had a strange family. Two of his siblings had been raised from birth to be assassins. One was born in a circus. One had been a crime lord for a time. Yet another was the CEO of a multi-billion dollar company by the age of seventeen. All of them dressed up in spandex every night to punch bad guys.
So when he was woken up by icy water being splashed in his face, tied to a chair in nothing but his boxers, he wasn't surprised. Now, that's not to say he wasn't worried. Duke was definitely worried. Especially since it was these two.
AKA Duke gets tied up and questioned by his siblings, all while drugged with Truth Serum!
2. Bliss by Me!
Rating: General Audiences Category: Gen Relationships: Duke & Damian
Duke walks in on a sleeping assassin child in need of comfort, and takes a chance. Brotherly bonding ensues!
3. An ever growing family of birds and bats by alicecrow6
Rating: General Audiences/Teen Category: Gen Relationships: Duke & Damian
a series of Batkids Age Reversal fics where Damian comes first, then Harper, then Duke and so on.
4. look at me, all the things I can do by Aelig Â
Rating: General Audiences Category: Gen Relationships: Duke & Cass, Duke & Bruce
"Duke took a bite of his toast, gaze still on Bruce. His foster father was sipping at his coffee, eyebrows frowning. To an outsider, you would think he was reading the morning news on his tablet, like always; Duke knew better. Bruce's look was a little away from the screen, his lips downward.
It was almost funny, to watch Bruce internally panic."
OR: It's the morning, and Duke is going back to school for the first time since his injury.
5. The Batchair(s) Issue by NightFlier
Rating: General Audiences Category: Gen w/ background ships Relationships: Duke & Cass, Duke & Steph, Steph/Cass Trio & Batfam
Duke Thomas feels like an outsider, and not just because he's part of the new Outsiders team roster. He's the newest member of the legendary Batclan and hasn't yet formed the close bonds that the others share. Not to mention, he's the only active Meta on the team. As if it wasn't hard enough to relate with people with such colorful, unique backgrounds.
But it's okay! Duke has a plan and it'll probably work for a while before crashing & burning. BatShenanigans ahead.
6. All That Glitters is Gold (Unfortunately) by IndefiniteIceCube
Rating: General Audiences Category: Gen Relationships: Duke & Tim, Duke & Steph
The world is gold and Duke can't breathe.
He can't breathe.
He was sitting in AP World History just a minute ago.
Was it a minute ago? It seemed like a minute ago but it could have been hours because all he can focus on is that he canât breathe. His lungs wonât fill and- and heâs trying he swears but he just. canât. breathe.
And the goldâ
-----
Duke's powers emerge.
It doesn't go well.
7. Be the Light that Helps Others See by Ace_Corvid @ace-corvid
Rating: General Audiences Category: Gen Relationships: Duke & Batfam
Duke didn't really know what to expect from movie nights with the Bats.
He could only assume they approached this with the same determined intensity as they approached everything else. They were all so extra it was like their gauge for normal was completely broke. He wasn't really prepared for this.
And yet here he was. Surrounded.
(Alternatively; Batkid's have a movie night.)
8. I've Made a Million Mistakes by Sohotthateveryonedied
âYâall need Jethuth.â
Rating: Teen Category: Gen Relationships: Duke & Batfam
âDonât worry,â Dick says, throwing his arm around Dukeâs shoulders. âEveryone in this room has had their teeth knocked out at one point or another. Itâs a rite of passage around here.â
âI donât know how to tell you thith, but that doethnât happen to normal people. We acthually prefer to keep our teeth, believe it or not.â
âWait until you get your first major battle scar. Trust me, theyâre cool.â
âYâall need Jethuth.â
9. Children (All of Them) by TheFalconWarrior
Rating: Teen Category: Gen Relationships: Duke & Batfam
In which Tim is not stupid but Jason might just be, Damian is furious, Dick kind of feels like he should be doingâŠsomething, Steph is ecstatic, and Duke wonders how long he can survive.
10. In the Dark of the Night by Aelig
Rating: General Audiences Category: Gen Relationships: Duke & Jason, Batfam
"Duke was woken up by someone sliding into his bed. Someone big judging by how the mattress shifted.
Because Duke was a well-trained vigilante, his first reflex was obviously to kick whoever was being creepy right now and push them out of his bed.
It was only when the someone landed on the floor with a yelp that Duke realized that he was at Wayne Manor, which was incredibly secure â normally. He could recognize the voice, too."
Rating: General Audiences Category: Gen Relationships: none
OR: The Batfam and their way to deal with nightmares.
11. Welcome to the Family by angstyelephant
In which Duke Thomas goes back to the beginning.
12. Family-- by incorrectbatfam
Rating: General Audiences Category: Gen Relationships: Duke & batfam
âYour assignment over the weekend is to write a poem about your family.â
13. I'm Still Climbing(Even When the Rest Have Fallen) by anidear
Rating: General Audiences Category: Gen Relationships: Duke & Dick, Duke & Damian
After his first exposure to the Fear Toxin, Dick checks in on Duke.
14. The cat and the newcomer by Fleur_de_Violette
Rating: General Audiences Category: Gen Relationships: Duke & Alfred the Cat
Duke always found people talking to their pets about their problems silly. And yet here he was.
15. Duke-napped by NightOwl1600
Rating: General Audiences Category: Gen Relationships: Duke & Bruce, Duke & batfam
The others donât really bother Duke with his business. They all care about him, he knows, but outside of the vigilante business, they donât really care to ask aside from the typical âHow was school?â or âCan you buy me some chilidogs after youâre done with whatever youâre doing?â So heâs a bit concerned if theyâll even notice when heâs been kidnapped as Duke Thomas, Bruce Wayneâs newest ward. But heâs not about to panic; as the others seem to be so determined that traumatizing new experiences are part of Bat-initiation.
Meanwhile, the rest of the family freaks out because âDid anyone go over the doâs and donâts of getting kidnapped with Duke?!â
16. Nightmare/Hallucination by FearfulKitten @fearfulkittenwrites
Rating: Teen Category: Gen Relationships: Duke & Jason
Duke found himself staring at the ceiling again. His heart was no longer racing, but he wouldnât exactly say that he was calm either. This is the moment after the end of a race you lost, when all of the adrenaline is starting to wear off and the hopelessness sets in. Thatâs it. Youâre out of the competition, buddy.
Except that this isnât a race, and Duke hasnât just lost his spot for the finals. He had simply lost sleep.
17. Jason Todd, Big Brother Part 8792 by Gemini_00
Rating: General Audiences Category: Other Relationships: Duke & Jason, Duke & Damian
Robin and the Signal sneak along the Outlaws mission in order to steal a bazooka and hang out with Kori. Jason has to deal with two little brothers and feeding a team of outlaws. He's putting this on Bruce's credit
18. "What's wrong? What's happening?" By FearfulKitten @fearfulkittenwrites
Rating: General Audiences Category: Other Relationships: Duke & Tim
Duke runs into trouble during his daytime patrol, and ends up needing some back up. The resident over-productive insomniac bat picks up the call.
(A little bit of and Duke interaction for a nice tumblr Anon :) I hope you like it!)
19. Nightmares by FearfulKitten @fearfulkittenwrites
Rating: Teen Category: Other Relationships: Duke & Dick
Filling the nightmare square on my bingo card with the help of an anon on tumblr who asked for a fic where Duke has a nightmare and asks for the help of one of the older batboys!
"Duke checked the time again. Two minutes had passed.
Time was ticking too slowly. He was tired, but sitting alone in the dark was definitely not a good idea right now.
Heâd have to ask for help."
20. Brothers in Arms by TheFalconWarrior
Rating: General Audiences Category: Gen Relationships: Duke & Batfam
...possibly against each other. Batkid prank wars are the worst.
Duke is learning. Tim is evil. So is Damian. Dick is embarrassing. Jason is dramatic. Steph is brave. Babs is all-knowing. Cass wants in. Alfred is a little amused, and Bruce is so. Tired.
21. First rule of Robin, right? By ALzzza
Rating: Teen Category: Gen Relationships: Duke & Damian,Duke & Dick
"Nothingâs going to hurt youâyou got that, nothing.â
Duke doesnât have anything better to do but itâs not like that matters. Hell, heâd drop everything and runâalways in time to catch this little bird.
Or, Damianâs Been Having Nightmares, Duke To The RescueâDick Always With The Reassurance
22. Duke's Diary by fiery_day
 Rating: Teen Category: Gen Relationships: Duke & Batfam,Duke & Dick
This is a couple of journal entries by Duke as he learns to become Signal. He relates his thoughts on the batfamily and aspects of the vigilante life he now leads.
23. Significance of a Gala by nxttime
Rating: Teen Category: Gen Relationships: Duke & Batfam,Duke & Jason, Duke & Tim
This yearâs Wayne Gala would be Dukeâs first, and he had no clue how to feel about it.
 25. The cloud that looks after each other by Batmango
Rating: Teen Category: Gen Relationships: Duke & Bruce, Duke & Goliath
Duke wakes up the Bat cave after a fight with the Joker.
For MashpotatoeQueen5 as a thanks for using so many of my prompt in the excellent January Jot-Downs.
Prompt: a hurt comfort after an injury/illness? Or just cuddles. I love me some cuddles.
26. The One Youâll Know By by Redrikki
Rating: Teen Category: Gen Relationships: Duke & Bruce, Bruce & Alfred
After losing his memory, Bruce asked Alfred not to tell him about his vigilante life, but he's beginning to think his butler left a few other things out. Like, say, his kids.
27. Duke Thomas Hates Bullies by Gemini_00
Rating: Unrated Category: Gen Relationships: Duke & Steph, Duke & Tim, Duke & Bruce, Duke & Damian
Everyone loves that Duke Thomas isn't like all those other crazy Waynes. Everyone loves that the Signal isn't trying to get himself killed. Duke may not see Bruce as his dad, but he is definitely part of the bat family. and nobody is going to bully his family. Or, Duke Thomas Kicks Ass.
28. batman is dancing to fortnight and this might as well happen because vigilante life is already so *Goddamn* weird (Duke Thomas: A Memoir) by MashpotatoeQueen5
Rating: General Audiences Category: Gen Relationships: Duke & Bruce, Duke & Batfam
You may not have time to unpack all that, but Duke Thomas does.
(He doesn't get it either.)
(He loves his new crazy family nonetheless.)
29. In a World Where You Can Be Anything, Be Kind by RedHoodie1723
Rating: General Audiences Category: Gen Relationships: Duke & Bruce, Duke & Batfam
Day Six of Batfam Week 2020: Take Your Child To Work Day
It was Duke's first time visiting Wayne Enterprises, and he couldn't help but be intrigued by the Martha Wayne Foundation.
30. Youâre My Brother by blackpercy
Rating: General Audiences Category: Gen Relationships: Duke & Dick
Duke's missing his parents a lot and Dick comes in to help his little brother.
And thatâs it for the list! I hope you enjoy these thirty works! Once again, send me an ask if you have requests for fics, recs, or if you have general questions!
#duke thomas#the signal#batfam#duke fic recs#batfam fic recs#fanfiction recs#dc comics#batman comics#fanfiction#request
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Magnus Thorbjorn
Guardians name: Magnus Thorbjorn
Age: Roughly 34 when resurrected, currently unknown
Race: Awoken
Call signs/alias: Peacebroker, Travelerâs Favored, Evocate General
Pronouns: He/him
Class: Titan
Preferred subclass(es): Solar
Ghostâs name: Einar
Their Vanguard: Zavala, Ikora, Cayde-6
Fireteam name: Harbingers of Destiny
Fireteam teammates: Magnus, Dominus Ghaul, Anthem-99, Velliks, Gadrax, Kahun
Favorite legendary weapon: Steelfeather Repeater
Favorite exotic weapon: Ace of Spades
Favorite exotic armor: Crest of Alpha Lupi
Favorite ornament armor set: Empyrean Titan
Favorite weapon ornament: Glee Barrage
What stats do they focus on: Resilience, Recovery, Strength
Are they offense, defence, or support: Offense
Do they prefer being close, mid, or long range: Mid range
Do they lean more âElement of Surpriseâ or âUpfront and Aggressiveâ: Upfront and aggressive
Strikes, Gambit, or Crucible: Strikes and Crucible evenly
Who was their mentor(if they had one. If it is a character you created, tell us about them!): Ikora and Zavala
Who are they mentoring(if they are. If it is a character you created, tell us about them!): Dominus Ghaul
What ship do they have: Saintâs Invocation
What is their Sparrow: Praxic Finery
Favorite Ghost shell: In Memoriam
Favorite shader: Circadian Chill /Virtified Chronology
Favorite color: Blue
Favorite food: Pizza
Favorite piece of Pre-Collapse tech(if theyâve seen any): None, Magnus hasnât really seen any
Favorite Pre-Collapse music(if theyâve heard any): Anything from Twilight Force
Favorite place in The Last City(if itâs a place you created, give a little description!): The Hollow Cairn. This is a place where many once-invading species have attacked throughout history, and it has sunken into the ground since due to the massive destruction created over centuries. However, the place has since become a point of unity for everyone, with communities of Hive, Cabal, Humans, Eliksni, etc. all building shelters within the crater and living together. Itâs a bustling district, and only because Magnus sacrificed so much of himself and his efforts to unify everyone.
Favorite NPC(s): Zavala, Ikora, Cayde-6, Saint-14, Banshee-44, Eris Morn, Mithrax, Spider, Failsafe, Devrim Kay, Suraya Hawthorne, Sjur Eido
Favorite patrol location: Anywhere on the Tangled Shore
5 things your Guardian likes(can be anything): Diplomacy, metal music, leading, sleeping, using the Hammer of Sol
Least favorite food: Steak
Least favorite shader: Lilac Bombast
Least favorite patrol location: Braytech Futurescape on Mars
Least favorite Pre-Collapse tech(if theyâve seen any): N/A
Least favorite NPC(s): Oryx, Savathun, Mara Sov, Lakshmi-2
Least favorite weapon ornament: Jade Countenance
Least favorite ornament armor set: Pandemonic (skeletal Titan) set
Least favorite legendary weapon: Literally any fusion rifle ever
Least favorite exotic weapon: Telesto
Least favorite exotic armor: One-Eyed Mask
5 things your Guardian dislikes(this can be anything): Dishonesty, disloyalty, feeling hopeless, giving up, loss
Your Guardian has to rest. What is their living space like: Itâs well-managed, with a LOT of collectibles from all around the galaxy in display cases, organized on shelves and wall hangers, and on tables. Magnus loves to collect trinkets that have meaning to him.
Does your Guardian have any casual wear?(Y'all remember Polyvore? The website URSTYLE works very similar if that helps!):
What hobbies and/or skills does you Guardian have: Writing and reciting poetry, learning languages (speaks English, Ulurent, Eliksni all fluently), fighting, crafting armor, singing
What would your Guardianâs lore book be called: Broken Broker
Where was your Guardian reborn?(If you created the location, give us a little description!): Sector 25 in The Last City
What were they wearing when they were reborn: Scorched black cotton hoodie, worn-out black jeans, beat-up sneakers
What was their reaction to being reborn: FIGHT, AND DEFEND THE PEOPLE!!!
What was their reaction to their first rez: Sheer confusion, then immediate duty
After being reborn, did they meet friendlies first or hostiles: Both. He met Vex who were attacking and rampaging The Last City, but fought them and was then met by Zavala whoâd come to handle the situation, only to see a new Guardian had already done this. Zavala saw the distress on Magnusâs face at this, and assured him over and over again.
Who was the first other Guardian they met?(Same thing! If you made them, give a little description!): Zavala
Did your Guardian get reborn with, or find, any indication of their past life? If so what do they have/found: Magnus has no indication of his past life, and knows nothing about it. He assumes he wasnât Reefborn, but he partially wonders if he was just because of his vehement hatred for Mara Sov. Magnus canât find anything on who he was, nor does he really care to know.
How did your Guardian get their name(if they didnât rez with past life momentos): He knew/remembered it, and also Einar addressed him by âMagnusâ when he was first revived and woke up.
Going back to your Guardianâs lore book, what would be some some quotes or passages from their book: Two passages are actually readable at my Ao3, dawnbreakerdystopia! Most of the lorebook passages would recount the tales of Magnusâs efforts to join the warring species of the galaxy together in unity, and would likely use the Hammer of Sol which he wields as a metaphor, leading those who read them to wonder if Magnus actually wielded it (he does). The passages would also recount the daring exploits heâs done to protect his friends, family, the training he put Ghaul through to be a strong and independent Guardian, and overall theyâd just be written like poetic legends.
Does your Guardian have a significant other: Cayde-6, and theyâre married.
Did your Guardian go explore first before going to The Last City? If so, where to: Magnus never explored until he was resurrected.
What was their reaction to first seeing The Last City: This place needs defenders.
Is your Guardian a part of a clan: Not officially. Heâs sort of a part of every group regardless of whether he chooses to be or not. Life finds a way to drag him into them all.
Does your Guardianâs clan have a back story? If so, what is it?(if you want to or able to share): N/A
If your Guardian would have a quote as a flavor text for a weapon and/or piece of armor, what would they be: âIâve got a thousand years on me, and for each year, a million lives. I canât bear to sacrifice any one but my own.â
If your Guardian has had any interactions with any civilians (The Last City/The Farm), Eliksni, Cabal, Vex, Hive, Taken, Scorn, Rouge Lightbearers, or Iron Lords/War Lords(if your Guardian is an Old Light) tell us about it!: Magnus has unified Cabal and Humankind, mostly, because he was brought by the Traveler to Ghaul who was resurrected as a Guardian himself. Heâs had plenty of rough encounters with them, but nowadays, they accept him as their Evocate General, and bend to his every command (Magnus NEVER abuses this). Magnus has had very few positive interactions with Hive, as Savathun and Oryx have constantly tried to seduce him with Darkness and ruin him. He struggles to trust Hive, but knows that there is good in everything just as there is bad, nothing is inherently evil, and thus, he has to and does accept Hive who are willing to be his allies. Magnusâs interactions with Eliksni have always been positive, and heâs always gotten along with them. Scorn and Vex, he has yet to meet any whoâd be willing to work with him. Magnus personally hates the Vex entirely, but still holds out the belief that there is at least one out there whoâs good and friendly.
Does your Guardian have any unconventional allies or connections(By Vanguard standards): PLENTY!!!! Ghaul, Spider, being Evocate General of Cabal, you name it.
How does your Guardian feel about themselves or others using Stasis: Magnus is against himself using it. He understands that others can make use of the power, but he HATES the Darkness, and would never trust a single thing from it, let alone a âgiftâ which would inevitably corrupt him, not to mention bring him nearer to it which he refuses to do.
Did they run The Last Wish raid? How did they react to seeing a live Ahamkara a.k.a Riven: Magnus has not run this raid yet.
Did they run The Deep Stone Crypt raid? How did they react to the Crypt and seeing Exo Eliskni: Magnus has not run this raid yet, either.
Is your Guardian from D1? How did they react to seeing Taniks alive once again: Heâs not from D1
Where did they go and what did they do during The Red War: Magnus followed the main story, and was the only Lightbearer, thus he spearheaded the entire operation and literally held the fate of every single life on his shoulders and his alone. He fought, nonstop, and never gave up or slowed down.
Here are some characters that are either polarizing or have created a strong enough mass emotion within the community. What opinion does your Guardian hold on each of them(These are only a handful of characters!)>>>
Osiris, First Warlock Vanguard, originally exiled: Magnus looks up to Osiris for his wisdom, only a little, though, and heâd never tell Osiris this. Both of them know it, though, and words are not necessary to convey their mutual respect.
Eris Morn, Bane of the Swarm: He loves her, he wants to help her at all costs, and he knows to never pity Eris, or try protecting her without asking if she needs protection first, as sheâs highly capable and strong-willed.
Cayde-6, Sixth Hunter Vanguard: Magnus is fucking head over HEELS for him, and would lay his life on the line for Cayde. He was devastated beyond words when Uldren killed him, but came to understand that it was the Darknessâs doing, not Uldrenâs. And thus, he forgave him.
Ikora Rey, Second Warlock Vanguard: Mom. Sheâs just straight-up his mom.
Commander Zavala, Second Titan Vanguard: Mentor, dad-like friend, always reliable.
Saint-14, legendary Titan, First Titan Vanguard: Extreme respect, love, honors him deeply, aspires to be like him, MUST PROTECT!!!
Lord Saladin, Iron Banner handler, One of the last remaining Iron Lords: Indifferent. Magnus entirely disagrees with and somewhat hates what the Iron Lords did, but he senses good in Saladin and sees it as well. He holds onto that good, as he does for everything and everyone.
Lord Shaxx, Crucible handler, Hero of Twilight Gap, living megaphone: FRIEND!!! Always a good motivator, always reliable, selfless af which Magnus respects, and Magnus aspires to be so much like him. Is also slightly intimidated by Shaxx.
The Crow, New Light, Ex-Enforcer to The Spider: Friend, must be protected, is a new person and not Uldren, is capable of great things and must be guided to do just that. Magnus sees Crow follows his heart, and thatâs more than enough for him to know this man is on the right path.
The Spider, The Shoreâs Only Law, founder of âHouseâ Spider: DAD!!! Spider adopted Magnus after (reluctantly at first) he went to Spider with a bounty from the Vanguard saying to kill him. Magnus knew this had to be a setup, it was, and Spider was immediately thankful, and then began calling Magnus his son. Both of them trust each other with everything and anything, and Magnus knows Spider is a good man at heart.
Uldren Sov, Prince of the Reef, Master of Crows: No. Donât trust him, heâs misguided as FUCK!
Mara Sov, Queen of the Reef, Queen of the Awoken, Ex-Kell of Wolves: FUCK! YOU!!! Magnus would throw her off the throne and take it himself if he wasnât so busy being Evocate General. Heâd imprison her until her natural death. The things Mara has done, to the Awoken, the galaxy, and her brother, are unforgiveable, and she MUST pay for that.
Variks, the Loyal, founder of House Judgement: A friend, an ally, someone Magnus can rely on. He values Variks, even if he made mistakes in the past, but Magnus is a firm believer in destiny, and thus thinks Variksâs actions have been done for a reason which is to bring the world to the present itâs at.
Mithrax, the Forsaken, Kell of Light, founder of House Light: Absolutely reliable, always a good friend, Magnus will drop everything and go help protect Mithrax or aid him in his endeavors if heâs able. Magnus loves him as a close friend, and is deeply bound to House Light.
The Exo Stranger/Elizabeth âElsieâ Bray, Granddaughter of Clovis I and Sister to Ana Bray: Can be trusted, must be trusted, and Magnus also takes pity on her for what she went through both in the future, and by the hands of Clovis Bray.
Eramis, of House Salvation, Kell of Darkness: FUCK NOPE, donât trust, avoid at all costs.
Empress Caiatl of the Cabal Imperial Empire: An ally and definitely trustable. Her motives are questionable, but Magnus understands where sheâs coming from, and therefore believes she can be a great companion with some compromise.
Taniks the Scarred, the Perfected, the Abomination, the Shadow Thief: Nooooooooooooo get away get away get away GET AWAY!!!
The Darkness is fast approaching. How is your Guardian handling it: A N X I E T Y! !! !!!! ! !! But Magnus is taking action, fighting it head-on and never backing down for even a moment. He refuses to let the Darkness take hold, and aims to destroy it entirely once and for all.
And finally, does your Guardian have any advice for any New Lights: âThe Darkness is a lie, but the Light is true. Nobody can see in the shadows of night, so itâs your duty as a Guardian to eclipse the world in endless sun, and create a world everyone can see within and beyond.â
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Refreshing as a Highstorm - A Stormlight Fic
Hey I inflicted this on my ao3 people last night and forgot about yâall! Inexcusable!! So here we are.Â
DO NOT PROCEED IF U HAVE NOT READ RHYTHM OF WAR.Â
youâve read it? okay fabulous - u may proceed?Â
you have not? WHY ARE YOU STILL HERE? LEAVE. NOW.Â
Title: Refreshing as a Highstorm
Summary:Â Set some time after Rhythm of War. Jasnah decides it's time to come out as ace to Wit, and she does so in typical Jasnah fashion. He takes it in typical Wit fashion - in stride. They're soft and I'm emotional. Everyone wins. Jasnah POV. Minor warning for mentions of past acephobia.Â
Teaser:Â âWit,â she said, tone brisk and firm, âWe need to talk about sex.â
For a moment she saw surprise tinge his sharp features. Then he blinked and smoothed it away.
âWhat?â he said, his tone light, âHave I been doing it wrong all these years and no one has thought to tell me until now?â
Link: ao3
Commission Link: Have me write other cosmere charactersÂ
Jasnah settled down on Witâs bare chest, listening to his heartbeat. He did have a heart. The organ, at least.
That had surprised her the first time they had done this. Though in many ways Wit was deeply human, he was also alien.
There was a depth to him, a knowledge that came only from the thousands of years he had been alive, stalking her planet, and more besides.
At times that daunted her. Looking into his eyes could sometimes feel like looking into an abyss that held the weight of more knowledge than could ever be contained in all the books on Roshar.
History, history from a thousand worlds given life. And he was in her bed at this very moment peering down at her with a haze of sleepy pleasure. That gave her a little thrill of pride and excitement.
Alien and ancient or otherwise, he liked to hold her once they had finished. She had the sense that he craved the tenderness and the humanity of it, to end an act that had always seemed so primal to her with a distinctly human, civilised note.
She didnât protest. Initially she hadnât wanted it. It had felt like wasted time. The world was ending and she was cuddling? But, more recently, she had come to acknowledge the benefits of a little rest, of time where she was allowed to simply be. To exist, rather than fighting tooth and nail for each breath.
She suspected that was part of why Wit insisted on it. He kept doing things like that. Making excuses to feed her, or force her to take a break and step away from her work for a moment.
A part of her had balked at that at first, seeing it as a subtle way of him trying to control her. She had shut those fears down. It was not about control, it was about care. And she could let herself be cared for. Sometimes.
Wit stroked his fingers idly through her hair, unbound, pooling around her like a swath of night. Then he threaded their fingers together, deliberately choosing her safehand for the purpose.
He often did things like that, trying to entice or excite her. She worried he was beginning to see it as some sort of challenge or game she was luring him into.
She sighed.
The time had come to speak to him about this. In truth, the time had probably long ago. But, well, she was human. She could admit to a little fear.
In the chaos of everything that had happened over the last year, Wit had been a flurry of his own kind. But it was a kind that felt good rather than terrifying and she...Well she did not have an excellent history with romantic partners and she had feared to lose this.
The time had come, however, when not saying something would do more harm, so she pushed herself up, back against the headboard of the bed, drawing her dressing gown more firmly around herself.
Wit shifted lazily, rolling onto his side and propping himself up on an elbow to look at her.
âWit,â she said, tone brisk and firm, âWe need to talk about sex.â
For a moment she saw surprise tinge his sharp features. Then he blinked and smoothed it away.
âWhat?â he said, his tone light, âHave I been doing it wrong all these years and no one has thought to tell me until now?â
She eyed him. Each conversation was like a dance, a fight, testing, seeking, pushing one another. She enjoyed it, normally, but tonight...Tonight she just wanted to be open, and honest. No games.
âNo,â she said, simply, âYou were perfectly satisfactory.â
He quirked an eyebrow at her and she grimaced slightly. That..was probably not the most tactful thing sheâd ever said to a partner.
Fortunately he just laughed and kissed her hand, âJasnah, my dear, you can be wonderfully refreshing at times,â he said.
âAs refreshing as a highstorm, you mean?â she said, bluntly, and he smiled again, eyes twinkling.
âRoshar would not have life without them,â he said, lightly.
She sighed again, more heavily this time, and Wit frowned slightly as she rubbed her temples. His expression shifted, and he sat up straighter.
âJasnah?â he said, a faint note of worry tinging his words for the first time, âIs everything alright?â
âFine,â she said, waving a vague hand, âItâs still difficult to speak about this. Iâve done it several times in the past, yet it never seems to get any easier. Particularly if one attempts to approach it with any measure of delicacy.â
âThen donât,â he said simply, taking her hand, âApproach it like the highstorm that you are, Jasnah. I assure you Iâve survived worse.â
She took a deep breath and, not looking at him, said quietly, âI donât need sex, Wit.â
He frowned slightly, and she braced herself for the quip.
âDonât need it for what, my dear? For life? Technically none of us needs it, in the basest of terms. We donât theoretically need wine, either, to survive. But to live? I consider it a necessity.â
âI donât,â she murmured, and her voice seemed to strangle itself, becoming small.
She hated that, and forced it back to its typical tone and volume with effort as she cleared her throat and continued.
âI donât need it to feel satisfied with life. I donât need it to feel satisfied or fulfilled in a relationship. It is not something I have ever found myself wanting, as most other people seem to.â
She drew her knees up to her chest, holding them. A part of her recognised that she did this as a defence mechanism, that it was a very obvious tell that she felt afraid and insecure, which she hated feeling, and hated telegraphing even more. But she couldnât help it. In that moment, not looking at him, waiting for the storm wall to hit, she needed the comfort it brought her.
Wit moved beside her, sitting up straight, facing her, and when she looked up at him she saw that his face was uncharacteristically serious. He reached out and gently took both of her hands in his. She let him, and he seemed deeply relieved by that. Far too relieved in fact.
She frowned at him as he said, in a tone she had never heard from him before, serious and direct, âJasnah, you havenât felt as though Iâve ever-â
âNo,â she interrupted him quickly, suddenly understanding what he was worried about.
Then she gave him a flat look that clearly said, âdo you truly think you could pressure me into doing anything like that?â
The tension in his posture broke and he laughed, then, and said, âYou are truly wonderful, Jasnah. I donât think Iâve seen such a fabulous glare for centuries now. I must study it thoroughly at a later date so as to be able to properly master it when needed.â
She smiled again, some of her own tension bleeding away, though not all.
He scooted over to sit beside her, back against the headboard, legs stretched out comfortably in front of him.
She waited for him to settle himself then said, âThis isnât a problem for you? In our relationship?â
âNo,â he said, and though his tone was lighter than it had been earlier, it took on that uncharacteristic serious cast once more for her.
âYou surprised me, Jasnah Kholin. You were something on this planet I never expected, and have been delightful in many ways. I wonât pretend that I havenât enjoyed our physical diversions. But you, and indeed this budding partnership, are worth more to me than the pleasure I can derive from our bodies.â
She nodded absently, then frowned as she realised that he seemed to be perfectly content to continue with her, without question or hesitation.
She had been about to assure him that she was perfectly happy to continue having sex with him, for him. She was not repulsed by it, if she had she would certainly never have entertained it with him. But she had expected to make this point in rebuttal of his disappointment or withdrawal. And he hadnât done either, which momentarily threw her.
She knew her worth. And she knew that her value as a partner was indeed worth more than the use someone might find for her body.
Other partners had not exactly shared that sentiment in the past.
However fond they had been of her, her disinterest in sex had always put them off. Even if they did not react initially poorly, over time they became frustrated and disappointed, as though they had secretly hoped that she might make an exception for them.
They seemed to take it as a personal slight that she didnât think about having sex with them every waking moment.
She had never had either the time or the patience for that nonsense, and each time she had walked away without regret. But she would have been lying if she claimed that it hadnât hurt her, hadnât made her feel lonely, and alien, even broken, when sheâd been younger.
Wit was taking this too well, and she narrowed her eyes slightly at him, trying to determine his angle.
He did not seem the type of man who would take it as a personal insult that she did not crave sex with him. He was arrogant, and he had an ego, but it was of an entirely different sort.
Still, she hadnât expected his reaction to be, so, well, absent. He was looking at her with the same bright eyes he always did, the same thinly veiled eagerness to see what their companionship would bring, the same intensity and hunger that had simmered between them this past year.
Wit seemed to read her confusion and suspicion in her face, for he reached out and took her hand, her free hand, and squeezed it.
âYou are not the first person Iâve met who feels this way, Jasnah,â he said gently. âIndeed, you are not the second, third, or fourth person, either. We would have to climb rather high up the number scale, if you wish to truly and accurately plot yourself.â
âReally?â she said, before she could stop herself.
Logically she knew that she couldnât be the only person who felt this way. Particularly when one factored in the sheer number of people Wit had known in his life. Statistically it was highly likely that heâd met someone else like her before.
The logic, however, did not prevent the sudden rush of warm emotion at hearing, at knowing, that she was not alone.
Wit smiled at her. A different smile than any she had seen before.
This was the smile of a man who knew the importance of knowledge, the emotion it could bring when used to connect, rather than destroy.
The smile of someone who used that knowledge to bring hope and comfort to people; to bring them together, and help them Connect across realms and ages.
The smile of someone who still found simple joy in using the wealth of his vast experience to bring a simple joy to a frightened girl who had spent so long afraid that she was alone and unlovable.
He squeezed her hands and nodded. Absurdly, she felt her throat tighten, and had to raise her other hand to wipe at her eyes as she felt tears bud in them. Some instinct urged her to pull away from Wit, to not let him see her emotion, the power he had over her with the truth he had just given her.
But she was learning to fight those instincts, and so she turned to him, full on, and let him see her tears, let him see her smile, let him see what a gift he had given her today.
Wit smiled back, warm and genuine, and stayed quiet, with obvious effort, allowing her to have her moment.
A gloryspren winked into existence above her head, and for once she let it manifest in the physical realm, smiling up at it.
After a moment she pulled herself together, taking a deep breath and wiping her eyes, returning to business.
âHave you ever been in a relationship with someone like me, though?â she asked him, tone direct once more.
âNo,â he admitted gently, then added, with typical levity, âBut Iâve never been tap dancing with a chull, either, and Iâd very much like to try that as well. The ability to continue providing me with new experiences even after all this time is one of the cosmereâs greatest gifts and joys, Jasnah.â
She eyed him, judging his sincerity. Somehow, the man sitting there with a twinkle in his eye, talking about tap dancing chulls, seemed more sincere than the others who had initially told her the same, with serious tones, and sombre expressions, only to accuse her of being cold and inhuman some months later.
She eyed him again and he raised an eyebrow at her.
She sighed and admitted, âYouâre taking this too well.â
A faint blush stained her cheeks at that and she turned away. It felt so vulnerable to admit that, to admit that she expected him to hurt her. More vulnerable even than it had felt to admit the thing she expected him to use as a weapon against her.
âJasnah,â he said, quietly, âI wonât pretend that I havenât enjoyed that aspect of our relationship. You are a beautiful, alluring woman. And for all that you have no inclination towards it yourself, rather talented."
She smirked a little at that. As with most things, she had felt that if she was going to engage in it she may as well at least attain some competence.
âBut it was a means to an end, my dear. Pleasure, indeed, but also intimacy, and closeness with you. That is what I truly want.
âIâve had plenty of sex in my life, Jasnah, Iâm quite sure I can survive a few decades without it for a creature as truly incredible as yourself. You are the unique and wonderful experience Roshar has gifted me with. What a fool I would be to throw that aside for the sake of sex.â
"Others in the past have not been as...discerning," she said drily.
"Well, as you yourself are fond of noting, dearest, other people can often be idiots," he said lightly. "Sex is wonderful. A true masterstroke by the cosmere to encourage us all to keep producing children. But I'm fairly sure its lack won't be added to the list of things that have killed me any time soon."
She studied him, so sincere, so lighthearted, then said, bluntly, âIâm not asking you to become celibate for me, Wit. We can have sex again, if you wish.â
He blinked at her, digesting that, then he said curiously, âDo you enjoy it?â
There were no strings to the question. They did not do that with one another, as was openly established early on in their relationship. Questions were welcomed, by both parties, whatever their content, the intent assumed always to be genuine.
She considered the question, truly considered it.
With him, and with a few others, she had engaged in sex because her partner had desired it, and she had wanted to do something for them.
Rather as she might prepare a meal she was not altogether fond of, but which she knew was their favourite. If she prepared meals.
âYes,â she said, finally, âIt is pleasurable for me, when done correctly,â she added with a frown of irritation.
In her experience, that was certainly not always the case. Wit, for all his flaws, could never be accused of being stingy with the attention he gave her. In every aspect of their relationship.
"As I imagine it can be for most people. Though likely not as intense and consuming as it is for others, Iâve gathered. And then thereâs of course the fact that-â
She broke off, actually blushing noticeably for the first time in approximately a decade.
Witâs face split into a wide, almost wicked grin.
âCome now, Jasnah," he said, waggling a finger at him, "A highstorm does not hold back its rains, you should not hold back your insightful and unique pearls of wisdom on the human condition. Least of all in my presence. I simply wonât have it,â he said, prodding her with a finger in a spot that he knew she was ticklish.
She actually growled at him, and he stopped at once, though he did laugh as he did so. Insufferable bastard.
She sighed and said, âSex is pleasurable, but itâs not a pleasure that I canât achieve myself more easily, with much less mess and fuss, and a good deal less complex emotional baggage attached.â
Wit laughed again at that, loud and full, and she found herself smiling in spite of herself.
Knowing he would enjoy it, she continued, layering an analogy onto the idea.
âItâs rather like attending a feast when youâre already full. The food still tastes nice, even if you didnât particularly want it. But wouldnât it have been far simpler, faster, and less likely to cause a headache had you simply taken a private meal in your chambers and skipped the fuss?â
As she had hoped, that caused him to laugh harder. Wit enjoyed an apt metaphor, particularly if it was original. Or as original as it could be to someone with his life experience.
He leaned in and gently kissed her temple, âYou are a true delight, Jasnah. A highstorm that invests me with such joy and wonder, even as it attempts to bludgeon me with the force of its will.â
She raised an eyebrow at him as he coaxed her back down into a more relaxed posture, the two of them lying down once more, their legs lazily entwined, his fingers in her hair again.
âToo far?â he asked, lightly, as she settled back into place.
Wit liked flowery language, in all areas of life, but particularly in complimenting her.
She'd made the mistake of telling him, flatly, that it was nauseating.
He'd spent a solid month afterwards composing the most outrageous quips and lines of flattery, which had included multiple pieces of poetry sprung on her without warning.
Finally losing patience, she had soulcast all six pages of the final one into crystal and thrown it at him.
He had laughed, and they had come to an agreement regarding a comfortable level of tolerable flirtation and flattery from him.
âYouâre a faint breeze away from ending up at the bottom of a chasm,â she told him flatly.
He smiled, âYou may need to think of something with more threat to it, my dear,â he said. âYou know perfectly well that if a faint breeze did topple my hapless person into a chasm Iâd only crawl out of it a day later far more annoying than when Iâd plunged in.â
âHm, with a tap dancing chull in tow, no doubtâ she deadpanned in response, resting her head against his chest once more.
She felt the laugh vibrate through his ribs this time. It was a strange sensation, but not an unpleasant one.
He sobered again a moment later and said, âIâll need to leave again, in the next few days. Thereâs somewhere else I must be. Something that proves even more irresistible than your delicious tongue, my dear.â
She nodded without comment. He did this, disappearing for sometimes weeks at a time. He had done it even when heâd acted as Elhokarâs Wit, and sheâd had no illusions at all that she would be able to dissuade him of it. He always came back, typically just before she truly needed him. That was enough. She'd long since given up asking where he went.
She did appreciate that heâd started giving her some warning that he was going to vanish on her, however.
âI would like to discuss this further when I return,â he said, thoughtfully, fingers still carding absently through her hair, âI understand, and appreciate, your willingness to continue experiencing the true wonders my tongue can perform in physical matters, as well as mental,â she rolled her eyes, but he pressed on, apparently without noticing, âBut I would like to have an open conversation, establish some rules, some tweaks to our relationship going forwards to allow it to blossom as it may.â
She smiled against him, âThat would be wise, and appreciated,â she said slowly.
It still hadn't sunk in that he was so...Accepting of this. People usually had a broad range of reactions to her. Acceptance was rarely one of them.
Then, with more reluctance than she ever thought she would feel doing so, she pushed herself out of his arms and stood.
âI have work that must be attended to tonight, casualty reports from the latest battle, maps I wish to review before the strategy conference in the morning,â she said, adjusting her robe.
Wit propped himself up in bed and eyed her. She knew that he thought she should sleep, that she worked herself too long, and too hard. He had warned her about the dangers of relying on Investiture to push her body beyond its natural capabilities. Indeed, she had chided several of the younger Radiants with similar warnings, and forced them to rest.
But for herself? This had been her burden to bear for almost twenty years, now. She had already given so much of herself to it, and felt that it was still not enough, that this was a piece of advice she found it difficult to take.
He opened his mouth, and she expected him to protest, to urge her to return to bed with him, perhaps with some crass quip. Instead, he said, âHow can I help?â
She smiled, and asked if he would fetch her copies of the maps from the room they used for study and preparation.
He pressed a small kiss to her cheek before moving off to do as sheâd requested. Watching him go, she felt a faint stir of warmth inside her. Rather like the feeling she had when drawing in Stormlight.
The world was ending. They were embroiled in the midst of a centuries long war with the destructive embodiment of hatred, bent on their capitulation and eventually destruction. But in that moment, she allowed herself to be human, to be vulnerable, and open, and flawed.
In that moment, Jasnah allowed herself to be cared for. She allowed herself to be wanted, in a way she never truly believed she could be. She allowed herself to remember why they fought, why she had given so much of herself to saving this world. She allowed herself to live, for just a moment, before she returned to the fight.
***
A/N: Look I didnât expect this ship to happen to me either but hey! Thatâs just how life works in the year of or lord brandon sanderson 2020 so what can you do??????? He makes Jasnah happy and evidently thatâs good enough for the rat brain. Except more fic at a later date bc I have 0 self control.Â
#jasnah kholin#hoid#rhythm of war#rhythm of war spoilers#stormlight archive#jasnah/hoid#jasnah/hoid fic#i cant think of a good ship name everything sounds Bad when u smoosh#might have to go for something esoteric. i'll think abt it#for now this'll have to do#tsa#tsa fic#my fic#taryn is COMPROMISED#long post#text post tag#have at it y'all
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After 22x10, I, as so many others, quickly decided that it was Rafael on the phone (Sonny even wore his tie!), so I wrote an episode related thing. Iâm ace myself, and I like the idea of ace!Sonny, and I hc them both as gay (strangely enough, since I tend to always hc everyone as bi, but not Barisi for some reason), so this is my take on what could happen after that episode.
Once again a huge thank you to @novemberhush for the beta read and for answering all my questions and helping me make this better! â„
A Call to Come Out ao3
1559 words | Teen warnings: mentions internalized homophobia characters: Sonny Carisi, Rafael Barba, Amanda Rollins tags: Sonny Carisi & Amanda Rollins friendship, Episode Related, Post-Episode: 22x10 Welcome to the Pedo Motel, Established Relationship, Asexual Sonny, Gay Sonny, Gay Rafael, Coming Out, Internalized Homophobia
Sonny accepted the call with an apologetic smile to Rafael. "Amanda," he said both in greeting and to let Rafael know who it was. He got up from the couch to head towards the kitchen. "How is everything?"
"Hey, Sonny, I donât really want to talk about it, I just wanted to hear a friendly voice," Amanda said, making Sonny smile.
"Okay, I can do that," he said.
"You were about to tell me something when I got the call," Amanda said.
Sonny remembered that all too well. His awkwardness as he tried to speak still embarrassed him. "Yeah," he said.
"Tell me now? It was about that hot date of yours, wasnât it?" Amanda said, her voice teasing.
"Yeah, it was, and, uh, about me." He took a deep breath and looked at Rafael, who was still sitting on the couch, doing something on his phone. He must have sensed Sonny watching him, because he turned to give him a reassuring smile and a nod. Sonny nodded back and spoke, "Iâm gay."
"I, uh. Okay," Amanda said.
"Iâm also asexual, apparently," Sonny said.
"What, uh, I donât know what that means?" Amanda said.
"It means I donât feel sexual attraction to anyone, and for me, it also means that I⊠donât really want sex," Sonny said quietly. Rafael had told him that it was no one's business but his, that he didnât have to tell anyone if he didnât want to, and Sonny knew that was true, but he wanted to tell Amanda, she was his best friend. Second best friend, but Rafael was also his partner, so he wasnât sure he should count him.
"Okay," Amanda said slowly. Sonny wished he could see her, so he could read her silences.
"But, uh, yeah, so I have a⊠we donât really like the term boyfriend, I mean, weâre both over 40, weâre not exactly boys anymore, so I guess I have a partner," Sonny said.
Amanda huffed a soft laugh. "Okay, well, thatâs nice though, congratulations, Iâm happy for you," she said, and Sonny breathed out in relief. Which she obviously heard. "Aw, hey, come on."
"Sorry," Sonny hurried out, "itâs just that youâre, well, youâre the first person Iâve told, except, uh-"
"Your hot date?" Amanda teased, and it was Sonnyâs turn to huff a little laugh.
"Yeah, except my hot date," he said. "And youâre important to me, itâs⊠really scary and youâre my best friend, and itâs terrifying, especially considering our history, and I donât want to hurt you."
"Oh," Amanda said.
Sonny pulled a kitchen chair out to sit, putting his elbows on the table and his hand over his eyes. "I didnât - I guess I thought my feelings for you back then were romantic, because I love you and you mean the world to me, and because I⊠well, I guess I didnât want to accept being gay, and I didnât know then that I donât feel sexual attraction, I just thought thatâs how everyone felt, so when I have felt the way that I feel about you before, Iâve thought it was normal, that Iâve been in love, because even if I always felt⊠differently about men, I just pushed that down and ignored it, you know?"
His heart was beating hard in his chest, his throat tight, and he very nearly begged her to know what he meant, to understand, because he didnât want to hurt her, he needed her to be his friend.
"IâŠ" Amanda started slowly, quietly, and Sonny squeezed his eyes shut, his breath shallow. "I donât know, I guess, because I do feel sexual attraction, so I donât think I can ever understand, not really, but⊠I think I understand what you mean."
"Yeah?" Sonny rasped.
"Yeah, of course," Amanda said. Her voice was a little rough, like she was holding back tears too, and Sonny pressed his thumb and index finger against his eyelids. "So, you want to tell me about your partner?"
The forced cheer in her voice was fairly obvious, but she was trying, so Sonny would too.
"Itâs, uh, well, he has said itâs okay to tell you who he is, but you gotta promise you wonât make fun of me, okay?" Sonny asked.
"Cross my heart and hope to die," Amanda said, mock serious, and Sonny huffed another laugh and rubbed his eyes before lowering his hand.
"Rafael Barba," he said, and just saying his name had Sonny smiling.
"Rafael Barba," Amanda repeated faintly.
"Yeah," Sonny said.
"And you made me promise not to make fun of you, Sonny, youâre the worst," Amanda said.
Sonny grinned. "Well, I do know you, and Iâm not as stupid as everyone thinks, you know," he said.
"Rafael Barba," Amanda said. "Sonny Carisi and Rafael Barba. Holy crap."
"Yeah, yeah," Sonny said, rolling his eyes.
"Okay, tell me everything," Amanda said. "I mean, I know how you met, but how did you meet, you know?"
"I mean, looking back at it, I think that I was in love with him the whole time, but I told myself I just admired him, you know. Then, when he left, our relationship changed, we started talking about other things than work and law, mostly by text at first, or if we met up for drinks or something, then one day we came to talk about religion and homosexuality, and I sorta accidentally came out to him. I panicked, Amanda, really, it was bad, but heâs gay and grew up Catholic, he handled it really well, and he helped me a lot and made me see that I can be both.
"Then, during the trial, we met a lot more than usual. I mean we barely met every other month before, not even that often during last year with the virus and all, but over the trial I saw him every day and my feelings became very clear to me, it was so obvious, I donât know how I could have ever convinced myself it wasnât there. So I told myself Iâd tell him once the trial was over, if nothing else just to admit that I had feelings for a man, but he beat me to it and asked me on a date before I could," Sonny said.
"Rafael Barba asked you on a date," Amanda said.
Sonny grinned, he knew he probably looked love-struck and stupid, but Rafael Barba had asked him on a date, he was allowed. "Yeah, he did. He said heâd been flirting with me for years, called me dense for not noticing," he said, smiling at the memory.
"God, you sound so in love, wow, I didnât know you-" Amanda abruptly stopped herself, but she quickly continued, "You sound happy, Sonny, and I really am happy for you."
"Thanks, Amanda, that means a lot to me," Sonny said.
They talked for nearly 20 minutes, mostly about him and Rafael, about their dates and about their long conversations, both before and after the trial, about how Rafael had been the one to explain asexuality to Sonny and how it felt realizing he was asexual, about how supportive Rafael had been while Sonny learned to understand himself in relation to most other people. They talked until Amanda realized that Sonny was at Rafaelâs place.
"Why are you talking to me then?" she asked.
"Because youâre my friend, Amanda," Sonny said.
"And I love you for that, but go be with your man," Amanda said.
"Are you okay?" Sonny asked.
"Yeah, it helped to talk for a bit, thanks, Sonny. Iâll tell you more later, I just⊠really donât want to talk about it right now," Amanda said.
"Okay, Iâm here if you need me," Sonny said.
"I know. Weâll talk soon, okay?" Amanda said.
"Yeah, talk soon, take care," Sonny said.
"Say hi to Barba," Amanda said, and Sonny swore he could hear her grin.
"I will, and Iâm sure he says hi back," he said as flatly as he could manage. It made Amanda huff out a little laugh though, so he considered it a success.
"Bye, Sonny," she said.
"Bye, Amanda," he said.
He tapped the phone to end the call, then he got up and put the chair back before going back to the living room to sit next to Rafael again.
"Howâd it go?" Rafael asked softly.
"Good, I think," Sonny said. "She says hi, and she said she was happy for me."
"Good," Rafael said, leaning back against the couch and wrapping an arm around Sonnyâs shoulders to tug him closer.
"I said youâd say hi back," Sonny said, tilting his head to smile at Rafael, who rolled his eyes.
"Say hi back," he said dryly, but then his face softened, and he smiled as he leaned in to press a kiss to the corner of Sonnyâs mouth. "Iâm glad it went well, I know how important she is to you and I know how scary it can be. Iâm proud of you."
"I couldnât have done it without you," Sonny said, because it was true.
"I donât believe that for a second, but Iâm glad I could help at all," Rafael said. "Do you want to stay tonight?"
Sonny sighed and settled in more comfortably, his head tucked into the crook of Rafaelâs neck. "Yeah, Iâd like that," he said.
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[CS] 9. Team APCX
Cutting Strings
Characters: Aurora Glade, Penny Polendina, Ciel Soliel, Ashley Xanthic, Winter Schnee, May Marigold Word Count: 4k
Apex. The edge or outcrop of a vein. The highest point of interest, excitement; the climax. The highest point; peak; vertex. The pinnacle of an achievement. The predator surprasing all others, without equal.
Team APCX. Specialization: Search and Destroy.
Read on Ao3
PREV - NEXT Â
 Combat Performance at 78% Â
The training today was a little different. Or At least it felt a little different. For one, Ciel and Aro was early. Second, May and Fiona was sparing Aro and Xanthic, instead of the usual one on one with their unofficial mentors. Â
âWill you Happy fucking Huntresses stop giggling!?â Xanthic yelled. Winter and Penny briefly glanced at the doubles fight. Fiona only laughed harder, her Deep Pockets swallowed every hard-light knife Xanthic would create and throw. As an excessive display of skill Fiona even summoned the push knives, throwing it back and colliding with another aimed at her head. âAaagh! Are you serious Thyme?!â Â
Penny couldnât help but to giggle behind her hand. Mayâs experience and history with Aro put the mechanic at a sever disadvantage. Fiona was already able to cloud Xanthicâs high cognitive functions with both verbal and nonverbal taunts. The pair was hopeless out matched on nearly all levels but awareness, thanks to their cybernetics, and Dust manipulation. Â
âAaagh!â Aroâs feet slammed the ground, the immediate area glowing bright with purple Dust. May and Fiona floated off a few feet before vanishing. Arrows lodged out of the ground floating several feet above her. Then it pulsed, arrows shooting down with so much weight it either snapped or logged deep into the metal tiles. Â
They didnât hear the sound of flesh and bones slamming onto the floor. Xanthic fired and threw knives into the Field. It disappeared and reappeared to hit the wall. Sometimes there would be a surprised gasp or a taunt, âOh! That was close.â Fiona would sing. The geniuses was separated and had no intentions of regrouping. In fact⊠perhaps Xanthic was trying to distance herself from Aro? Â
âMarigold!!â Aro roared, âI promise I wonât burn yaâ too bad, doll!â Pennyâs processors nearly caught on fire as she tried to analyze the sound. It had a deep distorted rumble and an echo. Where did it come from? According to her databanks, feline Faunus could roar but Aurora Glade was a goat. Â
Aro spun around, embers of smoke and fire slipping past her lips. Penny leaned in, but was held back by Winter. Focus completely engulfed Aroâs eyes. They glowed a bright blue, the pupils a devouring white. There was also a red glow on her face. From the Dust infused jewelry that pierced the bridge of her nose. Â
May was suddenly behind her. She glanced at Winter then at Penny. Her grin grew larger. Hands reached for those golden cybernetic horns. She winked. Then pulled. Aro gasped, head jerked back and back crashing to the floor. A cloud of fire plumed out of her lips, harmless against Mayâs Aura. The Huntress laughed. She pinned Aro with a boot to the mechanicâs sternum. The bayonet and notched arrow of her crossbow pointed at Aro. Â
"You lose, doll." May drawled back. With no signs of exhaustion. Â
Aro took several deep breaths, embers fluttering from her lips. She eventually relaxed, hands held up in surrender. Focus fluttered off. The glow from the Dust jewelry faded but Aroâs face was still very rosy and red. Without her semblance, Aro didnât trust the words on her tongue. Penny could see the mechanic work her jaw but it eventually slipped out, âI⊠disagreeâŠâ Â
âOf course you would,â May grinned. She offered a hand and effortlessly pulled her up- âDuck!â Just to shove her back down. Â
Across the room Xanthic and Fiona was still fighting. A hard-light arcing off a saber and soaring further into the training room. Penny gasped hands up and Aura bolstering. Instead she was swept off her feet and tackled to the ground, Winter pressing her body tight to the floor. Â
The arc of hard-light energy was larger than anticipated, that or it was growing as it moved. The wind it dragged behind it nearly lifted Winter off her, but Penny wrapped her arms around the Specialist until it passed. Â
Winter got to her feet, âMarrow! Ciel!â Â
The arc of light was definitely growing. By now it was nearly a tidal wave or a wall. Â
âShit!â Marrow growled. Â
âSlow!â Cielâs Clockwork hit the hard-light attack. It nearly paused in the air, moving inch by inch instead of yards. Without movement it seemed to slowly fade and flicker out, as if a fire was burning through its oxygen. Ciel groaned, Clockwork collapsing just as the hard-light wave completely flickered out. Â
âSorry! Sorry about that!â Fiona yelled. Â
Everyone grumbled and Winter stood. Her hand offered to Penny. She didnât need the help but showed appreciation for the gesture with a smile. It was a little tricky to control how much weight Winter pulled. When they looked back at the duo Xanthic was a little dazed on the floor with Fiona sitting on her abdomen. Â
During all the panic, the Aura buzzer went off. Xanthic was at five percent while Aroâs technically good enough to continue with her Aura at fifteen percent. Fiona and May helped their defeated opponents out of the training room. Â
Winter cleared her throat. She was now a few paces away, sword pointed at Penny with her free hand behind her back. Penny frowned at it. She knew from pre-installed recordings and live observation that the second blade only came out when Winter was challenged. The Specialist had yet to wield the second blade at Penny. Â
âShall we continue? Or would you like to forfeit, Ms. Polendina?â Winter taunted. Her smirk wasnât as guarded. Â
"Iâd prefer it if we continued, Opponent Winter," Penny said. Behind her Floating Array flourished all fourteen components. Â
Every sparing match with Winter was frustrating and intense but it was the little things that made this different. Winter moved more like Aro, fluid and loose. Almost like water but still not completely free of the stiffness the military had beaten into her. She smiled, taunted, sneered and goateed Penny into several mistakes. The Specialist always commentating on the opening but never actually taking the chance to strike. Â
Penny huffed, synthetic voice trying to restrain a noise of frustration but only vibrated in her chest. The elite graduates were toying with them. No matter what variable Penny adjusted, her calculations and assessments about Winter and her summons were wrong. Â
She couldnât calculate how many creatures Winter could summon. They ranged from a tiny flock of Nevermores to the current pack of towering Alpha Beowolves. They lunged straight forward. All five pierced straight with one sword each in its skull. Five more appearing above her. Penny was forced to doge backwards, her visual sensors barely catching a glimpse of white as Winter entered striking distance. Â
Her processors were nearly overheating. Multiple swords and guns yet she could not find an opening to strike Winter directly. With simple gestures, summoning Glyphs appeared around Penny. Sometimes close enough that a claw would emerge first, a solid hit chipping away at her Aura levels. Â
âStop reacting and force me on the defensive!â Winter yelled. Â
Penny paused and frowned at Winter. Whatever expression she had stunned the women and her Beowolves for a moment. Theoretically P.E.N.N.Y could take initiative but without any kind of input to create a solution or to even analysis a problem- Â
âPenny? Penny!â Several voices yelled for her. Â
Her vision went black for a moment. Under her eyelids Penny could see lines of code and a list of errors. For a moment Penny thought she overheated, forgetting to breath and exhale all the hot air her power unit and Aura generated. The errors did list some heating problem in her processors but the main source of the errors the logical contradiction. Â
Penny took a deep breath and opened her eyes. Her head still felt hot, and the light seemed too much for her systems so she shut them again and waited a few moments. She did sit up, which was effortless, much to the relief of Winter. Â
âWhat happen? Youâre Aura level was fine thenâŠâ the Specialist paused. She didnât mutter or mumble, but the soft tone was definitely close to it. Â
âCutie dot exe stopped working,â Aro blurted out. Penny frowned, squinting open her eyes to glare at the mechanic. She blushed, ears flickering around in embarrassment. Aro tried to hide behind Focus but that just caused her eyes to flicker. It reminded Penny of the little robotic goat she was still working on, how it processed knew information with blinking lights and tilting it head. Â
âPlease stop being adorable so I can stay made at your for that horrible comment,â Penny grumbled. That had the opposite effect. Aro scoffed, trying to rebuff the statement by crossing her arms and straightening out. The act wasnât complete due to her red cheeks and nervous twitch of her ears. Thing she couldnât hide without Focus. Â
Winter and May sneered and chuckled. Winter handed Penny some water and she gulped it down. Her systems instantly improved, transferring the liquid to her cooling systems and lowering the temperatures in her head. Â
Fiona and Xanthic didnât pay them much attention. They were too busy watching the last bout. Marrow and Ciel were tied with both their Aura levels around 50 percent. The Ace Oprative looked nervous and surprised. During all these practices⊠they havenât sceen Ciel fight. Â
Cielâs weapon of choice was Dust infused chakrams which would let out a powerful explosion on contact with about a minute charge between. Pennyâs data was inconclusive. Penny was sure Clockwork was effecting the charging rates and force of the explosion as they rewind through the air to return to her hands. Â
âStay!â Marrowâs voice rang out. His semblance stopped one chakram in midair. He turned quickly throwing Fetch to counter the second. Too close. Marrow grunted as the explosion nearly threw him off his feet. He reach out as Fetch made its return to his hands- Â
âFast forwardâ Ciel yelled. Fetchâs speed suddenly increased to a near blur! Pennyâs software correctly updated, predating Ciel the winner. Marrow gasped, taking a solid hit to his chest. With his concentration broken the first chakram collided with his back. Â
Marrowâs aura level was finally below Cielâs. Â
One more hit- Â
âSlow!â Clockwork hit Marrow. The chakram that was deflected by Fetch was in her hands, charging bright with red and yellow Dust. Marrow tried to turn, to face her or to dodge but his speed was nearly halved. He didnât even see the circular blade collide into his back. Clockwork turned off, sending Marrow flying to the ground. Â
The buzzer rang with Marrowâs Aura levels at 2 percent. Â
âCongratulations!â Penny yelled to her teammate. May and Fiona cheered with her. Winter wouldnât but there were still two more voices missing. Penny frowned and looked at her teammates. Both genius look put out and unhappy for APCXâs only victory. Â
Xanthic let out an annoyed sigh. âOut of all of us⊠It was her that won against the graduates,â She grumbled, lightly glaring as Marrow and Ciel walked towards them. Â
âPerseverance triumphs natural talent,â Winter said. Eyes paused on Aro who signed something at her, "And no effort." Her eyes shifted to Xanthic who did a universal insult gesture with her fist. Â
Aro sighed, handing Ciel a water bottle. âCongratsâŠâ Aro said. Ciel sneered before taking small sips between heavy breaths. Â
âIâd like to think she had a good teacher!â Marrow mumbled. His arms were crossed and jaw jutted out in a pout. Â
âYou were brilliant,â May said patting his shoulder. The praise felt more like condolences even to Penny. Marrow only grumbled a little more. âBut we got good news for APCX!â Â
âOh?â Penny asked tilting her head. It must have been really good if it kept slipping past Winterâs stoic professionalism. Â
âWe might be able to start Team APCX as second or even third years on the Accelerated Program.â Winter said. Â
âHow exactly?â Ciel asked. Â
âA field test!â May said with a grin. She looked at Aro who was already smiling, âSeems like I finally dragged you on a mission.â Â
âOnly took five years,â Aro rolled her sea-green eyes. âWhen? My remaining customers are Atlas students so I might be able to hold it off.â Â
âIâm free.â Ciel said with a shrug. There was a long expectant pause from everyone but Xanthic who nearly seemed amused. Ciel glared at the younger Spymaster, even elbowing her. Xanthicâs broken blue Aura flared cross her body. âYou didnât tell them?â Â
ïżœïżœïżœOw! Itâs public information!â The hacker said, âNot my fault if the military over looks shit.â Â
Ciel sighed, rubbing her temples. âI graduated yesterday.â Â
An awkward silence fell over the graduates. They looked immensely guilty though Penny failed to reason why. Ciel hadnât requested any special accommodations, just a reasonable request not to be disturbed during class. Aro tapped her chin a little in confusion as well. Â
âCongratulations? We donât really have formal schooling in Menagrie.â Â
âI graduated when I was 14.â Â
âI think my education would be similar to homeschooling,â Penny finished. Â
Ciel scowled at her teammates, âAnd I was the only one that won, so stop showing off.â Â
Despite Mayâs reasoning, Ciel refused to celebrate and insisted on continuing to the field test. Upon hearing it was immediate, Xanthic tried persuading Ciel into a small celebration or even small lunch out. With a wicked smirk Ciel refused. Winter and May took some pity and took Team APCX around to buy clothes appropriate for combat outside of the protective walls and heating grid. Fiona and Marrow didnât accompany them but left for other errands. Ciel didnât look happy that Winter payed for it but relaxed a little seeing the Atlas Military logo on the credit card. Â
Xanthic continued to stall, arguing with Aro and Winter about whoâs transport to take. Xanthicâs was airship may be the fastest but it was also not equiped for combat. Winterâs was the most durable in the odd chance they ran into flying Grimm but not suited for sustained nights out. Aro was a non-military but due to business trips was equipped with defensive turrets and comfortable living space. Â
"Tsunami has made it out of several fights with the White Fang, Bandits, and Grimm," Aro argued. âBesides we have two of the best huntresses in Atlas!â Penny tuned the eliteâs arguing and antic for while now. Â
Instead enjoying a calm conversation with May and Ciel. Â
âHonestly Iâm just lucky it was Marrow,â Ciel admitted softly. âHeâs a rookie and underestimated me. I think Aro and Xan have it the hardest. You and Fiona was just playing mind games the entire time.â Â
May huffed playfully, arms crossed over a her chest, âThey deserve it!â Â
âI still think you could have won if you didnât feint,â Ciel said looking at Penny. Penny heated up, and played with her hands. She was confident in that assessment but so far the statistics were proving her wrong. âYou and Winter donât have years of history, sheâs just better and smarter than Marrow.â Penny nodded but couldnât particularly voice anything. Â
âWinter right though,â May said. âYou need to stop waiting for the first move.â Â
âItâs difficult,â Penny protested weakly. If there was a pattern Penny could easily plan ahead but Winter had to many variables. And that was without adding the Glyphs. Â
âYou have good instincts,â May ruffled her hair. âList to 'em.â Penny grumbled and pouted. Â
The arguing trio finally settled for Aroâs airship. The AI was advance enough auto-pilot a course and take off so even Aro could be present during the mission debrief. Though when Penny glanced over to her she wasnât really paying attention. She frowned, elbowing the mechanic to focus. Â
Their mission was a simple Search and Destroy. There was a few packs of Sabyrs and Nevermore wandering closer to Mantle and growing in numbers. Team APCX would be clearing them out. Â
The first Sabyr pack was killed before they had a chance to leave the transport. While May was trying to convince the newly graduated Police Officer to jump out of an airship, hundreds of feet off ground and into a pack of Grimm, Xanthic had created a hard-light sniper canon. Practically a cannon or a railgun. Each shot was powerful enough too jerked the transport a little. Â
One shot split into three and within a few minutes the pack of Sabyrs fell. Â
By the end of it Pennyâs audio system was on a horrible feedback loop. Her processors frying until she had to reset them. She could only imagine the physical pain everyone else must be in. With the exception of Deaf Aro who was laughing. She weakly seperated May and Xanthic, her head tucked into Mayâs shoulder as the Huntress made grabs for Xanâs neck. Â
The hacker grinâs smug grin briefly disappeared and reappeared as she signed, expressions melding into shock that was still sarcastic without words. May tried shouting back but it was garbled and crackling to Pennyâs ears. She restarted her audio systems again as May shoved Aro to the side, hands furiously signing insults and other comments. By the time Pennyâs hearing was functioning, Winter had walked back into the main cabin. Â
âEnough,â She sighed. Winter looked slightly in pain. Penny wasnât sure if the cockpit would have amplified the gunfire or not. âCan you two please play along?â She asked Aro and Xanthic. Â
âFight to the best of your abilities but somehow limit yourself so we can conveniently judge you into arbitrary categories!â Xanthic said. Her lively sarcasm and faux cheerful tone making everyone chuckle or giggle. Even Winter. Â
âIâm trying my best to appease both parties,â Winter explained rubbing her temples again. Â
âFine,â Xanthic drawled. âIâll pretend to be a hopeless damsel.â Â
The next pack of Sabyr wasnât much of a challenge. The hardest part was getting Ciel out of the transport. Â
âJust land near me!â Aro yelled up as she fell. Â
Penny stood at the edge of the airship, grinning at Cielâs unease expression. âAro has masterful control over gravity Dust and your Aura should protect you from further damage.â She said before stepping off. Ciel could soften her landing with her Clockwork, though that would be better tested in a nonlethal scenario. Â
Far below Aroâs cybernetic legs fired a powerful burst of fire. It cleared the area of Grimm, the Sabyr directly under her now faded into ash. Penny unfolded Floating Array from her pack. She charged it at her leisure, the cold of Solitas allowing for increased power without overheating. All fourteen guns fired at the ground, softening her landing until she angled them forward. Penny intercepted a Sabyr lunging for Aroâs back, two blades slicing it open with a flick of her wrist. Aro hummed. Or purred? Penny would probably need to have a hand on her chest to feel if it vibrated or not. Â
âIâll be sure to return the favor, doll.â Her glowing blue eyes winked at her. Above them, Cielâs scream was increasing in volume while Xanthicâs laugh was much fainter. âXan probably had to push her out⊠or May.â Â
âOr Winter,â Penny mused beside her. Penny sent her blades out again, piercing two creeping Sabyrs and causing the rest to hesitate. Aro stomped on the ground, her metal legs humming loudly as a pulse of gravity Dust engulfed the area. Cielâs fall slowed when she finally entered the gravity field. She took deep breathâs clutching her chest and flailing to get her feet under her. Â
Penny helped the official officer land. Then the field shut off and Xanthic slammed deep into the snowy ground, âOwâŠâ Penny stared at her a little skeptical. It was still at a mildly unsafe height but snow is supposedly soft. Â
âSee! It wasnât so bad.â Penny smiled at Ciel. Â
âYeah, no one of important social value got hurt,â Aro with a Xanthic-eque bored tone. Ciel sneered, it turned into chuckling when Aro lightly kicked the hacker. âCome on. The faster you quit dragging your feet the sooner we can go back to the stuffy kingdom and the nice warm smog and shitty walls.â Â
âUgh. Fine.â Xanthic huffed. The hacker finally got to her feet and brushed the snow off her new thick coat. âYouâre paying for Cielâs celebration dinner.â Â
âWe are not celebrating.â Â
They naturally drifted into pairs of twos. Penny and Aro naturally dashed into the growing horde of Grimm. Penny was the only person able to keep up with Aro and had the close range abilities to defend them both. With hard-light blades being propelled at explosive force, the Sabyrs fell in one hit. Any that tried flanking was pierced, sliced, or shot down by Penny. Â
Ciel and Xanthic almost seemed bored, taking care of the Grimm from a distance. Whenever Penny was jumped high in the air she could see an undisturbed radius of snow around the pair. Even without Xanthicâs ridiculously overpowered sniper rifle, Team APCX finished the pack faster than expected. Winter landed the airship looking a little flustered and frustrated. May laughed trying to rub her shoulders to calm the women down. Â
âMaybe we should just drop you on a pack of Sphinx and Manticores,â Winter said under her breath. Â
âLetâs start with the Nevermores,â May suggested. Â
The Nevermores was much more challenging. Penny and Xanthic were the only ones with weapons able to reach them. The cold of Solitas made their hides thicker than the average Grimm. If one managed to through the thick layer of ice. Every time Penny would charge Floating Array or Xanthic would fire up Alter Ego, feathers tripled their size would sail at them, interrupting their focus and causing the ground to shake a little at the impact. Â
âRewind!â Ciel tried firing those feather back but only managed one hit. The bone of the feather pierced into its wing, crippling its altitude. It screeched loud, causing everyone but Aro to wince. Â
The mechanic launched herself into the air. Several explosions pushing closer and closer until the injured Nevermore beat its good wing. The gust of air sent Aro flying back towards them but the gravity manipulator righted herself and skid to a stop. Â
The second Nevermore cried out louder, itâs attacks growing more frantic. A hail of razer sharp and incredibly dense feathers was shot at them. Penny frowned. It had created a clear divide from Aro and her team. Penny tried closing the gap as much as possible. Then the uninjured Nevermore started itâs dive. The snow made it a little difficult, even with it melting against her heated body it was still up to her thighs. Â
Aroâs passive gravity didnât cause her to sink into the snow. She stood atop of it, lowering herself to a crouch. Aro flashed a few signs at Penny without glancing in her direction. Then she suddenly moved, jumping onto the talons. Â
âAro!â Penny fired Floating Array quickly closing the distance. Aurora held out her hand and just managed to pull Penny onto the Grimmâs feet before it took off into the air again. The metal women took a deep breath, venting all the heat her Aura was generating. Â
âSorry, I forgot you donât know sign language,â Aro said with a guilty smile. They briefly glanced down. The injured Nevermore was grounded, the large feather that Ciel shot back at it made it impossible to fly but itâs ridiculous size made it hard to approach or even damage. âPlans?â Â
Penny watched the Nevermore screeched, mouth wide open. âInsides are always soft and unarmored.â Â
âAnd⊠red,â Aro said with a blanch. Red was commonly associated with blood. Was Fiona and Robynâs story about her hemophobia accurate? Penny shelved the question for later. Â
They made their way to the top of the Grimm. Aro simply ran up itâs curved body, the gravity core in her legs roaring over the hard winds and heavy wingbeats. Penny slowly pulled herself to the head with Floating Array and the near invisible strings. Â
Once it noticed the two huntress-in-training, the Nevermore screeched and thrashed in the air. It had little to no effect on Aro. Holding onto a Grimm the size of a building was the easiest accomplishment Penny had in months. The mechanic continued up until it reached is jaw. She stomped one foot into the hinge of its jaw and looked at Penny. Â
âReady? This might blow me off!â She yelled and signed over the wind. Â
âCombat Ready!â Penny yelled back. Â
She heard the cartridge in Aroâs legs change. Then a loud explosion. Penny could even feel the heat from the shoulders of the Grimm. Once the bright flash had died Aro was nowhere to be seem and the mouth was hanging open. Penny winced, happy that Grimm were mysterious creatures void of proper biological functions. The blood would have been horrific. The Grimm screeched and thrashed much more. Instead of charging all fourteen guns of Floating Array she kept four embedded into the bone like-texture, keeping her grounded as the rest of the guns charged. Â
This blast completely pierced the Nevermore. The sudden silence confused her audio sensors. It fell from the sky and Penny rode the disintegrating corpse down as long as possible. She regrouped with her team, easy to find with a cloud of steam rising from Aroâs heated augments. Ciel and Xanthic had easily finished off the downed Nevermore and seemed to be helping Aro cool off by burying her legs in the snow. Â
Combat Performance at 95%
#Penny Polendina#fic#cutting strings#pre-fall of beacon#aurora glade#ciel soleil#ashley xanthic#APCX#qued
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Ugly Sweaters and Hot Cocoa
Happy Secret Santa, Merry Christmas, and Blessed Yule to @tigereyes45. You wanted something with adult asexual Krel enjoying his best life, so I wrote this little one shot with him and his fellow ace friends calling Aja to update her about his life on earth. Hope you enjoy!
@toa-secret-santa
Ao3
Krel carefully placed the laptop down on the coffee table and looked around âEveryone ready?â
Eli plopped down on the couch right next to him âReady,â
Zoe hopped over the back and landed on Krelâs other side âAll set, now we just need to wait for Douxie to get her with the--â
âAsk and you shall receive,â Douxie stepped around the side of the couch and slid the pile of DVDs onto the table before flopping back next to Zoe âReady when you are Krel,â
âAwesome,â Krel turned and opened up the laptop, typing in the commands to establish the connection âLetâs get started,â
A few seconds later Ajaâs blue face popped up on the screen.
âHello little brother!â
âHello Aja,â Krel greeted her with a small smile.
âHi Aja!â
âNice to see you,â
âHowâs it going, did you get the video games I sent you?â
She held up a thin plastic box in front of the screen âYes, thank you Zoe, but weâll have to be quick today, I canât talk for long, there is a meeting with dignitaries from the far territories,âÂ
Abruptly Ajaâs figure on the screen froze, before slowly lowering the box and leaning in to squint at them âWhat are you all wearing?â
âAh, well you see, today we participated in a Earth winter solstice ritual known as the âUgly Sweater Partyâ,â
âCheck it out!â Eli flipped a switch on the underside of his collar causing the Christmas tree on the front of his sweater to become illuminated with multicolored lights.
âYou call that an ugly sweater?â Douxie said with a smirk âThis is an ugly sweater,â
He pressed the red nose of the reindeer on his chest, causing tinny instrumental music to play. Krel and Zoe looked at each other and rolled their eyes. Douxie and Eli could be such dorks, although to be fair the snowman on Krelâs sweater shed glitter on every surface it touched, and Zoeâs sweater had so much tinsel it was hard to look directly at her.Â
âOh, excellent work, your sweaters are most hideous,â
âI know,â Krel leaned back âI donât really understand it either,â
Aja giggled before she started, zooming closer until her face took up the entire screen âSeklos and Gaylen Krel! Is this your new house?â
Krel perked up âOh yes, sorry I thought I already told you we moved in. Weâre on the loft right now but I can show you the rest,â he stood and picked up the laptop, walking over to the landing so Aja could see down stairs âThereâs the kitchen, and the living room, thereâs a patio outside but it might be hard to see through the sliding doors,â
âVery lively! I will have to come over to see it the next time I am on earth,â
âYep,â Eli said with no small amount of pride âThe four Ace-cateers finally have a home base,â
Krel turned and made a face so that only Aja would see; her eyes sparkled, cheeks puffed with barely restrained giggles. He hadnât been the one to pick out that name, Eli had, and to Krelâs eternal torment it stuck.
Asexual was the english word to describe what the four of them were. There existed no such translation in the Akiridion dialect, the closest thing would be âpreferencesâ.
Some Akiridions preferred those similar to themselves, some preferred those who were more different. Some enjoyed the company of others regardless of how similar or different they were. And some, like Krel, preferred to abstain altogether.
Krel had never really needed a word to describe what he was; Aja, Varvatos, and his parents had always known his preferences and accepted them without question.
So yes, Krel had never needed the word, but being able to use it to find others that were similar to him was incredible.Â
Other people that would roll their eyes with him when Steve did one of his musical calls to Aja, to complain with about how nearly everything in human society was geared towards couples.
Eli, Douxie, and Zoe were some of the best friends he could ask for during his years on earth. Even if âThe four Ace-cateersâ was an embarrassing name.
âWe just moved in last week,â Zoe said loud enough for Aja to hear even though Krel was standing across the room with the laptop âThereâs still a lot of unpacking to do, but that can wait until after finals,â
âCongratulations! Are your classes going well little brother?â
âOh yes they are challenging to be sure but I having a blast,â Krel returned the laptop to the table while sitting back down on the couch âHumans have such a complex history, and the way the carbon based life on this planet evolved is truly fascinating,â
Douxie leaned over and grinned at the computer screen âYou have no idea how disappointed the engineering school was to miss out on him, there was even talk about some of them throwing him into a sack and dragging him to the engineering campus so they could force him to join,â
âKleb that,â Krel folded his arms and leaned back âIf I wanted to learn utterly basic engineering from some larvox that doesnât even know what a Daxial array is, I would go back to high school,â
Aja giggled before turning towards Eli âHow are your studies going, Ambassador Pepperjack?â
âIâm hanging in there, Mr. Stricklerâs been helping with my political science classes, but learning all the different languages is hard,â
Krel grinned and nudged him with an elbow âEli, tell her what happened your debate,â
Ajaâs eyeridges rose âDebate?â
Eli blushed scarlet while the three of them started smirking âThereâs nothing to tell!â
âIf it is nothing why are you turning red?â
âLetâs just say Ash Dispersal Pattern, featuring DJ Kleb, made a guest appearance,â Douxie said with a sly grin.
âIs that what you call it?! There was a dragon in the auditorium!âÂ
Zoe held up a finger âHey, Charlemange is a cool guy,â
âThe quad was on fire.â
âI assure you, we had everything under control,â
âAnd the gnomes!?â Eli said indignantly, face still crimson.
Krel opened his mouth to retort, paused, shut his jaw with a click, and then opened it again â....yeah ok that was our bad, we took that one a little too far,âÂ
Eli covered his face and moaned
Ajaâs expression was both confused and intrigued âOk, we donât have enough time right now, but you will definitely have to tell me the full story later,âÂ
Zoe nodded at her âIâll send you the pictures,â
âOh, that reminds me, how is your deejaying Krel?â
âKlebtastic, Iâve been doing pretty regular work at the recreation centerâs party nights, and Iâm going to be doing the music in town square for Arcadiaâs New Years eve celebration,âÂ
âThatâs Amazing!â she beamed at him âYou know when I told the council of elders what your DJ name is they were so horrified, a few of them actually fainted,â
Krel let out a short laugh âOh man, I wish I could have been there,â
Aja chuckled along with him for a moment when someone suddenly called to her from offscreen. She leaned over and disappeared from view for a while responding to them before quickly popping back âI have to go soon, but it was good talking to you,â
âYes,â Krel sighed, the other three sitting back to let him and his sister say goodbye âI miss seeing you,â
âKrel I--â Aja hesitated before speaking up again âKrel...I am glad that you are happy on earth with your friends and your deejaying and your studies...but there will always be a place for you on Akiridion-5,â
Krel froze, caught off guard by the sudden heaviness in his chest and stinging in his eyes.Â
His life on earth wasnât perfect, there were pieces missing; Aja was the biggest one. But he had his friends, his town. A life outside being a prince that heâd never imagined.
Maybe one day he would want something different, but for now this was enough.
âThank you Aja,â
Aja gave him a soft smile âYou can always come back whenever you want, but I know earth is your home to,â
Someone called to her from beyond the computer again, Aja frowned sharply, standing abruptly and shouting offscreen âI will be finished soon, now would you please give me a mekron to speak with my brother in peace!â
She sat back down into view and sighed âI have to go now, but it was good talking to you, and Krel--â
âYes, I know, I will give hugs and kisses to the oaf for you,â
âI was going to say donât take so long to call again, but if you really want to, I can ask Steve to--â
âFlishgag no!â
âAja! Ew!â Eliâs face was a picture of disgust.
She laughed at them through the screen, Douxie and Zoe going right along with her.Â
âTake care of yourself little brother,â
âI will, and you do the same,â
She gave him a melancholy smile âGoodbye,â
Bittersweet feelings stirred in his stomach âBye, see you soon,â
With that he pressed a button on the keyboard causing the screen to go dark.
Krel pressed the power button and shut the laptop, but not before he could see the glum look on his face reflected in the blaack screen.Â
It was good to catch up with Aja, he should definitely arrange another call soon. But immediately after their calls ended was always when he felt the literal lightyears of distance between them most acutely.
He played off the swell of emotion as a shudder âWhy your race chooses to express romantic affection by mushing your mouths together I will never understand,â
âAgreed,â Eli punctuated the word with a nod.
âI donât know guys,â Douxie said âKissing isnât all that bad,â
âYeah,â Zoe slid closer to him âI think I might like to do some right now,â
âPlease no,â
âGross,â
Douxie flashed them a malicious grin while pulling a smirking Zoe in closer âWeâre going to do it,â he said in a sing-song voice.
âGuys, eeww!â
âIf you two kiss I am throwing myself out the window,â
âPucker up honeypie,â Zoe leaned in close, Douxie bending his head down to meet her.
Eli made gagging noises.
âThe window is open and I am ready to jump!â
Zoe and Douxie were less than an inch away when Lucy suddenly popped up from behind the couch, causing Zoe to fall and Douxie to jump with a yelp.
âNuh uh uh kiddos, no PDA in the living room. Got to be on your tip top best behavior now, Santy Claus is watching,â
Zoe got back up with a grumble âWeâre grown adults in our own house,â
Lucy didnât so much as bat an eye âHow about you sports have some hot cocoa, extra whipped cream and extra marshmallows,â she held out a tray with four steaming mugs.
â...if this is a bribe I will totally take it,â Zoe reached up and grabbed one of the mugs, Eli and Douxie following suit.
Krel shut the window with a sigh of relief and walked over to accept his own mug. Zoe and Douxie would pick chocolate over making out any day; besides, if past experience was anything to go by Krel wasnât very good at hiding his gloom at being separated from his sister, and they had only been trying to distract him.
He picked up one of the DVDs from the stack on the coffee table âShould I start the movie now?â
âYes,â
âDefinitely,â
âFire it up,â
Krel popped the disk into the player before going back over to plop down on the couch between Eli and Douxie. Zoe picked up the box from where he set it on the table âWhen a big city lawyer heads home for the holidays itâs love at first sight when-- wow, they arenât even trying anymore are they?â
âTheyâre the Hallmark channel,â Eli said between sips of his hot chocolate âWhat do you think?â
âYou know, when I first arrived on Earth I thought that these movies were an accurate representation of human courtship, you have know idea how relieved I was when I learned they werenât,â
âYeah they are inaccurate drivel,â Douxie said as the opening credits started rolling âBut they are a ton of fun to watch with my fellow Ace-cateers,â
Krel grinned and held up his mug âIâll drink to that,â
#Toasecretssanta2020#toasecretsanta#tales of arcadia#fanfic#krel tarron#eli pepperjack#hisirdoux casperan#douxie#zoe#toa zoe#rmvwrites#toasecretsanta2020#aro ace krel#aro ace eli#panromantic ace douxie#demiromantic ace zoe
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TATMILB, CHAPTER 6
Penelope spent her life writing love letters, which didnât seem like a terrible idea until the letters were mailed out and Schneider received one of them. Hoping to fool their exes, they agree to fake a relationship. But are they lying to everyone around them, or to themselves? aka my To All The Boys Iâve Loved Before-inspired AU.
Penelope x Schneider, ODAAT. available on ao3 with extra authorâs notes.
Chapter 6: Penelope and Schneider reveal their new relationship to Lydia and Alex, but Penelope decides not to tell Elena. When Schneider arrives to take Penelope out, he interrupts their videochat.
âOkay you two,â Lydia said before Penelope had even shut the door behind them all. She threw both arms out, a human barrier to any member of the family moving past her spot in the living room. âTell me what is going on right now.â
âAbuelita? Whatâs going on?â
Alexâd had a good game, so while the silence on the way home was been tense, it didnât prepare him for whatever was currently happening.
âThat is what we are going to find out, Papito. Your Mami and Schneider, they are...I do not know what they are, but they are something. They have been keeping it a secret from us!â
âKeeping...what a secret?â
âThey kissed! While you were at the bat.â
âAw, man! I got a great hit off that last pitch. You missed it?â He looked at their guilty faces before catching up.
âWait. You kissed?!? Like, the two of you?â He pointed to his mom. âYou and Schneider?â
âYes. Okay. Yes, we did.â
âWe didnât want the family to find out this way,â Schneider interjected, trying to take some of the pressure off her. She shot him a grateful look. Plus, what he was saying was true. Technically.
âYeah. I know this might be a surprise, but Schneider and I are...dating.â She reached over and held his hand. âAnd Iâm sure that you will both have lots of opinions about that, but weâre all free until dinner so you know what? Go for it. Letâs get it all out there.â
Schneider took the cushion next to her, their hands still clasped, and Lydia watched them for another moment before she shook her head.
âEh.â
Penelope gaped at her mom as Lydia waved her hands dismissively and went into the kitchen to fix Alex a snack.
Even more alarmingly, her son looked ready to follow her. âAlex!â Penelope gestured at him, then at the floor near the couch, calling him back. âYou donât have anything you want to ask, or say?â
âNot really.â
âOh. Okay.â She stared at Schneider, eyes wide and helpless.
âYouâre not, I donât know, surprised?â he ventured.
âNo. Should I be?â
Alex, with the usual level of cool radiating off of him, shifted in his baseball cleats and rolled his eyes. âYouâre always hugging and stuff, and youâre already in the family. It kind of felt inevitable.â
Lydia was vocalizing in the kitchen to mambo music, but she waved a wooden spoon in agreement with Alexâs words before returning to the stove.
As soon as Alex headed to his room to change and her Mamiâs back was turned, Penelope snatched her hand away. What the hell was wrong with her family? What was she supposed to do with that reaction?
Schneider looked as baffled as she felt, and sat silently beside her, scrolling on his phone until dinner.
Lydia waited until the food was ready before she returned to the subject.
âSo, mija. Does Elena know?â
âAbout--oh.â Nice job, Penelope. If youâre going to have a fake boyfriend, maybe try to make it seem like you remember that. âNo, Mami, I havenât told her yet. I didnât want to tell her such big news in a text. It can wait 'til the next time we videochat.â
It could wait forever, she thought, shrinking from the very idea of that conversation. Alex was perpetually in his own world--as long as the people he loved were okay, he was content to leave them alone and do his own thing. But Elena had opinions. She was affected by the lives and the choices of everyone around her, and this involved two of the most stable adult presences in her world.
It had seemed like a much better idea before Penelope really thought about how it could rock Elenaâs foundations. Telling her that her mom and Schneider were dating? Lying to her, to tell her that?
It was horrible.
Unless...what if Penelope said nothing at all?
Elena didnât have to be baffled and shocked, or upset over being kept out of the loop like her Abuelita, if she never knew it was happening. The contract could be over before she came home from her semester away; she would hear about it secondhand and Penelope could explain it then.
The only other kind way to handle it would be to tell Elena the truth, Penelope knew, to make her the one person who knew it was all a sham.
Hi baby, howâs London? Have you seen the big clock yet? Is it really that big? Oh yeah, by the way, Iâm dating Schneider now, in case your brother or your Abuelita happen to mention that in one of your texts or conversations.
Yeah, I know that sounds crazy. You probably feel really confused, but I have good news for you, itâs all fake!!
Thatâs right. Itâs an elaborate conspiracy that Schneider and I came up with over ice cream and baseball because I wanted to avoid Max and he needed to make Nikki jealous.
She sighed and shook her head, tucking that conundrum away until Sunday, when she and Elena had already planned to talk. Maybe when they got on the call, she would know what to do.
****
By the time her phone buzzed on Sunday evening, Penelope had begun to worry Elena wasn't going to call.
âHey, Mom,â her daughter said, beaming through the tiny screen. âSorry, I know Iâm late. I just realized I got the time zones off--still working on that.â
âBaby, itâs fine. I'm just happy to see you. Tell me everything about your week. How are your classes? What have you gotten to see? What do you think of the food?â
Elena laughed. âSlow down! I can only answer one question at a time. Letâs see, my classes are good. Really interesting, a totally different style than Iâm used to--but in a fun way. Iâm still having to catch myself when I start to panic, about being so out of my element. I think Iâm doing okay though.â
âThatâs good. Youâre supposed to have fun, not just try to ace your classes,â Penelope agreed. âNot that you should be aiming for less than acing your classes!â
Striking that balance between encouragement and adding to her daughterâs anxious tendencies was still a work-in-progress, Penelope thought to herself, smiling at Elena. Â âI miss you, mija.â
âI miss you too--all of you. We went on a tour this week,â she added, with no attempt at a segue.Â
It was refreshing to see Elena overflowing with excitement, unable to hold it all in--a welcome change from her glum mood since her breakup. Penelope nodded along.Â
âA tour of what?â
âOh, well, it was with my Religious History class, so it was a lot of old religious buildings, mostly. Landmarks and functioning spaces. Alex would have hated it, there wasnât a single good selfie backdrop. But I had a blast. We saw Southwark Cathedral!â
âAh. Cool,â she said, trying to remember if she should know what that was.Â
âItâs from Doctor Who, Mom.â Elenaâs quirked lips were patronizing, but only a little. âThe Tenth Doctor was there in an episode, and I couldnât believe how big it seemed even in person. You expect movie magic, you know? But it was just...really cool.â
The quiet awe in her tone carried through the videochat. Apparently her daughter was in fact picking up culture and independent experiences overseas, just like she was supposed to. Penelope ignored the pang of separation in response and focused on the pride underneath it.Â
âSo you went to a Doctor Who church, where else?â
âItâs not a Doctor Who church, Mom, thereâs no such thing. Though if there were, Iâd seriously consider joining. Sadly, none of the other spots on the tour were show locations, at least not today. Iâm pretty sure the exchange student group events will do more of the classic tourist stuff while weâre here. Which should cover some Who basics. Buckingham Palace, Tower of London, London Eye...â
She trailed off, looking away from the screen.Â
âIs somebody there? Do you need to go?â
âNo.â Elena shook her head. âNo, Iâm fine. How are you, by the way? You aimed so many questions at me, I want to know what Iâve been missing.â
Penelope had already decided to keep the conversation focused on Elena, to avoid any slip-ups about her new arrangement with Schneider. But with the way Elena was focused slightly past her, eyes a little glassy, she had a good reason to now.Â
âYouâre not missing anything, everythingâs boring and the same here. Your Abuelita may be planning to turn your bedroom into a shoe closet, but Iâll hold her off until you get back. Donât try to change the subject though--I can see you, Elena. Whatâs wrong?â
âItâs nothing, Mom. I just had a second where, well...the London Eye is one of Sydâs bucket list items. They--we--talked about it a lot. Before. I think seeing it on the tour with the other exchange kids is going to be hard.â
She held back a sympathetic sigh, remembering how much it hurt to lose someone at Elenaâs age. Even her last adult breakup was so hard that it was still haunting her.
âOh, honey, I understand. Breakups come with moments like that, I promise. Itâs normal.â
âI really would rather talk about anything else. Please.â
âOkay.â It had been so easy for her Mami to make Penelopeâs relationship woes worse without even meaning to, when she was a teenager. Now that she was the mom, treading lightly was the best she could do. âWhy donât you tell me about the food, then?â
Elena was in the middle of describing a dinner sheâd had at a pub called The Ivy House when Schneider opened Penelopeâs bedroom door.Â
âHello, privacy!â she snapped at him, tugging a throw blanket over her toes as though heâd caught her in a compromised position. Really, she was just startled. Schneider never knocked on the front door but he still knocked on her door, most of the time. He wasnât completely oblivious to boundaries.
âHello, person who didnât respond to my texts,â he replied, unfazed. âHello, Elena.â
âHey Schneider.â She waved across the continents, matching his grin.Â
âIn case it escaped your attention,â Penelope pointed out, âI havenât replied to--or read yet--your texts, because we were busy catching up.â
âWell, itâs not like you told me,â he said. âSix messages, Pen. I thought maybe you were standing me up.â
She froze, aiming her coldest look his way but keeping it below a glare that Elena could catch long-distance and wonder about.Â
âHa, very funny. Of course Iâm not standing you up,â she said, hoping Elena would interpret that to mean if I were, it could mean weâd planned a date, which is a funny and impossible idea while Schneider would know she meant something else entirely.
âHey, gimme the phone,â he said, ignoring Penelopeâs careful parsing of words and taking her pocket-sized daughter right out of her hands.Â
âHowâs life in jolly old England?â Schneider asked Elena, his gaze flicking to Penelope, who started gesturing wildly as soon as Elena was out of sight.Â
Do. Not. Tell. Her. She mouthed, punctuating the words with a mimed zipping of her lips. He watched her and then went back to chatting with Elena with no reaction at all, leaving Penelope panicking. Leave it to Schneider to let the secret out. It would be even worse if Elena found out from him when Penelope had completely avoided the subject, wouldnât it? Maybe she should come clean now, while he was there. Safety in numbers.Â
âYeah, your mom and I are gonna go grab dinner,â she heard him say, and she squeezed her hands into fists, calming down on purpose. âThereâs this place on Sunset I wanna try.â
âItâs a vegan hipster place, isnât it?â Elena fake-groaned through the phone, like he was still the most embarrassing adult she had ever met. âSchneider, organic local food is fantastic, but you have got to start looking outside the box for places that arenât trendy. You know where I had dinner last night?â
Penelope took advantage of that moment to snatch her phone back. âAnd as Iâve heard this story already, I think now might be a good time to say goodnight, honey. You can talk Schneiderâs ear off about the superiority of legacy recipes and family-owned bars another time. Preferably while I am very far away.â
âIâll have you know, though,â Schneider interjected, leaning over so his face was partly in the frame next to Penelopeâs, âthat weâre getting Italian tonight. Your mom has very kindly agreed to give me her opinion cuz Iâm still trying to find a new Italian fave ever since La Vite Blu had that little rat problem.â
âEw, your old favorite place used to have rats?â Elena shuddered.Â
âNo, not rats like the animal. It had ties to the mob, apparently--somebody told the authorities, and bing bang boom, no more La Vite Blu.â
âYou are so weird.â Elena swallowed hard, offering them a slightly trembling smile. âYou guys have fun at dinner though, okay? If you like it, maybe I can come with next time, when Iâm back. I miss you.â
âWe miss you too.â Schneider put his arm around Penelope and she leaned back against it a little, comforted. Her baby was so far away, and not all the way grown yet after all.Â
âCall or text if you need anything, okay? And keep checking in. I love you, Elena.â
âLove you too, Mom. Bye, Schneider.â
The screen went dark, before lighting back up to tell Penelope that she had six text messages.
âJeez, you werenât kidding. You know where I live, Schneider...obviously,â she added, gesturing around her bedroom. âThere was no need to freak out because it took me a minute to get back to you.â
âI wasnât freaking out.â He walked away, his voice carrying back to her as he headed for the living room. âI was just trying to make sure we were still on the same page.â
She followed him, still annoyed but unable to articulate why. Was it the barging into her room? Because that was rare, but not unprecedented. Was it the way he told Elena about dinner? Because Elenaâs comment about joining them made it seem like sheâd missed any possible date implications. And when Penelope thought back, all Schneider said was that theyâd be eating dinner together. They did that all the time.
âWell, I have to get ready,â she said, emerging from the hallway to find him standing next to the dining room table.Â
There were flowers sitting on it. Once he realized she was there, Schneider picked the bouquet up off the table and held it out. âFor you.â
âUh. Thanks.â She glanced around them, then stared back down at the flowers. âYou know, nobody can see your romantic gesture, right? Kinda ruins the public effect.â
âWell, it would be a little weird if we walked into the restaurant together and then I handed them to you. But itâs our first date. It seemed appropriate.â
Now he was watching her, she could feel it. Trying to tell if she was about to get upset over his attempt at a nice gesture, Penelope guessed. Her temper tended to hit him harder than the members of her family who shared her quick moods.Â
She gave in to the desire to lift them to her nose, breathing in for a long moment. They smelled like springtime, if it were springtime in a Disney movie. Sweet, but also earthy.
âI love them,â she said honestly. âThank you.â
Schneider beamed, bouncing on his heels a little. âYouâre welcome.â
âOkay,â she decided, ânow I have to get ready and I have to put these in a vase. Give me a few minutes, okay?â
âNo problem.âÂ
Schneider sat on her couch in her empty apartment, perfectly at home while Penelope arranged the flowers in the familyâs only vase. She was already trying to decide what to wear, now that his flowery touch had her feeling a competitive need to up her own standards. Her mind was so focused on the contents of her closet that she didnât stop to read the card tucked into the bright bouquet.
Whatever nerves she was now feeling about their first fake date night, it didnât seem like Schneider shared them. Penelope was pretty sure that as she went back to her room, she heard him pulling up a video on his phone about Londonâs best lesser-known pubs.
#alvareider#one day at a time#odaat#penelope x schneider#to all the men i've loved before#penelope alvarez#schneider#lydia riera#elena alvarez#alex alvarez#odaat fic#alvareider fic#my fic
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Set phasers to stun!
Levihan | Rated for language/Mild mild mentions of doing the deed
Itâs on Ao3! https://archiveofourown.org/works/27152473
Levi is second to Kenny in the Ackerman gang, it's a family business. Zoë Hanji walks up to him at a disco and the rest is history.
âSet phasers to stun, hot stuff?â
âZoĂ«.. I still donât get that reference.â
Itâs 9.30pm in Sina, the city that never sleeps. Neon flashes and the image of the serpent illuminates the wet cobblestone streets. Itâs an institution- a club that has stood the test of time. Itâs interior- an eclectic mix of red velvet couches, a disco ball, black and white tiling, and a disco dance floor. Everyone knows of itâs dubious ownership. Something about a gang- more specifically the Ackermans. But then again, you throw a pebble in Sina and youâre bound to hit an Ackerman establishment. Besides itâs the place to be, and itâs packed on a Friday night.
Who says disco is dead?
The music is good- the best in the city, the drinks are a little pricey but they are strong enough, and the DJ knows her well and queues her requests ahead of everyone elseâs. Thereâs no other reason why itâs her favourite club, Hanji thinks.
Sheâs in the middle of her dance number to a medley of ABBA hits when she feels his gaze on her.
She makes her way over after he shakes his head at her attempts to get him to join her. Sheâs slightly disappointed that she has to leave in the middle of Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!, but it is what it is.
âSet phasers to stun, hot stuff?â Hanji says, coquettish.
âZoĂ«.â He says, âI still donât get that reference.â
âThen maybe you should think about taking up my offer of a date, Levi...â Hanji says, slick as she leans against the counter.
âAnd your idea of a date would be to marathon the entirety of Star Wars?â Levi cocks an eyebrow and hands a drink to her.
âStar Trek. And yes. Maybe itâll help you stay culturally relevant.â She accepts the drink and takes a gulp. A Long Island. Levi remembers. She grins.
âIâll take your offer into consideration.â Levi says.
There are tattoos sprawling all the way up his neck and down to his hands and her eyes inevitably trail over the serpent tattoos on his chest that are peeking through his dress shirt. Levi notices, corner of his lips curving into a smile.
âSo...â He says, âfaculty still giving you problems for blowing up your lab?â
âThank god no... I have the biggest research grant in the faculty, pretty sure they canât get rid of me that easy. Plus the insurance covers so Iâm good...â
âMaybe if you were more careful...â he chides, but his words are gentle and Hanji links her pinky with his. Definitely no other reason she loves this particular club.
âWait for me, I have a few more songs queued,â she says, although some of the songs are medleys, but Levi doesnât need to know that.
âOne more song. I donât have anything on tonight. We could go get something to eat.â
They compromise on two songs, with Hanji dragging Levi over to the dancefloor. âIf I had known you were gonna dance with me, I wouldâve picked a ballad...â she says in his ear as she tries to sway with him to Car Wash. âYou didnât give me much of a choice...â he replies as he twirls her.
The night air is welcome, and after a few hours in the club, Hanjiâs ears are ringing. âCome on! I know a place!â She says, grabbing his arm as they make their way past the party people. They are sitting on a public bench as Hanji decimates a chicken shawarma. Leviâs face crumples in disgust as he watches her wipe the sauce off with the back of her hand, still, he passes the napkins to her wordlessly.
âItâs not good?â Hanji says, perplexed, âthis is not a good shawarma?â Levi looks at her like sheâs the biggest idiot. Because, of course itâs not good? Itâs a dismal 1.9 stars in reviews online and their cleanliness leaves much to be desired.
âWhat gave you the idea it would be good?â Levi frowns, abandoning his greasy chips.
âIt says so on the sign! âBest Shawarma in Town!ââ Hanji says, and sheâs climbing on the bench, waving her fist at the shop, âfilthy liars!â she shouts.
And Levi laughs, pulling her down into his lap for a kiss.
â
The Serpent is busy on a Saturday night. It isnât Nanaba and Mikeâs typical scene, but Hanjiâs enthusiasm for disco has always been contagious. Nanaba has acquired a taste for the Bee Gees.
Target acquired, Hanji makes her way across the dance floor. She excuses herself from her friends, and Nanaba holds Mike back before he can ask her where sheâs going, I'll tell you later, she whispers harshly in Mikeâs ear and waves Hanji off with a smile.
The crowd swallows her, moving to accommodate her form. She readjusts her dress. Itâs black and tight and the slit threatens to expose more than Hanji is willing to show. Her usual club getup in a pile in the corner of her room, Hanji is wearing Nanabaâs dress and she thinks maybe her friend is an opportunist for passing her this particular article of clothing with a giggle and a casual âyou can wear this Hans!â
Thereâs enough alcohol in her system to feel a buzz. Just enough to forget what Shadis had said about professionalism and having impeccable image and greater responsibility from here on, since she now tutors a bunch of freshers. She thinks maybe that can wait until tomorrow. Shadis was young once, heâll understand.
Besides, itâs the disco. Nobody here cares. Itâs freeing and Hanji leans into it.
She makes her way to him once she decides she canât get the slit to sit any better on her thigh. Heâs alone at the bar, leaning against the counter, watching.
He turns his attention to her now, his hard gaze softening. His eyes wander, skimming across the neckline of her dress down to where her thigh is exposed. He clears his throat.
âWhatâs with this?â Levi gestures to her dress.
âThis is me forgetting to do my laundry and having to borrow Nanabaâs clothes.â Hanji answers, eyes lighting up at an opening, she takes it, âlike what you see?â
âYouâre not your usual mess...â
âAnd you mind my usual mess?â She raises a brow.
âI never said I minded.â
Hanji wonders if itâs the spotlights or the gin, because her face is heating up. Someone is stumbling towards the bar counter, and Levi reaches to pull Hanji closer. His hand remains around her waist longer than necessary. But whoâs talking about necessity. âYouâre alright.â Levi says.
Hanji catches his gaze lingering on her lips and she smiles. He straightens, âhow did your first tutorial go?â
âAced it! Some of them even came for office hours!â Hanji beams, hands on her hips.
âExpected no less...â Levi says, lips curving into a smile.
Hanji grins, âso... Are you free tonight?â
âMaybe not tonight... Iâve got... Things to attend to...â
âAh...â Hanji leans closer to Levi, âthug things?â She stage whispers.
Levi chuckles, âyeah.â He sets his empty glass down on the bar and he tells her heâs got some time to spare, and she gets his message. She tugs him towards the toilets, her other hand holding her dress down. They make out in one of the empty stalls and I Feel Love streams in, muted as it mingles in the air with the florescent lights.
âApt...â Hanji murmurs against Leviâs mouth and he looks at her, quizzical.
âThe song thatâs playing... I Feel Love... Itâs apt...â she answers, stilling the both of them so Levi can hear.
Levi laughs, heâs got a hand against the stall that sheâs leaning against and heâs looking up at her. Thereâs a tint on his cheeks and his eyes are glazed over and Hanji takes it as her cue to kiss him again. And Leviâs hand slides along the curve of her waist, down to where the slit of her dress reveals bare flesh. His thumb circles against her skin and her breath hitches. He loosens his collar.
âWe need to stop meeting like this...â Levi says, heâs going to be late for his appointment, but heâs transfixed and does nothing to indicate any sense of urgency. Work can wait.
âMmm... But I like this... Reminds me of the first time we met...â She says as she kisses the beginnings of a smile on the corner of his lips.
âCan I see you tomorrow evening?â Levi says, breathless, because really, itâs stupid that theyâre still playing this game. Itâs not the 50s and heâs not a boy sitting in the bleachers singing about a girl he likes with his friends chiming in as backup. There is no need for the staring and the pining and the pretending to meet by chance at the disco.
âFinally taking up my offer on a date?â Hanji says, channeling all the composure she has left. But her breathing is heavy and her eyes are hooded, and the florescent lights are casting a lewd glow on Leviâs skin that makes her want to die. âIâll see you at that diner at 7? The one near Sunset Boulevard. You know which one?â she asks.
âI know. You havenât stopped talking about that diner.â Levi replies and presses one last kiss to her her cheek before he leaves.
When Hanji makes her way back to join Nanaba and Mike, her hair is a mess and although sheâs managed to fix her makeup, thereâs still a slight reddish stain where her lipstick was smudged, thank god for the lights.
The night ends with Mike holding a hand out for her as she steps up onto the bar counter to dance. Hanji usually has a certain amount of restraint by this time of the night but itâs the last song and they are playing Bad Girls, and that song has always made her feel some kind of way.
Nanaba is cheering her on before Hanji pulls her onto the bar to dance with her.
â
Itâs 7pm and itâs crowded on Sunset Boulevard. Thereâs a good mix of people from small-time Politicians to thespians to bikers. Hanji has always loved this part of Sina, she thinks itâs apt for a date between a Chemist and a gangster.
Levi is dressed in a white tee and blue jeans and his leather jacket is folded beside him in the booth. And Hanji thinks maybe sheâs projecting because she has grown up watching movies from the 50s and 60s. But sheâs shamelessly staring at him, head held up by her hands as she sips on her milkshake.
He drinks his tea. And that snaps her from her reverie.
âWho comes to a diner and orders tea?â
âIf you had taken two straws instead of one, we could be sharing that milkshake.â Levi says, impassive, and Hanji lights up like a bulb.
The food arrives and Hanji says between bites, âIâm learning so much about you... Levi likes tea, and Levi is not beneath sharing a milkshake with his favourite girl...â
Levi rolls his eyes, but his face breaks into a smile. Hanji hooks their ankles under the table.
âWe could go to mine? Take the route along the river?â Hanji says after they pay the bill. Sheâs never one to beat around the bush and she grins when the realisation spreads on Leviâs face, he opens his mouth, but settles for a nod instead.
Hanji is holding Leviâs hand, even as the river meanders them through the fancy parts of the city. People are definitely staring, but Hanji is talking his ear off about the kids in her class and how they ask her about the process of producing meth and she just... tells them? Because it technically is just chemistry.
âHow much detail did you get into?â Levi asks, raising a brow.
âOh...â Hanji pulls a face thatâs an embodiment of yikes, âa lot...â
Levi chuckles, âIâll tell Kenny to keep a lookout for a bunch of brats graduating in three years...â
âYeah you do that... The job market hasnât been particularly kind these days, might actually be a good career option for them.â
People are staring at them because they kind of know who he is, and Hanji points it out with a there's people staring at you, Levi... That's what happens when you're hot huh...
âTheyâre staring at you weirdo...â Levi mutters, face heating, and Hanji is laughing with her head thrown back and the looks people give them get dirtier. But Hanji is equal parts crazy and just goddam brilliant, and nothing else matters. Except maybe-
âWhat do you want Kenny?â Levi growls into the phone.
âWith that attitude itâs no wonder you canât find a girl who loves you...â The voice barks through the receiver and Hanji stifles a laugh. âI need your ass down at the warehouse now!â
Levi runs his fingers through his hair and heâs closing his eyes, cursing whatever being thatâs up there because they seem hell-bent on tormenting him.
âThug things?â Hanji offers an apologetic look, âItâs okay... Iâm a big girl, I can walk myself!â She says when Levi hesitates.
But really at this point sheâs sorry for herself. Itâs just been so long since sheâs-, and sheâs been thinking about Levi a little too much the curve of his lips and his-, and she wants nothing more than to-. Ugh. She bites down on the insides of her cheeks.
Levi sighs, a long-suffering breath of defeat, grabbing her by the waist and pulling her in for a kiss. âMmm... This was a nice date still...â she says, kittenish.
âIâll make it up to you.â
â
Hanji thinks maybe it had been an oversight to sleep with someone in her postgraduate class. And the smartest one after her at that. Not to mention one who had also been aiming to do a PhD. Because now sheâs in the same office as Erwin Smith and itâs kind of weird? Is it? She shifts her weight from one foot to the other, awkward. She opens her mouth to speak and Erwin sighs.
âHanji... If youâre about to make another weird and honestly considering where we are,â Erwin gestures vaguely around their office, âinappropriate joke, Iâm going to stop you right there.â
Hanji laughs and takes her seat across Erwin. âWasnât going to!â It had meant nothing. Just two people fooling around amidst the convenience of their shared love for organic chemistry. Hanji curses her younger self and what had been an inclination towards broad shoulders and solid pectorals. Hormones. Then again, it had meant nothing.
âSo... What did you do over the weekend?â Erwin asks.
Hanji thinks about the about the bathroom stall of the club, and dancing on the bar counter, and the diner, and-
- and Levi.
She hopes her face isnât giving anything away.
âNot much... You?â
â
And Levi does make it up to her. It's a Saturday and they are sitting on Hanji's couch marathoning Star Trek. Why are there so goddam many movies? Levi had said, exasperated. But he's on the third movie now and because of Hanji's unceasing commentary (except for when she sobs through The Wrath of Khan), he's starting to get it.
They make out on the couch mid-way through the fourth movie, with Hanji straddling him, and in the sliver of silence that makes its way between kissing and gazing at each otherâs faces, Hanji chuckles a "this reminds me of the first time we met..."
Levi cocks an eyebrow, "how much of that night do you actually remember?" Hanji feigns a thoughtful expression, fingers tapping at her chin. "Not much..." she says honestly and Levi shakes his head, "you're hopeless," he says as he scrapes his teeth against her neck. She chortles.
Hanji's eyes flicker toward the television, it's a small movement, a little twitch, but Levi catches it. His face twists into something incredulous, and he's offended really, because it's probably the tenth ("sixth," Hanji corrects) time she's watched this and sheâs choosing the movie over- over him? But they compromise and settle on pausing the movie for another time and moving to the bedroom.
â
It becomes a habit, this. This little unspoken arrangement. Hanji stays awake late to work on her paper, so she doesn't mind him knocking on the door at ungodly hours. And really she blames her dedication to her research for the mess she finds herself in one morning.
It starts with the jangle of keys outside her door, and by then, Levi is only just waking up. He shakes her when the footsteps approach, but it's far too little too late. Hanji only opens her eyes when she hears the screaming.
"Zoë Hanji! What is this!"
Hanji is fumbling for her glasses on the night stand and Levi hands them to her. Her eyes are wide and the adrenaline has chased all the sleep from her system.
âMom? Dad?â Hanji and Levi have now hopped out of bed. She tries for words as she struggles to put her jumper on. Sheâs holding the duvet like a skirt around her otherwise very bare bottom, and itâs hard to manage that and putting clothes on. Levi helps her with the duvet. She doesnât process that itâs Leviâs jumper and Levi has no choice but to put her t-shirt on. Itâs big and old and Levi is Swimming in it. Well, at least heâs got pants on.
âZoĂ«! Who is this?â
âHow can you just- You- You just came into my apartment?â She manages, because the sleepiness is gone, but the shock remains. Levi is completely mortified, he wishes the ground would swallow him faster because heâs standing there in a shirt with the words âmy best friend went to Shiganshina and all I got was this crappy shirtâ printed on it in tacky font.
âOur apartment! Donât forget we own it ZoĂ«! Now who is this! Donât tell me youâve been associating with gangst-â
âThis is Levi... My boyfriend.â
Leviâs pulse quickens at that word. He gapes at Hanji, then at her parents, then at Hanji again. He wonders if itâs normal for people to turn that shade of grey because Hanjiâs parents look every bit petrified. Mrs. Hanji points a trembling finger at him, she looks like sheâs about to cry.
âWhat about Erwin? Heâs a nice boy,â her father supplies and she caves, âdad... We were never together...â
Thereâs chatter, bits of âbut you brought him home for dinnerâ and bobs of âheâs doing his PhD too isnât he?â
âI brought him to dinner to appease you...â Hanji says, her patience hanging by a thread because her mom is yelling something incoherent and her dad is still going on about Erwin.
Finally her mom had enough. âThis is just a phase ZoĂ«!â
âIâm twenty seven... I donât think phases apply anymore?â Hanji laughs humourlessly.
Then the door slams after her mom shouts something about an ultimatum. Something about breaking up with Levi or getting evicted from the apartment.
âThat was waaaay too much for the morning...â Hanji says, her voice slicing through the tension that had grown thick around them. Sheâs feigning an ease that does nothing to hide how frazzled she is. âSorry about that... My mom can be a bitch when sheâs angry... And well... Sheâs always angry...â
The insults Levi can handle, heâs heard worse. But seeing Hanji like this-
âLook... Your parents arenât wrong... This isnât... Usual...â
âI donât get it though? I mean this city is practically run by the Ackermans! So really, itâs like dating the mayorâs son?â
âZoĂ«...â Levi chuckles, âitâs not the same?â
Hanji pauses to think. With her scholarship, surviving without the apartment wouldnât be too difficult. But rent is steep in Sina and this means sheâll probably have to find an apartment on the outskirts. Then sheâd have to travel, and everyone knows how ZoĂ« Hanji is with punctuality-
âDoes Kenny need someone in clandestine chemistry? Iâm really good at-â
Levi cuts her off before she gets too invested in her ridiculous idea. âI donât want you to be put in a spot because of me...â
âNo!â Hanji points a resolute finger at Levi, âI donât like the way this sounds weâre not breaking up!â And a quieter, thoughtful, âwait... Are we?â
Levi sighs, sitting back down on the bed. He tugs on Hanjiâs arm and sheâs sitting on his lap, and suddenly sheâs limp and sad and thereâs that very real chance that this might be it.
âWhat do you think of us?â Levi asks.
Her mouth moves faster than her brain, itâs a curse, Hanjiâs been told. âWeâre writing Yelp reviews now?â Itâs quiet and Levi deadpans. He waits for her answer, heâs patient, and he knows her well enough.
She recalls the boys she has dated, the boys sheâs kissed, and the grey area in between that had been Erwin, and sheâs never felt like this. Hanji lets out a sigh. âBest I ever had... You?â
âSame.â
âHa... My only satisfied customer then,â she hooks her arms behind his neck grins down at him.
âOkay...â Levi says, considering, âokay... Would you like to move in with me?â
Hanjiâs eyes widen because is Levi really asking if she would like to- âhuh? You- you mean it?â
âSure... Itâs a studio and there isnât much space but you could save on rent.â
âAnd?â Hanjiâs eyes light up, dopey smile plastered on her face.
Levi rolls his eyes, âand...â he sighs, âit would be nice... Living with you...â
âWait... Really?â As much as Hanji teases, sheâs mostly surprised they made it this far. Itâs a long way from disco to cohabitation and Hanji had been pretty certain Levi would lose interest somewhere along the way. But heâs... Still here? âYou donât mind that I create a mess?â
âNo. I do mind that you create a mess...â he shifts his weight and dumps Hanji on the bed. âBut I would still like for you to move in with me...â Levi is hovering over her now, and Hanji thinks she really lucked out because she thinks he looks good even though heâs wearing her ridiculous shirt thatâs slipping at his shoulders. Itâs a weird look. But even so, itâs cute and Hanji has heart eyes.
âWhen youâre done staring I need an answer...â
âIâm not going to deny you the pleasure of living with me if thatâs what you really want Levi...â she drawls, shrieking when Leviâs fingers dig into her sides. âAlso it seems like the right time... I mean... Youâve already met my parents...â
Levi groans. It certainly hadnât been ideal.
âYou introduced me as your boyfriend.â
âOh... About that...â Hanji says, and Levi thinks itâs amazing that Hanji actually has the capacity to be embarrassed.
âI donât mind...â Levi says. Because heâs never really had a girlfriend, life hasnât permitted him the convenience of labels, but now looking at Hanji, her hair splayed out on the sheets, her legs hooking lazily around his waist, how sheâs beaming at him, he thinks labels could work.
â
âWhere am I going to go then?â Hanji is distraught, but it canât be helped.
The notice for renovation has been filed and The Serpent will be closed for a few months. The flooring needs to be retiled and the velvet needs replacing. But I like that itâs worn... It has character... Hanji had said. But itâs getting unsanitary and grimy and well, it canât be helped.
The Rose stands in the swankier parts of town. Itâs new and shiny and the kids love it. Itâs a different crowd from The Serpent, so of course Nanaba has heard of it.
âItâs the best Hans... Itâs... Contemporary...â she says as delicately as she can possibly manage, and Hanji pulls a face. But itâs not the same.,,
Although Hanji hates the music, it shares the same dubious ownership as The Serpent and Levi is there this particular Wednesday night. So is her whole tutorial class apparently. But she doesnât realise that until she has her tongue shoved down Leviâs throat in one of the back hallways leading to the emergency exit. Of course they had to chance by. Of course they travel in a pack.
Itâs Armin who breaks the silence. âM-miss Hanji?â He says, part mortified and part really embarrassed. They break apart and sheâs greeted by five faces staring owlishly at them.
â
Hanji thinks maybe it had been an oversight that whole incident at The Rose. She had been in an unfamiliar territory, besides she shouldâve known the probability of bumping into someone she knew was high. Itâs a different crowd from The Serpent after all.
She thinks about this now because Erwin Smith is very well-positioned within the students gossip circle. And itâs weird?
âYouâre dating an Ackerman... So Iâve heard?â
âAs far as Iâve heard... No?â Hanji tries. She types nonsense on her keyboard.
âDonât deny what my sources confirm Hanji...â Erwin is grinning with all the confidence in the world, âso... Which one?â
âKenny The Ripper, of course.â Hanji puffs her chest and grins back. Foolish. She shouldâve known Erwin isnât stupid.
âBased on what the students have described... I hypothesise... Levi Ackerman?â
Erwin catches the flicker in Hanjiâs eyes. Ah. Got it.
âGossiping with the students? Mr Smith... Iâm very disappointed in you...â Hanji tsk-tsks, and mutters a quieter âhypothesise? Who says that in real life?â under her breath.
Erwin shrugs. âEntertainment is hard to come by these days...â
â
âSo... Erwin knows...â
âThe kids told him?â Levi is shirtless, and drying himself with a towel and Hanji nearly loses the point of the story.
âCan you believe it? Theyâre little rats! All of them!â
Levi grunts. âWell, Kenny knows too...â
âFuck!â Hanji exclaims. âHe saw?â
"No... He guessed. Something about me looking less constipated.â
âHa! Charming...â Hanji laughs.
âWait... Have we been trying to be discrete?â Hanji ponders, sitting herself on the counter top.
âApparently the whole of Sina doesnât seem to think so...â Levi is tidying her stuff off the dining table, pulling a pile of notes here, a few books there.
âDoes it matter?â She asks.
Levi shrugs. âDoesnât matter. This seems to be a permanent arrangement, so people can start getting used to it.â
âBy the way your soup is burning,â Levi interrupts Hanji mid-swoon and sheâs yelling the most creative string of swears heâs ever heard. Between peals of laughter Levi thinks this is definitely the best arrangement heâs ever been in.
"Ah fuck... I put effort into that soup...â sheâs still staring at said soup, but Levi is already taking out the stew he made the previous night from the freezer and putting it in the microwave for her.
âOh well..." She sighs, pouring the soup down the sink, "perhaps man wasnât meant for paradise..." Hanji says, and waits with bated breath, grin on her face.
Levi furrows his brows, âCaptain Kirk?â And he doesn't know whether to be impressed or slightly disappointed at himself that he knows.
Hanji punches a triumphant fist in the air and whoops.
â
Itâs midnight in Sina, the city that never sleeps. ZoĂ« Hanji is the disco queen of the late 2010s, and she graces her neon empire. Sheâs also now Dr. ZoĂ« Hanji, and theyâre here to celebrate that. She walks up to the bar with a purpose.
âHey handsome, wanna go some place else?â Hanji purrs in the manâs ear.
âCanât...â the man turns to face her, âIâm married.â
âIâm sure your wife wouldnât mind... Levi Ackerman...â Hanjiâs fingers dance across his forearm, she laughs when she feels goosebumps rising in her wake. âWhatâs she like anyway this wife of yours?â
âUntidy as fuck, not very clean, and she never stops talking.â
Hanji throws her head back and guffaws, completely unhinged, and Levi snorts. âShe sounds absolutely delightful!â Hanji says, her face mere inches from his, this game making her a little impatient.
âYeah...â Levi says, and thankfully heâs pulling her close, his arm hooked firm around her lower back, âsheâs stunning.â With that Levi  closes whatever minuscule distance between them and heâs kissing her deep. All soft lips and pressing and unpressing, and Hanji is breathless when they pull apart. Sheâs speechless for a moment and Levi thinks this is the best way to shut her up, the only way he can bear too. âAnd as of today, sheâs also a Doctor,â Levi adds, thereâs awe and admiration in the softness of his smile and in his eyes when he looks at her, and Hanji feels like when black and white transitioned into technicolor.
And between a month (or two) of Levi being patient when Hanji ignores him to finish up her thesis, and them eloping to get married in a little chapel (Kenny had insisted on solemnising the wedding dressed as Elvis), she stops anticipating for things to fuck up.
âNow go... Your friends are staring...â he says, gaze flickering over to the Erwin, Mike and Nanaba who had indeed been gaping. Theyâre looking away now, averting their gazes here and there, sheepish. âAlso... Did you get the milk?â
Hanji shouts a swear, and she makes the most guilty face she can muster. Levi rolls his eyes and lets out a long-suffering sigh, âI'll get it tomorrow morning...â
And Hanji grabs his face between her hands and kisses him silly.
âIf you wanna dance you know where to find me!â Sheâs says and Levi tells her to congratulate Erwin on his behalf. Levi sets his glass down and leaves to the docks, something needed taking care of, but he should be able to make it back in time to get Hanji.
It's Prince night and Hanji doesn't ask put in queue requests with the DJ for Prince night because they're all hits! Hanji knows all the lyrics by heart and sings along to all the songs.
The club is emptying out by 3a.m. and Levi makes it back in time for the last song. The Most Beautiful Girl In The World is playing when he finds Hanji in the thinning crowd and dances with her.
"Apt..." He murmurs against her mouth when she reaches down for a kiss.
"Huh?" She says, a little dazed, the arms around her waist pull her in closer.
"The song... It's apt..." Levi says and she beams.
#levihan#levi ackerman#shingeki no kyoujin levi#hanji zoe#hanji#hange#hange zoe#levihan fanfic#levihan fanfiction#modern au#hanji loves disco#levi loves hanji#it's a good time#snk#aot#mine#my fic
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